Be aware, the "Message Forum" is NOT password protected.  Unlike profiles that are password protected, anybody who gets to this webpage can see what is written here.  Nobody can contact you directly based on this forum unless you reveal your personal contact information.  Use the "Message Center" for sharing personal contact information with another classmate.

This message forum is an ongoing discussion about anything and just about everything ... within reason.  One thing our class was good at was having opinions.  Almost 70 years of life experience certainly qualifies us as experts on most everything!   Ask a question ... give an opinion ... share some insights ... it's our web site, it's our forum.  That said, it's probably not a good idea to get into arguments about politics, religion, and the like.  While we're experts on everything, we also have a wide range of values and beliefs. This site belongs to all of us ... the whole range ... and we are not here to isolate, alienate, or subjugate anybody.  Of course insults, humiliation, sophomoric barraggadocio, and demented humor is expected behavior among some of us less mature people.
 

Karen Gerstl (LeDuke)

One of my favorite teachers was Mr. Hagopian.  I was not fond of science, and the first semester I had Mr. Thomas (worst teacher at Custer, my opinion) and I struggled to keep a C average.  Did not learn a thing from that man.  Second semester I got Mr. Hagopian, he was by far the best teacher I ever had.  He had a way of making up stories about what we were studying into everyday things that we could relate to.  For instance, we were studying parasites, so as an example he used me.  He said I was a leach on my boyfriend, making him buy me everything that I wanted, and demanding more.  He went on and on, to my embarassment.  But he got his point across and everyone truly understood what a parasite was.  The Class was laughing at his examples.

I got straight A's in his class, and when he gave us a pop quiz all you had to do is remember his stories, and you aced the test!  He was the best!

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Responding to a request about a  favorite teacher: Mr. Marino

We had him for 3rd and 4th year Latin, and for 1st year Italian. When we expressed an interest in classical Greek, he began a before-school gathering to learn something about that. I never got very far, but I believe that Billy Bertolas (who had a real talent for languages) became fluent in modern Greek. Mr. Marino introduced us to many thoughts and ideas which we would not have explored until college literature and philosophy courses, always with the fervor with which he must have studied them in seminary. He was a unique and exceptional man.

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Re: Sandy and Meribeth getting people into trouble..............

They probably would have gotten me into some, but I was always such a chicken.

Well, it's not too late.................

Meribeth Hodges (Engelfried)

Oh no Nancy Sandy and I remember the pilfered carrots from the county buildings after a swim show at hoyt.park.

We did nothing to encourage that!!!!!

Tom Winslow

Until I read  Nancy's post I hadn't thought about languages at Custer for years.  I did three years of Spanish with Mr Brye, a very nice man, followed by one year in Latin with Mrs. Smith.    That said, I would have been much further ahead had I followed Nancy's lead and taken four years of Latin...and the Greek class with Mr. Marino. As it was I was much older when I had to pass Greek (and Hebrew) to get my Master's degree.  Learing languages at an earlier age is soooo much easier. Se es la vida ! 

As an interesting aside, we had some remodeling done last year.  The general contractor looked familiar but I couldn't figure out why.  Turns out the contractor is Steve Marino, Peter's son.  Small world !

Ray Thompson

I took four years of German at Custer--Grandparents from the old country..Spent two years in Germany in the Army. They had no clue what I was talking about. So much for high schoolGerman.

Garry Sellers

So help me here classmates, why aren't more people writing comments into the "In Memory" section under each of the individuals?  I'd hate to be one of the people on that page and have nobody write anything about me.  Is there something else we should be doing?

Kenneth Pallaske

Garry and All,

Of course all of us have memories, either good or bad. As I look back, I loved my school years, both at Granville and at Custer. I played baseball, not good enough to make the team, but, I did make the varsity squad in gymnastics. As I recall, that is how my brother, Jim,  met Sandy. Right, Sandy? Oh, by the way, your profile says you were born September 28, 1955....?????

As I became more active in the various activities at Custer, my grades improved. Imagine that.

I remember with great fondness, our 1962 variety show. I was in several numbers, however, the greatest honor came after I was selected to be the groom in the wedding finale. I'll have to go back to my yearbook to see if the bride was Janet Shultz. I attended most of the varsity football games paying close attention to the cheerleaders. (At least I'm being honest.)

My best friend was Peter K. Unfortunately, he tells me he will be unable to attend the reunion. I'm still working on him to attend with his lovely wife, Carol.

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

I was also fortunate enough to have had Mr. Marino (I could always sing along with Luciano Pavarotti's "Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle" - we got a good dose of Italian along with the Latin.)  I also had Emma Jungton, who must have given me a good start in German, because I was able to skip a semester in college - although I still couldn't talk to or understand my German relatives, because it turned out they spoke in a rural dialect :-) I am so touched by your story of the birthday party, Garry. And Mr. Hagopian!!! Had him for homeroom and he was always giving us pep talks. I really don't know if I'd have gone to college without his encouragement, or perhaps would have not gone into teaching. I still have unresolved guilt feelings about being one of about half the orchestra who deserted Mr. Boltz to be in "The King and I". If he's still around, I'd like to tell him that!

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Violin deserters included Ellyn, Allen Mitchell, Carol Albers, Jane Bednarz, I think Kathy Wartchow, myself and several more - everyone in Miss Sherwood's speech class. You can spot us all in the yearbook by the brunette hair in our senior pictures.

Tom Winslow

......and you were all very welcome backstage !

Nancy Davison (Boerger)

Ha!

Tom was always welcoming pretty girls backstage!

Garry Sellers

Ahhh, Mrs. Boerger, are you trying to tell us something about the good reverend?  And just how do you come by this information?  First hand experience or is this the evil voice of jealousy I hear?  Or is this a case of old age warping memory?  Faulty memory does go around you know, and for some it started long ago.

For example, Carol Albert Knutson  yesterday acused me of not having the correct photo with her husband's profile.  She suggested that maybe I got Lester mixed up with Chuck.  Well, darnn it, I had it rght ... but I believe she's been going to bed with the wrong one all these years!  That certainly is going to complicate the reunion for somebody.

I support Reverend Tom! 

Tom Winslow

Thanks Garry,

When they added ordination on... they didn't take Tom out ! 

BTW there was only one of those girls that I ever kissed and I don't kiss and tell.   Oh...... Did I just say that?

Tom Winslow

Terri  

How many violins did the orchestra have?  My recollection is that they sounded okay. However, I was preoccupied by a few other things during the show,,,,,,like looking for my monocle !

Best wishes to all in the Kingdom of Siam,

Sir Edward Ramsay CBE

Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to the Court of Siam

Jeanne Zinser (Gottschalk)

LOVE your sign-off, Sir Edward! Give my best wishes to Queen Victoria!!

With Warmest Regards, 

Anna Leonowens

Garry Sellers

But ... but ... but ... where is this royalty on our class list?  I'm an old person, stop confusing me!!!

Terri Levenhagen (Hoornstra)

Yes, Tom - I  think the non-senior orchestra members rose to the occasion. My guilt assuagement was that they'd be without us next year anyway, so this play was good practice. Knowing what I do now about politics beteen teachers, I imagine Mr. Boltz and Miss Sherwood had to "duke it out", and there could be no doubt about the outcome of that struggle :-)

Jeanne Zinser (Gottschalk)

Wise analysis on that "duke out," Terri (from one who had her share with S.S.!)

Tom Winslow

and, as in most things, S.S. won !

Jeanne Zinser (Gottschalk)

Oh, Tom...I'm surprised you noticed! She was always SO subtle!!

Tom Winslow

...about as subtle as Custer at his last stand !  But then Shirley had the finesse to pull it off.  Poor George ! 

It was hilarious when another teacher tried to copy her methods.  Not very sucessfuly, I might  add

Garry, I'm still voting for Harvey !!!

Sandy Wachs (Oldham)

Yes SS was a little wacky, but she instilled the love of theater in me that has lasted my whole life.  We had excellent productions at Custer, due to SS.  I am forever thankful that she gave me the freedom to create 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' for the King and I.  I also want to mention what an amazing job Tom Berger did on our head pieces.  Tom was so creative.

Sandy Wachs (Oldham)

Let's organize a theater trip to New York to see some shows.  Wouldn't that be fun?  We can toast SS when we are out on the town. 

Tom Winslow

Jeanne and Sandy et.al.

Miss Sherwood was a very talented director who genuinely cared for all of us. Her bluster and bravado were intended to achieve her goal of wonderfuly produced Senior Class Plays.  She did that.  I was no doubt intimidated by her but saw and was comfortable with her method. She was a bit more subdued in Speech Class.  Nina and I did "Elizabeth & Essex" for our final exam.  At her direction she had us do two outside the box things.  First was a "sensuous" kissing scene.  The second was Essex yelling at Elizabeth that she was a "bitch".  Rehearsals went well and then came "the day".......and who shows up but Mr. Michalek.  That was intimidating !!!

At the performance Nina played a wonderful Elizabeth.  I was so nervous that I goofed up and skipped an entire scene.  The kiss and the name calling were accomplished.  I didn't ask, but Mr. Michalek went out of his way to assure us that, in context, both were very appropriate.

Many years later, heading a police department, I realized that I learned more about leadership from three directors, Shirley Sherwood.( Custer), Robert Friedel ( Milwaukee Players) and Alan Furlan (Sunset Players, Elm Grove), than I did from any police leadership conference.

We were very well served !