Reunion planning meeting Saturday, June 23

Planning meeting Saturday, June 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Shaw Library.

Please attend if at all possible. Herb Maney and Joyce Moody Fletcher are in charge.

Reflections on our class and classmates

Most memorable teachers - Pop Weidner, Annie Kochis, Miles Smith, Harold Wisor, Prof Kuhns, Bertie Snyder

Best coach - Art Weiss

Biggest brain - Jutta Hager, Gerry Koval (too close to call)

Large brain - Joyce Schultz, Sue Weisshaus

Best friend teachers - Art Weiss, Pop Weidner, Bertie Snyder, Gretchen Hiller, Betty Harris

Best comedians - Neil Buckley, Denny Boal

Best cars - Jutta Hager's Mercedes Benz 190 SL roadster, Sam Lansberry's '58 Ford Fairlane 500, Dick Spingola's 'baby blue '57 Ford Fairlane convertible, Bob Lingle's '57 Dodge, Miles Smith's '59 Chevy "batmobile."

Best athletic teams - '55 Bison football, '57 Bison basketball, Bison wrestlers most any year

Most over-achieving athlete - Guy Graham

Biggest athletic upset - Ash Woolridge's stunning victory over Jerry Davitch in '59 regional wrestling tournament.

Best dancer - Peggy Jo Knepp (unanimous vote)

Best female vocalist - Sue Sherkel

Best male vocalist - Bob Lingle

Most under-appreciated male vocalist - Bob Lingle (to my knowledge, never received an encore at the spring shows)

Hottest guy - Ash Woolridge

Coolest guy - Tom O'Day

Hottest babe - Judi Rolley

Coolest babe - Sarah Lyons

Favorite hangout - Ritz Grill, YMCA

Least favorite hangout - Quigley's Drug Store (strictly for the St. Francis crowd)

Best partying spots - Old Town Fire Tower, Bilger's Rocks

Best place to park - Anywhere it's dark and quiet

- Dennis Mollura

Thoughts on some great activities June 23

If Herb Maney were to put me in charge of social activities surrounding our June 23 planning meeting, here's what I would draw up:

Breakfast - eggs and toast at the Clearfield Diner.

Lunch - hot dogs at Herman's Hot Dog Stand - 15 cents, with or without.

Afternoon - swim party at Parker Dam.

Dinner - hamburgers at Accordino's Drive-In - five for $1.

Evening entertainment - sock hop at the YMCA.

Late night fun - pajama party at Peggy Jo's.

Late night dessert - chocolate chip ice cream from Clearfield Dairy

Next meeting at the Frenchville Picnic and the following one at a CHS wrestling meet at the Clearfield Amory.

See if you can top these ideas! All suggestions welcome

For now, see you at the planning meeting 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 23, at the Shaw Library.

-Dennis Mollura

Important: Reunion 50th Reunion Planning Meeting Set for June 23

A Clearfield Area High School Class of 1959 50th reunion planning meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 23, at the Shaw Public Library from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

If at all possible, please plan to attend and contribute your ideas, your attendance and participation. We can get things rolling and be on our way to a great relaxed get together ! Thank you.
- Merlyn Herb Maney, aka pcmaker

Birth of the Birthday Bash

As the 45th CHS Class of '59 Reunion was winding down at the Knights of Columbus ballroom in 2004 and everyone had had a great time, conversation moved to attempting to gather again before the traditional five year interval had passed.

The idea of a cruise to be sponsored by a wealthy classmate came up, but there were no volunteer sponsors. Finally, after a thorough discussion including members of the Spouses Auxiliary, we settled on a celebration of our 65th birthdays. Since almost all of us were born in 1941, save Joyce Moody Fletcher, Gloria Rice Henneman and Lew Marrara that I know of, 2006 was the year and the Birthday Bash was born!

Preparing for the Bash was great fun as we heard from lots of class members that I hadn't seen or talked to in years. We tried to anticipate how many people would attend. We thought we could handle up to 50 at the Shirey house, so we decided to have it here. We lined up a good caterer and there were lots of activities the first weekend in June, so that seemed like the right time to have it. Suzy Sherkel Nagle was able to bring the Teenettes out of retirement, subsequently renamed the Pausettes, and we got the Carlisle Thundering Herd Mascot (as in Bisons), and the rest is history.

Some went fly fishing, some played golf, some went to the play at Allenberry, some enjoyed the Boiling Springs Tavern, some attended Foundry Day celebrations in Boiling Springs and all attended the Bash. The rules were simple: "If you are here, we can talk about you; if you are not here, we can talk about you!" It was a hoot and if you weren't here, we missed you.

As a reminder, lots of Bash responses said you plan to attend the 50th Reunion. I have kept the responses so I know who you are and, unless you've moved, where you live. Please join in the fun in 2009.
- Wil Shirey


From left - Nancy and Guy Graham, Tom O'Day. Visible in mirror - back of Guy Graham's head, Don Everist (barely), Sandy Brown Everist and Sue Weisshaus Speicher.

The wonderful, gracious and generous hosts and party-throwers - Wil and Karen Shirey with Carlisle Thundering Herd (as in Bison) mascot.

Foreground - Gloria and Paul Henneman. Background, from left - Sam Smith and Patricia McCoy Livelsberger, Joann and Merlyn (Herb) Maney.

Foreground - Tom Brigandi. Left side - Tom and Bonnie Wilson Hartsock, Wil Shirey (way back in the dark). Right side - Bill and Betty Lou Welch Shull, Jeanine Moon Duke Poulos.

The Teenettes, resurrected as the Pausettes, entertain at the Bash. From left - Sue Weisshaus Speicher, Helen Adam Badger, Jeanine Moon Duke Poulos (with antlers) and Suzy Sherkel Nagle.

Peggy Jo comes through with photos!

Linda Smith, Judy McKinn, Peggy Jo Knepp, Gloria Wrigley and Penny Hile at pajama party.

Peggy Jo and Sandy Brown in band uniforms. No identification of the handsome fellow in the background.

True to her word, Peggy Jo Knepp Thompson has come through with a great selection of black-and-white photos from grade school through high school.

"Sorry I'm in so many of them, but then they are my pictures! Tried to pick those with a variety of classmates...I would like to take credit for having a fantastic memory, but I had to dig out the yearbook for a few....recognized faces and events but not all. And...I'm sticking with maiden names!"

Shireys visit Arizona

Happy Mother's Day. Hope all of our classmates are sharing this wonderful day with their families. Above is a picture of Shireys coming out of The Asylum Restaurant on our recent visit to Arizona. LaRee Luzier Shirey and cousin Dave Shirey are standing to the right (your left) of Karen and me. Despite what some may think, the good folks at The Asylum did not find reason to detain us.

Karen recently had a bit of a setback. In an office that we made out of a bedroom, we have a plastic mat on the rug under the desk chair. I think she got her sandal caught under the mat and she fell, breaking her right fibula. Since it's not weight-bearing, she hobbled around on it for the better part of a day before the pain and swelling finally got to her. In about six weeks, I expect she'll be able to shed the boot. It has slowed her down a little which is probably good. Her accident did cause us to cancel our planned trip to Germany.

Again, Happy Mother's Day to all.

-Wil Shirey

Good news!

Good news today. Bonnie Henchbarger Powell was discharged from
Altoona Hospital late yesterday afternoon. They have added more medication to her daily routine and, hopefully, that will prevent any future episodes or seizures.
For those who would consider sending her a "Thinking of You" card, her home address is:
1203 Family Lane
Clearfield, PA 16830
Also, regarding Patty Kinkead Cutler, her husband, "Woody", was transferred from Altoona to the DuBois Regional Medical Center to begin his therapy and rehab. Please keep both families in your prayers.
- Joyce Moody Fletcher

Bea Accordino Haas identifies first graders

I was able to identify quite a few of our Fourth Ward first grade classmates, but there are some of which I have no clue. I have asked Sandi Howland and Rosalie Cardinale to help out, but have not heard from them yet. Anyway, here goes with what I see: FIRST ROW: Sandi Unch, Biaggina Accordino, Mary Kay Garman, Rose Marie Centra, Louie Mitchell, Jackie Mitchell, Nicky Mendolia. SECOND ROW: Jeanie Lanich, Betty Jean Royer, ________, Sandi Howland, Sara Jane Brown, Judy Stevens, Barbara Marino. THIRD ROW: Lewis Marrara, Dick Spingola, Denny Mollura, _______, _______, John Ianaro. FOURTH ROW: Glen Brickley, Tom Lansberry, Tommy Shively, Eugene Marano, Dominic Cardinale, Johnny McDivitt. FIFTH ROW: David Schucker, Glenn Myers, Eddie Antonuk, Bob Henry, Gary Greene. We'll keep working on those which have not been identified. Sandi Unch may be able to help out with this.
- Biaggina Accordino Haas

Updates on two of our classmates

Bonnie Henchbarger Powell is a patient in the Altoona Hospital. She suffered a seizure last Saturday morning at her home and was rushed to Altoona for further testing. Please send cards for her to Altoona Hospital, Room 1167A, 620 Howard Ave., Altoona, PA 16601. Her husband, Ed, will keep me updated and I'll let our classmates know of any further news about her condition.
Also, another classmate, Patricia Kinkead Cutler, has her husband, Willard ("Woody") at the same facility. He had open heart surgery last week and is waiting to be transferred to the DuBois Rehab Unit of DuBois Hospital. Patty's home address is 276 Bowmans Hill Road, Clearfield, PA 16830. She is still working at the Clfd. Co. Vo-Tech and plans to retire this coming June. Her e-mail address at work is pcutler@ccctc.org. I'll report again when I have more news.
- Joyce Moody Fletcher

Welcome Clearfield Area High School Class of '59

Greetings, fellow members of Clearfield Area High School Class of 1959! This is your website, created especially for our 50th year reunion in 2009, and for simply sharing thoughts, ideas, information and photos.
Come early, come often and recall the memories of the marvelous and not-so-marvelous moments we enjoyed together. The easiest way to post your information is to e-mail it (including photos) to Dennis Mollura at dmollura1@verizon.net. He will get your information on the site within 24 hours - probably sooner. Or, if you prefer, post your comments directly. (You may need to set up a free Google account).

Important to include 'Area' in name, Herb says

I especially am pleased to see the inclusion of Area in the title of our web site because that was one of the selling points the school superintendent and leaders used way back when in their effort to get the outlying local districts to consolidate into one school .

They NEEDED the tax base to get the district financed and had to persuade all the little districts to join the jointure to make the Clearfield Area School District a possibility. The local directors were afraid to lose their respective local identities so the insistence of including AREA was a major point in the negotiations.

As such, in respect, it should always be included. It is not just the Clearfield High School, but includes all the Areas joined together to form the jointure, thus my reference to C.A.S.H. as in Clearfield Area Senior High .

Inspirational story by Pat Lyda-Stewart

Pat Lyda-Stewart (center) tells an inspirational story about her survival and recovery from breast cancer.

My treatment consisted of 29 radiation treatments and a radiation implant, something that is rarely done today. I went through the fatigue phase, but I convinced myself I wasn't going to stop. I never stopped. I went to work, went for my treatment, and went home. Then I started all over again the next day.

The thing that surprised me the most to learn is that breast cancer is not prejudiced, and that my number one risk factor was just being a woman. But I never took the time to say "why me?" I wanted to keep a positive attitude and be a testimony to other women that early detection does save lives.

This has been a beautiful journey. I've had the love and support of so many people. Breast cancer has helped me become the kind of person I was probably meant to be. I've always been a caring person, but it's made me care more about other people."

Read the whole story at PA Breast Cancer Coalition: http://www.pabreastcancer.org/stories_lyda-stewart.html

First Grade - Fourth Ward School - 1947

How many of our classmates do you recognize?

More news from Joyce Moody Fletcher

Denny,
I had a request, this morning, from Peggy Jo Knepp Thompson for the e-mail address for our CHS website and I sent her a copyof your original e-mail dated 04/04 with this info. But, before I sent that to her - I went "exploring" to check it out and found it.

Have to assume that you have put my "notes" from the first planning meeting on the "blog" - for which I thank you. I'm not completely "comfortable" with this amazing machine that takes up so much of my retired time - and therefore really hesitant to attempt entering on the blog. You had offered your help and I'm extremely grateful. My friend, Mick, is very confident with the computer and he has taught me a lot. I'll approach him, this weekend, to sit down with me and get me on that site so that I can communicate with y'all.

One other note, I was very upset when I saw the dumpster outside the former Natoli's Restaurant (ate a lot of pasta there since we moved here in 1957) - I assumed they were going to totally raze the building. But, as fate would have it, they only "gutted it" and actually did a very nice job of "remodeling" and converted it into a garage. Do you remember, by any chance, was it originally a garage and they converted it into a restaurant?? Also, while employed at the Pa. Dept. of Public Welfare, I worked with one of the"Natoli daughters" - Helena Natoli Valenza. She still lives in Clfd. a few blocks below my Mother on West Side.

Again, my sincere thanks for putting the 1st meeting notes on our class website. I've written personal notes to a few classmates asking them if they have home computers to provide me with their e-mail addresses. Had one returned so far - Patrick Trimpey - which I forwarded to both you and Wil. Hoping for more cooperation, and planning to write next to Joyce Schultz Fuge, our Class of '59 President, to encourage her participation.

Visited by phone, yesterday, with Bonnie Henchbarger Powell, and she informed me that Gary Bolton is in the DuBois Hospital to have "stents" inserted and if that doesn't work he faces open heart surgery. I'm sending him a card from the class. Also, Joyce Billotte DiFelice lost her mother this past week. I'll send her a sympathy card.

I must remember to ask Herb (next time we talk) about his brother-in-law, Ron "Sam" Potter - Sam also had open heart surgery at DuBois Hospital recently (several bypasses) . Sam & wife, Claire (Herb's sister) now live in St. Marys.Enough rambling for now. Thanks, Joyce

Pat Trimpey's email address

Hi Guys, I received an e-mail from Patrick M. Trimpey today: His e-mail address is: Patwalk@aol.com He wrote that they are planning to relocate to the Butler, PA area. And, when they do he will let us know their new address. Later, jef
- Posted by Joyce Moody Fletcher

To post your news, information, photos:

E-mail information, photos, etc. to Dennis Mollura (dmollura1@verizon.net), Herb Maney (pcmaker@gotmc.net), Suzy Sherkel Nagle (suzy_the_pest@hotmail.com), Joyce Moody Fletcher (jmoody@atlanticbb.net) or Wil Shirey (wshirey@pa.net). If you want directions on posting your own information, just e-mail one of us and we will provide written directions.

Karen Shirey explains the 'Jessica' factor

I've noticed your emails re: confusion about "Jessica". Wil has or will respond to your other topics, but I'm the guilty culprit re: "Jessica".

When Wil and I were working on obtaining snail mail/email addresses for "The Bash" we worked with Joyce Moody-Fletcher (CHS Class of '59 Secretary). She is amazingly dedicated to maintaining your class's database info! At one point she drove to one of your classmate's sibling's home and sat outside until the person came home so she could obtain a current address for your classmate! At that point I coined her "Jessica" after Jessica Fletcher's "Murder She Wrote". We've had a lot of fun with this - and I'll probably call her "Jessica" instead of Joyce when we gather again.

I loved meeting you at "The Bash", Sue (Speicher) - we so appreciated your making the effort to be here......I also love the look of the Prius (I'm still driving a Volvo---boring!). And Denny, it's great to know all is well with you. We're looking forward to sharing a fun time with everyone in 2009 - Lord willing!
Karen

Sue Speicher offers to do the reunion booklet

Hi, Wil, well, I'm not retired yet--as I told Suzy, I just bought a Prius, so two more years at the grindstone, until I get it paid off . . . I was going to ask you what I could do to contribute, from such a remote location a thousand miles away--I figured you'd think, yeah, right. But I think I've got it figured out.

Let me do the reunion booklet. I have a lot of experience with desktop publishing, since I used to sponsor our school newspaper, and I promise I'll make it gorgeous. I'll need help, of course, tracking down the class information, but once I have it, I can collate it, design it, add some graphics, and get it printed. (How many of us were there/are there? Maybe I can help pay for the printing, too.)

I didn't want to write to Joyce/Jessica since I'm not sure I know who that is . . . please one of you tell me. If my memory fails, I'll look her up in the Bison. (Not an insult--I was just always in my own world.) Thanks, and keep in touch.
Sue

Wil Shirey responds to Joyce Moody Fletcher's meeting notes

Joyce,
Thank you so much for sending your "unofficial" minutes of the meeting. I think the country club would be a great place to have the 50th. Would that keep some people away? I don't know. On the other hand, it might draw some people like Giles Lanager who has played golf since he was 4 like Tiger Woods. I would love to see him. He was a lot of fun. We could meet at the first tee, and have the golf team, Joyce Undercofler, June Anderson, Bonnie Wilson, and Giles Lanager tee off after being properly introduced. Great fun!

I will happily co-chair the entertainment committee with Suzy. We had as much fun preparing for the Bash as we had the night of. What a hoot! I will drop her a note and let her know that I have volunteered. I agree with the background music that Joyce U suggested. No need to pay someone for music that no one dances to anyway. If we're going to have a favor of some kind, I think there should be a committee to review suggestions, perhaps chaired by Patty McCoy Livelsberger. Karen and I have a thought or two on that.

Please add Jerriann Jury to the list you give Inspector O'Day for tracking down some of our “lost” classmates. We need help from the Cheerleaders to lead a cheer at the reunion. In that regard, I will write to Barb Ondo Skripek and Joyce Amon Michaels.

Peggy Jo will surely have a long list of potential performances. In fact, she may want to audition for the entertainment committee. I'm sure she will be happy to participate. Suzy Nagle told me a funny story before the Bash about she and Bev Caldwell Law going to a dance school with Peggy Jo. After the class, she and Bev would come out of the class looking all frazzeled, red-faced and out of breath, and Peggy Jo left without any trace of stress and every hair in place. We were blessed to have many special people in our class and Peggy Jo was one of them. What fun! That's it for now. I have the 23rd of June on my calendar and Karen and I will be there.

You're the best,
Wil