Welcome...

We welcome you to this Memorial Day weekend. In this update it is fitting to have a post written for us by Steve Karger sharing his thoughts from his recent visit to the 9/11 museum. It certainly is a time of reflection for both those we lost that horrific day along with the many wars we have fought. Thank you Steve for sharing with us.

We also step back in time and challenge you to name fellow classmates from their 3rd grade Strawberry Hill class photo. Our classmate spotlight profiles Alan Cannizzaro and his impressive accomplishments. Finally, we are excited to pass along the date of our 45th Class Reunion. The three Co-Chairwomen are hard at work trying to present us with another great reunion weekend. As more information of the location, etc. becomes available we will gladly pass it along to you.

Until then, we wish all of you well!

Your Blog Team

Save the date...

Classmate spotlight...

Ever shop at the former A&P on Main Street? Remember the back parking lot and you could always count on finding produce trash strewn around the garbage bin back then...well, I've found the man responsible for that perennial mess, his name is Alan Cannizzaro!

Our classmate spotlight focuses in on one of the "good guys" of our class, Alan Cannizzaro. Alan set aside time for us recently to share life since WHS graduation.

One of the "Strawberry Hill" kids Alan looks back and has good memories of his school experience, especially the friendship he gained. Gary Mehes, Ken Kertez, Roger Puente and especially Joe Mecsics. To this day you can hear the tone of the conversation change when he speaks of his late friend Joe. They were best of friends, Best Man at each other's wedding...Joe's passing still stings. "Life was good, I was blessed with so many friends from the Fulton Street area", says Alan.

One friend that was his first crush was our fellow classmate Charlotte Enik Klecan:  "I knew Al since I was 5 years old.  We grew up in the same neighborhood with our houses right behind each other.  We were schoolmates starting in Kindergarten at School #3 on Strawberry Hill right through WHS.  He would be the first one to tell you that I was his kindergarten sweetheart. Al and I were picked for the safety patrol in 4th grade along with six other fellow classmates (Christine Gill, Susan McCauley, Diane Hamilton, Joe Mecsics, Tommy Bird, Robert Anderson) and were thanked by the teachers with an end of the year trip to Palisades Park!   Al has this crazy sense of humor that always keeps us in "stitches," he is proud of his Italian heritage, he quotes dialogue from his favorite movie, "The Godfather,"and without a doubt, is still deeply in love with his wife Marge after almost 39 years of marriage.  I am so happy that Al and I have stayed in touch after all these years. I consider Al one of my dearest friends and will always cherish his friendship."  

Alan attended Jersey City State College and today he sports a Masters Degree in Aviation Science. Our fellow classmate has gone on to be the Manager of Labor and Employee Relations for the FAA. Although the demands of the position are rough Alan and Marge make a point of getting away whenever possible. They enjoy travel, especially cruises. Stealing some free time at home you will find him enjoying his beloved '63 Chevy. Alan met Marge at the Gadeks Friday evening dances, married 39 years and proud parents of two children, Gina and Joseph.

When asked about WHS and recent reunions Alan asked that we pass along his message to fellow alumni considering attending our next reunion. His message is: "Do IT!". "Marge and I remarked after attending the 45th how we made new friendships with folks I hadn't expected to be there or thought I would be spending time with during the evening. We have reached a point in life where we are who we are, no one tries to impress, simply attend and enjoy each other's company. Enjoy is what we did..I highly recommend everyone attend if at all possible. Marge and I will be there".

In our conversation we discovered that Alan had a part time job during HS...yes, he was the one that worked in the produce department and took the trash out at the A&P. Alan...thank you for your time and we look forward to catching up with you and Marge next year!

Shared with us...

Recently, I had an opportunity to visit the new 9/11 Memorial Museum in Lower Manhattan.  I would like to share these experiences with the WHS Class of 1970.

 

First some background.  I did not know anyone who died or suffered a loss on 9/11.  At the same time, I remember VERY well how I felt when everything took place almost 13 years ago.  I was angry, sad, and very emotional.  As a widower, I felt a very strong sense of loss for those who lost someone close.  In 2007, I met and dated someone who happened to be in the North Tower the day the planes hit.  She was on the 40^th floor and had little difficulty getting out of the building.  What made all this tragic for her was that 9/11 happens to be her birthday.  In addition, her brother was an NYPD cop that day and went down to the WTC area to help in the rescue effort and rescue his sister.  Because of this he still suffers from the effects of exposure.

 

I spent 5 hours in the museum yesterday.  It was one of the most incredible museum experiences I’ve ever had.  The people who helped put this museum together deserve a great deal of credit with how they put exhibits together.  Many of these people are survivors or family members of the victims of the terrorist attack.  The museum features large and small.  There is a large piece of the antenna that was on top of the North Tower.  There are also vehicles that are present that were damaged by the attack.  These vehicles were once part of the NYPD, the FDNY, or the Port Authority.  There are also pieces of the structure of the two towers.  This includes beams from the buildings…bent out of shape when the planes hit…and a slurry wall which was built when the towers were built in the 1970s.  This wall was designed to keep water from the Hudson River from leaking into the building.  Despite the heavy damage done to the buildings by the attack, the wall held…and is still in existence. 

 

And then there was the small:  Items such as ID cards of victims, MANY, MANY pictures of victims, jewelry from the victims that was recovered. Momentos.  All of these items were difficult to view…but important to view to get a good sense of what was lost on that day.  There are also recordings:  Recordings of the victims calling loved ones or friends,  recordings of family members, and recordings of the rescuers.

 

There were also exhibits that described the chronology of the events of 911/01.  EVERYTHING is included here including what happened at the Trade Center, how our leaders reacted to what happened, and the attacks at the Pentagon and on United 93.

 

An extensive museum…and a very emotional experience.  Several times, I found myself wanting to leave.  Why?  Out of great sadness for the losses of that day.  At times it was difficult to view a lot of what was going on.  And renewal:  There are exhibits showing what has happened since 9/11 including what happened to the terrorists and also about the renewal of what’s been called “Ground Zero”.  We watched a short great movie about ground zero and where it is today.

 

I STRONGLY advise ANYONE in the NYC area or ANYWHERE that they visit this museum when they can.  I consider the area to be hallowed ground:  Not much different then the USS Arizona in Hawaii, some Civil War battlefield or Omaha Beach in Normandy France.  These are all areas where Americans died for their country and for our freedom.

 

Steve Karger May 17, 2014

 

WHS

Can you identify them....

A step back in time...

Senior Class Play Program: The Education of Hyman Kaplan,

Performances February 12-14, 1970.