Fred Brostoff

In the User Forums, I've just posted a new "Politcal / Social Commentary" item; namely, "ETHS Football Players Kneel During National Anthem" (as reported by the Chicago Tribune).  If you decide to offer your thoughts on this, please remember to be constructive by "keeping it civil".  

Susan Spiegel (Pastin)

I'm proud of Supt. Witherspoon's comments in support of free speech - and proud of the football -players who knelt in support of social and racial justice!

Bert (Hank) Gideon

I support free speech and expression.  However, if you want others to support your  cause that you are protesting, then you want  others to be sympathetic to your cause.  By kneeling during the National Anthem, all you do is alienate half the population.  Your cause gets lost and others issues over ride what you are protesting!

Robert Lindner

I posted a poem on the site Fred suggested,

But looking at the respose here so far

I cant' help thinking about the protests

That came in the sixties and seventies

But the main thing is that it's about the team

By the way, New Trier knelt too.

And the team will kneel as a team because That’s what teams do, as they honor the cause

Of their teammates, so they kneel, not to pray, But to protest and hope a better day

Will come when they can rise together and Hold their heads high together, as they stand

Together and be proud. But now they kneel Together because they’re a team and feel

The passion of their teammate and brother So they kneel together for each other.

And they “Rise, Rise For Evanston,” and fight And try to win the game with all their might

“Fighting hard for every yard.” As before, As a team, “As the crashing echoes roar!”

And we cheer, raising heads and banners high.  Because in team we know there is no I.

So as they kneel what we should do is praise Their teamwork, as they hope for better days,

As we once hoped, so we know how they feel. As they stand together, even though they kneel.

Joan Hirshman

Thank you so much, Robert.  Your words truly touched my heart! (I just edited this because I referred to Fred, not Robert. I'm so sorry for that mistake.)

Jack Rakove

Let's play two! For all you Cubs fans who are wondering whether the Cubs can repeat as world champions--a thought none of us would ever have entertained previously-- here is a review of four books on their success last year that has just been posted. Hope you enjoy it.

http://www.publicbooks.org/how-the-cubs-won/

Fred Brostoff

While we appreciate the enthusiasm of our classmates who posted comments in the Message Forum about the current "kneeling during the National Anthem" issue, the Message Forum is not the proper place for such comments.  Comments about controversial matters should be posted in the User Forums, and we have created a special forum just for such debate:  Political / Social Commentary.  The Message Forum is not intended to be used to debate points of view; rather it is intended to be a place where classmates can share info about themselves or events...info that would be of general interest.

Thanks for your cooperation and understanding.

Robert Lindner

I just turned 71 and  since I can

still enjoy life,  I'm a lucky man.

I'm a lucky man and I'm having fun.

Writing about Lucky 71.

Lucky 71

“I'm an ordinary man,

Who desires nothing more than

an ordinary chance,

to live exactly as he likes,

and do precisely what he wants.

An average man am I,

of no eccentric whim,

Who likes to live his life, free of strife,

doing whatever he thinks is best, for him,”

I'm an ordinary man

by Lerner and Lowe for My Fair Lady.

“I've got sunshine on a cloudy day. When it's cold outside I've got the month of May.
I guess you'd say, What can make me feel this way? My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl).” "My Girl" by the Temptations

My birthday’s passed by and I’m one year more.

I’m one year closer than I was before,

At 70, on my way through old age.

To wherever I’m going, turning page

By page, being happy to be alive,

I am on my way to seventy-five,

And staying healthy, with good luck – so far,

My piece of the world has a lucky star,

But it’s just, “So far,” as my aunt would say.

Live in the moment, take life day by day.

No one knows their future, so I must live

In each day’s moments, and I shall give

Them what I can give. It’s probably not

As much as I’d like, but it’s what I’ve got.

Of course, that’s all there is, but it has all

Been pretty good “So far!”  So you can call

Me, “Lucky.” I know it’s true. My birthday

Was a happy one. So I’m on my way

To wherever I’m going. But time goes fast.

Moment to moment, as long as it’ll last,

I’ll ride my lucky star as far as I

Can, as far as it will take me on my

Journey through life and I’m 71,

So most of my trip’s already “been there done

That.” It was fun for the most part, I’d say

That I’ll do it again, but, anyway,

Time will tell if the lucky star’s still mine.

It’s the luckiest life I could design,

If I could design luck, but though I can

make choices, I’m an ordinary man,

Who’s lucky, but that’s all I want to be.

At 71, I have to be me.

Writing that poem, and singing that song,

My Girl is playing, so I’ll sing along.

I’m 71, and wish you luck too.

But just “So Far” That’s the best I can do.

So call me, “Lucky.” I know that it’s true.

I’ve got sunshine, because the rain’s passed through.

So I can go out and walk in the fall,

As I like to do and that is all, all

I need or want, just a walk in the sun,

Happy and healthy at 71.

Lucky 71, singing my song,

My Girl is playing, so I’ll sing along.

But I can’t hit those high notes anymore

But I’ll do my best, since I know the score.

My desire is nothing more than an

Ordinary man, who sings what he can.

Sherrie Igoe (Dembrowski)

John O'Boyle

I am pleased to announce that Easter Mysteries will have its premier academic appearance at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI on November 8-10. There will be a screening followed by an interfaith discussion at 6pm in the Warch Center. Thursday and Friday I will be involved in classes in religion, musical theater, composition and scriptwriting. I hope this is the first of many.


 

Vernon Neece (Neece)

Well done, John.  I hope things go well for you & you can enjoy the experience.

Kathy Dalgety (Miehls)

What a fantastic opportunity! Congratulations, John.

Gale Glassner (Twersky)

In response to John O'Boyle's announcement post on Oct 29, 17:

I've commented on your Easter Mysteries production on FB but now is a great opportunity to rave about it here. It is a fabulous production. The actor/singers were all outstanding and their voices were top notch, incredible. This is a production for everyone regardless of religious views. It is totally mesmerizing. Congratulations, John...you did it again.

Vicki Hlavacek

Congratulations, John, I hope all goes well!!!

William Wanlund

Good on you, John.  And Lawrence is lucky to get you.

Susan Spiegel (Pastin)

Loved the poem.  And congratulations on "Easter Mysteries" being performed!  2 talented guys.

 

Fred Brostoff

The November 16, 2017 Chicago Tribune online included a story about the 32 greatest Illinois high school football teams, and they included the 1971 ETHS football team (which included future Chicago Bears player Emery Moorehead).  The article included the following photo of Lazier Field, and I'm sure that many of you remember sitting in the stands yelling "Give me an E":

Richard Darling

the 1961 team was also mentioned but not in the top 32

Terry Levine (Rose)

That is so awesome....I wonder how they chose to choose 32?

Holly Romans (Green)

How times have changed.  The field looks beautiful with all the color on the grass at mid-field and in the end zones.  We certainly never had that nor the big lights which make night games possible.  No, our games were always during the day except every two years when we played Maine Township East as our opener at night and in September when it was not cold. Those two night games I remember vividly especially all the pent up energy in anticipation of another great season.  Such great memories.  Thanks, Fred, for the rush of nostalgia and unwinding the clock a bit.

Alison Van Swearingen (Brown)

Who will ever forget Wally Schnell standing up encouraging the students with:  "Gimme an E"!!  No one!  The years have rolled by into the future but that sight and sound will always remain.  Thanks, Fred for taking us back in time for a few minutes.

Perry Fisher

The field looks very different from when I played on it. Thanks for bringing those memories back again.

Kathy Dalgety (Miehls)

Um, Holly...it's astroturf. Expensive fake grass. The Chicago Bears Foundation donated something like $250,000 toward the cost of refurbishing the field. It does look great. And the lights allow ETHS to do night games (Friday Night Lights) in a variety of sports (football, soccer, lacrosse) and rent it out to other sports organizations when ETHS isn't using it (e.g., Sundays).

Holly Romans (Green)

Thanks, Kathy, for the explanation re: the beautiful field.  Real or fake, it looks beautiful and howwonderful the stadium is used for other venues.  I always thought the criticism of astroturf was that it caused more injuries due to it being a harder surface.  Is there any truth to that?

Paula Massey

I sure remember being in the Pompom Section and shouting all those cheers as we waved those pompoms. And the hotdogs with the pickle slice. What a great way to spend Saturday afternoons.

I also remember bus trips to away games........... Went to my husband's 50th at Proviso East just recently and saw their field again after so many years. I remembered going there on the bus because they were in our conference then.

Paula Massey