Robert Lindner

I did not remember that there was a Venetian Theme.

But it's not something I would have payed attention to.

I was too busy growing up and looking at  the girls.

I also did not remember the spelling of Miss Kraana.

Is that the correct spelling?

Patrick Furlong

Her name was Diane Craane, and she began teaching at Nichols in the '57-'58 or '58-'59 school year, I think, because, if memory serves, she student taught at Dewey in the '56-'57 or '57-'58 school year (5th or 6th grade). After Nichols she remarried and co-founded Opera DaCapo in NYC, which folded a couple of years ago. As far as I know, she still lives in the NYC area.

Also, in response to Pauline's reference to a male music teacher, his name was Roger Folstrom. He went on to teach at the university level, eventually at the University of Maryland from which he retired. He passed away a few years ago.

Sylvia Ramming (Wulffen)

Some of the comments about Nichols school brought back a painful memory about the Science teacher , Mrs Drey, though in my mind I remember her as Mrs Gray. It was my first day in 8th grade and I didn’t speak any English yet. I got a good yelling from her in front of the entire class and tried to act cool about the whole thing, not knowing why I was being singled out for this tirade. A trip to the washroom with my first friend in this country, Ruth Gross, made it clear that I had committed the sin of wearing lipstick to school. It’s the best of times and the worst of times we tend to remember. Fortunately, the good memories far outweigh the bad ones!

Stephen Bruhn

Dr. Sherman Garland was my home room teacher in 7th and 8th grade.  Despite the fact he was "found hiding in a closet", I remember him as a caring and excellent teacher.  After reading the comments about Nichols  I think I will visit to take a tour of the building.  I remember walking home from school with Lincoln Krochmal (?) and stopping at a convience store at the corner of Main and Sherman for a snack.  Great school with many memories.

Robert Lindner

Ok. Let's have the good memories.

Thanks to Pat I got Miss Craane's spelling right.

I don't guarantee perfection for the rst

It was Sixty Years Ago.

So Let's go.

Sixty Years Ago

Sixty years ago, the eleven year

Old me was at Nichol’s. Miss Vitek was

My homeroom teacher. And now I am here,

Sixty years later and I’m there, because

Of Mrs. Morton. So I’m now trying

To get into my eleven year old

Avatar (almost twelve) and defying

Time and space. And if I can get a hold

Of the young me of sixty years ago

What should I get my avatar to do?

My memory is flawed, so I don’t know.

I’m sure it’s somewhere in there waiting to

Pop out in a dream, but so are many

Other memories waiting to take their

Turn on the track, but I haven’t any

Reason to bring them back here from somewhere

In there. Whereas, the Nichol’s me is now

In my mind waiting for me to remember

And sing “Days at Nichol’s School” that’s how

The song goes. I was there in September

Nineteen Fifty-eight for my first year, sixty

Years ago. Going on twelve. Not quite a child.

But I was not thinking who I would be

As I tried out being teenage and smiled

And sang for Miss Craane. Now that’s how you

Spell her name. We sang Amahl and the Night

Visitors and “Fair Cuba,” I think? “Here’s to

Days we’ll never forget.” I think that’s right.

Sixty years ago. “Long time passing. Where

Have all the flowers gone? Long time ago.”

But that song came later, long after “Fair

Cuba” and Amahl, when December snow

Came down. “Here’s to days we’ll never regret.

Joy and gladness rule.” That’s how it goes, but

The almost twelve year old me can’t forget

The young girls picking flowers. They are what

My avatar has put into my dreams.

And I’ll dance with their lovely memories.

They won’t really be with me, but it seems

“Where have all the young girls gone?” won’t please

My young avatar, who saw beauty then,

But did not know what to do sixty years

Ago.  The more I remember again,

The more my young avatar sees and hears,

The more I enjoy being back in time.

Of course, I just remember the good things.

Like burgers at Walker Brother’s and I’m

With you sharing a shake and onion rings.

And listening to “All I have to do is dream”

On the box and that’s all I have to

Do now is just let the memories stream

Into my consciousness. So is that you?

Is that me? I’m not sure my memory

Is real or just a blur of many things,

From distant years that are now history.

Then “All I have to do is dream” sings

My Avatar and sings Volare and

Suddenly we’re there, sixty years ago,

And we’re watching American Bandstand,

And watching a horseman know as Zorro

Come out of the night. Sixty years, I know

That’s a long time ago. Even before

The Beatles were The Beatles. But Castro

And Che were in “Fair Cuba” in a war.

So it wasn’t so fair there at the time,

But I was just almost twelve so it was

Probably not on my radar, but I’m

Just remembering the good stuff because

Who wants to dwell on the flaws? Though they say

Repressed memories can be unhealthy,

I’ll stick to what will bring a smile my way.

And remember the songs from the movie

Gigi, which came out that year, Nineteen

Fifty-eight. Did I see it with you? Why,

That would have been great. And it could have been

Just what happened then. Why not? “Ah yes, I

Remember it well.” I sing in my best

Imitation of Maurice Chevalier.

Sixty years ago, you must know the rest

It was just that way, don’t forget the day.

So “Here’s, to days we’ll never forget. Days

At Nichol’s School.” And to good memories.

“Joy and gladness rule.” I’m sure I did gaze

 At you through the haze, but I saw just the trees

And missed the forest. But my memory

Is hazy too. It’s sixty years ago.

So I will go back there and change history.

My dream will be better for it, you know.

What will my dream be? Though I’ll never tell,

You know. “Ah yes, I remember it well.”

Karen Kaz

We used to laugh about Mr. Bunsen, science teacher, like Bunson burner. And Miss Curtain was the sewing/Home Ec. Teacher. (I loved Home Ec.) We got a kick out of that.  Pre-adolescent humor.  Mr. Borchard would read aloud those scary (Poe) stories while we worked. When all was quiet, he’d bang on the table and we’d jump 10 feet in the air. Once Mr Borchard had a big, red mark in the middle of his forehead. When we asked him what happened, he said it was from his pet octopus (or squid) that he kept in his bathtub. He must have gotten a kick out of the expressions on our little faces. No one questioned it cause he was such a kook. We really did believe that he had a pet like that. He was such a breath of fresh air. An unforgettable character. He never separated himself from us by sitting at a desk; he sat amongst us, reading his scary stories while we looked forward to one of his unexpected stunts.  Unlike Miss Crey, science teacher, who never moved from behind her big science desk. You had to watch yourself cause she’d invariably say something edgy. Like she told someone who was attempting to answer her question: “Hurry up, your’re going around the block to get next door.”  That phrase stuck in my head forever. And, Mrs Gurlock (sp?) math.... I had no idea what was going on in there. It was a huge class. She was intimidating. Dreaded going to that class.  Tho it was in a nice, bright room. But Lorraine Morton, our 7th and 8th grade homeroom, SS , and Language Arts teacher was a gem. Such a sweet person who treated all of us with kindness and respect. I was very shy. The youngest in the class. I remember well so many people in that class.. But the boys definitely dominated the room. Big personalities. Good that we had Mrs Morton as a wonderful role model of a strong, kind woman. I’ll never forget when she had to tell us about Cheryl Stevens. We were sitting at our desks waiting for her; and she walked into the room crying. She told us about Cheryl and her cancer diagnosis. We were so shocked. But she helped us understand it; giving us the emotional support we needed. She was a special person. A huge thing about Mrs Morton that I will always treasure and forever be thankful for.... she never humiliated, insulted, or was sarcastic to anyone. For the respect that she showed to all  of us, we respected and loved her back. That meant more to me than learning the Constitution or reading Tom Sawyer. 

Carolyn Wyld (Saul)

Karen, not only Miss Curtain, the sewing teacher, but Miss Baker the cooking teacher!

Robert Lindner

I liked doing math. So I liked Mrs. Gerlach. 

You tend to like what you are good at.

And get recognition for.

Arlene Avery (Burke)

I attended Mayor Lorraine Morton's funeral yesterday.  It was a beautiful tribute to her and her service to Evanston. She lived across the street from my aunt and was a great friend of my mom and dad so she was more like family to me.  We need more people like her in this world today!

Vernon Neece (Neece)

Speaking of Nichols Jr High Math teachers, I had Mr Lesenfled (?ap?) at least 1 year.  He was deadly accurate with a chalk eraser.  He would catch a student with his/her head down on their desk and launch a dusty chalk eraser that would land on his/her desk and explode in chalk dust.  He also liked to walk around while he taught carrying a thick meter stick.  Occasionally, he would whack his meter stick on the nearest desktop to get out attention.  If it happened to be my desk I would just about leap out of my desk & soil my pants.  Found memories.  Regardless, I remember him as a good math teacher.

Robert Lindner

Happy October Birthday

I sent Karl Morthole my Octoberfest Poem

To check my German. I also have another

Birthday Poem to share. It's called

WORKIN' ON EIGHTY

Don’t want to take on anything weighty,

Since I’m seventy, working on eighty

I want to “take it easy, but take it!”

As Studs would say. Since I want to make it

To eighty, I’ll take it easy, be slow

And steady, since that wins the race, I know,

At least for the tortoise that beat the hare.

In Aesop’s fable. So I’ll climb the stair

One step at a time, and walk down the lane

As long as this world will let me remain,

Repeating my refrain day after day

As long as the earth keeps turning my way.

Working on eighty, as time passes by,

As long as I’m here, I won’t wonder why.

I’ll just take it, but I’ll take it easy,

And take some heat, as long as it’s breezy

Enough to cool me a bit in the shade.

I made it so far, I’ve most of it made,

I’m ninety percent of the way as I’m

Seventy-two this year. My Goodness! Time

Passes so fast. Though now I take it slow,

Time still goes as fast as it wants to go,

Through each minute, hour, day, year, each decade

But I will keep marching in time’s parade,

Repeating my refrain day after day

As long as the earth keeps turning my way.

Working on eighty, as time passes by,

As long as I’m here, I won’t wonder why.

I will just take it easy and I’ll leave

The questions behind me since I believe

Taking it easy, there’ll be time for me

To see all the sights that I want to see

I can walk slowly and still have beauty

All around me. Though “what will be will be,”

Life can be beautiful to me, as I

Take it slow and easy, or at least try

To find the path to age gracefully, while

Enjoying the view and smiling life’s smile,

Repeating my refrain day after day

As long as the earth keeps turning my way.

Working on eighty, as time passes by,

As long as I’m here, I won’t wonder why.

I’ve made it this far and I can suppose

I’ll make it to eighty. Why not? Who knows?

Let’s see how it goes. One day at a time

One step at a time, while I can still climb

But I’ll take it slow, I’m in no hurry.

I’ll take things in turn, try not to worry,

Try not to fret about what I might get

And try to believe that the best is yet

To come. While my sun rises and wakes me,

I’ll keep going wherever life takes me

Repeating my refrain day after day

As long as the earth keeps turning my way.

Working on eighty, as time passes by,

As long as I’m here, I won’t wonder why.

I’m here and I am who I am, a son

Of this universe for seventy-one

Years, who will be seventy-two this year

And working on eighty, but now I’m here

And making my way through life’s little maze

And taking it easy through the new days

That come one at a time without a plan

I’ll do what I can, I’m that kind of man.

And I’ll sing my songs, some old and some new,

I’ll do what I can do and continue

Repeating my refrain day after day

As long as the earth keeps turning my way.

Working on eighty, as time passes by,

As long as I’m here, I won’t wonder why.

Why the earth turns, why the sun burns, because

I know they follow the natural laws

Just as I must, and go from dust to dust,

But for now it’s just to eighty or bust

Though if I get there, I’ll hope for some more

But I’ll take it slow and see what’s in store

For me. And if it’s still me smiling back

In the mirror, I’ll be on the right track

For one more day on the train to take me

To where I’m going. You know where I’ll be.

Repeating my refrain day after day

As long as the earth keeps turning my way.

Working on eighty, as time passes by,

As long as I’m here, I won’t wonder why.

Working on eighty, as time passes by,

As long as I’m here, I won’t wonder why.

Kathy Lunn (Edison)

Hello to all,

I just want to let the committee know of a deceased classmate....my twin brother James Lunn passed away Sept. 30.....Jim was a very private person and he had always chosen not to put his contact information out - even tho I suggested it several times over the years when I would receive a newsletter or message thru the website - it was his choice and I respected it.

Jim was one of the greatest men I knew - brother, son, uncle, father and grandfather - he was also a 20 year Army veteran who loved his country to the utmost - he did three tours in Vietnam and was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart - just proud to have done his part for all his fellow Americans....he then went on to a 25+ year career in corporate security and traveled the world in that position.

There are so many memories for me - I will miss his humor (not everyone "got it"), his caring and generosity (his first words were always "what can I do"), his texts and phone calls (some long, some short) and so very much more - he touched so many lives. I will always remember how so many of our conversations included the phrase "It's a twin thing" and he had a shirt made for me ..our thoughts ran parallel 99% of the time.

So, if you, by chance, remember Jim or if not that's okay too.....I just wanted to let you know..

Thank you all,

Kathy Lunn Edison

Fred Brostoff

Kathy Lunn Edison's post about the passing of her twin brother, James Lunn, has been copied into the In Memory site.  I've deleted the classmate comments about James Lunn from the In Memory section and, instead, posted them in the In Memory section under the name of James Lunn.

If additional classmates wish to post comments about James Lunn, please do so by going to the In Memory site of the website and clicking on "James Lunn" in the 2018 section.

Robert Lindner

Happy Birthday To Me

Going on 73.

As many of us are

So here's to our lucky star.

Three Cheers For Seventy-two

It’s 9 times 8 or 8 times 9. Or 4

Times 18. 4 times as old as I was

When I started college. I am 3 score

Years and 12 today. And therefore because

I am still here, it’s my birthday party

Number 72. It’s 72 years 

Since my birth and I’m still here, lucky me.

So I’ll propose a toast and start with cheers

Or L’Chaim or Prosit or Skol or

Whatever they say in whatever tongue

You like to toast in. Here’s to many more

Birthdays for me and you to stay among

The living and enjoy our lives. Why not?

Winter will be cold, summer will be hot

But I’m 72, and autumn’s what

I’m enjoying since autumn’s what I’ve got.

 An autumn birthday in the autumn of

My life. Twice lucky, as fall colors peak

And sun shines brightly from the blue above

I know that I am playing hide and seek

With age, but I feel young and although I’m

72, who is counting? Not me.

I know I’m lucky and let father time

Do the counting. It’s 24 times 3.

I’ll keep multiplying and let time do

The addition. It is life’s condition

For all of us. Birthday 72

Now is yesterday and I see the sun

And a blue sky today. So I can say,

Safely, I’m 72 and lucky

To be here another year and a day.

Yesterday, it may have been too cocky.

It may have been bad luck. Better to wait  

And not tempt fate. So happy to be here,

And 72 till my next birth date.

So here’s to life, L’Chaim, to next year.

Cheers,

Robert

John Joice

Nancy Schroeder

John Joice.... i love your thoughton being your age in the am and the pm. It doesn’t seem to hurt as much😝

Fred Brostoff

I'm sure that our classmates (and, in fact, the nation) share my heartfelt "Thank You" to our classmate veterans and to all of the nation's veterans...for the sacrifices they made so that we would be secure.  And we pray for the comfort of those families whose sons, daughters, husbands and wives made the ultimate sacrifice.

Rosanne Bass (Keynan)

Absolutely, Fred. Very kind of you to post this, especially since so many of our classmates served.

Holly Romans (Green)

Fred, how lovely that you made that post.  I totally agree with Roseanne and her lovely response to you.  To those of you who served, I salute you!  To those servicemen in all our wars who were wounded physically or mentally, for those who perished, and for their families, I owe you all a debt of unending gratitude and eternal thanks.  May God bless you.

Susan Holsten (Blumer)

Big thanks to those who have served our country so we may live in a free life here. Those of you that have served are due so many accolades, thanks,and special events filled with much happiness. I salute all of you!

Sherrie Igoe (Dembrowski)

Paula Massey

I feel especially sad about Paradise CA. Friends and I stopped there back in the 80's to provisition before camping at Mt. Lassen National Park. Such devastation.......................

Paula

Lincoln Krochmal

Thanks to all who have expressed concerns about the wildfires in California. They are as bad as they look on the news. We are very fortunate to live near San Jose so we are south of the campfire north of San Francisco and way north of the Woolsey fir near La-San Diego. We have lots of smoke drifting down our way so best not to spend a lot of time potdoors except when absoluttely necessary. My family is fine where we live but please do continue to pray for those affected by the fires. More devastating than a hurricsine. No earthquakes thank god.

Best wishes to all our ETHS colleagues.

Lincoln

Don Hall

Hi Classmates and Happy Thanksgiving to all.

As I reflect on my gratitudes for living in this country and our shared Evanston/ETHS experiences, much foundationally comes from the guaranteed freedoms and rights articulated in our Declaration and Constitution.  For those of us who have sons, daughters and other relations serving our country as protectors of those guarantees, this day gives profound meaning to the giving of thanks upon their safe return from the perilous duty in combat zones far and wide.  In the photo below please witness the family joy for my son, Matthew (USAFA '01) upon his return in January 2010 to Seymour-Johnson AFB, NC from Bagram AB, Afghanistan (second deployment) with his wing of F-15E "StrikeEagles."  Matt, then a Captain, now a Lt Col in the Illinois Guard as a C-130H Pilot (47 years ago he would have been my aircraft commander an I, his navigator) is also employed as a Test/Demo Pilot for Textron Aviation-Defense (AT-6 "Wolverine" & "Scorpion" aircraft) in Witchita, KS.

I am also reminded that, I believe, one of our classmates once posted the link to the Kate Smith's original presentation of "God Bless America" from the late 1930s  (https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=_Kr1W_eOCaaZjwSXwbHgAg&q=kate+smith+original+god+bless+america&btnK=Google+Search&oq=original+Kate+Smith&gs_l=psy-ab.3.0.0i22i30.3384.13672..16614...6.0..0.102.1450.22j1......0....1..gws-wiz.....0..0j0i131j0i10.P8K83MXVQeA ) of Irving Berlin's prayer & lyric for the hope and desire for peace that our country aspires to...I commend it to your listening again.  As you join together for this holiday, please remember those military members who serve our country and the families that support them.

Looking forward to seeing you at next year's reunion...warm regards.

Don

Holly Romans (Green)

Thanks, Don, for sharing a part of your family history.  I thank you and Matt and all who have served for their sacrifice and dedication.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I am proud that our country saw fit to give us a day to fully understand what we as Americans have been given.  Your note was a good reminder.  As Irving Berlin wrote and Kate Smith sang - “God Bless America!”.  How lucky we are to have been so blessed.