Prayers for Sue Long Larson

We (Norma, John and Your Truly) just received this e-mail from Margi Basnett Burtin. Memories of growing up with Sue and her hubby came flooding back when I read this --- please remember her in your prayers, and send her a note or card or e-mail to let her know you're thinking of her. "I just received an email from Sue Long Larson's husband Dick telling me that Sue has been diagnosed with stage IVb uterine cancer. She had immediate surgery which was followed by the worst possible series of complications. Dick was finally able to bring her home from the hospital after three weeks. She is recovering from the surgery and will start chemo in a few weeks. Her immediate goal is to be able to attend her grandson's wedding in July. As Dick said in the email, the success of the chemo will determine the " time." As those who knew Sue will remember, her attitude always remains positive. She would love to hear from anyone. Sue and Dick's address is 14 Kanvsita Court, Brevard, NC 28712. Her email address is wncduckin@comporium.net Margi"

Sharlene Pearlman Hirsch is One in a Million!

I found the following article in the June 24, 1974, issue of People Magazine. I can't tell you how proud I am, having grown up with Sharlene. She is astounding!

She Wants Kids to Play Hooky—for CreditBy Sally Moore

Growing up in Downer's Grove, Ill., Sharlene Hirsch often played hooky from high school to write pieces for her local newspaper, or dream up plays or practice gourmet cooking along with a TV show. "Each time I had to go back to high school," she recalls, "I was angry and resentful that the things I was learning and creating outside school seemed to have more meaning and value for me than my courses. To me the real world was beyond the classroom." This month Sharlene Hirsch—now a Ph.D. from Harvard—can review with some pride the accomplishments of a year spent helping young people across the country discover their own "real worlds" in a unique educational experiment. At 34, the modishly dressed Dr. Hirsch is the sole creator and director of Executive High School Internships, a nationwide program which enables talented and restless high school students to get out of the classroom for a semester and into real jobs. There they can discover for themselves the demands and rewards of careers in medicine, law enforcement or communications under actual day-to-day working conditions. Sharlene has had some first-hand experience with internships. After graduation from the University of Illinois (magna cum laude), a brief stint as a high school teacher and then graduate school, Sharlene went to Washington on a Ford Foundation grant. As staff director of a congressional subcommittee on education, she conceived the idea of trying out internships on kids usually thought too young to benefit from them. After Washington, she became Director of Educational Development for New York City and began her on-the-job program with 25 high school students. This year, with the aid of almost half a million dollars, most of it from the Rockefeller Foundation, 1,300 students in 12 cities across the country were able both to observe and perform useful tasks in government agencies, business and the arts. Interns receive no pay but get full academic credit for their service. Both employers and students say the program is an overwhelming success. In one city, Frederick, Md., where the photographs on these pages were taken, Superintendent of Schools John Carnochan gives full credit to Dr. Hirsch: "It has succeeded because of Sharlene: her drive, enthusiasm, and energy." The program has demanded even more from her. Partly because she spends 80 percent of each month traveling and visiting students, her marriage to a business executive fell apart. Talking of her husband, not without a certain regret, Dr. Hirsch says, "He wanted normal things, a home and children. But I had this burning idea in my head. I had to choose—now everyone I date has some relation to my work." So successful is that work that the program will expand to 3,000 interns in 24 cities next fall. Now Dr. Hirsch, who lives in Manhattan, can even afford to relax a little. This summer she intends to eat a lot of Mexican food, listen to jazz, and get away to Latin America for a month. It's her first vacation since she got the idea of introducing high school kids to the "real world."

Great 50s Video

For those of us lucky enough to come of age in the 50s, this video will bring back many memories, especially those of the cars and music of the era. Click on the title of this post, turn on your speakers, and sit back and enjoy. Thanks to Frank Fusco for this.

We've Lost Jim Smith

John Spencer received the following e-mail from Wes Upton to notify us of the passing of Jim Smith. Below Wes's e-mail, I have printed Jim's obit. It goes without saying we send our deepest sympathies to Jim's wife, Karen, and his family and many friends. "John, I thought you would want this info for your records. On Jan 19nth Jim had a massive heart attack and passed away. His son (Dan) called to tell me about his Dad and what happened. If you wish you may e-mail "Startribune.com" to see his obituary and sign his friendship book. I sure you all join me in celebrating my old buddies passing."

Dr. James L. Smith --- "Smith, Dr. James L. age 73 of Mound, MN, passed on January 19, 2013. Born July 16, 1939 in Basco, Illinois, to Elbert and Margaret (Webb) Smith who preceded him in death. Survived by his loving wife, Karen Kay (Eddy) Smith; his four sons, Daniel (Cathy) Smith, Michael (Kate) Smith, Jeffrey (Cyndi) Smith, Gary (Colleen) Smith; and his two daughters, Lesley (Todd) Vlaanderen and Jacqueline (Rick) Saunders; his two sisters, Donna Poborsky and Marilyn (Randy) Smith. Jim was the proud grand- father of Sarah, Emily, Grace, Nick, Alex, Theo, Josh Smith, Julian Holmes, Lauren, Kathryn Vlaanderen, Sydni and Chayse Saunders. Jim's lifetime pursuit of academic excellence started in teaching. He later received his PhD from the University of Iowa, which led him to his career goal as a superintendent (and Hawkeye fan). He was blessed in his retirement to return to his love of teaching with the students and staff of Wayzata High School, who he considered his extended family. Jim's heartfelt commitment to his community, church and families, will be deeply missed by all. Memorial service 11 am Friday, January 25, with gathering of family and friends from 10 am at St. John's Lutheran Church, 2451 Fairview Lane, Mound, MN 55364. Interment will be at St. John's Memorial Garden at a future date. Memorials preferred in lieu of flowers directed to St. John's Music Department, or the James and Karen Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund. Huber Funeral & Cremation Services Mound Chapel 952-472-1716"

Another Voice From the Past

Received a short note from Scott Butler right after the holidays. Tho I've seen him and his family occasionally on Facebook, this is the first time I've heard from him. I hope he won't mind my sharing his note with the rest of the class: "Hi Judy, Nice to see you on FB from time to time. I try to check up every now and then on classmates going to the bloodspot. The classmate I remain close to is Curt Keller although I haven't seen since 2007 when we met up in Arizona for a fun get together in Tuson. So I'd like to say be well and happy though out our new year ahead of us. Scott" Thanks to Scott for touching base with me after all these years. I hope you keep in touch, Scott; and I hope the rest of you will remember to drop a line every now and then. I appreciate it more than you can imagine.

Another Published Author

Received the following announcement from Frank Fusco: "I have just published my book 'The New Rifleman' at Amazon Kindle. It is available now. Please look and consider buying. Frank" "The New Rifleman <<< A botched presidential election leads to the sitting President discarding the Constitution and turning America into a brutal dictatorship. The protagonist assassinates the President, using a rifle of the type that would have been employed in the Revolution of 1776. His escape and survival in the wilderness of the Arkansas Ozarks using 200+ year old woodsman’s skills is non-stop cliff-hanging adventure. A mysterious relationship with a mountain lion eventually leads him to a community of new revolutionaries who share his desire to return America to a Constitutional form of government. The spirit of the protagonist is not unlike that of the original revolutionaries who created America in 1776." Larry Crane was our first classmate to announce the publishing of a novel --- Frank has now followed. Anyone else care to join this pretigious pair? The best I can manage is this blog..........

A Little Plagarism

While surfing the internet, I happened upon a website "Growing up in Downers Grove" -- and while reading some of the entries, I found a link to Fenger High School's Class of 1958 website.On the website are many wonderful memories for those of us lucky enough to grow up in that era; there are links to Riverview, the Cinnamon Bear (one of my favorites), radio shows, and many more places to jog your memory --- the selections are seemingly endless. If you have lots of time to kill, I recommend a trip back to the 50s, thanks to Fenger High School. Click on the title of this blog entry to transport yourself back in time --- and enjoy!