2008 News Letter
2008 RUSHFORD ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Greetings from your newsletter editor, Jim Pomeroy (’60).
If there is something about yourself or your class that you’d
like to include in next year’s newsletter, send a note to the
Rushford Alumni Association (Box 1, Rushford, NY 14777 – Attn:
Newsletter Editor), or send me an email at
rushfordschool@yahoo.com.
If you send me an email of any kind, please type “Rushford
Alumni” in the subject box.
In any case don’t be shy about sending me a note for the
newsletter, especially those of you who have never submitted
anything before.
This newsletter can also be viewed on the
Those receiving this newsletter by email or viewing it
on the CRCS website should still use postal mail to make banquet
reservations and/or to send donations (Rushford Alumni Association,
Thanks to Susan Clark Holmes (’66), Peggy Metcalf Armstrong
(’76), Ruth Smith Metcalf (’56), Orpha Clark Holland (’62), and
Bernice Owens Armison (’90) and her
daughter
Grace for helping me to stuff and stamp envelopes for
the mailing that was done in 2007.
Over 800 pieces of mail were put together.
Further thanks to Susan Clark Holmes for doing the
photocopying.
********************
Nearly 200 people attended the 2006 banquet.
Following social hour,
Stan Luce (’48) and Dan
Metcalf (’56) once again provided some humor, this time
on the theme that good fortune can be bad and bad fortune can be
good. Jerry Clark
(’66) gave the invocation.
A buffet dinner was under the supervision of
Kevin (’74) and Dawn
Pascell (’77)
**********
Some of you are aware that the Cuba-Rushford Central School
Board of Education considered closing the Rushford school
building after June 2008 due to declining enrollment at
Rushford. The
consultant hired by CRCS recommended that very action be taken.
A group from Rushford made a counter-presentation to the
Board of Education and some of you submitted very well written
letters to the Board as well
(THANKS!)
In late
January 2008 the seven-member Board voted 5-2 to keep the
Rushford building open. At
least for the time being, Rushford has dodged a bullet.
In the two previous years most of you will remember that I asked
that alumni express in some way just once within those two years
whether or not they wished to continue receiving correspondence
from the Alumni Association.
No one was required to even send in dues to remain on the
mailing list----a simple note of request was the basic
requirement.
Nearly 400 alumni on the postal mailing list made no
effort to indicate in any way during the last two years that
they wanted to receive future correspondence.
Since the total number of alumni contacted by postal mail
has been around 850 of late, the postal mailing list will now
drop to almost half of what it was previously.
Incidentally, most of the non-responders graduated
between 1970 and 1991.
Obviously this does not bode well for the longevity of an
organization whose membership is destined to shrink regardless
of the level of interest.
For a number of reasons, I’m not surprised by the
results. Perhaps
what does surprise me is the core of people who do remain in
touch year after year.
Thanks to all for the notes of appreciation for the
newsletter and thanks to those of you who have sent extra money
for dues and/or the Albro Scholarship Fund.
A number of alumni were very generous this year in making
donations to the general fund.
The general fund, which includes dues, is used for
expenses associated with printing and mailing the newsletter and
banquet notice and for auxiliary banquet expenses (i.e.,
decorations, refreshments for social hour, free meals for alumni
who graduated 60 or more years ago, a gift for those providing
musical entertainment, and compensation to the school janitor
for setting up and taking down tables and chairs). I have refrained from naming the
very generous donors because all donations, regardless of size,
are welcome. Please
know that extra generosity is noticed and appreciated.
News About Individual Alumni and Classes:
’38 – Alfred Davis of
‘39 -- Orie Clark (‘39) of
as the mountains in the winter.
’39 – Virginia Waite Miller of
wonderful caregiver and husband Leigh to have to make ---
Virginia can not write, read, or walk.
(Leigh, the deep pain
expressed
In your note is very understandable.
Think of our arms reaching you in
’39 – David E. Morrison of
’40 --
David E. Stone of Sebring
’41 --
Wilma Marsh Rychlik of
Buffalo, NY passed away in
November, 2006.
(We were unaware of this in
time for the last newsletter.)
’42 – Geraldine Balcom Harris of Armagosa, Valley,
job cooking and doing housework in general for a friend who
lost his wife in 2006.
…This is desert, mostly miles of creosote
bushes…I
did have (and maybe still have) arthritis before I came here but I
felt it leave me before the plane ever landed in Las
Vegas, 100 miles from here.
Everyone has an air conditioner.
We keep it on ‘cool’ day and night and it’s very comfortable.
We
drive 50 miles to town (small city) for groceries every two
weeks with a large cooler in the rear of our vehicle. “
(Geraldine
then
mentions the desire or need for a number of basic
businesses to locate closer to where she lives---editor).
“There is a grade
school nearby, a bank, a senior center, a huge community
center…a library, and a helicopter landing for emergency needs.
We
need senior home apartments and senior around the clock care,
like a nursing home…There is a doctor who takes
appointments…he wears blue jeans---a country doctor but very
nice. I never had
a pair of blue jeans until recently so now I’m
a country ‘girl’.
…I miss all the ones that I knew (at Rushford) and that have passed
on. …I sold my home in
November ’06—it
was new when I moved into it in 1947.
I last came to the banquet for the 50th
anniversary of my class and I enjoyed the evening
very much. …Thank
you all.”
’42 -- Rowena Waite Meiler of
night. I’m always
glad to get the newsletter to check on my classmates.
I lost my husband of 60 years in June of 2006.
I intend
to stay at my home as long as my health allows me and with
the help of my family.
’43 – Grace Lutes Giboo, who lived in the Rawson area (between
Rushford and
’44 – Don Alderman of
Hoping there’s someone I know-----Maybe an old girl friend or
a runaround buddy, Joe.-----I find that most rarely go.-----Doesn’t
their curiosity get them there?-----I prefer not to be with
strangers,-----Don’t even know a soul.-----Can’t see, can’t hear,
lost my
wavy hair.----- They might look at me,-----‘Ugh, did I ever
him know?-----Is he still kicking around?-----I thought he’d be dead
long
ago,-----His actions not too sound.’-----One girl walked up
to me last time.-----‘Do you know who I am?’----- I didn’t have the
slightest, ‘No, I don’t’.‘-----Do you remember little
Diane?’-----Oh, Wow, she didn’t look like that back then.-----She
was younger
than I, didn’t have
time to pay.----- She used to think me dear.-----It was fun to talk
old times.-----I’ll probably go next year.”
’44 --
Marjorie Harrington Mott of
’46 – Virginia Williams Hahn of
’49 – Richard Sadler of
has asked us to keep her on the mailing list for the
newsletter and we are happy to oblige.
’50 -- Class of 1950 celebrated their 59th year reunion on July 29th
2007 at the home of Art and Marilyn Clark Kellogg.
Attending were
Janet and Jack Finch, Pat and Eldyn Davies, Janette Davies
Kofhal, Dick and Betty Scott Klein, Duane Luce, Jess Westfall, Don
and Pauline James, Norm and Irene Blom Francis, Bill and
Maureen Hooper Cotrill.
Guests included June and Melody Clark,
Hattie Clark Roskey, Ed Mitchell, and David Vincent.
’51 – Larry Babbitt of
contractor licenses and am taking it easy.
Have a good year.”
’51 – Martha Guest Roth wrote us in
2007: “Hope to be there
in 2011 to celebrate our 60th for our class.
Dave and I are enjoying
retirement and especially spending lots of time at our lake
cottage in
we are just six miles from the Mall of America.
Come and see us or give us a call (952-891-4147).”
’51 -- Chuck Lafferty of
Hope to see all of you in2008”.
’51 -- Ethel Drummond Morse off
and relatives and the food and program were great.
Labor Day weekend is always a
nostalgic time for me so the years I am able
to attend are special.
…hope to see you in 2008”.
’51 --
Arthur J. Schweizer of
’52 – Esther Bliss Taylor of Rushford, NY passed away in January,
2008. She was cafeteria
manager at RCS for a number of
years.
Her son, Kevin, and his wife Dawn have been the preparers of
the food at our banquets in recent years.
’55 -- Jack Davies
wrote
in 2007: “I would like
to get back to Rushford for Labor Day weekend again but don’t know
when… I have
been living in
(Jean-Claude Noel) shortly after arriving here.
A few years later, I did some
work for him as a consultant
When he learned where I grew up, he nearly collapsed!
He graduated from
two years at
Churches in the
the
knows many of my relatives who live near Rushford. He
persuaded a cousin of mine in Houghton,
John Nystrom (dentist), to
travel to
’56 – Rosemary
Davies Fuller of New Wilmington, PA and wife of Rushford alumnus,
Rev. Arthur Fuller (’53), passed away in April of
2008.
’56 – Richard
Kellogg just completed his 38th year of teaching
psychology at Alfred State College.
After serving four years in the US Air
Force, a love of learning led Dick to earn degrees from
Alfred State College, SUNY at Geneseo,
dealing with topics such as
Sherlock Holmes penned by Arthur Conan Doyle. Dick’s
daughter, Carolyn Jonas, practices law in Wellsville, and son Philip
works at a Veteran’s
amazing things every time they get together.
’57 – Margaretanne Connors of
for moving to
Developmental Disabilities.
I “retired” in 1977 to move to
Usually three trips to
’57 -- Rita Henry Kester has
moved
to
and their families are all living in or near
’59 -- Sharon Flynn Wilson of
hours volunteering than I did when I taught school. I spend a
lot of time doing Advocacy for Human Rights and Wilderness
Preservation via my Computer, spend a lot of time at Trinity
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Manhattan working with the Youth,
Women’s, and Outreach programs, and spend other available
time with family here in Brooklyn and there in upstate
well
as in
’59 – Donalee Baker Price of Torrance, California gets an apology
from the editor. In last
year’s newsletter the impression was given
that Donalee has a grandson named Larry.
Larry is her son. Donalee
says “I have no grandchildren, only ‘granddogs.’”
’60 – Class of 1960 met at Moonwinks (
Bill and Joan Zweemer Veley, Marv Covert and Kathy Morlock,
Jim Pomeroy, Karen
Farwell Forsyth, Terry and Judy Henry
Dailey, Ruth Kellogg and Carlos Guitierrez, Meredith Durkee
Fisher, Allen and Connie Pearl Perkins, Class Advisor
Wilda Williams, and guest Betty Connors Wende.
’61 -- Roy Howard of
making factory for 16 years, while raising two boys.
…moved to
25 years. Retired in
2005 and moved to
now 13, and one great grandson, now age 1.
…Hope to make it to one of
these reunions. “
’61 --
Frank Wilmot of
’62 -- Les Swain of
money on travel---instead of having to go to several websites
like Expedia.com, Travelocity.com, Cheaptickets.com, etc.,
members can use the Powersearch Toolbar on his website to
search all these sites and more to find the best rates and bargains.
’63 – Reuben Leonard of
classmates
and hope to attend a dinner in the future.
I am retired and spend time traveling the country in a
relaxing style,
camping, enjoying the area, sight-seeing, and visiting
relatives and friends.
It’s sure nice just to follow the good weather, and find
a good
’64 --
Larry Thompson now lives in
spend about four months out of the year there.
Larry retired as a career officer from the US Army in 1985.
He then worked for
Electronic Data Systems (EDS) as a Regional and Division
manager in several locations (
graduate of the
also lives in
’65 – Rosalie Worthington
Hayes of Rocky Mount, Virginia wrote us in 2007:
“I always enjoy the alumni news.
It is very difficult to
make the trip north for Labor Day.
My husband and I own a portrait studio and are busy
photographing high school seniors.
We
keep busy visiting our four children and six grandchildren.
(Rosalie’s
update continues on page 4)
We’re especially proud of all of them.
Our youngest daughter just finished her residency program as
a family practice doctor. “
’67 – Class of 1967 had their 40th year reunion on
September 22, 2007 at the Bryncliff Resort in
had mugs made for everyone; Bill Law had tee shirts which
everyone signed. Awards
were given in ten fun categories.
According to Maggie, the last reunion was in 1982.
Out of a class of 26, three are deceased, three couldn’t be
located, and 13 of
the remaining 20 attended the reunion.
Maggie looks forward to the next reunion but thinks it will
be hard to top this one.
’67 – Jean Simons Wende of
’68 – Class of 1968 will be celebrating their 40th
year since graduation by gathering at the Turfside Restaurant
on Saturday, August 30th
at 1PM.
Reservations are necessary so please contact Marilyn Kellogg at
(585)437-2468 in advance.
’68 – Patricia Fuller Randolph and husband Gene (’66) of
attend the alumni banquets.
We do, however, try to make a yearly trip to NY during the
Thanksgiving holidays.”
(Gene goes deer
hunting then too.) We
have been doing well here in
two years.”
Eldest son, Christopher, and his wife and son moved to
and his wife and two daughters moved recently to
helped us get through.
We wish everyone well.
Please keeps the newsletter coming!”
’68 – Paul Thorington has been working his way up through the ranks
of the NYS parks system and is currently park manager at
’72 -- Shirley Randolph Saulter
lives in Rushford again.
She wrote in 2007: “I have two wonderful sons who graduated
from
Rushford in 1992 and 1996.
Two grandchildren are in Cuba-Rushford and two more who will
eventually attend there.
Tom
Finch, Luanna Ellis, and I are working on a class reunion.
’76 -- Jodie Barber Burns of Hilton, NY wrote in 2007 that she
appreciated the newsletter and wished to give credit to Lisa Hoy
Hawley
for all the work she did to make Class of ’76 reunion a
success in 2006.
(Lisa’s name was unfortunately
omitted by the editor
in the write-up about the reunion in last year’s newsletter.
Sorry Lisa).
’75 -- Steve Stratford is at
wasn’t sure if anything interesting happens in his life.
This was after stating that in 2007 that he had just returned
from a three
day conference in Columbus, Ohio and was about to head to
Lima, Peru for the fifth time to teach a two-week class called
“Media-
Enhanced Communication” to some college-age (American)
missionary interns. He
was also scheduled to train college faculty in
the fall to use a new learning management system to support
their courses online.
’77 -- Cheryl Tullar Garrish
of
Aldan,
Pennsylvania wrote in the summer of 2007:
“Greetings to all in the Class of 1977!
Currently, I
am a stay at home Mom with a PT job as a Charge Nurse with
the Long Term Care Unit at a Retirement Community.
At church I
am the Missions Team Leader, an occasional Sunday school sub,
and nursery worker/nurse for Camp Treasure Island (VBS).
I
also help as an adult leader for an Explorer Girls group (5th
and 6th graders) at our former church. I will be married 12 years in
November to Rob Garrish who is self-employed (helps people
with a variety of computer needs). We
have two children, RJ who
is 9, and Hannah who will soon be 7.
They both love school and are
good students. RJ enjoys
sports. Hannah is our dancer
and cheerleader. “
’78 -- Charlotte Vickman Edwards provided the following update in
2007: “I
am currently living in
husband, Tracy Edwards, is the administrator of
who is married, two that are college students at
’80 -- Kenneth A. Bliss of
’80 -- Cindy Kozak Patton of
editor).
’81 – Donalyn Davis Rybicki of Olean, NY truly keeps track of her
classmates. Her class
was one of the largest (36) to graduate from
RCS. (Only
11 members of the Class of 1981 have chosen or are now set up to
receive correspondence from the Alumni
Association.—editor).
Last year Donalyn submitted
information about 14 of her classmates for the
newsletter. She asked
that
the following be added to what she wrote last year:
Rick (Lance) Goldsmith lives in
Oyer Sherlock lives in
NY and works at Freedom Crushed Stone;
David Morse lives in Macedon, NY and works as a mason in the
Brick Layers and
Allied Craft Workers Union, Local 3;
Gloria Haas lives in Rushford and works at The Country Store;
Doug Donner lives in
NY; Susan Vickman
Owens lives in
Cobb is attending college—made the Dean’s List;
Bob Tomlinson is now a grandfather;
Donalyn Davis Rybicki is now a personal
fitness trainer and teaches a kickboxing aerobic class.
Donalyn also wished to pass
on some information about some people
who at one point or another attended RCS and were part of her
class: Jean Smith lives in
business; Mike
Austin lives in
Morse, the next entry in this newsletter.
Donalyn says Lucinda was a friend, soul mate, and special
person to her.
’83 -- Lucinda Morse of
’84 -- Terry Gordon of
CD of original music, ‘Homeward Bound’, on WEPA Records. It
is available by contacting me at
tgqjazz@att.net. “
’84 -- Melissa Brooks Vickman of
of Ken's grandmother's land in Farmersville Station in 1999
after living in
Vickman, is a 1980 graduate of RCS).
Two of our seven children graduated High School from
CRCS in '04 and '06. Ruth attended
GCC in
Ministries major. We
like to gather on Labor Day at my Aunt Lois Bruce's house for a
“mini” Brooks family reunion…Phil (’61),
Dorothy (’66), Dave
(’73) and Bev Chapman
Brooks (’73). I enjoy
the newsletter…my father, Tracy Brooks (’59), always kept up
with the people in our community and the traditions of
holidays. Without him
Veterans Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor
Day, aren't the same for me.
He had a strong patriotic spirit.
Does any one remember singing
“The Unknown Soldier”
for the
outdoor Memorial Day service at school?
…the trumpets echoing taps
behind the big maple trees out front?
…the Memorial
Day Parade we used to have every year that ended at the grave
of one of our own soldiers? Those
are some of
my ‘good ol'
days.”
’89 – Carmen Sampson Wright of
friends had to practice for the Rushford Labor Day volleyball
tournament. Her team has
done very well the last three years.
Carmen thought it interesting that first place in ’07 went to
the team of another Rushford alumnus, Audrey Gilbert Sendor
(’68) of
Carmen!”
Carmen may not attend the banquet, but she took the time to say
hello and provide a tidbit for the newsletter.
Hint,
hint to some of you out there. –editor)
.**********
THE END---with a wee bit of
advice (???):
“Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty
things.”
JKP (6/25 /08)
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