News Received in 2001:
Listed alphabetically.

Mini-Reunion Upstate: Eight members of the Class of ‘54 (plus spouses) met near Rochester, NY the weekend of May 18, 2001, to touch base with each other and brainstorm our upcoming 50th class reunion. We ate, hiked, sang, attended a concert, ate, went to a flea market, perused an art gallery, smelled the lilacs and ate some more! Talk was the key. Caring about each other was another big ingredient. We are hoping to see many more of you soon. Any plans out there? Click here to see us (Lance, Ellie, Molly, Marty, Jean, Chike and Sieglinde)!

Christmas Get-together: Ron and Norma Gieseking Knettel, Dick and Joan Harwood Beckmann and Warren and Sue Wissemann celebrated the holidays again this year with "fun" plans — light lunch, a visit to the Stony Brook Art Musueum to view the Sidney Mount watercolor paintings, dinner at the Duck Pond Inn. Afterwards they viewed some of the films that Warren has taken over the years of parties, wedding scenes, Christmases, their children. Friends made in school last a lifetime!

Richard Beck and Robert Meyer found us on the Internet and are no longer on our Missing List.

Sad News:
It is with great sadness that I announce the recent deaths of the following classmates: Alis Beales McGrath, Donald Messmer, and Joan Weinman Kemper.

Alis Beales McGrath — Alis passed away on January 27, 2001, from multiple myeloma. Alis was bright, literate and articulate. We had maintained contact since high school, and I will sorely miss my friend. A memorial service was held February 3 in Fairfield, Connecticut, and a moving eulogy/editorial was published in the Fairfield Citizen-News. It may still be archived in their files. She is survived by son, Matthew, and sisters Kathleen and Valerie.
.....Alis was a Fairfield Democratic Town Representative became the recipient of PTA Council's Friend of Education Award last fall, given for her dedication to community service and education. As a former president of the Fairfield High School PTA and elementary school, Alis had been active with many aspects of public education in her community. She was recognized as a "Woman of Substance" last year in the Connecticut Post. Among some of her community activities: she was a board member of the Connecticut Audubon Birdcraft Museum, Museum docent, active with the Fairfield League of Women Voters, the Fairfield Historical Society, Youth Services Commission, and Human Services Commission.

Chike Dyott traveled to New York in 2001 for a Mepham 54 mini-reunion upstate/downstate, followed by an expedition down to the Andes in Ecuador later in the year (35F, 30mph winds, rain and snow). "Then off to a tour of Italy for two weeks playing softball against the young Italian teams. We saw all the sights from Milan, Venice and south through Rome to Pompeii. We won a tournament in Padova and on the tour overall, won 13 out of 15 against them. At our going-home dinner in Rome, Oct 12, we were announced as softball players visiting from America. A large Spanish contingent of guests toasted us and cheered, and when we broke into "God Bless America," the 200-300 other guests of other nationalities joined in, and the cheers were deafening." Click on photo above for some photos of Chike's trips to the Andes and Antartica.

Dick Greaves — Good afternoon from Texas! Been reading the '54 web site, and thought I'd toss in a few words. I left Merrick a long time ago to travel the world, meet interesting people, and eat unique food. Served 30 years in the U.S. Army as a CID Special Agent (Criminal Investigator), serving in Germany, Korea, Viet Nam and Belgium, plus travel to numerous other countries. After retiring, I had a great second career with Bell Helicopter Textron here in Fort Worth, in the Security and later Ethics offices. My wife, Mary Ann, and I have three children; Bryan, an Army Special Forces Green Beret stationed in Washington State; Heidi, a police sergeant in northern Virginia; and Scott, an employee of Bell Helicopter Textron here. When we're not "on the road," we split our time between our home here and a cabin in the Sacramento Mountains of southern New Mexico. Besides doing some distance bicycle rallies, we participate in frequent 5K runs, with an occasional longer one. Life "out west" is delightful, and we thoroughly enjoy the spirit of the southwest. Warmest wishes to all! Click here for a few photos from New Mexico.

Received a change of address from Janet Magnus Bailey; She and husband Ted live in Windham, Maine.

Judy Mohr Macias — Currently, Judy is manager of health wellness and volunteers at Seton Medical Center in Daly City (CA) and Seton Medical Center Coastside, as well as administrator of RotaCare programs in both areas. She was recently inducted into the Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame for her outstanding contributions to the community. A former French and English teacher, Judy and husband took a three-year sabbatical in Spain, Portugal and Morrocco foillowing their wedding, before settling in California in 1968.

George Moorse
The Mepham Alumni Association has selected George Moorse to be posthumouosly inducted to Who's Who. One of two candidates selected this year, George was honored at a ceremony held at the Hofstra University Club on Sunday, April 29, 2001. His sister, Fran Moorse Russo, accepted the award in his name. George passed away on July 31, 1999 in Germany from a heart attack. He had lived in Germany since he was 22 and had been an award-winning movie and television writer/director/producer, most notably of recent years, of Germany's popular TV program, Lindenstrasse. Click here for photos and more info on George's work.

Ron and Norma Gieseking Knettel — (Southport, CT) Ron and Norma keep in contact at family celebrations with Mepham friends Jeanie Harwood Davidson, Dick and Joan Harwood Beckman and Warren and Sue Wissemann. Click on the thumbnail photo for a few pictures, including a recent family adventure with daughter Karen and son Erik, touring Greece and Turkey.

Jim Paladino — Jim is now retired from the aerospace industry (39 years); 22 years as an engineering manager. Three adult/married children, all living in Virignia and grandchildren, too! They want me to move to VA. Travel, golf, bridge, chess, bowling. Last big trip (four months) to southeast Asia.

Bernard Rousch M.D. — Bernard was brought to Texas working in the Public Health Service. Presently with the Mid-Cities Psychiatric Center in Bedford. His son, Andrew e-mailed us that Bernard's wife, Tamara Grodmen (also from NY), passed away in May of this year. We send our condolences. Six children and six grandchildren.

Jack Skelly (Bellmore, NY) — Jack and wife Valerie Prieger Skelly's daughter, Jill, is teaching Art at Park Avenue Elementary School in North Merrick. For a larger photo of Jack and son Jonathan (seen in photo at left). click here. More news on the "retired" Skellys on the Around Town page:

Chris and Carolyn Summers Herrera took their RV on an extended trip this past summer to Alaska. Click here for some fantastic photos!

Flo Wright also tells us that's she's recovering from knee replacement surgery and expects to be "dancing" soon!