Page 36 - Spring 2024

Class News, continued...

knew Bill from being in the stage presence. We made it was really good and a super
same home room with him in to the one-act play contest at nice guy. I have cardiovascu-
junior high and playing sports the U of M. lar disease in the left leg so
with him through high school. I phoned Eula Malone Lorom doubt I’ll make it to Houlton
He always had a good sense to ask about Tessa, who had this summer as the leg needs
of humor and never took been her friend since seventh tests and maybe surgery. The
himself too seriously. Later Bill grade. Tessa’s husband Gary beat goes on and I keep on
and I reconnected when we died when he was in his early trucking.
realized we lived quite close fifties, and a few years later “I see there were no more
to one another in Philadelphia she suffered an aneurysm. postage stamps size pictures
and Dewey Beach, Delaware. After that she led a quiet life. in last North Star. Excellent
On the passing of Shirley She was a big reader, Eula job, North Star people.
Reardon-Very sorry to hear says, watched a lot of base-
this news. I remember Shirley ball, and was an avid Red Sox “I read in the last issue Paul
Mayo Hospital, Dover-Fox- from day 1 in first grade at fan. About a year ago she had Davenport was having prob-
lems with his legs. So, I guess I
croft. She was born January Pleasant Street School. I a fall that caused her to move can unload my medical “stuff”.
3, 1943, in Presque Isle, the always enjoyed chatting with to Madigan Estates. Tessa had Had 13 surgeries so far, 6 due
daughter of Keith K. and Ma- him at the bank or whenev- two sons and four grandchil- to Agent Orange. However,
rie (Coffin) Thompson. er our paths would cross in dren.
Houlton. A good guy who will at the age of our class I am
This came in from Ted Mason: be missed! As for Eula, it sounds as sure we all have some issues.
Very sorry to hear about Betty. though she is going strong. But I remind myself of the
Unfortunately, this type of “On a happier note, Linda and Her husband Rodney, a mem- complainers of no shoes till
news is more and more com- I recently relocated to the ber of our class, left school they met the people with no
mon these days for us all. Denver, CO, area, where we after sophomore year to go to feet. Modern medicine and
have spent a lot of time over work. He farmed for a while, medical procedures have kept
Linda and I enjoyed see- the years on both business
ing Betty and meeting her and pleasure. Both our son drove a truck for the state, us going. I have a cane and a
husband several years ago at Todd and daughter Andrea and then bought his own walker, so I am good to go. My
Clara’s camp at Drew’s Lake, and their spouses plus our over-the-road hauler. At forty, regret this spring is that I am
probably the only time I had granddaughter Emma live Eula went back to school to a Red Sox fan. And I imagine
seen her since high school close by, so hopefully we’ll all become an LPN. She worked Dick Rhoda is smiling (Yan-
graduation. get along! We are not totally for many years at Houlton Re- kees fan).
gional Hospital. In retirement,
Barbara Bolton reports: abandoning the East Coast, so Eula and Rodney spend three “My granddaughter now has
perhaps Linda and I will see her PhD from Yale and grand-
Five of our classmates have you and Frank in Maine in the months of the year in Florida. son 4th year UConn medical
died since I last wrote: Bill summer sometime.” Summers, they move out to school.
Hanson, Ruth Ann Van their camp at Drews Lake.
Tassel Leavitt-Grant, Tessa Senior year, Ruth Ann and They have four children, thir- “I noticed the cigarette price
McKay Albert, Elizabeth Bob Blanchette were the teen grandchildren, and five, the other day. $13 a pack.
(“Betty”) Thompson Beless, leads in the one-act play, about to be six, great grands. My brother Terry said in days
and Shirley Reardon. May “The Infanta,” which Mr. Smith This year they will break up gone by, he could gas the car,
they all rest in peace. Bill’s directed and in which I had their Florida stay to make a buy a pack of cigarettes, a
wife Diane called Ted Mason a small role. I can still picture quick trip to Bangor to attend 6-pack beverage and still have
to tell of Bill’s passing. Ruth Ann in a white gown a grandson’s wedding. money to get into a dance at
with her red lips, porcelain Rec Center- all on $5.”
Ted writes: I am sorry to doll complexion, a silver tiara Oscar Grant writes, “Billy
report that Bill Hanson died in her long black hair and Hanson was the best basket- “Lately a lot of people com-
on 1/26/24, after suffering for her—and Bob’s—uncanny ball player in our class but plain about the USA. I have
some time with dementia. I opted to run cross country. He been to several foreign coun-
tries and the USA is far and

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