Page 38 - Newsletter_Winter_2021

his mail. As always, he is still an Athletic Director, you not a son and daughter, both in First on my list of things to
an energetic conversational- only put in the regular teacher college. He is presently living cover is our upcoming 60th
ist! It was great to catch up hours, but engage in many in the Ithaca, New York area class reunion. Considering all
with him! of the after-school sports in the Finger Lakes region. Ed that is going on with Covid,
Normalcy also means a return schedule. To find out more comments that his years at we are very hesitant in our
of concerts for the summer at about Wayne and his family, Ricker college provided him plan to organize for our class
the amphitheater in Mon- read the spring/summer issue with an extraordinary educa- reunion. There is just too
ument Park beginning the of the North Star News with tion. He was so sorry to see in much uncertainty. David and I
middle of June! So far, we the article featuring Lorraine later years that Ricker College have talked with a few and all
have had three rehearsals, Quint '55 and family written did not receive the needed are in agreement that IF the
with three more to go before by Rachel Fitzpatrick '43, titled support financially and had HHS ALUMNI does decide to
our concerts begin. Following Meet Your Board- Behind the to close, negatively impacting go forward with the Gala (all
protocol, we started rehears- Scenes. Rachel does an excel- on the community. class social) next summer, our
als seated 6 feet apart, are lent job of detailing the Quint At the same time, Ed is class should “piggy back” it.
now 3 feet apart, and use family. quick to identify the positive At this time, the date for that
masks that are specially made I was pleased to receive a aspects of Houlton, pointing event would be the evening
for musicians, with cloth letter from our classmate Con- out that we are one of a few of July 9th. We should have
coverings for the bell of the nie Murray Van Dykes. She towns with its own commu- a far better handle on this as
instruments! We are not en- shared the following news on nity band! Ed attended the the winter months progress.
tirely sure of our set-up at this her family: University Maine in Orono We got some mail from DICK
point, but it will be a welcome “On June 12, 2021, I attended and obtained an MA an DENTON:
event that many people are my only grandchild’s high English. He taught English I know you two are the best
anxious to see happen school graduation. My precious at Houlton High School for a at keeping our classmates,
I was thumbing through our grandson, Collin Lee Clifford, year, followed by an intense and others too, informed
yearbook the other day and graduated from Brewer High late 60s hippie period in a about Houlton “happenings”
came across the pictures of School. It was an outdoor Maine commune. After that, and classmate “doings.” But
the faculty members that ceremony and my two daugh- he obtained an MFA at Cornell I hear you when you ask for
were at Houlton high school ters, and I were front row center University, staying on as a TA input from the wider-world
in 1962. I realized that there for the event. I am so proud of and lecturer. He has 23+ years of Class 1962. So, with some
was one member of the Collin – for the last 2 years of in the Cornell library system. reluctance I offer this “adver-
faculty who is still teaching, school, he has kept his grades It was there where he met tisement.”
and not yet retired - Wayne high and worked a full-time Linda, his wife, and did ex- More like an “invitation.” An
Quint. All my past years in job as well. He will be going to tensive traveling throughout invitation to your local Coun-
education at Houlton High college in the fall. Europe and across the United cil on Aging. I’m inviting all
School I worked alongside I have been so blessed by States. He is a prolific author, who read this to learn what
Wayne as he was in the Phys God in my life with wonderful having compiled 14 books of goes on in your community’s
Ed department and Athletic parents, brothers and a second poems. Ed has since retired Council on Aging. I know
Director. I thought I was right husband – all of them waiting from Cornell and is presently part of this sounds disgust-
up there for years in teaching for me in Heaven, and two of continuing to write. Good to ing, because….. You’re not
(43), but lo and behold, he the best daughters anyone hear from you, Ed! old! You’re not infirm, nor
was there for many more. I be- could ask for, plus a grandson I Hope to see both Ed and handicapped. You don’t want
lieve Wayne started teaching who has made my later years of Connie at our next reunion! or need a handout. I could
in 1958, our freshman year! life wonderful. I hope all of my With that being said, I want to not be happier for you. But,
He was initially hired in the classmates have been just as mention that our 60-year class we are all aging. Two years a
English Department, and after blessed.” reunion will be in 2022 and is ago I joined our local Coun-
five years, transferred to the in the planning stages. Stay cil’s Board. Each community
Phys. Ed Dept. Wayne was also I also heard from another tuned for more information! Council is a little different, but
the drivers ed instructor for classmate - Edward Stew- a central theme prevails. Sort-
a number of years. Some of art. Edward writes about his Mary Peabody ‘62 ing out Medicare premiums
our class might also remem- memories of high school Well, here we are headed and benefits, exercise from
ber him as the coach for the as a fellow student of mine. into the fall and winter! The professional “balance” classes
cross-country team. We took both French and
chemistry class together. I pandemic is still in control, to walking clubs, yoga, arts
Wayne was at Houlton High clearly recall that both of us and unfortunately many of and crafts, book clubs, games
School during my years of had difficulty comprehending us are hunkering down . It is from bridge and cribbage to
teaching from 1968 to 2010 those subjects! We relied on a challenging time for sure. board games, coffee hour,
and after. He eventually one another to get through We surely hope that you all day trips to overnight jaunts,
signed a contract with Hodg- these classes! Ed is now mar- will stay well, mentally, and movies, plays, transportation
don, where he still works. As ried with two grown children, physically. assistance, cooking class,
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