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Milne
Alumni June Newsletter Dear Milne Alumni and Supporters, In this issue: * Lots of News! * Sad News LOTS OF NEWS! Frank Ward, '56: "I am so glad that we have this way of learning what is happening to our classmates. It is important to know when some of our classmates have passed on or have lost relatives because we are an extended family and have a need to know. Occasionally we learn of accomplishments, which gives us a chance to make contact and give thanks. We learn of reunions and of the history of our school. Well and wonderful. However, we are missing a chance to have some fun. Why not submit fond memories of our years at Milne that all can enjoy? I submit one to begin and hope others will remember fun times suitable for sharing with others. "I graduated in 1956 and recall on event that happened in Dr. Moose’s chemistry class in my senior year. Mike DePorte and I were into science fiction and hoped someday we would send someone to Mars, or at least the moon. In fall 1955, we decided to form a rocket club after learning how to make rocket fuel with powdered magnesium and sulphur. The Albany City Fathers had passed ordinances prohibiting sale of most fireworks beyond firecrackers and sparklers but that did not prevent us from making our own. Those days, our mothers wore lipstick that came enclosed in little metal canisters and it was easy to attach cardboard fins to them so they would stand upright. Next, we loaded the canisters with the fuel and attached a fuse and closed the end. When lighted, the rocket usually went up several hundred feet. Well, Mike and I decided we would build something bigger. "Paper towels came mounted on cardboard tubes and we made a rocket using one such tube as the rocket body. We wrapped the tube in aluminum foil, attached three fins, built a pointed head, and attached it to the tube, then loaded it with rocket fuel. I don’t remember who brought it to chemistry class, but believe I was the one who presented it to Dr. Moose with a dare that he set it off in class. He was a bit of a jokester (we all loved him) and was a good sport, to boot. He took the rocket, put it in a vice on a lab table that he regularly used to crush water pistols he found on students, and lit the fuse. He thought the rocket was a joke, but it wasn’t. Two feet of flame and smoke blasted out of the rocket with such thrust that the lab table moved a foot. The 3rd floor of the school was evacuated because of the rotten egg smell. We did not get in trouble, because we had told Dr. Moose the truth." On June 12th, John Garman, '58, stretched his shrunkin legs and toes and boarded an American Cruise Liner in Portland, OR, for a seven-day cruise up the Columbia River gorge. It's his first big trip since his Trans Siberian RR trip across Russia, Mongolia, and China in 2019...plus a side jet boat run up and back on the Snake River thrown in for good measure. John, be sure to let us know how it goes! Lisa Moffa '62: "I married a man who was an environmental engineer, so my entire adult life has been focused on preserving this wonderful planet we live on. Many people tell me that they are too old to make a difference but I have found that is not true. Five years ago we moved into a wonderful CCRC in Asheville, NC – many tease me because I love the snow and the cold of CNY but decided it was time to live where my husband could go fly fishing every week. It has been cheaper than our vacations in Canada, Montana, Colorado, etc., where I took him fishing on our vacations. Of course, it didn’t hurt we could go white-water rafting, which I love. In our CCRC community we have succeeded in getting the outdoor and indoor lighting changed to LEDs – we have a twice yearly Hard2Recycle event that keeps many items out of the landfills – our meals offer daily many vegetarian/vegan choices – and during COVID when our meals were delivered in Styrofoam containers, I collected the containers from half the residents in our building, with my husband's help, and got them to the right facility so they did not clog up our landfills.(This amounted to 56 30-gallon bags and 60 15-gallon bags of neatly stacked containers.) There are so many things we can do to assist or lead the way to take care of this wonderful planet. We are the keepers and teachers of wisdom." Penny Roblin Atkiss '63, and husband Tony have moved from Dallas to Annapolis, MD, to a senior-living community near son Steve and daughter Karen. After 37 years in Texas, it was time to come "back east." They will still summer in the Adironacks, where they have seen classmates Annie (Miller) McClelland, '63, and Sue (Garman) Hess, '63. "If any other classmates are still in the area, or visiting, we would love to see you too." Peggy (Roblin) Alaxanian, '63, is thinking of moving to Annapolis also, where she will be closer to son Mike. Ruth Geller, '76: "I grew up to be a licensed mental health counselor. After some years living, going to school, and working in MA and NH, I came back home. I've had a solo private practice in Clifton Park for about six years. I specialize in working with adults and teens with ADHD, but I do a bit of everything. I spent some of my time during the pandemic on professional development. I've recently completed course work in grief therapy and I'd very much like to expand my practice in this area." SAD NEWS Richard Doling, '62, brother of Stuart Doling, '56, and husband of Judy LAVINE Doling, '67, passed away on May 14, 2021. Donna Jane FISHER Breslin, '73, passed away May 5th in Lake Placid, Florida, where she had been living for many years. Donna was the sister of the late John FISHER, '71. Thanks to all of you for your interest in Milne Alumni activities. Judy (Koblintz) Madnick, '61 For contact information, see the Milne Alumni homepage: |