Milne Alumni December Newsletter
December 15, 2022

by Judy Koblintz Madnick, '61

In this issue:

* Class of '58 50th-Year Reunion Review
* Class of 1971-1972 50th-Year Reunion Recap
* Sad News

CLASS OF '58 50th-YEAR REUNION REVIEW

From John T. Garman, '58: "In 2008, our award-winning class celebrated its 50th anniversary with more than 30 of its 69 original members in attendance. We sat around, had good food, told each other a lot of stories and 'lies' about what we’ve been doing, and genuinely tried to relive some memories of the past.

"Also, we visited one of our members in the hospital and presented him with a cold six-pack of beer and a wish for a quick recovery.

"And finally, we got aboard 'the duck boat' and took a land tour of downtown Albany, which included the libraries, the governor's mansion, and the brand-new Capitol Mall (affectionately known as Rocky’s erection!).

"Then sliding down Capitol Hill, we entered the water and took a noisy rock’n roll Hudson River water tour of the harbor featuring Tom and Char performing!

"All in all, great fun.

"Hope you all enjoy the video. Just click and play. Sound only happens in the last five minutes with Char and Tom cutting a R&R rug."

CLASS OF 1971-1972 50th-YEAR REUNION RECAP

"Class of 1971 was well represented: David Aronson and wife, Sheryl; Dawn Baldes VanPelt; Chris Barker; Kitty Benedict; Susan Boochever Feldman and husband, Arthur; Peter DeLong; Abe Dorsman; Jon Drew and wife, Jianying Li; Debbie Freinberg and hubby, Lou McCormack; Debbie Froelich Miracolo; Barbara Geller; Beverly Graham Roberts; Debbie Henkin; John Iseman and wife, Elizabeth; Marjorie Jacobs; Dean Karlaftis; Mark Landau; Ellen Leue Hertzberg; Barbara Mayer Skladanuk; Beth Rudolph Keller; Peg Schmidt; Rich Schorr; Sue Slawsky Boivin and husband, Mike; Bryan Swartz and wife, Shira; Amy Tompkins Kroll; and Bob Zima and wife, Trish.

"But wait! There’s more! Thanks to the tenacity and thoughtfulness of Peg Schmidt and Sue Slawsky Boivin, faculty members Barbara Brown Peters (gym teacher); Richard Lewis (English); Fred Lyons (Shop/Industrial Arts) and Gloria Herkowitz (Library) joined the festivities Saturday evening!

"We kicked things off Friday evening at the Italian American Community Center in Albany. Mark Landau's 'connections' proved invaluable and he worked on an appropriate-sized room, menus, and music. The buffet was delicious and, thanks to an anonymous – and extremely generous – benefactor, we enjoyed (!) an open bar for three hours. The affair allegedly began at 6:30 but you know we were there early and partied late. Kudos to Peg Schmidt and Sue Slawsky Boivin because those name tags were life savers! Name tags featured your Senior Yearbook picture, name and, on the reverse, the entire weekend itinerary! Unbelievable!!!

"Mark Landau took pix of each table and there was lots of laughter and chatter and dancing too! An excellent kick-off to what proved to be a constant 'high' of joy. Bob Zima set up the Zoom link and Estelle Greenberg Chase took advantage of it along with a few others from the Class of 1972. Patti Santin Rider, '72, prepared a tribute display to classmates who are no longer with us…a very poignant remembrance of them – and opportunity to celebrate those of us who remain! Many brought memorabilia and yearbooks….oh those memories!

"Saturday morning many gathered at, and then in, Page Hall. The theatre seats show the decades of use and the huge balcony sits as silent testimony to the crowds it once held. Peg Schmidt and the Jug Band (Peter DeLong, Chris Barker, Beverly Graham Roberts, and Bob Zima) performed their crowd pleaser Greatest Hit. Peg worked tirelessly to organize the 'assembly' and, for the most part, the crowd was well-behaved. Mary Welch's work made contacting SUNY building personnel easier and we had full access to Milne, Page Hall, Husted and Richardson…and Mary's map and tour suggestions proved indispensable.

"After singing the Alma Mater (there wasn’t a 'dry eye' in the House – NOT!), which thankfully the Committee thought to print the words on the school map, we broke up into groups and wandered around the Halls…oh those memories. The Committee thought of everything! More yearbooks available to peruse and nametags for the late arrivals!

"After soaking up the building memories…(including stories of the catwalk above the stage (!) and shenanigans in the Senior Room (shhh) and that’s all that will be said about that…we went to Mark Landau’s Diamond Reef Yacht Club up the Northway. On the most perfect Saturday afternoon ever, Charlie Levitz ('72) admirably performed Grill Meister duties and we enjoyed the bounty of late summer. Mark and Charlie thought of everything: from snacks to drinks to salads! More laughter and chatter and camaraderie…friendships from 50+ years ago felt like yesterday.

"But wait! There’s more!! Charlie Levitz ('72) was the consummate host arranging Saturday evening's cocktails and hors d'oeurves event at The Point Restaurant in Albany. The best attended event of the weekend, we pushed the limit on occupancy for the space we had, but it didn't feel crowded at all. This was the event faculty came to. Well, Fred Lyons attended everything so faculty were really well-represented! Gloria Herkowitz was the first to arrive, followed quickly by Barbara Brown Peters. Richard Lewis came a bit later. The faculty enjoyed catching up with each other – and us “young pups” too! You would recognize every one of them if you saw them on the street. Perhaps teaching at Milne was a Fountain of Youth…. And, once again, Bob Zima set up the Zoom and Peg Schmidt and Patti Santin Rider organized the memorabilia table.

"Blessed with another picture-perfect day on Sunday, a dozen – all from the Class of 1971 and Fred Lyons – gathered at Panera's on Wolf Road for reflection and remembering and more laughter and geniality. Perfect ending to a perfect weekend.

"Steve Lerner missed the reunion because he was still recovering from hip-replacement surgery earlier in October. And regrets from Mary Welch, April Shelford, Diane Dorenz Miller, Adrienne Shapiro Ferriss, Denise Fluster Delicata, Sara Lapidus Bergerson, Howie Levine, Brent Solomon, Bob Gerber and Cindy Frye, Steve Dunn, Bill Barelski, Judy Allen Goldman, Barbara Finklestein Hochberg, Bonnie Jupiter, Lance Kurland, Patti McDermott, Joshua Kuperman, Larry Goldberg, Nora Colasurdo Bouchard and David Rood.

"There were lots of pictures taken at the Reunion, thanks to David Slawsky ’72, brother of our very own Sue Slawsky Boivin. Lots of group shots and many took candids. Please feel free to upload your photos to the Facebook page for Milne ’71. Thanks to Peg Schmidt we have a Facebook page, and an absolute treasure trove of Milne information is available here. Bob Zima has created a Google Photo Album for the reunion 'Milne Class of 1971-1972, October 21-23, 2022.'

"Your Humble Scribe, Martha Miller"

SAD NEWS

Please note that I rely upon legacy.com and input from other alumni for this information, so if you become aware of someone who has passed away, please let me know. If a name is underlined, it represents a link to the obituary. Many obituaries are available free for a limited time only.

Rena Button, stepmother of Daniel BUTTON, a member of the Class of 1971, Nancy BUTTON Nathan, '64, and Sarah BUTTON White, '67, passed away on November 18, 2022.

William Roberts, husband of Beverly GRAHAM Roberts, '71, passed away on November 13, 2022.

Robert W. Wood, husband of Barbara CURREY Wood, '61, passed away on November 30, 2022. He was the brother-in-law of Charles Currey, '56.

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Thanks to all of you for your interest in Milne Alumni activities.

Judy (Koblintz) Madnick, '61

For contact information, see the Milne Alumni homepage: www.albany.edu/~milne/

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