Judy Holtzer (Knopf)

Anybody interested in a thread of "favorite teachers"? Could we have a sort-of contest? Like, who gets the most points?

I'm getting kind of down about those from our class who are no longer with us. I was shocked by some of them. My husband passed away nearly 9 months after Lynn Levinson (z"l), but I still have not recovered, I guess. I would like to get frivolous and get away from the feelings. Just to add I have nothing but respect and fond memories of Steve as being a real nice guy. There is nothing personal here about Steve, it's my "problem".

Anyone with me about the favorite teachers?

Judy Holtzer Knopf

Steven Levinson

I'm game, Judy.  My favorite teachers, hands down, were Wild Willy Brandon, Joe Knab, and Wilma Hutchison.  Interestingly, just as I did, my father had Laura Rife (Latin) and Nellie Custer Murphy in his 7th grade year.  I'd love to shmooze with you on the subject of late spouses, any time and at any level you'd like.  It's been a long time since we've talked, which is too bad considering the number of classes we were in together.  Best, Steve

Ann Shepard (Rueve)

Judy, I'll add my favorites as well. Of course, I'm with Steve on Nell Custer Murphy. Others include Miss Levinson (Latin), Mr. Iacobucci, who made math fun, and the eccentric Denzel Carpenter, who'd sneeze on the blackboard, then erase it. As I'm singling teachers out, I'm realizing all of my teachers were excellent. My absolute favorite teacher was Ethel Levy. 

I too lost my spouse eleven and a half years ago.  I don't think you ever fully recover from the loss but the memories can bring you so much comfort. 

Judy Holtzer (Knopf)

How strange - I forgot to post my own favorite teachers. Mr. Knab, Mrs. McCammon, and Miss Hope. I admired Mrs. Powell very much, and Mr. Leeds thoroughly terrified me..... would he throw chalk at me today or someone else? My older cousin was in his class when he famously inverted the student who did not grasp that when you divide fractions, you invert and multiply. Hmmm, maybe that had something to do with her becoming a professor of math?

Steve, thank you for your offer, but since we knew both you and Lynn, this forum is most appropriate to discuss your love and life. My husband was a Bostonian, and just too "different". I'm just not comfortable, but it was very kind of you. 

Ann, you have become so wise! I love reading your comments. 

Stephen (Steve) Dixon

As to favorite teachers, I will offer up Mr. Lounds (Human Physiology), Coach Bailey, who I had for Geometry and "the old pegaogue" Mr. Inskeep.

For those who had Biff Bailey, remember that extra-thick yardstick he was always fondling? When an undertone would develop in the class, Bailey would bring that thing down on the desk like a thunderclap. It would wake you right up.

I also remember Bailey saying, one day, "Shut up Rosenbaum (Rick) or I'll hit you with Collett." Exact quote.

Ann Shepard (Rueve)

Thanks Judy. I'm not that wise, I just have a perspective that goes back sixty-seven and a half years. 

Ann Shepard (Rueve)

Hahaha! I must have been in Bailey's class too. I remember the yard stick.  

Gene Stern

My coach and math teacher Biff Bailey, actually used that yardstick on my arm when Dave Scneider and I were cutting up in the hallway. He smacked me on my arm...pretty hard.  But, then, corporal punishment was allowed in the schools.

Gail Weintraub (Stern)

CALLING ALL CLASSMATES! Please look at our edited Missing Classmates tab. New classmates--those who attended WHHS through at least 10th grade--have been added. We would like to contact as many as possible so they can be part of our Virtual Reunion. Thank you for your part in making our 50th reunion so inclusive and virtually fun!

Dexter Roger Dixon

As for my favorite teachers, I'm with Steve Dixon on Mr. Inskeep from 7th grade English (I sat next to Nelson Abanto and in front of 'cousin' Steve.  Mr. Inskeep always called us big and little Dixon)  Miss Murphy in choir taught some good fundamentals.  Bige Hammons succeeded her in choir.  I really respected how he "integrated" the Walnuts singing chorus despite a lot of pressure from some students to keep the couples segregated; I was partnered that year with Sue Ahrens (now Sue Ahrens Weihl). Barron Wilson was an excellent language teacher -- a little over-the-top. Mrs. Troeger was a good French teacher and taught us a lot of popular top-ten French songs.  I'm sure I had other favorites, but these are the only ones I can think of at this moment.

Steven Levinson

Dexter, Sue Ahrens Weihl is now my step-sister-in-law; I married my father to Carol Weihl Levinson in October 1993, 18 months after my mother died.  Al and Sue live on Maui, and we are on Oahu; we get together once or twice every year.  Carol's late husband, Carl, was my father's first friend and our pediatrician.  Come to think of it, I'll bet that I'm the only kid on my block who had married his father not once, but twice!  Long story.  I should add Harriet Flory to my list of favorite teachers -- I never had her in class, but she was our "Ma" on the debate team.  Judy, I understand completely, although we could chat on the message center, which is private.

Gail Weintraub (Stern)

I'm throwing out another thread....Rick Steiner sent me this 7th grade classmate list from Miss Guilfoyle's Homeroom 232. A flash from the past, for sure. Do any of you remember who was in your 7th grade homeroom? Here's ours:

Bonnie Altman, Cheryl Armstrong, Paul Brower, Ashley Brown, Sharon Butts, Debbie Carroll, Rozanne Cole, Nancy Coleman, Carol Dier, Gayle Dryfoose, Peter Franklin, Randy Glendenning, Doug Gordon, Pam Hall, Barb Hay, Mary Joseph, John Lazarus, Mark Lehman, William Moore, Charles Morley, John Osher, Bill Phinney, Ron Porter, Steve Royal, Jon Singer, Rick Steiner, Sam Trufant, Bill Walker, Gail Weintraub, Mike White, Charles Wood, Barbara Yunker, Mark Zwick

Laura Reid (Pease)

My favorite was also Mr. Bailey...I had math with Sharon Okrent and DeeDee Doernberg and we were in trouble for talking all the time...surprise...surprise...I saw the ruler descend many times!!!

Paul Simons

Larry Klein

I never had a 'favorite' teacher, but a few memorable ones.  Of course, I am a bit partial to Mr Koke - 7th grade math.  He would later become my track and cross country coach for 3 years.  Miss Renfro (Latin one year) translated my name for me:  Lawrence (Latin for 'luck'), and Klein (German for 'small'), which I associated with my love life - unlucky in love.  I also remember Mr Lounds somewhat fondly as sometime around the 15th of May senior year he called me in and handed me an application to UC to sign (I had no idea I wanted to go to college!).  I had already turned down an offer to run cross country at Malone College on Lake Erie.  Mr Brokamp (asst principal) always was approachable and understanding of most of my antics, and transferred me out of Mr Carpenter's AP math (he sneezed on me a few times) to Mr Iacabucci's class, where I enjoyed the rest of that year sitting next to Barb Hay.

Ann Shepard (Rueve)

Larry, too bad there's not a "thumbs up" or "like" button to post a response. 

Larry Klein

Look familiar Classmates??  Note the "original" annex, baseball field, and old cinder track.  I pulled this out of one of the 120 years of Remembrancers I perused several years ago on a sports history project.

Harry Martin

I remember 4 classes and homeroom in the annex. Pedro for homeroom, Mr. Arcelesi.....I was in his class when they announced that Kennedy  had been shot, Mrs Levy, Mrs Marriot, and Mrs  Vawter. Does anyone remember the last two? I had several teachers that I liked.......didn't really have any favorites.  Charley Weaver for Biology, Ms. Bruggeman for Science, Ms. Meyer for Geometry, Mr. Ahlert- Industrial Arts, Mr. Cobb for Health, Mrs. Pauszek in the 7th or 8th grade, and Whitey Davis-Physical Ed  were among my favorites. I indirectly experienced the infamous ruler of.Mr.Bailey......one of my classmates was the recipient, and Mr. Carpenter digging for gold in his nose. Mr. Fish was my favorite sub.

   Does anyone remember Martin Pressley, Andy Hickenloper, Kenneth Voorhees, Roberta Parker or Ron Pettit. None of them finished at Walnut , except maybe for Andy......I was just wondering if anyone remembered them and knew their current status.

Dexter Roger Dixon

Harry:

I remember Mrs. Vawter.  I had her for Latin one year.  She had the thickest southern accent.  I recall she was from Mississippi.  She also taught French (I didn't have her for that, thank God).  I did hear that her French pronunciation was soaked in magnolias and the strains of "Dixie".

Dexter

Jonathan Marks

Gail, as to missing classmates...I saw Jeff Rosen in Florida a few months ago at his brother Matt's (somewhat belated) bar mitzvah.  I'm reluctant to put his e-mail online without his consent, but I can forward anything you like.  And I can probably track Danny Brown through a mutual friend.  So tell me (as in days of old) what to do.

Jonathan

Gail Weintraub (Stern)

Harry, Andy Hickenlooper (who is now Morgan Hickenlooper) has signed up and you can find his profile on our list of Classmate Profiles.

And, yes, I remember Mrs. Vauter. Her Southern drawl was so thick and totally distorted the beauty of the French language. She was a stark contrast to "The Baron" Wilson who I adored. I can still remember him drilling us with correct French pronunciation. He must have been crazy knowing how Vauter butchered the language.

Ann Shepard (Rueve)

Mrs Vawter, poor thing. I had her for Latin. Her amo, amas amat in Southern tripped on the ear. It was my French with Baron Wilson and M. Eick that made the language easy for me in college, so much that when I went on to Ohio State I did so well that I decided to pursue a major in French. 

Ira Goldberg

A few specific moments - some great, others terrifying - stand out with Ray Farnham, Joe Knab, Barron Wilson, Tom Lounds, Joe Koke, Whitey Davis, Gordon Woodward, and Leonard Arcilesi. Wish I knew what life had in store for them all, although I know Arcilesi became a priest, Lounds had many leadership roles in the corporate world, and Woodward enjoyed his son playing for - I think - the Reds. They all had memorable personalities. As for favorites, I'd have to say Joe Simons, although I never had a class with him. My Uncle, he gave me and Paul (Sy) rides to school and gave me lifts home after Cross Country practices for years before I drove. Good person! I also have to give a shout out to Ray Brokamp, our Principal, whose son is now in that role and admirably so.

Jonathan Marks

When I was a precocious tot, teaching myself to write, I gripped my pencil in a highly idiosyncratic way.  Now that I'm a superannuated codger, with decades of experience and wisdom under my belt...I grip my pen in precisely the same way.

This has worked out just fine for me, except for one day up in 336, when I was taking a test under the supervision of Mr. Farnham.  Amidst the silence and concentration of the class, he espied my bizarre beheavior -- gripping my writing instrument in an unauthorized manner -- and set about to change my ways immediately, standing over me to make sure I followed his dictates as to orthodox penmanship while I struggled with the test.

As you can imagine, I shrugged off the experience and have forgotten all about it.

Or expect to do so very soon.

Judy Holtzer (Knopf)

Just wondering after Jon's Mr. Farnham's story - Anyone know if he forced left-handeders to write with their right hands?