John Granby

I have been looking and reading all of the posts for the last several weeks and would like to add my recollection of the day that JFK was assassinated. For anyone born in the last 90 years there are 3 major events that have taken place in the United States that will forever be burned in our minds and our hearts. While none of us were borne yet the bombing Pearl Harbor, in my mind is the first of those catastrophic and history changing events, the second for all of us was November 22, 1963 the day JFK was assassinated and of course the third was September 11^th, 2001.

I remember that day very week because I was sitting in Mr. Born’s history class when the first PA message was broadcast through the school.  If memory serves me correctly what happened next was that the school broadcast the live report from CBS with Walter Cronkite but after all these years I might be wrong. I haven’t seen any comments for recollection of Mr. Born and but I believe he was also a Captain in the Naval reserve and when the announcement came on he sat down at his desk and a tear fell from his cheeks. We sat in class and for the remainder of the period, listening to the news over the PA system and then, I believe school was dismissed. I somehow remember, as I did not yet drive sitting on one of the buses for quite a while till we all left to go home.  

Barbara Kahn (Tepper)

Since we're giving an account of what we did - here's mine.  I remember the announcement and feeling shock...I don't think they told us right away he was dead - just shot.  We were sent to the choir room.  

That night we didn't know what to do so I went to a movie downtown with David Mitzel and maybe some other people.  If you were there please let me know.  I do recall that the movie theater was nearly empty and it was an erie feeling.  I have no idea what movie we saw. 

Nancy Messer

I spent the entire weekend and Monday watching all the news on television.  We were scheduled to have a chemistry test Tuesday, and Monday was scheduled as a review day.  Since everything was cancelled Monday because of the funeral, I called Mr. Welch to find out if we were still having the test Tuesday and he said no.  That made me feel better knowing I didn't have to worry about it. It didn't occur to me to call anyone else in the class to let them know!

Steve Sanger

Gene- actually it was me, not Goose in the wagon with you that day skipping 5th and 6th periods to buy party decorations.   We were on our way to meet up with Bill Compton at the decorations place, listening to WSAI on your car radio when the DJ interrupted a song with the news that JFK had been shot.  The station then switched from its normal  Top 40 format to classical music.  When we heard that, we knew the news was bad, and a few moments later they announced that the President had died.

Gene Stern

Steve: Goose and I were so close that I just assumed it was he but I'm glad you corrected my fading memory of that day.  Didn't we build a French cafe with a small Eiffel Tower for some singer we hired?

Paul Simons

FYI WHHS64 - At "Awakenings" coffee/wine bar on Hyde Park Square in Cincinnati on Wednesday July 16 around 8:00 PM - I'll be playing a few tunes at Stan Hertzman's (Class of 1962) CD release party. If you're in town stop by, it would be great to see y'all. I'll post this again closer to that date. Hope you're having a good summer. The Jersey shore has been fine but now I see the first hurricane of the season is coming up the coast.

Kurt Metzger

I was quite aware that I had forgotten a great deal about my years at Walnut Hills, though I didn't realize how much I had missed until I started reading these posts.  My first 5 years were kind of a blur, with memory coming along with weight loss and hair growth prior to my senior year.

While many memories are coming back, the one I have always retained is 6th period choir on the day Kennedy was shot.  I have vague recollections about 7th grade Latin, Peanuts, many of the teachers that have been mentioned, etc.  That day, and a less than successful Junior Prom date with Eve Susskind (so traumatic that I skipped Senior Prom) will always stand out.

Nancy Messer

Today at work I was checking the voice mail for prescriptions from doctors' offices for their patients.  One was from a vet clinic for a cat.  She said the patient's first name was So (long o)  crates (long a).  I just sat there shaking my head back and forth.  This woman's education was severely lacking if she didn't know of or recognize in print the name Socrates.  Everyone in the pharmacy got a nice laugh.

Philip Spiess

My god, Kurt, You look pretty much as you always did!

Philip Spiess

Nancy:  My 5th Grade students thought Plato's name was "Play Dough."

Jean Snapp (Miller)

Hi all,

In going through an old box I found the script to "Useless", 5 photos from the production, the cast list, Miss Ewald's engagement announcement and 6 of our graduation announcements.  A real treasure trove.  Jean

Gail Weintraub (Stern)

Jean, please post them.

Philip Spiess

Okay, Nancy, going way back now in these comments:  I was befuddled by people who said there were two announcements of JFK's death; I only remembered one.  I, too, was passing classes outside, so I guess I did not hear it.  Thanks for adding that information.

Philip Spiess

Yes, Jean, please post anything you've got (did you see your picture in "Peanuts" on my Profile?). 

Amazing, the number of remembrances that you all have of JFK's assassination.  So I've promised Gail Weintraub that I will try to compile these -- a really relevant historical notation!  Anyone else -- please add your memories.

Philip Spiess

One more thought, guys:  as I expected, this site is slowing down, now that the 50th Reunion has actually taken place.  Please keep up the memories -- we have, I'm sure, many more memories to share (I, for one, asked, "What are you reading now?" and got only one response; my inquiry:  "What are you drinking now?" got a much bigger response -- which is fine with me -- but let's hear what moves you in your present life!). 

Judy Holtzer (Knopf)

Phil - sorry I missed your question about what are people reading now. Must have been during the period when I was without a computer.... I always used to read thriller or mystery trash novels before going to sleep, although Edward Rutherfurd is my all-time favorite with his historical novels of England (stay away from his New York, it was disappointing IMO) but then my spine problems made it difficult to hold a book too long without my hands falling asleep. So I switched tracks and became a sudoku fan. I'm not very good at it, my logic is poor - according to once taking the GRE back in 1981 or 1982 when they were coming up with a new experimental logic section, I am approximately a moron. I was far south of 500!! Anyway, doing a "medium hard" sudoku puzzle is better than any sleeping pill I've met at putting me to sleep.

My daughter and family just took off on June 30 from Israel for 2 years in Cleveland. First, their flight was cancelled ("maintenance"???) and instead of leaving at 11 p.m., they left at 6 a.m. And the substitute plane had a stopover in Frankfurt that their original flight did not have. After 24 hours, they finally reached the Cleveland airport - only to discover that their baggage was "lost". They are slowly getting it all back. And there is a little girl of 8 and a baby of 14 months..... It must have been a nightmare. But my daughter and granddaughter were thrilled to discover that early every morning in their back yard, a "bambi" and rabbits would appear. All they got in Haifa where they came from were wild boar. Kindly hold the digs about "kosher", thanks. Actually, for 5 years Danielle lived very happily on a kibbutz which bred and raised pigs. 

Judy Holtzer Knopf

Margery Erhardt (Schrader)

Phil – I tried to find the post of you asking these questions but had no luck. We are getting so many comments that sometimes posts are missed. Books -  a lot of good ones out now. Ones I have just read …. Donna Tartt who wrote the Goldfinch but I really liked A Secret History, her previous book that takes place in a Vermont college, Hampden, but is really is about Bennington College (my cousin graduated from Bennington so I had a reference.) Also, An Officer and a Spy by Robert Harris, Orders from Berlin by Simon Tolkien (grandson),The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal, and any books by Nancy Horan, Selden Edwards, Daniel Silva and Ben Coes. Greg Isles, Martin Walken too. I tend to read historical fiction and love a good action mystery. Many favorite authors are actually from Europe – Scandanavia and the Brits.  Read with a good wine or martini (weekend only!)

Janet Wood (Mitchell)

Just watched the virtual tour of WHHS, and am flabbergasted by the phenomenal physical school.  To say that the students are fortunate to be there is an understatement! It was wonderful in our time, but now...wow!  And it sounds as if much of the expansion and luxury accoutrements (natatorium) are due to alumnae. I am so proud of WHHS.  But at the same time, I can't help but think of kids who are attending schools that can't supply even a science lab. ( OK, I am a child of the 60's, and a "bleeding heart" to some extent.)  But have any of you ever visited an Indian reservation and seen what passes as a high school there??  I deem WHHS as one of the finest gifts I have ever received, and I know many of you feel the same way. I will never take it for granted.

Nancy Messer

The Virtual Tour was fun to watch.  Everything is so modern there now and all facets of the school were improved.  I was really impressed by the pool and exercise room.  Maybe I could do some physical therapy there and be able to get around without my walker!

Ira Goldberg

The virtual tour was a glimpse at extensive expansion and renovations! A live tour I had showed how purposeful its planning and student centered the improvements were, reflecting a focus on excellence. I saw bright kids who were friendly, courteous and respectful of their opportunity. Consequently, WHHS ranks #1 among Ohio high schools, tops US schools in number of AP classes and in average SAT score. Thanks to our '64 website and videos, I'm looking forward to our 70th Birthday bash!

Joyanne Page (Christian)

I remember being in Mr. Jacobucci's(sp) economics class when the announcement came over the school system. I also remember it rained that night and I wrote a paper that had been due that day but I had not turned it in because I couldn't think of what to write. I turned the paper in the next day and received a B+. The teacher said I would have gotten an A If I had turned it in on time, I told him Kennedy hadn't been shot before then. The paper was written about what my feelings were on that day.

Ann Shepard (Rueve)

The virtual tour was a great addition to our reunion. Thank you. The building renovations really complement the old structure. I have followed the accomplishments of the students over the years. One of my grandsons  graduated in the class of 2010. His cousin was was among a small group selected to perform in concert at the White House, I believe, the same year. Even for someone who is a fair weather sports fan, I really was enthused by the boys basketball team's pursuit of the state title. 

What struck me most about the virtual tour was something most people probably didn't notice. It was the updated choral arrangement of the choir singing the school anthem,High On The Hill , in the background. It's modern and very lovely. 

Philip Spiess

Ann:  Did you see my previous comment about the earlier alma mater, Semper Fidelis?  Apparently nobody remembered it, though it was still listed in the little blue Handbook we received as "Effies."

Philip Spiess

Margery:  My inquiry about "Who's reading what these days?" was on Page 15, Comment #368.  I was hoping to stimulate some current conversation among what is still a very literate class.  Boy, I was not only gratified by the response; I was overwhelmed.  Of the many responses submitted, I must readily acknowledge that I'm not familiar with any of them.  This suggests two things:  that our class is very eclectic and diverse (is that redundant?) in its reading matter, and that I'm not as au courant with contemporary literature or other cultural trends as I thought I was.  (I guess it would help if I started reading things written after Nixon was elected president!)  Anyway, keep the responses coming:  it's both interesting and stimulating!

Larry Klein

Phil, I'll add to your archival efforts on who's reading what now.  I still read the sports page and funnies in the daily Enquirer.  I also get the monthly ACBL Bridge Bulletin and pore through the main contributions of our esteemed national stars.  Occasionally, I'll peruse a few financial reports, balance sheets, and ledgers when I'm looking to make some new investments.  Oh, I also read lots of greens (sometimes improves my putting), and I ALWAYS read the faces of my bridge opponents for those sneaky little "tells" on who's holding the missing queen.  Oh, did I mention that, during HS golf season, I read and reply to about 30 emails per day.  I think all this 'reading' is the root cause that Dave Schneider's new protege, Dr. Lim, has to revise my eye prescription every year.  It's tough getting old, man.