Sandy Steele (Bauman)

Our son lives in Singapore, and we have been to the Gardens by the Bay. What a lovely place to spend the day. Hopefully, on our next trip, we can get to the Botanical Gardens. Our daughter in law loves photography, and says we need to see the orchids there.

Jeff Daum

Right you are Phil.  I'd like to say it was a test to see if anyone was reading my posts  but it was just a mistake.  Do not know the origin but will be staying at the resort named after him shortly.

Larry Klein

Orchards, orchids, raffles!  Where do I buy a ticket?

Ann Shepard (Rueve)

I am ABSOLUTELY touched by the Memorial video. I'm sitting here in tears. God bless them all. It's truly fitting that the video began with Allen Thomas. We hardly knew each other in school, but during the 2004 reunion, we really got to be good friends.  It was such a shock to learn of his passing in 2012, we had just become friends on Facebook.

RIP classmates. The rest of us will be there sooner or later. 

Ira Goldberg

Lump in my throat, too, Ann. Let's light a candle for them all during this season of lights! To you who made this tribute possible, blessings. To those we miss, love. You are in our hearts and minds. 

Dexter Roger Dixon

The video memorial is quite touching and well put together.  Those pictures through the years allowed me to remember the faces from each grade and therefore created more particular memories of each of our departed classmates.  A wonderful idea.  Thanks to those who worked on it.

Jeff Daum

A most hearthfelt memorial video collage.  My words won't do it justice but It really evoked strong memories and almost as if their essence was reaching out through the progressive photos and time- especially those where the picture was one looking at the camera. Thank you to the creators for helping keep their memories part of our lives.

Nelson Abanto

Phil (and all other opera lovers),

Speaking of "Shopera", I came accross another one:

http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/verdi-flashmob-choir-surprises-shoppers-va-pensiero/

This one is "il coro degli schiavi ebrei" or, better known in English "The Hebrew Chorus".  In addition to being the best known choral work ever, it is significant as the theme for "Il risorgimento" or the the Italian liberation. Furthermore it was Verdi's first major success (Nabucco, 1841) and sung at his funeral 60 years later.  I have heard it a million times and every time I cannot hold back the tears. 

If you know it you will be entertained.  If you don't know it, take a chance, invest five minutes in listening to it. I think you will be rewarded.

Richard Winter (Winter)

The following announcement from Becky Payne Shockley may be of interest to many in the class:

Any of you who studied piano with my mom or dad might be interested in reading an article I wrote about her life and career, which will be published in the January-February issue of Clavier Companion magazine. It's entitled "Dorothy Stolzenbach Payne: Remembering a Legendary Cincinnati Piano Teacher."

Single copies can be ordered directly from PFS by calling 888-881-5861. If you order by Monday, December 8th (before it goes to print) the cost is $4/copy, plus shipping and handling. (The normal single issue price is $9.95 + shipping). You should reference the "Keyboard Club" discount for the Jan/Feb 2015 issue.

Single copies of the digital edition will be available for 4.99 through our website once the digital issue is published (my guess is the first week of January).

Becky Payne Shockley

David Buchholz

Thank you for the Memorial Video.  I saw photographs of my cousin Barbie Bertsch that I hadn't remembered seeing before.  

Best wishes to everyone.  It's been fun reconnecting with people from a life I left fifty-one years ago.  Here's another Christmas sunrise photo from Lake Tahoe...

Stephen (Steve) Dixon

Let me add my thanks to whoever put in the work to assemble the Video Memorial. If you were aiming for 'that spot' which is, I believe, deep down inside all of us, you got me.

I also want to echo my cousin D Rog in saying that the series of images, year-by-year, heightened the sense of recall. And made me sad, for myself. Sad that I didn't get to know more of these great people at some greater depth. A lesson learned too late.

The work of the committee, and the participation in this site is a big help in trying to "win a little back."

Best of the holiday season(s), in whatever tradition you observe, to one and all.

Evan Burkholder

I didn't realize until I watched the Video Memorial how many are no longer with us. To see the changes in the few photos from the Remembrancer, from 7th to 12th grade - one can only wonder what photos and memories we would have now if those who past on were with us today. What wonderful lives they would have lived!

All of you have a wonderful Holiday Season and a great New Year. To sort of get you (back) into the spirit of the season, here's a Christmas Manners Quiz

Cheers!

David R. Schneider

The memorial video is truly touching.  Some I know had passed- others I did not.  Allen Thomas' comment sets the tone.  Kudos to those who made the memorial possible. May you and yours have a wonderful holiday season, and a happy and healthy 2015!

Sandy Steele (Bauman)

The memorial video is such a nice tribute to those we have lost from the class of 64. Whomever is doing this wonderful work on the website..... THANKS so much!

Mary Benjamin

I want to chime in to thank everyone who helped create the memorial tribute. Many of the classmates I didn't know had died but I recognized every face. And it was wonderful to see those faces through the years, so touching. Haven't had time for months to tune into the website, but very glad I had time tonight to do so. Wishing you all peaceful, joy filled holidays and a wonderful new year.

Philip Spiess

I will second Stephen Dixon on his statement, "Best of the holiday season(s), in whatever tradition you observe, to one and all."

To Evan Burkholder:  I checked into the "Christmas Manners Quiz," and my response is:  "All of the above."

To All:  My old computer has a serious virus; I'm switching to a new computer.  I cannot yet get the Memorial Video, but I'm working on it.

Nelson:  That also means I cannot yet get either the Shopera or the "Hebrew Chorus," but I will!  Thanks for sending!

And to everybody, from Charles Dickens, my favorite English 19th-Century author (I once met his great-grandson, Cedric Dickens, in Philadelphia -- but that's another story I may have already posted here somewhere), or rather, as Tiny Tim (not the singer) observed, "God bless Us, Every One!" 

Chuck Cole

A wonderful tradition was started at my 10th college reunion at Oberlin where our class began to hold a memorial service at every reunion.  The most meaningful part was when we all sat in silence and those so moved would take turns saying something in remembrance of a classmate departed.  Of course, at the earier reunions there were relatively few of our classmates to remember.  Since this is life, the number who have departed continues to increase and a few of us were imagining the time when there would be as few of us remaining as there were those who had passed on by the time of our 10th reunion.  I suggest we consider adding a memorial observance to our future reunions.  

Best wishes at this time of holiday light and the winter darkness of solstice to all of you.

Steven Levinson

Let me chime in with Mary B.  The memorial video moved my heart and tearducts.  I had a really nice conversation with  Allen Thomas at the Jewish Community Center on the Saturday night of the 2010 reunion.  I remember him so vividly from 7th Grade music class.  A kid with DAs who somehow was a thoroughly nice guy (and a good alto tenor)!  It seems that he knew something in 2010 that he was sharing only obliquely in our "talk story" session ("Some of us won't be here . . . but I love you all.")  What got me the most about the roll call of pictures was not so much the numbers -- we all die -- but the range of dates.  Some of us died so young.  Life is precious.   Thanks a billion to the makers of the memorial.

Gail Weintraub (Stern)

The creator of the Memorial Video was Rick Steiner. Of course, he had some help from his friends; but, he is the mastermind and the inspiration of this latest gift to our class. We owe so much to Rick. He is the glue that has held us together for the past 50 years. We created the WHHS Class of 1964 Performing Arts Fund in his honor, acknowledging the many contributions he has made to help keep our diverse class together.  Let's continue to support our fund and Rick.                                                                                                                 Thank you, Rick.                         

Sharon Baum (Covitz)

Wonderful memorial video.  Thank you Rick and all who helped you.  It is truly touching.  May you all have a wonderful Holiday and a New Year filled with good health and peace.

Bruce Fette

Lets all welcome Fred Hoeweller who just joined.

Ann Shepard (Rueve)

Welcome Fred!!!!

Dexter Roger Dixon

Hey, Fred!  How be ye?

Dexter Roger Dixon

A Happy Christmas to all and a Healthy & Productive 2015!!!

Jeff Daum

Continuing on my 'theme' of orchids around the world, visited the Sai Nam Phung Orchid garden in Chang Mai today.  It was probably one of the most extensive and varied collections I have seen.  Here are just a couple of shots.  Most were suspended as you can see in the first picture: