The Newsletter
It's always a fine morning when the HixNews arrives with the first emails of the day! I got a cup of coffee and sat back and read and enjoyed. The pictures of the Drama kids of l960 reminded me of l959 because so many of them were juniors and sophomores then, working with us, the seniors. I recognized most of the faces and it gave me a warm feeling of belonging.
Thank you, Editors, for your hard work and efforts.
Lilian Giller (now Gordon) class of '59
My name is Bob Birk, HHS class of 1952. I would like to second the motion of Tom Haller class of 56 to include Mabel Farley in the hall of fame. I was fortunate to work for the school district during my junior and senior years under the direction of Miss Farley from 1950 to 1952. I was amazed at how she ran every department of the school, from the teachers to the custodians and the administrative staff without the help of any assistant principals. She did all this without forgetting that her students were her most important responsibility. I saw and listened to her many times taking time out to call parents when a problem arose, or just to congratulate them on their child's achievement. She never was too busy to listen to a student or teachers' problems. She was a stern, but yet fair disciplinarian. Miss Farley went on after retirement from HHS to become the Assistant to the Governor of Pennsylvania on education issues. She sure gets my vote...
Miss Farley gets my vote. She was misunderstood by some because of her age and the limp from a broken hip but I always found her to be caring and willing to listen to new ideas. At the end of my freshman year, a group of us asked if we could take the whole year of biology during the summer before our sophomore year. We had heard that it was a hard subject. Miss Farley went to bat for us with the School Board and Dr. Lamb, Superintendent, and told us if we could get enough students interested, she would get us a teacher. I seem to remember about 25 to 30 signed up so she got Mr. Glass (before his PhD) as our teacher. He was great and we all took the Regents and the lowest grade was 88.
I learned the subject so well that I aced the biology exam in college. Sure made a mess of the curve!
Pat (Koziuk) Driscoll, '56
The legacy of educators is their influence on the lives of the students they have touched. So it is with Mabel R. Farley, who, for nearly 50 years, motivated and enriched the lives of Hicksville students. To a legion of graduates, she represented what education was all about. She came to Hicksville in 1912 from a state teachers' college. She was principal of Hicksville High School for 31 years and on retirement was a member of the School Board. This exemplary lady was admired and beloved by three generations of Hicksvillites.
From: IMAGES OF AMERICA ' HICKSVILLE by Richard E. and Anne Evers
I ditto the nomination of Ms. Mable Farley for the HHS Hall of Fame. She was a woman WAY AHEAD of her time. Unfortunately she did not get the recognition and respect she deserved from us as students.
Steve Moddle class of 1953
PS My mother had her as a teacher
What I'm doing: Doing lots of oil painting these days getting ready for fall art show (not rushing the fall mind you). You can visit my web site at: www.didley-squat.com to see my work. Working on another children's book. Just finished a principal part in TV commercial that may or may not go national. Sailing on Lake Travis and playing with my grandsons.
Walter (Butch) Allan, '60
June (Olsen) Cullen, '58 sends this link for those of you with roots in the Bronx:
Really nice pictures of the old Bronx
Remembering the Bronx
http://www.nostalgictimewarp.com/bronx.html
Marie VanacoreI was just forwarded an issue and I love it! My name is Marie Vanacore and I graduated in 1963. Please add my name to the mailing list.
Many thanks.
Marie
While reading the July Newsletter, I noticed Buddy Weber's name on thebirthday list. I was wondering if he remembers working with me in 1963 at the offices of Stackler and Frank, the owners of Mid Island Plaza. We worked together in the advertising office for Mr. James Cummings.
Ann Celentano Walker (62)
Dear Mesdames and Sirs,
My wife, Antoinette Zasa Gentile, '59, would like to be added to your mailing list. Not only was she a graduate of HHS, but she also taught French and Italian at HHS for her entire teaching career, 1963-1996.I also taught at HHS, 1966-1997, as a teacher of French, Spanish and English.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Gentile
Hi,
I'm a graduate of Hicksville High School (1965) and I just now learned that you had a newsletter. Please include me on your list.
Thanks so much.
Susan Scott
Murray the "K" was on WINS 1010. Also, does anyone remember the "T-Rose" Luncheonette? I believe it was on the corner of North 8th and Havemeyer in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Does anyone remember the Grand Theater on, what else, Grand Ave.?
Mike Cava '66
...and remember his name in pig Latin....or whatever they called it....me-a-surry key-a-soff-man.
And the infamous Submarine Race Watchers Club....I had a card for years.
Don't remember the T Rose luncheonette.
Buffalo Bob '61
Another Murray The K...'Do you believe in the hereafter?'Cause if you ain't here after, what I'm here after, then you'll be here after I'm gone!'
Walt Schmidt, '65
Hi all, especially the class of 1956.
If you watch the Comedy Central Channel, you can catch me throughout August in a Quixnos Sandwich commercial portraying a comic "intervention." I'm told it should air around The Daily Show, or The Colbert Report. I'm the "grandma," and my "grandson" is "addicted" to Quixnos sandwiches! It's quite funny and this real grandma had a ball doing it!
Hope everyone is happy and healthy.
Harri Molese, Class of 1956
Dear Editors,
In the July HIXNEWS - Honoring Veterans - you have my name spelled wrong. It should be Robert Cheeseman not Chessman. I'm married to Lorraine (Kirwan) Cheeseman - 1964. I was almost a '64 grad but due to my Dad's ill health we moved to Lindenhurst. I returned to Hicksville after graduation, married Lorraine and left for the USAF from our Alpine Lane, Hicksville, apartment in March '67. I retired from the USAF in 1996 and joined the Texas Adjutant General's Department where I'm still serving but in a state role!
Brig Gen (TX) Bob Cheeseman
Loved all the pictures from the Senior Class of 1960-----many people in the pictures should contact me to get together in 2010 for our 50th reunion.
Myrna (Hessel) Greenberg
Good news!
Matthew A. Bruckner, HHS class of 1996, 2000 undergraduate studies @SUNY Binghamton, degree in PPI, world traveler extraordinaire, 2007 graduate of NYU Law, JD, 2007 employed by Allen & Overy, NYC, 2007 passed NYS bar exam is being admitted in the NYS Bar Association on July 16, 2008. Matthew is currently residing in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY.
Son of Craig G. Bruckner ('71) & Paula L. Bruckner (nee' Jargo) ('72)
I believe that some time ago, I mentioned I took up the sport of competitive racewalking (an Olympic event) and joined a Racewalking Club located just north of San Francisco.... about 45 miles from my home here in Santa Rosa.
I've been training for and participating in this sport for the past 7 years, traveling to various venues here in California to compete with men in my age group, (e.g. I'm presently in the 75 to 79 year old category). I have truly enjoyed this experience, having made many new friends and have achieved modest success (by being awarded about 25 medals for my efforts to date).
In this regard, I thought you would like to know that I'm still out there doing my thing....by sharing this forwarded e-mail with attached June 22nd picture of me, receiving the Men's Best Style Award at this year's Alongi Racewalking Classic (our annual major racewalking event). Pictured with me is Frank Alongi, who for the past 50 years has been a nationally renowned racewalking teacher, coach and judge; notably having been a former Olympic middle distance runner for Italy.
I know this sport isn't as popular as golf, but for an old guy like me who never seemed to have the time for golf in the past, racewalking has proven to be a healthy and enjoyable pastime, along with enabling my competitive juices to be satisfied!
Cheers,
Tom Fellenz, '49
I am sending snail mail, some more photos. In most of the photos on one page, its the snowstorm of 1956, at 52 linden blvd. In the top left is an aerial view of Mid Island Plaza, circa 1957. The other photo is me at Yosemite Sep 2005. Chuck, my brother, was working at Shiners Drug store and going to L.I. Agricultural & Technical Institute, which allowed him to be able to pay for the flight time on the aircraft. He paid for all the flights! An unimaginable feat today. I took some flying lessons about 6 years ago and they were $79 @ hr for the plane and $25 @ hr for the pilot!
I have a correction on the letter I sent. The person I remember is Richard Lyman. Any way I was close.
I will enclose more photos as soon as I can scan them.
Best regards,
Ron Wilson
snail mail, May 8, 2008
Dear Robert:
Congratulations on a first class journal. As a former Hicksville person, it is a fine piece of work. I know what a time and money consumer a labor of love this publication can be. Even with the help of computers. I was vice president of the Okras Dive Club (SCUBA) in Orange Country, California until Diana and I and the kids moved to San Diego.
Thanks for printing Chuck (my brother), Frank and me in the April edition. It takes time to put together anything especially an engineering or scientific article on paper. I've done it and it has been published.
I am going to send more things from Hicksville and L.I., for example, I have a program from 1960 Long Beach Marine Theater. My mom saved it. I also have photos of flights I took with Chuck in 1957/1958. I have enclosed some of them, and, I will email more.
I would like to know what happened to Helene Louander who was shown in one of your issues. Also, Sandy Moos, Richard Cooper, Steve Bachman and Richard Lamb. You can publish this email only
I've enclosed something to help out.
Thank You!!
Ron Wilson
P.S. Could you get a picture of my house? Yes, I have one from Nassau County, but it dates back to 2000. I am curious how it looks now!! address is 52 Linden Blvd, Hicksville, NY 10801
Ron Wilson '56 
Snowstorm 
Mid Island Plaza
Ron Wilson at Yosemite 
52 Linden Blvd - 2008 
52 Linden Blvd - 2008Hi,
Re: Jane Schaeffler looking for Maria Heilig
My name is Theresa Moehringer (Theresa Tisdell), I graduated with both Jane and Maria, Class of 1960. Maria and I exchange Christmas cards so I will be happy to help Jane out with this. They were neighbors growing up on Meadow Lane in Hicksville. Maria now lives in Manhattan, her married name is Mitchell (mailing address removed for privacy) I hope this will be helpful to Jane in contacting Maria.
My friend, Joan Mackin (Joan Deininger) also Class of 1960, told me of the website for the Alumni Association. Please add my e-mail address to your list. I still live in Hicksville. My parents are still living on St. John's Avenue. By the way, my brother, Michael, Class of 1965, was in the Army during the Vietnam War years. He was stationed in Korea patrolling the border between North and South Korea with his Guard Dog. I am going to mention the website to him. Hopefully, he will sign up too. All three of my sons John, James and David, graduated from HHS, Classes of 1985, 1987 and 1992.
I noticed you post birthdays. My birth date was February 12th. I was born in the Bronx and moved to Hicksville in April of 1954, over the Easter recess. So, I only had a short time in East Street School, where I became friends with Joan Deininger, and then onto the Junior High in September, where in 9th Grade, new friends that I met from other schools in the town started to call me "Terry" and so that seemed to stay with me from that time on.
I am very pleased to be a part of your e-mail network and look forward to future news, etc.
Thank you,
Terry
Hi Pat (Koziuk) Driscoll,
I was forwarded the newsletter by my sister in law and in the May Edition, you wrote about going to the Dodger Game. I related to that article as well, since I also was at the game.
I believe Mrs. Cunningham told me I was able to go with the leaders club of the middle school. It was my first ball game ever. I had such a good time on the bus, we sang songs etc. The boys outnumbered the girls as it was a sports related reward at the end of the year as I recall, so that was a big plus.
I remembered it rained and they covered the field with the tarps. After awhile the game continued. When I got home I heard that it was a history making game as it was a no hitter. I don't know if I was aware of that at the game.
Your article brought back that memory and you seemed to remember it more vividly then I.
Thank you.
Pat (Bruun) Celentano l956
Hi, I just had to tell you again that I'm so impressed with the wonderful, imaginative job all of you do putting the HixNews together each month. I look forward to receiving and reading it each month. You should all be so proud of your efforts and the great experience it brings to all those who read it.
Valerie Towsley (1960)
In the newsletter there was a photo of a flower that Bob Casale was asking for identification thereof. It is the flower of the Hoya plant. The only reason I know about it is that I have one and that's what it looks like when it blooms. Incidentally, it blooms only when it feels like it and there is no schedule or reason for its efforts. I have no idea where they come from or anything else about it at this time. Maybe I will Google it and seek further knowledge.
Thank you, Fondly,
Suzanne (Garrett) Cullen, '56
. 
Suzanne (Garrett) CullenHi Bob -
Your plant is a Hoya or wax plant. There are several varieties, I happen to have the same one as you. Mine hangs in back of my house from the roof over-hang and when it flowers, they look like plastic or wax, hence the name. It's pretty common, so I would think you would be able to find it at most garden centers. Where you live, it would be considered a house plant. Hope you can find one, if not let me know and I will send you one or a clipping from mine. Happy hunting.
Bonnie (Scharr) Papes '61
Singer Island, FL
Hi,
I've always enjoyed your newsletter-you are doing a great job. I was so surprised to see myself in the 1957 picture of the 2nd grade class from Lee Ave School. I am the last one in the fourth row from the left-right behind Elsa Green.
Robyn (Murphy) Olson, 1967
I was so pleasantly surprised to receive a birthday card from the HixNews staff. Thank you so much.
I really enjoy reading the newsletter every month. Really makes you think about your high school years remembering faces to go along with the names that are so familiar. I moved to Port Jefferson Station in 1972 and I have stayed in the same house for 36 years. I used to visit my mom in Hicksville but she moved in with me in 1989 and is still with me, she's 86. When I go through Hicksville it looks like a different town to me. The railroad station is so busy and the streets I used to frequent appear so different. I did see a lot of the train station this past year. My son is in the Army National Guard and was stationed as a guard in Penn Station and in Kennedy Airport. He rode the LIRR train to and from work but frequently missed the Ronkonkoma line so I had to drive him to Hicksville quite often. He is being deployed to Iraq the end of August for nine months. My husband and I will be doing a lot of praying in the months to come. Thank you again for remembering my birthday.
Maureen Kilkenny Rizzo, '64
How nice! Thanks for the birthday greetings from the Newsletter group.
Marcia Rubinstein Pollack, '58
My name is Joan Sabatella Plock and I know it's been a long time since anyone has heard from me. The reason is my total involvement in the community where my husband and I are now living.
I am a product of the Hicksville education system and can say proudly that I graduated from Hicksville High School in 1961. My dad grew up in Hicksville, too. I thank heaven for teachers who cared about me personally and the success I gained in life was because of their perseverance.
I have so many memories, all of them good. My memory of Hicksville High takes precedence because it was there my personality formed and I met so many wonderful people who helped influence my life and my destiny. I marvel at the way things worked out for me over the years.
I think about all of the guys and gals from the class of '61 often and have had a little contact with one or two people from the class. Unfortunately, I get very busy sometimes, especially at election time, and find the years just speeding by.
In recent correspondence with Bob Casale, I found out about those classmates of ours who have passed away and it saddens me that they died so young.
I have been back to Long Island a bunch of times and even attended an earlier reunion but have missed subsequent ones'probably because no one could find me.
My husband, Harry, is a licensed pilot and we own a Cessna 172. When we do visit the island, we usually fly over the sound from Connecticut. My son, Cory, is a Commercial Pilot and an instructor but is currently working as a Computer Scientist at Microsoft. Cory is a graduate of NYU with a degree in Computer Science.
We know I graduated in 1961. What did I do after High School??
I worked on Long Island in several hospitals and a nursing home. I was involved with Admissions and Utilization Review.
In 1975, we decided to move to Ridgefield, Connecticut. Harry, my two sons, Michael and Cory and I finally left Long Island after all those years. My son Michael is a graduate of the University of Connecticut at Storrs and works now as a scientist. We live in North Ridgefield (on top of a mountain) and our house is in close proximity to the Danbury Airport and the Danbury Mall. The town has an approximate population of about 24,000 people.
Aside from raising the boys and being a housewife, I worked with a software designer. My job was to try to make the programs being designed to crash. Good fun!!
Joan Sabatella PlockI was also very active with the Board of Education from 1985 until 1995. My total involvement culminated with me being elected Chairman of the Board of Education in 1987 and I held that position until 1995.
In 1997, the town voted me into the position as Justice of the Peace. I am one of twenty one justices in Ridgefield and maintain that position today.
In 2001, I ran for and won a seat on the Board of Selectmen. For those not familiar with this type government, Selectmen are similar in some ways to a city counsel. In Ridgefield, we have a Town Meeting type government that means most big decisions are made at a Town Meeting or submitted as a referendum.
My position as Selectmen qualifies me to serve also as a Fire Commissioner. The town supports five Selectmen and five Fire Commissioners.
Currently, I handle the financial transactions for our family consulting business and that includes doing tax preparation. I do have a personal garden that is hard to maintain because of where we live'on a solid ledge.
Finally, when I grow up, I think I would like to be a lawyer or a detective. I'm not quite sure, yet!!!
Dear Editors,
See if you can find a place for this link in the next edition. I'm sure many will remember.
Here is a you tube link to Kenny Dino's, '58 (AKA Kenny Doino) hit "Your Ma Said You Cried in Your Sleep Last Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KW13ENpodo
Here is another link to You Tube and Brooklyn Bridge a video featuring our hall of famers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4GwUtBd0DM
Tom Steedman (1960)
I have a strange question that you might not be able to answer. I saw on your web site that someone mentioned Pizza D'amore and there used to be 2 of them in AZ but they closed so I was wondering if you know of any in other states or similar pizza. I would love to get a hold of who can make that kind of pizza and if the owners are still around. Any assistance would be appreciated. I was born in Connecticut and the pizza here in Arizona sucks compared to east coast but Pizza D'amore was the best here.
Brian Zito
To all... This is from Bob Stermer, Jr. His dad graduated in '59.
Hi all,
Bobby Stermer, Jr.
and his two sonsI have 2 wonderful boys that are very busy with soccer ( both goalies), Boy and Cub Scouts, Basketball and both being hands on kids I don't have to build anything my 12 and 9 year old boys make it. They are the joy of my life.I was a very hard working Cable contractor working supervisor, then made an office supervisor until I got tired of the stress of contracting with Comcast. I loved the job though so I just became a worker again and bringing the money in. Until June 16,2005, when my ladder slid down the line and I was catapulted (not the first time) to the ground (I didn't land correctly) and it changed my life forever. I broke my rt wrist and developed a disease in my rt hand called RSD. A very painful nerve problem that spread to my whole body. I AM NOW DISABLED FOR LIFE/ THERE IS NO PERMANENT CURE..
For the Hicksville crowd, I am sorry to report that my Dad passed away on 3/9/2007 from cancer. He did not suffer, it overtook him very quick.
Hi Bob,
Per my Bio, I made reference to the fact that my wife is homebound with Multiple Sclerosis. It
is she that went to Hicksville HS, not I. Her maiden name was Patricia Bryan, more readily known as Patty Bryan. She was unable to complete her Senior year as her family moved to Florida, unfortunately. She should have been in the Class of '57. I am her Care-giver and we have both been very happy to reconnect with old classmates....
Perhaps we'll talk again.
Bob Carstons
Hi Bob,Dennis and I are brother and sister! I graduated Hicksville High in 61 - those were the good old days!! Yes, I do know about the newsletter and I love it!! Dennis actually told me about it! Thank you for doing it every month. I had gone back to Hicksville last summer (the first time since 1985 - when I moved to Florida) and couldn't believe how wonderful the house we lived in looked, and how great the high school and Jr. high looks. Have a great day!
Thank you, again, for the memories!!
Linda Carlucci
Bob, Thank you for this reminder. I enjoyed the read. I just sent my email address and info. I think I signed up correctly but if not I am sure someone will let me know. Nicely done!I live on an island in Maine and I am enjoying the sound of the surf, the melody of fog horns and the cool breezes. I wish there was a way to raise the water temperature. I do miss the Long Island beaches.
Carol Kinney
