The Newsletter
Dear Editors,
I would like very much to be in contact with any Alumni from the classes of 1940-1944. With special interest in classmates who graduated in 1942. The latter may remember me as the VP of that class who was also the editor of the Comet and the 1942 Yearbook. Thanks and best wishes for keeping up your very good work!
Sam Levitt '42
P.S. Contact can be made with my E address:
Sandy Sandler Wolfe was looking for my brother, Richard Ollins (Class of '60). He is happily retired, married and living in Las Vegas, but also travels between two vacation homes -- one in Australia, the other in Mexico. I don't think he is in touch with anyone from Hicksville.
Michael Ollins Class of '63
Hi Everyone,
What a wonderful time we had at our 50th reunion! It was so interesting to connect with our old classmates and find out what they'd been doing all these years. Music was great and just the enthusiasm and energy when all got up to do "The Stroll" told a story about our age group! Thanks so much to Vicki, Jeff, Marilyn and all the others who helped arrange this great weekend. It was so worth the trip and to others facing a 50th....don't miss it!
Judy DeVincentis Morgan
Hi Guys,
Just to add to the Hicksville Bakery list, how about:
Englert's Bakery (Marie St. and Broadway), I remember that one fondly as I ate too many "snake buns" (cinnamon rolls) from there in my younger days.
Crown Bakery (I think it was on Newbridge Road or Jerusalem Avenue).
And there was a bakery in Mid-Island Plaza (near Arthur Maisel's restaurant).
Charlie Henningsen, '64
REPLY:
Charlie...
The Crown Bakery was in the Allied Shopping Center across the street from the Carvel stand where the "tornado" touched down years ago. That was on Jerusalem Avenue. The bakery was renamed Princess (don't remember when) and went out of business last year sometime. They had cheesecakes that I loved and enjoyed all the time. I really didn't see their closing in the works. It seemed like they were always busy. Who knows? The shadow knows!!!
Didn't your family live near that bakery? Where was your house?
Regards,
Buffalo Bob Casale
Thanks for feedback, Bob. You're right about Allied Shopping Center. I could picture it in my mind, but not grasp the name. We lived on 10th Street (98) until just after I left to go away and finish college in Oklahoma (in '68). My Mother owned a delicatessen on Broadway (72) just across the street from the Bingo Hall (old A & P) between Sausmer's Hardware and Van Anken's. That's how I know about Englert's Bakery. Frank Englert (the old baker) made all his own products, good stuff!
When we moved to Hicksville from New York City in '54, we lived in an apartment above our store until our house was built. I was a regular at Englert's, Van Anken's, the Sweet Shop and looked it.
Charlie Henningsen
The article in Casale’s Corner in regard to the Retirement Story was hysterical. When I first moved to Florida it seemed I was the only one who did not have gray or white hair in the movie theater! Now I must say I am one of the white heads!
Jane Harlin, ‘67
In our area of FL, we are referred to as Q-TIPS! Pat
I would like to thank the editors and the other alumni who followed up my nomination for honoring Miss Farley to the HHS Hall of Fame.
Tom Haller, Class of '56, Vero Beach, FL
Happy Birthday to Kathy McMaugh Pearce and Happy Birthday to Kathy Kennedy
From Herb Pearce, ‘62
Just read the Oct. issue - once again, great job as usual!
Here’s my burning question of the day:
what to do with aging, yellowing Hicksville memorabilia? I have photos (Sr. Trip), some Comet newspapers, football programs, news clippings, play programs, etc. in at least one box of "stuff" (aka junk to my spouse) that I’ve kept over the years (not to mention my alleged "creative writing" - English papers - yikes!)
I’m ready to give it up (I just read "how to conquer clutter" for the 4th time) but before I do, any suggestions?
- The Gregory Museum
- HHS School Library
- Hix. Public Library
- the TOB dump
Any ideas? Any takers? Let me know what you think.
Martin Brandfon HHS, class of '67
I read that Hope Lambert's daughter might like to communicate with her mom's classmates. We shared homeroom in our high school years and senior English. If she is interested, Lauren can reach me at (email deleted for security).
Ronald Landau
Okay folks. It's that time of year again. Time to tell you about the upcoming holiday concert for the little group I sing with, The Glass Menagerie.
The concert will be on Saturday, December 13th at 8 pm. We will once again be at our performance home of St. Joseph’s which is at 371 6th Ave, ( 2 blocks south of W. 8th St.). Tickets are still only $2 0.00, ($15.00 for seniors).
The highlight piece will be Pinkham's Christmas Cantata. The rest of the program is varied and wonderful. And did I mention we will have a small group of musicians accompanying us.
It will be hard to beat our past spring concert celebrating the musical life and work of Bob De Cormier, but we will do our best. And with this program, I think that no one will go away disappointed.
I do hope to see all of there to help herald in the holiday season.
Love to all,
David Teitel, ‘68
PS Advance tickets are available and will save you time when you arrive. If you're interested, contact me via e-mail and I'll give you the particulars.
Dear Bob and Gang,
What a nice surprise to open my email and have a birthday card from you. It was so thoughtful!
Also wanted to reply to the question of how many bakeries there were in Hicksville way back when. There was a fourth -- it was Crown Bakery in the Alpine Shopping Center on Jerusalem Avenue, across from Carvel. It was there when I moved to Hicksville in 1956 and still there in the 70s, but I lost track of it after that.
Thanks again for the birthday wishes and for all you guys do to keep the memories alive for us!
Carol Ann (Mack) Berry Class of '63
Hi Bob...
I wanted to say thank you to all the staff of the monthly Hicksville Newsletter. I anxiously look forward to reading each line every month. It gives me a great, warm feeling and takes me home again to Hicksville. Even as much as the town has changed and even though I cannot get back to visit, the newsletter gives me a tremendous boost each month.
Much has changed and friends I knew when growing up have scattered except for you and many others. Plus the memories never go away. The newsletter helps me live some of those fond memories and I feel like it was only yesterday when I was a student.
Please find my enclosed donation to help you with the costs to keep our Hicksville Memories alive.
signed,
Bill Canham - Class of 1961
Dear Hixnews Editors,
Shortly after my email to you appeared in the OCTOBER NEWSLETTER, I had a surge of visits to my blog, "Remembrance in Spacetime". One of the visits was from Jed Schaiman (Class of 1959), who offered some interesting comments on one of my posts, "Jackpot in Spacetime". Jed and I became good friends in Mr.Bongarzone's Chemistry Class (it was either in Sophomore or Junior year). I hope Jed won't mind if I relate one exchange that I overheard between him and Mr.B in class, which I recall vividly to this day. Jed asked Mr.B, "Mr.Bongarzone, what should I do with this test tube?" To which our outspoken teacher replied, "Young man, never, ever ask such a question!" Pretty good advice then, and now.
I was also contacted via email by my neighbor and friend throughout the 1950's, Arthur Isaksen (Class of 1959). Arthur and I, as well as Marty Polsenski (Class of 1959), who lived on Arcadia Lane too, used to play stickball on our street, among many other games during summer vacations. I recall that I introduced Arthur to the game of chess, but Arthur quickly surpassed my own meager skill level. He currently plays chess internationally!
It was nice to hear from them, and I welcome comments on my blog from anyone who is so inclined.
Best wishes,
Henry Lichtenstein, Class of 1959
TheBigHenry,
hl98.blogspot.com
Robin Kriss (now Robin Rhea), class of '72, but got out in '71 and went to C.W. Post College; my freshman English course at the college counted as my senior English in high school, and I got my high school diploma when I completed my first year of college. Got a B.A. in English Education at SUNY Albany, then an M.S. in Reading at the College of Saint Rose, also in Albany. On April 13, 1996, I married Dan Rhea, a software programmer. Live in Coral Springs, FL.
I am officially letting it be known that I am living in South Florida and in my 32nd year of teaching.
C'est moi!
Ed Delaney, Jr., 1961 sent us this brief bio:
Now living in Senoia, Georgia, Class of '61 w Casale (since 2nd grade) Retired investigator New York State Police since 1990. Owned DELANEY'S RESTAURANT, South Oyster Bay Road, Hicksville until 2007. Living in Georgia, wife Mary Ann (Webster), Division Avenue Levittown '62. All three of our children live here with seven grandchildren. All the kids, all the grandchildren, golf, great weather, retired for good-Heaven on earth.
Thanks for your time.
Ed.
Hi Everyone, especially the class of 1956.
I've finally gotten my website up and running with the help of another senior citizen actor who was a computer expert in his former life. Proves we seniors can do almost anything! If you'd like to visit my website, go to http://harrimolese.com to see some of my work. If you'd like to develop a website of your own, click on the information in the lower right-hand corner of my website. It will lead you to the website builder. His rates are affordable and he'll do everything for you including getting a domain!
Hope you are all happy and healthy!
Harri Molese
Class of 1956
I started out as Patricia Hughes, with an older brother, Bill, who passed away a number of years ago, and a younger and especially close sister, Gay. I can’t say that growing up was much fun but there were some interesting times. My parents have both passed away but they instilled in me the importance of being involved with community. My mother, LeeDell has a scholarship in her name at the Hicksville High School.
I was diagnosed with type one diabetes soon after college and found that a difficult issue to deal with. Things have gotten much better since then. I was always self-conscious and rather withdrawn growing up. I came home from college, found a job, and got involved with my church teaching Sunday school. On February 18, 1980 my life took a BIG turn, I attended a friend’s volunteer meeting……The Long Island Klown Enthusiasts (clown with a K since a C would abbreviate it as LICE and nobody invites lice!). That summer I attended my first National Clown, Mime Puppet and Dance Ministry workshop which allowed me to combine two of the things I loved…..clowning and ministry.
My nephew Billy had christened me as his Aunt Pattycake when he was less than two so what better name could I use for my clown. I started out learning to do balloons, very simple balloons at a fundraiser at Adventure Land for the groundbreaking of the new children’s hospital to be built at Long Island Jewish Hospital.
At first, the clown makeup and costume gives you that “protection” from concerns about what people might say or think and eventually you get to know who you are and those fears lose their control over you. You can let the real you out.
In 1989 I had to move and since it costs whether you move 2 miles or 200 miles, I decided to try an entirely new location, Chestertown, MD. I never knew what a culture shock it would be to leave Long Island with traffic, people, shopping, more people, and the hustle and bustle and yet more people to live in a county with a population of about 15,000 people, not including dairy cows, sheep and assorted pigs.
The saving grace was discovering a volunteer clown group, the Clowns of Delaware in Dover, DE and getting active both in a local church and in the clown group. I’ve made some really great friends over the years and have learned to love the slower paced existence of Chestertown. I also don’t mind having to drive 40 miles to shop over in Dover, DE…..there’s NO SALES TAX!
Of course, I still am very involved with community programs, my church, our local disaster preparedness program, book club, doing a newsletter for our local diabetes support group, AARP, a Red Hat group, various senior groups in town and my clowning. I am no longer limited to simple balloons. I have gotten into simple magic, more intricate balloons, storytelling, some simple sign language, fancy face painting and glitter tattoos, AND PUPPETS. The kids really love Hallelujah Hare, my 3’ white rabbit. While I am not a great ventriloquist, I have fun using my puppets to do children’s sermons in church and at different community events. I may have to get older but I firmly believe I never have to grow old. Until that last moment, I intend to have a good time, try different things and enjoy the blessings God has graced me with. Hey, it’s never too late to try something new….that’s why at this moment I have purple hair, if it’s good enough for the teenagers, why shouldn’t I give it a try!
Patricia Hughes, 1967
Hi,
I'm a 1968 HHS grad now living in Houston. I'm trying to put a retreat together for a company here in Houston. The focus of the retreat will be to visit T. Roosevelt's home in Sagamore. There will be about 100 folks attending with some children involved. We are planning this to happen in mid June or July of 2009. Does anyone have any suggestions for a hotel on Long Island that is large, has kid's activities, golf, close to a beach, and within traveling distance for a night in N.Y.C.? There probably isn't a hotel with all of the above, so any suggestions that you may have would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Maxene (Frimmer) Grove
Another bakery was located on the East side of Broadway between Thorman Ave and Notre Dame Ave. Next to it was an empty lot with a small shack on it. Newsday carriers, like me, picked up our papers there in the middle 50s. Ted's deli was across the street and the previous post office was a few doors to the right of Ted's place.
Carl Probst 1959
with award
1970 at Wood's houseHey guys!
Attached excerpts are from the first third of my West Point Band book.
I focused on the Hicksville-specific parts (although most of the book is...)
I'm still hoping that some of our contacts may know someone in the publishing biz who could help me find an agent ...an advance would be a wonderful thing so I could zero in on finishing it (I'm just about halfway now).
A few people who've read it up to this point think it's a perfect story for a movie... would be nice for Hicksville High to get the Hollywood treatment...
Tommy Sullivan, ‘63
Chapter 4 - The Nite-Riders (excerpts)
...I was fortunate to have been schooled by one of the best public school music districts in the state. The Band Instructors I had in Jr. High and High School not only were great musicians, they were also great teachers.
My life long mentor, Charley Gouse, was the head of Hicksville’s Music Administration. His Jr. High staff, including guys like Henry Gates (who used to sit in on his drum kit for a shit-kicking version of the Jr. High Concert Band’s arrangement of the 50’s instrumental Raunchy),Val LaGueux (who co-wrote the hit record Baby Blue while I was in Jr. High) and Don Sitterley, who taught me a lot about playing sax, instilled my absolute commitment to a career in music before I even turned 13...
...I grew up (thanks to my parents, Marge & Tom Sullivan) loving and learning not only rock, but also jazz, classical, and broadway show tunes. To me, a Rogers & Hammerstein ballad from South Pacific, any Gershwin melody, Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain and Brubeck’s Take 5 were equally as cool as the new Chuck Berry tune.
...during High School, band director Gerry Pellerin and Theory teacher Tom Buttice had taught me most of the building blocks I would utilize for the rest of my career.
In both the Brooklyn Bridge and my subsequent group, Ramatam, I hired Charley Gouse to contract and conduct a big chunk of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, on compositions I had written and orchestrated. All the tools necessary for me to create on that level had been learned by the time I graduated Hicksville High.
Another mentor from Hicksville was the Chorus Director, Chuck Arnold –who also had a profound influence on my fellow Long Island Music Hall of Famer Billy Joel, who was four years behind me at Hicksville.
...by the time I was a senior, I had already led at least four different groups, but in forming The Nite-Riders, I had hit on a magical combination. Myself (bandleader, arranger, guitar, sax & lead singer), Bill Jordan (bass, vocals, and handler of all things business), Jimmy Walker (by far, the best drummer on Long Island, who also sang), and John Foley (the coolest guy in the group, guitar & lead vocalist) were the cream of the Long Island rock & roll crop. It wasn’t just the musicianship and vocal abilities... it was the personalities. The Nite-Riders were way ahead of their time.
Yeah, we were just a cover band. Original music for some of us would come later.
But the Nite-Riders weren’t content to just know and sound great on all the top hits... many times learning a song the day it was released... there was always something unpredictable going on, like the time we were playing a dance in the gym and Foley stacked up all three of our amps, climbed on top and stuck his head through the basketball net while soloing on Roll over Beethoven....and not to be outdone, I jumped off the stage and played my guitar part while sticking it’s neck between the delicious legs of one of the hottest cheerleaders (take that, jocks!).
.. we found our niche at a bar in East Meadow called the Encore. Bill and I were seniors, John a junior, and Jimmy a sophomore when we landed the job as house band. It was an “older” crowd...in their 30’s, but the day we auditioned they liked us enough to sign us for every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday lasting my whole senior year... The Encore was a pretty rough place. The Nassau cops aptly referred to it as the “Blood Bucket”, and would literally drive right past even when a melee spilled out onto Hempstead Turnpike. They preferred to let the fights run their course and come back later just to see if anyone had actually been killed... It seemed like there was a classic barroom brawl every Saturday night, involving chairs smashed over heads, and sometimes guys being thrown head first thru the picture window. Whichever Insurance Company had their policy must have gone bankrupt.
The first brawl we witnessed happened on our very first Saturday night there. Our instinct was to get the hell out of there and never come back, but the bartender ran over and yelled “just keep playing!!” which we did. The regulars were really quite efficient at decimating any motorcycle gang who was misguided enough to try to start trouble... and the fights were usually over before we finished the song. They also had three huge bruisers whose duty was to stand in front of the stage and protect the band! By the second Saturday, feeling a little safer, and being the wiseass I was, instead of continuing the song we were playing at the outset of that week’s brawl, I cut off the band , picked up my sax and started playing the Gillette jingle (“to look sharp, and to feel sharp too, use the razor that is right for you...”) that started all of the TV Heavyweight fights. The band, without missing a beat, jumped right in. That became the new musical soundtrack for every fight. The regulars might have taken it as the goof on them it was intended to be (which would have been very bad for our health), but instead LOVED it.
...the Nite-Riders’ sound was unique. Between my arranging skills and the fact that all four of us sang, we were able to really sound like groups other bands wouldn’t attempt.
We specialized in Beach Boys and Four Seasons covers (to this day I’ve never heard a drummer play better 4 Seasons drum parts than Jimmy). But we really sounded like the Beatles. Like so many other musicians, we idolized the Beatles...Beatles tunes were probably 50% of our repertoire... we’d buy the newest album and learn every song in a week. We even started dressing like them, and definitely all had Beatles haircuts (except Bill, who with his red hair and despite being the same age looking about twenty years older than the rest of us would never be mistaken for George Harrison).
John Foley and I, being Irish, looked and sounded very British, and as the two guitarists used to share one mike a la Lennon & McCartney. John was by far the best looking, intelligent and personable Nite Rider, and always had girlfriends who looked like movie stars. Although he was not part of our eventual reunion, he did become a member of the Byrds later in the decade and is still actively writing and recording some great original music.
But in 1964 the Foley-Sullivan look and sound made the Nite-Riders extremely “Beatley”
With the 1964 World’s Fair being held in Flushing Meadows, we decided to audition for an afternoon gig there. We set up in the Transportation and Travel Pavilion’s Custom Car Show, played 4 songs, three of which were Beatles and promptly got hired for every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, where we’d do four 15 minute sets for turnover crowds.
Only we had to change our name- for this gig-to the “Long Island Beatles”.
Bill also had to buy a Beatles wig, which immediately enhanced his already potent groupie quotient. This gig was immense fun- what eighteen year old in 1964 wouldn’t love singing Happy Just to Dance with You, I Wanna Hold your Hand, I Saw Her Standing There, Help!, etc. etc.and get paid for it!
HHS Hall of Fame from the plaque in the high school
We’ve threatened for a long time to provide a listing of those alumni who are in the Hicksville High School Hall of Fame, the real Hall of Fame.
Chris Andersen was gracious enough to go to the lobby at the high school and took pictures of the plaques that hang in the hallway and depict exceptional students who have had exemplary careers. These people have distinguished themselves in the work place by going above and beyond to make a mark in history.
The bronze plaques do not photograph very well. The flash reflects a lot of light and most pictures were not legible. We were able to make a partial listing of our alumni friends who are in the Hall of Fame. Below are several names with their accomplishments.
1939 Virginia Mayer Schweizer
Record Breaking World Champion Glider Pilot and First To Soar Cross Country
1940 Henry C. Brengel, Jr.
Community and Business Leader Who Expanded Family Business To International Status
1943 Raymond L. Rusch
Educator for 32 Years and High School Principal from 1967-1981
1943 Howard Finnegan
Founding Member of Hicksville Alumni Association, Local Sports Writer, Editor of Hicksville Illustrated News
1945 LT. COL. Richard G. Eisemann
Air Force Chaplain, Commissioned in 1961, Serving in U.S. and Overseas Posts
1954 Lewis Yevoli
Outstanding State and Civic Leader, TOB Supervisor, Long Term Assemblyman & Town Councilman, Sierra Club Environmentalist of the Year
1955 Richard G. Hogan
Educator Who Became Principal of Hicksville High School in 1984
1958 Admiral Philip S. Anselmo, USN
Commanding Officer Aircraft Carrier USS Constellation, Distinguished Service in Vietnam Conflict
1963 Anita Miller Sostek, PH-D
Georgetown University School of Medicine
1967 Madeline A. Miller, M.D.
Captain U.S. Army Medical Corps, Specialist in Emergency Medicine
We will, in time, complete the list. If any one has a complete listing, please let us know. If you know where we can obtain a listing, please advise.
Thanks Very Much
The Gang at the Hicksville High School Newsletter
To Ray Feierstein:
Ray, I just read your note concerning a bakery on Broadway. I use to run with your brother Lenny. I remember him owning a light yellow '51 Pontiac convertible. When I worked at Armstrong's Shell (on Broadway) we pulled the old straight 8 engine out and repowered it with a 53 Olds rocket 88. He'll definitely remember that. Also, didn't a Feierstein family member own a tire shop across from the shell station that specialized in Michelin and Pirelli tires? Tell Lenny I was asking about him and put me in touch if you can. Ahhhhh....the memories.
Thank you,
Mike Carter (’58) USN retired
I received a request from a Carl Place friend who is looking for a few Hicksville old friends. I told her about Hix News and she asked if I could please send a request out to say she is looking for Anita (Kargauer-sp.?) Scarola, Pam Hiscox
and Oscar Mifsud. If anyone can help that would be great, her name is Jacy (Coady) Needles (her father was the CP football coach) she can be reached at:
Thanks!
Marilyn Bowles '66
Thank you, Bob and Hix News Team! I guess I can't deny my age to you guys, but here is a photo taken last August. (it is AMAZING what a few days of "spa-ing" on a ship will do!) The newsletter is wonderful! Reading comments from waaay back and recent grads are so interesting and show the loyalty to HHS.
Regards to all,
Joan (Komar) Langlois
