Compiled by: Stefanie Cedar Shames, Class of 1977 Emails from Readers -Hi, -Ron Wencer received this email from Vicky Whitaker about her husband, Roger, who was the Founding Webmaster for HixNews and we had the pleasure of working with him when the HixNews staff transitioned to the "new" staff. We are ending condolences to Vicky and Roger's family. We are publishing Ron's article about Roger again this month. In Memoriam Daniel Hawxhurst, Class of 1964, passed away Sept. 15, 2026 Class of 1975 A big 70-ish birthday party is planned for Saturday, October 16, 2027, from 12 noon -4 pm. Place to be determined. It will be at a smaller venue with attendance limits, so join the Hicksville High School Alumni Class of 1975 Facebook page to stay updated. Homecoming 2026 Volunteers Needed for Homecoming 2026 Hicksville Council of PTAs needs volunteers to sign up for an hour to help out your school or your past elementary school! Click here to sign up
I was amazed to read the article by Dr. Kumpikas, as she was my French I teacher in sophomore year at HHS, circa 1965. The miniskirt angle really hit home, as I had signed up for German but was placed in Miss Kumpikas’ French class instead by some bureaucratic necessity. First day, we got a look at Miss K and said “maybe this ain’t so bad after all”!
Thanks for keeping the flame alive,
Rick Hasbrouck
September 2026: Volume 26 - Issue 12 - Etcetera for September 2026
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Page 13 of 14
Ron,
Thank-you for that piece on Roger. I don't know if he saw it. He had been hospitalized these past few months from a long-running cardiac condition that they could not treat and and passed away at the end of July, at home, embraced by the love of family to the end. His ashes will be buried in a family plot in Virginia, Illinois, where he grew up, later this month. I loved him dearly. We celebrated our 25th anniversary just months ago. I will miss him every day for the what is left of the rest of my life.
Vicky
-I just came across your article on Leon J. Galloway. I attended Hicksville High School Class of 1965. My impression of Galloway was that of a nasty, sanctimonious academic that had a small following of teacher's pets and all other students were beneath him. After graduation, I worked on the same predecessor railroad as his brother. I supervised the Scranton Division and Scranton Yard. My tenure at Hicksville High School was not a pleasant experience thanks to Leon J. Galloway. I was a success in life in spite of him.
Arthur Erdman
-I was in my local Kroger grocery store a couple of years ago in Marietta, Georgia when I heard a familiar, deep male voice with a strong New York accent. I looked around for the source and saw an older man speaking to his wife. I couldn't place the man but I was absolutely positive that I knew him from somewhere because of his distinctive voice.
I'm not the type to let a mystery go unsolved, so I approached him and started a conversation.
Me: "Excuse me, I'm sorry to bother you, but after I heard you speak I am certain I know you. Are you from Long Island?"
Him: "Yes." (And then he named a town I can't remember.)
Me: "Hmmm...well I'm from Hicksville so that's not a match..."
Him: "I worked in Hicksville, I was a teacher..."
Right then it clicked into place and I shouted, "Mr. Graiser! You were my high school English teacher! What are you doing here?"
He gave me a hug, introduced me to his wife and we shared our stories of how we ended up in Atlanta.
As we said our good-byes, he added, "Thank you for speaking up. What a f***ing coincidence!"
We've run into each other a few times since then, but the last time I saw him he shared that they were selling their house near me and moving into a senior living place in the next town.
Life will throw you surprises, but if anyone had told the 16-year-old me that I would one day hear Mr. Graiser drop the F bomb in conversation, I would have said NO F***ING WAY!
MaryAnn Doering
Class of '77
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