THE BOYS TO MEN OF '68

".........Tommy Meyers who transferred in to PHS in the Summer of 1967. He was the missing link and one of the best athletes that I played any sport with. You cannot forget Sonny Hall either in an age without sports enhancing drugs and steroids"..... , wrote Phil Bruzas, in a recent email. On the subject of sports, Phil also informs us that Mr. Mac is to be inducted into the New Britain Sports Hall of Fame in April of 2008 along with Artie Corsaletti '67. If it weren't for Phil many of us wouldn't know that New Britain had a Hall of Fame.We have 3 members of the class of '68 who already hold a place on this prestigious list. Tommy Myers, Sonny(Willie) Hall and Greg Wysocki.

John Liljestrand, and Bill Eaton, who were both coaches at Pulaski also have a place in the Hall of Fame. You can read about our very own sports heroes by clicking this link

As a side note; Phil Bruszas, our true class historian, urged me to contact Mr. Mac. Those of you who admired Mr. McNamara, will be happy to hear that he is still going strong and his slightly whacked sense of humor is intact. The only thing that may keep him from our class reunion is an archaeological dig in Greece! Some things should never change, thank goodness.

Thanks again, Phil. You are definitely one of the Reunion Committee's heroes. For those of us who are far away, you are our link to the people and places of '68. If I've forgotten anything, please let me know.

Reunion Invitations are here along with my memories

All the email invitations have been sent, if you have not received your email invitation please let me know. I will be sending invitations in the mail to those that do not have email. We hope everyone will attend or at least consider attending. Spread the word. The years have passed but the memories and friendships live on. Now is the time to renew those friendship that somehow were left behind. I have been fortunate in that I have already made new friends from our class that I will continue to stay in touch with after the reunion. My high school friends have always been an important part of my life, especially when I moved to Long Island in 1970, divorced in 1972, deciding to stay on Long Island, partied until 1975 when I met and married my husband Dave. I often say I remember my high school boyfriends better than I remember that 2 year rebound marriage. As fate would have it, I would not have come to NY if I didn't marry, so no regrets. Barbara Szczepanik, Judi Maglio, Pam Sutak, and Linda Sylvia have shared in the many different stages of my life away from New Britain. I had lost contact with Nancy Lamb until our 10th reunion, and our friendship really renewed itself after the 25th. I am hoping after the 40th I will have renewed many more. If it were not for my New Britain friends and Frank Cuomo this reunion would not be happening. I have begged them to please get one started, finally working together we have accomplished it. As Pam and I began the task of finding everyone I have had the pleasure of speaking with many of you. So many asking what took so long to get a reunion started. So here we are ready to have that long awaited party, please make it successful by attending. My gift of gab has really paid off in organizing the master list. Where it has gotten me in trouble in the past, this time it has proven to be a great advantage. I have had help from Marilyn Bindas, Cliff Cayer, Bruce Kraczkowsky, Phil Bruzas who has a memory like no other, Claire Calcinari, Scott Gerber, Art Tiede, and Lisa Dowling in finding classmates, without their help we would have more than 69 left to be found. Our goal is NO CLASSMATE left behind so we will continue our search. I have read that some of you would like to get in touch with others, I will be happy to contact each of you to give out the others email address with your permission, so please I mean it when I say email me anytime with anything. I thank you all for being so kind to me when I called (especially those that said Of course I remember you), the best was when one male classmate said Goodbye DEZ see you in June. My high school days came flooding back with that one line, I have not been called Dez in I guess 40 years.

One Step At A Time

We were the generation that was going to change the world. In 40 years I've learned it isn't always the big gestures that make the difference. It can be as simple as a helping hand when it is needed, one word at the right time, an inner truth expressed outloud that lets someone know they aren't the only one.. So I second Rosann, lets hear from the "men of 68." Thank you Rosann for giving us this forum. And Lisa Dowling I need your email. If you are in touch with Sally K she has my email. You cannot believe how many times I have thought about you over the years. And Cheryl Griffin are you out there? Vicky Micklos where are you? Janet Kalwat, I've heard great things about you. Bruce Hoffman I still remember you from Trinity Methodist and Cheryl Pajor I would love to hear from you. Tom Shultz are you the governor of anything? And has anybody heard from Chuck Searle? Sally Hornkohl Bell

OUR ROOTS GO DEEP

It seems that the Girls of '68 are starting to speak up. If you read the comments under Sally's, Karen's, and Scott & Sharon's post, you'll be reminded that some of our ties to each other go all the way to childhood. In my life, I knew Robby Shettle , Barbara Vallario, Karen Percival, Suzanne Corr, Ross Spooner, Bruce Hoffman, Ken Valentine, Gail Caliando, Karen Nelson, Kevin McCall, Martin Johnson, Donna Byett, Nancy Matascik, Debbie Tremont, and probably quite a few more I can't recall at this moment, long before high school. Some were casual aquaintances, some were close friends throughout my school life and some beyond. Chris Mucha was my Maid of Honor. Through my chats with Pat Dezi, I have gained the knowledge that some alums are married to each other, or into each others' families. This 40 year mark is having some unusual effects on the people in my family. First, there's me. Now let's face it folks, I wasn't the most outgoing, smiley, school spirit, kinda girl and here I am helping Pat Dezi and others bring us all back together. I think I left "a smile" in the class will. Strange days! Even my husband, James, had a ghost from the past reach out to find him this weekend. Gotta love those old girlfriends, NOT. Now lets hear some more stories from both the girls of '68 and the boys of '68! Ro-Imnosmileyface-Faiola-Reeder

Another Voice Heard From

This girl of '68 is at times, a worn out warrior...I still believe in revolution and have an automatic response when being told "you can't do that..." There are times the fight is still in me. Being stubborn has served me well. I raised two children (with the goal of growing up before they did) to be independent, know who they are and be proud of it. I am no good at marriages, but great with kids, animals and old people. I am a long time friend of Bill W. and after 26 years, have gotten the hang of "one day at a time." There are a lot of things I don't understand, and still struggle to accept. In the last few years three people close to me have died, two of whom were my personal heroes. I have not recovered yet. I think I have learned what is important, but I have not had an "open heart" for quite some time. I trust it will return if I keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep the proverbial faith. Being the girl from '68, I have always been drawn to a good existential crisis. It is just easier when it's happening to someone else. So Sally, in the past 40 years I have gone to college many times, finally graduated and got a master's degree. I have been married twice, which means twice divorced for me. I have a son and a daughter who are both artists. Now I run the facility I went to work in 25 years ago as a social worker. I don't have much grey hair, but both my knees need to be replaced. I still turn up the stereo loud, listen to Talking Heads or B B King. I have a parrot that loves to dance to rap music and meows like my Siamese cat (not at the same time.) I sleep with an old basset hound who has no eyes and when folks see her they say "is she blind?" (I love that) I eat too much junk food and don't exercise. And I am convinced I am at least 15 degrees warmer than everyone else (yes, I feel like a freak.) And I remember walking home from Stanley School with you, going an extra block or two past my street because we were having fun and I did not want it to be over. What I wanted was a real life. And lucky me, that's what I have. Does it get any better?

" Girls of 68" This is for you.

So, I want to say I am the first to appreciate a proud husband that has been in love with his wife and happily married for 39 years. Life doesn't get any better. But, for those of us who have been (in these last 15 years) to the raw edge of menopause and back and have returned with our "true voices" intact, this post is for you. Please don't back out of this reunion because you think you should look a certain way or still be "18." One of the reasons I am coming to this 40th is because I have been taking care of an 88 year old mother that is coming to the end of a long battle with her health and who has lived her life for what "others" wanted her to be or do. It makes you re-evaluate what it means to be female. If anyone got to see the musical "Menopause" you know life isn't about staying the same. It is about looking changes in the face and learning to go with them. So, "girls of 68" I am gray, battling weight, divorced and still pretty happy with the way my life has turned out. I've raised a dynamic daughter, live in a comfortable house that I paid for myself, and have worked in a career I love for the past 26 years. Not typical, I guess, but real life. I am "coming home" to honor my New England roots & to say thank you to some great people (male and female) that helped me on the road to where I am today. So I want to hear what the "women of 68" have been doing in the past 40 years-married or not, gray or still paying for "natural color," thin or thick. Like Sugarland/Bon Jovi says in the song, " there are a million miles of memories on that road. Who says you can't go home-there's only one place they call me one of their own." I for one am looking forward to seeing everyone. I may have to put on my progressives to do that, but I will be there with an open heart. See you in June. Sally (Hornkohl) Bell: Way Out West

REACHING OUT

With great sorrow we report that one of our classmates, Sandra Sobolewski Skarzynski, is confined to a nursing facility in Windsor. She has suffered from MS for several years now. Although Sandy is now tube fed and incapable of speech, she is still aware of her surroundings and cognizant of any attempt to communicate with her. As often happens in life, we lost track of one another but during our high school years Sandy was an important and beloved person in our lives. I invite you to post any memory you may have of her, encourage you to send her a card, or, if so inclined, pray for her. Thanks for your support.

Sharon (Rosiek) Ruetenik and Scott Gerber

Cards may be sent to: Sandra Skarzynski, Kimberly Hall South, 1 Emerson Drive, Windsor, CT 06095