Happy New Year to the Class of '65!

THE
B E S T

IS YET TO

COME!

HAPPY

NEW YEAR!

Wishing you good health, good friends, and good times

Condolences to the Family of Fran Antunovich Esposito

Fran's brother, Bob Antunovich and his wife, Sally, lost their only daughter, Rachel, unexpectedly on December 23rd.  Rachel was 24 years old.

The family didn't have insurance on Rachel, nor did she have insurance at work, as she was part time.  Bob's nephew, Bob Fiorito, has set up a fund to help the family with funeral expenses.  Anyone who would like to help can do so by going to this GO FUND ME page.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Fran and the entire Antunovich family.

Wishing the Class of '65 a Joyous Holiday Season

As you are surrounded by family and friends, and as you think about those who may be separated by distance or circumstance during this holiday season, may you find peace and joy in the beauty and blessings of your life. 

Pre-Holiday Pow Wow

Thanks to Marianne Indusi Solak for sharing photos of the latest Pow Wow held at Taormina Restaurant on November 18th.

Carol, Nancy, Dolores, Carol, Nina, Cliff, Art, and Marianne

Dolores, Carol, Nina, Nancy, and Cliff

Cliff and Art

Marianne, Carol, and Dolores

Marianne and Carol

Carol

In Memory of Mike Sellazzo

It is a real tribute to Mike that a large number of classmates contributed to the wreath for his wake and funeral.  All funds received that went beyond the cost of the wreath were sent to FAMILY HOUSE in Pittsburgh in memory of Mike.  The donation was for $650.  We are blessed to be a part of such a caring community of friends!

Here is the message that was included with the wreath:  In grateful appreciation for Mike's never-ending dedication and spirit.  We will miss your wonderful smile and your big heart!  The OHS Class of 1965

May we all continue to honor Mike's memory and his love of the Class of '65 by keeping his undying class spirit going today and always!

Ric Feeney's Remembrance Painting

Ric Feeney created this beautiful watercolor as a remembrance of our classmates who are no longer with us.  Ric will make prints available for purchase… details will be coming soon.

Painting by Ric Feeney
www.Ricfeeney.com

50th Reunion Dedication

Mike Sellazzo was the glue that held our class together for the past 50 years.  He was the perfect leader - he delegated assignments to the folks he knew would do the job and he checked in periodically to share ideas and provide encouragement.  His dedication to the Class of '65 will never be forgotten and it was most appropriate that our 50th Reunion was dedicated to him.

​During the past few weeks since Mike passed away I have shared the story of the beginnings of the blog with several people. It was suggested that I share it with everyone.  

I can still remember when I first pitched the idea of the blog to Mike.  He and Laura were vacationing in Arizona in March of 2008 and he walked from the condo they were renting to my house for a visit.  We talked about planning for a 45th reunion and I shared my idea about creating a class blog.  He told me to go for it and also told me that David had been working on a directory and perhaps we should put his directory and my blog together in planning for the the next reunion.  And so the partnership began.  Mike, of course, was always there to encourage us along the way.  

Dedicating our 50th reunion to Mike is a well-deserved honor.  We will all miss his great smile, his big heart, and his undying love of the Class of '65.

Ric Feeney's Poem from Memorial Service

For those who asked (and for those who couldn't attend), here's the poem from the memorial service.

One light goes out and then another
As we say goodbye to a sister or brother
We know so well they left an ember
A glow of love a loss to remember
Wasn’t it yesterday we were children at play
When all we longed for was Saturday
Castle walls carved in sand
Summer nights holding hands
Dreams of love and rock n rollin
Memories of kisses stolen
Space fantasies on morning cartoons
Then all of a sudden a man on the moon
Rivalries Peekskill and (Boo!) Sleepy Hollow
Bandstand nights!
“Look who’s dancing so slow”
Finally, our kind of music on the radio
One light goes out and then another
On our horizon—stormy weather
Work or college or off to war
What was it again we’re sacrificing for?
Career or family or balancing both
Sometimes I miss doing nothing the most
Personal notes become texts and tweets
Light from the laptop illumines our sheets
Springtime to summer then summer to fall
It’s growing colder when you get the call
Remember your friends, the best from your youth
Remember to say the “How I love you’s!”
You might want to say them again and again
Cause this is earth and this too will end
A light flickers tho the warmth lingers on
And the sands of time slip thru fingers and are gone
We’ll wake one winter morning only to discover
One light goes out and then another

Ric Feeney and friends for the Class of ‘65

Since there is a limit to how many postings appear on a page, you will need to click on "older posts"  (below right) to see more posts.  Alternatively, you can go to the BLOG ARCHIVE on the left sidebar and search for postings by date.

Those Were the Days

Pook Siprin Bellini

From the earliest moments of the planning for this reunion with Mike Sellazzo several years ago, there has been great anticipation of the celebration of our 50th reunion.  Time passed quickly and, before I knew it, we were down to a year, and then 6 months, and then a month, days, and, finally, the time arrived to celebrate this special Class of '65 event.

As I made the drive from my cousin's home in NJ to Peekskill, I drove through beautiful Harriman State Park.  Somewhere within the park, I decided to put on the 60s music channel on Sirius XM radio.  The very first song that I heard was THOSE WERE THE DAYS.  Wow!  What an appropriate beginning to our reunion weekend!  

Below are the lyrics and here is a video of Mary Hopkin singing this great song:  THOSE WERE THE DAYS

Once upon a time there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours
And dreamed of all the great things we could do

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.

Then the busy years went rushing by us
We lost our starry notions on the way
If by chance I'd see you in the tavern
We'd smile at one another and we'd say

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days
La la la la...

Just tonight I stood before the tavern
Nothing seemed the way it used to be
In the glass I saw a strange reflection
Was that lonely woman really me

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days
La la la la...

Through the door there came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name
Oh my friend we're older but no wiser
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days
La la la la...

Message from Marianne Indusi Solak

It was an amazing OHS 50th Reunion. First, I want to thank Carol Desiderio, David Perugini, Pook Bellini, Cliff Obenauer and Susan Swanson for all of their efforts in bringing us together once again. Many thanks to Ric Feeney and Willard Cofield for leading us in prayer at all of our events. A big thank you to all of the committees in their involvement as well. It was wonderful seeing many classmates I hadn't seen for a while and spending time with them. The dinner at Taormina Restaurant in Peekskill was delicious and well done. The Remembrance Ceremony for our deceased classmates at the Hudson River in Ossining was very touching and meaningful. Walking the halls of OHS brought back a lot of fond memories. The Banquet at Cortlandt Colonial was just wonderful. The food, music and dancing was great; the dancing was a blast. A big thank you to our buddy Mike Sellazzo for keeping us together for all these years; the camaraderie of our class is truly inspiring. Let's all remember the good times and stay well until we meetup again. 
My Love To All, 
Marianne Indusi Solak.