messages from Barbara Singer Freeman looking towards a 2013 reunion and constituting a committee
to take that forward
Dear Classmates,
I
just read a beautiful article in today’s Salem News about Phil Cooke,
Sally (Smith’s) husband. Phil raises money for the Jimmy Fund by
participating in the annual CSC Jimmy Fund Snow Challenge at Nashoba
Valley Ski Area. He ends the very touching article with, “I miss my
sweetheart, but I’m doing okay.”
This not only touched my heart, but reminded me that after we started
planning our 55th reunion, we eventually had it as our 56th.
Well, dear “youthful friends”
2013 will be our 60th!
Let’s not wait till we have to celebrate in a booth at I-Hop!
Mike and I moved to Peabody over a year ago and now live at Brooksby
Village. Our apartment here is smaller than our home in Salem, but large
enough to accommodate our first
committee meeting. We
just have to decide upon a date, (some of us are “snowbirds” etc.) then
perhaps, by early spring, we could begin our planning. Remember, the
planning was half the fun. This time perhaps a daytime reunion
somewhere; Danversport, Victoria Station, The Hawthorne, even here at
the catering room at Brooksby, or wherever we decide.
As
time passes, there are fewer of our small class left, and so each one
beomes even more dear. Even if we’re a small group, each one of you
counts so very much to the others.
Please try to contact other members of our exclusive committee.
Hoping to hear from you and your thoughts.
My
love and best wishes to all,
Barbara
Barbara Singer Freeman - 31 January 2012
978-587-2531
[The most up-to-date class addresses, phone numbers and email addresses
are to be found on the class website addresses page.
Do send any corrections that you know about. The website will try to
perform the same function for a 2013 reunion as it did in 2003, so send
biographical notes, etc. Many more grandchildren, I suppose. AG 1
February 2012]
Barbara's first follow-up
message
Dear '53ers,
It would appear
that we just might mark our 60th next year! I am so grateful for
Arnold's help, updating the website and the contact info from the
Soutters.
I've heard from
Dave Graham, the Bettgers, Ann Whittemore and Nancy McGrath. I'm
confident that we'll need more than a booth at I-Hop next year.
Dave Graham has
offered the use of the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, where he and
Florence are members. He says that depending upon the numbers, we'd
need either a private dining area off the main dining room or the main
dining room. He is willling to gather some pricing and meal info, etc.,
but, of course time comes into play, so the sooner the better for
booking. This will be the case for wherever we decide to hold our
reunion.
If someone would
like to act as our chair, please let us know. If not, then, as Nancy
and I agreed, we could certainly discuss "where, when, what" and divi up
the list to call or e-mail, etc. as we did before, even without a chair
spearheading our committee.
Jim and Jan B.
will be in Florida from March 22-April 4, so let's try to take that into
consideration when we decide upon a time for our first meeting here.
Our son is
visiting from L.A later this month, but anytime in March would be fine
with us.
I'd like to
suggest that all future e-mails be addressed to all of the above and
I'll call Nancy, whose # I've noted at the top of this message.
Let's get this show on the road!
Warmly,
Barbara Singer Freeman
Barbara's second follow-up
message
Dear Classmates,
I've been in touch with Nancy McGrath, who is not on line, and have
heard from others. All are anxious to help make this reunion happen.
To
briefly summarize, the Corinthian Yacht Club sounds great and Dave has
offered to get us some pricing and menu options, etc.
That being the
case, there are three Fridays in March that are viable [for a reunion
committee meeting]; the 2nd, 9th, and 16th. Take your pick and gather
your ideas.
Then at our
meeting we can firm up a date and location for our 60th Reunion. Dave
mentioned that here at our place in Peabody is fine, but to hear what
the others have to say. Nancy McGrath has also offered her home in
Marblehead for our first meeting.
Just let us know
soon, please.
And let's send
all our e-mails to all the above so everyone is kept in the loop,
please.
Thanks and can't
wait to see all of you wonderful people!
Barb
The original welcoming message from
the webmaster (2000? 2001?)
Dear Classmates,
Welcome to the
Swampscott High School Class of 1953 website.
The site's been created to put us in touch with one another and to bring us up to date on
our lives since leaving SHS. Starting with the list Derek Hepworth prepared for
the successful 1998 reunion, we hope to provide current
addresses for classmates - including
email
addresses - and to provide a notice board and chat-room
for our current interests and news.
The website prepared us for the 50th anniversary of our graduation, the grand
reunion 2003
on Friday-Saturday 7-8 November.
In fact, the website can be whatever we want it to be.
We hope that we'll all contribute
biographical
notes, news
& current interests, and
comments.
Don't worry about the (somewhat artificial) categories, just get into contact: I'll do the
rest.
Do contribute to the webpages by email - with file attachments if you wish, including
photographs from "then" (souvenirs)
or now - or by fax or by airmail. If it's more convenient, mail photographs to
Jordan Freedman
in Maine,
who'll scan them, email them on to me (and return them to you).
Here's hoping to hear from you,
With very best wishes,
Arnold
Arnold Goldman
now
24 Eastport Lane
Lewes, East Sussex, England BN7 1TL
email:
a.goldman@cowbeech.f9.co.uk
or phone 011 44 1273 478470
twitter: @arnoldgoldman
