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Tracy Dunning

Clay suggested that I post this message that I sent to him privately when he suggested that we share only the "happy, upbeat" parts of our lives.  Hope that it helps to build our shared community.

Hi Clay - I appreciate your wanting to keep political vitriol out of the website.  Usually I would appreciate your comments about wanting to keep the posts about what makes people happy, but I think that it is also worthwhile for people to be able to post about life changing illness/accidents. We are entering a time of life when people are losing spouses and friends and some still parents. We can do a better job of supporting each other as friends over time, if we can let people know about these challenges. Hope that makes sense. I so appreciate your efforts to promote our community as PHS '68 graduates. Thank you!!

Anne Hassell (Nelson)

Joe Silver (Silver)

I would like to take a moment to share a small story that happenned to me at our recent reunion. My high school years were a living hell for me personally because of physical and verbal abuse in  my family. coming to a reunion was very scary and I was also very apprehensive, because outside of my Jewish friends and the few band members I knew no one( other than the few from classes that I didn't ditch). A very gracious Anne Hassel took the time, about a half hour, to speak with me to allay my fears.  She was wonderful.  I turned out that a few other women, from the drill team mostly, also has nice things to say to me also. I was very very surprised they remembered me at all.  I was so much a frightened mouse dueing those years. So thank you, thank you for our 50th H.S. reunion. to all of you.

Sheryl Dines (Dickson)

Joe Silver.  I also enjoyed our several conversations. I'm glad you came.  I didn't know you well in high school but I didn't hang out with many.  Hope to catch up more at next reunion.  Do you chat on Facebook?

Be well and happy

Sheryl

Sheryl Dines (Dickson)

Janice Koch, so glad your all safe from the fires. Go on that vacation and have a great time.  It was so good to see you.  Surprised the heck out of me, didn't even recognize you.

Sheryl

Anne Hassell (Nelson)

Loretta Packard (Luskin)

I agree with Tracy and Anne. At this time in life we need to support each other and be kind and pray for each other when we need it! Don’t let negativity divide us. And to Joe Silver, I didn’t really know you at PHS, but I must say I do appreciate your honestly and transparency. I wasn’t able to talk with you at the reunion as my wonderful husband Bob (of 46 years) were only able to take part in Friday and Saturday nights events. We left Sunday for Zurich and I’m still not home yet! But am pleasantly sitting in the lounge at Heathrow airport awaiting a flight back home. Joe, God bless you and I hope that the pain of your youth has been healed over time during your adulthood. I have appreciated your comments on the website. My husband Bob is also Jewish and I am so blessed! 

Linda Wright (Lewis)

Tracy, thank you for posting your sensible and caring thoughts.  Many of us are going through difficult times  and re-inventing lives.  As my handsome mountain climber/fire fighter/Baja racer husband Phil says, "These ain't the Golden Years we envisioned".  (I cleaned it up for publication!)  We are in a battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia at OHSU -- I created Phil's Army of our friends and family to give updates & support. We are 100 strong.

 Whether it is fire, health or financial we will get by with some help from our friends.   

Gerald Shutman

Joe,

I remember you well from high school (and temple) but had no idea you were having such a hard time then. You seemed to be coping well. I hope the intervening years have given you the family and personal support that everybody deserves. I certainly appreciate our conversations Friday and Saturday.

Mike Berg (Berg Mike)

Several times in recent months I mentioned to friends that my high school's 50th reunion was this summer.  When asked if I planned to attend, my standard response was, "Why would I travel 2,000 miles to spend time with people who wouldn't give me the time of day when we were in school?"  As it turned out, I wasn't able to attend anyway, but in reading the comments from so many folks, I believe my stance and attitude have softened considerably.  I can relate to those who were pretty much unseen and unknown as we walked between the buildings - not happy times for many of us.  But that was 50 years ago, and although it's sad to see how many are no longer with us, I've smiled a lot lately as I've read the comments and recalled those years at PHS.  Thank you to all who worked so hard to put the reunion together. 

James Reed

It is such a pleasure to read the many heart-felt comments of my classmates.  It is inspiring to be amongst shuch good and noble people.  At this point it's just great to be alive and functional.  Our life paths are pretty much set and need no pretense.  I too enjoyed the rekindling of long dormant friendships and the making of new ones that occured over the 3 days of our reunion.  I had to decide to just not worry about the embarrassment of forgetting names and changed faces (and physiques).  This approach served me well.  I hope and pray that the angst, bitterness and insecurity that all too many of us experienced in High School has faded into a distant backdrop for the growth that has brought us to our current state.  I still ponder at times why it is that I have no bad memories of my years at PHS.  It most likely involves not digging too deeply or that I kinda floated through those years in my own little blissful bubble, but that's good enough for me.  I have no grudges or regrets of any import and am the happier for it.  It also may have to  do with my ever more imperfect memory.  It was a pleasant surprize connecting with a pretty good variety of you all from dearest old friends to those I honestly couldn't remember at all.  May you all find peace and fulfillment wherever you are or whatever you are doing.  May you find comfort in your struggles and some joy in each day.  If the impulse hits you to reach out to me, it will be greated with gratitude and comradery, well seasoned with nostalgia.  Five years seems like a long time until our next gathering. Bud@simfg.com

Sue Warrick (Eicherly)

I too am surprised that many classmates had hArd family lives.

Its interesting that when your young you think everyone’s life is the same . Then you find out many had dysfunctional homes and no one to support their fears it reach out because we were all to young to realize the need. Only when we have gotten older have we understood suffering and felt more compassion fir others . To all if you that had it rough in hush school I’m so sorry . After so many years going by I’ll bet we have all had some rough days. I know I have .. my faith is what keeps me going . Let’s all stay connected and keep each other in prayer because we are all fighting some kind of battle ..  . 

Gary Tarplee

Susan, I was also surprised to hear from many classmates of the dificuilt familiy lives they had growing up and I never knew these problems in their lives existed  Several folks are still struggling today with family issues.  I agree with your post about being more aware of others as we grow older and more willing to talk about our problems.  Many folks I talked with have been able to have peace with these problems by putting their trust in Jesus.  I was pleased to hear the many stories and classmates that have a strong faith to support them in difficult times. My life has been rather "smooth" with a few bumps in the road but I have also had Jesus to redirect me when that happens.  A real blessing!

Winton Worswick

was just reading some of the coments about our chiedhood day at PHS. i did not think i had a good chiedhood when i was doing it. i had a mistress that kept me in school and got me in a lot of truble once my parents found out. but then i joined the army and found out just how screwed up life can become. i was medivacked twice out of viet nam and forced to retire. we did not now about PTSD in those days. all the people who stayed home and protesed the war screaming baby killer at the airport took jobs at the VA so the fight went on. I lost my first wife and two boy over PTSD. I still dont now what happened to the second wife except that she ran off and left me with the baby. the baby got kidnapped by the state and didn't get her back for 13 1/2 years by then she was a druggie houre and pregent. I don't even want to talk about my third wife, she wasw a comealion. she didn't last long. my fourth wife lasted 27 wonderfull years. got her collage degree and ran off with a guy from new york city. now i am so scared to let a women in my life that i quit looking. i have some massive problems that i need to liquidate, pay off the debit and just move someplace i havent lived like roswell new mexico. i think i will do better looking for some new mines and try not to get run over by a flying sosser. its kinda like dieing and getting kicked out of hell for botlegging ice cubes or trying to take over. don't mistake refrences i am highly religioues i was rased a nazareen. ya'll are suposed to now my cell nomber 386-961-9099 have a wonderfull day and leve the pasted in the pasted ya don't remember it right anyway. i didn't start understanding my parents till i became a parent. good night.

Gary Hesse

Those of you who attended the reunion might remember that I brought a real PHS MOM to the Sunday morning brunch.  Dorothy was also the oldest surviving parents of those who attended – 99 years old.  She really enjoyed again seeing some of you whom I grew up with at school, our church, neighborhood, etc.  She spoke of it a few times recently and said that it compensated for her not being able to attend any of her reunions.  She was a great PHS MOM, and fully supported me in all of my activities at that time of my life!  I recently learned from her that when I was 16 and had purchased my 1960 Austin Healey 3000 that she was so worried that I was going to kill myself with that car that she quietly purchased a life insurance policy on me!!

Sadly, she passed away early this afternoon.  She had been in hospice care for a week and was comfortable but weak and frail.  She passed away peacefully in her sleep.  Taking care of her for the past few decades was the hardest and most frustrating job that I ever took on; it was also the most rewarding.  Thank all of you who stopped by who recognized her to say hello.  I think that her visiting our reunion was like getting another hole punched into her ticket to life’s experiences!  So, it will be a funeral late next week at our family plots at St. John’s Cemetery in Orange, where we have a few family members buried who began their lives pre-1800!

...Time to turn the page and start a new chapter in my life!

Sheryl Dines (Dickson)

Gary, my condolences to you but the smile on your mom's face at brunch was priceless.

She had a good time at PHS reunion.

Modie (Martin) Katz

Gary, so glad you brought your Mom to the Reunion and she was able to enjoy, reflect and be loved. 

James Reed

Oh Gary, the fun in her face that Sunday morning was a lift to me and I’m sure many others. It is now obvious how great an idea it was for you to have brought her. That was such a nice part of a magical weekend. It was also obvious how much you love her. Thanks for the memory. So now we are the patriarchal, matriarchal generation and carry quite a legacy. God bless 

Patricia Frances Anthony Goff

Dear Gary, I do remember you from Lit Class and - I think - Choir!  The fact that you cherished your Mom to a peaceful end means a gentle lnding will be made for you.  Peace; Joycomes later. ~ Fran

Trudy Lynch (Barron)

Gary, thank you for sharing your mom with us at the brunch! That was special. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! I was very moved by your post. Most of us have experienced the loss of a parent and we can empathize with you. I am so glad that you have treasured your relationship with her and please know that I am sending caring thoughts to you in your loss. 

❤️Trudy

Linda Wright (Lewis)

Hi Gary,  Sending a virtual hug to you.  Not a happy week for your birthday but sending you best wishes.  

Rodrigo Marin (Marin)

HELLO GARY,

I am caring for my mother as we speak. That is the reason that I could not attend the very successful 50th reunion by all accounts.

My mother will be 92 Aug 31.  She is still ambulating and listens to her News station daily.  My mothers name is Aristilda Marin.

She was born in Puerto Rico in a small fishing village called Humacao. I have visited the area and it has been developed into Golf and Resort area.

As we are all are caring for our elder parents at this stage in our lives I truly believe that we will look back at this stage and cherish the fact that we were there when our parents needed us the most. 

Gary you have done your best my friend and she is definitely with our Lord so you can feel truly satisfied with your efforts.

Blessings,

Rod Marin

Frances Pampeyan

Dear Gary,  I'm so sorry for your loss. May the Lord bless you for taking such good care of her.  

Kenneth (Ken) Marschall

Hi Gary,

Thanks for sharing these touching words.  What a blessing that she had you (and vice-versa) and that she left this world so relatively quickly and comfortably.  We can only hope that we are so lucky.  ;-)

Now, as you say, a whole fresh, new phase of your life begins.  All the best!

Sue Warrick (Eicherly)

Dearest Gary. First I send my sincere condolences . I’m so sorry I was too I’ll myself to be at the rest of the reunion  I so wished I had met your mom. What a real treasure for you to have her in your life for so long . I was 38 when I lost my mom. I know how very difficult it is tto be a caregiver. I was there for my husband who died iof Parkinson's In 201... He was my best friend and I married him to give him a better life for a longer period of time..  .  I send my best to you for doing that for her . You have been a wonderful son and God will surely bless you for all your time taking care of her . What a wonderful thing to have brought her to the reunion and such a blessing for her to have enjoyed such an evening like that . Know you are on my prayers for it takes time to move forward ... we are all thinking of you and sending our prayers for you and your extended family .. sincerely sue