I hope all of you have had a wonderful Thanksgiving. For me this thanksgiving will be memorable time. On November 18th I was taken by ambulance to the hospital with a rapid heartbeat of 177 per minute. They took me to closest hospital with a cardiac care unit which was 15 minutes away in the next county. They called ahead and when we arrived at the emergency room they had a team of doctors and nurses to assist. Anyways, to make a long story short the diagnosis was that I had "A" fib and my upper chambers which pumps the blood through the heart was beating so fast that the lower chambers were not responding fast enough. I have had 2 congestive heart failures in the past but the doctors said this incident could have led to either a heart attack or a stroke. At one point they had to inject me with a medication to stop my heart for a few seconds to allow my heart to resync the rhythm. I am currently wearing a heart monitor taped to my chest that sends the EKGs via smart phone to a medical service that records my status and if there is any significant changes will not only contact my cardiologist and myself. I am currently additional medication to keep my heartbeat in a normal manner. I have to see the cardiologst on Tuesday to go over the results and to determine a permanent treatment plan. Sorry guys but it looks like I will probably miss the Great Birthday Party at my favorite summer hangout Rockledge Country Club.

Another Talcott fellow classmate.  A tough looking appearance but really a gentle soul.  It is sad that there was no obituary and makes you wonder how he lived his life.  He was divorced but did he have children?  Did he have surving siplings?  How many other missing classmates are in that same situation.  Pray for his soul.

Posted on: Aug 20, 2021 at 3:52 AM

Six months and I will turn 75. Three quarters of a century old. It seems like yesterday that I was hanging around Rockledge caddying and playing cards with the other caddies.

Posted on: Jul 16, 2021 at 3:46 PM

I will bet that Linda Matthews Chamberlain is behind this great idea of a 75th Birthday Celebration for the whole class.

Posted on: Mar 23, 2021 at 5:18 PM

Mike, Very nice tribute to Walter. I want to know if he was one of original staff of Conard when it opened in (I believe) 1960. I believe I had 2 second cousins in that class and then my older brother, myself, two sisters and a younger brother that marched through halls. Then I had 7 first cousins (of course all Panes) that went through Conard. I am sure that know as well. I will get in contact with because Mr. Schmidt is a living legend of Conard.

I didn't have Andy in any of my classes; however, we did share a passion for duckpin bowling.  Bowling every week at Park Road Alleys with the Conard Bowling Club.  He was a hilarious guy and he continue his antics as you could on one of his photos on his page in his easy chair.  My prayers go out to his family and close and Andy knock them all down in heaven with your jokes and bowling skill.

Posted on: Dec 31, 2020 at 8:07 AM

It is New Year's Eve and I want to express to all my classmates some of you I have known since 5th grade when my family bought a house in Elmwood. Others I have known since Talcott. Others not until Conard. Others may not have had a chance to get to know me but I still think of you as friends and classmates. When have all gone through a very rough year because of CODIV 19. It forced us to cancel our 55th Class Reunion which I always look forward to attend and to reconnect with all of you. Recently, my family receive a scare. My wife of over 40 years and a nurse for over 50 years was ill for about 2 weeks and when she went back to work at the Department of Justice Headquarters where she was the lead nurse of their health clinics was tested for COVDIC 19 and was tested as positive and because they were using the Rapid testing method the CDC protocol call for an immediate retesting which came out as negative. The requirement is for the tested employee to self isolate immediately and to reschedule with a medical facility that does the nasal swab test which is sent to an lab for a more accurate result and that came back negative (THANK GOD). However, for the next 2 to 3 days she must isolate and observe for any symptons because that result could also be a false result. Yesterday, we got a call from our daughter, Theresa, who told us that her husband of 4 years was exposed to a co-worker who had been tested positive and now he has to go through the same process. Anyways, I am praying on a daily basis (forgive me all you progressive democrats but religion is important and God does listen and respond) that all of you remain safe and healthy during these trying days. I wish you all a Happy New Year and maybe next October at our 55plus 1 reunion.

Posted on: Nov 25, 2020 at 7:56 AM

To all my classmates from the greatest graduation class from Conard High School. "Yea, Rah, Rah, Class of 65!" I send my best wishes to you and your entire families for a Happy Thanksgiving! We are having a very personal and small gathering of just our little family of 5 - myself, my wife of over 40 years Vivian, my eldest daughter Theresa Marie and her husband Larry, and finally my son Theodore. My wife who is a healthcare provider (Occupational Registered Nurse) at the Department of Justice will be retiring within the next year and I am looking at relocating to Ocala, Florida. We cannot afford the high cost of living in the Washington, D.C. region and impact of state and county income taxes on retirement income. So any of you classmates in Florida have any further info on Ocala, please send me that info so I can make a prudent decision. Thanks and stay safe and well for the next reunion.

Posted on: Jul 20, 2020 at 4:04 PM

Anybody got any "Gorilla Tape"? I feel like I am coming apart, first the orthopedic doctor after consulting with physical therapist that there is no need for A MRI since the the therapy has return my total range of motion; however, after I complained about my left knee they took X Rays from 4 different angles and have determined that I have arthritic knee and gave me three options - 1. Medicine, not recommended due to my kidney ailment, 2. Injection - Steroids, not going in that direction. and 3. Physical Therapy - Tried it on my shoulder and it works so back to the Therapists. By the I am having my stone and stent remove tomorrow morning. Hoping for prayers.

Posted on: Apr 08, 2020 at 9:37 AM

On March 16, 2020 after driving my wife to work at the Department of Justice Headquarters because she didn't want to take public transportation due to the "VIRUS" I was experiencing severe back pains and when I return home (20 miles) I called my wife (who is a Public Healthcare Nurse for DOJ) and told her that I couldn't stand the pain and was heading to the ER. The ER physician exam me and found that I had pain from my left flank to the front of my stomach and she expected to be a Kidney problem so they sent be into CT Scan and discovered a 6 milligram stone blocking the tube from the kidney to the bladder. They called the urologist and that night he inserted a stent to my kidney to relieve the fluid in the kidney. He explained to my wife that while draining the kidney there was pus coming out and he believed that the kidney was inflamed and we were lucky to catch it before there was renal failure. Anyways, the stent and stone are still in but the doctor cannot remove them because of the health crisis and the procedure would be considered non-emergency. I am still suffering minor discomforts; however, the good news is in the past 3 weeks I have lost 18 pounds and down to a weight of 225 which is what I weight 15 years ago when I retire from the Department of the Navy. I was hoping to be below 220 for the reunion but that has gone by the boards. Maybe next year I will come incognito and no one will recognize me.

Posted on: Feb 24, 2020 at 8:39 PM

Posted on: Jan 19, 2020 at 5:57 AM

Dear Classmates,
I am sad to say that nothing exciting has happened to me this year; accept for the passing of my Uncle Mike (who is the father of 3 Conard grads) and my sister Roberta who was a Conard grad. Other than that I am still the same old (now much older) boring self and being a pain (play on words) in the bum (I like British terms) to my wife.