Edward Torchy Smith

Fire at FERNWAY yesterday.

https://fox8.com/2018/07/10/crews-respond-to-fire-at-shaker-heights-elementary-school/

I thought you out of towners would like to see this.  Wait...I said that wrong.  You would not like to see this but would want to know about this by seeing this.  Is that better?  

Edward Torchy Smith

http://obits.cleveland.com/obituaries/cleveland/obituary.aspx?n=richard-brock&pid=189566386&fhid=2098

Loving son of Irving and Ruth Brock (both deceased). Beloved brother of Ginny Ormsby and Robin (Paul) Weinstein. Cherished uncle to David (Lisa) Holley, Jamie (Janis) Holley, Sara Weinstein and Anne Weinstein. Adored great uncle to many. Services Sunday July 15 at 11:30 a.m. at the Fairmount Temple 23737 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood, where family will receive freinds AFTER SERVICE UNTIL 5 P.M. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers family suggests contributions to charity of choice..

Edward Torchy Smith

AYRES Curtis "Curt" Haven Ayres, 71, of Hampstead, NC, died Sunday, July 8, 2018, at home. Curt was born October 7, 1946 in Cleveland, OH, son of the late Charles Hamilton Ayres, III and Helen Dunmore Ayres. Curt graduated high school from Shaker Heights High School in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He received his bachelor's degree from Northern Michigan University. He spent over 20 years in Real Estate and owned two different Real Estate companies in Southern Delaware. Throughout his life Curt was an avid Cleveland sports fan as well as the Ohio State University Buckeyes. Aside from his family, his other love was volunteering as a youth sports coach, which he did for over five decades. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Sharon Ayres; two sons, Charles Hamilton Ayres, V of Charlotte, NC, and Haven Dunmore Ayres of Atlanta, GA; two brothers, Thomas Ayres (Marcia) of Canton, CT, and Charles Hamilton Ayres, IV of Las Vegas, NV; and his mutt, "Spanky." In lieu of flowers, donations in Curt's memory may be made online or by mail to American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060-9979. Condolences to the family at www.andrewsmortuary.com

Published in The Plain Dealer from July 12 to July 13, 2018

Edward Torchy Smith

Sorry to inform you of another deceased classmate.

Penelope Zinni....of course we all knew her as PENNY WALLIS. 

Here is her obituary from The Cleveland Plain Dealer:

http://obits.cleveland.com/obituaries/cleveland/obituary.aspx?n=penelope-zinni&pid=190019721

Edward Torchy Smith

Over the years people from our class have spoken to me frequently about all my efforts and time spent with organizing our reunions. They seemed very appreciative.  Basically, that is all I expected ...nothing more…nothing less.  Well for those who want to make me really feel good …I ask you now to buy my book. Yes, this is a little impetuous.  But this was my plan from the very beginning.  I thought I would do exactly this 50 some years ago.  I will take over the high school reunions and every classmate will feel guilty if they don’t pay me back with my plea to buy my book that I had in mind in 1965. 

My book, Shooting the Breeze with Baby Boomer Stars, is a collection of stories and secrets revealed from my best radio interviews.  After interviewing over 100 celebrities from my childhood I was fortunate to go back in time and shake up the cobwebs in my brain.  This is what I would like to share with the reader.  It didn’t matter when I was talking with Geraldo Rivera or members of the original Mickey Mouse Club….it was the next best thing to stepping into a time machine.  I didn’t need LSD to trip out.  I just needed the gonads to do this and, of course, some computer skills.  There are many references to Cleveland and Shaker Heights in my book along with pictures from then and now.  Find out what they are doing now.  And most of all give it a good review on Amazon.  If I pissed you off in high school, please don’t give it a bad review.  Instead I will come to your house and clean your windows.  I look forward to your feedback.   Now for a few choice words on your next reunion.  “Gulp”….Should we even have one? 

There are a number of ways to buy my book.  This was not self-published. It was published by a division of Simon and Schuster.  It will be in book stores such as Barnes and Nobles.  The book has been out for two days and can be purchased at Amazon on line. Here is the link:

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Shooting+the+Breeze+with+Baby+Boomer+Stars%21

Leslie Jaffe (Miller)

Congratulations Torchy!  I would buy the book even if I didn’t feel guilty!  Sounds like a great read! Love Leslie Jaffe Miller

Dennis Bayer

My copy just arived about 30 minutes ago. I plan to bring it to the 60th so Torchy can sign it! :-)

Margaret Schwebel (Cohen)

Hey Torchy. I love being able to follow everyone especially so far away for me. It’s great what you are achieving and and I wish you all the success. I look forward to catching up with everyone soon. Good luck with it all. Best wishes and love, Maggie (Greetings from the UK)

Marguerite Comella (Tench)

Torchy: Received your book in the mail today.  Can't wait to read it.  Will give you my review when I finish! (lol)  And about the next reunion:  what about 55 year instead of 60?  We aren't getting any younger.  Hope you are well and congratulations on the book.

Marguerite Comella (Tench)

Torchy:  Finally getting back to you on your book.  It was very interesting, very amusing, and " sooooo Torchy".  What a delight.  Congratulations again!!!!!!!!!

FYI on another book:  Also finished reading "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng, A recent New York Times bestseller.  For anyone interested, the book takes place in Shaker Heights in the late 90's.  Some of the references and situations and locations were familiar, some were not.  As for the societal ambiance; most of that was not the same as I remember.  But I am like Torchy.  I onl remember the good stuff!!

Edward Torchy Smith

Thank you Marquerite .  My Lomond Arithmetic tells me that in the year of 2020 it will be the correct time for a High School Reunion signifying 55 years. 

I am sooooo not into it.  I am burned out on the planning, the organizing, the collecting of money, the making of phone calls, and all the other details needed to make a reunion happen.  As I look back, I can say that the people who were on the Reunion Committee made the whole experience enjoyable.  I felt that the team effort in the planning stages was my own personal enjoyment of the reunion experience.  In fact, it was almost just as enjoyable as the actual party.  But that was then and this is now.

I don’t want to get morbid here but counting on people now for anything lately is quite a chore.  I help organize a golf group in the summer and it is like herding cats.   People have good intentions, but they are in another frame of mind. It’s more like…. well…. we all know what I am trying to say.  I can just imagine what classmates are thinking as I write this.  “Oh, he will change his mind a year from now.” I don’t think so.  I think someone else should step up and do the planning and take over the reins.

This website is one of the best ways to communicate with each other.  We should take advantage of this forum page which is private and not like Facebook. 

There is always the “enthusiasm” factor which is the over all secret sauce.  If you don’t have that your Manners Big Boy will never taste the same. Write that down.

As always, your comments are welcomed.

Edward Torchy Smith

Jeffrey Pollock (Pollock)

David had an elfin magic and he was lucky to have you as a friend.

Jeff Pollock

Barbara Harter (Harter)

Edward Torchy Smith

FROM SANDY BURKONS:

Sandy Kirschenbaum Burkons won the Silver Medal in Ice Dancing at the 2019 USFSA Adult National Championships in Salt Lake City. Her partner was "a kid" of only 57. This was only 18 months after having a hip replacement!!

Edward Torchy Smith

Hi Torchy-- Don't know if you had this: We are saddened to share with you that Ileen Klein (nee Kurlander) has passed away. Beloved wife of Jeff. Loving mother of member Russ (Debbie) Klein and Scott (Tracy) Klein. Cherished grandmother of member Jordan, Julie and Ellie Klein, Tali and Maya Klein. Dear sister of the late Larry Kurlander and Elizabeth (Joel) Israel. Loving daugther of the late Norman Kurlander and the late Naomi Kurlander. Services will be held 10am Tuesday, December 17 at Temple Israel, 91 Springside Drive, Akron, OH 44333. Family will receive friends following services until 2pm on December 17 at Temple Israel. Family will also receive friends: 6:30-9:00pm Tuesday and 6:30-9:00pm Wednesday at the home of Jeff Klein at 554 Haskell Dr., Akron, OH 44333. 6:30-9:00pm Thursday at the home of Russ and Debbie Klein, 32750 Aspen Glen Dr., Solon, OH 44139. Friends who wish may contribute to the Ileen Klein Memorial Park Bench Fund. As a passionate lover of nature and the outdoors, she wanted to provide loved ones with a simple opportunity to connect with her memory in a meaningful way. Please use the following link to make a donation: http://bit.ly/ileenkleinparkb…. Donations can also be made to Temple Israel in Ileen’s memory at https://www.templeisraelakron…. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Klein family during this difficult time; may they be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

Joan Borod

Dear Torchy, Jeff, & Class,

I am stunned and very upset to hear about Ileen Kurlander. 

She was a very good friend of mine at Sussex and over the junior high and high school years.  We lived a few blocks from each other.

We sat together for dinner at the 50th reunion.

I cannot bear the news.  I am so upset.

Jeff, I send you and your family all my support at this very difficult time.

In sympathy, Joani

Edward Torchy Smith

Greetings:  My fellow high risk shut ins.  

Aren’t you relieved that you never made plans for a 55^th high school reunion?

I guess it was a good idea that a reunion in Cleveland was never planned for the spring of 2020.  How many of you would like to have a virtual online reunion?  Right now, I am imagining most of you saying that you can hardly work your Smart Phone.  Have you heard about ZOOM?  Your grandchildren are probably using ZOOM right now to attend school.  They can see their teacher and all the other kids in class as they continue their classroom work. They even have discussions on line as if they were all in the same room.  Zoom works with the same positioning as The Brady Bunch or Hollywood Squares while everyone can see and talk with each other.  If you can use your cell phone or iPad, then most likely you can use ZOOM.  It’s that easy.  All you would have to do is download the app. then follow the instructions.  This can be done with your computer screen, iPad, or smart phone. 

The purpose of this message is to see if there is sufficient interest in getting the ball rolling.  For those that are a little more tech savvy we could start it off and build our audience.  I would be willing to talk privately on the phone with anyone to get you started. I could walk you through getting the app and then teaching you how it works. We can also do a practice run first.  After those who have downloaded the app, we could set a date and time to all meet online.  This could be real fun while we are all under house arrest.  We could even extend it past our release date.  We can all meet online periodically and plan what to discuss ahead of time. Of course, we can also just let it rip.  As Baby Boomers we are all facing similar problems and of course we all have a commonality suited for just such a ZOOM group. 

Please get back to me with if you are interested at this time or with any other comments.  You can post them to the class by this method or email me privately at BabyBoomersTalkRadio@gmail.com 

Ok fellow Shakerites …I am interested in your feedback.

Sincerely,

Edward TORCHY Smith

Marguerite Comella (Tench)

Torchy:

Does this  ZOOM mean that I have to get out of my nightgown, comb my hair, put in my contacts, and use make-up?  And use my brain to think instead of pick out TV shows?  And see some other human faces besides my husband?  Wow !!! What a concept.

Joan Borod

Dear Shaker Classmates,

I am shocked and very, very sad to hear that Connie Zucker has passed away.

We were very good firiends during elementary school (i.e., Sussex) and lived across the street from each other on Tolland Road.  Ileen Kurlander, who lived around the corner on Scottsdale, was also very close to Connie and me.

I don't know what to say as I am too upset to generate more text.

In sincere sympathy to Connie's family and friends, Joani Borod 

Edward Torchy Smith

We had a great response for our future ZOOM REUNION.  In fact, I can only add a few more classmates as it could get chaotic.  So if you are interested this time you must act now and email me.  I will close off our first ZOOM experience for our class by Monday. 

TORCHY 

Carol Friedman (Bargar)

I’m in! Especially since I never made it to the 50th. Can we all stay in our jammies?

Edward Torchy Smith

CAROL...I need you to send me an email with the email address you want me to use for contact.  When you are on camera with Zoom you can be in your birthday suit. It really does not matter.  It's up to you where the camera is pointed.  Most people will just show their head I think. 

TORCHY

Barbara Rosenberg

coMe, too!

Barbara Rosenberg

bikebarbara@gmail.com

Edward Torchy Smith

This is from Jerry Keller

Torchy - If you could post this for Connie Zucker’s page, I’d appreciate it.

There could not have been another female classmate whose demise would have had as much of a shock as hearing about Connie’s passing. My memory is of her warm and tender heart, shining face, and magnetic personality. We went out to many functions over the matter of our years in high school,, and whenever she accepted my date offer, it always felt the world was right again. 

      I played Saxophone in the Sunliners with Ronnie Carren and 

Howie Weiner, and whenever we played the song Misty, for some reason I would think of her. After quite a hiatus, I picked up the Sax again, and whenever Misty is requested, it still gives me flashbacks to memories of Connie. 

  I am sure knowing that Connie is gone, playing Misty will not just pull on the strings of my heart, but will also create a tear in my eye.