Judith Disantis

Hi Everyone,

This a tribute to Gerry Biggin Draeger.  She was a true good friend.  We use to meet for lunch in Hudson and discuss my latest vacation.  Jerry was sincerely interested.  I'll miss her as well as a friend of mine named Wendi.  Wendi passed away from COVID.  But both were serving the Lord; I know they are in Heaven today.  I would be remiss if I didn't tell you how important it is to get ready to meet the Lord.  Our bodies die...but not our souls. 

I appreciate growing up in Shaker with all the education and Jewish influence.  Studying the Old Testament as well as the New is a must.  One of my mentors is Rabbi Jonathan Cahn; another is Rabbi Daniel Lapin...another  Dr. Jeffrey Seif.

Kathy Slavik, it was good to hear the Lord saved your soul, as He did mine.  I have had the opportunity to travel to Israel and the surrounding areas.  My travels take me to places mentioned in the Bible which I relate to God's timeline.  All eyes are now on Israel.  Ezekiel will these bones live again...Oh Lord God, thou knowest!  Ezekiel 37:1-10.

Kathy I will email you.

The Lord loves you all, Judy Disantis

James Slater Sr

Hi Torchy,

The fact that this web site continues to be so active  6.5 years after our 50th reunion is a testament to what a great job you did creating this site and are now doing to maintain it. I finally retired in December 2020 after 42 years as a software developer. My wife and I now reside in Westlake after over 40 years in Cleveland Heights.The Westlake location has us closer to our kids and grandkids. Our grandchildren are now young adults (4 in college and 2 in high school).

Edward Torchy Smith

Thank you James and many others who have supported this site.  Updates are almost as good as meeting a classmate in person.  You were on my left side sitting in homeroom with a locker next to mine for 6 years.  On my right side for 6 years was Phillip Smith.  I actually played golf with Phillip Smith this winter at his course in Florida.  It is bizarre how Shaker friends have popped up in my life.  Then again, this characteristic may be a theme with other Shaker 1965 classmates.  I would like to post the following as an example of what I am talking about.

My kids went to over night camp in Northern Wisconsin.  It was required for parents to attend visitors weekend after four weeks of the eight-week camp. This camp, Camp Chippawa, was in the middle of no where and you could not visit your kids until 8 pm on Friday night.  I pulled up my rental car in a field with all the other over eager parents waiting to see their precious homesick kids.  All of a sudden I hear someone call out to me using the name “Torchy”.  You could not see your hand in front of your face as it was that dark in the north woods at night. It was Phillip Smith whose daughter was also going to that camp with mostly Chicago suburb kids. Phippip lived in Highland Park, Illinois at that time.  There was a contingency of Cleveland kids but not really that many.  So now I have a new (old) friend every year at visitors’ weekend.  I think Phillip and I talked more during that time period than during the whole time we were at Shaker. 

If this happened to me, I am sure similar coincidences during our lifetime happened to others.   How many times did you mention to someone that you attended Shaker and someone not from the Cleveland area asks if you know so and so from our 1965 class?  And you do!!

In addition...James Slater and I  have a similar friend that years later we both figured out by accident that we knew and hung around with. Thanks Jim for your update. 

Phil Smith (Smith)

In answer to Torchy's comments about our previous summer meetings when our daughters were at camp; he's wrong about us talking more then; then when we were in high school. Actually we talked even more while playing golf late December last year. Somehow a round of golf lets everyone (everything) hang out, and we had many converstaions about Shaker High School and how we (I) survived after that. It was a wonderful meaningful experience reconnecting with him.

I grew up and matured after graduating from college and working my first job. Torchy and I also shared our good experiences about the 50th reunion and how we felt everyone had many life experiences that made us remember much about all our fellow classmates. As fewer of us are around each year, it's gratifying to remember our old high school experiences. And as Torchy has said reconnecting with old classmates can help us recall those common experiences. Thank you Torchy (Edward) for keeping us connected!

Edward Torchy Smith

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/gwyn-gilliss-joy-kennelly/

ILLISS--Gwyn. Gwyn Gilliss, 74, passed away at her home in Redondo Beach, CA on January 12, 2022. Beginning her acting career while a student at Shaker Heights High School, she studied theater at Syracuse and Carnegie Mellon Universities. Living in New York City for 47 years, Gwyn was known as the "Gypsy of Soap Operas", holding contract roles on many daytime soaps, including a three year stint as Ann Tyler Martin on All My Children. In 2000, Gwyn founded Gwyn Gilliss Communications. Through personal contact, seminars and workshops, including her annual Actors Summit in London, she coached, mentored and touched the lives of aspiring actors worldwide. Gwyn was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Douglas, sister Sandra, and former husbands, Barry Coronet and Victor Watson. Gwyn is survived by her brother, David (RuthAnn) of Winona, Ohio, nephew Brian Gould and niece Laurie Belknap.
 

Published by New York Times on Mar. 6, 2022.

Sandra Smith (Dovberg)

HI to all Shaker classmates and special thanks to Torchy for creating and maintaining this way for us to touch base with so many. Torchy, my contact information has remained the same. Fun to see what all have been busy doing since graduation and sad to see how many have been lost.  Norman and I just returned from 2 months of skiing in western MA so have been preoccupied with enjoying the return to skiing that we missed in 2021 due to Covid.  Lots of fresh air and visiting on the lifts with ski buddies from years past.  I keep busy with art - under crazy pressure to mount 5 exhibits, 2 of which are solos but it will all calm down by end of July. I was reading the messages and also have a funny story about reconnecting with LInda Winchell.  Her daughter lives and Alexandria, VA  and owns a business called "UpCycle".  My daughter is a preschool administrator in Alexandria. They both know each other due to working w/ kids and UpCycle provides a great place to find all sorts of recyled stuff my daughter ueses for her classrooms.  About 5 years ago I made the connection to Linda who visits her daughter frequently so we arranged to meet in DC area.  Since Vicki Black lives in Annapolis she manged to tag along.  Strange coincidences happen.

Barbara Horovitz (Brown)

I got to Alexandria a number of times, tagging along to conferences my husband had at National Harbor. So much to do in and around the DC area. Nice that you have been able to connect with H.S. friends there. Be. well. Barbara

Sallie Reider

HI CLASSMATES

JUDY FISHMAN, NOREEN KATZ AND I ARE PLANNING A VERY CASUAL 75TH BIRTHDAY PARTY ON FRIDAY JULY 8TH AT 6:30 PM AT POINT EAST PARTY ROOM- 27500 CEDAR RD, BEACHWOOD OHIO
IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT THIS UNTIL NOW, I APOLOGIZE. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ALUMNI DATABASE, WHICH IS NOT TOTALLY ACCURATE.<PLEASE CONTACT ME AT IAMSALL@AOL.COM WITH ANY QUESTIONS. 

I HOPE EVERYONE GETS THIS MESSAGE.

Carol Friedman (Bargar)

A 75th birthday party!

What a great idea (although who among us believes we are really "that" age??)

Thanks Sally, Judy, and Noreen for organizing it. I won't be able to get to Cleveland this summer, but would any Shakerites living in California be interested in a similar get-together? I know many of us are out here in the Golden State, and I would love to reconnect with some former classmates. Message me, and maybe we can put together a west coast edition of this birthday celebration!

Carol (Friedman) Bargar

Fair Oaks, California

Adrienne Glazer (Sheridan)

From Adrienne Glazer Sheridan

I  am a Southern Californian living in the High Desert. I would love to

participate in a 75th birthday party. Yes, I can't wrap my head around being 75 eithrt!!!

Michael Siegel

Hi Californians.  Carol, you and I are practically neighbors.  I live in Loomis and have an office in Citrus Heights.

Bennett Tramer is in S Cal.  We could have 2 parties and Zoom together!

Sande Gerth (Chernett)

Hi Classmates. Sorry to miss the lunch but I winter in Palm Desert, California and am leaving for our home in Las Vegas, where we live until November. I'm game for a SoCal reunion next fall with Cookie Rubin and Scott Siegler too. Lots of us out on the left coast. 

Edward Torchy Smith

THIS IS FROM BOB POLSTER:  I am passing it along

I would like to nominate DR. David Burkons for the recognition as the Hero of 2022 for his work for 50years as a fighter for Women's rights- disregarding his own safety to provide health care for all women under all circumstances..

Edward Torchy Smith

What a grand evening in Cleveland, 7/8/22, celebrating our 75th birthdays. Everything was perfect, thanks to lots of effort and planning by Sallie Reider, Judy Helf and Norene Katz.

Judith (Baron) Khaner

Edward Torchy Smith

Thank you Judy Helf Fishman, Sallie Ryder, and Noreene Katz.

We all had a great time on the 75th celebration of birthdays of our classmates. This was joy to me because I did not have to do anything but show up.  We had a good turn out and it was easy for me to actually talk to everyone there.  Big reunions are like "speed dating"  with no real depth of any talking to one another. This was more laid back and enjoyable to me because all I did was show up.  

Hopefully more of you will comment from this area of MESSAGE FORUM.  

This is the area were we can take advantage to continue to keep in touch.

Sincerely,

Edward TORCHY Smith 

Rhonda Butnick (Scorzelli)

Hi. Did anyone take pictures that they can post here?

Cookie Chesler (O'Neill)

THANK YOU Sallie, Judy, and Norene!!!  I know how much work you put into this great party and all of your efforts paid off.  It was just lovely...from decorations, to food, drink, and dessert (including the lovely birthday cake).  And thank you Torchy for just showing up!  No reunion of the class of 1965 could be complete without your presence. Seeing so many of our dear classmates and being able to celebrate this milestone year with them was the best birthday celebration ever.  And ditto what Torchy said.  Meaningful and memorable conversations with so many was the highlight for sure.  I also want to thank everyone who came, locals and out-of-towners alike.   Getting places, no matter how near or far is not quite as simple these days as it was years ago, so I encourage those of you in California or othere places where you have some classmates close by to absolutely get together.  You won't regret it.   Again, so many thanks, Cookie

Bennett Tramer

Great idea to have that party, being only 74 I assumed I wasn't invited, but  glad to hear everyone had a fab time.

Edward Torchy Smith

Greetings fellow classmates.  I thought you might want to see some photos taken at the “get together” from our 75^th collective birthday celebration. Here is the first one with more to follow.

Dennis Bayer

Great idea Torchy, thanks!

Sande Gerth (Chernett)

To all my west coast classmates- I'm not 75 yet so I guess we can wait until fall to do something like this! I'm in Las Vegas until November when we head to Palm Desert for the season. If anyone out in California is interested let me know and I can see if we can do something! Use my email: sandegchernett@gmail.com. Dennis, I know you are in Sausalito but come on down!

Edward Torchy Smith

Edward Torchy Smith

Carol Friedman (Bargar)

Hi Sande - I would love to help with a birthday celebration West Coast style! I responded to your email. Message me here if you didn't receive it (from Carbaduke@comcast.net). 

Carol (Friedman) Bargar

Jonathon Wise

I want to add my thanks to Sallie, Judy, and Norene. Our "birthday party" was great fun and it was really nice to see so many of our classmates. I am always a little nervous before these events, but as soon as I arrive I feel like I'm back in High School. Sally, Judy, and Norene, you did a wonderful job planning this event and I appeciate the effort it must have taken. I look forward to the next time we can all get together. Torchy, thanks for posting the pictures.