Sorry to join the forum at this late stage. With regards to the tie in 1967 it was definetely against Croton Harmon on their field. I was there. Harry Rassman's injury was from too much beer early in the season and he sprained his ankle running down some street in P'ville. I was also indulging with the "bud" but was too out of it to run with him! The Panthers were down 7-0 with time running out.Coach K put Harry in as a wide receiver at the 50 yard line and he caught a pass in the end zone to tie the score at 7-7 and preserve the undefeated season! Here's to you Harry Rassman!!!
Here’s one from the Piano Bob archives – when I was twenty I toured with a group called ‘Up With People’ and we were playing in the Budokan in Tokyo. Before the show we were introduced to Mr. Mitsui and his son. (at the time the richest men in Japan and probably the world). There was a formal line to greet them and when I came to meet Mr. Mitsui, Sr. he asked me where I was from. When I told him I was from Pleasantville he exclaimed: “Presentvlle! I have been to Presentvlle! I was at a luncheon at Reader’s Digest”. I did not go into the whole Reader’s Digest was really in Chappaqua only their mailing address was in P’vlle routine.
Later in a group discussion the younger Mitsui told us quite vehemently that he was tired of the Martial Plan and wanted to foster their own army (absolutely true). This was before Japan’s economic explosion and it was a good thing for them his idea never took hold.
I would respectfully request that the whole foot shooting incident be left out of these (our) proceedings. As much youthful glee as it may have provided us we might also remember at this age there are families that were involved that we all know and would not want to embarrass if we were to confront face to face...
And there are so many more positive and fun memories to play with. Like when Mrs. Wright replaced Mr. Wright in Biology early freshman year - Mr. Wright filled us with 3 pages a day of notes and Mrs. Wright after fifteen minutes and half a paragraph tops asked us if she was going too fast?
Who wrote the movie 'Pleasantville'? It had to be one of us - I mean that was us - black & white nerds waiting for the pen strokes of something magical to wake us up to wiser spectrums of reality (First rock & roll show 1969 on Marble Ave - "? Mark and the Mysterians".
Harry injured his ankle (drunk) running down Mountain Rd hill toward Briarcliff Rd where it crosses toward Roselle Ave School(he went into the gutter). I believe it was a party at Sandy Yahner's house. When Harry came in as a wide receiver - it was called the Banana Play because you run a rout curved similar to the fruit. We all know we had great sports teams in the Class of 69 but without Harry we would not have been undefeated in football or county champs in baseball. He was and is my friend.
In the early 70's Harry (1973 I believe) came up to Providence RI and lived with me and friends for several years as I continued on my 7 year college BA career. I eventually hired him as a computer programmer in 1980 or 81 for a pension admin firm I was working for in CT (He lived with Bo & Tom in FL for awhile in between). I taught him to program and he was VERY GOOD at it. He was very bright and logical. He wrote 10's of thousands of lines of code implementing and enhancing a 401(k)pension and a cafeteria reimbursement plan I designed.
In 1985 we bought the company and he along with two others was my partner until 1989 when he moved back to FL to care for his ailing father (who was in the tank corp with Patton in WWII). May he rest in peace. May God bless you Harry.
Panthers (and Cougars?), don't neglect the "Music at the Reunion" link (see the yellow list at the left.) It will be fun seeing all the different picks!
Don't let the fact that "Cherry, Cherry" was the greatest pure rock-and-roll song ever written sway your choices...then I would feel guilty, indeed.
Thanks for the information and sentiment on Harry. I am afraid that I lost touch with him (and so many others) over the years. With the recent passing of Margi, I can't stop thinking of our high school years and how much they meant. I look forward to seeing everyone in October.
1) Dizzy -- Tommy Roe -- Greatest Hits -- 03/15/1969 2) Everyday People -- Sly & the Family Stone -- The Essential -- 003/01/1969 3) You've Made Me So Very Happy -- Blood, Sweat & Tears -- B,S&T -- 004/12/1969 4) Hair -- The Cowsills -- The Best Of --05/10/1969 5) It's Your Thing -- The Isley Brothers -- Super Hits -- 05/03/1969 7) Proud Mary -- Creedence Clearwater Revival -- Bayou Country -- 03/08/1969 8) Traces -- Classics IV -- Best Of -- 03/29/1969 7) Crimson & Clover -- Tommy James -- Greatest Hits -- 03/01/1969 8) Time Of The Season -- The Zombies -- 03/29/1969 --
9) Build Me Up Buttercup -- The Foundations -- Build Me Up -- 03/01/1969 10) Hawaii Five-O -- The Ventures -- Madagascar 05/10/1969 11) Only The Strong Survive -- Jerry Butler -- Best Of -- 04/19/1969 12) Galveston -- Glen Campbell -- Greatest Hits -- 04/12/1969
Talk about classics! We saw "Jersey Boys" on Broadway yesterday - they sang all the Teen Center classics: "Sherri", "Walk Like A Man", etc. Brought back some good memories.
What about the crazy collection of cars we all drove? Remember during the taking of senior pictures when everyone climbed on Claudia Visca's car and had it almost on the ground? If I remember correctly, it was Harry who bought that old gray car from Mr Wright. The parking sticker had not been removed and Harry parked in the lot for almost six months before someone realized Mr Wright didn't own it anymore. One of my favorite memories was the band marching and practicing outdoors during 7th period. They were really good.
Fondest Memory: Summer of 1968 when a bunch of us went to Saranac Lake. I believe it was for a week but I can't remember - Mike, Bowse or Kevin help me out here. The best was when Bowse was caught in the current and we lost a case of beer over the side of the rowboat! Add to it guys!
Saranac was one of my favorites too. Your right Jack it was a week. The current was one of the highlights but the bowl of spagetti over my head was up there too.Lets get some pictures of Saranac posted on the web site.
hey gang, many of you are already en route to p'ville for the weekend's festivities. i can't believe i'm not going to be there, but i will be thinking about you all...and can't wait to see pictures! happy 40th!! linda
I'm sure I speak for all attendees when I say the 40th reunion weekend was a tremendous success. William H. Gruen and Jill Roemer King, you are the BESTEST! Anyone who can get me up off my @$$ to pitch in is a motivator extrordinaire. In spades, for Tony :-)
The months leading up to the event, the anticipation, the abject terror, and then...WHAM...there we were. I was overcome by the number of people I had wished to see over the years who attended. Each face launched a thousand memories, even before I remembered the name! (j/k)
I am hopeful that more and more people will use the Message Forum to add memories from the past or news from the present. Reading all the stories really cements the bond between us all; we were all so fortunate to have been in Pleasantville through such important years of our lives, and we should treasure and preserve the friendships we made.
Whether it is for a 45th or a 50th, let's all show up again. In the meantime, get in touch with all your friends who did not attend and make them an offer they cannot refuse. Give Bill and Jill a week or two of time off, then mercilessly hound them asking what they have done for the next reunion.
What Donald said!! Had such a great time seeing everyone. Great memories and some questions, like: “How come I never got to know some of these cool people better growing up”
What a group.
Being the Webmaster (what a misnomer) has allowed me to get to know what many of you have been doing over the years. Quite the eclectic group we have.
I cherish having grown up in Pleasantville and all of you.
Jill, Bill, Don and Tony,GREAT JOB!!!! What an amazing effort. It was the BEST one yet. It really is going to be hard to beat this one. It was great to see everyone and I don't believe anyone didn't have a good time!!!! All I can say is it was to short. Again thank you all:)
