For those of us boys who attended GW Junior High School there was one teacher everybody had all three years: Mr Tice Chase. He passed away on June 11th 2012. No surprise that he lived to be 86 since he was always in shape, and that was his job as our Gym Teacher and Coach. Long after he retired he could still do a one-handed push up, much to the surprise of people who met him in the local gym.
As far as teachers being scene as role models for children, Mr Chase exemplified this in spades. There was nothing he ever asked us to do that he wouldn't do himself. He led a life that was dedicated to showing us how to take care of ourselves, mind and body. He will be missed.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Mr. Chase
For those of us boys who attended GW Junior High School there was one teacher everybody had all three years: Mr Tice Chase. He passed away on June 11th 2012. No surprise that he lived to be 86 since he was always in shape, and that was his job as our Gym Teacher and Coach. Long after he retired he could still do a one-handed push up, much to the surprise of people who met him in the local gym.
As far as teachers being scene as role models for children, Mr Chase exemplified this in spades. There was nothing he ever asked us to do that he wouldn't do himself. He led a life that was dedicated to showing us how to take care of ourselves, mind and body. He will be missed.
Wednesday, June 06, 2012
Layoffs: Then and Now
Growing up in the 1960s, when someone in the neighborhood received the news that they had been fired or laid off it was not something neighbors readily talked about out loud. Many times people hid the fact and quietly put their houses on the market. Other times we only heard a family was moving because somebody's father had been transferred to another town. We never really knew if they were gladly accepting this transfer or doing it to just keep bread on the table.
Times have surely changed. Today one would be hard pressed to find anyone who hasn't been laid off, fired, or terminated at least once or twice. It is so commonplace that people do not speak in hushed tones or try to change the subject like my parents might have when I was younger.
To find someone like my father, who worked at the same law firm for 30 years, is nearly impossible. Of course, he was part of a different generation, some call the Greatest Generation. We honor these people today on the 68th Anniversary of D-Day.
I cannot even imagine what these men and women in the Armed Forces were thinking, and the fear they must have felt, when they were told they were going to invade the continent of Europe. Hitler was clearly a threat to the world, that could be seen clearly then as it can now with the 20/20 hindsight of history. But how were people not directly involved in the making of war made to feel it was their duty to help rid the planet of this menace? The truth is, whether they knew it or not, they possessed a sort of courage I can only hope to have in the face of a similar call to demonstrate this highest of human qualities.
I suppose this fortitude contributed to their reticence to speak about the terrible anguish they saw during WWII, and the suffering they endured. It also helps explain why so little was usually said about neighbors losing their jobs and moving away. When you have lived through a World War I guess the loss of a job seems rather trite. Maybe that is why people take losing their job so hard these days, even if it has happened more than once, and has happened to everyone they know. I suppose we lack a hardship to compare our job loss with. Or maybe our imaginations cannot conjure an image where the Hitlers threaten the world and we must act to defend all we hold true and good.
I lost my job last month and am not too anguished by it, especially on this anniversary of D-Day. It's not that I don't care or am especially brave. My only explanation is that many people gave their lives to support this current time in my life. The least I can do is honor them by peacefully going about making a fresh start, just like they would have done.
Times have surely changed. Today one would be hard pressed to find anyone who hasn't been laid off, fired, or terminated at least once or twice. It is so commonplace that people do not speak in hushed tones or try to change the subject like my parents might have when I was younger.
To find someone like my father, who worked at the same law firm for 30 years, is nearly impossible. Of course, he was part of a different generation, some call the Greatest Generation. We honor these people today on the 68th Anniversary of D-Day.
I cannot even imagine what these men and women in the Armed Forces were thinking, and the fear they must have felt, when they were told they were going to invade the continent of Europe. Hitler was clearly a threat to the world, that could be seen clearly then as it can now with the 20/20 hindsight of history. But how were people not directly involved in the making of war made to feel it was their duty to help rid the planet of this menace? The truth is, whether they knew it or not, they possessed a sort of courage I can only hope to have in the face of a similar call to demonstrate this highest of human qualities.
I suppose this fortitude contributed to their reticence to speak about the terrible anguish they saw during WWII, and the suffering they endured. It also helps explain why so little was usually said about neighbors losing their jobs and moving away. When you have lived through a World War I guess the loss of a job seems rather trite. Maybe that is why people take losing their job so hard these days, even if it has happened more than once, and has happened to everyone they know. I suppose we lack a hardship to compare our job loss with. Or maybe our imaginations cannot conjure an image where the Hitlers threaten the world and we must act to defend all we hold true and good.
I lost my job last month and am not too anguished by it, especially on this anniversary of D-Day. It's not that I don't care or am especially brave. My only explanation is that many people gave their lives to support this current time in my life. The least I can do is honor them by peacefully going about making a fresh start, just like they would have done.
Tuesday, June 05, 2012
D-Day 2012
This is a day early and was written by Damian "Lou" Vidal class of 1978.
68 years ago to the day young American men landed on and behind a beach in Normandy France. They
were there to liberate France and in turn the world from the darkness that was Nazi Germany. They
were young and strong and full of life yet many made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could live in a
free and prosperous world. As a child I watched movies about this time and its patriotic emotion and as
kids we often emulated these rnen by playing war in the woods where we had do or die battles with the
Nazis. But we never reaiiy understood the sacrifices these men, women and even children made during
the war. We never comprehended how they stood on the edge of a precipice and looked into the abyss.
We baby boomers were lucky to have grown up when we did beca use we enjoyed the fruit of those
sacrifices never realizing that our Dad's had endured the trauma of war and never complained about it.
We never understood how they faced death straight on and came through its dark hold. We never
realized the strength of will and commitment that it took to face the Germans and Japanese, the two
greatest military powers of their day and believe that they could be beaten. The term the Greatest
Generation is a well deserved title. These were people who grew up in a depression, fought a World War
and won and then carne home to create the greatest economic boorn even experienced. These were
men, women, and children with an internal fortitude and work ethic that barely exist these days. These
were our parents.
While traveling for work I stayed in a hotel where it just so happened that they were having a D-Day reunion of men who had landed on Normandy beach in 1944. While waiting for the elevatori stood next to an elderly gentleman with a cane who along with a younger man was also waiting on the elevator. The older man wore a red cap which read OMAHA BEACH D-DAY 1944. Being a history buff, l knew what had happened at OMAHA BEACH. lf you’ve ever see SA\/ING PRIVATE RYAN, you will also know what happened at that landing. I went up to the older gentleman and stupidly asked "\Nhere you on OMAHA?" The gentleman answered with a simple "yes sir". I stuck out my hand and said "then I would like to shake your hand and say thank you, Sir"Despite being in his eighties, the man shook my hand firmly and nodded affirmatively. I looked at the younger man and saw tears in his eyes. I realized that this was his son and I also realized how proud he was of his father.
When we were very young we saw our fathers as heroes, they were super men able to do it all. As we grew up and arrogantly told ourselves that we knew everything about everything we began to see our Dads as regular men, some with flaws. Now that we are older and many of our father's have passed we realize just how courageous these men had been. They had shown courage not only in facing bullets and Nazis but also in facing up to their responsibilities in life. They worked hard and prospered. They put a roof over their children’s head and made sure they had everything they needed. They overcame setbacks and illnesses and endured. They truly were supermen. So on this day and to all those men who lived through that time, I would like to symbolically shake your hand and say Thank you. It is the very least I can do.
68 years ago to the day young American men landed on and behind a beach in Normandy France. They
were there to liberate France and in turn the world from the darkness that was Nazi Germany. They
were young and strong and full of life yet many made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could live in a
free and prosperous world. As a child I watched movies about this time and its patriotic emotion and as
kids we often emulated these rnen by playing war in the woods where we had do or die battles with the
Nazis. But we never reaiiy understood the sacrifices these men, women and even children made during
the war. We never comprehended how they stood on the edge of a precipice and looked into the abyss.
We baby boomers were lucky to have grown up when we did beca use we enjoyed the fruit of those
sacrifices never realizing that our Dad's had endured the trauma of war and never complained about it.
We never understood how they faced death straight on and came through its dark hold. We never
realized the strength of will and commitment that it took to face the Germans and Japanese, the two
greatest military powers of their day and believe that they could be beaten. The term the Greatest
Generation is a well deserved title. These were people who grew up in a depression, fought a World War
and won and then carne home to create the greatest economic boorn even experienced. These were
men, women, and children with an internal fortitude and work ethic that barely exist these days. These
were our parents. While traveling for work I stayed in a hotel where it just so happened that they were having a D-Day reunion of men who had landed on Normandy beach in 1944. While waiting for the elevatori stood next to an elderly gentleman with a cane who along with a younger man was also waiting on the elevator. The older man wore a red cap which read OMAHA BEACH D-DAY 1944. Being a history buff, l knew what had happened at OMAHA BEACH. lf you’ve ever see SA\/ING PRIVATE RYAN, you will also know what happened at that landing. I went up to the older gentleman and stupidly asked "\Nhere you on OMAHA?" The gentleman answered with a simple "yes sir". I stuck out my hand and said "then I would like to shake your hand and say thank you, Sir"Despite being in his eighties, the man shook my hand firmly and nodded affirmatively. I looked at the younger man and saw tears in his eyes. I realized that this was his son and I also realized how proud he was of his father.
When we were very young we saw our fathers as heroes, they were super men able to do it all. As we grew up and arrogantly told ourselves that we knew everything about everything we began to see our Dads as regular men, some with flaws. Now that we are older and many of our father's have passed we realize just how courageous these men had been. They had shown courage not only in facing bullets and Nazis but also in facing up to their responsibilities in life. They worked hard and prospered. They put a roof over their children’s head and made sure they had everything they needed. They overcame setbacks and illnesses and endured. They truly were supermen. So on this day and to all those men who lived through that time, I would like to symbolically shake your hand and say Thank you. It is the very least I can do.
Friday, June 01, 2012
RHS Class of 1977 35th Reunion
Ridgewood Blog
The 35th Reunion of the Ridgewood High School Class of 1977 is this July 20-22!
Please check out the list of Attendees. Class of 76 and 78 are most welcome to attend.
Bring your cameras, I-Phones, and video recorders. We’ll have a site where you can post your photos and movies. We are using Paypal for all ticket purchases.
We are encouraging our RHS and Hohokus classmates from the late 70s to attend any or all of the planned events. Please invite your spouses, significant others, and friends.The Weekend activities begin on Friday night with the debut performance of the RHS Alumni All-Star Band at the Ridgewood Elks Club. On Saturday morning at 11:00 AM there will be a tour, led by the RHS Ambassadors, of the newly renovated RHS. We will conclude the scheduled activities with a traditional Saturday night party with dinner, dancing, and door prizes at the Marriott Park Ridge.
RHS Class of 1977 35th Reunion Web Site
The 35th Reunion of the Ridgewood High School Class of 1977 is this July 20-22!
Please check out the list of Attendees. Class of 76 and 78 are most welcome to attend.
Bring your cameras, I-Phones, and video recorders. We’ll have a site where you can post your photos and movies. We are using Paypal for all ticket purchases.
We are encouraging our RHS and Hohokus classmates from the late 70s to attend any or all of the planned events. Please invite your spouses, significant others, and friends.The Weekend activities begin on Friday night with the debut performance of the RHS Alumni All-Star Band at the Ridgewood Elks Club. On Saturday morning at 11:00 AM there will be a tour, led by the RHS Ambassadors, of the newly renovated RHS. We will conclude the scheduled activities with a traditional Saturday night party with dinner, dancing, and door prizes at the Marriott Park Ridge.
RHS Class of 1977 35th Reunion Web Site
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