SOUTH SHORE NEWS SPOT   January 2007    © 2007 by CMA Publishing

By Caryn Lazar Amster

Happy and healthy New Year to all! I appreciate all your comments and memories.  Keep them coming. Welcome new subscribers.

Word count for this issue is 6625 words – Total read time about 19 minutes.

This month we feature reunions, people seeking old friends, famous South Shore people and much more! 

Don’t just forward this newsletter. Your friends can get their own copy by emailing me at caryn@cmapublishing.net

MANY THANKS

 

FOR NEWCOMERS TO THE NEWSLETTER

So many new requests are coming in asking to receive the newsletter, and it seems that many people still do not know about my book that started all this. The Pied Piper of South Shore, Toys and Tragedy in Chicago is my true family, true crime Chicago social history set in South Shore from the 1940’s -1970’s.  My family owned Wee Folks Toy Store for 25 years on 79th Street.  This book takes readers from Russian persecution to American freedom, from murder to trial, from hula hoops to hit men.  It is a story of two children of immigrants, their American dream and their richly diverse neighborhood in which each fell prey to the brutality of gangs.  The foreword is by Tony and Emmy award winning singer/actor Mandy Patinkin and a long time customer who thanks Mr. and Mrs. Lazar for providing a place to dream.  The cover is by Bowen graduate and artist Mitch Markovitz who also did the poster of the cover. 

 

The Pied Piper of South Shore, Toys and Tragedy in Chicago won an award in the 13th Annual Writer’s Digest Magazine’s International Self-Published Book Awards.  The judge’s review said. “The author is a very good writer.  She knows how to “show” (not tell).  Though this book is the personal account of her father’s life, death and impact on a Chicago neighborhood, the author keeps the reader engaged with vivid story-telling. The Pied Piper of South Shore contained the best writing (in terms of craft) of the entries this judge received.  It’s a moving, vivid story of a terrible crime, its causes and aftermath, and of one family’s ability to preserve a decent hard-working, life-impacting man’s legacy.”  The book won the USA Book News "Best of 2004" award in the True Crime category and received an all "5" top rating from the 12th Annual Writer's Digest Magazine’s International Self-Published book award contest. It has received rave reviews from local and national newspapers, publications, book groups and audiences.

We are over 1,600 strong now!  If you change your email address please send me your new one.  Once they bounce I take you off the list. .   

WEBSITES/BLOGS OF THE MONTH

http://www.sshs57.com/ is the website for the 1957 class of South Shore High School

 

http://www.predatorbutterfly.com/page9.html is the website of Ted Capell - He has over 4,000 school yearbooks from schools across the nation for sale – for more information write him at 1017 W. Isleta Ave, Mesa, AZ.  85210-9319, call 480-838-4114, email tedcapell@cableaz.com        

 

In order to make things easier for the new members (and some of the old members) we have set up a 'gateway' site for the Overflow South Shore chat room.  This site will serve as a place to direct people who are interested in the Overflow.  There are pages with News, F.A.Q.s (frequently asked questions), links and more. Here is the link: http://overflowat79th.googlepages.com/

      

 “EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY SOMETIME”- SEEKING LOST FRIENDS

Looking for lost South Shoreites?  Email caryn@cmapublishing.net and I will try to put you in touch.  If you want me to use your request/memory in the newsletter, please include permission to use your name and email address in your correspondence. 

I went to school with Pam Rinella for 8 years at OLP. We both graduated in 1965.  I looked for my '65 classmates for 2 years before we had the 40th reunion in June 2005. I was unable to locate Pam. She was really a nice girl. I would love to talk to her. So if you are able to locate her please let me know.  Thanks, Mark Fitzsimmons
mark_fitzsimmons@bmc.com 

I believe the class of ‘58 from Hyde Park High School is trying to start a 50th reunion.  I think the contact person is Ann Schlensky (don't know her email address).  This is the summer class Jan 58 and Jan 59.  If anyone hears more about this please let me know. 

My husband and I recently moved to Sun Lakes AZ and there is a huge group of people from Chicago.  If anyone knows of anyone living here from our “58” year, please contact me Thanks and keep up with this news letter it is great. Margo Philbrick nee Boruszak. - my email address is margo@qmail.com. 

 

I am enjoying your newsletter and continue to pass information about it to all the South Siders I come into contact with. As a Bowenite, class of 62, I read Don Kraft's letter about his Saturday morning breakfast club with great interest. I am wondering if Ed Hazen is from that class and if Joel Weisberg went to Luella school as well as Bowen and is also from that class?   I do wish more Bowenites would write in and let us know what they are up to these days. I would love to get in touch with more old friends from the "good old days"!   Sharon Grauer Blitstein   shblits@aol.com

 

Hi everyone.  My name is Judy Zussman and I graduated from the South Shore High School class of 1961.  I retired in May, 2005 after a 40 year teaching career (physical education and driver education) at Evergreen Park Community High School in Evergreen Park, Illinois. This past year I have been able to reconnect either in person and/or by e-mail with several classmates, namely Sheila Weiss, Joanie Karlin, Eleanor Lorsch, Phyllis Manewith, Bill Burwell, Martha Briggs, Sharon Rudman, Maureen Markman, Lois Graff, Lorraine Stern, Sharon Kushner, Lesley Landsman and George Bakouris.  It's been so much fun catching up with some of the old group as they now live their adult lives.  As you might imagine, our get-togethers have brought back a flood of good memories.  If you care to contact me you may do so and let me know if it's OK with you if I share your contact information with other South Shore people, should they wish to touch base with you.  Hope your New Year is a happy and healthy one.   Judy Zussman.  jzpe1233@yahoo.com

 

Thanks to your newsletter I have had contact with an old friend from Bradwell, 1955 graduate Allan Brown.  He would like to find Alan Harris, anybody know where he is? Marilyn Erickson now Seelander  Marsee60@comcast.net

 

St. Felicitas people…..I am still looking for a "reunion" with St. Felicitas neighbors Jim and Judy Nolan.  They are twins who graduated in '55 or '56.  Their birthday is February 2, 1942.  If any of you have contact with them let me know.  fitchum@aol.com

 

A former South Shore friend, Dick Wise, is not computer literate, but his wife is.  (She is a foreigner from Roosevelt High School!)  I think that it would help him wile away the hours while recovering from a recent hip surgery (and thereafter, of course!) to get the newsletter.  Dick and his wife, Zelda, are now residents of Houston, Texas.  He lived at 78th and Essex and was probably in a late 1940's SSHS class.   I know that he is still in touch with a lot of his old pals, but the other news of our 'hood is so much fun to read. Note!  I will bet Dick would love to hear from former South Shoreites at   ZDWISE@SBCGLOBAL.NET.   Thanks. Sandee Levitt Holleb, Bradwell 1950, SSHS January 1954, SSHS 1954LEARSI@aol.com

 

Some of us graduates of the 1958 class (I can't believe it) are wondering about a reunion. I volunteer Judy Graves, (Kleppinger), Paula Levy (Blum), and myself, Arlene Demb (Einbinder), to help. Freya Blitzstein, if you are out there we hope you will get the ball rolling. I am now in Israel.  I have made and aliyah and yes it is incredible receiving your newsletter here.   Thanks so much for keeping in touch.  I plan to learn Hebrew and then start teaching English.  All is well. If people want to come and visit I would love to have them over. It is a fascinating place to be. I feel so at home and comfortable here. My father, 93 years old, enjoyed reading about his first born daughter.  There are 6 of us Einbinders. This country has so much to offer all of us. It is home for all of us. Last week I went to a bris (ritual Jewish circumcision) in Jerusalem and a doctor from Highland Park named Barry Rosen drove. His parents were from HP and now Deerfield.  We talked about the synagogue in HP where we belonged. Thanks so much. Arlene Einbeinder Demb arlenedemb@hotmail.com

I went to school with Pam Rinella for 8 years at OLP. We both graduated in 1965. I looked for my '65 classmates for 2 years before we had the 40th reunion in June 2005. I was unable to locate Pam. She was really a nice girl. I would love to talk to her. So if you are able to locate her please let me know. Thanks, Mark Fitzsimmons mark_fitzsimmons@bmc.com

I don't know if she'd want her name used, but my happily- married-for-40-years sister, SSHS June 1956, always wondered what happened to the love of her high school life, Lenny Kaplan, from the same class, I believe. Perhaps a request for info using my email address would help me help her, secretly of course! Love all the stuff in the newsletter!

Sandee Levitt Holleb   LEARSI@aol.com

 

Re:  Jerry C. Lazar lazarje@msu.ed  - I saw this name in the “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime” section.  When I responded to him, the email came back to me.  I think I know him and would like to reach him.  Can you help? Cheryl Levinson Warshaw Allen Warshaw acunique2@yahoo.com

 

I worked at Heller’s Pharmacy 1700 E 79th Street for nine years from 1957-1966 working under Gershon Heller (the owner).  I was an apprentice pharmacist and I worked in selling, stocking and anything else that had to be done.  I parked my car in the lot between our stores.  Anyone who wants to contact me from those days can email me Morton Solomon at ACER1251@comcast.net.  I was a SSHS graduate in June 1961. 

 

The name Frank Parisi (who was in your last newsletter as raising funds for his deaf brother, etc.) sounds SO familiar.  Any idea what class he was in?  Shonnie Johnson SHONNIEJ@aol.com

 

I love your newsletter.  I really enjoyed reading about Dorothy Saper as I went all thru school with her.  I was very sorry to hear about Mildred Handler.  I knew her well.  I too lost my best friend Geraldine Erenberg Tiebloom.  I remember how great she was.  We were friends for almost 66 years.  Is there anyone else out there from June class of 1942?  Contact Sylvia Lang Kaplan TsepeD@aol.com

 

I was in the class of '61, an ROTC Color Guard captain, and I cut off flower tops with my sword at the graduation of the 61 winter class!  I used to go sailing on Lake Michigan with Paul Nierman, who is in sailor's heaven. I met up a few years back with pep band leader Henry Wertheimer, now an accountant in Madison WI, and former ROTC Commander Ray Quisenberry [his step father was SSHS chemistry professor Wilson, now ret. in TN).  I attended most reunions, but I am now diagnosed with ALS, and will probably miss the 50th. I moved to Seattle after 35 years in Alaska, where I was president of men's Igloo #6, Pioneers of Alaska.  I had a photo show at the Museum, of Science & Industry. I never dreamed, as a kid, of either possibility. Roger Bogin switched from clarinet to guitar, and paid his way through college with it! David Goldberg is still in Ann Arbor. What happened to Howie Zeitz?  Did he win a Nobel in science or what?  Who was it who described herself famously as a can of tuna fish?  Who went to the reunion at now-defunct Michael Jordan's restaurant?  Donna Pellar is now on a school board in a 'burb.  What RED hair!   Who played double base?  Anyone know of Bob Bessinger?  Where is he now?  Email or call me Joe Sonneman   877-709-1300 toll free or email senator@gci.net

 

I would like to find out who Lillian McGreal in Joliet is related to. I would like to contact Lillian if possible or her sister in Upland, California. John McGreal lorddurga2002@yahoo.com

 

Since you have such a wealth of information about SSHS I'm hoping you can answer a couple of questions I have.

1. I recently read that Mandy Patinkin is going to be performing at the Kravis Center, our city auditorium, in West Palm Beach on Saturday, Dec. 16th. Do you have any idea when he graduated from SSHS? I have no idea what kind of music he sings or plays.

 

2. An article in our Palm Beach Post, our local paper, has a long story about Tommy O'Connell a retired football player from the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. As I remember SSHS had a very good football team about 1948 & 1949. I believe Tommy O'Connell was the Quarterback and they went on to the playoffs at Soldiers Field that fall. I remember attending the game and would have been in the 7th or 8th grade at that time. Sheldon Stark mentioned in one of your monthly letters about playing basketball with Lee O'Connell who I believe was Tommy's younger brother. Tommy is now 76 years old, which would fit this time period. Tommy only played pro football for five years before he was badly injured. In Cleveland he held the ball for Lou Groza to kick his field goals and tonight they are presenting the Lou Groza award to the top kicker in college football. You never hear about the place kick holder but he is equally as important as the center and the kicker. Don Gibbs- class of Jan. 1954 DonaldG561@aol.com

 

From Caryn: Can anyone help this man out with his queries? Email me or Don directly.

 

I have written to Beverly (Beckman) Kiely (SS class of 49) after reading HER input in your last newsletter.  She has written a short note back, but warned me that a really LONG one was still to come.  We were good friends in High School. I haven't seen her in many years. BLESS you for putting people together again. Love, Shonnie Johnson SHONNIEJ@aol.com

 

Thanks to Ruth Cortilet for helping me locate Sharon one of the Rinella kids. They were great customers and friends of Wee Folks and I am glad to know she is well and happy.

 

QUOTES OF THE MONTH

Don't worry about avoiding temptation.  As you grow older, it will avoid you.
Winston Churchill

 

By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere.
Billy Crystal

BYE BYE BOOKSTORES –You can no longer purchase The Pied Piper in bookstores or on Amazon unless they already had them.  But you can always get them at my website www.cmapublishing.net or by calling me direct toll free at 1-866-50-PIPER (74737) 

ONLY 400 COPIES REMAIN OF THE PIED PIPER –We are extending the BUY TWO GET ONE F*REE offer until 3/31/07 for books and posters.  BUY TWO BOOKS or POSTERS AND GET ONE F*REE offer.  This offer will not be in stores or on the Pied Piper website.  The only way to take advantage of this offer is to call me toll f*ree at 1-866-50-PIPER (74737) (any day 9am to 7 pm Chicago time please) or mail me at CMA Publishing, P.O. Box 366 Medinah, Ill 60157-0366.  I will autograph copies for you and your giftee, gift wrap upon request, and ship them to you or your recipient. Shipping is $7 for three books to one location.  We can also arrange to ship one gift wrapped book to each giftee. Poster shipping is $7.50 (for 1-3 posters sent together). Books are $19.95 each & posters $29.95 each.  Illinois residents add 8.75% sales tax on the merchandise only.  We take Visa, Master Card and Discover.

STORIES TO SHARE

I have been living in Atlanta for the past 18 years. What is amazing is the number of Chicagoans here, both suburbanites and city-dwellers, and many from Hyde Park and South Shore. My mother, who will be 92 in February, has lived all her life in Chicago and will not live anywhere else.  She still drives around in her 1999 fire-engine red Chrysler Sebring convertible, delivering for Meals on Wheels, and enjoying the restaurant scene.  My memories of South Shore involved riding my bike through Jackson Park, along the lakefront, past the South Shore Country Club, down 71st and Jeffrey, following the IC tracks east, almost to the end of the city limits (Mattoon, etc.).  Riding the IC was always a delight, whether to go downtown to the Chicago Public Library at Michigan and Randolph, or going into South Shore and going to see my father near 79th and Bennett. I knew the Avalon.  In those days of the 15 cent Saturday movie specials (two feature films, 20 cartoons, a newsreel, and the latest episode of Flash Gordon or Tarzan or Don Winslow of the Navy), we could be entertained for less than 50 cents.  We generally raised the money by taking pop bottles back to the grocery store and getting the 2 cent deposit.  If we could find 25 deposit pop bottles, that was movie money. Michael Bennett eatsfan1@spinfinder.com

I was working at B&N in DF today and was helping a customer named Phyllis Victorson (don't know her maiden name). She asked me if I had gone to SSHS. (I asked her how she knew and she told me that she sensed it because I'm a nice guy and had a typical Southside attitude. Needless to say, I was astounded. Phyllis graduated from Bowen in 1970 and lived at 90th and Yates. )  Of course, I sold her a copy of your book, which she had heard about. She asked to be added to your newsletter mailing list.  She plans to make some inquiries through your newsletter for long lost classmates and friends. I really am amazed that Phyllis guessed that I went to SSHS. All I told her is that I've known Bobbi for 60 years since Sunday school, and the next thing you know she asked me if I went to SSHS. Unbelievable, wouldn't you say? Southsiders forever!!  Best, Bob Levi

boblevi@sbcglobal.net

 

A SPECIAL SOUTH SHORE HIGH SCHOOL REQUEST

 

This is a note from newsletter reader Jerry Frey

 

I attended my 50th SSHS class reunion last September in Northbrook, Ill.  After that event I prepared a letter with the help of Bill Gerstein, Principal of SSHS and Shelly Stark, President of the alumni association that I sent to my fellow classmates from the 1956 graduating class asking them to send a small donation to the SSHS alumni scholarship fund. Their donations will be used to help outstanding graduates, either start up their own business after graduation or use the scholarship to attend a university specializing in "entrepreneurship" training.  Now I am asking all SSHS alumni to donate whatever they can afford, to create this scholarship fund.  The funds will be presented to the top students at their graduation ceremony this next year.  The contributors will have their name subscribed on a permanent plaque to be hung in the administration office of the school. Thank you, Jerry R. Frey, CMC, CPC, CPCM, Senior Partner, Development Resource Consultants, P.O. Box 118, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729, (909) 902-7655, Fax (909) 476-6942, Email DRCLLC@MSN.COM

 

Here are excerpts from his letter. He invites people interested in this project to contact him personally by phone to discuss it further.  Call him at his home office phone number (909) 476-8042

 

Dear South Shore Graduate,

  

During a 2006 bus tour of South Shore High, I had the opportunity to chat with one of the four principals of the new curriculum that SSHS has implemented. Mr. William Gerstein invited me to revisit the school to sit in on some of the entrepreneurial classes. I met the teacher and the students of the junior class. As I sat behind the teacher’s desk, listening to the lessons, I could not help remembering 50 years ago, when I sat in a similar class. What wonderful memories it brought back! The day’s highlight was when I was asked to address each class. What a thrill it was to stand up before all of those young people and tell them about what high school was like in the 50s, and what it is like being in business for myself.  This brings me to the purpose of my letter to you.

I thought it would be great to leave our legacy to these kids? The student body, are for the most part, economically disadvantaged, but have a strong desire to be successful entrepreneurs. During my question and answer period, many students expressed the hope that they could have their own business and improve the quality of their life.

 

If you would like to be apart of this scholarship program for our alma mater, please send your check made payable to: South Shore HS Scholarship Fund to: Jerry Frey, Development Resource Consultants, P.O. Box 118, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729. Upon the receipt of all of our checks, they will be forwarded to members of our committee to present in person, to the principal of the various programs at South Shore High. Each one of the contributors will have their name inscribed on a special certificate to be given to the principals, along with the checks at their graduation ceremony. It is my hope you will join me in this project, no matter what amount you can afford to send, and mail to my office before January 15th, 2007. Your cancelled check will serve as your tax receipt. I will also confirm in writing on my business letterhead, any inquiries by mail that are received.

 

The South Shore Campus houses three other student-centered, college preparatory small high schools organized around specific themes. The School of Leadership offers students courses in criminal justice, political science, and service learning. All students participate in JROTC. The School of Technology offers students opportunities to earn certificates in computer programming, multi-media, or networking. The School of the Arts offers majors in dance, theatre, voice, piano, and fine and graphic arts. Students participate in community service internships in the performance, communication and fine arts fields. If you would like to earmark your donation for scholarships to graduating seniors at one of these small schools, or sponsor one of the campus-wide Sports programs, please make your check payable to the South Shore Tars Alumni Club and mail to: Shelly Stark, 2951 South King Drive, Suite #703, Chicago, IL 60616 - You may contact Shelly after 6:00 p.m. at 312-225-3591. Together, we can make a difference. Thank you in advance, for your support of this project.

Jerry Frey

 

ARTS AND SUCCESSES BY FORMER SOUTH SHOREITES Anyone have a special event showcasing them that is open to the public, a new book launch?  I will be glad to mention it.  Share your accomplishments - you are proud here!   

These are some of Corky Siegel’s (former South Shoreite) upcoming dates!

Fri, January 12, 2007, Berwyn, IL, Side Bar @ Fitzgerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn, IL, Phone: 708-788-2118,

 

Corky Siegel / Randy Sabien / Frank Donaldson, Mon - Fri, January 15-18, 2007, Aspen, CO, Workshop residencies in Aspen area schools, Showcasing Corky's new music workshop book Let Your Music Soar
Saturday January 19, 2007, Carbondale, CO, Thunder River Theater, 67 Promenade
Carbondale, Colorado, Downtown in the New Town Center,
Corky Siegel Solo
Friday January 27, 2007 @8:00pm, Sacramento, CA, Urban Landscapes
Camellia Symphony Orchestra - William Russo's Street Music, Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814-2018
Siegel-Schwall Band w/ Marcy Levy
Wednesday, February 7, 2007 @ 8pm, Phoenix, AZ, The Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, Arizona, Phone: (602)265-4842
Siegel-Schwall Band
Saturday February 10, 2007, Omaha, NE, Omaha Performing Arts Society, Holland Performing Arts Center - Scott Recital Hall, 13th & Douglas Streets, Omaha, NE 68102
Friday February 16, 2007, Carbondale, IL, Southern IL University, Workshop
Saturday February 17, 2007, Carbondale, IL, Southern IL University
You can browse some pages of Corky's 20 year writing project at: 

http://www.chamberblues.com

           

MY FAVORIE TEACHER 

We recently visited with some old SSHS friends and we were telling them about your South Shore News Spot and what a terrific job you are doing with it. They would like to be included. They are Dorothy and Dan Trahey. Dan was class of June '44 and Dorothy, '45.  In addition to being a high-profile SSHS basketball player in his era ('42 thru '44) Dan went on to be a teacher and administrator with the Chicago Board of Education. I believe he's only one of three or four All-State players from SSHS. At one point in time he was the principal of Horace Mann grade school at 80th & Jeffery. He's also in the Chicago High School Hall of Fame for his b-ball history. I watched Dan play when I was about 9 or 10. He was great. I'll wager he still has a deadly set-shot! I think he'd be happy to relate some memories however, he tells me that Dorothy is the computer person at their house so he'll probably be relaying memories thru her keypad. You'll probably get some when they read your Spot News articles. Larry Kilcran lpkilcran@yahoo.com

 

Note from Dan and Dorothy - We read your book some time ago and enjoyed it, especially visiting all the old familiar places.   Dan was principal of two elementary schools and two high schools, Harper High School and Kennedy High School, but never South Shore High School.   He retired as a district superintendent in Chicago thirteen years ago.  We have been married 61 years and have 3 sons and 2 daughters, eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. 

 

Note from Caryn: Thanks to Larry Kilcran I have gotten information about Dan Trahey, an old teacher of mine.  See, this stuff even works for me!  Caryn Amster

 

JOKE OF THE MONTH – And another Goody For The Oldtimers

My Mom used to cut chicken, chop eggs and spread mayo on the same cutting
board with the same knife and no bleach, but we didn't seem to get food  
poisoning.

My Mom used to defrost hamburger on the counter AND I used to eat it raw
sometimes, too. Our school sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper in a brown paper
bag, not in icepack coolers, but I can't remember getting e-coli.

Almost all of us would have rather gone swimming in the lake instead of a
pristine pool (talk about boring), no beach closures then.

The term cell phone would have conjured up a phone in a jail cell, and a
pager was the school PA system.

We all took gym, not PE... and risked permanent injury with a pair of high
top Ked's (only worn in gym) instead of having cross-training athletic shoes
with air cushion soles and built in light reflectors. I can't recall any
injuries but they must have happened because they tell us how much safer we are
now.

Flunking gym was not an option...  even for stupid kids! I guess PE must be
much harder than gym.

Speaking of school, we all said prayers and sang the national anthem, and
staying in detention after school caught all sorts of negative attention.
We must have had horribly damaged psyches. What an archaic health system we
had then.  Remember school nurses? Ours wore a hat and everything.

I thought that I was supposed to accomplish something before I was allowed
to be proud of myself.

I just can't recall how bored we were without computers, Play Station,
Nintendo, X-box or 270 digital TV cable stations.

Oh yeah... and where was the Benadryl and sterilization kit when I got
that bee sting? I could have been killed!

We played 'king of the hill' on piles of gravel  left on vacant construction
sites, and when we got hurt, Mom pulled out the  48-cent bottle of
Mercurochrome (kids liked it better because it didn't sting  like iodine did) and then we
got our butt spanked.

Now it's a trip to the emergency room, followed by a 10-day dose of a $49
bottle of antibiotics, and then Mom calls the attorney to sue the contractor
for leaving a horribly vicious pile of gravel where it was such a threat.

We didn't act up at the neighbor's house because if we did, we got our butt spanked and then we got our butt spanked again when we got home.

I recall Donny Reynolds from next door coming over and doing his tricks on
the front stoop, just before he fell off. Little did his Mom know that she
could have owned our house.  Instead, she picked him up and swatted him for being
such a goof. It was a neighborhood run amuck.

To top it off, not a single person I knew had ever been told that they were
from a dysfunctional family. How could we possibly have known that?
We needed to get into group therapy and anger management classes? We were
obviously so duped by so many societal ills, that we didn't even notice that
the entire country wasn't taking Prozac! How did we ever survive?

LOVE TO ALL OF US WHO SHARED THIS ERA, AND TO ALL WHO DIDN'T- SORRY FOR WHAT YOU MISSED. I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING

Thanks to Bob Levi for this entry. There were pictures with this entry that I had to omit due to lack of space and computer issues.

 

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

I came across a marvelous book at Barnes & Noble today called "Teenage Confidential: It is an Illustrated History of the American Teen" by Michael Barson & Steven Heller (ISBN: 0-7607-7678-4). It's a wonderfully illustrated B&N self-published book that covers many aspects of the teen culture from the 1940s through the early 1960s. You'll find topics such as movies, books ("The Amboy Dukes" is mentioned), music, advertising and even the straight talk about dating and SEX. (Remember those movies in "health" class about where babies came from?).  I found the book at my local B&N store the day after Christmas on the $2 table! (This bargain book originally sold for $9.98.) If your local B&N doesn't have a copy, it can be ordered through bn.com.  Bob Levi boblevi@sbcglobal.net

 

FAMOUS SOUTH SHORE PEOPLE

People seem interested in what now famous people attended South Shore area schools in the 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960s.  Send in your entries from any school

 

This is regarding Al Saper's comments in your December 2006 NL. - James Watson is the most successful American Scientist. He attended Horace Mann School 1933-1941,

SSHS 1941-43 (only 2 years), University of Chicago 1943-1947 received a BS in Zoology, and a Ph.D. in 1950 in Zoology from Indiana University. He won a Nobel Prize in 1962 for his ground breaking work on solving the structure of DNA at the Cavendish Lab. with Crick and Wilken (King's College) 1952-1953. His book about this important discovery is, The Double Helix, 1968. A great read. He grew up in South Shore! John McGreal lorddurga2002@yahoo.com

 

Re: Bill Watson... he spoke at our Bradwell graduation ceremonies June 1962... I remember this because we all laughed at a story he told us of how he went on to South Shore H.S. but he never graduated. This was because he jumped ahead and went straight to U. of Chicago. Sue Gaden (Bradwell) maule.gaden@sympatico.ca

 

Did you know that Phil Crane, SSHS 1948, replaced Donald Rumsfeld as congressman? Crane was the longest serving Republican congressman in US history until his defeat in 2004. Crane and former Illinois Attorney General Bill Scott (I think he served 18 years) were my class mates in a class or two.

 

We SSHS grads are proud of many our graduates. The list would include Harve Bennett. Fenger has its 54 year old super star too. He is Robert Zemeckis! Among his film productions are Polar Express: Cast Away; Contact; Forest Gump; and Back to the Future. It was announced that he is producing Real Steel which will be released in 2008.

 

Jack Howard was a famous Irish tenor, Trunk Club, Leo High and Notre Dame '65.

Thanks to the Overflow for some of the above postings

 

THE POWER OF KEEPING IN TOUCH – REUNIONS - If your class is planning a reunion please email me and I will include it in the newsletter. 

A huge pre-reunion of the SSHS class of 1957 is planned in Anaheim, CA during the weekend of January 27, 2007.  Doug Malewicki sent me some additional information for contacts for this event and the Chicago reunion will be on June 30, 2007. 

Contact Douglas J. Malewicki · President/Chief Scientist · AeroVisions, Inc., 14962 Merced Circle, Irvine, CA 92604 · Phone/ FAX: (949) 559-7113, email: DMalewicki@cox.net  - Jan 07 Fiftieth High School Reunion Invitation: www.sshs57.com

 

Another Bradwell '67 reunion for our 40th will occur in summer of 2007. Anyone who has not connected with us, moved or changed e-mail addresses in the last couple of years e-mail Sheri at skcjd2@aol.com, Thanks. Sheri Kessler   

 

CVS Reunion – Fall 2007 – Stan Fish has been searching and building a database over the past three years for 1957 CVS grads for a 50 year reunion in Fall of 2007.  He has located 532 of the 752 so far. – Reach Stan at his cell number is 708-466-8566 and address is 6729 W. 126th Court, Overland Park, KS 66209.

 

South Shore High School 1959 – January and June Classes Reunion ~ Do you know someone who graduated from SSHS in January or June 1959?  Calling all 1959 Graduates of South Shore High School (January and June)!  We are in the planning phases of a 50th reunion in 2009. A “Steerage” (not steering) committee is forming.  If you or someone you know was a member of  these classes please have them email me at caryn@cmapublishing.net or the new class email at SS59reunion@comcast.net

 

We are having a benefit for my brother’s family on April 28, 2007. My brother Ralph was born deaf and struggled all his life. He is now on permanent disability and his eyesight is failing. Both of his children were born deaf, are legally blind, and have juvenile diabetes. Ralph's wife Sharon was diagnosed with lung cancer in August. We need silent auction items, donations etc. The event will be at 115 Bourbon Street, Merrionette Park, IL. (Around 115th & Pulaski) and will be $20.00 donation per person. We have room for 1000. Thanks! Frank Parisi parisif@prodigy.net

 

REQUEST FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE

I am trying to pick up where I left off and give the Pied Pier of South Shore more national exposure.  If anyone knows an agent or publisher in the memoir, social history or true crime genre please let me know. Many thanks for your support of my book and your encouragement for spreading the word on this story.  Caryn Amster caryn@cmapublishing.net

 

Stop now and forward this newsletter to friends.  If you are reading someone else’s copy and want your own emailed every month, email caryn@cmapublishing.net.

 

CONDOLENCES

Do you know of someone special who passed away and you want to share their memory and story with my readers?  Email me at caryn@cmapublishing.net

 

DATES IN 2007! 

Visit my website Calendar of Events for more detailed information on my upcoming events. www.cmapublishing.net – I am now booking talks and book signings into 2007 at such places as libraries, business associations, chambers of commerce and women’s groups.  Do you know a group that needs a speaker in the greater Chicagoland area?  Please have them contact me.

 

ACCOLADES AND ATTA GIRLS – These are some of the many emails I have received about my book.  Many thanks!

 

A friend lent me a copy of The Pied Piper of South Shore. I could hardly put it down.  Thank you for the wonderful memories of life growing up in the 50s in our lovely community.  You did a great job recreating my idyllic life way back fifty years ago.  How our world has changed since those good years!  Reading your book became the catalyst for me to share with my children my joys and the ease of life in my formative years.  THANK YOU!  I look forward to future newsletters.  Shalom, Cheryl Immergluck Berman Cher73144@aol.com

 

This is just a note to tell you that I finished your book. I had to put it down a few times, because when memories rush back it's best to pause and savor those memories.  I've sent the other two copies on to two male friends and from what I've heard they too are enjoying memories.  Harriet J. Sax Hjsax@cox.net

 

My mom just finished reading your book and loved it. She said it brought back so many wonderful memories. She and my dad both graduated from Hyde Park sometime in the late 30's. They are both 85.  Keep up the good work,

Sharon Grauer Blitstein   shblits@aol.com

 

I read your book twice. I keep it handy and I recommend it to all my old south side pals. It's a terrific accomplishment and very well done. You should be proud. The only two books I've read this year are DaVinci Code and yours. Get going on the sequel... Larry Kilcran lpkilcran@yahoo.com

 

I am halfway through Al's copy of Pied Piper (which he graciously loaned me) and am absolutely mesmerized. What a fantastic job you have done on melding two or three different worlds. You are a fabulous writer (I consider myself a pro, having reviewed books for over twenty years for Rapport Magazine.) What an accomplishment!  When the sun comes up tomorrow I will mail you orders for more copies - including one to my first cousin who was born the same year you were. Her Dad (my uncle Eddie Hoffman) worked for Saper's for many years and Janet and her husband are Hyde Park graduates.. Love, Dorothy Dodosinc@aol.com

 

Happy and healthy New Year to you all and thank you for your support of the South Shore News Spot Newsletter and the Pied Piper book and art work.

 

Many and More and More Happy Memories ………………Caryn

 

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There is nothing more powerful than an idea

whose time has come - Wayne Dyer

 

Caryn Lazar Amster, (The Pied Piper's

Daughter) is the award winning author of the

debut book The Pied Piper of South Shore,

Toys and Tragedy in Chicago.  This true

family true crime social history is set in

Chicago's South Shore in the 1950's and '60s. It

won the USA Book News "Best of 2004" in the

True Crime category.  It garnered an

all "5" rating in 2004 from Writer's Digest

International Self Publishers Contest in the Non-

Fiction category and Honorable Mention in the

Family Stories category from the same

magazine in 2005. ISBN: 0-9758928-0    LOC:

4108342

CMA Publishing is a divison of CMA Marketing

Group, Inc. P.O. Box Sig366,  Medinah, Ill 60157

mailto:caryn@cmapublishing.net    1-866-50-

PIPER (74737)

To purchase books and posters of cover

http://www.chicagospiedpiper.com

Amster is a Chicago area marketing

specialist, President of CMA Marketing Group,

Inc. and a speaker and trainer.

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