Transferred archive 10/25/04 thru 11/28/04
Now Playing: Wow! What a reunion! And how about that band, The CORAS!
Topic: 35 year reunion
From: Harold Valentine Date: Sun Nov 28 09:58:03 MST 2004 Pete , I know you and the committee have heard this over and over again, but, the reunion was FANTASTIC!!!!!!! I had so much fun and it was great to see everyone after all these years. It made the whole trip from Florida well worth it and it was the Highlight of My vacation. Thank you to everyone who was involved in making this reunion possible.
Val
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From: Pete Weiss Date: Sun Nov 28 18:35:58 MST 2004 Hey Val,
It was great seeing you again. You are much taller than I remember you. You looked terrific and I'm pleased that you were able to join us.
Pete
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From: Gordon Zibelman Date: Sat Nov 20 16:33:01 MST 2004 Pete
Congratulations on organizing what sounded like a fantastic reunion! I chose not to go but I enjoyed reading the emails about it.
Just curious.....any chance of getting a rematch 35 (actually probably 36) years later on the 100 pound bag of peat moss contest that you so thoroughly beat me in front of the Thriftway? I've been practicing!!
Gordon Zibelman
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From: Pete Weiss Date: Sat Nov 20 16:37:42 MST 2004 Hi Gordon,
You should consider joining us for the next reunion. We all had such a great time and it is better when more classmates attend.
You can have a rematch in the "unload the peat moss" contest but I think the memory of that event 36 later is enough for me.
Pete
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From: Barbara (Feldstein) Stein Date: Sat Nov 20 16:22:32 MST 2004 Hi Pete,
I've been hearing nothing but wonderful things about the reunion. I wish I could have been there but being in Florida and dealing with an ailing mother here prevented that. I'm making a point to be at the 40th (and yes, Vegas could be a blast for all of us who aren't living in Philadelphia).
Take care and thanks for the newletter and website. I've shown it to friends all over the country and they're amazed at how connected we still are, especially with such a large graduating class.
I'm counting down until our 40th.
All my best,
Barbara (Feldstein) Stein
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From: Pete Weiss Date: Sat Nov 20 16:23:09 MST 2004 Hi Barb,
I'm sorry to respond so late to your message but I just returned last night from a wonderful cruise thru the Panama Canal.
I'm sorry to hear about your mom. It was a great reunion. We missed you. We look forward to seeing you at the next one.
regards,
Pete
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From: Davies U. Bahr Date: Fri Nov 19 21:13:55 MST 2004 Pete,
Thanks to all who made it possible for us to attend the NEHS 69 reunion.
The room was great, the gift dee-lightful but most of all the warm
greetings from so many of the class members gave me a an evening that I shall cherish for a very long time. If we survive (we're celebrating our 59th year of marriage......of course I was only 10 when we married) would love to see you all again in 5 years.
Thanks for everything ,
Fondly,
Davies
AKA Mrs. Bahr
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From: Pete Weiss Date: Fri Nov 19 21:16:07 MST 2004 Hi Mrs. Bahr,
My wife and I just returned last night from a wonderful cruise thru the Panama Canal and so I apologize for my late response to your message.
It's a date! In 5 years we will look forward to seeing you and Walter at the 128th class' 40th year reunion.
It was such a wonderful surprise for our classmates to have the opportunity to meet and speak with you again at our 35 year reunion. You still look terrific and very much the way we remember you. In fact, we should be calling you by your first name but it seems that you have been forever etched in our brains (not to mention our yearbook) as "Mrs. Bahr".
I'm sure the experience of seeing us again after all these years was different for you than it was for us. While you looked pretty much the same to us (a little older older, but better), we have changed considerably as we entered adulthood. Seeing us again, all grown up, must have brought you many surprises but you didn't let it show. As always, you are still the same warm, gracious, and caring person you always were.
It is little wonder that you are now celebrating your 59th year of marriage and family. When we were students, you were our mentor and role model. Your friendship and guidance meant so much to us then and you continue to touch our lives today.
Wishing you and Walter continued good health, we'll see you in 2009.
Pete Weiss
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From: Bruce Share Date: Thu Oct 28 23:02:06 MDT 2004 I spend too many minutes
but not enough hours.
By now everyone has hopefully recovered from this past weekend's party
and is back to their 'normal' life of working, parenting, relaxing or
whatever we do to occupy the daylight hours. I've been sitting in front of my computer most of the day today going over the events of this past weekend.
I cannot find anything really clever or witty to say, I'm still in an awestuck post-party daze. All the planning, all the preparation, the sheer logistics. I remember saying to Pete five years ago after the last reunion, we can do it ourselves next time, much better. And Pete's look of suspicion.
Four years later we're listening to our traveling music ...
mostly Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and some non-descript 80's stuff going to Rossi's bar in Trenton, a night out with Pete Weiss and Joel Gibbs. On the way home I put a Beatles CD on and first Joel starts singing, Pete starts harmonizing, and I'm just trying to keep the wheel steady on Route 1 south. I struggle to get the words out over the liquor induced duo who by now are Beatle no. 5 & 6 but suddenly and impatiently inform Joel, "we're putting the band back together." The difference a song can make. We're now passing Oxford Valley and Joel already in 5 minutes has the pieces in place. A call to Jimmy Goldstein, Steve Aaronson, who do we know that plays keyboards? Richie Silbert hasn't been seen or heard from in 30+ years, I wonder if Jerry Abrams would mind driving every week from Dover Delaware after seeing patients all day to mess around?
Joel's friend informs him that one of our classmates Craig Sellers plays a mean kick-ass guitar and he's recruited. With Craig comes Lee Wapner and Gary Moskowitz and the "Cora's" are born. Practice commences, we dust off the instrurments, dust off our fingers, take some Advil and we're making music? Word starts to spread to towns as far away as Kennett Square and our 7th guitar player Neal Shipon is now aboard. But I've rambled on long enough lets hear from some others....
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From: Pete Weiss Date: Thu Oct 28 23:27:56 MDT 2004 Bruce,
The birth of the BAND as you've described it is such a great "behind the scenes" story. I just wanted to add that in that moment of me harmonizing with Joel, my audition had begun and ended. Joel said he was impressed with my harmony and even noticed my "falsetto" voice as well. I was feeling great and thought I had a chance to make the band. But alas, my delusions of grandeur faded quickly when Joel brought in Jimmy Goldstein as the primary harmonizing vocalist. After the first time I heard Jimmy sing with Joel and the band, the range in his voice was so extraordinary and the harmony with Joel so beautiful, that I knew that Joel had made the right decision. The sound of Joel and Jimmy's harmonious vocals together are a real treat. Your NEHS'69 classmates thoroughly enjoyed your performance and look forward to hearing more. Meanwhile, little old Pete is still dreaming on....
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From: Lee Wapner Date: Thu Oct 28 23:31:09 MDT 2004 My Fellow Music Junkies
what can I say that hasn't been said already. That was by far the best live show experience that i've had the privilege to be a part of.
At first, I `ll admit that I was a little reluctant to sign on to this party, if it weren't for Gibb's gentle persuasion I might never have had the pleasure of joining up with Bruce, Jerry, Steve, Jimmy, Neil, Craig, Gary, for that alone i 'll be eternally grateful to Joel.
when you factor in the warm friendships that developed, Mr. Gibbs I'll never be able to repay you for convincing me that this was something special and shouldn't be missed.
Less we forget that for a few short hours we were responsible for transporting everyone in that room back to a simpler time in their lives when the most important decision was, "should i have fries with that"..... we gave them everything we had... we had that place jumpin! I only wish we'd had another tune or two to throw out to them, they were ready willing and (sure looked) able to continue.
I'm in for what ever you guy's want to do....Let's ride this pony for all she got! Practice at Steve's place! here we come! Thank you all, I'll never forget this Reunion, i suspect none of us will
your humble com padre
Lee Wapner
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From: Jerry Abrams Date: Thu Oct 28 23:36:16 MDT 2004 Now that the reunion is over and life is beginning to return to normal, I just wanted to share a few thoughts with you guys. First, I've got to tell you once again what a pure joy it was to get together week after week and play together and have fun. You are all great people, great friends and at least half way decent musicians. The drive from Dover was a pain in the ass at times but I always felt it was well worth the effort.
For me, getting to play in a band again was a wish come true. Being in a band back in high school was one of my fondest memories of my teenage years and more than anything else defined for me who I was in high school.
Although we didn't all know ane another back then, we shared the same expeiences and those experiences formed the basis of the bond that developed among us.
Playing for the reunion was an awesome experience. It was everything I had hoped it would be and more. To be able to play for all of our old
friends, to be appreciated, cheered and danced to was the culmination of months of practice and dreams. As Craig remarked to me after it was
over-some bands work and travel for years hoping to play for the kind of
reception we got-not just from strangers but for people we've known for over 35 years. Incredible!!!
After we were done playing, as everyone was kind of winding down in the lobby of the hotel, I ran into Pete Weiss. I asked him how he thought this reunion compared to the others he had attended. He said he thought that this one was the best because of our performance. He felt that it united our class as nothing else could have. What was special, he said, was not just that our reuniuon had a live band but that it was "our band"-how great it was that our high school class has its own band. To me that was the ultimate tribute.
Saturday night was the best time I've had in I don't know how long. I will remember and cherish the experience forever.. I hope we get to continue to play together from time to time for a long time to come just for the fun of it.
I've got to say a few words especially about Joel for pulling it all
together. Thanks Joel-it wouldn't have happened without your commitment, organizational skills and "political abilities" not to mention all your equipment and black spaghetti. You're a pro.
OK-I guess I've kvelled about long enough. It was great-All of it-I'm
sorry it's over. We might be a bunch of old farts but we proved that, hey-WE'VE STILL GOT IT.
Jerry Abrams
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From: Neal Shipon Date: Fri Nov 19 14:26:44 MST 2004 Hi Guys,
Jerry beat me to the punch. I just want to say it was my utmost pleasure to hang and rock with you guys. I'm sorry I didn't know some of you in high school but never too late. Tremendous fun and the ride was never a killer. I know we were responsible(with Joels' organization) for probably making this reunion a memorable event. My kids were amazed at their dad and his friends rocking hard.
Lee, thanks for the pics. Awesome.
Speak to you guys soon.
Neal Shipon
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From: Giwerc, Bette (Allekotte) Date: Fri Nov 19 14:11:14 MST 2004 Dear Pete and the hardworking folks who put the reunion together, What a time it was...my daughters (20 and 17) were surprised that we got away with the slogan "Sin, Sex, Booze and Wine,,," Those were the days! The "house" band was fabulous, still talented and even more handsome. I loved seeing Bev Gitzes, Joyce Pinsky, Cherie Troyen, Binnie Polonsky,Louis Podell, Marty Hamson and of course Joel Gibbs to name a few familiar faces. Mrs. Barr has a handshake that made me wince. She seemed to remember a basement party with sloppy joes and the dance club. She even remembered the PitCairn stories. I'm not sure why others come to the reunions, I only know that I so enjoyed my years at Northeast that hanging out with all of you was a dance down memory lane. Thanks for a great night of music, memories and a chance to schmoose with some of the best people I know. See you,
Bette Giwerc Allekotte
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From: Mimi Date: Sun Oct 31 21:37:21 MST 2004 Dear Fellow & Fellow-et Vikings,
Sin, Sex, Booze & Wine
'69 did mighty FINE! (in spite of Cora)
or
as Tim McGraw would say:
Remember when a hoe was a hoe
and a coke was coke,
When crack was what you were doin' - when tellin' a joke,
When a screw was a screw and a smoke was a smoke,
When the wind was all that blew
and down with that - meant you had the flu,
When we ate fried bologna sandwiches with mayo and tomato
Now it's way over-rated and all to complicated....
Remember clicks, pops and white noise
Country, soul and rock and roll,
black shiny vinyl cause that's all we knew......
and of course the only Gay we knew in '69 was Merle!
As Sherry Troyen said, "Whoever thought Terry Abrams would become a teacher and stand in front of a crowd of people and say, "Please be quiet and listen!" or Bruce Share and Steve Aaronson would come out of retirement to become production managers and stage hands. They must have taken courses at the highly rated Joel Gibbs School of TALENT.
All in all a GREAT trip down memory lane was had by everyone!
Maybe for the 40th I can help more than a 1 night stand of making Reunion reminder phone calls. Of course then Jacob will be 5 yrs. older and will be working on his Bar Mitzvah and I will be calling people who forgot to rsvp.
Cheers in the coming years!
Mimi
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From: Dennis Brown Date: Fri Oct 29 16:25:00 MDT 2004 Sorry I missed the reunion but had several other committments that night. It would have been nice to see Neal Shipon , Jerry Abrams, Joel Ginbbs & the old "Brighton St. Crew". From the comments it sounds like a missed quite a party. The "Coras" reminds me of times in the mid 60's when rehearsals were held on our patios. Greetings to all my classmantes & I hope to see you at our 40th. Also look forward to seeing the pictures which I'm sure I'll enjoy as much as those which have been posted previously.
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From: Pete Weiss Date: Sat Oct 30 09:55:14 MDT 2004 Dennis,
We missed you too. Please join us at the next reunion.
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From: Ira Date: Sun Oct 31 21:09:30 MST 2004 Hi Dennis. Krumm and I were there andf had a fabulous time. If we could get you and Waldov to the next one it would be even better!
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From: Lois Laufer Ferrilio Date: Sun Oct 31 17:43:28 MST 2004
HELLO PETE,
IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE YOU AND ALOT OF MY OLD FRIENDS AT THE REUNION. SINCE I MOVED FROM THE AREA OVER 27 YEARS AGO I HAVE LOST TOUCH WITH ALOT OF SPECIAL FRIENDS. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S HOW LIFE GOES.
ANYWAY, YOU DESERVE AN EXTRA SPECIAL THANK YOU - YOU'RE THE "GLUE" THAT HOLDS EVERYTHING TOGETHER. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING SOME OF THE PICTURES, ETC.
KEEP IN TOUCH..
LOIS
P.S. LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S ROOM FOR MORE ON THE COMMITTEE - NOW THAT MY KIDS ARE GROWN (MARRIED, ETC.) I HAVE A LITTLE MORE "FREE" TIME (AND I DON'T THINK DOMENICK WOULD MIND)
TAKE CARE..
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From: Pete Weiss Date: Sun Oct 31 17:43:57 MST 2004 Hi Lois,
Thanks for your generous comments. It was great to see you at the reunion. You looked great and I also enjoyed meeting Dominic. I'll keep in mind that you would be willing to participate on our reunion committee. If you don't hear anything by 2007, don't be bashful; call or email me.
Pete
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From: Jeff Rutberg Date: Thu Oct 28 19:51:38 MDT 2004 Hi Pete, I grew up across the street from Neal Shipon but haven't seen him in 35 years and didn't get to see him at the reunion. Where is he standing in the picture of the band you sent?
I really had a good time at the reunion. Thanks to the reunion committee. We had such a large class, I actually met some of my classmates at the reunion for the first time! I'm going to inform all of the members of our class who I still keep in touch with who didn't come that they missed a really good time. Good to see you again.
-Jeff Rutberg
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From: Lee Wapner Date: Thu Oct 28 20:07:28 MDT 2004 Jeff
Neal was the first from the left
Lee
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From: Pete Weiss Date: Sat Oct 30 09:58:34 MDT 2004 Jeff,
Thanks for your kind remarks. I enjoyed seeing and speaking with you at the reunion. You look great. I hope you'll join us at the next reunion and convince some of your friends to join us as well.
Pete
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From: Stephen Byruch Date: Fri Oct 29 22:45:24 MDT 2004
Pete,
I just wanted to thank you and your committee for putting together a great event. I was not really warm and fuzzy about attending but Paul Butler talked me in to it and I'm glad he did. Great job.
Thanks,
Steve Byruch
Steve,
Thanks. I'm glad that Paul convinced you. Good job Paul. And Steve, come to more of these and you may find that warm and fuzzy feeling returning whenever you think of The Coras, the dancing, etc. You may not be able to get rid of that warm, fuzzy feeling.
Pete
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From: Steve Aaronson Date: Fri Oct 29 21:30:56 MDT 2004 Hi Pete. Great job! I'm never taking off my "Not Collidge Mateerial" T-shirt. It was a fabulous party and a pure pleasure to see so many old friends. Some of them who'd heard I'd retired would invariably ask The Question: "So what do you DO all day?" I'd have a wiseass response like, "So what the hell do YOU do all day that's so damn important...look for a cure for cancer?" (Then I'd give them an answer so boringly detailed they'd be sorry they'd asked.)
Too bad our classmate Evan Synder wasn't there; he easily could have one-upped me...because what he does all day IS look for a cure for cancer. While the rest of us were grooving to sweet soul music and circling the buffet, Evan (one of the Elmhurst Street gang, which also included class president Alan Bell, band spouse Holly Share, and probably a dozen other troublemakers, including yours truly) was probably doing stem cell research, or fighting for the ability to continue doing it. About a year ago he moved from Harvard to become director of stem cell research at the Burnham Institute in San Diego. And as mostly everyone knows, this type of research is a big controversy (let's see...which is more important, this teeny glob of goo or this sick but fully aware HUMAN BEING?) that may affect next week's presidential election. So here are a couple of recent news clips about Evan and his work...
Scientists discuss uses, potential of stem cells - see next window
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From: Steve Aaronson Date: Fri Oct 29 21:31:57 MDT 2004 Scientists discuss uses, potential of stem cells:
Bruce Lieberman
STAFF WRITER
638 words
25 October 2004
The San Diego Union-Tribune
1,3
B-3
English
Copyright (c) 2004 Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.
Injured spinal cords, Parkinson's disease and brain tumors -- all are targets for the regenerative power of stem cells, neuroscientists said yesterday.
The researchers, joining 30,000 of their colleagues in San Diego this week for the largest annual meeting of neuroscientists in the world, spoke of the latest studies to manipulate stem cells to help restore health.
The scientists discussed potential approaches using both embryonic stem cells, which can develop into every other cell in the body, and adult stem cells, the storehouse of replacement cells identified in several tissues and organs.
The briefing yesterday came a little more than a week before California voters determine the fate of Proposition 71, an initiative that would raise $3 billion in state bond proceeds to fund research grants.
President Bush has restricted funding to a small number of stem cell lineages available as of Aug. 9, 2001, saying the destruction of further embryos would be tantamount to killing human lives. Scientists argue that they need access to new embryos, many of them discarded each year by fertility clinics, to study their full potential.
Yesterday, a handful of researchers at the Society for Neuroscience meeting spoke about areas that show the potential power of stem cells to fight injury and disease.
Hans Keirstead from UC Irvine reported that his lab was able to coax human embryonic stem cells into developing into oligodendrocytes, a type of cell in the brain that forms myelin, a fatty substance that insulates the long, wire-like extensions of nerve cells, called axons. The myelin sheaths, which are also destroyed in people suffering from multiple sclerosis, allow electrical signals to travel between nerve cells in the brain and body.
After much effort to purify oligodendrocytes in the lab, Keirstead transplanted the cells into rats seven days after their spinal cords had been surgically severed.
The transplanted oligodendrocytes survived, migrated to the proper place in the animals' damaged nervous system and restored myelin to the axons that had lost it after injury, Keirstead said.
As a result, the animals were able to support their weight, re- animate their tails and gain some walking ability.
"It's not perfect," said Keirstead. "They're not playing soccer, but they're doing extremely well."
In other work, University of Wisconsin researcher Clive N. Svendsen reported that neural stem cells taken from fetal tissue can be quickly multiplied in the lab. The cells, then engineered to produce a naturally-occurring molecule called a growth factor, glial- derived neurotrophic factor or GDNF, were transplanted directly into the brains of rats.
Once inside the brain, the stem cells producing GDNF led to increased levels of dopamine, a key neurotransmitter lost in Parkinson's.
The federal government wants to make sure that researchers can control the release of GDNF in the brain. If they can, then clinical trials could begin in coming years, he said.
Evan Snyder, a stem cell biologist at The Burnham Institute in La Jolla, said he is studying how stem cells transplanted into the brain appear to attack tumors there.
In mice studies, Snyder has found that neural stem cells grown in the lab and transplanted into mice migrated from one side of the brain to the other, homing in on, surrounding and infiltrating tumors. They even attack the blood vessels that feed them, he said.
Exactly why, or how, the stem cells find and attack brain tumors is uncertain, but Snyder said the cells could be genetically engineered to express proteins lethal to tumor cells.
"I have a lot of confidence that this will have an impact," Snyder said of his preliminary work with animals.
"It's not a cure, but I think it could extend life."
Stem cell findings stir science forum Advances: Repair of paralyzed rats' spinal cords holds promise.
David Kohn
25 October 2004
The Baltimore Sun
Copyright 2004, The Baltimore Sun. All Rights Reserved.
SAN DIEGO -- Scientists here said yesterday that they had used human stem cells to repair the damaged spinal cords of paralyzed rats and enable them to walk, an important advance that could result in human trials by 2006.
This was the first time stem cells have been successfully used to treat such spinal cord injuries, and some scientists saw the results as a powerful rebuttal to the Bush administration view that stem cell research is a long way from offering human medical treatments.
The research findings were announced at the annual conference of the Society for Neuroscience. Researchers here also disclosed several other new stem cell discoveries relating to a range of neurological disorders, including brain cancer and Parkinson's disease.
"This is incredibly promising. It shows how quickly the field is moving," said Evan Snyder, director of stem cell research at the Burnham Institute in San Diego. Snyder presented his own work yesterday, showing that stem cells have potential to deliver a lethal blow to a currently untreatable type of brain cancer.
In a similar vein, University of Wisconsin researcher Clive Svendsen said he had successfully used stem cells as a delivery mechanism, in this case for a powerful protective protein that significantly slowed the progression of Parkinson's disease.
But it was the spinal cord work that generated the most excitement and seemed most likely to be tried in humans first. "The degree of recovery we see in these animals is tremendous," said University of California, Irvine neuroscientist Hans Keirstead, who led the research. "This is a very big deal."
Keirstead succeeded in transforming human embryonic stem cells into a cell called an oligodendrocyte. These cells form the fatty substance myelin, which forms a sheath of insulation around nerve cells. Without this insulation, the nerve cells can't transmit messages. After injury, nerves in the spinal cord are often unable to regrow myelin. Even if the nerve cell regenerates, it is useless without myelin.
Keirstead transplanted the human oligodendrocytes into the spinal cords of injured rats. After nine weeks, the animals regained the ability to walk. "It's not perfect -- they're not playing soccer," Keirstead said of the rats. "But they're doing extremely well."
The treatment only worked when the stem cells were implanted soon after the spinal cord injury. In rats injured ten weeks prior to the treatment, the stem cells had no effect. Keirstead suspects that scarring around the nerve cells may block the new myelin from forming properly.
Some researchers were more cautious about Keirstead's results, noting that spinal cord research is littered with examples of seeming breakthroughs that ultimately proved unsuccessful. "The Keirstead study looks encouraging. But animal models don't always translate to humans," said Dennis A. Steindler, a neuroscience professor at the University of Florida.
Stems cells are specialized cells which can be transformed into a wide range of other cells. Some researchers think stem cells can eventually treat or cure a wide range of diseases, supporting or even replacing damaged tissue anywhere in the body.
But because some of the cells are taken from embryos, which must be destroyed during the process, the field has become controversial.
Some critics say that harvesting stem cells from embryos is immoral. In August, 2001, President Bush tried to address these concerns by limiting federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Only work using stem cells collected before his order is eligible for federal funds. Researchers are not prohibited from using other embryonic stem cell "lines," as they are called, but they cannot use government money in this work.
Many stem cell researchers have decried this limitation, saying it has hampered their work. Stem cells have become a major issue in the presidential race, with Democrat John Kerry promising to lift the restrictions if he is elected. The Bush campaign has countered in part by saying that it's not clear that stem cell research can lead to useful medical treatments.
"We don't even know that stem cell research will provide cures for anything," first lady Laura Bush said in a speech in Pennsylvania this month.
Snyder sharply criticized this stance. "It's a totally misinformed, uneducated opinion," he said. "They don't know what's happening. They're not reading the literature."
Over the past few months, Snyder has been heavily involved in promoting Proposition 71, a California ballot initiative that would set aside more than $3 billion over the next ten years for stem cell science. The California plan is the largest of several being crafted by states and large private institutions to create non-federal sources of funding for the research.
Not all the research involved embryonic stem cells. Snyder's research used human neural stem cells, which are taken from fetal tissue. While still malleable, these cells can only be transformed into neuronal tissue. Snyder and his colleagues took advantage of the cells' well-known but as-yet-unexplained propensity to home in on tumor cells. The scientists used genetic engineering to arm the cells with a powerful tumor-killing substance and transplanted the cells into the brains of mice with a particularly lethal brain cancer called intracranial glioblastoma.
The stem cells traveled throughout the brain, attacking tumors and sharply reducing their size. "It worked in a big way," said Snyder, who thinks the therapy is ready for human trials, in part because the cancer is incurable. "If ever there was a low-risk, high-yield approach to dealing with a bad disease, this is it," he said.
Svendsen, the University of Wisconsin scientist, also used fetal tissue to derive neural stem cells. He genetically modified these cells so they produced a protein called glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), which can protect and nurture neurons.
He then transplanted the engineered stem cells into the brains of rats that had a Parkinson's-like condition. In humans, the disease destroys neurons in a key part of the brain, causing patients to lose control of their movements. The stem cells delivered the GDNF, which increased the health of the vulnerable neurons. Svendsen is now studying the treatment in monkeys.
Svendsen suspects that the therapy might have even wider application. GDNF is a powerful guardian and might be able to ward off all kinds of neurodegenerative diseases. "If we can do it for Parkinson's," he said, "we can do it for other diseases."
Analysis: Benefits from stem cell research could still be some distance into the future
709 words
9 August 2004
NPR: All Things Considered
English
Copyright ?2004 National Public Radio?. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to National Public Radio. This transcript may not be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written permission. For further information, please contact NPR's Permissions Coordinator at (202) 513-2030.
MELISSA BLOCK, host:
The faith that much of the public has invested in embryonic stem cell research is shared by scientists. But if you listen closely to what those scientists have to say, you'll hear a lot of caveats. Here's NPR's Joe Palca.
JOE PALCA reporting:
Stem cell biologist Evan Snyder of the Burnham Institute in La Jolla, California, says the discovery of embryonic stem cells ranks among the great scientific breakthroughs.
Mr. EVAN SNYDER (Stem Cell Biologist, Burnham Institute): The DNA revolution, relativity, things of that sort. Well, I would class stem cell biology in that category and say that it is one of the major insights in the last 50 years in science.
PALCA: Embryonic stem cells are those primordial cells that retain the ability to turn into any cell type in the body: muscle, brain, blood, skin. They could, in theory, be used to make an unlimited supply of new cells to replace ones damaged by diseases. So if brain cells are destroyed by Parkinson's disease, for example, scientists might one day make new cells in the lab and transplant them into patients.
Mr. SNYDER: Well, this whole idea of approaching disease as not simply stopping a disease process or thwarting a disease process, but actually this idea of starting over again--a rebooting of the computer, of reseeding the lawn--is an entirely new way of approaching disease and medicine.
PALCA: That's why people have gotten excited. And Fred Rosen says they should be excited. Rosen heads the Biomedical Institute at Harvard Medical School. He says the hyperbole is understandable.
Mr. FRED ROSEN (Biomedical Institute, Harvard Medical School): The hype is at fault if it's promising something tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, because that's not going to happen so quickly. It never does in biomedical research. It takes a long time to develop things. Usually from the moment of discovery to practical application takes a quarter of a century.
PALCA: But Rosen says stem cell therapy does have some history that may speed the process.
Mr. ROSEN: We have been doing a form of stem cell therapy for the past 30 years without calling it that, and it's bone marrow transplantation. It's a very successful medical procedure. What you're, in fact, doing are transplanting, not bone marrow, but the stem cells in the bone marrow.
PALCA: These so-called adult stem cells can replace blood cells damaged in diseases like leukemia. But this is just one specialized use of stem cells. The broader applications of embryonic stem cells are probably a ways off. There are other examples of promising fields of research that have yet to live up to their initial hype despite ample federal funding. Take gene therapy.
Mr. RONALD CRYSTAL (Chairman, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical School): Gene therapy remains a good idea, and it will result in cures of many kinds of diseases, but it's still going to take awhile.
PALCA: Ronald Crystal is chairman of the Department of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical School. Crystal says two decades ago, gene therapy seemed poised to cure a variety of diseases. But so far, even using gene therapy to cure laboratory animals has proven extremely difficult. And as Crystal knows full well, it's not enough to cure mice.
Mr. CRYSTAL: Because experimental animals, while they're useful--mice are not just small humans. You have to go to the human.
PALCA: And then, after trying something in humans, you take what you learn back to the lab bench, make refinements and then try it again in humans.
Mr. CRYSTAL: Stem cell therapies are going to have to go through the same process that gene therapy is going through, and that is to do initial studies in humans, go back to the bench, go back to the human, and it's going to take a long time before gene therapy and stem cell therapy are going to be cures for disease.
PALCA: That's a sobering message for people desperately seeking cures, but history suggests it's probably an accurate one. Joe Palca, NPR News, Washington.
-----------------------------------------------
From: Pete Weiss Date: Fri Oct 29 21:53:41 MDT 2004 Hi Steve,
You were great at the reunion. Your participation in that hot new phenomenon, The CORAS, was something you should be very proud of. Roz was great too, with her welcoming smile at the registration tables. You added so much to our reunion effort. Great job, both of you!
Pete
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From: Bonnie (Rovner) Landis Date: Thu Oct 28 15:49:59 MDT 2004 Hi Pete. THANK YOU VERY MUCH to all who put so much effort into making our reunion such a wonderful event. The whole night was a memorable occasion! Now I have some new memories to add to the ones I already treasure. It's hard to verbalize how much this reunion has meant to me - it's the first one I've ever attended, & for whatever reason, I had decided not to miss it. It was so exciting to be there, & the whole weekend was filled with emotion; reconnecting with friends who were a special part of my life, and even getting to know some people who I now consider to be new friends. THE BAND was certainly a highlight of the evening!!
I'm looking forward to our next opportunity to get together. If it works out to meet next spring in Las Vegas, I would love to a part of that! Then I'll have the shorter distance to travel and you guys will be the jet-lagged ones. (It was well worth the trip to Phila. and the trip down memory lane!!)
Bonnie
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From: Pete Weiss Date: Fri Oct 29 20:00:46 MDT 2004 Bonnie,
I'm so glad you finally graced us with your presence at our class reunion, even if it took you 35 years. It was great seeing you again and I really enjoyed talking to you. Please come back again.
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From: Linda Segal Date: Fri Oct 29 07:43:22 MDT 2004 Pete, sorry I was unable to attend the 35th reunion. I have been out of the country for work since July and just got back. I am so glad it was such a success. I'm looking forward the the 40th and think Las Vegas would be a blast. I was there last year and stayed at the Paris and got to see Bert Hoffman. Thanks to you and your team for keeping the class of 69 together.
-----------------------------------------------
From: Pete Weiss Date: Fri Oct 29 15:04:49 MDT 2004 Hi Linda,
Sorry that you were unable to join us. We hope to see you again soon in Las Vegas or at the next reunion. Thanks for your support.
Pete
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From: Art Shumsky Date: Thu Oct 28 19:16:38 MDT 2004 Sorry to have missed the reunion. It sounds like it was a great evening. I'll certainly look forward to the next one and will enjoy hearing from those of you who I've not spoken with for so long.
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From: Debbie Brian Morrissey Date: Thu Oct 28 15:52:13 MDT 2004 I had to choose between attending my daughter's wedding and our 35th reunion. She won. You were in my thoughts, though. Glad it was great. Can't wait to get the CDs.
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From: Ellen Erkess Uskuraitis Date: Thu Oct 28 12:35:27 MDT 2004 I second the suggestion to sell the T-shirts. They're too cute for there to be so few of them out there. Does one have to take up the rhythmn guitar to be entitled to a shirt? What about the rest of us who had the unfortunate experience of being "guided" by Cora?
Ellen Erkess
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From: Sheryl Steinberg Drozen Date: Thu Oct 28 09:29:57 MDT 2004 Absolutely hate that I couldn't be there for our 35th. Would have loved to see everyone. Glad it was a great success and hope to see everyone at the next!
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From: Bob Rubin Date: Thu Oct 28 08:13:56 MDT 2004 Hi Pete ,
I have some great pictures, planning on getting them Emailed to you next week, this week is nuts , end of the month and all. Had a great time, you're committtee and you should be commended,
Rib
Thanks Rib. It was great seeing you again at the reunion. I'm looking forward to seeing your photos.
Pete
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From: Marty Hamson Date: Thu Oct 28 07:51:53 MDT 2004 How can you add to what has already been said. Pete and the reunion commitee KUDOS. I had the greatest time. For a few hours I was a kid again and for that I thank you. The band, place, food etc. wow that was great. It was nice meeting your daughter. G_d willing I'll see you at graduation. I just wish there was more time. I was great talking to old friends even as far back as Carnell grade school. Susan W. Ricky T. Ginny S. Terry A. we go way back. I hope you all got a kick out of my Bar Mitzvah photos. I could go on forever. Thanks again to all who put this together. You did an outstanding job. If the Vegas thing happens let me know. That could be a real fun time.
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From: Nancy Kauderer Davis Date: Thu Oct 28 06:19:52 MDT 2004 I just wanted to thank all the members of the reunion committee for a doing such a great job. I had such a wonderful time seeing "old" friends. Thank you for letting me celebrate my 53rd birthday enjoying past memories!
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From: Bert Hoffman Date: Wed Oct 27 21:36:30 MDT 2004 Pete if we are serious about Vegas I will do everything I can to make
sure that it will be a great time. I have already spoke to my boss and 1
of the hotel managers and they are very supportive. I think it can be a
great time. Many thanks to all your time and the reunion committee do a
fantastic job. It was great to see everybody even if I did not remember
many. But it was the best time . hope to see you in Vegas Bert
Robert Hoffman
Paris Concierge
Office 702-946-4433
Fax 702-946-4922
Thanks Bert. I think Vegas would be a great destination. I think we should wait a little while and then send out some emails seeing how much interest ther would be in arranging a mini reunion in Las Vegas.
It was great to see you again and I'm glad you enjoyed the reunion. I did too.
Pete
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From: Mark Blank Date: Wed Oct 27 20:43:29 MDT 2004 Pete
I had a wonderful, wonderful time Saturday night, despite, or maybe because, the reunion was a little more intimate gathering than those we had in '94 and '99. The music was superb. Spent a lot of time chatting with Steve Morse, Leslie Roth, Jeff Ostroff, Diedre Stein, Cheryl Weiss, Barbara Brown, Bob Lankin, Shelly Michaels, some of whom I hadn't seen since the '70's.
But no sign of Jay Reiss. Darn.
My chief regret was that my friend Michele was under the weather and thus missed out on this window into my checkered past. But I have one question for you -- I was looking forward to seeing Mrs. Bahr after all these years. What happened?
-- Mark
Mark,
I'm glad you had a good time too. The classmates you spoke to were probably just as happy to speak to you as you were to speak to them. That's what makes these reunions, particularly our 35th, so much fun for all of us.
As for Jay Reiss, I was disappointed that he was unable to join us too. I would have been happy to referee another "Championship Debate" between you two and I'm sure our classmates would have enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed your earlier debates and discussions on our class website.
You were probably too busy laughing and reminiscing with classmates to notice the presence of Mrs. Bahr who was usually surrounded by classmates wanting to say hello. She was there with her husband Walter as the honored guest of our reunion. She was introduced by Terry Abrams before I introduced the band. We did make the introductions brief because we were running very late and wanted to get the band playing. You can email her if you want. She has been made an honorary member of our class and is listed on our email directory. I had a great conversation with her and she looks great.
Perhaps you'll see her in the photos when they become available.
Pete
-----------------------------------------------
From: Merle Gay (Auspitz) Date: Wed Oct 27 18:56:57 MDT 2004 Pete, You throw a great party. Bonnie Geltzer's name is not on your missing list. Merle Gay....................
Thanks Merle. I agree it was a great party. I think we owe the success of any reunion, in large part, to the classmates who decide to make the effort to attend. We certainly have been fortunate in that we have an active group of classmates who do make the effort to reconnect with their past. The result is that we have great reunions and our 35th was probably the best.
Pete
-----------------------------------------------
From: Shelley Tarkoff (Berger) Date: Wed Oct 27 07:55:42 MDT 2004 Hi Pete
This was the best reunion to date. I thought everyone looked great.
It was fun talking to Cheryl Weiss, Lona Cogan and Jeffrey Ostroff.
We were laughing the entire night. It was such a fun evening, tell
me more informarion the trip to Vegas I would love to go. Thanks
again for all your hard work, I love seeing all my old friends.
Love to all,
Shelley
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From: Pete Weiss Date: Wed Oct 27 15:01:32 MDT 2004 Thanks Shelley. I agree that this may have been the reunion yet. I had a great time too. I managed to speak with Cheryl, Lona, and Jeff too. I also spoke to you, Louis Karchin & Ed Moses among others as well. With the exception of you and Ed Moses, who has been to several reunion picnics, it was the first time I've had an extended conversation with them since our days at Solis-Cohen. I really enjoyed that.
Las Vegas is currently in the idea stage. Terry Abrams, Bonnie Adler, and Bert Hoffman have planted the seed in our minds to think about. I too would be interested in doing that.
Pete
-----------------------------------------------
From: Pete Weiss Date: Wed Oct 27 15:28:22 MDT 2004 Shelley,
I forgot to mention that I also got a chance to see and say hello to Susan Freimark too. I remember her ballet dance recitals during 5th or 6th grade at Solis-Cohen. Interestingly, her email address is "dancermom"
I must say that you and all of our classmates looked great! We're not bad for 50 somethings.
Pete
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From: Toby Shaffer Shpigel Date: Tue Oct 26 22:53:38 MDT 2004 In a message dated 10/26/2004 5:18:39 PM Eastern Standard Time, coachjoel@aol.com writes:
Pete,
Thank you and your committee for a most amazing 35th reunion. We really did have an exceptional class and it showed even more on Sat. night. The band reunion was terrific and I loved their T-Shirts. You should really sell them. If you need any help at all planning the 40th PLEASE let me know. I'd love to help.
Thanks again,
Toby Shaffer Shpigel
Hi Toby,
Thanks for your generous comments. I'm pleased that you enjoyed the reunion and the BAND. I thought they were great too. I'll pass on your suggestion about the T-shirts. I'll also let you know when we start planning our 40th so you can join the reunion committee and share in the fun.
Pete
-----------------------------------------------
From: Pete Weiss Date: Mon Oct 25 21:22:55 MDT 2004 To: Reunion committee members
From: Pete Weiss
re: 35 year reunion
It gives me great personal satisfaction to commend our entire reunion committee for their efforts in putting together a such wonderfully successful reunion celebration Saturday evening.
In my opinion, this event was a class act from beginning to end and you should all be very proud of having been a part of it. I have received many emails and phone calls from classmates as well as guests. Everyone has been extremely and genuinely complimentary about how well organized we were and how every detail was attended to. I can truly say it was a team effort worthy of a nomination to the "High School Reunion Hall of Fame" if there was one*.
Particular recognition should be given at this time to the following committee members for their superior efforts in making this such a successful reunion event.
Bruce Share - for his tireless efforts in so many areas. Just to mention a few - his dedicated efforts in single-handedly scanning the entire yearbook on to CD ROM, his tremendous job as our treasurer in collecting, recording, depositing, disbursing, etc. all reunion funds, etc., his personal assistance and support to Sandi Bergman (Depue) in completing those wonderful photo name tags, his supervision and direction of our phon-a-thon, and his skillful handling of negotiations with certain venders in a manner that was very beneficial to the financial success of this event.
Joel Gibbs - for all the work he did as head of our entertainment committee promoting the reunion and re-designing our invitation and in procuring the DJ, videographer, photographer for our reunion. Even more notable, I must commend Joel for his initiative and leadership in organizing and motivating that fabulous band, The Coras. The band was excellent and everyone loved you guys. The energy in the room seemed to come to a crescendo when the Coras played. I know how much dedication and practice it took for all the band members to play together so well. It was Joel's vision, artistic talent, and showmanship that pulled the whole thing together so well and made the entire reunion such a memorable and authentically NEHS'69 event.
Wendy Goldman (Harris)- for her behind the scenes work and useful suggestions in so many important areas. Among them, Wendy volunteered to take care of getting out the reunion announcements and invitations which required a great deal of intense effort that can go largely unnoticed but which requires a lot of tedious work.
Sandi Bergman (Depue) - for her involvement and participation in many areas but particularly the incredible amount of work she did, with the assistance of Eileen Masover and Bruce Share, in producing those terrific, professional looking photo name tags. They were truly awesome!
Ron Zaritsky - for his organized and effective supervision of our registration tables. Everything moved smoothly and efficiently and there were no long lines of restless classmates. Good job Ron!
Carolyn Verdi - for her great work in helping to identify, analyze, compare, and ultimately select the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel as our reunion facility. Carolyn selected the food and desert menu and helped negotiate a great deal which enabled us to have an affordable reunion at this first class hotel. She also acted as our contact to interface with the hotel's banquet staff to facilitate and resolve many issues including arrangements to meet the logistical and equipment needs of the band.
Terry Abrams - for doing his usual terrific job as master of ceremonies. It almost seems like it wouldn't feel like our reunion without Terry being in charge during whatever ceremony is appropriate at the time.
I also want to acknowledge the useful and important contributions of Roz Chanin (Aaronson), Barbara Lewis (Baxt), Jim Campbell, Bruce Genter, Eileen Gerson (Greenberg), Bonnie Adler (Keen), Bob Lankin, Ira Litman, Eileen Masover, Jay Rose, and Ricky Segal. Whether you offered suggestions from a distance, attended our planning meetings, helped at the phon-a-thon, helped at the registration tables, or called and encouraged classmates to join us, your efforts helped make this team effort a uniquely successful one.
When a volunteer effort of this extensive nature is completed so successfully, the image of the individuals, our reunion committee, and our class as a whole is favorably enhanced. Again my personal thanks.
Pete Weiss
* Hey, don't laugh. There wasn't a high school class website before either!
-----------------------------------------------
From: Pete Weiss Date: Tue Oct 26 11:29:39 MDT 2004 To: Reunion committee members
From: Pete Weiss
re: Saturday Night
In my recent memo to reunion committee members, it was late at night and I inadvertently failed to acknowledge the important contribution of Steve Aaronson to our very successful reunion. Steve attended many committee meetings, made useful observations and suggestions, collaborated with Jay Rose to produce our "Top Ten Reasons" to attend the reunion which was so well received, offered input to Joel Gibbs in redesigning our invitation, and was a member of that FABULOUS band, THE CORAS that worked so hard and became such a big hit at our reunion. Thanks Steve for all that did to make our reunion such a great event.
Pete
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From: Jay Rose Date: Tue Oct 26 11:46:27 MDT 2004 It was a great party, and you did a hell of a job in orchestrating the committee to make it all happen. Thanks!
Jay
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From: Ron Zaritsky Date: Tue Oct 26 11:53:46 MDT 2004 hi again everybody,
i forgot to mention one thing, a huge round of applause should go to pete, our trusted webmeister, for helping to organize this event and for scheduling the meetings. i have no danish or cosmopolitans to give him (yet). i hope that if there is a 40th reunion, and i can't see why there wouldn't be, i hope to be on the committee with all of you. you folks did a marvelous job.
regards,
ron z
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From: Eileen Gerson (Greenberg) Date: Tue Oct 26 11:58:24 MDT 2004 I AGREE WITH YOU 100% RON.
THANK YOU PETE !!!!
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From: Wendy Goldman (Harris) Date: Tue Oct 26 12:02:30 MDT 2004 a private thank u as all the emails can become alittle overwhelming.... ....without u there wouldn't have been a reunion... it was really a pleasure working with u and the other committee members. I had no doubt with u at the helm that the reunion would be a success............
let me know when we are going to get the dvd's so I can make arrangements to assist in getting them mailed out..
again, thanx for all ur hard work.. and thanx to ur lovely wife for allowing us into ur home for all those meetings..
Wendy Harris
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From: Pete Weiss Date: Tue Oct 26 12:05:04 MDT 2004 Thanks Wendy, Eileen, Jay, and Ron. I appreciate all of your hard work and I really enjoyed working with you.
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From: Eileen Gerson (Greenberg) Date: Tue Oct 26 12:10:55 MDT 2004 PETE, YOU ARE THE BEST WHEN IT COMES TO WORDING, I AM GOING TO KEEP YOU IN-MIND WHEN I NEED TO WRITE SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE.
Eileen Greenberg
Thanks for the compliment Eileen. We have some extraordinarily talented writers among our classmates, and even among our committee members.
Pete
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From: Carolyn Verdi Date: Tue Oct 26 12:15:46 MDT 2004 In a message dated 10/26/2004 1:44:14 PM Eastern Standard Time, ceverdi@msn.com writes:
THANK YOU, Pete.
I hope to help with the next reunion. I am already scouting out and thinking of ideas.
Will keep in touch.
Carolyn
Thanks Carolyn. We'll look forward to your thoughtful ideas and suggestions.
Pete
-----------------------------------------------
From: Sandi Bergman (Depue) Date: Tue Oct 26 22:08:52 MDT 2004 In a message dated 10/26/2004 6:36:47 PM Eastern Standard Time, sdepue@starlinx.com writes:
Everyone,
I want to offer my kudos to NEHS 128th class. All of us, on the reunion committee, have experienced a great feeling of elation on the job we did pulling th reunion together (and I think I can speak for all of us on this one). We must also credit the whole class ... those who attended and those who couldnn't. So many people contributed to its success from John Erb, who helped us locate Mrs. Bahr, to the many who sent in contact addresses for lost classmates; to those who urged others to attend; finally, to those who attended.
The committee members could have had a whopping good time at the Sheraton by ourselves, but it would have never been as much fun if all those who attended hadn't given their support and bought tickets. I, for one, didn't want to leave. There were so many people I still wanted to get to know.
So to 128, start thinking about the 40th. Pete, are you ready to start planning this one?
Sandra
Sandi,
Well said. From everyone I've spoken with, it seems that we are all feeling good about how smoothly everything went. There's a reason things went so well. It is because everyone involved in planning and organizing this reunion did their part well. We worked in unison as a team. There was a lot of work involved and everyone pulled their weight. The end result was a succesful team effort and we are all very proud that we were a part of it.
As for the 40th, well let's just say, "thank god we're not that old yet".
Pete
-----------------------------------------------
From: Ira Litman Date: Tue Oct 26 22:32:23 MDT 2004 In a message dated 10/26/2004 8:54:31 PM Eastern Standard Time, ILitman writes:
Yes, it was a fabulous reunion and Pete and the committee were superior in their performance blah blah blah, but just so we don't forget who the real heroes were:
If our parents hadn't gotten frisky about 53 years ago we wouldn't be celebrating!
Love you all,
Ira
Thanks for reminding me that I forgot to thank everyone's parents. Let's see how I can phrase that one. Hey, you're articulate. How would you go about thanking frisky parents?
Pete
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From: Andi Horn (Loew) Date: Mon Oct 25 22:31:46 MDT 2004 hi pete,
just wanted to thank you and the committee for working so hard to make the evening such a success. this was the first reunion i attended and it was great connecting with my past!!!
thanks again,
andi
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From: Pete Weiss Date: Mon Oct 25 22:35:21 MDT 2004 Hi Andi,
Thanks. I'm so happy that you were able to join us. I was really happy to see you again after all these years. I hope you'll join us again at the 40 year reunion.
Pete
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From: Susan Hoffman (Klassman) Date: Tue Oct 26 21:40:41 MDT 2004 Andi!!! I can't believe you were there and I didn't get to see you! We were in homeroom together and roomates for a while at Penn State. This was the first reunion I fully attended and I had a blast! Sorry I missed seeing you again, but will look for you at the 40th!
Sue
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From: Kip Kolosky (Clarke) Date: Mon Oct 25 23:00:53 MDT 2004 Hi-
Just wanted you to know you were all in my thoughts last night. I'm sure it was great!
It was horrendous rainstorms here, but at least not a hurricane!
Well, at least the Red Sox won!!! Very stressful game however. Saw part of it and that was enough!
Kip
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From: Pete Weiss Date: Mon Oct 25 23:01:28 MDT 2004 Thanks for thinking of us Kip. I'm sorry that you weren't able to join us at this reunion. We missed you. Perhaps you'll be able to join us next time.
Pete
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From: Ira Litman Date: Tue Oct 26 18:58:52 MDT 2004 Hey Kip,
Your name came up a number of times Saturday. Glad you were there in spirit, we remembered good things and spoke well of you. DON'T MISS THE NEXT ONE or we will talk!
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From: Toby Shaffer Shpigel Date: Tue Oct 26 17:48:58 MDT 2004 Dear Pete,
What an amazing job you and the rest of the committee did! You are to be commended. It was terrific seeing everyone again and reliving great memories.The band was really terrific and I LOVED their t-shirts. Is there any way we can buy them? I would love to help plan the next reunion as part of the committee. Let me know if there's anything I can do. Take care,Toby
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From: Ellen Erkess (Uskuraitis) Date: Tue Oct 26 14:18:55 MDT 2004 Hi Pete,
I just wanted to says thanks again for putting the reunion together. Judi
(Grossman) and I had the BEST time and so did so many people that I talked
to. We know that so much work goes into something like this and wanted you
to know that we appreciate it.
See you later on . . .
Ellen
Thanks Ellen. I'm so happy that you were able to join us and I'm very pleased that you enjoyed the reunion. I really enjoyed seeing you again. You looked great! I hope to see you at the 40 year reunion too.
Pete
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From: Pete Weiss Date: Tue Oct 26 15:09:39 MDT 2004 I thought Mrs. Bahr looked great. I hope everyone had a chance to speak to her and her husband Walt. I did and we had a great conversation. She has a great memory too. She remembered my wife Barbara (NE'72), who was a member of the gymnastics team. She remembers a lot. It was another uniquely NEHS69 experience.
-----------------------------------------------
From: Ellen Erkess (Uskuraitis) Date: Tue Oct 26 14:15:46 MDT 2004 In a message dated 10/26/2004 3:39:58 PM Eastern Standard Time, eerkess@hotmail.com writes:
I had SUCH a good time that I'm RSVPing for the next one! I was also hoping you could give me a few e-mail addresses whenever you get a spare minute:
Jimmy Goldstein
Roz & Steve Aaronson
Jerry Abrams
Thanks again, Pete.
Great, I'll let you know how much it will cost. All three email addresses are on our email directory at https://pete013.tripod.com/email1.html. By the way, our new message board is working and active. Go to our homepage (http://pete013.tripod.com) or directly to http://forum.cjb.net/cgi-bin/forum.cgi?forum=nehs69 to view or write messages to / from our classmates. It's fun!
-----------------------------------------------
From: Bonnie Adler (Keen) Date: Mon Oct 25 22:52:12 MDT 2004 Pete, you and the committee did a fantastic job. All I am hearing is great things. I am sorry it is over, it was so much fun. I loved the way people connect, even after all these years.
One night is not enough. Eileen and I said in five years, we think we should have a weekend at a hotel. Still have a Saturday night affair for those that only want to attend for the evening and other activities planned for the weekend for those that are interested in spending the weekend. Center city Philadelphia is a great place for that. I know I am jumping ahead but I am excited.
Now, we are working on Las Vegas for the spring.
-----------------------------------------------
From: Pete Weiss Date: Mon Oct 25 22:54:59 MDT 2004 Bonnie,
Thanks for your generous comments and also for all that you and Terry did to promote the reunion and the activities of the reunion committee. Thanks also for your suggestions. I was glad that you and Terry were there and that you had such a good time. I too had a great time and I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'm gonna look forward to Vegas
-----------------------------------------------
From: eileen Date: Tue Oct 26 12:48:21 MDT 2004 VEGAS SOUNDS LIKE A VERY GOOD PLAN, I THINK WITH OUR BRILLANT GROUP OF PLANNERS WE COULD GET A GREAT DEAL ON FLIGHT AND HOTEL. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
-----------------------------------------------
From: Pete Weiss Date: Tue Oct 26 11:27:54 MDT 2004 To: Reunion committee members
From: Pete Weiss
re: Saturday Night
It gives me great personal satisfaction to commend our entire reunion committee for their efforts in putting together a such wonderfully successful reunion celebration Saturday evening.
In my opinion, this event was a class act from beginning to end and you should all be very proud of having been a part of it. I have received many emails and phone calls from classmates as well as guests. Everyone has been extremely and genuinely complimentary about how well organized we were and how every detail was attended to. I can truly say it was a team effort worthy of a nomination to the "High School Reunion Hall of Fame" if there was one*.
Particular recognition should be given at this time to the following committee members for their superior efforts in making this such a successful reunion event.
Bruce Share - for his tireless efforts in so many areas. Just to mention a few - his dedicated efforts in single-handedly scanning the entire yearbook on to CD ROM, his tremendous job as our treasurer in collecting, recording, depositing, disbursing, etc. all reunion funds, etc., his personal assistance and support to Sandi Bergman (Depue) in completing those wonderful photo name tags, his supervision and direction of our phon-a-thon, and his skillful handling of negotiations with certain venders in a manner that was very beneficial to the financial success of this event.
Joel Gibbs - for all the work he did as head of our entertainment committee promoting the reunion and re-designing our invitation and in procuring the DJ, videographer, photographer for our reunion. Even more notable, I must commend Joel for his initiative and leadership in organizing and motivating that fabulous band, The Coras. The band was excellent and everyone loved you guys. The energy in the room seemed to come to a crescendo when the Coras played. I know how much dedication and practice it took for all the band members to play together so well. It was Joel's vision, artistic talent, and showmanship that pulled the whole thing together so well and made the entire reunion such a memorable and authentically NEHS'69 event.
Wendy Goldman (Harris)- for her behind the scenes work and useful suggestions in so many important areas. Among them, Wendy volunteered to take care of getting out the reunion announcements and invitations which required a great deal of intense effort that can go largely unnoticed but which requires a lot of tedious work.
Sandi Bergman (Depue) - for her involvement and participation in many areas but particularly the incredible amount of work she did, with the assistance of Eileen Masover and Bruce Share, in producing those terrific, professional looking photo name tags. They were truly awesome!
Ron Zaritsky - for his organized and effective supervision of our registration tables. Everything moved smoothly and efficiently and there were no long lines of restless classmates. Good job Ron!
Carolyn Verdi - for her great work in helping to identify, analyze, compare, and ultimately select the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel as our reunion facility. Carolyn selected the food and desert menu and helped negotiate a great deal which enabled us to have an affordable reunion at this first class hotel. She also acted as our contact to interface with the hotel's banquet staff to facilitate and resolve many issues including arrangements to meet the logistical and equipment needs of the band.
Terry Abrams - for doing his usual terrific job as master of ceremonies. It almost seems like it wouldn't feel like our reunion without Terry being in charge during whatever ceremony is appropriate at the time.
I also want to acknowledge the useful and important contributions of Steve Aaronson, Roz Chanin (Aaronson), Barbara Lewis (Baxt), Jim Campbell, Bruce Genter, Eileen Gerson (Greenberg), Bonnie Adler (Keen), Bob Lankin, Ira Litman, Eileen Masover, Jay Rose, and Ricky Segal. Whether you offered suggestions from a distance, attended our planning meetings, helped at the phon-a-thon, helped at the registration tables, or called and encouraged classmates to join us, your efforts helped make this team effort a uniquely successful one.
When a volunteer effort of this extensive nature is completed so successfully, the image of the individuals, our reunion committee, and our class as a whole is favorably enhanced. Again my personal thanks.
Pete Weiss
* Hey, don't laugh. There wasn't a high school class website before either!
From: Saul Jacobs Date: Mon Oct 25 22:27:39 MDT 2004 Pete,
I also wanted to say what a great job you and the rest of your reunion committee did. All your hard work, effort, energy and thoughtfulness paid off. No one could have done a better job of bringing it all together. It was so great to see so many friends that I missed over the years, especially Alan Bell.
Saul
-----------------------------------------------
From: Pete Weiss Date: Mon Oct 25 22:29:56 MDT 2004
Thanks Saul. You were there in case I needed you and I appreciate that. I thought everything went great too. I hate to say this but you either had too much to drink or you're becoming delusional because as far as I know, Alan Bell didn't make it Saturday night. What was that stuff you smoked Saturday night?
Pete
-----------------------------------------------
From: Bruce Schumer Date: Mon Oct 25 22:25:00 MDT 2004 Just want to be the first to congratulate you and all that participated in organizing this 35 year reunion. It was the best so far and will be hard to beat! It was great seing all our classmates and it it always a great journey back in time when things were fun, innocencent and a little bit crazy. Thanks for the trip to the past.
Again regards to all and I hope to see you all in 5 years if not sooner!
Bruce Schumer
-----------------------------------------------
From: Pete Weiss Date: Mon Oct 25 22:25:35 MDT 2004 Thanks Bruce and congratulations on becoming a first time grandpop. I'm so happy that you were able to join us and I was equally happy to see you again. I'm really pleased that you enjoyed the reunion as much as I did. See you in five years.
Pete
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From: Ron Zaritsky Date: Mon Oct 25 22:21:59 MDT 2004 hi everyone,
i just wanted to be one of the first to say, WOW, what a great reunion. my voice is still a bit raspy from singing and screeming due to THE BAND. what a great job they did. a special thanks to all that helped me in the registration dept. and to irv harris, moshe greenberg, bob caplan and ronnie leonard for lending a hand. thanks also to holly share and barb weiss.
to eveyone on the reunion committee, thanks for helping me enjoy one hell of a reunion, go vikings.
ron zaritsky
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From: Pete Weiss Date: Mon Oct 25 22:22:58 MDT 2004 Thanks for doing such a great job in organizing the registration tables. It was certainly a smooth process and our classmates were able to enjoy the party without any unneccesary delays.
Pete
ps. I'm going to post your message on the new NEHS message board which is now active on our homepage. Go to http://pete013.tripod.com or directly to
http://forum.cjb.net/cgi-bin/forum.cgi?post=nehs69
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From: Joyce Pinsky Miller Date: Sun Oct 24 19:35:53 MDT 2004 Hey guys!
Just note to let those of you who did such a wonderful job planning our 35th reunion know that your work is very appreciated. It was a great time renewing friendships and reviewing days gone by. No other experience can compare with seeing friends you remember and who remember you from the old days. I wish more people would come. New friends are great but seeing people you played with at recess or danced with at the prom is very special and I hope even more of us attend the 40th. If you could use more help in pulling things together next time I'd love to participate. Thanks again!
Joyce Pinsky Miller
P.S. The band was great!
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From: Pete "the Webmeister" Weiss Date: Mon Oct 25 21:20:30 MDT 2004 Thanks Joyce. I'm so happy that you and your husband were able to join us and pleased that you had a great time. I too enjoyed seeing and reminiscing with so many classmates. It was great!
I'll probably contact you in a couple of years to see if you're still interested in participating on our 40 year reunion committee. If you don't hear from me, don't be bashful, contact me.
Thanks,
Pete
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From: Pete Weiss Date: Mon Oct 25 21:29:03 MDT 2004 I also agree that the Band was fabulous!
Posted by ne69news
at 4:56 PM EST
Updated: 01/18/2005 5:32 PM EST
celebratory
party time!