Weblog | Seneca High School

Reflections

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:16:38 -0400

Recently Marvin O’Koon and I had lunch together and reflected nostalgically on our years at Seneca and wondered if there was a way to capture the uniqueness of the class of '63. I wrote the essay below in an attempt to do that. Love to know your take on our high school experience.

Cheers,

Don Waddell

We were boomers before the term had been invented. And for better or worse, we led the way for our demographic. Our “Builder” parents had endured the depression and defeated fascist enemies, saved us and our way of life and then they set in motion an economic boom the likes of which the world had never seen. We reaped the benefit of their success and sacrifice without the hardship and heroism.

But we had to contend with our own challenges.

1. Racial tensions, long suppressed in our culture burst unavoidably into our awareness as the Civil Rights movement began in earnest during our high school years.

2. The sexual revolution gained prominence in our time. Hugh Hefner and the Kinsey Report unmasked a simmering reaction to what some considered puritanical repression. Meanwhile as adolescents we were conducting our own sexual experimentation but of another kind.

3. We experienced the assassinations of beloved icons and the scars reached deep into our psyches.

4. During our decade the Vietnam War simmered and then burst into flames, dramatically polarizing our nation.

5. As trailblazers we saw the beginning of the drug culture and how it radically transformed our lives and relationships.

6. With our growing affluence, many of us took for granted cars our parents gave us to drive, spacious homes in the suburbs, and Bass Weejuns that would have cost our grandparents a week’s wages.

Into this turmoil entered the class of 1963. We were not a unique group in particular but it was a unique time and an unprecedented circumstance. Part of our uniqueness at Seneca High School was our demographic diversity. Unlike the homogeneity of many school districts, we drew from the largely black Newburg area as well as the white suburbs. Into this mix was added a large proportion of the Jewish community and a significant number of Catholics and Protestants.

A second reality that set Seneca class of ’63 apart from others is that the vast majority of us began attending the new school together in 1957 and became the first class to go 7th through the 12th grade at Seneca. There were no traditions; we made our own. There was no legacy to fall back on. We were a blank sheet of paper and began to write our history unencumbered by presupposition or “the way it was always done.”

Sports were a unifying factor bringing together the disparate factions and helping them to rally around the team. Our growing individualism and occasional self absorption gave way to cooperation, a value so important to our builder parents.

I don’t think we realized it then but in retrospect we were blessed with an unusually gifted and dedicated faculty. It wasn't until much later that we realized how special our teachers and administrators were. Mr. Farmer was fully invested in us and broke the mold in many respects, the “Lonesome Polecat” mascot being just one example. Mrs. Kraft, Ms. Agee, Mr. Matthews, Ms. McQuillen (among many others) were, like our parents, committed to hard work, sacrifice, and excellence; feeding our minds while they shaped our character. Coaches Mulchay, Cane, Ash, etc. developed athletes and gave us teams we could be proud of.

Now 45 years later, what are we to make out of all this? For the most part we had our careers and made our fortunes or something equivalent. We've raised our families and now enjoy our grandkids, travels and other preoccupations. As I read through the biographical sketches I am fascinated by the many success stories. Even more interesting is the often circuitous journey that led us to where we are four and a half decades later. It is amazing to see how most of us ended up in place we never intended to go after graduation. It was an opportunity here, a failed relationship there, a draft notice, an unexpected illness, or simply mundane twists and turns that led many of us to a place in 2008 that we never would have expected in 1963. Yet for most of us, the high school experience at Seneca was among the most important years of our lives. It was unique. It was special. We would not be the same without it.

Remembering Great Teachers, by Harry Jacobson-Beyer

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:13:09 -0400

Having been a teacher and school librarian it's always a thrill when I encounter former students and they remember me. I'll never forget attending a Louisville Jaycees meeting in the fall of 1989. I was representing Children's department of the Louisville Free Public Library. A young woman tapped me on the shoulder and as I turned around she gave me a huge hug. It was Megan Kelly, a former student at the School of the Ascension, Louisville, where I had been the school librarian. After that encounter I was walking on air for a week.

Working on the web page for the upcoming 45th reunion has been fun. I've been reading your biographies, thumbing through the yearbook, and thinking about school and friends and teachers. Given the chance which teachers would I hug; which impacted my life positively?

The answer is easy. There were three teachers in my educational career who made a difference in my life..

In 6th grade at Hawthorne Elementary School I had the good fortune to be in Mrs. Blanche Singleton's class. Also in that class were Charlie Meyers and Stuart Robenson. Mrs. Singleton taught us about metaphors, and she was full of them “Never look a gift horse in the mouth”, for example. We didn't have lessons on metaphors, she used them everyday, in every lesson, in every conversation. Mrs. Singleton also had us (oh horrors!) memorize. To this day I can recite the first stanza of Longfellow's “The Village Blacksmith” and most of Lincoln's Gettysburg address.” My sixth grade year was the first time I ever had to speak in front of a group and it was a valuable lesson. Mrs. Singleton definitely had a positive impact on my life and if I were to meet her today you can bet Blanche Singleton would get a hug from me.

My first semester at the University of Kentucky I was fortunate to take World Literature with Mr. Hatch.

The first day of class we students were sitting in the room waiting for the teacher. About a minute after the official start time, in walks the professor and he slams the door and says in a not so soft voice, “Good morning class.” We just sat there, cowed and quiet and waiting. So Mr. Hatch says, let's try this again. He leaves the room, comes back in and…well, you get the idea. This time we all responded with “Good Morning.”

During my semester with him, Mr. Hatch taught me a little latin, a little physics, and a lot of literature; but most importantly, he taught me to think and to organize my thoughts, and how to put them down on paper. He saw a spark in me and he nourished that spark, and to this day, the flame burns. If I were to meet Mr. Hatch today, I'd engulf him in a great big bear hug. (Mrs. Singleton I hope you noticed the metaphor!)

High school, 9th grade, the beginning of the four-year, downhill slide into the abysmal swamp that my high school education turned out to be.Yet, a light shone, that kept me floating above the mire. Her name was Gertrude Chaudoin, my 9th grade Latin teacher. Mrs. Chaudoin was an incredible teacher. She cared about her subject and she cared about her students. She was the faculty advisor to the Latin Club and every summer took three busloads of kids to the Junior Classical League conventions. During my High School career we went to Alburqurque, New Mexico, Indiana University, and Bozeman, Montana and the Seattle World's Fair. Along the way we stopped at every state capitol between here and there. At one capitol building Mrs. Chaudoin ran through the sprinklers on the capitol's lawn. If I could I would sprinkle Mrs. C with hugs!

These three educators, Mrs. Chaudoin, Mr. Hatch, and Mrs. Singleton made a lasting impression on me. Their nurturing and teaching styles informed my own teaching. They were indelible role models deserving of accolades and hugs.

That day in the fall of 1989, Megan Kelly didn't realize it but not only was she giving me a hug but she was hugging Mrs. Singleton, Mr. Hatch, and Mrs. Chaudoin, too.

Harry Jacobson-Beyer

From Jr. High to Prom, by Joyce Baker (click here for more photos.)

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:02:51 -0400

Pack rat that I am, I have a copy of the “Leaky Pen” which was the first school paper which we mimeographed on construction type paper and stapled in the corner. Mr. Browning liked it. He was our advisor and I suggested the name because I had seen it in some of my brother's college stuff. I was surprised that he took me seriously since I was only in 7th or 8th grade. We used to sit around, collectively, and answer the 'letters to the lovelorn' column. Ha ha, how simple we were in those times.

Do you remember that our prom theme was "Days of Wine and Roses"? I was in charge of seeing that everyone got their prom tickets. You got only one ticket if you were going with someone from Seneca but if your date was from another school, you got two as your date had to have a ticket as well. What was that about? Go figure.

Barbara Strauss, A Remembrance by Laura Potash Coleman

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:30:58 -0400

"When true friends meet in adverse hour;

'Tis like a sunbeam through a shower.

A watery way an instant seen,

The darkly closing clouds between."

- Sir Walter Scott

In 2003, it was a privilege to renew my friendship with Barbara Strauss. We walked through cancer at the same time. Barbara had lung cancer and I had lymphoma. She was incredible during the cancer process loaning me her courage. We spent hours on the telephone like we did when we were 14 years old.

At 14, we were slouching in our seats, practicing our smart alecky grin, and defiantly smoking cigarettes across the street or in the bathrooms at Seneca [oh, my…]. As adults with cancer, we made fun of the illness, treatments, baldness, radiation burns, nausea and other side effects, doctors, nurses and hospitals in the same rebellious way we made fun of our teachers at Seneca.

We laughed a lot into the last two weeks of her life. As always, Barbara

tried to give me all the credit for the laughter, not acknowledging any for herself. She was an intelligent, witty, creative, giving, loving and

delightful friend. She died the month I had my last chemotherapy. She is greatly missed.

Laura Potash Coleman

Looking Forward to Reconnecting by Bob Kilijian (click here for photos)

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:20:40 -0400

Attached are pictures of the entire family (albeit small) and one of

my wife and I with just our grand-children.

The reason I am sending these is I was really impressed with Don's family picture :-)

Looking forward to the Reunion and reconnecting!!!

An 8th Grade Remembrance by Harry Jacobson-Beyer

Mon, 26 May 2008 21:52:23 -0400

I love to sing. I sing in the shower, I sing in the car, and I sing in my home. I sing along to songs on the radio, to songs on my CDs, and to the songs in my head.

I love to sing but I do not sing well. I cannot carry a tune in the proverbial bucket. I sing for my own pleasure and the pleasure of my wife, who suffers through my singing without comment, and my dog, who leaves the room when I sing.

A seminal moment in my life occurred when I was in the eighth grade at Seneca High School. All 8th graders had to take music. It was my fate to be in Joe Ferguson's music class.

It was one of the first times we sang in Mr. Ferguson's class that I remember most vividly. We had come to a stopping point in the tune we were singing and Mr. Ferguson moved my seat next to that of Geraldine Rutter, who could sing. I suppose he hoped I would learn from her to carry a tune. Alas it was not to be. Eventually, Mr. Ferguson just asked me to mouth the words without vocalizing.

After high school I enlisted in the Navy. One of my Navy buddies, Dave Stokes (Dallas Texas), was a musician. He had played in his high school band and, as I recall, he had a very good voice. I remember his helping me to sing and I remember having had some success. It was only one lesson and I didn't practice nor did I retain any of what he taught me but it makes me wonder if it isn't possible for me to learn to sing.

Maybe I'll look for a singing teacher. Joe Ferguson would you like a second chance?

Harry Jacobson-Beyer

From Beverly Koloms

Mon, 26 May 2008 14:25:00 -0400

It's been great fun working on the reunion committee. Thanks to Brenda and

Marvin for taking on the leadership role and to everyone else who has put in

many hours to bring about a fun reunion weekend.

Special thanks to Harry for taking an already established website and making it better.

I look forward to seeing everyone in August.

Beverly Aron Koloms Tarbis

From Don Waddell (click here for photo)

Sat, 24 May 2008 12:36:50 -0400

Harry,

Love the beard. Congratulations on 33+ years of marriage! Thanks for setting up the Reunion website!

Attached family picture was taken last summer. I'm the bald headed one in the center. . .in case you wondered. To my left is Donald Ellis Waddell the Fifth.

God bless, Don

Posting to weblog

Sat, 24 May 2008 09:01:07 -0400

Well, I'm new to this whole weblog thing and I'm learning! It seems the comments are hosted off site. If you click on the comment link it opens another window with the comments and any photos that were attached to the comments. And you can comment on the comments

If you want to add an entry to the blog email me with your comments and photos and I will post them in the blog. Be sure to include your name, as it was in highschool, so we'll know who you were as well as who you are!

BTW-Clicking on an entries title will open the entry in its own window and show you the attached photos.

My email address is: harryjb@iglou.com