Attention Class of 1968

Gerry Burns is once again the chairperson of the reunion that will be held Oct. 18, 2014.  For more information, here is her contact information. gerib68@rcn.com

1969 Class Reunion Set for Oct. 18, 2014

BREAKING NEWS! 

 Class '68 Will Join Us

Janice Hansen Lake has just announced that the 45th Reunion for the Class of 1969 will be held October 18 at the Somerset Hills Hotel, Warren, NJ.  The following classmates are part of the reunion committee:  The class of 1969 reunion committee: Janice Hansen Lake (chair), John Cregar (art), Suzanne Dumont Millan, Carol Mingione Greene, Kathy Miller Senna, Emily Polskin Zylber, and Howard Polskin.  If your contact information has changed since the last Reunion or you would like to help produce the event, please contact Janice: JaniceHansenLake@gmail.com.  Also, the NPHS blog encourages classmates to send current pictures of you and your families, and any updates on what you've been doing since LBJ ruled Washington.  Send to: hpolskin@gmail.com.  Stay tuned for more updates.

Former NPHS Principal Edward Gibbs III Dies in January

He was 97 and he died at the Golden View Health Care Center, Meredith, N.H., on Thursday, January 31, 2013.  Mr. Gibbs became principal of NPHS in 1958 and he retired from education in 19734.

Read the full obituary here.

Maria Mijares Exhibits Paintings at Museum

Check out Maria Mijare's exhibition at the Morris Museum in Morristown, NJ, through the end of March.  Maria graduated in 1970 and her skill as an artist has only improved through the years.  There are more than 50 acrylic painting on display.  (The work above is Midnight Funnels.")  You can read more about the exhibit and her work as an artist in this recently published article.  Congratulations Maria!

More Sketches from Rod Lent

Here are more samples of the late Rod Lent's art work.  The sketch of the school (bottom) was drawn 1994.  It was used in the NPHS Class of 1969 Reunion brochure.  While it clearly depicts our alma mater, the drawing captures the simple yet sturdy nature of any small suburban high school.  It is a school for everyman (and woman) in any time.  The school could exist in any state in the union.  The Class of 1969 sketch (top) appears to show generic members of the class of 1969 in middle age....a little heavier, a little straighter, and some with a little less hair.  And we all seem to be sagging a bit from the everyday burdens of adulthood.

Rod Lent's Art Work

Janice Hansen Lake has sent me some of the late Rod Lent's art work.  Rod will be remembered by his classmates as a skillful and talented artist.  He created the art work for some of the reunion programs (notably the 25th).  I will try to post as much as possible.  Here are some of Rod's later works.

RIP Rod Lent, NPHS Class of 1969

Rod Lent died September 28, 2012.  Classmates may remember him as a talented artist and someone who was voted "Class Clown."  You can read more about him here.  Here's part of the obit:

Rodman R. Lent, Sr. died on Friday, September 28, 2012 at JFK Hospital in Edison. He was born in Plainfield, raised in North Plainfield and had lived in Maryland for several years before moving back to North Plainfield in 1964. 

Mr. Lent was a graduate of North Plainfield High School. 

Prior to his retirement he was a buyer for McJunkin, Inc. in Garwood. 

Rodman was an artist and an avid hobbyist, which included model trains, planes and cars. He also loved music and the outdoors, including looking for turtles and other wildlife. 

He is predeceased by his parents, Roscoe and Audrey Lent. 

Mr. Lent is survived by his wife of 35 years, Mildred Lent; his sons, Rodman Roy Lent, Jr. and Daniel William Lent, both of North Plainfield; his brothers, Roger Lent and his wife, Hallie and Ronald Lent and his wife, Joyce; his sisters, Cheryl Habegger and her husband, Ron, and Beth Dame and her husband, Joe. 

R.I.P. Coach Art Rikstad

Art Rikstad died February 27, 2012 in New Jersey.  He was 72. Read his obituary here.

NPHS Alumni Attend Funeral of Steve Belle on February 6

Steve Belle was buried Monday.  Among the alumni who attended according to the reports I’ve received:  John Cregar (and his brothers Mark and Matthew), Kathy Miller Senna, Bruce Jones (and his sister), Randy Reay, Vicki Blasucci and Maria Mijares.   According to Maria’s post on Facebook, the day ended with everyone singing the Roy Rogers/Dale Evans song, “Happy Trails to You (Until We Meet Again).” 

This blog received almost record-breaking traffic in the last six days.  It's a real tribute to Steve.  It shows how much he was loved by his classmates, how he touched their lives in a positive way, and how deeply the NPHS alumni community feels about the loss of one of its members. 

NPHS's Steve Belle, 1951-2012; More Photos

More images of Steve Belle, who died February 2.

 Steve on drums with his band Foxrush in 1975.

 Steve in Manasquan in 1980.  Great mustache, shades and sideburns.

Born to run.  Steve stands next to his awesome yellow convertible.  It looks like he's somewhere in the Black Forest after a long drive on the Autobahn; he's really in the Watchung Mountains.

Thank you John Cregar for supplying these photos.