RIP Dave Mills, Class of 1969

Dave was named class athlete and was celebrated in this yearbook photo.

Dave died November 11, 2017.  Services will be held Friday November 17, from 4-6 p.m. at Saul Funeral Homes, 3795 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690.  Phone number: 609-587-0170.  Remembrances from classmates are welcome at the service.  Here the link to his obituary.

Dave at the 2009 reunion.  He was looking forward to the 2018 reunion and wanted to attend.

Dave snags a pass for the NPHS Canucks in this clipping from  The Courier News.

NPHS Reunion Interview: Gerry Burns, Class of 1968

Gerry tackles another adventure on a zipline in the Poconos in 2015.  

What was your sense of community in your class/in the school at NPHS?  

Gerry Burns:  The Class of 1968 was a very close class. As with every class, there were different groups of kids who hung out together based on interests and personalities.  There were so many of us were involved in extracurricular activities based on our interests and NPHS had a lot to choose from.   Clubs were very popular and attendance was strong.  Friendships were very important to us and club involvement fostered friendships that I still have to this day.

What experiences in high school, positive or negative, helped to shape you as a person? 

Gerry Burns:  My involvement in extracurricular activities and the encouragement I got from my teachers had a great impact.  I was a quiet, shy, average student going into NPHS.  I became not only a participant in many activities, but a leader of several clubs.  My grades also improved.  It really is true that the more you get involved the better your grades become… at least it worked for me.  I think it forced me to organize my time and to learn to work with different personalities.   I’m very organized to this day and like helping others.  I still volunteer in several venues within my community.   

Do you have any regrets about your experiences during your high school years? 

Gerry Burns:  No regrets.  I loved NPHS!!! My days at NPHS were some of the best days of my life!  I just wish my own children had been able to experience high school as I did.

Now, 50 years later, has your perspective on your high school years changed at all?  If so, how? 

Gerry Burns:  I still have fond memories of my days at NPHS and that’s why I’ve enjoyed planning our reunions for all the years.  I know we can never go back but honesty, sometimes I wish we could.  The world is so different now, I know we heard our parents say that of us in the ‘60s, but life is so more demanding now that I feel like kids can’t be kids.  I feel like they don’t interact person to person like we did without electronics and social media.  There’s a lot to be said for the personal touch.

What is your fondest memory of your years at NPHS?  

Gerry Burns:  School Spirit!  We were so proud of our school.  We had fun!  We valued our friendships.  I truly loved our community of North Plainfield, so much that I raised my three children there too.  

What was the craziest or stupidest thing you did in high school?  

Gerry Burns:  I cut Mr. Maurer’s 8^th period chorus class the day of the junior prom to get my hair done. Other girls did the same.   He never took attendance and I never cut a class before so I thought nothing of it.  Well, he took attendance that day and I got caught.  Almost got kicked off the majorette squad.  Never cut class again!

What was your proudest accomplishment in high school?  

Gerry Burns:  Trying out and being selected to the Majorette Squad and then becoming Captain.  

Who was your favorite teacher? 

Gerry Burns:  Without a doubt, Ethel Abrams – She was so supportive and encouraged me to be the best I can be.  I remember being told by my guidance counselor that I would never make it in college because of low SAT scores.  Mrs. Abrams told me to never give up.  She told me everyone has something to contribute.  She encouraged me to follow my dreams.  I proved that counselor wrong, graduated college and became a nurse and community leader in my home town.  I’m so glad I was able to thank her in person several times after college.  She was truly a gift from God.

What was your worst class? 

Chemistry with Mr. Sankus.  I struggled in that class.  He was very nice person, but his teaching style was way above the grasp of high school students.  I felt like he taught more on a college level.  I loved science though, especially Biology and Advanced Biology with Mrs. Martin.  She was a terrific science teacher.  I learned so much from these two classes.  I always wanted to be a nurse. My love for biology and the preparation I had at NPHS certainly helped me with college anatomy and physiology.  

What is your most powerful or haunting memory during your years at NPHS? 

Gerry Burns:  It was actually in 8^th grade when the announcement of JFK’s death came over the PA system.  Always remember I was sitting in Mrs. Nix’s 8^th period English class.  Those next 4 days will be in my memory forever.

Graduation from Middlesex County
College in 1971.  Gerry went on to
become a licensed RN in NJ.  

Hello from the Holy Land

Joe Harari, NPHS class of 1969

NPHS classmate Joe Harari poses on the top of Masada, an ancient fortification in Israel located on top of a barren rock plateau overlooking the Dead Sea.  Joe was there this spring.  

Aloha from Franco (Frank) Tramontano

Franco (Frank Tramontano and Richard Muglia (right), May 21, 2015

Richard Muglia spent the evening of May 21, 2015, celebrating the graduation of classmate Franco Tramontano's son Rocco (see photo below with POTUS) from the United States Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut.  The picture above was taken at a house Franco rented in New London, CT,  so he could attend the graduation.  Franco, a long-time resident of Hawaii (he rocks a good Hawaiian shirt in this photo if you didn't notice), invited friends to a luau the night after the graduation.  According to Richard, there were two other Hawaiians in Rocco's class so there was a great feast that included native hula dancing led by Franco's daughter Nicole.

Franco moved to Hawaii in the mid-70s and taught there for many years.  Rocco will be stationed in Hawaii so the family will be reunited.

Richard hadn't seen Franco since the night before he and his family sailed for England in 1994 but he stayed in contact with Franco through the years.

By the way, we heard that Franco loves visitors so let me put this out there: 50th class reunion in the 50th state?  We've got a man on the ground in Hawaii who just might be able to help us.

Rocco Tramontano and President Barack Obama. Congratulations Rocco!

RIP Nelson Ernest, 1/10/24-2/21/15, NPHS Music Teacher Who Hit the Right Notes with Students

Nelson Ernest, dedicated North Plainfield High School music teacher

Nelson Ernest, former North Plainfield High School music teacher for more than 40 decades died in Pennsylvania on Feb. 21, 2015.  He was 91 years old.  Here's the obituary.  Please feel free to add comments below about your memories of Mr. Ernest. He was kind, gentle, patient and his love of music was obvious.

RIP Dr. Ronald Schneider, May 13, 1951 - January 2, 2015

Dr. Ron Schneider

Ron Schneider, North Plainfield High School class of 1969, died January 2, 2015, in LaCrosse, WI. He was surrounded by his family according to this obituary.  He leaves behind his wife Michelle, two children and four step children.  He was the Section Chief and Program Director of Gundersen Health Oral and Maxillo Facial Surgery in Wisconsin.

Ron and his wife Michelle attended the October 2014 reunion.

If classmates have any remembrances about Ron, please post below or send to me and I will post (hpolskin@gmail.com).

Joe Harari, NPHS class of 1969 writes: It was sad to read of Ron's passage.  He looked good in the picture, as I remember him from school.  We shall all miss our QB.   

Ron and his wife Michelle at the cocktail party an hour before the 2015 NPHS class of 1969 reunion.

Selfies Are SO Funny!

Hey!  What's so funny?  Diane Broccoletti Leonard (left), Carol Mingione Greene (center) and Robin Roselle Oratio take the time to snap a selfie (above) and then crack up (below).

Two-Fers!

While the NPHS Reunion was an ongoing hub of chatter and nonstop mingling, many people took time to seek out an old friend and engage in a quieter conversation.   Here are just a few examples:

Girls Named Sue (sort of):  Susan Krisburg (left) and Suzanne Dumont Millan

Gary Garwacke and Linda Allen Dickert

Gary Garwacke (again!) and Beverly Gaston Kochard

Suzanne Dumont Millan (again!) and Emily Polskin Zylber (right)

Stony Brook alumni Paul Auerbach (left) and John Cregar.

Marilyn Gross Stillman (left) and Nancy Eddy Hanna

Dance Fever

The dancing never stopped at the NPHS Reunion on October 18, 2014.  If the DJ didn't leave at midnight -- who knows? -- maybe everyone would still be dancing today.  Check out the action.

Greg and Janice Hansen Lake take a moment from dancing to pose for the camera

Greg and Janice Hansen Lake slow things down along with other classmates including Wendy Perslin (left) and Marilyn Gross Stillman (right).   They might have been dancing to a song from The Righteous Brothers.  

Howard Polskin and Kathy Miller Senna share a chuckle with Emily Polskin Zylber.

Dancing cheek to cheek: Bob Kelley and  Kris Delunas (left) and Ron  and Michelle Schneider 

Women in white:  Wendy Perslin (center) kicks into high gear along with Kris Delunas (left).

Once around the horn with the Melhorns:  Carl and Carolyn do their thing.  

Hello from Dave Mills...Who Still Has a Crew Cut

Dave Mills at the 2009 NPHS reunion.

I received a touching email from Dave Mills, NPHS class of 1969, who was unable to make the reunion.  I've taken the liberty of including the note below with a few minor edits.  The note was sent to me by his wife Jay who has not only patience but a good sense of humor.  She wrote, "I am writing this for Dave Mills.  He hasn't come into the 20th century yet...."

Dear classmates:

I missed the reunion.  I thought it was in November, not October.  That's what happens when you're 64.  I was happy to see the video spent most of the time focusing on cleavage not name tags.  Looks like everyone had a good time and I'm sorry I missed it.

I live in Robbinsville (east of Princeton and Trenton).  My wife Jay typed this note.  If I typed it, it wouldn't be completed until 2015.  I miss all the gang.  Everybody looked good.  I will be sure to circle the date on the calendar for the next reunion no matter how years pass. I may be 64, but I am still in the game.

Best wishes and regards,

#40
Dave

PS -- I still have a crew cut.