NPHS 2011 Hall of Fame Dinner Set for Oct. 15 at Italian American Club

Heads up classmates. For those of you who don't know, there is an NPHS Hall of Fame...and of course a Hall of Fame dinner as well. The dinner is scheduled for Oct. 15 at the Italian American Club on Somerset Street. Yep...it's still standing and I'm sure some of us even went to dances there. Inductees at this year's dinner include Dr. Robert Champman (class of 67; medicine); Howard Polskin (that would be me in the journalism and business category); Ernie Jaeger (former English teacher and a wonderful one at that); Dick Williams (class of 62, government service; and Steve Smith (class of 88, government and politics). Former members of our class who have previously been inducted include Glenda Dove, music; Vince O'Neil, athletics; Gerry Burns, community service; Dr. Chuck Gomer, medical research; Richard Searl, athletics; Dr. Paul Auerbach, medicine; Virginia Rojas, education, Harry Brian Lewis, music; and Beverly Gaston Kochard, education. So here's the important part. If you're interested in attending, the price is only $30 a person! You get a meal, great acceptance speeches ghost-written by Jon Stewart and Bill Maher (apparently NPHS has a huge budget for these things), and a ton of 60s flashbacks. Contact Fred Sheeler (fsheeler@gmail.com). The festivities start at 6 p.m. You can pay at the door but it's best if Fred knows how many people are coming in advance so the caterer knows what to cook. See you there!

R.I.P. Kathleen Gibbs Erickson

From Gerry Burns' Facebook newsfeed, I learned the sad news that Kathleen Biggs Erickson died on June 9. She was a graduate of the NPHS Class of 1968. Here's the obit from the Courier News.


KATHLEEN H.
ERICKSON
AGE: 60 MANVILLE
Kathleen H. "Kathy" (Gibbs) Erickson, 60, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville surrounded by her loving and supportive family, after a long courageous struggle with cancer. Born in Mt. Vernon, NY, she grew up in North Plainfield and moved to Manville with her children in 1992. Kathy was a Certified and Registered Dental Assistant where she worked for many local dental offices over the years as well as teaching dental instruction at Somerset County Technical Institute in Bridgewater. Raising her children alone as a single mother, Kathy worked additional jobs to make ends meet; she was a crossing guard for Manville and a cashier at the Manville Rag Shop and Hillsborough Shop Rite. Kathy was a faithful communicant of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Manville where she volunteered at many of the church events, especially the summer festivals where she sold 50/50's. Kathy was a former President for the Manville First Aid & Rescue Squad Auxiliary and a member of Thomas J. Kavanaugh, VFW Post #2290 Ladies Auxiliary. Kathy loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She enjoyed trips to Atlantic City, going to the movies as well as reading books, knitting, crocheting and planting flowers. Kathy will always be remembered for her friendly and beautiful smile.
Kathy is predeceased by her brother-in-law Dennis Carovillano, Sr. who passed away on January 10, 2010. Kathy leaves behind her children: Karin Erickson of Bridgewater, Donald Erickson of New Hampshire, Darryl and his wife Rikki Erickson, Brian Erickson and his long time girlfriend Diana Weaver all of Manville and Danny Erickson and his fiancée Becky Borawski formerly of Manville. She also leaves behind her grandchildren; Elizabeth, Anesa and DJ Erickson; her parents William and Eileen (Jankowski) Gibbs of Raritan and her siblings: Linda Carovillano of Raritan, Michael and his wife Georgette Gibbs of Bridgewater, Bill and Theresa Gibbs of Lincoln Park and Dawn and Wayne Barry of Raritan. Kathy will be missed by her many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends all whose lives she has touched.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 14, 2010 beginning 11:00 am at Fucillo & Warren Funeral Home, 205 South Main Street, Manville, NJ 08835 followed by a 12:00 pm funeral liturgy at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Manville. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery located in Hillsborough. Family and friends are invited to attend the visitation at the funeral home on Sunday, June 13, 2010 from 12-3 pm and 6-9 pm and on Monday from 9:00 am until service time. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the family would be greatly appreciated. To send condolences to the family or to sign an online guest book, please visit www.FucilloandWarrenFuneralHome.com.

Music Video Shot in Downtown Plainfield

Front Street sure has changed. Check out this great music video from Plainfield's original Doughboys. Lots of scenes from Front Street (hey....who removed the Surprise Store? Where's Park Gentry? And whaddabout Teppers?) One thing hasn't changed though. The Doughboys still make great music. This is a top notch rock 'n' roll song....sounds a bit like J. Geils Band. Only better. Thanks to John Cregar for passing this along to me.

More on Paul Auerbach's Efforts in Haiti

Here's an image of Dr. Paul Auerbach (NPHS class of 1969) who had collapsed in exhaustion after helping scores of Haitians in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. He's generated a lot of content about his efforts and when you read and hear his accounts (there's a particularly good podcast) you can't help but deeply admire his commitment to helping those in need....and his life-saving skills that are so necessary in a medical crisis. Here's his brief account of why he fainted: "Just after noon, when the meeting ended, my body finally told me to stop. I was exhausted and queasy, and so went to our headquarters and lay down on the ground. The nurses started an IV in my arm, and it took 9 full liters of IV fluid before I was able to sit up and have the lights go back on. As my wrestling coach in high school used to say, 'Paul, you don’t need to win, just don’t get pinned.' I lifted by right shoulder up and chuckled. My coach would have been proud of me." You can read the full story here. If you're interested in drilling deeper, just google "Paul Auerbach Haiti." There's a lot there.

Paul Auerbach Aids Haitain Relief Effort (1/30/10)

I'm just receiving word that Paul Auerbach used his considerable emergency medicine skills to aid in the Haitain relief effort. I'll try to get more details and post in the next few days. Here's some video from a local San Francisco TV station that interviewed Paul.

R.I.P -- David Giesa

This piece of sad news came in this morning on the NPHS Alumni Grapevine. From Noel Marks to Carol Mingione to Emily Polskin Zylber. Noel wrote Carol to report that he had received a Christmas card from Pat Giesa, David's wife. The card said that David died last summer after his struggle with ALS (aka....Lou Gehrig's disease). Noel hadn't talked to David in many years but they did exchange Christmas cards. David had been living in Tampa. He had two daughters. From Mingione: "A very sweet man." She added that he grew up in the East End. David graduated with the class of 1969.

If anyone has a photo of him or a fond memory, I would be glad to post.

2009 NPHS Hall of Fame Inductees

From left to right: Danny Caruso, accepting on behalf of Terry Silverlight (music), class of 1975; Dr. Joseph Scarola (medicine), class of 1965; the Reverend Doctor Grover G. DeVault (Military, Ministry and Community Service), class of 1948; Beverly Gaston Kochard (education), NPHS class of 1969; and Carol Pines, accepting on behalf of her sister-in-law the late Ethel Abrams (education), class of 1935.

And from the NPHS Class of 1970....

From left: Claire Cox (maiden name) andCarl Delgyer

Claire Cox and Ruth Shapack. They traveled together from North Carolina to attend Ethel Abrams' induction into the NPHS Hall of Fame. Ruth knew Ethel from her college days and was one of her oldest friends. Claire and Ruth see each other often in North Carolina.

Honoring Ethel Abrams, NPHS Hall of Famer

Gerry Garatino Burns provided the night's most stirring moments with a powerful, emotional and dead-on accurate assessment of what Ethel Abrams meant to her students. (Gerry above with NPHS principal Jerard Stephenson and Ethel Abrams' sister-in-law Carol Pines.) Gerry recapped Mrs. Abrams' career (and she will be forever Mrs. Abrams -- not Ethel -- in my mind) starting with her first job as a social investigator for the New Jersey State Board of Child Welfare in Newark. Never knew that. After a few more fascinating biographical details, Gerry launched into the meat of her speech.

She was an extraordinary woman who loved and cared for every student who crossed her path. She always saw the good in everyone. She had such compassion for those who suffered and always extended a hand or shoulder to those in need. She was a teacher whose day extended long beyond the classroom. Always there whenever a student needed to talk, needed some guidance, or needed a friend. She taught us to never give up, set goals and reach for the stars.

Ask me who my favorite teacher was...I'll answer Mrs. Abrams. And I've heard that answer over and over from many NPHS graduates. It was Mrs. Abrams who brought me out of my shell, encouraging me to get involved outside the classroom and join clubs. It is because of her that I had the confidence to become a leader in high school, pursue a career as a nurse and later become a community leader in North Plainfield.

Why Beverly Gaston Kochard Was Inducted into NPHS Hall of Fame

A few of you have written me asking about Bev's accomplishments. So here's why she was such an outstanding addition to the NPHS Alumni Hall of Fame. (Above: Beverly with Dick McKenna, who introduced her and showered her with praise, and NPHS principal Jerard Stephenson.) She is Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Moravian College. That means she's responsible for Moravian's residence life, which includes....like....uh...everything! Greek life, career development, student activities, student conduct, campus safety. To be inducted, one must be distinguished in the fields of medicine, education, the military and community service, music and entertainment.

Other classmates of ours who made the NPHS HOF include: Glennda Dove, Vince O'Neil, Gerry Garatino Burns, Dr. Charles Gomer, Richard Searl, Dr. Paul Auerbach, Maria Mijares (class of 1970 but she was at the dinner Saturday so let's mention it), Jan Leah Cooper Lamb, Virginai Rojas, and Harry Lewis.