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.

There's Got to Be a Morning After

Following an energetic night of dancing, drinking and reliving old memories, a hearty band of NPHS reunion party-goers managed to make it to breakfast at the hotel on the morning (9 a.m.!) of October 19.  Check out these early risers.

Dressed to thrill:  Some of the leading ladies from the NPHS class of 1968 are locked and loaded Sunday morning, ready to greet the day.  (From left to right): Nancy Waller, Judy Nazemetz, Linda Shebey Luegers, Gerry Garatino Burns, and Adrienne Jacobs Graubard (foreground).  

Dude, where's my car?  NPHS Reunion scribe Howard Polskin searches for his car Sunday morning outside the hotel.  He later discovered he took a cab from Manhattan to the reunion.  (Not really!)

Scrambled memories or scrambled eggs?  Bob Kelley and Judy Nazemetz take a minute to recall some of the high points of the Saturday night reunion.  

Sister Act:  Jill Marks Hix and Noel Marks (brother and sister) enjoy their early morning breakfast.  

Wayne's World:  Wayne DiNardo chows down Sunday morning after keeping the midnight oil burning Saturday night.  

Lights!....Cameras!....Advil!.....I Mean Action!

Steven Greene, the talented and resourceful husband of Carol Mingione Greene, has produced a wonderful 30-minute+ video of the October 18, NPHS Reunion.  You can check it by clicking here.

NPHS Reunion Postings Will Continue the Weekend of Oct. 24

Classmates:

I'm away on business but the blog is always on my mind.  I'll start posting more images from the Oct.18 reunion festivities on the weekend of Oct. 24.  Many thanks to everyone who sent in photos.  If people have some good shots, please forward to me (electronically!).

Howard
hpolskin@gmail.com

Saturday Night Fever Continues

We're getting lots of NPHS reunion photos from classmates who attended the festivities Saturday, October 18.  Here are a few more.

Wendy Perslin Trimarche and Bill Thompson.  Wendy moved to another town in New Jersey and never graduated from NPHS, but she retains many cherished friendships with North Plainfield friends. 

Sandra Koflanovich Jantz and  Suzanne Dumont Millan.

Bill Orloff and Doug MacNeil.

Richard Muglia recalls his experiences as a lawyer in London while talking with Nancy Eddy Hanna.  Richard recently moved back to the States.  

Tongue in cheek?  Claire Cox Krusch (left, class of 1970) mixes it up with upper classmen (from left to right), Sue Peterson Hondru, John Dandeo, Patty Smith Dandeo, and Susan Eddy Hey.