West High Class of 1983

Sad News for Ron Holmes

2009-05-29T21:43:00.006-04:00

We've tried to email as many people as possible and we know that the word has spread, but for anyone who may not have heard, Ron Holmes' wife, Liza, passed away on May 21. She had some kind of infection (Ron said she tested negative for swine flu) and had been in the hospital for a day or two.

Ron and Liza have an infant son, Harrison, and Ron plans to stay in Brooklyn to raise him. A memorial service is being held on Saturday, May 30 at 4 PM at 199 Carol Street in Brooklyn.

If you would like to send a note to Ron, you can reach him at:

Ronald F. Holmes, Jr.
82 3rd Place
Brooklyn, NY 11231

Email: holmesronald8@gmail.com

I hope Ron won't mind, but I grabbed a few photos from his Facebook page to share here. Our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to you, Ron.

Hometown News

2008-12-28T20:16:00.002-05:00

For those of you who have moved away (like me) who may not have been home visiting family this past weekend, I thought you might like to know that there was a fire that completely destroyed Sorge's Restaurant. Here is a link to the story in the Star-Gazette, and here are a few photos I took Saturday afternoon.

New Photos!

2008-10-31T20:26:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone - Daryl Edwards has posted some photos on his Facebook page. Usually you have to be registered with Facebook and have a profile in order to view other profiles, but I think Daryl may have relaxed his permissions because I was able to access the entire album using this link:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=2007586&id=1392224053&ref=mf

Try copying and pasting the link into your browser and check out the photos. Let me know if you have problems and I'll try posting them here or giving you another work around. Enjoy - there are some good candids.

Sorry I Missed You ...

2008-08-09T08:14:00.003-04:00

... a note from Denise Auckland-Martin:

Thanks for organizing a 25th reunion. I am so disappointed I can't be there! My son was in the hospital over the weekend and now has to have a procedure on Friday. And my dad is having a surprise 70th birthday party for my mom on Sunday. So my leaving Ohio for New York this weekend would not go over very well with the family!

I hope you all have a great time. If you do any kind of directory or have pictures you could forward, I would love to be included. I hope you are doing well...give my best to everyone there!

Denise Auckland-Martin

Seeing Double

2008-08-05T20:58:00.002-04:00

This one won't be hard to figure out ... they look exactly the same, don't you think?

Guess Who?

2008-08-03T09:48:00.001-04:00

Time for another photo from the reunion festivities!

Name those classmates!

A Message from Scott Van Etten

2008-08-02T16:52:00.000-04:00

Hey Classmates,

Sorry I missed the 25th reunion. It looks like you all had a great time...And from the pictures posted I'm glad to see that I am not the only one with grey hair!

I was one of the graduates that came back to Corning after college and am still happy with that decision. I am single (couldnt find anyone that would marry me) and unfortunately don't have any kids. Just nieces and nephews that I spoil sufficiently.Got my Finance degree from RIT, and an MBA from SU. I was a Controller (bean counter) for 17 years and then Corning Inc. gave me a chance to get into Sales. So thats what I have been doing for the past 3 years.

As you might expect I still live in Caton and finished my 16th year as the Town Supervisor in 2007. I gave that up and am now a Legislator with Steuben County. I also own a couple of businesses and have dabbled in the real estate market.

My passion is skeet shooting. I do it year round and compete in registered tournaments all summer long (hence the reason I missed the reunion). I have won a couple NYS championships over the years and hope to win a world title someday. I've tried auto racing, and I've tried golf but there is nothing as exhilerating as turning a clay target into a cloud of dust with a shot gun. I guess we all have our "bad habits."

I'll try to find a picture of me before I blew up like the Michelin Man and send it along. Feel free to drop me a note via email. Hope to hear from some of my old friends and maybe, just maybe I'll make the 30th reunion.

Take care.

Burmeister partying too hard?

2008-07-30T19:43:00.000-04:00

Now, that is a 25 year-old tradition!

As we were playing kick-ball, our formative years came back into focus. For me, those years happened in a nice place full of good people. Thank you for refreshing my memory. In general, I tend towards the cynical, but our gathering has infused me with a hopeful nostalgia.

Perhaps, I'm still hung over.

Either way, thanks and much love.

Kurt

This Just In ...

2008-07-29T20:53:00.000-04:00

I just stumbled upon the update for the class reunion. I am sooo sorry I’ve been out of touch and missed it altogether. It looks like it was great fun. I enjoyed seeing pictures of everyone. I live in Littleton, Colorado and have been married to a great guy named Kevin for 10 years and have six year old twins Max (boy of course) and Sloane (my little girl). I will send pictures soon but wanted to touch base with you first. You all looked happy and healthy I would love to catch up with everyone next time we have a get together. My parents still live in Caton and I go back to visit them often. I hope you are doing well also and I am excited to hear from you soon - send me some email and tell me what's been going on with you.

All the best,

Melanie Rittler Petrasek (accent in the middle)

From Near and Far

2008-07-28T21:11:00.000-04:00

They came from California and the Carolinas, Rochester and Rhode Island. Some people were instantly recognizable - like these three lovely ladies:

Becky, Mary and Jan - you haven't changed a bit!

The Class of 1983 is in the (Wood)House!

2008-07-27T21:33:00.000-04:00

What an impressive showing! By one count we had 52 classmates drop by the Woodhouse on Friday, July 25 to kick off our 25th reunion weekend. How many people do you recognize?

We'll keep posting photos here so keep checking back and please send in your own photos and notes for posting. You can email Kim Gross for login information if you'd like to create your own post, or just send a message telling her that you'd like the message/photo posted on the blog.

Just Passing Through ...

2008-07-24T21:04:00.000-04:00

Brian Ashley just happened to be passing through Corning (he lives in Texas) and saw the notice about our 25th reunion. He sent the following note:

I happened to be in the area on vacation and noticed in the Leader that there was a 25 year reunion going on for the Class of '83. My wife, son and I already had plans to be in Lake Placid over the weekend and I cannot attend the reunion, but I would like to get on the mailing list if that is possible. I did not see my name on the missing list and I do not remember getting any mailer, so I wanted to get you my contact information. If you put out future mailers please add me to your list of WHS Class of 1983 Graduates. You can put me on your e-mail list if you have one that you use to inform people of Class of 1983 events. Thanks and have a great time at the Reunion Festivities.

You can email Brian and I've asked him to send some photos.

High School Sweethearts

2008-07-23T21:53:00.000-04:00

Bill McKendrick and Chris Rand dated a few times in high school and then went their separate ways ... for 20 years. In early August 2003 they returned for their 20th high school reunion, and what a reunion it was! Sparks flew, a relationship was rekindled and lo and behold just five short years later, they are married with children! Enjoy these family photos.

Three J's (Jan, Jeff and Jessica Taylor)

2008-07-20T11:29:00.000-04:00

We heard from Janice (Wolverton) Taylor. She is coming back for the reunion with her husband Jeff and daughter Jessica Lynn.

Here are photos for those of you who won't be attending, and you can contact Jan via email.

Janice (Wolverton) Taylor with her husband Jeff and daughter Jessica Lynn Taylor.

Like mother, like daughter!

Cheers to You

2008-07-20T11:21:00.000-04:00

A note from Joy Tobelmann:

I’m sorry I’m going to miss the class reunion this year – it’s right during a work event this summer. I would have loved to come back to Corning and see everyone … maybe another year!

Please email me for my contact information. Also attached are a couple pictures of my family; I hope you all have a great time!

Joy (Tobelmann) Fletcher

Family Photo – last fall (11/07) Rod, Joy, Jaclyn (born 2/1/07) and our bichon, Brinkley!

Jaclyn already learning how to clap like a cheerleader!

A Foreign Exchange

2008-07-20T11:13:00.000-04:00

Cara Paola,

Ci dispiace che abbiamo prenduto tanto tempo a trovarti!Ti invitiamo al West High School classa di 1983 anno 25 riunione, che sará 25 e 26 luglio.Sapiamo c'é un viaggio lungo e caro per qualcuno chi deve traversare un oceano. Per favore, accetta le nostre apologie per la notifica tardata.Con quest' email é un invito e orario. Non ti preoccupa il modulo, puoi rispondere per email. Speriamo di vederti a presto!

I tuoi amici,

WHS Class of '83 Reunion Committee

Translation:

Dear Paola,

We are sorry to have taken so long to find you! You're invited to the West High School class of 1983 25-year reunion on July 25 and 26. We know it is a very long and expensive trip for someone who has to cross an ocean. Please accept our apologies for the late notice. Attached is an invitation and schedule. Don't worry about the form, you can reply by email.

Hope to see you soon!

Your friends,

WHS Class of '83 Reunion Committee

Glenn Abbey took a stab at his Italian and sent the above message to Paola Tedde who was a foreign exchange student during our senior (?) year. Paola is now living and working in Germany. She has her own web site and can be reached via email. Here's the note we received back from Paola:

Hey you guys what a nice surprise!!!!

Thank you very much for searching me and sending me your invitation. I presume you have googled me in order to find me...right? Pity that I will not make it. It is really impossible for me. But thank you anyway....Let's hope I make it for the 30st reunion.

Glenn what made you learning italian? What are you all doing in life? Todd [Cook, Class 0f 1984]how are you? Are you still dancing? How are your parents? Keep in touch and let me know.

Warmest greetings to all of you from rainy Germany -

Paola

Randy Kinner Says Hello

2008-07-20T10:34:00.000-04:00

Hope everyone is well. I am sorry I have not made it to any of our reunions. they always come around when I have very little time or cash to make the trip back to see everyone. Please feel free to give my email address to anyone from our graduating class and tell them to put their name in the subject line.

God Bless and Hope everyone enjoys themselves. It been a long time and I would love to see others.

Take care,

Randy

Join Us for Our 25th Reunion

2008-07-16T21:09:00.000-04:00

The Corning Painted Post West High School Class of 1983 is celebrating its 25th Reunion July 25-26, 2008. Richard Vang has set up a web page with all of the details, a list of those expected and a lost list. We hope you can make it, but even if you can't, we'll try to share the details with you here.

Because we were a little late in the planning, we weren't able to send out a questionaire to find out what everyone has been up to. We invite you to share your stories and photos here and we'll have a virtual reunion that will last beyond one weekend.

Thanks to Scott Van Etten for prompting us to follow through on this idea. So, Scott, start us out - what have you been up to?