It's one thing to walk through your old neighborhood and bump into someone you knew decades ago - that's practically expected. For instance, walking up my old street a few years ago, I spent 15 minutes reminiscing with Phyllis Muhr's Mom, Phoebe. And that evening I attended my nephew's wedding and reception - his sister (my niece) was with her best High School friend - who was actually Debbie (Binder) Harty's daughter. (BTW, Debbie, your daughter is as beautiful as you.) When my father passed away in late 1993 - I found the chance to trade letters with Lynn Piat - whose parents were close to my own.
It's quite something else to discover a connection to one's past hundreds or even thousands of miles away. In 1984 and '85, when I was home from my offshore drilling rig on the Gulf, I became involved with a faith-based prison ministry with a fellow named Jack Easterwood. Jack invited me to accompany him on a trip up to Huntsville, to minster and also transport some newly released inmates to Houston Intercontinental so these guys could fly home to their respective loved ones. In the course of the day, I noticed a poster and it named Alex Taylor as the chief Chaplain. I dismissed it as coincidence - after all, I know many men named Alex and Taylor's a fairly common surname. Just a few years ago, Chris Green mentioned Alex in an e-mail - and I realized how close I had come to meeting Alex himself during my days in Texas.
During that same time period, I spent one short afternoon on a small drilling rig
operating for Shell or Texaco, I cannot exactly recall - that afternoon I noticed a framed certicate on the wall of the galley, denoting the rig's Declaration of Seaworthiness - and I recognized the signature - it was signed by Timothy Cerniglia - the handwriting was an exact match to the autograph he placed in my eight grade memory book from St Hugh's. I soon forgot about this 'encounter' but it remained buried deep somewhere in my rapidly fading memory. Thanks to Richie Smith, Katie and others instrumental in this site and its administration, the Cerniglia handwriting 'sighting' surfaced in my mind, so I searched him out and found this:
I'm not 100% sure - but this attorney is the right age, and so I've e-mailed him
this evening through his firm contact info - and await his reply. I fully realize that some of our classmates may not want to be found - so be it - but we should reach out with open arms anyway.
I'm certain my own chance encounters with the past aren't unique - that
others here have had their own as well - and I was thinking it'd be good
thread material. So whose name or face did YOU bump into far from home?
I hadn't seen Chris (now Christie) Green,who lives in northern CA, for 15 or 20 years before 1999. I (formerly Kim, now Kimberley) lived in Manhattan at the time and in early 1999 wrote Christie a letter... a flutter of emails ensued between us. During one communication, I mentioned that I was going to St. John in April. She immediately wrote back that she was going to St. John in April. Low and behold we were there at the same time and got together!!! The funniest thing about this was BY COMPLETE COINCIDENCE we were already scheduled on the same flight home--as she was traveling through NY to CA. Turns out the flight out of St. John was delayed 11 hours. All the passengers, held prisioner at the gate with promises of departure every hour or so... commiserated, bonded and partied for those 11 hours!!! Turns out I would have met up with Chris at the airport gate even if we hadn't connected 2 mos earlier! Looking for photos of that scene!!! It was a riot!
That's pretty amazing that you were booked on the same flight - I mean, what were the chances?
One more path crossing I'd like to relate (not 1968 related) was told to me by a woman named Cheri, an ex-WAF Russian linguist whom I helped train in Berlin. I met her again at a Houston party in 1983. Cheri was from Texas and after her USAF tour, began to patrol the border near Laredo. Patrolling with her one night in 1982 was a guy named Ronnie, from Poughkeepsie. Cheri mentioned to him that 'I know a guy from New York - did you know Vaughn Olson?' Ronnie casually replied. 'Yeah, but I knew his sister Jeanne better - we dated at Hofstra!'
I was close friends with Christie Green's brother, Rod - my Mom was quite fond of him although we got into much trouble together....
It's one thing to walk through your old neighborhood and bump into someone you knew decades ago - that's practically expected. For instance, walking up my old street a few years ago, I spent 15 minutes reminiscing with Phyllis Muhr's Mom, Phoebe. And that evening I attended my nephew's wedding and reception - his sister (my niece) was with her best High School friend - who was actually Debbie (Binder) Harty's daughter. (BTW, Debbie, your daughter is as beautiful as you.) When my father passed away in late 1993 - I found the chance to trade letters with Lynn Piat - whose parents were close to my own.
It's quite something else to discover a connection to one's past hundreds or even thousands of miles away. In 1984 and '85, when I was home from my offshore drilling rig on the Gulf, I became involved with a faith-based prison ministry with a fellow named Jack Easterwood. Jack invited me to accompany him on a trip up to Huntsville, to minster and also transport some newly released inmates to Houston Intercontinental so these guys could fly home to their respective loved ones. In the course of the day, I noticed a poster and it named Alex Taylor as the chief Chaplain. I dismissed it as coincidence - after all, I know many men named Alex and Taylor's a fairly common surname. Just a few years ago, Chris Green mentioned Alex in an e-mail - and I realized how close I had come to meeting Alex himself during my days in Texas.
During that same time period, I spent one short afternoon on a small drilling rig
operating for Shell or Texaco, I cannot exactly recall - that afternoon I noticed a framed certicate on the wall of the galley, denoting the rig's Declaration of Seaworthiness - and I recognized the signature - it was signed by Timothy Cerniglia - the handwriting was an exact match to the autograph he placed in my eight grade memory book from St Hugh's. I soon forgot about this 'encounter' but it remained buried deep somewhere in my rapidly fading memory. Thanks to Richie Smith, Katie and others instrumental in this site and its administration, the Cerniglia handwriting 'sighting' surfaced in my mind, so I searched him out and found this:
I'm not 100% sure - but this attorney is the right age, and so I've e-mailed him
this evening through his firm contact info - and await his reply. I fully realize that some of our classmates may not want to be found - so be it - but we should reach out with open arms anyway.
I'm certain my own chance encounters with the past aren't unique - that
others here have had their own as well - and I was thinking it'd be good
thread material. So whose name or face did YOU bump into far from home?
Vaughn,
Jack Easterwood was a volunteer at the prison where I was the Chaplain from 1984-95. I always escorted him in and participated in his services. You should have gone with him.
Hi Alex. Yeah, it would've been nice had things worked out that way. On this particular visit, we were pretty much confined to a dayroom of sorts through which the released men would pass on their way to the outside....but not before encountering us (we numbered about 5 altogether)..at least that's how
I recall it, but this was over 20 years ago.
Your profile photo: you've aged gracefully my friend. Is there a chance you'll
be attending the reunion?
Jack was a very Christian man. Full Gospel businessmen, if I recall correctly. Kind of you to use the term graceful and aging in the same line. Aging itself seems a bit rude, what with introducing aches and pains, new facial creases, strength decreases and unasked for color changes. I put some pictures from the 30th reunion on the reunion page. Check it out. See if you recognize anyone.
You recall correctly. In '84 we were going through some rough times, and I had remarked to a total stranger, 'Sometimes I feel like I'm at the end of my rope.' That remark began a saga that enabled me to turn my life around, much thanks to our mutual friend Jack and a throng of others.
Alex, I think you've covered most of the physical signs of aging. I hopped back into surfing with my nephew Jonathan for a brief period in 1995 - and did well - 'just like riding a bicycle, Uncle Vaughn, huh?' - but for months I struggled with some very sore ribs. And every year the floor seems to get lower.
Elvira and I will be looking for you in September. Happy Holidays!
Hi Vaughn,
I live in Medford Long Island. Met my wife Ginger at Potter Instrument in 1969 Married in 1971, we have three grown children and three beautiful granddaughters. I'm a construction supervisor building gas stations in the tri-state area. My wife and I spent many years raising German Shorthaired Pointers and Field Trialing them on our horses. When I have the time I love to go hunting with my sons at our hunting camp in Roseboom, New York or snowmobiling with friends.
Great website, thanks for looking me up and we look forward to the reunion.
Well this old dinosaur of a thread has been resurrected - Tim, it's good to hear from you again. I really thought in 1982 I had spotted your signature offshore in the Gulf - pure coincidence, but I was convinced it was you.
Nice photo! Yeah, lets get together in September - I'll be up for a week.
I live in CT now. My last superintendent of schools graduated WWHS 2 years before me and a guy that's the head of the grounds crew of my condo graduated 2 years later. Was just wondering if that's the back of my head playing piano in the chorus photo!
It's one thing to walk through your old neighborhood and bump into someone you knew decades ago - that's practically expected. For instance, walking up my old street a few years ago, I spent 15 minutes reminiscing with Phyllis Muhr's Mom, Phoebe. And that evening I attended my nephew's wedding and reception - his sister (my niece) was with her best High School friend - who was actually Debbie (Binder) Harty's daughter. (BTW, Debbie, your daughter is as beautiful as you.) When my father passed away in late 1993 - I found the chance to trade letters with Lynn Piat - whose parents were close to my own.
It's quite something else to discover a connection to one's past hundreds or even thousands of miles away. In 1984 and '85, when I was home from my offshore drilling rig on the Gulf, I became involved with a faith-based prison ministry with a fellow named Jack Easterwood. Jack invited me to accompany him on a trip up to Huntsville, to minster and also transport some newly released inmates to Houston Intercontinental so these guys could fly home to their respective loved ones. In the course of the day, I noticed a poster and it named Alex Taylor as the chief Chaplain. I dismissed it as coincidence - after all, I know many men named Alex and Taylor's a fairly common surname. Just a few years ago, Chris Green mentioned Alex in an e-mail - and I realized how close I had come to meeting Alex himself during my days in Texas.
During that same time period, I spent one short afternoon on a small drilling rig
operating for Shell or Texaco, I cannot exactly recall - that afternoon I noticed a framed certicate on the wall of the galley, denoting the rig's Declaration of Seaworthiness - and I recognized the signature - it was signed by Timothy Cerniglia - the handwriting was an exact match to the autograph he placed in my eight grade memory book from St Hugh's. I soon forgot about this 'encounter' but it remained buried deep somewhere in my rapidly fading memory. Thanks to Richie Smith, Katie and others instrumental in this site and its administration, the Cerniglia handwriting 'sighting' surfaced in my mind, so I searched him out and found this:
I'm not 100% sure - but this attorney is the right age, and so I've e-mailed him
this evening through his firm contact info - and await his reply. I fully realize that some of our classmates may not want to be found - so be it - but we should reach out with open arms anyway.
I'm certain my own chance encounters with the past aren't unique - that
others here have had their own as well - and I was thinking it'd be good
thread material. So whose name or face did YOU bump into far from home? Hi Vaughn,
I still can't get over to this day how my daughter and your niece are best friends. I know if you know how I came to discover this huge coincidence, but I just wanted to share this info. It was at Jill's High School Graduation party. Susan invited my parents, son & myself. I kept looking at this woman and knew she looked familiar. I went over to her and we started to compare notes. After a short while, we discovered we both grew up in Huntington Station and went to Whitman. Then she told me I graduated with her brother, Vaughn! Susan & I were hysterical.
The reunion was fantastic, and it was good to see you.
Debbie Binder
I kept looking at this woman and knew she looked familiar. I went over to her and we started to compare notes. After a short while, we discovered we both grew up in Huntington Station and went to Whitman. Then she told me I graduated with her brother, Vaughn! Susan & I were hysterical.
The reunion was fantastic, and it was good to see you.
Debbie Binder
Debbie, some coincidences are just plain SWEET, and it WAS very
nice to see you, too. I'll be back up for the next one!
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