Ithaca High School Class Of 1961

Sheila Heasley (Gates)

Then

Now

Birthday:May 21, 1943 City:Harvard State/Prov.:MA Occupation:semi-retired Marital Status:Divorced No. of Children:2 What elementary school(s) did you attend?:Cayuga Heights What Junior high school did you attend?:Boynton Did you attend ninth grade at Boynton or IHS?:Boynton What have you been doing for the past 50 years?:Left IHS - attended and graduated from Emma Willard School after three years. Got associate degree in pre-school education. Transferred to university for bachelors. Dropped out after one year. Married the man of my dreams (I thought). We had two children. Volunteered in elementary school - almost returned to get the degree. My in-laws were killed in tragic plane accident. We took over management of family business and that ended prospects of a degree.

Several years down the road husband wanted "out" of our marraige but wanted me to help him manage business. I said "NO". Picking up the pieces and moving on are easier said than done. Became volunteer EMT (16 years) in town. Got involved in church. Very good friends and family kept me going.

Employment was a challenge for a stay-at-home mom. After too many "temp" jobs I found myself as office manager for an enviornmental engineering firm. Worked there for 17 years.

Both children are married to wonderful spouses, have provided me with three beautiful granddaughters and live not too far away. Through a twist of fate I have a wonderful man in my life while we share the ups and downs of our extended families.

From Sheila:About a year ago Loulie Hoffman Kent (wearing a "Ithaca is Gorges" t-shirt) was walking in her Cambridge neighborhood. She ran into another neighbor who noticed the t-shirt and asked if she might know Sheila Heasley.

Turns out that neighbor was one of my roommates at Emma Willard. Loulie claims she had been trying to find me. She and George came to Harvard to pick Northern Spy apples last fall. The reconnection has been fun and I look forward to those continued connections in July.

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barbara heimlich

Then

Now

Birthday:April 26, 1944 City:Auroville, Tamil Nadu Occupation:secretary Marital Status:Widowed No. of Children:1 What have you been doing for the past 50 years?:since 1969 i have been living in pondicherry and auroville, india, as a voluntary worker. the purpose of auroville is to realise human unity. auroville is a site of unending education and is meant for all those who thirst for progress and aspire to a higher and truet life.

From barbara:

sorry i'm not likely to be at the reunion, but it's great to see everyone again through this medium of the webpage!

Barbara passed away on June 15, 2012. To read her obituary, click here.

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Helen Herrmann (Hamilton)

Then

Now

Birthday:February 16, 1943 City:Freeville State/Prov.:NY Occupation:Retired Marital Status:Divorced No. of Children:2 What elementary school(s) did you attend?:Belle Sherman What Junior high school did you attend?:Boynton Did you attend ninth grade at Boynton or IHS?:IHS What have you been doing for the past 50 years?:I worked at Cornell University for 43 years in libraries. Last year, I retired and will remain in Ithaca for another "50" years.

From Helen:I love traveling to Las Vegas and, cruise ships are another favorite. Most people who know me realize my favorite man is ELVIS - yes, yes!

Helen passed away on October21, 2019. To read her obituary, click here.

Eleanor Jean Hewitt (Dillard)

Then

Now

Birthday:March 27, 1943 City:Bryn Athyn State/Prov.:PA Occupation:Home Funeral Guide Website:naturalundertaking.org Marital Status:Divorced No. of Children:2 What elementary school(s) did you attend?:Immaculate Conception What have you been doing for the past 50 years?:I raised my girls (Dottie & Terri)in New jersey, then spent time in Indiana and California before returning to the east coast in 1987. During that time I worked in insurance, budget counseling and as office manager for several small businesses. In 1991 I started my own business as a Geriatric Care Manager and in 2004 added being on the management staff of Cairnwood Village, a retirement home in Bryn Athyn. I am currently trying to retire from my business and concentrate on community education in the field of home funerals. I have continued to be involved in singing, as I was in high school, and sing in a 200 voice chorus as well as church choir. In addition to gardening at the addictive level. I enjoy reading, doing anything in the sunshine and staying in touch with my granddaughter, Teya.

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Mary Louise (Mary Lou, Lulu, Loulie) Hoffman (Kent)

Then

Now

Birthday:January 27, 1944 City:Cambridge State/Prov.:MA Occupation:Lifelong volunteer, wife, mother, grandmother Marital Status:Married No. of Children:2 What elementary school(s) did you attend?:Cayuga Heights What Junior high school did you attend?:Boynton Did you attend ninth grade at Boynton or IHS?:Boynton What have you been doing for the past 50 years?:Spent the year after high school in Germany. Concentrated in German at Harvard.

Married George 12/65 and became a Navy Wife. Grad work and teacher certification. Couldn't get a job. Decided to start family. Raised 2 nice kids while George was at sea. Did lots of volunteer work and substitute teaching. Taught every level from Montessori pre-school to senior high (almost any subject). Elder in Presbyterian Church. Chairman of the Ombudsman Council for the Sixth Naval District.

Love visiting new places, although I no longer enjoy traveling by plane, especially overseas. Visited diplomat son in Uzbekistan, Thailand, and Ukraine. As of July 2016 they are back in Ukraine again where GP is Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy. Oldest grandchild is starting her sophomore year at BU. Nice to have her in the area.

Worked for two years on our 50th reunion. Great fun getting to know classmates I hadn't known well before. Loved the process of searching for and finding folks who had slipped off the address list. It was wonderful to see such a good turnout for the reunion. I hope more will add their profiles to this online history of our class.

From Mary Louise (Mary Lou, Lulu, Loulie):

55th reunion was smaller in size, but still lots of fun. So good to visit with all who came. The older we get, the more the friendships from the past mean. Many thanks to those who arranged the reunion and to those who attended.

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Richard Lee Hollister

Then

Birthday:December 12, 1943 City:Beaver Falls State/Prov.:PA

From Richard Lee:

Richard passed away on June 19, 2020. To read his obituary, click here.

Melvin Holub

Then

Now

City:Dallas State/Prov.:GA Occupation:Retired Marital Status:Married No. of Children:3 What elementary school(s) did you attend?:East Hill, Fall Creek What Junior high school did you attend?:Boynton Jr High Did you attend ninth grade at Boynton or IHS?:IHS What have you been doing for the past 50 years?:I married the love of my life in 1963, moved to Georgia in 1978. I completed my college education with night courses specializing in computer science and accounting. Started my own commercial construction company using state of the art equipment for hospital environments. I have been operated on,on the table and operated around the table (so to speak). I built a cabinet shop to supply medical cabinetry to my customers. I built my own home from the floor up. While being retired I still love my furniture/cabinet shop where I specialize to this day in producing modern day furniture built from all natural woods from around the world, applying 17th and 18th century methods, such as no nails or screws. My hobbies are reading, shop work, gardening and a honey do list of repairs for my loved ones.

From Melvin:

Melvin passed away on January 18, 2019. To read his obituary, click here.

Jackie Hope (Ringer)

Then

Now

City:Granite Springs State/Prov.:NY Occupation:homemaker; volunteer Marital Status:Married No. of Children:2 What elementary school(s) did you attend?:Cayuga Heights What Junior high school did you attend?:Boynton Did you attend ninth grade at Boynton or IHS?:IHS What have you been doing for the past 50 years?:Attended and graduated with BSED from Ohio University,married Jim Ringer and began teaching second grade, first in Lancaster, Ohio and then at South Hill School in Ithaca while Jim attended Cornell Law School. After Law school, we were in the Navy - Jim was a JAG oficer and we were stationed first in Charleston, SC and then Adak Island, Alaska. Service completed, we returned to New York, moved to Westchester County where we have lived ever since. Jim continues to commute to NYC daily where he practices law. We have two children, Carolyn Hope (Lyn) a professor at Marist College in the School of Communications and James Matthew who lives in Steamboat, CO and works in construction. Three beautiful grandchildren are in our lives, Jack, age 11, and twins Sarah and Ainsley, aged 8. Life is never dull with them around! I have been a stay at home mom since Lyn and Matt were born and seved 7 years on the Executive board of the New York State Chapter of P.E.O. which took me back to Ithaca upon occassion. Oh, the changes! I'm a very late entry here because I have been dealing with 'incidentially discovered' thyroid cancer and have been under treatment for the last year and a half. Such a diagnosis makes you really appreciate each day and the beauty of life. Enjoy the reunion those of you attending. It sounds like a fun weekend!

From Jackie:

Jackie passed away on November 30, 2015. To read her obituary, click here.

Bill (Bud) Horn

Now

Birthday:September 26, 1943 City:Dellroy State/Prov.:OH Occupation:owner/innkeeper Website:www.atwoodlake.com Marital Status:Married No. of Children:3 What Junior high school did you attend?:Boynton Did you attend ninth grade at Boynton or IHS?:Boynton What have you been doing for the past 50 years?:I left high school in 1960 and joined the US Navy where I became an electronics technician. Spent six years in various parts of the world including 90 days in Viet Nam aboard ship. My home port was Pearl Harbour, Hi. Returned to Ithaca, worked at IBM in Binghamton for a year then became a lineman at NYSE&G. Married Eileen French and had two children; Dan now 43 who is married & lives in Dallas, Texas with his three children and Trisha, 36, married with one child. Changed careers and got into direct sales and then became a real estate broker & owned several rental properties around Ithaca. Got divorced and moved to Florida and became a business owner. Remarried and divorced quickly. In another committed relationship in Florida, we had a daughter, Rachel, who is now a Veterinarian, trained in Scotland and lives in Boston. From Florida moved to Michigan where I continued in the real estate business and had apartment rentals. There I met my current wife, Linda –third time is a charm! We have been married for 26 happy years. She has two children from her first marriage, one lives in Michigan and one in San Francisco. There are two more grand children for a grand total of six. For the past 22 years we have owned and operated a nine room Inn on a beautiful lake in lower northeast Ohio. Visit us at www.atwoodlake.com to see what we have created. I have been rebuilding and building Whispering Pines B&B for 23 years and doing exactly what I most enjoy. I have been a builder for most of my life and transformed an old 1880 farm house to a 10,000 sq. ft. Inn. Linda & I have thoroughly enjoyed being Innkeepers meeting people from around the country and the world. We are involved in organic food, exercise, gardening, antiques, walking, and travel. I have an extensive workshop where I continue to build for the Inn and for my pleasure. We enjoy our life and plan to retire - some day!

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Pete Houghton

Then

Now

Birthday:March 11, 1943 City:Waterloo State/Prov.:NY Occupation:Engineer (retired) Marital Status:Married No. of Children:4 What elementary school(s) did you attend?:Central (1st); West Hill (2nd-6th) What Junior high school did you attend?:Boynton Did you attend ninth grade at Boynton or IHS?:Boynton What have you been doing for the past 50 years?:After IHS I went "up the hill" a few hundred yards to Cornell University from 1961-1967 and earned a bachelors and masters degree from the Engineering School. While at Cornell, I met Doris Baldwin from Whitney Point, NY. We married in July, 1965.
I took an engineering position with the NYS Department of Transportation in July, 1967 and we moved to the small hamlet of New Salem outside of Albany, NY. I worked at the NYSDOT Main Office in Albany for 10 years....4 in the Research Unit and 6 in the Office of Legal Affairs. I obtained my NYS Professional Engineers license in 1970.

I accepted a promotional opportunity in 1977 to a NYSDOT Operations Office in central New York. We purchased a run-down (but structurally sound) old (1837) cobblestone farmhouse with some acreage north of Waterloo, NY.
Since we were both interested in country antiques and collectibles, we looked upon this old house as the ultimate antique restoration project. Little did we know it would take us many years to painstakingly restore each of the rooms and add the necessary conveniences such as plumbing, closets and electricity.
I was the Resident Engineer at the NYSDOT Operations Office for Seneca and Cayuga counties with an office in Waterloo, New York. I remained in that position for nearly 20 years. I accepted a promotion in 1996 to the position of Regional Operations Engineer in the DOT Regional Office in Syracuse, NY. I retired from the NYSDOT in December, 2001 after some 35 years of service.

Doris and I have been married nearly 46 years and have 4 children. Our older daughter,Kelly, graduated with a masters degree from the University of Rochester Optics program. At Rochester, she met and married Craig Olson who was also in the Optics program. They moved to California in 2000 to accept positions in the then booming optics industry. They remain in Windsor, CA with their family of two daughters and one son.
Our older son, William, also graduated from the University of Rochester with an MBA degree. He is with M&T Bank in Buffalo, NY. Will was a runner in high school and college and met his wife, Renee, while both were running for the University of Rochester cross country and track teams. They are at home in East Aurora, NY with two daughters.
Our younger daughter, Liz, received her bachelors degree from Hamilton College and a masters degree from Nazareth College. She is an elementary school teacher in a small school district in Romulus, NY. She is married to Jack Montesanto, a police officer in Geneva, NY.
Our younger son, John, is marrying Kerri Stout the week before the IHS Reunion. John receved his MBA degree from Union College and is employed by General Electric in Schenectady, NY.

After a blended career of NYS employment,Federal employment and substitute public school teaching, Doris is also retired. We still have interests in antiques and collectibles and travel to estate sales, auctions, flea markets and antique shows in search of treasures.....and we are still doing projects on our old farmhouse! In 2009, our home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I've served a couple of terms on the local School Board and currently am on the Board of Trustees for the Waterloo Library and Historical Society. My primary efforts on that board have been grant writing, fund raising and coordination of architects, engineers and contractors in managing several large restoration projects at the historic (1881) Waterloo Library building.
We have kept connected to Ithaca through a small cottage that we own on Cayuga Lake. It is next door to the home I grew up in on Route 89 about 5 miles north of Ithaca.

The one activity that has been continious since my IHS days (actually grade school days) is singing. I sang with the Cornell Glee Club and have sung with numerous church choirs and community choruses over the years. I have also sung at weddings and funerals and in summer community theatre musical productions. I currently sing with two groups in Canandaigua, NY. I pull out the old IHS Glee Club and Chorus LP records at Christmas time and still marvel at the level of excellence that our groups were able to achieve as teenagers under Vito Mason.

I look forward to seeing folks at the reunion and doing some singing with Carol (Sherf). I'm thinking of finding some 50's/60'songs for our old "SENATORS" singing group....JIm White, John Grover, Dale Baker, Ricky Mott...if you're still singing, are coming to the reunion and would like to resurrect "Silhouettes on the Wall", "Teenager in Love", "Goodnight Sweetheart" and other oldies, send me an email and I'll mail you the music.

I'll end this with a question. Does anyone remember PSSC Physics our Junior year with Dr. Zien?.... moreover, can anyone explain the purpose of that course....were we a "test" class for some new approach to teaching physics? I remember taking a traditional physics course my freshman year at Cornell and thinking....this is nothing like the physics course I had in high school!

From Pete:When I'm in Ithaca, I still find myself referring to the "new high school". It's hard to believe that it's been 50 years since the doors opened on that "innovative" campus style school. In fact, the "old high school" on Cayuga Street was only in use about 45 years (1914 to 1960). I guess that makes the new high school now older than the old high school which makes all of us.......???

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