Ithaca High School Class Of 1961

Donald Darling

Then

Now

Birthday:January 28, 1943 City:Elmira State/Prov.:NY Occupation:Retired Marital Status:Married No. of Children:5 What elementary school(s) did you attend?:Henry St. Johns What Junior high school did you attend?:Boynton Did you attend ninth grade at Boynton or IHS?:Ithaca High School What have you been doing for the past 50 years?: As most of you that know me remember, I dropped out of high school in January of 1961. That is not something that I am proud of at all. But in June of 1986 I walked across the stage of Kulp Aditorium in cap and gown where I was presented my New York State Equivalency Diploma by Mr Louis Preston. Mr preston was my agriculture teacher for two years at the old high school so you can imagine my surprise to see him there handing out diplomas after all those years. I then attended Tompkins Cortland Community College for two years.
I have been happily married to my wife Agnes Washburn Darling for the last 43 years come February 25,2010. We have raised four children and one adopted grandson. We have also eight wonderful grandchildren.
I worked for Ithaca Gun Company for 16 years. I then worked in the turbine industry for about 17 years with various local employers like Therm Inc, H&E Machinery and Omni Electro Motive. I then became employed by Thomas & Betts LRC in Horseheads untill I retired in 2008 after 15 years of service.
Along with my workaday life, I was able to have a really great experience playing semi-pro football for 13 years.I played with some of Ithaca's best ever players. I'm sure you remember Melvin Robinson,David Richardson, Maynard Richardson, Norman "Stubby" Sickler, and his brother Douglas Sickler.
I also devoted about 14 years to the Ithaca Small Fry Football League as a coach which was a truely special part of my life. There were hours and hours of pure pleasure and enjoyment working with some of Ithacas finest young atheletes.
And with all of that I still found time to go fishing and hunting which I still enjoy to this day.

From Donald : I have to start by saying that this is an awesome site that you have developed here.
I also have to tell you that I'm a little embarassed because for all these years I have thought that our class was the class of 1960 because that is the year that we started classes in the new high school. I also felt that because I did not graduate with my class that I would be out of place attending the class reunions. Well at least I'm in the right place now and if the good Lord is willing I'll see you at the 50th !!

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Larry Darrah

Then

Now

City:Columbia State/Prov.:MO Occupation:Retired Marital Status:Married No. of Children:2 What have you been doing for the past 50 years?:After IHS, there was a B.Sc. in Plant Breeding in 1965 from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in plant breeding (corn) in 1970 from Iowa State University. I served my Reserve Officer Training Corp commitment with the U.S. Army Medical Service Corp at Valley Forge General Hospital from 1965 to 1967. From September 1970 to July 1977, I worked as a Maize Geneticist on the USDA/US Agency for International Development sponsored East African Food Crops Research Project in Kitale, Kenya. Then, we moved to Columbia, MO, where I was a Research Geneticist in the Agricultural Research Service of the USDA. My research was focused on recurrent selection in corn and included comparisons of breeding methods and methods/tools for selection. I served as research Leader of the Plant Genetics Research Unit and Location Coordinator from 1991 through retirement in late 2004. I was also an Adjunct Professor of Agronomy, now Professor Emeritus, at the University of Missouri-Columbia and advised or co-advised 14 Ph.D. and 16 M.Sc. graduate students. My wife Bonnie (Cornell '64) and I have two children located about 10 minutes apart in Portage, MI. At least we can see both families after enduring/enjoying the 9 hour drive! We really enjoy these new digital cameras with long lenses (20X + a 1.7X teleconverter) for bird photos.

From Larry:

Larry passed away on November 28, 2021. To read his eulogy, click here

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John David

Then

Now

Birthday:November 14, 1943 City:Tucson State/Prov.:AZ Occupation:Retired Engineer Marital Status:Married What elementary school(s) did you attend?:I moved to Ithaca in 1956. What Junior high school did you attend?:Boynton JR. High Did you attend ninth grade at Boynton or IHS?:Boynton What have you been doing for the past 50 years?:After we graduated, I joined the Navy. I was trained as a Fire Control Technician on the early shipboard surface-to-air missile systems and served two years on U.S.S Dahlgren, DLG-12, a guided missile destroyer. While I was in the Navy, my family moved from Ithaca to Clinton, New York, when General Electric transferred my father.

After the Navy, I attended Utica College (BA, '69) and Syracuse University (BS in Electrical Engineering, '70). I worked for General Electric in Utica for two years and left the company in 1972 to go to work for Texas Instruments Incorporated in Dallas, Texas. I spent 26 years with TI working as an engineer in the defense business. In 1998, Raytheon Company bought the TI defense business and moved the missile development department to Tucson, Arizona, where we live today.

In 1980, I married Karen Birinyi from Huntington Beach, California. Texas Instruments then proceeded to move us eight times over the next 19 years. We lived in Camarillo, California, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Ft Walton Beach, Florida with a stint in Dallas in between each corporate move. I retired from TI/Raytheon on 31 May, 2011, as a Senior Engineering Fellow. Karen and I intend on living in our home here in Tucson until age, health or circumstance forces a change.

From John:

To those of you who enjoy reading the entries in this directory but haven't registered yet, please post your own information so we can all enjoy catching up.

WOW!! I had a great time at our 50th Reunion. It was great to see everyone. I'm now looking forward to our 55th reunion in 2016.

John passed away on April 9, 2020. To read his obituary, click HERE

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Kaye Dearstyne (Ordway)

Then

Now

Birthday:March 30, 1943 City:Salisbury State/Prov.:MD Occupation:People Greet - Walmart Marital Status:Widowed No. of Children:3 What Junior high school did you attend?:Boynton Junior Did you attend ninth grade at Boynton or IHS?:Boynton What have you been doing for the past 50 years?:After getting married, we moved to Honesdale PA and I lived there till 2008. My husband was killed in car accident in 89. Have 3 beautiful children, 2 girls & 1 boy. Have moved back to Maryland to be near my kids as was just getting to old to put up with the snow in the winter months. I was head of Wayne Co. Red Cross for 5 years and before that Administrative Asst for Emergency Management.

From Kaye:I didn't actually graduate in Ithaca, my Parents moved to Maryland in my Junior Year, but always felt that Ithaca was my home. Would like to make contact with some of my old friends. I also have 1 grandson, and 3 granddaughters, and 1 great granddaughter and a great grandson on the way.

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Sandra DeBell (Capalongo)

Then

Now

Birthday:February 07, 1943 City:Ithaca State/Prov.:NY Occupation:Retired Marital Status:Married No. of Children:2 What elementary school(s) did you attend?:West Hill What Junior high school did you attend?:Boynton What have you been doing for the past 50 years?:I married in 1962, worked as a cosmetologist, raised two kids, then bought some rental properties. I was the scrubber, painter, gardener, and rental agent along with my Husband. We sold all the property but the one we live in. I'm still a gardener and would love to do only that. We spend a month or two in Florida helping my "Winter-Bird" Dad with his home.

We have five Grandchilderen, the oldest (21) is leaving soon for a second tour of duty in Afghanistan, training in crimminal justice.

We count our blessings. Compared to many people we have a very good life. We read obits daily 'till we see our names then say "thanks for a good life."

From Sandra:My Interests and Hobbies are Travel, Gardening, Painting (canvas), Flea Markets, and Antiques.

Norwig Debye Saxinger

Then

Now

Birthday:August 18, 1942 City:Kinderhook State/Prov.:NY Occupation:Not-for-profit executive Marital Status:Married No. of Children:5 What elementary school(s) did you attend?:Delmenhorst, Germany; Hamburg-Altona, Germany; Cayuga Heights, Ithaca, NY What Junior high school did you attend?:Boynton Jr. High Did you attend ninth grade at Boynton or IHS?:Boynton, I think - those brick structures look so much alike! What have you been doing for the past 50 years?:Nordulf & I arrived in the US via the Dutch ship Westerdam in 1951 on "visitor" visa. Entered 3rd grade, Cayuga Heights Elementary School. Learned English with the help extended by fellow students and their families - such as Lulu, Paul Wolfowitz (whom Mrs. Grass assigned me to help with his arithmetic), Henry Bethe (whose family had many long-term connections with the Debye's). Were,finally allowed to stay in US via a "rider" placed on some bill passed by Congress. Got Green cards.

Boynton Jr High and IHS followed. Skating on Beebe lake under the lights, to hi-fidelity, white noise music belted out by the public address system, was a frequent winter highlight. Beth Bronfenbrenner and other IHS mermaids were special attractions. Summers focused on bicycling and swimming at Flatrock, the different Falls, Beebe lake: marred at least once by quarantines due to Polio outbreaks. By my senior year Oma Debye ceeded her 1951 Buick Special, straight six,to Nordulf and me - as I was of age to be allowed to drive. With those wheels we drove to school with Linda Russo and Frauke Manteuffel as passengers and expanded our explorations to Canada, the Cape and the ADKs. Nordulf & I became US citizens when IHS seniors.

Graduated from Cornell (A.B)1965. Nordulf graduated from Rice University,Texas and entered Cornell
for graduate studies (Chemistry).

I did graduate studies @ Georgetown Univ., Washington, DC,
School of Foreign Service & SUNY @ Albany (Public Administration) - all but dissertation. Started work for NYS
Narcotics Addiction Control Commission in 1967; Executive Deputy Commissioner
for seven years (in successor agency). A couple of death threats (did not find the culprits); held hostage for an afternoon (released after making friends with captors); held up in Brooklyn and in Harlem (unsuccessfully for them); followed home at night from Albany (got rid of that contingent with a shotgun.)

Consultant work for USIA in Germany, The Netherlands, Malta; NMIH,a Beltway Bandit and a variety of other public and private agencies concerned with the prevention/treatment of addiction. Executive with Phoenix House since 1992.

Before all that, of course, was a bicycle trip through the German/Austrian/Swiss Alps (Buddy Bown, Pat McGovern, Monty Shaw, Fred Mayer,Chuck Wilson,N&N); which had been preceeded by several, mostly winter, excursions into the Adirondack Mountains;Canoe/ Kayak trips to the ADKs, Canada, Fall Creek (ended in an Ithaca Journal story); rocket launching experiments with passengers aboard (crayfish,beetles, helgramites);post-Labor Day trips to Cape Cod (riding the surf in our Kleppers); many a day (and night) boating on Cayuga Lake - waterskiing,teaching Dixie to do it on one ski,rescuing beer from the cool depths,picknicking at Taughannock State Park, checking out the Girl Scout Camp, fishing, night skiing at Greek Peak and Song mountain; Mt Tremblant . . . (a number of IHS classmates, and new college friends took part in some or all of these adventures.) My distaff Michele put the 8 millimeter and super8 films on a CD.

Married in 1967 to a Mary Tuttle (met her at the end of a Kayak (Faltboot)paddle up Cayuga lake to Wells in February 1965. A Lorelei, but with no shipwreck for the sailor. Settled in drafty farmhouse in Kinderhook. Kept mallards, geese, chickens, two sheep,two angus;shot deer, grouse, squirrels, rabbits; bred dogs and c. 20 Morgan horses; reared three children. Gerhard,Honor and Peter. Had visits from
Fabens (Cornell friend), Chuck Wilson and his brother, Bob Blean, Alan Kellogg, Nordulf & Kris. Went to Germany to find father.
Found him in Bamberg. Imported him to spend some time with Nordulf and me.

Mary "Misty" fell prey to a melanoma in 1970 and left this planet in 1983. A long siege - with three children -between
the first "you have six months to live", and the second.

Single parent to a medley of animals and very young progeny. Chased by baracudas and damsels of all sorts - I became a mostly chaste recluse and spent some serious moments, often with the help of an Old Fashioned, thinking about what to do next.

Then the epiphany! Young beauty appears in the distance,ready to love and begin a life with "a Norwig" - with no idea about what it would mean to enter a family compound and rear three wild step-children. She had already set a wedding date and bought a dress - to marry someone else...

I abducted and married lass Michele in 1986. Nordulf was,again, best man. Two more children followed. A vibrant village for a while in that old farmhouse - including a long series of exchange students from Germany and one from Corsica.

Broke through the ice with tractor and wagon. Went down, down, down . . . 20 ft or so - to the dismay of watching children and ice-skating guests. Dis-entangled myself,shot up through the hole in the ice like a dolphin . . . three cracked ribs - Michele was very happy to have me back, even damaged. Raised the tractor and wagon months later. Tractor, like I,is still operational.

Gerhard is now married with two offspring: Storm & Aurora; Honor also with Gwyneth & Wyatt; Peter is puttering around in Oregon; Maria graduated from Cornell and is completing Masters at RISD; Tristan is at Johnson & Wales in Charlotte, NC studying restaurant management.

The loss of Nordulf,my other half, to a nasty T-cell melanoma in 2009, has left a permanent hole.

Michele & I are enjoying our never quite empty nesting. Some trips to warm places, boating on the Hudson River, fishing, a little camping, cutting and splitting wood to remain warm.

Nordulf's four youngest (by a second wife, Irene) - Erik,Tomas,Hartwin and Mareike - spent part of August in our paradise swimming, camping and fishing. His oldest, David (by his former wife Kris) is a Warrior on special assignments to the Mid-East.

If anyone should find themselves in the vicinity of Martin van Buren's birthplace . . . stop in for some suckling pig, or lamb made on a spit.
We could also do fish, if you pitch in on the gutting and cleaning part of the drill!

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norwig debye-saxinger

Birthday:August 18, 1942 State/Prov.:NY Occupation:Not-for-profit Executive Marital Status:Married No. of Children:5 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?:Living

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Jolene DeLaurentiis (Conklin)

Then

Now

Birthday:January 21, 1944 City:Richmond State/Prov.:VA Marital Status:Married No. of Children:2 What have you been doing for the past 50 years?:After IHS, I worked for many years as an Admin and then retired at 55. I married Vince in '65 and we have two children, Jeff and Kristen and six grandchildren who bring us a world of joy. We have been in Richmond, Virginia for the past 30 years and love it. The weather is great most of the time and I love being outdoors either walking the dogs or working in the garden. I'm heavily involved with an animal rescue group which takes up a lot of my time. We have traveled quite a bit and hope to do more in the coming years.

From Jolene:

It’s hard to believe that almost 50 years have gone by! The Reunion Committee has done a fantastic job locating classmates, and I’m greatly looking forward to our 50^th Reunion and seeing old friends.

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Charles DeMotte

Then

Now

Birthday:March 07, 1943 City:Freeville State/Prov.:NY Occupation:College Professor Marital Status:Married What elementary school(s) did you attend?:West Hill School 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 Boston University 1961-1963

BA degree Ithaca College

Studies in England 1966-1967

Masters Degree - University of Missouri - Kansas City 1970

Research Fellowship to England 1974

PhD - University of Kansas (History)

Lived in England (mostly Manchester) 1974-1981

Taught at a Correspondence School

Worked in publishing 1987-1991

Empire State College (Mentor/Tutor) 1992-2004

Adjunct Professor SUNY Cortland

From Charles:

I am an Instructor - Taoist Tai Chi Society

A member of the Ancient Universal Mysteries Masonic Organization
I like to do research and writing (2 books and
numerous articles)

I also love to cook and, of course, eat

I enjoy Opera, Theater, and Baseball

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Susanne Dempsey (Shippos)

Then

Now

Birthday:November 02, 1943 City:Baldwin State/Prov.:NY Occupation:Retired Marital Status:Married No. of Children:3 What elementary school(s) did you attend?:Fall Creek K-6 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?:1964 Graudated from St. Joseph's Nursing School, returned to Ithaca and worked at TCH on a Surgical floor. 1965 married my "High School Sweetheart," Steve Shippos. 1965-66 lived in Ames,Iowa, while Steve finished at Iowa State. While in Ames, I worked as a labor and delivery nurse in the local hospital. 1966, returned to Ithaca, worked as an evening supervisor at TCH for two years. 1968 moved to Long Island, where Steve obtained a teaching and coaching position. Steve retired after 35 years, and I retired after 18 years as a schoolnurse. We have been blessed with three great kids and three beautiful granddaughters.

From Susanne: We are looking forward to our 50th reunion and we are very appreciative of all the committee's hard work.

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