11

It may already be obvious in the extreme, but I have had less than my usual amount of available computer time for the last several
days. At such moments, it would be far simpler if the rest of the world around me slowed down as well, yet inexplicably, I find that this
seldom happens. It didn't happen again.

I apologize for not releasing a Veteran's Day edition. I didn't even prepare a Veteran's Day holiday page to link to the Newsletter.
Fortunately, I received a goodly amount of material to make this task easier in the future. I'll be sharing some of those items in this
Newsletter.

Happy Belated Birthday to Jean Pittman Priest ('64) of FL, whose big day was Friday:

By the way, tomorrow is my niece Shari's birthday. I won't tell you which one, but she's twelve years younger than I am. Do the math.
Happy Birthday, Shari!

And speaking of Shari, she's a semi-regular contributor to our pages, and I had this note from her today:

Love the little trio angels and the No Doubt midi. Hoping your reunion was all you’d hoped it would be!
Love,
Shari

I'm glad you liked Adrienne's theme suggestion for that Newsletter, Shari. And yes, the Glorious Reunion was all I could have
wanted and then some! Thanks, Shari! Have a good 'un!

I'm sure you probably didn't pick up on this obituary, but it's for the son of Bobby Spencer ('63). He died suddenly Sunday while
cycling and at this point they aren't sure what happened. I went to the visitation last night, as I used to work with Bobby at the
Yorktown Naval Weapons Station. He grew up in North End around the corner from Richie (Allen - '66) and Faye (Allen - '64),
and I'm sure with several others that receive your newsletter. The family is just devastated and can sure use our prayers at this
difficult time.
Love,
Sandi

YORK COUNTY - Scott Atkins Spencer, 35, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004. A native of Newport News, he had been
a lifelong Peninsula resident. He was employed at NASA for 16 years, most recently as a Information Technology Specialist. Scott was
a 1987 graduate of Menchville High School and a 1989 graduate of Thomas Nelson Community College. He was also a 1993 graduate
of the NASA Apprentice Program. Scott was an avid cyclist and sportsman. Scott was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents,
Willis and Roberta Spencer. Survivors include his parents, Robert and Carolyn Spencer of York County; brother, Todd W. Spencer and
wife, Joy, of Newport News; and maternal grandparents, Raymond and Ruth Wilson of Mathews. The family will receive friends from 6
to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Peninsula Funeral Home. A graveside service will be conducted at noon on Thursday in Peninsula Memorial Park, officiated by the Rev. John S. Dobson. Memorial contributions may be made to the York County Fire and Rescue Squad,
c/o Dept. of Public Safety, P.O. Box 532, 126 Ballard St., Yorktown, VA 23692.

Published in the Daily Press from 11/9/2004 - 11/10/2004.

Oh, Sandi - what a tragedy! No, I didn't see this - and would have managed, I'm sure, to deny it if I had.

I also worked at the Rec with Joe (Madagan - '57 of FL), plus he was the person who talked me in going
into the Marines in summer of 61. His wife Eva (Ellis) graduated with me and we're still friends.
Semper Fi. Thanks.

Thanks, Gary. I assume by this that you wanted to be added to one of my pet pages, Famous Marines. I would have done
this before, as I had added the fact of your enlistment to my '61 Anchor when it happened. (Yes, my yearbooks are filled with a
wide variety of updates, because I've always been weird.) But according to my Rules (which I made up myself), I needed your
permission to do so. I also need your date and place of birth. Meanwhile, I've added your senior portrait to that lovely page.
An image in your dress blues would be beyond wonderful, but all pictures of Marines are delightful:

. I'm glad to hear you and Joe and Eva remain friends; few things in life are more precious than friendship.

My mama used to worry so that I had not maintained contact with my high school friends. I moved to the Midwest in June
of 1971, and lost touch with everyone but Rose Woodard ('65) and Frank Blechman ('65), bless their hearts. She, on the
other hand, had preserved her friendships for sixty and seventy years and more. On each of her visits she would ask me when
I had last heard from So-and-So, and was deeply troubled when I told her how very long it had been.

Mama died on 15 Feb 1999. I first reconnected with some few of you through Classmates.com (back when they offered some
free services) on New Year's Eve of that same year. Before ten months had passed, I attended my 35th Reunion. I could not help
but think how very happy she would have been for me.

Thank you for the Veterans Day card. Eva and I attended the Veterans Day Ceremony at the Florida National Cemetery
in Bushnell, Florida. It was a moving ceremony. Here is a photo of the 21 Gun Salute with the grave markers in the background
on the hill.

Thank you for the gorgeous image, Adonis. You do very nice work. I'm certain that your experience was a very inspiring one.
Thanks for sharing it with us, and help us all to remember.

I just got home from Houston, keeping John company until he leaves for Iraq. (He should leave this week-end.)
So this is a late story, but I would like to share it. I am compelled to share these personal stories, as they unfold
so many years later, perhaps as a record for everyone to remember.

As we sat at the airport on Veterans Day, waiting for my plane, John mentioned his buddies that were killed
in Viet Nam.He then went on to recount the many times God spared him. I had never really heard all the stories
and probably will not know them all, but here is what he mentioned that day.

1. He said that he and two other comrades were standing in a row, side by side...the first man was killed, the
second one was injured (don't know if he lived or not from serious injuries), John (the third man) was left untouched.

3. John was sitting on the ground; suddenly the dirt between his legs started jumping up. He was being fired on. He
said if the shooter had have been just a little higher in his aim, he would have been killed. Fortunately, he got out
of the way in time.

5. He was walking when suddenly he heard something, he suddenly stopped, causing the men behind him to also
stop - just as a large piece of shrapnel fell at his foot. Had he taken one more step forward, it would have killed him.

Thank you so much for sharing these with us, Cheryl. These stories sent chills up my spine as I read them, as I'm sure they did for
many of our other readers. My father had a similar lengthy list of close calls in Europe during WWII - including an identical match
to John's # 4. As I've watched my seven children grow and blossom into the people they have become, I've often thought that the
reason my daddy's life was spared was so that he might come home to my mama and sisters and have me, so that I might have them.
Very rare are the times when I'll say anything approaching "I know exactly how you feel", because I do not believe that is possible. But
I truly understand your feelings of gratitude.

Your Holiday Dinner sounds positively delightful, Joe! Thanks for letting us know. Y'all have fun!

Lee Queensberry ('58) of VA died 10/22/04. His brother Billy was in the class of 1957.

VIRGINIA BEACH - Lee Queensberry, 65, of Virginia Beach, passed away Oct. 22, 2004, in his home from complications of cancer.
He is survived by his son, Jon Lee Queensberry; life companion, Dale Kantowski of Virginia Beach; brother, William E. Queensberry
of Hampton; sisters, Lenora Luxford, Dorothy Bedsaul and Mary Bedsaul of Newport News. A gathering in his memory will be held
at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25, at the Raven Restaurant, 1200 Atlantic Ave., Virginia Beach. Colonial Crematorium provided information.

Published in the Daily Press on 10/23/2004.

Oh, my. Thanks for letting us know this, Joe. I will be doubly posting this on In Memoriam - Class of 1958 and Recent Typhoon
Deaths. We extend our sincerest sympathies to Lee's family and friends at this difficult time.

How goes it...the new pictures are great and I am sure there are more to come...I have an update from the videographer's studio here in Norfolk, VA.
We have finished the 2nd rough cut to the 90 minutes video from the Typhoons Family's 40th reunion of the NNHS class of 1964. Every time I see the
video I just remember the great and outstanding weekend we had last October and how all of my classmates, those in attendance and those who were
unable to attend, would want to have for their own a copy of this once in a lifetime DVD. So I urge all those interested in a copy to e-mail me
at nnhs40video@yahoo.com, so we can begin the planning process for the DVD.. I am sure we will be able to keep this professionally mastered DVD
at between $15.00 and $20.00, hopefully delivery before Christmas. You can relive Mr. Etheridge's beautiful presentation...Mr. Wilson trying to sell
band candy.. and of course the undefeated Championship team from 1964. Surely a keepsake for all... Speaking of Christmas holidays, what
NNHS alumni would not want a magnet featuring a beautiful black and white picture of the old high school building, or a NNHS mug, and for those
classmates who could not attend a NNHS 40th reunion goodies...I refer you the NNHS website home page at http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com
for all the details...

Thanks, Tommy! I can scarcely wait for my copy. I cannot imagine anyone's not wanting one of these!

And speaking of the Reunion, you'll no doubt recall the running conversation we had discussing my 3-1/2 silk pumps I was planning
to wear dancing Saturday night. I'm happy to report to you that I did wear them, and I did dance in them (Yes, Billy Turner - you'd have
been proud of me!). I must also tell you that I made it throughout the entire evening still in those 3-1/2" heels. But I must also confess
that when most of the crowd had left the room, and we were down to perhaps 20 people left helping to clean-up, I removed the slippers
from my tootsie-toes and relaxed a bit. But by then the party was over, so I fulfilled my part of the bargain.

And why, may you ask, am I relating this high heel story once again? It's because of the latest shoe development.

My sister, Eleanor Buckley Nowitzky ('59) of NC, told me years ago - perhaps ten years ago, that she could no longer tolerate
wearing heels. I was horrified, as it seems to be that whatever happens to her tends to happen to me just a few years later. I was
particularly aghast in this case because unlike many women, I am particularly fond of wearing high heels, and didn't want such a foul
fate to befall me as well.

Well, it seems there has been a new development. Eleanor and Miles had a big shindig to attend at VMI this past weekend, and Miles
bought her a beautiful new pair of navy blue pumps for the occasion - with 2-3/4" heels! YAY!!! Life is good!

Excerpts from a silly conversation between Wayne Stokes ('65) of VA - 11/09/04 - 11/14/04:

By the way, do you know what Mr. Collins used to call Rip (Collins - '65 of TN), in front of us macho SPD'ers, that torqued Rip's jaw at the time?

You've got Rip sending me (pieces of email) addressed to: Mr. Wonderful Stokes! And within his note, which is addressed to "Honey, Wonderful and
Precious", he makes additional "cuts"!! From him, I expect it, you on the other hand... .

Ah, but “Honey” arose in exactly the same way as did “Adonis”. I couldn’t very well call Joe Madagan ('57) of FL, “Adonis” and
Tom Norris (HHS - '73) of VA, “Babe” and NOT call you “Honey”, could I?!? That wouldn’t be very nice, would it?!?

Rip is trying to nail me with what his Dad called him <PRECIOUS>, yep, right in front of everybody! He's trying to "get away" from that by quoting you
about the second grade photo that Sarah (Puckett Kressaty - '65 of VA) sent and my response about "killing my last line of defense...I was a beautiful
baby, routine" and you and/or Sarah said it was a "precious" photo. He jumped on that, big time!! THANKS!!

And yes, you CAN call Madagan and Norris their rightful monikers, while leaving such a decent, quite, un-assuming guy such as myself ALONE! Even
though all of that explanation isn't true. Don't be picky.

Oh, no, Wayne Honey, that just wouldn’t be right. That would be downright tacky.

But, I can't let (Rip) get away with that one! If you don't want absolutely TERRIBLE "things" (I don't know what they are, but I'll think of something) to happen
to YOU, DARLIN', you gotta help me get his nickname in circulation<PRECIOUS>, that's not a threat, it's a PROMISE!! (YOU KNOW I'M JOKING) about the
"things", not his "name".

Well, I think that we can certainly think of some way to call Rip, “Precious” – and to illustrate it as well. As we can all clearly see,
Russell (as we used to call him back at Magruder School) was just about the cutest little boy around. I can't imagine his father calling
him anything BUT "Precious". It's only natural that he should continue to call him that throughout the years.

Now, Wayne Honey, if this shenanigan results in some truly embarrassing paybacks from Rip Precious, with the result that three
other guys (and you both know of whom I speak) become wildly infuriated with me and never speak to me again, it's going to be really
sad. Or I am going to be really sad, anyway, and that's what's really important here anyway, right???

Albert Dorner ('66) of VA and I did snag a few moments to create a new Faculty page:

Obviously, there are more letters I haven't covered here. Hopefully, I'll be able to catch up soon.


Eternal Father, Strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty Ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
and calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!

Most Holy spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!

O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee,
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

- The Rev. William Whiting 
(1825 - 1878)

NOTE: I do not normally attach hymns to Newsletters, but I felt strongly impressed to do so today; I've no idea why.
I do know that I have never once made it through hearing this lovely hymn without tears streaming down my face.


Spring 1954 - First Grade	Fall 1955 - Third Grade