Message Forum

Welcome to the Thomas Jefferson High School Message Forum.

The message forum is an ongoing dialogue between classmates. There are no items, topics, subtopics, etc.

Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful! Click the "Post Message" button to add your entry to the forum.


 
go to bottom 
  Post Message
  
    Prior Page
 Page  
Next Page      

06/10/10 01:08 AM #12    

Howard Elkin

This is a fantastic web site and kudos must go to Michael Grossman and anyone else involved. This sure beats Facebook and is a lot more personal!

Looking  forward to seeing all of you in October!

 Warm regards , peace and good health to all !

 Howard Elkin


06/23/10 11:41 AM #13    

Patricia Cruickshanks

MY MOTHER'S PASSING

      For those of you who remember my dear MOM:  Diane Richards, Gayle Turner, R.J. Nutter, Anne Sutton, Frank Wilson, Steve Dale, Dorothea Robertson, Bruce Harris, Mike Kirby, Glen Young, Martha Noel, Ellen Hannabass, Betty Whtehead, Jane Chalkley, Hilda Pitts, Dickie McMullen, Chuck Paris,Walter Pierce, Steve Evens who went through MCV Dental School with my younger brother Bob, and others (if I left out your name, I apologize):

     My dear Mom passed away on May 26, 2010 at The Hermitage on Westwood Avenue, just two blocks down the street from her home on Wilmington Avenue.  My younger brother Bob, and I just learned of her death, and private burial on June 9, 2010, from The RTD on June 12, 2010.  My older brother John, who had Power of Attorney, did not notify either of us.  I have been in a state of shock and grief ever since, as my Mother was a lovely, intelligent and talented lady who deserves only the very best in both life and death. 

     Since June 12, 2010 I have been trying to right some of the wrongs, done by John, by planting lovely pink flowers on her grave in Hollywood Cemetery, and three red rose bushes at the family headstone:  one for each of the family members I have lost.  Mother was 92 and 3-1/2 months young and lived in her home on Wilmington Avenue until she was 90 years old and had a stroke,  The stroke came five days after her 90th birthday.  She then resided at The Hermitage on Westwood Avenue. My Dad passed away six years ago and he was a TJHS graduate, Class of 1932.

      Mom never met a stranger.  She had a warm engaging smile, and extended love, kindness and acceptance to everyone she ever met.  Many of you visited in our home in Ginter Park and were fed by my Mom, who fed everyone who ever visited there. 

      Memorial Service and Celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at Ginter Park Baptist Church with reception immediately following the service.  All who knew my dear Mom are welcome.  Please bring with you, your memories of my Mom.  Rev. Ralph Starling of First Baptist Church, presiding.

     To learn more, please go to:  www.classmates.com and go to TJHS Class of 1970 and click on my profile.  Then click on my "Story". 

 

 

    

 

    

    

 


07/08/10 09:26 PM #14    

 

Faye Schultz (Ashby)

I would love to see some old photos from Westhampton School. Wilkie and I went all the way through school together.

Wonderful memories of the school, classmates and some teachers! It might be nice to have a Westhampton Reunion.


07/10/10 07:12 PM #15    

 

Diane Richards (Ward)

Pat Cruckshanks - I'm so sorry to hear about your Mom.  I do remember those good ole days in Northside - riding bikes, playing tennis at the seminary courts, the Ginter Park community pool! and lots more. 

My prayers go out to you and your family.

Diane Richards Ward


07/19/10 12:12 PM #16    

Elizabeth Lawrence (Wallingford)

I can't get over the website--it's incredible! I am so saddened by the losses, however. It was sobering to read those names and read Patricia's message regarding her mother--I am sorry about what you are going through, Patricia.

I will write more later when I have more time but I wanted to thank Jim Kennedy for tracking me down and directing me to the website. My parents have agreed to host me that weekend so I will be attending some if not all of the events.  I need to first determine when I can leave KY, etc. before I can commit to Friday. Thanks to all of you who are involved in planning and in maintaining this website-my first reunion was the thirtieth and it was wonderful to see old friends and catch up. Sadly, living away from Richmond it is sometimes easy to get disconnected but Jonny Manger has helped me stay more informed about what he knows, and Bambi Salzburg Jones and Roszie Simon Walker and I exchange Christmas cards. I would really like to see David Rosenberg (have not seen him since college) but he seems to be on the people who need to be found list. I look forward to seeing so many people that it was difficult to select names from the list of our classmates as people I want to keep up with, though.

 

 

 

 


07/19/10 05:35 PM #17    

Steve Evens

     Today, I tried to locate two of our missing classmates-Doug Martin and Ron Terry. Ron may be in Honolulu,Hawaii. Doug's brother, Neil,graduated from TJ in 1969 and is a Neurosurgeon at UCLA.  It is with sadness and regret that I learned from Neil's administrative assistant  Doug had passed away.  I had fond memories of Doug from homeroom and afternoon Risk games at his  house on Monument Ave. with Chuck Herzog. I Don't know why he wasn't on our class list

Steve Evens


07/20/10 01:50 PM #18    

Elizabeth Lawrence (Wallingford)

I just wanted to say that I am heart -broken to hear about Sydney. Thanks, Randy, for sharing that--I was stunned to read it. Sydney, Debbie Freund, and Sheila G. were so kind to me, particularly during the early years at TJ after I moved from NY and struggled a bit. they were all great friends throughout the four years as well--even came to basketball games/pep rallies while i cheered even though they weren't that into sports. I will never forget that. I don't know if they realized what a difference it made to have people reach out to me since I was the new kid and a Yankee at that. My heart is with her family and with you, Randy.


07/21/10 04:49 PM #19    

David Feibish

I attended Sydney's funeral today. just thought I would give you a first hand account. Sydney's passing for me was the first of a classmate that really seemed to hit home. "Growing up" we had many mutual friends.  Today, Doug Hyman from our class was there along with of course Sydney's close friend and classmate Randi Sager. Randi introduced me to Sydney's children, daughter Lauren and  son Jesse who both were very gracious under the circumstances. Lauren gave a beautiful and touching eulogy of her Mother. It was everything I remembered about Sydney since I knew her in 7th grade and as I imagined how she would have carried over into adulthood and as a parent. Sydney was very bright and a high achiever academically. She had several successful careers as a pharmacist, Dental Technician and a professional Pastry Chef! Sydney used to delight many with her pastry skills and her daughter said her cookies were always the hit of the neighborhood. As shy as Sydney was in her youth, she became confident, outgoing, project oriented and even daring in her adult life. She travelled quite a bit and reached some proficiency deep sea diving! If Sydney's children are a reflection of her parenting, she was also one of the best Mothers.....she was very supportive, involved and always there for her kids. Another wonderful quality of Sydney I experienced with some recent Face Book contact, though she was ill and knew it's truth, she only wanted to know about me and my family. She put others first. Though tragic and sad circumstances, certainly a life to celebrate.

David Feibish  


07/26/10 09:23 PM #20    

Jeanne Casanova (Mulcahy)

I was looking at the July issue of Library Journal a few days ago. There is a new book coming out in August, Five Miles Away, a World Apart. Has anyone else heard about it? It's all about US, Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond! It compares TJ with Freeman (5 miles away). From what I read in the review and on Amazon, we did not compare favorably. Of all the schools in  the U.S., why did the author have to pick TJ???

Jeanne Casanova

 


07/27/10 05:40 AM #21    

 

Michael Grossman

Another book about TJ:

The school that refused to die: continuity and change at Thomas Jefferson High School

Front CoverDaniel Linden Duke SUNY Press, 1995
This book chronicles the life of Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, Virginia. From its opening in 1930, Tee-Jay, as it came to be known, developed a culture of academic excellence that eventually led observers to consider it one of the finest high schools in the South, if not the entire nation.

08/02/10 08:40 PM #22    

Deborah Guyton

Wow what a nice website.  Thanks to Steve Evens for getting a message to me about the TJ Reunion.  I'll have to see whether I can come to Richmond that weekend.  I've been in New Jersey for 31 years and haven't been in touch with anyone at TJ in a long time.  Being a good distance from Richmond makes it hard.  As both of my parents have passed away - 2001 and 2005, I really only get down to Richmond about once a year.

Debbie Guyton


08/19/10 06:50 PM #23    

 

Ibrahim Siddiq (Allen Spurlock)

Greetings to you all.

First, I wish to commend Michael Grossman for his efforts in designing and putting the site together.  Believe me this is a huge improvement over classmates.com!

I hope to be able to get back home for the 40th reunion.  But if not, I look forward to re-connecting with former classmates from high school.  

I wonder what life would have been like if we had the 'net.  Maybe it's a good thing we didn't. 

Guidance and peace to all.

 

Ibrahim Siddiq (Allen Spurlock)


08/28/10 06:55 PM #24    

Harold Wilkinson

Hello, everyone!

Since a couple of people have mentioned the class photos from Westhampton School, I have put my copies of Ms. Evans' junior primary (kindergarten and 1st grade) and 8th grade photos on line. It's a real hoot to see us (Steve Edmonds, Jim Kennedy, Shelly Nordin, Melvin Ely, Faye Schultz, Carolyn Yeamans, Greenie and others) back in the 1950's...and a little sad to see Fran, Jimmie and Perly as little kids.

Four years at TJ, but nine years at Westhampton have left me with many more memories from that school. The building's in bad shape. I walked through it a week ago. It's a mess. I attended a District meeting in March to discuss plans for the building and surrounding area. Nothing has been officially decided, but it appears Saint Mary's Hospital has the upper hand moneywise. They already own many of the houses between the school and the hospital. It seems almost certain that it'll never be used as a school again.

Here's the link to the Westhampton class photos:

home.comcast.net/~WesthamptonPG/westhampton.html

OK...For extra credit...Who gave Gary Glenn the black eye in the 1st grade photo? And in the 8th grade picture, do I still own that tie?

Harold "Wilkie" Wilkinson


08/29/10 06:52 PM #25    

Shelly Nordin

Hey Wilkie - Shelly Here

Mrs. Evans kindergarten picture is unbelievable - look at me next to her - early work at being teacher's pet - remember the flintstones club? - you, me, and greenie

look forward to seeing you at the reunion

Shelly Nordin

 

 


08/29/10 07:09 PM #26    

Shelly Nordin

All right Harold,

My guess on Gary's black eye is Chris Taylor, only because it couldn't have been me or you.

Shelly


08/30/10 04:48 PM #27    

 

Michael Grossman

I received this e-mail today:

Doug Martin left Richmond after our junior year for Philadelphia and  then attended  Tufts University.   He completed an engineering  degree  in Texas,  married (I think) Lisa Santos, and  worked for  Exxon in Malaysia.  They had several children.    Doug died about  3 years ago  from melanoma.

Regards,

Charles Herzog


09/11/10 09:05 PM #28    

 

Michael Grossman

Susan Norris

NORRIS, Susan Taliaferro Goddin, a lifelong Richmonder, passed away peacefully at home on September 7, 2010, surrounded by her loving family. Susan was born on May 30, 1931. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harvie Dill Goddin Jr. and Lillian Noble Goddin; and by her beloved husband, Ravee Norris Jr. Susan is survived by and spent her life loving and caring for her eight children, Ravee Norris III (Anne), Harvie Wright Norris (Ellen), Charles Hamilton Norris (Marella), Thomas Harrison Norris, Robert Perdue Norris, Stuart Goddin Norris, Susan Norris Boughner (Thomas) and Sally Norris Benjumea (Jose'); 14 grandchildren, Jessica and Zachary Norris, Michael Norris (Jamie), Rachel and William Norris, Christopher Norris, Gabriela Vazquez, Hannah and Rebecca Norris, Grace, Luke and Marc Boughner, Jose' and Iliana Benjumea; stepgranddaughter, Emily Hoyes (Eli); three great-grandchildren, Mitchell and Addison Norris and Isaiah Norris; three stepgreat-grandchildren, Jamie Dunn and Lucas and Savannah Hoyes. She is also survived by her two sisters, Lillian Goddin Hamilton (Richmond) and Dorothy Goddin Freeman (Charles); and one brother, Wellington Goddin II (Janet). She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church. She graduated in 1947 from Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond. She then attended Madison College (James Madison University). Granny, you were the most devoted mother and grandmother, whose memory we will forever cherish. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Bliley's - Central, 3801 Augusta Ave. Her funeral service will be held 1:30 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church, 2709 Monument Ave. Interment will follow at Hollywood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the VMI Foundation, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, Va. 24450, or to the charity of your choice.


09/17/10 03:55 PM #29    

Harold Wilkinson

I just uploaded the official classmates photo from our 1980 reunion. Take a look!

 home.comcast.net/~WesthamptonPG/tj/1980.html

There are links to larger versions of the photo if you want to see more detail. I won't attempt to identify everyone, but if you can spot Steve & Marilyn on the left side of the picture, I'm behind Steve. Are you in this photo?


09/20/10 05:16 AM #30    

Harold Wilkinson

At the risk of violating copyright laws, I scanned and posted a few articles from our final issue of The Jeffersonian, including the Last Will and Testament section. I also included scans of some other items, like our written instructions at graduation rehearsal. "Tassels on the right!"

To make it easier to navigate, I made a page of links:

tinyurl.com/tj1970links

You can access the previous pictures I shared, plus all the new stuff from the above link. I hope to add more items soon, but I promised a few Westhampton people that I'd post some 1957 JP-1 documents I've kept for over half a century. With any luck I'll have those ready later in the week. You won't believe the price of school lunches, bus tickets, and accident insurance back then!


09/23/10 09:21 PM #31    

Harold Wilkinson

I posted a larger image of the 1967 Albert H. Hill class photo that Michael shared earlier at:

tinyurl.com/hill1967

I also added 16 scans of documents from Westhampton School. So far they include items from Junior Primary (Sept. 1957), 6th Grade (Sept. 1963), and 8th Grade (June 1966, including our last wills as published in The Golden Eagle). As time permits, I'll add more.
Here's the shortcut link:

tinyurl.com/westhampton


09/27/10 03:55 PM #32    

 

Faye Schultz (Ashby)

Harold,

Thanks again for posting the Westhampton memorabilia. I really enjoyed the "Last Will" from the 8th grade, and the cost of school lunches, wow!!!!!!!! It's been a lot of fun, looking forward to more.

Faye Schultz Ashby


09/28/10 10:01 AM #33    

Patricia Cruickshanks

ARE YOU DOING YOUR PART TO MAKE OUR 40th REUNION SPECTACULAR??

 

     I just read the Missing Classmates List and there are far too many names on there!  Are you doing your part, as an active member, to track down these 233 Missing Classmates?  I CHALLENGE each and every one of YOU, our 168 registered Active Member on this website, to go through the Missing Classmates list and pick two names to track down.  Call these two people, invite them to our 40th Reunion and have them register on this website.  We have only one chance to get this Reunion right.  Why not make the 40th Reunion our best ever!!  Our 30th Reunion was FABULOUS....Let's make our 40th Reunion SPECTACULAR!!!  We can do this!!!

     How did Jane Duane, Dickie McMullen and Charlotte Poole fall off the radar screen???  This is not right!!  And they aren't the only ones!  There are far too many names on that Missing Classmates list!!  That list is OUR responsibility.  Remind Missing Classmates that once they register on this website, they will automatically  be invited to our 50th Reunion, that will be here before you know it!!  Yes, we are getting old and these Reunions are becoming increasingly important in our forever-busy lives. 

     We have already lost many of our classmates to death, 24 are listed In Memory on our website and there are certaunly others that we don't even know about because we haven't reached out to our Missing Classmates.  Sadly, many more of us won't be here to attend our 50th Reunion.  It is a sad thought, but it is reality.  We need to do our part NOW!!!  Never expect someone else to do what we are perfectly capable of doing NOW!!  There is no guarantee of "tomorrow" for any of us.  Life is so very fleeting, and for those of us who have lost loved ones, we know that all too well.

     Our 40th Reunion is only ONE MONTH away!!  We have only ONE CHANCE to get this right,  Why not do your part!!  It only takes a small investment of time and energy and will really let these Missing Classmates know that we care about them, because we have reached out to them!!  Isn't that what TJHS School Spirit is all about??  PLEASE do your part.

     Our TJHS Reunion Committee has been hard at work for many, many months planning our 40th Reunion to make it SPECTACULAR for you......What have you done to make it SPECTACULAR for EVERYONE?????

     Are you committed to this CHALLENGE??  Please don't let me down and certainly don't let your Missing Classmates down!!   They don't even know that this website exists.  Just think how much enjoyment you have had on this website, reconnecting with your classmates--the people you grew up with and shared important life experiences and memories with!!  Do it today---take my CHALLENGE TODAY!!  There are 233 Missing Classmates who are waiting for you to reach out to them TODAY!!!


09/29/10 02:25 PM #34    

 

Michael Grossman

reprinted from the Times-Dispatch-submitted by Cathy (Yohai) Brown

Carmen Bellanca

BELLANCA, Carmen Anthony, 93, of Richmond, died Wednesday, September 22, 2010. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Bellanca; and is survived by his three children, Michael and Stephen Bellanca and Anne Perreault and her husband, Gerry; two grandchildren, Eric Bellanca and Christina Perreault; two stepdaughters, Tina and Mark Ridgeway and their daughter, Christina; and April Yoder; and many other loving family members. Carmen was an Army veteran of WWII who served in the First Infantry Division, was the owner of Carmen's Beauty Salon, a member of the American Legion Post 84, the Knights of Columbus and the Gesang Verein. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Bliley's-Central, 3801 Augusta Ave., and where a Christian Wake will be held at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Bridget's Catholic Church. Interment Mt. Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the ALS Association, 1275 K St. Northwest, Suite 1050, Washington, D.C. 20005, or the Fisher House of Richmond, 1201 Broad Rock Blvd., Richmond, Va. 23249.
 


10/02/10 09:37 PM #35    

 

Wilson Valentine

Found 2 old photos from graduation in a box at my mom's house and up loaded them to the class photo page.  Both are in very poor condition, but I worked a bit with them to "clean" up some of the trash.  They were taken with Kodak Instamatics so the quality was poor before being stored for 40 years.  Still looking for some in my files that I can scan and up load.  Who knows, they may still be in Virginia.


10/15/10 08:49 PM #36    

 

Wilson Valentine

Just added 6 photos from what I had hoped would a treasure trove but that still aludes me finding it (probably under my old bed at my mother's home in Richmond).  I might get hung when I get to the reunion for up loading some of these but we were who we were, right?

Wilson


go to top 
  Post Message
  
    Prior Page
 Page  
Next Page