1952: OBIT Jim "Skip" Porter HHS 1952

From "THE TIMES," October 31, 2009

James Porter "Skip"

James 'Skip' Porter PENNINGTON- James "Skip" Porter, 74, devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, passed away peacefully at home. Born in Hamilton Township in 1934, Skip lived most of his life as a Hopewell Valley resident. He enjoyed summers on Long Beach Island and winters in Hobe Sound, FL. He was a graduate of Hamilton High School West, four year class president and four year captain of the Hamilton High School football team. He spent a year as a post graduate at Hun School of Princeton then attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA, where he was a part of the undefeated 1954 football team. He was a U.S. Army veteran involved with the Second Guided Missile Group at Fort Bliss, TX. Skip enjoyed being a part of his community, serving as the president of the YMCA, coaching many athletic activities in the township and enjoyed serving as a deacon of the Pennington Presbyterian Church. He was instrumental in initiating the boys basketball and girls softball leagues, and enjoyed coaching in these leagues as well. Son of the late Robert S. Porter and Mae Porter, he is survived by his wife Janet; son, James Thomson, his wife Debbie and grandchildren Hunter and Jessica Porter of Port St. Lucie, FL; daughters, Jill Ellen Jones, her husband Randall and grandchildren Randall and Tyler of Titusville, and Janiene Elizabeth Baxter, her husband Gary and grandchildren Jeffrey and Paige, of Titusville; also surviving are brothers, Robert Porter of Browns Mills, William Porter of Whiting and Earl Porter of Walla Walla, WA. We are so appreciative of the many hours of care given to Skip over the past three years by Kris Niepsiej, a loyal and dedicated caregiver and friend. A special thanks to our many friends that always gave Skip a helping hand, a smile and constant support. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to The Parkinson's Alliance, P.O. Box 308, Kingston, NJ 08528-0308. A celebration of life service for James Porter will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at The Pennington Presbyterian Church, 13 S. Main St., Pennington, NJ 08534. Calling hours will be from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5 at The Wilson-Apple Funeral Home, 2560 Pennington Rd., Pennington, NJ 08534.

1946: PAT MCGARRIGLE HHS '51 IS TOM SAWYER

My classmate from Hamilton's class of '51 entered the 1946 Tom Sawyer look alike contest and won. The Trenton area was celebrating the arrival of the Hollywood movie, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and for publicity held a contest for a look alike.

1938: Alice Wilhelm's "Tri-Y" Club

I will leave it to those visitors who have family who were at Hamilton High 70 years ago to tell us what the "Tri-Y" Club did. When Alice Wilhelm retired, she passed along many wonderful Hamilton High photos and articles to me. This is one of them.

1943: WHO SAID "YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN?"

This guest book entry from Ms. Kathryn Lacy Wake was posted today. Kathryn is looking for fellow HHS '43 classmates with whom to re-establish contact. Kathryn, it is an unfortunate truth that your generation is sadly lacking in computer involvement. I just wrote about that very thing in my "Sentimental Journey" column in the Trenton Times. I hope you find a classmate who is into computing and reads this, but the chances are mighty slim.

1983: MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS

Even though this column I wrote back in 1983 related to Hamilton High School, Kuser School and Kuser Annex played a major part in my 12 years of education. With all the humility I can muster, I think this is one of the best columns I have written for the newspaper over the past 30 years. As you will see as you read my "Odyssey," the part my fellow "Kuser Kats" played in my grammar and high school career reached a climax on the warm and rainy June night in 1951. Even in this year of 2009, I still feel a very close kinship with all my wonderful alumni from both Kuser and HHS.

Tom Glover’s

Hamilton High School Odyssey

************************

I drove by the place the other day. Something made me go around the block and drive by a second time. As I rounded the corner of Park Avenue and South Clinton, I decided to stop and take a closer look. I pulled over to the curb, parked, and for a minute or two, just stood on the sidewalk, closed my eyes and savored the moment.

One of my favorite movies of all time is the 20^th Century Fox production of "Twelve O’clock High." You may remember the opening minutes of the film, as an aging Dean Jagger journeys back, alone in time, to the very spot where he spent a very memorable period of his life, with very memorable people. The background music, the prop wash from the B-17s readying themselves for another mission, the almost ethereal sound of male voices coming from out of the past in song:

Bless them all, bless them all The long and the short and the tall…”

Dean Jagger was on a nostalgia trip; a mental journey, if you will, into the past. Such a journey may be taken by anyone who has pleasant memories, just sitting there; awaiting recall. As I stood in front of Hamilton High School, thinking about "Twelve O’clock High," I became aware of the warm spring breezes rustling through those familiar Sycamore trees on the front lawn of Hamilton High School. I took a seat on the settee at the base of the equally familiar Hamilton High flagpole. My thoughts of the movie vanished, and were replaced by pangs of bittersweet nostalgia ... sort of a melancholy feeling that I had been here before ... right here, on this settee ... with a lovely girl ... the girl I would ultimately fall in love with and marry. It was spring. It was 1951. I was a senior at Hamilton High.

A strange, almost supernatural sound came to my ears as the breezes whispered through the trees. "Good morning... Hamilton High School ... Yes, this is Miss Gropp. Yes, Mr. Hesser is in ... he's in a meeting. Mr. Coursen? Yes, one moment please.

Six or seven cream-colored Trenton Transit busses pull up to the curb; their doors open and busloads of 1950's type teenagers jump to the sidewalk. Over on the Park Avenue side, Joe Layton pulls up with the "Blue Goose"... repeat­ing the same ritual his competitor is doing on South Clinton Avenue. The "Blue Goose!" What a bus ...beautiful velour seats, a roof-top luggage rack ...a remnant of the depression. Still another Layton bus pulls to the curb. It's "Red." He does have a last name, but we don't know it; all we know is he is a nice guy. He still doesn't have any teeth, he still needs a shave, and his cigarette has a one inch ash hanging from it. How vivid everything is in my mind!

"Richard, Did you read chapter two of "David Copperfield?" "Yes, Miss Cornwell."

"If you read it, Richard, which is highly doubtful, I would think you would have gotten at least one question correct."

"Yes, m’aam," came the plaintive reply.

I pass Miss Cornwell's English class...pausing at the entrance way to Mr. Bird's history class: "Listen, you birds, tomorrow we will have a quiz on chapter 14. Be sure you study."

"Mr. Bird, these shoes are too small."

"It doesn't matter. I can get you any size you want."

"OK. Get me 8-D's in brown." Mr. Bird is moonlights as a shoe salesman for Mason Shoe Company.

As if on a magic carpet, I am standing outside the Park Avenue door of Hamilton High. It's a very cold winter day; too cold to go out past the third telephone pole for a cigarette. I have one cupped in my right hand; my hand is in my pocket.

"Thomas, put that cigarette out and come with me." It's Wendell Phillips. One of his assignments as a teacher is to police the "first," "second," and "third" lunch periods for those of us who choose to break the rules of the school. Mr. Phillips is a small, slight, man. He is very soft-spoken, and at the same time, a strict disciplinarian. He wears rimless glasses, and is impeccably dressed. He has a super white, stiffly-starched white shirt, and shoes so shiny, one's reflection can be seen. His uncanny ability as a faculty detective con­stantly takes us by surprise. He leads me into the office, and matter-of-factly tells Mr. Miss Gropp to write me up for "five hours" of detention. Detention; How we despise it! We miss the bus, and it's a long walk home; especially in the rainy weather.

And now I'm out in the athletic field. It's Friday afternoon, and the end of another week. Don Devine, Kip Breese, and Joe Bartlett are super­vising intramural sports. We're playing softball. My team is batting ...I'm up. At home, when we play softball at Plaag's Grove, I smack the ball a country mile. Why is it when I'm playing high school sports, I can't get a hit? For that matter, I can't field too, either. I don't understand. I'm fac­ing Buddy Rick. Rick is good at all sports. He looks in at Art Perry and winks…..a windup, a sting­ing underarm fastball….. another….. then a third. I'm called out on the third strike...I'm embar­rassed. I didn't even swing at one of them. I'm such a wimp!

Gene Grauer's up next. As I hand him the bat, I hear somebody say something about a barn and a snow shovel. I mumble something about a sore shoulder. I have to have some kind of excuse ...I mean ...three straight strikes...not only that they all saw me miss that fly ball out in right field ...hell, I would have one-handed that if we were playing over at Plaag's...how come? I'm confused.

Now I'm off the athletic field. I seem to be in a shop ...yes..."Hamilton Job Press"...print shop! Who's the teacher?..."Remember boys, FFI and FFL are called ligatures. They are next to each other in the California Job Case. You must learn where each and every letter is stored. Spaces are called "quads "...there are "em" quads and "en" quads.

That Charles Dickens accent! It can only be "Pop" Mitchell ...It is! He sits at his desk with a green celluloid visor over his forehead. It contrasts with what is left of his silver hair. He stops his dis­course on ligatures long enough to rebuke one of his talkative students:

"Mr. Wilson! I shall recite a poem just for you. You would do well to listen to every word. I shall be happy to explain it should you not understand the meaning. Are you ready?

Charlie Wilson is a happy-go-lucky guy. He likes Pop, and Pop likes him. Charlie is a good print shop student. He tells Pop he is ready. "Very well, here it is:

A WISE OLD OWL LIVED IN AN OAK.

THE MORE HE SAW, THE LESS HE SPOKE.

THE LESS HE SPOKE, THE MORE HE HEARD.

WHY CAN'T WE BE LIKE THAT OLD BIRD?

Do you understand the poem, Mr. Wilson?" "Yeah, I do, Mr. Mitchell."

"Very well, if you try to be like that old bird you will have very little trouble understanding ligatures. FFI, FFL..."

The voice trails off, along with the hum of the Hamilton Job Presses. And suddenly, I'm seated in the third row, front section of the Hamilton High School auditorium. It's operetta time. We're hav­ing rehearsals for the 1951 production of "Tulip Time". Louise Baird is playing the piano, accom­panying Bill Baggott. Bill's lovely tenor voice obviously pleases Miss Baird as she plays the piano with a smile of satisfaction. Bill's solo ends and the chorus called to the stage. For the umpteenth time we will go over the one song which seems to need work.

"All right, choir, listen to me." It's Miss Louise Baird. Petite is stature, but with the uncanny ability to demand, and get, attention, and then perfection. "The last time we did this song, some of you basses were growling around off pitch. Was it you, Keith Kauffman?"

"No Miss Baird, it was probably Clark Perry." Clark is a tenor. We laugh at Keith's always­ present sense of humor.

Miss Baird's glasses are tilted on the top of her head, aviator style, as she calls Saundra Smith in to provide the accompaniment. Miss Baird takes up a position at the front of the stage so she can hear the offending voice, or voices. She taps her pencil for attention, and Sandy begins to play. We wait for the introduction, which by now is more familiar than out national anthem, then we sing:

“..TULIP TIME IN HOLLAND IS A TIME FOR MERRY FUN.

MARKET PLACE IS CROWDED, AND THE JOY HAS JUST BEGUN,

WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE, AND WHEN THE DAY IS DONE,

WE WILL NOT FORGET THE HAPPY HOURS...”

Again, the voices fade, and just as suddenly, I'm out of the auditorium. It's a warm June night. School will soon end. It's the last canteen of the year. It's such a delightful evening; almost as if God mandated soft moonlight, rustling leaves, and the heady smell of romance.

"Let's go outside and get some air, Jude."

We hold hands and walk out into the delightful spring evening. I can't explain the vibrant elec­tricity I feel between my hand and hers. I wonder to myself if I'm trembling. She looks fresh and clean as the spring. I'm in love. We face each other ...holding each other's hand. We look at each other and wonder at the strange and beautiful happening. I kiss her. She's soft and fresh, and beautiful. She is becoming a woman ...I'm becom­ing a man.

And now there's a clap of thunder, followed by a brilliant flash of lightning. It's still June, but it's our big day. Graduation! My brother drops me off at the side entrance to the War Memorial Building. Many of the guys are standing on the sidewalk. All of us feign confidence and com­posure. Inside, we're all experiencing butterflies. I walk up to Larry McGlynn. "Hi Stony ! ... `be glad when this is over, won't you?" Joe Kasian saunters over; always ready with that smile. Geez! I've gone through 12 years of school with Joe; from kindergarten to senior. I've grown up with him ...and George Morley, Joan Tart, Karen Peterson, Shirley VanMarter, Charlotte Wilson, Ronnie Tarr, Tony Gies, Elaine Globus, Jess Anderson, Don Slabicki…..all those "Kuser Kids"...I silen­tly wonder to myself if I'll ever see them again after tonight. What an unsettling thought. There's uneasiness about this graduation business. The lightning flashes and it rains….hard. We rush for the protective shelter of the huge awning at the side of the War Memorial. My Uncle Charlie Gaudette comes out in his short sleeves and unlocks the doors. He's the superintendent here, and I'm kinda proud that my uncle has such an important position.

"Hi ya Tommy…. 'Ya all ready for the big night? Tell your Mom and Pop we'll be over Saturday". Almost as an afterthought, he reaches into his wallet and hands me a five dollar bill ...then wishes me well.

And suddenly, we're all on the huge War Memorial building stage. We're sitting on bleachers. The kids in the back row are way up there ...I mean way up...near the roof. The pro­gram begins. A minister delivers a stirring invocation. Reverend John Oman delivers a short, relevant prayer. The minutes tick away. Feet rustle and throats clear, more out of nervousness than necessity. On cue, the choir takes a place in the front of the graduates, center stage. We look down beyond the footlights and see the friendly and familiar face of Miss Baird, as she begins to lead us in song ...her smile is reassuring:

Our harmony is superb. All of a sudden, I realize the beauty of these lyrics. We've been singing this song for 3 years, and I never understood the full beauty of the thing.

“Now the day is over, night is drawing nigh,

Shadows of the evening, steal across the sky.

Jesus gives the weary, calm and sweet repose,

With thy tenderest blessing, may my eyelids close..”

As I ponder the lyrics, I am strangely choked up; my eyes are glistening ...the end is in view. I cast a furtive glance at some classmates...am I the only one with this intense emotional feeling? There's Judy Britton, Shirley Whiteb­read, Phyllis Booz, Joan Delowise, Karen Peter­son, Charlotte Wilson...all crying. Most of the girls are crying ...what about the guys? ...Geez! I have this lump in my throat ...I feel the tears welling up to overflowing. The song ends. Miss Baird looks up at us, a smile of complete satisfaction on her face. She nods and silently sounds the word "good". We assume our places with the graduates. My nose is running ...I need a tissue, and don't have one. Who would have thought I would have needed one? ...I sniff and swallow.

And now, Mr. Hesser is presenting the class to Mr. Howard D. Morrison. We're on our way! They're handing out the diplomas. The applause, as each name is called, seems to emphasize the popularity, or lack thereof, of the recipient. And suddenly, they're all distributed ...there are no more ...this is the end. Twelve years of school ..this is really the end! Am I glad or am I sad? Mr. Morrison speaks the final words:

"And so, to the class of Hamilton High School, 1951, good luck, and may God Bless each and every one of you."

Suddenly the scene changes. I'm out of the War Memorial. It's September ...I don't know what year...yes I do...it's 1983...a school bus rumbles up to the curb on the Park Avenue side of Hamilton High School. Now they call it "Hamilton High School West". Here comes another bus, and another. They're not Trenton Transit ...not Joe Layton...they're all bright yellow and black. 1983-­type school kids hop, skip, and jump to the curb and head toward those familiar old doorways. I'm standing in their midst but they don't seem to see me. Strange! How I envy them! I remember Vic­tor Herbert's song, "Toyland"...how does it go...let's see...

"Toyland, toyland, dear little girl and boy land,

While you are within it, you are ever happy there,

Childhood joy land, dear little girl and boy land,

Once you've passed its portals, you may never return again..."

How true! Look at those Freshmen! Four years of high school still ahead of them! Oh, please enjoy it...Learn! Live every golden minute of it...someone please tell them it's all over so soon ...it ends so fast!

The bell rings; a bell much louder than the bell we had, and they are all in class. The breeze rus­tles through the trees, and ethereal voices, clear and bell-like, echo through the grand old building and a song mingles with the rustle of those big Hamilton High Sycamore trees….

“The New Years Eve, we did the town, the day we tore the goal post down,

We will have these moments to remember.

The quiet walks, the noisy fun,the ballroom prize we almost won,

We will have these moments to remember..."

----- Original Message -----

From: Iamdpw@aol.com

To: Thomglo@verizon.net

Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 11:55 AM

Subject: Permission

Tom-

I sent a copy of an item from your blog to some of my classmates as a suggestion of what we could present as entertainment at our next annual class meeting. It was your piece about "day dreaming" of going back to HHS and recalling pleasant memories of those days.

My question is this- Can we have your permission to quote some (or maybe all ) of that article in our presentation at our luncheon in June? We would of course acknowledge that the words are yours.

Don Whiteley

1951: Elise Mueller, Queen of the Senior Ball

One of the really great things about my web blogs is re-kindling old acquaintances. Elise visited my website, hopefully as a result of my recent TIMES column on the subject of computers and the lack of senior citizen involvement. Lovely Elise was the queen of our class of '51 senior ball. There she sits, majestically on her throne, a vision of loveliness. Another vision of loveliness is standing to her immediate right (on the left in the center photo), a young lady named Shirley Whitebread who was a blazing "old flame*" back in Kuser School, and also a regular duet partner of mine in the Kuser School glee club. *"old flame" is a seldom heard phrase familiar to only those of us who are in the over 60 generation. The phrase has been replaced with "an ex."

2009: CLARK PERRY-HHS '51--GOODBYE FOR NOW

Today I received an email from Audrey Perry Maurer looking for my tribute to Clark. I was amazed to note that I posted it on my www.glover320.blogspot.com blog, but neglected to post it here.

I really get a morose and melancholy reaction when I read of the passing of still another classmate. Especially those who went through twelve years of school with me, from Miss Mary Kelly's Reception grade at Kuser School, through Hamilton High Class of 1951. Clark was one of the stalwarts as a tenor in our years with Louise Baird's vocal music class. I have been blessed with an incredible ability to remember persons, places, and things from my very earliest years. Countless memories of Clark and his twin brother Art will always be with me. Louise Baird used to mix a bit of philosophical wisdom in with our music repertoire. One of those philosophical gems applies to my old friend, Clark:
"Make the world a bit more beautiful because you have lived in it." Clark did. Rest in Peace my friend, we WILL meet again.

2006: HHS CLASS OF '56. ANOTHER "CLASS WITH CLASS."

Fellow Hamilton Hornet Jack Lacy gave me a CD/DVD loaded with photos from the 50th reunion of Hamilton's class of 1956, celebrated back in 2006. The above photo has been enhanced and tweaked to give you an idea of just one small portion of the time and labor that was brought into play by alumni from that class. Check out the neighborhood display, and don't miss that old Wurlitzer juke box.

1951: LEE MOUNT, HHS 51 AND BROTHER CARL

Here's HHS '51 classmate Lee Mount and his little brother Carl on a sled, winter, 1938.

1947: "PUPPY LOVE" AT KUSER GRAMMAR SCHOOL

This is one of my childhood girlfriends whom I met long before meeting my dear wife of 56 years, Judy Britton. most of us guys had a young lady during our years in grammar school who gave us that very interesting emotional malady known as "Puppy Love." Millie Long was one of those grammar school classmates who captured my 13 year old heart. Few indeed are those of us who will ever forget the object of our affection in those grammar school years. The late Mildred Long was one of those lovely young girls who brightened my life when I first met her in 8^th grade at Kuser School. I recently went to that big old Sycamore tree in front of Kuser School and looked in vain for the heart that I carved on that tree that I thought would last forever: “Tommy G. + Millie L," but it was nowhere to be seen.

2009: A REDUNDANT REMINDER

(I will be posting this graphic on this, and my Kuser and Hamilton High websites periodically to remind any alumni who are interested in attending this historic event.)

I have no idea how many Kuser alumni visit this site. However, I would be remiss if I didn't remind those Kuser Kats who are visitors to mark their respective calendars for Saturday, September 26, 2009 from 1 to 5 P.M. for a visit back to the best grammar school in the world! I hope to see you there!

2009: HHS'51 Shirley Gress Obit

I had seen Shirley on a number of occasions during my frequent Senior Citizen outreach programs. She was a lovely gal who was always there with that ready smile, and cordial personality. Rest in Peace, Shirl,
"we'll meet again, don't know where don't know when, but I know we'll meet again some sunny day..."

1954: IT WILL BE REUNION #55 FOR HHS '54

When I lost my complete list of email addresses and ALL the correspondence, I lost contact with many of my visitors. As explained elsewhere on this site, in my quest to be logical, I assumed that the transition from Verizon Fios to Verizon Broadband would not erase all of my thomglo@verizon.net library of messages and addresses. Such was, and is not the case. Here's a warning to all who are considering the move I made. Believe it or not, Verizon Broadband told me they are a different organization than Verizon Fios, and have no facility to host emails. I learned too late that my quest to apply logic can be very twisted. So Karen Golden, if you are reading this post, thank you so much for the yearbook. Please contact me at my NEW email address
tglover320@optimum.net

A REDUNDANT REMINDER

2009: Come Sing With Me and Also Remember Kuser School Days

For those local residents who were unable to attend the June 4th Centennial Dinner Dance at the Nottingham Ballroom, I will be presenting my onscreen multimedia presentation,
"KUSER SCHOOL: A LOCAL LEGEND" on Sunday afternoon during my regular singalong program. The program will be from 1 to 3 PM in the Kuser Mansion theater. I hope to see you there. Call 890-3630 to reserve a seat or seats.

1989: HHS PRESENTS "OLIVER!"

Last month, Judy and I journeyed down to Seneca High School in Tabernacle, N.J. to see my grand daughter Jessica in "Oliver!" It was a SMASH hit. As we left the auditorium, I opined to my dear wife Judy and my daughter, Juliane, that Seneca's production was as good as those which have been presented by Hamilton High under the direction of Ms. Sue Proulx, and earlier, Miss Louise Baird. And that is a well-deserved compliment to the very talented music students and the faculty at HHS!

1989: HHS MATH CLUB

Here are four Hornets doing what I couldn't do in a million years: excel in math. I have absolutely no mathmatical talent. 

2009: Come Sing With Me and Also Remember Kuser School Days

For those local residents who were unable to attend the June 4th Centennial Dinner Dance at the Nottingham Ballroom, I will be presenting my onscreen multimedia presentation,
"KUSER SCHOOL: A LOCAL LEGEND" on Sunday afternoon during my regular singalong program. The program will be from 1 to 3 PM in the Kuser Mansion theater. I hope to see you there. Call 890-3630 to reserve a seat or seats.

DON'T FORGET THE ARCHIVES

ATTENTION NEWCOMERS:

BE SURE TO CHECK THE ARCHIVES. THEY GO BACK TO THE YEAR 2006

2009: OBIT: SHIRLEY VAN MARTER EDWARDS

It was with extreme sadness that I noted the passing of Shirley Van Marter (Edwards), still another member of the "Class With Class, HHS 1951." Shirley was a class mate of mine through all 12 years of grammar and high school. I will always remember that quick and ready smile. She had a truly wonderful personality.The Van Marter family were neighbors of the Glovers back in the 1930's. We lived on Beal Street and the Van Marters on Partridge.

1967: A REQUEST FROM RICHARD SANNA, HHS '67

I received an email from Richard Sanna requesting information on the class of '67. Unfortunately, the HHS51 guest book does not allow for responses to guest comments, so I am taking this opportunity to address Richard's questions:

Sorry to say Richard, the only 1967 HHS post on my website is one revealing the fact that Betty Reed and Herb Griffiths were transferring over to Steinert.

As to requesting using my column, sorry to say my space is too limited for PSA's. I suggest you send one in to the Times' Community editor and if he/she is not the person, to please forward your request.

I will be keeping an eye out for future HHS material from the later years.

Tom Glover

1956: Obits of Morris Agress and Marilyn Louise (Soren) Sailey-Schmidt

Thanks to Jack Lacy, HHS '56 for the following notifications:

===============================

Hi All !

Regretfully we report the passing of another HHS56 classmate, Marilyn (Soren) Sailey-Schmidt, and one of our few surviving teachers, Morris Agress. Their obituaries are listed below.

Special thanks to classmates Barbara Snyder Dauber and Myrna Comiskey Doolittle for their assistance on tracking down the information on Marilyn. We had missed the original obit notice.

Jack

Marilyn (Soren) Sailey-Schmidt

Marilyn Louise (Soren) Sailey-Schmidt

HAMILTON - Marilyn Louise Sailey-Schmidt, of Crosswicks passed away peacefully Sunday, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton, after a valiant battle. Born in Trenton she was a lifelong area resident. Marilyn received her Bachelors Degree in English with a Minor in Journalism from Trenton State College in 1986. She began her work life as a bank teller at the Roma Bank, she then worked for the Aim One and Kelly Temporary Agencies for several years. Most recently she was a Client Representative for the Prudential Company in Ewing. Marilyn had several passions including a love for travel and learning. Her greatest passion was writing. She published works in the short story and poetry genres and was the 2006 recipient of the 'Outstanding Achievement Award in Poetry' given by the International Society of Poets. Her passion for writing allowed her to become an Adjunct Faculty Member of the English Department at the Burlington County Community College. She was a member of St. James Episcopal Church, Yardville and member of the New Jersey Romance Writers as well as a member of the Romance Writers of America. Marilyn was predeceased by her first husband Douglas Alan Sailey. She is survived by her husband Herbert L. Schmidt; her daughters Karen L. Wira and her husband Michael, Janet McSloy and her husband Mike, her grandchildren Lynne Wiley, Elizabeth L. Bashiti, Christopher and Sean Wira, her sister Gail Shuman, her nephew Todd Shuman and her 5 silky terriers; Max, Molly, Abby, Sparky and Keely. Funeral Services will be held 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at St, James Episcopal Church, 1040 Yardville-Allentown Road, Yardville. Interment will be at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown, NJ Relatives and friends may call 5-7 pm Tuesday at the Saul Memorial Home,1740 Greenwood Avenue, Trenton, NJ In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure , 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas TX, 75244. www.saulfuneralhomes.com

Published in The Times, Trenton, on 4/6/2009

Morris M. Agress

HAMILTON SQUARE - Morris M. Agress, 97, died Monday at his residence. Born in 1912 on what is now Agress Road in Perrineville, NJ, Mr. Agress was a graduate of Rider College (B.A.) and Rutgers University (M.A.) A career educator, Mr. Agress taught in Morristown and Monmouth College. For over 40 years, he taught business courses for the Hamilton Township Board of Education. He was a soccer coach in Hamilton for 20 years, winning several state championships. Mr. Agress served two terms as president of the Roosevelt (NJ) Board of Education and two terms as president of the Hamilton Township Teachers Association. He was an officer and trustee of the Mercer County Credit Union. After retirement, Mr. Agress studied history at Mercer County Community College and was appointed the Evening School administrator at the college, where he served for several years. He was a member of Congregation Beth El, East Windsor, and the Perrineville Jewish Center. When Mr. Agress was in the fifth grade, he had a crush on his red-headed teacher. In December 1939, he married the former Dorothy Cobin, the red-headed teacher. They were married for 69 wonderful years, and she survives him. He is also survived by two children, Dr. Lynne Agress of Towson, MD, and William S. Agress of Lawrenceville, and a grandson, Andrew J. Agress. Mr. Agress was the brother of the late Bea Zuckerberg and Louis Agress. Funeral services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Perrineville Cemetery Chapel in Perrineville. The period of mourning will be observed at the Agress residence in Hamilton on Wednesday afternoon, Thursday from 5-7 p.m., Sunday afternoon and Monday evening. Memorial contributions may be offered to Congregation Beth El, 50 Maple Stream Road, East Windsor, NJ 08520. Funeral arrangements are by Orland's Ewing Memorial Chapel, 1534 Pennington Road, Ewing Township.

Published in The Times, Trenton, on 6/3/2009

2009:JUST A REMINDER BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE

If you are going to the Kuser School Centennial dinner dance on Thursday, June 4, 2009, and haven't yet reserved a place or places, call the number above and reserve a place. This affair promises to be a memorable event. I hope to see you there!

1989: HHS CLASS OF 1954 CELEBRATE THEIR 35TH

1954: It was a very good year. some 55 years later, Judy Britton and Tom Glover celebrated 55 years of wedded bliss, along with those infrequent incidents that added wrinkle after wrinkle to our once young countenance. Here's an article I wrote for the Hornets from the class of '54. Unless my math is faulty, they will be headed for their 55th this year of 2009.

1989: HHS JUNIOR CLASS FASHION SHOW

These Hornets would go on to become the class of 1990.

1949: THE OPERETTA HOLLYWOOD EXTRA

I miss those annual high school operettas. It would really be nice to see the high schools do what is being done on Broadway with musical revivals. Wouldn't it be nice to see "The Red Mill," or one of Gilbert and Sullivans masterpieces? As I was reading over the program which I have digitally re-mastered, I was transported back to the year 1949 where a lovely Bettee Beiger Farmer loaned her beautiful voice to still another HHS annual operetta. There were a few of my teen age crushes in that cast.

1974: Steve Allen-HHS '74- A New Hornet Website

The following is from Steve Allen, HHS '74:

Hi Tom,

My name is Steve Allen (Class of ’74). Recently we started working on our plans for our F35^th reunion to be held on Friday, November 27^th, 2009. Specific details regarding place, costs, time, etc have yet to be established. However, as a result of the planning, and since I have my own web/graphic design company, I am responsible for all internet communications. Again, since my company designs websites, we created a site for the class of 74 (www.hhswclassof74.com). It just went “live” this weekend and still have some pages to complete. The reason for my e-mail is to see if you would be willing to mention us in your blog. In return, I have created a link on our site for “Links” which I will be placing Classmates.com, the Official HHSW website and Alumni site and would be more than happy to add your hhs51 blog if you would like.

This June 10^th we will be having our first fundraiser at Applebees on Rt. 33, from 11am till 10pm with 10% of each bill going towards our fundraising efforts. Within the next day or two I will have the flyer online that everyone needs to take into the restaurant in order to get the donations. Of course we would appreciate any publicity your blog could offer as I am sure you have numerous fellow hornets that are avid readers of your blog and would be willing to help out by dining out on that day.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me…

Thanks,

Steve Allen

1949-1950 (Circa) HHS Soccer Team

There's Tommy Corelli on the far right, Jack Pierson on the far left. I also see classmates Donnie Frounfelker, Ronnie Lynch, Kieth Kauffman, Paul Henon.....Memories of our youth!