| E-Notice |
THIS IS SURRATTS FOUNDATION E-NOTICE 2011-1
OF JANUARY 3, 2011
Hello Hornets:
Here are some items that might be of
interest:
1.
FOUNDATION'S ANNUAL CAMPAIGN A GREAT
SUCCESS! Thanks to
the generosity of the donors listed below, the Foundation's 2010
annual fund raising campaign was a smashing success. Many
thanks to all who contributed to last year’s campaign!
2. SEEKING LOST HORNETS.
Dick Duke (47) is trying to get in touch with members of the Classes
of 46, 47 and 48. Please contact Dick at 734-769-0467, or
dickduke@umich.edu, if you
have any info that might be helpful.
3.
MEMORIES OF MARLOW HEIGHTS.
We received these rather "exciting" memories in response to the item
in last month's e-Notice concerning the Marlow Heights Shopping
Center.
"Hello
Henry: Just read the item about Marlow Heights and had to
laugh when I recalled my memories of the "good times" at Marlow
Heights. I think they would be somewhat different than most
would put in their walk down memory lane. For those of us that
walked on a different side of the street, these were not the "PG"
memories so many have. While we were not "gangs" in the sense
they use now, each area had its own group and they did not tolerate
outsiders well. Actually you could feel downright unwelcome.
Being from "Southern Maryland," we were not welcome in Marlow
Heights.
More than once I and friends were "asked" to
leave. Generally, the number of people making the request
provided the size of the impetus for us to go; the old thing of
"discretion being the better part of valor, etc." and knowing you
were going to get your butt kicked if you didn't go (and go quickly,
without grace). I could provide numerous tales of hasty
retreats and misadventures at Marlow Heights, fights and near
fights, picking up girls, street races, running from the cops and
praying we would find one (a cop) before the Marlow Heights
Boys caught up with us. It was actually fairly tame (most of
the time), until it started escalating beyond control, went from
funny to scary and finally got vicious and ended in a death.
Which, needless to say, brought the cops out in force and ended most
of the "gangs" and problems visiting the area.
And, I guess I should throw in the tale of
when the Marlow Heights Boys visited Southern Maryland -- they only
did that once. (LOL) So, yes, Marlow Heights does bring
back some memories, just different ones than most people would have
and while they are "funny" now, they seemed a bit serious at the
time. While I still live in Southern Maryland, I have not been
back to Marlow Heights in years. I have no idea what it even
looks like now.
Lee Ringley (65)"
[Ed Note: Sounds more like West Side
Story than Prince George's County!]
"Hi Henry: I just looked at the
Marlow Heights site, and yes it brings back many memories. First
off, it is where I used to go for street racing. Many nights you
could find a good race at the Hot Shoppes, Jr. After returning
from my vacation with the army in Vietnam I met my now wife of 39
years there while I was racing. Next year we are looking
forward to a happy 40 years of being together. So, yep every
day I think of Marlow Heights! Grover Stanley (67)"
[Ed Note: Always obey the posted speed
limits! (And that includes if you’re driving Dale Wickline’s
57 Chevy up Route 5 near Marlow Heights!)]
[Ed Note: Correction: In last
month’s item about the Marlow Heights Shopping Center,
Representative Steny Hoyer’s then-current position, House Majority
Leader, was incorrectly stated. Apologies to Representative
Hoyer!]
4.
SURRATTSTOCK PERFORMER FEATURED ON
“TALK OF THE NATION.”
Some of our readers who are NPR listeners might have caught
Surrattstock performer John Previti (72) (who also has performed at
similarly distinguished venues like the Kennedy Center) in one of
his many and extraordinarily varied musical incarnations on the
December 7 broadcast of the nationally-aired “Talk of the Nation”
show hosted by Neal Conan. John appeared with The Blue Rhythm
Boys, who were featured in connection with the release of their new
album “Come On If You’re Comin’.” (The radio program can be
listened to online at
http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=3&islist=true&id=5&d=12-07-2010.)
Congratulations to John and The Boys on this
very nice national press!
[Ed Note: To prove that great musicians
have incredible staying power, I believe the first time I heard John
interviewed on public radio was when he and his great jazz fusion
band Blue Horizon – featuring fellow Hornets/Surrattstock performers
Dave Seyler (73) and Don Stapleson (72) along with Pete Lambert, Tim
Jarvis and Dave Snead -- were interviewed and performed on public
radio in DC in early 1974. In case you’re counting, that was
almost 37 years ago!]
5.
SURRATTSVILLE COMMUNITY LOSES LONG-TIME
EDUCATOR.
The Surrattsville community recently lost
perhaps its oldest-serving educator ever -- and one of its most
beloved staffers ever -- substitute teacher Col. Ben Norcia.
We’ve included Col. Norcia’s obituary from the Washington Post
below, and we received this note of lovely memories from his
daughter, Marcia Norcia Phillips (70):
“Hi Henry: Dad
loved working at Surrattsville, where he was a permanent, full-time
substitute for almost 25 years, from 1981-2004. He reported
for work every morning and taught any class to which he was
assigned. On the rare days when no substitute was needed, he
walked the halls as a monitor. He was happy to be at
Surrattsville, no matter what position he was given. He
offered encouragement, broke up fights, gave advice. He truly
enjoyed being with the young people, and it was clear that they
enjoyed him. Whenever I was with him in Clinton we were sure
to hear a shout, "Mr. Norcia! Mr. Norcia!" and a student, past
or present, would come running over to give him a hug. When he
introduced me they would tell me how he had helped them or just been
nice to them. He brought a supply of pencils and paper every
day to give to students who had forgotten theirs, he always carried
extra change to offer to those who were short on lunch money, and he
firmly believed in second chances, rarely sending anyone to the
Principal's office.
My father worked at Surrattsville,
after a long career as a military officer and NASA logistician,
because he loved to be with young people, and to be of service.
Long after most people had retired, he was working full-time.
His last day of work was at Surrattsville in May 2004. A fire
drill sounded. Dad took his class out to the designated spot
on the football field and collapsed from congestive heart failure.
He was 91 years old. He never went back to work at
Surrattsville, but always wanted to, and often badgered his doctor
to approve his return. In his final days, this past summer and
fall, he would often tell me "I want to go back to school." I
would help him into the car and drive him to Surrattsville, just to
look at the building. His great pleasure was when I would push
him in his wheelchair around his neighborhood in Clinton, and he
would see one of his former students, often accompanied by children
of their own.
Dad passed away on his 97th birthday,
October 2, 2010. Due to a three-month wait for burials at
Arlington, his funeral service will be held on January 19th, at
12:15pm at the Ft. Myer Chapel, followed by burial with full
military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. We would
welcome anyone from Surrattsville who can attend. Please email
me, his daughter and Surrattsville alumna, Class of 70, at
marcia_phillips@yahoo.com
and I'll send you the details and directions.
Also, if you knew my dad and have
any memories to share, I would love to hear from you. Thank
you. Marcia”
6.
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT AND FELLOW
YOUNGSTERS FEATURED AT BOWL PARADE.
Some of you who saw the Citrus Bowl Parade might have caught the
performance of Achievement Award recipient Ann Weaver Pelle (71),
and her fellow Villages Twirlers and Drum Corps.
Congratulations to these perpetually young performers on their
appearance at this nationally-covered event!
7.
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT CONTINUES GOOD WORK
IN COLLEGE. We received
this email about an interesting project from 2007 Foundation
Scholarship recipient Brene Carrington:
“Greetings from a fellow Surrattsville Alumni
(2007): We need everyone's support. Pepsi has launched the
Refresh Everything Project through which they will be awarding
grants to great causes! As a chapter president of
the actuarial science, risk management and insurance collegiate
fraternity (Gamma Iota Sigma), my application has been accepted
and we have been given the opportunity be in the running for one of
these grants!
The ten projects that receive the most
votes in each category will be awarded grants. Our application
is titled “Help Urban Communities Become Financially
Independent.” This is the link to read about our grant request: http://www.refresheverything.com/financialindependence
Anyone can vote
for the project once per day. Please consider supporting our
grant application. Thank you and best wishes, Brene”
8.
ALL CLASSES/FACULTY/STAFF DIRECTORIES
AVAILABLE.
Thanks to the
herculean work of Pat Becker Oles (71), the Foundation's 2000
Alumni/Faculty/Staff Directory has been updated for 2010, and now
includes fascinating "what I'm up to" paragraphs from those who
submitted directory information. If you would like a copy of
the Directory, send a $20 check payable to the Foundation to:
Henry Smith, One W. Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 950, Towson, MD
21204.
9.
"SURRATTSVILLE ALUMNI" WINDOW STICKERS
AVAILABLE.
Pat Becker Oles (71) also kindly handles
the Foundation's "Surrattsville Alumni" window stickers project.
Pat notes that the stickers are
not the "static cling type,"
that stick to the inside of a window. Instead, they are the
"stick to the outside type," that can stick on a window or bumper,
and use "repositional adhesive" (meaning no sticky residue).
Information about purchasing the stickers can be found on the web
site at surrattsville.org.
10.
CLASS OF 2001 PLANS REUNION.
The Class of 2001 is beginning work on planning for its ten year
reunion, to be held on Saturday June 4, 2011 from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m.,
at a location to be determined. Please contact Jacquelyn Towns
at
jacquelyntowns@live.com
or Courtney Graham at
azia22@comcast.net
if you have any contact info on
members of the Class of 2001 or if you would like further
information. The Class also has a Facebook page called “The
Official c/o 2001 Reunion Page,” which contains photos and
information to date.
11.
BOOMERANGS AVAILABLE.
The Foundation has a limited supply of yearbooks from 1991, 1999,
2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006. If you'd like one of these
yearbooks (which are available for $15 including shipping and
handling), please send me an email to
hsmith@smithdowney.com.
12.
POSSIBLE 80/81 REUNION.
The Classes of 80 and 81 are planning a possible reunion for June
2011. They need a contact person for the Class of 80.
Please contact Teresa Blandford Pepper at
teresa@dlpinc.net to provide
contact info.
13.
CLASS OF 61 PLANS REUNION.
The Class of 1961 will celebrate its 50th
Class Reunion at the Colony South Hotel and Conference Center in
Clinton. This three day event will take place on June 24-26,
2011. Classmates from other Classes who may be interested are
invited to join the celebration. If anyone has any information on
missing Class members (listed at the end of this e-Notice) or would
like information regarding the reunion, please contact: Don Byroads
at 301-475-0127 or
towerhill00@hotmail.com
or Darleen Mabry Burgess at 301-449-7261 or
darleenburgess@comcast.net.
Happy New Year! Henry Smith (71)
In Memoriam
BENJAMIN NORCIA, a retired Air Force
lieutenant colonel who later did logistical work for NASA and was a
longtime substitute teacher in Prince George's County, died Oct. 2
at his home in Clinton on his 97th birthday. He had Alzheimer's
disease. Col. Norcia retired from the Air Force in 1966,
and his final active-duty assignment was as deputy commander of
Bolling Air Force Base in the District. He joined the Army in 1939
and served in the Army Air Forces in Europe during World War II. As
an Army Air Forces historian, he attended the postwar Nuremberg
trials of Nazi war criminals.
He joined the newly formed Air Force in 1947
and worked with the United Nations on reconstruction efforts in
South Korea after the Korean War. After retiring from the Air
Force, Col. Norcia spent two years as a management consultant for
the Office of Economic Opportunity before joining NASA and doing
logistical work for the Apollo missions and for Skylab.
Col. Norcia was a substitute teacher at
Surrattsville High School in Clinton from 1981 to 2004.
Benjamin Norcia was a native of Buffalo. In
1957, he received a bachelor's degree in business administration
from the old Jackson College in Hawaii. His military
decorations included the Soldier's Medal and six awards of the Air
Force Commendation Medal. Survivors include his wife of 68 years,
the former Mary Parise, of Clinton; a daughter, Marcia Norcia
Phillips of Bowie; a brother; and a grandson. [From the
Washington Post, 10/8/10, by Megan Buerger]
MANY THANKS
TO THESE GENEROUS DONORS TO THE 2010 CAMPAIGN!
Bob Marr (71)
Debbie Cox
Marr (72)
Steve Profilet
(71)
James Coffren
(68)
Margaret
Edmondson Loveless (39, and former School Nurse), In memory of
Truman S. Klein
Dan Bayne (71)
Linda Dorsey
Blum (66)
Vicki Forsht
Williams (65, and former faculty), In memory of Eugene Colgan and
Mildred Biedenkapp)
Susan Curtis
Sturgill (65), In memory of Greg White (65)
Vince
Antonioli (69)
Terry Zinneman
Antonioli (70)
Helen Bovbjerg
Niedung (54), In honor of Band Director John Mathena
Victor Negron
(71)
Thomas V. Mike
Miller, Jr. (60)
Janet Goddard
Sullivan (54)
J. Paul
Rickett (69)
Gloria
Blandford Rickett (71)
Jean Hurley
Wilhelm (39), In memory of members of the Class of 39
Carol Fite
Mothershead (65)
Larry
Mothershead (65)
Edward Webster
(65)
Sharon Till
Webster (66)
Jaquie Goss
Leach (65), In memory of Fred Goss, brother, and Class of 70
valedictorian
Jeanine
Carroll Maclary (73)
Coach Lew
Jenkins (Former faculty for 25 years)
Mike Gifford
(84)
Mary Watson
Crowley (37), In memory of Ruth Affron Sellner (36)
Ruth Kessler (Former Faculty)
Mary Garner Whittington (46)
Deborah McAllister Brown (72)
Richard Brown (72)
Mary Jo Sputo
(76), In memory of Cindy Thompson Vutsinas (76)
Tom and Sally LaPla Travis (72)
Lawrence Romjue (57), In memory of Lois
Marie Osgood (57), "You were always on my mind"
Vicky Simontacchi Young (57), In memory of
Lois Marie Osgood Honeywell (57)
Vera Twigg (Friend of the Foundation)
Tom Shultz (71)
Nancy Oursler Schillings (65), In memory of
Robert Knadel (63)
Henry Smith (71), In memory of John Mamone
(72)
Donna Rae Sturtevant Smith (71), In memory
of John Mamone (72)
Dave Kraus (65)
Charles Ronald Coleman (53), In memory of
Donald England
Paul Monaghan (59)
Ellen
Talbert-Miller (61 and former faculty), In celebration of the Class
of 61 50th
Reunion
Cecelia Smith (former faculty), In memory of
Marie Grouby
Anne Noyes (former faculty)
T. Summers Gwynn (64), In memory of Don
Rhoades (64)
Melissa Gilcrest (69)
Natalie Nadine Conrad Johnson (80), In
memory of Allison Hinckle (80)
Nancy Miller (67)
Patricia Becker Oles (71)
Lee Hessberg (68)
Lois Barrett Hessberg (70)
Brenda Karnes (former faculty), In memory of
Marie Grouby and Dixie Vinciguerra
Anonymous, In memory of Francis R. O’Clair