VON STEUBEN HIGH SCHOOL--50-YEAR REUNION ........AUGUST 2, 2008

WELCOME

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen...Von Steuben graduates of the class of June 1958 and your guests! I am DELIGHTED and honored to welcome all of you to our 50-YEAR reunion. And a special welcome to those who have traveled thousands of miles to join us!!!

50 years is indeed such a long time that it is a blessing for student alumni to share a reunion with faculty alumni. In that context, I am pleased to announce the presence tonight of one of the most respected members of the faculty during our time, a teacher who made civics and history come alive...please join me in welcoming Mr. CARL MYRENT and his wife, Sylvia! Mr. Myrent tells me that he never forgets a student. He invites you to come say hello and test his memory!

I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW GREAT YOU ALL LOOK....the months of dieting and all the plastic surgery and other tune-ups have really paid off!!

However, judging by the way some of you looked blankly at me at the wonderful pizza party last night, 50 years does < /B>take a toll. I've gained a few pounds...my hair is thinner...I have had 2 angioplasties and multiple dental implants...but none of that has diminished my excitement about this great weekend. I am truly thrilled to be here...to enjoy this evening ...and this whole weekend...with all of you!

This party...actually this whole weekend...could not have occurred without UNBELIEVABLE planning and hard work by a lot of people who contributed their talent and time to make this a special experience for all of us. I would like everyone who participated in the planning to please stand so we can express our appreciation for an incredible effort!! Folks, as I think about it, 50 YEARS REALLY IS A BIG DEAL!!!! I invite ALL ALUMNI TO STAND UP SO WE CAN CELEBRATE OUR SURVIVAL!!!!

At this time, I would like to recognize 6 people who went WAY BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY to assure a memorable weekend:

classmates from all over the country. He represented us at a variety of functions, including funerals of classmates and their family members. He made tons of calls and conducted extensive research to find people. Like a pit bull, he let nothing get in his way...he even found some people who were not in our class!

Please join me again to thank all our classmates whose enormous efforts and dedication have made this a special weekend!!!

As you know, we have lost a number of our classmates. We mourn those who have left us much too soon. They will be remembered in a special tribute later this evening.

I have given much thought to this weekend and the concept of reunion...what does it mean? Why is it important? Why do we come?

Is it curiosity? Is it a need to renew old friendships? Judging from the genuine warmth and chemistry I felt last night, it is more than that. This is a chance to re-connect and remember a time of innocence...of youth...of a simpler life? It is a chance to remember where we came from...and to get updates on old friends. .....but also it is a time to celebrate growth...and achievements. You were the Class of GOLDEN VISION, but you could have been the Class of GOLDEN ACHIEVEMENTS!! You represent MOST of the major professions....to my knowledge, we have had nobody in the NBA, NFL or major league baseball. But we HAVE had accountants, attorneys, doctors, nurses, teachers, college professors, incredibly successful businessmen....authors. One of our classmates worked in Paris for UNESCO for 30 years....10 YEARS as Editor-in-Chief of MUSEUM INTERNATIONAL, a major publication of UNESCO. Another classmate led the team that designed the computerized reservation process of United Airlines...and look how great that turned out!!! Finally you have been productive in another arena: we have 7 classmates who have 10 or more grandchildren, including one with 18!!!

Speaking of achievements, I am sure you are all anxious to hear about all of my achievements. There have been so many, so I chose just a few examples:

#1. I worked and lived in LA before Karen and I were married in Chicago. After our honeymoon, we returned to LA to the apartment where I had lived for 5 months. We arrived late, picked up a few groceries, and decided to boil some hot dogs...but the oven did not respond!! We crossed the pool to the manager's apartment. "Hi, Mrs Swanson, meet my bride...and by the way, our oven's not working." "Well, Henry, did you ever call the gas company to turn it on?" asked Mrs. Swanson. "Gas company?!....I HAD TO CALL THE GAS COMPANY?!" I wanted to crawl away as she called out to her husband: "Hey, Herman, come meet Henry's new bride...and you WON'T believe what he did!!!!" I guess that's what happens when you eat all your meals in the hospital and all you buy is Oreo cookies and milk!!!!"

#2. Fast forward several years to Niles, IL: our 3^rd baby was born. He was home about a week when Karen sent me to the cleaner with our oldest daughter, just 2 months shy of her 5^th birthday. As I turned into the strip mall and headed for one of the many open parking spaces... Allison said: "Daddy, Mom always parks right in front." "Allison, do you see that sign...NO PARKING!?" "Daddy, Mom does it ALL the time, and we're just going in for 2 minutes!!" Hey, who am I to argue with a convincing preschooler! So in we went...she was right , barely 2 minutes...and who was standing by my car when we came out? ... one of Niles' finest, writing a ticket!! "Officer, we went in for just a minute...I have my daughter with me, and she said it's ok!!" "And how old is SHE?" "She'll be 5 in a few months." "LICENSE AND REGISTRATION, PLEASE!!!"

#3. Our younger daughter, Julie, was studying in London. We decided to visit during our son's spring break . Julie had purchased tickets to a play in Stratford upon-Avon. We had to rent a car to get there. Early morning the day of the play, the Hertz agent delivered the car to our hotel. I met him in the lobby for the paper work, then followed him outside to get the car. I looked inside. I asked: "What's this?" "Oh, that's the clutch." "Clutch....CLUTCH!!!??? This is a stick?" "Yes sir!" "I can't take this car...I haven't driven a stick in 27 years!!!!!!!!!" "Sir, that's all we have. Have a nice day. We'll come back for the car tomorrow. And by the way, you need to move the car." The wheel was on the wrong side, the car was on the wrong side of the street, it was beginning to rain....and I had to contend with a CLUTCH!!! I drove to a neighborhood 4 blocks away....there were no parking spots. I double-parked and practiced my driving, trying to eliminate the LURCHING. I spotted a guy pulling out, but the only chance to turn around was thru a narrow passageway between 2 brownstone buildings. I pulled up, practiced some more before trying to drive between the buildings. I felt and heard a crunching sound...as I failed to clear the building!! Sweat was pouring down my face. A stately, tall, serious woman in business attire, carrying a brief-case, had been watching me. She tapped on my window. I rolled it down. "Can I help you, Sir?" "No, I'm fine." "Sir, do you have a driver's license, ACTUALLY!!?" "I'm fine!" I responded as she walked away shaking her head!!!!

After finally finding a parking spot, I ran to the hotel in a cold sweat and picked up my family. Before we left, I drove back and forth a few times. "What are you doing?", asked Karen. "Practicing!!" Leaving the area, I entered a round-about and promptly drove into a large sandpile at a construction site!! As I quickly backed up, the scrambling workers cursed me! We made it to Stratford....saw the play...ate a quick dinner...and back to London and our hotel. I could not wait to return the car!!! I sent Karen and the kids in to get someone to come take the car. It wasn't til I got up to the room that I shared my plight. Everyone had a great laugh...except me!!

#4. We decided to take our son to Vegas for his 21^st birthday. Our older daughter accompanied us. Now you have to understand... I never gambled in high school, college or medical school...so I had my kids tutor me in Black Jack and craps. So here I was, on my maiden voyage, enjoying a little success at the Black Jack table, with Karen watching and our son and daughter coaching me and monitoring my every move. Suddenly Brad started to squirm..."Allison, I need to pee." "Oh my G-d, Brad, so do I!" "What are we going to do...we can't leave Forest Gump here alone!!!!" "You're right, you go ....I'll hold it!!!" And so they took turns going to the bathroom so I could walk away with a grand total of $40 of winnings!!

And so there you have it...that's my story. Everyone of you has your own unique set of memorable events . Enjoy this wonderful opportunity to share those events... to visit with old friends...to enjoy the memories...to enjoy each other...and to start planning our next reunion!! I look forward to hearing your stories!!

THANK YOU!!

Henry Mangurten