Class of 1955 with Principal Gregory Pirraglia, May 2005 

A Gift for our Elementary School Alma Mater

Hugs of Reunion

Back Together Again

Photo by Angela Jimenez, 6.24.05 at PS 99
from left: Bernard Weinberger, Seymour Katz, and Maxwell Melamed

Spaldeens

More than baseball, basketball, stickball or football, I'd have to say punchball was our game of choice at PS 99. It was so easy to set up and it fit so nicely into the "schoolyot" (as my mom humorously said I pronounced it). Particularly the triangular-shaped yard near Avenue K. For the long-ball hitters, we sometimes placed outfielders on the other side of the iron fence on East 10th Street.

Did we ever let the girls play? Were they even interested? I can conjure up - even after half a century - the stances of my various classmates as they prepared to wack at the Spaldeen from home plate. Some with an undercut, others with a side stroke, some with an overhand. That was my style. There were even some classmates who tucked their thumb into their fist when they punched the ball.

The balls when new and bright pink had a powdery texture. The owner of this precious commodity would call "chips on the ball," meaning anyone who lost the ball by overpowering it into someone's back or front yard or accidentally threw it onto the first-floor roof of the school entranceway, had to replace it. After a while, the Spaldeen might split and we would shove the half-ball onto our chins for comic decoration.

So did I read in The New York Times that Spalding was making these balls again? I had no idea they were just tennis balls without the fuzz. Can we get a bunch of them and play a game after the Assembly on June 24 and work up a good appetite for the lunch at Lundy's? Anyone got a lead on where to buy them? No chips on the ball this time. And we'll let the girls play.

The School Song - Special Contest Announced

We have a school in Midwood
We call it 99
It stands for all that's helpful
And everything that's fine
Firm based on rock foundation
Our colors brightly shine
We honor them and love them
Down here at 99

We have a school in Midwood
We call it 99
Its stands for all that's helpful
And everything that's fine
Its boys and girls are jolly
You'll not see us repine
We all have caught the spirit
That lives in 99

[Any additions or corrections will be gratefully received.]

Also: A special prize has just been announced for a brand-new 3rd verse that honors our 8th grade Class of 1955. Please post your submissions.

My Fellow Classmates,

Now that a boffo smash success of a Reunion is on its way to a June 24th Opening at PS 99, it might be good to ponder what we do for an encore performance.I propose we publish a book.

"Brooklyn" is hot and so are we. Increasingly through the use of the internet, there are inexpensive yet effective ways to market a book. I actually met with one such publisher yesterday, Jennifer Nix of Chelsea Green who recently had great success with George Lakoff's book, "Don't Think of an Elephant."

Wherever we might go with this idea, I do have two interim proposals.Hire a professional photographer to document our weekend. At the school, with the kids and teachers, at Lundy's, the Banquet, Wingate Field, in the old neighborhood. (Let's free up Joyce to be an actor in this drama.) I'd be willing to kick in some bucks to hire the photographer. This photography can also go on the PS 99 website.More of us register on the PS 99 blog. Seymour Levine just joined the fledgling group. It's a great way to capture our reminiscences and current reunion experiences. (What did Dorothy and Phyllis talk about for two hours the other night?)

I know there are sometimes snags in registering but I'd like to help you do it. It provides a very readable record, opportunities to comment on one another's postings, and when a new posting goes up on the blog, it is automatically delivered to your personal e-mail box.I'd be happy to "re-invite" you to the PS 99 blog if you're interested.Let me know your thoughts on the above. Feel free to share it with other classmates if you would like. Hmmm.. maybe I'll post this note on the blog.

See you soon,
Michael

What I said to you 50 years ago

Fellow graduates: It is with a heavy heart I speak to you on this our Graduation Day. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed acting as your president. The day Mrs. Fletcher announced the results in the auditorium I really couldn't believe that I had been selected by you to be your president.

Each time I spoke to you in school I found it quite an easy job but today I realize I am speaking to you for the last time. Of course that sounds very dramatic. I hope and pray I shall speak to you very often but I mean this is my last formal appearance as your president.

All good things have to end they say, so I guess this is it. This is good-bye for a while.

You must hear a word from your Ellen ---- your Vice-President.

uttered 6.24.55 in the Vogue Theater

Eudora Fletcher

Hi Classmates -

I did a bit of research and found Eudora Fletcher in the 1930 federal Census living in Brooklyn, married to Thomas Fletcher, a Canadian, no children. Her occupation, Assistant Principal, and her birth year, 1892.

Which means that when we graduated in 1955 she had the age we have today.

She should have looked so good!

Regards,
Michael