 The best reunion ever!
We are creating THIS NEW website for our class: www.brhs66.org.
CHECK IT OUT! Reunion Photos posted HERE.
NEW BRHS66 BLOG |
I just wanted to pass something along to you website guys. Maybe you choose to somehow use this as perhaps a small memoriam to OUR ONLY CLASSMATE of the CLASS OF 1966, who was killed in action in Vietnam.
I was attending a Annual Vietnam Veterans Reunion yesterday, and of course, searched for the names of my departed friends on the Vietnam Memorial Wall who were killed there in action. I made a scratch over of the engraved name of Tom Frech, because he is not only my fallen brother, but we were also great pals in school, and it hit me more than ever that he is our only classmate casualty of the War.
Perhaps you guys will feel this has no place on the BRHS 66 website, and maybe nobody ever thought to pay respect this way in a lasting memoriam. I think it would be nice, but I support any decision your committee makes in this regard.
Please find enclosed , Thomas Frech,panel 6W, Name 101.
Thanks, Steve Gerwer.
"...I knew Tom Frech quite well, since he sat across from me in study hall. We called him "The Phantom Whistler" (
which is the way he signed my H.S. yearbook because he made these whistling
noises which drove the study hall teacher crazy). I always liked him, and
thought he had a great sense of humor. I also remember that he fell asleep
quite frequently during that 5th or 6th period study hall, and one day
I tied his shoelaces together while he was dozing, and then woke him up
suddenly. He fumbled around a bit, tried to get up and couldn't, and then
thought it was hilarious.
I knew he died in Vietnam and always felt awful about it. What a waste of a young life.
Please let Steve know I am totally in support of his posting.
Best regard,
Woody [Freeman]"
"I couldn't think of anything more fitting to have on our website! I have great memories of Tom who had the best sense of humor. He always made me smile and laugh. I was stunned when his brother Ken first told me what had happened to Tom in Vietnam. I remember crying when I visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in D. C. What a terrible loss of life at such a young age!
Gene Orlando"
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Tom Frech's Nephew sent this to us
He never knew Tom, but reached out to thank (Ed Danberry) for words he said about Tom on the internet.
"Here is a collage I put together with me and a picture that was taken of Tommy over my shoulder there. I hope you and your classmates like it. I certainly believe I have my Uncle Tom's smile."..Chad Dolby, Tom Frech's nephew
I think that this is so thoughtful and I certainly think that it deserves inclusion on the BRHS66 website ...Tommy was a wonderful friend and will always be remembered and sadly missed.
Joan Pearce Poling
"...I think it's perfectly appropriate. Hating
the Vietnam war (not to mention this one) should not ever stop us from recognizing
those whose lives it claimed. On the contrary; especially since they had
even less choice than it seems young people do now.
My two cents.
Sharon [Okun]"
"...being a Vietnam Vet my self, I have and will always
have a place in my heart for others who where not as fortunate as me to return
home. I know only to well what that experience was all about, as a medic, I saw
and felt the pain associated with WAR and how ugly it is. To this day I can not
visit the memorial because of the horrible memories it brings back and even now
I am fighting the tears back as I am typing this e-mail. It is very fitting and
an appropriate tribute, to add this to our web site. I salute Tom and forever
hold him in my heart. The dedication, courage, and sacrifice of a fallen United
States Soldier should never be forgotten. Our fragile freedoms rely on it. Hello
to Steve, thanks for being a friend...
Dennis Kulik"
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Oh What a Night!!
It was a great night I had a fabulous night and got to meet
so many of the people from our class. Especially all the women! Hubba
Hubba! you gals just keep getting more gorgious as the years go by. every
one i talked to said they had a blast and it was worth the trip. I enjoyed
the dancing especially the "chorus line" I was a little sore the next
day but it was worth it. hope to be there for the next one. Gerry and
Barbara you guys did a great job. thanks.
Joe Ferrera
Lets Hear it for the Golden Falcons!!!
Monday, October 23, 2006 6:38 PM
from Donna(Febo) and Dennis Kulik
To our life long and cherished classmates of 1966, although we were unable to attend this
latest and greatest class reunion, we in spirit were thinking of all of you with fond thought and appreciation of all the good times and great relationships. Our year books are always close at hand and it is such a great part of our past to look thru them and reminisce. I hope the reunion was jam packed with fun and excitement and will create a new set of memories that we can take into our sunset years along with the very first one of 1966. Best wishes for health and happiness till we meet again.
Love and good thoughts to all of you,
Donna(Febo) and Dennis Kulik.
posted: Sunday, November 5, 2006 7:16 PM
More Comments...
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From Ken Villani
Barbara-
I guess I stayed stuck in the sixties by staying at BRHS, then it became West, than I went to East for
one year, back to West, and stayed on until we became BRRHS again. I retired
as vice principal of the high school in 1999, having served as that since
1982.
Since retirement, I have had fourteen jobs. Most recently, I supervise
student teachers for Fairleigh Dickinson University and work for Kean
University as a clinical instructor for alternate route teachers in the
Plainfield and Elizabeth schools. Due to the success of the program, the
School of Ed doubled my hours, so now I punch the time clock daily. One
of my joys as vice principal was actually working with the children of
your classmates. My own son went to West and played three sports. There
WAS no finer school.
Before we shut down, I felt that we had a family
atmosphere, and I particularly felt close to the students from Bradley
Gardens and Raritan. To that point, I lived in five neighborhoods in Bridgewater
as my kids were growing up, all in the WEST side. You have to remember,
I was born and raised in the great town of Raritan.
In my last year at
BR, I compiled a list of Raritan natives who had lengthy careers in education.
When I stopped, the list topped out at over one hundred!
Best of luck
to all of you in the Class of 1966.
Ken Villani
posted: Saturday, November 4, 2006 8:09 PM
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