JON BREEN MEMORIAL FUND
Mount Vernon High School
100 California Road
Mount Vernon, NY 10552
914- 5665-5300 FAX 914-665-5281
June 6, 2001
Dear Classmates and Friends,
Once again another year has passed since my last Jon Breen Memorial Fund letter. I apologize for waiting so long to send this edition out, but it has been a busy year, as usual. Since I last wrote all of you, Linda and I have been out to California to see Madeline Littlefield, off to Arizona to see Sedona and the Grand Canyon, and to Hilton Head Island off South Carolina. Now and again, I have had the great pleasure of receiving mail and talking to many of you over the past twelve months. Specifically I have heard from Phil Dix, who is currently in the Far East, Dr. Lew Perelman, Dr. Larry Reich, Dr. Warren Adis, Stan Goldmark, Mike Rosenblum, Sue Satenstein, Alan Rosenberg. Doug Zelman, Joel Zalvin, Lee Jackel, Peter Altieri, Carole Bellew, Frank Engel, Jim Finch, Matt Goldberg, Bobby Zeitler, who has moved to Florida, Sue Nassau, Marcia Salonger, Ayn Silverman, Morris Tobin, Barbara Tucci, Sandy Yorn, Jane Zimelis, Elaine Turkin, Bill Bernstein, Jim Gordon, Diane Baer and I know there are others that I have unfortunately omitted. Also, on a social note, I attended the Section I basketball finals with Jim Finch and Alan Rosenberg, as the MVHS roundballers won another title. Also, I must report that Barbara Tucci Parent’s son will be married in Tarrytown, at the end of this month. Of course, best wishes to Barbara, her husband Roland and their large lovely family.
Meanwhile, I am sad to say that I learned of the passing of Susan Solender Bailis, a member of our class and a neighbor of mine. We attended the same schools in Mount Vernon all the way from K to 12! Also, in regards to our next class re-union, the 40th , I hope that many of you will be interested in taking an active role in its planning. Many have asked, “Will there be a fortieth?” The answer is assuredly “yes”. But to make it as great as the 35th, three years ago, we all must “pitch in”. I hope that our last committee will start to “brain storm” in the near future, and hopefully some suggestions can be forthcoming that will make sense to all.
This year’s Jon Breen Memorial Fund essay is on the topic: “Who should elect the U. S. President”, to maintain the Electoral College, or amend the Constitution to provide direct election by the people! Along with the judging of essays and the awarding of prizes, the Fund will also continue to sponsor a Henry M. Littlefield Memorial Prize for the outstanding History and Social Studies scholar. Currently I am reviewing both the essays and the resumes of some of the leading students.
The 2001 MVHS Award’s night will be held on June 12, 2001 at 7:30 PM. I look forward to reporting on that event. As a reminder , reflective of my role as the Chairperson of the Jon Breen Fund, this is a charitable effort that builds bridges between the past and the present. It perpetuates the memory of an outstanding member of our class and an outstanding citizen who’s life reflected only the best and brightest. If we want the next generation to come forth with the same intellectual vigor that Jon possessed, we should encourage it with as much help as possible. There are worse things that you could spend your money on! No check of any size will be refused and it can be sent to either address at the top or the bottom.
Regards,
Richard J. Garfunkel
101 Prospect Street
White Plains, NY 10606-3514
email garf@cloud9.net
914-683-0131
Fax-914-332-0558