|
|||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
  |
|||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
Class of 1974 Reunion in NYCAn Unforgettable EveningVivianne (Hanania) Kurzweil '74Lisa Eyrich '74 and Jeremy Yates '74 News from Vivianne: On Saturday night, October 2nd, twenty nine class-of-’74ers and their spouses got together for a 30th anniversary reunion at L’Orange Bleue, a trendy French fusion restaurant in New York City’s Soho district. A number of other classmates from all sections, C, D and A, wrote in from around the world sending their regrets and wistfully wishing they could be with us as well (excerpts of those emails are below). Cocktails started at 7 PM and a full 3-course dinner followed at 8 PM. Most guests did not leave the restaurant until well past midnight! Three tables were reserved for the class of ’74 and they were all filled to capacity. Some classmates came with their spouses, others came stag, but everyone came with a big smile on their face and a certain amount of trepidation as to whom they would find and recognize thirty years after graduation! Indeed, for the most part, recognition was immediate or following a 5-second delay accompanied by shrieks of delight and “Oh My Gods!” Everyone (naturally) looked a little older and a little grayer, but all had obviously lived full and rewarding lives since leaving the LFNY. However, many had virtually not changed at all! The members of the Class of ’74 were thrilled to catch up with friends, some of whom had disappeared up to thirty one years ago (for those who left after Premiere.) Sitting at one table were Vannessa Kelmans, Julie Davis and spouse, Lisa Eyrich, Fred Kameny (from Chapel Hill, NC), Francine Benzaken and spouse, Hanky Fuchs and spouse, Alain François (just remarried and back from France) and Diane Rivers. At another table sat Robert Kulick and spouse, Catherine Blanc (from Montreal, Canada), Vivianne Kurzweil, Ioana Giurgiu (from Europe), Marzena Laszewski (from Rocky Mount, North Carolina), Philippe Géraud & spouse (from Seattle, WA) and Dan Chayefsky. At the third table sat Jackie Burger, Alix Gudefin, Gina Kovarsky (from Richmond,VA), Luisa Skoble (from Westerly, RI), Stephan Haimo, Michel Taupin and spouse (from Dresher, PA), Jeremy Yates, and Amy Strage (from Berkeley, CA). Lise Bellocq had to bow out at the last minute, as did Edouard Cernuschi. Etienne Danois-Maricq had sent his regrets from Spain and wished us all well. Class photos from 4e through Terminale were circulated all evening, as were childrens’ photos --ages ranged from 6 to 23, with everything in between! One thing which became immediately apparent during the evening was that everyone now needed reading glasses! Gone were the carefree days of youth --we had all inexorably reached middle age, but with grace and no small amount of panache. Francine, true to form, prepared for each attendee a CD of all the “oldies but goodies” tunes that we listened to as teens- how could we not remember dancing to Nights in White Satin by the Moody Blues, Angie by the Rolling Stones, Everything I Own by Bread, Light My Fire by the Doors or Mony Mony by Tommy James and the Shondells? What a great gift and wonderful souvenir to top off a terrific evening! A big thank you to both co-chairs Alix and Francine, and to a host of helpers including Robert and Vannessa, for making this such successful event! ___________________________ and from Lisa: What a fantastic and surprising evening! I stepped into the bar at L’Orange Bleue not knowing what to expect… afraid these friends might feel like strangers, afraid of not measuring up, I don’t know, perhaps afraid of peeking into my own past. Well, there was no time for hesitation as I was surrounded by this amazing gang of lovely kids I used to know and care for, each of us experiencing repeated shock and delight at the sight of each new arrival. There was a lot of hugging, shrieking and laughing going on! It was astonishing to instantly recognize everyone, and to see that so many hadn’t changed a bit! Everyone had the very same qualities I remembered from when we were children. Gina Kovarsky and Francine Benzaken are still bubbling over with kindness and fun. Alix Gudefin and Catherine Blanc are as elegant, lovely and gracious as ever. Vanessa Kelmans and Stephane Haimo are still gorgeous and sophisticated. Marzena Laszewski , Jackie Burger, Luisa Skoble and Ioana Giurgiu are still warm and brilliant. Dan Chayefsky, Diane Rivers, Robert Kulick, and Fred Kameny are still clever, funny and cool. Hanky Fuchs and Vivianne Hanania are still full of cheer and energy. Amy Strage and Julie Davis are still witty, earthy go-getters. Alain Francois, Philippe Geraud and Michel Taupin are still charming and gentlemanly. Me, I’m still kind of a nutty emotional girl. I was weeping at several moments during the evening, just gazing around at all the old familiar faces, feeling a weird warmth and comfort. Maybe it was the wine. Alix and Francine, by the way, threw a fabulous party – the food was delicious, the wine was flowing, and the waiters were dashingly lithe. It was wonderful to see Jeremy Yates and Audrey Weiss, whom we’d only known for a short time at the Lycée. And so many folks had come from great distances. Quite a few spouses were in attendance, and they were very cheerful and patient with what must have been an overwhelming scene. This was the first time I was ever brave enough to attend one of these get-togethers --I’d been either too shy or felt too removed from that long-ago time. I won’t miss another one, though. Turns out it’s a very precious thing to be able to re-visit one’s childhood, with the help of eye witnesses! I was very moved to find old friendships rekindled, and to realize a strong kinship with many folks I hadn’t been that close to in the past. Many of us agreed that we we’d all been misfits in one way or another and had a lot in common, both then and now, as a result of some of the bittersweet times of our adolescence. We all survived it together, some more happily than others, but the shared experience has created a very special bond. Thanks, everybody, for the memories, and for a wonderful evening. ___________________________ and from Jeremy: A September gathering of the class of 1974 occurred at l'Orange Bleue in Soho to celebrate 30 years since our commencement. Among the many 74'ers, I will share some news about my tablemates: Stephen Haimo, who handles Mergers & Aquisitions for Lipkin, and now lives in the Village. Ioanna Giurgiu Garcia-Berrera flew in all the way from Europe where she has been worked as a banker until dedicating herself to her wonderful teenagers. Gina Karensky is teaching Russian in Richmond, Virginia. L'Orange Bleue is a Maghrebin restaurant, complete with belly dancer and music by the talentd Khaled, Rachid Taha, and Faudel. The food (a choice of paella, lamb tagine, or beef mole) was excellent. It was complemented by a selection of wines from Algeria and Chile. _________________________________ Emails from those who could not attend Sounds like fun but I am living in Lisbon these days and am UNLIKELY to be in NYC for the reunion, tho' I know the Orange bleu fairly well! Be good.....Eric Schwartzman-Michel Sorry I can't make it for the class of '74 happening, I would have loved to be there but I just had a baby boy, Enzo 2 months old (my older son Leo is turning 14 soon) so a trip to NY is excluded for the time being ;-) How about organizing our next dinner in Paris ? Have fun & pls send pictures..Michèle Schenck Zefferi Thanks for the lovely invitation! I would love to be able to come, along with my spouse, but I will not be in NY at the time. We live in LA, and I will be taking my stepson to art school in San Francisco that week. I hope everyone has a great time, though....Peter Basch It is very nice to hear form you. Yes I did receive the reunion notice. I am not sure that I can make it as I have a premiere on Sunday at 3pm here in LA. Yes, I have become a film producer..long story. I promise to try to catch up sometime soon....Butch (Avram Kaplan) Unfortunately, it will be impossible for me to in NYC at that time. I hope that you will all have lots of fun. All the best....Regine (Le Troadec) Van der Zyppe It was wonderful to hear from you. I will not be coming to the reunion. I am choosing to go ahead with my birthday celebration on the 2nd. I can tell that you are placing a large amount of effort, time and energy into this project. May the evening be successful, fun and heartwarming. Be well...Sabrina Swerdlick (people call me Supriya these days...ever since I lived at the ashram about 12 years ago) There is, unfortunately, no way I can make it to the reunion on October 2nd, much as I would love to! What I will do, however, is send you some reasonably current pictures of Margaret and myself (showing how gracefully we have aged - not!) and some pictures of our kids and spouses as well, if you think that would be good for a laugh!...Mary Bowden Unfortunately I am not able to attend, which I find a big pity. I hope to make it next time. I received your address through Stephan Haimo, whom I speak to and see regularly! I hope you all will have a good time.... Jean Guillaume van der Klaauw I am sorry but i will not be able to make it. Please say hello to everybody for me. Much love....Michele Laguerre Chères et chers coéquipiers de la classe terminale NY Lycée 1974: C’est avec une grande nostalgie que je vous adresse ce message d’excuse et d’amitié. Je ne pourrais malheureusement pas assister à la réunion unique organisée. Sachez que dès que j’ai pris connaissance de la fête du 2 octobre j’ai essayé de trouver des solutions à me rendre à NYC et organiser l’intendance pour mon fils à l’armée Suisse actuellement (mauvais sujet du jour?) et partir avec mes 2 petits chiens pourtant pesant ensemble moins de 10 pounds y compris la caisse de transport. Le travail est toujours le lieu le plus facile à se libérer. Sachez que l’année passée au lycée à NY était pour moi une libération du pays d’origine, de l’ouverture d’un pays libre, de rencontres multi-culturelles et je vous remercie de la tolérance y compris envers mon incompétence de la langue anglaise ((Merci cela va mieux aujourd’hui.)). Vous m’avez apporté beaucoup sans le savoir et je vous en remercie. Nous habitons de l’Est à l’Ouest, du Nord au Sud mais c’est toujours la même planète. A l’époque du Lycée être dissident de l’Est était totalement incompris. Heureusement que tous les murs sont tombés un peu partout. L’année passée au Lycée fut absolument géniale. Cela fut une période d’insouciance, de partage, d’amitiés et malgré que nous ne nous sommes pas connus suffisamment tous dans la classe, il me reste une affection et grande envie de vous revoir. Entre nous je vous informe que la Suisse est quand même un pays pas trop mal, très bien pour les montagnes, ski, lacs, propreté, chocolat, montres et ponctualité, politesse, mais pays un peu triste quand même. (Je ne fais pas la pub) Cela me ferait grand plaisir d’avoir de vos nouvelles et vous revoir sur le sol européen. Bienvenu en Suisse chez moi également. Je vous embrasse très très fort et passez une superbe fête...Léa Parkan ‘ Mirshak Thank you so very much for remembering me. Whilst I did not do the bachot in NY but London my heart never left the NY lycee. It is with the greatest interest that I read the bulletins I rec. Practical nuisance to message such a small amount like the $25 to you from here and these days I never come to NY. Had my own private commitments allowed it I would gladly have made a week end of it this time. Have a wonderful time and lots of love to anyone who remembers me. I could rattle all the names off but you all know who you are. if anyone does want to drop me a line especially electronically or intending to pass through London it would be good to see you.Have a wonderful evening. Love to you all....Monika Skowronska I very much enjoyed visiting the alumni website. I hope you will post something about me too. I'm still living in Berkeley, California with my husband and two little girls adopted from China. I divide my time between writing (scholarship about American literature and fiction) and a new business I've started practicing traditional, compass-style feng shui) I wish I could go to the reunion. It would be fascinating. All the best...Jessica Levine To Plan your own Class Reunion, contact the AALFNY at info@lfnyalumni.org |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||
|
|
|
||
