let us celebrate how brightly it burned."
Class of 1966
Bonnie Genser Derr died of breast cancer in October 1981 at the age of 33. After graduation as Salutatorian of the Class of '66, she attended Katherine Gibbs School in New York City. She was then hired as a secretary for the "Captain Kangaroo" television show, and was Bob Keeshan's personal assistant for a number of years. She also enjoyed singing with the choir at St. Bartholemew's Church in New York City. In 1976 she married Amandus Derr, a Lutheran minister with a parish in New Jersey. They had a son in 1978,who was only three years old at the time of her death.
I have lost touch with Bonnie's husband and son, and do not know where they are now. During my years at Westminster (Choir College in Princeton NJ) she and I would see each other frequently, either for musical or theatre events in the City, or she would come down to Princeton to see my plays.
Sheila Sheffield
Class of 1969
I was saddened to see how many of our fellow classmates have passed on. We sometimes forget just how short and precious life is. One that particularly put things in perspective was Linda Shipp; she always had a smile, nice, friendly.....
Remember Me In The Fall
Do not weep I am here
In the cool breeze that blows past your ear
The chill upon your cheek
Do not cry or be meek, be strong not weak
Do not weep, I am not dead
Tears for me do not shed
The mortal grave is not my bed
In the cool clear fall of the year
Do not weep, I am near
Listen close, in the wind you may hear
To this mortal earth I do not cleave
I have gone to heaven, taken my leave
Edward "Tommy" Thompson
Chuck (Ray) Parker- Class of 68
Class of 1968
I wish I could tell you the color of his eyes. They were so blue, a deep blue, like a sapphire or the ocean. I wish you could hear his voice, the velvet voice my sister-in-law used to call it. I thought it was a warm, rich voice, a smooth voice, a baritone. As you can see by the pictures in the gallery that I sent to be posted, when we were dating he was in good shape, running every day.
Time really plays tricks on you. I'd have sworn Rich and I dated for many, many years, but the truth is, we dated for a relatively short period of time, from 1970 to 1972. My fondest memories of those days, besides the obvious ones of being with Rich are- when his Mom would make a huge pan of chicken and rice, with "secret ingredients", one of which was cinnamon; on occasion lobster was sent from Boston,what a feast! While Rich was in Germany, his Mom invited me over to their house to watch Yellow Submarine with her.
I have missed him, over the years. Occasionally he would call my Mother, just to chat,which I always found very touching. During our last conversation, he could talk of nothing but his girls and how much they meant to him. When my Mother called and told me his daughter died after being thrown from her horse, she and I were both numb. I can't tell you how hard it was for my Mother to call me and tell me of Richard's death. I can't tell you how I felt then nor can I tell you how I feel now. It's just so incredibly hard to believe.
Susan Hodges
Class of 1967
When I first came to Boca in 1965, I moved across the street from the Moores.
When I met Paul I was extremely unhappy about being in Florida !!!! Paul and his brother Ronnie were the first friends I made. Paul took it upon himself to brighten my summer.
He was such a "good guy" and over the years I lost touch with him. I missed him at our 20th reunion, and was extremely saddened to hear of his death. I had heard from his parents of his illness, but never thought it would take him. I will always remember his ready smile and his good heart!
Kathy Maddox Southards - Class of 1967
