Classmates, the last update for this storied accounting of our classmates who have passed since 2002 is dated May, 2024.
Read it through when you have time.
Our last Memorial CD was presented in 2017 at our 50th REUNION CELEBRATION.
Since then, we have lost many of our classmates.
Looking back to the Reunion in 2002. Mary Altgelt's Mom said
'Mary had a wonderful time reuniting with her old friends.
She fondly remembered her days at Buchtel, and shared those memories with friends
and family up until her death'. Mary passed just after that Reunion.
Fred Haddad was ill but was determined to attend our Reunion, and happily attended the 2007 Reunion, his last.
However, there were also other Classmates that passed away in 2007.
Unknown to some of us, Mary Boyle, and Connie Anderson,
both were in the last stages of cancer. Their pictures are in our album, smiling despite their traumas, glad to see
their friends again at our 2007 Reunion.
We can almost repeat the smiles and happiness shown in the
pictures of Fred, Mary, and Connie. Then we celebrated our 50th. We found several classmates that had not attended
any of our festivities. Sadly following that Reunion, we lost Clyde Gibbs. He passed away in February of 2018. Shortly after,
Lynda Saari Madden passed away in May 2018. Beverly Gates was excited to attend
her first and only Reunion. Sadly, she passed away in October of 2018.
Our 'Sensational Seventieth Birthday Celebration' in 2019 was exciting and fun.
Our seventh decade is full of new beginnings for most of us.
Life came at us all really fast.
We learned of challenging health issues, remissions, moving to new places, renewed friendships,
additions to our families, you name it. Then we learned that "our" Patti Mullaney, was getting ready
for a new chapter in her life. Patti had attended our Birthday Celebration held on Friday evening at the Highland Square Mustard Seed Cafe outdoor patio/deck.
Outspoken as usual, she and all present had a wonderful time.
We will always remember how vibrant she was at every Celebration we had.
Sadly, Patti passed in March of 2020. After that, we all kinda had a wake-up call
in regards to Life and Death. We then belatedly found out that swim team member
Mark Jenkins had passed away in January 2020.
2020 we were dealing with the saddest time known to our age bracket medically.
The Pandemic of COVID-19 plagued the World.
Will there be successful vaccines to offset the disease and deaths like we had for viruses in the fifties?
We can only pray.
Asked to pray for our Classmates for various health reasons, we got a few words
out on FaceBook and emails without giving personal and precise information.
We then were notified that Dr. Barbara Friedman Segal had passed in April, 2020.
Days later, "Captain" Ron Rose, lost his battle with cancer. In May 2020, 'sad news'
reached us again, in that Pamela Ford Vinson passed away.
Our basketball star, Phillip 'Terry' 'Doc' Malone passed in June 2020.
In July 2020, a day apart, classmates Toni Edwards Costa and John 'Marty' Schott
both passed away.
(updated 02/2021)
December 2020, was a very sad month for our class.
Just when we were hopeful for 'The Vaccine', we learned that several classmates had been attacked with the
COVID-19 virus.
Our music loving pastor, Tom Weller notified us on FaceBook that he had tested positive. As with our LORD whose parents found no room at the inn, so our loving Tom found no room at the hospital.
Sadly, two days after his announcement, December 6, 2020, Tom lifted his hands
into his Saviour's, who told him 'well done good and faithful servant'.
That same day, our trumpet player, James David Love passed away in Columbus Ohio.
Before yours truly could gather pictures of Tom to post on Face Book, I received notification that the
fiesty Nina Felton Taylor had passed away in Nevada on December 3rd. She and her high school sweetheart, also our classmate,
Richard Taylor, had been married fifty years. Before I could notify YJB, I received more sad news.
Gary Litman passed away in Florida. He was cremated, and there was no obituary. He and his cousin, Dr. Barbara Friedman Segal, who had earlier passed in April, are pictured together in the Memorial segment.
We began our 2021 New Year full of hope and expectations. We also know that life is so very precious
and realize it is short. Our first 'Sad News' of the year was for Priscilla Pittman Campana.
Years prior to her passing, she said she'd seen her name on our 'Lost or Found' list after finding our Face Book
pages. She was able to touch base with many of our class members. Sadly after re-reading her obituary
on the funeral home web site, we realized another classmate had also passed in January.
Constance Dohner Gustafson passed several days later on January 14th.
We now realize that our world will never be the same as we had known it in our youth, let alone the last century. There are so many families that have untold struggles with health and welfare, endless hours of life changing decisions that can boggle even the strongest constitutions.
Our Classmate who was the last to cross our graduating stage, Mike Zulia, passed away also in January 2021, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He attended both the 50th Reunion, and the Sensational Seventieth Birthday Celebration, both for the first time. Amazingly, he kept his kind ways noted in his obituary until he could do no more.
(updated 08/2022) We have had many Celebrations throughout the years. One of our classmates attended every Reunion and Birthday that he could. Always a happy going fella, full of laughter coming in from Tulsa Oklahoma, we all knew him to have his own party and invite you to participate. Tyrone B. Knox passed away on March 21, 2021. In our photo album, Tyrone was pictured with another classmate who had attended most of our celebrations faithfully. Verdell Allison Mosely, passed a few weeks after Tyrone in April. Both had a great time at the 50th, their last. In between their deaths, word of the passing of Raynard Trice in March 2021 was received. Sadly, another first timer to our Reunions passed in September, 2021. Thomas Sheppard, told the Committee that he really enjoyed himself, and kept in contact with several classmates afterwards.
Earlier this year (2022), I contacted one of my work buddies in Arizona. She told me that she had forgotten that I had graduated with her older sister, and apologized after I had inquired about her health. I was saddened to learn that Ruthie James Moss had passed in December, 2021. Shortly after speaking with my friend, we were notified that Loletta McCombs had passed in February, 2022, and soon after, quiet but smart, Rhonda Hubbard Walker passed in March 2022. In her obituary, we learned that she had married a classmate, LeRoy Walker, and that he had preceeded her in death. Then, right after Mothers' Day, we learned the luck of the Irish, James 'Jim' Finnerty died in Florida. Right before our three part Socials in lieu of our 55th Reunion Celebration, we received notice that Wayne Moss had passed, August 14, 2022.
(updated August, 2023)
We moved forward into another year, 2023. Remembering sweet spirited guys with their own special quirks. Sadly within days of each other, we received news that Robert 'Bob' Glick had passed and also William 'Bill' Nesbitt passed in March, 2023. We posted the obituary for Bill on our website. Unfortunately, knowing that Bob was a proud veteran, we were unable to find any information regarding his passing. I believe he may be out to Rittman, but again, I am unsure.
(updated April, 2024)
With abundant blessings, we moved forward into another year, 2024. However, unbeknown to yours truly, our Facebook friend and classmate Yvonne Abmyer Posey-Chojnacki took a turn for the worse, and sadly passed away in September, 2023. Always through her pains and sufferings, upbeat on many subjects on her Facebook page. Never forgetting her 1967 BHS classmates. Then, while scrolling through an online local funeral home's obituaries, received additional pictured shocking sadness. Shirley Burney Holley-Byrd had passed several weeks prior to Christmas, 2023. Both classmates' families nor friends sent notification to anyone from our class, so the 'Sad News' was delayed until this year. We are indeed saddened by the loss of both.
(updated May, 2024)
Climate change is real. Spring has finally presented itself in Ohio. As your Committee prepares for our 75th Birthdays Celebration, we are steadfast and aware that each and every one of our classmates live their lives as best that they can. Pray for us all. We want to keep the communication lines open with your current email address. Many emails have been returned due to 'delivery failures'. Sadly, searching for 'why' some emails are returned is DEATH. Ellen J. Steinmetz McElwain passed away in June, 2020. It was while researching her information that we located another classmate's obituary. D. Michael 'Mike' Wotring passed away in April, 2024.
(updated FYI, May, 2024)
Through the years, many/most of us have had family members pass away.
We try to send a sympathy card to acknowlege the bereavement if we learn of it
on behalf of the JRBHS c/o 1967.
'Sad News' emails are difficult once information is gathered to place on our website.
We have been blessed with Classmates that have gone the extra mile to help neighbors, friends, and others by volunteering their time and efforts. God Bless You.
Please keep all families in your hearts and prayers during these difficult times. My Mom told me that the sadness of the bereaved is in parallel to the love that was shared. Grief carries its own lasting time frame for each of us. It has its own time measurements.
Lastly, we give props to our deceased Reunion/Birthday Committee members.
Classmates, we still appreciate all of their input missing them throughout the years.
We lost Dan McClish in 2012, Lou Farris in 2015, and Dave Shriber in 2016.
Each in his own way worked diligently with us.
They helped make our Reunions and Birthdays memorable.
Through the years, we also have lost principals, counselors, teachers and various
staff members. When scanning different publications, or if I receive notifications,
I have added their information onto the 'Memorial' page.
Please, please, don't forget to watch "The Dash"(-) movie above next to the flying dove of peace.
Also, tap into or click and search the highlight on either of the renditions of "Amazing Grace" and other songs.
The Andre Rieu rendition of "Amazing Grace" with Amira. Both with bagpipes and drums below the red rose.
