Gene Abate:  " It's Gene Abate here.  Sorry I missed the party.  I really wanted to show!!  My family reunion was on the same night, and it ran late.  I hope we have a 40 year reunion!!

Jane Gorga-Brett: "First of all, I kinda got told I was going to be on this committee along with Sharon, by none other than our very own Janet.  Thank you very much.  But I'm so glad it seems so many of you truly like the whole weekend idea we had planned for our 30th get together.  I feel our efforts were well worth it in the end.  A bit tiring, but we did it, made it a success.  We had some fun along the way, getting the goody bags together and going to the Holiday Inn making all the arrangements with Taryn.  I feel it was so much a  better to have that extra time together at the different functions, letting your hair down at the Friday night at Krystal's catching up , and then at the park chatting some more and either doing the walk/run for those of us who can still do that kind of thing.  i didn't attend the basketball game, because Sharon and I were on decorating detail, but from what I see in the pictures and have heard from so many, it was a big success.  So nice to see  so many of you are still so competitive at 48.  Congrats to all who played.  Saturday night at the big gala, what can I say.  Everyone looked great, and had a great time catching up with those new faces who didn't make the other events.  Our brunch was a way of relaxing with friends and talking about old memories we shared and the new ones we just made.  So sorry to have to say good-bye again, but our paths will cross again in the future.  The short of my response is thank you all for joining the 3 of us for that special weekend we made special for you all.  See you soon, I hope."

Sharon Bonpietro-Manzo:  "What a fun time Dave and I had at the reunion weekend.  I don't think it could have gone better.  All the planning and work paid off.  Janet, your ideas were great and the efforts and energy you put into everything were overwhelming.  I had the best time helping on the committee and working with you and Jane.  10 years is much too long to wait for another, so we are looking forward to that 50th birthday party.
 

Mrs. Stephanie Volpe:  "Hello class of '73 -- thank you so much for your cordial invitation.  Unfortunately, I was away on vacation; however, I trust you all had a wonderful time.  Thanks for remembering and taking the time to contact me.  I am teaching in northern Middlesex County, NJ. in the social studies dept., teaching Sociology and American History.  We moved her shortly after I left SB and we started our family.  Our 2 children are grown...both teachers...and I am the grandmother of a beautiful 2 yr. old.  I very seldom get up to Bergen County, but I do have relatives in Wayne and W. Paterson, so I do occasionally get up that way.  Just as an example of how small a world it really is, one of my best friends in the area is Kathy Bachman, wife of Paul Bachman who was still teaching at SBHS fairly recently.  I originally became involved with Classmates to re-connect with some of my own high school friends, but as an added bonus found you folds.  You and your classmates were freshmen my first year of teaching and I remember many of you very well.  You were a special group to me, and I cannot believe how quickly the time has flown.  I will be sure to visit your web site.  Take Care."

Mrs. Barbara Hinton:  I was delighted to receive your invitation.  I am sorry that I have another commitment, or I would have loved to stop by to say "hello".  I can't believe 30 years have passed since your graduation.  Does that make me 100?  I still think of prior students as "my kids", not as adults with families of their own.  I have 2 sons, and after leaving SB, I spent 10 years as a computer training consultant.  I presently work and live in Central NJ, near Princeton.  It is my sincere wish that life's journey has been a good one for you, and my blessings for continues happiness and health.  I would love to hear from anyone that remembers me. (barbarahinton@earthlink).  Barbara Shea and Kathy Gallagher - I remember those names from the years of debit and credits.  Thank you again for you kind invitation.  Enjoy your reunion festivities and renewing old friendships.  I recently met HS friends from Milwaukee, WI that  I hadn't seen in 40 years.  That is quite an experience - an "Oprah moment" and none of us aged a bit!  Thank you Slimfast!  I think fondly of my 12 years at SBHS and have many pleasant memories of you, as well.

Vic "Don" Constantine:  "You and your people made for a wonderful time by all.  I can't begin to tell you how much FUN it was seeing everybody from the old neighborhood.  It took me three days to finally come back to Earth because of the amount of fun and excitement Bonnie and I had those two days.  Ten years is way too long to do this again.  I already cast my vote for the 50th birthday.  It definitely sounds like another great idea.  Count us in.  In this day and age time is truly fleeting.  Sometimes no matter how hard we try to take good care of these bodies, it doesn't matter.  When the Man upstairs calls, you gotta go."

Joe "Jose'" Caruso:  "I hope you don't get tired of hearing this, but just wanted to say once again what a great job you all did with the reunion!  The multi-day plan worked out really well, as did the main event.  the buffet was much better than a sit-down dinner.  The "goody bag" was also a great idea and much appreciated.  I know a great deal of work went into the whole reunion, and it really showed!  Are you planning a small get-together?  We could all compare pictures."

Joe Falco:  " Billy nailed it on the head.  You and your crew did an outstanding job.  Thank you all tenfold!!  The CD was wonderful, as was the evening bringing back many memories.  Speaking for myself and probably many other, the web site, the planning, and all your efforts made the night truly special."

Bart Polizzotti:  "That was the BEST TIME!!!!  Can't wait to see the Aurora scanned onto the web site (in your free time, of course) HA HA HA.  I think we should have a 30 year 6 month reunion, don't you??  Thanks for all your hard work."

Alan Specia:  "it was an unforgettable experience.  The entire committee and especially you deserve a standing ovation for putting together the entire weekend.  I can't wait to do it again.  There was only one problem. I don't think anyone got a picture of our newest classmate....The poor black guy on the elevator!  Thanks again."

Linda Ottina:  "Thank you very much for organizing the reunion and giving us all a terrific fulfilled weekend.  You did an amazing job.  I truly recognize and appreciate all your efforts. I look forward to more info about the 50th birthday celebration.  It sounds like a great idea. "

Bob Santoianni:  "Again, many thanks to you, Jane and Sharon for such a great event!  The tailgate party, fun run, basketball game and brunch gave us so much more time to catch up.  The hotel did a good job with the dinner, too.  Please keep up the great work with the web site.  I check it often.  Oh, the CD is great too!  It includes my all-time favorite tune, "Reelin' in the Years".  Thanks again."

Mike White:  "My wife, Linda, and I talked about the reunion until the wee hours of Sunday morning.  She really enjoyed it too.  She has never seen a reunion where there was so much good energy.  It was amazing.  My son had a great time watching his old man try to play a game that he used to have some level of skill.  It was good for him to be exposed to a different environment, and to see, feel and experience a different culture.  Believe me, CA is much different then NJ.  There's more patriotism in NJ.  There's more sense of belonging and family in NJ, and there's more history in NJ.  He had a great time and he was much more engaged than I've ever seen him.  You and your crew outdid yourselves!"

Bob Stump:  "Wow -- thank you for everything. It was Great!  You did so much and I just wanted you to know that it was all appreciated.  So many little things that I know took so much work:  the Memory Book, the CD, the centerpieces, even the stars and the "30's" sprinkled on the tables.  Please know it was all worth it.  You're the best!  I'm really looking forward to the 50th Birthday Party.  That should be a blast!  What a great idea!  If I can do anything to help, just let me know."

Wayne Bargiel:  "I didn't get a chance to thank you at the reunion for all of your efforts in bringing out class together.  It's fun to turn back the clock once in a while, and reminisce with old friends.  The basketball game was "priceless" (sorry Don).  Also, special thanks Janet's husband, Paul for all of his help and being so supportive of a reunion that was not his own.  (Keep this in mind when Paul has his class reunion, Janet)
Go 5th Street Park!!"

George Miller:  "I would like to tell you what a great job you did to get the reunion organized. I had a much better time than I expected to have and it was great to see some people I didn't think I would see there.  Thanks again."

Debbie Ruymen-Urcinole:  " I had a great time and it brought back some wonderful memories.  You did a wonderful job.  Thanks for all the hard work."

Bill DeVine:  " First of all...Thank You...I had a great time at the reunion.  What you have done for us is priceless.  The web site is excellent and the pictures are worth a million words.  I want you to know that your labors are appreciated...and your loyalty,  fully understood.  For one weekend..I escaped the grind...and I felt like I came home.  Wow!  Groovin'!  I just bought a new car, and I popped in your CD and drove home from the reunion on a pillow of air.  I love music and the songs absolutely blew me away.  Those were the days my friend.  As we get older, I hope that everyone stops to smell the roses along the way.  For a brief time, we shared something very special.  I want to thank you again for keeping that time alive, breathing and well.  We love you and all you have done to unite us.

Wayne Ambler:  "Years in the making, I hope you realize the weekend was pure success.  Those who didn't make the effort to travel the many miles (or blocks in some cases) have truly missed out on an event of a lifetime.  I especially liked the fact that several activities gave us the opportunity to see people literally in all light. ( Nothing becomes George Conway like blood rushing to his face in the noon heat!!)  Hmmm, I can hardly put this in words.  Just, Thank You."

Brynne Falkenstein-Ritvo (71):  I can't believe you got the cookie recipe!!!  I was obsessed!!  Can't wait to make them.  Many thanks!  Where did you get it from?

Sue Provenzale-Todd:  Just wanted to let you and all committee members know that I felt the reunion was a great success.  it was evident you all worked very hard.  Can't wait to see some pictures.  We sure were a very noisy group, and it was hared for you to get any words in, but all in all I think people had a great time."

Holly Falkenstein-Marx:  "I want to thank you for putting this whole weekend together.  It was really fabulous!  Seeing old friends was the best; especially the Franklin School crowd.  I'm sorry I couldn't make the basketball game.  I heard it ws a great time had by all.  Hope to see you again soon."

Jeff Libert:  " Just a note to say "WOW".  you all did a helluva job.  This was so much more fun and engaging than simply showing up 1 evening for a few hours.  I hope we all are around in another decade (58? ahhhh!)  Cruise to nowhere?  Sounds like a gas!  Now....spending time playing hoops with Richie A, Mike W., Amy L. Billy D, Scholl, hanging out with the Geek, chatting it up with Rita Z (like you, getting hotter with age - he says unabashedly...I'm too old to be abashed) hanging out at the pool drinking a beer with Billy D, Isabel, Yasmin, dropping in on Wayne B.'s dad to talk about life, doing a lap in the park with my very first friend in life - Joe D, seeing that Chuck is still studly (maybe I'll finally get inspired?? nah.)  having a talk with Dave A. , getting a hug from Jeffrey Beer Phillips, talking with Tim H. about his son going to Cornell, seeing that Georgeanne is still Georgeann, and has 3 grown kids who, God knows, probably look and talk like her, seeing that George C. is still the bona fide nice guy he has always been, and that he has 5 kids that love him. Oh my gosh I think I'm starting to sound like I'm gushing.............well, you did it.  You made it happen.
It was quite a nice affair, and all the better that I survived basketball.  OBTW, just to let you know, we conspired to let the 5th St. Gang win the bball game.  You see, we knew we had the talent for all those years, and that 5th St. had to live with that knowledge.  Sooooo, in our old age, the unspoken conspiracy was to take it easy on them....but not too easy, so they would realize we knew what the outcome would
be.....err...ahemmmmmm....Just let 'em try to take us on next time!!!  We won't be so nice!  Knock 'em right out of their wheelchairs we will!  Hey, Totally boffo and cool ....all around great job!"

Janet Toepert-Wagner: "I want to thank you all for your kind words, and let you know that Janie, Sharon and I are thrilled that you had such a memorable experience.  So did we!  Seeing people that I haven't seen in 25-30 years, as well as those that I saw last month was a treat.  Time spent with lifelong friends is precious to me. I had to make sure that I went to each and every table, so that I wouldn't miss one face.  It would've been easy to get caught up in the running of the weekend, but I promised myself that I would make sure that stacking bagels wouldn't get in the way of walking around the lake with Mike and Steve, or raindrops wouldn't get in the way of getting over to the HS to meet with friends for a nostalgic picture.  The basketball game was a trip back in time for me, and the highlight of the weekend.  I always loved to watch those guys play, and to have fellow Franklin Schoolmates, Rich Adams, Emil Rymarz, Jeannine DeJulia-Reyngoudt come to visit just completed the entire experience for me.  My angels sent us the sun........they knew how much I wanted this game to happen.  Seeing White go through the same moves on the foul line that he did back in 73, and Billy D's teenage jumpshot form at the baseline made me feel 17 all over again. I hope it was as close to a trip back in time for you as it was for me. I think 10 year reunions are a thing of the past for the Class of 73.  Plan on every 5 years, Gang.  Can't stand the thought of not seeing you all for any longer than that.  Life's too short and we're not getting any younger.  Gotta grab what life has to offer and run with it.  Yeh, some of us put on weight.  Some of us have lost some hair...........but to me, you all just stepped out of the yearbook, and you were as wonderful now as you were then...even more so!  Thanks for sharing your weekend with me................I'll be in touch!