Milne Alumni August Newsletter
August 15, 2010

by Judy Koblintz Madnick, '61

Dear Milne Alumni and Supporters,

In this issue:

* Class of 1970 40th Reunion
* Class of 1966 Reunion Planning and News
* Alumni News
* Sad News

CLASS OF 1970 40TH REUNION

From Janis PAUL Jacobs, '70: "The Milne class of 1970 celebrated their 40th high school reunion over the weekend of July 23, 2010. After 40 years, classmates from all over the country and Canada reunited and reconnected. Members of the class of 1970 traveled from Oregon, Washington State, Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Ohio, New York City, Quebec, North Carolina, Virginia, and, of course, New York State and locally.  

"Throughout the weekend, we shared our meaningful recollections and relived so many special memories. Friday night, we met in the Chat's Lounge at the Marriott Hotel Wolf Road. Saturday morning, we enjoyed a brunch at Milne, heard a short lecture of the history of Milne, and experienced a wonderful tour of our great school. Saturday night, the celebration continued at Colonie Golf & Country Club, where we  enjoyed a delicious dinner and shared more of our memories. Coach Bob Lewis joined us Saturday evening, which truly was a treat! Sunday morning, for those who chose to attend, we had breakfast at the Marriott and said our final goodbyes, with promises to keep in touch and NOT wait another 20 years for a reunion.

"Our six years at Milne played a huge part in shaping us, and we returned to remember the youth we were. We all formed a special bond during our years there. And attending our fabulous reunion just proved how solid that bond has remained. We toasted our memories, the students, athletes, and friends of the Milne Class of 1970. We also honored and remembered those who taught us and encouraged us. We remembered old friends...those with us now, those who could not make it, and those who are no longer with us.

"We were reunited for a time...reliving our past. We toasted our younger selves, our plans, our promises, our dreams... and may we always remember the words of our Alma Mater...'We shall be joined in heart...Never be far apart...On altered trails embark.. Each to each endeared!'"

Pictures of our reunion weekend can be found by clicking (or copying and pasting) this link: http://janispauljacobsphotosite.shutterfly.com/pictures/532.

CLASS OF 1966 REUNION PLANNING AND NEWS

From Anita Harris: "The Class of 1966 is starting to plan our next reunion, whatever it is--contact Jim Gewirtzman if you want to help! I recently had lunch with Bob Langer in Cambridge and went boating with Denny Stevens on Cape Cod. Karyl Kermani Bisson and her husband Ed just returned from a trip to Alaska. I am still a communications consultant in Cambridge, MA, and have three blogs http://newcambridgeobserver.com, http://harriscomblog.com, and http://ithacadiaries.wordpress.com/). I recently gave a talk on blogging for business at Cambridge Innovation Center. My advice?  Don't have three blogs."

ALUMNI NEWS

Ralph Benko, '70,  is proud to announce that he has been been nominated for a very important award, "The Top 10 Who Are Changing the World of Internet and Politics." To learn more and place your vote, please go to
http://www.politicsonline.com/content/main/specialreports/2010/top10_2010/vote.asp. Congratulations, Ralph...and good luck!

Frank Ward, '56, still works as a Senior Attorney with the Office of Disability Adjudication Review (ODAR) that is a part of the Social Security Administration. He works in Syracuse, NY, and lives near New Woodstock, NY. Frank lived in Galesburg, IL, for many years, where he was a bank vice president and head of a trust department, then had his own law practice. He returned to live in Albany with his sister Virginia in 1993, but accepted his current job and moved to Syracuse in 1995. He married, had two children (Laura and David), and divorced in 1985. Frank raised the children after the divorce, and they now are on their own, living in Virginia and North Carolina.

Frank has been involved in community work and charities all his life and is presently active in forming a new national organization, the ODAR National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered Advisory Council (NLGTBAC), which is to be a part of the NLGBTAC, an umbrella group for all employees of the Social Security Administration that was established on November 17, 2009, by the Commissioner of Social Security. The NLGTBAC is a government-approved organization to assure fair and equal treatment of the Council's members and those they represent in the federal government. After the initial national officers were elected, Frank was asked by the first elected National Chair to serve as his personal mentor. He was appointed to and currently serves as Chair of the National Leadership Committee of NLGTBAC. 

On August 3, 2010, Frank was appointed to represent the ODAR LGBT Steering Committee on the fiscal year 2011 ODAR Diversity Commemoration
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Advisory Planning Committee.  He helped draft the ODAR AC Charter that now awaits signature of the Regional Commissioner of Social Security. He has a personal interest in the work of these groups, being both gay and married legally on June 22, 2004, to Jim Ward in a religious service conducted under license granted by the State of Massachusetts. His marriage is one of only a few legally recognized by the State of New York.

John ("Ron") Dillon, '53, reports: "I am operating a photography studio in Clifton Park, NY, with my daughter Kim (Dillon) Zelvian. We are located at 1714 US Route 9, Clifton Park, NY 12065, 518-424-9957, www.dillonphotography.us ."

I have additional "Alumni News" to share, but in the interest of space, I will include them next month. Please continue to update me with your "Alumni News"! 

SAD NEWS