TJ Class of '68     NEWSLETTER                                                           03/25/11
         
         
 

What a month!  I didn't write a newsletter two weeks ago because of lack of news items.  But, it seems that this last month has had me hopping with family issues.   

MAIL CALL

from Monty Nolan in Helena, MT
Allow me to congratulate you on reaching 100!  Oh wait, let me rephrase that.  Congratulations on publishing your 100th class newsletter.  That's better!  Seriously, thanks and bless you and Mike for all you do. 

from Cherlyn Hebert in Houston
We went on a Carribbean cruise in January.  We had a great time; three days in port and three days of siling.  Very relaxing.  We visited Roatan (Honduras), Belize City (Belize) and Cozumel (Mexico).  We went on a Hawaiian cruise in March.  We went into Honolulu a few days early and then boarded Norwegian Cruise Lines' Pride of America and toured Pearl Harbor and then flew home.  The cruise was a nice way to see four islands (Oahu, Maui, the Big Island of Hawaii and Kauai).  I don't usually get too excited about flowers, but my gosh they were so beautiful everywhere; hibiscus, plumeria, red and pink ginger, etc.   

from Billy Jordan in Decatur, AL
I took your advice and hooked up through Face Book with many classmates and corresponded with a couple of very good old friends I have not heard from in 20 + years.  Thanks for the nudge. 

from James Leland Hebert in Waldorf, MD
My wife, Pat, and I still work for the government in the Washington, D.C. area.  She works for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and I work for the Navy.  I hit the big 6-0 this year and I decided to celebrate by getting a PhD from George Washington University.  I just completed the mandatory 30 hours and I am now really busy working and doing the research of my dissertation, "Improved methods for finding Buried Non-metallic Mines: Ground Penetrating Radar Algorithms".  My oldest son is 24 and has a degree in math and computer engineering and works for Microsoft in Redmond, WA.  Amanda (23) has a degree in psychology and micro-chembio, and will graduate in May from Virginia Common Wealth with a masters in Genetic Counseling.  My 22 year old son, Charles, is on a fellowship at the University of Maryland getting a masters in Mechanical Engineering.  Kathryn, my 20 year old is a junior at Northern Michigan University working a degree in Microbiology.  We are going broke putting kids through college, but we're on the down- hill slope now.  My step sister, Tana Hightower ('66) and her husband Don are finally back in their home in Bridge City after incurring damages from Hurricane Ike.  My brother John Hebert ('66), is retired in Alexandria, LA.  I want to say that I love the webpage and enjoy seeing everyone and how well everyone has done.  We have a great class.

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Class of 1966 Reunion Information

(contributed by Fred Schneider '66)
We will reunite on August 13, 2011 at 7:00 pm at the Port Acres KC Hall, 6621 West PA Rd.  The fee for attendance will be $40.00 per person, or $75.00 per couple.  A $5.00 additional fee will be charged for tickets purchased at the door.  Party food and music for dancing will be provided.  Beverage plans will be provided shortly. 

During the day Saturday, tours of the Museum of the Gulf Coast can be provided at $2.00 per person.  An informal gathering of some sort will be organized for Friday evening and announced as soon as it is set. 

The Holiday Inn has set aside a block of rooms for our class at the rate of $85.00 per night.  An all-you-can eat Sunday breakfast will be served at Luby's at Hwy 69 & 365 from 8-12am .  The cost will be $8.00 per person. 

Please make your plans now to attend.  An invitation is being designed now and will be scanned and e-mailed to as many classmates as possible.  To those classmates without e-mail, they will be sent in regular mail. 

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"Blue-eyed soul" singer to headline gala

The Carl Parker Center at Lamar State College-Port Arthur will be rocking April 30, when legendary soul singer Bill Medley  takes the stage to entertain patrons of the eighth annual "Gulf Coast Gala."  The event, which includes dinner and entertainment, begins with a 6 p.m. reception.  Dinner will be served at 7 p.m., followed by the entertainment.  Four levels of sponsorships are available.  Individual tickets are $125.00 per person.  For sponsorships, tickets, or information, call Donna Schion at (409) 984-6101.
 The event provides support for many programs that "enhance career potential, broaden intellectual horizons and enrich the quality of life for people in the area."

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Classmate Get-Together

A few classmates and spouses met together recently for a late lunch at a Kingwood restaurant.  Those classmates attending were: Janette Light, Janice Hebert, Barry Boudreaux, Linda DeCuir, Robert Sandoval, Mike Harmon, Loretta LaLonde, and Fred McCarty.  The spouses were so kind to "act" like they were enjoying all the reminiscing and loud laughter.  (Actually they added to it.)    Be sure to write and tell me about a gathering you might have with some of our classmates.  We would love to hear about it. See Misc Photos page 5 for the get-together photo.

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News from the Homefront

Since the last newsletter, all hell has broken loose.  Murphy went to his cardiologist and was set up for an arteriogram.  He was found to have 6 blockages in his heart.  On two separate day surgery visits, the dr. put in three stents and opened up the other three with the balloon procedure.  My sister had cataract surgery but had a reaction to the eye drops, (they contained steroids), and she had a bi-polar melt down that lasted several days.  Dad was staying with her for three of those days and was involved with the drama. After getting my sister's kids to come in from Houston to help with the situation on Sunday, I "rescued" Dad and brought him back to Lumberton with me.  At that point, I felt like we deserved a trip to DQ!  My sister seemed to be improving a LITTLE each day but today seems to find her slipping backward.  Keep your prayers going for her.  Poor mental health is just as bad as physical problems.   Also, some very dear neighbors in our Bridge City home have both received really bad health reports.  Then, another friend, Paul Martin '66, passed away.  Several other friends are having really intense health problems.  I'll have their names in our SUPPORT section.

I hope the next edition will have fun stuff mentioned in my HOMEFRONT news.

P.S.  On a good note, I spent some quality time with my dear friend, Joe Breaux ('69) enjoying a surprise 60th b-d crawfish boil at his home in Lumberton! 

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SUPPORT

Janice Hebert Boudreaux's niece, Danielle Fontenot (27 yrs), has been diagnosed with MS.  She has a 9 month old baby
mbsjanice@aol.com 

Glenda Patin's mom has alzheimers and has been hospitalized with pneumonia.
gpatin@comcast.net 

Carolyn Lyons' brother-in-law, Ron Tulare (husband of Kathy Lyons ('66), was in a terrible traffic accident.  He has broken ribs, fractured pelvis and hip, unstable blood pressure, collapsed lung, pneumonia, internal bleeding, a trach, on a ventilator, etc. 
kathy_tulare@bcbstx.com
Carolyn's e-mail is:
outoftheatic@hotmail.com  

from Jan Russell
On Feb. 6, I was admitted to St. Luke's Hospital in the Woodlands with what turned out to be septic shock- a really nasty infection in the blood system.  It apparently started with a sinus infection in January.  I thought it was a bad cold that became strep throat.  By Feb. 6, my lymph glands were swollen and I was running a fever.  I spent 8 days in the hospital, 6 of them in ICU.  After that, I was taken to a physical rehab center because I was so weak from the infection and the time spent in ICU.  I'm home now and recovering.  I still have to build up my stamina.  I took a leave of absence from school so I could have adequate time for recovery, but I'm going back to work March 21.  Yea!  The Lord has taken such incredibly good care of me through the medical staff, friends, and people He brought into my life just when I needed support.  I really appreciate all the supporting comments and prayers from my friends. 
Thanks for everything that ya'll do to keep the Class of '68 together.  I always enjoy my updates.
jlrussell@kleinisd.net

Linda Louise Davis Fitzpatrick's husband, Charlie, has a blood clot and will soon have a hip revision surgery when the clot dissolves.
lfitzpatrick@gvtc.com 

Linda DeCuir McFadden's sister, Gerry Landry ('59), has unstable mental health at this time dealing with her bi-polar and memory issues.  Please put her on your church prayer list.

Also, thanks to all the well-wishes for my husband, Murphy's heart problems.  Now his heart is good for another 100,000 miles.  All the belts and hoses are fixed!!!!  He is planning to retire from his job on July 31st.  This was in the works before the heart cath.   

Classmate, Jimmy Hughes, survived a massive heart attack while attending a safety meeting at work.  The paramedics there revived him.  He had to have 4 bi-passes and was on a ventilator for several days.  A benefit will be held in April, (more information to come), to help out with the expenses.  The company he previously worked for (Conex) recently filed for bankruptcy and he was left with no medical coverage.  Be on the lookout for the information on the benefit to help a fellow classmate.  I will have Mike post it as soon as I receive the info.
jrayfish@prodigy.net

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CONDOLENCES

(a note from classmate, Liz Hall)
Some of you may know my sister Dorothy/Dot ('71).  Her husband, Peter Bell ('71), passed away in his sleep at the age of 58.  We suspect an aneuism.  He leaves behind 8 beautiful grandchildren and scores of grieving friends and family members.  Please keep Dot in your thoughts and prayers.
e.hall@ttu.edu 

Frank Mirabella
(death of his father)

4819 Menlo Park Dr
.
Sugar Land
, TX 77479

fmmirabella50@yahoo.com 

Allen Andrus
(death of his mother)
a
llen.andrus@tpcgrp.com 

Danny Licatino
(death of his mother)
2709 Cedar Bayou

Baytown
, TX 77520

dlicatino@yahoo.com 

You may find these obits on the front page of our website under the OBITUARIES section.

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This was a time-consuming edition.  I had to go back and forth looking up FB entries, spreadsheets, and e-mails to get all the information needed.  Please take the time to contact those on the SUPPORT AND CONDOLENCE sections.  Also, please put our dear friends, Ginger and Charles LaCombe on your church prayer lists.  It really means a lot for a friend to lend their words of comfort.  Don't forget to drop me some lines with news of anything!   Love to all.  Until next time. 

                             Stay in touch and contact a classmate,
                             Linda DeCuir McFadden
                             lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
                             www.tjhs1968.com

 

                         



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