RIP Mr. Eggener

The same day I heard about Ms. Kusch dying, I was told my 7th grade teacher, Mr. Eggener, had also just passed away. Here's how I remember him, with a smile, glasses, and a mustache. 

I hadn't seen him since 1989, at my sister's graduation, but according to his obituary photo he really leaned into the facial hair over the years. He looked good. 

 

If you take the time to read the extended death notice below, you'll see what was evident to his students, even if we weren't privy to all the details listed there: he was an intelligent, fun loving guy who devoted himself to his family, and to the causes and hobbies that he believed in. 

He started working at St. Adalbert's partway through 7th grade, when his predecessor, Mr Anderson, was fired. I liked Anderson, but I quickly recognized Mr. Eggener was a man to respect, and the superior teacher. 

I remember him telling us he was a Vietnam vet (and that's probably all he ever said of it to us), I remember he was very kind to my sister Katie, who followed a year behind me, and I remember asking him - Lord help the naivety of a 12 year old in the '80's - if the recently deceased Liberace had been gay LOL

He was, to quote one of my Grandma's favorite phrases,  "a good Joe."

RIP

************* 

RIP Ms. Kusch /Mrs. Miles

I found out from a former classmate that our 3rd grade teacher, Miss Kusch, passed away April 3rd at the age of 69. 

 My memories of 3rd grade are rather dull and limited: 

The classroom was on the second floor, third from the west (it went 2nd, 1st, 3rd, 4th in that direction) with windows overlooking Beecher St. 

For some reason we had to create life sized scarecrows of ourselves with a cardboard face featuring our self portrait. I am not, and was not an artist, but basing my technique on a sketch of Fred from Scooby Doo, I did a fairly impressive job (for me).  I still have that face in some storage bin here LOL

Once a week a student had to do a presentation to the class about their life. It was called "All About Me" and my project, still intact, is also in storage LOL

[Alex Q mocked my thoroughness on the project. Ha. Time showed him. He grew up to be the most prosperous and successful of our class, whereas I write this blog]

I remember Ms. Kusch was, if memory served, engaged to her future husband for most of that school year. 

And remember an end of year picnic held at her house. Here's a picture taken that day in 1983. I'm the kid in the Brewers hat and red, white, and blue collared shirt. 

Ms. Kusch taught at my grade school for 36 years, all but a few of them after I was in her class. That's an impressive feat, and I'm sure she made a difference for a lot of kids. 

RIP

5th Grade

Lisa's 5th grade teachers name: Mr. Brem. 

Mine? Miss Kotowski. She was young and pretty, had previously dated a guy who played Ronald McDonald, her favorite Buck was Terry Cummings, and I believe she was dating a race car driver at the time. 

Sneaky Snake

St. Adalbert peeps - do you remember this LP from Sr. Virginia's 1st grade classroom? I've been singing "Sneaky Snake" since 1980 LOL and was overjoyed to find a copy of the record today at a thrift store.

The Good Attendance Party

I took Junie  to a good attendance party at her school tonight.

Crazy Hair Day

 Crazy Hair Day at school!

The School Dance!

 Tonight was the annual school dance, and once again Smiley and Junie had a great time (although PD got grouchy near the end).

Good Attendance Night

On Thursday Smiley and Junie earned a ticket to a Good Attendance award event after school. YaYa tagged along with me and got hugs from the kids she babysat over the summer and greetings from old classmates. 

We decorated a Christmas cookie and would have made a construction paper gingerbread man and a Letter to Santa, but the former tables were full and the latter project was way too young for them.

 Congrats on your great attendance kids!

Some Father's Day Wishes

Happy Father's Day everyone!

As usual it'll be a busy day for #TeamSlap, so in case our schedule precludes an appearance, God's blessings and our best wishes on the marriage of Alys H. You've been a great friend and coworker and Lisa and I still hope to join you on this special day!

And happy 20th wedding anniversary to Mike G a grade school classmate of mine!

YaYa graduates from Grade School

Eleven years ago my YaYa set out for her first day of K3. Today that little girl graduates from 8th grade and moves on to high school.

These are pics from each of those monumental days.

Congratulations GC! We are proud of you!! xoxo

#HoldingBackTheTears

My Teachers

My grade school teachers (K-8)

 

A Night of Firsts

With Lisa up north for the weekend, I have the honor of accompanying Junie and Smiley to their school dance. It is momentous. First, it is LK's first ever school dance. Second, it is for all intents and purposes Smiley's first date! He asked a girl named Isabella to the dance, and boy did her face light up when we arrived! #bigdayforTeamSlap. #awwwSmileyisgrowingup

Times Change

This *was* geography. Now, if it was taught, it would be history. A mid-to-late '80's assignment by my sister Chrissy.

The Details Tell the Story

Historical documents - even lame ones like the program from my grade school graduation ceremony on June 4th, 1988 - can reveal hidden treasures. Celebrating along with us was the 50th reunion of the 1938 class. Among their members, according to the program, was Fr. Frank Yaniak. Eight years later he would officiate my wedding, and Lisa and I would grow close enough to the man to ask him to come out of retirement for YaYa's baptism in 2001. One more neat fact the program revealed: it was held fifteen years to the day before LuLu blessed us by coming into our lives

The 2013 Holiday Program

Departing for the 2013 school Holiday program 12-17; I missed it due to a final exam.

On the School Change

Well update on the new school change: The kids are loving their new school. More friends made in 8 days then in 8 years! Also, two of the four are behind in math...and one (littlest) is feeling very unprepared for first grade. I had a hunch this was the case, but hearing it still infuriates me. Nothing like the public school down the block upstaging your supposedly superior private school!!!! Ridiculous. Don't count out mps yet.....and don't believe the hype about Catholic schools. They are no where near a year ahead, and in many cases they are behind!! LIVE AND LEARN :) - Lisa

 Walked PD and OJ home from school today, while GC and LK drove home with Mom (da wimps)

No Censorship Please

A parent at my kids school was/is trying to have pop music banned from school events because it isn't "Christian". With respect, phooey. I stated my objection politely but firmly, and now I find the post has been removed. That, almost as much as the objectionable suggestion, is pi**ing me off.

School Art