IN MEMORIAM

 HERRICKS HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF '69

 Kindly email items for this page to larry.

THIS MEMORIAL PAGE HONORS THOSE IN OUR CLASS WHO HAVE PASSED
ON. IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHOSE MEMORY YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON THE PAGE.
PLEASE WRITE TO LARRY. A BRIEF BIO OF THE PERSON OR ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY WOULD ALSO BE APPRECIATED.

CHRISTINE ALZADO

She was a beautiful girl. Looked a little like Bridgette Bardot. She dated Mace a couple of times. She had moved out to Long Island from the city in the early high school years and she'd come around to Dom's Candy Store once in a while. She had a real down-to-earth attitude and a good sense of humor. She was able to laugh at herself, which was unusual for a pretty girl who was only a teenager.
Kevin Harold

Lynn Amrhein

Lynn Amrhein was a close friend and classmate starting back in the 1st grade. Lynn lived three doors up from our house and we grew up together. She was a wonderful person and very gifted. I wish the best for her family.

Bill Winters

THOMAS BAKER 
 

Jean Carucci 
 

Greg evans

Christine Gallagher

Christine Gallagher from Tony LaSalvia:
Christine was a great kid. She lived two houses down from me and we knew each other all our lives. We did so many things together as little kids along with Sue Beatty ('70), Sue's little brother Richie, Christine's older brother John , Preston Cappello, Diane Chiarella and many other kids in the neighborhood. Our families were very close and did things together like parties and outings, like going to Bar Beach. I have many fond memories of her and her family. Needless to say it was quite upsetting to hear of her passing in 2000. God bless her family.

RICHARD FREEMAN

RONNIE FROST

From Walter (Wally ) Bednarczyk, " I knew Ronnie from about 6th or 7th grade. We called him Frost-t-oos!  Ronnie, Chip Raymond and myself  road our bikes , played, screwed around,  hung out ,and as kids often do, tried to end the world as we know it . Lost track  of him after graduation. Heared  he made a life out  of the Navy. They say the friends you have when your a kid you keep closes to you the rest of your life . I can still see his round face ,warm smile and laughter . I only found out of his passing a short time ago from a note left on our 40th year class reunion site. His passing sadden me greatly. He was fun loving friend and a great person. My deepest sympathy to his family and to the rest of  the members of the great glass of 1969, I wish you peace ." Sincerely , Walter ( Wally ) Bednarczyk.

STEPHEN GARI
 

CARMINE MACEDONIO

Information Provided by Walter Bednarczyk. Carmine passed away in 1969 while serving in Vietnam a few months after our graduation.  While not a member of our graduating class, Carmine's last year at Herricks was 1969.

From Carmine's Sister:

Dear Larry - 

I am Carmine Macedonio's sister (class of ''74).  I recently got in touch with Walter Bednarczyk and he told me about this site.  First I want to thank you for the site - time is precious and friends and memories even more so.

I kindly ask if you would update the information you have posted about Carmine.  Carmine died on December 7, 1970.  My parents and family were notified by military personnel on December 9th.  My brother came home to us the following week accompanied by two honor guards.  One of my most vivid and cherished memories is when two of Carmines friends, who were in the military, asked my parents if they could stand guard by Carmine in place of the two men sent by the government.  And those two young men stood there stoically and I'll never forget them.

It gives me great heart that I can tell my parents, still living in Pennsylvania, about all of the people who remember Carmine and the wonderful memories they have of him.  Our loss was great and everlasting but reading the messages from those who knew him brings a smile to me - and I remember my dear brother, a memory frozen in time of a great, loving young man, lost to all of us too soon. 

Thank you Larry.  God bless. 

Catherine Kelly
(nee Macedonio)

More on Carmine from Paul Sibek:

I knew Carmine, think of him often and have visited him in Washington DC, on the Wall, every time I have been in DC.  He was a Rock Star and as far we we knew , was ripped from high school and into the service. 

Carmine was saved my life. I had a low draft number and was scared of the consequences of the draft. I would not have made it home. My memory of my friend gave me the courage to dodge the draft and be alive today to honour his memory

Re: Carmine Macedonio (Mace) from Barbara Ferri:
I have also thought often of Mace and have visited his name on the wall in DC. My sister, Phyllis (class of 72), had gone to his wake and sent me a memorial card that had his picture on it. His parents had given the funeral home a picture of Mace in his fatigues wearing a peace symbol necklace. They had initially cropped the picture above the peace symbol. His parents insisted that they reprint the cards with the peace symbol showing.
My most vivid recollection of him in high school was the night that he and Preston Cappello picked up Cathy Clark and I up after recreation in a car that they had "borrowed" from the bowling alley parking lot. Quite a lot of excitement for a couple of straight girls :)
I often wonder how his life would have played out.

From Bill Winters:

Carmine Macedonio was a free spirited friend to all. "Mace" was full of excitement  and shared all he had with everyone he came into contact with. I have so many memories of "Mace". We all should have a little of his gift for life in us, it would be a wonderful feeling. Those of us that were friends will always remember him.  As a military veteran of 20 years I'm drawn to the wall and always pay my respects to Carmine and others who gave the ultimate sacrifice.  Thank you "Mace"

From Janice Losgar:

My memories of Mace are too personal to post here, but I would be remiss if I neglected to say something about the most influential person in my life.

Suffice it to say that every man I have met in my life-no, make that everyperson- has been measured against two people: my dad, and Mace. Regretfully, none have fared well in this test. Mace possessed something rare and beautiful, and I feel both honored and blessed to have been able to call him my friend.

Janice Losgar

From David P. Sibek

Carmine was the consummate local rock star. With his long flowing hair and strong, nuanced voice, he was a true celebrity about town. I am not sure if Mace was a member of the "Chard Remains" but Dennis Locurto, a superbly gifted musician played lead guitar for that band. Dennis was Mace's long time band mate in various rock bands where Carmine would grace us with powerful renditions of songs like "The Letter" and other rock/pop songs of our era.

Carmine dated my next door neighbor, Peggy McDonald, for a time and I would often seem him coming and going from the hood. I had a connection with him through Peggy and consequently had a rapport with him which I relished.  Being seen with Mace was great for my image. Many sought him out given his celebrity and great spirit. He was one friendly dude who owned one of those rare, perpetual good moods.

Carmine, if I remember correctly, was not an ace student and there was a rumor that a few Herrick's teachers conspired to have him expelled before he graduated (a year or two late) which, as legend has it, set the stage for his induction into the army.

The last time I saw Carmine (I remember this explicitly) was at the major, Herricks summer hangout - Herricks Pond. It was after basic training and it was striking how out of character he was that night. Quiet and apparently distracted, he was not the person that I had known for the past four or five years.

I remember the day we found out he died. It was a school day and one of the girls who may or may not have been involved with him was reacting to the news in no uncertain terms near the principal's office by the front door.  Most others just drifted around in disbelief. The horrible Viet Nam war had finally come home. Peopl were looking for Carmines brother, Angie, another great soul, to comfort him or to be comforted by him.

A few days later I was at the service at St. Aidens' Church with my friend Richie and what seemed like thousands of other weeping people. Sitting in a pew with tears, trying to listen to the priest and coming to terms with a tragic world where beautiful, innocent young people are forced to serve and die in criminally unjust wars. Perhaps the beginning of the end of my unquestioning faith in the American way. Things take a real long time to change. I think of him very often these days.

-------------------

I knew Mace too. I was with him the night before he left for Vietnam. We climbed up the hill in the old sand lots across from Bar Beach in Roslyn and drank a few beers. Mace was one of the most remarkable people I've ever known. Over thirty five later, I still think about him from time to time - his wonderful smile, his charm and charisma but also his courage and trustworthiness in times of trouble. My wife never knew Mace but she heard me speak of him so often that a few years ago she stopped and got an etching of his name on the Wall in Washington. He was a wonderful man and I think his spirit is out there somewhere.

Kevin Harold

Diane Mason

Donna Meill
 

Paul ott

barry Orourke -Barry O'Rourke (class of 1969) passed away in October 1999

OWEN SMITH

Owen Smith - I knew him too. We went to grammar school together, St.Aidans. Owen was a cool, self possessed kid. He was best friends with Bobby McCann and the two were always hanging together. Owen was a big hit with the girls (as was Bobby). Owen was easy going and had a nice quiet intelligence about him. He was a nice guy.
Kevin Harold

Stacey sussman

We received this very nice email from stacy's mother

From: Eylure@aol.com [mailto:Eylure@aol.com]
Subject: Herricks Website

I am Gloria Sussman  -  Stacey Sussman's mother.  As you may know, Stacey died in 1986.  Cancer.  However, when I see all the names of her friends, it just touches my heart.  So many of you spent so much time in my house.  We learned of this site from Ellen Daniels and would love to hear from Stacey's friends.

email items for this page to  larry.