Editor's Note: When I think back to my days in the 50s in high school, a person that I kind of knew, but wished I could have gotten to know better was Nancy Wood. We both lived in Southport on Broadway. We both were in band (Nancy played the French Horn), and we both were Presbyterians (although we attended different churches). And to carry the commonalties between Nancy and me much further than anyone would ever want me to, we both had two letter O's right in the middle of our last names.

But Nancy was tall. I was somewhat shorter. And teen-aged tall girls and teen-aged somewhat shorter boys just didn't seem to find an affinity for each other in the Fifties. Maybe that's still true today.

Recently though, I got my wish about getting to know Nancy a little better when she responded to my request that she be our Whatever Person for this month. Here's some of what she says about her days at Southside and what has happened to her since 1958.

Memories of Elmira

As a novice to cyberspace, I was delighted to see the address for the website and all the news for the upcoming reunion. What started out as a challenging experience teaching computer skills to third graders and later transposing those skills to my "Apple Computer" became a satisfying endeavor when Bill Cook invited me to interview. I found an enriching link between the Class of '58 and the Nancy Wood of '98.

When my parents moved from Dansville, a small town of about 5,000 near Rochester, my younger brothers , Bill and Ted, and I found ourselves adjusting to 2 new schools. When in eighth grade at George Washington School, John McWilliams was our principal. As luck would have it, he would welcome me back as a former student and then a teacher on his staff for five and a half years.

Six months into my freshman year at Elmira Free Academy, my family moved to 1007 Broadway. The house is now the office of Dr. Castor, DDS. SHS became my academic home on January 1955.

Our house on Broadway was directly across from that huge empty field which is now occupied by Broadway Middle School. We walked to the Dixie for their famous beef barbecue sandwiches and a coke. My neighbors were Barb Leahy (Class of 58) and Rose Plate (Class of 59).

Like many others, I remember having to suffer the long walk to SHS. But, fortunately some mornings, Connie Newbauer's mother drove us to school. Otherwise, we walked or took the bus. I don't remember the exact route to our house on Broadway coming home. But with a heavy French Horn it was great for the arm muscles. I remember Maylon Flood played the French Horn in the band, too.

My friends included Connie Newbauer, Louise Dassance, Kathy Van Strander, and Vivian Bowen. Whatever happened to them?

Another great influence during my school years was the Franklin Street Presbyterian Youth Fellowship program run by Reverend JTM and Mrs. Wilson, Mark's mom and dad. We always had a lively group with interesting discussions and refreshments. Some of the kids in the group were Lucinda Finlay, Charlotte Minns, Peg Fawell, Tom Halm, Bruce Silvers, Mark of course, Frank Doughty, John Friends, Maureen Hourihan and Joy Utter, to name a few.

The year I went to college, we moved to 633 Pennsylvania Avenue, next door to June and Jim Orsillo. Wouldn't you know my brothers had just a few blocks to walk to SHS? During the flood of 1972 my parents were very fortunate to stay safe and dry.

After graduation. I had some memorable summer jobs. Steve Eastman (Class of 59) and I were fellow soda jerks at Irv Peckham's Variety Store. If you were ever in there you know what I mean by "variety." That summer I also worked at Artistic Card Company. Mary Lynne Zepp and I couldn't wait for September 1st when we embarked on our nursing school and college studies. Moore Business Forms and the Rochester County Club were a lot more fun.

Teachers at SHS

Remember the Reader's Digest's Most Unforgettable Character? Well that would have to be, for me, Elsa Brookfield. As a former teacher, I appreciate not only her academic qualities, but she opened "windows to the world" in her Spanish Class. I'll always remember her saying "The Chemung River does not divide the brains of the city of Elmira." She constantly encouraged us to do our best. Her teaching and travel experience were a true delight. She was definitely a feminist before the word existed.

I remember the dignified, but kind manner of Mr. Krouse (a WWI veteran, I think). His chem labs were always a "blast" or could have been if not for my lab partner, Sue Bailey. Once we were working on a lab experiment that was NOT to include sulfuric acid, which I had picked up in error. Luckily Sue grabbed the bottle and prevented an almost certain explosion, and the old Southside High building is still standing.

Thomas Stenson ignited my interest in American History and political science. His stories were easily remembered and made sense to me. They sparked an interest that persisted through college and grad school.

James Mattson's mixed chorus and "Qualitones" were rewarding.

College and Post-College Days

In the fall of 1958 I entered SUNY Geneseo and majored in elementary education and junior high school studies. Talk about snow! And classes there were NEVER cancelled. I joined Alpha Clio sorority with former SHS classmates Carol Coleman, Maureen Hourihan, Roberta Spillane, and Sandy Schaef. Larry Naylor was one of our "brothers." The sorority had several tall blondes and since I am 5'9" I felt right at home.

I loved Geneseo and all the activities. I taught my first year in Rochester and then came home to Elmira to teach at George Washington School's kindergarten under my old junior high principal John McWilliams. I continued school myself at Elmira College two or three nights a week plus summers and earned my MS in Education in 1968. Receiving a National Science Foundation Grant to Syracuse in 1968 also, I continued my post graduate studies in political science and geography. What a change to get paid to go to school, if only for 6 weeks. This led to meeting friends who lived in California and my first plane ride at summer's end to visit them.

Peekskill, NY became my home when my husband, Jim Kakretz , was transferred to the Ossining Correctional Facility. Being closer to New York City gave me the opportunity to see Broadway shows (recently the Lion King), ski in Vermont, and to attend Army football games for which I have had season tickets for the last 25 years. The games are a great fall outing regardless of whether the Black Knights win or lose.

Having been remarried, I am currently single and take great pleasure in the company of loyal friends.

My teaching career spanned 34 years which included Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and Grades 1-3. When I retired from the Hendrick Hudson School District, "teaching and learning" were really fun. We had computers introduced into the classroom and at times, student and teacher roles were reversed.

I've been a homeowner for 20 years of a small, but lovely English cottage-style stucco house which was originally built and designed by Sears Roebuck. I have a double lot which keeps me and the lawn service busy. My two cats, Beecher and Miller, are adorable, constantly hungry, furniture scratchers who keep me company.

As a community volunteer I serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals, Board of Assessment Review, Scholarship Chair for AAUW, Treasurer of Associated Charities, Beaux Arts Ball Committee for the Paramount Center for the Arts, and Secretary to the Peekskill Republican City Committee. George Pataki, Governor of New York State, is from Peekskill and we all worked on his campaigns.

My Future Plans

My appetite for travel was enhanced by a whirlwind Perillo Tour to Italy in September '97. Among the highlights were Rome, Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii, Florence and Venice. This was the best thing I've done since retiring in 1996.

Continuing my lifelong enjoyment of history, I visited Savannah in May '97, toured the Historic District and remembered the sites of the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

February of '98 brought a welcome respite from winter. Relaxing in the sun at Ixtapa, Mexico, practicing my limited Spanish brings me to the realization that winning the lottery is essential if this indulgence is to continue

During a mini-vacation in Elmira in July '98, I look forward to meeting friends at Harners and partying on the Keuka Maid.

Editor again: Hearing Nancy's voice on the phone (it hasn't changed a bit) reminded me just how much the 50's and their memories mean to me. I guess those years mean a lot to most of us. That certainly includes Nancy Wood. I suspect that no one in our class has escaped hearing the story about how Nancy, so anxious to see her old friends of the Class of 58, showed up for a reunion one year early. Here's how she tells it:

Excited about my 1992 SUNY Geneseo reunion, I thought, how convenient. SHS had planned our event for the same year -- only one week apart. I could drive to Canandaigua with my mother, go to Geneseo, and the following week-end, head to Elmira and then home.  I was dismayed that my friend Maureen Hourihan Saccucci wasn't as sure of the date as I was, although she'd received the EL-SO-WUT? recently from Peg Halm.

Friday night, I went to the place scheduled for "Meeting and Greeting."  Only a few people were there. Thank heavens a kind gentleman said, "Don't I know you???" It took me awhile, but I realized it was John Evans. He burst my bubble when he told me I was 12 months early for the party. The evening turned out to be fun as John, his friend, and I reminisced  about SHS. Could it be that John Evans can't keep a secret??

I made sure I was there in 1993! 

And Again: Yes, Nancy, we guess somebody should have told you a long time ago. John Evans can't keep a secret. But we're glad we were able to get your side and also to hear this most interesting story about Whatever Happened to Nancy Wood.

You can send E-Mail to Nancy at beecher4@aol.com.

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