 Bonita Traum DiBello
tells us her story of the 40th Year Reunion of
the SHS Class of 1960
I enjoyed
Betsy Hartman Owen’s story of her trip to
Elmira, NY and the 40th Class Reunion
of the Class of 1960 so much that I thought I
would add my story.
Unfortunately I did not graduate with the
Class of 60 but was a member of that class for
many years. I have always regretted that I didn't
graduate with them and that I have been out of
touch with them for so many years. But these
computers and the internet are wonderful things
as they have allowed me to find and reacquaint
myself with so many old friends.
In doing so I learned that the 40th
Reunion was to take place on August 18 and 19 of
this year. As it happened, I planned to be in
Elmira on those dates. I found out that the
Friday Night Breaker was to be at Bernie
Murray's. I talked to my youngest sister, Sue
Thorne, and we decided to just go and hang out
there on the 18th. Along the way my
friend Sue Chevalier Harris, Walt’s wife,
and my older sister Jackie Traum Sampsell from
the Class of 58, and her daughter Amy, also
decided to come with us.
What a great night. I found out that I had not
been "left out" all these years as I
had feared and found but that they had been
looking for me. I did't think I was that hard to
find because my sisters, Sue, Jackie and Ginnie
Thorne Snyder and Patti Thorne Collins, seem to
know everyone in town. Also my Mom has always
lived in the house on Cypress Street. But that's
"water under the dam". I lived in
Elmira until 1965 and then moved to Syracuse
until 1990. My husband of 25 years, Joe DiBello,
and I now live in New Port Richey, Florida.
My first encounter at Bernie Murray's was with
Linda Ayres Holley. It was good to see her and
Joe and they are both looking great. Linda
encouraged me to come into the party room and sit
with them but I didn't want to "crash"
and also didn't want to leave my sisters and
Susie. Then Barbara Simpson found out I was there
and came right out to tell me they had been
looking for me. Barbara caught me up on a lot of
things and had me fill out a sheet with all my
information on it so I will be informed of the 45th
Reunion. I also gave her the money to send me the
class booklet and I am looking forward to getting
it.
That evening I made contact with so many old
friends like, Ronnie Hartman,Vi Tunning, Chuck
Houper, Buddy Hulser, Norm and Chrissie Mordue,
Donna Rice Flavin, June Orsillo Sawester, Tom
Patterson and his adorable wife, Sheila Doty
Dillmore, Dolores and Marilyn Coots, Diane
Freeman, Linda Bly, and of course Betsy and John
Owens.
My favorite moment came when my old
"buddy" Herb Campbell and his adorable
wife Nancy came through the door. He is a very
special friend who saw me through some tough
times in my life and I was so happy to see him
and to meet Nancy. Herbie looks pretty good for
an "old guy" doesn’t he?
My sister Sue, not being the shy one in the
family, took my camera and went into the party
room and started taking pictures of everyone and
I think she will be invited to the 45th
Reunion, too!! She told everyone that she was my
sister and that I was in the bar and they told
her to go get me, so of course she did. I am glad
she did because I got to talk to several of you.
She took some nice pictures which I am putting on
the Class of 60 Reunion site. I hope a lot of
people will find the site and do the same.
Everyone invited me to the Dinner Dance on
Saturday night and I would love to have gone but
it was my last night in town and I had plans with
my family. I so much would have liked to see such
old friends as Joanie McCabe and Rita Myhalyk and
so many others that I understand were coming
Saturday night.
Janice Albee MacDonald would like to have been
at the Reunion but she was getting married the
following week. I went to the wedding and it was
fun. (See my pictures of Janice and Irene (class
of 59) who both both send their best wishes to
all.
And to all of the Class of 1960, and all Southside Alumni,
I wish good health and much happiness and Godspeed. My email
address is BonTraum1@aol.com and I would
love to hear from anyone who wishes to write.
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