AbingtonGhost Stories

www.abingtonalumni.com

Spring 2019

Continued on page 4

From the President Important Changes in the Abington School DistrictKeeping in mind that many Abingtonians live outside the Phila-delphia area it seems appropriate that we update them as to what is going in the Abington School District and Abington Senior High School. In a past issue of Ghost Stories we recognized the $25 million donation by Stephen A. Schwarzman class of ’65. As part of the initial arrangement approved by the School Board, Abington Senior High School would have been renamed to include Mr. Schwarzman’s name. Many Abingtonians were upset by this arrangement and made their feelings known to the School Board. The School Board in conjunction with the Schwarzman Foundation reversed the name change resolution; the Abington Senior High School name remains intact. The new Science and Technology wing will carry the Schwarzman name.

The $104 million project of renovations, additions to the current structure and the Schwarzman Center for Science and Technol-ogy got underway with the Official Groundbreaking Ceremony held November 2, 2018. The Schwarzman Center is due to open in 2020. The addition of an auxiliary gym, a new cafeteria, a

career center and renovations to the existing structure are scheduled to be completed by 2022.

On the personnel side of the changes facing the Abington School District Dr. Amy Sichel, Superintendent of Schools, retired on November 9, 2018. Dr. Sichel served the school district for 42 years, 18 of those years as Su-perintendent of Schools. Dr. Jeffery S. Fecher has been named to replace Dr. Sichel. Dr. Ann Hagan-Bacon, Director of Cur-riculum, retired in May of 2018 after serving 54 years in Abing-ton. Dr. Hagan-Bacon taught 4 years in the Hatboro-Horsham District before coming to Abington. Dr. James A. Melchor, Assistant Director of Curriculum has assumed the duties and the title of Assistant Superintendent. Dr. Charles Lentz, ‘90 came to Abington in 1994 as an elementary classroom teacher at Highland School. He served in an array of administrative

John Worthington ’60

In September 2018 the Abington Board of School Directors appointed Dr. Jeffrey S. Fecher as Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Fecher has served the school district since 2007, first as Principal of Abington High School and then as Assistant Superintendent to Dr. Amy Sichel who retired fol-lowing a 42 year career in education.

Before joining the Abington School district, he was a middle school assistant principal in the Flem-ington-Raritan School District, and an English teacher at Bordentown Regional High School, both in New Jersey. He received a Doctorate of Education in Educational and Organizational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. His Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration was earned from Rider University, and a Bachelor of Arts was from La Salle University.

When Dr. Fecher was appointed Superintendent, he said, “I entered into the field of education be-cause I wanted to influence the lives of young people and what better way to make an impact than

to lead one of the best school districts. I am excited to have an impact on the future of public education and the opportunities of our students.” The Alumni welcomes him and wishes him well in his new position.

Dr. Jeffrey S. Fecher

Abington’s New Superintendent

Kevin Morton, class of ’08 was inducted into the Kutztown University Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2015 he was chosen for Kutztown’s all-time football team. Kevin graduated from Kutztown in 2012 and set 14 of the 15 school records for quarterbacks that still stand. He is the only three-time male athlete of the year in Kutztown history. Kevin was the 2013 male senior athlete of the year. Kevin is now a physical educa-tion teacher in the Muhlenberg School District.

Erika Lee Schwanbeck, class of ‘99 has been named Middle School Teacher of the Year by the Pennsylvania State Association for Health, Physical Education and Dance. Erika Lee was a star softball and field hockey player while a student at Abington, and played softball at East Stroudsburg University. One of her classes is in dance aero-bics which encourages her students to promote fitness and have a healthy lifestyle. In December she had a two-page write-up in The Intelligencer newspaper. Erika lives in Lower Salford with her husband, Mike, and 3 children.

Patricia Hartman, class of ‘87 is the Vice President and Co-founder of a non profit organization called Foster Angels on Earth, Inc. They offer programs that enhance the lives of children in foster care and help to bridge the gap amongst their peers. She lives in Abington. www.fosterangelsonearth.com.

2 www.abingtonalumni.com Ghost Stories 2019

Change of address?LET US KNOW...

Where are they now?Raised in Glenside, Pennsylvania, Madeleine got her start in politics around the dinner table with her five older brothers and one older sister. At age 18 she won election to serve as a local committee-person.

Madeleine completed her undergraduate studies at La Salle University in Philadelphia, and earned her law degree at Delaware Law School of Widener University. She returned home, practicing law in a small Philadelphia firm and with the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association and eventually serving as executive director. Madeleine then opened a small, three-woman law practice in Glenside.

In 2011, Madeleine ran for and served as Abington Township commissioner, before winning a special election to the Pennsylvania State House in 2012.

During her six-and-a-half years in Harrisburg, May of 2012 until November 2018, Madeleine was an outspoken champion of public education, healthcare access, environmental protection, equal rights, eth-ics, criminal justice reform, combating addiction and ending gun violence. Following the Sandy Hook

shooting, Madeleine founded and served as Co-Chair of the PA SAFE Caucus — an active coalition of legislators and advocates dedicated to ending gun violence.

Throughout her career in the Legislature, Madeleine also worked closely with local officials to bring home millions of dollars in infrastructure projects that promote safer, greener, more livable communities. And with her extraordinary coworkers, they served tens of thousands of constituents with problems big and small.

Madeleine’s concern for equality — and a broader desire to expand her public service — eventually inspired her run for Congress. In 2018, Pennsylvania had 18 Congressional seats — and 0 women. Along with a cadre of other women from across the state, Madeleine set out to change that. She ran for the Fourth Congressional District seat and won.

In Congress, Madeleine remains focused on decency and the common good; that means working hard to address issues that affect Americans deeply and making smart, humane policy choices. It also means working to ensure that government functions smoothly and delivers the services constituents need.

Madeleine is a lifelong parishioner of St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Glenside, and has served as a board member for the St. Vincent de Paul Society. She and her husband PJ Cunnane live in Jenkintown, Abington Township, and have three grown sons — Patrick, Harry and Alex, — two daughters-in-law — Stephanie and Juliet — and one adorable 7-year-old granddaughter, Aubrey.

Madeleine Dean ’77

Abington Grad — Now Congresswoman Madeleine Dean

Send change of address (include your apartment number if applicable) and include your e-mail address. You can send in your changes via: web site: abingtonalumni.com or email: alumni@abington.k12.pa.us.You’ll save us some money and your reunion committee the time and effort in trying to locate you.

Alumni Goes DigitalStarting in 2020 at class of 65 forward the Ghost Stories will not be mailed but download and printable from the website abingtonalumni.com Any-one can request a paper version by contacting us on the website.

Ghost Stories 2019 www.abingtonalumni.com 3

SportsBASKETBALLThe highlight of the winter sports season was the outstanding performances of both the boys and girls basketball teams. The boys became the suburban I champions by defeating a strong Coatesville team 74-71 behind a 38 point explosion by top Villanova recruit, senior Eric Dixon. The team moved on to the States and defeated Cumberland in round one 89-44. In the second round the team was ousted 55-51 by a Pennridge team that they had beaten three times during the season. Pennridge went on to lose in the State final game. The team was led by Dixon and fellow senior, Lucas Monroe, a recruit of the University of Pennsylvania. The upset spoiled a season that saw Abington hav-ing a terrific record of 26-2 under coach, Charles Grasty ’90.

Former Abington Star, Amir Hinton, from the 2015 District I championship team, led the country in scoring with a 29.4 point average for Division II for Shaw Univer-sity of North Carolina. He intends to de-clare for the NBA draft. Former Abington star, Senior Anthony Lee, holds school records at Kutztown University in 3-point-ers made, points in a season (802), and was second in team history with 2,292 career points.

Coach Dan Marsh led the girls basketball team to a 24-4 record and they qualified for the States. In the first round, Abington defeated Parkland 56-24. They were led by seniors, Kassandra Brown (a Univer-sity of Rhode island recruit), and Camryn Lexow. The girls beat Cumberland Valley in the second round 52-48 scoring with 17 seconds left to win the game. Abington then lost to Upper Dublin in the quarter-finals 41-31 despite 20 points from Brown to close out the season.

SOCCER

Both the boys and girls soccer teams had very successful seasons. Coach Randy Garber ‘71 led the boys to a 19 and 2 record. In the district I finals the team lost to Central Bucks West 2-1, but still advanced to the State playoffs. In the first two rounds, Abington beat Unionville 3-2, and Emmaus 4-0. In the third round they lost to Seneca Valley 1-0 eliminating them. Sean Touey led the team in scor-ing and was selected as a forward on the All-State team.

The girls team, coached by Rick Tom-kins ’72, won the Suburban I American conference beating 2017 state finalist,

Neshaminy. They advanced to the district I playoffs, but lost Academy Park.

Two-sport athlete, Camryn Lexow, led the team with 22 goals and will play for the University of Virginia next season.

FOOTBALLThe football team ended with a 4-6 record with the highlight being a victory over Cheltenham.

SWIMMINGSenior Matt Bonnell won a silver medal at the State championships in the 500 yard freestyle.

Basketball stars Kassandra Brown and Eric Dixon

Dr. James Melchor became the Assistant Superintendent under Dr. Fecher in 2018 after having been the Assistant Director of Curriculum at Abington High School since 2009. During this time, he chaired or co-chaired numerous committees including one currently reviewing the secondary program for reconfigured grade spans.

Dr Melchor attended the University of Pennsylvania earning his Bachelor’s Degree. He went on to obtain Master of Science Degrees in Educational Leadership and Educational Technology from Wilkes University. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from the University of Pennsylvania. He then received his Doctor of Educa-tional Leadership from Penn.

Before coming to Abington, he was a Social Studies and Science teacher in the Dela-ware Valley School District in Milford, PA. His next position was as a middle school assistant principal and then as an elementary school principal in the Owen J. Roberts School District. He brings experience at all grade levels to his new position. The Alumni wishes him much success.Dr. James Melchor

New Assistant Superintendent

4 www.abingtonalumni.com Ghost Stories 2019

AHS Loses Two Long-Time Teachers

QUIZ: Who is John McGoldrick???

Jane Kesson, former Abington District music teacher and choir director, passed away in 2017 at the age of 90. In November, the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that the Philadelphia Orchestra disclosed that in her will she left $4.7 million dollars to the Orchestra. The Orchestra named its Free Teacher Work-shop Series in her name. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in piano and Master’s in Composition at the University of Pennsylvania. Ms. Kesson taught K -12 and was said to have a magnetic personality.

Dorothy Lemmert led the Business Education Department and taught for 33 years at Abington High School. She also had weekly Bible classes at the school. Ms. Lemmert passed away at the age of 94 in August of 2018. She received her Masters in Educa-tion from Temple University.

In, 1969, John McGoldrick, took a temporary custodial summer job with the Abington School District.

The students named him “Woody” because he wore thick framed glasses like a popular comedian at the time, Woody Allen. He stayed for over fifty years.

John spent much of his free time attending most of the sporting events at Abington. His favorites were the football and basket-ball games, where he could be seen wear-ing a maroon shirt with the big A. He also enjoyed the swim meets, and volleyball and wrestling matches. John was and still is, Abington’s Biggest Fan. In honor of his fifty plus years of dedication, Woody was honored recently with a banner, which will be hung in the high school gym.

Woody says he loves the school and the students—for its’ tight knit, friendly commu-nity. In his spare time he’s active in supporting the Abington Township Republican Organization. A longtime Glenside resident, Woody’s mark on AHS is as memorable as anyone – ever!

From the PresidentContinued from page 1

positions during his 25 years in Abington. His most recent assign-ment was that of Assistant Director of Curriculum. Dr.Lentz has departed from Abington to assume the duties of Superintendent of Schools of the New Hope- Solebury School District. As of this reporting the position of Director of Curriculum has not been filled. Dr. Hagan-Bacon has been asked to fill the role on a temporary basis until a replacement is appointed.

The loss of these three individuals plus a number of staff and support personnel retirement leaves behind huge shoes to be filled by those who follow. Best of All Things to You All!

Hope to see many of you at the 50+ Luncheon, October 11, 2019, at the Old York Road Country Club!

National ChampionsAbington High School’s Chess Team won the 2019 U. S. Chess Federation’s National High School Championship in Illinois. They competed in the under 1200 division against 392 students from 70 similar-size schools. Twelve of Abing-ton’s 21 team members competed at Nationals. Abington’s English teacher, Shawn Simmons, coaches the team, and had played chess at Lincoln High School, his alma mater. Abington graduate, Steve McLaughin, a top player, also works with the team before big touraments. Key players on the team include: Captain, Sr.Brecon Hession, Sr. Yonathan Wiese-Namir (who received the top honor winning seven matches), Sophs. Na-thaniel O, Albert Hatton, and Ethan Weilheimer (who also is the starting goal-keeper on the Lacrosse team).

Congratulations to all!

Ghost Stories 2019 www.abingtonalumni.com 5

Class Reunions revisit. reunite. relive.• Class of 1962 (57th) •

The class of 1962 will hold a 57th reunion Sunday, September 29th, 2019 at Angelo’s Italian Kitchen, Horsham Township, PA (1144 Horsham Rd. Ambler, PA 19002) from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. Hors d’oeuvres and desserts will be served. For more information go to the class website www.abington62.com. You can register by email at abington62@gmail.com or call 215-646-5054.

• Class of 1964 (55th) • The class of 1964 will hold a 55th reunion Saturday, May 18, 2019 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Washington, PA beginning at 6 p.m. For further information email Russ Koerwer at wrkoerwer@aol.com. You can get more information at this link www.abington1964.com.

• Class of 1970 (50th) • The Class of 1970 will hold their 50th reunion October 10, *2020*. Location is Old York Road Country Club, 801 Tennis Avenue, Ambler, Pa 19002. More info: contact AbingtonHS1970@gmail.com

• Class of 1974 (45th) • The Class of 1974 will hold their 45th reunion June 8, 2019 7:00 to 11:00 PM Double-Tree Suites by Hilton 640 Fountain Rd., Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 $60 per per-son Contact me for more information. Mike Sayer miklmc@aol.com 215-801-6183.

The Alumni Association awarded $20,000 to deserving graduates of the Class of 2018. Scholarship recipients are (left to right): Danielle (Callie) Levin, Catherine Jackson, Paige Milnes, Tetanya Yevdosyuk

Class of 2018 Scholarship Winners

Class MEMBER

2018 Marlene L. Adelman

2018 Jeffrey C. Avallone

2018 Anna C. Bantner

2018 Andy J. Cardoso-Rojas

2018 Jordan F. Denish

2018 Melissa B. Denish

2018 Samantha Diehl

2018 Thomas J. Dougherty

2018 Connor M, Gregory

2018 Austin T. Groeber

2018 Miles R. Hirsh

2018 Kristen E. Hunt

2018 Ashley L. Lademann

2018 David M. Miazio

2018 Gabriella R. Ott

2018 Renee G. Reynolds

2018 Grace E. Spurrier

2018 Emma R. Turner

2018 George E. Ugarte

2018 Jacob M. Ward

2016 Varda Nath

1998 Kelly O’Neill Miller

1993 Genevieve Alexander Kuon

1969 William A. Lessa

1968 Barbara Allen Eckenrode

1966 Lydia L. Llewellyn Clark

1965 Barbara Rickert Mills

1963 David J. Rights

1960 Susanne Horner Okomoto

1960 Hermine V. Cohen Weller

1957 Louis Brown

1944 Frank C. Fryburg

Life Members

Total enclosed (make checks payable to Abington High School Alumni Association) _____________Please detach form and mail to AHSAA at P.O. Box 55, Abington, Pa. 19001.Memberships also can be purchased online at www.abingtonalumni.com using credit card or Paypal.

Class year Present membership

First name Maiden if applicable Surname

Address—please check here if this is a new address ❏

City State ZIP Code

Phone number Email address

Spouse’s full name

Please add memorial donation information here. Attach second sheet if needed.

Membership❏ Life, $25 (one-time donation)❏ Maroon & White, $50❏ Century Club, $100

❏ 500 Club, $500❏ K Club, $1,000

❏ Bronze, $5,000

Donations (any amount)❏ Booster donation❏ Memorial donations– other than life member-

ship memorials❏ I am willing to give a

little time to work for the Alumni Association.

Membership and Donation Form

6 www.abingtonalumni.com Ghost Stories 2019

• 500 Club • $500.00 Harry Hower ‘49 by Bill ‘57 and

Robert Hower ‘58

• Century • $100.00 Dr. Harry Chase Stone ‘54

$100.00 Howard F. Foulke ’54

$100.00 Ed Bondi ‘66

• K Club • $1000.00 Anonymous

$1000.00 Anonymous

• Boosters • $25.00 Nancy Ogle Macur ‘63

• Donations • $50.00 From the Overlook Hills Women Club

of Abington, Pa

$100.00 Walter ‘56 and Mary Maupay Jr Foundation

$900.00 Ray Arment ‘65

• Memorials • $50.00 For Fred Homiller ’61 by

Elaine Homiller Bell ‘57

$345.00 For Esther Harrar Hutchinson ‘49 by Classmates of ‘49

$100.00 For Philip Harvey ’51 by Lorraine Lehman Richards ‘51

$100.00 For Peggy Sargent Shaffert ’59 by Bonnie Biddle Sheppard ‘59

$50.00 For Peggy Sargent Shaffert ‘59 by Judith Northam Oppasser ‘59

$50.00 For Dorothy Jones Case ’44 by Marietta Jones Tanner ’45

$100.00 For Harry Wilkinson ’55 by Janis Wilkinson

$55.00 For Sally K. Oberholtzer ‘55 by John Oberholtzer ‘54

$35.00 For William Yoder ‘35 by Alexandria Yoder Miller ‘63

$50.00 For Clifford Gee ’45 by Ruth Gee

Membership and Donations 2019

ANNUAL 50+ CLUB LUNCHEON Friday, October 11, 2019

YOUR HOST THIS YEAR – CLASS OF 1964David Rights, Emcee

OLD YORK ROAD COUNTRY CLUB, 801 Tennis Ave., Spring House, PASocial Hour and Cash Bar – 11:30 a.m. • Luncheon – 12:30 p.m.

For general information please contact:Joan Zimmermann Mosler ’54 at 215-658-0132, e-mail jzimmie@aol.comor Wayne Cunningham ’50 at 215-657-2642, e-mail waynngin@verizon.net.

Please keep this portion as your only reminder!Remember your menu choice by checking it here:❏ CHICKEN CHAMPAGNE - Boneless Chicken Breast served with Wild Mushroom Champagne Voloute❏ GRILLED 5OZ PETITE FILET MIGNON with sauce Bearnaise❏ ROASTED 6OZ SALMON with Lemon Butter Dill Sauce❏ EGGPLANT PARMESAN – With Penne Pasta and House Red Sauce

Class year Phone number

First name Maiden if applicable Surname

Address

City State ZIP Code

E-mail address

Spouse or guest:

First name Maiden if applicable Surname

Class year

Number attending______x $32 per person = Total enclosed: $_________Please make checks payable to Fifty Plus Club

Table preference: Seat me/us with the Class of 19__. Please use a separate sheet for any additional notes or special needs. Thank you!

❏ I cannot attend but want to contribute to the scholarship fund and alumniassociation. Amount enclosed: $________

Fifty Plus Luncheon Reservation Form

Menu Choice: (Check one per person attending)

❏ CHICKEN CHAMPAGNE❏ PETITE FILET MIGNON❏ SALMON❏ EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Reservation deadline:Oct. 5, 2019

Mail this portion with your check to: Joan Zimmermann Mosler3 Twin Brooks DriveWillow Grove, Pa. 19090

Reservations will not be acknowledged.

Luncheon price – $32. Any profit from the

luncheon will benefit the Scholarship Fund.

Ghost Stories 2019 www.abingtonalumni.com 7

Abington High SchoolAlumni AssociationP.O. Box 55, Abington, Pa. 19001

Non-Profit Org U.S. POSTAGE

P A I DPermit No. 444Lansdale, Pa..

Ghost StoriesSpring 2019

Return Service Requested

■ Classes of 1969 and earlier, register for the Fifty Plus Club luncheon. See the invitation on page 7 This will be the only notice for this event.

■ Attend the annual Association business meeting at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, in the Alumni Office in the Administration Building on Highland Avenue in Abington.

■ Contact your class coordinator now to plan your next reunion!

■ Visit the Association’s web page for reunions: http://www.abingtonalumni.com, email alumni@abington.k12.pa.us, or phone 215-572-8899.

ABINGTON HIGH SCHOOLAlumni Association 2019 Officers

John Worthington ’60 Tim Simmons ’65President Treasurer

Marilyn J. Levit ’81 Jane Sheppard Bean ’65Corresponding Secretary Recording Secretary

MEMBERS-AT-LARGEWayne Cunningham ’50 William Hower ’57Joseph Muldowney ’85 Joanne Iacampo DeFlavis ’60Joan Zimmermann Mosler ’54

FINANCE COMMITTEETim Simmons ’65, Chairman Hank Brusca ’60 Joseph Muldowny ’85

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEESamuel Hogg ’61, Chairman Stacy Eberz Condeelis ’87 Jane Lyon Scarborough ’59 Bonnie Parkhouse ’65 John Worthington ’60 Rachel Hogg Edwards ’87Wendy Snyder Kaye ’87 Regina Johnson ’91

WEBMASTEREd Mullen ’68

NEWS STAFFPatricia Bruning, Editor

Virginia McClay Cunningham ’51 Wayne Cunningham ’50Jane Sheppard Bean ’65 Joan Zimmermann Mosler ’54William Hower ’57 Joseph Muldowny ’85