I feel sad and actually gasped to read that Gary has passed. Am pretty sure here was not only at TAHS but also Wightman School with me. Although I didn't know him well at all, am truly sorry for his family and closer friends.
Even though we're not so young anymore, it just seems strange when a contemporary dies. Anyone else have similar feelings and thoughts?
Like others, I also mourn the loss of members of the Allderdice 1964 'family'. I did not know Gary well, but hope that his family can find comfort in remembering good times and generous actions.
Elizabeth, your comment resonated with me. My self-image is still 'young', although my grandchildren and Medicare card say otherwise. Therefore, I continue to be surprised by the mortality of my contemporaries. Having left Pittsburgh after high school and seldom returning, I am surprised to discover a 'nostalgia brain center' previously undiscovered in response to recollections and memories of classmates past. I greatly appreciate the online connection.
It was a warm, sunny morning as we milled around at The Wall before going into school. Someone mentioned that it was a minor Jewish holiday. That was all the excuse Gary, Marvin Mellon and I needed to cut school and go out on the Monongahela River in Marv's little wooden dinghy. Before going out on the water we stopped at a deli and got a case of cold beer (really), a loaf of bread and some lunch meat. We then put the dinghy in the water and paddled out to the middle of the river wherupon we commenced to consume mass quantities of beer and salami. All of a sudden, Gary decided to take a swim and, without warning, dove off the front of the boat. With Marv and me in the very back of the boat, Gary's abrupt leap caused the boat to capsize pitching me, Marv, the case of beer and the salami into the mighty Monongahela. We were struggling to keep the boat from going to the bottom when we saw the River Patrol boat coming our way. We immediatly realized there were emply beer bottles bobbing all around us. We had to swim about, frantically sinking the empty bottles before the River Patrol could bust us for underage drinking. We managed to sink all the incriminating evidence just before the patrol boat reached us. They pulled us out of the water and towed Marv's dinghy back to shore. It must have been a slow news day because the next morning an article in the Post Gazette appeared with the title " Three Teenagers Plucked From Monongahela."
I never had any classes with Gary at TAHS. I got to know him primarily through our annual Thanksgiving "Turkey Day" touch football games we used to play. Gary was incredibly strong, and, consequently, impossible to block. It was a nightmare playing against him, and, for whatever reason, I always was on the other team and usually assigned to try to block him.
I believe that not long after graduation, Gary went to work in a steel mill. Back in the 1960s, the Pittsburgh area still was full of them. I used to run into him occasionally at the Forbes Street Inn near Forbes and Shady or at a bar on Craig Street near the Pitt campus. We used to call him the "Jewish millhunk," which always made him smile. The thing I most remember about him was that he was incredibly loyal to his friends.
That was a great story, Maury. I bumped into Gary in Florida about 20 years ago in a supermarket. We talked for a while. It was great to see him. We used to play softball together in school.
I really wish we could stop these "In Memory" notices, too. If I knew where to protest life-ending events, I'd send one right away. At least in my mind's eye you all look like you did 50 years ago. Unless I look in a mirror, I can convince myself it's true.
Maury, that is a great story about your escapades with Gary. I remember Gary from Wightman. He lived a few blocks from me so we would occasionally walk to school together. He was a very kind and considerate kid. Sending condolences to his family. Rest in peace. And I repeat, enough of the losses.
Roberta Sakolsky (Mann)
When did Gary pass away?
Elizabeth Stein (Name Change: Abigail Weissman)
I feel sad and actually gasped to read that Gary has passed. Am pretty sure here was not only at TAHS but also Wightman School with me. Although I didn't know him well at all, am truly sorry for his family and closer friends.
Even though we're not so young anymore, it just seems strange when a contemporary dies. Anyone else have similar feelings and thoughts?
Sandi Sable (Forstenzer)
I believe he passed on March 26th of this year, having lived in Del Ray Beach.
Marilyn Schorin
Like others, I also mourn the loss of members of the Allderdice 1964 'family'. I did not know Gary well, but hope that his family can find comfort in remembering good times and generous actions.
Elizabeth, your comment resonated with me. My self-image is still 'young', although my grandchildren and Medicare card say otherwise. Therefore, I continue to be surprised by the mortality of my contemporaries. Having left Pittsburgh after high school and seldom returning, I am surprised to discover a 'nostalgia brain center' previously undiscovered in response to recollections and memories of classmates past. I greatly appreciate the online connection.
Maury "Moe" Herman
A Remembrance of Gary Middleman:
It was a warm, sunny morning as we milled around at The Wall before going into school. Someone mentioned that it was a minor Jewish holiday. That was all the excuse Gary, Marvin Mellon and I needed to cut school and go out on the Monongahela River in Marv's little wooden dinghy. Before going out on the water we stopped at a deli and got a case of cold beer (really), a loaf of bread and some lunch meat. We then put the dinghy in the water and paddled out to the middle of the river wherupon we commenced to consume mass quantities of beer and salami. All of a sudden, Gary decided to take a swim and, without warning, dove off the front of the boat. With Marv and me in the very back of the boat, Gary's abrupt leap caused the boat to capsize pitching me, Marv, the case of beer and the salami into the mighty Monongahela. We were struggling to keep the boat from going to the bottom when we saw the River Patrol boat coming our way. We immediatly realized there were emply beer bottles bobbing all around us. We had to swim about, frantically sinking the empty bottles before the River Patrol could bust us for underage drinking. We managed to sink all the incriminating evidence just before the patrol boat reached us. They pulled us out of the water and towed Marv's dinghy back to shore. It must have been a slow news day because the next morning an article in the Post Gazette appeared with the title " Three Teenagers Plucked From Monongahela."
Henry Henry (Herskovitz)
Moe, great story. Didn't know Gary well, but you've sent him off in grand style.
Howsa bout nobody else dying - at least before the reunion. Deal?
Michael Brourman
I never had any classes with Gary at TAHS. I got to know him primarily through our annual Thanksgiving "Turkey Day" touch football games we used to play. Gary was incredibly strong, and, consequently, impossible to block. It was a nightmare playing against him, and, for whatever reason, I always was on the other team and usually assigned to try to block him.
I believe that not long after graduation, Gary went to work in a steel mill. Back in the 1960s, the Pittsburgh area still was full of them. I used to run into him occasionally at the Forbes Street Inn near Forbes and Shady or at a bar on Craig Street near the Pitt campus. We used to call him the "Jewish millhunk," which always made him smile. The thing I most remember about him was that he was incredibly loyal to his friends.
Richard Fried
That was a great story, Maury. I bumped into Gary in Florida about 20 years ago in a supermarket. We talked for a while. It was great to see him. We used to play softball together in school.
I really wish we could stop these "In Memory" notices, too. If I knew where to protest life-ending events, I'd send one right away. At least in my mind's eye you all look like you did 50 years ago. Unless I look in a mirror, I can convince myself it's true.
Judy Stineman (Marseglia)
Maury,
That was a great story.
Rest in peace, Gary Middleman.
Linda Choder (Walker)
Maury, that is a great story about your escapades with Gary. I remember Gary from Wightman. He lived a few blocks from me so we would occasionally walk to school together. He was a very kind and considerate kid. Sending condolences to his family. Rest in peace. And I repeat, enough of the losses.