Well, I've said
Phil Domenico was responsible, and Phil has said I am
responsible. Actually we
both are. I never
attended RFA because I moved from Rome in 1966
during the first week of ninth
grade. I first
contacted abd reconnected with Phil via
Facebook in April 2009. We reminisced
a bit
back and forth about some experiences at Columbus Elementary. But
on
June 10th, Phil had sent me the Columbus 5th
grade class
picture. Phil and I went back and forth seeing how many names we
could remember. This, in my
opinion,
was the catalyst which began the RCR group. From
reconnecting with a few Romans in the last 10
or so
years, I had email addresses of Susan Sutter and Candy Knudsen,
and Dennis Ceklovsky (all
from that 5th grade class) and so I copied them on the emails and
they joined in with
helping to name the students of the
class. Soon after, I copied Denise Desimone, whom I had also
found via Facebook
this year. She was not in that
5th
grade class picture, but I was in her class in 6th grade and thought
she would
also know some names from the 5th
grade
picture. Eventually, there was a 1st grade picture emailed to me
and we all started to name the students
from
that one also. Debbie Durgan, Valerie Catalano, and Debbie Hall
were copied soon afterwards on these
emails
and more reminiscing began, not just with elementary, but with
junior high and RFA. I don't
remember the
entire order of those email addresses that got added, but the group
continued to grow. Sometime in
October or
November 2009, Debbie Hall referred to this group as the RCR (Roman
Cyber Reunion) and the name
stuck. The RFA class has now had its 40 year reunion and I know
those that attended collectively agree it was the best ever !. -
Dennis Parrish
Below are some of the earliest email exchanges while labeling the 5th
and 1st grade Columbus Elementary pictures. There were 6 of
us and no official "RCR" yet.
From:Susan Sutter Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 9:12 AM To:Dennis Parrish Cc: Mark Tagliaferri; Philip Domenico; Denise Desimone; Candy
Knudsen; Dennis Ceklovsky Subject: Re: First Grade Picture updated
I
remember square dancing very well. Dennis are you saying you didn't
like to
dance??? I'll take that over swim class in RFA, I hated that, you swim
suit
stretched 2 sizes larger as soon as the water hit it......
I am 95% sure that #21 is not Paul Andrews, no way...... Plus, 23 is
extremely
familiar and I'm trying to figure out his name. I found quite a few of
my old
report cards to see who signed them. You guys I don't believe engaged
in that
but we girls did.
Hey Mark, do you remember how you would sign your name? Mark J. Tag
-cute.
I'll think on #'s 21 and 23 and if I can remember will let you
know.....Just
hearing all these names is bringing back a lot of memories.
Susan
From:Dennis Parrish Sent: Monday, June 14, 2009 8:10 PM To: Mark Tagliaferri; Philip Domenico; Denise Desimone; Candy
Knudsen; Dennis Ceklovsky Subject: Re: First Grade Picture updated
On Sun, Jun 14, 2009 at 8:10
PM, Dennis Parrish wrote:
Hey Mark, thanks for that
update
(revision attached). I hope the rest of your trip there was
good.
I’ll update the picture.
Also Mark, you and I were
paired
off in gym class during the wrestling segment because we were about the
same
height and weight. From memory, I think I lost every match. Our
gym
teacher was a thin guy, had dirty blonde hair in a brush cut or flat
top as it
was called back in the day, and he had a German accent. I’d never
remember his name though.
And who remembers square
dancing
in gym? I’ll never quite understand how that ever fit in anywhere
in
school.
I once called Mr. Bowler when
I
was in my 20s visiting Rome.
I think we talked for about an hour. Back then, both Mr. Bowler
and Mrs.
Collins came to my house to visit and try to get me on a better
track.
That’s unheard of today, as is being held back a grade.
Just got an update from Phil while typing
this, so I revised the pic again. I’m still questioning
Cleo. Paul
changed a lot too. Thanks Phil !
From: Mark Tagliaferri Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2009 7:41 PM To:Dennis Parrish;
'Philip
Domenico' Mark Tagliaferri; Philip Domenico; Denise
Desimone; Candy Knudsen;
Dennis Ceklovsky Subject: Re: First Grade Picture updated
I am also unable to recognize Janice? The
person listed as # 10 in the 1st grade picture is not me. I was in Ms.
Murphy's
1st grade class. From the looks of Ms. Siefert I think I'm glad! I was
in Rome
over the weekend and
talked to Ms. Murphy's cousin. Apparently she never married, lived her
entire
life with her sister. Both of whom have now passed from cancer. Sorry
you have
to continue your quest now for #10!
Hope you are all well and happy
Mark
From:Dennis Parrish Sent: Monday, June 14, 2009 6:19 PM To: Mark Tagliaferri; Philip Domenico; Denise Desimone; Candy
Knudsen; Dennis Ceklovsky Subject: First Grade Picture updated
WOW !! This is
priceless
!! OK, I’ll do the red dot numbered thing again. See the attached
picture. And tell me if I have any of them wrong. Help me out
here Phil –
I’m not even sure I have YOU correct here. What # is Paul
Andrews?
I was only in Columbus in the
second half of fifth grade
and all of sixth grade.
Hey Phil, I’m wondering about
Cleo Valentine – I knew him pretty well and I’m not noticing anyone
resembling
him in this picture. Also, when I was in eighth grade, Cleo was
in
seventh. I guess he could have failed a grade.
Anyone else feel free to chime in.
Den
From: Philip Domenico Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2009 5:43 PM To:Dennis Parrish;
Denise Desimone;
Susan Sutter; Candy Knudsen;
Mark Tagliaferri; Dennis Ceklovsky Subject: RE: Updated picture - down to one name
maybe
here's my 1st
grade class photo.
this is ms. seiffert's class.
common faces to the 5th grade picture include (from bottom left):
dianne bartolotti, joann gotti, janice?, mark tagliaferri, linda
salamonowicz,
joann dandino, bobby dicaprio, phil domenico, and paul andrews.
others
that i can identify are (from bottom left):
susan spadafora, frances gotti, woody robinson, cleo valentine, tommy
cianfrocco, marvin?, laverne turner. i believe there's also a craig ?
to the
left of marky t.
btw, i'm the good lookin' one.
philip
background music - "pleasing
to the touch" written and recorded by dennis parrish 2006
(on PC's only heard if using Internet Explorer)
