Yumiko Hoshi's Comments

Yumiko, if it changes, which I doubt, I will let you know. Also, did you know Karen Alster? She just entered the site.
Warren

Yumiko,
Yes, Joel and I are seriously considering going. If you decide to come, I'm sure I will too.
Neil

Hey Yumiko:

Gina was beautiful. Both Bobby Bittman and I had big crushes on her. I do miss NY quite a bit. My daughter and son-in-law live in Rye, NY and she is always after me to move back. We've been in Fullerton for over 20 years. It's a great place, but not much to do.

Tell Peter Winnie Hong was in my class and was a great friend of Teddy Nikolis, Jerry Cohen and Larry Freedman.

Thanks for your pictures. I can't believe how many names I remember after all these years.

Hello Yumiko,
So nice of you to contact me! What do you do in Northridge these days? Will you be going to the reunion in June??
Best,
Barbara

hi yumiko,
my sister had a very good asian friend and i forgot her name (it might have been sarah hong) she had an older brother (one year younger than me) named 'winny.' i played with him a little. they lived in one of the garden apartments, their father was an engineer and the mother was smart. once when we were playing in the alley (remember those alleys in back of the garden apartments that linked all the garages?) an older man who worked nights started yelling at us to shut-up and stop playing. mrs. hong marched right over to his apartment an said, "listen Mr (whatever his name was) it is not 3 a.m. it is not early on a weekend and it is not the evening hours, it is 4pm on a weekday and this is what children do, if you don't like it...
anyway, my mother was really impressed by mrs. hong. there was a David Chin in my class who hardly spoke any english, and there was another asian (think japanese) girl in one of my classes who hardly spoke english. wow, writing this, it reminds me how less-diverse Queens was in the old days...
also, i have to look it up, but i am the class of '65 and think that is more than a year ahead of you...

Yumiko, a few things. First, looking again at your pictures on top, I can't believe I was in your first, second, and third grade classes. Wow!! Second, unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the reunion. Also, looking at the list of current attendees, I do not know anyone who is going to be there so I probably won't be getting a personal report on it. Third, I really never have the opportunity to get to the old neighborhood. My parents have live in Florida for the last 15-20 years, my sister lives in New Jersey, and all of my old friends moved away from the neighborhood, so I don't go there anymore. Again, I hope you and your family are well. Let me know if you ever plan to be in the NYC area. Also, can't remember but where in California do you live? Warren

Yumiko,
Sorry I didn't reply sooner, but I received this message originally the same week my mom passed away, so it sort of slipped my mind.
Yes thats me in second grade, I dont think I was in your 1st grade class. If memory serves, first grade was Mrs Sims, 2nd-Ms Riccio, 3rd Mrs Blume (not Mrs Bloom), 4th- Mrs Rosenberg, after that I went to private school.
Thanks for doing all this research!
--Alan Shapiro

Your memory of me looking for Marty Kornblatt is interesting.

I worked in New York most of my adult life, but for the past 7 years have worked out of my home office on Long Island as a full-time independent journalist. I love the lifestyle.

I think native New Yorkers have trouble leaving NY to live somewhere else. However, when I retire I wouldn't mind living somewhere warmer.

Oh, I meant to respond to another point. You definitely have a great memory. Yes, that person next to me was my best friend in elementary school, Marty Kornblatt. He moved after 6th grade to another part of Queens, but at that age he may as well have moved to Japan. It would have seemed just as far away. We ran into each other in college once, but it was not the same.

I definitely remember you. You stood out (positively) in what was mostly a homogeneous school, even religion-wise. When I think of you I think of someone who always seemed to be smiling. It's interesting how connected you still feel to those days even though you left after third grade. What a life experience, though. What pulled you to California?

Yumiko, I have no idea what happened to Mrs. Simms. Unfortunately, I really do not know what happened to any of the teachers. Warren

Hi Yumiko,
I can't believe you remember me and I certainly remember you and your family very well. You were very sweet and cute and Fumio was very nice too. Your whole family, actually, were lovely people. It was so thoughtful of you to leave a comment for me. Your photos tug at my heart! Those truly were the days! Where do you and your family live in CA and what are you doing these days?
Your long ago and far away neighbor,
Dottie!

You are absolutely correct! I do remember you, and even have the class pictures from those years!

Never pony tail. In fact I never thought my hair was that long given the times. I just never went back to the crew cut I had until junior high. Picture was actually taken in my friends apartment in January 2000. Not quite current but 8 years ago is closer than 40+ years ago. Getting the hang of this digital picture stuff- you just keep hitting buttons and the computer figures out what you want to do. I guess the next one will be with the Pope after I get back from Rome.

Funny, I don't see Jablon in the pictures you posted. Maybe he came in after you left.

I think David was in our class. Little guy (we all were but he was smaller). First row in the pictures. Will definitely give you details. I plan to post the picture with the Pope I am supposed to get.

I'm sure there is a more efficient way to do all this but my luddite ways are hard to change. Anyway, I'm glad you liked the perfume set though I must admit I don't remember it. I find it amazing what people do remember and don't. Anyway, for some out of the ordinary news I have been invited to an audience with the Pope as part of the entourage of the Patriarch of Constantinople. Part of the attempts to reconciliate the churches from the "Great Schism" in the eleventh century. We are all to meet the Pope, get a photo op. Also, be present around the balcony overlooking St. Peter's square for the "Blessing of the World". The church leaders are going to co-officiate a service in honor of the 2,000 anniversary of St. Paul in the original church of St. Paul in Rome. Pretty amazing for a 4 times a year church goer. The guy that really got me invited- john Catsimatidis- hit 213 in Forbes this year and is flying me over in his Gulf Stream. I hope to post some of the picture when I get from the trip scheduled for June 27. Have you by any chance run into David Jablon out there- I think he left the family lace business to become a "Producer" as well.

Finally got to this. Did not forget your request for a photograph of the house. Finally figured out the camera. I don't work for Jim but am consulting with him in trying to get the company's finances in order with the death of Ismail Merchant. He has a movie virtually finished but needs an additional $4 mil to finish 2 days shooting, post production work and pay certain other owed amounts. Your husband's list is pretty amazing.

thank you yumiko. i wish you would have stayed on also. plus, with the heat wave we are having here in ny right now, i wish i was in that pool you have in your pictures on top.