David Lee Rosen

That's the triangle with shuffleboard, right? I used to deliver the Plain Dealer around there. 

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

Yes, by Gridley, Sherrington, and Lomond. People used to play bocci ball also. My kids used to love to play there when we visited my parents. 

Joseph G Blake

I have noted how many of you from the Lomond School area have responded to the news of Lee Handel's passing. Its interesting as one who lived eleswhere how those who lived in that district seemed to have such a deep friendship that has survived all these years.

Of course we have now reached the point in life where can expect the sad news of the passing of old friends. Yeas back someone told me that once we reach 50 there is a natural tendency to change our perspective. We no longer plan ahead and plan backwards. We know there is a date out there with our name on it. So we have to establish priorities. That is why we make bucket lists or spend more time with family and friends or hobbies that make us happy or recall pleasant events. Hopefully most of us do not need to dwell on our mistakes or events for which we cannot make amends. It sounds as if Lee was one of those guys who leaves a great legacy and example despite leaving the stage too early.

I recently came across a series of Cleveland based mysteries written by Lee Roberts. They all feature a private eye named Milan Jacovich. The first in the series is called Pepper Pike. Its a relatively fast read and reminded me of places I knew well. I was amused at the description of Pepper Pike as elegant. I would have said that of Shaker. Despite its founding by the Van Sweringens, only the baisc street layout and their names can be credited to them. It always seemed to me to be more well built, large track houses rather than elegant and Gates Mills Boulevard has to be one of the longest streets of what they now call "mid-century contemporary" houses on HGTV. I hope the others in the series are as much fun. 

Gary D Hermann

Joe made an interesting observation.  I do think that people who lived in the Lomond School area seem to have   a special bond.  During the 50th Reunion, there was a tour of the High School and someone announced that, at lunch, there would be a Lomond School table.  To my surprise, there must have been 25-30 people who showed up to sit at that table.  Not sure why the bond is so strong, but maybe the fact that Lomond School was a less affluent  neighborhood might have had something to do with it.  A lot more homes and people crammed into the district, which made it easier to know and see a lot of people.  Most of us lived within a few blocks of Lomond School, which had large fields on which to play ball, skate or sled, which made it a focal point for many us when school wasn't in session.

Gary D Hermann

I also agree that David King was a terrible loss. A very bright and personable guy. Does anyone know what happened to him.  When I last saw him, he seemed to be doing well.

Dana Shepard (Treister)

Interesting observations from Joe and then Gary about the "Lomond School Gang".  Truly, as a "Lomond School kid" from K-6 who left for college at 17 and by age 20 was happily married to Michael and living far away from Shaker Heights (Chicago > Philippines > Chicago) - it never occurred to me that our elementary school class had any special bond.  I was regularly in touch with only one classmate, who also lived far from Shaker.  BUT at the three reunions I attended (10, 40, 50) I did find myself inexplicably drawn to members of the "Lomond School Gang" - something very special about the people I had seen daily since I was 4 1/2, in school and in the community - many of whom also went on to graduate from SHHS together.  And especially at the 50th. 

But until this moment, I assumed all the elementary school alums felt the same about their coterie.

That's all I have - an observation and sense of wonder - no explanation!!

But as a bonus, here is a picture I always assumed was taken at my 6th birthday party in Miss Cooke's first grade room at LOMOND SCHOOL - but I really don't see ME anywhere in this picture....  I think the dark-haired girls at the front table are Ellen Himmel and Karen Case, who were NOT in Miss Cooke's room; but the boy at the second table peering over the Indian Headdress of the blond girl looks like Dick Adler who WAS in our room.  Ah...  too many years ago...

Gretchen Effler

Another memory of dear Lee Handel: he and I were biology partners, and he maintained a constant stream of patter, sotto voce, as we sat together at the lab table, me giggling helplessly. Perhaps we were early challengers of gender role stereotypes, as he  gratefully deferred to my inherent bossiness and let me cut up the frog.

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

Gary and Joseph and others, Do you remember the article in Cosmopolitan in our Junior year. It stated those that lived south of Van Aken lived in the "poor part of Shaker." Those who lived  south did take note. Betsy

Barbara Ellen Adelman (Anderson)

Joseph Blake, your post really got me thinking. I lived on Palmerston, right across from lomond and I was always at the playground, ice skating or just rolling down the hill, which seemed so much bigger back then. There were always kids playing. It was definitely a different time. Didn't realize how lucky we were. Just on my street so many kids my age. Moved in fourth grade from Moreland and for some reason my grades plummeted at lomond......too much social activity. Unfortunately have no contact with any of my old besties.

Joseph G Blake

Betsy, the Cosmo comment reminded me of what someone said to me a few treats back at another reunion of Shaker residents. I was talking to a childhood friend. A girl we knew way back then who lived in Sussex came up and said, " you two lived on the other side of Van Aken and did not talk to people like me." It's not how I recalled it since I recalled attending her father's funeral with my father. But I know I was very aware of the subtleties. My parents moved to Shaker in 1928 and had their home designed and built by 1930. The architect was a friend from a prominent family. And I am sure I was well aware of the distinctions early on if for no other reason my older siblings. It was part of the ethos and not always positive. But there was a commitment to excellence and integrity in everything you did. You had to excel or you would let yr end down. Excellence in schools and services were central to making Shaker great to live in and not just the grand houses or the likelihood your neighbor was an executive, banker or MD. 

And yet not everyone was a college grad. My father was totally self made and I doubt he graduated from high school. But he could sell snow to Eskimoes and we lived very well. My mother had the degree and the grace to be better than June Cleaver. And the guy next door was like my father but a very senior executive in A&P who was brilliant at execution and details. I still remember his immaculate yard and Cadillac that was taken regularly to Central for servicing. Yet I know my father felt his lack of education and probably felt it more when he made more than some of the folks who had the diploma. I can assure you he made sure his children went to college and three of us had graduate degrees. My sister led the way by founding a company still in the secretarial and placement business called Snider Blake. But that was expected of you. Excel, get ahead and do your best. It may have hounded some of us but it was part of the "ethos". 

But the best part of Lomond was the sled hill in winter behind the school. I would go there and see if we could just reach the curb. And sometimes into the streets. I am hopeful no one ever got hit.

We lived in Fernway and the young man across the street was Steve Alfred. Many of you may recall he was one of the founders of the Lomond Asdociation that led the way to help integration. He was later Mayor of Shaker Heights. I guess he caught that Lomond spirit. 

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

Joseph, I am forever grateful the education I received at Shaker. We didn't move to Shaker Hts until 6th grade. I know my parents made the right choice. I learned to write well at Shaker and Mr. Burnett taught me format. My poor college students know to this day, I know format! Betsy

Lesley Dormen

Mr. Burnett!!!

Honestly can't  remember if I "had" him or if it's merely his reputation burned into my brain.

Judi Bachman (Holtze)

All these Lomond memories......WE Lived onSherrington until Inwas 13 ( it burned down shortly after) and then moved to thr blue house ( now green)on the hill.. The open spacewas great, except for the wind that blew off it, dumping tons of snow up our drive! Don't see snow like that any more. I once took a shortcut over the pond, and fell in!  Remember drying out with the janitor in the basement after lunch...... Once Shaker became integrated I remember watching Jim Brown and Ernie Green running there for training every day in the off season.

Been thinking of Lee ...was going thru jewellry with my daughter in law the other night and came across my " pearl " necklace   I wore to teach at Miss Shapiro's with Lee.  We pulled such antics every time her back was turned doing all the forbidden moves!

Dana, that pic is not from Miss Cooks class.  Too many unfamiliar faces and both of us missing.

Have to lay claim to some of those old magnificent homes. They were designed by my grandfather.

We certainly had some great teachers, and some I would like to forget....i still laugh at the sight of Mrs. Brammer stuck in her car seat!!!!.as a teacher I hope I took the good stuff with me. 

Anyone coming to Denmark let me know.

Gary D Hermann

I do remember the article in Cosmopolitan.    It is does bring to mind that at least some of us viewed our Lomond School neighborhood as the "wrong side of the tracks", but in retrospect it was a great place to grow up.   I certainly had friends on both sides of the tracks, so it would be unfair to stereotype people on the "right side" as not being good people, but I do think that there might have been a bit of an "us against them" mentality that Lomond School people might have subconsiously had. 

Betsy, thanks for mentioning Mr. Burnett.  He was one of my all-time favorites, although he intimidated a lot of us at first, including me.   I remember being in his English class my senior year and looking around at all the National Merit finalists and semi-finalists in the class and turning to Jim Darling and two others who didn't seem to fit in trying to collectively figure out why us "dumb kids" had been put in a class with all those stars.   As it turned out, Mr. Burnett was someone who paid attention to everyone who was interested in what he had to say and there is no doubt that he (and Marty Meshenberg) laid the groundwork for my later academic success in college and in law school (which was a surprise to a lot of people, including me, considering how poorly I had done in high school). I remember going to his apartment  after school to work on my writing and knowledge of English (I think he took it as a challenge that I told him that I thought poetry was stupid).  Of course, going to a teacher's home by yourself probably couldn't happen today (it turns out that a large number of students, both stars and non-stars, spent time at his place).  I kept in touch with him for years and even visited him at his boyhood home of Boswell, Indiana when I was stationed for three months at Fort Benjamin Harrison.  I learned then that a lot of his former students had done the same.  A wonderful man who was an important influence on a lot of people.

Joseph G Blake

Gary

Mr Burnett- one in a million for sure. I too visited his apartment but I think it was after we graduated. I took him to lunch etc.

Everything I know about sentence structure I learned from him. My college thesis about the Van Sweringens owed so muchb to him for clarity of language. Someone years later (circa 1990) read it and commented on the maturity of expression which I quickly gave credit to Mr Burnett. 

I then tried to find him to tell him but alas he was no longer with us.

I had him for two years, I learned a lot about literature notably the Romantic poets which he liked. My children were very lucky to have someone like him for 8th grade Emglish who was very rigorous on grammar and format. My one daughter now writes a colimn for the LA Times.Teachers like them are one in a million and truly unsung heroes.

Thanks for mentioning him.

Joe

Neil T Glazer

Mr. Burnett....I was on the Rapid along with (if memory serves me) with Gary Herman looking at our Shaker High schedule. Both of us distressed that we had Mr. Burnett for English. A well dressed man across the aisle asked us about school. "Oh what a terrible year" I said, "I have old man Burnett for English and he is the hardest teacher, that's what I heard." Gary added, "He doesn't scare me but believe me, when I get done with him, he'll be scared of me." The man smiled but said nothing else. Of course when we got to English class the well dressed man WAS MR BURNETT. All he said to us was "good morning boys." I am still teaching and after 48 years still regard Mr. Burnett as the best English teaher. Demanding, yes but thanks to him I went from a below average writer, to one who actually wrote a doctoral dissertation that was approved. Considering my sad academic record, that stands as a testimonial to Mr. Burnett's insistance on qiuality work. Here were his "rules"...you try and write about your summer vacation without violating them.

1. You can never use the word "was".

2. You can't use any "ly" ending words..."really" "greatly"

3. No foreign expressions "quid pro quo"

4. No trite expressions. "Golly" "Wow" "Super", 

5. You can only use "I" three times in any essay or report.

6. All words spelled correctly

Hope this brings a smile to those who had Mr. Burnett.

Neil 

Judi Bachman (Holtze)

Brings a smile to any language teacher....

Never had Mr Burnett tho. MR Snavely...great teacher and really supported me when I needed it...That is something I tried tomdo with all my students. Working with 3rd culture kids..with english as a first, second, or even third language this prived invaluable.

Don't  site my grammar in this..just lazy esp in the middle if the night !!!!!

Joseph G Blake

Thanks Neil 

I will share this with Vivian Abrahms who is also a Burnett fan. You have filled in several blanks in the rules.

Joe

Joseph G Blake

On a lighter note, if your home in Shaker was built prior to 1932 (during Prohibition) you may have had a place to hide the demon rum. False bottoms in drawers were typical and in some really large houses there might be a room in the basement etc. In our house it was a "secret" panel. In the living room one of the walls was panelled.The fireplace in the center was surrounded by a window seat and bookcase, In the window seat there were  side panels. One of these moved. You pushed on it and it opened to reveal a space wth two shelves both deep enough and high enough to hold a good number of bottles. In later years it no longer got that honor and was used to store board games, 

On another note, if you like me find the current campaign a nightmare that won't go away, you might enjoy this link to a speach FDR gave in 1944 to the Teamsters. It was about his dogs Fala. He was the champion campagner and no one has beat him. I say that as a lifelong GOP whose father regarded FDR as evil incarnate.

Enjoy, Its only a couple of minutes. Note that he addresses the group sitting down. That was unusual for him despite his paralysis and of course he has aged considerably. He would die in afew months.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?sns=fb&v=_Cdz-Zbsw2g

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

And do you remember he didn't like nicknames. I remember he kept asking Sally Leska if her name was Sarah. If my mother hadn't gotten me a writing tutor one summer, I wouldn't have survived. And, yes I wrote a doctoral dissertation and have published articles and co-authored a book.  Teachers do matter!

Arthur Charles Scott

Mr Burnett was one of the Shaker teachers I remember most vividly (Mr Bristol was another).  I was one of those National Merit folk Gary mentions, accustomed to getting As, so imagine my discomfiture when my first essay paper came back with a "C+" and all marked up, pointing out violations of Rules I didn't know existed.

I think I picked up on what he was doing pretty quickly: "You're used to skating through English and getting easy As, but not here.  I'm going to make you work."  So I guess I did, my marks got better and by the end of the year I suppose I was one of his "pets", since I was invited to his tobacco-suffused apartment near Shaker Square for dinner.  But I probably wouldn't have made it as a pet if I hadn't carefully kept closeted my love for comic books, detective stories and low pulp stuff like Tarzan, along with my intense hatred of Dickens, which you'll all recall we got hefty doses of.

And yes Betsy, I certainly remember his disdain for nicknames.  From the first day that she introduced herself, Burnett insisted on calling Penny Weed "Penelope", even though she plaintively told him, "But Sir, my name is Penny."

James R Krause

I believe rule #1 was no use of the passive tense. I too had him for two years and though a science major his training helped me get through freshman English. 

Mead Mahoney

I've enjoyed all your rememberances of Mr. Burnett.  I had my one moment in the spotlight in his class, so if you will indulge me I'll share it here.  Warning: I write as if I'm in conversation with you.  Lots of dot, dot dots...  Mr. 'B' will be spinning in his grave on this one.  The class must have been the last one of the day... 6th period?  I distinctly remember that it was during this class that, on Nov. 22, 1963, Principal Rupp came on the intercom for what was the second time in about 30 minutes and said that he had decided it would be best if we all packed up and went home to our TV sets.  (Joe Blake...class historian par excellence, I think you might have been in that class?)

I had transferred to Shaker for my Senior year.  My family was coming up from Norfolk, VA.  My father was a career Marine and we moved about every 3 years.  Shaker was my third high school and it was an eye opener.  Never before had I been in a school where better than half the kids had been together since grade school.   That was totally unheard of in my prior school experience.  I think I was the only new kid in Mrs. Eichenbaum's Home Room.  Obviously I knew zip about this Mr. Burnett guy.  We started out with Beowulf.  Can somebody please tell me what good that ever did?  Beowulf went flying right over my head and I have no intention of Googling it now.  Why spoil a nice day here in Orinda, CA?

The story: Mr 'B' takes out this ornate plate from his desk drawer... puts it on a plate stand and proceeds to tell us that our assignment is to write a one-act play about the plate.  The look on everyone's faces said the very same thing.  Is this guy nuts er what?  Confusion reigned and for once not just on me!  At home I decided to take a BIG chance and approach the whole assignment from what I was pretty sure would be a unique angle.  To hell with the bloody plate... my play would be all about the class reaction to the plate assignment.  Real names (ours) where assigned to every word in the play.  If you were in the class you were fair game for my barbed pen!  I had Alan Farkas always in a Brooks Brothers suit and one step away from Wall Street... no college needed.  He and Steven Green were mumbling threats of legal action if this "plate" assignment in any way put their Ivy League plans in jeopardy.  Things were getting tense.  (To this day I have no idea what others wrote for this assignment.) 

The days comes and our graded papers... our one-act plays... are being returned.  You know the drill.  The first one in every row is handed a stack of papers.  You take yours off the top and then pass the remainder back one for a repeat of the procedure.  I'm about half way back in the row.  I am passed the remaining stack and my name is NOT next on top.  Not to worry, I say.  I check for my name elsewhere in the remaining stack.  Nada.  Big time panic sets in... he never got my play... he views me as the ONLY one in the WHOLE class who chose not to do the assignment.  I need an antacid and I need it quick!  Then, Mr. 'B' looks over to me and says, "With your permission, I would like to read your play to the class."  Holy s**t !!!  I nervously give him the nod to go for it... or 1964's polite version of "knock yourself out."  He had extra copies and assigned some students to read the words / thoughts of those among us lucky enough to make into my masterpiece.  Everything I had written was big time tongue-in-cheek.  Few escape my slings and arrows.  My effort is well received by all.  Soon I would be writing for Jerry Seinfeld... is no?  Eric Ehrmann leans over to me and says, "YOU wrote that thing?"  In hindsight, his tone was probably that of... you can barely spell your own name.  (Everyone... Google Eric Wayne Ehrmann / Rolling Stone Magazine.  There's some good reading there.)

Much too long...  Joe Blake is already scripting his next missive... (wow, I still got it...), but I have obviously long enjoyed my Mr. Burnett memory.  

Mead . . .

Labor Day and we still haven't found Jimmy Hoffa.  Geeze... 

Alaina Weisman (Zachary)

Mr. B always looked like he had a secret... I remember his wry smile and of course how easily he struck terror in my heart.  Do you remember that in his bottom right drawer he kept a sign which he would take out and display for tests:  Keep Cool and Don't Panic?

And didn't he have a famous and well-anticipated reading of Poe's The Bells?

My true love was theatre and it was an all-consuming passion that actually not only got me to a bunch of Broadway musicals but a career and now pensions in my performing unions.  Mr. Barner did aid ad abet, but it seemed at odds with my love of English, writing and Mr. B's class.  Only when he signed my year book was the curtain pulled aside.  I remember it like yesterday: "Keep cool and don't panic and keep up with your homework between acts.

Gary D Hermann

Neil, thanks for reminding me of one of my lower moments in high school.  Over-the-years, I've told a number of people about how I had a conversation at the rapid stop with a man I didn't know and told him how I had the misfortune to have this horrible teacher, Mr. Burnett, and then showing up at class only to find out that the man was Mr. Burnett. I believe I was smoking a cigarette at the time and generally looked like a low life.  If first impressions are the strongest, he clearly did not have reason to be excited about having me as one of his students.  How he overlooked that and took an interest in me I'll never know. But I am grateful for it.

I also remember Mr. Burnett's rules, which now generally make sense.  I remember him telling the class during the first day that, if you violated even one of them, you would receive an F on your paper.  It was obviously done for shock effect and I remember how many of the smarter kids, who had always received A's on everything, received an F on their first paper.  A number of those kids were crying (I wasn't upset at all because I had received Fs before, especially in math and science). Needless-to-say, they paid careful attention to the rules after that (I did too).  Of course, I tormented my kids with those same rules (along with Strunk and White) during their high school days which helped them to become very good writers too.  

Glad to see how many people have fond memories of Mr. Burnett.  He was a great example of how one teacher can have a real influence on a young person.