forty65, vol. i, no. 7,  4 July 2005 www.TJclassof1965.com

 TJ

 class

  of

 1965

happy FOURTH OF JULY!

Perhaps you remember the words of Thomas Jefferson that are carved onto one of the panels along TJ’s front steps: “To enable every man to judge for himself what will secure or endanger his freedom.”  They seem like words worth recalling today, wherever we are, as we celebrate our nation’s birthday. 

from a classmate living overseas

Carol Maier Matuschek (Germany) writes, “Although 40 years is a very long time, I do find it quite comforting on returning home to visit my mother, who still lives in Richmond, to pass by TJ and see it standing serenely as it did way back then. The immediate neighborhood has maintained the same character and appearance over all of these years. Some things and people of course change, age, mature, etc., while others maintain that flair of familiarity. In our rapidly changing world the latter becomes quite meaningful.”

more classmates in the arts

David Witt ( Marshall , VA ) has kept music and drama alive in his life by appearing in community theater, including roles as Bobby in Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” and Felix in Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple.”  He is also the organist at not one but two small churches in his area.

Howard Horwitz ( Chesapeake ) continues to play the violin, currently with the Virginia Beach Symphony. He says that there could

have been no better mentor than Frank Wendt, the orchestra teacher and director  at TJ.

Ruth Ann Sichol Myers (AZ), on the other side of the mentor-artist relationship, writes that ” Creative Arts School for Youth (C.A.S.Y.) has been pure joy for me!  My creative energies are flowing every day with these 3- and 4-year olds - from drama to painting to singing to just plain having fun!”

let us know:

1.  How did you and your family or friends celebrate the Fourth of July when we were in high school? Where – and how – are you celebrating today?

2.  Are there things you have done over the last 40 years to help secure freedom?

• Have you been involved in the Civil Rights Movement – or any other struggles for justice and equality?

• Have you served in the Armed Forces or held a job that involved the public trust?

• Have you run for office or worked in           political campaigns?

Whether you volunteered your services or were paid, and whether your work has been large or small, highly visible or behind the scenes, brief or on-going, let us know. Tell us what, when, where – and what the experience was like for you. We look forward to hearing from you!