Class Bulletin Board

Barb (Crandall) Prosser Update

Take care, Dave, you and your witty column will be missed dearly by me. I am so sad that I wasn’t able to attend the 50th Reunion, I had just had ‘Custom’ Ankle surgery, At Ankeny Medical Park Surgery Center, in Ankeny, Ia  the Thursday before. Then I was ‘Absolutely No Weight Bearing’ for 10 WEEKS!! THAT was horrible!! I am better now, AND back in Iowa City!!  That was a Loooooonng 13 months in Johnston,  Ia!

Dave, I hope this isn’t the last time I chat with you.  You are a great guy!

IF you want to ‘cut & paste’ any of this information,it’s fine with me! Go Hawks!!

Barbara Prosser 

Paul Roberts Update

Well, they did a colonoscopy for the first time since receiving the cancer diagnosis. The doc said things looked good and I don’t have to have another one for 3 years! She did remove a couple of small polyps that have been sent to pathology. She didn’t see anything concerning about them but wanted to be sure. As it says in the post-colonoscopy instructions I’m resuming normal activities, such as EATING. Things are good and I’m feeling better than I have for a year and a half.

Thank you again for all of the prayers.

Paul

Holiday Greetings from Christina and Martin Andersen

Martin and Christine at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Palm Desert, CA

Dear Friends,

As fear and disruption caused by the Covid pandemic continue to recede, life seems to be returning to what it once was. But, when considering other world events – overhanging clouds of existential geopolitical and environmental threat – one can feel strongly that living on this planet has somehow permanently changed. Nevertheless, because time and health and the people we love are our most precious personal commodities while living this life on Earth, shouldn’t we savor these good things and cultivate gratitude for them? Perhaps this is something to reaffirm as we enter a new year. 

Christina:

Chris remains busy at Christina Andersen Floral Design, her 25th year in business. (She says: Yikes!!!) CAFD earned another Hoboken Green Business Award for Chris’ earth-friendly practices, such as composting, recycling, and choosing a 100% wind power electric supplier. At the awards ceremony, she received a special shout-out from Mayor Ravi Bhalla – who also happens to be a frequent CAFD client (as was former Mayor Dawn Zimmer). 

Martin:

Martin abides at New Jersey Symphony, completing his 44th season as the orchestra celebrated its Centennial year. You’ve already heard about his participation in the film Maestro (reduced to five seconds of obscure screen time 20:25 in), now also on Netflix. He is once again teaching at Stevens Institute of Technology, as well as keeping busy with private students and the NJSO’s youth orchestra program. And of course, the usual time-intensive involvement with the musician committee/music union. 

Christina & Martin:

We enjoyed three trips this year. June found us attending a McIlwain (Chris’ family) reunion in Rockford Illinois. Had not gotten that many – 40, comprising three generations – together ever before. We made our yearly trip to Palm Springs, California to visit Martin’s mom. At 93, Ruth enjoys good health and lives in her own home, with the help of her friends. (Martin made another visit in June, after attending a union convention in Las Vegas.) In August we returned to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for the Grand Teton Music Festival. One afternoon, sipping drinks with new local friends Terry and Gary Trauner on their backyard patio, Chris spotted the sudden appearance of a large bull moose making its way through the edge of their property, barely ten yards away. Chris commented that it must be such a common occurrence for them; but Gary replied that it never gets old.

In addition to our usual time spent in Grand Teton National Park, we were able to get away for a few delightful days in nearby Yellowstone, which we had not visited in a decade. Yellowstone being such a vast and varied place, it was a delight to see both the old familiar sights, and a few new ones, including recently-built visitor lodges and facilities which we viewed with mixed feelings. While there, we acquired a piece of “ledger art” from an indigenous artist, Evans Flammond, who was exhibiting his works at the Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center, a stone’s throw from Old Faithful Inn. We had a social Christmas and Holiday season, celebrating Christmas Day at Chris’ sister Melinda’s home in Brooklyn with family and friends; New Year’s Eve with many friends a few blocks from our place at the home of Susan Copeland and Brian Mynard; and New Year’s Day back in Brooklyn.  

We’re looking forward to spending two weeks in the mild winter desert weather of Phoenix, Arizona and Palm Springs at the end of January. We’ll be visiting Chris’ brother Morgan and wife Laura living in Scottsdale, and Martin’s former colleague Toni Thompson in nearby Mesa. Then on to Palm Springs, to spend time with mom and enjoy even more warm, dry air. 

January 5th was our 33rd wedding anniversary. 

Wishing you a fine 2024.

Love,

Martin and Chris

Mark Ferguson Remembers John deSalme

Dave,

Thank you for posting about John doSalmes passing. He was a good band instructor and encouraged me to switch from clarinet to Bass Clarinet and Contra-bass Clarinet in our concert band. He also encouraged me to switch over to Baritone Saxophone for Jazz band, one type of music I really enjoyed, and that switch was paramount in my musical journey. I loved Bari-Sax so much that I joined the Iowa State University Cyclone ‘Varsity’ Marching Band as their very FIRST marching Bari-Sax player.  I am still a member of the ISU Alumni Marching Band to this day and often see people from West High, like Julie Kent Larson in the audience.

I often wondered if John was still directing bands somewhere.  He gave me the gift of music and I still enjoy playing every year in the ISU Alumni Marching Band. I even have a vanity licence plate that reads, “BAR1SAX” in liew of being the FIRST bari-sax marching band member and alumni member.  

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Mark Ferguson

In Memory of John deSalme

Elderly man with white hair and a green shirt
John deSalme

John deSalme, 88, of Solon, passed away on December 13, 2023 at the Birdhouse.

John was born on May 12, 1935 in Corpus Christi, Texas to Orrin and Frances (Rogers) deSalme. After graduating from high school, he attended Del Mar University and finished his undergraduate degree at the University of Iowa in 1957. During the 1960’s John obtained two Master’s Degrees from the University of Iowa.

In 1958 he married Sylvia Haverlah and to this union, three children were born. The couple later divorced. He married Peg Brown in 1983 and they enjoyed many adventures together until his passing.

John had a long-standing career as an instrumental music teacher. He taught in Orange Grove, Texas and Marengo, Iowa before teaching for 35 years within the Iowa City School District, serving 25 years as the West High Band Director.

John had many hobbies throughout the years. Directing the Eastern Iowa Brass Band—now Iowa Brass–for 10 years was a favorite. He truly enjoyed the friendships and camaraderie that came with it! John also was an avid outdoorsman. He loved fishing, camping trips in the Rocky Mountains, canoe trips in the Boundary Waters and bike rides on beautiful trails all across the country.

John is survived by his wife, Peg; children: John (Erin Wyld) deSalme, Jr., Rob (Nancy) deSalme and Suzanne deSalme; grandchildren: Heather (Tyler) Phillips, Amanda (Will) Hanson and Levi and Izak Kaiser; and five great grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings: Dick (Joyce) deSalme, Tom (Judy) deSalme and Estelle Crawford and many extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Sylvia; nieces: Marti deSalme and Michelle Hunt and his nephew, Ben O’Meara.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Bird House-Hospice Home of Johnson County, Iowa Brass, or a favorite bike trail.