Hi Donna – you look as cute as ever. Will be so nice to see you and so many people at the reunion and to try to remember the good old days. Where did those 50 years go….OMG. See you soon in the Burgh. Even though I haven’t lived in Pgh since 1981, I still think of it as home.

Hi Lillie, so nice to read about you and your exciting life. I remember you as being one of the sweetest people I knew in school and someone I liked to hang out with. Fun days as Heatherettes, right? It seems like many lifetimes ago now. Sorry you won't make it to the reunion - would love to see you again. No, we definitely are not that old.........Best wishes, Linda

I heard about Karen's passing from our mutual friend Sue Ackerman.    She left us too soon.   And a very short time after her untimely death, her beloved husband Russ, who did not go to BHS but who she met during high school, passed away as well.   So sad.

 

Karen, Sue,, and I became best friends in elementary school at St. Gabriel's and then later when we moved on to Whitehall Junior H.S. for 9th grade and to BHS as sophomores.   I will never forget how nervous the 3 of us were about fitting in with those at the junior high since we were to be the 'new kids' who had not gone to local elementary schools like most others.   So we decided to dress somewhat alike and we wore white pleated skirts and white tennis shoes that first day.  It gave us our unspoken bond, like our own sorority.  I guess it gave us some courage but looking back wasn't needed as we all loved the new friends we met at the much bigger school.  Yet the 3 of us remained best friends throughout high school.  And despite all going off to different Universities, we were bridesmaids in each other's weddings.  We had such fun when we were together and had so many great memories.  Post university and post weddings,  we all ended up in different states but somehow kept coming together when we would find ourselves back in Pittsburgh.  During those years, as kids came along, and other life changes, we kept in touch.   Karen came to visit me once after I had moved from Phoenix to Chicago and we had a wonderful time shopping on Michigan Avenue - but she was most interested in shopping for educational things in museum stores that she could use in her classroom.  She was a dedicated teacher all of her adult life.    She is still missed by those  of us who knew her well.