This is a place to post comments, photos, whatever...about growing up in the Hialeah Area...or anything else that is on your mind. In the past, we've been using our individual webpages for this purpose, but now we have a dedicated forum on our website. Please note that this forum is "not secure" and that comments you make are available to anyone that visits this website.  

If you post a comment about a deceased classmate in this section, please also post one on the classmate's "In Memory" page. Your comments here get lost in the many other comments over time while whatever you post on a classmate's "In Memory" page can easily be found by our classmates and family members of the deceased. 

Vince "Vinny" Rusinak

Vince "Vinny" Rusinak

The First Annual North Georgia Roundup took place last Thursday (October 28th)  and is in the books. For those fortunate enough to make this Roundup, now is the time to post the photos you took on our class website. To do so, go to the left side of our home page, scroll down and click on "Local Roundup Photos NEW, and then click on "Georgia Roundup 2021."  Upload as many photos as you would like to. Since a few of us have changed a bit since high school, and this Roundup included members from the class of '63 and other classes, and there were spouses and guests who attended but did not attend HHS, it would be helpful if you would use the editing feature on the website, either at the time of posting or later, to add the names of the people in each photo at the bottom of your photos. Looking forward to seeing the photos of this event.

Bill Coffeen

The 2021 Georgia Roundup was super ! 

Great Lunch! 
 

Great Party at Caryl's !

Great Time to Visit our Friends and Make New Friends !
 

Think you need to circle your calendar for next year ...
 

OCTOBER - FIRST WEEK 

2022

WHERE ? 

Georgia Roundup

James Voyles (HHS 1963)

My wife Penny and I just returned from the Classes of ‘63, ‘64 and ‘65 Georgia Roundup 2021 in Roswell, Georgia. What an experience! It was really great to see those of you who attended, and if this becomes an annual event I would strongly suggest that if you weren’t there you should make every effort to be a part of it in the future. Before we left Houck’s Grill we stood and sang the Hialeah High School Alma Mater, and I’ve been thinking of the qualities mentioned in that song that we all knew and sang so often almost sixty years ago. Honor, duty, loyalty and faithfulness might seem like corny, or even sappy emotions today, but for me at least, they really meant something, and had a strong impact on the way I thought, and still think, of our commitment to society. I don’t know if other schools made their students feel that there was something special about themselves and their school, but I think Hialeah High, in the early 60s, really did. What a great set of memories, not only about the “good old days” but for the opportunity to renew old friendships, and I want to thank Caryl and Art Broaderick for the generous offer of their house for the evening festivities, and Bill Coffeen for all his work in organizing nd providing nametags for us.  What a rush!

Donald "Donnie" Simmons (HHS 1963)

Vince "Vinny" Rusinak

World Series Memorabilia.

 Baseball was definitely America’s game when we were growing up. During the baseball season all we needed was a ball, a bat...gloves were desired, but optional...and either someone’s back yard, or better yet a vacant lot, and there would be a ball game. Two captains were chosen...usually the oldest in the group. To choose the teams, and be fair about it, a bat was tossed to one of the captains who would try to grab the handle at just the right place as from that point it was alternating hand over hand to see who would end up with their hand covering the end of the bat...which gave that captain the all important first choice. You knew your value to the captains and their team by the order in which you were chosen. And, best yet back then, no matter your age or skill level, everyone got to play.

I think back then just about everyone followed professional baseball. We were into bubble gum that included the cards of one or more baseball players. We bought, chewed...and even blew bubbles...hoping to get a prized baseball card. We collected and traded them. When we finally became adults and left our nests, we left our cards and other valuable possessions behind...which were soon put in the trash by our clean-nick mothers. If only we had some, not even all of those cards today, we might be billionaires!

The point to all of this is that I have a program from the 1956 World Series (one of the epic World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers) that I would like to share. One of my uncles lived in Queens New York...near both Yankee Stadium and Ebbets Field... and was a die-hard baseball fan. He attended this World Series, and knowing I also loved the game, sent me his program. Evidently, back then they only produced one program that covered the entire series. Even if you never had an interest in baseball, I think you will enjoy flipping through this program. And if you were not aware, the winner of this year's World Series, which is between the Braves and Astros, will be decided either tonight or tomorrow night.  Who are you rooting for?

/000/5/4/7/31745/userfiles/file/1956%20World%20Series%20Program(1).pdf

Paul Korry (HHS 1963)

Vinny, thanks for sharing your baseball memories & especially the copy of the World Series program, which I sent to another baseball fan, Val Sole in Miami Springs.  Great info but better memories. PK

James Ward

Love the ads cigarettes, cigars, beer and booze

Michael "Mike" Wills

Vinny - here's a great Baseball one for you !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq3hEMUeBGQ

Mike

Vince "Vinny" Rusinak

Mike, that is a great video. It brings back more great memories.

I remember my dad taking me to Miami Springs Country Club where the professional baseball players held a golf tournament just before Spring training. Back then, we could get close to the players we admired...which were all of them. We were able to see Whitey Ford and Roger Maris and many others up close. And then there was Mickey Mantle...gosh, he had forearms the size of Popeye the sailor man!

In the video there was a short clip of someone playing stick ball. I spent a few summers in Queens NY visiting relatives where I actually played stick ball. We would set up a ball field on an inner city street with cars parked on both sides of the street. Home plate and second base were sewer covers. Fire hydrants on either side of the street were first and thrid bases. The bat was a broom stick and the ball was made of rubber wiith a hollow core and pink in color. Motorists understood the importance of the game and would wait until we finished our play before driving through.

There was a girl pitching in the video. Nancy Berthiaume Rusinak told me many times she was the primary pitcher for her neighborhood teams in the 50's and 60's. She claimed she could throw a fastball 95 mph. There was no radar back then to backup her claims, but you and I know no girl could possibly throw a ball faster than 90 mph back then...maybe today...but definitely not back then! 

Jackie Robinson was featured in the video. We started our Roundups in Ormond Beach (the Daytona Beach Area). From Wipikedia:  "Daytona Beach, and its stadium, was the first Florida city to allow Robinson to play during the 1946 season's spring training. Robinson had been signed to play for the Triple-A Montreal Royals who held spring training in Florida with Brooklyn Dodgers. Both Jacksonville and Sanford locked their stadiums to the Royals and forced the cancellation of scheduled exhibition games due to local ordinances which prohibited "mixed" athletics. Daytona Beach permitted the game, which was played on March 17, 1946. This contributed to Robinson breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier the following year when he joined the Dodgers. The refusal by Jacksonville, previously the Dodgers' spring training home, led the team to host spring training in Daytona in 1947 and build Dodgertown in Vero Beach for the 1948 season. A statue of Robinson is now located at the south entrance to the Daytona Beach's Jackie Robinson Ballpark."

The World Series were huge back in the 50's and 60's. I remember teachers who would sacrifice whatever gems of wisdom they planned on passing on those days to let us hear the play-by-play of the games. Yes, they also wanted to listen to those games as much as we did so the sacrifice was small...and I'm sure they hoped they would not get in trouble for doing so.  

My uncle in Queens NY took me to at least one baseballl game in the old Yankee Stadium and Ebbets Field. To those that lived there year-round, that was no big deal. For someone who lived in Hialeah, what a treat!

Yes, Those Were The Days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3KEhWTnWvE

Patricia Hermansader (Brandt)

Vinny, you and I must have been at the same golf tournament! My Dad (who played semi-pro baseball and was both an avid golfer and bowler) took me. I got Mickey Mantle's autograph as well as others that I can't remember just now. I had one of those small tablets with different colored pages and I was so excited. We also went to almost all of the original Miami Marlins baseball games since Aerodex (where my father worked) had box seats. I will never forget watching Satchel Paige pitch in his later years. Instead of sitting in the dugout between innings he had a lounger on the 1st base side so he didn't need to walk far to the pitcher's mound. We also went to most of HHS baseball games. Bucky Dent put a dent (LOL) in the hood of our car in the parking lot from a foul tip. I grew up on the baseball field following my Dad's various teams all over PA until we moved to Hialeah when I was 10. We rooted for the Dodgers in that 1956 World Series. Great memories.

Vince "Vinny" Rusinak

Pat, our Micky Mantle when I played baseball as a kid was Tommy Johnson. I still remember him hitting a home run at Bright Park that sailed over left field and through the basketball courts. I think the outfielder who tried to retrieve that ball gave up and came back...after some time...without the ball. Whoever was fortunate enough to have Tommy on his team during those years...would have a winning team! 

John Givens

Czyzewski was my basketball teammate.  He was probably the most liked and the most fun to be around.    

Jack Taubin

What a sad bit of news about Dave Czyzewski. Worked with him my whole career at FPL. Dont think Dave had an enemy on the planet and was someone that made going to work everyday fun and, to look forward to. He could literally say anything to anyone his demeanor was so friendly. Clever, witty and funny. RIP Dave. 

James Coole

Hi To All

I'm going to share a recent experience, on the chance that it might benefit someone.

One of my sons had a basal cell carcinoma on one of his lower eyelids. He had surgery and the outlook looks good. This incident motivated me to finally have a dermatologist evaluate some issues I had been questioning.Yup, I had issues but not related to my concerns. My face was determined to have precancerous areas and a confirmed basal cell carcinoma. None of the findings were of concern to my GP physician during a physical, though they were present a few months prior to the determinations. The precancerous areas were frozen and the basal carcinoma was treated with mohs surgery. 

So, I’ve joined the chorus for promoting that you get annual dermatological check ups!  Don’t procrastinate!

Vince "Vinny" Rusinak

Jim, thank you for your posting. I'm sure it hit home to a lot of classmates...maybe every classmate!

When we were growing up, the goal seemed to be to get a "golden tan." We applied "sun tanning" lotion...who even heard of "sun screen"  back then. Coppertone was the product of choice and I am positive everyone remembers this ad:

So, our generation went from pimples, in our early days, now to the impacts of those skin diseases you mentioned...and ones you didn't mention, which are...unfortunately...worse. When I visit my dermatologist, he comes in through the patient room door holding a bottle of liquid nitrogen ready to begin a game of "whack-a-mole." As I get older, it is always "game on" when I visit him. But I so loved basking in the sun growing up. If I knew what I now know, would I have done anything differently? Probably not!

Michael "Mike" Wills

Nice example there Mr. V re your photo with your comment - out on the golf course, shorts, golf-shirt & no hat.

Vince "Vinny" Rusinak

Mike, Nancy and I were on our way back from Jacksonville the day that this picture was taken and saw the entrance sign for the TPC Sawgrass Country Club at Ponte Verde Fl. We wondered how close we could get to the clubhouse before they shoed us away. We drove up to their gate house and were sure the guard would inform us this club is for members only and to turn around. Surprisingly, he said "go right on in." So we got in the clubhouse and an official looking guy came straight at us: we thought this was when we would be told to leave. But no. The guy asked us if we'd like a tour of the clubhouse and the course. Imagine that.  And then after the clubhouse tour and being driven in a golf cart around the course, he took us to a picturesque point and asked if we'd like him to take a photo of us. So at the end of the tour I asked if there was a charge for the tour...he said no. I then asked if he accepted tips...he said no, but any contribution I would want to make would go to a military charity they sponsor. BTW, the Player's Golf Tounament that is held each spring at TPC Sawgrass allows veterans to attend one day free and even hosts a hospitality tent for all veterans and their guests. Pretty nice of them I would have to say. 

So Mike, would you believe that I took off my sombrero for the photo and had applied 1/4 inch of zinc/titanium sunscreen (what dermatologist recommend) all over me before going on the course?  Probably not, huh!

Ted Mack

LOL - I thought at the end of all that they would have hit you up for a membership Vinny. Wonder how much they are.

Speaking of veterans, I have had a loss of some hearing in my right ear ever since my Army days from firing a rifle  (never was offered ear plugs) and the tinnitis has been continuous. From a friend I learned I might be able to get  disability for it so I applied - luckily I still had the hearing test that they gave me upon discharge that showed the loss from then. I never qualified for veterans benefits before because I earned too much but after a few tests and some free hearing aids I was given 10% disability and now get full veterans benefits and $150 a month. Maybe some other veterans will see this and check to see what benefits they may be entitled to.

Jennifer Dennis (Munro)

Have you heard of Joe Navarro?  He is one of the FBI's top profilers. I have followed his career by reading all of his books on profiling and interrogation for the last 30 years. Profiling is a major component of my 40 year old business. With all of the attention I paid to him, I never knew he was a graduate of HHS. Class of 71. He escaped from Cuba in 1961 as did our very own Eric (Joe) Williams. We have a great history of exceptional achievers and heroes.  Navarro is another one. I hope you will read his books. They are riveting and useful and true. 

Vince "Vinny" Rusinak

The planning committee for the next Krouskroup Ormond Beach Roundup met at the Daytona Beach Bahama Breeze on Monday, July 18th. After over three house of discussion...most of it having nothing to do with the next Roundup...Jack tentatively decided that the next Roundup might be in the fall...this fall. Keep checking our website as you won't want to miss this one!

Nancy Lundblom Blizzard and Tim Blizzard ('65), Jack Kroskroup, Nancy Berthiaume Rusinak and Vince Rusinak

David Briggs

Vinny:  Thank you, and those who help you maintain, nurture, preserve and construct our site--you wonderful founders.  From my depths, thanks to your tireless, ceaseless, you have unselfishly have filled me up with the connections I've made with others and memories I cherish and treasure. Prayers and love to you, Nancy and family and to those of your editors team.  David Briggs 

James Ward

Vince "Vinny" Rusinak

Thanks David and James. Interestingly, someone recently found our website, clicked on Contact Us, and sent Nancy and me a message. It happened to be one of  Nancy's college roommates who also was a bridesmaid in our wedding...someone who we totally lost touch with. Somehow she found our names on our class website and got in touch with us. Do you have a story you'd like to share about how our class website has made it possible for you to reconnect with someone in the past you thought you'd never hear from again? We'd all like to hear about it.

Jennifer Dennis (Munro)

While there are numerous websites devoted to alumni, I have never seen one better, more thorough, easy to use and filled with cheer, as well as sharing of sadness at losing our friends, and so consistently updated as ours, thanks to Nancy and Vinny and all of you who take the time to share. I immediately go to any update I see in my email every morning.  Although we are scattered, we thoroughbreds still are connected in our hearts and minds, forever.  Thank you so much.  

Toni Canonico (Nasco)

Very well stated Jennifer... I'm sure we all agree and are equally filled with gratitude!!