Judith Moldavsky Davidoff

Hi All—

Thank you, Johnny, for your generous words about my writing.  When you and the NHP gang were out riding bikes and playing sports, I was that nerdy kid lying on the dining room rug reading the dictionary.  If the two-volume micro-version (with magnifying glass) of the 18-volume Oxford English Dictionary had been available in the 1950s, I’d probably be lying there still!  Even today, I can hear my mother saying, “Judy! Take your book outside and get some fresh air.”  Not surprisingly, I grew up to be an English professor (see my profile).

The photo of “the square dance kids” is also posted on my profile page.  It includes Betsy Kelley, Steve Levine (aka Steve Allen), Carl Botti, Anne Harte, Teresa Granada, Tony Linn, Johnny Meyers, Tom Nied, Susan Schiff, and me.  I think it was 5^th grade.  Everyone was from the same class except me—I was a specially privileged outsider because Steve Levine was my boyfriend!  If anyone wants a pdf, email me at jmdavidoff@bellsouth.net.

Johnny’s envisioned “Dance Party Reunion” with 50’s music sounds like fun.  While matters are being arranged for an actual reunion, how about holding a preliminary reunion on Zoom “to start the ball rolling”?  We could chat as a group, divide into smaller “breakout groups,” and scheme about how to contact old friends who haven’t been on this site. 

I’m not suggesting Zoom as a substitute, just an uncomplicated way to meet soon without much fuss; no shlepping canes, walkers, and wheelchairs; no expense for a venue, plane ticket, hotel room, car rental (I’m in South Florida; Jack Singer is in Seattle, my cousin Dena Moldavsky Migatz is in Arizona).  I’m willing to look into arranging a Zoom account unless we already have an expert among us.

On a somber note, I have used genealogical tools to search for classmates who have not posted on this website.  I’m sorry to report that the U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014, contains the names of two of our classmates.  John Piccirillo passed away in March 2011.  Jimmy Beach left us in August 2013.  May their memories be for a blessing.

Keep well and be in touch—

Judith

Memories written from Coral Gables, FL

Vinnie Karaktin was my next-door neighbor on Leslie Lane.  The houses on our block sprung up around 1949 on a Long Island potato field, and families with young children moved in all at once.  Vinnie and I were about seven and became fast friends as young children. My memories of him and his family are filled with warmth and fondness.

Vinnie started out in a Catholic parochial school while I walked to the tiny, shingled, E-shaped Parkville Elementary built in a hurry during the Korean War.  (I can’t remember when it was torn down.)  By 5^th grade, Vinnie switched to the new brick Parkville School.  He asked to be in Miss Braidford’s class with me, so he’d know someone.  He met all the neighborhood boys there and off they went on their bike and sports adventures you all have described.  I did some of the same things with the girls:  Summer bike rides to the Dairy Queen.  Wandering for hours at the 5 & 10 cent store.  Anyone go to Mr. L’s store near King Kullen to spend your allowance?  Vinnie and I also rode our bikes to skate on the pond at Tree Tops which froze solid in winter.

Besides his impressive athleticism and good looks, I fondly remember the sweet, caring side of Vinnie.  One Christmas Eve, my family helped trim the Karaktin Christmas tree.  Once his younger brother Kenny’s bicycle was under the tree, it was all the grown-ups could do to keep Vinnie from running upstairs and waking Kenny who was so hoping Santa would bring him a bike.  Another example: For a long time after his baby brother died at three days old, Vinnie sincerely wanted to be a “baby doctor.”  Yet another example:  Isolated because of whooping cough, I missed that final six weeks of 9^th grade.  I was lonely, but very contagious.  Vinnie knocked on my ground-floor bedroom window all the time so we could visit through the glass. He was my only neighborhood friend who thought to do that!  When the weather was too nasty for a window visit, we even rigged up a “phone” with string and metal cans between his upstairs bedroom and a window in my attic.  Vinnie’s “being there” was a such a thoughtful and welcome relief from the “Million Dollar Movie” and The Price is Right”!  The Vinnie I knew wanted things to be "good" for others.  

All your memories about Vinnie and New Hyde Park in the 50s has made me nostalgic. A reunion of NHP kids sounds good to me too—count me in!  Too bad Vinnie can’t be with us in person. 

May his memory be for a blessing!  

Judith Davidoff

Posted on: Mar 09, 2019 at 4:33 AM

Happy Birthday, Sophie!

Happy Birthday! Too bad we never kept in tough after high school . . .