Dear Friends and Classmates,
In response to the many
calls and letters wondering when things will ever be back to normal and
the Newsletters return and the NNHS website will again be updated, I can
now honestly report - I have no idea. My gorgeous new computer sits
lonesome but shining, awaiting connection to the internet and installation
of PhotoShop. I keep thinking it will be any day now, and the maddening
delays just continue. This last entire week was my fault; I've had a
severe case of bronchitis, exacerbated by asthma and fever.
It would seem to be a
simple thing just to drop a note to that effect to one and all, but in my
present state, nothing is really simple. For one, there are only 326
people in this Yahoo address book, which is a far cry from the actual
number which I cannot access. Secondly, whereas previously I could
prepare the Newsletter and send it in four batches - a procedure requiring
perhaps five minutes - now I am required to send each batch of 100
separated by one-hour intervals. It's a rather tedious process which I
was not physically capable of performing this week. And third, the news
I've had of y'all lately - some of you are coping with catastrophic
illness, some of you have lost a parent, some of you have lost a child -
has weighed so heavily on me that I simply couldn't cope with it,
particularly under these crippling conditions.
And now there is more.
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From the Daily Press -
06/16/05:
John D. Bluxome III
COUNCIL
BLUFFS, IOWA - John D. Bluxome III, 59, brother of Phyllis Compton of
Newport News and brother-in-law of Tess Bluxome of Hampton, died June 13,
2005. Arrangements by Cutler-O'Neill-Meyer-Woodring Funeral Home, Council
Bluffs, Iowa.
Published in the Daily Press on 6/16/2005.
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My Deepest Sympathy to
John's family and friends. We were classmates at Newport News High School
and in the Typhoon Marching Band.
Linda Lane
(Williamsburg, VA) - June 17, 2005
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My
deepest condolences to the Bluxome family.
Jay was
my good friend at NNHS and beyond. We had many good times together in
those youthful days. I was fortunate
to speak with him by phone shortly before our 40th reunion in October
2004, and he regretted that he could not attend. We
shared many belly laughs in recalling our exploits over the years. Knowing
Jay ... I bet he is still laughing.
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From Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA
(to members of the Class of 1964) - 06/17/05:
Classmates,
It is with heavy heart that I report to you the
passing of our classmate and my friend, Jay Bluxome. I maintained some
contact with Jay until his work with the Army Corps of Engineers took
him to Council Bluffs, Iowa. In the course
of planning our 40th Reunion, I found his address and phone number, and
we had a long conversation about old times
and old friends
If you have read some of my stories of pranks and
adventures on Carol Buckley Harty's NNHS web site, then I can now
tell you that Jay was an unindicted co-conspirator in many of them. Some
adventures are yet to be told ......
Jay's obituary appeared in the Daily Press on
Thursday, 16 June. You can read it here and leave a remembrance:
TYPHOON Regards,
Dave
P.S. If there is an old classmate or friend you
have been "thinking" about calling ..... DO IT NOW
Thank
you, David. I quite agree.
Like Linda, I have fond memories of Jay from the band. During marching
season, his rank was just behind mine, so
I came to know him better than I might have otherwise. I will cherish
those memories of more carefree times.
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Once my systems are fully restored, I'll
add this information to the Memorial page for the Class of 1964, and
create
a permanent Memorial Newsletter for Jay. Meanwhile, I extend my
sincerest sympathies to his family and friends.
Y'all take care of each
other. TYPHOONS FOREVER!
Love
to all, Carol