From Deb Zoole-Israeli

Email 2:

Sure, you can post it! I ended up having lunch with Susan today and we talked about how Mrs. Martz would check to see if you had a clean desk. She also said that Mrs. Martz called her mother at work because she didn't have a clean desk and in order to clean it Susie put things in other classmates desks. I laughed so hard... Could you imagine if a teacher called you at work for that today? In a way, it's what is missing, the closeness, the familiarity. It's hard to get that! Susan also reminded me of how Mrs. Ross smelled of coffee and cigarettes, how did that slip my mind? I have a picture of my 1983- 20 year class reunion. We took a special picture of the Hilltop kids. I'll have to find that, scan it and send it to you.

Deb

Email 1:

Hi Eric,

I read some of the stuff on the web-site. My kids are now going to Ladue, well 2 of them are... Emily, the oldest is at UMKC, she graduated last year.

Anyway, let me back track a little. I don't know if Jack ever told you or not, but we ran into each other on a plane headed for New Mexico. We both lived there at the same time. I think we saw each other once, maybe twice on planes/ in airports, that's it. Like Mark, I do remember all the Passover celebrations we had to together and that your dad would continue to hide the afikoman until each child had found it and got a reward. I remember how cool I thought your mom was and still is, she could work on her own car!

Skip forward... I got divorced in the early 90's got remarried in '95 and I have three kids-
Emily 18 UMKC, Maggie 17 Junior at Ladue, Daniel 10 at Old Bonhomme. I still live in Olivette. I spent 5 years on the Olivette City Council. Two of those years as Mayor Pro-Tem and one year as Mayor. Yes, Hilltop School has been razed. It was sold by Laue School,District and changed hands and then, The Apple School was it's new name. I don't know much about it, but, it failed! The City of Olivette tried to purchase it and turn it into a community center/park. It was a no go for several reasons, the biggest one of all was we felt the price was way out of line. Eventually a developer, Mark Manlin, a Ladue grad. bought it and, as developers do, developed it into homes. At one time he offered to give me the Hilltop corner stone, it has slipped my mind, I should give him a call and ask if he still has it!

Maggie and Emily, when they were early elementary students went to Mrs. Hertline for tutoring. Maggie then continued on with Mrs. Martz. Mrs Martz, always has been and will be one of my favorite people. She really catapulted Maggie forward with her academics and confidence. Maggie and Emily both had Mrs ?, can't think of her name at this second, art teacher. Emily had Mr. Schlamb for 5th grade and even now, he's still teaching 5th grade, at Old Bonhomme. Emily is friends with Molly and Peter Schlamb, David Schlamb's youngest.

I was talking about how unique my elementary school was. we had six girls in the class in 5th and 6th grade. I remember being amazed at how huge I thought Old Bonhomme was when we would pick up for Hebrew school car pool. We used to walk home for lunch, we went to our teacher's house at the end of the year for a pool party. On Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur, the school may have well been closed. There was only one hallway, on 15-20 kids in each grade, not each classroom, there was only was classroom for each grade. No one ever said, "I don't know that kid"! It was family. Some were closer than others, but nonetheless, family. I remember the weeping willow tree in the Fava's yard, the big pine trees on the side of the school that we would climb, 'cause they were there. I remember when a frisbee or baseball/tennis ball was up on the roof, all you had to do was go around to the other r side, climb up one of the window (wire) protectors, get the ball, throw it down, no fanfare involved, because everyone did it, no big deal and then, jump off the roof. How about the cafeteria. Everyone ate lunch, at the same time! I never realized how unique it all was, even then. I see it in the faces of the adults I talk to now about it all. I had sleepovers at my house with all the girls in my class. I played tether ball, kickball, rode a skateboard down the hill from the top of the playground to the back of the school where we would line up after recess. I had Mrs. Baron for Kindergarten, her family belongs to CRC and I have had the pleasure of seeing them on several occasions. I miss milk and cookie time, my nap mat is around here someplace. I had Mrs. Ross for 1st and 3rd grade. I remember how she wore bangle bracelets and when she would write on the chalk board, the clanging became hypnotic. Second grade I had the woman who I thought could have easily been Miss America. Yes, I had Mrs. Candace Martz. I think now they call it a girl crush. I wanted to be her!!! Her hair was perfect, that beautiful brown in a meticulous flip. It bounced when she walked, a most confident walk. Her Texas accent and her laugh, you could hear it all the way down the hall and I absolutely lived for it. It happened at least once or twice a day and I waited and waited and would smile when it happened! I pained through learning my times tables and had popcorn on Fridays in that class. Oh, you couldn't forget her "Boston Bruins" dress. You have to remember that one. Whenever I see her in my mind, that's how I remember her. She was and still is AWESOME and I mean that in the literal sense. Back to Mrs. Ross, I saw her many, many times walking along Old Bonhomme Road. I can't imagine what it felt like for her to see how many kids go through her classes and see them driving and graduate and have their own families. Fourth grade I had Mrs. DeVaney (sp) we studied westward expansion and created a village. I made my "box" in her class and I built a miniature sod hut. In 5th grade, I would have had Mrs. Ralston, she moved midway through the year, the year before. I had a man for a teacher, I was scared shitless! This man was loud and boisterous he gave the "Schlamb-dunk". I love that man! Talk about a teacher who loved and loves teaching! He was my other dad! He loved Snickers and the Steelers. When I told him that my dad had passed away, I was standing about 2-3 feet away from him and he just grabbed me and pulled me close and gave me one of the most memorable hugs of my life and told me how sorry he was to hear that, I can tell you he so meant that! I have the pleasure of seeing him on an almost everyday basis! I've seen his self portrait improve greatly over the years. You know the one, the one with the squiggly mustache. 6Th grade was Mrs Hertline (sp) at the end of the day she would stand at in the doorway and shake your hand, if you had to go back into the classroom after you had left, you had to give her a hug. "Little friends, Little Fiends" It remind me of the Cheech and Chong routine of Sister Mary Elephant. I think she looked older than what she really was, the matriarch of the school. I mean no disrespect by that, that's just what I thought. Later, at Mizzou, I saw this figure running towards me, calling my name, it was David Fredericks (sp). We had just heard the "big news". We always knew it, on some level. Mr Boughman and Mrs. Hertline were always going out to lunch with each other, you just had to know it! Ah, Mrs. Hertline, I wish I knew her better. She rivaled Mrs. Hess for the "Queen of Prim and Proper" Yes, not yeah! Sit up straight. She was more than a music teacher, that Beethoven lovin' woman! She was a one woman finishing school! Mr. Boughman reminded me of the guy who was Lucy's boss on the I Love Lucy show. 'Nough said! The school secretary, what was her name?... Anyway, I remember her Halloween costume every year. Speaking of which, how 'bout them parades we had for Halloween, how great! I'm sure there is so much more, I could go on and on. I was devastated when Susie Schimel moved all the way to Creve Coeur. Would I ever see her again? Get her address, don't forget, maybe you can write to each other! I still have lunch with her and was in her wedding, she was in one of mine! She called me yesterday, I think I'll give her call after this.

Eric, this was fun! I hope to talk and or see you very soon! I haven't even begun, we still have to talk about Mrs. Nodo and how I absolutely hated the square dancing unit in gym class.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Deb Zoole-Israeli
olivettedzi@sbcglobal.net