Dear Class of ’59,
The last time I updated my personal information for the “Class of ‘59” was for our 40th reunion. Ten years later, and it still seems like yesterday—but yet, so much has happened in all our lives.
As for a short update, I am now retired and still living in Point Loma, a small beach community in beautiful San Diego. Having grown up in a lovely small town on the Hudson, I never lost my desire for being close to the water. Pt. Loma just happens to be one of the most beautiful spots in all of California and we feel very fortunate to have been able to raise our 4 children and live in this wonderful and caring community.
Speaking of children, our two oldest, Alison and Pete, are married and
each has been blessed with two beautiful girls---Mia, Addie, Priscilla
and Sabrina. David, our second son, was recently married and Nicholas,
our “baby” is still on the loose. All four graduated from college, but
only one followed in their parent’s footsteps. Alison is our only teacher;
the three boys are all in sales. Three live in Orange County and Dave lives
in Pt. Loma.
Having grown up in a lovely small town on the Hudson, I never lost my desire for being close to the water. Pt. Loma just happens to be one of the most beautiful spots in all of California and we feel very fortunate to have been able to raise our 4 children and live in this wonderful and caring community.
Carol and I celebrated our 40th year of marriage this year and we did it in style by flying first class to Rome and cruising the Mediterranean on the ship, “Legend of the Seas”. It was a dream come true visiting ports in Rome, Portofino, Florence, Messina, Split and Dubrovnik/Croatia, Venice, and Naples. WOW! They were all beautiful cities and each rich in history, but I think I left my heart in Portofino on the Italian Riviera.
After seeing several new names added to the PHS alumni roll these past few months, I can’t help think back to more wonderful and crazy times. I truly missed out in not keeping in touch with some of my old class mates, especially with those I shared so many special memories. I am truly sorry for that, but hope that I can reunite with longtime friends. As your names come across my e-mails, I can actually see faces and recall some very special moments when we played, talked, or just smiled passing in the hall. As for high school memories, they aren’t always 100% great, but in my memories, they sure come close.
At present, my wife, Carol, and I plan on attending the reunion in September, and I so look forward to seeing you all and revisiting some of those wonderful memories!
Al Palmiotto
2008 |
 |
Below.. From time around the 40th reunion
Al Palmiotto
Pictured Below... Al Palmiotto (far right)
and clockwise Wife Carol, children Alison,
Peter, David and Nicholas
Great to hear from the class of '59, but not
that it is time for our 40th reunion! I'm
sure we have all grown old gracefully and
look very similar to our class photos in
1959. With that blarney out of the way, here
is what the Palmiottos have been up to these
past several years. After leaving PeekskillI
received a BS and MS from Cortland State
University and a Doctorate inSecondary and
Continuing Education from the University
of Illinois,Currently I have been working
as Dean of Academic Affairs with the World
Trade Center University a side-bar of the
World Trade Centers Association out of New
York, putting together a cyberspace university
that can meet the educational demands of
the World Trade Centers Association members.
We have a web site and are in negotiations
with several universities to join us in this
venture as we hope to offer students a choice
of programs. The idea is to deliver degrees
from Bachelors to Doctorates and at the same
time to design specific in-house learning
programs for the re-tooling and education
of the WTC's staff and personnel. Some 500,000
businesses are affiliated with the 300 plus
WTC's and the demand for updated technology
and information is paramount. The entire
curriculum is designed around World Trade
and Business, both domestic and international,
and English as a Second Language programs
will be offered when needed. I met my wife,
Carol, at the U of i when we were both teaching
assistants. She Later completed her Doctorate
in SD and we were blessed with four great
kids. I enjoyed many years of coaching soccer
and little league teams
and have been active in the Pt. Loma Optimist Club, helping to raise money for the youth of San Diego. Our children are gradually leaving the nest. ALison is a graduate of UC San Diego(BS) and USD(MS) and is currently working for Wanner Brothers in Los Angeles, Peter is a graduate of Cal State Long Beach and is with Brown Forman (Jack Daniel's) as Marketing Manager for its San Diego spirits division, David when not surfing is working and attending college-in San Diego, and Nicholas (we finally got one out of southern CA!) is attending Indiana University majoring in Business and Math.
I have great memories of my high school years and the many friends that still bring a smile to my face when I think back to those wonderful and crazy days. I hope they have all found someone special with which to share their lives. Forty years is a long time to reflect, but when I think of the class of '59, it seems like only yesterday.
Sincerely
Al J. Palmiotto