Maryann Tombasco:
CLASS OF 1967
Corning-Painted Post East High SchoolClass of 1967
Corning, NY
Elmira CollegeClass of 2009
Elmira, NY
SUNY at BuffaloClass of 1971
Buffalo, NY
Maryann's Story
Life
Hello, I got into this Bio again and decided to update it. I think even though the information is the same as it was before I can write it differently--you know the same thing gets boring after awhile. So in a nutshell this time:
Left Corning for Buffalo in 1967 and stayed there for 18 years: Married had two children: Nichole Gabrielle (36) and K. Andrew(24). Now I have a granddaughter Gianna (4)Just starting pre-K and she loves her Nonna ( of Course). Somewhere along the way I lost a husband but gained a new "partner" when I returned to Corning in 1987. That was the year my brother Ralphie and his wife (Lisa) were killed in a plane crash in Detroit. Seemed the best kind of reason to stay home. It was also a great place for kids to grow up---still free you know---kids can run around and you're not (too) worried about them. Better than Buffalo I think.... thought I still like Buffalo and go there to visit my friends.
Lived in Virgina Beach too- I liked that place alot...so did my daughter!! She never quite forgave me for moving her out of there-so now she lives in Maryland with a number of her Virgina friends close by.
Been to most of the reunions since our 20th..I missed the last one though. it is nice for me to reach back and make those connections...I still keep in touch with Maryann Speciale, Anne Marie Louiz, Lynne Peelle(Blackwell). I see Vinney Brucie when he is in town and saw Joe Ferrerria at his nephew's wedding ( still a nice looking guy don'tcha know )I've e-mailed Kathy Ruocco ( Kathryn Shay) a few times- she writes a great story. She dedicated 1 book to our class. check it out!!
I did graduate from Buff State andam not 27 credits toward my Masters in Education. I'm still not sure what I want to do when I grow up!! But at the rate we're going ..I'll have to work forever!! Right now I manage several programs for a Human Service agency in Elmira..The Ernie Davis Family Center--We have a replica of the Heisman Trophy Go see the Movie- Iheard it is really good. Anyway I am ateam Leader ( supervisor) for several programs for pregnant and parenting teens, developmentally disabled families, literacy ( both through GED & Literacy Volunteers) and pregnancy prevention.....which seems to be working though the ones referred to us seem to have alot more issues than just being pregnant and young.
I keep busy...I have a great fella--some of you know who he is---he graduated in 1966 from East-picked him up at Wet Goods in '87 and have hung on to him ever since. So yes it's a very long term relationship....Got mys house up for sale with the kids both inMaryland why live 1/2 block away...though some of my friends say I've got it just right....3 doors down so to speak
I still pick up my yearbook and remember the good times I had there: ALPHA BETA CHI, foot ball games, Bob Rossettie and Chipper, Bless thier souls... Mark Brown, Choristers, the Plays and Mr. Ochs and of course - my Seamus, Chris Yorio, The Hackett Twins, MayJo Birmingham,sonny Landolf, Dort Olson ( who reconnected by leaving her name ) my friends then....Doesn't seem like 41 years ago to me-it was just yesterday wasn't it?
My dad died this summer in June. Very sudden. You know those old dudes never complained---he got sick, got diagnosed, got operated on and was gone in less than a month. I've been lucky to have both parents for so long and yet as we age I think it is harder to lose them. Now it's Mom in the house...in the same house I grew up in next door to Maryann Speciale.Her mom is still there so I see her whenver she and her husband Tony ( 4-fingers-I call him for when he broke his thumb----a nice Italian boy from Brooklyn --you can tell I love him!!don't worry it's ok with MaryAnn) come to visit..so in some ways I never left. Anyway I hope all is well with you and thank you for looking me up... It has to mean I was your friend...and for that I am grateful. You can't have enough. My brother Art joined the Navy and then went to Virginia tech. He turned out to be an aero space quality control engineer ending up with British Aerospace in Binghamton.He retires in Jan 2009--I hate him!! Now he gets to do nothing everyday and he says he is going to enjoy every minute of it. Art 2 kids -2 grandkids. Sal graduated from Mansfield University and became a radio on-air personality and sports caster in the area- wouldn't you know. He lives in the country now - a man of the soil- 1 daughter and 3 grandsons. Me- I'm th only one still working!!!
College
I had the best time at Buff State even though it was under construction the entire 4 years I was there. Hi-Rise freshman year(827)-I remember the guys streaking across campus and the shopping cart races between Bishop and Perry Hall. Sophmore year into Twin Towers and elected treasurer- I'm still having trouble balancing that check book. I had great roomates Wendy Wagner( she would let me tool around Buffalo in her baby blue mustang. I loved that girl!!). Judy Zayack, Loretta ( Gretta) Kinney( a whimsical artist if I ever saw one), Judy Marcowicz, Connie and Darrell--Linda B...Expand for more
urton( she had a guy in a band--woohoo)--Jackie McCoy( shoe crazy but a doll). Junior Year ,Linda, Jackie , AnnMarie Louiz and I lived on Abottsford- that was a kick- 3 sorority girls and me Miss Independent. Jackie used to drive me to school in the winter in her( unsafe at any speed) COVAIR_ I remember trying to thaw out the windows by using a little fan and the heater so she could see to drive. I also remember walking through the psych center on the way home- I wonder if you can still do that? Going to Woodstock with Gretta. It took us 3 baths to come clean after that escapade and 3 weeks to come down- but one of my fondest memories ( great music)
I also remember Diane English in one of my English Classes- I think it was Oral Interpretation- I remember she had a way about her and her pony tail would bounce-who would think she would get to be a famous TV writer of Murphy Brown ( A favorite show). Cindy Hartman and Nancy my first RA. I thought she was beautiful and sophisticated - I was this little small town girl in the big city- she was very nice to me- I think I wanted to be her then!! AH AH and Charley Pinkey- you devil- you looked me up here and just left your name. We would drive home together and stop at the yard of ale for a beer-- Remember those trips home Charley--I was so grateful you had a car--
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I also remember the Peace Marches, Hare Krishna chants in the Union, The Anchor Bar, No Name's on Bidwell, Beef on Weck-mmmmmm, Crossing into Canada to go to Happy Jack's, tear gassing of the campus after Kent State and Rockwell Hall catching on fire during a sit in, I popped opened a classroom door where some students and professors were having a class and told them the Building was on fire but they didn't believe me- I was just a protester you know!!---The Masthead(gone) and the Pastime( I heard it was a gay bar now)- Had some great times in there. I guess the Masthead is a parking lot now! The Stateside sub shop- oh god --a "Royal with Oil"..I think that's what has made my hips increase 40 years later. Those were some good subs and --they delivered!!!
They were the worst and best of times. So if any of those names pops up in your memory and you know them--tell them they are in my memory too. I still keep in touch with Jackie and AnnMarie- but not as much as I should and I wouldn't mind hearing from anyone I knew back then.
I still have friends in Buffalo and have to get off the Elmwood exit to get to thier home- It always amazes me to see how huge it's grown and it was big then. I hope the kids now have as much fun as we did then- but I doubt it!.
Workplace
This is funny. I think I am one of the few people who actually did this classmates page. Come on people...How about a few words here and there about your life!
I have actually gone back to get my MS in education at Elmira College. I'm about a 2/3 of the way through. Lucky you who went right on and did it. Cheaper then and probably have had a chance to really use it. As I've said to all who will listen---it is my retirement strategy- teach a few classes at a jr. college --if I can do it. I do not want to be a Wal Mart greeter which is mindless and can be fun if you are a REAl people person like me. But won't add much to the coffers... I hope to makee the 45th reunion in 2012.
2008
Life is changing. But change is good right? Both my children are living in Maryland. Nikki (36)continues to work as a computer tech and Drew(23) works in a service arena. My granddaughter Gia(4) will be heading off to pre-K at a charter school- the school of performing arts in dc- it's really a perfect fit- she's a ham!!
As I said dad passed away in June.. Dad was a victim of Alzheimers. So sad to see my laughing, happy, gregarious father not like he was. Still he wouldlook up when I came in and say "Hello Maryann-did you have soemthing to eat?" Ever the Italian with amind on food! My mom is wonderful and still a beauty though she doesn't believe me when I tell her- They've were married 63 years. Quite a feat anymore.
Hard for her though to be alone now. I guess he is in a better place but the world is a sadder place for his loss.RIP dad-we love you.
As I said I am 27 credits through my masters. 1 class (free) at a time. I should be done by May 2010. I am looking to sell my house this summer and move down the street-Joe's there! leave it to me to wait until the housing market plummets to sell my house. I am still working- harder than ever it seems and have just got a promotion- more work-thank you very much- and as Ann Marie said "probably something you're already been doing anyway"..true---but I still like what I do so I guess that is ok. I never would have thought that I would end up supervising 20 people and 5 human service programsin highschool. Now if they only paid us like they do in the corporate world--I'd be retired. I do envy those of you who are retired and really enjoying yourselves. Choices made. Hope all is well with whoever is reading this. Thanks for thinking of me!! PS.... Go Obama GO- you gotta know I'm a liberal!!!
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