Bruce van Cott:
CLASS OF 1965
Bettendorf High SchoolClass of 1965
Bettendorf, IA
Horlick High SchoolClass of 1965
Racine, WI
Bruce's Story
Helloooooo
When I think of my high school years, especially in contrast to both where I actually graduated [Wisconsin] and to the world we've helped deconstruct these past 40 years . . .
it seems to me, and I tell it this way, that it was almost Andy Hardy. BHS was a small community with a lot of resources, support and energy devoted to our development.
I did some research and we were about the wealthiest town in the state and had superior educations in every way.
Our family moved to Iowa from Baltimore when my father jointed JI Case. My brother and sister, who were in public school at the time, were told to repeat their grades because the school system was so superior. We were told this by the Baltimore teachers. I had been in a prep school, so I was not that affected by the change.
Actually I was - but not academically.
I had been sent to prep school for fast track reasons - the Baltimore schools were not adequate to my potential and I had been forced to give up the clarinet for a while.
Coming to Bettendorf meant that what i loved most - music - would be back in my life in a big way. Just so happens that we had the best band in the state of Iowa at the time - which is to say we were among the best bands anywhere and I was in HEAVEN.
Somehow my schedule was arranged so that I had band rehearsal second period, followed by study hall and then gym, and then lunch. As a jock, I was exempt from gym so
with the consent of Mr. Behrens
I was allowed to play the baritone saxophone for hours at a time, in school, every day. He let me take sheet music from his library; for fun, I remember playing a REALLY HARD score from Richard Rogers' Victory at Sea. Cascading 16th notes - relentlessly.
I don't play baritone sax anymore. Nor the clarinet. Nor the flute.
I continue to play jazz on the alto saxophone. Professionally in the Big Apple. Perhaps my earliest dream in this life.
I live today in Brooklyn New York - my family are New Yorkers from about 1632 - and this really is home.
I left BHS and graduated from Horlick HS in Racine Wisconsin [my senior year our foot...Expand for more
ball team won state; I was the middle linebacker]. We had a stage band and I led a small ensemble in Racine. We played jobs.
I was appointed to West Point in '65. By the grace of everything holy, I failed the physical. I attended a number of colleges as a happy alternative to enjoying the sights and sounds of Saigon [Wabash College, University of Wisconsin, Swarthmore and the New School College]
Had a triple major in Philosophy, English Lit and Poli Sci.
Had dreams of a Rhodes Scholarship.
By the grace of everything holy, this saxophone-playing, political scientist DID NOT have to marry Hillary and all the rest.
While in California in 1968 [IMMEDIATELY upon discovering that my number in the draft lottery was 348 and that the odds of my being drafted were very close to my sister's - I left college]
ostensibly to write [I read a lot - made sense].
Turns out I'm an actor
and spent about 25 years performing on stage, screen, television and from the front seat of a taxi cab.
I think I've done almost every job imaginable in New York and in the late 70s began doing "word processing". Taught myself computers, became a fortune 500 consultant, software developer and trainer.
Taught college for a spell.
I've had a LOT OF FUN in my life and have accumulated virtually nothing tangible.
Lots of interesting memories, a number of wild encounters with fascinating women, a failed marriage [by the grace of everything . . . ]. I've taught a lot of classes in everything from writing to computer software. Spent years working with accelerated learning techniques and taught seminars.
I guess by now it's also clear that I also DO write. I've done some technical papers for the government that have been published, I've had a couple of plays produced
ANYWAY
If you've read this far, we must dated or something!
If you have, thanks. I remember Bettendorf fondly and was there in the 80s. My ex-wife and I made a film in Souix City and flew back to NY via Iowa City. Spent a way too little time driving around.
WOW NEIL ARMSTRONG JR. HIGH!
Makes sense to me; I once met Buzz Aldren.
SAY HELLO
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