Tony Vigorito:  

It has been an amazing 41 years since I graduated. The adventure began on prom night. I remember that many of us wanted to book the Rascals for our prom. We were stuck with a decent but not very exciting band. We had lots of laughs at our table. My friends Mike Keegan, Joe Caruso, and Hal Quigley kept things lively. Our reservations for The Rainbow Room were cancelled due to Robert Kennedy's assasination the day before. We all loved Bobbie and it kinda put a dampener on the whole weekend. We left the Huntington Townhouse at about 11pm and let Joe drive us to Fort Salonga. I believe we had a case of beer and were out on the beach. I saved about $100 that night. Most of my friends should remember that I worked at the Mayfair Delicatessen. I was happy making two bucks and hour and hanging out in the Irish Pub two doors down. One day in mid August I came home from work and found Mr. Phillips (our Guidance Counselor) chatting with my mom. Together they decided that I needed to go to Southampton College. Mr. Phillips drove me out himself and convinced the Registrar to enroll me. They did,but all the dorm rooms were taken. I was allowed to stay in the renovated motels adjacent to the Campus Windmill. Wow, what a view. My porch turned out to be in the center of campus traffic. I was able to make many friends because of my screened-in porch. (to be continued) Southampton in 1968 was the center for culture on the entire East coast. I was exposed to music and art that was not to be found elsewhere. I studied and partied during the week and worked in the deli on the weekends. I drove back to campus on Sunday evenings loaded with roast beef, bread, and gravy for our weekly open-faced sandwiches. There was usually a small crown in my room waiting with paper plates in hand. I worked at the deli all summer and saved enough for books and room and board. I had a NYS Higher Education Loan that was guaranteed (ha. Three weeks into my second year I was informed that NYS ran out of Federal Loan money. Students with political savy knew that this was tricky Dicky's way of getting more students into the military. I lost my 2s, took 9 credits at SCCC, but it just wasn't the same. I just stopped going to classes after I won the draft lottery (#123). (To be continued). I enlisted in the U.S.A.F. and trained at Lackland AFB, Texas. I attended Tech School at Chanute AFB, just south of Chicago. I became an expert on Aircrew Safety and Survival. I supervised inspection and training at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina and Andersen AFB, Guam. I worked with F-4, B-52, and KC-135 Tanker crews. I managed to sneak in another year of college and was invited to re-enlist for officers training school. I almost accepted but chose civilian life instead. (to be continued) Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that I got married in 1971 when I received my 3rd stripe. Unfortunately, we parted ways on Thanksgiving Day, 1973. I moved 40 miles away to East Carolina University (ECU). I had learned how to be a very good student and majored in Psychology and Sociology. ECU was growing as the Eastern Campus of The University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill. I was asked to do grad level research with some famous professors. I was put in charge of orientation for all incoming female freshman in the Allied Health Program. I escorted (5) busloads of freshwomen to O'berry Center, the State Mental Hospital. Did I mention that I had a clipboard with all their names, dorm room assignments, and phone numbers? The VA was very good to me. I received $365.00 a month for education benefits. ECU was on the Quarter System back then and tuition was only $225.00 a quarter. Used books were cheap. I rented a beautiful Two Bedroom TownHouse just three blocks from campus. I had four roomates so the total monthly cost for everything was only $38.50 a month. I worked as a bartender/cook at the corner pizza restaurant.I became the new manager and then owner on my first night on the job. (to be continued). I have to confess that I partied every night for the next four years. Even when I slept (exhausted) on my recliner on Sunday evenings I was awakened by a party. ...Expand for more