I'm sorry to report the passing of Morris Fishman, a classmate of mine at JC Nichols and SWHS. Morris graduated from Shawnee Mission East in 1961.

Morris Fishman, 73, of Merriam, KS, passed away Sunday, January 24, 2016 at his home. Funeral services will be at 1:00pm Wednesday, January 27, at The Louis Memorial Chapel, 6830 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64131 with burial to follow at Kehilath Israel Blue Ridge Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Organization International, P.O. Box 112188, Tacoma, WA 98411 or ACCOI.org. Morris was born on January 7, 1943, in Kansas City, MO to Abe and Yetta (Chuzie) Fishman. He was a graduate of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, with a BS in Medical Technology in 1966. He was Supervisor of the Microbiology Department at Providence - St. Margaret's Medical Center for 38 years. Morris taught microbiology to medical technology students throughout his career at Providence - St. Margaret's. He was a member of the Board of Infectious Disease, was a Past President of the Kansas City Medical Technology Association and was a member of a Meetups group, an intellectual organization. On December 8, 1973, he married Joyce Hill. They have been married for 42 years and raised two daughters and adopted a third in 1989. He was an avid fisherman and was "Grampa Fishy" to his grandchildren. Morris was an avid collector of curiosities, and he loved music, art history, and reading. He was a former member of Kehilath Israel Synagogue. Morris was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Cece Hill and a granddaughter, Kara Fishman-Armstrong. He is survived by his wife, Joyce Fishman; daughters and sons-in-law: Susie and Andy Armstrong, Norman, OK; Debra Fishman and fiance, Clint Kinkaid, Merriam, KS; Katie and Brandon Holladay, Kansas City, KS; grandchildren: Brandy Morales, Thomas Burns, Andrea Armstrong, Riley Burns and Audri Kinkaid. Online condolences at www.louismemorialchapel.com

Member of the Class of 1960 wishing we had a web site like this.

Check out his Ron Tyrl Rave:

http://www.ohehs.org/hof/ronaldtyrl.html

Ronald J. Tyrl

Ronald J. Tyrl, Emeritus Professor of Botany at Oklahoma State University, is the epitome of the teacher-scholar who has admirably served and continues to serve Oklahoma’s students and citizens. He is a premier teacher, having received numerous teaching awards for his outstanding performance in the classroom. Tyrl earned a B.A. degree cum laude in biology from Park College in Missouri in 1964, an M.S. in botany in 1967 and a Ph.D. in botany in 1969 from Oregon State University. He began his teaching career as an Assistant Professor of Biology at Park College. In 1972 he became an Assistant Professor of Botany and Curator of the Herbarium at OSU, subsequently retiring as a full Professor in 2008. He also has been a visiting professor of botany at the University of Oklahoma Biological Station.

Tyrl has received the prestigious Oklahoma Medal for Excellence in College and Teaching from the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence: has mentored more than 30 graduate students in his career, many of whom have become college professors themselves: has taught numerous Elderhostel courses: and has led wildflower tours in Oklahoma and Great Britain. He served on the first board of directors of the Oklahoma Native Plant Society and was president of the Oklahoma Academy of Sciences in 1998-1999 which awarded him its Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

Tyrl’s significant scholarly contributions include authorship or co-authorship of numerous books, journal articles, book chapters, and technical reports, including Toxic Plants of North America, Dyes from American Native Plants, Field Guide to Oklahoma Plants, and Keys & Descriptions for the Vascular Plants of Oklahoma. The last two books are the principal references for identification of the state’s plants.

Tyrl’s contributions to science education in Oklahoma at both the individual and organization levels are unparalleled among his academic peers. He has employed a variety of pedagogical approaches: formal lectures, field trips, mentoring, workshops, and public lectures. Tyrl is a true Oklahoma educational treasure!

 

My dad does not have computer so I print this off and take to him to keep him up to date.

Thanks to the committee for all the contact information.  I really wanted to be part of this reunion and planned a special trip to the US, but unfortunately, I must return to Israel before the events.  I\'ll miss you all!  So many memories came back, sunday classes as well as our seventh and eighth grade gang who one glorious nite found ourselves in the Brookside jail, especially scout friends from Border Star, Margie, Mary ellen, Mary Gilmore, whose mother was a terrific leader, Midge, Carol, Czarlinsky, Bryant, Doug, and two people about whom I was extremely sad to hear of their passing, Elaine Hydeman, and Wilson Tanner.
Be sure to call me when you come to Israel-I\'m waiting by the telephone!

 I\'ve dealt with several members of the committee on a bunch of different questions and issues that have come up. Many of you cannot imagine the amount of work that is going on behind the scenes and the tremendous amount of time availability they offer. They are true heroes for the rest of us.  I would not have imagined it I had not experienced it directly over and over. We all owe them such gratitude and appreciation. Let\'s show it! 

I\'ll never be able to express my sincere appreciation to the entire "Reunion Committee" for all their hard work in bringing this event to full term.

There are still many that haven\'t sent in profiles and some haven\'t up dated their pictures & some don\'t want to come to the festivities for one reason or another & I wish I could say something to get everyone on the same page.

50 years ago we all set out on the journey of life.  Some have accomplished their original goals, some have atained fame in something entirely opposite of what they thought, some have hit lows only to rebound and now better off, and others have had families and reared children that have now attained greatness but no matter how you look at it we have all done well in some areas or another and if for no other reason we should all be happy that we are still living.

Because of the efforts of the "Reunion Committee", I have made contact with classmates that I haven\'t even spoken with for over 50 years and it\'s all because of the Committees\' hard work.

I\'ve seen Traxler, Koch, & Zalcman through this site & now he & I hope to get together in Israel this December.  I just sent a message to Judy Johnson and she replyed.  It\'s good to know Criss Elliott is alive and well, &  Suzi Hansen and Roxy Watson, whom I haven\'t heard of since Freshman year are doing well. Jimmy Kohl is out of Turkey and coming Friday night.  I sent Richard Klien a message and now he\'s coming.  I lost track of Marilyn Shapiro in Nebraska and now I know she,s  in St. Louis & she left her phone #.  I\'ve communicated more with Lapides through this site than when we grew up on the same block, and it goes on. I\'ve even visited with Reco & when I was in Branson I went by Cox\'s place only to find out he was out of town, but never knew he had the car place, where I tried to purchase a classic some years back.

Boyce, Carl flies, no excuse not to come.  It must take 20 minutes to fly up here.  Arni, you got to come to to prove Tanner wrong about your good looks.  If I can go to Germany to check out Lonnecker the rest of you can travel the short distance to KC or at least do your "Profile" with a current picture.

Sorry, I guess I got carried away but we all have one thing in common, I for one would like to share it one more time.

We are really looking forward to seeing everyone for maybe one of the last times....Jeeez we are getting old! None of us look like we did 50 years ago (thank God) however, none of us are carrying the insecure/imature baggage we did then either.  Maturity is bliss.  This is going to be absloute fun."Will I see you in September, or lose you to a Summer love?" 

To those who have and are spending their energies putting this reunion together... I Thank You.
Will keep this reunion in thought even though I more then likely will not attend. Good Luck to all in the future.

I look exactly like I did at SW so I am sure you will remember me !!  I am full of shit.

Best times of my life. Will never forget 1961 and SWH

What is this a reunion for again?

I am looking forward to the Reunion!!

I plan to come.  The memories are coming back when I see different names.  I think it great to see if we can recognize anyone after so long. 

I plan to come.  Enjoyed our last reunion and even met classmates I didn\'t know from high school. Twas interesting and FUN !

Well I\'m still vertical (and vertically challenged). Great to see most of us are.

looking forward to seeing old friends!

 Would look forward to coming - will keep checking website.

Sounds like a great time; Be nice to see old friends.

Well, time does fly when you\'re having fun.  I look forward to seeing you all. Also, thanks to everyone working on this huge event.

I am so excited.  I wasn\'t sure the 50th would happen. Thanks to you guys who are doing the planning!  I look forward to seeing old friends again (and I don\'t mean old as in age!!)

Looking forward to our 50th!  It can\'t possibly have been that many years  . . .

Still alive and well........

I am looking forward to seeing everyone, it has been way too long.