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Mike Floyd

Thanks, Carlin, Russell and Melvin for your comments and the newspaper.

Mike Floyd

This message is being posted for Russell Flammia.

Hi folks, as a result of the generous donations of Tee Jay alumni and many others, here is a summary of what the Tee Jay Vikings Fund was able to accomplish in 2021. We're also excited about projects for the coming year. Depending on donations, we hope to purchase equipment for the boys' baseball and girls' softball teams. I was shocked to learn that a portion of the uniforms has to be purchased by the players themselves!   As we have for several years, we plan on funding two college scholarships along with other projects as we become aware of the needs. 

      Purchase of band equipment   $4098

      Teacher Appreciation                  $800

      Library reading incentive            $225

      Two Scholarships                     $3,000

      Folding Tables for special        $1,271

      events

      Bottled Water Summer Band        $77

      practice

      Box Lunches for the football

      team's out of town playoff 

      game                                          $300                                          

      New Basketball Scoreboard    $4,302

        Total amount of donations   $14,073

The Tee Jay Vikings Fund is a 501c3, so all contributions are tax-deductible. If you would like to join us in similar worthy projects with a contribution our address is:

      Tee Jay Vikings Fund

       PO Box 11451

       Richmond, VA  23230

Please feel free to visit our website    www.teejayvikingsfund.org

        Have a wonderful New Year and GO VIKINGS

                                                                 Russell

                                                                c804-382-1220 

Jim Barton (Tj '60)

Russell, Great job and THANKS for all your work and all you do for the Viking Fund 👏👍!<>>

I learned a few years ago, because of my following and attending games that the son of my friend and business colleague playing baseball in high school and American Legion and college, that while uniforms were provided by the school, the players had to provide their own equipment, bats, gloves, etc, which was quite expensive for a player like this young man, as he was a catcher and wore much additional protective gear.

Thanks again for all you do and keeping us aware of the Viking Fund accomplishments.

Russell Flammia

Jim, thanks for your kind response and sharing the information about your friend's son. For some reason our players had to buy the pants for their uniforns in addition to buying their gloves & some other equipment, so I'm hoping the donations will help will take care of this.  The Vikings Fund tries to fill in 'gaps' like this. Merry Christmas!

Belle Landrum

Carolyn Bendall,  my old neighbor and friend,

Happy Birthday on New Years' Day.  I  remember  our many times going "sleigh" riding on the country club hills.  We had great fun, and laughed every time Marie ended up in the ditch with her saucer.

I think of you often.  Have a great New Year.

Ed Wooldridge

 Russell, thanks for posting the information on the Viking Fund out on the website.  As a result, I made a contribution. Only thing I wish I had done was to make it in your honor for dedicating your life work to making Teejay a better place.  Happy New Year.  Ed

Russell Flammia

      Eddie, thank you for your donation to the Tee Jay Vikings Fund. Because of donations from classmates like you and other alumni, we're able to do the various projects that benefit our students and help to prepare them for the future. Our days and experiences at Tee Jay have benefited us, and this is your and my way of giving back. I'm very grateful for your donation.

           Thank you again,

                                     Russell

Bruce Weinstein

So sorry to hear about Billy Stanley. Whenever I was having a bad or so-so day, it was always great to see Billy or "Smiley" Hale because they wouldn't let you have a bad day. They both will be missed and remembered.

Sally Kincannon (von Rumohr)

There is no doubt about it -- Billy Stanley was a Class of '62 icon!  I already miss just knowing that he's out and about making people laugh.

Forrest Matthews

I did not see Billy Stanley very much these past few years but when I did he always made our visit enjoyable and rememberable

Carlin Hudgins (Hanzas)

After seeing the "In Memory " list of 77 classmates, I felt they had all passed away too early. It is hard to realize how fast life moves and that we are in the last quarter of our lives now!! I can still remember the names and faces of most of them.  It was an honor to have gone to school with them.  God Bless our Class of 1962!!

With much love and admiration,

Carlin Hudgins Hanzas

Sally Kincannon (von Rumohr)

Oh Carlin, You have expressed my feelings exactly, and probably those of most of our classmates!  As sad as it has been to say farewell to so many, we are able to acknowledge how lucky we are to have known them, and shared those important high school years with them.  Fortunately the gift of reflection comes with age, and it's important to acknowledge that gift.

Lila Bass (Hicks)

Carlin and Sally thank you both for your beautiful posts.  It is sad to see so many of our classmates have passed. Live, laugh, and love everyday. See you soon at the reunion. 💙🙏❤️❤️❤️

Jo-Ann Olkowski

The post about elder care really got my attention.  I'm an in-home caregiver for elders who cannot do a whole lot to take care of themselves. It's become a bit of a crisis in some areas, because there are so many elders who need help and not enoough caregivers to cover them. The agency I work for is in that position.  My current assignment is a really rough one that I hope won't put me in my grave.  I work a 12 hour shift from 8:00AM to 8:00PM Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I think I'm the only active caregiver on the assignment. There is one other person who only works 4 hours on Friday but I can't see that she does anything but stay on her cell phone regarding doctor appointments, etc.

This poor woman is in full blown Alzhimer's, very overweight, can't stand up or walk - she's flat on her back 24/7. It takes her husband and myself to turn her just to change her diapers. I do all the bathing and she desperately needs it after laying in poopy, urinated diapers for the hours I'm not there. Hubby is trying to push her too hard and too fast to do things she is not able to do.  He's determined she is not going to die,but will be able to live a full normal life.and it isn't going to happen.  I'm starting to worry about the hubby's mental situation.  My boss backs me up on things I know are too dangerous for her.

I've been doing this kind of work for years and it is very hard sometiimes.  I've pretty much done it all - cooking meals, feeding if necessary, house cleaning, laundry, bedsores (horrific stuff - a deatg sentence), bathing. It's hard - mentally, emotionaly, and physically.  Does having a caregiver cost a lot of money? You bet it does!!

Hope this gives a little insight into what we, as caregivers, do and how hard the assignment can be sometimes. Good health to all of you.

Jo-Ann

Mike Floyd

God bless you Jo-Ann for doing this work.  I can only imagine the stress and exhaustion.  You are a Godsend to those that you serve.

Mike

Carol Battige (Levine)

Jo-Ann you are an angel with the patience of Job.  I took care of my mom on my days off and she basically starved herself to death.  I would come home after work and fix her favorite foods for dinner and she wouldn't touch it.  She stayed in bed so much and got so weak that I have to hire a care giver also.  She didn't last very long not eating or drinking and died 3 days after she was taken to the hospital.  I just had a little vignette of what you live through.  Bless you for your caring.

Carol Levine

Russell Flammia

Jo-Ann-thank you for what you do. You & other caregivers are angels. We need more people who do what you do. I'm thankful that there are caregivers like you. God Bless you!

Jo-Ann Olkowski

Mike, Carol and Russell,

Thank you for your comments on elder care.You must have sent up a few prayers! My situation has changed for the better since my original post.  When my boss said he was sending another caregiver to my assignment I was thrilled to know it was a person I had worked with several years ago on another assignment.  She is a hard worker, fabulous cook and very good at house cleaning.  She's done this kind of work the better part of her life.  When you're black, poor and living in a shanty in Louisianna bayou country you do whatever you can to stay alive.  Her mother taught her well - initially on family members and progressed forward to others. She taught me a lot on our first assignment.  I haven't seen her yet as we work different days, but I've talked to her by phone - and my spirit has soared. We both want to talk to this couple's son to see if he can convince his father to follow our advice instead of balking.at everything we're trying to do. 

Thanks again for your uplifing posts.

Jo-Ann

Russell Flammia

Hi Jo-Ann. I'm happy to hear that your situation has improved. Care givers for elderly people I have known are wonderful people and have hearts of gold. Thank you for what you do.

Jo-Ann Olkowski

Thank you,Russell.

I think the horrors, fears and abuses of my childhood ultimatily made me compassionate as an adult. I love being able to take care of those who can no longer take care of themselves.and sometimes when they die I break down and cry like a baby. I have to leave the room because what I'm supposed to be supportive of the family and I can't until I pull myself together and come back in the room and do what I'm supposed to be doing.

Please pardon any typos.  I'm doing the old "hunt and peck" routine.I have I freeze burn on one of my fingers from a poorly designed, probably defective, de-icer canister. Fortunately, I have an excellent pharmacist. Any time I've had a small wound, she's told me what to buy and what to do and I've ended up with no infection, no scars.  The bandages have me at a disadvantage because it blocks the keyboard and it makes putting on my latex goves a little harder.

I don't think winter, snow, and iced up vehicles is ever going to end! I definitely don't believe in all this global warming business.

Take good care of yourself - and for those classmates who military veterans, thank you so very, very much for your service to your country. You have given the rest of usour freedom.

Jo-Ann

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

Did anybody besides Mary (Draney) Murray & Sally Kincannon & me see the story about the Fire at Fox School in the newspaper?   Do they need any help?

Jane Berkeley (Barton)

Yes, we certainly saw that and frankly marvel at how the City would allow so many things to deteriorate and become out of date, such as basic sprinkler systems.

Maybe they've run out of money what with all those recent expenses involved in removing so many of the offensive statues & so forth?

Just wondering;  of course, my apologies where appropriate.

Russell Flammia

        Hi follks, in regards to the Fox school fire a lot of donations have been received. A peviously closed school, Clark-Springs, is only 2 miles away and is undergoing some repairs ($500,000) so students will move into that building shortly. At the present time they are learning 'virtually'. The schooll is insured and according to the superintendent that will cover the cost of rebuilding, so I think Fox school, its students, and faculty will be fine.

Melvin Katz

My dear Classmates: Obviously the horror that is occuring in The Ukraine is so very devastating.

In my own family three of my grandparents came from that area. They came as children and very young adults as their parents sent them away from the destruction which was being placed against them, never to see their parents again. in the early 1900's by Russia. While watching the unfloding of these unprecidented attacks on the people of the Ukraine, I can only imagine how these people can survive this onslought. My wife and I are praying that this inhumanity will end soon and peoples lives can be saved. Please join me in prayer that our collective words of prayer will be answered. May G-D Bless these very brave people whose only fault was that they wanted to be a peacful nation only to be surrounded and penetrated by an army led by a man whose history is inflected with animus.

John Lennon penned these words in song............"Give Peace a Chance".

Marilyn Wolfe (Ruben)

Melvin, I have a feeling that your Grandparents must have known mine when they lived in Richmond, because one set of my great-grandparents also came from Ukraine (plus the other side of the family came from Lithuania and Poland). Watching the stories on tv and reading them online, I keep wondering HOW they managed to get out of there alive during those very tough years, to come to the USA!

And I wonder what they would say now about the plight of their follow countrymen, going through the same challenges & ordeals.  It's as if nothing has changed in close to 80 years!

G-d Bless the people of Ukraine!  

We will all pray for a Cease-Fire!