Photos of the 50th reunion are available after signing in 

just click on yearbooks and photos

Thomas Davis

Good morning, David (Goethel). That's a hell of an introduction in your new book! Not at all what I was perhaps expecting. But I look forward to reading how the story plays out once I pick up a copy. (Read the intro on the local library's app.) Congratulations, BYW, on its publishing.

Also loved the pic of you and your brother, I presume, with a fresh catch on the line. Just like I remember you back—way, way back—in the day at Hillside, et al. Hmmm, those memories promise to get my own brain working.

No book publishing credits on my CV. I instead thoroughly enjoyed a creative and rewarding career in the advertising, branding, design, and marketing communications biz. Was fortunate to meet and work with a vast array of clients representing fishing(!), running, and other consumer products, medical and healthcare, financial and investment services, legal, B2B, tech, and more. Every day was always new and different, which I thrived on.

Returned to the East Coast after 10 years in Southern California one year ago at this time. Now enjoying the slower life of semi-retirement down here in Stuart, FL. Fishing, golfing, swimming, painting, exploring, etc fill the days.

All the best to you and yours, Tom

Suzanne Pike (Seri)

Congrats, David , on your book!  I think I remember chatting with you at 1 of our reunions at the Sheraton.  Our fathers both had John Hancock connections, if I remember correctly.

Writing a book is no small task!  I know a few people personally here who have written books.  I've read one, need to buy another, and now we have you too.  I remember going fishing but the sitting still part was very challenging.  I got mosquito bites, no fish, my husband caught a boot...

I do enjoy eating fish, but not catching them.  2 of our neighbors occ show up at our house with fresh-caught striper.  Mostly in a black trash bag filled with ice.  Dror has taken over the kitchen as he's learned how to prepare it for cooking.  A very messy job but soooo worth it.

You and I both went to Newman before NHS.  I don't remember if we were in any classes together.  I was in 7-3 when we had the divisions.

Best of luck and congratulations again!

John Dewey

That's great.  my cousin Chris Newbert (NHS 68 or 69) publibished 2 book on underwater photography.  He was even on Good Morning Arerica several times!

Richard McManus

David,

I've started reading your book.  Great job!  As John Martin indicated, I too have been attracted to the sea.  As with yourself, it started in elementary school (Broadmeadow) when my dad bought a 21' gunter rigged, bilge keel, wooden sloop.  We kept it on a ball in Onset and eventually in a slip in Scituate.  He and I were sailing buds and spent many days on the water.  My wife and I have sailed extensively in the Pacific Northwest and made one cruise to Alaska and back.  Most recently we lived on a 38' Island Packet cutter sailing the East Coast from Maine to Florida and the Bahamas for about 6 years.  Good clean fun and many grand adventures… 

Thanks for documenting your adventures, it makes great reading for someone who's also spent time on the water.

Rich McManus

Chris Pooley

David,

Publishing a book is a huge achievement!  I look forward to reading it.

with best wishes, 

-chris pooley

Pauline Harwood (Wright)

Dave,

your book looks fascinating, I love the water and

Boats, My hubby's family sailed a 28 foot cape dory in new London , and Long Island Sound, so I know he will  enjoy your book too. 
best wishes for it to be successful!

Pauline HaRwood Wright 

Carol Atwood (Toran)

Sorry to make this message of loss of our dear classmate Mike Ffitzgerrald

information is  on the Eaton funeral home website

Remembering Mike as a great athlete with a kind hearted smile. 
Betsey sorry to hear of this loss of your high school sweetheart and life long partner. Many fond memories. 
Thoughts and prayers
From the class of NHS1971

David Goethel

So sorry to hear of Mike's passing. I'm pretty sure we spent free periods playing cards Sr year.  

I am having a difficult time trying to answer everyone's individual posts about my book.  I can write, I just can't deal with computers.  At least I have moved on from sending messages with my homing pigeons!

I'd like to thank all of you for the kind words about my book.  I hope you all enjoy it. 

In answer to some of your questions; I did know Tom Kunz at BU, he was my advisor and Scott Kraus was at the Aquarium while I was there but we didn't cross paths much.  

Anyone down near Stuart, Florida this winter, I am hoping to do a couple book readings there.  Look me up if you are near there egoethel@comcast.net.

And Suzanne, yes I was in 7-3 with you seventh grade.

Hope to hear more from all of you,

David

Carol Atwood (Toran)

FYI

2 gifts to myself as winter sets in just thought i would like to share.

The first is a book about the murderer of Holly Davidson one word... sad. RIP dear classmate Holly who was a lost soul.
Such a gripping crime story  to read about the ivestigation and conviction of Leonard Paradiso otherwise known as Lenny the "Quahog"also labeled "Bostons Unknown Serial killer". This book called "The Paradiso Files"A look inside the criminal justice system  and the prosecution of this horrible criminal by attorney Tim Burke (the father of my sons friend). Thank you Attorney Burke for your dedication.

who knew?

 on a Happier note to read

You already know about the other book by David Goethel is so far spectacular. Maybe as a girl who spent summers visiting my grandmother in Nova Scotia this book was sure to hit home. Much of my time there was spent at the fishing piers. My Uncle Joe Greenwood out of Shag Harbor N.S. had a huge boat building business. Thanks David for a good read!

Carol Atwood (Toran)

Oh just one more thing to all our friends and families

Happy New Year Class of Needham High 1971 !

Diane Bratiotis (Newman)

Happy New Year , Carol thanks so much for sharing the info on the Book regarding Hollys death. I worked with her at Birds Hill Pharmacy and was so taken aback when she was found murdered.   She ran with a tough crowd but was always so nice to me and to work with.   She was full of life....so very sad

Linda L. Marston, PhD

Happy New Year, Class of Needham High 1971 !!

Pauline Harwood (Wright)

as does the other one

Such a horrible story about Hollly

but the book sounds fascinating , so ill never sure to get both, meanwhile happy 24, to all 

David Goethel

Hi Carol,

Thank you for the comment on my book. I am glad you were able to spend time in Nova Scotia. For those that are interested I covered the intricasies of bringing a Canadian built boat into an American fishery in my book.  Your Uncle Joe was a prolific builder of quality wooden boats, a number of which ended up in New Hampshire. What you may not know is another relative Stanley "chainsaw" Greenwood has built an even higher number of fiberglass lobster boats currently used in the US. Fishermen here thought the nickname "chainsaw" came from the rough finish of these boats which made them very affordable as in "chainsaw" carpentry. However the real story is more interesting. Stanley took a chainsaw to the mold over which the fiberglass is laid and cut it into six pieces which he could then spread out to customize length and breadth of hulls to the customers wishes. This revolutionized fiberglass boat construction and has been adopted throughout the industry. He won an award for boat construction in the 2010's. These relatives of yours are very famous Canadians in the maritime industry.

David

Carol Atwood (Toran)

Sorry the website has been down for maintenance.
It is back up and running.

Philip Hopfe

Happy New Year to all!

Interesting all this talk about Nova Scotia.  Debbie, my wife and I just returned from a 12 day visit there.  While we live on Vancouver Island, we have decided to relocate to Nova Scotia.   This has been under discussion in our household for the past few years.  Having spent the last 19 years on the West Coast we are missing the Atlantic seaboard.  The West Coast is beautiful and the people nice, but we miss the East Coast culture, people and places.   It is not a question of one being better than the other, they're just different.   Our recent trip was to see if it made sense and if we wanted to return.   It's a huge life change as we are well ensconced in our community here on the island.  While we are both in excellent health time is moving fast.  We decided that if we are to move we need to jump on it while we still have the health and energy to do so.  It's been quite tough thinking about picking up and moving across the continent a second time, but sometimes you just need to get uncomfortable to experience a full and exciting life.  And oh boy, we're feeling it, HA!  

We are hoping to find a place on the south shore in the Lunenburg area of Nova Scotia.  Lunenburg is a historic UN heritage site . While we have looked at a few places we can't consider buying anything until we sell our place here.  RE has gone bonkers here in Canada so we need to be in a position to buy when we find the right place. (My days of "creative" financing are behind me.) We used Mahone Bay as our base camp and searched from Halifax to Liverpool.   Halifax, Mahone Bay , Chester, Lunenburg, Bridgewater and Liverpool were all candidates, but the Lunenburg area won out. 

Now back on the Vancouver Island we have  begun the process of getting our house and lives in order to sell.

While it's a huge undertaking, we are energized and excited by it all. It's a bit overwhelming and we question our sanity ( that's not new), but sometimes you just need to get uncomfortable.  Hopefully it will all work out , if not there's always plan ? .  I have a great partner in Debbie so I'm sure things will work out.  Though I don't really relish the idea of living in a van at 70 !

As for boats....we know about moving boats around.   Bought one in Seattle once, shipped it to RI. Then had one built in NH , had that one shipped to Vancouver and now we are selling our classic wooden Grand Banks Sedan cruiser to a guy in Montana .  As noted, it's quite the process....

I thought I would share this with you seeing the connections some of you have with the Maritimes.  Who knows one of you may end up on our doorstep if we pull this off.   What would be cool 😎.

I will leave you now wishing the entire class all the best and continued good health for this New Year !

Take care and be well, Phil & Deb

Ps:  We actually looked at the home of the first Captain of the Bluenose . It Canada's iconic schooner famous for having won numerous fish boat races.  Though it is said, some of those wins were questionable.  If it is still available when we're ready to buy, it might be the place......won't know till we get there.  Hey, we'll be much closer, we might make the next reunion!

David Goethel

Hi Phil,

Good luck with the move. I am sure it will be an arduous undertaking. The Bluenose was, in my opinion, the finest wooden fishing schooner ever built. In the time before refrigeration, the vessel that could reach port the fastest had a true competitive advantage. The schooner races between the Gloucester fishing schooners and the Bluenose were epic events. I was born 100 years too late.

David

Philip Hopfe

Hey David,  

Thanks for the support!  Yes, I suspect it will get a bit crazy in the coming months , but it will keep us on our toes.  I'm fortunate to have had  my wife Debbie by my side these past 41 years.  She's been a trooper and has never shied from a new adventure. 

Boats have been a passion of mine for many years.  Old wooden boats even more so.  We're selling our wooden 1966 classic 32 Grand Banks Sedan Cruiser after a two year refit and a year of cruising.   It was hull #11 of the 864 American Marine ,( now Grand Banks), built in HK.   When we brought it up to Nanaimo here on Vancouver Island I tied it up only to discover the boat in the slip next to me was hull #10 !   They  were built side by side 58 years ago , went off and cruised their own course for fifty-eight years and then reunited moored nose to nose in Canada.  Blows my mind.  Maybe it's the power of twins.....lol!

Funny thing though, I enjoy working on boats  more than cruising.  Maybe because I find it more relaxing.  I'm sure you know, more than I will ever know,  that being on the water can be a dangerous place.  Then there's the boat. No matter how much you keep them up to snuff, things can go sideways at any time.  I will never forget we were transiting a tight narrows here in the islands.  The winds  were howling and seas were rough .  We were in a much smaller glass pilot house lobster boat we had built in NH.  As I entered the narrows I was thinking I probably shouldn't be here at that moment, but I was committed at that point.  Seconds later old King Neptune decided I needed a lesson. A huge wave crested and a wall of green water engulfed the entire boat.  That was years nearly 20 years ago and the thought of it still freaks me out.  To this day I do not know why the pilot house's windows were not blown out or why we didn't go down.  I was able to close the v-berth door scream to Deb to hang on  and we made it.  The one other thing that helped was that when the boat was being built , I flew out to NH for a mid build inspection.  I first thing that caught my attention were the scuppers. 
They were tiny,  the size of a bathtub drain.  I had them opened up and boy was it the right call.   The other thing about that boat was its weight .  It being glass I never felt it was heavy enough . The hull had the right shape , but it lacked sea kindliness.  From then on all our boats have been wooden hulled.  I know many of the Maine commercial boat builders have been going back to wooden hulls and lighter composite super structures in recent years.  Apparently the hulls absorb a lot of the diesel engine's low level vibrations which in turn don't wear on fisherman's bodies and joints. They are also heavier and more seakindly.  I read an article years ago in wooden boat how it helps a fishermen extend their working life at sea.  U of Maine conducted a study which supported the thesis.  I found it interesting and it supported my learned first hand experience that wood is good.  

Once settled in NS, whenever that will be, I'll be looking for a 16/18 foot open skiff with an OB to muck about in. I'm hoping to find an old wooden one is some yard up there . Not a derelict, but one that needs a little TLC.  That will probably take me till my meeting with Davey Jones or I would like to think.  The problem is that with me I have a history of, " my last boat".  I swear they're like drugs.

I didn't set out to ramble on about boats, but I did.  You take care, be well and thanks again. All the best for this New Year,

Phil 
PS:  haven't got to your book yet, but I will.  Might be NEXT winter's read, HA!

Chris Pooley

Phil,

Good luck on the move!  Ginny Vasal Dorn and I are moving from Needham to Plymouth, MA in the next two months.  Moving is never fun!

Your story about a boating adventure reminded me that boating, hiking, and skiing all have the common element of surprise when a great day outdoors suddenly turns into a survival situation.  Whether it is a storm, fluke wave, blizzard, equipment failure or an injury things can change quickly in the great outdoors.  I'm still skiing and plan to head out west for some powder skiing this winter.

Best wishes, 

-chris

Philip Hopfe

Hey Chris , nice to hear from you and thanks for the support. Good luck with your move as well.  
 

What's  with all this moving.  I get the 7 year itch thing, but at 70 this was not suppose to be the case. Wrong again.  Thought retirement was about settling in , relaxing and stuff like that. Apparently not!  
 

We skied for years. Deb grew up on a mountain the lift walking distance from her childhood home, Grouse Mt. which over looks the city of Vancouver.  She remembers when Whistler was a puma lift , a sole cabin and the town dump.  Now, as I am sure you know, it's an international ski destination.  It also got crazy expensive.

You take care and enjoy the POWDA!   😎

Suzanne Pike (Seri)

Hi Everyone, good luck with your moving!  I try to look at moving as an adventure, a new discovery, a new life chapter.  Plymouth is a cool place-I meet  our kids, or Linda Dempsey and Anna Fontecchio there to celebrate our birthdays sometimes.  It's not far from Falmouth.  Where in Plymouth are you going to move?  Pinehills is there, it's huge!

Then there's the cross-country Canada move!  That will be exciting too.  More snow in NS, but only 1 hr ahead of Boston in time zone change, I think.  Hope you have remembered your French from NHS?  I went to McGill to study French, only to find that the accent was waaaay different from the NHS French I learned.  Then I got used to it.  I have a friend in New Brunswick, we lived in the same dorm our first year of college.  I don't know a lot about boats, but I hope you enjoy what you do with them once you move.

How did you get to live in Canada, Phil?  It's super hard to get Canadian citizenship these days.  I could have become a landed immigrant back in the 1970s when I was a student, but I waited too long.  1 of my friends married a Canadian just to become a citizen.  Back then, they weren't asking a lot of questions to see if the marriage was real or just for convenience.

David, congrats on your book!  Hope you continue to find good subjects that keep you writing.

Philip Hopfe

Hi Suzanne,   It is so nice to hear from all our classmates and to receive the support they have shown.   Debbie and I couldn't agree more with you about moving being a new adventure and a new chapter in our lives.
 

How I arrived in Canada......  I met Deb, a Canadian, 43 years ago in Sweden and we were married 41 years ago in small town in western PA.   Prior to our marriage we started our adventure in West Virginia.  We then moved to PA,CT, MA, RI, and Vancouver, BC.  We came to Vancouver to be with and assist Deb's aging mom. When she passed away at 92 we crossed the strait to our present location , Chemainus on Vancouver Island.  We thought we were done as the plan was to retire here. Apparently, we got it wrong, too funny.  Oh, I forgot a we had a short stop back in Needham between PA and CT.  We are thinking that this next move to NS will be the last, but considering our track record, it may not be the case, HA!  Deb's Mom's family arrived in Canada in 1666, on one of the first boats from France. Her Dad's family were British loyalists  who moved up from Vermont in 1779.  French was Deb's first language and while her English is better than mine, she still defaults to Québécois when talking to family. And yes, Québécois is very different than French, French.   In Brittany one will find similarities seeing many immigrated here from Brittany in the first waves that came over from France. Well travelled, Deb also speaks a bit of Italian and a smattering of Swedish , but those are bit rusty and would need to be refreshed.  While I still retain my US citizenship , I became a Canadian citizen in 2011.  I now hold the dubious honour of be able to pay taxes in two countries.  Fortunately, we Expats do not get double taxed, but we sure do have a lot of reporting to do.  The CRA, IRS and the US Treasury like to keep tabs on us and require extensive filings which are quite detailed.  They also seem to enjoy follow up questions, which require even more additional filings.  "Cross border"  accountants are essential and they do very well.  No one tells you this stuff when you leave.  It was a real surprise for sure.  While tax season can be a burden I have never regretted moving to Canada.  It's not better or worse, just different.  We have all the same issues  and problems, but on a different scale.  One thing that does standout is health care.  We do prefer our healthcare system here even with its inherent problems. Sometimes it can be inconvenient as care is triaged. You get the care you need, if and when you need it. It is not free as we pay via our tax structure.  We like that our fellow citizens are all covered and no one will lose their home or life savings due to a catastrophic medical condition.
So far it has worked very well for us. 

I think one telling difference between Canada and the US was pointed out by a Canadian historian who once observed.....Canada's culture was based on,  "peace, order and good governance".  America's culture was based on, "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness ".   Whether one would agree or not, it is an interesting observation.  
 

As for boats...I would recommend that anyone with obsessive or addictive tendencies stay far away from boats.  Knitting , gardening or lawn bowling might be a better choice. 

We are also prolific gardeners growing a wide array of organic veggies, herbs , and ornamental flowers. Chemainus is located on Vancouver Island in the Cowichan Valley.  The name Cowichan is an English adaptation of the local First Nations people and means, " warm land'.   We have what climatologist call a Mediterranean Climate .  We are the envy of all of Canada seeing we have the warmest weather to be found north of the 49th parallel.   Presently we are still harvesting, kale, lettuces, beet greens, chards and a variety of herbs as well as onions in our greenhouse. Palm and banana trees can be found throughout the valley and we are the home of some of Canada's finest vineyards.  It's quite a place.   Moving to NS will be different and we will have to change our approach to gardening, but like you said, it will be a new chapter in our lives and a new adventure. We are looking forward to the change and feel confident it will go well.

Thank you for reaching out and your positive perspective on our move.   At some point I'll send out an update, but I have no idea when. I might have to report at our next reunion. I believe we are going to be quite busy going forward. I send along best wishes to you and your family for this New Year. Take care and be well, Phil.

Pauline Harwood (Wright)

A new grand baby sue! How exciting!!!

And Phil, my hubby and I are into boats and boating too! you are right it's addictive!  My hubby's family sailed the had a 28 '. cape Dory  they took all over Maine coast , and long island sound etc,I grew up on the ocean down humarock, so we were a good match! I'm happy anytime I'm on the water , and fortunate we don't get sea sick! We've had a few close calls ourselves . One time in block island sound coming into Jamestown area in Narragansett bay on the west side of Jamestown island a mini tornado was swirling around , I thought we were going to die! my hubby found a little harbor and we dropped anchor,  or maybe grabbed a mooring, I forget, I said , let's get off the boat and get on land! He said no stay here!  He stayed in the cockpit and watched the storm, I went in the cabin, and turned on the Tv! So I wouldn't be paying attention , if I was going to die, I didn't want to be knowing about it ahead of time! Lol now wh have  vacation home in naine on long lake , and stay out of the I ocean, and do all our boating on long lake in a 23 foot four  wins bow rider! But it gets us out  on the water, and maintenance   is so much easier not in salt water!  ( I still miss sleeping out on the boat!)   I have something in common with your wife, I am French Canadian decent on both my mother and fathers side, my mothers family was from van buren Maine , Acadian French , who beat the Brit's and got land grants from King George in mid 1700's , 14 Acadian French families settked in van buren , my mothers grandmothers house is the one in the middle of the Acadian  village in van buren! My grandfather Sylvio martin was 6'3" tall and blonde French because they were from Normandy or Brittany part  france, so the were Brits , not Gauls, and somewhat related to the Dutch . ( tall and blonde)  tough  people!  Otherwise they would have been sent down to Louisiana with the rest of the French as in the poem Evangeline! I come from tough stock!  On my fathers side , his English ancester George Paul HaRwood came to Montreal in 1781 with the British royal Press  and married Marguerite leussoeur , so yes my HaRwood Royal name got lost to a French girl in Canada!!, fir generations of Harwwod men marrying French women, finally moved to Boston , and two generations of Harwoid men marrying Irish women!  And then my father married a French woman! , so we carry this very English royal name if HaRwood ! But we have very little English Bloiod ! Mostly French and Irish ! And maybe 1/4 English and  mostly  because in 23 and me, the French on my mothers side who are from Brittany. Show up as British! Anyway, we gave Vern to Nova Scotia and all of Quebec and New Brunswick and love it there! Love the surprisingly warm water in Prince Edward Island! Lunenburg is gorgeous , we stayed there on a vacation once! I'd love to meet your wife , her background sounds fascinating! Chris and Ginny I love Plymouth ! I'm jealous a bit! I get the new chapter thing, I'm writing this from Florida, we are here for a month! But we just rent for now, we are making no commitments to Florida! Kids and family are all in ma! So ma and naine is it for now! I finally llove my little town of hopedale and don't want to leave ! 

Nice catching up with old needham friends! 

Philip Hopfe

Hey Pauline,

Jamestown was one of our favourite places to visit on our boat when we lived in RI.   Dutch Harbour on the western shore just as you enter the western passage. The Eastern side the village of Jamestown just opposite Newport.  We spent many days in that area.  Chopmist Charlie's was a great watering hole and food joint at the top of the hill and  the Narragansett for beer, pool and Blues.  Across the bay to Newport with tons of stuff to do.  Boating in RI and Block Island is  tough to beat.  

The French Canadian people had strong ties throughout New England.   The second largest FC population outside of Quebec was Woonsocket, RI.   Still to this day you will hear French spoken in some of the neighbourhoods there.  They came down to work in the textile mills .  There is also the French Canadian museum of work and culture located there.

So, you reside in Hopedale now?  Interesting, another town I spent some time in.  Small world.  I can only imagine how much it has changed.  There was a pond or maybe lake in Sherbon where I first learn to sail. I want to say it was a penguin class, but  not sure. 

There was also a watering hole and good burger place out that way.  Maybe Hopkinton? The train tracks ran right next to it and if the train went buy you'd get a drink or discounted drink.   Funny what we remember.

I think we were all so fortunate to grow up in the area.  It also appears we were all afforded a good education at Needham High before we Rockets were launched into the world.  It pleases me so many have done well.  Sad to those hear about those who are no longer with us, but there's no escaping that last dance. Until then enjoy, eh!

Deb is amazed at how connected our class is .  She thinks it is great.   Me too.   As always, take care and be well.   Enjoy your stay in FL.

Philip Hopfe

Charles, nice boat !    We lived in Lincoln , RI for 19 years.  We raced, J24s, 30s, and a Capri 30 which was Catalina's stripped down racing boat. Not sure how, but I ended up crewing for folks like Ken Read a two time Yachtsman of the Year winner and Phil Garland of Hall's Spar a seven time J24 world champion.  I was definitely punching up above my weight.   Oh, that was it, they needed rail meat !  More in line with my abilities, Deb and I cruised our Pearson 26 , "Bateau".  It sailed well and was comfortable enough to spend a few nights on.  Deb raced on an all woman's Rolex J24 team and had BIG fun.   I could not agree with you more that the cruising the area around RI is some of the best in the world!   While we have had boats out here in BC and the Gulf and San Jaun Islands are in sight of my front porch we both miss the boating culture back East. Once  resettled, I'll be looking for two little boats, a day sailor and a OB skiff, both in the 16 to 18 foot range.  We have never done the Newport-Bermuda race , but friends from Jamestown have.  Pretty sure our friend  Rob Lambert took a third place in one class a few years back.    We kept our boats in Swansea,  Mt. Hope  Bay  at one time, as well as East Greenwich. Great time in those days.  When we have visited back East we generally hang with boating friends in Bristol and south Dartmouth. Part of the reason we're moving is to be closer to that area.  My ashes are going swimming in those waters one day!  Enjoy and be well...Phil. 😎