Ed, great memories! Thanks so much for posting. It's sweet to know that you and he were so close, and like you I was greatly saddened by the news of his passing. I was always a little in awe of Fred for his popularity (especially with girls) and his fearless ease in front of a crowd. He was a natural, a born MC. He seemed so comfortable within himself, and because of this you couldn't help but be drawn to him. Fred and George were great together in Teahouse of the August Moon, despite the fact the Emmett Barcalow upstaged both of them with his perfectly timed comic relief. Little did I know back then that I would go on to a performing career that has spanned 40 years. I would so love to be able to talk to Fred now, and tell him how often I thought of him when battling my own stage fright. I would love to compare notes about losing yourself (or finding yourself) in your on-stage character, about the rarified friendships that can only occur backstage, about the time-honored tradition of live theater, and all the rest of it. He was yet another of our extraordinary 66ers.
I have to admit that I was stunned to see my name mentioned in a posting about HMHS. Teahouse of the August Moon. I hadn't thought about that experience in decades. The time I spent rehearsing for and performing in a few of our HS plays was the high point of my wholly undistinguished HS career. I think I also played Tommy in The Music Man. Who can forget George Sullivan's wonderful performance in that?
Frankly, I'm surprised that anyone remembers me. I would have liked to be closer to more of our many interesting and talented classmates such as Fred, but for the most part I felt like an outsider. However, I've enjoyed and been impressed reading about the accomplishments and contributions of many classmates whom I remember well and fondly. I am sad about the early deaths of too many of them. These days it feels like old age doesn't begin until age 80. They died much too young.
Dr. Emmett (from Columbia, no less), I admit when I saw your Professor of Philosophy moniker, I immediately Googled you and picked up a copy of Open Questions. Very impressive, beautifully written, and with an Oxford University Press imprint. Dude, your papers are in order! I will admit that my philosophical introspection these days is usually limited to observing my 11-year-old beagle and seeing how she handles life's inequities and conundrums so much more gracefully than I do.
As to feeling like an outsider and thinking no one remembers you, I (and no doubt many others) felt the same but was pleasantly surprised to discover otherwise. Via social media (Facebook mostly) I now have closer and more meaningful associations with many 66ers than ever during high school. It has been both a healing and a rekindling. And yes, there are many of us with lives of significant experience, achievement, and contribution – another lovely discovery. Hope to see you at the reunion.
Janet Haynes Lehman contributed this article from the Town Crier-Herald in April 1966 announcing the HMHS production of Music Man. Fred and Stephanie Fanjul played the Mayor and First Lady of River City, Iowa. Fred and Stephanie also played husband and wife in The Miracle Worker, November, 1965, as Captain and Mrs. Keller. Fred was also Captain Mclean in Teahouse of the August Moon, March 1965.
I was cast as the lead role, Captain Fisby, I think, in Teahouse of the August Moon, in our junior year by Miss Desmond and spent hours rehearsing my lines with Nancy Justice. A little over a month before the play was scheduled to be presented, it was decided that my educational career would be better served by attending Valley Forge Military Academy which is where I spent the balance of Junior year and graduated in 1966. Miss Desmond was livid, of course, but fortunately George took my place and went on to do an admirable job , most likely much better than I would have done.
Josh Gitomer
Ed, great memories! Thanks so much for posting. It's sweet to know that you and he were so close, and like you I was greatly saddened by the news of his passing. I was always a little in awe of Fred for his popularity (especially with girls) and his fearless ease in front of a crowd. He was a natural, a born MC. He seemed so comfortable within himself, and because of this you couldn't help but be drawn to him. Fred and George were great together in Teahouse of the August Moon, despite the fact the Emmett Barcalow upstaged both of them with his perfectly timed comic relief. Little did I know back then that I would go on to a performing career that has spanned 40 years. I would so love to be able to talk to Fred now, and tell him how often I thought of him when battling my own stage fright. I would love to compare notes about losing yourself (or finding yourself) in your on-stage character, about the rarified friendships that can only occur backstage, about the time-honored tradition of live theater, and all the rest of it. He was yet another of our extraordinary 66ers.
Emmett Barcalow
I have to admit that I was stunned to see my name mentioned in a posting about HMHS. Teahouse of the August Moon. I hadn't thought about that experience in decades. The time I spent rehearsing for and performing in a few of our HS plays was the high point of my wholly undistinguished HS career. I think I also played Tommy in The Music Man. Who can forget George Sullivan's wonderful performance in that?
Frankly, I'm surprised that anyone remembers me. I would have liked to be closer to more of our many interesting and talented classmates such as Fred, but for the most part I felt like an outsider. However, I've enjoyed and been impressed reading about the accomplishments and contributions of many classmates whom I remember well and fondly. I am sad about the early deaths of too many of them. These days it feels like old age doesn't begin until age 80. They died much too young.
Josh Gitomer
Dr. Emmett (from Columbia, no less), I admit when I saw your Professor of Philosophy moniker, I immediately Googled you and picked up a copy of Open Questions. Very impressive, beautifully written, and with an Oxford University Press imprint. Dude, your papers are in order! I will admit that my philosophical introspection these days is usually limited to observing my 11-year-old beagle and seeing how she handles life's inequities and conundrums so much more gracefully than I do.
As to feeling like an outsider and thinking no one remembers you, I (and no doubt many others) felt the same but was pleasantly surprised to discover otherwise. Via social media (Facebook mostly) I now have closer and more meaningful associations with many 66ers than ever during high school. It has been both a healing and a rekindling. And yes, there are many of us with lives of significant experience, achievement, and contribution – another lovely discovery. Hope to see you at the reunion.
Vincent Summers
Actually, over the years, I have often thought of Emmett.
Vicki Meece (Knowles)
Janet Haynes Lehman contributed this article from the Town Crier-Herald in April 1966 announcing the HMHS production of Music Man. Fred and Stephanie Fanjul played the Mayor and First Lady of River City, Iowa. Fred and Stephanie also played husband and wife in The Miracle Worker, November, 1965, as Captain and Mrs. Keller. Fred was also Captain Mclean in Teahouse of the August Moon, March 1965.
Nelson Widell
I was cast as the lead role, Captain Fisby, I think, in Teahouse of the August Moon, in our junior year by Miss Desmond and spent hours rehearsing my lines with Nancy Justice. A little over a month before the play was scheduled to be presented, it was decided that my educational career would be better served by attending Valley Forge Military Academy which is where I spent the balance of Junior year and graduated in 1966. Miss Desmond was livid, of course, but fortunately George took my place and went on to do an admirable job , most likely much better than I would have done.
Vicki Meece (Knowles)
Nelson, that's brutal that you got ripped out of school mid-year. It would have been fun to see you on-stage. It's never too late!
Nelson Widell
It actually was good for me since I was spending most of my free time playing the guitar and goofing off.
Vincent Summers
Are you kidding? Nelson doesn't have to go on stage. He's on stage at all times. One of the liveliest of HMHS students.
Vicki Meece (Knowles)
Frederick French Walker, 1970
Pennsylvania Military College
(Thank you, Ed Madden, for finding this great photo. Truly one of the Magnificent Seven!)