Subject: Questions
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 09:32:55 +0200
From: "Susie Hampy"; Susie.Lentz@t-online.de (Susie Lentz)
To: "Byrkit, David"; ALL

David,

I'm questionning your dates for Plowe to direct the orchestra 1897-98, when in the next sentence you make a comment on a possible hometown director (Huber and Spezessy). My guess is that Huber and Szepessy were born somewhere around my parents' birth year -- 1912. Both men were family friends and musicians with my father, Herman Hampy, who died far too early in 1953. And for those of you wondering if Elmer Szepessy is still kicking, there was a short write up on him in our last Lions' Pride PHS Alumni Assn. May 2002 newsletter (for those of you who haven't yet joined the Alumni Assn., I would encourage you to join).

J. Elmer Szepessy, former orchestra instructor at PHS and music coordinator for District 150, was inducted into the Eureka College of Fine and Performing Arts Hall of Fame. Mr. Szepessy taught music in District 150 from 1938-1977. He was a member of the Peoria Symphony for 24 years and founded the Central Illinois Youth Symphony. He now enjoys skeet shooting and hunting quail.

To those organizing the reunion, perhaps an idea is to invite several of the teachers we knew to join us at the reunion, including Mr. Szepessy, if any of them are still around.

Yes, I agree that we grew up in an easier, more simplified time than now -- but perhaps every generation says that.

Cheers,
Susie Hampy Lentz