Walt Whitman
High School
Class of 1969
Leland Gamson
| I Reside: | Marion, IN USA |
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| Spouse/Partner: | Bonnie |
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| My Homepage: |
www.lelandpgamson.com lelandpgamson@gmail.com |
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| My Children: | Among our canine children, only Apricot, age 19, is alive. The others have joined, "the animals in Heaven More… |
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| Occupation(s): | Retired VA Social Worker, currently writing and involved in Methodist ministry |
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| Military Service: | USAR for 23 years,Indiana Guard Reserve for nine  |
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Leland's Latest Interactions
Yes, smart, witty and helpful describe Simeon. We were on the Pyle literary magazine and the Black&White staff together. I remember how Simeon would wip out a saterical version of the newspaper for the staff on a regular bases. After two years on the Black&White staff, I wanted to write under less pressure, material that would last. Lisa Gessow suggested I switch to the SAGA. I knew I had tell the Black&White's hard driving sponsor, Dr.B., and feared her angry response. Not knowing what to tell Dr.B, I asked Simeon for advice. He said, "Tell her that you want to experience as much as possible during your high school days by being on both the newspaper and the yearbook. If she gets mad, just remember that she is here for us not us for her." Thanks to you Simeon I was able to get my reason accross to her and deflect an angry reponse.
There is more wit now in Samayin as Simeon has entered there.
Ross was an active participant in our Freshman English class where Mr. R encouraged us to share our thoughts. While not close friends, we frequently talked to each before and after class. Ross was a likeable, easy going people person. It is comforting to learn, from his obituary, how he lead such a rich life as a teacher, coach mentor, family man, friend of animals and active church member.
I look foreward to seeing you again, Ross, at the great Whitman reunion in the Sky.
Posted on: Dec 30, 2023 at 4:33 AM
The best word to describe Laura is "mensch". In Hebrew Sunday School she was always engaged and enchouraged us slower learners. In our highly competative high school she graduated valedictorian while being humble and kind to evryone. It is so admirable that she put her Yale and Harvard degees to use to protect our environement and the health and welfare of the most vulnerable among us.
The best word to describe Laura is "mensch". In Hebrew Sunday School she was always engaged and encouraged us slower learners. She graduated valedictorian in our highly competitive high school while being humble and kind to everyone. It is so admirable that she put her Yale and Harvard degrees to use to protect our environment and the health and welfare of the most vulnerable.
Howie's fondness for people was always apparent. I visited his fur store once, to catch up with him. He was the same likeable jolly guy, he was in school. He didn't mind that I had no interest in animal furs. You will be missed Howie, rest in peace.
Leland Gamson
Thank you so much, Sharon, for sharing this article about our fellow class mate, John. "There is no greater love than this, that one should lay down his for his friends".
Leland Gamson
In third grade Tom moved to Bannockburn, and we became close friends. We would compete, in his house, to see who could build the highest wood block tower, before it came tumbling down. When our world expanded, we biked to Glen Echo shopping center. We enjoyed finding bottles, to cash in at High's (now a Seven Eleven). We rarely failed to find enough glass bottles to exchange for ice cream cones. At two scoops for a nickel, our expeditions were self funded. If we found larger bottles, we would buy Superman comics for a dime. By the time the comics went for 15 cents, we outgrew them. That didn't stop us from checking out the Chris Reeve's Superman movies, together in our early adulthood. Yes, we agreed that Christopher Reeve's, got the "real Superman" character, right. After all, we were experts on Superman.
As we progressed through elementary school, we were exposed to a broader world. I have fresh memories of Tom taking a keen interest in the Greeks, Romans, Vikings and the Mercury space flights. I still remember argueing with him, about who contributes more to space flight, the astronauts or rocket engineers. We would frequently spend the night at each other's house. We both got along well with each other's siblings. Tom saw the Twilight Zone, for the first time at the Gamson house. He agreed that it was more than just a modern "scarry show", as it had a Spiritual theme.
At twelve, I got a poodle puppy, Flip. He followed us on our romps through Bannockburn. Now, we were three, and Tom and I would take turns "speaking" for Flip. We agreed Flip was the cutest dog on the planet. At Whitman, we were both active participants in the John Peter Altgeld Society. We listened to, and asked questions of, a wide variety of speakers. We grappled with concepts, such as World Federalism, gender roles, the Vietnam War, Civil Rights, the threat of totalitarianism, and the purpose of higher education. In 1964 and 1966, we voluntered in the campaigns of Royce Hanson and Spellman for Congress. The latter was an early "peace" candidate.
Both of us went to college in the Midwest, to experience a different region of the US. Tom went to Grinnel in Iowa, majoring in math. He taught math for a year, in a private high school. This surprised me, because he was an introvert. When he discovered that most his students did not share his enthuaism for math, he became an actuary. For a few years, he lived in Bannockburn, and communited by bike, to his office at the OPM. After I left the the D.C. area, I would meet him for lunch, when back in town. We solved the world's problems, as we did, when members of the John Peter Altgeld Society. When in early middle age, I took my wife, Bonnie, to see Tom's boyhood home and meet his mother. Tom lived in an apartment on Capitol Hill for years and years. It was there that he died. He never told me about his cancer.
Randy Alcorn, wrote a book simply entitled, "Heaven". He says that there are extroverts, who will spend eternity, in the inner court of Elohim's Celestial Kingdom. They will thrive in a place with bright colors and music, enjoying the company of multitudes. Others, who are by nature introverts, will be at home in the most outer parts of Heaven. There, their home is one of blissfull solitude. They are content with the company of just a few. Tom is among the latter. Tom, give my regards to your mother, father and, our forever cute, dog pal, Flip.
Leland Gamson