Before I launch into my wedding story, I want to share with you some stories about kids (who are now in their mid-fifties) whose names I saw on the list of students who plan to attend the reunion. First, there's Jack (Mayer) Goldman, whose sense of humour was terrific. When he lived on Boyd Avenue, he called himself a Boydean (with the emphasis on the "e"). When his family moved to Semple Avenue, he called himself a Sempletonian. Next there was Rivka Shickman, whose mammaloshen was Yiddish, I think. Instead of "tonight", she would say "today tonight" which is a translation from
heint by nacht. Finally, there is Irving Benovitch, whom Jack Goldman nicknamed Urbennie".
Now on to my wedding story:
Although neither Brian Ostrow nor I were, either at the time or have subsequently become, gay (not that there's anything wrong with that), we were married in the Peretz School playground on June 25, 1956 (or7). We chose that date because my birthday is June 5 and his is June 20. We were best friends (why he didn't marry my identical twin brother Vic has always been a mystery to me). The entire class clandestinely (without the knowledge, consent, or approval of either Chaver Glimptcher or Mrs. Lisnansky) participated in the planning of the even. Didi Gutkin took charge of organizational details. Saul Leibel officiated. Everyone secretly made decorations (out of crepe paper - for flowers and streamers - and crayon and paper - for confetti. It was a simple service, held without fanfare at afternoon recess as I recall.
Two months before the Peretz School reunion will mark our 46th (7th) anniversary. We're still close friends. We both think that the secret of our long successful marriage is that we've never lived together as a couple. I recommend it to everyone.
John (Yankel Avrum) Feld - class of '61
