Franklin School - Franklinite Yearbook (New York City, NY)

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GZASS HISTORY Ladies and Gentlemen: Upon being notified that I had been selected to narrate the class history at graduation, I rejoiced in the apparent simplicity of the task. I thought that it would be just a matter of asking my classmates for any information that was necessary, but this was not so simple as it seemed, because many of them upon questioning seemed to forget everything but their names. I still do not know whether they had really forgotten or whether they wished to forget their past and start worrying about the college careers that were inevitably facing them. While writing this history, I tried not to trespass upon the task of the class prophet, but in many cases it was rather difficult not to transgress. l sincerely hope that this history will serve to rekindle in the minds of my classmates the great events in which we have participated. My first recollection of the class reverts to the time when I entered as a shy young youth in Junior I. Before that time the class was not too large, and the only members of our class that were present in the Intermediate grades were the class salutatorian, Richard Bernstein, and the twins, Bruce and Frank Hol- stem. A large number of the graduates entered in the junior years. Among them were Edward Blickstein, one of the better contributors to the Red and Blue and also one of the best musicians in the class: Eric Tolmach, the present editor-in- chief of the Red and Blue, and Larry Greenspan, the student voted the most likely to succeed by the faculty and the class. In these years most of us got our first taste of the inevitable Latin classes. Although we used to dread them at the time, many of us have or will come to value the important instruction in analysis and word usage that Latin gave us. ln these grades we encountered Mr. Kern, whose sharp sarcastic humour had Illost of us baffled. After a few years with Doc Stevens one or two of us got used to his various systems, but until this day when one of us is detained by Doc we have no idea what it is for, at least when we speak to him. Another obstacle in our paths was algebra. I believe that Mr. Carson went away rather exhausted after trying to convince us that imaginaries weren't, and that we would have to learn them. By the time the class reached the senior B grade all of our foremost ath- letes were already in the class. Arnold Lederman, class valedictorian, captain of the basketball and soccer teams, and pitcher for the baseball team, had already entered. jerry Stern. Bob Meltzer and jay Stevens-just to mention a few- twentx eight 0 f I --.f.14m.n-- .:,:.......L

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A.-..n..:.:L., -- .mt .. SAHITATORY Friends, Relatives, and Members of the Faculty: On behalf of my classmates, it is an honor and a privilege for me to wel- come you to the commencement exercises of Franklin School for the year 1950. We of the graduating class leave behind us many pleasant memories as we enter into a new social community and prepare to take our places in the com- petitive world. Although it is an old world, it is to us comparatively new. It is a mature world, confronting us with problems that we must meet with mature minds. As we embark on this venture from within the peaceful walls of security that absorbed any tribulations in the past, we shall continue to need your en- couragement and assistance to which we have become so accustomed. We know that while we traverse the turbulent sea of life with all its vicissitudes, we can rely on you for guidance and understanding. This is not only our evening in triumph but also yoursg for it was largely through your efforts, your sympathy, and your support that we have been able to overcome the obstacles along the road that has led us to this occasion. We salute you who now share with us a sense of satisfaction and exultation. There is planned for tonight a program which will include addresses by several speakers and the distribution of diplomas and awards. It affords us great pleasure to see that so many of you have come to witness these exercises. They mean much to us, but your presence means even more. Recognizing all our friends, teachers, and relatives gathered here tonight gives us a great feeling of gratification. It is a feeling that everyone in all parts of the world would be happy to share with us since it is due to the ties of good-will and common in- terest that bind us all together. So we, the class of 1950, salute you whose in- dulgence and helpfulness have been with us throughout our school careers. RICHARD BERNSTEIN 0 twenty seven

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1 ,-+ fur.:- were competing for the various teams and were to be among the more important athletes to represent the class and school in interscholastic competition. In our final year, only two boys entered the class. They were Ira Zaretsky and Joe Wolkenberg, both of whom are very well liked by all. This year we were rather unsuccessful in our athletics, but as usual the members of the teams fought hard and always were full of spirit and determination. The science club under the guidance of Doc Stevens was again the most active in school. Throughout the year many interesting experiments were performed and talks on various subjects were given. The highlight of the Science Club was the demonstration on Hertzian waves given by a representative of the Bell Telephone Company. This demonstration was given in an assembly, and all the boys of the upper school were invited to attend. The other active clubs were the art and chess clubs, under the supervision of Mr. Ross and Mr. Kramer. There' are certain dates in history which no one ever forgets: 1215, the granting of Magna Cartag july 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence: 1815, the Battle of Waterloog December 7, 1941, the attack on Pearl Harbor. Tonight, june 8, 1950, we add another important date in history, the graduation from Franklin School of one of its outstanding classes. In conclusion, and on behalf of the graduation class of 1950, I wish to thank Mr. Hall, Mr. Berenberg, and all the members of the faculty for their under- standing, guidance, and patience with us throughout the years. Tonight we leave Franklin, but I am sure that all of us hold a warm place for it in our hearts. MARVIN KORNBLAU 0 twenty nine '1 - ..tit1.i...1-, ..,.....,.a,. , t 1 hx, an ,H . A I . ,. . id ' J, Q . i -1... r A lf'