The Way We Are
My, My, how all of you have aged so well! I guess since I have been a voyager, reading about all your many accomplishments, and travails, since you left Yorktown, I feel an obligation to oblige you in my travels, also. I am truly amazed at the length of marriages that so many of you have enjoyed and the NUMBER of marriages, that many of you have also, endured! The breath of land that we all have covered is amazing in itself, and to then find out that so many of us suffered the Vietnam experience. So sad that many did not return, but we were living in the ‘60’s, which according to my Nieces, must have been the best time, ever, to live in America!
I was only at Yorktown for a year and a half, as my Father had been transferred from Dallas, so I did not know many of you well, but all of you, certainly left an impression on me! Should I begin with the story of a “garage band” called “JC and THE Disciples”, consisting of me on guitar, Richard John on vocals, Mark Yeager on drums and some other guitar player from W&L? You remember us on Saturday’s at Fairfax Fire house and a few kegger’s that we played at, don’t you? Oh, good, I was afraid that you would!
No, the launching pad was probably The Senior Prom! I double-dated with Reggie Babcock, and his date, Nanci Berryman, while my date was Suzie Bowden. The guys really saved up their money from working at IHOP in Arlington as bus boys and cooks, to pay for that night! (IHOP is still there, surrounded by high-rises….who would have thought that piece of property would have been worth millions, today?) I got Bruce Campbell to join me, and he in turn got Reggie on board. What a crew! We all went in different directions, as Bruce and Nanci headed for High Point College and I waited for a low draft number. Not. I guess that’s the day the music died.
On leave, just before heading for Vietnam, Bruce suggested that we double-date and Nanci should be the one that I ask out. Boy, was he right! (I think you’ll enjoy reading Bruce’s memorial. After all, he shot most of the photographs that you have been looking at for the past week in, the Class Yearbook!)
Nanci was graduating as I returned from the Army, wanted to get married, and I think I did, but there was this little problem………..I didn’t have a job! No problem for Nanc’, she had this Cousin, whose husband had a Men’s Store and I had always liked clothes, so “What do you think, John?” “OK, I’ll try that. Where is it, Arlington? No? Where in the Hell is Wheeling West Virginia?”
Off we go to the coal-minin’, steel-producin’, hills of WVA for a couple of years, and actually lived on top of one of those mountains! Nanci worked as a secretary, and I was picked up by a small suit manufacturer/wholesaler, and traveled the Midwestern States, calling on retail stores. My Company had a new opening in……….Dallas! The hometown, which I always wanted to show Nanci, but it is far from her Family and friends. Would she go? She didn’t even want to go back for her clothes. It now became Our Hometown, as was that way, up until two years ago.
Nanci rose through the ranks of Club Corporation of America, to the position of Assistant to the President, although most executives would swear that she actually ran this Multi-Billion company, of Country Clubs and City Clubs, all over the world. She provided us with perks, that few couples could enjoy.
Nanci fought health problems throughout her life, starting with being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease the year that we married, but she overcame that and never complained. Seven years ago, lung problems turned into heart problems, followed by kidney disease. I lost her two years ago to the day of this reunion. I lost my best friend.
Shortly after moving to Dallas, I was picked up by the premier manufacturer of Men’s Clothing, Hart, Schaffner and Marx, and have been employed by them to this day. Our Brands include Hart, Hickey-Freeman, Austin Reed, Bobby Jones and Misook, for women. I currently work directly for our head of design, Joseph Abboud.
I wish all of you continued success on the accomplishment of your goals, and now know that the roots of those goals, many unknown at the time, began at Yorktown High School, in Arlington, VA, during those fabulous 60’s. Good Luck.
John Castorr
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