Linda Hall (Class of ’67) and Gary Hall (Class of ‘67)
In 1966, while at my locker between classes, a handsome young man stopped by and asked me if I’d like a stick of gum. Juicy Fruit, actually. My favorite. Gary was pledging for a fraternity at that time, so he always had gum on hand. I turned, looked at him and thought, he seems quite nice and said, “Yes, thanks.” This year, we will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.
Herbert W. Beman Jr. (Class of '76) and Corrine M. Beman (Ockenhouse) (Class of '85)
I met my wife when she came with her father to apply for membership in the Port Dickinson Fire Department. I was on the membership committee at that time. We started dating in November 1986 and got married on July 1, 1989. Not actually at Chenango Valley, but within the Chenango Valley school district. Together for over 34 years and married 32 years this year. We also served for several years together in the Port Dickinson Fire Department.
Elizabeth Genter Riley (Class of '09) and Brandon Riley (Class of '08)
Brandon and I met fourteen years ago, almost to the day! I was a sophomore and he was a junior at the time. We had seen each other in the halls for quite sometime and then I finally had the guts to say something to him, even if I used the social platform MySpace to do so. After talking for a little while he asked me to be his date at his junior dinner dance. From then on he was my date for every single school dance. I wore his jersey as I cheered him on from the stands at every football game. Since then we have not only grown up but grown together. We’ve experienced so much together, good and bad. We have been by each others side every step of the way. We have an incredible three year old son Declan McGregor and one baby in heaven. We own two homes within Chenango Valley district and we find comfort in the memories we share while on our daily drive past the high school. Our life together started in the halls of Chenango Valley High school. Brandon is my person, my forever date, and my lobster.
Betty Trebilcock Church (Class of '58) and Bruce Church (Class of '58)
We met on a blind date in January 1954 at the last dance being held by Port Dickinson School to honor the final 9th grade students that were about to transition to North High School for their remaining years of education. There was no high school in the district at that time, but plans were in progress for the new Chenango Valley High School being built "up on the hill". Meanwhile several temporary buildings were set up on the side of Port Dick school to house the current students until the completion of the new school in apprx. 2 years.
We were both in 8th grade and 13 years old. I attended St. Paul's in Binghamton and Bruce was in Port Dick, where he attended since kindergarten. This "date" was arranged by a girl we both knew - I from our church and Bruce from his Port Dick class. I never laid eyes on my so so handsome date until he arrived at our door that January evening while his father waited patiently in the car. Of course he had to come in and meet my parents! It was a very fun and good time and I REALLY liked Bruce. Over the next months I decided I wanted to transfer to Port Dick School and my parents were okay with it - still cannot believe they let me go to that dance at age 13. BUT thank God they did. We dated for most of high school, graduated together in "58 in the 1st class from the new beautiful CV High School and the rest is history. We married in 1960, just celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary in June 2020.Built our home in CV district, had 4 great children, 2 sons 2 daughters - all graduates of CVCS. They have blessed us with 12 wonderful grandchildren (3 now married giving us 3 more special grandsons-in-law, 2 precious little great granddaughters and in a year we will add another special granddaughter-in-law. So, how blessed are we??? And it all started at CV.
Joan Knaphle Devine (Class of '67) and Bernie Devine (Class of '66)
We met in Math class (was it Advanced Algebra?). I was a sophomore, but in accelerated math classes, so in with the Juniors. Although we later realized that when he played JV football and I was a cheerleader, I called his name in Roll Call cheer (Fate?) and we had danced together a couple times at Record Hops (remember those?) He was best friends with my girlfriend's boyfriend, so she offered to "fix us up." So when he asked me out, sometime in Spring '65 I assumed we were double dating with my friend. No, turns out he decided all on his own. We double dated with another Junior couple and went to the Front Street Drive-In. After that he started calling me and we would talk on the phone "for hours". In those days, he had to pull phone cord into a closet so he could have a private conversation (remember?). We survived him going away for summer job and "went steady" my junior year. Then in college, we both dated other people, but always got back together in summer. Got married after I graduated in 1967 (he had moved to Philadelphia where I went to college) and we "went steady" again my senior year and got engaged New Year's Eve. The rest, they say "is History".
Carol Conrad (Class of '70) and Ed Slick (Class of '70)
Submitted By: Mrs. Ginalski (Chenango Valley High School Science Teacher)
My mom attended Nimmonsburg Elementary and my dad attended Port Dick Elementary, so they didn't meet until they entered junior high school. My dad describes noticing a cute red head and taking action from there to get her to notice him. He actually jumped out of a second story window of the school because she was in the classroom below and he thought that would get her attention. He was a prankster and she was serious student, proving in this case that opposites do attract. They were married in 1974 and are still married today. They have two daughters and 4 grandkids.
Joe Di Mascio (Class of ‘72) & Bonnie Lee Humphrey (Class of ‘71)
Everyone is always saying you should write a book. I have so many stories to tell, so I thought I’d practice on y’all. Kinda like an adult English Class! Here goes….
Do you believe in love at first sight? You’d better, because it happened to me and I couldn’t be happier. And I was at the tender, young age of thirteen. It was Nov of '67, parent teacher night and I’m covering the event for the good 'ol Quill. Refreshments were served in the senior cafeteria and I was sitting with a couple of parents. Then she walked in…the prettiest blonde to date. I thought she was beautiful and daring. Years later, we would discuss that that night, she was completely unaware of me.
Christmas vacation comes and me and my two friends, we’ll call them B1&B2, were sledding at the end of Church St. in Port Dickinson, and there she was again. My friends were as spellbound as I was the first time. And she was with people, a woman, two small kids, and a guy I knew. I finally got up the courage and went over to talk to him, and thereby her. Found out who she was and where she lived, and the woman was her sister with her kids. Fantastic, I now had a name to go with the face and where to find her!
Over the next couple of weeks, I visited her at home and we became friends. She lived just past the church, so it was an easy walk. However, I would be shattered on the third visit when she asked me to bring my friend, B1. What could I say but of course. And they would hit it off great and while B2 tried to move in on her, B1 won her heart, and I wasn’t even considered. Now this is eighth grade for me. I was all of four foot, six inches, and 83 pounds soaking wet. They were considerably bigger and older looking than I.
Over the next four years, B1 and Bonnie remained a thing. During this time, there was a period where Bonnie did not like me. B1 was living with her by now and B2 and I were always around. Except she would kick me out every once in a while, she couldn’t stand my mouth. Constant chatter and foolish antics were not her style, but what else could I do? I was still in love and had to contend I lost to my good friend and I would never have a chance.
So now, we’ve graduated high school and everyone is starting their adult lives. And I have met a girl. We even eloped, but things did not work out.
During our split, I would make the first trip to Florida. I only came back for the divorce proceedings. I was planning on going back south when B2 approached me to spend the summer in Bingo, painting houses by day, and rock & roll at night. That bands name was Wizard and I was the roadie. And I was living in the garage where the band practiced, behind B2's house. Life was looking better.
One night, practice ended early and I went for a walk down Chenango St. There she was, sitting on her front porch steps, beautiful as ever. This was the first time I’ve seen her since my marriage. I naturally scooted across the street and we talked for hours. The next night I went back. I would move in the next day.
That was Aug of ‘74, and here we are 47 yrs later, more in love than ever. And this is the Reader's Digest version, short and enticing! I don’t think my disease has played a lot into it, but we’re definitely closer than ever now and I’ve become quite dependent on her. And she goes above and beyond to take care of me, the family, and our home. Now don’t get me wrong, our life is not a fairy tale, we've had plenty of ups and downs and even separations. And oh so many stories to go with them. I definitely have enough to write a book!
I hope you enjoyed this!