Dear Maxine
I just found this file with some recollections that I had made note of:
High School for me was a painful event and fortunately school was not the center of my life at that time. It seems
that my favorite classmates are the missing ones.
It must be remembered that during my junior and senior years I was working 40 hours per week for Bern’s camera
store selling industrial photo supplies. What time I did spend in school was primarily in the safety of the dark room
where the harassment by the jocks and the condescending attitudes of the country club set was minimal. I always
felt badly for Gary Gary Binley who was the brunt of many a cruel joke and unfortunately Gary, unlike myself, had
few other interests out side school. I knew I was thought to be the classes photo geek but since none of my
classmates had any knowledge of my other activities, I did not care. I wonder if Gary has not communicated
deliberately.
My friends during high school were not my classmates as most of them were associated with my interest in music.
I had become a regular at the Gaiety a nightclub on Green St. in Albany. It is here that I became friends with Nick
Brignola, Dizzy Gillespie, Chuck Mangione, Milt Jackson and many other musicians. In fact it is interesting to
note that it was through music that I came to know Don York as we did not associate in high school. During the
late 1960’s Don played in a group with Nick Brignola and I was doing bookings for them and we spent a lot of
time together and became friends.I do not know his whereabouts today. I hope he has not given up the piano for
chess as I will feel responsible. The last time I checked Don had masters rating with the US Chess Federation.
Sue Ellen Robinson was my first love but throughout high school she was popular and I had acne. It was not until
several years after high school that we dated a couple of times. On one occasion Diz was playing at Roth’s in
Schenectady and Sue and I went to the performance. I often wonder where Sue is today.
Hank McCauley I always had a great deal of respect for as he always took interest in what I was doing which I appreciated.
Will Wendle was my friend when we were in grade school and I went to NYC once with him and his mother to
see the Barnum Bailey Circus at Madison Square Gardens. Will and Roger Tauss lived on Vanwie’s Point Rd.
and I lived close by. It seems strange to this day that during high school I had no association with either of them
despite the fact we were childhood playmates. It was Will and Roger that taught me
to play Chess, which was either a blessing or a curse I am not sure which.
Best Regards
George Steeves