April - May 2002 Edition

Class of '54  Bert Gruber, Fair Lawn High School Class of 1954, told Fair Lawn News about two of his high school classmates who achieved quite a bit more than the usual 15 minutes of fame.  They went on to achieve personal success in their chosen fields. We also asked Bert to tell us about himself. Ron Perranoski Now a special assistant at the San Francisco Giants front office, Perranoski was one of the Los Angeles Dodgers greatest pitchers.  He also played for Minnesota, Detroit, and California.  In 1963, his pitching helped lead the Dodgers into the World Series.  Perranoski had a 16 and 3 record that year, with a 1.67 ERA and 21 saves.  He saved the second World Series game in  their historic four game sweep of the Yankees.    In this year's World Series, Perranoski said that the Arizona pitchers (Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling) reminded him of two legendary Dodgers he pitched with:  Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. Millie Perkins She had the starring role in the 1959 film, in 'The Diary of Anne Frank'. Perkins was a junior model and cover girl before winning the Anne Frank role. In the 1960s, she starred in "Wild in the Country" with Elvis Presley and with Jack Nicholson in "Ride in the Whirlwind". She's had supporting roles on and off since.   Bert Gruber on Bert Gruber In the beginning I wasn't, Then I was, Now I am, and I soon won't be! That about sums up my uncelebratory life (I don't dance, don't make me). Of course some of us become heroes to our children and knights to our wives. At some point in time I believe I was both a hero and a knight. But then I divorced and was a knight no more, and then became estranged to a daughter and became only half a hero (I guess). I am now remarried and have an ex-wife, an estranged daughter, a daughter and a step-daughter. Since both my parents are deceased, I have also adopted my wife's parents; and they deserve every bit of me. I believe I am looked at as a knight by my wife, but I think the children have grown to that point in life where heroes have clay-like feet. Being a knight has its rewards. Being a hero is a lot of work and sometimes can be rather debilitating (Oh, daddy)!!! Fortunately and unfortunately, I have had many an adventure, a few close friends and family; friends and family that are not close anymore; and friends and family that have left us for the highest and brightest stars. Those are the ones that are so sorely missed. They, to some, are still the knights and heroes, but have also become our heart strangling memories. Not very awe inspiring is it? More yawning than inspiring. But, you know what? That life was so filled with adventures, stories, people, humor, love, sadness, despair, romance and heart bursting joy that, as the old cliché says, " I wouldn't trade one day or change one event that led me to where I am today". A mediocre life can be an enormously dazzling life if you don't set your youthful aspirations too high and keep in mind that we were all young when we started to set the bar for our are objectives, hopes and desires. What 30-40-50 year old individual can hope to jump a hurdle that a 16-17-18 year old has set for us. To them there is only one way to conquer that hurdle: jump over the damn thing. I have learned to go under or around or kick my way through. Not an elegant posture, but effective. I save my dignity by not tripping on the hurdle's frame, but I have exposed a side of me that I was not that proud of when it was over; I avoided certain disaster by innovating. I may not have won, but who was I suppose to impress? A 17 year old's credo of achieve, win, achieve? I recognize my mortality today. I didn't back then. Back then I believed in my immortality. It has become something I look over my shoulder at, but I am still afraid to stare at it (I believe that is what Satchel Paige was really saying). So, who would find these meanderings of an individual who is now in the youth of old age, but does not still have the youthfulness of the young. I often tell some of our young people that age is sometimes determined by what side of the check out counter you're on. And try to remember, that some day, you will be on the wrong side, and won't that be a surprise. As you read this page doesn't it suggest to you that this could be any alumna or alumnus' bio? Encapsulated to say "Yes I've had some good days and some bad days. The good days were better". I guess that's what I'm saying. I've had them both, and the good were better; but neither were anything to write home about, or to Fair Lawn News. My wife and I have come to somewhat of a halt to our nomadic life. I retired from AT&T in 1994 with my wife, who worked at Lucent . We are searching for our next home in Pennsylvania. We look forward to a new decorating design; walls papered with Lucent Options. We anticipate that in thirty to forty years from now we may be able to sell this wallpaper for hundreds of dollars. Submit Your Story To Fair Lawn News:  Send an e- mail to editor@fairlawnnews.com