Dear Fellow Classmates,

This is the very first "round robin" letter.
We began it in May of 1998.
Here is My Contribution:
Don Haffner

Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 20:15:01 -0600

I graduated from Melvindale in 1968 and headed off to college at Albion. My parents moved a couple years after I graduated from high school. After college I joined the Peace Corps and went to Korea. I spent three years in the Peace Corps as a middle school English teacher - funny because English was always one of my worst classes in high school. Then I stayed a couple more years and taught GED prep courses to U.S. military personnel near the demilitarized zone in Korea. Also, got married during this time.

In 1977 I returned to Detroit and lived in East Detroit; now higher class as Eastpointe. Then vanderlust struck again and I went to a grad school in Brattleboro, VT which is a haven for x-Peace Corps types. I got an M.A. in international administration and returned to Korea at the end of 1979 as the Director of the Pearl S. Buck Foundation. We assisted the fatherless Amerasian children and adults there.

In 1988 my wife and I returned to the USA along with our son, who was born in 1982. He was six and about to enter first grade. We settled in San Diego for a few months, till I was offered a job I couldn't refuse to be an Associate Dean at Middlesex Community College in Boston. We moved and a year later I got laid off.

In the summer of 1990 I returned to Detroit. My wife and I separated and she took my son and went out to L.A. A year later I went out to L.A. and brought my son here. Then I filed for divorce and my son and I have lived in Sterling Heights since.

I presently work as the Studio Director of Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic in Troy, Michigan. We record textbooks for blind and dyslexic students from elementary school to grad school level.

Since graduating from high school I have probably only seen three or four people from Melvindale. Our 30th reunion is this summer. I missed the 10 and the 20, so, I'm looking forward to seeing everyone next month at the 30th.

Regards,

Don Haffner

Haff2000@aol.com




-------------------- June 21, 1998

Roxanne:

Send me again the exact e-mail address for the Melvindale stuff and I'll try to let people know at the reunion.

The only Melvindale graduates who I've kept in touch with are Joe Kosky and his wife Judy; nee Bronokowski Sp? Joe and I were best buddies from about 5th grade on and graduated together in 68 and Judy graduated in 69. They own a bar downtown behind Cobo Hall and it's called Cobo Joe's. Joe and I both went to Albion and over all the years I was away we were always in touch. I've seen a few others in the last five years or so when I've been with Joe and Judy, but otherwise have seen no one. In fact I was gone so long even when I see people I don't recognize them until I hear the name.

Good to hear from you. I've been on a nostalgia trip of late and have looked up some people from college and an old neighbor from high school days. It has been good to meet them again.

Have a good one,

Don Haffner

Haff2000@aol.com




Subj: Melvindale High School
Date: 98-12-14 19:52:24 EST

Roxanne:

I've begun singing in a folk/rock band. We've been practicing a little over a month now and as soon as we get enough songs together hope to get and play more. So far, we've played at a couple open mikes down at a bar near Metro Airport. May play in Lincoln Park at the Mirage Bar on Fort Street the 8th and 9th, or whatever the Friday and Saturday dates are. We are doing a couple and maybe more songs that I wrote, a couple songs our lead guitarist wrote, and, old standbys like "Fire and Rain," "Summer in the City," etc. We have not figured out a name yet, but if we do and if we start playing regular, I'll let you know. It would be great to have Melvindale people come and hear me sing.

Have a great holiday season!

Don Haffner

Haff2000@aol.com