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BRUCE GOODMAN and Family

As I write this, it has been 2½ years since our MCHS ‘69ers Reunion in Montreal and I am amazed at how that weekend has not been forgotten and how it remains so special for so many ‘69er classmates. Thanks to Gary Parker, the Reunion’s memories remain fresh - through a web-site he has built that everyone can contribute to, and enjoy. The class of ‘69 is indeed a special one, and I look forward to future ‘MCHS ‘69er alumni get-togethers! High School graduation doesn’t seem that long ago...certainly not 32+ years!

The Goodman family has lived in Belleville Ontario since 1989 - the longest of anywhere since Montreal. Carolyn and I have been married for 29 years. She is also a former Montrealer who also graduated in 1969 from St Laurent High - as Carolyn “Allan”. I joined Scotiabank in Montreal in late June 1969 supposedly for that summer only, and with the intention of going on to CEGEP and eventually university. However 32 years later, the “summer” has not yet ended. Banking agreed with me, and me with it!

We have relocated a few times over the years. I was transferred from Montreal to Kemptville Ont, a small town south of Ottawa (pop 2,300) from in 1972 - a real culture shock at the time! We lived there after being married in 1973 for 9 years. Subsequent moves were to Ottawa for 5 years, and Toronto (Oakville) for 4 years prior to transferring to Belleville. This is a good, central location - handy to both Montreal and Toronto by Highway 401. I am a commercial banking specialist with a market area of 40kms of home. Carolyn is also a banker by trade - as a  Customer Service Representative with TD-Canada Trust where she works part-time.

In September 2001 we officially became “empty-nesters”, as all of our three children are now in post-secondary education. Daughter Erin (23) completes 4th year at Dalhousie University in Halifax in Spring 2002, and hopes for a journalism career. Doug (21) is in 2nd year at the University of Guelph (Ont) in a BComm (Hotel & Food Administration) Program; and Brad (20) is in 1st year at Lambton College in Sarnia Ontario enrolled in a three year Fire Fighting & Fire Science Technology Program.

Carolyn and I have become quite used to being ‘home alone’ with “Clancy” our Schnauzer, and we keep busy with lots of activities. We enjoy recreational bicycling in the summers, and I am trying to improve my (not so good) golf game. Winters are for indoor social activities as we’re not much for outdoor winter sports! Together with friends, we are seasons ticket holders for the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League; and have been taking ballroom dancing lessons - something that is much harder than it looks! I am active with the local Chamber of Commerce; help organize an annual “Relay for Life” cancer marathon fund raiser; we both help with an annual local hospital gala fund raiser; and we both are active members of Eastminster United Church.

Our longest lasting friendship since Montreal days (connected to MCHS) is with Bruce MacAlpine and his wife Sharon who live in Toronto. Bruce and I are godfathers to each other’s daughters. More recently, we have reconnected with Peter Forton and his wife Barb in Halifax; and like many other MCHS 69ers, we also have connected or reconnected many new / old friends such as Gary Parker and his wife Sharron in Montreal; Reba (Greenberg) Ormos and her husband Jim in Toronto; and Geno & Linda Fuoco in Montreal.

It is always nice to hear from other ‘69ers. I spent countless hours on the phone and ‘on-line’ in the months leading up to the reunion searching for ‘69er classmates, and I never tired of hearing the surprise and astonishment expressed by former classmates at being “found” - and of positive reactions to the reunion idea.

If you’re ever in our area, we hope you will look us up. But, at least send a hello via e-mail!

Cheers!    Bruce Goodman  

Updated: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:32 PM