PASSING
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From: Joe S.
Date: Friday, May 23, 2008, 2:55 PM
Subject: passing
Reply to: 263915
ID: 261346

Hi Ken, I hope I have this right. I believe that you played sports with my brother Larry Skarda and I. Do you remember coming to our house on Fernglen? Maybe I'm mistaken. Joe Skarda S '61

------ On 5/23/08, Ken (Kenny) Bachman wrote ------

This is Ken Bachman, W60. My e-mail is in answer to Mel Harkavy's question about my bother, Allan Bachman. Allan died in 1997 just short of his 58th birthday of a heart attack, his second, six years after his first and quadruple by-pass surgery. At the time, he was living in Sunland with his second wife, Sandy. It was a big blow to our family, which has seen the untimely demise of many of our members in their 50's (my first cousin, Wayne Griswold of the mighty W60 Archons, died in his mid-50's).

I have worked real hard to cheat the genetics which have worked against us. I had a heart attack in 1979 at the age of 36, followed by by-pass surgery. I suffered another heart attack in 1994. Each time, I returned to full health, athletic activities, and work. After a third heart attack in 2002, I had a second by-pass surgery to get "re-plumbed". Through it all, I have not been limited in what I can do, other than some discomfort from lots of scar tissue and other lasting affects of major surgeries.

I feel extremely lucky to have known what I was dealing with, and having outstanding medical professionals here in Sarasota, Florida, where I have lived for 36 years with my wonderful wife of 47 years, Claudia (Johnson) Bachman of the S60 Citadels.

Mel, when I saw the first e-mail you posted to the site, it gave me a warm feeling in remembrance of what good friends you and Allan were. You and other of Allan's friends became friends of mine as I was the little brother tagging along. I hope you will be coming to the re-union as Claudia and I will be there. It will be our 3rd trip of the summer to LA. We are coming next week for a family re-union of my dad's side of the family. In August, we will be in LA to celebrate my mom's sister's 90th birthday, god willing as she has been in failing health.

This website, and the recent flurry of e-mails with the great memories of our youths (mis-spent or not)is amazing to read. I can't help but smile and chuckle at most of them. I haven't participated until now because I am still working and read the e-mails mainly late at night. I will be chiming in since there are so many things that well up, and so many people I think about after so many years. I haven't seen much from the jocks, the guys I played sports with throughout high school. Maybe because our exploits didn't achieve the ultimate glory of championships. We sure did have fun though!

I sure hope all those people that are listed as "wherabouts known" in the graduating classes make the effort to attend in September. My best to all who read this, and stay healthy so we can have fun together.

Ken (Kenny to most in high school) Bachman, Winter 1960 Archons

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