Doug Kulp - Cocalico Alumni Association

Cocalico Pride
Winter 2015
Volume , Issue
SAVE THE DATE
Cocalico Education Foundation:
3/6/16 - Iron Chef
4/9/16 - Yard Sale
5/19/16 - Cello Fury
5/21/16 - Soldiers in Gray
Alumni Association Events:
Alumni in the
Spotlight
Doug Kulp
Class of 1976
6/24/16 - Golf Tournament
Board Meetings held 3rd Wednesday of
Month.
Cocalico School District:
1/10/16 - HS Winter Concert
3/4 & 3/5/16 - MS Musical
3/11 - 3/13/16 - HS Musical
4/17/16 - HS Spring Concert
5/22/16 - Ice Cream Social
HS Evening Library Hours every Thursday
The best part about having Mr. Doug Kulp as
our Alumni in the Spotlight is that he is also our Teacher in the Spotlight. With Doug’s
strong love of music and dedication, he could have taken his musical gifts anywhere, but
after acquiring his teaching degree from West Chester University, he chose to return
home and start a career. When I asked him about this he replied,
“Like most young people, I couldn’t wait to get away from home
when I went to college. When I graduated, I debated between
staying with some college friends in the Philadelphia area or moving
back home. Not really knowing what I wanted to do with my life at
that point (again like many young people), I chose to move back
home. A decision I’ve never regretted. I worked at the Denver Shoe
factory while substituting in the Cocalico School District and applying
for various teaching positions in the area. I also assisted with the high
school drum line which may have helped me to get my job when the
CHS position came open.”
Under the direction of Floyd Sweigart, Doug’s interest in
music started with drum lessons when he was in 4 th grade at Reamstown Elementary
School. Doug continued playing over the years, adding on membership into the Chorus
under John Ensminger in middle school and every available musical group in high school.
Doug added, “In high school I was involved in almost every ensemble including the
marching, concert, jazz, and pep bands; pit
orchestra; and chorus. I also participated in County
Chorus and District Band. While I was involved on
stage with most of the theatre productions, I was
most thrilled to play the male lead in our senior
musical, ‘South Pacific’.”
When asked about
significant teachers during those years, Doug noted,
“My music teachers were very
influential in my career – Mr.
Sweigart, Mr. Ensminger, Mr.
Schneiderhan, and Mr. Marino.
Two other teachers come to mind as
being a big influence; my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Dominic, for her
great classroom discipline and ability to get the most out of her
students, and Mr. Evans, who allowed me to be creative in his class and
to see that every issue has more than one side to it.”
Mr. Doug Kulp is a life-long resident of Reamstown. As a child he has
fond memories of his hometown including inviting kids from the
neighborhood to penny carnivals in his back yard and sledding down
the main street of Reamstown in the snow. (Continued on Page 2)
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(Cont. from Page 1) He confessed, “I actually made a little chunk of change hosting that penny carnival!”
Growing up as an only child, Doug feels very fortunate to have had two wonderful parents to support him
and provide him with great life lessons. He also adds that they were very involved in the community,
stating, “My father, Clyde Kulp, was very active in the East Cocalico Lions Club and served as the East
Cocalico Township Supervisor and Tax Collector for many years. My mother, Dawn Kulp, had a baton
group in Reamstown which is the closest link I can find to my love of music and band. I also remember my
great-grandmother as someone that I enjoyed being with and definitely my grandmother, Lillian
Frankhouse, who is still going strong at 98 and still has a big influence on me.”
The teaching of the arts plays an important role in our children’s lives. Robert Frost was quoted
saying, “I’m not a teacher, but an awakener.” This quote does
double-duty for a music teacher and in his case, Mr. Doug Kulp has
been awakening students at Cocalico for 34 years. Doug began his
career in the high school where he taught music theory classes , gave
instructional lessons, directed the marching, concert and jazz bands,
conducted the pit orchestra for musicals, co-directed the musical
“Grease”, and travelled to the elementary schools teaching lessons
to the 4th and 5th grade students. After nine years of that busy
schedule, he moved to the middle school where he continued to fill
his day with general music instruction of 6th – 8th grades, band and
instrumental lessons. He currently serves as the Curriculum
Coordinator for the Music Department K-12. Mr. Kulp had this to add about his switch to the
middle school, “When Mr. Mark Schneiderhan retired, I moved to the middle school. This was a
major change in the type of students that you teach, but one I have never regretted. In middle
school, the students are old enough to accomplish great things, but are still young enough to be
open-minded and have a sense of awe when they understand a concept you are teaching. I truly enjoy working with middle school
students.” When asked about memorable moments during his career, Doug shared, “Winning our first marching band competition,
taking the high school band to perform in Disney (which involved getting stuck overnight in the airport), helping to develop our first
Middle School musical (Annie), having the Middle School band march in the Manheim Parade and perform at Dorney Park (in the
rain).” He continued, “Having the combined 6th, 7th, and 8th grade bands perform together in the Holiday concert is memorable, as is
every concert and performance I have had the pleasure to conduct because the students always make it happen!” Doug considers
himself a hands-on teacher and prefers teaching over filling out forms, so he finds
paperwork the least favorite part of his job. He added, “As a teacher in the arts, I have
seen many schools limit or eliminate the opportunities that students have to participate in
the arts because of these tests. I must say that I feel very fortunate to have the
supportive administration that we have at Cocalico. While we have felt the impact, our
district has maintained very active arts programs.”
Doug enjoys playing drums, reading, watching movies, traveling and going to
concerts in his spare time. He currently plays in several bands including Dixieland, 20’s
Jazz, and a trombone quartet. He added, “I have also been to many concerts in my
lifetime (over 700), many of which would probably surprise some people. (Devo, the
Grateful Dead to name a few). He also noted that he has very diverse tastes in music,
stating, “I definitely lean toward rock, but my CD collection has everything from jazz to
classical to Broadway show tunes to country, and everything in between.” Doug is
married to Nancy, who is also a local girl who attended Adamstown Elementary School as
a child and is currently a reading aide there. He confided, “While I may appear to be a
very outgoing person in public, I am actually a very quiet, shy person in my personal life.”
A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” This quote by Henry Adams seems to expresses
Doug’s sentiments on teaching. Doug reminisced, “This is my 34 th year of teaching and it has been a wonderful ride. It really seems
like just yesterday that I was trying to figure out how this all works, and just like that, the years flew by. I feel so fortunate to have
been a part of so many students’ lives and would love to know where they all are now and what they are doing. One of the down
sides of teaching is that you never really get to see the impact that you might have had on the students you worked with. I hope the
remaining years of my career are as rewarding as the ones I have already completed.” Thank you Doug Kulp for choosing to come
home to teach music to the children of Cocalico.
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Tail Gate 2015
Beautiful weather, scrumptious food and Cocalico Alumni Band music
playing in the background....This year’s Alumni Tailgate was a fun time
filled with games, catching up, and it all wrapped up with the
presentation of the new mascot! Thanks to Dickie Q’s BBQ for the great
food and to all who attended. We can’t wait to see everyone next year!
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Class of 1965
50-Year Reunion
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We’ve Got S.K.I.L.L.S. at Cocalico
There is an exciting new program at Cocalico High School in the Learning Support Department, called
S.K.I.L.L.S. It stands for Self-Advocacy, Knowledge, Independence, Learning, Living and Success S.K.I.L.L.S. is a work
-based learning program that focuses on preparing students to enter
the workforce by teaching them the
necessary skills to obtain and retain
employment. S.K.I.L.L.S. is a program
designed for students in grades 10-12.
This class takes place during both 3rd and
4th blocks of each day. Whether the
students go out on work crews or remain
in the classroom, they have uniforms that
they are expected to change into every
day. The students are also held
accountable by filling out their own timesheets and do self-evaluations.
Three to five days a week, students will be either volunteering,
earning an income, or possibly both in the community. Recently, the
students enjoyed assisting volunteers at the Denver Fair by assembling
trash and recycling receptacles and placing them around the park, as
well as watering the flowers and exhibition plants. At Free Geek in
Ephrata, they volunteer to disassemble
donated electronics including, but not limited
to, computers, key boards and modems.
Students are also responsible for a wide
range of tasks at 2nd Street Consignment
Shop in Denver. There, they enjoy sorting
and hanging clothes, and cleaning the store and displays. Colonial Lodge generously
welcomes the students to help the residents by playing games, cleaning tables and living
spaces, and painting nails. The students are always looking for more opportunities to
help out with local businesses and the community. In addition to working outside of the
school, our students also take on tasks within Cocalico High School that includes helping
with the athletic programs and many others groups.
The S.K.I.L.L.S. class takes several
educational career-oriented field trips throughout the school year. They
would like to thank the local Ephrata National Bank for their hospitality at
a recent visit. While there, a bank representative gave the students a tour
of the bank, including the vault, and they were able to role-play and learn
how to make a deposit. The staff had very
informative discussions with the students on
different banking terms and processes. The
students are looking forward to many more
professional training field trips in the
future.
The school district’s focus with this
program is to prepare the learning support students for life after school. The goal
is to provide them with as many real-life experiences as possible so they are
equipped for their “every day” which may include living on their own, holding down
a job and a household, and all things that go along with daily life.
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An award winning one man play, performed since 1998 and written by
Stan Clardy. It is the story of a soldier's life before, during and after
the War Between the States. This soldier's journey through life and
feelings during the war will encourage you to preserve and honor the
heritage for which these soldiers fought.
Save the Date
Saturday May 21, 2016
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On October 10, 2015, the Class of 1975
assembled for our 40 year reunion. It was held at
Foxchase Golf Club, Stevens, the site of our 35 year
reunion. 56 guests attended, 38 who were class
members.
After everyone arrived and mingled over drinks
and appetizers, Linda Heffley Till, our emcee for the
evening, called everyone together for Dinner, but not
before recognizing the attending members of our class
that served our country in the military. They were:
Jon Bitler, Ron Larsen and Tim Stayer. A delicious
buffet dinner featuring stuffed chicken breast and
roast beef was served by the Foxchase staff, with
desserts created by our own Sandy Jones Leed, owner
of “Sandy's Cake and Pastry Shoppe”.
After dinner, everyone participated in a 70's Trivia
Challenge. Pam Crouse Ulrich was the host, and one
table, consisting of Bob Wenger, Tim Stayer, Randy
Goshert, Dave Leed and their respective spouses were
awarded the prize after correctly answering all but
one of the sixteen questions.
Also, throughout the entire evening, there was a
Silent Auction being conducted to benefit our class
fund. Patty Moyer Fassnacht got an overwhelming
response from area businesses and restaurants for
merchandise, gift certificates and the like, to be
auctioned off. At the end of the evening, a total of
$527.00 was raised.
All in all it was a great evening! - Dennis Trostle
Cocalico
Class of 1975
Reunion
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"The Pitch to Mazeroski......!"
By Peter W. Riffle '64
Oh, yeah, the stinkin’ Yankees didn't win the 1960 World Series! Many of you
probably remember where you were when this historic event took place. I was walking out to
football practice and heard it on someone's transistor radio. Baseball was truly America's
game when we were growing up, and the World Series always seemed to be the Yankees
winning the whole enchilada every year; from 1947 to 1962 they won ten world titles. The
Yanks were the most loved and the most hated pro sports team in the country, and they still are.
Okay, the Cowgirls are right there with them!
For those of us who grew up in the 50's and 60's, baseball became an integral part of
our lives. No matter where you lived everyone played baseball, if not on an organized team,
then with the neighborhood kids. This article was published in the Grapevine a few years ago,
and I thought you might enjoy it as every town had its "stadium."
Jay's Field
The storied sites of athletic contests are held in awe throughout our great country: Yankee Stadium, Lambou Field, The
Garden, and Jay’s Field. Jay’s Field? What the heck is that? From the mid 50’s until the mid 60’s, this was a shrine of unparalleled
athletic exploits, a place where legends were created in our own minds. This should not be mistaken for the Hatter’s field or the
legendary baseball field at the old elementary school. No, this was a special place held in the highest esteem by the Adamstown
Willow Street gang. The mainstays in this group were myself, Bob and Terry Meckley, Don and Ken Spatz, Marvin "Butch"
Oxenreider, Jay Sweigart, and others who I can't recall. Occasionally Sue Hornberger would play with us, and she was faster than
all of us put together so we threw her nothing but hard sinkers to keep her off base! Where is this playing ground of greatness you
ask? When traveling on Willow Street, it’s the large open field on the right near the old Redcay's Hat Factory building.
During those years it was a rare occasion if you drove by that field without kids playing on its large, grassy area. I really
don’t know if the other kids called it Jay’s Field or not, but in the Riffle household that was its name. Jay Sweigart’s grandparents
lived there at that time, and he was a frequent visitor to their home… hence the name Jay’s Field.
Baseball was played on this field from the early spring until late in the fall when the weekly football games would take
over our open-air “stadium.” As in all ballparks there were very unique ground rules. The people who lived on the third base side
didn’t like the idea of kids constantly running in their yard to retrieve a baseball. It was a known fact that any ball in their yard
would be confiscated by the property owners and not returned to the players. The rule was this: If your team was batting, someone
had to guard the property line in order to keep the ball out of harm’s way. Honestly, I never knew of a ball actually being taken by
them, but we couldn’t take the chance with balls being so hard to come by.
Naturally there were never enough players to fill out two complete teams; in fact, if
you had ten kids, you were lucky. Choosing sides became an art form. The older kids always
tried to cheat by leading the younger kids into making poor choices. The only fair way was
the scientific method called “tossing the bat.” This involved catching the bat and then placing
a hand over a hand until someone had his fingertips on the hub. With only a precarious hold
on the bat, that person had to throw the bat ten feet over his shoulder. If the bat went ten
feet or more, the thrower got first pick; if not, obviously the other captain chose first. Once
this sacred ritual was completed, the teams were selected.
If there were only three players per team, you had to be creative in order to play
a game. This is where your “ghost runners” came in handy. For example, if a three-person
team had three straight singles, bases would be loaded with no one left to bat. The runner
on third would then bat with his ghost runner taking his place on third.
Now and then a kid was commandeered to pitch for both teams. This usually was a
player who was a notoriously poor hitter, whom no one wanted on his or her team or an
older kid who was bored and had nothing better to do. Sometimes I received this honor myself while walking past the “stadium”
when I was home from college. I have always wondered if I was asked to pitch for both teams because I couldn’t hit or because I
had the reputation of being a good pitcher.
Occasionally there would be new players brought to the field. These kids were
visiting relatives or friends in town and were looking for a game. This frequently caused a
dilemma for the person choosing teams because as they say, “You can’t judge a book by
its cover.” Not only did they have to be placed on a team, but they also had to have
certain terms translated from A-town dialect to language common to all kids. For
example, if you played the sup, you were an outfielder. A pickle was a run-down between
the bases and, of course, a decker was a catcher’s mitt. I coached baseball for many
years at Wilson and insisted that my team always called the mitt a decker*.
Like the great Babe Ruth, you had to call your shots. From dead center to the
third base line was considered left field, and from dead center to the first base line was
considered right field. A good many games ended in controversy when a heated
argument would ensue after a ball was hit to center field. (Continued on Page 8)
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(Continued from Page 9) Each team claimed it hit in an area that was to their advantage. Frequently a man named “Pank” Curley
was our umpire, and he ruled with an iron fist.
There were many plays, hits, or games that became famous or infamous depending on your viewpoint. I was one of the few
kids who eye- witnessed an event on that field that is still revered as “the shot.”
Young Albert Wingenroth, who was probably no older than twenty but was a
grown- up to us, provided me with a major thrill. He stood at home plate,
tossed the ball up in the air, and hit it into the Little Muddy Creek! This is 296
feet according to Google Earth. This far surpassed the magical feat of hitting a
ball onto the coal pile at the elementary school. (Nelson Cruz, eat your heart
out!) That display of awesome power has withstood the test of time. Kids
talked about that for years and, like most legends, became more exaggerated
as it was told and retold. At one point it was said that he hit Route 222 on the
fly. Who knows, maybe he did. Oh well, it was never actually proven that Ruth
pointed to the bleachers either.
I don’t want you to think that our “stadium” lacked modern
conveniences. Jay’s grandparents had a well with a hand pump and a tin cup for us to use to obtain fresh spring water. Another
unique feature was that we didn’t have to bother anyone to use the bathroom since it was also outside. On the little hill behind home
plate grew this scraggly old tree that we would sit in when our team was batting. We always thought we looked so cool perched in
that lofty dugout.
Our equipment was something to behold. Nothing in this world was more sacred than a guy’s glove. Compared to the
gloves kids use today, our gloves were relics from a bygone era, but to us they were something to be cherished. The balls we used
were a sight. Most of them were wrapped in tire tape as their original covers had long since vanished. As for our wooden bats, all
of them had been broken, some more than once being this was long before the invention of the aluminum bats of today. It was a
known fact that if you wanted a bat repaired, you took it to Bill Riffle’s woodshop, and he’d fix it for a thank-you. Many of our bats
had been broken in a Hatter’s game. Since men had been using them, they were way too big for kids, so my dad would cut off a
section of the barrel enabling us to swing them in our games.
There was one bat that became a legend. Howard Sweigart, Jay's dad, raised beagles for hunting dogs for many years.
One of his dogs got loose and he offered us $5.00 if we could find it. Our manhunt (actually dog hunt) rivaled anything J. Edgar
Hoover and the F.B.I. ever mounted. We were a bunch of kids on a mission. We finally cornered the pooch in the cemetery and
proudly led him back to his owner. Sure enough, Howard gave us a five-dollar bill. World-renowned economists could never match
the thought and ideas that went into what to do with this cash. Finally it was decided to buy our own bat at Lefty Reeser’s store in
Shillington. My dad took three or four of us on our shopping spree. We must have checked out at least three dozen bats befo re
choosing “our” homerun stick. Our philosophy was to buy a bat big enough so we could all grow into it. This maroon monster was so
big that it turned us around when we swung it. Every year when the season started, I’d bring it to the game to see if we were ready
for it. We never were. In fact, when I was in college, I came across this bat in my dad’s workshop, and it was still too heavy for me
to use.
As a child I spent countless hours on that field and, believe it or not, it still looks like it did fifty years ago. Even that ratty
old tree was only removed a few short years ago when new curbing was put in. Sadly, when I drive by the field now, I don’t see
children enjoying what it has to offer. Children of the twenty-first century don’t seem to play ball unless there are uniforms, umpires,
and trophies. Too bad for them; they don’t know what they are missing. To the mass media, it will be the “House That Ruth Built” that
stirs their hearts, but to me and other members of the Willow Street gang, it will always be Jay’s Field.
Let me know any stories you might have about your town's stadium; I'm interested in hearing your tales of greatness.
Go Eagles!
Pete
* In 1890, a former catcher, Harry Decker invented Decker's Safety Catcher's Mitt, and as they say, the rest is history.
Comments on my last article:
Normally I receive responses from a few of our readers, but in September I was contacted by three different alumni from Ephrata. Apparently
our newsletter makes the rounds in E-frata, too!
Also, in my last article I used the acronym PDH which some of my readers didn't remember; it stood for Pennsylvania Department of Highways,
now PENNDOT.
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CELLO FURY
COMING TO COCALICO MIDDLE SCHOOL
MAY 19, 2016
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Cello Fury is a cello rock powerhouse featuring three classically trained cellists and a drummer who have
developed their own unique style of rock music. Their original music combines the emotive and symphonic
sounds of the cello with driving rock beats to create a cinematic, progressive rock sound. Cello Fury
appeals to a diverse audience, performing in venues ranging from concert halls to rock clubs to schools and
even a Steelers' half-time show. They have done shows for audiences as large as 67,000 and toured
throughout 27 states and abroad. As an independent band, Cello Fury has released two albums of original
music, “Cello Fury” and “Symphony of Shadows” and a third album is on the way. Cello Fury's music can be
streamed online at sites such as Pandora, Spotify, Last.fm, and Radio and purchased at iTunes, CD Baby,
Amazon, and more.
VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.CELLOFURY.COM
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Obituaries
Walter G. Roberts, 77, of Newmanstown, passed away Monday, Sept. 14, 2015, at home. He was born in Springfield, Mass., to the late
Walter S., husband of Ana Roberts, and Alberta M. (Beedle) LeBlanc; and was the husband of Barbara A. (Beisswanger) Roberts, with
whom he shared 57 years of marriage. Walter was a member of the Kenhorst Seventh Day Adventist Church. He went to Springfield
Trade High and received his diploma from Reading High School. He then enlisted in the Marine Corps and was stationed in Hawaii. He
also served in the Army Reserves for six years. Walter worked as a school bus driver for Cocalico School District. In addition to his wife,
Walter is survived by two daughters: Danielle, wife of Brian Pannebecker, of Newmanstown; Michelle Redpath of Womelsdorf; a son:
Richard, wife of Beth Roberts, of Maryland; five grandchildren: Andrea Eshleman, fiancé of David DeJesus; Tim Staver; Caleb, Joshua,
and Luke Roberts; five great-grandchildren: Eric Meyer, Kyle Deutsch, Jada DeJesus, Jonathan DeJesus, Jordan, and Hailey Staver; two
brothers: Gary T. Roberts and Knight Beedle; and two sisters: Denise LeBlanc and Robin Roberts.
Martin Rufus Martzall, 90, formerly of Denver, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015, at Ephrata Community Hospital. He was
born in Denver to the late Stephen and Sadie (Weinhold) Martzall; and was the husband of the late Alvesta (Busser) Martzall, who
died in 2002. He served in the United States Army during WWII, where he was wounded in November of 1944. He served in the
93rd Division. He was a member of the Muddy Creek Lutheran Church in Denver, where he sang in the choir for 50 years. He
graduated from Muhlenburg College, and also studied at LSU, Colorado State, Kent State, Penn State, and Millersville Universities.
Martin was a teacher with the Cocalico School District, where he taught math, social studies, and German for 32 years. He also
taught German at the Penn State Berks Campus. Martin also enjoyed farming. He served on the Denver Borough Council, and the
Denver Water Authority. He also lent his expertise on Denver history to the Cocalico Valley Historical Society, and also translated
German for them. He played baseball in high school as well as for Muhlenburg University. He was an avid Phillies fan. Martin
played in a lot of local German bands and the Rohrerstown band. Martin is survived by a son: James, husband of the late Linda
Martzall of Shillington; a daughter: Patricia, wife of Kenneth Brame of York; four grandchildren: Krista Crowley, Justin Brame, Ryan
Martzall, and Andrea Esteves; eight great-grandchildren: Abigale, Madeline, Kaitlyn, Hannah, Amelia, Alexander, Samuel, and
Layla; three brothers: Raymond Martzall of Denver, Roy Martzall of Texas, and Roger Martzall of Denver; four sisters: Kathryn
Baker of Mount Joy, Mary Loose of Denver, Minetta Jones of Denver, and Louise Dohner of Akron; and a sister-in-law: Grace Elnora Fuentes of Novato, Calif.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by four brothers: Robert, Ralph, Richard, and Reuben Martzall; and an infant sister: Evelyn Martzall.
Robert L. “Bobby” Becker Jr., 43, Denver, went to be with the Lord, and his mother, Rose M. (Flowers) Becker, on Nov. 5,
2015. Born in Columbia, he was a Cocalico High School graduate and a member of Marietta Community Chapel. Although
disabled most of his life, he enjoyed buying and selling at auctions, and time with family and friends. He was known for his
salt and pepper shakers and sports memorabilia booths at 272 Antiques. Surviving are his father and step-mother: Robert
L. Sr. and Dixie Becker; sister: Jennifer Estelle; step-brother: Daniel Iwanyszyn; and nephews: Jonathan and Jacob Noll; and
George Estelle.
Mark M. Martzall, 92, of Lititz, passed away Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015, at Landis Homes. He was born in Lincoln to the
late Harry R. and Elsie M. (Mohler) Martzall, and was the husband of the late Verna M. (Mull) Martzall, who died in
2009. Mark served in the Civilian Public Service during World War II. He retired as a custodian for the Cocalico School
District after 17 years. Prior to that he worked for Quinlan Pretzel Co. and the former A.N. Wolf Shoe Co. He was one
of the oldest members of Mohler’s Church of the Brethren in Ephrata. He enjoyed reading as a pastime. Mark is
survived by two daughters: Linda S., wife of Barry Ginder, of Lititz; and Deborah Ann, wife of Lloyd Bucher, of Ephrata;
two grandchildren Kimberly, wife of Harold Fuentes, of Denver; and Sean Fritz of Reinholds; a great-granddaughter:
Isabella Fuentes; and a brother, Melvin M. Martzall. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a
brother: Nathan M. Martzall; and a sister: Martha M. Redcay.
Carol A. Wenrich, 72, of Stevens, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015, at Hospice and Community Care, Mount Joy. She was born in West
Virginia to the late Floyd Thomas Schultz and Etta (Null) Boyce; and was the wife of Robert R. Wenrich, with whom she shared 24 years of
marriage. She was a member of Salem Evangelical and Reformed Church in Reamstown, where she served on the church council and
assisted with children’s church. She was also a member of Cushion Peak Rod and Gun Club, and volunteered for Reamstown Park events.
She enjoyed traveling to Canada and Sullivan County. She also enjoyed spending time with her friends and family, and playing cards. In the
early years, Carol worked in C & B Sewing Factory. She was also a school bus driver and an aide for the Cocalico School District. In addition
to her husband, Carol is survived by a grandson: Justin Bennett; four step-children: Sandy Wenrich, Kathy (Bob) Weinhold, Carol (Sterling)
Smith, and David (Deb) Wenrich; four sisters: Betty Ann Osovado, Annie Crotchfelt, Barbara Jean Crotchfelt, and Arlene Axe; two brothers:
Billy Crotchfelt, and Kenneth Boyce Jr.; 14 stepgrandchildren; and 14 stepgreat-grandchildren. In addition to her mother, she was
preceded in death by a daughter: Donna Colfver; a sister: Mary Philpot; and a brother: Tom Schultz.
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Obituaries
Mason M. Reiff, 21, of Denver, passed away unexpectedly Monday, Nov. 2, 2015, as a result of a tragic car accident in the
Pittsburgh area. He was born in Lancaster to Leroy L. and Michelle M. (Zimmerman) Reiff. Mason was a 2012 graduate of
Cocalico High School. He went on to further his education at the California University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in
communications, with a minor in political science. He was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. Mason loved
camping, watching Steelers football, and spending time with his family. In addition to his parents, Mason is survived by
maternal grandmother: Edna Zimmerman; paternal grandparents: Vera and Leroy Reiff; and two brothers: Shane R. and Alex
L. Reiff.
Darle E. Birchall, 68, of Akron, died Oct. 27, 2015, at Ephrata Hospital. Born in Bedford, a son of Nora M. (Nave) Birchall,
Brethren Village, Neffsville, and the late Warren H. Birchall; he was married to Darla E. (Hackman) Birchall for 47 years. A
1965 Cocalico High School graduate, he was a Vietnam War Army veteran. Darle retired after 25 years as a Pennsylvania
state trooper, last at the Lancaster barracks, and worked part-time for Garden Spot Auto Auction, Ephrata. He cherished his
grandchildren, enjoyed driving his Corvette and motorcycle (especially on Memorial Day’s “Rolling Thunder”), and was a
huge Flyers fan. Darle was a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels for more than 15 years, was a member of Ephrata Lodge
No. 665 F&AM, and the Cocalico Sportsman Association.
Also surviving are his daughters: Wendy B. (John) Masterson, Ephrata; and Gwen A. (Chris) White, Lititz; and grandchildren,
Ronald E. Wagner, 56, of Ephrata, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, at Hospice and Community Care, Mount
Joy. He was born in Elizabethtown to Margaret (Nagle) Reynolds of Lancaster; and was the husband of Joanne (Dissinger)
Wagner for 13 years. They were together for 21 years. Ronald loved spending time with his family and was a kind-hearted,
loving husband. He also adored his granddaughter Addisyn. He loved fishing, being outdoors, walking in nature, spending
time in the mountains, and weight lifting. Ronald was a hard worker who was employed as the head custodian for Denver
Elementary School . In addition to his mother and wife, Ronald is survived by daughter: Jen, wife of Steve Heimbach, of
Denver; granddaughter: Addisyn; three brothers: Gary, Tim, and Curt Wagner.
Teresa Dawn Lindeman, 42, of Ephrata, passed away Monday, Oct. 19, 2015, at Wellspan Ephrata Community Hospital. She was born in
Lancaster to Leon and Verna (Nolt) Stauffer; and was the wife of Preston H. Lindeman, with whom she shared 22 years of marriage. Teresa
was a graduate of Cocalico High School. She had worked as a nurse’s aide. She loved to be in the kitchen and made the best throw
togethers. Her happy place was sitting next to the campfire with her family. Teresa was very beautiful and full of life and happiness, always
wanting to be home with her family. Her friends and family will always miss her. In addition to her husband and parents, Teresa is survived
by mother-in-law: Sarah, companion of Bob Dickersheid; five children: Preston, husband of Emily (Carty) Lindeman; Morgan, Amanda,
Shelby and Dana Lindeman; two grandchildren: Anastasia Lindeman and Lily Lindeman on the way; brother: Lowell, husband of Beverly
Stauffer; and four nephews.
Donald R. Ansel, 90, Stevens, died Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015, at Keystone Villa, Ephrata. Born in Reamstown, a son of
the late Harry G. and Edna W. (Sweigart) Ansel; his wife, June S. (Kern) Ansel, died June 14, 1999. Following graduation
from East Cocalico High School, Donald served in the Army during World War II. He completed Harrisburg Barber
School, then owned and operated a barbershop at his home for 39 years. Remembered for his quick wit, hearty
appetite, especially for ice cream, he also enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and watching baseball on television.
Surviving are his daughter: Donna (Philip) Deibler, Stevens; sons: Barry (Susan Houser) Ansel, Lebanon; and Jody (Ruth
Sauder) Ansel, Stevens; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister: Marguerite Mohn, Akron; and brothers:
Clair (Allegra Newpher) Ansel, Terre Hill; and Marvin (Florence Wenger) Ansel, Ephrata. He was predeceased by
brothers: Vincent, Carl and Kenneth.
Cynthia A. Cox, 61, of Lancaster, died Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015. Born in Ephrata, she was the daughter of the late Robert and
Catherine Gensemer Cox. She was a graduate of Cocalico High School and Elizabethtown College. The proud owner of Just 4
Petz Mobile Grooming, she was a dedicated volunteer to rescuing and finding homes for animals. She is survived by a son:
Jarod R. Kline of Lancaster; brother: Rod Cox, Bradenton, Fla.; three sisters: Janet Ludwig, Starla Grossman, Glenda Witmer, all
of Denver; a sister: Sandy Gray of Lititz; and nieces and nephews.
CAA would like to thank the Ephrata Review for granting us permission to republish the preceding obituaries.
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The Cloud Chaser
By Peter W. Riffle
Peter is a nationally recognized teacher of special
needs children; but more importantly, he is also a person with multiple learning disabilities. He
knows what it's like to be challenged on "both sides of the desk." The Cloud Chaser is a "grassroots" approach for teachers of children with disabilities and for parents of special needs kids. Log
on to thecloudchaser.net to learn more.
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Engagements
Bethany Adair and Charles “C.J.” Price
Jr., of Reamstown, recently announced
their engagement. Bethany is the
daughter of Todd and Deborah Adair of
Reamstown. A 2011 Cocalico High
School graduate, she is currently
attending Western Governors
University, working towards a
bachelors’ degree in human resources
management. She is employed by
Farmstead Gourmet in Ephrata as an
administrative assistant.
C.J. was born and raised in
Federalsburg, Md. He is a 2007 graduate of Colonel Richardson High
School, Federalsburg. He works as a truck driver for Barr-Nunn
Transportation in Granger, Iowa. An Oct. 7, 2017 ceremony has
been planned.
Are you getting married or know someone who is? Send us your
announcement and we’ll be sure to include it in the next newsletter!
alumni@cocalico.org
Amy L. Haffly and Chris A. Wise, of
Ephrata, recently announced their
engagement. Amy is the daughter
of Bruce and Linda Loser of
Hummelstown. She graduated
from Cedar Cliff High School,
Bloomsburg University and Penn
State University. Amy serves as the
assistant principal at Donegal
Primary School. Chris is the son of
Leon and Mary Ann Wise, of
Reinholds. He graduated from Cocalico High School,
Carnegie Mellon University and the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chris serves as the finance and
human resource director at Recovery InSight. A July 23,
2016 ceremony has been planned.
CAA would like to thank the Ephrata Review for granting us permission to
republish the preceding engagement announcements.
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Goals of the Cocalico Alumni Association
Cocalico School District
P.O. Box 800
Denver, PA 17517

Phone: 717-336-1413
Email: alumni@cocalico.org

DID YOU KNOW?

Senior Citizens, age 65 & over, living
within the Cocalico School District are
eligible for special lifetime passes which
admit them without charge to all HOME
sporting, drama, and musical events.
These passes can be obtained by
visiting the Administration Office at the
front of the senior high school during
normal business hours.

Let people know about upcoming events and
reunions
Help Alumni get in touch with other alumni
Raise awareness of the Cocalico Education
Foundation and all of the
great things the organization
does for the community
Keep alumni connected to what is happening
Help Wanted:
The Cocalico Alumni Association is looking for volunteers.
The Newsletter Committee is looking for interested writers and for ideas for
upcoming issues of the Newsletter.
The Event Committee is looking for people to help organize and help carry out
some upcoming endeavors. There have been many fun suggestions for Alumni
events, we are looking for the manpower to make them happen!
The Website Committee is looking for help in maintaining and adding new items
to the Alumni Website page.
Please contact us at alumni@cocalico.org or drop in at our next meeting on
January 20, 2016 at 5:00.
Do you know someone who would enjoy this newsletter? Pass it on!
Encourage your fellow alumni to register online at www.cocalicoalumni.org
and they will receive all upcoming newsletters and event reminders!
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