April update

Although we don’t have another reunion in the works until the summer of 2009, connections that were initially made at the last reunion are still playing themselves out.

Cathy McElligott reports that Herb Radding is recovering from another back surgery, and will be returning to the hospital in April for surgery on his shoulder.

David Nappi and Kathy Cragin just returned from a cruise to San Juan, including Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten and St. Thomas. If you live in Syracuse, New York as they do, just one cruise doesn’t seem like nearly enough compensation for the cold and snow. Lisa Radding also spent the winter in Syracuse, much of it on crutches no less, but escaped to Savannah, Georgia for an Ultimate Frisbee tournament during spring break.

More Raddings on the move: Earl Radding is planning a trip to Costa Rica in July, and his band played a couple of gigs in Delaware during the month of March. By the way, Earl, the oldest Radding at the reunion, will turn 96 years old on April 26. The Torah tells us that a person will likely live 70 years, 80 years if they are fortunate. Earl is well into bonus time. Happy Birthday and let’s hope for many more.

Raddings in Israel: Ellen Rowles traveled to Israel and joined a Hadassah nursing mission for two weeks in March. Marsha Radding and her daughters Adrienne and Carolyn went to Israel planning to meet a cousin on Marsha's (non-Radding) side of the family whom they've never met. Two other cousins from New York and Brazil have also joined them on their mini reunion.

On the genealogy front, Eva Radding discovered some long lost cousins of Andrew Radding. She has also been hot on the trail of some Racusin cousins, apparently the descendents of Berre Racusin’s daughter Lotti Lashman. Lotti’s 90 year-old grandson, Shelley Lashman, is a retired naval officer and judge in the Atlantic City, NJ, area. Does the name Lashman ring a bell with anyone?

Also at the end of April, Ron Bland and his wife Kay will be in Sacramento visiting their son Todd. Pearl Carpenter writes that the three Radding-related Davis (California) families have invited everyone in Northern California within driving distance of Davis for a barbecue on April 27. They are hoping to meet even more Raddings. Ron says he last saw Pearl at a family wedding in 1950 in Springfield. It quite likely happened in the backyard of my parents’ (Joseph and Eunice Radding) home, which probably was the largest backyard among the Springfield Raddings. Pearl doesn’t remember the details and I wasn’t even born yet.

Finally, Fay Radding needs your help for her work. She wants to hear stories about how retirement was discussed by prior generations. Did your parents or grandparents share their feelings about retirement? If so what were they? You can share your stories with Fay at FAYSPLACE@aol.com. Fay—here is your first retirement story. I remember when, late in my father’s life, he threatened to retire. My mother’s reply: “If he thinks he is going to retire and stay home all day, then I am going to get a job.” As it turns out, he didn’t actually retire until he broke his hip while downhill skiing at the age of 77.

The California Radding Reunion 2009 planning team is ramping up and needs volunteers. You don’t have to be in California to help out. Most of the work gets done by email and phone. If you want to help, please contact Steve Greenfield, stgreen@omsoft.com.

Send me any news you have, alan@radding.net, and it will be in the next posting of the Radding Reunion blog.