b'LarryWolhandler:aremembranceofDianne 89DianneandImetat3or4yearsoldattheTempleBeth-Elpreschool(backthentheywerecallednurseryschools)presidedoverbyourteacherMrs.Rokeach.ThatledintoHebrewSchoolandpublicschoolaswell.Myfirstrealmemoriesformedaround12whenwewereonthesamebarmitzvahpartycircuit.Wewerefriends,orthatstrangespaceadolescentsoftheoppositesexoccupiedbackinthe60s.Iguesswedidthetwist.IremembervisitingherhouseonDouglasCrescentandhermotherdroppingusatthemoviesintheirboxyoldblueandwhiteNashRambler.Itwasaroundthistime(highschool)thattheSlavinsmovedtoUtica\'ssuburb,NewHartford,almostacrossthestreetfromourfriendJeffWeinstein.Thiswascauseforsomejealousyorwhatpassedforunspokencrushesandcompetitionsbackthen.ThereweretimesalsoattheirfamilycompoundinOldForge,TOOTHACRESonthirdlake.Ialwayslovedthatnameandthereferencetothefamilyoccupation.WestayedintouchevenafterImovedtoParis,foragoodpartofmy20saftercollege.Diannevisitedmethere.Then,inour30s,wefoundourselveslivingacoupleofblocksfromeachotherinNewYorkandweformedagroupofUtica"landsmen"(aYiddishism.,meaningapeoplefromthesametownasanother;compatriot.)includingStuartBernstein,MargoHarrisandherhusbandCraig.StuarthadacarsowehadpicnicsandBBQsontheNewJerseyPalisadesontheHudson.Thosewerewonderfuldays,lotsofdinneranddrinks,oftenatDianne\'splaceon18thStreet.Thiswasthe80sandpre-iphonessoIdon\'thavepics,unfortunately,buttrustme,wehadfun.DiannemetRussandtheymovedtoLongIsland,whereIalsoeventuallyendedup.DianneandRusscametotherestaurantIopenedoutthere.Asallofushadchildrenandgotinvolvedinourlivesandwork,wesaweachotherless.Butalways,Iwouldthinkofher,andgetnewsfromallthosefriendsgoingbacktoUtica.I\'mbrokenheartedatlosinghersoyoung.'