Free Press –
Dear Friends,
Good
morning. It takes much courage to stand in front of strangers and tell them
that you’ve had mental health problems in your past or that you’re recovering
from an addiction. But that’s exactly what 40 people did at the Penn
Foundation’s groundbreaking ceremonies for its
More on this in a moment.
But first,
one of my boyhood friends recently passed away. Services for James Ort were
held last week. His obituary gave only these statistics: James A. Ort, 71, of
There was much to learn about the James Ort that I knew. I met Jimmy Ort in Sunday school nearly 70 years ago. We were in the same class during elementary and junior high school. He was very bright and sunny.
Although Jimmy was small, he didn’t let size get in his way. He wasn’t built for sports and I don’t recall him being a singer or a thespian but he played in the orchestra and the band. While Jimmy’s classmates starred in plays and the gridiron, his specialty was magic.
Our class yearbook, “The Recall”
identified him as “A well known magician, “Jimmy the Great,” enlivens the class
with his subtle humor.” He could do tricks, which were spellbinding. And he
loved radio. Jimmy was a part time announcer for WBUX when he was in high
school. That experience launched him into the radio business in
Jimmy loved airplanes. I remember him starting an airplane club in elementary school. But magic was his exclusive domain.
As often happens after high school, friends drift apart. I regret that I didn’t stay in touch with Jimmy. Alas, now it’s too late to catch up on the last 50 years, so I’ll have to wait until the next world.
And now to the Penn Foundation.
Betsy and I attended the
groundbreaking of its new
At the reception, I sat with Charlie Hoeflich, an old banker friend. Charlie is 93 and looks great. His mind is sharp and his body resembles someone 20 years younger. I asked him if he’s still riding motorcycles?
“No,” he laughed...Still, I wonder.
But Charlie’s still active with the Univest Bank in Souderton where he’s served since 1962. He’s the Chairman Emeritus of Univest and still leads several committees for his bank.
Remembering that Charlie is also a Penn grad, I told him that my class of 1957 celebrates its 50th reunion this week. Charlie was from the class of 1936. I challenged him to give me his class cheer by reciting my own: “Quaker men will long recall, ’57 best of all.”
Charlie didn’t miss a beat. “Hard
as nails, tough as bricks,
I should have known better to try to one-up Charlie Hoeflich.
The Penn Foundation continues to live up to its motto: “Instilling Hope, Inspiring Change.” Founded in 1955, it has a professional staff of 340 caring people and works with more than 8,000 children, adolescents and adults yearly. The Penn Foundation has 43 separate programs for mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse.
I thought of its mission as I watched 40 brave people, with candles, lining the assembly hall. Todd Barlow heads the drug and alcohol program for the PF. He introduced the program by telling us that 20 people, representing 20 years of service, were coming forward to light candles as a show of thanks for what the Penn Foundation has meant to them and their families.
Those 20 carried the candles of 20 patients who were in recovery for drug and alcohol abuse. Each of the two lines met in the center of the room, lit candles and pledged mutual support.
It was a remarkable moment. Betsy and I were impressed by the courage of the 40 people who weren’t embarrassed to participate. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. They were promising to each other that drug and alcohol abuse was behind them.
It was a moment that Betsy and I won’t forget.
Sincerely,
Charles Meredith
PS. Don’t forget the Richland Library book sale on Saturday,
May 19. Richland Library is expanding its facilities and needs to raise funds.
Ellen Schroy (215-536-8056) reminded me to help by “Donating gently used books
at the Library (