Dean Stamm, Class of 1968
Following are excerpts from his 09/10/99, 09/09/99, 07/08/99, 07/01/99, 06/10/99, and 03/25/99 e-mails:
09/10/99 "All Went Well!"
"All went well. It was a great experience and one to remember. There were about 50 members who showed up in the band. It was a great trip back into time and a worthwhile experience. The Alumni Band played well and put on a very respectable performance. There was much joy, happiness, and laughter all night long. John and Della May were very pleased, as was I.
"There is some interest building in the idea of a song for John, and some money is starting to come in. I would guess that there is around $400, and I need to take expenses out yet, but the money is starting to come in. I think that the word needs to get around, and it is still a very real and doable project.
"Right now I just finished eating lunch and dinner together, and I am exhausted. ... I will send you details soon and fill you in on the rest of the weekend activities.
"Your band buddy, Dean @>=jjj=< (My Trumpet)"
09/09/99 "Alumni Band Practice Went Well"
"Practice went well last night. The Port Clinton News Herald was there with a reporter and photographer and are going to do an article in the paper on the reunion. He interviewed John, Della May, and many former students.
"Terry Robb had everything in order and very well organized. He had computer printouts to verify names, addresses, and phone numbers. All the music was laid out to sort through and choose the parts that we needed to play. All the instruments needed by alumni were there ready and waiting to be played. Terry provided all reeds and accessories needed, set up chairs and stands for band members to use, provided flip folders, lyres, made necessary adjustments to instruments all night long as needed to keep the instruments in good playing order, had signs outside to point the way to the band room for the alumni band members, and even picked up a mellophone and sat in and played with the alumni band.
"Mr. Robb met John and Della May in the parking lot to escort them to the band room so there was no confusion. Terry also told the band that he wanted to keep the OHHS Alumni Band alive and going and wants to have the band back to perform every two years to keep the interest and momentum going. He has created an Alumni Band file of names, addresses, and phone numbers to be kept and maintained in the OHHS band computer. Anyone who has any names of former alumni band members to be added to the list were asked to give them to Terry (419-898-6216 x 341). Terry Robb is to be commended for an outstanding job.
"After the newspaper interview and pictures, John and Della May were finally available to greet and reunite with former alumni band members. Many warm handshakes, smiles, hugs, and even a couple of tears were shared by the Freytags and Alumni Band members. Mr. Freytag walked over to where Bob Harris and I were standing, and I was showing Bob the new horn that I had just purchased, and I was telling Bob that I really liked the way the horn played, but did not like or had not become used to the valves on the new horn, because the valve finger buttons recessed further down into the valve caps than most trumpets.
"John, the teacher and problem solver that he always was and, as we found out, still is, promptly reached out and took my trumpet in hand and proceeded to show and tell me that I needed to curl my fingers on the valves like this, and not to lay my fingers flat over the valves. John said that if I curl my fingers over the valves, and keep my little finger out of the little finger ring, that the valves would not be a problem, and my valve fingering action would be smoother and quicker. John was exactly right. Bob and I looked at each other and smiled. It brought back memories of our high school days when John would give us lessons.
"The lesson that John had just shared with Bob and me was the same lesson that John had told us dozens or probably hundreds of times before. I thanked John for the advice and felt like I had just lived through an episode in the Wonder Years TV show. John, Bob, and I had just bonded and picked up right where we had left off thirty-two years ago. John was still teaching, and I was still learning. It was a great warm experience to live and share together once more.
"The Freytays have not changed much since leaving Oak Harbor. Della May still possesses the same charm and sparkle that she has always had, and John looks almost the same except for a little grayer hair (which we all probably had a little something to do with over the years at OHHS) and a couple of pounds lighter. Many alumni band members said to me that they can't get over how much John looks the same. They said that he hasn't changed much at all since high school, and I had to agree.
"Shortly after 7:00 PM, I welcomed the 35 Alumni Band members who showed up to once more make music together in the band under the direction of John. I briefly went over the plans and schedules for Friday night and Saturday, after which we all stood for a prayer given by fellow trumpet player and band alumnus, John Schiller. John is a school teacher in Akron, Ohio, and he drove up just to practice that evening with the band and John. John is to be commended for his effort to be here to practice with Mr. Freytag.
"There were alumni band members there who graduated as recently as last year, and the rest of the members ranged back into the early 1950's. There was much joy and happiness about being reunited again as a band with John conducting, and I think that many of us lost track of time, forgot about the many years that have passed by, the many hairs that have fallen out or changed color, or the couple of pounds that have been added or dropped. When John stepped up with baton in hand, and brought it down for the first downbeat, we all went back in time many years ago to that little band room under the office at the old high school where we all spent many hours rehearsing in the basement under the school office.
"For a brief moment in our minds, we were all there in that rehearsal room in the basement thirty-three years ago. [Editor's note: Thirty-three years ago, 1966, a better music facility opened that had been built in the middle rear of the old high school, which now serves as the junior high. The Class of 1967 was able to spend its senior year, Mr. and Mrs. Freytag's last at Oak Harbor, in the then brand new facilty.] It was a wonder that Mr. Waters, Mr. Herbert, and the rest of the school staff were able to get anything done with all the noise we made. Mr. Freytag reminisced about our facilities and the little practice rooms across the hall under the gym where the ceiling sloped down to where we all would eventually bump our head if we were not careful.
"John also told the story about a student who took some little red beans out of one of the civil defense rations stored across the hall, and time after time, shot beans one at a time across the band room, trying to land a bean in the bell of a sousaphone. John said that dozens of times this happened, but he never was able to catch whoever was doing the bean shooting, until one day, Mr. Waters happened to walk by the doorway and saw the beanshooter in action performing his annoying deed. Mr. Waters promptly took the young man out of band, put him in an empty room where Mr. Waters had taken a large container of red beans, dumped them on the floor, and instructed the young man that he was to pick up every red bean, one at a time, and return them into the container. John said that he had run into that same student many years later and, to that day, the young man could not look at or eat a red bean.
"We played and rehearsed the OHHS Fight Song, Alma Mater, Star Spangled Banner, Military Escort (the featured song for the Alumni Band requested by Mr. Freytag) and the Trio of Stars and Stripes Forever. We played, rehearsed, and rehearsed again, some of the rough spots that Mr. Freytag felt were rough and needed working out. He has not changed. If we did not play it right, he had us play it over and over until we had it right. By the time rehearsal was over, Mr. Freytag had worked out all the bumps and rough spots, and in OHHS band tradition, we had it, and we played it right. If I might add, we, as a band, as a whole, sounded pretty darned good, and I think that we did a very commendable job and made Mr. Freytag proud.
"After rehearsal in the band room and learning to play the musical selections right, John took us all out on the new football field so we could line up, march, play, and know where we were to be and where to go Friday night. We lined up, marched onto the field playing the fight song, learned where to stand, and how to march off the field playing, and where to end up. Our ranks and lines were not too bad for a bunch of old marching band alumni. It brought back many memories of lining up, playing it, lining up and playing it again and again until we got it right. Except for the hungry herd of mosquitoes trying their best to carry us away, it was a rewarding memorable experience. It brought back many memories walking from the school to the football field and practicing under the lights once more for good old Oak Harbor High.
"Upon returning to the school band room to put our instruments away and head for home and reality once again, everyone felt that it was an experience well worth the effort and glad that they had the chance to relive a band rehearsal once again. We all were looking foreword to reuniting once again with fellow band family, alumni, and Mr. Freytag to perform at an OHHS football game once more.
"Many thanks to John and Della May Freytag for making the trips to Oak Harbor and share with us in our alumni band rehearsal, performance, and reunion. Thanks to Terry Robb for all the work that he and some of his band members contributed to making our Alumni Band Reunion a success ... a great big thank you to the local community web masters and mistresses for spreading the word throughout local cyber space, which include Doug Martin, Class of 1973, on www.Oak-Harbor.com and Web-Rocket-1967 on the Class of 1967 Reunion Committee's web space and the showers of e-mail spread to alumni, whether they were former band folk or not, or whether they were listed on public web pages or not ... the local print media at The Ottawa County Exponent and the Port Clinton News Herald ... I would also like to thank the Oak Harbor High School staff and faculty and student volunteers for all their time and help, Liz Milbrodt for taking charge of providing the refreshments for the Alumni Band reception after the game Friday evening in the choir room, and I would like to thank Katie Grimm and Mary Windisch for taking charge and making all the arrangements for the community reception for John and Della May Freytag at the Oak Harbor Hotel at 12:30 PM on Saturday, September 11. Another big thank you goes out to Mayor Pete Macko and the Village of Oak Harbor employees for all their help in preparation of the proclamation from the village, declaring Friday, September 10, 1999, as John and Della May Freytag Day.
"My last big thank you goes to John and Della May Freytag for the many years of loyal and dedicated service, love, and care they gave to the students and citizens of Oak Harbor. All those who came in contact with the Freytags have grown and learned from the experience of having lived in the same community and having the opportunity to work with John and Della May. We are all truly better off by having known the Freytags, and they were a major influence on who and what many of us are today. Thanks, John and Della May, for getting involved and making a difference in our homes, community, school, and lives.
"Your band buddy, Dean @>=jjj=< (My Trumpet)"
07/08/99 "John Freytag Update"
" ... I just got off the phone with John, and I thought I would drop you an update. The Exponent has agreed to run an article about John coming back, so I called him to ask for a picture and personal history to put in the paper. John said that he would be glad to put something together and send it to me in the next couple days, but he said that he did not have a current picture, and he may have one taken and send it to me. He said that he still had his band uniform and that he might have his picture taken in it. I said that would be great! John said that he may wear it at the September 10, 1999, game. We agreed that it would be good, and would make playing in or directing the alumni band more real in our minds, as we travel back in time and perform in the Oak Harbor High School band once more.
"John said that he and Della May are looking forward to returning and being reunited with former students and friends again. He asked if Della May is included in the festivities, because she was an active part of the band and also contributed to the success of our band and excellent music program. I told him Absolutely Yes, they are both invited back to the reunion, and we look forward to celebrating with both of them as we celebrate the night's events and activities.
"John said that he hopes that we can get some former (he said older) band members together to play in an alumni band. He even said that he might get his daughter, Martha, to come back and play her French horn. I think that many alumni band members will answer the call if the word gets out and around. Maybe you could put out the call on the Oak Harbor web sites for any band alumni members who wish to play that night to contact me. [Web-Rocket-1967 Note: Notices are on BCS Music Boosters, Oak-Harbor.com Guest Book, OakHarborOhio.com (soon), and Village of Oak Harbor Guest Book web pages.] We might as well start getting everyone together so the band can begin forming. Please tell everyone who wants to play that we are there to have fun and honor John and Della May. It doesn't matter how well you play or if you only hit a note once in a while. I assure everyone that the song selection will be kept simple, and nobody has to march unless they choose to do so. At this point I do not even know if marching is an option. That is yet to be determined. The article will be coming out in the next couple weeks in The Exponent about John, and we'll know more about the details later.
"There are other ideas brewing and, once there are more details, we'll let you know. ...
"I am still open to ideas, suggestions, comments, letters, pictures, memorabilia, or whatever other contributions can be made to make this reunion a success for the Freytags and us. Thanks to all who help make this a success! ... and to the web masters and web mistresses of the local community web sites!
"Your band-buddy, Dean Stamm @>=jjj=<"
07/01/99 "John Freytag Reunion"
" ... I just sat down to check my e-mail and was very pleased to have just received yours ... please keep them coming.
"John Freytag had expressed that if he could come back for a football game, it would be in the early part of the season while the weather is still warm and not late in the season when it becomes wet, rainy, snowy, and just downright cold!!! We all remember some of those football Fridays. Terry Robb, the director at OHHS, suggested that the September 10, 1999, home football game against Lorain Clearview would be ideal. It was early in the season while it was still warm weather and Lorain was probably not going to bring their band this far for a game. That would give us more time at half-time for John. Terry and I agreed, and I called John to make the invitation for September 10. He said that sounded good, but let he and Della May check their schedule, and he would get back to me in a couple of days.
"To my surprise, he called a couple days later and said that the September 10 date would be fine, and he and his wife would be here for the reunion and celebration. I am elated!!!! After 30-plus years of trying to get John back here, he has finally agreed. Terry Robb immediately put it on the schedule for September 10.
"We had considered the Apple Festival weekend, but the weather could go either way, and that was a concern for John. I know that is not a convenient date for some, and will be good for others, but at least John is finally coming back to Oak Harbor to be honored and that is the main objective. I would appreciate your help in getting the word out to whomever we can reach, so at least everyone will know about the September 10 reunion and celebration for John and Della May. John said that he could direct a march or two and maybe the National Anthem. I told him that maybe we could get the alumni band into concert formation and play the 1812 Overture. John laughed and said that, if I get the cannons to fire, he could direct the piece.
"I have asked a couple of local alumni band members to help get something going for the celebration, and everyone accepted, would do anything that needed to be done, and was very excited about reuniting with John once again. John did say that it would be nice to direct a song or two with the old band members if we could get any of them together to play again. We will try to put together an alumni band to play if there is enough interest and, so far, everyone has responded favorably.
"That is about all to share with you for now. I appreciate your help in getting the word out about the reunion on September 10 and am very open and receptive to any and all suggestions as how to welcome John and Della May back home to Oak Harbor and make it a very joyous and memorable day for all to remember.
"I am looking forward to hearing from ... any band alumna et alumnus who has anything to offer. Anyone who has any pictures or memorabilia from the past that they are willing to share, please speak up. All offers, ideas, and suggestions will be considered. Any local help in the doing and planning is also welcomed. I appreciate the interest from everyone I speak with and the willingness of everyone to help make the reunion a success. John has touched the lives and hearts of many, if not all of us, at Oak Harbor High School. It will be good to meet with him again and share good times with someone who has given so much to so many of us, and never asked or expected anything in return. I will keep you and everyone updated when I have more to share.
"Until then, your band-buddy, Dean @>=jjj=<"
06/10/99 "John Freytag's Contact Information" [Technically Updated 2009-03-05 Thursday]
... "I spoke with John Freytag this past Tuesday evening, and I told him about ... your class website, and the many inquiries about him and his family. I do not think he is real sure what a website or e-mail is or can do, but he said he would love to hear from you and any former students who would care to contact him. He said that you could put his address and phone number on the website. He seemed to be very pleased that so many former students still thought of and remembered him. I reassured him that none of us could or would ever forget him and all that he had done for us, and that he had contributed to the success of each and every one of us.
Over the past years of my playing with various bands, I have met and played with several former students that John started on instruments at Medina where John taught after leaving Oak Harbor. Just recently, I played with the John Phillips Sousa Band, and the director of this well known band is Marcus Nieman. Marcus was the high school band director at Medina HS and worked with John who was, at that time, the junior high band director at Medina JHS. I also play with Jeff Buchanan in the North Coast Concert Band. Jeff is the Junior High Band Director at Bellevue. Jeff grew up in Medina where John Freytag started Jeff on the trumpet, where Jeff later played under the direction of Marcus Nieman in the Medina HS band. Jeff is now also a member of the Sousa Band and is a featured baritone soloist. Jeff's mom and dad still live in Medina and are still ... good friends and socialize often with John and Della May Freytag. The director of the North Coast Concert Band is Nick Ezone. Nick is a good friend of John Freytag and was the band director at Lakota HS when we were in school, so I knew and played under the direction of Nick when we were in HS and he directed the joint HS bands for the National Anthem at football games back in the 60's.
"John and his wife, Della May, live in Wooster, Ohio, and are both doing well. So far, they are both fortunate to enjoy good health, retirement, and their grandchildren. John told me that he is eighty-and-a-half years old and enjoying life. He still remembers students and little stories about us, and still loves to share them and all the good memories. I told John that I was at the band awards last week, and he and his influence were still alive and well when the screen dropped down and they did senior baby pictures. This tradition has been carried on through the years, ever since he started it, and is still alive and provides great entertainment.
"OHHS marching band will have 192 members this next year and are going from two to three high school bands during the concert season. Terry Robb, the HS band director, asked me to check with John to see if he would come back this fall to an OHHS football game, direct the band, and have a little reunion to meet with former students. I have asked him to come back before to other things, and he always declined, but this time he said that he probably could if he knew the date and it was not too late in the season when it gets cold. I just contacted Terry Robb, and he said that we will see what we can work out. I will keep you posted.
"I was thinking that it would be nice to do something for John for all he had done for us. Two things come to mind. First, John told me that he no longer had any of the records we recorded in high school. He had loaned them out over the years, and has forgotten who he had loaned them to and would like to have them to listen to again. Second, I was thinking that if John had a computer, which he has very little knowledge about, but if he had one with a little bit of training, he would be able to send and receive e-mail (be accessible by former students) and have access to all the world wide web has to offer him. [Note: For convenience, you may e-mail John Freytag via class general e-mail delivery, i.e., just activate his e-mail hyper link, write and send your message; when received, your message will be printed and mailed to him expeditiously via U. S. Postal Service first class mail.] Maybe we could set up a John Freytag web site and offer the songs that we recorded for the listeners' pleasure. I am sure that there are others who would be willing to join me to donate money to buy him a computer, and find and replace the records that he lost. Let me know your feelings about this.
"Well, I better close and give you their contact information, which is:
John A. Freytag, Music Director of Salem-Oak Harbor (Ohio) Schools from 1952 to Summer 1967, passed away on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, at age 90.1 years, having been born Monday, January 6, 1919.[Toledo Blade Obituary | Witzler-Shank Funeral Home | Memorial Service 2009-03-08 Sunday 3:00 PM EDT, First United Methodist Church, 200 W 2nd St, Perrysburg, OH 43551-1403 {Church Phone 419•874•1911 | 419•872•3482 Church Fax} | Directions or Map].
Survived by Mrs. Della May Freytag
108 Civic Dr
Perrysburg OH 43551-2201
419•874•0908 Voice Home [Revision 1 and re-verified for Revision 2].
John Freytag and Della May Freytag
2407 Weaver Drive
Wooster OH 44691-2015
"Your old band buddy, Dean Stamm @>=jjj=< (My Trumpet)"
03/25/99 "A Pleasant Surprise!"
" ... I was searching for information on the Toledo Symphony and, in scrolling through the results, I found your Class of 1967 site. Please list me on your site on the Class of 1968 page. I still live in O. H. I still play my trumpet with several local concert bands, and play in an 18-piece big band in Toledo. It is nice to have a hobby that pays rather than having to pay to do the hobby.
"I still keep in regular contact with John Freytag and his wife. They live in Wooster, Ohio, and are doing well. It was really a pleasant surprise to find your class web site and find the list of good friends from the past. Take care and hope that all is going well for you.
"Your fellow Rocket, Dean Stamm @>=JJJ=< (My Trumpet)"