Stuck in the Sixties: the Ollie Richards Story

By William A. Grossfield

The Ollie Richards Story: Stuck in the Sixties takes place mainly in the 1960s at Mr. Grossfields college, S.U.N.Y. at New Paltz. It explores the pulse of those confusing and turbulent times and then speeds forward into the next few decades. The book is semi-autobiographical as Mr. Grossfield is viewed as an observer on the sidelines, as the world changes before him. It is a learning experience not only for Mr. Grossfield, but for the reader as well.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 19, 2008
• ISBN: 9781462831449

William A. Grossfield

William A. Grossfield was born and raised in New York City. After attending his beloved New Paltz, he worked for the Newburgh City Schools (which is in the New Paltz area) for fourteen years. He decided to seek his fame and fortune in Los Angeles in 1982. He left his family and friends in New York and secured another teaching position in California. He met and married Esther, his long lost soulmate, in 1992. They live happily in Southern California with their cat, even though William grew up with a dog named Licorice. He is still seeking that elusive fame and fortune.

Book preview

missing image file

Copyright © 2008 by William A. Grossfield.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

All the names of people and places instrumental to this book have been changed and any similarities are purely coincidental. Certain well-known names of people or places are mentioned in the book. However, they are in the realm of the public domain, which protects the author in using the aforementioned. This disclaimer is for the protection of the author.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

35425

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

The Arrival

Chapter 2

A Walk around Campus

Chapter 3

Meeting Ollie

Chapter 4

Downtown

Chapter 5

Signing Up

Chapter 6

A Change

Chapter 7

The Weekly Reporter

Chapter 8

ROTC on Campus

Chapter 9

In Protest of an Unpopular War

Chapter 10

A Dorm Room Discussion

Chapter 11

Pranks

Chapter 12

Drugs

Chapter 13

Two Possible Ollie Sightings

Chapter 14

1968 to 1982, the Newburgh Years

Chapter 15

California, Here I Come

Chapter 16

A Real Relationship

Chapter 17

Reunion

Chapter 18

A Huge Surprise

Chapter 19

A Visit to Boston,1994

Chapter 20

Ollie’s Room

Chapter 21

The Tour

Chapter 22

As an Observer

Chapter 23

Rock and Roll Forever

Chapter 24

Leap of Faith?

Chapter 25

Fence Sitting

Epilogue

This book is dedicated to three important people in my life. The first two are my wonderful mother and father who were major positive role models and influences in my life. The third person for whom I dedicate this book is my lovely wife, Esther, who has taught me how to enjoy and appreciate life. I thank you all for everything.

William A. Grossfield

Prologue

It certainly was the best of times for a young man of seventeen. Sleepaway camp had ended, and college was about to begin. The New York World’s Fair was in full swing, and the Mets were as pathetic as ever. Rock and roll was in its heyday, led by the Beatles, and the Vietnam War was not yet on the front pages. Yes, it certainly was the best of times with no sight of the worst of times on the horizon. The year was 1964.

Before attending New York State University or NYSU, I was in the bathroom shaving. A knock on the door distracted me for a moment.

Come in.

It was my mother appearing in the mirror. She had a serious look on her countenance.

Yes, Mom, what is it?

Your father and I have been discussing your impending college days, and we have decided to offer you some advice. Never in my seventeen years have my parents ever approached me with any form of words of wisdom from their vast experience. She certainly got my attention.

They must have drawn straws to see who would talk to me. Mom must have lost.

Anyway, Bill, now that you are going away to college, we feel you should be a bit more cautious.

What do you mean? I always try to finish my homework.

No, not that. It’s something else.

Now I was stumped, as I didn’t have a clue as to what she was referring.

Anyway, she continued as she stammered her words, use a rubber. As she turned to leave, she left me gasping. A tiny trace of blood was trickling down my cheek.

Yes, my upcoming college days should be very interesting, indeed.

Chapter 1

The Arrival

Man, am I nervous! I can’t sleep; can hardly eat. I’m just a bundle of nerves. It’s the morning of the day my parents will drive me up to college, and I have no idea of what to expect. The fear of the unknown!

New York State University is ninety miles from my parents’ house. It takes only approximately two hours to drive there, but it is a world away. Here is where a boy of seventeen enters and is transformed to a man of twenty-one when he leaves. It is a place where one can grow in all ways, intellectually as well as emotionally.

My parents left me at the steps of my assigned dormitory, Petersen Hall. As their car pulled out, I realized that they were carrying my childhood in the backseat of their ’64 Olds. I turned to face a lifetime adventure, the rite of passage into adulthood.

My room assignment was 213, so I wandered the halls looking for that number. I was quite nervous but also was exhilarated. I felt a sense of freedom along with trepidation.

Finally, after many false starts and misleading directions, I found my room. In room 213 were my two assigned roommates, Michael Waxberger and Joey Capricio. They had already staked out their beds, and I was left with the bottom bunk on the double bunk bed. Michael took the top of the bunk bed, and Joey had grabbed the single.

I felt a queasy feeling in my stomach as I introduced myself to the two of them. I knew I didn’t like either one of them, as usually my first impressions are correct. Michael was a little wimp, and Joey was a pseudo streetwise hipster. They were exact opposites. I was somewhere in the middle, not square, but definitely not even close to being cool.

Where are you guys from? I asked.

I’m from Franklin Square, Long Island was Joey’s reply, and Michael said he was from Spring Valley. I sensed that none of us could ever bond, so I decided to take a walk around the campus. Not even unpacking, I headed out the door and away from a very uncomfortable situation. Those two will be my roommates for the next four years? No way!

Chapter 2

A Walk around Campus

I took a walk just to clear my head. Today has been a surreal day, and I needed to think things through. I just couldn’t stand my two assigned roommates. Lost in my thoughts, I heard a familiar voice.

Hey, Bill, what are you doing here? I turned around, and to my surprise, it was an old high school acquaintance, Mel Charles.

Bill, I didn’t know you were going to attend NYSU. We could have driven up together. I knew my parents needed to see me off, so that would never have happened. After all, their little boy was going to an away college.

"Well, Melvin, you are certainly a sight for sore eyes. It