Michael Fox

First, thanks to those who’ve set up this blog for us all to use. And heartfelt greetings to all my former classmates. Some of us have had the good fortune to remain in close contact over the years, often for geographical reasons. Others, like myself, have had very limited contact with classmates, except at reunions. I missed the 10th, having decided at the time I wasn’t interested (I later regretted the decision). I was at the 25th, then living in Canada just over the border from Watertown, NY. That was a ball, and I especially remember meeting people who were familiar, yet strangers, whom I had the delightful experience of getting to meet again and catch up with. Was there a 35th? I can’t remember, but if so, I missed that for not having heard of it in time. The 45th I also missed because I had moved with my present wife (of 20 years now) to Australia. I was at the time shuttling back and forth to Canada to complete my teaching commitment before retiring, at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, where I taught philosophy for many years. Anyway, the timing of my travels in 2003 was unfortunately out of synch with the reunion dates. Now I plan to make amends, so Scarsdale, watch out! I am coming (from Armidale, New South Wales, Australia) to the 50th, with my dancing shoes on.

Recently, I’ve become an Australian citizen, and now have three citizenships (that plus US and Canadian). My wife Louise is Australian, and our later-in-life daughter Zoé (now 19) has the same three citizenships (and passports) as I. I’m pretty much a citizen of the world. I don’t mean to sound pretentious; it's just that I’ve lived in a number of countries and don’t feel very deep roots in any. This has the advantage that I’m ready to pick up and go for an adventure in another part of the world even as an old fart; but the disadvantage is a certain restlessness and lack of solid identity with a particular place.

Louise and I plan to be in Kingston, Ontario during July-September of this year, visiting the US occasionally (as I have two sons from a former marriage and a granddaughter in New York, and a sister in Croton-on-Hudson).

If anyone’s interested, my most recent book is "The Remarkable Existentialists," an introduction to the subject and the main figures of the movement, to be published in July by Humanity/Prometheus Books; and I’m just starting work (with a co-author) on a new one called "Peace," which will be an overview of the subject, various concepts of peace, the conditions and underlying philosophy of peace, etc.

I’ll close with a memory or two. I moved from Eastchester, NY, where I’d done grades 5-9, entering SHS in grade 10. For me, SHS was a breath of fresh air. Eastchester High was a tough school (as was my elementary school), with lots of overt racism, anti-semitism, misogyny, and other forms of humiliation, and a pretty anti-intellectual environment among my peers. It was the kind of school system – and town – where it behooved you to be on the good side of bullies. You get the picture. So to me, SHS was a place to flourish. The school had much to offer: high standards, a well-run administration, good teachers (some great), good friends, many quality activities. I don’t remember ever being bored, as I joined the Printing Club, Projection Club, served on the G.O., worked for "Maroon" and "Jabberwock," played tennis and soccer for the school teams, and also extramural softball, baseball, and basketball, took violin lessons, and played table tennis, football, or whatever else was going on among my friends after school. Oh yes, there was a bit of time left over for studying, dating, raising hell late at night, going to cultural events in the City, and other things. I did (and still do) the “Scarsdale shuffle,” but am nonetheless ever grateful for having had the opportunity to attend SHS and have had no cause to regret any aspect of my education there.

I’m attaching a recent photo of Zoé at her high school graduation-year formal, and of Louise and me at the annual historic Geebung Race Club horse races (a classic Aussie event).