An Alton Family Member Needs Your Prayers!!!

[Gary Scharoff]

Where do I begin... <IMG SRC="http://www.campalton.com/smilies/frown.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=":(">

These past thirteen days have been some of the most difficult and emotional days that I and my family have ever experienced. Although not a blood relative this Altonite is a member of my family and has been from the day I met him when I boarded the Alton bus in Stamford Ct for my first trip to Wolfeboro back in 1970!

For those of you that know Mel (or Jewronimo as he is known in Alton lore) he has always been a source of great fun, laughter, Alton trivia and other factoids of little or no value, and just a great person to know and be around. If not for Mel I may have never memorized 3/4s of the lines from all the Marx Brothers movies?saw them ALL while in camp!!! He is also one of the most dedicated people I have ever met. As an educator he is loved by all his former and current students. Just like all those campers and counselors he has touched over the years.

Almost 2 weeks ago I received a call that ? to say the least sucked the life right out of me. I do not want to go into too much detail on this board because of its ?public? nature and I have hesitated to post anything until I knew more?but prodded by the other Altonites that know about this Uncle Mark and Uncle Neil and getting permission from Mel, albeit in a somewhat medically altered state, I have decided to make public the news.

Two weeks ago Mel was with a group of his high school students at (I believe) a Model UN in NJ?something he has done for years, when he was stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage that left him unconscious. In spite of this his students, although very scared, but truly inspired, went on to win the competition!!! At the time the doctors were extremely downbeat giving odds that were almost as bad as betting on the NY Jets ? in fact for the first 48 hours it was ? to say the least touch and go. The first good news we received was day 4 when we learned that he was able to move his extremities?but he was still only semi conscious. It was not until about 1 week ago that he began to communicate. With a little divine intervention and some assistance from Rebs Moishe and Brier he has been making slow and steady progress.

I visited with him this past Monday and when I walked into his room he immediately recognized me ? which made me feel a lot better?although he appears at this time to be out of the woods he has a very long and difficult road to recovery in front of him?

For those of you that either know him personally or just through his many postings on the message board I ask you now to pray for Mel?s speedy and complete recovery. He has been an integral part of Camp Alton for countless years and has touched many of us in a variety of ways. As we have done many times in the past when necessary?the Alton family comes together in times such as this?lets hope our strength in numbers will help Mel through the challenges he now faces!

If you would like more info please contact me privately?

Regards to all,

Gary



gms@pipeline.com

[Bruce Novak]

Under threat of being taken off Honor Roll by my Counselor Neil Brier, I would like to respond to Gary's posting. This is truly awful, very sad news and I know the Alton family prays for Mel's complete recovery. Gary, if you are able to send Mel our regards, please do. Also, is there an address that we may send a Get Well card. Thank you for this posting, and if possible, please keep us informed as to his recovery.


bcnone@hotmail.com

[michael stone]

please send Mel my prayers as well...Mel was always a one of a kind guy who had both the Alton spirit and sense of humor.....


stoneyfan@aol.com

[mauling mule]

I'm thinking of Mel. When I arrived at Alton in 1981, he, like Neil, was a person who had an inordinate and no doubt unhealthy impact on my life. Here's a typical conversation we'd have at morning assembly:

ME (pathetically): Mel, did the Mets win last night?

MEL: The Mets? Oh, yes, they won 9-8 on a 9th inning home run by Kingman with two on.

ME: Wow, that's great, this is gonna be their year... (at which point I would skip off to breakfast, joy in my heart, notwitstanding the fact that the Mets had no chance in hell of even finishing 4th...)

Next day, I'd read the Globe, only to learn that the Mets had lost once again 9-2, with Kingman striking out 5 times. At which point I would confront Mel, 13-year-old indignation in my voice:

ME: Mel, you said they won... You said Kingman won it with a homer... you lied to me!

MEL: Oh, did I say that? Me? Must have been Schmidt who hit the homer, yes, no I remember... I could have sworn the Mets won.

Yet the next day, I was back relying on Mel to give me the good news, and every fourth day he would tell the truth just to keep me coming back for more.

Despite this torture, I liked the attention and the humor.

So Jewronimo, Get Better!



maulmule@hotmail.com

[Gary Scharoff]

Hello Hello Hello <IMG SRC="http://www.campalton.com/smilies/smile.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=":)"> <IMG SRC="http://www.campalton.com/smilies/smile.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=":)"> <IMG SRC="http://www.campalton.com/smilies/smile.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=":)"> <IMG SRC="http://www.campalton.com/smilies/wink.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=";)">

I just got off the phone with our boy and he is sounding sooooooo much better than when I saw him 1 week after the incident. He tells me he hopes to be released on Tuesday and then he will going for rehabilitation...so hopefully he will be back to his old self real soon!

He sounded very upbeat and for those of you that requested I did mention your sending your prayers and good wishes and he greatly appreciated it - the Alton "Family" means a lot to him!

I will be checking in again Sunday - and keep everyone posted on the patient!

To be continued.......



gms@pipeline.com

[Ted Merritt]

Mel:

I'm pulling for you up here in Boston. Despite your sordid beginnings in the kitchen, you became a Camp icon. Get back in Wrestling shape quick.

The Mighty Mouse



theodore.merritt@usdoj.gov

[Mel Kohn]

Just a short hello and THANK YOU for all of the best wishes that people have written and are thinking. I'm in the library here at the recup center first getting rid of the 431 e-mails that I received during the past month and second, thanking you all. I won't be on the computer during the next week or so but will then try and get back to the old days. Day by day...I know what it means to work hard from the low end of camp (kitchen). At least I knew where the food was hidden!!!

Love to all and again, thanks!!!!.

Mel


mhk0711@aol.com

[Uncle Neil]

Mel who?



neilbrier@yahoo.com