By Phyllis Hirsch Smith, class of 1960
I am grateful I grew up in Levittown and overall the experience was great.
I remember so many people and feel like I was connected to them in different ways while growing up in Levittown. My family moved to 58 Honeysuckle Road in 1947. I remember got to a little schoolhouse for kindergarten and probably the lower grades.
We lived by the North Village Green and hung out there at the pool, playground or bowling alley and later at the lounge. We also hung out an the Azalea pool, the Community Church, went to Jolly Roger's, walked or road bikes to Salisbury Park, danced in Billie Jean Divone's garage. I was sorry to hear of Chris Wilkens passing I remember walking from my house to hers I believe she touched many of us in different ways.
I remember parties at Pat and Billy Stanley’s. I remember friends getting together at my house to give Dave Monelt Levittown Memorial class of 1959 a going away party when he joined the Marines. I remember sitting with so many friends and discussing boy friends and girl friends and giving advice it is amazing how little I knew and how much advice I dispensed.
I have been married to the same man, Greg, for 47 years. I met Greg through Division Avenue classmate Cathy O'Brien Sabo's husband Andy. Greg and I have two children. Our daughter Donna, who works in the banking field, is divorced. She has a son Christian 13 and a daughter Claudia 10. Our son Scott is married to Micki and they have a son Ethan 14 and a daughter Hannah 11.
Greg and I have been self employed since 1967. We own an auto-body shop and a mechanical repair shop. Our son works with us as does our daughter in law. I work as little as possible.
We live in Patchogue on the Great South Bay across from Davis Park on Fire Island. We also have a condo on Siesta Key Sarasota that at times we rent and other times we use for ourselves children and grandchildren.
Photo courtesy of Tim Lavey, 1963
Click on photo to enlarge it.
