Kenneth Kanev

Nice to read about my fellow alums although none are personally known to me. Where are my boys?

My 50-year BTHS graduation reunion (now 15 years ago, wow!!) was almost a bust because none of my (few) old pals showed. A few I vaguely remembered. (“Hey, Kanev! I sat behind you in Mrs. Irenas’ French class!”) That April day I took the same BMT crossing the East River, walking the few blocks down DeKalb Ave with Fort Greene Park on my left. Entering the building and walking around alone, I notied the little things — the 1930s ceramic tile, oak display cabinets, lighting fixtures. To the gym (much smaller than I remembered), not sure the climbing ropes remained (lawsuit potential, no doubt), recalling the mandatory side horse routine. Down to the basement, the chlorine still wafting from the pool where I practiced daily with swim team. (I was not a very good competitive swimmer, close to the bottom of the squad which won the City title in ’58 and was runner up in ’59, anchored by the amazing Abrahmson brothers).

Vignettes Dredged Up from the Past
At orientation, I recall being warned never, NEVER enter Fort Greene Park “unless you are a member of the football team.” (The whole area at the time was seriously sketchy unlike today’s gentrified version.) Then there was 9th grade IP (industrial processes — Bessemer converters, arc welders) taught by one W.J. Lincoln, am ex-military martinet who scared the crap out of me (us?). WJL, to save himself time, had us correct our own quiz answers, with odd and even rows exchanging. Need I say more? And then there was the best, Mr. Wolfson, who taught a free-flowing, wide-ranging history in senior year.

I parted company with engineering in my second year at Syracuse U., and transferred into NYU Business (Econ.), and then entered law school at Washington and Lee in southwest Virginia. Fifteen months lawyering in New York City (Legal Aid Society in Harlem) was enough and I headed to Seattle where I put in a quick 45+ years doing criminal defense and plaintiff injury cases, and where I continue to live.

I’ve been blessed with a great family.