Sallie G. Mazanowski Louder

Sallie in high school.

First of all, I would like to thank Debbie for posting this sad announcement.  I first learned of Sallie's death in late April, but I could not confirm it since both her parents are deceased and I've lost track of her older brother, Hacke.  I work in the journalism community and without being able to confirm this or corroborate it with an obituary, I was very hesitant to announce her passing.

With that out of the way, I wanted share some of my memories of Sallie.  Sallie and I were part of the 'Diaper Gang' on Ordale Blvd.  I, along with Sallie and Cindy Lammert all grew up together practically from birth.  Cindy lived two doors to my right, Sallie, two doors to my left.  

I last spoke with Sallie less than a year ago by phone, and she sounded just fine, so this was a terrible shock. Sallie would still call my mom (who is now 87) from time to time to check on her.  I could probably stop writing now, because I think that pretty much says it all.  

But I can't resist sharing some earlier memories.  Sallie was a very rambunctious and athletic child.  When we were very young, she would routinely intimidate and (ok I'll say it) beat up my best friend, James Meyer. James is now 6'5" 275 lbs, and wasn't a small boy either.  I don't know why she left me alone because I was probably an easier target.

We always had a good relationship, and it was advantageous to be her friend, because they were the coolest family on the street.  They were the first family on our street to get a color TV in the late 60s!  Then they got the coolest bikes. Who remembers the Schwinn Krates?  Hacke got the Orange Krate, while Sallie got the Apple Krate - seriously hot stuff!  As we got older they graduated to the Honda 70 (Hacke) and Honda 50 (Sallie) Minibikes.  And they kicked the door open for the rest of us kids on Ordale to talk their parents into getting us minibikes, we had a great trail behind our homes.  Thank you Mazanowski's!

Next, high school. Sallie was allowed to drive their 197? Orange Catalina to school.  For what it's worth, it had a 400 cubic inch engine in it and could burn rubber until the cows came home.  I still remember the intensely cold winter mornings and how grateful I was to have a ride.  To this day, when I hear Heart's Magic Man come on the radio, I am taken right back to that frozen early morning ride to school.  Usually Cindy and Lori Larimer were on board.  Lori was always late and got on Sallie's nerves.

Like so many of us, life after high school pulled us apart and it wasn't long before my early career took me far away from home, into the Bayous of Louisiana. And keeping up with friends (especially in the pre-social-media era) was tough.  But we never lost touch entirely.  

Sallie and I attended both the 10th and 20th Mt. Lebanon '78 reunion together with Cindy.  I attended the 30th, but Sallie did not make it.

Sallie will forever be a fixture in my lifetime of memories and experiences.  She was among the most independent souls I knew.  She was never interested in running with the crowd, and you better have had thick skin because she was going to tell you the truth, no filter.  

I admired those qualities of her.  Watching and observing her helped shape who I am to this day.  And I am luckier and better for it.  And now it's all hitting me and I'm crying for the first time since learning of this a month ago....

See the attached picture.  Sallie would kill me for using this.  I have much better shots of her, but this is our class picture from 6th Grade (Mr. Jordan) at Markham School.  I use this because it has Cindy in it (far right), Debbie (lower left side - girl scout uniform), myself (bottom center) and Sallie of course (top center).

We all miss you Sallie and Love you very much!

Rest in Peace.  Glory Be To God! 

Here is a better picture of Sallie from the early days.  No... we were not boyfriend & girlfriend, or going steady as we once said.  She had much  better taste.

Sad news about Sallie.  She posted the nicest comment on my profile page, in 2014 and I am just now reading it and now I am so sorry I never responded. She was quirky and wonderful. RIP.