Jeffrey Hess

THE LIFE & TIMES OF JEFFREY “NUGGS” HESS

OR WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS!

I am livin' “large” in Woodland Hills, CA with my very significant other, Sheila Williams.

My two sons – Christopher & Michael live nearby in Brentwood and Westwood. Michael is married and his wife, Samantha (Samantha Harris, co-host of “Dancing With The Stars”) are expecting their first child (my first grandchild… as far as I know). Mike works for the Hartford Financial Group. Christopher is a marketing consultant and has yet to “tie the knot.”

I am retired from the insurance business and Sheila (who teaches history @ Pierce College) & I are very active in Socal Streetrod shows, cruises, etc. Anyone who knew me in high school, if nothing else, would remember me as a hot rodder. My '56 olds was very much customized, for the time, and I sure wished I still had it.

My passion for customizing cars still runs high. Over the years I have been very fortunate to own (and customize) many really neat cars – my creative side loves to “change” what is stock and it's really the biggest hobby I have ever had. Don't play golf, although I did until I was about 15 when I discovered cars and girls… not necesarily in that order! Thus I never had time for tennis, golf, etc. Up though my 30s I played a lot of softball in leagues in Great Neck as well as “choose up”… Some may remember that I was “The Commissioner of the Saddle Rock Softball League” for many years, along with Marty Adelstein.

Back in the day us car guys would talk about coming to Socal (in the summer) to experience the cutting edge of the car culture – but sadly we never did. I can only dream about the way it was back in the 50s when the hot rod/custom cars industry was just beginning… They always were, and still are way ahead of the rest of the country on that stuff. We could be occupied with car shows and cruises 24/7 if we wanted to. To a car guy, like me, this is Nirvana!

In my late teens I began to enjoy power boats and getting out on the water, as an escape – no traffic – and satisfying my “need for speed.” Over the years I had some very fast boats, some of which had some mild success, racing.

Presently we have a '66 Corvette coupe that is a “resto-mod” – (current motor, transmission, suspension, a/c, wheels/tires, etc. with original style looks) and we have a mildly customized '55 Chevy coupe (also with current suspension, motor, interior, transmission, wheels/tires, etc.).

I have stayed in touch with many of our classmates over the years – Dan Scharf, Bob Dubofsky, Steve Weinsier, Artie Taft, Mickey Preger, Tony Oliphant as well as people from other yrs (before & after us).

I lived on L.I. up until August of 1988 when i moved to North Miami Beach. I remained in south FL until Jan. of 1999 when I moved to Southern California. I remained active in the insurance business until a few years ago.

After attending the Univ. of Miami as a freshman with Artie T., Mickey P. And Steve W. as roomies, I transferred to NYU, were I completed my education – graduated 1961 from the School of Commerce (business) with Dan S., Bob D., Mickey P. and Joan Siegel.

I went into the insurance biz out of college and established Hess Morris Lebenson (a good size multi-line agency) in 1964 which we sold in the mid 80s.

I moved to Fla. and was involved in a few other type ventures, along with insurance.

I have been truly blessed, having had two sets of terrific parents, my Mom & Dad as well as my closest aunt & uncle (Mickey & Lou) who were truly 2nd parents to my brother & me (they were always in our lives until they passed @ 94 and 90, respectively).

Furthermore I am most proud of my two sons – they are truly the apples of my eye. They seem to have turned out to be “good folk.” I tried to pass on much of what my parents taught us and hopefully they will do the same to their kids. (The old '50s values)

I have also been so fortunate to have a super brother, Steve (class of '62 @ South), with whom I have remained very close… along with his wife & family (wife, Linda; son, Brian; daughter, Suzanne / son-in-law, Michael and their three adorable daughters: 5 yr. old - Casey, Chloe & Carly – 2 yr. old twins). They still lives on L.I. so I get to visit a few times a year.

My friends, many of whom have been close to for nearly 60 yrs., are “priceless” to me. They are so much of what my life is all about.

I have nothing but great memories of growing up in what was a small town, then, Great Neck – I wouldn't trade that for anything. Come on Steffans, Kriegels, Marios, Squires, the Star Diner, Harvey's drive-in (across from Kiddie City) – how can you beat those palaces of culinary delights???

I miss the challenge of outwitting Officer Pueblo… who gave me my first f_ _ _ _ _ _ g ticket (the first of many) (Nirvana Ave. on the way to Sat. am hoops with my buds – Danny Scharf, Ralph Glowgower, the Shapiro Twins and Bruce Kimmelman) – when I went in front of Judge Maggin (Baker Hill Ct.) – he told us what a “friend” the officer was to all us kids… keeping us safe! …yup!

My life has been enriched by many of the relationships I had with the “girls” that I first “discovered” in 1955 or thereabouts, especially my present partner, Sheila – it took me 60+ years to get it “right!” As Mel Brooks said on his 2ooo Year Old Man album… “Hey, I think there's ladies here!!!” (Used to see Mel and Ann around Brentwood when I first moved to Ca.) He, along with Jonathan Winters, were my all-time “oldies but goodies.” Speaking of that… our music was sooooooo much better then – doo wop – I still listen to it, as I cruise the freeways. They play it at many of the car events we go to… a lot of the events are restricted to cars '72 and older and a gathering of the owners looks like an AARP convention.

I wouldn't trade my life for anything… sure there's been heartache – “shit happens” you know – and who amongst us has not had some?

My message to the class of '57 is simple… keep on keepin' on! Those were the days… and the nights weren't bad either (as my Uncle Lou used to say)!!! And of course “The '50's forever!!!”

Most sincerely & with much love to my classmates. “Nuggs”