Autumn Years Fall 2024

“Our group was formed late in our lives,” says Barbara Heitmann, “but our connection is powerful. We’ve formed a family.”

“Our group was formed late in our lives,” says Barbara Heitmann, “but our connection is powerful. We’ve formed a family.” And the families of the Wildcats have become friends, too. “I can’t image life without the Wild cats,” adds Susan. At a recent regular checkup, Silvia Tallody’s doctor asked, “Does any thing make you happy?” Her reply was fast, heart-felt and enthusiastic. “Yes, Tuesdays!” she beamed. When her doctor asked why, she said, “Because I get to sing with my friends. And I look forward to that. It is a treasure.” There’s something to be said for those sacred Tuesday afternoons, indeed. a

many of us have teach ing backgrounds, that we have to teach the audience something,” says Sheila, a retired teacher herself. Most Wildcats perfor mances are in the spring

caption. However, watch ing their music inspire and awaken this man still means more to the group than any press piece pos sibly could. Over the years, the

and fall with a few summer perfor mances sprinkled in. They also per form several holiday concerts each year around the Christmas and Hannukah holidays. One of the group’s proudest mo ments occurred during one of their earliest performances at an assisted liv ing facility. A reporter from The Bergen Record was in attendance to write a sto ry about the Wildcats. Shortly after the performance began, the group noticed an aid bring in a man slumped in his wheelchair. After about the third song, and much to the chagrin of his aid, the man tried to stand up and get out of his wheelchair, something he had not done in quite some time. His aid tried to settle him back into his chair, but he wouldn’t have it. He stood up and started to dance. When the Wildcats launched into “Come Go with Me,” he got up and went, they joke. The report er shifted the entire story to him, not the Wildcats, who got a brief mention of “Music by the Wildcats” in a photo

Wildcats have experienced the fulfill ment of having audience members tell them how specific songs conjured fond memories of life’s many firsts, like that first kiss. From the stage, they have seen their music stir assisted liv ing audience members from near sleep to singing along. While performing at an aphasia facility, they witnessed residents who struggled to talk start to lip-sync and even sing. They inspired audiences to sing and dance along as

the music brought them back to a different, joyful time of life. And they have bowed with pride after their many standing ovations. When asked about the group’s favorite song to per form, Clara Krever was quick to respond, “That’s like ask ing which one of your chil dren is your favorite. We love them all.”

To learn more about attending or booking a Wildcats performance, contact director Barbara Heitmann at: nanababs1139@aol.com

FALL 2024 I AUTUMN YEARS 51