Note: This e-mail to Nancy Malacarne from Joe Heffelfinger was the genesis for the KHS 1960 website. From this single letter sprouted KHS1960.com.

Joe wrote: Since I "retired" and only teach math part-time, there have been many projects that consume my time and energy.

In my Sunday school class (9, 10, and 11 year olds) at a church in east Baltimore, I have several pupils whose parents were never married and/or whose father has a crime record, etc. Attempting to relate to and to encourage them is a challenge to both my understanding of people and my understanding of Christianity.

For over two years I have participated regularly in a men's dialogue group that serves the Baltimore and DC area. Our goal is to build bridges of racial understanding regarding feelings, temptations, challenges, employment, politics, etc. Another way of stating it would be to encourage racial reconciliation in light of Jesus' teachings. We attempt to meet about ten times a year.

About three days each month, I volunteer some maintenance time at "our church" in east Baltimore. It might be noted that Joan, my wife, grew up in the area of the church.

Having always been a slow reader, I spent several hours each week reading material that appeals to my interests. While teaching full-time, I never had the energy or time to do much of this.

I write a letter about every five weeks to a young man whom I tutored and watched play football while he attended high school. Currently he is serving a five-year sentence in a Maryland prison.

I have been trying to learn a little music theory and to learn to play the right hand on the piano.

My wife and I spend time with our two daughters and other family members. Wedding plans for our younger daughter consumed many hours during 2003.