Many people know of the band The Police playing the Last Chance Saloon on October 23, 1978 to 4 paying customers. I will save that story for another time. This is the story of an event that happened roughly a week before at The Last Chance.  We had gathered a loose aggregate of musicians to rehearse a  Halloween show at the club.

Rest in peace Eric. I knew you since 1968 when I arrived in New Paltz. You were a Damon Runyon character in a Marty Scorsese film. You had arrived in New Paltz in1961. You got your degree to teach Social Studies . You did so in a South Bronx Junior High in the mid 60s. One of your 8th grade students was David Berkowitz…aka.. The Son Of Sam… you remembered him from class. I believe you saw him as a creepy loner…. I bet he remembers you. You were hard to forget. A garrulous person .