CLASSMATES °
*59ers Legacy page*
Debbie Drew, geneaologist
Sherry Rogers by Margie
Linnea Asplind, designer
Hardy Wieting, China Hand
Doug Walter, olive farmer
Teun Schoolwerth, pitcher
Linda Woodruff, politician
Wendy John, ouch!
Helen Moran, tennis star
Mary Lou Grant, artist of the month
Esther Houlder, daughter of Norway
Joanna Paulsen, poet entrepreneur
Robert Anzak, TX builder
Dennis Duda, company he worked for
Jerry Molitor, radiologist
Jim Undem's Norwegian genealogy
James Lewis, company he owns
James Lewis, his program at Miami of Ohio
Becky's bourbon company
Steve Elrick, actor
Don Moeller, witness
Uganda
Humor
Joe Wong
Alexa
Smorgasbord of more general stuff:
Deep thinker
Honeysuckle Hill
Video History of Glenbard West
Lake Michigan
Pinnacles 1940-2004
GBW student newspaper
Historical timeline of GBHS
Jerry Mahoney
Second City 1959
Don McLean American Pie
° 55TH REUNION °
Chairman's Perspective.
All of our reunions have been fun and memorable from start to finish, but this one had a beginning unlike any other. The morning the seventy five of us were to convene was the day of the big Chicago airport
shut down. As I listened to the news reports, I really thought that the reunion was doomed. To complicate the situation, I was home in Nashville with a newly diagnosed heart issue severe enough
to prohibit travel. I soon found out, though, how resilient my Reunion Committee and my classmates are . . . and how much I had overestimated my importance. They not only "carried on" without me but
had a good time doing it.
In the end, many travelers were late, but only a few (John Staedke, Mary Hanson and Debbie Drew) were never able to make it. I myself convinced my doctor at the last minute that I could travel, so I arrived in time
for Saturday's dinner. I wish that I could include all the harrowing travel stories because they made for fun conversation. My heart problem also was a frequent topic. I learned that several classmates
have experienced similar problems and are still alive to tell about them, so I guess that I will survive too. Thank you all for your kind expressions of concern.
Many thank you's are due. the first, of course, go to my Committee Members: Cliff Argue, our coordinator; Sandie and Frank Rose, our treasurers; Marybert Buethe Zelesnik, our hospitality chair; and
Pat Galligan Witt, our "lost classmates" investigator and co-masters of ceremony.
In addition, many volunteered to help even though they were not on the committee. Friday's scheduled helpers at registration were Nancy Fricke Johnson, Sherry Rogers Williamson and Diane Meinert Curran.
Helen Moran Lemal and Carole Stone Baumann also stepped in to fill the void caused by flight cancellations. At the entrance to registration was a poster designed especially for the event by
Linnea Asplind Riley. Needless to say, it was terrific.(Linnea, I'm going to have it framed for hanging.) A smaller version was used for the cover of the reunion program. For the Friday
evening get together, Bill Maletich put a lot of preparation into his karaoke sing along program. I heard that Roger Griffith was good at persuading classmates to get up on stage.
I also missed the Smile Mile and boathouse brunch, but they went on as scheduled under a beautiful autumn sky. John Pond and Gary Mutz took over as organizers for John Staedke who was stuck in OK and
who had taken over for me since I was still en route to Glen Ellyn. Janet Kelley Halvorsen found a whistle in her back pack to replace the one that I was supposed to furnish to get the walk started.
The boathouse catered brunch was supplemented by a special type of blue cheese aged in caves near Ruth Kolberg Newton's and her husband's farm in Burnside, IL. It has become a tradition that Ruth
bring it to our reunions.
° 60th REUNION
Chairman's Perspective.
It seems our reunions are almost always filled with unexpected occurrences and this one was no exception.
At the last minute Cliff Argue my co-chair called to say he couldn't make it. He had nasal hemorrhaging and his doctor wouldn't let him fly.
The Staedkes were stuck in Tulsa on account of weather and never made it.
I came through a blinding rainstorm to get to Glen Ellyn from Michigan.
It continued to rain all night as we greeted our rain-soaked classmates as they arrived.
They were warmly greeted by Carole Stone, Helen Moran and Judy Iden.
The "Meet and Greet" was scheduled for the bar area but Nancy Rutledge's husband Steve Jackson was able to get the event moved to the Lakeview Room which was lot more comfortable.
Nancy made us fancy pretzel sticks.
Roger brought our brand new banner which was awesome!
In the meantime Bill Grant wanted to know if I had a Plan B if it was still raining in the morning for the parade, which of course I didn't.
He had gotten five vintage vehicles for the parade for the people who didn't want to walk. He said vintage vehicle guys don't like to take out their cars in the rain.
But even though it continued to rain in the morning we got lucky, and three cars showed up.
Esther Houlder attempted to keep us organized and on schedule to no avail. Nancy made us "snacklaces" with pretzels and candy to snack on during the parade.
Roger brought the pompoms and off we went.
Some people continued on to the high school for the tour in the afternoon. Sean Hayes from "Will and Grace" was a Distinguished Alumni.
We played York and won the game.
Marybert selected the hotel and planned a truly lovely dinner for us.
Jim Lewis sent chocolate from his factory.*
Nancy Rutledge made beautiful flower arrangements for the tables.
Kirkie started us off with a beautiful invocation.
We had a wonderful video of Glenbard History and the school chorus that we planned to share.
Marybert even went to the hotel in the afternoon to set everything up so it would be perfect.
But as luck would have it
there was a computer glitch no one seemed to be able to figure out. And plenty of people tried
Eventually it was solved but in the meantime we tried to carry on.
Neal Whitecotten filled in for Cliff at the last minute and did a great job.
Sandie Rose took care of the money and we donated the leftover money ($160) to our scholarship fund.
Neal had the most grandchildren (17).
Janet Kelly had the oldest child (60).
Dave Hollinger had the youngest (32).
Barb and Gary Mutz came the farthest (Slovenia).
Nancy Rutledge met the most famous people. Although Louanne Menke met the Pope and Bruce Thatcher met Donald Trump.
Kirkie wrote ten books.
Marybert lived the closest.
I had a good time and I hope everyone else did too.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the 65th reunion. Stay well!
[Stay well! -- our Fettle page right here can help
with that!]
* [Turns out Jim is interested in birds and contacted Hardy about his new book, 30 Birds.]
[His first book is about China!]
