Individual
Profiles from the Class of 1961 from 2011
Bob Bianco (from Classmates.com)
Married to Irene (maiden
name Juskiewicz) since 1965,
until March 31, 2007 when
Irene passed away of a rare
uterine cancer. We were
married exactly 41 years, 4
months and 4 days. Three
children, Stephen, 35;
Angela, 32; Michael, 31.
Four granddaughters,
Alyssa,13;Tarynn,11;Callie,9
and Emma, 1. 3 Grandsons,
Jonathan, Alexander and
Cole, all 1. (Yes,
quadruplets!) 1 girl and 3
boys, born October 18, 2007
to my daughter, Angela. I am
a Business Consultant to
several construction
companies. Avid (but lousy)
golfer. Discharged from Navy
in 1964. Graduated from
Northern Illinois University
in Jan.71 B.S. Journalism.
Was an active member of the
N.I.U. Veterans club from
1968 - 1971 and served as
President in 1970.
Life is good! Retired from nursing last year. Blessed
with great friends and family. Just got back from a trip
to Europe, Asia and Africa. Love to read, movies, fairs.
Active in the local Moose chapter. Hope you all are as
happy as I.
Ed Bluthardt
After graduation from East Leyden I went
on to the University of
Wisconsin,Madison and received a B.S. in American
History. I returned to Schiller Park married to Diane
Latoria (Leyden '60) and the father of Daniel. Soon
there was Brent.
I joined the Schiller Park police
department in 1966, went to John Marshall Law School,
evenings,and remained with the police department until
retirement in 1993. I was Chief of Police for 14 years.
After retiring, Diane and I moved to Eagle River,
Wisconsin and live on the Eagle River Chain O'Lakes.
I was elected 8 times to the Vilas County Board of
Supervisors, retiring after 16 years in 2016. We have 4
grandchildren, 2 of them collage students. Next on
our lives agenda will be a move to Florida (no more
snow}.
Bob Bruckner
Donna Lee,
Gail and I won't be coming to
Chicago
for the reunion, but I'll be there for the next one.
Smile! We were in
Aurora
this summer for my brother-in-law's funeral. It was a
quick trip and we didn't have time to visit. Gail
doesn't like to be too far from her mother, who is 90
and in an assisted living home near us.
I'm still driving college girls around Hobart/WilliamSmith
Colleges and deliverying part for Advance Auto Parts,
working with the fire department and trying to figure
out where Gail wants to eat the next weekend.
Our oldest son, his wife and their three sons are in
South
Carolina. The boys are 18, 16 and 14 years old.
Dan turns 42 in November. Matthew, his wife Becky
and there three girls are in
Elizabethtown, PA, and it's closer to visit.
They're five hours away. The girls are 11, 9, and 6.
Gail and I had two more children ten years after Dan and
Matt. Our third son, John and his wife, Erika, just had
a baby girl, Gianella, two months ago. Our
daughter, Elizabeth and her husband, Matt, are having
their first baby in January, so our travel plans are
focus around the children.
I hope you and your family are well and happy.
I've got to email Ricky Kvistand and Dennis Beals and
Carmen, since they have been trying to convince me to
come out to Chicago. If you see them before me, or you
get an email from them, pass this on.
Thanks Hugs
Tim Budzynski(from Classmates.com)
Retired after 26 years at Lockheed
Martin, my wife and I travel some. The picture is of me
and my friend Julius Caeser taken in London last fall.
Camille Anzelmo (Carsello)
Sorry to see so many people can't be found and so many
are deceased. I retired last June so it will be a
year on
June 15th. It took me a while to get used to
retired life but I am doing fine now. I have one
classmate that passed away about 7 years ago. My
friend, Don Hildebrand. He was a great guy and use to
come in from Arizona to see me and my brother. I
will be coming to the reunion and it will be great to
see everyone again. I just had my book club over last
night. Lynn Lund, Colleen Urie, Marie Belizzi, Kerry
Edelmann, Joyce Hansen. Of course, I pulled out all my
yearbooks and we went over it. God ,I cant believe how
the years flew by. 50 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!! YIKES. I
also sent you a photo of me now for the photo web page.
Hope you got it. See you in October. Camille Anzelmo (Carsello).
Judy Grzyknowicz
(Ciardella)
I've
been married to Andy for 43 years and we have 2
married children Gina and Dan. We have 4
granddaughters, Hannah 7, Hailey 4 and twins Julia
and Emily 3. I forgot how loud 4 girls can be
when you put them together. Oh well, they are the
love of our lives.
My husband has sem-retired from the golfing industry
but works part time as a bartender at the Indian
Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale. I work part time
for a family owned trucking company. I've been there
28 years and it's hard to give it up.
I enjoy golfing but haven't done any this year,
gambling which I've done more than I should and
spending time with family and friends.
I have worked on the reunion committee this year and
had a wonderful time doing it. I'm looking forward
to seeing everyone.
Bob Conover
This is Robert Conover in Cedar Creek,
Texas. I have lived in Texas since 1969 and my
wife Dorothea and I are doing great and enjoying
retirement. I really appreciate the pictures you
posted and it was a kick to see all of the faces that I
knew for so many years.
Rolan Cowen(AKA Jeep Worthan)
After high school I did some Jr College
at both Triton and Elgin, never did get a degree.
After that bounced around with a bunch of jobs while
looking for a career, lots of different jobs and
interesting, but not wise for a career. Finally in '74 I
answered an
ad in the tribune for a salesman out in
Elgin. Having always been a car guy and even did some
racing (mostly dirt bikes) I jumped at the chance.
I have been with Auto Meter (now in Sycamore, Il) for 40
years and VP and Sales for 35 of that. The main reason
for continuing work is that I truly love what I do,
travel the country working shows and races, pretty cool
(for a car guy). Never got married so no kids, but
have a long time girl friend (about 40 years) and am
pretty settled down. I too love bass fishing (I
gave up tournaments when my fishing buddy died),
however, we have a cabin on a small lake in Wisconsin
and I get out every chance I get. We are currently
trying to sell the cabin, if we do we are going to move
down to South Carolina and get a home on Lake Hartwell
for our retirement, if the cabin doesn't sell we'll
retire here and I'll continue to fish the entire states
of Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Dennis Day(from Classmates.com)
as some of you know already...l went
to luther college...wright junior college...orange coast
college in costa mesa calif...aa degree in 1967...lived
in newport beach and on balboa island...san diego
state...u of illinois circle campus...michigan
state...hated it...university of arizona...bachelors
degree in 1983...northern arizona un iversity...teaching
certificate in 1986...and finally cal state los angeles...special
ed credential in 1990...been involved in teaching and
education since 1983...l have worked for 3 paint
companies in illinois...california and arizona...liked
it...but was always thought about teaching...l have
lived in california the most...the last 22 years
now...with stops before that in durango colorado...anchorage
alaska...tempe phoenix tucson and flagstaff arizona for
13 years...have traveled most in the US...mexico and
canada...two european trips to spain and the czech
republic...l would move to the czech republic in an
instant...what a great country...with
wonderful...friendly people...and would live in a small
mountain community called kutna hora...bout 30 miles
from prague...there were 3 times l was unemployed and on
unemplymet and loved the time off....doing host of my US
traveling at that time...even went to hawaaii when l
wasnt working...thanks for those unemployment
checks...will start collecting my SS checks in 2009 and
looking at retirement after l turn 70...get more money
that way...looking at 3 places to retire...prescott or
flagstaff in arizona...or a small county here in
california called plumas county...22,300 in the whole
county...and it has 4 seasons..yes here in california!!!..my
likes are definitely playing golf...and love horse
racing...still trying to figure out how to win...!!!!
THAT'S ALL FOLKS...for now.
Bob Diederich
Just happen
to come across East Leyden's website for
the class of 61. I can not believe the
poor response. Where did all people go?
My wife and I moved to Florida 18
years ago and we love it. Yes, the
summers are hot but least I don't have
to worry about the cold snowy weather.
The winters are very mild as you
probably know. It's been wonderful for
us. I married my
high school sweetheart (Darlene
Zurek) also from the class of 61. I went
to college for electrical
engineering, served in the Navy during
the Viet Nam era and in 1968 I got
married. We had two children and
lived in
River Grove for 25 years. We
have four grandchildren and enjoying
them very much. I can not believe the
classmates that are decreased. I played
football with some of them. What happen
to Butch Ranallo? As for my wife and I
we are not sure if we will be able to
attend the reunion. We have a heavy
schedule in October but we'll do our
best and try to attend. I used to play a
lot of golf at Nordic
Hills Country Club back in the
70's and 80's.
Take care,
Bob
Diederich
Carol Fortin
(Hayden)
Living
in St
Augustine
Florida,
moved
here in
1983
mom of
2,
Laura
Morgan
and
Chris
Fortin
have 3
grandchildren
James
Jesse
Morgan
(deceased)
Jamielynn
K Morgan
12 yoa
Samantha
Fortin
10 yoa
retired
nurse,
work as
a
volunteer
at the
St.Johns
County
Sheriffs
Office
Was
married
to James
Fortin
(deceased).
Hope all
is well
with
all.
Stay
safe
Lorene Laubach (Georgi)
I love what you did on the reunion
website. Nicely done connecting the
past to the present. Well,
I'm Lorene Giorgi
Laubach and married to Fred
Laubach from the class of 59
and simply enjoying good health, a
great life, and my Apple Computer.
Recent pick from my Photo Booth.
Thanks...
Merrily Kautt
(English)
(from Classmates.com)
Greetings to East Leyden alums of the class of 1961!
Just returned from my 69th trip to China along with my
88-year old mom who lives in San Diego and plays tennis
3-times a week, - husband and four dear friends for a
month long trip including Tibet and Hong Kong. And I
didn't have to meet with clients or negotiate any
contracts! I am still consulting to international oil
companies as well as teaching full time at the U of
Colorado inluding heading up the honors program. It's
fun - and it still allows us to ski and mountain climb
as well. My husband Dick is practicing law full time as
well.
We have five children: Cathy is 44 and living in
Carlsbad with husband Mark, a Fedex pilot, and
granddaughter Kelly, age 7. Brad is 43 and in senior
management with USAirways in Fort Worth. Daughter Robin,
age 42, is a doctor in a Denver suburb near where we
live. Son Bill is 41, a PhD teaching at the Army Command
& Staff College at Lansing, Kansas, and marrying a young
widow with 6-year old triplets over Labor Day 2009. Son
Greg, 40, is a chemical engineer in Missouri; he and
wife Cindy, have three boys: Christopher, 10; Justin, 8,
and Kevin, 3.
We would welcome East Leyden '61 visitors - we live in
Highlands Ranch just south of Denver and next to the
mountains.
Best regards to all
Thomas Keel (Kielminski
in 1961)
I have lived 32 years in the Chicagoland area (Chicago,
Franklin Park, Arlington Hts, and Bloomingdale, IL), and
in Marietta, GA since the beginning of 1977.
My graduation from Leyden HS in 1961 was in between my
two cousins; Glenn Wilcox who graduated in 1960 and Gene
Wilcox who graduated in 1962. Perhaps you remember them;
if so, contact me and I can give you their e-mail
addresses.
I married Karen Ann Johnson (Foreman HS '62) in May
1966, and we have three children; born 1968, 1972, and
1975. Two of my children and their spouses live nearby,
and my eldest is unmarried and living in Indianapolis.
On May 16, 2009, we welcomed our first grandchild into
the world, thanks to my youngest son and his wife.
I retired from Siemens Building Technologies the end of
2001, and began my Ph.D. pursuit at Georgia Tech in
January 2003. However, I never completed my Ph.D., I
earned a second master's degree instead. Now, I am
employed by Georgia Tech as an adjunct professor.
Additionally, I teach in the online MBA program for
Regis University, a Jesuit school located in Denver, CO.
I have been employed by Regis University as an online
adjunct professor
since April,
2001.
Since 2004, I
live in Paris
for three months
each summer,
teaching Georgia
Tech students
who are doing
their summer
semester in
Paris. It is a
great experience
for the students
and me.
At this time in
my life, with
the loss of both
parents in 2000,
I am enjoying
connecting with
persons from my
past, even if we
were not close
friends back
then, there
exists a bond
since we shared
the same
experiences
during the same
times in our
lives--grade
school, high
school, and
college, for
example.
Please write;
it's fun.
Sandy
Siebenschuh (Kent)
I've been
married to my husband Bill,
a
college professor,
for 46 years and have a
daughter, a son, and five
grandchildren, all of them
perfect! I'm retired now
but started out as a junior
high school English teacher
and moved on to being an
editor, first of college
textbooks and then of a
magazine. I like to
travel, to hang out with my
grandkids, and to
attend classes with a group
of friends, one of whom is
Mary Murphy, one of
our East Leyden classmates.
I'm enjoying retirement no
end. So there you have it.
Best of luck with your
search, and enjoy the
reunion.
Sandy Kent Siebenschuh
Karen Planz
Krause
My husband, Jack, and I will
celebrate our 50th anniversary July of 2012.
We have three children who are all married and much to
our delight live near us here in Glen Ellyn. I also
have three grandchildren, two in high school and one in
middle school. Oops! We have a dog too.
My husband retired eight years ago
but I just retired two years ago from an administrative
assistant position for a trade association.
Now my days are filled with
anything I want them to be. We have a place in
Wisconsin where we spend most of the summer golfing,
boating, reading, and socializing. We come home to
gather the mail, cut the grass, go to sporting events
for the grandchildren and again do whatever we want. We
have been truly blessed.
Planning this reunion has been a
pleasure and I would like to thank all of you who came
so far to attend.
Diane Popp (
Cook)
I moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 1963. I married an airplane pilot, I have two children. I graduated from Texas Christian University in 1976 with an RN degree, then I graduated from Texas Women’s University in 2000 with a masters degree in nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. I retired three years ago.
Bob Kulwin
After graduating, I attended U of I until
my folks moved to Phoenix and joined them to finish
school at ASU and played judo. There met the love of my
life, Dorothy Rossetti, a Chicagoan with a decent
accent, a retired textbook sales rep. We married in
1968 and promptly moved to Seattle for my Ph.D. program
and the beginning of our second love, the Northwest. I
taught and did research for several years in sociology
and then went on to business ending up a mortgage broker
with stops in Journalism and photography and auto
business. I’m semi-retired. We have a daughter and
granddaughter. My great passion is fly fishing with
regular trips around the Northwest and up to Alaska.
The bicycle, canoe, kayak and boot serve as primary
vehicles for exploring. We leave the city for our
Whidbey Island home most weekends and always carry a
camera.
Life
I have two daughters (born in '83 & '85) - yes got a
late start. I love my job & my girls and am now amicably
divorced. I have great memories of the good people at
Leyden. I look forward to hearing from anyone. Rick
School
After Leyden I went to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music
and then the U of Illinois for graduate school. I got
work with the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, the
Pittsburgh Symphony, and the Blackearth Percussion
Group. I continue to play percussion now with the San
Francisco Opera Orchestra where I have been since 1974.
Since it is a great job & only 6 months a year, I
have no plans to ever retire; I've been semi-retired
since I got this job! Other employment has included CDs
and film scores with John Williams and many others. I
have had a truly great ride.
College
I had a great time at rainy Oberlin and have life long
friends that I knew there. I loved spending my junior
year in Salzburg. I got truly great musical training and
experience there.
Workplace
I love my job as principal percussionist of a world
class opera company, but I also love to play jazz and
other types of music and compose as well. I'm fortunate
to be in one of the world's greatest cities.
Hi,
It does not appear that I will be able to attend due to business commitments and construction at my home.
While living in Rosemont, I worked for various real estate related firms. In the sixties, I vacationed on the West Coast
and realized I belonged in Carmel, CA. As Robert Luis Stevenson said, "It is the most beautiful meeting of sea and land".
In 1979 I moved here and am thrilled to live here. Each time I go away and return, I know this is where I belong. In 1980, I
got my real estate license and love what I do. A piece of my heart is still in the Chicago area where I have some family
and stay in touch with long standing friends. For the past seven years, I have chaired our company's fundraising on the
Monterey Peninsula to benefit Habitat for Humanity. Wishing everyone a fantastic time at the reunion.
Lore Lingner, CRS |Previews Specialist | DRE #00788278
3775 Via Nona Marie | Carmel CA 93923
831-626-2285 | 831-622-0210
It looks like everybody is ageing
well. I was lucky enough to marry my grade school
sweetheart, Beverly Strutz. We will be married 50
years in 2012. We have 3 kids and 8 grandkids. We
have traveled to all 48 states on our motorcycle and
have traveled around the world. I retired from
sales in 2008. We moved to "paradise" in 1971,
New Port Richey, Fla.
Motorcycling is our passion and we have
traveled over 300,000 miles, mostly on Harleys. We
are going on a 14,000 mile ride this May.
"LIVE TO
RIDE AND
HAPPY TRAILS!"
Gary Lipscomb
P.S. Hey Rick Kvistad, Is that a
glamour shot you had taken? Some things never
change!
Ron
Maciejewski
MY WONDERFUL WIFE RITA
AND I ARE RETIRED AND
ARE LIVING IN FRANKLIN
PARK. WE DO,
HOWEVER, STILL OWN AND
OPERATE OUR ANTIQUE'S
AND COLLECTIBLES
BUSINESS - AUNT TIQUES
AND UNCLE JUNQUES.
THAT, ALONG WITH TWELVE
GRAND CHILDREN AND TWO
GREAT GRAND CHILDREN,
PROVIDES US WITH
UNENDING HOURS OF
HAPPINESS.
Tom Melowitz(from Classmates.com)
After HS I went to NIU where I
majored in Math. Upon graduation I went to work for GTE
as a programmer. After 15 years I was transferred to San
Francisco. From there I went to Boston with GTE
Government Systems where I became the program manager
for the Launch Control System for the MX Missle. From
Boston I was off to Kansas City for the start up of
Sprint where I worked for 5 years in IT. In '91 I went
to Denver and worked for Manville for a year before
ending up in Washington state working for Weyerhaeuser
in IT until I retired in 2000.
Today I live in Grand Coulee Washington overlooking the
Grand Coulee Dam during the summer and in Texas on Lake
Houston in the Houston area during the winter. I go bass
fishing most days and fish in dozens of local bass
tournaments in Washington and Texas.
I've been married twice, have a daughter and 2 grand
daughters living in the Chicago area and a son and
grandson living in San Francisco.
Ruth Barlow
(Meyer)
Living a great life with my husband of 50
years Mike in beautiful Naples,
Florida. We have three sons and five
grandchildren. We've been blessed!!
Greetings from Venice, Florida. I moved here 11
years ago after my husband Douglas Lambert passed
away. I live in a small beautiful city along the
Gulf Coast. I enjoy the warm sunny weather but
travel to Chicago a lot to see my family. I'm still
a city girl and always go downtown when I am in. I
have one son, Dan, who is a candidate for his
Doctorates Degree. He is married to Nicole who is a
Dentist. They live in Chicago and I have been
blessed with two beautiful grandchildren, Ellianna
Starr, 4 and Maxson (Max) Daniel 1. I still dance
several times a week. I just got my Diving License
this summer. I enjoy beaching and all fun things
Florida has to offer.
I'm still working in the Dolphin, Whale & Sea Turtle
Hospital at Mote Marine. I've been there 10 years.
It has been the experience of a lifetime having the
opportunity to be in the water helping care for them
and then returning them healthy back to the ocean
where they belong. I'm looking forward to seeing
you at the reunion.
Lynne McLaughlin (Norgaard)
I graduated from Augustana Academy,
South Dakota. I Married Bob McLaughlin
Nov. 22, 1963. Yes, that is the day
President Kennedy was assassinated - my
wedding day! I could write a book on
that day!
I have 2 sons, Robert and Mark. My
husband and I were transferred
to Springfield, Missouri with Zenith
Radio Corp. in 1964. In 1974 we
accepted a position with Sony Corp. in
San Diego, California settling in
Escondido.
I was divorced 1990. Bob McLaughlin
died December 31, 2007 from cancer.
My son Robert is Chief of Ramona Fire
Department. If you have heard of the
fires in California there is no need to
explain what he does! Mark is a Laser
Technician with Abbott
Laboratories. Mark builds and repairs
the lasers that cut the stents for heart
placement. I have 6 grandchildren and 4
great-grandchildren.
It is strange to be called "great"
grandma!
I worked for several years as Account
Payable Mgr. for Harrah's Rincon Indian
Casino in Valley Center, Ca. I retired
in 2008. I now work part-time as
assistant Manager of the mobile home
park where I reside. I am looking
forward to seeing you at the reunion.
Wishing you all the blessings of life.
Lynne
Don Rieck
I
live in New Jersey, retired from the publishing industry
after 40 years but currently working as a crossing guard
for the Montclair Police department for two middle
schools and Montclair High School. I’m married. Those
are the bare bones of my story,
Tom Smith
Hello fellow classmates:
Just a little background, after
Leyden I attended Univ. of Louisville Southern
Police Institute and Triton College for Criminal
Justice. I am a Veteran U.S. Army-Panama Canal Zone
Sgt. E-5 Military Police. I was employed by the
Cook County Sheriff's Police as a Sr. Criminal
Investigating detective and a Chief Investigator for
the Kane County States Attorney Office. I am still
very involved in Kane County politics and I own and
operate Golden Acres Farm. I was married for 25
years to Ruth and widowed in 1994. I have two grown
children who live in the area. Looking forward to
seeing those who can come to the reunion!
Darlene
Zurek (Stricklin)
I retired from the River Grove Public Library in
October 2009 and my husband Bob Zurek and I are
living in Texico, IL. Our son Bob (East Leyden
class of 1987) is the Head Cell phone Design
Physicist at one of the Motorola plants here in
Illinois. Our daughter Deborah (E.Leyden class
of 1991) is an Associate Librarian in the
Children's department of Addison Public Library
in Addison, IL.
I wish all my classmates the very best.
Sincerely,
Darlene (Stricklin) Zurek
John Rubino
I live in Las Vegas NV and have been retired from
management for several years. I spend my time & enjoy
playing golf three days /week. I saw my name on the
missing list and wanted to let everyone know that we are
still alive and well. I have fond memories of my years
at Leyden and many of our classmates. So anyway, thanks
to all those who are responsible for maintaining this
blog on all our classmates. It's a part of all of us.
God bless and a happy new year to all. ( From 1/1/17 )
Sandra Graf (Tessler)(from Classmates.com)
Life
Hi, most of you knew me as "Tessie" or "Tess". Went to
college a couple years, than decided to Join the Air
Force. After 3 yrs.I married, 2 children from my first
marriage, 1 from my second marriage & 2 step-children.
My husband past away in 1995. I have traveled the States
while in the Air Force and the Hardware Industry and I
currently reside in Las Vegas, but own my permanent home
in Orlando, Florida. I am retired now and love visiting
with my grand children, all six of them. I have another
grandson who is due this January 2010. Drop me a line,
I'd love to share memories from the past and also whats
going on in our daily lives now.
Darlene Honaman
(Toerpe)
How do you
condense 50 years into a paragraph? First, many thanks
go to the Reunion Committee for their tireless efforts
in finding as many of us as possible and planning such a
fun event! I plan to attend with my friend of 66
years (YIKES!), Beverly Sinclair Moehling. We started
playing together in River Grove at age 2.
After graduation from high school,
I joined the U.S. Navy and had an exciting three years
as a Navy Journalist. After journalism and photography
schools, I was stationed on the staff of the Commandant
of the Eighth Naval District in New Orleans for the rest
of my tour of duty. I was there during the Cuban
Missile Crisis and when President Kennedy was shot.
Then I moved to Pensacola to work
and go to school on the G.I. Bill. I met my
husband, Craig Honaman, a hospital administrator, and we
married in 1971 and had two children in Pensacola before
moving to Tallahassee in 1979. We left Tallahassee
in 1989 and moved to Tampa for two years, then
Jacksonville for four years and finally Atlanta in 1996.
As Craig’s career moved us around, my career in fund
raising was developing along the way (Springtime
Tallahassee Festival, Tampa Museum of Art, Jacksonville
Art Museum, Museum of Science and History in
Jacksonville, The Atlanta Opera, Fernbank Museum of
Natural History and now I am Associate Vice President
for Advancement for the CDC Foundation in Atlanta.)
We are fortunate that both of our
children (Justin – age 38; and Garman – age 34) both are
married and live in Atlanta. Justin is with Coca-Cola as
Vice President of National Sales for Coca-Cola
Refreshment and Garman is in marketing, communications
and strategy for Synq Solutions. Garman and her
husband William are expecting our first
grandchild in January.
Craig and I love traveling and take
one BIG trip a year – usually out of the country – plus
some short trips as often as possible.
I look forward to seeing
everyone and have especially enjoyed the “then and now”
photos!
Joe Anne Gurecki (Turco)
We live in the foothills of the
Santa
Catalina mountains in Tucson, AZ. Ten years ago we made a move here from
Door County, Wi and have never looked back. I've been
married to Ben for 43 years. We have two sons, Ben and
Jon. Both living in
Elmhurst, Il. God has enriched our lives with a
handsome grandson, Nathan, and four beautiful
granddaughters, Zoeh, Emma, Abby and Lilli. We travel
whenever possible, spend summers in Illinois, and are
blessed with good health, loving family and wonderful
friends. Life has been a precious journey. Every day
I'm in awe of life and all it has offered.
Carolyn Stropoli
(Walenga)(from Classmates.com) Life
My Spouse
at work
My Pets
Missy is a 18 year old black domestic short hair. She
has Catshiemers, does only what she wants when she
wants.
My Job
Hectic at times, but always different
James Ziese
(from Classmates.com)
Life
After enjoying my four years at East Leyden from 1958
thru 1961, I continued on to work in mostly electronic
fields, starting with Motorola in the Chicago area. Then
I moved to Boulder, Colorado for many years and worked
with scientists at the world-renowned National Center
for Atmospheric Research, until I retired to Florida in
the mid-90's. I hope to hear from friends from the good
ol' days!
Patricia Lavieri
(Young)
I've been married for 48
years to my grade school sweetheart
Conrad Lavieri class of 1960. Our love just keeps
getting better. I have been retired for sometime now,
but Conrad is finally retiring the end of this year.
We only had one child, Constance, she is our biggest
success story. Connie is an emergency room Doctor. She
is working for Ft. Gordon and the VA in Augusta,
Georgia. Connie served 12 years in the Army. We have
three grandchildren, Aaron Andrew 14, Aubrey Anise 11,
and Chloe Ann 8. Our daughter married Donald Reynolds
of Cincinnati, Oh., and Don is also a Doctor and a great
son-in-law. We now have our home on the market with
hopes of moving to Augusta, Ga. In the meantime we
travel to Georgia as often as we can.
We have already traveled a few places overseas, but for
our 50th Anniversary our plans are to spend a month in
Ireland, Scotland & Wales. In the mean time we will see
more of our beautiful country.
Patricia Young - Lavieri
Darlene
Diederich (Zurek)
Just happen
to come across East Leyden's website for
the class of 61. I can not believe the
poor response. Where did all people go?
My wife and I moved to Florida 18
years ago and we love it. Yes, the
summers are hot but least I don't have
to worry about the cold snowy weather.
The winters are very mild as you
probably know. It's been wonderful for
us. I married my
high school sweetheart (Darlene
Zurek) also from the class of 61. I went
to college for electrical
engineering, served in the Navy during
the Viet Nam era and in 1968 I got
married. We had two children and
lived in
River Grove for 25 years. We
have four grandchildren and enjoying
them very much. I can not believe the
classmates that are decreased. I played
football with some of them. What happen
to Butch Ranallo? As for my wife and I
we are not sure if we will be able to
attend the reunion. We have a heavy
schedule in October but we'll do our
best and try to attend. I used to play a
lot of golf at Nordic
Hills Country Club back in the
70's and 80's.
