Bio Book Extra Pages FINAL Copy 2
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! ! ! ! ! West Aurora High School Class of 1974 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 40-Year Reunion Weekend September 25-27, 2014 ! ! ! ! ! ! TO OUR CLASSMATES Thank you to all of you who travelled from near and far to be part of this reunion! Your enthusiasm made the planning and preparation a lot of fun! Our special thanks to those of you who contributed to our classmate memorial fund. The beautiful Ginkgo tree planted at West High will be an enduring tribute to those classmates and friends who are !no longer with us. It takes a village to pull off a weekend-long party, and in addition to those of you who helped out over the weekend, we had a supportive team working hard for the months !leading up to the reunion: Vicki Leonardi McCoy helped to find classmates in cyberspace, and Beth Bales Olson !got the word out to the local papers to spread the reunion news. Ellen McCrimmon Achilles coordinated the purchase and planting of the memorial tree, !and created the lovely tribute in the lobby at Orchard’s. !When we “teed up” the idea of a golf outing, Jim Haried made it happen. Decorators extraordinaire—Beth Burckhard Nelson, Barb Davis Ahasic, and Susan !Kinsman—painted the weekend red & blue. Bubble letters and bandanas still rule! Andy Olson Magee helped us march to a different drummer in the Homecoming parade. !(A first for many!) !Peter Wulff “streaked” to our aid with printing (and a little painting too). Sarah Hoban wins the award for perseverance for getting our reunion information onto !the alumni website. Greg Hurst and Lauren Leimbach gladly seized the opportunity to share new perspectives on their graduation speeches, though Lauren shared her thoughts from afar !due to the air traffic “snafu.” Jim Bender and Brudd Rohr, as always you came through. Thank you for sharing your !humor and friendship. You are two in a million! And finally, to our angel investors whose help ensured this weekend would happen, and !to Barb and Leo Ahasic of Valley Linen Supply for the colorful linen donation. !We hope you enjoy this reunion memento! Roll On You Blackhawks! Judy and Elizabeth ! ! Thursday, September 25 Homecoming Parade! Friday, September 26 Varsity Football at Ken Zimmerman Field, West High Spoiler Alert – WE WON!!! After-Game Party at Two! Brothers Roundhouse Saturday, September 27 Golf Outing at Orchard Valley Golf Course Dedication of the Class Memorial Tree and School Tours THE BIG EVENT! At Orchard’s ! ! ! ! ! ! IN MEMORY OF OUR FRIENDS AND CLASSMATES The ginkgo tree is thought to be the oldest tree on earth. It existed as long as sixty million years ago. The ginkgo tree is considered to have special significance as a symbol of hope and friendship. Because of the divided shape of the leaf, the ginkgo was especially favored as a symbol of the dialectical yin and yang, the female and the male principle, joy and sorrow, life and death. ! ! Paul A. Boecker Bambi Kossert Elder Daniel J. Bolly James R. Le Cuyer Mark G. Bower Nancy J. McWethy Lusk Margery A. Byerly Robert Meidell Miguel Coronado, Jr. Dennis P. Morrisey Dana S. Daw Maureen M. Nelson Faul Steven J. Duranceau Stephen B. Olesen William Ellingwood, Jr. Diane Parsons David P. Ellis Rebecca Richards Thompson Dean B. Ensminger T. Vance Roberts, Jr. Bruce Finstrom Gary Roe Gwen Hartman Clark Phyllis Ross John S. Herkes Joette Runkle Timney John Hogue Keith Sack Kevin Jensen Noe Salinas, Jr. Loren E. Johnson Gus A. Thimoleas, Jr. Robert E. Kaufman Bradley D. Warren William Kellogg Henry Wisdom Robert Kohler Ricky L. Wright John Achim Amy Adolphson Grimes Class of '74 Class of '74 Family: Husband, John and son, Adam Nancy Alcorn Kell Jeannine Allen Forner Class of '74 Class of '74 Occupation: Safety Officer Family: We have 4 children and 12 grandchildren. Interests: Golf, Swimming, Campfires, Wine, Bike Riding Biography / Memorable Life Experiences: In August after graduation I took an 18 day trip to Italy by myself. It was great. Traveled to the Virgin Islands with Teresa Lesiotos and traveled other places in the states before getting married in 1983. Lived in the log cabin on the river in Montgomery for our 1st 2 years of marrage and moved to North aurora for 3 years and were transferred to Indiana. Have lived in Fishers for 25 years. We have been on a cruise in the Bahamas, to Mexico and travel to many places in the states on a regular basis. Traveled to Florida in May and took a cruise while there. Page 1 of 34 Beth Bales Olson Sue Bartells Jacobson Class of '74 Class of '74 Occupation: Communications manager, ASDS Occupation: Landscape Architect Family: Steve, kids: Emma, Torie and Anne Family: Husband Jake (class of 73) three children: Sara, Samantha & Benjamin Interests: Reading, knitting, staying in touch with old friends Interests: Family, gardening, reading, music and travel. Biography / Memorable Life Experiences: Worked at Beacon- Biography / Memorable Life Experiences: Elected Fellow of the News for many years, then at other newspapers and decided to American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) in 1995, and combine writing, PR and marketing with raising kids. I worked for served as president of the national ASLA in 2003-04. I was the first myself in those fields for nearly 25 years and then, in January '14, woman from Illinois to achieve Fellow status, and the sixth woman in decided to be an employee and put my skills to use. Memorable life over 100 years to serve as president. Currently working at The experiences? Surviving, thriving and decided I was OK the way I am! Morton Arboretum. Sue Bass McGowan Barb Beebe Becker Class of '74 Class of '74 Occupation: ICU Secretary at Presence Mercy Hospital Occupation: Presentation Specialist for Target Family: Married to Jim for 38 years. We have 3 children, Kate, Ryan Family: 6 Children 9 grandchildren and Kyle. Interests: I enjoy quilting, reading and vacationing Interests: Spending time with family & friends! Playing with my grandchildren Biography / Memorable Life Experiences: Married to my best friend Rev Jeff Becker on May 27 1978. Traveled to Brazil for a month on a Missions trip, in Dec 1979. Traveling across the USA preaching the gospel. Having birthed six children has brought us such great joy and happiness. Watching my 3 oldest children on their Wedding days! Watching the birth of my 1st granddaughter Olivia. Spending time with my children and grandchildren. Page 2 of 34 Shari Beezley Dalziel James (Jim) Bender Class of '74 Class of '74 Occupation: V.P. Business Mgmt, James Martin Assoc. Occupation: Retired Family: Dan, hubby of 35yr. Dustin, 29, cute Chicago bachelor. Family: Married 31 + years to Kristin. 3 children--Jonathan (28), Liz Tara, married, Switzerlan (26), Torie (24). Interests: Travel to Switzerland and beyond, golf/hike/ski, real Interests: Golfing, snow skiing, mountain and road biking, Bruce estate, The Chapel church. Springsteen, ice hockey. Biography / Memorable Life Experiences: Playing college hockey, getting married (just in case my wife sees this), clerking for a Federal District Court Judge in St. Paul, running a marathon in under 3 hours, living and working in London for 2 years, meeting Bruce Springsteen and his wife backstage after a concert, chairing the Tulsa Area United Way annual fundraising campaign, Wendy Benditz Roesner Ann Bernard Wood Class of '74 Class of '74 Page 3 of 34 Paul Bierdeman Janet Brady Lowe Class of '74 Class of '74 Occupation: Caterpillar - Senior Engineer Occupation: Dental Hygienist Family: wife: Marti Butterfield kids: Chris, Kaiti, Cory grand kids: Family: Married to Jamie Lowe 26 yearsChildren- Jacqueline 19 Sophie, Olivia,Tate Jillian 16 Interests: Lego league mentor, Bible quiz coach, summer camp counselor. Arduino programming Biography / Memorable Life Experiences: Left Aurora ‘74 for England visa, Greenville college (physics & math). Summer sailing instructor, cabinet maker. Interned McDonnell Douglas aircraft, St Louis, Caterpillar, Peoria in ’79, factory networks to mining cryptographic security. Trips: England, Belgium, Australia, Germany. Built timber frame home. 13 VWs before MG/Triumph. Boundary Waters Canoe Area 5 times - canvas kayak & cedar stripper, mountain bike enthusiast. Hiked Appalachian trail (30 m), Ski Breck, Vail, Tahoe, Whistler. Volunteer hurricane Katrina twice, Mexico visa 15 times, Chile with my son, Portugal. Habitat yearly. Mike Brownell Robert (Bob) Brownson Class of '74 Class of '74 Occupation: small business owner Family: married Christy in January. I have 3 children, no granchildren. Page 4 of 34 David (Buck) Buchanan Cindi Buchner Flavin Class of '74 Class of '74 Occupation: Cars and real estate Occupation: Mom Family: Having kids is the greatest gift you can have. The next best Family: Married 33 years to Jerry. Son: Patrick one granddaughter 5 thing is grandkids. mos. Son: Andrew Interests: Cars, guns, vacations, my family. Not necessarily in that Interests: 2 Blue Star Mother, RVing, Traveling. 1st GC Caitlin, 5 order. months old! Biography / Memorable Life Experiences: After high school I bought a house, got married, had two wonderful kids, got divorced. I was single for about 10 years, then remarried, and now have been happily married for 19 years. Now with 12 grandchildren and 2 more on the way, I am starting to think about retiring in a few years. I'd like to travel and go to more car shows once I retire. Beth Burckhard Nelson Peter Buschbacher Class of '74 Class of '74 Occupation: Executive Search Consultant Family: Husband, Will - Daughter, Alexandria, 23 y/o - Daughter, Christine, 21 y/o Interests: Travel, cooking, wine, family and friends Biography / Memorable Life Experiences: Married to Will for 28 years, which always keeps me on my toes, and almost always keeps me laughing. Raising 2 great daughters! Alexandria lives her passion in Lexington, KY as an equestrian and equestrian trainer.