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Judith Rae Long (Reinking)

Kerrin Anne Kinsey (Sgourakis)

Mark ... saw your post about a 60th reunion.  Have you ever or would you consider a reunion during

Lilac Festival time?  

Mark Wieting

Kerrin, sorry for the late reply.....

As you might have seen in the email I just sent to the class, a 60th reunion is still just an idea. Planning has yet to start, so anything is possible. May vs. October could be said to boil down to flowers vs. football. Or any other month is still on the table. Thank you for the suggestion!

Mark

Kerrin Anne Kinsey (Sgourakis)

Mark: Thank you for getting back to me.  Classmates might not necissarlly  think about Lilac time as a choice, as it would fall into the "whatever" category.  Is ther any way to add it to the list of choices specifically?

Kerrin

Don Comfort

Mark,,,That's O.K. by me.

Don

Bruce F. Burianek

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY  To all the young mothers

Don Comfort

Hi All...Over the past several months Mark and I have been attempting to gather input from our class members about having a 60th reunion (time flies when your having fun), some time next year.  Surveys have been sent regarding where, when we might have a reunion; what it might look like; and what activities would be fun to do.

Responses have been varied and for the most part very general.  So, I am asking that you look at the following suggestions and comment as to whether you would come.  Nothing is cast in stone, but we need to focus more on specifics.  At this point, suggestions are as follows...

•  Lombard area during Homecoming.
•  Gather Friday night at Portillos on Butterfield Rd. for a social gathering.
•  Attend the Homecoming Parade, as the Class of 63*
•  Attend the Homecoming Football Game Saturday afternoon, as the class of 63*
•  Alternative activities such as golf would always be available for golfers etc.
•  Dinner Saturday evening at a local restaurant. There are several new eateries in town. Music and  dancing after dinner.

* Attending the parade and football game as the Class of 63, could include possible walking in the parade with a sign letting all know that the Class of 63 was the first four year graduates of G.E.  At the game we could sit in a designated section of the stands for the Class of 63.

If a tour of the school is of interest, that could be arranged, although we did that at the 50th, and I do not think much has changed since.

These are just a few suggestions.  Any other ideas would be appreciated, but we need to do what the majority would be interested in doing.  Please respond to this message and let us know if you are interested in the ideas, or greatly disagree with them, or if you simply can not attend.

Thanks for your input in this endeavor,

Don Comfort and Mark Wieting

Helene Annie Rousset (Goutal)

Hello everyone 

I agree with whatever you choose to do and depending on the date chosen I'd  love to come, and I would probably fly on to  Bethesda to spend some time with my host sisters  Laurie and Judy.

Till then  take care as we don ’t know what the future holds in store for us 

Hélène 

Thomas L. Bakos

Don & Mark:

It seems to me you have outlined a pretty good event.  

I think a school tour would be unnecessary for those of us who did it at the 50th.  But Homecomiing in Lombard would be good since that is what we would be doing.  Perhaps you might give us some idea on the homecoming weekend dates.  I assume it is in the spring fall sometime.

I remember painting "1963" on the field in the late night before our homecoming game in 1963.  Does anyone else remember that.  Maybe do it again  - just kiding.  Are there any among us (certainly, not me) who played in the 1963 homecoming game?  Does anyone remember who won?

I guess we should be aware of the uncertain times we are in.  Although things might be expected to be better  a year & a half from now (Fall of 2023) we can't be certain.  

My input up to now.

TomB

Gladys Christine Hallbeck (Hart)

Think the varsity football games are Friday nights...and I'm not sure if there are any homecoming parades anymore! Unless Covid is a distant memory, this will all be difficult to plan.

James Alan Bullard

Don, sounds like fun.  I will do my best to block out a date from my Scouting schedule.  thanks

William Gibson Heller

I just got back from a cousins' reunion in Lombard, done as the Lilac Festival was completed.  The Festival ran April 29 thru May 15 and we were there May 17,18,19.  Even though the weather had been erratic in May, the park was in bloom and only the early things like daffodils were over.  However, there were park workers swarming around planting new things, so pretty much at this time there will always be fresh displays.  I have never seen so many Allium, they are in the park and seemingly every home garden.  So for those of you who might be attracted to such an idea, the dates give you an idea of when it could occur.  BTW, for those wondering who he Lilac Queen was in '63, it was Lavonne Tanswell.

I think the note regarding the H.S. football game being on a Friday is correct.

Lombard looked very good and some landmarks have disappeared while others remain.  First Church at Main and Maple is 152 yrs. old and in good condition, still being used for weddings, concerts, etc.  Also, LomLing chinese is stll there!

As for me, revolving things around the H.S. doesn't mean much.  It is the friends I remember and the stories of island parties, hijinks, etc. that make a rewarding experience.  Thus a reunion can happen any time.  The Crowne Plaza at Finley Rd. and Roosevelt holds lots of reunions and while an older property it is neat, clean, and reasonable cost for us.  And about 2 mi from Portillo's.

Mark Wieting

I'm not sure who posted this as an announcement but figure it goes here better. Please let us know who has this question and if anyone has an answer, please chime in.   Mark

I grew up in the Village of Lombard, but at no time in school there was there any explanation of who the Lombards were.  I had no idea where the name came from.  None of this was taught in grade school or high school

Migration Period - Wikipedia

Lombards - Wikipedia

Kingdom of the Lombards - Wikipedia

James Alan Bullard

Linda Louise Crissey (Cotten)

I'm not sure if I will / would attend a 60th high school reunion.  Just back from a midwest jaunt that included the college 55th, a stop by Morton Arboretum, visits to Portillo's and Merischka's (in Romeoville), family and friends and SKY HIGH airfares.  I do, however, agree with Bill Heller's assessment of doing something during Lilac Time.  I mean we don't have to enter a float in the Lilac Parade or anything, but we could pull out a lavender beret to accent our Rams red / black & white attire. To be serious for just a moment, I do think about Lilacia Park every spring around Mother's Day, and think that might be a nice hook to hang our schedule on....

Bruce F. Burianek

MERRY CHRISTMAS  too all

Mark Wieting

All the best for everyone reading this and for those 20 or so who live in warm weather states, you should be interested that our high temp in Glen Ellyn yestereday was minus 2 degrees. The 30-40 mph winds made it all the more fun. We survived and we're looking for 50 degrees a week from today. Balmy!

Merry Christmas and have a safe and healthy New Year.

Don Comfort

Merry Christmas to you Mark and all who are reading this .

Don
 

Bruce F. Burianek

All our ice and snow is being washed away today 40 degrees and rain all day

Karen Kluender (Sewell)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All. Thanks for thinking of us who live in "warmer climates".  I know you won't be impressed, but here on the Coast of South Carolina the temperature on Friday/Saturday reached 23!  I know you all (or corectly, all y'all) are not sympathetic, but we have heat pumps instead of furnaces.  At low temperatures (less than 40)  the heat source is heat strips, electric resistance heating.  Visualize dollar signs  $$$$ whizzing by. We did have the same bad wind experienced all over. 

I hope everyone got through without hardship and those traveling made it to their destinations.

Karen (Kluender) Sewell

Judith Rae Long (Reinking)

  Hope this Christmas (today) was as good as it gets for all!!  As some of you may know, we are in Goodyear Az. and it was a beautiful 72 today.  The day started at 38, but quickly becomes so nice!   We made the right decision moving here 12 yrs. ago!  The other great thing - even better, we became Great Grandparents for a 2nd time.  Arely Brielle was born 2 days ago.  My Grandson, Trey lives in Ft. Worth, also cold!  Our first Great Gran is 18 months and lives here, so we do get to see Damian often.  We are so lucky!  I always thought you had to be "old" to have great grandkids, but as long as I don't look in the mirror or get down on the floor - I think I'm doing pretty good!  And now, HAPPY 2023 to everyone!!  Hope it's a little less "cwazy" as these past few gems!    Hugs to to you all!!!   Judy Long-Reinking

Judith Rae Long (Reinking)

   It is with Great Sadness that I let you all know that our son, Jeffrey Paul passed away on Christmas Day.

As many of you know, J.P. had diabetes since the age of 5 and struggled with balancing the damn disease.  He fought hard!  Been on dialysis for 5 yrs. and was on the transplant list up in Portland, Or.  On Christmas Day, J.P.'s blood sugar level dropped so low, so fast - all he could do was get a small piece of candy in his mouth, which was too little too late for him to call for help.  It makes me cry every time I think of this scenario!!  Paul's alzheimer's allows him to comprehend Jeff's death sometimes.  I call J.P. my Sweet Character - because that's what he was!!  He lived life to the fullest, thankfully.  But at 47 yrs. old, it was too soon!! He had a loving heart for his family and friends! 

Thank you for letting me share!  I miss him so very much!    Judy Long-Reinking

P.S. - if you see my previous Christmas note - needless to say - I did not know about J.P. at the time I wrote that.  The medical examiner called us that night. 

Don Comfort

Oh Judy...I am so sorry for your loss and heartache. You have had more than your share of sadness. Remember that it is always darkest just before dawn.

Don

Bruce F. Burianek

Judy Ialso share yourloss I lost mymiddle daughter in October 2022 she was 52.  She diedfrom liver infection.

Best regards

Bruce

Ethel (Jean) Snyder (Riskus)

My heart goes out to both of you, Judy and Bruce.  I can't even imagine the heartache of losing a child.  You both are in my prayers.