At age 59, I still work as a counselor at Belleville Township High School (Belleville West now, of course)... so I guess I am one of the very last links to the past. Dave Dressel contacted about a year or so ago to touch base with a another old friend who still worked for the district and for the life of me, I can't remember who. Dave and I emailed for a while and then lost touch again. I called Donna into my office to tell her that Dave had passed away and she couldn't remember him, but she remembered Roger Anna right away and I had to look your picture up Steve, but memories came back right away. I still have the old yearbook in my library of favorite books.

I became a grandfather for the 7th time yesterday! Her name is Audrey Marie. My son's third. So, time marches on! Good luck and God Bless to everyone! So sorry to hear about Dave Dressel. Hope everyone fairs well for the remainder of the summer and into the autumn. Keep writing everybody and keep in touch!

Dale and Donna Zink

Hey Janet, I had totally forgotten about Delta Psi Omega...seems like a million years ago. My husband, Dave, and I have lived in Naples, FL for the last 12 years after spending 18 years in the Chicago area. He retired about a year ago fom his job as a 777 captain for American Airlines and doesn't miss flying in the least. Our three sons and four grandchildren are kind of scattered and I seem to spend a lot of time traveling to visit them Other than that I can be found on the golf course. Summer's a bit hot to play but doesn't stop us.

Missed the reunion due to a conflict that I couldn't resolve so I hope I am still around and kicking for the 50th. I really don't stay in touch with anyone I knew at BTHS but I do have lots of fond memories.

Roger,
  I really don't know much about life after retirement, I am still working and will be for a few more years. Berneal and I are still in California, and with housing prices out here, I will probably be working for a bunch more years. I am working for a Nanotechnology startup in Silicon Valley which is fun, very busy, but fun. I get back to
Belleville every so often to see my brother, Phil, who is retired.
Take care,
Steve

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For those of you who remember Dave Dressel, he passed away suddenly at the beginning of this month. Dave and I were best friends through high school and college years, and I have many fond memories of him. I remember waiting outside the lounge at Panorama on the night of June 7th with him so we could share my first "legal" drink after midnight. We were in each others weddings and kept in touch for many years after that. It was also a shock about Terry Davis...I'm glad I got to see him at the last reunion. Both were great guys and I'm proud to have known them........roger

Hi Kent ,
Yes, that was my dad. My parents were very good friends with Jane and Frank. Lovley people. My parents have both passed away. I don't have any family left in Belleville. I certainly remember you from classes. I am sure many of wonder if you were our pilot :)
I have been retired for a long time......hitting the big 60 in a few weeks and have two more grand babies arriving this year, my daughter is having her first! That makes three for me.
My summer vacation just went up in smoke......Tahoe fire...we were scheduled to leave soon.
I see many names I recognize....Janet...Jeanne..Dale... and Hi Gail.. we chat on the internet. Time has really flown........have a great fourth......love to hear about everyone!!
Linda

Sharon, for the life of me, I can't find your e-mail address in my list, so could you please send it to me again. My e-mail is gdslusar@aol.com, and put BTHS in the subject line so I can recognize it. Enjoy CA, sounds great! Have not been there since last year when we went to Disneyland (still my favorite place on earth, as much as everywhere I have been western Europe). And Namaste to you...how did you come to learn that one? My best friend (now that Sandy's gone)is Brahmin, so it's a common greeting for us.

Hello Everyone!! It sure is nice reading everyone's posts. Retirement for me is about 2 years away-Maybe-my grandaughter wants to go to Harvard Medical School and be a Dr.. If that becomes her reality I will be working for a long, long time. She's only 13 so who knows. She has held this vision for herself since she was 5 though. So what will be will be.

I remember Sharon Sandberg!!! I also know Ed Hiser. I think I went out with him a time or two when we were in BJC together. If you are the same Sharon that I remember I think that you were going into graphic arts at that time. I think we were in Delta Psi Omega together?

If I do ever get to retire I plan on living in Key West Fl. and working with the Unity church there. I can retire from my cartographes job with the government and use my ministerial degree at the church there. I think it will be the perfect fit for me. Sun, ocean, laid back environment and working with the prayer ministry.

It was great to see all of the posts. Take care everyone and God bless

Gail
Good to see your name on line again - I'm out your way in LA for a friend's retirement party (Ed Hiser-he was 2 years ahead of us) from teaching - I'm also retired now and spend time much of time working in the yard and traveling. Upcoming trip next year to Australia to visit my mom's relatives and Denmark when things quiet down overseas to see my foreign exchange student and wife. My two girls are doing well, one is about a year+ way from teaching degree and the other will graduate in 2009 with Social work degree and then plans to continue on with her masters. Love my 5 grandchildren and see them as often as I can.
Tell me how things are in your area. Namaste, Sharon

To Kent Keller, No, I didn't spell my name differently, and didn't have a brother named Steve. Retirement is just a distant hope here. I still teach gifted kids for Mesa Public Schools. My husband Donald teaches for another district and we still have some years to make the golden "points" necessary to retire. Good thing is we already live in a retirement area in Arizona, so we don't have to move. Have a great summer everyone!

Gail Slusar, Did you spell your name different and do you have a brother Steve? Kent Keller

Linda Betton, Did your father own Suburban Motors and was good friends with my uncle, Frank Bloomer? Kent Keller

Tom Miller, I was based in the Air Force at Grissom AFB in the reserves flying A-37 fighters till 1982. I lived in Kokomo til 1979 and Wheatfield till 1984. I moved to North Carolina in 1984. I have spent a lot of time racing at IRP in INDY in SCCA in a GT1 Corvette. My home track was Road America in Wi. Yes I do remember the 60 Chev. I replaced all my old cars except the 60 and 62 conv. Tom I think you were refering to my driving down the highway backwards and going off into a 20 foot ditch and we didn:t damage the car. Do you remember the lady that stopped with the fresh hair doo and got stuck above us and had to walk in the rain for help. Life was so simple at 16. I have been very blessed all the years racing and was never had a severe injury yet. I have to say yet, since I am now spending a lot of time driving and teaching. This is a wonderful site . I hope everyone has a great holiday this July. Kent Keller

Well, I thought I'd visit again after a long hiatus here. I'm on vacation again. Just got back from one trip with my son's family and soon to leave with my middle daughter's kids and husband to Blue Springs Resort and then later in the summer with my oldest daughter and her clan. All short trips this summer. Saw Randy and Diane a couple of weeks ago. Diane lost her father. Got to see all her kids though which was nice. They've got four wondeful children. I met their two sons on the way out of church... fine young gentlemen. Anyway, great summer so far. No one has written or posted lately or maybe I just have'nt figured this quick topic thing out. Have a great summer everybody! It's been 40 years since the Summer of Love '67! Time Flies! Take care.

After 25 years with the Federal government and numerous other jobs I retired at age 55 - little over 4 years ago. Retirement is the BEST! My husband, Jeff, and I moved around quite a bit over the 37 years of marriage. He was corporate for PepsiCo. When we retired we moved from Southern California to Bend, OR and love the slow pace and the mountains. NO, I do not snow ski! We have two kids - our daughter, Nicole, lives in the San Francisco area and our son, Ben, stayed in Southern CA. Neither are married - hence no grandkids. I spend quite a bit of time doing volunteer work for the Assistance League in Bend. I also workout a lot - which I love.

I have great memories of the four years at BTHS and growing up in Belleville!

Wishing you good health and happiness!! (e-mail address: jklightburn@bendcable.com)

We have been living in California for the past 15 years (wow, it doesn't seem that long)and retirement is sort of expensive out here, so I think I will be working for the next 5 years. The job is interesting, I work for a 5 year old Nanotechnology startup, so another 5 years of work is not that bad.

When I got Kent's Email, I wondered how many of us from '65 were retired. After reading your posts, I'm envious! I still have at least FIVE years to go! Now I'm really envious! My wife, Sharon and I and our daughter and her family all live in Champaign-Urbana (the only place to live if you have to live in central IL). I pastor a church here in C-U, taught at U of I (go Illini) and work as Chaplain with the Champaign Fire Dept. Because of the pension structure in the UMC, I'm caught until 65. Must be nice to retire.