TAA Merchandise Order Form - Taft Alumni Association
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Farewell for Dr. Tarvardian<br />
Submitted by Anne Lunde (1969)<br />
It wasn’t easy to surprise Dr. Arthur Tarvardian, but the<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> PTSA and administrators managed it – by not telling<br />
anyone when the ceremonies would be more than 24<br />
hours before the June 13 assembly.<br />
Dr. Arthur Tarvardian<br />
The students who filed into the auditorium were initially<br />
explained because the PTSA was passing out ice cream<br />
treats, but when his family and some other non-faculty<br />
turned up down front, Dr. Tarvardian knew something<br />
was in the wind.<br />
PTSA President Cleo Pirpiris explained it was a “special<br />
day for a special someone who’s played a special role in<br />
13 terrific years at <strong>Taft</strong>, and a chance to say goodbye.”<br />
She said Dr. Tarvardian was known as a tough fighter, a<br />
good listener and a caring person.<br />
“His job was to help people, and he did,” she added.<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter<br />
Vol. XXVIII, No. 3 Summer 2012<br />
Sylvia Tarchala (left) and Cleo Pirpiris (right) from the <strong>Taft</strong><br />
Parent-Teacher-Student <strong>Association</strong> congratulate Dr.<br />
Tarvardian<br />
Members of the Principal’s Student Advisory Council<br />
introduced a video tribute, including interviews with faculty<br />
and students. “We are proud to say we are <strong>Taft</strong> Eagles,<br />
for those who came before and those to come,”<br />
one of the students concluded.<br />
[continued on page 12]<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> HS graduation 2012<br />
Moves to UI-C Campus<br />
When you have a big senior class, it’s hard to find a<br />
place large enough to hold the graduation ceremonies.<br />
Although <strong>Taft</strong>’s ceremonies in recent years have been at<br />
the Wright College’s new campus gym at Montrose and<br />
Narragansett, this year <strong>Taft</strong>’s senior class outgrew the<br />
local venue. So <strong>Taft</strong> ended up moving its June 8 ceremonies<br />
to the University of Illinois Chicago Campus’s<br />
Forum, west of downtown.<br />
There was room there for seniors to have their families<br />
watch the ceremonies, but it took more than two hours to<br />
negotiate the route downtown during afternoon rush<br />
hour, either by using the Kennedy Expressway or regular<br />
arterial streets. It’s more than 40 years since <strong>Taft</strong> was<br />
able to host its own graduation (The June 1969 class<br />
split into two nights, and after that, big venues like Arie<br />
Crown or the Medinah Temple were rented).<br />
The graduating class, with more than 560 in this year’s<br />
senior class, lined up in an endlessly moving procession<br />
[continued on page 8]
Class January 1952<br />
Date: October 6, 2012<br />
Place: Hackney’s on Lake - Glenview<br />
Contacts: Phyllis (Holowaty) Albrecht, albrecjp@aol.com<br />
Bill Becker, hwbeck@aol.com<br />
Earl Carlson, earlacarlson@charter.net<br />
Gordon Guth, gdides@flash.net<br />
Class June 1952<br />
Date: September 22, 2012<br />
Place: Elk’s Club - Des Plaines<br />
Contact: Carol Brokaw Yeaman - mrsyea@comcast.net<br />
Anita Nehring Petersen - anitapeterseg@att.net<br />
Carol McGovern Clark - 847-537-7385<br />
Louise Van De Merkt Lowry - 847-566-6828<br />
Class January 1955<br />
Date: October 6, 2012<br />
Place: Elk’s Club - Des Plaines<br />
Contact: Walter Guyer - wguyer1@comcast.net or<br />
200 W. Campbell St., #604, Arlington Hts., IL 60005<br />
Class June 1959 - (All classes welcome)<br />
Date: October 6, 2012 (6pm, Dinner)<br />
October 7, 2012 (9am, Breakfast Buffet)<br />
Place: Hilton Garden Inn - Des Plaines<br />
Contact: Pat (Santell) Lutz - patlutz@comcast.net<br />
or Larry Marsh - fairseas2u@gmail.com<br />
www.taftreunion1959.com<br />
Class June 1961<br />
Date: September 22, 2012 (NOTE: date correction!)<br />
Place: Wellington Restaurant and Banquets,<br />
Arlington Heights, IL<br />
Contact: John Prochaska & Art Kay<br />
<strong>Taft</strong>June61Alums@aol.com<br />
Class 1968<br />
Date: TBD (looking for committee members)<br />
Place: TBD<br />
Contact: Robert Clark - clark7811@msn.com<br />
Class Reunions<br />
Classmates - Lost and Found<br />
Lost touch with old classmates? We can help by publishing<br />
the name(s) in the newsletter. If they respond and agree,<br />
we’ll forward that person's name and address to you.<br />
Send requests and/or responses to <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
c/o <strong>Taft</strong> High School, 6530 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago IL<br />
60631 or email us at taftlum@cox.net. The suggested donation<br />
for this service is $5 per name.<br />
Wait! There’s More…<br />
10th Annual Reunion Picnic<br />
SouthEAST<br />
Date: Saturday, March 9, 2013, 11am - 3pm<br />
Place: Ft. DeSoto Pk, St. Petersburg, FL Shelter 14<br />
Donation: $3 per person (+ $5/car parking fee)<br />
Pot Luck: a food item to share (BYOB)<br />
Photo shoot: 2:30 pm<br />
Contact: (if needed): Leon Kathan, 117 Monte Real Blvd.,<br />
Sebring, FL 33876 - leonkathan@yahoo.com<br />
3rd Annual Reunion Picnic<br />
SouthWEST<br />
Date: Spring 2013<br />
Place: TBD<br />
Date: Spring 2013 - 11am - 3pm<br />
Photo shoot: at 2pm<br />
Pot Luck: Beer permit<br />
(non-glass containers)<br />
Donation: $3 per person<br />
Bring lawn chairs for greater comfort<br />
Contacts: Paul Frizane, aztaftalumni@yahoo.com<br />
Paulette English, eagleemail@taftalumni.org;<br />
Kay Kuciak, taftalum@cox.net<br />
Classmates Want Reunions<br />
So far no one has stepped forward to organize a reunion<br />
for YOUR class? That doesn't mean it's too late if you'd<br />
consider it yourself. <strong>TAA</strong> has lots of information to get you<br />
started.<br />
Just give us the dates, times, and places. We can<br />
add them to the <strong>TAA</strong> website and to the Facebook page, besides<br />
the newsletter.<br />
We've seen a trend toward simpler, more casual affairs,<br />
rather than the more expensive, formal dinner-dance<br />
reunions. The choice is up to you. <strong>TAA</strong> can help with details if<br />
you are interested. Just contact us any time at our website -<br />
www.taftalumni.org or email us at taftalum@cox.net.<br />
If you still do not have access to a computer (are<br />
there still some of us out there?) and want to write, send your<br />
comments to <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>Association</strong> c/o <strong>Taft</strong> High School,<br />
6530 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, IL 60631.<br />
Page 2 <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter Summer 2012
Letters to the Editor<br />
Recently together in Scottsdale, Arizona were four 1955<br />
Grads for a very "Mini Reunion". L to R: Sue (Unger)<br />
Oberheide, Marlowe (Petrie) Sorensen, Judy<br />
(Kratzenberg) Tonz, and Joyce (Kienzle) Rossen.<br />
To <strong>TAA</strong>:<br />
I am trying to find out if there are any plans for a 50th<br />
class reunion. If you have any information, please send<br />
it to me at: [withheld]. Thank you.<br />
Owen Jacobsen (June 1962)<br />
[Hi, Owen, So far no one has stepped forward to organize a reunion.<br />
That doesn't mean it's too late if you'd consider it yourself. <strong>TAA</strong> has<br />
lots of information to get you started. I also noticed that your membership<br />
is not current so I'm attaching a membership form. The quarterly<br />
newsletter is the best way to keep up with your classmates. Paulette<br />
English, <strong>TAA</strong> Web Editor]<br />
To <strong>TAA</strong>:<br />
Thanks for all the work that is done by everyone who<br />
puts the <strong>Taft</strong> alumni Newsletter together. I look so forward<br />
to reading every issue and am enclosing me membership.<br />
I totally agree that $15.00 for the two years is<br />
extremely reasonable.<br />
We were recently in Las Vegas and my friend Jackie<br />
(Bell) Fries (June 1959), came up with her husband,<br />
Dave from La Habra, California. We had a great time<br />
together. The last time was during our 50th reunion in<br />
2009.<br />
Sharon (Carlier) Dompke (June 1959)<br />
Dear Kay,<br />
Another two years have again past too quickly. But<br />
gratefully we are still around to renew another two years<br />
of the <strong>Taft</strong> Newsletter. I can never say this enough-I<br />
enjoy the newsletter so very much. Even my husband<br />
(who is not a <strong>Taft</strong> graduate) gets to enjoy the news, as I<br />
either inform him or he reads the newsletter himself. We<br />
are busy retirees; however, the one thing I miss is fellow<br />
classmates. Not many <strong>Taft</strong>ees have moved to the LA<br />
area that I know of. I do reconnect with several classmates<br />
not in our area. One is your cousin Kay, Marilyn<br />
(Richter) Bakka (January 1956); we have remained<br />
friends since grade school at Onahan. Thanks for all<br />
you and the newsletter folks do. You are appreciated!!<br />
Joan (Denney) Sandecki (January 1956)<br />
several tries. I'm happy to report by downloading the<br />
latest version of Adobe Reader as suggested in this [latest<br />
newsletter] e-mail, I was able to print both the Fall<br />
and Spring Newsletters. Patience IS a virtue!<br />
Lytton Andersen (June 1958)<br />
[Lytton, Thank you for taking the time to tell me of your success.<br />
Adobe Reader can be like a neglected pair of old shoes -- sometimes<br />
we have to stop and give them a new shine. Paulette]<br />
Hi.<br />
[My class has] a quarterly luncheon. Juanita Phillips<br />
Amado (June 1958) and I recently went to a luncheon<br />
for the class of ‘55 that meets in Des Plaines every other<br />
month.<br />
We thought it might be nice if there was place in the<br />
newsletter where people could list the upcoming luncheons.<br />
The two mentioned above both welcome <strong>Taft</strong>ites<br />
of any year. Please let me know your thoughts. Thank<br />
You.<br />
Diane Prosser Racana DeGrenier (June 1958)<br />
[Diane, we'd be happy to promote your luncheons. Just give<br />
us the dates, times, and places. I can add them to the <strong>TAA</strong><br />
website and to the Facebook page, besides the newsletter.<br />
How nice that you all stay in touch. Paulette]<br />
To <strong>TAA</strong>:<br />
Maybe I missed it; however, has anyone from June<br />
1963 thought about a 50th class reunion yet? Thanks.<br />
And, as a side bar... I was in Culvers in Morton Grove<br />
[recently] when a notice a group of kids... all had <strong>Taft</strong><br />
Eagles shirts. So I approached them and they said they<br />
just left a basketball game. I told them I graduated from<br />
<strong>Taft</strong>. One asked, “When?” I said, “June 1963”. The<br />
young man paused and looked at his classmates and<br />
then said, “Gee, that was even before most of our mom's<br />
were born.” And, they all kinda chuckled... I think they<br />
thought they saw a prehistoric person
The new principal looks very familiar. Maybe she’s a<br />
Northwest Sider. Sure hope we have a lot of the new<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> grads becoming members. Looking at the class<br />
notes from last issue, I do remember Barbara (Whittier)<br />
Hanson and Dolores (Koch) Reichert.<br />
Mary Ellen Boyce (June 1945)<br />
Dear <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Board,<br />
Thanks for all the time, energy and creativity you have<br />
demonstrated over the years to help students at <strong>Taft</strong> and<br />
keeping the <strong>Alumni</strong> informed.<br />
I was a member of the Championship football team of<br />
1948-49, graduated in June 1950, Iowa State University<br />
in 1954 and was a pilot in the Air Force until 1958.<br />
Worked for Western Electric for 34 years, retiring in 1987<br />
as a factory manager, then taught at the University Missiouori<br />
at Kansas City for 14 years.<br />
I married my high school sweetheart, Lois Unger from<br />
Steinmetz in 1953. Lois developed Alzheimer’s 7 years<br />
ago and stopped recognizing me in October 2010 as her<br />
husband. For the next 12 months I had 350 first dates<br />
with Lois. Each morning we would start out getting to<br />
know each other again. In time, I became her best<br />
friend and now we enjoy every day together. We never<br />
get tired of being with each other. We fell in love again.<br />
With time, patience and God’s help Lois and I still have a<br />
wonderful life. Alzheimer’s is an awful disease, but you<br />
can still enjoy life as you make adjustments.<br />
John (Jack) Sladkey (June 1950)<br />
Dear Dr. Tarvardian,<br />
I graduated from <strong>Taft</strong> in June 1942 (six months after<br />
Pearl Harbor) while Leo Hoefer was Principal, and you<br />
and I have not met. Noting in the Winter 2012 <strong>Taft</strong><br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter that you are retiring in June, it occurred<br />
to me that you might be interested in learning of<br />
my teaming with an Armenian as a Night Fighter crew in<br />
World War II in the Pacific. Brief details follow, and two<br />
photos are enclosed. I was a pilot and 1 st Lt. My Radar<br />
Observer was 2 nd Lt. George K. Kamajian. We are<br />
shown with our P-61 Black Widow Night Fighter. The<br />
second photo is of me standing in the cockput of our<br />
assigned aircraft, we named “Black Panther.”<br />
George (originally from Philadelphia, now retired in California)<br />
and I were matched as a crew at the beginning of<br />
extensive High Fighter training in California. We then<br />
went overseas, were assigned to the 418 th Night Fighter<br />
Squadron, and flew missions together all during 1945 in<br />
the Philippines and Okinawa, including three night intruder<br />
mission attacks over Japan in the last two weeks<br />
of the war. We still keep in close contact and have visited<br />
each other’s homes and families. George and his<br />
wife (also Armenmian) are still living, as is my wife of 65<br />
years, the former Marjorie Behn (June 1942). Both<br />
Kamajian sons are medical doctors<br />
Going back to high school days, Marge and I attended<br />
Schurz High for our first year while <strong>Taft</strong> was being built<br />
and started at <strong>Taft</strong> in the fall of 1939, sitting on the floor for two weeks until desks were installed. I was active as<br />
a percussionist in the Concert Band and Symphony Or-<br />
Page 4 <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter Summer 2012<br />
.
chestra under the late John “Pops” Rapier (using the<br />
women’s gym - there was no addition then with the band<br />
room), and was a national champion on the snare drum<br />
the last two years. Other activities included <strong>Taft</strong> Tribune<br />
photographer. After graduation, I started at the University<br />
of Illinois in engineering, but midway in the semester,<br />
an opportunity appeared to enlist in the Army Air<br />
Forces for Aviation Cadet pilot training and I leapt at the<br />
chance, was called up in January 1943, and obtained my<br />
wings in March 1944.<br />
Marge and I attended the 50 th <strong>Taft</strong> Reunion in 1989, but,<br />
unfortunately will not be back to meet you prior to your<br />
retirement.<br />
Stanley E. Logan (June 1942)<br />
Dear Jerry,<br />
What a lovely surprise to see my letter featured on page<br />
3 of the <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newslettler, and with the photo of<br />
the 1950’s friends in color. Thank you for putting it in the<br />
newsletter. The bonus for me is the “In the News” article<br />
about my writing endeavors. As you probably know,<br />
getting the word out on publication, so it can be a full<br />
time job.<br />
I enjoyed your Editor’s note on page 3. I worked at<br />
Mulkern’s Drug Store from the summer of 1947 to January<br />
1950. From time to time Mr. Mulkern had the police<br />
drive by the store to keep the “Pitch-A-Penny” guys in<br />
line.<br />
I remember hearing about the Greasers going to<br />
Hedlin’s Dairy on the Northwest Highway to eat lunch<br />
and smoke their cigarettes. They walked through the<br />
underpass beneath the railroad tracks to get there from<br />
<strong>Taft</strong>.<br />
My brother Phillip Huntman is 12 years younger than I<br />
and may have been in your kindergarten or 1 st grade<br />
class at Norwood Park School, but after my father died<br />
in a boat explosion in 1951 on Lake Michigan, my<br />
mother moved with Phillip, Judy (then 11 years old) and<br />
Jeannette to Wisconsin. I married in 1952, so stayed in<br />
Chicago. Thanks again. Have a great summer.<br />
Marilyn Huntman Giese (June 1950)<br />
Thanx Paulette--<br />
I accessed the newletter and, once again, enjoyed reminiscing.<br />
We have a motorhome and are on the road<br />
during the summertime. Our winter address is a P.O.<br />
Box, which is our mail service (US) when we are in San<br />
Felipe, Baja-Mexico (and, yes it has been safe for us for<br />
13 years).<br />
We use the internet for all our contacts and I am pleased<br />
to have the newsletter on line. We live on El Dorado<br />
Ranch and they also have a web. We welcome visitors<br />
who are "brave" enough to drive the 120 miles South of<br />
the border--come on down, the water's fine. I appreciate<br />
your assistance.<br />
Ruth Reisman Ellmore (January 1944)<br />
Paulette:<br />
Regarding your request for help in identifying names in<br />
our <strong>TAA</strong> master file, Charlene Schmolt graduated with<br />
me in June 1945. She lived on the 6100 block of North<br />
Moody Av., near the intersection of Milwaukee and<br />
Elston Aves.<br />
Vivian Winkates Borman (June 1945)<br />
[Vivian, thank you so much! That confirms the tentative information we<br />
had on Charlene. You've heard of "No Child Left Behind"--well, our<br />
motto is "No <strong>Alumni</strong> Left Behind". We will also correct the spelling of<br />
her name.<br />
Hello,<br />
In reading through the Newsletter that I received this<br />
week, I noticed in the "In Our Memories" section the<br />
death of Richard Kudish.<br />
It stated that he was the sister of Clare Kudish, class of<br />
January 1959. Just thought you'd like to know that<br />
Claire was actually in the class of June 1959.<br />
Audrey (D'Almaine) Gerlitz (June 1959)<br />
Paulette,<br />
I looked at your list of <strong>Taft</strong> grad who needed identifying<br />
(from last issue). One name stood out and I wanted to<br />
check further. Karen Gustavson's name rings a bell. My<br />
brother, Chuck "dated" her in grade school for a while.<br />
She lived on Talcott, just west of Bryn Mawr in a brick<br />
bungalow that was right against the sidewalk on that<br />
street. I always wondered why there was no yard there.<br />
I believe she was in his class, so that would have made<br />
her to be in the class of June 1963. My goodness, she<br />
died young!<br />
Jerry (Beesley) Bloom (June 1962)<br />
To Paulette:<br />
I'm the webmaster at <strong>Taft</strong> and I wanted to let the <strong>Alumni</strong><br />
know that we've now got official <strong>Taft</strong> pages on both<br />
Facebook & Twitter. The addresses are below. Included<br />
on both will be announcements and updates in case<br />
anyone would like to keep up with current events at <strong>Taft</strong>.<br />
The Facebook page also has a ton of pictures. Hopefully<br />
you can pass this info on. Thanks!<br />
facebook.com/<strong>Taft</strong>HS<br />
twitter.com/<strong>Taft</strong>_HS<br />
Trent Eaton<br />
EAST Program Coordinator,<br />
Minister of Communications, Webmaster<br />
& General Purpose Computer Monkey<br />
Attention: Paulette English, Director, Web Editor<br />
Enclosed is a picture from our April luncheon of the “<strong>Taft</strong><br />
Lunch Bunch, June 1955”. We have been going out to<br />
lunch, every other month, for over 6 years. We’ve tried<br />
several different restaurants and have settled on<br />
Giuseppe’s in Des Plaines, IL. They give us a room to<br />
ourselves and the prices are reasonable. We had another<br />
lunch on June 6 and our next lunch is in August.<br />
We do have one rule: no talking about aches and pains.<br />
We all have them and aren’t interested in hearing about<br />
yours. If any classmates are interested in joining us,<br />
contact me at e-mail: aschoessling@sbcglobal.net<br />
Arlene Johnson Schoessling (June 1955)<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter Summer 2012 Page 5
June 1955 Lunch Bunch - Bottom row: Christine Seyffer, Marlene Mauter Hacke, John Penland, Bev Ingram Conrad,<br />
Arlene Koprivnik. Middle row: Marle Maute Schliep, Shirley Honkowski Dietz, Bob Garland, Joyce Hammerberg<br />
Beets, Wayne Barton, Arlene Johnson Schoessling, Diane Prosser Racana DeGrenier (June ’58), Raymond<br />
Fath, Kathie Diedie Mueller, Anita Gaertner Lewis. Back row: Mike Lempke and Jim Teufel.<br />
Dear Fellow Alums:<br />
I am writing to let you know the class of January 1955 is<br />
having a “Wow! We can’t believe we’re 75!” reunion on<br />
October 6 th . [See page 2 for details].<br />
I am enclosing a copy of our “lost list” and hope you will<br />
be able to provide me with the current address(es) of at<br />
least a few of them. I have been doing the corresponding<br />
for our class for over 20 years and am eager to contact<br />
as many classmates as possible:<br />
Mary Ann Albrecht Donald William Brown<br />
Annette DeCherrie Kathleen Lola Erzig<br />
George Edwin Harris James Edwin Hayes<br />
Charles Donald Henderson Lois Irene Johnson<br />
Mary Louise Kreinbring Richard Allen Lewis<br />
Arthur Josoeph Rush Robert Jay Schaffer<br />
David Harold Schultz Dolores Marie Semchuck<br />
William James Simonson<br />
Meg Magee (Marilyn Goodell Rice Magee)<br />
January 1955<br />
[Meg, We’ve listed only the names we have no contact info for in our<br />
master file. Those found will be forwarded to you soon. If other<br />
classmates contact us with current details, we will forward those to<br />
you, too. J. Bloom, <strong>TAA</strong> Newsletter Editor]<br />
To: taftalum@cox.net<br />
Is there a reunion planned for the class of 1972 in the<br />
making? I have not heard anything and this is our 40th.<br />
louisemama47@yahoo.com<br />
[Louise, We haven’t heard of one either… Who wants to get the ball<br />
rolling? J. Bloom, <strong>TAA</strong> Newsletter Editor]<br />
CHI-CAW-GO<br />
You’ve probably seen this or versions of this on the<br />
Internet (or elsewhere). It’s been passed around for<br />
some time. But, it is a light-hearted way to reminisce<br />
about your home town. Thanks to Violet (Georgopulos)<br />
Bilissis (June 1962) for this:<br />
• First you must learn to pronounce the city name.<br />
It is Chi-caw-go, assuming you live north of<br />
Roosevelt Rd., otherwise it's Chi-ca-ga.<br />
• Next, if your road map is more than a few weeks<br />
old, throw it out and buy a new one. If in Naperville,<br />
and your map is one day old, then it is already<br />
obsolete.<br />
• Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere.<br />
Chicago has its own version of traffic rules:<br />
"Hold on and pray."<br />
Page 6 <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter Summer 2012
• There is no such thing as a dangerous highspeed<br />
chase in Chicago. We all drive like that.<br />
All directions start with, "I-94." I-94 has no beginning<br />
and no end. It just IS.<br />
• The morning rush hour is from 5 to 11. The evening<br />
rush hour is from 2 to 8.<br />
• Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning.<br />
• If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be<br />
rear ended, cussed out and possibly shot.<br />
• When you are the first one on the starting line,<br />
count to five when the light turns green before<br />
going to avoid crashing with all the drivers running<br />
the red light in cross-traffic.<br />
• Construction on Northwest Tollway is a way of<br />
life and a permanent form of entertainment.<br />
We had so much fun with that we have added<br />
the Elgin-O'Hare and the I-355 to the mix. (Incidentally<br />
the 'Elgin-O'Hare' does NOT go to either<br />
Elgin or O'Hare.)<br />
• All unexplainable sights are explained by the<br />
phrase, "Oh, we're in Cicero !"<br />
• If someone actually has their turn signal on, it is<br />
probably a factory defect.<br />
• Car horns are actually "Road Rage" indicators.<br />
• All old ladies with blue hair in Buicks, Caddys, or<br />
Lincolns have the right of way. Period.<br />
• First Ave, LaGrange Rd, NW Highway - and<br />
more, all mysteriously change names as you<br />
cross intersections.<br />
• A trip across town (from The Lake to the West<br />
Side) will take a minimum of two hours.<br />
• Although many expressways (they are not freeways),<br />
have posted speed limits of 55, the minimum<br />
acceptable speed on expressways is 85.<br />
Anything less... get the hell out of the left lane.<br />
• The Eisenhower (Ike) (formerly Congress expressway)<br />
is our daily version of NASCAR<br />
• If it's 100+ degrees, it's "Taste of Chicago."<br />
• If it's 10 degrees and sleeting/snowing, it's opening<br />
day at Wrigley.<br />
• If it's 60 degrees in April it's opening day at Sox<br />
park.<br />
• If it's rained 6 inches in the last hour, the Western<br />
Open is in the second round.<br />
• If you go to Wrigley Field pay the $50.00 to park<br />
in "Cub’s Lot."<br />
• Parking elsewhere could cost up to $2500 for<br />
damages, towing fees, parking tickets, etc.<br />
If some guy with a flag tries to get you to park in<br />
his yard, run......<br />
…Chicago, there's no place like it!<br />
You might be from Chicago if....<br />
* You don't pronounce the "s" at the end of Illinois.<br />
* You are annoyed by people who do.<br />
* You measure distance in minutes.<br />
* You have no problem spelling or pronouncing "Des<br />
Plaines".<br />
* Your school classes were canceled because of the<br />
cold.<br />
* Your school classes were canceled because of the<br />
heat.<br />
* Stores don't have sacks, they have BAGS.<br />
* You end your sentences with an unnecessary preposi<br />
tion. (Example: "Where's my coat at?" or "If you<br />
go to the Jewel I wanna go with.")<br />
* You can locate Illinois on the United States map.<br />
* You carry jumper cables in your car - and you know<br />
how to use them.<br />
* "You drink "pop."<br />
* You realize that I-290, I-90, I-94, and I-294 are all<br />
different roads.<br />
* You refer to any interstate highway as "the Tollway."<br />
* You know the names of the interstates: Stevenson,<br />
Kennedy, Eisenhower, Dan Ryan, Reagan, Bishop<br />
Ford. (Numbers? They have Numbers?)<br />
* You refer to anything South of I-80 as " Southern<br />
Illinois " and anything west of Rt. 47 Iowa.<br />
* You refer to Lake Michigan as "The Lake."<br />
* You refer to Chicago as "The City."<br />
* No matter where you are, when you hear the term<br />
"Downtown" you immediately assume they're<br />
talking about Downtown Chicago.<br />
* You buy "The Trib."<br />
* You know what goes on a "Chicago" Hot Dog, and<br />
you're permitted to berate anyone who puts<br />
ketchup on a hot dog.<br />
* You know what Chicago Style Pizza REALLY is.<br />
* You know why they call Chicago "The Windy City."<br />
* You understand what "lake-effect" means.<br />
* You know the difference between Amtrak and Metra,<br />
and know which station they end up at.<br />
* You have ridden the "L."<br />
* You can distinguish between the following area codes:<br />
847, 630, 773, 708, 312, & 815.<br />
* You know the phone number for Empire Carpets.<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter Summer 2012 Page 7
[continued from page 1 - Class of 2012]<br />
as 24 senior divisions, followed by the <strong>Taft</strong> orchestra and<br />
choir members, stepped up to receive their diploma fold<br />
ers from Dr. Arthur Tarvardian, who was retiring after 13<br />
years as <strong>Taft</strong>’s principal.<br />
Theodore Pirpiris, chairman of <strong>Taft</strong>’s Local School<br />
Council, presented Dr. Tarvardian with a plaque of appreciation,<br />
which will be mounted at the school.<br />
Pirpiris noted that <strong>Taft</strong>’s turnaround since 1999 has included<br />
a 20% drop in the dropout rate to 2%, and the<br />
enrollment grew from 1,620 to almost 3,000. The<br />
graduation rate grew from 53% in 1999 to 82% in 2012.<br />
The irony of making <strong>Taft</strong> a neighborhood school to be<br />
proud of again, he noted, was that the city keeps creating<br />
magnet schools to draw the most talented students<br />
away from the neighborhoods, and it makes it even<br />
harder to achieve the scores <strong>Taft</strong> managed in the Tarvardian<br />
years. Pirpiris said Dr. Tarvardian touched over<br />
12,000 lives and educated over 5,000 students.<br />
Dr. Tarvardian told the students, “I did my job… I’ve<br />
never wanted to be associated with a failed enterprise.<br />
You are part of the plan.” Student achievement was possible,<br />
he said, because of the team – faculty, administration,<br />
and students and parents working for the results to<br />
improve.<br />
“We are the future,” valedictorian Diana Banderas told<br />
her classmates. “We can’t be stopped by any obstacles.<br />
Believe in yourself. You and I close one chapter and<br />
start another one. We’ll continue leaving our trademarks<br />
wherever we go.”<br />
Banderas was<br />
one of three students<br />
who were<br />
presented $1,000<br />
scholarships from<br />
the <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong><br />
<strong>Association</strong>, by<br />
<strong>TAA</strong> first vice<br />
president Anne<br />
Lunde (1969).<br />
Challenged to<br />
succeed in <strong>Taft</strong>’s<br />
International Baccalaureate programme, she hopes for a<br />
career in international business and Spanish. She has<br />
been active in extracurricular activities ranging from choreography<br />
and Latin dance to organizing events for student<br />
government and volunteer work in the political season<br />
with the Mikva Challenge. She hopes to make a<br />
positive difference in the Hispanic community.<br />
Also receiving a <strong>TAA</strong> scholarship was Klaudia Zajac,<br />
who ranked 16 th in the class at the end of the first semester.<br />
Her goal is to become a veterinarian. In addition<br />
to serving as one of the yearbook editors, she participated<br />
in clubs ranging from Anime to Polish Club, played<br />
junior varsity tennis, and helped with projects for student<br />
government, senior committee and National Honor Society.<br />
Zajac also received the Class of 1970’s $2,500<br />
scholarship at graduation.<br />
The John Graven memorial<br />
scholarship went to Vasiliki<br />
Mourikes, who ranked fifth<br />
in the class. She plans to<br />
major in general engineering<br />
with a minor in environmental<br />
science and studies<br />
and hopes to work for the<br />
EPA. Her activities range<br />
from being president of student<br />
government to the senior committee, National<br />
Honor Society, tennis and water polo, and International<br />
Baccalaureate studies. Outside volunteer work included<br />
helping at the pathology lab office at Stroger Hospital<br />
and assisting Greek charities in the Chicago area. [Photos<br />
for this article submitted by Anne Lunde and Emily<br />
Vidas]<br />
Klaudia Zajac (at<br />
right) received a<br />
$1,000 <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong><br />
<strong>Association</strong> Scholarship,<br />
and also<br />
was the recipient<br />
of a $2,500 scholarship<br />
from the<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> Class of 1970.<br />
Richard Winge (at<br />
right with Klaudia)<br />
and Norma Condon<br />
Maloney represented the 1970 reunion committee, while<br />
last year’s winner, Aileen Nolan presented the scholarship to<br />
Zajac.<br />
Shirley DeWeese<br />
Scholarship Fund Created<br />
Shirley (Kalivoda) DeWeese (June 1960) was so proud<br />
to be an alumnus of <strong>Taft</strong>. She showed her pride by serving<br />
on the board of the <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>Association</strong> in several<br />
different capacities over many years. She passed<br />
away in February 2012. (See article "Remembering<br />
Shirley DeWeese" Spring 2012 Newsletter.)<br />
In honor of Shirley's service to <strong>TAA</strong>, her love of <strong>Taft</strong> and<br />
her fellow classmates, a scholarship fund has been established<br />
in her name. The scholarship will be given to a<br />
future deserving senior chosen by a <strong>TAA</strong> committee.<br />
Contributions may be sent by check to <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>Association</strong>,<br />
6530 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, IL 60631.<br />
Please indicate the "Shirley DeWeese Scholarship<br />
Fund" on your check.<br />
Page 8 <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter Summer 2012
How I Spent<br />
the Summer of 1949<br />
By Ed Tridemy (January 1951)<br />
It was late in June when there was an announcement<br />
that all junior and senior boys were to report to the auditorium.<br />
Some Navy recruitors were there to see if anyone<br />
would like to spend eight weeks going through boot<br />
camp at Glenview Naval Air Station. There were no<br />
strings attached. Once the boot camp was over, you got<br />
a certificate of completion, like a graduation diploma.<br />
And that was it. You didn’t go into the regular Navy.<br />
Now, for me that was good news. Going back about<br />
three years, two friends and myself used to take our<br />
bikes and ride out there to watch the Navy planes take<br />
off and land. It was about an 8-mile ride from Milwaukee-Devon<br />
area to Waukegan road, then to Shermer<br />
Road where there were some small farms and everyone<br />
had big dogs that came charging down their driveways<br />
and chase us down Shermer, snapping at our feet.<br />
More about Shermer Road later. Shermer to Harlem,<br />
then to Lehigh<br />
and park along<br />
the Milwaukee<br />
railroad tracks<br />
and hope there<br />
were some<br />
landings and<br />
take offs.<br />
So, going inside<br />
[Glenview<br />
Naval Air Station]<br />
was going to be exciting, I thought. I went with my<br />
papers, signed by my mother because I was 17 years<br />
old.<br />
We reported on a Saturday morning. They started giving<br />
us tests, some questionaires, etc. and eventually<br />
marched us down to the medical building for an exam<br />
that took the rest of the day. Then, all that passed were<br />
instructed to come back Monday morning to begin boot<br />
camp.<br />
After roll call, we were divided into four platoons and<br />
marched over to our baracks that was home for the next<br />
eight weeks. After noon chow, we went over to a building<br />
that issued us our complete uniforms.<br />
Tuesday, we were awakened at 5:30am and lined up for<br />
roll call. At 6:30am. We marched to the chow hall. By<br />
8:00 we had to be at the drill field to start our calesthenics.<br />
After drilling, we had classes to attend. That would<br />
be pretty much the norm for the next eight weeks. Each<br />
platoon did their share of barracks cleaning, working in<br />
the chow hall and guard and fire duty at night.<br />
About midway through boot camp, we were told the recruits<br />
were going to field a baseball team. Half the<br />
group showed up for tryouts. Most of those were told<br />
not to come back. By the third day they were down to<br />
the fifteen guys that made the team. I was one of them.<br />
Almost all the guys in boot<br />
camp came from North and<br />
Northwest side high<br />
schools. There were six<br />
from Roosevelt High in our<br />
twenty-five man platoon. I<br />
was the only one from <strong>Taft</strong>.<br />
In 1949, <strong>Taft</strong> [won the] City<br />
Championship in baseball<br />
and a lot thought I was on<br />
the team. I wasn’t, but I<br />
never let it be known.<br />
After the first couple hours<br />
of calesthenics, the baseball<br />
team was called out to report to the ball field for practice.<br />
We played three games against other Air Stations that<br />
had boot camps like ours.<br />
It was late August and boot camp was coming to an end,<br />
when one morning we were asked if anyone would like<br />
to sign up for two years active duty at Glenview, or eight<br />
years one weekend a month at Glenview for the Naval<br />
Air Reserve, known as weekend warriors. In 1949, all<br />
boys were subject to the draft (2 years in the Army)<br />
when they turned 21 or joined one of the other branches<br />
for four years. The draft was the furthest thing from my<br />
mind at 17.<br />
So, I went home the weekend before graduation from<br />
boot camp and told my mother I was not going back to<br />
school [<strong>Taft</strong>] and was to enlist for two years at Glenview.<br />
She immediately said, “No you’re not. You are going<br />
back to <strong>Taft</strong> in September.” Good thinking, mom. I<br />
signed up for 8 years (weekend warriors). I stayed 10<br />
years. That’s my story of the summer of 1949.<br />
Something about myself: I married Judy Holzman<br />
(June 1954) in 1956. We raised two children - a girl,<br />
Teryl and a boy, Corey. We have lived in Des Plaines<br />
since 1965.<br />
I got into construction 3 years after graduation, went to<br />
work on a housing project on that same Shermer Road<br />
where the dogs were. After ten years building houses, I<br />
went to work for a large company that worked on highrise<br />
buildings downtown. I became a superintendent<br />
and stayed 30 years, retiring in 1994 with 41 years of<br />
service.<br />
I would like to add one more thing. If that boot camp<br />
were now, they would have called all junior and senior<br />
boys AND GIRLS to report to the auditorium. It’s a different<br />
military today. There is much more to this boot<br />
camp summer, but this could go on forever…<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter Summer 2012 Page 9
Class Notes<br />
1940s<br />
Robert Passow (June 1941) graduated from William & Mary<br />
BS 1948, Penn State MA 1952, lives in State College, PA, has<br />
2 child, 2 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild and is a retired<br />
engineer.<br />
George Kasdorf (January 1942) graduated from the American<br />
Television Institute 1947, lives in Brookfield, WI, has 3 children,<br />
1 grandchild and is a retired TV engineer.<br />
Dorothy (Schreiber) Basko (January 1944) graduated from<br />
Chicago Real Estate 1978, City Wide College 1984, lives in<br />
Huntley, IL, has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild<br />
and is a retired food service manager from Homecrest<br />
Foundation.<br />
Erna Bone (January 1944) graduated from U of WI BS 1951,<br />
lives in Fox River Grove, IL and is a retired teacher.<br />
Irene (Ross) Fransen (January 1944) lives in Huntley, IL, has 8<br />
children (7 <strong>Taft</strong> grads), 4 grandchildren and is retired.<br />
Mary Ellen Bryce (June 1945) lives in Chicago, IL and is a retired<br />
secretary from Montgomery Ward.<br />
Donald Gloor (June 1946) graduated from Blackburn AA<br />
1950, Roosevelt BS, BA 1970, MPA 1971, lives in Des<br />
Plaines, IL, has 2 children, 1 grandchild and is a retired industrial<br />
labor relations officer.<br />
Charles Jamieson (June 1946) graduated from De Paul BS<br />
1950, lives in Huntley, IL, has 2 children, 3 grandchildren<br />
and is a retired CPA.<br />
Eileen (Kasch) Monday (June 1946) lives in Wauconda, IL, has<br />
2 children, 2 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and is retired,<br />
wintering in Port Charlotte, FL.<br />
Clyde Diven (January 1947) lives in Hoffman Estates, IL, has 2<br />
children, 2 grandchildren and is retired.<br />
Don Nelson (January 1947) lives in Wayzata, MN, has 1 child,<br />
8 grandchildren and is a retired consultant.<br />
Don Williams (January 1947) married Carol (Schmelzle)<br />
(January 1949); he graduated from Northwestern BS 1955,<br />
Kent Law JD 1964, they live in Mt Prospect, IL, have 3 children,<br />
10 grandchildren; Don is a retired attorney/CPA.<br />
Marilyn (Hayor) Cichowski (June 1947) lives in Beverly Hills,<br />
FL, has 3 children, 2 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren<br />
and is a retired government contract rep.<br />
Carol (Larson) Loew-Kalbas (January 1948) married William<br />
Kalbas (January 1948), now deceased; she lives in Huntley,<br />
IL, has 4 children, 7 grandchildren and is retired.<br />
John Nelson (January 1948) graduated from Purdue BS 1952,<br />
MS 1953, U of MN PhD 1960, lives in Kingston, WA, has 3<br />
children, 2 grandchildren and is retired.<br />
Charles Ekstrom (June 1948) married Kay (Kramer) (June<br />
1952), they live in Phoenix, AZ, have 7 children, 8 grandchildren,<br />
1 great grandchild and are retired.<br />
Charlotte (Sutton) Douglas (January 1949) lives in Rolling<br />
Meadows, IL, has 4 children, 8 grandchildren, 10 great<br />
grandchildren and is retired.<br />
John Will (January 1949) graduated from North Central College<br />
BS 1953, lives in Fountain Hills, AZ, has 2 children, 2<br />
grandchildren and is a retired VP from Gibson-Homans Co.<br />
1950s<br />
Marilyn (Huntman) Giese (January 1950) graduated from<br />
College of Du Page AA 1992, lives in Aurora, IL, has 5 children,<br />
18 grandchildren and is a writer.<br />
Josephine (Gorr) Crossley (June 1950) lives in Cary, IL, has 8<br />
children, 18 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, is a retired<br />
preschool teacher and winters in Florida.<br />
Bill Becker (January 1952) graduated from U of I BS 1957, lives<br />
in Rockford, IL, has 3 children, 1 grandchild and is retired.<br />
Robert <strong>Form</strong>an (June 1952) lives in Northbrook, IL, has 2 children,<br />
2 grandchildren and is a retired insurance agent.<br />
William Mc McCarthy (June 1952) graduated from Kansas<br />
State, lives in Mesa, AZ, has 1 child and is a retired US Postal<br />
inspector.<br />
Rich Anderson (January 1953) graduated from IL Wesleyan BS<br />
1957, Chicago Teachers Med 1966, lives in Davis, IL, has 2<br />
boys, 9 grandchildren and is a retired teacher.<br />
Gladys (Wessels) Hinrichs (January 1953), lives in Arlington Hts,<br />
IL, has 3 children, 8 grandchildren and worked at Hersey HS in<br />
the cafeteria, now retired.<br />
Barbara (Marshall) Campeol (June 1954) lives in Lakemoor, IL,<br />
has 2 children, 3 grandchildren and is a retired secretary.<br />
Alan Avery (January 1955) lives in Des Plaines, IL, has 1 child<br />
who graduated from <strong>Taft</strong> and is a retired electrician.<br />
Richard Beckert (June 1955) graduated from Northwestern<br />
1971, Case Western MBA 1982, lives in Bluffton, SC, has 1<br />
child, 2 grandchildren and is a retired dir. of transportation.<br />
Beverly (Kintz) Barker (January 1956) lives in Roselle, IL, has 5<br />
children, 5 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren and is a retired<br />
secretary.<br />
Paul Neuhauser (January 1956) graduated from U of IL BS<br />
1960, De Paul MBA 1967, lives in South Barrington, IL, has 2<br />
children, 4 grandchildren and retired as div. auditor for RTA.<br />
Joan (Denney) Sandecki (January 1956) lives in La Verne, CA,<br />
has 5 stepchildren, 13 grandchildren and is retired from Pacific<br />
Bell management.<br />
Thomas Mucha (June 1956) graduated from Purdue BS 1960,<br />
PhD 1965, Northwestern MS 1961, lives in Mountain View,<br />
CA, has 2 children, 2 grandchildren and is a retired engineer.<br />
Tom Tubbs (June 1956) lives in Rosemont, MN, has 3 children,<br />
11 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, is retired and was inducted<br />
in the MN Waterfowl Hall of Fame.<br />
Paul Brigante (June 1957) married Sandra (Pavlik) (June 1958);<br />
they live in Wheeling, IL, have 1 child, 5 grandchildren. Paul is<br />
corp. chef for Turano Baking, Sandy is a retired restaurateur<br />
and was an original officer of the “Pink Ladies”.<br />
Alan Hooks (June 1957) graduated from Western IL BA 1963,<br />
lives in Arlington Hts, IL, has 2 children, 5 grandchildren and is<br />
a retired warehouse manager.<br />
Philip Gansz (June 1958) married Holly (Anderson) (June 1964);<br />
He graduated from North Park; Holly graduated from Carthage<br />
BS 1967, St Xavier MS 1999; they live in Park Ridge, IL<br />
and have 3 children. Philip is retired from sales and Holly is a<br />
retired educator.<br />
Page 10 <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter Summer 2012
Barbara Stewart (June 1958) graduated from Northern BA<br />
1962, MA 1971, lives in Chicago and is a retired teacher of the<br />
hearing impaired.<br />
Diane (Biester) Carlson (January 1959) graduated from Roosevelt<br />
BA 1979, Webster MA 1990, lives in Palatine, IL, has 3<br />
children, 8 grandchildren and is retired.<br />
Allan Larocco (January 1959) graduated from Monmouth<br />
College BA 1963, U of I Med 1967, lives in Villa Ridge, MO, has<br />
3 children, 5 grandchildren and is a retired elementary school<br />
principal.<br />
Anne (Fear) McManus (June 1959) lives in St Charles, IL, has 2<br />
children, 4 grandchildren and is a swim coach and Olympics<br />
official in flatwater canoe.<br />
1960s<br />
John Berg (January 1960) graduated from IIT 1965, Thunderbird<br />
School of Global Management 1968, lives in Deerfield, IL, has<br />
2 children and is retired.<br />
Bonita (Depowski) Eckardt (January 1960) lives in Sun City<br />
West, AZ, has 5 children, 9 grandchildren and is a retired<br />
manager of a shoe store.<br />
Linda (Carlson) Fisher (January 1960) graduated from Northwestern<br />
BS 1963, lives in Keswick, VA, has 4 children, 6<br />
grandchildren and is a homemaker.<br />
Marian (Schleede) Busta (June 1960) graduated from Northwestern<br />
BS, lives in Park Ridge, IL and is a RN.<br />
Judith (Koehler) Kozer (June 1960) lives in Surprise, AZ, has 2<br />
children, 6 grandchildren and is retired.<br />
Ron Tarica (June 1960) graduated from IIT BS 1964, Northwestern<br />
MS 1967, PhD 1969, lives in Atascadero, CA, has 3<br />
children, 5 grandchildren and is a retired chemical engineer.<br />
Robert Brion (June 1961) lives in Dallas, TX, has 4 children and<br />
owns and operates a horse ranch in Royse City, TX.<br />
Diane (Fluet) Williams (June 1961) lives in Upland, CA, has 2<br />
children, 6 grandchildren and is an office manager.<br />
Douglas Witt (June 1961) graduated IIT BS 1965, MS 1971, lives<br />
in Walnut Creek, CA, has 2 children and is an engineer.<br />
Debbie (Pienert) Hogg (June 1962) married Jay Hogg (January<br />
1963); they live in Sleepy Hollow, IL, have 4 children, 1 grandchild,<br />
Debbie is a finance assistant and Jay is a mfg. rep.<br />
Bruce Williams (June 1962) graduated from Bradley BS 1967,<br />
lives in Ft Collins, CO, has 3 children, 3 grandchildren and is<br />
retired.<br />
Paul Herrmann (June 1963) graduated from Wartborg College<br />
BA 1967, lives in Sun City, AZ, has 4 children and is a retired<br />
carpenter and Christian camp director.<br />
Darlene Lorek (June 1963) graduated from U of IL BA 1968,<br />
lives in North Lauderdale, FL and is an astrologer.<br />
Mary (Alex) Brown (June 1964) graduated from Chaffey AA,<br />
lives in Upland, CA, has 2 children, 3 grandchildren and is retired.<br />
Charlie Gibbons (June 1964) graduated from Valparaiso BS<br />
1970, lives in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, has 3 children, 4 grandchildren<br />
and is a consulting engineer.<br />
Linnea (Orsan) Lindh (January 1965) lives in Round Lake, IL, has<br />
2 children, 3 grandchildren and is an accountant.<br />
Lee Marsh (January 1965) graduated from Purdue BS 1969,<br />
Northwestern MBA 1972, lives in Palatine, IL, has 3 children, 4<br />
grandchildren and is a taxation specialist.<br />
Charles Mugnolo (January 1965) graduated from Northern BS<br />
1969, lives in Cape Coral, FL and is a retired computer systems<br />
operator from Ford Motor.<br />
Laura (Valters) Schultz (January 1965) lives in Montague, MI,<br />
has 4 children, 4 grandchildren and is a retired school sec’y.<br />
Corliss (Porter) Falkner (June 1965) lives in Wood Dale, IL, has<br />
3 children, 4 grandchildren and is a buyer.<br />
Ralph Keller (June 1965) graduated from U of Chicago MBA<br />
1979, lives in La Grange Park, IL, has 1 child and is a retired<br />
business manager.<br />
Carolyn (Coco) Lilla (June 1966) lives in Virginia Beach, VA, has<br />
1 child and is an HR office manager.<br />
Daniel Popp (June 1968) graduated from U of IL BS 1972, Roosevelt<br />
MBA 1985, lives in Arlington Hts, IL, has 2 children, 2<br />
grandchildren and is an accountant.<br />
Thomas Schau (June 1968) lives in Bartlett, IL, has 2 children, 3<br />
grandchildren and is retired and a U of IL master gardener.<br />
Richard Jaskiewicz (1969) lives in Ft Wayne, IN, has 2 children,<br />
1 grandchild and is a physician.<br />
Andrew Madsen (1969) lives in Chicago is a machine builder<br />
and on the <strong>TAA</strong> board of directors.<br />
1970s<br />
Pete Angelakos (1970) graduated from Wright AA 1972, lives in<br />
Mt Prospect, IL and is a tool & die machinist.<br />
Robert Wilk (1970) graduated from Triton, lives in Chicago and<br />
is a retired truant officer in Cook County.<br />
Paul Madsen (1971) lives in Chicago, is a typesetter and on the<br />
<strong>TAA</strong> board of directors.<br />
Charles Riggle (1971) graduated from Georgetown U BS, U of<br />
MD MA, lives in Fort Washington, MD, has 1 child and is an<br />
international trade analyst supervisor.<br />
Carol (Naatz) Wodka (1971) graduated from Eastern IL BS<br />
1975, lives in Hoffman Estates, IL, has 2 children and is a preschool<br />
teacher.<br />
Linda (Alex) Connors (1972) lives in Henderson, NV, has 1 child<br />
and is a bartender at the Grandlux Café.<br />
Adrienne (Ostfeld) Bohnenkamp (1973) graduated from U of<br />
NE BS 1981, Clarkson AA 2011, lives in Omaha, NE, has 3 children,<br />
1 grandchild and is a tumor registrar.<br />
Sheila (Graniero) Siarkiewicz (1973) lives in Algonquin, IL, has 4<br />
children, 2 grandchildren and is an operations/training supvr.<br />
Mary Jean (Luckew) Coulson (1974) graduated from Northern<br />
BS 1978, lives in Glenview, IL, has 2 children and is a park district<br />
commissioner for Glenview.<br />
Melis Rose (Lopez) Carlson (1976) graduated from Wright AA<br />
1978, De Paul BS 1980, lives in Arlington Hts, IL, has 2 children<br />
and is an auditor.<br />
Sandy (Marshall) Paik (1976) graduated from Northeastern<br />
1980, Nat’l Louis U 1990, lives in Poway, CA, has 2 children<br />
and is an education specialist.<br />
Kent Stotz (1976) lives in Schaumburg, IL, has 2 children, is self<br />
employed and is on the Honda Factory Drag Team, 4 time<br />
national champion.<br />
1980s<br />
Roberta Cihlar (1983) lives in Skokie, IL and is a facilities services<br />
supervisor.<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter Summer 2012 Page 11
[Continued from Page 1- Farewell Dr. Tarvardian]<br />
Incoming principal Mary Kay Cappitelli, who takes over<br />
in July, pointed out how many of the students filling the<br />
auditorium were active in arts and sports and academic<br />
activities.<br />
Sylvia Tarchala, a parent whose students have graduated,<br />
remembered her efforts to reorganize the <strong>Taft</strong><br />
PTSA -- after it had lapsed for several years before Tarvardian<br />
arrived. “We wanted to advocate for the school,”<br />
she remembered. She presented Tarvardian with a lifetime<br />
membership in the Illinois PTA (the donated member<br />
fee goes to a scholarship program for future teachers).<br />
<strong>TAA</strong> Second Vice President Frank Heyer (left) and Dr. Arthur<br />
Tarvardian at the June 13 ceremony<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>Association</strong> vice presidents Anne Lunde and<br />
Frank Heyer also made presentations: an <strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
fleece jacket, and a certificate of achievement for<br />
supporting the alumni and their projects:<br />
The Police and Fire commanders in Berwyn, IL gave<br />
Tom Day credit for saving four lives and a home three<br />
doors south of Tom's house, when a fire was just about<br />
to engulf the neighbor’s home on Friday, January 13,<br />
2012. Tom was able to get the family out of the house<br />
and get the fire department there in time to save the<br />
house. The family is from Viet Nam. They repaired the<br />
home and now live happily ever after. Tom was a former<br />
Alderman in the 5 th Ward of Berwyn.<br />
Tom ran the <strong>Taft</strong> HS dances through his senior year and<br />
was Ral Donner's (1960) manager. He was also the<br />
teen MC for a Saturday TV show WGN called "Time for<br />
Teens".<br />
He also hosted a teen dance party at the famous Chicago<br />
night Club known as the Chez Paree in the late<br />
1950s. That is where Tom sold his contract with Ral to<br />
Sammy Davis Jr. and Ral went on to record several Records.<br />
Featured in The Palm Beach Post (Florida) newspaper<br />
in October 14, 2010, Ted Madej (June 1954) is still going<br />
strong. The article’s theme and Ted’s montra was,<br />
“I’m not getting older, I’m getting better.” This August he<br />
will be 76. And, after 2 knee replacements, 2 carpel<br />
tunnel operations and a back laminectomy with bone<br />
fusion in April 2010 he continues his lifelong activity of<br />
being a weight lifter. He can still bench press 275<br />
pounds.<br />
” You inherited our school at a time when it was being<br />
re-designed by committee, took many fledgling programs<br />
including the Naval Jr. ROTC, the <strong>Taft</strong> Academic Center<br />
and the International Baccalaureate curriculum and gave<br />
them wings. Under your leadership – with the help of<br />
faculty, staff and Local School Council members – hope<br />
and pride and enthusiasm for learning have returned<br />
with high standards and achievements to reaffirm <strong>Taft</strong>’s<br />
place among the city’s top neighborhood schools. Thank<br />
you for giving our modern <strong>Taft</strong> classes an opportunity to<br />
soar.”<br />
In the News<br />
<strong>Form</strong>er Norwood Park Cavalier Marching Member Tom<br />
Day (June 1958) was recently at the Arlington National<br />
Cemetery in Arlington, VA to give a speech and gather<br />
with over 200 horn players to sound Taps on Saturday,<br />
May 19<br />
Page 12 <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter Summer 2012<br />
th Ted was a former Marine drill sergeant and veteran<br />
automobile general manager. He served in the 3<br />
(Armed Forces Day) where he played at the<br />
grave site of President William Howard <strong>Taft</strong>.<br />
rd Marine<br />
Division in Japan, where he played football on a<br />
championship team. He is a well focused, self-motivated<br />
man who believes many young people today lack those<br />
abilities. He still works as an independent sales trainer<br />
for others in the auto business, living in Jupiter, FL. He<br />
also works out daily at home and in the community gym.
Ruth Daly, class of June 1943, passed away in 2008<br />
due to age related causes. She was the sister of<br />
Richard Daly (January 1946).<br />
Helen (Johnston) Ails, class of June 1946, passed<br />
away on March 9, 2012.<br />
George W. Shearer Jr., class of June 1946, died June<br />
1973.<br />
Dorothy (Malott) Hudson, class of 1947, passed away<br />
April 26, 2012.<br />
Donald John Osmolak, class of June 1956 died October<br />
2010.<br />
Marion Helene Wachow, class of June 1953, lived in<br />
Huntley IL and died April 16, 2012. She was the sister<br />
of Jeanne (Wachow) Wead (June 1949), James<br />
Florida<br />
All-Class<br />
Reunion -<br />
2012<br />
Although this photo<br />
arrived too late for<br />
the spring issue, the<br />
memories, laughter<br />
and promises to<br />
see one-another<br />
next year linger on.<br />
It was held again at<br />
the Fort Desoto<br />
Park outside St.<br />
Petersberg, FL on<br />
March 10, 2012.<br />
This year’s participants are shown here. There were<br />
also several other spouses and friends attending.<br />
Paulette McGuire stated, “It’s so nice that Leon arranges<br />
this picnic every year, and we enjoyed it as always.”<br />
Again, the class of June 1956 had the most people attending.<br />
See their separate photo below.<br />
In Our Memories<br />
Waschow (1953), William Waschow and the late<br />
Robert Waschow. Marion was a retired, long-time<br />
employee of AT&T.<br />
Nancy (Kuciak) Grom, class of June 1961, died July<br />
30, 2012 of a brain hemorrhage. She was sister to<br />
the late Tom Kuciak (June 1962).<br />
Rich Rozycki, class of June 1967, passed away July<br />
21, 2011 from pancreatic cancer. He retired just a<br />
few years before after a teaching career at Rolling<br />
Meadows High School for 34 years. This is a name<br />
correction from last issue as well as added details.<br />
Branislav Stankovsky, class of 1973, died from complications<br />
of a stroke caused by a bacterial infection.<br />
His sister is Dagmar Klos (1971).<br />
All their names - at least the ones who signed the register<br />
with the classes represented are: January 1946:<br />
Evie (Fischer) Miller; June 1950: Raymond Fredrich;<br />
January 1953-Lane: John Mihalik; June 1953: Paul<br />
Pierburg; Judith (Moers) Hardman; June 1954: Margaret<br />
(Hase) Harris; June 1956: Leon Kathan,<br />
Paulette (Hase) McGuire, Marjorie Klarquist) Nehlsen,<br />
Doug Blomberg, Annette (Knuth) Gustafson,<br />
Ken Yatsko; June 1958: June (Brown) Yatsko, Denny<br />
Pickett; January 1960: Judy (Olsen) Gammon, Karen<br />
(Jensen) Pickett; June 1962: Jerry (Beesley) Bloom;<br />
January 1963: Jeanie (Olsen) Gilbertson; June 1963:<br />
Bob Cella; June 1978: Karen (Podgorski) Golda,<br />
Louis Golda [Photos submitted from Judi (Moers)<br />
Hardman and Paulette (Hase) McGuire].<br />
Class of June 1956: (back row) Leon Kathan, Paulette<br />
(Hase) McGuire, Marjorie (Klarquist) Nehlsen and Doug<br />
Blomberg. (front row) Annette (Knuth) Gustafson and Ken<br />
Yatsko.<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter Summer 2012 Page 13
<strong>TAA</strong> <strong>Merchandise</strong> <strong>Order</strong> <strong>Form</strong><br />
Qty Item Specifics Price Each Total Price<br />
Windbreaker—blue nylon drawstring bottom<br />
printed with white <strong>TAA</strong> logo<br />
Medium Only $25.00<br />
$<br />
Baseball Cap—blue embroidered “<strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong>”<br />
with full-color eagle<br />
One Size Fits<br />
All<br />
$15.00<br />
$<br />
Car Sticker—clear printed in blue/gray<br />
“You Can’t Hide That Eagle Pride”<br />
---- $ 3.00<br />
$<br />
T-Shirt—gray cotton printed with blue <strong>TAA</strong> logo Medium $10.00 $<br />
T-Shirt—gray cotton printed with blue <strong>TAA</strong> logo<br />
Large<br />
$10.00 $<br />
T-Shirt—gray cotton printed with blue <strong>TAA</strong> logo<br />
X-Large<br />
$10.00 $<br />
T-Shirt—gray cotton printed with blue <strong>TAA</strong> logo<br />
XX-Large $12.00 $<br />
T-Shirt—gray cotton printed with blue <strong>TAA</strong> logo XXX-Large $12.00 $<br />
Jacket , Fleece - <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Logo Medium $40.00 $<br />
Jacket , Fleece - <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Logo Large $40.00 $<br />
Jacket , Fleece - <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Logo X-Large $40.00 $<br />
Jacket , Fleece - <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Logo XX-Large $40.00 $<br />
Jacket , Fleece - <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Logo XXX-Large $40.00 $<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> Yearbook (be sure to state year) Year: $30.00 $<br />
Shipping and Handling: Stickers only = $1.00, all other orders = $6.00 $<br />
Name (please print): Grad Month/Year:<br />
Address:<br />
City/State/ZIP: Phone: ( )<br />
Total Remitted $<br />
Send check or money order (no cash please) with completed order form to:<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, 6530 W. Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago IL 60631<br />
Please use a separate order form for separate addresses.<br />
Yearbook Inventory<br />
Some years are hard to keep in supply. All requests are on a first-come, first-serve basis. As of<br />
today, we have the following yearbooks for purchase: 1954 Jan (1), 1985 (24), 1986 (48), 1987<br />
(77), 1990 (52), 1991 (9), 1992 (131), 1993 (5), 1994 (57), 1995 (183), 1996 (65), 1997 (52),<br />
1998 (154), 1999 (151), 2000 (351), 2001 (123), 2003 (76), 2004 (77), 2005 (56), 2006 (40),<br />
2007 (40), 2008 (40).<br />
Time to Renew?!!<br />
Thanks to all who read our plea in last year’s summer issue about keeping current with your membership. If you receive<br />
the newsletter electronically, you’ll find an emailed reminder in your inbox when you are about to or have lapsed. If you receive the<br />
newsletter by post, check your address label for your year of graduation above the eagle logo on the back page. Is it correct? Also,<br />
check the expiration date of your current membership with the <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>Association</strong> located just below the graduation date.<br />
If your expiration date is close, sit down NOW, complete the membership form on the next page and write out a check for<br />
$15 or just $20 for husband/wife graduates at the same address. You'll receive TWO full years of newsletters filled with opportunities<br />
to learn about classmates, reunions, school events and alumni programs. Be sure to use the application on the following page to<br />
share with us the latest updates in your life.<br />
Page 14 <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter Summer 2012
<strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
Membership Application<br />
Please tell us as much about yourself as you like so that we can share your news in the newsletter’s Class Notes.<br />
Only fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required for membership. We will not publish your address or phone number.<br />
*First Name ( PLEASE PRINT)<br />
*Home Street Address<br />
Home Phone<br />
*Month/Year You Graduated<br />
Month/Year if Spouse is a <strong>Taft</strong> Grad<br />
* Last Name at Graduation<br />
*City<br />
Schools of Higher Learning, Degrees, Year of Graduation<br />
Occupation<br />
Other news you’d like to share<br />
Email Address<br />
Name of Spouse<br />
Number of Children<br />
* Current Last Name<br />
*State<br />
Elementary School Attended<br />
I wish to be listed in the <strong>TAA</strong> Email Directory on the <strong>TAA</strong> website www.taftalumni.org<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter Summer 2012 Page 15<br />
*ZIP<br />
Number of Grandchildren<br />
You have three options for receiving the quarterly <strong>TAA</strong> Newsletter. Please select one of the following:<br />
I wish to receive the newsletter by<br />
postal service only<br />
I wish to receive an e-newsletter by email<br />
to defray the costs of postage<br />
Year Married<br />
I wish to receive the newsletter by<br />
email and by postal service<br />
Dues are $15.00 for a two year membership or $20.00 for an alumni couple (give spouse’s name if a <strong>Taft</strong> graduate).<br />
Enclosed is a check or money order for dues<br />
in the amount of $15.00 $20.00<br />
Please mail this completed application along with your check or money order to:<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, 6530 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, IL 60631<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>Association</strong> Board of Directors<br />
Kay (Carlson) Kuciak<br />
Anne Lunde<br />
Frank Heyer<br />
Rich Lindberg<br />
Vacant<br />
Jeraldene (Beesley) Bloom<br />
Kevin Kreiger<br />
Paulette (Zemaitis) English<br />
Mike Hionis<br />
Judy Jacobsen<br />
Joe Popp<br />
Andrew Madsen<br />
Paul Madsen<br />
William Skar<br />
Arlene (Laufer) Ware<br />
Jim Hartford<br />
1963<br />
1969<br />
1948<br />
1971<br />
1960<br />
1962<br />
1973<br />
1967<br />
1968<br />
1970<br />
1966<br />
1969<br />
1971<br />
--------<br />
1960<br />
1979<br />
President, Newsletter Assistant<br />
(623) 544-0226<br />
1 st Vice President, Historian<br />
2 nd Vice President<br />
Secretary<br />
Treasurer<br />
Director, Newsletter Editor<br />
jerrybloom@fales.org<br />
(920) 559-7440<br />
Director, Webmaster<br />
webmaster@taftalumni.org<br />
Director, Web Editor<br />
eagleemail@taftalumni.org<br />
Director<br />
Director<br />
Director<br />
Director<br />
Director<br />
Faculty Representative<br />
Director<br />
Assistant to Frank Heyer<br />
Enclosed is a check or money order donation<br />
in the amount of $ .00<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter<br />
Summer 2012<br />
The <strong>TAA</strong> publishes the <strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter quarterly.<br />
Please address general correspondence and changes to:<br />
<strong>Taft</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
6530 West Bryn Mawr Ave<br />
Chicago, IL 60631<br />
or email taftalum@cox.net<br />
Send photographs and articles for the next issue to:<br />
Jerry Bloom<br />
1237 N 3 rd Avenue<br />
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235<br />
or email jerrybloom@fales.org<br />
Submission Deadline for the Summer Issue:<br />
September 30, 2012<br />
eNewsletter or <strong>TAA</strong> Email Directory Signup: eagleemail@taftalumni.org
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