TAA Merchandise Order Form - Taft Alumni Association

Farewell for Dr. Tarvardian
Submitted by Anne Lunde (1969)
It wasn’t easy to surprise Dr. Arthur Tarvardian, but the
Taft PTSA and administrators managed it – by not telling
anyone when the ceremonies would be more than 24
hours before the June 13 assembly.
Dr. Arthur Tarvardian
The students who filed into the auditorium were initially
explained because the PTSA was passing out ice cream
treats, but when his family and some other non-faculty
turned up down front, Dr. Tarvardian knew something
was in the wind.
PTSA President Cleo Pirpiris explained it was a “special
day for a special someone who’s played a special role in
13 terrific years at Taft, and a chance to say goodbye.”
She said Dr. Tarvardian was known as a tough fighter, a
good listener and a caring person.
“His job was to help people, and he did,” she added.
Taft Alumni Newsletter
Vol. XXVIII, No. 3 Summer 2012
Sylvia Tarchala (left) and Cleo Pirpiris (right) from the Taft
Parent-Teacher-Student Association congratulate Dr.
Tarvardian
Members of the Principal’s Student Advisory Council
introduced a video tribute, including interviews with faculty
and students. “We are proud to say we are Taft Eagles,
for those who came before and those to come,”
one of the students concluded.
[continued on page 12]
Taft HS graduation 2012
Moves to UI-C Campus
When you have a big senior class, it’s hard to find a
place large enough to hold the graduation ceremonies.
Although Taft’s ceremonies in recent years have been at
the Wright College’s new campus gym at Montrose and
Narragansett, this year Taft’s senior class outgrew the
local venue. So Taft ended up moving its June 8 ceremonies
to the University of Illinois Chicago Campus’s
Forum, west of downtown.
There was room there for seniors to have their families
watch the ceremonies, but it took more than two hours to
negotiate the route downtown during afternoon rush
hour, either by using the Kennedy Expressway or regular
arterial streets. It’s more than 40 years since Taft was
able to host its own graduation (The June 1969 class
split into two nights, and after that, big venues like Arie
Crown or the Medinah Temple were rented).
The graduating class, with more than 560 in this year’s
senior class, lined up in an endlessly moving procession
[continued on page 8]

Class January 1952
Date: October 6, 2012
Place: Hackney’s on Lake - Glenview
Contacts: Phyllis (Holowaty) Albrecht, albrecjp@aol.com
Bill Becker, hwbeck@aol.com
Earl Carlson, earlacarlson@charter.net
Gordon Guth, gdides@flash.net
Class June 1952
Date: September 22, 2012
Place: Elk’s Club - Des Plaines
Contact: Carol Brokaw Yeaman - mrsyea@comcast.net
Anita Nehring Petersen - anitapeterseg@att.net
Carol McGovern Clark - 847-537-7385
Louise Van De Merkt Lowry - 847-566-6828
Class January 1955
Date: October 6, 2012
Place: Elk’s Club - Des Plaines
Contact: Walter Guyer - wguyer1@comcast.net or
200 W. Campbell St., #604, Arlington Hts., IL 60005
Class June 1959 - (All classes welcome)
Date: October 6, 2012 (6pm, Dinner)
October 7, 2012 (9am, Breakfast Buffet)
Place: Hilton Garden Inn - Des Plaines
Contact: Pat (Santell) Lutz - patlutz@comcast.net
or Larry Marsh - fairseas2u@gmail.com
www.taftreunion1959.com
Class June 1961
Date: September 22, 2012 (NOTE: date correction!)
Place: Wellington Restaurant and Banquets,
Arlington Heights, IL
Contact: John Prochaska & Art Kay
TaftJune61Alums@aol.com
Class 1968
Date: TBD (looking for committee members)
Place: TBD
Contact: Robert Clark - clark7811@msn.com
Class Reunions
Classmates - Lost and Found
Lost touch with old classmates? We can help by publishing
the name(s) in the newsletter. If they respond and agree,
we’ll forward that person's name and address to you.
Send requests and/or responses to Taft Alumni Association
c/o Taft High School, 6530 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago IL
60631 or email us at taftlum@cox.net. The suggested donation
for this service is $5 per name.
Wait! There’s More…
10th Annual Reunion Picnic
SouthEAST
Date: Saturday, March 9, 2013, 11am - 3pm
Place: Ft. DeSoto Pk, St. Petersburg, FL Shelter 14
Donation: $3 per person (+ $5/car parking fee)
Pot Luck: a food item to share (BYOB)
Photo shoot: 2:30 pm
Contact: (if needed): Leon Kathan, 117 Monte Real Blvd.,
Sebring, FL 33876 - leonkathan@yahoo.com
3rd Annual Reunion Picnic
SouthWEST
Date: Spring 2013
Place: TBD
Date: Spring 2013 - 11am - 3pm
Photo shoot: at 2pm
Pot Luck: Beer permit
(non-glass containers)
Donation: $3 per person
Bring lawn chairs for greater comfort
Contacts: Paul Frizane, aztaftalumni@yahoo.com
Paulette English, eagleemail@taftalumni.org;
Kay Kuciak, taftalum@cox.net
Classmates Want Reunions
So far no one has stepped forward to organize a reunion
for YOUR class? That doesn't mean it's too late if you'd
consider it yourself. TAA has lots of information to get you
started.
Just give us the dates, times, and places. We can
add them to the TAA website and to the Facebook page, besides
the newsletter.
We've seen a trend toward simpler, more casual affairs,
rather than the more expensive, formal dinner-dance
reunions. The choice is up to you. TAA can help with details if
you are interested. Just contact us any time at our website -
www.taftalumni.org or email us at taftalum@cox.net.
If you still do not have access to a computer (are
there still some of us out there?) and want to write, send your
comments to Taft Alumni Association c/o Taft High School,
6530 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, IL 60631.
Page 2 Taft Alumni Newsletter Summer 2012

Letters to the Editor
Recently together in Scottsdale, Arizona were four 1955
Grads for a very "Mini Reunion". L to R: Sue (Unger)
Oberheide, Marlowe (Petrie) Sorensen, Judy
(Kratzenberg) Tonz, and Joyce (Kienzle) Rossen.
To TAA:
I am trying to find out if there are any plans for a 50th
class reunion. If you have any information, please send
it to me at: [withheld]. Thank you.
Owen Jacobsen (June 1962)
[Hi, Owen, So far no one has stepped forward to organize a reunion.
That doesn't mean it's too late if you'd consider it yourself. TAA has
lots of information to get you started. I also noticed that your membership
is not current so I'm attaching a membership form. The quarterly
newsletter is the best way to keep up with your classmates. Paulette
English, TAA Web Editor]
To TAA:
Thanks for all the work that is done by everyone who
puts the Taft alumni Newsletter together. I look so forward
to reading every issue and am enclosing me membership.
I totally agree that $15.00 for the two years is
extremely reasonable.
We were recently in Las Vegas and my friend Jackie
(Bell) Fries (June 1959), came up with her husband,
Dave from La Habra, California. We had a great time
together. The last time was during our 50th reunion in
2009.
Sharon (Carlier) Dompke (June 1959)
Dear Kay,
Another two years have again past too quickly. But
gratefully we are still around to renew another two years
of the Taft Newsletter. I can never say this enough-I
enjoy the newsletter so very much. Even my husband
(who is not a Taft graduate) gets to enjoy the news, as I
either inform him or he reads the newsletter himself. We
are busy retirees; however, the one thing I miss is fellow
classmates. Not many Taftees have moved to the LA
area that I know of. I do reconnect with several classmates
not in our area. One is your cousin Kay, Marilyn
(Richter) Bakka (January 1956); we have remained
friends since grade school at Onahan. Thanks for all
you and the newsletter folks do. You are appreciated!!
Joan (Denney) Sandecki (January 1956)
several tries. I'm happy to report by downloading the
latest version of Adobe Reader as suggested in this [latest
newsletter] e-mail, I was able to print both the Fall
and Spring Newsletters. Patience IS a virtue!
Lytton Andersen (June 1958)
[Lytton, Thank you for taking the time to tell me of your success.
Adobe Reader can be like a neglected pair of old shoes -- sometimes
we have to stop and give them a new shine. Paulette]
Hi.
[My class has] a quarterly luncheon. Juanita Phillips
Amado (June 1958) and I recently went to a luncheon
for the class of ‘55 that meets in Des Plaines every other
month.
We thought it might be nice if there was place in the
newsletter where people could list the upcoming luncheons.
The two mentioned above both welcome Taftites
of any year. Please let me know your thoughts. Thank
You.
Diane Prosser Racana DeGrenier (June 1958)
[Diane, we'd be happy to promote your luncheons. Just give
us the dates, times, and places. I can add them to the TAA
website and to the Facebook page, besides the newsletter.
How nice that you all stay in touch. Paulette]
To TAA:
Maybe I missed it; however, has anyone from June
1963 thought about a 50th class reunion yet? Thanks.
And, as a side bar... I was in Culvers in Morton Grove
[recently] when a notice a group of kids... all had Taft
Eagles shirts. So I approached them and they said they
just left a basketball game. I told them I graduated from
Taft. One asked, “When?” I said, “June 1963”. The
young man paused and looked at his classmates and
then said, “Gee, that was even before most of our mom's
were born.” And, they all kinda chuckled... I think they
thought they saw a prehistoric person

The new principal looks very familiar. Maybe she’s a
Northwest Sider. Sure hope we have a lot of the new
Taft grads becoming members. Looking at the class
notes from last issue, I do remember Barbara (Whittier)
Hanson and Dolores (Koch) Reichert.
Mary Ellen Boyce (June 1945)
Dear Taft Alumni Board,
Thanks for all the time, energy and creativity you have
demonstrated over the years to help students at Taft and
keeping the Alumni informed.
I was a member of the Championship football team of
1948-49, graduated in June 1950, Iowa State University
in 1954 and was a pilot in the Air Force until 1958.
Worked for Western Electric for 34 years, retiring in 1987
as a factory manager, then taught at the University Missiouori
at Kansas City for 14 years.
I married my high school sweetheart, Lois Unger from
Steinmetz in 1953. Lois developed Alzheimer’s 7 years
ago and stopped recognizing me in October 2010 as her
husband. For the next 12 months I had 350 first dates
with Lois. Each morning we would start out getting to
know each other again. In time, I became her best
friend and now we enjoy every day together. We never
get tired of being with each other. We fell in love again.
With time, patience and God’s help Lois and I still have a
wonderful life. Alzheimer’s is an awful disease, but you
can still enjoy life as you make adjustments.
John (Jack) Sladkey (June 1950)
Dear Dr. Tarvardian,
I graduated from Taft in June 1942 (six months after
Pearl Harbor) while Leo Hoefer was Principal, and you
and I have not met. Noting in the Winter 2012 Taft
Alumni Newsletter that you are retiring in June, it occurred
to me that you might be interested in learning of
my teaming with an Armenian as a Night Fighter crew in
World War II in the Pacific. Brief details follow, and two
photos are enclosed. I was a pilot and 1 st Lt. My Radar
Observer was 2 nd Lt. George K. Kamajian. We are
shown with our P-61 Black Widow Night Fighter. The
second photo is of me standing in the cockput of our
assigned aircraft, we named “Black Panther.”
George (originally from Philadelphia, now retired in California)
and I were matched as a crew at the beginning of
extensive High Fighter training in California. We then
went overseas, were assigned to the 418 th Night Fighter
Squadron, and flew missions together all during 1945 in
the Philippines and Okinawa, including three night intruder
mission attacks over Japan in the last two weeks
of the war. We still keep in close contact and have visited
each other’s homes and families. George and his
wife (also Armenmian) are still living, as is my wife of 65
years, the former Marjorie Behn (June 1942). Both
Kamajian sons are medical doctors
Going back to high school days, Marge and I attended
Schurz High for our first year while Taft was being built
and started at Taft in the fall of 1939, sitting on the floor for two weeks until desks were installed. I was active as
a percussionist in the Concert Band and Symphony Or-
Page 4 Taft Alumni Newsletter Summer 2012
.

chestra under the late John “Pops” Rapier (using the
women’s gym - there was no addition then with the band
room), and was a national champion on the snare drum
the last two years. Other activities included Taft Tribune
photographer. After graduation, I started at the University
of Illinois in engineering, but midway in the semester,
an opportunity appeared to enlist in the Army Air
Forces for Aviation Cadet pilot training and I leapt at the
chance, was called up in January 1943, and obtained my
wings in March 1944.
Marge and I attended the 50 th Taft Reunion in 1989, but,
unfortunately will not be back to meet you prior to your
retirement.
Stanley E. Logan (June 1942)
Dear Jerry,
What a lovely surprise to see my letter featured on page
3 of the Taft Alumni Newslettler, and with the photo of
the 1950’s friends in color. Thank you for putting it in the
newsletter. The bonus for me is the “In the News” article
about my writing endeavors. As you probably know,
getting the word out on publication, so it can be a full
time job.
I enjoyed your Editor’s note on page 3. I worked at
Mulkern’s Drug Store from the summer of 1947 to January
1950. From time to time Mr. Mulkern had the police
drive by the store to keep the “Pitch-A-Penny” guys in
line.
I remember hearing about the Greasers going to
Hedlin’s Dairy on the Northwest Highway to eat lunch
and smoke their cigarettes. They walked through the
underpass beneath the railroad tracks to get there from
Taft.
My brother Phillip Huntman is 12 years younger than I
and may have been in your kindergarten or 1 st grade
class at Norwood Park School, but after my father died
in a boat explosion in 1951 on Lake Michigan, my
mother moved with Phillip, Judy (then 11 years old) and
Jeannette to Wisconsin. I married in 1952, so stayed in
Chicago. Thanks again. Have a great summer.
Marilyn Huntman Giese (June 1950)
Thanx Paulette--
I accessed the newletter and, once again, enjoyed reminiscing.
We have a motorhome and are on the road
during the summertime. Our winter address is a P.O.
Box, which is our mail service (US) when we are in San
Felipe, Baja-Mexico (and, yes it has been safe for us for
13 years).
We use the internet for all our contacts and I am pleased
to have the newsletter on line. We live on El Dorado
Ranch and they also have a web. We welcome visitors
who are "brave" enough to drive the 120 miles South of
the border--come on down, the water's fine. I appreciate
your assistance.
Ruth Reisman Ellmore (January 1944)
Paulette:
Regarding your request for help in identifying names in
our TAA master file, Charlene Schmolt graduated with
me in June 1945. She lived on the 6100 block of North
Moody Av., near the intersection of Milwaukee and
Elston Aves.
Vivian Winkates Borman (June 1945)
[Vivian, thank you so much! That confirms the tentative information we
had on Charlene. You've heard of "No Child Left Behind"--well, our
motto is "No Alumni Left Behind". We will also correct the spelling of
her name.
Hello,
In reading through the Newsletter that I received this
week, I noticed in the "In Our Memories" section the
death of Richard Kudish.
It stated that he was the sister of Clare Kudish, class of
January 1959. Just thought you'd like to know that
Claire was actually in the class of June 1959.
Audrey (D'Almaine) Gerlitz (June 1959)
Paulette,
I looked at your list of Taft grad who needed identifying
(from last issue). One name stood out and I wanted to
check further. Karen Gustavson's name rings a bell. My
brother, Chuck "dated" her in grade school for a while.
She lived on Talcott, just west of Bryn Mawr in a brick
bungalow that was right against the sidewalk on that
street. I always wondered why there was no yard there.
I believe she was in his class, so that would have made
her to be in the class of June 1963. My goodness, she
died young!
Jerry (Beesley) Bloom (June 1962)
To Paulette:
I'm the webmaster at Taft and I wanted to let the Alumni
know that we've now got official Taft pages on both
Facebook & Twitter. The addresses are below. Included
on both will be announcements and updates in case
anyone would like to keep up with current events at Taft.
The Facebook page also has a ton of pictures. Hopefully
you can pass this info on. Thanks!
facebook.com/TaftHS
twitter.com/Taft_HS
Trent Eaton
EAST Program Coordinator,
Minister of Communications, Webmaster
& General Purpose Computer Monkey
Attention: Paulette English, Director, Web Editor
Enclosed is a picture from our April luncheon of the “Taft
Lunch Bunch, June 1955”. We have been going out to
lunch, every other month, for over 6 years. We’ve tried
several different restaurants and have settled on
Giuseppe’s in Des Plaines, IL. They give us a room to
ourselves and the prices are reasonable. We had another
lunch on June 6 and our next lunch is in August.
We do have one rule: no talking about aches and pains.
We all have them and aren’t interested in hearing about
yours. If any classmates are interested in joining us,
contact me at e-mail: aschoessling@sbcglobal.net
Arlene Johnson Schoessling (June 1955)
Taft Alumni Newsletter Summer 2012 Page 5

June 1955 Lunch Bunch - Bottom row: Christine Seyffer, Marlene Mauter Hacke, John Penland, Bev Ingram Conrad,
Arlene Koprivnik. Middle row: Marle Maute Schliep, Shirley Honkowski Dietz, Bob Garland, Joyce Hammerberg
Beets, Wayne Barton, Arlene Johnson Schoessling, Diane Prosser Racana DeGrenier (June ’58), Raymond
Fath, Kathie Diedie Mueller, Anita Gaertner Lewis. Back row: Mike Lempke and Jim Teufel.
Dear Fellow Alums:
I am writing to let you know the class of January 1955 is
having a “Wow! We can’t believe we’re 75!” reunion on
October 6 th . [See page 2 for details].
I am enclosing a copy of our “lost list” and hope you will
be able to provide me with the current address(es) of at
least a few of them. I have been doing the corresponding
for our class for over 20 years and am eager to contact
as many classmates as possible:
Mary Ann Albrecht Donald William Brown
Annette DeCherrie Kathleen Lola Erzig
George Edwin Harris James Edwin Hayes
Charles Donald Henderson Lois Irene Johnson
Mary Louise Kreinbring Richard Allen Lewis
Arthur Josoeph Rush Robert Jay Schaffer
David Harold Schultz Dolores Marie Semchuck
William James Simonson
Meg Magee (Marilyn Goodell Rice Magee)
January 1955
[Meg, We’ve listed only the names we have no contact info for in our
master file. Those found will be forwarded to you soon. If other
classmates contact us with current details, we will forward those to
you, too. J. Bloom, TAA Newsletter Editor]
To: taftalum@cox.net
Is there a reunion planned for the class of 1972 in the
making? I have not heard anything and this is our 40th.
louisemama47@yahoo.com
[Louise, We haven’t heard of one either… Who wants to get the ball
rolling? J. Bloom, TAA Newsletter Editor]
CHI-CAW-GO
You’ve probably seen this or versions of this on the
Internet (or elsewhere). It’s been passed around for
some time. But, it is a light-hearted way to reminisce
about your home town. Thanks to Violet (Georgopulos)
Bilissis (June 1962) for this:
• First you must learn to pronounce the city name.
It is Chi-caw-go, assuming you live north of
Roosevelt Rd., otherwise it's Chi-ca-ga.
• Next, if your road map is more than a few weeks
old, throw it out and buy a new one. If in Naperville,
and your map is one day old, then it is already
obsolete.
• Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere.
Chicago has its own version of traffic rules:
"Hold on and pray."
Page 6 Taft Alumni Newsletter Summer 2012

• There is no such thing as a dangerous highspeed
chase in Chicago. We all drive like that.
All directions start with, "I-94." I-94 has no beginning
and no end. It just IS.
• The morning rush hour is from 5 to 11. The evening
rush hour is from 2 to 8.
• Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning.
• If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be
rear ended, cussed out and possibly shot.
• When you are the first one on the starting line,
count to five when the light turns green before
going to avoid crashing with all the drivers running
the red light in cross-traffic.
• Construction on Northwest Tollway is a way of
life and a permanent form of entertainment.
We had so much fun with that we have added
the Elgin-O'Hare and the I-355 to the mix. (Incidentally
the 'Elgin-O'Hare' does NOT go to either
Elgin or O'Hare.)
• All unexplainable sights are explained by the
phrase, "Oh, we're in Cicero !"
• If someone actually has their turn signal on, it is
probably a factory defect.
• Car horns are actually "Road Rage" indicators.
• All old ladies with blue hair in Buicks, Caddys, or
Lincolns have the right of way. Period.
• First Ave, LaGrange Rd, NW Highway - and
more, all mysteriously change names as you
cross intersections.
• A trip across town (from The Lake to the West
Side) will take a minimum of two hours.
• Although many expressways (they are not freeways),
have posted speed limits of 55, the minimum
acceptable speed on expressways is 85.
Anything less... get the hell out of the left lane.
• The Eisenhower (Ike) (formerly Congress expressway)
is our daily version of NASCAR
• If it's 100+ degrees, it's "Taste of Chicago."
• If it's 10 degrees and sleeting/snowing, it's opening
day at Wrigley.
• If it's 60 degrees in April it's opening day at Sox
park.
• If it's rained 6 inches in the last hour, the Western
Open is in the second round.
• If you go to Wrigley Field pay the $50.00 to park
in "Cub’s Lot."
• Parking elsewhere could cost up to $2500 for
damages, towing fees, parking tickets, etc.
If some guy with a flag tries to get you to park in
his yard, run......
…Chicago, there's no place like it!
You might be from Chicago if....
* You don't pronounce the "s" at the end of Illinois.
* You are annoyed by people who do.
* You measure distance in minutes.
* You have no problem spelling or pronouncing "Des
Plaines".
* Your school classes were canceled because of the
cold.
* Your school classes were canceled because of the
heat.
* Stores don't have sacks, they have BAGS.
* You end your sentences with an unnecessary preposi
tion. (Example: "Where's my coat at?" or "If you
go to the Jewel I wanna go with.")
* You can locate Illinois on the United States map.
* You carry jumper cables in your car - and you know
how to use them.
* "You drink "pop."
* You realize that I-290, I-90, I-94, and I-294 are all
different roads.
* You refer to any interstate highway as "the Tollway."
* You know the names of the interstates: Stevenson,
Kennedy, Eisenhower, Dan Ryan, Reagan, Bishop
Ford. (Numbers? They have Numbers?)
* You refer to anything South of I-80 as " Southern
Illinois " and anything west of Rt. 47 Iowa.
* You refer to Lake Michigan as "The Lake."
* You refer to Chicago as "The City."
* No matter where you are, when you hear the term
"Downtown" you immediately assume they're
talking about Downtown Chicago.
* You buy "The Trib."
* You know what goes on a "Chicago" Hot Dog, and
you're permitted to berate anyone who puts
ketchup on a hot dog.
* You know what Chicago Style Pizza REALLY is.
* You know why they call Chicago "The Windy City."
* You understand what "lake-effect" means.
* You know the difference between Amtrak and Metra,
and know which station they end up at.
* You have ridden the "L."
* You can distinguish between the following area codes:
847, 630, 773, 708, 312, & 815.
* You know the phone number for Empire Carpets.
Taft Alumni Newsletter Summer 2012 Page 7

[continued from page 1 - Class of 2012]
as 24 senior divisions, followed by the Taft orchestra and
choir members, stepped up to receive their diploma fold
ers from Dr. Arthur Tarvardian, who was retiring after 13
years as Taft’s principal.
Theodore Pirpiris, chairman of Taft’s Local School
Council, presented Dr. Tarvardian with a plaque of appreciation,
which will be mounted at the school.
Pirpiris noted that Taft’s turnaround since 1999 has included
a 20% drop in the dropout rate to 2%, and the
enrollment grew from 1,620 to almost 3,000. The
graduation rate grew from 53% in 1999 to 82% in 2012.
The irony of making Taft a neighborhood school to be
proud of again, he noted, was that the city keeps creating
magnet schools to draw the most talented students
away from the neighborhoods, and it makes it even
harder to achieve the scores Taft managed in the Tarvardian
years. Pirpiris said Dr. Tarvardian touched over
12,000 lives and educated over 5,000 students.
Dr. Tarvardian told the students, “I did my job… I’ve
never wanted to be associated with a failed enterprise.
You are part of the plan.” Student achievement was possible,
he said, because of the team – faculty, administration,
and students and parents working for the results to
improve.
“We are the future,” valedictorian Diana Banderas told
her classmates. “We can’t be stopped by any obstacles.
Believe in yourself. You and I close one chapter and
start another one. We’ll continue leaving our trademarks
wherever we go.”
Banderas was
one of three students
who were
presented $1,000
scholarships from
the Taft Alumni
Association, by
TAA first vice
president Anne
Lunde (1969).
Challenged to
succeed in Taft’s
International Baccalaureate programme, she hopes for a
career in international business and Spanish. She has
been active in extracurricular activities ranging from choreography
and Latin dance to organizing events for student
government and volunteer work in the political season
with the Mikva Challenge. She hopes to make a
positive difference in the Hispanic community.
Also receiving a TAA scholarship was Klaudia Zajac,
who ranked 16 th in the class at the end of the first semester.
Her goal is to become a veterinarian. In addition
to serving as one of the yearbook editors, she participated
in clubs ranging from Anime to Polish Club, played
junior varsity tennis, and helped with projects for student
government, senior committee and National Honor Society.
Zajac also received the Class of 1970’s $2,500
scholarship at graduation.
The John Graven memorial
scholarship went to Vasiliki
Mourikes, who ranked fifth
in the class. She plans to
major in general engineering
with a minor in environmental
science and studies
and hopes to work for the
EPA. Her activities range
from being president of student
government to the senior committee, National
Honor Society, tennis and water polo, and International
Baccalaureate studies. Outside volunteer work included
helping at the pathology lab office at Stroger Hospital
and assisting Greek charities in the Chicago area. [Photos
for this article submitted by Anne Lunde and Emily
Vidas]
Klaudia Zajac (at
right) received a
$1,000 Taft Alumni
Association Scholarship,
and also
was the recipient
of a $2,500 scholarship
from the
Taft Class of 1970.
Richard Winge (at
right with Klaudia)
and Norma Condon
Maloney represented the 1970 reunion committee, while
last year’s winner, Aileen Nolan presented the scholarship to
Zajac.
Shirley DeWeese
Scholarship Fund Created
Shirley (Kalivoda) DeWeese (June 1960) was so proud
to be an alumnus of Taft. She showed her pride by serving
on the board of the Taft Alumni Association in several
different capacities over many years. She passed
away in February 2012. (See article "Remembering
Shirley DeWeese" Spring 2012 Newsletter.)
In honor of Shirley's service to TAA, her love of Taft and
her fellow classmates, a scholarship fund has been established
in her name. The scholarship will be given to a
future deserving senior chosen by a TAA committee.
Contributions may be sent by check to Taft Alumni Association,
6530 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, IL 60631.
Please indicate the "Shirley DeWeese Scholarship
Fund" on your check.
Page 8 Taft Alumni Newsletter Summer 2012

How I Spent
the Summer of 1949
By Ed Tridemy (January 1951)
It was late in June when there was an announcement
that all junior and senior boys were to report to the auditorium.
Some Navy recruitors were there to see if anyone
would like to spend eight weeks going through boot
camp at Glenview Naval Air Station. There were no
strings attached. Once the boot camp was over, you got
a certificate of completion, like a graduation diploma.
And that was it. You didn’t go into the regular Navy.
Now, for me that was good news. Going back about
three years, two friends and myself used to take our
bikes and ride out there to watch the Navy planes take
off and land. It was about an 8-mile ride from Milwaukee-Devon
area to Waukegan road, then to Shermer
Road where there were some small farms and everyone
had big dogs that came charging down their driveways
and chase us down Shermer, snapping at our feet.
More about Shermer Road later. Shermer to Harlem,
then to Lehigh
and park along
the Milwaukee
railroad tracks
and hope there
were some
landings and
take offs.
So, going inside
[Glenview
Naval Air Station]
was going to be exciting, I thought. I went with my
papers, signed by my mother because I was 17 years
old.
We reported on a Saturday morning. They started giving
us tests, some questionaires, etc. and eventually
marched us down to the medical building for an exam
that took the rest of the day. Then, all that passed were
instructed to come back Monday morning to begin boot
camp.
After roll call, we were divided into four platoons and
marched over to our baracks that was home for the next
eight weeks. After noon chow, we went over to a building
that issued us our complete uniforms.
Tuesday, we were awakened at 5:30am and lined up for
roll call. At 6:30am. We marched to the chow hall. By
8:00 we had to be at the drill field to start our calesthenics.
After drilling, we had classes to attend. That would
be pretty much the norm for the next eight weeks. Each
platoon did their share of barracks cleaning, working in
the chow hall and guard and fire duty at night.
About midway through boot camp, we were told the recruits
were going to field a baseball team. Half the
group showed up for tryouts. Most of those were told
not to come back. By the third day they were down to
the fifteen guys that made the team. I was one of them.
Almost all the guys in boot
camp came from North and
Northwest side high
schools. There were six
from Roosevelt High in our
twenty-five man platoon. I
was the only one from Taft.
In 1949, Taft [won the] City
Championship in baseball
and a lot thought I was on
the team. I wasn’t, but I
never let it be known.
After the first couple hours
of calesthenics, the baseball
team was called out to report to the ball field for practice.
We played three games against other Air Stations that
had boot camps like ours.
It was late August and boot camp was coming to an end,
when one morning we were asked if anyone would like
to sign up for two years active duty at Glenview, or eight
years one weekend a month at Glenview for the Naval
Air Reserve, known as weekend warriors. In 1949, all
boys were subject to the draft (2 years in the Army)
when they turned 21 or joined one of the other branches
for four years. The draft was the furthest thing from my
mind at 17.
So, I went home the weekend before graduation from
boot camp and told my mother I was not going back to
school [Taft] and was to enlist for two years at Glenview.
She immediately said, “No you’re not. You are going
back to Taft in September.” Good thinking, mom. I
signed up for 8 years (weekend warriors). I stayed 10
years. That’s my story of the summer of 1949.
Something about myself: I married Judy Holzman
(June 1954) in 1956. We raised two children - a girl,
Teryl and a boy, Corey. We have lived in Des Plaines
since 1965.
I got into construction 3 years after graduation, went to
work on a housing project on that same Shermer Road
where the dogs were. After ten years building houses, I
went to work for a large company that worked on highrise
buildings downtown. I became a superintendent
and stayed 30 years, retiring in 1994 with 41 years of
service.
I would like to add one more thing. If that boot camp
were now, they would have called all junior and senior
boys AND GIRLS to report to the auditorium. It’s a different
military today. There is much more to this boot
camp summer, but this could go on forever…
Taft Alumni Newsletter Summer 2012 Page 9

Class Notes
1940s
Robert Passow (June 1941) graduated from William & Mary
BS 1948, Penn State MA 1952, lives in State College, PA, has
2 child, 2 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild and is a retired
engineer.
George Kasdorf (January 1942) graduated from the American
Television Institute 1947, lives in Brookfield, WI, has 3 children,
1 grandchild and is a retired TV engineer.
Dorothy (Schreiber) Basko (January 1944) graduated from
Chicago Real Estate 1978, City Wide College 1984, lives in
Huntley, IL, has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild
and is a retired food service manager from Homecrest
Foundation.
Erna Bone (January 1944) graduated from U of WI BS 1951,
lives in Fox River Grove, IL and is a retired teacher.
Irene (Ross) Fransen (January 1944) lives in Huntley, IL, has 8
children (7 Taft grads), 4 grandchildren and is retired.
Mary Ellen Bryce (June 1945) lives in Chicago, IL and is a retired
secretary from Montgomery Ward.
Donald Gloor (June 1946) graduated from Blackburn AA
1950, Roosevelt BS, BA 1970, MPA 1971, lives in Des
Plaines, IL, has 2 children, 1 grandchild and is a retired industrial
labor relations officer.
Charles Jamieson (June 1946) graduated from De Paul BS
1950, lives in Huntley, IL, has 2 children, 3 grandchildren
and is a retired CPA.
Eileen (Kasch) Monday (June 1946) lives in Wauconda, IL, has
2 children, 2 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and is retired,
wintering in Port Charlotte, FL.
Clyde Diven (January 1947) lives in Hoffman Estates, IL, has 2
children, 2 grandchildren and is retired.
Don Nelson (January 1947) lives in Wayzata, MN, has 1 child,
8 grandchildren and is a retired consultant.
Don Williams (January 1947) married Carol (Schmelzle)
(January 1949); he graduated from Northwestern BS 1955,
Kent Law JD 1964, they live in Mt Prospect, IL, have 3 children,
10 grandchildren; Don is a retired attorney/CPA.
Marilyn (Hayor) Cichowski (June 1947) lives in Beverly Hills,
FL, has 3 children, 2 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren
and is a retired government contract rep.
Carol (Larson) Loew-Kalbas (January 1948) married William
Kalbas (January 1948), now deceased; she lives in Huntley,
IL, has 4 children, 7 grandchildren and is retired.
John Nelson (January 1948) graduated from Purdue BS 1952,
MS 1953, U of MN PhD 1960, lives in Kingston, WA, has 3
children, 2 grandchildren and is retired.
Charles Ekstrom (June 1948) married Kay (Kramer) (June
1952), they live in Phoenix, AZ, have 7 children, 8 grandchildren,
1 great grandchild and are retired.
Charlotte (Sutton) Douglas (January 1949) lives in Rolling
Meadows, IL, has 4 children, 8 grandchildren, 10 great
grandchildren and is retired.
John Will (January 1949) graduated from North Central College
BS 1953, lives in Fountain Hills, AZ, has 2 children, 2
grandchildren and is a retired VP from Gibson-Homans Co.
1950s
Marilyn (Huntman) Giese (January 1950) graduated from
College of Du Page AA 1992, lives in Aurora, IL, has 5 children,
18 grandchildren and is a writer.
Josephine (Gorr) Crossley (June 1950) lives in Cary, IL, has 8
children, 18 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, is a retired
preschool teacher and winters in Florida.
Bill Becker (January 1952) graduated from U of I BS 1957, lives
in Rockford, IL, has 3 children, 1 grandchild and is retired.
Robert Forman (June 1952) lives in Northbrook, IL, has 2 children,
2 grandchildren and is a retired insurance agent.
William Mc McCarthy (June 1952) graduated from Kansas
State, lives in Mesa, AZ, has 1 child and is a retired US Postal
inspector.
Rich Anderson (January 1953) graduated from IL Wesleyan BS
1957, Chicago Teachers Med 1966, lives in Davis, IL, has 2
boys, 9 grandchildren and is a retired teacher.
Gladys (Wessels) Hinrichs (January 1953), lives in Arlington Hts,
IL, has 3 children, 8 grandchildren and worked at Hersey HS in
the cafeteria, now retired.
Barbara (Marshall) Campeol (June 1954) lives in Lakemoor, IL,
has 2 children, 3 grandchildren and is a retired secretary.
Alan Avery (January 1955) lives in Des Plaines, IL, has 1 child
who graduated from Taft and is a retired electrician.
Richard Beckert (June 1955) graduated from Northwestern
1971, Case Western MBA 1982, lives in Bluffton, SC, has 1
child, 2 grandchildren and is a retired dir. of transportation.
Beverly (Kintz) Barker (January 1956) lives in Roselle, IL, has 5
children, 5 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren and is a retired
secretary.
Paul Neuhauser (January 1956) graduated from U of IL BS
1960, De Paul MBA 1967, lives in South Barrington, IL, has 2
children, 4 grandchildren and retired as div. auditor for RTA.
Joan (Denney) Sandecki (January 1956) lives in La Verne, CA,
has 5 stepchildren, 13 grandchildren and is retired from Pacific
Bell management.
Thomas Mucha (June 1956) graduated from Purdue BS 1960,
PhD 1965, Northwestern MS 1961, lives in Mountain View,
CA, has 2 children, 2 grandchildren and is a retired engineer.
Tom Tubbs (June 1956) lives in Rosemont, MN, has 3 children,
11 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, is retired and was inducted
in the MN Waterfowl Hall of Fame.
Paul Brigante (June 1957) married Sandra (Pavlik) (June 1958);
they live in Wheeling, IL, have 1 child, 5 grandchildren. Paul is
corp. chef for Turano Baking, Sandy is a retired restaurateur
and was an original officer of the “Pink Ladies”.
Alan Hooks (June 1957) graduated from Western IL BA 1963,
lives in Arlington Hts, IL, has 2 children, 5 grandchildren and is
a retired warehouse manager.
Philip Gansz (June 1958) married Holly (Anderson) (June 1964);
He graduated from North Park; Holly graduated from Carthage
BS 1967, St Xavier MS 1999; they live in Park Ridge, IL
and have 3 children. Philip is retired from sales and Holly is a
retired educator.
Page 10 Taft Alumni Newsletter Summer 2012

Barbara Stewart (June 1958) graduated from Northern BA
1962, MA 1971, lives in Chicago and is a retired teacher of the
hearing impaired.
Diane (Biester) Carlson (January 1959) graduated from Roosevelt
BA 1979, Webster MA 1990, lives in Palatine, IL, has 3
children, 8 grandchildren and is retired.
Allan Larocco (January 1959) graduated from Monmouth
College BA 1963, U of I Med 1967, lives in Villa Ridge, MO, has
3 children, 5 grandchildren and is a retired elementary school
principal.
Anne (Fear) McManus (June 1959) lives in St Charles, IL, has 2
children, 4 grandchildren and is a swim coach and Olympics
official in flatwater canoe.
1960s
John Berg (January 1960) graduated from IIT 1965, Thunderbird
School of Global Management 1968, lives in Deerfield, IL, has
2 children and is retired.
Bonita (Depowski) Eckardt (January 1960) lives in Sun City
West, AZ, has 5 children, 9 grandchildren and is a retired
manager of a shoe store.
Linda (Carlson) Fisher (January 1960) graduated from Northwestern
BS 1963, lives in Keswick, VA, has 4 children, 6
grandchildren and is a homemaker.
Marian (Schleede) Busta (June 1960) graduated from Northwestern
BS, lives in Park Ridge, IL and is a RN.
Judith (Koehler) Kozer (June 1960) lives in Surprise, AZ, has 2
children, 6 grandchildren and is retired.
Ron Tarica (June 1960) graduated from IIT BS 1964, Northwestern
MS 1967, PhD 1969, lives in Atascadero, CA, has 3
children, 5 grandchildren and is a retired chemical engineer.
Robert Brion (June 1961) lives in Dallas, TX, has 4 children and
owns and operates a horse ranch in Royse City, TX.
Diane (Fluet) Williams (June 1961) lives in Upland, CA, has 2
children, 6 grandchildren and is an office manager.
Douglas Witt (June 1961) graduated IIT BS 1965, MS 1971, lives
in Walnut Creek, CA, has 2 children and is an engineer.
Debbie (Pienert) Hogg (June 1962) married Jay Hogg (January
1963); they live in Sleepy Hollow, IL, have 4 children, 1 grandchild,
Debbie is a finance assistant and Jay is a mfg. rep.
Bruce Williams (June 1962) graduated from Bradley BS 1967,
lives in Ft Collins, CO, has 3 children, 3 grandchildren and is
retired.
Paul Herrmann (June 1963) graduated from Wartborg College
BA 1967, lives in Sun City, AZ, has 4 children and is a retired
carpenter and Christian camp director.
Darlene Lorek (June 1963) graduated from U of IL BA 1968,
lives in North Lauderdale, FL and is an astrologer.
Mary (Alex) Brown (June 1964) graduated from Chaffey AA,
lives in Upland, CA, has 2 children, 3 grandchildren and is retired.
Charlie Gibbons (June 1964) graduated from Valparaiso BS
1970, lives in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, has 3 children, 4 grandchildren
and is a consulting engineer.
Linnea (Orsan) Lindh (January 1965) lives in Round Lake, IL, has
2 children, 3 grandchildren and is an accountant.
Lee Marsh (January 1965) graduated from Purdue BS 1969,
Northwestern MBA 1972, lives in Palatine, IL, has 3 children, 4
grandchildren and is a taxation specialist.
Charles Mugnolo (January 1965) graduated from Northern BS
1969, lives in Cape Coral, FL and is a retired computer systems
operator from Ford Motor.
Laura (Valters) Schultz (January 1965) lives in Montague, MI,
has 4 children, 4 grandchildren and is a retired school sec’y.
Corliss (Porter) Falkner (June 1965) lives in Wood Dale, IL, has
3 children, 4 grandchildren and is a buyer.
Ralph Keller (June 1965) graduated from U of Chicago MBA
1979, lives in La Grange Park, IL, has 1 child and is a retired
business manager.
Carolyn (Coco) Lilla (June 1966) lives in Virginia Beach, VA, has
1 child and is an HR office manager.
Daniel Popp (June 1968) graduated from U of IL BS 1972, Roosevelt
MBA 1985, lives in Arlington Hts, IL, has 2 children, 2
grandchildren and is an accountant.
Thomas Schau (June 1968) lives in Bartlett, IL, has 2 children, 3
grandchildren and is retired and a U of IL master gardener.
Richard Jaskiewicz (1969) lives in Ft Wayne, IN, has 2 children,
1 grandchild and is a physician.
Andrew Madsen (1969) lives in Chicago is a machine builder
and on the TAA board of directors.
1970s
Pete Angelakos (1970) graduated from Wright AA 1972, lives in
Mt Prospect, IL and is a tool & die machinist.
Robert Wilk (1970) graduated from Triton, lives in Chicago and
is a retired truant officer in Cook County.
Paul Madsen (1971) lives in Chicago, is a typesetter and on the
TAA board of directors.
Charles Riggle (1971) graduated from Georgetown U BS, U of
MD MA, lives in Fort Washington, MD, has 1 child and is an
international trade analyst supervisor.
Carol (Naatz) Wodka (1971) graduated from Eastern IL BS
1975, lives in Hoffman Estates, IL, has 2 children and is a preschool
teacher.
Linda (Alex) Connors (1972) lives in Henderson, NV, has 1 child
and is a bartender at the Grandlux Café.
Adrienne (Ostfeld) Bohnenkamp (1973) graduated from U of
NE BS 1981, Clarkson AA 2011, lives in Omaha, NE, has 3 children,
1 grandchild and is a tumor registrar.
Sheila (Graniero) Siarkiewicz (1973) lives in Algonquin, IL, has 4
children, 2 grandchildren and is an operations/training supvr.
Mary Jean (Luckew) Coulson (1974) graduated from Northern
BS 1978, lives in Glenview, IL, has 2 children and is a park district
commissioner for Glenview.
Melis Rose (Lopez) Carlson (1976) graduated from Wright AA
1978, De Paul BS 1980, lives in Arlington Hts, IL, has 2 children
and is an auditor.
Sandy (Marshall) Paik (1976) graduated from Northeastern
1980, Nat’l Louis U 1990, lives in Poway, CA, has 2 children
and is an education specialist.
Kent Stotz (1976) lives in Schaumburg, IL, has 2 children, is self
employed and is on the Honda Factory Drag Team, 4 time
national champion.
1980s
Roberta Cihlar (1983) lives in Skokie, IL and is a facilities services
supervisor.
Taft Alumni Newsletter Summer 2012 Page 11

[Continued from Page 1- Farewell Dr. Tarvardian]
Incoming principal Mary Kay Cappitelli, who takes over
in July, pointed out how many of the students filling the
auditorium were active in arts and sports and academic
activities.
Sylvia Tarchala, a parent whose students have graduated,
remembered her efforts to reorganize the Taft
PTSA -- after it had lapsed for several years before Tarvardian
arrived. “We wanted to advocate for the school,”
she remembered. She presented Tarvardian with a lifetime
membership in the Illinois PTA (the donated member
fee goes to a scholarship program for future teachers).
TAA Second Vice President Frank Heyer (left) and Dr. Arthur
Tarvardian at the June 13 ceremony
Taft Alumni Association vice presidents Anne Lunde and
Frank Heyer also made presentations: an Alumni Association
fleece jacket, and a certificate of achievement for
supporting the alumni and their projects:
The Police and Fire commanders in Berwyn, IL gave
Tom Day credit for saving four lives and a home three
doors south of Tom's house, when a fire was just about
to engulf the neighbor’s home on Friday, January 13,
2012. Tom was able to get the family out of the house
and get the fire department there in time to save the
house. The family is from Viet Nam. They repaired the
home and now live happily ever after. Tom was a former
Alderman in the 5 th Ward of Berwyn.
Tom ran the Taft HS dances through his senior year and
was Ral Donner's (1960) manager. He was also the
teen MC for a Saturday TV show WGN called "Time for
Teens".
He also hosted a teen dance party at the famous Chicago
night Club known as the Chez Paree in the late
1950s. That is where Tom sold his contract with Ral to
Sammy Davis Jr. and Ral went on to record several Records.
Featured in The Palm Beach Post (Florida) newspaper
in October 14, 2010, Ted Madej (June 1954) is still going
strong. The article’s theme and Ted’s montra was,
“I’m not getting older, I’m getting better.” This August he
will be 76. And, after 2 knee replacements, 2 carpel
tunnel operations and a back laminectomy with bone
fusion in April 2010 he continues his lifelong activity of
being a weight lifter. He can still bench press 275
pounds.
” You inherited our school at a time when it was being
re-designed by committee, took many fledgling programs
including the Naval Jr. ROTC, the Taft Academic Center
and the International Baccalaureate curriculum and gave
them wings. Under your leadership – with the help of
faculty, staff and Local School Council members – hope
and pride and enthusiasm for learning have returned
with high standards and achievements to reaffirm Taft’s
place among the city’s top neighborhood schools. Thank
you for giving our modern Taft classes an opportunity to
soar.”
In the News
Former Norwood Park Cavalier Marching Member Tom
Day (June 1958) was recently at the Arlington National
Cemetery in Arlington, VA to give a speech and gather
with over 200 horn players to sound Taps on Saturday,
May 19
Page 12 Taft Alumni Newsletter Summer 2012
th Ted was a former Marine drill sergeant and veteran
automobile general manager. He served in the 3
(Armed Forces Day) where he played at the
grave site of President William Howard Taft.
rd Marine
Division in Japan, where he played football on a
championship team. He is a well focused, self-motivated
man who believes many young people today lack those
abilities. He still works as an independent sales trainer
for others in the auto business, living in Jupiter, FL. He
also works out daily at home and in the community gym.

Ruth Daly, class of June 1943, passed away in 2008
due to age related causes. She was the sister of
Richard Daly (January 1946).
Helen (Johnston) Ails, class of June 1946, passed
away on March 9, 2012.
George W. Shearer Jr., class of June 1946, died June
1973.
Dorothy (Malott) Hudson, class of 1947, passed away
April 26, 2012.
Donald John Osmolak, class of June 1956 died October
2010.
Marion Helene Wachow, class of June 1953, lived in
Huntley IL and died April 16, 2012. She was the sister
of Jeanne (Wachow) Wead (June 1949), James
Florida
All-Class
Reunion -
2012
Although this photo
arrived too late for
the spring issue, the
memories, laughter
and promises to
see one-another
next year linger on.
It was held again at
the Fort Desoto
Park outside St.
Petersberg, FL on
March 10, 2012.
This year’s participants are shown here. There were
also several other spouses and friends attending.
Paulette McGuire stated, “It’s so nice that Leon arranges
this picnic every year, and we enjoyed it as always.”
Again, the class of June 1956 had the most people attending.
See their separate photo below.
In Our Memories
Waschow (1953), William Waschow and the late
Robert Waschow. Marion was a retired, long-time
employee of AT&T.
Nancy (Kuciak) Grom, class of June 1961, died July
30, 2012 of a brain hemorrhage. She was sister to
the late Tom Kuciak (June 1962).
Rich Rozycki, class of June 1967, passed away July
21, 2011 from pancreatic cancer. He retired just a
few years before after a teaching career at Rolling
Meadows High School for 34 years. This is a name
correction from last issue as well as added details.
Branislav Stankovsky, class of 1973, died from complications
of a stroke caused by a bacterial infection.
His sister is Dagmar Klos (1971).
All their names - at least the ones who signed the register
with the classes represented are: January 1946:
Evie (Fischer) Miller; June 1950: Raymond Fredrich;
January 1953-Lane: John Mihalik; June 1953: Paul
Pierburg; Judith (Moers) Hardman; June 1954: Margaret
(Hase) Harris; June 1956: Leon Kathan,
Paulette (Hase) McGuire, Marjorie Klarquist) Nehlsen,
Doug Blomberg, Annette (Knuth) Gustafson,
Ken Yatsko; June 1958: June (Brown) Yatsko, Denny
Pickett; January 1960: Judy (Olsen) Gammon, Karen
(Jensen) Pickett; June 1962: Jerry (Beesley) Bloom;
January 1963: Jeanie (Olsen) Gilbertson; June 1963:
Bob Cella; June 1978: Karen (Podgorski) Golda,
Louis Golda [Photos submitted from Judi (Moers)
Hardman and Paulette (Hase) McGuire].
Class of June 1956: (back row) Leon Kathan, Paulette
(Hase) McGuire, Marjorie (Klarquist) Nehlsen and Doug
Blomberg. (front row) Annette (Knuth) Gustafson and Ken
Yatsko.
Taft Alumni Newsletter Summer 2012 Page 13

TAA Merchandise Order Form
Qty Item Specifics Price Each Total Price
Windbreaker—blue nylon drawstring bottom
printed with white TAA logo
Medium Only $25.00
$
Baseball Cap—blue embroidered “Taft Alumni”
with full-color eagle
One Size Fits
All
$15.00
$
Car Sticker—clear printed in blue/gray
“You Can’t Hide That Eagle Pride”
---- $ 3.00
$
T-Shirt—gray cotton printed with blue TAA logo Medium $10.00 $
T-Shirt—gray cotton printed with blue TAA logo
Large
$10.00 $
T-Shirt—gray cotton printed with blue TAA logo
X-Large
$10.00 $
T-Shirt—gray cotton printed with blue TAA logo
XX-Large $12.00 $
T-Shirt—gray cotton printed with blue TAA logo XXX-Large $12.00 $
Jacket , Fleece - Taft Alumni Logo Medium $40.00 $
Jacket , Fleece - Taft Alumni Logo Large $40.00 $
Jacket , Fleece - Taft Alumni Logo X-Large $40.00 $
Jacket , Fleece - Taft Alumni Logo XX-Large $40.00 $
Jacket , Fleece - Taft Alumni Logo XXX-Large $40.00 $
Taft Yearbook (be sure to state year) Year: $30.00 $
Shipping and Handling: Stickers only = $1.00, all other orders = $6.00 $
Name (please print): Grad Month/Year:
Address:
City/State/ZIP: Phone: ( )
Total Remitted $
Send check or money order (no cash please) with completed order form to:
Taft Alumni Association, 6530 W. Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago IL 60631
Please use a separate order form for separate addresses.
Yearbook Inventory
Some years are hard to keep in supply. All requests are on a first-come, first-serve basis. As of
today, we have the following yearbooks for purchase: 1954 Jan (1), 1985 (24), 1986 (48), 1987
(77), 1990 (52), 1991 (9), 1992 (131), 1993 (5), 1994 (57), 1995 (183), 1996 (65), 1997 (52),
1998 (154), 1999 (151), 2000 (351), 2001 (123), 2003 (76), 2004 (77), 2005 (56), 2006 (40),
2007 (40), 2008 (40).
Time to Renew?!!
Thanks to all who read our plea in last year’s summer issue about keeping current with your membership. If you receive
the newsletter electronically, you’ll find an emailed reminder in your inbox when you are about to or have lapsed. If you receive the
newsletter by post, check your address label for your year of graduation above the eagle logo on the back page. Is it correct? Also,
check the expiration date of your current membership with the Taft Alumni Association located just below the graduation date.
If your expiration date is close, sit down NOW, complete the membership form on the next page and write out a check for
$15 or just $20 for husband/wife graduates at the same address. You'll receive TWO full years of newsletters filled with opportunities
to learn about classmates, reunions, school events and alumni programs. Be sure to use the application on the following page to
share with us the latest updates in your life.
Page 14 Taft Alumni Newsletter Summer 2012

Taft Alumni Association
Membership Application
Please tell us as much about yourself as you like so that we can share your news in the newsletter’s Class Notes.
Only fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required for membership. We will not publish your address or phone number.
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* Current Last Name
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Taft Alumni Newsletter Summer 2012 Page 15
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in the amount of $15.00 $20.00
Please mail this completed application along with your check or money order to:
Taft Alumni Association, 6530 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, IL 60631
Taft Alumni Association Board of Directors
Kay (Carlson) Kuciak
Anne Lunde
Frank Heyer
Rich Lindberg
Vacant
Jeraldene (Beesley) Bloom
Kevin Kreiger
Paulette (Zemaitis) English
Mike Hionis
Judy Jacobsen
Joe Popp
Andrew Madsen
Paul Madsen
William Skar
Arlene (Laufer) Ware
Jim Hartford
1963
1969
1948
1971
1960
1962
1973
1967
1968
1970
1966
1969
1971
--------
1960
1979
President, Newsletter Assistant
(623) 544-0226
1 st Vice President, Historian
2 nd Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Director, Newsletter Editor
jerrybloom@fales.org
(920) 559-7440
Director, Webmaster
webmaster@taftalumni.org
Director, Web Editor
eagleemail@taftalumni.org
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Faculty Representative
Director
Assistant to Frank Heyer
Enclosed is a check or money order donation
in the amount of $ .00
Taft Alumni Newsletter
Summer 2012
The TAA publishes the Taft Alumni Newsletter quarterly.
Please address general correspondence and changes to:
Taft Alumni Association
6530 West Bryn Mawr Ave
Chicago, IL 60631
or email taftalum@cox.net
Send photographs and articles for the next issue to:
Jerry Bloom
1237 N 3 rd Avenue
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
or email jerrybloom@fales.org
Submission Deadline for the Summer Issue:
September 30, 2012
eNewsletter or TAA Email Directory Signup: eagleemail@taftalumni.org

TAFT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
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CHICAGO IL 60631
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