Class of 1959 Newsletter: November 2007

From the Class of 1959 Newsletter: November 2007

Dear Classmates,

Greetings! I have been in contact with many of our classmates and have received notes from the many involved volunteers. To quote Dave Thies, “Our classmates are pleased to hear from us and it is making a difference. I find that each person I call is even more receptive this year. We are tying the class together better.”

It is encouraging to hear from not only the lay students in our class but also Seminarians and student Brothers from the Class of 1959. I remember many of the student Brothers from the classrooms and I played handball with many of those “very competitive” seminarians during Olympic Days. It will be good to see each other again and catch up on what has happened in the last fifty years since our years together “On The Terrace Heights Bluff”. Homecoming in June 2009 will be a great 50th reunion for all of us.
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From the feedback I have received the “Class of 1959 Notes” part of the Newsletter has been very well received. I keep looking for ways to make this communication link to you better, so if you have suggestions please send them to me.

Keep in mind that our contributions to the 50th Reunion Gift to Saint Mary’s will be the accumulation of donations we make from 2006-2009 into one gift amount. So remember to participate each year and be as generous as you can.


Harry Plotke

CLASS NEWS

Art Indelicato (Brother Landrick Arthur) - Art received his PhD in Secondary Administration and Mathematics from the University of Minnesota. He left the Christian Brothers in 1971 and from that time forward was involved in administration at all levels in the Minneapolis School System until he retired in 1999. He and his wife Mary have two sons and one grandchild. They reside in St. Louis Park, MN. His interests include travel and photography. Both he and his wife are starting to volunteer teaching Mathematics. He is unclear at this time if they will make the 2009 reunion.
(We hope Art and his wife will be there with us. Yes, the Brothers were very separate from the rest of our class in 1959; but hopefully, many Brothers will be in attendance and enjoy a great reunion.)


Mike Hanafin - Mike lives in Sun City, AZ and Minneapolis. He is active volunteering in Arizona at a local hospital and does work with a group that makes reading available to the blind. His son and family live in Arizona. Mike attended our 45th reunion and will probably be at the 50th.


Bill Berg – Bill was with WGN radio in Chicago for years. He then moved to sports announcing as the voice of the Milwaukee Bucks. He declined an offer to move to the West Coast preferring to stay in Illinois to be near kids. He has five children (3 are lawyers), 22 grandchildren. Bill lives in Addison, IL.


Mike Waters - After graduating from St. Mary's, Mike went on to get his law degree from the University of Missouri. Most of his career has been spent as a lobbyist and State legislator in Illinois. Mike has served on the Lewis University Board and as its Chairman for 20 years. He currently is a Trustee Emeritus and was given the LaSallian Award from Lewis University. Mike has two daughters and two grandchildren, and resides in Lake Forest, Illinois. He is definitely planning on attending our 50th.


Conrad Brombach – Conrad received his doctorate in psychology and teaches psychology at the Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee and is Chairman of the Department.


Ron Rietz – Ron, originally from Winona, now lives in Sioux City, Iowa with his wife Dorothy. They have 6 children and 13 grandchildren. He is retired from Cargill and is active in the Food Kitchen and Meals On Wheels in the Sioux City area.


Pat O’Rourke – Pat farmed in southern Minnesota for 25 years. Since 1986 he has been the County Agent in Wells, MN and sells crop insurance to farmers. He and his wife Mary Ann have three daughters. Pat loves to fish and spends a week at Nestor Falls, Ontario, each year honing his fishing skills.

Bob and Judy Slomka plan to attend our 50th. Dick Diaz has stated he will also attend in 2009.


Dr. Jerome Wray – He received his M.S. from the University of Wisconsin and his doctorate from Loyola University (Chicago) and retired from school administration. He then spent twelve years at the Archdiocese of Minneapolis-St. Paul working with parishes on adult activities and programs. He and his wife Mary Ann have two children and two grandchildren. They like to travel primarily to Mexico.


Wally Wisniewski - Wally retired from law and now lives in Naperville, Illinois. He did volunteer work for Little Friends and mentioned that he sees Tom Rezek on occasion. Wally has a son at Eastern Illinois University and will try to make the 50th.