Nan is a Great Grandma

While I'm sure there are others in the class, the first Great Grandma I've heard about is Nan Vancil Biddle. Pictured above is Nan's pride and joy, 8-month old Brody William Daniel, and he's being taught the love of fishing by his Grandpa Greg Daniel, Nan's son-in-law. He and Nan's daughter Beth and family spent a month in the Keys, where Brody showed them how to hook the big one. His dad is Nan's grandson, Bret, a student at FSU along with his wife.

We've Lost Jack Loehman

Carole Johnson Lehmann notified us of the passing of Jack Loehman this week. Jack and Phyllis Hagedorn were high school sweethearts and were married some 50 years. The father of 3 and the grandfather of 3, Jack owned and operated Elmhurst Auto Parts for 45 years.
Our deepest sympathy goes to Phyllis and their family; please know all your classmates share your loss.

Welcome to Scott Butler

Browsing around classmates.com, I discovered an uploaded picture of Scott Butler. Since he didn't make it to the reunion, I thought you all might want to get reacquainted with him. So, with no further introduction, I'm happy to present Scott Butler:


CORRECTION: It's been brought to my attention that Scott was, indeed, at the 50th reunion. I guess my advancing years are catching up with me: either I didn't see him or I forgot. Either way, it's my bad; sorry, Scott. But here's your picture anyhow.

Frank Becomes a Blogger

Frank Fusco announced today his entry into the wonderful world of blogging. A staunch conservative, Frank's blog will be, at the very least, an expression of his political views of this world today. Check him out; and since comments are permitted, be sure to let him know you visited his sight, and if you're so inclined, let him know how you feel about his opinions --- having read your e-mails, I know many of you are in complete accord with him on many, if not most, issues. The title of this post will link you to Frank's blog (www.rifleman1776.blogspot.com).

Maylo's Not At Home This Summer

A recent communication to us from Maylo Beil Hranac let us share vicariously in her travel adventures this summer. Maylo wrote: "We returned June 18th from a five week vacation. We sailed from New York city and eventually got to Copenhagen. We enjoyed many ports and spent an additional three days in Copenhagen and then three more in Manchester, UK. My husband has some serious health issues, but we were able to rent a mobility scooter - and he has a portable oxygen concentrator. Ten years ago this type of trip would not have been possible for people with physical/health limitations.

Now that we are back home we are busy arranging a visit to Fort Collins, CO. We have two great-grandchildren now, and one is joining his parents (he's just six months old) and flying in from Japan in July. The other great-grandchild lives in Denver. My husband had three children when we were married -so I acquired an instant family."



The above picture was taken in maybe 1953 or 1954 at a Job's Daughters function (several of the '57 girls were members). Can you find Maylo in this picture? Who else can you identify?

We Lost Wayne

Some 6 months after being diagnosed with small cell cancer of the lung, Wayne Malon lost his very determined and courageous battle with this evil disease. According to his wife, Pat, he passed away very peacefully in his sleep the evening of June 15.

Wayne worked harder than most everyone else in making the 50th reunion the success that it was, and he did it mostly behind the scenes. He helped locate numerous classmates; he served as liaison with our webmasters and contributed, in one way or another, most everything that's on the class web page; he helped identify the class members in the 8th grade photo, in the 50th reunion pics, in the individual grade school pictures, and in the various other pictures on the website and in this blog; he put most of these photos in proper format for posting; he scanned and prepped the issues of High Life and other documents for the web page ---- he did so much, and wanted no recognition for any of it.
Our condolences to his wife, Pat, his 2 daughters and their families and his numerous friends. Suffice it to say, he will be missed.

A Smile and a Wave Can Make a Big Impression

When we first moved to a rural Missouri Ozark community almost 35 years ago, we were amazed when we saw occupants of passing cars smiling and waving at us --- didn't matter that we didn't know the people; their friendly greeting made us smile, too, and soon we were waving right back at them. This wonderful tradition continues today, even tho we're no longer so very rural.

Thanks to a May 13, 2009, article by Catherine Leyden in the Downers Grove Reporter/Progress (sent to us by Norma Deardorff Plummer), we learned that one of our own classmates, Maureen McCollum Brdlik, started this same practice in Downers in 1993, when she first became a crossing guard at Oakwood and Prairie Avenues, near the Pierce Downer school. With time on her hands, she started smiling and waving at passing cars, and soon the drivers returned her friendly greeting. And now, after so many years, Maureen estimates about 80%-90% of drivers wave back at her. What a wonderful tradition to start --- just hope everyone pays it forward, and that it continues for many years to come.


(This photo was taken by John Cox, staff photographer for the Downers Grove Reporter/Progress; I hope there's no legal problem with reproducing it in this blog!).

As you can see, Maureen is a classmate to be envied -- she looks almost exactly the same as she did so many years ago when we strolled the halls of the high school. And there's little doubt her smiles and waves have made DG a friendlier and happier place to live. Good for you, Maureen. And, by the way, hope you can make it to the next reunion; we missed you at the big 50th!