Click on persons name and go directly to their Biography.
Click here for a printable version of this page.
Anderson, Dan - Married Midge at the end of our senior year at Northwestern (1967). Then on to U. of Michigan for an MBA, followed by a year of teaching at Purdue while settling my differences with the draft board. From there to a small magazine publishing firm in the Chicago area, which grew to a rather bigger company over the next 30 years. In 1998 I sold it and retired. Shortly after that I became something of an expert on how to deal with prostate cancer -- just in case anyone is looking for advice. (We aren't getting any younger, are we!)
We have two grown kids and two delightful grandchildren ages 9 and 7. Our roots are pretty well planted in Glen Ellyn, a western suburb of Chicago, but do get to travel a lot. I've made several trips recently back to the Kalamazoo, Paw Paw, Decatur area doing research for a book on family members who settled in southwestern Michigan in the 1830s. Midge is developing into an accomplished artist. I enjoy playing the banjo and a little guitar, plus writing, woodworking, gardening, golf, and traveling to bluegrass festivals. Life is good.
Bach, Sue - After graduation, I attended WMU and received a degree in business. I worked for Upjohn International for a few years, then lost heart in the paper shuffling business and went back to school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Following my passion for animals, I studied wildlife management and have a B.S. in Natural Resources. I retired five years ago after a 21-year career with the U.S. Forest Service. Ive worked and lived in Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Idaho.
I now work part time teaching things like anger management, communication and parenting to minimum security felons at a small prison near our town of 3500 here in central Idaho. What a switch from the woods, but I love it.
Im married to Jim Paradiso, a hydrologist with the Forest Service. We have one daughter, who is attending the University of Colorado at Denver.
We live on a small ranch and have an assortment of critters. In addition to the domesticated kind, there are usually a few wild ones about also. I am licensed by the State of Idaho to rehabilitate injured and orphaned wildlife. So, at any time, I may be bottlefeeding elk calves, deer fawn squirrels, etc. etc. My specialty is raptors (hawks, falcons, owls).
High school days sure feel distant, but Im excited about seeing old faces and friends.
Barnhart, June - married to Kent for 29 years. Two children, Adrie, 22, studying to be an architect and Cameron, out trying to find himself.
After graduation I worked in the offices of several local companies. Decided that wasn't for me and started at Cornflake "U". (Kellogg Community College). KVCC opened about that time and I transferred. Transferred again to Michigan State and got my BS, MS, and MRS. Taught for a bit at Ohio State University ATI, (Agricultural Tech. Institute). Majored in Horticulture.
Decided I didn't like teaching.......an awful lot of work. Decided to raise kids instead of flowers. Have been and continue to be a globe trotter having traveled on four continents. (I've actually BEEN to Tahiti). Daughter has continued the trend. For age 22 she's been on 4 continents, lived in Japan for a year, been to India 4 times and since Jan. of this year has been in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malasia, and Italy.....studying. Ohhhhh my pocketbook.
I keep busy doing my flower beds, a bed of about 400 flowers at the church and still doing my couponing and refunding and craft shows....and still chasing after my kids....Hey you guys with older ones, I thought this was gonna get better as they grew older.....
Bartlett, Becky - I actually graduated from Norrix but since you were nice enough to invite me, I'll be there with my husband, Ed Yaple. I was a medical assitant in my husband's practice for 20 years. Now I assist him with consultations part time, donate my time to Kalamazoo in Bloom,
travel, sew and garden.
My kids are Michael and Rani ( I share them with Don Meisling)
and I am step mom to Ed's kids, Ed, George, Joe, Mary and Liz.
There are seven grandchildren to be proud of.
Carpenter (Gibson), Lois - Married for 24 years to Weslie. I had two other short-term marriages. I have one daughter, Laura age 33 and 7 stepchildren age ranging from 33 to 44, a multitude of grand children, a few great grand children and a dog named Miss Lady (boxer and Doberman mixed) After graduating I attended Parson Business School, WMU and worked at American National Bank. After three years and half years I decided to move to Chicago and enjoyed every minute of the experience. I soon moved back to Kalamazoo and worked at National Water Lift for a few years. For the past 25 years I have worked for Kalamazoo Public Schools, 18 of them have been at Central High School. While being secretary to the principal I have run into former classmates and their children and even sometime their grandchildren.. It is interesting how students have changed. I love to read and listen to most music.
Carpenter (Gibson), Lois - Married for 24 years to Weslie. I had two other short-term marriages. I have one daughter, Laura age 33 and 7 stepchildren age ranging from 33 to 44, a multitude of grand children, a few great grand children and a dog named Miss Lady (boxer and Doberman mixed) After graduating I attended Parson Business School, WMU and worked at American National Bank. After three years and half years I decided to move to Chicago and enjoyed every minute of the experience. I soon moved back to Kalamazoo and worked at National Water Lift for a few years. For the past 25 years I have worked for Kalamazoo Public Schools, 18 of them have been at Central High School. While being secretary to the principal I have run into former classmates and their children and even sometime their grandchildren.. It is interesting how students have changed. I love to read and listen to most music.
Christensen, Karen - I attended U of Mich from 1963-65, got married, then returned to school and graduated from WMU in 1970. I divorced in 2001 after 35 years of marriage. I have worked for Portage Public Schools for 24 years, the first 10 at Portage Central High School where I worked with - yes - Scotty Wilson and Bud Fossen. The last 14 years I have worked at the Administration Building as Human Resources Specialist.
I live between Otsego and Allegan, on 10 acres in the country in a home I designed. No cable TV, so I spend my spare time on projects around the house such as finishing the family room, landscaping, mowing, quilting, reading, and trying to trap a very persistant woodchuck who thinks my front porch is home. I love searching the Internet when I have time. What an amazing resource it is!
I have two grown children, two cats, one grandson (14 months) and three grand-cats. I thought for a while all my grandchildren were going to be furry and talk funny but my daughter finally came through at the age of 33. She teaches Special Ed in Plainwell and my son is a Personal Trainer in Huntington Beach, CA. I love to travel, especially flying to visit family and friends. This month I took a cross country trip from Otsego to Portland, Oregon in a semi....what fun!! Then down to Las Vegas and flew home.
I am looking forward to seeing all of you very soon--I'm sure you haven't changed a bit!!
Dustin, Robert - MY WIFE AND I ARE SEPERATED. I WAS MARRIED FOR 24 YEARS.I HAVE 3 KIDS - 5 GRANDKIDS
Echols, Bob - HELLO TO ALL THE OLD GANG FROM THE GREAT CLASS OF 63'. I'M A DOTING GRANDFATHER NOW WITH TO GRANDKIDS, A BOY AND A BEAUTIFUL GIRL. MY CURRENT POSITION IS DIRECTOR OF THE COMPLAINT AND ALLEGATION DIVISION, IN THE BUREAU OF HEALTH SERVICES, STATE OF MICH. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING AND REGULATING ALL OF THE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN THE STATE OF MICH. CURRENTLY THIS INVOLVES OVER 400,000 LICENSEES. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, HOSPITALS, VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENGIES, DEA, AND AN ASSORTMENT OF STATE AND NATIONAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. IT'S A JOB THAT KEEPS ME BUSY, BUT I ENJOY IT. THERE IS SOMETHING NEW, CHALLENGING, FRUSTRATING, AND EXCITING NEARLY EVERYDAY. I PLAN ON RETIRING WITHIN THE NEXT THREE YEARS AS LONG AS MY HEALTH STAYS GOOD.
Flegal, Serena - I retired from the State of Michigan October 1, 2002 after 30 years of service. My husband,Jim, and I sold our home in Mattawan and moved to Florida. We live in a retirement community in central Florida called The Villages. We are avid golfers and just enjoying life as a retiree. I am a passionate NASCAR fan and over the years have gone to several races at different tracks. We have two girls and three grandchildren. I still have two brothers and my dad in Kalamazoo, all Central graduates. I hope the reunion is a great success and enjoyed by all.
Holderbaum, Robert - That's the moniker that appeared in the teachers' grade books at KCHS. (Beside the name were my generally mediocre grades.) But, only my parents ever called me Robert.
After service in the United States Air Force, I lived in Kazoo until the early 1980s. I then moved "down the road" to Battle Creek. For the past 17 years, I've served as President/CEO of Michigan Heartland Goodwill Industries, headquartered here in Battle Creek.
I am married (17 years this time around). I have two sons, ages 27 and 14. The older son and his wife are expecting a child. That'll be my first grandchild.
Hobbies: I like to read. I like to write. In general, I'm simply a very curious person. I never lost my love of folk music. In fact, in late-2000, I took to the stage and did a show--my first public appearance in many, many years. Tom Molby, who was one of my musical partners in the Lowlanders folk group back at Central, is still like a brother to me. We have little opportunity to sing together as he's in Nashville, TN chasing his star as a song writer.
I can knock down "Tom Dooley," "Greenback Dollar," or "Scotch and Soda" as well now as I ever could.
I never cease to be amazed at how some of us hold so strongly to our commonality--the bond that we all attended Kalamazoo Central.
I derive enormous personal satisfaction from my job. I think I have a good balance between my work and personal lives. I served on the Battle Creek City Commission for four years in the late-1980s. I'm still quite interested in politics--but strictly from the sidelines. I have no desire to run for office.
Like a small child in the toy store, I stand agog over the fact that we now have things like e-mail and the Internet. Yet, we still have the common cold. While the make-up of the car itself has changed, the actual driving of a car is much as it was when we learned from Dobbie Drake, Scotty Wilson, Bud Fossen or others on that "driving range" a few blocks from KCHS.
And, yes, the world still has hunger and war. I'd like to think that we, in our own ways, served to collectively raise the standard of living in our country, to be part of the beacon of hope for the rest of the world. In that, I'm sure, each and everyone member of the Class of 63 played a part.
Memory moves to those pep rallies in our beautiful auditorium. And, the diminutive "Mr. Chenery" leading us all in the Growler. "Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end..."
LeZotte, Patsy - I retired from teaching after 32 years. During my last three years, I taught in the old Central High building on the southeast corner of the third floor. Talk about coming home again. The last two years I have been tutoring athletes at Western. I still enjoy kids, but I don't miss the planning or correcting. It's a great part time job.
I am now the proud grandmother to Erik, 4 1/2, and Kathleen, 9 months. Of course they are the "smartest kids." Erik just loves all the quilts I have made for him. See, I told you he was smart! They really are delightful. I can't imagine life without them. My own children, John and Wendy, are doing fine which makes every parent happy.
My interests remain the same. I love to race walk, ride my bike, play softball, lift weights, read and quilt. I wonder how I ever had time to work full time. I barely have time to do everything now. But isn't it wonderful to have a full life and the health to enjoy it?
I'm looking forward to seeing all of you.
Molby, Tom - I dont know if I will be able to get to the reunion or not. I injured my knees a little over a year ago and after 2 surgeries they still don't do what they should. I'm having them replaced later this year. It slows me down A bit- but it's only a temporary setback
Heres what has happened to me.
After high school I got married, had 2 children (one of each)graduated from WMU and also a bible college and taught school in Grand Rapids for several years ubtil I was offered a bookstore to manage in quincy Illinois. While there I also pastored a free methodist church for 5 years until the church "transferred" me to a church in Caro Michigan (in the thumb) where I pastored 4 more years until my wife and I divorced,
After the divorce I decided to "chase my dream" of being a songwriter so I moved to Nashville Tennessee (yeehah) where I still live.
I havent had any great hits but I have had several of my songs recorded (probably not by anyone you ever heard of) and I have
rubbed shoulders with some of the best writers and musicians and singers. No- I don't know Dolly (but one of my best friends is her chauffer).
In addition to my writing I do stand up comedy and magic (mentalism)
and handwriting analysis- I am currenttly studying to brcome a certified document examiner (detecting forgeries). I am also a licensed private investigator but the knee problem has slowed thast down to some degree.
Now I have 5 1/2 grandchildren (time flies doesn't it?) I am seriously considering a move back to Kalamazoo to be closer to my family and so the "lowlanders" can plan our "nostalgia" tour!
If I don't see you- My very best to each of you. I wowuld love to hear from you on the net.
Tom Molby
Nichols, Pat - Dave and I celebrate our 39th year together on July 18th. We have 4 children and 11 grandchildren ranging in ages from 2-14.
Having made 25 moves in those 39 years we finally down-sized two years ago and bought a small summer home in Bear Lake, MI and have our residency in Fort Myers, FL enjoying semi-retirement. We still own our own consulting business in MI, so Dave travels back and forth with our son, Doug, holding down the fort while Dave is in FL.
I greatly treasure the times spent with the children and grand-children, who are scattered all across the U.S. This keeps us busy as well as the times spent in traveling around the country where I lead Schools of Prayer. We also love the quiet time we have in FL enjoying the great outdoors - swimming, boating, gardening, and birding. My favorite day is one spent at the beach catching up on my reading!
We always look forward to the times, too, that our northern friends and family visit us during the winter and we are able to share with them year-round summer and sun!!
Can't believe 40 years have gone by since graduation! Where has the time gone? It will be fun to see all of you at the reunion.
Phillipps, Patrick "Greg" - Finished college as an electrical engineer (MIT 1968) and have spent most of my career designing medical monitoring products. Currently President of start-up company designing new blood pressure monitor. Two children in college, Mike at WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) studying engineering, Courtney at University of Osnabrueck (Osnabrueck, Germany) studying cognitive science. Both to graduate soon, which will help cash flow immensely. Two cats, no grandchildren but we are hopeful.
Prince, John - I am amazed to read about others in the class being retired, living in retirement communities, and having grand kids. I have been, I suppose, the eternal peter pan moron of the group. No wife, no kids, and no sense. However, some of you may be surprised--as was Ruthie Walker at the reunion---- to learn of my two degree's at WMU. My Masters degree was in Blind Rehabilitation. I worked with visually impaired kids for Wayne County Intermediate Schools for two years. My longest job stint was with WMU. Hope your all sitting down, because I was for over 5 years an Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions in charge of student recruitment. The rest of my bio is pretty normal. Lots of girl friends, parties, ski trips, booze, jobs, and just the right amount of immaturity to keep me single and clueless in Kazoo. I do have a very nice position in manufacturing--as an asst. plant manger---on the horizon. But, it is too early for specifics. Oh, The reunion was MAGICAL. Johnn--with a Y
Sage, Ann - Well, it's time to write my biography of the last 40 years. It sure has been busy and it has gone so fast. I have four children and 8 grandchildren. My youngest son, Scott is getting married for the first time (he's 31) on August 8th 2003 in Albuquerque New Mexico. I was married for 25 years to Wally Kent and have been single this then. I have a great job in Grand Rapids Michigan working in an Insurance Agency as a CSR. I finally broke down and purchased a condo 3 years ago. I got tired of the rent increases each year, but enjoyed the flexibility of knowing I could be off to another place with just 30 days notice. I am looking forward to seeing everyone that is coming this weekend. I do keep up with some of the old gang and enjoy seeing them during the year. I am a avid golfer and would golf each and every day if the sun is out and it's warm. I'm a fairweather golfer and refuse to play in the cold and rain. I love to read and I knit, crochet and sew most of the winter since it's too cold to golf. I love spending time with my grandchildren and have one granddaughter who can beat me on the golf course. She gets to spend her summers playing golf while I have to work. This is the weekend of the reunion and I am printing the list of who's coming and the biographies to read up on each and every one of you that wrote in. I am glad to be alive and enjoying my life. I still think I look the same as I did 40 years ago, but I know a lot of us will look different and we won't recongize each other. Look for me I'll have my name tag on and I promise I won't sing Barry Manlow's "I write the Songs" this year. I could go on and on about the last 40 years but I think this gives you an idea of what I have been doing. Hope to see you at the reunion.
Schneider, Alex - Received bachelors and masters in electrical engineering from the Technological Institute of Northwestern University, Evanston IL. Later received MBA from University of Chicago. Employed almost 30 years as engineer with Commonwealth Edison Co., Chicago IL. Now employed by Mid America Interconnected Network, a reliability council of electric utilities. Also doing part time consulting.
Married a fellow Edison company employee, Lauretta Gerretse of Chicago, in 1971. Sons Alexander W. III (Bill) and James born in 1975 and 1978; both followed me in attaining Eagle Scout. One granddaughter, Garren, is now five. We have resided in Addison IL (west suburbs of Chicago) since 1973 in a home I designed. Bill lives with us and Jim and his wife, Chimei, live in the Elmhurst neighborhood of New York City.
Outside interests have included Boy Scout leadership posts, active in Addison Presbyterian Church, model railroading.
Spalsbury, Sue - My husband Richard and I will be married 35 blissful years this August. We have two sons who are both married. Tim and Carrie live in Chicago where they met in law school and now work as lawyers. They live about five hours away so we get to see them, but not as often as we would like. Brian and Nicole live in Linden, North Carolina where he is an engineer for Goodyear Tire, and Nicole is a media specialist for the county library. They live farther away so we don't see them as often. At this time, their families consist of granddogs and grandcats.
Richard retired in 2000, and his new job is taking care of me, along with fishing, hunting and playing golf. I continue to teach fourth grade and will begin my 18th year in September. This will be my last year, and I plan to make it a good one. We have land on a northern Wisconsin lake and would like to build so we can live up there in the summer. Winters will be spent in Sarasota, Florida where my mom, brother and his family live.
The entire family enjoys traveling, and I will miss the reunion because we will be in North Carolina that weekend visiting Brian and Nicole. Rich and I play golf during the summer and often take our clubs with us when we travel.
Life is good, and we have so many things for which to be thankful. Have a wonderful reunion!
Stafford, Alan - Graduated from WMU in 67 with a degree in economics and earned other degrees later on. Served in the Peace Corps in Micronesia from 67 through 69. Married Barbara Nathan (KCHS class of 65) in 1971. We have two sons, David 1975 & Mark 1978. David is finishing up his Phd. in molecular bioliogy an the University of Chicago and Mark has been accepted to a fine arts program to earn a masters in poetry (that's what I said, poetry) an Notre Dame for the fall of this year. We have no grandchildren yet.
Including my time in the Peace Corps, I spent 34 years in the classroom or educational administration before I retired two years ago. The last twenty were at Niagara County Community College in western New York, where I ended up the coordinator of planning. What that means is I got to see that all those wonderful state and accreditation reports got done correctly and on time. As if that wasn't enough excitment, I also have written a number of high school and college level economics texts for West, Glencoe, South-Western, Wadsworth, etc. This keeps me busy after retirement as well. The tenth edition of Economic Issues for Consumers is ready to go to press in the next few weeks.
Barbara retired from teaching (English & German) in 2002. We managed to go somewhere other than the frozen north for at least one week in every month last winter. We have no intention of moving south but also don't intend stay where it's cold for more than a week or two at a time.
In the summer we spend lots of time playing in the garden and walking Ted, our golden retriever. Life's been good to us. We look forward to seeing all of you again and renewing old friendships.
Tophan (Lowell), Harriet - Married to David Lowell and living on a farm SW of Marcellus about 3 miles. My brother-in-law does the farming and my husband is trying to get into fish farming. We have 2 lakes on our property. We have a pond that he's trying to raise fish for selling and planting into lakes.
I have been working for the State of Michigan (state of confusion) at Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital (the third hill) for 15 years (May 4, 2003, it will be 16, so might want to update). I'm an Accounting Assistant Lead Worker.
I have my own accounting and tax service. When I went to work for the state, I let my clientele go down so that I could handle the January to April rush better. When I retire, I'll work to increase my business.
In 1965, I married John Davidson (of our class). We had 2 sons, John Davidson, Jr. who's living in Garland TX (a Dallas suburb) and has a girl and 2 boys he works for Dallas Semiconductors and makes enough money to support me in the style I would like to become accustomed; James Davidson lives south of Cleveland OH and has a girl and 2 boys. They did it in the same order, girl then boy, boy. Jim is the owner/operator of his own semi. He doesn't make any profit to support me as well as I do for myself!! John Davidson (our classmate) and I were divorced in 1973. He worked for the Post Office and was Postmaster in Bangor when he died of a massive heart attack January 8, 1996. My step-son's youngest son was born that day and I was at the hospital with him and his wife at the time I got the news from my daughter-in-law.
I married David January 1974. We lived in Kalamazoo and a year later moved to Marcellus, where he's was raised and lived most of his life. He works for the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ann Arbor MI. He gets home for his 2 days off on Tuesday and Wednesday. I get my weekends to myself to do as I please!!!!!! When he comes home, I'm only there when I get out of work, so we don't have time to fight!!! It's perfect!!!!
My husband has a daughter and son. Mariana is married to a man in the Navy just moved to Columbus OH. He's on his last tour of duty and will be retiring in about 3 years with 20 years in the service. They have a son and then daughter. Wade is divorced and has custody of his 2 sons. It's his son's birth I watched!!
I get to Dallas to see that family about once a year. By the time of the reunion, my oldest grandchild will be 13. First is Jim's daughter, Wade's son, Jim's son, Wade's son, Jim's son, Mariana's son, John's daughter, Mariana's daughter, John's 2 sons are last. Wade has a step-son who is the 4 months younger than the oldest girl who grew up with us from a baby. That is a total of 11 grandchildren. Wade is going with a lady who has 2 girls, so we might get a little more proportioned in the girl department. We're currently 3 girls and 8 boys.
I am planning to retire in 4 years max. Maybe sooner if they come out with another early out retirement or KPH closes.
Ward, Richard - I left Kalamazoo for a tour in the Air Force in early 1964, and after a short tour in Southeast Asia returned to Wichita Kansas where I met and married my wife Betty in December 0f 1966. We have a son Chris who resides in Wichita and still looking for the perfect girl. Our Daughter Julie lives close by us in Goodyear, Arizona, and has twin girls(2 years old)that Grandma watches during the day.
After leaving the military in 1968, I went to work for CIT Credit Corp. While working for CIT I used my GI Bill attending Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, and Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas.
In 1974 I accepted a position with the U.S. Small Business Administration in Wichita, Kansas, and that is where we spent the next 21 years. In 1996 I transfeered to the Phoenix, AZ., office and retired in January of 2001.
I am a volunteer at the Luke AFB Hospital (I also retired from the Air Force Reserve) in the X-Ray Department while Grandma is watching the Twins.
Weed (Mathews), Darrelyn - I have 2 girls Dawn age 29 and Heather age 24. I am a homemaker and my husband works on the railroad with Bob Korne. I still live in Kalamazoo and enjoy going to the gym and rollerbladeing. I am also a grandmother Dawn had a wonderful boy and they live with us so he is the boy I never had he is now six, and goes to the same little school his mother went to. Look forward to the reunion next year.
Willin, Diane - My name is Diane Willin I am married to Don East and have Children and Grandchildren whom we totally enjoy,We have lived in this area all of our lives but have enjoyed travelling to Hawaii and many other states in this Country .I worked as a Pharmacy Tech after High School and then went into Banking as an account reconsiler,Then I earned a Real Estate license to become an real Estate Assistant[never cared much about sales]I had an slight accident at home and broke my foot ,so I stayed home to re-cuperate and my husband did not want me to return to any kind of job. So He and our Family became My wonderful job. We are active in all the sports that our Children and Grandchildren are in along with Ballet and Band Events.Whenever We travel we are alway's anxious to get back home to Portage and remain in touch with our Family.