Directory: N-R

• nelli, jim

Operations manager at Mastercraft Vending.

614 North Robinson Drive
Palatine, Illinois 60074-7222
847.359.1672
Facebook
[some information from 2007 GBS Alumni Directory]

nelson, hank

In February of 2020, Nan and I decided –not knowing some kind of pandemic was on the horizon– to start a new season of living. So we purchased 10 acres a little outside of town. This city boy is now a city/country boy. Enjoying the night skies, our trail cam, and mowing 6 acres. Fortunately we have two 61” Grasshoppers so we don’t have to fight over mowing time - so relaxing! If you are ever traveling on I70 through this “fly-over” state, we live just a mile from the Interstate, we’d love to see you.

1124 NW Valencia Road
Topeka, Kansas 66615-9246
785.554.8609
Facebook
LinkedIn
handlebarks@gmail.com

• nelson, jim

Owner
Nelson Carpentry

“Jim graduated from Southern Illinois University and is married to Kathy who is a writer. He works as a carpenter contractor and likes to renovate old houses in his spare time. You must really enjoy your work Jim – if you want to do it in your spare time. Kathy and Jim have one son, Steve, age 3. Jim has travelled to the Western U.S. and Mexico.”
[ from the 1984 Reunion book ]

1620 Forest Drive
Glenview, Illinois 60025-1406
847.827.0674

nelson, sharon (Lusk)

I've lived in California for 30 years but am happy to say that I'm back in the midwest where I belong! I live in Michigan with my 92 year old mom. My sister, her husband, and my neice live here too. I'm hoping to come to the reunion. My cousin lives in Glenview. I probably won't know a soul, but what the heck, huh! My life has certainly been a trip. These last three years here in Michigan have been the best years of my life. And, the most wonderful thing of all is that it just gets better and better. I have a higher power named God that walks with me every minute of every day and for that I am incredibly grateful.  

212 Trevor Trail
Onsted, Michigan 49265-9670
Facebook
slusk7@comcast.net 

• Nguyen, Nga Thi (Frook)

24503 Crestley Drive
Corona, California 92883-5636
https://www.facebook.com/nga.frook

• nowak, jack

17285 West Huntington Circle
Grayslake, Illinois 60030-3044
847.362.5564
jackn17285@gmail.com

• nystrom, bill

House painter and contractor.

701 Hunt Club Circle
Galena, Missouri 65656-4831
815.455.2608
[some information from 2007 GBS Alumni Directory]

• olson, brian

• olson, polly (south)

Attended Missouri Valley College.
Member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority.

408 Southeast Brownfield Drive
Lees Summit, Missouri 64063-6019
816.525.8952
Facebook
Instagram

• oswald, terry (Michael)

“After GBS, Terry furthered his education for two more years at Bryant and Stratton College. On August 4, 1973, Terry and Judy (Fromm, a GBS classmate) were married. Terry is the owner of a graphics, typesetting and printing business ((“Josephs Printing in Glenview, who did this book!) Terry keeps Judy (a former teacher, now housewife and homemaker) busy helping at work and raising their two boys, Michael, 5 1/2, and Matthew, 4 1/2; they also have a pet, “Chipper” age 3. While living in Des Plaines and Mt. Prospect, Terry has managed to travel to Maine and Florida. In his spare time, Terry is a computer hobbyist!”
[ from the 1984 Reunion book ]

407 North Emerson Street
Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056-2101
847.255.4315
moswald@gmail.com
mto407@mac.com
[some information from 2007 GBS Alumni Directory]

• otis, mark

Owner of Milwaukee Grill.

625 Barber Loop
Mooresville, North Carolina 28117-8961
https://www.facebook.com/mark.otis.14

owen, deb (Fortune)

I graduated from NIU with a BFA, then on to being an interior designer for half my career. Eventually I became the Director of Design for two architectural firms, then I flipped over to the dark side of marketing for architects, then on to a long career of being a national business developer for a large multi office, E/A firm. I specialized in Public Library architecture. About 5 years ago I stepped back from that hectic life and became the Community Relations Officer for a large Illinois Public Library. Now, taking a bit of time off before I decide what’s next in my life. 

I have a grown son who is the Director of Recreation for a not-for-profit organization. Most of my family lives in Scotland and England. The UK makes for a great place to visit! For years I spent a lot of time in the Austin, Texas area; the Hill County. I am still thinking about retiring down there, but it’s awfully hot.

927 South Bell School Road
Rockford, Illinois 61108-4457
847.489.7496 cell
Facebook
songbirdcv@comcast.net

• patti, dayle (Keller)

1075 Bradford Court
Elgin, Illinois 60120-2383
847.840.9495
Facebook
Instagram

• pellinat, andy

Facility management.

508 Ridge Road
Mahomet, Illinois 61853-9308
217.586.3680
[some information from 2007 GBS Alumni Directory]

• peterson, erik

“Apparently Erik has not told us everything. After working this out on a calculator, we can find no possible way that Erik could have gotten married in ‘79 and have a 16 year old son and a 15 year old daughter! He also says he’s a payroll manager. Erik graduated from the U. of I. and has travelled to Europe, E. Germany and Mexico. In his spare time he works as the treasurer for his homeowners association.”
[ from the 1984 Reunion book ]

236 Buli Lane
Bolingbrook, Illinois 60490-1521
630.450.0493
https://prabook.com/web/erik_frank.peterson/875597

peterson, gary lee

“Gary and his wife Jane have been married since 1976. After graduating from U. of I., Gary has pursued a career in sales. Gary and Jane have two children, Casey, 6 and Jesse, 2. Since high school, Gary has lived in Champaign, Arlington Heights, Denver, Kansas City and Northbrook before settling in Algonquin.”
[ from the 1984 Reunion book ]

710 10th Street
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451-4525
757.437.2627
Facebook
garypeterson6151@cs.com
[some information from 2007 GBS Alumni Directory]

• petrie, mark

• pufundt, chris

2820 Powell Court
Naperville, Illinois 60563-4228
630.848.0991

potterfield, Joy (Bertone)

Retired postal superviser (37 years).
Mother of twin boy and girl (30 years old).
Married (34 years).
Sober (33 years).
Always lived in Chicagoland area.
Master gardner.
Currently babysitting for grandchildren.
Love to travel.

615 Oakton Street
Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007-1730
https://www.facebook.com/joy.potterfield
Joynbertone@sbcglobal.net

• powers, scott

“Powers accepts buyout offer from Chicago Tribune
June 15, 2021
posted by Mariam Ahmed

Scott Powers, a veteran Chicago Tribune journalist who has spent more than 20 years at the paper, mostly as entertainment editor, has taken the buyout offer from the publication.

He has also worked as an arts editor at The Boston Globe for 7 years, and was an editorial director at Hill & Knowlton. He was also editor of Signals magazine at Ameritech.

In addition, he was also with the Chicago Sun-Times.

Powers is a B.A. in journalism from Ohio State University and holds a master’s degree in telecommunications from Kent State University.”

1638 Silverpine Drive
Northbrook, Illinois 60062-5132
847.830.9916
LinkedIn
Twitter

poynter, deborah (gustin)

After a career in advertising and marketing working for ad agencies in downtown Chicago for 30 years, I made the switch to recruiting and marketing for healthcare. It gives me great satisfaction to recruit dedicated, compassionate healthcare professions. My hope is that they will be the ones to treat me when I am sent to "the rest home"! I was widowed at age 51 after 33 years of marriage and have not yet found that rich old man with one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel to keep me in the style to which I would like to become accustomed. Yes, I married young and wasn't even pregnant -- just stupid in love. My husband Craig and I met at Kendal College. He grew up in Evanston. I only went to South for one year when my dad was transferred from the Pentagon to take command of NAS Glenview. It was turbulent times in 1968 with the Democratic Convention and having the National Guard camped at the base. I am still very involved with the Glenview Council of the Navy League and worked to save the Chapel that now is on Chestnut and Patriot Blvd at The Glen. It is one of the only surviving military chapels with a revolving altar that had a Protestant Altar, Catholic Altar and Jewish Altar. I have two children: Richard is 47 (spouse Margret, grandson Carl is 16) and Megan is 40. Both my kids went to GBN, as does my grandson Carl who is a 3 sport athlete, though Golf is his passion. I still work full-time and average 11 work hour days. I can see myself working until they wheel me out in a casket! My leisure activities are reading, gardening, and when possible, I play AT golf...and work on our Reunion Committees. Look forward to seeing and reconnecting with "old" friends.

1710 Oak Avenue
Northbrook, Illinois 60602-5428
847.921.5236 cell
dgustin@aol.com

pressley, bob

Lenore and I have been married for 45 years, and our three kids are grown with kids of their own. We're lucky to have both of our boys and two of our grandchildren living here in Albuquerque, with our daughter and third grandchild just a few hours away in Colorado.

I retired about a year ago from a 43-year engineering career that took me all over the world - Venezuela, Germany, France, Switzerland, Egypt, and even Indiana! Still at it part time, but on my own schedule, and working from home.

6920 Wildwood Court, NE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87111-1023
505.821.7098
jpressbob@aol.com

• PReves, Rich

Former owner of Richard Preves & Associates (architecture / planning)

22585 Ruth Court
Kildeer, Illinois 60047-8510
847.438.8775
[some information from 2007 GBS Alumni Directory]

• prideaux, max

2988 Sunshine Place
Green Bay, Wisconsin 54313-1437
847.808.1677

• printz, bob

P. O. Box 1389
Naples, Florida 34106-1389
239.825.7853
bobprintz@gmail.com

• probst, vicki

“Vicki states her occupation as a “domestic engineer.” Married since 1971, Vicki and husband Robert have two children, R.J., 11 and Justin, 6. Now that Justin is in school, Vicki has so much free time she doesn’t know what to do with it, although she has found time for quilting and needlepoint.”
[ from the 1984 Reunion book ]

• prochazka, Melissa (DUncan)

412 East 40th Street
San Angelo, Texas 76903-1718
325.262.6331 - cell
325.655.4205
325.653.1136
https://www.facebook.com/melissa.prochazkaduncan

• progar, steve

1117 Dearborn Lane
Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061-3217
847.362.1493

psiris, jack

I am living in a golf course community in Fort Myers, Florida with my wonderful wife Doreen. Both of our careers were as consultants working with large companies helping them to integrate technology into their organizations and products. I retired from Lockheed Martin in 2012 and moved from Washington, DC to the west coast of Florida. I have been interested in photography and photo editing all my life, and now that I have the time I enjoy creating panoramic and large scale composite images as well as restoring old photographs. (See my photo website at www.jackpsiris.com). I am also heavily involved with the Bobbie Nichols Charitable Foundation, which raises funds for various organizations that provide support and assistance to abused and at-risk children.

8661 Glenlyon Court
Fort Myers, Florida 33912-2408
239.362.3856
jpsiris@mac.com

Ralph, Arleigh (Stein)

The last 50 years has been wonderful, with each year better than the one before. As a registered nurse, I worked in medical and cardiac intensive care, as well as the emergency room. During this time, I met and married my husband, Richard. We moved to Atlanta where he did his fellowship in gastroenterology, then spent over 20 years in practice in Seattle.

We lived on an island in the middle of a huge freshwater lake 15 minutes from the Space Needle. I became a soccer mom, coaching our daughters’ sports teams, joining the PTA, and doing volunteer work. We traveled extensively, have been to every state in the Union, Israel, Hong Kong, Greece the 'must see' places in Europe, and some unusual places like the Galapagos Islands. My husband and I have been to Vietnam several times, bringing hundreds of thousands of dollars of donated medical equipment each time. The local doctors are well educated in their specialty fields, but had none of the equipment necessary to do advanced medicine. My husband taught Vietnamese doctors how to use the new equipment. I studied Native American skills for living with the earth (I can make a fire without matches), hide tanning, animal tracking, herbology, homeopathy, and anything else that caught my fancy. We backpacked, rafted down the Grand Canyon, and spent winter holidays cross country skiing in Yellowstone National Park. At one point, my husband, daughters and I joined a performance dance troop and entertained in England and Greece. My girls carried on and danced on Broadway, but quit when they left for university. I became a neurofeedback and biofeedback practitioner, and went to work outside the home again.

12 years ago, we decided to emigrate to New Zealand. Best Move Ever! We originally lived on a little patch of paradise with a few sheep and some chickens, dozens of fruit trees and a backdrop of mountains. We now live on Wellington Harbor, with the beach a couple hundred steps out our front door. Our two youngest daughters and our grandson live about 20 minutes away. We have universal health care and great neighbors. We love it here, have become New Zealand citizens, and are definitely staying.

149 Marine Parade
Eastbourne, Lower Hutt
New Zealand 5013
arleigh.stein@gmail.com

rautenberg, beverly

After GBS, I headed to Bradley University, where I earned a B.S. in Textiles and Clothing. Upon graduation, I was awarded a Full-Tuition Fellowship to a Fashion School in New York City, where I lived for 1 year. I returned to Chicago and worked as a Fashion Designer (My 'First Dream Job'), until 1989. After leaving the Fashion Industry, I became interested in Art and attended The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, where I earned a B.F.A. in Studio Art. I am now living My 'Second Dream Job', as a Visual Artist. I exhibit my Work in Galleries and Museums, Nationally and Internationally. Currently I am creating Artwork for a Solo Exhibition in Florence, Italy, to be held in March 2020. My Passions are Art, Tennis, Music, Theatre, Writing and Animals (especially my dog 'Annie,' who I rescued 9 years ago).

I am SO looking forward to The GBS 50th Reunion, to see everyone and hear all about what everyone has been doing for the last 50 Years!!!!

21 Kristin Drive
Unit 223
Schaumburg, Illinois 60195-3333
630.887.6566
https://www.instagram.com/beverly_rautenberg_art/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/BevRautenberg
brautenberg@hotmail.com

reagan, richard (dick)

After leaving GBS I got my BS in Education. Upon graduation I started working in banking and never looked back. I spent over twenty years in banking working various jobs and going though 3 different bank mergers. After the last merger my job got eliminated, and I started working in real estate, managing medical office buildings, condo and townhome associations and most recently shopping centers. I retired in 2017 after having knee replacement surgery.

My wife Marlene and I have been married for 42 years. She grew up in Glenview but attended Marillac. We knew it was kismet when we found out that my parents got married in her parents bedroom. For those interested I would be happy to share the story at the reunion. We have lived in Northbrook since 1977.

We have one son who played both varsity baseball and basketball at Glenbrook North, so I have been back to GBS a few times to watch him play. He is now a high school teacher and Assistant Athletic Director. He and his wife and our granddaughter live locally.

2207 Illinois Road
Northbrook, Illinois 60062-5236
847.714.6952
Facebook
richard_reagan@hotmail.com

redfield, barb (nose)

After graduating from Arizona State University I moved to Columbus, Ohio. I pursued a career in retailing, married Kevin and started a family. When our sons, Jake and Tyler started school, I changed careers and became an elementary school teacher (which is what I studied at ASU). Jake now lives in New York City and we visit often. Our lives changed forever when we lost Tyler 5 years ago. We understand how important memories are and strive to have an attitude of gratitude every day. Looking forward to sharing memories of GBS days and making new ones at the reunion.

137 South Virginia Lee Road
Columbus, Ohio 43209-2051
https://www.facebook.com/barb.nose.7
https://www.instagram.com/bnoz1/
614.519.4332
barbnose1@gmail.com

Rees, Robert

New York City, Art Director, theater Sound Designer/Sound Engineer/Composer.

Apartment 4F
59 West 90th Street
New York, New York 10024-1565
212.787.0496
www.rcreesmusic.com
rob@rcreesmusic.com

• reichard, terri (Delano)

Registered nurse.

“Terri received her A.D.N. degree from Harper Jr. College, after two years. Her marriage to Duke DeLano (GBS class of ‘68) on August 28, 1971 and 2 children Mary, age 10 and James, age 8, and 6 fish haven’t slowed Terri down! Terri is a registered nurse at Lend Medical Service, which is the leading company in the field of Infant Apnea Monitoring – working with “preemie” babies that stop breathing. She instructs parents and hospital personnel in the use of monitors. She is still attending school at Aurora College. In her spare time, Terri teaches various needlework, plays softball, is a CPR instructor and claims to be a “sideline soccer mother.” That’s quite a productive ofe! Besides Montgomery, IL, Terri has lived in Arora and Oswego, IL, and has travelled to California, Florida and exciting “U. of I.” Understandably, not having much spare time, Terri says if she did she’d like to take a cruise to visit Australia and “threaten the life of whoever thought of MTV!” (Temper, temper, Terri. Control her, Duke.)”
[ from the 1984 Reunion book ]

2981 Heath Peak Road
Waynesville, North Carolina 28785-5923
630.896.2346
https://www.facebook.com/terri.delano

reid, philip

After attending Ripon College for 4 years with Carol Jaye and Jody Dewey I relocated to NYC for less than a year. I was accepted at the American Academy of Dramatic arts, but chose to return to Chicago to join WGN-TV. A forty-five year career ensued while I worked as a TV Director, Producer and Cameraman. I worked on News programs, talk shows, and sports. I worked over a thousand Cubs games. I also freelanced as a Cameraman for CBS NFL, CBS NCAA Basketball, Fox Sports, HBO Sports and many others. I think I covered every sport that exists. I directed "At the Movies" with Siskel & Ebert as well. It was a fun career and I was able to travel to 49 states and 40 countries. I have been married for 35 years to my wife Marilyn. She has lead us in a fun hobby of going to see live music almost every week. We take at least one music cruise every year that is a cruise ship with over 40 bands on it. We have no children but have been able to help raise a nephew and a niece of whom we are both very proud. We are now retired.

3144 Ringwood Meadow
Sarasota, Florida 34235-6901
312.953.1278
Facebook
zooomout@aol.com

Reidy, Dave

2338 Nichols Road
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004-1118
847.309.1612
217.742.3252
Facebook
dreidy27@gmail.com

Reuter, Rick

I graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Engineering in 1973. A week later I started working at American Motors. Over the course of the next 34 years I held variety of positions as American Motors got bought by Renault, then sold to Chrysler and then merged with Mercedes to become DaimlerChrysler. My favorite job during my career was the 5 years I spent running Chrysler's proving grounds in Michigan and Arizona. Each facility is 6 square miles in size and contains every kind of road type imaginable from high sped ovals to barely passable off road terrain. Every vehicle made by Chrysler was developed at these facilities. For a guy like me with gasoline in my veins it was the perfect job. My last job was Chief Engineer of Jeep. That position was much more political and much less fun. By 2007 I was burned out on the corporate world and decided to retire. Once I left I never looked back.

On a personal level I currently live in South Lyon, Michigan and have been fortunate that I have not had any major health issues. I have been happily married to my second wife, Coreen, for 19 years. Between us we have 4 children and 3 grandchildren. My son is General Purchasing Manager for the Toyota Center in Houston. My daughter works at the University of Michigan and recently bought a house near us. Cori's son lives in Ann Arbor, MI and works for a Washington, DC education think tank. Cori's daughter is a stay at home mom and has 3 kids of her own.(ages 6, 3 and 4 mos). She lives a mile away and we have a swimming pool so we are very popular with the grandkids.

Those of you who knew me may remember that I have always had an affinity for cars. As a result I own some sports cars that I like to putter with. I have a paved 1000' driveway which is my own personal test track. I am also active in a few car clubs in the area. In fact I was just elected Treasurer of the Motor City Viper Owners Club. Cori and I also travel quite a bit, both in the North America as well as Europe. I have been to 49 of the 50 states (Maine is still on the bucket list) and we were fortunate enough to get to Cuba just before Trump shut it off. Between travel, hanging out with the kids/grandkids, playing with my cars etc, I never feel bored. It’s amazing I ever found time to work.

59801 East 8 Mile Road
P.O. Box 685
South Lyon, Michigan 48178-9675
248.469.2201
Facebook
rhr5549@gmail.com

• roark, kathLEEN (votava)

W10227 Cole Creek Road
Dunbar, Wisconsin 54119-2701
715.582.3987

• Robberson, joe

Executive Director, Cook County 911.

1505 Executive Lane
Glenview, Illinois 60026-1535
847.830.7929
LinkedIn

Roberg, Marilee

Attorney, arbitrator, mediator.

Unit 10b
1616 Sheridan Road
Wilmette, Illinois 60091-1851
312.835.0304
LinkedIn
mroberg@ameritech.net

• robinson, mike

1817 Elmdale Avenue
Glenview, Illinois 60026-1355

roller, rae (Quanbeck)

Flight attendant, Northwest Airlines.

434 Laguana Avenue
Key Largo, Florida 33037-4340
305.451.4632
612.916.1951
Facebook
ghqrdq@yahoo.com
[some information from 2007 GBS Alumni Directory]

• romanoski, thomas

• roppolo, vicki (lundy)

Highcrest PE teacher at Wilmette Public Schools.

“Both Vicki and husband Michael are former physical ed teachers. Mike is now a commodities trader. Vicki stays in shape by teaching aerobics, jogging and playing with her three beautiful kids, Toni-6, Jill-3 and Steven-1. She also organizes and runs a children’s choir and young couple socials for Christ Church in Lake Forest. Vicki is currently setting up a phys. ed curriculum for the new Christian School in Northbrook. All this and she finds time to work on our reunion, too!”
[ from the 1984 Reunion book ]

216 Annapolis Drive
Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061-2015
847.502.1584
rav813@comcast.net
https://www.facebook.com/vicki.lundy.54
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicki-lundy-06791744/

• Rosado, steve

Computer engineer.

316 Espy Street
Nanticoke, Pennsylvania 18634-4306
570.417.7574
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-rosado-a9985645/
[some information from 2007 GBS Alumni Directory]

• Rowe, kathy (Collins)

• rumsfeld, john (Chuck?)

Ruschli, Jill (Crane)

I was born in a small town in the midwest - O wait, weren’t most of us? Oh, ok.

After high school I went to college to attain my goal of an MRS degree. I had to get out of my crazy house and start my own Catholic close family. That’s all I wanted. Mission partially achieved after only two years so I quit college and put my GBS year of typing to use at various jobs. (Rust-Oleum Corp - five promotions in five years - not bad) waiting for the boyfriend to pop the big question. Seven years later after a teary ultimatum we had a small wedding in the rabbi’s study.

Pretty soon we had the cutest, blonde, blue-eyed baby girl and a couple years later, the skinniest, reddish, ugliest baby boy. I did my mommy thing, loved cooking and babying while Hubby loved to move as I rehabbed four houses which led to my ten year business as an interior designer. My work appeared in the Chicago Tribune and Better Homes and Gardens. That was cool. Even cooler: One day I did an online test, “What kind of kitchen do you want?” I answered the ten questions and pictures of my own kitchen showed up!

The design work didn’t stop me from playing golf and also paid for my five thousand lessons a day. I wound up with an 18 handicap and discovered that nothing really helps a low handicap like a well tipped caddy. Later in my country club life I wrote a revue for our Centennial. One of my jokes, that summer of 2008, was an old man character saying, “That would be like saying the Cubs wouldn’t win another pennant for a hundred years!” The audience actually laughed. Of course the whole story was about them and they did drink a lot of free champagne by showtime.

Fundraising and giving back became a big deal to me. I had so much. I worked at my kids’ school on the PTA, room mother, Pancake Day (we went to every business in town and asked for anything, even a pen, to put in our raffle.) With over 300 items from local businesses the raffle lasted the whole day. In 1984 and 1985. The best item everyone hoped for was a football signed by all the Bears. I was just lucky to know someone who knew Ditka to be able to get that football for the raffle.

Then my father-in-law got very sick and within six weeks died by my side. He was my Maginot Line in my husband’s family. Everything changed when he died and Hubby and I broke up for a year, got back together and from then on, our kids and me never knew which way was up.

So what do we do? Surprise! Surprise wasn’t even the word for this new baby boy. His older brother nicknamed him Honus the Bonus after the famed baseball player. That was the first year my 12-year-old daughter stopped talking to me. How could I do this to her? Ruin her life like this, by you know…with Dad.

I was asked to volunteer for a special organization to raise funds for research at Children’s Memorial Hospital by a remarkable group of women to go into the business community and raise significant funds. We only had one year. My partner and I garnered $1.3 million in 1993. I still don't have a problem asking businesses for money if it’s for a good reason.

Then Dad started coughing a lot. A lot. A real lot and for a long time. He wrote letters to the Cardinal and asked me if we could drive to Detroit to see Dr. Kervorkian. He wished he had lung cancer because there are no pain killers for COPD. Little Honus and I went to visit him one day and found a dark house and my dead father. He had talked about killing himself. This man, my daddy, had been thru pain, loss and war. He had been miserable with this stupid COPD. Of course I didn’t blame him. Our God would understand. What did I know. Well, I know I’m not a gun lover.

My oldest son was using drugs. Honus had learning issues. My daughter couldn’t stop eating although her writing was pretty good which landed her at USC Film Writing School while my older son went to eleven institutions to conquer his drug abuse. How he was able to get through University of Denver and get a Master’s at Pepperdine is beyond me. As much as Honus promised me he would never be like his brother he was in his fourth drug rehab by the end of high school. After Pepperdine, Son Number One was finally sober for two years and had a real job as a social worker. Yeah!!!

Then a phone call. He died of a drug overdose. I dug up a couple silver linings: My reddish skinny baby sweetheart was finally at peace. I also got to meet my granddaughter at his funeral. That was five years ago.

One day Mom asked what those sticks were by the side of the road. “Bushes, Mom.” So a home for dementia was next on the list. Maybe I’m too optimistic. These days Mom still thinks she’s selling real estate and often asks her caretakers if she got any calls today. At age 94 she wears make-up and lights up when we tell her how beautiful she is and she is.

My daughter still doesn’t talk to me, but I found out she had another daughter the day I had to talk to my ex when Honus went to jail.

More silver linings: the jail thing worked out very well. It scared him straight. He’s sober now for almost two years and won’t even jaywalk. Really - we were at a yellow light and as I started to cross he stopped me. He’s working at the same job for a year and half, waiting for a deserved promotion, and hoping to marry a wonderful girl who has stayed with him with throughout all of this. She has never used drugs. I ‘Hail Mary’ constantly, still 'not hoping' for the catastrophe. I need to trust. There is a God.

And Me? A wonderful man opened my heart to strength through laughing, goodness and honesty. He still opens the car door for me. I didn’t know it could be like this - this stable. Is it age? Is it patience? Is it learned wisdom? Is it just life? That’s why I’m urging everyone to come to this 50th Reunion. Let’s celebrate. Growing up is such a gift.

1829-D Wildberry Drive
Glenview, Illinois 60025-1737
847.212.5488  
https://www.facebook.com/jilcrane
jilcrane@aol.com

Russell, dick [Richard]

I live in Van Buren, AR, just on the AR/OK border. After 35+ years in the jewelry business in all aspects, I am now finance/business manager for a Chevy/Cadillac dealership in the area.

2110 Broken Hill Drive
Van Buren, Arkansas  72956-6419
479.561.1533 (cell)
https://www.facebook.com/richard.russell.967806
https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-russell-369a09102/
See a 2023 video interview of Dick here
rrussell5951@yahoo.com