Dear LP-53 Classmates, Spouses, and Friends;

 I am later with this news-letter than I intended, so you are receiving it in early July.  Half of the year 2007 is history.  As I am writing, someone on the TV is talking about the book “Einstein” being at the top of the Best-Sellers list - the comment being how it seems unusual that a book about a man of science would be a best seller. Seems unusual to me, as well.

It also seems to me, that there is a real, undefined theory of relativity that applies to the passing of time in one’s life. With aging, there is a accumulation of experience that increases the density of the brain’s mass (our brains didn’t get any bigger), with a gravitational effect causing light and time to travel faster. Makes sense to me. I need some explanation for time flying by. I can spend the whole day doing nothing, and before I know it, it’s bed time.

I want to emphasize two events on our LP-53 schedule: our annual July gathering and our 55th reunion (see articles in this newsletter). Already, we are working on the arrangements for the 55th reunion. One item that I will ask the planning group to discuss is whether or not our 55th will be our last, formally planned reunion. We would all like to be around to attend a 60th reunion, but, let’s face it ... we are likely to have other things on our mind than a high school reunion in the year 2013. We will continue our annual July gatherings, which are mini-reunions, without the formality of invitations and reservations and agendas and information forms and table decorations and booklets, and etc. 

Signs of the Times

I noticed a News Tribune article, May 10, 2007, “Diocese closes Resurrection Church.” The article notes that the church is in La Salle, but I could not recall a church by that name in La Salle, so I did a Google search finding that the address is 913 5th St., and also finding what must be a student’s paper titled; “Architecture of Some Churches in the Illinois Valley,” written by Megan Eiten, St. Bede Academy, Peru (maybe some of you know Megan).  The paper is not dated, but it includes footnotes to references, the most recent in 2003. Of the Resurrection Church, Megan wrote; “...Resurrection Church in La Salle, which was formerly known as St. Joseph’s Church ....” I remember St. Joseph’s Church.  Decrease in parish membership is one cause for closing the church.  If I understood the News Tribune article correctly, there are now only two catholic churches in La Salle; St. Hyacinth’s and St. Patrick’s, with two priests assigned to serve both churches.  I remember that there was also a St. Roch’s (sp?) Church in La Salle, but I don’t know what happened to it.

I read in a recent Time or Newsweek article that a 13-year old girl won $25,000 in a text messaging contest ... winning details not described. I have watched our 16-year old granddaughter send text messages on her cell phone while she is watching television. It is all done one-handed ... the phone held in the palm and the buttons pushed with the thumb. I doubt that I could read a cell phone text message, knowing that some sort of short hand is used ... like, “R U Thr?”

What’s new in La Salle-Peru

Maybe the north La Salle residents can finally see the end of the tunnel of the Rte. 351 project (St. Vincent’s Avenue), which has had that road under construction for almost three years.  The original contractor’s firm went “belly up,” abandoning the work.  A new contract has been awarded and work is again under way.

The “west” gymnasium at the high school is getting new bleacher seats ... cost, $263,000. In case you don’t know where the “west” gymnasium is; it was added to the west end of the main building in the 1960s. The inside entrance is at that corner of the building where the boys “hung out” before home room in our time. It is the main gym. I don’t know what activities take place in the gym across the street from the main building. The seats of the new bleachers will be made of different colored plastics. When the bleachers are folded up, the different colors will spell out “CAVS” in school colors (red and green, in case you don’t remember, and if they haven’t changed). That’s nice, but if I had been on the design committee, I would have chosen some words more motivating, like; “BEAT OTTAWA,” that the boys and girls could see when practicing.

The IVCC (old LPO) board of trustees is having a “broo-ha” about alleged discrimination against women in administrative and board positions. Former board members and some of the staff accuse the board of micro-managing the operations of the college. (There is a lot of micro-management these days) The president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, Local 1810, says; “tension, fear, and anxiety has filtered through the institution ....” I hate this sort of publicity in news articles! Someone has a complaint and they take it to the news media to start a fire. And, I am very sorry to learn of ANY problems at IVCC ... it is a treasure for our home community.

Seven Wonders of Illinois

The Illinois Bureau of Tourism solicited citizens to nominate the best attractions in the state.  Seven were selected, including Starved Rock State Park, and Wrigley Field, both familiar to us.  The others were: The Baha’i House of Worship in Chicago (never heard of it); Allerton Park and Retreat Center; Black Hawk State historic Site; Rend Lake, a large man-made lake created in the 1970's; and, Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway, where the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois Rivers converge.  I probably would have voted for a place on the Little Vermillion where we gathered to drink beer and sing the good old songs.  But, people probably can’t go there anymore.

Memories

If you remember this, your memory is a lot better than mine.  When we were in high school, everyone’s lunch was scheduled as part of three groupings during the 4 th period, from 11:20AM to 12:45PM.  We got 25 minutes for lunch.  The first group went 11:20-11:45, then to their 4 th period class.  The second group went to class first, from 11:20-11:45, then to lunch, then back to class 12:20-12:45 (with five minutes front and back to get to and from the cafeteria), the third group went to class from 11:20-12:15, then to the cafeteria for lunch, 12:20-12:45.  Sounds confusing, but all went well.  Do you remember that Butch Nowack got some of his light-weight football players jobs in the cafeteria so that Mrs. Schalla could put some meat on their skinny bones?  .

In Memoriam

With this issue, we note the passing of two more from our class.  Our In Memoriam list now names 69 classmates. 

Earl Mohr died April 17, 2007 in Illinois Valley Community Hospital.  I don’t have obituary information.  I heard from Earl’s wife about a year ago saying that he was ill. I think he is survived by wife, Patricia, three children and six grand children.  (Photo from 1952 Ell Ess Pe withdrawn)

Marilyn Menning Conway died April 21, 2007 in Highland Park (IL) Hospital after a long battle with cancer.  Marilyn’s obituary notes that she is survived by her husband, Philip, three daughters, and three grand children.  It also notes that Marilyn was named “Queen Mom” of the University of Illinois in 1987, having been nominated by her daughter, Jennifer. (Photo from 1953 Ell Ess Pe withdrawn)

All those we love are part of us,

For things of beauty leave their trace.

And memories of all we've shared,

Are treasures time cannot erase.

..... Anonymous ....

Lost Classmates

We have tried to do a good job of accounting for classmates, but we have seventeen unaccounted for.  About nine months from now, we will be mailing invitations for our 55 th reunion and start to prepare a booklet.  Below, is a list of the classmates we cannot find.  If you have any information about any of these individuals, please let us know:

                      Tony Angelo                              Lyla Andrews

                      Robert Argubright                      Betty Berezoils

                      Joan Cattaneo                           Shirley (Compaggeio) Pearsall

                      Josephine (Falk) Gallup              Sharon Ferguson     

                      Robert Forbes                           Tom Homquist

                      Sally (Hopton) Hollins                  Kay Keith) Brohom

                      Patsy Lucas                               LeRoy Means

                      Ludwig Reeland                         George Rice

                      Mary Lou Trout

I did a social security death index search a few weeks ago and found three names that I am pretty sure are our classmates, based on Name, Age, and Social Security number.  They are:

1. Leroy Means, born 9 Jun 34, died 10 Feb 06, in Georgia, SSAN: 341-26-6949.

2. Ludwig Reeland, born 22 Oct 34, died 7 Oct 00, in Arizona, SSAN: 323-28-3469.

3. George A. Rice, born 17 Oct 35, died 25 Nov 88 in Chicago, IL, SSAN: 352-26-6930.

Unless I learn something to the contrary, I intend to move these classmates to our In Memorial list. 

Class Information

Earlier this year, Darwin Croisant had such severe back and leg pains, he had to walk on crutches. I talked to Darwin today, June 25. He is doing a lot better, but not yet back to WalMart. 

In the last letter, I wrote that Elly Mills Neave hoped to be home at the end of March. That did not happen, but she was to get home in May. I don’t know if that happened, or not. Elly’s husband Don wrote me that medications Elly is taking have helped her significantly.

Sharon Huffstodt Badenoch wrote me a note to send her new address. In the note she mentioned that she won the 2007 Ladies’ Club Championship at her golf club, shooting rounds of 86 and 80.  The prize includes the honor of a reserved parking space. Good job, Sharon! It’s a blessing just to be able to be on the golf course, much more so being able to play well.

Trobaugh Scholarship Award

The 2007 recipient of the Class of LP 1953 Earl Trobaugh Scholarship is Steven Newcomer whose residence is 3433 East 6th Road, LaSalle. Don Haas represented us at the scholarship awards program, April 18, 2007.  Thanks Don, and congratulations Steven.

By the way - I find from searching the LP High School’s web site, that there is a “Tirza B. Ennor” mathematics scholarship, awarded to a senior planning to be a math teacher. All of you high achievers probably took math classes from Ms. Ennor. The rest of us took math from Mr. Peters, the nine-fingered typist (remember that?).  I could not find out information about who established this scholarship ... maybe Ms. Ennor herself in her will.  God Bless her.

Address Updates

Bernice Austin Splittstoesser new address is:

P.O. Box 183, Cerro Gordo, IL 61818-0183.

Sharon Huffstodt Badenoch new address is:

95216 Captains Way, Amelia Island, FL 32034-6211.

E-mail Changes:

Bonnie Kutter Brandenburg: bonbrand35@gmail.com

Bob Hughett: bobbyboy53@gmail.co 

2007 Gathering

The gathering dates are July 19-21. Here is the schedule:

·       Thursday, July 19, the die-hard golfers will meet at The Mendota Golf Course for noon tee times (Wayne Schultz reserved 4 times). Lunch food is available at the course. … Also, plenty of beer.

·       Friday, July 20, we will gather at Deer Park about 11:00 AM to visit and have some lunch.  Come for lunch, even if you are not playing golf.  The golf will start at noon.  If you think of it, but not required - send me a note to say that you are playing golf.  We have 4 and 5, if needed, tee times.

Also on Friday, July 20, we will gather at the Stuarts’ 1645 Bucklin St. at 5:30 PM for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner at John’s Northstar Inn at 7:00 PM.

·       Saturday, July 21, we will meet at Senica’s new banquet center at Oak Ridge Golf Course for 6:00 PM cocktails, dinner seating at 7:00 PM.

You don’t need to RSVP to attend any event 

Marriage Album Project

I continue to push this project.  Since last issue, we have received a couple of additions ... thanks to those who sent pictures.  Please send your then (around time of marriage) and now pictures to Jim or me (we will scan them and return).  I did run into a minor problem - some companies will not print the old black & white wedding photos that appear to have been taken by a professional, citing copyright restrictions. Jim put me onto a company that does not ask questions, so now, no problem in making copies of prints 

55th Reunion

The dates for our 55th reunion are September 25-27, 2008.  Put those dates on your calendar, and plan to attend.

A block of rooms has been reserved at Starved Rock Lodge (Ph. 800-868-7625) under contract for: LP Class of 1953 (the reference you use when making a reservation). Your credit card will be charged at full price for the first night when you make your reservation.  We will receive a senior discount, but it will not be applied until check in, and identification is presented.  The discount is 20% for Thursday night, and 10% for Friday and Saturday nights. Our reserved block includes these rooms (2006 prices subject to change, PLUS taxes):

·       4 West Wing King bed and sofa: $120

·       10 West Wind 2 Double beds: $120

·       10 East Wing King bed: $110

·       8 East Wing 2 Double beds: $110

The Starved Rock Room has been reserved for Thursday, September 25. This will be a “welcoming,” with cash bar and heavy hors’ d’oeuvres. We are paying for the room ($250) from our class account balance. I have some volunteers in mind to pay for the hors d’oeuvres

Please send any suggestions that you have for our reunion agenda.                                 

Did You Know
(remember or care?)

Our text book rental fee in 1949 was $1.75. I don’t know the fee for 2007.

The Megan Eiten paper I referenced earlier has an interesting paragraph concerning St. Hyacinth’s Church. She wrote; “It was the Polish Catholic church of the area and it was founded in 1875. Polish families of the area had formerly gone to St. Joseph’s Church in Peru where the mass was held in German, but the Polish families requested to have their own church so they could have mass said in their native tongue.” Interesting to me that Megan used the past tense - St. Hyacinth’s used to be Polish, now it must be mixed ethnicity. In 2007, I would make a bet that you could not find anyone at mass in St. Hyacinth’s who speaks Polish. 

Class Account Bank Balance

After paying for the Starved Rock Room, our class has a bank balance of $539.58.

Information & Stories