Then and Now M-R

Linda Mark Kaplan, Class June '65

I loved growing up on the South Side.  South Siders were a close knit group.  I have so many memories of my years at Bowen.  One I will always remember is walking out of English class and hearing President Kennedy was shot.  My entire working career has been in advertising, the first seven years at Leo Burnett.  For the past 18 years my husband and I have owned a direct mail franchise.  I’ve been married 22 years (to a north sider).  It’s a second marriage for both of us.  I have a 32 year old daughter and a 29 year old son.  My husband has 2 daughters and one son who gave us our first and only grandchild.  We love to travel and have learned so much from our experiences.  We enjoy going to restaurants, taking long walks, reading and going to movies. We love our Cubs and Bears and went to every Bear game until we couldn’t take the cold and realized we could see the game better on TV. We especially love the summer in Chicago.  We live in Lincoln Park and try to take advantage of all the city has to offer.  It’s been so much fun finding and re-connecting with old friends from high school.  Email b.l.kaplan@moneymailer.com.

Marla Marks Hamblin (left Bowen before 1965)

You can take  the girl out of Bowen and J.M. but you can't take them out of the girl.  I lived on NMerrill, across 100th street.  I'm still great friends, albeit long distance, with Jill Schwimmer and Barbara Siver.  Jill is in Eugene, Oregon and Barbara, still in Chicago.  I am in Anaheim, California.  No good food.  I'd love to find anyone from Bowen or J.M. living in Orange County, California to watch Bears games with or talk about the good old days.  I went to U.C.L.A, served as an Orange County deputy public defender for over 20 years, retired and now teach part-time to pay for my last son's tuition at USC.  He plays baseball there, a pitcher.  Nothing,  nowhere, not at all, has ever filled the place Bowen and Jeffery Manor hold in my heart, and all the kids I knew.  It's a little like brigadoon.  Thanks for listening. Email jmnmjh@aol.com

Bob Miller, Class June '65

After Bowen I enrolled at the Circle where I spent 3 years.  During that time I got involved in their Freshmen Weekend Program run by the campus "y" and some how wound up chairing the event in '67.   I left the circle in '68 - it seemed like a good idea then, and transferred to Urbana where I received a BS in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a major in Chemistry in January, 1970.  I arranged my schedule to take an extra 6 months in hoping to avoid the draft.  It didn't help, but the lottery kicked in and kept me out of the service.  I still remember them stamping my form "airborne qualified" during my pre-induction physical and arguing with the doc that I wore glasses and that wouldn't work.  He told me that I wouldn't really want to see where I was going anyway.   Not knowing what the heck I wanted to do - except not go on to get a graduate degree in chemistry,  I started work for a chemical company in the Chicago area as a chemist, took the LSAT, did well, and enrolled in the evening program at Chicago-Kent where I got my JD in '74.  Along the way I took the patent bar, spent some time on law review, was active in a professional fraternity, all while working full time in addition to going to school.  I worked for this same chemical company as a patent attorney for about 10 years, as a general lawyer for them for the next 5, and then went back to manage their patent group for about 9 years.  I took an early retirement package at 51.   I've traveled to Paris, London, Munich, Frankfurt, Rome, Jakarta, Bombay, Tokyo, Singapore, New Dehli, Calcutta, Sydney, Melbourne - and lots of other places on business (some a lot less glamorous) - I've even visited the synagogue in Cochin, India.  51 was too young to hang it up - and I wound up as a patent attorney for S.C. Johnson & Son the maker of Raid(r), Ziploc(r), Glade(r)  and so many other consumer products.  I"ve been working for SCJ for 10 years in their Frank Lloyd Wright corporate headquarters in Racine, WI (free tours on Fridays).  I live in Wind Point, WI - a suburb of Racine, walking distance to an operating lighthouse on Lake Michigan.  I'm looking forward to really retiring sometime in the next couple of years and moving back to Chicago - our real home.  During all of this I got married - now for 33 years to Mimi  - had a son Aaron - who has become a professional student (now going back for his second undergraduate degree), served as a member of the board and as an officer of the temple we're members of in River Forest, served a stint as a member of the board of managers of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago, traveled and enjoyed life.  I like to read, bicycle, drive to and from Chicago (I must like it since I do it so often).  I look forward to seeing everyone.  

Eugene "Gene" Miller, Class June '65

Trying to summarize 45 years is an interesting task.  After Bowen I went "downstate" to the U of I, where I was an accounting major and became a CPA.  I met my wife Judy (originally from the Philadelphia area) during my junior year, and we were married on June 15, 1969.  I practiced as a CPA for a year, got bored, wanted to go back to school and went back to the U of I for law school, which I thoroughly enjoy.  There is a great benefit to living in a college town and we thought about hanging around Champaign Urbana after law school, but did not want to endure the long winters. So Judy and I put everything we owned in a Camaro and headed west, probably because we didn't know any better.  We ended up in Oakland, where Judy had a great Aunt.  It took a while to find a job with a law firm, but we liked the area so much that we stayed until I located the right job.  Judy was an occupational therapist, but now spends her days as a talented artist, primarily as  a sculptor.  We have two kids, Adam 36 and Rachel 33, neither married, but Adam is scheduled to do that on May 30th.  Our kids live in the San Francisco Bay Area, which is great for us.  Adam has always stayed close, but Rachel has lived in all parts of the country and also spent 1 and 1/2 years living in Israel.  Adam is COO for the California Charter School Association, has a passion for education and enjoyed teaching when he was a graduate student at UCLA, he has degrees from 3 of the Pac 10 Schools, but finally realized he had to leave the shelter of the University environment.  Rachel is a genetic counselor where she does prenatal and cancer counseling.  She ended up in Chicago at Northwestern for undergraduate work, and much to my surprise did not mind the weather at all.   We currently live in Lafayette, which is about 30 miles east of San Francisco which means it is either a half hour or an hour and half away depending on traffic.  It can also be 30 degrees warmer in the summer when the fog surrounds San Francisco.

We have traveled quite a bit and look forward to doing more, but I have not contemplated retirement.  I like the day to day interaction with my clients and colleagues.  I am the Managing Partner of a 60 person law firm near my home, so the 5 minute commute is great.  I play bad golf, enjoy hiking and the outdoors and spending time at the beach or touring the Bay Area with the top down on the convertible.  I still watch every Bears game and my children have both inherited the bug. Adam and I traveled to Miami a couple years back to watch the Bears swim through the Super Bowl.  I also tune in to most Illinois basketball games and had the pleasure of attending their final four performance. I dropped the "Eugene" once and for all after high school, so only my mother calls me that and my wife when she is angry with me. Email gene.miller@msrlegal.com

Cheryl Morris Velasco, Class June '65

I remember walking to Bowen on the first day to begin my Freshman year.  I had to have everything match.  I even had sneakers dyed the color of the blouse I wore! I loved Mrs. Stanek’s English class.  I always tried to make sure I selected her class.  She made it so interesting for me.  I don’t think I ever told anyone because not many liked her. I began college and then dropped out because I just wanted to be a hippie and live out my life in peace and love.  I went to Woodstock (my cousin played with one of the bands) and that was going to be my “happily ever after”. Then reality set in!  Back to school for me!  I became a Cardiac Technician and worked in that field for 30 years. I married and divorced.  I am now married again to a wonderful man.  He and I both have 1 son from our previous marriage.  Together, we have 4 grandchildren, which we truly enjoy.  We live in FL year round. For fun, we show dogs (Irish Wolfhounds, Whippets, and Italian Greyhounds) which keep us pretty busy.  We even looked to see if maybe there is a show in IL we would like to go to while we are there! My husband is looking forward to meeting everyone.  Over the years, I have spoken of the fondness I have for Bowen and everyone I went to school with.  Since he has never been to IL, he is in for a treat!  I’ve planned for us to go to the old neighborhood, Bowen and of course, Carl’s hot dogs!!!!  Hopefully, we have time for the Museum of Science and Industry.  I am so excited.  I know this reunion will be a wonderful time.  Seeing friends, remembering all we shared, and thinking that 45 years went by pretty quick because it seems like yesterday we were at our Senior Prom.  Email showdogs13@comcast.net

Ellyn Mose Gold, Class June'65

I am a true "South Sider" at heart and believe my values are such because I was born and raised on the South Side.  I have lived in Tucson for 10 years. My three children and two grandchildren live in Chicago and my husband, Jeff, and I are there several times a year.  Though I am now retired, my professional work included teaching and administration, owning an adoption education service, and practicing as a developmental therapist for children with delays.  I currently volunteer for an NFP called Integrative Touch for Kids. I also work for an organization called The Science of Baseball, which allows me to concentrate on baseball, one of my favorite things in life. One of my most exciting adventures was attaining my Ph.D. at the age of 50!  I love (and miss) my Cubbies and Chicago pizza but do not miss one snowflake.  I enjoy extensive traveling, movies, and theater, red wine, working out, and reading.  I am very un-domestic and I like it that way.   Heading up the 45th and now the 50th reunions has been an honor - emailing, talking, and reminiscing with all of you has been an absolute blast - thank you!   Email: Ellyn12447@yahoo.com

Steve Myers (1948-2008),  Class June '65

I met Steve in April 1999 in Cambridge, MA. when he was going through a divorce. He was the great love of my life.  We had 9 wonderful years together.  They were split  between Cambridge and Gloucester, MA where we bought a weekend house, so Steve could paint in this beautiful light on the North Shore.   Although he received a B.S. in Math from Purdue and an MA in Sociology from U. of Illinois (and taught Sociology for a short while there),  being the iconoclast he was, he chose to be an itinerant jazz musician.  He played guitar and double bass at clubs, avoiding joining the mainstream as long as possible.  He finally got his third master's degree, that in Computer Science (U. Massachusetts ‘83), becoming a software engineer and ultimately software release manager at  Axcelis Corp.   But his first love was painting. He was a member of the Rockport Art and The North Shore Arts Associations.  He exhibited his work, won awards, had solo shows in Gloucester and a joint show at the Cambridge Art Association, selling many paintings.  Steve was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2006 but miraculous drugs seemed to hold it at bay for almost a year, until it recurred.  We managed to squeeze 2 years of living out of all of the trips to Mass General for treatment.  He was painting in a 3-day workshop in August  ‘07, then I took him to Mexico in October ‘07, when he could barely walk, but we had a beautiful week in Cabo San Lucas.  He died peacefully at home on January 5, 2008, when he was 59.  He has a son, Micah Myers, living in Indiana.  Steve loved being a South-sider, and he wore his Cubs hat (even here in Boston) to the end of his life.  He told me wonderful stories of growing up there, and about Bowen.  We ate at Phil Schmidt's and Katzeff's Deli when we went back to Chicago.  I just wish he had been in contact with you all; he was such a beautiful man, with such a zest for life.  He would have loved to know how you all turned out!  ~Alison Rowell, Gloucester, MA.  Email: aerowell@gmail.com 

Sandy Myerson Buch, Class Jan '65

Carole Nart Brooks, Class June '65

Some people never get a first chance, but I was lucky to get a second one.  It started with our last reunion and ended up with a re-union two years later with one of my best friends, then and now, Jerry Brooks.  We probably wouldn’t have connected again had it not been for the reunion and the encouragement of another one of our classmates, Bonnie Katzman Chelin.  This was no easy feat, as I was living in California at the time. After three years of accumulating frequent flyer miles, I moved back to Chicago. Jerry and I have been together almost 18 years and married almost four.  We share four wonderful children and (in my unbiased opinion) seven special grandchildren. I have had the titles of English teacher, Reading Specialist, school administrator, retired, grants writer/manager, college instructor, student teacher supervisor, federal grant reviewer, and Ph.D., but none compare to being called “ Grandma Carole. ”    Any time left over from traveling to different parts of the country to see these children and grandchildren is spent cooking (“presentation of food” is essential), reading, and going to plays.  So, you can understand why working on this reunion has significant meaning for me.  A big thanks goes to Ellyn Mose Gold for stepping up to the plate and getting us organized. What I didn’t realize was that I would get more out of being on the committee than what I have contributed. I have reconnected with old friends, classmates who are now new friends, my elementary/high school/college roommate, and a cousin who is married to one of our classmates. Email cjbrooks121@aol.com

Eleanor Newhoff, Class June '65

From Bowen, I went to Washington University, where I majored in Art History.  Then I spent a couple of years traveling to Japan, and living in Switzerland and Canada then found myself in Boston, attending law school.  Since then, I have practiced law in Boston and Cambridge and specialize in immigration law.  I have a beautiful and wonderful daughter who lives in NYC.  I especially enjoy the work I am doing in the area of human rights, representing scholars and writers through the Scholars at Risk Program through Harvard University.  I also worked as a Clinical Instructor in the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinic at Greater Boston Legal Services, where I also represent many of the undocumented workers arrested in the immigration raid on the Michael Bianco, Inc. factory in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 2007.  I often think of the years and the people at Bowen High School and send my very best and fondest wishes to all of you.  Email Enewhoff@gbls.org

Robert Nielsen (1947-2014), Class June '65

Bob's wife, Charlene, submitted this bio.  It also appears under Charlene Griffiths Nielsen

Bob and I met in the 4th grade and were separated for a few years because I changed schools and reunited in high school. However, we never dated, just good friends until graduation.  We dated through college and got married 20 Sep 1969.  In March 1970 Bob entered the Army and we were stationed at Ft. Benning, GA.   From there we went to Ft. Lewis, WA after passing through North Carolina.  We have 2 sons and 6 grandchildren. 

Bob worked for Holland America Line in Seattle, Washington and retired at the age of 48; and in 2004 we moved to North Carolina and left the family behind in Washington for better weather so Bob could golf.  Bob passed away 22 June 2014; in 2003 we found out that he had an aneurysm in the basilar artery extending from the top of the brain to the base.  It started to grow in 2013, he went through 20 hours of surgery had a massive heart attack and a massive stroke never came out of the coma.  He was a wonderful husband and a great father and grandfather. Email: chuckeepoo46@gmail.com

Norine Nudelman Kehila, Class June '65

I am sure everyone will have a hard time deciding what to say.  1965 was a long, long time ago.  We have all had so many experiences...well here goes.  I graduated from NIU in 1969 and started teaching in Olympia Fields.  I taught many different things and many different grades levels in my career.  I taught everything from high school Speech and English to grade school creative drama.  When I retired from the Glenview Public Schools in 2002, I was the Learning Center Director aka librarian.  That was a great job.  I like to say that being the librarian is the best job in the school.  Professionally, I did some other things beside teach.  I earned an MBA from Roosevelt University in 1986 and worked for a while in marketing.  I have two wonderful daughters, Heather and Pam, from my first marriage.  They are 30 and 33 years old.  Lucky for me, they both live in Chicago.  I love that they live close by so we can be together often.   I am now married for almost 13 years ago to Meir Kehila. He is quite a guy and I was lucky to find him. (He likes to say the same thing!)  Two years ago we bought a condo in Estero, Florida so now we spend the winter there and live in Glenview the other half of the year.  I love to read, golf, kayak, travel, play tennis and yes, a little Mah Jongg, too. Right now the sun is shining in my life.  I like to think that appreciating the good times will help us manage the tough times.  I enjoy hearing from our classmates.  Each message is like a little walk down memory lane.  I am looking forward to seeing you all in July.  Email norinekehila@aol.com

Merle Panick, Class June '65

Alex Pappas, Class June '65

A quick update on what I have been doing over the years. I attended the University of Illinois, circle campus, where I got a degree in marketing. Two months out of college I started an industrial cleaning business. I sold that business in 1976 and went into the mobile electronics business. I became partners with Mike Winicour and by 1982 we had opened 3 retail outlets in Wheeling, Chicago, and Niles, as well as working wholesale for many car dealerships. We sold car stereos, mobile telephones ( when they first started ), auto alarms, and anything related to cars. I also got involved in buying homes and renting them out. Mike moved on to another business in 1987 and I kept the retail stores. In 1987 I started to buy some commercial properties.  I eventually bought and built 4 strip centers as well as owning the electronic stores. In 1997 I had the opportunity to sell my mobile electronic business  and I retired. I did, however, keep 3 of the strip centers and somehow managed to become a dot commer. I started day trading. That was a fast and furious ride. The highs and lows from my family room couch  were wild. As most dot commers did, I made a lot of money and then gave it all back in 2001. Luckily, I always kept my real estate separate from the stock market. At the end of 2001 I had sold all but one strip center.  On the personal side, I have never been married, therefore no children, and what would have been college tuition for a child went into boats. I have had 10 boats over the years, each one getting a little larger. I have had a boat in Burnham Harbor, down town Chicago since 1985. I am on about the 50 yard line of Soldier Field and have a great view of the city. I live on my boat in the summer 4 to 5 days a week and go home to Lemont two days a week to golf. In the winter I travel quite a bit and have taken many beautiful trips all over the world. I have also taken trips with boating friends and have rented boats and taken dive trips in the Abaco's, Virgin Islands, etc. We pilot our own boats and have really encountered unusual things. I have taken river trips ( with my own boats) through out the U.S.  Also, and I am not sure how this happened, in 2001, while on a golf trip, I had  a few drinks to many and the next thing I knew I was driving a Harley Davidson.  9 years later, I have a Harley Ultra Classic and have been to Strugis S.D., Daytona Fl. for bike week, and have taken many motorcycle trips. Odd part about it, I don't even like motorcycles and don't really drink. I have friends that have huge motor coaches and we take about 2 trips a year pulling our motorcycle behind then riding through places like the Grand Canyon, etc. It is fun.  Over the years, I have remained friends with many people from Luella and Bowen. Mike Rubin, Dave Sohn, Mike Winicour and I take an annual golf trip and play beautiful golf courses around the U.S. I was Lee Rubenstein's best man at his wedding and we have always been best of friends. Bob Kreda lives near by and we always keep in touch. All and all, life is good. 

Robert Pavich, Class June '65

Bob really has done some interesting and somewhat notorious things in the course of his career, but still just refers to himself as an attorney. In actuality, after a stint in the army in 'Nam, after finishing law school, he began to broaden his legal interests a bit in the early 90's when he began to take an interest in the situation in the former Yugoslavia. This eventually led to his participation in the legal proceedings at the International Criminal Court in the Hague, during the trial of one of the more well known persons to be held there. (I have likely said more than Bob would like at this point, but it was a fascinating period in history and equally fascinating to be part of it.) Bob would say that the best thing to come out of that time was meeting some truly wonderful friends from all over the world, and our buying a home in Scotland. He continues to be active in International Law, as well as Civil Litigation. He is happiest now though, as am I, spending time with our four grandchildren. Intense as ever, being with them is the only time he ever really relaxes. Our son John, is married to Kelly, who works for a non-profit; they are the parents of Andrew 5, and Matthew 1, and are expecting a third in December 2010. John works for Bob. He had been with the CIA for several years following law school, but decided International Law was a better fit for him. He is also admitted to practice in England and Wales. Our oldest son Matthew is also a lawyer, married to Megan , a lawyer,( is this some kind of joke?) and they are the parents of Eleanor (3) and Ian (8 mos). Matthew is actually the managing editor of the Labor Law Review, which combines his law degree and his expertise in writing. Anastasia is a lawyer in the firm with Bob...and she just got engaged to Patrick...a lawyer! That leaves Hope, our youngest, who is a human rights worker, currently working for an anti- human trafficking org. in Taiwan. She is our hippie child, travels everywhere...has lived and taught in China, but mostly is doing the NGO thing wherever she is. --By Marcia Aldrich Pavich, his wife and our fellow classmate

Paul Plotnick, Class January '65

I graduated in January of 1965. Keith Lowman, Ben Strauss, Mike Bendas and I  went out to eat at Krapil's Restaurant. There had been a freezing rain that night 

The ride was interesting. I went to Wilson Jr. College as they still had January admissions. I then transferred to SIU in Carbondale. I was in my senior year at SIU  accepted to three law schools when President Johnson revoked the graduate deferments. I ended up at Fort Polk Louisiana but that is another story. I met my wife Eleanor when she was 18 and I was 19.  We were married in 1970 and  are now grandparents.  I taught High School in Chicago and went to DePaul College of Law at night. I opened up my own office in Skokie in 1979 and am still practicing law. I miss the South Side, Rainbow Beach, the submarine races, shopping on  87th street, Calumet Beach, Carl's Hot Dogs, Rainbow Cones, Topps Restaurant, Henry's Drive Inn, the Dunes, and hanging out with my friends.  It was a great place to grow up. 

Email 9933312@sbcglobal.net

Jim Pockross, Class June '65

It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than 45 years since I left the hallowed halls of Bowen High. To quote from the song Truckin’ by the Grateful Dead, “What a long, strange trip it’s been.” Academically I attended and graduated from the University of Illinois in 1969. I later earned an MBA from the University of Chicago in hospital administration and finance.

I’ve had a lot of variety in my work career. I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be, but I think I’m getting closer to figuring it out. So far I’ve only had eight occupations. After graduating college, I worked for seven years in personnel administration for the City of Chicago and Cook County. After getting an MBA in 1978, I worked for a few years as a hospital administrator in Pittsburgh before returning to Chicago to work as a health care policy analyst. When that job fizzled out after four years I went to work as a manager in the health benefits area for the City of Chicago. In 1980, I decided to never count on a job for gaining financial independence and determined to learn everything I could about real estate investing. I bought my first building in 1982 and just kept buying building after building. Real estate has been good to me. In 2008, I wrote a book about real estate investing that won a few awards (I'm sure this would shock many of my English teachers at Bowen-especially the merciless theme grader who was not very flattering about my writing skills). I now host a weekly radio podcast on real estate. If that's not enough, I also have an insurance agency that specializes in selling health insurance to small companies and individuals. I'm really glad I work for myself.

I’ve been married over 25 years to my beloved Michele. We’re DINKs-double income-no kids just pets. Michele is a computer consultant. Spiritually I’ve been a practicing Zen Buddhist for over 35 years. I ardently follow the Chicago sports scene and am a huge Bears fan. I exercise daily so I can live long enough to see the Cubs win a World Series. That's a tall order to fill. I play a fair amount of duplicate bridge, travel a lot and read a lot. As a child of the 60's, I want to make the world a better place. That's my place for the next few decades. It's great to re-connect with all you Bowenites. I hope you all had long, strange and wonderful trips. Email: mpockross@comcast.net

Susan Pollans, Class June '65

After college, and a year teaching in suburban Chicago, I headed to Ann Arbor for a graduate degree. I assumed I would stay a few years. However, by the end of graduate school, a boyfriend (not my husband) and a job were part of my life. I had also fallen in love with the city. So here I am, forty years later!  I just retired after teaching over 30 years, mostly in the Ann Arbor Schools. I have taught various grades and worked for a while as a Reading Specialist. I was fortunate enough to teach one year at the American School in London. I was still single and had a great time exploring England and many cities in Europe. There was another big benefit from this overseas teaching: The person I hired to house and dog sit for me became my husband. So we met through the dog! We tell people we HAD to get married when I returned because we were fighting over custody of the dog and that was the best way to resolve this. Alan is from NYC where we both have friends and visit regularly.  I love to travel and have been fortunate to do lots of it! We have friends in various cities in Europe  and take people up on their offers to visit. One reason I chose to retire this year was to be able to do more off season traveling. We tend to walk and hike lots while on trips, and I want to see as many places as I can while I still have health and energy. We just returned from 3 weeks in Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore. It was the best trip ever because we traveled with a Vietnamese couple we know(now from L.A.)who still have friends there.  We got to see and do things that the typical tour group wouldn't get to do. It was more emotional than we expected, as we visited the DMZ, Ho Chi Minh Trail (which is now a highway) and Cu Chi Tunnels. I learned more about Vietnam than I knew during the war, when I was an ardent protestor.  We have two children: Alissa is 25 is working  in advertising in DC. She has inherited my travel bug, and recently went to Asia, Australia and New Zealand for 6 months. Jake, who is 23, graduated from college last year and is a political geek. He worked as a volunteer on the Al Franken campaign for 3 years, and now his (real)  job is campaigning for one of several Democrats vying for the governorship of Minnesota (Entenza.com). I still have my mom and sister and cousins in Chicago, and I return there to see them regularly.I love my new found retirement! I am taking advantage of the myriad of lectures, concerts, classes that abound here. I am also pursuing reading, hobbies and volunteer work that I never had time for.  As I read some of your memories, I realize I have very few memories of highschool. It was not a high point in my life, though I do have fond memories of Warren and the southside.  Email  spollans@gmail.com

Ann Pomerantz Meyers, Class June '65

I married my high school sweetheart, Alan Meyers, and we have been married for almost 42 years. That seems almost impossible since we can't even be that old, can we??? We have two wonderful kids and an adorable grandson. Alan and I live in Wilmette, a town I could never have imagined I would live in, having grown up on the South SIde. After all, the northern suburbs were where all the "rich" kids lived (or so we thought...).

Last year I retired after a wonderful career in education. I am still working part time for National-Louis University as well as subbing and tutoring individual students. Being retired has allowed me to pursue all kinds of activities I never had time for before. I really love being retired! Alan and I enjoy traveling, the theater, the Chicago Symphony, movies, and "dancing to the oldies". I feel incredibly blessed every day for the wonderful life I have. I am so excited to re-connect with my high school classmates at the reunion. Bowen was a very special place. We were unaware at the time, but our experiences there allowed many of us to face challenges and explore opportunities that have shaped the direction of our lives and the lives of our children. Email: Mean30@aol.com

Bill Price, (left Bowen late 1964)

I attended Bowen for only a year so I didn't get to know many of my classmates. I bet though you all remember my grand parents home. It was the 5 flat yellow brick apartment house on the southwest corner of 88th and Manistee.  Anyway,I quit school in my senior year to work in the music industry but then my draft number was pulled in early '66 so I joined the Air Force and was sworn in on May 15th'66. I went to Nam, came home a changed man. In '68 I asked for and received a medical discharge. I spent a couple months back home then headed west to pursue the career in the music industry that was so rudely interrupted . I spent the first year "out west" in So.Cal, living in Long Beach. Couldn't buy a break there.  I migrated up to Portland Oregon in Aug. of 69. I went to school, Portland State, OSU and S.O.C. I received my degree in audio engineering from S.O.C. I still don't have a high school diploma but I have my bachelors!  I was heavily involved with the anti war effort after my discharge. I was a member of Veterans Against the War.  I got involved in local Portland politics. I worked for Neal Goldschmidt on his successful mayoral campaign. He later was appointed Secretary of Transportation under Jimmy Carter and Governor of Oregon.  All this time while I was in school I worked as a "roadie' or mixed sound for a number of local Oregon bands,some made it pretty big, such as Seafood Mama from Portland, you'll probably remember them as Quarterflash. Blues guitarist Robert Cray, he was in Animal House along with Otis Day. Jazz greats Jeff Lorber and Tom Grant and ex Jefferson Airplane lead singer Signe Anderson when she fronted Carl Smith and the Natural Gas  I also worked at radio station KBOO in Portland as a on air jock and as the archivist. My work there was the main catalyst for me getting involved in Portland politics.   I was an extra on two movies, Paint Your Wagon, can't really make me out on that one but in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest  I'm easily seen. In the part where the "nuts" go out on the fishing boat there is a scene where they show a guy at the end of a breakwater fishing,I'm that fisherman.  The most interesting thing that ever happened to me was, I was in Cougar Washington on the south west slope of Mt. St. Helen's when it blew. I lost two friends that day. One was Harry Truman. I used to do a lot of fishing on the Tuttle river . I always stayed at Harry's Lodge on Spirt Lake when I did. So over the 11 years I lived in Oregon before the eruption I got to know Harry pretty well. The other friend was a photographer name Reid Blackburn. He was hired by the USGS to set trip cameras and was disintegrated when the eruption happened. I miss them still.  As I said I started out to work in the music biz and that's what I did most of my adult life. I've been a soundman/engineer for some of the biggest rock acts of our generation. I've been around the world several times which if I had pursued the career mom and dad wanted for me,an attorney like my dad, I'd probably never left Chicago and would have missed all I've seen and done. Thank God for my rebellious nature! Don't get me wrong I miss Chicago dearly. The food, the vibe, my family. And the Blackhawks!  Last year I had a religious revelation, I embraced Christianity. So, I came out of retirement so I could mix sound but now for contemporary Christian rock bands. Love it!!! Best work I've ever done.  I've been married 4 times to 3 women (sounds like the making of a Jerry Springer Show) this one 27 years minus the 6 years we were divorced! I have 4 kids or step kids that call me dad. And I have two grand kids, the grandson is a budding guitarist and the granddaughter has recently been asked to do modeling and shoot TV ads! She has her first shoot this next weekend.  Good deal, she can support gramps!!!  I re-build and ride old Harley's. The picture of me is with my "baby", a 1960 Panhead I restored from ground up. I'm also a licensed amateur radio operator and a member of the Salvation Army Radio Emergency Team. I'm also a severe weather observer for the NWS.  The wife and I collect antiques. (I guess that's why I'm still around).The house is a museum. Travel is another of our interests as is boating.  We live on a hill 200 feet overlooking Lake Chickamauga just outside of Chattanooga,TN. And life is good!  Email bill_k4flh@comcast.net

Marc Pullman, Class June '65

Forty-six years ago, I invited classmate Esther Brenner to a fraternity hayride. Incredibly, not only did she agree to be my date, but she’s permitted me to hang around all these years, resulting in sons Jeremy (33), David (30), a grandson and another grandson in progress. We started our marriage in 1970 with a honeymoon to Israel, where I met Esther’s aunts and cousins, whom she hadn’t seen since age 4 when they all lived together in a refugee camp in post Word War II Europe. Three days after returning from the honeymoon, I reported to active duty in Ft. Polk, LA as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves. Due to a legal deficiency in my enlistment contract (better to be lucky than good), I was able to cut my training short by 3 months, just in time to resume law school.

After a brief stint with the Attorney General, where I once tried to evict a submarine from Lake Michigan, I became an in-house counsel for some multinational corporations and eventually formed my own law firm in 1990. When not working on mergers and acquisitions, I enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including catamaran sailing, white water rafting (including a Colorado trip with Harvey Lindenberg & Steve Pritkin), long-distance bike riding and very short distance triathlons. My bicycle has taken me to interesting environs around the world, including Vermont, Arizona (ride from the Grand Canyon to Mexico), a ride from Montana to Banff, Canada, the Loire Valley of France, and a ride from Milan to Venice, Italy. This constant spinning has undoubtedly given me the best looking legs in the class.   I’ve also been an active volunteer for non-profit organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League (board member & speaker at an anti-Klan rally in Marian, IN), DePaul University (student mentoring program) and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (search and rescue missions at sea).

I’ve always felt that Bowen provided me a unique and enriching experience. The melting pot of different ethnic groups and personalities was an enlightening experience that enabled me to easily adapt to many challenging situations in later life. I look forward to reuniting with my classmates to revive old memories and to share future good times. Finally, event though the statute of limitations has run, I would like to make a public apology to Ray Rudys for making his first year of teaching at Bowen less than enjoyable.

Dan Ransenberg, Class June '65

Soon after I graduated high school, my next life started. My family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where I went to the University of Cincinnati and graduated with a BBA Bachelor of Business Administration.  In college, I met a girl from the west side Cincinnati, and we settled down on the west side of Cincinnati.  We had a bicentennial wedding and started our family. Together with my wife Sue, we raised three sons.  The two oldest both live in the San Francisco bay area and the youngest is finishing his sophomore year in college.  I have been an independent sales rep for 40 years and have traveled all over the Midwest covering 12 states.  I enjoy playing bridge, golfing, and swimming. We own and manage a local swim and tennis club that keeps me busy in the summer and I do taxes with Liberty Tax in the winter.  I am not sure yet if I will be able to make the reunion, but I wanted everyone to have a great time and if you ever come to Cincinnati, please look me up.  

Cheers to Bowen High School Class of ‘65. Email  Bigdan2000@hotmail.com

Don Ransenberg, Class June '65

After high school my family moved to Cincinnati and I attended the University of Cincinnati and graduated with a degree in Anthropology.  As my lottery number  was 18.   That is the first lottery I won.  I did not go to Nam but spent the next two years as a Chaplain’s Assistant at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio.  After the Army  I  enrolled in graduate  school in  counseling at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. I minored in theatre and  met my future wife Cathy at a party after breaking the set of Peter Pan. We got married 6 months later. I taught school for a bit and got a job with the Welfare Department.  I managed various welfare programs including teen parent, child support,  day care, aid for dependent children and homemaker home health aid.   When my son Gabriel was having his Bar Mitzvah I  needed another job.  I got a part time job as a system administrator  for Macy’s.  It was to be short term,  but 6 months later my daughter Heather was getting married, so I stayed.  And then there was helping them with school,  jobs, grandchildren etc. After I retired from the county putting in 30 years  I am still working part-time at Macy’s .   Keeps the mind going.   I also work with my horse…did I mention my horse. You see his picture on my facebook.  It is a long story and let me tell you at the reunion how we saved each other. During this time my wife Cathy and I have taken high school students overseas with the People to People student ambassador program.  We have been to many horse ranches out west and Canada.  We love to hike and to come home to our kids, grandkids, rescued cats and horses. We are part of a rescue barn where we board our horses and have saved horses and calves. Email: donran@cinci.rr.com

Michael Rapoport, Class June '65

I live in Northbrook with my lovely wife of 33 years, Rise.  We have two children: Scott, 30 and Amy, 27 along with one grandchild, Julia, 26 months. I have always lived in the Chicago area, never wanting to stray too far from my roots.  Since 1992, I have owned my own business in which I work as a manufacturers' representative in the field of contract blending and packaging of chemical and food products.  During the years before 1992, I was a public accountant and then an executive for a manufacturing company, which is how I got into the contract manufacturing field.  I graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1970 with an accountancy degree.  Among the things I enjoy are spending time with friends and family, relaxing on the beach, cruising on boats, traveling, biking, eating at fine restaurants, reading, perusing art shows, listening to music, going to theatre, and sipping Jack Daniels whiskey, not necessarily in that order.   I look forward to seeing you all on July 10th.  Email mjr@mjrapoport.com

Cary Reisman, Class June '65

I abandoned Bowen after our Junior year and finished high school at Harvard St. George (Formerly Harvard School for Boys).  At Harvard, I was able to raise my grades enough to get into SIU, where I stayed for a year, and then transferred to the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.  I minored in English Lit, and majored in Business Administration, but realized that nobody would want to hire a “manager” right out of college.  That, and my awakening political conscience led me to apply to law school.  I married my high school sweetheart, Suzi Schoenwald (Bowen, class of ‘66) in 1971.  She joined me at the U of I and obtained her Master’s degree in Library Science.  I graduated from the U of I Law School in 1973.  I missed the graduation ceremony because Suzi and I were already on our way to Southern California.  I found out later that I was awarded the Outstanding Service award at graduation, based on several activities, the most noteworthy of which was my successful campaign to rid the law school of mandatory Saturday classes.  In Los Angeles, I went to work for the Legal Aid Foundation, specializing in Landlord Tenant and Consumer Law.  After six years there, I joined a small law firm in Santa Monica, where I’m still with most of the same partners 30 years later.  I specialize in Municipal Law, representing cities and occasionally people being hassled by (other) cities, and real property representing non-profit housing providers.  For fun, I like to travel, read, exercise (jogging, weight lifting and refereeing youth soccer), follow the Dodgers and Lakers, and go to the beach - not necessarily in that order.  Oh yeah, listen to music, watch movies and play with computers too.  Suzi teaches second grade.  She and I have two sons, Mark (33) and David (31).  Unfortunately no grandchildren yet.  Mark is a CPA, living in Dallas and is attempting to put together a new concept restaurant.  David has a Master’s degree in English, and is teaching it at a University in Seoul, South Korea. I will have to miss reunion 45 as we already had plane reservations for a European vacation.  I look forward to seeing you all at #50! Email cary@wkrklaw.com

Eileen Robinson Aronoff, Class June '65

I had a great time at the U of I, rooming with Sandy Friend for 4 years. Met my husband of 41 plus years there, and received a BS in Elementary Ed. I taught second and third grades for 5 years, before having my two sons. Ryan is 34, married, and a high school English teacher, Justin is 31, a neuroscience researcher.  He lives in California with his wife and   2 1/2 year old little boy -our first grandson. We have another grandchild on the way in November. I began teaching preschool in 1985 and it has truly been a joy. Seventeen years ago I opened my own preschool and it is still going strong. It has been fun and rewarding and never dull! I have no plans to retire. We have traveled the country and abroad, but have always been connected to the Chicago area. My husband Rich and I have lived in Elk Grove Village for 35 years, with my mom still living nearby. I have remained close with Sandy Friend, Barry Lakin, and Steven D. Goldberg. The south side is a part of who I am.  Email Cbpreschool@cs.com

                                                                            Sandra Rosenblatt Roberts, Class June '65

I am a retired educator in the State of Illinois. I had the wonderful opportunity to see many students succeed and take on active roles in our society. I am a mother of two (a girl and a boy) and a grandmother of two (boy and girl).  I am presently spending my time helping my daughter homeschool her son.  It has been an adventure.  Email JRobertschicago@aol.com 

Marilyn "Mimi" Rosenman, Class June '65

Robert Rosenthal, Class June '65

After Bowen, I went to the University of Iowa where I met Helene, now my wife of almost 42 years, was a foil fencer and received a degree in business administration with a major in economics. Next, I received a law degree from Illinois. Upon graduation, I served in the army as a reserve infantry officer. Soon thereafter, our daughter Lisa was born and we moved to Portland, Oregon where we still live. Jennifer was born in 1975 and Naomi in 1978. I held various positions in the financial industry for 13 years. During this period, I also taught part time in the finance-law department at Portland State University, with one presentation in China and two presentations in Jamaica. After leaving finance, I joined a law firm and became a partner. I left the law firm after our middle daughter was stricken with cancer. She died at 22, after a 29 month long battle. Years later, I spent a brief time as a president of a company that taught 3-D graphics. In 2005, I returned to law. Today, I practice law in Lake Oswego, Oregon. We have one grandson, 2 step grandsons, and one step granddaughter. Our daughter Lisa is due in September. I have written several legal articles and presented numerous continuing legal education courses in Oregon and Washington mostly concerning retirement benefits. My travels have included China, Australia, Japan, Galapagos, Jamaica, Mexico, Canada, Bahamas, England, Israel, and Kenya. Email: twor6931@aol.com 

Update:

We now have a grandson and a granddaughter

Bob Roseta (1947-1992), Class June '65

Bob won an appointment to West Point after graduating from Bowen. After graduating from West Point with an Engineering Degree, Bob was commissioned and served several tours in Vietnam during the war. During the Vietnam War, Bob was engaged in the toughest battles fought. Bob retired from the Army as a Major and began a life in industry, specifically Steel Production. In early 1992 Bob accepted a position within the engineering field, moving to Myrtle Beach, SC. While there for a short period, and by his testament, loving life so very much, Bob suffered a massive heart attack while playing golf, a game he loved. Bob's autopsy revealed that his heart was that of a man twice his age, shocking considering that Bob had achieved so much in sports, lettering in football on Bowen's City Championship Team, lettering in Swimming, Eagle Scout, God and Country Award, accomplished Public Speaker for the Chamber of Commerce, City of Chicago Circuit and Greatest of all Honors; Leading Men in Warfare, in Defense of our Country and Our Citizens.  Bob was married once and divorced, no children, although, he is remembered, forever, by his many friends and especially by the humble author of this memorial to a long-time childhood pal.  ~Pete Ciganovich

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although he was an amazing athlete and a top honors student, I remembered his "dramatic" side in our English class with Mrs. Deuter, doing a soliloquy from Macbeth. Bob had the section starting with the line, "We have scotched the snake, not killed it" and decided to do it in a flamboyant "spin"--he faced the blackboard with his back to the class, in silence. Then he whirled around with his arm reaching out as if holding a sword--still silence. We were all awestruck. After the long pause, he shouted his line, "We have scotched the snake, not killed it!!!" and the class almost broke out in applause. He finished his speech and Mrs. Deuter complimented him as doing the most stirring presentation she had ever seen. He thanked her and sat down.

Then he turned to a couple of us and said, "Actually, I forgot the line for about 5 seconds."  ~Joel Rubenstein

Larry Roubitchek, Class June '65

After Bowen, it was off to NIU in DeKalb for 4 years along with several Bowen classmates  and then into the working world in the chemical industry.  The next 8 years were quite eventful--- I met and married my wife Nancy, had two sons and continued attending school in the evenings  earning two graduate degrees.  Our oldest son (Michael) is 33 and is an attorney in Milwaukee.  Our youngest son (Dan) is 31 and is a CPA in the Chicago area.  We have a 3-yr. old granddaughter  and another one on the way.  We've lived in Glenview for 35 years.  I continued working in various  managements positions in the chemical industry until when in a mid-life crisis moment in 1999,  I joined a "start-up" company designing and marketing semi-conductor chips to the wireless industry.  We were successful in placing our chips in the cell phones of many of the big players.  After our   company was sold in 2005, I eventually made my way back into the chemical business.  Outside of  work, for the past 6 years I have been doing volunteer work for Youth Services of Glenview and Northbrook  (a full line social service agency) where I work mainly with junior high aged kids.  I'm active in  neighborhood organizations and a regular on the golf course every weekend.  Email 2LarryR@comcast.net

Joel Rubenstein, Class June '65

I'm living in Portland near Steve (M.) Goldberg, a neighbor in 1953 and now 57 (!) years later in our "old age". I'm busy raising 14-year-old twins with my wife, Christine, as our 4 older kids (29-35) are scattered around and starting to procreate, only slightly behind me.  My radiology practice is in the Portland suburb of Vancouver, WA after 20 years practicing solo in Reno.  My sub-specialty work is in the radiology of sports medicine, doing MRIs and procedures on high-level athletes.  I've been lucky to be in an ever-changing field of technological growth and great things that can be done for patients, and would be sad to leave it.  Luckily, the long-term needs of our twins will keep me working well into the 21st century.  Christine keeps busy with the kids after a long career as an OB nurse practitioner.  I get a great kick from watching the "outcomes" of child-rearing as the older ones take all the life lessons we taught, and then succeed, falter, rebound, and keep learning.  Having a second family is a surreal experience, with the deja-vu feeling that I've already seen this movie and know how it will turn out. But every life is unique and full of unexpected turns, as we've all learned.  As my kids head into high school this fall, I think back to the trauma of starting Bowen in 1961 and all that followed.  Certainly, high school is the time for establishing identity and making connections forever.  Funny thing, though, that we don't always appreciate what those friendships mean until much later.  But that is the lesson of aging. Email: Rubensteinja@comcast.net

Susan Rubenstein Marcom, Class June '65

Got married at 19 to a fellow southsider  who had graduated from big bad CVS 15 years before I graduated Bowen.  We lived downtown on Ohio street for 2 years until the kids started appearing and then we hit the suburbs.  We landed in Elgin in a house that was  built in 1891 and that had many strange spooky rumors about it. No wonder we got it so cheap.  We raised 4 children of our own along with 4 foster kids in the house along with  a menagerie of dogs , cats , rabbits and a white rat named Victoria.  Sheer Pandemonium I loved it.  My 3 sons and my daughter are all grown up now and doing their own things.  Mark is an RVP  Quinn works for Mercedes Benz  Heather lives in Arizona and is another RVP and the baby (6foot3) Zak is a talented musician and self styled philosopher.  Unfortunately, My husband and I divorced after 20 years of marriage but we still remain friends.  My job career has spanned a French Canadian Insurance Company (bien sur) Playboy (not what you are thinking) Metromedia Advertising-and Years of free lance copy writing followed by years of retail selling.  Presently I am a store Mgr for Luxottica Eyewear from  Italy.  (Grazzi Milliano) I am a confirmed workaholic trying to lighten up.  I still live in the haunted house and am positive that one day I will be floating in a long white dress up the front staircase scaring other people.  I continue to pursue 2 passions that keep my sanity.  I  write poetry and I sing.  Recently I thought that it would be wonderful to relive that walk from 9610 south Luella all the way to Luella Elementary on  a school day with my 2 little sisters in hand. Not a lot to wish for but so very important to me because one of my sisters died at 19 and the other lives far away. Memories come flooding back -Little things that made up our lives that were almost lost but now have been  recaptured.  We all have this bond you know.  It will be great to see all of you. Thank you reunion committee for all your hard work and dedication.  You have given us a gift.

 Email Marcomsusan2@gmail.com

It's hard to believe that so many years have gone by since Bowen.  But this reunion has taught me that you absolutely can go home again.  I have connected with people and recounted stories about things that I had all but forgotten but was very pleased to relive through them.  My family moved away from the Southside in 1965.  My parents had divorced and I was on my own at age 18 living on the Northside and working downtown and going to night college.

Lloyd Rutzky, Class June '65

Three weeks after graduating from Bowen, Lloyd began working at White Sox games selling soda pop and two years later began doing the same at Wrigley Field.  He has since graduated to selling beer and in 2010 began working in his 46th season.  He has reportedly sold more beer in the seats at Chicago baseball games than anyone in history, having worked at over 6,000 games.  His greatest moment in baseball was seeing his beloved White Sox win the 2005 World Series and coming a close second would be eyewitnessing  the endless choking of the hated cubs.  But even more important was the day in 1985 when he met his future bride, Helita Young, at Comiskey Park where she was a season ticket holder, and in 1986 married and had two daughters, Katherine, born in 1987 and married in 2009, and Elizabeth, born in 1991 and in 2010 completed her first year as a film student at Columbia College in Chicago, where Lloyd graduated from in 1971 with a degree in advertising.  Lloyd also spent 3 years at the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle, learning virtually nothing.  However Lloyd only held one part time job in the ad game, choosing to work ballgames instead.  But he's also been a writer, toiling for the Chicago Tribune's suburban section in the mid-1980's as a community theater and restaurant critic, and wrote movie reviews for Video Views magazine for nearly the entire decade  of the 1990's.  He has seen nearly 15,000 movies.   But perhaps Lloyd's greatest claim to fame was being an extra in the Chicago film classic "The Untouchables" (which he filmed just ten days before his wedding) and he can be clearly seen in the climactic courtroom scene, screaming in Robert De Niro's ear. Lloyd & his wife have lived in Bartlett, Illinois since 1993.  Email loydmovie@aol.com