Then and Now A-F

Ellen Abrahams Swartz, June '65

Jeffrey Manor and the South Side!  I have such fond memories of growing up there and attending Burnham, Luella and Bowen.  Our house at 2182 E. 96th Street was a gathering place for so many kids.  My Mom loved all of them. I became a teacher and after a rewarding career, am now enjoying retirement. I have been happily married to Ed Swartz (Bowen, 1964) for 46 years.  We live in Buffalo Grove and have two wonderful children, Leslie (39) and Jeffrey (37) and one fantastic grandchild.  We love  the time we spend with our grandson.  What a joy!  Another grandchild is on the way (due in May) as I write my "story".   I am looking forward to this reunion and to reconnecting with South Side friends. Email es3802@yahoo.com

Update 2025

It’s hard to believe that we graduated 60 years ago.  Since I wrote my last bio, there are now 2 wonderful grandsons.  The oldest has graduated high school and will be attending the University of Georgia in August, as an honors student.  The youngest is on the bowling and baseball teams for Vernon Hills high school. We are very proud of both of them.  I’m still happily married to my senior prom date (Ed) and we live in a condo in Lincolnshire.  We have been married for 56 years!  Our kids have gotten older, but they’re still the best.  Our daughter, Leslie turns 50 this year and our son Jeff is 47.   I have such wonderful memories of growing up in Jeffery Manor and  I’m looking forward to this reunion.  My brother, Ralph and his wife Kathy, will be attending too.

My sister, Karen, sends her best to everyone.  We all loved growing up on the South Side.

Maria Aldrich Pavich, June '65

I was a Neonatal ICU nurse in Boston until Bob graduated from Harvard, then came back and settled into Psych nursing as head nurse at Northwestern until Matt was born in '74. Took a few years off, then did geriatric nursing until Anastasia was born. Then pretty much left nursing , other than a few summers as a camp nurse (worst job EVER), and began the endless round of doing stuff at the schools my kids went to: taught Great Books to 4-8th grade for 5 years, tutored reading, was a costumer for the H.S. drama dept., and served on the Board of Ed. for the H.S. dist. for 17 years. That was like a full-time job, so I did more in education than I did in Nursing, I guess. It really was all about the kids. Now it's the grandchildren. Kelly actually asked me to be her doula for the birth of Andrew. What an incredible honor! My only other passion is birdwatching and I have actually taken a few courses in ornithology at Cornell U. (online), to further that interest. Bob says I spend more on birdfood than on human food and he is quite right.   My favorite memories of Bowen include some of the really good teachers (McGuan, Hozinsky, Stanek), being a hallguard--(who was ever going to listen to me at 90 pounds and 5'1" ?!?)--those 5 levels of stairs which would never pass safety standards today, mandatory swim and how hard we all tried to get out of it (glad to have learned tho, as it served me well as a parent), and that awful, awful cafeteria food, and finally, of course, JFK and the sadness of it all.

Nancy Altheimer Darling, June'65

What a ride life has been since graduation in June of ’65!  My family and I moved shortly after graduation.  No more snow to shovel in the bitter cold winters and no more sweating from Chicago humidity in the summers.  I traded all that for earthquakes and fires in a land known as shake and bake … Southern California.  I had several different careers, but the two I enjoyed the most and stayed with the longest were working as a private investigator and at the same time as coordinator for a senior adult program at our Synagogue.  Both jobs were part-time and I couldn’t believe I actually was paid to have so much fun!

I have a daughter from a previous marriage, Tracee, who is 38 and getting married this July.  I have been married for 32 years to a legal drug dealer (okay, he’s a pharmacist, but drug dealer sounds more exciting).  We have 2 children together; Daniel age 30 and Jayme age 25.  I have one grandchild who is the light of my life.  We presently live in Banning, California in an adult day camp (I refuse to admit that I’m old enough to live in a 55+ community).  With 2 golf courses, 3 swimming pools, 3 gyms, a restaurant, and all kinds of activities who wouldn’t be happy living here (is that a good plug or what)?   Life has given me several roadblocks, but I am like a Timex watch and keep on ticking.  Sadly I will not be at the reunion to be with all of you due to health reasons and my oldest daughters wedding in July.   Have a blast and know that I’ll be thinking about all of you!  Hugs, Email Nandarling@aol.com

 Mary Askounis Georges  June'65

I am a retired 1st grade teacher, occasionally substituting near my home in Navarre, FL. I am divorced and have a 31-year-old son who is an attorney in Milwaukee, with 3 children. I used to live in the northern suburbs of Chicago.  Now I live 600 feet from the Gulf of Mexico. I am an ardent swimmer and have been a scuba diver for many years. The South is very friendly and I have gained many friends in the 13 years I have been here. For a few years, I raised peacocks and exotic pheasants for sale to people who wanted them strutting in their gardens as I did. Though I usually visit Chicago yearly, I will not be traveling up there this year. I hope you all have a great time at the reunion. My regards to everyone! I hope my photo and my written story help to reacquaint everyone there with me. P.S. Mary's family still owns the wonderful Cunis Candies in South Holland, formerly on 79th Street, makers of ice cream, candies and amazing caramel apples.  Address: 7440 Harvest Village Ct, Navarre, FL. 32566-7340, 850-939-3814 

Margo Bass Hirschfeld (1947-2005), June '65 

Margo always had a presence!  Although small in stature, she made heads turn as she was always beautifully coiffed and dressed. Named “Best Dressed” in the Class of ’65 is testament to that!  However, it was not her appearance that she should be remembered for, but what was inside.  She had an uncanny memory and could always match a face to a name.  She knew everything about everybody.  Even later in life she was the go-to girl for the latest news and gossip.  She was also an exceptional friend whose loyalty was second to none.  After high school Margo went to Ohio State University and then transferred back to Chicago and graduated from Roosevelt University.  She taught elementary school before marrying the love of her life, Steven Hirschfeld.  They were a terrific pair, complementing each other well.  They lived in the city as newlyweds and then settled in Northbrook as they raised a family.  Margo worked with me as a camp advisor, helping families choose appropriate summer programs for their kids.  She was phenomenal in that capacity as she easily connected with clients and always remembered something personal about each.  She made each day something to happily anticipate.  Margo’s best legacies are her sons Judd and Zach. They are a tribute to her mothering. Unfortunately she missed both their weddings to great young women who would have finally provided her with the daughters she never had. She would have been thrilled to know she will soon have a new grandchild. We should remember her life and not her too-soon death from cancer. When I asked Steven how he thought Margo would want to be remembered, he said her headstone says it all:  “Loving wife, mother and friend.”  ~Enid Feldman Grabiner

Peggy Begun Sebert,  Jan '65

After graduating Bowen I spent fours years at U of I in Champaign/Urbana.  I graduated in Education and taught second and third grades for thirteen wonderful years.  30 years ago, I married my college love, Ron, and we have a terrific 26 year old daughter, Becky.   We live on the far north side of Chicago, and presently own two toy stores,    “Becky & Me Toys” in Glenview and Evanston.  I have very fond memories of growing up on the south side and being involved at Bowen.   My involvement carried over to adulthood.  I was involved at Becky’s school - room mother, substitute teacher, volunteer, fundraiser.  I was also active in my community and the Chicago Park District.  That was until I found my second career-TOYS!!  Fifteen years ago I accepted a job at a Wilmette toy store which was looking for a teacher to develop a children’s book department.  I managed and ran the store as if it were my own for almost five years.  I loved it!!   Then in 2002, an opportunity arose, and Ron and I opened our own store in Glenview.  Three years ago we opened a second store in Evanston, in a location I always dreamed of having.  I’m still an avid Bulls fan.  And I love watching NBA games.   In retail there isn’t much free time but when I have it, I enjoy gardening, theater, and traveling.  And when we need a quick getaway, Door County is our special place. I have stayed in touch with some friends from the south side, and have reconnected with others in the last few years. I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.   There seems to be a special bond between us south siders and this will be a great time for us to catch up and remember the good times with good, old (not literally) friends.  Email: pjb13@aol.com

Fred K. Berger,  Jan '65

After graduating from Bowen I attended U of I in Champaign where I majored in psychology and minored in French. I went on to medical school at the University of California at San Francisco at the height of the Haight Ashbury days.  I whetted my appetite for travel by taking an extra year in medical school with clerkships in France and England.  I then did my residency at Yale, in psychiatry, where I met my future wife, Donna.  After residency we married and traveled for 14 months around the world with backpacks, including adventures as trekking in the Himalayas and camping in the game parks of east Africa.  We settled in San Diego where I started working at UC San Diego Medical School as medical director of the alcohol and drug treatment program.  I became a clinical professor and really loved teaching residents and medical students, and also maintained a private practice.  After 25 years I retired from that system and became the medical director of another alcohol and drug program.  I obtained several board certifications and in recent times have been doing expert witness consultations and testimony.  Donna is a psychiatric nurse, and we are thinking about retiring early next year. We have a son Aaron who is 27, and lives in San Diego. He’s a Chargers and Padres fanatic and we enjoy going to games together.  Donna and I continue to travel; we just got back from a trip to Vietnam which was fascinating, considering the impact of the Vietnam War on our generation.  I enjoy reading and started a book club 20 years ago which is still going strong.  I have fond Bowen memories and look forward to seeing you all at the Reunion!  Email Freddoc@san.rr.com

Update: Since the 45th reunion we have continued our travels.  We took a cruise up and down the Amazon;  cruised from San Diego to Tahiti and Hawaii;  went on safaris in South Africa;  took a National Geographic cruise to Antarctica;  cruised from England to Iceland and Greenland; visited the Galapagos Islands and Machu Piccu;  cruised from Singapore to Athens;  and most recently cruised up the East Coast of Australia to the Great Barrier Reef and to many Indonesian Islands, and then took a side trip to Cambodia to visit Angkor Wat.  Whew!

I continue now to work 3 afternoons a week.  I still very much enjoy seeing patients. Also, our only child Aaron and his wife are expecting our first grandchild this fall.My wife Donna is coming with me to our 50th reunion, and I’m looking forward to again visiting with you all!

Update 2025

Life continues to be very good. Donna and I just celebrated our 48th anniversary while on a cruise to the British Isles and Norway.  We have a 42 year old son who also lives in the San Diego area, and a nine year old grandson who loves playing baseball.

I continue to enjoy seeing patients via Zoom two days a week. Donna and I continue to be involved with the San Diego Opera, the San Diego Padres, and the La Jolla Music Society.  My mens' book club has been going for 34 years.

We continue to love to travel and take a yearly cruise.  We also for a number of years have been spending a month in an apartment in Paris. Merci Madame Rupert! 

I look forward to seeing fellow classmates at our 60th reunion!

Captain Joe Berkson (1947-1972), June '65

Captain Joe Berkson was shot down in a helicopter in Vietnam and killed in May, 1972.  Harold Goldman writes, "I was in Washington last year and went to the Wall.His name is on Panel 1 West, the last wall in the time-line. His name is on line 10.  I was not very close to Joe; but he was a nice guy and  I am also a vet (not combat) of the same tragedy.  He was born exactly 7 days before me, 4-22-47.  This year, on my birthday, 4-29,  I thought about the 38 years I have had, that he did not.  Some times the price of freedom is very high. 

Jeff Bernard (1948-2019), June '65

"What a long strange trip it's been", quoting one of my favorite rock groups, the Grateful Dead. After leaving Bowen, I went to college at Southern Illinois University, where I graduated in 1969 with a degree in photography. I worked at aphoto studio in Chicago for a year and moved to the San Francisco bay area in 1970 to live with some friends in a beautiful ranch type setting in the hills outside of Berkley for three years. I freelanced photography, played blues harmonica and went to graduate school at California College of Arts and Crafts and the University of California in Berkley studying for a MFA in photography and photo silk screening. I did not have the motivation to finish grad schoolsince I was having the time of my life. I left the Bay area after three years and moved back to Chicago with no money, to work several labor jobs for about a year and a half. I went back to school and was certified to teach elementary school so that I could teach and still do photography. I taught for about 5 years in Chicago and met Nona, my "to be" wife while I was teaching. She and I were married after about 10 months after meeting and are still happily married after almost 34 years. She talked me into trying real estate as soon as we were married and I choose to be a commercial real estate broker rather than selling homes. I have been successful and have been self employed since 1990, leasing office spaceand retail stores in the Chicago area and selling investment properties all over the United States. For the initial 15 years of my career I managed downtown office buildings, employed by real estate investment companies. Nona and I have a 23 year old son, Sean, who has recently graduated from Colombia College in their Film department. We have enjoyed traveling extensively to several locations in Europe, Israel and many interesting spots in the US, including several National Parks. We love to go back to San Francisco at least once a year to visit friends and either go south to Carmel or north to wine county or up the coast. We have rented a log cabin on Lake Michigan for a week every summer in Door County for the past 20 years. We enjoy dinner out with friends in Chicago and have close family ties with Nona's mom, her sisters and my Dad, his lady friend and my brother and sister in law. We have lived in River Forest for many years and love to venture into Chicago for the many sporting events, concerts (I love jazz and blues) and the great restaurants that our city has to offer. I office in River North and have a few real estate investments, including a partnership in Wellington's Tavern in Lakeview. 

Esther Brenner Pullman, June '65

South Siders have a unique bond and affinity towards each other, no matter how many years or miles have kept us apart, that connection remains intact. I attended Washington University in St. Louis and married my classmate and senior prom date, Marc Pullman one year after graduating from college. We’ve lived in Wilmette for 31 years (a far cry from the South Side), where we raised our 2 sons, Jeremy, 33, and David, 30.  We are proud grandparents of a 17 month old grandson and our 2nd grandson is due in August.  Marc is a practicing attorney in downtown Chicago, and I am a Chicago Public School teacher.  I taught High School Art for 7 years prior to becoming a mother, practiced being a starving artist for many years when my children were  young and returned to teaching elementary school art for the last 18 years.  I'm very excited to reconnect with old friends and look forward to seeing everyone at the reunion in July.  Email:epullman@gmail.com.

Ron Bronstein

We moved to the Manor in 1955 - 9736 S.Merrill - and after 17 fun filled years moved north.My father is Julie[Julius]fortunate to still be rocking and rolling. He was a Chicago Policeman for 35 years. He originally was the Luella and Our Lady Gate of Heaven's Police Crossing Guard in 1955 or 1956. My mom [passed 12-26-2000] is Thelma and worked at Mel Markons, Perkins Pancake House,etc,mostly as a server. When we moved north in 1972 I had a few odd jobs and even went to beauty school until I dropped out. Too many temptations with the young girls. I started my collection career in 1974 at the old Nelson Brothers furniture company until 03-74. I loved the challenge, dealing with all the elements of society and quite educating with the daily negotiations. I met my first wife in 1974; she was and still is an RN supervisor.  We have two daughters[30+26]and two granddaughters[7 and 7] Met my second wife in 1982 lived in sin for 19 years and married in 2001. No children just show dogs[keeshonden's] Bred,showed etc. Divorced in 2004. Continued my career at a collection agency in Evanston for 24 years and went into a partnership at a existing consumer-medical collection agency in Arlington Hts and currently serve as the Corporations Chief Operating Officer. I own a home in Northbrook and waiting anxiously to retire to Scottsdale.  

Update: A few setbacks lately with a heart Ablation set for Feb 28th and a severe Ecoli & Cellulitus infection since December.  Getting better slowly. Retired on Dec 2020 after 45 years in the Collection business. Spending time traveling with my long term girlfriend Trudi Solomon. Quebec City, Montreal, Aruba, St Martiin as well as Florida and Scottsdale every year. Love outdoor dining at Gibsons"s or Tavern on Rush. Looking forward to the reunion and sharing the great memories in the Manor as well as my off and on experiences at Bowen..

Email: RBronstein@keynote-collections.com 

Jerry Brooks, Class June '65

I attended 3 U.of Illinois campuses- UIC, U of I Champaign, U of I Chicago College of  Dentistry.  I am a dentist and have a practice on the north side of Chicago. I feel like I have been living a High School reunion for the past 20 years (see Nart, Carol Brooks) We were good friends at Bowen and then went on separate paths. Our paths intersected at the 1990 reunion, and the rest (if you’ve read Carole’s posting) is history. We now have a blended family of wonderful kids and grandkids in several different states.  I like reading, working puzzles, playing golf, backgammon, and following sports.  I have suffered all of my life from a chronic illness known as Cubs’ Fever! Mine is hereditary, passed on from my father to his kids. Symptoms include optimism in the spring, followed by brief periods of euphoria in April, May, June, and sometimes later into the summer, always ending with depression in October!  Experts say it could last a century or two!! The cure has been very elusive, and alcohol is the drug of choice. Some believe that this disease is linked to a curse. There are many people now afflicted with this disease, who, in increasing numbers book appointments to the Wrigley Clinic. I watch TV, listen to radio,and read the newspapers daily seeking hope, but…… I am afraid that I will probably have to “wait ‘til next year”!!!!   I am looking forward to seeing the group at the reunion. Email jerbrooks8@gmail.com

Dore Brown, Class June '65

After graduating from Mizzou where I had majored in finance & banking, I took a job as a National Bank Examiner for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.  As indicative of the times, I was one of the   four women hired that summer as the first in this position.  Apparently, prior to this they thought that women could not carry a briefcase.  I did this for about seven years & then decided that it was time for a break. For the next four years I chose to either not work or to only work jobs that did not interfere with my life in general & my traveling around the country.  I held positions in sales of long distance moving & my favorite, selling time shares at the Playboy Resort in Lake Geneva.   Finally, I decided that I should probably get back in the regular work force & answered an ad in the Tribune. It said Sales – Bank Knowledge & most importantly five weeks paid vacation. I thought this is the job for me.  The job turned out to be working for the State of Illinois and almost 30 years later I finally retired.  The first 18 years I spent traveling around the state like a financial aid troubadour providing training and technical assistance to post secondary schools and lenders.  The last 12 years I was the Assistant Director of Compliance which included managing the external audit staff.  I was now auditing the people I had trained.  Overall I helped hundreds of thousands of students fulfill their dreams & attain their goals by providing the necessary funds.   A do gooder by day and a rock’n’roller the rest of the time.  My other passion has been the White Sox.  I have always attended quite a few Sox games & since 1983 I have attended most of their significant games including: all star games in ‘83 & ’03, the last game at the old ballpark on 9/30/90, playoff games in ’83, ’93, ’00 and most importantly in ’05.  In 2005 I was, by hook or by crook, able to obtain a lower deck seat for all four playoff home games (and without ever paying over face value).  I was out there for the playoff games in ’08 and finally in’09, yeah, I was at the game 7/23/09 when Mark Buehrle pitched his perfect game.  My life so far has been great.  I’ve traveled around the U.S., Europe & China and I spend time in Mexico every winter. I’ve attended hundreds of concerts and developed many close friendships.  My family is still very close continuing to l have dinner together nearly every Friday night. Email chisoxie@gmail.com

Anne Bruno Hersemann  January '65

Graduate of Bowen H.S. January 1965, but moved ahead from Class of June 1965. Following graduation from my beloved Bowen, I embarked on my life adventure.

EDUCATION: University of Illinois, Champaign, IL.  Degree B.A. Spanish & French, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.  Degree Master in French, DePaul University Law School, Chicago, IL Degree  J.D.

CAREER: Attorney at law in public and private sectors. Specialized in Appellate Practice. Started several businesses, Ran for public office, Consultant in  Advertising & International  Public Relations.

PERSONAL: Married to Rick Hersemann.  We met while working in Springfield, IL; but have lived in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, since we met. We have two sons.  They are both married and live in the Chicago area. No children yet

INTERESTS: Travel  Wherever I can Practice speaking French, Spanish and Italian.  Subscriber to the Chicago Lyric Opera, Volunteer for neighborhood Barrington organizations. Since downsizing from our Barrington home, we live in a golf course community in Lake Barrington. We participate in the Social and Sports Commission, Sailing Club,   Golf Club and other activities.

Most recently, we toured Spain, visited friends in the Pacific Northwest and enjoyed our annual trip to Door County, Wisconsin.

Looking forward to seeing my Bowen classmates in July 2025.  Email: ahersemann@gmail.com 

Sandy Bruski Wagner,  June '66

I never knew that my four years at Bowen would ever prepare me for being the Webmaster of the Bowen Reunion 65 website.  This has been a wonderful experience creating and rekindling friendships with so many people I had lost contact with.  I am the token Class of '66 Bowenite here so thanks for letting me "crash" the party, so to speak,  After Bowen, I graduated from the U of I, Champaign-Urbana, as a French teacher, got married, had three wonderful sons - Andy (32), Danny (30), and Stephen (28) - and moved to Denver.  What a change!  I loved the "Mile High" life.  There was nothing cooler than chaperoning 3rd grade field trips to Copper Mountain and skiing with the kids.  Life does throw us curves and new pathways and mine led to fourteen years - too many - in south Florida.  I  completed my Master's degree in eEducation and have taken off from there doing web design, teaching online courses, and currently training teachers  how to teach foreign languages at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey,  Three years ago I moved to Monterey and hope to live here happily ever after.  I love to hike, cross country ski, and travel.  My favorite trips have been to Australia and Northern Ireland.  I always have this special place that holds the fondest memories of growing up in the Manor, and I am lucky that both my parents are still alive, living in Chicago, and treating me as if I never left home.  Email: sandylw303@yahoo.com 

Hollis Buben Burgess, Class June '65

Still married to Lee Burgess; have 2 daughters (oldest recently married); currently living in Glencoe, IL but trying to sell house and move back to the city.  Was a true soccer mom having served on the boards of both the house and travel soccer leagues when my oldest daughter played.  Have remained relatively politically active but nonpartisan through the League of Women Voters.  A little more than 10 years ago, my husband tired of corporate life as a management consultant so he bought an old defunct drive in movie theater in Wisconsin and decided it would be a fun thing for us to do in our retirement.  There was no real retirement in this since he became a movie projectionist and I became a short order cook.  It has provided some interesting moments and, so my husband tells me, keeps us young and active.  Personally I was thinking book store or brew pub as retirement activities.  For those who remember my brother Rodger, he's married, living in Fort Collins, CO, and doing well.

Update

Still married to Lee, have 2 daughters and 2 wonderful grandsons courtesy of oldest daughter and son-in-law.  Moved back to the Lakeview area of the city shortly after the last reunion, but spend a lot of time in the ‘burbs babysitting.   Have remained relatively politically active but nonpartisan through the League of Women Voters.  Still own and operate the drive in movie theater in Wisconsin, so ‘retirement’ is just a vague concept.   My husband tells me it keeps us young and active.  Unfortunately some of our interchanges with customers makes me very concerned about the intelligence/education of the general public.  For those who remember my brother Rodger, he's married, living in Fort Collins, CO, and doing well. Email hollis.burgess@gmail.com.

Diane Burrage-Martin, June '65

To my Bowenites:

These fifty years have blessed me with tears of joy and tears of sadness. But through it all, I can thank God for bringing me to this great place in my life. After almost 28 years of marriage, my handsome, loving and caring husband made his transition. I retired after 34 years from CPS to come home to care for him. This wonderful retirement began twelve years ago. I am using this precious time doing what makes me happy and content, volunteering at my church, enjoying my family and friends, traveling, helping others and trying to live a life that reflects the golden rule (treating others as I wish to be treated).    These fifty years have come and gone so quickly. But it will be a privilege to see how many of my classmates I can’t remember. Hope to see you Bowenites next month.  Email: diane3534@sbcglobal.net

Pete Ciganovich, June '65

Prior to graduating from Bowen, I was fortunate to be in the first MLB Draft, selected by the White Sox. Not signing, I accepted a baseball scholarship to Butler University. Prior to graduating from Butler with a degree in Business, I was drafted by the KC Royals and signed with them. While moving up in their organization, I experienced a rotator injury in my throwing arm. This ended a possible MLB career and prompted me to then get a real job. The last thing I wanted to be was a “salesman” and the universe delivered me to that exact profession! My career as a salesman during the preceding 37 years took me too many destinations and wonderful positions. I had the opportunity to travel around the world, developing many great business relationships. While having the experience of heading the Sales and Marketing of billion dollar companies, I ventured out with domestic and European partners, establishing a new business in 2007. This venture has proved to be successful as we have expanded our US operations.  In 1998 I married my dream girl, Mary Ellen! Mary Ellen graduated from the University of Georgia and presently is awaiting her first book to be published. My first marriage produced 3 children. My 2 daughters are in California, involved the movie industry and my son is a decorated, Lt. Commander Navy Pilot. Mary Ellen’s daughter, my step daughter, is an emergency room physician in Phoenix, AZ. We have 2 grandchildren, from my son and his wife.   Mary Ellen and I reside in Ooltewah, Tennessee, on a mountain, where God’s magnificence greets us each morning! Together, we both share the passion of giving back to nature and humanity. Mary Ellen’s work with the National MS Society and public speaking engagements centered on health and healing and I, a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Noble of the Shrine, enables me to help thousands of youth, orthopedically challenged.  As well, I am on the executive committee and board of directors of Goodwill Industries.  My life, at Bowen, with all of you talented, creative and beautiful people, has and will remain with me forever. 

2025 Update

Current residence is on White Oak Mountain Ooltewah, Tennessee. Business Owner, Importer, Manufacturer.

Recently widowed, +Mary Ellen Ciganovich was an author and social media celebrity, appearing on local TV and national radio podcasts. A private counselor who helped many people through situations of depression and illness. Personal & Business career has resulted in Senior Executive Vice President & President & CEO positions in the Corporate environment, doing business internationally & domestically. A former Board of Director Member for Goodwill Industries Southeastern. Current 52 years Master Mason, 32° Scottish Rite Mason, Noble of Medinah Temple Shrine, Supporter of Shriner Hospitals nationwide. Graduate of Butler University, Letterman Baseball, conference MVP, Kansas City Royals Minor League player.

A father and grandfather. Son active duty US Navy Captain Aviation, Grandson active duty US Navy Officer  Aviation..Daughter 4 time Emmy Nominee, Daughter Physicians Assistant and World Class Mountain  Climber having conquered 5 of the 7 Summits on Earth. Granddaughter 10 years old and future grand contributor to society. Not being able to attend the 60 year Reunion do to a pre-existing commitment, I wish to offer all in attendance my regrets and may our God Bless All of You and keep the Memory Eternal for our classmates who have passed.  Email Petecig@aol.com

Barry S. Cohen (1947-2023), June '65

Wow, how time flies when you're having fun.  I look back and the memories flow like water and yet it still seems like we are all teenagers graduating from High School this summer, instead of planning our 45th class reunion. Bowen High School is remembered as a special place I shared with many special people.  But, my son summed it up perfectly the first time he saw the building when he was 10 or 11.  We drove by and he asked me what I had done wrong to be in jail.  After graduation I began college at SIU and eventually graduated from Roosevelt University in Chicago.  Somewhere in-between, my close friend, Mike Winicour, and his girlfriend Diane, decided that I should meet a friend of theirs. That friend turned out to be my wife, Helene, for the last 41 years. Together, we have produced two children, Jason and Julie (both in their 30's), and two grandchildren, Delaney (9) and Courtney (6). In 1974 the California bug caught us and we moved from Chicago to the San Fernando Valley outside of Los Angeles.  My parents moved with us and shortly thereafter, so did my in-laws.  My father and I became electrical contractors and things were sunny and prosperous all year long for the next few years. The recession of the early 80's forced me to move away from contracting into the insurance field.  I spent 10 years with Allstate Insurance and became a district manager of 22 agents.  In 1989 I formed my own agency.  We built it up to over 5,000 clients and 14 full time staff members.  Last year (2008), shortly before the market crash, and recession, I sold my agency and retired. What do you do in your early 60's, healthy, and active?  Play golf? Look at business proposals?  Watch tv?  Chase your wife around the house?   NO, just get bored!  So, when I was approached by a major insurance carrier to re-open a new agency, I jumped at the chance.  Small office, NO staff, just me.  What a blast.  If I sell nothing or something, it still keeps me busy.  My parents are still both around (living about 2 miles from us).  Our kids live within 5 minutes.  My new office is 6 blocks from home. For anyone who remembers me as a teenager, my life was baseball. That dream ended after high school, but very few days pass by me without day dreaming of the Bowen games at Bessemer Park.  The flooded

infield that needed to be sprayed with gas and burned while the fire trucks watched.  The games in March in snow storms.  Coach Pritikin, who lived a block away and seemed to be there everytime I looked up. And, last but not least, the three games at Wrigley Field.  Wonderful memories. I continued playing competitive baseball and softball until just a few years ago.  Now, my son, daughter and I, coach girls fastpitch softball for the grand kids.  I am positive that I will die on a ballfield.  But, before they stick a fork in me, I am really looking forward to the reunion.  Email BCIS@aol.com 

Barbara S. Cohen Gore, Class June '65

I am thankful to my parents Bob and Esther for having the foresight to settle in Jeffery Manor after I was born. Our family's 900+ square foot "dream townhouse" may have been small but it was the ideal home base. The experiences, places (Carl's, Topp's, Rib Hill, Pill Hill, 87th Street), BBG, schools, and most of all THE PEOPLE, enriched my life and provide great memories. Everyone knew everyone and those of us growing up in the Manor truly had a sense of community. As a teenager, I was interested in style and design so those who knew me back then will not be surprised that after Bowen I received a degree in Interior Design and worked for a Chicago architectural firm. The firm designed interiors for hotels, businesses and upscale homes, and I was thrilled to have a chance to go behind the scenes in some of Chicagoland's finest celebrity residences. While studying interior design I was fixed up with a friend of a friend and had a blind date with Ken Gore, who was a law student at the time. Who knew that we would become the REAL Barbie and Ken? Our wedding cake topper was supplied by Mattel -- Barbie and Ken dolls in their wedding attire. Ken and I traveled and built our careers before having our son Ben, who is now a paramedic. Ken (also a south sider) worked at a law firm from 1971 until 1979, when he decided to open his own law firm. He is now semi-retired, working part-time as an attorney. When Ken first started his law practice, I traded the world of interior design for something completely different and became Ken's Business Office Manager, a position I retired from in May 2014. These days, I stay active by taking classes at the Chicago Cultural Center, walking in the neighborhood and getting together with friends and family. Ken and I spend the weekdays in our city home and weekends in our suburban retreat, which we purchased when our son was in high school. We also enjoy escaping the freezing temps when we travel to our condo near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. While Ken and I have a great circle of friends from all walks of life, we continue to maintain friendships from our south side days. I am excited about our upcoming reunion, as it will be great to hear what others have done and to reminisce about the good old days. It is hard to believe that it has been 5 decades since the Class of '65 walked the halls of Bowen. Go Boilermakers! Email bserog@aol.com

Update 2025

I cherish my fond memories of those extra special years growing up on the south side as I look

forward to seeing everyone at our reunion in July.

Ken and I have proudly watched our son, rise through the ranks to become a lieutenant in the

Fire Department and seven years ago marry Stephanie, an RN, ER trauma coordinator in

Barrington. They have blessed us with two beautiful granddaughters, Kayleigh Rose, age five

and Emma Paige, three years old. We enjoy spending quality time together, babysitting and

watching them grow up right before our eyes. Our girls are very excited their grandparent’s

names are really, “Barbie and Ken!”

Since I retired in 2014 as office manager for Ken’s personal injury and worker’s compensation

law firm, I dove into the world of adult learning. I have enjoyed taking classes in Astronomy,

Ballet, Current Events and French. For several years, I have been enrolled in a memoir writing

class at the Center for Life and Learning. Writing memoir has sparked many wonderful

memories, especially growing up in Jeffery Manor and attending Bowen High School.

In 2016, I began taking improvisational classes at the Cultural Center. I enjoyed improv and

continued my acting studies at “IO Theater” and “Second City”. Since Ken and I spend more

time in our Deerfield home, we discovered an improvisational comedy theater in Glenview at

“The Laughing Academy.” Ken started studying improv several years ago and joined me in our

classes and performances. We both improvise on stage with the “House Team” called “The Gulf

of Glenview.” I strongly believe, especially at our age, “Laughter is the best medicine!”

Email: bserog@aol.com 

Patty Coffey Pierce

I am in awe reading all your narratives.  So many wonderful accomplishments have been made by all of you. Your stories are amazing.

I graduated from Northern Illinois University in January of 1969 majoring in English with a minor in Journalism.  I ended up teaching 8th grade language arts on the far south side of Chicago.  It did not go as well as I planned and I joined Blue Cross Blue Shield in Information Technology in the 70’s. I got married in 1975. We had one son in ’77 and another in ’80.  Commuting to the loop became difficult while raising two boys with a husband who travelled 75% of the time, so I started a new job at Kemper Insurance in Long Grove.  I was fortunate to live just down the street.  In ’83, we became a family of 7 when I delivered TRIPLETS – 3 girls.  Life really changed.  I stayed at Kemper for 10 years until my husband got a job working for Ross Perot in Texas.  All I will say is that raising a family in Texas is very different from raising one in Illinois. I ended up working for Blue Cross in Texas. We stayed in Texas for 7 years, most of them being homesick returning to the south loop once all of our kids finished college.  I was able to transfer my job back to Blue Cross of Illinois.

In 2015, my husband was diagnosed with end stage renal disease.  Both his kidneys were gone. He began dialysis and I became his full-time caregiver. My job was no longer an option as my new purpose was taking care of my husband.  After a few years of dialysis, the nephrologists at Rush said a transplant would increase the quality of his life and suggested we move back to Texas where he would get one faster. (If you are interested, I’ll be glad to explain ‘the why’ at the reunion.) So, back we went.  Sure enough, on the first holiday we were there, he got the call that a kidney was available.  The year post-transplant was rough, and my husband died in 2019.  I stayed in Texas for a few more years while my son and I built our home in Vernon Hills.

Here’s the good stuff.  I have 5 kids – 2 boys, 3 girls.  Both my sons are now in Illinois.  My oldest is in Gilberts.  He and his wife have a daughter who is 2 years old and a son due in July. My son develops software for the music industry.  I live with son number 2.  He is a software developer for a consulting company. He and his wife have one son who is 2. Two of my daughters live in Denver.  Both are married.  One is a marketing consultant and has a 5-year-old daughter.  The other has 2 sons, 8 and 11, and is a nurse practitioner.  The third triplet is single and lives in Henderson, Nevada.  She is a pharmaceutical sales rep.  I am blessed to have 5 (almost 6) grandchildren and live close to most of my family.

I spend my free time getting to know Vernon Hills as it is today, playing Mah Jongg and way too much time at Orange Theory Fitness.  I am looking forward to seeing so many of you again as it has only been 60 years!!!!    Email: pipper226@gmail.com 

Eileen Cohen Shorr, Class June '65

The years at Luella and Bowen High are some of the happiest memories of my childhood.  I recall dancing and make out parties on weekends.  Those days bring a smile to my face.  Great friends and great times.  Thanks to all of you who shared that era.  You know who you are!  I have been married for 43 years to Fred Shorr, class of 1964.  We have a son Larry who is 39 and a daughter Mandy who is 35.  Our son has two children, a sixteen year old son and a ten year old daughter.  Our daughter and her husband John, have two boys,eight and four.  The two youngest grandchildren are into sports.  They keep us busy with baseball, soccer and wrestling.  I never attended college but was in the right place at the right time.  I worked as senior management for the worlds largest inventory company.  After 20 years of service, I retired at the age of 59.  Fred and I love to go to the theater, movies, dine out with friends on Saturday nights and travel, including eighteen cruises.  I look forward to catching up with everyone at the class reunion. Email fredsvette@aol.com

Ellen Cohn (1947-1993), left Bowen in 1964

Ellen had such an unabashedly positive outlook on life that over the years since she died from a brain tumor in 1993, I’ve often joked that she still thinks she’s going to be okay. The one thing she always wanted was to be in love, and a few months before her illness she found it. He was like an angel, spending nights in  her hospital room until she passed away a month after surgery, and then he disappeared from our lives much as she had.

Ellen worked in commercial real estate in Los Angeles and would have been proud of the urban development that flourished in the 90's and new millennium.  She was also active in architecture and design councils and Jewish charities. Although she was queen of the ROTC at Bowen HS, she was firmly anti-war and had a peaceful, cheerful disposition.  She missed out on a lot; the accomplishments of two nephews whom she loved, the deaths of her parents, the White Sox winning the World Series, a president from the South Side, and the Internet, just for starters.  She is missed by friends, like Leslie Simon, and me, her brother, Leigh; but a day hasn't gone by in the last 17 years that I haven't thought about Ellen and appreciated her influence on me.  Actually, I'm an optimist too; it's a trait that I picked up from my big sister.  Leigh Cohn (Leigh@gurze.net)

Howard Cohen, Class June '65  

Post high school chronology:  dogs—King and Princess for a day, Queenie (got those three along with Madeline Tarnofsky), two Queenie puppies Max who went to Maddy and Malcolm to my sister, Runner,  then briefly Eva, Lilly, Millie, Eugene and since 1999 Hazel;  cats—Licorice, Soderburg, Lena, Richard, Elizabeth, Robert, Claudia during a Maine road trip, Vince, Fanny, Phobos, and currently Berkeley, Ogden, Olive, Collette and Bruno; other creatures—our lizard Sam and our recently deceased chameleon Spiro; education and job locations --College-U of I in Urbana and living with Fred Berger and Elliot Delman and other guys and gals, Med School-U of I in Chicago, living in Hyde Park and the West Side,  pediatric residency and neonatology Fellowship at the U of Chicago, still living in Hyde Park, back in Urbana for my first job, then Peoria and many jobs beginning  in 1981 and finally west to Salem, Oregon in 2005; two marriages, happily to Rosie an amazing artist for the last 24 years; children—James now film editing in San Francisco, Sara a landscape architect living in Cambridge, Mass, Rebecca an attorney living outside Detroit, and Hannah about to start college at Lewis and Clark in Portland; no grand children,  lots of good friends, many marathons and other runs, hundreds of books read,  many gardens planted and places traveled.  And through all of that, still very much attached to the South Side (and the rest) of Chicago, which I still think of as home, various Chicago teams, restaurants and foods, and looking forward to seeing all of you.  Email howardcohen60@gmail.com

Ric Cone

The years between age 11 – 16 at Luella and then Bowen were among my happiest childhood memories. I think it’s great that so many Bowenites , and southsiders from that era keep fond memories alive.  We were truly lucky to grow up with the charm of a small town within a great city that was our southside back then.  I left Bowen in the middle of junior year,  and the  family moved from the southside to the northside  of Chicago during the Summer of 1963. I have fond memories of Mrs. Caldwell and the Bowen Band, and not so fond memories of the really old stuffy  parade uniforms, especially on a hot day.  Just my luck, the Bowen football team began their winning streak  the Fall that I left for the northside.   After  high school , I briefly attended UI Chicago Circle, then transferred out to UC Berkeley in 1967.  I finished up at Cal, and  began my career there as  a young scientist, returning to Chicago briefly from 1972 – 1974 to attend grad school at the UI medical center, and then transferring to UW, Madison for a doctorate in neurosciences.  I then ‘post-dogged ‘at Stanford, worked in the biotech industry in San Francisco and taught at UCSF .  In 1994, I left teaching for the wonderful world of biotechnology marketing and sales.  Currently,  I run a small biotech company.  I’ve enjoyed two wonderful marriages, and three amazing children, two daughters age 30 and 20, and a son, who will turn 18,  just prior to the reunion party.   I’ve settled into a wonderful wooded community nestled into the foothills, and not far from the UC Berkeley campus and San Francisco.  I enjoy hiking and the outdoor photography, some good jazz, and pecking away on my computer writing fiction, well aware that sometimes truth is often provocative enough to fuel one’s imagination.

Harlan Dellsy, Class June '65

Life since high school?   Married, one son. Jane is from New York and was a math professor until she  grabbed an early retirement package. Robert is in grad school studying naval  architecture. We've lived in Hyde Park since I graduated from the U of C Law  School. We sail, try to ski, and take care of an older house.  Professionally,  I practiced law, was a corporate general counsel, corporate strategy  officer, chairman of an offshore insurance group, and a management  consultant (still am). Email hdellsy@earthlink.net 

Elliott Delman (1948-2021), June '65  

“…what a long, strange trip it’s been…”

   -Robert Hunter, 1969

I left Bowen for parts West—about 60 miles west to DeKalb. Two years at NIU with Ellyn, Randy, Kenny, Rocky, Michael, my future sister-in-law Nancy…bought my first guitar for $17.50 from a mysertious man whom I never saw again…sat at the feet of all the campus guitarists who let me bug them to show me this, show me that…somehow managed to study Spanish, transfer to U of I-Champaign and enter into an, um, alternative lifestyle with Howie and Fred and other furry folks…met my first mentor and lifelong friend Dan Fogelberg, and music took on a new dimension…went to grad school at U of I and loved teaching Spanish as a grad asst…6 weeks before my Master’s Exam I was wooed away to Paris to play in an eclectic/eccentric band of lovely castoffs…returned to the States two years later to join a rock ‘n roll commune in Boscobel, WI…got married in WI, left the band, moved to Chicago, had 3 kids (now aged 35, 33, 30), started accompanying singer Bonnie Koloc and making inroads to the Chicago music scene…spent many years performing, composing and producing commercial (and not so commercial) music for a living…divorced…remarried…adopted lovely Ella from Guatemala in 2007. She’s four already…went back to school for teacher certification, taught Spanish for one year at Waukegan High School. Or was it one hundred?  Currently in lifestyle limbo.  Email Elliott@delmanmusic.com

Susan Demirsky Allan (1947-2015), June '65

Family, career and travel have characterized my life since our Bowen days.  I finished my undergraduate degree in Speech and Theater (no surprise there!) at University of Michigan and married David at the end of junior year. I stayed on to finish  my Ph.D. in a joint degree in Education and Psychology.  I think most people didn’t expect the artsy Chicagoan and the outdoorsy Canadian biologist to last, but we’ll have our 42nd wedding anniversary this August.  We lived back in Chicago for 1 year and then moved to Maryland but the call of the Maize and Blue was too strong and 19 years ago we returned to Ann Arbor where, among other activities, we have the (currently depressing) task of rooting for the team at football games.  David is a professor and Associate Dean in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at U of M.  I’m about to retire from my position as Assistant Superintendent of Grosse Pointe Michigan schools so that I can put more focus on my consultations and writing.   We have two children, Jennie (U of M grad) who is married to Marc (U of M grad) and is a math teacher in Birmingham, Michigan; and Brian (U of M grad) who is about to take up a new position as a faculty member at the U. of Illinois (!)  in the ecology of infectious diseases.   (David and I more or less cloned ourselves!  Seriously, we love being able to share our passions within the family.)  We adore travel and have lived in England, Israel and Sweden on sabbaticals.   We went to Antarctica in February (picture above is me on an ice floe in the Arctic Sea!), are doing a family reunion in Eastern Europe this summer and, since next year is a sabbatical year for David, we’re planning on Australia and some time in Israel again.  I’m looking forward to seeing all of you and hearing about your lives!

Brian (Buddy) Dick, Class June '65

Bio, what bio. I've made it to 63, that's what counts.   Did we ever grow up in a great neighborhood and era! After graduating college I became a shop instructor at a special education high school facility on Chicago's west side for the public schools. My wife (Dona Becker '64) and I raised 3 kids mostly in the Homewood-Flossmoor area and now I have 4 grandchildren who live in the Chicago area.  I left teaching in 1986 to expand my own business in the coffee and vending industry. I sold the business in 2000 after 30 years in the business and tried retiring. I moved out to California in 2003 due to my wife's health problems and have been here since in this lovely part of our country waiting for all you other Bowenites to join me for great weather and plenty of golf.Email bdick107@mail.com 

Barbara Dinitz Levie, June '65

45 years? Nah, can’t be. I’m still that bubble headed 17 year old that got nailed for wearing culottes to school junior year. Well, that’s on the inside of my head. On the outside I appear to be a middle-aged (yes, we can still call ourselves middle-aged) librarian, happily married to the same guy I married in ’72. We have one son, Jordan, who’s a filmmaker in NY. I spent 15 years in corporate America with Montgomery Ward. Remember the old Monkey Wards catalog? I was the editor. I switched to stay-at-home mom for a few years then went back to work part time, and now I’m a librarian (please, no shushing jokes) at the Evanston Public Library. I’m still dancing, too. I take about 6 ballet classes a week, teach them occasionally, and Jack and I are into contra dancing. So in brief, I’m still here, still married, still short, still dancing. Looking forward to seeing everyone, and if past experiences at reunions has taught me anything, I’ll be in a mild state of shock as we all arrive and figure out who’s who while we try to remember names and faces. Email jjblev@att.net

 Liz Dixon Missel (1947-2008), June '65

After high school Liz attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana where she met her future husband Gary sophomore year. They were married after graduation in 1969 and moved initially to Wisconsin and then settled in California in the early 1970s.   She had two sons Matthew and Andrew. Through the years she spent time teaching, woking as a bookkeeper and a paralegal. She had a  passionate love for her family. They were the center of her life. She was a voracious reader, loved music and  was an inveterate letter writer preferring pen and paper to the quicker email. A baseball fan  her loyalties may have shifted to the Giants, but she didn't forsake the Chicago teams and she'd try to catch a game when she was back in town. She had been a five year breast cancer survivor when my husband and I renewed our friendship with Liz on a trip to California. She soon became a source of strength and hope to us when my husband was diagnosed with cancer shortly after our visit. Unfortunately a few months later her cancer returned and then it became a mutual support system for us for the next 2 1/2 years . I treasure my memories of Liz and miss her dearly. I know she would have wanted to be at this reunion as she often asked if I heard anything about one being in the works.  ~ Darcie Smith Wadycki 

Wayne Dosick (1947-2025), June '65

Mrs. McGuan, the chemistry teacher, said to my mother, “Mrs. Dosick, I am sorry to tell you this, but I am afraid that Wayne will never amount to anything, because he can't or won't memorize the periodic table of elements.”  I would like tell Mrs. McGuan that I have a string of academic degrees, rabbinic ordination, and have been awarded two honorary degrees. I have been a congregational rabbi, university professor, and social activist, and I have written eight books and more than four hundred articles.  I have spent a lifetime working to build up a dynamic, creative Jewish community here (San Diego) and in Israel, helping people to create a deep, intimate, personal relationship with God, officiating at baby naming, weddings, and funerals, teaching and speaking around the country, exploring re-emerging Jewish spirituality, doing spiritual healing with children and young adults, hosting a weekly Internet radio program, and envisioning Oneness consciousness for our world.  After my first book was published, I sought out and found our English teacher, Louise Stanek (now, most sadly, of blessed memory) to thank her for being my “coach.”   My first, sweet wife died, oh so young. I am divorced from my second wife, who is the mother of my two sons. My current - and last - wife is Ellen Kaufman, the master practitioner and teacher of the spiritual psychotherapy, Soul Memory Discovery. Together, we have written two books - one on the Indigo Children and the other on Kabbalah. I've lived in San Diego for the last 35 years, where I deeply appreciate the weather, yet I always miss the excitement and energy of Chicago. The interweavings of our youth form much of the foundation of who we are and what we come to be. I thank you all for being part of the holy network of my life. Email WDosick@aol.com

Denise Eisman Blumenthal , Class June '65

If it wasn’t for my friending Elliott Delman on Facebook about a year ago, Bowen would only pop up in the occasional dream about taking a test that I didn’t know about.  Then everything snowballed.   Ellyn Gold and I became FB friends, and once that happened I was back in the mix, connecting with Esther, Peggy and Marc, and getting updates on everyone else from Ellyn.   So, here’s a bit about me.  After Bowen,  I went to the University of Wisconsin during those amazingly turbulent, but exciting years of 1965-1969, where I majored in English, minored in History.  It was quite an amazing experience , intellectually, politically and socially.  I remember my parents frantically calling me after they’d seen some anti-war protest on tv wanting me to come home.  After Madison, I headed to Boston with a bunch of friends, fell in love with New England, and have been here ever since.   I met my husband, Bob Blumenthal — a fellow midswesterner, from St. Louis -- through our mutual friend, Rocco Landesman, the producer of The Producers.  I am not name dropping, but include this tidbit because  Rocco says we are one of his best productions.  Bob and I have been married for eons, it seems, literally growing up  and old together.  Bob describes himself as a recovering lawyer.  He is now a full time jazz critic/music business consultant which has enabled us to hear music around the world, meet lots of incredibly talented people, and enjoy a culturally rich and diverse life.  We have one son, Charlie Parker (yeah, he’s named after the jazz sax great) Blumenthal, who works at Brandeis in their technology dept.  He was an Apple Genius, and as a Mac user, you can only imagine what that means.  He is a great person — kind, generous, a huge reader with a very clever sense of humor.   Charlie is engaged to Amanda Iacono and they are getting married next March.  We can’t wait.   I started out teaching, as did so many fellow Bowenites.  About five years into it I realized that I wasn’t made for bells and periods and hall duty, though I loved teaching and I adored my students.  So, I went back to school, to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, to figure out what to do next.  I took a bunch of crazy, disjointed courses, including a practicum on designing childrens’ television taught by the folks who created Sesame Street.  The time at Harvard reinforced my interest working from the outside to improve education. As luck would have it, I ended up in an educational think tank called The NETWORK, where I literally learned everything on my feet.  The organization grew and I grew with it, managing large national education projects, writing proposals, doing teacher training.  I was there for about 20 years, then left to join WGBH, Boston’s PBS station, where I manage the Education Productions department.  It’s an insane job of deadlines, finding money, developing new projects, and keeping up with technology that changes every 5 seconds.  But I love it and am amazed that someone my age gets to hang out with very cool smart young people creating some of the most fabulous stuff you can imagine for teachers and kids.   I’ll end with some thoughts about Bowen.  My two favorite teachers were Mrs. Stanek and Miss (God, we’d say Ms. today) Winik.  Both got me into serious reading, which I still do.  I can’t remember which teacher it was who taught The Glass Menagerie, but I had more notes and underlinings than anyone could have thought possible, and learned about symbolism and imagery.  I actually had lunch with Mrs. Stanek in Cambridge not long after I had moved here.  Many of the other classes now strike me as boring and uninspired, though I did love biology. I was walking up one of those endless stairways, in between periods, when I learned that President Kennedy was shot, then went to gym class, where mean Mrs. Stern (appropriate name, huh?) was actually nice, and told everyone to sit on the floor until we heard on the loudspeaker it was time to go home.  There were good friends:  Margo, Howard, Peggy, Elliott, Susie.  And there were so many others who I can’t wait to see in July.   Email Denise_blumenthal@wgbh.org

Update

As we approach our 50th reunion, the number of years staggers me since we graduated. 50 years! Is it really possible?  In some ways it was yesterday, and other ways it was a lifetime ago. In true boomer fashion, I like to think of myself as way too young to have graduated 50 years ago.  The past five years since I last wrote for the 45th reunion, some of life’s great moments came my way.  My son Charlie married Amanda Iacono, the sweetest, warmest person one could ever imagine.  They now have a son, Benjamin, whom I absolutely adore.  All those things people said about grandchildren are true — it’s utterly the best!  Benjamin is now 2, talks up a storm and spends every Friday with us.  If you were next to me I would pull out my phone to show you pictures.  Sadly, my mom died not too long after the 45th reunion.  

I’m still directing the Education Department at WGBH, Boston’s public tv station, but cruising toward Chapter 2.  I’m not sure exactly what that will be, but life is way too short and there are still so many things I want to do and places I want to see.  My husband, Bob, is ready to go.  

The years since the 45th reunion have brought me closer to a number of Bowen friends.  I am part of an annual girlfriends’ week-end in Tucson with Ellyn Mose Gold, Esther Brenner Pullman, Linda Mark Kaplan, Ann Pomerantz Meyers and Sandy Bruski Wagner.  Randy Sherow is an honorary member.  We hike, wear matching t-shirts, drink lots of wine and gorge on pizza made by Ellyn’s generous husband Jeff.  I’ve hung out with Susie Pollans on Cape Cod and in Newton, MA.  We totally reunited at the 45th.  I had a fabulous afternoon in Chicago with Peggy Begun and many phone chats.  I had a 3 hour lunch a few months ago with Eleanor Newhoff who lives in Arlington, MA and practices law (immigration) in Cambridge.  And then there are all the Facebook friends from Bowen.  It has been great seeing your families, your travels, cheering your successes and boosting you when you are down.  

Sadly I will not be at the 50th reunion.  I’ll probably be reading a book to Benjamin in Wellfleet on the Cape while you are dancing to the oldies.  But I will be with you in spirit.  Have a wonderful time.  Here’s to all your health and happiness!

Update 2025

Whew!  The years go by in a blink of the eye...retired from WGBH; Monica, second grandchild arrived; had open heart surgery; started KitchenCoach where I teach cooking classes and cook with people in their homes; my mom died.  Bob and I are cruising toward our 55th.  Did a zillion yoga and spin classes; walked many miles; traveled; spent time with my sister in Santa Fe; summer vacations on Cape Cod (now 40+ years) . COVID.  Time with Annie, Esther, Ellyn, Sandy, Linda and Randy.  Italian beef with Peggy at Portillo's.  Zooms, Zooms and more Zooms.

A very special reflection:  At the beginning of COVID, my yoga studio started live streaming classes.  Linda Mark Kaplan decided to join me and we've been practicing together for over 5 years.  We start each class saying hi to each other, and close with our byes. Linda in Chicago, me in Boston.  How cool is that!

There's now more time behind us than ahead.  A sobering thought. So, let's savor the reunion and the friends we'll see and those we've lost and cherish the memories we share and the memories still to be made.  

Robin Ellison Whates, Jan '65

I have many fond memories of Bowen and fun times with my friends. After graduation I went on to NIU to pursue a teaching degree but transferred to University of Illinois at Champaign, Urbana after one year. I graduated from the University of Illinois with an elementary degree in 1969 and immediately left for my new job in Anaheim, California and have been there ever since.  I taught kindergarten and first grade for 33 years in Anaheim and loved every minute of it.  While at the University of Illinois I met my husband John, who is a CPA and an attorney, and we have been married for 38 years.  We have two grown boys 34 and 31 who are both married. Our oldest son has 3 children and we are enjoying being grandma and grandpa.  Spending time with our families is one of our favorite things to do.  We have both been retired now for over 6 years and have spent much of our time traveling. We love to cruise and have been all over the world. We have been to China, Europe, Egypt, Australia and just spent a few weeks touring our own great country. We visited Washington DC and the battlefields of Virginia. There is so much to see and we want to see as much as we can while we can still get around. We are looking forward to going to Israel some time in 2011.   I am looking forward to our trip back to Chicago and renewing friendships from my high school years. Email Sprteacher@aol.com

Carol Erlbach (1947-2025), June '65

Upon graduating from Bowen, I lived a magical life in New York.  Attending Parsons School of Design  afforded me classes beyond my wildest imagination.  Studying at the Metropolitan, MOMA and  the Guggenheim were part of my daily curriculum.  Attending Broadway Shows and running into celebrities at the local deli were just a way of life.    I lived in the mid fifties a few blocks from Bloomingdales and hung out at the Bitter End in the Village.  I used to pinch myself to believe I was really living there.   I moved back to Chicago and graduated from the Chicago Academy of Fine arts and pursued a career in graphic design in Fashion Retail Advertising.  After working   in graphic design  in the Fashion Advertising Department of a major department store, and winning graphic design awards,  I became  Art Director for Chas A Stevens, later married and moved to the suburbs,  ultimately, getting divorced and changing careers.  I became Director of Admissions  after working in College Administration at the International Academy of Merchandising and Design.  Working in graphic design enabled me to branch out into other areas.  I started designing Jewelry and have never stopped.  After 40 years of designing jewelry, I look back and am surprised at what I have accomplished. During extensive travel I searched for unique  beads and other artifacts.  Going to Africa in the 70's enabled me to  find beads that were later used in an African collection that I designed and sold exclusively to the Art Institute of Chicago.  Over the years I was honored by Marshall Field's, where I had my own display case,  I Magnin, and Saks Fifth Avenue as an outstanding Chicago Designer.  I used to do trunk shows for Henri Bendel, Saks, Magnins, Fields and Neiman Marcus in Bal Harbor.  Women's Wear Daily featured me many times, as did the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers and magazines.  I became an international jewelry designer when Barney's commissioned me to design a  jewelry collection for their Tokyo store opening.  I have lived  a very colorful life of  travel, museums, art galleries,  theater, great restaurants, volunteering and  old friends  My closest friends are my life long friends from the South Side.  I am currently working full-time in a very meaningful job for a non-profit in the medical field. I  live in Chicago and enjoy creating jewelry for private commissions.  It is amazing that  it has  been 45 years since we graduated from Bowen.  Email cerlbach@aol.com

Bette Evins Schuster, Class June '65

Hi Guys,  I’ve just finished reading the other bios and it’s been a blast.  As for me, I went on to U of I in Champaign/Urbana where I received my BS and MA in Speech Pathology.  I also met and married my husband, Stewart Schuster.  Stu ultimately earned his PHD and so off we went to Toronto, where he became an assistant prof and I went to work at Bloorview Children’s Hospital working with severely handicapped children.  Two of my children were born in Toronto, and I was happy and content.  Silicon Valley, however came knocking on our door, so we moved to the fabled land of San Francisco.   (We owned and lived in a house in Toronto for 3 weeks before we moved to SF and put it up for sale.  Ah, such glorious memories!)  I worked for a time at a private clinic near SF, had another child (3 boys) and ultimately retired to become a volunteer extraordinaire.  I’ve run many events and task forces and became the president of some organizations.  My last big endeavor was the presidency of our local Jewish Community Center.  My boys are grown now, Justin is a vice president in a software firm in SF, Josh is an assistant prof at Western Ontario University near Toronto, and Jordan is starting a raw organic chocolate company, called Fearless Chocolate.  Look for it in “Whole Foods”.  I have two beautiful and talented daughter’s-in-law and two fabulous grandchildren.  Like many of you, I LOVE being a grandparent, as well as love to travel, read, do crossword and Sudoku puzzles, and sometimes putter around the garden.  I’m looking forward to seeing everyone.  In fact, there was a time when my greatest wish was to stand in line somewhere and know someone else. (We had moved around a bit.)  I’ll be at the reception table when you check so please say Hi.  Email betteschuster@sbcglobal.net

Steve Feder, June '65

I have had quite a busy life since the Bowen High days. After graduating with a B.S. degree from SIU in Communications with a major in Radio/TV, I was hired by WFMT Radio Chicago in advertising sales, and worked there for 9 years, eventually becoming Sales Manager.  I left after purchasing an FM radio station in Great Falls, Montana, and owned and operated it for 5 years.  I sold the station and put a new FM radio station on the air in Eugene, Oregon (home of the University of Oregon) while managing and AM station for a company that was based in California. After 3 years, I moved to Portland to manage an AM oldies station for a short time and then was hired by another California company to manage KYTE AM/FM (classical music) in Portland.  A few years later I moved to Seattle and was involved in a media brokerage company, representing buyers and sellers of radio properties, but missed the management of radio stations and accepted a position of General Manager of KKZX (FM) (classic rock format) and KUDY AM.  Then I was hired by a Seattle company (Ackerley Media Group) as Vice President General Manager of KGON (FM) (classic rock format) and KFXX (AM sports talk).  The same company wanted me to manage their Billboard company in Portland which I did for one year, and then they made me an offer to become Senior Vice President managing their national Sales Division for the corporation in New York City.  

One year after moving to New York, I met my wife Jeri, who was a New York City school teacher (and 13 years younger than me).  After being a bachelor for 49 years, it was love at first site and we were married less than a year after we met.  By the way, I proposed to Jeri on a billboard in Seattle owned by my employer, the Ackerley Media Group.  This was during an event the company had that I was invited to for the Seattle Supersonics, which was owned by the company at the time.  After Ackerley sold the company to Clear Channel, I formed my own media company in New York called Corporate Image Media and later merged with another company and became President of the new corporation called Executive Media Network.  

After 16 years of operating these companies, we sold to a major communications firm based in San Francisco, and I am retired and living with Jeri in New York City suburb of Chappaqua.  So it has been quite a ride, but now I am taking time to relax and enjoy.  I am a gourmet cook and foodie (especially ethnic food), and we do quite a bit of traveling here in the states and Europe.  Email: sfeder@msn.com 

Update, 2025

My wife Jeri and I recently sold our home of 28 years in Chappaqua , New York and have moved to a beautiful Penthouse apartment in West Palm Beach, Fl.  We are planning to spend a good portion of the summer of ‘25 in Italy and other parts of Europe which is the reason we will not be attending the upcoming reunion.  We wish all Bowen alumni all the best healthy and happy years ahead!  

Enid Feldman Grabiner, Class June '65

Growing up in the 50’s on the South Side was like living in a “Father Knows Best” setting. They were happy carefree days where kids could just hang around, and that we did! Perhaps I idealize my childhood, but isn’t that how memories work? You remember what you want and make it better! 

Following high school I attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. During college I majored in English, made life-long friends and met the love of my life, Fred. After graduating from college, I went to grad school for a Masters in English Literature. Fred and I married and moved to Chicago so he could attend medical school and I could support him. What does one do with an English degree? Being a dilettante did not go over well so I taught English at Englewood High School. Five years was enough!!! I finally quit and had my three children: Stacy (34), Brian (31), and Amanda(29). We settled our family in Northbrook, and I eventually settled into a new career. I own a business called Camp and Teen Travel Consultants, although most people know me as "The Camp Lady." I place children in summer programs. It is amazing the opportunities kids have now.   My children are all married to great spouses and live in the Chicago area. I have one fabulous 6 year old granddaughter, Ilana. It amazes me how different they are all are from one another, yet the same.   Fred and I like to spend our free time creating stained and fused glass art, going to theater, museums and lectures, and watching movies. I love to read and often do book reviews for blogs (I guess that English degree actually came in handy!). Best of all I like to travel and explore new places. Actually old places aren’t bad either. I can’t wait to leave home!! That way I don’t have to make the bed!  Email egrabiner@aol.com

Lois Felton Kempler, June '65

I'm sad that I won't be able to celebrate this wonderful celebration of youth and frivolity.  My thoughts and my recollections of precious Bowen moments will be with you at that time.  What I can remember of them!   I'm sure that at our age we have some interruptions in the memory process. After Bowen I continued  my higher education at SIU where I proceeded to get my bachelor's degree and land a bachelor by the name of Howard Kempler.  He was a north sider who detested driving  to the south side. So we married.  Isn't that a beautiful love story?  That was 41 years ago. I worked for an advertising agency for several years and  that catapulted into a wonderful career that was  styling for  commercial photographers.  It was a fantasy job that encompassed shopping,--- creating film sets,------ shopping, ------traveling to different locations for shoots,------shopping,-------selecting wardrobes for the shoots and for the models,------ shopping,------- meeting incredibly talented and interesting people,------and more shopping!  Incredibly, I'm still not shopped out!  I have three  amazing daughters. They are perfection: inwardly and outwardly. Tragically, I lost one of them 20 years ago.  I volunteer at a shelter that is run by d.c.f.s. I take care of new born drug addicted babies. I'm hoping that whatever nurturing I'm able to do will help them overcome they're pre-dependency and addiction to drugs.  My passion now is being a  "kosher kowgirl".  I own a horse whose name is Image Maker and I love every second of  being in the saddle and riding the trails. Anyone who knew the real me in high school,  knew I always wanted a horse and wanted to be a mouseketeer.  We're fortunate to have the best of two worlds and are able to winter in Florida. I don't miss snow at all. I "do" miss the 60's.  Have a ball "Bowenites".   Email LadyLo12@aol.com

Marilyn Frank, June '65

Armed with a degree in teaching social studies from the University of Illinois, I taught 240 7th graders in the inner city of Chicago. While I became skillful at stopping classroom fights, I decided I could have more impact in “the streets" and completed a Masters in Social Work.  In the early 1970's I moved to western Wisconsin and established the first social work department in a rural nursing home/hospital.  Oh yeah, I lived on a commune during this time. Over the years I have worked in schools and community centers with high-risk youth, as a neighborhood center director in Minneapolis, a Developmental Disability Supervisor in rural Wisconsin, and as a Project Director for the State of Minnesota establishing a program to help low income elders continue to live independently.   After giving a persuasive speech in college to “See America first” I travelled through Europe for the summer and remarkably met a few people from the South Side of Chicago.  More recently, my connections with Tibetans in Minnesota led to trips to India and Nepal where I studied Buddhism and interviewed Tibetan elders. This past year I travelled to Israel and Jordan.  Currently I live in Mankato Minnesota where I teach social work at Minnesota State University, Mankato.  You might remember Mankato as the town where the family from “Little House on the Prairie” went shopping.  My semi-annual trip to Chicago to see family provides a nice balance.  I look forward to seeing those of you who are able to come to the reunion.   Email Marilyn.frank@mnsu.edu

Mark Friedman, June '65

My wife Johnnalee and I are very close.  Our home is in the suburbs of Portland, rural in surroundings, a lot of trees.  We maintain pretty active outdoor life styles.  We spend time in Caribbean Mexico and plan on more time there, particularly in the rainy months here, reserving January and February for skiing.  I am a master scuba diver and pursue that passion in the tropics.  I had a passion for running, which turned into a passion for cycling.  I even pitched my law firm's softball team to eight consecutive championships in our lawyers' beer league.   Kevin, eldest son, is a scientist with a PhD in cancer research and is currently on a clinical post-doctorate fellowship at the National Cancer Institute.  He's a natural at what he is doing and I wonder at his brilliance and know that level of intelligence could not have possibly sprung from my genes.  He's not married yet and no prospects.   Lorin, second son, has been slower at finding his path.  Never liked school and did not pursue it - from his perspective, it was wasting his time.  He has followed his own path, which led to recently starting a business with a partner in residential and commercial wood refinishing, which by all indications is taking off well - even in this economy.  His instincts are sharp so is his business judgment.  He found what he wanted to do and we are happy.  He's not married yet, but has a special lady - so who knows.  Email Mfriedman@gsblaw.com

Sandra Friend Lakin, June '65

Hi all!  Just a little about myself.  Met my husband, Barry, (as many of you may remember), in Mr. Vogel’s history class at 16.  We both went to U of I in Champaign-Urbana, dating on and off throughout the four years—mostly on. I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education.   After graduation, we got married and Barry swept me away to Southern California, where he got a job at McDonnell Douglas.  I’m certain, to this day, that he asked me to marry him so he wouldn’t have to drive cross country alone.  We’ve lived in Southern California ever since.  The weather is gorgeous, the beaches are relaxing, but home to me is still Chicago, even after all these years!!!   We have two children, Amy, who is 34, and Corey, who is 30, and getting married August 1, 2010 to a local gal.  Amy works for an Environmental and Civil engineering firm as a Project Manager of TRASH –recycling is a dirty word!!  Corey is a Supervisor for a local Parks and Recreation program and LOVES being outdoors.   Barry and I are both retired.  I retired from teaching elementary school, grades K – 2, after 30-some years.  I have continued to work a few hours a week teaching Science to 3 -5 year olds and their parents, which is exciting!  I have a Disneyland pass and use it about once a week to run away from home!!! I am relatively new to retirement and am looking into becoming a docent for a local Historical Society museum, as well as volunteering at UCI Medical Center, where my parents have been well cared for.  I intend on participating in some Senior classes at the local University.  I am currently taking Yoga and Zumba to lose those nasty pounds that creep up on us as we age!  Life is busy, but there will always be room for traveling, reading, sporting events – GO ANGELS, movies, and theater.  I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.  Can’t wait!!  It’s getting close.   Email:  bslakin@earthlink.net