Ken MacKenzie - 09/2004
After graduation I struggled through 1 1/2 years in college and joined
the Army to see the world. Of my 3-year hitch two were spent in Ethiopia
with the Army Security Agency, then came back for one more semester in
college to officially flunk out. Spent 10+ years in sales, 14 years
owning a Christian bookstore in Fairfield, CT, 11 years on the road
(mostly with DaySpring Cards). Life on the road burned me out, so I
decided to "retire". Worked as a deckhand on a tourboat on the
Connecticut River, and now have settled in as a part-time driver for
Middlesex Hospital, Middletown, CT.
Met kathy Splittorff (Darien H.S. '61). We married in '65 and have a son
(Ken III) who lives in Danbury, and a daughter (Heather) who is married
and has given us 2 grandchildren. Heather and her family live in Trumbull,
CT. Kathy and I enjoy travel, birdwatching and beautiful shoreline sunrises
that rival those of Al Bednar. We live in Guilford, CT.
George Ryan - 05/2004
After Valley Forge Military College and Kansas State University, I spent 12 years in the US Air Force. I spent 1976 to 1994 overseas in the middle east with Computer Science Corporation. I took a year off for open heart surgery then 3 years as a consultant. I ended my career in December 2000 after a year with Electronic Data Systems. I met Joan Stoeckle (GHS 58) while in Scotland in 2000 and we were married in August 2001. Now we live in our retirement home in Old Lyme, CT. We enjoy overseas travel, gardening, gemology (Joan's hobby) and trips to Idaho Springs, Colorado where Joan has a wonderful cabin in the mountains. Retirement really agrees with me.
Ann Woloschak McCoy - 05/2004
After graduating from Tufts University, I worked in NYC in advertising and the recording business. I married Phil Ramone in 1965. We moved to Pound Ridge, NY in 1971 and adopted Matt, now 33, and Simon, now 31. Phil and I divorced in the late 70's and I began teaching at the Mead School in Greenwich. In 1993, I sold the house in Pound Ridge and went on an Earthwatch expedition on Santorini, lead by Dr. Floyd McCoy of the University of Hawaii. Two months later, I moved to Hawaii and in April 1994, Floyd and I were married. We now spend 9 months of the year in Hawaii and 3 months in Greece, Europe and family visits on the east and west coasts. I am almost a full time art student. Drawing and oil painting are my newly discovered passions.
Harry Dannert - 06/2004
After graduation and college and 3 years in the Army, I married Marion “Babe” Clark. After a few months in Manhattan, we moved to Esopus, NY where I worked at Wiltwyck School for Boys. We had 3 kids, John Henry, 40, Lisa, 38, and Kyle, 34. In 1967, I went to work for NY Telephone. I took early retirement at age 52 and we moved to an island off the coast of the northeastern corner of North Carolina. Life is good here with our dock fifty feet from the back door. I enjoy fishing, hunting and riding my new motorcycle. Babe still sings, plays her flute and guitar, and writes music poetry and a history of her great-grandfather. We value the huge gift of time the most.
Al Bednar - 05/2004
I've been married 45 years. We lived in the St. Pete - Clearwater area of FL most of our lives until I retired in 1995 when we then moved to Maryville, TN where I spend most of my time playing golf. All our family - 2 kids, 2 grandkids and a mother-in-law - are still in FL and we all exchange visits a few times a year. Our yearly travels include a couple of trips to Florida, at least one cruise, a couple of timeshare exchanges, a trip to Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe or Tunica whenever I can talk Joanne into it and some misc shorty getaways - way too much time away from home for Joanne, doesn't even begin to satisfy my wanderlust.
Last year we built a new home which we moved into in Sept. From the rear deck we overlook pastureland with grazing cattle, forest background and the Great Smokey Mountains and National Park as a background with the most beautiful sunrises you've ever seen.
I'd love to hear from anyone and if anyone is visiting the Knoxville-Smokey Mountain area, please visit.
Pete Albero - 05/2004
I've been living in York, PA for 31 years. After graduation from GHS, college and Army Reserve, I got into sales. Most of my career has been in selling flexible packaging, same position, different titles, primarily for one company, having been sold a few times. As with most sales positions, it involves travel, mostly domestically.
Sue, a Greenwich Hospital Nursing graduate, and I got married in 1962. We have two daughters, 37 and 40, who both are in the New York area. We also have two granddaughters, 21 and 3 years old.
We started are married life in Greenwich, then Stamford and down to York in 1973. We are both still working. I was among of the youngest of our class, 17+ 6 months.
So far, I'm in reasonably good health, workout regularly, aerobics, spinning, tennis, kick boxing, weights, etc. Low impact, of course. Alas, I started loosing my hair in my 20's and it has been continually receding. Personally, I've developed and interest in photography and travel.
Peter Bengtson - 04/2004
Now live in Tucson, AZ and have been retired for a number of years. My main activity is hiking and mountain climbing. I just completed a list of 400 peaks in Southern AZ and will complete climbing the 15 AZ County highpoints next month with a climb of Mt. Baldy in Apache County.
This summer I will be working on a list of the 100 highest mountains in AZ. I now have 29 of the 100.
I'm married and my wife, Betty, and I will be celebrating our 42 anniversary this August. We have one son, David, who lives with his wife and our two grandsons in PA.
Dick Moran - 04/2004
I enlisted in the NAVY in April 1958. Needed time to unwind after high school. I served just under 19 years and retired in Jan 1977. Been from Iceland to Guam to Midway Island to San Salvador TWI and a lot of places in-between. Met my wife Judy Goetze(ghs56) while home on leave in Nov 59 and married in Feb 61. We have two great kids,Rick and Cindy and now three wonderful grandchildren.
We live in a house we built in 1974 on Nantucket. The Navy stationed me here 1971 till 1976. Last year was in Del.without the family. After retirement from USN as a Senior Chief Petty Officer in the SONAR field I had to find a job related to dry land.Started an appliance repair service and did well. Sold that after 5 years and took a job at Nantucket Cottage Hospital in 1981 and retired from that as the Director of Operations in Dec 1999. Now I'm the GM of 14 time share apartments and playing a lot of golf. Not too well but have a 21 H/C and trying to get back in the teens. It gets me out of the house. Judy is also semi retired from her job as a Legal Assistant. Now she is a part time bookkeeper just to keep busy.
Lew Gould - 04/2004
Since 1998 I have been retired from teaching at the University of Texas at Austin after thirty-one years on the faculty. During the past six years I have been writing full time. In addition to an American History textbook (one of four authors) entitled American Passages, I have written The Modern American Presidency (2003), Grand Old Party: A History of the Republicans (2003), and Alexander Watkins Terrell: Civil War Soldier, Texas Lawmaker, American Diplomat, which the University of Texas Press will publish this fall. I also edited Watching Television Come of Age: The New York Times Reviews by Jack Gould (UT Press, 2002) a collection of my father's columns from the 1960s and 1950s with a biographical introduction that talks about our life in Greenwich. Right now I am working on a history of the Senate in the 20th century. Karen and I don't travel much because of health reasons--multiple allergies and chemical sensitivities. Finally, authors are shameless, and so I'll say that if any classmates would like a copy of any of my books at the author's discount of 40% off, I'll be glad to oblige
Peter Huckel - 04/2004
After graduation, I spent 2 years at the University of Arizona then 4 years with the US Coast Guard. In 1963, I married Evelyn Stevens of Ocala, Florida. We lived in Old Greenwich and Riverside until 1987 when we moved up here to Deep River. We have 4 kids, 32 to 37 and 6 grandkids, 4 months to 9 years. They are all a blessing.
In 1965, I started a career working with computers, big and small, concentrating on all aspects of business applications. The last 16 years have been spent with Whelen Engineering in Chester. Computers are also my hobby, having had a pc since 1961. My health is pretty good, no major ailments. I love my treadmill!!
John Gibbs - 06/2006
After GHS, I graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering from Norwich Univ in Northfield Vt. The only reason I got my degree was that the weather was so cold I found little to distract me from the books. It was the first time I did my homework on a regular basis. After graduation I worked for a consulting engineer designing 12 bridges for the Ct interstate. They are all still standing after 45 years. I spent the next 10 years working for Dorr Oliver in Stamford. I married Susan McKean, a 1962 Academy graduate. In 1964 the Army wanted me to on active duty so we selected to serve in France for two years. We had a wonderful time in Europe and many weeks in Paris building NATO facilities for the generals. We moved to Ridgefield, CT and had our two children arrived in 67 and 68. In 1971, after completing my MBA at Stamford branch of UConn, we moved to Palo Alto, Ca where I worked as an environmental engineer for Envirotech Corp, a time as a consultant, a time with the City of Palo Alto and finally 16 years with the City of San Jose, Ca. I retired in 2005 and relocated to Tampa Fl where I play tennis 6 days/wk and even golf with my wife Sue. I find retirement is fun but I do like the excitement of work on a limited basis. I did work for FEMA after Katrina in New Orleans. What a blast for 90 days. I hope to do more FEMA work in Fl. in the future.
In the years since GHS I've run into a few other grads, Sue Storch in Stowe Vt during a 1961 ski weekend. We ended up driving into a snow bank at 2AM. Betsy Johnson (GHS 1959) in Palo Alto. She lived just a few blocks away. Barbara Gallagher (Strong) our loyal class agent who lives 15 miles north in Tarpon Springs.
1993 bought a divorce. I remarried in 1999 to a wonderful woman (also named Sue) who is a great tennis player and a retiree from UAL. She is from Australia and we have visited Sydney several times since meeting her in 1995.
That's about it, If anyone visits the Tampa area in Florida give me a call… I'll buy the first round.
Helen Jean Towmshend Schwartz - 07/2006
After graduation from GHS, I attended Miami University in Ohio. I transferred to
TCU my junior year and continued my major in special education. I met my future husband there. Bob Elliott and I were married in Christ Church, Greenwich in June of '61. We adopted three incredible children, Matthew John ('65), Patricia Theodora ('68) and Elizabeth Townshend ('72). We have 8 grandchildren - 4 boys and 4 girls. Bob and I lived in Lancaster, PA, Stamford, and Old Greenwich, Devon, PA and then Sewickley (west of Pittsburgh) PA. We were divorced in 1980 during the process of which, I had a major spiritual experience as a result of the preaching of the dynamic rector of the local church- John Guest. God moved in my life and it has never been the same. Soon thereafter, I went to work for that local thriving Episcopal Church (we are no longer "Episcopal" but Anglican). I was the assistant to the Rector(s) for 20 years and moved into Pastoral Care Ministry in 2000. Later that year I joined the staff of The WatchWORD Bible Company (
www.thebiblechannel.com
). In 2003 I met Ralph Schwartz! Who but God could have placed a man in my life who had played golf in the Pawleys Island area for 30 years and had always wanted a place there??!! My girls and their families live
here but my Matt and his wife and baby live in Pawleys! We were married in
April, 2005 and have a place in Pawleys! Ralph has two sons and 3 grandchildren.
I am still working but will begin a gradual retirement in the next year or so.
Ralph's Mother is in a facility here and we see her often.
Richard Cooper - 11/2006
Upon graduating in 1957 I headed west to the University of Idaho on a football scholarship. During college I married my high school sweetheart Beverly Jean Ritch. I graduated in 1961 with a B.S. degree in education. We then returned to Old Greenwich where I was drafted into the army. After completing my military service, we moved to Stamford, Connecticut for 3 years where I taught in a Junior High School and completed my masters in educational administration. In 1966 we headed west to Tucson, Arizona where I taught and coached at the high school level.
Beverly and I have two children, Nadine 43 and Christopher 40. We also have two wonderful grandchildren, Maddie 10 and Nicholas 8. Years ago Beverly and I were divorced. Beverly now lives in beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona. We maintain a very close relationship and for that we are both extremely thankful.
In 1968 I founded my own private school and summer day camp program, Tucson Country Day School, pre-school through sixth grade. We are now closing in on or 40th year.
In 2000 I changed my school from strictly a private school to a “Public Charter School” opening with 43 students and three teachers, kindergarten through third grade. This past August 2006 the school opened pre-school through 8th grade with about 700 students, 48 teachers and a staff of 80. A few months ago my school board asked me to stay on during my retired years as a lifetime consultant in order to oversee and make sure that the school remains in the future, as it was developed in the past. It was a tremendous pleasure for me to accept their offer as much of the time I can administer from anywhere using my cell phone.
Recently, I became engaged to a “Wonderful Southern Bell” named Susan. We have been keeping up with the plans for the 7-7-07 50th reunion. We certainly will be attending and are looking forward to seeing everyone at this most exciting event!
Jerry Abbott - 03/2007
Before graduating from Central Connecticut I signed up for Navy officer candidate
school in order to avoid the draft. I didn’t want to spend two years living in a foxhole or tent as my older brother did in Korea. Sue Doran and I got married in the middle of OCS and the great adventure of our lifetime began. My plan was to serve my three years overseas at sea and leave the Navy to start my teaching career. It didn’t work out that way. The Navy was too much fun and adventure although some of it could be categorized as high anxiety. In our first ten years in the service we lived in Japan for five years and Bahrain for two years. Thus we have one Japanese son and one Arab son although they do look like us. We moved almost constantly for 20 years and finally settled down for my last ten years in service ashore in Northern Virginia where we still live. After 30 years, the Navy put me out to pasture, but retiring at 51 didn’t seem right – too much New England upbringing…something about idleness and the devil’s workshop. I took up fly fishing to keep me busy, as it still does, but it wasn’t enough. So I switched
my Navy uniform for academic robes to teach at the National Defense University (the senior military staff college) and at Georgetown University. I still carry a full teaching load and currently have no plans to retire. Sue and I have two sons: Scott is a screenwriter in Hollywood and Bill is an artist in the Big Apple. We have but one granddaughter (Scott’s) who, like all grandchildren, is a constant delight.
Sal Caruso - 04/2004
After graduating from Boston University I spent 6 years flying in the Navy and then 32 years with Delta Airlines. The last four years with Delta was spent flying international out of JFK which was great. Married to Mary Ellen Poutas from Old Greenwich for 45 years. We have two sons, Dave and Matt, and two grandsons.
Mary Ellen has written two children's books which are available on amazon.com.
I spend my time working in the vineyard my son and I started, playing jazz guitar, trout fishing and bird hunting. If anyone is passing through the area, my quartet plays at the Paper Back Cafe in Old Saybrook most Sundays from 11 to 2 and Whitfield On The Green in Guilford, 5:30 till 7:30.