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Robert Cole

Andrew Flor

Frank G Styzek

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Happy and healthy 2025 to all my 1976 classmates!!

Michelle Milkovic (Weiner)

HAPPY EVERYTHING!

Wishing all of our Bicentennials good health, peace, and joy in 2025.

Ken Ortiz

Hello all,

Wishing everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2025.

I have also decided to "Hang up my spurs and ride off into the sunset" like Grace and maybe a few others here. Was it the right time? Not sure, but I was pretty unhappy with the way things were going at that place that we were on strike for about 10 months back in 2022. I was hoping to work there a little longer, but they did some things and employee moves that did not set well with me. Even my family could see that I was stressed and unhappy. I am betting that's why I caught a mild case of shingles back in March. Lucky for me, it was very mild. So, I decided to retire this summer.

Right now I have been enjoying more time with family and friends and enjoying a more laid back life for now. Got back into bowling too as I have not done league bowling since covid hit. Plus I do have some Lane related stories brewing and a couple involve bowling while at Lane.

I did get to hit Vegas back in 2019, what a great time that was. And I hit it big too! See?

Still "transitioning" in this new phase of my life, but I am definitely embracing all those wacky moments that I encounter and people that I have in my various circles. And if life has taught me anything, it's that it is NOT guaranteed. So make sure you always express your love and appreciation for the people you interact with. And, yes, some people in our circles may not deserve it, but I will always leave the door open in case they want to reach out and make amends. You never know if you will get another chance to do so.

Be well my fellow 76'ers! I love you all!

Gregory Calvimontes

Kevin Donohue (Donohue)

Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah classmates!  And contrats to the retirees and their lifetime of productive endevors.  I retireed from being a professor.  Was at University of Kentucky for the last 33 years and retired completely in June from there.  I started a few buinesses along the way, so will still be doing those, but I don't have the tyranny of classes, research grants, and publication deadlines.  Get to travel more and hang out, the bussinesses give me excuses to travel, work with young people, new ideas, and hope.  Thanks for posting everyone.

Lisa Yee (Abrams)

It's great catching up with everyone on the message forum. Glad those who have retired are enjoying it. I logged in to see the interest in getting the 50th year reunion plans for 2026. I frequent Facebook because I post about my restaurant events every week because we have weekend impersonators which the customers really enjoy so I'll do my best on catching up with news here. Have a very happy healthy and peaceful new year 2025!

Edward Mc Carthy

Holiday wishes to you all.  Retired now two years.  Life is good however when you love what you did and your career, you find yourself missing some aspects of the 'work days'.  We are now snow birds ( year two ) and winter in Florida.  Drove over to Orlando to watch the Illini play.  Wife and I are alums.  Rocked in 2025 in Orlando too.  Now (tomorrow ) heading back to New Smryna Beach until April.  Be well all.  Hopefully as we usher in a new year, it is also a start to countrywide economic improvements and a more kind and gentler future.for us all.  Good to see and hear from you all.

Timmy Wong

Happy New Year to my fellow 76ers!! Grace and Andrew, unfortunately, I do not have plans to visit Hot August Nights this year but I do appreciate the offers.  Can I take a raincheck?  It is a great time so Andrew and all fellow gearheads, it should be on your bucket list to see!  This year is my 40th anniversary so I am under pressure to make big plans!  Also, I have been retired for 5 years now and thoroughly enjoying it.  I do stay busy helping my daughter with her wedding dress business at Grace and Ivory.  I handle the shipping and receiving or, as I like to tell my friends, I am the "mail room guy".  Hahaha!!  Check out www.graceandivory.com.  I was also primary care giver for my parents but they have both passed in 2024 at 90 years old.  A long and happy life together so I was very blessed that I had them for so long and they got to know their grandchildren very well.  Now, hope 2025 brings good health and happiness for us all and this will be the Chinese Year of the Snake on January 29th.  Wishing you an early Gung hay fat choy to all!!

Gregory Calvimontes

Michelle Milkovic (Weiner)

I got a retirement announcement from one of my favorite colleagues this morning and realized it's almost 10 years since I retired from my industry. Wow! I am lucky... I had a great 34-year run and I still talk to ex coworkers and clients who are like family to me, but now I can use my will and skill to do something I'm passionate about... Lane!  I guess you can take the pom poms away but the Go Lane Go survives.

Now what do we want to do for our 50th? I can't plan it but I can help in a big way including the school tour and opening up the alumni office for a free Open House. Should we go fancy or down and dirty? Who wants to help plan? We've already conquered the hardest part, (finding everyone and figuring out a way to communicate).

We just need to decide what we want to do as a group. Plenty of time. Opinions anyone?

Robert Cole

I'm all in favor of the way it was done for the 40th. Sort of "semi-formal." Not formal, expensive, dancing, etc. But, better than getting together at a bar. The golf club location, or someting like it, was great. The tables setup for memorabilia was cool, too.

Lisa Yee (Abrams)

I like seeing all the responses about the 50th reunion. I like Bob's idea of keeping it less formal and not at a bar, but also not formal like in a ballroom either. 

Greg Groeper started a group on facebook for the 1976ers and was interested in what time of the year to have the event or events. I chose August or September since the snowbirds will still be in town and the weather is not usually as hot as it is in July, but with global warming it isn't easy to predict anymore. 

I'd like some recommendations about possible venues and I can check out places if you need someone to do the legwork. 

I'd didn't attend the 30th or 40th reunion, but I liked the 20th reunion where we gathered photo pins of "then photos" to help us recognize our classmates. 

Lisa

Peter Hong

The challenge is getting a venue to hold a space without a firm commitment.  I have a suggestion for consideration, as follows:

- Announce the reunion event by February 1, 2025.

- Get a credit card deposit of $50 per person to cover dinner (food of $40 and $10 gratuity) by July 31, 2025 for a Saturday event in late August or early September.  The deposit would be non-refundable on August 1.  Presumably, $50 would be deemed reasonable.

- Drinks would be an additional cost paid by each individual.

- We need to get such non-refundable commitments from a minimum of 100 individuals.  That would give the ability to lock in a venue.

Lisa A - Would Chef Shangri-La be a possible venue for a funded commitment of $50 per person for a minimum of 100 people?  Would $40 food and $10 gratuity be sufficient for the restaurant to provide a sit-down buffet-service event?  

Lisa Yee (Abrams)

Peter,

I don't know if you've been here before. The restaurant has a capacity for over 150 and I would need a commitment of at least 100 people. I would close the restaurant for the evening from 6pm to closing which is generally 11pm. I could arrange a Luau style party with a roast pig and a full dinner menu, of course, but we don't have to if people are not familiar with it. The entertainment would be an additional cost if desired. 
 

The restaurant is Polynesian designed, but the food is Cantonese American. It's located a few miles from Brookfield Zoo. It's pretty casual and we've been here since I graduated, literally a month after graduation. 

There's also a country club across the street from the restaurant because I thought it might be low key as well. It's the Riverside Country Club I think. I haven't been there but I can look into that as well.

Peter Hong

Hi, Lisa,

I have not had the pleasure of visiting the restaurant.  I will make an effort to do so when I make a trip to Chicago.  Nonetheless, the venue and potential menu sounds nice to me.  

Let's see how our former classmates react to:

- The $50 per person cost for dinner.  If my recollection is correct, the 1976 prom was over $100 per couple (recognizing a live band was included).  The fifty years of inflation alone makes the $50 per person cost look modest. 

- Getting 100 individuals committed via the non-refundable deposit.

Classmates - Any reactions?

Christopher Math

I actually was at Chef Shangri-la about a month ago.  The food is decent and the drinks are pretty exotic and potent.   I have not been to the country club but hear it is very nice but costly as well.  But I am not sure what that means these days.   I would hope that 100 individuals out of a massive graduating class would attend.

John P Zupko

I love the idea of having our 50th reunion at Chef Shangri-La.  It is a wonderful restaurant.  

And $50 a person is a great price for this historic event.

Lisa Yee (Abrams)

It's nice to hear that John and Christopher have been to the Chef. I do believe at the country clubs around the cost is more likely over $100 per person. I'll post on Facebook to see what they think.

Andrew Flor

Robert Cole

Michelle Milkovic (Weiner)

Wowie! Great enthusiasm but we are way ahead of schedule here when it comes to locking in a venue. The class of '75 just signed their contract for October 2025. 

After our 40th, we kept this site going based on classmate interest. In those 8 years, we have maintained connections and even expanded our database of Bicentennials to 1195 (probably a couple duplicates in there), and 38 deceased classmates. 

In addition to daily connections on the Message Forum, this site allows us to send out a survey to all contacts which I believe we should do, to gauge the preferred time of year for the event, the main event venue with considerations like parking, accessibility, food & bev preferences, etc., price range, and additional activities like school tour, Lane ball games and things to do around the City.  Our site also allows for regular announcements, the photo gallery, and an ecommerce site. Those of you who participated in our 40^th will recall we sold tickets directly through this site. (BTW they were $90 per person).

I have reached out to Greg Groeper to invite him to be part of a committee through this site rather than reinvent the wheel or duplicate efforts, making good use of the investment we’ve made in this tool. We can also assemble a proper committee. Any takers? 40^th Reunion Committee members? Message me if you’re not comfortable using the message forum feature. I am happy to share what we learned from last time and what I’ve seen that’s valuable in my role with the Alumni Association in coordinating other reunions, (7 just this year). Then pass the baton to a new group and help with the website.

Michael Bentley

Heyo,

Happy New Year!

I understand several more are now retired, congratulations! Alice Bentley (nee Insley, LTHS '77) and I aren't likely to voluntarily retire soon, although I currently only work part-time.

We live on an island called Vashon in the Puget Sound near Seattle. If you are flying into SEATAC airport, it's that heavily wooded thing just west of the control tower. You need to ride a ferry (or helicopter) to get here. We moved here in 2004; I've been working as a remote developer since before COVID because commuting from here to anywhere and back is the pits. We had a heck of a time moving from Chicago because Seattle real estate prices were eye-watering, but houses (*cough* homes) here on the island were cheaper. The operative term here is "were" as the estimated value of this house tripled since 2004; some but not all of this was due to the sudden interest by people who needed to move the heck out of Seattle during COVID. It has been our best purchase ever. Alas, it's a small island, so the restaurant options are specific; the best is May's Kitchen, a brilliant 4-star Thai restaurant. Pizza? Ha ha hee ho ha haaaaa. *snif*

Alice works at the Bone Factory (aka Pacific Laboratories), here on Vashon. They make...bones. Some are for medical training (including ultrasound), and others are for legal purposes (the fracture is just like so). There's a slightly defective clear plastic human spine lying flat on my dresser that Alice wants to turn into a planter.

I still write software; back in the 80s I started to write books and got one published. Software development paid better, so I hadn't worked on others past test chapters and outlines. But, you know, I currently work only part-time. Hmm.

We're still paying a mortgage here, so we need to stay busy. Could we cash out and find someplace warmer and cheaper? Aye, but this place is nice. It sees an average of a whopping 3" of snow a year. When it snows, YOU STAY INSIDE AND WAIT TIL IT MELTS, because this place has a Z axis, roads go up and down, plowing/salting/sanding here is not straightforward, and guard rails in front of 60' drops are disturbingly optional.

Why, yes, I do have the domain called "secretislandlaboratories.com" :)

-Mike

Grace Tanaka (Danziger)

Hello Friends and fellow alums I'm looking forward to meeting, sorry for my silence for about a month. A belated Happy New Year, and Happy Lunar New Year to those who celebrate it, I guess starting tomorrow? Part of my slience, besides struggling through a bad cold, has been deep sadness over the passing of my sweet kitty on January 12th. At least this one, due to my retirement, took her last breath in my arms. Earlier kitties unfortunately passed while Marc and I were at work, or had to be put down due to severe illness. A strange new thing here in Reno is the ground is too hard in our small backyard to dig, so she had to be cremated. Back in California, all our pets who passed were buried in our backyard with private goodbyes (usually a son digging, me crying). I'll get over this black cloud, but it'll take a bit of time.

I'm glad new alumni from '76 have been joining this Forum. I really don't want to bounce back and forth from Facebook, though I use it for other things, and I hope Greg G and others will agree that it's better to coordinate our 50th all together in here.

Along Bob's line of questioning, I'd pose the question to Lisa A "how many 'more than 150'" can her restarant handle? I would presume (and hope) that a 50th will bring out many more alumni than even the 20th (was there a 25th? I only attended the 40th, if I recall correctly...but Marc's nickname for me is "Dori").

Congrats to the friends celebrating 40 years of marriage in 2025 - wow! a bit envious. Bet it is special to have known your forever soulmate so early in life.

Timmy, you are definitely welcome to visit us for Hot August Nights in Reno. They are moving it to the campus of UNR (University of Nevada, Reno) starting this year, so I don't think anyone knows what to expect!