Message Forum

Bob, I was going to say the same thing but opted not too. I was on a walker and a scooter back in 2019 after my Achilles surgery!

03/12/25 03:08 PM

#1883

Anyone planning on going to the Big Al Bash? A few hockey guys from our era and I will be there.

03/12/25 03:31 PM

#1884

The reunion survey is live and ready for your input, (even you wise guys).

Just click on "50TH REUNION" on the black menu bar to the left to weigh in on your preferences.

Giddyup Bicentennials!

03/13/25 02:35 AM

#1885

"It seems like just yesterday that we sat in the spitty rain in the stadium in 1976 wearing our special bicentennial ribbons and medallions as we marched down the muddy aisles to receive our empty diploma covers." Saaaay whaaaat???? It was a perfectly beautiful day when we graduated. It was not muddy. Am I getting senile???

03/13/25 11:13 PM

#1886

It was soupy.

Who's got pictures?

03/14/25 04:24 AM

#1887

I guess it would help if I pressed the submit button! Sufferring from Sometimers. It is actually pretty cool that this site can post an interactive survey!!! Can Facebook do that too???

03/14/25 04:27 AM

#1888

Since this is Chicago, can we vote early and often?

03/14/25 08:51 AM

#1889

Gregory Calvimontes

Andrew Flor, planning on attending since I'm in town for the bimonthly check on my mom.

03/15/25 12:43 AM

#1890

Robert Cole

A bunch of us from my division got hammered the night before graduation so when we all marched out on the field we kept staggering and tripping over chairs. My mom thought we looked the worst!
Then afterwards all my relatives were waiting for a celebration at a fancy restaurant while I "said good bye to my friends. " I never showed up! Mom said "I thought there was only a 50/50 chance you'd show up."

03/15/25 03:35 PM

#1891

David King

Hello '76'ers! I am sorry I didn't know about the gathering at the Cubs/Cincinnati game earlier this month, I would have loved to see some familiar faces. I was actually there on March 12th for the Cubs/Brewers game! I retired last year and reside in the Phoenix area now, so Sloan Park is my new favorite place!

All the best! David King

03/16/25 03:12 PM

#1892

Frank Powers

Hey 76'rs, I want to apologize for not being active in the conversations for some time now. I know we all have "stuff" going on in our lives and "stuff" in the lives of those we love that make things challenging sometimes.

So I understand I'm not the only one, and if I vent a little bit, I hope you'll all forgive me. I'm guessing anything I share here is probably a fairly common thing for a lot of us.

My wife and I have been dealling with a lot of Elder Care issues as our parents have gotten into their 90's. My Mom lived with us the last three years of her life (at 99 yrs) and my (Leah) wife's Dad who is 95 still lives with us. Taking care of their financial/medical/day-to-day affairs can be a lot. I'm pretty sure most of you have been through the same stuff, so you know what I mean.

Throw in those "rotten" grandkids running around all the time, it can be a bit chaotic.

Up until a couple weeks ago I was still working full-time (Tech Instructor for a software company), but I did just retire at the end of February. Now I have time to get all the stuff done I've been putting off for years.

Thanks for listening for a couple minutes. All the best everyone!

Frank

PS: I filled out the survey for the 50th, looking forward to it. By the way, how is Greg Z. doing these days, I've been remembering him in my prayers. Thanks all.

03/17/25 04:02 PM

#1893

Grace Tanaka (Danziger)

Hello LTHS Friends - I'm waiting for someone to post about the Big Al Birthday Bash! How was it? Bicentennial class participation? "Pics or it didn't happen," right?

03/18/25 08:38 PM

#1894

Grace it was fun. The band was great. The lead singer used to be the Board President and recruited yours truly to the LTAA. There were more 77-83 attendees than 76ers, but here's a collage of some of the 70s folks. Top left Stonedrift band, Angela Pun, Gary Parks, Tom Kluth and Carla Surma all '78, Kelly Chesney '77, Michelle & Kris Erickson Hallowell '76, hockey dudes - Andrew '76, Gary '78 and Dan Hartnett '73.

03/19/25 01:32 PM

#1895

Hockey guys are crazy from all the concussions we never knew we got! 😵 💫

03/19/25 01:37 PM

#1896

FYI, Danny was the founder of Club de hockey de Lane. 😆 🏒

03/19/25 01:50 PM

#1897

Gary Parks was only one of a handful of Lane Hockey players to play on the varsity club in all four years, he was that good. He played for the myrtle and gold and was involved in several championship runs. Gary went on to star at the college level and was inducted into that college's Hockey Hall of Fame. A true Champion! FYI, his father coached for Lane as did his brother Jeff, who also played all four years on the varsity. He and Danny coached the club after Coach Parks. The Parks family and Danny Harnett should be commended for being difference makers and their contributions to Lane Tech Hockey.

03/19/25 10:53 PM

#1898

Those hockey alums are super nice guys. Dan Huber too.

It's interesting how some families were so instrumental in moving Lane sports forward. Thinking specifically of John Todesco's dad with football and Nancy Hashimoto's mom who was the first girls' coach of the first girls' sport at Lane (bowling)

I didn't know that about Parks and his family. I only think of Gary as the male model for our 2023 LTAA Golf Outing, (nyuck nyuck)

03/20/25 03:28 PM

#1899

If anybody deserved to win the golf prize, it was Danny. Don't be fooled by our off ice personas. 😆 If the bench was mic'd up and you heard the chirping or locker room talk,you'd wonder if we were the same guys. 😆

03/22/25 11:52 PM

#1900

Hey Everyone:

Please remember to fill out the pre-reunion survey before the end of the month. It will help greatly in getting a headstart on planning. Still looking for classmates to assist in the planning committee - I only have four eyes, five hands and 6 feet... LOL

Also - If anyone remembers their Division number, please add to your profile and email me as another way to build affinity groups.

Thanks

greg

ggroeper@gmail.com

03/23/25 01:46 AM

#1901

Hear Ye, Hear Ye - Oh Bicentennial Lane Tech Class of 1976!

The lights are on, the presses are rolling and the machines are humming to launch our 50th Reunion!
Our Big Event event will be covering a weekend in September of 2026, with details being developed as we go with class feedback. We have a survey on the Class Creator site to assist in fleshing things out. It must be completed before the end of March. To stay in the loop and add to the fun, please be sure to sign up and participate in the following groups:

On Facebook:
Lane Tech Alumni - Class of 1976
https://www.facebook.com/groups/162877686780

On Class Creator:
Lane Technical High School Class of 1976, Chicago, IL
https://www.classcreator.com/Chicago-Illinois-Lane-Technical-1976/class_index.cfm

So get your grandkids' babysitter subs ready... because we're ready to blow out what's left of our knees! On-site medics may be an option - LOL.

We're really looking forward to seeing everyone as they are (no crash diets required, we've earned our pounds). I look forward to our work in organizing and producing our fantastic 50th reunion in the year of our nation's "Semiquincentennial" (250th) anniversary.

If you would like to assist in planning by joining the organizational committee, please contact me at my info below.
(When emailing or texting me, Please Use Subject Line: "Lane Tech 50th Reunion")

Go Lane, Go!

Fraternally yours,
greg groeper
Lane Tech 1976-2026 50th Reunion Chair
Text to: 872.230.7135
Email: ggroeper@gmail.com

03/30/25 04:22 PM

#1902

Hey check out this virtual tour hosted by the LTAA on Monday night, April 7th. There are still spots left. Free for LTAA members, $10 for non-members. Hillary, our tour guide is awesome!

03/31/25 02:17 PM

#1903

Peter Ingraffia

Hello 76ers!

What follows are the survey results many of you answered in preparartion for our 50th reunion next year. Depending on your browser, you may need to scroll in order to view.

In case it's difficult to read the results on your specific device, let me recap some highlights:

-Any weekend date in September or October works for most.

-A location somewhere on the North side, O'Hare area, North Suburbs, or near Lane is preferred.

-A school tour and casual meet-up are high on the list for other weekend activities.

-A spend of $125 is acceptable for most.

-And a bunch of us will be coming in from outside the Chicagoland area.

And thanks to everyone who took the time to respond to the survey.

50th Reunion Survey
Questions		Results	# of Responses	Comments

1	September Or October	96.60%	58	Only two people who responded were not OK with September or October
2	Available Weekends	No Significant Preference	294	All weekend dates were fairly equal in preference
3	Other Preferred Months	Spring/Summer Months	57	May (5 votes), June (6 votes), and August (7 votes) were the other alternate months with the most votes. As a school tour was high on the list, May and June are not optimal given that end of year student and academic activities could be challenging or negate a school tour. As well, depending on what summer construction activities may be planned an August school tour may not be doable. If for some reason September or October becomes an issue, we have some backup months to pick from.
4	Preferred Locations		172	A venue between Lane, North Side, O'Hare, or North Suburbs is the favored choice.
	O'Hare	26.70%
	North Side	18.60%
	North Suburbs	17.40%
	Near Lane	15.10%
	Downtown	12.20%
	West Suburbs	8.10%
	South Suburbs	1.70%
5	Amount		77	An expense around $125 was the favored choice.
	$125	54.50%
	$100	35.10%
	$85	10.40%

6	School Tour	86.20%	58	A school tour is a favored activity.
7	Out of State	51.70%	60	Many of the attendees will be flying in or driving more than three hours.
8	Block of Hotel Rooms	42.10%	57	Once a venue and September or October date is finalized, hotels in area can be contacted

9	Other Activities		130	A casual meet up was the obvious preference. Depending on what the final date ends up to be, there is some interest in a Cubs Game, River Cruise, or a Lane sports game.
	Casual Meet Up	33.10%
	Cubs Game	17.70%
	Architectural River Cruise	16.90%
	Football or Other Game	16.90%
	Other	10%
	Waveland Bowl	5.40%
10	Keepsake		97	Depending on Venue selected, costs, and availability, we can determine what, if any, keepsake is provided as we get closer to the event.
	Program	19.60%
	Coffee Cup	18.60%
	T-Shirt	16.50%
	Nothing	15.50%
	Button	11.30%
	Tote Bag	8.20%
	Glass	6.20%
	Other	4.10%

03/31/25 02:29 PM

#1904

Good job on the survey, Peter!! Maybe we can have a Family Feud for the top answers at the reunion. If at all possible, please try not to schedule the reunion for October 24th - October 30th. Thanks!

03/31/25 06:10 PM

#1905

Hi Peter:

Took me a bit to find the posted survey here. I did get the Excel - thanks again.

Perhaps you could post it on the 50th Reunion tab on the left. That is where I instictively went to find it.

Thanks

greg

03/31/25 06:34 PM

#1906