The class of 1963 - 60th Year Reunion
Celebrated - October 6th, 2023
Gaelic Park, Oak Forest, IL

Our MC
Mr. William Burfeind III
Greetings and welcoming comments to 46 attending:

In case you don’t recognize me from my yearbook photo, I’m Bill Burfeind, asked by Roger if I would make some welcoming comments. I don’t know if I was his first choice or last chance to hand off the task. Some of you may know. Roger gave me one caveat: try to keep it to five minutes or our guests may begin to nod off or leave to pee. I hope to keep your attention but won’t constrain you if you get up to pee. Before going further, let’s express our gratitude to Roger for pulling together this reunion and the continuing efforts at keeping us connected. (Applause)

Given our age, we have good participation tonight. Some are missing having passed to eternity. We pray that God is merciful with their souls. Some are impaired and we pray for their healing and comfort. Others are conflicted with prior obligations. Still some others are missing by choice likely having had a less than enjoyable high school experience. To any that I may have caused some pain by act or omission, I apologize and extend a hopeful wish that their subsequent life was pleasant and meaningful. Participation from 17 states suggests a strong desire to reconnect with classmates, recall our experiences, and reflect on our life choices.

We did not choose to be born. That was a mother’s choice. We did not choose the circumstances into which we were born. Much of what we are was genetically preordained. Other aspects of our being were culturally, socially, or economically instilled. Nevertheless, we did get to chose how we lived our lives, what character traits and flaws we polished or pardoned, commitment to family, and service to community. The cornerstone of who we are was laid in our earlier years. But it was our high school years where individual choices began building out the person we’ve become.

In addition to high school we share another significant commonality. We grew up in a decade of peace, expanding prosperity, and freedom. We were suburban free-range children with little direct supervision learning how to navigate neighborhoods and relationships, assuming risks and weathering the consequences. Importantly, our communities were cohesive, not without occasional conflict, but cohesive in principles and purpose, and believing that we would have a better life than our parents. And we did.

I’ve got an appreciation, maybe an affection, for Blue Grass music, particularly for Gospel Blue Grass. It touches my soul. Recently I’ve become fixated on a song that I think speaks to our reunion, particularly the first verse as follows:

Time is the most precious gift you can give. We don’t know how much time we have, but we know it’s finite. We can’t create more time. When we give our time to someone, we are giving a gift we cannot get back. When getting someone’s time, you’re receiving a gift you can never give back. We’re reunited tonight to exchange a precious gift. Enjoy it!

Oh, one more thing. Block out the October weekends in 2028 for our 65^th reunion.

Row 6:- back row: Bob Campbell, Dennis Pace, Earl Beisiegel, unidentified,, Ron Holt, David Putz, Jim Elliott, George Hanson
Row 5: Bill Burfiend, Ron Mushinsky, Bob Butzer, Jim Dagger, Cortney McNabb, Ken Kozbiel, Ed Poynter, Bob Centner, Pam Collins, Dick Baldwin, Ray Peterson
Row 4: Ann Buckley, Eva Gamble, Sandy Fillis, Judy Meier, Carole Calza, Ray Morris, Billie Jean Downs, Pat Smith, Tom Montgomery, David Jonas, Walter Olezewski, Tom Sellin
Row 3:Martha Tomes, Doris Harness, JoAnn Shanesy, Bing Fleming, Sharon Schroll, Bob Porter, Karon Weidenaar, Salvatore Varrriale, John Balzhiser, Elaine Skowronek, Sue DeTalent, Judy Blitvich
Row 2: Roger Tracy, Nancy Klemba, Kathleen Bard, Sonja Roche, Veronica Rogus, Kathy Palm, Sue WEsterhoff, Diane Gerritsen, Barbar Barker, Bonnie Fell, Shirley Cadieux, Rosalyn DeValk, Kathy Flett
Row 1: l to r front row: David Blomberg, Jeanette Peco, Malene Melfi, Gary Clark, Donna Kolar, Margaret Element, Janine Turak, Barbra Mann, Sue Hennessy, Pat Fedesna, Deborah Robinson, Gregg Dell

Contact Roger@rtracy.com for information and interest - 60th class reunion - October 6th, 2023 - jump on board and join us....

For those alumni and associates that did not attend our reunion activities and dinner you can catch up with some items listed here on this web site.
Beginning with our class picture and attendees.
Our keynote address was written and delivered by Bob Porter (you can read the keynote speech by following this link. click here.

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