Today's Featured Biography

 
Gary Corner

I’m coming to the 50th reunion…even if Pat Ryan calls me a geek!

As we approach this milestone, I start to ponder what our legacy will be. We were the largest class of baby boomers. Sabin elementary was one of the largest elementary schools west of the Mississippi, and we still had split sessions. We were the first class to start at JFK Junior/Senior High as 7th graders which, although unusual, was a wonderful experience for me. Our very non-diverse school began court-ordered desegregation the year after we graduated (along with the rest of DPS), and it changed Denver and the schools in many ways. And 1972 was the first year that: there wasn’t a draft, 18 year olds got the vote, and the city of Boulder changed forever due to the addition of 20,000 young, new voters.

Looking forward, one's accomplishments fade in importance. Family, experiences, and relationships are my focus. I remember fondly my time together with my JFK brethren, and in retrospect, regret the times when I know I could have done better. And I remember our families. Most of us have lost our parents, but I remember how important you and your families were to our family. And a hollow place remains in my heart for those classmates (many were close friends) we’ve lost.

We’ve specialized in girls! After getting our daughters launched (they both majored in electrical/computer science engineering and are now managers), we now have three adorable granddaughters. Christy and Katie spent 10 years in northern and southern California which was wonderful for visits, but now they are both back in the metro area (yea)...and we all enjoy condos in the Winter Park Valley where we’ve had decades of fond memories. Our number one priority is having the granddaughters teach us how to be great grandparents.

Deb and I retired on the same day from IBM in 2006. We both had wonderful careers of 30+ years. We've continued our travels. Although we’ve been to 63 countries and all seven continents, it’s less about bucket lists, and more about immersing ourselves in the people and cultures of new and interesting places.

We’re able to do less backpacking, but we still are still hiking, camping, and visiting new and old friends whenever possible. That means less time in our tent, but more time in our trailer and campervan exploring new and exciting places. We hope to see you at the 50th.

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