9/26/2023 Minutes of Zoom meeting September 24, 2023
Minutes of the September 24th, 2023 Zoom Meeting of
O’Connell High School Class of 1963 Association
Present were:
Mary Jo Lawrence –Chairman
Joan Cassidy – Vice Chairman
Steve Habeger
. . .
Continued
9/19/2023 Note of Gratitude
Note of Gratitude
Thanks to the generosity of our classmates we have achieved our goal! We have met our obligation to the Westin Hotel.
We cannot wait to see you at the reunion. We wil
. . .
Continued
9/17/2023 Minutes of Reunion Planning Zoom, September 10, 2023
Minutes of the September 10th, 2023 Zoom Meeting of
O’Connell High School Class of 1963 Association
Present were:
Mary Jo Lawrence –Chairman
Joan Cassidy – Vice Chairman
Steve Habeger
. . .
Continued
1960's - Came to O'Connell as a sophomore, but didn't make any news until my junior year. I was a character called "Mountain Lou" in the Spring play of 1962, "Crime & Merriment". The year we graduated I was in "Our Hearts Were Young & Gay", as well as "Harvey". I actually won a "best supporting actor" award in a multi-school play contest that year (one act of Harvey). I wasn't in "Brigadoon" much to my regret, but had a featured solo in the Male Chorus that Spring. And then, the rest of life unfolded...
Being a Navy "brat", I found myself in California following graduation. If you didn't want to end up in Vietnam, then you stayed in school, or went into the National Guard. Not me! I defended the Italian Riviera from tourists for 4 years as part of the US Army Signal Corps.
1970's - Started in Bangkok, Thailand, for two years as contractors began taking over communications from the military as Vietnam started winding down. Then, I came home to California, finished my college degree, got married, and finished the decade as a member of the far flung IBM empire!
1980's - When AT&T was the only game in town, IBM started its own high speed data company using satellites. I actually have a patch that was flown in space, signed by all of the crew members of the maiden voyage of the space shuttle "Discovery". While not in the mainstream of IBM's empire, their adventures in communications kept me busy for the whole decade.
1990's - I finally found "barbershop quartetting" during this decade and became hooked on the harmony as they say. I love the baritone part especially, and just came back recently from their 75th International Convention in Toronto, Canada. I began the process of retiring early from IBM during this decade, got divorced after 18 years of marriage, and ended up back in California helping my Mom take care of my Dad who suffered from dementia.
2000's - Finally officially retired from IBM, I became my Dad's main caregiver after my Mom passed away unexpectedly. Three years after that, the ashes of both parents were interred at sea in a Catholic ceremony conducted by the US Navy. I treasure a letter written by the Captain of the USS Boxer describing the day of the ceremony. And so, I finally left California for the last time to "try" retirement in Cleveland, Tennessee.
2010's - I love to sing in both a barbershop chorus and a quartet. I enjoy wacking a golf ball around the course from time to time. I'm surprised that some people even know where Cleveland is on the map. The 1996 US Olympics was held in Atlanta, Georgia, but the white water rafting competition was held on the Ocoee River, which is not far from where I live. I also have many relatives up and down the East Coast now, so visiting them is always an adventure!
And so, the question is, do I remember you guys? Well, that's why I'm coming to the 50th reunion, aren't you?
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