These classmates have posted Brief Bios and/or Remember When Stories, listed alphabetically by current last name. Submit your stories and brief bio here.
I taught English and Secondary Learning Disabilities in Wausau, WI for 23 years, in both junior high and high schools. Though I retired in 1999, I still do substitute teaching. Gary, my husband of 49 years, and I have four children living in Texas, Colorado, and Missouri, and two grandchildren, age eight and 11. We do much volunteer work in the church and community, and enjoy friendships, traveling, and building simple houses in the Caribbean in January – anything to escape the cold!
I attended U. of Minnesota, M.P.H. in 1961, and worked in public health education 25-plus years in Kansas (this was and still is a mission field by comparison). I later volunteered many years in cancer education, and our local ACS unit won the national award for color screening and education. I remain committed to public health education (some may know - two of my roommates died of cancer).
To end on an up-note, I enjoy my small Presbyterian church, help my spouse with his crafts, and we both enjoy two grandkids, ages 5 and 7. Am I too old for this? See you later. Peace.
After I left Macalester, I accepted a job with Weyerhaeuser Company in Jamestown, N.H. Upon coming back to Minnesota to get married, I accepted a job with my uncle in a family retail lumber and millwork manufacturing business. My next position was employment with Sherwin-Williams Company as a retail branch manager and later as an operations manager for their commercial branch. In 1998, I married my present wife who I met when I was in Jamestown. She served me coffee when I went to her father's restaurant. In 2005, after my brother's death, we started a charitable foundation in my parents' name from his estate. We fund capital improvements such as the Concordia Language Villages, the Boy Scouts of America Northern Star Council Camps, and the American Swedish Institute. Much of my time now is spent with many hobbies, projects around the house and gardening.
I have two children. My first wife died 20 years ago. I am remarried. I received a master's degree from St. Thomas. I was a public school teacher at Columbia Heights 33 years. I was inducted into the Macalester Athletic Hall of Fame, Columbia Heights Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Minnesota High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame. I was picked as one of the 100 best athletes in the last 100 years in the St. Paul Public Schools. Diane and I have nine grandchildren.
I married Gary Bringgold in 1958. We have lived in Edina for 42 years. I taught elementary education before our children were born. Later I taught special education in Richfield for 22 years. We have four children and nine grandchildren. I enjoy my grandchildren, golf, reading, time at our lake home and four months of the year in Florida. I have traveled to Europe twice and to the Orient once, as well as much of the US.
After leaving Mac, I graduated from medical school, spent the then two-year obligation with the Navy, and followed those experiences with five years of surgical training in Chicago, leaving with my wife and two-and-a-half children for Seattle in 1970. I spent the next 33 years in private practice, and since retired to the hobbies of travel, woodworking, volunteering and reading. All three children live in Seattle and are easily available.
I am serving on the Mac Alumni Board, and enjoying the opportunity to renew friendships with the members of the class of '59 reunion committee.
Charles Craig Burke and I were married in August 1959. We met in Dr. Glock's geology class. I began teaching kindergarten in the Moundsview school system in September. I taught until 1963 when the birth of our first child (Lisa) precluded I could not have a teaching contract with a child under the age of 5! We had two more babies. One in 1965 (Mary) and another (Suzanne) in 1968. That same year we moved to Palatine, Ill., a suburb northwest of Chicago. It was a wonderful place to raise our girls and pursue our many interests. We returned to Minnesota in 1984 and I began working on licensure in Special Education (EBD and LD) and a master's degree in education from St. Mary's. Taught in Burnsville from 1990 until 2002. We are fortunate to have our children and families (five grandchildren) living in the Twin Cities. We enjoy times at the cabin, north of Detroit Lakes on Big Sugar Bush Lake, traveling and the various activities of our busy family. I am most grateful for the education I received at Macalester and the opportunity to do what I love to do -- teaching. I continue to teach a few days each month at the school where I taught. Keeps the brain active! Looking forward to celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary this summer, my greatest achievement and a wonderful fifty years!
After Macalester graduation, I spent a Fulbright year in France, then went on to Washington University in St. Louis to earn a doctorate in English (Shakespeare). I met my husband at Wayne State in Detroit, and we both taught at Wright State in Dayton until retirement. We have three sons. Due to his specialty (third world literature written in English), we have traveled to conferences in India Malaysia, Puerto Rico, Nassau, and Australia. We have also taken vacation trips to such places as France, Italy, England, the Caribbean, Northern capitals (St. Petersburg was the highlight), Vienna, Portugal, Spain, and Greece. Due to congestive heart failure, I no longer travel much. My main volunteer work includes the Dayton International Peace Museum (the only peace museum in the country!), church-related activities, hospital work, and a local food pantry.
Surprisingly, perhaps, to "those who knew me when,” I enjoy knitting and crocheting (prayer shawls for church, newborn hats for hospital, various peace items for the Peace Museum). We enjoy and support the Dayton Philharmonic, the Dayton Opera, and two theatre groups (my Macalester music appreciation teacher taught me to appreciate music). We also support various liberal causes (I entered Mac a Republican, but by the time I left Washinton University, I was a Democrat). Many of my passions were fostered by Macalester.
I attended the University of Minnesota Library School and received my MLA in 1967. I worked at the University for seven years and finished my career as a reference librarian for the Hennepin County Library System. I retired in 1999 and have enjoyed my retirement traveling and spending time with Bob, who is a retired banker. We have two daughters and three grandchildren. Our oldest grandchild starts graduate school this summer.
After Mac I taught school in Racine Wisconsin. In 1960 I married Ralph Dude who became a United Methodist Minister. We made our home in Central Illinois. Our two daughters Kari and Anita were born in the early 60's. Ralph and I are currently living in Normal Illinois. We enjoy traveling to see our five grandchildren who live in Michigan and Indiana and participating in a variety of volunteer activities in the United Methodist Church and in our community.
I received a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, N.J. in1962 and a Doctor of Ministry in 1984 from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Penn. I served Presbyterian Pastories in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida for more than 40 years. I retired (honorably) in 2004. I have served three interim pastories in New Jersey since my retirement. Upon retirement I taught "History of Western Civilization" at a local community college for one year. (I was a history major at Macalester)
I am married to Louise, and we have three grandchildren, eight grandchildren and seven step-grandchildren
I taught secondary sciences for 33 years at North St. Paul Schools. I received my master's degree at University of Minnesota College of Education. I taught science at Army Dependent School in Germany I was a teacher/fellow at York University in York, England. I was a former board member and volunteer with Compatible Technology International developing food processing equipment for third world applications (Haiti, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Africa, and India). I was a founding member of a development organization providing good and educational opportunities for Nicaraguan street children. My wife of 52 years is Joan and
our children are Denice Kroening and Kristin Schutta.
I taught elementary grades in the Roseville district. When our son was born, I took a 16-year hiatus to raise our three children. We lived in White Bear Lake (Minn.), then Iowa, Indiana, and finally Ohio. I earned my masters degree at the Ohio State University and went back into teaching special education for Columbus City Schools. I retired in 2003 as a gifted consultant.
My husband of 48 years, Dean, and I have three grandchildren: 12, 6, and 1. Our children are scattered throughout the U.S. I continue to work part-time for Columbus Public and enjoy gardening, fiber arts and traveling.
After graduating from Macalester I went to Denver for my first teaching job. I met my husband Richard that year and have lived in Colorado ever since. I taught for 30 years in Denver and Adams County and am now happily retired.
We have four children and four grandchildren .All live in the area, and we do spend a lot of time with family.
Besides celebrating our 50 year reunion, we will be celebrating 50 years of marriage in August. We have two children and three grandchildren. We retired to our lake home, in the Brainerd lakes area six years ago. We spend some time in Spring Hill, Fla. in the winter. We play lots of golf and bridge and still enjoy volunteer work. Life is good!
I received a Ph.D. in Romance Languages from the University of Minnesota in 1966. After a Fullbright Grant at the University of Pisa, Italy (1966-67) I joined the Department of French and Italian at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During my 31-year career at the university I directed and taught academic programs in Bologna and Florence. In addition, I served as Associate Dean and Director of all of the university's academic programs abroad. I have been married for 45 years; my wife, Ann, and I have four sons and nine grandchildren. Since my retirement from the university in 1998, we divide our time between Madison, Florida and an ancestral home in Italy.
My travel lust began, perhaps, with “Mac in Mexico.” Remember El Señor Dassett? After a protracted “time-out” I’m on the road again—Turkey, Egypt, Machu Picchu, Morocco. While I was “side-lined” I graduated from University of Minnesota Medical School, did an Elective at Bellevue and was captivated by New York City. So I interned in Brooklyn, did a psych residency in Queens and a child psych fellowship in Manhattan. My career was launched. I then moved to Long Island to raise my family.
After about 20 years of private practice in child and adolescent psychiatry and a built-in, very intimate experience with child-rearing, I became a full-time academician. I was in charge of the Child Psychiatry Consultation Service to Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at North Shore University Hospital and Associate Training Director for Child Psychiatry with Academic Affiliation at Cornell and subsequently New York University. My primary clinical involvement was with Eating Disorders and consultation to the Emergency Room for any child psych problems. I was also in charge of a program for addicted, pregnant women and the therapeutic nursery for their babies who were “toxed” in utero. I did numerous school consultations and, with Spt. 11, became more involved with trauma and post-traumatic stress issues. I also continued with private practice.
Life has been very fulfilling and exciting! The opportunity to treat and facilitate the healthy development of kids is an awesome responsibility. The opportunity to teach young physicians about matters of the mind, psychopathology, psychotherapy, child development and family dynamics is both stimulating and, hopefully, my contribution to the mental health system.
I am now retired, enjoying time with my daughters and granddaughters—all living in New York City. I plan to join them there very soon. I am vitally concerned with environmental issues, and I’m traveling!
I received a S.T.B. Harvard Divinity School and a Th.D. Harvard University
Area of Expertise: Reformation in England. I taught at Cleveland State University in the Religious Studies Department for thirty-five years. Now I’m a professor emeritus at Cleveland State University. I published four books and numerous articles in professional journals. I’ve been ordained as an Episcopal Priest since 1980. I’ve been married to my wife Joan since 1960. We have three children and six grandchildren.
Activities and Interests: Spiritual growth, environmental sustainability, Vital Aging Network, Rotary Club, Literacy Tutoring and Homework Helper at local grade school, being in nature, being Mr. Fixit, physical fitness, brain health
Future: Attending to life vitalizers: service, community, spirituality, physical and mental health
Living on Purpose: Why do I get up in the morning?
Investing in making a difference in the lives of others
Engaging others in leaving a healthy planet for future generations
Knowing what I would like to be remembered for
The bottom line:
Doing everything I can to be a blessing rather than a burden to my family and society
I look forward to our time together and conversations about what's on your radar screen.
Whoops! One minute I was 22 years old and the next minute I'm 70. Where has the time gone? What have I done with my allotted days?
I've been wife to Mac grad, Bob Gubrud '59. We'll celebrate 50 years together on April 4, 2009, a milestone in today's culture, don't you think?
I've been mother to two beautiful kids. Kimberly Rae is a senior market manager with the United Health Group and Ross Elliot is a psychologist on staff at the University of Missouri.
As a five-year teacher in the Hopkins School District, I took on the tough stuff: 7th and 8th graders.
Twenty-two years were spent as the first executive director of a fund benefiting the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis. In this position, I had a new boss every two years and reported to 45 board members as well as the management of the Legal Aid Society (read: flexibility required). It was my privilege to work with some of the most outstanding, accomplished attorneys in the Hennepin County legal community. Our common purpose: providing much-needed funding for free legal services for the poor, elderly and disabled. This fund now contributes $1,000,000 annually to Legal Aid.
I have kept in touch with old friends. It's a priority. A gang of high school compatriots meets quarterly; we women do an annual overnight. Five members of a Mac bridge group, circa 1960, have resumed play on a regular basis. We are the best of friends. Even the gals in my women's club in Edina are now long-term friends. I joined the group in 1973, have been through all the chairs and still work with these buds on the club's volunteer projects.
I survived breast cancer. It's been 12 years since my diagnosis and treatment. My oncologist attached a four-letter word to my recovery: starts with "c" and ends with "e" and rhymes with "pure"
Five years ago I made nice with monarch butterflies. Bob dug a garden and I planted three varieties of milkweed, lots of purple coneflowers and a patch of rudbeckia. It ain't dainty, but it's a monarch hangout. I've learned about the four generations of monarchs and have incubated more than a few of the caterpillars. Eight other varieties of butterflies have also visited including the tiny Eastern Tailed Blue. This garden: worth the spring backaches.
The rest of my time? The cabin thing (since 1977); a tiny bit of travel and sunbelt visits to family; the reading of excellent, current American fiction; some enlightened Bible study; and being in a relationship with my loving Degnan and Gubrud families.
After graduation from Macalester I became a community program secretary and later an adult program and membership secretary for the Metropolitan Minneapolis YMCA for eleven years. After that I was the third district field representative for Hennepin-Anoka Republican Committee and was an insurance agent for North American Life & Casualty Company.
I then settled down and for 28 years was the executive vice president of the St. Paul Area Builders Association. In 1991 they merged with the Minneapolis Builders Association to become the Builders Association of the Twin Cities. I retired in January 2007.
While working for the residential and remodeling industry I received the following recognition:
In 1991 the Rachel L. Manley Leadership Award from the Builders Association of Minnesota for contributions and leadership given to builders association activities in Minnesota.
In 2002 the Sheldon Hale Award from the National Association of Home Builders for outstanding career achievement in management of a local home builders association.
In 2004 Inductee to the Minnesota Building Industry Foundation Hall of Fame.
I was married to my high school sweetheart for 30 years and had one daughter and two sons. Marlene died of liver failure in 1991. In 1993 I married Bernie and for 14 years have resided in Forest Lake, Minn.
Married Bart Hempel, Class of 1957, in August of 1958.
Raised three wonderful daughters, living in Minneapolis, Chicago and Cleveland.
Watched our daughters become professional women, wives and mothers.
Enjoyed working in the Healthcare Industry for almost 20 years.
Experienced the heartache of losing my parents, my brother, my sister and my husband.
Learned to take time for each moment, whether volunteering in church, in the community or being with the people I love.
Found joy in living which includes visiting grandchildren, spending time with family and friends, playing golf, traveling, reading and enriching friendships with Macalester grads of '57, '58 and '59.
Today, I love being a retired 71-year-old, still married to my fabulous Marijo, and proud papa of three children, two of whom are Mac graduates, five grandchildren, and one great grandson. The whole bunch is incredible, of course. Considering everything I have been through, I still stand up and talk pretty well, and have what a southern cousin describes as a "large time."
I graduated from the University of Chicago with a D.Min. in ‘63. I served as a Presbyterian minister for 11 years. I side-stepped from ministry into human resources work in Chicago for Carson Pirie Scott and Continental Bank. I did a fancy two-step into international commercial banking, which tested by brain and expanded my world. I finished out my formal work-life as a management consultant in outplacement.
We retired early in 1996 to return to Minnesota to help our daughter. Her husband died in a construction accident, leaving her and three little boys bereft.
In 1997, my world changed courtesy of a brain tumor and stroke that occurred during surgery. No more tennis!
We headed to the University of Chicago and seminary for Gary in the fall, '59. Four years and two sons later, we headed out to rural Illinois for Gary's first parish. What a culture change, from the South Side of Chicago to farmland. Our third baby, a daughter, was born there.
We made three other ministry moves, and I began working when the kids were all in school. A stint as an English as a Second Language teacher's aide gave me a window into special education opportunities. I completed an MA in learning disabilities and taught for ten years in Oak Park, Ill.
I worked for two years as the office person when our church started up a health center. Then I moved into banking, first in Operations and then in Human Resources. The last 15 years I was Director of Management Development and Training in Chicago and Baltimore, Md. banks.
We all are living in a transition time regarding our understanding and acceptance of differences in human sexual orientation. Being a pretty straight woman of a certain age, I have had a lot to learn. Thankfully, I've had a gracious mentor in our son, who came out to us in 1993. As rough as it was in spots, I wouldn't trade the experience with him for anything. And may I say, selfishly, the friends we have because of this are just fabulous! What a rich time.
I watch our grown kids continue to grow into who they are, and I am in awe of this human enterprise. We walk, we fall, we goof up, and we keep on walking, or even, dancing.
I moved to Alexandria, Minn., in August of 1964 to accept a Business and Marketing Education teaching position at Jefferson High School. After teaching there for 30 years I retired and continue to live in Alexandria.
