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.
I married Ron Johnson just before our senior year. Ron had one year pro basketball, four years at William Mitchell law school, and we graduated with three children. I did teach fourth grade for a year in Bloomington, on the "early shift." We went to St. Cloud in '65 and raised our family there. I taught swimming, substitute teaching, tutoring, took classes at SCSU, and got certified in Special Education. I taught children with learning disabilities for 20 years.
Yes, our three children played basketball. Kris's college team came in third in the N.I.J., Jennie rewrote the record books at South Dakota State, and Phil had an amazing career. He went to a Minnesota state basketball tournament, in spite of a knee injury followed by a dislocated foot that sidelined him for a couple of years. He played for Jim Smith at St. Johns University. We have a picture of the three of them as adults and that is my trophy. We currently have eight grandchildren, four of whom play varsity sports. So we leave sunny Florida for Minnesota in February to watch more high school basketball.
After receiving a degree in geology, I went to medical school at the University Of Minnesota and have spent the last 43 years doing family practice in rural Litchfield, Minnesota. It was, and still is, very satisfying to me. Mac's well-rounded atmosphere has served extremely well.
I married Dan Jones, class of '56, and we have been blessed with three children and five grandchildren. My career was teaching kindergarten and first grade for 25 years. We are now retired and living on Green Lake in Chisago City, Minn.
After graduating from Mac, Maureen and I moved to Amery, Wis. where I began my teaching career. I taught English and P.E. and coached football and wrestling. One year later I was hired by the St. Paul public schools where I taught for 34 years. I was at Longfellow Grade School for two years, Monroe High School for 20 years, Jefferson Alternative School for 10 years and Central High School for my last years. I taught English, health and P.E. I retired in 1994 and have been engaged in building contracting the past 14 years. I still work, mainly building home additions and decks.
I was married for eight years to Maureen until her death from a heart defect in 1965. We had no children. I was re-married to Jan and we were married for 30 years and had three children. Bob is a teacher and coach in Eau Claire, Wis. Lori is a teacher at Rahn Elementary School in Eagan, and Dana is an administrative assistant for the College of St. Scholastica, St. Paul campus. Jan passed away from breast cancer in 1997. At my age, my dating has been limited, and my time is mostly taken up with my children and five grandchildren and by carpentry. I have been somewhat remiss in my contact with the Macalester community except for an occasional contact with some of the alumni who live in the twin city area. This is the first time I have been online at this website and it has been great to check up on the classmates who have submitted bios.
I’ve been married to Nicholas Klak for 49 years. He was a high school teacher, and I taught 20 years in early elementary school. We have two sons who are also teachers and four grandchildren. We retired to Florida and since then have been busy serving on the board at church and working on the worship committee. We have sung and played the piano for our park chorus and have been very active in doing hospitality kinds of things in the park. I also volunteer in a kindergarten class one day a week. I've been with the same teacher for 15 years.
I began my career by teaching high school English and Spanish in the South St. Paul school district from 1959 to1965. In 1961 I married Phillip Katzung and we had a daughter in 1965 and a son in 1966.
I received my Master of Arts degree in library science from the University of Minnesota in 1967. I returned to full time work as a high school librarian in the South St. Paul and West St. Paul school districts from 1967 to 1972. I began my job as Chief Librarian at the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch in 1972 and left in 1987. That year we moved to Crofton, Maryland, and I began work at U. S. News & World Report magazine in Washington D.C. as a librarian with supervisory duties and remained there until 2003 when I retired.
We have two grandsons in St. Paul who are the children of daughter Emily and her husband. Andrew lives in Minneapolis. We love retirement and take advantage of this area's cultural events and nearby historic sites and activities.
I came from Itasca, Ill., to attend Macalester in 1955 and the spring of my senior year I enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard. Served in the Guard for six years, with weekly meetings and two weeks active duty each summer.
Following my six-month active duty, I returned to Illinois where I worked at the local bank until September 1960 when I entered Law School at the University of Minnesota. Graduated and was admitted to practice in Minnesota in 1964.
I worked for 3M in St. Paul from 1964-1975. Was hired as General Counsel for United Power Association in Elk River, Minn., in '75 and retired from the company (now Great River Energy) in 1999.
Lived in Hudson, Wis.; Princeton, Minn., (where our two children went to school); and Las Cruces, N.M. Currently live in the Rice, Minn., area and return to Las Cruces for the winter months.
My wife, Carol, and I have two children: Jonathan, a 1986 Carleton grad, and Susanne, 1989 Macalester. Susanne entered Macalester almost exactly 30 years to the day after I did. Both live in the D.C. area on the East Coast.
After graduation I went to Chicago and entered grad school at the University of Illinois. I received a M.S. in 1961 and was accepted for the Ph.D. program in Microbiology/Pathology. After a year, I decided to pursue at least the first two years of med school before completing the Ph.D and was accepted at the U. of No. Dakota in what then was a B.S. Med. program. Joy (Hedman 1961) and I were married in Aug., 1962. My med school training was interrupted in 1963 by severe family illnesses which required frequent travel to St. Paul from our home in Grand Forks.
I joined a newly awarded NCI-sponsored research program looking at the possible transmission of various leukemia viruses by insects and other arthropods. During this unexpectedly long (and life changing) interval in training, we became proud parents of daughter Gretchen in 1968 and son Hans in 1970. I was able to maintain some research activity while completing my second year of med school in 1973. Having decided that my earlier plans for an MD-PhD were impractical, our family of four moved to Michigan where I received the M.D. from the MSU College of Human Medicine in 1975.
Following an invitation for a two-year fellowship within the NCI on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus in Bethesda, MD, we moved to Gaithersburg, MD. During that time I became aware of opportunities available within the NIH for professional growth which would not involve further geographic moves. I received a commission in the U.S. Public Health service in late 1976 and was privileged to serve in multiple capacities in five institutes before retiring from NIH in 2005. Instead of needing to "chase" our children in retirement, they were thoughtful enough to move back to this area. Gretchen, her husband James, Emma (nine), Charlie (six) and Hannah (four) live in Gaithersburg. Emma and Charlie are enrolled in the neighborhood elementary school their mom and uncle attended. After 13 years of studies in California, Hans returned to the area and has joined the NIH as a principal investigator.
Even though we remain midwesterners in heart (and in speech), the mid-Atlantic is home.
I had hoped to be able to join you for our 50th but this plan has been superseded by the need for extensive spine surgery on April 15, which involves implanting new rods and vertebral fusion from the neck (C7 or C6) to the lower lumbar area. Having had a less extensive version in 1994 we know that there will be a long rehab period reaching well into the summer.
I have had the good fortune of marrying Marlene Johnson '59 and enjoying a career in corporate recruiting while living in Minnesota, Nebraska, and Houston, Texas.
After marrying Roland Lund '59 (Rollie - Green Giant), we lived in Le Sueur, Minn., for nine years. We then moved to Omaha, Neb., and then transferred to Houston, Texas. I taught fourth grade there and retired in 2003.
I taught in Red Wing, MN from 1959-1961, and after that I attended the University of Minnesota briefly. From 1962 to 1963 I went to Guatemala to teach in an American School-not a US American School. From there I worked for six months in a Hotel in Honduras until they had a coup d'état. I moved to El Salvador to teach and met my British husband. We were married in 1964. My son Karl was born in 1965, and when he was about a year old we were transferred to northern Panama for six months. From Panama we moved to Venezuela where we lived for seven years, and my daughter was born. In 1972 we went to live in England for a year, and then we were transferred to East Africa, Kenya where we lived for three years. I loved Kenya and really enjoyed the film Out of Africa.
We moved to the US in 1977 and to Arizona in 1978. My husband attended the University of Arizona and obtained all but his dissertation for his Ph.D. before he died in 1991. The family moved to Mauritania in 1985, although by that time Karl was in the Navy, and Kirsten had to attend school in Switzerland. Mark was working on an Agricultural project for USAID. After Mark's death I had a bed and breakfast for a time in Tucson and finally returned to teaching in 2000. Since 2001 I have been a substitute teacher in the Tucson Unified School district where my knowledge in Spanish has served me in good stead.
It has been quite a trip, filled with dreams of "study, work, and play!"
It all began with my birth -- no, we'll move forward to graduating from Mac. First, I started teaching art in White Plains, New York. Then I moved to Highland Park Junior High in St. Paul, Minn., to do the same, and met the "love of my life," Jerry Mansergh.
Over the 47 years together, we have raised a family (one daughter and three sons), who have also met their life challenges of "study, work, and play." We enjoy each of our children and their spouses, children (our three wonderful grandchildren) and animals (dogs, cats, etc.). Each is unique with their special interests, work, homes, hopes and dreams.
My "out-of-the-home" work consisted of two years in teaching art, then developing, directing, and teaching at a nursery school in Royal Oak, Mich., which required me to go to Wayne State University for a state teaching certification. After seven years in Michigan, my husband changed professorships from the University of Michigan and Wayne State University to the University of Minnesota, so I moved into another field of opportunity -- designing, developing, directing and counseling at an in-house Employees' Assistance Program (EAP). Research review regarding this line of work, along with a St. Thomas University Master's in adult education and psychology, helped me round out the knowledge and skills needed for this most challenging work. After 15 years of working with this company, which became owned by NCR, I retired as a Director in 1992.
Retirement has given Jerry and I a chance to grow, renew our selves, and redirect our lives as a team in the areas of national and international consulting. We have enjoyed nine years of working with the American International Schools of Central America, Colombia, the Caribbean and Mexico.
We live on a lake between the areas of Luck and Frederic, Wis. Here we volunteer with the schools, the Historical Society, the library, the Shriners, and the First Presbyterian Church of St. Croix Falls.
With time permitting, we travel with friends and relatives and exchange timeshares to see the beauties of the USA and the world. I spend time quilting, painting, reading, and enjoying the natural surroundings in which we live. With God's permission, I hope to continue to do this for some time to come.
After graduation I graduated from Dubuque Theological Seminary with an MDiv Degree. I served as a pastor to three Presbyterian churches in northwest Minnesota for five years. I took a Pastoral Training program in Rochester, Minn. for a year. I continued in a training program at the University of Virginia Medical Center. I became a Clinical Pastoral Education supervisor and remained in that position for 23 years. We moved to Billings, Mont. to begin a new training program for clergy and laypersons in various cities in the state. I am now living in Brainerd, Minn. I have been active in the Presbytery wherever I have been.
I have been married to Marilyn for 53 years. We have four adult children - one minister, one assistant principal, and two lawyers, all living in various parts of the country. We also have 13 grandchildren and one cat.
I married Clare Martin Jr. (class of '58), and had four children. I worked as a delivery room nurse, and I spent the last five years as a mortgage banker. We retired to St. George, Utah (low humidity, no snow). I am busy today playing clarinet in the College Woodwind ensemble, playing violin in the local symphony, doing outdoors activities in beautiful southwest Utah, and spending time with friends and family. My husband is still my best friend and playmate.
I married my high school girlfriend; we have four children and eight grandchildren. We are both active in many organizations in Oklahoma City. I started a company in 1973 and continue to be involved in it each day. We are committed travelers and take several trips each year. We spend about four to five weeks a year in New Mexico.
After graduating in January, I worked for a bit more than a year in a church in Duluth. Then I went on to Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley for an MDiv, after which I worked in the campus ministry at Oberlin College and then on the national staff of the Student YWCA, traveling a nine, then 12 state region out of Chicago.
When that job disappeared through downsizing of the national staff, I came to Cleveland to go to law school. With JD in hand I practiced law for several years before becoming a Magistrate with the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division For more than 10 years before I retired I was Chief Magistrate, hearing and seeking to settle many contested divorces such as child issues, property matters, and support decisions.
Since retirement, I have been somewhat politically active (Code of Judicial Conduct prohibited that previously) and have become involved in Cleveland's Episcopal Cathedral where I currently chair a group of "mature" folk called Third Half of Life.
Much of my time is spent in genealogical pursuits, online and in travel. My family and that of others are major preoccupations. My partner and I live in Cleveland on the shore of Lake Erie and spend endless hours watching the lake as it changes day to day.
I attended seminary for two years after graduating. After deciding that was not my direction, Uncle Sam caught up with me. I served three years in the U.S. Army, including a year at the Army Language School studying Russian, then two years in Berlin. Soon after I was discharged, I married Beverly Lingwall (GAC '60). I returned to Mac to get my teaching credentials in secondary education. I taught ninth grade social studies for 32 years, starting with two years at Mahtomedi High School, then the rest in the West Saint Paul Schools. Bev was an elementary teacher. I retired in '98. Since then I have remained busy enough with various volunteer activities around West Saint Paul and in my church.
Bev and I have been blessed with three children and four grandchildren. Our oldest child, Jonathan, lives and works in Saint Paul. Our oldest daughter, Kathleen, lives in Missoula, Mont., with her husband, Simon, and their two kids, one 8 and the youngest 5. Sarah and her partner Amy live in Saint Paul and have two children, one 5 and the youngest 2.
We have enjoyed traveling in our retirement, to Japan in '98, Israel in 2000, Tanzania in 2003 and again in 2007, Ireland in 2006, Mexico, Hawaii and other destinations in the U.S.
My family includes my husband Larry and son Alexander. I have worked at West Publishing (proofreader); St. Paul Companies (assistant editor of in house publications); Top Temp; Bankers Title; Questar Educational Systems. My volunteer jobs have included: reader for Society for the Blind; sixteen years with University of Minnesota Master Gardeners, staffing plant clinics and doing programs for garden clubs, etc.; volunteering at local elementary school library for 12 years.
My hobbies are gardening and taking care of pets. Exciting experiences include having three complete joint replacements in the past four years (two hips, one shoulder). Is there a prize for being the most bionic woman in the class of 1959? (I plan to stay away from powerful magnets in the future.)
I completed 38 years with Cargill, Incorporated at their world headquarters in Minnetonka, Minn. I retired in 1997 after having served as a senior auditor, and controller of four different business units.
I married my high-school sweetheart, Jeannette and have three children and seven granddaughters.
Retirement is great...summers include continual travel with our 5th wheel and three month winters at a gulf condo near Port St. Joe, Florida.
I continue to reside in our retirement home in Andover, Minn. I serve as an EDA Commissioner in Andover and am busy building my library of WWII history books and adding to my coin collection.
Fifty years ago last fall, September 1958, an incoming freshman from Willmar Minnesota timidly confronted the reality of entering the community of higher education at Macalester College. The succeeding four years proved to be exciting and very enlightening. A German class provided the opportunity to meet a young woman, Lynne Davis, and this was a turning point in my life. We married the following September on a Friday night and our honeymoon was a trip from Fergus Falls to St. Paul. Medical school classes began on Monday. Lynne was in her clinical internship in medical technology that fall so we both were very busy, not too busy to begin our family with the arrival of daughter Deborah in January of the following year.
Lynne began working as a medical technologist and I continued in medical school, we welcomed our first son Bill in the summer of the last year of medical school. Following a year of internship in Duluth, the U. S. Army called and this began 6 and 1/2 years of military service. During this time I enrolled in a pathology residency. I served as a staff pathologist at William Beaumont Hospital in Texas following the residency. Our sons Tom and Rolf were born during this period of Army service.
After leaving the Army in 1972, we moved to Sartell Minnesota where I began work in a clinical testing laboratory and subsequently formed an independent practice covering four hospitals and a surgical center. The practice ultimately consisted of four pathologists. Lynne was very busy taking most of the responsibilities of family life. As many of you probably experienced, the years when our children were growing up passed very rapidly and when the nest became empty, Lynne and I had the chance to reacquaint ourselves, a process that continues. We both have enjoyed the privilege of working on the Mac. Reunion Committee.
After Commencement I began a year of internship for Medical Technology at Miller Hospital Labs in St. Paul, completed the MT coursework and earned a BS degree from Macalester in June of 1960. It was a busy year as Grayson and I had married in September of 1959, just before he began medical school. My career as Med Tech was somewhat brief, working a few months at Miller, a few years at St. Mary's Hospital in Minneapolis and a year at a clinic in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii.
We have four wonderful adult children and their spouses: Deborah Ruth Osteraas, Mac Class of '82, (Larry Broberg); William R., (Lisa); Thomas Lynn, (Kathy); and Rolf Grayson. Our third child, Bruce Davis, died at 6 months of age. We are fortunate to have six grandchildren: Amy, Tierney, Nicole, Delaney, Lauren and Lars.
Since Grayson's retirement, there has been more time for reflection and realization of what a fascinating life we've had together all these many years, starting at dear old Macalester! Currently, some of my favorite things are having our families and grandchildren visit us up north at the lake, playing golf, reading, attending concerts, volunteer work at church, and committee involvement planning for the 50th Reunion Class of '59! Don't miss it!
Career wise: I received an MBA and Ph.D. at University of Chicago. I was Dean of Schools of Business at University of Washington, William and Mary, University of Tampa, University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Life highlight – or life insight – is learning that career highlights and educational honors are less important than relationships.
I taught kindergarten in Detroit Lakes, Blue Earth and Hopkins, Minn. where I retired in 1998. Other highlights include Bruce's induction into Macalester Hall of Fame in 1988, traveling to many countries in the world, staying four months in Saudi Arabia visiting family, moving to our lake in central Minnesota after retirement, and last but not least:
Our son David: born in 1960 writes, climbs major mountains, lives in Duluth with wife Dina, and works at Parthea Productions.
Our daughter Amy Sue: born in 1962 lives in Saudi Arabia with her husband Greg teaching in an ARAMCO American school. We have three grandchildren.
Our daughter Angie Lynn: born in 1968 teaches with husband Scott at Wood Stock School in northern India. They are on leave of absence from Hopkins, Minn. where both will resume teaching when they return.
I worked as a Medical Technician for almost 40 years in Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin. I was married to Robert Pedersen '59 for 48 years until his death in 2006. We had three children, all college graduates (none at Mac!). They live both on the East Coast and West Coast. I have four grandchildren. I have volunteered as a tutor in ESL and as a project worker in the Minnesota Genealogical Society/Library. I am the family genealogist.
I lived in Bigelow Hall and made many great, lifelong friends. I’ve always felt I received great preparation for my career in elementary education. I graduated in three and a half years with just enough credits. I still have a re-occurring dream that the office called on my last day to say I was one credit short of graduation requirements. I’m glad it was only a dream. I taught for 30 and a half years in Hopkins, Minn.; Baraboo, Wis.; and the Maple River District in Minnesota.
We have three children and nine grandchildren. We will celebrate 50 years of marriage this summer at our farm with our family and close friends.
I’m thankful each day for my years at Macalester. Those years were very much a part of the person I’ve become, and I’m proud to say I’m a Macalester graduate!
I have been very fortunate in my life since I attended Macalester. I have had a good career as a CPA including being in my own private practice for the past 38 years. My practice is almost all with individual and trust taxation. I have been married for almost 49 years to Donna. We had two children, Wendy and Tim, and we also have a son we took on when his parents died. Our daughter is married and lives near us, and Jon and his family live on an island off Vancouver, British Columbia. Unfortunately, our son, Tim, died 20 years ago, which is a constant reminder of the fragility of life.
I can't believe we have to miss the reunion, but we have to be in Missouri for a college graduation. We will miss seeing you all.
I married Connie Youngberg '59, and we have three daughters. Since 1959 I've been community organizing in Chicago; working on public policy and social welfare services locally and nationally; working in religious, governmental and private sectors; meeting fascinating people like Martin Luther King Jr. and Jimmy Carter; and working with and learning about community organizing from Saul Alinski and the Industrial Areas Foundation.
I graduated from University of Minnesota with a degree in nursing and married Kris Ronnow in 1960. I taught nursing for two years before the advent of three girls: Karin, a '84 Mac grad and now a journalist; Heather, now a lawyer; and Erika, a '88 Mac grad. I was a school nurse for several years, directed a health service at a college, worked for a county health department until I retired in 1994. I'm now active in church and volunteer activities, and we love to travel.
From Macalester I stepped right into a St. Paul elementary school classroom and stayed there for thirty seven years. I enjoyed my career and the lifelong friendships I formed over the years. I earned a master's degree in liberal studies from Hamline in 1988 and finished my career as a language arts specialist. Terry and I have been married for 52 years and enjoy travel and our cabin in northern Minnesota.
I worked as a med. tech. for 25 years and have two children and two grandchildren. I winter in Florida; traveled to Europe, Mexico, Alaska, Canada and all states except Hawaii. Canoed, hunted partridge and deer. Now I have rods in my back and glaucoma, but I still feel like a kid.
Obviously I never got far from home. (Hopkins) Ha!
I’ve been married for 47 years to Ken Severud. We’ve lived in the same house in St. Louis Park for 45 years. We have two children, Jen and Wayne, and two grandchildren. We are happily retired and enjoying everything.
I majored in Spanish, taught it two years, and then forgot it for the next 33 years. I had no idea I would use Spanish again. However, my old major has served me well for the past 12 years, leading Habitat for Humanity trips to Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia. Other Habitat trips have taken me to India, Zambia, South Africa, Mongolia, and to my home state, South Dakota.
I've had a few careers throughout the years. The longest ones were leading recreation in mental hospitals and retirement centers and working with Washington's Commute Trip Reduction Law to reduce the number of people who drive alone to work.
I met my husband on the Empire Builder. We've been married 46 years and have three children, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
I have enjoyed using my Macalester training in the field of music, while I was teaching vocal music in the public school system, and working with music groups at our church and in our community. My first love has been directing choirs and performing cantatas and other musical programs. I am still playing the piano and the organ (self-taught organist) at church and doing some solo work. I am thankful for the opportunities God has given me, and I always try to use them for His glory.
The great adventure of my life, and my childhood dream, was being a farmer's wife, and to now be able to enjoy our eight grandchildren together with my husband.
I have enjoyed using my Macalester training in the field of music, while I was teaching vocal music in the public school system, and working with music groups at our church and in our community. My first love has been directing choirs and performing cantatas and other musical programs. I am still playing the piano and the organ (self-taught organist) at church and doing some solo work. I am thankful for the opportunities God has given me, and I always try to use them for His glory.
The great adventure of my life, and my childhood dream, was being a farmer's wife, and to now be able to enjoy our eight grandchildren together with my husband.
I had a career in the U.S. Forest Service as public information staff. I served in the upper Midwest (St. Paul), the south (New Orleans) and Alaska (Juneau). I wrote and photographed copy for newspapers, magazines, radio, and designed special pamphlets describing forest management activities.
Carol Elizabeth Peitzman Terry (formerly Holmquist)
Welcome to a new name that is now so long the IRS and Medicare computers (bless their scientific hearts) cut off the last letters and do not recognize me in their systems. But, being a non-entity for some, I can assure you all that I truly am still up and running, or at least up and walking!
As Rosie Gubrud referred to in her bio, it seems impossible that fifty years have dissolved so quickly. With the committee meetings bringing me back to Mac s campus these past months, aside from being surrounded by all the amazing new buildings, it seems like only yesterday that I was traversing the walkways from class to class - that is until a current Mac-ite stops me with, May I carry that for you ma'am? Then I'm jolted back to the Now reality and forced to reflect on what indeed did happen in all those yesterdays...
Marriage to Lloyd Peitzman (class of '58) in 1958
Birth of daughter Linda in February 1959
Graduation with degree in Elementary Ed - 1959
Losing our first born son at birth - 1960
Living the first few years on a $4,500 annual salary — remember those days?
Being a stay-at-home Mom, raising a daughter and three sons, Rob, Jim and John - 1959-1973
Receiving a degree in Learning Disabilities and beginning to teach Special Ed in Richfield - 1973
Being diagnosed with breast cancer - 2000. (Now an eight-year survivor! And #9786)
Teaching and tutoring on a full time basis until 2002
Singing in the choir and involvement in multi church activities
Watching with amazement as children grew and blossomed in their careers.
Marveling at growth and accomplishments of seven grandchildren - Emily having already graduated from College and now working as a mortician, Cassie beginning her stint at Harvard Medical School, Alec, Elizabeth and Elycia at various stages in college, Marissa in high school, and one wee one, Myah, who is not yet two. (For her, college seems a long way off, but I know I'll blink, and she'll be there!)
Lloyd Peitzman and I parted ways when we found our lives taking different directions. I was married to Jack Terry (Mac class of '63) in 2005. Between us we now have six wonderful children and 12 grandchildren. Though we take on occasional odd jobs, we are under the cloak of retirement, which is a great place to be. This has allowed us, among other things, the hours to do extensive gardening and major projects around the house. It has also given us the freedom to be able to travel, sometimes at the last minute, to places such as Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, Africa, Peru, United Kingdom, and, most recently, Turkey. Each in it s own way broadened our perspectives and gave us an appreciation of other cultures. In retrospect life is good! And maybe, just maybe, it isn't so bad after all to be at that stage where someone stops you and asks, "May I carry that for you ma'am?"
Following graduation from Pacific School of Religion, I was five years in a parish ministry in northern Minnesota. After a year of Clinical Pastoral Educaion in Rochester, I served as chaplain at the former Rochester State Hospital for 13 years, until it closed in 1982. I then helped start a Pastoral Counseling Center in Rochester which I directed until retirement in 1999.
Connie and I have been married 50 years, last July, and have three daughters and five grandchildren, all living in Minnesota We have been in Rochester 42 years. Since retirement I volunteer a day a week at Chester Woods County Park in Rochester; play clarinet in the Rochester Community Band; participate in the Rochester Woodcarvers Club; and canoe, kayak and bike as much as time permits. For the past six years we have been wintering in Casa Grande, Ariz., enjoying the opportunity to bike and hike in the desert and surrounding mountains.
I came to Mac, on the heels of my sister, Pat, from a little farming community on the North Dakota side of the Red River Valley. My high school interest in flying was quickly peaked by the Flying Scots, and after graduation I wanted to pursue that interest in the military. I passed all the tests for both the Air Force and Navy flight training but washed out because of a pin in my hip. Figuring the Army would certainly not take me for that reason and needing to clarify my draft status for employment purposes, I volunteered for the draft. In their infinite wisdom, they took me! I served for 22 months in various personnel positions on the west coast and Korea.
My first real job was with the Minnesota Division of Rehabilitation as a counselor in Mankato, where I met Sandy, my bride of 45+ years, on a blind tennis date. When she graduated from Mankato State and took a job teaching in the Roseville school system, I transferred to the St. Paul DVR office as a placement counselor.
In the process of finding jobs for my clients, I found one for myself that I couldn't resist as a production manager for a small manufacturing company. I got the flying bug again after a few years, so I took all the testing at Northwest and was told to get my ratings and come back to see them, which I did. The day I went back in, Braniff had just laid off 90 pilots and half of them were in Northwest's personnel office! Needless to say my experience level was not up to par, but I had already given notice. I ferried some new planes up from Wichita and a few other jaunts, but nothing really clicked.
Our son, Mark, was about to come into the world, so I decided I'd better get busy with something productive, so I went back to my former employ in sales and had fun for several more years. Our daughter, Nichol, came along a year and a half after Mark. We became involved, along with several other families in a Christian Lay Ministry which took us to Fargo for a few years. Our children's early education was in a school which we started (and is still thriving), and it was a very positive experience for them.
After eight years we left Fargo and opened a small window décor business in St. Cloud in the early 80's. Do you remember the building industry bust and 18% interest rates? Bad timing! My former employer again came to the rescue and asked if I would come back.
After a few more years I dabbled in residential real estate sales, computer network instruction, and property management, before my son and I bought Minneapolis Window Shade Co. So we're back in the window décor business.
Our children completed high school in St. Louis Park, where we have resided for over 25 years. Mark married Stephanie, his high school sweetheart, and they live in Plymouth with Hana (13) and Nichlaus (9). Stephanie is the choral director for Armstrong High School. Nikki went on to be a Navy pediatrician until Madeline (5) was born. Her husband, Gabe Lee, also a pediatrician, is still in the Navy and they are currently stationed in Gulfport, Miss.
My life-long passion is to improve opportunity for all children. Upon graduating from Macalester in EE, I taught public school kindergarten in St. Paul. For twelve years, once the first of our three kids arrived, I combined parenting with volunteer work. We moved from Burnsville to St. Paul in 1966 and joined an inner city church, Dayton Presbyterian. Through the church, I became a peer mentor to young mothers at the first community-based maternal infant care clinic in St. Paul. During my five years volunteering there, a few strong friendships with young mothers developed, which brought us two godchildren who are now part of our extended family.
The clinic experience ignited my interest in preventing and treating child abuse and neglect. When our youngest began first grade, I began teaching at a parent-coop Montessori pre-school and remained for six years, while continuing advocacy for children.
When I was elected from our Saint Paul neighborhood to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1980, a reporter asked me, "Is it quite an adjustment, going from teaching young children to this?" "Indeed it is." I answered. "Little kids say exactly what they mean, don't carry grudges, and start each day fresh."
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, I chaired the judiciary committee. Laws and funding for prevention of domestic abuse and sexual violence were a natural inclusion with child abuse legislation. In my last term, 1992-1994, I chaired education finance. Trying to provide enough funds, along with some assurance the money would bring results, brought attention, ranging from gratitude to wrath, from every school district in the state. The only legislation I authored that my six grandchildren seem impressed with was the first funding for school breakfast.
I left office in 1994 and became Executive Director of a start-up early childhood collaborative in St. Paul. During the next six years we established eight Family Centers for coordinating school, city and county services. My volunteer era resumed in 2000. My main effort for the next two years was taking care of a grandson from his fourth month until age 2 ½ accompanied me to the Citizens League Board and a few other meetings, but I went alone to State Higher Education Services Council and the Sexual Victims Center board.
My husband Jim and I continue to be an active support team for the six grandchildren, four of whom live within a few blocks of us and each other. Our three children and their mates bring us great joy in both their families and their work. For more info on them, Google Tom Vellenga, Charlotte Vellenga Landreau, and Carolyn Vellenga Berman.
Now that we're both retired, we enjoy singing in choir, playing in an occasional brass group, canoeing and cross country skiing at our Wisconsin place, camping in the mountains, and a couple of Habitat builds in our home state of South Dakota. We relish our individual times too — mine is mountain skiing and biking with "Minnesota Hot Flashes," and writing a novel set in 1621. Don't ask me about it unless you're willing to spend the next thirty minutes listening, as I am obsessed!
When I graduated from Mac I started teaching in Great Falls, Mont. with a very high salary of $4,400. I was thrilled to be earning so much money. After two years there I taught in elementary schools in Wisconsin and eventually ended up teaching in Littleton, Colo. In 1975 I traveled to Iran and taught in a private school with an enrollment of mostly Persians whose parents wanted their children to be fluent in English. The history and the culture, so different from that in the US, made it a very fascinating learning experience. The Shah was in power then, and my life felt quite secure. Since then I have been living in Denver.
My last employment was with the city of Littleton in economic development until 2003 when I retired. Although I was concerned about keeping busy for the time I would have been working, I find that there are so many interesting things to do; my life is filled. Hiking is a big part of my life, and in my years in Colorado I have been on top of many of the 14,000 ft. mountains in the state as well as other peaks that are as, or more, interesting than the highest. The snow in Colorado is so good for skiing that I do that as much as possible. I travel as much as I can, often organizing foreign trips for groups, and I am active in the Colorado Archaeology Society. 50 years have passed quickly.
I spent 36 years at 3M and retired in '96. I have been married 48 years to Marilyn Hancock class of '61. We have two adult sons and four grandchildren.
Volunteer work: Courage Center, Access Ability, St. Stephens Church, Shattuck St. Mary's School, etc.
We divide our time between traveling, the lake, St. Simons Island and Edina.
I never held the same job for more than three to four years and then went on to something entirely different. I ended up at the State University System (before they merged with the colleges) and ran their retirement investment program for the faculty (the 401a). This was the last job before I retired.
Then, I discovered what I should have been doing all of my life. Art! I started to paint (watercolor) about five years ago, and it has become a compulsive addiction ever since. I have three website shops to sell my work along with a blog and a Facebook profile.
We winter in the area of Destin, Florida for two to three months each year. I am married to Lefty (Wright), and both of us play tennis and golf when we can. We have two children and four grandchildren.
