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Transition Times Newsletter
Content provided by Tom Kennedy '62
April 2015
Golden Flyer News
Elizabeth (Betty) Kennedy LaGrua ’59, the first female in the Lewis Aviation program, is now living in Staunton, Virginia, near her son’s family. After she graduated from Lewis, Betty continued her education at Boston College and completed her Master’s degree in Education. She actually wanted to get her degree in Computer Science but the College wouldn’t admit her because it “was not a degree for women.” Not one to be denied, Betty then went to Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey for a Master’s degree in Computer Science.
By the way, Betty’s Lewis roommate, Esther Grupenhagen ’60, became one of the first female airline pilots at American Airlines and Betty’s sister-in-law, the late Fortunata Kennedy, was a faculty member in the College of Nursing back in the 1970’s.
Tony Janc ’57 reported having a knee replacement last summer but intends to be back for the Lewis Golf Outing at Cog Hill on June 5th. Tony related a story about the baseball team bus breaking down halfway to St. Joe’s in Indiana. Coach Gillespie’s solution was to have everyone hitchhike to Rensselaer where the game started some two hours late.
Greg Raclaw ’62 will again host a class of 1962 reunion in Chicago this summer. Greg said, “Last year's get together event at Marcello's Restaurant in Lincoln Park was a wonderful success, especially when it was put together extemporaneously. Based on the comments received, we are going to repeat the event again this year on Sunday, July 19, at 4:00 pm with cocktails (open bar) and early dinner at 5:00 pm." Greg’s e-mail is gdraclaw@verizon.net
After serving 28 years in the Air Force, Ed Petlak ’61 then flew DC10s for United for another nine years before retiring in Little Rock. Ed served in Vietnam. As you might remember, Ed was an outstanding pitcher for the Flyers and once pitched an entire doubleheader against Illinois State University.
We all knew that the Aviation program served many Lewis alumni, but a few non-Aviation students also became pilots while they were students. Case-in-point: here is a picture of John Fiore ’62 with his plane.
My Lewis colleague, Bob Kanonik, and I met with Ken Mularski ’63 and his wife Barbara (below) recently at their home in Evanston. Ken is a retired English teacher from Walter Payton College Prep School in Chicago.
Gordy Davis ’65 has made many contributions to the Lewis Athletics program over the years, especially planning sessions for the golf outings. Gordy is a member of the Hall of Fame for his involvement.
Golden Flyer Transitions
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Jim Sczepaniak ’60, age 78, passed away on November 9, 2014. Jim was a brother-in-law to Don Tures. For a profile on Jim, please visit www.alumni.lewisu.edu/FeaturedAlumni.
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Russell "Buck" Grundy ’53, 84, of Wausau, WI, passed away on December 5, 2014. You will remember Buck as a Lewis football and baseball player and a coach at Joliet Catholic High School.
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Gordon A. Gillespie passed away on February 28, 2015, at age 88. Read more about Gordie and register for a Memorial Mass in his honor at www.alumni.lewisu.edu/Gordie.
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The Transition Times
Notes from the '60s and '70s
Over breakfast with me, Don “Butch” Markelz ’76 said that he has not retired from coaching baseball at Lockport High School, but has retired from being the Dean of Students. He is one of the most outstanding pitchers in Flyer baseball history.
Tim Arendt ’71 (below) is still active as the owner of his electrical company, and formerly was the chief author of the Electrical Code Book for Chicago. Tim has three daughters and eight grandkids.
While having lunch with Sal Colello ’76 (below), we recalled the “Kiss” concert that he helped arrange at Lewis. “Kiss” was fairly new at the time and Sal didn’t know quite what to expect. A former Chicago policeman, Sal is now Regional Security Manager of Brink’s.
While his son, John, is busy calling balls and strikes in the major leagues, Jack Tumpane ’77 (below) is busy being a sales manager at Pinnacle Sales & Marketing. Jack, a former baseball player at Lewis, was also a highly respected high school basketball referee in Chicago.
Frank Kaminsky’s ’93 father passed away recently and I attended the wake in Chicago. Frank is a member of the Lewis All-Decades (1970s) Basketball Team and his son, young Frank, is an outstanding player at the University of Wisconsin.
My Lewis colleague Martin Salvucci and I had lunch with Rick Otto ’73 (below) to learn more about his career. After years in human resources, Rick is now a consultant working as an “executive coach.”
I met with another All-Decades Basketball team member, Duane Szymkowski ’66 and his wife, Carol (below), at their house in Mount Prospect. “Duey” is the former VP at Continental Bank and Bank of America. After graduation, he was drafted in the NBA and then traded to the Bulls.
Final Transitions
Terry Faust ’69 writes, “It is with great sadness that I share the news that our frater Robert K. Flynn ’69, affectionately known as 'The Frog,' passed away. Frog and I met as roommates at Lewis in the late '60's and have been friends ever since."
John Vainisi ’73 reported that Ed Lewandowski ’76 recently passed away. Eddie “Lew the Screw” had a quick and genuine smile and loved to laugh. He and his brother Dave (pledge of fall '75) were very close friends of Tom (Deuce) Mezyk ’75. He and Deuce are “catching up right now.”