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now one of my “ Friends ” on Facebook , where I enjoy seeing Paul Chadem ’ s pics , and Roy Herring has some great posts . Any other smells or places you want to share ? There are many places I didn ’ t mention , and just sitting here taking a mental tour of each building or room , a different smell and feeling come to me . What movies , TV shows , music groups , or top songs take you back to our time at Willie Tech ? Excuse me , THE WILLIAMSON COL- LEGE OF TRADES ! I just picked up a yearbook of the class before us , and I gotta say , who were these guys ? I don ’ t remember 90 percent of them . John “ DOC ” Dougherty playing basketball in Pigeon Palace , sure , and Mike Natale in the shop , but there are a bunch we will mention next time like Bill Neverosky ? or John Votta ? Do you remember the name of our nurse or the custodian ?? Wish I could post pics and see if you can name some of these classmates or staff . Easy one . Who sat at the desk in the main office as soon as you enter the main building ? No prizes , email your answers , or Bob Jordan , whose email list is growing . Seawolf7w6 @ gmail . com update your addresses , too , several keep coming back !
God Bless you , one and all ! And , GOD BLESS AMERICA ! May our best years be ahead of us .
Gordon Douglas
W 78 Gregg Trexler 238 Hearthstone Road King of Prussia , PA 19406 610-275-0259 Cell : 215-806-7996 trexgsjr @ gmail . com
I hope you are having a good start to 2021 , that you and yours have stayed safe through this pandemic , and that we can soon resume life as we once knew it .
Notes that I wrote for the last Williamsonian did not make it in time , so this news of the reunion may be repeated . Our September reunion picnic had the highest attendance yet — 16 ! What a perfect weather day ! What was new this year were the masks , and , the stories told ! We were so surprised to see new attendees we didn ’ t expect and accompanied by their wives . Hosted by Kurt Elliott at Historic Old Home Farm , we had Garry Saroukas , Mike McGann , Jim Devine , Jim Hershey , Matt McHale , Bob Olock , Lynn Rosser , Bob Wilson , John Bigas , Joe Callaghan , Scott Wolfertz , Mike Collins , Jim Wandling , Tom Reilly , and myself . The one that travelled the farthest was Matt from Florida ! Jim Devine , Hersh , Lynn , and Chelsea all drove on average about 3-4 hours . Conversations always include , “ ever hear from …?” If you think you fall into that category , touch base with us . The ladies were treated to Kurt ’ s Soap Shop tour , and we enjoyed Kurt ’ s hayride near sunset . It is worth mentioning again that the picnic is always held the first Saturday after Labor Day .
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Pastor Al Leonard spoke at the school ’ s Convocation ceremony this year . Great job , Al !
Jim Wandling texted me Happy New Year , so I responded in kind , and also called to catch up . He really enjoyed the reunion picnic . He is still with Penn , now as manager of Tele-health . He enjoys more reasonable hours . His son is still stationed in Okinawa with a year and a half to go . It was great to hear Jim ’ s mother in Broomall is still working at 89 . God bless her .
Mr & Mrs . A-59 checked in also ( Garry and Penny ). He , too , said this last reunion was the best to date and is looking forward to the next one this year . They moved back to New Castle County last October after living in Kent County . After 30 years , he was up for consideration in the “ Good Ol Boys Club ” so he thought it was time to move . He said to make sure Bob Caldwell took note of this : Garry is currently renovating the kitchen and is finding the cabinets cost more than their first house . ( How many can remember the super-high mortgage rate they had on their first house ?) They have a son and two daughters who live in the area , a grandson , and new granddaughter . The grandson learned in school that Garry has mispronounced his last name all these years , that it should be pronounced “ Saroookos ,” emphasis on rolling the “ r .” Let ’ s all remember that for our picnic in September .
Bob O . participated in the Relay First Lap , kicking off the 2021 American Cancer Society ’ s Relay for Life events . Bob ’ s a 15-year cancer survivor now and has volunteered for ACS all during that time ! Way to go , Bob . Kick butt !
Walt and Helene moved five miles across the border into Delaware last September , and are busy painting rooms and all , while still having fun with the grandkids . I think Total Wines is still only a five to ten minute drive for them ( if we were all that lucky ). I have been in pre-retirement since October , when the projects dried up at my workplace due to COVID , and I was laid off . I may drop the “ pre ” very soon . I have stayed busy working on a basement project ( thanks Walt for your advice on how to do this ), and have some other plans in the works for retirement , like getting back to fishing and going to the beach .
Haven ’ t seen much on Facebook to report for a few months . That ’ s all for now . Stay safe ! Email trexgsjr @ gmail . com .
Trex A-67
W 79 Bob Duncan 108 Beechtree Dr . Broomall , PA Home : 610-356-7188 Cell : 267-355-3763 Work : 610-645-6102 rduncan @ lowermerion . org
2020 has been a long and difficult year dealing with the pandemic and the shutting down of businesses and entertainment venues with a goal of
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controlling the COVID spread . I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy . Hopefully , as we move forward in 2021 , things will settle down and the vaccine will become widely available to everyone that would like to receive it so we can get back to whatever the new normal is going to be . I did receive some updates from classmates as many of us move towards the grandparent and retirement stages of our lives .
Bill and Janet Bonenberger became grandparents for the first time in late February and then again 10 days later . Both daughters had their first . A girl named Bailey Lynn and a boy named Cole William . Congratulations to the Bonenberger family . They will need a nice relaxing vacation after both deliveries have occurred .
Art Lallo informed me that he retired in June and was able to spend most of last summer down the shore . Picture Art as a 60-something beach bum . I ’ ll bet you have a hard time picturing this . Art is also working with some contractor friends doing construction work . Most people do construction work when they are young and physically strong and move to the office job as they get older , but Art decided to do the opposite . Hopefully , he has a nice jacuzzi to relax in at the end of the work day . Art is also getting ready to teach six classes this semester .
Dave Hudome reported that the Hudome family is safe , healthy , and happy living in Charlotte , N . C . Dave and Mary are enjoying their three granddaughters , two are nearby in Mt . Holly , N . C ., and one lives in Greenville , N . C . Dave continues to run the sales agency and is still working in his trade , which he is more thankful for the older he gets . Dave said he is enjoying keeping up with classmates Tom Noden and John McCarroll . Those friendships he holds close to his heart . Dave is looking forward to our next get-together , hopefully some day in 2021 on the beautiful Williamson campus . Dave offered God ’ s blessing to every one of his 7W9 classmates .
Bernie Begley reported how much he is enjoying retirement . He has been retired for a year and a half and is loving it ! Bernie reported that COVID cramped attempts to visit his children but they were able to come home for extended periods which was really nice .
Tom Noden reported that his son is a junior at Temple and everything is virtual classes . Hopefully , in person classes will resume soon . Tom is having lunch meetings with John McCarrol to catch up on family stories . He is looking forward to downsizing the home this year heading towards a retirement date that has not been defined just yet . Tom can ’ t wait for the Williamson campus to open up again and is hoping Alumni Day is back to normal . Tom had a good suggestion for another 7W9 lunch this year on campus .
Glen Davis reported that they had their fourth grandchild last March but , unfortunately , COVID didn ’ t allow
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them to be there for the delivery . A lot of activities changed . Triathlons were canceled and vacations were altered . In early November , Glenn had COVID and was off work for two weeks . Glen is getting closer to retirement , but not quite ready yet . He just celebrated his 40th wedding anniversary in December ! Glen is looking forward to some outdoor hockey and cross country skiing . Glen offered this uplifting comment in response to recent events in Washington , D . C . I ’ m reminded that despite all of what ’ s happening and the unsettled environment and emotions it may bring I can have confidence that God knows what ’ s going on and will guide us through it no matter what happens this coming year . Hope all is well with our classmates and their families .
The Duncans are doing well . Only one daughter still in school in Temple ’ s physician ’ s assistant program . I am planning to retire in May after 40 years at Lower Merion Township . I emailed Bob Dwyer in January thanking him for calling me when a position at the township came open over 40 years ago . I followed Bob up the ladder and was promoted from a building inspector position to the department head after Bob left for the private sector and eventually became the department head for four combined departments in the early 2000s . I was promoted to assistant manager and worked in this position the last seven years . It has been a long and great career . I look forward to keeping busy but also look forward to not being required to get up early and go to work every day . Stay safe .
Bob Duncan
W 80 Paul Kuhlman 3177 Summit Lane Garnet Valley , PA 19061 610-459-3484 kuhlman8w0 @ gmail . com
Hello classmates of 8W0 ,
Please take precautions and stay well during these crazy times . Some of us have retired , some have become grandparents , some continue to pull the wagons . We ’ re pushing 62 now . Do it safely and healthy .
Below are notes from Laura , our class contact . Williamson is closed for group gatherings for 2021 . No Alumni Day as of now . We can still get together at the Springfield County Club for a 40th class reunion ( if you choose ). A mailing will come shortly for the vote for June or next year ( 2022 ). Please respond to the survey , call Laura , or use the web link for your vote . I ’ ll stay in touch with her and send out an email once the votes are tabulated . Hope you take a minute to respond . If you have any question , please contact Laura Brown lbrown @ williamson . edu or at 610-566-1776 ext . 420 .
In fellowship , PK 8W0 From Laura : I wanted to take a moment to give you an update on the com-
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