The Williamsonian Summer 2017 | Page 20

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bloom spring. This is the nicest time of the year to be here. Being retired now, I can sit back and enjoy things about life that I never had the time for. My wife Sheila has created an organic garden and it is so enjoyable to see everything grow and thrive. My son Charlie will graduate this year and will continue to work at IHOP for now. I received quite a bit of communication. Let’ s start with someone who I have not heard from since graduation. It comes from and email Mas sent me.
I had a nice phone conversation with Mike Langsdorf and am passing along this info. Forgive me Mike if any of it is wrong as my memory isn’ t that great. Mike married his girlfriend Mary right out of Williamson and they’ ve been married now for 43 years. He went to work for Catalytic right out of Willy, and although the company went through several buyouts and name changes, worked there for 25 years before he left. He then went into sales in the lighting business where he has been for the past 17 years. He hopes to retire in about a year and a half along with Mary who currently works for a pediatrician. His plans for retirement are to relax, travel the country, and spend time visiting with his children and grandkids. Mike said his health is still pretty good except for the fact that he’ s getting old( just like the rest of us). He has two sons and two daughters and 10 grandchildren ages three through 18. He also has one dog( a black Russian terrier mix) who goes everywhere with him. Mike is also heavily involved in the Catholic Church where he serves as the only deacon. It was great talking to you Mike and, hopefully, we’ ll see you at the next reunion.
I also had a visit from Hag back in late February. Hag was nice enough to show up with a dozen blueberry muffins, two dozen fresh eggs, and a load of firewood. We were lucky enough to catch some unusually warm February weather so we spent the first night sitting around the campfire and drinking beer, of course. The next day I showed him around the area, including a tour of a local attraction called Bilger’ s Rock and a visit to the homestead where I grew up. We had intentions of sitting around the campfire the second night also, but after Hag bought me a great steak dinner at a local restaurant we ended up chilling around the TV for the rest of the night, digesting that meal and drinking beer. The drinking beer seems to be a common theme when Hag and I get together and I think we’ re pretty even in that department, although Hag doesn’ t show it like I do.
Thanks for that, Mas, especially great to hear about Mike. Hopefully, he will show up to our next reunion so we can all catch up. Next up, an update on Crumb Bun, who despite having some complications, sounds like he is in good spirits.
Feeling pretty good this week, last week was a different story. I ended up in the hospital at Temple because I was having shortness of breath, yet my breathing tests and chest x-ray showed nothing of concern. I mentioned to the doctor about this minor pain I had in my right lower leg for several days. He ordered an ultrasound which showed a blood clot, so I was immediately admitted to the emergency room and put on IV blood thinner. While waiting to be admitted, I had a CT scan with contrast of my chest which showed I also had a clot in each lung … not good. After seven hours, I was finally moved from the ER to a regular room. After several days they decided I was well enough to go home. So, in addition to all the anti-rejection medications I’ m taking, a blood thinner med was added to the list for the next six months. Due to several of the anti-rejection meds, I have become diabetic which requires me to monitor my glucose levels and inject insulin as needed. Also, my white blood cell count is low due to these meds, so they are working on adjusting my meds to get the count back to acceptable levels and possibly reduce the need for
insulin as time goes on. People have asked me about my transplant surgery and I always tell them that the surgery was nothing compared to all the after-care activities such as follow-up appointments at Temple, attending diabetes education classes, starting pulmonary rehab in a couple of weeks … the list goes on. My wife, Maryann, has been a great caregiver and has been with me through every step of this whole ordeal. I must admit I’ m enjoying the time off work, but I’ m hoping by June or July I can get the OK to go back to work part-time at first and then full-time later this year. Hopefully, my recovery will proceed in a positive direction as I continue through my first critical year after transplant. My doctor tells me the average time to be off work after transplant is six months to a year. Hope all is well with everyone and I look forward seeing you all in the future. Enjoy the spring and summer months ahead. Mark( Crumb Bun)
Next up, Bernie Flynn. Sorry about not reaching out, it’ s been a whirlwind five months with my health taking a hit for the first time ever. I’ m starting to get ready to retire next year, getting all the old parts that are broken replaced so the next round I should be as good as new. Knee replacement went well, still doing rehabilitation and hope to be ready for golf season in late April. Recently notified Sherwin Williams Paint Co. that 43 years should be enough. Gave them my date— June 2, 2018, at 9:05 a. m. Breakfast on them and walking home, not going to clean out my desk. No need to take anything to remember other than my 401k. We now have 13 grandchildren and looking forward to doing all the things grandparents do, and enjoying that second cup of coffee. Last, but not least, a trip to Lake Tahoe in September to start off my 65th birthday party year. Hope all is well, talk to you soon.
Bernie, have to say you’ re the first person I know who has his retirement date down to the minute. Brian Stewart dropped me this letter.
For those of us who attended the“ fall rendezvous” at Hag’ s … was that fun or what? I can’ t tell you guys how much I enjoy our times together, now more than ever. Thank you so much Carl and Bev for letting us share your little paradise. And how about that urban renewal going on at the cabin( those Willy skills paying off again). I hope you all know that Carl is making improvements so all of us will have a better space to be together next reunion. What a beautiful concept. Anyway, I have booked a long weekend at Hotel Hagstrom on April 29 to hunt turkey once again. Miller ruined our last hunt in the fall by making me laugh so much in the woods that I just didn’ t care. Our time hunting was so bad that I went deer hunting in West Virginia with him and his posse for about 10 days( more on that later). This spring I’ m planning on taking Big Jack Leary afield with me for a chance at a spring gobbler. It will be Jack’ s first time hunting turkey, and I know it will be a fun experience. Anytime we’ re not hunting will be spent working on“ Fort Willy.” Anyone want to join me for a work weekend at Hag’ s to help move it along? My hunt with Miller in West Virginia was non-stop hilarity. Clair’ s friends are just like the rest of us, gotta love those upstate boys. Amid all the card playing, whiskey drinking, laughing, and lie swapping, I did manage to connect on a fine 7-point buck on the last day in the last hour in 8 inches of fresh snow. And Clair and his friend Nully dragged it out of the woods for me. It couldn’ t have been better. Anyway, I can’ t wait to see my old friend Crumb Bun at the next reunion. Way to go Mark. So glad to hear the good news. I’ ve got more to say, but space is short. If you want to hear the rest, come to Hag’ s on April 29. President Stewart.
Don Dzedzy dropped me this email. Rick, Hope all is well. I retired in March of 2016. Meg and I have been traveling most recently to Punta Cana, enjoying our three granddaughters, and I have been playing golf two to three times a week. I am looking forward to the weather getting a little warmer for fishing. I highly
recommend retirement. Anyone in the area of Bethany Beach let us know ddzedzy @ aol. com. There is always a cold beer in the frig.
And finally, saving the best for last, an update from the man who lives in paradise, Vince Mina, fellow Deckie.
Aloha, Rick, So good to see your workshop and retirement serving you well. I’ m sure Leary, Bartow, and Brownie and all of the carpenter shop would be impressed by your carpentry skills developing as they are doing. You would love some of the native Koa wood we have here. Keep posting pictures of your work on Facebook. How is it that you actually stayed on at a job that long that you could retire? Retirement for me will probably be when I fall over and don’ t get back up. I am busier then ever and, thankfully, in the best health I’ ve ever been. It feels somewhat like I’ m living my life in reverse. I’ m farming with my wife Irene and son Kekai along with three of my wife’ s sisters. We are the“ largest” small farm in Hawaii producing 500 pounds of microgreens a week in a plant based compost we’ ve cultured and recycled back onto the farm over the past 23 years. All of this happening on just 2000 sq. feet of a 7000 sq. foot lot we live on. I’ m still the president of the state chapter of the“ National Farmers Union” in support of family farmers making a living at what they love to do. We have over a thousand members state wide making up 11 chapters in the seven years weve been in existance. Don’ t know if you know that in Hawaii we import 90 percent of our food. With folks seeing us around the planet as a paradise on earth, this then becomes an oxymoron. Yet with that said, there is a ground swell of young passionate farmers( like I was 23 years ago) growing wonderful locally produced food. Being in the position I’ m in, I have access to a wonderful diversity of local organic food. As an organization, we are poised at becoming chartered with the National Farmers Union this coming October at our annual state convention. This will be the first time a state organization has been chartered in over 15 years. Most of you know I made Hawaii my home and married a local girl and had two children. My daughter designs and fabricates swimwear and active wear. She is on instagram as HanuHawaii and you should see some of her models that wear her designs …“ somebody stop me,” ah to be young again. Living here has been the best choice I could have made. It feels like I have done most of my growing up here since moving here in 1978. I’ m on Facebook and also on Instagram as MauiMina for any classmates that utilize social media to stay connected. Scrounge, hope to see you out here now that you’ re retired and all the best to you and your ohana and to all my fellow classmates. It was a blast making it to the reunion at Hags so many years ago, hope to be able to do that again! Be well, Bro! Aloha, Vincent
Scrounge 7W4
stephen M. Krupa 505 Thomas Road downingtown, Pa. 19335 dadoson @ verizon. net 610-269-6480
Hello Classmates,
Our 2016 class get-together at the Riddle Ale House in Media last October had a fair turnout. Attendance was as follows: Steve and Debbie Krupa, Mike and Helena Natale, Chip Natrin, John Rex, Phil and Cara Staurowsky, and Glenn Tomlinson. As usual we had a good time seeing each other again, however, the band was a bit too loud to communicate well during their sessions. Therefore, we are going to change the venue this year. This year’ s 7W5 class get-together will be 6:00 p. m. at the Casa Maria, 1175 W. Baltimore Pike, Media, PA 19063( Phone- 610-891-9090 / website- http:// www. casamiamedia. com) on the same date as the school’ s Homecoming. The school has not yet announced the date of the Homecoming, but once it does be sure to put a note on your calendar for our get-together. I’ m told the eats

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are good and reasonably priced. This is a nosmoking establishment. Generally, the last of us to leave is around 11:00 p. m. Hope we will see you there.
We now have eight short years till the 7W5 Class 50th Anniversary. We still have only 5 percent of our fund’ s goal. Contributions have been almost nil. This is not good. It is sad to think that the contributions of our class may not provide enough for even one student scholarship, while an outside organization( IE: Give Something Back Foundation) has contributed enough to provide for 40 Williamson scholarships( see article in the Winter 2017 Williamsonian). To find out how to make your contribution to the fund contact Glenn Tomlinson at the school( 610-566-1776) or( gtomlinson @ williamson. edu), John Rex( John7W5 @ aol. com), or Steve Krupa( dadoson @ verizon. net).
Harry how’ s the left knee replacement working out for you? Drop me a line or two.
Jay, Debbie and I are still waiting on you to take us for a ride in your mean machine.
Eike, Jim, Chip, and Al please send me an email or call so I can get your phone numbers and email addresses.
Mike Natale and I spoke recently. Mike is still swinging a hammer, but he and Helena have been preparing for retirement in earnest. The retirement home they had built near Cape May, N. J., was completed in January. Mike is now busy taking care of the finishing details and Helena has been working on outfitting it with furniture. Debbie and I will buss you two when we get down to Cape May during our vacation in Ocean City, N. J.
Hay, is anybody out there? What do you say? How about you pick up the phone and call me. Tell me how you are doing. I’ d like to put a few words in here about you and the other guys would love to hear about you, too.
That’ s it for now. Later Krup( A-42) Jenks

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Gordon Douglas merry Heart Ministries 86 Governor Markham Drive Glen Mills, PA 19342 610-883-2972 gordoncomedy @ comcast. net www. GordonDouglasIsFunny. com
Hey Fellow Tool Timers!
Garey Stathes responded to the challenge on LinkedIn and dropped me a note. A little trivia … What sport did Garey play? Yes, this former star from Upper Darby joined the football team his senior year.“ WHY?,” I asked,“ When so many drop sports the junior and senior year did you go out for the first time?” His answer,“ I only played football in my senior year because when I started school in 1973 I was about 5’-8” and 225 lbs. You know, that husky type, and not very athletic. The fine cuisine at Williamson, encouraged me to cut back on the intake and I started to work out with my machine shop classmates Rick Panzer, Denny Mulholland, and a few others. When I entered my senior year, I was 6’-2” and 180 lbs. and more athletically inclined. I have three brothers that played sports, too, which helped out.
Oh, and I started to shave more regularly, like once per week( stopped being able to wash off the whiskers in my senior year). You probably don’ t remember when Mr. Harris sent me back to the dorm from line-up to shave. I was so proud! The machine shop applauded too. Very touching moment for me.” Thanks, Garey. I love to hear stories like that, and I am sure others in our class do as well … so come on guys, please, send me some!! Who changed the most in our class during those three years?” Did Glen Gunther shrink, did someone stink?
Since playing formal sports was not part of my Willie world experience, I would love for some folks to drop me some memories of foot-