alumni news 1950s Thaddeus Rychlik ’58 and his wife Vicky have move to Discovery Village Retirement Community in Fort Myers, FL where they are enjoying the good life with year round golf and new friends. Anthony Rudnicki ’59 and wife Lynn celebrated their 50th Anniversary in January 2020 with a 38 day cruise in the South Pacific and New Zealand. They now are great grandparents. Tony also completed a two hour movie screenplay “Touching” that can be found online at his website touchingscreenplay.com.
1960s Roger Marks ’62 moved to Castine, ME with his wife Peggy, and they recently became first time grandparents with the birth of granddaughter Julianna Rose. John Compisi ‘66 and his wife Linda (Immaculata ’66) recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Their daughter Aimie, along with her husband, Jim and sons, Jimmy and Jake, prepared an intimate but elegant backyard dinner in San Jose, California in early August. Due to the COVID restrictions, the party included four friends of John and Linda, and John’s brother Pete and his wife Rhonda, who drove cross-country from Indiana to participate. Aimie prepared amazing food, served by the boys, and the wine, as you might guess, flowed freely. The evening was complete with a cake topped by John and Linda’s 50 year-old wedding cake topper.
1970s The Class of 1970 has been meeting regularly via Zoom as their 50th Reunion was put on hold due to the ongoing pandemic. This photo of a March 3, 2021 gathering shows, from top row and left to right, Norb Pienta, Tom Kloc, Bill McCarthy, Tom Compisi, Tim Krakowiak, John Bava, Chuck Rinaldi, Brian Parks, Robert “Mr. T” Torgalski, coach and physical education teacher in 1970, Joe Twist, Mike Kruse, Chuck Goergen, and Mark Heckman. Others who have joined in prior calls include
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Larry Carter and Dan Steinmetz. If you are a class of ‘70 member and want to join future Zoom calls, email Norb Pienta at npienta6@ gmail.com. Norb Pienta ’70 is retired in Athens, GA and is a talented artist as exemplified below in his recreation of a once a year blooming flower in stained glass.
Jim Dommer ’71 is retiring after 45 years as CPA at the end of tax season, Jim adds, “I know they extended the tax season but that was after I made my decision, so he who decides first wins.” Larry Palaszynski ’72, under the artist name “Larry Pal”, has been recognized by the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International listed him as “One to Watch” for songwriting. NSAI song evaluators have identified Larry as a rising songwriter. The Class of 1972 is planning on their 50th Reunion for 2022. Please contact Allan Kasprzak at (716) 655-6575 or Dennis Ruda at (716) 544-4454 or dennisruda@gmail.com to get involved and informed. There is a Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/ groups/729820697567552 Gerry Fortain ’73 reports he is happily retired as of this year. Jim Gould ‘76 is fast approaching retirement after a career as a college professor, a freelance journalist, and a senior executive in the energy industry. He is currently the Director of Corporate Affairs at Franklin Energy, a small national clean energy firm focused on energy productivity and grid optimization. He lives with his wife, Judy, near Boston, where they (barely) manage the comings and goings of their five teenagers. Ed Pryzbysz ’79 has retired after 40 years in the chemical industry. He reports that he has relieved his mind of all worries caused by physical possessions that he can’t carry on his back, and plans to spend the rest of my life traveling the world looking for the next great adventure. He is currently in Thailand, and will be going wherever the winds take him.
1980s Charlie Makey ’86 has been named President of Merchants Insurance Group in Buffalo, effective April 1, 2021. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Senior Vice President of Insurance Operations. He will be the 10th President in the company’s 103year history and join the company’s Board of Directors.
