Class Notes your picture successfully. At the next reunion (if I live that long) I certify I will make every effort to get into the correct picture only. If you want to post guards, however, I would not blame you, since I will be more senile then than I am now.” I suspect, John, that ’79 might insist that you join us for our picture next time around! Annual physical! It’s the “in” thing to do! Stay well, brother rats, –M
1980
John Gibney Jr.
Hello, Brother Rats, These notes cover the period May 16, 2019, through Aug. 15, 2019, and contain the sad news of the passing of V. Dunn June 4. On a lighter note, as reported in the last set of notes, our 40th Reunion dates have been announced – April 24-26, 2020. Pat Griffin has again been volunteered to run the show – thank you, Pat! The period began with an email message from Walt Wood. Walt and Mary Lynne were in Virginia for the funeral of Walt’s mother, and they made a small circuit around Virginia visiting with our BRs. Upon his return to Peru, Walt sent a second message containing story No. 17, the latest in his chronicles – not really. In a third message, Walt expanded on his U.S. trip, including a visit to Roanoke and dinner with Craig and Leslie Cox, Ed Elliott, Tim and Vicki Hodges, Jay and Trudy Melvin, and Rob and Elizabeth Quarles. Walt and Mary Lynne then traveled to Lexington, where they stayed with Scott Sayre and had lunch with John Alerding, visited with Dan and Cindy Sweeney in Lynchburg and saw Rick Fowler and Josh Priest in Williamsburg. Mark McLean sent a text message with a photo taken at the wedding of Chal and Robin Glenn’s son, Josh, that included Rick Gilbert and Doug Conyers. A similar photo appeared in the last set of notes. Wayland Patterson included me on his email announcing the quarterly gathering that he organizes in the Panama City, Florida, area for alumni of VMI, The Citadel, Texas A&M and Norwich. May ended with an email from Ivan Pupulidy
2019-Issue 4
Class of 1980: Rick Fowler, Josh Priest and Walt Wood in Williamsburg, Virginia, in May 2019.
Class of 1980: Jeff Washington and Bill Bigdely retired from Dominion Energy in June 2019.
Class of 1980: Bob and Traci White celebrating Bob’s birthday in Norfolk, Virginia, in August 2019.
that included a photo of his new home in Santa Fe. Ivan retired from both the U.S. Air Force Reserve and the U.S. Forest Service. He is now working as a professor for an online master’s degree program through the University of Alabama. June began with the email from Jay McConnell about V’s passing. We then spoke and a blast email message and a postcard were separately sent to our BRs. Thank you to Jay McConnell who was close to V and who followed up with details about funeral arrangements. Our BRs who forwarded condolences were: Phil Altizer, Steve Andrews, Ken Baybutt, Joe Belkoski, John Blankenship, Don Bradshaw, Dan Conn, Kevin Davis, Sean Gallagher, Dave Hagemann, Frank Hilton, Larry Hupertz, Ray Joinson, Tom Kelly, Kent Lovejoy, Andy Ludlum, Mike Luning, Ali Mahan, Tolar Nolley, Bob Osler, Josh Priest, Bert Schneider, Dan Sweeney, Dixon Tucker, Preston Vock, Bill Wallace, Bob White, Tracy Wilson and Walt Wood. A funeral service was held June 21. Our BRs who attended were Ken Baybutt, Tom Bersson, Paul Burkholder, Mickey Cole, George Condyles, Dan Conn, Dennis Hackemeyer, Steve Ikenberry, Ray Johnson, Dennis Loba, Jay McConnell, Josh Priest, Rob Robinson, Dixon Tucker and Tony Zoetis. Thanks to Paul, Dan and Rob for forwarding a photo and providing the list of names. Paul also wrote that while attending V’s funeral was sad, it was also uplifting because of our class presence. Dan Conn wrote that he had supper with Jeff Bassilota when Jeff was in Maryland for a conference. Dan has relocated from Woodbridge, Virginia, to a new house in Smith Mountain Lake but will maintain an apartment in Alexandria for another year until retirement. Andy Ludlum included in his email message that he and Nicki visited with Rob and Ginger Gearhart in Fredericksburg on their way to a vacation on the Outer Banks. Jeff Washington sent an email with a photo taken at the celebration held in honor of those retiring from Dominion Energy. Juice retired after 38 years of service. Farhad Bigdely also retired from Dominion. Tracy Wilson sent an email with an attached photo taken after a dinner that he arranged in Alexandria, Virginia. Attendees were: Joe Belkoski, Marty Bernet, Dan Conn, Tom Kelly, Mike Knapp and John Lillard. Jack Keane commented on the photo as he was unable to attend. Jack also
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