Retirement Thoughts

Retired classmate Gordon Dickie's T-shirt gives you a clue to his choice of retirement activity.  Continue reading to learn about how other GHS Classmates feel about retirement.

Most GHS Classof 1960 classmates expect to retire eventually, and some even plan for it, establishing a personal timeline and following a series of steps toward "countdown" - like selling the big house, buying winter property, or moving into a retirement community.  Many retire locally and find new activities and interests.  Others move to an entirely different location to mark the transition to a new stage of life.  Here are some retirement thoughts submitted by people you may remember well.

"I am now enjoying and fully appreciating the freedom that retirement affords me and love traveling with Wayne, be it on a cruise ship, hiking a trail, biking through the countryside, visiting the kids, or going back to Gardner to see my Mom and sister. I spend a great deal of time in my flower gardens. I have learned that daily exercise and good eating habits are a necessity at this stage of life.  For me, it is impportant to keep moving - even when it hurts!" - Karen Heywood Greenlaw

"Retirement has opened up time to pursue hobbies, travel, education, volunteerism, and other interests. We have more time for activities with children and grandchildren and share time with friends and neighbors. Ed and I have completed a cross-country road trip to the West coast and back.  Ed grows our own organic vegetables, many of which we eat during the winter months. We are truly enjoying each and every day." - Suzanne Skamarycz Nobrega

"Geoff and I are busy getting our cottage on Prince Edward Island ready for the summer rental season.  We enjoy the warm water and ocean view but have a lot of work to do to get it ready.  We are back and forth during the summer.  Retirement can be fun.  Every day feels like Saturday." - Diana Virta Wood

"My wife and I retired at the end of 2010.  I was worried and wonderng if I was doing the right thing but now there is no looking back! We visited Hawaii and California in the fall and in January left for our winter home in Florida.  We just got back to Gardner.  I'm glad I didn't have to shovel all that snow, but I did have to get back to cut the grass!!!" - Vincent Maillet

"The retirement yeaers are flying by a lot faster than our years of working.  I have no complaints and my wife and I try to enjoy every day.  I used to dream of retiring in Florida, but never thought it would happen! - Donald Roy

"At first I missed working but now I am getting used to retirement.  I moved back to Gardner and love it! I reecently traveled to the Virgin Islands on a trip I won at Foxwoods on a penny machine. Sailed on the Nowegian Epic, a beautiful ship.  Went to Aruba for a week. Spent a week in Destin, Florida with classmates." - Roberta Dines Graves.

"There is much peace, joy, and love in the autumn years of life with a lot more time for reflection.  There is time to do the important things and still learn and experience something new." - Geri Girard Nelson

"I love retirement.  I devote more time to writing and belong to the Wachusett Writers and Poets Group. I have placed many stories in newspapers and magazines.  We enjoy grandchidren, camping, fishing, and taking long walks - anything outdoors! - Jan Morin Ricord

"My husband Stan and I love retirement and often wonder how we got anything done when we worked.  We have added a wrap-around porch on our house and a den that looks out on the lake.  Stan plants a lot of vegetables and some fruits.  We babysit for our great-grandson.  I am doing all the reading I couldn't do when I worked plus I knit and crochet and do some quilting.  - Judy Herr Bonk

"We live in a "55 and over" community in Florida and there is never a dull moment.  We are in walking distance to the clubhouse, gym, and pool. We play cribbage, billiards, pool volleyball, mah jong, and go to they gym once a day. There is sometung to to do all the time if you choose.  When we go back north for the summer, we enjoy visiting with family and friends and spoiling the grandkids.  We still drive back down before the snow starts falling. - Barbara Reed Fuller

Do you have a reflection on retirement that we can add to this blog post?  Please add a comment or send an e-mail so it can be added to this posting.

News from Jane Granquist Niemi

Jane (Granquist) Niemi

Jane (Granquist) Niemi of Addison, ME sends us a picture of herself and her brother Nils, who some classmates from West Gardner, Coleman Street Elementary School, or the Albion Stret neighborhood may remember.

Jane keeps the books for the Old Mill Restaurant on Route 2A in Westminster. She summers along the Maine coast north of Bar Harbor and Jonesport. During the winter months, Jane visits her brother and his wife, who live in Colebrook, NH. Jane enjoys gardening, sewing, reading, and following NASCAR races. She welcomes hearing from former classmates. Please leave a comment or contact us privately to get contact information.

Classmates at Work, Part 2

Bruce Jacobsen of Blacksburg, SC has two careers - operating a swimming pool sales and service business, and working part-time for H&R Block doing taxes from Jan-April.

Marcia (Shepard) Wilk of the Villages, FL works as a licensed clinical social worker/therapist in private practice.

Brian L. Bjurling and his wife Betty operate Bjurling Associates, a business taxes and payroll prepartion firm with offices in Worcester and Leominster. Brian and Betty live in Leominster, MA.

Robert Hunter Coffin Jr. teaches at a high school in Fairfax, VA. He writes, "It is nice to pick up Social Security while still bringing in a monthly paycheck and other retirement income. I'm having fun doing my Herve Bowden routine and providing students with anecdotes and stories about the blood, guts, gore, sex, and stupidity that makes up real history."

Betsy (Carr) Parks is a broker/owner at RE/MAX Proferssionals realestate in Lawton, OK.

Beverly (Morze) Piccone lives in Rockville, MD and is also active in real estate. She shares pictures of some of her exclusive listings with friends on Facebook.

James M. Perry lives in Glenshaw, PA and consults for the Free Education Foundation in Washington and is preparing to teach a Systems Engineering course for the University of Maryland.

Nancy (Cormier) Toolin of Marston Mills, MA organizes and arranges specialty cruises via CruiseOne to exciting destinations.

Carolyn (Cunningham) Larson of Castelton-On-Hudson, NY provides education consultng services to local and state education agencies.

Jane (Granquist) Niemi of Addision ME, keeps the books for the Old Mill Restaurant in Westminster, MA.

Evelyn (Hurme) Fogg runs a convenience store and family business in Rindge, NH.

Maryann (Kropotkin) Packard works at the Montague Public Library and lives in Turners Falls, MA.

Georgette LeBlanc is a senior manager for UBS wealth management, investment banking, and asset management services in New York City, NY.

Nancy (Haynes) Poole conducts Neighborhood Bible Study Groups and lives in Gilford, NH.

Stephen Resnick and his wife Carol own and operate Paper Americana, dealing in printed ephemera, including historical documents, rare manuscripts, pamphlets, posters - particularly World War I posters - antiquarian books, and 19th century trading cards. Stephen lives in Cazenovia, NY.

Patricia (Roberts) Strandberg is an independent tax consultant living in San Antonio, TX.

Timothy Swanson is professor of Physics at Eastern Connecticut State University. He lives in Columbia, CT.

Carole (Tobia) Mumby manages databases for the Chelmsford, MA public schools.

Dorothy (Wolanski) Kaufman is postmaster of the famous King Ranch in Texas and lives in Corpus Christi, TX.

John I. Yablonski is "in control" at Biocontrol, the company he founded in Westfield, NJ.

This is the second in a series of posts about GHS Class of 1960 classmates who are not yet fully retired. If any of this information is inaccurate or outdated, please contact me so I can edit and correct this post. If you know of another classmate and what they are doing, please forward this informatiion so we can share it.

Remembering Eric Chapman

Eric J. Chapman as pictured in the 1960 Argus

Mark Furth is a member of the Viola List Blog and posted a tribute to GHS Classmate Eric Chapman, who died of lung cancer at age 68 on April 7th, 2011, in Lincolnshire, Illinois. He wrote, in part: Before opening a violin shop, Eric was a Teaching Fellow in African-American Studies at the University of Michigan and taught history at St. Paul's School in New Hampshire. Eric grew up in a musical home and by age four fell in love with the sound of the viola. As a youngster he helped to demonstrate violins and violas at the famous Wurlitzer shop in New York. He played viola for 45 years in civic orchestras, founded the Ann Arbor Summer Symphony in 1974, and remained active in chamber music. Eric brought unimpeachable integrity to a trade not always known for high ethical standards. He treated a young student shopping for a starter instrument with the same respect he accorded to a high-budget client looking for one made by an old Italian master. He never stopped learning and teaching. Eric is survived by his wife Adina, daughter Ariel (a very talented young violist) and a son, Raphael. I can't begin to express how much he will be missed. Need contact info to send condolences? Please leave your name using the comment feature or send an email to or call the keeper of the class database.

Classmates at Work, Part 1

Jim Tamulen teaches first year iron-worker apprentices.

Not all GHS Class of 1960 classmates are fully retired...yet. Approximately 35 alumni are still employed or are self-employed, full or part-time. This post is the first in a series of posts on what they do and why they do it.

Jim Tamulen, a retired iron worker, teaches first year apprentices in Structural Steel Erection, Labor History, and Rods. He has conducted classes in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Burlington (VT), and Clinton (ME). "My wife comes along on some of the travel and we make it a nice long weekend," says Jim. "The pay has helped us enjoy life more."

Marjorie (Jandris) Kraskouskas works full time overseeing all aspects of human resources for 1000 + employees at the Hockomock Area YMCA. She writes, "Working for a mission-based organization that models character values is important to me personally. The position continues to be stimulating, challenging, and ever-changing - something I thrive on. Marjorie adds, "The face may be aging, but the brain still works."

Claudine (Marchegiani) Reilly is Wellness Manager at CVS Caremark in Woonsocket, RI, providing health promotion programs to over 220,000 employees country-wide. She also does telephonic health coaching weekends and evenings and plans to contunue that work through her 70's. She regards health coaching as "a fabulous opportunity because I can do it in the comfort of home and set my own hours." Claudine enjoys photography, gardnening, biking, xc skiing, and hiking.

Merilyn (Ruuska) Dunn retired in 2007, spent the next few years "on vacation," and then got restless. She missed her clients who became friends, and started consulting again on a limited basis. She used her market research background to move into health care needs for seniors, teaming up with an associate who publishes monthly newspapers directed at senior issues. She also continues to consult on digital imaging.

Marilyn Michelson recently moved from California to Alaska. She works for the MatSu Business Alliance, an organization that focuses on helping small and medium-sized businrsses. Marilyn writes their weeky newsleters, operating from home and loving it. Her husband, Ron, consults on environmental issues and also works from home.

Harold Fiske retired as professor of Music from the University of Western Ontario in June of 2010 but continued to work part time, teaching an undergraduate course. He is considering doing a graduate course during the 2012 winter term, and still writes book reviews and articles. Harold and his wife, Anne (Fleming) Fiske continue to live in London, Ontario and travel to far offplaces like Dubai, where theuir son and family live.

The Hawaiian Number

Back: Annette (Cormier) Scribner, unknown person, Jackie (Teir) Sanford, Karen (Heywood) Greenlaw.

Front: Jeanne Levine, Kathy Guilfoyle, Beverly (Morze) Piccone, Mary Alice Ahearn

Do you recognize the "unknown" person in this photograph? Beverly (Morze) Piccone says this was part of a short program during half-time at a football game. Karen (Heywood) Greenlaw added that John Yablonski's mother sewed the costumes. Tom Ryan noted that this happened at the Gardner-East Providence game in 1959. He said the Cats were trailing at the half and that Coach Dubzinski gave a rousing half-time speech. Can you provide additional facts, corrections, or details?

At The Prom

In this photo are Carolyn (Cunningham) Larson, Kenneth Briggs ('59), Jean (Anderson) Webb, Russell Hoag, Janyce Charles Gemborys, and Stanley Gemborys. The photo was taken at the Junior-Senior Prom in the Spring of 1959 and appeared in the 1959 Argus.

Do you have a photo from your Gardner high school days that you could share with us for posting on our GHS Web Log? Sports events, parties, birthday celebrations, summer jobs, automobiles - all help make it fun to remember the "good old days." Please leave a comment or send me an e-mail if you have an item to share.