Conestoga High School Class of 1971 50th Reunion

Don Andree

Marital status: Married Children: 3

Occupation:
Retired/Consultant/University teacher at Virginia Tech

Who are you most hoping to see at the reunion?: everyone

What are some of your most memorable experiences while attending Conestoga?: Cross country; Senior year

Are you interested in any of the weekend activities (in addition to the Sunday night gathering at the Desmond)? If so, which ones?:
yes - Possibly the football game; School tour; bike ride for all that are interested.

Spouse/partner name: Wendy Andree

Brief Bio (feel free to provide info on family, education, career, travel, etc.):
Westminster College; 3 children and now 6 grandchildren, career in banking; now living in the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley

What do you feel is most important to you at this point in your life?: My family

Any other comments or observations:
I believe we had a pretty unique high school class and hope that as many people that can attend will do so. It will be a great event.

Jan Birsch

Marital status: Single Children: 0

Occupation: Retired from Insurance/Employee Benefits

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: Yes

Allan Bombard

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Marital status: Married Children: 1

Occupation: Physician

Comment: Retired military, among other things!

Who are you most hoping to see at the reunion?: Bob Barnes, Dick Stevens, Victor McKown

What are some of your most memorable experiences while attending Conestoga?: Friday night lights and the faculty musicals.

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: Absolutely

Are you interested in any of the weekend activities (in addition to the Sunday night gathering at the Desmond)? If so, which ones?: Valley Forge tour

Spouse/partner name: Paula Vance

What do you feel is most important to you at this point in your life?: Friends and family

Any other comments or observations:
Bicoastal, winters in San Diego and summers on Lake Champlain

Rita Borzillo

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Children: 2

Occupation: Attorney & college professor

Comment:
The "Then" photo is from our Senior Prom - with Candy McCoy and Andy Hobbs!

Who are you most hoping to see at the reunion?:
I would really like to see as many of the Class of 1971 as possible!

I am excited about talking to as many of our classmates as possible.

What are some of your most memorable experiences while attending Conestoga?:
Chorus, Plays & Musicals especially "The Taming of the Shrew" as well as clubs like The Organization & AFS

Working on the homecoming floats at Mary Louise Gleason's house. How many tissue paper flowers did we make??? So sad that Conestoga no longer celebrates Homecoming as we did!

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: YES!!

Are you interested in any of the weekend activities (in addition to the Sunday night gathering at the Desmond)? If so, which ones?:
Friday night football game!!! and partying at the BT afterward!

Even though I live in the area, I am interested in the Valley Forge tour on Sunday and I am excited about the Saturday tour of the new buildings at Conestoga.

Spouse/partner name: Richard Spargo

Brief Bio (feel free to provide info on family, education, career, travel, etc.):
Varied jobs and activities, but interestingly enough, Candy McCoy and I have remained best friends and followed similar career paths. We are both attorneys and we both continue to be active in community service!
Remember our club, "The Organization?"

What do you feel is most important to you at this point in your life?: Enjoying life----family and friends!

Any other comments or observations:
An interesting fact: my two children attended the same three schools I did - Devon Elem, TEMS & Conestoga.

As a member of the Reunion Committee, it has been lots of fun reconnecting with classmates as we plan the weekend. I want to urge, anyone who is interested in helping with the planning, please reach out - we can always use more help!

And, I will continue to generate interest with "mini-reunions" in the area in the hopes that it will generate interest in attending our Reunion in October.

Jerry Daub

Marital status: Married Children: 2

Occupation: Geological Consultant

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: Yes

Are you interested in any of the weekend activities (in addition to the Sunday night gathering at the Desmond)? If so, which ones?:
Possibly the bike ride at Valley Forge.

Saturday evening gathering.

Spouse/partner name: Joanna Daub

Brief Bio (feel free to provide info on family, education, career, travel, etc.):
B.S. Geology Colorado State University 1975
M.S. Geology University of Rhode Island 1979
Owner of Daub & Associates, Inc.
Providing professional geologic, hydrologic, permitting, environmental and geotechnical services.

What do you feel is most important to you at this point in your life?: Family

Debbie Davis (Hunt)

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Marital status: Married Children: 1

Occupation: Tapestry artist; retired textile restorer

Who are you most hoping to see at the reunion?:
If I could attend, I’d most hope to see my beautiful friend, Cass! Also it would be fun to catch up with all of the neighborhood kids I knew since elementary school.

What are some of your most memorable experiences while attending Conestoga?:
Theater (what a wonderful escape), Mrs. Toth, Dr. Hayes, skipping PE

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: Doubtful

Spouse/partner name: Steve

Brief Bio (feel free to provide info on family, education, career, travel, etc.):
School: Dickinson College and George Washington Univ. I started weaving as a hobby in 1973, studied textile conservation, eventually worked as a restorer of historic textiles of the American Southwest for 25+ years. Now I design and weave tapestries. Steve and I have been married for 43 years, living mostly in Boulder CO and vicinity. Lots of hiking and traveling; we built 3 homes (one a scraper in Sarasota). Our daughter, Alison (28) lives in Manhattan with her husband, Nate. These two Colorado kids got married on the Brooklyn bridge this summer. We miss them constantly. We want to “downsize” but haven’t figured out where we’d rather be!

What do you feel is most important to you at this point in your life?:
Family, friends, exploring places, ideas, creativity.

Any other comments or observations:
I wish everyone in our class of 1971 good times and good health, and I hope the reunion will create new happy memories.

Michael Decker

Marital status: Married Children: 1

Occupation: Retired

What are some of your most memorable experiences while attending Conestoga?:
Playing drums in local bands and playing at least 4 times on the Conestoga auditorium stage.
I was in Oz's Band during 11th grade and 12th grade.

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: No

What do you feel is most important to you at this point in your life?: Staying healthy and enjoying life.

Dede Deegan (Dominguez)

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Marital status: Married

Occupation: Retired teacher

What are some of your most memorable experiences while attending Conestoga?: So many. Wonderful friends

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: Unfortunately I won’t be there

Spouse/partner name: John

Brief Bio (feel free to provide info on family, education, career, travel, etc.):
I went to Australia to teach in 1976 and it has been my home since then. I married John and we spent 20 years sailing and working around the world. We moved to Tasmania in 2002.

What do you feel is most important to you at this point in your life?:
Family. Climate change and hoping to give the next generations a chance.

Any other comments or observations:
Anyone coming to Australia please feel free to contact me.

Jim DeWolf

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Marital status: Married Children: 2

Occupation: Retired Publisher

Who are you most hoping to see at the reunion?:
As many people as possible, especially those who were unable to attend the 40th or previous reunions.

What are some of your most memorable experiences while attending Conestoga?:
The friends I made there and those I met years earlier and continued our adventures in high school. I was deeply honored to be elected class president. I'm also looking forward to seeing some classmates I didn't know well back in the day and would like to know better.

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: Absolutely!

Are you interested in any of the weekend activities (in addition to the Sunday night gathering at the Desmond)? If so, which ones?:
Conestoga Tour, VF Park Tour, CHS football game, as many others as possible.

Spouse/partner name: Cheryl Dolan

Brief Bio (feel free to provide info on family, education, career, travel, etc.):
After graduating from CHS I went off to college in RI and later took a "gap year" --three years actually. I worked on sailing yachts in the Virgin Islands and New England and crewed on yacht deliveries between the Caribbean and the US. Along the way, I met a friend who introduced me to the publishing industry and began a forty-year career in science and technology publishing. I met my wife Cheryl on a sailboat and we have been married for 35 years. We have two adult children, Liz (33) and Brendan (30), both of whom now live in Los Angeles. I retired about four years ago and enjoy traveling, boating, outdoor recreation, and hanging out with my kids when possible. Life has been good and I feel very fortunate to be in good health with a loving family and successful kids.

What do you feel is most important to you at this point in your life?:
Continuing to learn and gain new experiences through reading, travel, or meeting new people. Maintaining my health and a positive attitude are also priorities for me.

Any other comments or observations:
I really appreciate the quality of resources and teaching that CHS offered. I took these things for granted at the time but learned as a parent that not all schools or teachers are of this caliber.

Pam DiMartini (Adams)

Marital status: Married Children: 3

Occupation: My boys Mom

What are some of your most memorable experiences while attending Conestoga?:
Football games! And I'm still at them every Friday!!

Patrick Drnec

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Marital status: Married Children: 0

Occupation: retired

Who are you most hoping to see at the reunion?:
If I were there I'd love to see Margaret Orr, Bob Krug, Ned Wilmarth, Steve Witmer, Michael Millar, David Ward, Jess St Clair, some others whose names I have sadly forgotten.

What are some of your most memorable experiences while attending Conestoga?:
Snorting chocolate mescaline off a lab manual with Dave Morton in chemistry class.

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: No

Spouse/partner name: Da

Brief Bio (feel free to provide info on family, education, career, travel, etc.):
After HS one disaster year at Villanova, then joined the USAF one step ahead of the draft. The military turned my nascent substance abuse into full blown alcoholism, which I pursued with single minded focus. After I got out I moved to LA in search of a party, found many. Worked as an electrician and went to school at Cal Poly Pomona off and on. Worked in the nuclear industry for a few years installing atmospheric analysis systems for containment vessels until I crashed and burned in 1981. Did 6 weeks in-patient rehab and went back to school to finish an Engineering degree. Got married and divorced, started several businesses until I hit on a winner in 1998. Started Energized Distribution LLC and brought Red Bull energy drink to LA. Made bags of money, bought a MiG-21, raced Ducatis, traveled the world for 13 years until they pulled the plug and took over their own distribution. Lost everything, spent some time ordained as a Buddhist monk in northern Thailand. Finally sold off what remained and moved to Chiang Mai where I met and married an amazing Myamar refugee who makes every day a joy.
There was some other stuff going on here and there but that's the gist.

What do you feel is most important to you at this point in your life?: Breathing

Any other comments or observations:
I pretty much hated high school, and it pretty much seemed to hate me.

Cathy Ebling (Brown)

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Marital status: Married Children: 1

Occupation: Retired

Who are you most hoping to see at the reunion?: All!

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: Wouldn't miss it!

Are you interested in any of the weekend activities (in addition to the Sunday night gathering at the Desmond)? If so, which ones?:
Friday Night under the Lights (and postgame wrap-up at the BT), CHS Tour, VF Tour, etc.!

Spouse/partner name: Hilly

What do you feel is most important to you at this point in your life?: My family - and other connections!

Debra Edwards (Everett)

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Marital status: Married Children: 4

Occupation: Retired

Who are you most hoping to see at the reunion?:
I’m hoping to reconnect with as many people as possible! Our 40th reunion was wonderful and I’m sure this one will be too!

What are some of your most memorable experiences while attending Conestoga?:
The many trips I took with the marching band, Cherry Blossom Festival in DC, Indy 500 parade etc. Singing in the choir under Mr V.

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: Yes, absolutely!

Are you interested in any of the weekend activities (in addition to the Sunday night gathering at the Desmond)? If so, which ones?:
My husband and I will be there the entire weekend taking in the football game on Friday night, tour of Valley Forge park and the tour of CHS.

Spouse/partner name: Johnnie Edwards

Brief Bio (feel free to provide info on family, education, career, travel, etc.):
After graduating from Conestoga I attended Syracuse University for two years before transferring to Miami University in Ohio where I received my degree in music education. I only taught a few years, then discovered I was more suited to a career in sales a marketing, retiring last year. I am married to my second husband, Johnnie, and between us we have 4 children ( my son and daughter and his 2 daughters) and 11 grandchildren!! We live in Columbus, Ohio and enjoy attending concerts, reading, traveling and hanging out with my grands who live nearby. Life is good!

What do you feel is most important to you at this point in your life?:
Living and sharing my faith and loving my amazing family!

Any other comments or observations:
As a student at Conestoga I had no idea how unusual our music department was until I got out into the world. Dr Kiehner and Mr V. were top notch!

Karen Fad (Kinderman)

Marital status: Married Children: 2

Occupation: retired

Who are you most hoping to see at the reunion?: Everyone!!!

What are some of your most memorable experiences while attending Conestoga?:
Great teachers and staff!! Fun sporting events. Great dances.

Bob Ford (Ford)

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Marital status: Married Children: 3

Occupation: PGA Golf Professional

Jim Forrester

Marital status: Married Children: 2

Occupation: Retired Manager Norfolk Souther RR

Ed Gillette

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Marital status: Married Children: 3

Occupation: Retired

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: Likely

Spouse/partner name: Joyce

Brief Bio (feel free to provide info on family, education, career, travel, etc.):
- Graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Chem. Eng.
- 25 years in Product Development at Procter & Gamble
- 11 years on staff at Trinity UMC, Lansing, MI
- 3 kids, 5 grandkids.
- Hobbies: bicycling, brewing, traveling

What do you feel is most important to you at this point in your life?: Relationships with family and friends.

Robert Haas

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Marital status: Married Children: 3

Occupation: Cardiology

What are some of your most memorable experiences while attending Conestoga?: They all occurred off campus!

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: No

Spouse/partner name: Lisa

Brief Bio (feel free to provide info on family, education, career, travel, etc.):
Greetings all. I’ve lived and worked now for 31 years in Tulsa, OK. I am an interventional cardiologist and for the last few years, I have been primarily an administrator as medical director for both our cardiovascular service line and for the employed specialists in our medical group. I’m anticipating retirement at the end of this year. I’m married to my best friend, an amazing woman with whom I’ve shared many adventures. We have raised three wonderful kids, all of whom are now married and in their thirties, no grandkids yet. One lives in Tulsa, one in the DC area and the youngest lives in LA. They have each forged their own unique paths, respectively a multi media marketing entrepreneur, a PhD environmental chemist who now does science journalism for National Geographic and a professional musician. I hope you all have a great time at the reunion and I send you all well wishes.

What do you feel is most important to you at this point in your life?:
Family and friends, making a difference and continuing with adventures great and small.

Bill Haefeli

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Marital status: Single Children: 0

Occupation: Cartoonist

What are some of your most memorable experiences while attending Conestoga?: The raft trip.

KATHRYN HODGKISS

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Marital status: Single again Children: 0

Occupation: Retired

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: Maybe

Gillespie Janet (Gillespie )

Occupation: Retired

Cathy Kemerer (Campbell)

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Marital status: Married Children: 2

Occupation: Retired Systems Analyst

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: Yes

Are you interested in any of the weekend activities (in addition to the Sunday night gathering at the Desmond)? If so, which ones?: All!

Spouse/partner name: Bruce

Brief Bio (feel free to provide info on family, education, career, travel, etc.):
I have two children and seven grandchildren. We all live close to each other in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. I now spend the winter months in Stuart, Florida which is wonderful. I have only traveled out of the country twice but I have seen most of the USA from the back of my husband’s motorcycle. Those days are done now. I still enjoy tennis, yard work, reading and walking.

What do you feel is most important to you at this point in your life?:
Living my faith, loving my family, doing my best to stay healthy and enjoy life.

Michael Kieschnick

Marital status: Married Children: 2

Occupation: Climate activist

Who are you most hoping to see at the reunion?:
Liz Lunbeck, Sarah Lutman (and, of course, the reunion committee members)

What are some of your most memorable experiences while attending Conestoga?:
Westchester football game senior year, spring prom at the mall and the Jersey shore, AP biology.

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?:
yes, though it depends in part of the state of the pandemic

Are you interested in any of the weekend activities (in addition to the Sunday night gathering at the Desmond)? If so, which ones?: tour of Conestoga, bicycle ride

Spouse/partner name: Frannie (Frances Hall Kieschnick)

Brief Bio (feel free to provide info on family, education, career, travel, etc.):
went to college in California, and have largely stayed except for graduate school. Have started or co-founded several companies, usually with a positive social purpose, have enjoyed backpacking, tennis and river rafting for decades. Seven years ago, switched my full time work to election work and continue to do so. For most of the last thirty years, have enjoyed teaching part time at Stanford or UC Berkeley, and keeping in touch with my students as they progress through life.

What do you feel is most important to you at this point in your life?:
saving democracy, preventing climate disaster, spending time with my children and grandchildren,

Amy Lambert (Young)

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Marital status: Married Children: 0

Occupation:
retired SVP Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; now executive coach

Malcolm Leader

Marital status: Married Children: 0

Occupation: Mechanical Engineer

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: Yes

Spouse/partner name: Shelley

Michael Maida

Marital status: Married Children: 0

Occupation: Retired

Jeff Mayer

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Marital status: Married Children: 2

Occupation: Architect

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: Yes

Are you interested in any of the weekend activities (in addition to the Sunday night gathering at the Desmond)? If so, which ones?: Friday night Berwyn Tavern

Spouse/partner name: Judith

Jeff Mayer

Marital status: Married Children: 2

Occupation: Architect

Wendy McAdoo (McAdoo)

Marital status: Married Children: 1

Occupation: Retired

Candace McCoy (McCoy)

Marital status: Divorced Children: 5

Occupation: Attorney

Bill McDowell

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Marital status: Married Children: 2

Occupation: Scientist

Trish McNicholas (Keating )

Marital status: Married Children: 2

Occupation: Retired RN, owner printing shop

Cass Migel (McConnell)

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Marital status: Married Children: 3

Occupation: Full time grandma

Are you planning to attend the reunion in October?: Unsure - Debbie Hunt are you coming?

Are you interested in any of the weekend activities (in addition to the Sunday night gathering at the Desmond)? If so, which ones?:
Friday evening at the BT and the tour of Valley Forge. Always something new to learn there.

Spouse/partner name: Kit Migel

Brief Bio (feel free to provide info on family, education, career, travel, etc.):
After graduating from UVM (after a 2 year stint at Wheaton) I married another UVMer and moved to CT for 2 years, Toronto for 2 than back to Berwyn PA for 5. After moving back to CT where we spent 30 years we retired to Maine where I had always spent my summers. I have been fortunate to have worked as a volunteer at various wonderful organizations - and still do. We have raised 3 fabulous children and are now enjoying our 6 grandchildren. We live on the coast and enjoy hiking, gardening and sailing.

What do you feel is most important to you at this point in your life?: Family and close friends.

Michael Millar

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Marital status: Married Children: 2

Occupation: Musician & University Educator

Marti Miller (Brown)

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Marital status: Married Children: 3

Occupation: RN

Who are you most hoping to see at the reunion?:
Everybody! Sharon Petonke Sember, Phyllis Dreyer Mondak, the reunion committee!!!

What are some of your most memorable experiences while attending Conestoga?: Swim Team, Prom

Peggy Moffitt (Lynahan )

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Marital status: Married Children: 2

Occupation: Retired elementary school teacher

Walter Moore

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Marital status: Married Children: 1

Occupation: Owner, President & CEO APPI Energy

Spouse/partner name: Karen

Brief Bio (feel free to provide info on family, education, career, travel, etc.):
Penn State - Accounting
Loyola University Maryland - MBA

I have a daughter who is a State's Attorney in Virginia and two grandchildren a girl 3 and a boy 4 months. In addition to my day job, for the past 35 years, I have been an instructor for a firm that trains our nation's elite special operations teams, including Tier 1 and conventional SEAL Teams, State Dept, CIA, and police S.W.A.T Teams. We train operators in tactical shooting and self-defense skills.

Don Morrison

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Marital status: Married Children: 0

Occupation: Owner - Chester County Running Store

John Nichols

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Marital status: Divorced Children: 2

Occupation: Construction Company President

What are some of your most memorable experiences while attending Conestoga?: **