50th High School Reunion - Anonymous Author

We gather here once more
To remember a younger day,
When life was mostly before us
And the future a game to play.
Where activities with friends
Usually consumed most of our time,
And thoughts of a class or test
Occasionally crossed our mind...

There were ball games to play
Or as a spectator to see,
Prom dances and other outings
Where one just had to be.
There were certain groups
With which one must be seen,
And of course those clothes
Which made our fashion scene...

There was whispered gossip
As we walked the school hall,
And plans for dates made
As we responded to the bell's call.
There were classes in English, history,
Math, sciences, and language too,
And even an occasional crisis
Which we had to work through...

High school was a time for friendships
To last us all life long,
And maybe a future spouse to find
To help us sing life's song.
It was a time when adulthood
Was something we wanted now,
Because of all the freedom
We perceived it brought somehow...

Most of us gathered here today
Have children fully grown,
And maybe even grandchildren
To call our very own.
The careers we spent our life at
Are now almost through,
And in truth for most of us
Life provided a bump or two...

It is easy for us to see
How different we look this day,
And how the rigors of life
Have over time had their way.
But as we sit and share
The memories of times long ago,
We find that inside of us
Is still the youth we cherished so...

I bring this poem to a close
With a personal wish or two,
That GOD in all his mercy
Will continue to bless me and you.
And that what ever life
Still has for us in store,
We will ever remember
Those high school days of yore...

Something is Lost, Something is Gained: Jefferson Journal-Vol 12, Num 11, may, 1972, Page 2


Let’s go back in time. It’s your first day at Thomas Jefferson Junior-Senior high school. Something tickles your stomach with nervousness as you walk through the crowded halls. You feel very small.

Room number 136. Where is it? There is no room number 136. You search up and down the stairs. There are so many floors. There must be at least five floors.

It’s noisy and everyone seems to know where he is going. You grip your new red notebook and sharpened pencil tightly.

Finally, you find the room and the bell rings. There are friendly faces, people as frightened as you. You laugh.

A year or two go by, and classes become routine. Lunch hours, study halls, and hall passes are familiar scenes and even split session doesn’t seem to bother you, just getting home at 6:15.

Between the hurry of classes and the three-minute passing periods, dress codes and general confusion, we were learning something, but we weren’t quite sure what.

There were people we met and thought we’d always see again, faces and names that are a part of us, but were forgotten between our classes and grades.

Another year or two slip by.

As we graduated into senior high, we assumed a new role. We were finally allowed to participate in Color Day and the seniors didn’t seem quite so tall.

Only the homework piled up and there wasn’t as much time. Some of us stayed after school to work on plays or clubs. Somehow, we grew apart, then closer together again.

“Whom are you taking to Homecoming?”

“Want to buy a pep tag?”

“I’m running for Junior Class Secretary.”

And we wonder who we are.

As the last class to graduate from six years at Thomas Jefferson high school, it all seems to have passed over-night. What we will leave is perhaps just a shadow of who we were: a lost gym suit, a fee card, the Dean’s list…

..But we will bring with us something more. Something as intangible as the smile of a friendly face or the memory of a good book.

And years from now, the sound of chalk on a board could fill us with the nostalgia of who we were and all we’ve learned.

Our 40th Reunion

I can't believe it, the famous 50th high school reunion is fast approaching! The last reunion I went to was the 10th and for me, in a word, it was awful! The 10th reunion seemed all about left over competition as well as seeing who was still hot, who got fat, who had the better job, who was married and who had kids. AND, the one guy I had hoped I would never see again, found me, and in his best "Newman voice" (from Seinfeld) strolled up to me and said, "Hello, Kay, remember me?"

The 50th reunion is not about comparing anymore, and we shouldn't talk about the past reunions. Rather, it's about meeting adults who now have long, rich lives and hopefully are willing to start fresh, like meeting new people at a cocktail party. It will be time to talk about the present! How we plan to live our lives in old age.

I was waffling about attending and then I asked myself, "would I regret it if I didn't go?" My answer was yes. I've been blessed to reconnect with not only a woman I consider my BFF from HS, and beyond. She reached out to me in an email several months ago and I am so grateful for her renewed gift of friendship. As well, one of the committee members has been particularly helpful and friendly to me. He doesn't know this, well, he will if he reads this. I had a crush on him in HS, thought he was handsome (still is BTW) and I look forward to catching up with him. My husband knows all of this! HAHA! And of course an "old" boyfriend-actually, we dated after high school. He's led a successful life and has a beautiful family, just as I thought he always would.

It's truly a privilege for me to be able to go to my 50th Reunion! If you remember me, be sure to say hello, and if you don't, there's a new friend to be made. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, a lifetime. Be well, be happy and I'll see you in August. Kay

This memory is about friends. I went to Bradley and my best friend was Bill Norden. At the end of 5th grade, we moved closer to TJ, next door to Lynn, Larry, and Scott Cox.  Bill, Larry, and I spent many of split session morning shooting hoops in my driveway.  Bill, Larry, and I wished and hoped, each year, we would get placed in the same classes.  Alas, six years and never had one class with either one of them.  As we got to the high school years we drifted apart.  Bill played football, Larry played basketball, and I played tennis…and we found new best friends along the way.  But I attended every football game to root for Bill and every basketball game to root for Larry.

And I have wonderful memories of racing through summer dinners and cleanup, so we could go out and play Kick-the-Can or Hide and Go Seek, until the streetlights came on and we had to call it a night of fun.  Most everyone on the block played, including my brother, Lynn, Larry, and Scott, and others. Summers of wonderful fun.

Lynn Cox Ehmer passed away today and my heart aches for Larry and Scott.  And my mind recalls all those summer nights of fun.  And the time Lynn got on my brother’s motor bike in our back yard, turned the throttle and ran it into the chain link fence.  I wondered if her hand would ever stop bleeding or be the same again.

Lynn wasn’t in our class, so I couldn’t write this in the memorials, but Lynn was part of my TJ memories and I wanted to remember her tonight.  With tears in my eyes, I can hardly read what I’ve written, but I wanted Larry to know how much Lynn meant to my high school years.

Rest in peace Lynn. All my love to the family.

To those who loved the ears...

Bill Norden, Tom Hein, Phil Boardmam, and Chuck Panella

Debbie Raiter Colussy and Tim Hardy

Marne Butts Kenshalo and Sandy Bither Fitzgerald

Howard & Mary Tulper 2012 Class Reunion

Larry Cox with Debbie Colussy
TJ 1972 Class Reunion at Columbine Country Club

Beth Harris at TJ Picnic 2012

Jean Haley & Vicki Strauch at TJ picnic 2012

Jon Zumwinkel at TJ 2012 picnic

Jim De Leo at 2012 TJ Picnic

Jeannie Wham, with friends at 2012 TJ Picnic

Patty Strawn & Debi Ruppel 2012

Tim Hardy, Linda Law, Steve Maffeo 2012

Rose Roddy & Nancy Coggins 2012

Sharon & Casey Funk

Jim Thompson Class President & Tim Hardy

David Miller & Jeannie Wham

Steve Hicks & his wife

Ron Weil & John Desmond

Jim & Annette Flores Gunnerson

Vicki Strauch

Pat Wright & Larry Cox

Kathy Kittrell & Tim Hardy

Sandy & Deb Carney

Jeannie Ellison, Lisa Farber Miller & unknown

Tim & Carey Reigan

Gail Frederick

Bob Flory

Eddy Sander, Jessie Baumgartner & Annette Flores Gunnerson at TJ 45th Class Reunion held at JL Cheers.

Deb Pracko Koelbel, Karen Unfug Montfort and Dick Montfort

Eddy Sander, Rose Roddy, Deb Pracko

Bob McIntyre and Marne Butts Kenshalo

Thomas Jefferson

Lockers

TJ Library

Science Lab

Steve Hicks

Randy Perry Smith & friends

To those who watched the game every week..

Michael Nearing & his wife

Bette Bauman & Tom Busch

Randy Hatch and the other Randy

Jon Griffith, Rose Roddy, Al Colussy ( Debbie Raiter's husband )

Thomas Jefferson Final Team Standings in City

Win 47 Lost 1


Thomas Jefferson State Standings

TJ 50 points
CC 34
Pueblo Central 26
Kennedy 11
Aurora Hinkley 11
Regis 10

Mary Schnese & Julie Freed

Beverly Lehman, Val & Rick Robertson

Annette Flores, Lisa May & Sandy Rosenberg

Mary Moser & Pat Wright

Bob DeGraw) & Randi Reiff

Mirko Vukovich & Jessie Baumgartner

45th Reunion at JL CHEERS

Howard Tulper

JL CHEERS 45th TJ REUNION

Debbie Raiter Colussy & Dr. Nancy Horner Meissner

Chuck Panella

Is anybody watching the Rockies pre-game? (5/7/2022) Do any of you remember John Stearns, class of 69? Rocked in football, basketball, and baseball. CU star in football. Played for the NY Mets baseball team for ten years. They are honoring him at the Rockies game. TJ is retiring his TJ#12. He is dying of prostate cancer. I remember him. More for basketball, but he was a Senior god walking the halls when we were freshman. My brother was in the class of 69, so I may have paid more attention to those seniors than my peers. Thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

My brother forwarded this link to video of John's baseball jersey being retired.  Enjoy

Jersey Retirement Ceremony

Laura Elrod Elmer and her son.

Tim and Becky Hardy and family

Deb Prako Koebel and kids

Jerry Jones, Sandy Bither Fitzgerald, and Nancy Horner Meissner

Bob Koebel and Patty Blackhall

Rick Robertson and Val

Lisa and I are really sorry that we'll have to miss the reunion. My mother's 90th birthday is August 7 (we are very lucky!) We have family events all weekend that have been planned for a long time. We'll miss seeing everyone!

Dear John,
Elway was to Denver, what Stearns was to TJ Students. I have a funny memory from a Pep Rally. All of the football players had been introduced, and after your name was called; they all stepped back and bowed. You were standing alone, front and center! Am saddened to hear about your illness, but I know you have given much happiness to others. With kind regards, Jan

P.S. If anyone knows how to contact John, could you please tell him about this Memories site.

I attended Pitts elementary and remember snowstorms in which I would be allowed to wear my winter coat, mittens, hat, w dress underneath and then pants and knee high socks w winter boots. Then when I got to school I had to remove my extra clothing and walk into my classroom with my dress/knee highs and shoes I had carried with me for school that day. Nowadays that wouldn't happen to kids in school.
I also remember sneaking by Mr Pippins (who was on the playground) and going next door to the Rexall drug store and getting candy/gum and then sneaking back onto the lunch time play ground and making sure Mr. Pippins didn't see me, otherwise I'd get in trouble.
When I moved onto TJ for junior high I remember getting a 'D' in science for the first six weeks of school. My mother had a fit, told me I had to bring it up to a 'B' or I would continue to be grounded. My excuse to her that I didn't like botany due to it being boring, did not even hold water w her.
I also remember during 10th grade biology, Mr Price taking all of us across the street (south of Happy Canyon) to the 'prairie dog town' that was there.
Another memory is of being in gym w Miss Gater and having to wear those awful fitting/looking gym outfits. Then I could go on and on with stories about Miss Pomeranz, or who we also called Miss Pomergranate. She would have fits in class, and at times stood on top of her teacher's desk and yelled at us. Another teacher I remember was Miss Hyman (biology). I remember she told John Bramley to forget about going into science and chose something else, because he didn't have the apptitude for it. I talked to John right after that incident and he was heartbroken about what she said.
Mr Nelson (in 8th grade) was the one who turned me onto science, in particular human anatomy/physiology when we had a 6 week session on it. I found out that I loved the subject and subsequently went into medicine for my career.

I came home from college each summer to work for YMCA. First 2 quarters at SCSC in Pueblo, then the rest at UNC in Greeley, Early Childhood Ed, dance minor. My boy friend, his brother, friends arrive from Canada. so we got an RV Speedwagon bus with a back porch for the piano to do street shows, singing, guitars, pantomime, juggling, dancing...making happy people; the Wack Achew Ryvu, summer and fall 77.
I worked for U Cal Irvine in after school care. Married Gary Kinney Marine Vietnam Vet of Sorcerers MC, we moved to Tucson to have our son, then 2 more daughters. I got my first teaching job near Yuma, AZ. 5 years later to Kingman, kids graduated HS there. Our youngest daughter has her 30th reunion this year, still living in Kingman with her hubby and 2 grand kids. We divorced, then lost our middle child, I couldn't return to classroom needing to grieve so drove semi. Married my team driver based in Illinois. We lived a Christ centered life over 3 years, Widowed I returned to Mohave Co AZ as a rural teacher, near grand kids. I inherited the family cabin in Black Hawk.. Mom was in a senior living facility. I worked 2 years in Walsenburg as preschool director, then moved into our mountain home, where I could visit mom in Aurora regularly. Surprise! God matched me with a "man in the mountains" as he suggested. We have been married 5 years near this reunion time. We have both been retired since just before our marriage. I did not much care for history beyond my family heritage, until I met Jonas the 3rd. His family history from Morrison began in 1874. We do historical reenactment in Central City and other areas.
Last year we purchased a winter home near Kingman, AZ. My son and family are still in Phoenix area, and just came to visit our Black Hawk home. Hope to visit with many of you to celebrate our HS reunion

Fishin in Ferngully

Scott Carpenter and Harvey Bograd

Ditch Day Details

Plans for a new Ditch Day

I had several memories of high school. First, Gary Kuzara and I getting arrested for painting our school colors at Denver Public School Stadium.We weren't the artists just the paint suppliers.As Joe Friday would say
a Form 910 was filled out on both of us that night.
Second, being thrown out of Mr. Epstein's math class for having a spazz (severe laughing attack).
Third,Driver Ed Class with Mr. Hughes.He would ask me everyday if I was going to provide thrills.
Finally, hanging out and playing numerous sports at Hallcraft and going to the Denver Rocket games with Howie Tulper,Tim McCrary,Gary Kuzara, and Steve Hicks.

At TJ, I really enjoyed the sciences and math, but also took all the art classes I could. I remember our art teacher telling me I was 'too smart' to go into Fine Arts. Well, I got a 50% scholarship to Washington Univ. in St. Louis in Fine Arts! Did metalsmithing as my area of focus, but also took lots of psych, sociology, and my favorite class was Comparative Anatomy and Embryology! After being pulled aside by one of the professors, I was encouraged to consider medical school! Bob (now my husband) got into Iowa's Medical School starting in the summer of '74. We married that May, and moved to Iowa City. After 1 more year as an undergrad, I was accepted to the medical school as well, and started a year after Bob. In all, we were in Iowa City for 9 years, including med school, residency (me in pediatrics), and Bob in a pulmonary fellowship, we moved to Lincoln, NE.

We enjoyed raising our 2 boys in Lincoln and practicing in an excellent medical community. Bob stopped taking pulmonary call about 3 years ago, but runs a Hospice. I retired from Pediatric practice in fall 2019. I continue to work with our Child Advocacy Center where children who have allegedly been abused can have child centered care including interviews, medical evaluation as well as advocacy and counseling. It has been rewarding to say the least.

We have made it a priority to try to travel internationally and locally as long as we are able. We have 2 grandchildren in Lincoln, and a son living in Colorado, previously as a ski town cook, now looking at alternative careers in Denver.

Like many others I went to Pitts elementary and then to TJ. My favorite memories from high school are the plays that the drama department did. They were so good! I also remember being in the chorale with Mr. McGregor ,such a nice man. My interest was in science so I took many of those classes with some great teachers. I went on to CSU and got my degree in Microbiology/Medical Technology in 1977. I decided that I wanted to explore other places so I my first job was at the hospital in Hilo, Hawaii. I met my husband there, so we lived there for 7 years. His job sent him to California so we lived there until 1996 when we came back to Colorado. Our son was born in 1994 and wanted him to grow up with the family in Colorado. I have enjoyed being back in Colorado, had lots of fun times with family and friends. Over the years we have been involved with several types of church related activities. I retired from working in December 2020 from Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers. My husband is retired also,but works part-time as a handyman.

Laurel Stiles Miller

Andrea Garvey. Gail Headstrom, Patti Peri and Vicki Strauch immediately after Graduation Ceremony at DU (back in my parents living room).

2nd Pix, immediately after Graduation Ceremony.

Andrea, Gail, Patti and Vicki

Pix 3
Andrea and Gail

Patti Peri and Vicki Strauch

Day after graduation in front of school before returning gowns!

Pix 2

Patti and Vicki by school steps, ready to turn in gowns.

Pix 3

Vicki Strauch in front of school name (and date school opened, 1960)

Pix 4

Patti in front of school

Repost. Sr Moment

This is Andrea Garvey, GAYLE LEAVENWORTH, Patti Peri and Vicki Strauch.

So sorry Gayle!

Following are pictures from another sr luncheon, Atherfies, at Aviation Country Club.

THIS is Gail Headstrom and Ginny Settles

Pix 2

More from Atherfies sr luncheon

Pix 3

More

Pix 4

More...

Gerald "Jerry" Stone..taught many of us Classrom Driver's Ed and was also School Counselor. His favorite expression was "Do You Follow" and was Class Sponsor for 1971 class above us.

I became his "assistant for 11th and 12th grade and loved every minute. He was absolutely one of my favorite faculty members ever!!!

Shirley Yetter, Treasurer

I also was assistant to Mrs Yetter and her Assistant Treasurer, Rosann Markano, for my 11th and 12 grade years.

Mrs Yetter had her pulse on everything in the school and was also famous for the goodies she kept in the office for many of us to enjoy.

Loved them both!

Rosann Markano, Assistant Treasurer (and became Treasurer after Shirley Yetter's retirement)

Mrs Markano made everyday in that office fun. It was a pleasure to be an assistant for 2 years and to return and visit often after graduation.

Repost of earlier pix

Sr Moment, sorry to GAYLE LEAVENWORTH with Andrea Garvey


P.S. There needs to be an edit button to correct these Sr Moment mistakes!!!

One of the "famous" celebration/gatherings in Treasurer's office with Ginny Settles and Mrs Yetter, Student Dean Mrs Ethridge, Mrs Jarrett and Miss Gator

Mrs Jarrett with her new "retirement home picture in Estes Park" after announcing her retirement.

School Counselor Jean Fisher with Vicki, one of her students

Her "tiny counselor office" ..remember those? She was across from Jerry Stone's office and I saw her daily!

Back in administration/support area with Mr Mansfield

Mrs St John, part of administration/support

Mrs St John and Ms Pollard of administration/support

Pictures of students, administration, faculty and other staff at our Sr Class Luncheon.

Andrea Garvey and Gayle Leavenworth in center.

More Sr Luncheon Inc Vicki Strauch and Lori Cumberland

More Sr Luncheon. I believe Kaye M.

More Sr Luncheon w/faculty

More Sr Luncheon inc Mr Day, Mr McGregor, Mr Scheinker and Mrs Yetter

More Sr Luncheon Inc Mr Helander, Mrs Cameron (she was my 1st Counselor, Miss Lambert, in 7th grade and then taught Social Problems), Mr Mansfield and Mrs Gault (Principal's secretary)

More Sr Luncheon Inc Jesse Baumgartner sitting next to Miss Gator

More Sr Luncheon Inc Head Table Mr Price, Student Dean Miss Ethridge and Principal Chamberlain

More Sr Luncheon inc Asst Principal Dr Cohn and Women's Student Dean Mrs Ethridge

So long, farewell. Last pix. Graduation night after ceremony.

Vicki Strauch and Patti

We actually wore those hose back in 1972!!!

Repeat Sr. Luncheon pix, Another Sr Moment... Assistant Principal Dr Cohn with Women's Student Dean, MRS JARRETT

Laurie Stiles Miller and Jackie Clark Schrock

Here is a picture of me, Beth Harris and Tim at TJ for the 40th. Debbie Ruppel Menger