Classmate Profiles

To upload your "Classmate Profile," please click on the "Register" button below. 

Note: "Registering" on this site does not commit you to attending the reunion.

Once registered, your profile will be appear in the classmates list on the website. We will upload a "Then" photo of you from the yearbook (if it exists). 

Classmates can message you through your profile on the site, and your general location will be shown on the "Where Are They Now" map.

We'll also be able to send you updates to keep you updated on all reunion happenings.

Steve Amato

Then Then
Now Now
Work life? (e.g., education, first job, occupation): Graduated UW-Madison in 1976 with a History/Political Science & Secondary Ed. degree (completed student teaching at West...can you say "Welcome back Kotter?!") After graduation played music for 3 years on the road with Mark Sweeney. Settled in La Crosse, WI and got into the restaurant business. Went on to renovate, co-own, and manage two restaurants, The Granary Restaurant in Oshkosh and the Gibson Grill in Appleton. In 2005 became a food sales rep for Reinhart Food Service and finished my career with Festival Foods. I retired in 2020.
Family life? (e.g., spouse, kids/grandkids, friends, places lived): Married the love of my life, Jackie, in 1989. We have two children, Chloe (30) and Marcus (28). Both children are happily married and are back in Wisconsin. Chloe, via NYC, Chicago and now in Wauwatosa, WI and Marcus via Japan, New Zealand and now back to Madison. Great to have them close again and we're excited about the idea of grandchildren. Hope we don't have to wait too long!
Doing today? (e.g., where do you live, working or retired, hobbies, travels): Enjoying retirement with golf, hiking, and traveling with Jackie. Still playing some music with the Steve & Mark Band in the Madison and Fox Valley areas. Like us on Facebook!
Bucket list? (e.g., plans for the future, travel): Domestic travel to several national parks & waterfalls and play unique golf courses. Eventually we'd like to venture to Europe. Scotland & Italy are destinations we'd love to visit. We plan to spoil our grandchildren if we are so blessed in the future!

Martha Ashman

Then Then
Work life? (e.g., education, first job, occupation): Graduated 1976 UW/Madison, BA in
Anthropology.

Work has basically consisted of Public Benefits Specialist since 79, I've worked in 2 states, 5 counties, 10 different offices during that time. Am on my 11th locale (working from home) now.
Family life? (e.g., spouse, kids/grandkids, friends, places lived): Married and divorced and then got married to Larry. Got beautiful Becky in the bargain and she has given us 2 grandsons.
Moved to WA in 92, bought our first liveaboard boat shortly afterwards. 2nd boat 1 1/2 years later, then our final boat in 97. Have traveled up Inside Passage in BC, Canada since 93, got all the way to Alaska twice.
Doing today? (e.g., where do you live, working or retired, hobbies, travels): Still working, retirement looming within the next year, we hope.

Timothy Athan

Then Then
Now Now
Work life? (e.g., education, first job, occupation): Please allow me to introduce myself, though I'm not a man of wealth or taste! I've been around long long years, stole nobody's soul and faith.

In the late Seventies I lived in Hollywood in the building where Jim Grindrod, Monty Schiro, and Gary Geisler had apartments and made trouble. Bill Rieser lived not far from us, making trouble. I worked in the movie business a bit, I'm listed at the bottom of the credits for "Raging Bull." I'm open to selling my autograph.
Next I got an engineering Ph.D., worked in the automotive, aerospace and power industries, and I now work as an expert witness for computer control failures. I also write each month for the Ann Arbor Observer, and I've been their cartoonist for 22 years.
Family life? (e.g., spouse, kids/grandkids, friends, places lived): I am married to a retired school teacher, and I have 2 step-kids and 5 step-grandkids. My step-daughter followed her mother into teaching. My step-son, when a boy, was prohibited from playing with guns. He is now a Westpoint graduate and a lt. colonel in the Army Green Beret Special Forces. Kids!
My sister Polly '74 is doing great, with her family in Washington State. My parents still live in Wisconsin.
Doing today? (e.g., where do you live, working or retired, hobbies, travels): I work only about 1/5 time currently, but I enjoy still being part of the work world. It is a dynamic time for computer regulations.

I lived in many cities in my twenties, and recognized that my favorite places are small cities with a strong university presence, like Madison, and Ann Arbor (where I've settled for the duration).

I'm a musician, and I've always been a fitness enthusiast.
Bucket list? (e.g., plans for the future, travel): It would be wonderful to destroy all copies of my terrible West graduation portrait, but that is probably not possible.

I enjoy exploring Rust Belt towns and cities. It is sad to observe that so many are struggling.

Mary Beth Ball

Then Then
Now Now
Work life? (e.g., education, first job, occupation): My two main occupations that I loved were establishing and teaching a 4 year old kindergarten class at Blessed Sacrament school and worked as a Medical Assistant at Dean Clinic in the Infectious Disease and Wound care Department.
Family life? (e.g., spouse, kids/grandkids, friends, places lived): Family life is complicated! Married and divorced. 4 kids, 3 girls and a boy 42,40,39 and my son is 30. 8 grandchildren ranging from 14 to 6 months. Most of my life was spent in Madison where my girls went to West, then Middleton and for the last three years in Denver, CO where I have 6 grandkids. I have definitely embraced the “Gammie” role!
Doing today? (e.g., where do you live, working or retired, hobbies, travels): I retired 3 years ago and moved to where my kids live in Denver. I do miss Madison and all my friends though, and try to get back a couple of times a year. Covid curtailed my travels but I do go to the mountains to visit my sisters. I love to garden, have my dog and walk a lot and hike.
Bucket list? (e.g., plans for the future, travel): I’d love to do some more traveling, my biggest venture was going to Holland where my father was born. As far as the future, getting through each day is an accomplishment!

Georgia Bechtel

Then Then
Now Now
Work life? (e.g., education, first job, occupation): Was an alcoholic, drug and family counselor.
Doing today? (e.g., where do you live, working or retired, hobbies, travels): Living in Homer, Alaska, however, moving back to Florida soon.

Steve A. Bennett

Then Then
Now Now
Work life? (e.g., education, first job, occupation): Hit the ground running, and joined the Shakers with my good friend Jim Pharo. Played with a variety of bands in the Madison area. I moved out to the East Coast with Jimmy Moore in 1981. Some of you might remember him from Van hise. Jimmy moved back to the Midwest about 3 years later but I chose to stay out on the East Coast. Once again playing in a variety of bands and getting recording gigs whenever I could. Believe me it's a tough business moving up and down the East Coast from Boston to New York to Philly.
Family life? (e.g., spouse, kids/grandkids, friends, places lived): Probably would have moved back to Madison if I wouldn't have met the woman of my dreams and 1994. No children (None that I'm aware of). Lol. She had two sons from a previous marriage so I got my grandkids the easy way. I inherited them.
Doing today? (e.g., where do you live, working or retired, hobbies, travels): Still living between Allentown and Philadelphia. Went back to school about 20 years ago and became a medical massage therapist, which I'm still practicing today. I was also still playing part-time in the rock and roll is until the pandemic hit. As you all know it pretty much wiped out every local music scene not to mention the national scene as well. Hoping to still play part-time in the future before I get too damn old. Can you believe after all these years I still love playing the drums.
Bucket list? (e.g., plans for the future, travel): Hoping just to survive this new crazy brave New world we live in. Just hoping to stay healthy and active, and of course still playing music.

Steve M. Bennett

Then Then
Now Now
Work life? (e.g., education, first job, occupation): UW Madison Business School graduate
Worked for GE, Intuit and Symantec
Previous board member of Intuit, Symantec, Sun Microsystems, Qualcomm, and American Airlines
Currently an Investor, Advisor and Board member for early stage companies… starting to wind down
Family life? (e.g., spouse, kids/grandkids, friends, places lived): Married to Marsha Jordan for 37 years
Doing today? (e.g., where do you live, working or retired, hobbies, travels): Marsha and I live in the San Francisco Bay Area in the town of Woodside. We enjoy traveling the world and spending time in Hawaii and Scottsdale. I remain actively involved at UW as a member of the Chancellors Advisory Board and previous Chairman of the Business School Dean’s Advisory Board.
Bucket list? (e.g., plans for the future, travel): Every year is a new adventure… lots of new places to go and experience

Wendy Benz

Then Then
Now Now
Work life? (e.g., education, first job, occupation): After West I attended UW-Madison, graduating in 1976. I worked in research labs for several years before going on to grad school at the UW, where I met my husband Bryan. Got a PhD in Genetics and worked for a bit at the Waisman Center on a gene therapy project. Then we started our family and I was an at-home mom for 9 years-- loved it! Returned to work part-time in 1999 for the UW Ophthalmology Department. I've worked on many different eye studies and clinical trials of new drugs for eye disease, and am finally retiring this year.
Family life? (e.g., spouse, kids/grandkids, friends, places lived): Bryan and I were married in 1985, and have two sons: Carl (32) and Eric (30). We became grandparents during the pandemic! Carl lives in Chicago with his wife and young daughter, and Eric lives and works in Mountain View, California.
Doing today? (e.g., where do you live, working or retired, hobbies, travels): In 2003 we moved from our Fitchburg home to the countryside west of Madison. We have a prairie and a spring that flows into a branch of the Sugar River. Bryan mows paths through the prairie with his trusty 1952 Ford tractor, and takes care of weed control. I started hybridizing daylilies in 2010 and have been working on developing more types of reblooming daylilies. In our free time we enjoy hiking, traveling, and visiting family and friends.
Bucket list? (e.g., plans for the future, travel): More traveling, hiking, and visiting; register a few new daylilies; clean out our basement; sign up for a 23andMe test.

Laura Berger

Then Then
Now Now
Work life? (e.g., education, first job, occupation): I attended Malcolm Shabazz my last year of high school. After finally realizing I need to do something practical, I received a BSN in nursing from UW Madison.
I worked for eight years coordinating volunteers for a community clinic in Madison, then as a public health nurse for 27 years through Dane County primarily in TB control and community based breastfeeding promotion.
Family life? (e.g., spouse, kids/grandkids, friends, places lived): Divorced 6 years ago. No children. My immediate family net consists of sisters, a nearby nephew and cousin and long time friends. I’ve continued to live most of my life in Madison.
Doing today? (e.g., where do you live, working or retired, hobbies, travels): I retired 5 years ago. Aside from gardening, connecting with friends and keeping my dog happy, I coordinate volunteer eviction court observers through a local organization, Nehemiah.

I like to get back to southwest Wisconsin whenever possible. We had a second home and community life in Richland County for 20 years. Now I count on generous friends in the area.
Bucket list? (e.g., plans for the future, travel): Learning how to be in this time of climate disruption and threatening fascism. How to hold it all with heart and wisdom. Working so many years with immigrants has made me deeply appreciate being able to live where I come from. The pandemic has also rooted me even more deeply in the beauty right out of my back door.

Curious about what happens next!

Jeff Berry

Then Then
Now Now
Work life? (e.g., education, first job, occupation): Barely graduated high school. Art degree. Rose from City of Madison garbage man to advertising agency creative director in one lifetime. Grateful I found my jam (Madmen, but without the office cocktails). Created campaigns for everything from America’s favorite, Oscar Mayer hot dogs, to BBC Technology. Last eighteen years with my own creative group (more than just me). Clients from California to London, but mostly virtual (no Concorde). Was on Michael Jordan creative team once (in your face Coach Falk who gave me a D in gym even though I played football that year : )
Family life? (e.g., spouse, kids/grandkids, friends, places lived): Happily single until Covid hit. Then it felt like musical chairs when the music stops and I was left standing alone in my safety bubble. Previous romantic encounters include dating the same woman as Rod Stewart (decades later), and being frisked by the FBI while on a date (red flag?). Grateful for relationships that have become lifelong friendships. Plus, a growing family of great-nieces, great-nephews, great-dogs and great-horses.
Doing today? (e.g., where do you live, working or retired, hobbies, travels): Retired, except for good causes and/or fun projects. Continue to enjoy the fitness, yoga and mindfulness meditation practice that got me through ad deadlines with some of my hair. Enjoy the freedom to create things that don’t require a focus group or catchy jingle. Art. Poetry. Rapping to my ukulele and bongos? I blame the lockdown.
Bucket list? (e.g., plans for the future, travel): To live in the moment. Make up for promoting things like pesticides and freedom from religion. Unleash the power of cartoons to defeat the evil, orange dictator and save our democracy. Then maybe stop and look around once in a while as philosopher Ferris Bueller suggested.

Additional thoughts…

Sad to hear about all the classmates we’ve lost. But smile remembering the good times with Stacy Poole (a best “Bud”), Mike Buffo (rode shotgun with our “Fonz”), Joe Kasinski (drummed and partied with “Kaz”), Steve Thorson (“Goldie” was our lead singer in Sal Sax), Ron Krogstad (fellow Boy Scout “Krog”) and others. We shared ski trips (knee injury), motorcycle rides (crashed twice), street racing (license suspended), rocking our Sal Sax band (quit as drummer prior to winning Battle of the Bands) and more than a few PBRs (Joe’s weekend BBQs). I regret not riding to California with Stacy on our motorcycles after seeing the film, East Rider, but my career in sanitation beckoned. His words to me on a post card from Mexico ended up being his last, “See ya later, Bud!” I hope so, Bud.

Shout out to my West High art teacher, Peter Steinmetz (“Steiny”) who saw something in me that others missed (including me). Thanks Steiny.