You Minnesota city dwellers thought our spring was late. Here is a note that Jim Dimond sent Tom Troskey yesterday.
Tom: Can’t make it this month. Going to be down in Iowa watching one of my daughters get awarded her Ph.D. Proud dad!
On your comment about the snow at last lunch, attached are photos from last week up at the border. They are still looking for Spring. The waterfalls were incredible!
Jim Dimond
Hey guys,
Some fun stuff just arrived from Texas——three of our classmates live just a few miles apart in Granbury Texas.
Terry Bacigalupo, Steve Bender and Tom Schwartz with their wives all got together for lunch today and sent the photo below along with the notes.
Thank you to Terry for sending so all the class of ’63 can take a look.
Also if any of you reading this get together with other class of ’63 grads, take a photo and send it my way so it can be shared.
Best to all,
Tom Troskey
Tom,
Three of us along with our wives got together for lunch & socializing today here in Granbury, TX. It is truly improbable & amazing that we would all retire and move to within just a few miles of one another. For anyone travelling to the DFW area, please come by to see us on Lake Granbury which is only 40 miles SW of Fort Worth.
Terry
Hello All,
First off, those of you who are snow birds—-don’t hurry home. As a dozen of your classmates had lunch today we looked out the windows of the P & Y and wondered when will it end. Snowing like the dickens and 32 degrees.
The guys attending today were JOE BROOKS, DON DANNEKER, JOE SCHUFMAN, DAVE BRITZ, TOM TROSKEY, JOHN LENTSCH, ED SUND, DAVE TYREE, JIM DIMOND, DICK BUTLER, GENE BOVY AND TED MOUDRY.
A few items were discussed;
CDH enrollment is currently 940 students down from 1025 in 2019
The CDH athletic director is leaving to join the Minnesota State High School League
CDH has established a group known as BEAN —- Black Excellence Alumni Network
Dave Britz has announce the annual Class of 63 golf outing (The Charlie) will be held on Wednesday August 10th at Highland National in St Paul—Mark your calendar —further info will follow soon.
Most importantly today our discussion centered on the loss of our friend Charlie Evans last Friday. All had some wonderful comments and memories about Charlie and how much he ment to them individually and to the class of 63 in general.
We will miss Charlie greatly and remember him forever. Charlie’s life will be celebrated at the Pool and Yacht Club on Sunday May 1st from 3-7PM.
We usually have a few photos of the class lunch but today there is ONE photo. CHARLIE at our March class of 63 lunch.
May Charlie rest in peace.
Tom Troskey
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From Our Classmate John Runyon
For my classmate Mike Ryan, “Doc” Strusinki`s simple, honest account of his year in country from Aug `67 to Aug `68 brought to me a stark reminder of our combat guys` courage and sacrifice. The`re our “greatest generation” members, like the heros of WWII.
Forest Lake is home to American Legion Post 225 and George Bonfe, who was an active supporter., Their event two days ago was much too big for me to make inquiries about some kind of memorial centered on George and Mike (Not to mention agent orange victims Frank Lentsch,Tom Hollihan, and others .) But the panel discussion surely enlightened folks like me who didn’t experience the Viet Nam War firsthand, but reading the pages of “Doc”Strusinski`s book afterward, will take you there with Mike Ryan.
Now a band of brothers, avoiding tripwire trails to instead push through snake and VC ambush brush, are themselves on night ambush patrol to “seek and destroy” the enemy. Each doesn`t know if he`ll take a bullet, grenade or mortar round before his personal daily countdown to exit this mess, but this night their lives depend entirely on each other, and leaving no one behind.
That`s what Mike Ryan did. His citation for combat valor doesn’t say it, but I`m told he was shot while attempting to drag one of his wounded soldiers into cover after an ambush. His bravery that day left him paralized from the waist down for life, and what he did with the rest of his life was even more amazing.
This day March 29, VietNam Veteran`s Day, is the occasion two days ago, for the memorial at American Legion Post 225 in Forest Lake, so fitting for our Class of `63 because that`s George Bonfe`s home, another `63 wheelchair bound Veteran who`s personal grit matches Mike Ryan. With their examples, I sure know to “not sweat the small stuff”.
Below is my brief summary of the Post 225 event Sunday last–
Veteran`s event at Forest Lake Legion Post 225 was very impressive.
Arriving 5 minutes beforehand, I had to park a block and a half away because cars overflowed the lot, the room, (maybe 400 capacity) was packed, and they ran out of programs.
I found one of the last seats, next to a lady who had lost her husband to multiplecancers from Agent Orange. We had guys like Frank Lentsch and Tom Hollihan who made it home without the massive injury that Mike Ryan and George Bonfe overcame, yet succumbed too early to the aftermath of their military service.
Bill Strusinski, a Nam Combat Medic, moderated a panel discussion of two army nurses and three wounded soldiers who had been medevacked to forward hospitals. The discussion was easy at first, but gradually many of us in the audience with dim memories awoke to the tragedy and devotion to duty so vivid in the vignettes they shared.
WOUNDED IN WAR was the program title Bill ably moderated, because he wrote the book “Care Under Fire” partly as therapy 50 years after his tour of duty. You could tell, listening to the nurses and medevacked soldiers yesterday, that the big memories had hardly faded. I thought of Mike Ryan and the courage under fire which cost him so much.
Bill Struskinsi was signing books afterward, and when my turn came, I briefly told him about our two amazing classmates who showed such bravery, family dedication and community service AFTER their time with the Army. He signed the inside:
“To George Bonfe & Mike Ryan, who gave their legs to benefit us all. You know how to turn adversity into something positive” Reading that later, I thought “into something awesome“
So I started the book last night and couldn’t put it down. Awaking this morning I found it beside the bed and couldn`t let it go again. It’s a simple honest read punctuated occasionally by some stark tragedies of guys he couldn’t save. How does a Combat Medic forget one of his wounded brothers dying in his arms? In the book Bill says that it was “relatively easy to compile because many incidents are as fresh in my mind today as if they had occurred yesterday— not fifty years ago”
The personnel PTSD Bill helped cleanse with this book surely brings into focus the double whammy, physical and mental, amazingly overcome by guys like our wounded veteran classmates. I couldn`t stop reading till finishing all 211 pages this afternoon.
I escaped unscathed by serving 6 years in the National Guard, which pales by a new understanding of Mike Ryan`s Vietnam “blood, sweat and tears.” Maybe Forest Lake Post 225, but somewhere, its time to again honor these guys. And Tomorrow, Tuesday March 29th, is VietNam Veterans Day—-
“We will hold you dear forever, for the memory of your sacrifices nurtures the spirit of our nation.”
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Hello Guys,
Still winter hear in Minnesota but that didn’t deter the gathering of class of 63 members that spent two hours socializing and enjoying the camaraderie.
We started off talking about CDH in the State Hockey tournament and the CDH game began just as our lunch began and by the time our lunch broke up the bubble had burst for the CDH guys. The succumbed to the boys from Prior Lake 6-0.
Some of our regular luncheon attendees are ailing and we look forward to Pat Mc Donnell and Rick O’Connor to be back with us soon.
John Runyon is putting together a tribute to two of our classmates Mike Ryan and George Bonfe who led remarkable lives after becoming paraplegics over 50 years ago, John will have some details on his idea in the near future.
Hope many of the snowbirds will be back in town in time for our next luncheon on Thursday April 14th—-mark your calendars.
Thanks and best to all
Tom Troskey
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As we sit down for lunch Thursday March 10 the CDH boys hockey team will be taking on Prior lake in the quarterfinal round of the Big School Minnesota State High school Hockey tournament. CDH most recently won the State Crown in 2006 when the young man pictured below with the Stanley Cup was a junior defenseman on the CDH team. Two time Stanley Cup winner Ryan McDonagh brought the Stanley Cup back to CDH last August and as I understand spent considerable time with both the boy’s and girl’s hockey teams at CDH. CDH is the second seed in the tournament with only perennial contender Hill Murray seeded higher. These two teams are in separate brackets and if both win would face each other in the Championship final. GOOD LUCK TO THE CDH GUYS, especially our classmate Dave Odlaug’s grandson Kevin.
Tom Troskey
Click on photo to enlarge…
Hello Guys,
Today we had a pleasant couple of hours socializing with 11 of our Cretin classmates.
We began the gathering remembering and respecting our classmate who passed away on Jan. 29th and signed a card to send to Judi, Ken’s wife.——-Rest in peace Ken Rogers!
Our friend, classmate and regular lunch attendee Pat McDonnell is going through some serious medical issues and could not be with us. Pat is staying optimistic and hopes get back to attending the class of 63 gatherings in the future. Say some prayers for Pat!
We had a “young “ guest today from the Cretin Class of 65, Jim Hannegan. Jim and I have known each other since grade school and Jim is active in the Cretin Class of 65 gatherings and web site. Seeing the website Jim set up for the class of 65 inspired me to see if there was a chance to get one done for the class of 63. Knowing Joe Schufman had some computers skills I asked him about a web site—Joe would check into it and called Jim to discuss. Next thing I know is a few weeks later Joe calls me and asks if he can stop by to show me some web site ideas he had. Joe had it down and within a few more weeks there was the class of 63 web site up and running—-THANK YOU Jim H. and Joe S.
On a very bright side classmate Charlie Evans was with us today as he recovers from recent Heart Surgery. He looks good, sounds good and says he is feeling good—GREAT NEWS
The CDH hockey team continues to top the big school hockey rankings in the state—-lets hope we seeing them in a few weeks in the State HS Hockey Tournament at the xcel rink.
Notice the photo below, it is one of our classmates with a friend—-while we were having lunch at the Pool and Yacht club on the icy Mississippi Gary Stoffel and his friend Sue Marschall (Derham 68) were enjoying the often wild PGA golf tournament —The Phoenix Waste Management Open. Looks pretty darn good to me…….
Click on image to enlarge
https://photos.app.goo.gl/fuFmsTw297riS5ko7 Take a look at this link, I knew our classmate Joe Schufman has photography as one of his hobbies and over the years Joe and I would talk about his photography and he would occasionally send me some photos. Joe moved out of St Paul a few years back and now resides in rural western Wisconsin. As Joe said all the years he live in St Paul taking sunrise photos from his house in the middle of the city didn’t show much but now his clear view of the sunrise has resulted in what I think are stunning and soothing photos—-I bet you will also.
Finally mark your calendar for the class of 63 lunch next month—-MARCH 10th.
Tom Troskey
Hello Guys,
Today nine classmates had lunch at the Pool and Yacht club and enjoyed a fine two hours of socializing.
We started off by remembering three of our classmates who passed away recently George Bonfe (11-11-21) Jim Winkel (11-18-21) and Denny Cooney (12-25-21) MAY THEY REST IN PEACE.
We had sympathy cards that were passed around and signed by all and I dropped them in the mail to the families on my way back home from the P&Y.
Joe M McGrath told us about his tour of the new Stem center at CDH that was donated by Ron Ryan (62). Joe was favorably impressed with the facility and the students who served as his tour guides. A special thanks to RON RYAN is in order along with many other alumni who support the school.
I spent a few minutes telling the group about a three hour meeting I had on Dec 15th at CDH with Stan Davis the interim director of Diversity. The meeting was brought about by concerns I had with supporting CDH in the aftermath of the anti-police and racial issue uprising/protests at CDH last spring.
We passed around a nice newspaper page that detailed the hiring of a new football coach at CDH and also an article on the CDH men’s highly ranked hockey team with a photo featuring a CDH player with a familiar name in our class Kevin Odlaug who is the grandson of our classmate Dave.
John Runyon has a project he is putting together to honor two members of our class. Details will be made available to all of us in the near future.
You will recall two of our classmates, Charlie Evans and Ted Moudry had heart surgery the same week in December. I have heard from both of them and thankfully their rehab and recoveries are going well. Much to be thankful for!
That’s it guys.
Next lunch is Thursday February 10th. Mark your calendar.
Tom Troskey
Click on Image to Enlarge
(From Tom Troskey)
Hello classmates,
Back in 2012 and 2013 when a group of guys from the class of ’63 were preparing various things for the 50th class reunion. One of the tasks was putting together the memory book that contained many old photos and memorabilia. Included in this terrific book (thank goodness for Len Mitsch and Joe M. McGrath who volunteered to put the book together) was the section showing short bios of classmates and what they had been doing the past 50 years. All who read the book sure enjoyed this section and found out much about their classmates after they left Cretin.
Following is a story on one of our classmates that began about 50+ years ago but has a most interesting twist happening today.
Boz (Bob) Metzdorf in the 50 year memory book mentioned among other things his life as a musician, songwriter and film maker.
I questioned Boz about his music business. Here is some of the things Boz told me about.
In 1965 he and Cretin Classmates Steve Keys and Dan DeLisi had a band called the Missing Lynks.
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Missing Lynks – Steve Keys, Bruce Rokenbock, Dan DeLisi, Boz Metzdorf
In 1971 Boz and Steve living in Colorado started another group called Freeland. Boz and Steve still have Freeland and are working on their third album.
The album covers of the first two Freeland albums; Headin Back on vinyl and Almost Home on CDare included here.
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In 1978 Boz recorded an album of original songs on vinyl with Steve Keys on guitar and the album title is Signs of Seasons. Remember that title! That album cover is also included here.
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Remember I said an interesting twist.
Here is Boz explaining the interesting Twist.
Classmates,
Recently I received some news from out of the blue that was an unexpected surprise. I have worked as a musician, songwriter, film maker since graduating from Cretin. In 1978 I recorded an album of original songs titled Signs Of Seasons on vinyl. Nothing much happened with it because there was little or no promotion. Fast forward to 2020. (I am attaching a short message that my daughter, Kara, put on Facebook that explains what happened). This album also featured another classmate and life-long friend, Steve Keys on guitar, bass and harmonica. Steve and I have played in several bands starting in 1965 with the Missing Lynks. This band also included another classmate, Dan DeLisi on bass and vocals. (RSVP- miss you J Dan) In 1971 Steve and I started the band Freeland, that in 1972 recorded another vinyl LP, Freeland, Headin’ Back. We lived in the Colorado Mountains, Freeland Gulch, with no running water or electricity where we played in the local clubs of the mountain towns. In 1977 we regrouped back in St Paul with the band, Bizzy Wiggins. We gigged in the cities and around the mid-west and had been playing my originals, so by the time we went in the studio the songs had been well rehearsed. That’s the band that recorded Signs Of Seasons at Sullivan Sound on W 7th St.
I have since recorded a dozen more albums on CD, the latest was Dove Tales in 2018. Currently I am working remotely, due to Covid, with Freeland, (whose members are scattered across the country) recording our third album. In 2006 we got together again to record a second album on CD titled Almost Home.
Take care,
Boz Metzdorf
Here is the message from Bob’s daughter Kara that he referenced.
Just want to tell you about some surprising news regarding my dad, Boz. A short while ago a vinyl record collector discovered his first solo album, Signs Of Seasons, (recorded in 1978) at a used vintage record store. “He wrote a very positive review of the album on a music blog and I first started to get requests from the west coast and then, surprisingly from most of Europe, Scandinavia and Australia.“ Soon he was signed by Anthology Recordings of New York who released the song Sails Across The Sea in 2019 on a vintage collection of artists called Sad About The Times.
Anthology Recordings is going to release the entire album of the 11 individual songs on Signs Of Seasons for streaming on October 29. (Kara wrote this prior to the release)
“It’s truly amazing after 43 years that this would happen. Back then if you weren’t signed to a major record label, you probably wouldn’t be heard. I’m gratified that the music has stood the test of time and can still be enjoyed.” Dad is currently working remotely with his old bandmates from Freeland on a third Freeland album. It will be released in 2022, fifty years after they recorded Freeland, Headin’ Back, in 1972. He has done the art and design for both albums.
Now here is where you can purchase and in some cases hear Boz’s music.
Just type in Anthology Recordings, click on music, Signs of Seasons or go to any of the platforms listed below.
Promotion is on Anthology Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and on the website Anthology Recordings.
Album is available—streaming
Spotify
Apple Music
Amazon
iTunes
Bandcamp
Tidal
Deezer
CD’s of album soon available at birdseyeviewproductions.net
Here is the link to an interview with some songs interspersed that I did with Anssi from Finland, who has a radio show called Cosmic Turtle. (The first song is not mine)
Hello Guys,
I just started to write this email and my phone rang. Joe Bonfe who is the youngest brother of our classmate George Bonfe gave me the sad, sad news that George had passed away today at 12:30PM. His family members were with him this morning at the hospital. This is such sad news for many of us who knew George well, many of us since we were kids. George was a remarkable man; car accident in the mid 1960’s coming home from his army camp, severely injured and was a paraplegic since that time. But since that time nothing has slowed him down until now. George started and ran 3 successful businesses, George adopted and raised three children, George seldom missed any event of his kids, his nieces and nephews, traveled much of the world and always was up for social and political gatherings. This man was REMARKABLE and as his brother Roger told me he should have written a book about his life.
I will pass on what services are planned as soon as I find out.
George, MAY YOU REST IN PEACE.
(See 2021 In Memoriam for more on George here)
———
At today’s class lunch much talk was of George as he was a regular attendee of the luncheons from the beginning back in 2014.
In November we always try to give a special salute to the veterans in our class and the photo attached is of the vets that were present today at the lunch. Thanks to you guys and all the vets in the class of 1963 for serving our country.
Also today at the Pool and Yacht Club were some “young guys” having lunch who had a very special connection to the class of 1963. Those guys were the younger brothers (class of 1969) of two of our deceased classmates.
Bert Christensen, Matt’s brother and Tom Murray, Jim’s brother. Very nice to have them with us.
Classmate Larry Neuman wrapped up our meeting with a couple of jokes—-maybe that will start a tradition for wrapping up our lunches, thanks Larry and keep that in mind for all you guys who attend the gatherings, try to remember any good jokes you hear so you can share them.
Finally next meeting will be Thursday Dec 8th—–mark your calendars.
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Tom Troskey