After high school, I attended Delhi State University for hotel and restaurant management. If you remember, I always had a penchant for the food business. However, the US Army had other plans for me and I was their “guest” for almost 3 years. I returned home in Nov.1970, after 2 tours in sunny, balmy Southeast Asia, to pursue my career in the restaurant business. That only lasted a few years.

I had moved to Lockport in 1971 and met my wife. We were married in 1973. I realized the work schedule in the restaurant business is not conducive to a normal lifestyle. All weekends, holidays, and nights can make home and family life difficult. This led me to a career change into the banking industry. I worked for a local savings and loan/savings bank for 9 years. I left the bank a few months before our daughter, Jennifer, was born in 1982. I became licensed as a financial advisor in July of 1982. Our son, Steven, was born in 1985. Jennifer has now graduated from SUNY Oswego and moved to Charlotte, NC, where she is teaching 10th grade English. Steven is attending NCCC, studying to be a registered nurse. They are both single and doing fine. We got off to a late start as compared to most of you, but sometimes things happen.

My wife, Donna, is a mortgage broker and has been for the last 12 years. Prior to that, she was a Certified Respiratory Technician at Lockport Memorial for 20 years. Her family (Cafora) owns two Italian restaurants in the area. My mother-in-law took great pride in helping me “grow,” by showing me how good Italian food really is! I haven't stopped either.

As far as hobbies and other interests go, I enjoy playing golf when I can get out, and watching football -- primarily the Buffalo Bills. Maybe a few of you remember watching the AFL Championship game: Buffalo vs. San Diego, in 1964? We were at a party, but that had to wait till the game was over. (Remember whose house it was?) I have been an avid Bills fan ever since. My wife enjoys scrapbooking, computers, and the casinos. She was at the grand openings of each one in our area.

Retirement is not in the immediate future. Our occupations allow us to have very flexible work schedules and when the “retirement” option comes along we will be able to do both. We both love to travel and take cruises. Time is sometimes a hindrance -- can't find the time to do it as much as desired. We have enjoyed the opportunity of taking our two children on a Mediterranean cruise on our 25th Anniversary. Imagine that!! I know what you are thinking. Anyway, now they have seen parts of Europe on us -- the next time is on them! Our 32nd anniversary is a couple days before the reunion. I'll bet some of you are in there also.

Forty years has gone so fast, it is truly scary. It has taken a toll on all of us in one way or another. This doesn't change the fact that most of us, almost half to date, are coming to the reunion. It will be good to see you all once again.

2015 Update:  Our 42nd wedding anniversary is upcoming in July. It seems like a lot has happened to all of us since our last reunion gathering in 2010. We continue to meet annually and maintain and strengthen our relationships. We are a lucky lot to have "good friends" still from our past, "joyous" school days.

On January 1st, 2013, I opened my own independent financial advisory firm. I had worked for someone else for thirty years and wanted my own firm to finish out my career, however long that is going to be. lntegris Financial Group was born. It may seem strange to many that I would start this venture at this stage of my life, but I am enjoying it. The saying "I should have done this 20 years ago" is true.

My two children are single and are committed to remaining so. Jennifer is in the process of getting her PhD and Steven is studying to further his nursing career as a nurse practitioner. They both live in the area and we see them regularly.

Now, fifty years have passed and we can reflect on that time with many different emotions. It is truly scary that we made it through the many hard times in our individual lives and are here to tell the tales.

It will be great to see all of you again and to celebrate, yet again, another milestone in our history. Let us not forget those that have gone before us.

"See You in September" (remember?) Party On!!