Dear friends,

Just a little note to let you know what we’re doing.

We’re good and trying to stay safe. We’re staying at home and going out only for walks around the neighborhood, grocery stops, and take out at fast food restaurants.

We’re not wearing gloves, but we take masks with us when we need to go inside a store or talk to non-family members. We’ve been using video chats to meet with friends. I also had a teleconference with my doctor yesterday. That worked well.

All our in-person social activities have stopped. Again, we’ve been using video chats to practice Zumba and tai chi. We try to take at least two 1-hour walks each day. Our dining expenses have gone down drastically. All our weed shops remain open. We’re watching a lot of TV and movies on Netflix.

Unfortunately, we’re told the coronavirus won’t peak in central Oregon until mid-June. So, I’m afraid we’ll remain in this lifestyle for a while.

Love and best wishes to all of you.

Allen (Andy) Anderson & Shari

I hope this finds all of you well. This can be a scary time for all of us but I thought I would touch base to see what  you are doing so…

Hey, everyone! It is time to catch up!  Since we are all ‘safe at home’ or ‘sheltering in place’ I believe we all have time to share our latest news with your classmates.  Or simply let us know what you are doing during this unusual moment (or months) in time!

My first reaction to this entire experience is that I cannot believe the rebels of the sixties are just staying home watching Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime or whatever.   That’s what we are doing, however, because that is what we need to do.

I admit that I have a set of CD’s from the Chicago White Sox World Series in 2005 that I have been viewing. I still smile when I revisit that wonderful year of baseball. John, on the other hand, rereads his “One Goal” books from the Chicago Blackhawks’ thrilling years of hockey in 2010, 2013 and 2015.What are you watching?  Reading?

We also take walks up here in Ephraim, WI. This is a beautiful area in Door County. We are bounded by Lake Michigan and Green Bay. It is beautiful during all seasons! It can be a bit chilly this time of year, but I also knit a few hats and mittens so we are good to go!  Look out. It this goes on much longer you may receive a pair of hand knit socks from me some day.

Oh, and I also made masks for some of the residents up here to help keep everyone safe.

Once again, I hope this finds all of you well.  If everything works out perhaps we will see you at IWU next Homecoming! Until then, send news and stay safe.

Jill Wyatt Dew ’68

Linda Gitzendanner Hines AOPII ’68 and Stuart Hines OX ’67 celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on September 6, 2019 at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island MI followed by a trip through the Upper Peninsula and locks at Sault Set Marie MI.

The couple first met Oct 3, 1964 in front of Pfieffer Hall.  They were married Sep 6, 1969 following Stu’s discharge from the US Army after serving a year in Vietnam.

Linda spent several years raising their two children before taking advantage of her IWU degree in education where she enjoyed a satisfying career as a third grade teacher.  A major in business administration and a minor in insurance, Stu’s entire career was in the area of employee benefits before retiring in 2010 as the Employee Benefits Manager of the St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District.  They currently reside in the St Louis area and enjoy time with their two children and four grandchildren.

Linda was thrilled last month when their granddaughter, Katie, pledged AOPII at Missouri State University. Katie’s pledging brought back many fun memories of Linda’s years in AOPII.

Both Linda and Stu reflect often on their happy days at IWU and continue to be grateful for the foundation IWU has provided them over the years.

Stuart Hines and Linda Gitzendanner enjoy their first date at the OX Bowery Brawl October 3, 1964

50 years later Linda and Stu toast to their anniversary Sep 6, 2019 at the Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, MI

AvalyndaCasey for Sauk Valley Media wrote an article about Bill Hertel ’68 and his ever-fierce love of music and his passion for helping others develop their own musical talents.  To view the article about Bill, click here

We all remember the first moon landing. Many of us were able to watch it real time on television. Many others read about the coverage in their local newspaper. Alan Leahigh ’67 was a reporter for Bloomington’s Pantagraph at the time. Read his description of the Pantagraph’s early coverage of the first moon landing here.

Alan is a member of the IWU Alumni Association Board of Directors and was a reporter for the Pantagraph until 1970.

Tobey C Herzog ’68 has published a new book entitled Tim O’Brien: The Things He Carries and the Stories He Tells. Tobey is Emeritus Professor of English and the Emeritus Anne and Andrew T Ford Chair in the Liberal Arts, Wabash College.