Spotted in the crowd at the Cubs-Cardinals baseball game were: Ann Harding, retired Director of Alumni Relations; Dave Darling ’79; and Wayne Messmer ’72, IWU Distinguished Alum 2017. Wayne will be honored during Homecoming Weekend (and Wayne’s 45th Class Reunion).
Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas ’76 has been elected as the president of the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW). The NFPW is an organization consisting of men and women pursuing careers in communications. Congratulations Marianne!
Hello everyone! What have you all been doing the last 43 years? Have you enjoyed your life’s journey? I sure have. I recently retired after a 40+ year career of teaching and serving as a school administrator. My journey began as an American Studies major where Paul Bushnell and Bob Bray somehow found a way to guide me through the challenge of higher education. After a earning a degree in Jr. High Education at the big school in Normal, I began my teaching career in Pekin, Illinois being a part of a brand new school, Broadmoor Jr. High. I concluded my career by opening and serving as principal for ten years at Desert Meadows School, in Laveen, AZ.
I want to encourage you to share your life’s journey with the Class of ’74 and all of the other great alumni and staff that call Illinois Wesleyan home. I know for a fact that our lives have not always been as we thought or planned when we entered our dorms for the first time. Two great examples are my friends Ned Carter and Roger Lirely. Ned told me in the spring of 1974 that he was going to study in Sweden for a year. He has now earned multiple degrees and raised a wonderful family in Sweden. He visits family and friends back here in the states. Roger was a pre-med student. Today he heads the Department of Accounting, Finance and Business Law at the University of Texas, Tyler. Those are great journeys full of twists and turns. Let’s hear yours! I can be reached at scooterv@icloud.com
It’s less than two months until the 45th Reunion of the Class of 1972. I hope you are planning to attend. The campus should be beautiful in October. If, like many of us, you have not been back to campus for years, you can print out a handy map from the website. Check out the schedule of Homecoming weekend events, dig out some Titan green attire, and make plans to come to Wesleyan October 13-15.
Fall colors and Holmes and Shaw Halls.
Hello Titans!
These are some exciting times, in which we live. Thirty-eight years ago, in 1978, I was 26 years old. That was the year of the last total solar eclipse. I made a pin-hole viewer out of an old shoebox and took a look, for myself. Tomorrow, I will be blessed to witness another one, this time with special protective sunglasses. Maybe you remember your last solar eclipse, I sure hope so. This time you may have children or grandchildren to share in the excitement. Not to mention being in a whole new century, this time. Take care and enjoy!
As summer winds to a close, and ushers in autumn, please take the time to reflect and count your many blessings, my fellow Titans. I hope that you can look forward and see many more of them ahead. I trust that your summer included some vacation time, some respite, and a little discovery. Nature will soon unfold its season of many colors, autumn. Coming this fall, and every fall is homecoming at Illinois Wesleyan. I hope that you, like me, are planning to come home. There is simply nothing as grand as walking across the QUAD under the shade of the many magnificent trees.
As we get closer to October 13th, homecoming weekend, I will share more information with you. You should have already received your postcard reminder, which previewed the weekend’s events. One pretty special celebration is the 25th anniversary of the Minority Alumni Network, M.A.N. for short. There will be a Saturday, evening gala beginning at 8pm in Hansen on Saturday, October 14th. Please, plan to attend, if you do not have a class dinner. We would be glad to have you share in our celebration.
Well, I have to run now, no not literally! (smile) Talk to you again, soon.
DRBF
IWU -Newsletter
Debbie Burt-Frazier, August 20, 2017
Patrick Drazen (’74) has recently had his third book published by Hamilton Press. Titled “Holy Anime! Japan’s View of Christianity”, it examines Christianity’s status as a minority religion in Japan and the liberties that are taken in portraying it in manga (comic books) and anime (cartoons). Congratulations, Patrick!
Dr. Lynn Bertholf Westcot, a faculty member in the School of Nursing from 1969-1978 and the daughter of former IWU president the late Lloyd Bertholf, died on July 31.
Here is a link to her obituary –
William Carey (‘73) recently published a book of illustrations and haiku, A Ghost Walking Through a Dream: a curious collection of haiku and illustrations. William who has made his living as both as a graphic designer and fine artist, began writing haiku 20 years ago commuting on the train into Chicago. He then began combining the haiku and the illustrations which now populate the book. He shows his work at galleries and reads his poetry at the Raue Theater in Crystal Lake, IL. The book is available at Amazon.com. Congratulations, William!
Hud Venerable ’77
Jack Sikma ’77