Like others in this blog, I too am looking forward to the reunion at Thanksgiving. And I agree - kudos to Susan and Katherine for the site setup.
I met my wife Janey while at MCC (college chorus), married her in June 1972, and we have two married sons. Glenn (born 1975) who lives with his family outside of Charlotte, NC, and Michael (born 1979) who lives with his wife outside of Detroit in Utica, MI.
After spending five years in Camden, Arkansas and 22 years in Charlotte, NC we decided to move back home in October 2005. Being gone from our hometown and families for 27 years (with only short vacation visits) was an incentive to move back to a location we would be willing to retire to. People would always ask where we were from. We’d tell them where we were currently living, but “home” was always Rochester, NY. Now we’re in-between both of our sons’ families, and enjoying our life together as empty nesters.
Photo 1: Gregg and Janey at the Herschell Carousel Museum in Buffalo, NY 2009
After finishing at MCC, I completed a Bachelor’s at RIT in Media Communications, and was fortunate enough to be able to complete a Master of Education degree at UNC-Charlotte in Instructional Systems Technology. Starting school again in 1997 was quite traumatic, not having been in college since 1975, and also working full time. But with the patience and support of my wife, I completed the program in December 1999. The goal was to be in the last graduating class from UNCC before the millennium.
It’s hard to believe that I’ve been away from BK for 40 years, but many memories still reflect through my mind. My favorites are those of Drama Club, and of Tom Donohue and Glee Club/King Singers. His hard work and mentoring inspired my continued years of sacred choral music participation since graduation. That was practiced at Old Saint Mary’s in downtown Rochester, St Anne’s Catholic and Western Presbyterian in Palmyra after getting married in 1972, two church choirs in Camden, Arkansas 1978-83, three church Chancel Choirs in Charlotte, NC 1984-2005, and finally at Third Presbyterian back in Rochester 2005 to present. My wife and I were even able to perform in the Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall in 2002, part of a 220 voice chorus performing Mozart’s “Requiem” under the direction of John Rutter.
Our younger son Mike and his wife Philomena (Mena) have been married for five years. He works as a Team Lead with Bass Pro Outdoor World’s fishing department in Auburn Hills, MI, she is the shipping/receiving manager with Borders Books in Sterling Heights. Mike’s also a bagpiper, and has placed second in piping competitions at the Livonia, MI Highland Games Grade 3 and Grade 2 Piobaireachd (classical piping). He plans to attempt Grade 1 in 2010. Mena’s a fabulous cook, being first generation Italian-American. She’s also very craft oriented. They both enjoy living history reenactments in the 1745-46 Scottish Civil War/Jacobite Rebellion period activities.
Photo 2: Mike and Mena 2004
Our older son Glenn and his wife Miranda are involved in the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronisms); not as period authentic as the Jacobite rebellion, but they have fun in pirate personas. Glenn is a web developer with a telecom firm in the Charlotte area, and Miranda’s a stay-at-home mom. We have two grandchildren Chance Morgan (5 y/o) and Rylee Paige (2 ½ y/o). Chance and Rylee keep them both hopping, and the grandkids are a joy to be around when we see them. You know, it’s the grandparents’ duty to spoil the kids and then give them back to their parents!
Photo 3: Glenn, Miranda, Chance, and Rylee at Letchworth State Park 2009
Janey retired from Bank of America after 18 years, and we’re both now consultants to the bank. She’s a Change Manager, and my latest role is a Technical Delivery and Service Delivery Manager for two major acquisitions. Janey’s hobby is quilting, and she’s quite good. I’m very proud of everything she’s accomplished with that art form.
Photo 4: Chance and Rylee at the Strong National Museum of Play, Rochester, NY 2009
As for me, my hobby is woodworking. My passions are furniture and turnings. I’m working on my own part-time company website “FlatTurnCreations” and hope to launch the site the beginning of next year. I’ve been a member of the Rochester Woodworkers Society since December 2005, and also served on their board of directors as workshop chairperson.
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