On February 16, Kristy Kable Smith retired after more than 35 years of teaching a counseling. Here is her note to the class:

"Over my long, happy career, I've loved teaching/counseling over 10,000 students! Each student has been special to me. I have been lucky and blessed to have been their teacher/guidance counselor. Also, I have been honored and humbled to have received many significant awards for my work w/ my students in teaching, "regular" guidance counseling, and college counseling.

As my UA '69 classmates might remember, I graduated a year early from OSU. My first job was as a language arts middle school teacher in the Groveport-Madison Local Schools, from the 1972-73 school year to 1980-1981.

When Courtney was born, I stopped teaching full time, but from 1981-1986, I taught night school in Whitehall City School's adult education program ..."

Read Kristy's entire note here

When Craig Robinson saw Jeff Stevenson's picture labeled as second grade at Tremont, he wrote to let me know that it's not the second grade; it's fifth grade.

Also, Craig reminded me that in 2004, he sent a collection of class photos from Wickliffe and Tremont Schools, and identified a lot of the students in each picture, including Jeff's photo which is actually the fifth grade (I have fixed that error).

During our senior year, we havd an exchange student named Roberto Santucci in our class (pictured at left). Did you know Roberto? Can you provide any information about him, his home town, where he went after he left UAHS, or where he might be now?

Ginger Richards is planning a trip to Italy and her tour guide has the last name of Santucci; Ginger is wondering if there could be a family connection there, even though Santucci may be a common name in Italy.

If you have any information about Roberto Santucci, please email it to Ginger Richards and to me, and I'll update this part of the Web site if we learn anything. Thank you!

Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo reprised their characters for a 15-minute short film, Hotel Hell Vacation, for HomeAway.com, an online vacation rental marketplace.

The commercial aired during the Super Bow, on February 7.

You can see the HomeAway page devoted to "Hotel Hell Vacation" here. (Thanks to Harry Gard, who sent the link!)
  

Linda Kelsey Simonds posted some Barrington class photos on the UA69 Facebook page, and she has identified the teachers and students. Stop by and see if you remember these good old days! Thank you, Linda!

Visit the US69 Facebook page

From Jeff Stevenson:

I finally figured out a way to take my dad's old 8mm film home movies and put them on my computer. I have been working on it for over a year, but I spent most of that time trying to find and old 8mm film projector, and the rest of it was spent saving $ for a new computer and procrastinating. Anyway, one of the reels has a movie of a Boy Scout camping trip that must have happened around the same time frame as the pic you posted of Mark Bright.

There are lots of Class of '69ers in the movie, some of whom are in the pic with Mark. Lots of hams! I thought our classmates might have fun watching it and seeing themselves and their friends when they were kids - being kids. There are also some dads in the movie who are a lot younger in the movie than we are now.

Larry Wiley sent in two pictures from Wickliffe Elementary and thought it would be fun to try to identify these students. He also provided us with thecorresponding blank faces numbered, so that we can fill in the blanks. If you know who any of the kiddos are, please email me and I will post the namesin the right spots. Thanks to Larry for sending these along!

You can click each photo to enlarge it slightly.

Linda Nolan Szymanski has recently launched a new business called Salts of the 7 Seas. Linda's longtime love of and talent for cooking, and her appreciation and knowledge of gourmet foods and wines led her to begin exploring the world of natural sea salts, which not only are more flavorful than ordinary table salt, but also have numerous health benefits.

Linda is offering a wide selection of gourmet natural salts, sold either in sets or individually, on her new Web site, SaltsOfThe7Seas.com. You can read about the health benefits of these fine quality gourmet sea salts, and purchase the salts either in sets or individually. Did you know that natural sea salts can help you maintain the proper pH in your system to help your immune system better fight off the most serious diseases? Visit Linda's Web site to find out more about her Salts of the 7 Seas and how they are not only delicious, but also are beneficial to our health!

From Sharon Bonnie Judah:

For the Love of Anna

There is a little girl named Anna who is safe, warm and fed today. Less than a month ago she was huddled, cold, starving and unloved on the streets of Transnistria, a region in Eastern Europe. In jail for prostitution, her mother had given Anna to her aunt. Anna's aunt, in turn, decided to sell her into a life of prostitution ... for just $20. At five years of age and weighing only 25 pounds, this eventuality would have been an atrocity, but God’s Grace intervened.

Anna was rescued by one of Christian Broadcasting Network's (CBN) ministry team members, who bought her and placed her in a Christian orphanage in Transnistria where she is being nurtured and loved by compassionate caregivers. Anna now dances and eats and plays with other rescued children.

Unfortunately, Anna’s story is not an isolated incident. There are many children like Anna in Transnistria, one of the poorest countries in the world. Partly due to the economics of this region, parents unable to secure employment, abandon their children, and travel to the Ukraine hoping to find work. Other than prostitution, many orphaned children are used by drug lords to smuggle narcotics. These children are forced to swallow drug-filled condoms to transport out of the region. If they refuse, their feet are placed in concrete and they are tossed into the river to drown as an example to other children.

These stories are hard to hear, devastating actually, yet; they have moved us into action. With funds from my late husband, Steve’s estate, our family felt compelled to purchase a building now called, The Judah House, that will house 75 children. We are in the process of restoring this building by adding heat, electricity, and water. Orphan's Promise, a non-profit organization, has generously partnered with this project and will match any funds we raise, dollar for dollar! Extraordinary!

I am inviting you to join me in supporting the restoration of the Judah House by writing a tax deductible check, payable to CBN. Add the project number, #034642 in the memo line to insure that the check is designated for the orphanage. This is a unique opportunity to double the impact of your charitable donation and most importantly to save the lives of “the least of these”. We have raised $29,674 as of today; with Orphan’s Promise matching funds we are thrilled to have $59,348 of the $100,000 needed to complete the building restoration.

The Pastor associated with our orphanage has orchestrated much of the positive development taking place in Transnistria. Pastor Yuri and his wife, Oksana have exciting plans for a training center that will offer Spiritual insight, guidance and life training to the parents of our orphans, the orphans themselves and others in the community. They have purchased the land and broken ground to begin this project. The hope is to change the culture and transform lives for now and eternity.

Please take five minutes and watch this video.

Thank you for your consideration.

May God lead you,
Sharon Bonnie Judah

Please make check payable to "CBN" and include the project number #034642 in the memo line. Then, send your check to:

Sharon Judah
2112 Sandover Court
Columbus, Ohio 43220

If you have questions, please email Sharon or call her at 614-402-1477.

Art Underwood was recently named Chief Operating Officer of Saudi Re, an international reinsurance corporation located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. For the past thirty years, Art has worked in this field all over the world, as a partner in ReSources, as a senior underwriter for Arch Re in Bermuda, as Vice-President for International Treaty for F&G Re here in the US, and a Facultative Manager for Compagnie Europeenne de Reassurance in Paris, France. Congratulations to Art on this professional accomplishment! See the letter announcing his new position.

From Donna Sell Kohlhepp:

My husband Dan and I just completed a 30 day, 11400 mile road trip to Alaska and back. It had been a dream of Dan's to drive the Alaska Highway since high school. It was a great trip! We blogged our adventures at alcanorbust.blogspot.com (Donna's journal) and dansalcan.blogspot.com (Dan's emails to friends).

Did you know ...

*Every 8 seconds a child dies from a waterborne disease?
*50% of worldwide infant mortality is due to water related disease?
*1.2 billion people are at risk of contracting disease by drinking
water?
*Approximately 80% of diseases in the world comes from unclean water?

But did you know ... that you have the ability to change this?

Hi Class of '69. I was honored to work an auction last weekend that raised $100,000 to provide fresh water around the world. I'd like to challenge our class to join this effort. If you'd like to contribute, just send me a check made out to Widow's Mite. One well or 5 cisterns cost $1800. any amount would be welcomed. Thank you!

Sharon Bonnie Judah
2112 Sandover Court
Columbus, Ohio 43220
Email Sharon

Congratulations to Sherry Sopp Smith, who was married on Friday, September 25 to Michael Peterson, who is a cattle farmer and raises black angus. Sherry says that she is getting accustomed to the farm life, and really enoys it!

TO SHERRY AND MICHAEL - All our best for a wonderful life together!

Sent in by Bob Wiseman: The cover story in the September issue of Columbus Monthly, "Municipal Court - Rating the Judges," details a poll by the Columbus Bar Association. The article answers the question - who are the best and worst judges in the state's busiest court? And tied for The Best is UA69 classmate, Anne Taylor. CONGRATULATIONS, ANNE!!!

Read the article here
You can email Anne here

The photos taken at the 2009 Reunion are in KodakGallery slideshows. Just click the icon for each party to see the pictures from that event. It takes a moment for these slideshows to load, because there are a LOT of pictures! If you can help me fill in the missing names, designated by "___" please email me and indicate which slideshow it is, and which number photo you can identify. THANK YOU!

Please visit Bearalums.com, the official Web site of the Upper Arlington Alumni Association. Please make sure you're a member of UAAA, and also please check that your name and email address are listed there and are current and correct.

The Alumni Association keeps a database of thousands of graduates of our high school and helps reunion chairmen send mailings to their classmates. UAAA publishes a newsletter, Traditions, for all members, full of information and news about UAHS alumni.

Our class is amazing! Joanie Igel Dugger, Assistant Director of the UA Alumni Association, sent me this list of classmates from 1969 who have joined the Alumni Association at the two top levels: Life Member, and Golden Bear Member. Please show your support of this great school system by joining. You can do it by clicking right here. Thank you!

There are other symptoms of an heart attack besides the pain on the left arm. One must also be aware of an intense pain on the chin, as well as nausea and lots of sweating, however these symptoms may also occur less frequently.

Note: There may be no pain in the chest during a heart attack. The majority of people (about 60%) who had an heart attack during their sleep, did not wake up. However, if it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sleep. If that happens, immediately dissolve two aspirins in your mouth and swallow them with a bit of water..

- CALL 911

- Do NOT lie down.

- Unlock the front door. Afterwards:

- phone a neighbor or a family member who lives very close by

- say "heart attack!"

- say that you have taken 2 aspirins.

- take a seat on a chair or sofa near the front door, and wait for their arrival and....

~ Do NOT lie down ~

A Cardiologist has stated that, if each person, after receiving this information, sends it to 10 people, probably one life can be saved!

While we were having our 40-year reunion, Garry Hall, Jeff Stevenson, and Nick Kaparos were taking a long-planned motorcycle tour of the West. They had a great time, and Garry sent some photos to share. You can see the pictures here.

Hi All, Some of you were able to make it back to Columbus for the Class of 1969's 40 Year Homecoming. With the photos of each event now posted on the class site, it has reminded me of all of you who were in the one class which had the most memories for me from all my experiences within the Upper Arlington educational system. Thought you all might like a copy of our Fishinger first grade class with Mrs. Bullock, and the Windermere third grade class. Hope to see all of you in 5 years! See the photos here. ~ Michael O'Rourke

At the reunion golf outing, the foursome made up of Jay Moffitt, Phil Cardi, Dave Bruck, and Frank Guglieimi donated their winnings to the Friendship Fund. Thank you!

Read more about the Friendship Fund here.

Bob Russell's middle son, Matt Russell, is currently in Iraq running an EOD unit. He has compiled this very interesting blog that Bob wanted to share with the class. Matt is a Washington Bayhawks lacrosse goalie and 1st Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps stationed in Baghdad, Iraq since March.

Bob now lives in Connecticut, but when he lived in UA, he was among a group who started the first lacrosse club at UA.

Read Bob's son Matt Russell's blog from Iraq here.

In his bio on the Classmates Then and Now page, John Neale talks about his interest in competing in triathlons. He wrote: " In my free time, I have become a runner (I did the Columbus Marathon in 1987), bicyclist, and triathlete. In 1998, I was the Rocky Mountain Regional Masters Champion at the Olympic distance triathlon for USA Triathlon, the national sanctioning body. Last year (2008), I succeeded in crossing the #1 item off my bucket list by competing in and finishing an Ironman triathlon in Tempe, Arizona (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run)."

See the video of the Ironman Triathlon here.
Read John's bio and other classmates' bios here.

Submitted by Rick Gregg:

Our own Eugene Beer was featured in June's issue of the Short North Gazette for his work as the "Piano Peddler." Eugene entertains crowds at festivals, fundraisers and other community events with his piano-on-a-bicycle talents.

Eugene began this brand of entertainment in 1997 and has appeared at ComFest, the Doo Dah parade, Race for the Cure, the Columbus Arts Festival, Gallery Hope the Columbus Marathon and other such events.

Eugene rode in front of or behind our UA69 float in the Upper Arlington Fourth of July parade this year, and we think that his performance helped us win the UACA Best Reunion Float Award!!!

Steve Holloway has published his second book, Canadian Foreign Policy: Defining the National Interest. Though designed for college courses on foreign policy, the book serves as a good general introduction to Canada, its role in the world and its relations with the US.

Steve is currently chair of the Political Science Department at St. Francis Xavier University, in beautiful Nova Scotia. StFXU is a small liberal arts college (about 4000 students) which has frequently been ranked as the best small university in Canada. More information about the book and ordering can be found on Amazon.com or on this link.

See Steve Holloway's amazing (and huge!) collection of photos and scans of school programs from Hastings and UAHS.

Ever want to listen to some songs from the old days? With this online jukebox, you can choose a year and listen to the top 20 songs from that year. Here are the song selections from our junior high, high school, and college years: 1964, 1965,1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973

They have jukeboxes for other years, too - just type in the year you want in the address bar.

Terry Streng's son, Matt Streng, is an outstanding first baseman on the Ohio State University baseball team. Matt, an OSU sophomore and UAHS alum, is making his own name by batting .328 with eight home runs and 31 RBI. You may remember that Terry Streng was a great baseball player during his days at UAHS and then at OSU.

See the article about Matt Streng in the Dispatch, which tells of the long legacy of baseball in the Streng family.