Howie Partch Wishes All a Happy Holiday
(posted 12/13/23) ANACORTES, WASHINGTON — One of my favorite vest pocket parks in the U.S. is Paley Park in NYC. The back wall is a waterfall at least in warmer months. Maybe some of you have been there. I also like it because the sound/smell of water partially drowns out the noise and odor of a big city. Good place to take a break w/ maybe a scone & latte!
Howard
PS: Actually sunny here [in Anacortes] this afternoon in the wet NW. Hope you all are looking forward to the holidays.
Classmate Helen Hopkins Has Passed at 82
(posted 11/9/23) DENVER, COLORADO — Helen Bonson Hopkins passed away November 5, 2023 at age 82.
Helen attended Roosevelt Junior High and all three years at West High and then Grduated from Denison University. She worked as a real estate assessor in Denver, Colorado for most of her working years.
While at West High, Helen was well known and very active in many school activities including Glee Club, A Cappella, JCL, Pep Club, GAA, Forum, ABL, Student Council, Publications, and performed in Wizard of Oz and Great Daze.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 11 am on Monday, November 13, 2023, at Greenwood Cemetery, 1011 Auburn Street, Rockford, Illinois 61103.
See Helen's obituary link for photos and more details.
Classmate Jack Daughtry Passed Away at Age 81
(posted 10/17/23) ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS — Jack Donald Daughtry has passed October 14, 2023 at age 81.
Jack attended Roosevelt Junior High and all three years at West graduating in 1959.
He started as a Tool & Die Maker for Atwood and later worked at National Lock and Chrysler plus his Auto Parts business.
He is survived by wife Judy Ann DalSanto who is also part of our class of 1959. They had been married for 60 years.
See Jack's obituary link for more details.
Classmate Rick Mayes Passed Away at 81
(posted 9/22/23) PROSPECT, KENTUCKY — We just learned that classmate Richard Frederick Mayes had passed February 21, 2023 at the age of 81. His wife Susan had passed from Parkinson's May 4, 2017 and her obituary was posted on this website 9/30/2018. They were married 53 years.
Rick attended Keith Country Day School and all three years at West graduating in 1959. At West he was an associate editor of the Owl Newspaper, a member of the Forum Club, and very active in intramural sports. He later graduated from Northwestern University where he majored in English.
It was at Northwestern that he met Susan (nee Spiller) and they were married in Evanston, IL in December 1963.
See Rick's obituary link for more details along with his 50th reunion biogrphy and photos.
Gary & Sharyn Sbragia Say Thanks for Memories
(posted 9/7/23) PARKER, COLORADO —
I need to tell the class of 1959 thank you. In the twilight years of our lives, we need to be thankful for the monumental changes, and moments in our lives. Moments that have effected us deeply, during the development of each one of us. I cannot tell you how much joy I find in my connections to our class of 59 website. Thank you to all of you still alive, as well as those who have passed. I miss them dearly. Thanks for my profound memories. Memories I received from you, about you, and with you. I have evolved in the blessings, and the memories I have every day.
I remember, back when we wrote the notes to each other, for our “50th reunion.” How interesting they were. Now each day, in the “Class of 59” website, I read about class members, especially in the obituaries. Not all of us have fond memories of those years. To them I apologize for anything I may have done, or did not do, for them. I’m sorry. As for myself, I didn’t know, until a few years ago, I am a dyslexic. I also probably had ADHD. I was blessed with D’S, and F’s in English. In addition, my gifts include having a photographic memory, (all my memories are pictures, in my head). Those were hard times for me, and in the way I learn. Now I can look back and see the miracles that have happened.
Sharyn “Simpson” Sbragia, “my wife of 62 years, both Class of 59’er’s,”and me, are truly thankful to you. With all of today’s trials, and tribulations, and in a world full of chaos, fear, and love, it is important to remind ourselves how fortunate we are to be alive. So many thoughts throughout the years, started during high school. It may remind us of what we have learned, and proudly, or not, remember. I hope that this note will encourage you to write about your memories from the class of “59”. It might also be cathartic. Please share some of your thoughts, memories, or pictures.
The picture of Mike Messman, and Howard Partch was uplifting to me. It reminded me when I was sitting next to Howie, during mechanical drawing class. He is one of the few people who knew, back then, what he wanted to be when he grew up. He wanted to be an architect. Low and behold he is. He believed that would happen and it did.
Mike Messman, and his wonderful wife, Rachel gifted us a large some of money when we needed it. We were loosing our business back during the 9/11/2000 crisis. We will always be thankful to them. Mike was also one of Sharyn’s old boy friends once. To this day, we are affected by our love for the class of 1959.
I want to thank the 1959 reunion committee, and Ron Ingrassia for updating the website. Ron and I were best of friends back then. We did many questionable things. Things that today, I would punish my two children, and ground them for Life for doing. It is my hope that many of you would continue, or to begin sharing your memories from our years in school with us. Good luck, and may God bless all of us who were the “class of 59er's.
P.S. any mistakes in spelling, grammar, or other misconceptions, I definitely blame on my dyslexia.
P.P.S anything I wrote in your yearbook was written, in “my own dyslexias language.” (Some day you should read my college love letters to Sharyn.)
Howard Parch Comments on Florida Storm Adalia
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(posted 8/29/23) ANACORTES, WASHINGTON —
Friends:
Batten down the hatches tonight. I imagine all of you will have some part of Idalia to deal with. I have a West High cousin in Key Largo so I assume he will be out of the path except for catching a few minor outer bands.
Out here in the Northwest we have had an uncommonly dry summer, but now are finally getting our Fall rains which will be good for tamping down the fires east & north of here.
Again, our best to all of you.
Howard & Serena
PS: we had dinner with the Messman’s two weeks last Saturday.
They were in a cross country road trip.
Classmate Judith Patterson Passed Away at Age 81
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(posted 8/27/23) ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS — Judith Ann (Patterson) Jones has passed August 25, 2023 at age 81.
Judith attended Roosevelt Junior High and all three years at West graduating in 1959.
She had been working in hospital food services at Rockford Memorial Hospital.
See Judith's obituary link for more details.
Classmate Curtis Wennerdahl Passed Away at 79
(posted 8/15/23) HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS — We just learned that classmate Curtis Lee Wennerdahl passed on January 7, 2021 at the age of 79. Curtis had a long battle with cancer and died near the beginning of covid-19.
Curt attended Roosevelt Junior High and all three years at West graduating in 1959. At West he was active with ROTC and played Saxaphone in the Band. He later received a BA from Rockford College, a Masters of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Illinois-Chicago.
See Curt's obituary link for more details.
Classmate Pearly Mae Thompson Has Passed at 82
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(posted 8/14/23) ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS — Pearly Mae (Thompson) Hawks passed away August 4, 2023 at age 82.
Pearly attended Washington Junior High and all three years at West High and then Rock Valley College. She worked as manager of Operator Services at AT&T for 30 years before retiring. She also was the owner/operator of Matties Four Seasons Boutique. In high school she was active in GAA, Student Council, Knights of the Turntable, and the May Festival.
Pearly was married to Archie Hawks for 45 years before he died March 31, 2011. Archie's obituary can be found on this website in the archives (scroll to end of this page and follow the links).
Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 18, 2023 at Pilgrim Baptist Church 1703 S. Central Ave. Burial in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Arrangements completed by Carl E. Ponds Funeral Home Inc. 200 N. Johnston Ave.
See Pearly's obituary link for photos and more details.
Classmate Harrietta Jennings Passed Away at Age 81
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(posted 7/22/23) MACHESNEY PARK, ILLINOIS — We just learned that Harrietta Mae (Jennings) Terrell had passed away October 31, 2022 at age 81.
Harrietta attended Roosevelt Junior High and all three years at West. She later volunteered her time teaching children at Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.
She is survived by her husband Alvin H. Terrell Jr. They were married for over 52 years living most of that time in Machesney Park.
See Harrietta's obituary link for photos and more details.
Classmate Lynn Blair Passed Away at Age 82
(posted 6/20/23) ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS — Lynn Edward Blair passed away June 19, 2023 at the age of 82.
Lynn attended Barbour Elementary, Washington Junior High and graduated from West.
See Lynn's obituary link for more details.