News
Steve Levitt and the Beatles Ensemble perform for Chicago Marathon runners 1
I Saw Her Standing There/Back In The USSR In the never ending pursuit of the Beatles Ensemble to bring the music of the Beatles to the masses, this Old Town School of Folk Music ensemble performs at the 2011 Chicago Marathon. On this perfect autumn day the music inspired the runners and entertained the spectators. …
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PDF Update from Steve Meyer 0
Steve was disappointed that he couldn’t make it to the reunion this year, and sends this report: It was so nice of Betsy, Rick, and Scott to keep me in the loop and allow me to experience the reunion vicariously. I have now reconnected with Scott Seidner, a very close friend from our Parker days. …
Read MoreReunion 2011: Recap 4
On a September weekend in 2011, the class of ’71 gathered in Chicago. Going in, we had no idea it would be such a moving experience. 33 of us took part and another 4 were last-minute scratches (see list below). As far as we know, it’s the most ever for a Parker 40th reunion. 4 hours …
Read MorePrincipal Dan Frank on our Media Program workshop 0
Here’s what Parker principal Dan Frank wrote to the Parker faculty after attending our Media Program workshop with Bill Idol, part of Reunion 2011: Dear Faculty Colleagues: Here is a great story. A story about something that happened at the Parker Alumni Reunion this weekend. I would have preferred to tell you in person but …
Read MoreThe Wisdom of the Non-Rational: Revisiting Parker’s ‘Media Program’ 44 Years Later 0
It was Mr. Idol back then. In the 1967-68 school year, the Class of ’71 – as 9th graders – took part in Parker’s “Media Program,” which was a multimedia curriculum spearheaded by Bill Idol and taught by Bill and several other faculty members. In September of 2011, we gathered at the school with Bill (via Skype …
Read MoreGardy Stern on Bill Idol’s “Propaganda” Class 0
As Gardy was unable to attend Reunion 2011, James Marienthal read this for him at the workshop held Saturday, September 24th, 2011, “The Wisdom of the Non-Rational: Revisiting Parker’s ‘Media Program’ 40 Years Later.” I was honored when asked to record a few of my recollections about the “media curriculum” program. I remember it as …
Read MoreNote from Skip with cameo by Henry and Gardy 1
Skip can’t be with us for reunion this time, but sends this report: Greetings classmates. I wish I could join you this weekend, but events have conspired against it. I can’t believe I will miss the return of some old old friends that I have not seen in a long time, leaving me without the …
Read MoreNote from Robert DeBlois 0
Betsy got this note from Robert to share with us all: Betsy, thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful invitation. Regretfully because of obligations that weekend at my irish pub [big home game] I will not be able to attend any of the festivities in Chicago. I have been thinking of all of you …
Read MoreNote from Crist 0
Crist Stevenson says he probably won’t be making it to reunion this time, but sent this note to update us on his move from the Chicago area to Iowa: I have been working as a clinical psychologist, divorced and dating here in the Quad Cities, for a little over two years. I like all aspects …
Read MoreNote from Frank Koszyk 0
Jane Rosenbluth Baldwin has corresponded with Frank, who will be traveling and miss our 40th reunion, but shared an update for this website: It’s nice to hear from you and happy to know you are doing well. I’m happy to share as well. “Frank” – ?? I think people outside of FWP were calling me …
Read More2011 Update from Jane Ellison 0
Jane sent us this update in August of 2011: I am unable to attend the reunion this year and hope it goes well. This past year, as you probably know, mom passed away after a difficult four years battling dementia. David and I and all our children plus our various spouses, met in Martha’s Vineyard …
Read MoreRicky’s 2011 Bio 2
Life as a Mashup All my life I’ve benefitted from odd combinations that have chosen to stick together. It began with my parents. My Dad was one of five sons in a Jewish immigrant family on the south side of Chicago. My mother’s parents were Baptist sharecroppers from Southern Indiana. They built on that mashup …
Read MoreBetsy’s 2011 Update 0
Betsy writes: Still sailing (and won the women’s national championship which was wonderful), raised an enjoyable 23 year old who is working for AmeriCorps in Philly and begins his PhD in Shakespeare at Northwestern in the fall (we need another Shakespeare scholar?), have taken charge of my Dad’s care (he has dementia and doesn’t understand …
Read MoreJane Rosenbluth Baldwin’s 2011 Update 2
Jane has enjoyed sharing with her sons the excitement of the worlds Edie Pattou created in her books, thinking about the twisted beauty of the art Mary Hines makes, and joining the hordes of Steve Levitt’s fans at the Old Town School of Folk Music. She spent 15 years as an actively involved Parker parent, and has just resigned …
Read MoreBill Idol on tap for Reunion: here are your Propaganda mimeos 0
Ours was Mr. Idol’s last high school class. He’s excited to be joining us for reunion weekend. He will be bring with him some of the projects we created for his classes. (Yes, he’s kept them all these years…) To help get you in the mood, you can download Mr. Idol’s handouts from his Propaganda class, which …
Read More2011 Update from Isolde 1
Hi Everyone, I’d forgotten about this website and kept wondering, when I read the print version of FWP’s alumni news, why we never had any news there from our class. In brief, since the last reunion I attended [1991], I earned a PhD from Northwestern and now teach Communication at Hope College in Michigan. My …
Read MoreThe Story of Rod, Julie and David 0
This story comes from the 2005 Annual Report (PDF) of the Cradle Foundation, an adoption agency. Rod Nesbitt and Julie Parson-Nesbitt live in a comfortable, toy-filled home in Chicago’s West Rogers Park neighborhood, an area known for its diversity. This is important to them because, as Rod explains, “our principles really are to be inclusive…that’s part …
Read MoreReunion Update: Using Google as a verb 0
Jane Rosenbluth Baldwin has been putting Google through its paces. Jane found a certain Karen Thanos living in Switzerland. Just the right age. Could it be the Karen that spent 9th and 10th grades with us? Yup, it’s her, and she still visits Chicago regularly to see her dad. She’s planning to make a visit …
Read MoreNews from Gary Goldblatt 0
[Gary was part of our class in grade school] My family moved to Wilmette for my 6th grade. Graduated from New Trier in 1972. Played Varsity Football and ran track, Graduated Indiana University in 1976, Marketing/Adv degree. Married a Bloomington girl, Denise, still married after 35 years, moved to Cinci for first job then to …
Read MoreKaren Thanos 2011 Update 0
Jane Rosenbluth Baldwin did some sleuthing on the Web and was able to track down Karen, who has been living in Europe for 30 years. Her dad still lives in Chicago, so she is hoping to make a visit that coincides with our reunion in September, 2011. Here are some excerpts from notes from Karen. I …
Read MorePatti Wilson, 1953–2010 0
Patricia Anne Rosas From the press clippings: Patricia Anne Rosas died on Dec. 23, 2010, at the age of 57. She was a bright, compassionate, gentle person who contributed enormously to the Santa Cruz River Valley community. She will be sorely missed. She lived in Rio Rico, which is South of Tucson, not far from …
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