HKIS Alumni Updates

It's twenty-six years since I left HKIS (officially class of '74, but met all graduation requirements at the end of 11th grade in '73) and I guess it's about that time of life when you are curious and reflective enough to join the "what ever happened to" brigade. I see that my sisters and brother on the list, so what the hey...! I have remained friends with Shari Laubach and Lynne (Kirk) Levinson through the years, and with Bill Flanegin, who's memory I cherish, and only recently lost touch with Laurie (Taylor) Peck and Lydia Nelson.

Having shared the experience of coming of age in the unique time and temper of Hong Kong in the late sixties and early seventies is certainly a tie that can bind. And the experience of growing up in a culturally diverse environment and having the opportunity to travel kept me on the move for ten years following. I lived in London, Wisconsin, Chicago, France, and Los Angeles before finally moving to New York City and subsequently, to my current home in Bloomf ield, New Jersey. Where?

Exactly...who would have guessed? I am married with children (two girls, aged 4 and 16 months), had a 15 year career in television production, and am now switching gears to work as a teacher.

That's my story, if anyone is interested...what's yours

Barbara STONE Fehler '74

Greetings to all!
This is Barbara (Stone) Fehler '74 and I am delighted to be on this list!!! How do we get a comprehensive list of who is on this one???

A short bio: I moved back to the states in '72, the summer before junior year in High School - bad timing! I graduated h.s. a semester early, worked and attended jr. college. On to University of Illinois that Fall, after 1 1/2 years, quit school to get married (oops!) Two years later we divorced - no children,thank goodness.

Moved to Denver, Colorado where my parents and brother Roger had relocated in 1978. I have been here ever since.

I worked as a waitress while attending University of Colorado at Denver. Married again August of 1981, had two kids within the first 3 years, continued to work on a degree! Worked a variety of part-time jobs as well. FINALLY finished my BA in May of 1992, one year of work for a marketing firm, then back to school to get my MAin Counseling.

Worked in a domestic adoption agency, then as a GED teacher in a local high school, then BACK to school to complete required coursework for licensure as a High School Counselor. Meanwhile, took on teaching English classes at the same school, with an substitute authorization certificate!

About to begin my second year teaching - IB English for 9th graders this time! - and will bid on counseling positions for fall 2000 as they come open in the system! Through all of this edumacation, am raising 2 incredible teens - Liz is 17,will be a senior next week, and Scott who is 15 and entering his sophomore year.

Been through a multitude of animals along the way, currently have two grown female cats and two 12 week old male kittens - working towards my "old lady with the cats" days! Just divorced last week - yes, again! Not sure I'll ever know personally whether the "3rd time's the charm" or not!!!

Enjoyed getting to know old classmates from HKIS two weeks ago - looking forward to next year's reunion in DC - a MUST for everyone - so great to be together, and what better place to spend the 4th of the year 2000 than the nation's capitol???

Hope to see you there!!!
PS Write to me and let me know what is happening in your world!!!

Ken KOO ‘78

Hi everyone from the Class of '79 !
After 20 years, better reintroduce myself again, this is Ken Koo and I just wanted to drop a brief note to say "hi" and hope that after we've all left HKIS 20 years ago, we'll enter the new Millennium with a tighter class network to keep in touch.

After returning to HK in '83 to start working in the family business, I married in '87 and started a family right away. I've got 3 kids (Emily - 11,Eddie - 9 and Ellen- 5). Emily and Eddie started school in HKIS and it's pretty neat seeing the 2nd generation going back to our ol' school and seeing some of the faculty still around.

I'll never forget running into Mr. & Mrs. Voeltz in front of Planet Hollywood in Kowloon about 3 years ago. I was leaving with my kids and practically ran headlong into them. They were freakin' out also..first time I met Mr. Voeltz was when I was in Junior High !

My two sisters, Sandra (Class of '78) and Stephanie (Class of '79) are living in the San Francisco and Chicago respectively. Sandra's married to Brent Smith (also Class of '78), she has 3 kids and Stephanie's got two.

I'm currently assigned to Singapore where I've been for the past 2 years. One more year and I move back to HK and the kids go back to their old school.

During the past 16 years that I've been back, I've seen a number of alumni coming and going. Bill Keimig was working in HK from around '83 till '86. We hung out together and played some hoops during the weekend. Steve Rahmanan (Class of '77) dropped by a couple of times.

In my own class, I keep in touch with York Wang who's living in the Bay Area and has 2 kids. We meet up at least once a year. I only managed to talk to Theo Janssen on the phone once when we were moving into Singapore and he was moving out. I keep in touch with Paul Ho on the e-mail. He's living in L.A. and just had their first kid. I heard Marie Bendy and Kevin Kwok's living in San Francisco as well. Just haven't been able to get in touch although I know my sister Sandra talks to her.

Heard that Mrs. Chern is also back teaching at HKIS.

I can't say that I've been any good at keeping in touch with people. We just reached our Class's 20th Anniversary. It was too bad that this passed kind of quietly (unless I wasn't aware of any reunions around this time). Not alot of people from our "era" that one can see in either one of the HKIS campuses anymore. Wonder if people our age hangs out at the X'mas Tournament anymore ?

If anyone gets this e-mail, drop me a line and we can stay in touch. For the rest of my stay at Singapore, I can be reached at : Tel : (65) 835-0877Fax: (65) 235-0550 (H) (65) 339-3930 (O) E-mail :kenkoo@attmysite.com
Take care and hope to see some of yourselves soon !
Best regards!

Jim HOFFMANN ‘79

Hey Ken,I have been all over the globe since then but have landed in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. One daughter and one wife. I help developing businesses in the technology/international markets. I see Dan McKinney often.

Kerry PRIELIPP ‘75

Hello former classmates -
I'm just starting a 3-month sabbatical from my job w/ Oracle and have no "major" plans other than some quiet and reflective time. That being said, I am curious to know if any of my wanderings during the next 90 days will bring me near your neck of the woods.

The rough schedule calls for a couple of weeks in the mountains of Colorado, Wyoming, and weather permitting, Montana. Then I'll be in Italy for a little while. After that, it's pretty wide open. Potentially a road trip through the Midwest, on to the Washington DC area, then down to Florida to see my parents, and back across the Gulf coast to El Paso, TX before some camping and biking in Utah on the way back to Colorado.

Tami WHITROCK Lamb ‘77

As a "tractor brat" (my Dad was with Caterpillar- there were a lot of us at HKIS!!) I am revelling in the nostalgia!!! Please Email me back if you remember me- I had to move back to the states WAY too soon!!

I still have all my yearbooks- and I even have a high school uniform (that I could never fit into now) hanging up in my closet. (I can still get into my PE uniform top though- but its starting to get holes in it.)

I saved so much junk- incense and money from the "hell" bank (to burn for the dead) and a couple of exam books and even some of my elementary school sports day ribbons. (remember when we had to go out with all those other schools and run around like fiends? Not fun for the un-athletic!)

Its funny how HK still pulls me back- I consider that I grew up there.....and wish that I could give my kids the same freedoms that we had. (NO WAY would I EVER let my 12 year old take a train to any where by herself - I get nervous letting her go in the mall.)

Life in the fast lane awaits- it sure is great reading all of the letters- hope to hear more.
Tami (Whitrock) Lamb- (would have been class of '77 if we hadn't transferred back to the states.)

Ken KOO ‘78

Hi Jim,Great to hear from you again !!! I guess "long time no see" is an understatement. I used to see Dan McKinney when he was (or is he still) in Hong Kong. Can you give me his address/e-mail ? Take care and will keep in touch.

Jim HOFFMANN ‘78

danmckinney@compuserve.com

Bill STEAGALL ‘75

All,
It has been a wonderful experience reading all your emails, and remembering with fondness our shared memories. While I must admit that I don't remember most of the names, there is a familiarity to the stories, the rhymes, the treasures, and everything else.

Someone wrote about looking up at the airplanes landing at Kai Tak, and it reminded me that by coincidence I had a business trip that allowed me to be one of the last people to fly out of Kai Tak.

My first visit back to Hong Kong was empty. It was almost painful. So much had changed. But I finally came to the realization that it was not the changes that were difficult for me, it was the fact that the people that I knew and loved were no longer there.

The Hong Kong environment was certainly unique, and something we will never forget nor duplicate, but it was the the friends, the teachers, the neighbors, and the things we did together that really made the experience what it was.

Thanks to all of you for all of this. The memories, these are the true treasures.

I would love to hear from some of you. I noticed Marcus Woo on the list and would love to hear what he has been doing. I would also like very much to know if anyone has kept in touch with Steve L. Smith ('75).

As for me, I interrupted my studies at BYU to serve a 2 year mission for the LDS church. After graduating in Electrical Engineering, I joined the US Air Force, where I worked for about 4 years, during which time I married Melissa, my best friend and life's companion.

I returned to Utah for graduate studies(MSEE) and have been here for 13 years now. I work for L-3 Communications,where I am the Senior International Product Manager (some day I will figure out what that title means) for a fixed wireless telephone product. Really I'm just a design engineer gone bad.

We have six children (is this a class record?) Alicia (13), Marta (11), John (9), Emily (7), Elizabeth (3), and Robert (1). We love camping, biking (as in bicycles), wind surfing, and just generally playing. Alicia and I just got our open water SCUBA certificates this summer (in Cancun), and I am a private pilot.
Thanks again,

Howard HSU ‘78

Hi! This is Howard Hsu from the Class of '78 (the class of the unknown alumni).
You guys are beginning to scare me. All this time I thought everyone had halos. And Mr. Kohl! I had classes with you.

Not to worry, I understand everyone's need for memorabilia. I miss the place too. I would share some of my "memorabilia", but I'm waiting for the statue of limitations to expire on a couple of things.

I do remember Mr. Meyers personally voting Ike (Eric Eichelberger, Class'78) and I as the most likely to be arrested. Close, Mr. Meyers, but nocigar.

In actuality, I've turned into Ward Cleaver. Currently I am an IPA (Independent Physicians Association) Manager. In a nut shell I manage HMO contracts and operations for everyone's favorite form of health care-managed care.

Coincidentally, Cindi Webb Wingfield (Class of '78, say something Cindi!)is an RN and running a surgical practice. She's going through what I normally dish out. And Ike and his wife work IN LAW FIRMS (I love irony)!!!

I've relocated to Thousand Oaks, California in July. I've got two daughters: Natalie age 6 and Amanda age 3. The funny thing about being a father, I've only just recounciled the fact I am a father this year. I guess I've had a hard time overcoming the mental conditioning and training to avoid being a father. They’re great. I actually enjoy being manipulated by a 3 year old's smile.

I'm having a hard time placing names with faces. My stuff was at my parent's place in HK. When they retired and moved to San Francisco, they tossed out my stuff! Unsentimental lot. Any extra copies of yearbooks out there?

I still have a few things like: a Hellraiser silk jacket, gym shorts,switchblade (oops), a few Mao buttons, and a couple of scars. OK, enough sharing.

Has anyone heard from Walter Schmidt (PE teacher), Randy Bright (Class of'78 even though he left a year early), or Luann LeMaster (I think she left early for Class of '78?)?

Dave KOHL faculty

Howard Hsu...I remember you very well from Art Class. Is Jacki your sister? I was a great pleasure to teach so many of you neat kids from so many backgrounds, and the good times at the Yacht Club - places I could never afford to belong to - when a student would host us teachers there.

Howard HSU ‘78

Yes, Jackie is my sister. Thanks for the compliment. I had a great time in your class too. Though I don't remember any signifcant works of art coming from me. And I do remember the Yacht Club.

The best story I have is when Ike (Eric Eichelberer '78), George Getsinger (would have been '78 but left early), and I were having either lunch there. Ike and ordered escargot.When the food arrived, George thought the escargot smelled really good and wanted to try it. While he was munching away, he asked what is in escargot. Ike and I waited till just after he swallowed before telling him. The poor guy gagged, turned green, and drank a pitcher of water.

Marcus WOO ‘75

Some news about myself to fill in the gaps:
I returned to Asia about 10 years ago after some 8 and a half years of college, graduate school and law school in the Midwest, 3 years off living in China and Switzerland, and a few years at the start of my professional life in New York City as an Assistant DA in and then in private law practice.

I am married to Shou-Ling Wu, who agreed to marry me on condition that I not force her to change her name from Wu to Woo, ...or for that matter, to Wu-Woo. What can I say, I agreed under the circumstances.

We now have a daughter Ting-Wei (now 10, born in New York) and a son Shang-Wei (5), born here in Taipei. Luckily for our children, we decided to give them the surname of their paternal (that's me) grandfather -- "Young".

A little historical background is required. My grandfather Young emigrated from Zhongshan, China to San Francisco, California in 1921(?) during the period prior to repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act and did so under an assumed name as a "paper son" (i.e., with a passport of a fictious offspring of a "Woo", purchased on the black market in Hong Kong).

What I do for a living? No, I did not succeed in becoming aprofessional violinist. I am now a partner with the US (Seattle-based) law firm Perkins Coie. We are 450 lawyers worldwide with offices in all the Westcoast states, as well as Denver and Washington, D.C. We also have two Asia offices, one in Hong Kong and one in Taipei.

I am one of 22 lawyers resident in the Taipei office but have a regional corporate and commercial practice which takes me frequently to Hong Kong, China and Southeast Asia. In fact, I work out of our Hong Kong office quite frequently.

I have a particular practice focus on representing Western companies in telecoms and high tech industries, but I've also represented aerospace and interactive entertainment software companies.

On the personal side, I'm at the point in my professional life that I treasure more the time outside of work (the few hours that I have at home). I take my kids biking and swimming frequently. We are all avid bikers and we live on the side of the Yangmingshan National Park where we frequent the many mountain bike trails. I treasure the family time. I only wish more of my childhood friends were nearby.

Music is still a part of my everyday existence. Though I've started practicing the violin again and have acquired a better instrument recently, a 50 year old Italian fiddle, the real music maker in the family is my wife, who is Assistant Conductor of the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, and concurrently the Director of the Taipei Symphony Orchestra Choir. Though I aspire in my dreams to be a violinist, my practice sessions are usually abruptly ended when one of my kids start complaining that the high notes are hurting his/her ears. At least I (emphasis added) thought I sounded good.

Living in Taipei, I run into Peter Chworowsky from time to time (his office is within walking distance). I've also seen Jim Templeton, though less frequently. Jim and we were practically neighbors for a while until we moved to a new neighborhood.

In HK I run into Tara Whitehill (my friend of 40 years from kindergarten through college) from time to time, but I actually have more occasion to bump into her husband Paul Woodward in various airports in China.

I very much enjoyed the last HKIS reunion where I got reacquainted with Judi Porter, Kerry Prielipp, Chris Cole et. al. and stuffed ourselves at the American Restaurant in Wanchai. And I do hope there will be other occasions in the future for such heart warming events.

Hope to hear from more of you about your lives and thoughts.
Warm regards,

Amir CHITAYAT ‘76

I am in NY, happily married with 2 kids and working too hard running a robotics company.
Tel: w: 516 231 1995 x 281
H: 516 754 5267
Regards.

John DEWENTER ‘76

Unbelievable all the messages coming through. Haven't had a chance yet to go back through my stuff to see what HK treasures there are in my boxes and things but I plan to do so soon.

I am living in Manila now (+3 years) after +6 years in Thailand. Working for a developer here on a large project in Fort Bonifacio - one of the base conversion projects. If anyone is interested you can visit my web site to see the projects I have been involved with. Dave Kohl should enjoy since he helped me get into this god forsaken profession.
http://www.skyinet.net/~dewenter/default.htm

On the personal side I have three daughters while my sister (Kathy) and brother's (David) wife are expecting their second (each) soon. Kathy is overdue and I believe David's wife is due in October. We seem to be doing our part in keeping the world (over)populated!

I look forward to catching-up with the class of 76 - seems like it was such a long time ago but it with all the names and memories flooding into my mailbox it seems like the time gap is shrinking.
Take care

Dave KOHL Faculty

Hey, Amir...So just what does a person do to run a robotics company...inquiring minds want to know.

I remember you distinctly in my art class(es?) at HKIS and always enjoyed your energy and respectfully playful attitude. Good memories....

Melissa PRESTON Sansing '75

Hi Amir, I remember you also, you were a cute teenager! We have a manufacturing company and one of our oldest customers is Advanced Design, Inc. a company that produces Robotics kits for Education and Industry out of Tucson, Arizona. It has been interesting as we have been there since the company first began designing and we had a lot of input on the final design. Making something from nothing is very cool, whether it's with plastic, metal or clay, eh Mr. Kohl?

Brad SANDLER ‘75

Dave Kohl -After leaving HKIS I quicklly found out "life after basketball". Too slow,too small and outclassed, college had me scrambling to learn to study. I did so passably enough to get to med school in Miami and eye surgery residency in Northern California. I've stayed here with an active private practice -refractive surgery, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease my mainstays.Life has been very kind to me.

I am luckily married and hopelessly in love with my wife, Karen. We share a beautiful ten year old "mini-me" named Colby (tall, thin and a charmer). For activity, Karen and I still go "clubbing" from time to time and I also make it to the gym where I now "body" the young pups to keep them from out-quicking me - much as I hated when I was back hoop-ing in H.K. on Wednesday nights with the ancient flatus(old farts).

My "shake-and-bake" is luke warm and my "stutter step" is alisp. Thank goodness you can't teach height. Such is a short version of my story, for now. Nice to fill the curiousities with tales of fond names and faces of old.

Dave Kohl I remember as a VW bugin a land of Chryslers as far as the teachers went. Hope you are doing well.

Clark COLE ‘79

My brother Clayton- HKIS '78 isn't on your list. His address is Clayton@cole-family.org. He has just started working in Hong Kong and isconsidering sending his kids to HKIS when he switches there full time.

John “JB” MORRIS ‘76

I was in HK from 72-75 and would have been in the class of 76. When people ask me where I graduated from, my response is HK, considering I spent only 6 months in Altus, OK my last few months of high school (talk about a culture shock)

I have been married for 20 years to a wonderful Texas gal, have 2 children (boy 16, girl 13) and live outside of Arlington Texas....spent 22 years in the travel business (owning a travel agency) and am now developing software for the travel business....by the way Texas IS a great state to live in.... I moved here in 77 stayed till 88 went to Colorado till 94 and was glad to move back, to what I now call home....

If anyone remembers me, I look forward to hearing from you....
Keep the mail flying....
"JB"

Ann AUMAN ‘73

I'm Ann Auman '73, although I left in '72 and spent a year in Europe because of U.S. culture shock. I just couldn't go back to Chicago for grade 12.

After living in Canada for a while I ended up in Hawaii. This is home now-- for 13 years. You can get all kinds of familiar foods here, and they even put li hing mui flavoring in ice cream at McDonald's.

I went to HK in May '97, and the cab drivers were so rude. So many people were speaking Mandarin (I studied that in college; my Cantonese is rusty). But, my son loved it. We went to the old clubs -- Shek-O and the HK Yacht Club. Shek-O was still nice and quiet.

Kerry SCHONCITE ‘75

Here's an update.
I have been living in Vancouver, BC, since 1986. I have 2 great kids, Linda (8) and William (7). They keep me super busy! I worked making stained glass windows and lamps professionally for 10 years and am looking forward to getting back into it as a home based business. (now that the kids are in school all day!) I have also learned Graphic Arts, and work on a few local magazines.

I think of HK often and cherish each memory. It's been great to reminisce with all of you

Kathy GRIMES Velchoff ‘78

For those that remember me......I married in 1990, left my career in travel management (what else was I going to do with all of my theatre training in college?) and became a stay-at-home Mom when my two girls were born. I'm even a Brownie troop leader, which I'm sure will surprise all who knew me!

I'm really looking forward to continue reading and sharing the Hong Kong Experience with all of you guys. (notice I don't say ya'll?!!)

Laurie TAYLOR Peck ‘74

Hi friends!
I was excited to find out about this "dragontrain". It's certainly a small world:; last night I had an hour phone conversation with Debbie Smiley, after seeing her name on here - we only live a couple of miles apart here in Lilburn, Georgia!

I've been in Georgia 14 years now (outside of Atlanta); have three teenagers - 2 boys and a girl, and am actually separating from my husband (after an 18 year marriage) this very week.
My new phone number is:(770)931-4446;
address is : 132 Lake Knoll Drive, Lilburn, GA. 30047

for anyone who is interested. I can't wait to hear from whoever is out there.
Congratulations to Jonathon and Barbara! What a story!
Write me!!!

Rosemary GARVEY '77

I just read about the DC reunion and was delighted to hear about the engagement between Jonathan and Barbara. I knew Jonathan so many years ago and hope he still remembers me.

I live in Sweden and am married with 2 boys. I kept my last name and, to jog memories, there were 7 girls in our family one after the other in HKIS.

I glad to know the dragon train is here it's so nice to hear how everyone is doing.

Barbara SCHWERDTMANN Easton ‘77

For the newsletter update, I finally graduated with honors from California Baptist College with a degree in Child Development. I had taken classes for years, but finally put it all together and got the REAL paper.

I am an assistant director and NAEYC Accreditation Specialist/Validator. This still leaves me the opportunity to take and pick up my children from school. Craig is 13 and an 8th grader and Amy is 10 and in 5th. My husband of 18 years is a surveyor in Anaheim.

I attended the reunion of the century in HKG as well as the great reunion in Austin for our 20th! I have really enjoyed all of the mail from all those other kleptos!!

We were even luckier than most, the apartment we rented in HK in '68 was furnished with all the cast offs from the Hilton, silver and plateware! It was always such an important part of my life, 68 - 77, I relate my children's birthdates to my eras in HK.

Maryjo LUEDTKE Reinmann ‘75

Melissa who???

I'm having a hard time with all the different names. It would be very helpful to have each person sign their full name as it was at HKIS and then perhaps put their married name (if that fits the situation) and the year they graduated. This will help me as I sort out all the messages. I am, by the way, a new dragontrain member. Keep 'em rolling!

Cathy SMITH Caviness '75

Hi MaryJo Luedtke!I haven't heard from you in forever! Fill us in on where you are and what youare doing.

Melissa PRESTON Sansing ‘75

I remember you Mary Jo. Long brown hair, nice smile... we were in the same class for 11th gr., when I showed up for school instead of going to the beach. If you look at your yearbook for '74 I imagine you can find me, 2 pages after your picture, although my picture sucks as I tried to cover up a mouth full of braces and was having a really lousy "hair day"... but it's still me...I am, and have been, Melissa Sansing, formerly Melissa Preston, although the people putting together the '74 Orientale decided to print my nick-name "Missy" under my picture.

I attended HKIS for 11th grade (same as you...) - 73/74 and then was sent off to the Philippines to boarding school (I was bad I guess..HA!.) for my senior year, where I met some more great people whom have remained my friends to this day, including my husband, Bill.

I imagine much of the "who was that's" will be addressed in Judi's newsletter or the school's newsletter, or somebodies bloody newsletter in the coming months.
Hey Judi, I think it would be good to print a list of "who we were and are" to get people oriented to our new names (ladies...) and when we attended...I'm sure you have already thought of this as you are doing a great job here.

I am trying to do the same for Brent's class of '75 and it is not an easy task. Some people have gotten downright strange over the years and contacting them is not always fun work... but we do it 'cause our friends were and are important to some of us!

I am loving hearing from all the old friends on the side.I t is a little confusing sorting everyone out at times, but way fun in the process.

Cindy DAVIS Gersony ‘72

For Mary Jo (Luedtke) Reimann --
I am a classmate of your sister, Becky! Where is she and how is she doing?!

Bill ROBB ‘79

Hello Everyone!This is Bill Robb, HKIS '79.
I've really enjoyed all the mail from the DragonTrain and hope to find more of my classmates, however, due to the quantity of incoming mail I think it would be helpful if we could all put down our class in the subject line so that we can easily scan for folks from our "era" (LOL).

To update everyone, I am married to a librarian and living on a farm. (who'da thunk it!) You may think I'm kidding, but I'm not!!! My wife of 15 years, Samantha, is a librarian in the small, rural community her family has called home for over 4 generations. We have two energetic children (my wife calls them the wild heathens.....I think she includes me in that description)

My daughter, Heather, is 13 and loving life in Jr. High. She plays piano, clarinet and sax and is a flag girl for the marching band. My son, Billy (the 4th), is a 6th grader this year, plays French Horn, Trumpet and loves Algebra and Science. He's loving life now that his older sisteris accross town at the Jr. High School.

I am living my dream of having a small farm and a few horses. We purchased our little place almost 10 years ago and to this day are still in homei mprovement heaven. My wife is getting to know the stacks at home depot even better than I do. We have 10 acres, three dogs, two cats, and I've put up my surfboard in exchange for an old case tractor. The board now hangs in the public library over the internet workstations so that my wife can easily point out to patrons where they can go to "surf" the net.

My career choices have lead me to what everyone I know, family and friends alike, claim I was created for. Law Enforcement. I enjoy this work more than I ever thought I would and get to do a lot of training for the younger officers. While at times the job is a little hair raising for the wife....it gives me the time to spend puttering around the farm, messing with the animals, and chasing the kids 'round the clothesline....LOL....

I've heard from some of the old gang....and it's great to see how well everyone is and hope they are all happy and healthy. This is a great way to have a reunion! It would be cool if we can make the reunion in DC, but the State of Oklahoma dictates my ability for that. Also, Samantha runs a pretty extensive Summer Reading Program during that time and a whole town load of kids might string me up if I take her that far off during their Summer Vacation....LOL....

But we'll try if we can.
Ken Woo, if you see this, I'm looking forward to visiting with you, buddy!(and don't you dare tell Sami anything about Pataya!!!) I have an image to uphold you understand....lol

for the class of ‘79...Do you remember a Lisa Crowley..? If so, it sure would be neat to hear from her.... Talked to Sabrina Francis, Delphine Jordan. They have all lost contact with her too. I am not sure that you remember me but I do remember you and if you can, see if you and your other class mates ('80) could keep an ear out for Lisa.
thanks for your help.
Take care and hope to hear from any of the old gang soon!

Deborah SMITH ‘80

OK -- the short version of the family Smith:
Dave (aka "Crutches", HKIS '77) is now living outside of Atlanta, GA with hiswife, Marla, and their two beautiful girls (thus effectively ending the Smith dynasty! ah well...).

Cathy, we know she's in Virginia with her husband (my other brother David), and her two wonderful, gorgeous, amazing, genius,talented (I have to butter her up, she's on the list) kids...

Karen (Smith Moore, HKIS '73) is living in NC with her husband, Carlton.

Me? I just moved (last weekend!) to Bethesda, MD with my two cats... My mom is still painting, but American style these days (still very good, but I miss her Chinese landscapes). She and my dad have both retired twice and are now settled in the booming metropolis of Eatonton, GA (pop. 7? 12? 42? ok, it's bigger than that... but not much!).

BTW: Tim Harvey -- what's up with Amy, Jan, and Gregg? Harvey update, porfavor! Amazing that Amy became my best friend when we came back from the States in '72 -- considering the fact that your family stole "my" house (28Oxford)! :-) It *must* have been the trampoline... hee hee hee

Robin CHAFIN Conserva ‘75

Mary Jo!
I hope you remember me even though I left HKIS in 1972. When we got back to the states I wrote you a long letter and am still waiting for a response.
Write and let me know what's been going on with you.

Tim HARVEY ‘74

As to the others in the Harvey clan...Dad died of heart complications 11/20/96 after teaching for several years at California Baptist College (University now) and then teaching English with mom in China for three years.

Mom is doing physically well and living here in Riverside in a retirement resort half way (.75 mile) between Jan and me. Jan is on this dragontrain thing but she doesn't read her email very often. She can fill you in about herself if she ever downloads her email.

Amy is living in Fargo, ND, with her hubby Bob and two charming children, Beth and Ben. Bob is the pastor of a Baptist church there.

Greg (76) is up in CrescentCity, CA (NW corner), with his wife Denise and two kids, Joshua and Justin. He is the pastor of a Baptist church there.

I'm not the pastor of a Baptist church anywhere, but I do love Jesus. I live here in Riverside with my new bride, Joca (7/6/99), and my three boys, Neal, 19, Samuel, 15, and Jonathan,13.

I'll write more later. It's Friday afternoon and I telepathically perceive my wife calling me to come home at the time that I promised.

Dave KOHL faculty

Mary Jo Luedtke....I always got a positive hit off you as a student in my class...always enthusiastic (were you ever faking it?) and you had good ideas and talent as well.
What do you do now and where do you live...where and how are your parents.

You know, we do have a thriving post-hkis colony here in the northwest and live to hear from others. Catch me up on your life and doings.
Thanks...

Cathy SMITH Caviness ‘75

Tim,
Here's my two cents worth on how our family is doing.
You addressed your letter to "Debbie," who matured into Deborah Smith (AKA Dagobah Smith - don't ask why ... it just fits) and wondered if she really is part of the dynasty. One word of warning to those who wish to tangle with my youngest sibling: I would not challenge her to a war of words. She can and will humiliate all who dare to enter that arena. She may just be 'fourpeat' to you but being the 'baby' of our family was not easy ... and she learned verbal self-defense at an early age. I'm kidding. I'm sure she didn't take offense. Well, at least I hope not. :-)

By the way, for those of you who knew Dave from his Shack days, he grew up and straightened out. He worked full time to earn his way through college (he says he squeezed those four years into seven) ... he was even an army man for several years before accepting an 'early out.' Now he's an insurance man and typical suburban husband and Dad. But he still does a mean Monte Python impression.Right, Bruce? Well, maybe he's not so typical.

My sister Karen lives in Charlotte NC and is a hospice Chaplain. She taught French in inner city Charlotte public schools for a while. It gave her perspective and she decided that being a chaplain was a piece of cake in comparison. My children consider her dog "Chloe" to be their cousin. (Likewise Deborah's kitties).

I've said enough about myself so I'll just sign off.

LuAnn GARVEY ‘76

I am Patti's younger sister LuAnn (class of '76), who was also in the "choir" in Passionella and had the best time.

Patti is living in Fla. with her husband Geno. She is in sales (of course)and boating. They do not have any children,but love their boat.

This has been a hoot to read all of these e-mails. I am living in Minnesota with my husband and 3 sons. I will have to get Patti on this dragontrail! What a great memory!

Bill STEAGALL ‘75

Rosemary, Yes, my sister is June. She lives in Mesa, Arizona, has 5 children, the oldest is in college at BYU. I don't have her permission to publish her email, so she will either kill me or thank me, I don't know which. This email is copied to her, so you can get her email that way. Her married name is June Wamsley.

June STEAGALL Wamsley 77

All these memories and names keep flooding my mind now that I've discovered this list and have started reading up on people from 'the good old days'. My kids are all,

"okay, mom is obsessing about her highschool days."

Seriously, I have pulled out all the yearbooks and am taking a full out journey down memory lane. Some things I don't care to remember, but that's the way it goes... (Mostly good though.)

David Smith - the shack days are still there in my mind.

Ed Ketterer - BRUT aftershave. Does anyone else remember that? What's the fragrance of choice these days?

Mark Feldman - Rugby. You helped me write an english essay and I got a good grade on it, too! I saw Mark's name on another list. [classmates.com]

Rosemary Garvey - what can I say? Lots of stuff. There's more but you guys are probably sick of hearing from me. Sorry but this is new to me and still thrilling. I'm sure I'll mellow out eventually. One way to shut me up is to write back,
Maybe!
And thank you, thank you to all those that have!!

Mark LEONARD 74

Greetings from Mark Leonard, Class of '74, or, as has been noted herein recently,

“the other guy who set a land speed record at the Star Ferry that year. That must have been a result of the lack of items which might have produced aerodynamic drag!”

I recall saying to Brad as we set off "Don't trip, because if you think scraping your knee hurts..."
I still have all the newspaper clippings; my wife of 12 years thinks I was nuts and my kids (10 and 8 years old) seem to be both bemused and amused by the event. As I recall, at the time my parents were neither!

It's been an incredible trip back in time and geography reading everyone's HK memories. I got there in Jan 71, midway through 9th grade. My family was reassigned back to the States at the end of my junior year. I went home with them, but quickly realized I had to get back to HKIS for my senior year.

I was lucky enough to work out an arrangement were I lived with a couple of HKIS teachers, Art & Corky Himmler, for that year. I'll always be grateful to them for the opportunity to graduate with my class.

It's hard to believe it's been 25 years since that time. Most of us are at the same stage in our lives as our parents were then. I can't imagine many of us today being very comfortable with our kids doing a lot of what we did then. Of course, a lot of the time they didn't KNOW what we were doing. We certainly had a tremendous amount of freedom to experience and explore everything HK had to offer. I don't recall ever feeling unsafe about being in Wanchai (or some such place) at 2 am; were we fearless or oblivious or both?

My HK treasures include an oversize ashtray bearing the seal of the Hong Kong & Shanghai Hotels ("liberated" from the Repulse Bay Hotel, one of my favorite places in the world), a collection of bus ticket stubs, a Jockey Club box admission medal, American Club ID card, and various other esoteric items.

I've been able to get back to HK several times, most recently for the "Reunion of Century" in May 97, just before the handover. From what I saw (and have seen/read since) the people of HK were not overly apprehensive about the change and have not seen much change in their lives since then. The city is just as vibrant as ever.

Have been able to stay in touch and/or renew lost acquaintances with a number of HKIS alumni over the years: Bud Skennion, Patrick Gould, Judi (Porter) Rower, Laura (Waters) Ziock, Linda (Swartzendruber) Flick, Mrs>Prechtl. Saw Mrs Cooper in Germany some years ago; she was visiting her daughter Karen who was a government contractor at the same base I was assigned at. Lost touch with Amy Hart about five years ago; last word was she was married, w/one young child, living in Burundi. That was just as things were getting very dangerous in that part of the world; don't know if they stayed around.

Recently heard from Ivy Dobrenky (living in Orange County, CA) that her sister Debra is settled in Isreal, where she went upon graduation from HKIS; married for 21 years, w/three kids. Was able to attend various HKIS reunions over the years, too; enjoyed seeing long-lost friends at each event.

So what have I been doing the last 25 years? After graduating from Rutgers in New Jersey, I went into the Air Force. Have had a lot of fun in the AF; been to lots of places (my family's travels, especially our time in HK,gave me the itinerant bug). Am currently living in northwest Florida, about 40 miles east of Pensacola on the Gulf Coast. I'm getting ready to end a 22-year career next summer and retire in Vermont.. finally put down some roots.

Hope to make it to the DC reunion next year on our way up north. Looking forward to seeing fellow alums then.

Dave KOHL Faculty

Mark Leonard...Good to read your message. When you mentioned Mrs. Cooper,. I thought about Ben, her son at HKIS. Do you know anything of his whereabouts? And Mrs. Prechtl, where is she? So many good people. Are you in touch with Himmler? I saw him about 5 years ago at a Seattle Lutheran High fund-raiser auction, sponsored by Bob Christian. Himmler lives in eastern Wastington and is the principal/teacher of a one room school it an iddy bitty settlement at the end of a gravel road up against the Cascades.Any news of others from those early years (I admit it, I'm not a day-one person, but in the greater HKIS scheme, I guess I count as one of the earlier ones, at least).

Phillip FRANCE 74

Hello my friends,

Since moving from Hong Kong to N.J., and graduating from Princeton (high school), I packed up my Corvair and moved back to California.

In December of 1977, I met my wife to be, and in October 1978 we were married. After nine years we were blessed with a son, which we named Jason. We are about to celebrate our 21 years together. Anyone who says your spouse can't be your best friend is wrong. I hope everyone is in good health and enjoing life.

I'm am glad I had the chance to live overseas in Hong Kong and Japan when I did. We now live in Sonoma County, north of S.F. in the same house for the last 15 years and loving it. I still have the first car I ever owned (still runs too) and my son and I are getting it ready for him. He said if we started a long time ago we would be 1/2 way done by now. Out of the mouths of babes......

'till later, yours Phillip France

Mary Jo LUEDTKE Reimann '75

This is to all those folks that have inquired about the Luedtke girls. Feel free to skip this if you don't remember us.(This will have to be the Cliff's Notes version since I'm already late getting home.)

After HKIS I got a teaching degree from Concordia, River Forest, IL, married David Reimann (a Lutheran pastor), taught 2nd grade for four years in Lutheran schools, had four wonderful children (Kim, Tara, Tim and Malia [Yes, I named my youngest the chinese version of Mary!]) whose ages are 19 to 10, and am presently teaching fifth grade in a public school in central Ohio. Whew! Now that's probably a run-on! Several of those years and events overlap but who is counting?

Becky Kirkpatrick ('72) is married and living in Valparaiso, IN. She and Keith have two kids. She is a school social worker, so has the benefit of summers off as well. I'm copying this to her in case she's not on this train.

Debbie Alter('70) is married to a pastor and living in Jefferson City, MO. They have three kids all in college or out. She is teaching kindergarten and loving it.

The other three (Rachel, Lisa, and Laurie) left HK before Jr High, so most don't know them.

My parents went to Venezuela after HK. Now they are retired and living in Florissant, MO. Dave Kohl, they have been enjoying River Forest reunions with folks like the Christians, Schmidts, Wallis', etc. Unfortunately, they are not linked into cyber space....yet.

I have so many memories that I don't even know where to start. (see favorite places for the rest of Maryjo’s letter)

Mark WOODRUFF 77

Hi folks. I just got added to the list, and I must say that it's been great fun reading past messages.

I recognize a lot of names and can even put (young) faces to many of them. I told my sister Nancy about the web site and the list, so I expect she'll join shortly. I've managed to hook up with an old friend already via e-mail, and I look forward to finding others and sharing a bit about what HKIS and Hong Kong have meant to me over the years.

Did anybody else go to Big Wave Bay? The waves were (are?) much better than Shek-O or any other beach that I remember there. I remember body surfing there many times. Damn near got myself killed a couple of times too.

The waves here on the East Coast of the US seem positively tame compared to the waves on that beach, and they tend to close the beaches when the surf picks up because of the rip currents that develop.

Feel free to write to me here (dragontrain@ egroups.com) or at my personal address markwoodruff@erols.com