Class of 1957
September 2007
Dear Classmates,
As I write this, we are having a day-long rain. A nice gentle rain that we need very much.
Clem and I went
to St. Peter on Saturday for a Class Agent’s meeting. A beautiful drive, but the leaves had not yet
begun to turn. Judy Lund Erdman was there too.
We commented on how nice it was just to go to the meeting and not be
worried about planning a reunion.
(Which, by the way, is still a very pleasant memory.) We got an award!!! Pat yourselves on the back—we had the largest
percentage of participation of any class!
We felt quite proud about that—79% of us sent in a donation to the
Alumni Fund. Hooray! Can we do it again? I hope so.
We did very well dollar-wise too.
Our award was for our wonderful committee that put together our
reunion. We got the award, but you guys
did the work. And it all led up to a
wonderful reunion. Thank you all!!
There was not a football game on campus last Saturday, but
they played there the week before and the new facility worked very well. I only heard glowing reports. Maybe some of you were there. Write and tell us about it. (Please.)
Remember how much fun it was to read blurbs from our
classmates all throughout last year? We
can keep doing it. If you feel the urge
to do it—just write something and send it to me. I promise I will put it in the next
letter. I will be happy to write more letters
if the reason comes up.
I took a lot of notes, but I don’t know if I will do a good
job telling you what went on that day.
One thing President Jim Peterson ’64 said was that it is the people that
make things work. “At Gustavus the faculty
is strong, the support staff is strong and together they make for a strong
college.” The two windmills that he
hoped would be up and running are still not there. It seems that some places have ordered 25-50
of them and somehow, our 2 get moved down on the list in urgency! Imagine that!
I will let you know when they become a reality.
President Peterson said that students still choose Gustavus
because of the “spirit” they feel when they visit the campus. It is hard to describe it, but we all felt it
when we were there. My kids felt it when
they were there. It is still there—and I
am happy to hear that. I think we felt
it last spring when we were on campus for our reunion.
This has been a busy summer getting ready for the Royal
Affair―Razzle-Dazzle. There are some fantastic items on the silent
auction and also some real exciting things for the live auction. One that I have not seen but I will on auction
day is an Australian Labrodoodle puppy.
The puppy will be about two-months old at that time. They are going to try something new this year
so that all of you can take part. There
will be an on-line auction. Now, I am getting
better with the computer, but I don’t think I will ever understand that. You will be able to access the auction from
the Gustavus web site. Good luck. You may be a winner! As for me—I am going to the real thing. It is the best party I ever go to with so
much fun stuff and so many wonderful people.
Maybe I will see you there?
I have some class news given to me by Gustavus, but much of
it is very out of date as it talks about the reunion as still being in the
future. I may not put that in.
Barbara Carlson
Glenzinski was at the reunion. She
works at WHYMSY in the Galleria selling women’s and children’s clothing. She also works for Gentle Transitions which
packs and moves people who are over 65 years of age. They unpack them at the other end too. That sounds like a great service. Nancy
Reiter Grimes is in her 10th year of retirement and can hardly
believe it. She has spent the time
traveling and enjoying her family. She
feels fortunate that her children all live in the Twin Cities area.
Gary Gabel
received a quilt from the
Judy sent in a note about Carol Lindig. Carol was her freshman
roommate. She lives in the house next
door to the house she lived in while a freshman in college. Don
Olson continues his pastoral career serving a congregation in Ocean Reef,
near the
Dennis Hinton’s
career has been in investment banking and resort development. Don
Eckberg lives in
Laurel Western
Peterson could not attend our reunion.
She loves living back in the northwest near their kids. Travel is their life. They have researched genealogy in
Everyone is traveling!
Peace Johns Finlayson and
husband spent some time in
Barbara Bredsten Stephens and her husband, Mark, have
both retired from education and are now living in the “paradise” called
Marian Hennix Gabel
lives in the Twin Cities in the summer and in the winter she goes to
Well, that seems to be it.
I love to hear from all of you and share your info with our
classmates. You don’t have to send your
whole life history, just a little blurb for me to share. It really doesn’t take long. Send me an email. And don’t forget about good old Gustavus
Alumni Fund. That is the place that
brought us together and helped shape the people that we have become.
GO GUSTIES!
Till next time---
Marlys Mattson Nelson
1957 Co-class Agent
Ph# 651-483-5818
Campus News
Gustavus has traditionally been ranked by U.S. News and World Report in their
feature called “
Athletics Hall of
Fame ― Gustavus will induct new members into its Athletics Hall of
Fame at a banquet on November 3. They
are: Tim DeJarlais ’91, golf; John
Erickson ’81, hockey; Dave Hultgren ’92, baseball; Craig Miller ’91, cross
country; Mindy Mayerchak Oosten ’88, softball, soccer; Mike Schumacher ’91,
football; Ann Sommerness Simms ’92, swimming; and Ryan Skanse ’92, tennis.
Esbj! The Heart and Mind of a Professor Rev. Robert Esbjornson
’41 has collaborated with Dennis Johnson ’60 in writing a book. It’s part biography, part memoir and includes
a sample of Esbj's writings. Former
students of Esbj will find this a rare opportunity to revisit all the
excitement of encounters and conversations with this beloved professor. Johnson and Esbjornson will be on campus
during homecoming for a book signing from
Dr. Mary Morton,
Gustavus’ new provost and vice president for academic affairs, assumed her
position on Monday, July 2. In this role
as chief academic officer, she oversees academic programs and strategic
planning at Gustavus.
Gusties Gather! –
September 30
Gusties around the world are called to gather on Sunday,
September 30. The Alumni Board is
designating this day as a way for Gusties to stay connected with each
other. In research among alumni, we know
that Gusties already stay in contact with many alumni, and we know that Gusties
have a strong interest in staying connected with other Gusties and with the
College. If there is a gathering in your
area, we hope you will consider attending.
Upcoming Alumni
Events
Gusties Gather! – September 30
Nobel Conference – Heating
Up: The Energy Debate - October 2
& 3
Homecoming/Family Weekend – October 12-14
A Royal Affair – Razzle
Dazzle, October 27
Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet – November 3
Christmas in Christ Chapel – November 30-December 2