40 years ago yesterday. Where were you when Buzz and Neil set "The Eagle' down on the Sea of tranquility? We were on a Friend's farm near Terre Haute, Indiana.

Thanks for the positive feedback April.

Happy Birthday to noted OPRF Almna, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.

I feel badly about not being able to attend the reunion. I came down with a sudden illness, and couldn\'t attend anything that weekend. I especially wanted to sing along with Cliff and Bruce, and go to Molly\'s and everything.I do hope everyone enjoyed themselves, and I very much hope we can all get together in 5 years again. Please feel free to write me at steely3000@hotmail.com and say hi, I\'d love to hear from you. Take care.

A day late but, here's my Columbus Day joke; Columbus got GREAT milelage! He crossed the Atlantic Ocean and only used 3 GALLEONS!

Thanks to those who added a little uplift and signed the guest book.Sharon Cassin thanks for the compliment it was 43 years ago at 206 in your kitchen and you offered me a cup of coffee i said sure.Not knowing the bowl on the table was not suger it was salt i drank it anyway.I\'ll touch base with Doug,and  I found it the 8th grade RFJH School picture if anyone wants it email me or the others i had at the reunion.Best wishes to all as this site expires soon.My grandparents settled in River Forest in 1902 and soon there won\'t be any more family here but at least we can say We were there. If anyone has the  photo of the River Forest group please email it to me.

Who would have thought that we would ever see the day when our school, (OP&RFHS) would be highlighted in the news, for something as disgusting as this? While I never had children, if I had they would NEVER have seen the inside of a OPRF classroom, that now preaches Marxism to it's students. Unbelievable! And what is even more unbelievable are the property tax paying parents in that district, that allow this to take place. https://dailycaller.com/2021/04/29/teachers-illinois-caught-on-microphone-promoting-marxist-ideals/

What a wonderful week-end. Thank you Bruce, Peggy and Ron for taking care of every detail! I only wish I had more time to see and connect with everyone. I spoke to my 86 year old mom today and thanked her for raising me in this great area and seeing the wisdom in sending us to my dad\'s alma mater:  Oak Park High! (Dad had life long friends from OPRF, too, many who came to is funeral in 2002.) Steve Weinstein summed it up perfectly when he said: "We were lucky to go to school with so many nice people." Blessings to everyone.

Bruce, Ron, Peggy, and everyone else that was involved,Grrreeaat Job!!!So get to work on the 45th

I am really looking forward to everyone\'s photos being posted.  They are all appreciated.  Thanks to all for all the hard work.  I hope to keep in touch.jeff@padden.org

Charles (C.D.) Schroeder, (Class Of 1970), passed away this past August of natural causes. He was living in Haugen, Montana where he was a part of the U.S. Forest Service for many years. I knew Chuck since the 6th grade. He will be missed. Here is a link to an article about him in one of the local papers. http://www.vp-mi.com/article/20170907/ARTICLE/170909993  

Reminder: It was a Thursday night, 44 years ago today we were marching around the field house for the Class of 1970  Commencement Ceremonies.

I second that emotion!

Trivia Time! Well, sorta. I was scrolling thru the SILVER DOLLAR SUVEYS in the WLS and WCFL section here. The fourth one, for Janauary 1, 1965, only lists the top 20 songs of that week BUT also list the top 20 Best Selling Songs of 1964. I found 15 of those Best Sellers  that I currently have on CD in my home. They are #s 1,2,3,4,6,7,8, 10,11, 12,13,14, 15, 18 and 20. I suspect there may even be a couple more in my CD collectionon 60s compilations that I have forgotten I have. Since am am a dinosaur who STILL makes his own mix CDs, most of those songs STILL play regularly in my automobile. They make that trip from Tucson to Gilbert to visit the daughter just FLY by! Nothing starts the trip better than hitting the On Ramp to I-10 and firing up the Beach Boys and DANCE, DANCE, DANCE!

Rich Ramey, we will expect a full report here on that IDES OF MARCH event. I, for one, want to know if Dick Biondi sings ON TOP OF SPAGHETTI.

WOW 50 years, OH MY! Was just contacted by the reunion committee this year (2020).  Living in Florida since the 80's and now the retired life - lovin' it! Very sad to report about the passing of two of my closest friends, Ellen Gould (several years ago) and Debbie Kincaid (just last month).  I know their friends and family miss them so much.   Feel free to email if you like.  I won't make it to the 50th reunion, but y'all have a blast.  Yes, I said "Y'all", I've been southernized  - but just a bit - they still say I have a midwest accent.  :-)  

Hope you all have a great time. Please stay in touch if you can. The Class of 70....in a class all it\'s own. Take care everyone. I miss you all. Thanks for doing this Bruce, and the entire gang of volunteers.

GREAT AND WONDERFUL REUNION ,ALL HAD A WONDERFUL TIME IT WAS NICE TO ONCE SEE SOME OF YOU GUYS I\'VE KNOWN FOR OVER 50 YEARS HAPPY TO SHARE CLASS PHOTO\'S K-6 FROM ROOSEVELT AND LINCOLN SCHOOL SOMEWHERE I MISPLACED RFJH 8TH GRADE GRADUATION PICTURE THAT ONE IS A REAL WHO IS THAT SORRY FOR THOSE WHO WERE UNABLE TO MAKE IT  MY 25 YEARS AS A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR HAS ENDED DUE TO HEALTH REASONS SOME TIMES I CANT EVEN FIND MY OWN SHOES  CLIFF I REQUEST IN ADVANCE I WANT YOU TO SING AT MY MEMORIAL JOHNSON SINGING GOSPEL SONGS  LOL I BLAME MS LOCKER MY JH TEACHER FOR POOR TYPING SKILLSWE ALL THANK THOSE BELOW FOR ALL THERE EFFORT !!!!!Bruce Lehman, Peggy Minnick, and Ron Sherman Linda Bauer (Clark)Fred Bernacchi Mary Marshall (Blanc)Judy Breit (Simon)Sharon Cassin (Frame)Paula Chernyshev (Finnegan)Dee Even (Cermak)Pam Glasser (Phillips Weston)Gary GreenbaumBob JacobsTom KadonChip KramerFran Krasnow (Pike)Thom MammoserRoger McCaffreyJohn McHughJohn MeyerClaudia Nelson (Frey)Debbie Raleigh (Porcelli)Pam RansomApril Ross (Moon)Doug SandersonPeg Schackmann (Amidei) John SfondiliasEric SwansonMary Wachman (Karsten)Sue Wiedow Giorango John WilcoxSally Wilkinson (Gilbert)Bob Wright

hi there!Just wanted to thank all for putting together such a great get together for all of us!  The food and drinks were wonderfully planned and the location was also very nice to hold such a crowd as ours comfortably. Seeing old friends and all the memories was warm to all our hearts. The only regret I have is not being able to stay awake to go see Cliff  perform but it was fun to meet up with my friends Diane, Claire, Anne and Jeanne whom I haven not seen since graduation along with Ron who was a great friend all thru school and after.  Thanks for the memories!

Good party....great to see classmates from class of 70 & 71; Hatch School 66 & 67; Mr. Haye\'s homeroom; orchestra and all the people who came from near and far. Simply the best!

Hey Classmates!  My return to OPRF has compelled me to write an essay of sorts.  Charlie Hambrook wrote earlier, "Let\'s have some fun out of this," so here goes . . .   WHAT I FOUND WHILE ATTENDING     MY 40THHIGH SCHOOL REUNION                by "Jeannie" HospodarI FOUND that most returning students on our tour of OPRFHS did not know the tunnel existed.  At their request I was delighted to have the opportunity to go through it once again.I FOUND that I became emotional while sitting in our Greek revivial classroom where I took my favorite class - etymology.  I FOUND that watching OPRFHS football as a spectator from the stands was fun, but being a cheerleader on the gridiron for conference/ # 1 state-rated champions, to be much better!!!!I FOUND that my grade school, Emerson, had been raised and that a new structure stood in it\'s place. (I am lucky to have a 1920\'s Emerson school desk  which my grandchildren now use.)I FOUND that I still remember the stores of Lake Street - Little\'s Music Store, Lyttons,The Fair Store, Wieboldt\'s and of course, Marshall Fields, but I am glad that the Lake Street Mall is a thing of the past.I FOUND that Parky\'s hot dogs, fries and RC Cola are not as good as I had remembered.I FOUND that our family home which my Dad "modernized" in the 1950\'s had dramatically changed in appearance.  The old and rotten front porch which my Dad removed was now replaced with an arts and crafts style one, and that the diseased  Dutch elms, which I sadly watched get cut down, were now replaced by 40-year old shade trees.(I must mention that many of you may remember my house at 315 Home, as I "hosted" various weekend "social events" there.  One such event was a \'69 Homecoming Dance pre-party.  I recognize our lovely blue wallpaper, gold drapery and shutter doors  in the photos someone submitted in the "Reunion Photos" section.  If you\'re wondering why my date, John McHugh, is smiling ear to ear, it\'s not because he\'s happy to be with me.  This was intended to be an alcohol-free party and my Dad had just confisgated John\' bottle of rum!)I FOUND that as much as I enjoyed visiting the places of my past, it was my 1970 classmates who I enjoyed the most.  There was so much to share with so many, but so little time to do it and I regret missing so many of you.I FOUND that our aforementioned reunion organizers deserve the "school spirit award" for their year-long efforts in putting on our wonderful event.  It\'s all so appreciated. Thank you.  Thank you.(Now, for the corny conclusion.)I FOUND that I will always be a sentimental DOOPER, a midwesterner and a kid at heart.  I know how lucky we are to have had the OPRFHS experience and to know that our school motto still applies . . .       "Ever changing, yet the same" that\'s our high school motto\'s claim.   Yes, we\'ve changed, we\'ll all agree,      but we\'re still the kids of \'70.

"On top of spaghetti...all covered with cheese...I saw my first meat ball...'til somebody sneezed...."

Better late than never, Rich! Thanks for the recap. Happy November, everybody!

Was planning on attending, but schedules have a way of changing your plans.  I think the reunion being in Oak Park is great.  I will miss seeing many of you, especially Sam & Tony.I would still enjoy keeping in touch / getting together.  Feel free to contact me.I have been married for over 30 years, and have 3 "Kids" Tim, 26 (Chicago) a DePaul Grad, Emily, 24 (Milwaukee) a Marquette grad, and Ariana, 5, just started kindergarden.  I bet I have the largest age span of kids in our class.Wish I could be there.  Enjoy the memories, and those yet to come

Thank you for keeping the old class of 69 web site alive. I am enjoying all of the information about your class.  October 9 is my wedding anniversary (34 years) and we decided last year that we would celebrate our anniversary and participate in activities when homecoming does not fall on 10/9.  I make it back to Oak Park from Gurnee about 3 times a year and I never miss Johnnies in Elmwood Park and a drive past the HS and my old house.  I hope all of the OPRF alum enjoy homecoming and your reunion. Great job by all of the volunteers that will make your reunion a smashing success!!  

Happy December! You may NOW begin playing Christmas music.

Al, I think (but have not confirmed beyond all conceivable doubt) that the Harris Connect project is legit, because they\'re recommended on the OPRFHS Alumni Association website. Specifically, at http://alumni.oprfhs.org/News/News.htm the first item listed on the right of that "News and Events" web page — under "Upcoming Events" — reads as follows: NEW ALUMNI DIRECTORY PROJECT IS UNDERWAY  The Harris Connect publication office is collecting information to publish a new OPRFHS Alumni Directory. The last directory was published in 2007. We encourage you to call Harris at (800) 705-0895 to update your contact information.

A little late, Albert, but here ya go: The Ides 50th anniversary was great. I was in the front row balcony in the middle. The show was 2 sets; the first was just the Ides (the originals, fronted by Jim Peterik, and a small horn section). Dick Biondi and Bob Sirott were the MCs (and no, Dick didn't sing On Top of a Pizza or Spaghetti or anything, and no WC jokes). Anyway the first set was all Peterik-penned tunes, many from his days with Survivor (including a small tribute to Jimi Jamison, who passed away in August). They did play "L.A. Goodbye" and "Vehicle" to end the set. Second set the 4 original Ides' performed "You Wouldn't Listen", and then the guest stars came out and performed with the Ides being the backup band. Tom Doody of the Cryan Shames (who I thought was dead), Ronnie Rice of the New Colony 6, Jimy Sohns of the Shadows Of Knight, and Carl Giammarese of the Buckinghams. They each performed some of their hits. The finale was everybody doing a 10-minute or so version of "Eye of the Tiger". Dick Biondi joined in to an extent, he actually didn't look too bad for a guy in his 80s.

I second that emotion!

The reunion was great -- a bit noisy, but great.  Very good to see so many people from so long ago, and even to recognize many of you!  I\'m sure there were some people there that I knew but didn\'t happen to see...  I\'d be happy to hear from anyone I knew way back when.It was fun to bring my family in and play music for the Friday night at the Irish pub, and also to do a show at the 19th Century Club on the Sunday, which I saw some classmates came to.  Too bad there\'s no contact book, but there\'s the profiles (and I should add mine) for this month at least, and if you email me we can stay in touch...

Hi all -- I wrote a novel this past year, which was a lot of fun, and it was just published, so please check it out and pass the word!  It\'s called Franck\'s Wild Ride.  You can either read about it and hopefully order it from the publisher at this link, or if you want to order directly from me and get it signed by the author (who he?), you can find it on my website.  Speaking of all this, the book has just come out on Amazon.com as well and if anybody wants to help with its ranking, I\'m told that just clicking on that link and looking at the page will help (so will buying it of course!).  However you do it, if you do get to read it, I hope you enjoy it.

I\'m loving reading everyone\'s messages. It sounds like the reunion was fantastic and folks can\'t wait for the next one! Bruce, Ron, Peg (and with a grateful bow to Chuck, r.i.p.), you are awesome. I look forward to seeing many of you out there at upcoming local events. OH, by the way ....... newborn grandbaby Charlotte is a little jewel of a girl, beautiful in every respect. 13 days old! Doug Faulds, get in touch with Deed or me ... Greg Scott, you haven\'t lost your smooth touch! TMammy, come by 206 some time. Mom would love to give you a hug! See the locals soon I hope, maybe on the 18th at Healy\'s???

Happy October!

Heya... I had planned to attend this reunion, and it sounds like everyone that was there had a really fun time!  As it goes, it got really busy at work, and I wound up working even on the weekend of the renunion.Maybe next time.... :)Chris G.

Holy Mackerel--Bruceman... How'd Ya let the 45th reunion sneak up on us so close so soon ?! I haven't completely recovered from the damage done by the 4oth yet !!!

Happy August!

Happy July, boys and girls! Where did THAT 1/2 year go!?

Happy New Year, ALL!

Happy New Year OPRF Class of 70! Looking forward to our 45th.