1985–Spring ’18 Class Letter
Class Agent:
Heather McFadden Barrie ’85
Hello Class of 1985!
No doubt for those of you (which includes me!) still residing up North – der hey! – Cabin Fever is setting in about now. We long for the day when the robins return, the gloomy frozen tundra turns to a luscious green, and the trees start budding. But as you know, the groundhog saw his shadow and I’m afraid we’re in for another six weeks of winter!
Don’t let that get you down – there’s so much planning to do before the snow melts. Start with marking your calendar for Ripon’s 2018 Alumni Weekend – June 21-24, 2018. Visit ripon.edu/alumni-weekend/ for additional information.
Well, I don’t know if you remember me but I defected to your class in 1983 when I decided to do the three year program. My former classmates from the Class of 1986 are quick to remind me of my defection! Remember that guy I was dating when I went to Ripon, Tom? Well, I’m still with him 35 years later (25 married years!) We live in Hartford, Wisconsin where it was super cool to host the US Open last year. We have three children: Erin (19), Nick (18), and William (16).
Low and behold I have a Ripon legacy – ERIN BARRIE ’20 is a sophomore this year. She’ll be the Class of 2020 – how fun is that! She too is an RA residing in Scott Hall (apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!). She also is on the swim team (way more athletic than her mom!) and loves the new Willmore Center. If you haven’t visited the campus recently, you’ll be jealous of the awesome Athletic Center they have. Every time I am in the Willmore Center for a swim meet, it is a walk down memory lane for me as I look at the Hall of Fame! Coach Elaine is featured and the photos from her teams are a blast from the past – no doubt all of you will recognize someone in the plethora of photos on display. Erin also spends a lot of time in the Rodman Center – so talented in the fine arts, unlike her mom. She’s an amazing artist, sings on the Choral Union Choir and looks forward to getting more involved in the theater as she customizes her major in Interior Architectural Design through the theater department.
I hope all of you are doing well, and that you’ll consider coming to Ripon in the summer of 2020 for our 35th Year Class Reunion! It’s not too soon to decide if you would like to be on the reunion planning committee. Stay tuned for further details!
Well that’s enough about me and my family. I was so excited to hear from some of you and look forward to hearing from more of you as time goes by – keep the emails coming!
Recently, JIM ESTEN ’85 has been slowly transitioning out of the tech field and now owns a boutique gym called No Bounds Training & Wellness Center in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. He’s teaching boot camps, qigong, meditation, and breath work…as well as hosting a myriad of other activities at the Center doing extensive outreach activities for Advocates of Ozaukee, the Red Cross, and the Saukville Food Pantry. His oldest of 8 kids is back from the Peace Corps and currently working on cruise ships as a youth director. Two kids are in college — both in Indiana. Remaining 5 are still at home. Caryn and Jim just celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary on Valentine’s Day! Jim has accepted a position on the board of directors of Advocates of Ozaukee County — a local nonprofit fighting domestic and sexual abuse. Jim says: “If you’re in Cedarburg, stop by would love to share stories about life — those are best told over extended sessions of wine ‘tasting’. If you’re in the area, hit us up. We’ll pour!”
This past October 2017 NADINE KINGSTON SALEM ’85, JULI WELK JENSEN ‘85, CAROL MALEC LUND ’85, MARY PURDO PEKSA ’85, CAROL WOOD BROOKS ’85, JEAN KELLOGG CLARK ’85, got together in Sedona for the time in over 30 years! Some of us have seen each other over the years but not six of us at one time. It was a truly amazing, fun filled, dancing, laughing weekend!
STEVE TEMPLIN ’85 – Steve’s life story since Ripon…Attended grad school at Marquette and received his PhD. Taught 1/2 year at UW Center in Manitowoc; one year at Marion College in Fond Du Lac; and for the last 20 years I‘ve been teaching at Cardinal Stritch University in Glendale. I have to put up with students just like me when I was at Ripon every single day…Poetic justice!!!???
Think Spring!
Heather