Classmate Profiles

When you click on "WHERE ARE THEY NOW" below a map of the United States will appear with pins showing classmates who have filled out their profiles. Click on their name or one of the gold pins to see their location !

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Robert Simpson

Then Then
Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Retire Manufacturing Systems Consultant
Comment: Since then...

2 years Army stationed in Germany

Graduate Southern Illinois University

Married 42 years

Two Daughters

Manufacturing Systems consultant for 25 years

retired in 2015

 
Spouse Name: Janet Matzl Simpson
Married Name: Simpson
# of Grandchildren: 2

Beverly Smith

Then Then

Craig Smith

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Retail and wholesale piano sales
Comment: Many classmates may recall that I played the piano and organ as a kid and was active in the music department at GBN.  After graduation, I went to Bradley U. in Peoria, starting in pre-med, but quickly discovered that I had little aptitude for the sciences and switched to business.  I worked part-time at a local music store, selling pianos and organs and played gigs on weekends, which I really enjoyed. Following college, I joined a show band and traveled all over the country, performing at upscale hotels.  After a couple years on the road, I settled in northern California, selling pianos and organs.  Sue and I married in 1975 and returned to Peoria for eight years, where our two sons, Ben (39) and Chris (37) were born, and then moved to Olathe, KS in 1984.  I have spent my entire career in the music business, including 25 years as a regional sales manager for three piano manufacturers. In addition to extensive weekly travel during that time, I continued to play gigs on weekends, along with playing organ in church.  Although I have been off the road since 2009, I continue to work selling pianos and church organs and playing 3-4 gigs a week, since that is my passion (instead of golf or hobbies).  Our two sons are both married and living in the KC area and we enjoy our three grandsons, ages 5, 10 and 12.  Not surprisingly, both of our sons played keyboards growing up and now our grandsons are taking piano lessons and performing in festivals and recitals.  We are having too much fun to quit working and retire anytime soon, but look forward to seeing everyone in Santa Fe next week!
Spouse Name: Sue (Wojtas) Smith
# of Grandchildren: 3

Susan E. Smith

Then Then

Susan L. Smith (DECEASED)

Then Then

Susan Spitler

Then Then

Karen Spivey

Then Then

Louis Stauffer (DECEASED)

Then Then

Karen Steitz

Then Then

Rebecca (Becky) Stern (Sharp)

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 3
Occupation: Consultant
Comment: After graduating from GBN I went to the University of Missouri, and with a passion for fashion, hoped to become a fashion journalist.  My family moved to New York (Connecticut) where times at “home” were relatively boring, so I went to work as an intern at Bloomingdales during summer breaks.  The passion for fashion intensified, and merchandising became my destiny.  I received an MBA via Macys Executive Training program, and shockingly was lucky enough to become one of their first female V.P.‘s.  My luck continued and I moved on to Neiman Marcus.  For the proceeding 15 years, I had a dream career as a senior executive until I left for family reasons.  Meeting the love of my life and my adorable husband, Larry Stern, was the great reward for taking a sabbatical.  Understanding that “life is short”, we acted upon our dream of owning a stone farmhouse in the hills of Tuscany, and restored a 600-year-old ruin.  Simultaneously and coincidently, Gucci offered me the position of Global Director (President).  The challenges were enormous; languages, cultures, intense travel, etc., but the experience enabled my next quest and we started an international consulting business. 

I have three stepchildren (they adopted me!), and three precious grandchildren.

Larry and I, three dogs, and three cats live in Anghiari (AR), Italy where we have treasured every minute of our twenty-plus years of agrarian life.

Thank you Neil and Ginny Gerald for “finding me” ten years ago!  I am looking forward to 2017 in Santa Fe and re-connecting with many of you!
Spouse Name: Larry
Married Name: Stern
# of Grandchildren: 3