Dec 31, 2012

Florida Mini Reunion January 6, 2012

Florida MPHS Mini Reunion January 6, 2012

Greetings of the Season. Here's an invitation to any MPHS Alums: 
Sunday, January 6th, we're having our very own mini-reunion in the Fort Myers, Florida area. Place and time to be announced, but it will be closer to lunch time than dinner for those who are within reasonable driving distance. 

Reunion Committee Chair Will Hepburn will be visiting his brother in SW Florida, so we're going to get together for pizza, sandwiches, salads, etc. Please respond via e-mail to empehireunion@aol.com with your phone number. Hope to see some of you in the new year!




MPHS Alum New Years Resolutions

Stay in touch

Travel More

Work Less

Work Out More

Eat Less

Lose Weight

Join Gym


Run Spiel Chek

Keep Our Resolutions





Coffee House 1968, 111 & Hale




Coffee House 1968, 111 & Hale next to tracks.


Courtesy of Steve Crabtree, Morgan Park High




Dec 30, 2012

The Great Blizzards of Chicago







Which Great Blizzard?  Who was there?

Click to Read More about the 1967 Blizzard

Click to see the Video

Chicago Blizzard Records

"The great Blizzard of 2011 didn’t set a record — but still dumped 20.2 inches on the city, shut down schools, closed businesses and even major shopping malls, knocked out power to hundreds of thousands and left hundreds stranded on Lake Shore Drive."


1967 — 23.0 inches of snow  
1999 — 21.6 inches of snow
2011 — 20.2 inches on the city

Click to see Lake Shore Drive 2011

Click to read about the 1999 Blizzard



Dec 27, 2012

The Last Catholic in America




John R. Powers wrote three books about growing up in Mt. Greenwood, Chicago, which he calls Seven Holy Tombs in the book. If you have never read them, go to the library and get them or buy them. They are hilarious. 

The Last Catholic in America is about grade school kids and is the best.  Do Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? and The Unoriginal Sinner and the Ice-Cream God are about older kids and are also well worth reading.

Powers was born in 1945 and went to St. Christina. He writes about many of the neighborhood characters that we knew. 

Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? was made into a play. We saw it in Chicago. There were several nuns in attendance, which inhibited our reactions until we saw them laughing. Then we all laughed together.


Dec 26, 2012

Dec 24, 2012

Merry Christmas





Julie Marschand and Santa Claus






Amazing Amish Christmas Lights

These are amazing!



You know that the Amish don't use electricity.


Merry Christmas



Happy Holidays


Dec 17, 2012

Merry Christmas Happy Holidays Happy New Year



Merry Christmas
Happy Holidays
Happy New Year

Our New Years Resolution? We will stay in touch

Staying in Touch - We will maintain our Web Sites, Blogs, Pinterest, Yahoo, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn. 

But the only site you have to remember is our web site or blog. Check it out periodically to see what is going on with our 60 something MPHS crowd.

Blog           empehi.com

Web Site    morganparkhigh.com

We are also connected on Facebook, Yahoo Groups, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google+. The Blog below tells you how to get involved.


It took a long time and a lot of effort to find you. Please don't get lost. If you change your email please send us an email.


Ho Ho Ho  

Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays

Happy New Year




Dec 16, 2012

Knife Sharpener


Remember that back in the day the Knife Sharpener would come door to door? Those kind of door to door services are a thing of the past.

Photo from Margaret Madden from the Growing Up in Mt Greenwood in the 50's and 60's Facebook page. Thank you, Margaret.


Dec 12, 2012

I'd love to be an Oscar Mayer Wiener



I saw the Oscar Mayer Weiner Mobile on 107th and Sawyer in Mt Greenwood, Chicago, when I was a child.  An awe inspiring moment. I even got a whistle thrown from the car. Sadly I no longer have the whistle.

The Jingle went something like this:

Oh, I'd love to be an Oscar Mayer wiener.
That is what I'd truly like to be.
'Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer wiener,
Everyone would be in love with me.

Oh, I'm glad I'm not an Oscar Mayer wiener.
That is what I'd never want to be.
Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer wiener.
There would soon be nothing left of me!


You can get a ringtone of the Jingle for your cell phone at the link below. If you do so bring it to the next reunion. It might help you win the attention of the MPHS beauty who never paid attention to you back in the old sod. If you do that let us know how it worked out.






Jon Stewart above with the Wiener Mobile. Jon made a few weiner jokes.

http://carpeperdiem.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_carpeperdiem_archive.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wienermobile


Chicago New Americans Plan


Mayor Emanuel released the Chicago New Americans Plan, which outlines 27 initiatives to build a thriving, diverse and welcoming city over the next three years. The plan, which is the first of its kind in the nation, highlights the potential economic impact when the City supports the creation and expansion of immigrant-owned businesses; develops, attracts, and retains talent and expertise from other countries; and aims to bolster the City’s status as a vibrant and welcoming international city.

“With residents from over 140 countries and more than 100 languages spoken in our city, Chicago is a city of immigrants,” said Mayor Emanuel. “These immigrants are small business owners, teachers, parents, clergymen, elected officials, and leaders in our communities. This is why I am committed to making Chicago the most immigrant friendly city in the nation. I thank the ONA Advisory Committee for assisting us in developing a plan that will ensure Chicago continues to thrive and grow and attract the world’s leading human capital to compete in the 21st century global economy and beyond.” 

Dec 6, 2012

Russell E. Rojakovick MPHS 1966

Russell E. Rojakovick, age 64, at rest December 3, 2012. Beloved son of the late Joseph and Martha Rojakovick. Loving father of Eric D. (Tanya Foemmel, Fiancée), Travis D. (Jessica) and Joseph D. Rojakovick. Former husband of Patricia Rojakovick. Dear brother of Robert (Sandi) and Arnold (Phyllis) Rojakovick. Dear grandfather of Lauren Christine. 

Russell was the highly respected owner and president of Par Construction Co. (Oak Park/Burr Ridge) for 25 years. Memorial visitation Saturday December 8th from 10 a.m. until time of Memorial Service 11:30 am at Adolf Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Ltd. 7000 S. Madison St; Willowbrook. Information: 630-325-2300 or www.adolfservices.com. 

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With great sadness I must advise all that Russ passed away on Monday December 3. The memorial service is December 8 at Adolf's Funeral Home in Willowbrook, IL. There is a brief obit on their home page. Russ was a five year survivor of cancer. He leaves behind three adult children and many friends and extended family. Russ and I had been dear friends for nearly 60 years. I will miss him always.


Tom Breen

________

I'm sorry for your loss Tom and that of all of us.

Susan Engle B

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Sorry to hear about Russ. A very nice man. Very smart and funny.


Craig Hullinger
_________

I feel like I knew Russ all the formative years of my life. As I recall he lived close to my home at 108th and St. Louis. He was in my Mt. Greenwood and Morgan Park high school pictures. He was a student I admired because
he was bright and aware of other student's feelings. I could see that.


Now I wish I had been closer to his inner circle of friends. I'm sad to know he's gone. He was a friend and classmate. To Tom Breen, at the moment, I can't think of anything worse than losing such a beloved, longtime friend.


Sharon Shepardson Avny
Class of 1966

_________


Russ was one of the smartest people I ever knew, and also one of the funniest. I always wished that I'd had the opportunity to know him much better.

My sympathy to Tom, since losing a lifelong friend is a dreadful passage, and to all who loved him.

~Taffy Cannon

________

Thanks Tom for sending the news. Those of us from Mount Greenwood School know that the leadership and his funny wit were seen way back in early grammer school, where we all knew he'd eventually be Class President. 

Always enjoyed catching up with Russ at the reunions. Where we always talked about our fight during a hectic Johnny-Run-Across game. Condolences Tom.

Jim Dart '66

_______
I remember Russ as 'Russell', since in grammar school full formal names were always used.  I frequently sat in front of him when teachers arranged the classroom alphabetically.  That happened both at Mt. Greenwood and at Morgan Park.  He was always a nice guy... never dipped my braids in the inkwell.

Well, maybe I didn't have braids, but we did have inkwells, and they sometimes contained ink.  One of the Mt. Greenwood memories I have of him was when the class was assigned writing poems about what we wanted to be when we grew up. My poem was short and stupid, but his was several pages long.  I remember him reading his poem to the class.


  It started out:
 
" When I grow up and become a man,
I'll become a pirate if I can."
 
I wish I could remember more of it; ... something about "Lafitte and Teach
marouding everything within reach...." Anyway, I was in awe of his ability to write a great poem, which wasn't fair because he was also good at math and science.  I'm sure he would have succeeded in anything he tried, even if it
were becoming a pirate (which apparently, he did not.)
 
My condolences to all of you who knew him well.

Karen Rodberg

__________

Karen -- seems as though you knew Russ in a way that few others did... as a poet and pirate. Thank You for sharing this lovely memory and insight. I will smile every time I think of it.

Judy Halligan Willingham '66

__________

Well, well! Thanks for sharing the poetry thing with we who knew Russ for grammar school as well as high school.  I had no idea he wrote poetry, but it somehow does not surprise me as I always found him to be a simply nice guy.

And now I know that he and I had more in common than the neighborhood we grew up
in, etc.  I remember standing and talking to a group at the first MPHS reunion I attended (3 or 4 ago) and telling them about my poetry copyrights and business idea, and Pam Smith refreshed my memory about a poem I had written when we were in grammar school, which I do not remember at all.  I wonder if Russ still remembered his first writings the way you and Pam remembered both of ours?  The
most important thing, though, is that HE will be remembered fondly by each and every one of us.  And, Breen, your friend will be waiting to greet you when it's your turn to leave this plain.  You can take that to the bank!

Prayers to Russ and his family and friends - Joan P. '66

We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends and living our lives! Maya Angelou


__________

Really sad to hear about Russ. We double dated a couple of times while in high school. I still remember him in the back seat of a new 4 seater Ford Thunderbird, that my boss let me use for a dance, with his date. As we keep saying where have the years gone and we should appreciate everyday we are here.
Nice guy I a sure he will be missed.

Ray Justinic
Jan 1966

_______

I feel like I knew Russ all the formative years of my life. As I recall he lived close to my home at 108th and St. Louis. He was in my Mt. Greenwood and Morgan Park high school pictures. He was a student I admired 
because he was bright and aware of other student's feelings. I could see that. Now I wish I had been closer to his inner circle of friends. I'm sad to know he's gone. He was a friend and classmate. To Tom Breen, at the moment,
I can't think of anything worse than losing such a beloved, longtime friend.


Sharon Shepardson Avny
Class of 1966






Russ on the bottom right at a poker Game. I recalled I had one from a Hi-Y retreat at Lake Forest College in 1965(?)... He is explaining the game to someone it looks like. Also in picture is Jim Seamon's back... Billy Schneider... and Dave Crask and some unknowns...

Jim Dart

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