Here we go…

Rex Gundle writes:
Just over 3 years ago I helped the new Khalifa Port get into operation and have been running the business unit ever since. Now I will be heading home by Christmas to start up life in the US for the first time in over 17 years….it will all seem alien to me, I am sure, but Kim is already there warming up the place for my return. We will be settling in at our home in Lake Lure, NC, and if anybody gets lost around the Asheville area or actually comes by the lake and needs some assistance, give a call. My US number is 704-526-5076. Hope to finally reconnect with many of our classmates after so long.

Matthew Bucherati writes:
In the Spring edition of our class notes, you mentioned the birth of my fourth grandchild, Eli. I am now proud to announce the recent birth of my fifth, Hope Rose to my oldest son, Matt and his wife Jess. Sara and I have been blessed with a rapidly growing family. We will be getting together for a family reunion this July fourth. It will be Sara and myself, our four children, three spouses and five grandchildren for a total of 14. The gathering will fill every bed in our mountain home in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Considering I was the youngest member of our class, I wonder if we are leading the pack in grandchildren?

Erin Gant writes:
I sang in the 2014 National Independence Day Parade here in DC on July 4 with the trio Swing Shift. We stopped at the reviewing stand near the White House to sing one song. This was our eighth appearance in this parade. We also performed in the Memorial Day Parade.

Bob Ross writes:
I spent a June Saturday evening with the Coons‘, the Morton‘s and the Cunninghams up in Baltimore for dinner. Here’s a pic of our combined families or at least the ones who were available.

AJ Murphy writes:
Was on a quick trip to Philly and as luck would have it was able to connect up with fellow classmate and “B.J” Bill Higgins. He told me we were headed to the local KP Chapter outing that night for drinks at a local downtown establishment. Got to meet several other good Kings Pointers, and would have been remiss had I not shot a quick picture of our other classmate Steve Galati in attendance. Enjoyed the camaraderie, lots of good jokes and catching up, then headed off to dinner with Bill. Really glad we were able to catch up, as it had been a few years since we last saw each other!

Brian Foy mentioned that he ran into Andy Hoefflin at a KP Central New Jersey Chapter Outing. Brian visited with me recently for a Summer afternoon of forestry work at my family’s farm in the Catskills. Special thanks to Jim Story, who helped me update our class email list!

When I asked for input, Rod Knecht replied “All I can say is ‘I’m happy'”. Very eloquent, Rod!
—– Ray Christensen

Bob Ross, Kent Morton, Jeff Coons & Mickey C

AJ Murphy, Bill Higgins, Steve Galati

Andy Hoefflin & Brian Foy

I really appreciate the input you guys give me and look forward to a few words from anyone who hasn’t written in a while. Here we go…

Ed Fairbairn writes:
On March 30th, John Grimaldi wed Miss Risa Glaser in Florham Park, NJ. We had a mini Kings Point reunion with Bob Grimaldi, Ed Fairbairn, Lisa (Barcus) and Gary Fields (82), Jeff Fout, Scott Douglass, Brian Winget and Dan Turrisini (81) attending.

Scott Brueggeman writes:
I recently visited DC as my company is in the process of building a new multi-tenant data center in the area. I caught up with Kent Morton and Rich Surratt over dinner while we watched the NCAA basketball finals. Kent is co-founder of an industrial power consulting company and Rich is working with Tatum. As for me, I’m living in Chicago and I head up marketing for CyrusOne, a global data center provider. A shout out to the group that worked on our homecoming activities last fall. Excellent job and it was great to reconnect with fellow classmates.

Tom Heberle seems go get around a bit, writing:
I ran into George Toma in Panama City, Panama last month at the International Maritime Pilots Association (IMPA) congress. George was there demonstrating electronic piloting aids for Transas. I also saw Bill Sliker in Honolulu in February at the West Coast Pilots’ Conference. Bill is a pilot with the Puget Sound Pilots.

“What a coincidence”
In December, Ted Hercamp and his wife, Marie , Kevin (17) and Alexa (11) were at Universal Studios in Orlando. Marie posted on Facebook “ Stuck in Harry Potter Line “. At the same time Doug Waldman and his daughter, Laura were on a nearby water ride. His wife, Carol was sitting out the ride and saw the post on Facebook. She quickly messenger us and we got to spend the afternoon together. Pretty amazing coincidence since these old roommates now reside in Bixby , Oklahoma and Malta, New York. The amazing power of the internet to bring good friends together.

Members of the Class of ’83 once again made the annual pilgrimage in early April to the golf mecca known as Myrtle Beach – where Legends are born and are continuously reinforced. The following classmates made the trip and allegedly played some golf while enjoying many laughs, cigars, beverages and sea stories: Bob Ross; Chris Cioni; Del Lewis; Guy Wilson; Brian Foy; Jim Quern; John Rhatigan; Mike Keane; and Mickey C. Highlights of the trip included Del’s near-miss hole-in-one (see photo at website), the annual dinner to Greg Norman’s Steakhouse and, of course, the unceremonious “shearing” of James (Fabio) Quern. Many thanks again to Mickey C and brother Pat for planning this annual “reunion!”

Webmaster Ray is doing just fine and recently joined the 21st century in getting HDTV just in time to enjoy the Rangers in the NHL playoffs. More recent photos at KP83.org and of course at our Facebook Group.
—– Ray Christensen

Doug Waldman & Ted Hercamp in Orlando

John Grimaldi wedding in NJ

Fearsome Foursome in Myrtle Beach

Bob Ross & Brian Foy

Del Lewis narrowly misses Hole in One!

Chris Cioni & Brian Foy

Chris Cioni & Bob Ross

If anyone still hasn’t seen the video of our 30th Reunion, see link at KP83.org. Encourage anyone you know on the “Need Current Contact” list to drop me a line. Things are fine with me here in Delaware, where we’re just as fed up with this nasty winter as everyone else. I interrupted Matt Bucherati‘s Valentines dinner with his wife, but he had time to tell me that they recently had their 4th grandchild! Can anyone top that?

Thomas Aufiero writes:
Sorry I missed the reunion. I am living in Charlotte, NC now and just could not make it up. I did get to see Bumper Kunkle and his family in Oct. They came down to the area to see their nephew play in a football for Davidson College and stayed with me at my house. It was great to see them.

Douglas Barlow writes:
Been living the good life here in the PNW since 1985. My girls are soon to be 13, 15 and 21! Dr. Mitra Ray, the love of my live is soon to publish her 3rd book called GROW. Life is good in the business of providing people with optimal health, free time and disposable income. I keep in touch with a handful of classmates via FB and the occasional phone call. I recently spoke with Mark Coynes who operations manager/pilot at Jacobsen Pilots out of the Port of Los Angeles, CA. Also recently connected with Richard Surratt who is a CFO partner at Tatum which is a Business/Manufacturing Forecasting Consultancy in the DC area. I cruise and race an F-28R trimaran here in the Salish Sea Basin and had Pete McGonagle ’84 (partner at Swiftsure Yachts in Seattle) on board last year for Round the County, as well as Jay Renehan ’85 (Boeing engineer) for Foulweather Bluff Race.

Brian Foy writes:
Greetings from Squaw Valley…er Hudson Valley. Hard to tell the difference these days. As I write this another 10-15” of the white stuff are coming down. Thank goodness I can work from home on days like this! Not too much to report since our 30th Reunion. That was a LOT of work but also a lot of fun. It was so good to see everyone – in a few cases it had been 30 years! Thanks for archiving all our events and pictures in our class web site, which looks terrific. I’m not a facebook guy but I do enjoy the postings on our class page. The Foys enjoyed Christmas in Florida and are ready to go back. Trying to remember why I left in the first place…oh yeah, the “job thing.” I am looking forward to the ’83 Myrtle Beach Golf Classic in early April – a crazy few bays of bad golf, many laughs and even more beverages. Looking forward to seeing Chris Cioni, Bob Ross, Mike Keane, Mickey C, Jm Quern, Guy Wilson, Del Lewis and John Rhatigan. Ross and I are calling for more “Deckie Reinforcements,” although we are used to being outnumbered and will prevail. Still twisting Scott O’Connor’s arm. Pics and stories (suitable for printing) forthcoming in future issues.

Thanks guys, for writing. Don’t make me grab photos & silly comments from Facebook to place in this column! Send news, especially visits with classmates! I hope to visit Chris Cioni this Spring when I hit CA for Avenue of the Giants Marathon, along with catching a SF Giants game, to make it a theme trip. Take care!
—– Ray Christensen

Lisa(Barcus) Fields, George Toma, Maureen McKeever at 30th reunion

Susan Pawlukiewicz & Lisa (Taylor) Cripps at 30th reunion