Hello Ray from Eastern Europe. I’m presently serving as US Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Attaché in Warsaw Poland and as the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) representative to central and eastern Europe. I live in Warsaw for the next few years and I cover aviation security/border security stuff for the region (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus). With everything going in in neighboring Ukraine, it is an interesting time to be in the region. It’s certainly an interesting gig as I travel the AOR regularly to work with host government officials to help improve transportation security globally and to address US interests related to transportation security. Poland is a popular place these days with lots and lots of high level delegations coming to visit and understand the changing face of Europe…arguably, Poland is now the eastern front of NATO, and the Polish people have been amazing in their support to the women and children refugees who have fled Ukraine. I’d argue the Polish community has been more welcoming in this situation than the US could ever be. Other than work, I’ve tried hard to get embedded in the local community, and have develop a strong network of Polish and ex-pat friends from around the world (ironically, not a single one of them is American as I don’t seem to run across that many Americans here in Warsaw or in the region as a whole). Definitely trying to keep busy with work, volleyball, gym time, and travel. I’ve included a picture in Prague, Czech Republic. My daughter and her husband came to visit over Christmas and we had the opportunity to head over to Berlin and Prague after showing them around Warsaw for a bit. Hopefully I can make it back to the US for the reunion, but the situation next door may dictate some of that for me. Hope all is well.
Randy Johnson shares:
Talk about a small world, I thought you’d enjoy hearing this update we received from our younger son, Garrett, who is a ’21 KP grad and currently attending Navy Flight School in Pensacola, FL. He recently had a Sunday morning watch and showed up 15 minutes early to relieve the Ensign who had the Saturday night watch. (the Navy typically assigns the new Ensigns watches when they first get into the flight program). While they were doing their handover, Garrett mentioned he attended KP and the other Ensign mentioned his Dad went to KP too. Well, the Ensign our son was relieving is named Evan Brofford, a ROTC graduate from Ohio State and whose father is Kevin Brofford from our class! And as it turns out, both Evan and our son were then assigned to the same training squadron.
I reached out to Kevin and we had a good laugh about this as the last time we had spoken was when we happened to run into each other in a hotel pub outside of London back in 2011. I was working with BP at the time and travelled to London quite regularly and he was laying over on one of his AMEX corporate flights.
As they say, it’s often a very small world we live in…!
I look forward to seeing everyone at Homecoming in September.
I am very excited to see everyone in September at Homecoming! It seems that it’s been more than 5 years, but that’s because of the pandemic. I am still working at Dollar Bank in Card Services, training new people and talking to customers. Here is a sunrise picture over my building in Pittsburgh from April. Yes, I still look at the skies to see if it’s going to rain or be nice – typical deckie behavior! I am also still working at the polls every election day, and here is a picture of Constable Turkey (at kp83.org), who has been at every election for the past 4 years. They don’t seem to be able to find a human constable for us. My youngest nephew Ethan graduated from the University of Virginia this month, and although I could not attend I watched the festivities online. Here he is with his balloon! (at kp83.org) I am serving as president for the WIlkinsburg Stamp Club and for our GFWC Women’s Club and enjoy going antiquing and flea-marketing.
Debbie and I have been around the world, so to speak, since March. Our first trip was to Bali, with some Navy Reserve friends, in late March to early April. Yes, 12 time zone changes, so we could have flown around the world! After working for 5 weeks, we were off again to Italy and France, where we joined a Backroads Multi Adventure trip, of hiking, biking and kayaking on Sardinia and Corsica. We also explored Sardinia before the trip for a few days, we I honed my skills driving a six-speed rental on the narrow, windy roads, south of Olbia. After the organized trip, we flew to Nice, as you cannot get to Italy from Corsica, on our way to Manarola. (No, you cannot make that up.) After an overnight in Nice, we spent 4 days in the Cinque Terre region of Italy. An absolutely beautiful area. Then, we had a day in Milan, on our way home. Thought I would wear the “colors,” in Corsica! We look forward to seeing everyone at the reunion! Bruce
Gary and I have been doing well. Enjoying the last couple of months with our grandsons living relatively close as the Navy has seen fit to send them to Pearl Harbor with their parents in July. We are heartbroken that we will have to go to Hawaii a couple of times a year to visit!!
Last summer I was asked by the Fiber Arts Center of the Eastern Shore to prepare a one-woman quilt show of my work. To say that I was honored to be asked is an understatement. I have been quilting for 30 years, more so in retirement. But to be asked to prepare a one-woman show was both daunting and exciting. Delivering the quilts to FACES in April was almost as rewarding as ringing the bell after license exams, but not quite! Here are a few pictures of the items on display until July. Wishing everyone a great Homecoming Weekend!!
I retired from United Airlines in Nov ’22 and am enjoying retirement in our Sun City Palm Desert CA community. I posted 164 rounds of golf last year and won Silver Medals at both regional Men’s Doubles PickleBall tournaments I entered (3.0 rating 60+ age group). My wife and I schedule 4 to 5 ten-day trips every summer to get out of the desert heat with our first tip this year to Lytham & Bath England . I’ve kept in touch with Don Town who lives in Charlotte and owns/manages The Pit – a fantastic indoor entertainment center (hint – don’t race him on his own indoor kart race track). John & Risa Grimaldi stopped by while visiting the area; they split their time between their Florida and New Jersey homes. John is busy closing HUGE deals in commercial insurance. I’ve had several visits from Ed Fairbairn who maintains a rigorous fitness routine and is still working for a defense contractor. I enjoy following Brian Krenzien‘s travels all over Europe from his posting in Warsaw Poland as the Regional Director for TSA. Classmates traveling through the Palm Desert Area are welcome to stop by! (Contact: 858-682-6896)
Susan Pawlukiewicz confirms that she’ll see us at the Reunion.
Phil Custer surfaced and is “looking forward to seeing everyone after 40 years. I’ve only seen Doug Ulman (my roommate 1st Class year) since graduation (to the best of my failing memory) and that was over 20 years ago.”
Erin Gantt performed at the opening ceremonies of the 2023 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC on 29 May. She sang the US Armed Forces service songs, starting with “Heave Ho!” and took this photo with VADM William Galinas (NAVSEA Commander).
Ray Christensen looks forward to seeing most of you in September. Please check our website for latest Homecoming schedule and to make final reservations, payments and donations toward our class gift. Contact Mickey Cunningham () with any questions.