Email: vanman@umich.edu; Spouse: Traci; Married: 18 yrs; Kids: 0; Activities: playing video poker, Red Wings hockey, and collecting sports memorabilia.;

Vacations: Our overseas travels have taken us to Zambia, in Africa, and Rome, Italy. We have also had many great trips to Las Vegas. Almost a year ago we bought a condo in Bonita Springs, Florida, and we try to go down there whenever we can.

Employment: University of Michigan Health System;

History: Well, it's hard to believe it's been 40 years since those fun-filled days at B.G. If we only could have known what paths our lives would have taken us! I guess that's half the fun not knowing where the journey of life will lead. It's sad that our institution (and some of our classmates) are gone but I'm very happy to see that our "spirit" seems strong.

After high school I attended Oakland University where I obtained a B.A. degree in Psychology and Sociology, with a concentration in Criminal Justice, graduating in 1974. I worked for 3 1/2 years as a federal correctional officer at Milan F.C.I. In April 1979 I obtained employment with the University of Michigan Health System in their Public Safety Department where I have been ever since (31 plus years). I plan on retiring (or at least work part-time for a year) on August 1, 2011.

In September 1992 I married the lovely and talented Traci, who has since become my best friend for the past 18 years. We have no children. (I married late, at 40, but I robbed the cradle. My wife is 13 years younger than me!) We have a very good and blessed life together. See you at the 50th reunion..............!

Spouse: John; Married: 1978; Kids:Michael(1982), Christopher(1985); Grandkids: 0

Activities: golf, exercise, Euchre with a group for over 30 years, book club, nature hiking, volunteering in the Rochester Junior Women's Club (a fundraising/service non profit)

Vacations: Los Angeles and Seattle to see sons, Grand Bend, Ont where we used to own a cottage, "up north," Spain, Sonoma, Las Vegas,Sedona, Nashville, etc. and many National Parks and most states

Employment: retired dental hygienist 42 years, and Silpada jewelry representative 10 years

History: We raised our sons for 25 years in Rochester Hills and downsized in 2015 to a condo in Bloomfield Hills. We really enjoy this as it has freed us up to travel and relax more. Once my husband retires in the next couple years, we'd like to spend more time in warmer weather and/or closer to our sons.

Spouse: Pam; Married: 36 yrs; Kids: Amy(34) a physicians assistant and Eddy(32) a landscape architect; Grandkids: CJ(11), Rachael(9) and Brendan(7)

Activities: running & running & running 27,000 total miles;

Vacations: cruising, Belgium & France;

Employment: Farmer Jacks & Kroger;

History: I graduated from Wayne State University in 1974, having worked my way through college working at Wrigleys supermarket. After college I switched from Wrigleys to Farmer Jack and worked my way up from night crew to store management to eventually becoming the senior category manager for Farmer Jack. After 31 years Farmer Jack went away and I was hired by Kroger in 2007. Right now I am the store manager at the kroger store at 9 mile and Mack.

In 1982 I watched as my brother Johnny ran a marathon in Detroit. Since then I have been hooked on running. To date I have run over 27,000 miles and have run 18 marathons, including having qualified for and run the Boston Marathon twice. Along with that I have run over 160 other races, my highest finish being 3rd place. Not bad for a guy who who was born with zero athletic ability. At 58 years old, I now just run to keep in shape. My racing days are over.

My wife and I enjoy cruises, going on one every other year. I have also been to Belgium and France twice in the past 10 years to visit family in both countries. After being a member of many different parishes in the past 40 years, I have come back home and now once again make Queen of Peace my home parish.

Spouse's Name: Janet Taormina (BG Class of 72), goes by Jan; Married: 34 yrs; Kids: Carrie (33), Katie (31), Pam (30), Colleen (26), and Shawn (21) ; Grandkids: 4 with 3 on the way (one in August and two in October);

Activities: Golf, exercising, biking, enjoying a glass of red wine, dining out with friends

Vacations: Our family for years has enjoyed vacationing in northern Michigan. We have spent time at Platte Lake in Honor; Intermediate Lake in Bellaire and recently at Crooked Lake in Oden. The norm is to jam all my daughters, their spouses and my grandchildren into a cottage for week as a test to see how much we love one another. It's funny, we all come out alive, sunburn, tired, and anxious to return to our daily routines. A sign of a great vacation and full of memories, especially for the grandchildren.

Employment: After college, I started work in Detroit at Michigan Consolidated Gas Company in their Compressor Design Department. Left after 22 months and started a career with Ford Motor Company holding several different positions - Body-in-White Design Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Advanced Mfg Planner and for 15 plus years being a Kaizen/Lean Manufacturing Consultant to Ford's supply base. Retired from Ford in February 2007, joined Ace Controls in Farmington Hills as their Continuous Improvement Manager one week later. Loved the job but I was let go due to declining sales in August of '09. Hired on to A123Systems, a Lithium-ion battery maker located in Livonia in March of '10. Love the job and the battery business. I hope to stay there for the remainder of my working life which I hope doesn't go past the age of 62.

I don't know at this time if I will be making the reunion. A good friend is having a 50th surprise birthday and it is planned for the same weekend. If I do come, you can blame or give the credit to Kent Rozycik. Kent went to Queen of Peace through 5th grade, later attending GPN. I ran into him at the golf course this past Father's Day. He was in town attending the 40th reunion for GP North's class and as we golfed we struck up the conversation of who knows who. Everyone he named was from Gallagher with a few exceptional personalities from North like Jim Safran and Jim Rohlman. In any case, reminiscing about the past with Kent was nice. He says "Hello" to all BG friends. Golfing must bring people together as I also ran into Bev Geyman's husband and brother in September. We also shared the names of friends at BG that we both knew. Obviously, BG must have been the place to the be back then. In case I do not have the opportunity to re-meet my friends, I hope you all have a great time.

It was fun reading about the activities, family ties, and careers of the great class of 1970. It certainly looks as though the crop was rich with talent.

History: Life is Good! I am blessed with a wonderful wife, 5 fantastic daughters, 4 outstanding son-in-laws, 4 exceptional grandchildren, a loyal Wemeiramer (female of course!), and the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. Nothing else really matters.

History: Married to Dr. Maria Fernandez, of Madrid, a senior research scientist turned MBA market analyst working for an international non-profit on women's reproductive health. We have two daughters, Sofia Rose (who will have just turned 3 by the time of the reunion) and Maria Olivia (aka Marita, 10 months and walking as of the reunion). Mi casa es la casa de las princesas---y mi espanol esta mejorando muy lentamente (afortunadamente, es muy similar al italiano).

Graduated Monteith College, WSU, 1973 with a Ph.B, Columbia U. in 1974 with an MA in English and Comparative Literature, and began teaching college in Brooklyn that fall at night and worked in a NYC museum days, with prints, drawings, and photographs. Returned to CU in 1976 and left with a Ph.D. in 1980. Taught at Cornell in the English and Art History departments before moving to UNC-Chapel Hill in 1984. Have been a chaired senior professor since 1994. It's a good gig with a nice title. I teach British romantic literature and art, publishing primarily on the art and poetry of William Blake.

I travel more than I care to (as does Maria), have had extended stays in Paris, London, Madrid, Bellagio, NYC. Although Madrid awaits us, I have no intention of retiring any time soon. I've cut back on traveling/lecturing, though Maria thinks not enough. We live in an "historic" neighborhood, i.e., very near the university, so my exercise is walking to work.

I played drums in a very fine R&B/jam band throughout most of the 80s and 90s (lots of Stones, CCR, V-underground, blues, resulting in 5 cds of live performances). Still play music, but guitar mostly and more quietly, and still paint and spend time in my studio; Sofia loves to work on large sheets of paper, taped to the studio floor or a little easle, with her hundreds of crayons, pencils, and paints, and I'm sure Marita will join her soon in this and in music and dance. Actually, I think I now spend more time picking up, stepping over, and looking for things than anything else. I have had many great experiences in the past 40 years, but nothing as wonderful or deep or hard as being el papa de dos bellas princesas.