Cazenovia Class of 1970

July 20, 2005
After flying from Seattle Thursday night and Friday morning to get to
the Reunion, Pat Allen, Dick Lehman and I closed down Cazenovia's main
street Saturday morning at 1:00 AM.  Following Saturday's dinner Doug
McCord, Paul Enders and I finally decided to call it an evening at 3:00
AM Sunday morning.  After 35 years there was simply not enough time to
share fond memories and stories with each and every classmate.  I awoke
late Sunday morning to suddenly find myself alone.  So I took advantage
of the few hours before my return trip to explore some childhood haunts
around Caz.  On the drive to the airport I also stopped to visit the
Syracuse University campus, but that brief tour was not nearly as
rewarding as my time in and around Caz.  I got back into the rental car
just as a terrific thunderstorm broke loose.

Because of the weather my flight was delayed leaving Syracuse and
subsequently I got stuck in the Chicago airport at 2:00 AM Monday.  I
decided to stick it out at the airport and to my surprise found a padded
bench where I could stretch-out.  I promptly fell asleep, but woke up
shortly thereafter chilled by the indoor air conditioning.  So I
ventured outside to warm-up and snooping around discovered a delightful
retreat out of sight beneath some trees, believe it or not, near the
terminal.  I stretched out on a lush lawn and instantly fell into a deep
sleep.  At precisely 5:50 AM my personal wake-up call arrived when the
sprinkler system came on.  I got on the next plane to Seattle and
arrived at work 2:00 PM wearing the same clothes I had put on the day
before in Cazenovia.  

I know I will always have happy memories of my 35th Reunion.  Having
helped Doug a little during the weekend I doubt if any of us have a full
understanding of the effort he devoted in making the Reunion a huge
success.    Thank you, Doug, and everyone who came and made my weekend.


To my classmates:  If you ever come to the Great Northwest please let me
know so we can get together even if you are just passing through.  I
look forward to seeing you at the next Class Reunion and hopefully
before then. 

Stan Thompson 

Paul D. Thompson
Chemical Engineer                         425-237-1175, desk
Material & Process Technology      253-202-2834, cell
paul.d.thompson@boeing.com          6-20C3    MC 73-40  

I wrote more detailed news about myself. Please say hello to everyone at the occasion of the class reunion.
Ken 


Dear friends,

I haven’t seen you all for a long time. It is really nice to be able to communicate with you now by e-mail. I wish I could join you at the 35th reunion of the class of 70.
I clearly remember almost everything that took place in my senior year in Cazenovia. The year 69-70 was the best year of my life so far and may well remain so in the future. I was so happy to be with you in Caz.

Now let me tell you what I am doing. After graduating from the Tokyo University in 1975, I joined the Foreign Service. I spent two years in universities in France learning the language and, more importantly, the French wine. During the past 30 years I had been mainly in charge of the national security and the treaty and international law. I served overseas in Canberra, Australia, in London and twice in Brussels in Belgium. I am now seconded to the Defense Agency as Director-General for International Affairs. The pending issue between Japan and the U.S. is the realignment of the U.S. Forces in Japan under the global transformation process of the U.S. Forces. I have been to Washington D.C. accompanying the Japanese Defense Minister twice since Nov. last year and met Secretary Rumsfeld three times and Secretary Rice twice. I made oversea trip seven times in the first half of this year. 
I last visited Caz. in the summer of 91. I took my family from Brussels and stayed for a week with the Barrows who were at that time at Skaneateles. Some of you may remember the article in the Cazenovia Republican. Mom and Dad (I mean, the Barrows) visited us in London and twice in Brussels. 

I married to Etsuko in 78 and have 2 children. My daughter Mikiko is 21 and graduates on 15 July from the London School of Economics. She is going to work in London. My son Kengo is 19 and studying at the Tokyo University.

I have to talk about sake and other drinks. I am promoting Japanese sake as the Advisor to the Japanese Sake Export Association. I also tasted more than 450 different kinds of Belgian beer during my stays in Brussels and am known in Japan as a Belgian beer specialist. I emptied 61 bottles of different kinds of single malt whisky in London. I was once in charge of the wine cellar of the guest house of the Minister for Foreign Affairs which stored about 20,000 bottles of wine. When asked about the number of languages I speak, I always answer; “I can speak only 3, but I can drink 191 countries’ alcohol.”  And whenever I get drunk, I stand and walk on my hands. Well, my drinking life started in 69 on Friday night at Maple road with some of you.

I think I will stay in Japan at least for another year. If any of you have an occasion to come to Japan, please let me know. I will certainly try to get to Caz. if I have a chance to visit the U.S., although I have very little free time in my business trip.

Best regards,

Ken Monji

P.S. Please find attached some pictures. First is my family in January this year; Second is myself at the occasion of the international conference in Vientian, Laos, in May;  Third is myself with the Swiss President(and the Defense Minister at the same time) when he visited Japan in April; Fourth is a bit old picture of myself enjoying beer in Belgium.
.  

.

July 1, 2005
Hi Doug and Classmates,

      Alas, I won't be able to make the dinner due to a bit of a conflict
with my parents-in-law's 50th wedding anniversary, and all the associated
preparations that will be taking place that very weekend.  Otherwise I'd be
there with ya'll.  Have a great time at the dinner and don't slander me too
much since I won't be there to defend myself!

      By the way, in the "for what it's worth" department,. I've got some
new life purposes that you may or may not be interested in.  If you want to
contact me about one or more of them, I'd love to hear from you.  Here they
are: assisting my wife in educating our 4 kids at home, helping out at
Eastern Hills Bible Church, directing the homeless men's shelter for the
Syracuse Rescue Mission, and training for a cycling race (no, not the Tour
de France!).

Sincerely,
Steve (Tennant)