Class of 1973 50th Reunion poem (2023)

Written for Whitefish Bay 50th HS Reunion

By Leo Jones

WE GREW UP

* We all grew up – it’s a good thing, its life itself.

All of us growing up in Whitefish Bay know the comforts of privilege.

We didn’t ask for it, or plan for it; we were innocently born here, born into privilege.

* We all grew up with an abundance of family, community, friends and the immense beauty of our grand-lady, Lake Michigan. At sunrise the golden sphere rising over the horizon and the water shimmering bright off the lake, and the ever-changing hues of blue, all of these moments of beauty have touched our souls. The lake has given us that beauty and it is a part of each one of us.

* We grew up at the lunch counter of Fitzgerald’s with plastic wrapped hamburgers, on the Boston Store’s escalators, buying candy at Winkies, Saturday afternoon movies at Fox Bay and warm sugar donuts and white glazed long johns from Bay Bakery. Life in the Bay while the world turned.

* As we grew up the nation was going through a sea-change, from one set of assumptions of our parents and theirs, to a new set of assumptions being formed by the younger generation. It was messy, but we were buffered from it in the Bay.

* We grew up at the exact time of a generational shift, with the ongoing killing of the faulted Vietnam War, assassinations of two Kennedy’s, as well as, Malcolm and Martin. The superpowers fighting a proxy war on someone else’s land.

* We grew up when the biases and bigotry imbedded in our precious nation were unveiled and seen for their ugly, mean and degrading foolishness.

* We grew up with Third Avenue burning just 7 miles from Whitefish Bay, while all of us slept in innocent peace and the safety of Elm tree canopied streets.

* We grew up with the emotionally moving theme of love being sung by the Beatles, with Neil Young’s lullaby ‘After the Gold rush’, ‘Mississippi Queen’ by Mountain, Jetho Tull’s ‘Living In The Past’ and Quicksilver Messenger Service’s ‘Who Do You Love’.

* We grew up in Madison amongst 30,000 fellow youth and a 26-year-old mayor. College classes, Quaaludes, handsome young proud boy-men and coeds all with their future ahead of them.

* We grew up with the sweet smell of marijuana wafting across the college dormitory hallway.

* We grew up and marriage came, daily routines, the pursuit of money, mortgage and profession. The seasons passed. Cold Milwaukee winters and the reflection those winters offered.

* We grew up and motherhood arrived, fatherhood, hearing our first-born let out a random loud cry at 3 AM, and then rushing to their side, then a second child, and possibly a third or more. All of us hoping our assumptions and guidance wouldn’t be thrown to the wayside.

* We grew up with some love lost, some private demons faced, deep love sought and our faith deepened. We have all been moved by the accepting smile of our child looking straight into our eyes.

* We grew up as the dogma of our parent’s religion began to take on a dimension of spirituality. Our connection to God quietly gaged by each one of us. Our God who looks after us every moment, how successful were we in making that a conscious relationship?

* We grew up each defining success differently. But present in that definition is how well we communicate with our Maker. We accept where we are on the spiritual path, while many days we try to ignore what seems to be missing.

* We grew up becoming more conscious and sentient. We know we are loved by some higher force. We are loved by our family, our cadre of friends and we love ourselves, as it should be. That unity of love sustains us.

* We grew up and years passed, decades and then more years. We all strove to find happiness. Our friendships between all of us here have been part of that search.

* We grew up and the wisdom we’ve reached points us in the direction of nurturing inner life, something lasting. We all sense infinity is within us. So onward we go. We grew up.

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Class of 2009 Reunion photos

The Class of 2009 had a blast reliving old Homecoming memories, touring the high school, and reconnecting at the reunion celebration (plus putting their WFB & 2009 knowledge to the test with WFB themed trivia!). Thanks to all who attended and we look forward to the next one.  From Jane Zhang

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WFB Class of 2009 Reunion

We're looking forward to our 15-Year Reunion during homecoming weekend on October 18th and 19th. We have fun activities planned and it'll be a great time to catch up. Please RSVP to the weekend events here and buy your ticket for the Reunion Celebration on Saturday here. 

Weekend Schedule:

Friday, October 18th

• 3:00pm - Homecoming Parade - get in the homecoming spirit and watch the parade 

• 5:30pm - Hall of Fame Induction - ‘09 classmate Jimmy Sherburne along with others will be inducted to the WFBHS Hall of Fame. Speeches by the inductees; appetizers will be served. 

• 7:00pm - Homecoming Football Game - cheer on the Blue Dukes football team! $6 for adults and $4 for kids (pay at the door, credit card only)

Saturday, October 19th

• 3:00pm - High School Tour led by Ms. Amy Levek, WFBHS Principal - walk down the halls and check out the new additions since we were in school

• 5:00pm - 2009 Reunion Celebration at Three Lions Pub - enjoy food, drinks, trivia & fun. We will also be showing Hundreds of Beavers, the international phenomenon created by classmates Mike Cheslik and Ryland Tews. $30 per ticket (comes with 1 drink, appetizers). Please RSVP and buy your ticket to the Reunion Celebration by October 9th (we'll have tickets at the door, but they'll be $35). 

Help spread the word!

We look forward to seeing you soon, reach out if you have any questions. 

15-Year Reunion Planning Committee

(Misa Sato, Sami Luber, Neil Hanbury, Zak Kaplan, Jane Zhang)

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WFB Class of 1969 Reunion Photo

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WFB Class of 1974 Reunion Photo

This photo was taken at the WFB HS tour the Class of 1974 alumni took at their recent reunion. Congratulations Class of 1974 on your 50th Reunion!

WFB Class of 1974

WFB grads of years other than '74 are welcome to join the celebration on Friday, 8/9,  after 6 pm at Linneman's Riverwest Inn, 1001 E Locust St in Milwaukee.

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Whitefish Bay Class of 1994