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I?m really looking forward to this Reunion!!...
?So, here we go, with my life?s story from the top? Graduated from Ann Arbor?s University of Michigan in ?60 with a pre-law degree and a 2nd Lieutenant Commission. (I left Ann Arbor a year later than normal, because I had started a business at school selling men?s shirts to the fraternities and girl?s Jamaica shorts to the sororities. It paid for my last two years of school and made me look like a hero to my parents). Linked to my degree in pre-legal studies, I was able to enter the Army?s Counter Intelligence Corps as a civilian agent status officer with fantastic subsequent assignments to Korea, Okinawa and Thailand. I was fortunate to have become a Senior Intelligence Instructor at the SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization?s) Intelligence Officer?s Training Center in Okinawa. Exiting the Army in ?64, I returned to Chicago, teamed up with my brother and opened Old Town?s John Barleycorn Memorial Pub on Lincoln & Belden. Moved on from there in ?65 to join the airline industry starting with TWA in Chicago. Met a charming stewardess from Puerto Rico (Providencia/ Provie) aboard a TWA flight (who later became Mrs. V.G.). Switched from TWA to United Airlines in ?67 as their Far East Sales Manager based in Tokyo, covering seven Asian countries. Married Provie in Tokyo in ?67, then moved to Hong Kong in ?68 as District Sales Manager for Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and Hong Kong. As a result of my military counter-intelligence agent background, I was selected by United and some undeclared State Department office in Washington, to become part of an ultimately successful, four-year C.I.A. operation that laid the groundwork for the Nixon/Kissinger U.S./China d?tente meetings. These breakthrough discussions eventually led to the normalization of diplomatic relations with the People?s Republic of China. Moving on, after six years in Hong Kong, I returned to the U.S. in ?74, as United?s Western Division Interline Manager in San Francisco, (where we still reside in a suburb called Lafayette). In ?75 while still with United, I started a part-time, specialty-service business catering to the appearance enhancement of commercial building exteriors. In ?79, I fearfully and reluctantly left United to focus full-time on our blossoming business, which has since grown into Van Gelder Enterprises, Inc. We have now grown to seven affiliated specialty service divisions, fifteen trucks and a staff of twenty-seven. On the personal side, Provie and I have shared a happy and fun marriage for over thirty-eight years. We are the proud parents of two sharp, hardworking, college-graduate daughters- - Natalie, thirty-one, recently married and doing extremely well with Larry Ellison?s Oracle Corporation. Next, Raquel, our youngest at twenty-eight, is enjoying life at New York?s Rockefeller Center with NBC-TV. She is getting married in San Francisco, just one week before our Senn Reunion. (I actually asked her to schedule the wedding before or after September 17th, which was the original wedding date.) Because of Provie?s sparkling Latin flair and influence, Natalie and Raquel are fortunate to have bi-lingual talents, but I personally have been unable to achieve very much of the Latino charisma - - which has been my goal since meeting Provie. We met and dated during the popularity era of ?West Side Story?. Thus, naming our Natalie after the star Natalie Wood is no coincidence. The name Raquel Maria which blended the Hebrew and Latin touch, sounded good too! Our daughters continue to enjoy the rich mixed heritage of the Hispanic/Anglo, Catholic/Jewish, Puerto Rican/Dutch culture?s food/music/rhythm and customs (P.S. In reality, the Dutch are not known for their music or rhythm, but Latins are). These sisters both possess radiant personalities and have chosen outstandingly capable and compatible men as their husbands. Unlike many of you, our grandparenting years await us, so we?ll see what that is like when the time comes. In the meantime, the pulsating, multi-faceted, growing business has become a challenging, fun and exciting point of focus for me, which I enjoy very much - - thus, no planned retirement in sight at this time. Having lived overseas for fourteen of the past fifty years, foreign pleasure and business travel is part of our married lifestyle. However, all throughout this period, I?ve never given up on the Cubs and I?m still a hopeful fan - - as well as a fisherman. Both require being an optimist?.which I?ve always been. Looking back on our high school teachers, one outstanding person comes to mind and many of his students may still observe the proper speaking/no stammering/good posture lessons of Senn?s Dr. Branz - - hopefully, some of you may remember him. He was a great influence and a memorable legacy of my high school years. As you can see, I?m fascinated with nostalgia and reminiscing. As a result, I?m truly excited about seeing all of my friends from way back when. After all of these years, it will truly be a milestone highlight for all of us who are planning to be part of this event - - either in person, or as personal biography contributors to the Memory Book. Therefore, I join other attendees in expressing our collective appreciation to the Reunion Committee for their time, efforts and dedication, which is making and will have made this event so special. We?re all indebted to each one of you. I can?t wait until the September 16th/17th weekend to again see classmates whom I knew during those great years we all shared together. Sincerely, Bob Van Gelder |