Lane Baseball Alumni Honor the Past, Support the Present by Kevin Sheldon ‘75

Lane has a long, storied sports history and anyone who attended the school has heard the words, “School of Champions”, a title based on Lane’s many championships including over 500 city championships and 16 state championships since its founding in 1908.One sport where Lane has dominated in the state playoffs is baseball, with Lane qualifying for the finals fifteen times and winning two state championships (1945 and 1956). On April 1st, the 1956 team was honored for the 60th anniversary of their championship season at the annual Lane Tech Baseball Alumni Reunion Dinner held in Park Ridge and sponsored by the Lane Baseball Alumni Group. Five members of the team attended along with friends, family and spouses and over eighty Lane baseball alumni.Fred Durler, the catcher from the 1956 team, spoke of that magical year as if it were yesterday. Joining him were fellow teammates Bob Kasper, Joe Cane, Bud Felichio, and Bob “Shotgun” Becker, along with Paul Calderone from the 1954 team. Every team member was presented with a plaque featuring a 1956 team photo. Lane Baseball Coach Dave Rivera honored the 1956 team by retiring the number 56, and presented the retired jersey to the team. Third baseman Joe Cane recalled how 500 guys tried out for the team his freshman year so the competition was extremely tough and only the best players made the team. The 1956 team finished with a record of 20-1 and in the state finals beat Belvedere 12-0, DuQuoin 7-0 and finally Freeburg 5-3 in the championship game where ace pitcher Jim Woods fanned 13. When asked about his favorite memory of that year, Bob Kasper replied, “It was when we met the mayor downtown and returned to the school lunchroom and everyone got up on the tables and applauded”.Lane baseball has come a long way since the 1956 team won the championship. The old baseball field was replaced in 2015 by Kerry Wood Cubs Field and now there is support from the Lane Baseball Alumni Group which this year hopes to donate $10,000 to the team in the form of two scholarships as well as cash for much needed equipment. The organization was founded over twenty years ago by a small group of alumni and has grown to over 200 members. The lure of playing the game never goes away and every year for the past 20 years, the baseball alumni hold their annual Alumni vs. Lane Tech Varsity game. It’s a time for players of all eras to get together on the field for a friendly game against the present day varsity team. Class of 1975 grad, George Sanchez, has been managing the team for seven years and noted that “many of the old timers still play baseball regularly so it’s often a very competitive game”. This year’s game was held on May 15th at Kerry Wood Cubs Field with over 45 alumni participating. Lane has a great baseball tradition and that spirit continues on to this day. Players from past and present can be proud to be part of a program that truly lives up to the title, “School of Champions”. For information about Lane Tech Baseball go to: www.lanetechbaseball.org

June 2016 • Vol. 35 • No. 2

Wherever You Go, Whatever You Do, Remember the Honor of Lane.

Lane Tech TODAYNewsletter of the Lane Tech Alumni Association

Alumni Association NewsletterVol. 35 • No. 2

June 2016

Editors Mary Beth Ficht

Michelle Weiner ‘76

Contributing Editors Barbara Cook Stuart Eng ‘85

Grant Martin ‘63 Angela Olah ‘04

Kevin Sheldon ‘75

Production Managers Jeff Juhasz ‘76

Steve Juhasz ‘75

Copy Editor Patrick Kasch

Production Team Brian Dolan ‘86 Fullline Printing

Telephone: 773-935-9351

Fax: 773-935-4570Toll-Free: 877-935-ALUM (2586)

Visit the LTAA website atwww.lanetechalumni.org

e-mail: alumnioffice@lanetechalumni.org

Visit Lane Tech’s website atwww.lanetech.org

Published quarterly for the alumni of Lane Tech College Prep High School, Chicago Illinois. We reserve the right to edit submissions for publication due to space limitations. Send news and photographs (not returnable) to:

Newsletter Editor Lane Tech Alumni Association 3525 West Peterson Avenue, #105 Chicago, Illinois 60659-3314

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 18200 Chicago, Illinois 60618-0200

Email: alumnioffice@lanetechalumni.org

President’s Message

Dear Alumni,Whether your allegiances lead you to the north or south side of Chicago, nothing signals the optimism of spring like the opening of baseball season. This year it is

particularly significant in that we at Lane are celebrating two baseball milestones… the 60th anniversary of the 1956 Lane Tech State Baseball Championship and the inaugural year of the Kerry Wood Cubs Field on the Lane campus. We also enjoyed record-setting participation for the second annual LTAA “Night at Wrigley” when 450 enthusiastic Lane Alumni descended upon the ballpark for a night of baseball and socializing, including

more than one story of past teenage truancy spent in the bleachers on sunny spring days!It is no coincidence that on September 17, 1934 the entire student body, faculty and related dignitaries, (allegedly 9,000 people), marched from Wrigley Field to the brand new Lane Tech on our own historic opening day. We are inextricably connected through love of the sport and simple geography, and it is connection that we strive to celebrate at the Lane Tech Alumni Association. Please refer to our Facebook page and website for news of upcoming events, and get involved with your home team… the LTAA.Play ball!Michelle (Millkovic) Weiner, ‘76 President, LTAA

Board of Directors 2016-17 Meetings Schedule

July 28, 2016September 22, 2016December, 2016January 26, 2017March 23, 2017May 25, 2017

Meeting locations and times vary. Please check with the alumni office for details.

Newsletter Deadlines

Summer Issue July 15 Fall Issue October 15 Winter Issue January 15 Spring Issue April 15

Mail to: Mary Beth Ficht, Newsletter Editor Lane Tech Alumni Association, Inc. 3525 West Peterson Avenue, #105 Chicago, Illinois 60659-3314Mailing Address: P.O. Box 18200 Chicago, Illinois 60618-0200alumnioffice@lanetechalumni.org

Lane Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors

President Michelle Weiner ‘76Vice President Jim Guerin ‘72Treasurer Kim Kidd ‘73Secretary Angela Olah ‘04 Board Members Deidre Baumann ‘85Sherlanda Brooks ‘87 Stuart Eng ‘85 Past PresidentFred Glure ‘63Dennis Hammer ‘71 Past President Joseph Lawniczak ‘69 Avrom Litin ‘83 Sharon Manjack ‘77 Tod McElhaney ‘83 Jill Rzadzki ‘91 Maurel Samonte ‘86 Kevin Sheldon, ‘75 Marion Synowiec ‘64 Past PresidentAlumni Staff Barbara Cook - Executive Director Mary Beth Ficht - Program Director

President’s Message ...............................2Alumni News ...........................................4Reunions .................................................4Inside 2501 .............................................5Alumni Spotlight ......................................6

Champion Makers ...................................7The Drum Beat .....................................8-9Spring Events ........................................10In Memoriam ......................................... 11Backwards Glance ................................12

Table of Contents

June 2016 • 3

Greetings, Lane Alums!

Much like a 7th inning stretch, excitement is in the air as we wrap up the last quarter of the school year. The month of May brings the ACT exam and AP testing with well over 5,000

exams taken at Lane, which will be the largest number taken in the city, state, and nation. Aside from testing, our students are excited for athletic competitions, music and play performances, and the much anticipated prom. Come June, we will send off our seniors, who just celebrated their acceptance to their colleges of choice during our decision day celebration in the Memorial Garden. We are proud to see our students heading off to great schools throughout the nation. On a final note, I would like to personally thank the Alumni Association for hosting the 25th Annual Alumni Association Professional Day and all alumni who spoke to hundreds of eager students. We are extremely thankful that our students are able to hear and learn from your experiences, which will encourage and motivate them to follow in your great footsteps.Sincerely, Kathryn Anderson, Principal

Principal’s Message

LTAA Professional Day

Doctors, and lawyers and bankers oh my! A fantastic group of alumni took time from their busy schedules on April 12th to participate in the 25th Annual LTAA Professional Day experience. Three of our dedicated speakers traveled

from out of state and one talked to students via Skype from the east coast. Others cleared the calendars of their local offices to spend the day talking to students about everything from dentistry to social work and textile design to rocket science. The LTAA extends a genuine appreciation to each member of our stellar group of speakers:

Deidre Baumann (‘85) Terrell Burgess (‘95) Kelly Burns (‘90) Ben Eisler (‘90)

Lou Gatta (‘60) Katarzyna Jedeluk (‘05) Joseph Kosinski (‘74) Michael Lehman (‘86)

Peter Matic (‘74) Angela Olah (‘04) Dr. Renee Pappas-Durbin (‘80) Joanna MaciaszkiewIcz- Perez (‘95)

Jonathan Projansky (‘95) Dr. Richard Razgaitis (‘61) Allison Scherer (‘82) David Stahl (‘64)

Fariha Wajid (‘10)

Principal Anderson stopped in at “Alumni Central” (the teacher’s lounge) to greet our volunteers as did Assistant Principal and alumni liaison, Edwina Thompson, (’99) who connected with a few old friends. We received great feedback from our host classroom teachers. “Thank you! It was a great experience. My 8th graders want to return to Lane to speak after they graduate...in four years”, shared Phillip Elkins. Teacher Michelle Daly sent handwritten thank you notes from each student to the speakers who visited her classes, and Kristina Chambers glowed about the experience, “Thank you for putting this program together - I look forward to using it in the years to come!”. By the end of the afternoon, our alumni volunteers visited sixty-eight classrooms and connected to more than eighteen hundred students. In the future, we hope to make Professional Day the core of a comprehensive mentoring program which will include resume and portfolio reviews, shadowing programs and internships. For the time being, however, we will once again thank everyone involved in making Professional Day 2016 a success! LTAA Program Director, Mary Beth Ficht, said it best, “The whole experience of connecting the past to the present is so meaningful to me. It’s such a full circle moment for the alumni to come back to share their life journey with a new generation. To me, Professional Day is the true meaning of ‘paying it forward’.”

Alumni News

‘48Dr. William Lyons Ph.D., O.D. proudly accompanied his granddaughter to her LTHS orientation. It occurred to him during this time that he had not entered Lane’s portal in 68 years, which he exclaimed is a “lifetime ago for many”. Over all the years, Dr. Will Lyons had a private practice, married and became a father of three sons. One of his sons is a physician in Chicago. In keeping with family traditions, two of Dr. Will’s grandchildren attend Lane Tech.

‘51Jack Thunander, a 1951 Lane Tech graduate, passed away in early March, 2016. Jack played center on the football team which participated in the 1950 City Championship in Soldier Field. He was a charter member of the Lane Tech ‘49ers, Lane Tech alumni group serving as treasurer for group leaders Harry Schneider and Wally Wenzel. He was a dedicated and active member of this organization and rarely missed a meeting. Jack had a great personality as well as being a fun guy to be around. Many friends of his did not know he passed away and missed the opportunity to say one last goodbye. This short

note is an attempt to bid farewell to a typical Lane Indian who long remembered the honor of Lane! May Jack Thunander rest in peace.

Respectfully submitted, Jack Leese ’49

‘57Allen Ciesel and his wife Wendy have done some extensive travel in their retirement. It all started during a business trip to Hong Kong and meeting a couple that were celebrating having traveled to 100 countries. Since then, Allen and Wendy have been to 101 countries across 6 continents. Over the course of 15 years some of these countries include Russia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Bermuda, Canada and more. They have even passed the travel bug on to their grandchildren by taking them on annual excursions. Allen recounts his classes at Lane especially Civics where he learned skills that he applied throughout college, 38 years of work and his personal life. This spring Allen and Wendy, who will head to the Baltics and Poland comment, “Still, we always appreciate returning home.”

‘02Congratulations to Dr. Michael Burton who is a postdoctoral researcher at University of Texas, Dallas and has won the prestigious grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH). This 5-year grant will be used to help him further his research and transition to a university faculty position. This is the first time that a postdoctoral researcher from UT Dallas has won the award. Dr. Burton works in the neuroscience department and his research is focused on how the immune system can affect pain. To read more information about Dr. Burton’s achievement visit http://www.utdallas.edu/news/2016/4/6-31988_Postdoctoral-Researcher-Receives-NIH-Grant-to-Help_story-sidebar.html?WT.mc_id=NewsEmail.

‘04 & ‘05Congratulations to Carrie Costanzo (‘04) and Kyle Murphy (‘05) on their recent graduation from the Chicago Police Academy!

4 • Lane Tech Today

Lane Tech 1949ers +/- Date & Time: second Thursday of the month in March, June, September & December at 11:30 Location Elks Club in Des Plaines, IL Information: The group welcomes any Lane Tech graduates to attend their quarterly luncheons at the Elk’s Club in Des Plaines, IL. If you are interested in joining the group, please contact the Alumni Association office.

Class of 1956 Date & Time: September 21-23, 2016 Location: Lane Tech, Wrigley Field & White Eagle Banquet, Niles, IL Cost: TBD Information: The 60th reunion will begin on Wednesday, the 21st with a school tour in the morning and night game at Wrigley, where the Cubs play the Cincinnati Reds. Ticket price to be determined, and tickets will be distributed on a first come first served basis. On Thursday, Sept. 22nd there will be dinner at White Eagle Banquets beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a cash bar and dinner at 6:30 p.m. The reunion will culminate with Lane Tech’s Homecoming game on Friday, Sept. 23rd at the campus stadium. Game time is 7:00p.m. and tickets are approximately $5.00, (price may change). For more information, please contact lanereunion1956@sbcglobal.net

Class of 1962Date & Time: 2017 Information: Classmates Tom Muraoka, John Kowalski and Tom Swierzynski are spearheading a 55th reunion for 2017. For more information, please contact Tom at muraoka2@gmail.com.

The Classes of 1966 & January 1967 Date & Time: Saturday, October 15, 2016 10am tour and 5:30pm dinnerLocation: Lane Tech parking lot Entrance M and White Eagle, 6839 N. Milwaukee, Niles, IL.Cost: $75.00 per person Information: Al Halfen is coordinating an inclusive 50th reunion an inclusive ‘66/’67-50th reunion. A school tour is tentatively planned for Saturday morning, RSVP to Al for the school tour. To purchase tickets for the dinner banquet or for more information, please go to website: www.1966lanetechreunion.com/ or contact Al at achalfen@aol.com.

Class of 1971 Date & Time: October 8, 2016 10AM & 5:30PM Location: Lane Tech parking lot Entrance M and Elks Club, Des Plaines, IL.Information: Celebration includes a morning reunion school tour at 10am and at 5:30pm, join classmates at the Elks Club in Des Plaines, IL. To RSVP to the tour and evening gathering, please email lths71@att.net. Fellow classmates, Wally Walejeski and Phil Koehl are the reunion organizers.

Class of 1976Date & Time: Sept 23-24, 2016 Location: Lane Tech and Ridgemoor Country Club, Harwood Hts., IL.Information: Friday, September 23rd Tailgate party and Lane Tech Homecoming Game. Saturday, September 24th morning school tour and evening reunion bash. Details including costs are being finalized. For more information and to register for the mailing list go to www.lanetech1976.com.

Class of 1986 Date & Time: Saturday, September 17thLocation: Lane Tech and Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront Cost: $110 from June 1- Aug.31 Information: Friday will include a morning tour of Lane with a Hero’s lunch afterward, then a Saturday evening celebration at the Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront from 7pm -midnight. Price includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, two hours open bar (beer and wine), dancing, and more! To register, please visit www.lanetech86reunions.com, or contact fellow classmate, Maurel Samonte at maurel.samonte@gmail.com.

Class of 1996 Date & Time: July 8-10, 2016 Location: (July 9) Little Black Pearl-1060 E. 47th St., Chicago & (July 10) Schiller Woods- Cook

County Forest Preserve-Irving Park Rd & Cumberland Rd. Cost: $129.12 Information: July 8th plans are TBD. July 9th: reunion reception from 7:30 p.m. to midnight at Little Black Pearl Shop. Event includes complimentary cocktails, beer and wine selections followed by a buffet style dinner that will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. Celebrate our 20th anniversary while enjoying an open bar, onsite photography, live DJ, dancing and more. Complimentary parking will also be available. July 10th: family and friends are welcome to attend a reunion picnic at Schiller Woods from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. There will be outdoor activities for the entire family, as well as grilling. We encourage alumni and their families to bring chairs, tables, blankets, and as much food and beverages as needed. For more information, please visit the reunion website at lanetech96.com/home.html.

Class of 2006 Date & Time: Fall 2016 Location: TBD Information: Senior Class President, Leticia Rosa and her fellow class officers are planning a 10-year reunion. Please join the 2006 Facebook group at www.facebook.com/LaneTechClass2006/.

Reunions

If you are interested in organizing a reunion this year, please contact the Alumni Association at alumnioffice@lanetechalumni.org or call (773) 935-9351.

June 2016 • 5

US News & World Report ranks Lane 6th in Illinois! http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/illinois/districts/chicago-public-schools/lane-technical-high-school-6572

Washington Post’s “America’s Most Challenging High Schools” ranked Lane Tech 7th in Illinois up from 11th last year, and 172 out of more than 21,000 schools nationally. Lane’s ranking is especially impressive considering they have the highest number of students from low-income families of the top 10 schools. (58%) https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/how-the-americas-most-challenging-high-schools-list-works/2016/04/12/647471de-00d5-11e6-b823-707c79ce3504_story.html

Buh-bye bridge! The removal of the Western Avenue overpass continues to snarl traffic and try the patience of drivers in and around Lane Tech. The actual bridge portion has been demolished and the rubble removed. Now work to re-establish driving lanes and a center median strip is underway.

Congratulations to Lane’s Art and Music teachers for receiving the highest “Excelling” rating for the CPS Creative Schools certification! This will provide opportunities for additional resources, supports and funding to help schools address gaps in arts learning, build more robust arts programs, and accomplish the goal of every CPS child in every CPS school having access to a high-quality arts education.

Congratulations to Lane’s Robotics Team, X-Machina, for their stellar performance at the Midwest Regional Competition at the UIC Pavilion. Although eliminated after the quarter finals, they beat out corporate teams from Caterpillar, Motorola and WMS Gaming!

Seven Lane students were announced as 2016 Scholastic Art and Writing Award National Medalists. Their work was selected by professionals as the most accomplished in the nation out of 320,000 submittals.

The Lane Tech Debate Team yielded 2 individual varsity city championships in the recent 2016 competition against 31 other Chicago Public schools. Of the top 1500 debaters, Lane won 7 of the top 20 speaker awards. Congratulations!

Boys and girls water polo took 3rd in the City.

Boys hockey outcomes include Varsity: 5-3, JV-White: 3-4, and JV-Green: 8-0 undefeated!

The Boys Frosh/Soph Track & Field Team won the City Championship in dominating fashion. Results are at http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/MeetResults.aspx?Meet=273049#16195 The Varsity Boys Track & Field team finished 3rd at the City Championships. Thanks to several generous donations from the 1974 State Champions we now have beautiful new Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Record Boards displayed on the wall of stairwell D. Stop by and check them out!

The boys volleyball program had a very productive 2016. Freshman finished 2nd in conference, Sophomore’s finished 5th and Varsity finished 4th. The program is on its way to the top as each year we improve our seeding.

The boys baseball team had a 23 and 9 record going into the city semifinals and beat Taft 7-6 to win the City Championship. The team hosts the IHSA regionals at Kerry Wood Field at the end of May.

The girls softball team suffered a 7-2 loss against Northside Prep on May 20th eliminating them from contention for the City Championship.

In girls soccer, frosh-soph, junior varsity, and varsity won their conference titles with undefeated seasons. Varsity and JV both became city champs when they beat Young on Thursday, May 12th.

Girls Lacrosse won the City Championship beating Northside Prep 11-8.

Inside 2501

A snapshot of what’s happening at Lane today

Alumni Spotlight

Jim Woods, a true Lane champion

Teamwork is important in sports but often it’s the extraordinary effort of few individuals that pushes a team over the top

to a championship. One such individual on the 1956 state championship baseball team was star pitcher and former major leaguer, Jim Woods.

Growing up in the Lakeview area, Jim started playing baseball at a young age at Hamlin Park. He tried out for the baseball team alongside 500 other hopeful players, not sure if he’d even make the team and later became a star pitcher, hitter and local phenom. In his senior year in 1957, he signed with the Cubs and the day after graduation was sitting in the dugout with the likes of players such as Ernie Banks. He got into a couple of games scoring a run as a pinch runner but was then sent to the minors. In 1959 the Cubs traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies in a 3 man deal for future hall of famer, Richie Ashburn. The Cubs had another third base prospect in mind as his replacement, none other than Cub legend Ron Santo. Jim even graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1961 and was perhaps the only Laneite ever to do so. Not bad for a local boy from the neighborhood! After baseball, Jim started his 35 year career with the airlines industry and is now retired and living in California.

6 • Lane Tech Today

LTAA: How did Lane impact your life? JW: Having gone straight from Lane into professional baseball, I didn’t have a college education so Lane got me started and put me out into the world. The school planned a good education for me in a variety of fields to see what I excelled in.

The education from shop classes was good because everyone ends up working around the house in the future and instruction from the faculty was valuable when it came to learning how to use various tools. I still get together with friends and we often joke about the lopsided tables we made in wood shop.

LTAA: What teacher or class influenced you the most? JW: My future was baseball so I have to go back to Lane baseball coach George Wallenta, as the teacher who had the biggest influence on me. If he hadn’t selected me to join the baseball team, I would never have had the opportunity to play in the majors and face famous players I used to read about. I recall as a junior when he asked me if I could pitch and I said to him “Well, I can throw strikes and I won’t walk anyone”. He put me in and saw I could throw strikes and I supposed I didn’t aggravate him during the game with things like walks and wild pitches so he kept me on.

LTAA: What was your best memory from the 1956 cham-pionship year?JW: We excelled that year and it was the love of winning that helped us succeed. But just the enormous celebration that Chicago and Lane Tech put on for us was amazing. We came home from the tournament and all four newspapers had stories and photos and big headlines. It was a proud moment when we received that trophy.

LTAA: What was it like playing in the Major Leagues right after graduating from Lane? JW: I think about those days and the opportunity to play against the likes of guys like Sandy Koufax, Willie Mays and Juan Marichal and since there were only 8 teams in each league, I saw everybody, names I could only read about just a few years earlier. I enjoyed the life and when you think about it, Lane Tech gave me that opportunity.

LTAA: Have you been back to Lane in recent years? What are your impressions?JW: One of my retirement benefits from the airlines is free air travel so I still get to Chicago now and then. I came back and toured the school when they were building the new baseball stadium and now the guys on the team want me to come back to see it finished. Someone sent me a picture of it and my goodness, I’m proud of whoever made this happen.

ChAmpion-mAkerS

Profiles of the impressive faculty and staff at Lane Tech

Renaissance man Brian Telles, (’91) epitomizes the legacy of excellence and commitment that makes Lane Tech unique.

Although an engineering major and athlete when he attended Lane, the influence of English teachers like Mr. Vernon Mims and Mrs. Rosamary Dean instilled in him a love of literature that eventually guided him back to Lane to teach English. In addition to those duties, Mr. Telles is responsible for “2501” the school literary magazine, (formerly the Tech Prep), “Revel”, the literary e-zine, and the young artist-members of the Poetry Slam team. He explains his dedication to teaching, “This school is filled with some the greatest young people in this city, if not this country. They have sharp minds, are grounded, and have perspective.” To date, he calculates that he has had more than two thousand students pass through his English classrooms, successfully mentoring young readers, writers, and poets. A former student from the Class of 2007 reflects on his experience with Mr. Telles, “He is an egalitarian to the core. He made time for every student that needed him. He played no favorites because we were ALL his favorites.”As if that weren’t enough, Brian has also been involved with the Lane Tech Baseball team since 1998. Always passionate about the game, he was a player when he attended Lane and has continued participation in a variety of coaching roles. This year he is assistant head coach in charge of hitting, outfield, and third base coach during games. Like so many teachers at Lane who serve as club sponsors and coaches in addition to classroom responsibilities, time is always at a premium. When asked about work-life balance, Mr. Telles admits, “I have four kids - Roman 11, Arianna 13, Alec 16, Elia 18 (my oldest graduated from Lane last year and attends Michigan). The time I devote to Lane is in part due to my extraordinary wife who realizes that what I do at Lane is a part of me and more than just a job. She picks up a lot of the slack, and I wouldn’t be able to do it without her.” Mr. Telles is also a member of the Lane PPLC, (Professional Personnel Leadership Committee) where he represents his colleagues and himself in the strategy and governance that make Lane a rigorous, effective learning environment. As both an alumnus and an experienced educator, he can assess progress at Lane with a well-rounded perspective. “The shift to 21st century tech has been incredible. It has really put the tech back in Lane Tech. I think all of us old school grads really appreciate it”, says Telles. He is also keenly aware of the challenges that come with current testing trends too, and comments, “We have to fight the culture this creates where the value of education is in the grade, the score, the credential… instead of the learning of concepts, the ability to think, the ability to solve problems,” Despite those obstacles and the constant lack of resources and funding, Mr. Telles continues to work every day to provide the best experience possible for his students and his fellow teachers. “I feel an obligation to my school. I feel as a graduate it is up to me to make this school and its students the best in the state.” Brian Telles, teacher and coach, is a true Champion-Maker!

June 2016 • 7

In the 20’s it was common for New York and Chicago to play “intercity” baseball. On June 20, 1920 Commerce High School dealt Lane Tech a bruising loss of 12-6 thanks to one hot shot player named Lou Gehrig, (seated, third from right).

The Drum Beat

Jim Woods, our Spotlight Alum as a Cub in 1957

Fritz Pollard is best known for being the first African American football player to play at Brown University, and to play in the Rose Bowl, and to play for the NFL and to coach in the NFL. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2005, but before all that he was a kid from Rogers Park who played football yes, but also ran track and played baseball at Lane. Today the Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation is the minority hiring organization responsible for promoting candidates for professional roles in NFL front office, coaching and scouting staffs.

1923 Tech Prep celebrating America’s Pastime

L-R Greg Walsh, ‘71, Mike Lufrano, ‘83, Steve Miller, ‘71 Al Pasternak, ‘65

Next time you are at Wrigley Field trying to find your seat, ask the guest services staff if they went to Lane Tech. Whether in the front office or in the stands, the staff at Wrigley is full of Lane Tech Alums!

One of the winningest Varsity Teams in recent years is Girls Softball who enjoyed an eight-year string of consecutive City Championships!

Betty Kollar, (’78) was a natural athlete who ran track, played soc-cer, tennis and base-ball, (nearly all the sports available to girls at Lane in that pre-Title IX era)… but her pas-sion was Chicago-style 16” Softball which she played for 38 years on teams throughout the Chicago area. Betty is one of the few female players inducted into the Chicago 16” Hall of Fame. She received that honor in 2012.

The Lane Tech Baseball Alumni Group held the 18th annual Lane Tech Varsity versus Alumni game on May 15th. This year’s event was especially significant since it was the 60th anniversary of the State Championship. At the end of the game, it was the Lane Tech Varsity team beating the alumni 9-2.

Percy Moore was known as “Mr. Baseball of Lane Tech” from 1921-1948. He coached football and soccer too but baseball was his claim to fame…that and getting Phil Cavarretta into the Cubs organization. He also guided 85 Lane baseball players into the minor leagues and 10 players in addition to Cavarretta, into the majors. During his tenure the baseball teams won 13 City Champion-ships and in 1935 he had 1100 boys try out for the team: 368 for 4 infield positions, 200 for pitcher spots and the other 532 for whatever he’d have them play.

Phil Cavarretta is the player most often associated with Lane Tech’s baseball legacy and had the most notable professional career. While at Lane he pitched a no-hitter and eight 1-hitters. At 17 he left school and with the help of his coach Percy Moore, moved east down Addison street where he had a successful try out with the

Cubs. He played for the Cubs organization from 1934-1953 and continued in the majors as a manager and coach until retirement 1978. Phil played in 3 World Series games, had a career .293 average, 95 home runs, 920 RBIs, and was 1945 National League MVP.

June 2016 • 9

Gone are the dignitaries and decorations from the official ribbon-cutting last fall, but walking into Kerry Wood Cubs Field in its

inaugural season remains an awesome experience. The grounds are beautifully manicured with a “Wrigley replica marquee” electronic scoreboard, lighting for night games and an amazing view of the Chicago skyline as a backdrop. The stands provide spacious seating for about 1200 fans with complete wheelchair accessibility, and protection from the elements as well as the occasional foul ball. The players can enjoy real dugouts and the use of an adjacent bullpen. Nick Ingravallo, father of Lane Tech outfielder Peter Ingravallo shared, “The facility is a big draw. It’s in constant use with games scheduled at 4:30 and 7:00pm every day. Our boys are used to it now, but when visiting teams enter the field for the first time, they’re just agog.” That may have played to the advantage of the Indians on a sunny Saturday in April when they were leading a slightly disoriented Niles North 9-0 in the first inning, (final was 12-2).

The field is the realization of Kerry Wood’s desire to have young baseball players in Chicago enjoy the positive experience he had as a high schooler, to have them feel like big leaguers and in fact, it is the only regulation IHSA field on Chicago’s north side. It took more than a village to get to that realization. The Wood Family Foundation, Chicago Cubs, Cubs Charities, City of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Park District, former Governor Pat Quinn, and Turner Construction all had a hand in the successful completion of the facility which took three years, five million dollars and a few stops and starts. But oh was it worth it. Seeing the field in use by our young players is a joyful experience and instills even more Lane Tech pride than usual. If you live in Chicago or plan to return for a visit, take time to see the Kerry Wood Cubs Field. It is a true gift to the community.

If You Build it… They Really Will Come

The trajectory of the 1956 championship team is documented in the Sun-Times and the Lane Daily

Clocktower Club is a pop-up reunion and pub crawl of sorts that grew out of the desire for Lane alums to connect and share the

experiences that only other Laneites could appreciate. In Chicago, the group meets every other month at locations throughout the area for free-wheeling conversation and camaraderie but this spring, we had our most adventuresome Clocktower to date. While the Cubs were making their way back to Chicago from Mesa, Jim Guerin, (’72), LTAA Vice President was making the reverse commute to Scottsdale to meet with an eager group of Lane alums led by Dirk Hacker, (’85), who now resides in the Valley of the Sun! Fifteen loyal alums representing classes from 1942 to 1985 met on April 12th for a myrtle and gold happy hour at Postino Wine Café in Scottsdale. Vic Spatafora from the 1956 State Baseball Championship team was in attendance, as was track star George White, (’54). With their class rings and yearbooks in tow, and stories to share, they also learned about what’s happening in and around Lane today including student life, academic stats, the huge building renovation and recent activities of the LTAA. Arizona is home to one of the largest alumni populations outside of Illinois and this core group is excited to continue the Clocktower tradition and expand to more alums living in the state. The LTAA would like to send out a really big thank you to Dirk Hacker, whose enthusiasm created the spark that made this happen. He is a stellar example of why the LTAA is the best high school alumni association in the nation! For information about future events in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, contact us at alumnioffice@lanetechalumni.org.

ARIZONA

Clocktower Club Hits the Road

Clocktower Club AZ gets underway!

Jim Guerin, (72) and Dirk Hacker, (’85)

ARIZONA

LTAA Night at WrigleyOn May 10th, it was Northwestern Alumni Night at Wrigley Field but you would have never known it because it was also OUR Alumni Night! Despite a steady rain that didn’t clear up until late afternoon, almost five hundred Lane Tech alumni, friends and family made their way to Wrigley Field for our second annual Lane Alumni Night. Five generations of Lane folks were represented in the stands including Donald Stillwaugh, ‘43 who flew into town from Florida just to watch the game, and the babies of Lane Principal, Kathryn Anderson and Assistant Principal, Edwina Thompson, (’99), who mostly just enjoyed the noise and stadium snacks! Lane alums made it on the Fan Cam flaunting their myrtle and gold, and during the 5th inning, when the jumbotron read “Welcome Lane Alumni, Go Lane Go”, the stands went up for grabs. As if that weren’t enough excitement, the Cubs held off an eighth inning rally by the Padres to win 8-7. Northwestern who???

10 • Lane Tech Today

June 2016 • 11

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In Memoriam1930-1939

Frank Anzalone (’38) ........................................11/2015

1940-1949Richard Morawski (’42) ......................................9/28/15Leo Donati (’43) .................................................3/31/16Gerard F. Idstein (’43) .........................................3/5/16Joseph L. Stephan (’45) ......................................2/5/16Carmen L. Guerrieri (’47)...................................3/23/16Wallace Conrad (’49) ...........................................4/1/16

1950-1959Jack Thunander (’51)...........................................3/3/16George Kampka (’55) ........................................1/10/16Karl Melcher (’56) ............................................11/25/15

1960-1969 Richard Sliwa (’61) ................................................2016Stephen Bushy (’62) ..........................................4/14/16Charles Moore (’62) .........................................12/24/15John Rains (’66) ................................................9/28/14

1970-1979Joseph Wilk (’70) .................................................1/5/16Juan Arjona (’74) ...............................................9/25/14Frank Gerhart (’76) ............................................3/30/14Arthur Kadokura (’76) ..........................................4/4/16Karen Kolacki (’76) ..........................................10/10/15

2010-2016Jessica Suarez (‘13) ...........................................2/2016

Please consider the LTAA when estate planning.

Lane Tech Alumni Association P.O. Box 18200 Chicago, IL 60618-0200

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Printed with soy inks on FSC certified paper.

Backwards Glance

The true harbinger of spring is not crocuses or swallows returning to Capistrano, but the sound of the bat on the ball.

Bill Veeck