"2011 was fairly uneventful, with two exceptions," wrote Sid Newcomb. "First, Marvann's 70^th birthday party, a catered affair at daughter Holly's home, complete with operatic aria and Happy Birthday sung in Italian by a soprano from Austin's Lyric Opera." Then, it was their 50^th (surprise) wedding anniversary party. Sid & Marvann have 11 grand children in Central Texas, five in CA with their son and wife Linda. Last year, Sid went to Guatemala with a team from their church, was saddened by the poverty and living conditions; as well, they witnessed the same here, helping with clean-up efforts on several of 1,600 homes destroyed by Texas wildfires.

"We flew into Istanbul, then Izmir, bus to Kusadasi. We toured the Virgin Mary's House (pilgrimage), Ephesus, Pergamon (Bergama), Rug Co-Op, Troy, and Gallipoli, passing by the Dardanelles and Sea of Marmara," wrote Bill Carnegie. "In the photo, that's Anne and me at the back of Topkapi Museum overlooking the Bosporus, where we boated after seeing the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque."

Karen and I welcomed Jim and Mary Waddle to Sarasota with lunch at the tony Treviso Restaurant at Ringling Gardens, then escorted them thru the Ringling Complex--Museum of Art, the grounds, Ca' d'Zan mansion of John and Mable Ringling. Duck and Mary visited Southwest Florida March 21-27 to see grandson Fred (their son Larry's son, wife Lori), who plays on the newly-formed intercollegiate lacrosse team for Lenoir-Rhyne University at Hickory, NC, compete against Tampa and St. Leo Universities. The Waddles stayed with in-laws Fred and De Olsen in nearby Lakewood Ranch, FL; Fred's a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Army, retired Colonel and helicopter pilot in Vietnam who was awarded the Silver Star.

We also lunched with Ed and Nancy Haerter at Turtle's Restaurant on South Siesta Key waterside on Little Turtle Bay back in January--Ed and Nancy live near the Wisconsin-Illinois border, and have spent one to two weeks in Sarasota each year.

George JC Fries, nice guy and Colonel (Retired) USAF, was presented the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) leadership award at a Virginia Peninsula chapter luncheon. This award recognized Fries' four years as ROTC/JROTC Chair, and programs and initiatives which George undertook to enhance MOAA support of ROTC battalions at three universities and eleven High School units.

"The Colorado Springs 'Lunch Bunch' conducted our Founder's Day luncheon 21 March (closest date to 1 April we could manage)," wrote Andi Biancur. "Wayne Kendall did his usual job of 'MC-ING.' We began by reading a list of deceased classmates, following that with a toast to those who left within the last 12 months--Bob Rager, Bill Goodyear, Derry Adamson (starting an annual tradition every Founder's Day). Our open topic was a reminiscence of the first few days at the Academy's permanent site in 1958, and that was followed by Pete Roe's presentation of the early history of Space Command. His talk was interesting, enlightening, and raised questions about what it was like as a Space Operations Officer in the early years. In all, there were ten hardy souls that ventured into the bright sunshine of Colorado Springs for this meeting. In the top photo in the back row are Tony Bilello, Pete Roe, Dick Schehr, Wayne Kendall, Fred Porter, Bill Hodson; Front: Bruce Mosier, Jock Schwank, Andi Biancur, and Jim Glaza). Next get-together will be 18 April, when Dick Schehr will explain how to set up a non-profit."

Regarding that next meeting April 18^th, Denis Walsh wrote: "Our meeting in Colorado Springs opened with Wayne Kendall reading a letter naming Andi Biancur Class Distinguished Graduate. Tony Bilello gave the war story, a dissertation on air. Glaza rendered another RF-4 story, wherein he kicked the throttles (on purpose) on a combat mission with the Wing Commander. Bujalski did not give his pitch on ionizing the air; however, Yates rendered another voluntary war story about testing for ozone emissions on jet engines."

MiniSki XXII started on President's Weekend, Saturday 18 February through Friday 24 February, 2012. Although the Utah snow was on the light side, the group experienced new snow on six of the seven days, which produced conditions making skiing fun for the entire week. "We visited six different local areas, and were able to minimize the impact usually felt in Utah on President's Weekend. Deer Valley, Park City Resort, and The Canyons on the east-facing slopes provided a fine complement to the usual good conditions experienced at Brighton, Alta, and Solitude," wrote Andi Biancur. "Unlike past years, I believe that everyone escaped with little or no wear for their effort. Since the Chief Instructor, Greg Boyington, was not in attendance, a few had to forego the opportunity to improve their skills under his always magnificent tutelage.

"The crowd consisted of: Greg Boyington's son-in-law Jeff Lippa, grandson Reef; Andi & Carole Biancur; Howie Bronson; Jerry de la Cruz and daughter Ann Marie and granddaughter Anna Sophia; Jim Glaza; Al Johnson; Ralph Lalime and son Jay w/ neighbor LCDR Mike Jarosz (USN); Earl & Pat VanInwegen and daughter Kristen & friend Julie; Gene & Jane Vosika ('59) and daughter Cheryl; son-in-law Brian, and grandson Cody. The Marginally Magnificent Performance Award for 2012 went to Gene & Jane Vosika (first joint award in the 22-year history of MiniSki). We have set MiniSki XXIII for 16-23 February 2013 (Photo, bottom: Vosika, Glaza, Bronson, Johnson, LCDR Mike Jarosz (USN), Van Inwegen, Jay & Ralph Lalime).

"Our Founder's Day Luncheon April 1^st was great," wrote Tony Burshnick, "and made even greater because the wives were there. Thirteen guys and twelve lovely ladies, including Chris Warack's wife, Pat, who enjoyed the super lunch and great camaraderie. Jerry de la Cruz used his special camera to record our toast to those classmates who have gone before us, as we sang the third verse of the Air Force Song ('Here's a toast to the host-----'). To Ralph Lalime--I hope you appreciated the magnificent voices!"

From left in the front row: Maryn Goodson, Liz Haller, Pat Warack, Tony Burshnick, Karen Burshnick. Second row seated: Liliane Badger, Becke Fries, Lutzi Fischer, Cathe Hockenberry, Betty de la Cruz, Gale Johnson. Third row kneeling: Marty Hiatt (Querry), Mary Ellen Burke. Fourth row standing: Al Johnson, Norm Haller, Leon Goodson, Bill Hockenberry, Ken Alnwick, George Fries, Bob Badger, Jerry de la Cruz, Bill Carnegie, Bob Fischer, Tom Burke, Les Querry.

"The Association of Graduates has learned of the death of Lt Col (Ret) Robert G. Rager, CS-01 Class of 1960, who passed away 7 Mar 2012 in Denver, CO. A funeral service will be held 16 Mar 2012 at 1100 hrs at the USAFA Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to his family in care of his son, Robert C. Rager: Mr. Robert C. Rager; 10000 Alameda Ave, Apt 620; Denver, CO 80247-1385."

"It was a beautiful day for the funeral," said DL Walsh, of the ceremony for Bob Rager on March 16th. Attending were Jim Waddle, Andi Biancur, Jock Schwank, Jenny & Jim Glaza, George Pupich, and D.L. Walsh. "Bob had a classic career--F-100s in England and then UAL in Denver," wrote Gordy Flygare. (R: There are now 51 deceased classmates, with 176 living classmates).