Inner Journey: Eeek, 40th Class Reunion!

The U of Waterloo Chemical Engineering Class of 1974 held their 40th class reunion in the Waterloo area last weekend. It was great.

There were 14 or 15 of us there, most with their wives. My closest study buddies Neal Stretch (from Walkerton, ON), John Jarrell (from Saskatoon) and Mike Laplante (from Toronto) were there. It was great to see them and reconnect.

Principle organizer Wayne Schlote (Casselman, ON) and his cohorts Gord Pearson (Edmunston, NB) and Don Linkert (Midland, MI) did a great job of organizing.

Friday night we had an informal dinner at the Old Heidelberg Inn in Heidelberg, ON. Lots of beer, ribs, sourcrout and snitzel. Professors Peter Douglas (also a class member) and J.J. Byerly (retired) also attended. Saturday A.M. we played for the Class of '74 golf trophy at the swank Elmira G&CC. Gord Pearson nudged me out to claim low gross and win it. I had a great round and conversation with Paul Sigurdson who operates a Cdn Tire franchise in Fort Saskatchewan, AB). Toured the St Jacobs farmers market later that day.

Saturday night was the highlight dinner at the Blue Moon Grill just east of Kitchener. Much beer, wine and more ribs were consumed. There were some short speeches and door prize gifts. We paused to take some group photos and made plans to reconnect again soon.

Sunday we had a parting breakfast and said our goodbyes. I headed for the U of W campus and walked around for a couple of hours. It took me quite awhile to find the new chemical engineering building but finally I did. There are so many changes I hardly recognized parts of the campus. It has really grown and is very multi-cultural. Chatted with one chemical engineer who was on assignment here from Saudi Arabia. It brought tears to my eyes thinking I was in his shoes 40 years ago.

Left with many heartfelt memories of what was and what could have been. I really enjoyed the weekend.

Don Linkert, Gord Pearson, Wayne Schlote, Paul Sigurdson and me.