In Memoriam – Spring 2024

Dr. Wendy Robinson, retired Superintendent of Fort Wayne Community Schools, passed away on August 18, 2023. 1940Hertha Hoffman Moran – Fort Wayne – July 27 1941Lois Ringenberg Laymon – Fort Wayne – July 25 1942Patricia Towns Kocks – Fort Wayne – August 24 1944Phyllis Brames Fitzgerald – Fort Wayne – June 14 1946Geraldine “Gerri” Blosser Cook – Fort Wayne – July 21Jack R. Wehrly – Winthrop, MA – August 27 1952Marjorie Schulze Counterman – Fort Wayne – August 26Marilyn Ellingwood Snyder – Fort Wayne – July 15 1953Albert C. McClure – Fort Wayne – December 2, 2022Josephine Burns Reich – Fort Wayne – August 18 1955Janet Ross Harshman – Fort Wayne – August 20Archie F. Johnson – Fort Wayne – June 12 1957Carl “Butch” Mossser – Wollcottville – August 15 1958Thomas M. Campbell – Fort Wayne – September 5 1959Gahe Giessler – Fort Wayne – August 14Robert A. Simmons – Fort Wayne – July 7 1960Beth McDowell Loriot – Fort Wayne – July 16 1961Rebecca Hostetler Shafer – Louisville, KY – July 26 1962Donald P. Nobles – Ossian – August 7Robert Pio Jr. – Avon Park, FL – July 29 1963Bernard “Bud” Stier – Fort Wayne – August 19 1965John… Read More

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Class of 1963 Reunion!

The SSHS Class of 1963 will celebrate their 60th reunion on October 7, 2023.  This will be a casual event with a delicious buffet dinner at a restaurant with a large private party dining room.  Join the fun!  Reservations with a $30 payment per person and contact information must be received by September 16.  Interested classmates may inquire at [email protected] for details. Those organizing the evening:  Jane Reiff Wilks, Barry Spear Hooley, Judy Conley Jong, Kathy DeVore, and Leslie Green Long.

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In Memoriam – Spring 2023

FacultyDavid A. Griggs – Science – Fort Wayne, IN – December 29Earl E. Jackson, Jr. – Band Director – Winchester, VA – January 6 1936Harriett Townsend Yapp Sames – Pompano Beach, FL – January 16 1937Margaret Ann Green Dyke – Santee, CA – April 24 1942Patricia Muldoon Witte – Fort Wayne, IN – January 17 1944Joan Trautman Knapp – Fort Wayne, IN – January 2Joyce Dent Larimore – Fort Wayne, IN – March 19Mary Mallers Spirou – Fort Wayne, IN – February 16 1945Kathryn Swank Froebe – Fort Wayne, IN – October 6 2022 1948Beverly Shaffer Grote – Fort Wayne, IN – January 14Carolyn Ehrhardt Kraick – Hopkinsville, KY – November 16 2022Lois Hammond McInnis – Carolina Beach, NC – March 3 1949Helen Litchen Mitson – Fort Wayne, IN – January 31 1950Donald P. Bowser – Fort Wayne, IN – March 5Earl L. Covault, Jr. – Fort Wayne, IN – November 6, 2022Bonnie Hull George – Fort Wayne, IN – January 26James L. Nuttle – Portage, IN – November 14 2022Joyce Emrich Zimmanck – Fort Wayne, IN – January 30 1951Mary Strouse Smith – Fort Wayne, IN – April 26James F. Tarr – Syracuse, IN – January 20 1952Robert C.… Read More

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David Link

David Link joined the U. S. Navy in 1944 and was subsequently sent to Purdue University and later to the University of Virginia in the Navy’s V-12 program. He returned to Fort Wayne where he joined the News-Sentinel as a copy editor and reporter, working under Bud Manth, father of former principal Jenny Manth, until 1951 when he was called to serve in the Korean War. David returned to the News-Sentinel for one year and then moved to the Milwaukee Journal as a real estate writer before he became a home builder and later went into the mortgage banking business. In 1970 David became senior editor of Professional Builder Magazine, a Chicago based national publication that focused on housing and light construction and was subsequently named editor and then editorial director and associate publisher. In 1986, he became vice president of Cahners Publishing Company that published 40 some magazines centered on the trades. He retired in 1991 to Arizona where he became the first president of the Santa Cruz Valley chapter of Habitat for Humanity. David was president and board chairman of the National Association of Real Estate Editors, a member of several home builders associations and press associations and… Read More

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John Richard Samsen

John Richard Samsen served in the Army Air Force before obtaining a degree in Aero Engineering at Purdue University. He is known worldwide for his outstanding realistic automobile paintings as well as his contributions to the design of many cars that are now considered classics, including the 1955 Ford Thunderbird. His car art has won many awards such as first place in automotive fine art competition at the ‘Eyes on Classic Design’ show at the Edsel Ford estate in Grosse Point and is exhibited in numerous museums including the Boston Museum of Fine Art. He also paints award-winning landscapes and seascapes at this Hilton Head area studio. John Samsen had a career from 1952 through 1976 at Ford and Chrysler Corp. where he worked on the styling of such cars as the 1955 Thunderbird, the Ford experimental car D-523 Cougar, the 1957 FORD cars, and Chrysler Corp. production and show cars including the Barracudas, Desotos, Roadrunners, GTX, and many others. Ford’s little known Mercury D-524 served as an engineering test car before being sent to Hollywood to star in movies. In 1976, Samsen left Chrysler Corporation to establish his own design studio and has presented at seminars and events and… Read More

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Beverly Stanton McKenna

In the summer after her freshman year at Indiana University, Beverly sought an internship at The Journal Gazette but was denied because they had never had a “colored” reporter. Angry and discouraged, she returned to school and changed her major to English. Upon graduation from Tennessee State University, she taught at Kekionga Junior High before moving to Washington DC to serve as a public relations specialist for a social service agency. Mid Seventies, McKenna moved to New Orleans with her husband Dwight, and in 1985, they founded The New Orleans Tribune, a monthly publication devoted to, and an influential voice for, social justice and empowerment for the Black community. She had returned to her passion for writing and reporting. Along with the demands of running a publishing company, Stanton McKenna pursued other interests. She and her husband are real estate investors and provide jobs and economic opportunities for African Americans through these endeavors. They also founded two museums—one that showcases African American art and the other, the Le Musee De fpc, that commemorates the achievements and contributions of free people of. Beverly is very active in her community including the Urban League of Greater New Orleans, the New Orleans Black… Read More

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Thomas A Felger

After receiving his MD degree from Indiana University, Tom A Felger M.D. interned in Dayton Ohio and then served two years with the Second Marine Division at Camp LeJeune, NC. He returned to his home town in 1971 and started a rewarding 29 year practice in family medicine. After his relocation to South Bend, Indiana, Tom taught at a Family Medicine Residency and served as County Health Officer for St Joseph County. While living in Fort Wayne, Tom served as president of the Fort Wayne-Allen County Medical Society and on the board of trustees of the Indiana State Medical Association as well as the Indiana Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians. He was president of the Inter Agency Drug Abuse Council which, in collaboration with the Junior League of Fort Wayne, created the McMillen Health Center; He was elected president of the McMillen Health Center board in 1986. Many other medical-related organizations have benefitted from his leadership including the Three Rivers Prenatal Clinic, Park Center, and the Family Medicine Departments at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne and St Joseph Hospital in South Bend. Tom is the 9th member of his family to graduate from South… Read More

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Tim Grodrian

Tim Grodrian is well known in the Chicago area in the Tax and Finance fields. Although he earned degrees in History, American Literature and English Literature, he is a Certified Public Accountant, holds a Broker’s license, and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Illinois CPA Society for which he is a frequent lecturer on tax subjects, and the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts. Tim, a consummate entrepreneur , is co-founder of the JMG Financial Group (Wealth Management), Equity Partners (Real Estate Management), Great Lakes REIT which was listed on the New York Stock Exchange from 1997-2004, Quoin LTD, and Skybox on Sheffield –the original Wrigley Field Rooftop owner. He cites Great Lakes REIT as his greatest achievement. Founded in 1993 with $1,000, the three founders took it public in 1997. When it became private again in 2004, it owned over $500,000,000 of suburban office buildings in the Midwest. While at SSHS, Tim was known for his beautiful tenor voice and went on to be part of the Men of Note singing ensemble at Depauw University. His rendition of Duke of Earl at a Men of Note reunion can be seen on U Tube. Tim… Read More

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Mary Jane Reiff Wilks

Mary Jane attended Miami University and was an elementary teacher in Ellettsville Indiana and for Fort Wayne Community Schools. She married the late John Wilks, class of 1961, who was the youngest United States Attorney in history when he was appointed in 1972. As a stay-at-home mom with three children, Jane was active with their activities as well as her own volunteer work with the Junior League of Fort Wayne (where she was president and an area director), church and PTA. In 1986, she was selected to be a part of the Leadership Fort Wayne program that developed and ensured high quality leadership and active involvement of citizens to meet community challenges. When the executive director position became open in 1988, she eagerly jumped at the opportunity to blend her training as an educator with her passion for community service. During her 20 year career with Leadership Fort Wayne, the program expanded from one program for professional adults to four additional programs that served youth as well as nonprofit and grassroots leaders. Her continued involvement in the community through service and leadership on numerous boards and committees includes but is not exclusive to, United Way of Allen County, the American… Read More

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