Jim Olson

Received June 15, 2010

WISCONSIN HIGH 50th REUNION

Married twice – currently to Cheryl Boldt – we just celebrated our 35th anniversary.
Children:

Mark:  (b1965) married to Dr. Shay Nicholas.  Three sons:  Brad, Ryan and Troy.  They reside in Fond du Lac, WI.
Kirk:  (b 1967) married to Shelley Anderson.   Three sons, Sandy, Tommy and Julian.  They live in Appleton, WI.
Neil (b1967) One son Kyle.  They live in Falls River, MA.
Derrek (b1968) Resides in Appleton, WI.
Kirsten (b1969) Resides in Plano, TX.

Brother David (WHS ’61) is just retiring and returning from CT where he taught advanced math and coached women’s track at the Greenwich Women’s Academy.  He and his wife, Linda Bernard, also a WHS graduate, live in Sheboygan, WI.

As I have read those bios posted on the WHS1960 web site, I am struck by how lucky we all are.  We were born in the US of A during favorable economic times to parents that promoted education.  Think of the billions of people for whom that sentence is not true.

I have ruminated a bit on my experiences from high school and can say I carry bits and pieces of many of you and they have stood me in good stead.  Yet, I must comment that I have a small capacity brain so as time goes by I’ve lost memories of earlier times in order to make room for new stuff.  So I’m not sure I have it completely right.

Most of my adult life has been spent in information technology management.  I am proudest of the last project before retirement, which computerized all the patient records for Waterbury Hospital in Waterbury, CT.  The people of Waterbury have one of the finest patient care systems in the world.

Interests:  Wilderness camping, sailing, hockey, robotics and reading.

Coming to terms with retirement is the current challenge.  Staying busy is not the problem since the project list is lengthy.  Instead, it is supplanting the previous involvement that produced strong feelings of responsibility and contribution with some new endeavor.  Mowing the grass is not cutting it!

I remain optimistic that our children’s and grandchildren’s and even in some cases great-grandchildren’s lives will be a step up from our own.  We will find solutions to global warming, use globalized industry to our advantage and regulate global finances responsibly.  There are large breakthroughs just around the corner in many fields, such as healthcare, that may still affect us but will certainly affect our children and their off-spring.  We are lucky indeed.