What has our class been up to!!
Several classmates have been busy so to highlight we have created this page. Whatever you may be publishing, selling, or just want to let the class know What's Up... here you go! Send a link, or what you would like to share, to: info@uhsclass73.com
Douglas B Carlyle
About the Author
Doug Carlyle grew up in Urbana, Illinois where he graduated from the University of Illinois with, of all things for a novelist, a degree in electrical engineering. After a circuitous journey that took him through 26 glorious years in the semiconductor industry, he began writing great fiction. He also married, raised a family, and relocated to the Central Texas Hill Country.
Against this backdrop of mountains, valleys, live water, and wildlife, he is writing fiction intended to touch all of his readers in a very special way.
Never being able to choose just one pastime, he continues to practice his 30-plus year long medical ministry as a paramedic, while filling in the gaps in his calendar writing, signing, or selling his books.
Doug is a member of the Writers' League of Texas and the Houston Writers Guild.
His debut novel, published in 2010, is a family drama titled, "In Search of the Fuller Brush Man." It is a 2012 BRAG Medallion honoree.
He published his second novel, a romantic fantasy titled, "Vinegarone," in late 2012.
His third novel was released September, 2013. It is a psychological thriller titled, "Boundaries."
"Death by Times New Roman" is his latest release. It is his initial foray into the mystery series genre, complete with a tough protagonist named Cat Kavanagh.
You may learn more about him at www.dbcarlyle.com
David C. Thies
"......a good friend of mine (Geoff Poor – son of Glenn Poor of Glenn Poor’s TV) and I have a “Cabaret Act” with me playing piano and Geoff singing songs from the Great American Songbook dating from the 1930’s to the 1990’s. We’ve performed in many different venues and have a great time doing it. Geoff was part of the rock and roll scene in Champaign-Urbana during the late 60’s and has stayed in town to own and operate Glenn Poor’s Audio Video in Old Farm Mall, Champaign. I still love my day job as an estate planning attorney at Webber & Thies, P.C. – but making believe that I am a jazz/pop music pianist has been one of the great joys of my life.”
Doug Carlyle
Friends are so hard to come by. I moved away from Urbana in 1977 and today I can sit down with members of our class and step into comfortable conversation as if we have never been apart. I've discussed this with Jim Johnstone, and I think part of this is due to the fact that not only do each of us from this class share a lot in common, so did our families. So many of our fathers were veterans. So many of our mothers raised us in post WWII households during the huge nation-building in the 50s and 60s. Growing up in a university city such as Urbana got us to "think outside the box." We survived some stressful times together. In particular, I want to recognize three friends who I called upon many,
many times to join me at Uncle Johns to just sit and talk. I had a lot going on in my life. They were all ears. They were great listeners. I
would not be where I am today without their thoughtfulness and compassion, not to mention consumption of a lot of coffee.
Thank you Nancy Dold, Suzanne Samarghandi, and Jane Ziroli.
Your forever indebted friend,
Doug Carlyle
Susan Nagele
Thanks to the committee who organized this gathering and I'm really looking forward to reconnecting with others next week! (Suzanne, I will miss you!)
I trained as a family doc at SIU School of Medicine and after my residency in Carbondale I went to East Africa with Maryknoll Lay Missioners where I worked in Tanzania, Sudan and Kenya for 33 years. I loved OB and Peds and certainly got my fill. In 2018 I came home to care for my mother here in Urbana and officially retired in 2020. I love living with her in our family home and doing some writing to process life events and tell the stories of wonderful people I met along the way. I haven't met the love of my life yet so there are no biological children. But there are a few girls named Susan because I was able to assist their mothers with their entry into this world.
I have lots of good memories of UHS and am missing Jim Murphy and Kevin Marcum who are no longer with us. So, I hope that some of you will help me rekindle more memories and hear about your journeys since then when we meet up next week!!!
Suzanne Butler Samarghandi
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I regret not being able to attend this very special reunion. I am in the midst of moving to South Carolina with my husband who is finishing up his work and selling our home in Cincinnati. I am already in South Carolina getting things set here at my end.
I have always been aware of how special our Class of 1973 was and is. So many wonderful people were part of my life during those years attending Urbana schools. I am forever grateful. Here’s hoping to attend any and all future reunions. Have a blast, my heart is with you.
Suzanne Butler Samarghandi
Urbana Pops Orchestra premieres "Tudor Fantasia" by Stephen Larson. June 11, 2022, Urbana High School Conductor, Stephen Larson About the composition and animation: As an Urbana High School student in the early 2000s, Larson was fascinated with the building’s Tudor architecture designed by Joseph Royer. Pouring over primary sources such as the original blueprints and old yearbooks, he was able to piece together what it looked like when it opened in 1914. He shared what he learned in a slide presentation and website. By 2017, technology became accessible to create a full architectural rendering of an historic building using a personal computer. Using freely available software – Blender and Unreal Engine – Larson created a virtual flight through the hallways and classrooms ready for students at the new school, then adjacent to a cornfield. The music, composed specifically to be performed by Urbana Pops Orchestra, draws inspiration from the same Tudor period Royer designed it to emulate. Two themes are featured: a setting of Psalm 5 by John Milton from 1621, and a Courante from Michael Praetorius’ 1612 collection of dance music, Terpsichore. Larson selected the tunes because of their Tudor origins, but also their possibilities of melodic variation. Fragments of both melodies intertwine and exchange throughout the composition, culminating in a full-orchestral chorale.
The Urbana Alumni Association is an all-volunteer organization devoted to supporting Urbana’s schools. You don’t have to be an alum to join — just share our goal of helping Urbana’s teachers, students and community.
The UAA supports projects that enhance schools, their programs and participation in activities that enrich the school experience. We focus on the middle school and high school, where all our students come together. Our support comes from annual membership dues, from fund-raising events and special fund-drives. The more help we get in fundraising, the more we can provide to our schools.
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