Steele, Bender, Jean                                                                  * Home

1965(Vestal Central HS)      2002, Jean and Jan in their 

                                                                                                                                                                     Colorado Springs home

  Jean can be reached at:

jesteele@worldnet.att.net

  Commentator:  Foley              , n/a                     , Chris                                    7/15/2000

wrote in Jean's yearbook:"Always remember the fun times in 3rd & 4th per. study halls. Keep smiling and maybe someday knit me a sweater. (you prude)"

  Commentator:  Krestalude       , n/a                     , James A.                               7/12/2000

AAAAARRRRRRGGGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I just went to my yearbookand looked at that picture of me and Jean Bender at the prom.  What a hoot!  I was a thin,

naive thing. We were young and fancy free than.

I had a good time with her at the prom and remained a gentleman at all times.  What was I crazy!  Out with a beautiful woman and not try anything!

Ignorance is bliss or maybe it was just fear.

  Commentator:  McLean           , n/a                     , Rich                                     2/16/2002

Mina and I drove down to Colorado Springs today for a great luncheon with Jean and her husband Jan. We had coffee later on in their home close to Pikes

 Peak. It was wonderful going through the yearbook and reflecting on all those guys and gals

so many years ago. We still need to find Joanne Mantin and Kathy Jones. I'm sure they'll turn up one of these days

  Commentator:  McLean           , n/a                     , Rich                                     8/19/2000

Carren Corpron  remembered the white building and the " white building dances" that Jean mentioned earlier. That was a community center that would

throw sock hops every Saturday evening.

Carren was reminded of the white building by the picture of the Angelo Ball Field. But so many of her

Saturday evenings as well as the Saturday evenings of our class were spent at the white building. This was Vestal's equivalent to the Endicott record

  Commentator:  McLean           , n/a                     , Rich                                     8/18/2000

called Jean today. She was thrilled hearing from Ardith and Rudy. We taked about how times have changed… how back then Dweeb and Dork and Nerd

weren't common, although Laura Crandall was President of the National Nurd Convention in the yearbook…

 How we didn't have the pressures of drugs, sex, violence, that kids today have to go through… tho indeed sex, drugs and violence existed… it just wasn't

the major themes in our lives.

We're still trying to find Kathy Jones. I had called Jack Williams (Kathy's cousin) earlier last week and left a message, but haven't heard back from him yet.

Gave Jean Joanne Mantin's NY NY address from the Alumni Directory.

  Commentator:  McLean           , n/a                     , Rich                                     7/10/2000

I talked with Jean by phone for an hour today. Jean described herself as shy in high school. Not the most active in school activities nor loaded with

friends, but enjoyed the 2.5 years she spent at Vestal. Jean arrived at Vestal in Nov 63.

She was in math class when she learned Kennedy had been shot.

When asked what word came to mind when she thought of the 60's she said "Innocence." Kids today seem a lot more worldly.

  Commentator:  McLean           , n/a                     , Rich                                     6/29/2000

I do remember you, Jean, but I'm not sure what class we had. You wrote in my yearbook: "Dick, Luck & success always in all you do. Remember the class

of '65. Jean" :-) So I'm just following your directions!!!

  Commentator:  Schrader         , Schrader              , Linda R.                                7/15/2000

Linda wrote in yearbook:"Remember all our "fun" times in Uncle Joe's drama class."  Jean commented: So she must have been in drama class with you and

me, Rich, as well as Bette Lee Wagner.

  Commentator:  Sorber            , Spohn                 , Joanne                                 7/15/2000

Joanne wrote: "You're a terrific chem. coacher.  Now follow my good examples and you won't go wrong." Jean comment: Hmmm- I wonder if she was

referring to the first year I took chem. Or the second time?

  Commentator:  Steele             , Bender                , Jean Elizabeth                         7/10/2000

Jean remembers she had trouble in Chemistry. But when she went to Nursing School she made A's and received her RN. She spent her nursing career in

Emergency and Neo Natal medicine.

Jean has been married to hubby Jan since June 69. Jan is a civiilan Program Director for the Strategic and Nuclear Deterrent Office at Peterson AFB in

Colorado Springs. They have two boys, 27 and 29 years old.

Jean lived in Apalachin near Joanne Mantin.

Jean and Kathy Jones used to go dancing in a white building near Vestal on Saturdays. But she doesn't remember who sponsored the dances.

  Commentator:  Steele             , Bender                , Jean Elizabeth                         6/30/2000

Hey - I live in Colorado, too - Colorado Springs - since 1970.  I don't think I can contribute to high school memories.  I moved the day after graduation and

didn't have contact with anyone except JoAnn Manton and Kathy Jones for a short time.

Never went to any reunions as I never heard about them.  My husband and I just had our 31st anniversary.  We  have 2 sons - David is 29 and Matthew is

27.  I am a retired RN and Jan (my husband) works for the Air Force as a civilian - DOD.

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