I wanted to give you another hearty thank you for all you do in keeping us, the class of ’73 up to date. I always look forward to your e-mails.
I thought I would give you a news bit in our household. My oldest daughter, Elizabeth and her husband had their first baby on May 13. Their son, Wyatt Alan Dressen weighed in at 9 lb 1 oz he was delivered without any pain medicine or epidural! Enclosed is a picture of Liz, her husband Nic with Wyatt and the grandparents. I am the bald one in the back.
He’s been the president of Glendale Chamber of Commerce since March 1, 1998. At the end of October, Don Rinehart is retiring. But, for someone who has been so actively involved in the communities where he has served, it is likely he will take time off for golf, music and reading, then find himself right back in the social scene.
The transplant from Iowa will turn 58 in August, and he has been in the chamber business 34 years. From his first position in Atlantic, Iowa, where he served seven years, to Glendale, Rinehart has managed to organize and coordinate major projects. From developing a community’s long-range plan to negotiating the acquisition of a $16 million riverboat gaming project, and creating and staffing a bi-lingual minority business counseling program, the accomplishments run two pages of single type.
But his last stop in Glendale marked perhaps Rinehart’s most visible and lasting contribution to his community.
He assisted with the development of the sports and entertainment complexes for the Phoenix Coyotes and Arizona Cardinals. He assisted with preparation of the 2006 NHL All-Star Game and 2008 NFL Super Bowl bids awarded to Glendale.
He coordinated the Glendale transportation tax initiative campaign that resulted in passage of a referendum to fund the city’s transportation projects to the year 2025.
He spearheaded formation of North and West Valley Chamber Alliance with eight participating chambers of commerce representing more than 4,000 businesses to affect public policy on a regional and state level.
He provided ongoing marketing and support services for Glendale tourism, economic development and special events.
For all of that, Rinehart cites unfinished business, programs and projects he would like to complete before he retires.
“The last couple years, we’ve been looking at building a diverse chamber board, trying to upgrade board members to change the culture to blend and fit with members” he said.
The latest move is truly that, a move out of the old chamber building to a new 4,000-square-foot office on the second floor of the Bank of America building. Rinehart said it was an easy decision.
“The building is nice, but it’s 30 years old” he said. “It was worth more to sell it and lease office space somewhere than it was to repair it.”
The new office in Suite 260 is turnkey, no tenant improvements needed, with built-in granite-top desks, a large conference room, and an office for the SCORE business counseling representative. Rinehart said the chamber would provide phone service and a receptionist for non-profits interested in leasing space. Also with the move comes a joint venture with the city’s economic development department, which calls on the chamber to serve as an incubator for start-up or established businesses.
Rinehart hopes the move will reenergize the chamber. He hopes his retirement and new leadership will help with member recruitment as well.
Finances are good, especially with the sale of the building at 59th Avenue and Glenn Drive.
“We survived a tough economy, and sponsorships have recovered” Rinehart said. “The change, new energy, (hopefully) boosts membership, the one area where the chamber has not improved.
“Pretty much everybody, except Surprise, over the last four or five years lost 30 to 40 percent of their membership. A lot of people went out of business and those who didn’t were just surviving.”
Rinehart has been approached to run for Arizona Legislature, and he is entertaining the idea of a potential run. He lives in New River, a rural area north of Anthem. As natives of small towns in Iowa, Rinehart and his wife, Tami, like the rural lifestyle they’ve enjoyed the past 15 years.
“I’m sure, after a while, I’ll get the itch to do something again” he said.
But before he thinks about a political future, Rinehart said he has a “lot of family stuff we have to take care of, a lot of work around the house.”
He said the chamber plans to conduct a national and regional search for a new chamber president. Resumes will be advertised this month and next, and applications will be accepted through the end of August and into September. A new president would be hired in October, and Rinehart will be there to help with the transition.
After receiving Brenda’s last email I decided to get off my duff and make some decisions. I have made plans to go to the 40th reunion. Unfortunately, Julie will not be able to attend due to office politics and vacation time. I missed the last one, so I am looking forward to seeing everyone and how they have changed.
Our family is doing great. Julie and I are about 5 years from retirement and are counting the days. We both have seen our respective careers change so much and generally not for the better. Public education is all about standardized testing with little time for anything else. I fully believe there is a need for accountability but this is just gone too far. I think the kids know less now than before all this began. Nursing is about the bottom line and patient care is well down the list.
Our oldest son in in DC working as an Engineer Specialist for the FDOT. He does a lot of research about federal shipping containers and on occasion helps with inspections of manufacturing plants. He is enjoying the single life, with a new sports car and money in his pocket. I could think of worse things. Our youngest is an Assistant Manager with Petsmart and slowly working his way up. He started out partime in high school and continues with them. The pay is not great but he likes what he is doing and they seem to like him and his work ethic.
I recently e-mailed Don Rinehart about coming, and he is a maybe. Tami’s dad passed recently and they have made a number of trips to IC to deal with estate issues. If things work out for him with regards to their estate dealing they will plan on being there.
Thanks for all of your continued updates. We want to pass along that due to work commitments, we won’t be able to come back for the reunion this summer, but will miss seeing everyone.
We are living in Montreal since last Autumn, and plan to be here for another 4 years probably. Alan works for Bombardier Aerospace and starting flight testing on a new airliner. Janelle continues her work for a travel meeting and incentive travel company in West Des Moines, ITA, and is on the road for a week or two each month.
We have four children and all are doing well. Our sons, Nathan & Peter, both work in Chicago. Nathan works as a product liability attorney and Peter is a construction Engineer. Both are married to lovely women and have or are about to give us grandchildren to brag about.
Our two daughters both recently graduated. Meg from Grinnell College, and Liz from Iowa Law along with a masters in health admin. Meg is now doing Teach for America at a turn around school in Huntsville, Alabama, and Liz has accepted a position at Northwestern University Medical Center.
We are both enjoying life and continue to plan for new vistas to explore. If anyone has Montreal in their travel plans in the next few years, be sure to drop by or feel free to crash for a few days. Guests are always welcome.
Blackbird opens April 5 and runs April 5-21, Thurs-Sundays.
This beautiful play on a painful subject opens new windows to the souls of your neighbors and perhaps family and friends. Who among us can deny abuse, or cast the stone? Harrower writes from a deep well of human compassion and, Iowa City peeps, I hope you will be able to see it.
Tickets are available at Riverside theater Iowa city box office, open afternoons and before the show. Check the home page of the Riverside theater for more information.
This is the obit and tribute to my wife Tami Thompson’s (Class of 74) dad, Tommy. A lot of our classmates new him.
Don
Here is Tami’s dad’s obituary, offered as a tribute to his life:
George Edward “Tommy” Thompson III
George Edward “Tommy” Thompson III, of Iowa City, Iowa, passed away Monday, March 18, 2013, at his home.
Tommy was born October 13th, 1926, in Waterloo, Iowa; son of George Edward II and Maria “Mary” (Koloc) Thompson. He married Charlotte K Thompson on June 6th, 1950, at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Iowa City. He and K raised their two children, Tami and Stephen in Iowa City.
Tommy was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan, attending 751 football games since his first game in 1938. He was a great supporter of the Iowa Wrestling Team and crafted numerous championship belt buckles over the years. Tommy loved Hawkeye athletics, football, basketball and wrestling! He was inducted as an honorary letterman in 1986.
Tommy grew up and attended Catholic School Cedar Rapids, IA. He joined the Ice Capades in his late teens, skating until a fall that broke his shoulder, putting an end to his skating career. After skating, Tommy served stateside in the U.S. Navy as a pharmacist mate during WWII.
He was a pro golfer and attempted to join the pro tour. In the early 1950’s Tommy and K owned and ran Tommy’s Golf Range, next to the Iowa City airport, until a required airport expansion forced their closing.
Tommy joined the Cherry Burrell Corp. in Cedar Rapids as a toolmaker/welder and worked with them until his retirement in the early 1990s.
Tommy is survived by this two children, Stephen Thompson and his wife Molly (Shannon) of Eagle River, AK, Tami Rinehart and her husband, Don of New River, AZ; four grandchildren, Michael Thompson and Stephanie Powell and husband, Edward, Christopher Rinehart and Nicole Irving and husband, Nicholas; two great- grandchildren, Lawrence “Holden” and Shayla Powell, his sister, Patricia Eichenberg of Albuquerque, NM; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Charlotte K Thompson (Fisk) in 2001.
One news item to share …. Wednesday I had minor knee surgery to fix a torn meniscus on my right knee. I am already putting full weight on it, but still walking with a cane for extra stability.
I am in Iowa City for my mom’s 84th birthday today. My flights were delayed last week due to the snow storms raging in this area. But once I got here, I was able to go x-country skiing with Jean, Jay, Beth and Victoria a few days later. Pictures below, sent from my sister, Beth’s iPhone.
All 7 siblings are here! Great times. We drove past 704 – 12th Ave house the other day and thought of you.
Hope all is well with you and yours, weather and otherwise :). I have been enjoying your emails and updates so much!
Warmly,
Becki
Becki with twins Jean and JayBecki Cross Country skiing in Iowa CityBecki with sisters Beth and Jean
Just writing to let you know my mother, Melva, passed away early Friday morning, January 11th. She was going strong at 93, and lived alone in the same house my parents bought in 1951. We are so grateful she was in no pain and did not linger. Her visitation is this Tuesday, January 15th, at Lensing’s on Kirkwood from 4 to 7 and the funeral mass starts at 10am at St. Mary’s. She was an inspiration to us all, as she lived life to the fullest until she died.
Thanks,
Bill
Bill gave us permission to post his mother’s obituary as a tribute to her life.
Melva Eileen Petrak
Melva Eileen Petrak, 93, of Coralville, died at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City on Friday January 11, 2013, surrounded by her family, under the care of Iowa City Hospice. Visitation was Tuesday January 15 from 4 -7pm at Lensing Funeral Home, 605 Kirkwood Avenue, Iowa City. Funeral Mass was celebrated at 10 am Wednesday, January 16 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Iowa City. Burial followed at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either St. Mary’s or to Iowa City Hospice.
Melva was born Sept. 3, 1919 in Oxford, IA. She was the daughter of James and Winifred Cooney Leeney. She was the second of five Leeney daughters; Vivian (Hedges), Bernice (Kron), Mary (Kallaus) and Marge (Thormann). She graduated from Oxford high school in 1938 where she also played basketball. Melva obtained a nurses aide certification through the U of I where she worked in pediatrics for two years.
Melva moved to Detroit, MI. where she got a job at Chrysler as “Rosie the Riveter” working on airplanes during the war. When the war ended she worked on Chrysler cars.
Melva married Richard Petrak, of North Liberty on April 29, 1944. After eight years in Detroit they returned to Iowa City in 1951 and purchased a home in Coralville the only home they ever lived in. They had three children; Ann, Bill and Mike. She worked at Oaknoll for ten years and worked at Hillcrest Dormitory for 14 years.
Melva enjoyed bowling and also liked playing cards, especially Euchre. She liked the Cubs and the Hawkeyes. She was a member of the Coralville Rec Center’s exercise group and she lived independently until recently. At age 81 she traveled to Ireland with family to celebrate her Irish heritage. At 85 she went to Scotland. At 90 she celebrated with a large party at St. Mary’s. Melva recently traveled to Denver with family to celebrate Thanksgiving with all of her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed her Coralville neighbors, including longtime friend Julie Weidner.
Survivors include her children Ann (Kevin) Satterly of Coralville; Bill (Cindy) Petrak of Waukee, IA; and Mike (Missy) Petrak of Denver, CO. Grandchildren include Ryan and Nicole Satterly, Jacob and Nate Petrak, and Hannah and Nick Petrak. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Richard and her four sisters.
