September Update
Hi All,
As the 60th reunion of the Glenbard West Class of 1965 is nearing, here is a reminder of the events. All are still welcome, even if you haven’t signed up. If possible, however, letting us know if you’ve decided to come helps the venues provide the appropriate size space for us. If you have questions, please either reply to the recent email update or contact Kathy Wilson Nickelman at knickelman@att.net or 630-605-7373.
Only classmates with valid email addresses receive our messages. If you know of anyone who hasn’t received the reunion information, please forward this to them and ask that they share their address to be added to the website data.
The events are meant to be easy and casual. There are no prepayments. Costs are just what you order from the menu. Parking is available.
FRIDAY NIGHT
940 Roosevelt Rd.
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Get together starts at 5 p.m. until closing
SATURDAY NIGHT
Part One
475 Pennsylvania Ave
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Get together starts at 5 p.m. until their closing
Followed by moving across the street to
Part Two
486 Pennsylvania Ave
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Until their close
GLENBARD WEST HOMECOMING SCHEDULE
Friday, September 26th, 2025
- Homecoming Pep Rally @ 6:30 p.m. in Biester Gym
- Homecoming Bonfire immediately following Pep Rally
Saturday, September 27th, 2025
- Homecoming Parade @ 10 a.m. at Forest Glen
- Homecoming Alumni Tours @ 11 a.m. and noon
- Homecoming Varsity Football game @ 1 p.m.
ACCOMMODATIONS
You can check with expedia.com, booking.com, airbnb, etc. on your own but here are a few nearby places;
- Crowne Plaza-Downers Grove/Glen Ellyn $162/night
- Holiday Inn and Suites Wheaton $159/night
- Fairfield Inn Lombard $143/night
- SureStay Plus by Best Western Lombard $104/night
- Ramada Inn Glendale Heights/Lombard $100/night
TREASURER, WEBSITE SUBSCRIPTION
On an unrelated note, we need a Class Treasurer. This volunteer would coordinate the website subscription annual payment—managing a donation request and receiving checks or direct payments (I discovered the website expired on 6/11/25 so I paid $249.00 for a year extension). I can’t manage the funding request/checks, etc. and continue to keep fixing data, etc. too. To date, the subscription is the only money to deal with. I know, Jim did everything for 50 years. But I’m not Jim…
Thanks and hope to see you in a few weeks.—Alice Johnson Brainerd
August Update
Glenbard West has published this schedule for Homecoming Weekend:
Friday, September 26th, 2025
- Homecoming Pep Rally @ 6:30 p.m. in Biester Gym
- Homecoming Bonfire immediately following Pep Rally
Saturday, September 27th, 2025
- Homecoming Parade @ 10 a.m. at Forest Glen
- Homecoming Alumni Tours @ 11 a.m. and noon
- Homecoming Varsity Football game @ 1 p.m.
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https://www.glenbardwesths.org/news/homecoming-2025-26-weekend-september-26-27-2025
Friday night 60th Reunion venue details:
Ellyn’s Tap and Grill
940 Roosevelt Rd.
Glen Ellyn
Get together starts at 5 p.m. until closing
July Update
Dear Classmates,
Here’s more information on our 60th reunion on September 26-27. Plus a few other updates. This page will be updated throughout the summer as more information becomes available rather than sending more emails. The initial reunion announcement message giving details on the Saturday night event and listing the RSVP questionnaire is available below.
PLEASE RSVP
If you haven’t already, please let us know if you plan to come to the reunion. Currently, 24 are planning to attend and 7 have sent their regrets. Replying will help the committee estimate the group’s size for the venues.
FRIDAY EVENING 9/26/2025 (UPDATED)
Kathy Wilson Nickelman notes the event will be held at Ellyn's Tap and Grill (940 Roosevelt Rd. Glen Ellyn), starting at 5 p.m. It will be an informal happy hour+ time to catch up with classmates, much like past Friday events.
For Satuday, there will a trivia quiz, created by Kathy Weaver Markley and Doug.
ACCOMMODATIONS
This list has been supplied by Bob Kayser in his note:
“Good Morning! Below is an array of hotels within a few miles of Glen Ellyn as advertised on Expedia.com. They represent a modest price range, and the prices quoted include all taxes and fees as of June 9. Expedia.com and Tripadvisor.com have additional options.
- Crowne Plaza-Downers Grove/Glen Ellyn $162/night
- Holiday Inn and Suites Wheaton $159/night
- Fairfield Inn Lombard $143/night
- SureStay Plus by Best Western Lombard $104/night
- Ramada Inn Glendale Heights/Lombard $100/night"
CLASS TREASURER NEEDED
We need a Class Treasurer. A volunteer would coordinate the website subscription annual payment—managing donation request and reciving checks or direct payments (I just discovered the website expires on 6/11/25 so I paid $249.00 for a year extension, I can’t manage the funding request/checks, etc. and continue to keep fixing data, etc. too) To date, the subscription is the only money to deal with.
SOFTWARE UPDATE
Apparently, the vendor implemented a recent website software update. The update broke the connection of their name (URL) for our website and the glenbardwest1965.com URL that we use. I think it’s been reconnected. A second problem arose when the vendor didn’t renew the security certificate. That has been repaired also. I haven’t had time to research what are changes to site’s functions. Please report any issues.
FINDING CONTACT INFORMATION
Suggestion: if anyone feels like doing a bit of googling, just pick a classmate who has “no contact information available” comment and see if you can find them. Then report anything you find.
OFF TOPIC, AN EXHIBIT IN GLEN ELLYN
Off topic, if you’re in Glen Ellyn between now and 9/21/25, the Glen Ellyn art musuem (who knew) has an exhibit of Hokusai prints. Even large museums seldom show the prints for long due to their fragility, so this is a rare opportunity. https://www.theccma.org/hokusai
A list of additional Glenbard homecoming activities and local attractions/events will be placed on the website later this summer.
Hope you’ll consider attending the reunion. If you’re interested in being our treasurer, please let us know. Many thanks!—Alice
Save the Date
Dear 1965 Classmates,
The reunion committee has submitted the following announcement regarding our 60th class reunion. The goal this year is to keep the events casual, flexible, easily affordable and fun. Following the announcement, there is a short questionnaire to help estimate the number of potential attendees.
This message and questionnaire will also be posted on the Glenbard West Class of 1965 website’s homepage and the 60th Reunion page.
**************************************************************************
Save it! Hold it! It’s coming — September 27, 2025 — the 60th anniversary of our graduation from Glenbard West High School.
Save the date as your reunion committee has plans. We have focused on Saturday evening. A reservation has been made at Barone’s of Glen Ellyn for dinner. Each person will be individually ordering from the menu. After dinner we will go across the street to Two Hound Red Brewing Co. to continue celebrating the night away. Friday evening will be a casual meet up at one of the local venues. We are assessing the local Glen Ellyn venues for the best location for the best graduation class from Glenbard West. That’s us!
In future updates, there will be information about the Friday night location and the Glenbard West Homecoming events schedule, so you can pick what you want to take part in, and information about area hotels for you to choose from.
The weekend of September 27, 2025, bring memories to share and be ready to build new ones. We look forward to seeing each of you.
Your Class of 1965 reunion committee (in alphabetical order:
Kathy Wilson Nickelman (630-605-7373; knickelman@att.net), coordinator
Jack Hannold
Bob Kayser
Dick Lami
Kathy Weaver Markley
Karen Swetlik Reeves
John Reid
Go Hilltoppers!!
Kathy
Please note: Accomodations selection will be on your own.
No fees will be collected. Attendees will order/pay at Barone’s and Two Hound Red.
********************************************************************
QUESTIONNAIRE:
Please just REPLY to this email—DO NOT REPLY ALL, though. The reply will go to Alice Johnson Brainerd (who maintains the website) for compilation. Or send a new message to abrainerd@gmail.com
- Name
- Are you hoping to attend? Yes or No.
- If Yes, please answer the rest of the questions.
- Number and name of guest(s)
- Attending Friday, Saturday or Both?
- Contact information—email works best with the Glenbard West class of 1965 website.
Many thanks! Also, as a reminder to everyone if they know of contact information for any alumni who don’t have their information on the website, new memorials and any other news to send an email to abrainerd@gmail.com .
2025 60th Reunion planning
6/16/2024 From Dick Lami:
In case you are wondering why a date for the reunion has not been set, according to Joe Kain, Glenbard’s Assistant Principal for Athletics, the date of Homecoming isn't set until October. So we wait until October or don't worry about having it on Homecoming weekend.
6/15/2024
These classmates are working on plans for the 60th Reunion in 2025. If you are interested in joining them or have questions/comments, you can click on their Contact Me button on each of their listings in the 1965 Classmates section to email them. Hopefully, there will be more news added to this section soon.
Jack Hannold
Bob Kayser
Dick Lami
Kathy Wilson Nickleman
Kathy Weaver Markley
Karen Swetlik Reeves