Jim Obrien:
CLASS OF 1973
West Babylon High SchoolClass of 1973
West babylon, NY
Jim's Story
Life
well, I live a quiet life here in Wichita, Ks. Have a small circle of friends and a slightly larger group of acquaintances. As in high school, I get along with everybody. I just bought a mobile home(its what I can afford at the moment) where I live witha 15 year old cat (baby) and two 8 month old kittens (Misty and Zap - siblings)They keep me hoppin'. I like to read sci fi/fantasy books and thats my favorite movie genre (read the Eragon books, much better than the movie). I also like to quilt in my spare time. Have made alot over the years and given away all of them. I also make jewelry. Not good at it but I'm getting ther.
School
Anybody remember the "race riots"? I don't remember what year it was but I'm thinkin' junior year. All you fellow band geeks.........Festival of states in Fla- 1973? Or how about our sophmore year when good ole Ed D attempted "Jean" (from the Prime of Miss Jean Brody) in 3/4 time!!!!! What a disaster!!!!! I was a glutton for punishment and went back a couple of years later to help with the rifle line. I got Ed to change uniforms and go into REAL competitions. They actually got pretty good and the drumline was a powerhouse on the east coast.
I have to dig it out (and try to post it), but I still have a picture of Sandy Smith (73) performing in1972 Blue and Gold (marching part) next to Janet Chaikowski(72) who was holding a sign that says "best of sprots". Yep, she misspelled it.
College
after graduating from W.B., I went to Siena College in upstate N.Y.. I lasted there only one year. I have to admit, the first semester I went wild ( I got 4 D's and an F). The second semester I buckled down and did much better (a C, 3B's and an ...Expand for more
A). Unfortunately, life threw me a curve and my mom got very ill. I transferred to Suffolk County Community College and recieved my A.A.S. in business administration. It was very difficult because I had to work full time, go to school full time, and help out my family. I was accepted to Hofstra but I never went. I just found it too difficult to go to school and support the family at the same time. I figured I'd finish later in life. I'm still waiting to find that time.
Workplace
I've had alot of different jobs in my life. During my junior/senior years at W.B. I worked at an electronics factory (Dynell Electronics). I produced the wiring for radar units. During my college years, I worked at Altran Corp. which was a transmission parts warehouse. I was a shipping clerk. Using my A.A.S. degree, I worked for a Wall Street brokerage firm ( Quick & Reilly). I started out as a credit clerk and by the end of my career I was the assistant manager of the credit (margin) department. After the crash in 1986, I decided to leave the rat race of the city and moved to Chatham, N.J. where I opened a mobile pet grooming service. I called it Purrfect Groomin' Waggin'. I had that for 15 years. I then moved to Austin, Tx. where I worked for Motorola in a clean room making computer chips. I then moved to Wichita, Ks. For 2 years I drove a school bus. I now work for the City of Wichita in the transit division. I drive the "Special Services" vans that transport the handicap and our seniors. I am also one of three union steward for our drivers. This all must be in my blood because my dad was a big union guy and my brothers( and many of their kids) drive for a living.
Military
no military experience
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