Nick Petros:  

9-21-16 Nick Petros : The Last Fifty Years (Whew!) Well, I managed not to get married, though there were several close calls. Also, as best I can tell, I have no children. I've made up for it, however, by having a godson, an honorary godson, four goddaughters, an honorary goddaughter, and several hemi-, semi-, demi-godchildren. The godsons, gallant gentlemen that they are, have no objection to my saying that the goddaughters are the apples of my eye. After Kelly my first three years of college were at Colgate University and, in my fourth year, I helped integrate Vassar College by gender. (A dirty job, I know, but somebody had to do it.) After college the army did not want me because I had experienced several ulcer attacks while at Kelly and in college. I took some time off and then went to Northwestern University, where I got a Master's degree in musical composition (modern classical). I then traveled to Europe and learned quite a bit of German, though I am completely out of practice, and really need to brush up. I have composed a number of works, and have had performances in Chicago, New York, and places that you might not expect, like West Point. (Well, the cadets represent our country, and have to be well rounded. They might end up posted to an embassy, and might even become diplomats themselves.) I was close to Quinn Brisben, the wonderful and highly idealistic history teacher, who really "walked the walk," until his death in 2012. I also was able to see Ben Castiello, another splendid history teacher, before his passing in 2013. In addition, I would periodically see Rom Hejna, another top-of-the-line history teacher, who was also a guidance counselor and a major donor to the Polish Studies Program of the University of Illinois in Chicago. (Rom invested very well.) Also, about ten or fifteen years after Kelly I ran into Jim Quinn, a marvelous English teacher. He was no longer teaching, and said that though he loved teaching and loved the kids, he simply could no longer put up with the bureaucracy. I have no trouble understanding, though teachers of Jim Quinn's excellence should not be lost. Students with whom I have had at least some communication since Kelly days include Bradley Adams, who lived next door to me when I was growing up, and his wife Gloria Mendoza Adams (also a Kelly grad). Ed Czajkowski, whom I had known since first grade, if not since kindergarten. Ed, sadly, passed away late in 2015, a few days after his 68th birthday. Ed was ver...Expand for more