Frank Kajfes:
CLASS OF 1965
Noranda High SchoolClass of 1965
Noranda, QC
Frank's Story
Years go by . . . and suddenly it's 50 years later! After graduation from NHS, I went on to do a 37-year career in education. I have taught everything from kindergarten to college level . . . first at Noranda Business College (owned by Miss Sara B. Craig) an then as a high school "commercial" teacher (as predicted in my year book profile!), a stint as an elementary French Specialist and at the high school French Immersion program. I even did two years (1969-1971) at good old NHS! Then, I bought and operated , along with the late Michael Valentine, a private secretarial school in Ottawa which I had from 1978-1985 until I sold it to a consortium of private vocational schools. In 1986, I went to Sir Fleming College in Peterborough as Professor of Office Administration in the School of Business. In 1995, I became the coordinator of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Program. I retired in 2002. In 1993-1994, I spent a year on a teaching exchange to England. I taught at Norwich City College. It was a wonderful adventure!
I haven't been exactly 'inactive' in retirement, despite some major health issues. In 2007, I completed a Master in Theology program, did the 4-year "EFM" (Education for Ministry) program (Anglican Church) and continued on to do seminary studies and was ordained a Non-Denominational Christian and Interfaith Minister in 2013. I am licensed to perform marriages in Ontario and Quebec. I am specializing in Spiritual Care within the Palliative Chaplaincy arena. I do not have an active church community although, in my personal worship live I consider myself an Anglican.
Over the past 13 years, I have had s...Expand for more
ome serious medical issues, that now seem under control. I am a diabetic and some of the complications from that are rather severe. In 2002, I had a heart attack (which led to my retirement), have bypass coronary surgery in 2003. Suffering from peripheral neuropathy, I lost my left leg in 2006 and then my right leg in 2014. I am adapting well to two prosthetic legs. I have had two more heart attacks -- in 2014 and 2015. Although minor, they did require angioplasty. However, despite all of this, I continue to be grateful for the life I have had, and the life I continue to have. Surrounded by family and friends has helped immensely. As I keep saying, "I have things to do, places to go, and people still to annoy!" LOL!
My partner, Bryan, and I have just celebrated our 39th anniversary and were legally married in 2006 when legislation permitted same-gender marriage. He was a Canadian and United Nations diplomat. We have traveled extensively and, because of his postings, saw places that most people would not visit -- Yemen, Sudan. I have been to India twice, much of Europe. We have spent most of the winter of the past eight years in Palm Springs, California, where we have a condo. We have moved to a Retirement Residence in the past year (Bryan is 78 and I am 68) much in preparation for the years ahead and due to my physical limitations. The Rockcliffe Retirement Residence is like living in a 5-star hotel! We love it.
So, this is my story. Not bad for a poor little 'fat' kid from Rouyn-Noranda! Would love to hear from the alumni -- both the "kids" I went to school with and the students I taught at NHS for two years.
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