Helena (Leni) Weisl:
CLASS OF 1981
Oscoda High SchoolClass of 1981
Oscoda, MI
Western Michigan University - Graduate SchoolClass of 1994
Kalamazoo, MI
Hope CollegeClass of 1989
Holland, MI
Richardson Junior High SchoolClass of 1977
Oscoda, MI
Cedar Lake Elementary SchoolClass of 1975
Oscoda, MI
Helena (Leni)'s Story
Life in 2021 I HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE 2021 REUNION AUGUST 5TH -8TH!!
Wow! what do you say after all this time? I try to come up to Oscoda more and more to spend part of the summer there. There's nothing like coming home again. Although my family is gone-it's home to me! People tell me how lucky I am to have grown up in a small town and have lifelong friends!
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My memories of Oscoda are; riding around town with my wonderful best friends, Cathy Samotis,Jenny Olmsted, Robin Shepherd, Lisa Starrett, Lori Abney, Maureen O'Malley,, Eugene Hobart, Scott Redmond, John Ogden,and the rest of the gang. I want to also give shout out to Leslie Ford, Audrey Brummond and Greg Hunt. I keep in touch with my very first boyfriend, Charles Dye and my wonderful friend Daniel Howe..
It was a blast to hang out the A & W or try sneaking into the Nordic or the AuSable Inn. Canoeing down the river. Parties at the High banks. I miss boating at Lakewood Shores and hanging out at the pool with my girlfriends. Forced to be the Statue of Liberty in the Fourth of July parades when no-one else would do it, when my mother was Director of the Chamber.
I remember my dad barbecuing chicken with the rest of the Kiwanis Club on the Township Hall lawn. Then we'd get a Dairy Queen and walk down to the Oscoda Beach to see the fireworks. Life was a lot simpler then, wasn't it? Remember Tony Deckers and the "mess" burger?
Some of my other memories are; watching the sunset with my dad in Footsite, while we ate the last bit of our ice cream sandwiches. "Joy Road", Hanging out at Three Mile Park, and smoking cigarettes "Out Back."
I loved Drama Club, Band, and Debate. I remember feeling really awkward in The Miss Iosco Pageant, and in general. Oscoda has changed so much and in others ways it hasn't! It's amazing to me how certain traditions continue to be passed on from generation to generation.
My father, who owned S&W Ford died when I was 22 (1985 ). My mother lived in Oscoda until 2006 and she just moved to Florida. She is 86 and is still going strong! and I visit her frequently. She is and will always be one...Expand for more
of my heroes, and one of my best friends.
I acted professionally in NYC, LA, Chicago and Florida and have BA's in theater and psychology from Hope College.I traveled frequently and lived in Vienna and Prague while at Hope College, and hope to go back someday.
Hope was a magical experience and I made some very great friends there, who I still keep in touch with.
I will always remember "The Pull and Theatre forum, and " I hate cops." I will always remember my friends B. Weller, Andy Henry, and my college sweetie Stephen. George Ralph was my favorite prof, and I grieved when he died. George and Hope helped to shape my values and beliefs.
I received my Masters in Counseling Psychology in 1994. I practiced as a psychologist in Grand Rapids, MI for 15 years.I took a sabbatical from life in 1999 and traveled through Texas and Mexico, working on a shrimp boat, a bartender at a strip bar on South Padre Island and lived in a tent on the beach with a lab named "Buddy."
I graduated with another Masters in Social Work in 2007. I worked in Arizona for awhile. Then I lived in Detroit, working as a therapist taking a vow of poverty to help the needy. I couldn't see making a ton of money when thousands didn't even have a roof over their head.
So much has happened over the years, my friends say I ought to write a book. I've had papers published here and there. I still sing jazz and blues, and even act once in awhile.
I was bit by the travel bug for a long time and went to Mexico for awhile and spent 3 months in Kathmandu and then I finally settled down in Southern Maryland. and work part time in my private practice.
I am strong believer in giving back to your community and I try to bestow that wherever life may take me.
If you read this, drop me a line! Seriously! I'd love to hear your stories......
Best Wishes to all my classmates! May my good friend, Lisa Starrett rest in peace, she was my rock.
2021 August 5-8th Classes 1980, 81, and 82 and anyone else who wants to crash!!!! We'll have blast!
It's a wonderful life! I am blessed! The best is yet to come!
Leni Weisl, '81
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