The Schloss-Blog is suspending political commentary this week to focus on graduation - it is that season, after all - and remembrances of favorite graduates and graduations gone by.
I'd be remiss if I didn't start with my daughter, Erin, and the terrific social worker she's become with her degree from Northern Michigan and MSW from Aurora University.
Will never forget her graduation at Northern Michigan in their largest wood-domed stadium in North America, I believe. First weekend in May. Marquette, Michigan, in the Upper Peninsula. Snowing on the way there. Snow on the nearby peak tops, visible from the rooftop restaurant we dined at in celebration.
And running into former Hoffman Estates head basketball coach Bill Wandro at the hotel, there to pick up his daughter, who was still an undergrad. After all those years interviewing him in post-game locker rooms, that was the only time I ran into him otherwise. Brilliant strategist, especially defensively.
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Long, long list of Columbia College favorites, after 23 years teaching there before retiring.
Jessica Beverly, a rancher now in McHenry County after a long career as an attorney for the Social Security Administration. She became a daughter to me rather than a former student and has been as successful a mom and wife as she was an attorney and the journalist she would've been. Love her, her fam.
Her dear friend Jenni Golz, who has been as successful on the "dark side," as journalists like to call it, as she was a scoop-breaking reporter before that. Beautiful fam, Jenni, beautiful. Broke one of the biggest stories ever in Chicago journalism regarding the Stebic disappearance.
Ally Brigid, who I just love. Period. Because I do.
Hollie Deese, a successful publisher and editor in Nashville. Proud of you, girl, and your handsome fam. And your "neighbor" Maddy Hoerr, a super-successful editor at the Tennessean.
Have to give a shout-out to Katherine Raz, who came to Columbia an intellectual wildcard and left to become a businesswoman extraordinaire, with her own flower/plant stores in Tacoma, a handsome fam and a very intricate, very entertaining blog about her adventures as a "small" businesswoman.
Catherine Wolf, a radio reporter award-winner who returned to Chicago to become one of the most-impactful, effective editors at Crain before leaving for her current job and the compensation she deserves. Among all the grads, my favorite rocker.
Emily Capdevielle, who proved her trade magazine instructor wrong by moving on and becoming an ultra-successful trade editor. Her Trade Magazine instructor wrote her a note on an assignment she turned in, recommending that she should take another track, literally. Give this up - you'll never succeed, she was told. Who's laughing now? Ten years later, trade editor Emily makes more money than the instructor who wrote that note to her.
Rod Burks, Graham Couch and Adam Jahns, who have gone on to stardom as sports reporters, re-establishing my faith in all those hours I put in developing that Sports Reporting program. All three break some of the biggest stories, regularly.
Joe Trost, who turned sports reporting into public service and into his dedication to developing youth talent and finding ways to charitably support it. Kudos, Joe, kudos.
Lauren Nisavic, who paid her dues in the industry, working freelance and working everywhere from Indianapolis, back to Chicago to Jacksonville, Florida, and has become a reporting and communications legend in the world of professional golf.
Dave Rawske, who I watched play record-setting football at Fremd High School and now has become my spirit guide, giving lessons on overcoming adversity. Can't wait to see you, Dave.
Dr. Cresencia "Cycy" Felter, who selected me to make a video about as part of an assignment for another class, and then left journalism to become a successful, naturopathic specialist doctor and has graciously helped me out in that regard. Respect, Dr. Felty, respect.
So many more who are going to be disappointed that I did not mention them by name, but I take as much pride in knowing that I touched their lives as I have disappointment that I wasn't able to mention all of their names.
And I haven't even touched on all the high school grads I had the honor of writing about over a 40-plus year career covering their exploits.
One of them, Greg Bazany of Buffalo Grove, passed two weeks ago. He once hit a home run off me in a softball game that has not come down yet. He was a tough-as-nails athlete blessed with a gentle soul. R.I.P. Greg, R.I.P
More to come...
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Real quick:
- Lou Malnati's is open in The Valley. Yes!!!! Real pizza is here.
- Fred Savage has been relieved of his duties on the Netflix show he was producing. Fred, welcome to the world of Michael Weatherly, Freddy Rodriguez and Chris Noth.
- There's a TV show, "BullSh*t," on Netflix, that has a striking resemblance to the "Bullshit" card game I played with my friends, growing up in Brooklyn. Me and my boyhood friends Keith and Gary, should ask for royalties.
- If you had a choice between seeing Rod Stewart, with Cheap Trick opening for him, or Chicago, with Brian Wilson & his Beach Boys friends opening for them, which one would you go to, if they were on the same night? I'm debating that as you read this.
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