109, 110.CLASSMATES ON THIS PAGE ARE: Paul Ripka and Pat Rizzuto
109. RIPKA, Paul
1961 ................ 2011
Paul is now RETIRED and living in Whiting/Manchester, NJ (Ocean County)
PHOTOS:
Left photo taken in 1995
2010 On a Caribbean Cruise with friends.....
September 2012 -- Semi-retired and moved BACK to New Jersey (see new contact info below)
PROFILE: After graduation I enter into my career hopes at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, and then Madison, NJ, as a PreMed/Dent student.
When my father died in 1963, I had to do part-time studies and switched to Rutgers University in Piscataway/New Brunswick, NJ and worked in Morristown as an analytical chemistry technician. I continued in the lab, involved in more advanced areas of analytical chemistry and focused on chromatography and other instrumental techniques.
Using my chromatographic and methods development background, I entered into the sales and technical support of gas and liquid chromatographic systems for companies like Waters and Varian. Started my own chromatography consulting firm doing training and methods troubleshooting.
I moved from NJ to Massachusetts in 2006 to promote myself into sales management and into the world of biotechnology.
I was married twice, divorced twice; had two sons during my first marriage resulting in two granddaughters (PA) and one grandson (NH).
For activities I have been involved in learning ballroom dance and golf. I have been involved in traveling with my former jobs, and - now - do mainly cruises as vacations. September 2012 UPDATE: I've had some changes in his life: went into "semi-retirement" on July 1, 2012; but the second half of the year is busiest, so, am working harder than before.......and loving it !! I may fully retire in Jan 2013. Moved back home to New Jersey, Whiting/Manchester – Ocean County (8 Valley Court, 08759) and can now schedule my days to include golf and ballroom dance refresher lessons; PLUS: the Jersey shore is just a short way southeast.
AND: JANUARY 2014: I am now fully RETIRED (missed the Jan 2013 goal by only 12 months......!!)
Current contact information: phone # 732-350-0385 E-mail: pripka8@gmail.com
Pat and his wife, Barb (Chilson), now live in Glenwood, New Jersey
PHOTOS:
1985 Hunting in Spain
2000 -- Water skiing in/on Lake Champlain in Vermont
2008 With one of his fantastic radio-controlled model airplanes
2009 Labor-Day fishing success on Lake Champlain, Vermont
2009 At Jack's baptism in March
2009 With Barbara at Pat's graduation in May from Johns Hopkins
2011 Patrick Senior -- looking good !
PROFILE:
Barb and I are still living in Vernon, New Jersey. We have 3 children and 8 grandchildren. We enjoy traveling to our summer home in Vermont on Lake Champlain where we spend part of our summers. Unfortunately I am still working, I think it is by choice not necessity but the answer to that question often depends on the mood of the day. Barb is active with her grandchildren and is currently planning the wedding of our youngest daughter Dianne to a great guy, Jim Chletsos.
I continue to represent a major footwear importer to large retailers and I am currently serving on the Vernon Town council. Apparently I could not stay out of politics after serving 15 years on our local Board of Education. I keep active representing a footwear company, traveling out to Chicago and spending some time each week in New York. In my free time I build and fly radio controlled aircraft, play a little golf, fish a lot and spend time with my grandchildren.
Our children are all grown: Pat Jr. retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Colonel and is living in Annandale, VA with his wife and five children; he's now a management consultant for Booze Allan Hamilton. Lauren is married, teaches kindergarten, and has four children with her husband Jim; they live in Madison, NJ. Dianne, our youngest, is also a teacher in the Vernon school system and is engaged to be married in 2012.
I look forward to seeing you at our 50-year class reunion.