Salve Frater Ray,
 
I was a member of the Venard class of '63. I went on to G.E. after graduation, but left after the first semester of our Junior year (Dec '66).

A lot has happened in my life since then (Notre Dame, US Army, marriage (in Korea, officiated by Fr. Jack Dowd, M.M.. . . we've just celebrated 44 years), grad from Univ. of Washington, 2 sons, graduate work at Johns Hopkins, a move to Tallahassee Fl to be closer to my parents, and recent retirement after 15+ years as a patient and family counselor with hospice.

In all that time, consciously or unconsciously, Maryknoll has been an important part of who I am. I've kept on-and-off contact with some of my classmates - mostly Christmas cards and letters, but rarely anything more. This year our class celebrated our 50th reunion at the Knoll. I know Ron Stewart and others have been keeping you up-to-date. I have to admit that I was hesitant to go. Among other things I wasn't sure how we "drop-outs" would be received. However, even though this was my first visit there, I felt right at home the minute I entered the front gate. The priests residing there welcomed us as members of the family. They all helped me realize that Maryknoll had prepared me for the best parts of my life, even if that was not expressed in the priesthood. It was a beautifully invigorating, and humbling, experience.

There is more, but for now I'd like to thank you for your efforts in keeping the memories alive and to let you know that I've made a small step in that direction as well. I went digging and found a box of old slides, some of them from the Venard. I used Ektachrome in those days and the decades haven't been kind to the film. Emulsion faded and changed; even mold grew on some of them. I have scanned many of them and have made the best effort at restoration I could as an amateur.
I have placed the results, along with some pictures from G.E. and some of the recent reunion on a shared site at:
 
            maryknollmemories.shutterfly.com
 
            password = venard63
 
Please take a look. I've also put copies of the Catalog and Student Manual on the site. If you want copies of any of these, please let me know.
 
There is one shot I didn't post on the public site.  I have attached copies of the unretouched scan and of a partial restoration. I'm sure there's some way I could finagle some blackmail payments not to release those to the world at large.
 
           
Again, thank you.
 
Jay (Julian) Sollohub              

;^{)>    -- that's a wink, a smile, and a goatee which I now sport as you will see in the reunion pics