MARY D. BRADFORD High School Kenosha Wisconsin

I was really busy working at Abbott and not alot of time to date. So, I joined a dating service(long before eHarmony.com!) and Randy was my first date. Obviously, the first is the best!

Children? Offspring?

Adopted Christopher, born in 1988, from Romania in 1991 right after the fall of the communist government. He is now 21.
Adopted Joseph, born 1995, from Romania in 1998. He is now a lively 15.

Grandchildren?
(they say that you're supposed to have them first!)

Wont live that long!

Any "four-legged" children? (i.e. pets)?

9 cats: Felix, Shirley, Wally, Splish, Lion, Achilles, Zorro, Bernardo and Sammy. Would this be considered hoarding? ;-)

When is your birthday?

August 16, 1957

Occupation or Profession?

After high school I went to Gateway Tech for 2 1/2 years for a double major in Accounting and Data Processing. I was lucky enough to be hired in 1978 at Abbott as a programmer. Went back at night to get my bachelors degree in Accounting from Carthage College. Just retired in 2008 from Abbott after 30 years in the Information Technology department.

Occupation:Same as above, or maybe different...!?!

Retired!

What was/ or is your favorite "job"?

I just love to development and implement application software. Guess that's why I managed to work 30 years at Abbott.

Any Hobbies?

My family and I run the children's games at St. Peters Festival every summer. I buy prizes all year as the wholesale sites put them on sale and then in July or so, we bring them out and organize them by booth for the festival. Lots of work, but lots of fun.
Still working for Abbott as a contract resource in my spare time.
I love to garden.
I also do some volunteer work thru the church.

What is left on your "bucket list" of things you want to do in Life?

Travel to Europe.....other than to Romania, which doesn't really count!

What's your favorite way to enjoy the passing of Time?

Being with my husband and family.

What have you been doing the past 35 years?

Married Randy in 1987, built a house on the north side, went to Romania twice to adopt my children, worked at Abbott for 30 years.....now mostly just putzing around the house.

Comments(about anything and/or everything...):

I am so blessed! I couldn't imagine life turning out this good.

Special School Memories(As best as you can remember...open to your interpretation!):

Wow...lots of memories.
I remember one day when Mike Gorman climbed out of the second story window one day in English class, trying to make some point. Not exactly sure anymore what the point was.....but sure remember the event!

Any do-over moments from school? Good or not so good?

Cant think of any.

Any favorite teachers? Any least favorite teachers?

Favorites: Mr. Merrill - History, Mr. Spring - English, Ms. Ferrell - Business. Mrs. Gober - Stenography.

Least Favorites: Mr. Story - English(what a jerk)

Who has been the most influential person in your life and why?

My father. He was a very intelligent, but modest and hard working man. He taught me what was really important in life.

What did you want to be when you were "growing up"?

I was planning to be the best secretary I could be! So glad that didn't work out!

What would you consider your greatest accomplishment so far?

Adopting my boys from Romania.

Finish this sentence...The best decision I ever made was...

The best decision I ever made was to go to Gateway for data processing and Accounting, rather than just Accounting. The data processing landed me my job at Abbott.

Are you having Fun, yet?

I've been lucky enough to have had fun my entire life. If it isn't fun, I stop doing it!

Is there anyone in particular that you are trying to find? Maybe someone knows where they are!?

Would love to find Jacqueline Kuta.

Classmate Comments:

Note: Classmate comments can be viewed by all Classmates. If you wish to send Mary Gastaldi (Kessenich) a private message, please use the private message box above.

Start your own class reunion website.