Westside Alumni Newsletter

• The Future Has Arrived!
• 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame Recognition Dinner
• 2024 Tailgate & Beam Signing
• The Westside Alumni Golf Tournament Hits the Greens at Oak Hills
  
• The Last Lap: A Fond Farewell to Westside High School's Warrior Pool
• Class of 1999 Reunion Recap...Cheers to 25 Years!
• What's Up Warriors?
• and more!

In the late 1970’s, the idea for an alumni association representing our graduates was formulated with the goal to help classes maintain a connection. Over the next few years this idea transformed into creating an Alumni Board composed of volunteers from various graduating classes. As years go by, keeping in touch with friends can be difficult. As an answer to this concern the Alumni Association was formed. The WAA can be used as a reference to help alumni stay in touch and organize gatherings & reunions.

Through cooperation with the Westside Foundation and our annual Alumni Golf Tournament (The Westside Open), the WAA has been able to start the Westside Alumni Hall of Fame to recognize outstanding alumni, give back to the schools, and provide students scholarships. None of this would be possible without the generous donation of time and effort of a number of individuals. Overwhelming thanks go to Warren Whitted, Jr. ’67, Rick Berkshire ’72, Phyllis (Donaldson) Choat ’65, Karen Lewis ‘72, John Hoich ’76, Mike Guinane ’74, Marc Lowe ’76, Mark Dudley ’73, Tom Thompson ’83, Jason Hellman ’90, Curt Huston ’81, and Rob Laughlin ’75 for their combined service of nearly 200 years.

We find ourselves looking to the future and the future has arrived!! We are looking for individuals to join our board, keep the tradition alive and guarantee the future success of the WAA. If you are interested in making a difference, give our office a call and attend one of our meetings. Go Warriors!

Alumni Office Phone Number: 402-390-2183.

Article by Curt Huston

We are excited to host the 2024 Recognition Dinner, which will be held on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at the Happy Hollow Club in Omaha.

This special event will honor several distinguished alumni, including Don Eckles (Class of 1973), Dr. Steven Gundry (Class of 1968), Ashley Kuhn (Class of 2001), and Todd Simon (Class of 1982), who will be inducted into the Westside Alumni Hall of Fame. Additionally, the late Douglas Krenzer, J.D. (Class of 1989), will be posthumously recognized as the recipient of the District Lighthouse Leader Award.

The ‘Last Lap’ at Westside High School’s pool was a heartfelt celebration, marking the end of an era for the beloved Warrior Pool. Alumni swimmers and divers gathered for one final swim, creating a nostalgic atmosphere filled with laughter and cherished memories.

More than 200 former athletes made the journey back to Omaha, with participants spanning decades—from dedicated competitors of the 70s to current Westside student-athletes. The event showcased not only the Warrior spirit but also the pride in their shared history. Many attendees brought their State Towels, a symbol of their achievements, further enriching the experience as stories of triumph and camaraderie were exchanged.

The Warrior Pool is now demolished to make way for a modern, upgraded facility. The ‘Last Lap’ served as a poignant reminder of the countless memories created in its waters. From early morning practices to exhilarating meets, the pool has been a cornerstone of Westside’s athletic community.

This bittersweet farewell allowed alumni to reflect on their time at Westside, reinforcing the bonds that have lasted well beyond their high school years. As the school looks forward to enhancing its facilities for future generations, the legacy of the Warrior Pool will undoubtedly live on in the hearts of those who swam its lanes.

The ‘Last Lap’ was not just a swim; it was a celebration of history, achievement, and the enduring spirit of the Westside Swim & Dive team.

** Tim Maides ('06) has opened a fantastic new restaurant in the Millwork Commons area, just north of Charles Schwab field. It's Dolomit Pizzeria and Enoteca. Here is a link to the restaurant's website, https://www.pizzadolomiti.com/

** Steve Dolby ('63) has published a book on his memoirs called BOOMER. A classmate of Steve’s wrote “I have read it twice and found it immensely entertaining. I think many of our classmates and graduates of Westside High School would also find it interesting.” The book is available on Amazon.

** Debbie Pettid ('81) and her husband, Pete Cowdin (Prep) have opened a new business in Kansas City, MO. It’s called The Rabbit hOle and is an immersive museum dedicated to children’s literature. It has been featured on the NBC Nightly News, The Today Show and in the New York Times to name a few.

** William E. "Bill" Conley (80’), has announced his September retirement as CFO at Sarpy County. Bill's 40 year career included accounting, finance and executive positions at Deloitte, Omaha World-Herald Company, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Northstar Foundation and Sarpy County. Community service has always been a passion for Bill, and he plans to continue serving on several area non-profit boards.

** Ned Criscimagna (60') lives in Milton, DE with his wife Sandy and their dog Francesca. After a 20-year career in the USAF, Ned worked full time in the defense industry and then had his own engineering consulting LLC. He continues to work part-time as a Chief Systems Engineer for SAIC. Ned sings in his church choir, is n N-scale train hobbyist, and an avid Big Red fan. Ned and his wife love to travel and recently spent two weeks touring Italy and Sicily. They have two grown children, three grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Sandy and he will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary next June.

Don't be shy, tell us what you've been up to lately and we'll put it in the next newsletter!

o October 23rd – Homecoming Parade

o October 24th - Homecoming football game against Papillon-La Vista High School at Westside

o June 9th, 2025 – 2025 Westside Open – save the dates will be sent out in January 2025

Westside COMMUNITY Schools is a special place and it is that "community" piece that is so important. As someone who has worked in six different school districts in two different states, I often get asked what makes Westside different. It's the people, the community, the support, the tradition, and the pride that we all take in that beautiful and bold Westside "W." We are working hard to make our alumni proud. Our students realize that all of us involved with Westside have a tremendous responsibility to live up to the high standards that those who came before us have set. Our students are well aware of the positive impact that Westside alumni make all across the globe in a variety of settings. Our current strategic plan is helping guide us as we move forward with the founding pillars of our school district in mind; innovation, excellence, and community. There's no better place to be than Westside!

Dr. Mike Lucas, Superintendent