October 2008:
Donna and I visited Jay on our way home from Memphis last August. He was still living in the place he charitably called "the cottage", but construction on his new house was almost complete. He and Deb gave us quite a tour of their new neighborhood, a place that makes Brookville roads seem wide, straight, and level.
Pardon a hazy recollection, but I recall him saying that there were seventy homesites located on a private hill- country reserve of several hundred acres. Each homesite has two acres, and the balance of the property is held in trust by the homeowners' association.
Jay and I in front of his new house.
A picture taken from Jay and Deb's back porch. As I said, this is hill country.
Our travel plans returning from Memphis are always loose, and we surprised them with our call in mid- morning, proposing a mid- afternoon visit. He had to move his schedule around, but we had a great time, and finished up at a local pizza place. They were quite amused that Donna likes to gather "souvenir rocks" (she is easy to please!) and promised that if we give them a bit more notice next year,that they will take us prospecting. Jay tells that North Carolina, before the west was opened, was the source for most of the country's gold.
Better than gold though, is a few hours spent with a friend from so long ago!December 2007
Jay writes with a greeting and an idea...Bob:
As you know, but perhaps not others, I have finally retired from Chrysler after 30 years in the automotive industry, and we have relocated to the relative warmth of Hendersonville, North Carolina. So...what was the temperature outside when I read your e-mail? Sixteen degrees F. We're renting a converted summer cottage while our house is being built, so you can imagine it's insulation and weather proofing. It is the cold nights like these that I am glad the dogs sleep on my side of the bed.
Building the house is a story all by itself upon which I do not wish to reflect. Suffice to say I would never do it again. Builders are right there with insurance and car salespersons, and politicians.
Retirement is requiring some adjustment, but I'll get through it. My days are spent watching over the builders and walking the dogs. One positive result is my blood pressure is down to 125 over 70 from nearly 200.
This summer I have every intention of getting up to Watkins Glen for the vintage races in September so reserve my spot in the driveway. I can ride my bike to the racetrack. It might be fun if we could turn that event into a mini-reunion. Eric Koster, Dave Laemmle, Brandt and a few others might enjoy the vintage races, especially at that time of year in the Finger Lakes.
If you will present the idea in the newsletter and if we get some positive response, I'll coordinate it. Getting rooms at such a late date might be difficult, but perhaps you would permit your former classmates to use your front yard as a camp ground? After a day of watching races, sitting around the cook fire telling tales, drinking beer and wine and smoking cigars sounds like fun. Let's see what the response is.
Remember...don't just complain about politicians, vote them out of office. See you this summer.
Jay
I like Jay's idea. Rooms should be no problem this year, and there is plenty of room here for hardy souls. The vintage weekend is a great production, and might be the least- commercialized motorsports event of the year... Bob
February 2007
Jay remains alive and well in Michigan. I speak with him from time to time, and his big news is that he has finally retired from Chrysler. For years he hoped that one of the company's early retirement buy- outs would reach down to him, but in the end he had to do it the old- fashioned way, by getting old.
This is a picture of him at the reunion, with Fred Smith and Mike Bruce.
Subj: Re: Meeting House
Date: 12/29/2004 12:06:59 PM
From: jbt@daimlerchrysler.com
To: RTilden@aol.com
Robert:
Thanks for the note. I have no really exciting news to pass onto the others of the Class of '65.
Cody, the oldest daughter, was married in a beautiful September ceremony here in Michigan. She is working in the auto industry against my counciling. Why don't kids listen to adults?
I have just started my 29th year in the auto industry, and I'm so old I cannot remember if I am 58, or 59, and I am too lazy to do the math.
I would like to volunteer to coordinate a pre-reunuion reunion at some ski area in the East. I would love to go back to Mad River Glen, Glen Ellen or some other small area for a weekend of skiing with old friends. Please extend this offer. If I get our classmates interested enough to respond, I will take on the task. They can contact me at jbt@dcx.com. Our firewall blocks out some internet providers that carry extensive spam. I can always be reached by phone, (248) 851-2817.
Jay.
A picture of Jay which surfaced among some yearbook draft photos in 2005
Subj: Re: class news
Date: 2/2/2004 9:30:31 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: jbt@daimlerchrysler.com
To: RTilden@AOL.COM
Bob:
For the Tuckers, 2003 closed without much happening, but 2004 will be quite a year.
In early 2003, I lived a lifelong dream and participated in "Car and Driver's" One Lap of America, an eight day, 24/7 tour of the Central and Eastern United States. Throughout the tour, there were special speed/time stages at racetracks in New York, Indianna, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Total automotive immersion.
Our oldest daughter, Cody, got engaged this past Fall and plans to be married in September 2004. I am now identifying with Steve Martin in "Father of the Bride". Also, in June, Alyssa graduates from Oregon State University. She has not decided if she will enter the job market, or take a few more specialized classes to make her more "employable".
Back to me, I am in my 28th year at Chrysler and was sort of expecting an early retirement package this year, but the window for that opportunity is closing very quickly. The time cannot come soon enough when we can leave Michigan and settle in North Carolina.
My car collection continues to grow. I now have two ( a 1966 and 1967) old sports cars, and will begin looking for an old 1949-50 woody station or mid-60s muscle car, as soon as I recover from the wedding. If any of you remember the old Dodge woody I had in school, it is still around Long Island, but not for sale.
It has been awhile since I have heard from anyone, so I am sure you, Bob, are more up to date on the happenings of others.
Hope to see you this summer in Watkins Glen.
Jay
Jay's trip:
I talked with Jay last winter about his motor trip. The ne lap of America is sort of a legitimized "cannonball run" and it is hard on the equipment and the crews too. Jay is involved with the parts remanufacturing end of MOPAR, and he suggested to his bos that they enter a car (it was an old Chryslae minivan) that was made up of as many MOPAR remans as possible, as an advertising strategy.
Jay and Deb passed through the Finger Lakes on his way back from Long Island, and stopped by for a quick visit. They had attended the wedding of his sister Robin's daughter, but of course had taken in all the sights and reminiscences of the old places and times. His mother still lives in " the same old place" and is well.
He is still hoping that Daimler will reach all the way down to our age group with early retirement incentives so that he can get on with retirement and a move to North Carolina.
It was good to see him again, but the time was so short. For every thing we talked about, there were a dozen things we didn't have a chance to mention. Jay, thanks for stopping!
I couldn't help posting this picture of Jay and I, back when we were just skin and bone, and we had to
comb our hair every morning. Isn't it great to be old?
Subj: Re: the end is near...
Date: 2/16/2003 9:42:45 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: jbt@daimlerchrysler.com
To: RTilden@aol.com
With all those former classmates sending in news, I cannot wait for the Meeting House to come out.
As for me, I am at a stage in my life that could best be described as a holding pattern (that's aviator jargon). My career at DaimlerChrysler has gone about as far as it will in the current situation, and the kids are grown and well on their way to building their own adult lives. Cody, the oldest daughter, is establishing herself here in Michigan and Alyssa has found a permanent home in Oregon. I am waiting to retire and move onto the next stage of my life.
We have bought some land in Dana, North Carolina, 45 minutes SE of Asheville. It is on the side of a small mountain looking west towards the Great Smokey Mountains. As soon as possible after retirement, we plan to leave Michigan and build a home there.
Old cars continue to be my primary recreational interest, and I am becoming a bit of an art collector. I have started with prints by Western artists such as James Bama and Carrie Snodgrass. Perhaps someday, I will find that original that I can afford.
Recently, I went on the Bromley Mountain web site to plan a long weekend of skiing in March (anyone interested?). I will try again in '04 to get a group of us together for skiing in Vermont.
That's about it from Michigan.
Jay
Fall, 2000:
Jay and I have kept in touch off and on for the last 15 years, at least. I'm not in a position to describe exactly what he does, but he is at the center of a lot of the decisions that are made about the overhaul of Chrysler parts and components. Perhaps it is only fitting that our Mr. MoPar ended up at Chrysler!
I'm sure Jay will write and tell us more?
We had quite a laugh at a homecoming many years ago. We each had discovered that the other was also there, and we were looking. I had detailed my wife to keep a lookout for a guy just a bit shorter and lighter than me... oodles of red hair would be the tip- off.
He found me first, which is good, because I would otherwise still be looking for the red hair. Check out the two brothers behind Steve and his daughter in this picture:
