When Geraldo Rivera was here for Homecoming 2016, he and his family met with our Project FOCUS students and their parents and peer mentors. Rivera had a delightful rapport with the students and was clearly touched. Later, Rivera told some of his old UA friends (a group called the Old Stormy's) about his experience with Project FOCUS and encouraged everyone in the group to donate. The group raised a whopping $18,000 for Project FOCUS.

 

Here is a story, collaboratively written by Old Stormy members Sandy McGee, Lynn Pearlstein, and Larry Mott, about how the Old Stormy's began. 

 

In 1962, two guys, one from Phoenix and one from Peoria, Illinois, met and became roommates at the University of Arizona. Dedicated to good times, they met a Phi Delt, Robert "Stormy" Douglas, from Chicago who shared their enthusiasm. Soon, other friends became part of a loose group that hung out together. Little by little, the group grew to include guys from fraternities like Phi Delt, SAE, Kappa Sig, ZBT (including uber movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer), and Tau Delt (then home of the legendary journalist Geraldo Rivera), as well as many who were not affiliated.

 

Some members of this group were conservative, some not so much, some studious, others less so, but they all shared a deep and warm friendship and love of good times, parties, and the making of memories. The parties became so famous (or infamous) that they were held in empty airport hangers on occasion.

 

One student derisively called them the Jet Set. The name stuck and has defined the group ever since. So close-knit is the Jet Set that they reunite every few years at the UA to laugh, reminisce, eat at the same restaurants they frequented in college, go to Wildcat football games, and reinvigorate their already close friendship.

 

Among the most loved friends, and a magnet that drew many together, was Robert "Stormy" Douglas whose life was cut short due to health problems five years ago.

 

At the last reunion in October, Geraldo suggested creating The Old Stormy's in honor of our friend as a philanthropic endeavor to give back to the UA through Project FOCUS. The Old Stormy's provide financial aid to special-needs students attending the UA to ensure their scholastic success and ongoing independence after graduation. We invite all alumni to BEAR DOWN! And support this worthy cause by donating to Project FOCUS.

On behalf of Project FOCUS, we give special thanks to the members of Old Stormy, listed below.

Nicky Albano Larry Allessio Steve Allessio Don Allison Robert Berk Peter Boice Jerry Bruckheimer David Carr Richard Carter                   Janet Connors Mike Davis Robert "Stormy" Douglas* Richard Feldheim Robert Gordon Bob Grinpas

John Heuvelman Michael Jennings Terry Kalish                         Sandy McGee Larry Mott Lynn Pearlstein                 Geraldo Rivera Alven Robinson Allan Rothbardt                Rollie Sanders Pete Sanderson William E. White* * deceased

Attending the reunion in October were (roughly from left to right): Terry Kalish, Lynn Pearlstein, Erica Rivera, Mike Davis, Sol Rivera, Geraldo Rivera, Mike Jennings, Richard Feldheim, Pete Sanderson, Nick Albano, John Heuvelman, Don Allison, Larry Mott, Rose Heuvelman, David Carr, Sandy McGee, and Bob Gordon

Members of the Alumni Council

Thank you to everyone who participated in Homecoming 2016 and attended our events! Your Alumni Council has begun another semester of working to support the goals of our College of Education. We continue to have office hours three days a week in the college's Student Services Center to lend a hand to students who need an ear, a smile, or a hug to meet the demands of higher education.

I want to thank Dean Marx for his faith in the Alumni Council. He is an advocate for his students, faculty, and staff to take risks to make the education system stronger and more available to the world community and will be missed. You can thank Dean Marx for his 14 years of service by donating to the Ronald W. Marx Community Engagement and Outreach Endowment. Please follow this link to donate.

Save the date! Homecoming 2017 is October 27-28. The Cats will play the Washington State Cougars. Continue to check our Homecoming 2017 page for updates.

Please contact us if you have ideas on how to serve our alumni. You always can contact me directly at [email protected] or 520-621-1375. Please reach out and help our organization continue to grow and get better.