After graduation, I went into the Army and stationed in Worms, Germany for two years.

I've been married for 32 yrs and have six children and six grandchildren.

I started Carstensen and Sons Trucking, Inc. in 1981.

I coached hockey for District 200 for 27 years. the highlight of my coaching years was the State Championship-Junior A. In 2007 I received the Huberty Award for "Outstanding Coach of the Year".

My wife, Gail and I enjoy our cabin on Rush Lake near Cambridge, MN.

Can’t remember the summer after our graduation from Central. Probably sold shoes at the Emporium every day and hung out at Martin’s Drive -In every night. Went to the U. of M. like so many of you. Graduated and joined an army reserve unit. Did my six months at Fort  Bliss, Texas and Fort Knox, Kentucky. My reserve unit was never called up…. at least not while I was in it.

 When I returned from active duty I tried my hand at a couple of businesses with a couple of Central High friends. Had a lot of fun but made little money. At the same time I had started buying up distressed real estate mostly around the U. of M. This worked out much better and it turned out to be a way to make a living. As soon as I had cleaned up these properties, had them rented, and found someone to keep an eye on them I bought a little sports car and drove it to California. Lived in a cottage just north of San Francisco overlooking the ocean for the better part of 1969 and half of 1970. Got bored. Came back to St. Paul and started a real estate company with my Dad. Progress Realty was born. Mostly brokered income property, some houses, businesses, and built homes in Inver Grove Heights, Maplewood and North St. Paul.

 Got married at 29. Marriage didn’t last as long as it took to get divorced. Am not attributing any fault. It was just a mistake. Met jonci, my wife for life, a few years later. She was a buyer at Dayton’s at the time. We married in 1977. In 1979 our son, Aaron, was born and I opened our first store, Josefs, a shoe store at St. Anthony Main. (I was supposed to be only an investor in that store but ended up having to operate it to protect my investment) A year later Jonci left Dayton’s and joined me in what was to become our new retail venture. We opened way too many stores (Josefs and Jonci Petites) but we were enjoying the action and enjoying our lives. 

 Our daughter Alex was born in 1987. She recently completed an M.S. in Industrial/Organizational psychology. She’s working in the "Leadership, Learning and Development" division of a NY company. My son, Aaron, is in the commercial real estate business and my daughter-in-law is an attorney. They have my one grandchild, lovely little Anna. They work and live in Manhattan. Son with family and daughter live four blocks from one another in the City. Jonci and I live in Westchester County, forty minutes from the City.

 We started selling and closing stores in the early and mid 90’s. An opportunity presented itself and we both took executive positions with U.S. Shoe Corporation. We left the Twin Cities in 1994 and moved to Cincinnati. Still had stores when we left and continued to operate them until 1998. Hated Cincinnati (hope I’m not offending anyone) but luckily Nine West bought U.S. Shoe and we landed in New York within a year of our departure from Mpls. So here we are.

I really was not enjoying corporate life. At the age of 52 I went back to school and studied to become a psychotherapist. Joined what became the second largest "not for profit" mental health/substance abuse treatment agency in the state of New York. We were operating eighteen facilities when I left. Did clinical work for about five years but found myself always pushing to increase revenue. I guess due to the business background. This was noticed. Ended up being the Assistant Agency Director. Continued to do some clinical work while staying another four years in this administrative position. A couple of years ago I decided it was time to slow down and go into private practice. Am still practicing part time. Jonci still works. She’s an executive at Eileen Fisher, Inc. Travels often to interesting places. I travel with her as often as I can. Life is good. Never perfect, but perfect enough.

Am looking forward to seeing everyone at our reunion.

After HS took a summer job with Northern Pacific RR. Was drafted into the Army on my 21st birthday.  Proudly spent 2 years serving my country.
My summer job turned into a 40 yr career in Corporate Payroll for Burlington Northern Railway.

In Jan 2000, I purchased Carbone's Pizzeria in Stillwater MN.  A few years later we expanded & added a PUB.  Two of my sons run the day-to-day operation & I handle the bookwork. 

Like all MN natives we winter in Phoenix or Ft Meyers and yes we have a lake home, near Aitkin MN. 

Life has been very good for me & my family.  Hope the same for all my classmates.

If you are ever in Stillwater, stop into Carbone's PUB & I'll buy you a beer.

See you at the reunion.