On, Wisconsin — On, Friendship — On Bikes
This fall, seven lifelong friends, each proud Madisonians, celebrated our 60th birthdays with a cycling trip through Piedmont and the Italian Riviera. Four of us have known each other since kindergarten and went on to graduate from the University of Wisconsin–Madison together. The other three joined the group at Madison West High School and also became Badgers. All of us have been college roommates at times in our college careers. Only one of us isn’t a UW alum, but she’s a lifetime Madisonian and an honorary Badger now! We proudly wore our Wisconsin cycling jerseys throughout the trip and drew smiles and “Go, Badgers!” cheers across Italy. All of us graduated in 1987 and share deep family ties to the University: two of our fathers were Badger football and basketball standouts (Gary Messner ’56 and Tony Stracka ’56), and most of our parents are proud Wisconsin alumni as well. It was a joyful celebration of friendship, adventure, and our enduring connection to UW–Madison.
From left to right: Amy (Messner) Thompson ’87, Meg/Margaux (Ouellette) Cates ’87, Susis (Stracka) Fish ’87, Susan (Vranes) Ells ’87, Sara Mallatt, Becky Cole-Porter ’87, Jennifer Reiser McCann ’87
More Alumni Notes
von Briesen & Roper, s.c., announced that Thor C. Jeppson ’13, MS’19 has joined the firm’s Madison office.