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  Carol Mayer

  Julie M. Luker

  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Carol Mayer is a Caucasian female born on March 18, 1950. She lived with her parents and two older sisters in Como Park. Mayer’s father was a jeweler. Her mother was a housewife who later worked in retail. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Mayer shares memories of her extended and immediate family. Mayer goes on to describe her family's religious practices growing up, fondly recalling Easter and Christmas, and appreciating the beauty of the church decorations. She discusses her current relationship with religion, expressing her reservations about organized religion but maintaining her faith in a higher power. Mayer shares some traumatic experiences involving the suicide of a neighbor and the death of a friend having a lasting impact. Mayer describes leisure time and playing with neighborhood kids, hosting square dancing, and enjoying car rides around Lake Salem. She talks about taking vacations to places like Deer Pass Resort on the Whitefish chain of lakes, and the memories of pine tree-lined roads. Mayer reminisces about their experiences in elementary and junior high school, including walking or biking to school, participating in winter carnivals, and feeling compared to their academically successful sisters. They also mention their involvement in activities like marching in parades, being in the band and theater. Lastly, Mayer reflects on various local and global issues that impacted her neighborhood while she was growing up. These issues include the Cold War, sonic booms, the Korean War, communism, the UNIVAC computer, the Rosenberg case, Queen Elizabeth's coronation, segregation, Castro and Cuba, the Berlin Wall, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Walmart's origins, JFK's assassination, Martin Luther King Jr., women's liberation, the Beatles, Malcolm X, the Vietnam War, and local events such as mayors, school trips, and a notable murder case.

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  Cynthia Rieck

  Julie M. Luker

  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Cynthia Rieck is a white female born on April 1st, 1957. She lived with her mother, father, and sister. Rieck’s father had a cleaning business. Her mother was a stay-at-home mom. She was raised Lutheran. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Rieck describes her extended family. She tells a story of her father playing Santa at school and how she found out. She talks about the chores and neighborhood jobs she took to pay for her horse care. Rieck goes on to talk about her experience with religion growing up and involvement with the church she has now. Rieck describes how Christmas decorating was a big event in her neighborhood. She talks about the sense of community she felt from her neighbors. Rieck recalls the trips her family went on. She describes her time in school and how she believes she is left-handed but was forced at that time to use her right. Lastly, Rieck reflects on local and global issues, including elections, prejudice, assassinations, and women’s liberation.

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  Timothy Tracy

  Julie M. Luker

  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Timothy Tracy is a white male born on December 12th, 1966. He lived with his mother, father, and younger brother and sister around Como Lake. Tracy’s father had his own family business, Tracy Oil Company. His mother was a nursing assistant at the St Luke's Hospital. Tracy is Roman Catholic. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Tracy describes his family life, including extended family, the pets they kept, and chores. Tracy talks about waking up early for his duties as an altar boy. He talks about what his faith means to him now. Tracy goes on to describe the various fun activities there were to do in Como Lake growing up. He tells a story of exploring the sewers. Tracy talks about the music that he enjoys and the concerts that he’s been to. He discusses his experience with schooling and a couple of stories from that time. Lastly, Tracy talks about racial relations and how he was socialized within a diverse area.