State's retired educators meet:
Education retirees gather in Gallup
Jeff Varela, son of New Mexico House of Representative Luciano Varela, speaks on his behalf at the New Mexico Association of Educational Retirees on Friday in Gallup. . — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Brian Leddy

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Bill Donovan
Independent correspondent

GALLUP — If you grew up in Gallup in the 1950s, 1960s or 1970s, you may remember Chris DiGregorio.

He was the jolly fellow who taught physical education at Gallup Junior High when the school was located where the federal building is now. He also spent many of those years, before being kicked up to work in the central offices, as a coach.

This weekend, 24 years after he turned in his retirement, he was back in Gallup to attend the annual convention of the New Mexico Association of Education Retirees.

Now living in Albuquerque, DiGregorio has not been a stranger since retiring, coming back to Gallup periodically to see friends and family — he’s a cousin to former Gallup supermarket mogul Joe DiGregorio.

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