Randall Epstein

Profile Updated: July 6, 2017
Residing In: Hoschton, GA USA
Pre-Retirement Occupation: Retired
Spouse/Partner: Barbara
Children: Steve born in 1972
Rob born in 1974
Military Service: Air Force  
Website: www.randallepstein.com
How did you find our class website?

Searching for some friends and this popped up on Google.

If you're a guest on this site, not a classmate, please tell us what brought you here.

I lived in Crystal Lake the majority of my early life and attended high school in Crystal Lake my Freshman and Sophomore years before moving to West Dundee and finishing high school there.

Do you still have family that live around Crystal Lake?

My half sister and brother live in Crystal Lake.

How often do you get back to Crystal Lake?

Only every few years. Last was in 2012.

Would you ever move back to the Crystal Lake area?

No, been in Georgia too long.

What got you into the kind of work you are or were doing?

I left Illinois in 1979 after spending 10 years with Commonwealth Edison. During that time I developed an interest in electronics and started night classes at ECC.

After leaving Comm Ed we moved to Florida where I started with the loal Cable TV company in Orlando and continued school. I earned an Associate in Science there and changed jobs to go to work for Pizza Time Theatre, the original Chuck E. Cheese company.

I was a store technician, then worldwide installer (put shows in new stores), and finally a District Technical Supevisor with stores in TN, AL, NC, GA & FL. During my tenure at Pizza Time we moved to Georgia since I kept changing planes there. Pizza Time had financial issues and was merged with Show Biz Pizza so I ended up going to work as the Manager of Education for a local Technical School in the Atlanta area that taught electronics and computer repair. That lasted for six years and the parent company of the school had financial issues and we were out of business one week before Christmas.

I found a job with a new company doing contract work in the Cable TV industry and began with them (husband and wife) doing Cable TV drafting and design work. We then got into the fiber optics arena and I learned how to splice fiber optic cable. We developed a relationship with a company called Scientific Atlanta and did a lot of work for them. After time that led to me joining Scientific Atlanta on their training team.

I did training for a couple of years and then moved into my current position as the Manager of Marketing Technical Operations. In short this means that myself and one employee support a demo room for customers where we show our latest Cable TV set-tops as well as being responsible for our technical activities when we go to trade shows. I enjoy the job as it keeps us playing with new technologies and things change constantly. Several years ago we were acquired by Cisco Systems so I've had to learn a great deal of network technology along the way as well.

Early 2011 Cisco offered an early retirement package. I originally decided not to accept it until my manager decided to tell me I had a 50/50 chance of surviving a layoff.

What previous jobs did you do?

1969 - 1979 Commonwealth Edison - Elgin
1979 - 1982 Orange County Cablevision - Orlando
1982 - 1985 Pizza Time Theatre (Chuck E. Cheese)
1985 - 1991 Total Technical Institute
1991 - 1996 Gibson Technical Services
1996 - 2011 Scientific Atlanta (now Cisco Systems)

What did you do immediately following high school?

Went to work for Commonwealth Edison followed by a 4 year enlistment in the Air Force from 1971 - 1975.

What do you see yourself doing in 2029?

Enjoying life.

How long have you been married?

42 years as of 4/10/2013

Grandchildren?

Caitlin - 14 daughter of Steve
Ethan - 11 son of Steve
Blake - 8 son of Rob
Bryce - 6 son of Rob

What else would you like to share about your life since CLCHS?

Since 1969 we've lived in IL, AZ (Gila Bend - hot), FL, back to IL, back to FL, GA since 1983.

Do you still see/talk to/hang out with any classmates? Who?

Keith and Diane Mizwicki. Keith and I were close friends during Jr. High and High School days. I try to stay in touch but am not very good at it.

We did fly up to Quincy last summer (2012) and spent a night with Keith & Diane on our way to Wisconsin for AirVenture in Oshkosh.

Keith & Diane spent a night with us in January 2013.

What have been the high points of your life since high school?

Marrying my lovely wife Barbara in 1971. Having my two sons and most recently my four grand kids.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Most recently I completed something I started back in 1970. In December of 2008 I was finally able to get my Private Pilot certificate and my Instrument rating in March, 2012 so we get to go flying now and then! We're now in a partnership on a plane. I spend time on Facebook, look me up, and aviation forums.

Favorite places to visit?

Not one favorite place. We like a lot of places.

Places you want to visit but have not yet done so?

Not really sure right now.

What would we be surprised to know about you?

Hmmm, maybe that I enjoy motorsports and raced Legends Cars for two and a half years back in 96. Or maybe the flying thing.

Any current nicknames you wish to share?

My ex co-workers at Commonwealth Edison and my wife call me Eppy.

Any words of wisdom?

Retire as soon as you can!

Where were you born?

St. Jospehs Hospital, Elgin, IL.

Randall's Latest Interactions

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Randall Epstein has a birthday today.
Apr
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Apr 07, 2023 at 3:33 AM
Randall Epstein has a birthday today.
Apr 07, 2022 at 3:33 AM
Randall Epstein has a birthday today.
Apr 07, 2021 at 3:33 AM
Randall Epstein has a birthday today.
Apr 07, 2020 at 3:34 AM
Oct 07, 2019 at 11:24 AM

Thought you might remember this.....or not ;)

Randall Epstein has a birthday today.
Apr 07, 2019 at 3:33 AM
Randall Epstein has a birthday today.
Apr 07, 2018 at 3:33 AM
Randall Epstein added a photo to his profile gallery.
Jul 06, 2017 at 12:31 PM
My wife and I with our grand kids.
Randall Epstein added a photo to his profile gallery.
Jul 06, 2017 at 12:30 PM
The whole family together at Disney World, June 2017 to celebrate my grand daughter's high school graduation.
Randall Epstein added a photo to his profile gallery.
Jul 06, 2017 at 12:29 PM
My oldest son and his family.
Randall Epstein added a photo to his profile gallery.
Jul 06, 2017 at 12:27 PM
My youngest son and his family.
Randall Epstein added a photo to his profile gallery.
Jul 06, 2017 at 12:24 PM
The family together at Disney World.
Randall Epstein added a photo to his profile gallery.
Jul 06, 2017 at 12:22 PM
My grand daughter and oldest grand son.
Randall Epstein has left an In Memory comment for his Profile.
Jul 03, 2017 at 11:33 AM

As with most of my Crystal Lake classmates, I had lost contact with everyone after moving to Dundee for my last two years of HS.  Between this site and Face Book I've had an opportunity to reconnect with some folks from those days.  I found John on Face Book and noticed he was making these trips between Crystal Lake and the Keys, his beloved second home.  I managed to get him to stop and have breakfast in Atlanta on one of his trips through and my wife, Barbara, and I had a wonderful morning with John and Laura talking about our lifes and families. 

I am so glad I got that opportunity.  John and I grew up in the same neighborhood and spent some time together in the early days. It was great to see that John had become such a leader and man of faith.  I know that faith has him in a great place right now, but we will miss him greatly untl we meet again.

Randall Epstein has a birthday today.
Apr 07, 2017 at 3:33 AM
Randall Epstein has a birthday today.
Apr 07, 2016 at 3:33 AM
Randall Epstein added a comment on his Profile. New comment added.
Oct 30, 2015 at 12:01 PM

Posted on: Oct 29, 2015 at 12:33 PM

Randall Epstein has a birthday today.
Apr 07, 2015 at 3:33 AM
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Jan 30, 2014 at 9:53 PM
Randall Epstein changed his "Now" picture.
Jan 30, 2014 at 9:49 PM
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Posted: Jul 06, 2017 at 12:32 PM
My wife and I with our grand kids.
Posted: Jul 06, 2017 at 12:33 PM
The whole family together at Disney World, June 2017 to celebrate my grand daughter's high school graduation.
Posted: Jul 06, 2017 at 12:34 PM
My oldest son and his family.
Posted: Jul 06, 2017 at 12:34 PM
My youngest son and his family.
Posted: Jul 06, 2017 at 12:35 PM
The family together at Disney World.
Posted: Jul 06, 2017 at 12:35 PM
My grand daughter and oldest grand son.
Posted: Dec 17, 2013 at 12:09 AM
Flying above thee clouds on the way to Charlotte from Atlanta.
Posted: Dec 17, 2013 at 12:09 AM
Flying above thee clouds on the way to Charlotte from Atlanta.
Posted: Dec 17, 2013 at 12:09 AM
Flying above thee clouds on the way to Charlotte from Atlanta.