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         Biographies for the  40th Reunion  

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Bio. from:  Robert Featherstone    email Featherstonerj@aol.com   featherstoneSMALL.jpg (19856 bytes)  Bob with Grandchild

I'll Always Have Pyramids

 

These bios often mention early retirement. I, too, have retired, but I hesitate to call it early:  maybe I should have done it sooner. Anyway, on September 29, 2004 , I walked out the front door of the State Department Building . As a retiree, my day job is now to wake up, which I can do. I think of my bedroom as a home office, although I haven't tried this on the IRS. Four days into retirement, I accepted an appointment to cover Foreign Service staffing gaps overseas and in Washington . This is my day-worker job:  I get paid to show up.

 

After WJ, I went to Dickinson College , Carlisle , Pennsylvania , and graduated in 1970. College is great preparation for retirement. You wake up to do what you want and occasionally show up to do something else. In the 1969 draft lottery, I drew 245, so I recycled my Vietnam angst to other areas. I found recycling.easy. All I had to do was to put something someplace, and everything has to be someplace.

 

What makes life stressful is not knowing what to do next. In 1970, I had no clue. For almost a year, I worked in various nonprofessional positions at Metromedia Television and took University of Maryland night classes that were even less relevant than those I took at Dickinson . Meanwhile, the tinsel and glitter of show business was becoming shopworn. On New Year's Day, 1971, I was working at WTTG-TV when a badly hung over Maury Povich berated a vitamin expert on the air. Dr. Passwater ran out of the building and gave me the tablets he had planned to give to Povich. I learned that vitamins don't work, and Povich learned that punishing people on television does work.

 

In 1971 I resumed the public service career in I had begun in a 1967 summer stint as a Lord and Taylor retail clerk. In those days, a man got a free second dessert for having the brass to lunch at Lord and Taylor 's Birdcage Restaurant. Who today can believe that really happened? Did it take a really bad diet to make a real man? Are any of these real men still alive? In our adult lives, we have taken part in change that only increases in velocity. I don't lament the passing of the second free dessert because I had no business taking the first. We can all welcome social change, post-its, and computers. However, I have yet to get a cell phone. I'm waiting to meet someone I want to talk to when I am not at home.

 

Anyway, In 1971 I became a management intern and analyst for the Department of the Army and then the Department of Justice. In 1975, the suspense and intrigue of diplomatic life pulled me into the Foreign Service. In an 88-year career, I served in Trinidad and Tobago , Germany , Paraguay , Austria , Bolivia , and Nigeria , and also traveled through Africa and the Middle East . I learned how to speak German and Spanish, as well as how to follow a conversation behind me while engaged in one before me. I liked the work and the moving around. I had no trouble recycling myself every couple of years because everyone has to be someplace.

 

In 1972 I married Sharon, whom I had met at Dickinson. We have three children:  son Michael, born in 1977, and twin daughters Lauren and Rachel, born in 1980. Sharon and I were divorced in 1995, but still share the post-marital joke and relish our roles in the extended dysfunctional family. Michael is married and lives in Columbus, Ohio. Grandson Luke was born in 2005. Thank heaven for Southwest Airlines! Daughter Lauren is married and lives in Harrisonburg , Virginia . Daughter Rachel works at the State Department. New acquaintances ask whether I am Rachel's father. My children are all grownups, and there is no risk that any of them would ever move back home. Where I live the light is great, but the parking is terrible.

 

In retirement, my day-worker job has already taken me to India , Germany , and Egypt . When they pitched me the gig in Egypt , they said I should go to Cairo and see the pyramids. I did, and I did. I'll always have pyramids.

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Bio of Stephen J. Feinberg, WJ Class of "66

After WJ I went to Shimer College in western Illinois, which had a Great Books program similar to that of St. John's College in Annapolis. My older brother had gone to St. John's ( he remembers Tony Vitto, who lived across the hall as a freshman) and I had found out about Shimer from his friend Mark Sheldon, older brother of our classmate Stuart. Despite some great adventures, motorcycle and otherwise, I eventually decided it wasn't the best place for me and came to the University of Maryland, College Park. Spent awhile there and graduated with a BA in Anthropology (Cultural and Archaeology- did you know that the banks of the Potomac have been inhabited for more than 5,000 years?), a background in English and Comparative Literature, and a full pre-med curriculum. During my university stay it became obvious to the Bethesda Selective Service office that I was taking a more scenic route through college than they preferred. I was invited to take a pre-induction physical in the Fall of 1970, and remember seeing Steve Graham on the bus as we traveled North to Fort Holabird in Baltimore. I wore a back brace much of my time in high school, and at the time was not much interested in a free trip to Southeast Asia. Apparently the Bethesda office was having trouble meeting its quota, as I was handed a foot-high stack of x-ray plates and sent off to Radiology for the rest of the day. Long after dark, they decided that they didn't like my back anymore than I did, and issued me a chit for a ride back to the old Greyhound station in downtown Washington. So I went back to school. I still glow in the dark.

My second semester at UM I had met Wendy Garson, a freshman and Northwood alum. We got married on June 6, 1971, the anniversary of D-Day, as we like to say, and celebrated our 35th anniversary this year.

We ran into David Gold at Maryland, after his return from Vietnam and recovery from being wounded. The next year, Wendy's younger sister had Linda Balentine as a teacher at John F. Kennedy High School, and we saw her then, but no WJ people since then until running into Jane Luckom Jacobs at a party a year or so ago.

I was pleased to see the bios posted for the people I have mentioned and all the others. In truth, reading them has jarred loose my happier memories, as for years I had been most aware of the negative ones.

In college, I was finding lots of subjects interesting but had to do a great deal of soul-searching in trying to figure out a career path. I finally realized that I wanted a career helping people. My father's career had been in vision research, and after alot of thought I had decided to apply to optometry school; hence, the premed track. I was accepted at Pennsylvania College of Optometry, in Philadelphia while my wife was awarded a graduate assistantship in Experimental Psych at Villanova University. I did specialty training in Low Vision Care(care of the partially sighted-macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, etc.) at the Philadelphia Center for the Blind as well as training in care for binocular vision disorders, and on getting my O.D.(Doctor of Optometry) degree in 1977, was awarded the school's first Fellowship in Primary Care. My wife, meanwhile, had shifted her career path after experiencing severe problems with double vision and ending up in the Binocular Function Clinic, where she found relief--she thought that that area of practice "was alot more interesting than operating on rat brains", and she entered optometry school in the Fall of 1975.

While Wendy finished her training I practiced in a Neighborhood Medical Center in the Combat Zone of North Philadelphia. I have stories. We returned to the Washington area in Fall, 1979. After bouncing around a bit, Wendy opened a practice with a like-minded colleague in McLean, VA. Today it has developed into a large practice with an emphasis on binocular vision and vision development issues, and she serves as a consultant to many schools.

My career has been a little less linear, and has oscillated between (among?) private, academic, and institutional practice. I have been involved in public health, contact lens, and low vision research. Some of my work had an influence on the design of some magnifying devices for low vision patients. I spent most of the 1980's in a group practice in Chevy Chase and as Director of the Low Vision Clinic at the Maryland Optometric Center in Baltimore. In the late 80's I was asked to take a faculty position at The Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, to help get a Low Vision Clinic up and running. We moved ultimately to Greenbelt so I could commute to Baltimore while Wendy went to McLean. In 1992, I was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. When I left Hopkins I took a position as Director of Low Vision Services for the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind in downtown Washington for a number of years. During and after my stay at the Lighthouse, I spent about 6 years as Director of Low Vision Care at Howard University Hospital. In both medical school eye programs, I loved teaching residents. I have been back in private practice for about eight years, with periods of providing low vision consulting in a retina practice, in a major nursing facility, and at the DC Center for Independent Living. I have served as an expert witness in about a dozen court cases, most of which have involved disability rights. One of those cases led to my being asked to serve for a time as a consultant to the Disability Rights Section of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. While I enjoy dealing with the full range of vision and eye health issues, I get special satisfaction from helping people with difficult vision problems whether low vision, binocular dysfunction, or the challenges of complex contact lens cases. Much of my practice is referrals from other doctors and rehab agencies. My office is near George Washington University. My new website, which still needs a lot of work, is www.dcvisioncare.com.

On the personal life front, after Wendy and I finished going to school, we tried to start a family. And tried. When we were finally told that we would need to adopt, we did. After 17 years of marriage, our daughter, Evelyn ("Evvy"), came to us from Korea at 4 months of age. Three years later, Daniel (Danny) arrived from Korea, also at 4 months old. Evvy is now a Freshman in the Honors Program at Maryland, majoring in biological sciences. She is a beautiful young woman with many talents and a great sense of humor. Danny is now a handsome 10th-grader, playing JV soccer and varsity volleyball, and has being a 15-year-old boy down pat. More important than any talent or physical attribute, they both have great hearts and are good human beings. We are so glad at our decision to adopt, we can't imagine our lives without our kids.

Wendy and I have both sung in our synagogue's concert choir for the past 6 years and have gotten alot of pleasure from both the creative and fellowship aspects of it. I'm the low bass and she's an alto. I had started playing the guitar in 8th grade and got seriously interested in the blues by 10th. The timing was right and I got to see, spend time with, and learn from alot of my blues idols over the following 10 years. Most of them are now long gone. Life has gotten in the way of regular performing but I was talked into playing at a coffeehouse 5 years ago. I try to play a bit at home, and my daughter wants to learn fingerstyle blues guitar from me ( she's great at classical piano). Danny is an electric guitar man, but he's just made it into the a capella choir at his school-as a bass. Those art classes have helped me in the office with anatomical drawings, and maybe some day I'll find time for more creative visual art.

Most of our vacations have been pretty tame, visiting my sister in Montreal, my brother in Northampton, Mass., and spending a week at Rehoboth Beach every summer, but the standouts have to be a couple weeks in Alaska 3 summers ago and a couple weeks in Israel this past Spring when our daughter was there for a three month program.

Wendy and I love our work and with two kids to put through school have no retirement plans in sight.

Many thanks to those who've pulled this together and to those who've shared their biographies!

I'd be pleased to hear from anyone who remembers me, and for those of you who can make it, I'll see you at the reunion!

Steve Feinberg, 7910 Kara Court, 301-257-8499

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BIO. from Stevie Flather (Ross)

My parents moved from Bethesda during my Sophomore year in College. I stayed in touch with a few people for awhile after graduation, have returned very infrequently over the years, and was only at the 10th year reunion. There are many people I would love to see in November, and I am really enjoying reading the biographies from people I didn't know well or at all, too. Thanks so much for all the work you Jill, Tom and Kevin and maybe others are doing to put this together.
    My biography: College took me to Hobart and William Smith College in Geneva, NY, thanks in part to Mary Pratt's influence. (David Whedon went there, too.) Civil rights issues, the anti-war movement, women's lib and environmental awareness all took root during those years. Somewhat to my parents' dismay, I brought a car load of New York college friends "home" for the March on Washington.  I met my husband, Bob Ross, at college. Bob is from Baltimore and we spent many vacations with his family there and at Bethany Beach, where we also saw Debby Dierker and her family once. We moved to the NYC area while Bob was in graduate school and unbelievably have been compelled to stay here for various reasons for the past 30 plus years. We have been married since 1973 and have two wonderful daughters, who are now in their 20's. Before motherhood, I taught young autistic children in Westchester county for 8 years. We moved from Westchester to Long Island when Annie was an infant to live in a Gurdjieff community. There, I gradually also learned about Rudolf Steiner and Waldorf education. Annie and Meg went to the Waldorf school, where I still teach Kindergarten. Most recently, I have almost completed a Waldorf training program in remedial education, so that circle is almost completed. In addition to my interests in young children and children who aren't so typical, I have spent many satisfying hours gardening. I do a lot of craft work, story telling and puppetry with and for my kindergarten class, and like to sew and occasionally do a little canning. When we were first married, Bob and I went canoe camping fairly often and we'd like to take that up again. We once canoed the Fulton Chain in the Adirondacks and recently read that there is now an identified chain of navigable water from there to northern Maine.
    I was so glad to read Barbara Wolcott's like-minded biography re: current world and political events.  Experiencing 9/11 in NY was pretty unique, though maybe not that different from being in the DC area. It was heartbreaking so see how quickly people's reactions went from introspection, compassion, tolerance and patience to fear driven panic and blindness. For me, these past 5 years have been a great frustration and sorry commentary on our state of humanity. Do see An Inconvenient Truth if you haven't yet. It was good of Barbara to mention the healing organizations that she's involved with. I'd also like to add the Heifer Project, Peace Fleece and Alliance for Childhood to that suggestions list.
    Thank you again for your work. See you in November.
    With warmest regards, Stevie Flather Ross

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Bio. from: Don Forrester.....

forresterMonitorPass.JPG (268536 bytes)  left monitor pass  forrester2001.JPG (115782 bytes)    left 2001 always with a bike?!     forresterSMALLER.JPG (166490 bytes)

ABOVE:  Forrester family at wedding in 2001 left to right, Jon, Alexa, Bryan, Beth, and Don

 email   donf@cwnet.com

          Thanks to Norris Hillary for calling. I have enjoyed going through the website and the biographies. I was saddened to see the names listed as deceased.

            After WJ, I went to Lehigh University in Bethlehem PA graduating with a BS in Chemical Engineering. I got to play two years of basketball there. A highlight of which was learning from future hall of fame coach, Pete Carril, who coached one year at Lehigh before going on to his distinguished career at Princeton. While in my senior year, I met my future wife, Elizabeth Volk, who graduated from Cedar Crest College with degrees in English and Psychology. For a year after graduation I worked as a Chemical Engineer at the National Institutes of Health awaiting the start of medical school. My job at NIH allowed some free time to do substitute teaching. I worked some days at Walter Johnson... an interesting experience.  

            Two highlights of attending Georgetown Medical School were elective rotations in Indian Health near Sante Fe , NM and a pediatric clinic in Nassau , Bahamas . After graduating from Georgetown I completed my Family Practice residency in Sacramento CA . We have been here since. I don't miss the humidity or the gnats. There is almost no rain between April and November. The summers are hot but dry and it seldom freezes. Being 90 miles from San Francisco and 100 miles from Lake Tahoe is great. I do miss warm ocean waters as you need a wet suit to swim off the northern California coast.

            I went to work for the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program. In addition to managing my own medical patients I have had the opportunity to serve in various leadership roles. I completed my requirements for my certification in medical leadership in 2000 and am currently working on my fellowship requirements. Four years ago I opted to go back to patient care and prepare for retirement most likely in April 2008. I currently work 3-4 days/week doing patient care. I'm working to set up a consulting/training business. For more information on this developing project see my website, www.clinicalcatalyst.com .

            Beth, my wife and best friend of 36+ years, went back to school part-time while the kids were growing up. She got a Masters in Experimental Psychology at Sacramento State University before settling on Philosophy. She obtained her PhD in Philosophy of Science at University of California at Davis . She enjoys her work as a professor of Philosophy at Sacramento City College with interests in philosophy of science, feminism and animal rights. Last year she completed the Nike Marathon in San Francisco which benefited the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.  

            We have three terrific children. Our 31 year old son, Jonathan, lives in Oakland and works for PG&E in their renewable energy group. He has a sociology degree from University of California , San Diego and did his graduate work at Michigan obtaining his MBA and masters in social policy.  Jon and his wife, Sarah who is a K-3 teacher live in Oakland , CA .   Our 29 year old daughter, Alexa, lives in Ann Arbor MI with her husband of three years, Christian Guenther. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Philosophy from Vassar College . They are both graduate students at the University of Michigan . Alexa is currently writing her dissertation in action theory to finish her PhD in Philosophy. While pursuing this degree she obtained a Masters in Creative Writing and Poetry.  Her husband will finish his MBA/Masters program in sustainability this spring. Our youngest, Bryan , works in sales for Sonic Wall, a software firm, and lives in San Francisco . He graduated from University of Arizona with a degree in Psychology.

            I have enjoyed my work as a Family Medicine physician and physician leader. In my spare time I was heavily involved in coaching youth sports, both soccer and baseball. I am an avid bicyclist. I ride over 100 miles per week and am fortunate enough to be able to commute to work. Three of my peak cycling experiences were: riding for three weeks in Italy with friends which included the highlight of a visit to the Shrine of the Madonna Del Ghisallo, the patron saint of bicyclists, which overlooks Lake Como . The second was cycling part way across the country with America By Bicycle. I plan on finishing the ride across country after retiring. I have also regularly participated in the Markleville Death Ride near Lake Tahoe in July. I also enjoy travel, golf, and a developing interest in vegan cooking.

            The attached family picture was taken at Jon's wedding this past June in Sonoma , CA. (Left to right, Beth, Bryan, Chris, Sarah, Jon, Alexa, and me).

            The cycling pictures were from the ride from Riverside CA to Topeka KS, the first at the start "dipping the wheels in the Pacific Ocean" and the second six days later "standing on a corner" in Winslow AZ on the way to Gallup NM. The last picture is during a Markleville ride at the top of Monitor Pass.

            Beth and I are empty nesters except for the two rescue dogs and two rescue cats. We have two grand kittens in Ann Arbor , but no grand kids yet. We have plenty of space if anyone finds themselves in the area just give us a call. I have extra bikes for a ride along the American River Bike Trail and Sacramento has an excellent train museum. I hope to make the reunion. Thanks to all involved in the project. 

Bon chance. Take care and be well.

Address: 841 La Sierra Drive Sacramento CA 95864,  Phone: 916-489-6003, Email: donf@cwnet.com

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Bio. from:  Doug Fox    email..... dougrfox@aol.com
After WJ, I attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where I majored in economics (thank you Mr. Ford) and history (and you too Mr. Walsh). I was then presented with an employment opportunity by Uncle that I was unable to pass up. So, in May of 1970 I was marching against the war, and a few months later I was marching toward it. By luck of the draw, however, I was sent to Germany, where I shuffled papers for a year-and-a-half.

When I got out, I came back to the DC area and landed a job as an economist with the Department of Commerce. I attended evening classes at GWU and got a Masters in economics. I wound up spending my career at the Commerce Department until I retired in 2003. The most rewarding part of my work was serving for 13 years as Editor-in-Chief of our monthly journal, Survey of Current Business. I'm now working part time as a consultant and am very much enjoying having the time to hike in National Parks (what a beautiful country we live in), exercise, play bridge, and whatever else I choose to do.

I am married to a wonderful woman (Roseanne) and have a daughter (Bethany) at Lynchburg College and two stepsons (Scott and Mark) at Virginia Tech and at UVA. We are living in Fairfax County, not far from Dulles Airport.

As I think back on those years so long ago, several images come to my mind: the interruption of a test in Mrs. Philpula's English class on the afternoon of November 22, 1963; teaching fellow students to parallel park as a drivers' ed assistant; seeing an excellent performance of "My Fair Lady"; and going to Mr. Walsh's wine party for his European history class.

My thanks to Norris and the rest for putting your time in on this. I've enjoyed reading the bios, even of those whom I did not know at WJ. I regret that I will not be able to attend the reunion, but I wish all of you the best.

I would like to register one complaint. Bethany was home last weekend on break, and we were looking at the old WJ yearbook. When she happened to read that I was in the "Physics Club," it "confirmed" her long-held suspicion that I was (am) a nerd (no snickering, please).

LIFE IS GOOD!
Doug

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  Bio. and pictures from: Judy Fox  below:

                         foxJudy3.jpg (38695 bytes)       fox, judy and Abby.jpg (19244 bytes)   

Hi All,  I’ve never wandered far from the Walter Johnson area. I’ve been living in Olney , MD for the past 22 years and plan to be here for at least several years longer. After graduating from WJ I went to Montgomery College for a year; worked for a semester; and then transferred to U of Maryland, College Park .  I graduated from U of MD in 1971 with a BS in elementary education.  It was the year of too-many-teachers-not enough-jobs.  Worked at several jobs in the local area—including one at Suzanne Bogart’s father’s insurance agency (Bogart & Brownell).  Married a Peary HS alum in 1974 and went to work for the National Institute of Mental Health two months later.  Fourteen years and 2 kids later—a girl and a boy—transferred to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). It was a long haul—all the way from the 10th to the 16th floor of the Parklawn Building in Rockville !!  I’ve been with the Federal government for 32 years now, currently as the Grants Management Officer of NIAAA.  It’s not what I want to do when I grow up, but since I’m at the top of the GS grading system (and my ex will get half of 28-yrs worth of my government pension), it looks like I’m here for the duration!  I was married for 28 years and have been divorced since 2002.  It’s now back to sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll!  Well, rock ‘n’ roll anyway. And I can attest to the musical prowess of Eddie Becker!!!  

I have a beautiful, talented, brilliant, married daughter, Melanie, who did become an elementary ed teacher and taught 2nd and 3rd grade at the elementary school she attended in Olney.  Teaching definitely is her calling.  She is taking a break from teaching to be a full-time mother to my beautiful, talented, brilliant 9-month old granddaughter, Abby Danielle.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t convince Melanie and my son-in-law, Jon, to leave Abby with me when they relocated to Charleston , SC in May!  Oh well, Charleston is a lovely city to visit and now I have a good excuse to visit there often.  My gorgeous and talented, 6’1”, former Sherwood HS/Montgomery College football player son, Darren, currently is living in Delray Beach, Florida, (another great place to visit) where he is working and attending school studying graphic arts and hoping to use his artistic talents to work in the field of computer animation.  Anyone who happened to get to Sherwood HS’s 29th production of Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival would have had the good fortune of seeing Darren as a dancer, as well as a lead singer (Cool & the Gang’s “Ladies Night”).  

My mom still lives in our Alta Vista Terrace home and my 3 sisters—who happen to be my best friends—and their families all are in the area: Rockville , Urbana , and Mt. Airy .  I still have red hair—no gray yet; just a few well-earned lines in my face; and a few more pounds on my frame.  All-in-all life since WJ has been good.  Of course, if anyone would care to nominate me for an “Extreme Makeover” I wouldn’t mind!!!!

 I’ve so enjoyed reading everyone’s bios.  Hoping to make it to the reunion………

 Judy “still da” Fox  

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Bio. From Cathy France Nelson.....Let me add my belated thanks for your and Norris' efforts to bring

this class together. I happened to run into my friend Amy Barker

(Wilson) last week and she gave me this website, and I have spent a

fascinating week, reading all the varied bios of our class. I'm so

impressed by the honesty,humor, and decency , not to mention the skill

in compressing 40 years into a few paragraphs...here is my bio.

Since my willfully miserable years at WJ I've cheered up

considerably. I went to GWU, where I was told on graduating that a

degree in fine arts and a dime(those were the days) would buy me a cup

of coffee. My guidance counselor suggested I join the Air Force. The

only problem was that if I didn't like it my only ways out were

pregnancy or insanity...instead I worked doing freelance art, rode and

took care of horses at the Charlestown racetrack, trained dogs, got

married, had two kids, Timothy, now 33, and Hope, now 30, (married and

with two little boys who have melted my crabby little heart). I got

divorced, and fell in love with soccer, and rock and roll and life,

really. For several years I raised the two lovable children, was

brownie leader, soccer coach, and also frivolous hiker, soccer

player,etc.etc.

In 1984 I got a job as a letter carrier. I thought it would be

healthy and entertaining, but it was more Sisyphean. Every morning,

painfully early, a mountain of mail . It did share with the race track

the sense of a world complete with its own strange rules and language,

but after five years I quit.

I live in a small house in Cabin John, that I bought in 1976 and,

admiring self sufficiency, I learned to do simple car and house

repairs. I even, with lots of expert help from friends, built two

rooms onto the house. It is surrounded by the garden I love. In 1985 I

met Brian, my dear mate. He has shared my life, helped me bring up

my children, and now we walk along the river with our beloved dog

Paddy and enjoy life and each other.  Tim is an artist, a Buddhist, a

searcher, while Hope is deeply happy as a mom, wife, and librarian.

Even though I can't remember a time when I wasn't drawing or

painting, and I take a sketchbook everywhere I go, it still amazes me

that I have ended up doing art and teaching it in a little studio at

Glen Echo Park. I started as a resident artist there in 1992 and I

teach children, or to be more accurate, I collaborate with them in what

is sometimes amazingly creative and if not, is almost always enjoyable.

I feel glad that so many of us are having good lives, and I hope to

hear more interesting news in years to come. Until then, take care of

yourselves, Cathie France Nelsen

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      Bio. from:    Elise Frank Masur, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology

Department of Psychology
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, Illinois 60115
(815)753-7081
 email:   efmasur@niu.edu        

      

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Bio from  - Terry Franz Dixon  
I had trouble in Grade School writing "What I did on my summer vacation" - now my assignment is to sum up what I have done for the past 40 years?  YIKES!  
I didn't go to graduation (was it Robert or Ted Kennedy who spoke?) instead I went to a kayak training session in Maine, training for the World Championships.  I always thought of myself as academic, but in hindsight, I look at my choices and realize . . . . I chose the University of Vermont to be in a place where I could ski, something that looked fun.  I started out as a math major but my expensive three semester book was stolen my freshman year so I switched to zoology and pre-med.  When I got an ulcer, I dropped the pre-med.  After graduation in 1970, I drove out west with my college roommate, landing in Denver.  I got a job at a bacteriology supply company, mixing and pouring culture media.  This was during the big push for equal rights.  The Denver Zoo was opening a position for the first woman zookeeper and I got the job.  I loved this job but after the first few pollution alerts, I decided to leave Denver in 1973.  For a break from what I felt was a long work stint, I hitchhiked up to Alaska for the summer.  I went as an unpaid aide on a kayak course with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Prince William Sound.  Afterwards I moved to Wyoming and worked as an instructor for NOLS based in Lander, Wyoming.  A local survey company was hiring NOLS instructors to do some surveying for uranium claims all through the southwest.  The crew was ferried in by helicopter to the survey site.  Since there was the possibility that the helicoptor would not be able to return for the pick up due to weather, it was good to have a crew with backcountry experience.  While on the survey crew I met Steve who was also bouncing around the world.  It was so easy to fall in love out in the desert, walking all day pulling a chain, eating and sleeping on an expense account.  So that is what we did.  Steve was from Walla Walla and wanted to live in Seattle.  I wanted to stay in Wyoming.  So we compromised and moved to the Methow Valley in Washington State.  We have been here since 1977.  Steve is now a sixth grade teacher and I have been the Twisp town librarian for the past 22 years.  (Google "Twisp Library" and you will see my battle with the administration to keep the iguana in the library - I lost.)  Steve and I have two wonderful children, Sarah born in 1980 and Peter born in 1982.  They did 4H so we have raised pigs and sheep, still have chickens and now cows, horses and commercial organic garlic.  I live in the best spot to go riding!  and boating!  and garlicing!  We are planning retirement but right when it looked possible, we bought 50 acres which we need to pay for.  
The reunion is a wonderful event and I'm sorry I will miss it.  We all want/need to connect with each other, our past and that person we were.  I have very little memory of high school, lots of questions (could we go out in the courtyard?)  Two weeks ago I went riding with a lady (Ellen Lamiman) who has lived here almost as long as we have and it turns out she is a 1964 graduate from Walter Johnson.  She also did her graduate work at the University of Maryland and had my father Dr. Franz as an instructor.  A month ago I went to a workshop on "every child ready to read" and the workshop was given by a 1969 graduate from WJ (Saroj Ghoting - not her maiden name.)  Small world!  We were given a great education at WJ, something I always took for granted.  This was substantiated when I saw WJ on the list of the top 100 high schools in the entire US. 
Thank you to the organizers.  This event could be much more than just a reunion - possibly a spring board for more get-togethers and reconnections.  My stepmother and brother still live in Garrett Park and I plan to visit sometime in the summer of 2007.  Next week while you guys are partying, I'll flip through my yearbook and think of you.
Cheers, 

 

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From  Patt Fredine.....married Narrowe.  email   pnarrowe@hawaii.rr.com

It has been wonderful reading the amazing bios from our class of long ago. I remember many names, often more from Wyngate Elementary than WJ. It is fascinating to see the varied paths we've taken.

After high school I first went to Hiram College in Ohio but later transferred to the University of Delaware in order to major in fine art. I graduated in 1970 with a concentration in painting, and soon discovered that without a class driving me, I had no desire to paint. Thus began a thrilling waitress career in downtown Bethesda. That got old after a year. I remember talking to Karen Nordenson's parents at the restaurant and hearing that she was already married with a career. Yikes! I returned to the U. of Delaware half-heartedly to get a teaching certificate and happily ended up with a master's degree in graphic design in 1975; I have been working in that field ever since.

While in graduate school, I met a guy named Joe at Buckley's Tavern in Wilmington, an unlikely place for either of us to be. We were married by a yogi in 1976 and have been together ever since. Among his many endearing qualities were his roots in Colorado, and we quickly headed west-a dream come true for me. We lived in Denver, Berkeley (I had a graphics business in San Rafael with a friend from college from 1977-1980), Santa Monica, upstate NY (while on tour with Baba Muktananda-I prepared his books for printing), and then back to Denver where our daughter Meredith was born in 1982. There, Joe managed an apartment building that was being converted into condos. The painting contractor was an outspoken guy from Maui who became convinced that we would be much happier living on Maui, that we would fit in better there than in Denver. He called us every three months for three years to remind us of this observation. In 1985 we moved to Maui sight unseen and have lived there ever since. Rebecca was born in Haiku, Maui, in 1986.

Right away I found a job with a design studio, and Joe found a job as a tour guide. In 1989 he renewed his '60s era Universal Life Church minister certificate in order to be a wedding officiant in Maui's growing destination wedding business, and he continues doing both endeavors. Currently he takes people three times a week to see the sunrise on Haleakala-a 10,000 ft. dormant volcano where it actually snows every few years. He also does wonderful custom weddings for people from all over-see www.distinctiveweddingsmaui.com.

I continue to do graphic design. If you ever come to Maui, the most visible pieces I do are the publications "Art Guide Maui" and "Centerpiece" (available for free at all Maui Starbucks) or any of the Tedeschi Vineyards/Maui's Winery wine labels. My work also shows up in a couple of Mainland projects: the newsletter for the Sonoma County Library in California and the logo design for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Our daughters loved growing up on Maui, but they couldn't wait to go to Mainland colleges. Meredith graduated from Stanford University in 2004, majoring in Communications and American Studies. She worked for Stanford in Washington (DC) for two years and moved to San Francisco last month. Rebecca is a junior at Northwestern University, majoring in theater.

Every now and then I find someone on Maui from WJ. Joe and another dad were talking in the preschool parking lot many years ago, and they found out that both of their wives went to a high school named after a baseball pitcher. Sure enough, it was WJ. An Australian woman who worked down the hall from me turned out to be a former AFS exchange student from Brisbane to WJ in the 80s-odd because my family had housed WJ's AFS student from Brisbane, Austrailia in '65-66. The most bizarre meeting was finding a tourist at a remote and deserted waterfall in Hana who was a Walt Whitman '66 graduate.

I won't be able to go to the reunion because, unfortunately, I just returned from Bethesda last week where I was visiting my 95 year old mother who still lives in the house I grew up in. I planned that trip way too early! It sounds like a wonderful time with a great group of people, so have fun! Thanks to everyone who is putting this together.

....................

Bio  from: Gary Fuchsman

Gary Fuchsman checking in. I guess as we all start realizing that we are not as young as we used to be, reaching back to earlier years sounds like a good idea. I like the idea of a quick and easy get together at any local restaurant. If I can be of any help putting it together, let me know. Just a little about myself, married 36 years, two children, and two grandchildren. After Maryland Univ, purchased children's clothing store in Wildwood Shopping Center, across the street from WJ. By the way, both of my children graduated from WJ, and both married and both live in the area. Closed the store after twenty years to pursue my second career providing bookkeeping services to a variety of small businesses in the area, from my home office.

Basically taking things easy. Look forward to catching up with my old friends.

Gary

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Bio. from Noel Gale.....married Fitch     email noelfitch@yahoo.com
Hi Everyone,
 
Didn't know I was so hard to find.  Thanks to Tom Meleney and Tom Haselton for the help.
 
After college, moved to Vermont to live life as a ski bum before getting serious.  Served some crazy time as assistant manager of the Food and Beverage Dept at Stratton Mountain.  Met my husband Alan there.  He was leasing one of the Inns with some college buddies that supported the mountain.  We have never left Vermont. We have been married since 1974 and now live in Marlboro, Vermont on 18 acres of woodlands.  I own and operate my own business, a specialty gift store in Brattleboro and Alan is a lumber broker with a home office.  We live in the woods, play in the woods, and make money off the woods.  It's all good!!  We have 2 children, Graham 27, recently married and working at the home office of Burton Snowboards and Morgan 25 (yes, named after one of the horses I had while at WJ), is a cosmetologist.  We stay very active: ocean kayaking, remote camping, snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing.  We think it just doesn't get any better. 
 
YES I AM COMING TO THE 40TH REUNION !!!!!     Noel 

.......................

 
Bio. from:  Pete Galvin

As one (or at most two) of you might recall, I was a future scientist type.  That ended my 2nd year at college when my organic chemistry professor called me one morning to tell me I hadn't "a snowflakes chance in hell" of passing his course.  My interest turned to public affairs.  I managed to graduate despite the distractions of the 60s, and (after a 4-F and some cornea surgery) ended up at law school with an eye (!) on changing the world from inside the power structure.  Yeah, right.  Ended up as a lifer bureaucrat and have lived for the last 25 years in the WJ school district.  Was at US Labor for 30 years - mostly legislation and regulation, and occasional stints for Dem administrations in quasi-political spots, on topics that have no sex appeal inside the beltway let alone outside, but which were really cool for about 20% of the total gig.  Did a short stint on capitol hill this year to help pass new mine safety legislation, and more curtain calls are always possible, but I'm more or less retired.  My wife of 30+ years (years of marriage, not age...) worked at Library of Congress until she retired last year (sorry, ladies...you had your chance).  Older child (she) finishing up pediatrics residency with mucho debt; younger (he) is a Russian speaking violinist waiter (don't ask) accumulating mucho debt.  You'll be happy to know that last time we were in Paris, I found (and sat on) Jim Morrison's grave - and I have a picture to prove it.             

..................................

Bio.  from Judy Garrahan.....married Jarman   After graduating from WJ, I attended Hagerstown Business School .  This led me to employment at Bethesda National Naval Medical Center where I met my husband.  John and I were married in 1971 (35 years ago – hard to believe).  Cassie, our daughter, was born in 1974, eight days before John was discharged.  Two weeks later John started grad school at UVA.  We moved to Charlottesville (John’s home town).  We resided in Charlottesville for six years while John taught seventh grade English and I was a homemaker until we were called to the ministry in 1981.  This led us to spend three years in Fort Worth , TX , while John got his second Masters, this one in Divinity and I worked as a medical secretary.  We loved Texas but after graduation we moved back East realizing family was important and too far away.  We served two churches in Virginia and now serve a church here in Greensboro , NC .  We’ve been here for eight years.  I am now a certified medical records coder.  Since moving to Greensboro , I have been working for fourteen Urologists.  I love what I do and thanks to the government with all their regulations, I am always learning.

Cassie has been a real blessing.  She received her undergrad from Virginia Tech, married Steve and got a Masters from NC State in Applied Math.  She and Steve live in Boston , MA , where she works for The Lincoln Labs at MIT (a defense company) and Steve works for Wyeth as a research biologist.  They have too small boys.  The only complaint I have with my daughter is that she lives too far away and it is hard to be a doting grandmother from this distance.  This tempts us to contemplate a move to Boston for retirement.  Burrrr!

 Needless to say, our lives revolve around the church and the Lord Jesus Christ.  We are very busy.  I have worn many different hats being the minister wife: Pastor to the pastor, minister to young mothers and other women, babysitter, wedding coordinator, choir member, WMU leader, Sunday School teacher,  you name it - I have probably done it.  Count it all joy!

 Life has been good to us and I hope for all of you.  

Judy Garrahan Jarman

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From Becky Geiger...married name  Abel......

 

Hello All -

Hope we can get this reunion thing together!

My post-high school life  -

 

  • U of Delaware 1970 - BA in English Literature plus Teaching Certificate and have been in Delaware ever since
  • Taught 10th grade English  for 2 years until I realized that bureaucracies and I weren't meant to be together, so I ...      
  • Spent 29 years in real estate and mortgage business - residential and commercial investment properties;  own and manage rental buildings in Wilmington , DE ; did a lot of real estate related teaching over the years
  • Married for past 25 years to Rich Abel (engineer/business career with DuPont)
  • Two terrific stepchildren - Glenn (career Navy pilot) and Sandy (former Navy JAG and now State Dept Deputy Director of War Crimes Issues)

 

We began the really fun and meaningful part of our lives when, feeling financially secure enough, we retired in 2001 to primarily dedicate ourselves to helping other people do better in their lives.  We had Peace Corps assignments ready in both 2002 and 2005 ( Dominican Republic and Thailand ), but both times Rich had medical issues that prevented us from departing.  In the meantime, we spent a year in Oregon (2003 - 2004) with Americorps/VISTA developing and implementing a business training program for disadvantaged people.  Additionally, I've been active in Literacy Volunteers - teaching reading skills to low literacy adults and teaching English to non-native speakers.

 

Currently we are just one month into new Americorps/VISTA assignments working in community economic development in remote McDowell County, West Virginia, once the largest producer of coal in the country.  The declining coal and timber industries have not been kind to this part of the world.  Current median family income here is $17,000 (compared to $44,000 for U.S. ).  The population has gone from 100,000 in the booming 50's to about 20,000 now.  Major "100-year" floods in both 2001 and 2002 destroyed whole towns in the valley. An enormous challenge indeed, but for the moment we're taking the words of an African environmentalist to heart:  "Having learned it was impossible, we started immediately."

 

To anyone who is interested in the work we're doing - e-mail me directly and I'll add you to my periodic journal reports.

 

Becky

gra10@aol.com

...............

From from from Eileen Gillen ...married name  Biava......married name  Biava..... Married 1969, Mother of 3 in the years 1971, 1976, 1978.  Stay at home mom, loving my family and trying to nurture them, doing it my way, taking small steps adopting culture through hollow and deceptive philosophy.  Developing opinions forgetting convictions, choosing not to wash my thinking by the Word of God.  Married to the same man 36 years, we cannot take all the credit for that, as I look back, it can only be explained as the Mighty Hand of God.  

Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid problems and depression as the “empty nest” crept forward, life looked bleak (lost my purpose). God is our Provider, He is the Great Physician.  So, with a humble heart, knowing that I chose to do wrong and failed to do good, I cried out to Jesus who is the promised Christ, the Son of God, the Son of Man, Messiah, Y’shua, the Holy One of Israel, The Anointed One, the Redeemer, Savior (no one needs the Savior until they know they need the Savior) – He has so many names, My Strong Tower, the Kinsman Redeemer, Lamb of God, the Bread of Life, the Good Shepherd, the great I AM, the Living God, so the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world healed me.   He is all of that and so much more.

 Now I live in peace amidst the chaos by the grace of the Most High God.  I no longer take medication for depression or arthritis.  I made the choice to believe (Abraham was saved by faith long before the law came in), and in faith I traded depression, pain and fear, for the peace and the joy of the Lord.  I am now a child of Abraham through faith.  You see, by faith, Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.  The Word of the Lord is flawless, “through Abraham’s offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed” and that included me.

 Life is meant to be cherished, a free gift is offered to each of us and true love is a sacrifice.  By His cross I am healed.   What a difference relationship makes, enjoying freedoms I never knew.  No longer under the law, I live protected by the strong arm of the Lord, under His grace and tender mercies.  I now look forward to the most exciting adventure of all.  What is to come.

 The prophet Jeremiah said, “If you seek me, you will find me, when you seek me with all of your heart.”  Jeremiah also said, “Call to me and I will answer and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”  How can we honor the prophets of the Bible and not believe what they said?  He is The Way, the Truth and the Life.  Y’shua said, “I came to save the lost sheep of Israel .”  “The kingdom of God is near, the kingdom of God is at hand.” God said, man said, who do you choose to believe? 

from Eileen Gillen Biava

...................................................................

Bio from David Gold

In 1968, after two years partying and growing up at college and in the California hippie scene, I was drafted. I served in the infantry in Vietnam and, at times, was involved in heavy combat. I was injured and sent to Hawaii to recuperate. I suffered no enduring health issues from my injury, but it did get me out of violent combat. I remained in Hawaii until discharge-that was tough duty!
While living in Hawaii, I became interested in yoga, fitness, vegetarianism, meditation, and I lost about 70 pounds.
     Returning to college at the University of Maryland, I met my wife of now 33 years, Judy. We moved to Gainesville, Florida in 1973 and have lived here happily ever since. Gainesville is a charming college town, population about 150,000. We have enjoyed a simply, natural, healthy, prosperous life, for which we give thanks every day.  On a more mundane level, I work part-time as a dental hygienist, my career for almost 30 years. Judy is a part-time teacher at a small charter school.
     Our interests continue to be well beingness  on many levels. I play guitar, tennis, and occasionally golf. We enjoy hiking, canoeing, camping, gardening, and nature. I have a long history of volunteerism: Hospice, city of Gainesville, yoga groups, political groups, environmental groups, and more recently on the city plan board. I have been in a men's group for 20 years. I was a massage therapist for some time. We strive for a more sane, less stressful life.
     High school seems like eons and lifetimes ago.
     To anyone feeling so inclined, please contact me. My e-mail is: mikasunny@hotmail.com.
My home address is: 1938 Northeast 7 Terrace  Gainesville, Florida 32609
                             (352) 376-3279
 
     I have enjoyed reading your bios. Thanks again to those working on the reunion.

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Larry Gordon bio:   LarryGordon.jpg (80623 bytes)  <<<<click on the thumbnail picture to enlarge

After undergrad days at North Carolina (double major math & philosophy), I got a masters in philosophy at the U. of Chicago, occasionally running into Evan Duncan (from the old North Bethesda Junior High days) and Larry Luckom (WJ '68, Jane Luckom's brother).   

Worked on my doctorate for a while but decided not to pursue it to completion, came back to D.C. area, went to work for the MITRE Corp in McLean, VA, and got a 2nd masters in operations research from AU and GW. I've been at MITRE for 26 years, also worked some for TRW in Fairfax. MITRE is a non-profit engineering firm created by Congress around 1960 to work in the public interest. I've worked 9 years in its military side and 17 in its civil side.  

I basically do analysis of en route airspace operations for the Federal Aviation Admin. I've published some in aviation journals and conferences and have some other papers ready to publish, but right now those are considered too sensitive to publish by the FAA. Patience! I plan to work for MITRE for another 3-4 years, then my wife Trish wants to retire to the Beaufort/Charleston area of South Carolina, either that or the south of France (she loves Provence...who doesn't?). Trish is the Asst. Director of INOVA Blood Donor Services.  Trish and I have a daughter, 10-year old Daisy, a golden retriever.  We live in Falls Church.  We'll be at the reunion and look forward to seeing everyone there.

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Bio. from Steven Graham,  Freelance Art Director

I have been trying to come to grips with the 40 years that have passed since high school. The time has really passed quickly. Reading the bios has greatly helped to jog the memories, and it is fascinating to see where life has taken all of us. Thanks to everyone that sent theirs in.

I attended Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh after graduation from WJ. They have a very good fine arts program. I studied set design for the theater and received a BFA in 1970.

On my 21st birthday 1970, I received a draft notice that Uncle Sam wanted me. After basic training I was fortunately sent to Germany, and all in all I met a lot of really interesting people, found a German girl friend, and did a lot of traveling.

Then there were the lost years. After the Army, I worked as a carpenter and painter at a scenic shop outside Washington D.C. that built sets for the Kennedy Center and Wolf Trap Farm. I built a few houses as a carpenter and kicked around for a couple years doing odd jobs. Tried a stint in NY, but couldn't get much going.

I applied and was accepted to the Yale School of Drama, and after two year and a MFA moved to New York where I have lived for the last 28 years. My first job in NY was assisting on the design for the Chinese Court Garden, a permanent installation at the Metropolitan Museum. (Still there) As a freelance designer I worked on various projects, assisted on designs for Broadway musicals, some designing in regional theaters and eventually landed a job in the motion picture business.

For the last 25 years I have worked in several capacities in the Art Department for feature films, primarily as an Art Director. We design whatever you see behind the actor's heads. Never married, no children, one room apartment, it has been a really wonderful, unstable, interesting, insecure, fascinating time. I have spent much of the time living on location

- wherever the project takes me. The last couple of films I worked on are The Interpreter with Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn, and No Reservations with Catherine Zeta Jones coming out in the spring of 2007. I am voting member of the Academy that selects the Oscars.

Life has been pretty good. Regrets? Perhaps I will be able to afford a two-room apartment one day. Rents in NY are unreal.

I not sure I will recognize anyone. I hope I make it, November 4th.

Best Wishes to anyone that remembers me.

 ..............................................

 From May 16, 2010        SUSAN TERRY GRIFFITH (Married Name – BOHANNAN)

 Duke University - 1966-1970, BA in History.

American Red Cross in Vietnam - 1971-1972.

Civil Service, US Navy Supply Corps - 1975-1978.

Born-again Christian - October 1976.

Married - 1978-now, to James Guy Bohannan, LtCdr USN.

Children - 1981, Jennifer Grace Bohannan & 1984, Jonathan Guy Bohannan.

Stay-at-home Mom 1981-2003 with lots of volunteer work, including 20 years  in various leadership roles in Community Bible Study and some part time jobs such as substitute teacher and editor/proofreader at the Christian Broadcasting Network.

Business Owner - 1995-now, STGB Proofing, Editing and Proofreading Services.

Grandchildren - 7 grandkids: Matthew, age 7, Sabre, age 6, Hannah, age 5, Genna, age 3, Jacob, age 18 months, Jeremy, age 17 months, Nathan, age 4 months.

We have lived in Chesapeake, VA, since 1987, raising our kids here and seeing them grow up, get married, and have kids of their own. Life has been good and still is. I am very blessed with a wonderful husband, 2 great kids and spouses, 7 fantastic grandkids ;-), marvelous friends (especially 2 from WJ who I get together with at least three times a year), and believing family and friends who are always there for us when we have needed support, love and help – thru 2 miscarriages, the loss of parents and a grandchild, 3 bouts of cancer, and other life experiences. God is always good, and He has allowed me the privilege to be used as a blessing to my family, friends, and others in my life.

Feel free to email me anytime at:     stgbproof@cox.net.

 

Susan Jon's wedding.jpg Taken at my son’s wedding in May 2008

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From Earl Gronkiewicz.......Life has been good...

I have been married since 1971 to Pat Suriano (maiden name) an army brat, who had attended the University of MD in Germany and then transferred to the U of MD, College Park, where I met her.

Pat is an educator who has been everything from a teacher to a high school principal and is currently out of retirement to become a college program director, as well as doing contract work for the FBI.

We have two daughters Julia (28) and Mary(25). Both are high school teachers. Julia, (Math, University of NC, Chapel Hill) and Mary, (Special Education, University of MD, College Park). Julia has completed her Masters +, Mary is finishing her Masters this year.

We have lived in Anne Arundel County (currently on the Severn near Annapolis) since 1971. We travel fairly extensively.

I have worked for both small and Fortune 500 companies in advertising and emerging media my first 25 years.

Embarked on career change in mid 90's, now specializing in start ups and turnarounds with venture capital group. Currently run several small corporations relating to worldwide emergency services. I can't imagine retirement.

Avocations: referee/umpire -Youth to Collegiate certified for Lacrosse and Field Hockey, renovating, various Community service and volunteer programs, home owners and condo associations, and numerous outdoor activities. Enjoy ACC football, basketball, and tailgating!

Earl Gronkiewicz,  484 Old Orchard Circle,  Millersville MD 21108

410.97.6669 (home), 410.987.6233 (office) earl@pointfieldlanding.com or gronk@toad.net

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From 12/28/09: Lance Gurel......

I ran across the Deceased & Lost Classmates page in a search of my name this morning.  I’ve been out of touch with WJ since I graduated, but I enjoyed reading through the bios on the website.

 This is my contact info. I’ll try to write a bio later, but please keep me on your mailing list.  We’ll see how things go for 2011.  

Best regards,   Lance

 Lance Gurel    16850-112 Collins Ave #170    Sunny Isles Beach , FL   33160

 Lance W Gurel, CPA   Gurel CPA pc  www.gurelcpa.com

lancewgurel@gurelcpa.com

 Toll-free:  888.TO.MY.CPA    Fax:        877.880.6463.  Cell:        786.399.4101

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   From 11/09: Larry Gustin......

Hi Tom,

Yes, I attended WJ for my Junior and Senior years . Robert Gray, Les Guthman, Chris Green, John Grob, Jonathan Hadari, Mark Hanson and Rick Hanson are classmates I remember well from those two years in that homeroom.

I went to the school's website a few times, then got busy (and, as noted in an earlier email to you, lost a lot of information about our class when my Outlook got wiped while reinstalling my operating system).

I am reluctant to commit much time if any to helping with a reunion. Here's why I say this:
1) I was just asked today to head up the City of Trenton's C.E.R.T. program in the Office of Emergency Management. I have yet to sound this out with the head of OEM and the NJ State Police, who asked me. However, described as "point man", it looks like a multifaceted start-up position including program development, recruiting, training, train-the-trainer, etc., all of it voluntary (I think). Time commitment for this might be massive, outside of my work. I'm told this "will start to get off the ground" sometime in the middle of next year.
2) Having committed to raise $14,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society along with my wife, our daughter and her fiancé, and in training now to run a marathon for the first time in my life in January 2010 as part of that commitment, I'm now in physical therapy and at the point where I have to take on total body conditioning via "cross-training",in order to not cause further injury to myself while training. Cross-training will take at least as much time as my running, and fundraising is not doing well enough at this point for us to feel confident about the outcome. I don't expect this project to come to a true conclusion -- financially, etc. -- until sometime in February 2010. This commitment is huge right now.
3) I'm the political liaison for my Legislative District for my union Local, communicating with my legislators both in State Government and in Washington. New Jersey is in a serious gubernatorial contest at the moment, but both my union (C.W.A.) and my Local are also deeply involved in the national health care reform legislation. For this, on the ground, I've canvassed with petitions both door to door and on the boardwalk at the shore, attended at-home buffet talks with issue-based contributors, and, due to my training schedule to run the marathon, have been unable to canvass door to door to get out the vote for the Governor's race. Health care reform will probably continue into 2010, but chained to it is the next war among lobbyists, industries and interest groups -- the Employee Free Choice Act. I suspect that opposition to EFCA will be harsher than what we've seen so far in the health care fracas. I expect my involvement will be near total.

My mailing address is 128 Morningside Drive, Trenton NJ 08618.

I am on Facebook, and we recently became friends there.

I Hope to hear from you soon.

Larry Gustin LarWebGus@comcast.net  (609)306-9416

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guthman lesLARGER.jpg (12010 bytes)                    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Les Guthman has the distinction of both having won the National Academy of Science’s (U.S) nationwide competition to find the best new idea in science television and having produced three of the “20 Best Adventure DVDs of All Time,” according to Men’s Journal magazine.

As founding Executive Vice President and Executive Producer of Outside Television, he produced 33 primetime expedition, adventure and environmental documentaries, including Michael Brown’s “Farther Than the Eye Can See,” which was nominated for two Emmy Awards in 2004: the awards for Best Sports Documentary and Best Sports Cinematography. “Farther Than the Eye Can See,” the film of blind climber Eric Weihenmayer’s renowned ascent of Everest, won 17 international film festival awards. Altogether, there have been 83 film festival screenings of Guthman’s films since 2002.

He produced Outside Television’s expedition and expedition film, “Into the Tsangpo Gorge,” which he also co-wrote with director Scott Lindgren. The expedition achieved the epic first whitewater descent of the “Everest” of rivers, through the 18,000 ft.-deep Tsangpo Gorge in Tibet and was recognized by the Explorers Club as one of the most accomplished expeditions of recent times. “Into the Tsangpo Gorge” aired on NBC Sports in May 2002.

“Into the Tsangpo Gorge” and “Farther Than the Eye Can See,” along with his production, “Into the Thunder Dragon” by filmmaker Sean White, were honored by Men’s Journal magazine in 2005 as three of the “20 Best Adventure DVDs of All Time.”

Guthman has also written, produced and directed ten films, including “Messner” (2002), the first documentary about Reinhold Messner, world’s greatest mountain climber, since Werner Herzog’s “Dark Glow of the Mountains” in 1984. “Messner” was an Opening Night selection of the Telluride Mountain Film Festival in 2004. He also made two highly regarded environmental films with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.: “The Hudson Riverkeepers” (1998) and “The Waterkeepers” (2000).

His most recent film, “Churning the Sea of Time: A Journey Up the Mekong to Angkor,” premiered at Lincoln Center in April 2006.

In 1996, he made “Corwin,” a feature-length documentary about Norman Corwin, the legendary writer, producer and director during the Golden Age of Radio. “Corwin” aired on PBS between 1996-99.

His other films are “Paragliding Across America” (2001), the expedition of world-record-holding paraglider Will Gadd to become the first to paraglide across the United States; “Marathon of the Sands” (2000), the world’s most grueling ultramarathon competition in the Moroccan Sahara; “Eco-Sanctuary Belize” (2001) and “Ten Adventures of a Lifetime” (2004).

In 1999, he won the National Academy of Sciences nationwide competition to select the best new series concept in science television, which resulted in his film, “Three Nights at the Keck,” hosted by actor John Lithgow.

In 1991, Les Guthman created and produced the "DISCOVER MAGAZINE" television series at the Walt Disney Company, based on Discover magazine. He produced "DISCOVER MAGAZINE" for The Disney Channel, and then, working with Disney President and CEO Frank Wells, moved the series to the Discovery Channel, where it became a signature series. At the same time, he developed an unproduced series with HBO based on a comedian’s view of science.

He also co-created and produced the CableAce Award-nominated series “21ST CENTURY”, which included the last interview with Dr. Jonas Salk, discoverer of the polio vaccine. “21ST CENTURY” was co-created and hosted by Public Radio and KCRW host Warren Olney.

Les Guthman’s other credits include almost a decade at NBC News in New York, where he was Manager of Election Analysis and a political producer and writer for Tom Brokaw; a producer and writer for Norman Lear’s Tandem Productions; and Story Consultant on “VISIONS,” the celebrated PBS series that commissioned 80 scripts and produced 40 feature-length independent films and television stage productions over four seasons at KCET in Los Angeles. One of its films, “Alambrista,” won the Camera D’Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

While in college, he was the youngest paid staff member on Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign in 1968.

He is a member of the Explorers Club in New York.

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Bio - Laurie Hall .....married Bright

Without doubt the most important event of my last forty years was my new birth, or spiritual birth, in November 1984. At the time of the birth of my son, Matthew, God in His grace made Himself known to me. I began a search that soon led me to the Lord Jesus Christ, whom I received as my Lord and Savior when I realized the wonderful gift He was offering to me. He freely forgave me my sins, which were considerable, and gave me eternal life. As he says in His word, in the book of Romans, chapter 6, verse 23: "For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

So I was gloriously "born again" when I was thirty-six. The Lord Jesus says in the Gospel of John, chapter three, "Truly, truly, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

My whole world was turned upside down. What had been vital to me (e.g., career advancement, financial rewards, even some human relationships) now became almost insignificant. After high school, I attended Radcliffe College, graduating with a degree in English History and Literature from Harvard in 1970. I travelled in Europe for a time, worked at various secretarial and administrative positions, and then took a MBA degree at Harvard in 1975. The next ten years saw lots of interesting managerial positions at universities and non profit organizations, an unfortunate marriage which took me to Berkeley, California, the birth of my first child, as I described above and new life in Christ.

I relocated back to Gaithersburg, Maryland, after a divorce, took a job at the University of Maryland, and then at the Washington Bible College and Seminary in Lanham VA. I began attending church faithfully and studying

the Bible. It has been a wonderful journey, getting to know the living

God, serving Him, allowing Him to direct my life. He gave me peace and rest such as I have never known. The Lord Jesus makes a wonderful offer to all in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 11, verses 29-30: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls." I took Him up on His offer.

In 1990, the Lord gave me a wonderful, Christian husband, David Bright, who is a scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology here in Gaithersburg. He had two daughters, Jennifer and Jessica, from a previous marriage who lived with him, so I became a mother of three. Then our daughter, Ruth, was born in 1992. To complete our family, we adopted two daughters from Yaroslavl, Russia, in 2001, Tonia and Mareina. My testimony became: "He maketh the barren woman to keep house, a

joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD." Psalm 133:9

I quit working at an out-of-the-home job shortly after my marriage, and since then have been busy keeping my home, taking care of six children and my husband, and home schooling all of our children. Our oldest daughter is married with two little babies, so I am hugely enjoying being a grandmother. Three of our children are still happily in our home: Matthew

(21) attending Montgomery College for a degree in Landscape Management, Mareina (15) and Ruth (14), whom we are home schooling for high school.

Our whole family loves to travel and especially to camp. We have visited 48 states, including driving to Alaska, all the provinces and territories in Canada, and several countries in Europe. We take the glorious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ wherever we go. I would welcome a phone call or letter from any of my classmates and would be eager, especially, to share the good news in Christ. Or come by for a visit any

time - I'm home most days. Address and phone:

12157 Suffolk Terrace

Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878-2040

(30l) 977-6176

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Bio. from:  Robert "Bob" Hanover     email bhanover@sbcglobal.net
Greetings to all WJHS Class of 1966 Alumni (and you haven't been drafted!)

As with the vast majority of respondents, I'm awed with the work, coordination and dedication of the people who organized this Reunion.  I add my thanks to all who've spent countless hours putting this Reunion together.  Kudos'!!!

 Like many, it's been a long, strange trip, but a great ride.  After WJHS I attended undergrad at University of VA and earned my DDS at University of Maryland.  With the Vietnam War waning and realizing there weren't many Combat Dentists, I joined the U.S. Army.  My initial assignment was in a small town outside of Heidelberg.  Quickly realizing I wasn't enamored of the overall aspect of general dentistry  -  shots, patient's paralyzing anxiety, drills, etc., etc., etc., ad nauseum . . .  accordingly, I left after my initial tour and returned to receive Orthodontic training.  I was still plagued with terminal 'itchy feet' and I re-joined the Army:  I received the plum assignment of Orthodontist at SHAPE, Belgium. 

The next 21 years with the military consisted of some fantastic foreign assignments (Heidelberg and Augsburg, FRG; SHAPE, Belgium and Seoul, Korea) along with a couple of nifty stateside assignments, primarily being the Orthodontist for the Cadets at the United States Military Academy.    The cadets and their dedication, drive and determination truly enriched our lives.  While at USMA, I was honored to be the OR (officer Representative) for the USMA Men's Tennis Team.  Well you might ask what being an OR entailed.  Well - my role as an Officer Representative was to present an upstanding model of military bearing, rectitude and forbearance to the cadets.  Alas, always skirting haircut regulations, never totally inured to the concept of blind obedience  to authority, and NEVER possessing a whole lot of patience . . . they called me SMOOF (Smooth Officer) -  always dancing along the perimeter.

Hopefully, all our cadets learned about hard work, dedication, intelligence and it's not necessary to run with the herd to be successful.  Our home was opened to the team and they in turn opened their lives.  We've been to many of their weddings, learned of many births and take utter joy in each and every one of their myriad triumphs .  They're remarkable individuals and I'm so proud to be a small part of that process.  We don't have a magnetic ribbon affixed to our car but we have the knowledge that good people can make a difference.  Some highlights of my military career include founder of the SHAPE, Belgium Turkey Bowl Touch Football games, clearing a 150 patient backlog of patients, Founder of the Seoul Friday Night Supper Club, establishment of the first Pediatric Dental Clinic in Seoul Korea, proud pitcher of championship softball teams in Germany, the Korean Peninsula's (take that Kim Il Jong) and USMA Athletics' Dept.'s.   Oh yeah, baby!!) and being the Orthodontic mentor for General Dentists in the military at Ft. Sill, OK (what I consider my combat overseas tour) and Ft. Hood, TX.  In 1996, after 21  years, I retired from the U.S. Army as a Colonel.

Now, I'm the Orthodontist for a busy and thriving practice of 6 Pediatric Dentists in Corpus Christi, TX.  We have homes on Padre Island and  San Antonio, TX.  We continue to travel relentlessly, to China, India, South America, Africa and Central America.  I married Bobbye in 1981..  We met in Belgium and she enjoys the same peripatetic pursuits.  Bobbye was the first female assigned to a tactical Signal Battalion.  After the military she followed me and also found employment with Civil Service in various positions - Management Analyst/Research Analyst/Statistician.  After working with the State Government in TX, she's presently happily ensconced as a 'nuero-slacker'. 

We don't have any children, but we do have two cats, J.(ohn) D.(oe) and Fearless.  J.D. has advanced studies in butt licking (because he can) and Fearless - well words can't describe - though her name implies everything.

 Though we live in Texas, we're proud members of the "Reality Based Community" and (to paraphrase Kermit) it's not easy

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hanson.jpg (1214790 bytes)  

Bio from Mark Hanson

I was in WJ in 66 and graduated.

Norris Hillary was a pal from 7th grade - saw his name all over the site!
 
I had  hoped to show up but I live in Boston and it is a fer piece for 3 hours of
    "gettin to reknow ya"
 
I looked at some of the pics and could not identify anyone.
I am of course  a lot wider and bearded and white haired so folks would not recognize me easily
 
Attached for your viewing pleasure is a recent picture shown above..
 
 
Married    Marjorie (Foley) Hanson (34 years)  retired banking executive
Kids -     Joshua (29) - artist - lives in Chicago
              Erica (26) - pastry chef - lives in New York
 
We live in Boston, MA
 
I am about 4 years from retirement - having been in various incarnations of the same company for almost 25 years now.
Currently Program Director - Services Operation
 
Before that taught in the Boston Public Schools for 7.5 years.  Was riffed as part of the massive layoff in 1983
 
BA  Religion, Classics, Far Eastern Studies  Wabash College
 US Army  Security Agency 1970 - 1973
Cryptographic Analyst
Viet Nam - August 1971- August 1972

Masters in Religious Education (Boston State)

Masters in Education (Emmanuel)
mini- Executive MBA (Babson)
Myriad coursework in several Boston area universitis (BU, Northeastern, Bentley, U Mass Boston)
 
Bassoonist and member Board of Directors - Metropolitan Wind Symphony - ( retired after 30 years - last year)
Founder - Boston Festival of Bands
Founder - MWS Continuum 

Regards
Mark Hanson
Program Director, Svc Operations, FSO -- CAGE 0K0D7,Parametric Technology Corporation
140 Kendrick Street, Needham MA 02494
p 781.370.6381, rightfax 781.707.0398

mhanson@ptc.com 

Mailing Address
62 Mossdale Road
Jamaica Plain MA 02130
617-522-2849

...........................................

..Bio from Rick Hanson.......Life has been good.  

  • Graduated from RPI in 1970 with BS Electrical Engineering
  • US Navy, MPA and Engineer Officer (DDG-2) 2 years
  • MBA Finance NYU
  • 30 year NYC Commercial Banking career - Corporate and International Project Finance
  • Retired July 1, 2006, now managing personal investments and trading call options
  • Addicted to golf - Westchester Country Club - NY/ Berkeley Hall - South Carolina
  • Wife: Wendy, Two sons: Andrew (25) and Kurt (22)
  • Andrew is a pilot for Comair (subsidiary of Delta Airlines)
  • Kurt just graduated this Spring from American University in Washington , D.C.

 Best way to communicate is via email:  rickhansen@optonline.net

........................................................

Bio. from:  Carol Harvey...married Reynolds  email   kncreynolds@comcast.net

It was my goal to work in foreign affairs and that is indeed where I spent my

career: but, instead of being in cultural affairs it was agricultural affairs. I retired from the Foreign Agricultural Service of USDA (FAS) after 31 years at the end of 2003 and have been enjoying the leisure and time spent with family afforded by that move.

Back to 1966. I spent four years at Oberlin College studying history (a lot)and economics (a little). Then on to Johns Hopkins SAIS--first year in Bologna, Italy learning Italian and enjoying the sights, second year in Washington, getting my degree. After a few free-lance jobs, I joined FAS (economics--a lot), had an overseas tour in Bonn, Germany where I really learned the job, went back to school for a year at Minnesota to become steeped in agricutural economics, and settled in to do the Washington end of the work. Best thing that could have happened to me since I met my husband

there. We have two neat kids, a senior at Sweet Briar College in Virginia

(the activist, who wishes her generation would be more like the sixties students), and a sophomore at Lake Forest College outside of Chicago (who is looking at Asian Studies, despite his Eurocentric parents). Both went to our old rival, Whitman.

We spend our time doing what most parents of college students do--helping when called upon, but mostly cheering from the sidelines--as well as occasional travel and looking after the three parents we still have between us and a corgi named Rusty (very cute, but sheds too much). My husband is a fantasy league junkie and loves to golf. I do occasional needlepoint. We both enjoy the Washington Ballet and whatever theater strikes our fancy.

Looking forward to looking back at the reunion.

Carol Reynolds (nee Harvey)

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Bio. from Thomas M. Haselton    email to: TMH@minoil.lt

After WJ I attended Vanderbilt (long with Sue Hutson and Marcia Gaarden). After 2 years Vanderbilt suggested I should take a break. To avoid the draft I joined the Navy and spent 4 years in Coronado making the world safe for democracy. Then I moved back to Rockville where I worked in construction for 1 year during which I met my first wife (introduced by Don Forrester).
 
I returned to Vanderbilt in the fall of '74 and subsequently graduated with a Masters in Geology. I was recruited by Phillips Petroleum and spent 2 years in Oklahoma (where my son Bennett was born) and subsequently 5 years in London. When offered the chance to move back to Oklahoma I declined and moved instead to Copenhagen in 1985. I spent the next 13 years working as a consultant based in Copenhagen but mostly working in Norway and the FSU including 2 years in Siberia.
 
In 1998 I moved to Lithuania where I fulfilled every Geologist's dream--I became General Manager of a small oil company. More importantly I  married for the 2nd time to a wonderful woman Natasha, and we now have 2 small children Katya and Sasha (5 and 7).
 
All in all life has been interesting and for the most part rewarding.
 
Sorry I can't make the reunion--hats off to the organizers. I look forward to the 50th.
 
Tom Haselton

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Bio from Harriet Hemmerich....married name Woods

I graduated from Goucher College and got married in 1972. We lived three years in Livermore, Ca.for three years, and then moved to Clifton Park, NY, between Saratoga Springs and Albany.  We have a 33 year old daughter who works as an assistant editor for the Northeast Science Foundation and a 31 year old son who is working in the film industry in LA. 
    Before we moved to California, I worked in Washington as a Federal Retirement Claims Administrator.
    When my children were in school, I had several volunteer leadership positions in the Parent Teachers Association.
    In 1991 I got my MLS from the University at Albany and worked for the NYS Attorney General's office as a librarian for four years.
        My hobbies have been reading, identifying Spring wildflowers, making dollhouse miniatures, tai chi, and yoga.
    I have taken many trips to Europe accompanying my husband to conferences.  We spent one sabbatical in Holland and one in Berlin, Germany.
    I am now organizing and putting on a database the teaching materials of my county for the Literacy Volunteers of America.
 
Harriet Hemmerich, married name Woods

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Bio. from: Lyn Henderson  email  lynhenderson@prodigy.net 

After WJ, I stayed in the Washington area. I got my BS and MBA at University of Maryland . I taught there for about 10 years part-time as I pursued a full-time career in the Federal Government. My first year was with the US Treasury. I then moved over to the Atomic Energy Commission that morphed into the Department of Energy (DOE). I stayed with DOE the remainder of my career. The last 15 years or so I served as the Director of Budget for DOE.  It is kind of ironic that my college, my work, and my home have never been more than 30 miles from WJ but I have been lost all these years. (I sure never felt lost but thanks for finding me anyway.) I now do a little beltway bandit consulting and have time to pursue my real passion - to become a professional golfer. (Well maybe full-time golfer would be more accurate.)

 

I married my wife Kathy in 1969 and we have two children. My wife was a 1966 graduate of Richard Montgomery. I still kid her that RMHS was the only school in the County where the kids all wore Chucks Taylors (tennis shoes) to their prom.  Our daughter is 31 and married to an Army officer. They have been stationed in Hawaii the past five years. So I am constantly traveling there to see them and my granddaughter that is almost two. My daughter and husband are expecting their second (a baby boy) in November so I will soon be headed back to Hawaii .  Our son is 28 and is in St. Pete , Florida doing his residency. His specialty is sports medicine. I hope he gets done soon so I can get some free medical aid that will keep me on the golf course.

 

My kids thought they were both a lot smarter than me. They left this area for warmer climates. I guess I will just have to visit them a lot-- especially in the winter. Paybacks are great, and how else can I keep my golf game tuned up.

........................................................

From  Tom Herron WJ 1966 ....Frankly, I was not particularly social back then either - was dating a girl a year younger all those years which kinda kept me out of the social scene.  The band started in '63 and we played all over, but when we graduated, I went away to college and the rest of the guys went to Maryland, which ended it.
 

Following graduation, majored in Political Science at Lycoming College (Williamsport, PA), which sadly broke up our Rock Band from the WJ era - first known as The Karavans and then as "The End" (see ad in back of '66 Yearbook) and also consisting of WJers Joe Neurauter (lead guitar) and Bruce Watkins (base guitar).  Editor of college newspaper (1967-1968);  President of SGA (1969).

 
1970-73 - Assistant Promotion Director for Brick Institute of America (McLean, VA) 
1973-74 - Regional Director, Brick Institute of America (Chicago, IL)
1974-77 - Account Supervisor at HJK&A Advertising (Georgetown)
1977-78 - General Manager, Ellis/Singer/Webb Advertising (NY, Miami, McLean)
1979-80 - VP/GM - Demaine/Lambert & Associates Advertising (Alexandria)
1980-85 - Herron & Associates Advertising/PR with father Don P. Herron (1918-1999)
1985-92 - The Marcom Group (McLean/Old Town) full-service marketing/advertising firm
1993-98 - Founder/Operator Gary Player Golf Vacations - Myrtle Beach/Palm Beach Gardens
1998-06 - Marketing/Advertising Consultant and GOP Political Strategist
 
Took me several attempts to get the marriage thing right.  First wife was college sweetheart and is the mother of our three daughters - Nicole 37, Chantilly, VA - Interior Design Firm (Grandsons Jonathan 10; Joshua 8);  Pamela 36, Greenwich Village/NYC - actress/yoga instructor; Courtney 26, Flushing, NY (cover girl/model).  The two NY girls were lived within blocks of the WTC - a horrific day for America and their father.  Second wife was, well, second wife.  Now finally and happily married to Jaci (18 years) - best friend, lover, and business partner.
 
Now attempt to finish writing the first of three books. Still an avid sailor - but Surfside Beach, SC is a great place to golf, not sail!
 
Anyone know the whereabouts of my HS Sweetheart Linda Helmer (WJ class of '67).  She dropped off the face of the earth about 35 years ago - and no one seems to know where/why.
 
By the way, are y'all aware that the "Spartans" are now called the "Wildcats?"
 
Tom Herron WJ 1966

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Bio. From  Marie Higgins....married Priest  email   priestm@pbmac.nci.nih.gov

 

After graduating from Walter Johnson High School, I attended Montgomery Junior College and graduated with an Associate of Arts in Business.  I married Robert E. Priest, Jr. in October 1969 and my beautiful daughter, Kimberly, was born the following September.  After eight very difficult years of marriage, I decided that I would be better off on my own.

 

I went to work at the National Institutes of Health where I worked as a secretary in research and grants, several laboratories, a clinical branch where we took care of children with cancer or AIDS and a division director's office. Besides the usual clerical/administrative work, I have setup a laboratory, moved a laboratory to the Veteran's Administration in Cincinnati, OH, dealt with the press and have been part of a team dealing with the Secret Service for two George H.W. Bush visits, a Bill Clinton visit and a Hillary Clinton visit. I also escorted the Blue Angels, several Baltimore  Orioles players, several Senators and Congressmen and Marlo Thomas through the Pediatric Oncology and AIDS Branch. I also have met Barbara Bush, Alan Alda, Elizabeth Glaser and Elizabeth Taylor while working in this Branch.

 

Currently, I am a Technology Development Administrative Specialist for the Technology Transfer Branch, National Cancer Institute.  I have been in this position since January, 1999.  I do paralegal work for a Unit and do independent work for two lawyers in the Branch.  I negotiate legal agreements such as Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) and Confidential Disclosure Agreements.  I also prepare docket reports and the monthly patent cases for my Unit for review by the NCI Technical Review Group.  By preparing the patent cases, I have gained extensive knowledge of the patenting process.  I also negotiate and process all of the MTAs for the Mouse Models of Human Cancer Consortium (MMHCC).  This is an NCI initiative and the MMHCC has a committee which accepts mouse strains from all over the world that are distributed at no charge to the research community.  Since the project began in 2002, I have negotiated more than 120 MTAs for incoming mice and approximately 550 MTAs per year for outgoing mice.  During my tenure, I have received a Public Health Service Award for my volunteer work, several cash awards, quality increases and customer service awards.  I have been at NIH for 28 years and I plan to retire when I have 30 years. 

 

My daughter, Kimberly, recently turned 36-years-old.  She graduated from Montgomery College with an Associate of Arts in Secondary Education, went on to attend the Baltimore International Culinary College (BICC) earning an Associate of Arts in Professional Cooking and continued on to receive a Bachelors in Science in Behavioral and Social Sciences from University of Maryland University College. While attending BICC, Kimberly met her husband, Patrick Gary, who was pursuing a second career after retiring from the Navy.  She went to work at the Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health and was eventually promoted to supervise the Patient Travel Voucher Office.  Four years ago, Kimberly changed careers and became a substitute teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools and has been pursuing her Master's Degree in teaching from Mount St. Mary's.  Kimberly and her family loved vacationing in Deep Creek Lake and in August 2004, she and her family moved to Swanton, MD which is outside Deep Creek Lake.  She and her husband teach in the school system in that area.                           

 

One of the highlights of my life was watching the birth of my adorable granddaughter, Sheena Marie.  Sheena is a beautiful, delightful, inquisitive eight-year-old who loves school, reading, music, swimming and dancing.  Sheena calls me "G" and I love being a grandmother.  Still a kid at heart, I spent my 54th birthday with my  

 Sheena attending a play at Glen Echo and riding on one of the carousel ponies. 

When Kimberly started college, I began experiencing the empty nest syndrome.  At the time, I was working in the Pediatric Oncology and AIDS Branch at the National Cancer Institute and I became interested in children's issues and the fact that they needed representation.  I taught religion to special needs children and I began doing volunteer work at The Children's Inn at NIH and Camp Fantastic (a camp for children with cancer).  In 1988, I was appointed by County Executive Neal Potter to serve on the HIV/AIDS Task Force in Montgomery County.  I also sat on the Child and Adolescent Subcommittee of the Mental Health Advisory Committee and served as a surrogate parent for educational purposes for Montgomery County Public Schools to a six-year-old boy living at Redl House, a group home.  Currently, I am on my fourth appointment as a Citizen Volunteer appointed by the Governor of Maryland to the Montgomery County Citizens Review Board for Children where I review cases of children in foster care once a month.  This is an oversight committee reviewing whether the placement of the child by the Montgomery County Department of Social Services is appropriate. 

 

Since I am planning on retiring in two years, I am exploring other volunteer options for the future.  Last spring, I took a 15-week course called Citizen Academy through the Montgomery County Police Department.  Some of the things I learned about included traffic and criminal law, cold cases, forensics and firearm safety -- I even shot 15 rounds using a Glock.  I visited the new jail in Clarksburg, rode with a police officer and worked with a call-taker and dispatcher at the Emergency Communications Center.  Since July, I have been volunteering two evenings a week at the Wheaton-Glenmont Station.  Currently, I am attending training sessions for the Emergency Action Team in Montgomery County.  This Team will be called to staff the Volunteer Mobilization Center in emergency situations.  Having been frustrated with the recent primary election, I will be the Assistant Chief Election Judge at my polling place. 

 

My spare time is occupied with my family and friends, and I enjoy theater, reading, music and swimming. 

 

Marie H. Priest
Technology Development Administrative Specialist,

Technology Transfer Branch
National Cancer Institute
Executive Plaza South, Suite 450
6120 Executive Boulevard
Rockville, MD  20852
(301) 435-3036 (Telephone)
(301) 402-2117 (FAX)

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Bio from John Hill....Well,  here goes     !John and Brenda Hillsmaller.JPG (38931 bytes)

 
    After attending Tarkio College (Missouri), I migrated to California in 1970.  Worked for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 22 years, United Nations International Police Task Force in Bosnia for one year, then a nonprofit substance abuse education agency for seven years.  Now working with my own nonprofit agency for aid to a village in Guatemala.
    Married Brenda Barham in 1980, 2 daughters, Lauren, 25 and Adrienne, 22.  Brenda is CEO of Claremont University Consortium, an agency of the Claremont Colleges.  We have lived in Claremont, CA all our married life.
    Life is good!
 
    Look forward to seeing you and other '66ers in Bethesda.          John Hill

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.NorrisErikaWedding1973.jpg (38464 bytes)  Things have worked out well & life has been good to us. SEE>>norrisFAMILY.jpg (490683 bytes)  

                                                     <<<<<this is me at work!!!  JUST KIDDING !!!!!

From Norris Hillery....1966-1970 University of South Florida BA Geology.  Out of state tuition to USF was cheaper than in-state tuition at U. Md.  Graduated in Geology because the draft board said they needed me for Vietnam (lottery #86) and it was too late to change to computers.  The change to computers was necessitated because my Mineralogy class showed me I neither cared nor could distinguish Quartz from concrete.  Graduating GPA was 2.15 on a 4.0 scale.  Actually angry I had that much cushion.  Could have slacked off even more...........

1970-1971 - National Guard Training and trying to find a computer job.  Sent out 100 resumes, got 2 interviews (that GPA again) and 1 job offer.  Because I was single (that GPA again) and had no possessions, the company sent me to live in Germany and work for the US Army.  My relocation package was a plane ticket, 2 suitcases and $250.

1971-1974 - Learned how to ski, aquaplaned on the Autobahn (Bald tires will do that), met up with Rick Hansen (WJ66) and toured with him for a week and met my wife.  Rick Hansen is the reason I met my Austrian wife.  I was supposed to be learning to sail when Rick wrote and wanted to tour Europe.  He left early Friday afternoon and I had 2.5 day weekend to do something.  So I went skiing on a Glacier in Austria (July 9th, Kaprun, Zell am Zee) and Erika ran into me.  I claim it was the orange jeans and flannel shirt, she claims she was a poor skier (that's like an American claiming they never ate a hot dog).

1974-1979 - returned to Bethesda (Spring Lake condo near Montgomery Mall) and had 1st child Elisa.
1979-1980 - chance to return to Europe, so went to US Navy London next to the American Embassy.  Ran around Hyde Park 5 times a week and did a 1/2 marathon in 1:45

1980-1992 - chance to stay in Europe and move to Mons (Bergen for you Flemish Speakers), Belgium working for SHAPE (Supreme HQ Allied Powers Europe OR as we contractors like to call it Super Holiday At Public Expense).  There Patrick and Heather were born.  5 min commute by bicycle for 12 years (vice 1hour each way today in DC).  Got Masters in Computer Information Systems from Boston University Brussels in 1991 (They thought the 2.15 GPA was on a 2.5 scale, whew).1992 - Present - trying to survive in Northern Virginia (all detached single family houses are 700K and up).  Now work in the Pentagon on the Global War on Terror.Language Proficiency:  German - not bad, French - comme ci, comme ca, Yorksire English where the Hillery's came from in 1841 - zero..............

Genealogy - I am a decendent of Bodicea Born in th 1st Century AD, Bodicea, also known as Boadicea and Boudicca, ruled the Iceni tribe of East Anglia under Roman Rule and rebelled successfully for a short while until the Romans got serious................

Regrets - None (not even that GPA)
Happiness Index - 9/10 (Heather leaving for college in 1 week, so Erika and I must try to reconnect)
No Grandkids cause no kids are married yet Frustration Index - 8/10 (so in church each Sunday we steal babies to hold)
Wish I could retire but have no low cost health insurance options until Medicare at 66 Frustration Index - 11/10

 Norris Hillery
       13112 Curved Iron Road   
Oak Hill, Va 20171-2928
703-318-0787 (H)
703-547-8488 (VoiP phone)
703-614-5087 (W)
703-470-1240 (C)

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From: Hugh Hoisington  email   hoisi2@gmail.com

Hi guys.

Thanks to Norris for his persistence in trying to get hold of me. Stuck with it like a revenooer.

After Walter Johnson, I went to school at West Virginia Wesleyan. Majored in political science. The main memory I have from there was the dreaded blue books they used for the tests. What i learned was how

many ways to rephrase a question when I had no idea what i was talking about in order to

fill up pages.

Back then, there was this unpopular war going on; some of you may be old enough to remember or is that now? deja vu again I guess.

I took awhile to get through school; but finally made it. I put in just a few months with the post office in Rockville. Then I got hired by the savings bond office in Chicago. The mission is to finance the public debt; basically to borrow money to pay for worthy government

projects like developing space ships to deport illegal space aliens. Just kidding. I spent about a year there; then the office was moved to Parkersburg WV in 1974, I've been here since then. Basically, I'm in customer service (whatever that means anymore, can't drive the big bulldozers, I guess.) The comic strip "Dilbert" reminds me of our office.

oh,yeah...I got married in 1985 (Kathy); we've got 2 kids. Joshua-18, and Cody-12. I was doing pretty good for awhile. i kept my hair, mostly, and even got carded for beer once when I was thirty-five. now i get the senior discounts without asking...rats...

Well, i guess i could just chat on like this, but i have to go take a nap.

Have a good reunion; let the good times roll.

Hugh Hoisington.

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Information on Jon L. Hunter

At 3:00 PM EST today; 9/1/2006; I will be leaving EPA after 28 years here and an additional 10 elsewhere in Govt.

You may call me evenings before  10 PM at (301) 530-6005.  I am taking care of my 90 year old mom and after 10 PM can get dicey.

Please write to me at:

4523 Traymore Street
Bethesda, MD  20814-3964

Hope I see you all at the 40 year reunion.

Jon L. Hunter

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Bio. from Susan Huntley.....married name Van Buren   email susanvb@verizon.net

Next time I write one of these, I’m going to tell you that I’m singing lead in an R&B band and riding an old Harley. I did drive a 1959 356A Porsche roadster for several years until the kids outgrew the rumble seat. We’d roar up the driveway to Montessori school with the gang hanging out of the sunroof. Then, I got stuck in the station wagon years, and I can’t seem to get myself back into a cool car. Where is that Porsche?

Let’s see . . . My parents moved to North Carolina the day after we graduated, so I very quickly lost contact with high school friends, since I rarely came back to the area during holidays and vacations. I spent that first summer waiting tables at Hot Shoppes with Merrill Larson, then headed to Middlebury where I studied chemistry, learned to ski and sprained my ankle badly. After two winters, I realized that I truly was a southern belle with a desperate need for cherry blossoms and daffodils during those months that the rest of the world calls spring. No more mud season! I transferred to GW with a major in art history and minor in studio art, which landed me a job as a graphic designer for ABC News in Washington, where I stayed for 11 years - the last 4 on the staff of Good Morning America. Yes, I did go to work at 4 a.m., but the hours allowed me to be home in the afternoon for soccer practice (I was the mom who was sound asleep under the tree.)

The 70’s were our Mother-Earth-Back-to-the-Land-Self-Sufficiency years. We lived on a farm in Loudoun County, chopped wood, raised chickens and children, ate chickpeas and lentils, wore Earth Shoes, etc., etc. (And commuted to Washington for our jobs.)

In the early 80’s, I made a career shift, went back to school and received a graduate degree in landscape architecture. Over the last 25 years, I’ve worked for private sector firms doing projects from large-scale land planning to historic park restoration and private residences; for the public sector with local planning design and implementation of Smart Growth policies; and for the nonprofit sector doing heritage area planning for the Potomac basin and city parks advocacy. While doing my Potomac work, we partnered with the Maryland Environmental Trust, and I found myself working with John Hutson (I’d always thought it was “Hudson” until he sent me some correspondence) who turned out to be Susan’s little brother. Right now, I’m working with the Baltimore Conservatory and Botanic Garden (for fun) and managing our personal real estate investments (for profit.)

On a parallel family track . . . my older daughter Adrienne is 36, works as a food editor, and just moved to Bristol, UK with her British husband, Nick, and 7-1/2 year old daughter, Isobel. My younger daughter Melissa is 33, manages product development for Tiffany’s, and just bought her first apartment in Brooklyn, NY, with her Italian husband, Riccardo, and 3 year old daughter Flavia. Their apartment is the size of my living room.

I won’t tell you about all of the dogs and cats in my life over the last 40 years, but there have been 2 husbands (some of you have me beat on that item) -- the last one a real keeper. Peter has just wrapped up a 25-year career in the wine business, mostly in importing and distribution (we drink well) and has started a new business in green building. He cooks; he cleans the pots and pans; he takes me hiking in Italy; he does qigong with me. In short, he’s in charge of making me laugh and making sure I don’t take myself too seriously. We live in midtown Baltimore in a neighborhood of 3-story Victorian rowhouses that looks a lot like Dupont Circle, but without the heavy traffic. We love Baltimore.

It’s wonderful to hear from so many people. Many of us go back to Miss Scanlan’s 7-15 homeroom at NB. Scary!

Life is good. See you soon.

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Information on off  the Wake Forest School of Medicine web site Susan M. Hutson
Professor of Biochemistry
B.A., Vanderbilt University, 1970
Ph.D. (Biochemistry), University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1976
Telephone: (336) 713-7217
E-mail: shutson@wfubmc.edu   

 
There are three main research directions in my laboratory.
1) We are elucidating the signaling pathways that are activated by leucine and the role of key metabolic enzymes, the branched chain aminotransferase BCAT isozymes and the branched chain a-keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKD) enzyme complex in regulating the leucine signal.

2) We have discovered a novel redox-active dithiol/disulfide center in the mitochondrial BCATm, and found that this enzyme forms a redox-sensitive association with the E1 decarboxylase of the BCKD complex. We are currently determining the regulatory role of this "metabolon" and identifying the other protein components using mass spectrometry. We will also address the hypothesis that the BCAT isozymes have functions in addition to their metabolic role using proteomic technology to identify proteins that interact with the BCAT.

3) In a separate project we have proposed that excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate synthesis in the central nervous system is supported by a branched chain amino acid (BCAA) shuttle between astroglia and neurons that requires both BCAT isozymes. We have developed a knockout mouse for the glia-specific BCATm isozyme and will use antisense technology to knock down expression of the neuron-specific cytosolic BCATc Using x-ray crystallography we have determined the structural basis for the specificity of the antiepileptic drug gabapentin for BCATc.

Medical Relevance: Because of the medical consequences of blocking BCAA metabolism on brain function (Maple Syrup Urine Disease), increased use of high protein diets for general weight loss, and use of BCAA as supplements by performance athletes and body builders, it is imperative that we understand the molecular basis for effects of leucine on the body. Understanding how leucine regulates muscle protein mass may lead to new dietary interventions for muscle wasting syndromes

Bio from: Susan Hutson: 

Dear All,   I have been enjoying the biographies and like many of you realize with such a large class, we were connected to a small set of friends.  This way the size is manageable. 

 

My life has been a journey that is still ongoing.  After high school I went to Vanderbilt University , primarily because they had a new major, Molecular Biology.  There I became acquainted with southern culture and met some wonderful friends.  During my senior year I realized that I probably wanted to do research and that I needed a PhD to do that so I went to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin in Madison .  I arrived right after the bombing of the physics building which really put an end to the student protests.  Madison because one of my favorite places.  It has lakes and I learned to sail, iceboat, and cross country ski.  The politics were liberal and it was a pleasure to vote for candidates.  I married briefly, but we parted ways and he went off to Southeast Asia .  I met my second husband during my postdoc, a handsome Norwegian during a Fulbright Fellowship in the lab next door.  We moved to Norway to Tromso which is north of the Arctic Circle , yes the midnight sun and 2 months of darkness in winter.  I learned Norwegian fairly well and enjoyed the beautiful nature.  You just go out with rubber boots and a raincoat.  I still am in touch with friends there and we occasionally meet for trips in Europe .  We had our first child in Tromso.  Then when David was 1 year old, we moved back to the States to Hershey Pennsylvania .  After 5 years there, we obtained positions at Wake Forest University in the School of Medicine in Winston-Salem , North Carolina .  We had our second child there, Katja.  She is now a senior in high school and David has a job and is living in Charlotte , NC .  He loves North Carolina , went to Chapel Hill , and plans to stay here forever.  Katja is looking at schools all over and is the child that loves to travel and meet new people.  They are both a pleasure and delight. Returning to the States put many strains on our marriage and we have separated this year after 28 years together.  It has been a journey of discovery that has led me to a more connected life, back to core values.  I will love the outdoors but have added yoga and nonviolent communication to my life.  It is exciting and scary.

 

Professionally, I went into academics for the freedom, creativity, and flexibility the job offers.  An additional benefit that I enjoy tremendously is the chance to work with people from all over the world and to travel both inside and outside the US .  My scientific passion is in nutrition although I am on the molecular side of the spectrum.  Considering the challenges facing women in the sciences, becoming a full professor was an achievement.  My part time role in administration has provided opportunities to look at the big picture which I enjoy.  Perhaps it is age, but in recent years, I have become more interested in mentoring and promoting diversity.  I have found that I have vision and I want to build and grow rather than maintain.  So I am looking for change and new challenges either here or elsewhere.  I am actively involved in my neighborhood association and find that I enjoy it tremendously. 

 

Looking forward to the reunion.     Susan

 
Susan M. Hutson
Professor of Biochemistry
Deputy Associate Dean of Research
Liaison for Faculty Affairs & Research Development  
Rm. 226 Nutrition Research Center
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Medical Center Blvd
Winston-Salem, NC 27157
Tel: 336-713-7217 Fax: 336-716-7671 e-mail: shutson@wfubmc.edu

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Bio of James Irelan.....I didn't enjoy high school, sorry to say. I was a terrible student; I simply never tried, except in English. Life might have been easier if I could have paid attention, gone right on to college, got the degree, the career, the wife and the kids. But I turned out to be a black sheep type. I did go to college, but only briefly, in a small town in Arizona, Prescott, near Sedona. I met friends there, one of whom played guitar, and another of whom had an uncle who was a Catholic priest from a contemplative order- a monk. He had a contemplative center in Sedona, which town was nothing like it is today. Today it's a major tourist attraction. In the late '60s it was a crossroads, and Fr William had chosen the place for his retreat center because of its natural beauty and because of its isolation- silence and solitude were central to the mission of his Spiritual Life Institute. So I became influenced by the lifestyle of having nothing, owning nothing, but I also fell in love with guitar playing. I eventually returned to the east coast, and after having played folk music for a couple of years on my own, began studying jazz guitar for reasons that I still don't really understand. I started looking for work as a guitarist after a couple of years, and eventually became a full-time guitarist. At this time I had returned to Arizona, to Tucson, to working on the road with bands, and then to San Diego to play a show. I remained in San Diego for about fifteen years, playing virtually everything there is to play- dances, private parties, recording, symphony pops in the summertime, musical theater, solo jobs on yachts in San Diego bay while tractor salesmen stick their cigarettes in your face as you're playing some jazz tune they've never heard.

Then, in the mid '80s, the music scene in San Diego (and elsewhere in the country, I understand) went south. I blame MTV and Ronald Reagan, but nobody ever really knew why. I thought that maybe I should look for other work. I did some sales for a while, but pretty much hated it. I was still trying to avoid formal school, at which I had been so bad. Then, through a series of events, I became aware of some health care courses at a local college, and through investigating them, wound up going back to school, was able to do pretty well to my surprise, and became a registered nurse. In those days there was a hiring freeze on for new nurses- I think the hospitals were all nervous about what would happen should the Clintons' health care reforms become actualized- and I wound up getting my first job back in Arizona, in a terrible little town called Yuma, then back to my beloved Tucson for about thirteen years. Today I live in San Antonio, Texas, where I relocated for the attractive housing prices, and because there is a branch of my previous hospital here. I work in the cardiac telemetry and ICU setting. My serious interests are in photography and fine art print-making, poetry writing, and, as always, in music. I still play, and slowly over the last few years I've been attempting to learn digital audio workstation recording into the computer. There are not enough years left in my life to learn all there is to know about the immense study of recording, but I'm trying. I'm not enjoying this hospital, which is too bad, because its sister hospital in Tucson was the best I'd worked in, and I'm only lukewarm about San Antonio. So I'm thinking I have maybe one more relocation left in me.

I am open to suggestions, should anyone have any. I am also suffering with a personal tragedy in the recent suicide of my best friend Ed Farrell, should any of you remember him from Kensington Jr High School, where I met him in the eighth grade.James Irelan