Bios St-Z

Bio. from DR. Ray Stangland, email RStangland@aol.com

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the BIOS of my class mates. What a fabulous, creative, diverse
group we are. I wish I had taken the opportunity to better know you when we were together.

I attended the University of Wisconsin graduating in 1970. I loved the independence of college. I was strongly affected by the events of the war/protest movements that were all around me in Madison. I married my high school sweetheart, Sara Lukens--also WJ '66, in 1970. Unfortunately, we shouldn't have. Marriage ended 1973. I graduated from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in 1974. I had wanted to be a doctor since I was 10 years old.

I moved to Portland Oregon to start an internship and have lived in the area ever since. I was in the first generation of physicians to specialize in Emergency Medicine. I am still practicing Emergency Medicine today, now with some colleagues thirty years younger. I am the senior member in age and experience in my group. I am valued for my vast experience and perspective. I am also expected to work as hard, fast, long, and competently as my much younger partner -- which is a challenge. I am still tickled that I get to do work I really enjoy after all these years. I don't always feel this way--particularly when I am tired, grumpy, and hungry and dealing with difficult people at 2am.

In time off, I fell in love with the mountains--backpacking, skiing; the Oregon coast -- surfing, hiking, biking. I then met a woman involved with horses and became a horse fanatic. Started riding as an adult and became deeply involved with competing in Stadium Jumping and Three-day Eventing. I have had absolutely wonderful adventures over a twenty year career. I have competed against and won competitions that included Olympic Medal-Winning Riders. When this happened, they were on a very inexperienced horse--I wasn't that good, but still it was very thrilling. Many of my best moments of riding were the quiet workouts with my horse when together, we reached new personal
plateaus. My relationship with my horse woman friend ended about 18 years ago. She remains a friend and I am indebted to her for bringing in horses into my life.

I never had children and didn't expect to as I got older. Fifteen years ago I met Coni. She strongly disliked doctors and western medicine. She was embarrassed to tell her friends she was dating a doctor. She is a child therapist and a year older. She also was childless. For quite a while we had a tumultuous relationship. We agreed to meet the beginning of each month to discuss if we ought to continue seeing each other. This must have gone on for six months or more.

We went into counseling together. Later we attended a four year training together in "Core Energetics" finishing in 1998. Core Energetics is a body-oriented /psychotherapy/spirituality practice. I had thought I would leave Emergency Medicine to do this practice. Instead I have used the work for personal growth and as an adjunct in the ED when I am tired, grumpy, hungry, etc. It also has helped me open my heart to Coni, a wonderful woman whom I married 10 years ago.

Two years later on May 31, 1998 we stood in a hotel lobby in Nanjing, China and received our adoptive daughter Cora (for Coni and Ray) Tai (her orphanage name) Stangeland. She was just two. I can't believe the joy this has brought us. I am tearful as I write telling you this is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. Tai is such a great gal. I wish I was more like her. She wakes each day with a smile and a spirit of adventure. I can't get enough of being a dad.

She had to give a short speech to her fifth grade class about herself and didn't know how to start it. I suggested she talk about something that made her special and different. I'm thinking "born in China," "youngest member of junior orchestra," "terrific cook," or "soccer player." She turns to me and says, "I know, I have the oldest parents in the whole school!"

I am having a great time being a dad. Helping with homework, soccer, tennis. We hike, backpack, boogieboard, and ski as a family.

At this time in my life, my long-term relationship is with my retired champion horse who is now 32 and I have had him for 27 years. I stopped riding him when he no longer wanted to jump over even
a little log. He had always jumped with passion and joy. Two years after I hadn't ridden him, Tai got
on him after not riding since she was 4. The horse's ears perked up and he became his old self again
wanting to be ridden. Now my daughter is galloping him thru the fields and he is jumping with her like he did fifteen years ago. All of us are loving it. I am the luckiest man in the world.

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Bio. from Barbara Stern.....married KORB email barbara@bkorb.com

After graduating "WJ" I attended the University of Maryland, majoring in Sociology/Social Work and Art. I married Barry Korb, another graduate of WJ (class of 1963) in 1970. Barry and I enjoyed traveling to Europe and Israel in the summers. I worked as an Art Teacher at Rosemary Hills Elementary School and at a Senior Citizens Center for a few years before having my first child, Susan, in 1974. I enjoyed being a stay at home mom and got my Master's Degree in Education from the University of MD. in 1975. My second daughter, Deborah, was born in 1978. When Deborah turned two I went back to work part-time as an Art Teacher in her nursery school. I created two art programs for pre-schoolers, one on The Elements of Art and one on Art History.

My daughters grew up, but I'm still in nursery school! I love what I do and have presented at several National and Local Early Childhood Conferences. Every spring I take my students to the National Gallery of Art and am always amazed at how much they know! My older daughter, Susan, earned her doctorate in Education and was a Vice Principal of an Elementary School in New Jersey.

I became a "grandma" in November 2004 to a most adorable granddaughter. Susan is due on October 15th with my second granddaughter. Susan is married to a Podiatric Surgeon and lives in the suburbs of New York. My younger daughter, "Debbi", got married in March 2006 and lives in Manhattan. She's head of College Marketing for JP Morgan-Chase's Investment Bank. Her husband is a Entertainment Labor lawyer and sings Opera. My husband works for the US Government and has a fee-only Financial Planning Business on the side. We continue to travel and found China to be our most amazing trip. We both love the theater and have been ushering at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. for many years. I'd love to come to our 40th Reunion, can't believe that we're that old!!!, but may be babysitting for my granddaughters in New York that weekend.

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Bio. from Tom & Linda Stetson Miller

We certainly have enjoyed reading everyone's bios and look forward to seeing all those who are able to attend the reunion. You may remember that Tom & I were married in January, 1966. After graduation we moved to a married student's dorm on the campus of American University where we both attended classes. After a year, we moved to Connecticut Avenue and managed a tourist home while attending classes and raising our first child, Cheryl. It was a crazy time, but we thought we were living large - rent and telephone were free! In 1969 we moved to Bethesda , MD and were there for the birth of our second child, a son, Chris. Tom graduated with a degree in accounting, passed the CPA exam the first time right after graduation and spent time as a partner in an accounting firm and comptroller for a construction company in Rockville . In a few years, we moved to Silver Spring , MD and then to Gaithersburg , MD where our third child, a son, Kevin was born in 1974. After Tom's parents retired to Rehoboth Beach , DE we spent many wonderful week-ends with them relaxing and enjoying the beach. It wasn't long before we decided to move to Delaware and have now been here for 28 years. Our fourth child, Karen, was born shortly after we moved to the Lewes/Rehoboth Beach area of Delaware . This area is known as the "Nation's Summer Capitol"; so, perhaps, many of you have been to the area. We have had a number of family-owned businesses in addition to Tom managing his accounting practice. After having the luxury of staying home to raise our children, I began working with Tom 25 years ago. I have served as office manager and now manage the accounts receivable and payable for two condo associations and a doctor's group. Tom sold his accounting practice, but still maintains a small tax practice. He and our son Kevin now own and manage a construction company specializing in large custom homes. We have four grandchildren (aged 3-7 with another due in May, 2007) - two who live in Lewes and the other two are just "over the bridge" in Arnold , MD. Our two youngest children were married last summer within six weeks of each other. This is not something I would recommend to anyone of sane mind. Karen moved to Florida with her new husband and we have since bought a home near her on the water in Homosassa. We are "dipping our toes", so to speak, into the waters of retirement, and try to visit there every 4-6 weeks. We still marvel at the fact that we have been married for 40 years and we look forward to many, many more.

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Bio. from: Sandra Lynn Swisher Pheiffer email Sandy@SandraPheiffer.com

Greetings! What fun it has been to read all the bios! I'm very excited about the reunion. Haven't been to one since #10 which I recall being quite lovely! A whole lot of living has happened since then....time has shot by yet I certainly don't feel as old as I am!

After graduation, I attended Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA, a small Presbyterian liberal arts women's college. It was the perfect place for me! I majored in music, taking every music course offered, with a focus on piano performance and theory/composition, graduating in 1970.

I worked for Montgomery County parks in the summer as a recreation counselor and realized how much I enjoyed working with kids, especially in the areas of music, drama and nature studies so I decided to become a teacher. I received an MEd from Goucher College in Towson, MD in 1971 having survived a class of 42 4th graders in inner-city Baltimore. Anything I've done since has been easy! I loved inner city teaching and the school was an energizing and inspiring place to work. It also tore my heart to see so many with seemingly insurmountable needs.

In 1973, I married WJ '66 classmate, David Meyersburg and we had a daughter, Alexis, in 1977. Dave and I divorced in 1979. Alexis is currently an attorney in Madison, WI having graduated from Georgetown Univ. in 1999 (magna cum laude) and U of Minn. Law School in 2002 (magna cum laude/ Order of the Coif). She's always been a bundle of energy and a major light in my life! I enjoy and value her friendship!

Ok...back to the chronology....during the '70s, until I moved to WI in 1984, I worked for Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ! The BEST job I ever had!), taught at Concord-St. Andrews Nursery School, the Geneva Nursery, St. Bartholowmew's School; sang with the Cathedral Choral Society, taught at the Audubon Society, ran my music studio, judged Miss America competitions for Montgomery County, played dinner piano at the Merriot, hiked, gardened, raised 3 German Shepherds, did wildlife rescue work and thoroughly enjoyed watching Alexis grow!

In 1984 I married my Silver Spring neighbor, Chuck Pheiffer, and we moved to WI to live in the country, operate a small hydro-electric plant, rebuild mechanical musical instruments and to enjoy an artistic life in rural America. It was a lovely dream that worked for a while. In 1985, we had a son, Christopher who is now in the BFA program (theatre tech) at Univ. of WI - Stevens Point. Another fabulously interesting and motivated child! He's always been so much fun to be around! I have been so blessed with GREAT kids! Chuck and I divorced in 1994.

I've worked for Adams-Friendship Area Schools since 1990, first as a music teacher, then a Gifted/Talented resource teacher and currently as Gifted/Talented coordinator, K-12 for the school district....I also run the Beginning Teacher Program and the Staff Development program for the district....it keeps me busy...and I still have a job! I live in an interesting area, especially having come from 28 yrs. in Bethesda. It's rural with a very high poverty rate. But kids are kids and people are people. I love my work and the relatively peaceful pace of life.

I've also been a church organist and choir director for a number of years, a 4-H leader and very active in community theatre as a performer and musical director. I still love animals and have a herd of kitties of and 4 large koi in my pond.....

I remember having the dream of showing up at a reunion in a white fur coat, driving a Jaguar (I certainly had lofty goals at 17!), married to an adoring lawyer husband, mothering 2 great children and living in NW Washington near the Cathedral. Well....I acquired the coat and the car and the great kids....the stable marriage and adoring husband eluded me....there still might be time for one more! :)

All in all, it's been a good journey!

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Bio. from Carolyn Tate Kent email: jlaurencekent@msn.com

Greetings from WJ Territory- some people don't get too far...out of town

that is. We are living in Bethesda off old Georgetown Road. After graduation and attending U of MD majoring in elementary education with a minor in music and partying I ended up in retail management of ladies ready to wears shops, Casual Corner, Rosendorf Evans and than became a buyer/dept. manager for Bloomingdales. In 1973 I married Larry Kent, also a WJ grad (class of '64). Larry is a lawyer in a local Montgomery County Law Firm, Kidwell, Kent & Curran. We have two children, Allison, age 27 and James Justin, age 25. After having our children I started selling residential real estate in Montgomery County. I enjoy matching up families with new homes.

Our daughter Allison went to WJ (class of '97) and was SGA President. Allison went on to U of MD and majored in biology and now is a consultant with Accenture. She married Russ Cotner in May of this year and she and her new husband live in DC. Russ recently graduated from the Darden School of Business at U.VA with an MBA and is a banker with M & T Bank. We are delighted to have Russ in the family. He comes from a PA farming background where his family are in agribusiness.

Our son James is a musician. He graduated from Cleveland Institute of Music(Case Western U) and currently is the Principal Trombonist in Florida West Coast Symphony in Sarasota. Last year he lived in Tel Aviv where he was the Principal Trombonist in the Israel Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta. That was a real thrill for him at age 24.

For fun, Larry and I enjoy traveling. Last year during the war in Israel we viisited our son James in Tel Aviv and enjoyed visiting the famous biblical sites despite the war. The summer before we spent some time in northern Germany again visiting James while he was touring with the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. One of our most memorable trips was a couple of years ago when we toured in Italy with our friends Bill and Jenny Hunter of Louisville. Bill was a old pal of Larry's from law school and Jenny I first met in the University Chapel Choir at U of MD. Bill was in our wedding 33 years ago.

Larry and I both enjoy music. I sing in the choir at Fourth Presbyterian Church and Larry plays trumpet in the church orchestra and the U of MD Community Band We also enjoy attending concerts especially if our son is performing. Last month James did some sub work with the National Symphony Orchestra for an injured player before he assumed his new position in Sarasota.

Thanks to the Committee for all of your work. Enjoyed the bios - can you do the WJ cheer? See you at reunion, if not 40th, than 50th. Great bios class!! Creative, funny, interesting, sad...but never down for the count and so many doing so many good things. best to all, Carolyn

kent, L & C, 11508 Hitching Post Lane, Rockville, MD 20852, H-301-231-9455, C-C301-996-7253, L-C240-355-1688

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Bio (brief) Paul Tait -Class of 66WJ email: pt199@hotmail.com or ptait@neo.rr.com

1963-Kensington Junior High (transferred from NJ) 1965-Summer school for English, made a deal with school admin that if I attended everyday for my senior year

I would graduate. Hated to do it! 1966 Graduated- 1967-68 Enlisted in the Navy, stationed in Norfolk and then to DC for duty at the Navy Yard and supplying the Presidential Yacht that was never used while I was there. I had it made but still hated the Navy but will always like Tricky Dick for downsizing the military and giving us a early out. (Sounds a bit like VandeSande Bio)

1972 Tired of the DC life and took off to Manitoba with Bob Emch(WJ66) and we hunted and fished half way across Canada 1973 Met my first wife in 69 and married my first wife and still married to her and moved to WV

1975 Started working at a DOE coal conversion pilot plant, converting coal to clean liquid fuels. Government funding for this project stopped in 1979.

1978 First child born (son) in Wheeling, WV 1979 Finally managed to get an Associates degree in Business 1980 Started a job with an Industrial Gas company in Dayton, OH and relocated there. Started international travel to much of South America and Mexico.

1981 Second child (daughter) born in Dayton, OH 1991 Transferred to Canton, OH as a field service tech and traveled most of the upper midwest.

2000 Tired of the travel and took a job with a leading Stainless steel producer making helicopter blades and jet engine parts Still there and still living in Canton

2007 Both children now doing very well, My son works for a regional bank as an IT tech and my daughter works for well known food producer as a financial analyst working in Toronto for a year.

Life is good

Member: United Steelworkers of America, Life member: National Rifle Association,I support the following veterans organizations::Disabled American Veterans, Help Hospitalized Veterans and Wounded Warriors

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After graduating from WJ, went to the U of MD, unfortunately didn't study much but learned how to play pinochle.....unfortunately didn't graduate either! Went to work, married at the young age of 20 (one month shy of my 21^st birthday) and had my first child, Patrick, at the ripe old age of 23. Was a stay at home Mom until he was 4 then went back to work full time.

Divorced first husband after 7 years of marriage, then remarried at age 30 to a wild guy named Roger and we've been together since. Worked some more then had 2 more children, Linda and Michael. Stayed at home with them as much as possible, but did some part time work so I could be with adults and not sing songs from Sesame Street all the time! Went back to full time work in '95 and except for a 6 month hiatus, have been working full time since. My work history has been mainly in the administrative field. Currently I'm a Sr. Administrative Assistant for one of the VP's at Lockheed Martin Corp HQ in Bethesda, just a stone's throw away from WJ.

Patrick (last name Blackwood from 1st marriage) is now 35, married and has a son, my grandson, Ryan age 6, and is a financial manager for a Jeep dealership in Frederick , MD. Linda is 23 and is completing her last 2 years of college at Salisbury University majoring in exercise science. She graduated from Montgomery College and worked full time prior to starting at Salisbury this fall. Michael is 20 and currently attending Montgomery College and working part-time with his Dad at Columbia Country Club. After MC he plans to attend the University of Baltimore to complete his studies in computing and web design.

Not as interesting as some of the other bios but have had a great time along the way and have been very blessed! Oh, I forgot to mention, we also have an 11 year old mixed lab named Buster who has brought a lot of joy into our lives!

Fall ‘66, I began a job in radiological safety at Goddard Space Flight Center and began taking night classes at MJC. In fall ’67, I moved to an Engineering/Consulting Co. in Columbia, MD, doing radiation safety and environmental work. After five semesters of night classes and full time work, I took a job at Purdue University, running the campus radiation safety program, and took classes until I got my BS degree in Radiological Health in ’75. Since I graduated in December and was already moving to another job, I missed that graduation too. My next move was to a nuclear power plant in northeast Ohio, where I was Supervisor of the Radiological Protection Unit. Four winters of more snow than I ever had nightmares about convinced me to move south. I held technical and management position for Carolina Power and Light Co. in Raleigh, NC supporting two operating nuclear power plants and one under construction. In ’83 I transferred to the Brunswick Nuclear Plant on the coast between Wilmington, NC and Myrtle Beach, SC. Here too, I was in technical and management positions supporting the plants radiological safety and chemistry programs. In ’98 I took an early out with a great benefits package and essentially retired. Since then I’ve done some consulting at nuclear power plants, with the Dept. of Energy, and back at the Brunswick Plant. I even tried teaching at the local High School. Trying to teach Biology, Physics and Environmental Science in today’s educational atmosphere made me appreciate how good we had it at WJ.

Life has been great. Describing my wife as my soul mate isn’t justice. She has been my inspiration and support for everything I am. Last December we celebrated our 40^th anniversary. She is a loan officer for the local BB&T bank and looking forward to retiring soon.

My daughter is in Nuclear Medicine at a hospital in Wilmington, NC, and lives about 40 miles away from us. She’s married and has provided us with two outrageous granddaughters (5 and 7).

Our son is a boat Captain and lives about 25 miles from us. He’s also married and has given us a wonderful grandson (10).

For the last 23 years, we have lived on Oak Island, NC, less than a hundred yards from the ocean. Whenever I would get down at work, I’d think about the surfing, sailing, fishing or crabbing I’d be doing after work. I grin when I think of all the people that save a week of vacation so they can do what I do most any day. Life has been very good! Besides boating and the beach, we enjoy going on cruises and taking the grandchildren to Disney and Universal.

Married, 4 children, 2 grandchildren
I have lived in Alaska, Utah, Texas and California since college where I have been an interior designer.
I have been in California for the last 25 years. As the time passes, I get the urge to perhaps move east and then remember the wonderful weather we have in CA and I change my mind rayther quickly as I remember vividly the humidity and snow!!

In 1998, I got in a bad car accident at work that has curtailed my business. I have been semi-retired since then.

From Tony Vitto.....Graduated from St. John's College (the school of the Great Books) in
Annapolis, MD and then went to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak
Ridge, TN, where I obtained a PhD in biochemistry. Then did postdoctoral
work at UCSD (University of California, San Diego) in the Departments of
Psychiatry and Pharmacology, where I did neurochemistry research. Then moved
to Belmont, MA, to McClean Hospital, the psychiatric teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School, where I was an Instructor in Neuropathology
(Biochemistry) and also taught the Biology of Aging at Harvard College. I
carried out research in Alzheimer's disease while at Harvard. I then went to
medical school at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia.
After that I did my neurology residency at Stanford in California. I've
remained in that area where I am in private solo practice in adult and child
neurology in Morgan Hill, just a bit south of San Jose. My ex-wife
tragically died about seven years ago and last year so did my son, even more
tragically. I have a surviving daughter who recently was graduated from USC
with a double major in Film and American Studies. She is now preparing to
apply to architecture grad programs...seems to be thinking of Columbia or
UCLA. My special academic and clinical interests are in Alzheimer's disease
and headaches/migraines, and I do a lot speaking in that regard. I was
recently elected to Fellow status in the American Academy of Neurology, an
honor given to only a few neurologists who have demonstrated achievement in
both academic and clinical neurology as well as providing service to the lay
community. I'm quite proud of that. Not sure I'll be able to make the
reunion, although I thoroughly enjoyed the 20th I attended. Anyone is always
invited to visit me in California.

Good to hear from you Norris. Thanks for including me in your mailing list. I amended the excel spreadsheet with my address, but I don’t seem to be able to attach it to this reply. Please advise how for future reference.

I returned to my native England after graduating from UM in 1971. I liked the beer, so I stayed.

I live in a 200 year-old cottage next to a farm about 15 miles west of Oxford with my wife Jane. I work as an accountant with a construction company based in Oxford . We have 2 children – Ben, who just graduated from Bath University with a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering, and Aimee, who is studying German at Nottingham University . Ben will be traveling in Thailand and Turkey next month before starting his job with WS Atkins in Bristol . Aimee is working and studying in Germany as part of her course – at Karlsruhe for the next 7 or 8 months then on to Heidelberg .

If anybody is visiting this part of the world, we would be happy to put you up for a night – we usually have a spare room, with both kids away now.

I think the last time that I saw any of you was at the ten-year reunion. At that time, I had just returned from a year-plus in Bismarck, North Dakota, working as a VISTA volunteer in the legal department of an Indian organization. Prior to that, I had gone to Duke University, where I got a BA in geology, and then (after a year's intermission for Army Reserve

After returning to this area, I went to work at a small D.C. law firm specializing in federal mineral leasing and public land law (probably the only firm this side of Denver with such a specialty -- out there, they've got the minerals; here, we've got the federal government). I also got married to Sandra, who's from the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburbs, and whom I'd met in Bismarck, where she was working as a volunteer in the publications department; and we settled down (in a "starter" house

After several years, when my law partners (who were a lot older) died off on me, we remodeled our basement and I moved my office there. Since my clients are mostly way down on the Gulf Coast, and since my family

(generally) respects the ground rules for office versus home, it works; and it's the best commute in the world.

As for family, we have two daughters, nine years apart: Sarah, who's now a senior at Beloit College in Wisconsin, majoring in East Asian Studies (in fact, she's currently doing a semester abroad in Japan); and Abigail, who's a seventh grader and is currently being home-schooled.

If we have any energy left after work and family responsibilities, it goes into restoring the old family summer home that we've taken over in the Adirondacks. Apart from that, I continue to enjoy listening to lots of music -- anything from Beethoven to the Grateful Dead to Alan Jackson -- as well as photography and writing.

Bio from Bruce Watkins........Tom Herron mentioned our band "The End" (Tom, Joe Neurauter, and I) -- this is the source of my fondest memories from 40 years ago.

I went right to University of Maryland -- married junior year (too young) and went to work for Washington Gas after graduation ( ISM degree was a new field at the time -- punch cards, mainframes, and endless reams of green/white printouts. )

After two years in the real world, moved to the-middle-of-nowhere Northern California (actually Trinity County, within sight of Mount Shasta), to help run a famliy-owned dinner house/bar/truckers' cafe -- closest town = Weaverville (pop 1,500), 25 miles away.

Stayed in Northern CA for eight years -- bought 20 acres, a '57 Chevy pickup, and a small chain saw, and built a log cabin -- while working at various times for the US Forest Service, a 10 man logging crew, and mining gold from the Trinity River. Saw the movie "Deliverance", picked-up the banjo, and can swear I played bluegrass and light rock in every beer bar within 200 miles (a lot of them, anyway).

Came-to one day, and realized you're not allowed to be Peter Pan forever. Divorced, (a good thing), and moved-back to civilization (Fairfax County VA), returning to Washington Gas -- where I have remained for 28 years. Kicked around a lot of functions -- Corporate Model, Financial Forecasting, Network Engineering, Dispatch Operations, and am currently admin'ing the Gas Management System in Energy Acquisition.

More importantly, remarried in 1983. My wife Ann is the AP Calculus teacher at Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, and we live in Springfield, VA. We have two daughters -- Meagan, 20, a second-year student at U Va., and Kelly Ann, 16, a junior at PVI HS. So... late start on the family thing, no grandkids in sight, yet.

But retirement is in sight, so we are spending more and more time at a smaller place we have in Bethany Beach, Delaware.

-- And after too many years of inactivity, I have recently jumped back into music, taking guitar lessons seriously for the last couple of years. Now I only play for my own amazement, and am sorry that there are simply not enough years left to ever become much better -- but I do enjoy it.

I did not feel like I knew a lot of people during high school, but I did have a few very good friends. I am really enjoying everyones' bios. -- we turned out to be quite a "slice-of-life" didn't we ? Bruce Watkins --bwatkins@washgas.com

Bio from Dennis Watts Sr. WJ class of 66; number 479 or maybe 749, don’t remember, highly dyslexic; summer working at the Jersey shore and off to college at Bellarmine College, Louisville Kentucky, (Fast women and beautiful horses); Bellarmine at the time was similar to Parsons College in Iowa. Uneventful freshman and sophomore year until the “greetings from the President letter arrived”. I was taking less than 12 hours, working in the hospitality industry, had my own car and apartment; flunked the physical due to past medical reasons which then gave me the opportunity to do whatever I wanted. Left college and moved to Las Vegas where I worked as a bartender at “The Mint” and moved on to dealing blackjack at “Maxum’s”. A great time was had for over 20 months in Vegas and then I returned to Louisville to open a college bar with two friends; life was great, owned an AMX, a Yamaha motorcycle, lived in a great bachelor pad and owned a bar. One Dec 23 of 1971 a “buxom” blond by the name of Janice Lee Mary Carey came into the bar with a few of her friends; she must have been all of 18, she was a freshman at U of L, but had the usual fake ID. Casual on and off dating occurred until one hot night in Aug. 1972, when the same lady in question appeared at closing time to have a pool game with me and a “private conversation”. The bet on the “pool” game was interesting and the private conversation went something like this: “Ok Cowboy, if you want this relationship to go anyplace, if we are to have a “future together”, a lot of things must happen ASAP. Sell the AMX and the motorcycle because one or both will kill you; sell the bar because I’m NOT going to be married to a ‘gin mill” operator, go back to school, get a “real job” and finally there will be only TWO keys to your apartment, yours and mine. Within 90 days all of the above had happened, but she still didn’t marry me until Nov. 23, 1974; we are still going strong after 32 years. The rest of my life seems calm; I did finally graduate from college in 1983; Bellarmine has actually become a great University. My insurance career started in Nov. 1972 and I have been in it ever since from agent, broker, underwriting manager and now I am “Director of Underwriting” for a Washington DC domiciled carrier that specializes in “medical mal practice insurance” for physicians; CARE corporate offices are here in Louisville . During that time period I also spent considerable time at Lloyds of London and worked in the European Reinsurance market. Have been to every continent with the exception of one.

Our family also owns an international exporting company based out of Barcelona Spain ; Janice is the COO and my older son, Dennis Jr.,( graduate of Univ. of Louisville and Univ. of Barcelona ) lives there and commutes back and forth; we specialize in Catalan Wines from the Priorat and Terra Alta regions of

Spain

Our younger son, Travis, a Clemson grad, worked for his dad for two years before going off to Houston with Gallagher Healthcare.

I would like to say that retirement is in the near future, but not yet as I was able to fulfill a life long dream of owning a professional sports franchise in 2002 when a small group of Louisville businessmen including myself purchased an Arena Football Team franchise, The Louisville Fire. We are having TOO much fun to quit now. I can be reached at jdenniswatts@care-ins.com or see our web sites at www.bluegrasscatalunya.com or www.louisvillefirefootball.com

After graduating from WJ, I was headed off to Madison Wisconsin with my two buddies Rick Stiphout and Ray Stangeland. As fate would have it, I was unable to go, so I ended up working at Shrader Sound in Georgetown. It also left me a prime candidate for the draft and Nam. I was called in January of 67, but wasn't deemed fit enough for duty. The following fall I enrolled in UofMd where I went straight through in 4 years. Had a great time, became a radical on campus - attended numerous demonstrations - at the march on Washington - spent a good deal of time at the Varsity Grill - made some life long friends with Maryland basketball as the glue. After graduating from UofMd in 71 and lacking a direction, I got a job in construction just to earn some money to do some traveling. Headed to Europe with the idea to go where the wind was blowing. Turns out there was a strong wind heading east. While hitchhiking in Germany I was asked to drive a car to Afghanistan. I couldn't turn it down. Went on through Pakistan India and up to Nepal - very cool. Spent about 8 months, came home and headed west. Spent another 8 months working in a Christian commune in northern California and then back home. I have always called MD my home. In 75 I met my wife to be. We were married in 80 in the UofMd chapel and moved to the Mt Airy MD area, where we have been living ever since. In 82 we had a son, Aaron. At the time I was working at the French International School in Bethesda so it gave us the opportunity to immerse him and myself in the French language and culture. In 89 I went back o school to get my accounting degree and CPA. I have worked at a number of jobs in corporate accounting and am currently a consultant in finance helping to put Fannie Mae back together. In 2005 my wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary at the Strong mansion on Sugarloaf Mountain - a good time was had by all. We enjoy bike riding and love the Eastern Shore. We have been spending at least a weekend in Oxford MD at the Robert Morris Inn every summer since we met.

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It has been interesting seeing the class reports. I am Professor of Pediatrics and Biochemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The focus of my research is the androgen receptor, the protein that mediates the effects of testosterone and DHT. It's a lot of work but still very interesting after all these years. I am married to a German and I have a son who attended Middlebury College and is getting an MD/PhD from UNC Chapel Hill in a few months and another son who went to Caltech and is getting a PhD at Stanford hopefully soon in neuroscience. I was voted most athletic female of our class and I still ride my bike to and from work a total of 10 miles everyday and walk two miles every night. I will be in Washington DC the week before the reunion reviewing grant applications for the VA so I will not be there.

For anyone who remembers me, I have not changed very much and am working as hard as I can before they throw me out to understand how the androgen receptor works. If you have a single base mutation in the gene that codes for the androgen receptor, a genetic male will be born looking just like a female. All the best to everyone in the class.

Professor of Pediatrics and Biochemistry and Biophysics Laboratories for Reproductive Biology University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill CB# 7500, Rm 3340 Medical Biomolecular Research Bldg 103 Mason Farm Road Chapel Hill NC 27599-7500 TEL 919-966-5168 FAX 919-966-2203 emw@med.unc.edu

AFTER GRADUATION AS A HOSPITAL CORPSMAN IN THE NAVY IN NOV. 68 I MARRIED SALLY HARP ON 11/3/0/68. 1968-70 I SPENT MY TIME WORKING AS A HOSPITAL CORPSMAN AT LITTLE CREEK AMPHIBIOUS BASE, NORFOLK, VA. IN SEPTEMBER 1970 MY FIRST CHILD, TIM, WAS BORN AND JUST 2 MONTHS LATER WE WERE ON THE MOVE. IN NOV. 1970 I TRANSFERRED TO THE NAVAL HOSPITAL AT OAKLAND CALIFORNIA FOR TRAINING AND THEN I WAS STATIONED IN YOKOHOMA JAPAN FOR 3 YEARS WHERE MY SECOND CHILD, KATE, WAS BORN. WE REALLY ENJOYED OUR TIME IN JAPAN AND IT HELPED US DEVELOP A GOOD FAMILY BOND.

ON MY RETURN TO THE STATES IN 1973 I WAS STATIONED IN SAN DIEGO, CA. AT THE NAVAL HOSPITAL AND THE NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, WHERE I RECEIVED MY ASSOCIATES DEGREE FROM SAN DIEGO MESA COLLEGE. IN 1976 I WAS SELECTED FOR THE NAVY'S PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT PROGRAM AND ATTENDED THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, GRADUATING IN 1978 AFTER COMPLETING MY INTERNSHIP AT THE NAVAL HOSPITAL PORTSMOUTH, VA.

MY FIRST DUTIES AS A P.A. WERE AT THE NAVAL AIR STATION, LAKEHURST, N.J. (WHERE THE HINDENBURG CRASHED). IN IN 1981 I TRANSFERRED TO MARINE CORPS TRAINING CENTER, QUANTICO, VA. (WHERE I HAD THE PLEASURE OF TAKING CARE OF ROTC COLLEGE STUDENTS DURING THEIR SUMMER TRAINING) IN 1984 I TRANSFERRED TO THE NAVAL HOSPITAL AT BETHESDA, MD (FINALLY GOT BACK HOME) AND I RETIRED FROM THE NAVY ON JULY 1ST, 1988 AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE TO MY COUNTRY.

I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO WORK FOR BALTIMORE GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY IN THEIR OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE DEPARTMENT, WHERE I AM TODAY AND HOPE TO RETIRE WITH 20 YEARS SERVICE THERE ON 6/1/2008. DURING MY EMPLOYMENT AT BGE I HAVE EARNED BY MASTERS DEGREE IN BUSINESS.

SALLY AND I HAVE BEEN HAPPILY MARRIED FOR 38 YEARS THIS NOVEMBER. TIM IS MARRIED AND LIVES WITH HIS WIFE AN CHILD IN NEW MILFORD, CT. (SECOND CHILD ON THE WAY) KATE LIVES IN OLATHE, KS WITH HER HUSBAND AND CHILD.

SALLY AND I ENJOY BEING ACTIVE IN OUR CHURCH AND VARIOUS ACTIVITIES BOTH AT HOME AND IN THE COMMUNITY. SALLY JUST RETIRED 6/30/06 FROM HER POSITION AS AN OFFICE MANAGER FOR A PLASTIC SURGEON.

I looked through the list of fellow graduates and could only remember 4 of them, my four best friends. I didn't spend much time at high school as I had a boyfriend who went to Wilson High. I spent a lot of time cutting classes. He had long hair and I was probably the only girl in HS who had a long-haired boyfriend.

I did get caught up in the 60's flower child period, lived in Berkeley for awhile after attending University of Ky for a couple of years. Then I joined a community called "The Farm" in Summertown, Tenn. where I lived for 10 years, got married and had four children.

We moved back to northern California in 1981. My kids are grown and doing well. They all live in the same county as my husband and I do, Sonoma County, about 60 miles north of SF. I am a cardiac nurse and love my job. I also bead and knit and quilt. I walk my dog every morning and walk with my husband and dog every evening.

I watch Democracy Now on my computer 5 mornings a week and end up feeling rather helpless and angry with the world situation. I am against the war in Iraq and Lebanon and the future possible wars with Iran, Syria, Venezuela, etc. I am part of a peace activist group called Peace Roots Alliance and More than Warmth. In More Than Warmth we put together quilt squares which children make. We send the finished quilts to children in other countries as a gesture of peace.

I may come to the reunion. My husband, dog Ed and I may take a road trip to DC at that time. Be easy on me if I don't remember you.

Bio. from: Jamey Wolff ...married Kapeluck

Adirondack Kayaking

Howdy fellow classmates email JWolff@childrensannex.org

I too have been enjoying reading my fellow classmates bios and have surprised myself by my growing interest in how our diverse lives have unfolded. Memories of my high school years have been buried for all these many years. My yearbook never left my mother's home in DC until several weeks ago when I asked her to mail it to me so I could attach names to faces. It is fascinating to be sharing a geographic and cultural history with 700+ people most of whom I never really knew.

My last memory of high school was spending the spring of my senior year in bed with mono feeling sorry for myself, missing the senior prom and the last summer fling at OC.

It was only uphill from there.

I thrived in college, graduating from Syracuse University and receiving a Master's Degree from New York University in Educational Psychology. For several years after graduate school, I lived in SOHO before it became urban chic and was still urban homesteading. After four years of Big Apple living, I yearned for a greener lifestyle and moved to Woodstock New York in 1978. (Yes this is the Woodstock of concert name, but not of concert fame as the actual event was an hour south west.) I still live in the Mid-Hudson Valley in Shokan New York . Our Catskill Mountain community is a wonderful blend of rural beauty and urban culture, an Arts Colony two hours north of Manhattan . My home of the last 24 years is a renovated farmhouse moved up from the site of the Ashokan Reservoir beam by beam in a horse drawn wagon in the early 1900's.

Thirty one years ago, I started a school for children with special needs with another woman. We began with two students in the prerequisite rented church room. I returned to college to complete a post graduate certification program in school administration. Today, The Children's Annex has grown into a large not-for -profit agency serving over 250 students annually. My full time staff number over 150. We have two not-for-profit day schools in Kingston and Ellenville New York . Contracting with over 50 public schools annually, we specialize in providing educational and clinical services to children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). When I started The Children's Annex, the incidence of autism was reported to be 3 in 5,000. Now the conservative estimate is 1 in 166. To meet this alarmingly growing need, we are now in the midst of a capital campaign to build an Autism Support Center to house my most recent Annex program, The Center for Diagnosis and Consultation Services. I am in the process of working with a website designer to give our current website, www.childrensannex.org a new facelift which will hopefully be up and running by December.

Along the way, I have been appointed to several New York State task forces developing policies and guidelines for best practices educating students with autism, received several Effective Practices Grants from New York State Education Department to write college curriculum for New York Universities and to disseminate innovative educational strategies to the field. I lecture and consult when time permits. My current project is directing and producing a short film entitled Differently Abled for and about young adults with high functioning autism and Asperger's Syndrome. The purpose of this film is to build self understanding, self esteem and self awareness. I hope to have it completed by this time next year and to enter it in some specialty film festivals around the country.

One house, one job and one husband... I have been married for 24 years to Tim Kapeluck a talented multi-instrumentalist and singer. He performs mostly bluegrass and Celtic music and when he has some of his more exciting gigs (i.e. playing at The Four Freedoms Award honoring Bill Clinton) I tag along to carry instruments. By day, Tim is a furniture designer/fine woodworker turned hospice nurse. My stepdaughter, Juniper , recently moved to Santa Fe . She is an early childhood educator with two great kids ages 3 and 6 who call me "Steppie". We miss them terribly, but traveling as often as we can to Santa Fe is some consolation. Our daughter, Shaina, is completing her senior year at Warren Wilson College in Asheville , North Carolina where she is majoring in Cultural Anthropology and pursues her passion for traditional fiddle and shape note singing. Her interests have recently expanded to included permaculture and landscape design with native plants so her graduate studies may bring her down a new garden path.

For fun, we hike the beautiful Catskill and Adirondack Mountains and kayak the Hudson River , surrounding streams, and lakes. This photo is from our recent birthday trip to the St Regis Wilderness. With so much constancy in my life, I try to shake things up a bit by traveling off the beaten path. The last few years have included a canoe trip with girlfriends in The Everglades, visiting urban villages in Senegal through a friend's UNESCO connections, and off trail exploration in Utah in search of Anastazi petroglyphs. We are currently planning our next trip to Patagonia .

What an interesting exercise to summarize one's life in a few short paragraphs deciding what to share and how to say it. I've enjoyed this glimpse into the lives of WJ classmates and am feeling increasingly sorry that I can't make the reunion. I wish you all happy trails.

Bio. from: Diana Wright (now Lee): Hi Everyone. Am enjoying scrolling through the yearbook and reading the bios. Remember some folks-mostly homeroom. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make this reunion. I graduated from the U of Md in 1970, married classmate Doug Weiss the same year. Divorced in mid-70's. Moved to Germany where I worked for the USAF. Lived in Texas for 10 years and for the past 16 years have lived in the San Francisco area. I am Regional Manager for Hartford Life Insurance. I have no children and one cat. My husband Elliott and I enjoy scuba diving and traveling. I hope to retire soon and spend time doing more of the above. Life in good

To my '66 Spartan Classmates,

In the dictionary, next to the phrase "late bloomer", is my photo! My family didn't move to Bethesda until I was in the 8^th grade, and by then I knew I wanted to become a Dental Hygienist, so with a select few good friends that I've kept in touch with over the years, I had a focus, and it wasn't an involvement in high school. Wow, did I miss out! I do enjoy remembering Ted Kennedy speaking at our graduation, and Coretta Scott King speaking at my college graduation.

I graduated from the University of Bridgeport , in Connecticut , and that's when my social life began. I traveled across the U.S. and received my license in many states (in case I wanted to live in any of them). I've developed a sense of humor too! I moved to Nashville for five years and had the time of my life!

After ten years, I met my husband in Palm Springs , Ca, and we later moved to beautiful San Diego where I have lived ever since. We had a son, Andrew, in 1984.

In 1986, my husband and I attended the 20yr. reunion of WJ. Unfortunately, in 1988, my husband died of a heart attack.

I've stayed "down in the mouth," and still love it. I take 25 continuing education courses every two years to keep my license current, so times 36 years is a lot of learning. I dabble in decorating, little creations, and lots of friends. I stayed on a journey of raising Andrew with every advantage possible, and when he attended high school, I vicariously was there too. That's when I realized the fun and opportunities that I had missed out of at WJ. The dances, ASB, football games (my son played all through HS and college too), I'm an avid football fan....sorry redskins, but I'm a Charger girl!! Andrew became an Eagle Scout and then off to college. He was recruited by Menlo College in Atherton, Ca. for football, majored in communications and will be graduating this December.

Looking through some alumni directories, I realize a lot of grads live in California . I have a patient that graduated WJ in '62 and a neighbor that did too! Three thousand miles and it's still a small world.

I'VE GOT MY PLANE TICKET!! I'm intrigued by getting reacquainted with faces I knew but names that I didn't , and now I won't even know the faces!! It seems like a comfortable and trusting familiarity because we were together once before and we're all from the same 'hood'. I'm even listening to 60's music on XM radio and loving it.

Hats off to this reunion committee for all their hard work. I commend and appreciate their perseverance. If you can't make it, at least write a bio so we know where you are, and that you are!

Looking forward to seeing many of you there.

Bertie Dena (Yellowitz) Springer

Foxeflossy@cox.net

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

Bio: Stephen Yuengling added 9/3/08 email: syuengling@nc.rr.com

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Thailand 1973

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North Carolina 2006

After graduation from WJ I went to Montgomery College for a year then transferred to the University of Maryland . I was taking Electrical Engineering but the math was killing me. One of the classes I had to take was computer programming and I found my niche in life. I went back to Montgomery College and got a two year degree in Computer Science. In the summer of 1969 I took a trip to Ocean City for a week (on $20 including gas), where I met my future wife Eileen (Sulkovsky). I found out that she lived just around the block from my best friend (Doug Weiss) in Bethesda (close to WJ).

In 1970 I won the lottery (the only time) and was soon expecting to be drafted. Luckily my draft board was in Silver Spring and it was always getting trashed so they did not catch up with me till 1971. That year I got married, graduated from MC, and joined the Air Force, a very busy year. We lived in Biloxi MS for almost a year where I was in Tech School learning Radar Maintenance and during that time our daughter (Jeanne) was born. I was then stationed in Statesboro GA (a small college town) at a small Radar site for three years. While in the Air Force I got to go to Austin TX. I was there when LBJ died. I also spent a few months in Maine (during the potato harvest). I went to Thailand for 5 months during the last weeks of the war. While in Thailand my son (Philip) was born at Bethesda Naval Medical Center . I got out of the AF in the summer of 1975 and moved back to Gaithersburg Md. We didn’t stay there long before we moved to the Chicago area and a job with Bell Labs.

We were only going to stay for a few years but were there for 13. At Bell Labs I programmed telephone switches. This is where I lost my 20/20 eye sight and hair but to make up for that I gained a few pounds. We bought our first house a year after we arrived and a second home 7 years later. I really enjoyed my job, but we hated the long cold dreary winters. On Jan 3^rd 1989 we packed up the two cars, the two kids, the two cats and moved from Chicago to Durham NC . When we left there was snow on the ground and it was 2 degrees. When we got to NC it was 50 degrees (the locals were complaining about the bitter cold weather), everything was green, and pansies were blooming. The cat escaped at the airport, the moving van broke down, but life was good (and the cat was recaptured).

I started work at Bell Northern Research programming Nortel telephone switches. While there I became a supervisor and then a Software Architect. I retired in June 2008 after working for 33 years in the telecom industry and surviving many downsizings. I really like knowing that whenever anyone makes a phone call they are more than likely executing some of my code.

We have lived in Durham in the same house for almost 20 years, the longest I have lived anywhere. We have 5 grandchildren, some live here and some in Maryland , so we make frequent trips back to visit them and my wife’s family. It’s always a shock to see how things have changed from 1966 (and the traffic just gets worse and worse). Nowadays I read a lot, mess on the computer, and help around the house.

When I was young, my Dad was in the Navy and we moved almost every three years, so I never made too many lasting friends. We moved to MD in 1963 when I started going to WJ. This is where I met a lot of good friends and I have a lot of fond memories of that time. I was at the 25^th reunion and hope to attend the 50^th and meet everyone again.

Steve Y. 919-490-8050

Dear Fellow Classmates of Walter Johnson, ‘66

Never having written a bio nor updated my resume in well over 20 years, I choose to share in a nutshell what has been a roller coaster life since high school until being stabilized by a loving husband, great job and advanced medication for my blue genes. (Thanks to one of our classmates whose bio revealed him having co-inventing one of them that as helped so much that I’m now coming off of it.)

I met my husband, John G. Kloke, 2^ndin 1984, while working a part-time job at Levitz Furniture Store in Rockville , MD (worked full-time as a bio-medical analyst at Dynamac Corp.) We went on three ‘dates’, got married in Gilboa Country Church in Cuckoo, VA and moved to Richmond with his family’s moving and storage business. John is currently working with his brother, minutes from W.J. for Transitional Management Services and has been managing the move of the DC judges into their new Courthouse. Hopefully he’ll be doing the same here in Richmond in ’08 for the new Courthouse being build catty-corner to my work building.

At The Library of Virginia, I’ve found myself as secretary in Publications and Educational Services for historians researching ‘true’ Virginia history. One of our publications, The Dictionary of Virginia Biography, Vol. 3 has just come out in print and I will be glad to mail you one for $49.95! We are gearing up for 2007 – Please visit the Library, 800 East Broad Street if you’re near Richmond . We always have a great exhibit in the Lobby – free parking under the building, ask for me at the front desk, I’d love to meet and greet.

As for my blue genes, I’m a survivor of the Montgomery County Mental Health System – not at all in favor of the separation of church and state. It was really, really hard finding God in Springfield State Hospital . If anyone is looking to do some volunteer work and has the Holy Spirit to share, there’s plenty of work to be done!

Speaking of the Holy Spirit, I’m looking forward to seeing Father Michael Wilson at our reunion, my one and only ‘date’ in High School. He was good enough to escort me to the Prom. He was my great, wise counselor in homeroom and I’m so glad he stayed on the straight and narrow path!

Love to All, Pat Zimmerman, married name (Kloke)

..........

Bio. from Vickie Zoerheide....married name Dykes email cedykes@chartermi.net

I am just as much in awe that 40 years has passed since high school.

Most of my high school years were spent involved with my church youth group and not extracurricular activities at WJ. Think the fact my dad was the minister played a role in that?

Right after graduation I was forced to take a six week trip to Europe with my parents. I wish I had been more attentive to all the beauty and history I was exposed to. We met up with my brother who was stationed in Munich, Germany in the Army. He toured around with us a few of those weeks, making it more tolerable for me. I discovered at the airport upon arriving home, that the Beatles had been riding up in first class. Would have been really nice if the airline attendants had told me.

I struck out to become an elementary school teacher - thinking I liked little kids and wanted to make a difference. Attended MC on a scholarship, but only made it through the first year. Married my first love, a "boy" I had met when I was 12 in Maine where my parents summered. He was in the Navy, stationed in upstate New York. From there we moved to Groton, CT. Discovered rather quickly, I didn't know him at all, we didn't share much in the way of hopes and dreams.

Came back home not sure what I was going to do. Got a job working for a dentist and pursued that career for 18 years. Married the son of the man that ran the dental lab. Mistake #2. There is something to be said about hitting bottom before you can climb up. I surely did! A very abusive relationship spanning over 20 years, emotionally, mentally and at times physically. I changed careers. I felt if I was ever going to be able to make it on my own that I needed some securities like health insurance and a pension. I got a job as an admin assistant for NCR in Rockville. Somehow that job and the responsibilities I had, boosted me out of my slump and gave me some purpose to life. I started as the secretary to the Human Resources Director, went on to payroll, then secretary to the North America's IT Director (that got me a trip to Vegas - fun), coordinated facilities functions, processed security clearances. I'd attempted to go back to college several more times.

Best thing in my life, had a beautiful daughter, Laura in 1970. She is still in Maryland, not married, but living with a nice guy who has a 12 year old son who adores her.

I met the love of my life at NCR, Chuck Dykes. I was preparing for the legal battle of divorce - and I mean battle. I needed to find a place to reside that was protective, so asked if he would rent me a room. He did, I moved in, we got to know each other, liked each other, enjoyed each other. He is wonderful! We got married three years later, 1993, yes, it took that long to obtain the divorce from #2. I supported my attorney those three years.

A job transfer for Chuck brought us to Michigan in 2000. We started out on the east side of the state, close to Detroit. I went into retirement, but needed something to do. I took a job at a Joann's store. I thought because of my love of quilting I would get a job in the fabric department, but due to my experience with payroll and human resources at NCR, they decided I should handle the money, as in preparing the cash drawers and balancing the drawers daily. Only once did I think I was short a thousand dollars and came flying out of my closet they called my office, ready for them to strip search me. Thankfully, I calmed down, went back and recounted the money and it was all there.

A year later we moved to the mid part of Michigan, to a small town called Ionia. Now this is an experience! I once again went into retirement, but once again needed to do something. Chuck works out of the house and never thought I grasped that he wasn't home to play with me in the garden or go shopping. So, I looked in the paper for a job. The paper is six pages thick and it costs more than the Washington Post. My choices from the want ads were for a milker, herder or fork lift operator. Thankfully, there was a temp agency in town that had something more up my alley. I work at the local bank as a mortgage editor. Small town America!! Everyone was born and raised here and related somehow to everyone else. There are five prisons in this town, the newest being a super maximum security. Only had one escape since we have lived here and like everyone says, the prisoners don't want to stick around. I entertained the idea of trying to get a state job in one, but from what I gather it is depressing work. We live in the country so we are frequently visited by deer, turkeys and stray cats.

Retirement isn't here yet, but not far off. Chuck is from Iowa originally and we are thinking that is where we will head. All his family is there and we just had a wonderful family reunion this past Labor Day. His son and daughter have given us four neat grandsons. We keep busy daily with two cats that came to us as kittens literally out of the woods. We love to garden, I quilt and craft, and we just bought a RV we look forward to touring in once we retire.

May you have a wonderful reunion, hope to see more bio's from people I remember. This has been great, thanks Hillary and the others who have made this happen!