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Volume 2, Number 10, May 1998
MIDNIGHT
SUN ONLINE
-The Online Newsletter for
Robert E. Peary High School Alumni-
MSO WEB SITE - http://www.pearyhs.org
Page 2
From: Carol Cotton Hendrix Hendric@basf.com (1964) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 Subject: 35th Reunion
To all class of '64 alums and anyone who knows any '64 grads: We are currently planning a combined 35th reunion with the classes of '63 & '65 tentatively scheduled for the year 2000. If any of you know the addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, place of employment, siblings, last known town or state of residence, etc. for any 1964 graduates please forward that information to me. We are trying to track down as many people as we can before the reunion and any information you may have, even if it is incomplete or dated may help in that search. If anyone has a reunion booklet from the last class of 1964 reunion, I would like to borrow it long enough to copy and will then return it to you. Anyone who would like to help with the reunion or in tracking down people, please let me know. I'm trying to coordinate this thing from New Jersey and the assistance of anyone who still lives in the D.C. area would be greatly appreciated and would reduce my long distance phone bill! Suggestions and/or assistance would be greatly appreciated.
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From: Laura Tardiff Violand mcdltv@gwumc.edu (1973) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 Subject: Update
I found out about this from a 1973 Reunion Committee member. Occupation: Fund Raiser; Children: Cara age 14, James age 13, Danielle age 12
Since High School: Attended University of Maryland and graduated with a BA in Political Science. Through my experience as a resident assistant in the dorm I decided to work in higher education education. Have been at George Washington University, Wash. D.C. since...almost 20 years. Finished my masters in College Student Development in 1983 and just defended my dissertation in March 1998 on major donor characteristics. Have been raising money for the GW Medical Center from medical alumni, patients and friends since 1988. Volunteered as council member and now President of the GW Graduate School of Education and Human Development Alumni Association. Have three great kids...Cara is on poms and JV softball at Einstein. James and Danielle following close behind. Proud owner of a pet pot-bellied pig...Pebbles and Kona the dog. Divorced kid's dad 10 years ago and replaced him with country-western dancing, skiing, tennis, chinese brush painting, karate w/son, coaching & playing softball at GW and camping.
Future Plans: Now in fund-raising job market since now I have the doctorate finished...hooray!
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From: Tina Sawanobori Fredo tsawanobori@hst.nasa.gov (1980) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 Subject: hello
My husband and I are relocating to Colorado in late May. I will be getting a new email address and will be in touch as soon as I'm re-connected. I look forward to being able to join in on the next Rocky Mountain Reunion!!
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From: Barbara Lawrence Hays bearsncubs@juno.com (1974) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 Subject: Update
I found out about this from my brother, Tim (1983). Occupation: Homemaker, Spouse: Robert; Children: Steven - born 1984, Carol - born 1987, Jimmy - born 1989
Memorable Incident: I would say the band activities are the ones I recall the most. The exchange concerts with the band from Verona, NJ were especially fun!
Since High School: I got my Associate degree at Montgomery College and then transferred to Salisbury State. Stacey Stickerod Wilson and I were on the same Elementary Education track and had a lot of classes together at both colleges and even student taught at the same school. It was at SSU that I met my husband. We moved to Rochester, NY shortly after getting married. We loved the winter sports there! We have been in Dayton, Ohio for the past 11 years. Our oldest will begin high school next year, so the cycle continues!
Memorable Teachers: Mr. Hunt - introduced me to jazz! Mr. Brace - taught me that History could be interesting! Mr. Clarke - taught me how to outline and helped me discover that History can be fun!
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From: Kelly DeGraff Gibson Kelly_Gibson@nih.gov (1980) Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 Subject: Update
I found out about this from Joel Shulman, who is one of my neighbors, and has kids who are alumni. Occupation: Program Analyst, Spouse: Joseph
Memorable Incidents: Graduation! Of course, all the people I met, students and faculty.
Since High School: Working!
Future Plans: Relocation to Ft. Lauderdale, FL and starting a family.
Memorable Teachers: Mrs. Cita, she was great. Miss Vadala, she was mean. Mr. Gibbs, he was funny.
Missing People? Shalimar Simpson-Anderson lives in Beltsville, MD
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From: Stephen H. Fisher Stevef8170@aol.com (1971) Date: Sat, 2 May 1998 Subject: Update
I found out about the website from a former Rockville High classmate who came across it and brought it to my attention. Occupation: Database Administrator
Memorable Incident: My one year as a freshman at Peary (1967-1968) when the Montgomery County Teachers went on strike and the only teacher of mine who did not chose to join the picket line was Mrs. Paulsen, my French teacher. I did not do well in French that year.
Since High School: Did not graduate from Peary. Peary was an interim stop on journey to Rockville High which opened in the fall of 1968. Those of us who were Maryvaler's were merged with the Broome Twinbrookers and got to start our own traditions. Was in the first graduating class of Rockville High and have chaired both the 20th and 25th reunion events for our class. Looks like your classmates are far more energized than mine. We had a small graduating class of 248 and few of those who are still local seem interested in getting together once every five years, let alone once a month for a social event.
Other activities have included getting an AA Degreee in Electronic Technology from Montgomery College, a BS in Technical Management from University of Maryland University College, and an MS in Technical Management from Johns Hopkins. In addition to working on RHS class reunions, I am active with the MC Alumni Association, the UMUC Alumni Association, and I have a passive membership with the JHU Alumni Association. I have been a community activist - civic - political - educational - in the Rockville area since 1977.
Future Plans: I am presently the Assistant Treasurer of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, and have filed for re-election this year. I follow in the footsteps of partisan service of one of my Peary classmates, David Tolman.
Memorable Teachers: I can remember a few. I had Mr. Gambaro for English - we had to keep a daily or weekly log of our experiences - was a nice inspiration for creative writing, which I did from time to time. Mrs. McGarrity was newly married that year and a very pleasant teacher. I had Mrs. Ward for homeroom, Clyde Hunt for band (I was a mediocre alto sax player), I had Mr. Lewis for geometry, Mrs. Paulsen for French, Mr. Williams for P.E. and the rest fall by the wayside of memory past.
Had a few pals at Peary who were carry-overs from Earl B. Wood - another new school I was able to enter as a seventh grader. My best to Kevin Peckam, Alan Eaton, Barnett Bailey, James Balegh, Gilbert Bell, Heidi Bernstein, Elisabeth Blair, Yvonne Blemly, Mark Brice, Fred Brodsky, Clyde Brown, Barry Bullington, Paul Burbrink, Gloria Carchedi, Patricia Christina, Charles Coburn, David Coleman, James Cook, Margaret Cromwell, Ann Crook, Joseph Curran, Pamela Davis, David Deacon, John DiBenedetto, Rozanne Dooly, Robert Dompka, etc . . . (using my yearbook and memory cells to identify familiar names) and my one and only crush in 8th grade, BethAnn Graves!
Excellent work!
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From: Rachael Weisenfeld Loeffler loeffler@erols.com (1978) Date: Sat, 2 May 1998 Subject: Update
I found out about the website from my sister - Marla. Occupation: Homemaker, Spouse: Richard, Children: Joey - 9 Jackie - 7
Since High School: Worked as telecommunications engineer for Bell Atlantic for 12 years Married in 1988. Quit work to raise our 2 children. Moved from Maryland to Long Island to Pennslyvania.
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From: Ronnie Prue pruerj@aol.com (1965) Date: Sat, 2 May 1998 Subject: Rumors of my death . . . . .exagerated
Occupation: Graphics DB manager, Spouse: Debe, Children: Jennifer Lynn Prue (22), Grandchildren: none yet
Memorable Incident: When Vernon Miller, Bill Clement, Manuel Quiones and myself thought it would be a good idea to cut down the school sign at Springbrook HS the night before homecoming in a car Vernon had "Borrowed" from his dad's car lot.
A friend of mine from the class of '64 told me about the web page. Where to start? Been married for 24 years to the same warden .. er wife. Did not marry until 1974. Went to Md in 1965-66 found out that it wasn't for me and immediately was invited by Uncle Sam to join the fighting ranks. Of course being the brilliant person I am I knew that at 5'6 and 125 lbs (which by the way is a distant memory now) I would have been a tunnel rat I opted for the Navy. Spent 4 yrs there (hated it while I was in but afterward loved the experience. Traveled to Scotland, Portugal, Spain, Cuba, Panamal, San Diego, Washington State, Guam (which had 1 girl for every palm tree and there was only 1 tree on the island), Japan and Taipai, Taiwan all at government expense. Debe is my wife, she is from Hagerstown, Md. I had to ship one in to marry, all the rest knew my rep. She is the kindest person I have ever met and has almost turned me into a decent person. She has managed a Medical Equipment/Systems Co. in Gaithersburg for the past 16 yrs. I have been at the Washington Post for the past 27 years. No I don't write the drivel, actually I rarely even read it! Work in the Advertising Operations dept and maintain our Graphics database and a Macintosh network that we use to produce the ads in the paper. Work the night shift, have for 18 of the 27... probably accounts for the long marriage. We have a daughter, Jennifer Lynn (22) who is now attending the Medical University of South Carolina Physical Therapy graduate program in Charleston SC. She's been there for about 18 months. Did her internship for college (East Carolina) at the Med Ctr and decided that's where she wanted to live the rest of her days. Good though, we travel to see her several times a yr. and get to spend time at Myrtle Beach at the same time to enjoy golf and eating.
This is way too much for first contact after 33 yrs so I will log off now. Have news and notes about lots of folks... Steve Graham, Ronnie Bowles, Rick Zaborski, Gene Cole, Danny Welsh (all '64), Don Ford, Richard Keckler (65), and Gil Whitehurst ('66). Be talking to ya.
ron prue
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From: Bryan Robinson robinson@frederickmd.com (1978) Date: Sat, 2 May 1998 Subject: Update
Occupation: Printer, Spouse: Katherine; Children: Shaun 16, Shannon 7, Brandon 6
Memorable Incident: When Chris Gilmartin did a turf job on the football field
Since High School: Working in the graphic arts field and raising a family.
Comments: Scott Flesher passed away last october.
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From: John Way jsway@erols.com (1983) Date: Sun, 3 May 1998 Subject: Where am I now?
First, thanks to all involved for this great website and newsletter!
After Peary, I got B.S. degrees in computer science from Catholic Univ. and math education from UMCP. After programming for a few years for a NASA contractor, I decided it was time to go for "the big bucks" and make use of my teaching certificate.
I landed a job teaching computer science (and occasionally math) at Sherwood H.S., now one of the bigger high schools in the county. My wish to follow in the footsteps of Mr. Hill has at least come partially true, since he subbed there briefly after Peary closed. Now in my third year, I am striving to achieve a fraction of the excellence modeled by Mr. Hill and others at Peary. At the very least I have been enabled to tell students they are "cruisin' for a bruisin'" and are "a lost ball in high weeds."
By the many educators inspired by our excellent teachers, I believe we can truly say "Peary is not dead!"
On an individual note, I have no children, at least that I know of. This is good since I have remained devotedly single.
Memorable moment: winning the state championship in cross country with a great group of guys!
Memorable teachers: Most influential: Mr. Hill (of course), Mr. Gibbs, Dr. Duke. Other excellent teachers: Mrs. Rosen, Mr. Black
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From: Janice Johnson Thompson tassoc@juno.com (1968) Date: Sun, 3 May 1998 Subject: Update
Ed Burlas (a friend) told me about the MSO. Occupation: Homemaker, Spouse: James; Children: Amanda Kate Thompson- 12 yrs., Tiffany Kara Thompson- 18 yrs.
Memorable Incident: Always being the last to finish lunch.
Since High School: Owned 2 plant stores, Worked at husbands firm, Housemaker
Future Plans: Continue as things are. No plans to change anything
Memorable Teacher: Mr. Hill- He was the finest and most dignified adults I had ever met.
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From: Mark M. Kitsoulis Kitsukid@AOL.com (1980) Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 Subject: Update
Occupation: Mortgage Banking, Spouse: Gina, Children: Paul (age 7), Keith (age 5)
Memorable Incident: Putting the VW in the senior court yard. Getting a 3 day suspension for making an announcement over the PA system of a keg party.
Since High School: Attended Shepherd college and majored in Marketing & Communications. Have been in the mortgage banking field for 12 years. I'm currently the Vice President of the Wholesale Lending Division for Jefferson Mortgage Group located in Fairfax Virginia.
Future Plans: Enjoy my hectic life with the kids and hope to retire early!
Memorable Teachers: Mr. Black - excellent wrestling coach.
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From: Ron Bostwick ronsroom@cmn.net (1977) Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 Subject: Heading to the flatland...
After delay upon delay upon delay upon delay upon delay upon delay I've been offered a job in Boulder Colorado (1/2 hour northwest of Denver) to be the music coordinator/scheduler/director for a radio show called E-Town. It's a weekly show taped in Boulder that combines live music performances with interviews pertaining to helping our world and a weekly recognition of someone who is making a positive difference in their local community. Past musical performers include James Taylor, Shawn Colvin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Ricky Skaggs, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, John Hammond, David Wilcox and Joan Baez. Interviews have been done people like Jimmy Carter and Ed Begley Jr. And recognition has been given to people who have developed electric cars, started an education program for underpriviledged Hispanic youth and a woman who began a program to employ and house ex-cons in San Francisco. The show is 7 years old and is heard on more than 100 radio stations around the country.
While there are some details to work out, I anticipate starting work in Boulder the beginning of June. Yes, this would mean leaving the "on air" side of radio and going back to working behind the scenes. Also this means leaving the sleepy hamlet of Steamboat Springs for the home of the still-unsolved JonBenet Ramsay investigation (maybe I can help the police).
Look for more info (new address, phone, e-mail address, etc) in June.
Ron