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Volume 4, Number 2,
September 1999
MIDNIGHT
SUN ONLINE
-The Online Newsletter for
Robert E. Peary High School Alumni-
MSO WEB SITE - http://www.pearyhs.org
Page 2
From: Charles "Ben" Cranston zben@wam.umd.edu
(1970)
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999
Subject: Status update
Have finished all coursework for the PhD in Computer
Science but have
been delayed by need to program an electronic
micropayments system for
my day job here at College Park. I gave a paper at the
Second
International Conference on Interoperability in
Geographic Information
Systems in Zurich, Switzerland in March of this year.
Desparately trying
to keep my trees and flowers alive through this terrible
drought, and
looking forward to early retirement (somethine in the
next couple of
years) and embarking on a second career, hopefully one
that garners a
bit more respect than being a state employee...
**********
From: Michelle Gold Smith msmith@srgpe.com
(1974)
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999
Subject: Update
I found out about the website from my brother, Barry
Gold. Occupation:
Legal secretary, Spouse: Tom, Children: Stubby - age 6
(Schnauzer)
Memorable Incidents: Getting caught smoking in the
girl's room by the
hall monitors and skipping classes
Since High School: Work, work, work!!!
Future Plans: To retire and enjoy life
Memorable Teacher: Mrs. Zimmerman (Shorthand, typing
teacher) She was
from the old school. Very strict. But I learned the most
from her
class. I think everyone was afraid of her.
**********
From: Nancy Miller Strauss NMiller@suburbanhospital.org
(1973)
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999
Subject: Update
I found out about the website through a healthcare
consultant.
Occupation: Hospital Administration, Spouse: William,
Children:
Jonathan Christopher Strauss, age 9
Memorable Incidents: Senior Talent Show: Buddy Yost,
et al version of
"Barbara Ann." Basketball Team: and the winning
"Magic" Craig Davis.
Wrestling Teams '72/'73 and parties at Butch Britton's
house. Summer
Driver Education classes.
Since High School: College: American University,
Bachelor of Science in
Medical Technology Graduate School: George Washington
University,
Master's in Health Services Administration, specializing
in Managed Care
and alternative delivery systems. After leaving the
Washington area for
Coral Gables, Florida, I served as the Vice President of
Managed Care
Services for the South Miami HealthSystem. There, I
ventured the first
Physician Hospital Organization with a major insurance
company, and
during the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, launched the
first hospital-
sponsored Medical Assistance Healthplan. After eleven
years in Miami,
we moved to a suburb of Philadelphia, PA, where I served
as the Sr.
Vice President for a post-acute services organization,
Good Shepherd
Rehabilitation Hospital and Good Shepherd Home, located
in the Lehigh
Valley. In October 1998, we re-located again. This time,
back home!
Closer to home and now at Suburban Hospital Healthcare
System, I serve
as the Corporate Director for the HealthSystems' Managed
Care
activities. Bill and I have been married 16 years. He is
an
Intellectual Property Attorney for a large firm in
Washington, DC. We
have one son, Jonathan, who is 9. Jonathan's sport is
competitive
swimming, so I won't see anyone on the soccer field. We
enjoy
traveling, sailing, and gourmet cooking.
Future Plans: After being away for fourteen years, it
is a pleasure to
be connecting with old friends.
Memorable Teacher: Mr. Bragonier, he mixed humor with learning.
**********
From: DAN SHANNON YOURLP@aol.com
- Not Working/User Unknown (1969)
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999
Subject: Update
I found out about the website from my SISTER, PATTI
SHANNON WILDER.
Occupation: BUILDER,LAND DEVELOPER,REALTOR
Since High School: TRAVELING,SNOW SKIING
EVERYWHERE,BUILDING CUSTOM &
TRACT HOMES,MARRIED ONCE ENGAGED 5 TIMES,ENJOYING EVERY
DAY & ENJOYING
LIVING IN LAS VEGAS...
Future Plans: SAME AS ABOVE. SNOW SKI AROUND THE WORLD
IN ONE YEAR.
FIND MY FUTURE WIFE "ONE WHO CAN KEEP UP WITH
ME", KEEP IN GOOD SHAPE
AND GOOD HEALTH.
THE 1979 RE-UNION I WON A TRIP FOR 2 ANYWHERE TWA
FLIES, I NEVER
RECIEVED THE VOUCHER. PLEASE SEND ASAP.
**********
From: Deborah German Firestone firestone@mindspring.com
(1981)
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999
Subject: Update
I found out about the website from a Baltimore teacher
at a job fair who
informed me. Occupation: Educator, Spouse: James Carl
Firestone (Carl),
Children: Zachary Kyle 3 3/4 (11-9-95), Timothy Paul 15
months (5-27-98)
Memorable Incident: The incident that stands out in my
mind occurred
outside of school, but affected us all. The 444 days that
my father was
held hostage in Iran were unpleasant to say the least,
however, the
students at Peary let me know that I had their support
(even those I did
not know) and prayers. For that I thank you all and ask
God's blessings
on you. You all made a huge difference in my life
(especially my
classmates) and I will be forever grateful.
Since High School: Since graduating, I attended the
University of
Maryland (the 5 year plan) and graduated with a BA in
Spanish
translation. I then got a job working for the Department
of Housing and
Urban Development & Selective Service System while
waiting for a
security clearance at NSA. After 2 1\2 years the security
clearance
came, but 6 months into the job I realized it wasn't for
me. I waited
tables and went back to school for education. In the
summer of 1992 I
moved to Panama City, Florida for the summer (moved in
with brother
Matt) and did the beach thing for the summer. I waited on
my future
husband (Carl) and that, as they say, was all she wrote.
We were
married the following summer and I moved to a small town
outside of
Birmingham, Alabama (his home) and lived there for 4 1\2
years. Our
first son, Zachary, was born there on 11\9\95. In July of
1997 we
came home to my Maryland - you don't know what you have
'til its gone
- and bought a house and had another child (Timothy) all
on the same
day (5-27-98) - what an eventful day!! I am going into my
third year
of teaching grades 1-3 at St. John the Evangelist School
in Silver
Spring and have to say that I love teaching. I teach
reading, math,
computers, and Spanish (yes I'm using my degree) to the
little kids and
that keeps me on my toes. When I'm not teaching my own
kids keep me on
my toes, but I love watching them grow.
Future Plans: To keep on teaching (unless I win the
lottery!) and to
have a couple more children (God willing) and to enjoy
life while it's
here.
Memorable Teachers: Mr. Clarke - he gave me confidence
in myself.
Ms. Dawson - I always enjoyed her classes.
Other alums I know about? Linda Yeakle Wehr-Fry
**********
From: Anita Greene Bush anitabush.usouthal@prodigy.net
(1975)
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999
Subject: Update
Occupation: Accountant-Healthcare Analyst, Spouse:
Bill, Children:
William, 15-about to become an Eagle Scout, Bryant,
11-Green belt in
Soo Bahk Do
Memorable Incidents: Um, it's a little hard
remembering high school, I
had a nickname which described my mental processes at the
time as jello.
I do remember the streaking incidents. There was a
protest because a
girl got suspended and a boy didn't (I think we were just
looking for a
reason to cut class). I remember when the hideout under
the Industrial
Arts wing got raided, I always thought it was stupid to
box yourself in
an area with no escape. The woods behind the track were
much better,
you could see people coming and make a run for it.
Skipped school first
six weeks of my senior year, in protest to my father not
letting me
graduate early-as he had promised, (good thing he didn't,
can you
imagine a sixteen year old away at college?). When the
school finally
discovered me missing they wanted to expell me, but Dad
said something
about failure to notify parents of absences and a law
suit; they backed
down. Big Wup, I already had enough credits to graduate
anyway. I
finished the year going half-day taking two sewing
classes and chorus;
had the time of my life. I loved chorus, and I took
sewing with Cathy Ng
and we've been friends ever since. My father sent out
college
applications (behind my back) and I was accepted at all
but chose to go
back home to THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA. Graduation was
scary; I realized
that playtime was over. Somehow, I wised up during my
senior year and
got my act together. In those three years, I had been
irresponsible and
reckless for a lifetime.
Since High School: I went off to the University of
Alabama in August of
'75 and began a new life. I left Maryland for all intents
and purposes
and a lifestyle that was very destructive and NEVER
looked back. I went
to my first football game and on my first date with a guy
who was to
become the love of my life. Talk about opposites, I had
gotten all my
craziness out of me by the time I got to college, he had
gone to
military school all his life and was just starting to wup
it up.
College was EVERYTHING it's supposed to be. We definately
could have
studied more and been better students, but hey, it was
the seventies,
besides I wouldn't trade any of our memories for one
better grade, AND
my brain was clear to remember. We just finished
celebrating our 19th
wedding anniversary. I graduated with a MS in Accounting.
We moved to
Bill's hometown, Mobile, on the Gulf of Mexico. Bill went
back to
school for another degree making straight A's graduating
with a degree
in Accounting. I guess we did play a little too much in
Tuscaloosa. We
had William in '84 and Bryant in '88. I was able to go
part-time about
five year's ago. I get off at 3:00 and pick up the boys
up from school
and play "carpool mom" to scouting, church
choir, and the YMCA. We have
a little beach house on a barrier island called Dauphin
Island where we
spend most of our summer weekends. During the fall, the
four of us go to
UofA football games and do the whole "Tailgate"
thing. William and Bill
went on a two-week "Northern Tier High
Adventure" Boyscout Camp where
they connoed on the barrier waters between Minnesota and
Canada. A
couple of year's ago, they backpacked for a week on the
Appalachain
Trail. Bryant starts camping this year when he moves up
to boyscouts.
I got to go to Switzerland for three weeks with just my
Mom a couple of
years ago, my first trip out of the country. It was so
beautiful! I
want to go again. But it was nice to get home, I didn't
think I could
miss my family so much. Bill used to go on these long
driving vacations
with his parents when he was a little kid and had very
fond memories and
we have continued the tradition with our kids. I would
recommend driving
vacations to anyone, you really get to experience the
U.S. Our first
big trip was out west to the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, San
Francisco and
"All Sites in-between". Last summer we went to
Jackson Hole and the
Grand Tetons, Yellowstone (phew!), Glacier/Waterton Park
Canada, Mt.
Rushmore, Wounded Knee, and "All Sites
in-between". The van broke down
as we drove into the driveway after 7,500 miles (I kid
you not!)
Future Plans: We're hoping to buy a boat next spring
big enough to go
out to the reefs (about 40 miles offshore) and do some
deep sea fishing.
The boat we have now is too small for open water out on
the Gulf. Bill
and I talk about cruising to Key West and up the East
Coast on the
intercoastal waterway when we retire, but that's so long
off. I'm
looking forward to William getting his driver's license
so he can do
some of the taxi work. Next ten years, pay off the house,
get the kids
through college, enjoy each other and our family.
Memorable Teacher: Miss Brewer, I adored her. Her
class was a safe
haven for me. I discovered I actually had
"some" talent for art. I
understand she's teaching at Wheaton High School. I hope
the student's
appreciate her as much as we did.