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Volume 4, Number 4,
November 1999
MIDNIGHT
SUN ONLINE
-The Online Newsletter for
Robert E. Peary High School Alumni-
MSO WEB SITE - http://www.pearyhs.org
Page 3
From: STEVE MELLINGER smellinger@CSEA.DHR.STATE.MD.US (1981) Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 Subject: Update
I found out about the website FROM OTHER ALUMNI I RAN INTO. Occupation: CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGENT, Spouse: APRIL, Children: BABY MELLINGER - DUE FEB. 12, 2000 - IT'S A GIRL!!
Memorable Incident: WHEN I TOOK THE LUNCH MONEY FROM THE CAFETERIA AS A JUNIOR AND RAN DOWN THE HALL WITH A MAINTENENCE MAN IN PURSUIT. I HID IN A BUSH UNTIL MY GETAWAY CAR SHOWED UP.
Since High School: I GOT MARRIED IN 1993, MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT A HOUSE AND MOVED TO HAGERSTOWN, MD. I WORK AS AN AGENT FOR THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT.
Future Plans: WE ARE EXPECTING OUR FIRST CHILD FEB. 12, 2000.
Memorable Teacher: GERRY CAVANAUGH, I LIKED HER BECAUSE SHE TOOK ME ON JOB INTERVIEWS AND WOULD GET ON ME ONLY BECAUSE SHE CARED.
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From: Lee Annis jannis@mc.cc.md.us (1974) Date: Sun, 31 Oct 1999 Subject: Update
I found out about the website from Mike McCarthy '72, a student of mine at MC-Rockville. Occupation: Associate Professor of History-Montgomery College-Rockville
Memorable Incident: Riding home on the team bus after Peary's basketball team beat Blair in the county semifinals in '74. I dont think I was the only one who was afraid there, especially after Blair's girls had beaten up a number of our cheerleaders at Peary.
Since High School: For the past 14 years, I've been teaching at Montgomery College, first part-time at Germantown, then full-time, first at Takoma Park, now at Rockville. Strangely enough, I've had the pleasure of teaching Peary grads from throughout the 70s, all of whom have turned out to be pretty good students. I haven't taught anyone from my own class of '74, but I have taught a husband, an ex-husband and a daughter of members of the class of '74. I've published two books - the most recent is Tennessee Senators, 1911-2001: Portraits of Leadership in a Century of Change which I co-wrote with Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee. Noting a couple of Peary grads and Betty Hepburn, the mother of several Peary grads have served on the Democratic Central Committee, I should report that both myself and Richard Solomon '79 have served on the Montgomery Republican Central Committee. Both parties need new blood in the county and I encourage more Peary grads to get involved in both of them!
Future Plans: Write a bit more, teach a bit more, travel a lot more
Memorable Teacher: Bob Clarke - a truly outstanding teacher whose inclass jokes I still steal whenever I teach world history. He helped inspire a number of us (including my MC colleague - albeit at the Germantown campus - Kurt Borkman '74) to follow him into teaching.
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From: Mary Siegert Green tpookie@bellatlantic.net (1985) Date: Mon, 1 Nov 1999 Subject: Update
I graduated from Wheaton and found out about the website through work. Occupation: Librarian, Spouse: Terry, Children: Daughter Liesl Clara Green 17 months, Baby Green due at Christmas
Since High School: Attended St. Mary's College of MD, Class of 1989. Attended Grad school at Catholic University and received MLS in 1995. Currently work with Montgomery County Department of Public Libraries at Olney.
Memorable Teachers: Mr. Hill for his thoughts of the day and wonderful teachng manner. Mr. Gibbs b/c he was such a jerk and said I'd never make it.
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From: Clark Basheeba Wagner cwagner@ci.gaithersburg.md.us (1979) Date: Mon, 1 Nov 1999 Subject: Golf Trip to Ireland
I was lucky enough this year to go to Ireland with 7 other former rugby players to play golf and watch World Cup Rugby, even though the US team is seriously hurting. We saw the US v. Romania (we lost); US v. Australia (lost again) and the Ireland v. Australia game (boring). I guess the Irish have learned something since one cannot drink in the stadiums except in little bars in the corners. Two US guys are from my old club (Wash. RFC), so it was good to see them play some big time rugby.
The golf was alot better. We played St. Margarets in Dublin upon landing after pulling an all-nighter on the plane; Royal County Down in Norther Ireland; Portmarnock in Dublin; Lahinch on the West Coast; Balybunion at the mouth of the Shannon River and Adare Manor in the village of Adare. It was some serious golf, 9 rounds on six courses in 6 days. No trees but 18" rough that put you in jail for life. The best round was Lahinch since we played 36 straight holes and went through a fifth of Jameson, thanks to our caddy Willie. Willie climbed the wall next to the third green and woke up the owner of the local liquor store so that we could have some hooch to relax the nerves a bit. My birdie on the 6th hole was celebrated quite handily.
Carmel Keough in Limerick was very nice, except she called me a slut and told me to be more careful in foreign countries. Oh well, I made it back alive. If you want some guidance on making such a venture, let me know and I can give you a few suggestions.
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From: Kim Sonneman Lachance lachance.kim@mrj.com (1979) Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1999 Subject: Update
I found out about the website from a friend. Occupation: Contracts Manager
Since High School: Attended the University of Maryland. Received a BS degree in business Administration, with major concentration in Finance. I have worked for various companies in the area of Contracts Administration and Management. I've been married to my husband Steve for 6 years. We have 2 sons: Austin 3 and Connor 1.
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From: Amy Hirsch Edberg edberg@colorado.net Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1999 Subject: Ski in Colorado
Want to ski this winter? Master suite with kitchen available for short term rental in Breckenridge, Colorado. Great first season prices! Contact Amy (Hirsch '81) at edberg@colorado.net for details.
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From: Linda Eimer Hauprich LINDA_HAUPRICH@FC.MCPS.K12.MD.US (1979) Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1999 Subject: Update
Occupation: Community Coord. at Parkland MS, Spouse: Daniel Hauprich also Class of '79, Daniel's Occupation: Contractor, Children: Gregory Daniel - Age 8, Dana Michelle - Age 7, Melissa Diane - Age 5
Since High School: I went to Frostburg State University and graduated with a teaching degree in K-12 Art. I got married to Dan Hauprich, also a Peary 1979 graduate, in 1986. We have three children and live in Damascus, MD. I am now working for Montgomery County as a Community School Coordinator at my old junior high, Parkland Middle School.
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From: Jennifer Swift Houser jj694@airmail.net (1981) Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1999 Subject: Update
I found out about the website from siblings. Occupation: Professional volunteer and President of Residential Affairs, Spouse: Doug, Children: Tyler 15 and Ryan 13
Memorable Incidents: Senior class pranks, variety shows, Kenny Thomas doing Elvis and The Jerk, the Phantom Pie Thrower.
Since High School: Married in 1981 (one month after graduation) and divorced in 1991. I have two wonderful boys who live with their dad and attend Seneca Valley High School. They spend the summer and all the holidays in Dallas with us. During the school year I visit them one weekend each month which also gives me time with my parents. As of 1996, when I married my husband Doug, I am a retired R.N. Now I spend about a third of the year traveling with my husband. In the last three years we have been on nine cruises and about forty trips. We have traveled Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Pago pago, Apia, Moorea, England, Scotland, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Spain, Monaco, Portugal, Gibraltar, Costa Rica, Mexico, Falkland Islands, Canada, all the major caribbean islands, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and this coming May we hope to visit Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and Poland. We are planning a grand voyage for 2001 when we will circumnavigate the continent of Africa! In September we spent a great weekend at the Bellagio Hotel in Vegas and met and spoke with Steve Wynn! That was FUN.
When I am in town I volunteer for a variety of charities. I co-chaired the 1999 Annual Cystic Fibrosis Luncheon which was held October 27th and attended by about 400. We raised $40,000 to fund research and treatment. I am also on the Board of a non-profit organization called Girls, Inc. In April of this year I hosted a luncheon for the members of the Auxiliary of Girls, Inc. and was fortunate to have the Mayor of Dallas Ron Kirk as a speaker. Becoming involved in volunteerism in everything from the Dallas Museum, the Symphony, the Theatre, to various children's charities has been such an education for me. I have enormous respect for the women who dedicate their time to presiding over these organizations. They are strong, intelligent, multi-faceted women who could very well be running Fortune 500 corporations. In essence that is what they are doing. This year's Beaux Arts Ball benefiting the Dallas Museum of Art (which I also worked on) raised almost $2 million! One event!
Future Plans: To continue my volunteer work and slow down on the travel a bit. Doug and I have decided we don't really need to see the whole world in the next five years.
Memorable Teacher: Ms. Scheideman was always positive and encouraging and for some reason she loved to call me "apple pie".
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From: Robert F. Seay, II Spyderbob@msn.com (1982) Date: Sun, 7 Nov 1999 Subject: Update
Occupation: Medical Business Owner, Spouse: Kathy
Since High School: Went to GW University and lived in the Rockville area until 1987 when I moved to South Florida. I lived in Florida until 1991 when I moved to Asheville, NC. I started a Medical Diagnostic Company in 1992. I still play the Drums occasionally. I am also a private pilot and have been flying for about 2 years.
Memorable Teachers: I remember John Horvat because I also worked with him on the Rescue Squad. Also Mr. Hunt from Band and Ms. Tigani from Biology.
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From: Michael Deitchman mdeitchman@olg.com (1968) Date: Mon, 8 Nov 1999 Subject: USS Robert E. Peary Ship's Bell
I am pleased to announce that I have located and have in my custody the US Navy ship's bell from the USS Robert E. Peary.
As some of you may be aware the Alumni Association is preparing to rededicate the Memorial Bell Tower this coming June. I offered to help locate and retrieve the bell hoping my position with the Navy might be influential in facilitating its return.
One complication has arisen in that there were two ships named after Admiral Peary. The first was a destroyer escort (DE 132) commissioned in 1943. The ship's bell from DE 132 was the one originally given to our school and placed in the tower in 1968.
The second ship DE 1073 later redesignated a FRIGATE (FF1073) was commissioned in 1972 and decommissioned in 1992. The Robert E. Peary, FF1073, has since been leased to Taiwan.
My first contact with the Naval Historical Center led me to Explosive Ordnance Disposal School at Indian Head, MD as the custodian of the bell from the USS Robert E. Peary. I have requested and received custody of this bell, however the story doesn't end here.
While looking through our 1997 Yearbook I came across a picture of the bell and realized that the bell I had, was in fact, not the original. Further discussions with the Naval Historical Center have resulted in the conclusion that the bell in my possession is from the second USS Robert E. Peary, FF1073.
Apparently the first bell was loaned to the Naval Reserve Forces in Orlando, FL and returned to the Naval Historical Center in 1992 apparently around the same time the second ship was decommissioned. Bottom line is that records were confused and the first bell can longer be located.
The Naval Historical Center will allow us to keep the second bell for the rededication of the Memorial Bell Tower. I will forward separately a picture of the bell as it currently stands in my office as well as picture of the USS Robert E. Peary, FF1073. Interestingly I have found a web site http://www.plateau.net/usndd/ff1073 for the USS Robert E. Peary, FF1073 and through the letters of some of the sailors who served on her found that she was deployed and saw action in the Persian Gulf during the Iranian Hostage Crisis.
I will turn over the bell to the Alumni Association in the near future.
Best regards Mike Deitchman