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From Mary Beth Ward:
Some of you know (and many probably don't) that my husband Chris and I write and perform music - I've been invited to perform at the
Florida Folk Festival this year in White Springs, Fl on Memorial Day Weekend (have performed several times in the last several years and it
is a true "labor of love" and I always feel particularly honored to be invited.) It's one of the largest music Festivals in Florida and takes place
once a year and has been ongoing for over 50 years now. I will be performing many of my original songs - a mixture of folk, country and
bluegrass (I also play acoustic guitar) and will be performing with back up by my husband Chris on stand-up bass, Billy Jickel on Mandolin
and Jerry Simpson with guitar and vocals. The festival is always a lot of fun. The first time I performed there, Emmy Lou Harris was the
headliner; I got to meet her and she signed my guitar strap - I asked her if I could get a lot of money if I sold it on e-bay. Ha, ha, just kidding.
All kidding aside, she is a very beautiful and gracious person and it was very exciting to meet her. Chris will also be performing with
another group he plays with called Barnstorm. So, if anyone is interested in this type of thing, hope you will come to the festival and we'll
have a chance to get together again then. The White Springs Florida Cultural Center is about 30-45 minutes north of Gainesville. Other
than that, we stay very busy between family, jobs, etc., but the music is one of our greatest passions.
From Stephanie Stephens:
At least everyone knows my age!!! I'm divorced 10 years and "It's Not Complicated", 2 daughters (Sarah in Portland, OR and Sally in
Charleston, SC-33 and 31). I live in TN about an hour from Nashville in an old grist mill. I've worked as a realtor for 26 years but also have a
new-ish career as psychotherapist and work one afternoon each week in a low cost medical clinic. I read a lot and swim laps, am behind
with most things I don't what to do and have too many animals! I feel really bad that we lost Don. I wrote to him right before he died. Anyone
in contact with his widow? Thanks, Lee Ann, for being the responsive one. I'm in touch periodically with Chan Bostwick but have lost contact
with everyone else. Would love to hear about all of ya'll.
From Fran McGuirt:
So good to hear from you. As you may remember Mike and I were coming to the class reunion this past summer however Mike's only
brother (47 years old) took ill and passed away on July 11, 2009, so we were in Ohio at the time of the reunion. I do have some exciting
news though which you may already know about, I retired May 29, 2009 and have really enjoyed not getting up with the chickens and taking
each day at a time enjoying them. After having breast cancer you appreciate like a little differently and that's where I am right now - loving
life! As of July 12, 2010 I will be cancer free for 4 years and I give God all the credit. I pray and thank him every day. I go for the gamete of
test next month (Pet, MRI, CT,etc.,) so please keep me in your thoughts and prayers that all will continue to be good. I volunteer at the
Cancer Center every Tuesday, helping out and freeing up the nurses so they can do their job. I enjoy talking to the patient (getting chemo).
And of course I always take it something I've baked (brownies, cookies, etc) Tomorrow it's pineapple upside down cake!
As you know some classmates are hooking up on Facebook. It's been a good thing and most are having fun with it. I've talked to several
classmates through it - that was cool! I think it's a good thing. I'm now sporting around in a brand new 2010 GMC Terrain (SUV) and guess
what - it's our school colors -red exterior and black interior. I just love it. It has side air bags, blue tooth-(get my calls through the radio)
automatic start up, seat warmers (hope I never need that), back-up camera, etc. etc.
Our holidays were good - I surprised Peggy and JD when they went to Jacksonville for a doctor's appointment. We met them for dinner and
it was so exciting to see Peggy & JD and also to meet Sara, John's new baby girl. She is beautiful and looks just like her 3 year old brother
Jeramey. Peggy and JD are very proud (and rightfully so) Grandparents. JD is having some health issues however you need to talk to
them about that I wouldn't want to get it confused.
My Mom is in Florida (from South Carolina) visiting me. She spent a month with my brother Bobby (class of 1966) in Sarasota, FL and now
will be here hopefully until things warm up in S.C. Mom was 85 on 12 21/09. I feel so blessed that we still have her. She is going to teach
this lefty (me) to crochet so keep her in your prayers because that is going to be a challenge since she is right handed. Our kids are all
great! Mike and I have 5 children between us and 8 GRAND kids that range from age 11 to age 19. We have one in college, one working
at Publix and going to Culinary School and the rest are still in school working hard at getting out.
Mike is in what they call the "drop" program which means at most he will be working four more years. There's talk they may offer some of
the ole timers a buy out which means they would give him so much a year for each year Mike's been with the PBSO. He has been there
almost 30 years so it would be a nice buy out. We just have to wait and see. He wouldn't lose anything - he would just get to start
retirement early and they would give him money. It's a win-win situation so only time will tell.
We did take a beautiful trip in 2008 for our 20th anniversary. We took a 2 week cruise to Hawaii and spent several days in California before
leaving on the cruise. It was beautiful. We drove all the way down the Pacific Highway enjoying the view. It was breathe taking! Seeing and
being at Pearl Harbor was sobering. My Dad was there on a Navy Ship that was hit. Thankfully he was ok but it is something that is very
moving. I'd say on the same line as the Viet Nam wall. I've rattled on enough I should get busy so you take care young lady and thanks for
all your hard work keeping us Grenadiers in touch. You're a good person.
From Betsy Norman:
Thank you for all you do with keeping us updated. My nephew, James is back at Fort Hood from Iraq. (Army). We are thankful he is back
and his Mom and Dad, Don and Donna Norman are back home from Georgia so James will be coming to visit them..ASAP. My brother,
Don is still doing great after his big lung surgery (removed one half of his lung). He is amazing. All my sisters-in-laws are angels : ) I
have said that for many years. We are blessed. I am busier than ever with my patients. I am so thankful I am blessed to do what I love.
Just hope I can keep the body together to keep doing it. Please take care and again, I appreciate you and all you do to help all of us keep in
the "loop".
From Paula Silver:
Just a quick note to let you know that NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING has changed, up here in this little po-dunk town, or in my life, other
than the age clock keeps ticking away... Evident by all the gray hair & wrinkles.... Thanks for all your efforts in keeping everyone abreast of
what's going on..Not many people would take the time to do so..
Virginia Smith:
It is so nice of you to keep us up-to-date with news of the Class of 1964. A little update of my life: I have had many careers:
Teaching elementary education of first and second graders in both public and Christian schools - Ohio, North Carolina, Tennessee
Director of Christian Education in a church - Hopewell, VA (After this job, I returned to school and received a Master's in Christian Education
from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS)
Secretary/Receptionist in a Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Armonk, NY
Social Worker in an adolescent pregnancy care and prevention program in the South Bronx, New York
Then, I returned to school again! I attended Lienhard School of Nursing at Pace University in Pleasantville, NY and earned a Master's of
Science in 1984. I have worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner since that time. Places like Spofford Juvenile Detention Center - South
Bronx, NY, Public and Private Home Care Agencies - Mt. Kisco, NY, Greenwich, CT, White Plains, NY, Manager of Occupational Health -
Witco Corporation (national/international chemical plants) - Greenwich, CT,
Currently, Coordinator of the Adult Sickle Cell Program - VCU Medical Center - Richmond, VA. I have been in this current job since
December 1996. We have about 200 patients in our practice and I coordinate their care in the clinic and the hospital and the Emergency
Department. We have a support group for educational sessions and social events. My goal is to be able to purchase a building for Sickle
Cell patients so they will have an activity center.
I am active in my local church and teach a Sunday School class of 4 year old children. I enjoy entertaining in my home. Anyone planning to
visit Richmond, be sure and stop by! Keep up the good work!
From Michael O'Toole:
Lee Avdoyan and I keep planning on coming to a reunion - so we'll make one soon. I retired suddenly last year (due to a downsizing), so
we only have Lee's schedule to coordinate with now... Thanks for keeping us all together...
From Sara Setzer:
The poem from Marie Crawford made me remember sitting around Sunday morning after the reunion, and the talk turned to "Do you
remember." I thought I would sent along some of my memories, and maybe others will add to the list. So here goes: that furniture on
Colonial Dr. that was always (for 50 yrs) going out of business, birthday parties at Ronnie's restaurant sharing a Mambo Extravaganza and
running outside to warm up a bit, Freddie's Steakhouse, two lane cobble stone streets, getting struck in the sand on dirt roads, Mister
Donut, Fla. "San" hospital, foot path through the woods to Lake Downey, Atlas missile being towed down Hwy 50 to the Cape, a "good" date
was to Steak and Shake, the Bowlasium, Aquasium, and "Skate"asium on Orange Ave., citronella candles at the drive-in, Sheriff Dave Starr
wore boots and a cowboy hat riding in everybodys parade, the tepee motel, icy mugs of A & W root beer, Enzor's drug store with a real soda
jerk, "Monkey" Wards on west Colonial, being able to eat at all of the above and still been bone thin. Those were the days my friend and I will
be interested in others memories.
Betsy Hardy:
This trans-planted Floridian has just installed a 45,000 kw generator to power our house in case we have a black-out or loose power up
here in the winter. When we lost power in Miami, ie. a hurricane, it was just a terrible inconvenience. Up here, it could be life threatening.
As soon as I figure out how to down load photos from my new camera onto my new computer.....I'll forward some. *_* We plan on going
down to Ocean Reef on the Keys to thaw out next month. (February) We'll stop in Winter Park to see my sisters, their family, and my Mom.
Hopefully I'll have time to connect with a few ex-Grenadiers then. Thanks for all you do!
From Carol Hankins:
I can guarantee that this is Florida...The cold over here was way much colder since we also had the ocean "gales" to put up with. So,
although the cold was coming in from the N.W., we were getting what felt like a hell of a Nor'easter as well! I had to move from my recently
moved into condo because we had a lot of rain here on the beach several weeks ago and my cute little place developed mold. Fortunately, I
was able to handle the whole move with the assistance of good friends, and am now settled into my new condo, which I prefer since
instead of gross Berber carpeting I have hardwood floors throughout. Let's see, really digging for news, but all of my annual physical tests
turned out copasetic this year...negative mammogram and bone scan density in the normal range! Furthermore, everything else seems to
working right on schedule..I still pee, poop and the old ticker is still going, so all is well. Keeps those cards and emails coming!!!!
From Nelson Blish:
Cold is relative. You think it's cold in Florida, but last week it was 9 degrees in Rochester, NY with a wind blowing. I thought that was cold
until I mentioned it to a client in Wisconsin, and he said it was -9 degrees with a wind blowing. The people in Alaska, like Ken Hickey, would
think we are all sissies. What's new? Well I finished my first screen play. It's an adaptation of my second novel, The Taking of the King. I've
started shopping it to agents, but it's slow going, since Kodak demands I log eight hours a day for the money they pay me. If you know a big
Hollywood producer looking for a new project, I'm your guy. Now that would be news!!!
From Babs Massey:
Greetings from the Hereford zone. It's Snow-mageddon at the Westra’s on Gunpowder Rd! Phase 2, oh about another 20-24”. Note, the
Satellite dish on the roof is mostly covered, no Direct TV for a while! Thank God for streaming movies from Netflix, and the computer for
news updates. More snow expected after the weekend! Will it ever stop? Babs has been busting her butt, trying to keep up cleaning the
walks, deck, and an open access to the hot-tub! God bless her! (this came from her husband!!) Well, she has her priorities right!!
Some of you know (and many probably don't) that my husband Chris and I write and perform music - I've been invited to perform at the
Florida Folk Festival this year in White Springs, Fl on Memorial Day Weekend (have performed several times in the last several years and it
is a true "labor of love" and I always feel particularly honored to be invited.) It's one of the largest music Festivals in Florida and takes place
once a year and has been ongoing for over 50 years now. I will be performing many of my original songs - a mixture of folk, country and
bluegrass (I also play acoustic guitar) and will be performing with back up by my husband Chris on stand-up bass, Billy Jickel on Mandolin
and Jerry Simpson with guitar and vocals. The festival is always a lot of fun. The first time I performed there, Emmy Lou Harris was the
headliner; I got to meet her and she signed my guitar strap - I asked her if I could get a lot of money if I sold it on e-bay. Ha, ha, just kidding.
All kidding aside, she is a very beautiful and gracious person and it was very exciting to meet her. Chris will also be performing with
another group he plays with called Barnstorm. So, if anyone is interested in this type of thing, hope you will come to the festival and we'll
have a chance to get together again then. The White Springs Florida Cultural Center is about 30-45 minutes north of Gainesville. Other
than that, we stay very busy between family, jobs, etc., but the music is one of our greatest passions.
From Stephanie Stephens:
At least everyone knows my age!!! I'm divorced 10 years and "It's Not Complicated", 2 daughters (Sarah in Portland, OR and Sally in
Charleston, SC-33 and 31). I live in TN about an hour from Nashville in an old grist mill. I've worked as a realtor for 26 years but also have a
new-ish career as psychotherapist and work one afternoon each week in a low cost medical clinic. I read a lot and swim laps, am behind
with most things I don't what to do and have too many animals! I feel really bad that we lost Don. I wrote to him right before he died. Anyone
in contact with his widow? Thanks, Lee Ann, for being the responsive one. I'm in touch periodically with Chan Bostwick but have lost contact
with everyone else. Would love to hear about all of ya'll.
From Fran McGuirt:
So good to hear from you. As you may remember Mike and I were coming to the class reunion this past summer however Mike's only
brother (47 years old) took ill and passed away on July 11, 2009, so we were in Ohio at the time of the reunion. I do have some exciting
news though which you may already know about, I retired May 29, 2009 and have really enjoyed not getting up with the chickens and taking
each day at a time enjoying them. After having breast cancer you appreciate like a little differently and that's where I am right now - loving
life! As of July 12, 2010 I will be cancer free for 4 years and I give God all the credit. I pray and thank him every day. I go for the gamete of
test next month (Pet, MRI, CT,etc.,) so please keep me in your thoughts and prayers that all will continue to be good. I volunteer at the
Cancer Center every Tuesday, helping out and freeing up the nurses so they can do their job. I enjoy talking to the patient (getting chemo).
And of course I always take it something I've baked (brownies, cookies, etc) Tomorrow it's pineapple upside down cake!
As you know some classmates are hooking up on Facebook. It's been a good thing and most are having fun with it. I've talked to several
classmates through it - that was cool! I think it's a good thing. I'm now sporting around in a brand new 2010 GMC Terrain (SUV) and guess
what - it's our school colors -red exterior and black interior. I just love it. It has side air bags, blue tooth-(get my calls through the radio)
automatic start up, seat warmers (hope I never need that), back-up camera, etc. etc.
Our holidays were good - I surprised Peggy and JD when they went to Jacksonville for a doctor's appointment. We met them for dinner and
it was so exciting to see Peggy & JD and also to meet Sara, John's new baby girl. She is beautiful and looks just like her 3 year old brother
Jeramey. Peggy and JD are very proud (and rightfully so) Grandparents. JD is having some health issues however you need to talk to
them about that I wouldn't want to get it confused.
My Mom is in Florida (from South Carolina) visiting me. She spent a month with my brother Bobby (class of 1966) in Sarasota, FL and now
will be here hopefully until things warm up in S.C. Mom was 85 on 12 21/09. I feel so blessed that we still have her. She is going to teach
this lefty (me) to crochet so keep her in your prayers because that is going to be a challenge since she is right handed. Our kids are all
great! Mike and I have 5 children between us and 8 GRAND kids that range from age 11 to age 19. We have one in college, one working
at Publix and going to Culinary School and the rest are still in school working hard at getting out.
Mike is in what they call the "drop" program which means at most he will be working four more years. There's talk they may offer some of
the ole timers a buy out which means they would give him so much a year for each year Mike's been with the PBSO. He has been there
almost 30 years so it would be a nice buy out. We just have to wait and see. He wouldn't lose anything - he would just get to start
retirement early and they would give him money. It's a win-win situation so only time will tell.
We did take a beautiful trip in 2008 for our 20th anniversary. We took a 2 week cruise to Hawaii and spent several days in California before
leaving on the cruise. It was beautiful. We drove all the way down the Pacific Highway enjoying the view. It was breathe taking! Seeing and
being at Pearl Harbor was sobering. My Dad was there on a Navy Ship that was hit. Thankfully he was ok but it is something that is very
moving. I'd say on the same line as the Viet Nam wall. I've rattled on enough I should get busy so you take care young lady and thanks for
all your hard work keeping us Grenadiers in touch. You're a good person.
From Betsy Norman:
Thank you for all you do with keeping us updated. My nephew, James is back at Fort Hood from Iraq. (Army). We are thankful he is back
and his Mom and Dad, Don and Donna Norman are back home from Georgia so James will be coming to visit them..ASAP. My brother,
Don is still doing great after his big lung surgery (removed one half of his lung). He is amazing. All my sisters-in-laws are angels : ) I
have said that for many years. We are blessed. I am busier than ever with my patients. I am so thankful I am blessed to do what I love.
Just hope I can keep the body together to keep doing it. Please take care and again, I appreciate you and all you do to help all of us keep in
the "loop".
From Paula Silver:
Just a quick note to let you know that NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING has changed, up here in this little po-dunk town, or in my life, other
than the age clock keeps ticking away... Evident by all the gray hair & wrinkles.... Thanks for all your efforts in keeping everyone abreast of
what's going on..Not many people would take the time to do so..
Virginia Smith:
It is so nice of you to keep us up-to-date with news of the Class of 1964. A little update of my life: I have had many careers:
Teaching elementary education of first and second graders in both public and Christian schools - Ohio, North Carolina, Tennessee
Director of Christian Education in a church - Hopewell, VA (After this job, I returned to school and received a Master's in Christian Education
from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS)
Secretary/Receptionist in a Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Armonk, NY
Social Worker in an adolescent pregnancy care and prevention program in the South Bronx, New York
Then, I returned to school again! I attended Lienhard School of Nursing at Pace University in Pleasantville, NY and earned a Master's of
Science in 1984. I have worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner since that time. Places like Spofford Juvenile Detention Center - South
Bronx, NY, Public and Private Home Care Agencies - Mt. Kisco, NY, Greenwich, CT, White Plains, NY, Manager of Occupational Health -
Witco Corporation (national/international chemical plants) - Greenwich, CT,
Currently, Coordinator of the Adult Sickle Cell Program - VCU Medical Center - Richmond, VA. I have been in this current job since
December 1996. We have about 200 patients in our practice and I coordinate their care in the clinic and the hospital and the Emergency
Department. We have a support group for educational sessions and social events. My goal is to be able to purchase a building for Sickle
Cell patients so they will have an activity center.
I am active in my local church and teach a Sunday School class of 4 year old children. I enjoy entertaining in my home. Anyone planning to
visit Richmond, be sure and stop by! Keep up the good work!
From Michael O'Toole:
Lee Avdoyan and I keep planning on coming to a reunion - so we'll make one soon. I retired suddenly last year (due to a downsizing), so
we only have Lee's schedule to coordinate with now... Thanks for keeping us all together...
From Sara Setzer:
The poem from Marie Crawford made me remember sitting around Sunday morning after the reunion, and the talk turned to "Do you
remember." I thought I would sent along some of my memories, and maybe others will add to the list. So here goes: that furniture on
Colonial Dr. that was always (for 50 yrs) going out of business, birthday parties at Ronnie's restaurant sharing a Mambo Extravaganza and
running outside to warm up a bit, Freddie's Steakhouse, two lane cobble stone streets, getting struck in the sand on dirt roads, Mister
Donut, Fla. "San" hospital, foot path through the woods to Lake Downey, Atlas missile being towed down Hwy 50 to the Cape, a "good" date
was to Steak and Shake, the Bowlasium, Aquasium, and "Skate"asium on Orange Ave., citronella candles at the drive-in, Sheriff Dave Starr
wore boots and a cowboy hat riding in everybodys parade, the tepee motel, icy mugs of A & W root beer, Enzor's drug store with a real soda
jerk, "Monkey" Wards on west Colonial, being able to eat at all of the above and still been bone thin. Those were the days my friend and I will
be interested in others memories.
Betsy Hardy:
This trans-planted Floridian has just installed a 45,000 kw generator to power our house in case we have a black-out or loose power up
here in the winter. When we lost power in Miami, ie. a hurricane, it was just a terrible inconvenience. Up here, it could be life threatening.
As soon as I figure out how to down load photos from my new camera onto my new computer.....I'll forward some. *_* We plan on going
down to Ocean Reef on the Keys to thaw out next month. (February) We'll stop in Winter Park to see my sisters, their family, and my Mom.
Hopefully I'll have time to connect with a few ex-Grenadiers then. Thanks for all you do!
From Carol Hankins:
I can guarantee that this is Florida...The cold over here was way much colder since we also had the ocean "gales" to put up with. So,
although the cold was coming in from the N.W., we were getting what felt like a hell of a Nor'easter as well! I had to move from my recently
moved into condo because we had a lot of rain here on the beach several weeks ago and my cute little place developed mold. Fortunately, I
was able to handle the whole move with the assistance of good friends, and am now settled into my new condo, which I prefer since
instead of gross Berber carpeting I have hardwood floors throughout. Let's see, really digging for news, but all of my annual physical tests
turned out copasetic this year...negative mammogram and bone scan density in the normal range! Furthermore, everything else seems to
working right on schedule..I still pee, poop and the old ticker is still going, so all is well. Keeps those cards and emails coming!!!!
From Nelson Blish:
Cold is relative. You think it's cold in Florida, but last week it was 9 degrees in Rochester, NY with a wind blowing. I thought that was cold
until I mentioned it to a client in Wisconsin, and he said it was -9 degrees with a wind blowing. The people in Alaska, like Ken Hickey, would
think we are all sissies. What's new? Well I finished my first screen play. It's an adaptation of my second novel, The Taking of the King. I've
started shopping it to agents, but it's slow going, since Kodak demands I log eight hours a day for the money they pay me. If you know a big
Hollywood producer looking for a new project, I'm your guy. Now that would be news!!!
From Babs Massey:
Greetings from the Hereford zone. It's Snow-mageddon at the Westra’s on Gunpowder Rd! Phase 2, oh about another 20-24”. Note, the
Satellite dish on the roof is mostly covered, no Direct TV for a while! Thank God for streaming movies from Netflix, and the computer for
news updates. More snow expected after the weekend! Will it ever stop? Babs has been busting her butt, trying to keep up cleaning the
walks, deck, and an open access to the hot-tub! God bless her! (this came from her husband!!) Well, she has her priorities right!!
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