Bio For James Gambrell
After graduation I worked construction as a steamfitter. 6 months after graduation I married the love of my life Debbie (Caudell) Gambrell on 12/14/72, we have been happily married to this day. In 1974 i joined the navy and stayed in until 1990. during all this time debbie and I have 4 daughters and they have given us 10 wonderful grand children, In fact my oldest grand son graduates this year.We have lived all over the eastern united states and illinois. After I got out of the service we moved to florida where we still live today. I worked as a plumber the last 18 years and now I am medically forced into retirement . I now have COPD and I am on SSDI. I AM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES I AM LIVING THE GREAT LIFE WITH THE WOMAN I LOVE, AND FAMILY THAT LOVE ME ALSO.
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Born and lived in Georgetown
for five years. Moved to Forestville MD in 1959. Attended North
Forestville Elem, Spaulding JHS, and of course SHS.
My parents split when I was 17, so I spread my wings and launched out of the nest to go it on my own. I lived in an apartment in New Carrollton for a few years. Worked my bottom off trying to get ahead through my mid twenties - working full time by night so I could attending college by day. I was obsessed to succeed.
I spent some time working at a NATO air base near a small village in southern France in 1980. Upon my return to the states, I met the woman who would become my wife and life companion, Shirley. She was an accomplished computer scientist with a Masters degree. I was attracted by her intellect and maturity (she wasn't a typical ditz). I had an AA degree and was still working toward my BS degree at the time, so she gave me incentive to be a better man. With her encouragement I successfully completed my BS in computer science from UMd (magna-cum-laude I might add.) Needing more punishment, I then enrolled in a Masters program at Johns Hopkins to "get even".
Naturally, Shirley's competitiveness compelled her to enroll alongside me to pursue a second Masters for herself. We both completed that ordeal (suma-cum-laude this time), and then we mutually agreed that enough was enough - no more school! We had earned three MS degrees between us.
We have one daughter, Lisa, from Shirley's prior marriage. When I married Shirley, I was inheriting Lisa as a bonus. (I wasn't her "father", but I WAS her DAD. She reminds me of that often.)
We presently live in Davidsonville (near Annapolis). We're on several acres of woods perched on a hill. We love it here, but we hate the traffic and booming development going on all around us. We're feeling squeezed. We're now building our retirement home in the West Virginia mountains near the picture perfect village of Berkeley Springs - its a Norman Rockwell painting come to life! We'll stay here in MD a few more years to ride out the economic storm. Until then, the mountain chalet serves as a weekend getaway. I especially enjoy hiking and long bike rides on the C&O Canal, which is conveniently located only 5 miles from our mountain place.
I worked for mega-corporations in the 70's, 80's and 90's on DOD systems (communications and electronic warfare systems). I grew tired of being a pawn in a large corporate culture, so I started my own engineering consulting business. So far I've been blessed with full time bookings over the past 10 years. Currently I'm under contract with NASA and USGS Earth Sciences as the mission analyst, lead software developer, and spacecraft payload specialist for the Landsat program. These will keep me busy until 2017 - well into retirement.
We're active in singing. We sing in the church choir, and also with a group that entertains the elderly and infirm at nursing homes and assisted living homes. Its very rewarding. We're also active in Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a group that promotes and encourages healthy marriages. I also enjoy reminiscing, as evidenced by most of my Facebook postings.
My parents split when I was 17, so I spread my wings and launched out of the nest to go it on my own. I lived in an apartment in New Carrollton for a few years. Worked my bottom off trying to get ahead through my mid twenties - working full time by night so I could attending college by day. I was obsessed to succeed.
I spent some time working at a NATO air base near a small village in southern France in 1980. Upon my return to the states, I met the woman who would become my wife and life companion, Shirley. She was an accomplished computer scientist with a Masters degree. I was attracted by her intellect and maturity (she wasn't a typical ditz). I had an AA degree and was still working toward my BS degree at the time, so she gave me incentive to be a better man. With her encouragement I successfully completed my BS in computer science from UMd (magna-cum-laude I might add.) Needing more punishment, I then enrolled in a Masters program at Johns Hopkins to "get even".
Naturally, Shirley's competitiveness compelled her to enroll alongside me to pursue a second Masters for herself. We both completed that ordeal (suma-cum-laude this time), and then we mutually agreed that enough was enough - no more school! We had earned three MS degrees between us.
We have one daughter, Lisa, from Shirley's prior marriage. When I married Shirley, I was inheriting Lisa as a bonus. (I wasn't her "father", but I WAS her DAD. She reminds me of that often.)
We presently live in Davidsonville (near Annapolis). We're on several acres of woods perched on a hill. We love it here, but we hate the traffic and booming development going on all around us. We're feeling squeezed. We're now building our retirement home in the West Virginia mountains near the picture perfect village of Berkeley Springs - its a Norman Rockwell painting come to life! We'll stay here in MD a few more years to ride out the economic storm. Until then, the mountain chalet serves as a weekend getaway. I especially enjoy hiking and long bike rides on the C&O Canal, which is conveniently located only 5 miles from our mountain place.
I worked for mega-corporations in the 70's, 80's and 90's on DOD systems (communications and electronic warfare systems). I grew tired of being a pawn in a large corporate culture, so I started my own engineering consulting business. So far I've been blessed with full time bookings over the past 10 years. Currently I'm under contract with NASA and USGS Earth Sciences as the mission analyst, lead software developer, and spacecraft payload specialist for the Landsat program. These will keep me busy until 2017 - well into retirement.
We're active in singing. We sing in the church choir, and also with a group that entertains the elderly and infirm at nursing homes and assisted living homes. Its very rewarding. We're also active in Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a group that promotes and encourages healthy marriages. I also enjoy reminiscing, as evidenced by most of my Facebook postings.
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To my Teachers
The summer after high school I worked at the Pentagon. My father, who worked there, got me the job. I worked in the food service in a refrigerated room, wearing an industrial overcoat and gloves. I ground strips of frozen beef, mixing in bread crumbs that I also ground in a different machine, into hamburger for the cafeterias. How that is a metaphor for my life follows.
The common thread in my life is a search for truth: in high school, the army, college (at Maharishi University of Management--a school with a spiritual bent where everyone meditates together), in a Vedic (Google it) monastery, and now in my work as an editor for the federal government in DC, where I live. No marriages, no children.
When I joined the class Facebook page, I hadn’t seen our yearbook pictures since 1972. Looking at them was bittersweet. We look potent with youth on the cusp of adulthood. One memory I have of high school is of being conscious that meeting you my classmates in the hall made me happy. And now networking via the Internet makes me feel like we are family. I like reading about your families. In 1972 we were grandkids and now we have grandkids--it’s a sweet cycle of life. I’m witnessing aging happening to my body but mentally I feel more acute than I ever have.
I’m boring, but the times we’re living in are anything but. I’m excited by the work at CERN (Google it), DNA research, the growing interconnectedness of the human race, the increasing awareness of our relationship with the planet we inhabit, the increasing knowledge of galaxies we don’t inhabit, etc. Watching the Hubble 3D film at the Air and Space Museum broadened my perspective when it showed that the celestial bodies populating the universe are interconnected in a vast mesh that Earth is part of. I’m delighted that between Wikipedia and Amazon whatever I want to know, or order, is just a few mouse clicks away. I expect that within our lifetimes we are going to take the step to whatever comes after fossil fuel and the internal combustion engine.
Now I get around DC by bicycle, tend the herb garden, make strawberry shortcake in season, read Iris Murdoch’s novels, and neglect the vacuuming. Our corner of PG County was a nurturing womb. Suitland High School, alma mater, bore us into adulthood. Now, with six decades on our backs, we approach the sere of life with our kids and their kids potent with youth. We’re all different but we went through a special phase of life together that we’ll remember and celebrate at our reunion.
The parallels between the hamburger and my life are as clear as the trophy case outside the gym. The boxes of beef were separate from each other but they all contained frozen Argentinian beef. The phases of my life--school, army, spiritual, work, etc.--are separate but they’re all ingredients in the same search for truth. The ground meat combined with the bread crumbs piling up in the tub as hamburger represents my growing realization of the truth as the life lessons combine to make me if not wise, then at least wiser.
The summer after high school I worked at the Pentagon. My father, who worked there, got me the job. I worked in the food service in a refrigerated room, wearing an industrial overcoat and gloves. I ground strips of frozen beef, mixing in bread crumbs that I also ground in a different machine, into hamburger for the cafeterias. How that is a metaphor for my life follows.
The common thread in my life is a search for truth: in high school, the army, college (at Maharishi University of Management--a school with a spiritual bent where everyone meditates together), in a Vedic (Google it) monastery, and now in my work as an editor for the federal government in DC, where I live. No marriages, no children.
When I joined the class Facebook page, I hadn’t seen our yearbook pictures since 1972. Looking at them was bittersweet. We look potent with youth on the cusp of adulthood. One memory I have of high school is of being conscious that meeting you my classmates in the hall made me happy. And now networking via the Internet makes me feel like we are family. I like reading about your families. In 1972 we were grandkids and now we have grandkids--it’s a sweet cycle of life. I’m witnessing aging happening to my body but mentally I feel more acute than I ever have.
I’m boring, but the times we’re living in are anything but. I’m excited by the work at CERN (Google it), DNA research, the growing interconnectedness of the human race, the increasing awareness of our relationship with the planet we inhabit, the increasing knowledge of galaxies we don’t inhabit, etc. Watching the Hubble 3D film at the Air and Space Museum broadened my perspective when it showed that the celestial bodies populating the universe are interconnected in a vast mesh that Earth is part of. I’m delighted that between Wikipedia and Amazon whatever I want to know, or order, is just a few mouse clicks away. I expect that within our lifetimes we are going to take the step to whatever comes after fossil fuel and the internal combustion engine.
Now I get around DC by bicycle, tend the herb garden, make strawberry shortcake in season, read Iris Murdoch’s novels, and neglect the vacuuming. Our corner of PG County was a nurturing womb. Suitland High School, alma mater, bore us into adulthood. Now, with six decades on our backs, we approach the sere of life with our kids and their kids potent with youth. We’re all different but we went through a special phase of life together that we’ll remember and celebrate at our reunion.
The parallels between the hamburger and my life are as clear as the trophy case outside the gym. The boxes of beef were separate from each other but they all contained frozen Argentinian beef. The phases of my life--school, army, spiritual, work, etc.--are separate but they’re all ingredients in the same search for truth. The ground meat combined with the bread crumbs piling up in the tub as hamburger represents my growing realization of the truth as the life lessons combine to make me if not wise, then at least wiser.
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Bio For Debbie Good
Like some others I did not get to graduate from Suitland as my parents moved to Upper Marlboro after my 11th year and I had to graduate from Frederick Douglass. Not easy being the "new girl" when friendships were already established. However I perservered and ended up taking the civil service test (actually I think I took it at Suitland) and passed with high marks so went straight into the US government where I worked for the Environmental Protection Agency for 18 years. I then decided to venture out into the non-profit world and worked at the Environmental Defense Fund for a few years and then on to my present position as Human Resource Manager and focal point for our US members at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) where I will celebrate 17 years this December. Wow, I could have retired from the Government by now! However I would not have traded any of my experiences I have had travelling with this position. I have been to Switzerland (where my home office is located), Africa, Thailand, Jordan, Spain, Canada, and on to South Korea next year for our next big meeting. I have skiied the Alps, camped in the desert where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed, swam in the Dead Sea, boated in the Red Sea, been on numerous safaris, and am looking forward to my next adventure! I married early out of high school which did not work out although I gained a wonderful son and lived in Japan for a while. I then remarried in 1977 and had another son and two daughters and inherited a step daughter. All who have given us nine grandchildren who complete my life. I go to Cancun for two weeks every year with my circle of girlfriends (I just returned actually!) so I have no complaints! Unfortunately and very unexpectedly I lost both of my parents last year. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of them and miss them. I was blessed to have them as long as did as I have learned every day is a gift.
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Bio For Darlene Haley DePhillip
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OK - here's my bio: After
graduation it was a no brain er for me – college was not an option. I
went directly to work for the Federal Government – I started my job June
26, 1972 at the Department of Commerce, working in personnel. I
married my ex-husband in September 1972 and had three beautiful boys
during our marriage. After the birth of my first son, I took a job with
the Department of the Air Force at Andrews AFB. That commute to DC
everyday was a mess. We bought our first house in Morningside Maryland,
very close to my work. After several years at Andrews I was selected
for a training position at the Naval Air Systems Command in Crystal
City, VA. My career took off and I was enjoying steady progression in
the financial field. We bought our second home in Waldorf, Md. I loved
working in Crystal City, but was offered a promotion to Financial
Management Specialist working with Classified Programs and landed back
at Andrews AFB. I traveled around the US to many military bases, east
coast, west coast and many in between. I am very proud to have been part
of the B-2, and the F-117 programs, among many others. As you can
tell, I didn’t stray far from home. I am very fortunate that my family
stayed close also. I remarried in 1991. My husband was in the Air
Force and stationed at Andrews AFB. We stayed in Waldorf and purchased a
home in the new neighborhood of Hampshire. I had my daughter, Samantha
and my son Matthew. Five children, wow – who would have ever thought.
In 1993, my job at Andrews AFB was relocating to Wright Patterson AFB,
Ohio. Not willing to move I took a job with the IRS as a Management
Analyst (worse job in the world)!
On December 29, 1995 my life changed forever, my son, Joe, only 22 years old was killed instantly in a car accident. A knock at my door - running downstairs, looking at two Charles County Sheriffs, - “I am sorry – he didn’t make it”- will live in my mind forever. I miss him every day.
After that, my career took a stand still. My heart wasn’t in my work so I returned to work part time. My family decided to make another move and we landed in Ashburn, VA. Then on June 26, 1997 – exactly 25 years from the day I started with the Federal Government – I took an early retirement. I was happy to be home with my children. Since my retirement I stayed busy with my children – I often wonder how I was ever able to fit everything into one day when I was working full time!
I have used Mary Kay Cosmetics since 1983 so I decided to become a consultant in 1998. I am not a very pushy salesperson, so my business is mostly for personal use but I do have a few customers that I supply which keeps me active in the company.
Most recently, I have been dealing with some health issues like so many of us our age. In October 2011 my husband and I went on vacation to Anna Maria Island, FL.(love-love this place!) Unfortunately, I ended up in the hospital with a pulmonary embolism the entire week we were there. It was a close call for me and woke me up to how fragile life can be. I don’t remember much about that week other than I am glad to be alive!
My youngest son Matthew and I recently took a motorcycle safety class together and got our licenses. He purchased a sport bike of course, and I went the cruiser route. We haven’t been on a long ride yet – but are definitely looking forward to it. (My ex used to ride and I hated being on the back, so I learned how to ride myself - after our second child was born I gave it up).
I am a grandmother of two, 9 and 5. Isn’t it funny how time flies the older you get, they were just babies.
I am fortunate to have all my family close. My sister just moved to Harpers Ferry, WV; my brothers live in Calvert County; my Mom lives in Dunkirk; have a son in Mechanicsville, MD; and one in Fairfax, VA. The two youngest are still at home – my daughter attends West Virginia University (she would have graduated this year, but decided to change her major, so she has one more year) ; Matthew works part time at Gold’s Gym and full time for my sister’s company – Creative Finishes.
Look forward to seeing everyone at the reunion!!!
On December 29, 1995 my life changed forever, my son, Joe, only 22 years old was killed instantly in a car accident. A knock at my door - running downstairs, looking at two Charles County Sheriffs, - “I am sorry – he didn’t make it”- will live in my mind forever. I miss him every day.
After that, my career took a stand still. My heart wasn’t in my work so I returned to work part time. My family decided to make another move and we landed in Ashburn, VA. Then on June 26, 1997 – exactly 25 years from the day I started with the Federal Government – I took an early retirement. I was happy to be home with my children. Since my retirement I stayed busy with my children – I often wonder how I was ever able to fit everything into one day when I was working full time!
I have used Mary Kay Cosmetics since 1983 so I decided to become a consultant in 1998. I am not a very pushy salesperson, so my business is mostly for personal use but I do have a few customers that I supply which keeps me active in the company.
Most recently, I have been dealing with some health issues like so many of us our age. In October 2011 my husband and I went on vacation to Anna Maria Island, FL.(love-love this place!) Unfortunately, I ended up in the hospital with a pulmonary embolism the entire week we were there. It was a close call for me and woke me up to how fragile life can be. I don’t remember much about that week other than I am glad to be alive!
My youngest son Matthew and I recently took a motorcycle safety class together and got our licenses. He purchased a sport bike of course, and I went the cruiser route. We haven’t been on a long ride yet – but are definitely looking forward to it. (My ex used to ride and I hated being on the back, so I learned how to ride myself - after our second child was born I gave it up).
I am a grandmother of two, 9 and 5. Isn’t it funny how time flies the older you get, they were just babies.
I am fortunate to have all my family close. My sister just moved to Harpers Ferry, WV; my brothers live in Calvert County; my Mom lives in Dunkirk; have a son in Mechanicsville, MD; and one in Fairfax, VA. The two youngest are still at home – my daughter attends West Virginia University (she would have graduated this year, but decided to change her major, so she has one more year) ; Matthew works part time at Gold’s Gym and full time for my sister’s company – Creative Finishes.
Look forward to seeing everyone at the reunion!!!
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I
left Dc in the &0's and lived in Upstate NY for 8 yrs loved it
Clifton Park Suburb of Saratoga and Albany and Schenectady. All are just
down or up the road.Surrounded by Mountains and Rivers. Then married a
sailor in 82 so off to Virginia Beach,
that was only home for 2 years then off to Hawaii . I loved the Islands
expensive but so lovely and i was NEVER bored always trying new places
. Plus i worked at Safeway in Waipahu. Then i lived on Treasure Island
In Ca courtesy of the Navy . Hard town to raise kids in but it is lovely
again $$$$. Then we moved to Silverdale Wa nice Suburb of Seattle just
across the Sound . We see Glaciers on our Moutains i have views of the
Olympics and Mount Rainier and Mt Baker from spots all around. We have
lots of Medical, Navy has two bases in town close too. Silverdale
has Trader Joes and Macys and Costco andoall down the road from Poulsbo
20 min . I am in a very small town of 9000, Poulsbo cute Norwegian
heritage in their little business place and a Pub that celebrates Burn's
nite and has a Doctor Who booth. We have a small college, Olympic with
some 4 yr but we are close enough to U dub that my son Billy commuted
for 2 years. I have landed in pleasant pastures nothing prettier on a
blue sky day can look like the alps, we are so near Canada that we have
friends who visit family for the weekend either Victoria and Vancouver
via RT 5 or Ferry boat rides $$ but so nice . My favorite memory is a
weekend riding the Canadian Ferrys across their gulf islands landing on
Vancouver Island finding a small little Condo /hotel that gave us a
balcony view looking east no man made lights in sight, just stars and
then .... Northern lights . We fell asleep on that balcony huddled in a
comforter staring at the show. I work now at Macys 16 years and have 5
kids. 2 at home and 2 grandkids at home while their Mom goes to
college. I have a daughter in Richmond Va and a son in Houston Texas
where he holds 2 of my grandkids 2 more in San Diego . One Son is in
Seattle and another daughter just came home from Old Dominion,in Va I
miss you guys in the Spring and Family also always
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John Hill is Chief Executive
Officer of the Federal City Council, with more than 30 years of
experience in federal, state, local, and private sector entities. He
formerly served as CEO of In2Books, Inc., Director of State and Local
government consulting services for Arthur Andersen, LLP, and was the
founding executive director of the Washington, D.C. Financial Control
Board. John Hill has also served as Group Director in Senior Executive
Service ranks of the U.S. General Accounting Office, Director of Audits
with the Marriott Corporation in charge of all audits in the hotel
division, and audit manager for Coopers and Lybrand and Price
Waterhouse.
John Hill also serves on the board of a public company, Chesapeake Lodging Trust where he chairs the compensation committee and on the boards of the National Minority AIDS Council (Chair), DC Shakespeare Theatre (Treasurer), DC Public Library (President), Step Afrika! DC Audit Advisory Committee, and DC Community College Transition Task Force.
After graduation from Suitland Sr. High John Hill was married for almost 20 years and had 3 children (David 35, Sarah 33, and Daniel 30.) He graduated from University of MD, College Park with a degree in accounting in 1976 and passed the CPA exam in 1977.
John Hill also serves on the board of a public company, Chesapeake Lodging Trust where he chairs the compensation committee and on the boards of the National Minority AIDS Council (Chair), DC Shakespeare Theatre (Treasurer), DC Public Library (President), Step Afrika! DC Audit Advisory Committee, and DC Community College Transition Task Force.
After graduation from Suitland Sr. High John Hill was married for almost 20 years and had 3 children (David 35, Sarah 33, and Daniel 30.) He graduated from University of MD, College Park with a degree in accounting in 1976 and passed the CPA exam in 1977.
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My life for the past forty
years in a nutshell: college, marriage, career/kids, self-employed,
graduate school, yet another career, empty nester! Okay, so now for a
few details.
After graduating from the University of Maryland in 1976, I spent several years working for NASA contractors in the aerospace field, mostly as a tech writer or tech instructor. In 1993 I left aerospace behind to join my husband in a family business, an engraving company that we still own. Along the way I joined the United Methodist church and became very active in various volunteer positions. In 1994 I was offered a paid staff position at the church so I transitioned into a new career. Loving my new job as Director of Ministries for Children and Youth, I felt called to seminary, so in 2006 I enrolled at Wesley Theological in Seminary in DC. Loved every minute of my time at Wesley (except for the papers and projects, of course). It was a little intimidating to return to school after a 30 year absence, but once I got into the swing of things, it was really a wonderful experience. In 2009 I left Wesley with a Master of Theological Studies degree. I remain on staff at my local United Methodist church, currently working part-time as the Creative Arts Director. I also work at least a few hours a week at my husband's engraving business.
Oh, yeah, about the husband and kids. In 1978 I married Les Weir and we are still happily (mostly!) negotiating life together. We have been blessed with two wonderful sons - Brendan lives in the Philadelphia area and is in IT; Jesse works with his father at the engraving company and lives not far from us in Calvert County.
I love the theatre and go to plays in DC or Annapolis whenever I can. I also love to travel and have been fortunate to visit Italy, Greece, Holland, Belgium, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Egypt, Israel, Austria, England, Ireland and France (not all in the same trip!). In September, I have a trip planned to Peru (along with fellow '72er, Linda White Watson).
Otherwise, I occupy my time reading (I have always been an avid reader) and engaging in Biblical storytelling. Currently I am enrolled in a certificate program with the Network of Biblical Storytellers, Int., and should receive my master certification in August of this year (if I finish my final projects soon!)
I guess that's it. Not a particularly exciting bio, but along with the usual ups and downs, I have been blessed with a wonderful family and friends. I am happy and content, looking forward to whatever the future brings. And really, that's all we can ask for!
After graduating from the University of Maryland in 1976, I spent several years working for NASA contractors in the aerospace field, mostly as a tech writer or tech instructor. In 1993 I left aerospace behind to join my husband in a family business, an engraving company that we still own. Along the way I joined the United Methodist church and became very active in various volunteer positions. In 1994 I was offered a paid staff position at the church so I transitioned into a new career. Loving my new job as Director of Ministries for Children and Youth, I felt called to seminary, so in 2006 I enrolled at Wesley Theological in Seminary in DC. Loved every minute of my time at Wesley (except for the papers and projects, of course). It was a little intimidating to return to school after a 30 year absence, but once I got into the swing of things, it was really a wonderful experience. In 2009 I left Wesley with a Master of Theological Studies degree. I remain on staff at my local United Methodist church, currently working part-time as the Creative Arts Director. I also work at least a few hours a week at my husband's engraving business.
Oh, yeah, about the husband and kids. In 1978 I married Les Weir and we are still happily (mostly!) negotiating life together. We have been blessed with two wonderful sons - Brendan lives in the Philadelphia area and is in IT; Jesse works with his father at the engraving company and lives not far from us in Calvert County.
I love the theatre and go to plays in DC or Annapolis whenever I can. I also love to travel and have been fortunate to visit Italy, Greece, Holland, Belgium, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Egypt, Israel, Austria, England, Ireland and France (not all in the same trip!). In September, I have a trip planned to Peru (along with fellow '72er, Linda White Watson).
Otherwise, I occupy my time reading (I have always been an avid reader) and engaging in Biblical storytelling. Currently I am enrolled in a certificate program with the Network of Biblical Storytellers, Int., and should receive my master certification in August of this year (if I finish my final projects soon!)
I guess that's it. Not a particularly exciting bio, but along with the usual ups and downs, I have been blessed with a wonderful family and friends. I am happy and content, looking forward to whatever the future brings. And really, that's all we can ask for!
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What’s Up Since I was a Ram?
A bit (ok…more than that) about what I’ve been doing the
past 40 years……
1972 – 1976: Attended
Towson State and majored in Speech Pathology, where I met some wonderful
friends and generally had a very happy 4 years.
Still close friends with several women I met in college and we manage to
get together a few times per year to laugh over bad dates, grades, parties and
dorm life (oh, and did I mention that we frequently laugh over what is
currently going on with our bodies and our minds?)
1976 – 1982: Married
a guy I met at Towson, upon graduating, and lived in Gaithersburg, MD for 5.5
years. Went to work for what was known
as C&P Telephone in 1977, in a customer service/call center position. Soon realized the marriage was NOT made in
heaven, and after 3 1/2 years in marriage counseling, I moved in with Mom and
step-dad on January 1, 1982, who were then living in Virginia. Took a promotion in DC, where I was
responsible for communications needs for the hospital accounts. Great job, good people, DC was a wonderful
place to work. Never did one day of
speech pathology!!!
1982 – 1985: In late
1982, moved into my own apt….by myself, for a few years. Out on my own for the first time ever, I
loved the independence and personal growth that resulted. I was introduced in late 1983 to the guy I
would marry in 1985, who also lived at the complex where I was renting. He was a bit older (5 yrs), married before
with no kids, like myself. He is shy,
but quick witted, very funny and very smart (albeit short) and I fell in love
and had a second chance for kids/family/happiness.
1985 – 1990: Married and moved back to my Gaithersburg
townhome, where my two boys were born; Colin, now 24 and Owen, now 22. They were born 17 months apart….and for
years, I had no sleep and only one shaved leg at any given time…..YIKES! IRISH TWINS!
Life was a bit rough those first years, but I loved being a mom! During this time, very suddenly, however, I lost
my real dad (64 yrs old) 3 months after his first grandchild was born. I miss him every day….
1990 – 2012: Bought a
house in Derwood, MD (near Rockville) where we have been ever since. We raised our boys in a wonderful school
cluster, met many friends, and were very involved with the kids’ school
activities. The kids loved basketball,
and we are a b-ball family for sure!
Both were quite good and played in school, among other leagues. We still are big fans at this point in our
life, and just recently traveled to Greensboro, NC to attend March Madness,
where we watched the mighty Duke Blue Devils fall to Lehigh.
Currently: Still
working at the ‘phone company’ (which seems to NO LONGER be the phone company),
having gone from C&P, to Bell Atlantic, and now Verizon. I have had many jobs over the years, but now
am working on Sales & Pricing Tool development with IT teams from all over
the world. I have been there my whole career
(34 years and counting) and have been fortunate to learn many skills, travel
around the country, and work with many cultures/great people. I think about retirement daily, but with one
still in college, (definitely on the SLOW 6-7 year plan), I will stay for as
long as I can. The older one has
graduated from Wake Forest, in NC, and after working there for a year, has
returned to MD, for mom to cook and do his laundry…hehehe!!!
I love to travel, and have been lucky enough to go to Europe
(Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Austria) early in
our marriage and most recently, in 2008, to Spain, where my oldest son did a
semester abroad (Barcelona, baby!!! John
Hill, would love to talk Spain with you J) Hope to see more of the world when I
retire….if my 401K cooperates!
I bought a kayak about 5-6 years ago and you can frequently
find me on the Potomac River (NOT near Great Falls!!) in the summer months/a
truly special place near Violet’s Lock….I love the outdoors, and when
stressed/depressed or overwhelmed, love to walk, walk, walk. Feels like the best therapy and is spiritually
uplifting to me…….and I come back with some reasonable assurance that I will
survive.
I have always loved to read, am more interested than ever in
politics/direction of our country and have taken an interest in cooking over
the last few years. There is something about
sipping on a beer/wine, sautéing onions and garlic in olive oil…..trying new
spices (ahh, the smells) and an hour later having a great dinner with family or
friends. Cooking has a beginning, middle
and end, which is something I really like lately (and pretty much a good
result…but not always!)
Greatest Joy – other than my boys (of course) was walking in
the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer a few years ago. Having lost several friends and neighbors to
breast cancer, I am an avid supporter of the cause and had a wonderful
experience walking the 26 miles in DC on Day 1, and then 13 more the next.
Singing “I will Survive” at the close of the ceremony with some cancer
survivors was something I will always remember (ok…sleeping in a tent with
pouring rain pounding in and using portable johns/showers in a truck, at my
age, were different kinds of experiences,
but so worthwhile)
The recent years have been the hardest as my parents lose
their independence, mobility and minds (with Alzheimer’s setting in for both). Helping with them when I can by flying to Florida,
still working a demanding job/long hours AND, oh, did I mention feelings of
‘not quite as quick as I used to be’? (adult ADD perhaps, too?) AND kids still
home! While I love them all, I’m
awaiting the ‘Golden Years’!!! But you
all know about this stuff…so let me quit my whining. This, too, shall pass and all in all, to
quote Jimmy Stewart, “It’s a wonderful life” that I have & enjoy.
I love the
connections and comments you all have shared….what fun to reminisce about so
many memories from our childhood! And it was so nice, wasn’t it? I am looking so forward to seeing all of you
that can attend. Many thanks to those
who are putting hours and hours in to make this a special occasion!!! XOXO!
____________________________________________________________________________________
Bio for Gail Jaffe
I was blessed to be born into such a wonderful family. Great parents I have an older brother Gary and had a twin sister Gloria that we lost in 2021 to liver disease.
After graduation from SHS in 72 I was lucky to have been on the Teen Board for a large Department Store at Iverson Mall and they sent all us ladies on a trip to Ocean City the summer of 72. What fun that was. We did modeling and all wore yellow bikinis and handed out free samples of sun tan lotion on the beach. A great memory.
In the fall of 72 I started college at the University of MD. I was living on campus and was put together with great roommate Debbi. We stayed together in the same room for all 4 years. Had much fun and fond memories.
After graduation in 76 My best friend Pam flew up to go to graduation and we loaded up my 70 Mustang and drove S. to FL. After spending most summers in FL I decided I wanted to move there.
I started teaching sewing at Singer what a fun job. I also met another lifelong friend at this job Mona. We did not feel like we were working at all. We were able to sew and do fun craft projects while at work. This job led to my career in outside sales when I got a job with a sewing notions company. I traveled FL and GA and had much fun.
In the early 80s I got a job with a Large Trucking Company as their Textile rep. I was able to travel to the Mills in the Carolinas and even NYC where the clothing was assembled then shipped. This job led to a 20 year career in Trucking and Air Freight.
I met and married the love of my life Jeff in 1991. He had 2 children a boy and girl age 5 and 6. I was blessed to be a step mom to these 2 amazing kids. Now they are both married with kids. The boy is an air traffic controller in N FL and has twin boys and a girl They are wonderful parents.
Jeff and I relocated from FL to IL for his career in 2004. The kids were in college then. We bought our dream home there after doing well on our FL real estate. Just a few months after our move we learned Jeff had cancer.. After surgery and radiation he passed away in the prime of his life at age 50. I was a widow at 51. His company offered to move me back to FL but I decided to stay up there a few more years.
About 4 years later I met a man that lived in SW FL. Eric he worked in Aviation. After a few trips back and fourth I decided to move back to FL. That was Jan 2011. Eric and I have been together now 11 years and we have a little rescue dog Bentley. We have been living in Cape Coral FL and Eric just retired after 45 years in the airline industry so we will start another chapter of our lives to travel more. We did go on cruises every year until 2019. What a blessed life so far. None of us know how long we have on this earth but lifelong friends and great family have sure been a blessing in my life. My summary of 50 years after graduation from SHS. I have reconnected with many friends from the Suitland Class of 72. Does not seem like 50 years have passed already.
