Hoover Blue has been active in the House of Masonry.

Jack Bradbury and his wife think the club is a fine idea but at their age they can't  participate. They are fully committed to their church as elders. Since 1980, Jack has been a volunteer for the American Red Cross.

Maxine Denny is retired, but she works registration every session.

Jim Dolan, now fully retired, is regaining his strength after two trips to the hospital with respiratory problems. After a five-year effort, he completed a historical novel,  which will be published this year by Commonwealth Publications, Inc.

Louis Edwards is extension center director for Luther Rice Bible College and Seminary, a ministry of the First Baptist Church of Central Florida.

Carol Stephenson is sure her parents, Helen and George Everett, would have joined the club. However, Helen passed away four years ago, and George followed in January 1998. Carol wants us to enjoy an active club.

(Don Tighe recalls that Helen Everett was his critic teacher when, as a senior at  Concord College, Athens, W.Va., he did his student teaching in 1949 at Athens High  School.)

Jo Ferguson and her husband Ron recently cruised the eastern Caribbean aboard The Norway. Jo isn't "immediately" interested in taking a committee leadership role." (That means, we hope, that Jo will change her mind.)

Bob Gilbert retired from Valencia in 1983 and permanently moved to North Carolina in  1985. He plays golf, travels, attends Gator football games occasionally, and enjoys his
children and grandchildren. Bob and Eileen celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary in July. Bob recently visited the National Museum for Prisoners of War at Andersonville, Georgia--an experience that brought back many memories, both good and bad. He sends his best wishes.

Jim Gollattscheck is writing a guide to retiring in Florida. His two most recent books were America's Community Colleges: The First Century and Europe the European Way: A Travelers Guide to Living Affordably in the World's Great Cities. Although Jim lives in Sarasota, he expects to return to Europe this fall. He hopes to be involved in the club as much as his schedule will allow. (Sounds as though Jim is an excellent resource person for all of us travelers--and travel seems to be what most of us want.)

Eliot Hannan is recovering from a fractured back, the result of a bus accident. He is in a wheelchair and has no transportation.

Ken Hise is an adjunct professor and business mentor for Webster University, St. Louis. He is department chair for the Orlando campus. He says "maybe" he'd be interested in "taking a committee leadership role." (A return of the "Gadfly" will add zest to our club.)

William Holley is a part-time computer consultant for SCI. As part of his work he visits  Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, etc.

Mildred Hood looks forward to renewing acquaintances. Although she commutes to  Orlando from her home in Osteen only on special occasions, she looks forward to those special occasions when the club meets and dines together.

Al and Dot Horton enjoy retirement and good health. They will soon celebrate their  55th wedding anniversary. Al says they've traveled in their RV over much of the USA and Canada, frequently accompanied by church friends. When at home, they tend two acres in Florida. They also have a great grandson, two granddaughters, and two sons and daughters to keep them busy. Al wants Ivan Applebaum to let him know how his "Mustang" is doing.

Gladie Hovencamp stays busy with volunteer work at four different facilities in St. Petersburg. The mayor of St. Petersburg honored Gladie recently by presenting her a key to the city for her volunteer work. Call her Gladie, not Gladys.

Louise Jenkin's club activities will be limited because she lives in Oklahoma. She  promises to participate "when possible."

Annie Bell Johnson is interested but doesn't drive at night. (Perhaps one of many  services we can offer, Annie Bell, is to see that you get a ride to our night activities.)

Boyd Johnson tells us that his wife, Frances, still teaches at UCF. He adds that on 16  June 1998 he will celebrate his birthday--three score years. Boyd and Frances started
remodeling their home in Franklin, NC, in July 1997, and plan to complete the job in  August 1998.

Bill Kahn and his wife Beverly have lost contact with Valencia because they have been  traveling worldwide. For the past four years, they have been busy with United Dental
Charities, Inc., which Bill founded and of which he is president. UDC provides dental  service to the homeless through a network of 45 dentists in the Greater Orlando area. Bill is likely to be available to participate in the club during the winter. From May through September, however, he and Beverly commute between Orlando and Islamorada in the Florida Keys.

Since retiring, Carol Kanar has been writing and revising her several textbooks. In fact, Houghton Mifflin has published four of them: The Confident Student, 3rd ed., 1998; The Confident Writer, 2nd ed., 1998; Reading and Writing with Confidence, 1998; and The Confident Reader, 1997. She continues to score CLAST and Florida Teacher Certification essays and attends and presents at both state and national English and reading conferences. Carol and her husband Steve spend much of their summers in Maine. She says that if she can arrange her schedule to fit club activities, she would be interested in serving as an officer.  (We feel confident that Carol will arrange her schedule.)

Jane (Gaines) Lucia and her husband Morris live in New York from May 1 to  mid-October; thus she says she will not be available as an officer. However, she is  enthusiastic about the club.

Bob McDonald spends his time shrimping and then day-trading on the stock market. He sends his e-mail address: bobgail1150@aol.com. Bob wants anyone's e-mail address who wants to give it to him.

George McLaughlin plays second trombone in the Maitland Orchestra and serves as  director of the men's chorus of the University Club of Winter Park.

Louise McMullian lives in Tallahassee, so she says she can't take an active part in the club. She says, however, that she would enjoy a newsletter and an annually updated club directory (names, addresses, telephone and/or e-mail numbers). She is active in church committees and volunteer work, the Retired Educators Association, Delta  Kappa Gamma, genealogy research, and visiting old haunts and older relatives.

Bob Milke is off-campus center director at the University of North Florida.

In his enthusiastic response, Bob Partridge says he has finished his doctorate, conducting a chorale and string group at Jackson Hole. He lives in the area of the Grand Tetons and loves it--snow and all. He is eager to see published photos, including his own, of all active club members. Bob says, "I'm still pretty handsome!"

Lorraine Pew thinks the club a fine idea but thinks she is too far away in Sun City to participate. She wishes us well. (Lorraine, Sun City is a hop, skip, and jump away from Orlando!)

Bill and Sallie Prentiss and their daughter Elizabeth operate Western Crafts and Gifts at W. Colonial and Kirkman. Bill reminds us that Elizabeth is a Valencia graduate. He adds that he is still active with the Talako Indian Dancers.

Upon retiring, Doris Pyster completed a book about the years (pre-Valencia) she lived in Africa. The book is now self-published, and more than 300 copies have been distributed to and sold in more than seven countries.

Ruth Ranke no longer lives in the area. She and her husband are "full-timers": they live in their Teton RV and travel. They have no phone and are bound to no area. Their  address, in fact, is a mail service. Ruth says, "We are a group of friendly 'nomads.'" She wrote to us during a bull-riding rodeo at Del Rio, Texas. They were in Mexico a few days before. She adds that a week before that they were in San Antonio for "Fiesta." They are heading west, their only destination St. George, Utah. Her thin Florida blood allows her to go north during hot weather but calls her south in the winter. She says her lifestyle would not allow her to participate in club planning and organization.

Audrey Hightower Reicherts (formerly Audrey Williams) was one of the founders of  the Jones High School Historical Society. Since they retired, she and Bill Reicherts have married and moved to Apopka. Audrey is organizing the Jones High School Art and History Museum. Meanwhile, Bill, a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II, has been active in ex-POW reunions.

Ruth Salsberry wants time to consider whether she wants to become active in the club. (We hope Ruth decides to become quite active.)

Hazel Skjersaa wants to attend the various meetings, luncheons, and dinners, but says she is not able to be an active participant. She admires those able and willing to be active. (Hazel, you don't have to be more active than you'd like. A number of us remember that you've been active coming back to Valencia since you retired a few years ago.)

Ruth Senterfitt is an elder and Sunday school teacher at the Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church. We are told that Ruth's Sunday-school class is as popular as were her creative writing and literature classes at Valencia. She is a member of the Ormond Beach Historical Society and is learning to use her computer. Although she tells us she can't take the long beach walks she used to love, she still enjoys the scene from the balcony of her beach-front condo. For several years after she retired from Valencia, Ruth taught as an adjunct faculty member at Daytona Beach Community College.

Gene Simmons has served as a volunteer, president, and now past president of the  Friends of the Cornell Fine Arts Museum. He is now taking a poetry-writing class at
Maitland Senior Center. Recovering from knee surgery, Gene is using a walker. Shortly he'll be making travel plans. (We hope, Gene, that your plans coincide with travel plans of our club.)

Deedee Tighe manages Valencia's several bookstores to keep Don Tighe living in the  style to which he has become accustomed. Meanwhile, Don walks the dog; walks himself; tidies the house; reads everything he can get his hands on; scores CLAST, Florida Teacher Certification Examination, and Florida Educational Leadership Examination essays; develops passages and questions for the 4th-, 8th-, and 10th-grade FCAT reading tests; and reads to Dommerich Elemenatry School 4th graders.

Now living in Lake City, Carol and Linwood Trachy are adjusting to life on the farm in  rural North Florida--at least Carol is. Linwood insists he not be considered a member of a retirement club. He is not retired; he has "just changed to other work." Meanwhile Carol is active in Lake City art groups and has traveled to Tennessee, New Mexico and  Virginia this summer.

Alice and Grady Ventry celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 1992 at a family  dinner party in Marianna, Florida. Present were their six children and spouses, 12  grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Grady passed away later that year. Alice still resides near Marianna.

Sara Watkins can't take a committee leadership position "at this time," but she might be willing to coordinate a luncheon "when possible." (Sara, it's always possible to coordinate a luncheon, and there is always time to get really active.)

Don Welchel suggests we alternate meeting sites, one on campus, the next off. He wonders why we included "athletics" as an activity--since Valencia has scrubbed the inter-collegiate athletic program. (Although we haven't explored the matter, Don, what  we had in mind was jogging, serious walking, playing tennis, and knocking the golf ball around.

Ernie Niblack suggests that we have a golf tournament/luncheon--if enough of us  are interested. We might invite Tiger Woods, who lives in Isleworth.)

Dorwin Wilson claims that old age may limit his participation. (We understand,  Dorwin, but this club aims to vitalize or revitalize all of us. That's one of the many  reasons it's a good idea.)

Alton and Dolores Witham are busy with church work, travel a good deal, and truly enjoy their retirement. (The Withams wondered whether they should complete the form, as there were no career folks on the founding committee. Alton and Dolores, of  course you should complete the form and be as active as you wish. There were, in fact, two career folks on the founding committee: Roberta Davis and Tommie Snell.  We hope to have a solid group of administrators, faculty, and career folks actively involved in everything we do.)

Barbara Birckhead ('70-'81 -- Secy to Dean of Students and Provost) retired from S.E. District C&MA (church affiliation). In 1996, Barbara and Kent celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Alaska. Kent died last year, and now Barbara spends her time doing volunteer work and working out at the gym.

 
Barbara Chaffin ('80-'93 --Prog Dir for Health Professions) now serves as secretary for Sabbath School Church. Barbara has started a home-based business for Mannatech, Inc. She serves as a professional consultant and educator. Barbara tells us that Mannatech is a major player in a new neutraceutical industry about to explode on the world market. The company holds patents on a health enhancing line of glyco-nutritionals and phytochemicals. These are known as complementary medicines.

[If these long technical words are confusing to you, Barbara "will be happy to present some of her information at one of our club meetings." She included two informative brochures in her note to the newsletter. Meanwhile, if you'd like to know more NOW, give Barbara a call at 407-889-5225. She lives in Apopka.]

Florence Coto ('72-'90, For Stud Adv) is serving as vice-president of the Orlando chapter of the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA). She included in her letter to us two brochures: What Every American Should Know About the United Nations and Join the Nationwide Movement for a More Effective United Nations. She says, "Membership is my game!" She also belongs to amnesty International USA and writes letters for clemency/pardon for those unjustly confined to prisons around the world.

For fun, Florence volunteers at the Orlando Museum of Art and the Counsel #101 at the Festival of Trees. She has spent several long summers in the northern part of Spain. This year she visited Alaska and several other northwestern states.

[Considering the ongoing problems with Iraq, Florence, it seems we should all keep up with the UN. Perhaps you'll want to bring a bundle of the two flyers with you to our next meeting and play your membership game with the members of the Retirement Club.]

Celia Cullom ('67-'86 -- Prof Eng, Chair '69-'73) says she is doing nothing she'd advertise. Says she is writing "silly romance stories at five cents a word" and that her husband has become a professional woodworker. She adds that she misses all of us.

[Nothing "silly" about five cents a word, Celia--if the romance stories are long and the romance is romantic.]

Carroll Fogal ('79-'94 -- Prof Math) tells us he has been an asthmatic since he got out of the army in 1947. In that his condition worsened steadily, his outdoor activities were limited. After he retired, his family doctor, Dr. House, found a combination of medicines that allow Carroll to work in his yard so that he now calls himself "Yard Farmer."

Jim Gollattscheck ('67-'84 -- Dean of Acad Affs & VP; Exec VP; Pres) has completed a book, Choose Florida for Retirement, which was published by Globe Pequot Press in fall '98. Jim was the featured speaker at our first Retirement Club luncheon in October. He plans to move to Ireland this winter to work on another book.

Eliot Hannon (Chief of Security). Mrs. Hannon writes to tell us that her husband has been in and out of hospitals for more than ten years and is presently recuperating very slowly from two strokes.

After retiring in '74, Roy Kinnick ('67-'74 -- Dean of Students; Asst to Pres) returned in '75 to Tennessee where he was active in church work and as a realtor with Century 21. He says he has had health problems since '94 and now lives near his daughter in Texas. He says he regrets not being able to participate actively in the Retirement Club.

[We'll make Roy a participant regardless--by sending him the newsletter and anything else we mail out. The newsletter editor recalls the priceless advice Roy was willing to share with him during that editor's first two years as a department chair.]

Ernie Niblack ('70-'93 -- Counselor) writes that reading the first newsletter brought back many fond memories and reminded him of how blessed he had been at Valencia. He stresses that he appreciated the opportunity of working with all divisions, departments, and campuses. As a result he was privileged to know and work with many "wonderful people and outstanding educators."

[With those words of praise, Ernie, we can grant you forgiveness for your taking so long to return the form. Besides, one of the benefits of retirement is forgivable "forgetfulness."]

Helen Parramore is having an exhibit of her watercolors at the "Vegetable Kingdom Gallery," in Gulfport, FL, November 13 to December 31. The exhibit is called "Greek Odyssey" and reflects paintings she made while sailing the Aegean Sea this summer, paintings which create a pictorial diary of her trip on the Alexandros from Athens north through the Sporades Islands to Thessalinka.

Don Rutledge ('71-'94 -- Ath Dir, Prof Phys Ed) tells us he travels a lot but wants to be included in all mailings and happenings. (He even wants to know if there are dues.) In April "98, Don was one of the referees for the NCAA Final Four. He was hired in September '98 as the Supervisor of Officials for the WNBA.

[The editor of this newsletter always brags about knowing one of the referees, the best one in fact, for the Final Four. "Hey, Deedee, here's Don!"]

Jane Scroggs ('67-'88 -- Admin to Pres and Board) says she's learned to relax: "I do what I want to, if I want to, when I want to."

[Nuff said, Jane!]

Vernelle Sides ('72-'99, Gen Acct Super), who will retire in January, says she looks forward to traveling with her husband, spending more time with her children and seven grandchildren, and being more active in her church.

[If your plans don't fill your time, Vernelle, you can always be active in the VRC.]

Magdalene Skinner ('67-'85 -- Adm Off, Microfilm Operation) says that on August 3, 1998, she made a SKYDIVE from 13,500 feet and a free fall of 550 feet. Says Magdalene, "Pretty good for an 83-year-old!"

[Both in one day? Does The Guiness Book of Records know about this? Hang in (up?) there, Magdalene!]

John Tezak ('71-'89 -- Sup of Maint and Facilities Insp) has taken up motorcycle riding. Now the proud owner of a '98 Honda 11:00 cc American Classic Edition, John has joined the Honda Club, rides every Sunday morning with fifteen other cyclists, and has breakfast somewhere in Florida.
 

Sam Tish ('77-'96 -- Prof Acct and Off Syst Tech) retired at age 68 after 23 years in the U.S. Navy, six years at Edgewater High, and 19 years at Valencia. Sam is interested in what's new at Valencia and beyond, but he wants at least another year without deadlines and other commitments. His involvement with Shriners and Masonry takes up several days a month.

[We'll give ya a year, Sam.]

After retiring from Valencia, Sara Watkins ('71-'90 -- Clerk Typist, Off Syst Manag) found very interesting work for three years with Daytona Beach Community College in the Interactive Television System. Sara and her husband Ira have enjoyed three cruises since they retired. Presently Ira is recuperating from heart surgery, his health having been a constant concern since he retired.

After 27 years at the same address, Dorwin Wilson ('71-'82 -- Prof Bus) and Louise have moved to Orlando Lutheran Towers retirement apartments.

Upon retiring in '85 Lee Young ( -'85 -- VP Adm Ser) and his wife Judy moved to Cullowhee, N.C., where Judy was employed by Western Carolina University and Lee served as Executive Director of the Jackson County Committee of 100 to concentrate mainly on economic development. Lee kept in touch with the Florida Community College system, was active in the Florida Business Officer's Council, and worked on consulting projects with some of the community colleges--he lobbied for Valencia during the first year. In 1988 Lee and Judy moved back to Tallahassee and Lee went back to work for the Division of Community Colleges and State Board of Community Colleges. He retired again in 1995 after serving 42 years of full-time employment in the Florida Education System.

Since retiring, Lee has been busy with a consulting business, church activities, Kiwanis, and music. He has recently recorded and is now refining a religious album of 12 songs, eight of which he wrote. He promises to keep us informed about this project.

Judy and Lee have been traveling since 1985. They've been to Spain, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Italy, and many places in the States. They try to make two large trips a year and several trips on long weekends. Although Judy works with the State Library in a half-time position, they still have time to make short trips on the weekends--when they are ready to go.

Lee says they do not miss the "rat race" in Orlando but that they miss all of us.

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ADDITIONAL NEWS
Spring 1999

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  Ona Barfield ('70-'90, prof Eng) now lives in Kissimmee.  She says she has become a serious admirer of the day lily.  In fact, she tells us that having more than 1,500 plants makes one serious.  In that she will be participating May 8 in the Annual Show at Leu Gardens, she says,  "Ya'll come!  Ya hear?"

    Ona is still into golf, still searching for that perfect swing and perfect club.  She has, she tells us,  "a closet-full to prove that."

    But Ona's interests don't stop with golf.  She says she "went monastic one year and studied  duplicate bridge."  As a result of playing bridge regularly (and taking  lecithin), Ona claims she can now remember where she parked her car.

    [We wonder why Ona hasn't hollowed out one of her golf balls and affixed it to the antenna on  her car.  We read in the Oswego Review, every person's golf magazine, that over-the-hill putters  provide an appropriate signal.  However, having spent half an hour after the Magic/Hawks game  wandering around outside the O'rena trying to figure out where Deedee and I parked the car before the game, Ona, I figure I'll have to quit reading Omar Sharif and Tannah Hirsch's Goren column and get back to the duplicate bridge table.  Lecithin is probably in order too.  Deedee tells me, "You, Don, not I, parked the car!"  But she's younger than I am.]

  Ona adds this: "Most importantly, I've moved beyond my old relationship with God as a hobby.   That's prompting me to become an advocate for the marginalized and for this fragile planet.  Shalom."

 Roberta Davis has helped the Club in every activity during our first year.  She has participated in every planning meeting, attended every function, distributed the newsletter, and taken  photographs at every event.  We all owe Roberta well-deserved thanks.

    Louise McMullian writes from Tallahassee to tell us that she enjoyed the first two newsletters and that she hopes to attend the next social function.

    Louise also tells us that she is in touch with the Kinnicks, who tell her that they didn't receive  the Winter, 1998 edition of our newsletter but that they "do enjoy hearing about VCC activities."  Louise adds that the Kinnicks have been "friends of mine since the '50's when we all  worked in Pinellas County."  Louise sends us Roy's address: Roy Kinnick, 5000 Old Shepard Place #1113, Plano, Texas  75093.

    [Those of us who had the pleasure of working with Roy Kinnick will want him and his wife to  receive copies of everything the Retirement Club mails.  Don Tighe recalls the sage advice Roy Kinnick provided him about a number of things when in 1973 he (Don) was named chair of the Communications Department, West Campus, and started off by making several dumb mistakes.]

  Ben Musick says that he'll retire June 18, 1999 and that he's looking forward to participating in the Retirement Club.  "The train trip to Savannah," he says, "sounds interesting."

    [Ben, all of us welcome you to the Club.  The train trip to Savannah should make it possible for a bunch of us to meet and gossip with folks we knew well and others we've merely heard about.]

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Sandy and Ivan Applebaum and Fred and Elinor Teska traveled together on a glorious 12-day cruise and land trip to Alaska. The Noordamwas a very nice ship that fed and entertained them lavishly for seven days. They then took a train trip to Denali National Park (saw Mt. McKinley) and Fairbanks. While having lunch at a museum in Anchorage, they met the Ron Reinighaus's, who were on a self-designed land trip of Alaska.
 

Ivan and Sandy Applebaum visited and dined in New Orleans with Grace Kehrer, former chair of the East Campus Communications Department, and with several high school friends in Biloxi.

On July 4 Jim Gollattscheck sent us this newsy e-mail:

This is Jim Gollattscheck writing from France and hoping to reach you all in time not to miss a VCC Retirement Club Newsletter.

[We had no newsletter during the summer, so Jim didn't miss anything.]

I think I wrote you last from Montreal when I was about to leave for Dublin. I spent a delightful but very chilly (no day higher than the low 60s) month in Ireland. Dublin is no longer the sleepy, inexpensive, slightly out-of-date city it was only a few years ago--perhaps as James Joyce wrote about it in his collection of short stories Dubliners. It is now one of the most prosperous and expensive cities in Europe. Its prosperity comes from its system of education and its very young population. It is now the leading exporter of computer software in Europe. Northern Ireland is still the most beautiful but tragic part of Ireland.

I left Dublin expecting to live in Munich for a few months. I spent an interesting week there and saw the most gorgeous baroque churches in Europe, but I decided to move on. I think I mainly wanted to get warm. It was 39 one late June morning in Munich. I spent a week in Milan and then moved on to Nice where I had lived on two occasions in the past. Nice is as pleasant as ever with the most amazing scenery I know. Throughout the Riviera, the Alps are so close to the sea you are never out of sight of both the blue Mediterranean and snowcapped peaks. The weather is just about perfect with days reaching the low 80s and nights in the 60s. I have an apartment near the beach and will be here at least through August.

I may return to Florida in September to try my hand at a new writing project. If I decide to do it, it will be my first venture into fiction, albeit an account of a great-great-grandmother who led a fascinating life in rural north Florida during and after the Civil War.

All for now. I hope you all are having a fine summer. I just realized that today is July 4. Such a strictly American holiday goes unnoticed here where there are so few Americans. The tourists here are mostly German and British. I'm told that the Germans will be replaced by Parisians in August.

Warm regards to all, Jim.

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[Jim, if you do get back to Florida "in September," we look forward to getting more information about your stay in Europe and, perhaps, more about your plans for the novel.]
 

On his trip to New York, Jack G. Kazanzas ('83-'95, Asst. Dir. of Foundation) visited Ellis Island to see his father's name on the Immigration Wall. He says that now 400,000 names of immigrants are etched in stainless steel panels.

Jack plans to participate in an Ireland golf tour sponsored by Golfweek, America's golf newspaper. He tells us that he now works part time in circulation sales for Golfweek.

Bernice Long ('80-'98, Academic Adviser, Health-Related Programs) writes that she had a "marvelous time on her 16-day bus tour of the Southwest."

McGarrah (Keese) Perry ('76-'97, Asst VP for Financial Services) writes to say that his first grandchild, Nevada Gen Perry, was born in Chicago. He adds that he and his wife Charline completed "Taste of Britain," a 9-day Globus Tour of England, Wales and Scotland. He says that he and Charline enjoy the newsletter and that they will probably sign up for future Valencia Retirement Club travel trips.

But Keese--sure and begarrah didn't know his first name was McGarrah--has been quite busy in and around Horse Shoe, North Carolina, where he and Charline live. For one thing, he's active in the First Baptist Church in Hendersonville. He serves as a boy's (7-11 years old) leader on Wednesday evenings, worked as a counselor for Vacation Bible School for 2nd grade boys and girls, and plays golf on Mondays with a church men's group.

Keese tells us that he and Charline have built and now occupy a beautiful four-bedroom brick home--room for all their Valencia friends to visit. He says, in fact, that Mike Break and Roger Smith have already visited.

[Keese, what's North Carolinian for "snowbird"?]

Bill Prentiss tells us that he, Sallie, and Elizabeth continue to enjoy operating their retail business, Western Crafts and Gifts, at West Colonial and Kirkman (beside the Burger King). In addition to Indian items and craft supplies, they are now the Central Florida authorized sales center for The Leather Factory. Bill invites us to visit the store any time.

Audrey Reicherts has been active helping to establish and working with the Jones High School Historical Society; she is, in fact, one of its five founders and is serving as the Society's first secretary. When the Society opened the Jones High School Historical Museum, Audrey participated with Leroy Argrett and Earline Tellman in an impressive candle-lighting ceremony. As chair of the Society's Education Committee, Audrey was instrumental in establishing the Jones Tutorial Center, which opened in January 1999. Staffed by retired college professors and Orange County teachers, the Center contains reference books, textbooks currently used at Jones, SAT handbooks, study guides, skills tests, and career/occupation brochures.

Audrey encourages anyone interested in supporting the Center to either volunteer for an hour or two a week as a tutor or contribute money or materials. How? Write to Audrey Reicherts at P.O. Box 550451, Orlando, FL 32855. Audrey is also active in seeking applications for the Society's annual college scholarships.

Audrey and Bill hosted the Society's first annual Christmas party at their home in Apopka.

Bill and Audrey met in February 1999 with his Stalagluft I Ex-POW friends and spouses for a delightful 3-night stay at the Double Tree Resort in Cocoa Beach followed by a 3-night cruise to the Bahamas on the Disney Magic Ship. The get-together included a VIP tour of the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral, a fabulous seafood dinner at the Lobster Shanty, and much reminiscing.

Roger Smith ('80-'99, Internal Auditor) tells us that in July he and "the Mrs." (Stephanie) went to Green Valley Spa in St. George, Utah. "What a place!" The week's price, about $4,000, includes a beautiful suite, all meals, three massages*, one mud bath, and two facials. The food, he says, is healthful--broiled trout, for example--and hiking is part of the daily routine. They both played golf and tennis.

Roger adds that he and Stephanie visited Keese Perry in Horse Shoe, NC.

[*When he hand-composed his note, Roger committed, I think, a typo. He wrote "messages," not "massages." Considering everything, especially the week's price of $4,000, I assumed that "massages" had to be the right word. When we have our next Retirement Club meeting, we'll have to find out whether Roger met any university presidents at Green Valley.]

Deedee Tighe says that she has been declared a winner--or near winner, no kidding--of a number of enormous prizes. WMFE Trips & Treasures Sweepstakes offers her both trips and treasures if she just sends 'em five bucks each for a list of tickets. McInerney Ford sent her a discount voucher for $500 (if she buys a new car there) and offers her a "Complimentary Gift!" of a "Jumbo Golf Umbrella" or a "Non-Stick Wok Set" or a "10-piece Ginsu Knife Set."

Smiling Ed McMahon claims that American Family Publishers, the group he shills for, is just dying to consider awarding her some of the $250,000 in their coffer--if she would simply authorize them to do so. Publishers Clearing House, of course, makes clear that she has won--oh, so much money, millions, and a lot of peripherals if she'll just hurry up, affix the appropriate stamps, and beat the various deadlines. Although they tell her she doesn't have to order anything to win, they include lots of stickons for magazine subscriptions.

Deedee and Don have big plans for spending the generous winnings they see in their future. They're waiting for the big news from Dick Clark--and from the Florida Lotto.
 

Carole Law Trachy writes that 1999 has been an exciting year for her art career. For one thing, she won four ribbons (three seconds and one honorable mention) in four different categories in a local art show. Second, she was accepted into a juried show in Valdosta, Georgia, with a colored pencil drawing. Third--and most gratifying--her colored pencil drawing "Castaway" was chosen for the International Colored Pencil Society of America's annual juried show in Seattle. Since only 120 out of thousand entries are chosen, merely being selected is quite an honor. Linwood and Carole plan to travel in early August to Seattle for the CPSA convention and art show. She and Linwood will celebrate their 25th anniversary in Seattle.

An impressive postcard announces that The High Springs Gallery, High Springs (FL) is presenting--Sept. 11-Oct. 31--Dr. Carole Law Trachy in "Women's Work," a group show.

[Congratulations, Carole and Linwood.]

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Spring 2000

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Audrey Reicherts has been extremely busy.  She has been quite active with local media.  She has participated in the Time Warner Nap Ford Scholarship Program, had a one-hour televised interview on Orlando's history as part of Mayor Glenda Hood's millennium program, and described on local television the history of Luola Terrace, her former neighbor.

She has been working especially closely with Jones High School where she had taught before joining the Valencia faculty.  She has tutored three Jones High School students, participated in Dr. Sandra Levenson's monthly meetings about what must be done to bring Jones High School up to the standards of other Orange County high schools, edited a second newsletter for the Jones High School Historical Society, edited the Jones High School Historical Society's internet pages (Jones High Archives).

To keep her professional development active, Audrey attended the 22nd meeting of the Florida Developmental Education Association (hasn't, in fact, missed a meeting of FDEA in 20 years) and participated in a Master of Liberal Studies Sunday afternoon literary discussion at Rollins College.

[Audrey holds a Master of Liberal Studies degree from Rollins College.]

For entertainment and socializing she attended the second Valencia Retirement Club luncheon.

Bill Reicherts tells us that he has been busy organizing a well-equipped home office and that he and Audrey have entertained family members from Chicago, California, and Georgia.

Meanwhile, Bill has been trying to keep up with Audrey by donating money to the Jones High School Historical Society's scholarship fund, supporting all programs of the Jones High School Historical Society, attending the 22nd meeting of FDEA, and attending the
Valencia Retirement Club's second luncheon.

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Late Spring 2000

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Robert Barry ('81-'91, system analyst) sends us his new e-mail address - rbarry@naxs.net - and new mailing address - 670 Dry Road, Speedwell, VA 24374 - and telephone number (540) 621-4524.  He says his new address is now a 911 number.

[Bob, I'm not sure I can figure out what the 911 number is or means–Are you a cop?.  Let me know if I have it wrong.]

Jim Gollattscheck, Valencia's second president, sends us the following–this time from Bellaire, Texas.

"I've continued to enjoy living wherever life takes me.  Since I last attended a VCC Retirement luncheon, I have lived for several months each in Montreal, Dublin, and Nice–with a few weeks in Munich and Milan along the way.  I've settled in Houston for awhile.  Just finished rewriting my book Choose Florida for Retirement for its second edition due out in early 2001.  I love living around the world, but I do miss my good VCC friends.  I'd be happy to see any of you who come this way."

Mary Ann Gravel ('78-'01, staff assistant, marketing and media relations) sends us an address and telephone number correction: 1550 Muir Circle, Clermont, FL 34711 (352- 243-6997).

Donna Nickel tells us she has married Graham Hamilton.
[Congratulations to both of you, Donna, from all of us.]

Maggie Sample ('74-'96, professor of anatomy and physiology) writes to say that she had fun seeing so many of us at our October '99 get-together.  She says that those of us who knew her husband Charlie might remember that he was the co-trustee, along with SunTrust, of a rather large Scholarship Trust, which was established in 1972 by his brother.

Maggie had worked with Charlie on the fund, and, when he died in 1998, she was appointed to continue as the Scholarship Coordinator.  "Last year," she tells us, "we awarded $180,000 to students in St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties.  I have 41 students and love still being involved with this age-group.  The job, which is too much fun to be called such, takes about a third of my time."

Maggie says she left November 22 to go on a Mediterranean cruise with her son Mark and his wife Linda.  They flew to Istanbul, visited Ephesus, Rhodes, Crete, Cyprus, Egypt, some of the Greek islands, and then flew home from Athens.

[As I type this news in past tense, Maggie and company are either on the trip or back from it.]

Maggie adds that she'll have her children with her for Christmas and she'll be in Atlanta for "the real" millennium celebration.  She wishes us all a wonderful holiday season.

Carole (professor of humanities) and Lin Trachy (bookstore) tell us that they were both hired "back in the good old days."  They have "downsized" from their ten-acre farm in Lake City to an acre and a half in Ocala.  Lin is happily farming on a smaller scale–he put in his winter garden in early October: carrots, broccoli, Swiss chard, collards, and lots of Vidalia onions.  Carole is happy to be back in "civilization."  She has joined the Ocala Artists group and become a member of the Appleton Museum.

Carole says they live "practically around the corner from Silver Springs" at 1952 S.E. 52nd Ct., Ocala, FL 34471-5757.

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MEMBERS' ACTIVITIES AND MILESTONES
(FALL, 2000)

Glynda Brown Anderson (1968-86, counselor, teacher of educational psychology) lets us know in no uncertain terms that she and her husband Kyle are SURVIVING!!

She says that her honors were many while she was at VCC.  And there is at least one more honor to come, for in October the Business and Professional Women's Organization will honor both Kyle and her for their accomplishments in education.

The Anderson's return to San Antonio, she says, provided them a great time to find new
interests and new friends and to "refind" old friends they had been out of touch with.  When they first returned, however, they spent a great deal of their time helping and even taking care of aging relatives, most of whom have now died.  They are, Glynda says, "sorely missed."

Glynda has retained membership in one educational organization, Delta Kappa Gamma.
In fact, every year since her retirement she has held an office or chaired a major committee.

She writes, "What fun it is to serve on the reunion committee for my high school graduating class!  After all these years, I have a wonderful feeling of warmth and caring, even though there were 650+ students in that class."

"We continue to TRAVEL," Glynda writes.  "Most recently we were in Holland and Britain for two weeks.  Kyle was one of 15 men who were honored by these countries and the underground for their part in World War II.  This and the joyful celebrations of the liberation of Europe were the most spine-tingling experiences of my life."

The Andersons travel several months every year--England most years.  But they also take cruises and have visited Hawaii and many nearer places in the States.  They hope to get back to Orlando in 2000.

Glynda and Kyle send best wishes to all members of the Retirement Club.

Joe Garwood (June '77-June '97, professor of economics) writes to tell us he thought that in retirement he and Kay would try to have fun and accomplish very little.

Doing so little, Joe and Kay have settled into their new home in Tallahassee; done volunteer work for Catholic charities; explored and picnicked in eight beautiful state parks in Florida's panhandle; visited their sons and their families twice in Knoxville and Louisville; went deep-sea fishing; exercised in the city park adjacent to their home; and attended Tallahassee events--Springtime Tallahassee, Pops in the Park, and Civil War Reenactment at Natural Bridge.

Oh, yes, Joe tells us, "I taught one section of economics at Tallahassee Community College."

"This retirement stuff," Joe adds, "is anything but boring.  I wish I could have internalized
such control over my time ten years ago."

Joe says, "We went to 'Noles football games.  We're #1!"

[Watch out, Joe, there's lots of Gators in the club!"]

Louis Edwards (1967-94, Chair, Mathematics Department, West Campus) says that since his retirement he has greatly enjoyed two things.  The first has been teaching mathematics courses on West Campus as an adjunct.  "My real enjoyment, for which I am grateful," he says, "has been the contact with students in the classroom and math lab."

The second is that he is serving as a "part-time" director of the extension center of Luther Rice Seminary, a Bible college that meets at his church, the First Baptist Church of Central Florida.  Louis explains that Luther Rice Seminary enrolls approximately one hundred students each semester.  The college has one math course in the catalog that he teaches every other year.

Miriam Gateley (accounting professor, 1983-99) says that as soon as she retired she and Felix, her cat, traveled to Eugene, Oregon, to visit her daughter and her family.  Miriam adds that she had "a lot of fun playing" with her four-year-old grandson and two-year-old granddaughter.

While she was visiting family in Eugene, Miriam and her grandchildren drove to Port  Orchard, Washington, where she had attended elementary school when she was in fifth and sixth grades.

Miriam says that her grandchildren liked riding the ferry from Bremerton to Seattle and that she enjoyed telling them how she used to ride the same ferry when she was their age.

"The most fun," Miriam adds, "was not having to be back to Orlando to start classes.  Even Felix was ready to come home to play jungle cat in my orchids."

Miriam's next trip was to Pleasant Grove, Utah, to see her latest great granddaughter, Irenne Swenson, and visit with her family and friends there.  One of those she visited with is Garnetta Swenson, a member of the hospitality committee at Valencia until she moved to Utah. Garnetta is also Brenne's great grandmother.

When the newsletter editor received Miriam's note, she was planning to visit another grandson, this time in the Washington, D.C., area.  Following that trip, she plans to spend some time in Bloomington, Indiana, visiting her daughter, who is moving there from Utah.

[Seems to me that if you want to get in touch with Miriam, you may have to catch her on  the fly, moving like the lightning from southeast to west to midwest.  The newsletter editor is wondering if Garnetta Swenson is a member of the Retirement Club; and if she isn't, should she be?]

Paul Gianini e-mails us to say that he and Sandra are having a great time.  They started retirement with a month in Maui followed by a few smaller trips.  They learned that they can now visit and have visitors on other than weekends.  They sleep in, have no dry cleaning bills, and don't have to put up with Orlando traffic.  Living on the beach, Paul says, is truly the good life, and our grandchildren--seven of them already and an eighth on the way.

Leaving their wives at home, Ben Musick and his son, Travis, recently made a trip to  Australia where they climbed to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and to the top of
Ayers Rock.  They rode motorcycles in the Outback, visited the Olympic site, and drove to the Blue Mountains.

Ben wants us to know that Australia doesn't recognize AAA or AARP memberships.  A senior Australian, he says, is a person who is 65 or older and receives a government pension.

Ben and Arlen Gastineau plan to rendezvous next summer in Alaska.

Marv and Ruth Ranke (hired 1977, retired 1991) write to tell us they are enjoying the retirement road.  (Ruth says she's sorry she's not gotten back to us sooner because both she and Marv enjoy the newsletters so much that they included a check for $25.00 "to cover some of the expenses.")  They've found a home base in Hondo, Texas.  Thirty miles from San Antonio, it features its own fenced yard. They use it to come and go as they wish.

Their travels have been varied and interesting.  This spring, they say, they visited their  daughter and two granddaughters in Pensacola.  From there they motored to Charleston, South Carolina, for a rally, toured Charleston, took a boat trip to Ft. Sumter, visited a few plantations, and toured Yorktown.

Following a few weeks on Myrtle Beach, they went to Camp Lejuene, stayed on the beach, and witnessed all kinds of Marine maneuvers.  Then they visited the Civil War battlesite at Gettysburg.

From Gettysburg they went on to Lake George, New York, for another rally.  While there  they visited Fort Ticonderoga, took a boat cruise on Lake George, and followed with a bus tour of the area, including Vermont.  Later they went to Newburg, New York, and then took a bus tour of New York City--Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Ellis Island, U.N. Building, Donald Trump buildings, U.S. Trade Center, and the well-known streets of New York, including Wall Street.  (Incidentally, Ruth tells us, Donald Trump is really proud  of his buildings, for he puts his name on all of them.)

Ruth says she will be hosting a rally in April of 2001 in New Orleans and that she and Marv went to Slidell, Louisiana, to make arrangements for what she thinks will be a "fun" event.

The Rankes will be back in Hondo for doctors' appointments, but as soon as they finish,  they plan to find a cool place to relax and contemplate the heavens--perhaps at the
MacDonald Observatory, an astronomical observatory on Mt. Locke, in the Davis Mountains near Fort Davis, Texas.

[Ed's note--Using my handy-dandy New   Columbia   Encyclopedia,   I found both the Davis Mountains and the MacDonald Observatory. Thus, Ruth and Marv, I added a detail or two.  Were you to have spotted anything celestial through "the world's third largest reflector telescope," we'd like to hear more about it in one of the issues of the Newsletter.]

The Rankes plan to be in Oklahoma City in September, in Pensacola in November, and back home in Hondo in November.

Que Throm recently completed, at New York University, a four-week course in Fine and Decorative Art Appraisal.  Que says that it was a humbling experience being a student again: living in the dorm, learning to do research on the net, and dashing from classes to museums to galleries.

She says that in her new career as personal property appraiser she will appraise for insurance, equitable distribution, estate and donations.  Que says that if you need any of these kinds of services, call Throm Associates (407-831-2780).

Que adds a footnote: "Several NYU instructors, regulars on the Antiques Road Show, did not know, off the top of their heads, the value of some antique pieces the show features. Although appraisers on that show are screened for their expertise, some of them are not familiar with appropriate computer programs, books, catalogs, etc.  Thus, some antiques' owners who don't really know the value of what they have are quite excited when they find out how valuable their holdings are."

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Spring 2001

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Paul and Patricia Blais want us to know that they are alive and well, living in upstate South Carolina.  Since she retired in 1999, Pat has gotten to practice her bridge and has become active in their local church.  Paul has been working as an adjunct at Tri-County Technical College and recently landed a full-time job at Clemson University, working in the Access and Equity office.
We can e-mail them at patnpaul@statecom.net.

Freda B. Graham (formally Freda Marion, Collegewide Coordinator of  Handicapped Student Services, July 1974-July 1984) married Douglas R. Franklin (6-15-00).  Her address is Freda B. Graham, 81 Hollybrook Drive, Asheville, NC 28803,
e-mail  fgami@AOL.COM.

All Freda's babies are grown, married and having babies of their own.  Mary lives in Nashville and has a six-year-old daughter; Michael lives in Knoxville and has two sons, one eight-year-old and a one month-old; William (formerly Freddie) lives in New York City with his wife.  All are doing well, continuing their educations, and trying to pay back school loans.

Freda and Doug recently moved into a condo in S.E. Ashville.  Presently she is busy totally renovating their condo from an '80's style to something current, warm and comfortable.  They chose a condo so they could close the doors whenever the opportunity or urge presented itself and travel.

In that Doug is involved full time with his career in insurance and estate planning, lobbying, and community development, their travel presently is short-term.  "When he retires," she adds, "we plan to spend our winters in Florida.  Yeah!"

Freda says they are both very involved with the local organization for the protection of battered women, a few men, and children.  In addition, she designs and makes things in tapestry and crafts, does some counseling and interior design consulting.

Because she is retired, she has all day to spend doing more things that I want to do when I want to do them.  As a result, she says, "I am sometimes as busy as--even busier than--I ever have been.

Freda says, "I love reading the newsletter and catching up on who's where and doing what."  She would love to hear from any of us who come to the mountains and also by e-mail.

Dick O'Sullivan (vice-president for administration, 1973-85) writes to say that as he wandered the internet, he came to Valencia's home page and "lo and behold" he found the Retirement Club group page.  "I would," he said, "be interested in joining if I'm eligible.  I'd enjoy seeing my Valencia friends."

[Of course you may join, Dick.  You're not only eligible but warmly desired.  Your friends will enjoy seeing you.]

Dick tells us he is currently enrolled in the DROP program of The University of South Florida where he currently teaches in the Leadership Development Department and serves as Director of Graduate Studies on USF's Lakeland Campus.  He plans to retire in June 2003.

His current address is 3229 Stonewater Drive, Lakeland  33803.  His phone number is (863) 648-2219.

Elinor Teska ( executive secretary to the President and District Board of Trustees) writes to tell us that once a month her daughter, Nancy Scoltock, sends her a packet of clippings, coupons, funny items, and Vitality.  Among a recent mailing, she included one of Don Tighe's "well-done" "My Word" columns from the Sentinel.

Elinor says she has been impressed with Sandy Shugart and regrets "a little bit" that she could not have worked for him--although she doesn't think she would have "lasted long enough" to welcome him.

Elinor tells us the she and her husband Fred have enjoyed travel in Canada, Alaska, England, France, Southern California, and Mexico.  She says in August 2000 they "did an Eastern Seaboard trip to the Pennsylvania Dutch country, Hershey, Gettysburg, Washington D.C., Virginia, and North Carolina.

Elinor says in March she took the Valencia honors trip to Spain.  She adds that their only other big trip for this year is to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Maritime Provinces.  "If anything else comes up that interests us," she says, "who knows?"

Elinor and Fred moved to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of north Georgia in July 1999.  As she put it, "We made our vacation home our permanent home."  Elinor says she that she is secretary to a very loose-knit homeowners association as well as to several church councils and committees.  She also volunteers at the White County Library, which she "absolutely loves."

The Teskas live in White County, Georgia, population 16,000.  "There are," she says, "three traffic lights in the entire county.  Four cars at a red light is a traffic jam.  Our only claim to fame is that White County is the home of Xavier Roberts, creator of the Cabbage Patch Kids.  The 'hospital,'" she adds, "is quite a tourist attraction almost but not quite on a par with Walt Disney World."

Elinor adds that "we are relatively healthy and enjoying ourselves; we wonder how we ever had time to work."  They seem always have something to do: "go to the Atlanta zoo to see the pandas; attend Braves games; work among the veggies and flowers in their garden; feed the deer, wild turkeys, Canadian geese, even an occasional bear; wander southern highways and byways."

Jim Gollattscheck writes:  Once again I’m writing to give you a new address so I will continue to receive the VCC Retirement Club Newsletter.  Earlier this month I moved to Tucson, Arizona.  I am working on another retirement book, this time about the best retirement places in the US.  As you might assume, the places I am writing about are all in the “sunbelt.”  Since I have already covered the Southeast, I felt that a base in the Southwest would allow me to research most of the others.  You and my other good VCC friends already live in one of the absolutely best places so my retirement books will be of little interest.

  FALL  2001

Despite the fact that he feels "slighted" for receiving a ragged "Newsletter Update Information" sheet,* Jack Benefield sends us a newsy backdate as well as update.

His backdate [Your editor thought he made the word backdate up and considered it a neologism--until he found it in his Webster's New World Dictionary--damn!] concerns Jack's history at Valencia.  He was hired in 1973 and retired in 1998--and the years between those dates were peppered with changes.  He served as collegewide area coordinator for materials production for the LRC, physics instructor on East Campus, acting LRC coordinator on West Campus, instructor and professor of chemistry on West Campus, chairman of the
Department of Science and Technology on West Campus, and again as professor of chemistry on West Campus.

For his update Jack tells us he's "still alive and kicking!"  Since his retirement, he has returned to his hobbies of years ago.  He has twelve aquaria (10-105 gallons) in which he raises tropical fish.  His rockhounding and lapidary work takes him all over the United States (and other places as well) collecting rocks and polishing them.  Meanwhile he finds time to travel with his children and grandchildren all over the U.S. but primarily out West.

Jack's e-mail address: JWBene1@msn.com

[*Ivan, do you suppose the folks aren't getting their cards and letters in because they are miffed that their "Newsletter Update Information" sheets are getting to them "ragged"?]

In an e-mail to Ivan Applebaum, Jim Gollattscheck sends us yet another new address. Early in April Jim moved to Tucson, Arizona, where he is working on another retirement book.  This time he is planning a book about the best retirement places in the United States. And where are these places?  In the "sunbelt" of course.

Jim says he's already researched and written about the Southeast, so he picked his new base in the Southwest so he could research most of the other ideal spots.  After all, he says, "You and my other good VCC friends already live in one of the absolutely best places, so my retirement books may be of little interest to you all."  [Your editor edited that quote a bit.]

Jim's new address is 3300 North Paseo de los Rios, #21106, Tucson, AZ  85712.  His phone number is (520) 881-1467).

Lovie L. King (retired 1982) writes to us from her new address --P. O. Box 273146, Fort Collins, Colorado  80527.  Although Lovie admits that she doesn't remember when she was hired as veterans' adviser, she tells us that she was responsible every semester for compiling data about veterans' GPAs.  In the early '70's, before computers, it took her a week to collect such data.  Later, when she had a computer to help, she could do the job in a day.

After she retired, she moved around to different states with her daughters and, so they could go to college, helped take care of their kids.  Now, at age 81 and living in Fort Collins, she has two daughters who are massage therapists.  The good Lord has blessed Lovie with good health.  She bowls with the Fort Collins seniors.

Lovie says she enjoyed her job at Valencia, especially being around her friends, the people with whom she worked.  At Fort Collins she has two daughters who are massage therapists.

Having moved with her husband, Lynwood, from rural Lake City to bustling, growing Ocala, Carole Law Trachy has fallen in love with the change from country to city life--especially the urban cultural wonders of the North Central Florida city.  She sent us, in fact, an article from The Ocala Star-Banner, Ocala's major newspaper, announcing "the 19th Century Masterworks show that will be coming to [Ocala's] Appleton Museum [sic] of Art in September."

At our last get-together, Carole said she had agreed to write a weekly column for the Star-Banner.  Thus she sent us her "By Way of Introduction" column in which she tells the readers that while living in Lake City, "this city girl missed a city's cultural amenities: theaters, art centers, museums, [and] parks."  She also included a copy of her first feature, an article on the Interfaith Emergency Services, an Ocala charitable organization with a fascinating motto:
"Serving the least, the last and the lost."

By the way, Carole told your editor that she would be paid the handsome sum of $25.00 for each of her weekly columns.

[Your editor has asked Carole to let us reprint one of her columns in a forthcoming newsletter.]

Ivan had a long conversation with Sara Watkins who is working part-time at Dillard's mens department in Seminole Towne Center.  Sarah looks and sounds great and hopes to see us at the annual banquet.

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SPRING 2002

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Paul Blaise writes to say that he and Pat are now settled comfortably in "beautiful upstate South Carolina." Pat recently had back surgery, but she is progressing nicely.  In fact, she should be "up to full speed shortly, enjoying her hectic life of bridge and luncheons."

Paul, meanwhile, is working as a "computer geek" for Clemson University's Office of Access and Equity--"a nice little job."  But that's not all.  He received good news recently: his book, Resurrecting Paul: A Father's Story, will finally be published.  He tells us that "it took four years and a ton of rejections before it all came together."  He adds that the experience taught him "a good lesson for hanging in there."  He says that
publication may be as long as a year away, but the book will finally see print.

Want to know more about the book?  You can e-mail Paul at pblais@clemson.edu, call him at his office 864-656-0121, or FAX him at 864-656-3182.

In a letter to Pat Van Twyver,  Margie Brewster ('71-'01, computer operator) sends her change of address and says she enjoys hearing through the newsletter what's going on with everyone.

Margie says that retirement is great!  She says that she and her husband have moved into their new home in Tillatoba, Mississippi.  Although she says she is still adjusting to a very small town (80 miles to the nearest mall), but that their children and grandchildren were there for the best Thanksgiving ever.

She says that she and Jim have done a lot of the work on their home.  They put up the sheet rock (heavy stuff) and the ceiling tiles (real neck killers).  They laid all (every three-inch planks) of the wood floor in the kitchen. On one Friday night they laughed about retirees doing a very tiring job as late as 11:30 p.m.

Margie says that their trees ("a lot of pines") have lost most of their leaves.  Despite the fact that she's never liked rain, it rained four days after Thanksgiving.  As a result, they had a driveway put in shortly after they got to Tillatoba because 'cars don't do good in red mud!"

Her new address is Margie Brewster, 21150 Hwy 330, Tillatoba, MS  38961.

Dr. Helen Parramore writes to tell us that her new address is 7550 Sunshine Skyway Lane, T-47, St. Petersburg, FL  33711.  Her phone number is (727) 865-8621.  She included with her new address a Sentinel "My Word" column that your editor had somehow missed.  It's so good that in case y'all missed it too, here it is--a belated Merry Christmas.

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  Lemme see: Where is that tree?

I moved again a few weeks ago.  My last move was just a few years back.  Two moves before that move, I lived in one house 12 years, as long as I ever had lived anywhere.  To get the record straight, I made a list of all the places I've lived.  I counted 31 places in 13 different cities, which doesn't include residence in two college dorms or brief stays here and there between major moves.

Moving is a great American tradition.  The early settlers were always moving from somewhere that was to somewhere that wasn't.  They'd throw everything they had into a wagon--a barrel of flour, a few hens and a cow, blankets, boots, and booze--and just go until they found a likely spot to stop and start a new place.

I moved several times when my kids were growing up.  I'd pack everything in boxes, rent a U-Haul and go.  And in the new place, I'd be unpacked and functioning in a matter of a few days at most.  I can't remember that it was such an ordeal.  It was an inevitable part of life.  One went back to school or to a new job or followed a husband to a new job.  Irresistible opportunity beckoned and we went.

I never realized how hard it was to move until I moved to the place where I stayed for 12 years. When I unpacked there, I vowed I'd never move again.  It struck me like a baseball bat to the skull that moving made a huge hole in my life.  Not just the physical packing, moving and unpacking, but the new phone number, address and city.  The new doctor, dentist and vet.  The new schools, the new job, the new grocery store, drugstore and library.  The old friends who needed to know, the insurance companies, the drivers- license bureau, the voter registry, the tax collector, the new mortgage, the old house sale, magazines.  And, oh, my!  Family members, every one of them insulted if they found out you weren't where they thought you were.

And things that worked well in the old place don't always work well in the new.  Maybe not enough furniture, or too much, a piece that is a bit too big or too small.  Sometimes boxes stayed unpacked for a long time in the new place--sometimes so long that they just got carried along unopened on the next move.

I actually know some people my age who have lived in no more than two or maybe three places. They astonish me.  I cannot imagine their lives.  What do they do with their stuff?  Every time I move I get rid of tons of stuff.  We acquire so much!  When I hear the patriotic call to boost the economy by buying more stuff, I say, "No thanks.  We don't have room for it.  We don't want to have to move it."

But anyway, I moved it all again.  I am piled high with unopened boxes.  If I can find space for my Christmas tree, I will put it up, but first I have to find the box that says TREE.

Or I may just string some lights on that barrel of flour and break out the booze.

I can find that.

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[When I, your editor, was a lad and sported a crew cut that needed tending every two weeks, my barber in Athens, West Virginia, was the source of not only town gossip but universal lore. He knew things, and one of the things he knew was about the unjoys of moving.  "Three moves," he drawled, "is equal to one far [fire]!"   When I told him one morning that I had just moved from one place to another in the small town and that moving wasn't really that bad (The Concord College faculty got together on a Saturday and in a truck borrowed from one of the local business stablishments --no charge--moved any particular faculty member who happened to be moving--party time.)  Mr. Litton looked at me with scorn and mumbled, "You ain't moved enough!"]

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Speaking of moving, Carole Law Trachey has adjusted nicely to the move she and Linwood made from Lake City to Ocala.  She is enjoying the cultural advantages offered in her new Central Florida city and has settled comfortably into her role as correspondent to The Ocala Star Banner.  At our November luncheon she brought an envelope with a few of her weekly contributions.

For the most part she seems interested in the variety of personalities she meets.  One such column featured her interview with the multitalented new leader of Temple Beth Shalom, Cantor Samuel Dov Berman--"educator, spiritual leader, tenor, founder of the Heritage Trio, publisher of music, Cahautauqua lecturer, Elderhostel instructor."  Another featured Yani Mikedis, an artist who draws on his Greek heritage to create the "imagery ... of his colorful dreams."

Carole's inquiries have led her to discover "watershed volunteers," locals who look after the health--and threats to the health--of Ocala's abundant natural springs.  Her rosy outlook on life is evident in a column she wrote headed "Pessimist or optimist?"  In it she mentions an e-mail she received pointing out to pessimists that the horrors of 9-11 might be easier to bear if we remember that 90% of the potential casualties in the World Trade Center were not killed.

Lee Young (VP for business affairs, 1975-85) writes us a letter from Tallahassee:

Judy and I enjoyed the St. Johns River cruise with the many Valencia friends that we had not seen for years.

The ten years that I was at Valencia were good years.  I especially enjoyed working with Dr. Gollattscheck and presenting the budget to all of the employees each time I came back from lobbying the Florida Legislature.  Of course, my favorite negotiations were with Ivan Applebaum about budget items.

We appreciate receiving the Retirement Club Newsletters, and I am always glad to read about Dr. Gollattscheck.  He was a great president.

I have had several mini-strokes so I don't get around much anymore.  I have a wonderful wife who takes good care of me.  My balance is not very good, I've lost quite a bit of my memory, and I can't drive.  All this means that I depend a great deal on my wife, family, and friends.  I thank the good Lord as I realize that my health could be a lot worse than it is!

Judy and I have been married for 26 years now.  We were newlyweds when we came to Valencia in 1975.  We still travel quite a bit and will be going this December with friends on a cruise to the southern Caribbean.  We spent a week in Asheville, North Carolina, this past September and were delighted to visit with Keese and Charlene Perry.

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 FALL 2002 UPDATE - click here

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FEBRUARY 2003 UPDATE - click here

OCTOBER 2003 UPDATE - click here
 

MARCH 2004 UPDATE - click here

SEPTEMBER 2004 UPDATE - click here

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