DAVE GERARD

8822 Harbor Circle

Terrell, North Carolina 28682

828-478-9813

gerardd@charter.net

www.west-point.org/class/usma/1968

 

Just after Gordon Tillery reinstituted and hosted the August class luncheon for DC area classmates, he and Elsie teamed up with Jerry & Kathy Cobb for a two week Med cruise and adventure.  Meanwhile Jon & AJ Dodson hooked up with Barbara and me to cruise from St Petersburg to Moscow.  The Tillerys and Cobbs agreed that , other than the uncomfortable but inescapable air travel hassles these days, their trip was informative, enlightening, and thoroughly worth it – especially if you stay out of the casinos...  We discovered that the only difference between McDonalds in Russia and McDonalds in the US was that servers speak English in Russia. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Photo #1 – “Gordon & Elsie Tillery with Kathy & Jerry Cobb in Mallorca this summer”]

 

 

 

 

[Photo #2 – “AJ & Jon Dodson with Barbara & Shamoo Gerard in Russia this summer”]

 

 

        Twenty-six classmates attended the November DC luncheon from as far away as Charlottesville, VA (Pete Paulson) and Kent Island (Eastern Shore), MD (Chuck Hawkins).  Pete is retired and Chuck is still working in the international security arena primarily with the Chinese.  Dave Ohle summarized the GO-level team's work advising the Supe on the wellness of our Rockbound Highland Home.  If you missed getting the great CD that Dick Steiner created for our 35th, he reminded the gathering that you can contact Dutch Hostler to purchase it – with all proceeds going to our Class Gift Fund – a great keepsake for a $15 donation.  Joe Fowler remarked about Greg Camp's email that contained the web address for the tribute he created for fallen classmates.  Greg also included a moving story about how he and Joanie teamed with Dale & Joyce Hansen to present our class print to John Louis Speidel's widow, Ellen, and daughter, Gretchen Speidel Hall.  Gretchen never knew her Dad.  Dale Hansen subsequently reported that she is an attorney in the Richmond, Virginia area, and gave birth to Andrew Randall Hall last October.  This news came also with Dale’s announcement that his grandson was born last September.  Inasmuch as John could not be in the picture, we all hope that Assembly editors will allow a picture of a family that a father and grandfather never got to see.

 

 

 

 

 

[Photo #3 – “Gretchen Speidel Hall with her husband and son Randall”]

 

 

 

 

 

[Photo #4 – “Dale Hansen with latest grandson, Elijah Thomas Snow”

 

 

            Dale Hansen was also able to substantiate that another classmate has slipped away and passed away without other classmate detection.  Mike O’Connell (C3) was first listed as deceased by the AOG.  Can anyone else confirm this report?

 

Ray Puffer checked in again with more sightings of classmates who we haven’t heard from in ages.  He had a great visit from Brick & Diane Sweet in the fall while the Sweets were  in the Syracuse area for a family visit.  The last time Ray saw Brick & Diane was when they went skiing with Walt & Kay Curl at Copper Mountain, CO in ’73.  Once again, classmates discovered how the years melt away when they are reunited. The current plan is to not let another 30+ years pass before getting together again, and to possibly meet at Brick’s ski house in Breckenridge between blizzards.

 

 

 

[Photo #5 – “Ray Puffer and Brick Sweet during craft time”]

 

 

As part of his holiday letter, Dave Clemm sent a great family picture taken at son Rob’s marriage to Meghan.  Rob & Meghan honeymooned in Alaska as Dave & Jean culled through 27 years worth of accumulations in preparations to put their NY home up for sale thanks to incredible mounting NY taxes, weariness of shoveling snow, and the simple fact that there’s nothing there to keep the Clemms in the area.  New York State’s unfriendly attitude towards business and its affinity for corruption may add to the length of time their home will be for sale; however, Dave & Jean have officially became Floridians and are ready to move on.

 

 

 

 

[Photo #6 – “The 2006 Clemm Clan – Dave, Jeanie (holding Jack Ballengee), Luke Ballengee (grandson), Julie Ballengee, Todd Ballengee, Chris Clemm, Meghan Niles Clemm (bride), Rob Clemm (groom), Grace Ballengee (granddaughter)”]

 

            If Elwood & Mary Lou Cobey’s family gets any bigger, they’ll need a wide-angle lens to take a family picture.  While their kids continued proliferating, Elwood & Mary Lou continue to enjoy retirement by traveling to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the NE US.

 

 

 

 

[Photo # 7 – “The 2006 Cobeys – f-b, l-r – Mary Lou, George Turmail, Kate Cobey, Anna Turmail, Will Cobey; Dawsen Grande, Eve-Lyn Turmail, Mary & Sally Grande, Margaret Cobey, Brian Trumail, Whitney, Chris & alex Cobey, and Elwood”]

 

 

Monte Anderson sent the great news that he married Kathryn Lynn Kelly last Labor Day weekend in Aurora, IL.  George Shoener reciprocated as his best man.  Together, Monte & Kathryn have six kids.  Monte’s son, Brett, joined an on-line church that made him a minister for weddings, and he performed the ceremony.  Monte and Brett both wore the Anderson tartan kilts.  Since Kathryn is Irish, they used many Celtic traditions in the ceremony. 

 

 

 

 

[Photo #8 – “Monte & Kathryn Anderson at their Labor Day wedding”]

 

 

While on the Celtic matrimonial subject, last Thanksgiving weekend, Fred Johnson married Mary, his 3rd and last soul mate.  He met and married Linda five months from when they first met -- this time, it was seven months – must be an age thing.  Fred’s sons really like Mary, which makes this union happy workable.  Can you tell she’s part Irish?  Fred vows there will "beno" more little Johnsons.  He officially defers further proliferation to more virile classmates.

 

 

 

[Photo #9 – “Mary & Fred Johnson”]

 

 

Due to the number of pictures and impressive news received this reporting period, I’m trading photos for text for this issue.  There’s much more news; however, we’re allotted only so much space.  This is another reporting period that underscores how dynamic you continue to be.  You personify the fact that life's journey is not to arrive at its end safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, “WOW!! What a Ride!!”  Despite all the reported weddings and births, the fact remains – YOU’RE ALL WE’VE GOT.