2002

Hal Lynch thinks the Santas on the Holiday Greeting looks like me. In fact several mentioned that. Actually the Santas are slimmer than I am!

Herb Dauber is retiring again. This time from the NAFI MWR at MCAS Kaneohe. His last day is/was Dec 12. What are you gonna do now Joyce? It's not like he can fix things around the house! And your OPF is probably up to date.

Bruce Stevens is still working as DCPP, or whatever the job is called now, for BUPERS, or whatever it's called now. Anyway he sent me a fruitcake receipe that is just to my liking. You can find it on the Holiday Greeting page.

Val Herman leads an interesting life. The following is quoted from his Holiday message: "I'm home for the rest of the year and trying to clean up the last loose ends of a job I did in Bogota some weeks ago. Have been fairly productive in 2001. I;'ve had brief (two to four week) classification jobs with USAID Missions in Namiba, Mozambique, Paraguay, Isreal, Colombia, and the Republic of Georgia this year.....Expect to keep this up another 2-3 years. Then I may slow down a bit....I've got another 3-4 weeks in Isreal scheduled to begin in mid-January, 4 weeks in Colombia in March, back to the Republic of Georgia combined with two weeks in Armenia in May, then Mexico and Egypt. Greed is a terrible thing!"

Val has his shoulder to the wheel, nose to the grindstone and his feet firmly in the public trough! Way to go!

An email from Dotty Meletzke informs that there are a number of retirements taking place in Washington this month. There will be a retirement luncheon at ODASN/HROC for Bob Aughinbaugh, Keith Baker, Dess Bickerstaff, Lydia Grimsley, and David Neerman on 18 Dec from 1130-1500. It's good to know the lunch hour has not changed for Washington. Get pictures and send them to me. For the retirees-Welcome to the good life here in God's waiting room.

Today marks 40 years for Betty and me. If she had just shot me she could have been out 10 years ago! 12/7/01

There was a Remembrance Gathering for Marilyn Molinos on December 9. Among the LMR-types honoring her memory were Bob and Sherry Gilson, Don Mastasio, Ben James, Conrad Person, and Ed Campbell. This was reported by Dotty M.

Received a end of the year up-date from Jerry Walsh and Dotty Meletzke. I found their experience with yard-tending to be interesting. They evidently hired some landscaping work that included providing a compost heap that was then used in the newly lanscaped areas. "A side benefit of the compost was the array of volunteer tomatoes, cantaloupe, squash, and watermelon plants that came up in the flower beds." I think you guys need another visit from farmer Terry Haycock! They also added two new grandbabies this year, William of North Carolina and Ingrid of Denmark.

Bob Fodrey, Director of the Field Office in Norfolk was involved in an automobile accident on 12/11/01. His wife Gerry, 79, lost her life. Services are/were 12/17 in the Norfolk area. Bob was taken to the trauma unit of a local hospital and has since been released.

Reggie Felton was unanimously elected president of the Montgomery (MD) School Board on December 12, 2001

12/16/01

Dess Bickerstaff will be officially retired on 3 Jan 02. She has emailed her address and vitals and they are now available on the directory page. Welcome aboard, Dess. Also had a picture of Bob Aughinbaugh on his last day at work forwarded by Jim Wachel. Hope to have more from the mass retirement at DASN/HROC.

Same day David Neerman checked in with his address for addition to the directory. Dave retired with 37 years and 9 months service. He started as a college recruiter for BuShips working for Bernie Byrne. Remember when you guys couldn't understand why old guys kept working after they were eligible for retirement? Thats what they have been saying about you!

Frank Knowles, the great hunter from the northwest, sent a "nice" Christmas card and note. He still longs for the south Gulf coast of Texas. Better go on and do it Frank, time is marching on...at double-time it seems. From Frank: "Damn, it seems like just yesterday when I was a trainee looking at the oldtimers and thinking, 'if thats what it takes to be a manager in this company, get out of my way!!' And now I look in the mirror and it's nothing but gray hair (where there is hair) and memories. Who's the old fart now." To which I can only add...AMEN 12/27/01

Bill McIlhenny came out of his orchid house long enough to report thedeath of Phyllis Kennedy in CA. Bill continues his interest in research. Having decided nothing of archeological import was ever discovered in the shade, he is now pursuing relentlessly, the perfect martini and the authentic Mexican Margarita. One should never waste those "golden Years". Way to go Bill!

Bert Lederer remains active in the NW. He handles the mid week prayer service at his church, continues to teach the AARP. 55 Alive Safe Driving Course and in 2002 will serve as president of the the local chapter of Self Help for the Hard of Hearing. Wife Clay expects to retire in June and they are going to become "full-times" on the RV trail for a while. I hope Bert and McCauley are never on the same side of the Mississippi. I'll know one thing: if the RV pulls into my drive way it will be because he wants to see me..or he's lost. 1/6/02

I had a nice phone conversation with old friend Gene Gossett the other night. I was just sitting out back burning a steak and decided to call. With the number of cell phones and the inexpensiveness of the service we should do more ofit. I going to! Gene and Sue are living at Brice Mt. VA. I don't think he's doing much skiing tho'. Gene probably taught 80% of the current crop of principal classifiers in the government. Do they still classify jobs or was that thrown out too.

Cindy Purcell Taylor has an idea. She thinks those of you old folks who are still working and would like to share the work or perhaps employ (if you are in a hiring position) some of the old, new, or thinking about retiring brother and sister sandcrabs should use this site to make contact. If there are those who have anything to offer let me know I'll do whatever I can. It could work. Dottie has contacted me in the past when she knew of short work projects needing help. Bob Funderburk and Judy Garrard Jones are working as contractors now in Corpus and Pensacola respectively. 4/24/02

Today I got an email from Hal Boyles. Hal retired from Navy Headquarters command in 1980. He ran across the web site by accident, but was pleased with what he saw....except maybe the comment under his picture about "putting people to sleep". He sent a more modern picture that I have placed beside the old one. I was kidding about the putting people to sleep (I think), but I haven't changed it. Following retirement Hal worked for a consulting firm in Crystal City for 5 years then they moved to Myrtle Beach for 12 years, spending 5 months a year in Naples, FL. In July, 1997 they moved to a Life Care Retirement Facility in Pensacola. He says it is truly "God's waiting room" but they have enjoyed ever minute. It is a community of almost 500 residents. It has an Assisted Living Center of 40 units and a 100 unit Health Care Facility. Most residents are in their 70s and 80s, but it is in a great setting that I am familiar with next door to the University of West Florida. Hal is currently President of the Resident Council. He would like to hear form old friends. His address plus email has been added to the directory. Hal also told of the passing of Bob Workman seven or eight years ago of cancer. He was living in Myrtle Beach at the time. Bob was once in charge of the PPP. 5/02

Paul Polinger signed in the guest book and followed with a nice email. Paul has finally tied the knot after 49 years as a bachelor. As a reward he gets to work a few more years. Paul has had an interesting career with tours in DC, New Orleans, Naples, Rota and now back in DC. He's now working in NAVSEA with Mike McNerney in Labor Relations. He has 31 years service and I think that qualifies for inclusion NCPA and the directory. His address/phone/email is there.

Dotty Meletzke and Jerry Walsh recently had dinner with Bill Wagoner and Jim Mulvany. There's a picture of Dotty, Jim, and Bill on the newpixofoldfolks page. Looks like Jerry always gets the camera duty. Jerry and Dotty are off to Denmark for a wedding of Jerry's son and to visit grandchildren. Bill you sure look good following your health problems that had us all worried that we were losing you. 5/02

Marian Moss checked in today. She had received an email from Reggie Felton letting her know Hal Boyles was trying to reach her and the email address in the directory was incorrect. This prompted Marian to let me know the correct info and while she was at it let us know what's going on with her. She left Navy in 1990 and went to DEA as the EEO Officer. She hung in this stressful place until 1999 when she retired. Since then she has traveled (including a trip to South Africa), planned and coordinated several health screening and education activities in the community, joined the church Usher Board, and is now recording secretary. She is about ready for some contract work, but meanwhile is engaged in the unusual occupation of house-sitting for cats! I know this calls for a comment-but I pass! 5/31/10

Old friend Jesse Noble Smith is laid up for a few weeks. He tried to jump the security fence to bust a Rolling Stones concert and tripped...that is caught his foot on the top rope. He busted up a leg pretty good and got much more attention than he wanted. If this isn't exactly what happened blame Hal Lynch. 5/02