Classmates
Wayne Vanderaar
Then
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Retired High School Teacher |
| Comment: I have always felt that the Girard education prepared me for enjoying teaching and the military and gave me specific skills in oral and written communication | |
| Names of Children: | Son, David, 37; Daughter, Katherine Colton, 34 |
| Military History: | USAF 1959-1963, US Army Reserve, 1974-1996 Retired Sergeant Major USAR |
| Cities lived in: | Pittsburgh, PA; Denver, CO; Glasgow, MT |
| Interest/Hobbies: Horseback riding (Hunter, Jumper, X-Country), Car collecting, Hi-Power Rifle Target shooting, Ammo reloading, Flying, Playing with grandchildren | |
| Accomplishments,/endeavors, misc info you wish to share with your classmates: Taught in Pittsburgh high schools for 30 years, retired in 1996. Served in military a total of 26 years. Retired from the military in 1996. Educated -- VMI, Cal University of PA, Univ of Pittsburgh. Married to same woman since 1966! | |
John Wilson
Then
Now
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Retired / Avocation: Coaching swimming continuing at this point |
|
Comment:
This is a time for me to remember and think fondly of those childhood friends who will not be with us during this fiftieth year celebration, Dominick, Jerry, and more recently Pete. Girard provided me with the ability to be an independent and self-sufficient individual and over the years this has been useful. For that I am grateful. I would like to wish all my classmates health, happiness, and prosperity for the years to come. |
|
| Names of Children: | Sons Brett and Drew both married with one child each. |
| Cities lived in: | Chronologically: Philadelphia, Doylestown, Pa. Riverdale, Md. College Park, Md. Bangor Maine, Brewer Maine, Doylestown, Pa.. |
| Interest/Hobbies: Lee and I are in our Go-Go years as our financial advisor likes to say. We enjoy traveling and being with our children and their families. Playing golf, working with my hands building and landscaping, fishing, working out, coaching swimming and traveling to new places around the world fills our free time. Last year we traveled to Africa for a genuinely mystical experience. | |
|
Accomplishments,/endeavors, misc info you wish to share with your classmates:
Following Girard then West Chester, I married Lee, who I met and worked with at the Somerton Springs swim club. I taught Biology while finishing my studies in chemistry at LaSalle during the next three years; then went on to the University of Maryland and got my PhD in Biochemistry/Food Chemistry. While on staff at the University and then at the University of Maine teaching and doing research, I completed work on the Infra Red Spectrophotometric analysis of foods for their nutritional value and the effects of chemicals in food on birth genetics and defects. Lee, I and the boys moved back Doylestown where I entered a partnership and for the next thirteen years ran an eighteen acre flower farm with nine acres under glass with thirty two employees selling over the tri-state area. Lee was running a dance studio; she and I were caring for our parents and raising our family. After selling my interest in the business I decided to pursue my long time avocation, coaching swimming. Going back to teaching in the public schools I took a job teaching biology and physics and most importantly coaching swimming. Since then, as the head coach, our team has produced eleven All American swimmers and divers and over thirty Scholastic All Americans. After retiring again from teaching I have continue to coach and enjoy young people. |
|
Mike Wooden (Moroz)
Then
Now
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 5 |
| Occupation: | Retired |
| Comment: In the course of my 3 visits to the Hum since graduation, I regretted the loss of a "physical attachment" to the hallowed halls. Very early on in my post Girard life I had to purchase a wall clock with the "Big Ben" chimes so I could forever carry that memory, (my kids were not impressed). More than physical attachments, the familial relationships enabled us to persevere during the many tough times at Girard. Post Girard family relationships were hard. My wife thinks I was "put away" but I think I was given a golden opportunity. | |
| Names of Children: | Michele, Kelly, Kevin, Joseph, Christian |
| Military History: | Jan 59 - Oct 64, Radarman, USNR; Oct 64 - Jun 74, Air Defense crewman PARNG full time; Jun 74 - Dec 99, Combat Engineer, PARNG full time |
| Cities lived in: | Garden Grove, CA; Orangeburg, NY; Clear, AK, Phila, PA |
| Interest/Hobbies: Reading, Model Making | |
| Accomplishments,/endeavors, misc info you wish to share with your classmates: Having spent 41 yr, 11 mo and 1 day (who's counting) in the military, I must say the self discipline and self motivation absorbed at the Hum stood me in good stead the remainder of my life. I was on active duty 23 years, 11 months and 1 day and retired 31 December, 1999. | |
Edward Woolweaver
Then
Now
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 3 |
| Occupation: | Retired (3 times) |
|
Comment:
Comments: It is mind boggling when you think of it: it has been 50 years since we walked Girard's campus. That's a half century. Could all that time have passed since then? Sadly, it has. I probably won't make our |
|
| Names of Children: | Katherine, Patricia, Edward III |
| Military History: | See below in Accomplishments |
| Cities lived in: | As shown below |
| Interest/Hobbies: Interests/Hobbies: I used to hunt and fish quite a bit, but due to disabilities have to watch these activities on TV. Did quite a bit of custom leathercraft in the past but not much now. Love to travel but again very little now. | |
|
Accomplishments,/endeavors, misc info you wish to share with your classmates:
Married 45 years to my wife Kelly. Military History & Cities lived in: Military History; Enlisted in the Navy in October 1958. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes; U.S. Naval Station, Charleston, S.C.; USS AUCILLA (AO-56), Norfolk, Va; Defense Intelligence School, Washington, D.C.; Naval Investigative Support Office, Cavite City, R.P.; Defense Intelligence Agency, Arlington, Va; Naval Forces Vietnam, Saigon, Vietnam; Commander¬-in-Chief Atlantic, Norfolk, Va; Intelligence Specialist School, Denver, Co; USS INDEPENDENCE (CV-62), Norfolk, Va; Defense Sensor Interpretation School, Omaha, Ne; USS FORRESTAL (CV-59), Mayport, Fl; Fleet Intelligence Center, Norfolk, Va. Retired in March 1981. Enlisted as a Seaman Recruit E-1. Progressed through the enlisted ranks to Master Chief E-9 (the top grade). Was then commissioned as a Chief Warrant Officer W-2. Was advanced to W-3 prior to retirement, having spent 22 1/2 years on active duty. I found that the regimentation we experienced at the Hum served me well in my military career. Accomplishments, etc: After retiring from the Navy I did a number of things before going to work for Ashland Oil. Worked there for 6 1/2 years (5 year tenure). Then, after a break, went to work for Sarasota County. Retired due to medical conditions after 12 years. Was diagnosed as a diabetic in 1998 and this eventually led to other problems (neuropathy, kidney failure, edema) making it impossible to continue working. The VA declared me 100 handicapped in 2004 due to my exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam which caused most of my medical problems. I collect three retirement checks as well as VA disability and Social Security and have no property taxes, so things definitely could be worse. In 1995 I joined the International Chief Petty Officers Association, an organization of active duty and retired Chief Petty Officers from free world countries worldwide. Two years later I was elected International President, a position I held for six consecutive terms until I was forced to resign for health reasons. |
|
Tom Yocom
Then
Now
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 4 |
| Occupation: | Lab technician |
|
Comment:
Wife; JoAnn, one son; Dan, one stepdaughter; Ann marie, two step sons; Mike and Don, four grand daughters; Kaitlyn, Gabrielle, Jenna and Hannah. Memories of Hum days; Many good, many not so good. The 50th should be a good time remembering some of the 'good' and laughing at some of the 'not so good'. |
|
| Names of Children: | See 'comments' |
| Military History: | None |
| Cities lived in: | Too many to list; all in Del. & Ches. Co's, PA |
|
Interest/Hobbies:
Spending time with and photographing grandchildren. Collecting Girard College memorabilia. Riding motorcycles. Attending car shows (street rods) and drag racing events. |
|
|
Accomplishments,/endeavors, misc info you wish to share with your classmates:
work history; Sun Oil Co.; Merchant Marine 1958-1959, Scott Paper Co. 1961-1986, ARCO Chemical Co. 1988-1997, Ernest D. Menold Inc. 1998 - 2008. |
|
Joseph Zanghi
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Children: | 3 |
| Occupation: | Retired |
|
Comment:
Memories of growing up and being educated in Girard College. http://www.stephengirardsgirardcollege.com You must watch this new website! You will be able to relate to it if you are a "Hummer". |
|
| Names of Children: | Donna, Joe, Mike |
| Military History: | None |
| Cities lived in: | Philadelphia, Pa, & Cherry Hill, NJ |
| Accomplishments,/endeavors, misc info you wish to share with your classmates: http://www.cherryblossomsincherry hillnj.yolasite.com | |