WALT WHITMAN HS Bethesda Class of 1964

Linda Burdette (Tukenmez)

Occupation:Retired Marital Status:Married No. of Children:1 I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Linda:After graduating from Whitman, I attended the University of Maryland in College Park, and earned a BA in History and MA in Criminology. Prior to my senior year at Maryland, I married John Grassie (who was a TV producer during much of our marriage), and we lived in Silver Spring, Maryland. John and I had a daughter, Barbara Anne, and she has four children (three boys and a girl), and lives in Frederick, Maryland.

I worked at the Food and Drug Administration in Rockville, Maryland for 31 years, mostly in the public affairs/communications/writing areas.

John and I divorced after 37 years of marriage, and I married my current husband, Ercan Tukenmez,in 2007. Ercan is a native of Turkey who came to the U.S. in the early 60's on a Fulbright scholarship. He was a retired economist with the Department of Energy when we met, and he loved to travel.

After we married, I retired so we could travel more, and we also were interested in moving to a warmer place. We purchased our home near Tucson, Arizona (for sure a warmer place) in 2009, and we moved here full-time in 2011.

Very sorry I cannot make it to the reunion, but I hope everyone has a great time. Nice reading your stories here. Thanks to those who are working to make the reunion happen.

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Susan Burkhalter

Now

Occupation:church organist Website:www.susanburkhalter.com Marital Status:Married No. of Children:2 I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Susan:Retired piano teacher after 30 years. Organist/Music Director. Made professionally-recorded CD in 2011,"Susan Burkhalter, Organist/Pianist" available as CD and digital download on www.cdbaby.com & Amazon, or directly from me by emailing scastlekep@aol.com. My website is www.susanburkhalter.com. Married to Curtis Shively, with 2 adult children.
Last Login: 10/27/2014 3:58:58 PM

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Jeff Carow

Then

Now

Occupation:Retired - NIH Marital Status:Married No. of Children:3 I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Jeff:Hi clsassmates - yes 50 years is a long time....seems more like maybe 20?? Not sure if I'll be able to attend reunion activities. If not, as with all of you (I hope), I have many fond memories of that time and place. Hope all's well with each of you.

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Danny Clark

Now

Occupation:Retired Marital Status:Married No. of Children:1 I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Danny :Still bulding Hot Rods

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Barbara Colburn (Spierer)

Now

Occupation:Social Worker (Retired) Marital Status:Divorced No. of Children:2 I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Barbara:

After 32 years, I retired last December from my position as Associate Executive Director of Jewish Social Services in Madison, Wisconsin, a career that nurtured my soul. I came to the University of Wisconsin in the fall of 1964 and earned a bachelor's and master's degree in Social Work. Despite the challenging winters, Madison consistently ranks very high-- even #1-- on lists of best places to live in the U.S. So, I've stayed. I am very fortunate that one child and grandchild live in Madison and another child and grandchild live in Milwaukee. I haven't been retired long enough to figure out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. Right now, it just feels good to leave the career stresses behind and enjoy life with many good friends and family. I look forward to seeing everyone at the reunion. Thanks to all the planners.

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Diane Cole (Meeks)

Then

Now

Occupation:Retired Marital Status:Married No. of Children:2 I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Diane :Tom & I stayed in the Garrett Park/Kensington area our entire married life of 48 years.
We have 2 beautiful daughters, & 2 wonderful granddaughters. I just retired in 2013, from Federal Government service after 34 years as a Contracting Officer at NIH. Tom teaches 3D design and printing to disadvantaged youths for YouthQuest Foundation, a non-profit organization. We have managed to keep in touch with quite a few folks from Cabin John & Glen Echo through the years, due to our contacts at the Glen Echo Baptist Church where my dad pastored for 50 years.

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Laurence Cole

Now

Occupation:Software Engineer (retired) Marital Status:Married No. of Children:2 I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Laurence:We still live in North Bethesda, our daughters went to WJ and live in the area with our two grandchildren. Great career as a software engineer, working for General Electric, Compaq and Hewlett-Packard. Retired in 2012 and resumed hobby of woodworking, mostly building furniture for my kids ...

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David Cook

Now

Occupation:Lawyer (part time) Marital Status:Married No. of Children:1 I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From David:After college, law school and a judicial clerkship, I spent 3+ years on active duty in Navy JAG (1972-75), during which I was detailed to the President's Council on Environmental Quality and worked on U.S. delegations to ocean treaty negotiations. The assignment involved substantial time abroad -- months in London, Geneva and Caracas, as well as shorter periods elsewhere (including Moscow). I was very fortunate compared to many guys back then -- the work and venues were interesting, and no one was shooting at me.

In 1976, I joined a law firm in D.C., and am still there. My practice has focused on international container shipping (containerships, ports, logistics, etc.), which I find interesting given the size and scope of the physical systems, significance to the world economy, and variety of legal issues involved. I recently transitioned to very part-time status at my firm.

Looking back on my Whitman experience, by early senior year my paramount goal was to develop a relationship with Gill Jones '65. I got off to a shaky start, due in part to my residual nerdiness (I took her to a 4-hour movie on our first date and turned on the news when we got to Topps). But I persevered; love eventually prevailed; and we married in 1968. Our son and daughter-in-law live 15 minutes away in D.C.

As for other Whitman memories, I have only hazy recollections of my teachers, except for a few I considered really good (and one the opposite). My recollections of many schoolmates (both '64 and '65) are much sharper. I have remained friends with a fair number. And with respect to those I haven't seen since graduation, scrolling through this website has triggered lots of memories, as well as smiles.

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Julia Costello

Then

Now

Occupation:archaeologist Website:foothill-resources.com Marital Status:Divorced I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Julia:I have been living in California since 1974, travelling regularly back East to visit family -- Mom still doing well at 93 in a retirement home near Frederick. From Whitman I went to St. Lawrence University, then hitchhiked around Europe, ski-bummed in Colorado, then received an MA in archaeology at U of Denver. Two exciting years in Lebanon ended with their civil war and I migrated to California. Finishing my doctorate at UC Santa Barbara, I founded an environmental consulting firm with an historian and made my home in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. I have been active in state and national archaeology groups, publish regularly, and continue working on occasional excavations in the Middle East. Now divorced, I am residing with a border collie, a cat, and 9 chickens and enjoy hiking, reading, and tennis.

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Jim Coulter

Now

Occupation:Real Estate Broker Website:coulterhomes.net Marital Status:Married No. of Children:4 I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Jim:After 2 years 8 months and 29 days in the Army, I returned to the University o Maryland and earned a BS in Business Administration and a MBA in Finance from GW. My career began in DC at PEPCO developing business systems and managing various financial departments. From there, on to Banc One in Columbus, Ohio, to Pennsylvania as a Vice President and General Manager of Hidden Valley Resort, then to the Annapolis area where I formed Coulter & Coulter Realtors with my wife, love and business partner Sylvia. I've been blessed with four great children: Nancy, Jimmy, Charlie, and Emily as well as one grandson Jackson.
Sylvia and I live on the water on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with one daughter, our grandson and two dogs where we enjoy the land of pleasant living.
The years at Whitman are very special to me. I learned so much about life during that time. The freinds and memories I made at Whitman changed me forever...in a good way.

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Carol Cowgill

Now

Occupation:Retired attorney Marital Status:Single I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Carol :Huge thanks to all who are making this half century later gathering happen. Like many of you, I am happily retired. I keep very busy with most extended family members (including both parents) living nearby in the DC area. A few months ago, after a nine-year stint as HOA president, I opted to go off the Board to have time to travel with a new beau from Singapore. Our 2015 winter holiday featured lots of skiing in Austria, Switzerland, and Colorado. A few days after the WWHS reunion, we'll meet in Europe to check out the vineyards and sights in France and Italy. Cheers!
Follow-on WWHS graduates in my family: Ken Cowgill, 1968; Katharine Cowgill Minker, 1977 (her husband, Michael Minker, 1971) and Scott Sampley, 1989 (son of the late Martha Cowgill, 1965, and nephew of the late Mary Cowgill Balduc, 1965).

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Ronald Cox SR.

Then

Now

Occupation:Retired Website:coxretired94@aol.com Marital Status:Single No. of Children:2 I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Ronald:After graduation I started with C & P Telephone Co. in various capacities until enlistment in the U.S. Navy, trained in shipboard damage control. I was afforded numeous cruises on a Navy ship, gray in color to the beautiful WESTPAC, NOT. After Uncle Sam I returned to the phone company for a short tour and went into a twenty six year law enforcement career with Montgomery Co. Police Dept.,serving in patrol, traffic, communications and investigations Retired full time at this point in Frederick, Maryland enjoying the good times. Have two grown children and four grandkids. Still keep in touch and get together with several WW classmates. Yes we do dream/chat about the past,"What If" and laugh. As it has been said, "it is what it is"!!

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Carolee Cragoe (Harlin)

Occupation:Director of Business Development Marital Status:Divorced No. of Children:2 I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Carolee:I graduated from Stephens College with a BFA in Fashion Design in 1968 & married in Dec'68. We moved to CA & on to WI and 8 years later returned to DC single. I remarried in 1984 & moved to Fredericksburg, VA to raise my 2 wonderful children- Carol(28) & Daniel(25). After 22 years of marriage, I am single again, continue to work with Penton Media & love to travel.

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Brad Creer

Marital Status:Married No. of Children:2 I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Brad:I am living in Bethesda with my wife Laura. We have two daugthers both having graduated from Whitman and working in the DC area. I am an Air Force veteran, retired after 20 years with IBM (Marketing - National Accounts Division). I also managed a Global Contracting Group for Concert Communications, a BT and MCI international telcom company, and enjoyed lots of wonderful global travel experiences. Going back to my main loves - art and design - I started a design firm in retirement.

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Susan Day (Drescher)

Occupation:Retired Marital Status:Single No. of Children:2 I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Susan:I have remained in the Rockville area where I raised my two daughters, Kirsten and
Ashley.

I am retired after working in the Human Resource field for 27 years. Currently I
work a perfect part time job! I enjoy retirement and stay active with many
interests, golfing being on the top of the list.

My two grandsons, Kai, 8 and Beau, 4, keep me young at heart and on the go.

I hope to attend the reunion and catching up with so many of you!!

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David Peter NEPHI De Long

Then

Now

Occupation:semi-retired college professor/author/copy editor Marital Status:Divorced I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From David Peter NEPHI: After a freshman year at Georgetown University, I went on a 2 1/2-year LDS mission to Southern Belgium and Northern France. Then I finished a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology at Brigham Young University with minors in Journalism, French, and Public Relations, during which time I married and then divorced. I began a Master's program in Special Education and Counseling at the University of Utah. I also took some Master's courses in Teaching ESL/EFL and obtained an international certificate therein. Thereafter, I moved to Duesseldorf, Germany to stay with my German grandmother for a while and improve my German. From there, I moved to Morocco where I taught English as a Foreign Language for the U. S. Consulate's American Language Center for 8 years and learned Spanish and Arabid while there.
Since returning to the U. S., I have taught English and English as a Second Language (also world religions, ethics, and logic) at the university level.
Since the death of my parents and my only sibling, I have moved to Independence, Missouri (site of the Garden of Eden) and am writing a book about Islam and the Qur'an, comparing its teachings and doctrines to those of prophets and apostles of the Bible Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price and modern-day prophets and apostles. I hope to have this book finished before the end of this year (2015).

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Maria Elena Del Canto (Rooney)

Now

Occupation:retired investment banker Marital Status:Married No. of Children:1 I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Maria Elena:After 30+ years as an investment banker living in Manhattan, in 2002 I retired and moved full time to my weekend retreat in the bucolic northwest corner of Connecticut to become a country mouse. I spend my time gardening and doing volunteer work, mostly related to preserving open space and historic gardens. Since I no longer ski, I have started spending my winters in Fort Lauderdale, FL. (Still think OC has better waves and seafood!).

What a tonic to read everyone's profiles--I feel 16 again! Looking forward to seeing my classmates.

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Dan Deming

Then

Now

Occupation:Artist-actor Website:Dandemingsworld.com Marital Status:Committed Relationship I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Dan:I have traveled the world, and if that wasn't enough I started driving. Cabs, delivery service, tested cars for GM, tested trucks in Portland and went over the road for 13 years. All the while pushing my Art forward. I've settled down with the love of my life in the mountains getting old and fat.
I have filled up 4 or 5 studios with paintings, and I've painted myself out of my current one in the mountains. Looking for a new one. I still have tons of work lined up can't stop now.
I do acting gigs on the side and for fun. I love making Art with others outside the studio and in theirs. My big gig was on an Eminem video " Space bound " . Over 134,ooo,ooo hits and I'm in the center frame.

I still don't know if I will be able to make it . Wish me luck!

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Charles Denney III

Occupation:Retired Marital Status:Married I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Charles :Following high school, graduated from Univ. of Maryland with BA in Business Administration. Spent my career with the Federal Government as a civilian with the Department of Army's Army Research Laboratory, retiring early at age 50 as Director of Administrative Support Operations. I enjoyed my career with the Army and found it rewarding to support my country in this way.

Following early retirement worked as Real Estate Agent for 3 years, followed by 4 years as manager of a golf driving range and teaching facility. Then, retired for real to Sunset Beach, NC and 8 years of working on my golf game. Married to my wonderful second wife Pat and now residing in Pennsylvania where we are helping to raise our 10 year old grandson following the loss of his mother.

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Ellen Diamond (Meeropol)

Now

Occupation:novelist Website:www.ellenmeeropol.com Marital Status:Married No. of Children:2 I give my permisson to print this information in the Reunion Book:yes

From Ellen:I left my career as a pediatric nurse practitioner in 2005 to write fiction, something I'd wanted to do since Norm Schneider's AP English class. My second novel (ON HURRICANE ISLAND) was published in March. I'm so sorry I won't be able to make the reunion, since I'm doing a reading and writers' conference in Boston that weekend, but I'd love to hear from old friends.

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