Joan Vallee Rettke (LA 85) and her husband Bob are now the proud grandparents of five grandsons. During the past year, they have vacationed with some of the boys, enjoying Legoland in California and floating in a Skysurfer Hot Air Balloon over the Pacific Ocean. While attending a balloon festival in Baton Rouge, LA, they ran into Betty Lane Schoettle (LA 83) and her husband Milton, who are enjoying their new home in Denham Springs, LA. Betty and Milton relocated after losing their home in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
Both Joan and Bob are heavily involved in general education, assessment, and Writing to Excellence projects. Joan is mentoring three international students who are doing a research project in green chemistry. She coordinated the volunteers at her university for two CHEM EXPO events , which involved 2700 sixth grade students participating in hands-on activities during each event. There were 500 presenters from industry and from McNeese State University. The CHEM EXPO events have received three national ACS awards in the past.
After recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Rita a few years ago, Joan was thankful to have escaped from both Hurricanes Gustav and Ike without incident. This was a blessing, for most of the homes in her subdivision flooded during Ike. They are hoping for a less active hurricane season this year. Joan is looking forward to seeing many of her TOY friends in Maine this summer.
Cindy Lancaster (WA 91) wants her friends to know that she is "glad we've been wearing these pink shirts all these years." Cindy has been dealing with breast cancer tests and related and unrelated issues since October. After two surgical procedures, she is awaiting test results. Meanwhile, she is feeling feisty and wants everyone to know that she has sent in her registration for the Maine conference. She and Jim plan to see their NSTOY friends there for lobster (on the beach?)
Jerry Pierce (IA 95) sadly informed us of the death of his mother in November. At age 88, she had lived a long and happy life, managing a restaurant in a small town while raising three sons. She lived to see women empowered through voting rights, the civil rights movement, the advent of television, travel by jet, men on the moon, computers, and the first black man elected to the Presidency of the United States. She loved helping people, and Jerry said her influence was very powerful in his own life, as she left to her sons a legacy of doing for others. Possibly through her example, Jerry and his wife, now deceased, took in two young orphaned boys, Cambodian refugees, and raised them along with their own two daughters. Jerry said his mother was blessed beyond one's imagination. As her son, he was probably one of her greatest blessings. Our thoughts, prayers, and sympathy are with Jerry in his loss.
Sandra Bojtos Hart (GU 96) retired in 2008. She has been overseas since 2000 with her husband who is in the Air Force. Their last tour in London,UK will end in 2014, and Sandra realized that she would not get an opportunity to return to
teaching in a regular classroom. Having officially retired, she came back to the states and donated all of her many, many boxes of books and teaching supplies to a Catholic school. Like so many retired teachers, she said it made no sense to her to
have these wonderful things stored up for years. Sandra does not intend to give up her passion for education. She still performs her space show for kids overseas. For more information, check out her website at: www.sandrahartonline.com
Roberta Abaday (GU 98) has been named as Chairperson of the Guam Commission on Educator Certification. This new state certification office is now independent from the Guam public school system. Roberta has also been teaching courses part-time at the University of Guam. She continues to make Japanese dolls, called kimekomi, in her spare time.
