We are interested in hearing noise from all members. Please send news of your personal and professional activities to: Peggy Tordoff, Publications Chair, at: jtordoff@suddenlink.net or 608 Holiday Circle, Pineville, LA 71360. We look forward to hearing from you!
Faye Shaw, FL 71, remains involved in education during her retirement. During the fall and winter, she has been doing after-school tutoring twice a week.
Her husband Larry continues to have good medical reports, which is a blessing after his experience with cancer. Faye and Larry will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on April 15. They are looking forward to seeing everyone in Colorado.
Ruth Campopiano, NJ 75, stays busy with many activities in her community. She does volunteer work at the hospital and also at Hospice House. Ruth says her involvement with hospice has been a blessing in her life. She serves as a receptionist for evening bereavement groups as well. Ruth recently reported to hospice volunteers, sharing information she received at a conference she attended.
In addition to this outreach effort, Ruth serves on the VA board of Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, which has just completed its second annual readathon for grades 2-5 at the local elementary schools in her county. Barnes & Noble presented gift certificates to the winners of the readathon. It was an exciting day for the youthful readers and their families!
She also serves on the Church Relations Committee for Habitat for Humanity as well as the county's Education Foundation. Her life continues to be full and fun!
A traveler at heart, Ruth is hoping to make a trip to Sedona in the near future and will definitely attend the conference in Estes Park this summer. While she says there are so many interesting places to visit in this country, she is also interested in traveling abroad--but, as she notes, there is surely a lot to do and see in our beautiful country!
Gilbert Yee, CA 78, and his wife Michi are leading a pretty quiet kind of life, in their words. They have settled down to a routine in daily activities. Gil is still experiencing problems with balance and is using a walker. In spite of several falls, he hasn't sustained any serious injuries or broken bones; for this, they are grateful.
Their two sons live fairly close to their parents and see them frequently. The VA provides an aide twice a week to help Gil with activities. Michi takes him to a monthly elementary school retiree luncheon.
Their traveling has been restricted to daily road trips, travel in town and neighboring cities. They are no longer able to travel out of state, but their daughter who lives in Texas spends time with them during an annual extended visit. Their son Garrett is running for the democratic nomination for an assembly seat in California.
Gil and Michi are busy attending coffees, rallies, and other political events, getting petitions signed, and helping with other duties. Michi says she often thinks of the times she has been able to enjoy the friendship of other TOYs through Gilbert, for she has come to know several members and would enjoy hearing from them. She reads communications to Gil, whose eyesight has deteriorated. They both appreciate contacts from old NSTOY friends.
Rita Croteau, MA 79, wishes she could attend the upcoming conference in Colorado, especially to see all of her wonderful teacher friends. Regrettably, traveling any great distance is no longer possible for her. Rita says she is fine at home, and her children make it possible for her to be very independent. She considers herself very fortunate to still be in her own home and doing her "own thing—glamorous things like shopping, cleaning, cooking, and a little gardening."
Rita's family makes sure that she gets to church, concerts, family parties, and the library, since she no longer drives a car. She asks, "Well, what's an old lady ninety-one doing behind the wheel anyway?" How we miss her and her late husband Ed at our NSTOY conferences!
Inga Smith, OH 83, now has her own website: www.photosbyinga.com
Edna Rogers, TN 89, and her husband Roy have just returned from a Caribbean cruise that stopped at Labadee, Haiti. One of the most thrilling events that happened on the trip was seeing the thousands of crates filled with food and much needed supplies being loaded into trucks to be delivered to the earthquake victims in the capitol city. Edna said that it was a very emotional experience watching the Royal Caribbean Cruise staff spending the entire day loading these boxes.
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