MacKay Clan Grand Council
MacKay Clan Courier
EDITION # 74 JUNE 2013
45th Annual Clan Reunion
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MacKay Clan Grand Council
Kenneth MacKay, Chieftain
Bob Sutton
Gary Martineck
Marvin Dunn
John MacKay
Roy McCready
Donald Martineck
Roger MacKay
Edward MacKay
Jim Sarra
Advisory Board
Ginny Clark
Marilyn Cash
Milford Dunn
Jerry MacKay
Mark McCready
Greg Sutton
Robert MacKay
Tom MacKay
Historian: Dawn Sutton
The MacKay Clan Courier has been published since 1968 and will continue only with your support. It is each family’s responsibility to submit articles. Without these articles, there would be no Clan Courier. Please do your part to keep this tradition alive!
Chieftain’s Message
Dear MacKay Clan-
I am writing this message from Killarney, Ireland. This summer I am again escorting twelve students in architecture from the University at Buffalo on a Study Abroad Program in Ireland. The class is made up of five graduate students and seven students who will be seniors in the fall. They have been an exceptionally easy group with which to travel. They are also a very resourceful group. Several of them negotiated cheap bike rentals and spent last Wednesday riding through the Gap of Dunloe.
I ran a Summer Abroad Program in Dublin in 2005 and a program to this where we traveled around Ireland in 2011. We started with four days in Dublin and so far have been to Cork, Killarney and yesterday arrived in Limerick. After Limerick, we are on to Galway, a few days at a hunting lodge in Donegal designed by the English architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. Believe it or not I was able to rent the entire hunting lodge for two nights for no more than the cost of a hostel. There is an upside to the current Irish economy; the cost of everything is significantly lower than the last two trips. So if you have ever thought of making a trip to Ireland, now is the time to finally do it. After our stay in Donegal we will then travel to Northern Ireland to visit Derry and Belfast before returning to Dublin.
There are two students on this trip who also play golf. Given their limited budget, I’ve had to a bit more creative this year at finding courses for us to pay on our days off. Two years ago it was Portmarnack, Royal Dublin and Old Head. This year it’s more like Sutton, a tight course where you are often teeing off diagonally across an adjacent fairway. On the other hand, Sutton is only a mile or so down the coast from Portmarnack, and on a few of the holes if you squinted hard enough it felt like one of the classic courses. Having to be resourceful often leads to unexpected surprises. Last Sunday we played at The Cork Golf. It was designed in 1927 by Dr Alistair McKenzie, the golf course designer which worked with Bobby Jones on Augusta National in the US. It was a course that I will go out of my way to play again the next time I am in Cork. Hopefully, it will prepare me for playing at the MacKay Clan Reunion in Shawnie in early August .
I’ll be back in Buffalo in early July and I look forward to seeing everyone at this year’s reunion.
Ken MacKay
New Members to the Clan
Roy Colonna, by marriage to Liz MacKay, on August 30, 2012.
Kip Kelly, by marriage to Kelly Watts, on July 6, 2012.
Kevin Kline, by marriage to Brittany Ballacchino, September, 2012
Gavin James Dusher, born April 30, 2013 to Christine and Jeremy Dusher.
CONGRATULATIONS AND
WELCOME TO THE CLAN MACKAY!!
45th ANNUAL CLAN MACKAY REUNION
This year’s reunion will be held again at the Knight’s of Columbus, 1841 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island, NY 14072 on Saturday, August 4th. Please see the MacKay Reunion link for the details. We will once again celebrate our family by being together, meeting new members, and enjoying each other’s company.
Please note that due to the closing of Evergreen golf course, the MacKay Golf Tournament will be held for the 2nd year at Shawnee Golf Course, 6020 Townline Rd, Wheatfield, NY 14132. We will have to make tee times for our group, so it will be necessary for those wanting to play to let us know – via email or phone – no later than 7/20/12, so the correct # of tee times can be made.
We are also asking for you to contact us – phone 716 691-4800 or email (smsarra@) - to let us know how many in your family will be attending the reunion to help us prepare for and have sufficient food and drink.
NOTE: For anyone planning on going to Canada while in town – you will need a passport or an enhanced drivers license to reenter the U.S.
Special notes regarding this year’s reunion:
From Dawn Sutton -
As historian for the Clan, a job I have no idea how I got, I'd like to have a picture of each of the 10 original MacKays at the reunion. We now have 3 or 4 generations in attendance, and many of these children (young and old) don't know why this event is so special. I'd like to provide a SHORT history lesson on who is a descendant of whom. I do not have pictures of everyone, so please help if you can. The pictures will be returned to their owner.
If you have any suggestions regarding this history lesson, please let me know.
dawn.sutton2@
From John MacKay -
Over forty-five years ago, Aunt Dorothy came up with a wonderful idea of formally establishing The MacKay Clan partly to honor Robert and Jane MacKay and also to provide an opportunity to unite family in the future. At that time, my father Gerald was the only one of their children who was deceased.
At the 25TH Reunion, there was a beautiful tribute to the brothers, sisters and their spouses who had died in the interval. We could have another such tribute at the 50th reunion in 2018. During this past year, with the loss of Uncle Don and Aunt Adele, we no longer have any family members of that generation.
This year I thought it might be suggested that anyone who wants to visit the gravesite of Jane and Robert at Elmlawn Cemetery in Buffalo meet on Sunday morning of the Reunion Weekend around 10am to pay respects. I would like to bring a dozen roses, one for each child and two for Robert and Jane. If you can’t make it that day, the cemetery is open 8am to 8pm every day. The grave is located to the left of the fountain off of Delaware Ave. It is about 12 gravesites forward from the fountain. Several family members also are buried near Jane and Robert.
If you have any suggestions or questions about this idea, please email or call me.
John MacKay 516 404 6064 or mackayjohnra@
Clan Finances/Reunion Setting
The Clan’s finances have remained steady this past year. However, we continue to be in need of, and will be collecting donations, contributions, or “dues” at this year’s Reunion. Contributions can also be mailed to Michael Martineck. These funds help pay for Clan expenses, mainly the mailing of the Courier, maintenance of the Clan web site, and expenses related to the Reunion. They have allowed us to keep the food and beverage charges at the Reunion affordable for all our families. With the cost of so many things rising quickly, all of the Clan expenses are rising as well. Please help!
Of utmost concern this year, The Knights of Columbus on Grand Island has made numerous changes to its pricing policies on renting of the facilities. While they are upholding the previous rental costs for the Clan this year (other than the need to pay for a state-required bartender), the costs in the future may be prohibitive. Therefore we are looking for alternative sites to consider for future reunions. If you know of any sites that provide both the indoor and outdoor space needed, and are of reasonable cost, please let us know.
Clan MacKay on Facebook
The MacKay Clan continues to be on Facebook! We have 55 members. Join our group to share and receive information about our family all year long. All members of the group can share Clan photos, post exciting news, and receive reminders about upcoming events. As a reminder, posts to your own Facebook page are not carried over to the MacKay page, so you need to post them separately.
To join the group you must first be a member of Facebook, then search for our group under the name “Clan MacKay of Buffalo, NY” and click to join! If you are already a member, you can add your friends by clicking “Add Friends to Group” and typing in your friends’ names. Only members of our group can read or see items posted to the site.
MacKay Clan Web site
The web site continues to be maintained. Ideas for improving or expanding it are welcome, please contact Mike Sarra with your suggestions. The site includes Clan Courier issues – current and former, the Clan Directory, info about the Reunion, and results from all the events at last year’s Reunion.
The section on Clan History needs some enhancement, and any suggestions, ideas, expertise you have to offer are needed. The link for lost family members continues to grow; please give us updates on your families. There are a number of members whose email addresses are no longer valid – please remember to send us a notice when you change your email address! Every year we lose touch with some members who fail to give us their updated information.
The links for each branch of the family are there to be used in any way you’d like – family info, pictures, etc. Items you would like to have posted should be e-mailed to smsarra@
We can also have links connecting to other web sites of interest to Clan members – if anyone has a business site, etc. Let us know your ideas!
Roger MacKay Family News
Warm Greetings to the Clan from Roger and Phyllis MacKay:
Because we decided to spend the winter months in WNY, we treated ourselves to an awesome RV trip with friends to Tennessee in the fall. Breathtaking foliage was at its peak while we were there. Sights and sounds of Nashville were first on the agenda which included an evening at the Grand Ole Opry and many other music venues. We then moved on to Knoxville area for the Tennessee Fall Homecoming on sixty acres of the Appalachia Museum. Five stages of musical talent kept us entertained for several days.
Surprisingly, the cold winter months passed quickly for us and Spring arrived (?) bringing with it the arrival of a beautiful great grandbaby girl. How did we get so old???
Debbie, Marty and Michael are all doing well. Mike has completed his senior year of high school and is looking forward to studying Accounting and Business Management at SUNY Fredonia this Fall.
Hope to see you all at the reunion.
Bob Sutton Family News
We have been busy this past year. Last June we spent 4 wonderful weeks in Hawaii, visiting the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. We enjoyed every island. I wasn't too impressed with the Big Island, but Bob did go up in the helicopter to tour the active volcano. One of the highlights of our trip was when I found the house I lived in as a little girl when my dad was stationed on Oahu during the Korean War. That is a special memory for me. The road to Hana was hair-raising and LONG - 11 hours, but we survived!
For the rest of the summer, we bounced around the East Coast, visiting Buffalo twice, the Jersey shore (before Super Storm Sandy), Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.
We are both very involved in our country club is Sarasota. Bob was co-chairman of the Classic Men's Golf Tournament, which took up a lot of his time. He and Jim Sarra have participated in this event for 7 years, and they FINALLY made the play-offs! They didn't win, but they did very well.
Bob is now on the Board of Governors for PalmAire Country Club. He is chairman of one committee and sits on 2 other committees. It keeps him off the streets but not off the golf course, as he still manages to play golf 4 or 5 days a week.
As past president of the Nine Hole women's group, I serve on the nominating committee as well as the installation luncheon. I was also co-chair of the member/guest event. I'm learning to "just say no" when approached to do more.
The Russells spent a week in May with us. Zachary, 5, and Shane, 3, continue to be the joys of our life. (Their parents are pretty special also.) The boys love the water, be it a pool or the Gulf of Mexico. We visited Disneyland again for a couple of days.
We are going to Scotland for a week in August. The highlight of that trip will be attending the Military Tatoo in Edinburgh. We are not looking forward to rainy, cool weather; we are looking forward to spending a week with 2 other couples from college. All of us are celebrating our 45th wedding anniversaries, so we'll party wherever we can find a pub, which shouldn't be difficult in Scotland!
We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.
Gary Martineck Family News
We have just gotten back from a fantastic trip to the Adriatic coast. We started in Zagreb, Croatia looking for people related to Gary's Grandparents. With the help of a researcher there, we located and met with 2 families from the Grandfather's side and one from the Grandmother's side. They were very generous with their homemade sausages, wine and plum brandy. We also visited a couple of cemeteries where there were a number of Martinics (original spelling) and Markovics buried. The researcher traced the family tree back to 1790. If we only had a wall big enough to display it.
After 3 days on our own we took a train to Slovenia where we started our 2 week tour with the Rick Steves company. We went by bus from Slovenia to Croatia and a couple of its islands to Bosnia/Herzegovina and back to Croatia. Our tour guide (Saso) was fantastic and the group we were with couldn't have been more fun. We had 2 couples from Vancouver, BC, 2 from CA, 1 from SC and a single man from TX. It was exhausting but very educational. Truly a trip to remember.
On the way home we spent 2 days in NYC visiting Scott and Dani. They showed us some of their favorite haunts and their apartment. We also met with one of Gary's Niagara friends for lunch then we all visited the 911 memorial. It's really beautiful. We were sorry the museum isn't completed yet. Maybe next time. We also took the ferry to Staten Island for a drink. It was a perfect day for a boat ride. The ferry went past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island but neither is open to the public right now.
Now we are home and back to reality. We really need a vacation from the vacation. Looking forward to seeing everyone in August. Have a great summer.
Jim Sarra Family News
It’s been an interesting and fun year for the Sarra’s. The birth of our 1st grandson Gavin James has by far been the highlight. He is a delight and a true joy! I’m sure this is a big surprise to all you grandparents out there!
Last September Jim unexpectedly ended up in the hospital for gall bladder surgery. Normally (95% of the time) this is done through laparoscopy, but not so for Jim – he had major abdominal surgery requiring a full 8 week recovery period. This resulted in no golf for our fall visit to Florida, not sure how he survived it! All is well now, thank the Lord. Our winter months were relaxing and active, really getting into the Florida retirement lifestyle – golfing, beaching, reading, partying, etc, etc. We renovated the master bath in our condo, 1 project down, numerous more to go.
Back in Buffalo for the summer (besides spending time with Gavin) we have been cleaning out the attic and basement. Feels like I have relived my life going through all of the stuff. The garbage totes have been filled to the max every week! We are participating in an area garage sale next week, the rest to Goodwill.
Michael has also been busy. He purchased a home in Charlotte last September, just 2 doors down from his childhood friend (and partner in crime!). He has been busy doing painting, landscaping, repairing – all those fun homeowner chores. Has found time to squeeze in a trip home to meet his new nephew, as well as a couple of trips to NYC, Savannah, Myrtle Beach, and DC. Still loving his work-from-home job with Wells Fargo, and was rewarded with a promotion earlier this year. He and girlfriend Geo are planning to be here for the Reunion.
Dusher Family News
Greetings again from the Dushers! It has been a pretty boring year since last reunion, unless of course you count getting pregnant and having our handsome boy, Gavin James. He was born on April 30, 2013, a full eight days ahead of schedule. This also meant poor Christine only got to enjoy one official day of “alone time” maternity leave before it was go time. Gavin weighed in at 7lbs 13.6oz and measured 20.5 inches.
Needless to say, every waking moment since then (which is most of the time these days) has been devoted to making our little man happy. It’s easy to see who rules in our house. Jeremy was lucky enough to take off the entire month of May for some really great family bonding time. Christine plans to return to the JCC this summer in July. And in just his first month, Gavin has begun babbling out loud, lifting his head to look around, and scooting around during tummy time.
In some non-baby related highlights from the year, we were able to squeeze in a few trips as well. In September we took an amazing vacation to St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands to an all-inclusive resort. Unfortunately, Christine was already pregnant and was not able to enjoy all-inclusively like Jeremy did. However, it didn’t stop us both from enjoying an awesome parasailing excursion. In December, we went on a wine tour around the Niagara region of wineries, which Christine may not have enjoyed as much as Jeremy again. In January we took a trip to Las Vegas to celebrate 10 years of “couple-dom” and our third wedding anniversary. Although there was a lot less sinful behavior this go around, we did cap off the trip by seeing Kevin James perform at the Mirage.
And by the way, if you were wondering about the status of our landscaping this summer, well, all the flowers died while we were in the hospital after Gavin’s birth, before we were even able to get them planted. It is sort of poetic in a way. Or we really shouldn’t waste money on flowers anymore. Either way.
McCarthy Family News
Well it’s hard to believe it’s been another year. Time flies and we continue to try and see the world. Last summer we spent time above the Arctic Circle, seeing Spitsbergen (population 2600 people & 5000 polar bears), northern Iceland and cruising Prince Christian Sound with the icebergs in Greenland. We enjoyed seeing the family at the wedding of Brittany Ballacchino and Kevin Kline. It was a beautiful and joyous event. During the fall and winter we did some family cruising in the Caribbean. Tim and his gang celebrated Thanksgiving and Monica’s birthday with us on the Freedom of the Sea. Ginny Clark came down for a winter break and we sailed down to Roatan and Costa Maya on the Niew Amsterdam. We were planning to head to Holland to see the tulips this spring, but the tour company had overbooked and we were rescheduled ‘til next year. So at the last minute we booked a cruise sailing thru the Suez Canal to Dubai. Egypt was friendly, full of ancient ruins, but also full of trash because the infrastructure has fallen on sad times. Going thru the Gulf of Aden, we took aboard 4 burly security guards who patrolled the decks at night. Passengers were not allowed on the open decks or balconies from dusk ‘til dawn. No pirates were spotted and when we reached the Arabian Gulf, our guards were picked up again. Dubai was our final port and it was just great. The buildings are spectacular and the shopping malls are almost beyond description. Our hotel was across the street from the Dubai Mall. The window shopping was amazing with every luxury fashion brand represented plus an Olympic Ice Rink, a grocery store, a three story block long aquarium, the Dubai fountain (the tallest water show in the world) and the entrance to the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world). It took less than 2 minutes for Dan and I to reach the observation level on the 124th floor. The ride was smooth as silk. It made the 15 hour flight back home almost worth it. We are off to Alaska next week. We plan to visit the town of McCarthy (population 28). That should be a real change. Dan is due for knee surgery this summer so we won’t be at the picnic, but will be with you all in spirit.
Mary Jane McCarthy
Nau Family News
It has been a pretty busy year here for all the Nau Family. Lisa has been working as a Media Arts teacher at Mary Queen of Angels parochial school in Cheektowaga NY, a job she is enjoying. She also purchased the first automobile that was not 100000 miles worn in before she got it. Julia is within one semester of obtaining her business degree at Buffalo State, and has in her words continued “saving people’s lives” as a lifeguard and swim instructor at the Buffalo JCC. She has also been working at a JCC after school program with program director and fellow MacKay clanner Christine Dusher. At this writing she is off to work at Bonaroo, her second time there. (Bonaroo is a huge music festival, think Woodstock with organization). Marjie has just made a big job move, leaving M and T after 11 years and moving her tent to HSBC. She has taken a position as a Retail Deposit Compliance Director. She is also happily driving the new car that was necessitated by John totaling the old car immediately following the Ballicchino-Kline wedding ceremony. John’s guitar amplifier business has never been better, although his musical career has slowed a bit with the breakup of Left On Red. But on a positive note, his new project called The Scoundrels is now up and running, and he is very happy to be performing with the best group of players in Rochester. John and Marjie have been traveling a bit as well. Having had such a fantastic time on their Spring 2012 Erie Canal bike trip, they decided to take another long trip (this time on a supported bike tour) of southern Arizona in November. They basically were able to see all the highlights that Arizona has to offer (Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Sedona, hiking in Phoenix and Tucson), and biked a big egg shaped loop from Tucson to Nogales and back again, visiting Patagonia, Bisbie, the San Pedro river basin and many other wonderful (rattlesnake infested) places. One highlight was meeting up with Gary Martineck in Tubac, where Gary was golfing with friends. Finally in May 2013, Marjie, John, John’s mother Lorraine and sister Lori all went on an Alaska Cruise, and enjoyed the glaciers, biking in Juneau, kayaking in Sitka, and zip-lining in Ketchikan. They also enjoyed the sights in Seattle, and met up with one of John’s long lost cousins, Jerry Bunce. They are now trying to figure out how to bike around the globe.
Ken MacKay Family News
Dear Family,
I feel that our house is a living, breathing organism with all the coming and going…
As I write this Ken is finishing up his tour of Ireland; again teaching with 12 students. This time I met up with them on the western coast and experienced some fantastic areas. We booked a tour out to the World Heritage site, Skellig Michael, which is reached by a two hour boat ride on the North Atlantic while riding in a small fishing boat. Amazing experience but suffice it to say we were ill prepared – Ken has never seen me so green! We also ferried out to the Aran Islands. I am speechless when reflecting on the labor intensive wall building that has gone on for generations.
Parker is now officially a lawyer in both California and New York. After the Clan Reunion last year, Parker moved to Colorado to serve as a judicial law clerk to a federal judge in Denver. He also took and passed the Colorado bar exam while there, but just recently returned to Buffalo to start his own law practice. And, of course, his faithful companion, Quetzali, is back in the house. Jasper is happy!
Emily is preparing to move out again. She continues to work hard at the YMCA and was recently recognized as a new professional having achieved excellence in the areas of Program Development, Staff Development, Community Development and Volunteer Development. We really don’t see too much of her – she’s very, very busy!
Stuart has claimed the attic space as his own and is a studying machine for the upcoming MCAT exam for entrance to medical school. He is my fall back for all that needs to be done at home. I think every mom should have a son living at home.
We are looking forward to seeing everyone in August.
Good health and much love to all,
Kenneth S. MacKay Family
John MacKay Family News
John and Mary Ellen had a busy year learning how to negotiate the “snowbird shuffle”. We still pack too much, regret it as soon as we arrive, and vow to “change our tactics” on the next trip. Slowly, slowly, slowly we will learn. We both love the Florida vacation time we have -this year we took our first cruise to the Western Caribbean with Jerry and Beth’s family and visited Savannah in April with Josie. When we return to family and friends up north, we pack our roller skates since life is in the fast lane here in Buffalo, but we love that too. Looking forward to seeing all the family at the picnic and celebrating John’s 70th birthday the following week.
Our family is increasing with the birth of Alice Mary Ellen Colonna in Feb 2012 and a new granddaughter due in September to our daughter Liz and husband Roy. This will be three daughters for Liz (Doris is 12) and make five granddaughters for us! Liz and Roy live in NJ and neither suffered any problems at home or at work from Hurricane Sandy, thank God. On Long Island, Josie and Chris were spared any tragedy as well. Josie is traveling to Buffalo State in June to present a workshop on copyright protocol/law to the attendees of a state librarian conference. Chris is director of the digital learning program for the Bronx Zoo in addition to his responsibilities for educational summer programs for families and schools. His summer is a busy work one with little vacation time unfortunately, but he did attend an educational technology conference in Orlando last January so we had a great visit then. Liz, Audrey (now 2 and adorable), and Chris hope to get up for a weekend visit this summer for John’s birthday. All in all we are doing fine and send regards to all the MacKay Clan and hope everyone will have a safe, healthy and happy summer.
Christopher Martineck Family News
Food? What? We’re in charge of the food this year? Hmmm.
That’s been our household’s focus for the past year. A few other things that have happened…
Natalle passed her latest karate test and is now an orange belt. She may only weigh 45 lbs, but don’t mess with her. She also did a terrific job with two shows (school and special dance/acting/singing after school program.) She is a ham.
Waiting…with prayers and crossed-fingers…that Chase gets into the Pre-K program at Sidway. Natalle went through it and loved the school and teacher. Chase is already familiar with everything. Personally, I’m not worried. Chase could be the luckiest person I know. Just ask her.
Nicholas will be 2 on June 30th. I really hope I make it to his birthday, but he may kill me by then. If you want to laugh at my expense, please ask me for a Nicholas story at the Reunion. It will most likely involve him doing something he shouldn’t (after turning my back for a second) and me cleaning/fixing something. On the plus side, he already has a better golf swing than Uncle Gary.
Lisa is great - incredibly busy with the salon at the Avant. Always tweaking something, adding someone, looking for a new opportunity.
The only way for me to keep up with the kids (and Lisa) is if I train for something. I did the Chicago marathon again (last October), and have done two half marathons so far this year. By the way, “half’s” are way better. So I’m thinking about trying that out with everything. Half the number putts I take in golf, half the work I do around the house, half the crap the kids give me, have the beer I drink….wait…maybe not everything.
So back to thinking about the food for August. Luau anyone?
Chris, Lisa, Natalle (7), Chase (4), Nicholas (almost 2)
Watts Family News
Hell-O fellow Clansmen and women!
Our biggest news from the past year is Jim has retired. No more commuting to Rochester. Yeah!! He has been keeping himself busy with yard work and fixing things around the house. We try to get down to VA as often as we can to see the family! In May, Jim and I drove to VA and spent a few days at their home. Then we all flew to Disney World. First time on a plane for the boys! Stayed at a resort at Disney World for 10 days. Kory and Jesse flew down and stayed for 7 days. We had a great time. The boys say it is a "magical place" It was so much fun to watch them meeting all the characters. They love all the big rides and the water parks! In April, Jim and I celebrated our 39th anniversary. We stayed in Niagara Falls, Canada for the weekend. Just happened that Rick Springfield was playing for those 2 nights at the Fallsview Casino. :-) How nice of him to plan that!! We had a good time, walking around, seeing the sites and then the concerts. A couple weeks later Jim, Kory, Jesse and I went to Kalahari Water Park & Resort in Sandusky Ohio. That is one huge indoor waterpark. The outside park wasn't opened yet. They even have a small zoo. We had a great time acting like kids, going on all the waterslides. Jim even tried surfing. Our favorite place was the swim up bar/hottub. Spent lots of time there. In February Jim and I took a weekend trip to Ottawa Canada. It was Winterlude Festival. We had heard about the skating on the Rideau Canal. Now Jim and I haven't skated in over 20+ years. But we decided we had to try this. So we bought skates and drove up to Ottawa. Ran into a snowstorm and the road was closed but we finally got there. The parks were all decorated and so many beautiful ice sculptures everywhere. We did skate and had a great time. Went a couple times. The weather turned out wonderful for us. Found out there is so much to do in Ottawa. Can’t wait to go back. We have even skated since then. The triplets are taking skating lessons and we have gone skating with them. They are much better than we are!! :-) More confident than we are!
Looking forward to seeing everybody in August.
Lynn
Dave Lawrence Family News
We continue to work, workout and enjoy traveling. Most of our trips involve participating in races including our trips to Disney World where this year we experienced a first and a last. In October we ran our first Disney night race, the Tower of Terror 10 Miler which started at 10PM (which is past our normal bedtime). It was a lot of fun despite being 80 degrees and extremely humid. The post race party continued through the night until 4AM, I think we lasted until about 2:30AM.
In January the Disney World Marathon was celebrating its 20th anniversary so we decided to go all 26.2 miles. It was another warm day with temps hitting the 80's during the later miles. Having completed quite a few of these we decided this was to be our final full marathon.
We still continue to run half marathons, in April we traveled to Ocean City MD for the Island to Island Half Marathon. The race started on the Island of Ocean City crossed to the mainland for several miles and finished on Assateague Island which is the home to wild horses. The day before the race we went to Assateague and were able to see a number of the horses.
In July we will be going on a Disney Cruise to celebrate our 25th anniversary which was on April 16th. We’re looking forward to a fun Summer and seeing everyone at the reunion.
Dave & Eileen Lawrence
Kelly Watts News
2012 was an exciting year for us! The beginning was filled with anxiety as we moved and finalized our wedding preparations. Kip found a permanent clinical placement at the West Haven VAMC in Connecticut so we have made the transition from Appalachia to the NYC area. It’s been a bit of a culture shock - particularly the driving - but we've enjoyed the short commute into the city and have seen a few shows on Broadway! Kelly has taken on a longer commute to her job in Groton, where she is the northeast regional research coordinator for the DoD Hearing Center of Excellence. We married in Penn Yan, NY on a perfect (although, very hot) day in July. Our first anniversary is coming up and we plan to celebrate it and a belated honeymoon with two weeks in France. Kip and I are really looking forward to it! Details will be shared in next year's Courier!
~ Kelly
Russell Family News
Greetings from Pennsylvania! It has been a fun and busy year for us. Zach turned 5 this year and is heading to Kindergarten in the fall. We aren’t sure how that happened so quickly but we can’t complain about the decrease in daycare payments!! He’s very excited to start doing homework on his “desk” and I’m just hoping that Kindergarten homework these days isn’t too hard so that Mom and Dad can help him out. Zach has also enjoyed playing soccer , basketball, and golf this year, as well as, taking swim lessons. I’m still looking forward to the day that Pete and the boys go golfing while I enjoy the day at the spa!! Zach is a Sutton through and through…you could say he’s a mini-Greg so we are in trouble!
Shane turned 3 in March and definitely takes after Pete’s family. He’s stubborn and mischievous yet somehow gets away with it all with a flash of his super cute smile. He’s also into all sorts of sports, especially golf, and I have a feeling he’ll be beating his father and grandfather at the reunion within the next few years. He’s the only 3 year old that I know of who will sit in the family room, putter and golf ball in hand, with his golf visor on, staring at any golf tournament on the TV for hours.
Pete is still enjoying his role at Chase and I continue to love my role at Gore. I’ve been to our sites in Scotland and Germany a few times this year, which I have thoroughly enjoyed. In my opinion, the Scots are truly some of the nicest people in the world…very welcoming and always willing to join you for a beer….or ten.
We are excited that we will be at the reunion this year!! After the reunion, we will head to Rochester to spend a few days with Pete’s parents and attend the PGA tournament. See you in August!
Clark Family News
Another year and another winter visit with the McCarthys in Florida. It's always a great time.
This year they took me on another cruise. It was the western side of the Caribbean. The first port that we stopped at Mary Jane and I swam with the stingrays. We got to feed them. We also had lunch at Jimmy Buffet's restaurant. Of course we had cheese burgers and beer. I got to bring home the beer glasses to add to my collection.
Great time, great fun.
Bob MacKay Family News
Greetings to all from Pennsylvania!
It's been a very busy year for our family. I am currently still working at R.F. Fager Company but plan to retire in two years, six months, and sixteen days. Think I'm getting anxious or what? Barb retired from Capital Blue Cross over three years ago and enjoying every minute of it. We've had a few health issues but it's part of getting older! Barb had a knee replacement in April and is doing very well. I'm having back surgery in August so we hope to both be able to get around much better after we heal.
Our daughter Jennifer Pechar and family recently moved to Dubai for three years. It was a promotional move for Tom and so far they are really enjoying the change in culture as well as the beauty of the city.
Both Tyler (4) and Quinn (2) love swimming in their pool every day and they are minutes to the ocean. They have a beautiful home and we hope to visit in the next few months as soon as we recover. The boys will attend really great American schools in September which are also close to home. They bought a Land Rover so Tom and the kids can enjoy driving on the beach...gee, what a dull life!
Our son Jeff is part owner of an engineering firm in Dillsburg, Pa. They are doing extremely well and currently employs around 25 people. Problem is he works all the time! He coaches Alyssa's (9) fast pitch softball team and so far they are doing great! Alyssa loves to pitch but it makes Barb nervous (brings back memories when Jeff pitched high school baseball). Ian (7) played basketball and Jeff also coached his team.
They recently bought a large log cabin home on 11 acres. Karen just loves it so she can become somewhat of a farmer. They now have chickens, rabbits, 3 cats, a dog and a turtle. Sorry if I missed something. Ian wants a potbellied pig but so far Jeff has ruled no on that one.
I really hope we can make the reunion next year and reconnect with everyone. Have a great year and a wonderful reunion!
Bob
Daisher Family News
We are all doing great here in Idaho. We have moved just 2 doors down from where I grew up! Some of you may have heard my Grandma tell the story of coming to watch us when mom and dad went on a trip and having to deliver a lamb...well we don't have lambs, although we have pigmy goats and horses. Wish Grandma Sarra could come visit now, she would get a kick out the funny little goats.
Miles had a busy year last year, he did a commercial for Degree call Masters of Movement and was in the airplane stunt in Iron Man 3! He continues to travel with demonstration jumps for Red Bull and contests for BASE jumping.
Nikki, (me) is still doing OT part time at the school district and holds down the fort. Finally did my first marathon this spring and finished in 4:20!
Dorothy is now 8, completed 2nd grade, loves tumbling and dance. She got her back tuck and front tuck this year and is amazing to watch. She also began piano lessons. She is sweet and kind and a real delight.
Audrey is 6 and full of all spunk. She finished kindergarten, also loves tumbling and gymnastics and got her backhandspring this year. She keeps us on our toes and is great fun to watch grow!
Eli is now 4 and loved preschool this year. He is all about any ball sport and daddy! He is very sweet and adds such joy to our family!
I was fortunate to travel with my mom and dad to Chicago for a surprise party for my dad's brother's 70th. It was a really special trip. They continue to live down on the river and mom is finally retiring!!
As for the rest of the Geists, knowing they probably didn't get anything in...they are all doing great. Jeff's kids are in college; Wendy lives in Corvallis, Or; Karen's oldest is headed to college this year; and Pete lives in Salem, Or.
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