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Grace Janelle Sherfy (Straszheim)
 
Potomac
MD
attorney
Married
2
Here's my life update since WCHS. I graduated from Sweet Briar College in 1972 and thereafter from both Georgetown University Law School and its graduate school of law. I worked for 20+ years in Washington DC law firms; 6 years' ago I went in-house with a local trust company, Sandy Spring Bank, as counsel for the trust division. I live in Potomac. Both our homes (Burbank Drive and Foxhunt Lane) were purchased from parents of other WCHSers, class of 1968! As a result of staying so close to home, my parents were always nearby - until their deaths. I even had the opportunity to work in the same law firm as my father for a two year period -- both of us are tax lawyers, albeit with different specialties -- mine is death taxes. (Great combo, eh -- death and taxes!) I've been married since 1976; I started off with 3 stepkids, then aged 10, 8 and 3. My husband is on the faculty of the economics department at the University of MD at College Park; he's presently associate Provost. In addition to the first 3 children, we eventually added two more -- now 24 and 21 -- with a total spread of 22 years between eldest and youngest. Our children have been a huge focus of our lives, with virtually our entire marriage having atleast one child always in residence (even now)! I've got one adult child with MS; a grandchild with aplastic anemia; I also have become a counsellor for parents of children with retinablastoma, a vision disease of young children. I'd welcome any advice/experience others may have on these problems and am happy to share what I know. In my free time, I play golf and care for two horses (both Arabians). I compete the horses in 50 mile "endurance race " in MD, PA and Delaware. I use all of the old Potomac bridle trails to train on -- one of the wonderful beauties, still, of Potomac -- though few people make use of them (or even know that they exist). I look forward to this reunion immensely -- and hope to learn more about others' life experiences. Notwithstanding our parents' "finest generation," much has occured in our lifetimes that dramatically altered the expectations and opportunities that we all saw before us as we graduated from highschool -- for the most part, while we were still young enough to learn, adapt and thrive from the changes. I'm curious to know if others feel the same way. I consider the following among the top contentors -- the impact of Vietnam war and Watergate corruption on our government; women's educational & employment prospects improved dramatically; and belated advancements have been realized in black and hispanic minorities' educational and employment opportunties. Additionally, the sexual revolution occurred, in line with our own coming-of-age, ushered in with reliable birth control availability that, at least for our age cohort preceded the risks that later generations of youth have confronted with with STDs and AIDs. Warmly, GraceJanelle (Sherfy) Straszheim PS: Soon after leaving high school, I was able to abandon use of my first name in favor of my middle namerso you'll have to remember me, atleast for email purposes, as "Janelle." --  Send Grace Janelle a Message
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Debbie Stratton (Stratton Mott)
 
Springfield
VA
Publishing Consultant and Publisher
Married
2
Can it really be 40 years? Looking forward to reconnecting with all and remembering the fun we all had. After Churchill, I attended Bucknell U (PA) and then went on to U. of Maryland for Masters in Journalism. I've been in the Wash metro area since graduating and started a publishing consulting business 24 years ago, working with associations/membership organizations on the business of communications and publishing trade magazines. My husband Roger and I have two daughters. The eldest just started her first year of elementary school teaching. Our younger daughter is a sophomore in college. Roger is a lobbyist for Verizon, working with the the House and Senate, and we both enjoy the politics of Washington, lots of travel, summers at Bethany Beach, and family and friends. Send Debbie a Message
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Beverly Caywood (Sweeny)
 
Louisville
KY
Retired
Married
I'm a cocker spaniel now rapturously residing in Dog Heaven . . . Cloud 9, or if you prefer, K-9. Nice up here. No fleas. No scratch. And speaking of, guess who built an entire airplane from scratch? My former owners, Al and Beverly Sweeny. Not that anyone cares, yet, eons ago, and thanks to a merciful lowering of the school's academic standards, Bev Caywood miraculously graduated . . . in Potomac, Maryland . . . from Winston Churchill High. Named, I presume, after a cigarette. Humans are weird. More facts in this colorless resume: Bev taught several subjects (plus how to deal marked cards from the bottom) to American children in West Germany where she met Al. How? By lurking in a dark doorway and calling out, "Are ya lonesome, Sailor?" Even though he wore an Air Force uniform. Luckily, the pilot was Al Sweeny who became (next to me) her favorite guy, and hub. Ah, our drama unfolds. Beverly had a tumor removed from her spinal cord. She is now well. Al's well. All's well and all's swell. In their Cozy Mark IV they fly at 200 mph to Oshkosh and other Bahama islands. When not helming (or whatever) as Al's co-pilot, Bev reads the superbly written novels by Robert Newton Peck, who's hitched to Bev's loyal friend Sam. She visits at the Peck's far too frequently, Everyone mentions me, their dear departed Mr. Brown. Please, no pity. Today I'm lunching with two other celebrities--Lassie and Rin Tin Tin.
Send Beverly a Message
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John Tardy
 
laurel
md
Senior Programmer
Married
Married in 1973 ,started working for Dept of Commerce/NOAA in 1974 and still work there as a senior system programmer. In 2006 went back to school for Massage Therapy, computers are fun and do what you ask them to do but there was a calling to get in touch with people and so I did. Will have my Maryland certification by the end of March 2008 and can start practice in Maryland then.Cruising is how Nancy & I relax. Send John a Message
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TOD THEROS
 
HAYMARKET
VA
SEMI RETIRED
Married
4
BA University of Md., MA Geo. Wash. University. Married with four children, three stepchildren, and six grandkids. I was a Montgomery County policeman 1971-78. I owned a equipment rental and sales company from 1978 until I sold it to a British firm in 1996. My oldest son and I started a new business in 1996. I have been mainly retired since 1996 and have enjoyed traveling and working part time at the business.
Send TOD a Message
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Patricia (Tricia) Brush (Thompson)
 
Moorefield
WV
Married
2
Hi. This has been so much fun to read your bios! I can't wait to see all of you. It's interesting to see who still lives in MD. I graduated from MC and worked 5 yrs. for co. in Rockville. I married in '72 and have two grown sons; oldest is still single and works for Marriott in Bethesda. Our youngest son is married. We have a 6-yr old granddaughter and 3 yr. old grandson. Remarried in '92 to Charlie, who is retired. I worked for 24 yrs. for USP, 2 1/2 yrs. in dr's ofc. and am now "semi-retired." Working on Medical Transcriptionist certificate program from home. Hope to complete by year-end. Love to cook, decorate cakes, sew, do crossword puzzles, spend time on facebook and e-mailing friends. Home is now in WV. Getting settled, refinishing furniture. Send Patricia (Tricia) a Message
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Madelle Gott (Tolbert)
 
Frederick
MD
Special Ed Teacher
Married
3
Attended U of M BA English with Pol Sci. After school worked for non-profits. Had a horrific accident while driving in the snow to work at National Geographic and fractured my femur among other things. But thanks to modern medicine I was able to backpack my way through Europe only a year and a half later! I married the amazing Dan Tolbert in l980 and despite the fact that we are complete opposites in almost every way, we've managed to stay married for over 28 years! We raised three beautiful girls, Maddy Elise and Amy. Our youngest, Amy, just graduated from AU with a double major in Political Science and Theatre. I've been lucky enough to be able to spend most of my summers at the beach n Lewes Del with my parents and I still miss my Dad terribly since he passed away 2 yrs ago. Since Dan owns Regional Landscape Services, I was very fortunate because I could leave work, help with the business and stay home with the kids until they were in middle school. At that time I went back and got my MS in Spec. ed - Early Childhood from Hood College and have been teaching in a very diverse Title I school ever since. I mostly work with autistic children, so it can be very physical and draining! But I love each and every one. We've been living in Frederick, MD for 24 yrs and love it although it's now getting almost as crowded as Mont. County! If you're ever in the area come and visit us. We have a pretty blue Victorian on 4.5 acres that contain the huge MD State Champion English Walnut and our little black scottie dog, Thistle.
Send Madelle a Message
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Lynda Cowan (Unowsky) (Deceased)
 
Hot Springs Village
Arkansas
writer
Married
2
During my more structured writing career, I wrote for a weekly newspaper in Eugene, Oregon, as the Editor for the Womens' Weekly Section.� I have also been published in magazines, and most recently in nature publicatons.� My essays and short stories are narrative descriptive, with topics centered around nature.� Arkansas gives me much thought-provoking subject matter as a resident of the 'natural state.'Joel (retired microbiologist) and I have six adult children between us.� We live in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, surrounded by lots of wildlife.� We live in a house overlooking a lake and our boat dock.�� Send Lynda a Message
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Christie Hyler (Volanski)
 
San Diego, CA 92109
California
Retired
Married
2
Almost immediately after Churchill I married my high school sweetheart who was WCHS Class of '67 and we moved to San Diego, CA where he was attending college. We had two sons, now 35 and 37. We divorced after 14 years and I subsequently married an Ohio State U. transplant to San Diego, an electrical and audio engineer and talented book writer, and we've been happily married for 22 years! I recently retired after working for various large defense contractors/research & development companies, the last one being SAIC for 20 years. My oldest son is married and just produced a beautiful grandson...what a joy! Looking forward to seeing all of you at the reunion, some of whom I've known since Potomac Elementary School--yikes!
Send Christie a Message
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Kim Waggoner
 
Portland
OR
Tax Consultant
Married
1
I received my BA from the University of Michigan and moved to Portland Oregon upon graduation. Various forms of self-employment ensued. A promising landscape gardening career was sabotaged by jealous yard-men who feared my lawn cutting prowess. I then turned my attention to high school teaching. To those of you who have tried this profession – I salute you. Now, purely and simply, I am a tax man. I’ve been married for almost 20 years to the feisty Fran, MSW extraordinaire. My son Adam (26) is a computer engineer in Boston, soon to be transferred to England. My hobbies are alpine climbing and kayaking. I’ve been kayaking since 1980, a passion that has filled my garage with whitewater and sea kayaks. This summer I’m building a Greenland style kayak in my basement and hope to have it on the water by fall.
Send Kim a Message
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