I was born and raised in Ithaca, a small college town in the Finger Lakes Region of New York.

My husband and I were married after college. He was a career Navy officer which took us all over the East Coast and on a four year tour in Naples, Italy. This locale provided opportunities for extensive touring in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Bavaria, Austria, and what was then called Yugoslavia. We also spent 10 days in Israel one Christmas!

In Italy I wrote programs for Italian spouses of American servicemen who were coming to the States for the first time; I was involved in giving Inter-Cultural Relations Inservices and tours for Americans new to Naples. Later I was the Administer of Chicago Europe, Naples Campus and a Reading Specialist with DoDDs. This was particularly interesting as I worked with students who spoke Italian, British, Turkish, Spanish, and some form of American! I continued to teach English 101 and 102 with Chicago as a sideline. After returning Stateside we located in Portsmouth, VA, where I am now a retired Reading Specialist with 43 wonderful years as an educator!

I spend my free time researching my family history. This obsession began when I was but 14 years old as I sat at the feet of my family members at reunions asking questions and taking notes. Although, now in my late 70's, my passion for the next clue is as compelling as ever. If anyone has information about the Bachelor, Howell, Grover, Decker, Olney, Hulslander, Rose [Roosa], Harvey, Hollister or Summerton families I'd love to share!!!

I was born and raised in Ithaca, a small college town in the Finger Lakes Region of New York.

My husband and I were married after college. He was a career Navy officer which took us all over the East Coast and on a four year tour in Naples, Italy. This locale provided opportunities for extensive touring in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Bavaria, Austria, and what was then called Yugoslavia. We also spent 10 days in Israel one Christmas!

In Italy I wrote programs for Italian spouses of American servicemen who were coming to the States for the first time; I was involved in giving Inter-Cultural Relations Inservices and tours for Americans new to Naples. Later I was the Administer of Chicago Europe, Naples Campus and a Reading Specialist with DoDDs. This was particularly interesting as I worked with students who spoke Italian, British, Turkish, Spanish, and some form of American! I continued to teach English 101 and 102 with Chicago as a sideline. After returning Stateside we located in Portsmouth, VA, where I am now a retired Reading Specialist with 43 wonderful years as an educator!

I spend my free time researching my family history. This obsession began when I was but 14 years old as I sat at the feet of my family members at reunions asking questions and taking notes. Although, now in my late 70's, my passion for the next clue is as compelling as ever. If anyone has information about the Bachelor, Howell, Grover, Decker, Olney, Hulslander, Rose [Roosa], Harvey, Hollister or Summerton families I'd love to share!!!