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 PRESIDENT: KEN CRANDALL

If anyone might be considered nearly indispensable to the SeniorNet of Puget Sound Learning Center, it is Ken Crandall. Ken was, for many years, our Facilities Coordinator, responsible for keeping our computers and software running. He devoted untold hours to this task so that the rest of us can have a satisfactory experience learning to use computers. He was responsible for negotiating the purchase of and supervising the installation of the 13 new computers installed in the classroom over the summer of 2000, which were retired in 2004 when Ken supervised the installation of the 18 new Dell computers. In 2006 he retired from this responsibility, but is still actively helping our present Facilities Coordinator, Gordon Young, keep our computers and software functioning.
Ken became a SeniorNet volunteer after his retirement from Boeing. He had used computers for many years in his work at Boeing. In Ken’s words, “The many things that can be accomplished using computers always impressed me. I particularly was impressed by the way that computers can aide communication between people and how word processors can help organize and spell-check my typing (anything that can fix my spelling must be good!). I decided that I would like to share my interest in computers with other senior citizens.” Doris Ford, who taught computers at the Bellevue Senior Center and has taught some seminars for our Learning Center, told Ken about SeniorNet.
Ken has been a volunteer with SeniorNet of Puget Sound since 1995. In addition to his critical work as Facilities coordinator, he has found time to teach courses on using Windows 3.1, on connecting to the King County Library and other Bulletin Board Systems, on using the Internet and on using AOL. He also has developed several workshops on using e-mail, on selecting an Internet Service Provider (ISP), on computer maintenance, and on Internet security.

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT: LOIS FARRIS

I was born in Seattle and except for one year of my life I have lived in King County.  After graduating from Garfield High School I attended the U. of W. where I received a degree in education and went on to teach at Lake Washington High School in Kirkland.

I took some time off from teaching to raise 3 children, and worked as a substitute for many years. Two of children with their families live in Washington and the third is in Denver.

Several years ago I inherited a very hand me down computer with Windows 95 that had been configured for the previous owners.  I had so many frustrations with that machine that it was a delight when I finally got my own machine with Windows XP. I have always been interested in how things work, so the computer is the machine for me; it is a continually learning experience, good and bad. After taking a few classes I then volunteered to be an assistant and it help reinforce the things I had heard in the classes.  One thing led to another and I was asked to be the Instructor Assistant Training Coordinator I still have this position along with being President.  I am finding the presidency of this group a great learning experience and a test of my organizational skills.

 VICE-PRESIDENT: MERRILEE GEORGE

I am a native Washingtonian, born in Seattle and raised in Poulsbo, WA.  We had a home on Hood Canal, and I had the idealistic country upbringing, but traveled to spend numerous summers with an aunt in Massachusetts.  I married my high school sweetheart, Don  After we were married, I attended business school in Seattle, and we made our big move from the city to the suburbs of Bellevue when it was just a little “town” in 1964.  I worked at the Boeing Airplane Division for 2-1/2 years, but decided to give up on the work-a-day world and have our two children, Deanna and Michael.  They were 18-1/2 months apart, so it was like having twins at home!

I was a stay-at-home mom most of the time, but ventured out to do something part time to stay busy once the kids were in school.  I had fun with lots of various jobs from sales to dental lab technician and on to working at the elementary schools as an aide to full time as an activities secretary and school accountant.  Don was an Area Administrator for Seattle Housing Authority and was active with the national housing organization.  I was able to travel with him for many years to many parts of the United States.

Once the kids graduated from college, I decided to take life easy again.  I was fascinated with computers and took lots of classes at BCC and even ended up editing the teacher’s manuals. I learned about SeniorNet at the Crossroads Volunteer Fair and joined in 2004.  I enthusiastically took as many classes as I could each session to learn as much as I could.  I guess you could say that I definitely had a passion for computers!  They opened up a whole new world for me!  I am now the Volunteer Coordinator and Vice President of SeniorNet of Puget Sound.   I also stay active on the Boards of two other groups.

Our children are both married, and we have 5 delightful, active grandchildren – all living in the Bellevue/Redmond area.  We stay mighty busy attending all of their activities!

Don and I both have a love for traveling – both internationally and nationally.  We’ve been to Europe, Great Britain and Ireland, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico many times, where my brother retired.   We enjoy golfing and have discovered the fun of being “partial” snowbirds in Phoenix, Arizona for Spring Training and sunshine!

PAST-PRESIDENT: DELORES DAVIS

I worked in a hospital for over 20 years but was able to retire before everyone in my department got involved with the computers. We had the secretaries to do the typing and dictation, a young man to do the computer programming and I avoided learning anything in either area. After retiring, I became interested in writing and that led me to the computer. After getting a used computer from a colleague of my daughter's, I saw an article in the Seattle Times about SrNet and attended one of their annual meetings. After taking a couple of workshops and classes in 1994, I was asked to assist and then to teach. My children and friends are still shocked that the person that retired early so she would not have to become involved with computers, and fought so hard not to get involved, now teaches computer skills.
I use the computer for self-employment, database, making greeting cards to my many grandchildren, e-mail for family and friends near and far, and finally for the writings that started the process in the first place. The computer and the involvement with the people with SrNet has enhanced my life and added more activity, enjoyment and knowledge than I could ever have imagined.

PAST-PRESIDENT: ADELLA J. GRANGER

Adella J. Granger is a native of Seattle, with her pioneer family including a cousin who was the first postmistress in Redmond. Adella has a lengthy business background in mortgage lending. For 23 years, she worked in the Real Estate Investment Department of Prudential Insurance. When the company transferred operations to California, she moved to the Seattle First National Bank where she worked for 17 years, becoming assistant vice president of the Real Estate Group's Internal Audit Department. She spent the next 11 years with Washington Mutual as assistant vice president in its Loan Servicing Department. Her final project at WAMU was project manager with responsibility for the renovation and remodeling of the Newmark Building on Second Ave..

This also included working with the company, which installed the bank's online computer services. With the project completed in 1999, Adella retired from WAMU. About this time she also discovered SeniorNet, took classes, including genealogy, where she has now listed some 500 Grangers in her family tree program.

 PAST PRESIDENT AND PUBLIC RELATIONS CHAIRMAN: HELEN HESKETH AND TREASURER: JOE HESKETH

For Helen Hesketh served three terms as head of SeniorNet, following her initial election to succeed then Pres. Clif Wuesthoff. She and husband Joe have eight children, 33 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, with the latest arrival born this past month. A past president of the State of Maine Jaycee Wives, she was the official chaperone to Miss Maine of 1969 and made the gown that Miss Maine wore in the Miss America Pageant. Long active in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts Leadership, she has also been a church secretary.

In the business world, she was administrative assistant to the local sales manager of a national company. After serving as president and then as co-president with Joe, of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the National Speakers Association, she became executive secretary of the group for almost 10 years. In addition, the Helen-Joe partnership continues a busy pace at the St. Louise Church in various activities. She and Joe travel regularly in their RV as members of the Evergreen Winnies, where they are co-presidents.

 [photo to come] SECRETARY AND CATALOGUE EDITOR: MARTHA SIMON

First of all, Martha makes plain "I am an avid Mariner fan, " in addition to other hobbies of traveling, gardening, theater, reading and crossword puzzles. Born in Cairo, IL, she grew up in Paducah, KY. Martha has a long career in the science field with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Western Kentucky State; graduate work at the University of North Carolina in English literature, and complete a major in microbiology at the University of Washington. "Science was my career, literature my pleasure," she comments. She has worked for the Federal Food and Drug Administration in Cincinnati and Washington, DC; the Seattle-King County Department of Health, and the Washington State Department of Health. Martha moved to Seattle in 1968, and retired from her state position in May of 1999. When Martha moved here she says, "I fell in love with the beauty and lifestyle of the area, and so, made this my home."

  REGISTRAR: LOUISE FLORA

 Louise has been the Registrar since most of us became members or started taking classes. The Registrar keeps track of hundreds of people and their money, class rosters, and SeniorNet members, updating the roster several times a year and notifying members when someone changes their data.
Louise is a true Pacific Northwesterner, born in Spokane and raised in Seattle. She received her degree in Sociology from Seattle University and started her career as a secretary. This ended when she married Chuck Flora and began her "real" career as wife and mother. Louise still considers her greatest achievement was raising their two beautiful daughters and a handsome son who have given them eight tremendous grandchildren.
It was when Louise entered the work force again after their last child had entered school, in 1985, that she was introduced to computers. After she read an article about SeniorNet in the Seattle Times, Louise contacted the group and was immediately put to work answering the voice mail for Marilyn Emerson, who was the Registrar. When Marilyn retired Louise took her place. And as Louise says, "I seem to be a permanent fixture as Registrar".
Louise often can be seen riding her bicycle to Phantom Lake. She and Chuck have done a lot of bicycling together, including three cycling trips in Europe. Traveling without their bicycles also is an important part of their retirement life. Louise gardens in the small space behind their condo and is happy to share her beautiful dahlias, which often grace a SeniorNet table at fall functions. She swims regularly at the community's pool. Thanks to Louise, SeniorNet has enjoyed their club house.

 [photo to come] BOARD MEMBER-AT-LARGE: MARGE KRUGER

Biography to come.

    CURRICULUM COORDINATOR: BOB BALSLEY

Biography to come.

  FACILITIES COORDINATOR: GORDON YOUNG

Gordon Young joined SeniorNet a few years ago and quickly took on many volunteer chores, including teaching, and more recently as Instructor/Assistant Coordinator. He has long been part of the Ken Crandall's facilities maintenance team. After spending four years in the Air Force and graduating from the University of Washington, Young joined Boeing where he spent the next 37 years before retiring. Much of that time he was involved in some kind of computing or computing support functions. His first 14 years were in Industrial Engineering, conducting time and motion studies, plus managing workloads of various manufacturing shops. He worked in the Commercial Transport Division, the Military Division, the Boat Division, and the Helicopter Division, the latter in Pennsylvania, along with other programs. Currently, Word and Gordon teaches Introduction to Microsoft Digital Photo Editing. and is the lab coordinator.

 PHOTOGRAPHER AND DIGITAL PHOTO SPECIALIST: LAURA WISE

Laura is a retired Boeing Software Engineer.

WEBMASTER: HAL MOZER

Hal appears to be a very pleasant and gracious man. While this is so, it is also true that he is one of the most dynamic people that I know. He is one of those unique individuals who can both communicate to others what needs to be done as well as being perfectly capable of doing the job himself.

This skill at communication along with a genuine regard for people makes him an excellent teacher. At once, the student knows the teacher is very competent, able to listen and to communicate answers to questions.

Hal has been teaching at SeniorNet for many years specializing most recently in File Management, Quicken, Photo Editing and Scanning, and Digital Camera courses. He also has contributed to the SeniorNet community as a past Curriculum Coordinator and Board member.

(written by Jay Schlechter)

JOSEPHINE HUGH

One of the great husband-wife teams in the SeniorNet volunteer corps, Jo and her late husband, Claire, worked together in producing the printed class catalogues and news, among other activities. After Claire’s death, Jo continued working on the catalogue for some time. In addition, up to a few months ago, Jo headed publicity operations for SeniorNet for several years. Jo grew up on a farm in Northeastern Iowa and visit there occasionally, most recently to celebrate her mother's 104th birthday. She met Clair following his return from Army service in WW11, when she attended Iowa State Teachers College. It is now known as the University of Northern Iowa. They were married in 1950 and both taught in the Belmond High School. She concentrated on business subjects and the school newspaper. He became high school principal in 1952. With the birth of their oldest daughter in 1953, she interrupted her teaching. Clair in 1956 joined the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co., in Cedar Rapids, where he served for five years before being transferred to Seattle as regional manager. Jo remained home with the children, three boys and three girls, until 1969, when she began teaching at Odle Junior High in Bellevue. She taught there for 16 years. Jo has an undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Iowa in Business Education and Social Science, and a Master of Education from the University of Washington.

Clair grew up in Delhi, IA, and attained the rank of Eagle Scout, where he also played the trumpet in the high school band, and played on the hoop team. He graduated in 1941, enlisting in the Army the following years. After service in India, he was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant in May 1946. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1948 and that fall began his teaching career in math and science, later rising to the post of principal and then entering the insurance field. Following his retirement, he worked as a consultant to and as a member of the Washington State Investment Board. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Iowa and a Master's Degree from the University of Iowa. And Jo and Clair at presstime were awaiting the arrival of their 13th grandchild.

SEENA LALLY

I joined Seniornet in 1992 when the classes were held at the McIntyre Eye clinic in Bellevue. I think the first class I took was DOS and the teacher was E.A. Brown. I volunteered in the office with Molly Bracket. I was so thankful that I took my daughters advice when we read about Seniornet in the Journal. I had tried to take classes at the VOTech but the young people were way ahead of me. I started thinking about having a computer, because I kept running into new words about computers when I would do my crossword puzzles. Since joining Seniornet I have done some teaching and a lot of assisting, as I am still learning. I was honored to be secretary for 2 years under president Helen Hesketh and hope to continue volunteering, for a long time.

WEB SITE COMMITTEE: BILL BUMPAS

I moved to Seattle in 1997, after retiring from IBM. I was not in the technical part of IBM and so didn't learn much about computers on the job, although I was intrigued by them and, in the early 80s, bought a Radio Shack TRS-80 computer. It had 8000 positions of memory and used the family TV for a monitor and a standard cassette tape player for off line storage! The family used it for writing letters and for the occasional school project although that was way before the days of computer based school assignments. I have had a "real" PC for about 15 years now and find it an indispensable tool. I use it for analytical work for my Condo Board, for my personal finances, for correspondence and e-mail. Our daughter was married in the summer of 2000 and we used it to track invitations, replies, wedding gifts, thank-yous and other administrative tasks involved with that happy occasion. The Internet has greatly expanded its use, as we now log on for daily email from family members still on the east coast, to buy airline tickets, to research lodging in places we plan to visit, to check the weather before we head to the ski slopes, to find a special item that we can't find in the stores, to find the score of the ballgame we just missed and many other tasks. My wife reminds me that I also play Solitaire. I enjoy teaching and the interaction with students here at SeniorNet. They force me to check out things I wouldn't have thought of, and I get to pass on some of my 15 years worth of information dealing with computer usage.

A volunteer for the U. S. State Department, Bill is a retired IBM executive in finances and marketing for a giant corporation, and he recently returned from Namibia, after helping train business leaders in that African country. Bill Bumpas spent almost three months there as part of the volunteer program sponsored by the International Executive Services Corps (ISEC), an affiliate of the U.S. Agency for International Development, which handles the U.S. Foreign Aid program for the State Department. Bill spent some 2 ½ months working with Namibia officials and business people help make the transition from a developing country to democracy and capitalism. Following his work assignment, Bill and his wife Marilyn spent the final 10 days vacationing in South Africa. The story of his stay in Namibia, told with the aid of slides he had taken, was described by Bill at the recent SeniorNet membership meeting. And Bill, naturally, gave the talk attired in a colorful African jacket.

“Since its independence from South Africa in 1990,” Bill said, “ Namibia residents have been trying to move from a third -world environment of small villages, where the land is owned communally, and the tribal chief controls everything, to a cash basis economy. It is tough since the native population (90 percent of the country) was suppressed for 40 years under apartheid, and they have little experience with capitalism. Specifically, I spent my time developing a training program for entrepreneurs in how to make a business plan so they could get funding for their projects. If there is a good business plan, the government will guarantee 80% of any bank loan to a new business.”

 ROSS ROBERTS

I joined SeniorNet Puget Sound In January 2002. He contacted Delores Davis to sign on and immediately began as a classroom aide. Ross assisted with two Microsoft Word classes and two Microsoft Windows classes. He then taught the Internet class. Ross recently created and taught an eBay class. He is developing an Excel class for next quarter. Ross retired from Boeing in January 2002 after 17 years with the company. Before going to Boeing, Ross, an Air Force Academy graduate in 1965, had spent the bulk of his 24 years service with the AF. He was a navigator on the huge, world-girdling, Lockheed-built four-engine C-130 plane.. Interestingly, Ross was nominated to the Air Force Academy by his then Michigan state Congressman, name of Rep. Gerald Ford.  During his lengthy service career, Ross has crossed the Atlantic, usually at 20,000 feet, many times, to Europe. He has also flown to Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Viet Name and Thailand. Also to Central and South America and most of Western Europe and Turkey, ending his career with more than 5,000 hours in the air. He flew many re-supply missions in Viet Nam including an air drop at Khe Sanh while it was surrounded by enemy forces, along with dropping flares to provide illumination for night air strikes, plus medical evacuation flights. In one such emergency flight, more than 100 Vietnamese were aboard on a plane normally with a maximum capacity for 65 people. And what is the hobby of this SeniorNet member who has flown throughout the world on Air Force missions. when he wants to relax at home? He collects and operates American Flyer S Gauge Model Trains.

It was last Dec. 13. when SeniorNet was conducting its registration at Factoria Mall. A woman shopper going by noticed the SeniorNet signs, and the crowds bustling around to register, and stepped inside. She knew of her husband’s keen interest and long experience with computers Her question was unusual-and very welcome: She asked Volunteer Coordinator Delores Davis if SeniorNet ever needed computer instructors? Delores smiled, and answered with a resounding Yes. Delores gave the inquiring woman her email address. The woman was Sandra Roberts. She was asking in behalf of her husband, Major Ross Roberts, who was retiring from Boeing in just a few weeks, and looking for new action where he could use his considerable skills. But before going to Boeing, Ross, an Air Force Academy graduate in 1965, had spent the bulk of his 24 years service with the AF as a navigator on the huge, world-girdling, Lockheed-built four-engine C-130 plane, including action in Vietnam. In turn Ross contacted Delores to sign on and immediately begin as a classroom aide for not just one class, but two classes. Ross now is assisting with a Microsoft Word class Tuesdays, and a Microsoft Windows class Thursdays. He was among those attending this past month’s membership meeting. Interestingly, Ross was nominated to the Air Force Academy by his then Michigan state Congressman, name of Rep. Gerald Ford.

During his lengthy service career, Ross has crossed the Atlantic, usually at 20,000 feet, many times, to Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Viet Name and Thailand. Also to Central and South America and most of Western Europe and Turkey, ending his career with more than 5,000 hours in the air. He flew many re-supply missions in Viet Nam including an air drop at Khe Sanh while it was surrounded by enemy forces, along with dropping flares to provide illumination for night air strikes, plus medical evacuation flights. In one such emergency flight, more than 100 Vietnamese were aboard on a plane normally with a maximum capacity for 65 people. And what is the hobby of this SeniorNet member who has flown throughout the world on Air Force missions at an altitude generally of 20,000 feet, when he want to relax at home? He collects and operates American Flyer S Gauge Model trains. From ‘Keep ‘em Flying,’ to ‘Keep ‘em Rolling.”

JAY SCHLECHTER

I first learned of the SeniorNet organization from a newspaper article some five years ago, which included Hal Mozer's phone number. Thus began an ongoing and fruitful relationship benefiting our organization. Jay contacted Hal, remaining in contact for a year or so, he recalls, before he came to his first SeniorNet meeting. Because of his extensive computer background including setting up web sites, he spoke on setting up these sites plus other technical procedures. And when Pres. Helen Hesketh asked him to coordinate a SeniorNet task force to create a site, he with Mozer, Ken Crandall and John Wise launched the present web site. Each member split up responsibilities in getting the site started, and which now is a central, easy-to-access source of information for all. Since then, Jay and Hal have maintained the site with Chuck Goldstein joining the team last year. Jay's goal is to include animation on the site, plus more interactivity and modularity and other features. A native of New York City, Jay formerly taught Psychology in Australia and California, and currently is counseling and writing here in Seattle. How did he wind up in Australia in the first place? "I spent 10 years in Australia because we (my ex-wife and myself) wanted an adventure (If you can consider University teaching adventurous). We managed to visit New Zealand, New Caledonia, most of Australia and parts of South Asia." His former wife now resides in a small town in Tasmania. And when he visited friends in Seattle, he decided this was the place he wanted to really settle in. Jay's link to computers began some 40 years ago, when at the age of 20, he wrote his first computer program.

JOE PONTECORVO, who was our Facilities Coordinator when we only had a rag-tag collection of aged computers with many problems, has spent virtually his entire working life in the aviation industry, starting with his service in the Army Air Corps. After receiving his Honorable Discharge, he worked for several small airlines, operated a seaplane base on the East Coast, and in 1949 went to work for National Airlines. Ten years later he joined the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an Aviation Safety Inspector. He worked in a wide variety of position with the FAA, including being one of the first 12 sky marshals in 1962 to guard against hijackings. And life with the FAA involved moving around a lot to such assignments as Washington, DC. Newark, NJ, San Francisco, CA, Seattle, Rome and Brussels, often moving back to some of the sites. While in Washington, DC, Joe was Deputy Director of the office of Airworthiness. These assignments included lots of flying, something he now misses. In 1990 Joe retired from 45 years in aviation, but was asked to do consulting. He prepared a training plan for future inspectors of the Chinese Aviation Authority, utilizing Power Point, and helped develop a data and setting up a network for the Philippines Air Transport office in Manila.

Based on his past computer experiences, Joe in 1989 started staring at computer ads in the newspapers. His wife, Viola, watching him checking the ads, decided to buy him a computer for Christmas. With the guidance and help from other family members, she purchased a used IBM XT, along with a Peter Norton book on computers. With a chuckle, he says, "One of my granddaughters says that was the biggest mistake the family ever made. Knowing Joe, we can understand easily his reading of all the computer books he could lay his hands on. The second thing, of course, was to open up the computer, something many of us still are hesitant to do. So Joe then upgraded his XT until it could no longer be upgraded, then assembled some later model computers. It was in 1990 that Joe joined SeniorNet, then located at the Bellevue office building of Dr. McIntyre on 116th Ave. NE, and took several classes. Joe also began helping out answering the phone, teaching and maintaining the old 286 IBM-type classroom computers, with the help of other volunteers. With his considerable computer background, Joe is also a Beta tester for Microsoft, working on Quicken and Turbo Tax. And of course, Joe continues with his other hobby of skiing and operating his radio controlled model aircraft...when he's not remodeling his home. Joe is also a frequent speaker on computers at various senior sites in the area.

PATRICIA BRAUN has come a long way from the northwestern Iowa farm she was born on, and where she lived until she was eight. The family then moved first to Wenatchee, WA. and after a year her dad began working on the building of the Grand Coulee Dam. This massive project kept the family there for many years. Pat graduated high school in Boulder City, Nevada, where the company her dad worked for was doing repair work on the Hoover Dam. Pat decided she needed more career training, and moved to the Los Angeles area, living with friends while she attended night school, and worked days in an insurance office. Thanks to her training, she landed a job as a secretary in the Chemical Division of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., and a year later, met future husband, Jim Braun. As Pat describes it: "One thing led to another and a few months later we were married." That was 52 years ago, and the couple now has three children, and six grandchildren. And, adds Pat: "We are still going strong."

"For a couple of years I would not speak in the schools because I still craved cigarettes even after what I had done to myself with them and felt it would be hypocritical to tell the kids not to smoke. Eventually I decided maybe it was more proof of how severe the addiction was and since have been going into the schools in the area. I stopped working with the kids as a Granpal since I no longer can pronounce my "H's," and those little kids did a real good job of sounding like little Limeys when I had helped them read, and it came out sounding, ' 'Ave a 'appy day,'Arry.'

"As a result, since working with Granpals and being listed in the Bellevue School District, I am not only speaking in the Seattle and Mercer Island districts but am speaking in The Bellevue area, including Phantom Lake, and being asked to speak in several schools in Snohomish County. I speak anywhere from 15- 20 minutes to a class, to spending the whole class period with them showing a short video (I have several), speaking for part of the hour and taking questions. This depends on the type of program we are giving. Don't know for sure how much good I do but in some of the Thank You letters I have received, kids say, after listening to me, they will not smoke. I sure hope they are right. Am really trying to scare the poor kids completely out of the idea of even trying to take that first puff on a cigarette."

HIS SECOND RETIREMENT TRY WORKED: After a busy working lifetime as an engineer at Boeing, where he worked in every division except Commercial Aircraft until 1995, DICK THOMPSON, who joined SeniorNet late last year and is now an instructor, decided it was time to retire and pursue his hobbies full-time. That retirement didn't last too long, when he followed his hobby of computer programming and re-entered the work force again as a consultant. Then finally, at the end of 1999, he did retire, but kept up with his many hobbies, which includes wine tasting. Originally from West Virginia, he came to Seattle to work for Boeing in 1962 after receiving Engineering Degrees from Cornell University and the University of Michigan.

When queried for Newsletter on his background, Dick reported: "My main interests continue to be computers, ballroom dancing, traveling with my wife Diana, woodworking and wine tasting. also study the markets with emphasis on Option trading and stock movements. My volunteer activities have included Eastside Literacy Council, the Bellevue VIBES program and now, SeniorNet." 

CLIF WUESTHOFF, one of our past presidents, had real wanderlust at an early age, joining the U.S. Navy at 17, and taking a different path than his three brothers all serving in the U.S. Army. Those early years saw him crossing the Atlantic with a secret cargo destined for Omaha Beach for the Normandy landings, while being chased by enemy subs. But the sub that almost torpedoed his ship in the St. Georges Channel off the coast of England was not one of those welcome adventures, he recalls. Clif still feels the enemy sub knew of the secret cargo his ship was carrying. His ship was sunk during the beaching phase. After it was repaired, Clif and his crew headed for the Pacific Theatre of Operations and island hopping from New Caledonia to Okinawa, trying to dodge air raids by the Japanese.

With the war finally ending, and confident the world was now safe for democracy, Clif returned to his schooling, graduating from Washington State University in marketing, and joining a petroleum company. His career in the oil business took him on a regular basis to Los Angeles, Everett, Seattle and Portland. His last stop with that company was at Roseburg, Oregon. In his motel room that night, he got a call for a six-month oil company assignment in Guam. As Clif recalls: He said, "Yes, but where is it?" After six months on Guam, it was on the Philippines for five years, followed by five years in Singapore-Malaysia. Finally, after all those years moving around the world, Clif returned to Seattle and another career appraising commercial real estate as president of Westingconsul, Inc., a company he formed with fellow associates. And in 1990, when he felt the time had come to retire, he read a magazine article about SeniorNet Computer Learning Centers, which led him to our organization and years of great service, including President. He and Marilyn now reside in Vancouver, WA, but still keep up with SeniorNet of Puget Sound through the web site and the monthly on-line newsletter, an idea that Clif originated and foisted on the current editor.

 MARGE LANGLEY (deceased)

My experience with computers began about ten years ago when the physician's office where I am employed began to use one for bookkeeping. All the office staff were given simple instructions on using the software - beginning my fascination with computing. At home, I started with a used computer; and soon realized that I just couldn't do what I wanted. Obviously, I needed help; and I got it from newspaper and magazine articles about SeniorNet. As soon as I started classes with our local SeniorNet, I knew I'd found the help I needed; and by the finish of a word processing class, assisting in other classes was the way to go. Whether I'm taking, assisting or teaching classes, I find I'm learning something new each time, and that's the joy I receive, and makes me want more computer knowledge.

Marge had her first brush with computers when the doctor she worked for decided to computerize his operation (oops), and Marge attended indoctrination (oops, again) classes. "I was completely fascinated with what a computer could do," a still awestruck Marge says. And being the enthusiastic person she is, she went ahead and bought a used DOS computer to really polish her skills on her own time. And this began a long-time interest with increasingly sophisticated computers, which led her to SeniorNet, first as a student, and later as a seasoned instructor.

Marge first learned of the opportunities offered by the SeniorNet Computer Learning Centers via an article in the AARP Magazine, followed by another article in a local newspaper that SeniorNet was operating right here in the Seattle area. "I had my first class with SeniorNet when it was located on 116th Ave. NE, in Bellevue, in offices donated by Dr. D. McIntyre, a leading area ophthalmologist, and an early SeniorNet supporter." But when Marge was in her second week of her first SeniorNet class, " ...it was announced that SeniorNet would, unfortunately, have to vacate our long-time classrooms." Seems SeniorNet's success in attracting students had just about taken over the building's available parking spots, blocking out patients and customers of other tenants. Plus, it was explained; the SeniorNet offices would be needed for rental purposes. Of course all students were offered refunds on their class fees.

After several months, she was informed classes would restart at the Phantom Lake Elementary School, also in Bellevue. "I happily signed up for classes, starting where I left off, and then continued with a word processing class." With her growing interest in computers, Marge then assisted instructor Harry Sully in a Works class, even as she continued taking other classes. Then continuing as an assistant with Ken Crandall, until she became an instructor on the Internet, greeting cards and keyboarding. She has also served on a fill-in basis as Granpal coordinator when the regular coordinator became ill; also as Internet coordinator and as a member-at-large on the board. Her message to all is a variation of what she was earlier taught by Past Pres. Clif Wuesthoff: "Practice! Practice! Practice! Marge's spin is: Fun! Fun! Fun!

PATRICIA (PAT) HERZOG (deceased)

Pat was for several years the guiding force behind our expanding Granpals' Volunteer program working with Phantom Lake Elementary School students in reading, math etc., herself started as a Granpal back in 1994, when Virginia Fusselman headed the project. Pat and her husband Bill have been married 50 years; have 10 grandchildren and one "brand-new" great-grandchild. Pat reports she and Bill are "semi-retired." Bill, who dealt in industrial equipment, continues to serve some of his old customers. Pat worked at Seattle City Light, primarily in the Home Economics Department. At one time when Bill bought his own business, Pat handled the books on weekends. She was born in Pateros, WA and recalls her grandfather's historic log home where she was born, is now under the Columbia River when a dam was constructed. In addition to raising her family, Pat also found time to be active with the Seattle Jaycee Wives, Seafair activities, where fellow SeniorNet member Maxine Giard was president.

And how did Pat get involved with computers? Just like many of us. "Our daughter gave us a hand-me-down computer because she thought it would help in our home office. I mostly looked at it for the first year and decided to take a class to learn how to actually use it," she recalls. "I saw an ad in a magazine about the national SeniorNet organization." This led her to our group when it was operating in the McIntyre Eye Center location on 116th Ave. NE IN Bellevue. And working with her husband in his business, she began using the computer for business quotes, customer lists, forms and letters. "I became a Granpal when SeniorNet moved to the Phantom Lake School in Bellevue in 1994." And of course she uses the computer for schedules, rosters, email etc. "I have to thank SeniorNet for opening up this new world to me. I especially enjoy the greeting cards, email and instant information online."

RAY HANSEN This veteran SeniorNet volunteer instructor and former course coordinator, who began his long association with our organization way, way back in 1991 at the old site on 116th Ave., in Bellevue, has a very unique distinction: He is the guy who was in charge of closing down part of Niagara Falls (Yeah, THAT Niagara Falls) when the U.S. Corps of Engineers had to check on the condition of the underpinnings of the mighty waterfall. Ray was the chief engineer of this massive project, which, in effect, dried up the American side of the Falls, which is adjacent to Canada, to carefully examine the site. When no threatening erosion was found, Ray ordered the water turned on again. No simple turning of a water tap, however. This was done by removing huge barriers that had blocked the water flow, diverting it to the Canadian side. Ray recalls with a chuckle, examining the bottom of the dry waterfall, and finding lots of coins and other items tossed in by viewers.

Ray's Army promotions took him from private to colonel, via West Point and MIT. Postings included the Greenland Icecap, the Arctic Ocean's T-3 Ice Island, the jungles of Panama (and the Pentagon), NATO, a year with the Navy, and command of the largest engineer battalion in Vietnam. On the home front, as reported earlier, he led the Corps of Engineers' three-year study of whether and how the Niagara Falls might be crumbling. Post-Army he spent over a decade with engineering firm CH2M Hill, doing port and ocean engineering, designing container terminals up and down the West Coast. In 1991 he retired again, except that the U.N. asked him to do a volunteer job for a small island in the Indian Ocean, determine feasibility of a port for a small island community in the Maldives. For many years he was a member of King County Library System's Computer Advisory Group, helping KCLS develop, and give classes on, the system so many of us now enjoy for searching and ordering books on-line. For getaways he and Mary travel to Europe, to explore neolithic (Stone Age) structures and study languages. E-mail makes keeping in touch with their nine scattered children a snap How he got his first SeniorNet assignment is also interesting: One day in 1991 shortly after joining, he groused to our then-president Gene Rauscher about the erratic class schedules he'd been getting. Gene, a true executive and a fast decision maker, gave Ray an on-the-spot promotion to class scheduler, later added instructor coordinator, jobs Ray handled for several years. Other commitments have required that Ray retire from active work with SeniorNet, but he still keeps in touch and often attends the monthly Koffee Klatch.

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