7 minute read
THE LINDSEYS LEAVE THEIR MARK
AN INTERVIEW WITH ALUMNI STACEY (’81) & REAR ADMIRAL YANCY LINDSEY (’80)
LISA BLAKE (LB): What led your family to choose Phoenix Christian?
YANCY LINDSEY (YL): My father (Ben Lindsey) graduated from PCHS (transferring from Phoenix Union HS) in 1957. Then he and my mother (Jerri) taught and coached (1963-1965) at PCHS after they graduated from Grand Canyon College. My father had always wanted me to attend PCHS, so after a challenging freshman year at Alhambra High School, I decided to attend. STACEY LINDSEY (SL): My parents were going through a separation at the time, so I think they both felt I needed a solid and maybe a little of a protective environment. Our faith was an integral part of our lives and continuing it at school was a wonderful opportunity.
LB: Did you meet and/or date each other at Phoenix Christian? Describe that experience.
YL: We met at PCHS (probably in Mr. Jerry Geiger’s Concert Choir), but I was painfully shy and only interested in school and sports. I must admit that I was smitten with her almost from the beginning. We initially dated once I graduated and started attending Phoenix Community College. I was attracted to her gregarious, type A, extroverted personality. Our relationship fizzled when I
transferred to U.C. Berkeley (Jan, 1983) and she moved to Seattle about the same time. We stayed in touch and occasionally caught a movie or shared a meal when we were in Phoenix at the same time. We started dating again when I was her date at her 10-year PCHS reunion. I missed my 10-year reunion because I was deployed (to Antarctica) with the Navy, so I attended Stacey’s reunion. We were married eight months later. SL: I mean he was the hunky quarterback how could I not know him? We met and really got to know each other in choir. He stood right behind me and sang that great bass voice in my ear. He was very shy, but it gave us a chance to get to know each other and me a chance to flirt.
LB: Where was your favorite spot on campus to spend time together?
YL: Stacey will have to answer this one...I don’t remember. I do recall that Organ Stop Pizza was a favorite spot following sporting events. That and cruising Central Avenue. SL: Well back to the flirting...I remember waiting for him outside of the locker/weight room. He would come out after practice or after working out and we could talk and walk to the parking lot together. Oh, how those memories take you back to young love and crushes. He really was the stud football, baseball, basketball player.
LB: As you reflect on your teachers at PC, who had the greatest impact on you and why?
YL: Wow...where do I start? All my coaches played a key role in my personal development. Coach Walt Beamis is the first who comes to mind: consistent, caring, with a heart for God. He was a firm, but fair disciplinarian with an incredible work ethic. I learned a lot from him. Coach Hoskins (basketball), Coach Howard Billings (baseball), and Coach Don Thorp all influenced me in positive ways. When it comes to teachers, Mr. Hovda (who also positively influenced my father) and Mr. Wickersham...both Bible teachers. Incredible, Godly men, who really cared for their students. Others that come to mind are Mr. Wolfe (biology) and Jerry Geiger (choir). Not always easy to put a finger on exactly how each coach or teacher influenced you. However, their example, confidence in me, and desire for my success stayed with me...and made me not want to disappoint them. SL: There were so many amazing teachers. Mr. Thorp made a huge impact. He had this patient, solid teaching style. Heaven knows my teachers needed patience with me back then. Hands down the biggest influence and impact was Mr. Buckner. It brings tears to my eyes thinking about it. I loved that man. He knew what was going on in my family and he took a special interest in me. I would occasionally “need direction” and he would give it. Ever loving and patient, he saw me through those difficult years.
LB: Yancy, what led you to consider joining the military?
YL: I was halfway through my final year at Cal and not having much luck with on-campus interviews. My good PCHS friend, Jason Hanenburg, was nearing graduation from ASU and had started the Naval Aviation application process. He shared that with me and it sounded interesting. So, when I was home for Christmas, I visited the Navy recruiter. I was accepted and after graduating from Cal in May, 1986, I headed to Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL. I’ve been incredibly fortunate and blessed throughout my 33.5-year Naval career. I’ve flown high performance, fun aircraft literally around
the world; met and served with thousands of patriotic, dedicated service members and their families; three deployments to Antarctica and three western Pacific deployments to the Arabian Gulf; lived in Germany and Italy; visited nearly 50 countries and all seven continents; shook the hands of Presidents; hung out with movie stars; seen the Matterhorn, Victoria Falls, Sistine Chapel, Buckingham Palace, Eiffel Tower, Chichen Itza, the Colosseum in Rome, the Northern Lights and Southern Lights; and the list goes on and on. I’ve been blessed.
LB: Stacey, I’d love to hear your perspective on being a military family—the highs and lows.
SL: I never dreamed I would be a military spouse. Trust me. Although, I cannot imagine any other life now. It has been an amazing journey and blessing for our family. We have traveled and lived all over the world. We have served our country. We have truly learned the meaning of freedom. God has blessed me and allowed me to find a business that moves with us and that business enabled me to start my non-profit, They Serve 2 (www.theyserve2.org). We have a wonderful partnership with Joyce Meyers Ministry that has given us the ability to impact military families and share the love of Jesus with them worldwide.
10-year high school reunion
LB: How has your relationship with the Lord sustained you throughout this incredible journey?
YL: I admit that I didn’t always realize or understand it, but God has been and continues to be the one constant in my life. He’s sustained me in the difficult times and helped me throughout the ups and downs of life...especially in the military. He’s given my life purpose beyond anything that I’ve done or accomplished on this earth. It is Him through me. He’s helped me through very difficult leadership challenges and given me the freedom and confidence to serve in our Nation’s military. He’s also brought key people into my life to sustain and nurture me along the way: Stacey; my daughters Hailey and Hannah; those listed above; and too many friends, colleagues and pastors to name. SL: Trust. Without Him, I don’t know how I would have made it through the stress and the changes of this life. In the military, our lives are truly not in our hands. I always say when it’s out of my hands, I know whose hands it’s in. He has always been faithful to sustain us, stand by our side, and show us the true meaning of freedom.
LB: You live in Italy. What is that like?
YL: Living in Italy is an adventure...fascinating, challenging, and entertaining all rolled together. My job here is incredibly challenging, but equally rewarding. Living overseas provides a perspective that every American should have the opportunity to experience. SL: Well, I dreamt of Italy. Before moving there this year, I had visited many times. It was a dream to live there and that dream has now come true. We live in Naples, about an hour from the Amalfi Coast and a short boat ride to Capri. It is a magical and messy place and I am so grateful for this time.
LB: Share a little about your beautiful family.
YL: Oh, my...where do I start? Again, I’m truly blessed. Married to a wonderful, loving, Godloving woman who raised two amazing young women. They’re both Christians and highly successful. Without all of them (and, of course, my extended family on both sides), I wouldn’t be the person I am or have experienced this amazing life. SL: We have two beautiful girls. Hailey, our oldest, is 26 and just graduated from Grand Canyon University and is pursuing a Master’s in clinical Mental Health Counseling. Hannah, our youngest, is 23, a graduate of New York University, and is currently at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine to become a Naturopathic Doctor. They are smart, amazing girls who love Jesus and are following their passions. We are so grateful that they are both in the Phoenix area, so we have plenty of family to watch over them while we are so far away.
Quarterback Yancy and Coach Beamis.
Yancy and PC baseball teammates.
