CLASS NOTES kills away from being an “ACE” on Grand Cayman. While the divers used a scoop net for their prize, Asa used a ’98 Hyundai 9-pax van. And to prove that there is no professional courtesy among sharks (Leavitt has a law degree, too), for Spotts’ first dive in almost 20 years, BRF Jim took him on a night dive in caves outside the reef. William “Smitty” Smithson checked in from Kabul. He has been there since June ’09 or so with the 48th GA. The Army Reserves assigned him to a National Guard unit as an infantry officer. He didn’t see that coming. It would have made sense to assign him as a physician’s assistant (PA), but the Army was a bit slow to pick up on that. He has officially applied for and been accepted for a branch transfer with the Army and has also applied for a commission in the USAF as a PA and for several positions with other federal agencies. He figures, whoever will pay off his student loans, he can be employed by for a few years! Smitty writes, “So, I wait patiently to swear in or whatever there is left to do, so I can practice medicine over here. I keep volunteering for things I should not be doing at my age. I don’t duck as fast as I used to, but that’s OK. The Taliban are 0 for 4 currently, and I hope their poor marksmanship continues. I volunteered to go out with a Marine unit a couple of weeks ago. God, they are young but great young guys. I have asked to be reassigned to a forward operating base; not sure if they will approve it. They say I am a magnet for the Taliban.” Bob Sievert’s oldest son, Matthew, is doing a stint at Virginia Union University as a professor teaching physics, math and science. He wraps this up next year and is off to Ohio State in the fall to get back to his Ph.D. in physics (already has one year done). His youngest son, Andrew, is in the middle of his second year at Daniel Webster in New Hampshire, where he’s studying programming for gaming and simulation. Angela continues her work with wild animals as a rescuer and rehabilitator. Times are quiet right now, but the spring and late summer usually see the Sievert’s with a house full of baby squirrels, rabbits and God-only-knows what else. It seems like pretty amazing work and certainly very fulfilling for Angela. Bob’s work with Virginia (the state!) continues to be very challenging. He still heads up the state’s electronic procurement system, eVA, and is working to find ways to make it more worthwhile and effective for all those that have to work it day-in and day-out, just to do their jobs or get business. The one exciting news is that he has been asked to speak at two international conferences this winter. On Thanksgiving Day, he will be headed to Toronto to speak at a public procurement conference, and then in December, he will be taking a very long
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and round-about route to Cape Verde to speak at another public procurement seminar being held for the governments of Cape Verde, Portugal, England, Brazil, Paraguay and Senegal. Susan Vordermark scribes: “I’ve tried to get Jeff to send you something for the Review, but he’s busy and thinks he doesn’t have anything important to say. He is about to graduate his third class since we’ve retired here at Leavenworth. He loves the teaching / being with / mentoring the students part of his job … he hates the admin side of it all … .i.e., right hand not knowing what the left is doing in the higher-up office. He and our nearly 17-year-old, Seth, have been hunting. Jeff got a 9-point/240pound deer, and the two of them butchered and packaged it in my kitchen. They did such a good job, I allowed as how they could do it again, if one of them could shoot another buck. We’ll see.” Thanks, Susan. Please take note, all of you wives and significant others! This is a non-discriminatory effort here. I will take class notes submissions from all who wish to write! That’s all for now, BRs. See more of you on Facebook. Just another way to keep in touch! All the best from Renee and me on the Eastern Shore.
’80
Evans, Jay McCauley, Forrest Marion, Michael Smith and Dan Sweeney. As you’ll read below, each fall, a group of our BRs, led by Rob Quarles and Mike Lunning, gather in Lexington to attend a football game. Email messages related to the gathering picked up in August. In one message, Rob noted that Yves Pollart has joined an engineering firm in Harrisburg, PA, where he manages the environmental division. Don Bradshaw also wrote that he planned to attend and bring Karyn and the margarita machine she gave him for his 50th birthday. Matthew and Tanya Keys joined me and Patti on our roof deck to celebrate Matthew’s birthday. They live in lower Manhattan, and we plan an evening together once a month. In September, they hosted us at their apartment, and in October we attended a black-tie or costume Halloween party. Photos from their visit appear on the VMI Web site. John Stallings, who lives in Long Island, planned to join us on the roof but had a conflict.
John Gibney Jr.
Hello, Brother Rats. These notes cover the period Aug. 16, 2009, through Nov. 15, 2009. Thanks to all for your communication during this very active period, with apologies to all who reached out and did not receive a response. Ed Baker sent an e-mail upon his return to NC from Jackson Hole, WY, where he attended a Med. Ed. Course. Dr. Baker was accompanied by Dianna and their son, Charlie, and they enjoyed hiking and fly fishing in Yellowstone and the Tetons. Ed was also planning his annual fishing trip with Dennis Loba. Ed wrote that Dennis should call him “bus driver,” because Ed plans to take him to school. Jack Keane called while commuting from his home in Waldorf, MD, to his office in Laurel, MD. Jack is employed by Johns Hopkins where he oversees 200 employees. Jack is in contact with Tom Shedd and Larry Ciacci who are both employed in positions related to homeland security. Gary Levenson also called. However, after reading about himself in the last set of notes, Gary’s call lacked its usual pleasantries. Patti calmed Gary down by speaking about the new season of “Real Housewives.” In August, a new Rat class matriculated. Our BRs with sons who entered VMI were Bob
Class of 1980: Halloween Transformation: Matthew and Tanya Keys before (black tie) and after (shorts) attending a Halloween party in New York City.
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