Marie Robertson Stewart

Good HS friends and NHS schooling prepared me well for a great life. Although Pennsylvania is beautiful, the pull of “Go West, Young Gal” was too strong and I had to go -- first for a degree in Statistics and Mathematics from BYU in Utah, and then to the golden state of California for a scientific programming job in Aerospace. I never liked cold weather nor snow, so year-round sunshine had a lot to do with the choice. Actually it took only a few visits in February before my parents and all of my siblings came West too. After 5 years of working, I met and married my husband Dale. Four children quickly followed, so I became a stay-at-home mom and volunteered for everything they were involved in. For many years, I was a Red Cross volunteer, teaching swimming, lifeguarding, CPR, and first aid. For 40 years, I’ve baked and decorated specialty and wedding cakes – terrible business plan though, as it is mostly for friends and family. When our last child left for college, I found I had a bit too much time on my hands and worked for a couple of Silicon Valley startups – heady times for seven years, but extremely demanding hours. It became increasingly difficult to fit in being a wife, mother, and grandmother with the relentless schedules. When my husband retired in 2004, we served a 2-year LDS mission in Germany. We’ll always speak German like Americans, but the wonderful friends we met there loved that we did.
Life's challenges come whether we invite them or not. In November, 2017, my husband Dale passed away from Alzheimers (very cruel disease). Fortunately there were 45 great married years together before his last months robbed him of most of life's precious memories. I'm as busy now as ever volunteering at Church and in the community and enjoying our extended family (especially the 11 grandchildren).
I'm so sorry that my plans won't include a trip East for this 55th reunion. Take lots of pictures -- I'll be there with you in Spirit!

Upon entering Mr. Frescoln's english class one day, we noticed another gentleman visiting for the day. Some of the classmates who were more savvy with Who's-Who recognized the visitor immediately, but I didn't until Mr. Frescoln asked, "Do any of you have a question for Mr. James Michener?"
Somethings are wasted on the youth. Too bad we can't have a redo of a special day -- over the years I've wondered how I would have better used that opportuntiy.