Checkpoints Class News

Howdy,  y’all, from The Lone Star State. Th­is is my first effort as class scribe. I’ll start with some Newcomb stuff:

Marvann, 85 this past February, and I, 89 In October, are doing well. Because of random-but-frequent dizzy spells, Marvann feels safe driving only to nearby (5 miles+/-) and very familiar roadways; so, I do most of the driving. [Now a Ford commercial: my first car, bought during our senior year for about $1,800, was a baby-blue Ford convertible; years later I had a Ford Ranger pickup which my son-in-law and I used to deliver breakfast tacos to about 200 convenience stores in/around central Texas; following that we’ve had 3 Ford Escapes, a 2010, 2011, and now a 2017 w 99,000 miles on the odometer!]

Marvann and I are planning to sell our home where we’ve lived for 16 years (the longest I’ve ever lived in one place) and move to a property (now being remodeled) on our daughter’s land 52 miles east of Austin, Texas. That puts us an hour’s drive from our great church and our wonderful neighbors 😞

The reason I’ve lived such short times in any one place is that my father was the Station Manager for Pan American Airways in Trinidad, Dutch Guiana (now named Suriname), Brazil, Haiti, Dominican Republic, then Costa Rica (where I became fluent in Spanish). Marvann and I have 4 children: Holly born in Okinawa in 1963 (married to Scott in Tennessee); Nanci (married to Manuel in Honduras), born at Elgin Air Force Base, Florida, is now living in Texas 52 miles east of Austin; Sid Paul, also born at Elgin AFB; and Danelle, born in the Air Force Academy hospital.

Now we’re here in our home with Danelle who, due to a tragic accident, recently had her left foot amputated; so, she has frequent follow up appointments to prevent infection.

Gary Gulbransen writes, “HEADLINE: Wife wrecks car! … The Rest of the Story: Forever Wife Susan was driving my car home from a restaurant (I had consumed a rather large Margarita), and we were rear-ended by a fast moving, older Japanese gentleman. Everyone was fine. I thought my car would be repaired, but USAA deemed it a total loss. My car was last seen being trailered to the auction for wrecks.”

J.T. Smith writes, “2026 started off well, because I was able to resume my tradition of taking a motorcycle ride on New Year's Day. The tradition started in 1977 when I was at Ramstein AB Germany and continued unbroken until 2025 when I was, unfortunately, hospitalized due to a GI bleed. I thought about discontinuing The Ride, since the string was now broken, but then I decide to resume it. It's a great way to start the New Year! 

“The 2026 Ride was both early (0001) and short (20 min), because I had to leave on a trip to attend the Memorial Service for Leon "Goody" Goodson in Bethesda, MD. The trip included taking advantage of the gracious hospitality of Les Querry and Marty at their mountain top "Falcon Roost" east of Winchester, VA. I was delighted to meet Ralph and Darlene Lalime and Jerry de la Cruz at Goody's service.

Norm Haller checked with, “Good evening to all. This afternoon I had a nice talk with Marty [Richert]--Just so you all know, Marty and I were roommates, and after graduation he was an attendant at our wedding.

“... now in a wheelchair; [he] had a fall mid-2025 and fractured hip. Recovered, but legs not doing well. Otherwise, in good cheer; gets out weekly with a volunteer lady who drives him around, shopping, etc. Goal is to live to 100! Marty has two sons: one in NM and the other in SC, near Bill Hales. That SC son has Marty's one grandson.

“I asked Marty what he does to stay busy. He reads a lot, especially likes subjects about the outdoors. I asked about crossword puzzles–he likes them also; so, I'll try to send him a book with those. He said he does receive the quarterly Checkpoints; so, I mentioned Sid’s taking over for Ken.” 

A big change, for JT's info and others who stay in touch with Marty, he no longer has a cell phone (I didn't ask why), and he doesn't use computer. He is only reachable via the front desk of his facility, Good Life Assisted Living …. He said it is all right to use that number to reach him …. The facility address is 108 Vision Drive, Ruidoso, NM 88345.

"Best to all, Norm (Hi from Liz as well. We're both celebrating over great-grandson birth this morning, number 35 grandchild)"

Early in April, Jim and Jenny Glaza joined a group of fourteen local friends for a 10-day Celebrity Cruise to the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao). Surpassing expectation, the food and (deluxe package) beverages were excellent—the islands of Curacao and Bonaire, not so much. While Aruba has a much larger population and concomitant commercial and tourist development, the other two Islands remain comparatively undeveloped third world destinations with nice beaches but very little to explore. Jim suggests staying much farther north than the former Dutch colonies.

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