The Way We Are
Family Info:
Celebrating 35 years of marriage to the same guy this year! Ed and I have a daughter, Melissa, age: 32 and a son, James, age: 29. Melissa graduated from Furman University in 2000 and spent the following 5 years living in Santiago, Chile. She returned to pursue a Masters degree in International Economic Development from Johns Hopkins School of International Studies in Washington, D.C. (She graduated with Bob Lapidus’ son!) She now works for Booze Allen in McLean, VA as an international economist. James graduated from Villanova University in 2003 and worked for Northrup Gruman as a computer engineer until pursuing a career in finance. He graduated with an MBA from University of Chicago and now works for Morgan Stanley in New York City as an investment banker.
What I’ve been doing:
The number one thing I’ve been doing is trying to keep up with my family which is a great pleasure and challenge at the same time. We have traveled to some most unusual places thanks to Melissa, Ed, and my job prior to retirement. I graduated from Radford College, not as a teacher. As fate would have it, I ended up becoming an instructor for Xerox. I loved teaching adults things that they never thought they could do, typing on a computer without a screen. Do any of you remember the IBM mag card and mag tape typewriters? I taught folks how to use the Xerox 800 typing system which was very similar and taught some classes at the Xerox International Training Center in Leesburg, VA. (I ran into Bob Lapids there!) As the family demands increased I left Xerox to raise the family. After about 10 years the corporate world called again and I ended up working for Sylvan Learning Systems in the computer based testing division, not as a teacher. I stayed there about 10 years and retired in 2002. Unable to truly retire, my volunteer work became a part-time job until Ed and I moved to paradise in Santa Rosa Beach, FL in May, 2010. We love it here. The only challenge is the location is too far from Washington, DC and New York City, although the kids never complain about having a “beach” (1/2 mile from the beach) house on a golf course.
Current Photos:
Bonnie and Ed
Ed, Melissa, Bonnie and James
Now: Bonnie Rekas
Date: April 2011
To My Classmates: Thanks to Susan Sharp Morgan and Betsy Detwiler for encouraging me to come to the reunion. Looking forward to seeing everyone and reconnecting.
Special thanks to everyone who had a hand in making this happen.
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BONNIE KNAPP: Homeroom Treasurer 3; Ultimi Service Club 2; Omega Service Club Historian 3; Parlimentarian 4; Pep Club 3, 4; Future Homemakers of America 3; Future Teachers of America 4; Swim Club 4; GRENADIER Staff 4; SENTRY Staff 3; GAA 2, 3, 4; Powder Puff Football 4.