The Way We Are
Family Info: Married to Joyce Kelly from Flagstaff, Arizona – just celebrated 38 years. Eight children (4 boys and 4 girls) – Kirsti, Anders, Heidi, Nina, Jacob, Matt, Liisa and Richard (Todd)
What Have You Been Doing?
After graduating from Yorktown I attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, continuing to study Russian and play the trombone. I performed with the BYU International Folk Dancers. I served a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Finland from 1968 to 1970 and then returned to BYU. Studied at the University of Helsinki and the University of Leningrad; married Joyce Kelly from Arizona in 1973 and returned to Washington DC area in 1976 to complete a Ph.D in International Studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies with focus on Soviet Foreign Policy (who knew?). Stumbled onto issues in international agriculture when I finally had to get a job, and ended up working for the US Grains Council for the past 26 years. (The Council is a non-profit association that expands export markets for US coarse grains exports – ask me and I’ll tell you all about US corn export issues.)
Life has been wonderful – my work enabled me to see many parts of this beautiful world. At home Joyce and I kept busy raising 8 children and serving in the LDS Church in many unpaid leadership capacities. The kids - Kirsti, Anders, Heidi, Nina, Jacob, Matt, Liisa and Richard (Todd). Kirsti is married and just gave birth to their 5th daughter. Anders and wife have 2 girls and one boy. Heidi to be married a week after this reunion. Nina is a Middle East specialist at State Dept, Jacob and wife expecting their 2nd daughter (they live in St. Louis). Matt with wife and 2 kids lives in Utah. Liisa just returned from BYU – career path TBD. Richard (Todd) is autistic and very low functi0ning – lives with us and enjoys his own private, quiet world. Wife Joyce is an angel. In case you lost count, we have 11 grandchildren (of which only 2 are boys) and one more on the way this year.
Current Photos:
‘Erick and Joyce’ taken about 2 years ago.
Our entire family in 2008. We have added a few more grandkids and will add a son-in-law this month.
