Christmas 1993

 

David graduated from the U. of Michigan in August receiving his Ph.D. in Computer Science specializing in artificial intelligence and robotics.  He took a job with MITRE Corp. as a consultant to NASA, and is working at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.  He is doing basic research developing and testing mobile robot systems for the space station and other future NASA projects.  He is also on the planning committee for the International Mobile Robotics Competition to be held in Seattle next year.  Last year his U. of Michigan robot won the competition.  For recreation he enjoys running and working out, and camping.

 

Suzie finished her first year of working after graduating from law school.  She works as a tax attorney for McGladery & Pullen in Madison, WI.  She and her husband, Jerry, moved into a new house in July.  Jerry designed the house and did the architectural drawings.  They are busy with the finishing touches such as landscaping.  In her spare time Suzie plays league softball and basketball, and chauffeurs her brothers and sisters back and forth to the Madison and Milwaukee airports.

 

Steve is in his second year of graduate school in astronomy at the U. of Florida.  He likes Florida better than Southern California where he was in graduate school before.  He is doing very well in his studies and this summer was able to attend a week-long astronomy conference at Caltech all-expenses paid.  He works as a research assistant, and with a new research fellowship this year he had enough money to buy his first car – a new Mercury Tracer.  He still enjoys running, trains with the U. of Florida cross-country team, and competes in road races throughout Florida.  He won a race just before Thanksgiving with the prize being a frozen turkey.

 

Nancy is in her second year as a graduate student in audiology at the U. of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.  This fall she did her school internship in the Cedar Rapids school system, while staying with her uncle Ed.  She is now doing her medical internship at the U. of Florida Hospital and Clinic in Gainesville, and is staying with her brother Steve.  One high point of her stay was when Steve took her to Cape Canaveral to the space shuttle launch in December.  Nancy also continues to train as a runner, and also won (women’s division) that race in November in which the prize was a frozen turkey.  In October she ran with her sister Sarah in the Twin Cities Marathon.  It was the first marathon for both and they both ran well – Nancy’s finishing time was good enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

 

Peter is a senior at the UW-Madison.  He has completed his major in music (French horn), and is working on a major in physics.  His first love is performing, but he would also like to do acoustical research toward improving the French horn.  With his physics courses he will also be able to take advanced courses in astronomy, which is his hobby.  He plays in the UW-Madison Symphony Orchestra and many other campus groups, and hopes to play in a major symphony orchestra some day.  Peter works occasional “gigs” for money, and also works for the Music Department setting up for performances and supervising use of the practice rooms.  He is also a recreational runner, competing in road races.

 

Sarah is a senior at the U. of Minnesota-Minneapolis, majoring in psychology.  She has been an undergraduate research assistant for two projects, one being the famous Minnesota Twins and Family Project.  She locates and contacts twins, and records data for the Project.  She has also received a grant to conduct her own research next quarter for her Honor's Thesis.  Sarah is another active runner, competing in road races.  She ran the Twin Cities Marathon with Nancy in October; and they are both looking forward to their next marathon when they will be joined by Steve, and perhaps Peter.

 

Betsy started college this fall here at UW-Stevens Point.  She "loves it."  And she now has access to computers in the campus computer labs so she can send e-mail to her brothers and sisters at the other universities and NASA.  They all "talk" back and forth every day.  She will be going to Florida to visit Steve during Christmas vacation, and will be flying for the first time.  Betsy is also a runner, and this fall was an assistant coach to St. Peter's grade school cross-country team.

 

Katy is a junior in high school, and still has her straight "A" average.  She ran on the track and cross-country teams, is in Math League, a bowling league, and writes articles for the school page in the local newspaper.  This summer she went by bus with other youth from Stevens Point parishes to Denver for World Youth Day and the Pope's visit.

 

Tony started high school and is enjoying it very much, particularly athletics.  He ran cross-country and is now playing basketball as a starter on the freshman team.  Tony also made the bus trip to Denver for World Youth Day.