[ City: Mercer Island | State: WA | Birthdate: 08/31/51 ]

Unfortunately...or fortunately I got laid off in 2008 like many people here in Washington. Wasn't sure what I was going to do so I got my GED...FINALLY! Although it never kept me from earning a great income or being a successful business woman. It was just one of those things I wanted to take care of and had the time to do it. I also took four quarters of business classes and I am continuing with on-line course. I had a blast going back to school needless to say. I was on the Dean's List and President's list and had the pleasure of sitting on a tenure committee for one of the professors. I got a great job last April. I am the Administrative/Facilities Coordinator for a well known shelter for homeless youth in the Seattle area. We provide everything from food, education, counseling, overnight shelter and transitional housing. I have always been involved with youth programs, but this is the most rewarding so far. After I got the job, I decided it was time to move off Lake Union and on to Lake Washington. I live in a charming cottage with a beautiful garden...and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Most of my family has all migrated up from California to Washington. We wouldn't want to live anywhere else. The Northwest is beautiful! You just have to appreciate shades of gray in the winter and get out in it! We all love outdoor sports so this is perfect for all of us. We have a few family members still in California, but that might change in 2011. Thrive and be well in 2011,   JoAnn    [12/18/10]

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I have never been to any of the reunions so it was really fun reading everyone's bio and looking at pictures. A friend recently told me about this website. I have been married twice. My first husband was Ronald Dean Smith (class of 1968). We were divorced in 1970. We had a son named Ronald Dean Smith, II who was kidnapped and killed when he was 5 years young by a serial killer in California. His killer is still in jail for killing at least 31 people that he was charged for...I am sure there were more victims. Ronnie was his youngest victim. That was the biggest loss in my whole life and I will never get over it. I remarried in 1980 and was married for 14 years to a wonderful man. I lost a baby during preganacy in that marriage and never had any children after that. However, I have been blessed to work with so many young adults over the years and many of them call me Mama Jo. I have experienced great losses, but I am also very blessed and grateful for the life I have been given. I owned my own construction company during the 80's and 90's. I have been involved in historic vessel restoration for almost 20 years. I started my own non-profit corporation that restored a historic sail boat. She is currently owned and operated by the non-profit I put her under. I developed interdisciplinary sail-training education programs that are continued to be used here in the State of Washington. I have also been very successful at grant writing not only for historic preservation but for youth sail training and education on board historic ships. I have had the pleasure to write curriculum for these programs with some of the most creative and brilliant female professors here in Washington. It has been a great experience! I am currently working for an Alaska Native Corporation as their Executive Secretary and Board Administrator. They also have a non-profit that provides scholarships for their shareholders and direct descendants. I am the Executive Director for their non-profit. I am very busy and work very hard, which concerns my family at times. I love what I do and I have always been very blessed to have the opportunity to earn a living doing what I love and is also part of my everyday life. I hope to have another sailboat in the near future or a vintage TearDrop camper that I can restore. I love doing woodwork and I am also a wood carver, mostly doing nameboards for friend's vessels or homes. My other interests include quilting, which I have taught over the years and also cooking, which I have taught as well. I have also had the pleasure of cooking in my spare time on various historic schooners here in the NW. I kayak and swim as much as possible and do not go camping as much as I would like. I use to run a great deal and have recently been considering taking it up again. I weighed all of 113lbs up until age 53. What happened!? HA! I have always been involved in the various communities I have had the pleasure of living in. I have sat on a number of boards and chaired various committees. I feel so blessed to have had the oportunities to learn so much. I designed and built a huge house with my ex-husband. I have gone from owning a big house to living on board a 68' schooner for seven years to living in a very efficient small space that allows me time to do the things I enjoy. My deck is bigger than my livingroom and that suits me just fine, especially with entertaining so much. I never completed high school nor did I receive any formal education. However, I find that I am more intelligent and well read than most of my colleagues and I have always been able to support myself very comfortably. I still have family living in California, but most of us have moved to Washington. My mother passed away in 1983 from lung cancer. My father passed away in 2003 of old age...ahhh, that good Irish peasant stock! I hope to be so fortunate! I am grateful for my health and have escaped having to take any medicine so far....knock on wood! I am currently single and living with two beautiful Persian cats. I entertain a great deal due to the view I have....everyone likes to come and hang out at my place, plus the food is fabulous! HA! I have kept in touch with a few high school friends over the years and it would be great to hear from others. Warmest Regards, JoAnn