Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Rose Valenti sent me a new e-mail address.

In addition, Rose sent the following information:

I have had a VERY challenging year. In January I had an abnormal mammogram and then in February I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. I then had further surgery to make sure it hadn't spread. Because we weren't sure if this was a recurrence, I had a gene test and found out I had a 25% chance of a recurrence. I then went to the Mayo Clinic in May who recommended chemo before radiation. I finished my chemo Aug 20 and immediately began my radiation. I complete my radiation next week but because my cancer is very aggressive, I continue biological infusions until next May!

Anyway, I have not worked since March. Thank God I have good insurance coverage, which includes Catastrophic coverage so I only had to pay the first $5,000 this year.

Take care,

Rose Valenti

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Wednesday, October 09, 2008

Ken Charvat furnished a new e-mail address.

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Saturday, Ocober 11, 2008

Pacific Northwest CANDOERs Fall 2008 Luncheon

In attendance were the following people:

From left to right: Kneelng, Phil Wold and Tom Mukai. Directly above them, Sue Wenndorf and Sara Wold. Leila Mukai and Irene Mataka and above them Lee Wenndorf and John Mataka. Sally Sandberg and Denise Hoof. Above Sally, Bob Sandberg. Partially kneeling, John Fochs. Behind John, Tom Gaither and Joann Gaither. Marianne Bowles (with coat over arm) and Gary Bowles. Dick Kalla, Lillian Fochs, Pat Kalla and Dick Brendley. In attendance but not in photo, Jim Amidon.

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Monday, October 13, 2008

I have two status reports to give to you all:

First: The following is forwarded for you action/information:

Bob,

This is from Gary Bobbitt . . . could you please put something in the CANDOER news for me.

Many thanks

John Kennedy is courageously fighting cancer. He has been undergoing chemo-therapy for some time now. I know he would love to hear from his friends and former colleagues in the Foreign Service. Let John and Loretta know that you have them in your thoughts and prayers.

Their address is:

John and Loretta Kennedy
1 Selkirk Drive
Charleston, SC 29414-7344
Tel: (843) 402-0555
johnnkk@comcast.net

Last night about 11 p.m. my wife, Nancy, told me that she had a sharp pain in her chest. We called the ambulance and when it had not come in 15 minutes I loaded her into my car and we made a quick run to the local hospital (12 miles in 8 minutes). They gave her aspirin, took a chest x-ray, and some blood but said nothing was wrong. To be safe, they suggested she be transferred to the Washington Hospital Center in N.E., Washington, DC. They loaded her in a MEDLife Unit and transferred her. We got to the Washington Hospital Center about 4 a.m. This morning at 10 a.m. they took her down to do a cauterization and discovered one artery on the right side and one of the left side of her heart were 70 percent blocked. They put in stents and she was back in the room by 1 p.m. She will be staying overnight and if nothing goes wrong during the night, she will be released to come home tomorrow about noon.

The doctor said she was lucky in that; #1 She did not ignore the pain in the upper right side of her chest (she thought at first she had a pulled muscle in her shoulder); #2 The doctors at our local dog and cat hospital decided to send her to the Heart Center, just to be safe.

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Saturday, October 18, 2008

Nancy is home and doing well. Today, for the first time since her hospitalization, we went out for dinner. She is doing and feeling great!

The CANDOER News has been up-loaded for your reading enjoyment. It may be found by going to here.

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Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Wilson Estell has returned to the States and has furnished a new snail-mail address.

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Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Status report on Farrell Cooper

The following information was received from Vic Maffei and is forwarded for your action/information:

Hi Cat

I had lost contact with my close friend and colleague, Ferrell Cooper, for about a year, and was fearing the worst, since he was battling cancer when I last was in contact. Well, his daughter Nancy called me a couple of weeks ago, saying that Ferrell wanted to make sure I was aware of his present condition. He and I have been in almost daily contact, one way or another.

Ferrell is receiving hospice care at his apartment; his fight against cancer is still stubbornly hard. Unfortunately the cancer is no longer concentrated where it was two-three years ago.

We and the Coopers go back as friends some 30 years now. Ferrell has been through an awful lot, what with his health, the loss of his wife at a young age, doing a great job as a single dad to Nancy, and his settling down in New Orleans being brought to an abrupt end by hurricane Katrina. He met all these challenges with the calm and strength of a saint.

He says he would be more than happy to hear from his CANDOER friends. I think the best way would be to send him well-wishes at his daughter Nancy's e-mail: nthibodeaux@gmail.com. (Nancy can make some large-print pages for him, I think). If any of you would like to send him something the old fashioned USPS pouch way, his address is:

Ferrell Cooper
345 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, IL 60202

From the Coopers and from us: God Bless!!!

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Thursday, October 23, 2008

Todd Roe furnished an up-dated bio that includes a new e-mail address.

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Saturday, October 25, 2008

Wade Taylor furnished a new snail-mail address and his date of retirement. Congratulations to Wade on his retirement!

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Monday, October 27, 2008

Death of John Kennedy

It is with deep sadness that I inform you of the death of John Kennedy. The following was received from Gary Bobbitt:

John Kennedy passed away October 26 a little after 8 p.m. Loretta and Amy greatly appreciate all of the cards, emails and letters received from their friends and colleagues. Funeral arrangement details will be provided when known.

Also, Loretta has asked if some of you could send some stories or experiences you would like to share while working with John. Both serious and humorous would be appreciated. Some of these may be shared at the funeral in Charleston, SC

Please send comments to Gary Bobbitt at garybo88@gmail.com

Funeral arrangements for John Kennedy

The following telegram was sent to the field by Shari Wagner with information received from Gary Bobbitt:

1. The IRM Bureau is saddened to inform you of the death of our friend and colleague, John Kennedy. John passed away after a battle with cancer in Charlestown, SC on October 26. During his 36 years of Government Service, John served in the United States Air Force and with the Department in Paris, Saigon, Vienna, Pretoria, Ibadan, Montreal, Harare, and several Washington assignments. He was the 1986 winner of the Thomas Morrison Communicator of the Year. His career culminated with his last assignment as the Managing Director of Systems Operations. John retired from the Department in 1995. He will be greatly missed by all of his IRM colleagues and friends.

2. The service will take place on Thursday, October 30 at 11 a.m. at J Henry Stuhr, Inc. West Ashley Chapel 3360 Glenn McConnell Pwky, West Ashley Charleston, S.C.

3. The family will receive friends at Stuhr's West Ashley Chapel this Wednesday, October 29 from 6 until 8 o'clock.

4. Committal services will be held in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

5. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in John's memory be made to The Senior Living Foundation of the American Foreign Service at 1716 N Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036-2902, phone 202-887-8170, fax 202-872-9320.

Condolence messages may be sent to his wife:

Ms. Loretta Kennedy
1 Selkirk Drive
Charleston, SC 29414-7344

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Friday, October 31, 2008

The following was received from Loretta Kennedy:

Amy and I would like to express our sincere appreciation for all of the e-mails, cards, letters and phone calls from our friends in the Foreign and Civil Service during John's illness. Most of the emails were read during the eulogy for John and we are so appreciative of all your kind comments. The volume of mail reminded us once again how special our Foreign and Civil Service friends are ... something John and I often discussed. John's heart was always in Washington among friends and he missed it so much. His two-year battle with cancer was difficult but his positive attitude impressed many. He will be missed.

Again, thank you.

Loretta Kennedy

We have three new members: Phillip and Kolbreun Bunch and John Varner. Welcome aboard!

Tribute to John Nathan Kennedy

William Shapespeare had it wrong when he wrote: "Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." It was very apparent he had never met someone like John or he would never have written those words in Macbeth.

In my 41 year career as a Civil Service employee and contract employee at State I ran into very few people who really impressed me. I was fortunate enough to meet the other John Kennedy, the one who was President; I met several secretary's of state; and was fortunate enough to work with and for four or five people I add to my very short list of impressive people. At the top of that list is John Nathan Kennedy.

Many of you have stated this in your e-mails, letters, and cards to Loretta and Amy, but I am going to reiterate it here. John was a "special" person. He had the knack of putting everyone at ease in his presence. He made you feel like you had been friends all your life, even if it had been for a few minutes. His intelligence and his ability to handle any task or crisis were unsurpassed. His sense of humor and his calm demeanor, regardless of the chaos around him, were remarkable. Without fanfare, he got things done!

Although his memories will be with me for a lifetime, I mourn his departure from this earth and celebrate the fact that he called me a friend. May he rest in peace

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Saturday, November 01, 2008

We have a new member, Jim Parrish. Welcome aboard!

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Tuesday, November 09, 2008

Death of Ferrell Cooper

With sadness I pass on the following information received in a telephone confersation with Faith Lee this morning:

Ferrell Cooper's daughter Nancy called Faith this morning and informed her that Ferrell lost his battle with cancer.

Anyone wishing to send condolences to Nancy may do so at the following address:

Nancy Thibodeaux
924 Judson Avenue
Evanston, IL 60202-4515

Tel: (847) 778-1195

I have received no information as to viewing or services, but was informed that burial will take place in Alabama. If any additional information is received it will be passed on to all.

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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Funeral services for Ferrell Cooper

The following was received from Vic Maffei

Hi Everyone:

Ferrell Cooper's daughter, Nancy Thibodeaux, informs that there will be a graveside service 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008, at Flatrock Methodist Cemetery, Cranehill, Alabama.

Ferrell has gone home!

Messages of support and sympathy may be sent to the entire
Cooper family through Nancy's Email:

nthibodeaux@gmail.com Suggest that phone messages to 1 (847) 778-1195 be done from 11/13/08 on.

Vic M.

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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

With sadness I post the following obituary received from Gary Kelly to the CANDOER web site.

Hello Bob

My name is Gary Kelly, FS retired. I worked in the Department (OC) back in the 74, 75, 76 time period. I used to commute with Jim Shelton and others from the Woodbridge/Dale City area, 2nd shift. My daughter, Terri, passed away on November 12, 2008. Terri had many FS school friends and colleagues. I don't know them all nor do I know their whereabouts. They are probably scattered far and wide and perhaps do not read the CANDOER web pages. Those parents who do read the CANDOER may recognize and remember this precious child of God, and will pass the information to those of their children who know Terri.

Gary

Death of Terri Lynn (Kelly) Bizzarro

Terri Lynn Kelly Bizzarro, 42, of Two Rivers, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008, surrounded by her family after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer.

A native of Tehran, Iran, she was a daughter of Gary and Janet Kelly.

Terri graduated from the University of Maine, summa cum laude in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in business management.

She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Fairbanks. She loved romance novels, old movies, Celtic music, and chocolate.

The family stated, "Terri had many amazing qualities. She was selfless in every sense of the word. She was loving, caring and had tremendous strength and will. Her courage and character were unwavering, always putting others' needs above her own. There is nothing in this world she loved more than her family, namely her three sons and husband. She was a beautiful woman with a beautiful soul and will be sorely missed. This world is a lesser place without her. Sleep, warm angel."

She was preceded in death by her mother, Janet Kelly.

She is survived by her husband, Jeff Bizzarro of Two Rivers; sons, Michael, Matthew and Mason Bizzarro of Two Rivers; her father, Gary Kelly of Ocala, Fla.; brothers, Kent Kelly of Ocala, Drew Kelly of Mount Pleasant Mills, Pa., David Kelly of Denver and Anthony Kelly of San Antonio, Texas; niece, Meghan Bizzarro of Two Rivers; nephews, Caleb Bizzarro, Forest Bizzarro and Hunter Bizzarro, all of Two Rivers; brother-in-law, Robert Bizzarro of Two Rivers; sister-in-law, Joanna Bizzarro of Two Rivers; and mother-in-law, Dawn Donovan of Two Rivers.

A memorial service was held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Immaculate Conception Church in with the Rev. Father Mirek Woznica officiating.

A celebration of life will also be held and announced at a later date.

The family requests memorial donations be made to the Fairbanks Rescue Mission, 723 27th Ave., Fairbanks, AK 99701.

Condolences may be sent to Gary at the following e-mail address:

gkkjfk@hotmail.com

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