Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Who is Matthew Goodwin?

If you ask John Spencer this question, no doubt he'll break into a huge smile and tell you the heart-warming story of how Matthew got back his vision. As many of you already know, John (and his wife, Anne, too) is an active participant in numerous charitable organizations, not the least of which is the Lions Club of Basalt Colorado. Matthew was a local boy who worked at Snowmass Village as a cook in a pizza place. His vision started deteriorating around the age of 14, and after a few misdiagnoses, doctors told him he had Keratoconus, a condition requiring corneal transplants within a decade or total blindness would result; this was in 1997.

Following the MDs' suggestions, the family opted to wait as long as possible until the surgery had advanced, offering the greatest chances of success. Skip ahead until October, 2008, and enter the Basalt Lions Club. One of the members spoke of Matthew's problems, vision and others: no insurance, uninsurable, no available government assistance, and no funds to pay for surgeries in the neighborhood of $15,000 per eye. The local Lions Club, whose main focus is eyesight, jumped at the chance to help --- enter John Spencer. John, a past district governor and a Lion for more than 35 years, had also spent 13 years as a trustee of the Rocky Mtn Lions Eye Institute, so he knew immediately what to do and who to contact. The eye bank provided donor tissue for free; matched the funds raised by the Basalt Lions; and helped John locate a surgeon willing to perform the transplant.

On July 21, 2009, less than 8 months later, Matthew received his first corneal transplant, with no problems and amazing success. His second transplant was done November 9 ---- he now has 20/20 vision in both eyes.

It's an amazing and heart-warming story. Be sure to tell John how proud you are of his work with the Lions, especially on Matthew's behalf.

More Sadness to Report

We learned of the passing of Bob Langford on December 9, 2010, in Cape Coral Florida; we haven't been able to learn any other details.

Then on February 27, 2011, we received the following e-mail from Anke Wamser's brother:
"Dear Classmates of Anke,
It is with deep sorrow that I am advising you of the death of my sister, Anke Maren Thea (Wamser) Jachmann. Anke passed away on February 16, 2011 in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She suffered a massive heart attack on February 14, 2011 from which she never regained consciousness.
Heinz Wamser
630-427-0672"

The full obituary follows (thanks to the effort of Garland Edgell):
"Anke Maren Thea Wamser Jachmann, 71, of Idaho Falls, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
Anke was born June 11, 1939, in Schleswig, Germany, to Willi Wamser and Karla Ottzen Wamser. She graduated from high school in Chicago.
She married Bruno Heinz Jachmann on Dec. 30, 1970, in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. As a military family, they made their homes in Columbus, Ga.; Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Fayetteville, N.C.; Bblingen, Germany; Hampton, Va.; and finally in Idaho Falls. They were blessed with a beautiful daughter, Larisa.
She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served as a Primary teacher, several times as a Relief Society teacher and volunteered in the Family History Center.
Anke enjoyed sewing, crafts and decorating her home.
Survivors include her husband, Bruno H. Jachmann of Idaho Falls; daughter, Larisa A. (Troy Swiger) Jachmann-Swiger of Hampton, Va.; mother, Karla Wamser of Hampton, Va.; and brother, Heinz (Jeanne) Wamser of Woodridge, Ill.
She was preceded in death by her father and a brother, Hans Arno Wamser.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 21, at the Idaho Falls LDS Ammon 27th Ward at 7118 Ledgerock Drive, with Bishop Jacob Dustin officiating. The family will visit with friends from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be in Ammon Cemetery under the direction of Wood Funeral Home, 963 S. Ammon Road.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com."

Our sincere sympathy goes out to the families of our classmates, Bob and Anke; it seems life is getting shorter and a little sadder the older we get.

Bucket Lists are Spreading

We're starting to hear more and more from classmates about creating bucket lists of things they wish to do while they are still able. First, there was a trip to Alaska for Ray Vybiral and his wife Marilyn with Gordon and Allene Rudolph Rondeau, a bucket list entry for both couples. There's an earlier blog post describing their adventures in our 49th state.

Next we heard from Dave Spero who told of his adventures sky-diving for the first time. He sent us pictures, so be sure to see the earlier blog post of this amazing feat.

Our most recent bucket list adventure comes from what appears to be our most serious bucket-lister: Ray Vybiral. He sent us the following e-mail:
"Well, I am signed up for the Richard Petty Driving Experience in September.
Marilyn and I went to Alaska last year and that was a real Bucket list item.
I hope to get up on water skis this summer, probably has been close to 10 years since I last skied.
I think eveyone should have a Bucket List of the things they want to do in their lifetime.
Ray"

And to prove he's really going to do this:

"RAYMOND VYBIRAL
B030450879
Thank you for joining Richard Petty Driving Experience! This letter confirms your reservation for the following date and time:

EXPERIENCE: ROOKIE EXPERIENCE
DATE & TIME: SEPTEMBER 23, 2011 @ 12:00PM
LOCATION: CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY"

We look forward to pics from this amazing adventure, Ray. And if any of the rest of you out there are merrily crossing off bucket list entries, let us know the details; we're sure your classmembers are as interested as we are.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

At Long Last, I Return

I can't believe it's been over 3 months since I've added to this blog. But that's what happens when a computer decides it doesn't want to be upgraded. First, it just wouldn't operate; then when it began running, it also started crashing at the drop of a hat; finally, it not only crashed, it began presenting me with what became known as "the blue screen of death", a bright blue screen with warnings of imminent damage to the computer. At long last, thru the efforts of my husband, Don, and a local computer guru, affectionately known as Les Nessman (with apologies to Les and WKRP in Cincinnati), my computer is upgraded and is operating just as it should be. And with that, the class blog will continue.

First things first, however: I hope y'all had a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving, the merriest of Christmases, a loving Valentine's Day, and a very happy new year that brings health, good luck, and much happiness to all of us. Lastly, let's all hope that winter is about over. And now, on with the blog.......