Sentimental Sunday: TAMU RPTS Stories - R&P Club Fall Speakers, 1976

Here are more pages from the scrapbook I kept in 1976-1977 as the Reporter-Historian of the Texas A&M University Recreation and Parks Club, being posted here in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences Department.  These pages summarize the programs and guest speakers at meetings of the club during the Fall 1976 semester.

When he received his 30-year service award with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) on August 28, 2003, it was noted that  Steve Jones '75 (pictured at right), who spoke to the club on September 21, 1976, "began his career with TPWD at Lake Somerville State Park as a seasonal employee, where he hauled garbage and cleaned restrooms, for $1.49 an hour.

After four years as assistant park manager, Steve left and became the manager at Possum Kingdom State Park, where he worked for 12 years. In 1989, Steve became the manager at Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway. During this time at Lake Mineral Wells, he has been instrumental in building and opening the Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway in 1996, the Administration Training Center in 1999 and the 750-person Lone Star Amphitheater in 2002.

...He has worked with those communities in that area as well as or better than anybody in this entire Agency. When you pull into Mineral Wells and that part of Texas, they know who Steve Jones is. He is very active in the community, has been very involved in youth target range development, shooting areas for young people and for shooting clubs."

Jones retired in 2007.

Left: Vic Penuel from the Alcohol Division of the Brazos County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center, spoke to the R&P Club about their programs and volunteer opportunities on November 2, 1976.

Below:  Ronnie Gibson and Steve Kline '76 with the Lincoln Recreation Center in College Station, also spoke to the club on November 2, 1976, about their programs and volunteer opportunities.  Steve also advised that RP 311 (Community Recreation Programs) and RP 340 (Recreation for Special Populations) to be especially helpful in his career.

Left:  Pat Johnson of the Houston Arboretum.  Pat earned her B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences in 1974, and is now its associate director (as Pat Marks).



© Amanda Pape - 2016 - click here to e-mail me.

Sympathy Saturday: My Cousin Rho, 1949-2016

On February 19, 2016, my beautiful first cousin Rosemary Jean Steff Grandusky died at age 66 after a long battle with cancer.

This picture is my favorite of the few I've taken of her, from our grandmother's 80th birthday party in December 1982 in Chicago.

Rho (that's what everyone called her) was born May 11, 1949, in Evanston, Illinois - just like me and so many of my first cousins.  I bet it was at St. Francis Hospital, too, just like many Pape descendants.  She was the oldest of the seven children of my dad's older sister, Elizabeth Mary "Betty" Pape, and Frank James "Bud" Streff (1925-2014).  She was also the oldest of the 28 first cousins and grandchildren of our common ancestors, Paul Robert Pape (1896-1970) and Elizabeth Florence Massmann Pape (1902-2000).

Rho's father, my Uncle Bud, became District Sales Manager for Continental Coffee Company; and the family moved from Chicago to Rochester, New York, sometime between August 1957 and October 1959.  Rochester was Rho's home for the rest of her life, though she loved to travel both domestically and abroad.

According to her son JJ and daughter-in-law Marianne, Rho and her husband Steve met at a fraternity party in 1970, where, due to "my father's tendency to be annoying, he gained my mother's attention by throwing pebbles in her drink."  They fell in love and married in June 1971, and had three children, daughters Heather and Brooke as well as son JJ.  They in turn gave her seven grandchildren.

Rho became a nurse (like her mother and sister Beth), earning a BSN and a MS in Nursing and Hospital Administration from St. John Fisher College in Rochester.  She led surgical nursing teams at Genesee and Highland hospitals in Rochester.  She inspired her three children to have careers in health care as well (physical therapy, nursing, and medical sales).

Later, Rho was a manager with Ernst & Young Consulting, a vice-president with Cardinal Health, a senior manager in health care supply chain consulting with Capgemini, and a Managing Director for Navigant Consulting, Inc., helping to build a business that brought in $15 million in annual revenue.  As the National Supply Chain Practice Leader,

She provides leadership to all Supply Chain staff and engagements. Ms. Grandusky also supports NCI’s Perioperative Services improvement projects. With over 25 years of industry experience in perioperative services and 13 years of consulting experience her expertise spans a variety of providers, including large hospital systems, community hospitals, academic medical centers, and major healthcare manufacturers and distributors. She has assisted clients with supply chain and perioperative operations improvement, working with physicians and clinicians on standardization and utilization initiatives as well as other interventions that drive millions out of the bottom line.

Rho was also an artistically talented woman who could sing and sew like a dream.  She made prom dresses and bridesmaids' gowns and other clothing for family members, and was an avid quilter.  Here is one of the many beautiful and intricate quilts she made:

In 2007, Rho was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. This chronic form of blood cancer brought severe bone pain, multiple fractures, and debilitating neuropathy. Rho endured two stem cell transplants, chemotherapy, many other procedures and treatments, and much pain.  She later worked with palliative care specialists to meet her goals of less pain along with a clear mind.  According to an August 2015 blog post of the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester, "She was willing to accept living with some pain in order to continue activities she loves and to spend quality time with her family and friends."

We lived far apart growing up, and did not see each other that often, but thanks to the magic of Facebook (and the friendship of her wonderful family), I was able to witness Rho's immense courage as well as her unending care and enduring love for others. There is a hole in so many hearts now.

Rest in peace my dear cousin, and love to all of your family.

[This is my 1,000th post on this blog.  I began it on December 1, 2009.]


© Amanda Pape - 2016 - click here to e-mail me.

Friday's Faces From the Past: TAMU RPTS Stories - 1976 Christmas Party

Here are more pages from the scrapbook I kept in 1976-1977 as the Reporter-Historian of the Texas A&M University Recreation and Parks Club, being posted here in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences Department.  These are from the annual Christmas party, held at the Briarwood Apartment complex Blue Room.  It was a rather dressy affair, at least in those days.

Above:  RP Club 1976-77 officers pose for a group photo at the Christmas party on December 3, 1976.  Standing from the left:  Bob Lisauckis '77, social chairman; John Kibler '77, president; Clay Callaway '77, Agriculture Council representative; and John Melton '77, Spring 1977 vice-president.  Seated from the left:  Amanda Pape '78, reporter-historian;  Deb Cleland '78, Fall 1976 vice-president (resigned to do a study abroad program in Scotland in Spring 1977 semester); Roxane Westphal '77, secretary; and Peggy Cook '80, treasurer.

Above:  Spring 1977 vice-president John Melton '77, Dr. Lou Hodges, and Joe Bihon '77 sample a variety of wines.

Below:  president John Kibler '77 and Jack Reinarz '76 try some of the cheeses and crackers.

Above:  Debbie and Jim Pack '78 talk with Dr. and Mrs. B. Dan (Marihelen) Kamp.

Below:  Jackie and Glenn Highfill '79.

Above:  president John Kibler '77, Kim McAdams '78, and David Anderson '77.

  Below:  Agriculture Council representative Clay Callaway '77, Lynn Timken '79, Jim Pack '78,
 and treasurer Peggy Cook '80.

© Amanda Pape - 2016 - click here to e-mail me.

(Not-So-) Wordless Wednesday: Charles Guokas Jr., Houston Assistant Fire Marshall, 1942

At left is a photo of my maternal grandfather, Charles Peter Guokas Jr. (1903-1967), that was part of his identification (a card or a badge) when he served as assistant fire marshal for the City of Houston, Texas, in the early 1940s.

Below is a clipping from page 442 of the 1942 Houston, Texas, City Directory, showing all the Guokases (all of whom are related).  Charles Jr. with wife Melzina and three children live at 2215 Shearn, and he is an assistant City Fire Marshal.



© Amanda Pape - 2016 - click here to e-mail me.

Sentimental Sunday: TAMU RPTS Stories - The Function at Junction, November 1976

Here's another page from the scrapbook I kept in 1976-1977 as the Reporter-Historian of the Texas A&M University Recreation and Parks Club.  This one covers what was the first in a series of what we called "The Function at Junction," a gathering of students from the various universities in the state that had programs in recreation and parks and chapters in STRAPS, the Student Texas Recreation and Park Society, the student branch of TRAPS, the state organization for recreation and park professionals.

The first "Function at Junction" was hosted by the Texas Tech Recreation and Parks Club, as Texas Tech owned the property in Junction, Texas (although Texas A&M University originally owned it).   About 30 students from five universities attended the weekend event, held November 12-14, 1976.  I was one of four students attending from Texas A&M.  It was a great weekend of work (to better organize STRAPS) and fun.

Above:  A&M R&P Club vice-president Deb Cleland '78, top right, leads a "people" game - this one could be called "Pass the Laugh," as you rest your head on the stomach of another person in the chain, and "feel" laughter.  Student Texas Recreation and Park Society vice-president Patsy Siegismund (a SWTSU student) is second from left; Texas Tech R&P Club president (and the host for the event) Ed Janousek is fifth from the left.

© Amanda Pape - 2016 - click here to e-mail me.

Sibling Saturday: Amanda, Karen, Mark and Brian, Houston, Texas, ABT 1965

Clockwise from me in the upper left:  Amanda (age 8), Karen (7), Brian (3), and Mark (5), in front of our house at 8015 Sharpview in Houston, Texas.  The slide is stamped August 1965, so the photograph was taken in or before that month.  The tree behind me, just planted back then, is absolutely huge now.


© Amanda Pape - 2016 - click here to e-mail me.

Friday's Faces From the Past: TAMU RPTS Stories - Halloween Party, 1976

More pages from the scrapbook I kept in 1976-1977 as the Reporter-Historian of the Recreation and Parks Club at Texas A&M University, being posted here in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences Department.

Of course the R&P Club had a Halloween party!  Many members brought guests who were not Recreation and Parks majors to join in the fun.

Above:  secretary Roxane Westphal '77, treasurer Peggy Cook '80, and Jim Pack '78 enjoy the "witches' brew."

Below:  Darrel Rhyne  '76, coach for the club's intramural volleyball team, and reporter-historian Amanda Pape '78

Above:  Liaison Committee chairperson Sherry Camp '77 carefully passes a lifesaver from her toothpick to that of Robin Pfannstiel '77.

Below:  Cynthia Duke '79 and Susan Rohan.

Above:  Beverly Tuttle '78 samples items entered in the baking contest before casting her vote(s).

Below:  Costume contest winners Kim McAdams '78 and her friends Lauren Griffith (Landscape Architecture '79) and Randy Cloud.

Club president John Kibler '77 (above) won the apple bobbing contest in two seconds, while 
Liaison Committee chairperson Sherry Camp '77 (below) took 24 seconds but still came in third.

© Amanda Pape - 2016 - click here to e-mail me.

(Not-So-) Wordless Wednesday: Mom & Sister Jean Marie in Europe, Summer 1977

Twenty-four years after her first trip to Europe, my mother, Geraldine Margaret Guokas Pape, got to go back, with the Foreign Study League.  Her sister, my aunt Sister Jean Marie (Jo Ann) Guokas, had served as a counselor with the program for a number of years (responsible for eight high school students spending the summer in Europe).  When she became an administrator with the program (responsible for the whole traveling group), she recruited my mother as a counselor in the summer of 1977.  Mom was thrilled to have the opportunity to go back to Europe.

In the photo below, Sister Jean Marie and Mom are at the very front of this train to tour the Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden, the Salt Mine near Berchtesgaden, Germany.

And in this photo, Sister Jean Marie and Mom are opposite each other at the far end of a table with fellow counselors and students, possibly in Munich:

© Amanda Pape - 2016 - click here to e-mail me.

Sentimental Sunday: Happy Valentine's Day!

Me and Breathless on his sailboat, 1980-81.

© Amanda Pape - 2016 - click here to e-mail me.

Sibling Saturday: Brian and Mary, ABT 1965

Brian (almost 3) and Mary (about 6 months), sometime between March and June, 1965, at our maternal grandmother (Sara Melzina Wolfe Guokas Archibald)'s home, 1118 Bay Oaks in Houston, Texas.


© Amanda Pape - 2016 - click here to e-mail me.

Friday's Faces From the Past: TAMU RPTS Stories - A&M-Tech Get-Together, October 1976

Twelve members of Texas Tech University's Recreation and Parks Club traveled from Lubbock to College Station for the football game with Texas A&M on October 9, 1976 (which, unfortunately, the Aggies lost, one of only two losses that season).  After the game, the Texas A&M Recreation and Parks Club hosted a get-together with spaghetti and beer at the Country Place Apartment complex party room.  It was attended by about 40 from A&M, club members as well as some faculty.  Members of the two clubs talked about summer jobs, curriculum, and courses at the two schools, and tentative plans were made for a weekend at Tech's facility in Junction the next month (which will be the topic of a future post).  Here are the pictures and pages that cover this event, from the scrapbook I kept in 1976-1977 as the Reporter-Historian of the Texas A&M University Recreation and Parks Club.



The photo above is from the morning after, when the Tech club (and a couple Aggies) got together at IHOP (International House of Pancakes) in College Station before the Tech folks drove back to Lubbock. Kneeling in front are Gary King (Tech club vice-president), Dianna Wines '79 (from A&M), Kim Irwin, Linda Daum, and John McCammon.  Standing behind them, left to right, are James Longworth, , Ed Janousek (Tech Club president), Amanda Pape '78 (A&M club reporter-historian), Chad Banks (Tech club vice-president), Susie Sharp (Tech club secretary), and Fred Johnson. In the very back are Mike Bratton (Tech club treasurer), Mike Christiansen, and Nancy Masoner.

Above:  Tech secretary Susie Sharp and president Ed Janousek talk with A&M club adviser Dr. Dennis Howard and president John Kibler.

Below:  Marihelen Kamp, wife of Dr. Dan Kamp, talks with Tech vice-president Gary King, Andy Galewsky '77, and Kim Irwin of Tech.

Above:  Chris Andrews '80 and Max Reed '79.

Below:  Denise Abendschein '76, Mark Christiansen of Tech, Mike Scott '78, and Lynn Purnell (A&M club member, Anthropology '77).

© Amanda Pape - 2016 - click here to e-mail me.