Obituary of Isabelle Louise (Snavely) Stiffler

Our beloved Aunt Izzy passed away on Wednesday, April 21, 2010. Here is her obituary, as it appeared in The Altoona Mirror on April 23:

"Isabelle Louise (Snavely) Stiffler, 93, formerly of Albion, Pa., and Willoughby, Ohio, and originally from Altoona, died Wednesday at St. Mary's Home of Erie-East.

She was born in Altoona to the late Albert Ellis and Emily Mae (Osterman) Snavely, the eighth of 11 children. She married Raymond M. Stiffler on Aug. 16, 1941, and he preceded her in death in 1982 after 41 years of marriage.

Surviving are two children: Bonnie L. Snyder (Tom) of Cranesville and the Rev. Martin J. Stiffler (Joann) of Crestline, Ohio; five grandchildren: Debbie Baer (Jim) of Erie, Kim Popella (Mike) of Grove City, Jonathan Stiffler (Jessica) of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Kristin Rickel (Scott) of Crestline, Ohio and Jefferey Stiffler of Mansfield, Ohio; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters: Ada Munchak (Steve) of Sebastion, Fla., and Frances Woomer of Altoona; as well as many nieces and nephews who called her "Aunt Izzy."

She was preceded in death by a brother, George; and seven sisters: Alberta Wambaugh, Edith Thomas, Violet Demeree, Eleanor Smith Seibert, Emily Lytle, Helen Boore and Florence "Babe" Stacey.

Isabelle was a 1934 graduate of Altoona High School. She worked in the sewing factory and the A&P Bakery in Altoona, where she met her husband. She was a member of the Albion Grace United Methodist Church, the church sewing circle (RSVP) and the Altoona Area High School Alumni Association.

Izzy lived a very simple life that included the love of her life, Ray, her children and their spouses, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her church and the Snavely clan. She enjoyed sewing and was an avid reader of the Altoona Mirror.

Friends will be received from 10 to the 11 a.m. funeral service Saturday, April 24, 2010, at Liebegott-Brown Funeral Home Inc., 1218 Fourth Ave., Duncansville (http://www.liebegottbrown.com/). Isabelle's son, the Rev. Martin Stiffler, will conduct the service. Burial at Rose Hill Cemetery, Altoona.

Memorials may be made to St. Mary's Home of Erie-East, 607 E. 26th St., Erie, PA 16404."

The Obituary of Dolores Demaree

DEMAREE DOLORES DOWNEY DEMAREE (Age 81) On Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at home in Alexandria, VA. Beloved wife of Leroy; devoted mother of David and Donald; cherished grandmother of Diana, Dennis, Derek, Kristen and her husband, David; loving sister of Patricia McArtor and Carol Ann Dienes. Also survived by daughters-in-law, Kathy and Eileen, as well as many nieces and nephews. Friends will be received on Sunday, March 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the EVERLY-WHEATLEY FUNERAL HOME, 1500 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered from Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1427 W. BraddockRd., Alexandria, on Monday, March 15 at 11 a.m. Interment Mount Comfort Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Capital Hospice, 5568 Gen. Washington Dr., Alexandria, VA 22312.

Dolores Demaree, 1928 - 2010

It is with great sadness that I note the death of another family member.

Dolores Downey Demaree, wife of Leroy Demaree and mother of David and Donald Demaree, born October 7, 1928, passed away on Wednesday, March 10, 2010.

I will miss this gracious lady, who was the Soul of Southern warmth, charm and hospitality.

Visitation hours will be Sunday March 14, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Everly Wheatley Funeral Home, 1500 W. Braddock Rd. Alexandria, VA 22302.

The funeral service will be at 11:00 AM on Monday, March 15, at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church 1427 Braddock Rd. Alexandria, VA 22302.

Interment will be on Monday, March 15, at the Mount Comfort Cemetery, 6600 S. Kings Hwy Alexandria, VA 22306.

George W. Snavely Obituary

From the December 8th edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

"SNAVELY GEORGE W.Age 96, of Plum Boro, peacefully on Monday, December 7, 2009. Husband of the late Betty J.; beloved mother of Norman (Jil) DeShong, Carol (David) Zangrilli and George E. (Laura) Snavely; grandfather of 11; great grandfather of 10; brother of Isabelle, Ada and Frances. Worked at Westinghouse for 38 years. Friends received Tuesday and Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 at SOXMAN FUNERAL HOMES, LTD. 7450 Saltsburg Road (at Universal Road) Penn Hills, PA 15235 where a service will be held Thursday at 11am. Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb"

George Washington Snavely

The blows fall thick and fast these days. Too soon after Aunt Babe's death comes word that over the weekend, Uncle George Snavely passed away at the age of 96. The information currently available to me indicates that the cause of death was a heart attack suffered in the hospital, where he was recovering from a previous attack. I do not yet know the exact date and time of his death.

The family is making arrangements through the Soxman Funeral Home, 7450 Saltsburg Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235 (telephone 413-793-3000). Viewing hours will be 2-4 P.M. and 7-9 P.M. on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 8 and 9. The funeral will be held at 11 A.M. on Thursday, December 10, at the Funeral Home's Roth Chapel.

Sometime in the next few days I hope to publish Uncle George's full obituary. In the meantime, let me note that he was born on February 22, 1913, and that he was a member of the Altoona High School Class of 1930. He is survived by his daughter Carol Zangrilli and his son George and their spouses and children, and also by his sisters Isabelle Stiffler, Ada Munchak and Frances Woomer.

In closing this short, sad note, let me add a passage from Uncle George's High School Yearbook. It was contributed by Principal George D. Robb, and dedicated by him to the Class of 1930. It is a sentiment from a far-away time and place that seems fitting today.

"At the close of life the question is not, how much have you got, but how much have you given; not how much have you won, but how much have you done; not how much have you saved, but how much have you sacrificed; how much have you loved and served, not how much you were honored."

Uncle George, we thank you for everything you have done for our family. We will always remember - and honor - you.

Florence I. "Babe" Stacey

It is with great sadness that I record the passing of my Great Aunt Florence Irene "Babe" Stacey, after a massive stroke and brief illness. Here is her obituary, published on October 20 in the Daily Item of Sunbury, Pennsylvania:

BEAVER SPRINGS - Florence I. "Babe" Stacey, 82, of Dearfield Street, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, at the Geisinger Medical Center, Danville at 8:46 p.m. She was born Nov. 23, 1926, in Altoona, a daughter of the late Albert and Emily (Osterman) Snavely. She was a 1944 graduate of Altoona High School. Florence was employed by Beavertown Weaving Mill where she retired. She attended First United Church of Christ, Middleburg. The main love of her life was spending time with her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed sewing and cooking meals for her family. She is survived by five sons and daughters-in-law, Joseph Jr. and Judy Stacey, of Mifflinburg, Gary and Connie Stacey, of Maryland, Richard and Linda Stacey, of Altoona, Robert and Ginney Stacey, of Beech Creek, and John and Donna Stacey, of Middlecreek; three daughters and sons-in-law, Lucinda (Arbogast) and Dan Goss, and Emily and Jerry Bishop, all of McClure, Melissa and Steve Zechman, of Middleburg; 22 grandchildren, Ruth Markley, Jodi Bare, Lynn Brown, Becky Kennedy, Krissy Barsoum, Michael Stacey, Brian Stacey, Lisa Stroup, Kim Packer, Tammy Prentiss, Bobbi Jo Hummel, Jennifer Glossner, Jamie Stacey, Jeff Stacey, Brandon Stacey, David Arbogast, Bobbi Landis, Christa Dressler, J. J. Bishop, Jaylene Shawver, Stacey Zechman, and Nick Zechman; 50 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; she came from a family of 11 brothers and sisters, surviving are one brother, George Snavely, and three sisters, Frances Woomer, Ada Munchak, and Izzy Stiffler. She was preceded in death by one grandson, Tommy Stacey. Friends and family may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Aurand Funeral Home, 316 W. Market St., Beavertown, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday at First United Church of Christ, Middleburg, followed by a funeral service at 10, with the Rev. Julia A. Beall officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Altoona. Contributions may be made in Florence's memory to Geisinger Hospice, 100 N. Academy Ave., Danville, PA 17822.

The heartfelt condolences of all the Snavely family go out to the Staceys in their time of painful loss. Aunt Babe's triumphant life is echoed in the role call of her descendants, and she will live on in all our memories.

News about Aunt Izzy

Carol Zangrilli forwarded this information from a note written by Aunt Izzy's daughter, Bonnie Snyder.

Bonnie writes:

"I just wanted to let everyone at the reunion know how Mom is doing. It is so hard to miss seeing everyone. Mom fell and broke her leg in September of 2008, she also had a dreadful gash in the same leg. The gash was mostly healed but just this last week the nurse called to say it had broken open again because her skin is so fragile. The bone has started to heal since they have been using a Nerve Stimulator machine, but the doctor says it is like molasses - it is healing so slow.

As you know Mom's memory is not good. There are days when she doesn't know if I am her sister or her daughter. At least she knows us, when Tom and I go in to visit. She doesn't always remember Dad, but she knows all her sisters and brother and the order in which they were born. I have lots of pictures on her bulletin board to remind her of everyone in the family. She still thinks Poppy is alive and sometimes Grandma Snavely, too. She remembers turning somersaults in the mulberry tree, so sometimes I think she sees herself as a little girl. She forgets where she lives after about 30 minutes and starts to get frightened, but as soon as she sees her name by her door and the pictures she is okay.

Hopefully she will be able to put weight on that leg someday, so that she can help get herself from the wheelchair to the bed and vice versa. Until she can, she cannot go anywhere unless she takes the Wheelchair transit.

She is usually happy and easy to get along with everyone. She likes to get cards or notes in the mail...if anyone wants to write."

Aunt Izzy's address is:

Isabelle L. Stiffler D-365
Saint Mary's Home of Erie-East
607 E. 26th Street
Erie, PA 16504

Please commit to sending Aunt Izzy a few lines.

Secretary Betty Davic's Reunion Minutes

The 80th Snavely Reunion
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Morrison’s Cove Memorial Park
Martinsburg, PA
Attendance: 60

President George Snavely called the gathering to lunch at 12:30 p.m. in the banquet hall and Rod Templon led the invocation. Games for the children were held after lunch.

Business Meeting

President George Snavely called the business meeting to order at 2:00 p.m.

Betty Davic, Secretary, read a summary of the 2008 minutes with addition from Sonia Baus-Fromage. Minutes were previously distributed by email and posted to the Snavely Blog maintained by Rod Templon.

Carol Snavely Zangrilli, Treasurer, reported income of $346 from last year’s auction for beginning total of $950. To be deducted are expenses of $175 for hall rental, $52 for gifts and $25 for games leaving a total of $772 in the treasury plus what is raised in the auction today. Note: auction income was $302, ending balance 2009 of $1000.

George Snavely presented the Recognitions:
Most Senior Woman: “Kitty” Catherine Chesney, 86
Most Senior Man: George Snavely, 96
Youngest Child: Nicholas James Brown, 15 months old
Born April 9, 2008 to Lana Lolos Brown, husband James, and big sister Angelina.
Largest Family: Joyce Anderson and Donna Higginbotham families had 15 in attendance.
Traveled Longest Distance: Donna and Troy Higginbotham, Palmetto, Florida. Sonia Munchak and daughter Krista attended from
Sebastian, Florida but left early for return flight.
Candy Jar Guess: Winner is Shirley Lytle with guess of 44.
Actual count is 41.

Announcements/Good of the Order:

· Frances Woomer introduced cousin “Kitty” Catherine Chesney attending with daughter Kathryn Edith Chesney Hawn and son-in-law William Hawn of Peterburg, PA.
· Babe Stacey is now a great-great-grandmother. Bob and Ginny’s son Justin is father of newborn Wyatt Matthew Packer.
· Today is Dick Stacey’s 61st birthday.
· Rodney Templon announced son Andrew graduated from high school this year and will be attending Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Oldest son John earned M.S. in Journalism this year at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.
· Shirley Lytle announced grandson Patrick graduated from high school this year and Tracy Lytle, daughter of Al and Diane, graduated cum laude from James Madison University in Harrisonburg Virginia.
· Tracy Lytle has accepted a fully paid 2 year assistantship and stipend to pursue a Master’s degree in Physical Fitness and Nutrition, JMU.
· Leroy Demaree announced that grandson Derrick (Donald’s son) graduated from West Virginia University and is interviewing for position in secret service.
· Dick Stacey announced granddaughter Amber……(help here please!)
· Bob and Ginny’s grandson Justin Packer (father of Wyatt) graduated from Central Mountain H.S.
· Stacey’s announced birth of Krista’s grandson Trey Dressler.
· Dick announced there were 105 of Babe and Joe Stacey’s children & family members attending the Stacey Family Reunion at Bald Eagle State Park this year.
· Burnace Tharp announced she has been free of breast cancer 12 years now and encouraged everyone, male and female, to have a check-up and mammogram.
· Bonnie advises Aunt Izzy enjoys receiving cards:
Isabelle L. Stiffler D-365
Saint Mary’s Home of Erie – East
607 E. 26th St
Erie PA 16504

· NEXT YEAR, THE 81st SNAVELY REUNION WILL BE HELD HERE SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010.

The meeting closed with the singing of BLESSED BE THE TIE THAT BINDS and was adjourned at 2:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Elizabeth Kidston Davic, Secretary
Granddaughter of Edith Snavely Thomas

The End of an Era

For those of you who may not know it, the little log cabin at the foot of the Alleghenies is no longer in the family. After several years of costly repairs and almost constant worry, my mother Joyce Smith Templon Anderson sold her lovely 3-bedroom Colorado blue spruce homestead to a young local couple.

This past weekend yours truly took the 5-1/2 hour train ride on Amtrak's Pennsylvanian from Trenton, New Jersey to Altoona, Pennsylvania. Along the way, I recalled many similar trips over the years. The weather during the afternoon ride was very pleasant and almost summery.

We stopped at Philadelphia, Paoli, Lancaster, Elizabethtown, Harrisburg, Lewistown, Huntingdon and Tyrone...

Passin' trains that have no names,
Freight yards full of old black men,
And the graveyards of the rusted automobiles...

(Thanks, Arlo. You're my hero.)

It wasn't all brown thoughts. I also saw sturdy Amish men mowing hay; mules bunched together in the sun; goats baaing, ready to be milked; gorgeous wrought iron stairway tracery in half abandoned stations with brick pavements worn like the waves of the sea; and intent fishermen wading the torrents of Central Pennsylvania cold water trout streams.

In the end, we rolled into Altoona, past the empty freight yard and the shops gone to seed, and below the hospital on the hill where my father died that April day 10 years ago.

Once in town, it was a quick trip with my mom and sister to the homestead, and a wonderful home cooked meal. Then a morning drive down to the Budget truck rental place, where the sales staff were amazingly thoughtful, accommodating and courteous. Then back up the hill and several hours of loading, accompanied by much heaving, grunting and groaning. My thanks to my sister Cindy and my brother-in-law Steve Thurston for their packing skills and sense of humor (nice job on the rear view mirror, Steve!), to my cousin Kevin for ending his spring gobbler hunt early to lend us a hand, and to my niece Lana and her husband James (and to Angelina and Nicholas, of course!) for helping us out.

Also I want to give a special thank-you to my mother's dear friends Rusty and Alice Kensinger for their innumerable kindnesses and assistance through the years. Without their help, my mother would have had to give up her cherished home long before she was ready to do it.

Saturday night was a family dinner at Hoss's hosted by my Mom and John, where we all ate too much

On Sunday, it was a quick, tearful departure and an uneventful drive down the Pennsylvania Turnpike, listening to country tunes on Froggy 98.

And just like that, two trucks and three cars carried 46 years of memories from Foot-of-Ten, Pennsylvania to Pennington, New Jersey and Flushing, Michigan and Alexandria, Virginia and DuBois, Pennsylvania. Almost the four points of the compass.

Mom and John will remain at the house for the next few weeks to oversee the movers packing some furniture for shipment to Florida, to sell the leftovers at a couple of yard sales and donate the proceeds to a local church's summer youth program. Then finally, they will turn over the keys to a new couple, for whom...

There'll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty,
Before the last revolving year is through...

And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return, we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game...

(Thanks Joni. I love your songs...and your voice.)

Merry Christmas from the Templons

Dear Family and Friends,

This will bring you up to date on the happenings in the Templon household. Three Templon children are living in the Midwest. John is at graduate school in a one year Journalism program at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He is really enjoying it. He will graduate the middle of June. Matt continues to work for Clark Products and will be starting an MBA program at Marquette University part-time in January.

Megan is attending Marquette University. She and her roommate Nicole get along very well. Nicole is a dancer on the Marquette dance team. She lives about twenty minutes from campus, so Megan has gained a set of parents close to Milwaukee! Megan has been singing with the Liturgical choir and had a solo in their Christmas concert. Next semester she will be singing in the Marquette University Choir. She enjoys having her older brothers so close. Last March she traveled to Lyon, France and spent two weeks living with a French family. She really enjoyed it and hopes to study abroad in France as part of her Marquette experience. She sang in Carnegie Hall last June with the High School Orchestra, graduated from high school, attended work camp in Maine in July with a group of teens from our church and worked at Rita’s scooping water ice for the summer.

Andrew applied to six colleges, and has been accepted at four so far. He will not be in the Midwest as he didn’t apply to anything further away than Pennsylvania or DC. He received a varsity letter for Spring Track last year, the service award for the band and took a trip to Virginia with the High School Band (he plays clarinet). He continues to be an active member in his Boy Scout Troop, helping with the younger scouts. He volunteered for a week of vacation bible school last summer at our church and continues to attend the youth group there. He played recreational soccer this fall and just started the winter track season. Andrew has grown very tall and is now taller than Rod and his older brothers.

Rod was an adult leader at Scout camp this summer, and took more Japanese language classes at the Princeton Adult School. He really enjoys taking them and has become a fan of Japanese food. He continues as an Assistant Scoutmaster and merit badge counselor with Andrew’s troop. He and Andrew took the Troop for an overnight canoe trip on the Delaware River. Rod took Andrew on his college visits and in September. They went to Lycoming College to see the Lycoming vs. Susquehanna football game (two of the schools that Andrew applied to). Rod continues to work at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. In May, Rod chaired a peer review team that assessed the purchasing system at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois. In October, he attended a conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He now knows for a fact that Wyoming is “where the deer and the antelope play” (and buffalo, and elk!).

Michelle’s Girl Scouts were honored at a dinner in May to celebrate their 13 years of scouting. She had two girls in her troop receive their Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting. She continues her duties as the Treasurer of the Music and Theatre Parents Association. At Princeton she is currently dealing with three vendors that the University has contracted with to do billing and consulting services for some of the Treasurer’s office systems. She attended a conference in Pittsburgh in June sponsored by one of the vendors. She spent lots of time at Avon by the Sea this summer and fall as the weather in NJ was unusually warm. She spent almost a week in the Midwest in September visiting her three children and spending some time with friends that had moved to Chicago. In October she went to Maine for a long weekend with her friends from college. It was great to be able to spend the entire weekend with them and catch up.

Some of us traveled to Pennsylvania in August for Rod’s family reunion. Everyone came home for Thanksgiving and we spent it at Michelle’s dad’s house with her brother Conrad cooking dinner. It was delicious and a treat for Michelle to not have to cook. For Christmas Michelle's dad and brother came to the Templon house.

Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2008. Come visit if you are in NJ.

Blogosphere: College Grad "Real" World

Please check out College Grad "Real" World, John Templon's regular blog. John has a little something to say about a wide variety of topics. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes sarcastic, but always insightful and entertaining, this "unbiased" reviewer highly recommends it!

If other family members have blogs that they would like to share (cough...Betty...cough), please send me a link and I will post it.

The Davic-Kollias Wedding!

Bob and Betty Davic are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter Melissa to Peter Kollias on May 31, 2008.


The ceremony was held at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Lexington, Massachusets.

Snavely family descendents attending were brother Steven Davic and grandmother Gladys Kidston; aunts and uncles Gin McGinty and husband Ern, Richard Kidston, Bill Kidston; and cousins Brian McGinty and Ern McGinty Jr. with wife Monica and daughters Hannah and Ashley.


The newlyweds will make their home in Amsterdam, The Netherlands where they have both accepted new positions with their employers.

Minutes of our 2008 Reunion

Secretary Elizabeth Davic provided the following minutes:

The 79^th Snavely Reunion

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Morrison’s Cove Memorial Park

Martinsburg, PA

Attendance: 70

President George Snavely called the gathering to lunch at 12:25 p.m. in the banquet hall and Rod Templon led the invocation. Games for the children were held after lunch.

Business Meeting

President George Snavely called the business meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.

Betty Davic, Secretary, read a summary of the minutes. Minutes were previously distributed by email and posted to the Snavely Blog maintained by Rod Templon.

Carol Snavely Zangrilli, Treasurer, reported expenses of $100 for all rental and $45 for gifts leaving a total of $604 in the treasury plus what is raised in the auction today.

George Snavely presented the Recognitions:

Most Senior Woman: Isabelle Snavely Stiffler, 91

Most Senior Man: George Snavely, 93

Youngest Child: Nicholas James Brown, 4 months old

Born April 9, 2008 to Lana Lolos Brown, husband James, and big sister Angelina. 9 lb. 7 oz., 21”

Lana is great-granddaughter of Eleanor Snavely Smith.

Largest Family: Babe Stacey and family had 15 in attendance.

Traveled Longest Distance: Sonia Munchak and daughter Christina from

Sebastian, Florida

Candy Jar Guess: Winner is Laura Snavely with guess of 27.

Actual count is 28.

Announcements/Good of the Order:

· Melissa Davic was married to Peter Kollias on May 31, 2008 in Boston, MA. They are moving to Amsterdam, The Netherlands this month.

· Neven Kelly, son of Michael Stacey, was born July 8, 2007.

· Gracelyn Mae Stacey was born September 8, 2007.

· Dick Stacey celebrated his 60^th birthday August 2 and wore a hat claiming “Mom Likes Me Best”

· Today, August 3, is Rich Verner’s birthday.

· Today, August 3, is Violet Snavely Demauree’s birthday. She would have been 103.

· Joseph Martin Stiffler, son of Jonathan and Jessica Stiffler, great-grandson of Isabelle Snavely Stiffler, was born January 28, 2008.

· Donna and Troy are planning a long trip out west this next year.

· Megan Templon sang at Carnegie Hall this year. She is a freshman at Marquette University in Milwaukee Wisconsin.

· NEXT YEAR, THE 80^TH SNAVELY REUNION WILL BE HELD AUGUST 2, 2009.

The meeting closed with the singing of BLESSED BE THE TIE THAT BINDS and was adjourned at 3:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Elizabeth Kidston Davic, Secretary

Granddaughter of Edith Snavely Thomas

Snavely Reunion Reminder

The 79th annual Snavely Family reunion will be held at 12 noon on Sunday, August 3, 2008 in the Weaver Banquet Hall at Morrisons Cove Memorial Park, 201 South Walnut Street, Martinsburg, Pennsylvania. Come early to socialize, catch up on cousins' doings, and make your candy jar guess!

Bring along family memorabilia (photos, letters, knicknacks) that we can display. Don't forget your donated items for the auction!

News from the Brown Family

Lana Brown [(great grand daughter of Eleanor (Snavely) (Smith) Siebert, grand daughter of Joyce Anderson, daughter of Cynthia Thurston, and my niece] sent me some new pictures of her children, Angelina (age 2-1/2) and Nicholas (age 16 weeks). Enjoy!

Brian Robison is New Vice President & GM at Mandalay Bay!

I recently received news that Brian Robison (son of Donna Higginbotham, grandson of Eleanor Snavely Smith Siebert) has been promoted to Vice President and General Manager of Mandalay Place/Special Projects in Las Vegas, Nevada. Since it is a little hard to read, here is the text of his official promotion announcement (pictured at right):

"Please congratulate Brian Robison on his promotion to Vice President & General Manager of Mandalay Place/Special Projects.

In his new role, Brian will oversee development, construction and operations at Mandalay Place. He will perform leasing for the mall, Mandalay Bay and Luxor, and continue to focus on special projects, including venue remodels and new construction across property. Brian most recently participated in the room-renovation project of the Mandalay Bay tower and the pool renovation. He is heavily involved in ADA compliance across the resort.

Brian joined Mandalay Bay as Director of the Shark Reef Aquarium in July of 2001. He and his then-talented team's efforts resulted in the institution receiving the first and only Association of Zoos and Aquariums Accreditation in the State of Nevada in 2003, an effort repeated in March of 2007, as well as four Best of Las Vegas Awards and a Zagat rating in 2004, in addition to a Governor's Tourism Development Award.

Brian has more than 26 years professional experience in the development, construction, operation and administration of facilities of all types; form super regional shopping centers to high-rise office buildings, rides, theatres and one-of-a-kind destinations like Shark Reef Aquarium. Brian is a graduate of IUPUI as a licensed Power Engineer, is a Certified Operations Director from the Institute of Real Estate Management, and is a Professional Fellow Member of the AZA. Brian is a 2006 graduate of the prestigious MGM MIRAGE Leadership Institute program, a Diversity Champion and a VOICE Foundation co-chair for the 2008 campaign.

Brian and his wife Susan, call Summerlin home and, in their spare time, enjoy exploring the Southwestern U.S. on their sport/touring motorcycles."

Way to go, Brian! Now, about that little cousin-to-cousin loan....

Hopewell Valley CHS Senior Prom Pictures

Here are some pictures of Megan Templon and her friends, all ready for the senior prom on June 6th, 2008.

Latest Kara and Sara Photos

Here are the latest photos of the Snavely twins...

Templons Head West

It's now official. In June, our son John Templon will be heading to Evanston, Illinois, where he will begin work on his graduate degree in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. If all goes according to his plan, he will graduate in about one year and begin living his dream of being a professional sports writer.

Son Matthew is already living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, working for Clark Products, a paper goods supplier. In August, Matt and John will be joined by daughter Megan, who will be a freshman at Marquette University in Milwaukee, following in her brother Matt's footsteps.

In an ironic twist, we also found out that Megan's choral director Kenneth Elpus is leaving Hopewell Central High School to accept a doctoral fellowship at Northwestern, where he and his wife Rebecca earned their Masters of Music Education. The Elpuses and their baby daughter will be moving this summer, after the school year ends.

So there will be large contingent of Templon family and friends in Greater Chicagoland!

The Sound of Music at Hopewell Valley Central High

On February 28, 29 and March 1, the students of Hopewell Valley Central High School in Pennington, New Jersey presented Rogers & Hammerstein's The Sound of Music. Megan Templon played the Mother Abbess, who counsels her unruly postulant Maria, and sets her on the path that will eventually lead Maria to the love of Captain Von Trapp and his seven musical children.

In the picture, Megan, as the Mother Abbess, closes the first act with a very moving rendition of "Climb Every Mountain." (Believe me -- by the end of this number, her dad was definitely so bleary eyed he couldn't hold the camera very steady!)

The cast and crew had great fun building and painting one of the most beautiful sets ever created for a high school musical, and putting on three evening shows and a matinee. The Templon parents pitched in with transport of properties and selling refreshments and T-shirts during the intermissions, not to mention Mom's duties as editor of the program and treasurer of the Music and Theater Parents Association, who paid for everything.

Now that the musical is over, on March 13 Megan will be depart for Lyon, France for two weeks as part of her high school-sponsored French language exchange program. She will also spend a few days in Paris.

This Fall, Megan will be attending Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she has has received the University's Ignatius and Magis scholarships. She plans to study French and, perhaps, public relations. She will probably sing, too!