Sunnyside High School

Dana Smiset (Toomey)

Then

Now

Address:375 West Hyerdale Drive City:Goshen State/Prov.:CT Country:US Zip/Postal Code:06756 Occupation:Sculptor Marital Status:Married No. of Children:10

From Dana:

With thanks to all the enthusiasts having this reunion happen, I look forward to this happy event.

I live grateful for every precious one of you, our families, our teachers, the freedom we enjoyed in our beautiful valley, the freedom we enjoy now.

Since our time together, I have become a lifelong student. I have taught and collaborated to forward education, health and the arts.

I wrote a newspaper column, had a book accepted for publication by Abingdon Press, advocated for children through the Children’s Defense Fund with Marian Wright Edelman from whom I learned tolerance and the power of working with others. I studied theology at General Theological Seminary in NYC, learning deep appreciation for kindness. Along the way, I studied mediation at Southern Ct. State College, considered law as a profession, was invited by Dr. Karl Menninger in the 80's to work with children at the Menninger Clinic. I earned a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology through Beacon College with adjunct studies in Marriage and Family Therapy Rutgers University, Drew University, The C.G. Jung Institute of New York NYC and pilgrimage to The C.G. Jung Institute in Zürich, internship under Dr. Bernard F. Riess, from whom I learned to speak in my own voice.

My questions inform my work, such as: how do we deal with our presence on this beautiful earth, and how do we work with life beyond humans?

I sculpt images of peace.

My ecological actions relate to the water, to the air we breathe, to the soil that grows our food.

My avocation is healing, and I study herbs, homeopathy, the healing wisdom of ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine and food. I hold certification in several modalities of healing, my favorites being yoga, neuromuscular and positional therapy, Pilates, AIS, and medical qi gong.

For a short time I practiced as a clinical psychologist.

For recreation, i swim, kayak, hike, advocate for causes that move me, garden, watch the dew, celebrate each full moon, work to communicate with animals and to practice open empathic attentiveness.

more life altering gifts received:

-the ability to choose, and to choose to learn to love as my purpose in life, to choose the conscious crucible of marriage in 1967, and every moment since shared with my cherished, magnificent husband, Mel, and with children, especially the ten children for whom we served as foster and adoptive parents.

-dancing with dancers directed by Martha Graham who taught me how internal energy could manifest directly into movement. Martha woke me up. Shortly after, I enjoyed flickering moments with Alvin Ailey dancers and Pilobolus where I learned to unite imagination, intellect, emotion with the body.

-the touch of animals especially wolves, dolphins, birds.

-the grace of living with a Zuni family in Zuni Pueblo.

-near death experience, learning my fragility as a human and understanding that energy is life and life is energy.

-my studio in Italy surrounded by olive trees and red poppies, traffic and pollution, train whistles, church bells

-living and working in Hana, Maui for seven winters, experiencing the force of nature, the force of kapuna.

-Tel Aviv, Mexico City, Paris, Rome, Kyoto

-host of angels, mentors and friends including my sculpture teacher, mentor and friend, Stanley Bleifeld, who told me whenever I asked how to do something, "Just do it. Just do it."

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Nina Smith

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Lynette Snell

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Kristin Snorradottir

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Joyce Snyder (Deceased)

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James Speck

Then

Day Telephone:(480) 882-8768 Address:8420 n 84th st City:scottsdale State/Prov.:AZ Country:US Zip/Postal Code:85258 Occupation:retired Marital Status:Married No. of Children:2

Bill Stearns

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Then

Jim Stevens

Then

Now

Day Telephone:(509) 837-7818 Evening Telephone:(509) 840-7818 Address:PO Box 127 City:Sunnyside State/Prov.:WA Country:US Zip/Postal Code:98944 Occupation:Dentist Website:www.jimstevens.tv Marital Status:Married No. of Children:2

From Jim:

Thanks for your good work on the website!!

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Mary Stingley

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Then

Karen Strom (Troja)

Then

Now

Birthday:March 12, 1947 Day Telephone:(253) 474-1085 Address:7813 A Street City:Tacoma State/Prov.:WA Zip/Postal Code:98408 Occupation:teacher, homemaker, retired Marital Status:Married No. of Children:4

From Karen:Hello classmates!
Even though I didn't graduate with you, I went to school with you from third grade through the mid-semester of our junior year. My parents had the Shoe Box shoe store and after they liquidated it, we moved to the West Coast. I graduated from West High in Bremerton, but my attachment was to my Classmates at Sunnyside High.

Since High school, I graduated from Seattle Pacific University and taught elementary school for both Bremerton and Auburn School districts. I married John Troja (from Darien CT. in Dec. of 1969 and together we have 4 children and 8 grandchildren (with 2 more on the way) of whom we enjoy and are very proud. I homeschooled my children and now they are homeschooling their children. Our Son is a pilot in the Air Force and our 3 daughters are happily married with young children. We have traveled to visit our children in England, France, Italy, Japan and various parts of the US, .

We are enjoying semi-retirement, even though as a Mom, I don't think you ever retire! We are grateful for the rich life that our Lord has provided for us. We are active in our church and find fulfillment in serving our Lord, and His community. We stay more than busy. I attend Bible Study Fellowship and my husband is the go-to guy for our church and neighborhood. He can fix almost anything. We recently purchased an RV and are planning to travel some more. I delight in taking piano lessons; probably a throwback to our Band Class and my hideous clarinet that no one could blow except me. I wanted to succeed in music and am still trying.
I'm looking forward to seeing you at the reunion!