Uncle Ron’s message from Canada

July 2009

Here is the best family picture we have, taken last year in Philadelphia PA USA in front of Terry and Jan’s rented townhouse.

Jan arranged to have everyone come together there which was no mean task as son Peter and family live outside San Francisco California. A great time was had by all – we had not seen Peter and The family for several years, in fact the two girls were about 6 and 8 when I drove them to the airport to fly to California.

Here is a key to the people in the photo: Back row Me,Son Peter Son in Law Steve(Jennifer’s husband. Next row June, Ariel(Peter’s daughter) Cathy(Peter’s wife)Portia (Peters daughter),Daughter Jan,Christy ( Jan’s Daughter) Terry Jan’s husband) Front row Jane and Sophie (Jennifers daughters) Daughter Jennifer Carrie (Jan’s daughter).

Of our immediate family our daughter Jan is the eldest at 50. She and Terry have been in Philadelphia for over a year but they are returning to Canada (they live just down the street from us) tomorrow as US Steel, where he works as a Manager, has decided to return all Canadians to Canada since they have had to close a lot of their plants in the USA and the two here in Canada. He will continue to be employed and will still have a managerial job.We just heard today that they will reopen the Hamilton plant in June but not for full production.

Christy and Carrie have recently graduated with teaching degrees. Christy gets a lot of supply teaching and is a very good elementary school teacher. She will hopefully have a full time position next school year. Carrie doesn’t want to teach just yet- has other plans connected with student admin at a university – hasn’t landed a job yet.

Peter in California has a Masonry business and enjoyed some success for several years in a wealthy area. He has to rent as real estate prices are prohibitive and now with the down turn he is having problems. The girls are in private school and are academically gifted so the school has been waiving fees.He lives in a nice house with a very high rent.

Jennifer and Steve are successful and have those two delightful girls. Jennifer has been teaching for several years and is Dept Head for English at her school in Dundas on the outskirts of Hamilton. Steve is also in the steel business as a quality manager but works for another steel company which is still operating.

June and I still live in the house we purchased in 1958, the year Jan was born. June volunteers for the Cancer Society and is the coordinator of volunteers. We are members of the Anglican Church of St Michael where I was roped in many years ago as Treasurer ( now I just do an annual audit). June used to run the Sunday school for about 25 years. I retired as Superintendent of Finance for a nearby School Board ( I had worked for the Hamilton Board of Ed after many years in managerial accounting in “industry”).

Shortly after I took an early retirement at 59 I was asked to look after the financial affairs for the association of superintendents. I took it on and am still involved, but now for the Directors of Education for the province of Ontario (72 of them). I am very well compensated but am finding it hard to quit as the Exec Director and I have a great relationship and he wants me to hang in until he quits! Gives me plenty to do in the cold winter, but in the rest of the year I’d prefer to garden and relax.

Enough to go on with, let’s hear about you and your life in Australia- tell me about Barry and your Dad and Mum and Aunty Blue and Ray and my “young” brother Trevor. Always most interested. Regards, Ron and June and Co