David Mead’s Journey

One year in college. Four years in the U.S.A.F. stationed in Gaum and completing my enlistment at Dover A.F.B. Delaware. After the air force I  worked in retail  towards  a management position. I  Was a manager for 10 years in three different locations. Met and married my wife, Kathie, at my first store as manager at, Asbury Park, N.J. Over fifty years and we are still best friends and partners. Highlights of my manager position, I was awarded manager of the year. While manager of the Cooperstown N.Y. store, the Baseball Hall of Fame location, I was elected president of the Chamber of Commerce.

After five years in Cooperstown, (Sept.1980), I retired so we could travel throughout the U.S. in our new Ford van which we converted to a mini motor home. In four months, we traveled from N.Y. to Washington State and then back across the country to Miami, Fl. in December 1980 where Kathie’s father lived.

We have since visited all 50 states and driven to Alaska from Key Largo Fl. three times. In Miami Kathie found employment as a NAPA store manager and I was hired as the store manager of all eleven duty free shops at MIA. After two years I was offered the position as liquor and tobacco buyer for the duty free shops in two airports and 102 cruise ships. Our company was the largest duty free operator in the U.S. My dealings were with the producers of wine and spirits and as such I traveled to Europe periodically to conduct business; Kathie changed jobs to become the store manager of the U of M medical bookstore. The largest of its kind in the U.S.

In 2001 we both retired, sold our house in Miami and moved to our house that we had designed and had built in Key Largo, Fl. in 1985.

We have traveled extensively visiting six of the seven continents and over 50 countries. There are many more countries, but we have visited the ones which have appealed the most to us. Our travels now are cruising with Viking Cruise lines.

Susan Kolodin, Last Thoughts

Hello Bill,

Sadly, my beloved Susan unexpectedly died at home a week ago Tuesday, August 13th. Thankfully she did not suffer nor have the indignity of dying in a hospital room. As you can imagine, I’m still in a state of shock with indescribable pain, missing Susan terribly having had 36 glorious years together.

Needless to say, she enjoyed all the recent communications she had with you and her classmates. She so often spoke of the Deas!

Be well,

Jonathan Greenburg

From Ray Barleon:

Sue was a wonderful High School companion to us all, — with many particular recollections when working on our beloved Yearbook.  Sue was a literary editor and full of eager and unrelenting energy and humor, devoted to the task, with a delightful smile, working hard, gave valued ideas and suggestions.  Someone you wanted to work with, knowing the product would be a success since she was a big, important and essential part of it.  We admired and valued her contributions and friendship greatly.

Rest in peace and eternal joy dear lady.  You are among the finest.  The salty tears are for now but the memories and happiness endure without end.

She said she would never ever forget us, and we in turn will never forget her.