Following graduation from THS in 1958, I attended and graduated from Keystone Junior College in La Plume, Pennsylvania in 1960 with an AA degree in biology.  I then transferred to Oregon State University in the fall of 1960.  I was drawn to OSU in Corvallis, Oregon because my brother, Bob, had moved there in 1954 and was a professor of aeronautical engineering at OSU.  I spent my junior year and first term of my senior year at OSU, which is where I met my husband to be, Dale Cowan.

Dale graduated from OSU in June 1962 with a degree in forestry and returned to his hometown of Springfield, Oregon, where he worked for Weyerhauser Logging Company.  In January 1962 I left OSU and moved to Portland, Oregon where I was employed as a bank teller.

In August 1962 I moved to Eugene to attend the University of Oregon and graduated with a BS degree in liberal arts in 1963.

Dale and I married in 1963.  We have two children, Jacqueline born in 1967 and Stephen born in 1971.  After eighteen years of marriage and residing in Springfield we divorced and I relocated to Eugene.

My daughter graduated from the University of Oregon in 1990 and married Scott James (currently a police officer in Springfield) in 1991.  They have two boys, Riley 11 years old and Tristan 9 years old, making me a proud grandmother.  Jacqueline is currently employed at the U of O as Director of Aquatics and Youth Programs.

My son attended the U of O through his junior years and in1993 joined me in sunny San Diego to escape the rain in Oregon as I chose to do in 1991.  Stephen is doing well working in the surfing industry for South Coast Surf Shops, where he is the COO for the company and is one of the owner’s of their new Website.  Obviously both of my children are as involved in the active lifestyle as I have been throughout my life.

For 24+ years I worked in the Oregon State Children’s Services Department as a case worker doing social work in Lane and Marion Counties as a juvenile probation officer. After years of vacationing in San Diego, I resigned my position in Oregon to pursue my dream of living in San Diego.  I initially worked for the Superior Court as a Pretrial Services Officer in the San Diego County Jail for two years (1991–1993).  That was quite an experience!

The last 6+ years of my career were spent as a probation officer for both the Juvenile and Adult Sections of the San Diego County Probation Department.  I retired from there in March 1999.  In July 2000 I started working part time for Trader Joe’s, a unique grocery store, mainly for fun and benefits.  I retired from there January 2004.  Since and before then, I have traveled to Europe, New Zealand, all over the US, Mexico and more to come.

In 1978 I started running 10Ks to strengthen my lungs after a serious bout with pneumonia a few years prior.  Also, the fact that I was living in Eugene (home of Nike) I caught the running bug.  Being competitive athletically, I took on a new life.  After a couple of years of competing in 10Ks and half marathons, I moved on to full marathons and triathlons, completing my last marathon in 2003.  I continue to be active running (walking more), swimming, skiing, biking, etc. but not very competitive any longer.  Now I travel a lot more and enjoy not having a schedule, basically doing what I want!

Life is good ---- look forward to seeing you all soon.  See you in September!