Dana Cartney:
CLASS OF 1969
Bowie High SchoolClass of 1969
Bowie, MD
Dana's Story
My story begins where all good stories beging - in the beginning. But let's not dwell on that. Instead let me bring you to the present and my current state of affairs.
Here's the scoop: Widowed (11 years), never re-married and only 1 relationship you'd consider serious but ultimately flawed. Father to 3 sons - 2 in various stages of college and one a sophmore HS student.
There's a cat in the house. We used to have another but it decided life outside the cozy home was better...wish the current one concurred...cat's are cool but if I wanted a needy, dispassionate companion with claws I'd, I'd....well I don't know what I'd do.
I work for an architectural firm. My title is Senior Project Manager. The "Senior" comes from being over fifty. In spite (or because) of that I'm pretty good at what I do. I must be - they've entrusted me with 7 people to boss around and projects that amount to over 150 mil to oversee...crap, know wonder what's left of my lettuce is losing the pigment war and turning white.
I started my career in structural engineering. While going to architectural school Bob Hogan (local structural engineer) taught engineering in one of our Professional Practices classes. He liked my drafting (this is when we drew with pencils on vellum and you actually had to have artistic skills) and asked me to go to work for him. I was working as a credit card authorizer for BankAmericard (now Visa) in a windowless cube of a building and jumped at the chance to get out of there and learn how buildings were made to stand.
After many years and projects I ended up working for the architectural firm Neptune and Tho...Expand for more
mas in thier structural department. I was with them for 18 years, the last 8 in the architectural realm. I transitioned when they decided to cut out the structural department and Shirley got sick. I quickly rose to the role of Studio Director and since I'd been an associate in the firm for many years was widely regarded as a leader in the firm.
My ambitions however did not match those of the changing management structure and I decided to leave after all those years to join forces with a group of NTD expatriots. I'm now with DC Architects in Upland California doing primarily school architecture.
I mentioned my wife Shirley who passed away. She was a wonderful person, mother, wife, and daughter who's time on this earth was cut tragically short. I'll say no more.
My life after Shirley consists of raising our sons and trying to maintain a household the best I can. Fatherhood in many ways is a stewardship. Shirley's early years with the boy's steered them onto a great path from wich they have not strayed. She blessed me in life and those blessings continue today.
I'm an avid (rabid) golfer. It's my therapy and it let's me hold on to the fading vestiges of my athleticsm. I'm actually playing better now then 10 years ago and I figure I've got another 5+ years to improve before time starts to diminish my skills. I'll still play. I've met some really nice people playing this game and many who have passed thier prime playing days but still enjoy the outing.
I used to play guitar but haven't touched it in a year. My son James is the musican in the family.
Enough for now. It's exhausting talking about yourself.
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