Catherine Kladis:  

I was very shy in high school, probably due to the fact I was always the youngest in class. My age and maturation factor was better with those a class behind me. I did have 1 or 2 friends in my grade but my closest friends were at least a year behind. My 3 biggest passions were Glee Club, writing poetry and The Newington Childrens Theater. There I met my very dearest friend, Sher (Sherry).. We both shared artistic souls with her passion being ballet (she married and went on to establish her own ballet school). and I won an award for best supporting actress. After high school I attended the Univ. of Akron, in OH, which is the alma mater for several family members, including my dad. In college I really blossomed. I lost some weight and made a lot of friends. My roomate and I got our own apartment in our junior year. It was at this time that I started a serious 5 year relationship with a guy I met in Folk Dance Club named Angelo. I was also a member of the Womens Glee Club til my junior year. 1974 I graduated with a B.S. in primary education. I remained in Akron until June of 1978. Schools were closing so I substitute taught for Akron Public Schools and a private Catholic school. During that time I continued my relationship with Angelo and he introduced me to a glass sculptor from whom I apprenticed for 2 years. I loved it!! I also took classes at the U. to get additional certification for Early Childhood Education. June 1978 I left Akron and Angelo to embark on a new adventure moving to Houston, TX. I taught 1 year but became very disgusted with public school and found a job with a private school. I also met the 2nd love of my life and my soul mate, Doug. After 3 months we became engaged and at this writing (Oct. 2019) have been very happily married for 38 years (and known each other 39)!!. Doug was an iron worker, making the framework of buildings as high as 50 stories. We eventually moved to Mesa, AZ, where Doug's parents lived. Being too hot in Mesa for Doug to continue as an iron worker and after several different jobs, Doug eventually became a corrections officer for the state and retired after 21 years. Shortly after our move I tried out for a part in the play, "Laura" with the Mesa Little Theater. My husband, Doug, was my biggest supporter, urging me to try out. I did get a part and getting back to the smell of grease paint and thrill of opening night was wonderful!! As much as I loved it, my full time job kept me from performing in another play. Unfortunately, we weren't able to have children (several miscarriages and a still birth). I grieved for those losses for 2 years, while in a deep depression but, I am strong. I pulled myself out of it and found happiness in other things. From '95 to '99 we traveled to many places in the southwest with friends we know from TX. Then, from 2001 to 2009 we traveled twice to England, twice to Norway (where I met my relatives!!) and twice to France (Paris and the Normandy beaches). We both, for many years, were very active in our political party. I was on the state and county committees and chair of the local committee for election integrity, for which I received 2 awards. After a few odd jobs in AZ, I took a nanny position ( through an agency) and loved it!! For close to 30 years I worked for 3 families, 2 of which I've remained in touch. In 2012 I was diagnosed with a chronic illness which curtailed my political work and forced me to take Soc. Sec. at age 62, June 2015. In 2009 I reconnected with Angelo through facebook. Through Emails and phone calls we worked through old hurts and are now good friends. In 2010 I worked on and attended our first reunion of college friends. Though we'd not seen most of us since 1974 the friendship we shared was still there. We've had reunions about every 3 years. I am now helping with our next in 2020. In about 2017 I reconnected with Sher. After her marriage and mine we'd lost touch. I'm thrilled to be in contact with her again and look forward to our next visit!! Twenty years ago Doug and I bought property in our favorite town of AZ - Prescott. We fell in love the first time we saw it. This year, April 2019, we sold our house in Mesa and now live in an apartment while we wait til our dream home in Prescott is finished. Over the years we've had 3 collies and 4 cats, not all at the same time. We presently have 1 Balinese (long haired Siamese) cat named Sassy. And she really lives up to her name!! Update: April 2020 - Due to the steepness of our Prescott property the cost for escavation, alone, was $40,000. This brought the cost over what we could afford. We put the property up for sale and found a house that we love in Dewey, AZ. It's a lovely area with rolling hills and mature trees and is only about 25 minutes from Prescott. We moved in end of January. Due to Covid-19 our college reunion has been changed to June of 2021. Tho this is disappoint...Expand for more