Gwen Maxwell:
CLASS OF 1965
Campbell High SchoolClass of 1965
Campbell, CA
Castro Junior High SchoolClass of 1961
San jose, CA
Gwen's Story
Life has been kind to Gwen!
Having grown up in Toledo, Ohio, I loved living in California! That said, I followed my parents when they moved to the Seattle area in 1969. Shortly after, I married Joseph Glaefke; we divorced four years later. He was a great guy, he just was not my guy! I met MY GUY, John Maxwell, six months after my final divorce. I was definitely the cautious sort at that point and that, coupled with John'ÃÂs commitment to be a life-long bachelor led to a protracted courtship: we legalized our long-standing relationship in January 2006 in La Romana, Dominican Republic (see wedding photo above.)
Science and healthcare were my interests and eventually became my career. After my first medical records job (from age 15 to 19) at Los Gatos Community Hospital, I got a degree in Medical Record Science. In 1974 I started working at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in a cancer data collection center. In 1977 I found my true passion while working on the first of five major, NIH-funded statistical coordinating centers. During the final 15 years of my career at The Hutch, I worked on domestic and international HIV prevention clinical trials as Deputy Director of Operations for the Statistical Center for HIV Research and Prevention (SCHARP).
John and I both share a love of travel. Much of my wanderlust was satisfied with my work-related travel along with visiting John'Âs widely dispersed relatives in England, Ireland, Hong Kong and Australia. We spent many holidays in the 80s and 90s traveling around the middle east and Mediterranean; fortunately we did that exploration while personal risks were less prevalent.
When John retired from his Seattle radiology practice in 2009, he quickly became bored and accepted a radiology position in the small town of Whakatane, New Zealand. We lived there until July 2014, leaving after John completed his first two courses of chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia. He completed his chemo here in the US following a Southwest Oncology Group treatment protocol; one that I had worked on in the mid-80s. Amazing how life circles around. John is doing well 10 months following the end of chemo, his hair is back, his energy is increasing, his blood counts are rising, and in spring 2015 went to work as a locum tenens at a radiology office practice in Bellevue, WA. He is now working at two community hospitals in North Central Washington near our retirement home in the Methow Valley. It is 100 miles directly east of Seattle, but a world away in terms of lifestyle. Even though we have had it for 12 years, the remodel/construction continues. With luck it will get back to actual living space rather than a construction zone this year. We also share my brother, RickÂs, house in Pasco, WA along with his nine-year old miniature Dachshund, Nugget, and our one year old pup, Wrigley.
I am unemployed at the moment, but continue to seek grant/contract writing consultancies. I have not had any consulting jobs since 2013 when I spent three months in South Africa. I am keeping my fingers crossed for some potential options now that things have settled down. John and I are off on an Alaska cruise in July 2015, and have another cruise to Chile in December. We will both attend the Campbell 1965 reunion in September 2015, immediately following JohnÃÂs 50th reunion of the Viet Nam Helicopter Pilots Association in Austin, Texas. John was drafted into the US Army during his internship year in Saginaw Michigan. He was a flight surgeon in Pleiku, Central Highlands, and served his second year at the Presidio in SF.
Thus ends the Cliff Notes version of 50 years; hope you enjoyed the update!
REFLECTIONS ON THE 50TH REUNION SEPTEMBER 2015
Friday morning we headed off to California for the 1965 50th Campbell High School reunion. Wow! It was amazing. Until early 2015, in 50 years, I had spoken to/communicated with, only 3 of my ~350 high school classmates: Steve Brydon, Jo Suzette "Austin" Finkbeiner, and Joyce "Reynolds" Oates. Now, I am happy to say that list is considerably larger! My sincere thanks to the folks that spent such enormous energy and contributed their skills to ma...Expand for more
king this event happen. It was fantastic to see and talk to so many that shared common experiences and to hear about their lives, families and careers. It was interesting that the recognition factor for me differed from person to person. It varied from facial features, smile, hair color/style, laugh, and/or voice. Clearly I was part of a graduating class that made its mark on the education, economy and culture of our country. Those four years (six if you count my Castro Junior high years) were pivotal in my life and wonderful to talk with both faculty and classmates.
I loved every minute of it, but confess my jaw hurt from talking, laughing, and smiling! Thanks to Jeff, Jim, Pat, Kerry, Tim, Garry, and of course, both Sandy and Sandy! For sure we can't wait another 50 years to do it again! Thank you, Kerry Barnes for archiving and bringing us a piece of our history The Last Farewell. the final 1965 edition of the school paper, The Campus Echo. I promised to scan and send it to several folks who, like me, had no recollection of ever seeing it. NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY, SEND ME AN EMAIL
There were effectively three different events I attended: An informal get together at a local hotel on Friday evening. This was great since it provided an opportunity to talk to some folks before the official reunion the next day. I was quite pleased that the official event was held at the original Campbell High School campus, now re-commissioned as a community center. I had a grand time moving from one group to another to discover who was "hiding in plain sight". It was a bit like peeling an onionâ¦the more groups I entered, the more amazed I was at how folks had both changed and yet stayed the same. Some career paths were predictable, while others went down paths that were not even on the radar screen 50 years ago.
While I was smoozing with classmates, John had a grand time talking with other "abandoned" spouses, wandering around the campus, and chatting up classmates/classmate's spouses. He says he can't remember the guy's name, but had a great time riding in his Tesla. The third, and final "event" was dinner for 14 at a marvelous seafood restaurant. I had what I considered a perfect seat, across the table from two guys, Tim Hegstrom and Steve Brydon, who between them knew something about a good proportion of the entire class.
So, by the end both John and I were exhausted, but smiling. We will both continue to reflect on the recent events and interactions, as well as the memories from years Past.
2016-2020 update for Gwen Maxwell
Much has stayed the same, but other significant life events have changed. I continue to share my time between my brother’s home in Pasco, WA and a wonderful retirement home in the foothills of the North Cascade mountains, 100 miles directly East of my longtime home of Seattle. After a mer18 years the planned (and unplanned) remodel is scheduled for completion by fall 2020. The single remaining project is the new front entry and mud room. This is an event long awaited by both John and I. Unfortunately, my life’s partner is not with me to celebrate.
We met in Seattle December 27, 1974; 31 years later January 6, 2006 and we were married in la Romana, Dominican Republic. Some of my classmates had an opportunity to meet John at our 50th Campbell High School reunion. Sadly, after his acute myeloid leukemia relapsed mid-August 2018, he attempted a new Southwest Oncology Group chemotherapy protocol. To both of our dismay, the treatment succeeded in depleting the leukemic cells, but his bone marrow was damaged beyond recovery by his original 2014 and relapse treatments. We took our final road trip from Pasco to the Methow Valley on October 30 and John made his final journey, Thanksgiving Day, November 22nd, 2018.
And so the next chapter of Gwen’s story began 17 months ago. In spite of the abrupt turn of events, I have grown comfortable with my new life and certainly would change very little of my past 72 years. I am blessed with mostly good health, reasonable financial security, and a beautiful home I have envisioned for many years. Thus, I can honestly again say that:
“ Life has been kind to Gwen. “
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