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Richard and Valerie
Richard
Born and raised in the Texas Panhandle during Truman's presidency. Obtained a degree in Chem. Engr. in 1973 and promptly went into the Peace Corps to see if I'd rather be a teacher. Came back, worked as an offsite systems engineer and water systems engineer in Texas and Virginia. Met my favorite (and only) wife Valerie, at Southeast Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute in 1982 and moved to Virginia, where we played competitive volleyball until age, kids (Zac '85 and Kehala '91), and an overworked knee slowed me down. We came to Corvallis in 1993 so I could attend grad school in Environmental Engineering and work for CH2M HILL. The primary motive however was to live in Corvallis. My current interests are watching volleyball, playing poker, watching Zac and Kehala play Ultimate, and nurturing good local government as Corvallis Ward 3 City Councilor. I came to CoHo because I believed it to be an appropriate model for how we should live in these days of interdependence denial and ecological destruction. I stay in CoHo for the daily grins and (occasional) grimaces of our connected lifestyle.
Valerie
Born in Pullman, WA, 5 days after Richard; I spent my first 8 years in the small town of Palouse. A couple moves later, I lived out a dream and got a horse, and completed HS in Olympia. After my freshman year in college, where I focused on music; I switched to Nursing, and completed my Masters in Psychiatric Nursing at U of W along with lots of hikes in the Cascades and Olympics. For the next several years I worked at U of W then on to the Dept of Psychiatry in Richmond, VA for a faculty position mostly doing clinical research. Met Richard, married; played volleyball; had two wonderful children. Became an active member of a Unitarian Universalist church. Moved to Corvallis, and got a wonderful job with Senior Services, providing mental health assessment and consultation (to facilities, physicians, care providers, and families) in an effort to improve the quality of life for seniors who are struggling with medical illness, mental illness and/or dementing diseases. For fun, I enjoy spending time with my family; gardening (especially growing seedlings in the new CoHo greenhouse and guiding the planting of our cooperative organic garden), playing games (board, cards, and others), singing, reading, walking. I am delighted to be a part of CoHo. Though I learned the importance of community for me, through our church and our garden group, it is through my family and CoHo that I am challenged to be the best I can be; and have the joy of sharing in an environmentally concerned, non-violent community, where just walking down the path to the Common House is often an exciting and joyous event.
Kehala
Born in 1991 in my parent's bedroom. Made the big move to Corvallis at 2 ½ as the fourth person sitting on the bench seat and the floorboard of a big "U-Haul" truck. Along the way to being in the Honors College at the University of Oregon, I’ve enjoyed playing piano, flute, trumpet, soccer and Ultimate Frisbee. I love theater, as an actor, writer and audience and love singing especially accapella, jazz and gospel. In my spare time, when I have any, I like to read and play with friends. I’m missing living in CoHo and the many interactions with CoHo kids (and adults).
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