Martha Shrout - 1963 Bio & Picture from 40th Reunion Bio update and picture for 50th
Martha Shrout Brown - 2003-10-01 Well – here’s the story…sorry if it’s too long, but after all, I am 58 years old…. After graduation, I spent the summer in Europe (my one and only trip there) as a goodwill ambassador through the People-to-People program. One of the highlights of that trip (before leaving the good old US of A, was flying to DC on the same plane as Harry Truman and being at the right place at the right time in Washington to see President Kennedy close up. I attended MU and graduated in August of 1966 with a BS in Secondary Education and taught for two years at Marshall Jr-Sr High School in Marshall, Missouri. In March of 1967 I married Jack Perry Brown, HHS ’64 -- that lasted until November 1, 1988 when we were divorced. I lived in New Haven, CT from 1968 – 1977 and worked as a teacher at a suburban high school. I made life-long friends there and had the good fortune to participate in the Yale Community (which provided a lot of intellectual stimulation such as theater, lectures, exhibitions, etc. – I think the last time I saw Miriam Dyak (Weinberg) as at a poetry reading at Yale in 1974). My oldest daughter, Lyla, was born in New Haven in 1974. After burning out on teaching secondary school, I worked as an archivist for the New Haven Colony Historical Society and served on numerous committees, mostly related to church and education activities. In 1977 we moved to Cleveland Heights, OH and I worked as a volunteer at University Hospitals of Cleveland and served on the Women’s Committee and co-chaired the first annual Women’s Health Day that the Hospital sponsored. These activities led to my being hired as Associate Director of Volunteer Services with responsibility for student programs, including volunteering and health career education programs. In 1979 my second daughter, Nancy, was born at University Hospitals. During this period I was also active in my Presbyterian Church, helped to found the Parent-Professional Group for the Hearing – Impaired at the pre-school Lyla attended and completed a Masters degree at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. The next move was to Evanston, IL in 1984. I worked for two years with the Illinois Shore Girl Scout Council as Training Director/Field Director and in 1988 moved on to the American Association of Law Libraries where I worked until last year as Director of Programs, a position with responsibility for continuing education and an annual conference with an attendance of2500 – 3000 and a budget of over a million dollars – on-the-job training in business! The job required anywhere from 12 – 15 trips per year so I’ve seen a lot of the country (or at least a lot of hotels and convention centers). I continued to be active in my church (I’ve belonged to 3 Presbyterian churches since moving to Chicago and moving around), serving on governing boards, committees and also serving in the regional governing body. I now actually work for the Presbytery of Chicago and am enjoying it tremendously. I’m still an avid reader, subscribe to the Lyric Opera, try to get to at least some of the gazillion plays that are staged in Chicago each year, as well as a couple of baseball games. About 8 years ago, I was invited to go sailing with some acquaintances and was bitten by the sailing bug. I have crewed on the three boats they’ve owned, and currently get out on a 32’ Pearson. I crossed the Lake two summers ago (that’s a big deal among Lake Michigan sailors). We have relatively short summers here, so we Chicagoans try to make the best of it while it lasts. My eldest daughter, Lyla, graduated from Mt. Holyoke College and then two years in the Peace Corps in Jamaica. She completed a Masters at the University of Edinburgh in 2001, returned to Jamaica to work for the Jamaica Association for the Deaf, the agency she had served while in the Peace Corps, and is currently beginning the second year of a PhD program in International Comparative Education at the University of Bristol in the UK. Nancy, the younger daughter, graduated from Bates College in 2001 and spent the summer in Europe with a backpack and Eurailpass (and after a summer of staying in hostels swears she can sleep anywhere) and landed in Boston where she worked for a company that does travel for schools, colleges and universities. In October 2001, she lost her job due to the downswing after 9/11 and spent a couple of months temping. Since January of 2002, she has been working for Thomson Family Adventures, a company that offers eco-tours and adventure travel especially for family groups. She’s “had” to travel to Australia, New Zealand and Belize for the company. No marriages of off-spring or grandbabies to report at this point. My parents are still living and retired back to Columbia in 1984. Dad just turned 84 and Mom will be 81 in late November. They are healthy and active – I pop in about once a year and see them other times at my brother’s in St. Louis or they come here. I’ve made it to the class reunions since the 20th and enjoy catching up with various people – am especially looking forward to this one. Life has had its bumps but it has been good (and interesting, actually) and I consider myself truly blessed.
Martha Shrout Brown - 2013-09-30
Well – here’s the updated story…sorry if it’s too long, but after
all, I am 68 years old….
After graduation, I spent the summer in Europe (my one and only
trip there) as a goodwill ambassador through the People-to-People
program. One of the highlights of that trip (before leaving the
good old US of A, was flying to DC on the same plane as Harry Truman and
being at the right place at the right time in Washington to see
President Kennedy close up.
I attended MU and graduated in August of 1966 with a BS in
Secondary Education and taught for two years at Marshall Jr-Sr High
School in Marshall, Missouri. In March of 1967 I married Jack
Perry Brown, HHS ’64 -- that lasted until November 1, 1988 when we were
divorced. I lived in New Haven, CT from 1968 – 1977 and worked as
a teacher at a suburban high school. I made life-long friends
there and had the good fortune to participate in the Yale Community
(which provided a lot of intellectual stimulation such as theater,
lectures, exhibitions, etc. My
oldest daughter, Lyla, was born in New Haven in 1974. After
burning out on teaching secondary school, I worked as an archivist for
the New Haven Colony Historical Society and served on numerous
committees, mostly related to church and education activities.
In 1977 we moved to Cleveland Heights, OH and I worked as a
volunteer at University Hospitals of Cleveland and served on the Women’s
Committee and co-chaired the first annual Women’s Health Day that the
Hospital sponsored. These activities led to my being hired as
Associate Director of Volunteer Services with responsibility for student
programs, including volunteering and health career education programs.
In 1979 my second daughter, Nancy, was born at University Hospitals.
During this period I became active in my Presbyterian Church, helped to
found the Parent-Professional Group for the Hearing – Impaired at the
pre-school Lyla attended and completed a Masters degree at the
Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.
The next move was to Evanston, IL in 1984. I worked for two
years with the Illinois Shore Girl Scout Council as Training
Director/Field Director and in 1988 moved on to the American Association
of Law Libraries where I worked until 2002 as Director of Programs, a
position with responsibility for continuing education and an annual
conference with an attendance of 2500 – 3000 and a budget of over a
million dollars – on-the-job training in business! I continued to
be active in my church (I’ve belonged to 3 Presbyterian churches since
moving to Chicago and moving around), serving on governing boards,
committees and also serving in the regional governing body. I
worked for the Presbytery of Chicago from 2003 –
2006 when I moved to McCormick Theological Seminar and retired
July 1 of this year.
I’m still an avid reader, subscribe to Steppenwolf Theater, and
try to get to a couple of baseball games each year (usually White Sox).
I knit, enjoy visiting the many unique restaurants in Chicago, get
together with friends, walk along our beautiful Lakefront which is close
to my home.
My eldest daughter, Lyla, graduated from Mt. Holyoke College and
then served two years in the Peace Corps in Jamaica. She completed
a Masters at the University of Edinburgh in 2001 and a PhD in
International Comparative Education at the University of Bristol in the
UK in 2006. She’s currently
in Jakarta, Indonesia working as a consultant for the World Bank.
Nancy, the younger daughter, graduated from Bates College in 2001
has a career in travel, first for Thomson Family Adventures, a company
that offers eco-tours and adventure travel especially for family groups
and since 2012 for Stanford University’s Alumni office and still takes
care of travel.
Both women have traveled widely and have a broad perspective o
this world we live it. Nancy
married in 2011 – met spouse when she lived in Boston, he’s from Lake
Bluff, IL. Lyla is single. No
grandbabies to report at this point.
My parents
retired back to Columbia in 1984. Dad just turned 94 and Mom died in
1996. Dad now lives at Lenoir and is healthy and active for a 94
year-old – creaky but sharp as a tack. I’ve made it to the class
reunions since the 20th and enjoy catching up with various people – am
especially looking forward to this one. Life has had its bumps but
it has been good (and interesting, actually) and I consider myself truly
blessed.
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