As another year winds to a close, we look back over 12 months of peace mixed with challenge. This year we are happy to report yet again that we have no change of address or job, but while we have had no geographical moves, we have nonetheless experienced many exciting and tumultuous events.
Steve completes two and a half years as President of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In spite of a difficult time with the Board of Trustees concerning the future of the Prescott campus, the experience continues to be positive. ERAU has seen a leveling in its declining enrollment, and compared to other schools with aviation/aerospace curriculums, has seen relatively small decreases. The school has added a turboprop training option in a King Air to its multi-engine training curriculum, which puts it well ahead of its competitors. Several new building construction projects are due to start in 1994 at both the Daytona and Prescott campuses, including a new Engineering facility for each campus which will specialize in combined distance education. Last but not least, the ERAU basketball team started out this season ranked 6th in the nation in the NAIA Division II, and so far has a record of 7-1, including having won two tournaments.
Steve’s job has him travelling a good deal. These trips include of course frequent visits to the Prescott campus, the FAA, and ERAU alumni chapters, as well as many speaking engagements and fundraising trips. Steve and Nancy were able to attend several inaugural events in Washington, D.C. in January. In addition, Steve has had two whirlwind international trips this year, one to Europe, and the other to Northern Africa and the Middle East.
Nancy continues her job in NASA Kennedy’s Advanced Technology Program, and is now also the program manager for robotics as well as for advanced software. It has certainly made her busier, and increased her travel schedule, but she loves the challenge of trying to bring a shaky program back to life. In addition, she has been able to use her Mooney for a number of business and pleasure trips, including her 20th high school reunion in Virginia. She joined her good friend Marcie again for two air races this summer. They used the Mooney for flying the Air Race Classic, which ran this year from Corpus Christi, Texas to Providence, Rhode Island. They were very proud to have flown so well in such a challenging race, even if they couldn’t claim a top prize. They used a Warrior from the Moffett Flying Club to fly the Palms to Pines Race for the 4th year, and just barely missed being in the top 10.
Nancy also had the chance to visit France for the first time this year. She spent several days with Steve’s parents in Barbizon, which included day tours to Paris. She then spent several days on the Burgundy canal in the Dijon area with her friends the Hazens and two other couples. She finally had the chance to use the French she spent many years learning in high school and college. This may turn out to be a more expensive trip than she had first expected, as she is now infatuated with world travel. Kenya, Moscow, and Morocco now top her list as potential sites for her next adventure.
Tabitha is in the midst of her sophomore year at University of California at Santa Cruz. She is very happy with the switch she made last year from the Chemistry curriculum to the Psychology curriculum, but at the rate she’s going she’ll be done with the major in only a few more quarters. So, she is looking for another possible major or perhaps a minor to add to it. She has moved out of her cramped dorm room into an on-campus apartment, which she still shares with Lori, her best friend from high school, as well as with two other students. They all get along well, and macaroni and cheese has become the staple of her diet (since she is no longer on the school food plan and has to do her own cooking). In case you would like to reach her, her new phone number is (408) 458-9270.
Steve’s parents have retired from Corning Glass, and have returned from France to purchase a beautiful Florida home in Daytona Beach. Steve and his father are investigating radio-controlled airplanes as a mutual hobby, as well as golf. In addition, Steve is thinking very strongly of getting back into soaring, preferably into competition. This time next year we may be able to announce a new addition to the family, in the form of a sleek new sailplane.
Nancy and Tabitha were able to meet in Denver for Thanksgiving this year. They had a wonderful time visiting with Steve’s sister Sue and her husband Thane, as well as with Nancy’s brother Jeff, his wife Gilda, and their children Jenny and Chris. A special treat was the presence of the ERAU basketball team playing a tournament (in which they again emerged the victors!), as well as a day of skiing in the Rockies at Keystone.
The high point of Honey’s year was the chance to host Cocoa, the miniature French Poodle belonging to Steve’s parents, for over 6 weeks, while her owners were househunting and settling into their new home. After the initial jockeying by each of them to establish doggy dominance, they were wonderful company for each other, playing together most delightfully. Honey would frequently take Cocoa for a walk, carry the smaller dog’s leash with a very responsible attitude. They also enjoyed trading treats, each one chewing on their own rawhide bone for a while, then swapping bones. Honey is delighted that Steve’s parents have bought a home with a pool, and is expecting to be a frequent guest at their house, particularly during the hot summer months.
As we look back during the holiday season and count our blessings, we hope that you and your dear ones are healthy and happy. Again we extend our invitation to be our guests in Daytona Beach. May the New Year bring you peace, joy, love, and prosperity.
Steve and Nancy Sliwa
Tabitha
and Honey
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