Class Notes

On April 17, at the 2016 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, Dr. Joyce Pigge will be inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in the category of Meritorious Service. Dr. Joyce Pigge, Bethany College, Meritorious Service. On the staff of Bethany College, Joyce has been involved in intercollegiate athletics on the institutional, conference, and national levels for over 45 years. She began her career at Bethany when she pioneered the inception of women’s athletics in the 1970s. Joyce has served Bethany as professor of political science and took on the title of Faculty Athletic Representative in 1979, a position which she has held since. On the conference level, Joyce has been the Eligibility Chair of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference since 1994 and the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference since 2007. She has served as the Eligibility Chair and Faculty Athletics Representative for the KCAC since 1996. Joyce has also been active in her participation with the NAIA, by serving on the National Executive Committee and the National Coordinating Committee.

writes in to share that this week she learned that she has been selected as a “Distinguished Graduate of Mount Vernon Township High School”. The recognition will occur on November 11, 2017, in Mount Vernon, Illinois.

Joyce accompanied the Bethany College Choir on their tour of Germany and Sweden May 24-June 4, 2018. Upon returning she served as a volunteer at the USGA Men’s Senior Open at The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs.

The Mountain Six Conference has named Joe Pinkston ’14 as All-Conference Coach of the year for his work with the Pisgah (NC) High School girls soccer team.

Cole Piper, 74, died Thursday, August 26 in Chautauqua, New York. Cole shared his warmth, generosity, wisdom, and easy laughter with everyone he met and treated all people with kindness. He lived a wonderful life-he was an extraordinary husband and father, and he leaves a legacy of leadership and love.

Born in 1946 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Cole moved to Tennessee to attend Maryville College. It was a formative choice. He planted deep Tennessee roots, and he remained devoted to his alma mater for the rest of his days, most recently serving as the College’s Board Chair.

Cole’s life-long passion for history took him back to Pennsylvania for a few years after college to teach high school history, but he soon returned to the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. In the early1970s, he began working in the distribution center of Proffitt’s Department Stores, and though he had a great mind for business and worked his way up to Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, the relationships he built with coworkers in his more than 25 years at Proffitt’s meant the most to Cole. After retiring from Proffitt’s in 1999, his second career led him back to teaching. For 20 years, he taught various courses in the University of Tennessee’s Retail and Consumer Sciences Department. At Maryville College, he facilitated ropes courses through the Mountain Challenge program, supervised the nonprofit leadership certificate program, and taught marketing. In all these academic endeavors, it was getting to know the students that he enjoyed the most.

Cole was committed to institutions that make a positive difference in the lives of others. He was a longtime member of Knoxville’s Church Street United Methodist Church. He was a past Chairman of both the Knoxville Utilities Board and Blount County United Way. He also served on the Advisory Boards of Emerald Youth Foundation, Helen Ross McNabb Center, Holston Home for Children, Episcopal School of Knoxville, Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, and Asbury Center.

Cole is survived by Sue, his wife of 31 years, and their two children Caroline and Austin, and by his daughters Jackie and Amy. He is also survived by his brother Tom and sister-in-law Sally.

A memorial service will be held at Church Street United Methodist Church at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Emerald Youth Foundation: 865-637-3227 or Church Street’s Benevolence Fund: 865-524-3048.

Cole Piper lived fully. He kept us laughing, and his integrity, generosity, and the joy he brought us all will remain.

Cole Piper, 74, died Thursday, August 26 in Chautauqua, New York. Cole shared his warmth, generosity, wisdom, and easy laughter with everyone he met and treated all people with kindness. He lived a wonderful life-he was an extraordinary husband and father, and he leaves a legacy of leadership and love. Born in 1946 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Cole moved to Tennessee to attend Maryville College. It was a formative choice. He planted deep Tennessee roots, and he remained devoted to his alma mater for the rest of his days, most recently serving as the College’s Board Chair. Cole’s life-long passion for history took him back to Pennsylvania for a few years after college to teach high school history, but he soon returned to the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. In the early1970s, he began working in the distribution center of Proffitt’s Department Stores, and though he had a great mind for business and worked his way up to Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, the relationships he built with coworkers in his more than 25 years at Proffitt’s meant the most to Cole. After retiring from Proffitt’s in 1999, his second career led him back to teaching. For 20 years, he taught various courses in the University of Tennessee’s Retail and Consumer Sciences Department. At Maryville College, he facilitated ropes courses through the Mountain Challenge program, supervised the nonprofit leadership certificate program, and taught marketing. In all these academic endeavors, it was getting to know the students that he enjoyed the most. Cole was committed to institutions that make a positive difference in the lives of others. He was a longtime member of Knoxville’s Church Street United Methodist Church. He was a past Chairman of both the Knoxville Utilities Board and Blount County United Way. He also served on the Advisory Boards of Emerald Youth Foundation, Helen Ross McNabb Center, Holston Home for Children, Episcopal School of Knoxville, Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, and Asbury Center. Cole is survived by Sue, his wife of 31 years, and their two children Caroline and Austin, and by his daughters Jackie and Amy. He is also survived by his brother Tom and sister-in-law Sally. A memorial service will be held at Church Street United Methodist Church at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Emerald Youth Foundation: 865-637-3227 or Church Street’s Benevolence Fund: 865-524-3048. Cole Piper lived fully. He kept us laughing, and his integrity, generosity, and the joy he brought us all will remain.

Mrs. Margaret L. Pittman, a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Chittenango passed away in her sleep the morning of September 6, 2016 at the Commonwealth Assisted Living facility in Radford VA. Her daughter, Annette Sproul, was with her when she went to be with her Lord and Savior. Margaret was born on November 5, 1919 in New Richmond, Ohio to the Rev. and Mrs. Edward W. Lodwick. She received her teaching degree from Maryville College in Tennessee and a Masters of Christian Education from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, VA. She began her life’s work of serving the Lord as a national missionary in the coal-mining town of Piney Fork, Ohio. In March, 1946, she married Raymond Eli Pittman, a missionary to Brazil and a widower with two small boys, Albert Eli, 10, and Nathan Shepard, 5. She left shortly thereafter to go with her new family to Brazil, where she and her husband served as missionaries with the Presbyterian Church for 14 years in the states of Minas Gerais, Goiás, São Paulo, and Pernambuco. During that time she was blessed with two children of her own, Edward William and Annette Grace. After her husband died of cancer in 1960, she returned to Brazil where she served off and on for 19 more years, teaching Bible, English, and Music, and serving in mission schools and churches. She also served as the Director of Christian Education at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Akron, Ohio for four years. In 1985 she retired to Wooster, Ohio and in 2001 she moved to Chittenango to be closer to her family here. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Raymond; her son, Albert and daughter-in-law, Susan (Hoyle) Pittman. She is survived by her sister, Agnes Kilby of Lakeland, FL; her sons, Nathan Pittman and daughter-in-law, Debbie of Chittenango, NY, Edward Pittman and daughter-in-law, Tere Ruiz of Madrid, Spain, and daughter, Annette Sproul of Christiansburg, VA. She leaves 12 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren, all of whom will miss her greatly. Burial was at 2:30 p.m. on September 15 in Rocky River, Ohio, and a memorial service was held Saturday, September 17 at 4 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Chittenango, NY. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Chittenango, marked “For Margaret’s work in Brazil.”

Jean Sandra Plant, wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, teacher,mentor, friend and everything else passed away on May 4th 2019, in Sedona, AZ. She went peacefully in her sleep at the end of a wonderful vacation and more importantly a wonderful life.

Maryville College Alums working on MDivs together. Zach Plant ’20 and Crystal Fallesen ’07,  are both students at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. They discovered they were both Scots while taking “The Work of the Minister” together in Spring 2022. Crystal is on schedule to graduate from Candler in 2023 and Zach in 2024.

Passed away Tuesday November 5th. Dr. Podgorny immigrated to the United States after completing high school and then graduated from Maryville College in Tennessee. He attended Medical School at Bowman Gray School of Medicine and completed his residency in Cardiothoracic Surgery there as well. His interest in trauma surgery led him to becoming one of the pioneers of the specialty of Emergency Medicine. He served as the first President of the American Board of Emergency Medicine and was past President of the American College of Emergency Physicians. He was recently honored as one of the founders of the specialty at the Scientific Assembly of ACEP and was featured in a documentary film about the creation of Emergency Medicine. He was instrumental in developing the EMS system and First Responder Program in North Carolina. Also, he served as the Medical Examiner for Forsyth County for many years. Dr. Podgorny was a staunch advocate for medical education in North Carolina and Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University offers the George Podgorny Scholarship for highest achieving medical student pursuing Emergency Medicine. One of his varied interests was herpetology, and he became recognized as a global expert in snake bites often fielding phone calls at all hours seeking advice on the appropriate treatment of snake bites and spider bites. He was a Renaissance man who spoke seven languages, lectured around the world on the history of medicine, published prolifically throughout his life, and had a keen appreciation of the Arts. He travelled the world and recently visited his mother’s ancestral home in Armenia. He was a loving father and grandfather who devoted his life to his family. He is survived by his daughter, Adele (Keith), sons, Eman (Dianne) and George, Jr. and grandchildren Jordan and Sophia. The highlight of his later years has been doting on his grandchildren and watching them blossom into young adults. He was preceded in death by Emanuel Podgorny, Sr., Ernestine Podgorny and Gregory Podgorny.

It is with profound sadness and deep sorrow we announce the untimely passing of Cariamber Polak. She fought a valiant battle against cancer but sadly passed on April 3, 2023, in Scottsdale, Ariz. She was 53 years old.

Cariamber was born in Orange, California, and migrated to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, when she was 5 years old. Prior to her arrival in the Virgin Islands, she and her mother made their home in Venezuela, where she commenced her kindergarten education and quickly became fluent in Spanish.

Upon her arrival to St. Thomas, she was enrolled in Joseph Sibilly Elementary School. It was here in her formative years that Cari would sink her roots deep into the Virgin Islands community. Graduating from Sibilly School, she would further her education at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic High School, graduating with distinction in the class of 1988.

A love of finance and higher education was in her future and that was quickly realized with matriculation to Maryville College in Maryville, Tenn., where she graduated with a degree in business management in 1991.

Her career took her through corporate America for the next 30 years, working predominantly in the mortgage industry with both Chase Manhattan and Wells Fargo Bank and finally OneAZ Credit Union.

Traveling throughout the Caribbean, in particular Barbados, and finally the United States, she made her home in Paradise Valley, Ariz.

Cari had a way of making everybody feel special when they interacted with her, whether it be a recent acquaintance or a lifelong childhood friend, she treated everybody with love and affection. With that being said she would hate for anyone to be slighted with their names not being recognized in her memory and with friends so numerous it would be impossible to mention all.

She will be missed by ALL her cherished friends and family. This is the way she would have wanted it.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Teri Polak and adopted father, Ronnie Lockhart. She is survived by numerous family members to include Mike Boyle (uncle) of Long Beach, CA., Anne Pepper (aunt) of Las Vegas, NV, Justin Boyle (cousin) Long Beach, CA, Robin Johnson (cousin) of Wilton, CA., Twyla Jackino of Stirling, VA., Catherine Lockhart Mills and Henrik Lockhart of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Denis Luz (longtime special friend) of Paradise Valley, AZ., and Victoria Cromwell Lane (longtime special friend) of Franklin, TN.

She is survived by countless special friends who dearly love and miss her, who are too numerous to list.

A graduate of Ss. Peter and Paul class of 1988, she is survived by several classmates too numerous to mention.

Cariamber was an ardent and passionate animal lover who advocated for the rights and protection of animals. It was her last request, in lieu of tributes or flowers, that you please donate to the St. Thomas Humane Society. Please mention her name in the memo section of your check as the St. Thomas Humane Society is aware of all incoming donations.

It was also Cariamber’s final wish to be returned to her beloved Virgin Islands. A private memorial service will be held in late June followed by a celebration of life.

A secondary notice will be posted in the Virgin Islands Daily News to provide additional details.

Our Creator saw fit to bless us with your amazing presence, your radiant smile, your unconditional love, but it was oh so short…

From whence you came you now return ….to Paradise. Love you and miss you (her favorite expression!)

Rest on high our beautiful friend…you will always be missed but never forgotten!

Joseph (Joe) Poland, age 87, died peacefully on the evening of April 20 in Fountain Hills. Joe graduated from Maryville College, near Knoxville, Tenn. in 1951, where he was class president his second year, and student body president his senior year. Joe acted in every school drama at Maryville, wrestled for the college all four years, losing only one match per year, and was named Who’s Who in American Universities his senior year at Maryville. Joe earned a postgraduate degree from the Wharton School of Business in Pennsylvania and became a CPA, a certificate he maintained until he died. Joe travelled to nearly every country in the world in the 1950’s with RCA Corporation, and he lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina for five years in his early 30s. Joe was an avid athlete his entire life, playing softball in his 30s, 40s and 50s, and running four miles every day before lunch on workdays. Joe took up tennis in his 50s, and playing doubles tennis with his friends gave him immense pleasure over the years since. Joe served as controller and as chief financial officer for several large corporations during his career. But his love for the Spanish language and knowledge of the US tax codes enabled Joe to help Spanish speaking locals with their tax filing each year. As only a tax accountant can understand, Joe’s involvement with local Arizonans in each of the past 22 tax seasons gave Joe great pleasure. Joe believed in and loved the Lord Jesus Christ, read his Bible daily and served churches in Indianapolis, Denver, Nashville and in the Phoenix area faithfully until his death. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Poland; his son, Ric Poland and wife, Tracie Poland; grandchildren, Ethan Joseph Poland and Zachary Poland of Denver, Colo.; and by his brother, George Poland of Ballwin, Mo. In addition, Joe is survived by the three living of Carolyn’s five children who hold Joe in high esteem for the father figure he was tor each of them. They are Brett Spears, Laura Spears, and Dixie Lee Devinney. A celebration of Joe’s life and of Joe and Carolyn’s 50th anniversary will be held at First Baptist Church of Fountain Hills on Saturday, May 6 at 2 p.m., followed by an informal gathering of all friends at the Poland’s home 11011 N. Zephyr Dr. #106, Fountain Hills. For directions, call 480 560-0835.

Del R. Poling, 90, a longtime resident of St. Petersburg, passed away peacefully Thursday, October 1, 2020. He was the beloved husband of Janet E. Poling with whom he shared 68 years of marriage. He was born in Maryland, the son of Renus and Armeda Poling. Del was a graduate of Sparrows Point High School, and continued his education later graduating from Maryville College, TN. There he met his bride, Janet, and embarked completing training at Western Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA, then continuing on a career as a Presbyterian minister, and trained counseling therapist. Del was mentored by several premier and pioneering therapists, and became a lifelong trainer himself, helping people solve problems, develop their gifts and potential. Change was not a negative word to Del, and he pursued change with great creativity and vigor. Del was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in St. Petersburg. In addition to his loving wife, Janet, Del leaves behind three daughters, (Linda) Lee Ribal and her husband, Gil, of St. Petersburg, FL; Shirley Ann Handley of Richmond, IN; and Donna Jean McIntosh and her husband, Bruce, of Chelmsford, MA. He was well loved by his six grandchildren, Marian Eash and her husband, Jason, Matthew Ribal, Lauren Khoyi Noyes, Brian Khoyi and his wife, Stephanie, Timothy Khoyi and his wife, Ginger, and preceded to heaven by Elizabeth “Liz” Ribal Fitzgerald, Liz’s surviving husband Billy Fitzgerald and his wife, Juvy. As the grandchildren were considered the most amazing fun, Del’s great-grandchildren brought even more delight to his life, Jared Koster, Nathaniel Koster, Michael Ribal, Zadayah Khoyi, Daniel Khoyi, and Clara Khoyi. Del also leaves behind foster children, cousins, nieces and nephews, and many others loved as family. Condolences may be shared at www.andersonmcqueen.com.

Erin Palmer Polly is the new president-elect of the Nashville Bar Association. She will assume the presidency of the Bar Association December, 2017.

Erin Palmer Polly has been named to Nashville’s 2017 “40 Under 40” list.. She is a partner in Butler Snow LLP and obtained a $22.2 million verdict for Snodgrass-King Pediatric Dental Associates PC and David J. Snodgrass in November 2016. She was also recently elected to serve as president of the Nashville, Bar Association in 2018. This year’s winners were chosen from nearly 600 nominations. An independent panel of judges reviewed each nomination, looking for those with business acumen, strong ties to the community and a willingness to go the extra mile in all they do – all before their 40th birthday.

Attorney at Law magazine named Erin Palmer Polly ’99, Attorney of the Month in March 2018. Erin is also newly installed as the President of the Nashville Bar Association. Read more here: https://goo.gl/V5XsdN

Writes in to say she is still happily engaged in her real estate practice. In her spare time she is part of a 40+ year conversation group called Penny University. She says, “Santa Cruz is a rich cultural experience, so life is always new and exciting. This summer it was whales that held our attention. Who knows what 2016 will bring?”

was named principal of Alcoa Middle School by Alcoa City Schools starting in the 2015-2016 school year. Currently Dr. Porter serves as the Alcoa High School Principal, a position he has held for 9 years. Before that Dr. Porter served as Alcoa High School Assistant Principal and taught there as well. He also taught at Karns High School and Oak Ridge High School. Dr. Porter received his Bachelor’s degree at Maryville College, Masters from the University of Tennessee, and his Educational Specialist Degree and Doctorate from Lincoln Memorial University.

Chris Porter ’85 attended the 100th Pulitzer Prize ceremonies Oct.13 in the Low Library at Columbia University in New York City. As executive editor of Sun Newspapers in Fla., Chris nominated his editorial team for the award. They won the 2016 Pulitzer for a series of editorials on the alarming number of unexplained inmate deaths at the Charlotte Correctional Institution. Chris and Glennis Riedl Porter ’84 live in Englewood Florida. They have two children, Laurel and Sean. He said, “For background, I am just hitting 30 years in journalism, mostly as an editor. I started as a writer for the Highland Echo in 1981 and was sports editor my junior and senior years. My first job was at the Loudon County News-Herald, then I came to work for the Charlotte Sun near where I grew up in Florida. I just finished eight years as executive editor of the daily Sun newspapers, covering Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. I’m the editor of the Englewood Sun.”

Gail Hamilton Porter, age 64, of Farragut passed away Thursday, November 1, 2018. Gail was raised in Rockford and was a graduate of Porter High School and Maryville College. She was the former Program Director at Blount Memorial Hospital School of Radiologic Technology and Professor and Department Head at Roane State Community College, Radiologic Technology Department. She was the former pianist of Central Point Baptist Church and a Member of First Baptist Church Concord. Preceded in death by her father, Paul Hamilton. Survivors include her husband, Cleve Porter; mother, Betty Hamilton; step daughter and son-in-law, Heather and Matt McCleary; step son, Brad Porter; grandchildren, Meg and Katie McCleary; brother, Gary Hamilton. Funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 6, 2018, at East Hall, Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com

Lawrence E. “Larry” Posey, 89, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Marietta, Ga.

He was born Jan. 14, 1935, in the mountains of Western North Carolina, in Murphy. Larry was the son of a line pole worker for the telephone company and a homemaker. He was up early to chop wood for the kitchen stove, milk Daisy, the family cow, and then walk to school. At Murphy High School, he was an athlete, playing third base and quarterback, and developing lifelong friendships with a group that would gather yearly for “Hanging Dog” reunions.

After a year at Maryville College, he served in the U.S. Army for two years. Due to his typing skills, his orders were diverted from being a clandestine radio operator in Austria to a clerk at HQ in Waterford, England, where he never lost an inspection. As he once said, “Being in the Army in peacetime isn’t bad. It’s actually fun.””

Following his service, he completed his undergraduate work at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C. While in college, he married Linda Ruth English, also of Murphy; they would be married for 55 years until her passing. Upon graduation, he got a job with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Larry and Linda moved to New York City.

For over a decade, he worked in the then Venereal Disease programs in New York City and Baltimore, Md., before completing a graduate program at the University of Virginia and then moved for good to Marietta, Ga.
Soon after arriving in Marietta, they welcomed a son, Drew Lawrence, and settled into a long pattern marked by Drew, family, CDC, real estate and the outdoors.

An avid outdoorsman, Larry enjoyed trout fishing in the spring and summer and hunting in the fall and winter with his beloved English Setters. Of these outdoor activities, his favorite was trout fishing. Larry once said on a Dec. 21, “It’s the shortest day of the year and I know that each day will get a little longer, and I start thinking about fly fishing.”” Larry loved leading family and friends on backpacking trips to the Smoky Mountains and telling tall tales of those adventures.

Outside of the woods, baseball was a passion, coaching Drew’s teams and then continuing to follow and support his former teams for years afterwards. While Drew was in high school, Larry and Linda were treasurers of the Lassiter Baseball Booster Club, and Larry played a leadership role in designing and building the original press box and locker room. Later, he was a steadfast supporter of the East Cobb Yankees.

A total fan of CDC and a true old-school Public Health Advisor, his love, appreciation and passion for CDC knew no bounds. Cups, visors, jackets and even a onesie for his granddaughters, CDC was never far from view.
For the last half of a long and distinguished career that spanned over 40 years, he worked in Environmental Health. His groups were involved in the original Love Canal investigation, hypervitaminosis D, responses to floods and natural disasters, and improving environmental conditions along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The last couple of decades were marked by his granddaughters, Katherine Ann and Ashley Kristen Posey, seeing them grow up and experiencing their milestones: baptisms, birthday parties, sports, and helping teach each of them how to drive.

It was also during this time he served as Chair of the Finance Committee at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church and was a regular at Men’s Breakfast.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, John Erwin Posey Jr., and Sarah Padgett Posey; his wife, Linda; brother-in-law, William A. “”Dub”” Sherrill; and nephew, Todd Patrick Gibson.

He is survived by his son, Dr. Drew (Kristen) Posey of Marietta, Ga.; sister, Sara Sherrill of Murphy; granddaughters, Katherine and Ashley Posey of Marietta, Ga.; sisters-in-law, Peggy Withrow of Holly Springs, Ga., and Janet Bennett of Canton, Ga.; brother-in-law, Ken English of Brasstown; niece, Paige (Brian) Sherrill of Robbinsville; nephews, Jeff (Katie) English of Athens, Ga., John English of Alto, Ga., Ryan (Arin) Johnson of Atlanta, Ga., Corey (Nai) Johnson of Johns Creek, Ga.; and a host of grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins and friends.

WestbowPress / Zondervan for Thomas Nelson. It has just published my spiritual memoir The Stubborn Ear and it is available online, from WestbowPress

POTTER, Rosemary Byrd Lee, Ed.D., 81, of Clearwater, Florida, passed away on Sunday, June 7, 2020. She was born in Miami on November 22, 1938, daughter of Kenyon Molene and Virginia Catherine Van Hemel Lee. She was predeceased by her parents; her brother, David Colazzo Lee; her aunt, Lucile Tedder; her first husband of 29 years, Robert Ellis Potter; and her second husband, Marvin C. Harrison. She is survived by her two sons, Robert Ellis Potter II (wife Adriana) and Kenyon David Potter (wife Irma); and sister, Elizabeth Lee Burke; six grandchildren, Matteus, Anabella, Vinicius and Kayo Potter, and Emma and Isabella Salinas-Potter; nieces, Casey Cusack (husband Christopher) and Deborah Jones; nephews, David K. Lee and John P. Moss III; cousins, Hank Lee, Vernor Toland, Vaughn Toland (wife Melissa), Patricia and Alexandra Tedder, Jacquelyn, Lisa and Arne Stream; grand-nieces, Kennedy Cusack, Jessica Hughes (husband Kerry), Kimberley Moss; and grand-nephews, Christopher Cusack, John Moss IV and Nathanial Moss; great grand-nieces, include Elena and Keara Hughes. Also remembered by Jack Burke and Kathy Tucker, Kelly Skulas, Sean Burke (wife Gina) and the “greats”: Monica, Amy, Christina, Buzz, Steffi Jo, Amanda, Alexander, Olivia, and Millie, and by family friends and colleagues, Charlene Schombs, Carol Popaden, and Chuck and Bonnie Hannemann among many others. Rosemary took her first steps on Miami Beach, and though there were years in Michigan attending Ferris Elem. and Birmingham High, she was always coming back to Florida, visiting parents, vacation from college, from California to be married. She graduated from Coral Gables High in 1956 and then received her BA in Education from Maryville College, TN. Moving to Gatlinburg, she did her Master’s work at Univ. of Tenn. It was there, in the library she met and fell in love with a sweet Knoxville fellow and UT graduate, Robert Potter. They married in 1963 at the Coral Gables Presbyterian Church, and were blessed with twin boys, Robert and Kenyon in 1967. After teaching in California, she returned to Dade County and was teaching second grade while completing her doctorate from the Univ. of Miami. She was an innovative educator and could boast a 39-year teaching career in public education. Her creative spirit and energy overflowed the classroom and she was always an enthusiastic faculty member, joining with her colleagues in many extra projects like musical drama productions. She taught at Citrus Grove in Dade, and then Safety Harbor, Carwise Middle and Largo High in Pinellas. She also taught pre-professional, recertification and graduate courses in reading, children’s and adolescent literature and language arts courses at the Univ. of Miami, Florida Int’l Univ., Maryville College, Univ. of Tenn. and Saint Leo Univ. Rosemary inspired countless students including her own sons Robert and Kenyon who graduated with honors from Clearwater High and then attended MIT followed by graduate school. She and her Bob prepared her sons beginning at an early age with visits to museums and advancement in Scouts and encouraged them to pursue an education and their dreams. A prolific writer, she authored a number of books on educational topics and trends, texts of reading materials, college texts, and hundreds of newspaper columns and articles on subjects of television for children, parenting and antiquing. Her writings include “The Positive Use of Commercial Television With Children,” middle-school teaching materials, several children’s books, an auto-biographical youth novel, “4 the Rest of My Kisses.” She was an active member of the American Pen Women and Phi Delta Kappa who sent her around the US to present her PDK Fastback books. Her long-running columnist (368+) including “Making the Most of TV” and “Collecting Adventures” and was syndicated in the TV Dial, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Newport News, St. Petersburg Times, and Tropical Breeze. She felt her most meaningful bit of writing were not her plays or poems but her inspirational Christian book, “The Stubborn Ear,” a lively invitation to be still and deepen your relationship with God. She called it “the purple book” and would give it to people as part of her own joyous Christian mission. She was active in St. Paul United Methodist Church of Largo especially in their Pediatric Ministry. Rosemary always enjoyed conversing with others and especially interviewing hundreds of folks about their treasures for articles and storytelling such as “Cabin’s ghosts.” She loved the outdoors which began as a Girl Scout and led to a lifetime of swimming and swimming instruction. She was a YMCA leader Examiner and at 18 the Director of the Y’s Miami Swim Program. She taught lifesaving and was certified by the American Red Cross. She enjoyed water ballet, kayaking, rafting, and boating, owning a pontoon boat and jet ski at one point. Rosemary loved to travel including cruises and twice journeyed to Russia on tours with educators. She and her Bob had extended sojourn in London taking many walking tours and visited Alaska to see the glaciers and whales. Her other passions were family, church, writing, music, and dance. She could play piano and was known for the many beautiful poems and prayers written for family. For decades she planned the Christmas Readings gatherings of her friends and family at the Potter place to share holiday spirits. Rosemary found romance once again with 12-year marriage to Peter Hamman. They held a Renaissance-themed wedding at her 1800’s restored log home in Del Rio, TN. Her sons applied their engineering skills to build the foundation for the reassembled historic home. The family enjoyed many vacations there and, of course, Rosemary researched and wrote a book about it “Down Divers Meanders, Heard Tell-Tales of Rose Hill Cabin.” When in Del Rio, TN Rosemary worshipped with the wonderful folk of Mulberry Gap United Methodist Church. This October Rosemary and sister Libby would have attended her 60th Homecoming Reunion at Maryville. Well, it seems that a far greater homecoming and reunion was to take place on June 7, 2020 for our dear Rosemary. She was cherished for a well-lived life and will be missed by family and friends forever. A celebration of her life will be planned at a later date.

William (Bill) was born and raised in the State College area of central Pennsylvania. He received his undergrad degree from Maryville College and his doctorate degree from Temple University School of Dentistry.

After graduation, he served in the USAF at Elgin AFB, and then relocated his family to West Melbourne in 1963. In 1964 he started a successful 33 year dental practice. One year he was awarded ‘Brevard’s Best Dentist’ by Florida Today newspaper! For over 50 years, Bill was very active at Wesley United Methodist Church teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, and supporting community events.

After retirement, Bill volunteered his dental skills for humanitarian missions to Bolivia, Ecuador, and Mexico. He was a lifelong athlete and enjoyed golf, swimming, cycling and lifting weights. Bill was married to his high school sweetheart Dianne for 54 years and is survived by two sons Scott and Tim, five grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

works in Knoxville with Sorenson VRS, KCD, and other agencies as an interpreter and at Maryville College as an interpreter and AEI interpreting skills mentor with interpreting students. While at Maryville College she worked on dual majors in AEI and ASL/Deaf Studies. Megan is now NIC (National Interpreter Certification) Certified