Category: Memorial post

These are the rolling memorial posts displayed in reverse chron by date of departure. they are linked to from the memorial pages by class year, alpha list and date of death

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John Stephen “The Chiebe” Dammon ~ Class of 1969

John Dammon ~ Class of 1969

Departed ~ 2/3/2012 ~ Heart Failure

Former board member John Dammon ’69 passes away suddenly

John was visiting his brother, James ’68 in Mississippi on his way home from his Dad’s funeral in Louisiana. John’s wife is Babette Trout Dammon, ’72.

John and Babette both served on the ISBN board for a number of years. John was the ISB Network’s first treasurer after incorporation. He not only took us to a good place financially, but also started our official database. John brought to the board common sense financial knowledge, and leadership.  Having John on the board was one of the best things to happen to the ISBN.

Ironically, John and Babette both worked for Blue Cross and Blue Shield in the DC area, and worked in the same building. They never met in Thailand, nor the states, until the 1988 ISB Network reunion in Boston. John had recently divorced, and his brother James encouraged him go to the reunion. He and Babette met and the rest is history. They were married a year later on August, 12 1989.

After leaving the board, John remained a strong supporter of the ISB Network and maintained his membership from the 1980s until his death. Lasting friendships that John started at ISB were strengthened during the reunions and endured until the day he died.

A service was held February 6th in Mississippi where he was cremated. There will be another service held on Friday February 17, in Annapolis, MD.

He will be missed by all who knew him.

We extend our condolences to Babette, Jamo, Lee and Samm with love and appreciation. 

Daaave

“The Breath You Take”

He looks up from second base, dad’s up in the stands
He saw the hit, the run, the slide, there ain’t no bigger fan
In the parking lot after the game
He said, “Dad, I thought you had a plane to catch?”
He smiled and said, “Yeah, son, I did”

But life’s not the breath you take, the breathing in and out
That gets you through the day, ain’t what it’s all about
You just might miss the point trying to win the race
Life’s not the breaths you take but the moments that take your breath away

Fast forward fifteen years and a thousand miles away
Boy’s built a life, he’s got a wife and a baby due today
He hears a voice saying, “I made it son”
Says, “I told you dad, you didn’t have to come”
He smiles and says, “Yeah, I know you did”

But life’s not the breath you take, the breathing in and out
That gets you through the day, ain’t what it’s all about

You just might miss the point trying to win the race
Life’s not the breaths you take but the moments that take your breath away

Just like it took my breath when she was born
Just like it took my breath away when dad took his last that morn

Life’s not the breath you take, the breathing in and out
That gets you through the day, ain’t what it’s all about
Just might miss the point if you don’t slow down the pace
Life’s not the breaths you take but the moments that take your breath away

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Michele “Mikki” Ann Blatti ~ Class of 1968

Mikki Blatti ~ Class of 1968

Departed ~ 12/2012 ~ Cancer

Oh Mikki how you will be missed. The sad news came to me from Michael Blatti this morning. My condolences to the Blatti family. You must be devastated by this tragic loss. Michele (Mikki) Blatti, ISB Class of 1968, was a dear friend of mine. We often met for a meal in Geneva whenever we both were there. These “micro reunions” kept us in touch of each other’s activities and helped maintain the ISB link. Her activities as you can see in Michael’s post on ISB friends, were a constant source of fascination for me. She was amazingly modest about her humanitarian career. She was a giver expecting nothing in return. The photos below were taken at a ceremony marking my mother’s passing last June. Mikki spoke on behalf of all the ISB students that had my mother as a teacher, and more broadly of the ISB family that knew her and my family. Her contribution was a most memorable highlight of the ceremony. I will miss Mikki. Geneva wont be the same without her. Rest in peace my friend.

By: Peppy Doggett
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Joseph Joe Benson ~ Class of 1969

Joseph Joe Benson ~ Class of 1969

Departed ~ 12/09/69 ~ Car Accident

 

 

Joe was a great friend. He and I hung out when I was a Senior and he was a Junior. He was actually older than me because he had been set back a year one time because he broke his back. I had been accidentally enrolled at ISB as a sophomore when I should have been a freshman so I was a little ahead. We played guitars and did a little clubbing around Bangkok. We had talked about going to college together but I went to Portland State in Oregon and he changed his mind the next year and went back east. He had thought about Gonzaga in Washington. I think a couple of ISB Alums from the class of ’69 went to the same school with him. I’ll never forget the last letter I got. I had written him about school and such and eagerly opened the reply letter. Unfortunately it was from his mother. She said He and two friends had gone out for some pizza and been in a traffic accident. Joe didn’t make it. I will try to dig out some pics of Joe to send in. I know several others who called him friend at ISB have missed him as much.

Steve Duncan ’68

Please send pictures (old and new), anecdotes, articles, stories and tributes to isbeings at gmail.com

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Mikell R. Bedenbaugh ~ Class of 1968

Mikell R. Bedenbaugh ~ Class of 1968

Departed 8/17/2004

Mikell was famous at ISB for throwing the discuss and being a great athlete.  He loved football and other sports.  He could throw the discus twice as far as any Thai competitor (or so it seemed).  The class of 70 should remember him as our football coach for the class rival games.  I will always remember him because I was sprinting a 100 yard dash during cross country training and without seeing us he had hurled the discus down field and it zinged right over my head, missing my skull by about two inches.  This surely would have been my demise if it had made contact.

Mike was an avid surfer and actually made surfboards professionally.  He has made surfboards for famous surfers including Ben Aipa. Mike died of a heart attack while surfing near his home in Little River, South Carolina. All the local surfers and others, did a ceremonial wake for him, honoring his life. His father is a career marine and was stationed in Pattaya in the late sixties.  Mike also lived near San Diego when he came back from Thailand.

I had been trying to find Mike ever since 1970 because I knew he was probably in California but when I did finally find his family, in 2006, his mom gave me the sad news.  I had a nice heart felt phone conversation with her about Mike and his life.

I wish Mike could have made it to a reunion because I know he would have really enjoyed seeing his old buddies.

MW Brougham 70

Please send pictures (old and new), anecdotes, articles, stories and tributes to isbeings at gmail.com
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Mrs. Lois Trudering Trudy Doggett ~ F-Faculty

Mrs. Trudy Doggett ~ F-Faculty

Departed ~ 6/22/2012

 

 

 

Passing of Lois ‘Trudy’ Doggett – ISB English Literature Teacher 1965-1969

Tue, 2012-06-26 13:20 — Ralph Doggett

It is with sadness that I tell you that my mother, Lois Trudering (“Trudy”) Doggett, died peacefully in Grasse, France, on June 22, 2012, aged 90. She was a beloved teacher of English literature at the International School of Bangkok between 1965 and 1969.  She also taught at international schools in Pakistan, Vietnam, and Kenya. She later took on a variety of roles, notably as a UN and World Bank consultant, assisting poor countries in their economic development planning, including Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Somalia, Liberia, Guinea-Conakry and Mozambique. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, six children, 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Remembrances are to be conducted at their home at 9 chemin des Maures et des Adrets, 06130 Grasse, France, on June 30.Our family will welcome ISB student and faculty messages with their memories of Trudy Doggett, sent to the Grasse address, or by email to me, Peppy Doggett, ISB class of 1968, on rdoggett@hrigeneva.com. Charitable contributions in her name would be welcomed for Amnesty International, Médecins du Monde and UNICEF.

 

 

 

 

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Bonnie Beall ~ Class of 1968

Bonnie Beall ~ Class of 1968

Departed ~ 11/16/2003 ~ Heart Attack

 

 

This is to inform you Bonnie Beall had a heart attack and died on 11-2003. She attended ISB for two years, 1966 and 1967. If you google her name you will she she was an avid fly fisherman and had a lot to do with conservationist groups in Florida. She was a sweetheart and a lot of us 60’s grads knew her and loved her.

Ken Warren 67′

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Curtis Curt Balek ~ Class of 1969

Curt Balek ~ Class of 1969

Departed ~ 11/1974

 

 

Departed 11/74~age 22~Intellius.com death records ~ Details unknown

Curt was my friend from 1968. We played on the Junior Football team, and Curt was a serious stud, hard nosed and loved to hit. He had a great sense of humor and we had a lot of great times. As I remember he had a Howler Monkey for a pet. This monkey would put with us for a while (Curt trained him to catch a football) and when he tired of playing catch the monkey would start to howl and act wild. I remember it would scare me a little. Curt would laugh and say not to worry! But, I was always on edge when I was over at his house. We both lived on Soi 63 as I remember. We were always going to meet in South Lake Tahoe when we got back state side. It just didn’t happen. I have good memories of Curt.  (We were both members of the “Big 8”)

Brent Gardner