Gregory Donald Greg Urquhart ~ Class of 1980

Greg Urquhart ~ Class of 1980
Arrived ~ 12/4/1962
Departed ~ 3/22/2024


Lovingly posted by sister Jan Urquhart ’73

March 23, 2024

It is with a heavy heart that I share this morning that my sweetest little brother, Greg, died last night at home on hospice. He fought a valiant fight against cancer. It is our belief that Greg is now free of any suffering and is in peace. He always thanked everyone for all that they did for him and he lived with cancer so bravely and without complaint. We will miss him terribly. He had the sweetest, most gentle soul. I’m grateful that I could share more about Greg over this last year and a few months. He used to say to me, “Jan, don’t you worry about a thing.” I said that to him some over the past few weeks. Peace to you, Greg. And to all those living with cancer, I will continue to pray for you and for your journey. Love to all.

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Susan Becker Lese ~ Class of 1980

Susan Becker ~ Class of 1980

Departed ~ 9/14/2021

Janet Lowe wrote:

It is with a very heavy heart that I share some sad news….Susan Becker ’80 ISB Alumni passed away last night in West Virginia her home of recent years. She chose to enter into hospice care after being diagnosed with a very aggressive ovarian cancer, she left this world comfortable and at peace.

1962-2021 ~ Susan Becker Lese survived by her daughter Rachel, sister Catherine, grand children twins Savannah and Sawyer, and ex. husband/friend Brian Lese.

~As per her wishes there will be no formal services~. Even though she was only in Bangkok for just one year, 1980 as a senior, she always said it was one of the best times in her life.

Farewell blessings for you beautiful free bird ❤.

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

Claire Marie Seale Amspacher ~ Class of 1980

Claire Marie Seale ~ Class of 1980

Departed ~ 3/12/2020

Lisa Seale class of 1975 wrote:

Claire attended ISB from March 1970 to June 1975. Our family returned to the States in August 1975, when my father was stationed on Oahu. Claire graduated from high school there, but would have been in the Class of 1980 had our family stayed in Bangkok that long. She was the youngest of four children. (I graduated from ISB in 1975 and was the oldest, so I’m not sure where Char came up with 1973, but it’s kind of her to have notified you). Claire’s dates are 1962-2020 and she is survived by two daughters.

Charlyn Jackson-Derrick class of 1975 wrote:

Lisa Seale’s sister, Claire was in the class of 1980, she passed this last year. I haven’t seen a posting for her in ISBeings. I became reacquainted with Lisa and her family when I attended her mother’s funeral in Norman two years ago. They are an amazing beautiful clan. Thanks, Char

Claire Marie (Seale) Amspacher, 57, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2020. She was surrounded by loving family and friends.

Claire loved nursing and she devoted both her personal and professional life to caring for the ill and injured. Claire graduated from the University of Oklahoma’s nursing program as a Registered Nurse in 1995 and started her nursing career at the Veteran’s Administration hospital in Oklahoma City, later working on surgical-care floors at Norman Regional. Most recently she served in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Porter campus of Norman Regional. She had many friends and colleagues at the ICU whom she enjoyed working with, and she shared their deep dedication to patients. She is remembered by many for her hard work, kindness, and wicked sense of humor.

Claire spent her childhood in travels around the world with her family, as her father was posted on numerous assignments by the US Army; two favorite locations were West Germany and Thailand. The family also enjoyed travelling by Space-A to Italy, Spain, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and India.

After graduating from high school in Hawaii, Claire moved to Norman, Oklahoma, where she met her future husband Mark Amspacher, working at the family business, which had been started during the Great Depression by Mark’s grandfather. The Southside Grocery was a beloved Norman institution and Claire had many stories to tell. The two were married in 1981. Later, Mark started another Norman institution, The Diner on Main Street, which Claire ran with her daughter Bonnie for five years after Mark passed away in 2010. (Fans of the Food Network can still see Claire on American Diner Revival, in season one, episode one’s feature of The Diner.)

Claire enjoyed gardening, knitting, horseback riding, hiking, traveling, and many other active pursuits, such as fossil hunting. She shared her enjoyment of the outdoors with friends and family, with many camping, hiking, and horseback riding trips throughout the United States over her lifetime. She had many pets over the years, including beloved dogs, cats, and horses. She had a particular love for bluegrass prairies and birdwatching. Her passion for travel took her back to Thailand more than once in recent years, where she hiked in a national park and visited an elephant park. She also traveled twice to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, as well as to Ecuador and to Rajasthan in India with her mother and one of her sisters (one of her favorite exclamations on that trip was, “Ruins!”). Claire had dreams of visiting the Great Wall of China and taking a walking tour of Scotland.

Claire is survived by her daughters Sarah Claire Amspacher (Brian Przywojski), Bonnie Marie Amspacher, and Shonda Peaches Amspacher, as well as her father Thomas Arthur Seale, her brother Eric Christopher Seale (Sandra), her two sisters, Lisa Ann Seale (J. D. Whitney) and Karen Marie Seale (David Fung), and extended family members. Claire was preceded in death by her husband Daniel Mark Amspacher, her mother Lois Ann (Guettinger) Seale, her maternal grandparents Oscar John and Pauline (Greenway) Guettinger of San Leandro, California, and her paternal grandparents Arthur Lisle and Mary Ethel (Marie-Attala Plante) Seale of Oakland, California.

The family thanks the dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff at Norman Regional Health System’s Oncology Clinic and Cancer Management Center for extending Claire’s life after her initial diagnosis in 2017. The family also extends its deep gratitude for the in-home care of hospice nurses and staff from Good Shepherd Hospice. She was treated with care and love.

A memorial gathering for family and friends will take place in the fall. This timing is out of consideration for health concerns amid the global pandemic. A small funeral Mass with immediate family will be celebrated at St. Thomas More University Parish in Norman, Oklahoma. We deeply appreciate your kindness in wishing to say good-bye to Claire and to help celebrate her memory, which all her family shares. Updated information on a larger service in the fall will be provided on the Havenbrook Funeral Home page for Claire. May she rest in peace.

Memorial donations may be sent to the WildCare Foundation at wildcareoklahoma.org, or to the Norman Regional Health Foundation at NRHFoundation.org, which will direct gifts made in Claire’s memory to cancer care.

 

 

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

Michael Andrew Morgan ~ Class of 1980

Michael Andrew Morgan ~ Class of 1980

Departed ~ 4/2008

Would you please add my brother Michael Morgan. He went to ISB Bang Sue campus from 1972-1975. He passed away of lung cancer April of 2008 at age 46.

Cheryl Morgan 1975

 

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

 

Michael Orsini ~ Class of 1980

Michael Orsini ~ Class of 1980

Departed ~ 1982 ~ Details unknown

Mr. Wilkerson,

I was just surfing the web and decided to check out my old school, ISB, and was surprised to see my sister Patti’s picture in your memorial section. I think of her and my brother Michael, who died in 1982,and was also an alumni, and was pleased to see her there. My mother just passed away in November, 2008 and would have been touched by this.

Toni Orsini-Bagley

 

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

Crister Garrett ~ Class of 1980

Crister Garrett ~ Class of 1980

Departed ~ 3/6/2019

 

 

Leipzig University mourns Crister Garrett (56)”
The longtime director of the Leipzig Institute of American Studies, Professor Crister Garrett, passed away on Wednesday evening at the age of 56. The LVZ learned from family circles. Garrett was a sought-after and valued expert on transatlantic relations throughout Germany.

Professor Crister Garrett in Leipzig. Source:  Andre Kempner Leipzig The University of Leipzig mourns the longtime director of the Institute of American Studies , Professor Dr. med. Crister Garrett . The widely known and respected professor of American culture and history died at the age of 56 on Wednesday night in the presence of his family suffering from cancer. His wife Claudia and his two daughters were with him until the end. “We will miss him so much,” said the LVZ widow.

University deeply affected: Rector Schücking : Lost too soon one of our most popular and well-known professors “The university is deeply affected,” said its rector Professor. Beate Schücking . ” Far too soon , with Crister Garrett, we lose one of our most popular and well-known professors. Personally, I have greatly appreciated him, both his professional and his human qualities. My sympathy goes to his family, especially his wife and daughters, “said the rector. The University of Leipzig owe a lot to Professor Garrett , “he was in many ways our ambassador who tirelessly campaigned for international friendship and mutual understanding on both sides of the Atlantic , which is more important today than ever. We will miss him very much! “

Even US Consul General Timothy Eydelnantmourns:  Crister was a warmhearted man and brilliant mind. The Leipzig US Consul General Timothy Eydelnant also told LVZ that the death of Crister Garrett hit him and his colleagues deeply. ” Cristerwas a warm-hearted person, a brilliant mind and a close ally in the drive for a strong transatlantic relationship. He leaves a big gap. We are in the thoughts of his family and wish her much strength for this difficult time. “Source: Andre Kempner

Garrett came to Leipzig in 2003 as a professor:
At the age of 41, New York born Crister Garrett came to the University of Wisconsin in 2003 as a visiting professor for international and European studies at the Leipzig Alma mater. “A great Chair occupation”, already enthused the then Consul General of the USA in Leipzig , Fletcher M. Burton , and was pleased that Garrett strongly began to improving transatlantic relations. Already his inaugural lecture on December 11, 2003 dealt with this topic.

Wife in Leipzig:  Crister met his wife seven years earlier, while working for a year as a lecturer at the University of Leipzig, he met not only the university, but also his wife Claudia, who studied communication science. With the Leipzig girl he has two daughters, who grew up bilingually; They spoke German with their mother and English with their father. At grammar school, both still learn the French language.

Mother Swedish, father American:  Garrett’s mother moved in 1959 from Sweden to the United States , his father is from Colorado . Crister Garrett studied political science and history at the California University in Los Angeles and then lived in various parts of Europe , including Sweden , France and Belgium .

American Space Leipzig pushed ahead:  Garrett has achieved much in German-American cooperation. Not least of all testifies to the American Space Leipzig , a joint project of US Embassy, US Consulate General and the University, which he has significantly advanced. The Center for German-American Dialogue at the local level, which opened on 3 December 2013, is the only one of its kind in central Germany . Garrett was one of the most sought after experts at the university. He was always available as a conversation partner, if he could set it up somehow, “says the press secretary of the University of Leipzig, Carsten Heckmann .

Mourning also at the faculty: “We mourn the death of Professor Dr. Crister Garrett, “says the homepage of the Faculty of Philology:” Mr. Garrett was Vice Dean of our Faculty and played a major role in shaping the Faculty of Philology. His optimism, his energy and not least his friendly and cheerful nature made him a respected and popular colleague throughout the faculty “, write Dean, Professor Beat Siebenhaar , and many colleagues.
By Anita Kecke