Category: Memorial post

Harold Hill ~ Class of 1969

Departed ~ 1988 ~ Car Accident

I remember that at the time Harold was taking karate lessons. He was very proud to demonstrate his new moves for me every week. He liked to make fun of his karate teacher. One time after a lesson, he pointed at his right hand (the one he used for karate chops), and said to me in a Chinese accent, “Is lock (rock).” Then he pointed to the other hand and said, “Is pirrow (pillow).” I thought it was hilarious, so he’d say it again every so often just to see me laugh. I also remember he had been on a winning crew team before he came to ISB. We both moved from Bangkok back to Virginia , so we met again in late 1968. I went off to California in early 1970, so that was the last time I saw him, but I was certain that he was going to be very successful.

Please let me know if you learn anything more about what happened to him.

Diana Sheeks Schneider

Class of ‘70

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

Paul Brain Hegna ~ Class of 1986

Departed~02/18/2014 ~ Cause unknown

Paul Brian Hegna

48 of Chandler, Arizona , passed away on February 18, 2014. Son of Edwena Rae Hegna and the late Charles Floyd Hegna. He is survived by his brothers Steven (Carol) Hegna, and Craig (Eras) Hegna, and his sister Lynn Hegna (Stephen) Moore , niece Holly Moore (Joshua) Swider , and grand-nephew Christian Charles Swider, and respective relatives. Services to be held at a later date.

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

Ruth Ann Haviland Crame ~ Class Of 1976

Departed ~ 2/28/2016 ~ Cancer

June Haviland left and Ruth Ann Haviland Crame right~ photo by Kate Johnson

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

Norman Hale ~ Class of 1971

Departed ~ 3/2013

March 31st 2013 – Posted by Randy Hale

RIP Norman Hale My brother Norman was laid to rest a week ago. His ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego where he spent so many happy days of his life surfing. He is survived by his four children: Ryley 10 Gabriel 12 Conner 14 Julian 20 We will miss you Norm.

Chandra Gulati ~ Class of 1976

Departed ~ 1975-1976 School Year ~ Cancer

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

Claudia Gentry ~ Class of 1966

Departed~07/09/2003

Information supplied by: Glenda Gentry

Class of 66 – Claudia Gentry – Died July 9, 2003 of ovarian cancer after a hard fought battle that gave her 5 extra years.

I remember arriving in Bangkok as a nervous (and extremely shy) freshman (sounds so much better than 9th grader!). I met Glenda Gentry, who became my bestest friend, and thru her, Claudia. My older sister had not lived at home for years (college and married long before) so I was not prepared for a big sister, let alone Claudia. She was friendly (could get a rock to talk), very Southern, and a charming flirt with the boys. She teased me unmercifully at times. Especially about my “beauty mark” on the tip of my nose (which has since disappeared) and the fact that my big toe is shorter than my second toe (which is still true). She did not pull any punches either. I remember when I was asked to the Sr. prom as a lowly freshmen – it gave her a chance to tease the heck out of me (not to say embarrass me! the duty of every big sister, as I understand it. I have tried to carry the legacy with my younger sibs, but never came close.) I visited Glenda in Washington DC a few years later – Claudia hadn’t changed even though she was married with children. I remember when they picked me up at the airport. I had (of course) been sitting next to a guy on the plane and we talked after we disembarked. She marched up and said that she knew I would have met a cute boy (immediately starting the blushes and the urge for flight!) and a few other things funny only to onlookers and other big sisters. I knew I was still family.

I missed my funny big sister who gave me a glimpse of that big world of teenagers that I had just entered when she went back to the states after graduation. I wish her Godspeed and hope that she looks kindly on my toes at long last.

Mary Griest

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

Frank J. Foss II ~ Class of 1975

Departed ~ 1/13/09 ~ Lung Cancer

Frank J. Foss II: attended ISB-1968-1973. Wrote the Forward poem in the ISB year book in 1970(?) or 1971 (?) dedicated to the students’ fathers serving in Vietnam/Laos & Cambodia. Starts “When my father goes away….” Departed: January 13, 2009- Coronado, Ca. – Lung cancer.

Thanks,
L. M. Manson

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

Scott L. Fortner ~ Class of 1982

Departed September 1983 ~ Lost at Sea

Hello Mr. Wilkerson,

My name is Katrina Fortner and I attended ISB from 1979 until 1983 along with my brothers Scott and Brian Fortner. I logged on to this website looking to initially find Mr. Joel Kabatznick, a previous faculty member when my brothers and I attended ISB. I would like you guys to place my brother Scott Fortner’s information on this website. Scott died sometime in September 1983 in Hong Kong when the sailing vessel he was crewing on capsized during Typhoon Ellen. We don’t have the date he died because they searched for any survivors for about a month after the storm and what was actually found was not recognizable due to decomposition in the ocean. Dental records were used to identify his remains. My brother was very well known and liked at ISB and whenever possible I am looking to give memoriam where it is deserved. My brother was a hero until the end of his life and bless his heart he never got to hear anyone tell him that. He was a very special guy that deserves recognition. Thanks for allowing me to share this information.

Sincerely,

Katrina Fortner

Thanks so much for responding quickly. My brother Scott Fortner graduated from ISB in June 1982. He attended ISB from 1979 until 1982 when he graduated. My parents flew him back to California following his graduation to attend college however because he had never been away from family and he was by himself in the states, he really had a hard time adjusting and so my folks flew him back to HK to live with us and that is when he got the job working as a crew on the OSPREY which was anchored in Repulse Bay. He was so very happy and proud to be working on that boat. The sad part was that he had only been working on the vessel for a little over 2 weeks and hadn’t even received his first pay check. I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to get a tour of the ship the day before the storm came. A true hero he was for giving his jacket and life vest to the only shipmate who survived because that is who Scott was. He would give the shirt off his back to to anyone who truly needed it. Thank you so much for doing this. I’m sorry it took me this long to find this website because this stuff had been on my mind because recently, this past Easter my father also passed away after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. My dad was quite well known in Thailand as he was the Officer in Charge of the US Immigration Service at the American Embassy in Bangkok from 1979 until 1982. I was very saddened to see on the website that Mr. Joel Kabatznick also passed away. He was Scott’s favorite teacher as well as mine. My whole family knew him well and he had come to our house for dinner on several occasions. Anyway, I do really appreciate your correspondence and plan to pursue trying to find some of my other classmates from ISB.

Sincerely,

Katrina

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