Sue Pearcy (Sherer) ~ Class Of 1958

Sue Pearcy Sherer

Class of 1958

Departed 2/10/2007

Maiden name: Pearcy

Years attended ISB:

It is with regret that I have to inform you that Sue died on 10 February 2007 after a long battle with rheumatoid arthritis.  She is survived by her husband, Paul, four children and seven grandchildren and also her brother Mark, class of 1968.

 

Mark Pearcy

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

Michael Noss ~ Class of 1971

Michael Noss ~ Class of 1971

Departed ~ 03/16/2006 ~ Persistent brain tumor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hear Michael sitting in on bass with The Still Remains at the Dallas Reunion 1996

Michael died this evening at 9:45pm. I was with him, beginning another round of memories with his best friend Dave Elder and David Wilkerson, also from Bangkok days, and his sister Sarah, all of whom arrived in time to sit with him, and say goodbye, as his breathing became more labored. It was clear that it was that strong Noss heart pounding a few more minutes on the planet, and then, a slower pace of breathing, and then, as peaceful a transition as could be given. Just peaceful.

David Wilkerson got a bottle of red wine from the car, we toasted our Michael. he cell phoned a few of the ISB (International School of Bangkok friends). I called Patrick, who is with his friends tonight. My brother came with the file on the cremation policy. The friends and sister left, and I had some quiet time with this man who loved me, and was so damaged, and all the unmet dreams were left to also let go.

Tomorrow begins the details of disengagement, calls and coordination, and moving Patrick to his new place. I think it is good for him to move forward as much as he still can within the other workings, which are mostly mine to handle.

A sweet and pure soul, a kind and non-judgmental ease, a life with a persistent tumor that impacted his ability to win against his demons, but in the end, cleared away everything but that gentle nature.

I couldn’t save him, I could only keep him safe, and that I did, it was our journey, he taught me much, and gave me the chance to be the parent of Patrick.

So begins another day, another step, but as you know, and Susan Sarandon said so well in Bull Durham, Michael Also “Believed in the Church of Baseball”

Anne Noss

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

Nirankar Narula ~ Class of 1970

Nirankar Narula ~ Class of 1970

Departed October 2005 ~ Cancer

 

 

 

 

 

From Valerie, Nirankar’s widow:

This is a brief summary of Nick’s life after ISB.

Nick left BKK to go to Fresno State University. A year later when then Governor Ronald Reagan raised tuition for foreign students he left California for Houston, Texas to attend University of Houston. He graduated in 1975 with a degree in business. In 1979, we married in Houston and lived here until his death. We have 2 daughters. We have our own business which designed and imported our own label of clothing called Casey Coleman. The clothes were manufactured in BKK and India.

The entire family would visit BKK every summer for business and pleasure. Nick’s family still lives in BKK and was also involved in the production of Casey Coleman. Every year as a family we traveled to a new destination in Asia and Europe which Nick and I really loved to do. We were able to create so many memories with our girls.

In 1999, while traveling in Australia, Nick began noticing sinus congestion that continually worsened. By December, he was diagnosed with a rare sinus nasal cancer. He went for treatment here at M. D. Anderson hospital in Houston. The treatments were able to help him live with cancer for 6 years. During those years when he was well we continued to work and travel as a family like in past years. Nick kept up with circle of friends that he met while at U of H as well as many other friends from around the globe. He believed he was a citizen of the world.

The girls and I have been able to keep our yearly travel plans that remind us of our family adventures with Nick.

With best regards,
Valerie

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

Sally Ellen Jackson ~ Class of 1970

 Sally Ellen Jackson ~ Class of 1970

Departed 03/08/2005 ~ Suicide

 

 

Hello David,

I am writing to request that my sister Sally Jackson class of 1970 be included in the Gone But Not Forgotten link of the ISB Network website please. Her picture is in the 1970 yearbook in the Senior section.

Sally Ellen Jackson died by suicide on March 8 2005.

Thank you for including her

Pattie Jackson Wolf ’71

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

Gilbert M. Hair ~ Class of 1960

Gilbert M. Hair ~ Class of 1960

Departed ~ September  15, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gilbert M. Hair passed away on September 15, 2004 at Miami Heart Institute in Miami Beach, Florida after a long fight against cancer. He was 63 years old. He is survived by his daughter Nicole Hair Vasbinder, his mother Jane MacMahon Hair Jantzen, his brothers Robert J. Janzten Jr. and Michael G. Jantzen, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mr. Hair was born in Manila, Philippine Islands on March 16, 1941. In early 1942 he and his mother were put into Japanese prison camp. His father, John MacGavin Hair, was a British subject and volunteered for the American Army. He was captured by the Japanese Army and eventually died aboard a Japanese POW “hell ship”. After Gil and his mother were liberated in 1945 his mother married Robert J. Jantzen and the family lived in Singapore and Thailand.

After serving in the Marine Corps he started his career in the airline industry, working for Pan American World Airways and Continental Airlines. He went on to become a stockbroker and investment banker before founding the Center For Internee Rights in 1991 where he fought for the rights of civilian prisoners of the Japanese during World War II. He was an alumnus of Mercersburg Academy, International School of Bangkok, American University and Pacific Western University and was active throughout his life in various civic and social organizations.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2004 at 4pm at the Church by the Sea in Bal Harbour, Florida. The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to American Ex-Prisoners of War.

Robert C. Jacobs ~ Class of 1959

Robert Jacobs ~ Class of 1959

Departed ~ 6/6/2004


Robert Jacobs, lSB Class of 1959 (he attended approximately 1956-1958) was shot dead in the garage of his residence in Riyadh on Tuesday, June 8th. The event was videotaped and run on a sympathetic website; portions were also shown on al-Jazeera TV, based in Quatar. The clip shows Bob being shot 10 times, then the motion of him being beheaded, although this has not been confirmed. Two or three men were involved, and one or two of them are said to be among those killed or apprehended by Saudi authorities over the last couple of days.

I was in Bob Jacobs’ class of ’59 at 1SB, and we got together a few times after we were both back in the Washington, DC area in 1959-60. I spoke with him in about 1997 by phone at his home in Murphysboro, IL and found that he was planning to leave soon for work in Saudi Arabia. I called his home in 2000 to let him know about the Williamsburg, VA reunion, and reached one of his sons who informed me that he was in Saudia Arabia.


I am enclosing some material from the internet that may be of interest.


Best regards,

Bill Brink ISB ’59

Dear ISB Friends:

A death is always saddening to report. This death is particularly so, as this one-time ISB student was gunned down and apparently beheaded by Muslim extremists in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.


The Southern Illinoisan – MURPHYSBORO MAN KILLED IN SAUDI ARABIA

Continue reading “Robert C. Jacobs ~ Class of 1959”

Jeffrey “Jebre'” Lewis ~ Class of 1971

Jeff “Jebre'” Lewis ~ Class of 1971

Departed ~ 04/19/2004 ~ Complications related to a medical procedure

Obituary

Entered into eternal rest, April 19, 2004, Jeff Lewis, 50, beloved husband of Jane E. Anderson Lewis of Branford, brother and brother-in-law of Mark and Jennifer Lewis of Shirley, MA, Eric Lewis of Wallingford and Steve Lewis of Oakton, VA, uncle and Godfather of Josie Lewis of Oakton, VA, nephew of Reverend Richard and his wife, Margaret Wiborg, cousin of David and Chris Wiborg, Kim and Sue McIntyre and Robin Campbell and son-in-law of Betty Anderson of East Haven. Predeceased by his sister, Karen Lewis and a brother, Richard Lewis. Jeff was born in Little Falls, NY, Sept. 28, 1953 a son of the late Philip and Phyllis Wiborg Lewis. He graduated from the International School of Bangkok, Thailand in 1971 and Ohio Wesleyan University in 1975. Memorial service at BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden, Sat., April 24 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814 or to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 705 N. Mountain Rd., Newington, CT 06111.

Tribute to a Friend

by: David Wilkerson

I just arrived home from Branford, CT., where I attended Jeff “Kuhn Jebree” Lewis’s Memorial Service. There were five of us from Jeff’s extended ISB family in attendance, Bob Athearn, Mark Brandes, Diane Curtis-Bull, Deb Twing-Thomson and myself. It was of course a celebration of life but nonetheless a sad time as well.

Branford is a beautiful town just outside of New Heaven and the weather could not have been nicer. The flowers and trees were in full bloom, and the sun was shining with the temperature in the upper 60’s; it was a glorious day to pay tribute to our dearly departed friend.

Jeff had struggled with health problems over the past five years or so, but the unexpected and sudden departure last Monday afternoon came as shock to us all.

We met many of his local friends and of course his entire immediate family. In interacting with them we were able to share much of what we knew of Jeff and they with us. By all accounts he was loved by many and in talking with his closest friend and college roommate John Kingsbury, I learned that Jeff had talked of his ISB friends and experiences many times. In fact John said, “Dave I’ve heard all of your names so many, many times over the years. The stories of Thailand and ISB used to amaze me. Those first years in college, Jeff would go on and on with the stories of Thailand and ISB. I thought he would never stop and believe me he never did.”

His brothers, Mark, Eric and Steve said, “When Jeff found out about the ISB Network and attended his first reunion, he came home bouncing off of the walls. He just went on and on about the reunion and the people he saw there. Jeff was always excited about the prospects of every reunion. We never could fully understand his feelings but now after seeing you guys come all the way up here to honor him, meeting and talking with you, we think we now understand his strong connection with all of you.”

I think we all found comfort in Jeff’s uncle, Richard “Uncle Dick” Wiberg, a retired minister, whose stories of Jeff’s life mixed with the words of his faith were refreshingly appropriate.

His niece, Josie Lewis spoke of her love for her Uncle Jeff, revealing his love for children and the patience and limitless time he gave to them all. Josie’s words were those of someone far beyond her years.

His youngest cousin, David Wiberg, portrayed the yearly gatherings at the family cottage in New Hampshire. Jeff was the one who taught them all how to water ski and David took pride in being the last of the cousins that was taught to ski by Jeff. His words painted a very clear picture of who Jeff was.

As per Jeff’s wishes he was cremated and the family has asked that donations be sent to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Greater CT. Chapter, 705 North Mountain Road, Suite G102, Newington, CT. 06111-1411.

His brothers, Mark, Eric and Steve; and his wife Jane, are all planning to attend the St. Petersburg reunion. We plan to toast his life at 12:00 Midnight on Friday, August 13th. I think it only appropriate that we do so on the beach, with bare feet in the sand.

There were many, many stories and anecdotes that were both funny and sad but unlike last week, the raining in my heart has slowed and the sun has begun to peek through the clouds.

To his sweet wife Jane, Jeff was blessed to have you and I feel very fortunate to call you my friend.

I hope all of you that were close to Jeff will find comfort in knowing that he loved his ISB friends and family but has gone on to greater rewards.

Until we meet again, Sawaddi old friend.

Pete Charpentier

pcharpe88 at gmail dot com
Nov 3, 2020, 11:51 AM

I’d been trying for years to find Jeff on the Internet, and was greatly saddened to learn he passed away in 2004. I came across an entry on the isbeings site, and so I thought I pass along a remembrance of Jeff. I worked with Jeff at the U.S. Forest Service during the 1970s. We both survived on temporary gigs with the Connecticut-based Northeastern Forest Experiment Station until we went our separate ways. It was a good time and place to be young, and I remember Jeff vividly. I recall him as intelligent, articulate, complex, rowdy and driven by an exceptionally strong moral center. He spoke often of his time in Bangkok. He was an incredibly precise driver with lightning reflexes, which – if I’m remembering this right – he attributed to having learned how to drive in Egypt. We were basically just kids but I knew he would become a good man. In those days his ambition was to become a writer, and that’s how I have always imagined him.

Not Forgotten

what do you do when you learn, there’s no tomorrow….you hold hands…..sing songs…….live life……till it’s gone…….but not forgotten

what you do when your sad……. and heavy laden, you reach deep……and beyond……give love….till your gone……. but not forgotten

those who went before…….why aren’t they remembered……..they held our hands……and sang a song…….they lived their lives…..but now they’re gone

not forgotten……..not forgotten

find your light and turn it on shine it down on everyone

find your light and turn it on shine it down on everyone

find your light………………….shine it down on everyone

Peter Frampton

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