Teresa Winn Langness

Life has brought many twists and turns! I moved to Colorado, then Arizona and then California, where I remarried. I have published fiction (see Nine O'Clock Blue on Amazon.com), nonfiction and poetry and have worked for textbook publishers before being asked to found a nonprofit to help learners become change agents of their generation. We now connect kids in many countries and have founded schools from the ground up in some, including a charter school in LA. It hasn't been easy, but since leaving Oregon during the recession of '83, all the risks have been productive ones.

For the past few years, my daughter has worked in Afghanistan and Ethiopia in international education. My son completed an environmental science degree at Berkeley and started a business in Denver. I have a kind husband and partner whose interests are similar to mine. Life was tough at times over the years, but I've been blessed with many opportunities to serve and have traveled so much, my bones hurt. Who knew I would end up here?

I was deeply saddened to hear the stories of those who passed. I remember mornings riding to school in my old push button Rambler and seeing Larry Calson walking along singing opera at the top of his lungs. Often he was in another world and didn't even recognize me, as he was in a daze. I would give him a ride to school, so he wouldn't be late. He came so far between those days and his later life. Michael Cooley also was such a sweet soul. I remember him onstage in the Charlie Brown play. He was one person who never said an unkind word to anyone. Philip Reike was the same way...so gentle. He asked me to teach him violin lessons at home, just so he would have the pleasure of doing something on his own, as he was so shy at school. He never said an unkind word and was so sweet. These three boys had a special place in my heart. I hope others have special memories of them as well.