I met Wendy Fuller the summer before 5th grade when my family moved into her neighborhood from MA. I was excited that Wendy and I were both going to Fernwood ES and could possibly be in the same class. We would often ride together on the bus. During those early years, Wendy introduced me to all her favorite musicals (Sound of Music on the top of the list, she loved Julie Andrews) and her favorite ballet dancers. Even at that early age, Wen had dreams of becoming a dancer. Wendy also introduced me to the Man from U.N.C.L.E., although my parents would never let me watch it. Wendy was an active Girl Scout, so I joined the troop. Her mother Gladys was our troop leader. On meeting days the schoolbus would drop us off at the church where we had our meetings.

After finishing 6th grade, we had to attend Potomac HS for a year, because Herbert Hoover JH hadn't been built yet. As it was Potomac's inaugural year, we got to vote on the permanent name of the school. Winston Churchill won (I wanted Eleanor Roosevelt; I don't remember Wendy's choice). I think we both agreed that blue, green, and white were great school colors. It is possible that was the year Wendy and her family spent a year in Denmark for her Dad's work. I still have the tiny mermaid figurine she brought me from Copenhagen. Going through high school we were both focused on academics, taking many of the same classes (French, German, Physics), both in French Club. Wendy was often busy with dance.

After graduating, we both went our separate ways, never that close again. We would exchange Christmas cards/newsletters most years. Wendy stayed in the DC area after completing her PhD in physics while I kept moving to different jobs, living in several East Coast states. I probably didn't see Wendy again until my husband and I moved back to Maryland in 1984, and even then, only a few times (she met my son when he was an infant around 1989, my husband and I attended Wendy's marriage to Jeffrey Mora around 1991, we would talk infrequently on the phone, always intending to get together, but never doing it). Wendy was working for the Naval Research Lab doing superconductor research and was published in her field. Wendy was committed to encouraging young women to pursue STEM studies/careers . And all the while, Wendy maintained her interests in dance (ballet, Spanish, folk) and music appreciation (especially opera). She continued to take dance classes all through her adult life.

In the spring of 2019, Wendy, Jeff, and I met for lunch near their brownstone in DC. Wendy was having some cognitive difficulties, but she was still able to carry on a lively conversation, and her command of French still bested me. We made plans to try to go to the 50th reunion together because she had stopped driving. Unfortunately that was the last time I was ever able to visit with the Wendy I had known. By mid 2020 Wen was having difficulty carrying on conversations, using the computer, getting around without assistance, and by April 2021, had moved into assisted living.

 

submitted by Liz Bagnall Scarito

https://www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Wendy-Web-Fuller-Mora?obId=27384438