Family Gatherings

1965-6

Forty-five years ago, In 1971, Jim and Jean packed up and moved from Fair Oaks, California to Gig Harbor, Washington. Tim, Sean and Pat, as yet still dependent went along. Colleen, newly married,was living in Oregon. Maura and Cath stayed behind in California.

So the family split apart, never again to all live in the same place.

The original eight member family is now grown to thirty-four strong. We range in age from mid-sixties to two. We are teachers, school directors, software developers, lawyers, analysts, engineers, economists, plant scientists, pharmacists assts, Coffee experts, VPs, CFPs, CFOs, longshoremen, stay at home parents, makeup salespeople, receptionists, artists, students, gymnasts, cloggers, athletes, and a genealogist. Some of the above are very happily retired others just starting out.

Generations begin to blend with some cousins younger than their cousins' children.  The oldest of the fourth generation graduated from high school this year, the youngest of the third generation is starting 8th grade. The twelve year spread of the 2nd generation extended to over thirty years in the 3rd.

1992 - Patrick's Wedding

Most have stayed on the West Coast. One clerked for a US Appellate court judge in Pittsburg (PA) for a couple of years, one is currently at Notre Dame (IN), two lived in Belgium for a short time, and one adventurous soul traveled a bit further, Denmark in High School, Cornell and Tufts and two years with the Peace Corps in Bolivia. We've lost a few members over the years, Colleen in 1976, Dad in 1998, Mom in 2011 and both Greg and Bill in 2015.

But one thing remains a constant,  this family enjoys getting together. Last week over two thirds of the family gathered in Klamath Falls, Oregon.  Missing were two nephews (one with wife and two children), one niece, and a great niece and nephew. As we talked, played, toured and ate we reflected on the fact that this was one of a long list of Family Gatherings. The first was Mom's and Dad's twenty-fifth anniversary in 1972 just a little over a year after the move.  In the early years the gatherings were sporadic, although there were some holiday meals with much of the family that are not included in the list below. Weddings provided an excuse for many a gathering, and there were a few extended family reunions.
When no events were on the horizon the family began to plan shared vacations every few years.

Meaghan put together a list and others added to it.  Hopefully, our memories did not fail in creating this timeline of events.  Watch the changing faces of the family as we relive each of those family gatherings, not necessarily in order, in future posts.

1972 - 25th Anniversary (Gig Harbor)

1973 - Maura & William wedding (Sacramento)

1977 - Tim & Denise wedding

1986 - Ashland - Bike ride  

1987 - 40th Anniversary (Gig Harbor)

1990 - Oregon Coast  

1992 - Madden Reunion - Redwood City 

1992 - Pat & Polly wedding - Seattle  

1994 - Jessica wedding, Belmont, CA 

1995 - Walsh Reunion (Minnesota) - 

1995 - Erich & Heidi wedding (Gresham) 

1997 - Andi wedding, Marin Headlands 

1998 - Dad's Memorial (Gig Harbor)

1998 - Sean & Nikki (San Diego)

1999 - Ireland 

2002 - English Reunion (Green Valley AZ) 

2004 - Jessica & Scott wedding (Hawaii)

2005 - Russian River 

2007 - Alaska Cruise 

2009 - Vancouver, BC

2011 - Sun River

2011 - Big Sur (Mom's Memorial)

2014 - Sun River

2016 - Klamath Falls

2018 - MINNESOTA 

Family Gathering Pictures in Dropbox