Karen Katula
Climax, NC
Photos - 1969, 1994 & 2003
Information - 1999 and 2007
High School Activities - Girls' Athletic Association (Treasurer), Friendship Club, Dramatics Club, Thespians, National Honor Society, Library Page, Office Page, Geology Club (Vice President, Treasurer), Human Relations Club, Junior Council on World Affairs
E-mail - [email protected]
After receiving a BA in zoology from Miami University (Ohio), I attended graduate school at Northwestern University, where I earned a Ph.D. in Biology. From there, I moved to Corvallis, Oregon, and worked as a postdoc in the Biochemistry and Biophysics Dept. of Oregon State U.
I met my husband in Corvallis while working as a volunteer at a crisis center. Boots and I have been married now for almost twenty years and still love each other. Sadly, we left Oregon for Southern California so I could do research at Caltech and learn recombinant DNA techniques. Surprisingly, we both enjoyed California; the hiking was very accessible. In fact, we hiked almost every morning in the canyons only a few miles from our place in Pasadena. Our first son, Devin, was born in sunny Southern Cal. He got to "hike" in the High Sierras when he was only 6 months old.
I took a job at West Virginia University. We lived there for six years before deciding to move. My second son, Jason, was born during this period. My husband had a furniture repair and refinishing business in WV; he was happy to get rid of it.
I started a new position at U. North Carolina, Greensboro and am still here and will probably be for awhile. We have a house "in the country" on 12 acres with a pond and pasture.
We like to garden and have started an orchard (which has lots of fruit this year). My husband is now working for UPS and doing house construction. He has completely remodeled our home and added a beautiful addition. My husband knows how to do everything.
My children are involved in all the usual activities; soccer, basketball, 4-H, boy scouts, music (piano and trumpet), computer and video games and their friends. Devin will be in high school (9th grade) this fall and Jason in 7th. Hard to believe they are so grown-up; it happened so fast. Both boys are good students although not what you would call "studious" or "overachievers". Our family also includes two dogs (Katie and Big Boy), three cats (OJ, Elvira, and Pumpkin), fish and scorpions (My younger sons' pets!!)
Our family enjoys hiking and backpacking. This summer we are heading to the Wind River Range in Wyoming for a week of backpacking and for that reason I can not make it to the reunion.
Updated on February 3, 2007:
It is now 2007. My son Devin will be graduating from UNC Chapel Hill this May with degrees in History and English. He hopes to finda job of some sort for a year or so and then possibly go to graduate school. It all depends. Our younger son, Jason, decided to enlist in the Navy. He is now on the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower off the coast of Somalia. He has two more years of service before heading to college. So, the house is now quiet without the boys and their friends, although sometimes I really don't mind it.
My husband and I continue to hike, backpack, and enjoy the outdoors. Summer 2006 I participated in my first triathlon event and am training for an event in May. My younger son got me started; he has completed in a number of half iron man events. I'm only doing sprint distances.
Last year we got beehives from the state as part of a special program. So far we let the bees keep all the honey for themselves. I'm still at UNC Greensboro doing what all good academics do: teaching, research and service. I did manage to get a three-year research grant, which allows me to buy stuff for the lab and do fun things.
Two years ago my father died from cancer. I was with him when he died. My mother remains in the same house on Hill Street in good old Maple Heights. During my last visit in January, I took daily walking tours of the city with my mother's dog.
I still communicate with Donna Hunt (Molzan), Barb Remley (Sima) and Gayle Kerch (Balach). In fact, Donna and I are planning a hiking trip to Big Bend in March. Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying life.
Return to Class of 1969 homepage