Date: Fri 09-Jul-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

Snapshot-Barbara-Gorham

Full Text:

SNAPSHOT: BARBARA GORHAM

Occupation: I taught for 19 years in the Newtown school system and retired in

June from Middle Gate School where I taught first grade. I had a great career.

I know I'll miss the kids and my colleagues. When I started, I taught special

education for six years. I enjoyed teaching, and every morning I used music to

teach reading or history. We had a lot of fun. Prior to teaching, I studied to

be a dental hygienist at the University of Bridgeport. I then went to Western

Connecticut State University where I earned my bachelor's in elementary

education. I earned my master's in education and sixth year at Fairfield

University.

How Long in Newtown: I have lived here for 34 years. Prior to that I lived in

Rochester, N.Y., Newark, N.J. and Boston, and then settled here in Newtown. It

was an affordable place to live back then.

Biggest Change Seen in Town: The traffic and the building. There have been

lots of changes, but Newtown is still a beautiful town.

Family: My husband Howard and I will be married 40 years in August. Howard is

a financial planner and teaches business courses at Nyack College in New York

and the University of New Haven. We have four adult children and nine

grandchildren. Jennifer, who is a nurse, and her husband, Garry Ober, live in

Newtown and have three children, Bethany, Mary Grace, and Claire. Jimmy is a

CPA for an insurance company. He and his wife Peggy live in Avon and have

three children, Patrick, Bridget and Erin. Matthew and his wife Tracy live in

Simsbury. They have two children, Kelly and Katie. He is an engineer for GE.

John and his wife Sue have one daughter, Emily. They live in Pepperell, Mass.

He is a civil engineer for a private company.

Hobbies: I enjoy tennis, gardening, reading, and playing the piano and organ.

I also like to walk.

Favorite Books and Authors: I read the Bible daily through the Moody Bible

Study. I am reading What's So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey. I like

biographies, such as No Ordinary Time about the Roosevelts, and Undaunted

Courage, which is about the Lewis and Clark journey.

Favorite TV Show: I enjoy the old movies on A&E.

Organizations: I am a member of the Mayflower Book Club and Walnut Hill

Community Church, where I sometimes substitute as the piano or organ player.

Most Vivid Memory of Newtown: My most vivid memories of Newtown are of the

Methodist Church being moved and the shoot out in Sandy Hook. I was coming

home from shopping and got stopped in traffic. I went home another way and

heard about the shoot out later. I also remember being in the Labor Day parade

with the Girl Scouts and doing the plantings for the traffic islands with the

Town and Country Garden Club.

Favorite Vacation Spot: I have three, Bermuda, Williamsburg, and our back

yard. We will be taking a cruise on the Columbia and Snake rivers sometime in

the fall.

Personal Philosophy: To obey God and enjoy Him.