Alumni News: 1970s
Richard Eason '78 - As for myself, I am coming to the end of a 32-year career as a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. State Department. I am currently the Senior Policy Advisor to the Admiral Commanding the 4th Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces, Southern Command (basically all of Latin America and the Caribbean except Mexico). I will be retiring in the fall and remaining in Jacksonville. I served overseas in Uruguay; London; Muscat, Oman; Tunis (for Arabic training where I also did a special translation project on the Carthage archaeological site); Riyadh (where I was the Oil Attache), Singapore (at the Secretariat of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum or APEC); Amman, Jordan (where I regularly visited Petra, Wadi Rum and numerous archaeological sites); Brussels (where I traveled extensively around Europe); Abu Dhabi and now here in Jacksonville.
I only worked two summers as an archaeologist (in Idaho on archaeological survey work) and at Governor's Land just north of Jamestown under Dr Alain Outlaw of the Virginia Research Center for Archaeology. I was also thrilled to follow the work of Dr Bill Kelso, with whom I was acquainted at W&M, at Monticello and back at Jamestown. Although I did not pursue a career as an archaeologist (partly due to insufficient financial aid for a Masters program in Historical Archaeology at the University of Idaho), I have pursued my avocation throughout my entire career. I have had the fortune of work travel which let me visit Teotihuacan, Machu Picchu, the Great wall of China, Santorini, an Iban Longhouse in Brunei (shades of Dr. Sutlive), many sites throughout the UK, all the major sites in Egypt, Angkor Wat, and even aboriginal sites in Australia. My Anthropology/Archaeology B.A. from William and Mary was the perfect preparation for my Foreign Service career and for a life of lifelong learning and travel. I have very fond memories of my professors there--Dr Brush, Dr Barka, Dr James Deetz as well as, of course, Dr Sutlive. I have also long followed Ivor Noel Hume of CW and made many pilgrimages to museums throughout Belgium and the Netherlands exploring the material culture of the 16th and 17th centuries, including European items we excavated at Governor's Land, as studied by Noel Hume, James Deetz, and many others.
Richard Eason '78 - Unfortunately I predated these professors, which tells me I am getting along myself. I am a Foreign Service Officer currently studying at the Naval War College in Newport, RI and heading to probably my last overseas tour at the American Embassy in the United Arab Emirates. I still have great memories of my time at W&M and Anthro. (4/2011)
Kimberly Smith Ivey '79 Professional: Associate Curator, Textiles and Historic Interiors, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Williamsburg, Va. Current projects: Writing a book on quilts in the CWF collection and mounting an exhibit on Baltimore Album quilts to open at AARFAM in June, 2012. Just returned from the International Embroiderer's Guild Conference, where I gave a lecture on the British influences on American needlework. Personal: Our son is in his first year of college at Longwood Univ. where we recently met Dr. Jim Jordan, head of the Anthropology Department there. He asked about Dr. Ted Reinhart, who has donated his library to LU. (Oct. 2011)
James Lett '77 - After I completed my Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of Florida in 1983, I worked for three years as a television newscaster. Then I spent 29 years teaching Anthropology & Geography at Indian River State College in Florida before retiring in June 2015 and moving to France. My wife and I bought a 15th-century farmhouse on the edge of a small village in Dordogne (not too far from Lascaux), and we're busy immersing ourselves in French culture. (10/2015)
Charles K. Sparrow, Jr. MD '79
Thanks for the email. This brought back memories of my time at W&M, where I majored in Anthropology, from 1975-1979. Dr. Sutlive's Primitive Religion course hooked me on Anthro. and I never looked back. I still recall classes with Dr. Barka, Dr. Zamora, Dr. Ballingall, Dr. Reinhart. I became interested in historical archaeology while Jim Deetz was visiting. Alain Outlaw directed excavations at Governor's Land (Drummond Plantation) and I worked there for several summers. Our office was in the basement of the Wren Building and Bill Kelso was head of the Virginia Research Center for Archaeology. However, I was always interested in medicine and took pre med courses at W&M, eventually attending MCV/VCU ('85) and completing a residency at Fairfax before returning to Richmond.
Since 1989 I have been a family physician in Varina, just up Rt. 5 from Williamsburg in eastern Henrico Co. We serve a diverse population and actually quite a few of our employees are Chickahominy Indians, besides our office with have facilities in New Kent and Providence Forge.
While I have never really been a W&M "booster" and don't go to big events, I appreciate hearing about what is happening in the Anthropology Dept. If any Anthro. majors are interested in primary care medicine, I would be glad to talk to them. They could even spend some time with me at the office.
Gabrielle "Missy" Geroe Zimmerman '78 - After 32 years with the Department of Defense, working in Contracting and Information Technology, followed by a couple of years consulting in private industry, I have come back to W&M. My studies in Anthropology have stood me well over time, giving me the tools to understand the cultures and folkways of my indigenous colleagues. The Office of Procurement here at W&M has established a new position, which I now inhabit. My goal is to move the College forward in pursuit of more strategic approaches to acquiring the goods and services needed for our mission of providing a first class education to our students. It's good to be back! (05/2015)
