GraduateListing
Alexander,
Susan
Allender,
Joan
Aranda,
Martha
Arnold,
Donna
Astorga,
Bob
Baracz, Les
Barnard, John
Benson, Robert
Better, Barbara
Bissell, Sue
Block,
Rick
Bodendofer,
Lelani
Bowman, Linda
Brown, Barbara
Braa, David
Bryant, Dick
Burnett, Linda
Coalson, Richard
Collins, Larry
Comaty, Mike
Cornish, Steve
Cowger, Janet
Cowger, Linda
Cox, Connie
Cox, Jim
Crawford, Leanne
Cunningham, Barbara
Daugherty, Bob
Davis, Kathryn
Davis, Judy
Dayton, Marie
Deem, Sherrie
Dirschl, Darlene
Douglas, Darlene
Drinkard, Mike
Drotar, Gary
Duke, Bennie
Duran, Irma
Ebert, Susan
Eddy, Chris
Ellsworth, Bonnie
Eloe, Dean
Emmons, Carolyn
Endres, David
Evans, Jerry
Evans, Lucy
Evartz, Richard
Evertz, Karen
Eyster, Bonita Lee
Ferris, Betty
Fields, Paul
Fisher, Ronnie
Frederick, Judith Ann
Gherardini, Ray
Glass, Lorna
Gneiser, Mildred
Gregory, Russell Duane
Gueck, Barbara
Gwynne, Duana L.
Haken, Hanna
Harding, Emmett
Harmon, Don
Harmon, Linda
Hartsuiker, Roberta
Henry, Dorothy
Hauschild, Connie
Hileman, John
Hills, Max
Hines, Tish
Hooper, Brenda
Huffstutler, Sheralyn
Hurd, Ann
James, Stanley
Jarboe, Dianne
Jarboe, Joe
Jarman, Jacquelyn
Johnson, Leonard
Kahler, Ceclia
Kaiser, Stanley
Keating, Jackie
Keeling, Pat
Kerstiens, Fred
Kling, Shirley
Krems, Gale
Lay, Bill
Lay, Tom
Levine, Bruce
Lewallen, Roy
Lingle, Ross
Lucas, Luke
Mares, Josie
Mavromatis, Jean
McGrew, David
McIntosh, Steve
Medina, Evelyn
Michalow, Richard
Miller, Frances Lee
Millie, Marsue
Morrison, Henry
Neitzel, Darlene Gay
Nelson, Clint
Nelson, Steve
Niemeyer, Richard Lee
Niquette, Karen
Novosad, Bill
Orcutt, Steve
Parker, Karen
Parsons, Linda
Phetteplace, Gilbert D.
Polivka, William D.
Portice, Tom
Railton, Judy
Randall, John
Reames, Claudia
Rhodes, Dave
Leroy Richardson
Rigli, Douglas
Rowe, Rick L.
Saich, Beverly
Sandstedt, Dale
Schilling, Don F.
Schneider, Mike
Schoske, Patricia
Scholz, Bob
Schuster, Jerry
Sebern, Harry
Lola Seger
Shaw, Connie
Sherva, Kathy
Shiramizu, Gary
Showell, Glen
Sides, Donna
Simon, Deanna
Small, Jeanette
Smith, Bob
Simmons, John
Smith, Don
Spencer, Sandra
Spring, Patricia Jean
Stabler, Don
Stansbery, Carole
Steinshouser, Linda
Stiers, Philip Don
Strausheim, Retta
Sweeney, Eva
Thayer, Keith
Thiel, Mike
Tudek, John
Van der Werff, Leland
Vaughn, Judith
Warner, Ellen Dae
West, Marvin
Wetzel, Susan
White, Bob
Willis, Larry
Wilson, Dianne
Winchip, Gerald
Winckel, Gary
With, Sandy
Witherell, Jim
Wilson, Emily
Wood, Paul
Woodruff, Vandy
Wright, Diane
Wulff, Olene
|
Jerry Schuster
1963 Yearbook Photo |
 Photographed at the reunion dinner |
First Name: Jerry
Middle Name: Wayne
Last Name: Schuster
Current Address: 902 Queensbury Circle, Durham, NC 27713
Home Phone: 919-544-1733
Office Phone: 919-544-1733
Fax: 919-361-0299
E-mail Address: jschuster@nc.rr.com
Cell Phone: 919-452-7661
What have you been up to for the last 40 years?
After a couple of years of college, I went on to become a professional pilot. I flew all kinds of charter, corporate, and as a flight instructor – anything to build time and make a living – but never made the move to the airlines. At about this time I met Dianna, the woman who would become my wife, on a blind date. (Her best friend was Steve Cornish’s girlfriend – whom I introduced him to and later became his wife.)
Di and I have been married for 37 years. After 3 years, we adopted 2 children – Lisa and Todd – who are 13 months apart in age. We tried to adopt another, but they told us to forget it; we had our allotment.
Because of the instability of making a living as a pilot, I left to begin a career in sales. Boy, that was smart – from the frying pan to the fire. All the same, it was a good move that I’ve never regretted. I sold TVs and appliances for Downing’s (later named Silo) where my manager was Mike Saich (Bev’s dad.) He sure taught me a thing or two, not the least of which was how to actually sell stuff. Shortly after Silo bought out Downing’s, I saw an opportunity to become a manager myself and created a wholesale division for the company. I had a great time and really learned from the experience there.
In 1972, I was saved and became a Christian. I insert that here, because it was a truly mind-blowing experience and easily the most significant event in my life. It changed me, and the direction of my life, forever.
In 1974, I moved on and a short time later was recruited into the home remodeling business as a designer/salesman. I have always had a passion for homes, landscaping, and everything associated with them. This was a great fit for me and would become my life’s work. In 1978, I left the firm that I worked for and formed Aspen Construction and Interiors. I hired a member of my bible study group to be my first production manager. His name was John Gary Cornish. Ain’t life funny?
In 1980, the company had grown enough where we were able to build our dream home in the mountains west of Denver, near Bailey. It was there that Di and I experienced one of the true miracles in our lives. After 17 years of marriage, and being told that we would probably never have children of our own, our daughter Erin was given to us. She’s now a sophomore in college.
We loved it there in our mountain paradise, but I guess the Good Lord had other adventures in mind for us. The mid-8os in Denver were really difficult, economically. The recession/depression hit construction hard and it became clear that it was time to move on. We had often talked about moving to the South and in 1988, we left Denver for Durham, NC and started over. My new company, HomePerfect, has provided my livelihood for these last 15 years. However, my passion has shifted a bit.
About 5 years a go, I began painting portraits. I put up a website and have been going strong ever since. I paint from photos that are sent to me from folks all over the world. It’s very rewarding and more and more of my focus is in that direction. Fortunately, I’ve been able to recruit some competent people to manage HomePerfect, so I can practice my passion.
Bonnie Eyster once asked our AHS email group if life had lived up to our expectations. Ha! Absolutely nothing has turned out like I thought it would. If anyone had shown me this bio in HS and told me this would be mine in 40 years, I would have said they were crazy.
I had no talent (I thought) in HS, yet I make my living designing homes and painting portraits. I was always afraid of heights, yet I’m a pilot and rock climbing is one of my hobbies. I was never a “kid” person, but I’ve loved being a dad – even with all the difficulties associated with it. I adore my grandson, TJ and can’t wait for Lisa’s baby to arrive next February. Geez, I’m hoping for a girl. And finally, I was an atheist – or at least an agnostic – in HS. Now, my spirituality colors every aspect of my life.
What do you want to do with the rest of your life (the next 50 years!)
I think that right now is the best time of my life. I’m having a great time and have no intentions of retiring. I hope to be painting exclusively in the next few years, but won’t stop that until I can’t see the canvas any more. OK, maybe there will be more time for fishing, gardening, climbing, and all my other hobbies. But retire? Never.