Susan Sharpe Leach

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2. Susan Sharpe Leach:

...teacher, author, scientist, adventurer, amateur photographer, volunteer

As the webmaster of the Leach/Sharpe genealogical website, this webpage will be an autobiography. As I age, memories disappear and I desire to document them for family members before the memories disappear. Although I have no children of my own, I hope my siblings, their children, and their children, etc. will learn something about me from my ramblings below.

Born: 25 November, 1946 of Russell Leach (#3) & Helen Marie Sharpe (#4) at St. Ann’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.

(Married 1st: Greg A. Waggy, 23 June 1973 in Columbus, Ohio at Bexley Methodist Church; divorced October 1977; Married 2nd: James Floyd Snyder 18 June 1988 at 115 Oak Drive, Hebron, Ohio (Buckeye Lake summer cottage of parents).

Click on the images or names highlighted above to go to (#3) & (#4).

[Siblings include: Terry Donnell Leach and Ann Dunham Leach].

Below: Susan’s Certificate of Birth.

My life began on November 25, 1946 at Saint Ann's Maternity Hospital. At the time I was born, my parents were living with my paternal grandparents (Charles Leach #5 and Hazel Thatcher #6) at 2321 Bexley Park Road (shown below). Besides Grampie and Grammie living there, their daughters/my aunts Dorothy and Jane, and Jane's husband/Uncle Dick Webster and young child, Cousin Steve, were also living in the house.

Shortly after I was born, I had colic (frequent, polonged and intense crying or fussinessess), so my parents (out of respect for the others living in the house), moved to a Fairport Avenue Apartment in Columbus, where our family continued to live until 1951.

Below Left : My mogher with me. Below Right: Summer of 1947. (Photos by Russell Leach)

Below: Left: Me at 5 months. Right: 1947 Christmas. (Photos by Russell Leach)

Below: 1st Friends. (Photo by Russell Leach)

Below: Susan, circa 1948. (Photos by Russell Leach)

Below: young Susan, with her mother (Helen Sharpe). (Photos by Russell Leach)

Double click on the records below to hear Susan as she first began talking. The first record features Susan and her dad, Russell. The second record features Susan and her mother, Helen. Both recordings were made about 1948. Digital copies were made on 8 September 2005.

Below: Some of young Susan’s toys. The monkey was her very first toy. Her father brought it to the hospital when she was born. Susan's grandmother Hazel sewed clothes for the doll in the red skirt. (Photos by Susan Snyder)

Below: Left: About 3 years of age, Susan posed for a picture. Right: Susan's mother took her to the Lazarus Department Store to tell Santa the many things she wanted for Christmas. (Photos by professional photographers.

On June 10th, 1949 Dad graduated from Ohio State College of Law. At the graduation ceremony, family lore has it that I (31- month old daughter), pointed from our seats in the OSU football statum where the graduation took place and yelled "That's my daddy."

My brother was born June 12,1949 two day later. After his birth, my mother and father took me (nearly three-years old) to live with my grandmother (Mary Gertrude Colerider #8) and grandfather (Terry Donnell Sharpe #7) in Greensboro, North Carolina for three months because Terry was ill and had to be hospitalized. When Russ and Helen returned to Greensboro to retrieve me, I insisted said that my mother wasn’t my mommy, Mamma Sharpe was.

Below: Our family in 1949.

My cousin Steve Webster and Aunt Jane and Uncle Dick lived in the same Fairport Avenue apartment complex after they also moved out of the Bexley Park home, so the family saw each other frequently. I don't remember very much about living in the Fairport Avenue apartment other than hearing frequent planes go over the apartment and a large dirigible landing in a field near the apartments.

On Sundays, we would often go to Grammie and Grampie's house. There Grammie would fix a delicious roast or other wonderful meal. She was a great cook. Eating was often followed by a Sunday drive, and the drive by sitting in front of the television to watch Lassie and the Ed Sullivan show. I remember my grandfather being very serious around me, putting me on his lap, and pretending to spank me. It was his way of showing his love. I was his first granddaughter. Grampie smoked cigars and all of his kids, Dad, Dorothy, Jane, and Bob spoked cigarettes. That was just the way it was back then. Grampie died of a heart attack in 1950. I was only 4 years old.

Dad had served in WWII prior to my birth and was talked into joining the 37th Division of National Guard to earn extra money to support his family. He reported to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin and the Korean Conflict exploded. Dad went home and then back into active duty. The date for his enlistment was 8 November 1951. He was ordered to Leesburg, Louisiana. Mom took Terry and me to live with Mamma and Daddy Sharpe in Greensboro North Carolina. Eventually, Mom took us on a train down to Leesburg, where we lived with Dad for the duration of his service. It was there that I attended 1st grade.

Below: Home of 1st Lt Leach and his family in Leesburg, Louisiana. It's hard to see, but some of the family are sitting on the porch. (Photo by Russell Leach)

Below: Terry, Mom, and me. (Photos 1,2, and 4 by Russell Leach)

Below Susan's first grade photograph.

Below: Sitting on the couch in Leesburg with Terry. (Photo by Russell Leach)

Below: Terry, me, and our mother at the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana. (Photo by Russell Leach)

Below: Dad with Terry and me 1952. (Photos by HelenLeach)

Below: Mom with Terry and Susan. (Photos by Russell Leach)

Below: Mom, Terry me, and Mamma and Daddy Sharpe in Greensboro North Carolina.

Double click on the records below to hear Susan singing Christmas songs in 1954. The digital copies were made on 7 September 2005. On the left record, Susan is singing a solo. On the right record, she is singing a duet with brother, Terry.

When we returned from Louisiana, our family rented an apartment on Eastmoreland Drive for a few years. The apartment was right beside James Road Elementary School.

It was at that time that Susan got her first dog... Buff. He was only a puppy. In a quote from Susan. "I remember the very tiny, soft, great smelling puppy that cuddled to my shoulder when I first got him from a neighbor after he was weened. Buff grew into a dog with his own very determined mind. He had his own idea of what it meant to be a male dog and that did not include wearing the sweater we bought to keep him warm when he ventured outside in the winter, or to behave himself in the neighborhood. He loved to chase moving objects and that included a boy on his bike who liked to kick at him. One day as a second grader, I came home from school to find Buff was missing. My parents explained that someone called and reported that Buff had bitten the boy on his bike and my parents had to get rid of Buff. I was devistated and told them that is they had to get rid of Buff, they didn't need me around either. I packed up my Bible in a trifolded piece of material and left.

, and eventually purchased a new home at 923 Enfield Road. Both of these locations were in east Columbus.

The Enfield home is shown at right.

Below: Left: 1952: Susan with her Aunt Dorothy Leach. Right: Drawing of Susan by Aunt Dorothy in 1955.

Left: Buff was Susan’s dog when she was in 2nd grade. She got him when he was still a puppy. But, Buff didn’t like a leash, he often ran away, and Russell and Helen had to get rid of him because he chased and nipped at the paperboy. Susan was crushed when she found out. She wrapped her Bible in a handkerchief and tried to run away. She didn’t know where to go, so she hid under a bush in the front yard.

Education: Columbus Public Schools (James Road Elementary, Johnson Park Junior High School, Eastmoor High School); graduated from Eastmoor High School in 1964; graduated from Miami University, Ohio with a B.S. in Education (Comprehensive Science with an Emphasis in Biology 7-12 grade) Cum Laude, 1968; graduated from University of Hawaii with a M.S. in Entomology, 1970.

Left: Susan's sorority picture. At Miami, she pledged Sigma Kappa. Below: Susan and her mother (Helen) and father (Russell) at graduation, Miami University, 1968.

Employment: Columbus Recreation Department summers-Playground Leader 1964-1968, Research Assistant at University of Hawaii (Oceanography and Entomology Departments) 1968-70, Docent at the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio 1974, Teacher of science at Ridgeview Junior High School 1971-1973 and Hastings Junior High School and Jones Middle School 1975-2000. Online instructor for the College of Exploration courses on Shipwrecks and Tsunamis, 2005.

In 1986, I had several great opportunities of my lifetime. I had just begun writing Earth Science text books for Charles Merrill Publishing. As such, I was asked to go to Puerto Rico to inservice teachers who worked for the Department of Defense Schools. DODD had adopted the Merrill text and with the purchase came a promised inservice. Also that year, I was asked to inservice teachers in the DODDS system in Japan, Okinawa, Korea, and the Philippines. At the time of the Orient experience, 0I was taking a required course at Ohio State University so I could teach reading at Jones Middle School. The course was being required of all teachers who did not have elementary certification. Because I would be gone for many days and miss several of the course classes, I requested permission from the instructor. He gave permission if I kept a journal of my trip. I also needed to find a substitute teacher for the time I was gone from my classroom teaching Life and Earth Science. Although I had a student teacher who would be teaching most of my classes, a certified teacher needed to be available. Ed Orazen, my principal volunteered for the job. Since I couldn't receive payment from the publishing company and the school system at the same time, the payment from the publishing company was presented by me to the school district to pay other Jones teachers for a special Inventions Fair we would be organizing. A transcript to the journal I kept during the trip follows. Additions in brown were added in 2024, as I typed this web page and remembered other details of the trip.

Sat. Feb. 15: 4:45 AM: The "Great Adventure" begins. My alarm goes off. I shower, finish packing, and Dad picks me up and takes me to the airport. I take a TWA flight to St. Louis, transfer to another TWA to San Francisco, transfer to Japan Airlines and fly to Tokyo. In Cols. on the plane I met Ingrid Benn, International Marketing Manager for Charles Merrill [Publishing Company], who will be my travel companion for the trip. Also in Columbus, I see Vic and Dotti Ketcham [close friends of my parents], who will be taking the same flights to San Francisco. They are as amazed to see me as I am to see them. Also in Columbus before seeing Ingrid, Vic, or Dotti, I have 2 strangers sign as witnesses for my will. In San Francisco, the Ketchams will mail the will, a bill, and an anniversary card for me. On the airlines to San Francisco, I apply for the frequent fliers pass and read brochures about Korea and Japan. Ingrid and I discuss our big plans for the workshops and shopping/touring.

Sun. Feb. 16: I arrived in Tokyo at 6:00 PM , went to hotel (Akasaki Prince) and met Lucy Daniel and RG Smith. Went to bed at 10:30 PM Tokyo. Except for catnaps on the plane I've been awake 28 hours.

Mon. Feb. 17: During the night I kept waking up--guess I was still on Columbus time. I finally got up at 6:00 A.M. Today we will be going to Okinawa. Before that we ate a good breakfast with RG Smith and Lucy Daniel. Then we went for a walking tour of New Otani botanical garden. There I took ~10 pictures of gardens, falls, Japanese family. Also there were rare valuable rocks called Akadama-ishi. They are only found on Sado Island (Northwest Japan) and Kamogawa (Kyoto). I am new sitting on the plane which will go to Okinawa. I'll be writing post cards home to Mom & Dad and the school. 9:50 P.M. We met Susan Burdick. Ingrid, Susan and I went to an authentic Japanese Restaurant. I ate the seaweed but couldn't get up enough guts to try the raw fish & squid. I took one picture. Then Susan showed us the Love Motels.

Before I forget ... on the trip from Tokyo the Japanese Airlines showed the take off and landing with a closed circuit T.V. The camera was somewhere on the front of the plane. The quality of the picture made me feel like I was piloting the plane. I was impressed.

Tues. Feb 18: What an experience! I did my first workshop today. I was suppose to set up at 11:00 for an 11:30 workshop. Susan Burdick did not actually get me to the correct room until 11:23. When I began, several teachers complained that they had already done the first activity I introduced. So I skipped it. As I tried to move into other activities, I realized that Butch Larson, the department head did not have 7 of the 12 items ready for me to work with. Two of the labs I tried flopped and a few of the 5 teachers in attendance became aggressive. At 2:30, I ended after introducing nearly 30 ideas. Two teachers had positive comments to make. The other 3 said very little and left. Tonight Ingrid & I took several taxis to a beach. We arrived too late to really see it. (I was hoping to get some star sand like that one teacher gave me from Okinawa.) Later we shopped but didn't buy anything. I did take a few pictures of street signs. Tomorrow we will fly in a MAC (Military Airlift Command) airplane to Clark Field in the Philippines. We are not taking a regular airlines because of the Marcus-Ackino dispute over the election. There have been peaceful demonstrations in Manila.

Weds. Feb. 19: It is 2:55 P.M. (12:44 AM in Columbus), Ingrid and I have been at Okinawa's air force base since 10:00 this A.M. Our MAC flight was suppose to take off at 12:50 but we are still waiting. Snow in North Japan caused our plane to be grounded. They have recently announced that it will arrive at 1500 hours (3:00 P.M.). While waiting I've taken pictures at a nearby beach and collected sand & coral. This morning I took pictures from my room in the Sheridan Okinawa. At the commissary, I purchased a telephoto lens for my camera for $180.00, saving myself $62 in USA cost and tax.

5:00 P.M. we are on board a C1-40 Aircraft. The inside is huge-12-15 feet wide, 15 feet high. There are 3 seats, and isle, and 3 more seats. We are sitting facing backwards with the cargo, visible in front of us, tied together and covered with plastic. The floor is metal with rivets showing. We were just issued earplugs--as the noise is really loud. I hope it gets cooler; I am burning up. The outside of the plane is camouflaged green/brown. While on the plane we were offered grape soda, cheese 'n crackers, doughnuts, potato chips, beef jerky, and a candy bar by two fellows that kept walking down the isle. We arrived at Clark base at about 6:30 P.M Philippines, 7:30 PM Okinawa time, 5:30 AM Columbus time and settled into officers quarters.

Thurs. Feb. 20: Morning and the sun is shining. I'll be presenting an inservice at 11:00 at Lily Hill School today. Then Ingrid and I plan to go out and take many pictures. It's 6:15 P.M. and I completed a pretty successful inservice with two teachers. Later, we shopped. I bought custom-make shorts and top, post cards, and a wicker tray. The tray was only 75 cents. Also, I purchased a set of capiz shell coasters and two whelk shells.

Fri. Feb. 21: Today we take a military car to Subic to do the 3rd workshop. We only expect two teachers to be there, but when DODDS bought Charles Merrill's book, they were promised inservices - so we will go even for that few teachers. 11:00 we got to Subic. Along the way we saw Marcos signs. We also saw many Filipinos working the rice fields. I took pictures of their thatched huts and oxen. Also, we got sand samples and took pictures at Subic Bay. We also saw the Interpise. At the military store I bought a duck decoy and three framed butterfly pictures for $29.42. I also mailed home the shells I had bought yesterday.

One interesting thing I learned at the workshop is that all teachers have teachers aides (Filipinos) who grade papers and assist them. The labor is so cheap that they can afford them.

The two teachers seemed to really enjoy the workshop - especially the activity dealing with sand. One teacher shared that teachers are highly respected at DODDS schools and are rated GS-11. Ingrid and I are traveling with papers for GS-14. We've been able to eat in officer's messes, stay in officer's quarters, and shop at commissaries.

At every DODDS school, teachers have complained about the Gramm-Rudman Act which does away with all field trips and cuts the DODDS program by 10 million dollars. They are afraid this will really reduce the effectiveness of their program.

Sat. Feb. 22: Today we got up early and went for an hour walk through the base. We shopped and mailed some packages home. I bought nautilus bookends. The wood in acacia and the nautilus were found in the Southern Philippines. I also bought a painting of a cone shell on a Japanese orchid leaf. We ate pizza for lunch. Later we went to the beauty salon. I had a facial, manicure and shampoo for $4.25 & a $2.00 tip. Tomorrow, we leave for Korea. We must be at the airport no later than 5:50 A.M.

While we were mailing things today from the base, we started talking to a teacher who was also mailing things. She told us that next week during Marcos' inauguration she feared real trouble. She figured that the base would be closed. She was sending her good china stateside just in case. In the beauty shop Acquino was on the radio asking the people to peaceful demonstrate. Yesterday, while traveling to Subic, we saw many signs for Marcos--none for Acquino.

Sun. Feb 23: We arose at 4:00, showered and had a taxi take us to the MAC terminal. I felt lousy. I think I got bad shrimp three nights ago. I barely made it through the flight to Okinawa. I did better during the flight to Osan. We waited two hours on the ground at Okinawa and I had some 7-Up. It is now 5:45 P.M Seoul time, 6:45 Philippines time and 3:34 A.M. in Columbus. I am in Room 618 of the Hyatt Regency Hotel on top of a hill in Seoul. The scenery out the window is fantastic. It is a panorama of the city--buildings and mountains. I've taken a number of pictures out the window, using both my 25-85 and 70-210 lenses. I am finally hungry for the first time all day. The view from the window is Han River and Itaewon's neon strip.

Mon. Feb 24: I'm up. It's 8:30. Ingrid and I will be presenting our 4th workshop today. Then we'll go shopping for silk beads and eel skin leather. Last night we ate dinner in the Chinese Restaurant in the hotel. The menu listed sea cucumbers, abalone, shark fin soup, and bird nest soup. I played it safe with chicken and bamboo shoots.

On the news just a few minutes ago, it was announced that the military leaders are refusing to support Marcos. These leaders were holding up somewhere and Marcos sent tanks into their hiding places. The people were laying down in the street to stop the tanks.

It's pretty amazing that everywhere we've stayed- Japan, Okinawa, Philippines, and now Seoul- there is one TV station in English. We get NBC news-but everything is one day late. Today is Monday morning- but I just finished watching the program "Sunday Morning."

It is now 9:40 P.M. The inservice was very successful. We only met with one teacher-but she really enjoyed it. After that we shopped in Itaewon. I spent $83.80 on the following: 4 eel skin key cases at $3.00 each, 1 eel skin change purse $3.00, a purse $24.00, $5.00 silk tie, $10.00 Rebox tennis shoes, $8.00 camera bag, $14.00 suitcase, $7.80 for 12 silk beads ($.65 each.

We ate in Itewaan at a Wendys. There were street vendors all along the street to barter with. We made some pretty shroud deals. Ingrid and I are debating as to whether we should each buy a Korean chest.

Tues. Feb. 25: We got up at 6:00 & rushed to the airport. We barely made the plane because of high security. I was not allowed to carry my camera on board. Instead they loaded it aboard. As we approached the airport in Tague, we were asked to put all shades down on the airplane. The reason was so that we would not see the military installations on the Korean military base. Before we boarded the plane we were body searched.

It was only a 45 minute trip to Tague - and we got there plenty early for our workshop. We dropped off the box of materials at Camp Georgie and met the teachers. Then we went to Fort Walker and shopped outside the gate. Ingrid had her measurements made for a navy blue suit, slacks, and a beige skirt--Total price $90.00. Then we took a taxi to a Korean market where all kinds of unusual things were being sold. There were many fruits, vegetables, and meats that we couldn't recognize. There were also squid and many kinds of fish. One reddish orange thing might have been a sea cucumber. I took many pictures. When we tried to catch a taxi back to Ft. Walker, we couldn't find anyone who could speak English. Finally, we got a cab.

We arrived back at the Recreation Center to do the inservice at 1:00. We presented until 3:45. Both of the teachers we inserviced were very negative people. They downgraded Korea and the DODDS school- but seemed to enjoy our workshop. They told us about an island which is separated from land, but on regular basis the tides part and you can walk to the island.

Following the workshop we shopped at Ft. Henry (the 3rd US military base in Tague). I didn't see anything I liked. We picked up Ingrid's tailored clothes and caught the plane back to Seoul. Once again, we wee body searched.

We met a few Korean gentlemen at the airport who could speak a little English. One was 32 years old & there with his wife, son, & daughter. The other was elderly, ended up sitting next to me on the plane, took us to the hotel in a car driven by his private driver, and bought us some ginseng tea. He even offered to have us go to his house tomorrow night for a real Korean meal. We don't really trust him. Our intuitions say no-so we made up an excuse. He even stopped on the way to the hotel to buy us huge Korean apples and pears.

Tomorrow it's off to Pusan.

Weds. Feb. 26: I got up at 6:00 and joined Ingrid for breakfast. Then we rushed to the airport. I have never seen taxi drivers like these. They drive two to a lane, honk their horns and blast off. There doesn't seem to be any speed limit. Despite the above, we got to the airport too late to get on the 8:30 A.M. flight-- it was filled. We finally got on the 9:30 plane to Pusan. We were body searched and they really examined my camera. We arrived at Pusan, took another Kamakasi taxi to the base gate. On the way into Pusan from the plane, I saw many floating raft-like objects. They looked like the Koreans were farming the sea.

We successfully completed an inservice with two male teachers. They were pretty interested in what we were doing-they also related that they really like the DODDS schools. One told me about the sew ladies which work one day a week to sew clothes for women Americans. A maid which works 2 days a week would cost $40-50 per month.

Outside the gate I bought the following for $19.25: Members Only Jacket ($7), 2 polo shirts ($2 each), Running suit for Charlie ($5.50), and a Seoul Olympics Shirt ($2.75).

We missed the 5:00 plane back to Seoul because the plane was full. We did catch the 6:00 P.M. and was back in Seoul by 7:00 P.M. We had a good dinner & packed- ready for the next leg of our trip.

Thurs. Feb. 27: Our last day in Korea. We slept in and finally got rolling at 9:30. We had breakfast in the hotel and then took a taxi to a furniture store to look at Korean chests. We didn't see anything we liked so we returned to the Hyatt and each bought a chest. Ingrid's was large for $60. Mine was smaller and $40. Both were reproductions of medicine chests. They are made of elm wood and brass with many tiny drawers. Mine is for putting on top of a dresser and using as a jewelry chest. It will look pretty good with my bedroom mahogany veneer antiques and brass bed- or in the hall upstairs.

It is 2:30 P.M. and we are trying to kill some time so we are at the beauty parlor at the Seoul base. I had a manicure & Ingrid had a manicure and a facial.

Later...we boarded the plane and two hours later we arrived in Tokyo. We didn't actually reach the hotel until 11:00 because of the 1.5 hour plus bus trip to the New Sanno Hotel (a hotel set up for the military.).

Fri. Feb. 28: Today is my last workshop. I am up, showered, dressed, and packed. In 20 minutes I am to meet Ingrid and Susan Burdick for breakfast. The workshop begins at 8:00. Sometime this morning before 8:00 I need to copy several worksheets. Today's workshop is one that Ingrid & Susan set up after I arrived since the other person who was suppose to inservice the Japanese school can't come. I bought Carrie a Japanese doll this day.

It [the workshop] went very well-probably one of the best inservices. Then we took a limousine bus to the Narita Holiday Inn near the airport. We met R.G. Smith & Lucy Daniel for dinner- Chateaubrion (sp) and retired about 10:00 P.M.

Sat. March 1: We slept in until 8:00. We are all going to meet for breakfast in 15 min-9:30 A.M.

We met for breakfast & then went for a brief bus ride o town. Then we walked through the streets until we located a Buddhist Temple. I took many pictures of rocks called enshrined gods & temples. We watched as people placed the smoke of a large incense burner on themselves. This was to purify them. They also went inside the temple and prayed. Since it was Saturday, there were many people present. In one temple they pushed a wheel around a circle somewhat like a turnstile. They prayed as they did this. Another temple was suppose to guarantee success- we all walked through it under banners.

Later we walked to a shopping center where I bought some very comfortable shoes. We returned to the Holiday Inn at Narita and took a bus to the airport. But first I bought a scarf of a geisha girl for 200 yen and a Japanese doll for myself for 1400 yen (about $7).

Now we are sitting in the airport waiting for our flight to Hawaii. The flight takes off at 9:25 PM and we are due to arrive in Hawaii 7:00 AM this morning. We will be crossing back over the international date line. We are flying Japan Air Lines.

A fact I learned today is that some Japanese & Koreans wear white surgical masks over their faces when they have a cold to prevent the spread of infection--- a pretty considerate gesture. We have seen many of these masks during this adventure.

Sat. March 1 (second day because we crossed International Date Line: We arrived at 8:15 this morning after a 5 hour and 26 min flight. Except for eating, I slept most of the way.

We checked into the Diamond Head Beach Hotel. I am in a suite. It is now 12:00 midnight- and I'm really not very sleepy.

R/G. and I rented a car today and went to the Polynesian Cultural Center. On the way, we took the Pali Highway. We photographed from the Pali lookout and took several pictures of Kooli Cap Island-also solar panels.

We spent $50 on a car and $35 each to get into the Polynesian Cultural Center. We were there about 20 minutes before it started pouring. We were soaked. We came back via the Like Like highway, showered & went with Lucy to the rotating restaurant at the Ala Moana. I had a mai tai and mahi mahi.

Tomorrow R.G. and I will be going to Hanauma Bay to snorkel.

Sun. March 2: I arose at 6:30, packed up and met R.G., Lucy, and Ingrid for breakfast. It was a bright, warm Hawaiian morning. We ate, said our farewells to Lucy & Ingrid, as they would be flying to American Samoa. Then R.G. and I took the car R. G.had rented and went around Diamond Head through Kahala, and onto Hanauma Bay. We took pictures and walked around to "Toilet Bowl." I collected sand and we climbed up the hill to the parking lot. We got the car back 15 min late and were in a hurry. I left my olivine sand in the rental. We were driven back to the hotel, and walked to the International Market Place. I bought a Japanese Fish windsock for Mom and Dad and white ginger perfume for Mom.

Then we ate a Mexican lunch and went to Queen Surf to lay out. We left the beach at 6:15 P.M - but not after taking many pictures of the dark blue water and many sail boats. We went back to the hotel and showered in the room that R.G. had ordered for 1/2 day. It was a beautiful room on the 10th floor. I took some night shots.

We arrived at the airport at 8:30 P.M., ate a great dinner of Teriyaki chicken, boarded the United Flight, and slept most of the way to Los Angeles. There, we transferred to U.S. Air. At dinner, I discovered I had left my turquoise ring at the hotel.

Mon. March 3: We arrived in Columbus at 3:10 P.M. exactly on time, but the luggage didn't make it. It was finally delivered at 11:45 P.M. The chest was cracked in two places & some of the shellac was peeling off.

[All in all, it was a fabulous trip, presenting inservices for DODDS teachers in Okinawa, the Philippines, Japan and Korea, and having the opportunity to witness the culture and turmoil taking place in some of these regions.]

Author: The Ocean Environment, 1992, 1996; Hortence Finds a Home, 1999; co-author: Focus on Earth Science, 1987, 1989, Merrill Earth Science, 1993, 1995, Glencoe Earth Science, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2005, The Changing Surface of Earth, 2002, 2005; The Water Planet, 2002, 2005; The Air Around You, 2002, 2005; member of author team: Science Interactions 1993, 1995, 1998, Science Voyages, 2000, 2001, 2002, Glencoe Science; 2002, 2003, 2005; contributed articles to several professional journals.

Below: Left to Right: Masters’ Thesis, 1974: “Biological Studies on Two Sibling Species of Lixophaga (Diptera: Tachinidae), Parasites of the New Guinea Sugarcane Weevil, Rhabdoscelus obscurus (Boisduval).”; Oceanography Text, 1992, 1996, The Ocean Environment; Children’s book, 1999 Hortence Finds a Home.

Above and Below: Earth Science books that Susan co-authored: 1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1997(99) and 2003(05) for Merrill Publishing and Glencoe McGraw/Hill Publishing Co. In 1995, there was a special Texas edition made of Merrill Earth Science. In 1997 and 1999 there were CD ROM Packages to go with the books.

Below: Called “Little Books,” these books focus on specific Earth Science topics. They were published by Glencoe McGraw/Hill Publishing Co. 2002(05); Susan was co-author.

Below: Science Interactions Series,Glencoe McGraw/Hill Publishing Co., 1993. Susan was 1 of 11 authors. In 1994, there was a special Science Interactions Course 1 edition printed for Texas.

Science Interactions Series, Glencoe McGraw/Hill Publishing Co.,1995. Susan was 1 of 11 authors. Also in 1995, there was a special Science Interactions Course 2 edition printed for Texas.

Science Interactions Series, Glencoe McGraw/Hill Publishing Co.,1998. Susan was 1 of 11 authors.

Science Voyages Series, Glencoe McGraw/Hill Publishing Co., 2000. Susan was 1 of 10 authors. In 2000 there were special editions of the Science Voyages series made for Florida, California, and North Carolina . The textbook was also online. In 2001, there was a special edition of Science Voyages series made for California and the text was also online.

Below: In 2002, Glencoe Science series were printed for Alabama and Texas. For Texas, there were English and Spanish editions. The text was also online.

Glencoe Science Series, Glencoe McGraw/Hill Publishing Co., 2003. Susan was 1 of 6 authors. In 2003, a special edition of Glencoe Science was printed in English and Spanish for Florida.

Below: Glencoe Science Series, Glencoe McGraw/Hill Publishing Co., 2005. Susan was 1 of 6 authors. In 2005, in addition to this special edition of Glencoe Science series for North Carolina shown below, another series was printed for Indiana.

Above: North Carolina Science, Glencoe McGraw/Hill Publishing Co., 2005. Susan was 1 of 6 authors.

Miscellaneous: In high school, Susan played the flute in the band and orchestra, and sang in the choir. While at U. of Hawaii, Susan discovered a new species of fly that is a parasite of a sugarcane weevil. Her thesis was published. She was a trustee of the North American Astrophysical Observatory, Delaware, Ohio, 1983-97 (AKA “Big Ear Radio Telescope), President of the Consortium of Aquatic and Marine Educators of Ohio, 1983-84, Secretary of the Ohio chapter of the National Teachers of the Year, 1993-95. Board Member: National Marine Education Association 1984-86, 2000-03, Chairman of the History Committee of NMEA and web master of the NMEA history website (2003-present).

Below: Susan’s Homes (as an adult): Left: 1975-1985 Francisco Road. Right: 1985-1988 Airendale Drive condo.

Below: 1988-1993: Front and Back of Fishinger Road.

Below:1993-Present home at 1361 Marlyn Drive, Upper Arlington, Ohio.

Below: Susan's Naples, Florida condo (Vanderbilt Surf Colony III Apt. 803). Purchased April 14,1995.

Awards: Phi Sigma Biology Honorary; Kappa Delta Pi Education Honorary; Phi Delta Kappa Education Honorary; Phi Beta Kappa; Outstanding Earth Science Teacher of the State of Ohio and East Central Section by the National Association of Geology Teachers 1983; Exemplary Earth Science Teaching Team recognition by the National Science Teachers Association 1983, 84, 85; National Marine Educators Association Outstanding Marine Science Teacher 1984; Ohio Teacher of the Year 1987; one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year 1987; Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Math Teaching by the National Science Teachers Association, 1992; Outstanding Teacher Award by the Geological Society of America, 1992; Who’s Who in America, American Women, Education, Science and Engineering, and World; Volunteer of the Month (February 2004) selected from 700 volunteers at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

Below: Susan was initiated into three honoraries at Miami University: Phi Beta Kappa, Kappa Delta Pi, and Phi Sigma.

Left: While teaching in the Upper Arlington School System, she became a member of Phi Delta Kappa.

Below: As a teacher, Susan was recognized by the National Marine Education Association and the National Association of Geology Teachers.

Below: Left: In a project with her students to help save the “Big Ear” telescope from destruction, Susan partnered with Dr. Phillip Barnhart. Right: Susan was recognized as Ohio TOY in 1989 and one of four finalists in the nation.

Below: She was recognized by Who’s Who.

Hobbies: Photography; gardening; collecting fossils, rocks, and shells; writing.

Left and Below: Susan's gardens.

Memories: Susan remembers doing a lot of things with her brother when they were young. They collected and sold snakes, build a fort, made ice igloos in the winter, had a nature museum in the basement, collected baseball cards, and played baseball and kickball.

Below: Left: a ticket to the “Leach Museum.” This ticket cost 1 cent and entitled a person to view rocks, shells, and other artifacts in the Leach’s basement. Right: Susan, the baseball player, posed in her front yard.

Below: This was the front and back of Susan’s baseball card. Both she and Terry, her brother, made their own baseball cards. Susan’s card states “Susan Leach; Ht: 4’ 2”; Wt: 60 ; Bat: R; Throws: R; Born 11/25/46; Home: Columbus, Ohio; Susan became interested in baseball in the summer of 1956 and started a baseball team named the Giants. She appointed Terry her brother as Co-Captain." The drawing on the card shows Susan catching the ball in 1957. At the bottom of the card is her complete major and minor league batting record for 1956-1958.

Susan remembers visiting her Grammie and Grampie Leach and Aunt Dorothy every Sunday. She was only four when Grampie died. On some Sundays, the family would go on trips to cemeteries so that Susan’s dad could collect information for the genealogy he was compiling.

On visits to North Carolina to visit Mamma and Daddy Sharpe (Grandparents), Susan remembers getting to gather eggs from the chicken house, shucking corn, spitting watermelon seeds with her cousins Lyn and Reed Bumgarner, watching Daddy Sharpe take big white ticks off the dogs (Nelson and Fluffy), seeing snakes, collecting butterflies, and having to take afternoon naps so that the older generations could rest. Susan remembers that Mamma Sharpe was a wonderful cook.

Left and Below: Two of Susan’s other pets: Cocoa and Tiger. Susan got Cocoa as a puppy in 1975. Cocoa was Susan’s devoted companion until Cocoa’s death in 1990. She loved to play catch with a tennis ball. She is buried in the garden at Susan’s Fishinger Road home. Tiger was born under Susan’s Francisco Road House to Opal, a stray cat. Tiger remained with Susan until his death 10 years later in 1986. He is buried at Susan’s Airendel Condo in the garden.

While attending the University of Hawaii (September 1968-December 1970), Susan saved money from her job as graduate researcher for the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology and the Hawaii Sugar Planters’ Association to buy her first car....a 1971 Camaro.

Susan’s Camaro parked in front of her parents Severn Road Home.

Susan enjoyed returning to Hawaii in 1980, 1990, and 2005.

Beginning about 1977, following her divorce to Greg Waggy, Susan joined the Columbus Ski Club. She participated on numerous co-ed softball teams. She usually played left center fielder. She also played competitively on the Columbus Ski Club volleyball team. She participated on city league softball and volleyball teams with the Upper Arlington Recreation Department. Susan quit playing volleyball when she suffered a nerve injury in a game. She quit softball when she broke her wrist.

1986:On January 28th, Susan was showing her science class a movie in the library at Jones Middle School when the guidance counselor called her out to tell her that the Space Shuttle Challenger had just blown up on takeoff. Susan turned off the movie and turned on the TV so that she and her students could watch what had happened. Everyone cried as they watched the disaster and realized that seven astronauts, including the teacher Christa McAullife were dead. After hearing the news, Russell, Susan’s father, went to school to see how Susan was feeling. He thought she might be having trouble dealing with the disaster since she had applied to be the teacher in space.

Susan holds giant kelp while attending a National Marine Educators Association conference field trip in California.

In 1986 Susan had the opportunity to fly to Puerto Rico, Japan, Okinawa, Korea, and the Philippines and to do workshops for Merrill Publishing with the Department of Defense schools. While in the Philippines, she stayed at Clark Air Force Base and received a commission as a Lieutenant because at the time Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino were running for President and it was dangerous to be in the country. While in the orient, she flew on 15 airplanes in 17 days. One of her trips was aboard a C-130 cargo plane.

Left: On August 9, 1986, Susan was her sister Ann’s maid of honor.

Left : Susan, the teacher.

In 1987, Susan was selected as the Ohio Teacher of the Year and as one of four finalists for the National Teacher of the Year. She was flown to New York City to be interviewed by the selection committee and she and the other finalists appeared on the Today Show, where they were interviewed by Jane Pauley.

In 1988, after dating for two years. Jim Snyder surprised Susan at Jones Middle school where both Susan and Jim taught science. On the Friday before Valentine’s day, he proposed marriage to Susan over the Public Address System. He had taken his students down the back stairs and he proposed from the main office. Susan was in her classroom with her students when he came on the PA. Also present in Susan’s classroom were the Channel 4 TV news crew. The news crew captured the proposal on film and showed it on the news as a valentine’s message.

Another Adventure:

On Friday, September 15, 1989, Susan had an opportunity to travel to Wilmington, North Carolina and board a boat which took her to a ship, the Arctic Discoverer. The crew of the Arctic Discoverer were using a robot named Nemo to recover historic artifacts, gold, and organisms from the SS Central America, a ship that sank due to hurricane damage in 1857 in about 8000 feet of water . The following are her diary descriptions of the trip:

“Saturday: Seasick much of the day. Got to Discoverer via Restless Spirit in early afternoon. Transported with food to Discoverer by zodiac. Slept on deck in lounge chair for hour, then retired to cabin. Woke for dinner, but couldn’t eat. After dinner, Nemo was raised. Inside her bucket was a glass sponge and a mollusk tube. Bob Evans showed me the gold room where all the gold is kept. Retired after that-still a bit queasy.

Left: The Arctic Disoverer

Sunday: I got a tour of the control room. It appeared like something out of “Star Trek”. I got my tour from Ed Herdendorf and Alan Scott (“Scotty.”) Also saw pilot house where ship is navigated, top of ship with satellite antenna, and back of ship "fan tail” where I photographed sharks. 4:45-6:15 PM: As I watched, Nemo was brought up and photographed from every angle --from zodiac in the water and from Arctic’s deck. They put it up and down several times. It was even turned around so “Nemo cam” could take pictures of the guys on deck taking pictures. Sharks swam around the zodiac. Gold was unloaded in its silicon casing from a drawer on the bottom of Nemo. A few coins dropped out of the silicon. Bob Evans and Ed Herdendorf lifted the silicon into a big black chest. Based on its weight, Bob estimated its value to be $1 million. We took pictures of each other holding the gold and a piece of the wooden planking brought up from the Central America. A beautiful sunset followed dinner. I’d talked to the cook, Nikki, and he shared that he was a fifth generation boat person. 9:00 P.M. Cooks threw out baloney and waffles for the sharks. Four were attracted-some with remoras-I took nearly a roll of film. 10:00 PM I went with Ed Herdendorf and scientist to “control room” to check tapes for life forms. Another fellow logged their sightings. All tapes are identified by military time when they were taken.

Left: Nemo

Monday: Swells and foul weather. Got up for breakfast- then went back to bed. I am suppose to meet with Ed this afternoon to find out what I will be doing on the project. So far, I’ve just been taking notes of everything- and pictures. Also Ray asked if he could interview me later to get my feelings on the project and how I will apply it in the classroom. It’s 4:00 PM and I just got out of bed- figured I should be available when they want me. Laying down helps prevent the woozies.They dive everyday, putting Nemo in in morning, cataloging, collecting, sliming, photographing until about 3-4 PM, when they begin bringing it up. They typically pick up one day what they slimed the previous day. After the gold is collected, Bob Evans sorts it. As of September 18, only one dive has been designated for scientific collection-and Hurricane Hugo is headed this way, followed by Iris. It is 7:00 PM and I still don’t know if I’ll be going home tomorrow. I know for sure it won’t be tonight- so my airline ticket isn’t any good. I won’t be teaching school on Weds. It is possible if the Restless Spirit doesn’t leave tonight, another charter boat will pick me up on Weds. morning. The earliest I’d get back to Cols. would be Thurs. night and I’d miss teaching Weds. and Thurs. By 9:00 tonight I’ll know something and can call Jim. It costs $10.00 per minute to call. I’ll need to tell him I’ll call at school from S. Carolina or N. Carolina the day I’ll be arriving with the flight # and time.

Tuesday: Finally talked with Jim around 5:30 PM. I tried last night- talked with Bethany. I also talked with Mom and Dad last night. It’s 7:20 PM and Nemo is on its way up. It was down all day. I watched in the control room as John Moore put some of the “silicon-gold” molds in the tray. In one mold, Bob Evans thinks there are 9-12 rolls of coins, each coin being worth $10,000. Tonight after dinner, I watched in the control room as the scientists guided John Moore in what they wanted him to collect for them. He got several sponges which they will freeze and send to Scripps to study for cancer cures. He also collected a Brisinga starfish and another tiny variety. I told Jim I’d call him again tonight at 10:00 PM after he gets home from PTO. Tues. PM-Brought up Nemo at 9:00 PM. One drawer full of animals, other full of gold. It began raining very hard. I took pictures with my underwater camera of the animals by putting them in a bucket of water.

Left: Susan held a wooden plank and $20 gold coins. Below: "Tower of Gold."

Left: Susan pretends to control Nemo.

Wednesday: Took pictures of Bob Evans in the Gold Room. The tower of coins was incredible. The bar was 60 + pounds and worth $444,515,000 in 1989 when an ounce of gold is worth $ 448.10 We’ve been traveling all day. It is 4:30 PM and we’re suppose to be in dock at midnight. I think we’re finally west of the Gulf Stream. At lunch while we were in it, the swells were upwards to 11 feet or so. The cooks were having a terrible time fixing the meal. The motion has calmed down considerably. I am reading Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Weds. Night: It’s 11:35 PM and we’re due to land (I’m not sure that is the right word) in one hour. I went up to the bridge at around 9:00 PM and could see the lights of Wilmington about 12 miles away. We are in the Wilmington River now. On the news tonight, they said the eye of the hurricane should go over Charleston, S. Carolina at about 12:00 AM Friday morning. It is packing 140 mph winds and moving about 16 mph. I guess it really caused a lot of destruction in Puerto Rico, although I haven’t heard the details. Ed Herdendorf gave me samples of the foram ooze (around wreck) and pteropod ooze (from wreck) as well as a piece of wood. Actually the wood is part of a Wells Fargo box.To summarize trip- a cross between “Star Trek” (the future, control room, “Scottie”), 20,000 Leagues under the Sea (Nemo, undersea riches), “Mission Impossible” (each of us had our own reason for being there- we came from our specialties, we left incognito- secretive, at 2:00 AM on Thursday, I got into hotel), and “Ghost Busters” (sliming.)”

One summer (around 1998), Jim and Susan and Helen and Russ went down the Muskingham River through the locks in a 2-day trip in Russell’s boat. On another trip, they went to the Hocking Hills and hiked.

Left: Picture of Susan taken by her dad on a hike.

Left: In 1999, Susan and husband Jim attended Susan’s 25th Anniversary from High school.

Above: In 2000, Susan with Jim and her mother and father at Susan’s Retirement Party.

On September 11, 2001, Susan was watching the Today Show on TV. Just before 9:00 AM, there was an interruption in the program to say that one of the World Trade Center towers in New York City had been hit by a plane. A live broadcast of the scene came on the TV. At first, the news people thought it was caused by a pilot error or an air traffic controller error. Susan called her parents to tell them what had happened and to turn on their TV. As Susan continued watching the TV, another jet plowed into the second tower of the WTC. Fire, smoke and a big hole were visible in the building. Not long after that there was an announcement that a third plane had plowed into the Pentagon. And then, another plane had crashed into the ground near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When it was announced that all four planes had been hijacked and used as missiles, Susan’s emotions turned from sadness to fear and rage. She thought about the poor people trapped in the collapsed buildings and she worried about what would happen next. The United States had been attacked! Susan and her husband were suppose to fly to Las Vegas the next day to meet some friends, Greg and Bonita Barnes. The Snyders and Barnes had plans to stay on the rim of Grand Canyon in a cabin one night and then visit Bryce Canyon, the Petrified Forest, and other western sites for the rest of the week. Their reservations to stay in the cabin at Grand Canyon had been made for more than a year in advance of the trip. Their flight and trip were canceled. Although they were disappointed, Susan and Jim realized that their misfortune was nothing compared to the families of those people involved in the attacks.

Below: Susan and Jim, her husband; circa 2002