I learned that I lost a Severn Classmate on Facebook this week. This late night message landed me right on the floor. Another Severn Alum from California, John Norton, read the obituary in the local on line Newspapers and contacted the Severn Alumni Director, Denise Tray Rosson. It was after hours so Denise sent me a message through Facebook. We have a Hidden Private Severn Facebook Group for classmates and other Admirals in the1974 range so I posted the information there. If you are an Admiral who has found this, contact Cheryl Ritchie at Facebook.com/GoldenResults or via EMail at GoldenGirl@GoldenResults.com to be invited and admitted to this Special Severn Seventies Group.
Anyway, yesterday I attended the Celebration of Life for Claudia Clanton. The Severn Experience is one that lasts with you even over thirty five years or more. I wrote an article about it called Severn Serendipty to give you a feel for it. The Classmates who came from those years, such as Anne and Ann, Geoff, Bona, Doug, Tom, Brad and Denise all came to honor the memory of their Severn and Wroxeter friend who always had a grin and if she had her way, a hockey stick in one hand and a pair of snow skis or ice skates on the other. I also see her clearly in a yellow Wroxeter uniform. I knew her over a period of six years before she had a family or a job and while she was just Claudia.
I rounded the corner to enter the room at the Annapolis Sheraton and there to greet you was a breathtaking photo of Claudia in a black gown dressed to the nines and sporting that great big grin that you would always see. I met her husband and then turned to the young lady and no questions asked knew it had to be her daughter. I explained who I was and that I would return after I met up with Anne at the front entrance. Anyway, it was standing room only. Anne saw Art as we walked in. We navigated to a table in the back while people continued to stream in.
What made this Celebration of Life for Claudia Clanton Woods very special was the way it was framed. I went to grab a black blazer and slacks and stopped in my tracks that morning and decided that "celebration" meant "celebration" and to wear something happy that Claudia would have liked. She would have liked the whole event not just my lavender blazer. It was the people throughout her life at all stages that made up the tapestry of her life. While waiting for the speakers to begin, they flashed a very large display of photos on the wall that were sports and fun and laughter all in one. They engaged you in a life well lived by our Severn Classmate.
Her Husband spoke, her son and daughter, then her endearing and fun sounding cousin, and near the end a Severn Classmate spoke. The cousin painted a picture of all their travels together starting with bicycle trips as young girls. The Severn Classmate ,Brad, told a story that was about the time frame when Claudia went from tomboy to boy crazy. But when she got a little miffed at something Court said, she whacked him with a hockey stick and basically sent him to the ground over the comment. Quiet, elegant, reserved, grounded Claudia. Everyone laughed. But they laughed throughout. They described the Claudia I knew as a kid and the Lockheed Martin Project Manager she had become that everyone depended upon. I noticed they had her work ID draped on the beautiful photo at the entrance. I did not see it until I left but it was appropriate because they said there was a huge project she had completed in the last year of her life. He coworker that sat near me mentioned her broken foot and her long hours that he remembered in recent years. I sprinkled the conversation with her early years so we struck a good balance in remembrances.
Anyway, they had a buffet and everyone mingled. Her brother, Art , sat at the Severn table with us the whole time. I think I saw Sarah's Mom very briefly. She's also Scott and Susan's Mom, but in the brief glimpse I saw her from behind I think it was her. By the time I looked back that red jacket was gone. I would have loved to have spoken to her. I did speak with most of the Serven Alums there. It was great to hear Bona talk about how Claudia's Dad had to spend Sunday's tutoring Bona in math. It was great to see some people that I had missed at Severn Reunions. It was soothing to see what a wonderul and dignified and quiet and respectful Memorial Claudia's Family gave her to celebrate her life. It was just like Claudia. Rest in Peace, Claudia. And don't come walloping me with that hockey stick!
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