Stephanie Voss
I'm not sure who is left to read this. I was looking through old photos today and thinking of my youth and searched for Mrs. Ottenad. I wish I'd known she was still alive this year; I would have loved to have thanked her for being such a marvelous teacher.
She was a great teacher, read to us (in 6th grade, when we were far too old for it but loved it nonetheless) and brought her husband Tom in to talk about being a reporter. Washington in the late 60s was an exciting time and I was inspired. While still in high school, I got my first newspaper job and worked my way up to being a foreign correspondent at 24 -- and I owe it to the Ottenads.
I remember her log cabin and that she was hooking a rug based on a photograph of it.
Love and gratitude.
-Stephanie Voss
now living in Los Angeles, CA