We Remember
We Remember: A Friends of La Leche League Tradition
On this page, we pay tribute to Leaders who have died and whose names were submitted for the list. If a deceased Leader's name is missing from this list, submit the Leader’s name, year of death, and state/country where Leader was active. When possible, submit year of birth and obituary link. Please go to and send us the information.
Since La Leche League’s founding in 1956, many caring individuals have been involved. Active Leaders, retired Leaders, husbands, family members, and others influenced and supported La Leche League. In the organization’s 60-plus year history, there have been thousands of Leaders who worked long and hard for the organization and are missed by their LLL families. At “We Remember” ceremonies, we pay tribute to Leaders who have died. In 2001, the first ceremony was held at the Alumnae Tea during the La Leche League International Conference in Chicago. The idea for a remembrance ceremony came after the death of a well-known longtime Leader, Roberta Bishop Johnson, editor of Whole Foods for the Whole Family. In 2000, Roberta lost a long battle with cancer. Her passing became the catalyst for an idea to honor all Leaders who died. Nancy Franklin, an Alumnae Association Board member, proposed modifying an annual Texas A&M University ceremony called “muster” to remember any A&M student or graduate who had died in the past year. Nancy suggested using a similar ceremony at the 2001 Alumnae Tea. Names, dates, and hometowns of Leaders who died since the beginning of La Leche League were submitted. By the time of the Tea, the list was complete. (Note: the original name of Friends of La leche League was the LLL Alumnae Association.)
To best honor Leaders, the Friends of La Leche League found the “We Remember” prayer often read at Jewish funerals as the simple, dignified, and heartfelt way to remember each one. LLL co-Founder Marian Tompson and Nancy Franklin read the poem and read the list of names arranged by year of death. It became a powerful tradition to honor the lives of women who have helped make La Leche League what it is today. “So as we live, they too shall live, for they are now a part of us, as we remember them.” Leaders’ names were recorded in the “We Remember” album. Susan Mocsny Thomas adds names in calligraphy. In the past, the album was kept at the LLLI Office in Chicago, Illinois. Currently Susan keeps the “We Remember” book and continues to add names submitted on the Friends of La Leche League website. The Friends of La Leche League Board oversees submissions. Susan brought the album to the 2017 ceremony, as she has done for Friends trips in 2011, 2013, and 2015.
Fran Dereszynski adapted the above history from Melissa Clark Vickers' article, published in Leaven, Vol. 38 No. 1, February-March 2002.
Memorials
2017 We Remember Ceremony
A We Remember Ceremony was held at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Old Town San Diego on October 20, 2017 during the Friends trip to California. LLL co-Founder Marian Tompson read names of Leaders who passed during 2016-2017. The history of this custom, names and photos are in the program.
Here are two videos from that ceremony.
History of the Ceremony by Edna Kelly, Reading of the Names
"We Remember Them" prayer led by Joan Crothers and Susan Thomas
2015 We Remember Ceremony
2013 We Remember Ceremony
A We Remember Ceremony was held at the Chapel, Hotel Albuquerque on October 25, 2013 during the Friends trip to New Mexico. LLL co-Founders Mary Ann Kerwin and Marian Tompson read names of Leaders who passed during 2011-2013. The history of this custom, names and photos are in the program. Here are two videos from that ceremony.
History of the Ceremony by Edna Kelly
Reading of the Names by Founders, "We Remember Them" prayer led by Joan Crothers and Susan Thomas
2011 We Remember Ceremony
A We Remember Ceremony was held at the Chapel of Our Lady of La Leche on November 11, 2011 during the Friends trip to St. Augustine. LLL Founders Mary Ann Cahill, Mary Ann Kerwin, and Marian Tompson read names of Leaders who passed during 2008-2011. The history of this custom, names and photos are in the program. Here are two videos from that ceremony. The video quality is not good, but you can get a feel for the event.
History of the Ceremony by Fran Dereszynski
Reading of the Names by Founders, "We Remember Them" prayer led by Pam Oselka
Below are articles from La Leche League publications as well as tributes written by friends.
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We Remember Leaders ...
2018
Mary Helen Cummins ~ Arizona United States
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Jody Nathanson ~ California United States
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Beverly Ann Femino IBCLC ~ Virginia United States
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Jeannette Noell ~ Virginia United States
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Marie Mitchell ~ Massachusetts United States
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Jan Riordan ~ Kansas United States
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2017
Abby Clement Aldrich ~ Ohio United States
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Cathy Janoka ~ Colorado United States
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Lily Calderon ~ Colorado United States
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Kelly King ~ Vermont United States
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Nancy Cale ~ Georgia United States
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Mary "Mike" Rotter ~ Illinois United States
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Jeri Cox ~ Illinois United States
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Brandie Taylor (Yeutter) ~ Nebraska United States
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Nele de Prins-Tiels MD, IBCLC ~ Belgium
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Pat Thompson ~ Texas United States
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Sara Dodder Furr ~ Nebraska United States
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Nancy Vaughn ~ Maryland United States
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Teresa Edwards ~ Virginia United States
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Susan Vermeire ~ Ohio United States
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Helen Hannibal ~ Lancashire United Kingdom
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Gwendolyn Vesenka ~ Maine United States
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2016
Terese Baker ~ California United States
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Ms Helen Marie Veino Peill BA, IBCLC ~ Nova Scotia Canada
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Alice Barbiere ~ New Jersey United States
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Beth Pendleton ~ New Jersey United States
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Michelle Barone ~ California United States
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Margot Pordes ~ Connecticut United States
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Francine Beitel ~ Quebec Canada
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Dotti Savoy ~ Missouri United States
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Graciela Elena Bostiancic ~ Argentina
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Sally Schiller ~ California United States
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Louise Chambers ~ New Jersey United States
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Lee Stewart ~ Missouri United States
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Kate Coller ~ New York United States
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Pat Trautman ~ New Mexico United States
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Karin Gausman ~ Colorado United States
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Donna Tudor ~ Maine United States
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Susan Hanson ~ North Carolina United States
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Carolina Evans Villa ~ Florida United States
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Gisèle Laviolle ~ France
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Judith Weakley ~ New Zealand
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Maryann McIntyre ~ Massachusetts United States
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Mary "Peggy" Webber ~ North Carolina United States
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Julie McNaughton ~ Waikato New Zealand
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Mary White ~ Illinois United States
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Georgianna Moore ~ California United States
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Rita Woodward ~ Texas United States
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2015
Ann Cagigas ~ Virginia United States
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Kathy Lyons ~ Texas United States
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Rosemary Gauld ~ South Africa
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Patricia Martens ~ Manitoba Canada
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Marilyn Hein ~ Kansas United States
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Stacey Novak ~ Pennsylvania United States
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Diana Jeffery ~ Colorado United States
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Lysandra O'Donal ~ North Carolina United States
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Bess Jones ~ New York United States
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Diana Reardon ~ Texas United States
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Shirley Junk ~ Alberta Canada
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Averil Sheehan ~ New Zealand
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Phyllis Klenk ~ Michigan United States
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Mary Jane Wahl ~ Pennsylvania United States
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Nancy Lehrer ~ New York United States
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Nikki (Simmons) Zitting ~ Missouri United States
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2014
Barbara Lawson Boston ~ Virginia United States
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Lisa Slush ~ Texas United States
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Mary Ann Cahill ~ Illinois United States
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Margaret “Peggy” (Yohe) Snyder ~ New Jersey United States
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Carol Forest ~ Massachusetts United States
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Linda Terrel ~ Indiana United States
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Ellen Kadden ~ Connecticut United States
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Judy Torgus ~ Illinois United States
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Karen Osterlund ~ California United States
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Ethel-Marie Underhill ~ Colorado United States
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Lone Roe ~ Ireland
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Shirley Walker ~ Auckland New Zealand
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Nancy Salzinger ~ Ohio United States
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2013
Debra Campbell RN ~ Pennsylvania United States
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Barbara Jo Peterson ~ Colorado United States
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Betty Ann Countryman ~ Indiana United States
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Barbara Popper ~ Massachusetts United States
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Leslie DelGigante ~ Ohio United States
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Regina Radish ~ Texas United States
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Georgia Duncan ~ Kansas United States
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Kathleen Sardi ~ Pennsylvania United States
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Faith Ewald ~ Illinois United States
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Marilyn Swirzky ~ Ohio United States
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Dorothy Murphy ~ Indiana United States
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Sarah Williams ~ North Carolina United States
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Sally Hartung Murphy ~ Illinois United States
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Karen Zeretzke ~ Louisiana United States
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Monecha Painter ~ Arizona United States
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2012
Julie Anderson ~ Minnesota United States
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Crete Kochanek ~ Connecticut United States
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Kathleen Bertrand ~ North Carolina United States
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Camille formerly Mildred Paltauf Pace ~ Connecticut United States
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Judy Burlock ~ Saskatchewan Canada
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Loraine Reid ~ Canterbury New Zealand
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Janina Dichta ~ Germany
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Jeanie Salyer ~ California United States
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Phyllis Goerling ~ Illinois United States
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Linda Skelton ~ Auckland New Zealand
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Sheri Lorraine Jahner ~ Texas United States
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Christine J Tharion ~ Massachusetts United States
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Martha Jones ~ Ohio United States
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Maria (Jose Posada) Torres ~ Colombia
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Beverly Ann Karpenski Karl ~ New Jersey United States
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Cindy Tuttle ~ Indiana United States
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Juliet Kauffman ~ Michigan United States
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2011
Janis Lin Bair ~ Kansas United States
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Jan Kiefer ~ Indiana United States
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Jeanne Marie Bock ~ New Jersey United States
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Marcella Lowe ~ Missouri United States
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Lynn Day ~ Arizona United States
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Johanne Mann ~ United Kingdom
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Jennifer Deaven ~ Wisconsin United States
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Diane Matlock ~ South Africa
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Jayne Digby-New ~ North Carolina United States
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Chris Mulford ~ Pennsylvania United States
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Dona Sue Ellenwood ~ Arkansas United States
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Alyce B. Tylicki ~ Wisconsin United States
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Jalelah Fraley ~ California United States
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Rosie Van Raemdonck ~ West-Vlaanderen Belgium
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Sharon Frigiola ~ Pennsylvania United States
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2010
Kathy Baker ~ Illinois United States
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RivkA Matitya ~ Israel
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Wendy Batchelor ~ New Zealand
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Darlene Nicholson ~ Kansas United States
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Barb Fore ~ Michigan United States
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Gundi Regner-Hendriks ~ Germany
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Karen Heimes ~ Nebraska United States
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Nell Ryan ~ Illinois United States
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Linda Hoyes ~ United Kingdom
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Tine Thevenin ~ Minnesota United States
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Viola Lennon ~ Illinois United States
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2009
Marilyn Coull ~ Canada
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Nancy Katzon ~ Pennsylvania United States
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Kristine Fera ~ Connecticut United States
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Tina Lillig ~ Illinois United States
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Patricia Gandt ~ Massachusetts United States
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Phyllis Sawyer ~ Maine United States
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Jane Haines ~ Massachusetts United States
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2008
Gail Berke ~ California United States
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Marsha Robison ~ Oklahoma United States
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Sarah Brown ~ United Kingdom
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Carol Rudzinski ~ Indiana United States
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Deirdre Eggleton ~ Texas United States
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Megan Stendebach ~ Texas United States
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Edwina Froehlich ~ Illinois United States
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Anne Sutherland ~ California United States
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Dr Ann Hennessy ~ Maryland United States
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Betty Wagner Spandikow ~ Illinois United States
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Cathay Knipscher ~ New Jersey United States
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Jessi Wilson ~ Tennessee United States
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Noreen Cary Mills ~ New York United States
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2007
Martha Bevis ~ Texas United States
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Gail Mraz ~ Minnesota United States
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Becky Davidson ~ Kansas United States
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Sue Neal ~ New Zealand
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Maggie Diamond ~ California United States
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Elizabeth Norton ~ New Zealand
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Cathy Godbey ~ Tennessee United States
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Julie Quickmire ~ New Jersey United States
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Rosemarie F Grosskamp ~ New York United States
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Cindy Rindone ~ Massachusetts United States
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Debbie Hodson ~ New Zealand
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Victoria (Vicky) Seymour ~ New Zealand
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Diane Jurich ~ California United States
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Anita Taylor ~ New York United States
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Debbie McKinney ~ North Carolina United States
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Charlene Tracy ~ Arizona United States
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Peggy Mikol ~ North Carolina United States
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Marguerite Winzinger ~ New Jersey United States
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2006
Molly Banta ~ Michigan United States
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Majella Hyland ~ Ireland
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Katherine Brown ~ Michigan United States
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Leigh Johnson ~ California United States
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Christina de Carles ~ Panama
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Betsy Knight ~ Illinois United States
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Patricia DeVilbiss ~ Ohio United States
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Mary Lavay Netsell ~ Wisconsin United States
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Wiebke Gehle ~ Germany
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Donna Nordin ~ Pennsylvania United States
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Judy Good ~ Ohio United States
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Chris Reynolds ~ Ohio United States
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Lavinia (Vin) Healy ~ New Zealand
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JoAnne Scott ~ Virginia United States
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Sherry Hein Reese ~ California United States
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Nancy Stanton ~ Florida United States
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2005
Ruti Biton ~ Israel
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Sandra Naerig ~ Switzerland
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Marj Brustad ~ Washington United States
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Peggy Nitsos ~ Oregon United States
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Frieda Cherri ~ Florida United States
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Ruth Pantland ~ United Kingdom
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Laraine Dearnley ~ New Zealand
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Christy Redenz ~ Georgia United States
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Betsey Duffy ~ New Jersey United States
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Ruth Robertson ~ Pennsylvania United States
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Rita L. Kaiser ~ Indiana United States
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Barbara St. Germain ~ Rhode Island United States
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Kathleen Leeper Musser ~
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Lynne Swoope ~ Florida United States
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Gaylene Miller ~ Nevada United States
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Heather Tweit ~ Minnesota United States
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2004
Barbara Briggs Tucker ~ Colorado United States
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Alice Countryman ~ Indiana United States
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Vickie Cleaveland ~ Georgia United States
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Ann Mersmann ~ Missouri United States
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Mary Cossman ~ New York United States
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Frances Nieves ~ Puerto Rico
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2003
Liz Baldwin ~ Florida United States
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Susan Loughmiller ~ Idaho United States
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Linda Benson ~ Illinois United States
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Vicki Lowe ~ Michigan United States
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Nicki Ingham ~ Florida United States
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Rita Richardson ~ Canada
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Charmaine Klabisch ~ Illinois United States
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Eileen Sullivan ~ Illinois United States
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2002
Joan Belof ~ Florida United States
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Charlotte Palumbo ~ Illinois United States
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Connie Berkey ~ Ohio United States
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Ruth Schaeffer ~ New Jersey United States
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Rosa Burgos ~ Dominican Republic
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Kathy Tiegland ~ Iowa United States
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Jean B. Davis ~ Wisconsin United States
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Libby Waters ~ Oregon United States
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Ann Dawson ~ Canada
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Carol Wolfe ~ California United States
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Dawn Fengler ~ New Hampshire United States
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2001
Virginia Bannister ~ California United States
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Pat Kufeldt ~ Virginia United States
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Sarah Barnett ~ New York United States
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Missy Lewis ~ Texas United States
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Shirley Benjamin ~ Illinois United States
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Hannah Lothrop ~ Germany
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Martha Bertrand ~ California United States
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Judy Maier ~ Ohio United States
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Cammy Dye ~ Michigan United States
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Michelle McCown ~ Oklahoma United States
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Carmae Marie Gessele ~ North Dakota United States
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Martha Pugacz ~ Ohio United States
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Colleen Gordon ~ New Zealand
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Doris Simons ~ Ohio United States
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Angela Jarboe ~ Texas United States
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Jennifer Wyborne Price ~ New Zealand
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2000
Linda Basmajian ~ Massachusetts United States
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Pat Hillard ~ Iowa United States
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Barbara Berger ~ Massachusetts United States
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Stefanie Humby ~ South Africa
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Ellen Beurskens ~ Illinois United States
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Roberta Bishop Johnson Esq. ~ Illinois United States
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Joyce Boonlom ~ Arizona United States
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Christine Pearson ~ New Zealand
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Kaye Banister D'Ambrosio ~ Pennsylvania United States
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Eleanor Randall ~ Illinois United States
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Janice Ferderer ~ Minnesota United States
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Susie Robinson ~ Connecticut United States
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Barbara Fulcher ~ Iowa United States
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Anna Treder ~ Michigan United States
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Judith Geiger ~ Florida United States
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Kathy Warmbier ~ California United States
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1999
Terrell Graham ~ Kansas United States
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Marilyn Yoder ~ Indiana United States
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Celeste Kent ~ California United States
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Betsy Young ~ New York United States
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Sheryl Mueller ~ Nebraska United States
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Joan Zinda ~ California United States
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Pat Thomas ~ New Zealand
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1998
Patty Bucheimer ~ Maryland United States
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Inge Thomoddson ~ Luxembourg
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Una O'Connor ~ Ireland
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Marie Wilkinson ~ Massachusetts United States
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Terri Roses ~ Oregon United States
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Ruth Wright ~ Iowa United States
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Ellie Tabeek ~ Massachusetts United States
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1997
Joyce Cavallaro ~ Ohio United States
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Bernice Mills ~ New Zealand
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Liz Crofts ~ Connecticut United States
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Irene O'Connor ~ New Zealand
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Marilyn Hampton ~ Nebraska United States
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Christine Orciuch ~ California United States
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Patty Hancock ~ Montana United States
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Mary Stewart ~ Indiana United States
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Linda Komar ~ Ohio United States
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Rene Tucker ~ Arkansas United States
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Anne Marie Sullivan ~ Colorado United States
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Anita Wright ~ New Zealand
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1996
Monique Cormier-Fortini ~ Canada
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Kay Pavlic ~ Ohio United States
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Rita Lane ~ Maryland United States
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Christine VanLenten ~ New Jersey United States
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Nicole Marinier-Gagne ~ Canada
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Susan Wallace ~ Texas United States
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Irene McNeil ~ New Zealand
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Maxine Winegarner ~ Georgia United States
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1995
Norma Campa ~ Illinois United States
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Barbara Smith ~ Kansas United States
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Mary Eason ~ Florida United States
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Adrienne Tierney ~ New Mexico United States
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Liz Klehr ~ Georgia United States
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1994
Annette Anderson ~ Massachusetts United States
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Rene Tucker ~ Arkansas United States
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Beatrice Leyes ~ Ohio United States
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Jan Tucker ~ Wisconsin United States
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Evelyne Lienard ~ France
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Jane Tully ~ Illinois United States
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Dianna Miller ~ Illinois United States
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1993
Jane Brown ~ United Kingdom
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Kathleen Steudler ~ Pennsylvania United States
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Mary Dobratz ~ Nebraska United States
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1992
Sheila Basler ~ New Jersey United States
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Barbara Jennings ~ California United States
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Beth Brenneis ~ Kansas United States
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Jane Newell ~ Illinois United States
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Anne Carducci ~ Maryland United States
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Susan Noffsinger ~ North Carolina United States
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Suzy Dodd ~ Tennessee United States
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Rivka Servetnik ~ Israel
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1990
Hilary Dickson ~ New Zealand
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Judy Owen ~ Texas United States
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Lori Estreicher Frank ~ Connecticut United States
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Robin Santos ~ Massachusetts United States
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Linda Lambert ~ Arkansas United States
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V. Denise Williams-Wallace ~ Georgia United States
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1989
Candace Kakel ~ Maryland United States
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Dee Matchette ~ Arizona United States
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Marilyn Luspin ~ Texas United States
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Judy Rapp ~ Ohio United States
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Pat Mader ~ Pennsylvania United States
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Bobby Sand ~ New Hampshire United States
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1988
Joanna Dwerryhouse ~ New Zealand
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Mabel O'Donnell ~ California United States
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Bettiane Hever ~ New Jersey United States
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Andrea Patterson ~ New Mexico United States
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Linda Hindel ~ Maine United States
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Terry Ridge ~ Ireland
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Debbie Leonetti ~ New Jersey United States
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1987
Caren Dunn ~ California United States
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Mary Lou Walters ~
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Daphne Moran ~ Ireland
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Wilda Webber ~ Louisiana United States
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1986
Diane Driz ~ Illinois United States
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Judy Jensen ~ New Zealand
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Alice Egan ~ Georgia United States
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Elenore Kachline ~ Pennsylvania United States
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Sandra Heinrich ~ Pennsylvania United States
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Malinda Sawyer ~ Missouri United States
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1985
Karen LaKamp ~ Nebraska United States
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Elsie Rudger ~ Rhode Island United States
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Linda Pellerin ~ Ontario Canada
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Jean Stellpflug ~ Wisconsin United States
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Emily Rapp ~ Arizona United States
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Margaret Walker ~ United Kingdom
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1984
Maura McGulgan ~ Maryland United States
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Barbara Van Horn ~ Pennsylvania United States
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1983
Carol Holmboe ~ Maryland United States
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1981
Jill Beaudette ~ Massachusetts United States
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Rita Midura ~ New Jersey United States
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1980
Gloria Eilts ~ Connecticut United States
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Patricia Stuart ~ Wisconsin United States
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Vera Garrett ~ South Africa
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1978
Barbara Meeker ~ Georgia United States
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1977
Cushia Atkin ~ New Zealand
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Jane Lieberman ~ Georgia United States
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Linda Lehrer ~ Massachusetts United States
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1975
Phyllis Schmeckle ~ Vermont United States
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1974
Jenny Redford ~ Florida United States
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1973
Marilyn Laurence ~ Arizona United States
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Esther Wolf ~ Colorado United States
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Vicky Watson ~ Arizona United States
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1970
Ellen Hubbard ~ Michigan United States
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1969
Abigail Calvin ~ California United States
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Mary Ann Kasten ~ Illinois United States
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1965
Frances Gonzalez ~ Puerto Rico
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Margaret Porter ~ North Carolina United States
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Jill Beaudette ~ Massachusetts United States
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Marlies Langenegger-Mühlestein ~ Switzerland
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Lael Birch ~ Utah United States
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Kathleen Pearce ~ New Zealand
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Ruti Biton ~ Israel
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Hanni Selig ~ Switzerland
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Sandy Gray ~ Colorado United States
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Pat Viera ~ Missouri United States
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