John and Judy on their wedding day!
I have been a nurse for a VERY long time (over 40 years!). I started my nursing career working at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, in the Pediatric Emergency Room….Wow! What a change from classes at lovely St. Mary College in Leavenworth! I later intended to have a career as a nurse educator and got my graduate degree in Education but while teaching Community Health at Avila College in KC, I fell in love with home health and hospice. Since 1986, I have worked in the home care/hospice industry in a variety of clinical and management roles.
I have enjoyed traveling all my life, starting out as an Air Force “brat”and living in eight different states while growing up. My dad was a bomber pilot and was in the “Strategic Air Command” during the Cold War. My parents met during WWII when my mother was an Army nurse stationed in England. I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 67 years ago. I have one sister, Janice. She and her husband, Steve, live in Los Angeles and have three adult children and five grandchildren. We try
to get together as often as possible. I, too, had a 12-year military career as a Navy Reserve Officer for a Fleet
Hospital. I achieved the rank of Lt. Commander but resigned my commission after Desert Storm. My husband, John, was a Reserve Army Colonel in a MASH unit and outranked me! He was activated during Desert Storm. My
mother was available for child care support, but I realized that a long tour of duty for both of us would be a difficult challenge for our family.
John and I love to travel (he’s the reason I once moved to Brooklyn)! John is an Oral Surgeon, educated in New
York. His very first trip out of NY found him stationed in Leavenworth, KS. We met while I was a student at St. Mary College. I was celebrating my 21st birthday (at the Officer’s Club…remember this was back in the
late ‘60s, I was a military dependent, and Leavenworth was much smaller). We married after I graduated from St. Mary’s. We will celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary July 20th, 2013. John retired from the Veteran’s Administration and is the Director of the Oral Surgery program at UMKC Dental School.
I am an avid reader and, since retiring, I am enrolled in Jazzercise, Tai Chi and Water Aerobics. John and
I would like to get some traveling time in before we get too old.
Our oldest daughter, Kim, graduated from KU and works for the Hallmark corporate office. She and her husband, Rob, are the proud parents of our favorite (and only) granddaughter, Mia. Mia is 8 years old going on 30! Our middle child, Beth, attended KU and St. Mary’s and is working part time and taking classes. Our third and youngest, Tony, is working at the Johnson County Dinner Theatre. All live in Overland Park so we get together frequently.
We have many pets. Barney is a 5-year-old “Golden Doodle” (Golden Retriever and Poodle) certified as a “Canine Good Citizen” by The American Kennel Club. Barney spends four to five days a week visiting residents of local
retirement communities. Pawley and Monty are our green parrots that make a lot of noise. Actually, Pawley (named for an island in South Carolina) is a small conure but can say five phrases and dance to
“You Are My Sunshine”. Monty is a companion for Pawley but not friendly at all.
John and I moved to Lawrence seven and half years ago when I took the job as Chief Executive Officer
of Douglas County Visiting Nurses and Hospice Care. Though we lived in KC for more than 20 years, we frequently drove to Lawrence for great food, shopping and entertainment. We love the town and knew that we would retire
here.
Website Paid by Judy Bellome for Commission
Sara Dawson, Treasurer
Sara Dawson, Treasurer
