Category Archives: In Memoriam

Obituary from The Washington Post, February 8, 2002
Courtesy of Ed Gursky, Class of 1965

Montgomery Firefighter

Robert S. Jones, 55, a Montgomery County firefighter who retired in 1999, died Feb. 2 at Holy Cross Hospital. The cause of death is unknown, pending a report by the Maryland medical examiner’s office.

Mr. Jones, who lived in Silver Spring, was born in Newport News, Va. He was raised in Wheaton and was a graduate of Robert E. Peary High School.

Mr. Jones was a cable splicer for Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. as a young man and a volunteer with the Wheaton Rescue Squad. He served in the Army in Vietnam.

He became a firefighter in 1978 and was later secretary-treasurer of the county Firefighters Local 1664. His honors included a Governor’s Citation for service to the state.

Mr. Jones was an umpire for the American Softball Association. His interests also included golf. Survivors include his wife, Catherine “Kay” Jones, and a daughter, Wendy Jones, both of Silver Spring, and two sisters.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday February 6th with burial at Parklawn Cemetery.

Sister, Phyliss (1967), is listed here with us on MSO.

Memorials in his name may be made to:
Montgomery County Career Fire Fighters Welfare and Benefit Fund
932 Hungerford Dr. Suite 33-A, Rockville MD 20850
(Benefit fund information provided by Stu Hanson, 1980)

Bob is #65 – Photo provided by Linda Kelly Atwell

John Lejnar (1979), passed away at 3am on Wednesday, September 5, 2001 after a battle with Pancreatic Cancer. The viewing was Friday September 7th at Collins Funeral Home, and the funeral was held Saturday, September 8th at St. John the Baptist Church. He was buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery after the service.

Originally published in the Frederick News-Post on Tuesday, July 3, 2001.

Mr. Ronald Alan Harris, 43, of 602 Wilson Place, Frederick, died Monday, July 2, at his residence. He was the husband of Ruth Ann Harris, whom he married in August 1993. Born Nov. 5, 1957, in Prince George’s County, he was the son of Albert C. Harris of Hagerstown, and Phyllis Jean Gose Collins of Dumfries, Va.

He attended Perry [sic] High School in Rockville.

He had worked for 21 years as a plasterer for the Wilcoxon Construction Co. in Rockville.

He was a member of Frederick Model Airplane Club. He thoroughly enjoyed building and flying his motorized models.

In addition to his wife and parents, he is survived by one son, Justin Alan Harris of Frederick; two sisters, Donna Harris Smith and husband Michael of Potomac, and Sharon Harris Fowler and husband Jack of Delray Beach, Fla.; and his stepfather, Gerald S. Collins of Dumfries.

A memorial service [was] held Friday, July 6, at 2 p.m. at Keeney and Basford Funeral Home in Frederick, MD. The Rev. Stacey L. Brady, of Evangelical Lutheran Church, Frederick, officiated.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial contributions to be made to Frederick County Humane Society, 5712-D Industry Lane, Frederick, Md. 21704.

Obituary from the Frederick News Post, February 1, 2001
Courtesy of Linda Sue (Kelly) Atwell, Class of 1964

Mr. Thomas Russell Johnston, 52, or North Granby, Conn., formerly of Winsted, Conn., died Sunday, Jan. 28 in a sailplane accident.

He was the husband of Barbara Lyon Johnston. Born in Washington, he was a son of Patricia Mullen Johnston of Frederick, and the late Fred R. Johnston.

Mr. Johnston grew up in Rockville and graduated from Robert E. Peary High School and the University of Cincinnati Engineering School in 1972.

He lived in Winsted for 10 years, moving to North Granby 14 years ago. He was employed as an aerospace engineer at Hamilton Standard for 22 years before starting his own engineering business, Data Solutions.

Mr. Johnston enjoyed his family and flying. He was a hang gliding pilot for 25 years and also had his private aircraft pilots license, and was flying sailplanes for the past several years.

He was a member of the Soaring Society of America, the U.S. Hang Gliding Association, Connecticut Hang Gliding Association and the Nutmeg Soaring Society.

Surviving in addition to his wife and mother are three children, Kara E. Johnston of Atlanta, Ga., and Alita Johnston and Ted Johnston, both at home; two brothers, Fred R. Johnston III and wife Valorie, and Andrew M. Johnston and wife Kathy, all of Frederick; one sister, Jeri Kalins and husband David of Frederick; and several nieces and nephews.

The family [received] friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, at Hayes-Huling & Carmon Funeral Home, 364 Salmon Brook St., Granby, Conn. Funeral services [were] held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 2, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Mark Diters officiating. Interment in Granby Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Wide Horizons For Children. 38 Edge Hill Road, Waltham, Mass. 02154.

Pat Bryan, Class of 1978

Pat died on September 23, 1987 when he was 26. He was my first love when I was 16 at Peary. We had 10 years of friendship and love in those 10 years and I miss him still.

He was on the boys gymnastics team as well as the swim and diving teams.

Signed – Robin, Class of ’79