Most bricks, blocks and pavers have been purchased by individuals in their own name, as a gift for a friend, or in memory of a friend or loved one. Some, however, have been purchased by memorial fund donations.
When a memorial fund is established, it is announced in two issues of the Quarterly, the AOSHS newsletter. Donations are accepted for a period of six months, then the fund is closed. The organizer of the fund then determines the use of the monies collected, and completes the paperwork. All donors are listed on the honorees' page in the kiosk program.
To establish a memorial fund, click on the link below to view and print the memorial fund form. If you do not have a printer, you may request a form from the address below.
Click here to open the Memorial Fund Application.
To donate to any fund, please make your check payable to the AOSHS Memorial Fund and put the name of the honoree on the memo line of the check. Checks should be mailed to:
AOSHS Memorial Program
P.O. Box 4312
Scottsdale, AZ 85261
AOSHS is a 50l (c)(3) nonprofit organization and all donations are tax deductible in accordance with IRS regulations.
Current open funds include:
Fernando Pola (September 21, 1925 -December 31, 2007 ) : A native Cape Codder, Fred was born and raised in Sandwich, MA. He graduated from Henry T. Wing High School and served in the Armed Forces during World War II. He attended Dartmouth College and received his Bachelor of Science and Master's degrees from Tufts University. In 1954, Fred and his family moved to Wheelus AFB in Tripoli, Libya, and began a long career with DoDDS as a teacher, principal, and acting superintendent. This career took him to Evreux, France; Verona, Italy; Wiesbaden and Hahn, Germany; and a final posting at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. While abroad, he also taught history at several different universities. In 1983, Fred, his wife of 59 years Louise, and their 4 children retired to their home in Sandwich where he continued his favorite pastimes as an avid hunter, fisherman, gardner, and historian. Working with Fred was fun, enlightening and challenging, There was never a dull moment. He will be missed by family and friends and remembered as one who "marched to his own drumbeat". (Submitted by Liz Weeks and Ann Kimbrough) Fund closes Saturday, February 28, 2009.
Rolland Piazzoni (1939 -April 10, 2008 ) : Rolland "PZ" Piazzoni was born in San Diego, California, and earned his BA from San Diego State University and an MA from Michigan State University. His 35 year DoDDS' career began in 1965 in Kaiserslautern Germany. He also taught at Chofu High School in Japan, Nuremberg HS in Germany, and Woodbridge HS in England. During his last 10 years with DoDDS, he was a computer coordinator for various schools in England. He was passionate about education and introduced many new courses into the curriculum of the schools were he taught. Among these were World of Manufacturing, World of Construction, electronics, graphic arts, and photography. In 2000, he retired to Colorado Springs where he was active in the local DoDDS organization and maintained a database of former DoDDS teachers living in Colorado. He was treasurer of the Silicon Mountain Macintosh User Group and, in his spare time, he helped his wife clear pine needles from their hillside acreage. PZ will be remembered for his zest of life, constant curiosity, multitude of stories, extraverted personality, many good deeds, and his love for and pride in his family. (Submitted by Milt Halloran) Fund closes Saturday, February 28, 2009. Janet Hinch (March 3, 1937 -January 24, 2008 ) : Jan was an excellent, creative and caring teacher and an amazing world citizen. Her thoughts were always what she might do for others. She had a 32 year career with DoDDS, entering the program in 1961 at Schulthorpe Elementary in England where she taught 1st grade. From there her assignments took her to Germany, Japan, the Philippines, and Korea. She ended her career at Amelia Earhart in Okinawa teaching 4th grade. She was married to Clarence Hinch, also a DoDDS teacher, counselor, and educator. Their two daughters, Kimberly and Katrina, received their education in DoDDS schools. (Submitted by Cathy Weir) Fund closes Saturday, February 28, 2009. Marion Branick (June 16, 1931 -July 19, 2008 ) : Marion, a resident of Sarasota, FL, taught English and social studies for 41 1/2 years in DoDDS schools. Her adventurous spirit took her to Yokohama (1957-59), Verdun (1959-61), Camp Zama, Japan (1961-63), Paris (63-67), SHAPE, Belgium (67-83), Bermuda (83-94), and Panama (95-99), where she retired in January, 1999. She was an active and innovative sponsor of yearbook publications and the Model United Nations. In Sarasota, she was a volunteer ESOL teacher for the Literacy Society of Sarasota County and was president for many years of her Condominium Association Board of Governors. She was an eager participant in a local discussion group and loved theatre going. A loyal friend to many, Marion was a gourmet cook who enjoyed entertaining, fine dining, telling a good story, and keeping in touch with former DoDDS colleagues and students. Her influence on colleagues and students continues to have a lasting impact. Fund closes Saturday, May 30, 2009. Charles 'Chuck' Humberson (1924 -2008 ) : Chuck Humberson taught secondary social studies from 1956 through 1988 in the DODDS system. His overseas career began in Narimasu High School in Tokyo and moved to Karlsruhe and Kaiserslautern, Germany, with a side trip to Rota, Spain. Chuck was born in Casper Wyoming, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942, and married his lifelong sweetheart, Ronnie Mayer, in Vancouver, B.C. in 1945. His first job out of the Navy was as a radio broadcaster at KVOC in Casper, where he was known as "Highpockets Humberson". But following a BA from the University of Washington, he was drawn to the classroom and never looked back. He later completed a Masters at the University of British Columbia and post-graduate work at Oxford. Like most career overseas teachers, he and Ronnie loved to travel and visited over thirty countries over the years. They especially loved exploring restaurants throughout the Alsace, Lorraine, and Champagne regions of France. Chuck's encyclopedic knowledge of history, government, and the American West provided the basis for great conversations--both inside and out of the classroom. As an ardent Democrat he especially enjoyed lively political discussions. A longtime member of the Overseas Federation of Teachers and the Overseas Education Association, Chuck believed in the importance of teacher organizations and their positive impact on students and education. His impact on two generations of overseas students continues. Fund closes Saturday, May 30, 2009. Colette Brinkman (1929 -March 24, 2008 ) : Colette was born in Los Angeles, California. She was an educator, librarian and administrator in public school systems throughout Santa Clara Valley and Berryessa School District in San Jose. Her undergraduate work was done at Long Beach State College, her master's degree at San Jose State and her Doctorate Degree through the University of Southern California. She was a Fulbright Scholar in 1978. During her DoDDS career, Colette was librarian at Zama Middle School in Japan, vice principal at Wagner Middle School in the Philippines, vice principal at Kubasaki High School in Okinawa and an Educational Specialist at the District Office in Okinawa. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew her. Fund closes Saturday, May 30, 2009. Ann Daley (January 30, 1942 -April 12, 2008 ) : Ann Daley was born and raised in Kalispell, Montana where she taught in Lakeside before joining DoDDS in the early 1980's. Her overseas locations included Javer, Netherlands; Newfoundland; Misawa, Japan; Wildflecken and Wurzburg, Germany; Seoul, Korea; and the three elementary schools in Aviano, Italy. She was as a LARS/Reading Recovery teacher when she retired in October, 2007, due to ill health. Ann's hobbies included traveling, quilting, and playing cards. She will be especially remembered for her positive attitude, her quirky sense of humor and the compassion she showed toward her friends. (Submitted by Gail Fisher) Fund closes Saturday, February 28, 2009. Barbara Roberts ( -May, 2008 ) : Barbara passed away at her home in Clinton, Maryland after a long battle with cancer. She had been retired from DoDDs for two years after thirty-eight years of government service. She taught in Washington D.C., Germany, Woodbridge England, Soesterberg Netherlands, and Feltwell, England. Her smiling face and infectious laughter will be greatly missed. (Submitted by Barbara Regalis) Fund closes Saturday, February 28, 2009. Elizabeth (Beth) Daly (June 11, 1926 -July 17, 2008 ) : Beth was born and raised in Moberly, MO. She received a bachelor's degree from Mount Saint Scolastica College in Atchison, Kansas, and a master's degree from St. Louis University in Saint Louis, MO. After teaching in Missouri schools, she began her overseas career in 1966 in Bermuda. She went on to teach English and reading in the Azores and in Germany at schools in Kaiserslautern, Gelnhausen, Hanau, and Schweinfurt. She retired to Vero Beach, Fl. in 1998. Beth loved to travel and was game for going anywhere, Her quiet, self-effacing demeanor belied her sense of adventure, She taught in the Missouri state penal system, held a uniques position as a hostess on the historic Gulf, Mobil, and Ohio Railroad, and loved fast driving in anything on wheels. The only car that might have held her back was her pokey Skoda, a Communist Czech vehicle that was probably the only one of its kind registered with the American military in Europe during the Cold War. She was extremely devout, known for her ability to ferret out a Catholic Mass in the most remote and un-Christian countries. Her friends and family will miss her unending enthusiasm for seeing the world, her rollicking sense of fun, and her readiness anytime to share good times over a Scotch! Fund closes Saturday, May 30, 2009. James O'Brien (November 8, 1920 -September 5, 2008 ) : Jim was born and raised in southern California and received a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. He enlisted in the US Navy in World War II and then taught school in southern California before joining DODDS in 1957. His overseas locations included Japan, Turkey, France, Spain, Germany,England, and Okinawa. Jim was a most friendly person - he made friends where ever he went. He was a great hose, inviting his friends and family to visit him when he was overseas or to his home in California during the summer. He loved to travel and took advantage of every opportunity to see the sights of his host country on the weekends and to travel further on the long holiday recesses. He loved the theater and while. in England, most weekends were spent in London viewing the latest shows, revues, dramas and musicals. He was also an ardent collector of fine arts and antiques where ever he was stationed. After his retirement, Jim did volunteer work in his community - such as serving meals on wheels to the elderly. He will long be remembered by his colleagues and friends who were invited to his soirees at each of the bases where he was stationed. (submitted by Violet Toy) Fund closes Saturday, May 30, 2009. James Handorf ( -January 2008 ) : James was born and raised in Iowa and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1954. He served in the US Army from 1954 -1956 in Japan and taught in Iowa at Marshalltown High school from 1956 to 1962. His teaching career with DoDDS took him back to Japan in 1962 where he taught business education at Johnson HS. It was there that he met and married his wife Nancie. In 1964 they moved to Germany where he taught for 2 more years at Kaiserslautern HS Upon his return to the states, he taught at Malcolm Price Laboratory School. He earned his PhD from the University of Northern Colorado and taught in the UNI College of Business until his retirement in 1990. (Submitted by James Lenz) Fund closes Sunday, November 30, 2008. Evelyn Firch ( - ) : Evelyn was born in Osco, Illinois, and graduated from Alpha High School in 1943, She attended Western Illinois University (WIU) for two years and then taught in the Geneseo elementary school system in the Wildermuth one-room schoolhouseduring World War II. In 1949 she returned to WIU and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Education. She then taught in the Wheaton, IL, elementary school system for five years before she went overseas. She later received her M.A. from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana and received an Advanced Degree from the University of Heidelberg in Germany. Evelyn taught in DoDDS schools all over the world. She entered the program in 1954 when she was assigned to Hamadera ES, Japan, where she later taught at Grant Heights and Misawa. Other postings were in Orleans, France; Vicenza, Italy; Heidelberg and Pirmasens, Germany; Peshawar, Pakistan; Addid Ababa, Ethiopia; and finally her favorite, Iraklion, Crete where she stayed until her retirement in 1984. Evelyn's favorites were the intermediate grades. She was active in all school functions and extracurricular activities. (Submitted by Michael Harris) Fund closes Sunday, November 30, 2008. Alice Duggins (November 14, 1938 -September 12, 2008 ) : As was said in her obituary, Alice was most recently of Sarasota, Florida - and the world. After a brief teaching start in Pueblo, Colorado, Alice was with DoDDS in Germany, Turkey, Okinawa, Korea, and England, either as a teacher or a media specialist. Who will ever forget Alice driving the bookmobile, a huge truck, around Sarasota County, or her co-hosted Christmas galas for a cast of hundreds? Alice collected - everything from recipes to clothing to paper weights. A true, happy -to-be shopaholic. Her generally upbeat spirit in the face of multiple physically debilitating illnesses in recent years endeared her to friends and family. She believed in quality of life rather than mere longevity. She left us when she was ready. She left her mark and will be missed. (Submitted by John Pascale) Fund closes Saturday, May 30, 2009.