Today's Featured Biography

 
Diana Bowman

I didn’t grow up In Piedmont like many of you did. I attended Anna Head School for three years beginning in 5th grade and then transferred to Piedmont in the 8th grade. I have a lot of wonderful memories of the years in Piedmont. Regrettably, I lost touch with most of you after graduation and leaving for the University of Utah.

During my first year in college, I was a passenger in a terrible car accident, and between missed school and a few changes in my major, I graduated in 1974. There were perks, though, as the “U” (University of Utah in Salt Lake City) offered college credit for ski, sailing and golf classes, so I took them all.

I started working for FedEx in 1974 a few days after graduation, and I had a 29-year career starting in customer service and sales, and then progressing into management positions in operations and engineering. I loved working at FedEx! I moved around – from Salt Lake City to the Bay Area, Sacramento, and back to San Francisco and Menlo Park - then to New Jersey in 1988 until I retired in 2003.

I loved being near New York City and on the East Coast, and I traveled a lot in the Eastern Region area for work and for pleasure. New York City was just a 40-minute train ride away, and I went there often to meet friends, shop, dine, and go to museums and other events. For many years I subscribed to and attended performances and rehearsals at The Metropolitan Opera. I was certainly blessed.

Like others, I was married – twice – and I just didn’t get it right. They say the third time is a charm… hmmmm. Sadly I did not have children, but I am an aunt to 5 in Oregon and Minnesota and here in Kaua’i I am an “auntie” to dozens more.

In 2004, the year after I retired, I moved to Kaua’i. In my spare time, I have enjoyed teaching piano, tutoring and volunteering. In 2007 I started working part-time for two outstanding firms that do academic testing, evaluation and tutoring, and I find that work both interesting and satisfying. I am very active in my church, and two of my current responsibilities include accompanying the women’s choir and researching genealogy.

Last summer in 2009 I joined a hula halau (school), and I am learning more about the rich and fascinating history, tradition, music and culture of Kaua’i, and in particular, chants and the ancient hula art form, hula kahiko. I learn from an amazing Kumu Hula (hula teacher) Kehaulani Kekua, who carries on and magnifies traditions, knowledge and a legacy of hula, passed down through many generations of her family and other highly respected cultural practioners. Since the beginning of this year (2010), I have been learning conversational Hawaiian language from a gifted Kumu ‘Olelo Hawai’i (Hawaiian language teacher), Maka’ala Warriner. How very lucky I am!

I send my best wishes and aloha to all of you, and I'd love to hear from you. Life is (really, really, really) good! I look forward to the next reunion, I hope that it is sooner than 10 years from now, and I look forward to seeing you there!

Diana

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