Wendy’s most important roles are being a wife, mother and grandmother, as she proudly says of her four children and 11 grandchildren. She helps to care for her handicapped brother and takes care of her elderly mother. She has volunteered with the Girl Scouts and Red Cross. In addition to speaking French and German, she has written two novels and is awaiting publication of the first. She is one of the original writers of The Main Sail, Christopher Newport University’s former online newsletter. She has worked at a domestic violence shelter, at CNU’s School of Business, at CNU’s Philosophy Department and as a civil engineering draftsman in the Army and for civil engineering firms in Atlanta and Seattle. She also attended the Army Engineer School. Wendy has an Associate of Arts in general studies, a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and religious studies from CNU (magna cum laude) and is midway through her master’s degree in history. Originally from Atlanta, she and her husband have lived in Washington state, Alabama, Panama, Kentucky, Tennessee and Europe, prior to retiring in Virginia. A lover of dogs and horses, Wendy has three dogs (Newfiedoodles). Wendy says the most exciting adventure she has experienced was jumping out of a plane with her youngest daughter!
My favorite writers are: David McCullough and James Michener.
My favorite books are: Chesapeake, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and The Johnstown Flood.
When I have time for myself, I like to: Read, garden, quilt, knit and crochet.
My favorite places I’ve traveled: Paris and Versailles.
I would like to travel to: Ireland.
Three people I most admire:
- My husband, a retired Blackhawk pilot and 2023’s AAAA aviator of the year.
- My daughters, two of whom are trauma nurses in the ED at Riverside, and one of whom is a dedicated foster mom for at-risk children.
- Henrietta Lacks
On my bucket list, I would like to:
- Get better at the piano and learn the guitar and violin.
- Visit France again.
- Learn Spanish.
