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In my 25 years with UMGC, I did not have the privilege of meeting Jack Wennersten.  Based on his bio, I wish I had.  

Steve Holowenzak and I —

First met one another in August 1983 — at the New Faculty Orientation in Heidelberg, Germany.   Steve was then joining the Maryland Overseas Program as a faculty member — while I was Director of the European Division

Initially — Steve spent only AY 1983-84, with the European Division, but returned in 1988 and was to remain with theMaryland Overseas Programs until 2006.   During his entire overseas career with Maryland, I knew Steve well and worked closely with him, both in Europe and Asia.  For the last 20 years of his life, he and I maintained regular contact — exchangingEmails.  I also called him fairly regularly.  And, of course, we saw one another at  OMA Gatherings in Adelphi, Heidelberg and elsewhere. 

No one was ever more pleased/proud to have been an Overseas Marylander than was Steve Holowenzak.  And, during the last20 years of his life — living in the Maryland area — no one was more pleased/proud to be involved with UMUC/UMGC than was  Steve. He breathed and lived Maryland.

As the many who very much liked/respected Steve have remarked:  He was one of a kind.

I am very glad to have known Steve Holowenzak and am greatly pleased that we were good friends.

If anyone deserves to rest in peace, it is Steve Holowenzak.

Dr. Holowenzak didn’t just teach classes around the world, he helped service members build futures wherever duty called. Thank you for the impact you had on my life, Steve. Rest in peace, Professor, colleague, and friend. Thank you for simply being you.

my heart reaches out to Julie at this time of loss.

Paul was such a stalwart fellow. 

he was my area director in 1978-1980

Thank you for Geissen and Baumholder and Bremerhaven.

What sadness.

Posted on: Jan 07, 2026 at 2:13 PM

Happy Birthday John. Revolution Day (almost) You don't look a day over 65. or was it 70? Nice to see you at reunion.

Ray's passing comes as a shock!  We were UMUC (UMGC) friends in absentia, de tempore in tempus, from way back in 1968 when he first joined the program until I took the buyout in 2014 and left UMGC forever (after exactly 25 years).  I had joined UMUC in August 1965.  I remember meeting Ray in Vida's office in 1968.  He was on his way to an assignment somewhere in Spain--Rota I think--and I was on my way to an assignment at Moron AFB in Seville, Spain.  My memory of the details is somewhat fuzzy after all these years, so don't hold me to any "fact".  Since Rota and Seville were relatively close, I and my first wife, Margot, (now ex, but we're still best friends) and Ray and his first wife, Donna, agreed to get together from time to time.  I remember our trip traveling around Portugal in our car (or theirs) during term break quite well.  Our last assignment together was in the summer of 1969 at Wiesbaden, Germany.  I left UMUC, in 1969 (after a 4-year stint, although--in contradition to the maximum 4-year clause in all of our contracts back then--I was offered a 5th year) to return to the States to enter the Ph.D. program at USC in LA.  But, Ray and I stayed in touch after his return to the States in the early 1970s.  I was teaching at Cal Poly, Pomona and he was teaching at either the Univ of Wyoming or the Univ of Montana, I forget which.  I was still ABD at a different USC, and I think he had already finished his doctorate.  After I resigned from Cal Poly in 1978 to take a position in the Bay Area as VP in charge of the Northern Division of my brother's corporation, while also teaching as an adjunct at Cal State East Bay, Ray and I lost touch completely.  I heard somewhere along the way through the grapevine that he had returned to a position at UMGC.  I returned to a position with UMGC in 1993 (Europe, then Asia) and stayed until 2014 when I took the buyout.  I had heard that Ray divorced Donna and remarried and was working for UMGC off and on in the Middle East.  Then in the spring of 2014 at a faculty gathering in Seoul, there was Ray, looking the same as when I last saw him in 1969.  I was delighted to see him again.  But he was just passing through Seoul, as I remember it, and was not teaching for UMGC at the time.  Don't quote me on that.  I think he was on his way back to the Middle East after a visit with his Korean wife's family but was thinking about moving to Korea to teach for UMUC.  I don't remember the details.  But, that was the last time I ever laid eyes on Ray or even communicated with him.  I moved to Thailand with my Thai wife, Pla, and changed email addresses. I guess I forgot to give him my new email address or he forgot to give me his.  We never communicated or got together again after 2014.  I'll miss just knowing he's out there somewhere.  He was a great and talented guy.     

I got to know Jay on Okinawa, but I got to know him better in Seoul, S. Korea.  Needless to say I liked him a lot, as everyone did.  I thought he retired to Seattle, but I heard through the grapevine that he had moved to an assisted-living retirement community in San Diego County where I also live now (not in a retirement community).  I didn't know where he was, and didn't go to great lengths to find out.  I moved to Thailand after I took the retirement buyout from UMGC, and we didn't stay in touch after retirement.  I had not heard from or of him in 10-12 years, until I heard he passed away a while back.  R.I.P. Jay.  

This message can also be read on the GoFundMe site.

To everyone of you! You had our backs! You saved my sanity!

Today we received a very small amount of money from SSA. It is nowhere near what is owed to Adriano, but this payment is a harbinger of things to come.

I have been on the phone at least 3 times a week since mid-August trying to confirm that the Judge's decision is being implemented. Until Tuesday of this week, Adriano was still on temporary status (benefits ended 30 Aug 25), and they were still collecting the overpayment ($58K) that the judge voided.

On Monday I was advised by the local SSA office to file another appeal. I spoke with our lawyer (now retired), and he suggested that it would be prudent to do that, so I called SSA again. Whoever answered the phone told me that Adriano was now confirmed as off temporary and back on regular status and that they could find no evidence of a pending overpayment!

Now, Friday, a small amount was paid and there are 2 letters from SSA in today's mail (delivered in about 5-6 hours, so I don't know what they say yet!). So, it looks as if we have an end in sight.

I hope you all understand how much your support has meant. Not just that we didn't lose our house, but knowing that you all had our backs...I cannot repay any of you for the peace of mind that gave me.

However, in light of the fact that we will be getting the money back that was confiscated, I don't feel right not paying forward your generosity and support. I will be donating an amount equal to your combined donations to causes which I feel will support the most vulnerable Americans the way you have all supported us.

My community, my chosen family has given us much over the last 45 years...I am so honored to pay that forward. Thank you is so inadequate but it is all I can say: Thank You All A Thousand Times A Thousand!

I worked for Irene in Korea and liked her very much.  She was warm and efficient in her job.  I cannot claim to have been her close friend, but certainly we were friends.  In short, I really liked Irene.  I wish her well as she embarks on her ultimate adventure.  I know she will fare well.

Posted on: Jul 04, 2025 at 10:13 AM

Uncle bill, hope you have a nice birthday and that your family are safe from the fascist roundup of non-white Americans and non-white immigrants. Remember, being undocumented is a misdemeanor.