So sad to see my friend Debbie has passed away. Deborah and I were tour guides together on the Queen Mary back in the early 70’s. I will miss her beautiful smile.
Awwwww, so sorry to see this news about Debbie. Just seeing her senior photo takes me right back to such a fun and delightful season of our lives. We were on the Flag team together and I think I can say for all of us flag girls, Debbie was so much fun, innovative, graceful, and a lovely team member at all levels❣️❣️ Such a precious soul‼️ I am certain that her impact in this life and her sphere of influence continued to be dynamic. May God continue to bless and comfort those nearest to Debbie. I'm so grateful we had some beautiful years together that just make my heart smile 💝
I’m late getting to this — hey, unlike almost all of you, I’m not actually retired, and still love my work. But I wanted to add my thoughts my thoughts and memories here.
Debbie Whitcomb is actually one of my high school regrets. Why? Well, we didn’t know each other well. But we were in music together, she on flute and me impersonating a trombonist. During our senior year, we increasingly talked with each other, and enjoyed the conversations. We were both socially insecure, as only high school kids can be. I was (and am, I hope) a good listener.
Somewhere in the spring we took a band/orchestra trip to Santa Barbara (or was it just our orchestra?). Anyway, at some point Debbie asked me if, on the bus ride back to Long Beach, I would sit next to her. I immediately said yes.
Then, after we concluded our performance (and I hope people appreciate how good our musical groups were), another person, whom shall remain here unnamed, learned about our seating intentions and, well, ridiculed me. So I didn’t sit with her.
I will never forget the look of confusion and sadness on her face. I felt so ashamed. We never talked again.
The memory remained strong. I had no idea about how to ever find her again and apologize. I was hoping she’d turn up at our 40th or 50th reunions. I somehow found out she was in Kentucky. When I saw that she had passed, I had immediate pangs of regret.
About 15 or so years ago, I actually made a list of people whom I had treated poorly, or with whom I had a strained relationship — I might have resented them, or they might have had reason to dislike or blame me. I prayed that I could figure out a way to reconnect with each of them and bring healing and/or resolution or at least peace to the relationship, even if we’d never become good friends. Thankfully, circumstances worked out so that I was able to contact almost every one of those people.
Romans 12:18 offers timeless advice, which in our deeply divided culture we should all heed: “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Kent Maddox
So sad to see my friend Debbie has passed away. Deborah and I were tour guides together on the Queen Mary back in the early 70’s. I will miss her beautiful smile.
Pat Morrison (Kultgen)
She was great! I'm sure wherever she is she's smiling.
Michael Lipson
Kent Maddox
That's what I'm thinking about, what a great smile . Thanks for posting the picture Mike. RIP Debbie.
Mark Griffith
Thanks Mike
Cyndi Erwin (Harrington)
Awwwww, so sorry to see this news about Debbie. Just seeing her senior photo takes me right back to such a fun and delightful season of our lives. We were on the Flag team together and I think I can say for all of us flag girls, Debbie was so much fun, innovative, graceful, and a lovely team member at all levels❣️❣️ Such a precious soul‼️ I am certain that her impact in this life and her sphere of influence continued to be dynamic. May God continue to bless and comfort those nearest to Debbie. I'm so grateful we had some beautiful years together that just make my heart smile 💝
Cyndi Erwin Harrington
Don Kiehl
I’m late getting to this — hey, unlike almost all of you, I’m not actually retired, and still love my work. But I wanted to add my thoughts my thoughts and memories here.
Debbie Whitcomb is actually one of my high school regrets. Why? Well, we didn’t know each other well. But we were in music together, she on flute and me impersonating a trombonist. During our senior year, we increasingly talked with each other, and enjoyed the conversations. We were both socially insecure, as only high school kids can be. I was (and am, I hope) a good listener.
Somewhere in the spring we took a band/orchestra trip to Santa Barbara (or was it just our orchestra?). Anyway, at some point Debbie asked me if, on the bus ride back to Long Beach, I would sit next to her. I immediately said yes.
Then, after we concluded our performance (and I hope people appreciate how good our musical groups were), another person, whom shall remain here unnamed, learned about our seating intentions and, well, ridiculed me. So I didn’t sit with her.
I will never forget the look of confusion and sadness on her face. I felt so ashamed. We never talked again.
The memory remained strong. I had no idea about how to ever find her again and apologize. I was hoping she’d turn up at our 40th or 50th reunions. I somehow found out she was in Kentucky. When I saw that she had passed, I had immediate pangs of regret.
About 15 or so years ago, I actually made a list of people whom I had treated poorly, or with whom I had a strained relationship — I might have resented them, or they might have had reason to dislike or blame me. I prayed that I could figure out a way to reconnect with each of them and bring healing and/or resolution or at least peace to the relationship, even if we’d never become good friends. Thankfully, circumstances worked out so that I was able to contact almost every one of those people.
Romans 12:18 offers timeless advice, which in our deeply divided culture we should all heed: “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Steve Light
Don! So wisely and so beautifully felt, stated, and accomplished! Wonderful and deeply compelling!
Armand Tippet
Amen to Romans 12:18
Pat Morrison (Kultgen)
Beautifully stated Don.