Published on: Wednesday, January 23, 2013

By Mary McHale

New principal announced for McNamara High School

Dr. Robert Van de Waag has been appointed the next principal at Bishop McNamara High School, in Forestville, effective July 1. The current president, Marco J. Clark, made the announcement in December.

Van de Waag served as lecturer, chaplain-in-residence and member of the Admissions Committee at Georgetown for the past five years, as assistant professor at Marymount University, and as teacher and campus minister at McNamara.

He has an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, a master’s degree from the Duke School of Divinity, a Ph.D. from Duquesne University, and he will complete his Post-Master’s Certificate in Educational Leadership and Administration from George Washington University this spring.

Thanks were extended to Reginald Brady who has served as interim principal for the past year. He will continue as such until the new principal takes over and then will remain on as associate principal/dean of students.

Linda Estep dies, was one of 14

Linda Lou (Nichols) Estep, 57, formerly of Morningside, died Dec. 31 at home in Huntingtown, Md., where she had lived for the past 13 years. She was one of the 14 children of Lawrence and Mary Nichols, of Allies Road, probably the biggest family ever to live in Morningside.      

Linda worked in landscaping at Andrews until retiring with a disability. She enjoyed gardening, swimming in the pool, playing with her dog and cat, and “girls’ day out.”

Her parents, sister Betty Lukacsina, and brothers Joe and Jerry Nichols preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband of 32 years, Keith Estep, daughter Jeannie and husband Jiggs Knowles, Sr., and grandsons Jiggs, Jr. and Keifer Knowles. Four brothers, John, Jack, James and Jimmy Nichols, and six sisters, Shirley Lynch, Mary Taylor, Helen Nichols-Richardson, Dottie Fletcher, Lydia Duncan, Judy Barragan and lots of nieces and nephews survive her.

Friends joined the family to celebrate Linda’s memorial and repast on Jan. 19 at American Legion Post 126, in Forestville.

Neighbors

On Jan. 12, 1992, Morningside firefighter Kenneth Michael Hedrick died while fighting a house fire on Walls Lane in Suitland. He rescued a 7-year-old boy, went back into the house thinking there was another child, and died in the fire. Rescue Squad 27, of Morningside Volunteer Fire Department, is dedicated to the memory of Kenny, “The Pride of the Department.” They spent Jan. 12 drilling on the tragic circumstances that took Kenny’s life 21 years ago.

Mount Calvary School is seeking alumni. If you’d like to be informed of the latest Mount Calvary news, reunion information and events, email to alumni@mountcalvarycatholicschool.org.

Get well wishes to Col. Ralph Young, retired, formerly of Skyline, who is ailing. He reads this column out in California where he now lives.

Ticky Tacky Tea Party

Phyllis Cooks, auxiliary president of VFW Post 9619, invites you to the annual Ticky Tacky Tea Party from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23. The event benefits the auxiliary’s Cancer Aid and Research Program. The Post is at 6527 Suitland Road in Morningside. For information, call Phyllis at 301-736-5022.

May they rest in peace

Ronald G. Maurice, 83, of Camp Springs, attorney and high-ranking member of the Knights of Columbus, died Oct. 25. A native of Providence, R.I., he graduated from Providence College and was a lawyer with offices in Marlow Heights. He was Grand Knight and Papal Navigator with the Knights of Columbus and was in charge of the Pius X Council Hall in Forestville. He was also active with the Elks Camp Springs Lodge in Temple Hills. He was the father of Diane Maurice, Janine Johansen and Carolyn Coppola, brother of the late Raymond Maurice. Mass of Christian Burial was at St. Philip’s Church, where he attended Mass daily. Burial is at Resurrection Cemetery.

Richard Oliver “Ollie” Moore, 98, died Dec. 30, 2012, at his home on the farm in Melwood where he was born and lived all his life. He was predeceased by his parents Charles Moore, Sr. and Mary Ward Moore and siblings J. Edward Moore, Florence Jones, Ethel Sweeney Moran and Laura Cooper. He was the husband of the late Marion Moore; father of Margaret Telemeco, Faye Rodgers, Larry Moore and Janice Reagan; grandfather of four and great-grandfather of five.

Milestones

Happy birthday to my great-grandson Jason Shearer, Jan 22; Kenneth Brown and Michelle Willis, Jan. 25: Father Thomas LaHood and Yvonne Garvin, Jan. 27; Sister Zion and Lisa Call, Jan. 29; David Call, Martha Kline and Joanne (Clark) Bunch, Jan. 30; Donna Young and Robin Sawyer, Feb. 1.