John E. Irby

Profile Updated: June 22, 2021
Residing In: Tucson, AZ USA
Spouse/Partner: Nori
Life's Work: Retired after 30 years of teaching junior high English. Author of two novels, "Red-tailed Rescue," "Red-tailed Odyssey," along with two collections of poetry.
Children: Daughters: Tobi and Amber
Son: Johnny
Grandkids: Two Girls and Two Boys
Great Grandkids: More…One Boy
Military Service: Navy Hospital Corpsman  
Comments:

I joined the navy in August of 1959 and spent the next four years as a surgical technician in Oregon, California and the Philippines.
In 1967 I started college and was married in 1968. We bought a house on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle, had two children, a son and daughter. After graduation from the U.W. in 1971, I began a 30 year teaching career at Kenmore Junior High, retiring there in 2001.

School Story:

It took me many, many years to realize how special it was to grow up in a small, old-fashioned community like the tiny village Bothell used to be. The people there, for the most part, were genuine blue-collars who worked hard, believed in the value of education for their children, and trusted each other as neighbors.
I regret not studying harder in high school, but I had so many wonderful friends and harbor countless happy memories. Bothell of course has changed dramatically the past seventy-five years, but every time I drive through the memories come flooding back.

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John E. Irby has a birthday today. New comment added.
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Jun 25, 2023 at 10:14 PM

Posted on: Jun 21, 2023 at 4:33 AM

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Jul 06, 2022 at 10:46 AM
John E. Irby has a birthday today. New comment added.
Jun 21, 2022 at 6:07 PM

Posted on: Jun 21, 2022 at 4:33 AM

John E. Irby posted a message on Gary Jang's Profile. New comment added.
Mar 21, 2022 at 4:53 PM

Posted on: Mar 21, 2022 at 10:26 AM

Happy 81st, Sir. I hope your special day is filled with delicious food, loud laughter, friendships renewed, birdsong, and many pleasant moments. Take care. Stay safe. Our troubled world needs much more of you. irb

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Jun 22, 2021 at 7:12 AM
John E. Irby has a birthday today.
Jun 21, 2021 at 4:33 AM
John E. Irby posted a message on Gary Jang's Profile. New comment added.
Mar 22, 2021 at 10:52 AM

Posted on: Mar 21, 2021 at 9:42 AM

morning, Gary. glad we're both still here to celebrate your special day. i hope it's filled with delicious food, loud laughter, greetings from near and far, birdsong, and wonderful memories of years gone by. take care, Friend, stay safe. our world needs much more of you. irb

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Mar 16, 2021 at 10:34 AM

Posted on: Mar 15, 2021 at 10:52 AM

happy 80th, Bill. so glad you're still with us. i hope your special day is filled with delicious food, loud laughter, birdsong, and warm hugs all around. stay safe, Sir. our world needs much more of you. irb

John E. Irby has a birthday today.
Jun 21, 2020 at 4:33 AM
John E. Irby posted a message.
Sep 19, 2019 at 11:07 AM

hi, Judy. tomorrow, it seems, is your special day of celebration of 78 years of precious life. i'm sure your golf swing is just as pure and strong now as it was all those years ago in Bothell at Wellington Hills and Wayne. i hope all is well with you, and all those you love. take care. john

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Sep 19, 2019 at 11:00 AM
John E. Irby added a comment on Profile.
Sep 19, 2019 at 10:58 AM
John E. Irby has a birthday today.
Jun 21, 2019 at 4:33 AM
John E. Irby has left an In Memory comment for Camie Peterson Grillo.
Mar 09, 2019 at 8:33 AM

I remember most how gentle Camie was our senior year-- her long hair, delicate features, gorgeous smile and soft voice. i'm not surprised at all that she put up a valiant fight against her disease and kept a happy heart all the while. that's what we Bothell, Kenmore, Woodinville, and North Creek grown kids do. this is a sad day for the class of '59 as once more the roll up yonder has been callled and our Cougar's roar has been diminished by one. John Irby 

John E. Irby has a birthday today.
Jun 21, 2018 at 4:33 AM
John E. Irby has left an In Memory comment for Profile.
Mar 13, 2018 at 12:33 PM

Ken was a big guy. i was small.

He was outgoing. i was quiet and shy.

He played football. so did i.

We faced the other teams, big, rough kids, but Ken was all that too.

He loomed like a mountain in our line, 

on offense, creating a path, and on defense, plugging the hole.

He played next to Phil Carter, gone now, and Joe Franza, gone now too.

The weather got cold and our bodies got sore,

but Ken and Frankie Miglore giggled, laughed, and asked for more.

Frankie and Ken are gone now, sad to say.

We were all brothers that autumn day.

and now, Ken, our biggest of brothers is gone.

The world is a much smaller place now, but not for long.

No doubt, there's a young boy, who'll come along soon.

He'll need to be a big one, strong and kind, able to laugh at the moon.

And most of all he'll need to be a happy kid, with a limousine for a grin, to replace our Ken.  

j

 

John E. Irby posted a message. New comment added.
Oct 18, 2017 at 12:11 AM

Posted on: Oct 16, 2017 at 6:05 PM

76 trombones in the grand parade, and all remaining Bothell Cougars salute you on this special day, Wayne. May you enjoy delicious food, cold beverages, loud laughter, and warm hugs from friends and family. irb

John E. Irby posted a message.
Sep 20, 2017 at 11:25 AM

i hope you have the happiest of days, Judy, one filled with sunshine, delicious food, loud laughter, and warm hugs shared all around. you remain one of my all-time favorite co-editors, even though once in awhile i actually tried to help.

John E. Irby has a birthday today. New comment added.
Jun 21, 2017 at 10:08 PM

Posted on: Jun 21, 2017 at 4:33 AM

John E. Irby posted a message.
Oct 16, 2016 at 2:29 PM

Glad you're still with us remaining '59ers, Wayne. We may be dwindling, but we're still a force to be reckoned with. Go Cougars!

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Posted: Dec 17, 2013 at 12:38 AM