By Mary Pannabecker Steiner
What do you remember about kindergarten?
The most memorable (and only memory I have) from kindergarten was the morning I arrived to find that the classroom door was already closed. This obviously meant that I could not go in and maybe even meant that school had been cancelled, so I headed home. While walking away from school, a passing motorist noticed me, rolled down their window, and called me by name. I ran to the nearest hedgerow and hid in the bushes, until the person retrieved me and returned me back to kindergarten. The rest of the day and the rest of the school year have all been forgotten.
Share some of your memories of grade school...middle school at Beaverdam...high school.
Do you remember the time that our 6th grade teacher informed the class that batteries did not have electricity? Of course, I had to set the
record straight. However, that level of talking back to the teacher resulted in a severe and painful ear twisting. It only took a second occurrence for me to learn that you NEVER EVER talk back to a teacher, when I objected to the lesson informing us that the earth was capable of producing its own light, called "earth shine." Wow, did my ear really hurt that time, but never again.
Who was the first girl you danced with in those after-school dances at Beaverdam?
Was I able to dance?
You went to the state track meet as a pole vaulter in our senior year. What do you remember about that? Have any of your kids followed in your track footsteps?
My first competition at the state track meet, during my junior year, was a comedy of mistakes. Everything went wrong from getting lost on the way, arriving late, and then finding out that my "technical advisor," brother Larry, was not allowed to be near the competition. It was a fantastic learning experience that prepared me for my senior year. We arrived early and were equipped with walkie talkies. Communications with my technical advisor, who was seated in the grand stand, went flawlessly.
We discussed and reviewed each jump, making the necessary adjustments to compensate for the swirling winds within the OSU horseshoe stadium. So you tell me, was it preparation, experience, and training that enabled a 2nd place finish or did I get an advantage by saving the energy that would have been required to consult the coaches in the bleachers?
Both my daughter and son have learned to pole vault. Unfortunately, the New York state laws and insurance policies have prevented them from being able to get much practice, so their experience has been quite limited.
What car did you take your driver's test in? Was it the van with the Turtle top?
I took my driver's test in the 1968 Buick. Wow, was that a big boat, almost the same length as the parking space.
You and Darrell Groman claimed to have taped your brother, Larry, while he was talking in his sleep. You said you asked him questions and he answered. Was that true?
And we have audio tape to prove it. Now if we could only find where we put the tapes! If we do, you will have to put the audio up on the
Bluffton Icon.
Actually, you and your brothers were quite creative. Share some of your experiments...for example, the kite flying that was suspected by a neighbor to be a UFO. Tell me the story about how you (or Bill) ended up reeling that one in.
Oh how much fun it was to have creative brothers. The UFO was actually a lightweight plastic bag we got from the dry cleaner, with a set of candles to make it a hot air balloon. It was released to fly free, at night. Of course the wind direction took it directly over a neighbor's
house, who truly believed in UFO's. I am surprised the U.S. government was not summoned to investigate.
How long does it take you each year to help your dad set up his Christmas light display? Did you have a part in the new display across from Harmon Field?
My father is the master mind of the Christmas light displays. During the spring, summer, and fall he gets most of his technical support from my electrical engineer and computer programming brothers. Then at Thanksgiving, anyone who is home visiting gets to help with the set-up and outdoor field testing.
Set-up usually can be done in a few hours. However, debug and testing can vary from a few minutes to several days. I was not involved with the new display across from Harmon Field, but I must say it is an amazing display. I really love to see how much support there has been from so many people in Bluffton, to make Dad's dream come true.
What was your first computer? When did you get it?
My first computer was an Apple IIe, which I bought in the early 1980's.
If you remember this model of computer, everything had to be entered by typing on the keyboard. A few years before I bought my own computer, I was able to use the world's first personal computer, the Xerox Alto. It had a mouse, graphical user interface, and internet connectivity. It is amazing to see how Xerox computer technology has become the standard for the world.
Your family went skiing a lot when you were kids (and as adult kids, too). When and where did you first ski? Do you still ski? What's your favorite place to ski?
I learned to ski in Michigan. One of the places we went to often was an
old landfill outside of Detroit, Pine Knob. The beginner slope was the area where the bulldozers would push the garbage up to the top. The advanced runs were the sides of the bulldozer ramp and the black diamond run was the backside cliff of the garbage dump. I really consider that an effective recycling program.
Since I live in New York, we are able to go to Lake Placid during the
Winter and ski at Whiteface Mountain, the site of the 1980 Winter Olympics. This has become one of my favorite places to ski.
How did you choose Rochester Institute of Tech? Is it true that the
wake-up alarms were not only sound but flashing lights? Or was it
vibrating beds? Am I imagining that? What was it like being in college with deaf students? Did you learn sign language? What was your major?
I chose the photographic engineer program at Rochester Institute of
Technology (RIT) because of my strong interest in photography and in math and science.
RIT also was home of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, which is why I ended up living in a dormitory for the deaf. Yes, some of the alarm clocks and door bells were very interesting, ranging from vibration to strobe lights. When the fire alarm went off, the dorm would light up like a Christmas tree, and you could see it from miles away. There were many false alarms during the night, triggered by students who wanted to see the light display. Oh yes, I did learn basic sign language.
When did you start at Xerox? What all have you done there, in terms of jobs? What are you doing now?
I started working at Xerox in 1978 and have been there ever since. I first started as an engineer making copiers, making copiers, and then making more copies of copiers. But now the work has shifted to making printers. My current work is in the design of image processing algorithms which enable the best possible image quality.
You have three kids...right? Where did you meet your wife? Is
she still training and competing with sled dogs? Do you really have a track in your back yard?
My wife is the sister of a fellow Xerox employee and is a 6th grade school teacher. She was actively involved with a local siberian husky club, which sponsored dog sledding events and has run teams ranging from 2 to 6 dogs. We still own several dogs, however, they have retired from sled racing. My wife continues to be a dog obedience trainer, while she also has become a medic at our community volunteer ambulance and is a volunteer firefighter.
We have a triplet of Triplett kids; two daughters and a son. The oldest
daughter (21) is just starting med school in Pittsburgh. The middle one
(19) is studying theater in New York City, and the youngest (16) will be a senior in high school. He is looking to be a pharmacist, with strong hopes of going to ONU.
How often do you visit Bluffton? What surprises you most when you return?
I get back to Bluffton several times each year and I am always surprised at how vibrant and healthy the community is, as it continues to grow. Unlike many New York towns, Bluffton has a strong community spirit, amazing pride, and the most friendly people I have ever met. I really miss the old buckeye swimming pool, but welcome all the new improvements and businesses.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Will you always live in
Rochester?
In 10 years, I expect to be living in Rochester and still working at Xerox, I hope.
