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Timeline
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DATE
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AGE
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EVENT
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1919
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0
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Born July 11, Belfast Ireland
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1921
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2
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April 26, Sister Rita Dawson born
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1925
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6
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Immigrated to USA on SS Cedric, arrived in New York on Feb 25
Settled in Philadelphia, PA
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1925/6
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6
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S. Weir Elementary School
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1926
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7
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St. Peter’s Choir School for Boys (3d grade – 8th)
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1931
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12
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Shaw Jr. High – where he learned how to play chess
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1934
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15
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West Philadelphia High School (took trolley to school)
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1937
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18
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Attended University of Pennsylvania, Phila., PA
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1941
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22
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Graduated from U/Penn, Wharton School of Economics
Major: World Trade
Worked at Tradesman’s National Bank
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1942
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23
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Joined U.S. Navy
Boot Camp in Great Lakes, Illinois; wanted Sub duty, couldn’t get it because of a bad back; offered to go into Bomb Demolition... trained at American University, Washington D.C. Spent 13 months at the U.S. Naval Base at Panama. Spent 1 year in London & Dartmouth; also North Devon, England, where he got commissioned. Went to Scotland to board the USS Nevada
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1944
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25
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D-Day, USS Nevada, off Normandy coast (Utah beach)(stayed on ship while it shelled the coast)
then sailed to Southern France
then Norfolk, VA for repairs
then Hawaii, Okinawa, Iwo Jima, South China Sea, Hawaii again, and San Diego for repairs.
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1946
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27
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Discharged at San Diego as Lieutenant, and took train to Philly
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27
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Worked for U.S. Rubber Company collecting bad debts
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1947
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27
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Met Mary Griest at Eleanor & Eddie Wallace’s wedding
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1948
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29
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Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, World Trade Dept. Manager
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1949
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30
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May 28, married Mary Katherine Griest
Sang with the Mendelssohn Club in a church on South Broad Street
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1953
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33
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Son John born
Left Mendelssohn Club to join choir of St. Asaph’s Church in Bala Cynwood
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1954
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35
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Son Todd born
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1956
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36
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Daughter Elizabeth born
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1957
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38
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Joined the Committee for National Trade Policy (a private organization, not government), promoting liberal trade policies.
Moved to Washington, DC
Began attending St. John’s Episcopal Church, Norwood Parish
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1958
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40
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Father dies of a stroke
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1960
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41
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Joined Foreign Service
Stationed in London, England
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1965
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46
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Stationed in Istanbul, Turkey
alternate choice: Melbourne, Australia
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1968
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49
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Returned to Washington, DC, left the Foreign Service, joined Civil Service, Commerce Dept., doing market research
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1976
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57
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Mother dies, April, age 89, of a heart attack
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1982
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63
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Retirement from Commerce Dept. December 31
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1986
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67
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Wildwood Citizens Association President
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1996
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76
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Becomes a Grandfather! Lauren Dawson Staehle is born.
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1998
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79
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Accident falling down stairs, spends Christmas at Suburban Hospital;
complications eventually cause him to lose the use of his left arm
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1999
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79
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Moves to Asbury Methodist Village
50th Wedding Anniversary. Big celebration at Normandie Farm
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80
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Turns 80!
Has stroke Thanksgiving Day, minor one one week later
Spends Christmas in hospital again
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2000
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81
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Moves to Assisted Care at Asbury
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2001
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82
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In hospital w/pneumonia
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2002
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82
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Three separate hospital stays for congestive heart failure, lung treatments, and pneumonia.
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 William Dawson passed away June 24, 2002 at Shady Grove Hospital, Gaithersburg, Maryland. He was 82.
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