Barbara McDaniel Geidel

Fall 1977

Full Name Barbara McDaniel Geidel

Did you (or do you still) have a nickname? Just Barb!

Family Walt and I have been married for 23 years and still have a great time together. He is the Town Highway Superintendent and a volunteer firefighter (I’m not sure which takes more time). We have two children Stephanie (21) and Kevin (19). Stephanie is a graduate of SUNY Cortland with a BS in Sport Management and will attend grad school in the fall. She is also a youth and high school soccer referee and coach. Kevin is a sophomore at Eastern Kentucky University in the Fire Science Engineering and Honors Program with a minor in physics. In his spare time he is a volunteer firefighter, certified EMT and lifeguard/water safety instructor.

What do you do for a living?  I am an elementary school library media specialist (Townsend Elementary K-5). I teach 5-7 classes per day in information literacy and literature/story time. I have every one of our 500 students at least once a week and know them all. I stayed home with my children until they started school and then went back to school myself, for my teaching certification. I’m certified in N-6 Elementary, 7-9 English, and School Library Media K-12. I LOVE MY JOB and would do it for free!

Where were you born, where do you live now?  I was born in Cornwall, NY and grew up in New Windsor. I moved to Margaretville, NY at age 14 and graduated from high school there. I have lived in Walton, NY (Delaware County in the Western Catskills) for the past 24 years.

What are your hobbies? Reading, walking, exercise, watching sports (I LOVE the NY Mets and all high school sports) and spying on my kids Instant Messenger stuff. :-)

Favorite Food Pizza, liver and peanut butter.

Favorite Movie The original Parent Trap and The Shawshank Redemption.

Favorite City Myrtle Beach, SC

Favorite Book or Author  I read so many books, both adult and children’s. My favorite book is actually a children’s book: My Side of the Mountain  by Jean Craighead George. It is an adventure/survival story set in a town about 15 miles away from us. My students love it, too!

Favorite Quote Relax!

Pledge Class Fall 1977

Big Sister and Big Brother Michelle Marconi and Tom Hart.

Number of Pledge Sisters I believe there were 12: Donna Scalise, Shelly Clark, Debbie Durgey, Debbie Wigand, Juli Kalet, Margie Mulhern, Lisa Ryder, Nancy Seaman, Sue Reasoner, Bunny McElhearn, Maria Devito and myself.

Office(s) Held None, I was actually quiet and shy.

Who did you take to your first AXO formal? I was supposed to go with the bouncer from Dave's Bar. I can't remember his name, he went to St. Lawrence, but he had to work at the last minute. How sad is that?

If you could relive one moment as an active member of AXO, what would it be?  I was the only AXO member living in Smith Hall, so I was easy to get to for a "capture". They kept us (I can’t remember who the other member was) out all night! I remember walking up the icy driveway, falling flat on my face, and having a fat lip for days. Another great memory was the Morning Parties at the Hoot Owl, staggering back across town in our bathrobes. Remember the drinking age was only 18 then! :-)

What did you learn during pledging/orientation that has stayed with you for the rest of your life? You can be friends with ALL kinds of people. Always look for the best in them, and try to ignore the petty stuff. I still have a picture on the shelf above my kitchen sink with Bunny, Nancy, Margie, long lost friend Sheila Jennings and me.

What advice would you give to a woman who is thinking of pledging?  If you want to do something, take the chance and DO IT!  I didn’t know ANYONE else that was pledging, but I walked up to a member the first week and said, “How do I join?”  I made some wonderful friends and had some memorable times (and some that I somehow can’t quite remember….).

What advice would you give to an active member of AXO (still at school)? Have fun, but remember why you are in college.  Get your degree. Take advantage of it now (especially if your parents are paying for it!). Also, don’t lose touch with your friends. It’s what I regret most…