Ron Byars, B.D.

Jim Halfaker (his wife is Louisa “Sandy”, YDS 1961) writes, “We live 4 days a week in our Seattle home, and 3 days at our small farm on Whidbey Island. Maintaining both places, mowing, cutting blackberries, helping with flowers, and lots of walking gives me plenty of activity to stay somewhat in shape.

My passion is Arts-Impact. It's a program that infuses elementary and middle school curriculum, math-science-English-history, with many kinds of art. Students learn through words, drama, poetry, clay and drawing— their math concepts for example. Arts-Impact trains the teachers and provides arts mentors during the school year to keep this method and spirit alive.

My role is to help create and implement a development plan to sustain it, since the feds dropped out, resulting in a $350,000 annual deficit. Great adventure, as a volunteer.

YDS emails from Dean Greg Sterling help greatly to feel in touch with YDS. Louisa and I are fully retired. She reads a book a day, her retirement plan fulfilled, and I read about 1 a week. Each day at our age is a blessing.”