Our Board

An AWON Member since 1991, Walt is an AWON First Founder. He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana (think Colts!).

Walt runs the AWON Board and is with us to remember his father, SGT Walter John Linne, KIA 24 Mar 45 near Germersheim on the Rhine, Germany, resting in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Linne Tribute is here.

An AWON Member since 1991 Gloria lives in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Gloria is the Stateside Coordinator for the Netherlands American Cemetery and is with us to remember her father, SSGT Rocco Michael Zuccarella, KIA 8 April 1945 at Werl, Germany, resting at Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Holland. The Zuccarella Tribute is here.

Lorin McCleary
B.S. Indiana University
M.S. University of Pittsburgh
FAA certified Commercial Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor
AWON member since 1993. AWON First Founder, past President and currently Secretary and a Director

I am retired but manage our family investments focused primarily on technology companies.  My prior work experience includes marketing and sales, product management and senior product group management in the computer software industry and principal and vice-president, sales and marketing of a tech startup in Los Angeles which was purchased by a large media company. After that, my wife and I did Retirement #1 to the coast of Washington where we purchased and operated 3 Ocean Spray cranberry farms.  

 In 1991, I became interested GPS technology and developing commercial applications for it.  I founded a company which was among the first in the US to use a GPS receiver coupled to a computer with software to control an aerial camera for the purpose of aerial photography.  I operated that business under contract to Weyerhaeuser, ITT Rayonier and other large timber companies in WA and OR until 2004 when I retired, time #2.  In 2006, my wife retired from her position as the Head Librarian of our city library and we began travelling, full time, throughout the US in our RV.

 In 2007, we came to northern NM to ride the steam train in Chama expecting to spend 3 days and ended up staying for 3 weeks.  We fell in love with the culture and scenery of northern NM and decided to make the area our home.  During that stay, we bought mesa-top view acreage in northern New Mexico.  We returned 6 months later to build our home on the mesa-top where we now live. 

Were it not for the circumstances of WWII, I would be a native New Mexican by birth.  My father, an Army Air Corp officer and pilot, and mother were living in Alamogordo, NM during 1943-44.  My father’s unit, the 487th BG, left Alamogordo for England and the 8th Air Force in March of 1944.  Shortly after that my mother returned to Indiana where I was born.  Were it not for WWII, I would claim New Mexico as my native state. My father, 2LT Lorin David McCleary, Jr., was KIA on 11 May 1944 in the sky over Chateaudun, France while on a bombing mission.

The McCleary Tribute is here.

Paul's Previous Board experience: AWON: Co-chair, 2016 National Conference. Board Member since 2018. Fidelity Bankshares, a public financial institiution, served on the Board of Directors from Aug. 2000 until the bank was sold in January 2007. Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation: Board Member 16 years, Treasurer 16 years. Children’s Healthcare Charity Inc. The Honda Classic Board Member: 13 years, President 8 years, Treasurer 1 year. Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches: Board Member, 10 years, President 1 year. Kiwanis Club of West Palm Beach: Board Member, 8 years, President, 1 year. Kiwanis Club of West Palm Beach Foundation: Board Member, 10 years, President 1 year. Palm Beach Atlantic University Founder and Chairman of Audit Committee since inception - 2010-2019. Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Foundation, Inc. Board Member and Secretary/Treasurer since 2000.

Special Skills: I am a retired CPA with significant financial experience as noted above. I was a partner in a local firm that merged into Ernst and Whinney and eventually became Ernst and Young. I retired after 35 years in the practice of public accounting in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Vision for AWON for next two years: We need to enhance membership communication to all members so we can communicate and educate our members as to activities going on in their areas. In addition, we should encourage meetings among members within geographical areas that would not require extensive travel or put a burden on them due to personal limitations. We should ensure that every member receives a copy of the STAR every quarter.

Paul is Stateside Coordinator for Lorraine American Cemetery. He’s with us to remember his father, PVT Ludolf Bremer, KIA 16 June 44 at Mondorf, Germany, resting at Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France. The Bremer Tribute is here.

Personal: BS, Stetson University. Married for 55 years to Barbara, two daughters, two grandsons, and one
granddaughter. An AWON Member since ___, Paul lives in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida with his wife, Barbara.

Ann founded AWON in 1991, and lives in Moses Lake, WA.

Ann remembers her father, PVT Sydney Worthington Bennett, KIA 19 April 45 at Mongiorgio, Italy, resting at Florence American Cemetery, Florence, Italy. The Bennett Tribute is here.

Judi has been an AWON member since 1991, and Lives in Bremerton, Washington with her husband Al and 2 cats.  GO HAWKS!

Judi worked at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard as a journeyman (woman) electrician and worked on Submarines and various types of surface craft (carriers, hydrofoils and destroyers).  She was an electrical instructor for her shop as well as working with ships personnel.  In the later part of her career she went into the nuclear field and became a nuclear instructor.  She retired in 1996.  Judi has 3 children and one step son and 4 grandchildren.  They all live close by and she is able to enjoy them often.  She enjoys quilting (made the AWON quilt and the AWON flag), gardening, travel and animals (every kind except snakes).

Judi is here to remember her father, Romain Lorenzo Hollis, KIA 15 Sept 44 in Belgium, resting at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Hombourg, Belgium. The Hollis Tribute is here.

An AWON member since 1999, Barry lives in SeaTac, WA with his partner, Tom Brewer.

 Barry worked as an elementary school teacher and librarian for over 30 years. Most recently he has worked as tour guide and shuttle driver for a tour company showing off the beautiful city of Seattle. He also took people to tour the largest building in the world in cubic square feet where Boeing builds the jumbo jets.

His son, Brendan David Paul Barr lives in Seattle. His younger son, James F. Barr-Finch lives in Everett, WA with his wife, Lamanda, and daughter Brielyn.

Barry manages the AWON system of Local Regional Coordinators (LRCs) and is the administrator of the AWON Facebook group, which currently has more than 330 members.

He is with us to remember his father, 2LT David Baird Finch, KIA 13 Nov 1944 on Leyte Island, Philippines. The Finch Tribute is here! Barry also wants to remember his Uncle Corporal John Robert Finch, KIA 6/6/18 in the battle of Belleau Wood, France where he is buried/memorialized at the WWI American Cemetery Aisne-Marne.

Rik brings a BA in Advertising, Penn State ’67, is a decorated Vietnam combat veteran and recovering Intelligence Officer ‘68-’69; writer, teacher, web developer, storyteller, ex pilot and perpetual entrepreneur, serving a second tour on the AWON Board. Concurrently serving on the Board of the Vietnam Veterans of America 218th.

On his return from Vietnam, Rik joined the creative department of Ketchum, MacLeod & Grove in New York City; and an Army Civil Affairs unit in the Bronx. He moved briefly to Marketing Minds, Inc. before moving to CA in ’72 to join Larson/Bateman Advertising, Inc. ~ eventually founding Day One in September, 1976, and a storytelling subsidiary, Story of my Life, in 2007.

He spends much of his time on the AWON Website (since ’95); wrangling the AWON Wreath and Banner program (since ’03), most recently with Co-Chair Jean Rhinehart; is Stateside Coordinator for Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery (since ’03) and has worked on AWON identity, conference, membership and other graphics since ’04.

A daughter, Lindsey lives in Atlanta with her husband, Harrison and our two grands: Zack & Tanner. Outside interests: Golf, Tennis, Digital Imaging, Animation, Tandem Publishing, and the VVA group's Huey.

Rik is with us to remember his father, 1LT John Peirson, KIA 25 Dec 44 on the northern shoulder of the Belgian Bulge, resting at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Hombourg, Belgium. The Peirson Tribute is here.

An AWON Member since 1995, Rik is a proud native of Pittsburgh (think Steelers!), and since 1972 lives in Santa Barbara, CA with his wife, Dianna.

Barbara (Barb) brings a BS in Business Management.  She is a retired IT consultant, having worked and managed projects in several industries.  She is a 5th generation Pennsylvanian and started her IT career in Chicago.  When a job offer came her way from California, she accepted and now resides there, but never forgets her Pennsylvania roots.  

Although retired, she strives to keep up her skills by designing two websites and is now the administrator of both websites. 

She is currently serving on the AWON Board, as well as the Clayton Valley Children’s Center Board and the Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church Board. 

Although she has no children, she is proud of her nieces and nephews who continue to honor their grandfather.

Barb is with us to remember her father, Captain Malcolm L. George, who was KIA 7 June 1944 on Utah Beach.  He rests in The Normandy American Cemetery, St. Laurent, France.  He was awarded the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism in action.  The George Tribute is here. 

We’ll put up all additional Board Bios as they arrive