

Steven
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Leslie
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Eric
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Eric
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Jada Stevie
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Bill and Jada
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Jada Stevie
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William Penn 1963
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Bonnie Veazey
aka Bonnie
After graduating from William Penn H.S., I went to work for The News-Journal Company. I worked there for almost 5½ years
earning three promotions. The last promotion landed me in the National Advertising Department. While at The News-Journal,
I started dating Bill Catts, a 1965 W.P. graduate. Bill and I were married August 20, 1966. I left The News-Journal in April
of 1969, due to being pregnant with our first child. Our son, Steven, was born 7/7/69 and our daughter, Leslie, was born 2/18/71.
I was a stay at home mom for many years. Bill and I lived in New Castle until 1978 when we moved to the Middletown area.
I returned to work part-time as a teller for Brooks Armored Cars. Wanting full-time work I eventually left Brooks and was a
teller for Chryco Credit Union. I stopped working due to losing both my parents to cancer. After a few years, I returned to
work in the medical field and absolutely loved it. I worked for two doctors, Dr. Quan Nguyen and Dr. Jay Weisberg for several
years. I stopped working for good a few years ago. I have been trying to get Bill to retire and he keeps telling me just a couple
more years. As you will now read, it will be evident that Bill and I were 'sports junkies', especially wrestling!
Leslie played softball from the age of 9. She attended Padua Academy for high school where she was a member of The National Honor
Society and also played varsity softball (pitcher). After graduating from Padua, Leslie attended James Madison University and
graduated with a BS in Anthropology. Leslie now works for Connections CSP Inc. where she is a Director of Services for Persons
with Cognitive Disabilities. Leslie has blessed Bill and me with a grandson, Eric Christopher, now 19 years old. She also gave
us a granddaughter, Jada Stevie, who is 2½ years old.
Our grandson, Eric, was a varsity wrestler for St. Georges Technical High School. In his senior year, Eric had 41 wins, 9 loses,
was a Blue Hen Conference Champion Flights A and B and placed 4th at the State Finals in the 220 lb weight class. Eric continues
to lift and wrestle in tournaments. As for Jada, I'm sure she too, will eventually play sports.
Steven played baseball starting at the age of 7. He attended Salesianum High School where he was a member of The National Honor
Society and was a varsity wrestler. After graduating from Salesianum, Steven attended James Madison University and graduated with a
BA in Finance. After college, Steven started a small business, Worldwide Incorporators, Inc., but his passion for wrestling led him
to a position at Mt. Pleasant High School as a wrestling coach. From there, A. I. DuPont High School hired him as their wrestling
coach. In 2004, Steven was named Coach of the Year by the state of Delaware while at A. I. In 2005, Steven relocated to Greenville,
North Carolina. Again, he was hired as a wrestling coach for J. H. Rose High School. He worked every day as a substitute teacher
for children with disabilities (there was a hiring freeze on in Greenville). Steven also started a wrestling club, the Greenville
Wrestling Club, for kids from the ages of 4 thru high school. In 2009, Steven and his co-coach were named Co-Coaches of the Year
by the state of North Carolina. In 2010, Steven decided it was time to come home to be with family. He also wanted to help our
grandson, Eric, reach his goals, his last two years in wrestling. So, May 1, 2010, our son was back in Delaware. I took video of
Steven working out with Eric that summer.
Bill and I were blessed. We had an almost perfect life. Bill's career in Information Technology has spanned over 45 years.
We planned for our future, but never planned for what was about to happen. Our son, Steven, was tragically killed in a car
accident 10/7/2010. The past 3 years have been extremely difficult. There isn't a day that goes by that we don't think about
Steven. The people from North Caroline stay in contact with us. They have named a wrestling tournament in Steve's memory, the
Steve Catts Memorial Tournament. Bill and I, along with Eric, went down to the tournament in 2012, where Eric was allowed to
wrestle. We met Steve's friends, wrestlers of all ages, coaches and refs. It was a weekend full of so many mixed emotions.
So, If you see me with a smile on my face, you'll know that I am forever grateful for what I HAVE and for what I HAD, but if you see
a tear in my eye you'll know that I am thinking about my son.
Forever your classmate and friend,
Bonnie
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