GCCA Salutes Bob Yeck For Many Years of Community Service
Former GCCA Vice President Bob Yeck passed away March 18, 2016. Bob was a long time Colesville resident. He was a respected and much admired GCCA Board member. He also served as Development Review Chairman for GCCA for many years.
Bob worked tirelessly in his role as Development Review Chair and the many development projects in our area he helped oversee are an ongoing testament to his hard work, diligence, and sound judgment.
Bob was born on December 6, 1920 in LaValle, Wisconsin. He grew up mainly on a farm tending animals, crops, and keeping farm equipment operational. One of his early jobs was a Machinist. Bob served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific during World War II. He remained a reservist in The U.S. Air Force retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He graduated from Reedsburg Wisconsin High School and received a B.S. Agriculture degree from the University of Wisconsin. He began his career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1948 while in Wisconsin. He was later a research director for the USDA at the University of Missouri. While at Missouri he completed his education by being awarded a M.S. in Agricultural Engineering degree and his highest achievement a Doctor of Philosophy. He was promoted to the duties of section chief.
In 1960 Dr. Bob Yeck was transferred to Beltsville Maryland assuming the duties of Branch Chief of farm structures. He retired in 1980 from the USDA as a senior staff scientist. During the next eight years Dr. Yeck, was a visiting professor in the Agricultural Engineering Department at the University of Maryland. He taught courses and supervised the farm plan exchanged program before retiring in 1988.
Dr. Yeck was a professional engineer, a Fellow of American Society of Agricultural Engineers, and a member of the Society of Sigma Xi. He was an elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, Missouri and the Colesville Presbyterian Church. He was a Life member of the Reserve Officers Association and The American Legion.
Dr. Yeck was a Life member of both the University of Missouri and University of Wisconsin Alumni Associations. He enjoyed working outdoors, photography, fishing and boating and in his later years, playing golf with his sons.
Bob Yeck is survived by his wife of seventy-two years Louise, their two sons, William and Alan, daughter-in–law Linda Ann, three grandchildren James, Stephanie and Sara, grandson-in-law Michael, and two great grandchildren Nathaniel and Jeremiah.
Bob Yeck is truly a member of the greatest generation and those who served with him in GCCA admire his grit, stick-to-it attitude, willingness to serve, and his friendly manner.
Bob is an example of how each of us can make our community better by taking the time to get involved.
Thank you Bob, we at GCCA salute you.
Honoring Rosina Mason and Ned Bayley
(left) Rosina Mogensen Mason – 1927-2015; Board Member 40+ years, Area 6
(right) Ned Bayley – 1918-2015; Past President and Board Member 50+ years, Area 5
THEY MADE A DIFFERENCE
Honoring Rosina Mason and Ned Bayley
By Adrienne Lees
This past May, GCCA lost two of our longest serving board members, Rosina Mason and Ned Bayley. Their combined service on the GCCA Board was over 90 years. Ned encouraged me to become involved in GCCA and served as my mentor. Over the years, while driving with Rosina and Ned to and from meetings, each told me their stories and opinions about past GCCA activities. I would like to share with Clarion readers a little of the lives and civic commitment of these two leaders.
Rosina had multiple talents and interests. She was a docent at the Smithsonian Institution, a Girl Scout leader, a gardener, a decorator, a teacher in the after-school program “Hands-On-Science,” a Sunday-school teacher, a seamstress and an involved mother and grandmother. Moving to Colesville in 1971, she soon became active in GCCA delivering “The Clarion” in her neighborhood. She and Ned worked with GCCA to oppose an above-ground water tower, convincing the county to bury the water storage facility underground. They then teamed to have the county build the small Colesville Manor Park on the WSSC site on Notley Road. Rosina wrote and advocated GCCA’s opposition to the ICC while serving on the East County Regional Services Center’s first Citizen’s Advisory Board. Believing that the extension of Shannon Drive to Notley Road would benefit her neighborhood, she worked to help make it happen. When several of GCCA areas on the west side of New Hampshire Avenue requested county trash pick-up, several of us walked door-to-door to obtain the necessary signatures. Rosina, being very practical, posted a sign in her front yard inviting people to stop and sign the petition. She was equally successful in gathering signatures.
Ned loved to write. Throughout his life he wrote many poems and four books. The most noteworthy for our community was his 1997 work, “Colesville ”. Ned, Joyce, and their three children moved to Maryland in 1955 where he worked at the Department of Agriculture’s Beltsville Research Station. He finished out his career as an Acting Assistant Secretary of Agriculture. During our talks, Ned retold stories of local civic engagement. One story was about a group of Colesville civic activists in the 1940’s and 1950’s. At that time, Notley Road was designated as an arterial road, and the group worked very hard to successfully change that designation to a primary residential. But according to Ned’s written account, “The issue that stimulated the origin of our association was the imminent introduction of sewer lines into the community”** [pg 155p “Colesville”]. GCCA was incorporated in 1959, and Ned served as president in 1961-1962 and again in 1986-1987.. He worked with a dedicated and committed GCCA Board. The organization’s testimonies at the Planning Board and County Council, while sometimes successful and other times not, did have a strong influence in shaping and limiting the development of the New Hampshire Ave-Randolph Road intersection.
Ned's vision of our community led him to be a driving force and a founder of the Colesville Strawberry Festival, serving as the first Chair. Rosina was also a founder and served for many years as Chair of the Festival Committee. Together they worked to grow and nurture to success this once annual event, which for over 25 years was held in Colesville. The festival was a community-building event that also produced funds and awareness for C-4’s charitable activities. Sadly, about 3 years ago, the Colesville Strawberry Festival Committee was formally dissolved and the remaining funds were contributed to C-4 and the local Boy Scouts. Ned reacted philosophically to the news. Rosina’s interest in the Strawberry Festival continued. To the last, she hoped that Colesville would be home to the event once again. The event does continue, but in a different form and in a different place. C-4, with the help of Montgomery County has held a Community Strawberry Festival for the past two years at the Good Hope Recreation Center.
In advancing age, Ned and Joyce sold their home in Colesville and moved to Leisure World. After Joyce’s death, Ned relocated to Riderwood. After leaving Colesville, Ned was still “on call” with newer, younger GCCA Presidents contacting him for his sage advice. After his book on the History of Colesville was published, Ned was a featured speaker at a GCCA annual meeting where he gave the area’s history from memory. It was a remarkable talk.
Rosina and Ned made a difference in Colesville and you can too, if you participate. Just call any representative/officer listed in The Clarion and express your interest. Or show up to a GCCA Board meeting to find out what’s happening and pitch-in.