An organization of orchid societies dedicated to the preservation of orchids
ANOTHER FAREWELL-ONE OF OUR LEADERS AND BEST FRIEND
KAREN ANN MCBRIDE
Karen (Holmes) McBride, age 77, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2022. She lived in Minneapolis from 1971 until 2020, and was born on February 25, 1945 in Fresno, California. She was raised in Des Moines, Iowa by John H. Holmes and Marjorie Holmes (née Miller).
She graduated from St. Mary's College (Mathematics). She owned her actuarial business with two partners for over 35 years (Pension Consultants, Inc.). She lived a full life and enjoyed her friends and hobbies (antiques, majolica, orchids), attending her sons' sporting and extra-curricular events, traveling and adoring her three grandchildren (Molly (18), Brady (16) and Henry (14).
She was a wonderful, loving mother to her surviving children Joseph, M.D. (Omaha, NE), and Scott (Vail, CO). The oldest of four siblings, she is survived by Lynda (Holmes) Zachar (Bend, OR) and John T. Holmes (Jupiter, FL). She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Jan (Holmes) Drees. Karen was an AOS Judge, from the Chicago Judging Center and a wonderful friend to all who knew her. She always worked our MAOC auctions, usually dressed in some fitting costume. God be with you Karen. You are missed.
Another farewell-- THE ORCHIDIST OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENT
Jim Newsome, M.D.
We lost a great friend of the MAOC this year. The Orchidist of the Year award was announced by Jan Yates in Milwaukee at the Fall MAOC. Jim Newsome, M.D. was an accredited judge from Atlanta and a member of the Budget Committee for many years. Jan said in making this announcement, "for our committee meetings, we usually huddled close to the bar or in the hotel lobby right before the business meeting where he handled my tap dancing around the budget with aplomb. He was a thoughtful man who coped with his declining health with great courage, and I respected him immensely." Cheryl Erins says "hewas a hero in my book right up until the end." He loved orchids and he loved people. This was evidenced by the fact that he came to all the MAOC meetings, no matter where, even when his health had deteriorated. He could hardly breathe, but he traveled to our EC meetings and listened intently, even though he had trouble talking. He was a trooper and we will miss him. A big round of applause greated this year's ORCHIDIST OF THE YEAR!
