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The Story Begins
Frederic Judd Puhan (hereinafter referred to as "G" or "Grandpa") was born in Teaneck, NJ to Alfred and Fairfax Judd Puhan. Dad was fluent in German, and this carried him through his career. Two older sisters (Ursula and Fairfax) were born in New York before the family moved to the suburbs. -
Vienna, Austria
When he was about 18 months old, the family moved to Vienna, Austria. His dad was instrumental in the formulation of the Austrian state treaty following WWII. They lived in two houses, on ChimaniStrasse and Gustav Tschermak Gasse (shown in 2019 photo). -
He Receives His Scar
Grandpa took a spill while riding a scooter, and the gash required three stitches. The scar remained. Mia saw it and said he had a "crack" in his face! -
He Learns to Ride a Bike
Not a big deal, you say. Maybe not now, but when Grandpa got a little older, riding his bike was freedom - he could come and go wherever he pleased! -
Bethesda, MD
The family returned stateside, and settled into 7211 Pyle Road, Bethesda, Maryland. His dad was at his heyday being a handyman, adding a bedroom and bathroom to the upper level, building a brick wall along the side of the house, and lots of gardening and tinkering. Walt Whitman High School was being built behind the house. But woods separated it from the ball fields and elementary school playground. -
Bangkok, Thailand
His father is assigned to Thailand as Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM); second in command to the Ambassador. He attended the International School of Bangkok (ISB). He was a wild child: he smoked, and took his first alcoholic drink when he was ten years old (two bourbon and cokes at a "red light district" bar). He rented a 50cc motorcycle one day and drove all around the city. -
He Sees a Dalí
While waiting for a friend, whose name is forgotten, he was sitting in his friend's family living room and saw a coffee table book with artwork by Salvador Dalí. Zounds! His whole outlook on art changed - no longer was art about long-dead people and baskets of fruit!! -
JFK Is Assassinated
Grandpa was playing Little League Baseball (on the team that would win the "World Series") when it was announced that the president had been killed. It was his first exposure to a world that wasn't a safe place. -
McLean, Virginia
The family lived in two houses. First was a rental, at 6701 Hazel Lane. He attended Longfellow Junior High. Then they moved to 1046 Clover Drive, where he graduated from Langley High School. He was a "freak" those years. Marijuana became his daily friend. He hung with the "hippies" and avoided the jocks. -
He Buys His First Guitar
His parents made the kids take piano. After eight years, he grew tired of having to go to the basement to practice. Rick Johnson, who lived across the street, had a Sear Kay acoustic guitar that he never played, so Grandpa bought it from him for $10. He taught himself to play using songbooks with guitar chord charts. The neck was warped (or at least out of alignment), so it toughened his fingers and gave him hard calluses. (Photo NOT of the actual guitar). -
Auto Accident = Broken Back
Riding shotgun in Gary's (last name forgotten) car during a downpour, the car hydroplaned off the road at about 45mph and hit a tree . Thank God he was wearing a seat belt! Rick Johnson was in the back seat, and the force of his body hitting the seat back caused the seat to slam forward, the compression of the seat belt plus the whiplash caused him to suffer a compression fracture in his lower spine. He spent six weeks during July-August wearing a body cast. Ugh! Back problems... -
His First Car
He bought a 1961 Mini Cooper for $300 from Robert Schmalz. It was a gas! He named it "Half Tab" (half the size, all the fun). It was solid red, and already had rust spots in the floorboard. It was cranky, and frequently had to be jump-started. (The picture is NOT of that car). -
Man Walks On The Moon
Grandpa watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon at his girlfriend's house. America had achieved the impossible! Watch -
Budapest, Hungary
Dad was appointed Ambassador to Hungary. G stayed stateside to finish high school. He got a "dream job" delivering flowers, until the draft lottery. His was #72. As the Vietnam War was ablaze and he didn't think he looked good in Army green, he felt he needed a way to become relevant. A confused 17 year-old, he decided to visit the folks in Europe. Getting admitted to the U of Md. extension branch in Munich allowed him to get a student deferment, and he stayed out of the war. -
University of Maryland, Munich Campus
Perhaps the happiest years of Grandpa's life. Dad was a hotshot and Grandpa received the benefit. He traveled, had a girlfriend (who he would later marry), drank German beer with abandon, and smoked lots of hashish, which was dirt cheap. He attended many concerts and saw bands like Santana, Ten Years After, Frank Zappa, and more. -
Grandpa Meets Grandma
Sitting outside the dorm, having just moved in, a pretty girl came up to Grandpa and said, "I know you." "Impossible," Grandpa replied. "I just got here." It turns out she had seen him earlier in the summer when he had visited the school to apply for entrance. She had remembered Grandpa from then. They got engaged not long after. -
Summer Traveling Europe
Friend Mike Allen had a VW microbus that he had converted into a camper. Along with two of his stateside friends, they traveled western Europe, sleeping in the van, in hostels, and even under the Eiffel Tower! They were robbed by bandits in Morocco (nothing of great value was taken, but only a handful of music cassettes remained). They traveled as far north as Copenhagen, and as far south as Fez, Morocco. Mike painted "II-S" (student deferment) on the front spare tire cover! -
Cardinal Mindszenty Is Allowed to Leave
Imprisoned in the U. S. Embassy by the Hungarians since 1956, Joszef Cardinal Mindszenty is allowed to leave the country. The entire square, Szabadság tér (where the chancery is located) was blocked off so no Hungarians could see his exit. Somehow, a French photographer got a photo of his dad ushering Mindszenty into the waiting car. -
End of The Dream - Return to USA
U of Md. Munich was only two years. Grandpa had to complete his degree, so he and Mary came stateside. They rented an apartment at 6810 Highview Terrace #303. What an armpit. They took turns working so they could get in-state tuition. They both worked at Spencer Gifts. Grandpa got his first new car, a 1972 Chevy Vega GT (like pictured). -
Grandpa and Grandma Wed
Mary Williams and Grandpa tied the knot at St. Dominic's Catholic Church in downtown Washington, DC. Mary was 45 minutes late! -
Grandpa's First Career
Having graduated from U of Md., but without a plan or prospects for the future, Grandpa took a job working for a local men's clothing chain, Wilson's Men's Stores. He rose to Assistant Manager, then finally became manager of his own store. Retail wasn't what he went to college for, but he didn't have any prospects, and the economy was tanking at the time. -
They Buy a Home
Well, it was a condo. Having gotten tired of paying rent, and driving back and forth to Reston every week, Grandpa and Mary bought a condo in Reston at 2054 Royal Fern Court 12B. Grandpa was to live there until 2004. -
Grandpa Loses His Job
The consequences of drinking are beginning to arrive. Eight years at Wilson's Men's Stores come to an end. Drinking on the job was the cause. Ironically, the day he was let go, he had not been drinking. -
Lexi Is Born
Just when Mary and Grandpa thought they'd never have kids, Mary got pregnant. And Alexandra Puhan was born healthy. Her name was a choice between Mercedes, Tiffany and Alexandra. The toss of a pencil was the deciding factor. No middle name, as a four-syllable first name was enough, they thought. -
Major Career Switch
After bouncing around a couple more men's stores (Brooks Brothers among them), Grandpa landed a job as a Customer Service Rep for Western Union Electronic Mail, Inc. This was his entry into the world of hi-tech. Shortly after, he became a computer programmer. At last, he felt at home, and couldn't believe people would actually pay him to do this! -
Grandpa Breaks His Elbow
At Lexi's 4th birthday party, which was held at the Reston Roller Skating Rink, G took a spill just before the party was over. He "straight-armed" the floor and shattered his elbow. He needed surgery and had two steel screws inserted into his elbow. Thanks to some great (but hard) physical therapy, he was able to recover about 98% range of motion. But it did stop his guitar playing "career." One day, after leaving PT, he heard on the radio that the Challenger Shuttle had exploded. -
The Marriage Ends
After a drunken altercation over Fourth of July parking, Mary has had enough of G's drinking. She and Lexi leave and move in with her parents. G take it as license to drink like never before. This began the downward spiral that would ultimately land G in treatment. -
Sobriety!
Having reached his bottom, filled with despair and fear, Grandpa finds himself landing in CATS (Comprehensive Addiction Treatment Services) for chronic alcoholism. After being granted a 21-day stay, he walks out in the August sun and has never touched alcohol or drugs since. Grandpa became a volunteer at CATS and did so for 18 years. -
Starts Running
Grandpa won a 6-month membership in a health club and began working out. He'd run 20 to 60 minutes on a treadmill before hitting the weights. His physical health improved dramatically. But weight training while traveling was impractical while running was just needing to pack shorts and running shoes. Running became a passion. -
First 5K
The health club where Grandpa was a member held a "block party," which, if you ran the associated 5K, was free to attend. Grandpa ran his first of which would become many 5K -
Grandpa Is Introduced to Pho
While working at Deltek, G finally gives in to the invitation to join others for a pho lunch. What's pho, he asks? Vietnamese beef noodle soup, he is told. And so began a lifetime love of this hearty, aromatic, savory soup! -
Divorce
After delaying for over five years, Grandpa and Mary officially divorce. It's mostly amicable at this time, but both parties agree it's the right thing to do. -
First Ten-Miler
Encouraged by others, Grandpa decides to run the Army Ten Miler. It was too late to register, so he bought an entry off Craigslist and ran as a "bandit." He received the finisher's coin, but not the official recognition. He would continue running the ATM every year until 2011, except for the one cancelled in 2001 due to the 9/11 attack.
Army Ten Miler
Athlinks.com -
A New Home
After having lived in the condo for 27 years, it was time to upgrade. Grandpa bought a townhouse at 1360 Heritage Oak Way in north Reston. An end unit with lots of windows, backing to a wooded view. -
Ten Year Anniversary
Grandpa celebrates ten years without drinking at the CATS meeting. Lexi gives him his ten year chip. (The meeting was on a Saturday; the actual anniversary date was the Wednesday before). -
9/11 - The Day Everything Changed
Islamic suicide terrorists fly airplanes into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, DC and into a field in Shanksville, PA. Grandpa was driving to a business meeting when his wife called with the news. “We’re under attack,” he said. Truer words never spoken! -
Grandpa Meets Sherry
Following an A.A. meeting at Hunter's Woods, Grandpa notices this pretty woman walking away, looking somewhat downcast. He approaches her and asks her what was wrong. This was the beginning of their relationship; she had just broken up with her boyfriend. -
Marriage #2
Sherry and Grandpa were wed at the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA. The ceremony was held in a pavilion out in the lake. In attendance were her three kids, Lexi, their A.A. sponsors, Grandpa's oldest sister and brother-in-law, and friends of Sherry's -
New Home
Grandpa buys a single-family home at 20761 Riverbirch Place in Potomac Falls. It's the American Dream come true: 4 (5 if you count the room downstairs with a walk-in closet) bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, two-car garage, 1/4 acre in a typical "bedroom community." -
Grandpa Receives His MBA
Twenty-one years after he earned his Bachelor's Degree, Grandpa went back to school (entirely online) and earned a Masters of Business Administration degree in Information Technology Management. -
His Second - And Best of Nine - Marathon
Grandpa runs the Marine Corps Marathon in his Personal Best time of 4:32:56. He had turned 55 only ten days earlier. -
Personal Disaster!
Sherry "flips out." She takes up with a guy, Mike B., and leaves the marriage. Professional consultation suggests she was BPD (Borderline Personality Disordered). -
Divorce #2
A rough seven months with no contact (other than through lawyers), the divorce is granted. Grandpa is single again. -
He Moves Again. This Time to Ashburn, VA
The house was too large and too expensive for just one person, although it was a fabulous home. Grandpa puts it on the market and moves to Ashburn. He had recently accepted a job with Radiant Logic. He wasn't sure if it was going to work out, so an apartment seemed the best bet. It was at The Ashborough, a 2BR, 2BA ground floor unit with a garage. -
He Joins a Church And Is Baptized
Invited to Easter services by Donna and Nick Lutkins in 2010, Grandpa becomes attracted to Riverside Presbyterian Church. Pastor Brian Clark baptizes him. He participates in a men's small group Friday mornings, where they study and fellowship. -
He Becomes "Grandpa"
Mia Isabella Fairfax Leal is born in Reston Hospital. -
He Buys Another Condo
Life goes in circles. His first non-leased home was a condo. Rent kept increasing, so he found a less expensive dwelling that he could own, a condominium at 45061 Brae Terrace #204. It was an apartment above its own garage (which was spacious, and one reason he bought it). However, the condo fee was horrendously high, and the service it paid for lacking. -
Invested As A Knight of the Order of Salvador
The Dalí Museum bestows a chivalric Knight of the Order on Grandpa. -
News About Sherry
In California for the annual sales kick-off meeting, Grandpa gets a call from Sherry's son Jaron, who tells him she passed away. The story had ended, now the book is closed. Not many details are known. After she left the marriage, she drifted, was arrested several times, and likely died broken, drunk and homeless. -
Grandpa Becomes a Church Elder
Proving that God has a sense of humor, Grandpa is nominated and elected to a three-year term as Elder in Riverside Presbyterian Church. In layman's terms, this is like being elected to a corporate board of directorys. -
Guitar Playing Resumes
After 30+ years, the worship band at church inspired Grandpa to pick up the guitar again. He went on a spree, buying electric guitars, because he'd never played one before. In a short period of time, he accumulated 13 guitars: Gibsons (Les Pauls and SGs) and Fenders (Telecasters and Stratocasters). Some he bought just for their "collectibility." -
25 Years Sober
Life has been good. Some hard and rough spots, but then, that's what life is about. Thanks to A. A., Grandpa hasn't had to deal with life by drinking for the past 25 years. He is grateful to God, to the program and the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. -
Another Home. The Last One?
Having tired of the condo (frozen pipes, fire in another building, horrible maintenance), Grandpa sells it and buys a townhouse at 43284 Clifton Terrace. It's a one-floor, three bedroom, two bathroom home. Wood flooring, smart appliances, it's great! -
A Photo Exhibition & A Sold Photo
Grandpa exhibits some of his best photographs at Ridgetop Coffee & Tea and actually sells a photograph! -
Grandpa's First Public Guitar Performance
Grandpa plays three services at Riverside Presbyterian Church. This is the first time he has ever performed in public! -
Grandpa Starts Guitar Lessons
Being self-taught, Grandpa never took guitar lessons. He studied piano as a child and music theory in college, but never put it all together. His instructor is changing that. -
The Dalí Museum "Elevates" Grandpa
Promoted from Knight of the Order to Knight Commander of the Order! -
Grandpa Buys A Bass Guitar. Then Another.
In a move harkening back to his high school days, Grandpa buys a bass guitar. Then another. His rationale is that the church band has two guitar players, but no bass player. He finds playing the bass quite fun! -
Here He Is
It's 2019. he's living in Ashburn, still working for Radiant Logic (and =PR= running), traveling, photographing, enjoying Dalí, eating pho and playing guitar. If you made it this far in Grandpa's biography timeline, please note that many of the images are not his or of him, but have been used to add flavor to the display. -
Old Age Hits
Grandpa was diagnosed with Type-2 Diabetes in January of 2019. This meant that a better approach to diet and exercise was needed in order to stay active and healthy. Six months later, the diagnosis was reduced to "pre-diabetic." But now, medications and daily checks are needed to keep thing under control. -
Grandpa Visits His 50th State
As he grew older, one of Grandpa's goals in life was to visit every state in the USA. He fulfilled that goal in June by cruising to Alaska. -
Memory Trip to Austria
Grandpa had the opportunity to take a week-long "walking trip" to the city of his youth, Vienna, Austria. Camera in hand, he was able to explore the city like never before. He saw the park where he played as a child, photographed the home he lived in, and saw sights he had seen during his college days, as well as visit museums and locations he had never experienced before. -
A New Year, A New Decade
Some argue that the new decade won't occur until the end of the year, but Grandpa prefers to list 2020 as a new year and a new decade. Here it is, and so is Grandpa. He ran a 5K on New Year's Day to celebrate! -
COVID-19 Pandemic
Arriving back from a 10 day cruise, the self-quarantines begin, and for months, the world is shaken by a new coronavirus named COVID-19. Read the history here. -
An AMG Upgrade
Having searched the web occasionally for a "unicorn" automobile, Grandpa finally located a one year-old 2020 Mercedes-AMG E53 at a dealership in Pennsylvania. After an email exchange, he decided to take a day trip on a beautiful, sun-drenched day to see it in person. Yep. Grandpa drove it home that day! -
Retirement Looms!
Three years after the world was impacted by COVID, Grandpa decided it was time to retire from the workforce. The pandemic is over (officially, at least), but that had little to no impact on the decision. Eyeing his 72nd birthday, the plan that was set in motion was about to come to fruition.
