Family Archives - Page 42 of 47 - StoryCorps

John Tull and Lucinda Marker

In 2002, Lucinda Marker and her husband, John Tull, came down with the Bubonic Plague—the same bacterial infection that killed about one-third of Europe’s population in the Middle Ages.

Today, the plague is rare in the U.S., only a handful catch it each year and it’s mostly found in Southwestern states like where Lucinda and John live.

They were bitten by fleas infected with plague near their home in New Mexico, and fell ill while vacationing in New York City.

Originally aired March 22, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Keith Harris and Tim Harris

Tim’s Place, a restaurant in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is named after a young man with Down syndrome, Tim Harris.

Tim calls it “the world’s friendliest restaurant.” He works there six days a week and greets each customer at the door.

At StoryCorps, Tim sat down with his father, Keith, who helped him start the business in 2010.

Originally aired March 15, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

You can read more stories like this one in our book Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work, a collection that celebrate the passion, determination, and courage it takes to pursue the work we feel called to do.

Callings is now available from Penguin Books. Get the book at our neighborhood bookstore, Greenlight Bookstore, or find it at your local bookstore.

Mark Radlinski and Luke Radlinski

Both Mark (left) and Luke (right) Radlinski were lieutenants in the Navy. Luke deployed in 2001 to the Persian Gulf in support of the conflict in Afghanistan, and his brother, Mark, went to Iraq in 2006. But just before Mark left, they had a fight and parted on bad terms.

At StoryCorps they talk about Luke’s email to Mark that helped them move on, and their feelings upon Mark returning home.

Originally aired March 9, 2012, on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday.

Shaun Kaufman and Colleen Collins

Colleen Collins and Shaun Kaufman were both divorced and having a tough time finding work when they started dating in 2002. Eventually, tired of Shaun drinking and getting stoned all day, Colleen came up with the idea that they should start a private investigation agency. (Shaun has a law degree and had trained several PIs in the past.)

At StoryCorps, the couple who married in 2009 discuss their work and how it helped save their relationship.

Originally aired March 8, 2013 on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Rowena Gore-Simmons and Kenya Gore

Rowena Gore-Simmons runs 2 God B The Glory, a non-profit that helps formerly incarcerated women find housing and adjust to life outside the prison system, but in 2001, she was just getting out of prison herself.

At StoryCorps, Rowena sits down with her 16-year-old daughter Kenya, who was 4 years old when her mother was incarcerated, to talk about what the experience was like for both of them.

Originally aired February 22, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Tracy Johnson and Sandra Johnson

North Carolina National Guardsman Tracy Johnson (left) is an Iraq war veteran and an Army widow. She is also believed to be the first gay spouse to lose her partner at war since the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Donna Johnson was killed on Oct. 1, 2012, while on patrol in Khost, Afghanistan. She was 29.

Tracy married her long-time partner, Staff Sergeant Donna Johnson, on Valentine’s Day in 2012. Later that year, Donna was killed by a suicide bomber while serving in Khost, Afghanistan. She was 29 years old.

The Army did not consider Tracy to be Donna’s next of kin, but when Army representatives arrived to inform Donna’s family of her death, Tracy presented their marriage certificate and asked to be part of the military escort that would welcome her wife back to U.S. soil. This request was ultimately granted at the insistence of her mother-in-law, Sandra Johnson (right).

At StoryCorps, Tracy and Sandra talk about finding out that their wife and daughter wasn’t coming home.

Originally aired February 16, 2013, on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday.

Above: Staff Sergeant Donna Johnson. Photo courtesy of U.S. Army Public Affairs Office.

Louis Caplan and Harriet Caplan

caplan2_custom-87ffe9c5ecf368b3a6823c29fa61a58b0b932128-s400-c85Harriet and Louis Caplan’s love story began later in their lives. She was 48 and he was 56. Neither had ever been married before, but suddenly they found themselves together all the time and Louis proposed, so in 1995 they got married.

At StoryCorps, they talk about falling in love and the challenges they now face since Harriet was diagnosed with colon cancer and given a life expectancy of about two years.

Originally aired February 15, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Above: The Caplans at their wedding on May 27, 1995. Photo courtesy of Harriet Caplan.

Bonnie Brown and Myra Brown

Bonnie Brown came to StoryCorps with her 15-year-old daughter, Myra.

Bonnie is intellectually disabled with a low IQ, and for the past 18 years she has worked at the same Wendy’s restaurant outside of Philadelphia.

Here, her daughter asks her about being a mom.

Myra is currently enrolled in gifted and talented classes at her high school. She hopes to attend Cambridge University after she graduates.

Originally aired February 8, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Juana Rincón Espitia y Jessica Rubio

Juana Rincó Espitia habla con su hija, Jessica Rubio, sobre la deportació de su hermano Josué.

Michael Wilmoth and Bryan Wilmoth

Bryan Wilmoth (right) and his seven younger siblings were raised in a strict, religious household. When Bryan’s father found a love letter from a man in his box of things, he drove him into the countryside and dropped him off in the middle of the night with a five dollar bill.

All of the siblings at Bryan and Michael's sister's wedding in June 2007. From left: Jude, Mike, Pam, Bryan, Amy, Curtis (groom), Chris, Luke-Henry and Josh.Over the years, all of Bryan’s siblings either ran away from or were kicked out of their family home. He made efforts to reconnect with them, but many were initially resistant, so it took a long time for their relationships to grow.

At StoryCorps, Bryan and his brother Michael (left) recall how their family grew close.

Click here to watch “A Good Man,” a StoryCorps animation of Bryan and Michael’s conversation.

Originally aired January 25, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Above: The Wilmoth siblings at Bryan and Michael’s sister’s wedding in June 2007. From left: Jude, Mike, Pam, Bryan, Amy, Curtis (groom), Chris, Luke-Henry, and Josh.