I have been researching my family history since I was in high school. I remember being in the back seat of our station wagon, on a long drive to Yellowstone to go on a family camping trip. Everyone else was sleeping and somehow my parents and I got on the topic of our family tree and I started reconstructing the tree on some scrap paper. I spent my money from my allowance and part time jobs on vital records. It was an on and off hobby for many years, but I rediscovered it about 15 years ago – Ancestry.com had changed everything! I have been able to spend a lot more time on genealogy in the past 5 years and have learned how to do it the right way. Since then I’ve taken:
- 3 study groups of Research Like a Pro (one with DNA) from Family Locket (great class!)
- 4 GRIP (Genealogical Institute of Pittsburgh) courses:
- Practical Genetic Genealogy
- Advanced Genetic Evidence
- Ireland and Northern Ireland Genealogical Research
- Genealogical Organization
- BU Certificate program
- Diahan Southard’s DNA Skills Workshop
- Mastering Genealogical Documentation, Mastering Genealogical Citations and NGSQ study groups
I am recently retired from a local school district where I worked as a technology specialist and aide. I love playing soccer, pickleball, tennis, softball and skiing. I am into trying all kinds of extreme sports, at least just to do them once. I’ve been canyoneering, caving, hang gliding, sky diving, rock climbing, paragliding, scuba diving, whitewater kayaking and recently added sandboarding while on a trip to Morocco. I love reading, traveling, learning foreign languages, the USWNT (US Women’s National Soccer team) and anything chocolate. I speak French, Spanish and a little Hindi. I am married, have 3 wonderful adult kids and live in the SF Bay Area.
I’d love to share research! Contact me at adrienne@deadrelativeresearch.com.