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He has a varied personality, comfortable in both crowds and solitudedepending upon the need
or activity at hand. He is a strong,ambitious person who leans toward perfection in whatever
heundertakes, having a special talent for perceiving the entire spectrumbefore focusing on
details. In dealing with others, he can beconciliatory with their best interests as heart,
as well as forceful,sometimes applying self imposed expectations and limits to them. Residences and events in his life: During his high school years, he worked as a meat cutter at a localgrocery store. a handy occupation throughout life no matter what aperson's career choice is. 4/25/1980 He joined the US Air Force, serving in the Military AirliftCommand. While there, he became the youngest Load Master, then LoadMaster Instructor, in the history of the Air Force. 1981 Charleston, SC, where Todd was based in the USAF and their firstchild was born. He was discharged in 1983 with the rank of Sr AirmanE4, Load Master Instructor. 7/1983 Villa Grove, IL. Upon leaving the service, his in-lawsgraciously offered the family a residence within minutes of Champaignwhere Todd had decided to go to college. 8/1983 Champaign, IL. Todd and his family joined the in-laws intheir move and he enrolled in Parkland College. Their second son wasborn while living there. 5/1988 He graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelorof Science and a major in computer engineering. He was the first of many things in both of his parents' families. Uponhis graduation from college, his Grandmother Van Gundy wrote a poemdetailing those firsts, such as first born child, first grandchild,first great grandchild.....first of all those to go to the Air Force,graduate from college, etc, and ended by saying everyone was proud ofhis achievements and they know he will be the first in his next bigstep. 1988 Boston, Mass. Following graduation, his first job as a computerengineer was with Prime Computer and the family moved again. 1989 Champaign, IL. Todd transferred to Lab Thermics, still workingin computer research and development, where he also worked incollaboration with Harvard University on biomedical equipment. Shortlyafter he became a computer consultant and started his own business. A newspaper reporter/photographer captured Todd at leisure, featuringhis photo on the front page with the following caption: "ToddVanGundy of Champaign tees off next to a tree in full leaf Monday atthe Mattoon Country Club. VanGundy was enjoying the spring weather byplaying a round of golf with his father, Dale, of Mattoon." 8/1994 Morrisville, NC. As a participant of the technology boom,Todd moved his business nearer the Research Triangle Park area, thenjoined IBM where he worked as "swat" coordinator, analyzing computerproblems and assembling teams to resolve them. 5/1996 Apex, NC. Moving farther out into the suburbs, they built anew house in a new subdivision and Todd received a promotion at IBM. |
| Although Todd and Michelle were friends in high school and graduatedin the same class, they never dated until later. The old adage"absence makes the heart grow fonder" must be true, as after Todd leftfor the Air Force they became serious. |