Contributing Writer

Walking into Jim and Ellen Steinbach's house, a first

time visitor might picture them as a retired couple who has built

a cozy and welcoming home. You would note the profusion of

family pictures and assume that the people occupying the home had

a warm relationship with their children. You would see a

beautiful garden that showed obvious signs of care and assume someone

enjoyed working in the garden. You would see a golf cart and clubs

in the garage and know at least one occupant enjoyed golf.

While most of the observations and impressions would be

correct, one thing the casual observer couldn't know is that there is

nothing retired about either of the Steinbachs.

There are those in the community who make a big

difference unobtrusively. They may be involved in their church,

teaching classes, visiting those who are unable to attend church or

helping in the church office. They may be active in the political arena,

working to elect people who they feel would be good for the

community or working with those in office regarding problems. There

are some who take on the challenge of helping the youth through

organized sports. Some take on the challenge of visiting

nursing homes or working to support various charities.

Jim and Ellen Steinbach have made their mark in all of

these arenas.

Both are active in their church, The Catholic Church of

St. Gabriel. Ellen is a Lector, a Eucharist Minister and works on

the telephone ministry. She, also with Jim, sorts, labels and shelves

the church library.

Jim sings tenor in the choir and is a Eucharist Minister with

specific focus on the ministry to those home bound, in nursing homes

or assisted-care facilities. Jim also facilitates adult religious

education classes. He is developing a program to capture the history

of the parish of St. Gabriel. Jim's plan is to write the annual

history and then, down the road, the writing of a 10- or 20-year history

will be much easier to accomplish.

Jim is well-known to most of the elected officials in the

county. He regularly attends City Council and County Commission

meetings. He frequently drops a note or makes a call to inform

various community leaders of potential problems or to let them know

his feelings on a subject. He is respectful and promotes his

views not for personal gain, but from a genuine concern for the

community and the individuals who make up the community. He tries

to keep things "in perspective" and tackles problems with "some

moderation." Ellen acts as "editor" and "devil's advocate" in his

writing endeavors.

The Steinbachs are registered Republicans, but in fact they

can best be described as Independent as they freely voice

Democratic views. Like many others, "vote for the person, not the party."

Retired from the Army and government service, Jim recently

expanded his active interests into local politics when he was

asked by Vivian Conduff and Carol Fritz to help on their political

campaigns. He also worked on Greg Dunn's successful

Republican campaign for County Commissioner. Not being a

"dyed-in-wool" Republican earned him a lot of good-natured ribbing

which he says he took well. On election night the Dunn campaign

presented Jim with a certificate deeming him a "100 percent

Certifiable Republican."

Community activism is important to both, but family and

relaxation time are also extremely important. Jim is an avid golfer,

ignoring the handicap of his artificial hip, playing regularly

with friends Bill Nigro, Greg Dunn, Mike Riley and Bill Alsmeyer.

"I go out there to have a good time," Jim said. "If I hit the

high 90s it's okay. I'm a little blue in the 100s and an occasional

high 80s score really pleases me."

Friend Bill Nigro commented on Jim's golfing prowess

saying, "During the last seven years I have had the pleasure of

playing golf with Jim on a weekly basis. My children will be

eternally grateful for Jim's weekly contribution to their educational fund."

Ellen enjoys yard work, calling the yard "her palette."

Jim proudly pointed out the improvements she has made to the

property, expanding the yard back to the property line, adding pine

islands, planting bushes and various color pots throughout the area.

"We also feed the wildlife with bird feeders and remark on

the number of deer now munching out and enjoying nearby

shrubs," Ellen said.

Ellen is an avid reader of mystery and suspense novels and

likes to knit. She also likes to paint and would someday like to take

some art lessons. She also has volunteered at the Peachtree City

Library for a number of years.

Both have been members of Club Peachtree Fitness Center

for the past five years. They "try to work out at least twice a week

if possible." Health is important to both of the Steinbachs and

they believe in taking care of themselves and trying to eat right.

Jim said, "With the grace of God and with good health,

we would like to continue to travel and to make a contribution to

St. Gabriel, Peachtree City and Fayette County."

"I think you need to be active to keep young. I think you have to

be willing to be active, too."

Ellen quipped, "When I go, I want to go alive, not dead

already."

Health became a higher priority for both when Jim had a

series of minor strokes in November 1995 while working as a

policy officer for Headquarters FORSCOM at Fort

McPherson. Jim's doctor told him it was time to retire, 37 years of service

was enough.

"The strokes were a shock, but it was the best thing that

could have happened to me in some ways," Jim said.

He says he slowed down, noting, "I really wouldn't

have stopped working. I was staying late, getting in early and

without the strokes I would have kept on."

Jim's "slow mode" is faster than most people's fast mode.

He is known for getting involved, for his philosophy of "doing the

best you can do if you're going to take on a project." The distinction

for Jim seems to be that he was "working" prior to the strokes, and

now he is "retired."

"My parents gave me my personal philosophy," Jim noted.

"All people have possibilities to be a good listener, to be interested

in others. You can't judge a book by its cover. From my years in

the military I learned that if you're involved with anything,

you should participate to the best of your ability. Don't stand on

the sidelines carping about why you like or don't like it adds

nothing."

Since the strokes, Jim has continued to work on an

occasional basis for friend Bill Nigro, doing some technical typing. He

volunteered at the Olympics as a security guard. He is an avid

Internet user, taking advantage of e-mail to keep in touch with friends

he made at the Olympics, in the military and while on assignment

to NATO. He uses the Internet as a tool, also, to research

information and lights up when talking about the imminent purchase of a

new computer and scanner.

The Steinbachs "love to travel." They recently returned from a

12-day visit to Ireland and have traveled to New Zealand on a

number of occasions together and separately to visit daughter,

Therese and her family. They also welcome visits to and from their

other children living in the Northeast and Marietta, Ga.

When discussing their lives Ellen and Jim are very upbeat.

"I look back on my life and feel I am fulfilling my potential

and anticipate continuing to do so," Ellen said. "I don't have any

regrets; well, other than minor things like I wish we had bricked

the entire house. I did the best I could do at the time I was doing it.

Life continues to offer new and different challenges."

Jim stated, "I have no regrets. My 28 years of active

military service was a great experience and I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

Later he noted, "If I had one wish for people, it would be

that they had time to just stop and appreciate what they have."

It is apparent that Jim and Ellen Steinbach have taken time to

stop and appreciate what they have. But they take it one step further

they work to keep what they appreciate and to make it better.

The Steinbach "merger"

Ellen was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1933, the

youngest of three children. She attended Catholic schools, graduating

in 1950. Ellen's mother died shortly after her graduation from

high school, profoundly changing the direction of Ellen's life.

College was no longer even a remote option. She had taken a college

prep track in high school and found that she needed some

business skills in order to work. She started as a file clerk with an

insurance company while taking shorthand and typing courses at the

Baltimore YMCA Business School. She then worked checking

advertising copy for the telephone companies in Maryland and later as

a secretary.

"As a file clerk I think I made about 75 cents an hour, which

was minimum wage," she reminisced. "My shorthand never was

that great either."

In 1956, Ellen's father died. Within the year, Ellen

married and moved to the Akron, Ohio area and embarked on a new

venture as working wife and then mother. The couple had Lori

in 1961 and Janice two years later in 1963. Along the way, job

changes moved the family to Dover, Del., and later to Hagerstown, Md.

While in Dover, Ellen fulfilled a lifelong dream she

enrolled in college and earned her degree. While she actually took most

of her courses at Delaware State College, she received her

degree in English from Hood College in Frederick, Md. After receiving

her degree, she worked for a local junior college.

When her girls were in the early grades, Ellen was a Girl

Scout leader and, as the girls grew up, a swim team mother and swim

team records volunteer as well as "chief chauffeur."

While in Hagerstown, Ellen became more involved in the

local church, teaching third grade religious education initially.

Later she became the Principal of the Confraternity of Christian

Doctrine (CCD) Sunday School. After she and her husband

divorced, Ellen applied for and received an annulment of the marriage.

She and Jim had met through the church as Jim was teaching

in the upper grades and had Lori in one of his classes. After their

separate annulments, the two connected and later married each

other with the blessing of the Catholic church.

Jim was born in Evanston, Ill., but was raised in Chicago.

He attended Catholic grammar school and the Loyola Academy, a

Jesuit Prep School then located on the northside of Chicago.

He attended Xavier University in Cincinnati, graduating with

a bachelor's degree in 1957. While there he met his first wife

who was attending a local women's college. In 1958, he joined

the Army and a year later they married. Jim began his military

career with an assignment to Ft. Lee, Va., then transferred to Ft.

Ord, Calif. Their next duty station was Ft. Devins, Mass., where Jim

volunteered for Vietnam.

In Vietnam, Jim served as a signal advisor to the

Vietnamese Rangers. After Vietnam, he returned to Ft. Monmouth,

N.J., where he attended Signal Officer Advanced School. His next

duty stop was Carnegie Melon University in Pittsburgh where he

taught military science. While assigned there he attended night school

and completed course work for a Master of Arts in History. History

is Jim's "quiet-time" hobby.

From Pittsburgh, Jim was shipped to Korea where he was

a Battalion Executive Officer. In 1969, he returned to the states

as Director of Communication Operations at the Alternate

National Military Command Center near Fort Richie and Camp David,

Md., near Hagerstown, Md. Over the years and many assignments,

the family continued to grow Steve and Chris, born in

California, Therese in Cincinnati, Greg in Pittsburgh and Mara

in Hagerstown.

With the family now living in Hagerstown, Jim was able to

reduce the uprooting of the family. He traveled to assignments

at Carlisle Barracks, Penn., Fort Leavenworth, Kan., the Center

of Military History in Washington, D.C., President Carter

Discharge Review Board in D.C., and then returned to Fort Richie as the

Executive Officer to the Commanding General.

In Hagerstown, Jim became active in coaching little

league football and baseball. Jim's Catholic faith had always been a

large part of his life. He began participating in church activities

beyond Sunday Mass. In 1969 he started teaching Sunday School and

in 1974 he began bringing the Eucharist and reading Scripture

to those in nursing homes and the homebound.

"I strongly believe that each Catholic Christian needs to

actively demonstrate the core elements of their faith," said

Jim. "We need to be willing to share our beliefs that the Lord cares

and blesses us each in a special way."

Thus, while in Hagerstown, he noted that there were no

men teaching Sunday School, Jim decided to do something about it

and began teaching sixth and seventh graders. He continues to

teach today, although he has limited his programs to facilitating

spiritual book reading programs for adults. However, he has been pressed

into service on occasion for a teen class.

After Jim's first marriage was annulled, he began dating

Ellen and later the two married in 1979.

"I was very blessed and fortunate to find Ellen," Jim

said. "While we are different in how we approach problems, we

share the same vision in our faith and our personal life."

Two shall become one

With the "merger" of the two families came many new

challenges. Jim's two oldest boys and Ellen's daughters, all older

teenagers, went through some interesting adjustments as they

all worked to become a united family.

Today Jim notes, "Ellen and I are mother and father to the

young people, but we're also friends."

In 1981 Jim and Ellen made the choice to accept a NATO

assignment in Belgium. Three of the children were already in

college and Janice was soon to start her freshmen year. The

Steinbachs took advantage of the years in Belgium and "had a great time."

A friend suggested they make a plan as to what they would

like to see as time would go very quickly. Making a plan and

sticking to it fell right in with the pair's nature. Jim quotes a

military maxim that has served him well, "Plan your work and work

your plan." Over their three years in Europe they had many

Sunday visits to Paris, and trips to the Netherlands, France,

(Western) Germany, England, Scotland and Italy.

They enjoyed working with people from all the NATO

nations, many of whom they still correspond with today.

Ellen worked for the PX system at Chevres Air Force Base in

Belgium, supervising the concession shops such as the flower shop,

gift shop, barber shop, dry cleaners and theater.

Upon completion of the assignment, the couple returned to

live in the Sunbelt. They chose the Atlanta area for a number of

reasons. By then their children had "spread out all over the

country," so the proximity of a major airport was important. The climate

was another enticement. They moved to Riverdale and later moved

to Peachtree City when Riverdale became congested.

Asked why they chose Peachtree City, Jim laughed

and said, "The moderate rate of growth!" He and Ellen gave

a variety of reasons including the golf courses, the general

peacefulness of the community and the underground utilities.

They were also able to build their first home. They worked

with Mike Rossetti and Raven Homes to build the home they

currently live in and share with their two cats, La Bouche (the mouth)

and La Belle (the beautiful).

The Steinbachs complement each other's personalities.

Ellen is more apt to "be reserved, yet by the same token, I don't believe

in letting an opportunity pass." Jim laughingly tuned in, "She is

very circumspect as opposed to her very reserved husband."

Jim is a thinker and a doer, yet his natural enthusiasm and

curiosity about life are evident in the way he steps out and gets

involved immediately. Ellen is very reflective, thus their different

personalities sometimes lead to lively discussions or what friend

Greg Dunn calls, "Powerphonics." They bounce ideas off each

other and exhibit a very visible respect for the other's point of view.

BOX INSETS AROUND/THROUGH THE ARTICLE ON THE STEINBACHS

Greg Dunn, Fayetteville

"Jim and Ellen are a tremendous couple. Intelligence,

wit (with just right touch of sarcasm), hard work and a rare sense

of caring about people other than themselves, mark them as a

powerful force for good in our community. Countless numbers

of people have benefitted as a direct result of their selfless efforts in

St. Gabriel Catholic Church and in local political activism.

I am grateful for their unqualified support and continuous

efforts during my recent political campaign and honored by

their generous friendship of many years.

Fayette County is a better place to live because Jim and

Ellen Steinbach are among us.

P.S. Besides my mother, Jim is the only Democrat who get to

fuss at me whenever he pleases... and he "pleases" on a daily basis!"

Wayne & Elaine Cox, Fayetteville

"Our friendship goes back a ways to our early Army

career together. They are just a great couple. Jim's an old war

horse who gets involved and get the job done and done in a

professional manner. A soldier and a scholar who's name and stamp appear

on numerous documents, both government and otherwise. Now

he and Ellen are making a significant contribution to the civilian

community. Getting involved, doing the research work, helping to

ensure that issues are addressed adequately, and properly and

timely actions are taken by responsible parties. They are indeed good

citizens - a matched pair of bookends dedicated to family,

friends, church, community and nation.

Father Timothy Hepburn, St. Gabriel Catholic Church

"The Steinbach's have servants hearts. They are behind the scenes

and receive little recognition as they serve the Lord. They are

prayerful thinkers. They really explore their faith and don't let it just sit

there. Not only are they generous with their time, but they are

generous with their friendship."

Annie McMenamin, City Council, Peachtree City "As

you go through life you meet people who, for whatever reason,

you gravitate towards. Jim Steinbach is one of these people. I

admit, when we talk I'm standing at attention waiting for the 'at

ease' command. But in a short amount of time I have come to trust

Jim and rely on his input, perceptions and ideas. He is a valuable

resource that I know I can depend on."

J. D. Holmes, owner of Club Peachtree Fitness Center "Jim

and Ellen have been members of Club Peachtree for a number of

years. They are a thoroughly delightful couple. With their military

background, it's not surprising that they are dedicated to an

exercise regimen, and that they encourage others to join them. I have

enjoyed many discussions with them on politics and other subjects.

I have a lot of respect for them and I value the input they have

given to me on a variety of subjects over the years."

Carol Fritz, City Council, Peachtree City "I met Jim a

couple of years ago through various groups in Peachtree City. I

consider it a privilege to call him and his wife, Ellen, my friends.

Jim's integrity and honesty are without question and should be goals

we all aspire to live by. I know I can always count on that honesty

and integrity when I ask him for feedback on an issue. The

Steinbachs have been a very positive asset to this community, and we are

very lucky to have them living here."

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