Search Angels Hall of Fame page #1 of 1 |
Search Angels Hall of Fame |
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Heather Dodd |
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Heather Dodd (SA) & (SC)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 9-9-2008
On 1-26-2010 Heather Dodd Started G'S Adoption Registry's Facebook page
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Joanne Rose (SA) & (SC)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site on 10-3-2007
All USA Search Angel Team #1b
Has helped out a lot with updates for G'S site.
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Phyllis Clearwater (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 4-28-2006
(Removed from G’S on 4-19-2018 had not checked in 17 months)
Specializing in New York Team #2 I am located in Chemung County, NY. We border on Steuben, Schuyler, Tompkins & Tioga counties. I never charge any fees to help anyone.
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Raymond C. DuBoise
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site on 4-14-2010 till 3-4-2014. He had to quit do to his wife suffering from Alzheimer's and that kept him pretty busy.
Celebration of Life for Raymond C. DuBoise born Sacramento CA: 9-28-1921 Died CA: 4-10-2015 (Deceased)
He was helping many other adoptee's get there adoption files open in CA. He was able to get his adoption files opened, we found a birth sister still living born in 1919, he did get to meet her but unable to get the birth family to do DNA testing. They shared the same birth mother.
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Cindy Schwie - (SA)
joined EMLA 10-?-2004 has been SA's for long before she joined EMLA
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Penni Johnson (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 4-6-2008
I'm a reunited adoptee - born, adopted, raised and still living in Washington state. After finding my birth mom and two sisters in 2002, I began helping others with their searches in WA. I'm currently dabbling with DNA testing to find my birth father's side of the family.
I'm owner of the Yahoo group NWASR (Northwest Adoption Search & Reunion), which focuses on helping with searches in WA, OR, CA, ID, etc. I also helped with legislative efforts with the group Wa-Care, that worked to change the law so most WA adoptees will be able to get their original birth certificates beginning 7-1-2014.
I believe everyone has a right to know who they are and where they came from, and am hopeful the laws will change in all states to allow ALL adoptees and 'donor babies' to have easy access to all information about their "chapter 1".
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Danna Schaefer (SC) & (SA)
Co founder of G'S Adoption Registry
formally G Spot United States Adoption Registry & G S United States Adoption Registry
helped with registy for over 8 years (Deceased)
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Many pictures of Danna's life click on link below |
Ari Wagner Leahy - (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 12-2-2007
Joined EMLA 6-?-2004 has been SA's for long before she joined EMLA
(Quit G'S 7-21-2012)
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Pam Kish (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 8-8-2006
She has been SA's for long before she joined G'S Adoption Registry
(Quit G'S 11-4-2011)
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Ilona |
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Ilona (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 10-10-2004
Specializing in Germany Team #2
I started to become a search angel: In ?-?-1999 by accident I found a website with postings where people posted searches for old friends an relatives in Germany. I started to send them the link to the German phonebook, later I started to search in the phonebook by myself and sent them the results, and a while later I started to call people they searched. But I learned that my most empathy was with the adoptees. So I decided to help them as much as I could. I started to search for websites of postings from adoptees, and found G'S Adoption Registry on 10-10-2004. I still have a fulltime job, so my time is limited, but still love to help and search and reunite people. In all those years I could help reunite about 300 to 400 people, and I am proud of it. A lot of the adoptees became my friends, and now help me in my searches, too.
Hugs, Ilona
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Sharon (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 12-1-2003
(Quit G'S 1-26-2014)
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Patti Carter (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 12-31-2002
first Search Angel for All States. I joined as a search angel because health issues forced me to retire early. I had my own business for 20 years finding people and decided it was time to be a volunteer somewhere helping others do not remember how I found this site but it was "love at first site" and I was hooked. Patti
Retired from G'S on 1-4-2009 for health issues. Started back with G'S 4-20-2011
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Vivian (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 12-31-2002
1st. Search Angel for Ohio on G'S site.
I have been on the net since about 2000 but have over 20 years experience doing Adoptee searches.
Started doing them when I had to travel to find people.
(Quit G'S 3-16-2012)
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Stephanie Wyatt |
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Stephanie Wyatt (SC) & (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 11-27-2010
Stephanie is the child of an adoptee. After successfully finding her biological paternal grandmother in 2010
with the help of G'S Angels, Stephanie has spent her time helping others through G'S Adoption Registry.
She also assists with Genetic Genealogy Searches and encourages all adoptees with sealed records
to submit DNA to the major genetic genealogy companies.
Stephanie helps with calls for G'S Site.
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Sandy Bennett |
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Sandy Bennett (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 1-3-2009
On All USA Search Angel Team #1
My research began many years ago with genealogy and extended into helping friends who were adopted.
I worked on my own until I accidentally came across G'S Adoption web site.
I joined Gary's site in 2009 and have enjoyed working with such wonderful volunteers to help others find their families.
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David Gray |
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David Gray (SC)
David Gray is one of the oldest free searchers & has helped the adoption community for years. His website is used by a lot of people daily who are helping or searching.
David Gray's People Finder
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Diana Iwanski |
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Diana Iwanski (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 5-6-2010
I am married to a LDA (late discovery adoptee) and after finding her birth mother,
birth father and birth siblings we thought I could do this for others.
Have been doing it ever since. :-)
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Candy Eigenbrod |
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Candy Eigenbrod (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 5-4-2010
I am a reunited birth mother and started doing searches shortly after reuniting.
Knowing how much it meant to me, I wanted to help others find their families.
My maternal grandfather is unknown so I am trying to use DNA to find clues about his identity.
I never tire of seeing that word FOUND!
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Bob Crowter |
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Bob Crowter (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 8-7-2005
On All USA Search Angel Team #1
Has been doing family member & adoption searches for 10 years
ever since he was given an old Windows 95 computer.
he couldn't find any other use for it .......till he started doing this stuff.
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Kristin Sullivan |
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Kristin Sullivan (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 8-8-2006.
My first big find was my grandson who was given up to adoption in 1981.
After a bout with breast cancer, I needed to know about this young man. I always felt an emptiness in my heart for never knowing him, and wondering if he was having a good life with good adoptive parents. After I managed to find his birth mother, a young woman I had never known, I started out finding Matthew. It was one of the most wonderful days of my life when I realized I had finally found him, and would get to see and speak to him. Matthew today is getting his doctorate at the University of Louisiana. He will be a professor of English when he is finished. I'm very proud of him. I must give credit to my mentor angel whose name is Starr . . she got me started with just a few free sites, and she sent me on my way. She had enough confidence in me to cut me loose. Starr thought I was a natural at it. The wonderful feeling of accomplishment when I complete a search is so rewarding to me. I feel that every time I make an adoptee or their birth family happy, God is smiling on me, and blessing me and my family. I've been a search angel for about four years now
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Denise Bjorholm |
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Denise Bjorholm (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site 4-2-2005
On All USA Search Angel Team #1
has been a search angel since 2004 I love doing Iowa searches because you are mostly working without a name It's like a big puzzle and very rewarding when it's complete I am also a member of EMLA
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Margaret Kuni |
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Margaret Kuni (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 9-24-2007
On All USA Search Angel Team #1
I became a Search Angel by helping my husband find his birth family in 2001 and have loved the search process ever since. I specialize in VA, OH, WA (plus a lot of places) and also with military related and older searches that use my genealogy skills. My wish is that everyone is given the opportunity to know who they are and where they came from and to be able to get their family medical history. Take Care, Margaret
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Stephanie Curtright (SC) & (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 2-1-2007
Stephanie, lost her fight with cancer on 8-13-2011. She will be missed by us all very much at G'S.
Stephanie Curtright was a G'S Search Angel she started with G'S 2-1-2007 All USA then she got breast cancer and started helping Gary behind the scenes with fixing forms and making calls on updates and helping with pages on our site like search angel rules page, Gary's history page and some of the Search Angel Advice pages are just as a few. Plus she worked on solving Gary's wife Danna's birth brothers search. She helped Gary through many very bad times in his life by being there for him on chat or by phone. So because of all she has done for G'S and Gary we have added her name at top of Our site.
(Deceased)
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Emily (SA) |
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Emily (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 2-23-2007
On All USA Search Angel Team #1
Plus England and Wales
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Robert Schultz |
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Robert Schultz (SC) & (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site on 3-11-2015
Specialize in helping G'S with finding out dated contact info. Has been a search angel over 20 years. http://www.ireunionapp.com/
Quit G'S 6-29-2017
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Ken Munson |
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Ken Munson (SC) & (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 6-10-2009
Quit G'S 7-7-2016
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Laura Witherspoon (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 10-10-2004
2014 Spokeo Search Angels Award Winner
Quit GS 7-7-2014
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Susan Davis (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 12-1-2003
Individual Search Angel #3
(Quit G'S 7-21-2012)
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Doreen Fincher (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 2-27-2007
On All USA Search Angel Team #1
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Jan Sousa (SA) & (SC)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 11-9-2005.
I began searching about five years ago. I own and maintain The Eyes Wide Open Adoption Registry.
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“Queen Bee Karen” Karen was very much loved by those that knew her. Karen loved her family and friends with such a powerful love that a person couldn't help but feel the love when she chose to show it. She was dedicated not only to her own family but to putting families separated by adoption back together again. She had a special gift, an intuition of sorts, it seemed sometimes she just knew who belonged to whom even when the evidence didn't seem to fall into place and would stop at nothing to make that connection. It was eerie just how often she was right!! Each and every reunion she was a part of was her way of saying to her birth daughter how very much she loved her, how she had hated to have to give her up and how hard she had searched to finally find her. It was Karen's way of saying to her "I'm sorry that I let you go from my arms but I never let you go from my heart". She, like most every birth mother, just NEVER got over the emptiness left by placing her sweet baby. It’s a birth mothers obsession to know that their baby is OK and that they have done the right thing by & for their child; and hope that their child knows that it was done out of love & necessity. Karen's need to make that known to her own daughter luckily flowed over into an entire community of people who desperately needed her, and came to love her very quickly. It's all about healing, and that healing can only be found should they finally meet in this lifetime. Karen wanted others to experience this same healing, it was her passion to help whomever she could. Karen has truly earned her wings and her crown...she's just leading the band of angels in Heaven now. She was leader of the "Searching in Texas" adoption group. She also proudly helped on G'S Adoption Registry, EMLA and the Homestead group. She motivated us with "CHARGE THE HUNT IS ON !!!!!!!!!!!", warned new searchers "hold on tight because it was going to be a wild ride", and often celebrated the thrill of victory from a "find" with the song, "Another one bites the Dust" She always made us feel proud when she would post “Keep up the good work my sweet angels". Now we say to her, "Keep up the good work our sweet angel, we need you now more than ever." RIP Karen DeFoe aka MiMi aka Queen Bee Karen Lost the battle to cancer 12-21-2010 but won the war for eternal health
Karen Defoe (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 8-7-2005 till 12-21-2010 (Deceased)
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Connie Rhea Nelson (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 8-7-2005.
I have been in the searching arena for about l4 years learning from one of your best, Donna Wells. She was the first one I met on line and we've been working together for a very long time. I live in Aurora, OR and volunteer whenever and wherever I can. I think all of us search angels are the hardest working folks for no fee and it's a joy to be a part of this group. I do work full time at Reed College in Portland.
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Michelle Gross (SA) & (SC)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 4-6-2004
I have been a member of FloridaSearchAngels since 2001. Prior to that I had assisted where I could beginning around 1997. I got into adoption search in 1995 when I learned I had a sister three years older than myself who was placed for adoption; plus I started searching for my husband's birth son about that same time. It was through the help of search angels that I was able to locate my sister and my husband's son and by that time I was hooked on helping others. Michelle
(Quit G'S 7-31-2014)
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Wanda Fischer |
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Wanda Fischer (SA) & (SC)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 4-6-2004
Co-Owner adoptioncafe@yahoogroups.com
(Retired from G'S on 11-25-2008)
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Patty Drabing (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 12-4-2003
On All USA Search Angel Team #1a
Adoptee turned Search Angel that searched & found in 2002. A special thank you to Pam Kish, Babbs, Linda & Soaring Angels for turning me from a very confused KY adoptee to an adoptee marked ((FOUND)) & for introducing me to a whole new cyber world. After my search was marked found, I asked Pam to teach me everything she knows about being a Search Angel. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it hadn’t been for her extreme patience & guidance as she took me under her wings until I earned my own. Another special thank you also goes out to Gary & Danna Schaefer from G’S for giving me a source from which to help others that are where I used to be. I’ve been a proud member of G’S Search Angel team since 2003 & I’m also a member of several yahoo adoption search & reunion groups as well as a member of ((EMLA)). I’ve made some very dear friends since I became a Search Angel & they are too many to mention but they know who they are.
Quit G'S 11-16-2016
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Simone Keevert |
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Simone Keevert (SA) & (SC)
Simone Keevert, Owner / Editor of The-Seeker
Simone is a long time Search Angel and P.I. from the state of Wyoming. She co-hosted The-Seeker's world-wide radio show for many years and has been involved with a few television programs reuniting people like the ‘Debra Duncan Show’ in Houston, TX as well as the FOX Network show, “Who’s Your Daddy”. Simone provided support and searches for The Learning Channel for their program that one can still view on Sunday evenings called, “Long Lost Family”. Along with other members of an infamous International group of searchers known as “The Team”, over 25 cases were solved by them in less than one week for the FOX Network program. They are the best of the best! She is a reunited adoptee, as well as being on board with EMLA [Emergency Medical Locators], whose slogan is, “Nobody should die just because they’re adopted”.] Keevert has had several articles written about her own search as well as reuniting many, many families. Another item of note is a commercial she did about Identity Theft for the United States Postal Service. She is very involved in her community and has spearheaded a lot of fundraising efforts to help those in need. She has received other awards and has been acknowledged all around the globe for her ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ and is listed in the Search Angel Hall of Fame in G’S Adoption Registry. Along with being mother to 4 grown and successful children, she is grandmother to 16 and a great-grandmother to 1 and another great grandchild on the way. A leather craftsman, artist and author in her spare time, no matter what her endeavor, she doesn’t care for loose ends unless they’re called fringe. Keevert is a Certified Nutritional Stress Consultant and taught nutrition classes at Western Wyoming Community College before the search bug grabbed her attention... The rest is a very exciting story and journey that many who are touched by adoption have experienced. Simone is a current member in good standing with NAIS [National Association of Investigative Specialists] as well. A former Casting Director from FOX Network says of Keevert, “TV people want to “brand” key show players... I would guess your “brand” would combine your unique story (how you learned about your birth family and heritage) and the life you built for yourself while raising your own family in a small town in WY. I see you as a miraculous and marvelous colorful woman who is like a mother to all you know, a nurturing, loving soul dedicated to helping others. All the while you’re not some boring run-of-the-mill “holier than thou” faker who serves to be revered. You do what you do because that is who you are. You are sassy and soulful, a timeless woman using ancient wisdom and modern science to bring people together.” You can reach Simone at skeevert@wyoming.com -- The-Seeker Reuniting the World! If we can't find 'em, they've left the planet!! Our services are free and we help with all kinds of searches, including Adoption related searches and we have an extraordinary Team that will help you if you need to share, or are in need of, your family medical history..... Nobody should die just because they're adopted!!!! http://www.The-Seeker.com
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Ed McCullough |
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Ed McCullough (MrKeene) (SC)
Ed's our man in Minnesota he helps us with the things we need to do these searches. Helps us with the hard to find ones too. He's been a free searcher a long time. He's the one we turn to, when we need a little extra help doing searches. also a member of EMLA ! ........ his saying is: "Never a charge to find a lost loved one" !!
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Barbara Campbell (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 8-7-2005
Individual Search Angel #3 Specializing in South Carolina
(Quit G'S 7-21-2012)
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Gina Neal (SA)
Started G'S 6-28-2010
All USA Search Angel Team 1b
I have always been the go to person in my family ever since I can remember for finding things but I fell in love with adoption searches after I found my husbands birth family. I enjoy helping others and in turn invite them into my big beautiful Italian family. The gift of family is priceless!!! Thank you G’S Adoption Registry for letting me join this amazing group. ((HUGS))
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Cindy Frankenfield (SC) & (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 8-8-2006
Specializing in Oklahoma #2 helps out with G’S facebook
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Lisa Hebert |
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Lisa Hebert (SC) & (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 10-17-2012 All USA Search Angel Team #1b Will try to help out in all USA. I am currently a search angel on other websites and have been helped by search angels in the past. I live in Oregon and have a lot of resources here, but can look any where in the United States.
Has helped out alot with updates for G'S site.
I am an adoptee in Oregon. My search journey started after I had my first child. It was 1983, no social media, no computer. I realized that I wanted to learn more about my birth family. I was adopted by a single mother in Oregon (she was the first single woman allowed to adopt a child in Oregon).. I had no siblings, no father figure.
Once I decided I wanted to learn more about my birth family, I had absolutely no idea where to start. I had a name of my birth mother, but that was all. So, I started.. After thousands of phone calls, trips to the court house, trips to the library to look at micro fische, and paying far to much money (for lists of people with that name), I finally had a find.. I found a sister.. but not on my birth mothers side.. On my birth fathers side.. It was so crazy to me.. I had never had siblings, and it never even really occurred to me that I might have birth siblings. My half birth sister was able to fill in some gaps for me, give me some names and other information. She introduced me to her brother (my half birth brother) and told me where my birth father was.
Although I never got to meet him in person, I did talk to him on the phone a lot, and sent letters back and forth.. Again, he was able to fill in some more gaps and give me more information on my mother. 20 years later, in 2004, I had another big break..
I found a half birth brother on my birth mothers side.. He lived in Florida (pretty much as far from Oregon as you can be).. he was not raised by our birth mother either, but he was able to give me even more information.. and the very last person I found a month later, )and 21 years after I started my journey), was my birth mother.
After everything I learned, the great experience that I have had and sharing my story with some friends (and quite a story it was.. drugs, prostitution, jail, murder, all the things that make for a very interesting story), a few people started reaching out to me to see if I could help them. As an adoptee, I think once you tell a few people your story, you find so many other adoptee's out there who you may not have known much about before.. So.. for the last 12 years, I have been helping others search for their birth families. I love it so much, even in the searches that don't have the results that I would have hoped for, to me. they are all learning experiences. Once I signed up to be a search angel on G's Adoption Registry, I was privileged to to get to know other search angels, and have learned so much. I feel that the search angel community is pretty much a family of their own. We all have the same goal in mind.. Reuniting birth families...
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Carol Cielecki |
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Carol Cielecki (SA) & (SC)
Carol Cielecki has been an adoption Search Angel since the early 1990s and is an original member of “The Team”. She uses DNA analysis in combination with traditional search methods to solve adoption cases.
Carol has assisted many hundreds of adoptees through various organizations and websites, including EMLA (Emergency Medical Locators for Adoptees) and G’S Adoption Registry. She is a member of a Facebook group called DNA Detectives where members share DNA analysis tips and assist adoptees and birth families. DNA Detectives is administered by renowned Genetic Genealogist, CeCe Moore.
In addition to adoption searches, Carol is a member of the Doe Network, an organization dedicated to assisting law enforcement with missing and unidentified persons. As a member of the Doe Network, Carol has solved the identities of three cold-case murder victims. She is a member of the Doe Network Potential Match Panel, where panelists evaluate members’ potential matches between missing persons and John/Jane Does, before sending tips to law enforcement.
Carol has appeared on an NBC Philadelphia (NBC10 Investigators) news feature about local missing persons. She has also been featured in a NY Times article, “Face on a Milk Carton? Amateur Sleuths Dig Deeper” (Jan. 1, 2004), and numerous other publications, including “Wired” magazine and a book titled “The Skeleton Crew: How Amateur Sleuths Are Solving America’s Coldest Cases”, by Deborah Halber (Simon and Schuster 2014).
Carol holds an AA in General Studies and a Paralegal certificate from Penn State. She is a former Paralegal, automotive Service Advisor, Parts Sales Manager, and currently works in sales.
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“Queen Bee Karen” Karen was very much loved by those that knew her. Karen loved her family and friends with such a powerful love that a person couldn't help but feel the love when she chose to show it. She was dedicated not only to her own family but to putting families separated by adoption back together again. She had a special gift, an intuition of sorts, it seemed sometimes she just knew who belonged to whom even when the evidence didn't seem to fall into place and would stop at nothing to make that connection. It was eerie just how often she was right!! Each and every reunion she was a part of was her way of saying to her birth daughter how very much she loved her, how she had hated to have to give her up and how hard she had searched to finally find her. It was Karen's way of saying to her "I'm sorry that I let you go from my arms but I never let you go from my heart". She, like most every birth mother, just NEVER got over the emptiness left by placing her sweet baby. It’s a birth mothers obsession to know that their baby is OK and that they have done the right thing by & for their child; and hope that their child knows that it was done out of love & necessity. Karen's need to make that known to her own daughter luckily flowed over into an entire community of people who desperately needed her, and came to love her very quickly. It's all about healing, and that healing can only be found should they finally meet in this lifetime. Karen wanted others to experience this same healing, it was her passion to help whomever she could. Karen has truly earned her wings and her crown...she's just leading the band of angels in Heaven now. She was leader of the "Searching in Texas" adoption group. She also proudly helped on G'S Adoption Registry, EMLA and the Homestead group. She motivated us with "CHARGE THE HUNT IS ON !!!!!!!!!!!", warned new searchers "hold on tight because it was going to be a wild ride", and often celebrated the thrill of victory from a "find" with the song, "Another one bites the Dust" She always made us feel proud when she would post “Keep up the good work my sweet angels". Now we say to her, "Keep up the good work our sweet angel, we need you now more than ever." RIP Karen DeFoe aka MiMi aka Queen Bee Karen Lost the battle to cancer 12-21-2010 but won the war for eternal health
Karen Defoe (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 8-7-2005 till 12-21-2010 (Deceased)
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Larry Maurice - (SA) joined EMLA in 3-?-2005 He is always ready to help if he can... a great guy and a great searcher :)
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Wendy DeHaven (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 1-28-2008
Specializing in Ohio & California Team #2 (can do leg work in Franklin County and surrounding areas) California (limited info) I have some knowledge of how to search military (Army) records.
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Marge Smith (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 9-27-2008
Specializing in Ohio Team #2
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Trevis Husfeldt (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 8-28-2007
(Quit G'S 3-7-2014)
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Linda Suzanne Hammer |
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Linda Suzanne Hammer
(7-31-1953 - 3-5-2012)
Founder of The-Seeker The-Seeker.com 1-1-1995
Linda Hammer, a veteran of U.S. Navy, was a former private process server, former private investigator, radio talk show host, newspaper columnist, and publisher of one of the largest websites on the internet that helps people find their missing friends and relatives in the world!
She started out as a child. A child who was born in Miami, FL and moved to Ft. Lauderdale when she was 8, then over to Venice, FL at age 16. Her father, N Robert Hammer (7-3-1925 - 8-19-2001), was in banking and was offered a great opportunity. Shortly after high school, Linda joined the U.S. Navy, and was stationed in Norfolk, VA. She was buried with full Military honors in Sarasota, FL in April of 2012. Upon leaving the service, she moved to South Carolina for the ensuing 3 years. Family reasons took her back to Florida. Linda then went to work at the State Attorney's Office, and at the same time, went to college at the University of South Florida and obtained a degree in Criminal Justice (courtesy of the Navy and the Law Enforcement Educational Assistance Program) and was in law enforcement in some form or fashion for most of her life, and to Linda, the most significant of all endeavors, was that she was the first private process server in Sarasota, FL - and the first female process server in the State of Florida. She later moved to Houston - ultimately Dallas - where she was in Banking, in the regulatory side of it, off and on for ten years and then went back into process serving and private investigating, licensed through Texas, investigating primarily life, health, and disability cases. Searching for people was second nature to her. She saw a need to help people find missing friends and relatives and not just dead beat dads or people being sued or people who defraud insurance companies. One day, while she was listening to Kasey Kasum on a Top 40 radio show, she was thinking, "He is syndicated, and wouldn't it be great if he could say on his show that Linda Hammer is looking for John Duffy (a guy she always wondered what ever happened to...)." Then she started thinking that she could do a radio show herself and syndicate it and help people find missing friends and relatives. But then she started thinking "what if John didn't listen to that station?" Linda ultimately DID find John Duffy on 10-24-1999. She used her own Site Seeking section to find him and said she should have done it a long time before that but then, The-Seeker may never have come to pass. Unfortunately, John lost a battle with cancer and passed away early in the morning on 10-1-2005. Linda was thankful that John went to Florida to visit her the year before and she spoke with him a week before. While John Duffy was the reason she began The-Seeker, he is also the reason The-Seeker will be around, and Linda's dream to help others be reunited with their friends and family for years to come... After John died, she said, "I will continue to encourage people to search for their missing friends and relatives - before it is too late. "
Linda began her radio career on a Jacor station (later Clear Channel) WSPB 1470 in Sarasota, FL. It wasn't what she really had in mind but it got her foot in the door for what would eventually be her own syndicated World Wide radio program. Unlike the taped shows where she read messages people posted in her site, she went on to have an extensive following no matter what station she was on. She had a column in the Venice Gondolier Sun Newspaper and the North Port Sun - both in Florida. It was kinda like the Ann Landers' column - only of the people finding people business.
"My advice to radio talk show host wannabees: Get fully sponsored first! Do not say the first word on the air until you are sponsored! Do not think that because you think you have an interesting topic that the world gives a damn about what you have to say. It doesn't matter. What matters is what you can sell! To those of you who think a syndicator will buy you, first of all - think again, because if you can't sell yourself to sponsors why should anyone else want to buy you?
You will have to pay to be on the air at first, but why do that without sponsorship? Pay to work? Not! Don't do what I did, learn from people's mistakes. Get sponsored FIRST."
On 2-?-2006, Linda put the radio show on a temporary hiatus and moved to Carrboro, NC along with her sister, Karen (6-6-1952 - 5-12-2011). She dearly loved it there and said it was an amazing place, and swore it was God's Garden. She moved there because her sister Karen had two daughters there and a granddaughter by her second daughter - and would be a grandmother again by her first daughter in 5-?-2006. Linda continued to do all she could to help people find their lost loved ones and was also an advocate for Dumpster Babies (newborns tossed in the trash) for many years.
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Ms Jazzy (SC)
Does our California microfiche that we don't have. She's been at this for many years. Helps EMLA too!
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Nancy Peuraharju |
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Nancy Peuraharju (SA) & (SC)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 8-7-2005.
Specializing in Ohio & Arkansas Team #2
I am a birth mother that searched for and found my birth son in 2001. Afterwards I wanted to help others in the same way as so many angels helped me with my search. I have been a search angel ever since - it's in the blood! :) I am also co-owner/founder of www.Adoption-Free-Search.org (EMLA). Adoption-Free-Search/EMLA conducts free biological searches for those who are in need of their family medical histories.
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Kathleen Bradley |
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Kathleen Bradley (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 7-14-2007
Specializing in Texas & Louisiana Team #2
I am honored for being voted into the Search Angel Hall of Fame. When I started my search to find my birth parents, it was G'S and their wonderful angels that helped and advised me along the way. I was adopted through Homestead Child Placement and Adoption Agency in Fort Worth, Texas. This place burned and destroyed all records and the few that were in existance were filled with fake information. It was after I found my birth family that I felt the need to help others to find their birth families. I joined G'S and started to help others. I had the pleasure of working with other wonderful g's angels, Marianne Brown, Louise Brawley, and Karen DeFoe, now all passed and watching down on us. Years ago, Gary, on G'S was wonderful and took the Homestead background info I came up with and set up a special page just for Homestead Adoptions because there seem to be so many of us with no info to start searching. I have helped with other searches, but Homestead is my passion and want all other Homesteaders to find their families, as well. It has been my pleasure to help and look forward to many more years continuing to help others find their birth families.
Thanks again, Katheen Bradley a/k/a Kat
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Connie Gray |
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Ginger Farrow (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 11-9-2005
Individual Search Angel Specializing in Delaware We, Finders Keepers is the only Search and Support Group in DE. We help anyone who has been separated by adoption divorce, marriage, sibling search loved ones first loves etc. etc. No matter who calls we help them with someone in another state to help them get on the right track and stop spinning their wheels.
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Deb Hagerty Murphy |
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Deb Hagerty Murphy (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 1-24-2009
All USA Individual Search Angel #3
Has helped out a lot with updates for G'S site.
My search for adoptees and their birth parents came with searching for my husband’s birth mother. He had one letter missing from the last name. I began a two-year journey and really learned how to search. I successfully found her but quickly found that I did not want my knowledge to go to waste. My own grandmother did not know who her birth father was. I saw how that impacted her happiness in life right up until the end of her days. I hope that I have made a positive impact on a lot of lives. I think everyone deserves to have the question of who am I answered. I specialize in Massachusetts because I live here. I know what is available and what is not. I have learned to put online data base information together and can effectively search in Texas, Ohio and California. I keep Gary updated when I’ve found someone so the information can be marked solved. I work full time as a pediatric nurse. DNA and genetics has always fascinated me. My next goal is to embrace the DNA technology searches.
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Donna Wells |
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Donna Wells (SA) & (SC)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 6-6-2004
Specializing in California, Washington and Oregon Team #2
Started doing searches with Oregon Adoption Rights Assoc in Portland Oregon about 1993.! Soon after EMLA and AFS. Also NWASR (WA.OR, ID, MT, UT, CA)
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Chrisina (Chrissy) Denbaugh |
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Chrisina (Chrissy) Denbaugh (SC)
She is the original founder of www.Adoption-Free-Search.org (EMLA). Adoption-Free-Search/EMLA conducts free biological searches for those who are in need of their family medical histories.
(Started G'S 3-10-2010 Quit G'S 7-20-2012)
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Shelle Robison |
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Shelle Robison (SA) & (SC)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 12-10-2005
(Quit G'S 3-15-2016)
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Ruthann H (SA) & (SC)
Joined EMLA about 9 years ago. She has handled 2 major fundraising projects for EMLA. Helped with putting together EMLA's cookbooks & is working on G'S first cookbook. She does other searches typically on a referral basis. - Joined EMLA 6-?-2004 has been SA's for long before she joined EMLA.
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Louise Brawley (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 8-7-2005 till 3-7-2013
Long time searching for 2 step children served to fuel the already burning desire that I had due to my own personal 30 year search. Actually it was more of an "I owe" thing to my then husband as he had finalized my search the old fashioned way years prior, and I wanted to be able to thank him by finding his children for him. That was in very late 1990's for his son and 2001 for his daughter. And as we all know; this searching is very addicting and I'm still here!! A little older, a little slower; but still just as interested in the "hunt".
Louise Brawley has passed of Lung Cancer
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David Guentner |
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David Guentner (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 9-15-2009
"Although I am not myself an adoptee, I have been a genealogist for many years. I found that I was able to use my research abilities to help others in finding their lost and unknown loved ones, and to be able to make a difference in someone's life if you can, well, I believe that is why we are all here. I began volunteering in 2006 and have been a Search Angel ever since."
Dave
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Kim Wells (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 6-6-2004
Specializing in Virginia & Maryland & Ohio & Washington, DC & District Of Columbia (Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and VA. Beach for leg work) http://www.metroreunionregistry.org/
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Vicki Hunt |
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Vicki Hunt (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site on 2-18-2010
Specializing in Canada, Mostly Southern Ontario. Canada Team #1
I became a search angel because I wanted people to know that when they undertake a search for birth family, they are not alone. Years ago, when I began my own personal search journey, there were limited resources online or anywhere for that matter. Things have changed, and now there are numerous sites and groups to help. My belief has always been that everyone should have the right to know who they came from. As a retired RN I also know the importance of having a genetic medical history. Hopefully one day all those who wish to, may have unrestricted access to THEIR information and be able to answer the question ,” Who am I?” In the meantime, it is my honor to be able to have helped and to continue to help families find answers and support them in their journeys. 😘 Adoptees and birth family members who search for truth are some of the bravest people I know. Vicki
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Paris Camarena (SA)
Joined G'S Adoption Registry site about 4-24-2007
She has been a Search Angel since about 2002 was on All USA Team #1 till mother got sick and had to Quit.
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