Philip Thiem:

“When I look back on all the CRAP I learned in high school, it’s a wonder I can think at all.” (Kodachrome, Simon and Garfunkel).

Unlike most of my classmates, high school was not that great of an experience. I was a shy guy who lived as far from Princess Anne High School as possible. Academics were not a problem, but participating in extra-curricular activities was all but impossible.

Several years after graduation, I attempted to fill in this void of friendship with my classmates by participating in our first few class reunions but I found that new friends did not fit easily with well-established high school friendships. In retrospect, I believe I had a total of three friends at Princess Anne. I married the best one, one is attending this reunion and the other has passed away since our last reunion.

So why am I attending this reunion? I have asked myself this question several times. The answer I believe is curiosity.

The greatest thing in my life is my family. I married Darlene Foster (Princess Anne ’59) on June 11, 1961. Simple math will tell you, that by the grace of God, we will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary next year.

We were blessed with two sons, Alan C. Thiem who currently lives in New Jersey and John P. Thiem who resides in Texas. Alan received his B.A. degree from Virginia Wesleyan College and M.B.A. from Old Dominion University. John received his B.A. degree from Randolph-Macon College and M.S. from Old Dominion University.

We have also been blessed with two great daughters-in-law and four grandchildren: Emily and Andrew, daughter and son of Alan and Amy, and Lauren and Megan, daughters of John and Jenny.

I graduated from Old Dominion University with a B.S. degree in accounting and economics. I also completed several graduate level courses in economics and finance. For eight years after graduation I was employed by Frederick B. Hill and Company, Certified Public Accountants.

I passed the uniform Certified Public Accountants’ exam in 1967. This accomplishment had been my goal since attending a career day during my freshmen year at Princess Anne.

In 1968, I was approached by the Chairman of the Accounting Department, School of Business, Old Dominion University, to teach accounting and tax courses in Old Dominion’s evening program. From 1968 to 1978, I taught Principles of Accounting, Intermediate Accounting and Taxation. In 1979, I resigned from Old Dominion due to the rapid growth of my accounting firm. I also taught accounting one year at Virginia Wesleyan College.

In 1974, I joined with D. L. Brittingham to form the C.P.A. firm of Brittingham and Thiem. We were a medium-size local firm providing a full range of accounting, audit and tax services to small and medium businesses primarily in Virginia and North Carolina. This firm existed until my retirement. It was then merged into the Norfolk-based C.P.A. firm of Strickland and Jones.

Over the years, I have been active in many social and fraternal organizations: Jaycees, Masonic family organizations in Virginia, and the Order of the Eastern Star. I served as treasurer of the Norfolk Jaycees for five years and directed or participate in many projects.

I am a member of many of the Masonic Orders and have served as chief officers in many of them. If any of you have an interest, I would be delighted to discuss it with you. In 2003, I was elected to serve as the Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons in Virginia. This is the highest elected position of Royal Arch Masons in Virginia.

Darlene and I are also members of the Order of the Eastern Star. The Eastern Star is a part of the family of Freemasonry and is made up of Master Masons and their female relatives. In 1993, I was elected to serve as the Worthy Grand Patron of Virginia’s Order of the Eastern Star. This is the highest ranking male officer in this organization.

In Virginia, I was a member of Calvin Presbyterian Church. I was ordained as a Deacon in 1966 and served as treasurer and a member of many committees. Darlene and I joined Community United Methodist Church after our move to Florida.

In 2005, Darlene and I retired to The Villages, Florida. The Villages is a retirement community with approximately 75,000 residents. Currently there are thirty executive golf courses and twelve championship courses. Additionally, there are over fifteen hundred special interest clubs and other forms of recreation, entertainment and continuing education available.

While the time for golf was rare prior to retirement, I now play nine holes of golf six-seven times a week. Also, since retirement, I have adopted bicycling as my primary form of exercise. I ride 130-150 miles per week, generally riding five days a week. In three years of riding, I have traveled over twelve thousand miles. In 2007 and 2008, I participated in the bicycling events of the Florida Senior Games. I did not come close to winning however just participating was a great thrill.

LIFE IS GOOD