Executive Director Patsy Reublin

Some of the following is true:

• I moved to Malden from the deserts of Northeastern Colorado.
• I love this southern heat.
• I was born in Germany.
• I once owned a hedgehog named Harry.
• I am dyslexic.
• I have three sisters, two of whom are firefighters.
• I was a Disney character between semesters during college.
• During my senior year, I hit 860 for my fast pitch softball team.
• One of my favorite childhood memories is the giant oak tree on my Grandfather's property -- so big it took all four girls reaching hand-to-hand to encircle it.
• I played on a nationally-ranked volleyball team during college.
• My father coached college football at Miami of Ohio, Bowling Green State University and the University of Colorado (not during the game with the infamous fifth down).
• Before I die, I want to have two experiences: hit a hole-inĐone and swim with the dolphins.
• During my life, I have earned a living doing the following: athletic trainer, construction worker, offset-press operator, UPS trailer loader, gallery director, college professor, theatrical stage designer/builder, landscaper, lifeguard, and forest service ranger.
• When I retire, I want to call tee times at Pebble Beach.
• I collect and read books on photography.
• I was trained to cook by a Julia Childs protégé.
• I once caught the same fish at the same time as my twin sister.
• I collect toy trucks.
• I'd rather remodel an old house than move into a new one.
• I had an invisible dinosaur as a best friend when I was 2 years old.

p. reublin

 

Cynthia L. Dennington….. who is she you ask?

I’m originally from Pennsylvania – born and raised.  Grew up with three brothers (no sisters); so a bit of a tomboy I can be.  Graduated from high school and enlisted in the U.S. Army for three years. Met my husband, Ken, while he was serving in the PA National Guard and have been married 25 years.  August of 2005 we decided to move to Malden.  This is Ken’s home land and all of his family lives here.  So after the hustle and bustle of living just outside of Philadelphia, the quiet setting here has been a big change….. perhaps sometimes a little to quiet for a city girl.  I’m still adjusting and trying to teach myself to slow down.  Hopefully with time, I’ll learn to enjoy sitting on the front porch just a rockin’.

PS:  Everyone just calls me Cindy….. you can too.

 

Mary Martin

Born and raised in Joplin, Missouri. She is married to a Youth Minister and has 4 wonderful children…a girl and 3 boys.  Mary loves to learn new things and even more loves to teach things to others to help them learn more.  She is a full-time student at Southeast Missouri State University learning how to become an Elementary and Special Education teacher.   Besides school she teaches kids at her church and workshops here at the museum.   She loves to travel and has visited 46 of the 50 states in the U.S. and even Canada and Belize.  When Mary is not working, doing homework, or playing with her kids, she enjoys, well traveling, of course, creating art of all kinds, writing and illustrating children’s books, photography, being part of nature, reading, and visiting with friends and making new ones.   Her best friend is a preschool teacher in Murfreesboro, Arkansas and Mary loves to write her letters and send her presents.  Mary would like the chance to get to know you better. 
So, come by the museum and tell her “Hi!”

 

Denton Kooyman

 The museums facility manager was born in San Diego, California.  Attended school in Northern California and joined the NAVY in 1995.  Denton wanted to leave California but the NAVY wouldn’t let him.  While spending ten years in the NAVY he has been on four westpack cruises, been to Australia five times, Singapore three times, Hong Kong four times, Japan once, Guam three times, the Philippines once, Fiji once, and the Gulf over twenty  times.  He has also been to Hawaii ten times.  While doing all that, met his wonderful wife in the NAVY and had two young boys that are giving him everything he did to his mom, which now he regrets.  During his tenth year in the NAVY, between Fiji and Hawaii, he fell off a helicopter and broke his back which the doctors said he would never walk again.  He proved them all wrong.  After being medically discharged from the military he moved back with his wonderful wife to a little place in nowhere called Malden, Missouri, where he first got a job at a level five maximum security prison.  Found out it was slightly safer to work in a children’s museum.  He also coaches youth soccer , teeball and is a cub scout den leader . Denton loves watching football every Sunday and Monday.Go Seahawks!!!!!!!!!!!!