THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 25, 1994 TAG: 9408240204
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
TWO YEARS AGO, Terence ``Terry'' Healy was an officer in the banking industry. And he was fast becoming disillusioned with the corporate world.
His wife, Mary, was expecting their daughter, Rachel Kay, and weekly business trips interfered with his personal life, Healy said. Takeovers of smaller corporations by larger ones and employee layoffs also caused a general uneasiness.
``I was rebelling against becoming a corporate automaton,'' Healy said. ``There had been too many missed birthdays. I've always kept a journal and written reflectively, but for the past year I had experienced a great deal of despair. I felt that I was boxed and caged.''
Healy, now 31 and a resident of Gatling Pointe, began to express his thoughts in poetry - and he recently published a book of poems entitled ``Tidewater Musings.'' All proceeds from its sale will be donated to the Hope House Foundation, based in Norfolk.
Healy became interested in volunteering his services during a local 30k bike run sponsored by the foundation, which helps those living in halfway houses find jobs and return to the mainstream. He tried to raise financial support for the organization through individual and corporate donations.
Twice annually, the foundation sponsors the Stockley Gardens Art Festival in Norfolk where artists throughout Hampton Roads display and sell their works, Healy said.
He was invited to an organizational meeting and volunteered to find sponsors for a drawing at the festival.
A native of Arlington, Healy graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in psychology.
In 1986 he married Mary, his college sweetheart, and moved to Herndon, where he worked for Great Western Bank for 18 months. When the couple moved to Roanoke, Healy commuted to Herndon on a weekly basis until he was transferred to Culpeper.
``We didn't want to sell our house, and my wife was attending Georgetown University,'' he said. ``However, on Christmas Eve, 1988, I was out collecting money at a trailer park and I decided I didn't want to collect on Christmas Eve. I resigned my job in good standing.''
He joined Sovran Bank in Springfield in 1989 and was promoted to assistant vice president before being transferred to Norfolk and promoted to vice president. He continued to commute between home and office for two more years.
Healy returned to school part-time in 1990 and received his master's degree in liberal arts with a concentration in philosophy at Georgetown University last May.
``In 1992, I decided to quit the banking business and go out on my own,'' Healy said.
The couple moved to Smithfield, where Healy is now a consultant to small- and mid-market customers and helps collect debts. He also taught Western civilization, history and philosophy at Paul D. Camp Community College last semester and tutored in English, sociology and psychology.
Healy plans a partnership with his wife to establish a publishing company in Smithfield.
``We want to call it the Ranebeaux Press,'' Healy said. ``We'll write children's books, and my wife particularly wants to write about the subject of anorexia. We would also like to publish a literary magazine, `The Smithfield Review,' and solicit articles, poetry, reviews and commentary by Smithfield residents.''
In the fall, Healy said, he will teach a class in ``critical thinking'' at Paul D. Camp in Franklin and a Western civilization course in Suffolk.
Healy is the first vice president of both the Southside Chapter of the William and Mary Alumni Association and the Gatling Pointe Homeowners Association. MEMO: ``Tidewater Musings'' may be ordered through GNL Printing, Carrollton,
or through Terry Healy, 357-5146. The cost is $8.95.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Terence ``Terry'' Healy published a book of poems entitled
``Tidewater Musings.'' All proceeds will be donated to the Hope
House Foundation.
by CNB