THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 18, 1996 TAG: 9604170133
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
AFTER GRADUATING from high school, Leila Tompert decided to delay her college education. For about 22 years.
During that time, she was busy majoring in homemaking with a concentration in raising her four children.
At the age of 40, however, Tompert decided to enroll at the Portsmouth campus of Tidewater Community College and to begin a second career.
``I had always wanted to go to college,'' she said, ``but I married right out of high school. I didn't know what I wanted to do, so I started with the basics.''
Tompert, 57, received an associate degree at TCC and became head teller at the west-end branch of the former Virginia National Bank in Suffolk. A year ago, she advanced to treasury management and now works at the downtown Norfolk branch of NationsBank.
In 1986, Tompert was invited to join Suffolk Credit Professionals International. And due to her dedication and enthusiasm, has moved up through the ranks from secretary, during her second year of membership, to serving two terms as local president in '92 and '93. Later, she began her advance through the state offices.
This weekend, Tompert will be installed as president on the state level at the Credit Professionals International Virginia State Conference at the Holiday Inn. This will be the first time in more than 30 years that the event has been held in Suffolk.
On Friday and Saturday, programs will include guest speakers, a luncheon and fashion show, an installation banquet and a reception for Tompert at the home of Anne P. Knight.
On Sunday morning, Tompert will preside over the breakfast meeting, which will include a devotional and motivational speaker.
Fifty years ago, the organization began as the Credit Women's Breakfast Club and the first 15 minutes of the meeting was broadcast on radio, Tompert said.
``Everyone is so loyal to the club,'' she said. ``We have four charter members and two with perfect attendance. It's an opportunity to meet other women and we have a lot of fun.''
Rose Jory, currently serving as president of the local chapter, presides over club meetings on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:30 a.m. at Bunny's Restaurant. Members include women whose professions or employers deal in credit, but not necessarily just those in banking, Tompert said.
``I started going to annual conferences,'' she said. ``They have such wonderful speakers that you're really `gung ho' when you get back. But due to corporate down-sizing, we have been losing members. It takes all my time and energy to do what I can to help the club.''
As state president, Tompert's duties will include reviewing the minutes of each club's meetings and sending out a newsletter every other month.
``I'll spread the news from all the clubs around the state,'' she said.
A native of Suffolk, Tompert is an avid reader who completes two mystery novels a week.
``I used to read under the covers with a flashlight,'' she said. ``When my children were small, we went to the library and got 30 books at a time. Now, I get books on tape and listen to one on the way to work . . . and I read on my lunch hour. I carry a book everywhere.''
She has been married for 11 years to Robert E. ``Bob'' Tompert, and the couple enjoys taking camping trips together.
``I carry my sewing on camping trips,'' Tompert said. ``I made 150 flags in a year and paid for a new sewing machine.''
A seamstress who advanced from ballet costumes to wedding veils, Tompert's latest creations are garden flags made from her original patterns.
Bob Tompert is a long-distance cycler who frequently enters bicycle races of 25 miles or more.
``For the first two years, I used to sit and wait for him to come back,'' said Tompert, who finally decided to join her husband in training and now enters the races with him.
Tompert's grown children are Ginger Jabour, an Air Force captain stationed at the Pentagon; Terri Sebastian of Chesapeake; Jay Holland of Suffolk; Dan Holland of Blountville, Texas; and a step-daughter, Beth DeGraff of Greensboro, N.C.
Tompert speaks with obvious pride of six grandsons and a granddaughter that have joined the family in the past four years.
``Now, I have a new career as a grandmother,'' she said, smiling. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Leila Tompert's duties will include reviewing the minutes of each
club's meetings and sending out a newsletter.
by CNB