By Diane Lee
About 30 people gathered in the basement of Uno’s Pizzeria in mid-September. What did they have in common? Each one retired from the Garrett County Health Department.
As they mingled between tables and got caught up on each other’s lives, the waitress took orders and distributed soda, water, and tea.
The real fun began as they waited for their chosen meal to arrive and participants introduced themselves, trying to remember how long they had worked at the Health Department, and revealing in what areas they had worked.
“At the end I was in charge of a budget of [millions of] dollars,” said Tammy Skiles, who retired several years ago as the chief fiscal officer for the Health Department, “I still can’t believe it. I can’t even find my phone!”
Jean Coviello, a nurse in Home Health, remembered when she and her work partner went on a home visit, “We sat on the couch, and it went down so far that we bumped heads!”
Brenda Pike reminded everyone about going to conferences down state.
“We couldn’t each have our own room, or even our own bed,” Brenda said, “I wonder who all have I slept with?” Everyone laughed as she recited a list of women she remembered sharing a bed with.
Brenda also remembered being an aide in Personal Health during a maternity clinic for the first time. After giving the doctor the wrong medical instrument for the second or third time, the doctor threw up his hands. The next day everyone received a memo, “All assistants will learn how to assist!”
Join the Garrett County Health Department Retirement Luncheon group on Facebook to see pictures and to keep up to date on the next retiree dinner scheduled for September 16, 2026.
The luncheon was organized by a small committee of retirees, including Kim Powell, Donna McClintock-Fost, Peggy Chappell, and Kathy Skipper. Please reach out to one of them if you want to be included on the list of invitees for the luncheon in 2026.
Cutline: Many different divisions of the Health Department were represented at the 2025 Retirement Luncheon in September. Pictured above at the beginning of the event are retirees Michelle Ford, Early Care; Cindy Mankamyer, Personal Health; and Tammy Skiles, Administration.
Contact: [email protected]
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