Phil Dynan: Friends & Family
On this page I'm going to talk about my friends and family. I may not
be able to mention every friend right away, but will eventually attempt
to.
The first person I would like to mention is Ana Nelson,
who is my best friend and partner. I met Ana six years
ago at the opening of an exhibit of my work in Davis, California. She was
working at the gallery at that time.
Ana is an fine artist. You will also see her illustrations all over
my site, especially in the Adventures of Moto & Kozo.
My children are seen here on
our trip to Paris. Joseph is now 17 and Sara 18. Joseph is currently attending
school in Marshall, Minnesota and Sara is at UC, Santa Cruz.
Both Joseph and Sara are talented in art, music and both are athletic.
A few years ago at the SF Marathon 5K they each won in their respective age groups.
Joseph loves playing the drums. Sara is talented with the violin.
Some of their art can be found on my site. Both have designed original
pages, forms, buttons and web site animations for their own sites and mine.
This is us at a StarTrek convention in Vulcan, Alberta.
This is Sara and Joseph's mother, Ruthe Thompson.
There have been several people in my life as an Artist, who have been
consistently supportive of my "artist's" lifestyle and of my work.
My mother, Rosanell "Toni" Dynan has actually sold my work into
various businesses at times; Milo Marks
(pictured
left), one of the owners of Sacramento Steel Supply, has also been a steadfast
friend and has purchased work for his buiness and friends; Arnie Gatton
of Keokuk, Iowa, himself an artist, has also been supportive in buying and
promoting my work. Diana Atkins (Utah) is someone who has helped me greatly,
financially and by buying and promoting my work. Another very supportive
person is Jan Webb, my "Best Customer" and friend, who has collected
my work and been supportive in other ways.
But there are two people in my life who have gone beyond the "normal"
limits of love and understanding. My grandmother, Estella Cheatham, 
who passed away a few years ago was one of those
people. She supported me in every way possible - from loaning me her apartment
to promoting my work, to listening to me when I was despondent, to caring
about those people that I care about simply because I cared about them.
She was an extraordinary friend, relative and person in her own right.
The other person who has consistently, over many years, been supportive
in multiple ways, is Jeannette Nelson.
Jeannette has given of herself in so many ways that I would have a hard
time ennumerating them. She has displayed and promoted my work, given me
a place to work at times, been kind to those I care about and she is communicative
and supportive and "understanding"of my "lifestyle"
- no small effort. 
Jeannette teaches
"Theatre Appreciation" in London, and when available, this BUTTON
will link to some information about her most interesting class.
Here are some pictures of Jeannette and one
of her flat-where I am working.
The upper photo was taken at Jeannette's friend's (Ken Thomas) flat
in Watford. That's Joseph next to me,and Ken next to Joseph.
The picture on the right is by Ken, of me and Jeannette in Monterey,
California. I can still taste the roasted garlic we bought just before this picture was taken!
When I was growing up I had a brother, Joseph Lee, who was a fine musician.
Then, after a substantial gap in time, my parents gave birth to two more
children,
Mark James and Denise Ann.
I am not as close to them as I would like to be (I joined the Army at seventeen-and
left home when they were quite small) but, nonetheless, we enjoy each other's
company and visit when we can. Denise is with the California Highway Patrol
in their Golden Gate office. Mark owns a law firm in Tacoma, Washington.
In this photo, from right to left is my brother, Joe Lee; brother Mark,
sis Denise, 
me just before going into the Army, and Mom. The car
in the picture was my first vehicle, a 1946 Crosley ($150) which got about
50 m.p.g. and is now in a museum. (That camera Mom is holding is probably
in a museum too.....)
Pictured here are my parents, Phil and Toni. This shot was taken on
Mother's Day in Fairfield, California. 
(Ana
took the picture, while a stray cat ate our picnic lunch unbeknownst to
us.) My mom died in 2002 and is much missed.
My father spent a great part of his life coaching, teaching and promoting
sports. He worked for Central Collegiate (Saskatchewan), St. Louis University,
the University of Kansas, the Sacramento Spirits, and Western Illinois University
among other places. He has a place in the Football Hall of Fame for the
public relations work he has done. Currently, altho officially "retired",
he sits on an advisory board to the Hall of Fame and works at the Fairfield
Country Club. Mom also worked at the Country Club, doing a variety of duties
from bookkeeping to Tennis Club management.
