Mike Tussey and his sister Sharon were ages 9 and 5 respectively when their baby brother was born in 1948. But by that time, their family was splitting up and living with grandparents due to parental alcohol abuse and “things that just were not discussed in those days.” Both siblings remember their brother toddling around, but at age two the baby was put up for adoption. Now after 65 years, thanks to Facebook and Search Squad, the trio will reunite July 31-August 2 in Cartersville, Georgia.
Mike will travel from Florence, Kentucky. His sister Sharon Horton will drive in from Hilton Head, South Carolina. Brother Rik Kurtz will drive up from Tampa, Florida. “Cartersville seemed like an ideal place to get together, away from the hustle and bustle of Atlanta,” said Mike when he called to inform the CVB about this special family reunion.
When the trio made contact in early May for the first time in 65 years, there was excitement and disbelief all around. Since then they’ve been reconnecting through photographs on Facebook and in numerous phone calls. They’ve found many similarities, particularly sharing an affinity for collecting – mostly model cars and bobbleheads.
Items still to be discussed are the years in between growing up in Ashland KY and with a military family in Columbus OH. They’ll discuss Vietnam, working on the Blackbird Bomber, and Mike’s careers as a radio broadcaster, sports announcer and police officer.