From China to Empire, diplomats make a local home

By Helen Westie
Sun contributor
A diplomat couple residing in Beijing is the new owners of the former Bed and Breakfast on South Bar Lake just off LaCore Road in Empire. Bruce Quinn and Teresa Howes, former attaches at the American Embassy in Beijing, purchased the property from William and Susan Chamby, who bought the house and land from Dave and Shirley Thorogood 20 years ago. Before that, Tim Barr had moved the house from the National Park and sold it to the Thorogoods. At one time, five cottages were on the property and were occupied by Air Force personnel. These are gone now, but a single building still stands toward the lake, and the new owners hope to convert this into a sauna.

When these world travelers were confronted with the question, “why Empire?” their response was immediate. “Empire offered us everything we were looking for, both in a vacation destination as well as a permanent home,” according to Bruce. Teresa’s response was, “having grown up in this area, Kaleva and Brethren, I feel at home in Empire because everything is so familiar – the forests, the wildlife, the tranquility and the strong sense of community. It is completely opposite to our life overseas.”
At present, Bruce is the vice president for Rockwell Automation, Beijing, China, a division of a Milwaukee company that provides automation systems, power control and information solutions to factories. Teresa is an agricultural consultant for her own firm, Howes Associates.
Having spent the summer in Empire with their children, Conor, 14, and Caroline, 11, (Bruce’s from a former marriage), they are due to return to their present jobs. The children say they enjoyed the beaches. Like their parents, they also hold diplomatic passports and speak Chinese. Bruce and Teresa had the house remodeled somewhat, and painted themselves.
Bruce and Teresa have had remarkable careers. A few years out of high school, Bruce joined the military and, before long, was part of the U.S. Special Forces Division. He was often required to work independently in high stress or hazardous environments. He trained Special Forces medics and became an advisor to foreign militaries in Latin America. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the State University of New York in Albany and a master’s degree from Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts. On leaving the army, he taught social studies in junior high and high school for two years at the American-Nicaraguan School in Managua. He also taught evening and weekend courses in U.S. history, culture, and English as a second language at a national university. After this, he became an attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. He advised U.S. companies and exporters on doing business in China. He traveled extensively throughout China; here he became acquainted with Teresa, also an attaché at the Embassy. After this, he became a Trade Negotiator for China in Washington, D.C. He had to monitor and enforce compliance with the World Trade Organization agreements among many other duties.
Teresa’s life also took her to faraway lands. She was an exchange student to Sweden when in high school in nearby Brethren. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in German and sociology, and received graduate assistantships to teach elementary and conversational German. After her undergraduate degree, she volunteered for the Peace Corps and was sent to Thailand where she designed, obtained funding for, and implemented projects on sericulture extension, clean water catchment and diversion systems and dry season irrigation in remote villages. She edited a monthly Peace After Volunteer publication. Interestingly, her mother Beverly Howes volunteered for the Peace Corps at the same time. She said she wanted her “own country” and was sent to Swaziland in Africa. Beverly, who lives in Oregon, visited Empire this summer.
After the Peace Corps, Teresa earned a masters degree in agricultural economics and landed a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She served as the agricultural attaché in China for three years, joining the U.S. Trade Representatives Office on her return to Washington to help negotiate China’s entry into the World Trade Organization. It was during this stint that Teresa and Bruce became an item, a couple so to speak. They moved to India together in 2003 where Bruce worked in the U.S. consulate and Teresa did consulting.
With 10 years of China experience under their belts, Bruce and Teresa were sent back to China last year. Before going, they “tied the knot”. They plan on remaining in China for the next two to four years. But the most exciting part of each year will be coming back to Empire. The whole family agrees.