Paula Gilmartin, mother Paula remained sober for many years. She
worked as a receptionist for a medical
clinic and within a year she was
promoted to Administrator of the entire
clinic. She managed to keep the entire
family fed, clothed and warm. She never
remarried but did have some close
friends. Her relationship with her
children was sometimes difficult but
there was no denying the fact that she
and her kids were close. It wasn’t until
she decided to move back to New York
that things began to unravel again. She
had some difficulty finding a good job
and a decent place to live. Her son,
Andy, was having trouble with the law
and doing badly in school. Her attempt
to rekindle old friendships was
unsuccessful. So she began to drink
again.
When Paula was laid off from the job she
finally found in New York she decided to
move to Florida to be closer to her
sister. Most of the family was still in
the dark about her drinking. In Florida
things went from bad to worse. The
drinking became excessive and again she
was hospitalized. She also spent a few
harrowing days in a county
rehabilitation center. Upon her release
she never drank again. She stayed in
Florida and worked full-time in the
personnel department of the city of
Tamarac. Eventually she was offered
early retirement and left. To supplement
her income she worked part time at
Border’s Books.
Paula passed away on June 27, 2000, the
day after her 64th birthday and the
exact anniversary date of when the
family moved from New York to
California. She was visiting her
children in San Francisco and suffered a
heart attack during her birthday
celebration.
Paula never saw the completed film but
did view the 20 minute trailer. It was
extremely difficult for her to revisit
the past and hear some of the stories,
many of which she was not aware of. The
most difficult part was watching and
listening to her ex-husband who she had
not spoken to since the divorce, over 25
years ago. Seeing him again rekindled
the fear and desperation she felt when
he left her. Despite feeling the pain
all over again, Paula remained
supportive of the film and wanted
everyone to be honest. She understood
that the story was about a family’s
survival and she felt that was important
to share with others.
Every year since Paula’s death, her
children make a point of getting
together to remember her and be a
family.
John E. Trunk, father Jack continued to move from one job to
the other. He was difficult to track
down. His contact with his children was
infrequent and sporadic. He did pay some
child support and sometimes even gave
the children who were in college some
money.
Paula did have him arrested at one point
for not paying child support. He was
never officially charged and continues
to dispute the accusation.
When all the children became adults Jack
did attempt to begin a new relationship
with his children. He would call and
arrange a visit and everyone would make
the effort to see him. Then he wouldn’t
call again for years and years. He does
send everyone birthday cards but very
rarely calls.
Jack now lives outside Las Vegas with
his third wife. His wife’s mother has
recently moved in with him and between
running his tax service business and
taking care of an elderly mother-in-law,
he is extremely busy. He sees his
children infrequently. Mary, Maggie,
Lizzie and Julie talk to him on the
phone about twice a year. John hasn’t
spoken to him for ten years. Jenny and
Andy have no contact with him nor does
anyone in the extended family.
Recent update: Jack died on July 13,
2004 from a sudden heart attack.
Mary Trunk, Director/Oldest After returning from Florida, Mary was
in high school for one more year. She
then attended the University of
California at Santa Cruz and graduated
in 1984 with a degree in dance. Upon
graduation she moved to San Francisco
and started her own dance company. The
company performed throughout California
for over ten years. She received her MFA
in Film from the San Francisco Art
Institute in 1994.
Mary and Paul Sanchez have been
collaborating on performances, music,
dance, film and video for almost 17
years. They married in 1997. They moved
from San Francisco to Los Angeles in
2002 when their daughter Nuala was one
and half years old. Mary spent the first
year finishing “The Watershed” and
adjusting to Southern California. Paul
works as a Cinematographer on various
feature films and television series.
Maggie (Trunk) Light, sister Maggie was a junior in high school when
she returned from Florida. After
graduating she attended St. John’s
University in New Mexico for one year
then four years later she transferred
from Santa Barbara Community College to
the University of California at Santa
Barbara where she majored in English.
Three years later she received her
teaching credential. Maggie worked, took
out loans and received grants to attend
college. She is in her twelfth year of
teaching high school English and her
seventh year supervising the year book
at Santa Barbara High School. Maggie
lives in Carpinteria, California with
her husband and three young children.
John Trunk, brother John continued attending high school
when he returned to California from
Florida. After graduation he was unsure
of his plans and lived at home. Things
were not easy between John and his
mother. She wasn't happy with his "lack
of direction," and he just wanted to
live his own life. Early one morning,
the summer after graduation, he got on a
Greyhound bus and returned to Florida to
live with the Flanagans. There he worked
at various jobs and attended community
college. John reconciled with his mother
after she moved to Florida. Seven years
later he transferred to San Francisco
State University to study film and he
has been living in the Bay Area ever
since.
John lives in Novato, California with
his wife. He works as a Video Assist
technician
on feature films, commercials and
industrials. He helped set up the entire
editing system for "The Watershed" and
often was readily available by cell
phone to answer many troubling technical
questions.
Lizzie (Trunk) Udwin, sister Lizzie lived in Santa Barbara for five
more years upon returning from Florida.
She finished junior high and high school
there. After Mary graduated from college
Lizzie went with her to move to San
Francisco. There Lizzie attended San
Francisco State University and
transferred to the University of
California at Berkeley where she majored
in European History. Lizzie worked very
hard to put herself through school. Her
career has run the gamut from fashion to
ecology. She now works at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. She and her husband have no children and intend to keep it that way.
Jenny (Trunk) Welch, sister When Jenny finished high school in Santa
Barbara she accompanied her mother and
two younger siblings, Andy and Julie, to
New York. Paula had sold the house in
California and wanted to go back to her
roots. Initially Jenny lived in Montauk,
New York and proceeded to move around
the east coast attending various
community colleges until she settled
back in Santa Barbara. There she
attended the University of California at
Santa Barbara, working and putting
herself through school. She majored in
Environmental Studies.
Jenny lives with her husband and young son in Ventura, CA. She works as a land site consultant for a private company in Santa Barbara, California.
Andy Trunk, brother Andy accompanied his mother and two
sisters to New York where he finished
high school. His school years were
filled with strife and conflict. Andy’s
coping skills after the divorce were
based primarily on survival. When Paula
had a relapse and began drinking again
she decided to move to Florida to be
closer to her sister, Florence. Andy and
Julie went with her. Andy was with Paula
when she had to be admitted into a
county rehabilitation center for her
excessive drinking.
For a few years Andy moved to San
Francisco and tried working in the film
business. Many of his siblings were
living there at the time. It wasn’t too
long before Andy decided that the film
industry wasn’t for him. He now lives in
Florida and works for a local restaurant
in Key West. He is an exceptional golfer
and loves to spend his off time fishing.
He visits California at least once a
year when the entire Trunk Family gets
together every June.
Julie Trunk, sister Julie was seven when she and her
siblings moved back to California. When
she was 15 she accompanied her mother
and her sister and brother to New York.
She finished high school there and
attended Oneonta State College in New
York where she majored in Theatre Arts.
After graduation she decided to save
money and move in with her mother who
had moved to Florida. She lived and
worked there for a few years and saved
enough money to move to San Francisco.
Julie still lives in San Francisco with
her husband. She works long hours as a
Production Coordinator and Producer on
motion pictures, commercials and live
events. She is probably the funniest
person in the family.
The Flanagan Family, aunt/uncle/cousins Florence and Fran Flanagan live in the
mountains of North Carolina. Fran is
retired and enjoys playing golf and
spending time with his children and
grandchildren. Florence continues to
work part time as a Counselor for the
Grieving. She is also still a nurse.
Kevin Flanagan now lives in Annapolis,
Maryland with his wife and two boys. He
has traveled all over the world working
in the security department of the United
States Government. His two sons were
born overseas and grew up in Greece,
Africa and the US. Since the war in
Iraq, Kevin has traveled there numerous
times. The family hopes to stay in
Annapolis for a long while.
Michael Flanagan lives with his wife and
four children outside of Atlanta,
Georgia. He works as a Commercial Real
Estate Lender. Dan Flanagan lives with his wife
and three children in the same town as
Michael’s family. He is a Financial
Advisor for Morgan
Stanley. Mike and Dan often make the
three hour drive to visit their parents
in North Carolina.
Ellen Flanagan lives on Long Island with
her three children. She works for
Barrons’s Newspaper and during her spare
time she writes.
Michael Gilmartin, uncle Michael Gilmartin lives in Bay Shore,
Long Island with his second wife. He
works part time and is close to his two
children and his grandchildren.
John Gilmartin, uncle John Gilmartin is the Pastor of St.
Anne’s Catholic Church in Garden City,
New York. He was the former director of
Catholic Charities of Long Island.
Paula remained sober for many years. She
worked as a receptionist for a medical
clinic and within a year she was
promoted to Administrator of the entire
clinic. She managed to keep the entire
family fed, clothed and warm. She never
remarried but did have some close
friends. Her relationship with her
children was sometimes difficult but
there was no denying the fact that she
and her kids were close. It wasn’t until
she decided to move back to New York
that things began to unravel again. She
had some difficulty finding a good job
and a decent place to live. Her son,
Andy, was having trouble with the law
and doing badly in school. Her attempt
to rekindle old friendships was
unsuccessful. So she began to drink
again. 
Jack continued to move from one job to
the other. He was difficult to track
down. His contact with his children was
infrequent and sporadic. He did pay some
child support and sometimes even gave
the children who were in college some
money. 
After returning from Florida, Mary was
in high school for one more year. She
then attended the University of
California at Santa Cruz and graduated
in 1984 with a degree in dance. Upon
graduation she moved to San Francisco
and started her own dance company. The
company performed throughout California
for over ten years. She received her MFA
in Film from the San Francisco Art
Institute in 1994. 
Maggie was a junior in high school when
she returned from Florida. After
graduating she attended St. John’s
University in New Mexico for one year
then four years later she transferred
from Santa Barbara Community College to
the University of California at Santa
Barbara where she majored in English.
Three years later she received her
teaching credential. Maggie worked, took
out loans and received grants to attend
college. She is in her twelfth year of
teaching high school English and her
seventh year supervising the year book
at Santa Barbara High School. Maggie
lives in Carpinteria, California with
her husband and three young children. 
John continued attending high school
when he returned to California from
Florida. After graduation he was unsure
of his plans and lived at home. Things
were not easy between John and his
mother. She wasn't happy with his "lack
of direction," and he just wanted to
live his own life. Early one morning,
the summer after graduation, he got on a
Greyhound bus and returned to Florida to
live with the Flanagans. There he worked
at various jobs and attended community
college. John reconciled with his mother
after she moved to Florida. Seven years
later he transferred to San Francisco
State University to study film and he
has been living in the Bay Area ever
since.
Lizzie lived in Santa Barbara for five
more years upon returning from Florida.
She finished junior high and high school
there. After Mary graduated from college
Lizzie went with her to move to San
Francisco. There Lizzie attended San
Francisco State University and
transferred to the University of
California at Berkeley where she majored
in European History. Lizzie worked very
hard to put herself through school. Her
career has run the gamut from fashion to
ecology. She now works at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. She and her husband have no children and intend to keep it that way. 
When Jenny finished high school in Santa
Barbara she accompanied her mother and
two younger siblings, Andy and Julie, to
New York. Paula had sold the house in
California and wanted to go back to her
roots. Initially Jenny lived in Montauk,
New York and proceeded to move around
the east coast attending various
community colleges until she settled
back in Santa Barbara. There she
attended the University of California at
Santa Barbara, working and putting
herself through school. She majored in
Environmental Studies.
Andy accompanied his mother and two
sisters to New York where he finished
high school. His school years were
filled with strife and conflict. Andy’s
coping skills after the divorce were
based primarily on survival. When Paula
had a relapse and began drinking again
she decided to move to Florida to be
closer to her sister, Florence. Andy and
Julie went with her. Andy was with Paula
when she had to be admitted into a
county rehabilitation center for her
excessive drinking. 
Julie was seven when she and her
siblings moved back to California. When
she was 15 she accompanied her mother
and her sister and brother to New York.
She finished high school there and
attended Oneonta State College in New
York where she majored in Theatre Arts.
After graduation she decided to save
money and move in with her mother who
had moved to Florida. She lived and
worked there for a few years and saved
enough money to move to San Francisco.
Florence and Fran Flanagan live in the
mountains of North Carolina. Fran is
retired and enjoys playing golf and
spending time with his children and
grandchildren. Florence continues to
work part time as a Counselor for the
Grieving. She is also still a nurse. 
Michael Gilmartin lives in Bay Shore,
Long Island with his second wife. He
works part time and is close to his two
children and his grandchildren. 
John Gilmartin is the Pastor of St.
Anne’s Catholic Church in Garden City,
New York. He was the former director of
Catholic Charities of Long Island.