Ann Marshall Johnson
503.656.4026

Do you remember Step Songs? Do you remember President Roosevelt announcing the bombing in Hawaii? Do you remember the sleigh ride with Hood horses? Muriel Duklauer Gantz has given up driving but she has a man who will drive her wherever she wants to go five days a week, so she is still active. Loves to play bridge and considering her age, life is good! Marilyn Hayes Dunshee has a senior apartment in a living arrangement. It has lots of activities. She still loves to sing, she sang in the Hood choir. She was quite vivid about voting. She thinks we should all get out to vote, which sounds like a real ’45er. She attributes her longevity to her good legs and she has one family that lives close and that is a joy to her. She had to cut our conversation off because she suddenly realized it was dinner time and salmon was on the menu! Bette Fischer Mayer was known at Hood as Boopie and sounded absolutely joyful while telling me that her home, where she lives by herself, in Delaware was at the moment in the middle of a blizzard. Her son was coming over to check on her and she had dinner cooking in the oven. In her long life she had prepared to teach but only did so for one year then became an accountant through returning to school. She continued to work as an accountant for many years. About me, Ann Marshall Johnson, I am still driving, living alone and occasionally entertaining, reading a lot and has activities like book club with old friends, going to the symphony, and an occasional movie. But mostly, loving the skills I was giving at Hood for teaching which my husband and I both did for 20-30 years. Three sons live nearby but my real joy is having nine great grandchildren three little girls and the rest boys. They come to visit and I just love to them to pieces! Let’s see if we can all continue down the path. There is always something to keep our hearts beating and we remember Hood days fondly.

I bring you news from The Nifty Nineties Class: I just celebrated my ninetieth birthday a month ago with family, cake And another occasion with friends and wine. Our class used to sing together, remember? “Fortyfive, fortyfive, we’re the class with the VIM, we’re alive!…on to Victory we strive!”1 Oh, yes! The war began in our freshman year and ended when we graduated. For me, that led to two years of teaching at the high school in Frederick, then married my Navy pilot with Phyllis Green McCardell and Connie Delphy attending at the church on Frederick’s courthouse square. Fast forward, I’ve been an Oregonian ever since, raising three sons and doting on seven grands and five ( soon to be six!) greatgrands. Bruce died ten years ago, I sold our beach house and have lived in a cozy condo ever since. I’ve been lucky to have good health, most of my marbles and manage to drive and keep up quite a few activities, book club, bridge, school volunteering, etc.Over the years, Carol Beal Head and I have been in touch and shared visits and Hood reunions. Carol is still in the home she and Ed shared for years and  her two sons and daughter, Suzanne, live near by. Ed died last year and Suzy has endured many surgeries from cancer, also lost her husband, but perseveres. Carol uses a walker, but has great home help so gets out for bridge and socializing. Fran Delaplaine Randall keeps busy writing books, has made a goal to complete a chapter a month of Frederick’s history and her family’s part in it. When we spoke, she was scheduled to present a talk that very afternoon. She stated, however, that she IS a dinasour, has no computer, and likes writing the old fashioned way.( That’s VIM !!I ) I spoke to Lois Long Harley’s son-in-law who reported Lois is now living in a Florida retirement home, and dealing with Alzhelmer’s in a memory area. Our best to her and daughter, Hope. Sarah Wrenshall Steinmark sent an email some time ago that she and her husband had moved to a lovely retirement home in Pittsburgh to be near their daughter. They have met some very nice people and ” deal with some ailments…to be expected at our age”, I think we all understand that! She remembers Hood days with great fondness and sends best wishes to all of the class of 1945!