Hi, All—

Here is your unexpurgated version of the class news, which I will have to cut to 750 words for the magazine.

Gayle Hamilton Blakeslee and I attended the alumnae (I refuse to say alumni because we are alumnae!) lunch on Saturday, June 8^th.  Attendees:  Gayle Hamilton Blakeslee, Mary Jane Findlay Hodge, Nancy Fletcher Artlett, Janet Hobbs Cotton, Edee Howard Hogan, Carol Koreywo LeGore, Carol Wick Erickson, Rachel Ravey Johnson and her husband, Carl,  Nancy Rogers Huntsinger and her daughter, Susan, Patricia Shoaf, Roberta Wood Trimble and her sister, Paula Ellison, and I, Anne Wilson Heuisler.  Susan Huntsinger remarked that it is funny how so many of us called each other by our last names:  Fletch, Rog, Hammy, Willy.

We had a small contingent compared to previous reunions, but it was fun to see each other, and our class was recognized as usual for the large number of present and former trustees.  All were asked to stand and be applauded.

Edee was awarded special recognition for her gift of $250,000 to establish a master’s degree program in nutrition.  Jeannette Phelps was remembered for her bequest to the Virginia Lewis chair in history “in honor of her favorite teacher.”

If you looked at reunion pictures online, you saw that a lot went on that weekend besides the luncheon, but I haven’t received any reports. 

ELEANOR BROWN WHEELER

As usual, this is the last minute. Life has been far too busy this year. First and most important, my husband Phil is regaining his health. He has recovered from both flu and pneumonia (shots for both were up to date which probably lessened the severity.) Modern medicine was able to locate and stop significant internal bleeding. As this was happening, our beloved dog developed degenerative myelopathy and had to be euthanized.

Meanwhile, our new house is coming along nicely. It will be much more tailored to our current needs. It also has the advantage of being only 5 minutes from a major shopping area and a hospital. Our son is planning to build next door to us. It is also closer to my daughter and her family. Our grandchildren are now in college. Allison was excited to go to Nationals as part of the rowing team.  And we have a new dog, Lady (we share ownership with our son. We are too old to have a dog without a backup plan.)  I hope everyone reading this is doing well. As the saying goes, getting old isn’t for sissies.

MARY JANE FINDLAY HODGE

Having a wonderful reunion at Hood.  Then I am spending a few days with Rachel Ravey Johnson and family in Virginia.  Then back to Long Island to my physical therapy work as a clinical therapist, a “cat mother” and rescuer, and my wonderful daughter Clea who is married and lives nearby.

NANCY FLETCHER ARTLETT

The weekend was super—old friends, great weather, and more than enough food!  College looks marvelous—was just happy to be here.

 

GAYLE HAMILTON BLAKESLEE

We had a wonderful ten days in Paris in April—Yes, we were there for the fire, a couple of hours before it was discovered.

 

JANET HOBBS COTTON

I continue to serve as a Hood trustee.  The campus looks fabulous.  In September we graduate the first doctoral degrees.  Great academic progress.  I am a docent at the Phoenix Art Museum.  We enjoy our vacation home in Puerto Vallarta.

 

EDEE HOWARD HOGAN

Great to be at Hood again—Hood is looking good as are the Class of 59ers.  I spend the summer at Bethany Beach, Delaware.  If you are in the area, stop in.

 

CAROLE JONES ROGERS

My daughter, Caroline, and I hosted a mini-Hood reunion for Gayle Hamilton Blakeslee, Judy Moreland Granger, and Anne Wilson Heuisler at Caroline’s home on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.  We visited Ocean City, MD, and Chincoteague National Seashore, talked about old and new times and had a wonderful five days.

 

CAROL KOREYWO LeGORE

Great to see class members and to be on the gorgeous campus.  The luncheon was held in the new gym part of the wonderful sports complex.  No real news—both sons and families close by.

 

JUDY MORELAND GRANGER

2019 has turned out to be a busy year for us!  In February, we moved out of Sun City and into a senior apartment about twenty minutes away in downtown Georgetown, TX.  On June 9, Bob and I celebrated our sixtieth anniversary, and on June 12 I left for Baltimore to spend a week there and on the Eastern Shore with Hood roommate Carole Jones Rogers and dear friends Anne Heuisler and Gayle Hamilton Blakeslee.  On June 28 our grandson Barrett, son Bob’s youngest, is getting married in Flushing, Michigan.  Then, on July 30 we head to the mountains of western North Carolina to spend a week with my brother and sister-in-law, our annual escape from the Texas heat!  We are both well and thankful for that.

RACHEL BRUNDRED RAVEY JOHNSON

Husband Carl and I stayed in Shriner!  Wonderful memories of dear dorm pals, inc. Mary Jane Findlay Hodge, Bunny Johannesen-Lynn, and Sally Donahue (nee Sylvester).  My life has been one of wilderness adventure, kayaks, canoes, tobogganing, dog-sledding, and swimming every chance I get!!  Still going strong.  Loved college teaching, adore my two daughters.  My spouse (much younger than me!) is a jewel.  Hugs to all!

hemlock@email.com [not “g”mail!]

 

NANCY ROGERS HUNTSINGER

A real treat to see “old” friends and Hood—all of us—and the campus looking better than ever!  President Andrea Chapdelaine is a treasure!  Hood is so fortunate to have her—and Dave here!

Cheers and continued best wishes to all!

MARY-LOU TROUT HADDAD

Charles Haddad spearheaded the fund-raising to restore Boyertown’s State Theatre, serving as president of the State Theatre Preservation Society.  They raised over $100,000 to purchase a digital projector and wraparound sound system.  Gayle Hamilton Blakeslee, Carole Jones Rogers, Judy Moreland Granger, and I trekked to Boyertown on June 13^th for lunch with the Haddads.  To welcome us, Charles had mounted on the State Theatre marquee “Welcome Hood College 1959”!  Charles also had ordered a special Hood cake for our lunch.  He and Mary-Lou certainly do make us welcome!

CAROL WICK ERICKSON

I enjoyed our 60^th reunion.  I moved to a retirement community—Maris Grove, an Erickson community, last October.  I went to Spain in April with Edee and the Hood trip.  I am playing golf and bridge and enjoying my new situation.

MARY JANE WILLIS BOWMAN
Farragut, TN

Mary Jane Bowman, age 81, of Farragut, formerly of Kingston, Tennessee, and originally from Oreland, Pennsylvania, died on April 14^th. Teaching for 24 years at Cherokee Middle School, she taught 7^th-grade social studies and eventually created an 8^th-grade honors combined social studies/reading class. She was an avid tennis and bridge player, and an active member of Farragut Presbyterian Church where she sang in the choir.  She volunteered with several organizations including the Farragut Museum as a docent, the Tennessee History Museum, and the Food Pantry. A nature and animal lover, she enjoyed traveling about the U.S. and to national parks and historic sites with her husband and family, gardening and wildflowers, music at the symphony, and a book club. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in education and a graduate of Tennessee Technology University with a master of arts in elementary education. She is survived by her devoted husband of 59 years, Robert Bowman; daughter Debbie Cornett and son Robert Bowman Jr.

 

ROBERTA WOOD TRIMBLE

So happy to be here and rehash old memories.  I am so impressed with the campus, curriculum, and future plans.  It is all awesome!  Life has been great, and I perceive that my Hood experience was very foundational to that experience.  I still am working at a mental hospital full-time doing groups for outpatient therapy.  I am grateful.

 

ANNE WILSON HEUISLER

I went to Minneapolis in April to catch up with my son and family.

Now simmering in 95-degree Towson but enjoying my beautiful 7^th-floor view of North Baltimore’s forest of trees.

My 24 weeks of the Shakespeare course (How To Read and Understand Shakespeare) are half through, and I think Shakespeare’s Tragedies are coming next.  It is great fun to preside over a course with no student essays to read.  The elderly students are appreciative and enthusiastic, enjoying the opportunity for unstressful communication with the Bard.

 

Thanks to all who contribute news.  It’s fun to hear what you’re doing.

 

Anne

 

Anne Wilson Heuisler

1055 W. Joppa Road Unit 750

Towson, MD 21204

410 377 5026; aheuisler@comcast.net

 

Anne Wilson Heuisler
410.980.4747
aheuisler@comcast.net

Catherine Brooke Buckingham’s husband of 58 years, Ronnie, died in September. Catherine is looking forward to her two grandchildren’s weddings and two European trips. Eleanor Brown Wheeler and Phil continue to work on plans for the one-story house they plan to build this year.  Tarun Comegys Johns relished her two-week mission in Ghana in September. She also spent a week on safari in Kenya and in October explored Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains.  She visited her little sister, Susan Folsom ’61, in NC and then went to Frederick County, MD, for a family reunion. Frieda Cronhardt, 81, died peacefully on Friday, June 22, 2018.  Frieda graduated from Hood with a master’s degree in social work and spent most of her career as a social worker in Carroll County for the State of Maryland.  She was a veteran of the U. S. Marine Corps, where she served as a First Lieutenant. Nancy Fletcher Artlett is adjusting to life in the U. S. after many years in Australia.  She is finding the health system complex and the climate humid.  She hopes to get to the 2019 reunion but grieves the loss of Starr Culver Weihe, Margarita Sabater del Toro, Gail Mulliken Painter, and others and of Fritz Huntsinger, “who was like a brother.” Sandra Hanson Hargrave died on August 2, 2018.  Sandy and her husband, Louis Hargrave, raised their two sons in Ruxton, MD.  She also had a successful career in the real estate business.  Sandy is survived by her husband and her son, Lindsay.  Their other son, John, was killed in a traffic accident in 2016 at the age of 50. Sandy had 6 grandchildren. Edith Howard Hogan split Christmas between Memphis with daughter Chrysti and Milwaukee with son Terry and grandchildren.  She enjoyed a river cruise down the Danube, ending in Vienna. She has two trips planned, the Hood one to Spain and another later to Budapest and Vienna.  She is looking forward to seeing everyone at Reunion. Carole Jones Rogers wrote, “Our small but wonderful family, daughter Caroline, son Bob and granddaughter Olivia, had a great Christmas on the eastern shore of Virginia.”  She is looking forward to spending some time with friends in Phoenix and Tucson and then our 60^th Hood reunion. Anne Montesano Ellis had fun with her family at two graduations in Texas and Indiana. Last summer at Conesus Lake she read, gardened, attended plays and concerts, enjoyed family and friends, and gave weekly tours at Sonnenberg, a mansion with gardens in Canandaigua.  In September she traveled to Ireland. Back to Florida in October, Anne won third place in her community Christmas parade with her decorated two-wheeler bike! Judith Moreland Granger and Bob are planning a move into a small apartment this spring.  Judy and Bob will celebrate their 60^th wedding anniversary in June. Judy still loves bridge and book clubs, is happy to have two sons and their families plus two more grandsons in nearby Austin. Jeannette B. Phelps died at Roland Park Place in Baltimore, MD, on June 21, 2018. She was 81.  J. P. worked for American Airlines for 34 years in New York and Hartford. She was a great sports fan, supporting the NY Mets and the Hartford Whalers. When she retired, she moved to Baltimore, where she rooted for the Orioles.  She is survived by her siblings, Penelope Phelps of Cadillac, MI; Lancelot Phelps and his wife Lynn of Middlebury, VT; and Elisabeth and her husband Christopher Rector of Thomaston, ME; as well as seven nieces and nephews and nine grand nieces and nephews. Nancy Rogers Huntsinger’s husband Fritz passed away at home on April 17, 2018, at the age of 83. Myra Silberstein Goldgeier died on October 12 of cancer at the age of 80.  Myra earned a history degree at Hood and later a master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins University. In 1958 she married Sheldon Goldgeier, and they had two children, Jim and Eileen.  Myra taught history at Roland Park Country School in Baltimore for 30 years, serving as department chair for 15 years. She was a swimmer, bicyclist, gardener and lifelong learner. When they retired, the Goldgeiers moved to Easton, MD, in 2001. She moved to Durham, NC, two years ago to be near her daughter. In addition to her son, daughter and brother, survivors include two grandsons. Sheldon died in 2008. Mary-Lou Trout Haddad and Charles have moved to their duplex apartment in Boyertown, PA, and are adjusting to the new compact space. Full obituaries, if available, are included in the online column of class news.

1959
Anne Wilson Heuisler
410.377.5026
aheuisler@comcast.net

Eleanor Brown Wheeler and Phil have purchased property adjacent to the property of their son and his family. They are in the process of building their “forever” home – one story instead of three.

Tarun Comegys Johns enjoyed visiting many friends and cousins as far south as Ft. Myers, then house-sat in Aiken, SC, for three weeks. In September Tarun is going on a mission to Ghana, Africa, with the AMENYO foundation which focuses on education and medical care for the village of Kepenoe. Her boat is in the water at Belfast, ME, and summer sailing has begun, though it has been very cold, “44 degrees as I write.”

Mary Ann Guild Simmons is happy that we had our class had our 50th anniversary party in her daughter’s party barn. Mary Ann still goes to the concerts at Hood and the Pergola party.

Edith Howard Hogan stays active, engaged, and adventurous “because I have a severe case of FOMO…fear of missing out!” “Don’t slow down,” she advises. “Nature does that to us anyway, so stay determined and disciplined. Be determined to age well, which is different from aging.”
Edee walks, swims, and practices yoga. Edee shows the single men and women in her neighborhood how to look ahead, cook ahead, and plan ahead. Edee’s favorite charitable organization is So Others Might Eat (or SOME), an interfaith, community-based organization that exists to help the more than 8,000 men, women, and children who are homeless in the nation’s capital.
Carole Jones Rogers and her family celebrated all of their birthdays by gathering in Columbus over Memorial Day. A weekend highlight was seeing The Book of Mormon, which they all loved. Carole spent three nights with me in Baltimore, during which we visited Mary-Lou Trout Haddad in Boyertown, PA. Then she headed to daughter Caroline’s Eastern Shore retreat for a respite in sun and sand.

Judy Moreland Granger helped Bob recover from February knee surgery. In May her family celebrated her 80th birthday. The Grangers are looking forward to a family reunion near Lake Michigan in July.

Jeannette Phelps had a fall in the spring which sent her to the ER and has been in Health Care at Roland Park Place for three months. She is hoping to return to her apartment soon.

Margarita Sabater del Toro daughter, Marita del Toro-Sabater ’83, wrote to tell us about her mother’s later years. After a successful career of working in business management, Margie was buffeted by health problems until she was bedridden. Her children and grandchildren remember her as a great mother, wife, and grandmother. Marita says, “She was a woman who would be at home in today’s generation, as she was continually breaking career barriers and expecting (and getting) equal treatment. She was modern, fun, irreverent, and brilliant. Her legacy also included many of her children’s friends whom she ‘adopted’; these were kids with not-so-great home lives who would stay over for a night, a month, or even years. She treated everyone as hers, with chores and scolding’s and hugs. She died young, in her early 70s, the day before her birthday. She really was ready to go by then, and we were heartsick at seeing her suffer.”

Myra Silberstein Goldgeier continues to be happy with her choice to live in The Forest at Duke retirement community. She traveled back to Easton, MD, in June for the dedication of a new temple, a new space for the B’nai Israel congregation Myra and Sheldon joined when they moved there in 2001. Myra also was preparing to attend her grand-niece’s wedding on Nantucket in mid-June. On the way from Nantucket, Myra and Eileen planned to visit Hood classmate Nancy Smith Grissino.

Mary Lou Trout Haddad and Charles are in the process of putting their beautiful historic house in Boyertown, PA, on the market and renovating a duplex. They have planned a spacious one-floor apartment with an additional apartment on the second floor for son Phillip. Gayle Hamilton Blakeslee drove Carole Rogers and me from Cockeysville, MD, to Boyertown for a visit and lunch with Mary-Lou. Charles had ordered a special cake for the Hood girls

Carol Wick Ericksen is putting their house on the market, to move in October to Maris Grove, an Erickson community in Concordville, PA. She recently moved Leif to a skilled nursing facility nearby.
FRIEDA CRONHARDT, 81, resident of the Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster, Maryland, died peacefully on Friday, June 22, 2018. Born April 22, 1937, in Baltimore, Maryland, she was the daughter of the late Henry A. Cronhardt Sr. and Frieda Sauter Cronhardt. Frieda graduated from Hood College with a master’s degree in social work and worked for most of her career as a social worker in Carroll County for the State of Maryland. She was a veteran of the U. S. Marine Corps and served as a First Lieutenant. She was an avid reader and a cat lover. She is survived by her brother, Henry A. Cronhardt Jr. and his wife, Margaret, of Cockeysville, Maryland, and their children and grandchildren. Graveside services were planned for June 29 in Westminster Cemetery.

Memorial donations were designated for
Carroll Lutheran Village Resident Assistance Fund
300 St. Luke Circle, Westminster, MD 21158

Carroll Hospice
292 Stoner Avenue, Westminster, MD 21157

Thanks to all who contribute news. It’s fun to hear what you’re doing.

Anne

Anne Wilson Heuisler
410.377.5026
aheuisler@comcast.net

To classmates:

Here is the unexpurgated version of the December 2017 class of 1959 news.

If you have a classmate/friend who does not use email, please print out a copy and send it to her and encourage her to mail me her news.

TARUN COMEGYS JOHNS

Facebook post 10/12/17

This is the story of late August, Sept, and early Oct:  After all the work on Trillium this summer, there was little time left to sail, but Lassie and I had a glorious sail to Ram Island, back to Sears Island, and tacked back to the harbor. Belfast harbor is a beautiful place to be with sights of all kinds in every direction. Savannah decided at her birthday party that she should come home with me for a visit. We climbed the fire tower at the welcome center, took a walk, and she found her lobster buoy swing right away. The Mountain Ash filled with berries was a beautiful canopy for her. The next weekend brought Eric and Linda to indulge with me in a special evening dinner at Blair Hill Inn. A special treat to ourselves which everyone needs occasionally. The next day the three of us weeded, pruned, and planted a huge chrysanthemum in Ken’s garden at the cemetery. A huge job made simpler by many hands! Linda had to go home, but Eric stayed another day and we played tourist in Rockwood after church at the Log Chapel. Lassie and Wayde came up to celebrate their Sept birthdays at the Moosehead Family Campground. They washed the very high windows in my house and I joined them for a steak dinner over their campfire topped off with birthday cake. I so appreciate the help the kids give me. Belle’s belles, the granddaughters of my grandmother Belle, had their annual reunion in Maine this year. It was so good to share our beautiful region with them and the foliage did develop during their stay after a pale beginning. They left on Oct 5^th and by the 7^th when I left, the foliage had become full blown. I am on my way to sea again, this time with Capt. Michael Pittinger and Betsy Pittinger to deliver a 49′ sailboat from Deltaville, VA, to Clearwater, FL. This will be a 24/7 schedule around Cape Hatteras down the coast past Cape Fear, through the Keys and back up the Gulf of Mexico to Clearwater. I shall post a site on my page where you can watch our progress if you wish.

 

NANCY FLETCHER ARTLETT

3/19/2017

The sorting process in a hoarder’s closet is more paperwork than I’ve ever had!  Hopefully I am beginning to see the end of a long procedure in Probate.  I am emptying the house – enough responsibility for one person.  They [the Artletts] have a 2-car garage, a boat shed and a rumpus room with pool table to sort out!  (packed beyond words!)  I just want to get back to Virginia for my 80^th birthday in August. My Little Sister, E. Paige Wisotzki ’61, died recently.  I had 6 deaths reported in one week.  Each one feels like a chunk of skin has been cut out of me.  So sorry to hear about our May Queen and my roommate, Starr Culver Weihe.  Good thing we do not know what’s coming!  Impossible to predict! My first trip to Virginia for Thanksgiving and Christmas was overwhelming – after 25 years on the beaches here!  The holiday activities plus the wedding – seeing family and old friends with decorations everywhere, good music, special programs, a variety of food, wonderful company – everything was super.  It was hard to return to Sydney.  Stopped to see Nancy Rogers Huntsinger  and Fritz on my return trip.  They are terrific hosts! Summer was hottest on record here.  Now March has been the wettest month in history and it’s not over yet.  Flooding is continuous in some areas.

 

GLORIA FRIEDMAN PACHINO GREENSPUN

10/10/17 Here I am again with some good news!  Alex PACHINO (Bart’s oldest son) is touring with Noah Cyrus (Miley Cyrus’ younger sister) as her lead guitar.  They are the opening act for a two-month tour with Katy Perry!  While they are in the New York area–they played Madison Square Garden last week– they are going to make an appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show tomorrow night (October 10^th)  He will accompany Noah (maybe singing with her) when she performs her new single out called “Again”.  It is very exciting for them and all of us! (11/5/2017)  Due to many requests for this information, I am sending this update on The Brave.  Tomorrow night, Monday, November 6^th, 10:00 p.m. On NBC, the episode being aired is one that was written by Jamie.  I do hope that you are enjoying the exciting and thrill-packed episodes that have preceded hers.  You know I am always happy to see her name appear, and, so very pleased to know that most of you are watching this show.  Hopefully, it will continue to be a success!

Thanks so much for letting me brag and be her fan club president!

 

MARCIA KING WILKE

The big events in my family have been the high school graduations of three grandchildren. My grandson is now in the Army at Ft. Sill, OK, and the twin granddaughters are at Western Washington University in Bellingham in the northwestern corner of the state. They are not rooming together, but their dorms are close to each other. The other grandchildren will soon be 12 and 14, now in 8^th and 6^th grades. I will fly east Nov. 1^st to visit a nephew/niece and to attend my matron-of-honor’s 80^th birthday celebration in Columbus, OH. I hope to see former neighbors as well. I continue to teach two adult students and to direct the hand-bell choir at my church. Also, I volunteer once a week for the soup kitchen at my church.

 

JUDY MORELAND GRANGER

Fall is teasing us here in central Texas, at least the nights are finally cooler.  We put about 7500 miles on our old but comfortable car between early May and mid-October.  Our granddaughter, Lacey Carter, graduated from the University of Colorado, and after a lovely visit during that exciting time with Don and Karen Nordberg Sanders ’60, we headed to California to spend a week with Bob’s brother and sister-in-law. On the way we visited 3 of Utah’s fabulous national parks, Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Zion–amazing! While in California we went up to Sequoia N P, adding a fourth wonderful park to our list.  Coming home we came within 60 miles of the Grand Canyon, so made the trip in time for breakfast at the El Tovar, overlooking the canyon itself.  In August we drove to North Carolina to my brother and sister-in-law’s home in the western mountains, right under the direct path of the solar eclipse.  Couldn’t believe it, but rain drove us indoors where we watched it on TV! On our way home, via Columbus, Ohio, and a visit with my 94-year-old aunt, we met Carole Jones Rogers for breakfast before heading across I70 to Columbia, MO, and a weekend with our eldest and his wife.  I said that was the last road trip for both the car and me, but October found us going 1200 miles without ever leaving Texas.  We headed for the border and spent a long weekend at Big Bend NP. We don’t need a border wall there, huge cliffs bordering the Rio Grande, a beautiful place. We’re hanging in there health-wise, see nearby family often, feeling pretty fortunate!

 

GAIL MULLIKEN PAINTER

A message from Gail’s children, Greg Painter and Cheryl Cassella, 8/28/2017:

 

Yesterday [8/27/2017], we lost our mother, grandmother, sibling and friend, Gail Painter. Gail bravely faced her diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and blessed all of us with her beautiful smile right up until the end. Gail was filled with wonder of the world around her, and she traveled and explored the world for most of her adult life. She and Roger lived and raised our family in California, Australia, Kwajalein, Minnesota and Washington. Gail worked as a travel agent, opened her own travel business, Global Travel, and attempted to see and explore as much of the world as she could. Her sense of civic pride and duty was an essential part of who Gail was. She was devoted to her church and Rotary and worked tirelessly to give back to the community that she loved. A memorial service in her honor will be held sometime in January 2018 to allow all family members to attend. Information will be shared as we confirm details. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association. We will miss our mom more than we can express. We are so lucky to have been a part of her world. We know she would want all of us to find a way to smile at someone today in her honor.

Love, Greg and Cheryl

 

JOANNE PEPER MILNOR

10/9/17 I’ve been in PT for several weeks and seeing some progress restoring my back muscles after open back surgery. I have been pronounced in “remission” for my auto-immune disorder, dermatomyositis. Now for the fun news: I am still active with the local symphony. Just sponsored and staged a flash mob of the Carmina Burana (type in for You Tube: Long Bay Symphony, Carmina Burana flash mob Dillards) for our season opening concert & celebrating their 30^th year. River cruise on the Rhine and Mozelle rivers, Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland this past August/ Sept. and had a good R&R trip. Active in my church fundraising program and supporting numerous arts orgs. in the area. Still having fun and learning how to get around on a cane.

 

JEANNETTE PHELPS

Getting blood drawn once a week since 2009 to check platelet count.  Feel fine otherwise.  Vision impaired. But getting around to meet my needs.  Doing crossword puzzles and reading on an e-reader so that I can change the font size.  Cataract surgery was a big help.  I’m ageing as gracefully as I can.

ANNE WILSON HEUISLER

I have a new home and a new knee.  In August I moved to Blakehurst, a retirement community in Towson, MD.  I love the ease and serenity of this carefree life.  I had to resign my job at Stevenson University because of a flare-up of my right knee, so I bit the bullet and scheduled replacement surgery.  I found it to be not nearly as bad as I had feared and am perking along in recovery. I met a resident here who is a Hood alumna—Mary Dickinson Cohen ’61.  We’ve had fun reminiscing, especially about the music faculty and classes. I heard from my little sister, Jeanne Duncan Jehl ’61, and we plan to have lunch after Thanksgiving. Gayle Hamilton Blakeslee and I are meeting Mary Louise Trout Haddad and Carol Wick Ericksen at Buckley’s Tavern (Wilmington, DE) on November 18^th.

Thanks to all who contribute news. It’s fun to hear what you’re doing.

 

Anne

 

 

If you have a classmate/friend who does not use email, please print out a copy and send it to her and encourage her to mail me her news.

TARUN COMEGYS JOHNS
The year of 2016 has been an amazing adventure. Last winter after spending a week on a friend’s schooner in Key West, I drove north visiting friends along the way to my ‘winter home’ in Reisterstown. Early Feb I flew to the Bahamas for six weeks of cruising on Finesse, the boat I had crewed on for two weeks earlier in Oct. My captain considered me to be a co-captain which allowed me to do much of the navigating building my own confidence. We sailed from Abaco Sea down through Eleuthera and crossed over to the Exumas and sailed down to Staniel Cay. Snorkeling, fishing, iguanas, dolphins, hiking over the islands, meeting so many wonderful folks — it was truly a stress-free paradise and a trip I shall never forget. The big item this summer was spending time on my boat in City Island, NY, then sailing it to Belfast, ME. I did bring a crew person along to handle the anchor and be an extra hand in many other ways. In the past two years I have sailed the East Coast except for the last 100 miles to Canada — next summer — and from the north of the Abacos to the south part of the Exumas. I can’t believe I had such opportunities! I plan to head south after the first of the year and back to sea, but just found out I have a triple root canal first.

STARR CULVER WEIHE SHERMAN
Obituary for Starr Culver Weihe Sherman
Dr. Starr Sherman passed away peacefully on December 13, 2016 at Canterbury Tower in Tampa. She was 79. Starr was born on April 10, 1937 in Salisbury, Maryland. Her father was the editor of the Democratic Messenger and her mother wrote the publication’s society column. From age 6 to 14 Starr wrote the weekly column titled Starr Reporter which chronicled the young children’s news from the backyards of her hometown of Berlin, Maryland. She then covered the teenage activities throughout Worcester County. She never ceased to love Berlin where she grew up and she made many visits there throughout her lifetime. Following high school graduation from St. Mary’s Seminary (now known as St. Mary’s College of Maryland), Starr attended Hood College where she majored in journalism and the sciences. She graduated from Hood College in 1959. She was accepted into the Beta Beta Beta national honor society of the Biology Academy. Based on her performance at Hood College, Starr was awarded a scholarship to study at Duke University’s marine laboratory at Beaufort, North Carolina. Starr earned a Master’s Degree in Zoology from Duke University. She then earned a Doctorate in Education from Nova Southeastern University. Her doctoral dissertation included the development of a model for a biology course that would prevent duplication with elements in multi-collegiate programs.Starr moved to St. Petersburg in 1961, where she taught at the newly established Florida Presbyterian College (now Eckerd College) as a biological science instructor in the Natural Sciences Department. During her years as a biology instructor she was instrumental in developing curricula for the biological and physical sciences. Starr coordinated student research across campus lines to laboratories at the University of South Florida Marine Science Department and the Veterans Administration Center at Bay Pines. Other professional activities included serving on the Advisory Board of the Magnet School Assistance Grant and the Center for Advanced Technologies at Lakewood High School and the SAC Visitation Committee for Clearwater High School. Starr received nation-wide honors as a recipient of the National Teaching Excellence Award. In their book titled Shared Vision – A Study in Excellence, renowned educators Dr. John Roueche and Dr. George Baxter cited her teaching techniques and their application to large lecture classes. She was also recognized in the Who’s Who of American Women. While Leningrad, Russia still lay largely out of contact behind the Iron Curtain, Starr managed to arrange a personal visit in the mid-90s to the President of Leningrad University, Rector Stanislav Merkuriev and conveyed an invitation from St. Petersburg Junior College President Dr. Carl Kuttler for a visit. The Rector came to St. Petersburg later that year accompanied by Anatole Sobcheck, the Mayor of St. Petersburg, Russia.  Starr retired from St. Petersburg Junior College in 1993. At President Kuttler’s request, she returned as Acting Director of the Science Department from 1996 to 1997.  Starr held memberships in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute of Biological Science, the American Association of University Professors, the American Association of University Women, the Florida Academy of Science and the Florida Association of Community Colleges.  Starr was a member of the Board of Trustees of the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts for 12 years where she served as Secretary and member of the Executive Committee, and Chair of the Committee on Office of Trusteeship. She also served on the search committees for selection of the Director in 2000, and selection of the architect for the Hazel Hough Wing.  Starr was a member of the Board of Trustees of Community Action to Stop Abuse, and she served on the Eckerd College Library Committee. She held memberships in the former St. Petersburg Symphony Guild (now the Florida Orchestra Guild), the Pinellas County Dental Auxiliary, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the St. Petersburg Country Club, the Vinoy Club, and the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.  Starr found time to indulge in her personal interests in classical piano, English history, art and art history, and world travel while volunteering for community service. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church where she served on the Scholarship Committee, and Meals on Wheels. Starr married Dr. Rudolph Weihe in 1967. Dr. Weihe was a leader in the Florida dental profession. He passed away in 2009. In 2010 Starr married Peter Austin Sherman, who passed away in 2016. She is survived by three step-children and their spouses: Sally Weihe Wheeler and her husband Duke in Largo, Florida, R. Geoffrey Weihe, DDS, and his wife Anne in Tampa Florida, and Bruce Arthur Weihe, J.D. and his wife Lisa in Ft. Lauderdale. Her surviving step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren are Gregory Wheeler and his wife Donna in Ocala, Florida, Geoffrey Wheeler and his wife Hollen with their children Reagan and Hutchin in Midland, Texas, Taylor Weihe in Brooksville, Florida, Christian Weihe and his wife Lora with their children Jake and Luke in Tampa, Florida, Brooke Edge and her husband Dustin with children Violet and August in Kentucky, Katherine and her brother William Weihe in Idaho, Laura Weihe in Atlanta, Georgia, Alexandra Weihe in North Carolina, and Dana Thompson in Gainsville, Florida. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.  The family gives its heartfelt thanks to Joyce Mitchell of Canterbury Tower and caregivers Peggy Prince, Coller Williams, Indiana Williams, and Bay to Bay Assisted Care for their exceptional dedication. A memorial service will be held at the Anderson – McQueen Funeral Home at 2201 Dr. MLK Street, North in St. Petersburg on Saturday, January 28 at 11:00 a.m. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Starr’s name to the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts or LifePath Hospice.

NANCY CURRAN CROWLEY
My news is sad, my dear Joe passed away in February. As a result there have been many changes in my life. My family, who do not live close, are concerned about me living alone. As a result, I will be moving in July to a smaller home near close friends.

NANCY FLETCHER ARTLETT
My situation has moved forward! The house was sold two weeks ago. I am waiting for the closing settlement. Then I can purchase my airplane ticket and fly home after a long duration of stress. Cleaning out a house Frank built in 1947 has not been easy…..especially with no communication with his family. The next chapter in my life has to be happier! I will stop to see Nancy and Fritz in California before heading to Virginia. Sally will take me to her home to recuperate. I am tired. So my email address will change and I should be in limbo for a while. Shipment is scheduled for June 8th. I am taking inventory now. A quilter has a bit of baggage!@?! But I am glad I can see the tunnel….looking forward to the light at the end! People have been most helpful and encouraging. I will stay with a neighbor for my final days in Sydney. There are always last minute duties in any move. I have been saddened with the loss of Starr…..my dear roommate, and Paige Wizotski…my Little Sister.  We have to be thankful for each day as we approach more aging! My heart went pitter patter when I found that beautiful picture of our May Queen with Dr. Truxal. I could not throw it away!

MARY ANN GUILD SIMMONS
As Elaine Stritch so famously sang…..”I’m still here!” In my house we built in ‘89, coping with my garden, which I love, but can’t work anymore. I do have a good bit of help, which is a mixed blessing. Some things get done wrong, like cutting my hellebores to the ground when what I said was peonies! Gardener did string 3500 white lights in my oak tree for Christmas, so that is my gift to the neighborhood. This was another traveling year, but just short jaunts. Bermuda, Cuba, Boston, NYC [saw The Humans], Providence. I play a lot of duplicate and attend tournaments. Cuba was a Road Scholar trip………to a 3rd world island. I can’t recommend it after spending $4000 for one week. My big flight was to Sophia Bulgaria for a trip up the Danube. It’s not at all blue but it is beautiful. The tiny towns, all in perfect condition and thriving, reminded me of Ravensberger puzzles. They are picture perfect and the food is fabulous…..every day. We finished in Vienna, Budapest and Prague, the last my favorite of all the cities.
I had another major major foot surgery. I’ve got to quit trying to improve my feet. The recuperation is arduous. Our sad news is that Lisa’s husband told her he was divorcing her in Jan and it was final in Nov. That’s what lots of $ can do. She has moved to a rental and done 2 semesters at GW towards a Master’s in Landscape Design. You remember that wonderful party barn and those gardens she devoted 10 yrs of her life developing. He found a recently divorced employee of interest and moved her in, age 48. He’s 65. C’est la vie. Son is in his 20th year of running a small landscaping company. He is one hard worker. Grandson will be at the Inaugural with the National Guard. Speaking of which……won’t we all be in for a riotous year emanating from DC/ NYC. At my age I consider myself just a spectator. I can only make a difference in Frederick. BTW…the new Hood pres is charming and a real people person. She’s out in the community and remembers names easily. Frederick itself is so different from what it was in the fifties that it is scarcely recognizable, except for the famous spires. Carroll Creek has 1000 linear feet of water lilies and lotus and is a larger water garden than the one at Longwood!!!! Our restaurants are a destination for many. If you care to drive up one fine day I’ll walk you around and we’ll have lunch. The good people here just raised 15 million in 3 years for a new cancer center, paid for before groundbreaking. 5/29/17 GAd! Looking at 80 is serious and calls for a year of celebrations. I’m starting early with a windjammer cruise in ME..sailing “downeast.” I’ve wanted to do that since I was a child. Most trips are to cities to play in duplicate bridge tournaments. I meet lots of nice people, do some sightseeing and get away for a bit. I tried online dating. No luck there. I’ll just have to make my own fun. So, all is well here.

GAYLE HAMILTON BLAKESLEE
Natalie and I had a lovely 10 days in Rome, a city we have lived in and love, in April. We are traveling all we can while we can, age is creeping up on us.

EDEE HOWARD HOGAN
As with many of the Class I celebrate my 80th on May 19th. At Easter, son Terry included me in the visit to youngest granddaughter (Junior at Miami of Ohio) who is spending Junior semester at their campus in Luxembourg. We had a delightful family trip starting in Luxembourg, going by train to Amsterdam for the tulips and tours. and then to Zurich. Great fun. WiIl be celebrating at a Grand Gathering friends have arranged and daughter Chrysti is coming from Memphis and many friends and other family will come also. Then it’s time for my annual move to Bethany Beach May 20 through the end of September. All are welcome. My cell is 202 744 5262; just give a call and there is lots of room for guests.
In March had a great trip to Chile and then to Ushuaia in Patagonia Argentina, the end of the world, which was breathtaking and we lucked out with wonderful weather.

CAROLE JONES ROGERS
Much to my chagrin (!), I was forced to celebrate my BIG birthday with Hood friends in Baltimore and with my family in DC. Caroline arranged for two nights in a hotel and tickets to the African-American Museum, which is very interesting and well done. I learned a lot. Back in Baltimore, Gayle Blakeslee drove Anne and me to Buckley’s Tavern to meet Mary-Lou Haddad for lunch. Then back to Columbus, picking up son Bobby in Frederick on the way.

ANNE MONTESANO KERPSACK ELLIS
12/23/16 Anne wrote at Christmas that she is happy to have moved to Emerald Lakes, Florida, a year ago. Her whole family gathered there for their second annual Florida Thanksgiving. Anne had recently returned from a Viking cruise of the Holy Land, Greece, and Italy. She was amazed by the many structures of antiquity.

JUDY MORELAND GRANGER
We had a fabulous time on our road trip–stayed 5 days in Golden, CO, with Don and Karen Nordberg Sanders ’60, while we were at our granddaughter Lacey Carter’s graduation from U. of Colorado in Boulder. Wonderful visit, so proud of Lacey, Sanders are great hosts. Then we headed west to spend 5 days with Bob’s older brother and his wife in Bakersfield, CA. On our way we saw Arches, Bryce Canyon (in the snow on May 16!), and Zion National Parks. Breathtaking, amazing, awe inspiring, I can’t say enough about them. Then in CA we went up to Sequoia NP, another amazing spot. On our way back home we stayed in Williams, AZ, got up early and had breakfast at El Tovar, the lodge in the Grand Canyon. Topped our list of wondrous parks, hope everyone has had the chance to see these amazing places! Use what you can; you can see that I am still in awe at the wonder of the five parks we’ve just seen.

JOANNE PEPER MILNOR
I’m just back from a river cruise on the Elbe River, Berlin to Prague. A most enjoyable and educational tour. Very cold over Easter with snow/sleet. Back home with more doctor appointments for the next step in treatment for back problems. Busy with the Long Bay Symphony serving on the planning committee for their 30th Anniversary Season, 2017-18. I will river cruise again in the fall from Basel Switzerland to Amsterdam. Will celebrate 80 this summer and still “keepin on” as they say.

JEANNETTE PHELPS
Had her big birthday, treated to lunch at Petite Louis and Peppermill. Roland Park Place is expanding, causing some disruption now but with big plans for the future. J.P. and I were victims of a truck “rolling coal” on our last outing. She told me she recently saw a news report about the absurd practice. J. P. said she is very good at self-amusement as long as she has her word puzzles and solitaire. J.P. and Joan Kirkpatrick keep in touch during the baseball season. J.P. received a note from Starr’s aide acknowledging the birthday card J.P. had sent after Starr died.

BARBARA SUE SCHANBACHER PEAY
We are gratefully still enjoying a wonderful life. We are so very lucky. We have been married 57 years. We have 3 children – our daughter, Elizabeth, in NYC with three granddaughters; two sons in northern CA, each with two sons. They have a very respected vineyard — Peay Vineyards — our older son, Nick, grows the grapes, his wife, Vanessa, is the winemaker, and his brother, Andy, sells the wine and runs the business. Nick Sr. still works full time as an investor. I retired from event planning some years ago but have stayed on several boards and taken up yoga since I can no longer play tennis. Can’t think of anything terribly fascinating going on at the moment.

MARY-LOU TROUT HADDAD
12/18/2016
Our daughter and her family are coming from Syracuse for 3 days! Sarah, her oldest, graduated from UVM and teaches in Warren NH ( pop. 900) now, so she has 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades in Social Studies, about 6 to 8 students in each class. What a different world!

CAROLYNNE VEAZEY LATHROP
Well, I finally made a decision and rented a one-story town house near my old house. It is one-third the size of my present home so I am getting rid of many things–donating and recycling whenever possible. I thought of what you wrote about women being vulnerable on their own, and I looked at several senior communities, including ones here in Dubuque and also in Davenport, but I just did not think I could handle institutional food on a full-time basis, even though most plans left some meals up to the resident. I have celiac disease, and it takes some effort to make gluten free food palatable. I finally ran out of time and had to make a decision.

JOAN VICTOR BOOS
We are still busy with John going to speech, cognitive and occupational therapy. He is down to one visit a week and hopefully will be finished at the end of the month. We are still hoping to downsize by next spring. I am still the designated driver and drove us down to Siesta Key, FL, this past Jan. where we spent 6 weeks. We have decided that we will not go back for that length of time any more but spend the time getting our house ready to put on the market. Winters have been relatively mild lately so maybe it won’t be too unpleasant. I am still volunteering in the Upper Arlington Public Library, sorting books for Friends of the Library, and at the Discovery Shop for the America Cancer Society and trying to fit in some gardening between the raindrops. John and I are both looking forward to our 60th reunion in 2 year and hope to see you there. Joan

CAROL WICK ERICKSON
My husband, Leif, continues to recover from Neuroinvasive West Nile Virus, which he became ill with last August. He has had extensive rehab , and is currently at an assisted living facility where he is relearning how to walk, talk and gain strength. All from a mosquito bite. Life changes quickly. I lIve close to Buckley’s also and would love to join you all sometime. My golf game continues to be fun and a challenge…Happy 80 to us all!!

Marion Zugale Rapp
ANNE WILSON HEUISLER
I am grateful to have had a mild, uneventful winter this year! I enjoyed my tutoring at Stevenson University and my editing of a friend’s memoir. I made a big decision recently to sell my house and move to Blakehurst Independent Living Community in Towson, MD. At this point, the house is still for sale, and I am biting my fingernails! Carole Rogers came in and out for her final overnights in this house where we have had good times.

To classmates:

Here is the unexpurgated version of the December 2016 class of 1959 news.  There were fewer replies this time, so I won’t have to cut so much for the newsletter.

If you have a classmate/friend who does not use email, please print out a copy and send it to her and encourage her to mail me her news.

JANE ATMORE BROWN

No new news for me.  I am loving my retirement community here in Vero.  It was an excellent choice for me.  Lots to do to stay active and a great feeling of security.

CATHERINE BROOKE BUCKINGHAM

My daughter and I are taking a cruise to Cuba on a Greek line out of Montego Bay after Christmas!  Our diocese has a Companion relationship with the Episcopal church in Cuba.  25 years ago I helped begin our Companionship, so it will be wonderful to visit once again in the luxury of a ship. So many loving, giving people to see once again.

TARUN COMEGYS JOHNS

The year of 2016 has been an amazing adventure. Last winter after spending a week on a friend’s schooner in Key West, I drove north visiting friends along the way to my ‘winter home’  in Reisterstown. Early Feb I flew to the Bahamas for six weeks of cruising on Finesse, the boat I had crewed on for two weeks earlier in Oct. My captain considered me to be a co-captain which allowed me to do much of the navigating building my own confidence. We sailed from Abaco Sea down through Eleuthera and crossed over to the Exumas and sailed down to Staniel Cay. Snorkeling, fishing, iguanas, dolphins, hiking over the islands, meeting so many wonderful folks — it was truly a stress free paradise and a trip I shall never forget. The big item this summer was spending time on my boat in City Island, NY, then sailing it to Belfast, ME. I did bring a crew person along to handle the anchor and be an extra hand in many other ways. In the past two years I have sailed the East Coast except for the last 100 miles to Canada — next summer — and from the north of the Abacos to the south part of the Exumas. I can’t believe I had such opportunities! I plan to head south after the first of the year and back to sea, but just found out I have a triple root canal first.

NANCY FLETCHER ARTLETT

11/10/16 I am excited about spending my first Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family in 25 years! My eldest granddaughter is getting married the day after Thanksgiving, so the rehearsal dinner will be our Thanksgiving meal under a tent with heaters in my former home…..should be interesting. I hope to view retirement villages between the Charlottesville- Richmond area. So I fly from Sydney to Washington, DC. next Thursday and return in January hopefully stopping to visit Nancy and Fritz Huntsinger on the way! The Artlett family will probably still be in the process of mediation….no solution yet…and I have lived in limbo for over a year already. I have signed my affidavit and am prepared to get to court. It will cost all of us, but I have already spent more than I had planned! Life changes yearly and often we have no resolution or solution to circumstances. Friends have been terrific on both sides of the Pacific and my sister will be happy when she can hand over the paperwork she has managed for the past 25 years…..a huge help. Shall keep you informed!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year after a restful Thanksgiving! J Love, Fletch

GAYLE HAMILTON BLAKESLEE

11/10/16 Natalie and I are just back from a fabulous trip to northern Italy. Luckily missed the earthquakes although some in our group felt a couple of them. Traveling as much as possible as we turn the big 80.

EDEE HOWARD HOGAN

Just retuned from a two week People to People tour of Cuba so interesting meeting many wonderful people on that beautiful Island nation.

Was there two weeks so it was an extensive exposure and learned you can live without credit cards and limited wifi. It was good to return home (the day after Castro died) and appreciate our freedom and high standard of living.

The ’55 cars beautifully restored were fun and a nod to many fun times in them in the past.

MARCIA KING WILKE

I’m doing well. I’m scheduled to play Christmas carol duets with a friend who plays piano and flute at an Alzheimers’ facility and the retirement community where I live. One is this coming week and the other the weekend before Christmas. It’s been good to have a goal to work toward.

Family was here for the annual Hot Air Balloon Stampede. Unfortunately, it rained so balloons did not go up but we had a good time, anyway.

Handbell choir is playing this coming Sunday and again on Christmas Eve so I’ve been busy with that as well as practicing the piano.

Change of apartment last April so, if anyone wants my address, it is 1500 Catherine St., D303, Walla Walla, WA 99362.

KUULEI MOBLEY GREEN

11/12/16 This is Kuulei Green.  I no longer have good vision but I’m able to get around for myself.  I’m still living in Idaho so I don’t see many of the classmates but I’m fine.  Merry Christmas to you all,

Kuulei

LINDA MOHLER HUMES

I don’t have much news. Things are perking along pretty uneventfully which at this stage of life is good. I’m busy with a big genealogy conference Cumberland County Historical Society is having next fall. The coup is that CeCe Moore is the keynote speaker. My travels are now in the USA: New Jersey shore with my family and sometimes Maine and Chautauqua. My granddaughter Chloe is the light of my life. At seven she has moved on from Disney Princesses to American Girl dolls – thankfully.

JUDY MORELAND GRANGER

A year of wonderful family celebrations: in Columbus, Ohio in July, to celebrate my uncle’s 94th birthday, a trip that included a day with Carole Jones Rogers, then on to Grand Haven, Michigan, for a Granger family reunion, Bob’s brother, nieces and nephews, two of our sons and 3 of our grand children.  Celebration of Bob’s 80th in September here at home, with both of our brothers, all four of our boys and 7 of our 8 grandchildren.  Joyous times, feeling blessed with pretty good health, keeping busy, missing my Hood friends, as I am too far away!  Crazy Texas weather, 20s tonight, 70s on Monday!  Judy Moreland Granger

GAIL MULLIKEN PAINTER moved in May to Brookdale Silver Lake, an Alzheimer’s care facility in Silver Lake, Washington.  Her children, Greg and Cheryl, welcome communication from her friends.  In August, Greg wrote, “Speaking and language are particularly hard for her, and she is not able to form complete sentences most of the time. She does still recognize her family, but people and memories are beginning to slip away from her.  She still loves eating and shopping and is involved in every social activity at her facility. Mom is able to express that she is happy where she is, but does realize that things are not quite right with her brain.”

JOANNE PEPER MILNOR

11/10/16

I’m having a “bout” with sciatic nerve pain and had to postpone my river cruise on the Rhine & Mozelle.  I’m enjoying getting ready for Christmas, but with fewer decorations this year, but still cooking the favorites. Still involved with numerous arts organizations in the community. Jo

JEANNETTE PHELPS

11/28/16

Eagerly awaiting a campaign-free year ending in 7!  I’m eager to toast my birth.

6/23/2016  I am enjoying a renewal of friendships with eight of my high school friends and even took an oil painting class (on my bucket list) offered by one, Carolyn Councell, at our community college.  Carolyn is a well established local artist.

JOAN VICTOR BOOS

6/24/2016

John is finally home from rehab as of yesterday and starts outpatient rehab on Monday. We were very fortunate to get home safely after a trying trip with a stop in the emergency room of Reston Hospital in Reston, VA. John had a seizure in Dulles Airport on our trip home.  Fortunately, we had a wonderful nurse escort who finally got us both to Columbus, OH sadly after a 30 hr trip and 2 missed flights.

I still hope we will see you at our 60 reunion.  

ANNE WILSON HEUISLER

So far this year has been good, knock wood.  I am tutoring writing again at the Stevenson University Academic Center and am doing some free-lance editing, which I enjoy very much.  I finish my two terms as clerk of the Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church session in January and will miss being “in the know” but will not miss the clerical work.  I met Mary-Lou Trout Haddad at Buckley’s Tavern in Wilmington, Delaware, twice this year, once with Gayle Hamilton Blakeslee and once with Carole Jones Rogers.  Gayle and I planned a third get-together in January.

Thanks to all who contribute news.  It’s fun to hear what you’re doing.

Anne

ANNE WILSON HEUISLER

6102 BUCKINGHAM MANOR DRIVE

BALTIMORE, MD 21210

410 377 5026; aheuisler@comcast.net

To classmates:

Here is the unexpurgated version of the summer 2016 class of 1959 news.  I had to cut it severely to comply with Hood’s 750-word limit for the summer magazine.  That leaves us with about a sentence apiece, so please forgive me if I stripped your news item of its details.

If you have a classmate/friend who does not use email, please print out a copy and send it to her and encourage her to mail me her news.

TARUN COMEGYS JOHNS

Merry Christmas from the Wanderer     2015

The adventure continues. I did not leave Ariosa and Capt Mike Pittinger Jan. 1, but remained in Boot Key Harbor, FL, enjoying the community of the mooring field, St. Columba Episcopal Church, and the many sailing friends I met. All the time I was learning more about boat maintenance and different ways to do things. Mike is a great captain and mentor never missing an opportunity to teach me something new. It was truly an incredible experience. Someone accused me of just having too much fun! Friends in Key West provided a wonderful holiday season starting the New Year with a progressive dinner in their homes and watching the winch be dropped from the top of a schooner mast—Key West tradition. I met crew who introduced me to Schooner Spirit of Independence and Capt. Rick Sands who became a huge part of my sailing support system. I joined them for some of the sunset cruises as guest crew and highly recommend this attraction when in Key West!

Watching the sun rise and the dolphins feed, toasts and conch horns for the sunset, bright full moons shining on the water, Sat. night potlucks and open mike for the mooring field, happy hours meeting folks from all over, manatees in the harbor, swimming at Sombrero Beach, and snorkeling on Sombrero Reef. Always something going on at St. Columba’s and I sang in the choir in the spring through Easter.

In March Mike and I drove to Annapolis for a sailing workshop. Luckily, he was home when he developed a ruptured appendix with serious complications. His fiancée, Betsy, was an incredible nurse seeing him through the next 8 weeks. I returned to take care of the boat and was made skipper of Ariosa! All went well and my sailing friends provided any help I might need. Longtime friend Elaine Gilbertson came and spent several days with me. We joined in the fun of “The Battle of the Conch Republic” on Spirit of Independence and Key West life. Elaine has caught the sailing bug again! Such is the life of a sailor in winter!

Mike returned in May with weight lifting limits and Dick Couture to help crew on our return to MD. Sailing back in heavy weather as we trailed a fickle tropical depression ANA up the coast provided an exciting trip with winds to 35mph and extremely high waves. Dick was great crew to Beaufort, NC, when he had to leave. Mike and I continued on running into more messy seas in the Chesapeake before completing our journey at Solomons Island. Such an adventure I had never dreamed would be mine! I was truly blessed when I sailed into Annapolis last fall.

May 22 I left Ariosa and flew to Maine with four graduations on my schedule — Tarun Porter, a BS in biology and a BA in French from University of New Brunswick; Lauren Johns graduated with high honors from John Bapst High School, and Cameron Porter from Bluefield High School, PEI. Working in France as an au pair for twin babies, Clarkson University to study engineering, and working at snow making at Lake Louise, Alberta, before entering university — a wonderful mix of talents and great personalities.

Off to Rochester, NY, for a family celebration of Becky Comegys’ life, then down to the Eastern Shore to check out Trillium. It was determined that keel damage had been done when I was hit by another boat while at anchor sailing down from Maine. With good advice from Rick Sands I was directed to City Island, NY, where the boat was transported and has been put in A-1 condition in a great boatyard —Consolidated Yachts. I stayed with Joey and Jim Peace on their lovely farm while arranging all this. Again, friends had come to the rescue and I enjoyed some time quite close to where I grew up! A high school class reunion took me back to DE and a good visit with John and Ellen Hamilton in Dover. The touchstones of our lives become even more meaningful as the years go by.

July11 found me finally back on Shoals Rd. to stay for the summer. The basement guest room was renovated from last fall’s flooding just in time to receive Oscar and Anh Damiani and daughter Kim from Italy! Our AFS son from Gov. TJ High School years had returned and a glorious weekend with many of the family found us cruising on the Katahdin, paddling on Prong Pond, and enjoying hours of chatting and eating around the campfire.  Too few days in Maine this year, but I’m always thankful to return to Shoals Rd.

Little time to sail in the summer, but I did have  a great day aboard Misti and Dan Guerin’s Bristol 35 on Penobscot Bay. After sailing the whole East coast, I still find Maine to be as good as it gets!

Sept. found me in Williamsburg for a Rittenhouse girl cousins first reunion. A grand venue for lots of catching up over too many years, so we have already scheduled a second reunion in Memphis next fall!

Mike came to Maine for a fly fishing week in Sept and to see where it was I live. Eric and Linda came for a weekend of fun and Mike taught her to fly fish. She was a natural and all hoping for more fishing time.

I closed the house in Oct. and drove to NY to visit Dave and Lynn. Foliage across the NE mountains was magnificent. Dave and I drove to Clarkson University to visit Lauren in her new surroundings. From there I came to Reisterstown, MD, the home of Mike and Betsy and my “winter headquarters” between adventures.

I flew to Marsh Harbor, Bahamas, and spent the last two weeks of Oct. on S/V Finesse, Capt. and owner Lloyd Lippe. We had met through Rick Sands. It was as fine a sailing trip as I have ever experienced — lots of sailing. We anchored at Manjack Cay for a week where we met Bill and Leslie who built their home (the only one) 24 yr ago. They shared their bountiful fruit, their knowledge, and their skills teaching us how to open and clean our conchs. In turn we were able to help haul some lumber up the hill for a neighbor who is now building and to go with them to Green Turtle Cay for supplies. Finding the conchs and fixing cracked conch, watching dolphins eating breakfast by the boat, seeing the turtles swim out with the tide, snorkeling, hiking, and taking in the beauty of this paradise was magical. We also sailed south to Lynyard Cay and caught a beautiful 26” mutton red snapper while trolling on our return to Man O War! My last night there and the chef at the Dock ‘n Dine prepared the fish three ways for us to enjoy! And there was still a filet left for Lloyd to eat!

Back to MD on Nov 1 and the next day an invitation to join Ken and Sara Aiken on Tintean to sail from Annapolis to Green Turtle Cay!! We left on the 5^th and motored down the Chesapeake to Norfolk in thick fog. The weather cleared for a nice trip through the locks down the ICW in the Dismal Swamp — a new experience for me. Elizabeth City, the Harbor of Hospitality lived up to its name as we spent the weekend there being entertained by friends of the Aikens. Then to River Dunes, a luxurious marina for 2 nights before going to Oriental, NC, for an annual maintenance check. Unfortunately, the check revealed a number of problems requiring lots of work which closed the window of opportunity for me to continue to the Bahamas and return in time to fly to Alberta, Canada, to spend Christmas with Merryman and family.

I had driven to Aiken, SC, to spend a few days with Larry and Jocelyn and stayed through Thanksgiving. Bloodies and Bagels on the lawn, Blessing of the Hounds, and dinner with friends at the Green Boundary rounded out a festive day. I returned to Oriental to meet Mike and Betsy who would bring me back to MD.

I have enjoyed seeing lots of friends and relatives for lunches and visiting Ginny Stanhagen at her new cottage in Winchester as I prepared for Christmas in Banff. The shopping is done and I fly out tomorrow on Dec. 15 to see the Porters in their home of the next 3-5 years in Edmonton, Alberta, while Stephen works on a project in the tarsand fields.

I thank God every day for giving me the friends and family I have and the strength and energy to enjoy all my adventures.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Tarun

The capt/owner [of the sailboat] has been recovering from surgery since March 15, so I have been aboard alone. It has been an exciting time during which I have also spent a number of days on Spirit of Independence in Key West visiting and sometimes, guest crewing. We begin the sail north around May 1 arriving in Maine in time for granddaughter Tarun’s graduation with two degrees at UNB (Canada). From there I shall be joining a friend to sail the coast of Maine from east to west returning to Bangor for Lauren’s high school graduation. Cameron is the last high school graduate end of June on PEI, Canada.

Tarun

A Hood reception in Sarasota to meet the new president. Fun sharing a table with Martha Allen ’59 and Carol Horwath and Joan Bennett Moran ’58.

 

 

NANCY CURRAN CROWLEY

Hope you are doing well. Age has a way of creeping up on us. We have a few aches and pains but we are still able to move around.  Thank God

Our family has three graduations this year, two college and one high school.  We are only making it to the high school graduation. The others are in Chicago and Boston.

Here we moved from the cold in New Jersey to warm California.  Now our family is moving east to the cold zones.  There is something wrong with this picture.

Last year we were able to take a couple of cruises.  We like it if we don’t have3 to fly.  Fortunately we are able to cruise out of San Pedro.  This time we took a coastal cruise and a Mexican Riviera cruise.  It is so nice to be able to relax and be pampered for a week.

NANCY FLETCHER ARTLETT

Frank Artlett passed away on October 12^th.  We had a Thanksgiving Service on October 15^th so I have buried the two men in my life within a month!  I will probably return to the states and begin the next chapter of my life in Richmond….near two sons.  My third son, who lives in Hungary, will visit next week for three weeks to help me sort out a collection of junk that Frank compiled for decades since he built the house in 1947…..a big job. He was a hoarder. I came here with two suitcases…..will probably need a container to get out of here. My quilting stash is the most important personal property.  I am starting to send boxes of very meaningful items across the Pacific.

Nancy Rogers Huntsinger recently had shoulder surgery. She is a trooper, but this surgery was more than she had anticipated, I think!  Both of us have been cut too many times. The wounds are now talking!!

Frank Artlett

ARTLETT, Frank Arthur
Passed away peacefully at age 94
Late of Riverwood
Loving husband to Nancy and father to Janice, Graham, Stephen and Warren and their families. Forever in our hearts.
A Thanksgiving Service, celebrating Frank’s life will be held at Punchbowl Uniting Church, 11-15 The Broadway, Punchbowl on Thursday 15/10/2015 at 11am. Frank will be privately cremated.

 

 

**********

 

GLORIA FRIEDMAN GREENSPUN

1/4/2016 Here I am again!  Jamie has been working at NBC writing for the show, Chicago PD.  Her name appears in the credits at the beginning, and in big letters it says Producer JAMIE PACHINO.  It should say writer of this episode after that at some point.  The show airs this Wednesday, January 6th at 10:00 P.M. on your NBC channel.

On Tuesday evening (the 5^th) there is Chicago Fire at 9:00 and Chicago MED at 10.  These two shows are running a story this week that will connect to Chicago PD on Wednesday.  BUT!  You don’t need to watch them all.  They each reset their part so you are up on the storyline on Wednesday, and each one can stand alone when it is shown.

Jamie is in Chicago this whole week.  She is on set to be there to consult on the filming of her next segment to be shown soon.  You will be advised!

Thank you again and again for putting up with me.  Many of you have asked for this, and the others were chosen because I think you like Jamie!  In any case, I hope you enjoy the show!

I am happy to inform all of you that Jamie has written the Hallmark Christmas movie this year.  It is being shown this coming Sunday, December 6^th at 8 p.m. EST on the Hallmark station!  It is called The Bridge and is based on the best selling book of the same name by Karen Kingsbury.  Jamie has told me that it is a sweet story and should please a wide audience.

I hope you will be able to watch it, or DVR it.  The Hallmark people liked it enough to have Jamie write a sequel to it for next year!

Hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving festivities and will have a happy holiday season and a New Year filled with good health and good times!

Thanks for putting up with this very proud President.

Gloria

GAYLE HAMILTON BLAKESLEE

6/1/2016 Just back from a perfectly wonderful trip by ship from London to Bergen visiting English southern coast and islands of Ireland and Scotland. Such beautiful gardens.

EDEE HOWARD HOGAN  

Had a most interesting trip to Lima Peru in February fascinating place and on our time zone! March took me to Kauai and a wonderful week on that enchanting Island. I leave tomorrow for a Culinary Adventure in Portugal  First granddaughter is getting married in Wisconsin May 21 so am looking forward to being with all the family. Love the travel and also enjoying all that Washington  DC has to offer.Memorial Day and off to Bethany Beach until end of September- Classmates welcomed!. .

CAROLE JONES ROGERS  Dear Friends, Just home from Olivia’s graduation.  It was great and I thought my friends who have a political bent might be interested in Matt Damon’s Commencement speech;  You can find it on Matt Damon’s web site or MIT website under news MIT.edu.  Boston papers called it bold for the occasion.  One of Olivia’s friends sure did not like the part about our banking system (she is headed to Wall Street).  Anyway, we are very proud of her and her four year record of all A’s and two B’s (pardon the bragging; Olivia would be mortified, but I am a grandmother and she is my only grandchild, so figure I am allowed just this once)  Each department had a reception tent so was nice to meet Olivia’s classmates and their parents at the Civil Engineering, Environmental and Energy Studies.

MARCIA KING WILKE

My husband, Norm, died in February, and I moved in April from assisted living, A222 to independent living, D303, 1500 Catherine Street, WW 99362. Now I have to go back to cooking, although I do occasionally eat in the dining room. Anyone have good recipes for a single person?

I forgot to mention my sister, age 88, died the week before Norm, so her service was in March. I was able to attend that in Westminster, MD.  Our brother, age 91, died last June, but neither of us were able to get to his service in western NY. Luckily, his son and all my sister’s kids, grandkids and great-grandkids were in Westminster so we had a good gathering. My family was unable to attend. That’s what I get for moving all the way across the country!

Norman Wayne Wilke

Born: March 13, 1932
Died: February 18, 2016

Norman W. Wilke, 83, of Walla Walla, died peacefully at home on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. He was born to the late Charles and Etta Grace Wilke in Troy, Kan.
In the early 1940s the family relocated to Portland. Shortly after graduation from Jefferson High School, he enlisted in the Army and served as a sergeant in the Korean War. After returning from the war, he received his engineering degree from Oregon State University and moved to Walla Walla where he worked as a structural engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 31 years, retiring in 1989.
Prior to marrying Marcia D. King in 1963, he had two awesome sport cars: a Triumph TR3 and an Alpha Romeo. His love for Marcia, however, surpassed his love of those cars and their sale may be part of the reason he and Marcia had a wonderful marriage of 52 years, resulting in three children and five grandchildren.
Norm is survived by his wife, Marcia. Their living children include Cate Lyon of Walla Walla and Allison (Stuart) Blankenship of Spokane. He is also survived by daughter-in-law, Gwen Wilke and grandchildren Morgana and Maya Wilke of Kenmore, Wash., as well as Caleb, Lilith and Silas Blankenship of Spokane.
Norm was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings and his son, Christopher.
At his request no service will be held. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Heifer International of whose work Norm was especially fond, to Walla Walla Senior Center at the Park for which he delivered Meals on Wheels, or to the charity of your choice.

EMILY RUTH MICHAEL KAHN

Emily Michael Kahn passed away in Kennebunk, Maine, on December 8, 2015, at the age of 79 after battling cancer. She was born on July 23, 1936, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Monroe and Esther Michael. She is survived by her beloved husband, Charles, and her daughter, Maggie Hall (Perry) and her son, Howard Schloss (Debbi). She is the proud grandmother of six; Hallye Hall Perkins (Stephen), Emily Hall Billingsley (Baxter), Michael Schloss, Lindsay Schloss, Gigi Schloss and Matthew Schloss; and one great-grandchild, James Perkins. Emily grew up in Baltimore and New York City, where she attended high school, and after that attended Hood College in Frederick, Maryland. She lived in New Orleans for 42 years and moved permanently to Kennebunk, Maine, in 2005, where she had vacationed for three decades and had a second home. Emily had an indomitable spirit, loved her family, adored to give parties, was passionate about tennis and was an avid fan of the New Orleans Saints and Boston Red Sox. She loved children and dogs. For many years she volunteered at the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans, helping kids suffering from cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 Route 1, Scarborough, Maine, 04074. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Emily’s Book of Memory Page at www.bibberfuneral.com. Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043.

ANNE MONTESANO KERPSACK ELLIS Sad to hear that Frank Artlett died.  When I was in Australis, he took us all around to his favorite places.

Our Hood College mini-reunion was cancelled this year because of ill husbands, but we keep in touch by phone.

I was blessed to have four families plus Bob Sr. here for Thanksgiving.  Between my house and the Joe Kerpsacks, we were able to accommodate almost everyone. We ordered dinner for 24 from Publix with all the trimmings.  Went to the beach and enjoyed the sun.  All voted to return next year.

I am loving my new home in Emerald Lakes – large rooms, nice yard, close to church and easy to get around.  I swim every day and am looking forward to the garden club, Florida style.

Summer at Conesus Lake found me adding my things to my grandmother’s and mother’s, and I fashioned a family picture wall for posterity.

First Christmas in Florida.  I have reacquainted with Montesano cousins about 1 hour away.  I am staying put because I need some downtime.

JUDY MORELAND GRANGER

A little news, mainly about our summer travels.  Eleven of our family gathered last Saturday evening to share in celebrating our 57th anniversary–a blind date at Hood that went really well–thanks, Jan Knecht ?? (name now).  We leave after July 4, heading for a Granger family reunion on Lake Michigan, stopping on the way to be with my aunt and uncle in Delaware, Ohio, as they celebrate his 94th birthday.  He was a lucky young Lafayette grad, “90 day wonder” as they called them in the Navy, scheduled, before the bombs dropped and the war ended, to be part of the invasion of Japan.  We’ll spend some time while we’re there with Carole Jones Rogers.  In late August we head to the mountains of North Carolina to spend a week with my brother and sister-in-law in their summer home there–they escaping the Florida heat and we the Texas!   On the way we’re spending a day at the WWII museum in New Orleans–everyone says it’s amazing.

JOANNE PEPER MILNOR

I just finished “screening” (for artifacts) at an archaeology dig in Surfside Beach, SC @ the Ark Plantation. And the Long Bay Symphony Season has ended & so has my volunteering there. All will pick-up again in July. And so I have a brief period of time to catch up on house maintenance & yard work. My brother will visit in June and then I will river cruise in the fall, Switzerland, Germany and, France, followed by a visit to friends in Spain. Life is good in South Carolina.  Jo Peper Milnor

JEANNETTE PHELPS

J.P. enjoyed reading The Peabody Sisters.  “My winter will be enriched by the author Margaret Fuller and more mid-19^th-century women.  And a quart of vegan tomato & eggplant soup is in my fridge – cures all colds.  J.P. says hi to everyone.

MYRA SILBERSTEIN GOLDGEIER 5/2/2016 has moved to a retirement community, The Forest at Duke in Durham, NC.  Myra said she wanted to be near one of her children, close to a good medical facility, and close to an airport.  She found all three stipulations and is in a roomy 2-bedroom cottage as of 4/27/16.

MARY-LOU TROUT HADDAD suffered a broken pelvis last winter, which really slowed her down for a while.  She loves to read and appreciates suggestions.  She also finds Facebook very entertaining.  Mary-Lou and Charles recently attended a granddaughter’s college graduation.

CAROLYNNE VEAZEY LATHROP

Well, I get email AND Facebook so clearly I have no excuse for being late with class news.  But it will be early for next time!

I just got back last week from a week at my son Nathaniel’s near Boston. I went then in order to see my grandchildren, Kierthan, 14, and Annika, 12, in the fall play of the Concord Youth Theatre,  “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”  Annika was in the chorus and Kierthan was Pharaoh, which meant he had to impersonate Elvis.  Thanks to Youtube he was able to research Elvis’ style.  I was also able to see Nathaniel play cello in the New Hampshire Orchestra, both in rehearsal and in concert.  The soloist was  a very good violinist, Jennifer Koh.

Nathaniel will also be playing in the pit orchestra for the New Hampshire Ballet (Manchester) performance of The Nutcracker in the coming weeks.  Any of you in New England might want to add that to your Christmas activities, as I’m sure it will be delightful.  Last year I saw the Boston Ballet’s version, as Nathaniel was playing with them at the time.

Since I am working only two days a week at the University of Dubuque, I can go a little more often to visit my New England family, but for a shorter time, since I don’t have any vacation days.  My younger son, Toby, lives in Madison, Wis., and surprisingly I see less of him than my New England contingent.

I’m going back to a physical therapist again for a few sessions trying to correct a balance problem.  I think it is caused by medications so I’m not sure what they can do, but I want to avoid falling.  It has been three years since I was diagnosed with celiac disease so I’ve pretty much adjusted to the gluten-free diet, though I have been known to cheat.  When I started eating gluten-free my supermarket had almost nothing, but now they have a variety of products.

Anne, I hope you are recovering from you ankle injury and getting around better.  And I hope every one else reading this is well, too.

JOAN VICTOR BOOS

May 4, 2016

I’m writing from my hotel room in Johannesburg SA where I am currently staying while my husband, John, is recovering from a fall while on safari in Kasone, Botswana. We had him med-Flighted to Milpark hospital here for treatment.  He suffered a subdural hematoma and concussion.  He is recovering and we are waiting to hear from his travel insurance about plans to fly him home to Columbus, OH.  He is slowly improving and is currently stable enough to travel. He is not a happy camper!

Fortunately our son is with us and is helping me since this side trip was not on our itinerary.  We hope to leave within a week and our son will return to his family in Lusaka, Zambia.

I hope that the next time I write things are better.  Joan Boos

May 5, 2016

Things changed yesterday. John became unresponsive and they did an emergency CT scan and found out he had developed a chronic subdural hematoma which can occur after a head injury.  Pressure from fluids while the injury is healing build up and have to be released. They operated yesterday afternoon and removed the clot and liquid build up. He was still sedated when we left yesterday and will be for another day. He will have to remain there in ICU until he shows improvement then moved to another ward. In other words, he will be there for another three weeks.  Fortunately our son and daughter-in-law are with us. I would be floundering without them.  Plans are, my son will fly home to Lusaka on Sunday and Katrina will stay with me until his return the following weekend. They have two young children,11&13, at home and both work.

Regards to all and keep John who many of you know in your prayers.

6/16/16  We arrived home on Sat. Jun 11 and John was admitted to the hospital for evaluation. He was transferred to Ohio Health Rehabilitation Hospital on Tues and is in an intense rehab program probably for 2 weeks or to be determined.  He improves every day. Our daughter and her family arrived yesterday.

Thanks to all the Hoodlums who sent prayers and good wishes.

SUE WILSON OFFICER

Am missing all my friends on the East Coast.  My back is not getting any better & keeps me pretty much at home.  Changes from day to day.  Am trying everything but nothing has helped so far.

ANNE WILSON HEUISLER

I had a pretty rough winter, beginning last fall with a broken ankle from Ambien-induced sleepwalking, falling down seven steps.  My sister moved in to help me until I could handle the stairs.  Then she had knee surgery, and it was my turn to help her.  But she didn’t recover.  Something mysterious affected her mentally, as well as recurrence of chronic digestive complications, and her condition deteriorated until she died on December 19, 2015.  Carole Jones Rogers arrived a few hours after Jeannette died.  She spent the night here on her way to her daughter, Caroline’s on the Eastern Shore.  Carole was a great comfort to me.  I was devastated.  Jeannette and I did so much together, especially in the years since Phil died.  She had worked on writing a memoir for years.  I found it on her computer and added an epilogue and produced a pdf copy as well as a printed copy.  It is really a wonderful story, a narrative of her life and family as well as the story of our parents and extended family.  It is a priceless gift to all who loved her.  I recommend that we all follow Jeannette’s example and try to write our stories.

ANNE WILSON HEUISLER

6102 BUCKINGHAM MANOR DRIVE

BALTIMORE, MD 21210

410 377 5026; aheuisler@comcast.net

 

Anne Wilson Heuisler
410-377-5026
aheuisler@comcast.net

To classmates:

Here is the fall email version of class news. This version will go online. Please let me know if you want me to omit your news from the website version, and I will delete your news before sending to Ashley Wilson at Hood. I will condense this to the 750-word limit for the fall/winter magazine.

If you have a classmate/friend who does not use email, please print out a copy and send it to her and encourage her to mail me her news.

CLASS BLAZER BRICK
Many thanks to Mary-Lou Trout Haddad for spearheading the class Blazer Brick project. Her original goal was to solicit donations for a $700 6×9 brick for the special Plaza near Alumnae Hall. Classmates quickly contributed over $1,000, so the Class of 1959 will be remembered with a larger brick.

6/4/2015 The group brick for 1959 was installed this week and is in the plaza. A lot of classmates were very generous, with 24 supporting the brick efforts and raising $1,350.

OBITUARIES
Susan Lorene (Read) Beebe

Beebe, (Read) Susan Lorene 08/01/1937~01/27/2015 & Beebe, Gary Scott 08/12/1933~02/14/2014

Susan Lorene Beebe, age 77, of Oceanside, California, passed away on Tuesday, January 27, 2015, less than a year after her beloved husband of 53 years, Gary Scott Beebe. Susan was born on July 1, 1937, in New York City, the daughter of Ralph and Lorene (Hill) Read. Susan attended Hood College and the University of Michigan. Following graduation with her B.A. major in Journalism and minor in English, she moved to California where she worked as an editor until her marriage to Gary Scott Beebe. In the ensuing years, she taught Sunday school and volunteered until she earned an Elementary Teaching Credential in 1973 and taught elementary school for 13 years.

Gary was born to Murray and Marion (Hawkes) Beebe in New Haven, Connecticut, on August 12, 1933. He moved to southern California with his family in his early years and served in the United States Air Force. He then had a highly successful 30 year career as an Engineer with Hughes Aircraft Company in Torrance, California.

Following their retirement, Susan and Gary moved to Lake Tahoe where they both enjoyed skiing, sailing, and traveling. After ten years in Lake Tahoe, they relocated to their ranch in Sandpoint, Idaho. In 2012 they moved much closer to family, in Oceanside, California, where Susan devoted her days to faithfully and tirelessly taking care of Gary until his passing in 2014. She was a member of St. Margaret’s Catholic Church in Oceanside. Susan is survived by her brother, James Read (Georgianna) of Sun City, Arizona, and both Susan and Gary are survived by loving daughters Lore (Chris) Hines of Sparks, NV, Diana (Rolf) Baumgartner of Ventura, California, Heather (Eric) Corcoran of Oceanside, California, devoted son, Murray (Carol) Beebe, of Lake Forest, California and grandchildren Joshua Atkinson, Megan Baumgartner, Derek Baumgartner, Michael Corcoran, and Savannah Beebe. Both Susan and Gary were preceded in death by their parents, and grandchildren, Barry Atkinson and Christine Atkinson. A private celebration of their life together will be held in the spring. We will always carry the memory of Gary and Susan in our hearts.
Published in U-T San Diego on Feb. 14, 2015

Elizabeth Chinn Rossi
Elizabeth Chinn “Betty” Rossi, 77, died peacefully on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, at her daughter’s home in Pennsylvania, surrounded by those who loved her.
She was born in Fredericksburg on Nov. 14, 1937, to Walter N. Chinn Jr. and Lucy Warner Chinn, both of whom preceded her in death. She was a proud alumna of Hood College in Frederick, Md., and received her master’s in education from the University of Delaware. She spent more than 40 years as a classroom teacher and reading specialist. An avid writer, reader and hiker, Betty was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Gaithersburg, Md., and gave her time selflessly. She is survived by her husband, Charles E. Rossi; sister Lucy Chinn Carroll; daughter Jeannette Cassidy Moore and husband Richard; stepdaughter Nancy Cassidy Kennard and husband Donald; stepdaughter Allison Lois Cassidy and spouse Barbara; grandchildren Ronan, Elizabeth and Sean Moore and Melissa Kennard; and nephews Elliott Luke and Simeon Paul Morrow. A memorial service to honor Betty will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 205 S. Summit Ave., Gaithersburg. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Betty’s memory to the Outreach Committee, Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Gaithersburg.

CAROLE KENYON

Dear all,
Kenny moved from her beloved Highfields Farm in Epping after she retired from teaching. The only obituary says she was born Dec 27, 1937, and died on Sat. April 5, 2014. She was a resident of Brentwood, NH. We always stayed in touch, and my family stayed with her on several occasions. She developed arthritis and finished her education career as a counselor. She was a wonderful person.
Tarun

From Carol Wick Erickson 7/13/2015:
Hi, My roommate freshman year, Lindy Thompson Mumma, died last week. She was at Hood 2 years and lived in Lancaster, Pa., after marrying Harvey Munmma.

Melinda Thomson Mumma, 77
June 27, 2015
Melinda T. Mumma, 77, of Lancaster, passed away at Homestead Village on Saturday, June 27, 2015. She was the wife Harvey M. Mumma for 57 years. Melinda was born in Manhattan to the late Hugh and Elizabeth (Laidlaw) Thomson. Melinda graduated from Suffern High School, Suffern, NY, and attended Hood College, Frederick, MD. A very family oriented homemaker, she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Melinda enjoyed crossword puzzles and reading, playing cards, cooking and spending precious time with friends. She also loved the American West and Native American cultures. She was a member of St. Edward’s Episcopal Church, the Homestead Village Auxiliary and the former Lancaster Woman’s Club.
In addition to her husband Harvey, Melinda is survived by her sons, Kenneth of Chester Springs, PA, and David of Port St. Lucie, FL; her daughter Nancy E. Mumma of Lancaster; and her grandchildren Jenny and Kenneth and great-grandchildren Jordan and Chase, all of Florida. Melinda also cherished her daughters-in-law, Ken’s wife Moira and David’s late wife Tammy. A memorial service will take place Saturday, July 11 at 11 a.m. at St. Edwards Episcopal Church, with The Reverend Canon Stephen C. Casey officiating. Melinda’s family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the church, and a light lunch will be provided at the church immediately following the service. Private interment took place in Conestoga Memorial Park. Please omit flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to Homestead Village Endowment Fund, PO Box 3227, Lancaster, PA 17603 or to St. Edwards Episcopal Church, 2543 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601.

Sandy Barnum Nygaard 1937 – 2015

Virginia Beach – We invite you to celebrate the life of Sandy Nygaard, a local award winning artist, business leader and founder of Sandy’s Touch of Gold. She was an amazing wife of 58+ years, mother and grandmother who made friends everywhere she went as she traveled the U.S. and the world.

Sandra Barnum Nygaard (Sandy) was born on May 9th, 1937 to RADM Robert (USNA ’33) and Audrey Barnum in New Rochelle, New York. In 1943, the family moved to Santiago, Chile where her father was assigned as Military Liaison in the American Embassy and Naval Intelligence Officer. In 1947, the family moved to Shanghai, China, where her father served as the import/export manager for a U. S. corporation. In 1948, with 48 hour notice, the family left China and settled in Scarsdale, New York, where Sandy attended high school. In 1955, Sandy entered Hood College in Frederick, MD. She met her future husband while singing the Messiah with the U. S. Naval Academy choir. In 1957, she and Ensign Richard Nygaard (USNA ’57), began a navy career which took her to Naples, Italy, where their first son Steve was born, Newport, RI, Annapolis, MD, Washington, DC, where their second son David was born, Lawrence, KS, Springfield, MD, China Lake, CA, Alameda, CA, and Norfolk, VA. While in Washington, she was asked by the head of Navy’s Retention Study Group to investigate reasons for poor retention of experienced Navy personnel. Her conclusion was that Navy wives were unhappy with their treatment by the Navy and were convincing their husbands to leave the service. After briefing the Chief of Naval Operations and Secretary of the Navy on her proposed solution to the retention problem, she founded the Navy Wifeline Association and served as its Executive Secretary, co-director, and a member of the Advisory Board. If you ever wondered where the idea of a Navy Ombudsman came from it was from Sandy. Her idea was to appoint an Ombudsman for each ship to coordinate with the wives at home and help solve the many needs of Navy families while their spouses were deployed. This program continues to this day. In 1972, she followed her husband to China Lake, CA, where she became interested in finding rocks and minerals in the high desert, then cutting and polishing of the gem stones and creating jewelry when she became an accomplished silver smith and lapidary. From this beginning, she became a jeweler and award winning designer at regional art shows where she showed as Sandy’s Sterling and Stones. She opened two successful jewelry stores in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, VA called Sandy’s Touch of Gold. She was innovative in her ability to combine hand fabricated fine jewelry with fun fashion jewelry. Her store was a key business in the success of Waterside Festival Marketplace from opening day in 1983 to 1990. She was an early business leader and mentor among the host of women entering business in the 80’s. In 1995, she retired from the business and began a 15 year adventure of travel throughout the United States and Western Canada visiting numerous national parks and monuments and Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, BWI where she and her husband purchased a condominium. She was an avid camper. Her passion led her to create a camping guide published for Navy Wifeline in the early 70’s.

She passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on July 10, 2015. She is survived by her husband, Captain Richard Nygaard, her sister, Patricia Rich, son Steven (USNA ’80), Son David (William and Mary ’86), and eight grandchildren. She will be interred at the U. S. Naval Academy. A celebration of her life is planned at The Lestner Inn on Shore Drive on Tuesday, July 21st from 12:30 to 2pm. In lieu of flowers she asked that tax deductible donations be made to the Nygaard Foundation to help children’s education and health needs.
Published in The Virginian Pilot on July 16, 2015

JACQUELINE GIFFORD MILLER

Jacqueline Gifford Miller Realty agent and boutique owner in Summit who retired in Georgia, 77.

Jacqueline Gifford Miller, 77, of Milton, Ga., passed away on Saturday, July 25, 2015, at Embracing Hospice in Cumming, Ga. She was the daughter of Josephine McNab Gifford and Harry Harrison Gifford. She was born in Syracuse, N.Y., and became a longtime resident of Summit, N.J., and a graduate of Summit High School in 1955. She attended Hood College and Syracuse University. She and her husband retired to Chapel Hill, N.C., and then to Milton, Ga. Jacqueline was known as a loving wife, mom, and friend. She was an avid and talented sewer, knitter, and crocheter. She was the owner of Whistles, Inc., a local Summit boutique specializing in unique gifts, jewelry, and clothing, which was located on Maple Street and then later on Springfield Ave in Summit. Throughout the years, she was also a realtor in the Summit area. Surviving are her husband, Franklin S. Miller; a son, Charles Alling Miller, of Barnegat, N.J.; a daughter, Jacqueline Anne Miller, of Milton, Ga., and four grandchildren, Charles Alling Miller, Jr. and Nanci Jacqueline Miller, of Barnegat, N.J., and Susannah Alling Jordshaugen and Robert Alling Hoxie Jordshaugen of Milton, Ga., and one great-grandchild, Aubrey Skye Lenihan of Barnegat, N.J. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Aug. 7, 2015, at 10 a.m. at St. Brendan Catholic Church in Cumming, Ga. Interment will follow at Sawnee View Gardens Cemetery in Cumming, Ga. Condolences may be expressed at www.mcdonaldandson.com.
Published in Star-Ledger on Aug. 7, 2015

Elizabeth Kuntz Held 1937 – 2015
Elizabeth K. “Betsy” Held, 78, of State College, died Monday, August 10, 2015, at Juniper Village at Brookline, State College, after a lengthy illness.
Born February 26, 1937, in Upper Darby, she was the daughter of the late Stephen and Grace Hoffman Kuntz. She married Richard G. Held at Valley Forge on May 10, 1962, who survives at home.
Elizabeth and Richard raised two children who survive, Raymond Held and his wife, Julia, of Chapel Hill, NC, and Thomas W. Held and his wife, Jane, of Pasadena, CA. Also surviving are a brother, Steven Kuntz, of Merritt, NC, a sister, Susan Rohde, of Durham, NC, and five grandchildren, Evan, Laura, Heather, Andrew and Brooke. Betsy was a 1955 graduate of Upper Darby High School and a 1959 graduate of Hood College receiving a bachelor’s degree in Biology. She was employed with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in Radnor, working in cancer research. She was later employed by Park Forest Elementary School and Penn State.
She was a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and a volunteer at Schlow Memorial Library both in State College. Betsy enjoyed the seashore, nature, traveling and time she spent with her family. She was also an avid fiction reader. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2015, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 208 W. Foster Avenue, State College, with Reverend Joseph DeLauter, Deacon, officiating. There will be a luncheon and an opportunity to reconnect with family and friends at 1:00 p.m. at the Ramada Conference Center in the Terrace Room, 1450 S. Atherton Street, State College.
Inurnment will be in St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Columbarium.
In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to Schlow Memorial Library, 211 S. Allen St., State College, PA 16801 or PAWS, 1401 Trout Road, State College, PA 16801.

Diana d’Elseaux Lowell
We knew what she thought.
She listened with compassion.
Diana d’E Lowell, 77, died on July 4 after a brief illness. She leaves behind her husband of 55 years, Fred Lowell, and daughters Del Lowell and Karen Langholz Lowell. Also surviving are sisters Vee Kausel and Angie Wakefield and her grandchildren Jakob and Elsie Langholz.
Diana was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster since 1987 and was involved in all levels of the congregation, including serving as Board president and leader of the Care Committee. In addition to being a daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend, she was a tireless volunteer in the community. She loved kids, Spanish, people, learning, writing and playing and she gave generously of herself to these causes. While raising her children in Lancaster she was involved with Shared Holiday, a local fresh air program co-sponsored by the Council of Churches and YWCA. She sat on the YWCA Board of Directors, and participated with Project 81 in the School District of Lancaster. Additionally, she was a full time volunteer at Burrowes Elementary School for 18 years. Later in life, after she was diagnosed with macular degeneration, she volunteered in the preschool classroom at the Susquehanna Association for the Blind and Vision Impaired. Diana served as a board member for VisionCorps as well participating with the speaker’s bureau for Hospice.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster, 538 W. Chestnut Street, on July 25 at 10:00 am. Family will greet friends immediately after the service. Later the same day, there will be a Life Well Lived Gathering at Willow Valley, 300 Willow Valley Lakes Drive, in the multi-purpose room from 1:00-3:00 pm.
It is Diana’s wish that in lieu of flowers donations be made in her memory to VisionCorps Foundation via mail to 244 N. Queen Street, Suite 301, Lancaster, PA 17603, online at www.visioncorps.net or by calling 717-393-5894.
**********

CLASS NEWS

CATHERINE BROOKE BUCKINGHAM
Going to my 60th high school reunion in Richmond, Va. Hope to see some fall color that is not available in Florida!! Will visit my brother too and plan to see Mary Faith West .

ELEANOR BROWN WHEELER
Phil and I are looking forward to Thanksgiving. I am thankful that our son and his family are hosting the dinner. Our daughter and our niece, together with both of their families, will both be staying with us.
As others have commented, all is well and there is not much news. And that is indeed a good thing.

TARUN COMEGYS JOHNS
The capt/owner has been recovering from surgery since March 15 so I have been aboard alone. It has been an exciting time during which I have also spent a number of days on Spirit of Independence in Key West visiting and sometimes, guest crewing. We begin the sail north around May 1 arriving in Maine in time for granddaughter Tarun’s graduation with two degrees at UNB (Canada). From there I shall be joining a friend to sail the coast of Maine from east to west returning to Bangor for Lauren’s high school graduation. Cameron is the last high school graduate end of June on PEI, Canada. I fly to Bahamas on Oct. 18 to crew on a sailboat for two weeks in the Abacos. The boat is there, is untouched by Joaquin, and ready for fun. Back to Baltimore on Nov 1 with uncertain sailing plans, however, I will be spending Christmas with Merryman and family at Banff, ALT. Merryman and Stephen just moved NW Edmonton where Stephen is working on a tarsands project for the next 3-5 years. I will be back in the Keys for winter. The adventure continues; will let you know what the next chapter is.

NANCY CURRAN CROWLEY
Hope you are doing well. Age has a way of creeping up on us. We have a few aches and pains but we are still able to move around. Thank God. Our family has three graduations this year, two college and one high school. We are only making it to the high school graduation. The others are in Chicago and Boston. The end of May we are going to Hawaii with our son, Joe and his family. I’m looking forward to a relaxing stay. If I didn’t make it for the summer magazine save this for winter. Thanks so much for doing this.

NANCY FLETCHER ARTLETT
Better late than never! Just came from the states after an eventful two months. Phil Coppage and a few friends passed away so the trip was quite emotional. Our three sons each presented their own eulogy and any Mom would have been proud. I also was able to travel around Maine to Bar Harbor, Bangor, Freeport and Augusta. The purpose of the trip was to join old high school classmates for our 60th reunion which was oodles of fun. I came home to an empty house as Frank is now in an aged care facility. He had his 94th birthday while I was gone. Life continues to change in many ways as we approach 80! Thanks for your continued effort to keep us all informed. Cheers!

MARY ANN GUILD SIMMONS
6/6/15 I boarded the QM2 on Jan 3 in NYC and sailed on her 2015 world voyage. We went through the Mediterranean and Suez around Arabia, up to the Emirates, stopped in India and then went to Singapore and Hong Kong before meandering through Malaysia and Indonesia to arrive for our month in Australia and New Zealand. Back by Africa….saw Victoria Falls and rode an elephant……and back to Southampton and NYC. 35,000 miles, 40 ports of call. An amazing voyage…..took 4 months. I’m still on a high. but it’s good to be back….Maryland looked lush and green. I sailed out of New York on January 3 on the Queen Mary 2, the largest ocean liner in the world and the pride of Cunard. She is one magnificent ship. 1100 ft long, 155 ft tall….same height as the Wash Monument. My home for the voyage was on deck 12, behind the bridge, with a port side balcony. The 3 Queens met and set sail together from Southampton and met a couple of times as we all circumnavigated the globe. Our first stops were in Spain and Rome, then we crossed to the Suez and picked up a mercenary guard with big boxes of ammunition. We also had air support and a Japanese warship patrolling the recommended international travel lanes as we went through the canal and the Red Sea. We were 81 miles from Somalia and Yemen, with nary a bad man in sight. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are spectacular.. Architecturally amazing and practically crime free, due to Sharia law. We had an overland to the Taj and one stop in India, then on to Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam [took a side trip to Anghor Wat] and Hong Kong. We were 7000 miles east of NY. Sailing for 6 weeks through Malaysia and Indochina was exciting and upsetting. The rain forests and jungles are gorgeous, but much of the natural beauty is being destroyed, some islands are littered with junk and trash, the young dancing girls are beautiful, the temples sumptuous, malnutrition is heartbreaking and the lack of public education is maddening. The ship gave a group cheer when we arrived in Australia on March 3. We were so glad to be back in a happy, healthy modern society. 8 stops in AU and 4 in New Zealand, which I think is the most beautiful country on earth,made for a magical month of sightseeing. Water water everywhere. I rode in a Maori canoe. I had to paddle! Along with 20 others, in sync, to the beat. Took a ‘copter ride over the Bay of Island and I think I have never seen such pristine beauty. I could see boulders on the ocean floor! We spent days sailing under the bottom of AU and many more days at sea to reach South Africa, where we picked up Mr Le Clerk, who came on board to give talks. Our lectures all 126 days were of such quality that I felt I was enjoying a floating Chautauqua. 18 of us took off to see Victoria Falls … WOW! , ride an elephant, go on game drives and cruise down the Zambezi river. 5 days later we rejoined our ship in Cape Town, perhaps the most beautiful coastal town on earth { My LeClerc’s words} We stopped in Namibia, the Grand Canaries and Madeira before rejoining the other Queens in Southampton. 2440 passengers got off ship and we took on that many more new people for the Atlantic crossing. I was devastated. Almost everyone I knew was gone, for good. 35,000 miles after sailing out of New York I was back. One happy traveler. As Winston Churchill put it, “It isn’t that I dislike living on land. It’s just that living at sea is better.”

EDEE HOWARD HOGAN
9/17 It is working well spending long summer in Bethany lots of company
Then back to DC On the Board of co op where I live and enjoy theatre and Opera and travel
Am spending 6 months in Delaware -Bethany Beach and the rest in Washington DC at my co op Harbour Square on the Potomac. It is an exciting area of DC with the massive development of the Waterfront
Have had some wonderful travels to Madrid, Mexico and a culinary adventure in Sardinia a wonderful part of Italy. My family is all well Chrysti teaching in Memphis at St Mary’s Terry in Milwaukee with Lori
Granddaughter Cassi is getting married in May 2016 TJ in Madison Wi working for ESPN and Abby a sophomore at Miami of Ohio. I get to visit them all and so happy that all are thriving
Am looking forward to representing Class of 59 at upcoming Inaugural of our new President whom O had the pleasure of entertaining at Bethany this summer and am very impressed and think she will be great for Hood
Hope all is well.

MARCIA KING WILKE
Norm and I moved into assisted living in late July and it has taken some pressure off of me. It’s strange that I don’t have to cook as our meals are included in the rent of the apartment. I have only one piano student and don’t plan to advertise for any more students. A friend and I hope to play duets during the lunch hour occasionally in our dining room, especially at Christmas. Goodbye to summer and the heat at last and I’m not sure I want to welcome winter! There were lots of fires in our state, one as close as 9 miles away. Many thanks to those who brought the fires under control and eventually put them out. Some rain also helped that effort. Norm is doing as well as can be expected. No long trips for me the past six months so I was unable to attend the funeral for my 91-year-old brother in western New York.

JUDY MORELAND GRANGER
Wonderful trip to Maine in September, Boothbay Harbor and Bar Harbor, whale watch and lobster, also visited cousin Ethel Kintigh Spence ’62 in Salem, MA, fun city. All well, not much news, which is a good thing!

JOANNE PEPER MILNOR
Ann, Thanks for continuing to report our news. I am just getting past a scary event, dermatomyositis (auto immune) caused a rash over my body and muscles weakness, hopefully I’m in remission. Will be heading to the Greek Islands in Nov. for a tour and then several days in Athens. Otherwise I’m doing the same old same old, with the Long Bay Symphony and Brookgreen Gardens & with volunteering now and then at the homeless mission. Will enjoy the many cultural arts opportunities here and enjoy my South Carolina family and friends. Come see me!

JEANNETTE PHELPS
J. P. says she has “blessings to count.” She continues to dedicate her body to medical science. She sends best wishes to all ‘59ers.

MYRA SILBERSTEIN GOLDGEIER
Holiday celebrated here with friends… Eileen stayed in N.C. as I was in Raleigh in April, we went together to Jeffrey’s graduation in May, I saw her in D.C. In June and we were together for 2 weeks in Alaska in July; I was with Jim and his family in Rehoboth for Labor Day week-end and saw my brother, sister-in-law and nieces, nephews, etc then SO felt like I touched base with family before holiday, so no need to drive to Baltimore or Rockville.

MARY-LOU TROUT HADDAD
One granddaughter is finishing her doctorate at Lehigh in chemistry and her sister is a sophomore at Villanova. Her brother is a graduate of Albright. Another granddaughter is a senior at UVM, but doing a semester in Brussels now…while her sister is a freshman and a chem major at Syracuse Univ.

ANNE WILSON HEUISLER
I decided to retire (again) from teaching at Stevenson University, but like Michael Corleone in The Godfather, “as soon as I try to get out, they pull me back in.” This year I am tutoring in the Writing Center on the Greenspring Campus of SU. I enjoy the students & have NO PREP OR HOMEWORK. I’m in my 5th year as clerk of the session at Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church, and though it’s a lot of work, I find it very stimulating to work with a smart & diverse group of people. I spend Tuesday mornings at Turnaround Tuesday, helping “returning citizens” (ex-prisoners) get resumes & cover letters in order and apply for jobs. Very rewarding. I’m going to MN to see Pete & family at the end of October, & Lizzy will come from Santa Monica for the holidays. Jeannette & her family are 6 miles away. I am glad to have one of three nearby.
These were my favorite books read in 2015:

Joyce Rachel, Perfect
Tyler, Anne, A Spool of Blue Thread
Atkinson, Kate, A God in Ruins
McEwan, Ian, The Children Act
Smiley, Jane, Early Warning
Crummy, Michael, Sweetland
Rash, Ron, Something Rich and Strange
Haruf, Kent, Our Souls at Night
Johnson, Adam, Fortune Smiles
Lent, Jeffrey, A Slant of Light

I was elated that my friend Anne Tyler was a finalist for the Man Booker Prize for A Spool of Blue Thread!

P.S.:A cautionary tale for anyone tempted to take Ambien or its relatives as a sleep aid: I have been taking Zolpidem for years at bedtime. It has always given me very vivid dreams, but my doctor didn’t seem to think that remarkable. On September 30th, I found myself in the midst of one of those dreams—so real—and in the middle of it I realized I was falling. I hauled myself back upstairs & entered my room. Only then did I wake up & realize I was in my own house. I had fallen down 7 steps to the landing. After an ER trip, I found I had a minor fracture in my right ankle. Everyone in the ER told me NEVER TAKE AMBIEN AGAIN! “It causes hallucinations & danger of falling in older people.” I have posted this story on Facebook & received over 100 responses, many attesting to horror stories of their own, and all echoing the same caution. So count sheep, everybody, & sweet dreams!

ANNE WILSON HEUISLER
6102 BUCKINGHAM MANOR DRIVE
BALTIMORE, MD 21210

410 377 5026; aheuisler@comcast.net

To classmates:

Here is a revision of the winter email version of class news. This version will go online.   Only two classmates asked me to omit their news from the website version, so I will delete their news before sending to Ashley Wilson at Hood.  I will condense this to the 750-word limit for the summer magazine.

If you have a classmate/friend who does not use email, please print out a copy and send it to her and encourage her to mail me her news.

Many thanks to Mary-Lou Trout Haddad for spearheading the class Blazer Brick project.  Her original goal was to solicit donations for a $700 6×9 brick for the special Plaza near Alumnae Hall.  Classmates quickly contributed over $1,000, so the Class of 1959 will be remembered with a larger brick.

JANE ATMORE BROWN

I would like to give you my new address as of April 6th.  2100 Indian Creek Blvd East.  Apt A. 317, Vero Beach, Fl 32966.  This is a retirement community, where I will be living in independent living.  Email address remains the same for now.

ELEANOR BROWN WHEELER:   Hello to my classmates, and a big thank you to Anne for keeping us together.

I am happy to report that for Phil and me there is no news, and that is good news. We still live in the same house, with our son and daughter both living “just near enough.” The grandchildren are all teens, which keeps us well aware of how quickly time passes.

Who would have guessed back in 1959 that I would find history fascinating? But I continue to enjoy working on genealogy. I sent in a DNA sample to ancestry.com and I am hoping to track down some of my 87 fourth cousins. I would enjoy hearing from anyone else who is working with their family history.

And I was part of a volunteer project to retype scanned copies of our local paper from the war years (1941-1946). The quality of the papers was such that they were not searchable. Figuring out all the words and transcribing them into notepad, then linking to them from our local library, made them usable. If you would enjoy a glimpse at life in the first half of the 1940’s, visit www.krl.org.kitsap-history.

Wishing everyone the best – Eleanor

TARUN COMEGYS JOHNS

(from Florida Keys) I am very pleased to be named temporary skipper of Ariosa by Mike Pittinger. After such a wonderful experience this winter, I am just glad to have learned so much about the boat that I am very comfortable taking care of her. I have joined St. Columba church choir and sang for the first time yesterday. Sat. night was a potluck and music night here at the marina which is always fun meeting new people and the music was great. Last night was dinner at the Alehouse — 2 for 1 from 4:00 to 6:00! — and a delicious meal of coconut shrimp. Shared this with Carolyn Jensen and two friends.  With Greenville being the coldest spot in the state with -14 chill factor, I am very happy to be enjoying 85 degree days and warm ocean water. Will try to post some pictures when there is less pressure on the internet

April 13:  Sunday at St. Columba was a day to celebrate Travelers, those of us only here in the winter. After special blessings for safe travel home, we enjoyed a picnic at Sombrero Beach. This is quite close to the harbor and the sailboat is coming out Sister Creek from the harbor. I shall certainly miss all at St. Columba.

Tarun

NANCY FLETCHER ARTLETT

My three sons and families are well and busy.  Karen Coppage is a freshman at William and Mary.  She loves it—quite an adjustment for her after growing up in Hungary.

I know Hood is searching for a president.  No way I would want to follow in Dr. Volpe’s footsteps.  He is so enthusiastic and has accomplished major changes with apparent ease.

Hope to attend my 60^th high school reunion next September.  Time has gone!

GLORIA FRIEDMAN GREENSPUN

Thank you for the nice note regarding Jamie.  She does make me so happy and proud.  It was really Joel who recognized her talent and told her to pursue the craft.  She had to try performing first, but, then knew how much she needed to write.  She loves it, but, it is so demanding, and uncertain.  This prize, among others she has won, does help to keep her pursuing her profession.

It does make up for the rejections you have to endure along the way.

We are in Naples for the winter.  Came on December 30th and don’t go home until April 7th.  It sure has been nice being away from the cold North, but, it has been unseasonably cool and windy many days.  No need to complain though.  When we return we will only be home a month and then we leave for a month in L.A.   Our 3 families there are all having milestone events.  My oldest son Bart’s two sons graduate, one from USC and the other one from high school.  Jamie’s son Huck is being Bar Mitzvahed, and her daughter is in a musical at school, plus a very important ballet recital.  Dick’s son and his wife are celebrating their daughter’s Bat Mitzvah over the Memorial Day weekend.  So we go there on May 13th and return on June 9th!  We are renting an apartment in Westwood,  just a few blocks from Jamie.  It will be a fun time, and a busy one.  Wouldn’t miss it all for anything!

GAYLE HAMILTON BLAKESLEE

March 5, 2015 (during East Coast snowstorm):  Been a wonderful trip, been from Sydney to Perth, to Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Kakadu, Darwin and now Alice. Took trains from Perth to Adelaide and Darwin to Alice Springs. Ayers Rock and Cairns to come. Hope your snow and ice have finished by time we return late next week. Is 90 here.

Natalie and I had a wonderful month in Australia. Understand why Gail Painter loves it so.

Getting a little old for all this running around.

EDEE HOWARD HOGAN  

Hi there. All is well with me and I divide my time between my co-op in Washington DC and my Beach Home in Bethany Beach DE

Have had some great travel experience including taking granddaughter and daughter-in-law for 10 days in London.  (Martha Allen joined me.)  Had a great well-located apartment and enjoyed all the best of London–Museums, Food, History, and Theatre, etc.

After a great season at the Beach with lots of family and friends visiting, it was back to DC to enjoy all it has to offer.

Travel to Mexico (a Spa week) and then to Madrid in February.

Involvement with my co-op (am running for the Board) as well as continuing my very part time (1/2 day a week) as a Food and culinary consultant keep me busy as well as my work with another Culinary Group Les Dames fills my time. Plan to attend Ron Volpe’s Retirement event in March with Martha Allen and we will stay with Carol LeGore.  Cheers!  Edee

CAROLE JONES ROGERS

Carole stopped overnight at my house April 16^th on her way to her daughter, Caroline’s in Greenbackville, VA.  Carole’s main purpose for this trip is to put her parents’ house on the market.  Anyone know someone who might be interested in a roomy rancher in pastoral Wicomico County, MD?  Minutes from Ocean City.  Email Carole at ccjrogers65@msn.com. Granddaughter Olivia continues to thrive as a junior at MIT.

MARCIA KING WILKE

My news for Hood College: December 2014

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2013 and underwent a lumpectomy on New Year’s Eve! and radiation for six weeks, beginning in February. Luckily it was caught early but it took time to get my energy back. I have some other health issues but won’t go into them. I feel like I’m “one big pill” as I’m taking a number of them. I’m trying to remain upbeat and know that other people have more health problems than I do.

Glad to see the pictures in the last issue of those who did attend our 55^th and of Aki, daughter and granddaughter.

July 2014: One of our twin granddaughters, Morgan age 15, is here for three weeks. She is helping in the sound booth for the annual outdoor musical, “Fiddler on the Roof.”  She was here for 2 weeks last year when the musical was “The Music Man.”  The drama teacher at her high school is delighted she knows how to run a soundboard.  We expect the rest of the family the last weekend of July and we will attend the musical.

November 29: Norm and I are moving into a retirement community in Walla Walla, WA, about eight blocks from our house. Movers come Dec. 3^rd and the house is full of packed boxes, most sealed. He has balance problems so that was the reason for our decision. I’m sure some of you know it’s a big change from a house into a 2 -bedroom apartment. I hope my piano will be moved only when we are able to move from independent to assisted living. In the meantime I’ll teach at home if the house doesn’t sell immediately.

[Feb] To bring everyone up to date: Offer on the house came within five days of our moving as it is in a wonderful location. We had to be out Jan. 9, estate sale the following weekend and we signed the closing papers a week ago. However, we did have to move the piano into the apartment. I don’t encourage anyone to move as quickly as we did. I’m advising my younger friends to start “clearing out” now!

SUSAN KUEHN BEALL:

Still living in Palo Alto in same house and with same spouse, Bill Beall. I continue to do some travel arranging for clients, but am slowly retiring from that. Meanwhile we continue to travel ourselves internationally for new adventures and domestically to our sisters’ and families in Massachusetts and Ohio.

I am on the board for the future Palo Alto History Museum. We have a lovely historic building to house the Museum, but our efforts now are to raise the funds for the seismic upgrades and renovations.

Also involved with Friends of the Palo Alto Parks.

And most importantly, I love playing golf! This is a relatively new sport for me, but fortunately all my friends who played tennis for years and now have new knees and hips, are playing golf instead. So lots of support, encouragement, and opportunities.

Our son John is a Chiropractor and developed a Fitness facility in Alameda, CA. He is still single but has a neat dog! So she is my grand dog!

Well wishes to all.

Susan Kuehn Beall

Preferred email address.

skb1055@comcast.net

KUULEI MOBLEY GREEN 

I am still living a pretty normal life.  I am moving to a different retirement facility in March mainly because I need a little lower costing place.  It is in Boise, Idaho, instead of Meridian, Idaho.  The address as of March 20 will be:

5850 N. Five Mile Road
Boise, Idaho 83713

My E-mail is the same, and my cell phone is the same.

208-859-0521

I shall try to have more exciting news next time.

Love and peace to all of you.

Kuulei+

ANNE MONTESANO KERPSACK ELLIS wrote in her Christmas letter that her dear friend, Jim Price, died last April from lung cancer.  Anne and Jim were together 18 years.  She sold her Cranberry Farm in Ohio in December and planned to spend October–May in Florida and May– October at Conesus Lake, NY.  Anne enjoyed many trips last year, including her “dream trip” to Japan for 2 ½ weeks with the Friendship Force of N.E. Ohio.  She visited museums, enjoyed the hospitality in many homes, experienced the “Japanese bath,” explored Mt. Fuji, rode the “bullet train,” visited several schools, learned to eat with chopsticks, sang songs, danced the “cupid shuffle” (“look it up on the net,” she says), and made good friends. “One more lifelong wish fulfilled.”  Meyran reunion in Philadelphia in October, where they each roomed with roommates from 55 years ago (Jan Knecht/Betty Kutz, Anne/Nancy Smith, Gloria Friedman/Merle Winer, and Myra Silberstein).  She said Philadelphia is “a great city–so clean and so much to see and do.  The Barnes Museum was awesome–don’t miss it!” Anne now has email:  akerpsackellis@hotmail.com.

JUDY MORELAND GRANGER

We’re looking forward to a busy spring and early summer before the Texas heat settles in and we hibernate!  Our oldest grandson gets married on April 24, here in Austin at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, an especially lovely setting at this time of year.  At the end of June, we will join our son Phil and his wife, Tammi, in Beaver Creek, Colorado, for a week, then will spend a few days with Don and Karen Nordberg Sanders ’60, at their home in Golden before heading to Santa Fe, where we meet Bob’s brother and sister-in-law, in from California for the opera.  Some of our favorite places!

JEANNETTE PHELPS

J. P. says she is relatively confined because of her shortness of breath and the chill in the air.  She has met new neighbors who lived for a time in her hometown, Hyde Park, NY, and is looking forward to catching up on local color.  She had a check-up with her vascular surgeon, who said she is exceeding his expectations.  She will see her cardiologist and hematologist later this month.  She uses the Roland Park Place house bus to take her to shop for groceries.  She’s reading The Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides about the U.S.S. Jeannette and Mr. Wilson’s War by John Dos Passos.

MYRA SILBERSTEIN GOLDGEIER spent Passover with her daughter, Eileen, in Raleigh, NC.  Myra and I met for lunch recently in Baltimore with English friends who enjoyed getting to know Merle Winer ’58 and husband Tom Benson when they spent  time in Oxford.

MARY-LOU TROUT HADDAD had full-replacement knee surgery and is recovering.  She was well taken care of by husband, Charles.

PAT WEVER KNOLL   We do have some awesome news!   Our daughter Kathy is getting married this May – first marriage and we are thrilled.  Also, our Granddaughter, Ryn Weaver (she took my Dad’s name cuz hers is difficult) sang on David Letterman Jan. 23^rd and is performing in NY, CA, and London in Feb.  She is a pop singer who CNN says they are watching in 2015. We, including her, are all overwhelmed, humbled, and a little scared at the same time.  Ron and I are in good health, thank God, other than a broken foot and some eye surgeries.   

SUE WILSON OFFICER

[Sue continues to suffer severe back pain after two surgeries and is considering] a neurostimulation program that I may have to try as the last ditch.  It is set up to stop the pain from reaching the brain.

I don’t have too much of a social life because of this but I am still active in my church and choir.  I keep up with the work around the house and of course, I have my three little dogs that help me get up in the morning.  They are Willie (Wilson), WAL-E and Penny and really keep me busy. ?

I also keep busy with the organizations that rescue animals, mainly dogs and cats.  Which reminds me, I have a calico cat named Little Girl.  She is sweet and very independent, but I love her so much.  I lost two of my calicos last year and miss them terribly.

Have any of you heard of the National Search Dog Foundation?  I have gotten very involved with this organization.  They train dogs rescued from the pounds that show signs of being great search dogs.  These dogs are trained over a period of 6 months and then given to a handler, usually a fireperson.  Then that fireperson is trained for 6 more months.  It is a long process, but if you were buried under concrete, you would be very glad to hear that dog barking, letting the handler know there is someone to rescue.  During the Tsunami a few years ago, they found 20 live people.  They have been to the Oklahoma bombing, the World Trade Center, etc.  We have teams across the US and in Mexico.  These dogs are trained to rescue only the live not the dead.  It is an amazing organization.  A good friend of mine started this about 12 years ago after taking her rescue dog to the Oklahoma bombing and knew that the US needed more FEMA certified teams.  At present we have approx. 160 and are aiming for 200.  If the dog doesn’t work our as a search dog, they are kept for the rest of their lives in forever homes.  Hopefully we will never have to use them, but they are here if needed.

AKIKO YAMAMOTO FASOLO

Thank you so much for the wonderful photo of 55^th reunion – I could not take my eye off from it.  I enjoyed looking at our 1959 Touchstone again.  If I were there, the kind gentleman, Bob, could not comment about our hair color the same way … 🙂

ANNE WILSON HEUISLER

I had a nice long holiday break but now am again teaching two sections of freshman English at Stevenson University.  This semester I have the literature class instead of the writing class and find it more enjoyable.  The students are terrific.  It’s exhilarating to be with them twice a week.

These were my favorite books read in 2014:

Bloom, Amy, Lucky Us

Brown, Carrie, The Last First Day

Doerr, Anthony, All the Light We Cannot See

Forna, Aminatta, The Hired Man

Gardam, Jane, God on the Rocks

Just, Ward, American Romantic

Klay, Phil, Redeployment

Lawson, Mary, The Other Side of the Bridge

Lawson, Mary, Road Ends

Mandel, Emily St. John, Station Eleven

Mantel, Hilary, The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher

Marra, Anthony, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena

Rogerson, Cynthia, Upstairs in the Tent

Smiley, Jane, Some Luck

Stibbe, Nina, Love, Nina

Tolbin, Colm, Nora Webster

This year I loved Anne Tyler’s A Spool of Blue Thread!

And Perfect by Rachel Joyce.

ANNE WILSON HEUISLER

6102 BUCKINGHAM MANOR DRIVE

BALTIMORE, MD 21210

410 377 5026; aheuisler@comcast.net

Anne Wilson Heuisler, Class Reporter
aheuisler@comcast.net

From Mary-Lou Trout Haddad:

Classmates, late last summer we were informed that a special Plaza near Alumnae Hall has been designated to be paved with commemorative bricks. I suggested that a 6×9 $700 brick be purchased in honor of the Class of ’59.  We can’t be left out, so anyone interested in contributing to our ‘59 Class brick is invited to send a check to Hood College for whatever amount you feel comfortable donating, sending and addressing it to

Jessica Sardella
Senior Associate Director of Annual Giving
Hood College
401 Rosemont Ave.
Frederick, MD  21701
sardella@hood.edu

[Mark your check memo ’59 Class brick.]

ELEANOR BROWN WHEELER 

Hello to my classmates, and a big thank you to Anne for keeping us together.

I am happy to report that for Phil and me there is no news, and that is good news. We still live in the same house, with our son and daughter both living “just near enough.” The grandchildren are all teens, which keeps us well aware of how quickly time passes.

Who would have guessed back in 1959 that I would find history fascinating? But I continue to enjoy working on genealogy. I sent in a DNA sample to ancestry.com and I am hoping to track down some of my 87 fourth cousins. I would enjoy hearing from anyone else who is working with their family history.

And I was part of a volunteer project to retype scanned copies of our local paper from the war years (1941-1946). The quality of the papers was such that they were not searchable. Figuring out all the words and transcribing them into notepad, then linking to them from our local library, made them usable. If you would enjoy a glimpse at life in the first half of the 1940s, visit www.krl.org.kitsap-history.

Wishing everyone the best – Eleanor

TARUN COMEGYS JOHNS

Merry Christmas from Boot Key, Marathon, FL

An adventurous year to say the least! A new battery for the pacemaker in Jan. and cataract removed in July put me in A-1 shape. Skiing in Maine was excellent and in Feb. I went to the Quebec Winter Carnival with a friend for 2 days, something I had longed to see. A spring visit to Aiken, SC, in March and a return in May to house, dog, and horse sit while Larry and Jocelyn enjoyed a trip to England with their daughter and son-in-law. I was thrilled to be able to have Bob and Janet and later, Dave and Lyn as houseguests and show them sights of Aiken.

Break the monotony — do something strange and extravagant! (Emerson). And that is exactly what I did! In June I bought a Sabre30 MKII sailboat in serious need of TLC. With much help from Alan, we renovated Trillium and prepared to set sail for the Intracoastal Waterway. Finally leaving Portland on Sept. 16 after sea trials and taking friends and family out for sails, the adventure began. Travelling down the New England coast, through Long Island Sound, the East River through NYC, down the New Jersey coast to Cape May, up the Delaware Bay to the C&D Canal, and down the Chesapeake to Rock Creek near Baltimore was not always easy. Rough seas, too much wind or wind on our nose, fog and rain, cold and wet interspersed with sunshine, beautiful days, sunsets, the joy of sailing the seas,  and the fun of meeting and making new friends. But Alan decided to return to Maine.

Within 24 hours, thanks to an e-mail sent to Annapolis sailing friends by JuliAnne Forrest, I had sailed on an Island Packet with folks from the Baltimore area who came out to give me a hand. Jim Huber, a twice circumnavigator from Chestertown, MD, arrived to help me move the boat and Mike Pittinger, Annapolis, arrived with his boat S/V Ariosa and tools, to help fix the starter. Thus began lifetime friendships. They encouraged me to go to Annapolis where I would meet lots of sailors in SOS. I anchored in Back Creek for two weeks, was supported and taken in by many wonderful folks. I made the decision to put Trillium up on the Eastern Shore for the winter and go south as crew on Ariosa with Mike and Jim leaving Annapolis on Nov 23. What an opportunity this was!

We sailed down the Chesapeake Bay into Hampton Roads to Portsmouth, VA, the first day arriving at 2:00 AM. Down the ICW through the lock (below,) running at night, through fog and rain with radar, dressed in our warmest clothes, we raced ahead of the first big winter storm which would drop lots of snow in the north. We did stop several times including among others, two nights over Thanksgiving at River Dunes, Oriental, NC, and a night at Beaufort, NC, before going into the North Atlantic for the rest of the trip. A maintenance layover in Charleston, SC, We continued on, rocking and rolling in the waves all night waiting to be allowed to pass Cape Canaveral after the Orion launch, to Vero Beach, FL, for a five day lay-over relaxing and preparing for the last leg to Marathon. I drove Jim, who has plied me with much of his sailing wisdom, to Ft. Lauderdale Airport as he returned to work. Along the way I have met old friends to share a meal and visit— my Frederick swim coach partner Ed and Susan Hazlett in Charleston, SC; a former Greenville teacher Lena and John Symonds in Vero Beach; Barb and Rick Cook who were vacationing near Lauderdale; Ron and Bonnie Searles in Marathon.

Mike and I sailed 32 hr. overnight to Marathon. The calm seas and west winds with a moonlight night was the perfect finale for an extraordinary adventure. We arrived Dec. 12 and I will leave Ariosa on Jan 1^st.   I may get to the Bahamas! I have learned so much and will be looking for someone to do the ICW next fall on Trillium, taking the slow trip from town to town. Thank you to all who made this possible!  Wishing all a blessed New Year, Tarun

NANCY FLETCHER ARTLETT

My three sons and families are well and busy.  Karen Coppage is a freshman at William and Mary.  She loves it—quite an adjustment for her after growing up in Hungary.

I know Hood is searching for a president.  No way I would want to follow in Dr. Volpe’s footsteps.  He is so enthusiastic and has accomplished major changes with apparent ease.

Hope to attend my 60^th high school reunion next September.  Time has gone!

GLORIA FRIEDMAN GREENSPUN

[Myra sent me a link to this announcement about Gloria’s daughter, Jamie Pachino.]

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside of American Blues Theater, Chicago’s second oldest Equity Ensemble, announces the recipient of the 2015 Blue Ink Playwriting Award is Jamie Pachino and her play Other Than Honorable.

Other Than Honorable is the story of Grace Benton, a former army officer who resigned her commission under sealed terms and now works with a high profile Washington, D.C., law firm. A new client arrives at her office, reopening Grace’s wounds as she is forced to confront her past life in the army and learn what honor can mean in a soldier’s and woman’s life.

The Blue Ink Playwriting Award was created in 2010 to support new work. Whiteside and the award-winning Ensemble select the winning play and distribute $1,500 in prizes. Pachino, as the 2015 winning candidate, receives $1,000, a staged-reading directed by Kimberly Senior on Saturday, June 27, and the opportunity to develop the script with American Blues Theater.

To read the whole story:  http://www.broadwayworld.com/chicago/article/American-Blues-Theatre-Announces-2015-Blue-Ink-Award-Winner-20150219#.VOfGbuAt1QY.gmail

GAYLE HAMILTON BLAKESLEE

Natalie and I will be in Australia beginning February 13, returning March 12. May be our last really far-away trip, am beginning to feel my age.

[December]  Off tomorrow to Wisconsin to see my daughter and family. Last year when I went in the winter got to spend 3 extra days due to 20-below temperatures which kept the planes from flying. Understand the desire for Florida.

EDEE HOWARD HOGAN  

Hi there. All is well with me, and I divide my time between my co-op in Washington DC and my Beach Home in Bethany Beach DE.

Have had some great travel experience including taking granddaughter and daughter-in-law for 10 days in London.  (Martha Allen joined me.)  Had a great well-located apartment and enjoyed all the best of London–Museums, Food, History, and Theatre, etc.

After a great season at the Beach with lots of family and friends visiting, it was back to DC to enjoy all it has to offer.

Travel to Mexico (a Spa week) and then to Madrid in February.

Involvement with my co-op (am running for the Board) as well as continuing my very part time (1/2 day a week) as a food and culinary consultant keep me busy as well as my work with another Culinary Group Les Dames fills my time. Plan to attend Ron Volpe’s Retirement event in March with Martha Allen and we will stay with Carol LeGore. Cheers!  Edee

CAROLE JONES ROGERS

Carole stopped overnight at Anne Heuisler’s house twice in August on her travels to and from her daughter, Caroline’s.  Granddaughter Olivia is a junior at MIT, thriving in her experience there.

MARCIA KING WILKE

My news for Hood College: December 2014

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2013 and underwent a lumpectomy on New Year’s Eve! and radiation for six weeks, beginning in February. Luckily it was caught early, but it took time to get my energy back. I have some other health issues but won’t go into them. I feel like I’m “one big pill” as I’m taking a number of them. I’m trying to remain upbeat and know that other people have more health problems than I do.

Glad to see the pictures in the last issue of those who did attend our 55^th and of Aki, daughter and granddaughter.

July 2014: One of our twin granddaughters, Morgan, age 15, is here for three weeks. She is helping in the sound booth for the annual outdoor musical, “Fiddler on the Roof.”  She was here for 2 weeks last year when the musical was “The Music Man.”  The drama teacher at her high school is delighted she knows how to run a soundboard.  We expect the rest of the family the last weekend of July and we will attend the musical.

November 29, 2014: Norm and I are moving into a retirement community in Walla Walla, WA, about eight blocks from our house. Movers come Dec. 3^rd and the house is full of packed boxes, most sealed. He has balance problems so that was the reason for our decision. I’m sure some of you know it’s a big change from a house into a 2 -bedroom apartment. I hope my piano will be moved only when we are able to move from independent to assisted living. In the meantime I’ll teach at home if the house doesn’t sell immediately.

Feb 2015:  To bring everyone up to date: Offer on the house came within five days of our moving as it is in a wonderful location. We had to be out Jan. 9, estate sale the following weekend and we signed the closing papers a week ago. However, we did have to move the piano into the apartment. I don’t encourage anyone to move as quickly as we did. I’m advising my younger friends to start “clearing out” now!

SUSAN KUEHN BEALL

Still living in Palo Alto in same house and with same spouse, Bill Beall. I continue to do some travel arranging for clients, but am slowly retiring from that. Meanwhile, we continue to travel ourselves internationally for new adventures and domestically to our sisters’ and families in Massachusetts and Ohio.

I am on the board for the future Palo Alto History Museum. We have a lovely historic building to house the Museum, but our efforts now are to raise the funds for the seismic upgrades and renovations.

Also involved with Friends of the Palo Alto Parks.

And most importantly, I love playing golf! This is a relatively new sport for me, but fortunately all my friends who played tennis for years and now have new knees and hips are playing golf instead. So lots of support, encouragement, and opportunities.

Our son John is a Chiropractor and developed a fitness facility in Alameda, CA. He is still single but has a neat dog! So she is my grand dog!

Well wishes to all.

Susan Kuehn Beall

Preferred email address.

skb1055@comcast.net

KUULEI MOBLEY GREEN 

I am still living a pretty normal life.  I am moving to a different retirement facility in March mainly because I need a little lower costing place.  It is in Boise, Idaho, instead of Meridian, Idaho.

The address as of March 20 will be 5850 N. Five Mile Road Boise, Idaho 83713

My E-mail is the same, and my cell phone is the same.

208-859-0521

I shall try to have more exciting news next time.

Love and peace to all of you.

Kuulei+

ANNE MONTESANO KERPSACK ELLIS wrote in her Christmas letter that her dear friend, Jim Price, died last April from lung cancer.  Anne and Jim were together 18 years.  She sold her Cranberry Farm in Ohio in December and planned to spend October – May in Florida and May – October at Conesus Lake, NY.  Anne enjoyed many trips last year, including her “dream trip” to Japan for 2 ½ weeks with the Friendship Force of N.E. Ohio.  She visited museums, enjoyed the hospitality in many homes, experienced the “Japanese bath,” explored Mt. Fuji, rode the “bullet train,” visited several schools, learned to eat with chopsticks, sang songs, danced the “cupid shuffle” (“look it up on the net,” she says), and made good friends.  “One more lifelong wish fulfilled.”  Meyran reunion in Philadelphia in October, where they each roomed with roommates from 55 years ago (Jan Knecht/Betty Kutz, Anne/Nancy Smith, Gloria Friedman/Merle Winer, and Myra Silberstein).  She said Philadelphia is “a great city – so clean and so much to see and do.  The Barnes Museum was awesome – don’t miss it!”  Anne now has email:  akerpsackellis@hotmail.com.

JUDY MORELAND GRANGER

We began our holiday festivities by celebrating the graduation of Phillip’s son, our grandson Logan Carter, on December 13 from Texas State University.  We now have four grands still in college: Jackson, (Bob’s son) a senior at St. Edward’s University, Sara (Tim’s daughter), a junior at the University of Texas at Dallas, Lacey (Phil’s daughter) a sophomore at the University of Colorado, and Barrett (Bob’s son), a freshman at Georgetown University.  Steve’s little ones, Sophie, fifth grade, and Gibson, second grade, go to the public school where their mom is the art teacher.  All very busy and involved—we love any chances to see them.

This has been a wonderful year of travel and visiting with family—31 Grangers in Grand Haven, Michigan, for a reunion in July, 4 generations, much love and laughter shared.  All four sons and six of our eight grandchildren were able to be with us, a rare treat.   Off then to Ohio, where 10 members of my side of the family gathered to enjoy time with my 92-year-old uncle and aunt, more reminiscences and fun times.  Our trip ended with a stay in North Carolina, where my cousin, Ethel (Kintigh) Spence (’61), joined us at Jim and Carole’s.  Their place is in the mountains, a beautiful location and a welcome climate, before returning to August in central Texas!  Earlier in the summer, Bob and I returned to the east coast, where we attended my 55^th reunion at Hood in Maryland, and then joined three of his Navy classmates in D.C. for several wonderful days.  That week we were with five of our wedding party as we celebrated our 55^th anniversary!  How did we get here??

We celebrate and are thankful for good health—no surgeries for Bob, the first year since 2009!  Cataracts don’t count—he had both eyes done in early spring and raves about the results.  He continues marshalling at one of the golf courses here, plays a little golf and bridge, is in a couple of book clubs,  I play a little golf, a lot of bridge (!), am also in a couple of book clubs and the large choral group here in Sun City.  We wish we exercised more and weighed less, will be working on that in 2015!

We look forward to a special 2015, when our oldest grandson, Justin, marries Maggie Daniels here in Austin at the end of April.  The wedding will be at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which should be spectacular then.  Justin and Maggie met as students at St. Edward’s.

JEANNETTE PHELPS

J. P. says she is relatively confined because of her shortness of breath and the chill in the air.  She has met new neighbors who lived for a time in her hometown, Hyde Park, NY, and is looking forward to catching up on local color.  She had a check-up with her vascular surgeon, who said she is exceeding his expectations.  She will see her cardiologist and hematologist later this month.  She uses the Roland Park Place house bus to take her to shop for groceries.  She’s reading The Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides about the U.S.S. Jeannette and Mr. Wilson’s War by John Dos Passos.

MYRA SILBERSTEIN GOLDGEIER spent the holidays in Sanibel with her children and grandchildren.

MARY-LOU TROUT HADDAD had full-replacement knee surgery and is recovering.  She was well taken care of by husband, Charles.

PAT WEVER KNOLL

We do have some awesome news!   Our daughter Kathy is getting married this May – first marriage and we are thrilled.  Also, our granddaughter, Ryn Weaver (she took my Dad’s name cuz hers is difficult), sang on David Letterman Jan. 23^rd and is performing in NY, CA, and London in Feb.  She is a pop singer who CNN says they are watching in 2015. We, including her, are all overwhelmed, humbled, and a little scared at the same time.  Ron and I are in good health, thank God, other than a broken foot and some eye surgeries.

(See Ryn Weaver on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI1Xt57o_90.)

SUE WILSON OFFICER

[Sue continues to suffer severe back pain after two surgeries and is considering] a neurostimulation program that I may have to try as the last ditch.  It is set up to stop the pain from reaching the brain.

I don’t have too much of a social life because of this but I am still active in my church and choir.  I keep up with the work around the house and of course, I have my three little dogs that help me get up in the morning.  They are Willie (Wilson), WAL-E and Penny and really keep me busy.

I also keep busy with the organizations that rescue animals, mainly dogs and cats.  Which reminds me, I have a calico cat named Little Girl.  She is sweet and very independent, but I love her so much.  I lost two of my calicos last year and miss them terribly.

Have any of you heard of the National Search Dog Foundation?  I have gotten very involved with this organization.  They train dogs rescued from the pounds that show signs of being great search dogs.  These dogs are trained over a period of 6 months and then given to a handler, usually a fireperson.  Then that fireperson is trained for 6 more months.  It is a long process, but if you were buried under concrete, you would be very glad to hear that dog barking, letting the handler know there is someone to rescue.  During the Tsunami a few years ago, they found 20 live people.  They have been to the Oklahoma bombing, the World Trade Center, etc.  We have teams across the US and in Mexico.  These dogs are trained to rescue only the live not the dead.  It is an amazing organization.  A good friend of mine started this about 12 years ago after taking her rescue dog to the Oklahoma bombing and knew that the US needed more FEMA certified teams.  At present we have approx. 160 and are aiming for 200.  If the dog doesn’t work our as a search dog, they are kept for the rest of their lives in forever homes.  Hopefully we will never have to use them, but they are here if needed.

AKIKO YAMAMOTO FASOLO

Thank you so much for the wonderful photo of 55^th reunion – I could not take my eye off from it.  I enjoyed looking at our 1959 Touchstone again.  If I were there, the kind gentleman, Bob, could not comment about our hair color the same way … 🙂

ANNE WILSON HEUISLER

I had a nice long holiday break but now am again teaching two sections of freshman English at Stevenson University.  This semester I have the literature class instead of the writing class and find it more enjoyable.  The students are terrific.  It’s exhilarating to be with them twice a week.

These were my favorite books read in 2014:

Bloom, Amy, Lucky Us

Brown, Carrie, The Last First Day

Doerr, Anthony, All the Light We Cannot See

Forna, Aminatta, The Hired Man

Gardam, Jane, God on the Rocks

Just, Ward, American Romantic

Klay, Phil, Redeployment

Lawson, Mary, The Other Side of the Bridge

Lawson, Mary, Road Ends

Mandel, Emily St. John, Station Eleven

Mantel, Hilary, The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher

Marra, Anthony, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena

Rogerson, Cynthia, Upstairs in the Tent

Smiley, Jane, Some Luck

Stibbe, Nina, Love, Nina

Tolbin, Colm, Nora Webster

This year I loved Anne Tyler’s A Spool of Blue Thread!

And Perfect by Rachel Joyce.

 

Anne  (copying Tarun’s classy font—it’s Kunstler Script!)

Anne Wilson Heuisler, 6102 Buckingham Manor Drive, Baltimore, MD 21210

410 377 5026; 410 980 4747; aheuisler@comcast.net