1967 May Mumma Ohman  may.mumma.ohman@gmail.com

Wonderful to hear from so many of you! This is the full—uncut—Class of ’67 report! Enjoy!  So much more here!

Knowing I was taking over for Pat Rosner Kearns, in January 2019 Ginny wrote to give me a  first entry. At that time, Ginny Price Bracken wrote that she and husband Chuck (Brack) continue to enjoy their busy retirement in the wonderful “golfing, boating, living” community of Cypress Landing in Eastern North Carolina. A bonus is that Ginny’s sister-in-law, Susan Bracken and her Hood Little Sister Marilyn Mundy also own homes in the community!

 

Later, Ginny wrote to share news of the passing of Vivian Lamberson Manis. Ginny and Cheryl Wray Kirk attended Viv’s memorial service in Hagerstown in April. Laura Seymour Carlson had sent wonderful photos that were part of the slide show to remember Vivian.

 

Kris Campbell Joyce “In spring, we had a nice brief visit with Pam Higginbottom Carey and her husband Hugh in their home near our son’s in Baltimore, Maryland.  We were there especially to see our fast maturing grandchildren Emma, now a high school senior, and her brother Ryan, 15. Our son Keir and wife Joy seem to be navigating these teen times well. BJ and I just returned from a trip to Florence, Italy, for my teaching and art which I continue to enjoy After 10 days in Florence, we went to Austria for 12 days to see the family I lived with in 1961-62. We have stayed in touch but we needed some lengthy time together to catch up on this phase of life!”

 

Pat Anderson Branning “Lives and writes in Beaufort, South Carolina and is the author of 7 best selling books on the Coastal South, a series titled,  Shrimp, Collards and Grits. Pat’s books are available on Amazon, her website www.patbranning.com and fine gift stores throughout the Southeast.”

 

Barb Cummings Stacks writes “Several of us live within 10 minutes of each other. Linda Carlson, Barb Schmidt MacGregor, Peggy Narducci Phillips, and me, Barb (Babs at Hood) Cummings Stacks. Last year, thanks to Carol Brink and her wonderful, creative skills, we traveled together to join many other ’67 classmates in Manchester By The Sea outside Boston. Our trip was 3 hours up and 3 hours home. We talked non-stop the entire trip. Visiting and continuing to share Hood and life memories with all of our other classmates over a great potluck lunch in Manchester truly provided for us ROOTS!!! We loved that experience and we have continued getting together! In September, we are hosting a potluck luncheon at my home in Essex, also a very special place to relax, reminisce, and continue to recall our roots!  On a personal note, we are all well, active, and loving our retirement! Our grown children, grandchildren, travel, exercise, and volunteer passions keep us ‘young”! We have much in common!”

 

Barb Wood Spellman “My oldest granddaughter just finished her freshman year at Northeastern in Boston. My husband John and I spent a great time in North Carolina last fall [2018] visiting Ginny Price Bracken and her husband Chuck. Of course we spent time with Susan [Bracken] as well while there. Ginny managed John’s dental practice for many years so we had lots to talk about. We also saw Sharon MacDowell Sheaffer and her husband John in May at the 50^th reunion of our husbands’ the University of Pennsylvania Dental School class.”

 

Angela Milea Mogin “Mike and I have been attending graduations this summer. Our youngest grandson graduated from kindergarten in May and in June we were in Los Angeles to attend the high school graduation of our eldest grandchild. Mattie will attend U. Cal. Berkeley next fall, much to the discomfort of her father and one of her aunts, who are Stanford graduates. The family will be colorful if nothing else. Berkeley, blue v. Stanford, red.”

 

Ginny Munson Hammell “I married a widower May 25. Tack (Henry Gordon Hamby, retired AF pilot). He has 3 sons and 7 grandchildren. I got great relatives in the deal! Only a couple of Hoodlums could make it: Marianne Kearney, Emily McNaughton (69). It was lots of fun but we were both exhausted.

 

“We flew to London 27 for a D Day tour. (Tack’s Dad dropped paratroopers over St. Maire Eglise.)  In the fall [2018] we were in Italy for a 5 day cooking program. (Plus Tacks a FAB cook.) We spent the winter in Boca Raton and did an Eastern Caribbean cruise.  Traveled 3 weeks in Spain in April.

 

“Big D Day tour. Wonderful. Added two days in London (fab Indian food), three days in Paris and 1 day in Biarritz. (In my racing through farmers market rammed my knee into a wall, still recovering,)

 

“It will take us all summer to get organized.

 

“Tack is very fond of Frederick and Andrea. We are out there every other month.”

 

Susan Wadia-Ells  “I have been struggling with finishing my twelve year Busting Breast Cancer book project. And am finally happy to announce that the book will be out in paperback and eBook format this fall. This has been a mysterious and magnificent experience, as I stumbled over the new metabolic theory of cancer, just after it was published in 2012.

 

“The author of the new theory… Boston College biologist Thomas Seyfried, has now mentored me for the past five years… as I have created this first book on breast cancer prevention, based on the new metabolic theory. Once women are willing and able to follow most of the prevention steps described in the book, we could/would/should/will see breast cancer rates in the U.S. drop by literally 80 percent.

 

“This is also a women’s empowerment book… as each chapter explains why corporate sponsored breast cancer awareness groups and our federal cancer agencies are funded and controlled by the breast cancer treatment industry… with none of these groups focused on effective preventions…  just on mammograms/detection and treatment for all!!! Hence… women must think for ourselves… and protect ourselves from this diseases… that is not at epidemic levels in the U.S.

 

“My website is just going up now… see  www.bustingbreastcancer.com. Am currently raising $$ for a legal review and the final 5k in production costs. I will be setting up book-signings and workshops around the country… and beyond beginning in October.  Would love to connect with Hood ’67 folks throughout the process.”

 

Meredith Cook Held “I am still working as a realtor in the north Texas area. I’m a past president of our local association and am still involved at the state and national levels, serving on both Boards of Directors. I love what I do so I have no intention to retire any time soon. I do get to travel as part of my responsibilities so I spent a week in Boston last November (hadn’t been back since I left there in the 70s) and will be in San Francisco for a week this November. In my ‘spare time,’ I love to read, play with my dog and generally relax with my husband of 39 years. Where did the time go?! If anyone is traveling this way (Frisco, Texas), I’d love to see them.”

 

Laurie Seymour Carlson shared “I am thoroughly enjoying retirement and am lucky enough to live near my oldest (12 years old) of three grandchildren. So I spend a good amount of time with her. I also enjoy walking, reading, needlework and my small patio garden.”

 

Debbie Smith Aldrich reports “I continue to love beautiful Newburyport and the ocean. I have an incredible group of terrific friends, who meet every Wednesday. (Sort of like that group on 3^rd floor Meyran). I’m very active in my church, currently a Deacon, Assistant Collector, Altar Guild and Personnel. Spent a wonderful week at Myrtle Beach with my daughter and granddaughter (9 years old) enjoying the beach and ocean. Life is good.”

 

Johanna Van Wert Thompson writes “Michael and I continue to live in Williamsburg, Va. Our 3 children and 8 grandchildren are only an hour from us so we see them often, although several are in college. We just returned from Massachusetts., seeing Sally Raube Chandler and Gretchen Hahn Anderson and husband Tom on the sad occasion of Jim Chandler’s Memorial Service. It was good to catch up with them. We still love our traveling days and did the Panama Canal in the spring and are visiting the Canadian Maritimes this fall. We love visitors, so please come see us in Williamsburg.”

 

Meredith Howard Parham checked in to tell us “Bruce and I are still living in the not-so-frozen north after more than 30 years. The entire huge state has fewer than 750.000 intrepid souls. Retirement is turning out to be very busy—I play harpsichord and recorders (both Renaissance and Baroque) with numerous groups. This past year I went to New Zealand and played recorder and Irish whistle on the North Island—what a beautiful country! And this past spring, I spent a week in Portland, OR, at an early music workshop at a retreat on the Columbia River gorge.  Other than spending too many hours practicing, I tend our flowers (the summer’s never-ending daylight does amazing things to Alaska gardens) and walk/hike in the local parks.” (Meredith hopes to see Ginny Price Bracken and husband Chuck when they travel to Alaska on a cruise in July.)

 

From Nancy Esau Jeschke says “I have been retired after 40 years of teaching since 2007. I was somewhat hesitant at first because I loved teaching high school. My husband had retired the year before and was really having fun, that pushed me into retirement.  We travel a couple of times a year. We really enjoy Viking, have been to the Mediterranean, Baltic, France, Germany, Portugal and Spain. One of our favorite trips has been to Australia and New Zealand.  Our son is a patent attorney and has 2 children—Evie (5) and Ethan (2). Our daughter is a technical writer and has Derek (15) and Kellen (6).  I volunteer at the local animal shelter with cats. It makes me feel like a social worker—matching personalities of people with the right cat!  I also golf with friends and with a couples group. Other than heart bypass in 2009, life has been good. I see Gail Williams, Lucille Van Baaren (’68) and Barb Wilson.”

 

Leilani Chen Viney “My husband Terry and I still live in my hometown of Milburn, NJ. He still works from home and I retired in 2011, but have maintained my Registered Dietitian credential, always thinking I might embark on a second career.  Ballroom dancing has been my hobby and passion for decades, and I continue to compete with my teacher (pro/am couple) and occasionally with my husband (amateur couple).  I’m also on the Board of the Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation. My Hood roommate, Gwenn Sterling Engle, and I still stay in touch.  My son, Jonathan Cryer, has a medical practice in Ithaca, NY; his wife, Marnie, is on the faculty at Cornell. They have two lovely kids that I’m so proud of.”

 

Judy Lehman Ballinger ”As for news, it seems a lot of the same. I am still living in West Reading, painting silk in my 3^rd floor studio, spending time with 9 growing-up grandchildren, serving on the usual too many committees, and imagining that there will be more time for personal vacations next year. Blair and I did make a trip to visit roomie Cheryl Wray Kirk and husband Gene on the Eastern Shore last fall, but I missed getting to Ginny Munson Hammel’s wedding last month. I am having my major solo art show this June, “Art from my African Sketchbooks: Works on Paper and Fabric.” It has been a lot of effort and revival of skills I first learned at Hood; a pleasure, but I look forward to a less intense July. Mostly, this season I miss the home I no longer have in Cape May. Gathering with daughters for a week in August is not enough ocean for me!  We made up for no ocean with wonderful mountains in April with clan Ballinger gathered in Utah to celebrate my aunt, Ruth Austermuhl Battenberger (Hood ’40) 100^th birthday. It was a nice place and time to turn 74 and not feel old.”

 

Beth Hobby Costello “For four Junes, I have been lucky enough to spend time with Susan Bracken, Ginny Price Bracken and her husband in Chocowinity, N.C. Susan and I take the ferry to Ocracoke Island to an incredible music festival… all good fun, good food, crazy golf cart rides, and time on a beautiful beach. These get-togethers have enriched my life so much—I hope we’ll have many more Ocrafolk Festivals to attend.  Life is rewarding for me as I hope it is for everyone from the class of ’67!”

 

On a wonderfully positive note—Cynthia Newby writes “Continuing to serve on the Hood College Board of Trustees, so pleased to share that enrollment is way up—over 300 coming in the freshman class for fall of 2019.”  [Thank you, Cindy!]

 

Linda Carlson shared “I am another CT alum living on the shoreline here in Chester for the past year. Both of my children, Karen and Dale, live within 2 miles of me… if only we all had that arrangement.  I serve on the Chester Democratic Town Committee and campaign for local candidates whose views match mine.  I am also fortunate to live close to several alums planning a regional Hood reunion luncheon on September 18.  Sending my best regards to all!”

 

May Mumma Ohman– On a personal note, my husband Earl and I celebrated our 50^th wedding anniversary last August [2018]. Our daughter Karin, husband Austin, and our son Jack threw us a surprise party. Family and friends were there—including Susan Bracken, Ginny Price Bracken and her husband “Brack” (Chuck)! Wonderful!

 

As your new class reporter—it was wonderful to “hear” so many of your voices.  I know the Hood magazine class report was terribly reduced—in order to meet the publisher’s constraints and requirements. It is so nice to have a second forum where all our words can be shared!

 

And, closing with thoughts from Diane Smail Robertson, “If I lived a more exciting life, I would have many more interesting things to report, but I find that life here in Virginia is filled with just the everyday occurrences that we all encounter one way or another… rejoicing in and watching grandchildren grow, spending time with family and friends, being grateful for good health and the blessings that God has given me.  In the last year or so, we have cut down on travel a bit, but we still manage our annual 2-week trip south to Charleston, a place that feels like a ‘second home’ to us after all these years of visiting. Life is good and we are thankful.”

1967 May Mumma Ohman  may.mumma.ohman@gmail.com

 

Wonderful to hear from so many of you! This is the full—uncut—Class of ’67 report! Enjoy!  So much more here!

 

Knowing I was taking over for Pat Rosner Kearns, in January 2019 Ginny wrote to give me a  first entry. At that time, Ginny Price Bracken wrote that she and husband Chuck (Brack) continue to enjoy their busy retirement in the wonderful “golfing, boating, living” community of Cypress Landing in Eastern North Carolina. A bonus is that Ginny’s sister-in-law, Susan Bracken and her Hood Little Sister Marilyn Mundy also own homes in the community!

 

Later, Ginny wrote to share news of the passing of Vivian Lamberson Manis. Ginny and Cheryl Wray Kirk attended Viv’s memorial service in Hagerstown in April. Laura Seymour Carlson had sent wonderful photos that were part of the slide show to remember Vivian.

 

Kris Campbell Joyce “In spring, we had a nice brief visit with Pam Higginbottom Carey and her husband Hugh in their home near our son’s in Baltimore, Maryland.  We were there especially to see our fast maturing grandchildren Emma, now a high school senior, and her brother Ryan, 15. Our son Keir and wife Joy seem to be navigating these teen times well. BJ and I just returned from a trip to Florence, Italy, for my teaching and art which I continue to enjoy After 10 days in Florence, we went to Austria for 12 days to see the family I lived with in 1961-62. We have stayed in touch but we needed some lengthy time together to catch up on this phase of life!”

 

Pat Anderson Branning “Lives and writes in Beaufort, South Carolina and is the author of 7 best selling books on the Coastal South, a series titled,  Shrimp, Collards and Grits. Pat’s books are available on Amazon, her website www.patbranning.com and fine gift stores throughout the Southeast.”

 

Barb Cummings Stacks writes “Several of us live within 10 minutes of each other. Linda Carlson, Barb Schmidt MacGregor, Peggy Narducci Phillips, and me, Barb (Babs at Hood) Cummings Stacks. Last year, thanks to Carol Brink and her wonderful, creative skills, we traveled together to join many other ’67 classmates in Manchester By The Sea outside Boston. Our trip was 3 hours up and 3 hours home. We talked non-stop the entire trip. Visiting and continuing to share Hood and life memories with all of our other classmates over a great potluck lunch in Manchester truly provided for us ROOTS!!! We loved that experience and we have continued getting together! In September, we are hosting a potluck luncheon at my home in Essex, also a very special place to relax, reminisce, and continue to recall our roots!  On a personal note, we are all well, active, and loving our retirement! Our grown children, grandchildren, travel, exercise, and volunteer passions keep us ‘young”! We have much in common!”

 

Barb Wood Spellman “My oldest granddaughter just finished her freshman year at Northeastern in Boston. My husband John and I spent a great time in North Carolina last fall [2018] visiting Ginny Price Bracken and her husband Chuck. Of course we spent time with Susan [Bracken] as well while there. Ginny managed John’s dental practice for many years so we had lots to talk about. We also saw Sharon MacDowell Sheaffer and her husband John in May at the 50^th reunion of our husbands’ the University of Pennsylvania Dental School class.”

 

Angela Milea Mogin “Mike and I have been attending graduations this summer. Our youngest grandson graduated from kindergarten in May and in June we were in Los Angeles to attend the high school graduation of our eldest grandchild. Mattie will attend U. Cal. Berkeley next fall, much to the discomfort of her father and one of her aunts, who are Stanford graduates. The family will be colorful if nothing else. Berkeley, blue v. Stanford, red.”

 

Ginny Munson Hammell “I married a widower May 25. Tack (Henry Gordon Hamby, retired AF pilot). He has 3 sons and 7 grandchildren. I got great relatives in the deal! Only a couple of Hoodlums could make it: Marianne Kearney, Emily McNaughton (69). It was lots of fun but we were both exhausted.

 

“We flew to London 27 for a D Day tour. (Tack’s Dad dropped paratroopers over St. Maire Eglise.)  In the fall [2018] we were in Italy for a 5 day cooking program. (Plus Tacks a FAB cook.) We spent the winter in Boca Raton and did an Eastern Caribbean cruise.  Traveled 3 weeks in Spain in April.

 

“Big D Day tour. Wonderful. Added two days in London (fab Indian food), three days in Paris and 1 day in Biarritz. (In my racing through farmers market rammed my knee into a wall, still recovering,)

 

“It will take us all summer to get organized.

 

“Tack is very fond of Frederick and Andrea. We are out there every other month.”

 

Susan Wadia-Ells  “I have been struggling with finishing my twelve year Busting Breast Cancer book project. And am finally happy to announce that the book will be out in paperback and eBook format this fall. This has been a mysterious and magnificent experience, as I stumbled over the new metabolic theory of cancer, just after it was published in 2012.

 

“The author of the new theory… Boston College biologist Thomas Seyfried, has now mentored me for the past five years… as I have created this first book on breast cancer prevention, based on the new metabolic theory. Once women are willing and able to follow most of the prevention steps described in the book, we could/would/should/will see breast cancer rates in the U.S. drop by literally 80 percent.

 

“This is also a women’s empowerment book… as each chapter explains why corporate sponsored breast cancer awareness groups and our federal cancer agencies are funded and controlled by the breast cancer treatment industry… with none of these groups focused on effective preventions…  just on mammograms/detection and treatment for all!!! Hence… women must think for ourselves… and protect ourselves from this diseases… that is not at epidemic levels in the U.S.

 

“My website is just going up now… see  www.bustingbreastcancer.com. Am currently raising $$ for a legal review and the final 5k in production costs. I will be setting up book-signings and workshops around the country… and beyond beginning in October.  Would love to connect with Hood ’67 folks throughout the process.”

 

Meredith Cook Held “I am still working as a realtor in the north Texas area. I’m a past president of our local association and am still involved at the state and national levels, serving on both Boards of Directors. I love what I do so I have no intention to retire any time soon. I do get to travel as part of my responsibilities so I spent a week in Boston last November (hadn’t been back since I left there in the 70s) and will be in San Francisco for a week this November. In my ‘spare time,’ I love to read, play with my dog and generally relax with my husband of 39 years. Where did the time go?! If anyone is traveling this way (Frisco, Texas), I’d love to see them.”

 

Laurie Seymour Carlson shared “I am thoroughly enjoying retirement and am lucky enough to live near my oldest (12 years old) of three grandchildren. So I spend a good amount of time with her. I also enjoy walking, reading, needlework and my small patio garden.”

 

Debbie Smith Aldrich reports “I continue to love beautiful Newburyport and the ocean. I have an incredible group of terrific friends, who meet every Wednesday. (Sort of like that group on 3^rd floor Meyran). I’m very active in my church, currently a Deacon, Assistant Collector, Altar Guild and Personnel. Spent a wonderful week at Myrtle Beach with my daughter and granddaughter (9 years old) enjoying the beach and ocean. Life is good.”

 

Johanna Van Wert Thompson writes “Michael and I continue to live in Williamsburg, Va. Our 3 children and 8 grandchildren are only an hour from us so we see them often, although several are in college. We just returned from Massachusetts., seeing Sally Raube Chandler and Gretchen Hahn Anderson and husband Tom on the sad occasion of Jim Chandler’s Memorial Service. It was good to catch up with them. We still love our traveling days and did the Panama Canal in the spring and are visiting the Canadian Maritimes this fall. We love visitors, so please come see us in Williamsburg.”

 

Meredith Howard Parham checked in to tell us “Bruce and I are still living in the not-so-frozen north after more than 30 years. The entire huge state has fewer than 750.000 intrepid souls. Retirement is turning out to be very busy—I play harpsichord and recorders (both Renaissance and Baroque) with numerous groups. This past year I went to New Zealand and played recorder and Irish whistle on the North Island—what a beautiful country! And this past spring, I spent a week in Portland, OR, at an early music workshop at a retreat on the Columbia River gorge.  Other than spending too many hours practicing, I tend our flowers (the summer’s never-ending daylight does amazing things to Alaska gardens) and walk/hike in the local parks.” (Meredith hopes to see Ginny Price Bracken and husband Chuck when they travel to Alaska on a cruise in July.)

 

From Nancy Esau Jeschke says “I have been retired after 40 years of teaching since 2007. I was somewhat hesitant at first because I loved teaching high school. My husband had retired the year before and was really having fun, that pushed me into retirement.  We travel a couple of times a year. We really enjoy Viking, have been to the Mediterranean, Baltic, France, Germany, Portugal and Spain. One of our favorite trips has been to Australia and New Zealand.  Our son is a patent attorney and has 2 children—Evie (5) and Ethan (2). Our daughter is a technical writer and has Derek (15) and Kellen (6).  I volunteer at the local animal shelter with cats. It makes me feel like a social worker—matching personalities of people with the right cat!  I also golf with friends and with a couples group. Other than heart bypass in 2009, life has been good. I see Gail Williams, Lucille Van Baaren (’68) and Barb Wilson.”

 

Leilani Chen Viney “My husband Terry and I still live in my hometown of Milburn, NJ. He still works from home and I retired in 2011, but have maintained my Registered Dietitian credential, always thinking I might embark on a second career.  Ballroom dancing has been my hobby and passion for decades, and I continue to compete with my teacher (pro/am couple) and occasionally with my husband (amateur couple).  I’m also on the Board of the Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation. My Hood roommate, Gwenn Sterling Engle, and I still stay in touch.  My son, Jonathan Cryer, has a medical practice in Ithaca, NY; his wife, Marnie, is on the faculty at Cornell. They have two lovely kids that I’m so proud of.”

 

Judy Lehman Ballinger ”As for news, it seems a lot of the same. I am still living in West Reading, painting silk in my 3^rd floor studio, spending time with 9 growing-up grandchildren, serving on the usual too many committees, and imagining that there will be more time for personal vacations next year. Blair and I did make a trip to visit roomie Cheryl Wray Kirk and husband Gene on the Eastern Shore last fall, but I missed getting to Ginny Munson Hammel’s wedding last month. I am having my major solo art show this June, “Art from my African Sketchbooks: Works on Paper and Fabric.” It has been a lot of effort and revival of skills I first learned at Hood; a pleasure, but I look forward to a less intense July. Mostly, this season I miss the home I no longer have in Cape May. Gathering with daughters for a week in August is not enough ocean for me!  We made up for no ocean with wonderful mountains in April with clan Ballinger gathered in Utah to celebrate my aunt, Ruth Austermuhl Battenberger (Hood ’40) 100^th birthday. It was a nice place and time to turn 74 and not feel old.”

 

Beth Hobby Costello “For four Junes, I have been lucky enough to spend time with Susan Bracken, Ginny Price Bracken and her husband in Chocowinity, N.C. Susan and I take the ferry to Ocracoke Island to an incredible music festival… all good fun, good food, crazy golf cart rides, and time on a beautiful beach. These get-togethers have enriched my life so much—I hope we’ll have many more Ocrafolk Festivals to attend.  Life is rewarding for me as I hope it is for everyone from the class of ’67!”

 

On a wonderfully positive note—Cynthia Newby writes “Continuing to serve on the Hood College Board of Trustees, so pleased to share that enrollment is way up—over 300 coming in the freshman class for fall of 2019.”  [Thank you, Cindy!]

 

Linda Carlson shared “I am another CT alum living on the shoreline here in Chester for the past year. Both of my children, Karen and Dale, live within 2 miles of me… if only we all had that arrangement.  I serve on the Chester Democratic Town Committee and campaign for local candidates whose views match mine.  I am also fortunate to live close to several alums planning a regional Hood reunion luncheon on September 18.  Sending my best regards to all!”

 

May Mumma Ohman– On a personal note, my husband Earl and I celebrated our 50^th wedding anniversary last August [2018]. Our daughter Karin, husband Austin, and our son Jack threw us a surprise party. Family and friends were there—including Susan Bracken, Ginny Price Bracken and her husband “Brack” (Chuck)! Wonderful!

 

As your new class reporter—it was wonderful to “hear” so many of your voices.  I know the Hood magazine class report was terribly reduced—in order to meet the publisher’s constraints and requirements. It is so nice to have a second forum where all our words can be shared!

 

And, closing with thoughts from Diane Smail Robertson, “If I lived a more exciting life, I would have many more interesting things to report, but I find that life here in Virginia is filled with just the everyday occurrences that we all encounter one way or another… rejoicing in and watching grandchildren grow, spending time with family and friends, being grateful for good health and the blessings that God has given me.  In the last year or so, we have cut down on travel a bit, but we still manage our annual 2-week trip south to Charleston, a place that feels like a ‘second home’ to us after all these years of visiting. Life is good and we are thankful.”

May Mumma Ohman
eohmanjr@gmail.com

Many thanks to Pat Rosner Kearns for serving as our class reporter! I will be taking over for her as of 2019. I am hoping to hear from many of you for the next issue of Hood and will be sending a letter about a month before the next deadline in the hopes you take a moment to share your news with all of us. Look forward to hearing from you.

Patricia “Pat” Rosner Kearns
kearns.patricia@gmail.com

Enjoyed seeing so many people this past reunion weekend! Congrats to co-chairs Sue Bracken and Ginny Price Bracken for an amazing job, and those who put the memory book and art show together! Will leave details to the Hood mag report of the reunion. Susan Wadia-Ells says her book, Busting Breast Cancer: Our Personal and Political Revolution…with four simple steps to stop breast cancer before it starts (Sept. 2017) is the first book on breast cancer prevention, based on the metabolic theory of cancer. Tom Seyfried, Boston College, has written the foreword. Susan blames editorial demands for missing the reunion but held one in New England this spring. Ginny Munson Hammell was at the reunion but the exciting news is: “FINALLY will reach grandmother status (spoiler alert – it’s a boy ) in July!!!, courtesy of daughter Hillary who does employment law (representing plaintiffs) of course in CA.” Ginny invites “y’all” to come visit her during the winter in Boca Raton. During her months in Alexandria, Ginny serves on the Board of Community Lodgings, a transitional housing program. Ginny hosted alums at the   amazing Trading Room she’s donated to Hood this weekend. French House roommates Judy Lehman Ballinger, and Cheryl Wray Kirk will perform at the reunion chapel service and participate in the art show with Kris Campbell Joyce.  Otherwise, “BJ and I journeyed in February to Cuba for my art/teaching. We were based in Havana at the Melia Cohiba next to the famous seawall, the Malacon”, known as the living room of that city. We journeyed with some basic medicines (such as aspirin) and art supplies for the people via Caritas Cubana, a Catholic relief organization in Boston for Cuba. After 31 years at Chilton Hospital in Pompton Plains, NJ as Director of Dietetics, Leilani (Lani) Chen Viney retired in 2011.  After retirement, she says “I was able to focus on my passion for ballroom dancing” and does so competitively, competing in a Blackpol, England open pro/am championships in May, finishing 3rd in her division. Lani writes: Son, Jonathan, and family live in Ithaca, NY where he has a medical practice, and daughter-in-law Marnie teaches at Cornell and doesn’t see enough of grandchildren, Liala, and Owen.  Lani serves on the Board of The Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation, sending children with kidney disease to summer camp where they are mainstreamed with all of the other children. The camp has a dialysis unit and full medical staff there to take care of the kids.  She writes, “I helped set up the meal program for the kidney kids for the Foundation while at Einstein in the Bronx in 1975. Who knew I would end up on their Board 37 years later.” Edie Ryll Mathews says she’s “been lucky:  my husband’s job with Delta brought us to Atlanta, Robert Shaw’s city.  Always loving choral music, I auditioned for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and was accepted, singing for three years in the ’70’s, when my children were very small.  Then I worried about Mr. Shaw dying, so I auditioned in 1988 and got back into the chorus, where I’ve been ever since.  This chorus, although volunteer (unpaid), is very strict; we audition again every year.  The Atlanta Symphony has won numerous Grammy’s, including several for best choral performance.  I’ve really used my music major, teaching piano all this time, and doing 17 years of choral conducting, as well.  I’ve benefitted from Dr. Allen Bonde’s excellent teaching and even taught two sight singing classes à la Mr. William Sprigg!  We have three children, who all live in Atlanta.  One has just married this past October, so we are hoping for a grandchild down the road. Judy Lehman Ballinger, who – as noted above – performed with former classmates at the reunion,  mostly “spends time painting in my spacious home studio, selling scarves and other art at our art coop gallery, visiting our 9 grandkids, selectively responding to political outrage, and trying not to notice which part of my body doesn’t work as well as it used to. Reunion was fantastic.” Personally, grandson Ozzie arrived in May, joining Karolina, Max, Laszlo and Isaac.  My son, Neil, is headed for law school and daughter Johanna runs the Pavillion at the National Gallery in DC.  With Josh is in NoCal, Neil in KY, and Max in north Georgia I spend a lot of time going East-West to see the grandkids. Still working – running a nonprofit in Fairfax, VA helping the homeless get back on their feet.  Pat Rosner Kearns

1967

Patricia Rosner Kearns
kearns.patricia@gmail.com

Lots of anniversaries, generational achievements, old marriages, new marriages, pursuit of new careers, travels, retirement/nonretirement and acquiring new skills reported by the class of 1967 as we move forward. Thanks to all who responded quickly to my panic email of pending news deadline. My apologies to those who are not on the email list. I actually had letters printed out and envelopes labeled but then the grandkids arrived for 10 days!  Patrosnerkearns. Joh Van Wert Thompson writes: Our first grandchild just graduated from high school and will be attending VA TECH in the fall. One of the highlights of our year was a trip to Cuba in March with Joan Peschel Young and husband Bob.  My husband, Michael, even brought back some Cuban cigars.  We all loved Cuba and found the people very friendly.  Old Havana is beautiful with its lovely squares and architecture.  Even saw lots of those 50’s cars! Love retirement!!!!  Hope to see lots of you at our 50th! Jane Rowell Arnold is still living in New York City and working as Director of Admissions at the Episcopal School. Married to Alex (47 years) Two married sons. Three grandchildren. Not interested in retirement! My biggest news, Cheryl Wray Kirk writes, is that my grandson had his Boy Scout Eagle Ceremony last month. He built a small stage with backdrop and wheelchair ramp for our church day care center as his project. This represents four generations of scouting in my family. My father was an Eagle Scout, I was a Girl Scout for 10 years and earned my 10 year pin, my youngest son Phil became an Eagle Scout, and now my grandson Lucas is an Eagle Scout. It meant so much to me. Attending the ceremony was Margo Emrich Trexler, mother of two Eagle Scouts and of course Hood buddy and family friend. She and her husband Bob drove 4 hours to attend. Judy Lehman Ballinger is enjoying life to the fullest. She writes: Why am I responding to an email before 8am?!!  Life remains way too busy, but the good stuff fills most of it: art, family of 9 grandkids (some requiring visits to Costa Rica and San Francisco), community, friends, 5th year of marriage, etc.  I’m not sure if local & national politics and my feeble attempts to address social issues (support for immigrants and our Islamic center) count in the “good stuff” category, but they do consume a lot of thought. As a member of the Hood Board of Trustees, Cynthia Newby is totally enjoying the Board, especially the opportunity to observe Andrea Chapdelaine‘s first year in office. Cynthia writes that President Chapdelaine is a terrific leader; “we are very lucky, I think, to have her in charge of the key efforts re credentialing, strategic planning, and enrollment. New senior staff — VP for Enrollment Management Bill Brown and new Provost Dr. Debbie Ricker–equally impressive.” Barbara Morgan Herron says it was really great to see and visit with Laurie Seymour Carlson when she came to Annapolis last October (2015). They met up at a Navy football game, and enjoyed cheering the Mids on to a win. The short film that I wrote and produced was finally finished, and I was invited to screen it at the 4th Annual Female Filmmakers Showcase in Baltimore this spring.  Funny thing. I wrote and produced it (which included everything from making costumes, lining up locations and hiring a caterer to trimming the leading man’s hair), but until then hadn’t thought of myself as a filmmaker. Beyond that, I’m trying yet again to learn to play the guitar. Wish me luck! (Keep on strumming, Barb.) Best regards from hot Georgia! Writes Gail Witham Pohl. Today is our 49th anniversary (June 17), so we’re thinking about how Doug and I met at a Shriner Hall mixer.  It had to be moved to Meyren because it was so well attended despite the umpteen inches of snow on the ground.  Good Hood memories! May Mumma Ohman wrote, “Hi Pat… here is a “flash from the past.” In the summer of 1966, I went to Chile as a Hood College Ambassador. It was a remarkable experience that changed the course of my life. (As a result of that time in Chile, I worked as a Pan Am stewardess for several years after graduation… wanting to see more of the world.)  The program was called The Experiment in International Living– and Susan Wadia-Ells talked me into applying and going. (She had gone to Iran the year before with the same program.) The group from 1966 just had a 50th reunion  We managed to get 5 of the 10 original group members together in Rochester, NY– skyed two others.  One of our Chilean families came– five of them! It was an amazing experience.  Something very good– from the Hood we knew 50 years ago– lives on. I hope as many of our classmates who can come, will come– to our 50th Reunion next year! Looking forward to that! Kris Campbell Joyce wrote, “We just returned from a 2 week safari in Tanzania which was wonderful with Thomson Travel which has a supportive role in that country. We were able to learn a lot about the land, animals, and people for my art and teaching and would definitely recommend that travel company.” From your class reporter. Not much from Northern Virginia. Working to help the homeless, taking a nonprofit to the next level – stuff I did 30 years ago! Updating my 100 year old house to get ready for sale –eventually. Trips to see grandkids in Sonoma and north Georgia take up most of my vacation time. A nice Caribbean beach with drinks with umbrellas sounds good right now. But I second Jane Arnold’s comment– retirement? Why? Pat Rosner Kearns

Patricia Rosner Kearns
kearns.patricia@gmail.com

Deborah Aldrich says she loves to read about our classmates is having a good year. “I’ve just lost some major weight and feel so much better. Walking every day in beautiful Newburyport. Coming up on the five year mark breast cancer free which is great. My daughter just went through a much more difficult bout with it. I added two wonderful kittens, Jethro and Findlay McDoodle, to my cat house.” Gail Witham Pohl writes: In May, we took a wonderful cruise on the Elbe River going from Berlin to Prague, and in July we took a driving trip through some of western U.S. and Canada (over 5000 miles). We’re still involved in square dancing and volunteer work, and I lead a Bible study group. The grandchild count is now 20. We are blessed! Johanna Van Wert Thompson say, turning 70 has been great fun with a family Caribbean cruise, there were 22 of us! Michael and are very active in Bruton Parish and working with the homeless. We even have a therapy dog and Michael takes him to a retirement home as well as a women’s shelter, to interact with the residents. One thing that has come to fruition in this 70th year is a scholarship at Hood which my two sisters, Punkie Van Wert VanAs ’69, and Susie Van Wert Loustaunau ’72, and I have established. The Virginia Munson Hammell ’67 Trading Room was constructed in Rosenstock Hall over the summer and is now open for classroom use. Kristina Campbell Joyce says she is planning to stay in their house in Massachusetts for life if possible, so did some work around the place this summer.
“Our grandchildren Emma (13) and Ryan (11) are growing up fast. Our daughter teacher is in Boston so we see her often. BJ and I traveled to Iceland and Greenland for my art and teaching–Artic Art theme and that was an adventure. BJ is still in the family business for printing and drafting supplies and is happy working as I am too.” Ruth Conger Crespi writes from Rhodes, Greece, “at the end of a great two-week trip here. I return October 1….to the wonderful man in my life, who I dated in New York in 1968. Life can be so unpredictable, especially at 70! … I had a nice visit from Susan Starr Bracken, who was traveling back to North Carolina after a month in the northeast. While she was here we joined Cynthia Newby for lunch. I see my cousin Mary Starr Smith Adams (Class of ’54) from time to time at her home in Newtown, Connecticut. I look forward to visiting Kristin Muller (MS, Class of 2014) this fall at her studio in Dingman’s Ferry, Pennsylvania. (Kristin was a ceramic student of mine at SCSU many years ago.) … My daughter Louisa has been living and working in Tokyo for the past 14 years. Daughter Jodie is a chiropractor in Davidson, North Carolina. She and husband Mike Silver have two children. Son Scott, his wife Becky, and their three children live near me in West Hartford. They are both chemical engineers. Life is good.” Ann Goodhart and husband Jim Delgado just returned from a cruise in the Canadian Arctic and along the coast of Greenland. It was an amazing experience full of dramatic landscapes, cold and ice, warm local people and not much wildlife. Marjorie Mumma Ohman & family have been in their Arlington, Virginia house 37 years now. The only message she has is– I hope all who can, will come back to Hood for our 50th Reunion. The campus never looked lovelier, and there are so many new developments in the college curriculum. Sometimes I half-wish I could go back again and study something new there now. It is always a pleasure to return. Patricia Rosner Kearns Finally, your class reporter has transitioned once again. I spent the winter in Connecticut taking care of my mother who passed away in March at 90. In June, I joined a small local nonprofit as executive director near my home focused on getting homeless families out of shelters and into permanent homes earning a living wage. The kids continue to fly the coup. Oldest son Josh, moved to Sonoma County but still works in DC; youngest son Neil moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and son Max is still in North Georgia. Grandkid count is four, 3 boys and a girl and I don’t get to see them enough!

Patricia Rosner Kearns
kearns.patricia@gmail.com

The request for news for the online column came while I was away so my apologies to my classmates for the dirth of responses but will try to update as they roll in. Classmates on the Eastern half of the U.S., all the way down to the Florida border, have had their challenges on the weather front. It was almost spring and the weather kept on coming. I’m a Yankee and I love the snow but the older I get the less fun it is. It’s not like I get a snow day from school. The only parts of the U.S. that seemed to escape the extreme cold and snow were those places that make a living off snow. Two of my sons went skiing in Utah and said there was very little snow. I flew over the Rockies on my way to California and noticed a lot of bare spots on the range. But I digress… back to the issue of getting older, most of us are about to or have just hit the big 70. So what? Remember when Hood sent us a survey asking us how it felt to hit 50? Was that really 20 years ago? Where did it go? So, I have to ask: how does it feel to turn 70? Personally, I’m grateful and still waiting to see what I’ll be when I grow up. In reality, for many of us, we are facing retirement (of sorts), taking care of aging parents and making sure the next 20 years are all we can make them be. Debbie Smith Aldrich wrote from Snowmaggedon (Boston), “I just turned the magic 70-years-old in a blizzard. The snow around Boston has been monstrous. A sheet of plywood on my snow piles makes a garage for my car.” Meredith Cook Held wrote from Dallas, “I am still busy working in real estate in a hot market in the Dallas, Texas area. I love what I do and have been involved at the grassroots level keeping the area’s power company from putting 138 kV lines down the middle of Main Street, a developed area in Frisco, Texas, where I live. I got the Realtor Association at the state level (Texas Association of Realtors) involved and we have been awarded significant funds from the Issues Mobilization Political Action Committee to fight the power company’s proposal. Now the National Association of Realtors is watching what’s happening since this could happen elsewhere. It’s been really exciting to see what can happen when many people band together to make a difference. I’ve been given the Strike Force Award by TAR for my efforts. Also, last July my husband and our two daughters took a fabulous vacation to Hawaii. We spent eight days touring the Big Island, going to the Keck Observatory at the top of Mauna Kea, seeing the volcano Kilauea, shopping at the farmer’s market in Hilo and basically just having a great time! One of the best vacations ever!!”

1967
Patricia Rosner Kearns
kearns.patricia@gmail.com

Angela Milea Mogin asks all members of the class of ’67 who remember Dr. Lewis’ classes if they would like to contribute to the Dr. Virginia E. Lewis Fund (institutional advancement department). Judy Lehman Ballinger is enjoying new places: activities in Berks Co., Pa., getting to a Hood basketball game and meeting local alums. “My silk painting business keeps growing, grandkids have increased to seven. My first-grade teacher asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up and I said, ‘artist.’ I celebrated my 69th birthday and I am finally grown up and an artist! I enjoyed seeing Ginny Munson Hammell last summer in Cape May. I planned my first trip to Europe since 2001 to an art workshop in southern France,” said Judy. Ginny Munson wrote, “I spent a wonderful few days in March-April with Pat Jones VanMater at her and Peter’s digs in Naples and trying to work my way down to Sicily. Daughter Hilary is an attorney, son Davis still not sure about his career.” Ginny lives in Alexandria, Va., and loves it. Not this winter! She is on the board of community lodgings, moving families to independence through transitional housing, job training and education programs. Marianne Kearney has moved to Woodstock to her beloved childhood summer place. The address is 167 Glenford Wittenberg Rd., Glenford, NY 12433; 845-6570-6224. Retired from education in St. Louis, she engages in local activism having joined the hydraulic gas fracking controversy in New York state . Company is always welcome so stop by or stay when traveling near the Hudson River Valley. Kris Campbell Joyce’s 96-year-old mother Ann passed peacefully in her sleep Feb. 8. “The French House triple roomies, Judy Lehman Ballinger, Cheryl Wray Kirk and I have all lost our mothers over the past couple years but have been sharing what an impact these losses are and I am grateful to have this comfort.” Beth Costello Hobby said, “life has had its ‘ups and downs’–the fall tornadoes missed the house but detritus landed all over the yard, a roll of wallpaper, a German hymnal and a bucket  of charcoal briquettes. Among others, I have been doing art work again. My sculpture, assemblages and collages may cause conventional residents to raise a few eyebrows. I lost my mom in February just short of her 91st birthday; not visiting her every week has been one of the ‘downs’. Partner Sandy’s health is not always the best, but I have been blessed, although I do not always recognize the lady in the mirror! The best ‘up’ I have is fabulous 8-month-old great-nephew who plays bongos and dances and goes by the name JAME-O. Who could ask for more in a kid?” Ann Goodhart enjoys retirement and spends time gardening, reading and cooking. She returned to the East Coast in 2010, retiring after 40 years as a librarian, the last 13 years as a library director in Vancouver. Husband James Delgado is director of maritime heritage for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and an underwater archaeologist. They spend their travel time visiting new granddaughter in California. Cynthia Newby is semi-retired and writes for McGraw-Hill––more happily, working in the garden (garden conservancy tour planned for Sept. 7). Cyndi shared a great quote from Margaret Atwood, “In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” Gail Witham Pohl now has 18 grandchildren! Doug has retired but still teaches at the Univ. in Georgia. They enjoyed a trip to China in December and planned to head to Uganda this summer where their daughter’s family lives, including eight of their grandchildren whom they have not seen for two years. Gail keeps up with Dorrie Macgregor Spurlock who works full-time at the Univ. of Utah in Salt Lake City after teaching first grade. Elly MacHale Szum wrote from Bucolic, N.H. After Hood, Elly headed to Cambridge, Mass., where she met husband Richard and earned a master’s degree in education focused on the emotionally disturbed child. She taught troubled children until twins were born in 1982. She retired this past year as an elementary school librarian. Richard retired after globetrotting for Siemens. Daughter Carolyn works in Beijing, daughter Kate and husband are in Ithaca, N.Y., and her twin brother John is in the U.S. military in California. Elly and Richard enjoy their home and gardens. We are limited to 750 words; apologies for the edits and cuts. Full report is online at http://classnews.hoodmarketing.org.

Judy Ballinger reports, “The combination of being newly married to a man also recently retired from “regular” work and both of us getting increasingly busy with our own and friends’ art ventures has snowballed into a much too busy schedule. Our challenge now is figuring out how to slow down.”

Kris Campbell Joyce was a guest artist in Hokkaido, Japan, for one week and then traveled the country with BJ for two more weeks. Kris had taken a semester course on the history of Japanese art at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and was well prepared for some of the things she saw. That trip was the highlight of her year.

Leilani Chen Viney retired 2 years ago, and is still a little in shock. “I’m still doing competitive ballroom dancing both with my husband and a professional teacher. It’s the closest thing I know of to the fountain of youth! I still keep in touch with my roommate, Gwenn Sterling Engle.”

Beth Costello Hobby enjoys “gardening, s’mores in the backyard with friends, not riding that darned bike like I should, eating out, giving art restoration seminars, re-doing the church landscaping, having a glass of wine now and then with my buddies, and really enjoying most of what it is to be 68! And, I’ve been a Great Aunt now for 5 months – how fun is that?”

Barb Cummings Stacks had very busy year. “We have just moved into a smaller house and are buried in boxes. Our new address: 42 North Main Street, Essex, CT. Telephone: 860-581-8770. There was interest in my book at our reunion and I am excited to share that it has been published. Childhood Roots, Raising Children Birth to Eight. Please email me for a copy.”

Angela Milea Mogin has a new grandson, Jason Andrew, the second son of youngest daughter Lauren Mogin Giamonna, born last January 23.

Ginny Munson Hammell moved twice in a year. “I have considered moving to Florida, but there are too many connections here…and now that I’m alone, I relish the (fast diminishing) friends and haunts here. Unhappily, no grandchildren yet.”

After teaching high school students with mild to moderate learning disabilities for sixteen years, Kitty Nevin Rieske was more than ready to retire. “Now I am enjoying being able to stay up to watch the Red Sox win the World Series and then sleep in the next morning! We can now travel on non-school vacation weeks and stay for more than a week.”

Jeanne Perkins Hofferkamp and Steve are expecting their third grandchild in December. They took a great road trip to Arizona and visited Grand Canyon and are still enjoying retirement.

Laurie Seymour Carlson spent the first half of the year recovering from a labyrinthectomy. “Since I live just a five-minute walk from my daughter & granddaughter, they are a big part of my life. I love it and feel truly blessed!” Her son and his family are also nearby.

Debbie Smith Aldrich has been free of breast cancer for three years. “Our library and my church provide me with a lot of pleasure.” Her children are both nearby, two grandsons are in college with one more to go, and Debbie has four great-grandchildren through a step-daughter.

Johanna Van Wert Thompson and Michael and both “retired” from part-time jobs this year and have very full days attending grandchild functions, traveling, and taking classes through William and Mary. “Fall is a wonderful time to visit Williamsburg and I would love to hear from anyone whose journeys bring them to this section of Virginia.”

Gail Witham Pohl and Doug had a memorable 2013, with trips to Italy and China, and a surprise quadruple bypass for Doug in August. One week after Doug’s surgery, they were in Pennsylvania for Gail’s 50th high school reunion. “The doc made me promise to drive and to make very frequent stops!”

Barb Wood Spellman had a busy year. “My husband retired in August of 2012 so there has been more time for travel. In October we added two granddaughters to our family. That brings us to seven grandchildren and four of them are girls — quite a change for someone who had four sons.”

I, Barbara Morgan Herron, retired at the end of June and started helping Craig with his film and video work. A highlight was working with actor Eric Roberts. I’m also retiring as Class Reporter. It’s been fun, but it’s time to move on.