1986
Alison Drum Althouse
804.814.0470
alison.althouse@gmail.com

Sue Auger Manory started a new job this spring at Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY as an academic advisor in the undergraduate school of business.  Both her boys will be in college this fall: Will is a senior at St. Lawrence University and Drew will be a freshman at the University of Dayton. She hopes to visit with Lucy Noepel ’87 while in New England this summer. Shantih Clemans is the director of the Center for Mentoring, Learning and Academic Innovation at SUNY Empire State College, working with faculty all over New York State.  She and her partner Julie have 2 daughters 12 and 10, and have adopted a puppy, adding to the craziness! Shantih is close friends with Nina Banks ’85. Kellye Greenwald loves being back in Maryland and feels so lucky to call Frederick home again! Sue Hastings started a new job in February with R.H. Sheppard in Hanover PA as an automotive Material Planner/Buyer. Martha Hearn Shimano, who recently finished her two four-year terms on Hood’s Board of Trustees, is excited that her new home is slowly coming together but says she won’t be ready for visitors until sometime in 2020. Chrysti Hogan began her summer break spending a long weekend with my mother, Edee Howard Hogan ’59 at her beach house in Bethany Beach DE. She was also able to catch up with Stacey Collins ’89 and RaeAnn Butler ’89 while there. Dana Humphreys-Acock is still in private practice as a mental health therapist in Columbus.  She’s working part-time as she cares for her Mom who is in the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease. It’s been a long, sad journey for her, but she’d like to offer support, wisdom, or just an ear to any Hood sisters who are going through this currently with their loved ones.  She and Mitch celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and plan a trip to Italy this year. Their older son just finished his freshman year at Ohio State (Go Bucks).  Their younger son is going to be a high school junior and keeps them busy with soccer and his college search. Marcia Menihan Kodlick lives near Harrisburg, PA with husband Jim and younger son, William (age 17).  Both are archaeologists working for different engineering and environmental firms in the area. Older son James (age 20) recently finished his US Army Combat Medic training and is currently awaiting orders to see where this adventure will lead him.  Will is a rising high school senior and is taking a planned gap year to travel after graduation. Marcia’s dad recently moved in next door and they love sharing their lives across generations.   Marcia is in regular contact with Heidi Schwab-Jurmala (in Stockholm Sweden with husband Peter), Kathrine Anderson Cicala (back in MA with family), Kellye Greenwald, and sees Anne Lamoureux frequently.  I also recently re-connected with Sooz Edmiston ’87 and visit her, her wife Cat, and their two boys in Frederick as often as possible. Lisa O’Brien Baio shared that on June 9, 2018, she married William (Bill) Baio in a beautiful vineyard wedding on Long Island.  Hoodlums in attendance were Audrey MacDonald Wilcox, Gretchen Miller–Anderson, Debbie Daly Louis, and Robin Samuelman Kalfaian ’87, as well as their husbands.  On June 15, 2019, Lisa’s daughter Elisabeth married her partner, Victoria, with Audrey, Debbie, Gretchen and their husbands in attendance. Lisa reports that she retired this year from teaching after 33 years in the same school. She’s looking forward to an Alaskan cruise in August, and a trip to Malta! As for me, our older son, Drew Althouse ’12, is an athletic trainer at a small Catholic university in Michigan while our younger son, Evan, lives in DC working for the Mitre Corporation as he finishes a Masters from Georgia Tech.  Michael took a new job with Barclay’s bank in Wilmington, DE and we now live in Avondale PA. I continue my work for Boordy Vineyards and am the sports photographer for The Mid Report, shooting Navy football, lacrosse, and occasional basketball games.  I hosted a visit with Teresa Martinez-Rivera Bean ’87, Janet Drogin Wilson, and Marcia Groobert Ortiz this spring and was privileged to attend the Memorial service for Dr Martha Church, where I had the opportunity to visit with classmates, too many to mention without leaving out someone.  I’m always happy to host HoodLums, if any classmates are traveling… as long as it’s not a Navy home football weekend!

Sue Auger Manory lives in Canton, NY and is involved with the North Country Children’s Museum located in Potsdam, NY.  She also teaches a class in the First Year Program at St. Lawrence University called “Smarter Living” which has a health/wellness theme with a focus on nutrition, using her Hood degree.

HUGE NEWS: Kellye Greenwald is now our Hood College Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement!  Her kids are happy and healthy: daughter Zoe is living with her partner in Tumwater WA. and is the Director of Youth Services for a home for displaced/foster teens while son Ed is living in Gainesville with plans for nursing school next fall. Her email is greenwald@hood.edu – have Hood ring will travel!  If you’d like to host an Alumni gathering or event in your area, please email Kellye!

Joanna Kaldes-Kontanis’ older daughter Alissa graduated from Drexel law school studying for the bar exam. Her younger daughter Hanna will be working at Lancaster General Hospital after graduation this spring. She and her husband Kosta celebrated their 30th anniversary this year.

Patty Kenyon Grimm and Chris celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary in June and are enjoying the downsized empty-nester life in Batesville, VA. Patty is a Patient Relations Representative at the UVA Medical Center and Chris is semi-retired from State Farm. Their son Beck and daughter-in-law Ellie recently moved to Colorado Springs, CO. Patty continues her work as a victim impact speaker for MADD. To read her story visit: https://www.traumasurvivorsnetwork.org/pages/patty-s-story.

Betsy Reed Ringel had a busy year! She and husband Jeff traveled to Dallas, Laguna Beach & VA Beach as well as Amsterdam & Brussels to meet up with daughter Elise who was studying in Sweden. In October, their son Chad got married in Baltimore with Jennifer Lee Matts and Jane Brophy Martinez in attendance.

Susan Waltz Hietpas started Simply Amazing, a non-profit foundation, inspired by the love and loss of her daughter Emily. Simply Amazing provides art and craft supply boxes to children living in homeless shelters or participating in at-risk youth programs. Visit SimplyAmazing.org to learn more.

Robyn Whittemore lives Avon, CT with her three children. Robyn’s daughter Kori is 16 and is a National Team hockey player; she has twin boys, Garrett and Kyle (13) who play soccer, hockey and baseball.  Robyn continues her career in Contracts in the Aerospace & Defense industry and in her spare time she has started a small manufacturing company called “Whitt’s Whey” – you can order Robyn’s unique and delicious “Proteinola” through her company’s Facebook page.

As for me (Alison Drum Althouse), my husband Michael (USNA86) took a new job with Barclays Bank in Wilmington DE and we now live in Avondale PA, a mile over the Delaware line.  Our older son, Drew Althouse ’12, got married this summer and is an Athletic Trainer for Madonna University, located in Novi, MI. Fun fact: my husband was the officiant for our son’s wedding in Mentor, OH.  Our younger son, Evan, is a Data Scientist with MITRE (doing “math stuff”) and is finishing his Masters from Georgia Tech. I continue to shoot Navy Football and Lacrosse (and sometimes Basketball) for @TheMidReport and love being able to get so close to all the action.  I spent a wonderful beach weekend in August at the home of Stacey Robins Baum with Sarah Bowersox Cody ‘87, Jane Brophy Martinez, Chris Hom Wilson, Jennifer Lee Matts, Betsy Reed Ringel, Alex van Gigch Mores, and Maria Viola Cable ’87.  Marcia Groobert Ortiz visited for a weekend in October and she’ll be here in January for a visit with Janet Drogin Wilson and Teresa Rivera Bean ‘87.  Just before Christmas, I was lucky enough to have a Hood85 dinner with Chris Santrizos Chagaris ‘85 and Meredith McQuoid-Greason ‘85 at the home of Susan Audino, but I missed out on their group’s visit to Longwood Gardens the next day.  There’s really nothing like a HoodLum reunion of any sort.  I always have an available bedroom (we “upsized” with this home) if any friends/classmates want to visit… just let me know!

Alison Drum Althouse P’12
804-378-7541
alison.althouse@gmail.com

Hello HoodLums!  Since I only got four responses this time, I can be a little more liberal with word usage… 😉 Lorie Dodd Gomez is now Associate Director of Advancement at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and she loves working for the Chesapeake Bay!! Her older son, Louis, graduated from Christopher Newport University in May and is moving to NoVa to start work in June. Her younger son, Nicolas, is graduating from high school this month and will be going to Virginia Tech in the fall. She and Lou are excited for the boys and amazed that they are about to be empty nesters. A new chapter is beginning! Josie Calix shared that despite the challenges in her life in the last year, they were blessed with a beautiful granddaughter, Emersyn Rose Haerstsch, on Feb. 12. She came just at the right time and is a perfect baby.  We’re so happy for you, Josie! Patricia Kenyon Grimm had a great time on June 3 when her son Beck Grimm married Ellie Watkins. The ceremony was held at The Wolf Trap Farm with a honeymoon in Iceland.  This summer, she is celebrating 31 years of marriage and 3 years as Patient Relations Representative at UVA Medical Center. She and Chris have recently downsized to Batesville, in Albemarle County, VA. Marilya Padilla Spina and Steve celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this year. Their daughter, Alexa, is a junior at Providence College majoring in Spanish and will be studying abroad next year for a semester.  Their son, Nicholas, is a junior at Kingswood Oxford and will start driving soon… next up are college visits!  She kicked the year off by hosting a spa day (complete with massages and fluffy robes) in her home – a birthday celebration for Maritza Bido.  Gina Oliveros braved the winter cold and joined Luz DeBrosse Ment, Khateeta Emerson, Maribel Martinez ’87, and Kim Burns ’87 for the celebration. She loved seeing her Hood sisters!  I want to thank all my HoodLums for their prayers and support this past winter.  My mom’s death in December and then my dad’s in February are traumas that will touch my life forever… your messages and presence in my life are a Godsend.  You may remember that my dad was married to Dr. Alice Drum, former dean at Hood, and I appreciate your keeping her in your thoughts and prayers.  My boys are both “adulting” well.  Drew Althouse ’12 lives in Michigan with his girlfriend, Kristen, and is an Athletic Trainer at Madonna University (Livonia, MI).  Evan lives in Arlington, VA and works for JD Power, which definitely came in handy when we needed to replace a totaled SUV (no injuries, thank God).  Michael still works for PayPal and we enjoy living close enough to Annapolis that we both worked men’s & women’s lacrosse games for USNA this spring.  Can we get more people to contribute to the next class report?  You can send updates ANY time to me: alison.althouse@gmail.com.

1986

Alison Drum Althouse P’12
804-378-7541  alison.althouse@gmail.com

Sue Auger Manory wrote, “I had a great time at the reunion last June—catching up with Lynne Davis Anderson and all my other classmates! We had a great time exploring campus and Downtown Frederick. The winery tour and class dinner were so much fun…wish you all could have joined us!” Jane Brophy Martinez says, “Our daughter, Hadden, returned from Burkina Faso, Africa, completing her two-year service in the Peace Corps. She secured a job with InsideNGO in Washington, DC. Now waiting to see where Nate heads for his college adventure. Life is good, and we are so very blessed!” Josie Espino Calix shared, “This year, 2016, has been one of many challenges and many blessings. I lost my husband of 31 years, I have a new granddaughter on the way, and I am now facing breast cancer. I have been blessed with wonderful family and friends who are lifting me up and taking care of me. And above all, I have a Heavenly Father who loves me, knows me by name and is very aware of all of my needs. I am truly thankful for my blessings and my trials. I know that families can be together forever; what comfort these sweet words bring.” Paige Flory wrote to say that she is divorced, lives in Lancaster County, PA, has one adult daughter in Chicago, one son studying chemistry in college in Philadelphia, and a recently adopted a 4-year-old boy that came into her home via foster care. Currently seeking to re-enter professional communications, sales and marketing career after being at home doing foster care. Never too late to put a good Hood education to work! Judi Glaser Shaw said, “My husband, Steve, and I moved to Redondo Beach, CA, in 2013 for his work. We just celebrated our 27th anniversary this summer. Our oldest daughter, Dana, earned her master’s degree at USC film school last year and was married in MD this summer. Our youngest daughter, Megan, is studying for her master’s in Irish literature in Dublin right now. So we are big-time empty nesters! We love to travel and have spent our free time traveling around the west coast and going to Hawaii, which we hadn’t done before moving here. I am self-employed as a healthcare consultant, and have been since 2001, which involves completing and filing a lot of paperwork for nursing facilities. I love it because I can work anywhere and without any specific hours, so it is very convenient. That’s about it!” Chrysti Hogan, who coaches her school’s bowling team, is very proud of the fact that this fall, they beat a rival school for the first time in the 15-year history of the program. Once again the team is headed to the state tournament in January! Go Turkeys (the school mascot)! Christie Nicodemus Bailey, P’16, P’18 says, “My oldest, Katie Bailey ’16, now a Hood alum, graduated in May and for a year she is living in Paris working as an English teacher assistant through the French TAIF program. I was lucky to be able to spend a couple days with her in Paris in September. My second daughter, Samantha Bailey ’18, a junior at Hood, has spent this semester in Florence, Italy. She has been having a great time and looking forward to seeing her friends back on campus in January. I can’t wait to be down there myself when she gets her Hood ring!” As for me, my husband and I love living in MD and being so close to Annapolis. My older son, Drew Althouse ’12, just accepted an athletic trainer position with Madonna University in MI so he’ll be moving north soon. My younger son, Evan, lives in Arlington and works for JD Power as an analyst. Both boys are happy and doing what they love…what more could a mom want for her kids? Note: I apologize for writing such a cut/paste article this time, but my mom died this morning (Dec. 15, 2016)… I’ll do my best to put more of an effort into the next article. Thanks for your understanding.

Alison Drum Althouse, P’12
804-814-0470
alison.althouse@gmail.com

Hello, my 1986 HoodLums.  I have very little news to share this month, but I would be remiss if I didn’t start with the most difficult. It is with a very heavy heart that I convey news of the death of Leslie Shapiro Fippinger’s son, Scott Fippinger, while he was on a Mid-January break in Mexico. Leslie, her husband Eric, and their daughter Rachel are still mourning the sudden loss of Scott and appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers on their behalf. Elizabeth Shimer Murphy’s mom, Judith Washko Shimer ’63, P’86 died in her Pennsylvania home on February 26, 2014 after a 7-year battle with ovarian cancer. Elizabeth and her family appreciate the thoughts and prayers they have received over the past year and hope that all women listen to their bodies and be pro-active in their own healthcare. Christie Nicodemus Bailey, P’16, P’18 wrote to say that her daughter Samantha Bailey ’18 just started her freshman year at Hood, so she is part of the class of 2018! She is a thrower on Hood’s track and field teams and having a great first indoor season. Congrats to you all, Christie! Stacey Robins Baum shared that she and Frank sold their business and after 37 years of employment, she’s now retired! Can’t wait to hear all about your retirement, Stacey, although it’s also fun to see photos of all the HoodLums you find along your travels! As for me, Alison Drum Althouse, P’12 my husband and I have moved to Harford County, Md., as Michael now works for PayPal in Timonium, Md. Older son Drew Althouse ’12 is finishing his master’s degree in athletic training at Shenandoah Univ. and younger son Evan has been working for a research firm in NOVA since his graduation from UVA in May 2014… the empty nest life is getting more and more comfortable! If anyone wants to share news of kids, family, job changes/searches or general updates, please know you can reach me anytime. My home address is now 292 Kitty Court, Forest Hill MD 21050.  My email (especially for Hood news) is alison.althouse@gmail.com and my cell is 804-814-0470. If you’re coming to the Northern Baltimore area, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Just an additional update, for those of you who actually read this message online:  I will always do whatever I can to get you in touch with classmates and friends from our HoodLum years.  I’ve had a few people who have reached out to me because of this article and would be so glad to connect more of you to one another!  I’ve included my email and cell phone for a reason… as your class reporter, I believe it’s important for us to continue to keep in touch with one another, support one another, and befriend one another.  I’m here… just let me know how I can help!

Now for the Hood86 news!
Susan Batroukha Mondelo recently reconnected with Andrea Palmer Kibbe Hood’87. Her two boys (20 and 18 years old) are together at the University of Arizona in Tucson on full academic scholarships in the Honors Program. Her daughter just started middle school and is feeling quite grown up (at age 11) about it! Susan is working with the Department of Health and Human Services in Montgomery County in the Long Term Care Ombudsman program as an advocate for residents of long term care facilities such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities and small group homes. She is also in touch with and occasionally gets to see Ana Besu!
Mike Birmingham reminded me that he can no longer live vicariously through Madeline ’14 who graduated May 17 with a B.A. in Elementary/Special Education. She was recently hired by FCPS and will be teaching second grade at Whittier Elementary this Fall. Madeline received honors in the Spring semester for the second consecutive year respectively, from Kappa Delta Pi education honor society and Chi Alpha Sigma national college athletic society.
Josie Espino Calix wrote to share that Petra Liz Morel was celebrating her birthday on July 12th. Lucy DeBrosse Ment, Maritza Bido and Josie Espino Calix were in attendance. Petra has two wonderful granddaughters, and she is an assistant superintendent. Lucy has a beautiful 2 yr old foster son, who is keeping her young and busy. She continues to work as a Spanish teacher in Brooklyn, NY. Maritza also continues to help children in the school system as well. She is the mother of two college students. Daniel just finished his freshman year and Saul will be a freshman this fall. Josie is also a Spanish teacher and soon will be the grandmother of another boy.
Mary Gillette Delgado writes that she is living in Chesapeake Virginia with husband Tony, stationed at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. They are almost empty nesters. Nick, 23, graduated from University of South Carolina this past May and is employed . Benjamin, 21, is at University of South Carolina, also studying international business. Only the 16 year old, Andrew, is left at home. She is a certified soccer mom between travel soccer (all over the state of Virginia) and high school soccer. Mary has been doing triathlons for the past 3 years because biking and swimming are ok substitutes if you can’t run. She is also busy in her church with leading bible studies and community services. She keeps in touch with Jan Hess Howell, tho it’s never quite enough. Every time she passes by a wisteria bush/ vine, she thinks of the Pergola and bumble bees.

Kellye Greenwald is working at the Walt Disney World Resort, recently promoted to Research Coordinator, and still making my cookies when she can. In her spare time, she loves driving down to Sanibel Island for midnight shell hunts to feed her craft habit.
Sheila Guth Snyder proudly shared that her daughter Alyssa graduated as a third-generation x-ray tech in May of 2013. Her other two daughters, Stephanie and Andrea, are in college right now.
Suzanne Hankel Kilduff’s son Cameron graduated from high school this year and her daughter Sarah completed her 2nd year of college. Suzanne is working on her Masters of Science from Eastern Nazarene College and plans to become a therapist for the second half of her life.

Susan Hastings will be in Namibia the second half of August to attend a family wedding. This will be her fifth trip to that country in the last 20 years. For her 50th b-day, friends took her to a B&B up near Hershey PA and the room she was in had an African décor which was part of their surprise for her.

Chrysti Hogan and her wife, Jeanne, traveled to Alaska in early June, cruising through the inside passage and seeing whales, eagles and a moose! This “bucket list” trip was a celebration of their 20 years together as well as Chrysti’s 50th birthday, and they enjoyed it immensely.
Christina Hom Wilson married Harold Dawson Jr in December, merging their two families in a lovely ceremony at home. She was able to attend a birthday celebration at the beach home of Stacey Robins Baum in April.
Lisa O’Brien recently moved into a new home in a gated community and says she needs to learn to play golf, since she lives on the 3rd hole. Her youngest, Michael, just completed his junior year at SUNY Cortland and is home for the summer. Her oldest, Bryan, is still playing the drums in his Soundgarden Tribute Band, and working full time. Her daughter, Elisabeth, is working on her graduate degree at Carlow University in Pittsburgh. She’s also working as a server at an upscale Italian restaurant and just started a nanny job during the day. Lisa will visit her in August when she attends the wedding of Audrey Wilcox’s daughter. Lisa is also traveling for much of the summer, heading to Mexico, San Diego, and Disney World! She is still working in the same school – 28 years now and still loves it.
Stacey Robins Baum chimed in to let us know that the Baum boys are headed west…Matthew graduated High School and is off to University of Michigan. Go Blue! Jared graduated with distinction from UVA Engineering, (dual major in Computer Science and Economics) and is now working at Epic Systems, Madison, WI, as a Developer, secretly wondering why they pay him to do a job he would do for free. Frank & Stacey have been too busy relocating their children, traveling and entertaining to realize that their nest has emptied. Stacey graciously hosted a fabulous 50th birthday celebration weekend in April – in attendance were Sarah Bowersox Cody (Hood’87), Jane Brophy Martinez, Alison Drum Althouse, Christina Hom Wilson, Jennifer Lee Matts, and Betsy Reed Ringel. It was a wonderful reunion of forever-friends… and aren’t we all that, as HoodLums?
Jane Ruf Haley lives in Plymouth, MA and owns a high end women’s consignment shop right in the downtown shopping district. The shop is called Tallulah’s Unique Boutique. She also lives downtown in the heart of it with her three beautiful children.
Cameron Soulis was ordained to the priesthood on a beautiful day in June at the Washington National Cathedral. Cindy Bull Zeller ’87, P’17 was there with her family. It was so wonderful to have both family and friends there to celebrate with her. In August, she will begin work as the lower school chaplain (grades 4, 5, 6) at National Cathedral School in Washington, DC, where she’ll teach religion, plan and lead the weekly chapel services, and do pastoral care for everyone in the lower school. As if Cameron’s life was not exciting enough, she got married on May 17th (to a man she met when a freshman at Hood), and graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary on May 22nd with her Masters in Divinity. What a year of milestones!
Elvy Vieira’s news is that her youngest child, Danielle, completed her Associates and will be transferring to university this Fall.
Susan Walts married Mark Hietpas on February 8, 2014 in their home. Congratulations to you both!

Michael and I recently relocated to Forest Hill, MD when he took a new job with PayPal, located in Timonium. I’m still writing both blogs and now work at Boordy Vineyards as a wine pourer. Older son, Drew (Hood’12), is working on his Masters in Athletic Training and will be assigned to the USNA Football training staff this fall, so we’ll see him often throughout the season.  Younger son, Evan, graduated from UVA with a degree in Math and is now working at AgileX in Arlington, DC as a software analyst.  We are currently unpacking our new home but will eventually have lots of space for visitors to the Baltimore area. Would love to share more with anyone – email me or find me on Facebook any time!

~Alison Drum Althouse

Here’s the “latest and greatest” from Hood86!

Katrina Anderson moved back to Manchester by the Sea, MA almost three years ago from Minneapolis, MN and works at Salem State University in the School of Social Work. She also volunteers as the elementary school PTO Treasurer and serves on two town committees.  Her kids are now 13, 11 and 9 and doing great.  Over the summer they visited Anne Lamoureux and her family in the DC area and had a great time!

Chrysti Hogan and her wife, Jeanne, are hoping to take an Alaskan cruise next summer to celebrate Chrysti’s 50th birthday and their 20th anniversary.  Dagmar Kolarik wrote that her business is doing really well.  Since she started her home furnishing workroom ten years ago, all her clients are recommended by other clients with whom she had previously worked.  However, in 2014, she plans to display her work in downtown Frederick and expand the business, Dagmar’s Décor. As Dagmar says, “Family is fine: four parents, one husband, two children, one son-in-law and two grandchildren.”  Kathryn Neel lives in New Smyrna Beach, FL these days and works as a freelance computer consultant.  When she’s not working on computer stuff, she paddleboards and volunteers at Canaveral National Seashore.

Laura Nipps Gardner still lives in New Hampshire and loves that they’ve been there 19.5 years! She works for the Merrimack School District as a Paraeducator and is very happy. Daughter Mollie just started high school (she plays soccer) and daughter Alexa is in 7th grade (she plays basketball).  Both are taller than Laura – taking after Greg! They took a fabulous family trip to Europe this past summer and Laura is still sorting through her photos. Mari Padilla Spina sends in her update: “Life has been crazy here with work and the kids. It’s hard to believe that we are starting college visits for Alexa, a junior in high school. Nicholas keeps us busy with his basketball.  I recently had lunch with Mari Martinez ’87 – there is nothing better than Hood sisters! Gina Oliveros and I are already planning our 50th birthdays!

Mercedes Pellet and her husband sold their business – M2 Limited – in 2006 and retired to Garrett County, Maryland. They joined HART for Animals, Inc., an animal-welfare organization that rescues animals from shelters and transports them to places to be adopted. Together, they raised funds to build an animal adoption center that would give more animals a chance. HART is opening that Animal Center in January 2014. HART has saved 6,000 cats and dogs, and has spayed/neutered 4,500 animals at its low-cost clinic in McHenry, Maryland.

Betsy Reed Ringel met up with Jennifer Lee Matts and Cindy Leitz Hurley ‘87 in Morristown for lunch recently. The Matts & Ringel families shared a vacation in 2012 to see the Navy-Notre Dame football game in Dublin (and sightseeing in Killarney). This year, Chad graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and is a chemical engineer with an adhesives company.  Elise is a freshman at Loyola in Baltimore and Caroline is a sophomore in high school. Jeff and I are getting used to a bit more free time and just celebrated our 27th anniversary.

Cameron Soulis sends some of the best news: “Well, this is certainly a big year for me!  I’m in my last year of seminary, I am to be ordained (God willing), I’m getting married, and I hope to start a new job next summer after graduation.  And it’s all happening between my 49th and 50th birthdays!  Nothing like starting my 5th decade of life with a bang.  Please know that I’d greatly appreciate your prayers and good thoughts (if you’re not the prayin’ sort) for my ordination.”

On a personal note, Christina Hom Wilson, Stacey Robins Baum, and I visited with Stephanie Carlson Murray ‘88 (Stacey’s little sis from Hood) in September, shortly before Stephanie’s death from cancer in October 2013.  It was a bittersweet trip and we felt so blessed to have been able to spend that time with Stephanie.  Please keep her daughter, Courtney, and Stephanie’s family in your prayers.  I continue to work at a local winery and pen two blogs… Michael and I love living in Richmond VA.  Older son, Drew (Hood 12) is in grad school for a Masters in Athletic Training and younger son, Evan, is a “fourth year” at UVA.  Would love to hear from you all… email me or reach me via FB anytime!

~Alison Drum Althouse

The class of 1986 has been busy and many have been unable to update anything more than their Facebook page. Here is the information from those wonderful Hoodlums who wrote in to share their lives for this edition. Irene Flores is immersing herself with Yoga studies and has started a school approved to be the Yoga Alliance. Paige Flory lives in Pennsylvania with her husband Eric and their family. She is now a stay-at-home mom with her son and her foster daughter and baby boy. Paige finds great joy in leading a program that provides mentors for single moms.

Chrysti Hogan traveled to Iowa in early November to marry her partner of 19 years, Jeanne Ortmann. Their small ceremony was bittersweet, though, as Chrysti’s dad, husband of Edee Howard Hogan ’59, P’86, passed away three days before the wedding after his battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Funeral services were still pending, as the family waited to receive a date from Arlington National Cemetery.

Anna Maripuu sent in the most thorough update, sharing her travels to Morocco, Djibouti and Tunisia, her service work on the Board of the Swedish Women’s Educational Committee, and her musical pursuits touring with the Choral Arts Society of Washington, D.C. In addition to singing and all the work she does, Anna is passionate about staying connected to both her Swedish roots and her friends. I am just glad we keep her connected with her Hoodlums, as well! I received an update from Lisa Marie O’Brien after she attended the wedding of Audrey MacDonald Wilcox’s daughter, Sarah (congrats to the happy couple!). Other Hoodlums in attendance were Lisa Edwards ’87, Robin Samuelman Kalfaian ’87 and Gretchen Miller Anderson. Lisa shared that her daughter Elizabeth graduated from Chatham Univ. in Pittsburgh, Pa., in May and is working for Aflac Insurance. Lisa’s younger son Michael is a sophomore at State Univ. of New York College at Cortland and her older son Bryan is rarely home, so while her empty nest has been a big adjustment, it is afforded her more time with friends. Elvy Vieira wanted everyone to know that they survived Hurricane Sandy (great news, Elvy!) and she is looking forward to teaching a leadership credit course in the spring.

My son Drew Althouse ’12 joined the Hoodlum ranks in May and promptly headed back to school to take his prerequisites for a certified athletic trainer program at either Virginia Commonwealth Univ. in Richmond or Shenandoah Univ. Younger son Evan is now a third-year at Univ. of Virginia and will be doing a finance internship this summer for Capital One here in Richmond. I am still working at James River Cellars Winery, but I am now the event coordinator and write a recipe/wine blog that is featured on our company’s website at www.fromthebottomofawinebottle.wordpress.com. I am also continuing my sports photography and love the flexibility both fields offer. I keep in touch with many classmates via Facebook and would love to hear from more for the next edition––it is always fun to have new names pop up in my email!

Class Reporter: