1953
Johanna Chait Essex
Johalessex@aol.com

Sincere condolences to Robert Thompson on the passing of Nan Eaton Thompson; to the family of Joan Reidell Nelson and to Beth McKim Powell on the loss of her husband, Hunt. Beth said they have had some rough weather with trees down, but she is doing fine. Mary Jane Baldwin Scherer’s grandson was married this May and her granddaughter graduated from Kansas State and plans to go on to pursue a medical degree in physical therapy and kinesiology. Prior to the wonderful celebrations, Mary Jane and a friend cruised the Rhine River from Amsterdam to Switzerland. Margaret Church Smith-Loeb continues to attend Fordham Univ. in the 60-plus program at the College. She is enrolled in a course on modern American movies. Her daughter lives in New York and they share a wonderful Mother’s Day tradition of planting window boxes together—helping to beautify NYC. Jane Fruechtemeyer Dillon has had some medical problems and “would relish the opportunity to run the stairs to the third floor of Ad.” Her good news was the arrival of a great-granddaughter. Wonderful news from Nadya Klotz Giusi; her book, Magic & Pasta, a Love Story, is available in both paperback and on Kindle. She has also put Hood in her will to help with future endowments. To see what Nadya is doing, she can be reached at www.nadyagiusi.com. Elesa Konigsberg McFadden has moved into a retirement home. She no longer drives, but her “thoughts and prayers are with the class of ’53.” I had a long phone conversation with Sally Kuhns Giarratana—she feels fine and her surgery was successful. She is able to walk without any aid. Mary Louise Matthews “is still hangin’ in there” in beautiful North Carolina. Jerry Griffith Macomber has been designing blocks for quilts that her church sewing team makes for patients in the cancer center. She has scleroderma, but “life is good, very good.” Bim Mayer Werle and Jerry celebrated their 30th anniversary visiting Quebec City. Her twin grandsons are graduating high school and plan to attend Connecticut College. On Labor Day weekend they will be in Charlotte, Va., for the wedding of one of their grandsons—the first grandchild to marry. Beth McKim Powell is doing well and enjoying her family activities. Corky Pattison Casey, P’82 is in Cincinnati, but is looking forward to being back in Connecticut this summer. Janet Peek Clancy is busy with family functions, trips to New York, weddings, birthdays and, of course, lots of tennis with time allotted for bridge—sounds like a very busy life. Judy Rank Loposer’s son Pete who is diabetic now lives with her daughter in Walla Walla, Wash., and they are able to help when needed. Bev Rosenberg Sager helped celebrate Sheila Seigal Asher’s 60th anniversary in June in Charleston, S.C., and planned to go to California for a visit with her children. She takes aerobics and classes at a community college. Kay Sponsler Patten is taking life easy with day trips to see shows and eating out—sounds like fun. June is always a busy month for us—lots of birthdays and celebrations, and this year was no different. We were present to see our grandson Kyle graduate from Cortland State Univ., magna cum laude. Hal and I, Johanna Chait Essex, celebrated our 60th anniversary with a family trip to Yankee Stadium (the Yankees lost) and then a BBQ at my daughter Jess’ home—our children and grandchildren were there as well as my two sisters. Our gift was an album made up of letters and photos from friends and family, letters from local politicians and a signed photo from President Obama with a note signed by him and Michelle.