Liz Bastian Chapin
610-670-9152
busybethc@aol.com

Hello class of 1982! I must apologize for our absence in the winter issue so I will first catch up on some older news…. Lisa Jean Spuria and husband retired in early 2016 with the federal government after 33 years and moved to Louisville, KY. While remodeling a house and acclimating to the new city, Lisa started her own consulting business.  She is doing some writing as well. Lisa keeps in touch with Amy Blades Steward and Susie Hiles Giallonardo. Deb Booth Cieri had a busy 2016. Her daughter Rachel wed Kevin Mull September 3rd. Godmother, Carol Donnelly O’Farrell, hosted a bridal shower and attended the wedding! Carol toured colleges with her middle child; one included none other than our own Hood College which left a favorable impression! Deb corresponds with Angie Sievers who stays busy with work and family. She also keeps in touch with Kim Whitley Bongiorni who is living back in her hometown of Waldorf and family. Gretchen Steinmetz Keith celebrated three weddings in 11 months! Daughter Lauren was married in June 2016; sons Bobby and Mark married in 2015. The family keeps growing and Gretchen is loving life as “Gigi” to two grandsons. Keeping the fun times rolling, Lisa Bodamer Kida hosted a “Six-Pack” Reunion at her Douglassville, PA home with Hood friends Jodi Palmer Murphy, Donna Trumbull Milewski, Caroline Peck Medley and Suzanne Norris Driscoll. They all enjoyed an amazing weekend of wine tasting, birthday celebrating, antiquing and catching up! The “Six-Pack” just attended the class 35th reunion in Frederick! They stayed at a wonderful old home on East Church St. in downtown Frederick and graciously hosted classmates for post reunion activities. Lots of reminiscing and new memories were made. Ellen Drogin Rodgers reports that over the past year, she’s enjoyed several wonderful visits to Hood: Spending a very brisk but amazing day with Joy Miller Beveridge representing the Class of 1982 at the inauguration of President Chapdelaine; attending the Hood Legacy Brunch with her sister Janet Drogin Wilson ’86, P’14 and niece Riley Wilson ’14; and being present at the Scholarship Recognition Luncheon at which our latest Class of 1982 Scholarship recipient, Le Nguyen ’17, was introduced. Ellen’s still ‘touching the future’ daily at George Mason University as the Academic Dean/Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs in the College of Education and Human Development. Pierre is a graduate program coordinator at Mason (and likes to say, Ellen is now his boss at work and home).  They enjoyed a family trip to Israel last July, and look forward to other adventures this summer. Over the past few years, Ellen has gotten together every few months (including a Florida vacation) with Susan Raffaele McHenry and Diana Schmidt-Romano ’83 to reminisce about days at Hood and life in Shriner Hall, sandwich generation trials, and the joys and challenges of everyday life. Susan’s eldest daughter, Jessica, just finished her first year at The College of William and Mary. The twins, Matthew and Julianne, just finished their second year of high school and keep Susan and Geoff busy with year round sports.   Diana and Don are traveling to France this summer following a trip to Wales last summer for the wedding of their youngest, Emily.  There is nothing like the friendships created while at Hood – clearly (and thankfully) they endure.   Ellen notes how wonderful it was to spend time with classmates at our 35^th reunion, and has so appreciated all of the support and kind words from those far and near on her award.  She looks forward to reconnecting with those who couldn’t make it during the coming year. “I would be remiss, as the Class Agent, not to remind everyone to remember Hood in your annual giving – especially contributions to our Class of 1982 Scholarship fund.  It’s our lasting legacy to the college.  Remember, it’s not the amount, as much as it is the act of giving.” Jacquelyn McDaniel West wishes everyone a happy 35th reunion! Although they missed seeing everyone and spending time at the beautiful Hood campus, Jackie and friends had an amazing “mini reunion” in Walnut Creek, CA with host Glynnis Edwards Cowdery. Meg Brown McGinn from CT, Christy Belisle Fitzgerald from FL, and Jackie from VA spent about five days laughing, talking, walking, eating, wine tasting, shopping and sightseeing from Napa Valley to San Francisco! Their fabulous hostess, Glynnis, spoiled them and even made congo bars! The girls wore their dinks, Jackie wore her old Memorial Hall t-shirt, they looked through scrapbooks and old photos. Much fun was had but friends D’Ann White Van Meter ’82, P’11 and Sharon Williams DePamphilis were missed! Regardless of the miles between them, the friendships from Hood remain everlasting bonds. They all hope to celebrate with the rest of the class in five years! Jackie is still living in Virginia Beach but recently moved to the oceanfront area. Coaching and teaching tennis, she also oversees the girls tennis program at a private school and remains active as a player/captain with USTA. Her daughter is a senior at Elon University in NC and her son now lives in Nashville, TN. Glynnis is an Arts commissioner in Walnut Creek and sits on several boards that support Arts Education and the Community. In her spare time, she is addicted to The Bar Method at a nearby studio. Glynnis loves hiking, reading and enjoys some creative work with fused glass and mosaics. She and husband spend much time at their beach house in Washington. Her son Henry lives in West Seattle and is working for a public artist. He hopes to launch his own design company. Daughter, Callie is in law school at George Washington University. Janet Brown Marler shared her whirlwind of the past two years. She married John Garofalo on a lovely autumn day with their daughters as bridesmaids. Janet’s 86 year old father walked her down the aisle! Daughter Mary Beth is an art student doing gorgeous work while Rose is a second grade teacher (and expecting their first grandchild!).  Janet teaches English and is an associate dean at a local community college.  John owns a restaurant on Long Beach Island, so the summer season is a busy time for them! Bambi Maitland Grundwerg reports that life is relatively stable since the last reunion. Her sons are grown and on their own. Bambi still works for IBM as a Marketing Program Director and still lives near the Jersey Shore. She looks forward to connecting with local or visiting Hoodlums! Bambi recently attended the 35th reunion with some of the Coblentz Hall gang (Marcea Horton Cotter, Ellen Yodzis Patton and Anne Connal Biron) and makes note of the reoccurring topics over the past milestone meetings such as HPV shots for teens, bifocals vs progressive lenses, hot flashes and grand babies! Several alums were fondly remembered and missed-Linda Esterhoy Segur, Lisa Chan, Sara Lankitus Spina, Barb Jamison Berman, Suzy Wyda Goldberg and Dawson Casey Bullock! After joining the Class of 1981 at their 35^th Reunion luncheon in 2016, Joy Miller Beveridge was very excited for our own reunion in June… and none of us were disappointed!  It was great fun to see both familiar faces, like my Spanish House roommates (Cynthia Richards Cathcart P’12 and Liane McCarthy) as well as those who hadn’t come back for Reunion for many many years.  Once on campus, it took no time at all to remember with great fondness our brief four years at Hood!  It made us especially proud to witness our own Ellen Drogin Rodgers receive her Distinguished Alum Award at the luncheon… her acceptance speech brought back wonderful memories and tears to our eyes!  If you have Facebook, please join our Hood College Class of 1982 group where we have posted many pictures and will continue to share updates on our class giving and plans for our 40^th!  On a personal note, Joys daughter, Kendall, remains in San Francisco, working at Facebook and playing semi-professional field hockey for the Olympic Club. Son, Danny remains in the Frederick area, where he and his wife work for State Farm, and recently had their first daughter… hoping Lydia James Beveridge may be among the Class of 2039!  Joy remains active with Hood, serving as a member of the Alumni Executive Board and Board of Associates, and Athletic Field Lighting Steering Committee.  Friendships through Hood, new and old, are a gift. Liz Bastian Chapin enjoyed reconnecting with fellow classmates at the 35th reunion. She also crossed paths with Betsy McCain McAlpine ’51, H’17, who was friends with her mother, Mary Hendershot Bastian 50, P’82! They lived across the hall from one another in Meyran! Earlier this year, Liz and other alumni in the Reading, PA area hosted some of the Hood choral members after a local performance. What a great experience! Being the mother of two sons, she so enjoyed having two Hood girls overnight!  Liz discovered that one of the other alumni hosts was a client!  And finally, last Fall, Liz reconnected via social media with a college friend met in Heidelberg, Germany during her junior year abroad. After two phone calls within 3 days, a trip to the Midwest was planned. Thanks to Hood College and the cultural programs for a great experience 36 years ago and the opportunity to develop life long bonds with friends from different parts of the world! Thank you to everyone who contributed news and a big THANK YOU to Joy and Ellen for co-chairing the reunion. Well done!