1954
Jean Baker Leister Weikert
717.624.3960

Winter, spring and summer 2019 have constituted a slowed-down life style with a more accepting attitude of “let it be”. Mind and ideas moving ahead of the ability to move around! Reunion, on June 9, 2019, was anticipated with a night before sleeplessness full of fond memories. Mark and I arrived at Hood, picked up our reunion itinerary at Whitaker, and then drove to lunch at the Ronald J Volpe Athletic Center. Lunch was a friendly occasion with Britton Muir, assistant director of alumni and constituent engagement, helping us find a table comprised of several friendly alums: Leah Giambarresi MacDonald ’03, Elizabeth Thompson ’08, Jackie Resop Amato ’95, Donna Brown and Bill Brown, Vice President of Enrollment, and Maggie Mitchell Kline ’55. Sitting next to Maggie, I learned of Maggie and her spouse having moved into Dr. Jane McCarrell’s former home near Hood. Harry McAlpine, husband of Betsy McCain McAlpine ’51, also greeted us and informed us of Betsy’s passing this past spring. He mentioned their difficulty in encountering dementia. Harry McAlpine and Maggie’s husband served in Vietnam together. We enjoyed socializing and sharing the lunch of turkey and quinoa salad, beverages and cheesecake. We were able to hear Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Nancy Gillece ’81 introduce President Andrea Chapdelaine, who told sincerely and briefly of her joy to see Hood’s advancement. We were gratified to meet the recipients of the alumna achievement awards. Your class correspondent is especially happy to witness Magaly Mauras Green ’74 who continues to serve on the staff of Harpers Ferry while living with her husband and sons in Frederick. Having met when we attended Hood Grad School from 1976-1979, Magaly is actively encouraging Hoods multi-cultural student population. Adjoining our lunch table was Ginny Turnbull Hecklinger ’56. It was great to speak with Ginny who resides at Homewood in Frederick. Malinda “Lindy” Small ’81 is daughter of Barney and Myrlene Miller Small. Lindy’s mother is a high school classmate of Mark’s and mine. Lindy shall continue to serve Hood while being a part of the Institutional Advancement Staff. President Emeritus Ron Volpe also welcomed us with his warm smile and handshake. After such a friendly, yet introspective lunch we retreated to our room in Shriner. Staying at Shriner until Sunday morning was reminiscent of appreciating the use of elevators rather than using stairways. Onward, after a brief rest, to dinner at Coblentz was a Maryland seafood dinner. Our Shriner hall mate Althea Bates Travis-McCarthy ’64 invited us to share the 1964 table where we socialized with the following: Althea Bates Travis-McCarthy ’64 and her husband of long island, Ann McMillan Shuman ’64 of Delray Beach, FL, Marylou Herrmann Foley ’64 and her husband of Atlanta, GA, who related her extensive travel to Russia and to Germany. Nolah Sawyer Fulk had called earlier to tell of her intention to attend reunion. However, she fell several weeks prior, which is making her more aware of downsizing and the possibility of an estate sale. Her daughter and son in law are nearing retirement. Betty Remsberg DeColigny spent June 9^th with gathering triplet granddaughters. We sometimes see Betty at church in Hanover. Several months after moving from her and Warren’s farm near Middletown, MD into Homewood in Hanover, Warren passed away. Betty resides in their cottage. Betty’s 28 year old triplet granddaughters find it difficult to gather together, yet they could on that reunion weekend. Megan Thomas Eisenberg is marketing director for Avemco Insurance Co. in Frederick. Erin Thomas, a bride-to-be in October, 2019, is a social worker at Homewood in Frederick. Kelly Thomas Keller is a biological science lab technician for USDA ARS Foreign Disease-Weed Science Unit and Fort Detrick. Betty wanted to also share facts about a fourth granddaughter, Cindy Armentrout Ray, who is a wedding planner as well as a proud wife of a dedicated fireman and mother of an adorable two year old son. Other alumni receiving recognition and giving talks are Cindy Nofziger ’79 and Jillian Jones ’12 who serve with the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone, helping to establish libraries, schools, and hospitals. Kudos to their persistence and strength. Mark and I participated in a Mediation and Conflict Resolution course conducted by Adams County Mediators. We also did 4 weeks of a beginners drawing class which inspired us to delve into the Art of Drawing People. Keep in touch!