Mary-Lou Springhorn Leidheiser
828-693-0630
mlouleid6@gmail.com

Evelyn Bischoff Mitchell, wintering as usual in Florida, will return to Massachusetts in May, but will move across town to Essex Village, a no-maintenance retirement community. Frances Brainerd Carpenter’s son-in-law wrote, “Fran suffers from vascular dementia. She has little short term memory; however she has a fair memory of the distant past. When I mentioned Hood College she beamed. ‘Oh yes, what pleasant times!’” Natalie Colbert Bowers “We have had a pleasant summer. Our new 11th College President, Andrea Chapdelaine, visited our retirement center in August…15 alums and five former faculty in residence plus others came for coffee and an update on plans for Hood. I’ve been asked to carry our class banner in the inauguration.” I talked to Jeanne Zimmerman Gearey who is looking forward to a trip to Peru.” Marion Decker McCormick “My three children their spouses and I traveled to Zegveld, Netherlands, where my brother, Lt. Delmar Decker, perished in 1944. He was the navigator on a B-17 shot down over Holland. The town has erected a memorial to the 10 crew members and invited their families to unveil the monument. My oldest brother, Aaron, had been killed in the invasion of North Africa. Both boys were returned in 1948 to be buried in our family plot in Pennsylvania. That was my freshman year and I went home for the service.” Doris Dreller Sosin was presented the 2015 President’s Award from the Santa Monica Conservancy. She became the co-founder of the Conservancy in 2002. Dee just returned from a trip to the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone and Glacier Park run by the Trust for Historic Preservation. “We stayed in historic lodges and hiked and breathed in deeply the many sights.” Anne Gibson Bement “I am now retired, no photography or travel. We visit our daughter and family in Minnesota and vacation in Miami Beach. Motto is keep moving.” Dorothy Handley Ewing “To my chronologically gifted classmates, I highly recommend reading Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. To those politically concerned, I’m glad to share that Frederick County finally has charter government with a female County Executive whose leadership would please our Dr. Virginia Lewis.” Yvonne Hepburn Virtue “Enjoyed a visit from my daughter and two grandchildren from Connecticut. Our Windcrest, Colorado community keeps growing. Just met a new arrival from Frederick who attended Hood.” Joan Kellogg Weddle “We live in Hagerstown, Maryland full time now to be close to family, including 11 great grands (10 boys & one girl!) Will carry half of the ’52 class banner in the Inauguration Parade. Dick and I have the usual 80’s downsides but more blessings than we deserve.” Phyllis Loudermill Armstrong “The total eclipse of the moon was grand. Shingles continues to persist. Medication is helpful and I am excited to be able to plan to fly to Denver to see grandchildren late October.” Madge Merkley Ziegler “For old people, Jack and I enjoy pretty good health, although we do see a lot of doctors.” Elizabeth Newcomer Payette “Had a great trip to Grand Cayman with my family in July. Still do Red Hat lunches with Barbara Hickman Reynolds and have weekly phone contacts with Carolyn Rusk.” Joan Scott Hellmuth “My favorite things in retirement—learning and travel. I take classes at Regis College and travel with Roads Scholars. Last trip was to St. Augustine.” Katherine Spear Feldman “We managed to marry off my grandson with much fanfare in August and that was fun. I have been dealing with torn retina which derailed some plans, but I hope that is finally on the mend.” Nan von der Heyde Needham “My sister, A. D. von der Heyde Quinn ’53, and her husband visited me this summer. My grandson is a freshman at James Madison, the 7th in our family, continuing the legacy. My granddaughter was married in Charlottesville, Virginia.” Marguerite Weber Trachtman “I’m enjoying having granddaughter Kate, a junior, here at Purdue. Next year she will be joined by her brother Alex. The family is a joy! Still active in a book club. I recommend Flame Tree Road by Shona Patel.” Connie Woodall Fisher “Bill and I had good visits with our Denver kids this summer, and feel lucky to have one kid close at hand, plus a precious 3-year-old great-grandchild and his parents. My big project involves my pedometer – to see if I can top my all-time highs.” Our heartfelt sympathy to Mary Murrie Hardy, who lost her husband (married 62 years.)