Johanna Chait Essex
johalessex@gmail.com
516.487.1883

Congratulations to Nailah S. Russell ’18, recipient of the Andrew G. Truxal scholarship for 2017-2018. Many thanks to Sally Kuhns Giarratana for once again chairing our reunion this coming June. Marge Aronson Dalmas’ daughter, Robin, book “Boisterous Bird of Paradise” was published last May and received good reviews. She and Bob had a short visit from Pat Lloyd Fordham and her daughter in July. I received a short, but sad note from Nancy Brown Kohlheyer— a virus attacked the brain of John, her partner for the past ten years, and he is now residing in a rest home in Pa. Nancy is slowly healing from this and has moved back to her apt. in Brussels, Belgium permanently. Penny Fradd Vahsen is the proud grandmother of 13, 6 married and 3 great grandchildren.  She has sponsored 203 Annapolis grads, and is thinking of writing a book about her adventures with them.  She still travels, and loves river-cruises” heartily endorse them for fun on a budget”. Jerry Griffith Macomber became a great grandmother June 17 “my first in a brand new generation”.  She is once again the coordinator of “operation Christmas Child” for her church. Pat Lloyd Fordham and her daughter Leslie not only drove to Albuquerque to see Marge and Bob Dalmas, they also flew to Pittsburgh to visit her son, Jeff, his wife and great granddaughter, Riley.—Leslie has moved back to Kansas, having stayed with Pat for 2 years. Pat plans to be at our reunion in June, and Leslie plans to accompany her. Bim Mayer Werle has a new temporary address—1620 Vincennes Dr., Sun City Fla. 33573—they will be moving to Wake Robin—a CCRC, in Shelbourne, Vt., but no address yet.  In the meantime, they are downsizing—garage sales etc. Received a long note from Marilyn Phillips—her grandson, Andrew Davis, graduated college after 3 years, with a BS in cybersecurity—her son Chip, a radio frequency engineer works with a laser company that participated in the LIDO observatory research that won a science award.  Cary retired, and then started 3 new companies—families are wonderful. Julia Rank Loposer’s daughter took her on a trip to Maui for her birthday–“it was grand and glorious”. Bev Rosenberg Sager spent some time in California this summer visiting her son and grandson—she and her daughter will be going back for thanksgiving.  This coming February she plans to visit the island of Turks and Caico. Katherine Sponsler Patten is still in her home, and keeps things going with the help of electricians etc, and of course her grandson, who is the biggest help of all.  She still plays duplicate bridge and goes to plays at the Kennedy Center. After our vacation with my sisters, Muriel Chait Durbin ’56 and Linda Chait Solomon ’63 at the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion [an incredible trip] Hal and I just relaxed at home.  I still go to the theater at Lincoln Center, and volunteer at Cookie Café at Kings Point –the Merchant Marine Academy—serving cookies, along with lots of tlc. [Kings Point, the fifth federal academy, is the only federal academy to have cookie café.] Nancy Brown Kohlheyer’s significant other Johnny had chicken pox as a child and the virus was still in his body–it flared up in the memory center of his brain, and led to dementia–he did not recognize her, or remember the 10 years they spent together. His daughter had to put him into a rest home in New Jersey. Nancy’s sons came to her rescue and helped her pack her belongings that had been in John’s house, as his daughter had to sell the house.  Nancy went back to Belgium, with the boxes following her. Hal and I are both fine, and enjoying trips to see grandchildren etc. Our granddaughter, Leya Essex, participated in the 2017 Maccabiah games in Israel on their junior track and field team–she won 4 gold medals, 2 in the sprints, and 2 in the relay events.–on, Nov, 8th, she signed a letter of intent to attend ECU–she will be a member of their track team.–so proud of her. I received a lovely note from Lauri Bunch daughter of, Mary Ellen “Hooley” Chidester Ball–Hooley passed away on Jan. 6, 2018 –she left behind 4 children, and their spouses, 7 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren–although she had Alzheimer’s she seemed to remember her days at Hood and loved hearing about the school. —Jo

I received a lovely note from Lauri Bunch daughter of, Mary Ellen “Hooley” Chidester Ball–Hooley passed away on Jan. 6, 2018 –she left behind 4 children, and their spouses, 7 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren–although she had alzheimer’s she seemed to remember her days at Hood and loved hearing about the school.”