1958

Marilyn Garis Kellow
262-334-5782
maggiehood1958@gmail.com

Cynthia Williams Bohaker relates the sad news that husband Dick had not been well much of this year and passed away in September. They were married 57 years but met in high school, so were together for a long time. Her three daughters have been great support. Sue lives in Sparta, NJ. Linda is teaching at a local college in Kyoto, Japan. Diane lives in Phoenix where the family will be gathering for Christmas and New Year. Cynthia still works for a local accountant during tax season. Susanne Smith Evans’ two sons and families were with her for Christmas. She says all is calm and hope it stays that way. Sue Brown Melech and husband Bob moved across the street in Rochester, NY. They will be spending four months in St. Petersburg, FL, this year, staying at the Hollander Hotel, a small boutique hotel originally built in the 1930s with many of the original architectural and design features preserved. Kind of like living at “Cheers”—everyone knows your name and is very friendly. They take advantage of the local library for reading material, travel to Tampa for the Yankees spring training games, enjoy long walks, fitness classes and generally eat more than necessary. They would love to meet with other Hoodlums in Florida anytime January through April. Jeb Bennett Moran had a fabulous trip to London in August, courtesy of Don, to celebrate her 80th birthday. Son Mike took the family to St. Thomas for Christmas so they could celebrate for the second time. She gets together with Carol Horwath Klecka for lunch almost every month. Also sees Carol Huelsen Warrington sometimes, whenever she and husband Bob “winter” in Florida. Jeb feels so blessed to be healthy and pretty active, mostly with volunteer and church activities. Lots of travel is still at the top of her “bucket list.” Sara Lea Callaway Redmon says the past several months have been a roller coaster ride. Carl was in a serious car accident. He suffered six broken ribs, a fractured shoulder blade and head injury. All is healing nicely but slowly. They are looking forward to spring and some nice trips in their motorhome. Diana Hagenbarth Russo is going to be a happy 80 year old, which started with spending Christmas in Paris with family. She and husband Fred have been married 45 years, and are both well and happy. Life is good for them, Florida in the winter and the North Carolina mountains in the summer. Marthanne Stephens Smith continues to keep busy with classes at the local community college, Curves four to five times a week and biking. She and husband Duff are “getting a vicarious thrill” out of following their 6’10” grandson, Warner, in his study for a year with Johns Hopkins in Nanjing, China! Little Chinese girls follow him around and everyone says: “you are so tall!” Penny Hunt Solum had an extraordinary 80th birthday celebration this summer with time in the south of France and in London with family, plus a fantastic birding adventure to a tented camp in the Darien forest of Panama. She saw many good birds and was very fortunate to see a very rare and elusive bird, the massive and handsome Harpy Eagle! It was a day’s trek to do so with both a long river ride in a dugout canoe plus a forest walk! Awesome! Anne “Ricky” Merrick Vosti is fully involved with caregiving and nursing as Ken’s health declines. She highly recommends a book titled “Meditations for Caregivers” by Barry Jacobs and Julia Mayer. Her 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild are all over the U.S. but continue to “pop in” whenever they are close by. Her family is very supportive. Jo Olmstead Witherington was busy with a Women’s Ensemble Concert in November and a big Christmas Concert in December plus other volunteer singing events. She has been busy learning to play Mahjong and has a couple of trips planned for 2017. During 2016, I experienced two surgeries, the first in June to repair a tendon which was about to rupture in my right wrist and another in November to remove a benign cyst in my throat. Had physical therapy through October for the wrist. Really minor inconveniences as I reach my 80th onDec. 20. Everything seems fine as the holidays approach. As I submit this news, the temperature is to plunge to -12 tonight! Hope you all had a merry Christmas. Have a healthy 2017…Maggie Garis Kellow.