Sara Parkhurst Van Why
(814) 623-1557
sallyvanwhy@gmail.com

I received a lot of comments on our great reunion; thanks again to Linda Cumber Gifkins for creating the class Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/124118741026202/252711604833581. Nancy Williams Bishop wrote that she and Dan were getting ready for Christmas down under with daughter Sam and her boyfriend Joel. They spent three weeks in London this summer watching Joel man the cage for the Aussie National Water Polo team for the London Olympics. Carol Schlosnagle Bradford relocated to Alexandria, Va., in August after working for a year in China and Mongolia—her third overseas assignment and 10th year in Asia. She looks forward to catching up with Hood friends: cbradford043@gmail.com.

Linda Wicks Crites and Bob had dinner with Marsha Kraft Brick and Jim at their home in Newport, and with Bev Lutz and her husband Bob Tremblay at their annual restaurant rendezvous in Massachusetts; she continues to get together with Connie Dawley Seeley. Chris Felerski Emsley retired in 2010 after 33 years as an educator, including 16 years as an elementary school principal. One month after her last day on the job, she was diagnosed with a rare form of endometrial cancer; after two surgeries and extensive chemotherapy, she is now cancer free! She and her husband are traveling a lot and enjoying their five grandchildren. Chris advises students from all over the world on how to get an American high school diploma.

Linda Cumber Gifkins wrote that in late summer she and her husband John had a delightful visit with Deryl and Betsey Kipp in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. In September, Linda reentered the work force with some former colleagues from Travelocity at a travel startup called routehappy.com. They will be in Brooklyn, N.Y., for the holidays with both sons, their wives and gransdson Owen. Robin Shaw Leto wrote that she and Ken will visit daughter Dara at Stanford over Christmas; son Jason continues to work for the South Carolina Teachers Union, driving all over the state. Janice Williams Martin and Al are looking forward to his retirement in 2014; they plan to continue travels to the Denver area and Diamondhead, Miss., to visit sons and family. Janice invites anyone traveling through the area of Danielsville, Pa., to stop and visit.

Susan Gorelick Marlenga went to Nantucket in September for the wedding of Mary Jane Scully Bauer’s daughter Elizabeth. She was joined by her big sister Lauren Frankel ’70, who lives in California, and Mary Jane’s big sister Martha Herbert Bounoure ’70, who lives in France. Becky Riehl continues working as a project manager for TD Bank in The Villages, Fla.; she and her husband bought a pontoon boat, which they use to explore several lakes in the area. Marti Murray Robinson wrote that after our incomparable reunion last spring, she spent four weeks in an Ireland studies program at the Univ. of Ireland in Galway to create a similar program at the State Univ. of New York Ulster. Her son Dan received his master’s degree in geology from the Univ. of Buffalo.

Danise Simpson Simmons reported that she and husband Bruce are thoroughly enjoying retirement, having left their jobs with Rio Rancho Public Schools in summer 2011. In July, her sister Donna Simpson ’77, a history professor at Wheeling Jesuit Univ., visited and will return for Christmas; meanwhile, Danise and Bruce have just welcomed their second granddaughter. Danise would really like to hear from her Hood roommate, Donna (Nina) McCloskey Lannatuonno. Deidre Jean Wright hails from Palm Coast, Fla., where she works with Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida Campus Library; she and family and friends recently celebrated her mom’s 85th birthday. Thanks for all of the great news—and all the best for 2013! Candy

Class Reporter:

Cynthia Clifford
(415) 563-5273
clifford@texture.com

Thanks to all classmates who sent news! Pam Borden Heckert keeps up with Wendy Erway, Kate Healy Drummond, Lindy Hudson McMahon and Linda Longacre Kwochko. Pam’s two sons and two daughters are all grown, and she has one granddaughter. After working as a nurse for 25 years, she received her teaching certificate in French, her original major at Hood. Pam reports she has not worked a day since June 2009 as no one wants to learn French anymore! After living in London for 6½ years, Mary Barton Freeman and Varel planned to return to the United States this winter when Varel’s term ends at European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and will move into a house they have renovated in New Hampshire. The Freemans celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in August at a party given by their children. Mary’s roommate Nancy Sword Hollyfield, and Lucinda Tyson, Barbara Hasbrouck Murphy and her little sister Mary Beth Layfield Law ’73 and their husbands helped them celebrate.

Darcy Bevelacqua and her husband are spending the winter in Sarasota, Fla., to see if it is a place where they would like to move when they retire. Darcy works full time and manages her own business doing marketing consulting. Last summer, she visited with Nia (Virginia) Lourekas and her husband, and they went soaring! Darcy keeps in touch with her Hood roommate Pamela Russell who lives in Austin, Texas. Judy Ashway works part time doing play therapy with children and psychotherapy with teens and parents in the Boston area. Her son is the executive director of a meditation center there while Judy’s daughter, husband and 4-year-old grandson live in Costa Rica. Judy writes that she actually sees more of her daughter than her son! Nancy Fisher Henderson and John moved from Cape May Point, N.J., to Chestertown, Md., in May where they enjoy kayaking and sailing on the Chester River. Nancy still knits, reads, sings in the church choir and plays handbells. She hopes that she will be able to get to Hood more frequently now that she is closer to Frederick.

Nancy Loader Calabretta works as the assistant director of the medical library at the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J. She has seen Carolyn Perry Dukenski several times this year as Carolyn’s son and his family live in Collingswood and are good friends with Nancy’s daughter Stacy. Nancy’s daughter Andrea who returned in September from a Fulbright Fellowship teaching English in Tunisia now lives nearby in Philadelphia. Nancy is planning a trip to Australia in 2013 to visit her roomie Sue Montag Wood. Diane Miller Jackson still works as a buyer of women’s dresses and suits at Boscov’s department store where she said she is “mama bear” to all the younger buyers! She and Drew are planning their retirement home in Surry, Maine, on a bay overlooking Acadia National Park. They vacation there every year and already know some of their future neighbors.

After living in California for the past 15 years, Ruth Labrie Wilcox and Ken now live in Shanghai where he works in technology lending. Ruth’s sons, Nate and Noah, live in the San Francisco area, and she has a 4-year-old grandson Oliver. Ruth enjoyed a visit from Julie Godfrey Streets and would welcome more visitors. Alice Paul McGinnis and Richard still live in Silver Spring, Md. Alice retired in 2011 and enjoys traveling, doing volunteer work with African refugees and home projects. Two of her three children are married, and she has three grandchildren. Alice and Carolyn Perry Dukenski and their husbands keep in touch. Sharon Weiss Jones has lived in Fort Myers, Fla., since 1999. Sharon spends time managing rental properties, doing copy editing and visiting with grandson Nico. She reports that Rosemary Coull Aitcheson survived a week without power thanks to Hurricane Sandy and that Leslie Moir Howell now lives in Florida as does Sharon’s big sister, Elizabeth Rudulph Lustenader ’69. Sharon would enjoy visitors!

Lynn Patterson Jacobs and Don spent Thanksgiving in Costa Rica with their daughter Audrey who teaches English there. Son Don and his wife are expecting their second son in March, and daughter Stephanie is a physician in California. Lynn sees Cindy Tyson when she visits her son in D.C. Lynn’s dad passed away last May at age 95. He had lived in the same retirement community in Delaware as Betsy Cooper Pizzolato’s mom. Both Betsy’s and Lynn’s moms were Hood alums. After teaching for 35 years and being union president for 15, I, Mary McMunigal Burland, retired in 2006. Now I substitute teach, watch my 2-year-old granddaughter Lily twice a week, and go to our place on Kiawah as often as possible. Mindy Laighton Wilcox and I would love to hear from more ’71 classmates!

Class Reporters:

Mary McMunigal Burland
(610) 733-4009
mburl5@verizon.net

Mindy Laighton Wilcox
(619) 462-6230
mindy.wilcox@sbcglobal.net

Once again, classmates, send news of continuing careers, new endeavors and happy retirements. Janet Bear Ander lives in Baltimore and continues her work as a social worker in child protective services. She has two adult children; one was married in 2011 and one is getting married in 2013. Jan’s husband is retired, and they enjoy their empty nest with one dog and two cats. Jan has fond memories of Hood and relates that a sister-in-law, a cousin and a niece also attended Hood. Jan says hello to classmates, especially alums who were day students in the late 1960s. Ada Karen Blair continues her work on an oral history project of teacher education at Towson Univ. She frequently visits the home she is renovating in North Carolina, and she and her husband George Friedman spent Thanksgiving with Karin Ninesling Infuso and her family.

Jeanne Bryant-Wyland and her husband Dick are still working. Jeanne sends news of their son William, 14 years old, does well in school and plays lacrosse and basketball. William is also in Boy Scouts earning merit badges toward Eagle Scout. Jeanne is looking forward to our next Hood reunion. Rosalyn Goddard Phillips and her husband John celebrated their 41st anniversary last summer. They love retirement and maintain that “life is good.” They traveled to Ireland twice in the past year and plan to visit Scotland next. Roz plays the mandolin and tenor banjo and is in an old-time band with her youngest son. Roberta Dudley Maguire retired from full-time teaching in Wellesley, Mass., but “flunked retirement.” She works part time helping struggling first-grade readers and finds the work rewarding. She has one grandchild who lives nearby and is in the process of selling her house to downsize a bit. Elaine Hubert will visit Washington, D.C., this year and spend some time visiting Myra Holsinger.

After 43 years of teaching at the same school in Middletown, Md., Marj Menchey Bernstein will retire this year. She taught third grade for one year and taught music the rest of her career. Her life is busy and happy with family and great friends. Pamela Nesbit reported that her husband Bobby Bullet received the Native American Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award (NAMMY). Pam and Bobby are a folk-singing duo and perform at schools, libraries and events in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Pam plays native flute and her husband plays guitar.

Karin Ninesling Infuso, her husband and daughter vacationed in Utah in May 2012 and enjoyed Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. After a short summer trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, they decided to take a long-anticipated trip to Alaska. Denali National Park was a highlight as was an excursion above the Arctic Circle to Gates of the Arctic National Park. Karin continues as her daughter Kate’s editor, but that task will end when Kate finishes her graduate program in May. Ellen Sacks “friended” Charles Forsythe, who taught art at Hood, on Facebook. After a board of associates meeting at Hood, Ellen and her husband visited Charles at his home in Emmitsburg, Md., and enjoyed discussing art and looking at Charles’ painting. Just a few months later, Charles was diagnosed with a serious illness and died. Ellen is grateful that she took the time to visit him. More recently, Ellen met Margaret Muncie for dinner when Peggy flew from her home in Greenville, S.C. to New York City. Both Ellen and Peggy are still happily working and are looking forward to our 45th Hood reunion in 2015.

Nancy Schneider Alder traveled to Tampa, Fla., and Newberry Port, Mass., to see two former nanny families. Nancy enjoys beach vacations and holidays with her daughters and five grandchildren who range in age from 5 to 8 years. Nancy sends best wishes to classmates. On a sad note, I regretfully report that Misty Moorhouse Keisler passed away on May 24, 2012. Finally, I want to thank the classmates who contributed to this column and encourage classmates who have not been recently mentioned to send information for the next column.

Class Reporter:

Karin Ninesling Infuso
(910) 400-5137
kinfuso@aol.com

Sayre Roney Steere
(850) 233-0238
sayre1126@gmail.com

Mark your calendars for the class of 1968 reunion planned for next June. Laurie Kammler Kaye is coordinating plans for the Saturday night dinner and would welcome suggestions for venue and menu. Contact the office of alumni relations and special events if you have not received a packet with information. If you did not receive an email from me in November seeking news, it means the College does not have one on record for you or the one they gave me is no longer active––I had a lot of “failure to deliver” messages this time. The College also has a page on the website for locating “lost” classmates and we are missing quite a few. Weather and water seem to be continuing themes for our class. I am doing repairs from a water leak in November and many alums along the East Coast were affected by Hurricane Sandy, including Sue Marano and Cheryl Bonynge Harker in New Jersey. Cheryl lives in Island Heights just across the bay from devastated Seaside Heights. Her family’s home and boat survived, but she reported there were “200 boats or so piled up at the bottom of our hill” and so many homes and businesses are destroyed. Condolences to Cheryl whose mother passed away in November just weeks after the hurricane. Sue reported no structural damage, but was without power and is thankful for friends who let us shower and eat at their home—and sleep over when it snows. Sue’s mother moved to Raleigh, N.C., in September and maybe we will plan another North Carolina reunion. My sophomore year roommate Amy Rosenberg Cornblatt and husband Marc have been recent water damage victims at their homes in Pennsylvania and Vermont, but Hurricane Sandy missed them. Amy’s mother has passed away, but her dad is still in the Boston area. Amy is retired and she and Marc have enjoyed many fabulous trips to far flung corners of the world.

Ellen Dietz Rosenberger is in Fairfax County, Va., and was spared storm damage. She and husband Russ and family actually had a fun water adventure when three generations spent a week in Oregon last summer celebrating a family wedding at a resort in the high desert and did a rafting float down the Deschutes River. Ellen is retired from teaching but busy with activities for seven grandchildren, book club, garden club and tennis. Her mother (Class of 1935 and 98 years young) spent Thanksgiving with the family. Ellen asked, “Where are all of my Coblentz friends?” Suzann Harden Carson reported from Maryland that she has only seen a few Hood classmates over the years and is ready to see so many well-remembered friends at the reunion. After graduation, she and Nancy Parker Winyard roomed together, had children at the same time and saw each other often when Suz lived in California. Her roommate Linda Winter-Blacksher visited when she lived in Hawaii, and more recently she met up with little sister Chips Parker-Wood ’70 and others in Philadelphia for some gourmet food shopping and a “reminds-me-of-old-times” lunch. She has been in email touch with her Hood big sister Ruth Mary Ross-Jones ’66. Margie Arnold Creek is one of our far flung classmates (Queensland, Australia) and reported a new grandson Matthew who joined big brother David, age 2½, last July. Margie’s daughter and son-in-law live in Brisbane––by Australian standards a “short” one-and-a-half-hour drive from Queensland. Margie was a tour guide for her “after Hood” roommate Nancy Frederickson Sherlin ’66 and husband Grover when they stopped in Brisbane during a Holland American cruise around Australia. Margie showed them the sights in Brisbane and of course a cuddle with a koala. Margie continues to create and exhibit textile art, which she said creates a messy studio but is a lot of fun.

Carrie Wissler-Thomas continues to love what she does as president and executive director of the Art Association of Harrisburg, Pa., and has no plans to retire anytime soon. Carrie and husband Scott travel in Scotland and England each October, and she said her paintings are inspired by the beautiful scenery there. Son Dylan and family “live just across the river” from Carrie and Scott’s 1928-vintage house in Uptown Harrisburg, Pa. Sharon Burns Walsh and 46 family members and friends celebrated her daughter Katy’s wedding last October in Cancun. She reported that they made it home just ahead of Hurricane Sandy and fortunately, had no storm damage at their home on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Sharon reminded me of the mini-reunion last May in Old Town Alexandria attended by Sharon, Sue Marano, Susan McGehee Nelson, Diana Webber Mosley, Gwen Ebersole Lehman and me. Needless to say shopping and eating great food were involved. My own water event this year means my cute little 25-year-old house will have a great unplanned facelift, assuming I survive the mess. Grandsons Ryan, age 6, and Eli, 2 going on 10, live close by and they continue to amuse and amaze their Nana. Their father, my son Chris, starts graduate school in January so tuition payments are back in our budgets. Son Scott and daughter-in-law Josefin planned to spend Christmas in Sweden with her family and plan to visit the famous “Ice Hotel” 200 miles north of the Artic Circle (I did not know there was that much land north of the Artic Circle). My work in child protective services for Wake County is stressful but outcomes for families can be so rewarding and I still appreciate the opportunity to have made this later in life career change.

I will close with Betsy Kern Perlstein’s account of how she and her husband Jules celebrated birthdays this year—so much more than just cake and candles. I will have her full account in her own words at the reunion but here is a summary. Her husband was turning 60 and their daughters asked what he wanted for his birthday and he said, “60 days.” So after their youngest daughter’s wedding, they took off on their 2011 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic motorcycle named “Magic” to look for America. They rode west from Maryland to the western most point of the United States––Cape Flattery, down the California coast from Route 1 to the Sierra Nevadas and back. Jules spent his actual birthday with Betsy, noisy seals and thousands of seabirds at Morro Bay, Calif. Then they rode east across 500 miles of Route 50 through Nevada (“The Loneliest Road in America”). They climbed Colorado’s highest peaks and crossed and re-crossed the Continental Divide and on through Kansas, Mo., and then Illinois where Betsy celebrated her 66th birthday on Old Route 66 in Springfield. They rode more than 13,000 miles and she blogged the whole trip––the link is 60daysonmagic.blogspot.com. I am hoping Betsy and Jules ride Magic to the Reunion! Hope to see you in June.

Class Reporter:

Linda Search Atack
(336) 549-7258
Linda.atack@gmail.com

Barbara Morgan Herron here. Since the deadline for class news was between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, I asked classmates what they are thankful for in 2012 and what they are looking forward to in 2013. Kristina Campbell Joyce is thankful for being blessed with achievements, family and dear friends. “I know from personal and my friends’ experiences, the impact of losing a parent, spouse, sibling, grandmother, aunt, friend, leader and so on. Since the negative in life does occur, I am thankful for the positive paths we are forming to deal with those so we might have a peaceful, healthy earth from the grassroots up.”

Babs Cummings Stacks is especially thankful for close relationships. “Returning to Hood in June reminded me once again that lifelong roots were planted 45 years ago. The friendships, the values have remained. I am hopeful that such strength will continue to bond us!” She recently had dinner with Linda Carlson. Susan Wadia-Ells, founding director of the nonprofit National Breast Cancer Prevention Project, just published Birth Control Drugs: Learn the Terrible Truth, volume one of the Busting Breast Cancer: 7 Simple Steps e-book series. The series focuses on seven lifestyle habits that can help prevent this terrible disease. Check it out at amazon.com. Sue is based in Manchester, Mass. Nancy Esau Jeschke has much for which to be thankful, having had heart bypass surgery and a cancerous tumor removed from her tongue. “I taught for 40 years and had a sign that read ‘attitude is the paintbrush that colors the mind.’ I truly believe that how we view what happens to us in life can make our lives positive or not. I have always preferred the positive.”

Cynthia Newby cannot forget what happened during our first semester at Hood, on Nov. 22, 1963. “I am looking forward, but with a twinge of apprehension, to a peaceful presidency for Obama’s second term in office, with the joint political will to tackle our very real problems without violence in our country.” Patricia Rosner Kearns had a great Thanksgiving with all the Kearns kids and grandkids—and sprained her ankle right after they left. Pat welcomed her second grandson in August. Her mom is doing well in Connecticut, but she lost her dad two years ago. She still works as director of development for the D.C. area at the American Diabetes Association and is looking forward to more vacation time in 2013. At press time, Diane Smail Robertson was awaiting the arrival of her second granddaughter. “Isn’t it great how your heart just expands with love to make room for all the ‘dear ones’ in your life? Re: 2013: As crazy as it sounds, I am just looking forward to celebrating the joys that God brings into my life. I don’t know if it is a result of growing older or not, but I’ve come to recognize that those quiet daily happinesses are what really matter most to me!” Debbie Smith Aldrich is thankful for her wonderful kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and two wonderful cat buddies. “I’m thankful for a wonderful childhood, Hood College education, great marriage and years of experience that have made me what I am today. Sounds corny, but it is the truth! Looking forward, I’m blessed with the ability to find fun and friendships throughout the year, hopefully some travel and lots of laughing.”

Cynde Swanson Lawson is most thankful for her husband and two sons Shandy and Tory as well as her job as a crisis counselor, and travel. Her most recent trip was to Scandinavia in June. “I am most looking forward to the publication of Shandy’s young adult novel, The Loop in April.” Johanna Van Wert Thompson and Michael spent Thanksgiving week at the Outer Banks of North Carolina with their three children and eight grandchildren (ages 2-14). They still live in Williamsburg, Va., and would welcome visitors from Hood. They enjoyed a family cruise to Bermuda in June, a trip to Alaska in September, met Joan Peschel Young and Bob for lunch, and enjoyed an overnight visit with Sally Raube Chandler and Jim while traveling in New England. Gail Witham Pohl looks forward to Skyping with her daughter’s family (including 8 of her 16 grandchildren), who are serving as missionaries in Uganda. Gail was having cataract surgery in January, and was looking forward to improved vision and spending lots of time with her other grandchildren.

Barb Wood Spellman recently enjoyed a four-day visit with Ginny Price Bracken in North Carolina, and spent an afternoon and evening with Sue Bracken, who lives nearby. Husband John retired in August after 43 years of practicing dentistry, and on Sept. 22 their youngest son got married in their yard. “I am thankful that it didn’t rain during the wedding ceremony and that we are healthy enough to enjoy our new unstructured life.” Barb looks forward to lots of travel. Jayne Winters Mathews is thankful that she can still get up every morning, go to work and actually enjoy what she is doing. She is one of those people who “failed” retirement and feels much better doing something worthwhile. “I work with nonprofits and get involved in most of the problems that face people today. I look forward to better times in 2013, and having gone to a woman’s college, I’m thankful that women play a much larger role than ever before in everything and look forward to a female president soon. Anyone who is down this way, the Carolina Coast, stop by, we’re always here.”

I, Barbara Morgan Herron, hope to retire before summer. Keeping busy won’t be a problem. Almost every weekend between Labor Day and Thanksgiving I was painting sets, combing thrift stores for costumes, appearing on set as an extra and otherwise helping my husband on his latest film project. I have a long list of house, garden and sewing projects, too. Happy 2013 to all!

Class Reporters:

Barbara Morgan Herron
(410) 664-0976
cymraesteg@aol.com

Judith Lehman Ballinger
(609) 425-6631
judyballinger@hotmail.com

Dianne Beebe Barske
(907) 346-3167
dielbarske@alaska.com

Again, with regret, I start my report with a classmate obituary. According to the Portland (Maine) Press Herald, Linda Chase Heimbach, at Hood for our sophomore and junior years, “died at home Mar. 13, 2012, succumbing to cancer after a courageous 10-year battle.” James Heimbach, her husband of 48 years, survives her, along with a son and daughter and four grandchildren. Linda, a Massachusetts native, and her family had lived in Oklahoma, Germany, Montana, North Dakota, North Carolina and finally Springvale, Maine. She completed a nursing degree in North Carolina, and her last full-time job was as a pediatrics nurse in Asheville. Linda’s hobbies included sewing, weaving and quilting, and she was at her happiest when organizing gala meals attended by friends and family, with special attention to grandchildren. “She introduced a tradition for Thanksgiving dinner which has each person sign the tablecloth and write what they were thankful for.” Linda was another classmate gone too soon, but not without leaving a rich legacy with family and friends.

Katherine Blatchford is thriving in Nashua, N.H., after a long residence in the mid-Atlantic. “It only took me 43 years to get back to my roots and to be near family again,” Kate wrote. “The one exception is my son Chris and his family who live in the Cleveland area, where he is art director for the Cleveland Browns and does all of their graphics. My daughter teaches first grade across the border in Massachusetts, so I see my grandkids there at least five days a week. My official role involves school bus stops, transport to and from after-school activities and much more. The fun parts include snow, jump ropes, exploring the woods and working on projects. The first redecorating of my Nashua condo included creating a four-wall mural in the guest room and turning the pass-through ledge between the kitchen and dining area into a ‘mantelpiece’ with painted faux fireplace below. I have since completed more projects and have plenty left to do. Right now, I’m entering revisions for a book I have written and working on the sequel at the same time.”

After retiring from 32 years teaching high school government and history in South Carolina and Maryland, Joan Dixon Bailey turned hobby into business by opening an antiques shop. Since then, she has been on the road from Maine to Georgia, looking for good examples of early 19th century American furniture. Joan and Andy, her husband of 47 years, restored an old home overlooking the Patuxent River near Mechanicsville, Md., that has its own graveyard dating back to 1714. With Andy’s recent retirement, they now devote more time to travel, including planned returns this year to European favorites, such as Barcelona and Rome. “But our most favorite trip,” Joan wrote, “is a short one to Chevy Chase to see our daughter Kristi and son-in-law Sean plus the two most perfect grandchildren of all, our Katie, 8, and Dylan, 4.”

Diane Phillips Hughes and husband Bob “live in the boonies” in Dorchester County, Md., and work part time for a marketing company. Until 2003, Diane was a social worker, first for Dorchester County Social Services where she had the “truly fun job” of supervising two daycare centers. After the state stopped operating daycares, Diane headed the social work department at a chronic-disease facility in Salisbury, Md. In 1987, they bought a chicken farm with two-layer houses that was Bob’s primary job until all layer farms were pulled out of Maryland in 2003. “We say we bought 25 acres with 50 cats,” Diane wrote. “They were all feral, of course. We still feed an assortment of kitties, and they are one of my real pleasures now, along with gardening.” Their family now consists of two sons—“one his and one mine”—after the death of one of Bob’s sons in a traffic accident in 2012. Their six grandchildren range in age from 1 to 21 years.

Maxine Rouch Jones retired in 2004 after 26 years as a middle school librarian in Amherst, Mass., and now enjoys a variety of volunteer and organizational activities. Her husband Bob, a longtime Russian history professor at the Univ. of Massachusetts, now retired, will have his third book come out this spring. They have enjoyed traveling in Europe over the years, and now spend several winter months each year in Tampa to be near daughter Kate and her two children, Alex, 13, and Gregory, 9. They also make several visits annually to Alexandria, Va., to see their son Ben; his wife Leah; and children, Juliet, 5, and James, 3. JoAnn Smith Alspaugh reported from her home overlooking Frederick’s Baker Park. “For most of my adult years I was a stay-at-home mom, but when number three son came along when I was 41, I attended Frederick Community College and took math classes in case I wanted to teach. During my mid-50s, I took nursing courses, but instead of going into clinicals, I went into home and hospital teaching, which I really enjoyed. Ten years ago, those nursing classes helped me keep my husband home throughout his illness, and he was able to die at home with dignity. After three years, I gave up trying to keep up with our 1861 farmhouse, a barn and six acres on my own. As much as I miss Jack and our farmette, I have learned to love living alone and being involved when I want or just being a slug some days. Jack III, who was my 40-plus baby, is a 2007 Hood graduate teaching English to elementary and middle school students in a small village in southern Japan. Jason, 43, is an artist in Los Angeles after giving up his architectural-drafting company a couple years ago to follow his dream. Middle son Aaron, also in architecture and the only one to stay close, is the father of my two sweet granddaughters, Grace, 9, and Leah, 7.”

Christine Plankenhorn Tischer was hit by a car that drove through a red light on Nov. 6. Her car was totaled, but thankfully she is OK, although she was shaken up and suffered a broken thumb. Margaret York Gladish had a bout of life-threatening pneumonia in 2011 that kept her hospitalized for two months. Fully recovered now, she remains busy in Huntingdon Valley, Pa., doing volunteer work and enjoying traveling, gardening, playing golf and bridge as well as singing in two choirs. Thanks to email, she is now in regular communication with Dawn Rieser ’64. Margaret signed off by saying, “I am looking forward to our 50th reunion.” I encourage you all to nurture that same vision! Catherine Beyer Meredith wished an early happy birthday to most of the class who will be celebrating a big birthday in 2013.

Class Reporters:

Catherine Beyer Meredith
(410) 252-1947
alto1cat@aol.com

Emily Kilby
(443) 485-7443
erk44@verizon.net

I send the sympathy of the class to Barbie Haun Morris, whose sister Sophia Olsen Haun ’66 (whom we knew as Skeeter) died in October 2011. This was a long goodbye, as Skeeter had been ill for many years. Barbie lives in Williamsburg, Va., where she enjoys the many outreach education programs for seniors at William and Mary. She has resumed playing golf, sings with the church choir, and is a member of Kiwanis and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Like most of us, Barbie turned 70 this year and celebrated with a fancy birthday party, complete with a swing band, organized by her daughters and stepdaughter. Barbie also enjoys spending time with her four grandchildren. Debbie Parker Hamilton celebrated her 70th with a surprise trip to New York City given by her three daughters and three granddaughters. They had a wonderful time and Debbie said, “It was such fun seeing how much alike we all are.” Debbie and Tim still love living in Wilmington, N.C., and look forward to their 50th wedding anniversary next year. Their granddaughter Chelsea graduated from the Univ. of Virginia recently and granddaughter Lindsay is a junior at Virginia Tech.

Sherry Kimble Johnson described 2012 as a big year for her and husband Bill. In late April, they fell in love with a 100-year-old house in Cleveland, Tenn., and closed on it in six days. Within two weeks, they sold their own house and then went to central France with Teddy and Marcy Leavitt Bourne and Bill’s brother and his wife. Sherry’s daughter Jaime Boyce Lacey ’90 supervised the move and served as general contractor for the restoration and painting at their new house while Sherry and Bill continued on to Provence and Italy. They have been settled into their new house since June and enjoy walking everywhere, plus taking a more active part in their church. Bill and Sherry celebrated her 70th in Lynchburg, Va., with a big family reunion and Thanksgiving feast. Claire Fulenwider retired last December from being executive director of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, then she and partner Harriet returned home to Santa Fe, N.M. While they miss the lushness of the Northwest and friends and family there, they are glad to be back home in sunshine and high desert. Claire enjoys spending time with daughter Nina and grandson Nelson in Maryland and with son Nathan, who has a resort in northern Wisconsin. Claire and Harriet spend summers at their Wisconsin cabin, fishing, hiking and RVing.

Anne Burgess Huffer has been teaching at Shepherd Univ. She has also taught since 2006 at Penn State Mont Alto. Most years, she takes courses at the community college, because she still loves going to school. Anne and her husband are snowbirds who go to Florida from December to April every year, where she works on genealogy, knits and does scrapbooking. Another knitter is Tina Bassett Stevens, who is vice president of the Windy City Knitting Guild and lives in Wilmette, Ill. She goes to New England twice a year; in June for a knitting workshop on Cape Cod and in September to Maine because she loves it there. She is currently recovering from knee replacement surgery and anticipating surgery on the other knee. Tina was being comforted by her two greyhounds. Sally Stoecklein Bregenser describes herself and husband Jim as very fortunate. Their son works with his dad in the family construction management business and lives across the street. He recently remarried to a woman with three children, making Sally and Jim grandparents of five and frequent attenders at activities like the marching band, dance competitions, volleyball games and concerts. Jim and Sally enjoy the Pittsburgh Symphony and Pittsburgh football and basketball games.

I received an email from Alyce Burn Sheaffer’s daughter Marcella who reports that her mother moved to Harrisonburg, Va., four years ago to be near to Marcella and her family. This enables Alyce to see her three grandsons regularly. Alyce’s address is Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, 1475 Virginia Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 and she would love to hear from former classmates. Congratulations to Ellen Roberts Glaccum, chair of the Stanley Community Library board of trustees in Stanley, Idaho, for doing such a good fund-raising job that the new library building planned to open in December and will be almost entirely paid for. Ellen’s work with the library board amounted to an unpaid half-time job, but she has the satisfaction of seeing this new facility opening to serve the community. Talk about a legacy!

Every fall, I, Barb Maly Fish, have a mini-reunion with former classmates Kate Jenks Powell, Cookie Johnson Bolig, Sally Erb Soisson and Sandy Borrelli Ricci. This year, we met in D.C. and spent most of a day at the National Museum of Women in the Arts at an exhibition called Women Who Rock, which featured memorabilia from great rockers. We even saw Lady Gaga’s meat dress, proving that we are really quite with it despite a combined age of almost 350!

Class Reporter:

Barbara Maly Fish
(919) 688-9125
barb2fish@yahoo.com