Colleen Gabriel Nestor joined Chapin & Associates in Frederick, Md., as a residential realtor. She is excited to have partnered up with her husband Matt Nestor who is a residential and commercial realtor with Chapin to offer two realtors for one. She can be contacted at colleen@realestateinfrederick.com or 301-471-5410. Tanya Sander-Marks and Angela Schmuck Bond got together in August. Tanya and her two daughters, Sophia, 7 and Ella, 4, made the trek across Pennsylvania from Pittsburgh to hang out with Angela and her daughter, Mikayla, 8 at their home in Hanover, Pa. Tanya and Angela had a great time watching their daughters play while they reminisced and caught up. The girls even got to pose for a photo in their new dinks! Stephanie Auker Zweitzig ’95 also joined in the fun and they all agreed it was great to see each other. I was lucky enough to spend quality time with some Hood alums in Southern Italy in late October. It was great to get to know some old friends better and get to know some new “Hoodlums” as well. Thanks for the great memories Pamela Butler ’78; Nancy Gillece ’81; Edee Howard Hogan ’59, P’86; Janet Spaulding Nunn ’61, P’06; Jane Crilly Schultz ’60; Susan Dornbusch Sohn ’78 and Susan Zerrahn. As always, Hood is sincerely appreciative to all of you making contributions to Hood.  For those of you who have not already given and would like to do so, a little can go a long way. One gift. Any size. Visit www.hood.edu/giving today! Keep the news coming…

The Andrew G. Truxal Scholarship in sociology was awarded to Hope Lichtman ’15. Nancy Brown Kolhheyer had her right knee replaced and was able to have rehabilitation with John on the North Sea Coast and is now walking without a cane. I received a nice card from Jerry Griffith Macomber who connected with Weezie Mathews after a 60-year interim. Weezie had been a bridesmaid in Jerry’s wedding. Penny Fradd Vahsen took a riverboat trip down the Rhine and Danube rivers with her son David. Her third grandson just finished his plebe year at Annapolis. Oppie Keeler Ludwig is enjoying spending time with her 1-and-a-half year old great-granddaughter Maya. Nadia Klotz Giusi has retired from teaching at Monterey Peninsula College, but still sees clients and continues to write. Her latest book “Magic and Pasta: A Love Story” is based on Valerio and her story in Rome from 1954 when they met to 1955 when they came to America. It is available in paper back from Amazon.com. Sally Kuhns Giarratana reported that class contributions for the 2013 fiscal year ending was $27,986.54 with 89.6 percent contributing. Patricia Lloyd Fordham’s only granddaughter just married and will be living in Nashville. Pat adopted another rescue dog—a 9-year-old long haired dachshund as a buddy for her 5-year-old Basenji rescue dog. Janet Peek Clancy still plays tennis six or seven days a week, yoga, walks, digital photography and much more. She hopes to see everyone at our next get-together. Pam Presbrey Grinnell spent the summer visiting family and friends in Ohio, Michigan, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania with the help of loved ones who drive freeways.  Her grandson’s wedding was especially beautiful. Judy Rank Loposer thoroughly enjoys watching her 9-year-old great-grandson play little league football—he is the star of the team! Bev Rosenberg Sager still goes to aerobics four-days-a-week and takes two classes at the local community college two days a week. Thanksgiving will be spent in California with her entire family and then on to the Turks and Caicos in February. Having a new roof put on their home was the job of Katherine Sponsler Patten this past fall—they hope to take an Eastern Caribbean in March. Lois Wolfe Haffly became a great-grandmother in October—John Thomas Haffley was born at her alma mater hospital at the Univ. of Pennsylvania. Her son and daughter-in-law live nearby and they get to see the baby often. Stef Pick Kopp and her husband became great-grandparents two months ago to a granddaughter, Charlotte Rose Kopp. “Hal and I, Johanna Chait Essex, had a wonderful trip to Springfield, Ill. to attend his ship’s yearly reunion. It is the Land of Lincoln and while some places were closed down we got a feel for the history of the area. The children and grandchildren are fine and we are doing our thing volunteering at the senior center and Kings Point as well as sponsoring cadets and giving them a home away from home.”

Wow, a lot of great news to share this issue! First off, Lynn Maria Wilson and husband Justin Wilson, M.D., welcomed their first child baby girl Farrah Ripley Wilson on November 5, 2013. Congratulations! Stephanie Schmidt Hook and husband Benjamin moved over Labor Day weekend. They are back in Ben’s hometown of Cazenovia, N.Y. They fill their new country home with their four dogs; and spend their weekends with Ben’s 9-year-old daughter Natalie and a close group of friends, some new and some old. They are enjoying the change in lifestyle and the gorgeous drive home past the windmills! Stephanie has now been in practice in Syracuse for over five years as a doctor with Podiatry Services of CNY. Their new mailing address is 4147 Nelson Road, Cazenovia NY 13035. Katherine (Katie) Janke Swann and husband Rob welcomed their fourth baby girl, Izidora Matilda on October 8, 2013; Izidora joins sisters Alexis (8), Madison (5) and Gabriella (3). The family currently lives in Elkton, Md. (just south of Delaware). Katie returned to school in September to earn her master’s degree in Elementary Education. Katie is a stay-at-home mom who occasionally works as a substitute teacher for Cecil County Public Schools. Christina Collett and hubs Jeff Owens are enjoying the good life in Lititz, Pa., voted America’s Coolest Small Town 2013 by Budget Travel! Christina loves being a work-from-home mom and sr. sales director with Mary Kay; Jeff is purchasing manager for Pennsylvania’s first Carmax in Lancaster. Their two daughters Emerson Lila (4) and Lakyn Elizabeth (18 months) keep life exciting, wonderful and messy! Christina said, “A huge thank you to Dr. Boyle, the psychology department and to all my professors in the public relations department! It amazes me every day how my two favorite fields and all of the skills I learned in each meld to perfection in my career in sales and business/life coaching with Mary Kay! It is great how life works out when you are living your dream job! Thanks Hood College and my Hood Girls who made it magical and oh so memorable!” Jenifer Kilpatrick Sincevich M.A. ’03 recently launched her own birth-related business, Mandala Momma (www.facebook.com/MandalaMomma). She became a certified Dancing For Birth™ instructor earlier this year and enjoys teaching Dancing For Birth classes and private sessions in Hagerstown and Frederick. In addition, Jen is a doula-in-training through Birth Arts International and recently attended her first birth! Jen said, “Having kids changed my life in ways I would never imagined. It is a joy and an honor to witness other women on their motherhood journey.” Jen lives in Hagerstown with husband Alex, son Xander and daughter Triana. She had a surreal moment this Halloween when she was on the other side of the annual “Safe Harvest” event, trick-or-treating through the residence halls with two children in tow! Shervon A. Pierre worked at the National Cancer Institutes of Health after leaving Hood. She then went to medical school at Howard Univ. in Washington, D.C. and received her Doctorate of Medicine in 2009. Shervon completed her family medicine residency at Southern Regional Area Health Education Center (SR-AHEC) in Fayetteville, N.C., in 2012 and is currently working at Gaston Family in Gastonia, N.C. “So I am no longer just “Chi Chi,” I am Dr. Chi Chi. LOL! It has been a long hard road but I made it! Glory be to God!” she said. Congratulations, Shervon! Congratulations are also in order for Heather McCarthy who is thrilled to report she is engaged to Dr. Benjamin Joplin. A summer 2015 wedding is being planned. Sarah Parsons ’01 will be her maid-of-honor. Suzanne Benson and Grant Rowan welcomed baby girl Maya Sophie on Dec. 28, 2012; Maya joins sisters Bella (8) and Mckenna (3). The family still lives in Parkville, Md. (just north of Baltimore). Suzanne also recently launched her own business, Suzanne Isabella Marketing (www.suzanneisabella.com), which specializes in social media management/promotion for bloggers and small businesses. When first getting Suzanne Isabella off the ground, she went right to her college classmates (obviously a very entrepreneurial bunch!). Two of her very first clients were Kat Onrubia O’Toole (whose photography business KCO Photography can be found at www.kcophotosite.com) and Lara Wilson Girdler (whose two blogs can be found at www.ncreadergirl.wordpress.com and www.financiallessonslearned.wordpress.com)! “If you had told me back when Lara and I were sitting in accounting class together or when Kat and I were on the Hood Soccer team together, that we would all be businesswomen today, I would have never believed it!” said Suzanne. Suzanne also keeps in touch with other fellow Hoodlums and enjoys collecting news for the Hood magazine.

Greetings class of 1984!  Christine Garvey Lentine is pleased to report that her daughter Alicia graduated from The Catholic Univ. of America in Washington, D.C. this past May with a degree in politics. What makes Christine happier is that Alicia is employed! Son Michael is a sophomore at Rider Univ. in New Jersey majoring in business. Christine and her husband Neil have spent the past year transitioning from New Jersey where they have each lived for the past 51 years to Naples, Fla. In January, Florida will be their full time home, but they are sure to still be spotted in New Jersey and at their home in Tilghman Island, Md. If you are in southwest Florida, do not hesitate to give Christine a call! Amy Gilson Corbin ended up getting a degree in studio arts and has exhibited pieces at the House of Senate in Annapolis, Art at the Mill in Berryville, Va., and Hood College. Amy has two sons and was the former marketing director for Chick-Fil-A for eight years. She is currently working at American Public University System (American Military University and American Public University) where she has the flexibility to work remotely and looks forward to relocating near blue water when her youngest son graduates this coming year. Edie Orazi started a new job this past July. She is working as a federal contractor as a program manager/lead catalog librarian at the Smithsonian Institution libraries.  Congratulations, Edie! Sue Bartolotto reported from Woodbridge, Va., that her husband has retired after 30 years of service with the U.S. Army. He is currently searching for a job in the Rochester, N.Y. area where they hope to relocate. Daughter Sarah is working in New Jersey and living in Pennsylvania. Daughter Emily is a sophomore at Hood, daughter Hannah is in her junior year of high school and son John is in sixth grade. Sue continues to substitute teach in her county school system and church school. Quick recovery wishes go out to Sue as well and she recovers from ACL reconstruction knee surgery which was a result of playing in the Hood alumni field hockey game in April. Sue had a great time even though she was the oldest one participating! Robin Winkler-Pickett is still working full-time at the National Cancer Institute.  Robin is also back at Hood working on another graduate degree in the master of business administration program. When she is finished this current degree she will have three degrees and four majors from Hood!  Robin’s eldest son Eric just re-enlisted in the U.S. Marines and was married a year ago to Val who is a Frederick County Public School art teacher. Son Adam anticipates graduating from high school in May 2014. Heidi von Storch Miner and husband Randy will soon be celebrating 15 years of marriage. She is proud to be mom to three fine young men who are working and each doing what they love. Son Sean lives in California and is engaged to be married. He works for Environmental Lights in the shipping department.  Stepson Craig is also engaged and lives in Chicago where he works at Third Coast Guitars repairing and building guitars. Heidi’s youngest stepson Drew lives in Colorado and works at Vail Ski resort and for a towing company. Heidi is enjoying making handmade crafts in her free time. A few other tidbits of information have come my way.  Karen Curtis Craney reports that for the past 30 years she has been living in Frederick and working for the Frederick County Public School System as a teacher and Literacy specialist. Claudia Nealley is enjoying being back to work at a local Montessori school as a teacher’s assistant. Lynn Davis is still working full time for the Clearwater Florida police department as the property and evidence supervisor and just returned from a cruise in September that went from Denmark to New York.  Jeanne Thomson Dinterman is still working at Meritus Medical Center in clinical microbiology. Husband John owns USave Car and Truck rental in Frederick. Son Andrew is an elementary school gym teacher in the Frederick County School System.  Son Aaron is a college junior who is playing basketball and son Kyle is a freshman in college. Sue MacKenzie reported in from Vienna, Va., where she is doing contract interior design work. Sue’s daughter is a junior at Denison Univ. in Ohio and planned to leave for New Zealand in January to study abroad. It was great hearing from so many of you––I hope to see everyone at our 30th reunion in May 2014! Make your plans now!

Hello Class of 1983! As I write this column, the leaves are turning many brilliant colors and the first flakes of snow are expected this afternoon. What a perfect time to report all the latest news from our classmates. Shelley Wagar Sabo moved to upstate New York two years ago for a new job as executive director of the New York State Center for Assisted Living. She loves the work and the climate, snow included.  Her daughter Courtney remains in Virginia where she attends community college and works part time caring for a child with special needs. Shelley was lucky enough to spend some time in St. John last spring with Hood alum Lori Landis. Kathy Alexander Long wrote to say how much she enjoyed catching up with friends at our reunion last June. Sharing time with Sally Seward Kirby (who in fact did play lacrosse at Hood) and Jill Feaster LaPan was one of the highlights. Kathy is a child care licensing specialist for the Maryland State Department of Education and is lucky enough to have the Hood’s Onica Prall Child Development Center on her caseload. Her oldest son loves his job as a fifth grade teacher while her middle son pursued his passion to play football in Germany. Her youngest son is a freshman at Middletown High School. Nancy Hoffman Hennessey and husband Kevin also loved the 30th reunion catching up with old friends.  She wrote that Ruth Ravitz Smith now works for General Electric and she and her husband Mike live between their two homes in northern Virginia and Wilmington, Del. Nancy began her first of three years of schooling to earn her Masters of Divinity degree to become a Priest in the Episcopal Church. We wish her well in her endeavor.  Joyce Rhinecker Gillich shared news as well.  She and her husband Dan have been married for 31 years. Their daughter Heather M. Gillich ’08 works in Missouri for the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture. Their son Matthew is pursuing his master’s degree in ethnomusicology. Joyce is now a joint owner of a graphic designer/embroidery company in Martinsburg, W.Va.  Lee Ann Near Aikens and husband Ron just celebrated their 27th anniversary. Daughter Victoria is in her third year at Shepherd Univ. and son Jordan is a soccer playing senior in high school. Lee Ann happily takes care of her family and spends time with her 81-year-old mom who lives nearby. Kim Hall is sorry she missed the reunion but she was on her first sabbatical since stepping down as director of Africana studies at Barnard College. She recently visited Barbados and Rhode Island to do research on her third book which is on literary cultures in the 17th century English sugar/slave trade.  Kim rebuilt the Africana program at Barnard College and it just became its own department. Kim tries to squeeze in time for quilting.  Last year, she had a quilt in an exhibit on Black mermaids in Charleston, S.C. Mary Linger Posey lives in Myersville, Md., with her husband Richard and their three children. She taught Kindergarten until 1996 and then stayed home for 15 years to raise her children. She now works part time as a special education instructional assistant (SEIA).  In 2012, she was awarded the SEIA at the Middle School level in Frederick County. Mary sends all her best to everyone. “My, Mary Townley’s, life is busy. I continue to love my job as a supervisor of transition services at Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. in Richmond, Va.  I teach work readiness skills to high school students with disabilities. It is a great job in an amazing company! On another note, Carol and I are involved with a lawsuit here in Virginia to have our marriage recognized by the Commonwealth. We are lucky to have top, nationally recognized lawyers Ted Olson and David Boies representing us in the case. Our daughter Emily is now a sophomore and beginning to drive. She plays basketball and is enrolled in her high school’s Humanities program. Life is good. Keep in touch everyone. Stay healthy and be safe.”

Hello class of 1982! How great to hear from some different classmates! I just returned from dinner with Gretchen Steinmetz Keith and friends. We both live in Berks County, Pa., and get together from time to time. We along with our spouses attended the Hood event held at Longwood Gardens in September. What an enjoyable afternoon we had touring the beautiful gardens! Ann Williams Clemm reported from Batavia where she grew up. Daughter Katie graduated from the Univ. of Albany and one week later was married at a lovely vineyard in Gasport, N.Y. Katie’s husband, who is a West Point graduate and 2nd lieutenant officer is stationed in Fort Lee, Va., for training. The newlyweds are living in Colonial Heights, Va. Transitioning to the “empty nest” happened quickly. Ann enjoys hearing from those she knew at Hood. Dee Van Meter had a busy year between a family wedding and a big move. Son Glenn ’11 married another Hood alumna in May. A week later they put their house on the market and in September, moved from their 4.6 wooded property to a condo across the street from the ocean in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Downsizing and reducing clutter have been a big challenge! Dee and family are enjoying life in Florida! Marcea Cotter welcomed her second grandson on October 9! She works at Carroll Hospital Center as director of lean and process improvement. Glynnis Edwards Cowdery had lunch with Meg Brown McGinn and Wendy Pulford Rogers when visiting her parents in Connecticut. She just published the 8th edition of The Exceptional Child. She planned to spend Thanksgiving at the beach in Washington and looked forward to having the college age kids home in December. Dawson Casey Bullock keeps in touch with Sally Seward ’83, Molly Quin ’83 and Dana Griffin. She enjoys reading up on everyone in the class column and hopes to attend the next reunion. Dawson’s oldest daughter is a freshman at the Univ. of South Carolina and is studying biomedical engineering. Younger daughter age 17, is busy “shopping” for colleges. Dawson owns a custom stationery/invitation and gift store in Cincinnati for the past five years. Her business has been very successful; she enjoys the combination of creativity and retail management. Joy Miller Beveridge is still living in Frederick. She is a clinical project manager with a biomedical research company. Joy and husband Don celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in January 2013 with a ski trip to Snow Shoe. Daughter Kendall remains in San Francisco working hard in the advertising industry. Son Danny is married and living in Frederick. He and wife Tricia both work for State Farm. Danny continues taking classes toward a degree in education, hoping to teach math and coach soccer. He may even attend Hood in the future! Liz Bastian Chapin, Gretchen Steinmetz Keith and Joy Miller Beveridge always enjoy reunion times as well as time spent together in Reading, Pa. Joy and Liz often see one another at an annual Labor Day Weekend reunion started by Liz’s mother and Hood friends from the class of 1950! Lastly, Joy wanted to share an update on Hood’s field hockey program. Daughter Kendall and teammate Alexis Pappas were national champions at the University of Maryland a few years ago. Alexis is now coaching Hood’s team. At Hood’s senior field hockey match this Fall, Joy witnessed some of the exciting “Terps plays” taking shape on the Hood field. Watching the game brought back many fond memories of playing at Hood as well as watching the Terps! Thank you everyone for sharing your news. I hope to hear from more you in the future!

Hello all! After 22 years as a fundraising professional, Fran Vaughan left her last post (vice president for advancement at Hilbert College) to start her own business. She is now president of FMV Tax Professionals doing taxes for individuals, small business and nonprofits. She lives in Holland, N.Y., outside of Buffalo. So if you are in her neighborhood, please let her know. Her two daughters are in their 30’s, one living in Hawaii taking care of her parents, the other is close by and married with one child, her grandson, age 13. Debbie Deasy lost her dad Bob Deasy, a World War II aviator and former communications manager for Westinghouse in February 2013 at age 89. Thanks to her Dad, her family was transferred to Washington, D.C. during the 1960s where she saw a lot of history and fell in love with Maryland, which ultimately led her to Hood. She is preparing to buy her first house, her late parents’ townhouse, where she already lives. Ellen Bosek McMahon and other ’75 classmates that lived on 4th floor Memorial enjoyed a special and bittersweet weekend in June in Harpers Ferry. Marcia Ritter Dioron coordinated a tribute to Cindy Robel June ’75 and BJ Schuler ’73, both passed from ovarian cancer, with a tree and plaque in front of the Chapel. In attendance were Ellen, Marcia, Fran Vogler Groves, Lynda Strasser Brooks, Lisa Oller Kennedy, Priscilla Munkenbeck Cherrin and Laura Lee Hickman. Ann Shackelford Silva was missed in absentia back in Maine but remembered all weekend. Susan Mumma McKendree has been living near Asheville, N.C., for the past 24 years. In January 2012, after seven years in community service, she decided to take a leap of faith and pursue her work as a collage artist, building shrines and traveling altars dedicated to her spiritual master, Meher Baba. She is also writing a book about a phase of Meher Baba’s work in India called the Blue Bus Tours, which took place in the late 30s and early 40s. Her biggest challenge is keeping her kitties from lying on her open books and parading back and forth in front of the computer screen–a small price to pay for the pleasure of being a writer. She also traveled to India twice since 2004 and has published two chapbooks of her poetry in the past seven years. Diana Beck Walters lost the love of her life Lee Walters on January 5. Peggy Hosky is living in the Washington, D.C. area with sequestration, government shutdowns and the political atmosphere has many for a tense year. Their oldest daughter Monica has moved to Charleston, S.C., with friends and their middle kid Claudia finished her master of business administration degree at Marymount Univ. John the youngest is still in college. Their company and work continue to give them great pleasure, especially the collaborative efforts with colleagues at George Washington Univ. center for excellence in public leadership. Tom and Peggy celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in August. Ann Ely is still living in and loving Vermont! Kids and grandkids are doing well. Carol Fleck Whetzel and Mike just celebrated their 37th anniversary. Life is good. Mike is still working as a systems analyst. She enjoys being home working on crafts, sewing and needlework. She also plays Mah Jongg with the neighborhood ladies. Mike and Carol both totally enjoy being grandparents with their little guys ages 3, 6, and 7. Anna Kluth VonLindenberg’s husband Von has retired and they have recently moved to Delaware beach. They have a beautiful wetlands vista, great for kayaking. They are moving their boat to Cambridge on the Eastern shore and look forward to bike riding around the sleepy surrounding towns. They also visit with their son and his family weekly and are entertained by their three fun-loving grandchildren. Life is good! In the last year, Cherilyn Widell was honored to consult on some very fun and interesting projects. She researched the national significance of the 1100 acre Woodlawn Property in the Brandywine Valley of Delaware which became Delaware’s first national park, First State National Monument, when it was declared a national monument by President Obama last March. She just completed a project for the U.S. Department of Defense which owns over 100,000 buildings 50-years-old or older. The study compared reuse of pre-World War II masonry building with new green construction. Now she is working on preserving Alexander Graham Bell’s House in Baddeck, Nova Scotia. She is still living in Chestertown, so please stop by sometime. I wish everyone the best and please keep in touch.

Our 40th Reunion is just around the corner. I, Sally Leland, look forward to visiting the campus, taking in a stroll of the downtown area, and Doug and I plan to tow the teardrop camper for a visit to Gambrill State Park, one of our favorite places to hang when in the Metro area. Vicki Raeburn Benton stole a few minutes from her never ending schedule of preps for husband’s Leigh re-election campaign to the Orange County, New York legislature. Fundraisers, envelope stuffing and label pasting are a part of Vicki’s day, like cleaning out the cat food dish, vacuuming, and meal preps are for me (Sally Leland)! Mind you, she does all this after tutoring those needing assistance with Math, managing the Hudson Valley SPCA thrift/consignment store two or three days a week and that is in addition to running the household. Long story short, Leigh won his fifth term to the New York Legislature. Nicely done, you two!  Vicki and Leigh Benton will head to Florida after the election to catch up with the “grands” ages 7 and 6 who are lacrosse and baseball players. The New York “grands” ages 8 and 6 are avid ice hockey players, one a goalie and one a forward.  The downside to ice hockey…yes, a cold rink! It should be a full house for Christmas at the Benton household. Kathy Poloni Triwahjudi and Patty Lynam Yeatman met for lunch during the summer while Kathy’s son Anthony attended a science camp at Stevenson Univ. near Baltimore. Patty still works for Johns Hopkins. Kathy has retired from teaching (special education, traditional, and reading specialist) freeing up time to ferry Anthony to band, CCD, ice hockey and be available for homework review. Kathy and Patty hope to connect with Pam Callis Diers during summer 2014 when Anthony is attending band camp in Vermont. Patty’s son lives in St. Albans so it would be an ideal time. They are wondering what Nancy Hoffman is up to these days!  Nancy, let us all hear from you! Louise Hicks Smith wrote that she decided to learn in January 2013 how to play the harp. Lessons were scuttled in May when a kitchen project took precedence, followed by a deck restoration that took her into July and August. A stack of needlepoint projects beckoned, but a four-day ancestral gathering of 17 Worthington family members descended upon Chillicothe, Ohio in June won out. Tours of the governor’s mansion and replicas of Indian mounds from the Hopewell Culture of 3500 BC were scheduled along with a Native American Indian play entitled, Tecumseh.  Lengthy Robert’s Rules of Order style meetings, which lasted two to three hours, lectures by the Ross County Historical Society coupled with meals and games of Texas Holdem Yahtzee rounded out the days. There is a book in the works, and Louise will be helping with illustrations and heraldry. Some of British contingent are urging her to attend the next meeting in Manchester, England 2015. Louise’s son Brian and his wife have moved to Brisbane, Australia for a two or three year stint while Brian runs a satellite office for his uncle’s company. What an opportunity for them and for Louise to visit! Louise golfs, gardens, stitches and continues to work. Daughter, Courtney is near for frequent lunches when taking time out from her painted shoe business on Etsy and EBay. I would enjoy hearing from others. Perhaps the following:  Nancy Kemp Cline, Judy Whitehead Butler, Christine Sullivan Hampton, Joan Meisenhelder Graff, Lashley Micas Wolf, Lucia Homick, Donna Davidson Hauver, Sue Mulvey and Allen Maples would consider an update of what has transpired in their lives. No pressure, mind you! Best wishes to all. Hope to see you at the 40th!

Members from the class of 1970 send word of grandchildren, retirement, travel, volunteerism, and in some cases, continuing careers. Ada Karen Blair is planning to relocate to North Carolina and is renovating a retirement home for her and her husband. She and her husband visited New Mexico in October and attended the “magical” Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.  She spent several days in Santa Fe and enjoyed the Canyon Road shops and Taos Pueblo, the oldest continuously inhabited community in America. Jeanne Bryant–Wyland still works part-time in a middle school in Darien, Conn., and her husband is still assistant headmaster for the Harvey School in Katonah, N.Y. Their son William now 15 and a “great joy,” is a good student, loves sports, especially lacrosse, and is on his way to being an Eagle Scout. Jeanne visited with Barbara Pepi Danella and Sandra White Harper and keeps in touch with Linda Kramer Evans and Anne Parkin Pierpont. Marianne Clark Cordyack organized a mini reunion at her home in Reston, Va.  Dody Corey Crutchley, Marianne Fisher O’Meara, Ronnie George Freiberger, Lynne Johnson Houze and Sue Pendell Johnson spent five days shopping and visiting museums and Marianne’s studio in W. Va. Christine Goodwin Oster still loves making pottery.  She celebrated her 65th birthday at Sam Ryan Reeves’ beach house; her children live in the D.C. area and were able to participate. Marj Menchey Bernstein loves retirement and the freedom to do what she wants.  Without the demands of work, she truly enjoyed the beauty of this past autumn.  She volunteers with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and Hospice.  Margaret Muncie continues her work at a counseling center and is satisfied with a new endeavor, taking piano lessons. Her husband is well, one daughter is studying to be a master sommelier and another daughter and son-in-law are very involved in the athletic staff development at Univ. of Miami. Karin Ninesling Infuso and her husband traveled to New Mexico with Kari Blair and her husband and enjoyed Santa Fe, the “city different.” When Karin’s daughter finished her graduate program at Univ. of North Carolina and student teaching in May, the family celebrated with a cruise to the Caribbean. Karin’s daughter is now employed as a case manager and teacher of Exceptional Children. Kathleen Owen Gurley lives in Vass, N.C., is on the faculty at Fayetteville State Univ., and plans to retire in a year.  She continues her interest in horses and shows two horses as show hunters. In addition, she served on the board of the Carolina Horse Park. Mary Ryan Reeves is busy supervising art student-teachers at Hood and mentoring Marj Menchey Bernstein in her recent retirement.  At her beach house in Bethany Beach, Del., Mary entertained Ellen Sacks, Christine Goodwin Oster, and their husbands. Ellen Sacks is still working but now allows herself a few urban breaks such as taking taxis instead of the subway. At the end of May, Ellen attended the funeral for Phyllis Goodnow’s father; we send our condolences to Phyllis and her family. Later in the summer, Ellen visited Phyllis and her husband in their house in Brunswick, Maine and spent time in Bethany Beach, Del., with Sam Ryan. For Nancy Schneider Alder, retirement in Gettysburg, Pa., includes volunteering at her church and a local hospital and leading a women’s Bible study group.  Her grandchildren are in elementary school and she attends their activities as often as possible. She vacationed in Green Lake Wis., and visited with Phyllis Ackley Dowd and Vickie Smith Diaz.  Lisa Smith Roney has been retired for five years but stays busy with water aerobics and classes at American Univ. She consults on immigration policy and volunteers with Amigo de las Americas. Lisa is delighted with her 10-month-old granddaughter and will soon welcome a second grandchild. Linda Walls Bradley still teaches an intermediate Montessori class, “a joy and challenge” in Spokane, Wash. Her daughter Catherine recently graduated from an occupational therapy master’s program at the Univ. of Washington and was married in October 2013.  Linda’s new son-in-law is a child psychiatrist; the couple resides in Seattle.  Linda’s son and his wife and Linda’s other daughter, her husband and their two children enjoyed the wedding which took place on the coast of Washington state. Thank you to the classmates who offered information for this column. In closing, I regretfully report that three members of the Class of 1970 passed away in 2013. We send our condolences to the families of Elizabeth Keitel, Nancy Merrill Foehl and Helen Mullan.

Important news comes from Virginia (Ginny) Wheeler Jones.  It may seem difficult to believe, but plans are underway for our 50th class reunion–2016! Ginny wrote, “Though still a ways off, there is reunion information to share.  In meeting with some folks on campus recently, it seems reunion gifts now only count ONE YEAR prior to the event–for us, beginning July 1, 2015.  Though donations to Hood are always important, this time frame may be useful for your future donation planning. Also, there is discussion about which choice ON campus will best meet our needs for a sit-down meal for our dinner, as requested. As it will be our 50th reunion, we get first pick! More information to come.” Ginny added, “Let’s all start looking forward to this big celebration!” Thanks, Ginny for your efforts to make our 50th reunion a happy success.  Speaking of a happy success, Pat Chapple Wright has just published a new book, High Moon over the Amazon, telling of her quest to understand what she calls “the monkeys of the night.”  Pat has been called “the world’s foremost expert on lemurs.” There is mention early in the book of her years as a biology major at Hood. I already have my copy available through Amazon.com.  The book has been endorsed by Jane Goodall, who calls Pat “a born storyteller” and “an amazing woman,” and summarizes, “this is a book you must read.”  You make us all proud, Pat!  Another classmate, celebrating a landmark moment, is Bonnie Kloeblen Hagerman. Her Care Wear Volunteers program has just found its new home, a one-room house built in the 1880s, in Frederick’s historic district, #324 West Patrick Street. Bonnie emailed photos of the tiny house, now her office, squeezed between two much larger red-brick buildings. Bonnie reported that Care Wear Volunteers continues to grow in number of participants and number of hospitals served. Through this nationwide project, handmade baby items are delivered directly to hospitals. Faith Parker Mentzer said she is “back to being as normal as I have ever been,” following a breast cancer diagnosis. “I became a statistic,” she commented, and had radiation treatments and surgeries. I am sure we are all pleased, Faith, that you are now back to teaching, singing in choral groups, working on house projects and spending time with grandkids. Nancy Newcomer wrote that she moved back to Colorado in 2010 to be near children and grandchildren. She has her real estate license there and enjoys teaching real estate pre-licensing classes. She is in touch with Cathy Saunders Weber who is very busy enjoying retirement.  Laurie Wheeler Brown emailed on Nov. 1 from D.C. where she had just attended her mother’s memorial services. Laurie commented, “My mother was 101 and had a wonderful life and went peacefully. We all hope to do so well.” We are sorry for your loss, Laurie, but grateful for your good memories of her. Laurie was on her way to her home in North Carolina then on to her winter home in Florida. World traveler, Bonnie Scull Hawkes, returned in early November from one of her many cruises with husband Geoff.  Lucky, Bonnie! This time they had ventured into the North and South Pacific visiting Hawaii and Tahiti. Bonnie added that details of the trip can be found on her blog at http://2013-sep29-statendam.blogspot.ca/. Once back on land and facing winter, Bonnie was looking forward to another ski season on the slopes of Whistler Mountain.  Husband Elliott and I received an email in the fall from Jane Dearstyne Veeder. She and husband Chuck are planning an Alaskan adventure for the coming summer and are looking for travel tips while here. We hope so much, Janie, that these plans materialize and we can be Great Land travel guides for you! Margy Bard Brownstein expressed a sorrow that I am sure is shared by all of our classmates. “I was shocked to learn of Brenda Miller Maines’ death in the previous Hood Magazine–such sad news.”  Margy added, “We were in each others’ weddings but had lost touch the last couple of years.” As I write this column, husband Elliott and I, Dianne Beebe Barske, are involved in extreme downsizing, moving within Anchorage to a home about a third the size of our big, old house–our home for 35 years.  Amazingly, the home sold overnight to the first person that looked at it! Our new address is 4821 Pavalof Street, Anchorage, AK 99507.