Stephanie Sheck Bahr is moving to Annandale, Virginia in August 2014 for a couple years while her husband, Jim, does a few years at the Pentagon! She is looking forward to getting back to the DC area!

Tanya Sander-Mark just got back from spending two weeks touring Germany with her daughters (Sophia – 8 and Ella – 5), husband (Brian) and father (Manfred) so her father could show the girls where he grew up. They loved it! She is also looking forward to getting together with Angela Schmuck Bond and her daughter, Mikayla, to go to Idlewild Park in Ligonier, PA, later this summer, and with Christine Jennings Madigan and Christie Spencer Katora later in the fall.

As for me, please note the new email address: jewelsmith@hotmail.com. Thanks for the updates – keep them coming! That’s the news for now…

Greetings Class of 1987!  Thanks for everyone who sent news.  It is so great to hear from everyone!  Doug White has been busy at work and celebrated 25 years working at NIST.  The project he runs was recently honored with a National Digital Stewardship Alliance Innovation Award.  Check it out here:  http://www.nist.gov/forensics/nsrl-award.cfm and congrats to Doug.

Lots of classmates had kids graduating this past spring.  Lisa Pfuhl‘s son, Christian, graduated from Queens University of Charlotte in May.  Her daughter, Jacklyn, will be a sophomore there this fall and plays on the tennis team. Lisa and her husband, Fred, are checking off a bucket list item and moving to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  Pamela Barres Fusco just returned from San Diego where her son, Robby, graduated from the University of California San Diego with a degree in Chemical Engineering.   He will be heading back to New Hampshire to live.  She had all of her children in one place for the first time in many years!  Her daughter, Stephanie (24), is from Indiana and works in the banking field; her daughter, Molly (20), is attending the American University in Washington, D.C. and is a political science major.  Her daughter, Emily (19), attends the University of New Hampshire and she is a economics major.  And, her son , Sam (8) is going into 3rd grade this fall.  Annie Wakimoto Patterson’s daughter, Ali Sue, graduated from the University of Virginia in May with two BS degrees, Biology and Environmental Science.  Her son, Nate, graduated, from T.C. Williams high school (Remember the Titans!) in June with an Advanced Diploma.  Ali Sue recently spent two weeks in Europe and both kids went on a church mission trip to Harlan, KY where they will help refurbish homes with Appalachia Service Project.  Annie recently started a new job with the Medical Identity Fraud Alliance and is working from her home in Alexandria, VA.

So excited to hear from first-time news provider, Julie Ann Christman, now Julie A. Cook!  She is currently a financial and legal administrator for Guardian Properties, LLC.  Her job responsibilities include appearing at District Court proceedings and keeping updated on landlord tenant laws and overseeing clients’ financial accounting.  She uses all of her Hood eduction especially political negotiation skills with all of the various personalities she encounters.  Julie lives in Rohrersville, MD with her husband, Gordon, and spends her time training and showing Arabian horses!  They recently championed in western horsemanship and western trial at the Region 15 show in Lexington.

Jill Kramer Hermes celebrated her one year anniversary on July 1 as the Career Center and Office of Service Learning Director at Hood College.  She loves working with Hood students in all academic disciplines and guiding them in career development.  She lives in Ijamsville, MD with her husband, son, and beloved Golden Retriever.

Congratulations go to Stacy Lund Levy for competing in the Ironman Ceour d’Alene!  While there, she also vacationed and visited Idaho, Montana and Washington with her family.  On the homefront in Baltimore, she is growing her art business at Lund Art Studios.  She also keeps in touch with Anna Leventis and encourages everyone to go to her restaurant, Sobo Cafe (http://sobocafe.net/).  The food is outstanding!!

Hello Class of 2013! Can you believe it has been over a year since our graduation? In the months since our last update, we have continued to keep busy. Many of our classmates are in the midst of their Master’s degrees, a number of us are working with different organizations, and we have many engagements and marriages to celebrate!

Congratulations are in order for Bridgitte McColligan who is engaged to Mark Hessler; Kate Adams Anthony who married Benjamin Anthony in May; Mi’Kea Bowie Hawkins who married Adrian Hawkins in February; and Elizabeth Garner Drummond who married Scott Drummond in July 2013. Kimmy Bates is looking forward marrying Toby Getzandanner in August; KeKe Smith has planned her May 2015 wedding to Jeremy Raynor; and Ashley Birdsell and Billy Lewis have started planning their December 2015 wedding. Mandy Shanaberger and her husband Colin celebrated their third anniversary in July and welcomed their son, Mark, in February!

Torie Sullivan is working as a graphic designer and multimedia specialist at Caervision; Kellie Duncan is working as a youth counselor for Pride of America Cruise Line in Hawaii; and Bridgitte McColligan was promoted at The Advisory Board. Kate Adams Anthony completed her first year of teaching third grade and moved to Georgia to live with her husband; Heidi Gunzelman is working as a research technician in the Immunology Department at the University of Pittsburgh; Kimmy Bates is working for Frederick County as a wastewater treatment plant operator; and Nalla Tejera is working as an office manager with the Miami City Ballet. Kasey Johnson is working at the Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky as a heritage apprentice; Billy Lewis is working in attractions at the Bronx Zoo in New York; and Elizabeth Garner Drummond is a special education teacher in Bowie, Md. Nilsa Gonzalez moved back to her home country of Panama and is working at Integrity Solutions; Mandy Shanaberger is teaching middle school social studies in Hagerstown, Md.; and Brett Shelley has accepted a position with the USDA. Kyle Dimock will begin his service with Teach for America this fall; KeKe Smith is working with Boar’s Head Provisions Co., Inc. in Petersburg, Va.; and Stephanie Taylor is working as a research technician with Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. Ian Wolbert started a job as the communications manager for The Patuxent Partnership; Ashley Birdsell is working as the marketing resident at the Public Theater in New York; and Spencer Knoll managed a campaign for State Senate seat in Montgomery County and has moved to D.C. to work for government relations firm Sixkiller Consulting. Nick Mudgett is doing well as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nicaragua and Jahtay Teh left in June to embark on his Peace Corps service in Zambia.

Ashley Birdsell is halfway through her Master’s program in performing arts management at Brooklyn College in New York City; Michael Andrews will begin a Master’s in experimental psychology at Towson University this fall; and Deryka Nairne in the higher education and student affairs administration Master’s program at the University of Vermont.

Around Hood, Andrew Bodine is the assistant manager of aquatics; Breanne Carbaugh is halfway through her Master’s in Thanatology and is a nanny to two children; and Brett Shelley is working on his Mater’s in Biomedical Science. Mimi Brown is pursuing a Master’s of Business Administration and is the graduate assistant to Rev. Beth O’Malley and I, Elaheh Eghbal, have completed my term as the AmeriCorps*VISTA member at Hood and accepted a position with LIFT-DC. Continue to make your mark, Class of 2013, and keep in touch! Cheers!

Hope this finds everyone enjoying their summer. We can’t get enough warm weather after that winter we had.  Congratulations to my roommate Leigh McBride who has had a busy spring with the marriage of her son and birth of her second grandchild. Being a grandparent is a true blessing!

Karen Robinson Curtis sent a note to say she just completed her 25^th year of teaching. She celebrated her 33^rd wedding anniversary with a cruise to the Bahamas. Her oldest son, Dale is programming for Google, her daughter has her PhD and works for the National Institute of Aging. Her youngest son is an avid Motocross rider. They will be traveling to Italy this summer for a reunion.

Maureen McDonnell-Weschler celebrated her 35^th wedding anniversary in June. She has a private psychotherapist practice. Her oldest son will be a captain in the Army and and her youngest son is running his own business.

Beth Darroch Coggins is doing well in Dallas Texas. She continues to teach Special Education.  Her oldest daughter Kristina (’81) is pursuing her Master’s degree and her youngest daughter just graduated from college. They will be traveling to Prince Edward Island this summer and Beth is looking forward to meeting up with Becky Lennon Crockett (‘’80), Marcy Kelley Fedali (’79) and Donna Smith Mecca (’81).

Stephanie Chisolm is living in Columbia MD and working for a nonprofit patient advocacy organization.  She recently met up in New Jersey with Lisa Kondylas (’81) and Erika Leeuwenburg (’82). She is looking forward to her daughter’s wedding this fall in DC.

Rebecca (Becky Koose) Levine wrote that her son completed his studies abroad this summer at the Ner Yisrael Rabbinic College and is deciding where to go to complete his pre-med requirements. Her rescue mutt, Minnie, has settled in to her family nicely.

Congratulations to Karen Srsic who wrote saying she finished her second Master’s in Special Education from University of St. Josephs. She has just finished her 9th year teaching special education at Deep River Elementary School in CT. She loves working with her 2nd and 3rd graders. Her oldest daughter, Rachel, graduated from University of Massachusetts in May and is a talented artist working in a local gallery. Her younger daughter, Anna Marie, finished her second year at University of Vermont studying nursing. She would love to hear from her Hood classmates.

Mary Calhoun wrote that all is well in NC. Calhoun continues to thrive at almost 105. She rescued a Siberian husky with Laura Schauer (’81). She got the dog for a family who lost their husky earlier this year.  She wanted us to know that Nina Chomnuk Roberson lost her mother this Spring, our prayers are with Nina’s family.

Dolores Wojcik wrote a note about the books she has written and adventures she has taken.  Her pen name is Dolly Nasby. She just celebrated her 72^nd birthday and after a cruise on the Queen Mary 2 last year to the UK, she is looking forward to taking another “Queens” cruise again soon.  She has published 6 books about local and regional history in the US.  She volunteers with the Jefferson County Black History Preservation Society in Charles Town, WV.

Megan McCall Albright wrote that she has opened a new family business called Auctions on Main in Purcellville, VA. (www.auctionsonmain.com)  Her two sons are in college and ironically she is back in the thick of things raising a little girl cousin and has started to homeschool her.  She keeps in touch with Fran Taylor.

Maggie Park has had an eventful year!  Her third daughter was married in April and she completed her doctorate in May.  Maggie has accepted a position as a professor and the Director of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program at Converse College.  She is looking forward to working with college students and teaching again.  She will have her fourth grandchild this next year.

Sherri Smith Baggett shared news about her hometown, Newtown & Sandy Hook, CT. Many of her Hood classmates have been in touch since December 2012.  She says the community continues to heal each and every day and they are thriving and have grown together in the face of tragedy. A special thanks for those who have sent notes and thoughtful gifts, please know they are appreciated and have been passed on to the community. The outpouring of continued support has been beyond their expectations and helps them move forward each day.

You can email me your news for our class column at any time, my email is indianawhitehouse1@gmail.com.

Enjoy your Summer!

Lynn Marzulli White

• Lillian (Dean) Miller, Got Married to Chris Miller (June 2013), bought a house in Mount Airy, MD      (May 2014), Working as the Regional Wellness Merchandiser for MOM’s Organic Market, an independently owned organic grocery store with 11 locations in MD, VA, and PA.
• Rebecca Hunter, Earned Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill      (July 2014), Now moving to Charleston, SC to start as an Assistant  Professor of Chemistry at The Citadel
• Danielle Lee Sgro, starting a new job as a Trial Attorney at the Department of Justice in the Environmental Tort Litigation Section September 8, Currently, I am a law clerk at the United States Court of Federal Claims
• Andrea J. Raffauf, I’m still living in Denver, but got engaged on April 30, 2014 to J. Garrett McGinnis with a planned wedding for May 2015, Still working as a Medicolegal Death Investigator for the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner in Denver, CO. I am now certified on a national level and am a diplomate with the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators.
• Amanda (Mandy) Bunting, Masters of Applied Sociology at UMBC, Enrolled at University of Kentucky’s Sociology doctoral program (fall 2014). Living in Lexington, KY
• Katelyn Vaughan, two children Romand (4) and Hadrian (1). I also started working for Legal and General America. America’s third largest and most successful Life Insurance Company in the Finance Dept., currently working, raising my boys and finishing the final part of my Masters Degree at Hood College.
• Kinsley Wilde, Engaged, getting married Sept 27 2014 to David Bowman, Working as a Child & Youth Program Coordinator for the MD National Guard
• Andrew C Weiss, Working on special government projects for Johns Hopkins university Applied Physics Lab and own and operate REDRHINO The Epoxy Flooring Company providing floor coatings to five states
• Kathryn Anne (Thomas) Yager, Graduated from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine May 2013. Graduated with a Masters in Public Health from Virginia Tech December 2013. Married Cody Yager (Classmate from veterinary school) Jan. 4, 2014. Bought a house in Ohio April 2014. Been working as an Associate Veterinarian in Ohio since October 2013.
• Tracy (McIntyre)      Leach, A year after graduating from Hood I got married to my      wonderful husband; I obtained my MPH; and my second son, Levi, was born on      June 20, 2013. My first born, Quayden is already 5!, Working for the state of Maryland as Licensed Environmental      Health Specialist; own a family business with my husband, Xtreme Liquid      Designs, LLC.
• I am Samantha (Henderson) Lowery, married to Michael on April 12, 2014. After 5 years of teaching special education, currently teaching 6th grade language arts.
• Ilyse Kaplan, (2014) Celebrating 5 years with the Social Security Administration as a Performance Management Specialist, (2014) Certified in Human Resources through the USDA Graduate School, I bought a house off Rosemont Ave., am learning to grill and garden, and recently finished building a bamboo fence in the backyard.
• Christie (Fincham) Flora, Mid Atlantic Training Store Manager for Columbia Sportswear, working on an MBA at The Mount

Since retiring in June of 2011 after 36 years of teaching, Marcia Ritter Doiron has been volunteering in her community and loves it. She drives the elderly and volunteers at the Historical Association and the Community Center. She’s also the proud “Mimi” to four grandchildren under the age of 6. They all live nearby so her husband of twenty years, Bill, and her see them often!

This year their Memorial group traveled to Maine to Ann Shackelford Silva‘s lovely home, full of antiques and her dad’s wonderful artwork. They had such a wonderful time out at Owl’s Head State Park and eating lobster! Joining on the trip were Lisa Kennedy Oller, Fran Vogler Groves, Ellen Bosek McMahon, Priscilla Munkenbeck Cherrin and Lynda Strasser Brooks. They missed Laura Lee Hickman who was busy with her artwork in Bethany Beach.

Jackie Testa Ciminera re-connected with Libby Miller, who lives not far from her. Libby found Jackie on Facebook, and they’ve enjoyed getting together for some catching up. Bill and Jackie are preparing for two weddings: their son is to be married in mid-July, and their daughter is getting married in March 2015. A busy time for them!

Beverly Nester Jefferson met Debbi Ramsey Wilson ’70 in her own backyard of Seattle through an organization of which they were both members: Achievement Rewards for College Scientists. They Co-Chaired the Seattle luncheon last year to raise money to provide financial awards to academically outstanding graduate students studying to complete degrees in science, engineering and medical research. They had a blast working together and sharing great memories of Hood. It turns out both love to fly fish!

After 34 years, Barbara Baird Rogers is retiring from Benchmark School. Her entire career was spent there raising money and serving bright children who are not reaching their academic potential. She will miss it but it’s time for the next chapter. Jim and Barbra are very happily married and feeling very blessed with their three grown sons and their growing families. Currently, all three of their daughter-in-laws are pregnant. Their oldest son and his wife are expecting their first in September, their second son and his wife are expecting their third child in October and their youngest son is expecting their second baby in December. By Christmas, they will have doubled their grand babies from three to six.

Anna Kluth vonLindenberg sent greetings from their new home on the eastern shore. They’ve escaped Maryland. They are loving retirement, and having plenty of house guests. Her sister, Kas Kluth Rohm and her husband Greg have also purchased a home at the Delaware beach.

Susan McKendree is well into her book about Meher Baba’s Blue Bus Tours throughout India in the late 1930s and early 40s and very excited to be flying to Meherabad in September for a three-month visit to conduct research in the archives there. The journey is also a pilgrimage to her teacher’s Samadhi, or tomb-shrine, and an opportunity to spend time with other pilgrims from around the world.

In June Val Kremer Reeve met up with Kristi Mathias while visiting Washington, DC with her teenage daughter. Kristi is now back in downtown DC living with a huge loveable bulldog. She’s happy, healthy, still an artist and works at the Hirshhorn Museum. Val continues to be an artist, and also a writer of short stories. Just returned from a group hike/bike trip to Italy followed by a week of looking at museums and churches with her husband. They are blessed with 2 wonderful daughters: Bridgit, a junior at Lafayette, and Laura, a junior at The Stony Brook School. She’d love to hear from you – email her vreeve1@msn.com.

Cheryl Cuddeback started her own computer training business. Currently she’s teaching two courses at a local CUNY Facility among other consulting gigs. She’s keeping her love of her neighborhood, Forest Hills Gardens, alive by taking photos for Terrace Sotheby’s Realty as well as creating calendars sold via lulu.com. She’s still married to Norman and their daughter is 20 and a junior at Hunter College.

Marita Stup Loose has retired from Frederick County Public Schools after fifteen years as executive director of communication services. Through LinkedIn, she was offered a job teaching Business Communication at Frederick Community College. She’s back at Hood as well, on a freelance basis consulting with the Grad School office. She recently visited one-time apartment mate Darlene DeMay ’72 in the Tampa area and look forward to her visit in August.

Thanks to everyone who took to time to share. Take care!

Greetings and hello!  Holly Kirkpatrick reporting this time around with congratulations to share!   Life in the Kirkpatrick-Renner household is going well, lots of running around here and there with the kids and juggling work at Arcadia University.  Congratulations to Heidi Elaine Kiewel ’01 who married David Spencer on April 20th 2013 in Hudson MA.  Her attendants included Erin Lenzing ’99 and Margaret Farmer ’99.  Her wedding was shared with Heather Liska ’99, Becky Roman Annacone ’99 Katherine Wagenbach ’01. Unable to attend, but present their thoughts were Sabrina Quaraishi ’01, Minoli Amarasinghe ’01 and Alex Reith ’00.  In other class news, Lisa Zaleski ’01 shares that she got married to Mark Larsen on May 2, 2014.  She now goes by Lisa Zaleski-Larsen. and she is about to finish her tour as the department head of dermatology at Naval Hospital Okinawa and will start as a staff dermatologist at Naval Medical Center San Diego in August 2014.   In the world of new family additions, Robin Morgenstern ’01 reports that she and her husband Chad welcomed new baby girl Liesel Soiree arrived on April 15, 2014. She is now a mother of three and enjoys being able to stay home with her daughters.   Sarah Clark ’01 and her husband Matt Balanda welcomed their son, Jack Joseph Balanda on October 15, 2013.

Now for the Hood86 news!
Susan Batroukha Mondelo recently reconnected with Andrea Palmer Kibbe Hood’87. Her two boys (20 and 18 years old) are together at the University of Arizona in Tucson on full academic scholarships in the Honors Program. Her daughter just started middle school and is feeling quite grown up (at age 11) about it! Susan is working with the Department of Health and Human Services in Montgomery County in the Long Term Care Ombudsman program as an advocate for residents of long term care facilities such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities and small group homes. She is also in touch with and occasionally gets to see Ana Besu!
Mike Birmingham reminded me that he can no longer live vicariously through Madeline ’14 who graduated May 17 with a B.A. in Elementary/Special Education. She was recently hired by FCPS and will be teaching second grade at Whittier Elementary this Fall. Madeline received honors in the Spring semester for the second consecutive year respectively, from Kappa Delta Pi education honor society and Chi Alpha Sigma national college athletic society.
Josie Espino Calix wrote to share that Petra Liz Morel was celebrating her birthday on July 12th. Lucy DeBrosse Ment, Maritza Bido and Josie Espino Calix were in attendance. Petra has two wonderful granddaughters, and she is an assistant superintendent. Lucy has a beautiful 2 yr old foster son, who is keeping her young and busy. She continues to work as a Spanish teacher in Brooklyn, NY. Maritza also continues to help children in the school system as well. She is the mother of two college students. Daniel just finished his freshman year and Saul will be a freshman this fall. Josie is also a Spanish teacher and soon will be the grandmother of another boy.
Mary Gillette Delgado writes that she is living in Chesapeake Virginia with husband Tony, stationed at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. They are almost empty nesters. Nick, 23, graduated from University of South Carolina this past May and is employed . Benjamin, 21, is at University of South Carolina, also studying international business. Only the 16 year old, Andrew, is left at home. She is a certified soccer mom between travel soccer (all over the state of Virginia) and high school soccer. Mary has been doing triathlons for the past 3 years because biking and swimming are ok substitutes if you can’t run. She is also busy in her church with leading bible studies and community services. She keeps in touch with Jan Hess Howell, tho it’s never quite enough. Every time she passes by a wisteria bush/ vine, she thinks of the Pergola and bumble bees.

Kellye Greenwald is working at the Walt Disney World Resort, recently promoted to Research Coordinator, and still making my cookies when she can. In her spare time, she loves driving down to Sanibel Island for midnight shell hunts to feed her craft habit.
Sheila Guth Snyder proudly shared that her daughter Alyssa graduated as a third-generation x-ray tech in May of 2013. Her other two daughters, Stephanie and Andrea, are in college right now.
Suzanne Hankel Kilduff’s son Cameron graduated from high school this year and her daughter Sarah completed her 2nd year of college. Suzanne is working on her Masters of Science from Eastern Nazarene College and plans to become a therapist for the second half of her life.

Susan Hastings will be in Namibia the second half of August to attend a family wedding. This will be her fifth trip to that country in the last 20 years. For her 50th b-day, friends took her to a B&B up near Hershey PA and the room she was in had an African décor which was part of their surprise for her.

Chrysti Hogan and her wife, Jeanne, traveled to Alaska in early June, cruising through the inside passage and seeing whales, eagles and a moose! This “bucket list” trip was a celebration of their 20 years together as well as Chrysti’s 50th birthday, and they enjoyed it immensely.
Christina Hom Wilson married Harold Dawson Jr in December, merging their two families in a lovely ceremony at home. She was able to attend a birthday celebration at the beach home of Stacey Robins Baum in April.
Lisa O’Brien recently moved into a new home in a gated community and says she needs to learn to play golf, since she lives on the 3rd hole. Her youngest, Michael, just completed his junior year at SUNY Cortland and is home for the summer. Her oldest, Bryan, is still playing the drums in his Soundgarden Tribute Band, and working full time. Her daughter, Elisabeth, is working on her graduate degree at Carlow University in Pittsburgh. She’s also working as a server at an upscale Italian restaurant and just started a nanny job during the day. Lisa will visit her in August when she attends the wedding of Audrey Wilcox’s daughter. Lisa is also traveling for much of the summer, heading to Mexico, San Diego, and Disney World! She is still working in the same school – 28 years now and still loves it.
Stacey Robins Baum chimed in to let us know that the Baum boys are headed west…Matthew graduated High School and is off to University of Michigan. Go Blue! Jared graduated with distinction from UVA Engineering, (dual major in Computer Science and Economics) and is now working at Epic Systems, Madison, WI, as a Developer, secretly wondering why they pay him to do a job he would do for free. Frank & Stacey have been too busy relocating their children, traveling and entertaining to realize that their nest has emptied. Stacey graciously hosted a fabulous 50th birthday celebration weekend in April – in attendance were Sarah Bowersox Cody (Hood’87), Jane Brophy Martinez, Alison Drum Althouse, Christina Hom Wilson, Jennifer Lee Matts, and Betsy Reed Ringel. It was a wonderful reunion of forever-friends… and aren’t we all that, as HoodLums?
Jane Ruf Haley lives in Plymouth, MA and owns a high end women’s consignment shop right in the downtown shopping district. The shop is called Tallulah’s Unique Boutique. She also lives downtown in the heart of it with her three beautiful children.
Cameron Soulis was ordained to the priesthood on a beautiful day in June at the Washington National Cathedral. Cindy Bull Zeller ’87, P’17 was there with her family. It was so wonderful to have both family and friends there to celebrate with her. In August, she will begin work as the lower school chaplain (grades 4, 5, 6) at National Cathedral School in Washington, DC, where she’ll teach religion, plan and lead the weekly chapel services, and do pastoral care for everyone in the lower school. As if Cameron’s life was not exciting enough, she got married on May 17th (to a man she met when a freshman at Hood), and graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary on May 22nd with her Masters in Divinity. What a year of milestones!
Elvy Vieira’s news is that her youngest child, Danielle, completed her Associates and will be transferring to university this Fall.
Susan Walts married Mark Hietpas on February 8, 2014 in their home. Congratulations to you both!

Michael and I recently relocated to Forest Hill, MD when he took a new job with PayPal, located in Timonium. I’m still writing both blogs and now work at Boordy Vineyards as a wine pourer. Older son, Drew (Hood’12), is working on his Masters in Athletic Training and will be assigned to the USNA Football training staff this fall, so we’ll see him often throughout the season.  Younger son, Evan, graduated from UVA with a degree in Math and is now working at AgileX in Arlington, DC as a software analyst.  We are currently unpacking our new home but will eventually have lots of space for visitors to the Baltimore area. Would love to share more with anyone – email me or find me on Facebook any time!

~Alison Drum Althouse

Hello Class of 2002!

I made it through my first London winter and my family and I are now basking in a glorious English summer. (i.e. dropping everything and running outside anytime we see the sun shine!)

This past spring Louise Stephens (Shoemaker) and her husband enjoyed a quick trip to my new city and they had a blast sightseeing and catching a premier league football match! We didn’t get a chance to meet up this trip, but if anyone else makes it over here look me up, I’d love to see you and share a cuppa!

Mandy McHugh (Stevenson) recently made a move too, she is now stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and she and her husband are living in Dayton, OH.

In addition to all this moving about, I’m excited to share that many congratulations, both personal and professional, are in order for our classmates as of late.

While still running her own company, Tina Wells is now the Academic Director for Wharton’s Leadership in the Business World Program. Additionally, Tina’s fifth book in the Mackenzie Blue series was also released on June 23.

Kim Hart was recently engaged, and she and her fiancé, Brandon, are planning to be married on June 27, 2015. Asheley Walters (Frere) married her husband Jeff on July 10, 2014.  Maggie Piccone (Laabs) married David Piccone on March 15, 2014 in Chestertown, MD.  They honeymooned in Costa Rica and are thrilled to share that they are expecting the arrival of their first child in late December 2014! Tina Bolly (DiTizio) and her husband, Joseph, and 2 year old daughter, Natalie, just welcomed their newest family member, a baby boy, Logan, born on June 16, 2014.

I hope everyone had an excellent summer and got to enjoy some sunshine surrounded by friends and family. I look forward to hearing from you in the next few months and getting to share more updates in our next issue!

Debbie Bennett:  Reunion weekend weather was beautiful, events were enlightening and fun.  Seeing classmates – priceless. Bec Seymour Sweeney, Paula Davis Driftmeyer, Nancy Garrow Aldrich, Susie Hawk Coy and I shared a wing of Shriner second floor.  It always warms my heart the way I meet up with my college besties after months/years of being apart.  It’s like we have never been apart.  I love them!  Esther Beckman Bowman and Julie Flynn, ’80, came for the weekend.  The all class dinner Saturday night was surprisingly fun.  Who knew we all would be on the dance floor when the DJ played “It’s Raining Men”!  It happened!  So glad to participate in one of Ron Volpe’s last reunion weekends!  What an amazing legacy he leaves at Hood!

Gini Allen Natter:  Had a great, but short reunion visit – was so happy to see everyone.  Campus looks beautiful.  Left 3 days later to attend my son’s wedding and welcome a new daughter into the family.  I have a new position with Northrop Grumman so that I could work remotely – tired of commuting 2-3 hours daily.   Please please please join the Hood College Class of 1979 facebook page.  It is the quickest way for us to disseminate information and connect with one another.

Jackie Totten:  spent a June weekend in San Francisco with Susan Gearey Van Pelt as she hosted a major milestone birthday for husband, Dr. Steven Van Pelt, at the Metropolitan Club in SF.  Jackie is now a proud member of the Metropolitan Club which is celebrating 100 years with a special membership drive to welcome 100 new members. She launched two new websites that focus on two of her passions – www.bestbocceball.com and www.birdingbackyardhaven.com

Joyce Soucy:  Life has been very hectic lately.  Mom moved to assisted living and we’ve been dealing with that sandwich thing that happens.  My eldest daughter, Maura, is getting married in August in Narragansett, RI, so we’re busy planning shower and the wedding events.  My husband, Paul, and I enjoyed a 30th anniversary cruise from Istanbul to Venice (via Ephesus, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia).  I’m working part-time doing tax work for a local CPA firm to keep busy in the winter months.  Summers off – a requirement.

Linda Thomas:   I am enjoying life here in Sarasota, FL.  My 20 year old son will be a junior at Western CT State. Upon graduation, he plans to become a State Trooper.  My 21 year old daughter is at Nova Eastern for a B.S in Nursing. If I am not on the road selling metal (or on the golf course!), I am hanging out here with my two dogs, Lilly and Maya.   Life is good.

Malia Anderson:  Reunion weekend was a great time to get together and re-live our lives from years past!  Peggy, Esther and I are still laughing over who is remembering correctly – oh, no are we getting to that age!?  All of us agreed that we must work on getting more classmates to attend in 2019. The weekend at Hood was a great getaway.

Mary Lancaster:  Gil, Chloe (our 17 year old daughter) and I are on vacation and about to leave Salzburg for Munich.  I’ll stop by the Junior Year in Munich office, where Dr. Almute Wedekind encouraged me to apply – it remains one of the most formative events of my life – a great,  transformative year.   I don’t use my German much anymore, but oddly it’s pouring out at a pretty comfortable clip, and for once, my family is begrudgingly impressed.  I closed down my office where I was the one/only chief cook and bottle washer – taking a small break and, once again, figuring out what I want to be when I grow up.  It’s nice to breathe…  Alles Gute!