Patricia Rosner Kearns
kearns.patricia@gmail.com

The request for news for the online column came while I was away so my apologies to my classmates for the dirth of responses but will try to update as they roll in. Classmates on the Eastern half of the U.S., all the way down to the Florida border, have had their challenges on the weather front. It was almost spring and the weather kept on coming. I’m a Yankee and I love the snow but the older I get the less fun it is. It’s not like I get a snow day from school. The only parts of the U.S. that seemed to escape the extreme cold and snow were those places that make a living off snow. Two of my sons went skiing in Utah and said there was very little snow. I flew over the Rockies on my way to California and noticed a lot of bare spots on the range. But I digress… back to the issue of getting older, most of us are about to or have just hit the big 70. So what? Remember when Hood sent us a survey asking us how it felt to hit 50? Was that really 20 years ago? Where did it go? So, I have to ask: how does it feel to turn 70? Personally, I’m grateful and still waiting to see what I’ll be when I grow up. In reality, for many of us, we are facing retirement (of sorts), taking care of aging parents and making sure the next 20 years are all we can make them be. Debbie Smith Aldrich wrote from Snowmaggedon (Boston), “I just turned the magic 70-years-old in a blizzard. The snow around Boston has been monstrous. A sheet of plywood on my snow piles makes a garage for my car.” Meredith Cook Held wrote from Dallas, “I am still busy working in real estate in a hot market in the Dallas, Texas area. I love what I do and have been involved at the grassroots level keeping the area’s power company from putting 138 kV lines down the middle of Main Street, a developed area in Frisco, Texas, where I live. I got the Realtor Association at the state level (Texas Association of Realtors) involved and we have been awarded significant funds from the Issues Mobilization Political Action Committee to fight the power company’s proposal. Now the National Association of Realtors is watching what’s happening since this could happen elsewhere. It’s been really exciting to see what can happen when many people band together to make a difference. I’ve been given the Strike Force Award by TAR for my efforts. Also, last July my husband and our two daughters took a fabulous vacation to Hawaii. We spent eight days touring the Big Island, going to the Keck Observatory at the top of Mauna Kea, seeing the volcano Kilauea, shopping at the farmer’s market in Hilo and basically just having a great time! One of the best vacations ever!!”

Johanna Chait Essex, Class Reporter
516-487-1883
johalessex@gmail.com

Best wishes to President Volpe on his upcoming retirement–thank you for all you have done to help Hood grow and maintain its position in the academic world. The Truxal scholarship winner for this year is Hope Lichtman ’15. Condolences to the family of Nancy Jones Knotts; Nancy passed away in January 2015. Condolences to the family of Jane Fruechtemeyer Dillon who passed away this February and condolences to Joan Gebhardt Tambling on the passing of her husband Don this past July. I had a short note from Nancy Brown Kohlheyer. She had a reunion with Buffie McKim Powell and Lois Wolfe Haffly; she and John planned to spend May and June in Europe. I also had a lovely note from Dottie Joyce Coffin who sends her greetings to the class of 1953. “It seems like yesterday when we wore those red hats as freshman.” She also wants to thank Hood for the tremendous education she received. Marge Aronson Dalmas and Bob celebrated their 61st anniversary in December. They are well and have enjoyed visits from their children. Margaret Church Smith-Loeb has been attending classes at Fordham Univ. College in the sixty program as well as attending the theater art Signature and Lincoln Center. Elaine Green Powell and Dave have moved to Concord, New Hampshire. Her new address is 149 East Side Drive, 177, Concord New Hampshire, 03301-5410. It is a newly built home in Heritage Heights–an independent living community. They are both busy and well. Penny Fradd Vahsen, P’77 and her brother took a cruise around the Baltic this past summer and planned to go to Barcelona with him in March. She now has four married grandchildren and asks the question we all seem to ask: “where did the years go?” Joan Gebhardt Tambling adopted a rescue dog, part collie and part Australian Shepherd; her name is Lucy and they have become inseparable. It has helped her get over the rough spots of losing a mate. Joan would love to hear from anyone in our class if they have had the same experience with adopting a dog. Pat Lloyd Fordham and her daughter drove to the Grand Canyon and it was a great treat. In May, her youngest grandson graduated from high school. Pat has adopted her third dog, an 8-year-old rat terrier who gets along well with her other two dogs–she calls the three of them her “second family.” Bim Mayer Werle had partial knee replacement surgery in November and already has full range of motion. She and Jerry have a home in Florida about a mile from Margy Brown Barati and Bill and are able to see them frequently. The good news from Janet Peek Clancy is that her family continues to grow– marriages and a lot more great-grandchildren. There is plenty of bridge, tennis and family visits that keep her busy. I had a lovely note from Lynn Phillips. Her granddaughter Sarah is an architect and Ryan is on the Appalachian Trail. Tyler graduated from college and is now engaged; she had a visit from her son, grandson and two great-grandchildren. Life is good. Beverly Rosenberg Sager was vacationing in South America; when she returned she was on to the Turks and Caicos and thus escaped all the snow they were having. Hal and I are doing well. I cannot remember ever seeing this much snow in our backyard. I’m still volunteering at Kings Point (our 5th Federal Academy) and working in “Cookie Café” every Thursday––how those midshipman love their cookies, milk, coffee and tea. I have also joined a gym and try to go three to four days a week. Hal is busy at the senior center four mornings a week and at Kings Point when he is needed. Our daughter Jess retired from IBM and is now the executive director of their synagogue in White Plains. Barbara (Bim) Mayer Werle wrote, “Thank you for sharing news of Jane Fruechtemeyer Dillon’s passing. I remember fondly a date and enjoyable weekend at Annapolis, thanks to her. She was adorable and could have had all the men to herself. I noticed Dot Rost Kretzer’s name on the message list. Dot died about two years ago. She spent her last years in an assisted living facility in Williamsburg, Va., her twin daughters, Gail and Caren, a constant and loving presence in her life. We spend a lot of time with Margy Brown Barati and Bill, giving help and support as they prepare to sell their Sun City Center home. They are selling their Pittsburgh home also and will be moving into a life-care community. The rest of my remaining Hood friends are in good, and not so good, situations. Elaine Green Powell and Dave have already made this transition to a life care community and are very happy with the free time and new activities. Pam Presbrey Grinnell is in assisted living in Michigan, near two of her sons. Kathie Redelfs Rott, P’78 is traveling and enjoying three generations of offspring. Jerry and I are most grateful we are able to continue our yearly migration between Vermont and Florida. We move slower, but are active in both places. I had a partial knee replacement in November and have had a remarkable recovery.” Our very best to everyone. Jo

Jean Louise Baker Leister Weikert, Class Reporter

I, Jean Louise Baker Leister Weikert, am thankful to be able to serve as the class reporter and hope to be able to communicate with each member of the class of 1954. Kudos to Dorris Smith Radcliffe for her many years of faithful service as our class reporter. It is heartwarming to have Joan Wagner Tolbert living nearby. I have occasionally heard from Betsy Oehrle at Christmas. Mark and I were pleased to host Betty Remsberg DeColigny last August for lunch. At reunion, it was great to see Tillie Jacks Sunnygard. In addition, Dr. Joyce  Michaud was a delight to share dinner and tell us about the ceramic arts program and show us the new kilns on Sunday after the chapel service. Peace and Love, Jean Louise Baker Leister Weikert.