1978

Kathryn Brown Sandifer
717-762-3045
klsandman2002@yahoo.com

Hello Classmates, and as one of you pointed out this is the BIG 6-0 year and who can believe that??! Thank you to all who responded to my email request for INFO/Updates. Sandra Perry Polett wrote to let us know she is living in Tustin, CA (Orange County) where she has had her own Professional Organizing business for 10+ years.  She and her husband (Doug) of 31 years have a daughter, Gabrielle (Abby) a senior music major at Westmont College in Montecito, CA. I enjoy volunteering, occasionally paddle boarding, binge watching “Orange is the New Black” and traveling.  She is able to visit with roommate Cindy Saunders Dunard ’80 every summer when she and her family rent a vacation home in Corona del Mar, CA. Most important of all, my family and I are all blessed with good health although the years are taking a toll on my energy levels! Susan Dornbusch Sohn wrote that she keeps in touch with Lynette Cuthbertson Smith, Linda O’Connell Fansler, Darcy Becker Lynch. She bought an old beach house on the Potomac River (St. Mary’s Co). While packing & purging she reminisced with all her old HOOD stuff! Such great memories of College days!!!  Daughter Betsy will be getting married June 2017.  Son Andrew has two children, Grace 4 &Luke 2. Change is very difficult but this will begin my new chapter in life as I turn 60! My address will be 18151 River Road, Tall Timbers, MD 20690. Sue Stilwell Tyng and husband Rick just had their third grandchild. His name is Finn. Rick is coaching high school tennis and is the tennis pro at Prospect Bay country club. Sue is having an awesome time being a grandma playing on the golf team and working part-time as a designer. Hugs. Suzanne Bohn Richardson Sadly informs us of her father- Edward H Bohn Jr’s death in November 2015.  (My mother Catherine H Bohn passed away 8 months earlier.   On a happier note, she and husband Jim will celebrate 15th wedding anniversary this September. Tonya Thomas Finton expresses-Life is good! She’s volunteering at a local thrift and as a member of the Hood Board of Associates. I’m having a blast reconnecting with Hood. She and Tim hosted a reception for newly accepted students -great to meet the next generation of Hood students.  Her youngest son is back from a year in Italy, it’s wonderful to have him on this side of the Pond again. I stay in touch with a lot of my Coblentz buddies, even former President Martha Church, via Facebook, and Tim and I are attending the wedding of my roommate Brenda Hughart Payseure’s ’82 daughter this July in Pittsburgh.  Nancy Newman Thevenet has had a tough year.  Rick, her husband of 30 years, passed away in November after a courageous battle with Cancer.  Faith, family and friends sustained her.  She and Margaret Harrison Wade went on a trip last month to Israel and the Holy Land sites.  They had an amazing time!  She will see Priscilla Graham, Sally Howard Cooper, Claudia Henry Barkmeier, Liz Metz Coulter ’77 and Lisa Muran this summer. Martina Crum-Martin questions – Can you believe this is the BIG 6-0 YEAR for the Hood Class of 1978??!! We celebrated the occasion by visiting Yosemite National Park for its 100th anniversary of the National Park System. Since finishing her associate’s degree in May in Early Childhood Education, she is filing paperwork for Teacher Credentials from the state of CA and is now anxiously awaiting the results. She hopes to be assigned to a T-Kindergarten classroom in the fall. Husband Hal entered into his 5th year as VP of Supply Chain/Manufacturing for Aerojet/Rocketdyne in Sacramento, CA. Theresa, 31, an attorney, moved to St. Paul, MN in October to accept a legal position in the compliance department of Wells Fargo. Eric, 29, moved to Vancouver, WA for a 6-month wind turbine training program in sustainability. He recently completed his education and is busy interviewing for jobs in the industry. He loves the outdoors and hopes to travel overseas before settling on the west coast. Claire, 25, will move to New York City where he was accepted into a 2-year MFA graduate program at New York University. She writes poetry and hopes to be famous one day. Claire is excited to begin her new adventure! Bryan, 21, is returning to Scottsdale Community College after working for over a year in a supply chain company much like Amazon.com. He plans to study business with an emphasis in finance.  Then he plans to transfer to Arizona State University for his degree. As you know many of us from the Class of 1978 are turning the Big 6-0 this year. How exciting!! Hal & I will spend a week in Hawaii in July. Not only for vacation ~ but more importantly ~ celebrating the fact that ALL our children have moved out! Hip! Hip! Horray! Our hearts go out to many of our Classmates who have had illnesses or lost loved ones! As another issue goes to press I wish you all health and happiness as we face the Future; please send me your updates all year long. Blessings, Kathryn (Kathie) Brown Sandifer.

1977

Elizabeth Anderson Comer
410-243-2626
ecomer@eacarchaeology.com

Kath Weslock hinted that Gretta Tomb had some wonderful big news but was too shy to tell!  It seems our Dr. Tomb is the recipient of the Department of Veterans Affairs 2016 Veterans Health Administration’s Clinical Excellence in Dentistry award!  According to Steven Speroni, DMD, Chief of Dentistry at the VA Medical Center in Bath, New York, “Dr. Tomb has received this National  Award for demonstrating excellence in the areas of Veteran centric care, customer service, technical skills, interpersonal effectiveness, clinical efficiencies and organizational stewardship.  Dr. Tomb truly is an excellent clinician, supportive colleague and compassionate provider. We are so fortunate as a facility to have her on staff in Bath . I whole heartedly agree with  Dr. Arola’s comments about how deserving  Dr. Tomb is in receiving this recognition.  I congratulate Dr. Tomb for being  the first VA dentist to receive the national award for Clinical Excellence in Dentistry .” Congratulations to Gretta ! Martha Homnack Armenti and Bob sent a note from Hyannis.  I am including some passages and I think you will agree that it is lovely: We were participants in the process of natural selection:  we selected from the unfamiliar and then established routines.  This year was one of verbs (listening, watching, noting, trying),  a year of recovery from decades of rising and shining, from all kinds of people-produced pollution, from assaults on peace of mind.  This year was  a year of reflection, time to pull from the past and present and possibly inform the future, a transitional year. (Aren’t they all?) But now, tulips are at their peak.  Forsythia is on its way out.  Returning from Costa Rica, Baltimore Orioles, here called Northern Orioles for abandoning Maryland’s oppressive summers for this milder climate, are now nesting in open woodlands up and down the Cape. So, are we returning to Hyannis to teach again?  We are not.  We are returning to Baltimore and not seeking re-employment there or elsewhere.  We are elated, grateful and excited.  To make this decision, and it wasn’t easy, we considered the overarching picture and remembered (in spite of how we feel and look–like you, of course!) our ages. Not trying to be morbid, but we see that most of the mountain range is behind us.  We, like you, have witnessed shocking and tragic fates of those we have known and loved.  Considering the accumulation of evidence, the decision became clear. Torches are being passed and we’re enjoying the view. Further, some of you already know that the first generation Z Armenti baby was born during your blizzard on January 22 to David and Lisa and we are all thrilled. We remain surprised by the question that some of you who have learned our plans to return to Maryland have asked, “What are you going to do?”  Please do not think that we worked because we needed something to do.  I, for one, as you know loved teaching.   To anyone who thinks about asking us or anyone that question, hear the words of a wise Cape yoga teacher who reminds her students in every session, “think about being, not about doing.”  Not wanting to get overly zen-like, think about Bob (who has promised to go to one yoga session with me–picture that!) who has, as long as I have known him, rather seemed to find work an interruption to what he really wants to do–read, listen to music, sing, bike, travel, cook (oops, no!), play games, enjoy his family, watch sports, pray for the Cleveland Indians, support the liberal cause; however, he has not let his career “get in the way of [his] education” and now, he won’t have to. His halcyon perspective inspires.  Existence could be likened to a garden:  we may divide and cultivate the sections– the physical, social, spiritual, environmental, humanitarian, cultural, the intellectual–that make us whole.  Cultivation of our plants can happen in infinite ways.  So, we are looking forward to further tending and enjoying our gardens–with you, of course!”  Thank you Martha and Bob for sharing with us! I stand (yes I have a stand up desk thanks to Barrie Briscoe Reightler!  She sold me on the idea several years ago at the Grand National Steeplechase in Baltimore and I thank her every day…try it and you will see) and cobble together this column.  I have lost track of the years I have done this but truthfully I love the reconnection with you all!  I hold down the fort in Baltimore as Doug travels the globe (apologies to Denise Swan Isacson but I tried to steer him to Delta instead of United) trying to protect World Heritage sites as the president of ICAHM. Many years ago I realized one of the archaeologists needed to be a little closer to home and offspring and I never regretted that realization and attendant decision!  Anne (our youngest) just finished her freshman year at Bard.  Margaret is pursuing her Ph.D. in Heritage at Cambridge and Jacob is working with Doug at Machu Picchu, Nazca Lines, and Meroe, Sudan.  Anne and I joined Doug and Jacob in Peru during spring break and spent 2 nights on a floating island in Lake Titicaca! I have some fascinating projects including Catoctin Furnace and just returned from a research trip to Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire.  Thanks class of 1977 for all your news…send me more!

1976

Nancy Ludwick Warrenfeltz
850-995-0051
nlwfeltz@hotmail.com

It doesn’t seem possible that 40 years have gone by since our graduation. The campus looked so beautiful. There were nearly 40 classmates in Frederick for our Hood Reunion in June. We had the largest group in attendance. It was great to catch up with everyone that could be there. Congrats to Kurt Holter for being awarded the Excellence in Service to Hood Award at the Saturday reunion luncheon. Well deserved, Kurt! For the last 10 years, Anna Collins Pasqualucci has enjoyed sharing the little known, century-old Baltimore folk art of painting window screens. Prior to starting her own business in art, Anna raised two children and worked in various cancer, agriculture, and pharmaceutical research laboratories. Her artwork can be seen at www.PaintedWindowScreens.com.  Diana Hilgartner Boyd: My husband Dave and I live in Champaign, Illinois. Airplanes have kept us in the Midwest for over 36 years. Dave taught flying at several colleges including the University of Illinois here in Champaign. We have two sons and one daughter who live in Colorado, Mississippi and Fairfax, VA respectively. Diana is guardian for her mentally handicapped brother Paul. The Hood connection is a wonderful part of this story. Several years ago, when the group home that Paul was living in was going to be closed down by Fairfax County, our Hood classmate Betsy Abel Schatz and her organization–Langley Residential Services–lovingly took over approximately four group homes that were in desperate trouble. Diana couldn’t believe her ears when Betsy called her to tell her that she was the director of the organization that was going to be responsible for Paul’s care! Betsy and her staff have been so wonderful to Diana’s brother and all of the other residents. What a blessing for Diana’s family that she attended Hood and by the grace of God, was friends with Betsy! Betsy has helped the Hilgartner family through some rough spots with Paul, including the death of both parents and major health concerns. Betsy’s wisdom and love have been amazing… Diana is so thankful! Linda Fox-Jarvis: After 34 years of being in the real estate business Linda decided to take the plunge and purchase her own RE/MAX franchise–RE/MAX Coast & Country–with her daughter Stephanie, who joined her in the real estate business seven years ago.  It has been quite exciting–both having her own shop, but also being partners with her daughter.  It is so rewarding for Linda to watch her daughter follow in her footsteps. From the family side, Stephanie (28 years old now) married three years ago and of course lives in Virginia Beach.  Son Brian is 31 years old, lives in Fairfax with his wife and works for Amazon Web Services.  Linda is very proud of him for many reasons–but most importantly because he has not let his disability define him. He has Muscular Dystrophy and it has progressed to where he uses a wheelchair, but in spite of that he has been very successful both in his personal life as well as business life. He is an inspiration to Linda.  Her husband, David, still is working for BAE systems in Norfolk and they continue to enjoy all that Virginia Beach offers along with their two dogs–Izzy (the schnauzer mix) and Wiley (the Westie). Torie Hoveman Seeger sends this update: “My husband has semi-retired and is working in his favorite big box store part-time, helps out a friend on occasion who owns a local funeral parlor and also does some consulting for a long-time business buddy. He stays busy with his photography and plans our vacations for us—he should be in the travel agency business. I’m still working at the Research Foundation for SUNY and still enjoying it. Looking at 65 for retirement but have made no commitments yet–we are very busy, which I enjoy and I love the folks I work with, so I’m not quite ready to leave. Our three granddaughters are our delight. So much fun to be with and provide for “adventures” (from going to the Bronx Zoo to a walk down the street–it’s always an adventure with grandchildren!)” Bob & Amy Locker Krug and Scott & Lois Vandermark Moore both celebrated their 40^th wedding anniversaries during the Hood reunion weekend. Congratulations! Susan Rivers, M.A.’81 reports: “Not much news, just working and thinking about retirement. I graduated from a leadership class that was very enjoyable and helps me in my job as Program Manager for Statewide Operations for Maryland Inland Fisheries Division. My mom has been dealing with health issues so that takes a fair amount of time. My dog and I walk through campus frequently and he loves to meet and greet the students.” Larry and I had a great time at the 40^th Hood Reunion. From there we drove to OBX for our annual family reunion. Both our kids families came, so we had fun with our 5 grandkids. We are blessed! Please email me your news. I will include it in the next issue. Thanks!

1974

Sally Johnson Leland
207-865-0280
sallyleland@sbcglobal.net

Sincerest thanks to those that reached out with news. Louise Whitridge Hicks Smith shared that she continues to practice Dental Hygiene and takes care of eight rescue cats. Church, artwork, harping, golf and gardening fill the hours in between. Louise’s son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Candice, treated her to a wonderful trip to Australia last summer.  A snorkeling lesson prepared her for truly going “Down Under” on the Great Barrier Reef.  An Aboriginal gave them a hands on lesson in Aboriginal art and she took home a small painting. Louise has been painting in gouache watercolors and is concentrating on Australian birds and animals. Her daughter, Courtenay, helped her open an Etsy store…”Daisyinthyme”.  There are blank note cards for sale with printed versions of Louise’s artwork, so be sure to check it out!  I hope to lure Louise to Maine to paint this summer or perhaps in the dead of winter. Barbara Miller Beem is happy to report that she sold the old house in Catonsville, and she and her mom are now ensconced in a lovely new 55-plus condo community with underground parking! The move was extensive albeit short (large house with many antiques) — two miles in distance but another world completely.  Barbara’s days are busy. She sees her grandchildren most every day and is active in a charitable knitting group at her church. Her writing has shifted into high gear, and she is part of an inspiring writing group. No doubt she misses Ken terribly and his editing genius. Deborah Fay Kohler has had a roller coaster year. Since the auto industry is pretty much back on course her husband, Ed, took a new job back in his old stomping grounds on the other side of the state.   Deborah continues to do interim ministry at a small rural church and really enjoys helping churches negotiate the transition between settled pastors. They figure they only have to work a few more years, and Ed is so much happier now than when he was developing transmissions for trucks.  Deborah had the good fortune to go with the women in her family to Bermuda while Ed continues racing with a new event at the Brickyard in Indianapolis. In the Fall they’ll celebrate their anniversary by going (finally) to Hawaii with every intention of hiking the volcanoes. Deb wishes more classmates would send in updates as she always enjoys reading what is going on in the lives of old classmates.  I couldn’t agree more! Victoria Raeburn Benton checked in. Vicki continues to  tutor and proctor medical exams. Husband, Leigh, is still a site manager at Middletown Carting, serving as County Legislator, and part-time jeweler. Her sons and daughters-in-law are all turning 40 and the grandkids are entering the pre-teen stage of 9-12!   Leigh and Vicki will be celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary in August and will celebrate while on a Rhine River Cruise. Peggy Bull Larsen, M.S.’79 wrote that her husband, Michael, is enjoying semi-retirement while Peggy has moved into a new position as Director of Presidential and Special Events at Goucher College. They just returned from a wonderful Viking River Cruise on the Danube, traveling through eastern Europe from Bucharest to Budapest. For those of you not on my email list I wanted to share via Elizabeth Guertler Godfrey, M.A.’80 that Ellen Cosby passed away February 25, 2016.  Ellen was diagnosed with Stage 4 carcinoma of “undifferentiated origin.” It coursed through her quickly, and not knowing its origin, there was no way to wage a battle against it.  Joyce Manbeck MacKellar, M.S.’00 and Elizabeth attended her memorial service in Baltimore where her life was celebrated by her family, friends and colleagues. Many of the legal community attended and they praised her dedication, intelligence and integrity as Chapter 13 Trustee for 26 years. As Elizabeth shared, “Ellen was a devoted friend and will be so very missed.” As for me, Sally Leland, I have served seven years as your class scribe, but it is time to pass the torch in hopes someone else may be able to coerce classmates for news more effectively than I!   Please contact Ashley Nick Wilson at wilsona@hood.edu if interested.  My thanks to you all and to those who regularly touched base.  May you be blessed with much happiness and good health.

1973

Sara “Sally” Parkhurst Van Why
814-623-1557
sallyvanwhy@gmail.com

I asked classmates on my email contact list for stories about running into other Hood alums.  I thought this would be a fun theme for this column because I already had three stories.  Well I still only have those three stories.  Leslie Hawkins wrote that you just never know when those Hood connections show up. She was on a Caribbean cruise in late February with her older sister; at dinner they had the usual introductions shared around the table with names and where they were from. One woman mentioned she was from Maryland, Leslie said she had gone to college in Frederick, at Hood. The other woman responded that she also was a Hood graduate, Class of 91, and she turned to the rest of the table, and announced that they were fellow Hoodlums. Small world. Leslie is still working in health care administration, now at a health system in southeastern Washington but plans to retire in early 2017.  Alicia Parlatore Payne wrote that the speaker at one of her community Women’s Club meetings was local author, Cheryl Carlson Peyton ’66, whose first of eight books is entitled Six Minutes to Midnight. Alicia also met another Hood alumna, Mary Bloodgood VanHyning ’68. Mary is a greeter for new residents in the community where Alicia has recently moved near Knoxville, TN. Toni Lucia wrote that in April, President Chapdelaine visited NYC and was hosted at a reception held by Trustee Judy Messina ’66.  She said that it was great fun seeing so many alums and impressive to hear about the programs and the progress the college continues to make.  Toni especially appreciated President Chapdelaine’s enthusiasm and her respect for the culture and standards that define Hood.  Mary Stevenson wrote that she and Charlotte Miller Ponticelli (aka Charlie) had a planned, not chance, encounter in January.  Mary continues full time with her professional duties (academic, research and administrative) as a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University. Charlie continues her professional work with various human rights and political organizations as well as various volunteer activities with local organizations. Her latest project is at the local prison where she meets with Hispanic inmates and provides spiritual counseling.  Ann Jones also had a planned meeting with fellow classmate Pat Funari Bevacqua. They had a wonderful weekend together while Ann was in Washington DC at The Garden Club of America’s annual National Affairs & Legislation (NAL) meeting. Several classmates wrote to tell me that they has not had any recent Hood encounters but filled me in on their news. Debbie Christ Zourdos has been elected to the Hood College Board of Associates for a three year term beginning this summer.  She is honored to serve the college we all love so much. She is also a new grandmother!  Amy Hanley Dove, her husband, and 8 others from their church went on a 10 day mission trip to Rwanda at the Urukundo Children’s Home/Village. Kathy Nixdorff Wilson hasn’t run into anyone lately, but has seen a few Hood stickers on people’s cars.  Her son was recently married. I want to finish with more from Leslie Hawkins. Leslie wrote “My mother passed away in December, one month shy of her 90^th birthday, and her failing health in the past year had consumed much of my attention and emotion.  It truly was a blessing to know she is without pain, and with my father now, but of course those losses always take a piece of your heart, and remind you of losses that seem to come more frequently as we get older.”  This sums up my own feelings as my mother ages, and I am sure the feelings of many of you whether your own parents are aging or no longer with you.  One more reason to keep the connections we have alive and well.  I am grateful to hear from so many of you.  If you have stories, please let me know and I will include them in the next column.

1971

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

Mindy Laighton Wilcox
619-462-6230
mlwilcox3@gmail.com

Mary McMunigal Burland attended the reunion and reported the following:  “On a beautiful weekend in June, the class of 1971 returned to Hood to again find “a place in the sun for 71” at our 45th reunion!  It was a three-day celebration that featured good food, great company, and endless conversation.  We were a small, but enthusiastic group of 16 alums and one brave husband!  Some of us have attended many reunions while others like Cathy Moon McClure and Betsy Ziegler were attending their first one.  Betsy Cooper Pizzolato, Diane Miller Jackson, Cathy Moon McClure, Betsy Ziegler, Janice Butz, Sharon Brown Vejvoda, and I once again enjoyed the joys of dorm life in Shriner.  On Friday evening we had a wonderful Maryland themed picnic in Coblentz Dining Hall.  Saturday began with Hood’s new President’s first state of the college speech followed by the Alumni Luncheon in the Volpe Athletic Center.  Edith Purdie, Connie Dawley Seeley ’72, and Linda Wicks Crites ’72 joined us for the luncheon. We were very proud of our classmate, Dr. L. Martha Thomas, P’99, P’09, who received the Distinguished Alumni Award!  Saturday evening we were joined by Gail Haulenbeek, Nancy Sword Hollyfield, Lynn Patterson Jacobs, Barbara Hasbrouck Murphy, Marlene McGibbon Santucci, Lucinda Tyson, and Jan Renn as we enjoyed the all class dinner in the Volpe Athletic Center.  I am sure no one will be surprised to learn that our class was still celebrating after all the other classes had left!  Sunday began with the traditional favorite, Strawberry Breakfast, followed by a chapel service before we all went our separate ways.  Although we all had a marvelous time, it was a bit disappointing that so few classmates were able to attend.  One of the best things about reunion weekend is the joy we share in talking with classmates who we did not really know well during our student days.  Each time I return from a reunion, I realize that I spoke with some classmates more in those few days than I did in our four years at Hood! All of us who were present for our 45th want all of our classmates to be present for our 50th (!!!) in 2021!  What a party that would be!” Janet Schultheis Plitt married the love of her life, Calvin, just after graduation. They discovered their fondness for road tripping, and have explored 48 states. While traveling, they scout antiquarian bookstores in search of readable collectibles for their home library. Janet’s 102-year old Dad, who still talks about Dad-and-Daughter Weekend, Calvin’s parents, three children and their spouses, and eight grandchildren all live locally, so they spend many days with family.  Calvin retired from cardiology practice in 2015, just as their son, David, began his cardiology career.  Daughters, Claire and Laura, enjoyed teaching careers and now practice their craft “at home” raising their children. She says she is filled with gratitude to God for His faithfulness in times of joy and challenge as the seasons of life move forward and cherishes those grand Hood memories. Roslyn Glantz Trojan retired from the U.S. Army as a Colonel after almost 30 years of service.  As one of the first female officers to be integrated into the regular Army from the WAC Corps, she saw a lot of “firsts” for females in combat and leadership positions.  After the Army, she spent several years on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee specializing in Homeland Security and Defense.  She then worked for private industry and became a Senior Vice President with Michael Baker Jr. Engineering specializing in large program management projects.  Moving west to Colorado and then New Mexico, she opened her own management consultant firm with clients across the country and volunteered for ten years with a Veteran non-profit organization.  Roslyn is married to Hans-Georg Atzinger a retired German General Officer.  They met in 1991 in the US Army War College where Roslyn was Hans’ foreign student sponsor.  Friends for over 25 years, they married in 2014 after the deaths of their spouses.  The two couples were great friends in spite of living on two different continents.  She is now semi-retired and maintains a household both in Germany and in Albuquerque. She is stepmother and “Oma” to three grown children and three grandchildren.  She has been in touch with her roommate Elaine Alexander and with Donna Eaton Mahoney both of whom are doing well and busy in their own semi retirements.  She would love to hear from Hood friends and can be reached at rglant0310@outlook.com.

1970

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

Classmates sent news of happy retirements, continued or second careers, interesting travel, and beloved grandchildren.  Janet Bear Ander joined the ranks of “grandmotherhood” with the birth of a grandson; for her, the experience is “awesome.” Marj Menchey Bernstein continues traveling with her partner.  A recent trip to Cuba was “amazing”, and they plan a trip to the canyonlands of the Southwest in recognition of 100 years of the National Park system.  She recently attended her 50^th high school reunion and enjoys activities on Hood campus and off campus with Sam Ryan Reeves.  Ada Karen Blair and her husband took a spring road trip to join former colleagues at two conferences in Mississippi. One was a literary and cinematic conference in Natchez, and the second was The Conference for the Book in Oxford.  Christine Bradley Pecor, M.A.’88 moved to a new home and enjoys one-story living.  She recently returned from a trip to Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and Salt Lake City. Chris welcomed a grandson in 2015.  Jeanne Bryant Wyland and her son visited several colleges with lacrosse programs.  Her son liked Hood and the lacrosse coach the most and verbally committed to attend Hood in 2017.  Jeanne is excited that her son might be the third generation of her family to attend Hood.  Jeanne keeps in touch with Linda Kramer Evans, Anne Parkin Pierpont, Sandra White Harper, Barbara Pepi Danella, and Cynthia Smith Kinney.    Lynne Britt Demers Becker finished consulting at the U. of Houston.  She enjoyed the work and being close to her oldest daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter.  She and her husband are cruising the eastern and western Caribbean but will travel to Connecticut for Lynne’s 50^th high school reunion.  Dana Eser Hunt works in Cambridge, MA as public policy research scientist focusing on substance abuse and criminal justice policy.  She likes her job and does not anticipate retirement anytime soon.  She has two adult daughters; one is a health policy analyst and one is a clinical social worker. After two Master’s degrees and several career changes, Ellen Farrand Carpenter enjoys renovating her homes in MD and FL.  She uses her captain’s license to sail and dive, a favorite pastime.  Cynthia Forbes sent an e-mail about herself and Lucie Picard Allen.  They will celebrate their 50 years of friendship with a ten-week cruise beginning in Spain and ending in Australia.  Cynthia retired as a senior analyst with the Government Accounting Office.  She lives in Atlanta, GA and has traveled to all 50 states and all seven continents. After the trip, she will have visited 100 countries.  Lucie retired as a financial director after 30 years, lives in Pittsburgh, PA, and has two children and two grandchildren. Christine Goodwin Oster lives in Montana and continues her second career as a potter. Her summer will include an Alaskan cruise with her children and grandchildren and attending her 50^th high school reunion.  Elaine Hubert had an “interesting life” in the past six months.  She broke her leg while decorating for Christmas, and her house caught fire while she was hospitalized.  She and her husband feel lucky to be alive and glad that their golden retriever got out of the house in time.  Elaine’s leg is mostly healed, and they will be back in their house soon.  Elaine sends word of a “gorgeous” new grandson.  Lynn Johnson Houze had difficulty sending news for this column, but Marianne Clark Cordyack helped resolve the problem.  Thank you to both for your perseverance.  Pamela Nesbit enjoys the quiet, often overlooked joys of nature and family.  Karin Ninesling Infuso and family spent a week in Orlando, FL while her daughter attended an international conference on learning disabilities. They also visited Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown, VA to introduce Karin’s darling baby grandson to the National Park system.  Ethelyn Riley lives in Columbus, GA and is retired from teaching.  She has two children and six “beautiful grandchildren”.  Ethelyn takes each grandchild on a trip to celebrate his/her 13^th birthday.  The child chooses the destination; this summer Ethelyn will travel to NYC with her granddaughter. Nancy Schneider Alder will attend two 50^th high school reunions, one in Green Lake, WI where she attended school from K-10^th grade and one in Gettysburg, PA.  Nancy enjoys seeing her five grandchildren who live in Pittsburgh and Shippensburg, PA.  Lisa Smith Roney is happily retired but does some consulting work and is on the Board of Directors of Amigos de las Americas.  She and her husband traveled recently to Turkey and Greece and Australia and New Zealand.  She has two granddaughters who live in Philadelphia and Rockville, MD.  She plans to attend our 50^th reunion in four years.  Thank you to the classmates who contributed to this column.

1968

Sharon Burns Walsh
410-749-0426
sharon.walsh68@gmail.com

Most of the news in this column was sent to me last fall.  Unfortunately, length limits prevented me from including it in the late winter column. My apologies to those who had to wait to see their news appear. Cheryl Bonynge Harker is thrilled that she and husband Dick are expecting a baby boom in the next few years to add to their 34-person combined family including 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. They spend lots of time boating with family and friends when they’re in Island Heights, NJ and go to their condo in PA for the colder weather. In the last year and a half they took two extended cruises, one for 78 days to the Far East and another for 35 days on the Voyage of the Vikings. She keeps up with Lucille VanBaaren and admires her stamina as she continues to work at a cosmetics company. She was hoping to see Ginny Munson Hammell ’67 in Florida this past winter and congratulates her on the Virginia Munson Hammell ’67 Trading Room dedicated at Hood in October 2015. When she wrote, she had just communicated with her little sister Linda Ayers ’70 for the first time in years so may soon have more news to report. Sandy Deemer Harra and husband Ed became retirees in June 2013. She occasionally returns to her former school to sub and likes maintaining a connection with that community.  She loves seeing her former students and visiting with the staff, but she enjoys retirement more.   She and Ed have traveled some, usually somewhere where they can snorkel. The Big Island is a favored destination. When she wrote in October 2015, it was 83 degrees at her home in California and they were hoping El Niño would bring relief from a difficult summer of drought and forest fires. “We feel blessed that our little country town has remained fire safe.” Both of her sons live out of state. Matt is in Portland, Oregon and Nathan is in Fulton, Missouri.  Our condolences to Sandy on the death of her mother Joan Pouchot Deemer ’40, P’68, P’81 in May 2015.  Bev Thompson Gardner and husband Bernie are both enjoying retirement although Bernie continues to do consulting work at the School for the Environment at U MASS, Boston.  They live in Pembroke, MA, for the winter and Eastham, MA, on the Cape in the summer. They are both active at their Unitarian/Universalist church.  Son Alan is an engineer at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute; his wife Nora is an artist. Bev has three granddaughters-Ella, 12 years old; Lucy, 9; and Tessa, 5. Her Hood connections at church are Joyce Clarke Hockman ’67 who left before our class arrived, and Meredith Owen Atkinson ’69. She added thanks to Linda Search Atack for the years she served as class columnist. Carol Huntington and husband Al live with four “formerly feral felines” in their 1840s home overlooking the Kennebec River in Bath, ME.  They have been there since 2002, a difficult time for them since four members of Carol’s immediate family died that same year.  Carol still works full time as a social work senior therapist at the local hospital intensive outpatient program and as a hospice social worker in Portland, ME.  She is also an ordained Episcopal Church deacon.  Her career has included both medical social work and parish-based ministry in Boston and northern New Jersey cities. She and Al met 25 year ago when they were both working at a homeless shelter in Hoboken. Carol is a peace activist and toured New England teaching about Palestine which she  visited twice in recent years. She is also a nationally certified nonviolence trainer and has taught courses in seminaries and several schools of social work. In what must be very limited spare time, she is working to reclaim and maintain the formal gardens that were planted by previous owners years ago around their home. Stephanie Negoescu Goble and her husband have been living in San Antonio, TX for over 30 years ever since he retired from the Air Force.  They have 5 children, so she now spends lots of time flying all over the country visiting grandchildren.  Since retiring from teaching high school geometry to the children of wounded warriors at Fort Sam Houston, she invests lots of time in the kitchen preparing all her food from scratch.  She began eating organically several years ago at the urging of her oldest daughter who is a master herbalist.  She is hoping to reconnect with classmates Jane Walters Jasper and Rosemarie Dempsey Curlett.  Finally, from your class columnist, happy 70^th birthday to everyone who has celebrated (or soon will celebrate) that landmark life event this year!

1967

Patricia Rosner Kearns
kearns.patricia@gmail.com

Lots of anniversaries, generational achievements, old marriages, new marriages, pursuit of new careers, travels, retirement/nonretirement and acquiring new skills reported by the class of 1967 as we move forward. Thanks to all who responded quickly to my panic email of pending news deadline. My apologies to those who are not on the email list. I actually had letters printed out and envelopes labeled but then the grandkids arrived for 10 days!  Patrosnerkearns. Joh Van Wert Thompson writes: Our first grandchild just graduated from high school and will be attending VA TECH in the fall. One of the highlights of our year was a trip to Cuba in March with Joan Peschel Young and husband Bob.  My husband, Michael, even brought back some Cuban cigars.  We all loved Cuba and found the people very friendly.  Old Havana is beautiful with its lovely squares and architecture.  Even saw lots of those 50’s cars! Love retirement!!!!  Hope to see lots of you at our 50th! Jane Rowell Arnold is still living in New York City and working as Director of Admissions at the Episcopal School. Married to Alex (47 years) Two married sons. Three grandchildren. Not interested in retirement! My biggest news, Cheryl Wray Kirk writes, is that my grandson had his Boy Scout Eagle Ceremony last month. He built a small stage with backdrop and wheelchair ramp for our church day care center as his project. This represents four generations of scouting in my family. My father was an Eagle Scout, I was a Girl Scout for 10 years and earned my 10 year pin, my youngest son Phil became an Eagle Scout, and now my grandson Lucas is an Eagle Scout. It meant so much to me. Attending the ceremony was Margo Emrich Trexler, mother of two Eagle Scouts and of course Hood buddy and family friend. She and her husband Bob drove 4 hours to attend. Judy Lehman Ballinger is enjoying life to the fullest. She writes: Why am I responding to an email before 8am?!!  Life remains way too busy, but the good stuff fills most of it: art, family of 9 grandkids (some requiring visits to Costa Rica and San Francisco), community, friends, 5th year of marriage, etc.  I’m not sure if local & national politics and my feeble attempts to address social issues (support for immigrants and our Islamic center) count in the “good stuff” category, but they do consume a lot of thought. As a member of the Hood Board of Trustees, Cynthia Newby is totally enjoying the Board, especially the opportunity to observe Andrea Chapdelaine‘s first year in office. Cynthia writes that President Chapdelaine is a terrific leader; “we are very lucky, I think, to have her in charge of the key efforts re credentialing, strategic planning, and enrollment. New senior staff — VP for Enrollment Management Bill Brown and new Provost Dr. Debbie Ricker–equally impressive.” Barbara Morgan Herron says it was really great to see and visit with Laurie Seymour Carlson when she came to Annapolis last October (2015). They met up at a Navy football game, and enjoyed cheering the Mids on to a win. The short film that I wrote and produced was finally finished, and I was invited to screen it at the 4th Annual Female Filmmakers Showcase in Baltimore this spring.  Funny thing. I wrote and produced it (which included everything from making costumes, lining up locations and hiring a caterer to trimming the leading man’s hair), but until then hadn’t thought of myself as a filmmaker. Beyond that, I’m trying yet again to learn to play the guitar. Wish me luck! (Keep on strumming, Barb.) Best regards from hot Georgia! Writes Gail Witham Pohl. Today is our 49th anniversary (June 17), so we’re thinking about how Doug and I met at a Shriner Hall mixer.  It had to be moved to Meyren because it was so well attended despite the umpteen inches of snow on the ground.  Good Hood memories! May Mumma Ohman wrote, “Hi Pat… here is a “flash from the past.” In the summer of 1966, I went to Chile as a Hood College Ambassador. It was a remarkable experience that changed the course of my life. (As a result of that time in Chile, I worked as a Pan Am stewardess for several years after graduation… wanting to see more of the world.)  The program was called The Experiment in International Living– and Susan Wadia-Ells talked me into applying and going. (She had gone to Iran the year before with the same program.) The group from 1966 just had a 50th reunion  We managed to get 5 of the 10 original group members together in Rochester, NY– skyed two others.  One of our Chilean families came– five of them! It was an amazing experience.  Something very good– from the Hood we knew 50 years ago– lives on. I hope as many of our classmates who can come, will come– to our 50th Reunion next year! Looking forward to that! Kris Campbell Joyce wrote, “We just returned from a 2 week safari in Tanzania which was wonderful with Thomson Travel which has a supportive role in that country. We were able to learn a lot about the land, animals, and people for my art and teaching and would definitely recommend that travel company.” From your class reporter. Not much from Northern Virginia. Working to help the homeless, taking a nonprofit to the next level – stuff I did 30 years ago! Updating my 100 year old house to get ready for sale –eventually. Trips to see grandkids in Sonoma and north Georgia take up most of my vacation time. A nice Caribbean beach with drinks with umbrellas sounds good right now. But I second Jane Arnold’s comment– retirement? Why? Pat Rosner Kearns

1966

Dianne Beebe Barske
907-346-3167
dielbarske@gci.net

Reunion chair, Ginny Wheeler Jones, M.A.’88, in encouraging each of us to return to the Hood campus for our 50^th class reunion, promised it would be “a very big deal.” It was, and it was wonderful! At our Class of 1966 50^th Reunion Dinner in the Whitaker Campus Center, I asked those there to share a thought about the reunion. Common themes in their quickly written notes were how much it meant to be together again, how beautiful and well-maintained the campus is, how much joy was found in laughing, hugging and sharing stories. And gratitude was universally expressed to our reunion committee: Ginny, Chair; Sarah Bruce, Class Gift; Judy Messina, Class Gift; Susan Worth Fiala, Chapel Service; and Pat Vozar Bailey, Commemorative Book. (What an amazing job Pat did in putting that memory book together.) The standing ovation for the committee at the dinner was so well deserved. Thanks were also expressed to Linda Roth, Senior Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, and the staff in the Alumni Office. What a well organized event! For me, I was reminded of why I chose Hood College over a half century ago – the friendliness on campus. It still prevails! And then there is quality. We were able to meet the new college president, Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D., sense her warmth and commitment, and hear her plans for the college. She continued to pop up at various reunion events as did Immediate Past President, Ron Volpe, who was there at the new Volpe Athletic Center for Saturday’s Alumni Luncheon. Pride prevailed when we were able to present our class gift at this luncheon – $102,326.54– and were told that over the 50 years, our class has given over one million dollars to the College. Ginny commented, “The luncheon, like all of the weekend, was full or reminders of our special days at Hood, the things we did as students, and what good things continue to keep Hood of today a special place.” Other moments of great pride were the presentation of the 2016 Excellence in Service to Hood College Award to Judy Messina; remembering that Terri Petrillo Connolly had been named the ’66 White Blazer Girl; and that over the years both myself and Pat Chapple Wright, H’90 had been given the Distinguished Alumni Award. As a testament to her service, Judy Messina has been on the Hood College Board of Trustees since 2004 and is now Vice Chair of the Board.  More pride occurred at the Sunday morning chapel service. Two classmates led the service: Rev. Geneva Butz and Rev. Alice Coffman McDermott. I am grateful for the happy moments I had to visit with both of them during the weekend and will long remember a quote shared by Geneva that seemed so fitting for the reunion – “The time that was continues to tick in the time that is.” Past and present came together for all of us back on campus. As part of the service, the names of the deceased members of our class were read in remembrance. There were 31 of us there: Pat Vozar Bailey, Dianne Beebe Barske, Laurie Wheeler Brown, Sarah Bruce, Geneva Butz, Dottie Moore Byerly, Anna Buhr Cole, Terri Petrillo Connolly, Gail Mancke Curtis, Carolyn Embree Drake, Sue Agnew Elter, Joy Mc Neely Engel, Sara Wislar Farneth, Milli Towner Fazey, Susan Worth Fiala, Beth Harlow Foster, Kandy Kiefaber Higinbotham, Ginny Wheeler Jones, Ann Johnson Kupferberg, M.A.’90, Carole Ann Kemp Lovett, Susan Esterline Markey, Betty Schmidt Martin, Alice Coffman McDermott, Faith Parker Mentzer, Judy Messina, Cheryl Carlson Peyton, Carolyn Wyckoff Platt, Nancy Frederickson Sherlin, Linda James Stewart, Patricia Kehoe Tylander, Harriet Rudman Weiner.  When meeting these classmates again on campus, it seemed as if what first appeared as a fuzzy photo would click into focus and memories of that person would come flooding back. Along with people memories came food memories. I was not able to be back on campus for a Thursday evening reception on the Beneficial-Hodson Library Reading Porch, but I’m told that the favored spring salad was served – bacon, lettuce, tomatoes – along with apple butter and cottage cheese and cranberry crunch for dessert. Then there was Sunday’s Strawberry Breakfast, bringing back that long-standing tradition. It should be noted that all the meals were delicious, whether served in the beautifully renovated Coblentz Dining Room, the Commons of the Whitaker Campus Center, or the Volpe Athletic Center. Space considerations will only allow me to share one of the written comments I received. It comes from “The Terrace House girls” – Dottie Moore Byerly, Kandy Kiefaber Higinbotham, Linda James Stewart, Milli Towner Fazey and Cheryl Carlson Peyton. “We had a great time seeing all the new improvements to Hood and our old friends who didn’t need any improvements.” We were a fine bunch indeed, especially as we paraded into the Alumni Luncheon as honored guests, dressed in our sunshine yellow and carrying bright yellow flowers – to the tune of “Pretty Woman.” Many of us shared that we were surprised by how much being together at the reunion meant to us and vowed to return for our 55^th!