1965

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

Emily Kilby
443-485-7443 
erksome44@verizon.net

Your class reporters—Cathie Beyer Meredith and Emily Kilby—had a rather disheartening go at news gathering this time around. A number of telephone messages recorded; zero return calls/emails. Thus we are especially grateful to you three who did respond for filling us in on your lives. The rest of you, how about an update before October rolls around again? In the case of class reporting, no news is NOT good news. Marlene Collector Wolfe was very disappointed that a family wedding prevented her from attending our 50th reunion. She and husband, Irv, who’s still practicing dermatology in Owings Mills, Md., remain quite active. They particularly love traveling in the U.S. and Europe. They have two grown daughters and three grandchildren. Daughter Janet is now head of a school at the Ideal School and Academy on New York City’s Upper West Side. She and her son Teddy moved to New York in January and are loving the offerings of the big city. Daughter Sharon lives in Hockessin, Del., where she is a genetic counselor.  Marlene retired from teaching English and journalism, then worked for 10 years at WMAR-TV in Baltimore as a volunteer coordinator for a weekly feature show. Today she’s active in Art Seminar Group, an organization that “offers an extensive program of weekly lectures across a broad range of art and art history including the visual arts, theater, film, architecture, music and dance.” Marlene keeps up with the Hood news through regular contact with fellow Baltimorean Paula Adler Williams. After a late-January/early-February visit to see her granddaughter and former daughter-in-law’s family in Australia, Carolyn Oldman Gregory returned to Albuquerque and began planning a move to South Carolina to be with her sister. A surprise visit from her “down under” son in May, inspired the pair to take off on their great cross-country road trip which eventually took Carolyn to South Carolina in June. Though she was still missing the High Desert sky and New Mexican mountains where she’d made her home for more than a decade, she was looking forward to reconnecting with East Coast friends and lifestyle. Her beloved cocker spaniel Higgins made the journey in style and is now adjusting to two pug roommates. “Stay tuned,” Carolyn wrote, indicating more adventures ahead. Marci Williams Ross was intending to attend the 50th Hood reunion but had to cancel the week before because of a partial knee replacement gone bad. She’d had to use a walker because of stress fractures under the plates. Since then, she has had a full knee replacement and is back to golfing, travel and fun with grandchildren. Another factor in her no-show was that the Ross’s 50th anniversary party with the whole family of 14 was to be in Costa Rica at the end of June, and Marci wanted to save herself for that trip. The Rosses have lived in Jacksonville, Fla., since 1992 when Chuck retired. They have three sons and “six fabulous grandchildren,” Marci wrote. “We are blessed to be in great health but as an insurance policy we can literally walk to the Mayo Clinic. We built a new house last year (our last, I hope) and also renovated a house in Charleston that’s just three doors from our grandchildren so we have our own place when we visit. Even though I didn’t make the reunion I did reconnect with my roommate Beverly Jones Gibson. We were in each other’s weddings 50 years ago, and we both looked forward to rooming together at the reunion. Maybe for the 75th?!”

1964

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

I send the sympathy of the class to the family of Alyce Burn Sheaffer, who died on April 29, after a 42-year battle with multiple sclerosis. Those of us who saw Alyce at reunions always marveled at her courage and the tender care she received from her husband, Fred. On a happier note, Joanna Miller reports that she is cancer-free five years after being treated for breast cancer. She enjoys retirement and country life in Garrett County, MD, although she fell several months ago and broke her clavicle. She has had frequent episodes of rapid heart rate, which should be corrected by ablation by the time you read this. Charlie and Mary Frances Gaver Trunk celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary in July 2015. In November, Mary Frances had a total right knee replacement, which was completely healed in time for the Trunks’ move to a new patio home at the Homewood retirement center in Frederick. “Living on one floor is especially nice,” she says. Cal and Bobbi Wiley Erdman also celebrated their 50^th anniversary last July. Their three daughters and families (including seven grandchildren ranging in age from 3 ½ to 18) joined the Erdmans for a weekend in Little Compton RI with professional beach photos, a cookout, and presentation of a photo book covering their 50 years together. Bobbi and Cal have lived in Pinehurst NC for 16 years and continue to enjoy the climate, new friends, and golf. Carolyn Clewell came for their 3-day ladies golf member-guest in April and they won their flight. Bobbi continues to take needlepoint courses and learned gold work this year. She also volunteers with the First Tee program in Pinehurst. Ben and Betsy Benson Walker celebrated their 6^th anniversary in May on a 15-day Viking river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. Betsy says, “Our home, backyard birds, and gardens bring us joy, and our German shepherd and 20 grandchildren keep us active and amazed! Life is good.” Ed and Scottie Hansbrough Sneckenberger have just finished the  overwhelming task of downsizing and moving to a retirement village not far from where they have spent the past 46 ½ years in Morgantown WV. Over the years, their travels filled their home with treasures such as a coolie hat from a Vietnamese rice paddy, a carved piece of bamboo from China, woven placemats from Guatemala, and Russian art from St. Petersburg. The Sneckenbergers’ three daughters have given them five wonderful grandchildren. Hal and Kathie Tatem Brody will celebrate their 50^th anniversary this summer with a special trip to Pittsburgh with their two children and four grandchildren. The Brodys’ children suggested the trip in order to visit the city where they grew up and to show their own children their old haunts. Kathie and Hal look forward to reconnecting with relatives and old friends. Hal still works as a professor at UConn, teaching and doing research. Kathie volunteers with the UConn League and the Tourism Bureau. Their home in Willington CT is big enough for guests and Kathie encourages classmates to visit. Marta Schneebeli Johnson keeps busy with volunteering and traveling.  She had a wonderful trip to Japan last fall and recently visited the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. In alternate years, Marta and her sister and their families get together in Stone Harbor, NJ. 2016 is the year and there will be 21 in the group this time. All of the grands especially enjoy visiting with cousins who live far apart.

1963

Dottie Snyder Engle
301-371-5170
dengle3699@aol.com

Sisters, do I have news for you!  First, our sympathy to Gail Kloeblen Spertzel on the death of her husband, Richard, who had a storied career with the federal government in any number of roles including leading teams into Iraq to look for weapons of mass destruction. He and Gail traveled the world over, partly because of his job and she worked for a travel agency.  After putting out several  messages about our mini reunion for June 10, I received very few responses, but heard from Karen Beck Gould whom I hadn’t heard from since she sang at our wedding.  Unfortunately, Karen’s husband died 14 years ago and she has been in a nursing home in Pittsburgh for the past 13 with a back injury.  Pat Lytle Frost called to say she has Parkinson’s, but with the help of her husband Nick, still gets around.  They had lived in Montana, Nantucket, her favorite place in the world, and now on Cape Cod.  Rude person that I am, I paid a surprise visit to Elena Koch Flom and her very kind husband, and at lunch time, too, when I was visiting friends in Cocoa Beach, FL. We had a lovely chat over lunch, and I learned of all the degrees she had gotten and the places she had taught including Suriname.  She, too, is having some health issues including declining eye sight.  Sadly, my roomie, Brenda Eklund Pearson did not attend  reunion because she was going to be in Europe for 25 days.  How could she!  Jo Ann Twilley Plichta, M.A.’86 reports that she and Dave are in the process of moving to PA to be near their son’s family. She said that she, Mary Ann Holloway Ford, M.A’79, and Joanne Zink Markey, recently visited Helen Buss Mitchell and husband Joe at the Mitchell’s lovely home in Ellicott City, MD.  Cindy Klopp Butler and husband Keith spent a few months in CA with their daughter and, this summer, went to England where their son was teaching at Cambridge.   As usual, Kathie Anderson Houchens and Dave had many happy trails but none better than to Alaska.  They engage in more activities than I can mention. Marilyn Monson Baldi  is a real world traveler.  She has recently been to Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, taking lots of photos.  She enjoyed the colorful, interesting cultures and will be going to the Arctic with National Geographic on an expedition for more photos.  She thinks age is getting to her as she is minding the long flights, and although she feels she is aging gracefully, she says gravity is taking its course. Check Marilyn’s websites at www.imagerybymarilyn.com and www.torchegalerie.com. As for myself, Dottie Snyder Engle, I always have an exciting life.  In addition to my usual activities with local seniors, I have a disabled friend who moved here from Sante Fe.  She has no one to help her but me.  She has no use of her right arm, right leg is off at the knee and lots of other issues.  She is on her third prosthesis and is hoping to be able to get out of the wheel chair.  She wanted out of the house where she was living and my son and I deposited her in a motel that she had arranged.  She wanted a service animal, so I bought her a fighting fish. Our family entertained our Danish exchange student’s in-laws for two weeks in May and had a wonderful time with them.  They now think all Americans are just plain nuts, but like it!  We had one day of normalcy after they left, then got a frantic message from our friend at Virginia Beach with whom we had spent five days in Cocoa Beach, that his wife was gravely ill, so we rushed down to visit them.  Lung issues!  She seems a bit better.  Thank goodness my family is well and all are active.  Son Ryan is back East in WV.  Robin and I are poised for a big trip down south and will see Nancy Craven Jacobus in Elon, NC, when we are returning.  We had a mini reunion for the Hood class of ’63 here at our house and everyone declared it a success.  Twelve Hoodlums attended and seven spouses.  Thanks to Bobby Campbell Rickman, M.A.’75, P’96 for showing up hours ahead to help and to my husband Ron who puts up with me and helps me through all my endeavors.  Next reunion:  June 2018, our 55^th.

1961

Katharine Baum Wolpe
212-677-5469
kwolpe@gmail.com

Marty Kaiser Canner
410-747-0321
plcanner39@gmail.com

Nancy Brown Braudrick is having a new home built to replace her current one at the same address in Gold Beach, OR. Our 55^th Class Reunion was attended by 14 classmates and 2 husbands, Jean Shuey Wadsworth and husband Don and Sue Meeks Freeman and husband Dave.  Sue and Dave celebrated their 55^th anniversary this year and enjoy living in Mathews, VA, a small town on the lower Chesapeake Bay. Also on hand were Ann Mitchell, still active as a convention manager; Marty Kaiser Canner, Jeanne Duncan Jehl, Sandra Doty Zeitler, Brenda Sheaffer Hillard, Ann Corderman Helton, Vivi Bruckel Harvey, Anita Ranoldo Miner, Mary Anne “Fleet” Fleetwood, Judy Freedom Westenhoefer, Estelle Harrison Brendle, and Katharine Baum Wolpe. Pictures are posted on the Hood reunion website. Fleet, who lives in Rehobeth, DE, spends time every year in Taos, NM, and works to save animals, especially horses. Estelle lives in Matthews, near Charlotte, NC, close to her children & grandchildren in North Carolina and Arkansas. Judy Westenhoefer lives on a farm in Bedford, VA, and has been reducing the number of animals including horses she keeps there. Kathie Baum Wolpe still enjoys life in her East Village neighborhood (NYC).  She and her friend Philip attend concerts, off-Broadway plays, and modern dance performances.  She remains active in her church and local Democratic club and volunteers to escort frail seniors living at home to doctor’s appointments, exercise classes, and shopping.  She also attends a reading group on Israel & Palestine. Anne Bierstein Grenfell will be moving July 1, 2016 from a large townhouse to a small condo.  Her new address will be 901 East MacPhail Road, Unit 2F, Bel Air, MD 21015.  She volunteers for hospice and is selling her book, Prelude to Eternity.  The book can be purchased directly from Anne, who will sign it, or online from Amazon, BN, or Google.  Anne is enjoying quality time with her family and staying in touch with Hood classmates.  She is still healthy and stays active with fitness classes and aerobic dance, her favorite exercise. Shirley Garrett Haley, P’85 and husband, Ed, recently moved to Patapsco Overlook, a condominium community in Catonsville, MD. Mary Beth Snyder Hall’s big news was the birth of her only grandson and her younger son’s only child, Patrick Cooper Hall in July, 2015.  The Cooper part of his name is for his great-great-grandmother’s family.  Mary Beth and husband, William, feel blessed to have a new grandson 18 years after the birth of their youngest granddaughter.  Their older son has four daughters ranging in age from 27 to 18.  Cooper and his parents live in Virginia, so Mary Beth and William are considering moving to Virginia from Pennsylvania to see Cooper grow up and because they need to downsize their homeowner’s chores. Vivi Bruckel Harvey is looking forward to spending the winter (December to April) in Guatemala again, where she is involved in a large project to improve the water quality of Lake Atitlan.  Last winter she worked with the local Audubon group in training Mayan young people to be bird guides. Ann Corderman Helton enjoys her ornamental garden, her book club, church administration, the CASA program and politics.  She vacationed in New Orleans in the spring with her daughter, Leah, and Leah’s two sons.  She traveled in May to Asheville, NC to visit friends, and planned to spend the last two weeks in June at the Maryland shore. The focus of Hilda Koontz’s life continues to be Civil War history.  She gives lectures in the mid-Atlantic region and plans to travel to Missouri in the fall to give a presentation to the Civil War Roundtable of St. Louis.  She will then proceed to Iowa for several more lectures and to visit with her latest grandson, Charlie, born in April, 2016.  Hilda visits often with Joan Jacobsen Halbert and Janice McDavid Kuntz ’62. She and Spencer are active with re-enactments and will spend Christmas in Williamsburg, VA. Anita Ranoldo Miner spent two weeks in Cuba this spring on a people-to-people educational trip, meeting artists, musicians, chefs, and people on the streets in four cities.  She found the experience fascinating and would like to go back. Sandy Murphy Schmidt and husband, Bob, continue to love apartment living at Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville, MD.  She keeps physically and mentally fit with daily brisk walks, pool aerobics, cultural offerings on site and in Baltimore.  She also volunteers at the Walters Art Museum.  She and Bob plan a trip along the Maine coast in September with American Cruise Line.  She enjoys outings in Baltimore with Jeannette Phelps ’59 and theater and golf outings with Bob. Barbara Hufham Wells and husband, Richard, continue to be happy living in Moscow, ID, which combines the benefits of a vibrant small town community with the cultural amenities of the University of Idaho.  Richard stays busy caring for all the trees and plants he has planted on their property and Barbara serves on the board of trustees of the community hospital.  Barbara and Richard enjoy the Metropolitan Opera’s Live HD performances shown at a local movie theater on Saturday mornings. I (Marty) enjoyed the class reunion in June and eleven days later left on a two week trip to the Midwest and Montana to visit our daughter and her daughter and other relatives and friends.

1956

Muriel Chait Durbin, P’81
310-395-4389
msmuz@aol.com

The campus looked beautiful reunion weekend-it was a lovely time to reconnect with classmates.

We were able to catch up on news. Helen Ward Wheeler is now a great-grandmother, She and Jack live in a retirement community. Sue Peters Roetzel Wirths, M.A.’79, G’13 also lives in a retirement community and enjoys its benefits and many Hood connections. Becky Eppers Byrd, P’84 “still kicking and loving my retirement home, thankful for good health. Proud of grandson Matthew who graduated with honors from the Univ of MD”.  Nancy Gunnet Tyler “never dreamed I’d be returning for my 60^th reunion. It is wonderful to introduce Hood to my daughter.” Barbara Tovell Tennant and Bruce “drove 11 hours to get to Frederick. It was a marathon trip but well worth it.” They enjoyed spending three nights in Shriner. Mimi McConnell Milheim and Irv are moving from Montana to a new retirement home in PA. Linda Kelly Gleysteen, M.S.’84 and Dirk enjoyed seeing the beautiful campus and was impressed with our new President. Kathy Crook Heidelbach, G’15 keeps busy in her retirement community and is now secretary of the resident association. Two of her grandchildren have graduated from college, Sarah from Hood in 2015, Amanda is doing graduate work in Ireland. Lindsay and Bailey are both undergraduates. Barbara Hanna Pour is spending the summer in Cape May with friends and family. She is very proud of her grandson who won high honors at his high school. Jane Gallup Canning traveled to reunion from England. She has two great grandchildren. In Canterbury, they have downsized and have moved across town. She had to audition in order to sing with the University of Kent chorus-was successful and is delighted to be singing with them. While in the states, she will be visiting her family. Carole Oswald Carter, P’80, P’85, Mera Braungart Coblentz, Ginny Turnbull Hecklinger, P’81, G’08, Mary Ann Howe Mauzy, Mary Lu Urban Walker, and I – also made it to reunion weekend. The consensus from all of us is that we were happy to be there and to visit with each other. Betsy Bigelow Abruzzo wrote that her daughter, Angela, passed away after a long bout with cancer, a year and a half ago. Betsy is now in her own apartment and has stayed close to her grandsons, both of whom are doing well, Betsy’s daughters and other grandchildren are also doing well. She spends time playing duplicate bridge and takes part in tournaments. In May. Betsy had knee replacement surgery, it was successful. Anne “Cokey” Lanoue Weber now lives in a retirement community in Santa Barbara and is happy that she doesn’t have to cook dinner anymore. She spends a lot of time volunteering, “life is good”. She says hi to all our classmates. Ann Helfenbein Bohnet, P’83  writes “ three years ago she and husband, Richard,  moved to The Village at Orchard Ridge in Winchester, VA. They are active in their resident association and volunteer in a nearby elementary school. They love their new community. Cynthia Bromberg Rogers “Greetings to all from Wellington, FL” She and Joe keep busy with many social activities. “I still walk three to four miles on the treadmill five times a week-it’s not as easy as it used to be.” Her family is well. She sends her best to everyone. Cynthia Sternberg Schein will be traveling in the fall to see the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore. She had a wonderful surprise when her son, Jimmie, sent her a photo of himself and a woman in his shop in San Francisco. It turned out to be Carol Elsener Muller ’58, her Little Sister, who she hadn’t seen since graduation. Thanks to the Hood Bulletin news, Carol stopped in to see Jimmie at his shop and tell him she was from Hood! Helen Yinger Reed, G’16 has exciting news. “Our  granddaughter (Lauren) just graduated from Hood.  That makes five of us – my mother, myself, my sister, my son (Masters degree), and now granddaughter number one.  Hopefully, granddaughters Alason (age 12) and Arianna (age 9) will follow.” As for myself, Muriel Chait Durbin, P’81, I am still working as a travel consultant—had the fun of planning the honeymoon for third generation clients-I’ve been in my house fifty years- so now I’m working on some  refurbishing –so keeping busy.  In the fall, I’ll be in Philadelphia taking part in the Komen 3 Day walk, my son, Jon, will be walking in his 15^th event. My family and I have been crewing and walking in this event since 1999-I’m grateful for the research that has benefited from these events.

1954

Jean Baker Leister Weikert
717-243-5364

Thank you for those who keep in touch!  Alice Avanozian Arana wrote a splendid news letter telling of her husband Oswald Arana passing away.  Thankfully, they shared writing a Spanish work book, 10^th edition for the first year textbook, Puntos De Partida, successful for over 30 years.  What a meaningful, enduring legacy!  Their family includes Cecilia, who works with life size puppets in NYC, a kid’s project.  Middle son, David, lives in Burbank, California and is a musician.  He has his own studio and works with several orchestras and bands, arranging their music, as well as with several vocalists.  Michael, the youngest, is a lawyer and serves as a DJ in several NY clubs.  Alice keeps busy at her residence Morningside in Fullerton, California with line dancing, fitness classes, and library committee.  Barbara Weaver Batdorf thoughtfully wrote a summer of her and Jack’s life together.  They are still living in the home they built in 1963.  Jack, a retired pharmacist, and Barbara, who is still interested in reading, enjoy their constructed green house where they propagate and grow a variety of plants.  Their daughter Ann lives and works in Washington, D.C.  Middle son, Mark, is living outside of Dallas, Texas.  Son, John, is living in Santa Cruz, California in a beautiful beach home.  Betty Remsberg DeColigny wrote of Warren and her travels, including a mid-June visit to Mystic, Connecticut.  Their triplet granddaughters are happily busy.  Erin Thomas graduating from Frostburg University with a psychology major, honors and continuous study for a Master’s Degree in sociology from Salisbury University.  She is also working at Homewood Retirement center in the dietary department.  Granddaughter Relli Thomas is to be married in September.  Completing the triad is Cindy Armentrout, who was married to Chris Ray last July.  A thought-provoking letter from Sally Bogar Hedstrom, M.S. ’81 reported that her husband Ray Hedstrom passed away last May.  Our condolences and prayers, Sally, for your regaining strength after being a caregiver.  Wendell Stockdale, Jane Hinkle Stockdale’s, P’78 husband, wrote a devoted letter last December, talking of Jane’s March 4, 2015 stroke, with her presently being in a skilled nursing, where they reside at Willow Valley in Lancaster.  Betsy Oehrle included pictures in her Christmas letter of beginning the Annual Durban, South Africa Commemorative Salt March from Mahatma Gandhi’s home in Phoenix to the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.  Betsy sends prayers for true peace, respect, loving wisdom, compassionate friendships and joyous energy.  As your class correspondent, it is safe to say Mark and I continue to be happily busy newlyweds and feel blessed to have fresh perspectives at our age (83).  We keep being content with home, family, church, friends, scripture study, maintaining health, ballroom dancing, gardening, and yes, keeping a balance electronically. Son, Andy Leister, experienced a stroke in May 2015, which compounded adjustment to the previous surgeries at Penn State Hershey Medical Center in 1976 and 2010.  We’re visiting regularly at the nursing home at the Brethren Home in New Oxford, Pennsylvania.  Thankfully, we have a supportive family which is helping with restorative therapy since he has right-side paralysis and decreasing vision.  Our remaining children, Kathy with her husband Orrin Orewiler; Christine Abrams; Heidi with her husband Ron Haafre and Daniel Leister are all residing in Hanover, Pennsylvania.  Grandchildren: Kelsey, Sierra and Sean Miller; David with new wife Rachel and Rachel Abrams; Erin and Nick Haafre are dispersed throughout Hanover, Cambridge, England, Fort Gordon, Georgia, Mansfield University, Pennsylvania, Lincoln Intermediate Unit, Harrisburg Area Community College, and Millersville University.  The youngest grandson heading for St. John in Annapolis, Maryland.  Reunion on the 12^th of June was a joyous one with seeing grad school classmate Magaly Mauras Green ’74, M.A.’79 and undergraduate classmate Barbara Weaver Batdorf and her husband John.  It was reassuring to hear our new President, Dr. Andrea Chapdelaine speak at lunch.  Barbara, Jack, Mark and I were lucky to share a table with Lois Vars Mason ’51, Betsy McCain McAlpine ’51, with her husband, along with a few other members of the class of 1951.  Thanks again for keeping in touch!

1953
Johanna Chait Essex
516-487-1883
johalessex@gmail.com

Condolences to Charlotte Beshore Ahrens on the passing of Bob in Feb. 2015. Condolences to Kathy Sponsler Patten on the loss of her husband. Condolences to the family of Elizabeth Sweeney Qualls, who passed away this past April. Received a cheery note from Marge Aronson Dalmas—She and Bob are hanging in—Marge has advanced degenerative disc disease, but they try to stay involved and enjoy life. Charlotte Beshore Ahrens broke her hip last year, and it took a year of TaI Chi clasees to get he back on her feet—but all is well now. Evelyn Bragg Trageser wrote that “I’m alive and kicking most mornings, but like any electric chair lift in the latter part of the day.” Penny Fradd Vahsen, P’77 will be attending 4 weddings of her Academy grads this summer, a well asl taking a river cruise from Brussels to Basel. Jerry Griffith Macomber had a bout with “walking pneumonia”  “that left her in the  hospital  and then home with antibiotics and oxygen 24/7—her family and many friends stepped into help––she is “learning new lessons in old age.” Nancy Brown Kohlheyer was in Brussels when they had terrorist attacks, but is now back in the states.  One of her former art students was badly wounded, but is now recovering. She and John have been together for 9 years and have enjoyed every aspect of it. She did visit Lois Wolfe Haffly and Buffie McKim Powell when she was in the states last year. Betty Gerstmyer Allen was diagnosed with Guillian Barre syndrome in Feb. 2014, and is now at Brookdale Hockessen, where she is learning how to walk with a walker and write again. She uses her daughter Sue’s address—127 New Granville Rd., Wilmington, De 19808,and her phone number is 302-235-2340—She is doing as well as can be expected, and would love to hear from classmates. New email address for Elaine Green Powell—depowell@metrocast.net–She and Dave are very happy in their “independent home” in Concord, N.H., but they still have their Lake Cottage which is the family gathering place in the summer, and ski base for their children and grandchildren in the winter. Nadya Klotz Giusi still has her practice as a Marriage Family Therapist, and is working on her 5^th book.  She has 2 daughters and 5 grandchildren. Pat Lloyd Fordham is recuperating from arthroscopic shoulder surgery due to a bad fall against the kitchen counter—it will take several months to heal, and then she will need physical therapy. Corky Pattison Casey, P’82 will be in Old Saybrook, Conn. the end of July  and would love to see anyone who might be in the area. Janet Peek Clancy is expecting her 6^th  great-grandchild this July. One of her grandsons is a NYC fireman who is a member of the fire departments  football team, and they flew to NC to compete—she still plays lots of tennis and bridge, and enjoys being involved in all that she does. Lovely long note from Marilynn  Phillips—she has had a happy, busy year with trips to Seattle to visit son Chip, the wedding of her grandson Tyler , a visit with her brother Dick for Thanksgiving, and enjoying all the wonderful things her grandchildren are accomplishing. Judy Rank Loposer is still in Walla Walla, Washington—her three children live close by which makes life even better, ”Whenever I see wisteria blooming I think of the pergola.” Beverly Rosenberg Sager had a fall on the tennis court and broke her wrist, and is now in physical therapy.  If all goes well she and her daughter plan to spend a week in Paris in June, and then in August she travels to California to visit with her son. Sheila Seigal Asher has sold her home on Kiawah Island, and will be going back to Florida. Their family joined them for the Passover weekend and was terrific. In general life is good, and they are grateful. Lois Wolfe Haffly is doing well after having back surgery in Oct. to relieve pressure on her sciatic nerve. She sends her best to everyone. The Essex Family is fine—I’m still involved with Kings Point—helping out at Cookie Café, as well as sponsoring cadets—and I volunteer at the nursery school where I taught—reading the “golden oldies” to the children –Hal is doing well, and we both enjoy visiting with our children and grandchildren.

1952

Mary-Lou Springhorn Leidheiser
828-693-0630 mlouleid6@gmail.com

Evelyn Bischoff Mitchell:  Moving to a lovely senior community where dear friends reside, so I know I’ll be happy there. Can’t believe that in the 45 years, we never threw anything out!  Still plan to winter in Florida. Nancy Campbell Barrett:  Moved into a lovely retirement home in Reno after 63 years in California.  Daughters Melinda and Judith helped me.   Food is delicious, the residents friendly, and staff competent and helpful. I’m finally retired!!!  My new address is 3201 Plumas St. – Apt 228, Reno, Nevada  89509-4768.  Phone: 760-742-3391. Dee Dreller Sosin:  Life is good.  I keep very busy – the gym, my garden, local and national politics, plus theatre, symphony, dance. historic preservation. Still trying to save the world.  This August, I’ll meet Mary-Lou Springhorn Leidheiser in Asheville, NC.  On a Folk Art tour there. I’ve been a folk art collector for 60 years. Anne Gibson Bement:  I’m well but moving slowly with balance problems. Traveling only to our Miami Beach getaway or visiting daughter and family in Minnesota. Biggest accomplishment this year was completing my photography website www.annebement.com. Dottye Handley Ewing:  I’ve organized a monthly “Opera Matinee” at my retirement center.  Enjoyed newly published bios of H. Beecher Stowe, Jefferson, J Q. Adams and Ted Kennedy. I recommend them.  Staying more active with mind than body.  Emma Jones Hann:  Took my annual trip to New England. Saw my Little Sis, Penny Hapgood Noepel ’54, P’87, reunited with dozens of cousins at a Connecticut family wedding, and visited my hometown, Pittsfield, MA. Next trip – Washington, DC, on an all-woman Honor Flight for WWII and Korean veterans.  Looking forward to our 65th reunion in June 2017.  Jo Kates Roos:  My Linda’s son, Billy Cole, is graduating from the College of William & Mary.  He has excelled.  Bill would have been so proud of him.  Sister, Hannah, is an honors student in class as well as in marching band and symphony orchestra. Peg Lewis Christensen:  You will not be surprised to hear I have no tidbits for Hood Class News.  I’m sure you’ll do a lovely remembrance of Mary Sihler Sauerteig – her donation of the trumpets to the Hood Chapel organ, her love of music, her rich alto voice, her laughter, her philanthropy, her love of gardening and all creatures, great and small. (Mary died on Memorial Day; her two sons were with her.) Phyl Loudermill Armstrong:  The days are spent taking care of the necessities of home, yard, car, life, family, cat….you got the picture. Will have knee replacement in July. Mary Murrie Hardy:  Had a small stroke in April.  No after-effects, thank God.  Planning trips to Isle of Palms, SC (with most of my family), Lake Keowee, SC (to daughter), then to Michigan (to another daughter) Updating my home. By the end of my trips, I’ll want to stay home and enjoy it. Seems very hard without Bob, but I’m learning what the “new normal” is.  Betsy Newcomer Payette:  My news is always the same so I guess it’s better than having bad news! Keeping in contact with Carolyn Rusk and Barbara Hickman Reynolds P’80 on a regular basis. Kay Spear Feldmann:  Life is good; at 85 not too bad.  Still driving so can be independent.  One grandchild moving back to Baltimore; should be fun.  Planning August riverboat trip to southern France. Nancy von der Heyde Needham:  Still writing letters; don’t own a computer.  I’m a great grandmother for the second time.  Was in the hospital with cellulitis (4^th time) but I’m okay now.  I watch the Washington National baseball team.  Our class news is getting closer to the front of the magazine (smile). Connie Woodall Fisher:  Oops!  I just scrolled past old messages and there you were, with a deadline.  Sorry.  I am alive and well and will attempt to be more alert at your next posting. Dee Dreller Sosin reported: “I was so lucky to have the opportunity to meet President Obama at my daughter Leah’s home.  She and her husband had a fundraiser for the Democratic party.  Fifty of us spent the evening with this wonderful, bright, astute, and handsome man.  History of the United States honored and touched me.” We mourn the loss of Fran Brainerd Carpenter, Francine Dondershine Schwartz, Nancy Eaton, Marilyn Koch Swanson, Doris Lindblade Burn, Dottie Shillis Dowdell, Pat Wallace Wilkirson, and Mary Sihler Sauerteig, whom I’ll miss terribly.  I spent most weekends this year helping her. Moving back to Chicagoland in early fall. All four offspring and seven grands are there.  It’s time.

1951

Eleanore Jackson Knott
843-681-8580
weknott2@gmail.com

Mary Lou Hoffman Huff is almost back to normal after enduring a broken wrist for 10 weeks. She has spent some of that time trying to dispose of things she has saved “because some day I might need them.” Most of us can probably identify with that. Tink Smith Garrity and her daughter from Phoenix were happy to drive down to Tucson to have lunch with Cathie Strachan Upp in April. Cathie’s daughter Debbie had passed away after a long battle with cancer, but Cathie is slowly returning to her activities and finds helping others does help a little. Previously she had been very involved in volunteer service. She did enjoy a trip to her youngest granddaughter’s graduation from Texas Christian Univ. Lois Vars Mason also reported sad news of her husband of 20 years, William B. Mason, passing in March.  He was a financial planner but has been in charge of worldwide distribution of bananas for United Fruit in Boston. It was sad to read the editor’s note in the last issue that Sara “Sally” Weaver Langie, P’83 had passed away.  We had been roommates in Shriner. After a few more appointments, Walt and I will be driving north as usual.  We enjoyed our winter visits to Florida and look forward to spending the rest of the summer with family and friends in New England.  These trips do seem to get longer but we are very blessed to be able to go. I enjoyed talking with Betsy McCain McAlpine after she and Harry returned from our 65th reunion.  Although she was disappointed in the small number of classmates who were able to return, she and Phoebe Brown Ford, Mary Louise (Ludie) Reed Hall, Lois Vars Mason and Molly Wood Tully had enjoyed being together for their class dinner, many college activities, and much reminiscing. Please think about sending me some news of your activities to share with classmates. Molly Wood Tully wrote, “We may have been few in number but we made up for it in spirit~~Five Brave Members of the Class Of ’51 gathered in Frederick over the weekend of June 10-11 for our 65^th, and I think we held our own in noise level, hilarity and celebration…  Those who participated were – of course, first and foremost Betsy McCain McAlpine and her faithful backup, companion and husband Harry who might as well be a class member for all the spirit and hands on participation he provided.  Lois Vars Mason greeted us to hear the new President give an update on the college and we all joined together for lunch after in the dining hall. Others were:  Phoebe Brown Ford, who came by train from Greenwich, CT and joined Molly Wood Tully in Washington overnight and for the trip to Frederick.  We picked up Ludie Reed Hall who now lives in DC at a retirement home (Thomas House).  None of us had seen Ludie since graduation (I believe she married Lee Hall before graduation and did not walk down the aisle with the rest of us. Ludie has traveled the world as her husband was working for Time Magazine.  She has a son and daughter who both live relatively close to DC and are a great support to her.   We all stayed at the Hampton Inn which made carpooling easier. We enjoyed the evening dinner and speeches in the new Volpe Athletic Center, a huge gymnasium, and he personally had a special hug for each of the ’51 members. Strawberry breakfast was the usual gourmet feast, and we all said our goodbyes and took off til the next reunion.  We’re sorry there weren’t more of you but realize that at our age we’re probably lucky to be alive let alone attempt challenging trips to such outlandish places like Frederick, Maryland.”

1948

Corky Edwards Shulman
808-254-2531
oahucork@aol.com

Aloha, Hoodlums! There are 65 members of the class of 48 still truckin’……..and since most of us have hit our 90th birthday, I’d say we are a pretty long-lived group of women. I share my birthday with Queen Elizabeth; we both hit 90 on April 21st; my four youngsters came from the mainland to help celebrate. And in 2018, we’ll enjoy our 70th class reunion!!!! Ginny Mansfield Alm and Bob are well and enjoying life in The Villages, FL. They play lots of bridge, and Ginny continues keyboard lessons and plays nine holes of golf twice a week. (As one of the “Folksies” gang of eleven, Ginny and I have enjoyed many happy reunions.)!! Ann Barnum Connellee remembered my birthday April 21st, mahalo, old friend! Ann and Bill and daughter Gail vacation at Kiawah in a friend’s house on the ocean. “We are so fortunate to have each other and love our cottage here at Bishop Gadsden (Charleston, S.C.).”!! Janet Beck Agnew has moved to Hamilton, Ohio where she lives with her daughter, Kerry. Janet and her three daughters will attend a family reunion in West Virginia where she will be the matriarch of the clan! (Way to go, Ging!)!! Shirley Benson Rice ( Farmville,VA) writes that she has two grandchildren graduating from High School this spring, both are going on to college. (Congrats to both.)!! Anne Chaney Mesmer, from Washington, D.C…”living day to day with lots of help and cheered by visits from family and friends.” (Anne always had that positive glow.)!! Elaine Henderson Cortelyou still enjoys her river home in Fairton, N.J. that she shares with the deer and the turkeys. She works at the church and enjoys cooking. (Wish I did….good for you!)!! Mary Hershberger (San Antonio, TX) retired in 2014 after a 65 year career in the Retail Fashion and Travel Industry. “I am now enjoying the free time with friends and my standard white 5 year old poodle ‘Sophie Tucker.”. (Ditto me & my 7 year old chihuahua)!! Barbara Heiss Jackson, in Sarasota, FL.: “We mourn the death of Louise Renninger Rittenhouse, P’74, G’07 (Tootie). She was one of eight of us who kept in touch via round robin letter. There are just three of us now; Elsa Eggers Hauswald, Shirley Benson Rice, and me. We keep in touch now by phone.” Barb has three children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. (We too mourn ‘Tootie’)!! Margaret Green Lebherz was privileged to represent the Class of ’48 in the alumni procession at the inauguration of President Andrea Chapdelaine. She writes “Hood was blessed with a beautiful October Day for this outdoor occasion as only Maryland can provide.” (Amen, amen)!! Katherine Maguire Rafferty reports in from Denver that husband John has had his second-knee-replacement and is recuperating nicely at home. “Our two girls live in CA and FL. so we visit in CA yearly. We all need to HANG IN THERE!” (Hear hear! I agree!)!! Betty Paterson Reims (Wallingford, CT) still spends the winters in Florida. “I”m using a cane like everyone else, but keep plugging. As I watch the French Open, I wonder how I played tennis all those years!! We were lucky and had a good life.”!! A blue note from George Southworth: “It is with a sad heart that I inform you that my wife, Lorene Myers Southworth, passed away on May 20 at Kirkhead Village Retirement Community. We moved here to live out our remaining years. Unfortunately, hers were shorter than we would have liked.” (Aloha nui loa, Renee)!! As for me, still hangin’ out in the islands with daughter Kim and grandson Arion in residence, enjoying hearing from old classmates! However, as of the deadline (6/20/2016), cards sent to Vivian Rice Englander and Jean Neel Perkins have been returned to me, unable to forward. If any of you know the whereabouts of any of these gals, please advise!!