Susanna Schaeffer Smith P ’16 reported, “I have some exciting news to share.  Greg and I are thrilled to share that our daughter, Anna Smith Brisbane ’16 married Douglas Brisbane ’14 on January 7, 2017 here in Potomac, MD.  Kristine Millet ’87 and her wife Lisa Colagiovanni and their children, Koen & Tessa wouldn’t have missed the day. Anna Kate is a Cash Management Analyst with Lockheed Martin at headquarters in Bethesda, MD & Douglas is a Territory Sales Manager with Jesco, Inc. Brenna Elizondo ’16, Bailey Wright ’16, Adam Patterson ’13, Joseph O’Hara ’14, and Travis Kline ’13 all joined in celebration as members of the wedding party.  Many Hood College alums shared in the day!”

Alison Drum Althouse P’12
804-378-7541
alison.althouse@gmail.com

Hello HoodLums!  Since I only got four responses this time, I can be a little more liberal with word usage… 😉 Lorie Dodd Gomez is now Associate Director of Advancement at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and she loves working for the Chesapeake Bay!! Her older son, Louis, graduated from Christopher Newport University in May and is moving to NoVa to start work in June. Her younger son, Nicolas, is graduating from high school this month and will be going to Virginia Tech in the fall. She and Lou are excited for the boys and amazed that they are about to be empty nesters. A new chapter is beginning! Josie Calix shared that despite the challenges in her life in the last year, they were blessed with a beautiful granddaughter, Emersyn Rose Haerstsch, on Feb. 12. She came just at the right time and is a perfect baby.  We’re so happy for you, Josie! Patricia Kenyon Grimm had a great time on June 3 when her son Beck Grimm married Ellie Watkins. The ceremony was held at The Wolf Trap Farm with a honeymoon in Iceland.  This summer, she is celebrating 31 years of marriage and 3 years as Patient Relations Representative at UVA Medical Center. She and Chris have recently downsized to Batesville, in Albemarle County, VA. Marilya Padilla Spina and Steve celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this year. Their daughter, Alexa, is a junior at Providence College majoring in Spanish and will be studying abroad next year for a semester.  Their son, Nicholas, is a junior at Kingswood Oxford and will start driving soon… next up are college visits!  She kicked the year off by hosting a spa day (complete with massages and fluffy robes) in her home – a birthday celebration for Maritza Bido.  Gina Oliveros braved the winter cold and joined Luz DeBrosse Ment, Khateeta Emerson, Maribel Martinez ’87, and Kim Burns ’87 for the celebration. She loved seeing her Hood sisters!  I want to thank all my HoodLums for their prayers and support this past winter.  My mom’s death in December and then my dad’s in February are traumas that will touch my life forever… your messages and presence in my life are a Godsend.  You may remember that my dad was married to Dr. Alice Drum, former dean at Hood, and I appreciate your keeping her in your thoughts and prayers.  My boys are both “adulting” well.  Drew Althouse ’12 lives in Michigan with his girlfriend, Kristen, and is an Athletic Trainer at Madonna University (Livonia, MI).  Evan lives in Arlington, VA and works for JD Power, which definitely came in handy when we needed to replace a totaled SUV (no injuries, thank God).  Michael still works for PayPal and we enjoy living close enough to Annapolis that we both worked men’s & women’s lacrosse games for USNA this spring.  Can we get more people to contribute to the next class report?  You can send updates ANY time to me: alison.althouse@gmail.com.

Sue Povich DelConte
732-549-2445
ahoodlumof85@hotmail.com

Margie Murphy Weaver
dramamama13646@gmail.com

Hello Class of ’85!  I start this column with an apology– an alum sent me news several weeks ago and I lost the email! I am so sorry and hope the writer will resend for the next column!  As I was frantically searching for this errant email I sent a series of flares up on Facebook Messenger, and while none of the responders was the mysterious alum, I did get some news. First to come to my aide was Natalie Rivers Bruno. She reports she is “still teaching English in France. My kids are turning 27, 25 and 20 this year! Andrea Malone Redden says “I retired from teaching after 30 years. Enjoying time relaxing and traveling!” I am jealous Andrea– I still have 4-5 years before I can cap my dry erase markers and turn off the projector. I figure that is the equivalent of cleaning out 3 filing cabinet drawers a year and dragging the boxes home! Earlier this year I was contacted by Ingrid Kirstin Piper ’84, who asked if I could send a message to a fellow Hoodlum with whom she had lost touch over the years. I was happy to oblige and happily, Ingrid and Margaret Oliver reconnected and are planning to meet up in London in September! Tammy Leisinger Gantz reports “I didn’t send any information but our son Benjamin graduated from Gettysburg College with a double major Biochemistry and Music.” I have had the pleasure of watching clips featuring Theresa Yosuico Stahl as she discusses nutrition and food preparation for her local Farmers’ Market. Theresa adds: “this past year, I became a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.”!  Susan Audino B.A. ’99 says “on behalf of a few people, I thought I’d report that Ann Granato Hein, Meredith McQuoid Greason, Kelly Nickoles Auber, Ann Fussell Divecha, and I enjoyed a 3-day ‘mini’ reunion at Bethany Beach, DE last month. We all enjoyed getting together, looking at old yearbooks, reminiscing, and of course walking the beach.  We also enjoyed some homemade limoncello and other delicacies I brought back from Italy a couple of weeks earlier!” I will be splitting the responsibilities for the column with Margaret Murphy Weaver! I hope you will consider sending a few lines to either of us for the next submission. Margie heard from Heard from Laura Anderson Lombardi (Memorial Hall) who is living in Morris Plains, NJ and is Co-Director of a NAEYC Accredited Non-Profit Early Childhood Education Center, Children on the Green, in Morristown, NJ.  They are unique in that they raise money through grants for homeless children so that they can attend free of charge.  Laura’s son, Max, just hit the milestone of becoming a teenager, and though she has friends who are grandparents, it still is hard for her to believe she can be the mother of a teen!  She feels fortunate that Max still has all four of his grandparents, at ages 80, 83, 90 and 91, still living at home and involved in his life.  Laura’s mom has Alzheimer’s and that has been a challenge. She says that Facebook has been a wonderful tool to reconnect with Hood Alumnae, and stays in touch with Mary Kocher Innocenti, Ginny Van Saders Furnas, Jennifer Biggs-Klock, and me (Margie).  She reminisces about how we all met our very first day at Hood when we were put into teams to do ice breakers.  She made me laugh remembering a skit we performed Freshman year about facing an empty mailbox in the Ad…”No mail…close de box!” and says she repeats this every time she opens an empty mailbox, even as an adult! We all have busy, crazy lives that, I’m quite certain, are full of small victories and challenges.  Reach out here, and you’re guaranteed a wealth of support and good thoughts.  As for Margie, I performed on stage in my first production since our Soph Revue back in May. A local friend wrote a play based on riding the local public transit buses, “Bus Buddies,” and I played two small roles and STILL had a hard time remembering my lines!  The show will be reprised on September 17 at SkyStage in downtown Frederick, so if you’re in town and want to laugh, come on by!  I’m becoming more and more active in advocacy and political activities in Frederick (Dr. Lewis would be proud), and am training for my first 5K, which I’ll run on August 5th.  Never a dull moment.

Susan Flanders Kleinschmidt, M.S.’92
609-771-0642
susankle@comcast.net

Ellen-Marie Samsen Knehans, P’18
760-371-2353
emknehans@mchsi.com

Greeting Hood friends-Springtime greetings from NJ!  Beach weather is almost upon us!  Thanks to all who responded to my e-mail requesting news for the column. I have heard from Claudia Nichols Nealley that her son Luke has graduated from Carnegie Mellon University this spring and is excited to be starting a new job in Pittsburgh.  Claudia’s daughter Maggie is a rising Junior at Frederick High School.  Maggie continues to love lacrosse and they plan to spend the summer traveling with her Lionheart team to tournaments.  Recently Claudia joined the Blue and Grey Boosters Club.  Claudia would love to get some type of tailgate tradition started at Hood and would love the chance to visit with friends. Claudia and her husband Mark have recently donated to help light the athletic field at Hood.  They found out that Hood is the only college in our conference without a lighted field.  Having a NCAA athlete in her family has made Claudia realize what an asset athletics are for Hood.  A large percentage of Hood’s new students are athletes.  Claudia encourages all to consider donating to help get Hood’s field lit or to join the Blue and Grey Boosters club.  Natasha Keyian reports in from Florida that she has just started a new teaching position with the Seminole County Public schools.  She is working with intellectually delayed students and students with autism and is loving teaching. Barbara Reade Hawkins reports in from Virginia.  Her eldest daughter Emily graduated in May from Radford University with a BS in English and is currently pursuing her master’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University.  She is hoping to teach middle or high school English in Southwestern Virginia.  Barb’s youngest daughter Rebecca graduated as Valedictorian from Freedom High school in Woodbridge, VA and from The Governor’s School at Innovation Park, Manassas, VA.  She is planning to attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech).  She will be enrolled in the Honors College and the college of Natural Resources and Environment.  She will be working towards a degree in Wildlife Conservation/Environmental Science. Robin Winkler-Pickett M.S. ’07, MBA ’17 just walked the stage for the third time at Hood to receive her MBA this spring and received the 2017 Outstanding Graduate Student Award in Business Administration.  Ten years ago, she pulled off the same feat by being named the Outstanding Graduate Student in Biomedical Sciences!  Robin has worked for the National Cancer Institute for 31 years and now with school work done, again, she is looking forward to some personal and professional reinvention and will be exploring new opportunities for change and growth.  Always the proud mama, she shares that are kids are doing well and always amazing her. Her oldest son is doing exceptionally well in the Marine Corp having received the U.S. Navy and Marine Corp Commendation Medal this year and continues to be stationed locally which Robin loves. His current enlistment will take him to over 15 years (anyone hear “career Marine”?).  Her daughter-in-law is an art teacher in FCPS and was tenured this year and Robin is enjoying having a girl in the family. Her youngest “special” one, has surpassed all expectations from his childhood challenges and serves as a reminder that anything is possible with perseverance, dedication, and love.  Please get in touch with Robin- she is looking for things to fill all the time she now has!

Mary Townley
804-307-3608
hoodmlt@aol.com

Hello Hood Class of 1983! Happy to share with you news from a few of our classmates.  Mary Linger Posey M.A. ’92 is still working as a substitute special education instructional assistant and a pre- k assistant. It’s kind of like being a “paid volunteer” because I work when I want to work – never all day and only in the mornings but it is wonderful to exercise my God-given talent for working with children in Frederick County Public Schools. Daughter, Sayre, has completed her first year as a 9th grade history teacher in Baltimore City – Edmondson Westside High School. Daughter, Julianna, successfully completed her 2nd year at UMBC – mechanical engineering major. Son, Garrett, is a rising senior at Middletown High School. As Captain of the boys varsity tennis team he finished 3rd in the County Tournament (boys singles) and finished 3rd in the Regional Tournament (also boys singles). A future History major at a college somewhere, he will spend the summer narrowing down the choices. Garrett’s knowledge of history and geography helped the Middletown High School “It’s Academic!” team to advance to the semi-finals and the program was televised. Mary’s husband, Rich, still works for the FAA which includes travel and most recently he went to Alaska for work. Mary keeps in touch with Dr. Martha Church on Facebook and sends love to all of the Hood family! Shelley Wagar Sabo writes, “My job is the same and going well.  My daughter Courtney is getting married in September in Cape Cod so preparation and final details are underway.  We are praying for good weather and clear skies as it is an oceanfront service! I am in the process of selling my home and moving in with my partner in crime, David!  We are getting away for our annual camping trip to the Adirondacks this summer.  Have been keeping in close touch with Lorraine Hope Landis ’84 P ’19, Adrienne Gall Tufts ’82 and Ann Kitson P ’15 this spring. Pamela Stamey Inskeep writes that she lost an uncle last winter and that she and her husband have been busy helping her mom (a 34 year breast cancer survivor) settle the estate.  Pamela also shared, “I have also started going back to church, attending one in Elkton, MD, that I like. It is an Assemblies of God church with Pentecostal roots and is very different from the Episcopal Church that I attended in my 20s, 30s, and early 40s. It’s a good thing, a very important thing in my life.” Pam finishes describing that her husband is now on permanent disability due to a back injury and that her daughter is now a successful educational diagnostician at an elementary school in Wilmington, Delaware. I also heard from Maude Metzger Meyers.  Maude transferred out of Hood to Ithica College after her freshman year. She loves reading about her Hood classmates. In April I heard from Heidi Cramond Naidamast writes “[I] retired from the CIA with 30 years of government service. I moved from Fairfax, VA, to The Villages, Florida. I traveled to Israel and Jordan in 2016 and just returned from an adventure in Egypt. My daughter Ilana graduated from Hofstra University and is working at Morgan Stanley in NYC.”  Finally, I heard, Faye Taylor Ebron.  She shares, “At the end of August 1983, I accepted a teaching position as a special education teacher for Howard County School System. I served in 5 schools at the elementary and middle school levels, as well as serving as an Instructional Team Leader for 15 years. After 34 years of service, I am retiring from HCPSS. I am extremely grateful for the Hood College experience. It certainly prepared me for my career. My husband, Monty, is a retired Baltimore City teacher. This June, both of our sons graduate on the same day. One from Calvert Hall College High School and the other from Baltimore County Community College. I have so much to thank God for!”  Carol and I are still living and working in Richmond, VA.  Our daughter, Emily, just finished her freshman year at Roanoke College in Salem, VA. Our family enjoyed an amazing trip this past May visiting some of the National Parks out west- Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion.  Simply breathtaking sights! Thanks everyone! By the way, next year marks 35 year since our graduation!  How did that happen?  Take care, Mary

Lynne Anderson Vergalitto earned her master’s degree M.Ed. in Mental health & Addiction Counseling from Cambridge College Boston MA. Lynne also started a new job at Scadd as a Therapist.

Trina Clickner
727-366-1424
trinaclickner@gmail.com

Rebecca Warner Gardiner:  I would like to report that eight ladies from Meyran Hall gathered for a fabulous reunion in Charleston, SC in April.  Nancy Rapp, Jill Jamieson Colavita, Louise Angus Cribbs, Linda Itell Thomas, Lisa Bryant, Laura Quinn Paschal, and Jane Rathbone Sanders joined me for an enjoyable long weekend at a beach house on Isle of Palms.  In addition to facetime chatting with Theresa Fisher Parlett, who couldn’t make the trip, we toured, biked, and did a LOT of catching up. Best time ever – Hood friends are friends forever! Bethanne Warrack:  Mark and I have been traveling a bit in 2017.  In February we visited the Seychelle Islands and Dubai, and in May we visited Stockholm.  I’m still working at BMS, so that remains a constant.  NJ has been gray and rainy.  Hoping for some good weather this summer and we’ll get down to the shore. Donna Walters Gault:  My biggest news is that my grandson (David’s stepson), Tyler, has graduated from Winter’s Mill High School.  As a graduation present, the three of them are spending a week at Daytona Beach.  I get to dog sit my grand dog, Russell.  Good Grandma!  :o) Virginia Roth:  Big news from me – I got married and moved to Boston.  Joyce Lavado Soucy:  Made the move to Florida, Palm Beach Gardens. Expecting to be a grandma late July – waiting for a beautiful baby boy! Catherine Sherman Hancher:  We are expecting our first grandchild in August!!  Other good things, Margaret “Meg” Forbes Mendoza is moving from California to Florida, so all Magnolia House ladies will be on the East coast – Meg, Donna Mishkin Gordon, Susan Barlett Dunbar, Emily Schwartz McEntee and me.  Being that we are all turning 60, I’m hoping for more than one reunion of some sort.  My husband, Hank, retired this year so of course we immediately adopted a dog now that someone is often home to care of her.  She’s a handful.  We are happy and busy with friends and family and are optimistically looking forward to a bright future. Malia Harrison Anderson: I am finally ending my role as a mother of a Fairfax County school student!  Thirty years!  My baby Hilary graduates June 21 – I have survived! Monica Manzoni Wentz:  Big happenings and joy!  Our first grandchild, Connor Vincent, was born in April and I’m retiring from teaching!  Hard to believe.  I often think back fondly (and with smiles) on our Hood days. Sally Shake Anthony:  Ordinarily I would not have sent this but thought it may be a different take on our class.  In 1978-79, I was a commuting from Baltimore day student back in college after 20 years of absence.  I was at the time 39 years old and in a few weeks I will be 80!  Getting my BS degree allowed for me to begin a wonderful career in design which I am still engaged in.  Never too late to get started.  At the time I had a daughter in college and a son in high school, 2 dogs and a house to run but I made it happen, and am grateful for Hood’s continuing Education program.  They were so supportive and that made a huge difference.  Graduation Day, at 41 years old was surely a happy day for me surrounded by my kids and family.  I remember every detail like it was yesterday.  Best thing I ever did!  Trina Clickner:  I am a happy-go-lucky fiddler, author, cook, landlady and “boss”.  I spend part of the year in Dunedin FL and enjoy summers in my Rochester NY family home.  While everyone else seems to be retiring, I’m thinking I may have just one more work adventure left in me – we’ll see!

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

Kathy Anderson Jewell and husband Chip are happy to announce the birth of their granddaughter Isla Katherine Zoller, born to daughter Kristin and her husband Zack on May 1, 2017. Isla weighed 7 lbs. 4 ounces and joins her siblings, Nora (5) and Ian (3).  Isla is their fifth grandchild. Congratulations! David and Diana Hilgartner Boyd are happy to announce the marriage of their son, Will, on June 10, 2017 in Jackson, MS.  Diana will report more in the next issue. Congratulations to the Boyd family! Margaret Lindsay Doyle attended State University of New York PolyTech graduation in Albany, NY in May.  As Maggie was leaving, she passed a woman with her PhD robe. She was speaking to someone and Maggie overheard her saying, “Well, I got my undergraduate degree from Hood College!” Maggie immediately whipped around and said, “You are kidding! I graduated from Hood College. What year?” She replied,”1988, it was still all women!”  Maggie smiled and said, “Hood Class of 76!” Small world! Jane Olsen M.A. ’78 writes: “If anyone paid attention to the In Memoriam section of the Hood Magazine last issue, they will know that Judith Howe passed away 12/31/2016.  What some may not have known was that Judy & I were together for 42 years and legally married for three.  Judy was too ill for us to attend our 40th reunion.  I’m adjusting to her passing.” Our classmates send our deepest sympathy to you, Jane. Lois Vandermark Moore’s father Robert Vandermark, Sr. passed away on February 4, 2017.   We send our deepest sympathy and love to Lois and her family. Barbara Woolmington writes: Last time I reported we retired and were moving to Asheville NC… well we have arrived and settled into a rental home in a small suburb in West Asheville.  We are enjoying the wonderful restaurants, beautiful hiking trails and new friends.  Everyone is very friendly and many come from somewhere else, so they know what it is like to be new in the neighborhood.  I have joined a book group and the local athletic club to keep my body and mind in shape.  Craig went on Medicare last month and is pleased so far with the good service he is getting.  I hope I don’t have many medical needs for the next two years until my Medicare time arrives.  Larry and I had a wonderful trip to San Antonio in April. We enjoyed the Riverwalk, Market Square, the Alamo and the Missions. So much to do in that beautiful city! We are looking forward to our annual beach trip to OBX with our kids and grandkids in June.

Joyce Manbeck MacKellar, M.S.’00
301-964-6677
joycemackellar@yahoo.com

Patricia Kidd
609-737-3656
pat.kidd@hotmail.com

Thanks to everyone who sent news, particularly Carolyn Schoemer Huyghe, who’s also volunteered to create a Facebook page for us, possibly including our adjacent classes.  Stay tuned for more on this; in the meantime, here’s news: “Hi/Hello” from Peggy Jordan Lamborne, and from Dorothy Herdle Files (from Texas). Peggy Bull Larsen M.S.’79 is enjoying her work at Goucher as Director of Presidential and Special Events and she just returned from a trip to Southwestern England (Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Wiltshire) with her sister-in-law.  Her trip included a visit to Port Isaac where they were filming an episode of Doc Martin, the British medical dramedy. Peggy also visited Cuba in February and highly recommends travel to both the countryside and Havana before it changes too much. Carolyn Schoemer Huyghe is semi-retired and living in Charlottesville, also spending some time in her Ft. Myers, FL. condo.  She and Cheryl Cuddeback ’75 recently reconnected on Facebook, finding they had work (real estate) and daughters in common.  She also reports that Liz Anne Arant is engaged (as seen on Facebook). Elizabeth Rittenhouse P’07 is working as a technical writer for a software development firm and notes she has “no plans to retire” (go Beth!).  She and Patricia Loser Godwin are planning a “slumber party” at Beth Guertler Godfrey M.A. ’80 house in two weeks.  They also plan to see Joyce Manbeck MacKellar M.S. ’00 (our class co-columnist) and Jennifer Fifield for dinner and other activities. Deborah Kohler sends news that she’s still working as an interim minister in Michigan, but hoping that she’ll be able to retire after this posting (though she has both excitement and fears about moving into this phase of life).  Her husband Ed continues to work as an automotive engineer and they’re planning to participate in a vintage auto race in Daytona this fall! This past winter, when they were in Florida, Deb had a chance to catch up with her big sister, Jane Eselen Blocker (’72) and hopes to connect again on future trips. Carolyn also shared the news that Linda Shurko Bulvanoski lost her husband at the end of May.  Linda’s note: “It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that the love of my life and my very best friend lost his valiant battle from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He fought like the champion he always was to his very last breath. He was so proud of the community where he resided and loved marching and speaking at Bethlehem’s Memorial Day Parade. Bethlehem’s parade was cancelled today due to inclement weather but I believe Leo’s spirit and soul might have had something to do with the cancellation today. Heaven gained the gentlest soul and the best example of what a gentleman is today.”  Our thoughts and prayers are with Linda. My own news:  I retired in March but am gearing up to work part-time again, beginning in July.  I’m heading down to Hood with Martha Murray Robinson ’72 for her reunion this weekend.  For fun, I’m learning to play the banjo and through-hiking with my partner Davis Henderson (completing the Camino de Santiago in Span last October and the Scottish “John Muir Way” in May).  In the past few years, I visited beautiful San Miguel de Allende in Mexico several times and enjoyed spending time Rhea Bel-Jon Calkins ’75 and her husband Steve, who’ve retired there.  Also saw Rhea last summer in Brooklyn, along with Cheryl Cuddeback ’75, when Rhea was in town for a celebration and remembrance service for her father, Nikos Bel-Jon.  I’ve just missed bumping into Margery Berringer-Schuran several times with Rhea, but alas no such luck.  Keep that news coming!

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

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

Nancy Fisher Henderson wrote that she and John continue to enjoy retirement in Chestertown, Maryland, their home for the past five years. Nancy loves retirement life and the opportunity to have time to do the things she enjoys most, which include reading, knitting, music, sailing, and anything with John. They are active in their church choir and bell choir and enjoy the National Music Festival each June.  The warm weather finds them very busy sailing, particularly in the spring and fall, with John racing their sailboat while Nancy serves on the Race Committee. Their big project for 2016 was the addition of a new room for their cottage, which serves as a model building, and train room. Donna Mikulak Strawser has lived in Bremen, Maine for the past nine years.  Her daughter Allison, her husband, and their three sons live nearby while her son Nathan and his two sons are still living in Tennessee.  Donna’s husband Dan still is a woodcarver, although that has become more challenging as he has developed Parkinson’s disease.  Fortunately, it is being kept somewhat at bay.  Donna retired from teaching in 2008 and now works part time online for PEDSTest.com.  She also does a lot of gardening, quilting, exercising, and grandmothering!  She keeps in touch with Cynthia White Gilbert, and they manage to get together every now and then after not seeing each other from 1975 until 2014! Elizabeth “Betsy” Cooper Pizzolato, Alice Paul McGinnis, and Mary McMunigal Burland met for lunch in Havre de Grace, Maryland in March.  It was a delightful afternoon as they enjoyed good food, wonderful memories, and the opportunity to reconnect after so many years. Mary and I are always grateful to those of you who send us news or respond to our emails and letters.  Please, please drop us a line and tell us what you have been up to especially if you haven’t written in a while.