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

Cindy Besancon Walsh left her “beloved Colorado” eight years ago to care for family members in Florida.  She was able to move to Spokane, WA, one year ago to be closer to her son and his family.  Cindy spends her retirement time on golf, fishing, camping, and playing with her grandchildren.  Ada Karen Blair participated in the Women’s March on Washington in January, the day after the Presidential inauguration. She joined a group of women from rural NC who, while standing on the National Mall, watched the crowd grow to unexpected and unprecedented size.  It was a “defining moment” to be a part of more than a million women who demonstrated their concerns for the environment, human rights, and women’s issues.  Susan (“Sandy”) Doucett Greenberg and her husband met Margaret Livingstone Frisk and her husband during their annual trip from FL to MA.  Joining them were Kathryn Grant Heinen and Ann Rechsteiner Phillips and their husbands.  They were grateful for this time together; Sandy maintained keeping in touch after “fifty years and counting is so important”.  Sandy is also in contact with Vickie Smith Diaz.  Roberta Dudley Maguire enjoys retirement with “five grandchildren, soon to be six”.  She recently returned from a trip to Germany and Austria with Joanne Loughrey Flahive.  Ellen Farrand Carpenter reported she has a four-year-old grandson and five-month-old granddaughter.  Ellen recently made a surprise visit to her Hood roommate, Lallah Pierpont Brilhart, whom she hadn’t seen since graduation. They recognized each other immediately.  Elizabeth Houghton Fulmer drove 5,500 miles in a motor home and visited nine national parks in CA, TX, and NM.  After six weeks, she flew home to Florida and will continue the trip in the fall.  She states that “retirement is great”.  Margaret Livingstone Frisk reports that her husband will retire in July after teaching for 13 years at Florida Atlantic University and after working for 26 years at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and 9 years at the Naval Research Lab.  Marge and her husband will continue to summer in MA and winter in FL.  Marge’s sad news was of Lucy Rupp Sterner’s sudden and unexpected passing in April.  Lucy was Marge’s roommate during junior and senior year at Hood and was a bridesmaid in Marge’s wedding.  Lucy’s sister graduated from Hood in 1975.  We send condolences to Marge and, especially, to Lucy Rupp Sterners’s family.  Joanne Loughrey Flahive sent news of an eighteen-month-old grandson who is a “total delight”.  Joanne and Roberta Dudley Maguire went on a ten-day trip to Germany and Austria with a small group that included an author of a WWII novel. They visited places in the novel including Buchenwald, Nuremberg, and Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest.  Joanne and her husband will travel to Santa Fe, NM, this summer and will be joined by their daughter, son-in-law and grandson.  Margaret Muncie enjoys her “semi-retired life” which includes three trips a year to NYC to serve on the Board of Trustees of General Theological Seminary.  Peggy recently hosted a gathering of Hood alums at her home in Greenville, SC.  Hood President Chapdelaine and Nancy Gillece also attended and met with the alums.  Donna Newman spends much time on various beaches and will visit the Baltic capitals and St. Petersburg, Russia, in August.  Karin Ninesling Infuso and her husband fill their retirement days in NC with gardening, a community book club and civic groups, and an adorable, almost two-year-old grandson. Karin visited Florida for vacation and to see a long-time friend and colleague and travels with her daughter and grandson to workshops for teachers of exceptional children.  Karin joined Karen Blair on the historic Women’s March on Washington in January and sees Karen and her husband, who live nearby, as often as possible.  Mary Ryan Reeves visited with Ellen Sacks P ’09 when Ellen participated in a panel on “Women in the Law” at Hood. Sam’s trip to Cuba was a cultural opportunity during which she saw “completely inspiring art”.  Sam designed an “I Love 70” tee shirt that is available on Zazzle.com.  Nancy Schneider Alder reports that her five grandchildren will enter grades 5-7 in the fall, and two will become teenagers.  She is proud of their success in school and their involvement in numerous sports.  Vickie Smith Diaz “had the honor” of walking her daughter down the aisle at her wedding on Mother’s Day. For Vickie, it was a “fabulous Mother’s Day”.

Patricia “Pat” Rosner Kearns
kearns.patricia@gmail.com

Enjoyed seeing so many people this past reunion weekend! Congrats to co-chairs Sue Bracken and Ginny Price Bracken for an amazing job, and those who put the memory book and art show together! Will leave details to the Hood mag report of the reunion. Susan Wadia-Ells says her book, Busting Breast Cancer: Our Personal and Political Revolution…with four simple steps to stop breast cancer before it starts (Sept. 2017) is the first book on breast cancer prevention, based on the metabolic theory of cancer. Tom Seyfried, Boston College, has written the foreword. Susan blames editorial demands for missing the reunion but held one in New England this spring. Ginny Munson Hammell was at the reunion but the exciting news is: “FINALLY will reach grandmother status (spoiler alert – it’s a boy ) in July!!!, courtesy of daughter Hillary who does employment law (representing plaintiffs) of course in CA.” Ginny invites “y’all” to come visit her during the winter in Boca Raton. During her months in Alexandria, Ginny serves on the Board of Community Lodgings, a transitional housing program. Ginny hosted alums at the   amazing Trading Room she’s donated to Hood this weekend. French House roommates Judy Lehman Ballinger, and Cheryl Wray Kirk will perform at the reunion chapel service and participate in the art show with Kris Campbell Joyce.  Otherwise, “BJ and I journeyed in February to Cuba for my art/teaching. We were based in Havana at the Melia Cohiba next to the famous seawall, the Malacon”, known as the living room of that city. We journeyed with some basic medicines (such as aspirin) and art supplies for the people via Caritas Cubana, a Catholic relief organization in Boston for Cuba. After 31 years at Chilton Hospital in Pompton Plains, NJ as Director of Dietetics, Leilani (Lani) Chen Viney retired in 2011.  After retirement, she says “I was able to focus on my passion for ballroom dancing” and does so competitively, competing in a Blackpol, England open pro/am championships in May, finishing 3rd in her division. Lani writes: Son, Jonathan, and family live in Ithaca, NY where he has a medical practice, and daughter-in-law Marnie teaches at Cornell and doesn’t see enough of grandchildren, Liala, and Owen.  Lani serves on the Board of The Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation, sending children with kidney disease to summer camp where they are mainstreamed with all of the other children. The camp has a dialysis unit and full medical staff there to take care of the kids.  She writes, “I helped set up the meal program for the kidney kids for the Foundation while at Einstein in the Bronx in 1975. Who knew I would end up on their Board 37 years later.” Edie Ryll Mathews says she’s “been lucky:  my husband’s job with Delta brought us to Atlanta, Robert Shaw’s city.  Always loving choral music, I auditioned for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and was accepted, singing for three years in the ’70’s, when my children were very small.  Then I worried about Mr. Shaw dying, so I auditioned in 1988 and got back into the chorus, where I’ve been ever since.  This chorus, although volunteer (unpaid), is very strict; we audition again every year.  The Atlanta Symphony has won numerous Grammy’s, including several for best choral performance.  I’ve really used my music major, teaching piano all this time, and doing 17 years of choral conducting, as well.  I’ve benefitted from Dr. Allen Bonde’s excellent teaching and even taught two sight singing classes à la Mr. William Sprigg!  We have three children, who all live in Atlanta.  One has just married this past October, so we are hoping for a grandchild down the road. Judy Lehman Ballinger, who – as noted above – performed with former classmates at the reunion,  mostly “spends time painting in my spacious home studio, selling scarves and other art at our art coop gallery, visiting our 9 grandkids, selectively responding to political outrage, and trying not to notice which part of my body doesn’t work as well as it used to. Reunion was fantastic.” Personally, grandson Ozzie arrived in May, joining Karolina, Max, Laszlo and Isaac.  My son, Neil, is headed for law school and daughter Johanna runs the Pavillion at the National Gallery in DC.  With Josh is in NoCal, Neil in KY, and Max in north Georgia I spend a lot of time going East-West to see the grandkids. Still working – running a nonprofit in Fairfax, VA helping the homeless get back on their feet.  Pat Rosner Kearns

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

Anna Buhr Cole writes that she and her husband Miles have continued their love of travel, visiting Spain and Portugal, with trips to Iceland and Norway this summer, the Holy Land in the fall, and North Africa in January. Both daughters are librarians. Virginia “Ginny” Wheeler Jones M.A.’88, who chaired our 50^th Hood reunion, looks back on that time as “such a positive experience” filled with many happy memories. Winter days in Florida led to reunions with Carole Ann Kemp Lovett and Carole Ann’s husband Bill, and Terri Petrillo Connolly and Terri’s husband Frank. Ginny and Charlie celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary last year. Carole Ann wrote that she and Bill are hoping to move to The Villages in Sumter County, FL, after selling their home in Deep Creek Lake, MD. She hopes for a reunion next year in Florida with Pat Kehoe Tylander. Barbara Cubberly Smith, shares that her main focus, other than family, is plants and travel to see plants – and her six grandchildren. She and husband Ron traveled in their RV to the maritime provinces in Canada and to Florida. Barb volunteers with the Master Gardeners in southeastern NC. Laurie Wheeler Brown, writes from her home in Asheville, NC that her dogwoods and gardens are absolutely beautiful. Her five grandchildren will be with her most of the summer as they come and go from various camps. Laurie spends time quilting and husband Fay wields a hammer for Habitat for Humanity. In August, Bonnie Scull Hawkes and husband Geoff will board a cruise ship in Vancouver, head through the Northwest Passage, eventually to New York, then up the St. Lawrence to Quebec City. “We are very excited that we are lucky enough to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Millicent “Milli” Towner Fazey and husband Charles will be going to Columbia for two weeks in July with their Spanish professor and his espousa. They will visit Bogota, Medelin and Cali, and the cafeteria region. Pat Chapple Wright H’90 spends half her time in Madagascar and the other half as a Distinguished Professor at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY. The Centre ValBio research campus that she founded in Madagascar has received three large construction grants for expansion. The remote community health team has doubled in size and the education team is in 20 schools teaching participatory science and environment classes. Nancy Frederickson Sherlin visited last fall. Pat’s daughter, Amanda, is living on Cape Cod with Pat’s two “fantastic” grandchildren, Arianna and Issan. Amanda works at the Woods Hole Research Center doing management and finance for a reforestation project in DRC (Congo). Betty Schmidt Martin writes, “I recently sold the riverfront house I inherited from my mother several years ago, east of Baltimore. One of my twin sons has four children. They live in Texas, and we see them whenever possible. We travel to Orlando often to see his brother’s family with one child who turned one in May.”  Betty’s daughter is working in San Francisco, and Betty and her husband visited there in April. Betty planned to be on the Hood College tour to Normandy in June, and on a river cruise in August with her daughter from Zurich to Amsterdam. Susan Worth Fiala wrote from Denver where she was assisting in the care of daughter-in-law, Tammy. Tammy had a bone marrow transplant last March for her leukemia. “She is doing very well.” In February, Susan visited Beth Harlow Foster in Port St. Lucie, FL. This summer, Beth planned to come to Maryland and go to Ocean City with Susan. On June 3, Susan and John will celebrate their 50^th anniversary. After 42 happy years in Alaska, my husband Elliott and I are moving to McMinnville, OR this summer. A big clump of our family has settled in one place – the Portland, OR area – both sons, both daughters-in-law and their extended families, and all three grandchildren. The pull of family simply got too powerful. We thought we’d always be Alaskans – and in our hearts, we always will be. Our younger son, Ethan, and his wife, Lindsey, both went to Linfield College in McMinnville, so we know the pretty, small town, in the midst of wine country. When they graduated, I thought we’d never be back – but here we come!

Barbara Maly Fish
919-688-9125
Barb2fish@yahoo.com

Two recent phone calls brought sad news. Ann McMillan Shuman reported that her husband Joe died on March 4. Several weeks later, Judi Coombs Creighton called to report that our classmate, Sue Sterner, died on May 13 of congestive heart failure. We send the sympathy of the class to them, as well as to Jane McLees West, P’88 whose daughter-in-law Jennifer Hustead died last November of bone cancer. Jane is very proud of her son, who is doing a wonderful job of taking care of his three teenagers after his wife’s death. Family graduations fill Jane’s and husband Roger’s schedule these days, one from Bowdoin College and three from high school.  2016 was a hard year for Betsy Beachley Winger, who had several surgeries over a 12-month period. This put a damper on her favorite hobby, competitive ballroom dancing. Betsy’s husband died in December 2013, but she continues to dance with her instructor. Molly Moore Romero is still in Omaha, deeply rooted in her neighborhood where she works at a restaurant that she founded with her business partner in 2003. She also teaches yoga, but no longer works at her art and photography. She very much enjoys her two granddaughters, 12 and 20, and wonders at how different their world is compared to what we experienced at that age. Peter and Carolyn McCurdy Wilson have moved right down the street from the yacht club where they grew up. They still sail and fly-fish, albeit at a slower pace. Four young grandchildren help keep them on their toes. Beth Myers enjoys her retirement from teaching kindergarten and lives in the Westminster MD house where she grew up. She moved there after her parents died in 1978. She conducts two Bible studies a week and her black pug provides exercise. For 28 years, she has had a 29-game plan with the Baltimore Orioles and also follows the New England Patriots. Maine is her preferred vacation destination. Anne Burgess Huffer began teaching when we graduated from Hood and taught for 38 years, 23 in Maryland, 12 in Florida, and 3 in Bahrain. She still does some volunteer tutoring and part-time teaching at Hagerstown Community College and Shepherd University. She and husband Jay spend winters in Florida, where they have made many friends over the years. While they lived in Bahrain, they traveled abroad and now are focused on seeing all of the U.S., with only 9 states left. Debby Parker Hamilton’s husband Tim was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last August. He has completed seven months of chemo and several weeks of radiation; keeping those appointments fills their calendars these days. They have received good support from their Episcopal church and from their daughters. Debby and Tim hope to visit their summer place in upstate New York this summer. Peter and Ruth Fredericks Frey have recently purchased a home in Cambria, CA, where they have spent the past five winters away from the harsh weather of their Colorado home. They plan to live in Cambria 8 months a year, then spend the 4 summer months in Colorado in a home they’ll rent. Claire Fulenwider and her wife Harriet moved recently into a new old house in Santa Fe, closer to downtown. They have enough space to keep their RV on site. Their daughter Nina, grandson Nelson, son Nathan, and daughter-in-law Pam all helped Claire celebrate her 75^th in April. Claire and Harriet will spend the summer at their Wisconsin cabin, grateful for good health, travels, and each other. They are both determined to resist and persist following the lessons that Virginia Lewis taught all of us. Ellen Roberts Glaccum has been in a reflective mood lately, thinking back to events in the early 60s. She and Cathy Kuralt Harris traveled to Washington on a frigid January 20, 1961 to see John Kennedy inaugurated. They climbed a tree to see the proceedings, little knowing that three years later they would be back on Capitol Hill to see the Presidential casket lying in state in the Rotunda. Ellen has also been thinking about her favorite Hood professor and wishing that Virginia Lewis were still alive to help her make sense of the current political situation.

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

Hey sisters! Happily, I can report that I had replies from long silent Sheral Kniffin Malloy, says she left Hood after two years, went to law school at Tulane, has practiced law since 1981 and is almost retired. She is married to her second husband Dan, her childhood sweetheart.  They spend winters in South Padre Island, Texas, and summers on Lake Ontario, NY, where they grew up.  She has two sons now in their 50’s and Dan has a daughter, all of whom live in Texas.  Judy Martinka Ericson reports that her husband died three years ago, so she is keeping busy with a lot of traveling, having visited four continents and by now has had a trip sailing along the Dalmation Coast and hiking in the fall in Southern England with Road Scholar.  She says she’s blessed with great children and grands, but as they don’t live close. Jo Ann Twilley Plichta, M.A.’86 has moved to Pennsylvania to be near her son and his family and is happily living in a lovely mobile home in a quiet development.  Life sounds exciting for Carolyn Matusiewski Cannava, P’87 who lives in Alaska but has been back and forth to Kona with her children so they can enjoy snorkeling and swimming.  She was in Kona for her last birthday with 26 kids and grandkids for a Hawaiian celebration. Then she went to her son’s wedding in White Fish, Montana and declared the scenery breathtaking. Mary-Verdella Wagner Nelson’s oldest, Adam who is going to Bryant in Rhode Island and scored some scholarship help. Another grandbaby for Sally Schaeffer Morse set to make his arrival, maybe, while Sally and Al are on a cruise to celebrate their 50^th anniversary.  They will be sailing on the Queen Elizabeth through the Baltic countries to St. Petersburg and back to Southampton. Life is busy for Verna Larson Lyons who is very involved in her Presbyterian Church with a large congregation as well as a board member for a church retirement community. She and her son took an amazing trip to Thailand, Myanmar and Laos seeing the interesting cultures, good food and very friendly people.  Sue Colton Gibbons is happily living with her daughter in the Boston area and after being far from the kids, is enjoying being granny/nanny/housekeeping/chauffeur/homework helper/cook and errand girl. They moved into a new house which also gave her more work to get everything in shape.  Ann Carpenter Lindau-Martin is enjoying retired life meeting new people and traveling living in Florida full time with her husband even though most of their families still live in New York.  Bobby Campbell Rickman, M.A.’75, P’96 has moved from her bungalow into an apartment at her retirement community and is busy all the time.  Pat Taylor Santelli spent the winter in her house on Amelia Island, Florida.  The raging fires in the Okefenokee Swamp sent a lot of smoke Pat’s way. She is doing renovations but going nuts conforming to the Historic District codes. She and Jim still have their house at Oyster Bay where Jim works as a dentist at Nassau County Jail.  Glad to hear that Jim is recovering from his stroke. As for me, I am doing very well after Ron’s death.  I have Robin, who lives with me and son, Ryan, lives nearby.  Robin and I are set for our birthday trip in June to Paris and Denmark.  Nancy “Zabbie” Huff Quinn lives in Paris and will meet us one afternoon. Last time I was in Europe, Zabbie was in London at the time and said we could get together; I just answered that, six years later?  Then Robin and I are going on to Denmark to visit our exchange student and family.  Lin Chait Solomon M.A.’84, M.A.’95 wrote that some of her children and grands are suffering with kidney disease like Joe did.  Lin retired seven years ago and is enjoying book groups, theater outings and tutoring. She is grateful that her family lives nearby.  She has been vacationing with her sisters, Johanna Chait Essex ’53 and Muriel Chait Durbin ’56, P’81, and brother-in-law being “wowed” by the beauty of the US Southwest.  Brenda Eklund Pearson has traveled Vietnam, as well as other countries in Southeast Asia. Mark your calendars for June 8, 9 and 10, 2018.  Our reunion dinner will be at Dottie’s on Friday, June 9.  Until then, keep me updated and I’ll see you in June.

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

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

Constance Ann Coleman Alexander is enjoying her position as director of music at her church and also enjoying her family and friends.  She expects two more grandchildren in 2017 (June and November).  She will be traveling to Greece in August with her brother, Bill, and plans to visit China in the spring of 2018.  “Life is good.” Nancy Brown Braudrick finally moved into her new, newly-built home in Gold Beach, OR, on Easter weekend, the only time her son could help with the move.  Her daughter and son-in-law live nearby and are a great help.  Her home is still a work in progress. Estelle Harrison Brendle sent greetings from North Carolina.  She hoped to attend her sixtieth high school class reunion in Calvert County, MD in June.  She keeps in touch with Judy Freedom Westenhoefer.  “It’s fun to visit her in Bedford, VA and hear about her farm and all her animals.” Judy Arenson Friedman lives in Boca Raton, FL, as her children and grandchildren are in the NYC area, she spends June and September in the City and July and August in the Berkshires.  She had a fantastic 16-day trip in April to Israel and Jordan, covering Tel-Aviv, Haifa, upper Galilee, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and Eilat. Marilyn King Jessen had sad news and good news.  The sad news is that her Hood roommate, Suzanne Brown Wellcome, passed away on October 30, 2016.  We send our condolences to Suzanne’s children and her husband, Page.  The good news is that Marilyn is taking her family, eleven in all, on a Disney cruise in August.  Marilyn also reported that she is doing very well after being diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in February, 2016.  She feels great now and takes one pill a day, Torceva, to keep the cancer in check.  “I have all of my old energy back and am enjoying life.  Praise the Lord!  My friends call me a miracle and I am.  Every day is a gift, especially not knowing how much longer things will be this good.” Joy Hillegas Johnson’s daughter-in-law reported that Joy passed away May 14, 2017.  We send our condolences to Joy’s husband, Norman, and their children and grandchildren. Janet Spaulding Nunn, P’06 and husband, Jack, planned to go in July on the Rhine River cruise sponsored by Hood. Janice Dobbs Pedersen and husband, Tom, are happily settled in an Erickson retirement community in Tinton Falls, NJ.  She is doing watercolors and has had some nice commissions.  “We are fighting age with vigor, humor, and determination.” Mable Philipp Pochedly enjoys living in Long Beach, CA, and would be delighted to see anyone down that way.  As her children and grandchildren live on Long Island, NY, she visits there often. Lyn Adams Sprinkle is enjoying living at Sunrise community in Richmond, VA.  She dines with other residents daily and participates in the many activities.  Her daughters drop by 3 times a week.  Her son, Stuart, a policeman who has less time available, is married to Kim who has twin boys. Barbara Hufham Wells and husband, Richard, continue to be in good health and enjoy small town living in Moscow, ID.  They have become strong supporters of The Xercis Society, which is devoted to preserving invertebrates, particularly bees, butterflies, and other pollinators; and Richard, “the gardener,” has been busy planting flowering plants they find attractive. Beth Lee Zehnder has a second granddaughter about to go to college.  Her husband, Chuck, retired as a CPA; then in tax season was called back to work to help.  She and Vivi Bruckel Harvey got together and enjoyed “catching up.”  Beth says, “We’re still able to use the stairs in the home we purchased in 1966.  Thank You, Lord!”  Marty Kaiser Canner does not have much news, but has chatted a couple of times with Shirley Garrett Haley, P’85 and her husband, Ed, in a local grocery store since Shirley and Ed moved to Catonsville, MD last year. Katharine Baum Wolpe keeps a hectic schedule with her church, Democratic club, and as a volunteer escorting frail senior neighbors to weekly appointments and shopping.  She also participates in a local seniors group and exercise classes, and spends time posting flyers and sending emails about interesting local events.  She and companion Philip continue to enjoy concerts, dance and theater performances, and his home-cooked meals.  They also participate in a reading group on the Israel-Palestine situation.  Fluffy Pancho Cat continues as her sometimes cranky roommate.

Marilyn Garis Kellow
262-334-5782
maggiehood1958@gmail.com

I am saddened to report that we have lost 3 classmates since last fall. Betty Walsh Suto passed away in late 2016 and Emily Joyce Sanders in early 2017. Julee Moser, daughter of Betsy Smith Moser P’92 wrote that “the best mother and friend we have ever known” passed away May 9, 2017. In February, Polly Sherman Leigh moved from Hawaii to a retirement community in Carlsbad, CA. She is enjoying being close to family and a good friend. Fitness classes, educational speakers, the symphony, a big band production, live stage shows, wine tasting and a trolley ride around San Diego, which included Coronado, are among her new activities. Sue Brown Melech and husband Bob spend January through April in St Petersburg FL at the Hollander Hotel and would like to get to together with any classmates who may be in that area during those months. Jeb Bennett Moran reports that she along with Carol Horwath Klecka and Carol Huelsen Warrington had an unexpected treat on March 16^th. President Andrea Chapdelaine and her father joined classmates and significant others for breakfast at the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice FL. Sara Lea Callaway Redmon got the brave idea to have the first ever family reunion. It turned out Great!!! About 65 people from 22 months on up from 5 different states. Mary Allen Reynolds just returned from visiting gardens in England, including Sissinghust. She plans to go to her granddaughter’s high school graduation in Seattle. She continues to exhibit for the Ikebana International Chapter at the local garden center and attends national meetings. Knee replacement surgery is in her plans in the future. Bunnie Potter Richardson wrote the sad news that her brother Ken and his wife have passed away recently. Ken was married to Joey Liehmann who was a member of our class for our first 2 years at Hood. She then went to the University of Maryland to be with Ken. Penny Adams Rogers says Hawaii is still home but does travel to see family on the mainland. Last May they met family in NYC to celebrate her 80^th and saw Hamilton with the original cast. They then drove back across the country just for fun and stayed with family in Portland, Oregon. Remained in Hawaii for the summer and then to Calgary for cooler weather. November, December and January were spent in Boston with family. It was nice to see fall, Thanksgiving, and Christmas back in New England where she grew up. Jenny Krohn Rose and Shep are still in Henderson, Nevada training their Portuguese Water Dog, Rosie, and entering her in AKC agility and obedience trials. Jenny is happy that at 80 she can still run around an agility course. Marthanne Stephens Smith writes that her 2 daughters have adopted older dogs from kill shelters, (but they don’t want to adopt us)!!!!! Both dogs are adorable, a white husky and an old black and grey Cairn. She is still going to classes at the community college, enjoying living in their townhouse and reads all the time (recommends “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles). Anne Merrick Vosti sends the sad news that husband Ken passed away April 26^th. Thanks to an incredible hospice organization, Mission Hospice, she could have him home with many visits from her large family. She has wonderful memories of where their 58-year partnership which started when they met at Hood. Jo Olmstead Witherington has traveled this year to Easter Island and the Patagonia area of Chile and Argentina. She has just finished singing in 3 concerts within a week and is now working on Titanic and some of the works of Rutter. After a cruise to Alaska she plans to stay home for a few months. Life in WI has been relatively quiet. My life focuses around family, especially my 4 grandchildren. Rickey (25) is in a doctorate program at U of Illinois, Gracie (22) graduated last December from U of WI Green Bay, Julia (21) will be a senior at Kent State (spent last semester in Florence, Italy), and Elena (17), a high school senior, will probably be headed for Miami of Ohio after graduation. Thanks for all the news. Our numbers are fewer each year, but it is a blessing to hear from so many………….Love and prayers, Maggie

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

Connie Drown Blair has been selling real estate in Mass., and is thinking of retiring—but, being on the job keeps her mind active, and out of the house.  Connie and her husband, John, are quite active. They are able to travel and see their children and grandchildren several times a year. Joan Jazowski Fellows is a great grandmother for the second time.  The baby was born in Atlanta this past January. Penny Fradd Vahsen’s third grandson graduated from USNA this past May.  One of her other grandsons is a Submariner, and the second a Naval pilot.  She still travels, and was able to attend the weddings of four of the cadets that she had sponsored. Joan Gebhardt Tambling is still traveling. She and her dog, Lucy, are both active and well. While traveling in Maui, she sprained her ankle and discovered that “wheelchairs in airports are a great way to travel”. Sue Heubisch Milkey and her husband are still “season travelers” south to Florida for the winter, and back to N.Y. for the summer. Pat Lloyd Fordham attended her grandson’s college graduation this past May.  She is looking forward to seeing everyone at our reunion next year. Bim Mayer Werle’s husband, Jerry, had a hip replacement surgery right after they got to Florida last November, and is doing very well now. They plan to sign up for a continuing care community in Shelburne, Vt., and will move in when their unit is completed [May 2019].  They plan to list their house next spring. Marilynn Phillips had cataract surgery last March., and has had to receive knee injections for several weeks but other than that she is doing well and is active in church groups.  Her friends and family watch over her and take good care of her. She has many hobbies, grows orchids, and is a gourmet cook.  She also hopes to attend our next reunion. Beverly Rosenberg Sager’s children had her come to California to celebrate her 85^th birthday and to attend her grandson’s college graduation. She still goes to a community college twice a week, and frequently goes into NYC with a bus group to attend the theater. Sheila Seigal Asher, and husband Dick, have rented their home in S.C. and are now full time Floridians. Two of their grandchildren graduated from high school, and their oldest granddaughter is going to Israel on her “birthright” trip. Elaine Green Powell reported, “All goes well with Dave and me here in Concord, NH. No special news to pass along since last bulletin except to say hello to everyone!” Myrna Hays Slick is fine, has good memories of Hood, and all the paths that it led to. Hal and I are fine. Our vacation this year will be a Tauck tour to see the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion national parks, with my sisters, Muriel Chait Durbin ’56, P’81 and Linda Chait Solomon ’63, M.A.’84, M.A.’95. I still volunteer at the USMMA Cookie Café on Thursday’s. We serve over 400 young men and women with cookies from home, coffee, tea, milk and lots of love. Also, back at the nursery school where I taught many years ago, I read the” golden oldies” to the children.  We did attend the graduation of our grandson in Binghamton, N.Y. He was the third generation to graduate from the college. To the two people whose news did not get into this column—sorry, but your cards arrived with your names torn off. Thanks for all your kind words—looking forward to seeing you next June.–Jo

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

Donna Fogle Fisher reports that she is fine, spending time reading, working crossword puzzles, and watching reruns of old TV.  She feels fortunate and truly blessed to see her children regularly.  She also reported on the death of Betty Merryman Blanset who was a beloved kindergarten teacher.  Our sympathy to her husband, two children and several grandchildren.

Mary Lou Henry Deisroth P’76 and Tony had just returned from Pittsburgh to visit a granddaughter and their new 6th great granddaughter and were in Bethany Beach, DE for Memorial Day where she had fun trying paddle boating. Their next trip was to be to MA for two grandsons graduations, one from high school and one from college.  Then she will be home, continuing her gardening and other activities. Mary Lou Hoffman Huff reports “the dull truth” that she enjoys her life which continues with gym, Lumosity, Mad Money account investing and occasional lunch or dinner with family and friends.  She is also fascinated with bird watching.  Shirley Keckler Trostle, reports “At 87, one can sum up the life that has been lived.  I gave birth to four children and three of them have departed, one in 1972, one in 2012 and one last January.  I have discovered that the tears of frustration burn like fire but the tears of grief are cleansing, purifying and healing.  You can live through anything but it is the creative spark that returns you to life and moves you forward.  And so I am phasing out quilting but I have picked up the pencil for sketching and I hope to write seriously this year.  And I still take a few appointments for Reflexology and Reiki and as long as I get results I will continue.”  Cathie Strachan Upp moved the end of April to a house next to her daughter Karen. She had the feeling that her whole life passed before her as she was going through all the papers, pictures and possessions, but she likes her new place where she can see the Catalina Mountains from her patio.  She is looking forward to a trip to Mexico this summer with her family and then a trip to Florida to visit her brother. Heard from Molly Wood Tully who is recovering from a hip replacement last February but is still unable to drive.  Her 2 sons spent time helping out but she is not yet involved in her usual plethora of activity.  She has given up tennis but will be in Cape May for June and July where friends and family will visit. Walt and I are hoping to leave this week to drive to New England again for the summer.  The trip seems to get longer each time but we feel very fortunate to still be able to do this.  Remember we only have news from those of you who contribute, so what are the rest of you doing?

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

Aloha, Hoodlums. I think it is extraordinary that over 50 % of the class of 1948 are ‘still kicking’ (see below) while reaching their 90th year.…that’s sixty-plus women! Could it have been that (campus day) ‘Vitamin H’ we championed way back then??….Anne Chaney Mesmer is still in Washington, DC; granddaughter Andriana graduates from high school this June. Anne shares an Irish Blessing: “May all that is unloved in you Blossom into a future Graced with love….” (Lovely…mahalo, Anne) Nancy Naser Crawford writes that although she misses her car and her independence, she is really enjoying all the group physical therapy classes, trips and programs at the Salemtown Community Center where she now resides. (And I bet they enjoy her) Just learned of the death of Betty Patterson Reims in late May.  Betty was one of ‘the folksies”, our gang of eleven so called by Patty Beall Snader in “Future Perfect”.  Aloha, ol’ buddy. The Round Robin letter started by Shirley Benson Rice and eight other Hoodlums at graduation ended when Elsa Eggers Hauswald died, leaving Shirley and Barbara Heiss Jackson to keep it going. Shirley and Barb decided to keep in touch by phone and retire the Round Robin after an amazing sixty-eight years. (That should go in the record books!) Patty Callender Hewit lost her husband in 2011, and then her home at Normandy Beach, N.J. to hurricane Sandy, and now lives in a retirement community. “But I am also very lucky, as eight of my thirteen grandchildren are married with thirteen great grandchildren and two more on the way.” (THAT should go in the record books…..) Jean Herman Walker writes “Still kicking slowly but still kicking! Lost Wade three years ago, and now have fifteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Life is good and very few pains…..thank goodness!” Charlestown (Baltimore) Retirement Community is home to Bette Blome Winyall, who attended grandson Davey’s recent wedding in Blacksburg, VA while “missing grandson. Joe’s graduation from the University of Virginia on the same day. Philly soldiers on, coping with health problems. Dan’s been promoted to Captain…….daughter Ruth and sons David and Walter bring joy and delight as well…”. Bette also writes: “Pleasant days here as I enjoy good health, good friends, family and rewarding volunteering…every good wish to fellow Hoodlums!” Me, I’m the slackard here………I have (only) seven grandchildren and my very first great-grandchild will arrive in July, courtesy of granddaughter Maile Lewis Little and husband Micheal. Maile and Mike were the subjects of an article I wrote for local publication, called “Tutu Goes to New York” in 2015, about all the brouhaha around Maile’s marriage to an aristocratic New Yorker. I will include that story in my soon-to be-self-published biography which I’m writing just for fun, and family. All for now. Keep writing!