1958
Maggie Garis Kellow
414.418.5782
maggiehood1958@gmail.com

 

Cynthia Williams Bohaker reports that everything is well in Maine. She recently enjoyed the family for 2 weeks at a cottage at Goose Rocks Beach, Kennebunkport, Maine. The next “family bonding” will be in Phoenix over Christmas and New Year. Sue Brown Melech says Bob and she are healthy. They are madly trying to learn Spanish in planning their final “big” trip this September to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos. Their 5 grandsons ages 21, two at 17 and two at 13 are all OK. They spend January through April in Florida to get out of the Rochester winters. Anne Walton Merriken says that they have survived the 84 tornadoes and flooding that Oklahoma experienced in May. Their bright spots were visits from son Stuart in June and Jim and family in July. Carolyn “CYP” Patton Meyer had no special news but she is still going through “stuff” to hopefully move later this year into an apartment. She remarked that after a cool June, they are having unrelenting 90degree temperatures. She says, “Remember being in the dorms with no air conditioning?” Sara Lea Callaway Redmon says that since 2018 their plans have centered around Carl’s heart and resulting surgery. After weeks of “hurry up and wait” they got an appointment at the Cleveland Heart Clinic in Ohio. It was February when they made the first trip to Cleveland and the chill factor was -11 (not what their southern blood was used to!). They felt very blessed that he was accepted to have a TAVR procedure. (This is surgery to replace a valve without open heart!) It was May before it could be scheduled but everything went perfectly. Blessings upon blessings! Diana Hagenbarth Russo is spending the summer in the cool mountains of North Carolina. Sadly, she relates that her husband Fred passed away in December and says that she is more than lonely. Thankfully, she has a good church family and great neighbors. She says, “God loves me/you more than we can ever imagine. (I can certainly relate to that, Diana). Marthanne Stephens Smith reports that there is nothing earth shattering there. Just a quick trip to Vermont to watch grandson, Andrew, graduate from high school. Granddaughter, Allie, is now happily married to a great young man and has precious rescue Heinz variety dog! Marthanne is still taking enrichment classes at the local community college. She and Duff are still determined to NOT join the ranks of a retirement home! Anne “Ricky” Merrick Vosti had nothing new to report, but says, “Life in California continues to be costly, frantic and between earth quakes, fires and politics, one never knows what to expect.” Carole Moore White’s youngest grandchild graduated in May from the University of Richmond. Fritz is still in remission but has mid stage macular degeneration, so life has changed for them. Carole has early stage pulmonary fibrous. She is glad that Mayo is close by and their 3 daughters live in Florida. Jo Olmstead Witherington has traveled to Northern Italy to Cinque Terre and the Dolomites. She went from snow in the Dolomites to 90degrees in Florida. In August, she is headed to the Baltic Sea starting in Stockholm and ending up in Copenhagen. Somehow, she still manages to sing and present narrations of poems, spoken word and monologues with a large group of 150-300 and a small group of Vintage, seasoned, aged people. Joan Bennett Moran and Carol Horwath Klecka were delighted to host President Andrea Chapdelaine, Nancy Gillece ’81 and director of alumni and constituent engagement, Kellye Greenwald ’86 in March. Carol has moved to a large, newer facility where she receives more support. It is Tuscan Gardens of Venetia Bay. Carol Huelson Warrington and husband Bob were in Venice for 6 weeks in spring but have returned to Mays Landing NJ for continuing medical care. Jeb reports that her health is considerably improved as a result of months of medication and physical therapy. She still has essential tremor 24/7 but has regained strength and improved balance. She looks forward to having her FIRST great grandson visit in July. He joins 2 great granddaughters. Life in Wisconsin is about the same for me, Maggie Garis Kellow. My main problem is osteoporosis. I try to keep active with senior center activities, family gatherings, church events, etc. Thanks to everyone who responded to my request for news so promptly. Prayers and blessings for contentment in whatever our future may bring. Love and Good Health to everyone.

 

 

1957
Martha Smith Sperandio
727.219.7115
mollymom76@gmail.com

 

Barbara Thomas Yinger: Just got back from Woodstock, NY, enjoying being with daughter Laura and her family from Indiana, Louisville and NYC.  Our grandson owns a cabin there and it creates a nice family get-together place.  That included getting better acquainted with two of our great grandchildren, a two year old and a one year old.  In early June I spent a morning with our “local” four year old granddaughter to accompany her and about 10 other day care friends on a two hour nature hike.  Both experiences were energizing!!!! Elsie Lyon Hinkhouse: It’s been a fabulous time at Morning Star, a senior living facility in Boise, ID where I have lived since Jim’s passing. I have met Kuulei Mobley Green ’59, a Hood College classmate. Neither of us remembered each other but share many other remembrances of classmates and wonderful times at Hood. Kuulei is a retired Episcopal priest, another great connection we have.  In addition I’ve had a fabulous time in Boise.  My youngest daughter, Amy, and her family live here…the reason why we moved to Boise and I spend lots of time with her and her family.  This year my daughter, Ginger, from the Seattle area and her husband were here for 5 days, and my daughter Julie, her husband and two daughters from Cypress, Texas visited 5 days.  I’m blessed to be in Boise!

Carol Harkness Kilrea: Lots going on in my life – last of my 14 grandchildren graduated HS and is off to Kelly School of Business at Indiana University – # 13 finishing his 2nd year at ND where he made All American in cross country running – # 12 finishing up at Penn State and # 11 completing her degree at Iowa!! All the rest working in Chicago – have apartments and in various degrees of relationships – Keegan got married last summer so we all welcomed Matt – a great guy!! Beverly Shores has just been named our 61st National Park (we are within a much larger area) and also been named Indiana Bird Town by the Audubon Society! Bill and I traveled to Mexico this winter and a month in Florida – we are now packing up for a family gathering in Hilton Head followed by a trip to Scotland- so very excited! My Fitbit pushes me forward and thankfully we are both healthy and able to “get on with things” – wow!!  Molly Smith Sperandio: Dealing with a hip replacement in January and subsequent rehab and therapy kept me from participating in one of my favorite volunteer jobs – that of being a Tax Consultant for the 2018 Tax Year during the months of January – April. If I had done my studying when I got my books in November, I probably could have done some of it, but a minor fall which tore up my arm and a bout with pneumonia kept me from it.  And after that little infection, which I had never experienced before in my lifetime, I can understand how people die from that disease!  I’m still walking with a cane, but that did not keep me from enjoying my annual drive to Willow Valley, PA in April to spend time with my sisters, bro-in-law and some nieces; a trip to CA in June for Sophi’s high school graduation from Sacramento Waldorf School -the 7^th of my 8 grandchildren; and another annual drive to Bethlehem, PA in June for our 38th Smith family reunion.  We live on.  All is normal!

1956
Muriel Chait Durbin
310.701.2843
msmuz@aol.com

Thanks to all who responded to my request for news. Cynthia Sternberg Schein keeps busy visiting friends and family. She was happy to be able to attend her granddaughter and grandson’s college graduations. She keeps busy when she is home, her piano group has reformed –and now has four duet members, under the auspices of Venice Musicale. Their performances raise money for music scholarships. She would love to see anyone coming to Venice. Alison Malloch Curran writes that she has been at Seabrook, a retirement community in NJ for 1 and 1/2 years now, and is loving it.  She is only a few miles from where she used to live so still have lots of old friends and new friends.  She had a knee replacement in February but is almost back to normal.  She will be taking a trip to California in July to see her Granddaughter married and hope to see my Freshman and Sophomore year roommate Anne “Cokey” Lanoue Weber.  She lives close to where the wedding will be held. Each year seems to be a blessing, especially now at 85. Becky Eppers Byrd’s main news is that she went to N. Carolina the week of Memorial Day courtesy of daughter Daphne and husband-for the triplets’ party and graduation from high school. Got to brag- Samantha and Michael were co-valedictorians and Andrew was 14th out of class of 380. So very proud of them and their parents. Other than that she just keep plugging along. Health is good, just the back is a problem. She keeps busy with craft work and volunteering. Barbara Tovell Tennant writes that she and Bruce moved to a CCRC called Wesley Commons in Greenwood, SC. They wanted to escape the annual hurricane threats they had in the Lowcountry.  “With the help of my 2 daughters, we moved all my Bonsai trees here to a ground floor apt. where I can tend to them at my front and back doors.”  This past weekend Greenwood had its annual Garden Tour, Wesley Commons participated for the first, and I had my trees on display.  Visitors asked me why I had this hobby:  my answer was, it’s a perfect outlet for an Art Major who loves gardening.  Haven’t seen any Hoodlums for ages, do keep in touch with Ginny Turnbull Hecklinger and Sandy Newing. Jackie Kling Kreider had a wonderful family reunion at Clator Lake in Virginia. The children, spouses and seven grandkids were there. Helen Ward Wheeler keeps busy with their grandchildren and 5 year old great grandson. She and Jack are happy that they don’t live at the breakneck speed of the younger generation. As for myself, Muriel “Muzzy” Chait Durbin, I am still working as a travel advisor and very much enjoy planning trips for my clients.

 

 

1954
Jean Baker Leister Weikert
717.624.3960

Winter, spring and summer 2019 have constituted a slowed-down life style with a more accepting attitude of “let it be”. Mind and ideas moving ahead of the ability to move around! Reunion, on June 9, 2019, was anticipated with a night before sleeplessness full of fond memories. Mark and I arrived at Hood, picked up our reunion itinerary at Whitaker, and then drove to lunch at the Ronald J Volpe Athletic Center. Lunch was a friendly occasion with Britton Muir, assistant director of alumni and constituent engagement, helping us find a table comprised of several friendly alums: Leah Giambarresi MacDonald ’03, Elizabeth Thompson ’08, Jackie Resop Amato ’95, Donna Brown and Bill Brown, Vice President of Enrollment, and Maggie Mitchell Kline ’55. Sitting next to Maggie, I learned of Maggie and her spouse having moved into Dr. Jane McCarrell’s former home near Hood. Harry McAlpine, husband of Betsy McCain McAlpine ’51, also greeted us and informed us of Betsy’s passing this past spring. He mentioned their difficulty in encountering dementia. Harry McAlpine and Maggie’s husband served in Vietnam together. We enjoyed socializing and sharing the lunch of turkey and quinoa salad, beverages and cheesecake. We were able to hear Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Nancy Gillece ’81 introduce President Andrea Chapdelaine, who told sincerely and briefly of her joy to see Hood’s advancement. We were gratified to meet the recipients of the alumna achievement awards. Your class correspondent is especially happy to witness Magaly Mauras Green ’74 who continues to serve on the staff of Harpers Ferry while living with her husband and sons in Frederick. Having met when we attended Hood Grad School from 1976-1979, Magaly is actively encouraging Hoods multi-cultural student population. Adjoining our lunch table was Ginny Turnbull Hecklinger ’56. It was great to speak with Ginny who resides at Homewood in Frederick. Malinda “Lindy” Small ’81 is daughter of Barney and Myrlene Miller Small. Lindy’s mother is a high school classmate of Mark’s and mine. Lindy shall continue to serve Hood while being a part of the Institutional Advancement Staff. President Emeritus Ron Volpe also welcomed us with his warm smile and handshake. After such a friendly, yet introspective lunch we retreated to our room in Shriner. Staying at Shriner until Sunday morning was reminiscent of appreciating the use of elevators rather than using stairways. Onward, after a brief rest, to dinner at Coblentz was a Maryland seafood dinner. Our Shriner hall mate Althea Bates Travis-McCarthy ’64 invited us to share the 1964 table where we socialized with the following: Althea Bates Travis-McCarthy ’64 and her husband of long island, Ann McMillan Shuman ’64 of Delray Beach, FL, Marylou Herrmann Foley ’64 and her husband of Atlanta, GA, who related her extensive travel to Russia and to Germany. Nolah Sawyer Fulk had called earlier to tell of her intention to attend reunion. However, she fell several weeks prior, which is making her more aware of downsizing and the possibility of an estate sale. Her daughter and son in law are nearing retirement. Betty Remsberg DeColigny spent June 9^th with gathering triplet granddaughters. We sometimes see Betty at church in Hanover. Several months after moving from her and Warren’s farm near Middletown, MD into Homewood in Hanover, Warren passed away. Betty resides in their cottage. Betty’s 28 year old triplet granddaughters find it difficult to gather together, yet they could on that reunion weekend. Megan Thomas Eisenberg is marketing director for Avemco Insurance Co. in Frederick. Erin Thomas, a bride-to-be in October, 2019, is a social worker at Homewood in Frederick. Kelly Thomas Keller is a biological science lab technician for USDA ARS Foreign Disease-Weed Science Unit and Fort Detrick. Betty wanted to also share facts about a fourth granddaughter, Cindy Armentrout Ray, who is a wedding planner as well as a proud wife of a dedicated fireman and mother of an adorable two year old son. Other alumni receiving recognition and giving talks are Cindy Nofziger ’79 and Jillian Jones ’12 who serve with the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone, helping to establish libraries, schools, and hospitals. Kudos to their persistence and strength. Mark and I participated in a Mediation and Conflict Resolution course conducted by Adams County Mediators. We also did 4 weeks of a beginners drawing class which inspired us to delve into the Art of Drawing People. Keep in touch!

1953
Johanna Essex
516.487.1883
jahalessex@gmail.com

Sincere condolences to Myrna Hays Slick on the loss of her husband. Mary Jane Baldwin Scherer has a new address-Chaucer Estates, 10550 East 21st #3126, Wichita, Kls. 67206. Margie Brown Barati’s husband Bill has shown improvement with his Parkinson’s disease-boxing in p.t. has helped make a great difference physically, mentally and emotionally. Nancy Brown Kohlheyer is looking forward to a visit from Beth “Buffie” McKim Powell in Belgujim, and plans a side trip to Germany in Sept. For the past 35 years Faustena “Penny” Fradd Vahsen has sponsored midshipmen but has decided it is time to stop. She will be taking a trip to France with her daughter Sharon, and plans to move from her 5 bedroom home into a nearby assisted living apartment. Elaine Green Powell and Dave are busy and well in their CCRC cottage-2 sons are retired and very busy, her daughter and husband are in jobs they love. Her grandsons have gone in different directions career wise, and her granddaughter is manager of sports at Steamboat Springs, Co. Judy Rank Loposer is keeping busy with family activities and weddings of her grandchildren. Dorothy Joyce Coffin reports still living in her large home and has a caregiver to help her, she is blind in her right eye and has retina problems in her left eye.  Her daughter Cathy lives nearby and her other daughter lives in Park City, Utah. Dottie thinks of Hood frequently and is always proud to mention Hood. Pat Lloyd Fordham’s 2 senior rescue dog companions passed away, but she plans to adopt another­ having them around keeps her on her toes. Buffie McKim Powell had a wonderful trip to NYC visiting family and high school friends. Her one granddaughter graduated from the U. of Texas as with a Master’s degree in International Politics and now works for “A Glimmer of Hope”. Ann “Corky” Pattison Casey is well and in the midst of planning the annual family gathering in Conn. Marilyn Phillips life is focused around family, friends, church and home. She is trying to paint again, and still plays the harp-she sent all her piano music to her 12 year old twin grandsons in Washington they will be having a musical presentation shortly. I received a sad note from Dr. Brian Quinn, husband of Dalmar von der Heyde Quinn -She came down with dementia 2 years ago and can no longer communicate with him. Kathie Redelfs Rott lives in St. Andres in Boca Raton, in a CCRC. “Activities are many that keep us active and well informed” She lives near her daughter and husband, as well as her son and his wife. Bev Rosenberg Sager keeps busy taking classes at a Community College 3 days a week. In August she plans to go to California to visit her children. Sheila Seigal Asher and Dick celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in June. Kay Sponselor Patten still lives in her home, with help from her daughter and grandson-she still enjoys playing duplicate bridge, and going out for breakfast. Shirley Dana Few’s writes: “my big event of the year is the expectation of my first great grandson.  My oldest granddaughter and her husband are the proud parents.  They live in Brooklyn so I won’t be able to see him as much as I would like to. I had breast surgery in March but all is well, they got it all out and I did not need any treatment, just a pill a day for the next ten years which is easy and a blessing.  It is being proactive and helps towards my not getting cancer anywhere else. Ten years at my age is very optimistic!” In June Hal and I, Johanna Chait Essex, and my sisters Muriel Chait Durbin ’56 and Linda Chait Solomon ’63 took a Tauck tour of the upper Michigan area, including a visit to Macinac Island- horses, bicycles and walking were the only modes of transportation. We celebrated our 65^th anniversary while on the trip —we are both fine and looking forward to celebrating Hal’s 65^th reunion from the USMMA this Sept. After 18 years in Florida, Barbara “Bim” Mayer Werle and Jerry moved to Wake Robin in Vermont and greeted the first snow like little kids. They helped with a sugar operation that produced 80 gallons of maple syrup, then helped with the Tag sale, which raises $30,000/year for enrichment programs. Sarah Kuhns Giarratana lives in Philadelphia in a senior housing complex. She plans to start sculpting again.

 

1942

Kristine F. Brecht
301.526.3020
kristinebrecht@hotmail.com

Kristine Brecht will now serve as the class reporter for her mother, Jean Brown Forster. Jean resides in Foxdale Village in State College, PA, and is a proud great grandmother now of seven, ranging from 18 to 8 months, awaiting number eight! She adores visits, by her children and her 8 grandchildren as well! They discuss their studies, their plans for college and their own professions, as well as lots of politics! Lois Hoffberger Feinblatt reports her family lives all over the country, each one “trying to make the world a better place”!  Jane flew to Cambridge, Mass recently where her son was honored by U.Mass Boston for his 50 years of work on race and racism! Jane Taylor Slabaugh enjoys each day, has 11 great grandchildren, 3 grandchildren and loves seeing her two sons in her pleasant life in assisted living! Anne Messerly Sullivan is happy in her personal care home,   after a stroke, with 15 other contemporaries.  Her sister, Eleanor Messerly Harner ’44 died over three years ago.

1972
Carol Schlosnagle Bradford
cbradford043@gmail.com
Cynthia “Candy” Clifford
cynthiaclifford999@gmail.com

Suzanne Krepp Beckner still lives in a high-rise condo in North Bethesda with her two cats. In June, she was headed to her beach condo in Ocean City for the summer, looking forward to bridge games and good summer reading. She volunteers at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter and the Montgomery County Humane Society as a cat handler, adoption counselor and educator to lecture school children about responsible pet care and safety. Carol Schlosnagle Bradford continues to enjoy retirement—traveling and volunteering, looking after foreign diplomats in Washington DC. Her volunteer organization plans tours and events that help them make friends with American volunteers and diplomats from other embassies. Carol also provides PR support to Rotary’s polio eradication and malaria efforts, which are supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Summer vacation plans include a trip to northern Greece, Albania and North Macedonia. Janet Stickley Kurzynske retired from the University of Kentucky last October and is now officially Professor Emerita. She continues to be involved in the academic arena on a limited basis, and in March, she became Gammie for the sixth time. With both her and Rick retired, and her anticipated full recovery from Haglund resection and Achilles tendon repair, they both look forward to again traveling internationally. After finishing at Franklin and Marshall in 1972 and getting a MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, Lorraine Vitucci Lopezzo met her husband, Tom, while working at Exxon. They have two sons. Professionally, she worked as a gemologist appraiser and had an appraisal practice in New Jersey. Since retirement, they are enjoying living in Baltimore and taking Osher program courses through Johns Hopkins. Janice Williams Martin and Al are now totally retired. They like to take a cruse every year; this year they took a steamboat down the Mississippi, and visited family in Colorado and Mississippi. 4-H and their 4-H Horse Club continue to be big part of their lives. Susan Myers Mund sends greetings from Baltimore. She is retired and enjoying grandchildren who live in lovely Asheville. Sarah Sonne O’Donnell and husband Bruce, for whom history has always been an avocation, retired in 2016—and purchased a house built in 1850 in Middletown, DE, which has been the never-ending project they wanted. Sarah was installed as Regent of the Cooch’s Bridge Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She’s also involved with The Gibby, a local artist group, where she is dabbling in oil painting. Anne Francis Phillips returned to the coast of Maine two years ago, after living in the southern California desert for seven years. She was recognized at a flea market in Portland by Liz Gruppe Stover. Anne is a volunteer for the library bookstore, which she started a dozen years ago, and by maintaining a little red house in the woods. Marti Murray Robinson is happily retired from teaching and busy attending workshops, seminars and travel programs through the NY Center for Jungian Studies in New Paltz, NY; and enrolling in a two-year Spiritual Direction Program with a Jungian emphasis at Haden Institute in Asheville, NC. This summer she picked up rowing again after 44 years and loves it. Brenda Stup and husband, Steve Tulloss, continue to enjoy retirement, with gardening, working out at the gym, a weekly trivia contest, and an annual jazz cruise. In April they welcomed their second grandchild and enjoy frequent trips to visit their daughter and her family in Niwot, Colorado. Allison Hagerich Zack (aka Jeffrey Ann Hagerich) is a grant writer for coastal restorations in southeast Florida and for a Rochester, NY refugee outreach center. She leads a team to create 150 new pollinator gardens in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, and has been certified by Florida Fish and Wildlife to monitor sea turtle hatchlings and collect research data. She toured Spain and Switzerland with husband Mike, and will spend a week at the Chautauqua Institution learning about climate change. I, Candy Clifford, rarely write letters, but am thoroughly enjoying email exchanges about the state of the world with Jane Chaisson Blake and Joe, Kathy Stewart, Kathy Martin Belikoff and Larry, and Barrie Parsons Tilghman and Mat; Gini Procino Hartmann actually writes letters, and has for years! Carol Schlosnagle Bradford and I speak for many of our classmates in saying what a pleasure it was to get to know Bob Crites at our reunions. Married to Linda Wicks Crites for 33 years, he passed away in March.

1967 May Mumma Ohman  may.mumma.ohman@gmail.com

 

Wonderful to hear from so many of you! This is the full—uncut—Class of ’67 report! Enjoy!  So much more here!

 

Knowing I was taking over for Pat Rosner Kearns, in January 2019 Ginny wrote to give me a  first entry. At that time, Ginny Price Bracken wrote that she and husband Chuck (Brack) continue to enjoy their busy retirement in the wonderful “golfing, boating, living” community of Cypress Landing in Eastern North Carolina. A bonus is that Ginny’s sister-in-law, Susan Bracken and her Hood Little Sister Marilyn Mundy also own homes in the community!

 

Later, Ginny wrote to share news of the passing of Vivian Lamberson Manis. Ginny and Cheryl Wray Kirk attended Viv’s memorial service in Hagerstown in April. Laura Seymour Carlson had sent wonderful photos that were part of the slide show to remember Vivian.

 

Kris Campbell Joyce “In spring, we had a nice brief visit with Pam Higginbottom Carey and her husband Hugh in their home near our son’s in Baltimore, Maryland.  We were there especially to see our fast maturing grandchildren Emma, now a high school senior, and her brother Ryan, 15. Our son Keir and wife Joy seem to be navigating these teen times well. BJ and I just returned from a trip to Florence, Italy, for my teaching and art which I continue to enjoy After 10 days in Florence, we went to Austria for 12 days to see the family I lived with in 1961-62. We have stayed in touch but we needed some lengthy time together to catch up on this phase of life!”

 

Pat Anderson Branning “Lives and writes in Beaufort, South Carolina and is the author of 7 best selling books on the Coastal South, a series titled,  Shrimp, Collards and Grits. Pat’s books are available on Amazon, her website www.patbranning.com and fine gift stores throughout the Southeast.”

 

Barb Cummings Stacks writes “Several of us live within 10 minutes of each other. Linda Carlson, Barb Schmidt MacGregor, Peggy Narducci Phillips, and me, Barb (Babs at Hood) Cummings Stacks. Last year, thanks to Carol Brink and her wonderful, creative skills, we traveled together to join many other ’67 classmates in Manchester By The Sea outside Boston. Our trip was 3 hours up and 3 hours home. We talked non-stop the entire trip. Visiting and continuing to share Hood and life memories with all of our other classmates over a great potluck lunch in Manchester truly provided for us ROOTS!!! We loved that experience and we have continued getting together! In September, we are hosting a potluck luncheon at my home in Essex, also a very special place to relax, reminisce, and continue to recall our roots!  On a personal note, we are all well, active, and loving our retirement! Our grown children, grandchildren, travel, exercise, and volunteer passions keep us ‘young”! We have much in common!”

 

Barb Wood Spellman “My oldest granddaughter just finished her freshman year at Northeastern in Boston. My husband John and I spent a great time in North Carolina last fall [2018] visiting Ginny Price Bracken and her husband Chuck. Of course we spent time with Susan [Bracken] as well while there. Ginny managed John’s dental practice for many years so we had lots to talk about. We also saw Sharon MacDowell Sheaffer and her husband John in May at the 50^th reunion of our husbands’ the University of Pennsylvania Dental School class.”

 

Angela Milea Mogin “Mike and I have been attending graduations this summer. Our youngest grandson graduated from kindergarten in May and in June we were in Los Angeles to attend the high school graduation of our eldest grandchild. Mattie will attend U. Cal. Berkeley next fall, much to the discomfort of her father and one of her aunts, who are Stanford graduates. The family will be colorful if nothing else. Berkeley, blue v. Stanford, red.”

 

Ginny Munson Hammell “I married a widower May 25. Tack (Henry Gordon Hamby, retired AF pilot). He has 3 sons and 7 grandchildren. I got great relatives in the deal! Only a couple of Hoodlums could make it: Marianne Kearney, Emily McNaughton (69). It was lots of fun but we were both exhausted.

 

“We flew to London 27 for a D Day tour. (Tack’s Dad dropped paratroopers over St. Maire Eglise.)  In the fall [2018] we were in Italy for a 5 day cooking program. (Plus Tacks a FAB cook.) We spent the winter in Boca Raton and did an Eastern Caribbean cruise.  Traveled 3 weeks in Spain in April.

 

“Big D Day tour. Wonderful. Added two days in London (fab Indian food), three days in Paris and 1 day in Biarritz. (In my racing through farmers market rammed my knee into a wall, still recovering,)

 

“It will take us all summer to get organized.

 

“Tack is very fond of Frederick and Andrea. We are out there every other month.”

 

Susan Wadia-Ells  “I have been struggling with finishing my twelve year Busting Breast Cancer book project. And am finally happy to announce that the book will be out in paperback and eBook format this fall. This has been a mysterious and magnificent experience, as I stumbled over the new metabolic theory of cancer, just after it was published in 2012.

 

“The author of the new theory… Boston College biologist Thomas Seyfried, has now mentored me for the past five years… as I have created this first book on breast cancer prevention, based on the new metabolic theory. Once women are willing and able to follow most of the prevention steps described in the book, we could/would/should/will see breast cancer rates in the U.S. drop by literally 80 percent.

 

“This is also a women’s empowerment book… as each chapter explains why corporate sponsored breast cancer awareness groups and our federal cancer agencies are funded and controlled by the breast cancer treatment industry… with none of these groups focused on effective preventions…  just on mammograms/detection and treatment for all!!! Hence… women must think for ourselves… and protect ourselves from this diseases… that is not at epidemic levels in the U.S.

 

“My website is just going up now… see  www.bustingbreastcancer.com. Am currently raising $$ for a legal review and the final 5k in production costs. I will be setting up book-signings and workshops around the country… and beyond beginning in October.  Would love to connect with Hood ’67 folks throughout the process.”

 

Meredith Cook Held “I am still working as a realtor in the north Texas area. I’m a past president of our local association and am still involved at the state and national levels, serving on both Boards of Directors. I love what I do so I have no intention to retire any time soon. I do get to travel as part of my responsibilities so I spent a week in Boston last November (hadn’t been back since I left there in the 70s) and will be in San Francisco for a week this November. In my ‘spare time,’ I love to read, play with my dog and generally relax with my husband of 39 years. Where did the time go?! If anyone is traveling this way (Frisco, Texas), I’d love to see them.”

 

Laurie Seymour Carlson shared “I am thoroughly enjoying retirement and am lucky enough to live near my oldest (12 years old) of three grandchildren. So I spend a good amount of time with her. I also enjoy walking, reading, needlework and my small patio garden.”

 

Debbie Smith Aldrich reports “I continue to love beautiful Newburyport and the ocean. I have an incredible group of terrific friends, who meet every Wednesday. (Sort of like that group on 3^rd floor Meyran). I’m very active in my church, currently a Deacon, Assistant Collector, Altar Guild and Personnel. Spent a wonderful week at Myrtle Beach with my daughter and granddaughter (9 years old) enjoying the beach and ocean. Life is good.”

 

Johanna Van Wert Thompson writes “Michael and I continue to live in Williamsburg, Va. Our 3 children and 8 grandchildren are only an hour from us so we see them often, although several are in college. We just returned from Massachusetts., seeing Sally Raube Chandler and Gretchen Hahn Anderson and husband Tom on the sad occasion of Jim Chandler’s Memorial Service. It was good to catch up with them. We still love our traveling days and did the Panama Canal in the spring and are visiting the Canadian Maritimes this fall. We love visitors, so please come see us in Williamsburg.”

 

Meredith Howard Parham checked in to tell us “Bruce and I are still living in the not-so-frozen north after more than 30 years. The entire huge state has fewer than 750.000 intrepid souls. Retirement is turning out to be very busy—I play harpsichord and recorders (both Renaissance and Baroque) with numerous groups. This past year I went to New Zealand and played recorder and Irish whistle on the North Island—what a beautiful country! And this past spring, I spent a week in Portland, OR, at an early music workshop at a retreat on the Columbia River gorge.  Other than spending too many hours practicing, I tend our flowers (the summer’s never-ending daylight does amazing things to Alaska gardens) and walk/hike in the local parks.” (Meredith hopes to see Ginny Price Bracken and husband Chuck when they travel to Alaska on a cruise in July.)

 

From Nancy Esau Jeschke says “I have been retired after 40 years of teaching since 2007. I was somewhat hesitant at first because I loved teaching high school. My husband had retired the year before and was really having fun, that pushed me into retirement.  We travel a couple of times a year. We really enjoy Viking, have been to the Mediterranean, Baltic, France, Germany, Portugal and Spain. One of our favorite trips has been to Australia and New Zealand.  Our son is a patent attorney and has 2 children—Evie (5) and Ethan (2). Our daughter is a technical writer and has Derek (15) and Kellen (6).  I volunteer at the local animal shelter with cats. It makes me feel like a social worker—matching personalities of people with the right cat!  I also golf with friends and with a couples group. Other than heart bypass in 2009, life has been good. I see Gail Williams, Lucille Van Baaren (’68) and Barb Wilson.”

 

Leilani Chen Viney “My husband Terry and I still live in my hometown of Milburn, NJ. He still works from home and I retired in 2011, but have maintained my Registered Dietitian credential, always thinking I might embark on a second career.  Ballroom dancing has been my hobby and passion for decades, and I continue to compete with my teacher (pro/am couple) and occasionally with my husband (amateur couple).  I’m also on the Board of the Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation. My Hood roommate, Gwenn Sterling Engle, and I still stay in touch.  My son, Jonathan Cryer, has a medical practice in Ithaca, NY; his wife, Marnie, is on the faculty at Cornell. They have two lovely kids that I’m so proud of.”

 

Judy Lehman Ballinger ”As for news, it seems a lot of the same. I am still living in West Reading, painting silk in my 3^rd floor studio, spending time with 9 growing-up grandchildren, serving on the usual too many committees, and imagining that there will be more time for personal vacations next year. Blair and I did make a trip to visit roomie Cheryl Wray Kirk and husband Gene on the Eastern Shore last fall, but I missed getting to Ginny Munson Hammel’s wedding last month. I am having my major solo art show this June, “Art from my African Sketchbooks: Works on Paper and Fabric.” It has been a lot of effort and revival of skills I first learned at Hood; a pleasure, but I look forward to a less intense July. Mostly, this season I miss the home I no longer have in Cape May. Gathering with daughters for a week in August is not enough ocean for me!  We made up for no ocean with wonderful mountains in April with clan Ballinger gathered in Utah to celebrate my aunt, Ruth Austermuhl Battenberger (Hood ’40) 100^th birthday. It was a nice place and time to turn 74 and not feel old.”

 

Beth Hobby Costello “For four Junes, I have been lucky enough to spend time with Susan Bracken, Ginny Price Bracken and her husband in Chocowinity, N.C. Susan and I take the ferry to Ocracoke Island to an incredible music festival… all good fun, good food, crazy golf cart rides, and time on a beautiful beach. These get-togethers have enriched my life so much—I hope we’ll have many more Ocrafolk Festivals to attend.  Life is rewarding for me as I hope it is for everyone from the class of ’67!”

 

On a wonderfully positive note—Cynthia Newby writes “Continuing to serve on the Hood College Board of Trustees, so pleased to share that enrollment is way up—over 300 coming in the freshman class for fall of 2019.”  [Thank you, Cindy!]

 

Linda Carlson shared “I am another CT alum living on the shoreline here in Chester for the past year. Both of my children, Karen and Dale, live within 2 miles of me… if only we all had that arrangement.  I serve on the Chester Democratic Town Committee and campaign for local candidates whose views match mine.  I am also fortunate to live close to several alums planning a regional Hood reunion luncheon on September 18.  Sending my best regards to all!”

 

May Mumma Ohman– On a personal note, my husband Earl and I celebrated our 50^th wedding anniversary last August [2018]. Our daughter Karin, husband Austin, and our son Jack threw us a surprise party. Family and friends were there—including Susan Bracken, Ginny Price Bracken and her husband “Brack” (Chuck)! Wonderful!

 

As your new class reporter—it was wonderful to “hear” so many of your voices.  I know the Hood magazine class report was terribly reduced—in order to meet the publisher’s constraints and requirements. It is so nice to have a second forum where all our words can be shared!

 

And, closing with thoughts from Diane Smail Robertson, “If I lived a more exciting life, I would have many more interesting things to report, but I find that life here in Virginia is filled with just the everyday occurrences that we all encounter one way or another… rejoicing in and watching grandchildren grow, spending time with family and friends, being grateful for good health and the blessings that God has given me.  In the last year or so, we have cut down on travel a bit, but we still manage our annual 2-week trip south to Charleston, a place that feels like a ‘second home’ to us after all these years of visiting. Life is good and we are thankful.”