Hello class of 1982! How great to hear from some different classmates! I just returned from dinner with Gretchen Steinmetz Keith and friends. We both live in Berks County, Pa., and get together from time to time. We along with our spouses attended the Hood event held at Longwood Gardens in September. What an enjoyable afternoon we had touring the beautiful gardens! Ann Williams Clemm reported from Batavia where she grew up. Daughter Katie graduated from the Univ. of Albany and one week later was married at a lovely vineyard in Gasport, N.Y. Katie’s husband, who is a West Point graduate and 2nd lieutenant officer is stationed in Fort Lee, Va., for training. The newlyweds are living in Colonial Heights, Va. Transitioning to the “empty nest” happened quickly. Ann enjoys hearing from those she knew at Hood. Dee Van Meter had a busy year between a family wedding and a big move. Son Glenn ’11 married another Hood alumna in May. A week later they put their house on the market and in September, moved from their 4.6 wooded property to a condo across the street from the ocean in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Downsizing and reducing clutter have been a big challenge! Dee and family are enjoying life in Florida! Marcea Cotter welcomed her second grandson on October 9! She works at Carroll Hospital Center as director of lean and process improvement. Glynnis Edwards Cowdery had lunch with Meg Brown McGinn and Wendy Pulford Rogers when visiting her parents in Connecticut. She just published the 8th edition of The Exceptional Child. She planned to spend Thanksgiving at the beach in Washington and looked forward to having the college age kids home in December. Dawson Casey Bullock keeps in touch with Sally Seward ’83, Molly Quin ’83 and Dana Griffin. She enjoys reading up on everyone in the class column and hopes to attend the next reunion. Dawson’s oldest daughter is a freshman at the Univ. of South Carolina and is studying biomedical engineering. Younger daughter age 17, is busy “shopping” for colleges. Dawson owns a custom stationery/invitation and gift store in Cincinnati for the past five years. Her business has been very successful; she enjoys the combination of creativity and retail management. Joy Miller Beveridge is still living in Frederick. She is a clinical project manager with a biomedical research company. Joy and husband Don celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in January 2013 with a ski trip to Snow Shoe. Daughter Kendall remains in San Francisco working hard in the advertising industry. Son Danny is married and living in Frederick. He and wife Tricia both work for State Farm. Danny continues taking classes toward a degree in education, hoping to teach math and coach soccer. He may even attend Hood in the future! Liz Bastian Chapin, Gretchen Steinmetz Keith and Joy Miller Beveridge always enjoy reunion times as well as time spent together in Reading, Pa. Joy and Liz often see one another at an annual Labor Day Weekend reunion started by Liz’s mother and Hood friends from the class of 1950! Lastly, Joy wanted to share an update on Hood’s field hockey program. Daughter Kendall and teammate Alexis Pappas were national champions at the University of Maryland a few years ago. Alexis is now coaching Hood’s team. At Hood’s senior field hockey match this Fall, Joy witnessed some of the exciting “Terps plays” taking shape on the Hood field. Watching the game brought back many fond memories of playing at Hood as well as watching the Terps! Thank you everyone for sharing your news. I hope to hear from more you in the future!

Hello all! After 22 years as a fundraising professional, Fran Vaughan left her last post (vice president for advancement at Hilbert College) to start her own business. She is now president of FMV Tax Professionals doing taxes for individuals, small business and nonprofits. She lives in Holland, N.Y., outside of Buffalo. So if you are in her neighborhood, please let her know. Her two daughters are in their 30’s, one living in Hawaii taking care of her parents, the other is close by and married with one child, her grandson, age 13. Debbie Deasy lost her dad Bob Deasy, a World War II aviator and former communications manager for Westinghouse in February 2013 at age 89. Thanks to her Dad, her family was transferred to Washington, D.C. during the 1960s where she saw a lot of history and fell in love with Maryland, which ultimately led her to Hood. She is preparing to buy her first house, her late parents’ townhouse, where she already lives. Ellen Bosek McMahon and other ’75 classmates that lived on 4th floor Memorial enjoyed a special and bittersweet weekend in June in Harpers Ferry. Marcia Ritter Dioron coordinated a tribute to Cindy Robel June ’75 and BJ Schuler ’73, both passed from ovarian cancer, with a tree and plaque in front of the Chapel. In attendance were Ellen, Marcia, Fran Vogler Groves, Lynda Strasser Brooks, Lisa Oller Kennedy, Priscilla Munkenbeck Cherrin and Laura Lee Hickman. Ann Shackelford Silva was missed in absentia back in Maine but remembered all weekend. Susan Mumma McKendree has been living near Asheville, N.C., for the past 24 years. In January 2012, after seven years in community service, she decided to take a leap of faith and pursue her work as a collage artist, building shrines and traveling altars dedicated to her spiritual master, Meher Baba. She is also writing a book about a phase of Meher Baba’s work in India called the Blue Bus Tours, which took place in the late 30s and early 40s. Her biggest challenge is keeping her kitties from lying on her open books and parading back and forth in front of the computer screen–a small price to pay for the pleasure of being a writer. She also traveled to India twice since 2004 and has published two chapbooks of her poetry in the past seven years. Diana Beck Walters lost the love of her life Lee Walters on January 5. Peggy Hosky is living in the Washington, D.C. area with sequestration, government shutdowns and the political atmosphere has many for a tense year. Their oldest daughter Monica has moved to Charleston, S.C., with friends and their middle kid Claudia finished her master of business administration degree at Marymount Univ. John the youngest is still in college. Their company and work continue to give them great pleasure, especially the collaborative efforts with colleagues at George Washington Univ. center for excellence in public leadership. Tom and Peggy celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in August. Ann Ely is still living in and loving Vermont! Kids and grandkids are doing well. Carol Fleck Whetzel and Mike just celebrated their 37th anniversary. Life is good. Mike is still working as a systems analyst. She enjoys being home working on crafts, sewing and needlework. She also plays Mah Jongg with the neighborhood ladies. Mike and Carol both totally enjoy being grandparents with their little guys ages 3, 6, and 7. Anna Kluth VonLindenberg’s husband Von has retired and they have recently moved to Delaware beach. They have a beautiful wetlands vista, great for kayaking. They are moving their boat to Cambridge on the Eastern shore and look forward to bike riding around the sleepy surrounding towns. They also visit with their son and his family weekly and are entertained by their three fun-loving grandchildren. Life is good! In the last year, Cherilyn Widell was honored to consult on some very fun and interesting projects. She researched the national significance of the 1100 acre Woodlawn Property in the Brandywine Valley of Delaware which became Delaware’s first national park, First State National Monument, when it was declared a national monument by President Obama last March. She just completed a project for the U.S. Department of Defense which owns over 100,000 buildings 50-years-old or older. The study compared reuse of pre-World War II masonry building with new green construction. Now she is working on preserving Alexander Graham Bell’s House in Baddeck, Nova Scotia. She is still living in Chestertown, so please stop by sometime. I wish everyone the best and please keep in touch.

Our 40th Reunion is just around the corner. I, Sally Leland, look forward to visiting the campus, taking in a stroll of the downtown area, and Doug and I plan to tow the teardrop camper for a visit to Gambrill State Park, one of our favorite places to hang when in the Metro area. Vicki Raeburn Benton stole a few minutes from her never ending schedule of preps for husband’s Leigh re-election campaign to the Orange County, New York legislature. Fundraisers, envelope stuffing and label pasting are a part of Vicki’s day, like cleaning out the cat food dish, vacuuming, and meal preps are for me (Sally Leland)! Mind you, she does all this after tutoring those needing assistance with Math, managing the Hudson Valley SPCA thrift/consignment store two or three days a week and that is in addition to running the household. Long story short, Leigh won his fifth term to the New York Legislature. Nicely done, you two!  Vicki and Leigh Benton will head to Florida after the election to catch up with the “grands” ages 7 and 6 who are lacrosse and baseball players. The New York “grands” ages 8 and 6 are avid ice hockey players, one a goalie and one a forward.  The downside to ice hockey…yes, a cold rink! It should be a full house for Christmas at the Benton household. Kathy Poloni Triwahjudi and Patty Lynam Yeatman met for lunch during the summer while Kathy’s son Anthony attended a science camp at Stevenson Univ. near Baltimore. Patty still works for Johns Hopkins. Kathy has retired from teaching (special education, traditional, and reading specialist) freeing up time to ferry Anthony to band, CCD, ice hockey and be available for homework review. Kathy and Patty hope to connect with Pam Callis Diers during summer 2014 when Anthony is attending band camp in Vermont. Patty’s son lives in St. Albans so it would be an ideal time. They are wondering what Nancy Hoffman is up to these days!  Nancy, let us all hear from you! Louise Hicks Smith wrote that she decided to learn in January 2013 how to play the harp. Lessons were scuttled in May when a kitchen project took precedence, followed by a deck restoration that took her into July and August. A stack of needlepoint projects beckoned, but a four-day ancestral gathering of 17 Worthington family members descended upon Chillicothe, Ohio in June won out. Tours of the governor’s mansion and replicas of Indian mounds from the Hopewell Culture of 3500 BC were scheduled along with a Native American Indian play entitled, Tecumseh.  Lengthy Robert’s Rules of Order style meetings, which lasted two to three hours, lectures by the Ross County Historical Society coupled with meals and games of Texas Holdem Yahtzee rounded out the days. There is a book in the works, and Louise will be helping with illustrations and heraldry. Some of British contingent are urging her to attend the next meeting in Manchester, England 2015. Louise’s son Brian and his wife have moved to Brisbane, Australia for a two or three year stint while Brian runs a satellite office for his uncle’s company. What an opportunity for them and for Louise to visit! Louise golfs, gardens, stitches and continues to work. Daughter, Courtney is near for frequent lunches when taking time out from her painted shoe business on Etsy and EBay. I would enjoy hearing from others. Perhaps the following:  Nancy Kemp Cline, Judy Whitehead Butler, Christine Sullivan Hampton, Joan Meisenhelder Graff, Lashley Micas Wolf, Lucia Homick, Donna Davidson Hauver, Sue Mulvey and Allen Maples would consider an update of what has transpired in their lives. No pressure, mind you! Best wishes to all. Hope to see you at the 40th!

Members from the class of 1970 send word of grandchildren, retirement, travel, volunteerism, and in some cases, continuing careers. Ada Karen Blair is planning to relocate to North Carolina and is renovating a retirement home for her and her husband. She and her husband visited New Mexico in October and attended the “magical” Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.  She spent several days in Santa Fe and enjoyed the Canyon Road shops and Taos Pueblo, the oldest continuously inhabited community in America. Jeanne Bryant–Wyland still works part-time in a middle school in Darien, Conn., and her husband is still assistant headmaster for the Harvey School in Katonah, N.Y. Their son William now 15 and a “great joy,” is a good student, loves sports, especially lacrosse, and is on his way to being an Eagle Scout. Jeanne visited with Barbara Pepi Danella and Sandra White Harper and keeps in touch with Linda Kramer Evans and Anne Parkin Pierpont. Marianne Clark Cordyack organized a mini reunion at her home in Reston, Va.  Dody Corey Crutchley, Marianne Fisher O’Meara, Ronnie George Freiberger, Lynne Johnson Houze and Sue Pendell Johnson spent five days shopping and visiting museums and Marianne’s studio in W. Va. Christine Goodwin Oster still loves making pottery.  She celebrated her 65th birthday at Sam Ryan Reeves’ beach house; her children live in the D.C. area and were able to participate. Marj Menchey Bernstein loves retirement and the freedom to do what she wants.  Without the demands of work, she truly enjoyed the beauty of this past autumn.  She volunteers with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and Hospice.  Margaret Muncie continues her work at a counseling center and is satisfied with a new endeavor, taking piano lessons. Her husband is well, one daughter is studying to be a master sommelier and another daughter and son-in-law are very involved in the athletic staff development at Univ. of Miami. Karin Ninesling Infuso and her husband traveled to New Mexico with Kari Blair and her husband and enjoyed Santa Fe, the “city different.” When Karin’s daughter finished her graduate program at Univ. of North Carolina and student teaching in May, the family celebrated with a cruise to the Caribbean. Karin’s daughter is now employed as a case manager and teacher of Exceptional Children. Kathleen Owen Gurley lives in Vass, N.C., is on the faculty at Fayetteville State Univ., and plans to retire in a year.  She continues her interest in horses and shows two horses as show hunters. In addition, she served on the board of the Carolina Horse Park. Mary Ryan Reeves is busy supervising art student-teachers at Hood and mentoring Marj Menchey Bernstein in her recent retirement.  At her beach house in Bethany Beach, Del., Mary entertained Ellen Sacks, Christine Goodwin Oster, and their husbands. Ellen Sacks is still working but now allows herself a few urban breaks such as taking taxis instead of the subway. At the end of May, Ellen attended the funeral for Phyllis Goodnow’s father; we send our condolences to Phyllis and her family. Later in the summer, Ellen visited Phyllis and her husband in their house in Brunswick, Maine and spent time in Bethany Beach, Del., with Sam Ryan. For Nancy Schneider Alder, retirement in Gettysburg, Pa., includes volunteering at her church and a local hospital and leading a women’s Bible study group.  Her grandchildren are in elementary school and she attends their activities as often as possible. She vacationed in Green Lake Wis., and visited with Phyllis Ackley Dowd and Vickie Smith Diaz.  Lisa Smith Roney has been retired for five years but stays busy with water aerobics and classes at American Univ. She consults on immigration policy and volunteers with Amigo de las Americas. Lisa is delighted with her 10-month-old granddaughter and will soon welcome a second grandchild. Linda Walls Bradley still teaches an intermediate Montessori class, “a joy and challenge” in Spokane, Wash. Her daughter Catherine recently graduated from an occupational therapy master’s program at the Univ. of Washington and was married in October 2013.  Linda’s new son-in-law is a child psychiatrist; the couple resides in Seattle.  Linda’s son and his wife and Linda’s other daughter, her husband and their two children enjoyed the wedding which took place on the coast of Washington state. Thank you to the classmates who offered information for this column. In closing, I regretfully report that three members of the Class of 1970 passed away in 2013. We send our condolences to the families of Elizabeth Keitel, Nancy Merrill Foehl and Helen Mullan.

Important news comes from Virginia (Ginny) Wheeler Jones.  It may seem difficult to believe, but plans are underway for our 50th class reunion–2016! Ginny wrote, “Though still a ways off, there is reunion information to share.  In meeting with some folks on campus recently, it seems reunion gifts now only count ONE YEAR prior to the event–for us, beginning July 1, 2015.  Though donations to Hood are always important, this time frame may be useful for your future donation planning. Also, there is discussion about which choice ON campus will best meet our needs for a sit-down meal for our dinner, as requested. As it will be our 50th reunion, we get first pick! More information to come.” Ginny added, “Let’s all start looking forward to this big celebration!” Thanks, Ginny for your efforts to make our 50th reunion a happy success.  Speaking of a happy success, Pat Chapple Wright has just published a new book, High Moon over the Amazon, telling of her quest to understand what she calls “the monkeys of the night.”  Pat has been called “the world’s foremost expert on lemurs.” There is mention early in the book of her years as a biology major at Hood. I already have my copy available through Amazon.com.  The book has been endorsed by Jane Goodall, who calls Pat “a born storyteller” and “an amazing woman,” and summarizes, “this is a book you must read.”  You make us all proud, Pat!  Another classmate, celebrating a landmark moment, is Bonnie Kloeblen Hagerman. Her Care Wear Volunteers program has just found its new home, a one-room house built in the 1880s, in Frederick’s historic district, #324 West Patrick Street. Bonnie emailed photos of the tiny house, now her office, squeezed between two much larger red-brick buildings. Bonnie reported that Care Wear Volunteers continues to grow in number of participants and number of hospitals served. Through this nationwide project, handmade baby items are delivered directly to hospitals. Faith Parker Mentzer said she is “back to being as normal as I have ever been,” following a breast cancer diagnosis. “I became a statistic,” she commented, and had radiation treatments and surgeries. I am sure we are all pleased, Faith, that you are now back to teaching, singing in choral groups, working on house projects and spending time with grandkids. Nancy Newcomer wrote that she moved back to Colorado in 2010 to be near children and grandchildren. She has her real estate license there and enjoys teaching real estate pre-licensing classes. She is in touch with Cathy Saunders Weber who is very busy enjoying retirement.  Laurie Wheeler Brown emailed on Nov. 1 from D.C. where she had just attended her mother’s memorial services. Laurie commented, “My mother was 101 and had a wonderful life and went peacefully. We all hope to do so well.” We are sorry for your loss, Laurie, but grateful for your good memories of her. Laurie was on her way to her home in North Carolina then on to her winter home in Florida. World traveler, Bonnie Scull Hawkes, returned in early November from one of her many cruises with husband Geoff.  Lucky, Bonnie! This time they had ventured into the North and South Pacific visiting Hawaii and Tahiti. Bonnie added that details of the trip can be found on her blog at http://2013-sep29-statendam.blogspot.ca/. Once back on land and facing winter, Bonnie was looking forward to another ski season on the slopes of Whistler Mountain.  Husband Elliott and I received an email in the fall from Jane Dearstyne Veeder. She and husband Chuck are planning an Alaskan adventure for the coming summer and are looking for travel tips while here. We hope so much, Janie, that these plans materialize and we can be Great Land travel guides for you! Margy Bard Brownstein expressed a sorrow that I am sure is shared by all of our classmates. “I was shocked to learn of Brenda Miller Maines’ death in the previous Hood Magazine–such sad news.”  Margy added, “We were in each others’ weddings but had lost touch the last couple of years.” As I write this column, husband Elliott and I, Dianne Beebe Barske, are involved in extreme downsizing, moving within Anchorage to a home about a third the size of our big, old house–our home for 35 years.  Amazingly, the home sold overnight to the first person that looked at it! Our new address is 4821 Pavalof Street, Anchorage, AK 99507.

Cookie Johnson Bolig plays duplicate bridge 2-4 times a week, accumulating master’s points for ACBL and studies yoga with a 92-year-old role model. She is a serious doll collector who attends several doll conventions a year. She and husband John travel to New York City and Key West regularly and plan to go to Paris and London in the spring. Cookie’s various groups––book, craft, bridge and theater “are always doing something.” After retiring from Frederick County Public Schools in 2004, Kate Jenks Powell continued teaching at the local community college and at Hood where she held a visiting professorship, an appointment which expires after this academic year. Kate said she might be ready to retire for good after 43-years in the classroom and looks forward to spending more time with her family, especially her two grandchildren. Sally Erb Soisson is a serious quilter who attends quilting retreats with friends. She and husband Joe will welcome their two sons and their spouses and children home for Thanksgiving. Son Steve works in Germany, which gives Sally and Joe an excuse to visit often. Sandy Borrelli Ricci continues to work part-time as a nurse to maintain her PRN position in wound/ostomy care. Husband Renzo has some serious health issues; Sandy is his primary caregiver. Their children, their spouses and her two grandchildren live near the Riccis’ home in Finksburg, Md. Claire Fulenwider and her wife Harriet are happily retired in Santa Fe, N.M. They spend summer months in their log cabin on the Wisconsin River where they can visit Claire’s son Nathan at his fishing resort. Claire and Harriet travel in their RV and visit daughter Nina and grandson Nelson in Maryland as often as they can. Claire wrote, “Our New Mexico Supreme Court is about to rule on marriage equality in the state, so we are eagerly anticipating a validation of our marriage here 10-years-ago and more generally of our 32-year relationship.” Jim and Marylou Herrmann Foley celebrated her birthday with a black tie evening on the Queen Mary 2, crossing to Southampton. Daughter Jennifer, her husband David and their two children joined the Foley’s for a week in London. Then daughter Heather joined them and they all squeezed into an SUV to do more traveling in England and Wales, including chartering their own canal barge for five days and working the locks themselves. While Jim still teaches and administrates at Georgia Tech, Marylou arranges travel with Joan Emann Whitten and Eleanor Berklite Harris as two of her recent clients. In the spring, Joe and Susan Lyeth Sternfeld visited Bogota, Colombia, where their daughter Karen and her family live. They spent a month in Spain where Susan studied Spanish in a Seville language school in Seville while Joe walked part of the Ruta de Plata, a pilgrim route from Seville to Santiago. Afterward, they went to some of their favorite walking places in Andalusia. In September, they went to a family wedding in Sydney, Australia. Besides being a wonderful family reunion, the trip was also an opportunity to do some walking in the bush. Susan looks forward to our 50th, after which she and Karen will have a sailing adventure, six weeks on a tall ship sailing from Recife, Brazil to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Because Karen uses a wheelchair, the ship on which they will sail is specially fitted for wheelchair users. Flo Sechler Miller enjoys hiking with husband Mike, visiting her son and granddaughters in North Carolina and taking and teaching courses at her local Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. In the fall, she was teaching a course on Hawthorne, which has rekindled her love of literature in general and respect for his genius in particular. During the summer, her entire family including daughter Jenny, son Chris, and granddaughters Sara, 14 and Lindsay, 16, spent a happy week together in London. In the summer of 2014, Flo and Mike will travel to China in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. After her husband’s death in 2010, Joan Emann Whitten became very cognizant of making memories. In 2011, her family went to a wedding in Serbia. Since the grandchildren were 5 and 7 at the time, it was mostly a kid-friendly trip that included four countries, four zoos, two aquariums, a joust, many parks, and a lot of good food. This year, Joan and a friend took a knitting cruise to the Baltic. Marylou organized a fantastic tour for them in St. Petersburg, one that they will remember forever. Each one of these women has promised to be at our 50th next June. I hope that all of you will attend, too. And please remember to be as generous as you possibly can in your contribution to our 50th reunion gift. We are at an age where we have all of what we need and much of what we want, so it is time to think about paying it forward.

Jane Hoskins Bollman and Roger enjoyed a fall cruise down the Rhine that included Heidelberg, “a delightful town––so many quaint, clean and tidy towns.” Candee Mack Westdorp and Wolfgang visited his sisters and aunt in Germany. Rusty Papst Hougland reported, “Bill and I have now enjoyed 18 fun filled months as residents of a 55-plus active adult community. We are still close enough to our offspring to enjoy seeing them frequently. This summer we had a wonderful visit at the home of Ann Holmes Flatt and her husband JP.”  JP Flatt celebrated his 80th birthday with 60 relatives and friends partying in the village of St. Luc in Val d’Anniviers, Switzerland.  At home, Ann and JP care for son Greg’s 3-year-old twins twice a week; they visited daughter Carine and family at the start of a trip west in their RV.  Regina Schlank Pyle spent six weeks at her home in France. She is a Trustee for her Boston condo association and on the leadership board of MIT’s McGovern Institute for Brain Research. Regina, Jody Merritt Watson and Ethel Kintigh Spence had a mini-reunion in Boston. Regina keeps in touch with Liz Decker Rogers, half-sister of Liz Kovacs Washburn, and little sister Sandy Borrelli. Penny Misirian Mardoian had a wonderful trip to Russia, “Moscow was a complete surprise. It has become a modern city and very capitalistic. The citizens seem quite happy. Art spent 11 days in our local Maine hospital with walking pneumonia. At 86, it will take him a long time to recover,” said Penny. Phoebe Adams Marshall and Al celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Hendersonville, N.C., along with a surprise visit (arranged by Al) from their son and his two boys. Phoebe keeps busy playing tennis and Al still officiates tennis. Bobbi Arthur Pretzsch’s husband Bob worked in Kentucky this summer and Bobbi helped daughter Lyn with the grandchildren in Mississippi. Everyone visited son Rob and family in Kentucky; Bobbi later drove to Indianapolis for her annual crochet conference, attended a niece’s Florida wedding and visited an Army buddy who was “in our wedding party in 1964.” Arden Moore Reynolds and Gerry spent the Fourth of July weekend visiting family in Maryland and visited the Hood campus, which Arden had not seen in 50 years. They were amazed by the changes and the many new buildings, but glad to see that the pergola with its beautiful wisteria vines had not changed.  Pam Roberts Welham found new relationships and pleasures reconnecting with classmates. She and Walt met Janet MacDougall and Betsy George Ohnegian in New York City for drinks and dinner and the four went to a Tiffany glass exhibit and lunch. Janet and Betsy visited the Welhams in Virginia in October and went to the Smithsonian museums.  When the government shut down, they visited the Newseum. A JFK exhibit reminded them of his visit to Hood.  Susan Rugemer Kurtz loves being grandmother to daughter Betsy’s 10-year-old Kayla and 4-year-old Nicholas. She moved from her home of 46-years into a Baltimore retirement community where she has been visited by Jane Hoskins Bollman and Susan Shinnick Hossfeld.  Judi Simonsen Ziobro reported a mini-reunion with Betty Wright, Judy Bailey Allison, Judy Jensen Burgess and their “other-halves” in June.  Judi’s “notable” activity this summer is on YouTube. She and 541 of “my closest bell ringing friends” played the National Anthem at the Nationals ball game on August 28. See it at http://youtu.be/JSIOHVIGkto.  Teal West Hugo and Mike sang two concerts with a chorus comprised of clients, caregivers and volunteers at the memory loss respite center. Fun to sing together again! Teal said if musicians are looking for a volunteer opportunity, please consider contacting a retirement home or a memory loss program. Pem Merrill tripped in September and broke her left hip. Surgery put the hip and femur back together with a pin. Two weeks in a hospital and physical therapy at home have her trying to be able to walk.  Pem, we wish you a full recovery. Debbie Patterson Clark’s   daughter Amy was named head coach for Aquatics for the U.S. National Special Olympic Team representing North Carolina. Amy will work with four swimmers, coaches, families and local coordinators to prepare them to GO for GOLD in June. Our 50th reunion scholarship funds provided a Class of 1962 Endowed Scholarship to a Class of 2017 (wow) student. My heartfelt thanks to Joy Demas Engle for again editing the class news while I was traveling overseas and to Sally Zimmerman, newly retired, for agreeing to apply her writing skills to becoming the class news reporter for the next issue.

Penny Adams Rogers has cut back on overseas work for the U.S. Department of State and is serving on local nonprofit boards dealing with children’s needs and cancer research. She and husband occasionally do extra work for Hawaii 5-0. They have had a lot of house guests since last May. Mary Allen Reynolds reported the sad news that husband John passed away the end of April. He had the triple whammy of terminal colon cancer, heart disease and severe memory loss. Many tributes have been made by his professional colleagues all over the world. Mary is appreciative of the support she has received. Elly Baumgart Ritchie made a trip to Florida in the fall and planned to head to Phoenix for the holidays. A grandson was headed for Europe with his hockey team after Christmas. Jeb Bennett Moran keeps busy walking and going on fun excursions throughout Florida this summer and fall with a special gentleman friend. She reported that Carol Horwath Klecka is on a two week trip to Southeast Asia. Anne Merrick Vosti has 12 grandchildren ranging from 26 to 10 years old, providing a lot of excitement. Ken is fully retired from Stanford Medical School after 54 years. Ricky said, “I am attempting some painting lessons which has been great fun. My efforts will not be in the Louvre any time soon.” Jo Olmstead Witherington keeps busy with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her chorus is busy with a number of charity and special events. Bunnie Potter Richardson is busy with church activities, reading, piano and some travel. She is the designated driver now since Brian had some eye problems. Their oldest of seven grandchildren is in her third year of medical school. Marthanne Stephens Smith wrote that she was taking care of her daughter’s dog for 12 days while she visited Martha’s granddaughter who is spending her first semester of her junior year in England. Martha has three grandsons, a freshman at Johns Hopkins and two in high school in Vermont. She keeps busy taking college courses “not for credit, just to keep my brain open.” Biking is also a favorite activity. “We back up to a beautiful state park with a bike trail so I try to swing my leg over the bike seat as often as the spirit moves me.” Anne Walton Merrickhad the happiest news. She wrote, “Our youngest son was finally married five years ago and he and his wife had a baby girl Nov. 7, 2012. She is our first and will be our only grandchild. We consider her our little miracle. We did not think it would ever happen and could not be more thrilled!” That is wonderful news, Anne. Ruth Wood Weaver related the sad news that her husband Shelton died last May. Her two daughters and four grandchildren are giving her great support. Billy Graham’s home and library are nearby and George Beverly Shea is a very close friend. Both provide inspiration and company. Ruth still milks goats daily, “an avocation that gets me out of bed every day.” It is so great to hear from you, Ruth. Thank you for your kind thoughts of support.

Becky Eppers Byrd and I had a wonderful phone conversation. She still likes her 55-plus retirement community. While visiting, Kathy Crook Heidelbach, Carole Oswald Carter and Ginny Turnbull Hecklinger joined them for lunch and a good visit. Becky’s daughter Carla is a media coordinator and won first prize for the state of North Carolina. Kathy had a successful knee surgery. She keeps busy with bell choir, the Chapel choir and the Choral group. I got to see her at a mutual friend’s wedding. Barbara Hanna Pour spends eight months in Baltimore and four months in Cape May, N.J. She had successful knee surgery and is back on the tennis court. Her Baltimore life is filled with being a docent at the Walter Art Museum, elder in her church, a garden club, women’s club and writes a church newsletter as well as book club. 60th reunion in 2016? We both hope so. Cynthia Bromberg Rogers’ big news is that she and Joe have moved to a 55-plus community in Florida. They like it so much they bought a house. Her new address is 8803 Vin Prestigio West, Wellington, FL 33411. She walks four miles a day on the treadmill and enjoys a lot of other activities. If in Florida, please stop by. Charmaine Sherry Palmer Smith has moved to a Del Webb retirement community. They will spend the football season in Michigan before returning to Bernalillo. She expects to see Kathy Bachmen Yen next August where they will attend the Santa Fe opera’s production of Carmen. Nancy Gunnet Tyler enjoyed a trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C. The weather was perfect, the seafood was delicious and the size of the area amazed her. She also had a quilt trip to New Windsor, Md., and joined me for lunch at the Virginian. She heard from Joy Garofalo Ranucci and learned they are finally back in their home after Sandy’s visit. They lost everything on the first floor. Mary Lu Urban Walker is having eye problems and like many of us has given up driving at night. Otherwise, they are enjoying life. Their daughter Ryan was married for the first time at age 54. Her new son-in-law is from the Netherlands but now a U.S. citizen and a delight. The four went together to Alaska and Canada. She keeps busy with exercise classes, book club, knitting group and volunteering. Anne Cokey Webber and husband moved into a small one bedroom apartment in a 55-plus retirement community in Santa Barbara, Calif., a year ago and “life is easy.” They both enjoy the new friends they meet around the dinner table. They keep busy and enjoyed a great trip to the Dalmatian Coast, Turkey and the Black Sea. Helen Ward Wheeler still enjoys the 55-plus community they moved into eight-years-ago. In April, she fell and broke her hip and wrist. She is healing well. I, Sarah Hurst Stonehurst, am enjoying my 55-plus community. Two pieces of my mixed media were accepted in a local art show. The next show one was accepted and won honorable mention. I have organized our library and become a welcoming ambassador. Thanks to the few that answered my request for news.

“We seem to be in repair mode these days.”  A quote from Connie Woodall Fisher, who had successful cataract surgery while Bill had a 99 percent blocked carotid artery fixed. “The Colorado family visited.  One daughter lives nearby as does our great-grandson, his parents and my 93-year-old sister.” Nancy Campbell Barrett had a total shoulder replacement in August. It was so successful that she is having the other one done next year. “Daughter Betsy who lives with me took over and I am having the whole family (20 people) for Thanksgiving,” said Nancy. Joanne Kates Roos had “the best orthopedic surgeon in Newport News” operate on her arthritic left hip. She was using a walker several hours after the operation and went home the next day. Mary Siher Sauerteig said, “In June my heart went into atrial fib. A month later I had cardioversion with Lou Leidheiser close by. Sinus rhythm returned and is still holding. Son Bob came from Alaska in October to drive me to Philly for my oldest granddaughter’s wedding and to spend time with son Bill and family.” Kay Spear Feldman was “recuperating from a minor accident at home, but it is slow and the bones are old. She expected to return to normal activities soon.” Other classmates have downsized. Urania Courlas Constandy said, “My husband, now 92, and I, moved to nearby Brandywine Seniors. Our granddaughters age 17 and 15 are golfers and tennis players and can beat Nick and me now. I am busy with church seniors and two women’s clubs.” Nancy Oxholm Reid and husband George moved two years ago into Brandon Wilde, Augusta, Georgia’s Life Care Community. “We stopped by Hood after a hostel at the Peabody Institute and it refreshed my memory of our happy times there. Our one child George III and wife live in St. Louis. We relish every visit,” said Nancy. Natalie Colbert Bowers reported, “no real news; just getting ready for all of the family and Thanksgiving!” Dee Dreller Sosin said, “I have enjoyed and loved three generations of Weddle women–Jody, daughter Judy, and now granddaughter Sara El Shafie who was in town at a Paleantology Convention. I also saw Carol and Burnam Friedman in La Jolla.” Lois Eldridge Funsch wrote, “Our grandson was happily married in September. It was a beautiful beach wedding in the Outer Banks. Sadly, our son Doug died unexpectedly July 29. Still recovering from the shock and sadness, but wonderful memories sustain us.” Anne Gibson Bement reported, “Our daughter’s family visited us in San Francisco with their 4 and 6-year-old boys. I saw my old Sesame Street friends in New York.  We are planning a Panama Canal cruise in November and hoping to spend Christmas with family in our Miami Beach place.” Dottie Handley Ewing is “volunteering, attending concerts, reading and lamenting over politics. I visited Elva Remsberg Pepper ’51 in Pennsylvania and attended the Hood organ concert in honor of Bill Sprigg (present in a wheelchair). I am taking a course at Fredrick Community College and still enjoy driving country roads.” Barbara Hickman Reynolds said, “Bill and I lunched with Jack and Betsy Cannen Martin in August to celebrate their 60th and our 59th wedding anniversary. Betsy was my Matron of Honor. Emma Jones Hahn was in Hagerstown recently and Bill, Betsy Payette and I met her for Sunday brunch.”

Jodie Kellogg Weddle reported, “After 31 marvelous winters in Big Pine Key, Fla., we have decided to stay in Maryland this year. We will miss our friends and church but we will be able to watch our 10th great-grandchild (all boys but one!) through his first 6 months.” Joan Kniffin Orozco wrote, “I’m well down here in Uruguay, playing bridge and seeing friends and family. I have a 7-month-old great-grandson and will have a great-granddaughter next month. What a pleasure! Phyllis Loudermill Armstrong said, “I’m flying to Maryland to visit my sister. Choir is going to Italy in June 2015. The Piece de Resistance will be singing a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.” Mary Murrie Hardy gained a new great-granddaughter in July and a grandson in August. “The count is now 17 grandchildren and two greats. Bob and I, like the old Timex commercial, keep on ticking.” Betsy Newcomer Payette is busy with church activities, doctor’s appointments, bus excursions and playing Mah Jongg. She talks weekly with Carolyn Rusk. Janet Rowe Smith said, “David died in December 2012 after 60 wonderful years of marriage and 14 retirement years of mentoring inner city children, tennis, sailing, and travel. I communicate infrequently with Libby Floyd Davis in Coronado, Calif.” Jane Taggart Whittaker is well although her older son in New Jersey, head of the family business, is battling colon cancer. She will join family in Princeton, N.J. for Thanksgiving. Nan von der Hyde Needham reported, “My 17 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter keep me involved.  Recently, I was honored by the Virginia Health Care Association as Adult Volunteer of the Year.  I play bingo with the residents. Hood roommate Jeanne Zimmerman Gearey and I talk on the phone.” Marguerite (Mickey) Weber Trachtman said, “My oldest grandchild Elizabeth, married in October at a beautiful ceremony with the entire family present. I love my book group, and I am taking a class. Grandchild Kate is a freshman at Purdue.” Jeanne Zimmerman Gearey wrote, “I keep busy with bridge, movies, theater and dinners with my friend John. I am going to my daughter Susan ’79 and husband’s for Thanksgiving in St. Helena, Calif.” I am sad to report Grace Laubach’s passing. Her online obituary is at Patriot-News, July 23, 2013. Sorry to edit your news to meet magazine word limitations. Keep in touch.