Once again, classmates, send news of continuing careers, new endeavors and happy retirements. Janet Bear Ander lives in Baltimore and continues her work as a social worker in child protective services. She has two adult children; one was married in 2011 and one is getting married in 2013. Jan’s husband is retired, and they enjoy their empty nest with one dog and two cats. Jan has fond memories of Hood and relates that a sister-in-law, a cousin and a niece also attended Hood. Jan says hello to classmates, especially alums who were day students in the late 1960s. Ada Karen Blair continues her work on an oral history project of teacher education at Towson Univ. She frequently visits the home she is renovating in North Carolina, and she and her husband George Friedman spent Thanksgiving with Karin Ninesling Infuso and her family.

Jeanne Bryant-Wyland and her husband Dick are still working. Jeanne sends news of their son William, 14 years old, does well in school and plays lacrosse and basketball. William is also in Boy Scouts earning merit badges toward Eagle Scout. Jeanne is looking forward to our next Hood reunion. Rosalyn Goddard Phillips and her husband John celebrated their 41st anniversary last summer. They love retirement and maintain that “life is good.” They traveled to Ireland twice in the past year and plan to visit Scotland next. Roz plays the mandolin and tenor banjo and is in an old-time band with her youngest son. Roberta Dudley Maguire retired from full-time teaching in Wellesley, Mass., but “flunked retirement.” She works part time helping struggling first-grade readers and finds the work rewarding. She has one grandchild who lives nearby and is in the process of selling her house to downsize a bit. Elaine Hubert will visit Washington, D.C., this year and spend some time visiting Myra Holsinger.

After 43 years of teaching at the same school in Middletown, Md., Marj Menchey Bernstein will retire this year. She taught third grade for one year and taught music the rest of her career. Her life is busy and happy with family and great friends. Pamela Nesbit reported that her husband Bobby Bullet received the Native American Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award (NAMMY). Pam and Bobby are a folk-singing duo and perform at schools, libraries and events in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Pam plays native flute and her husband plays guitar.

Karin Ninesling Infuso, her husband and daughter vacationed in Utah in May 2012 and enjoyed Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. After a short summer trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, they decided to take a long-anticipated trip to Alaska. Denali National Park was a highlight as was an excursion above the Arctic Circle to Gates of the Arctic National Park. Karin continues as her daughter Kate’s editor, but that task will end when Kate finishes her graduate program in May. Ellen Sacks “friended” Charles Forsythe, who taught art at Hood, on Facebook. After a board of associates meeting at Hood, Ellen and her husband visited Charles at his home in Emmitsburg, Md., and enjoyed discussing art and looking at Charles’ painting. Just a few months later, Charles was diagnosed with a serious illness and died. Ellen is grateful that she took the time to visit him. More recently, Ellen met Margaret Muncie for dinner when Peggy flew from her home in Greenville, S.C. to New York City. Both Ellen and Peggy are still happily working and are looking forward to our 45th Hood reunion in 2015.

Nancy Schneider Alder traveled to Tampa, Fla., and Newberry Port, Mass., to see two former nanny families. Nancy enjoys beach vacations and holidays with her daughters and five grandchildren who range in age from 5 to 8 years. Nancy sends best wishes to classmates. On a sad note, I regretfully report that Misty Moorhouse Keisler passed away on May 24, 2012. Finally, I want to thank the classmates who contributed to this column and encourage classmates who have not been recently mentioned to send information for the next column.

Class Reporter:

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