1983
Mary L. Townley
804.307.3608
hoodmlt@aol.com

I heard from our classmate Shelley Wagar this time around and she had lots of awesome news to share! She writes, “Dave and I moved to South Carolina in May so we could be closer to my daughter, son-in-law and our new grandbaby, Madelyn.  She was born in December and brings us so much joy with her smiles. I retired in early May and recommend it to all. Love the free time to work outside and do whatever pops into my mind. Dave has been retired for 12 years so we are busy planning some camping trips out west. Our goal is Alaska next summer. And to top off what has been an awesome year so far is that Dave and I got married at the end of May. Very simple ceremony in our backyard. Life is very, very good and I am blessed with all that has taken place. I hope all is well with the rest of the Class of ‘83!” Life with me, Mary Townley, is going well.  I’m still running a non-profit (www.thenextmoveprogram.com) and Carol is happy working at Virginia Commonwealth University running the Autism Center for Excellence.  Our daughter, Emily, enters her senior year at Roanoke College this fall with a Psychology Major and an Art History Minor.  She was lucky to spend two weeks in Kenya in mid-May as a part of her college coursework after spending the fall semester in Perugia, Italy.  Yes, she has the travel bug! Take care everyone!

Mary Townley 804.307.3608
hoodmlt@aol.com

Hello Class of 1983! Thank you to classmates for their recent news.   I’ll begin with news from our friend, Jennie Grimes:  “After 9 companies, 41 countries, 3.1 million air miles and 6 states, Jennie Grimes retired from a 37-year career in high tech.  I now live in Asheville, NC and can highly recommend mountain life, craft breweries, waterfall hiking in the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains and watching bears eat her peach crop.  If anyone’s in the area, please holler if you want a cup of coffee or a sit on the porch. I also heard from Pamela Stamey Inskeep.  She reports, “I still work part-time at my local library as a Circulation Aide and I lead the fiction and nonfiction book discussion groups there. Love it! In December, a boy I had tutored in math for 5 years reached the point where he doesn’t need me anymore – he is consistently getting A’s and B’s on his own, so we said our goodbyes. It was bittersweet. I was overjoyed with his progress but sad I wouldn’t be seeing him once every week. His parents and grandparents were lovely, kind and very generous. I started crocheting again in the past 2 years. It is very calming, and I get a feeling of true accomplishment and success upon finishing a project, mostly afghans but I might try a shawl or cardigan later on. I am also an avid reader – book group books and others for pleasure and increasing my knowledge. I always loved a good mystery. I reconnected with Kathleen Danielle Arbaiza LeComte. She wrote me last January or February and I have been a terrible friend – I have yet to respond – but I will, soon. My daughter now works at a charter school in Philadelphia, PA. She is a professional teaching coach or mentor, which means she teaches other teachers how to be great teachers.” Deborah Single Hays, (my favorite and only Hood roommate) reports, “Matthew (23) moved into his place in North Canton, Ohio and is now working as a wire line engineer for Baker Hughes in Massillon, Ohio. Stephen is in the process of moving to Iowa City, Iowa for a new job at the University of Iowa beginning on February 1st. He will be a full professor in both pediatrics and pediatric anesthesia. I will remain in Nashville until at least May 2020 when Timothy graduates form University School of Nashville. Lots of change all in a short period.” Kim Hall writes “It’s been an amazing year of transition. My brother (who some people met at reunion) and I have been helping my parents move and adjust to live in a senior community in Baltimore. Everyone was sad to leave a house that has been very good to the family, but it’s good to have more support for them.  Mom and I ended up being in the same publication! The new volume, If I Survive: Frederick Douglass and Family in the Walter O. Evans Collection edited by Celeste-Marie Bernier and Andrew Taylor, includes photos of some of my Mom’s quilts and an afterword by me a long with beautiful never-before seen materials from the Frederick Douglass family. Both os us were thrilled to be able to participate in the global celebration of the Frederick Douglass bicentennial.  Right now, I am writing captions for images of my Mom’s quilts that will be on display along with Frederick Douglass materials at the Maryland State House in Annapolis.  In the meantime there has been a lot of interest in my book project, Othello Was My Grandfather: Shakespeare and Race in the African Diaspora.  I just got back from giving a talk in Chicago and will be giving talks in Arizona and DC as well as a keynote address at the British Shakespeare Association in Wales.   Hopefully between all of these trips, I can get in some quilting and more  time with family!”

I, Mary Townley, broke my foot in December and am hoping to be out of my boot by March.  Our daughter, Emily, returned from a semester abroad in Perugia, Italy in mid-December. Carol and I were blessed to spend a week with her in Italy in late October. She had an amazing semester and now returns to Roanoke College to finish her junior year.  In May, she will depart for Kenya for 2 weeks as her May term experience.  She is loving life!  My non-profit, The Next Move Program, continues to do job training with young adults with special needs in the Richmond area.  We will begin pilot programming at The College of William and Mary in February and we are hoping to open a bakery in Richmond to provide job training and internship experiences for young adults with special needs.  Lots going on! Thanks to all and be sure to look me up in Richmond. Be safe everyone and be kind to one another. -Mary

1983
Mary Townley
804.423.7255
hoodmlt@aol.com

Hello Class of 1983

How did 35 years fly by so quickly? It was wonderful catching up with classmates at our 35th reunion the weekend of June 8-10. I was thrilled to reconnect with classmates. In attendance were Ruth Ravitz Smith, Nancy Hoffman Hennessey, Laura Schauer, Katherine Hax, Jill Feaster LaPan, Sally Seward Sewell, Kim Hall, Barb Smith, Marita del Toro-Sabater, Mary Robert Seidel Fish, Carrie Foulkes Silbernagel, Christine Seiler, Ann Kitson, and Mary Townley. We had such fun reconnecting at dinner and even squeezed in a group picture. Contact me at Hoodmlt@aol.com if you would like a copy of the picture. Personally, I would say it was my best reunion ever!
Onto the class news…
Pam Stamey Inskeep writes,” In February 2018, I received a letter from Kathleen Danielle Arbaiza LeComte, my first roommate at Hood College. She is still working at EG&G, where she has been for several years. She is having fun with a new puppy and sounds like she is doing well. I have been reading a lot and leading three book clubs, going to adult coloring classes at the library, and tutoring kids in math in their homes. I am still crocheting, but not as much, due to the hot, humid weather in Delaware. My husband and I have been enjoying some date nights with dinners out and a movie now and then. We still help out my mom with household chores and drive her around – she will be 80 in October 2018. She is fine but has arthritis in her knees and does not walk very much. My husband and I will celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary on August 8, 2018. Our daughter (my stepdaughter) will be 28 in August. She is teaching an extended learning session for kids in her school in Wilmington, Delaware, who have special needs. Her work as an Educational Diagnostician is important and very rewarding. My family’s goal for this summer is to do a major cleanup/out of all the stuff we have accumulated over the last several years. Wish us luck, because we don’t like to let go of anything.” Kim Hall shares, “My parents, Lawrence and Vera Hall, my brother, Reginald L. Hall and my cousin Sandra Faye Mott were able to come up for the reunion luncheon where my family bonded with fellow class of ’83 alums: Laurie Schauer, Nancy Hoffman Hennessey, Katherine Hax, Christine Seiler and Ruth Ravitz Smith. It was wonderful seeing how we all turned out! I was really honored to receive an Alumnae of the Year Award during this anniversary year—and for the event to be presided over by Nancy Gillece ’81 who was a fellow Coblentz resident and a leader in our big sister class of ’81. I’m sending off my book manuscript, The Sweet Taste of Empire: Sugar, Race and Gender in Early Modern England, to the University of Pennsylvania Press. I’m giving a talk for high school teachers at the Folger Shakespeare Library in late June and I’ll head to London to deliver a keynote address at the Globe Theater for the “Shakespeare and Race” Festival in August.”

Shelley Wagar shares,” A couple of things going on- I have officially changed my name back to Wagar. My daughter was married in September- beautiful and fun. She is teaching 4th grade in the fall and I am going to be a grandmother at Christmas time! I started a new job in October as the Director of the Ulster County Office for Aging and I love it. An excellent move on my part. [I am] trying to schedule time for lunch with Beth Barrett who works across the river from me in Dutchess County and also works for the Dutchess County Office for Aging!”

Finally, I heard from Susan Bridgers who shares, “Glad to hear you had a great time at the Hood reunion class of 1983 there! Hope to connect with you all on the next round, hear your new life stories and gather hellos and hugs from all. I’ve been living in the beautiful mountains of Asheville, NC since 2015 and am loving the vistas, the people, the activities, and all that there is. My daughter lives just down the road which makes me a satisfied mom as we’re both happy and healthy, appreciating the daily beauty amidst the daily duties. Here’s wishing all the best to the Hoodlums I’ve known!” Until next time, dear friends.
~Mary

Mary Townley
804.423.7255
hoodmlt@aol.com

Hello Class of 1983!  It’s my pleasure to update you on news from a few of our classmates.  Kathy Alexander Long writes, “We are finally experiencing the “empty nest” now that our youngest son is attending Lafayette College where he is pursuing Neuroscience and is on the track and field team. My oldest son got married last December and is in his 6th year teaching 5th grade in Hagerstown MD. Last year he was a finalist for Washington County Teacher of the Year which was quite an honor. The middle son will be graduating from USUHS in May as an Air Force Doctor. He plans to pursue the field of Radiology. As for me, I am a supervisor with The Office of Child Care in Frederick County. I have had many occasions to visit The Onica Prall Child Development Lab at Hood and it always takes me back to my own time spent there as part of the Child Development course. It’s been nice getting to reconnect with some of my Hood classmates on Facebook.”  I also heard from Sharon Carnevale Schopfer who is looking forward to our reunion in June and tells us, “Since 2010 I became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and have worked in two major Houston Hospitals in the Medical Center Houston. Since leaving Houston in 2012, I had a Lactation private practice in DE and most recently (last 2 years) have joined WIC as their Breastfeeding Manager, part of the City of Newark, NJ Health Dept. My three children, Collin 27, Madi 23, and Evan 17 are all doing well. Madi and her husband Ryan are at Camp Pendleton living in Oceanside, CA. Collin is working for Burger King Corporate in Atlanta and Evan will be off to College in the fall. My husband Chris is a business owner and manages Atlantic Heat Treat in Wilmington, DE. Life is as busy as ever, Hope the Class of 1983 is doing well, and looking forward to June!” Pamela Stamey Inskeep had a lot to share.  She writes, “I have been working at my local library in the Circulation Dept. as a Community Service Worker II – Library Circulation Aide, P/T, since June 25, 2013. I also lead the library’s fiction and nonfiction book discussion groups. Plus, I lead a ladies social book club. I am also a private tutor, P/T, in math, reading comprehension, phonics, grammar, essay writing, cursive writing, and test prep. I am working with two students currently and am about to take on a third student. Typically, I tutor about 2 to 5 students each semester. My daughter, Jessica, is 27 years old now. She is a licensed and certified teacher and, after teaching high school special education for three years, she is now an Educational Diagnostician at an elementary school in Wilmington, Delaware. My husband Johnny has been helping my mom a lot this year. Since she doesn’t drive, he takes her to the grocery store, the thrift shop, and a local resale store and helps her do her shopping. He takes her to the bank and post office. Then, they go have lunch. They do this twice a week. I help her out once or twice a week. Besides reading a lot, I have started crocheting again. I find the rhythm of the crochet hook stitching yarn very soothing. I love the colorful yarns and beautiful patterns.” Deborah Single Hays shares that she will not be able to join us at our reunion this spring as she, her husband Stephen and their two boys, Matthew and Timothy will be cruising the British Isles. The cruise celebrates Deb and Stephen’s 25^th anniversary, Matthew’s graduation from Rice University, and Timothy’s completion of 10^th grade. Congratulations to the whole Hays family!  Finally, Lee Ann Near Aikens shared “Things are busy here in WV. Ron & I are essentially empty-nesters with Tori living on a military base as she works for DOD and Jordan graduates from WVU next May but will be starting medical school in the fall. I returned to work in the lab part-time at the VA after taking 10 yrs. off to stay home. It’s a privilege providing good care for our veterans. When not working, I spend time with my 85 yr. old mother tending chickens, cooking and running all over the place, and I’m blessed to have my 86 yr. old Dad nearby as well.” Hoping to see many of you at Reunion Weekend in June! ~Mary

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

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

1983

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

It is my pleasure to share news from several Class of 1983 graduates. Ruth Ravitz Smith writes, “I relocated to Wilmington, NC, and am working for New Hanover County as the chief communications officer. It’s nice to have classmate Laura Schauer here too. We are planning to drive up and crash the class of 82’s reunion next May. I was talking to the news director of our local NPR station this week, and she asked me about something I said when I brought one of my female colleagues to be interviewed on her show a few weeks ago. I said I wanted to show off one of our women (versus the man she originally invited). I think that comment startled her. My “upbringing” at Hood taught me to help develop women leaders. It is what I am most passionate about and where I like to dedicate my energy to benefit the future.” Ruth also shared about our classmate, Nancy Hoffman Hennessey, who has now become an Episcopal priest. Nancy now serves as rector at Sherwood Episcopal Church in Cockeysville, MD. Congratulations, Nancy! Finally Ruth shared news of another classmate, Gretchen Smith Coviello. Gretchen launched her own business called Gretchen’s Homemade. Ruth shared that Gretchen “ships homemade jam, cookies, etc. Her pepper jelly is amazing!” Suzanne Williams Johnson writes, “I met my old roommate Sharon Williams DePamphilis ’82 and her husband, Phil, and son Devin at Lehigh U. in the spring, and my daughter, Elizabeth, showed Devin around campus. It was so much fun to catch up! I’ve been staying in contact with Angie Sievers ’82, Ruth Ravitz Smith, Gretchen Smith Coviello, Cindy Stearns Price, and Sarah Hoover Dietrich. We’re hoping to get together again soon!” Mary Linger Posey, M.A.’92 shares a lot of wonderful news. Says Mary, “I am in my fifth year of subbing in Frederick County Public Schools only for special education instructional assistants or pre-K assistants. I don’t sub every day and rarely all day but enough to exercise my talent in working with elementary-aged children. I have 17 schools to go, and then I will have subbed in all of our 40 elementary-level public/charter schools in this county. Our daughter, Sayre, is a first-year ninth grade history teacher in Baltimore City. She is loving every minute of it and was very well prepared for the challenges as she volunteered in the city much of her four years at UMBC. Our daughter, Julianna, is a sophomore at UMBC majoring in mechanical engineering. She is working very hard as this is a tough academic major. Our son, Garrett, is a junior at Middletown High School. He is doing fine and has many interests. He is still a year-round tennis player competing in the junior circuit with USTA and maintains a nice ranking in MD, VA, WV and DC. My husband, Rich, still works for the FAA in DC and plans to continue there for a few more years.” Our family continues to do well. My nonprofit, the Next Move Program (www.thenextmoveprogram.com), is moving forward. We provide internship experiences and education to young adults with special needs who are transitioning out of high school. We have several Richmond businesses serving as host sites for our interns. In addition, we just signed on with Wells Fargo. Our daughter, Emily, is a freshman at Roanoke College in Salem, VA. She is gradually settling in to college life. Recently she was asked to do a TEDx Youth talk here in Richmond regarding her role in our marriage equality case. So proud! You can watch it on YouTube. Take care, everyone! Mary

1983

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

Hello Class of 1983!  Here we are again reflecting on all we are doing in our AMAZING lives!  I first wish to apologize for missing the last edition. All I can say is, life got in the way.  I am involved with starting a new non-profit organization here in Richmond, VA that supports young adults with disabilities, and it can be overwhelming at times. Our website is www.thenextmoveprogram.com.  We are always looking for support so please check us out. Beyond that, I have news from several classmates to share. First off, news from Joyce Rhinecker Gillich, P’08. Joyce reports, “I will be celebrating 34 years of marriage this June with my husband Daniel. Our daughter Heather Gillich ’08, will be celebrating her 30th birthday in June, and we will be traveling to Missouri to help her celebrate.  My husband and I are trying to figure out where time has gone, and how we got this old so fast!!  Our son Matthew married Jovanni Mahonez ’08 in October. Matthew and Jovanni live and work in DC.  I recently celebrated 3 years as a partner in a screen printing and embroidery business in Martinsburg, WV.  Love the work, and the customers.  Business is great, life is good.”  Sue Bridgers reports, “Hello to fellow Hoodlums! I’m happy to report that I finally received my Master’s in Library Science in 2014, concentrating in special librarianship. I now work remotely for a medical library, a super sweet arrangement. Since I can live anywhere, I chose to relocate from Chapel Hill to Asheville, NC last July and now view the glorious Smokey Mountains from my desk window.  My daughter lives nearby and we thoroughly enjoy the vibrant offerings of this growing town and its surrounds.  I’ve found great community to go along with the views here. Let’s hear from our other classmates, big sisters, little sisters, roommates, and hall mates.” Shelley Wagar Sabo says, “I am very happy to report that my daughter, Courtney, just finished her first year at Coastal Carolina. She graduated from Northern Virginia Community College last year and began at CCU last year. She made Dean’s list and loves living in the South. She is also engaged and getting married in September 2017. Sadly, my father died on Valentine’s Day this past February. I was able to be with him and he had been fighting kidney and heart failure since last Fall. My work is good, my partner in crime, David, is wonderful and I feel blessed to have wonderful family and friends every day!” Carolyn Inch Marriott reports in May 2016, “I am having my first grandchild today, at the hospital now, so little Jacob will be here today! This is my eldest daughter, Kellie who will be 30 this month. My younger daughter, Amy will have her first in July!” Congratulations, Carolyn!! Jacque Witt Lyons reports, “My husband Ed and I relocated to North Port, Florida in October 2014.” From Pam Stamey Inskeep, “Good news! Since June 2013, I have been working part-time as a CSW II (Community Service Worker II) Library Circulation Aide at my local library, and, last month, I was offered the position of Book Group Leader, which I happily accepted. I also tutor students on a part-time basis .Even better news! My daughter was recruited by Freire Charter School in Wilmington, DE, as Director of their Special Education Dept. She also teaches two classes at the school.  Her career is moving at a fast pace, and we are very happy for her. On a sad note, my uncle, John H. Guy, passed away on December 8, 2015, at home, from congestive heart failure.  Then, his dog died a couple of weeks ago. My mom took care of them both and is finding it hard to cope with the loss of her older brother and his pet. Thank you to everyone for reporting their news!  Carol and I are thrilled to report that our daughter, Emily, graduated from Monacan High School, here near Richmond, Virginia, l with many honors this past June (proud Moms) and will be attending Roanoke College this fall.  Empty nest is official!  Starting to pack care packages already! Please stay in touch!  Love to all.  Mary

Mary Townley
hoodmlt@aol.com

Hello Class of 1983!

It has been quite the winter here on the East coast with snow falling everywhere, but as I write this column, spring is but a few weeks away.  Thank you to those who shared their news with me.  Please feel free to send your news to me or to Hood directly for publication in our column. Let me get right to the news.  Shelley Wagar Sabo writes, “My work continues to keep me very busy and I love my job. Was able to spend a week in Puerto Rico in January for work and enjoyed the break from winter. My daughter Courtney graduates from the community college in Northern Virginia this May and will move to South Carolina this summer as she begins her last two years at Coastal Carolina University this fall. That is it for now. Looking forward to summer and the Cape and some camping in the Adirondacks.” I also heard from Ann Kitson.  Her daughter, Kate, continues her studies at Hood College and her son Tucker continues to serve in the Navy (thank you Tucker). Ann and her husband Steve relocated to western Massachusetts where Ann is now working for Baystate Children’s Specialty Center. Pam Stamey Inskeep writes, “It has been ages since I wrote a note for class news, so here goes. On 8/8/08 at 8:00 p.m., I married John Allen (“Johnny”) Inskeep and became stepmom to Jessica Sarah Inskeep. My husband used to work as a cable installer in Manhattan in New York, and in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Twenty-one years ago, he suffered a back injury on the job and was declared disabled. He can walk and do light lifting, but he cannot sit or stand or drive for long periods of time, and he is always in pain. But, my husband deals with it all very well; he has good days and bad days. He has a wonderful sense of humor, and we laugh a lot and just enjoy life one day at a time. Our daughter, Jess, graduated from the University of Delaware in May 2008 with a B.A. in History, a minor in East Asian Studies, and a minor in Disability Studies. After graduation, she joined AmeriCorps’ Teach for America (TFA) program and was invited to teach at Seaford Sr. High School in Seaford, Delaware. She is doing such a fantastic job there that the school’s administrator asked her to be the lead teacher in the special education department, and she is a homeroom leader for TFA. She is also still participating in her sorority, Delta Gamma, by being an advisor to the DG chapter at Salisbury College in Salisbury, Maryland. In addition, she earned her teaching certificate while teaching at Seaford Sr. High School and is currently working towards getting her master’s degree at the Georgetown, Delaware, UD campus. She enjoys teaching, but her ultimate goal is to work in special education policy administration. Jess has worked very hard to get this far on her career path, and we are very proud of her accomplishments. Her heart and mind are in the right place; she is determined to make a difference in her students’ lives by obtaining the educational resources they need to succeed in school and in their community. As for me, I have been working part-time for New Castle County, Delaware, as a Community Service Worker II – Library Aide – at the Bear Library since June 2013. I provide customer service to patrons at the Circulation Desk and work on back-office library tasks. I love working at the library, helping patrons and promoting community events, including literacy programs for adults and children. I also participate in two book clubs: Bear Library Book Group and a ladies’ social book club. It’s great connecting with other book lovers. In addition, I am self-employed, part-time, as a private tutor primarily for elementary (K-6) subjects, especially English language arts, reading, writing, and math. I enjoy helping students increase their understanding of the subjects they are learning in school. In my spare time, have also been trying to start a crafts business. Perhaps, I will have more time to devote to that enterprise in 2015.That’s my life in a nutshell – helping kids, helping adults, and helping family. Once in a while, I take time out for myself, reading, watching TV, and dreaming of things I want to do and places I want to go. My husband and I like to go out to dinner and go to the movies. We are such a good match for each other. It seems as if we just got married, when, in reality, we will be celebrating our seventh anniversary of marriage in August 2015. Boy, how time flies!” Ruth Ravitz Smith shared the following news, “This is old news but in Feb 2014, the Memorial girls – Gretchen, Sarah, Cindy, Suzanne and I got together in Frederick for a mini reunion. It was the first time we had all been together since graduation. We had so much fun; we are doing it again in March. Professionally, I just launched my own business – RRSmith Global Solutions, providing government affairs and strategic engagement services to clients.”  Valerie Kaufmann writes, “I have never sent in anything to be included in a newsletter before but here goes: I am living in Hagerstown, MD with my husband of almost 40 years. After a career of teaching in Washington County, MD I worked for nine years at the MD State Department of Education as the Branch Chief of Early Learning, Division of Early Childhood Development. For the last three years I have worked as Principal at Funkstown School for Early Childhood Education in Hagerstown. It’s a great little school serving prekindergarten and kindergarten students and the perfect location to finish out my career in early childhood education.” Trish Wilson shared that she “…lives on the Massachusetts coast with her husband, son, and three cats. She has written numerous short stories for dark fiction, horror, and erotica anthologies under the pen names Elizabeth Black and E. A. Black. Her first family saga/thriller novel “Secrets and Lies” will be released by Eldritch Press in 2015. She will publish it as Elizabeth Black.”  As for me, your class reporter, my life in Richmond is much calmer these days.  Over the last year, my wife, Carol daughter, Emily and I were involved in a nationally covered lawsuit to bring marriage equality to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Having the support of nationally renowned lawyers, David Boies and Ted Olson was beyond words amazing. After a year of winning two important court cases, many press interviews and overall craziness, a decision came down. On October 6, 2014, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to review our case (along with six other cases). At that moment marriage equality became the law of the land in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.  It was an exciting day for our family.  That day, Carol and I renewed our vows on the steps of the John Marshall Court House in Richmond with Virginia’s Attorney General, Mark Herring.  In mid- February, we celebrated our thirtieth anniversary with nearly seventy close family and friends. We are so happy and honored to have been a part of changing the law of the land. Suzanne Johnson writes, “Gretchen Smith Coviello, Cyndy Stearns Price, Sarah Hoover Dietrich, and Ruth Ravitz Smith, our Class of 1983 Memorial Hall group, and I all met last February 2014 in Frederick for the first time as a group since 1983. It was such a joyful and amazing weekend, we decided we’re going to do whatever we can to make it an annual event. Our next get together is a slumber party weekend here at my home in Moorestown, NJ and we can’t wait! We’re excited that Angie Sievers Beachley ’84 is going to be join us too!”

Send in your news and be sure to update your email address with me so you will receive notice of our newsletters.  All my best….

Mary

1983
Mary Townley
hoodmlt@aol.com

Hello Class of 1983! I hope you all are doing well. I heard from several of our classmates who had news to share. Nancy Hoffman Hennessey wrote, “This fall, I will be attending General Theological Seminary, an Episcopal seminary in NYC. Kevin will remain in Frederick for his job and we are looking forward to discovering NYC over the next two years. I will graduate in June 2016 with my master’s of divinity degree. Our youngest child Ted will be a freshman at the Univ. of Maryland this fall. Our other children, Megan teaches fifth grade in Fairfax, Va., and Lauren works for Prudential Financial in Newark, N.J. My classmate, Christine Seiler was on the East Coast from Seattle, Wash., for a wedding and was able to sneak in dinner with Kevin and me. It was a wonderful, but short visit. We had a lot of laughter and reminiscing about our Hood days. She and her husband Jeff Perkins have three children and love living in Seattle.” Caren Crandall Babst shared, “We have been blessed this past Dec. 24 with our fifth grandchild, Evalina Maria Norcio Babst! She joins cousins, Sean, 17, and Delia, 14, and brothers, Lucas, 10, and Zeke, 7. We are also excited to go to Italy this September to the magnificent lake district (with hood.ahitravel.com).” I also heard from Deborah Single Hays. She and her family spent most of June and the first half of July in upstate New York. She wrote that they are safely back in Nashville and she and her husband Stephen are preparing for their oldest son Matthew to begin his freshman year at Rice Univ., in Houston, Texas, this fall. All is well with Carol and me, Mary Townley, and our 16-year-old daughter Emily. We continue with our lawsuit for marriage equality in Virginia. As I write this, we anxiously await the decision from the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond. The support we have received from the American Foundation of Equal Rights as well as our lawyers, Ted Olson and David Boies, has been phenomenal. We are very optimistic that our case may be chosen to go before the U.S. Supreme Court. Joanne Lee Davis, M.S. ’10, P’08 wrote, “I continue to work as special education teacher in Carroll County, Md. My daughter Julie Davis ’08, M.S. ’14 received her master’s degree from Hood in May and also works as a special education teacher in Carroll County. She received her bachelor’s degree from Hood in 2008. My other daughter Heidi is teaching first grade in Baltimore City. Thanks for all your work as our class reporter.”

Hello Class of 1983! As I write this column, the leaves are turning many brilliant colors and the first flakes of snow are expected this afternoon. What a perfect time to report all the latest news from our classmates. Shelley Wagar Sabo moved to upstate New York two years ago for a new job as executive director of the New York State Center for Assisted Living. She loves the work and the climate, snow included.  Her daughter Courtney remains in Virginia where she attends community college and works part time caring for a child with special needs. Shelley was lucky enough to spend some time in St. John last spring with Hood alum Lori Landis. Kathy Alexander Long wrote to say how much she enjoyed catching up with friends at our reunion last June. Sharing time with Sally Seward Kirby (who in fact did play lacrosse at Hood) and Jill Feaster LaPan was one of the highlights. Kathy is a child care licensing specialist for the Maryland State Department of Education and is lucky enough to have the Hood’s Onica Prall Child Development Center on her caseload. Her oldest son loves his job as a fifth grade teacher while her middle son pursued his passion to play football in Germany. Her youngest son is a freshman at Middletown High School. Nancy Hoffman Hennessey and husband Kevin also loved the 30th reunion catching up with old friends.  She wrote that Ruth Ravitz Smith now works for General Electric and she and her husband Mike live between their two homes in northern Virginia and Wilmington, Del. Nancy began her first of three years of schooling to earn her Masters of Divinity degree to become a Priest in the Episcopal Church. We wish her well in her endeavor.  Joyce Rhinecker Gillich shared news as well.  She and her husband Dan have been married for 31 years. Their daughter Heather M. Gillich ’08 works in Missouri for the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture. Their son Matthew is pursuing his master’s degree in ethnomusicology. Joyce is now a joint owner of a graphic designer/embroidery company in Martinsburg, W.Va.  Lee Ann Near Aikens and husband Ron just celebrated their 27th anniversary. Daughter Victoria is in her third year at Shepherd Univ. and son Jordan is a soccer playing senior in high school. Lee Ann happily takes care of her family and spends time with her 81-year-old mom who lives nearby. Kim Hall is sorry she missed the reunion but she was on her first sabbatical since stepping down as director of Africana studies at Barnard College. She recently visited Barbados and Rhode Island to do research on her third book which is on literary cultures in the 17th century English sugar/slave trade.  Kim rebuilt the Africana program at Barnard College and it just became its own department. Kim tries to squeeze in time for quilting.  Last year, she had a quilt in an exhibit on Black mermaids in Charleston, S.C. Mary Linger Posey lives in Myersville, Md., with her husband Richard and their three children. She taught Kindergarten until 1996 and then stayed home for 15 years to raise her children. She now works part time as a special education instructional assistant (SEIA).  In 2012, she was awarded the SEIA at the Middle School level in Frederick County. Mary sends all her best to everyone. “My, Mary Townley’s, life is busy. I continue to love my job as a supervisor of transition services at Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. in Richmond, Va.  I teach work readiness skills to high school students with disabilities. It is a great job in an amazing company! On another note, Carol and I are involved with a lawsuit here in Virginia to have our marriage recognized by the Commonwealth. We are lucky to have top, nationally recognized lawyers Ted Olson and David Boies representing us in the case. Our daughter Emily is now a sophomore and beginning to drive. She plays basketball and is enrolled in her high school’s Humanities program. Life is good. Keep in touch everyone. Stay healthy and be safe.”