1985
Susan Povich DelConte
ahoodlumof85@hotmail.com

Hello Hoodlums!  It has been far too long since I was able to get a column together, please send news when it comes up so I don’t have to hound everyone at the last minute! Kimberly Kieffer Brown was the first to respond: “Hood news for me: My husband Bob and I have entered semi-retirement and have relocated from central PA to Lewes, DE. We are enjoying beach living and looking forward to our next chapter!” Cathy Diem sent loads of news: “Hi!  I am enjoying 6 years with Hilton as Director of Insurance Industry Sales, traveling about 50% of the time and loving it. My son Will was married earlier this month.  Son Matt graduated from Ithaca College and is pursuing his Masters in Taxation. Was lucky enough to see Robin Schneider Mahoney ’84 and her parents earlier this spring.  Looking forward to catching up with everyone at the Reunion next June.” Greetings were sent from Marsha Evans: “I got together with Hood classmate Deborah Crawford-Reynolds and husband Dale Reynolds in Bethany Beach last month. Always fun sharing laughs and memories, not to mention enjoying the beach!” Her posting was noticed by Krista Stone Steiding, who added “We got together with Deborah Crawford-Reynolds and Trish Wilson-Wisner for Martha Church’s memorial service and had dinner at Cacique in downtown Frederick prior to the service. I have had the pleasant experience of reconnecting lost Hoodlums several times- most recently for Margaret Oliver. If you are missing a member of the class of ’85 let me know and I will act as a middle man for you! Thanks to everyone who responded so quickly- please consider adding something next time and sending it to Margie or me!

Sue Povich DelConte
732-549-2445
ahoodlumof85@hotmail.com

Margie Murphy Weaver
dramamama13646@gmail.com

Hello Class of ’85!  I start this column with an apology– an alum sent me news several weeks ago and I lost the email! I am so sorry and hope the writer will resend for the next column!  As I was frantically searching for this errant email I sent a series of flares up on Facebook Messenger, and while none of the responders was the mysterious alum, I did get some news. First to come to my aide was Natalie Rivers Bruno. She reports she is “still teaching English in France. My kids are turning 27, 25 and 20 this year! Andrea Malone Redden says “I retired from teaching after 30 years. Enjoying time relaxing and traveling!” I am jealous Andrea– I still have 4-5 years before I can cap my dry erase markers and turn off the projector. I figure that is the equivalent of cleaning out 3 filing cabinet drawers a year and dragging the boxes home! Earlier this year I was contacted by Ingrid Kirstin Piper ’84, who asked if I could send a message to a fellow Hoodlum with whom she had lost touch over the years. I was happy to oblige and happily, Ingrid and Margaret Oliver reconnected and are planning to meet up in London in September! Tammy Leisinger Gantz reports “I didn’t send any information but our son Benjamin graduated from Gettysburg College with a double major Biochemistry and Music.” I have had the pleasure of watching clips featuring Theresa Yosuico Stahl as she discusses nutrition and food preparation for her local Farmers’ Market. Theresa adds: “this past year, I became a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.”!  Susan Audino B.A. ’99 says “on behalf of a few people, I thought I’d report that Ann Granato Hein, Meredith McQuoid Greason, Kelly Nickoles Auber, Ann Fussell Divecha, and I enjoyed a 3-day ‘mini’ reunion at Bethany Beach, DE last month. We all enjoyed getting together, looking at old yearbooks, reminiscing, and of course walking the beach.  We also enjoyed some homemade limoncello and other delicacies I brought back from Italy a couple of weeks earlier!” I will be splitting the responsibilities for the column with Margaret Murphy Weaver! I hope you will consider sending a few lines to either of us for the next submission. Margie heard from Heard from Laura Anderson Lombardi (Memorial Hall) who is living in Morris Plains, NJ and is Co-Director of a NAEYC Accredited Non-Profit Early Childhood Education Center, Children on the Green, in Morristown, NJ.  They are unique in that they raise money through grants for homeless children so that they can attend free of charge.  Laura’s son, Max, just hit the milestone of becoming a teenager, and though she has friends who are grandparents, it still is hard for her to believe she can be the mother of a teen!  She feels fortunate that Max still has all four of his grandparents, at ages 80, 83, 90 and 91, still living at home and involved in his life.  Laura’s mom has Alzheimer’s and that has been a challenge. She says that Facebook has been a wonderful tool to reconnect with Hood Alumnae, and stays in touch with Mary Kocher Innocenti, Ginny Van Saders Furnas, Jennifer Biggs-Klock, and me (Margie).  She reminisces about how we all met our very first day at Hood when we were put into teams to do ice breakers.  She made me laugh remembering a skit we performed Freshman year about facing an empty mailbox in the Ad…”No mail…close de box!” and says she repeats this every time she opens an empty mailbox, even as an adult! We all have busy, crazy lives that, I’m quite certain, are full of small victories and challenges.  Reach out here, and you’re guaranteed a wealth of support and good thoughts.  As for Margie, I performed on stage in my first production since our Soph Revue back in May. A local friend wrote a play based on riding the local public transit buses, “Bus Buddies,” and I played two small roles and STILL had a hard time remembering my lines!  The show will be reprised on September 17 at SkyStage in downtown Frederick, so if you’re in town and want to laugh, come on by!  I’m becoming more and more active in advocacy and political activities in Frederick (Dr. Lewis would be proud), and am training for my first 5K, which I’ll run on August 5th.  Never a dull moment.

1985

Sue Povich DelConte
732-549-2445
ahoodlumof85@hotmail.com

Hello, Class of 1985! Marsha Evans met up with Deb Crawford-Reynolds at Hood for Homecoming weekend festivities, enjoying a meet-and-greet photo with President Chapdelaine and a walk down memory lane around campus. Marsha and Deb also met up with Krista Stone Steiding for dinner in Downtown Frederick that weekend. Always a fun time when Hood besties can get together! Amie Jamison Sweren added: “Life here is good. The boys have graduated high school, and have just completed their first term at Drexel University. Even though they are at the same school, and their dorms are across the street from each other, they rarely see each other. It’s been quite liberating for them. Over the summer, the four of us did a driving tour in Europe, hitting Germany, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, France and Luxembourg. It’s been quite an adjustment to life being only Scott and me. I have forgotten how to shop and cook for two people—lots of leftovers! Anyway, the bottom line is that we are blessed, we are healthy and we are happy.” Kimberly Kieffer Brown reported…“Nothing! No graduations, no weddings, no retirement…in between major life events right now!” Sounds like the calm before the next wave! I envy you! Margie Murphy Weaver realized a 30-year dream this year and finally lives in historic Downtown Frederick, literally yards from Carroll Creek Linear Park and within a mile of the Hood campus. She sees Hood alumni all over town and is loving life (sounds like I need to split this column with you—seriously!). Margie is picturing Dr. Virginia Lewis spinning in her grave at the current state of politics in our nation and is ever grateful for her teaching…Maggie Rose Montez, P’18, aka Mrs. Rose’s daughter, graduated in ’85. She adds: “the craziest thing is my son, John Montez, born and raised in Palm Springs, CA, is now in the middle of his junior year at Hood. He would only look at east coast colleges, but Hood was his first choice. We would walk the campus when we visited his grandparents at our family home on Elm Street. Mom moved to assisted living in FL and passed away in 2007. My children asked to visit Frederick a few years later, and John proclaimed that Hood was where he was going. And he did just that. Say hello to him at Chrisafulli’s Cheese Shop where he works. A pretty cool legacy!” Margaret Oliver sent in some news: “I do enjoy reading about Hood and lives of the Class of ’85. I went to nursing school in London a couple years after graduation. After working in intensive care nursing for 17 years, I am now working in nursing homes looking after people with dementia. I am living in Warrington Cheshire, England.” My (Sue) mother suffers from dementia and has been living with us for about 10 years now. Margaret, I applaud what you’re doing and know what challenges you face daily! I wonder how many of our class are not firmly planted in the middle of the family sandwich and are also dealing with the issues of aging parents…Andrea Malone Redden’s oldest son was married in October, and the photos show a beaming mother of the groom! Congratulations! Wendy Alling sent a quick update although she felt there was nothing particularly newsworthy: “I’m still in NC (and have been since graduation). A few twists on the career path but am currently a data analyst with Community Care of NC. And officially an empty nester as of September.” I am a few years away from that empty nest and both dread and crave it! My final news comes from Becky May—she and partner Bobbi are now living in Sarasota, FL. Becky is the resident program director at an assisted living community and has already found a chorus to sing with. Becky is an ordained interfaith chaplain (since 2010) and is available for weddings, memorial services and other ceremonies. If you visit the Sarasota area, she’d love to connect! Let me know if you would like to contact Becky—I will send a message along! And finally a little from me: I became a grandma for the second time as our son and beautiful daughter-in-law added a son to their family. Add to the mix a college freshman and high school senior, and you have a busy family! Retirement looms ever closer and to help with the next phase of our lives, my husband has applied to Italy to have his dual nationality recognized. This will help us travel and hopefully split our time between locations once we are ready. As the pressures of parent care and work consume me, I would like to add a plea from help with the column! If you would be able to help split the responsibilities of writing, please let me know. It is wonderful to share news, but I think it is time to get a fresh perspective from another Class of ’85 alum! Please consider sharing the load!

1985

Sue Povich DelConte
ahoodlumof85@hotmail.com
30th reunion, Jun 5-7, 2015

Chris Santrizos Chagaris wrote, “We are planning to visit Portugal and the Azores in July. Last year, we visited Hawaii and Pearl Harbor and drove up a 10K foot volcano in Maui, Mount Haleakala.” Meg Toia Robinson started a job in November as marketing director at Neustar, based in Tyson’s Corner. “I enjoy not having to travel to London for work so frequently and looking forward to vacation soon!” said Meg. Janice Peacock Spiegel and Howard Spiegel ’86 had a lovely ski trip with Debbie Hall Webber, husband Jeff and Wendy Kimball Murray in Colorado this winter. While in Colorado, Wendy visited with Harry Hill III. Janice and Howard dined with Cathy Diem and her son while they were in Frederick visiting Hood. Howard started a new job and Janice is busy with volunteer work. They have two children, one in graduate school and one a sophomore in college. Betsy Bond Brennen reported, “I am CEO of a wealth management firm, Harbor Investment Advisory. My daughters are students in Chicago, one attends the Univ. of Chicago and the other is at Northwestern Univ. My husband Bob and I celebrate 23 years of marriage in September. I see Susan Bond Kearney frequently! She was named assistant head of school for St. Paul’s School in Brooklandville, Md. She has been with St. Paul’s for 19 years. Emma is starting her sophomore year at Colorado College and her son Tom is a rising junior at St. Paul’s. Susan celebrated 28 years of marriage to Mitch in June.” Karen Elm Wirth wrote, “I am working for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the office of water’s WaterSense Program as the marketing and outreach coordinator promoting water efficient products and practices. I get to see Gail Griffith-Roch ’84 every few months and Heather Moncrieff Shackley, P’16 every month!” Susan Lascelle wrote, “I finished my 27th year of teaching and will venture to a new school in my district as a reading specialist. My son Ryan is a senior airman in the U.S. Air Force stationed in England. My other son Hunter is a petty officer 2nd class in the U.S. Navy and returned home in May for a month after being in Japan as a structural mechanic on F-18 Super Hornets. He is stationed in California. My daughter Alix graduated high school in June and will attend college in the fall.” Lin Caywood lives in Frederick and wrote, “I am engaged to Carlo Cilliers. My son Alex and wife had a son Jude who is 18 months old. My first grandchild loves going to the airport to hang out with us. I finished a two-year term as director for The Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots. I completed my fourth air race and had a film crew during the race for a documentary that will air on PBS. I work for Freddie Mac as a servicing account director.” Diane King Widmann returned from two weeks in the Netherlands and Belgium. “Both sons are in college. Hans lives at home and loves to cook! Martin is in the Honors College at Towson Univ. and preparing for his junior year abroad in Grenoble, France.” Amanda Ward Grace and family celebrated their final year of homeschool with a trip to Italy. “Graduating three kids at once has been a challenge. Two will head off to college and the third will run the farm with me. Cedarland Farm will continue with sheep for my fiber arts business and grass-fed lamb. Alan flies for Southwest Airlines and we are enjoying the travel benefits. I am growing my business as a wellness advocate with DoTerra essential oils.” Amie Jamison Sweren reported, “We have traveled in the last few years; in 2012 we went on an African safari and to London. Last year, we went on a cruise of the Greek Isles and a week in Turkey. This summer we plan to visit Mexico. The kids are ready to drive and involved with music. Scott is fine; we are working hard and playing hard. I almost did not want to say it out loud, but life is good and we are very appreciative.” I, Sue Povich DelConte, am finishing 25 years of teaching and starting to add up the numbers for retirement! We have traveled to Amsterdam and Florida with plans to land in London in a few weeks. Martha Church, H’95 responded, “I volunteer at the Ringling Museum of Art two days a week and write a Sunday Spotlight on Mission for my Presbyterian Church’s Bulletin. I am a member of the legacy planning committee and very happy and very busy!”

Greetings from the unusually warm and recovering East Coast! I hope you are doing well and that if Hurricane Sandy made an impact you are healing. Gina Cassetta was among the witnesses of the fury of the storm, “I co-chaired my 30th high school reunion this fall, and I am currently training to be a Kundalini yoga teacher. We were without power for five days after Sandy and the museum where I work was without power for 10 days, but we fared pretty well.” Laura Fanelli said, “I recently flew to Baltimore for Mia Pefinis-Jensen’s mom’s funeral. We spent some time together after catching up and renewing our friendship. From the funeral I drove to Baltimore’s Federal Hill and visited my little sister Anna Leventis ’87. Anna opened a new restaurant called SoBo Cafe and in the first few months of ownership was named best new restaurant by Baltimore’s city paper! Congrats! Any Hoodlums traveling through Federal Hill need to stop and support a sister Hoodlum and have a fabulous meal. As for me, after much thought, I have decided to put my house on the market, leave Connecticut and relocate to the Palmetto State, S.C. No matter where I end up I look forward to reconnecting with Hoodlums in that state.” We send our condolences to Mia.

Linda Price Bohager is in her 15th year at Stanley Black & Decker, working as a systems analyst on the global I.T. engineering systems team. She added, “Being on council and missions with my local church keeps me busy. I led a mission trip to Sunbright, Tenn., this past summer to do some home refurbishing. I keep in touch with Diana Webber Mosley ’68 who worked with me at SBD in I.T. and was also a Hood College French house resident. She retired from SBD last year and is loving it. My husband Bert retired two years ago and is working part time in facilities at our church. Our son Foster graduated from high school this past June and is a computer-aided design drafter.” Christina Vitabile has exciting news––her second book on the historic resort beach of Cape May, N.J., is scheduled for publication in spring 2013. It will be offered for sale on Amazon.com and local bookstores. Congratulations!

Lin Caywood Marsh wins this issue’s award for the most news reported. “After 12.5 years with Citigroup, I returned to Freddie Mac in February 2009. I have been a senior director with them for three years. Since the summer, I am now a performance and relationship manager for one of the country’s largest mortgage servicers of our loans. In January 2012, I earned my mortgage bankers accreditation and I hope to become a certified mortgage banker by the end of 2013. I am still flying my 2007 Cessna 182T and raced for the third time in the all-women transcontinental Air Race Classic, a 2,500 statute mile handicapped race that has its roots with the 1929 National Air Derby. My co-pilot and I improved our previous 13th and 10th place finishes to place fifth out of 55. In July, I was elected for a two-year term to the board of directors of the Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots, a prestigious all-women organization that was formed in 1929 by Amelia Earhart and 98 of the 114 certificated women pilots. We are thoroughly enjoying flying our tin baby, N624MC, all over the East Coast. No news on a wedding date yet––we are thinking of having the ceremony in Carlo’s hometown of Somerset West, just outside of Cape Town, South Africa.”

Krista Ballentine Bland has joined the teaching ranks. She reported, “I am on my third career now. I started out as a software engineer, then a stay-at-home-mom. I went back to school last year to get my teaching certification in the state of Texas and I am now a fifth grade math teacher. I am still in Frederick, just a mile or so from campus, so if anyone is in town, please feel free to look me up!” Marsha Evans ventured across the pond to the Burgundy and Provence regions of France with her mom. They spent a glorious week on a riverboat cruise on the Saone and Rhone Rivers enjoying all of the regional wines, and touring Beaune, Lyon, Tain-l’Hermitage, Tournon, Viviers, Avignon and Arles, where they were thrilled to stand on the very spot where Van Gogh painted some of his most famous works. They are already planning their next adventure.

Christine Santrizos Chagaris also visited France recently. “George and I visited Paris and its outskirts in May of this year on a weeklong trip. It was his first trip there, my third, though I had not been since between my sophomore and junior years in college. One of the highlights was visiting Normandy. I also loved Montmartre with its many street artists. In addition to my freelance writing, I am publishing a book to be released in early 2013. It is entitled Trilogy: A Collection and has a paranormal theme to it.”

First time reporter, Annemarie Edwards sent a lot of news, “We live in Salt Lake City. I have two high school kids, Alysa, 12th grade, and Sean, 9th grade, so we are prepping for college. My husband is in real estate and I am in practice with Intermountain Health Care for the past 11 years in podiatric medicine and surgery. We are busy with traveling for lacrosse for my son and my daughter travels for debate across the United States. Please tell any Hood alums to stop in if they are in Salt Lake City.” Thanks to all who responded. I had to edit several items for length, but wanted to include everyone!

Class Reporter: