1971
Mindy Wilcox
619.823.6230
mlwilcox3@gmail.com

 

Judy Ashway is enjoying her new home in Arlington, MA and has been busy traveling to see her children and grandson in some very interesting places. In February she visited son Dan and his wife in San Francisco where Dan is working on his PhD in psychology.  Judy enjoyed the city very much particularly the many beautiful gardens throughout the city.  In March she traveled to Costa Rica to visit daughter Hannah and her grandson and enjoyed the warm weather and the pool.  Judy sees Maylun Buck-lew who also lives in the Boston area a few times each year. Candace Dudden still works full time in San Antonio as a nurse-case manager for Medicare members, mostly elderly or physically and mentally challenged.  She assesses their needs and arranges for them to receive all necessary services.  She is able to work from home and doesn’t think she will retire because, as she explained, “I can do this job until I fall out of my chair!”.  In February she and husband Jim Schweitzera, retired Air Force Colonel and retired teacher, enjoyed a trip to Kauai, HI to whale watch and were getting ready for a trip to the Calgary Stampede in the summer.  At home they have 2 chiweenies, a cat, and 8 honeybee hives.  Candace ended her email by stating “I hope all my classmates are well and happy.” Sue Montag Wood wrote to say that in November 2018 Nancy Loader Calabretta came to Australia via New Zealand to visit her daughter and family who were house sitting in Brisbane.  They were able to spend a week together at Sue and Peter’s home in Wollongong just doing everyday things, which included making small mince pies, an Australian specialty. They then drove up to Brisbane via the Blue Mountains where Nan has a good friend from her library days who runs an Airbnb.  In Brisbane they shared a town house close to Nan’s family and cooked a delicious Thanksgiving meal together.  All the old favorites – turkey, sweet potatoes, and, of course, pies!   Sue also said that Alice Kleiner Meckley is coming to Australia to visit this summer. In June she and Peter are going to the US to meet up with friends and family as well as to do a bit of sight seeing. Nancy “Nan” Loader Calabretta wrote to say that four members of the Class of ’71 met for a mini-reunion in Hudson, NY, from June 18 – 21. The reunion was planned to coincide with Sue Montag Wood and husband Peter’s visit to the US from Wollongong, NSW, Australia.  Sue and Peter met up with Nan and husband Anthony in Collingswood, NJ.  Traveling together, they stopped for lunch and a tour at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park NY.  Upon arriving in Hudson, NY they were greeted by Alice Kleiner Meckley, husband Gus, Nancy Ludder Koberlein and husband Al. The days were consumed with eating, drinking, talking, laughter, and exploring the area. In short, it was the best of all possible times!  They are already plotting for a repeat reunion, possibly on the West Coast or Hawaii. They are hoping to see lots of our classmates at the 50th in 2021. Sarah Wilcox lives in the small Tidewater community of Gloucester, VA.  She spent the last 12 years managing the Wild Things Museum Store at the Virginia Living Museum (an incredible institution – sort of a combination zoo, gardens, aquariums, and education – all native to VA), and just retired in February. She is adjusting to retirement very happily, and has returned to some old loves, watercolors, cooking, and baking.  She and her husband of 42 years, Al Heist, are contemplating short trips to Virginia historical sites they haven’t seen yet, but mostly they are just enjoying their newly found time together.  They have two grandchildren, Courtney, 14 in Houston and Tyson, 16 in Tampa.  She keeps in touch with Audrey “Beau” Earle Villecco.  Linda Rosengarten reports that she is now a South Carolinian. After a divorce several years ago she took back her maiden name.   Last year she retired from the government and moved from Baltimore to Conway, SC, near Myrtle Beach, to live near her sister. Her daughter and husband live in northern AZ and both work in Glen Canyon National Park. Linda traveled to Iceland this past winter just before WOW airline went out of business. More travel planned for the future but now she just enjoying retirement. Mary and I are grateful to all of you who replied to our requests for news.   If you haven’t written in a while, please do!

 

 

1970

Marj Menchey Berkheimer
mench49@gmail.com

I’m pleased to be your new class reporter but saddened that it is because Karin Ninesling Infuso, our loyal reporter, died in December 2019. I know that Karen “Kari” Blair misses her dear friend terribly…

My first reply came from Marty Hassell with the very happy news of being newly married! Marty and Ellen Anthony (Vassar not Hood!) were married on June 2, 2019. Linda Allan and Deborah Parsons ’71 were at the wedding. Much happiness and best wishes to them! Leslie Wenger Fitzgerald wrote from Savannah, GA where she and Steve have been living since 2000. They left NJ when McGraw Hill shut down the department she and Steve headed. They are enjoying the quieter, slower pace of the south and now operate a business intermediary office. Although busy with work, Leslie has returned to painting – look for her website: www.LFitzgeraldArt.com. Lauren Frankel wrote from Pasadena, CA where she is involved with organization development consulting. She met up with Phyllis Goodnow, while attending a wedding in Maine. She also keeps in touch with Martha Herbert Bounoure and Georgeanne Madouros Contoyannopoulos who are both overseas and Millie Smith Steinbrecher ’71 who is near Pasadena. Lauren shares the joy of being a new grandmother with Peggy Muncie. Her daughter and wife live in Minneapolis where Lauren often visits to see baby Juna. Elaine Hubert writes from Vermont but spends much time in Californian with daughter Laura and her children, Bodhi (3) and Bella (6 months). ((There is definitely a grandmother theme in this newsletter!))  Elaine and Myra Holsinger traveled together on a Hood alumni sponsored trip to the UK. (I have also been on one of these trips and encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities). Peggy Muncie became a grandmother on June 23rd . She is “over the moon with happiness”. Peggy and Stephen live in Greenville, SC . She will be looking for ideas and help for the Chapel Service on Reunion Weekend. The 50th Class is traditionally in charge of this lovely service. Please plan this event into your reunion weekend plans. Cindy Besancon Walsh wrote from Spokane WA. She and husband, Dan, retired there to be with their son and grandkids. Their outdoor activities include camping, fishing, golfing, horseback riding, and “rock hounding”. She finds gems in the mountains and creates jewelry! She recently vacationed with Sally Miller Keehn ’69. Nancy Schneider Alder is using her ECE degree with taking care of a niece’s baby. She has also been fostering kittens, volunteering at a surgical center, nursing home, and church and helps to care for her 95 year old mother. That’s a lot of admirable help given! Myra Holsinger writes that she and Marie Oliver Brackbill and Ellen Sands Smith get together at Ellen’s home in Easton MD for eating, talking, shopping, and watching Marie knit. I’m sure the food includes wonderful Eastern Shore seafood! I’m adding thanks to Myra as well as to Linda Allan for their many hours spent guiding our college as trustees. Donna Newman plans to be at our reunion, but she can’t believe its number 50! She says the 2018 was her fun year- 4 different beaches, domestic and Caribbean, 3 week Mediterranean cruise, couple of weeks in Paris, and a month in Asia? WOW! 2019 is the year homeowner obligations and repairs. Donna, I’d like to hear more about that month in Asia! Christine Goodwin Oster writes: no news here, just living in the woods, making pots, and frequently visiting our family in the DC area. As for me, Marj Menchey Berkheimer, Life is VERY Good! Phil and I have a home in Naples, Florida and have become snowbirds. We enjoyed hosting friends and family the past winter and learning about southwest Florida and its flora and fauna. Mary Rife James, hosted Hood Alums at her beautiful home in Naples in March. I also see Linda Allan and Myra Holsinger at Hood Trustee events on campus. I am now on the Board of Associates with Ellen Sacks so I feel very involved with Hood. You can be proud of your alma mater! Sam aka Mary Ryan Reeves and I see each other constantly in Frederick. We are already planning our 50th reunion for June 5-7, 2020. Sam and I will be co-chairs, Peggy Muncie will lead the Chapel Service (with volunteers), Linda Allan and Myra Holsinger will be heading the fundraising. Sam has designed a beautiful scarf in the Hermes style, bordered in yellow – our class color. We’re hoping you’ll buy and wear it proudly as we enter the reunion luncheon! Sam hosted Linda Israel Lamm ’69, for her 50th reunion last month. Sam and John also attended several reunion events especially enjoying the Campus Tour. I attended many events last month with Molly Stuart’69, my roommate in Terrace House my junior year along with Barbara Hoagland Zeigler ’69. Susan Taylor Shoch ’69, and Barbara were the co-chairs of their reunion. The Class of ’69 had a big turnout at the reunion and was a wonderful weekend. Please mark your calendars now for our 50th! Let Sam and me know of ideas and suggestions you might have. We have set up a Facebook page, Hood College Class of 1970. Please follow us as we plan and post plans for next June. Also add your comments and pictures.

1969
Sayre Roney Steere
850.319.6018
sayre1126@gmail.com

It’s been gratifying to hear all the positive comments regarding our Alma Mater from the attendees our 50^th Reunion.  Sadly, due to various reasons, some of us had to miss.  Both Carolyn “Kip” Cantagalli Dumaresq and Christy Lundt Lambertus had back surgeries.  Christy later reported a successful outcome and looks forward to a pain-free future and more travel this fall.  Pat Etzel Parker and her husband were busy celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary, as were Karol Bedyk Strang and Bill, who spent two months touring Europe – including a couple of days at the French Open.  A baby granddaughter is due in mid-July.  The excuse for Ginny Monaco Hatfield and me is that we both had daughters getting married this summer, precluding a trip back East from LA for Ginny, and Seattle for me. The school year is not quite complete for Susie Oliver Schneider.  Ruth Coston Perencevich was unable to attend due to competing 50^th reunions – her husband won the draw!   Lila Wisotzki was involved in a mixed voice choral performance that entire weekend and had to beg out.  Bad timing for Christine Diehl as well, as her church was celebrating a 300^th anniversary.  Chris finds life on the southern shore of Connecticut still awe inspiring.  She will continue part-time teaching in the Fall.  Margaret Dunkle also regrets missing our reunion. She states that “my two years at Hood were very important to me and my development as both a feminist and a thinker.”  Carole Downing Staton reports that husband Roy has finally joined the ranks of the retired.  Son Andrew is deployed to Afghanistan again but hopes to be home by the holidays.   Among those attending our reunion was Donna Holst Carr, who lives near Frederick and has been married to the same guy for 50 years!  They have two sons and expect two grandchildren this year.  She particularly enjoyed catching up with Joanne Ingoldsby Peters, who is currently concentrating on improving her golf game and plans to go to Greece in the Fall.   Linda Israel Lamm, Sue Korff Hammer and Marty Silcox Hankins rounded out their circle.  Marty volunteers with Master Gardeners, works behind the scenes at Shiloh Pottery and continues her political activism.  Pat Warren Carlson sat down with Dr. Chapdelaine and agrees with Joanne’s assessment that she is the right person to lead Hood into the future.  Carol Crofoot Hayes gave high marks to Susan Taylor Shoch for arranging a great off-site dinner and amazing slide show.  She bonded once again with Maureen Clancy Shiftan, Debby Jones Lash, Joan Esselen Foot, Charlotte Blum Moors, Shahrnaz “Nazy” Safavi Martin and Molly Stuart.  Post-reunion she took her twin six-year-old granddaughters to Jamaica!  Linnea Linden Morettini loved re-connecting with Janie Pickard Hahn, Karla Leum Stoner, Judy Baab Sunderlin, and Karen Baab Harley.  The only disappointment was the status of Coblentz – renovations are desperately needed!  Rave reviews also came from Cheryl Brown Dreiling.  She traveled in April with her sister, Melanie Brown Hughes ’76, to Andalucia (southern Spain) on the AHI Hood sponsored trip.  Most enjoyable, she says.  Sue Korff Hammer sent word of the death of Elizabeth “Libby” Marckwardt Oliver.  Our sympathies to her family.  I, Sayre Roney Steere, continue to love my new life here in the Pacific Northwest.  Our baby girl, Doris, was married July 5^th in a lovely outdoor setting.  Our three granddaughters were Junior Bridesmaids.  The following day our girls hosted a brunch for Dave and me to commemorate our 50^th anniversary which took place a week later.  We’ve become avid hikers and “pickleballers” and I recently took up Mah Jongg.  We highly recommend our Trilogy “over 55” community where constant activities abound.

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“It will take us all summer to get organized.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

1966
Dianne Beebe Barske
eldibarske@gmail.com

Gathering news can create such a mixture of sadness and joy. It was with a great jolt of sadness that I learned of the passing of Laurie Wheeler Brown. Laurie died on May 8, 2019 at her home in Melbourne, FL, where she had managed the Museum Store and the Museum’s national and international travel program, and had served as president of the Board of Trustees. Following her retirement from the Museum in 2003, Laurie and her husband Fayette (Brownie) split their time between Florida and their second home in the mountains outside Asheville, NC. She and Brownie had been married for 53 years and have a daughter Melissa of New Orleans, LA, and a son Alexander, of Leicester, NC. Many of us at Hood will remember Laurie rushing off to visit Brownie many weekends at Yale, or heading off to the stables to ride. I am very grateful for the time I had with Laurie during our 50^th reunion three years ago. We had a long walk together to downtown Frederick on a hot Saturday afternoon to get ice cream, visiting, and sharing much laughter on the way. Words of happy developments in their lives came from five classmates. Sarah “Sally” Bruce has taken up both the banjo and the hammered dulcimer! She is also a quilter, working on a queen-sized quilt. And since moving to Vermont, she’s been painting some barn quilts for the outside of her home. “I have a lovely upstairs guestroom if anyone is ever in the area and would like to stop by.” Sally is teaching classes online in advanced scientific writing and medical technology, and enjoying gardening more now that she has two bionic knees. Mary Marguerite Melville totaled up her family members for us. “My four children are doing well, and I have nine grandchildren and five greats!” Mary still teaches one day a week, working with gifted children in a small school district in Northern KY. Other activities include babysitting a granddaughter and ushering at a theater in downtown Cincinnati for Broadway shows, the symphony and local theatre. Betty Schmidt Martin is another grandmother babysitting a granddaughter. “Harold and I just spent a week in Orlando, FL babysitting 3-year-old granddaughter, Mackenzie, while daughter-in-law, Serena, gave birth to 9 lb. 4 oz. Bryce Cameron Martin.” To be closer to this growing family, they purchased a condo in New Smyrna Beach, FL, just two blocks from the ocean. Son Chad and his wife Kori have four children and live north of Austin, TX. Daughter, Suzanne, is a traveling physical therapist. Betty and Suzanne try to travel abroad once a year, to the Galapagos Islands most recently. Betty also went to Normandy with a Hood College tour. She enjoyed it so much, she hopes to go on another Hood tour. One of the fun aspects of putting together this column is going back and forth with classmates who respond, sharing Hood memories. Carolyn Wyckoff Platt and I both have memories of art history courses at Hood. You may remember her as Cammy. She explains, “I was Cammy only at Hood.”  She’s continued her interest in art history, visiting art museums and spending a month each year with husband Andy in Paris. That’s where they met almost 50 years ago. “I’ve never used my French professionally, but it has added so much to my quality of life. Yay, Hood!” Carolyn was emailing from a family trip. “Andy and I are now at Point O Woods on Fire Island with my children and four grandchildren – no cars here on the island, only bikes and wagons – and sailing with no motors!” (I’m still smiling over our shared memories of art history professor, Miss Randolph, and taking notes from her slides, in complete darkness.) Kenni Ward Pinckard shared her news from her home in Gainesville, FL where she, like Sally, has offered a guestroom to Hood classmates. She states that she and husband Tom “have a good life there” and adds “Tom has coffee and lunch with former golfing pals and builds model boats in the back bedroom. I swim in an aerobics class, volunteer at church and attend ILR – Institute of Learning in Retirement – classes.” It truly does sound like a “good life”. Highlights of recent months have been attending grandson Kyle’s graduation from Texas A and M, and traveling to Italy to visit grandson, Matthew, during his semester in Rome, studying civil engineering, also with Texas A and M.

1965
Emily Kilby
erkilby44@gmail.com

Kathleen “Kate” L. Blatchford, 74, of Nashua, N.H., died December 17, 2018 at the Newton Wellesley Skilled Nursing Center in Wellesley, Mass. Born in Southbridge, she graduated from Hingham High School then earned a BA in Education from Hood College and a Masters in Special Education from the University of Delaware. Kate taught at Appoquinimink High School in Delaware, retiring in 2002 to return to her New England roots where she enjoyed crafts and writing. Kate is survived by a son and daughter, four grandchildren and two brothers. Marilyn “Lynn” Farnell “got real tired of ‘communal’ living” at the Boston-area condo where she’d been for some years. So back to a suburban rancher in Natick, Mass. followed by months of upgrading of the 1950s structure. “Money and time seem to fly out the window with some regularity!” Lynn wrote. She’s given up her longtime property management work at a Boston apartment building but continues researching esoteric subjects at the JFK Library for distant writers/researchers as well as being deeply involved in church work. Last year Lynne and her sister’s family retraced their father’s WW II movements through France and Germany, including his landing site at Normandy. She and Deb Bentley Hall and her husband Eric, of Quincy, Mass., took a driving tour through England’s Poldark country in 2018, laughing all the way. Deb still goes to the gym every morning and has boundless energy, Lynne reported, very useful for keeping up with nine grandchildren. Judy Lang Spooner, another of the Hood Four who moved to Cambridge after graduation, lives in Wellesley Hills, Mass. Her daughter Amy Spooner, M.D. is one of the top cardiologists at Mass General and “a wonderful young woman.” After a 23-year-career as a teacher, Sue Hertzler Geery regretfully retired from the classroom three years ago. Since then she has been a rolling stone of sorts, leaving her Darien, Conn. home for frequent adventures, including four amazing trips to Africa, with her lifelong best friend and visits to her scattered family—one son in Taos, N.M., another in New York City and a daughter and grandson in Hudsonville, Mich. This past July 7 she and classmate Diana Regen Carter attended The Rolling Stones concert in Foxborough, Mass, ticking one more item off her bucket list. A painful knee had restricted Bev Jones Gibson‘s work as a Maryland realtor and her golf game, but with successful replacement surgery earlier this year, she is getting back in business. Contact her at newhomes.bg@gmail.com if you’re searching for property in Prince Georges or Anne Arundel County. Bev missed our 50th reunion because her daughter was injured in a serious auto accident at that time. Now with her daughter recovered and her own knee no longer paining her, Bev looks forward to our next reunion. “My new life in Columbia, S.C., is surprisingly full in many ways,” wrote Carolyn Oldman Gregory, who moved there from Albuquerque several years ago to live with her sister. “I am working with a small group, People for Reconciliation, that organizes events exploring and promoting anti-racism—a feisty group of Old South Carolinians for certain.” Carolyn also delights in the local symphony, ballet, theater and underground music, poetry and writing that thrive in the city. She teaches the occasional Meditation and Energy Dynamics class and plays with a wonderfully inclusive spiritual group called Jubilee Circle. Unfortunately, Carolyn participates in these rewarding activities while enduring the consequences of an old injury that make walking extremely painful. So far she has resisted surgery. Her son relocated from Australia to the Philippines where a charming grandson was born about a year ago. In July, Marci Williams Ross reported that she and husband Chuck were “recuperating” in Chautauqua, N.Y., their summer home. The “ailment” had been a two-week family reunion and extended Father’s Day surprise for Chuck in their hometown of Jacksonville, Fla., and on Amelia Island just up the Atlantic coast. Their three sons’ families, including six grandchildren, live in California, South Carolina and Jacksonville. Thanks to our 50th communications, Marci reconnected with her two Hood roommates, Zoe Clapp Marino ’64 and Bev Jones Gibson, discovering that Zoe also lives in Jacksonville. More recently she’s provided expert commiseration to Bev during her knee surgery. Marci couldn’t attend the reunion because her first knee replacement had failed, but the second had a “great” outcome, and now her other knee will be getting a makeover in August. Surgeries aside, “Life has been good to the Rosses,” she wrote.

 

1964
Barbara Maly Fish
919-475-8301
barb2fish@yahoo.com

Satchel Paige once said this about age: “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?” A group of women who seemed not to know their ages gathered at Hood for all or part of our 55^th reunion weekend on June 7-9. They included Betsey Covel, Cookie Johnson Bolig, Barbara Strayer Brittain, Connie Heard Damon, Marylou Herrmann Foley, Claire Fulenwider, Flo Sechler Miller, Kate Jenks Powell, Susan “Eloise” Varney Helfenstein Rauth, Sandy Borrelli Ricci, Ann McMillan Shuman, Susan Lyeth Sternfeld, Mary Frances Gaver Trunk, Harriet “Hardie” LeSourd Wise, Althea Bates Travis-McCarthy, Heidi Stephens Whitesel, and me, Barb Maly Fish. Laughter sometimes mingled with tears as we reminisced about those good old days and the happiness and sadness that have filled the years since then. Special thanks go to Harriet Wise for hosting our group at her new home on that Friday night and to Marylou Foley for using her superpowers of persuasion to pull everything together. Too bad more of you couldn’t come. Although she could not come, Gayle Reed Carroll contributed a poem she had written for all of us. She was in Ireland in June, working on an M.F.A. in a joint program run by Carlow U. in Pittsburgh and Trinity College in Dublin. Much of what she saw near Trinity seemed familiar and Gayle vaguely remembered rooming there with Betsey Covel when the Hood Choir made a singing tour of several European cities back in the day. Gayle wants to know if anyone else remembers that trip. Several people had to miss the reunion for less happy reasons. Eleanor Berklite Harris and her husband Alastair have been dealing with treatment for his recent diagnosis of multiple myeloma. In April, he received an autologous stem cell transplant at M.D. Anderson in Houston and the Harrises will return there for follow-up over the next year. Alastair is doing well and they are hopeful that the treatments will add to the quantity and quality of his life. Ed Sneckenberger, husband of Mary “Scottie” Hansbrough Sneckenberger, sent me the following message: “Scottie has been able to recover from the stroke that she experienced on her left side in Minnesota in February enough so that we could return to our senior living home in Morgantown, WV. Unfortunately, after just three week of being back home in Morgantown, Scottie experienced a stroke on her right side. Fortunately, she has not suffered too much mentally from the two strokes and she is able to move her upper body and both of her arms. The hospital assessment for Scottie’s second stroke has found that she has a defect in her heart that will probably need correcting in the near future. This defect could be a contributor to the two strokes that she has experienced and is also a possible explanation for her often being tired.” Ed added that Scottie would love to receive messages from former classmates. Her address is 106 Heritage Point, Morgantown, WV 26505. This column ends with more sad news: Dave Johnson, husband of Pam Wallace Johnson, died on March 28. I send the sympathy of the class to Pam and her family.

 

1963
Mary-Verdella Wagner Nelson’s husband Paul passed away on Thursday, May 30, 2019. We offer our sincere condolences to Mary-Verdella and the entire Nelson family.

1962
Sara Zimmerman
813 388 5295

 

Elizabeth “Betts” Davis Ackerman visited charming “Bavarian” village Leavenworth WA during an accordion festival and the Oregon coast for a week for biking, kayaking, and hiking. Judy Hammond Blatchford:  “Park and I traveled to Iceland, French Polynesia, and the Adirondacks.  Our 3rd (of 5) grandchild is starting college.  We continue to see Nancy Turner Heckscher, Jane Hoskins Bollman, Susan Shinnick Hossfeld and husbands from time to time.” Gail Dawson Clarke relocated to the Four Corners area of Colorado, studies plant and animal life, silversmithing, appreciates the landscape, cuts and polishes stones.  She installed wildlife cameras to watch deer, jackrabbits, skunks, foxes, and coyotes. Caroline Fischer Giles: “Downsizing, moving into a continuing care retirement community. Getting rid of stuff, whether giving it to family or donating to various organizations is a real challenge for me, not for husband, Brian.  Keeping our Martha’s Vineyard cottage as a get-away.” Sunny Griffin:  “After 25 years in fabulous Telluride, Colorado, we are moving to Ocean Hills Country Club, an active retirement community in Oceanside, California, to be closer to our grandchildren – 3 year old twins who live in L.A.” Nancy Turner Heckscher shared a photo (see online) of four friends:  Judy Hammond Blatchford, Jane Hoskins Bollman, Susan Shinnick Hossfeld, Nancy Turner Heckscher. They met for lunch in Maryland in June. Susan Shinnick Hossfeld:  “Six family members spent two weeks in Hawaii to celebrate Carl’s 80^th birthday; visited Maui, Kauai, Oahu and the big Island of Hawaii.  Hikes, zip lines (not me), beaches, a hike from the Diamond Head Crater to the top (me too) and swimming with the sharks (not me).” Harriet “Rusty” Papst Hougland: “Bill and I started our annual winter retreat to Amelia Island, FL when we learned that a pipe burst in our Connecticut home.  $3,000 worth of water does a LOT of damage!   Insurance is a good thing!” Doris Dalziel Kimball:  She and George commuted monthly to Minneapolis to care for daughter Marian’s chemo side effects, 10 hospital stays, and stem cell transplant. They are hoping for her to be cured.  Doris enjoys bridge, reading groups, singing with quartets for hospice. Penny Mardoian: “Hi from Maine, My son Richard and wife Christine are now Maine residents of Phippsburg. I will remain in CT where I have lived since 1967. Our family will travel to southern Spain for a week mid-October.” Linda MacDonough Morrow: Visited family and friends from Bellingham, WA to San Jose, CA.  In May, they visited England and Hungary.  In July Lynn hosts the annual Morrow Family Reunion and a reunion of Nicaragua mission team members at Arch Spring Farm, a “non-hosted B&B.”

Beth Pauley Teletski judged quilting shows on Long Island and Brookhaven.  She and Lou cruised from Bucharest to Budapest.  Moving to Heron Point in Chestertown, MD.   Address: 481 Sandpiper Court, Chestertown, MD 21620.  Beth loves life with Lou, driving grandchildren around, talking to plants, reading, attending graduations and quilting. Marvia Slade Perreault:  “Husband of almost 56 years, Bill, died suddenly from heart failure.  Daughters Michele and Melanie were with me; sons Bill and John came the next week.  I have joined the Widows Group ‘majority’ here at Mallard Landing, though that was not my goal.” Barbara Arthur Pretzsch:  At the Chain Link Conference she was on the Master’s Committee; taught a day- long Master’s crochet course, served as reviewer.  Transports dogs to “furever homes.”  Attends exercise classes and line dancing.  Cruised from New Orleans with Linda Martin McManus and Marvia Slade Perreault.” Regina Schlank Pyle:  Winter break on Marco Island, attended ‘Standup 2 Cancer’ conference in Santa Monica as guest of Tom’s oncologist at Mass General.  Traveled to China; attended Beijing wedding of Bikui “Chinese son” who worked with Tom.  Visited Chengdu and the Dujiangyan Panda Base.  Liz Decker Rogers:  Traveled to Greece & Portugal with son Matt, his wife Deepa, Deepa’s mom, 10 yr old Maya & 8 yr old Kishan. Liz plans to take both sons & families for a weeklong trip to Duluth, MN to scatter Bill’s ashes. Barb Kirby Stewart:  “I had a reoccurrence of breast cancer last summer, but avoided chemo.  Live blood test to blood test.  We are enjoying another beautiful Maine summer with exquisite flowering rhododendrons, lupine, and lilacs.  My girls’ families all doing great.” Sara Zimmerman: Crossed the Atlantic again, this time on the QM2.  Honored on board were WWII D-day vets.  Then in Berlin, I participated in the European Unitarian general assembly.  In Tampa, I volunteer with USF OLLI as language and lit instructor and board member.

 

1961

Katharine Baum Wolpe
917.771.9846
kwolpe@gmail.com Marty Kaiser Canner
410.314.9440
plcanner39@gmail.com

 

Constance Ann Coleman Alexander still enjoys her position as Director of Music at Messiah Lutheran Church.  She planned a trip to Bethany Beach in July 2019 with her family and a trip to Aruba in September 2019 with her brother, Bill. Lynne Linzey Barnes and husband, John, have lived in Western Springs, IL for 57 years.  They spend winters near Sarasota, FL where Lynne visits with Mary Jane Evans Hahn and Nancy van der Walde.  Last year they were joined by Mary Drewal Regan. Nancy Brown Braudrick is going on a cruise which will include Alaska and Victoria, Canada.  Nancy’s whole family will also be going as a celebration of her daughter-in-law’s fortieth birthday. Sally Bennett Edwards is still working and playing tennis.  To celebrate her eightieth birthday, she bought herself a 2016 Mercedes sports car. She will be taking 21 family members for a week’s vacation in Manchester, VT, and then she will spend the rest of summer 2019 on Cape Cod. Judy Arenson Friedman planned to spend July and August of 2019 in Maine and Massachusetts and return to Boca Raton, FL in October.  One granddaughter has graduated from college and another is working at a Native American reservation in Montana. Anne Bierstein Grenfell has returned to teaching and works with ill children. She and Mary Anne Fleetwood are trying to reunite the Kindred Spirits group.

Brenda Sheaffer Hillard and her husband, Ray, moved to an apartment in a retirement community in Lititz,PA in March 2019. Jeanne Duncan Jehl attended the Hood Commencement in May 2019 at the invitation of Brielle Rozmus ’19, student body president.  Jeanne was impressed by the fact that there were as many Master’s degree candidates as Bachelor’s degree candidates. Hilda Koontz has been giving presentations on PTSD.  She is scheduled to give one in St. Louis in September 2019 and one in Springfield, IL in April 2020.  She is planning to vacation in Colorado in the fall of 2019. Christine Steere Lamb has moved from Maine to Chevy Chase, MD to be near her son, Bob, and her daughter, Katie, who live in Gaithersburg, MD. Kit Compton Long is living in San Luis Obispo, CA and loves it.  She and John have been married for 58 years, and she is now his full-time caregiver.  Their two sons live near San Francisco and are very supportive of her care giving role. Janet Spaulding Nunn and husband, Jack, took a two week cruise in the fjords of Norway in June 2019.  Since the trip would be above the Arctic Circle, they hoped to see polar bears. Dorothy Willis Rainwater and husband, Roger, are well.  She enjoys swimming and kayaking in the Gulf of Mexico, which is close to their home.  Their youngest son is a paramedic, and continues his mother’s heritage as a health professional. In the effort to contact classmates for news for this column, we learned that Sally Sue Saylor passed away on July 12, 2018.  We send our condolences to Sally Sue’s family. Barbara Hufham Wells and husband, Richard, continue to enjoy living in Moscow, ID.  Every Saturday, from May to October, the local farmers’ market provides them with fresh organic fruits and vegetables, plus the opportunity to see and talk with their friends and neighbors. Katharine Baum Wolpe saw two art shows in NYC in Spring, 2019.  She remains active with her church and in Democratic politics, and enjoys attending dance performances and off-Broadway theater with her companion, Philip.  She had a visit with Anita Ranoldo Miner in NYC in April 2019. Beth Lee Zehnder’s husband, Chuck, had two strokes in April 2019 and at the end of May, the Lord took him home to be with Him.  Beth is comforted knowing Chuck is at peace.  She is blessed with great support from her family. We send our condolences to Beth and her family. Sandy Doty Zeitler lives in Tomball, TX near Houston and still communicates with Hood friends. Carol Handwerk Ziegler is busy with church-related activities.  She is also doing needlepoint again.  She is currently working on a three-dimensional English village. Shirley Garrett Haley said she had no news, but asked me, Marty Kaiser Canner, how I was adjusting to Charlestown.  I would say we are adjusting well. In May 2019 we visited a friend of ours who lives in a retirement community in Mechanicsburg, PA.  During our visit, our friend mentioned a fellow resident who was a friend of hers.  We later met that friend, Mary Louise Huebl Moran.  Lou and I enjoyed seeing one another again so unexpectedly.