Mary-Louise Springhorn Leidheiser
828.699.1999
mlouleid6@gmail.com

Ellin Bachrach Gordon and her husband are in good health and enjoying life. Natalie Colbert Bowers mentioned that, in the small world department, she bumped into Ann Parker Lampman’s twin brother at a Bucknell reunion. Peggy Crook Arnold:“I am fine although I don’t get around very well.  I still play bridge and go out to dinner with my friends.  Enjoyed the reunion pictures – thanks for sending them.” Other classmates sent thanks for my reunion letter including Jodie Kellogg Weddle (“my summer went well”), Carolyn Rusk (“I wish I could have attended”), Lorraine Smarsch (“arthritis limits travel”) and Carol Underhill Postell. Marion Decker McCormick:“Some frivolity for Halloween. The Montgomery Area Historical Society had a program about a gruesome 1900 murder. The house was packed. We few volunteers went in costume to pass out treats. It has been a long time since I had to find a costume and mask. Brought back memories.” Dee Dreller Sosin:“I am living in an active retirement home with stimulating classes and friendly bright people.  Hope to go to Thailand with my nephew, Alex, this December. He owns a home there and is an Asian Scholar.” Lois Eldridge Funsch: “I’m holding my own.  Get around on my motorized cart.  Play bridge several times a week. Sew stuffed kittens for children who are hospitalized.  My daughter lives 15 minutes away.  We have great times together.” Claire Enany Trimpey enjoys her oil painting (she was an art and English major) and her lovely retirement community in Wilmington, NC.  Doctor son, nurse daughter and grandchildren visit often. Joanne Kates Roos:“My favorite news was being able to visit Hood for our 65th Reunion.  My next favorite news is about my grandchildren. Billy Cole with Price Waterhouse in D.C.  Hannah Cole doing well at NC State.  My son’s daughter Holly Jo — a budding artist in Wisconsin.” Joan Kniffin Orozco:“All is going well here in Uruguay. Am very happy with my grandchildren and great grandchildren!!!” Madge Merkley Ziegler:“Jack and I are well.  Looking forward to Daufuskie Island; it snowed here (Carlisle, PA) yesterday (11/7).” Mary Murrie Hardy:“My life is busy now with the purchase of a condo on Lake Keowee in South Carolina.  My daughter Diane lives across the lake; it will be my get-away place when winter gets too cold in Pittsburgh.  Health is good except for arthritis in fingers and knees. I became a great grandmother for the 5th time!! I ordered a brick in memory of my roommate. Barbara “Cookie” Cook Oldt – hope to see it one day.” Franne Pickle Wetmore: “Reunion was a special time.  Mary-Lou Springhorn Leidheiser and I met at the Baltimore airport.  She drove us to Hood and afterwards to my home.  She then visited dear friends in Wilmington. Emma Jones Hann kindly introduced me to the Civil War Museum right in the heart of Frederick.” Kay Spear Feldmann: “Back into my fall schedule– classes, theater, bridge, etc.  It’s nice to be busy.  No travels plans ‘til spring.  It’s a good time, national politics notwithstanding.” Joan Scott Hellmuth in Massachusetts will travel to family in Maryland for Thanksgiving.  She is involved with “Lunch and Learn” presentations offered at nearby Regis College. Doris Simpson Felton lost her husband in April.  She has happily recovered from both a strep and staph infection.  She has delightful neighbors and a daughter nearby in Brunswick, MD.  She hopes to lunch with Dottye Handley Ewing soon. Jane Taggart Whittaker had a delightful time at her grandson’s “fun and wonderful” wedding in Buffalo, NY.  He and his bride are architects who met in college.  They will live in Philadelphia. Cal Wunderly Russwick has finally retired from teaching, although she still helps one day a week correcting papers, etc.  She also volunteers at a Women’s Club.  Doug is looking at knee replacement surgery.  All 5 of their children come for a day both in the fall and spring to help with chores and to visit. Jeanne Zimmerman Gearey loves where she is. Her condo at Cortez, FL looks out on the water. Her daughter lives nearby for visits and travels together. Florida classmates survived hurricane Irma.  Peg Lewis Christensen (Naples) spent a month in her Huntington, NY apartment and Carol Underhill Postell (Vero Beach) evacuated to a relative in Palm Beach Gardens for six days, but neither had water damage.  Carol did lose two ovens from a power surge.  Lynn Bischoff Mitchell, Jeanne Zimmerman Gearey, and Franne Pickle Wetmore experienced no problems, thankfully. Keep in touch, please.

Eleanore Jackson Knott
843.681.8580
weknott2@gmail.com

Hopefully you all enjoyed the article in the summer/fall HOOD MAGAZINE about Betsy McCain McAlpine, wedding picture and all.  Chatting with her, I learned that she and Harry are still making frequent trips up to Hood. This week they were going to a lecture on the history of the World War 2 Victory Ship that was named after Hood College and christened by Mrs. Stahr.

Marilyn “Tink” Smith Garrity had a full shoulder replacement in the spring but had recovered in time for a “fantastic family reunion at Lake Winnipesaukee, NH.”  There were 18 of them—her 4 kids, their spouses plus grandkids from MA, CT, NYC, Cleveland, and Phoenix.  Never to be duplicated memories were formed with relatives that hadn’t been seen for years. Tink was looking forward to seeing Cathie Strachan Upp when she visits her Phoenix family.

Donna Fogle Fisher wrote that her grandaughter #3 at 3 mos. old was the center of attraction at their family picnic this fall.  She accompanied by her parents were all visiting in MD.

Mary Lou Henry Deisroth, is realizing that she (make that we) can’t still do all that she wants to accomplish, so is slowing down but still enjoying bridge and reading with Book Club suggestions. One of their Fresh Air daughters lives in Puerto Rico and has been keeping her up-to-date with the hurricane results and slow progress being made.  She and Tony have 6 great granddaughters with another on the way.  Sounds like a great addition to Hood.  Mary Lou Hoffman Huff reported that Nancy Gillece ’81 and Emily VanderWoude were in Rochester and all had lunch with Anne Kurka Woods ’60 and Sharyn M. Duffy ’68.  They were all interested in hearing about all the changes and development at Hood.  She is happy and healthy, still keeping up with her gym workouts, stock market watching and a few volunteer activities.

Again I thank you all for sending news and wish that others would add to our column. I hate to admit it but find that I, Eleanore Jackson Knott, too must slow down. Our summer plans were aborted due to medical problems, but we did fly to Boston in August for 2 weeks which ended up being 3 when our flight home was cancelled because of hurricane Irma. Finally things are returning to normal and we’re all looking forward to quietly celebrating the holidays.

Corky Edwards Shulman
oahucork@aol.com
808.254.2531

Due to family circumstances, Corky Edwards Shulman will report class news in the next issue. Jayne Gillis deConstant reports having lost power during a severe coastal storm on October 29. Jayne writes: “it has been a miserable week, dark, cold, running out of food. My carriage house apartment is attached to my son’s house, so I was able to warm up at the woodstove in their family room. Today, November 2, we got some power. Phone will go on tomorrow. I have some food in my fridge and a new telephone pole outside. Greetings to the Hoodlums. Hope you all never have to spend a week like this! Otherwise, I’m hopping along in my walker, feeling 91 years on my shoulders, but as sassy as ever. Great memories of Hood friends will never leave me.”

Jean Wheatley Hilchuk
jhilchuk@aol.com
407.767.6863

It was reported that we still have 25 classmates living. But, I am inclined not to believe that figure. I have tried to contact anyone who gave Hood their phone number. However, many of those phones numbers do not answer or are phones that have been canceled. Those that did not answer or were canceled are these: Gladys Reinert Aungst, Betty Daubenspeck Carl, Nancy Ogden Carson, Gert Flagg Dalzell, Ann Wikel Hausman, Barbara Gill Jesser, Annabelle Sunderland Kepler, Mary Lou Chorley Touart, and Betty Foehl Tomaselli. Those who I talked to are the following. Mal Barnett reported that she had nothing to report. Janet Coblentz Cover resides in a retirement center in Frederick. She has a few dental problems. She is enjoying the new adult coloring books. Peg Traver Emery was in the process of having a garage sale. Her son and daughter in law live with her. Mildred Geiple Hufnagel has her son living with her. But she too has nothing to report. Mary Alice Knobloch Smith lives in a retirement center. She enjoys her bridge and the activities that the center provides. Phyllis Fine Soza reports that she is losing her eyesight. I, Jean Wheatley Hilchuk, also live in a retirement center and have been here for 12 years. I use the pool as often as possible. It is the only place I can walk by myself. A doctor ruined my legs and I use a scooter in the hallways. I can take it on our buses and go shopping. In my apartment, I use a walker and ride it backwards. We have a lot of activities here. It is something like being back in a college dorm. But I have a two bedroom apartment that looks over our swimming pool and wooded area. Helen Stottler Leaver lives alone. She is always busy helping other people. She is still in touch with all of her kids.

At the age of 96, Millys Nixon Altman published a new book titled “Year of the Flu”.  The book is a true story of a young doctor’s fight to save an entire village during the flu epidemic of 1918. The book is available in ebook and paperback.

Hi everyone! Can you believe we’re coming up on our 15th reunion?! It feels like just yesterday we were freezing in the graduation tent waiting to receive our diplomas! So, let’s start off our 15th year with some good news!

First, a few new babies! Naomi Levine Levinthal writes that she and her husband Eli welcomed their third child, Vivienne Ella Levinthal, on September 16. Vivienne joins her big brother Joseph and big sister Ava.

Erica Buckley Wrightson and her husband Jim also welcomed a new little girl! Alaina Claire Wrightson was born on November 10. Alaina was also welcomed by her big siblings, Aidan, Ainsley, and Lexi.

JJ Bell-Godfrey has some exciting news, too!  After spending the last year as the Assistant Controller at Mattress Warehouse, she was promoted to Controller in November!   She’s responsible for the company’s financial statements, general ledger, cost accounting, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, and tax compliance – which is a pretty big job given how big the company is!

I think that’s it for this round – don’t forget to join the Hood College Class of 2003 group on Facebook, and even more importantly, don’t forget to put Reunion Weekend 2017 on your calendars!  Hope to see lots of you there!

Hello, hello! Thank you to all who heeded my cry for news. While life clips along at a quick yet humdrum pace in my household, our classmates cover an exciting gamut this round in their lives. Congrats to two 2001ers on recent professional moves: Lisa Zaleski Larsen finished a Cosmetic Surgical Dermatology Fellowship at Cosmetic Laser Dermatology in CA and changed jobs to West Dermatology at the Hillcrest office in San Diego, CA. In addition, Sarah Kistler Drabant started a new position at Fairview Elementary School in 2017. After three years on the Title 1 Literacy Team, she is now the Library and Media Specialist Assistant. Sarah says their boys keep them busy with robotics, music lessons, and Erie Junior Philharmonic rehearsals and concerts. Eliza Adams was also delighted to share both professional and personal accomplishments. She recently celebrated 15 years of teaching at the Bryn Mawr school in Baltimore where she was honored to be recognized with the Apgar Award for Teaching Excellence at their Founders Day ceremony, an event honoring Bryn Mawr’s four founders and where members of the faculty receive awards for their dedication to teaching. A former member of Hood’s Chorus and Chamber Choir, Eliza was proud to say she has continued singing ever since! She is currently a board member and soprano with Bach in Baltimore, a choir that mostly sings Bach cantatas in German and often sings works by other composers. Eliza serves as the soprano section leader in the choir. Kudos goes to Rachael Gingrich whose son, Wesley Gingrich, was born January 6, 2017; fellow classmate Lara Chuvala is Wesley’s godmother. Last but not least, bon voyage to Jen Stange Knieriem and husband Jason who tied the knot on May 27, 2017 with fellow classmates Elena Bush Leyendecker as matron of honor and Surbhi Kanotra joining the celebration. Jen and Jason honeymooned last November in South Africa, Italy and Greece. Congratulations to all our classmates and thank you to those who represented us at the last Reunion Weekend. Holly and I always enjoy hearing from all of you, so please keep it coming!

Sharia Barksdale recently passed her certification exam and is now a Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) with the American Institute of Architects.

Victoria Idoni has taken a television job as a Multimedia Journalist and Traffic Anchor for WTOL in Toledo, Ohio.

Alison Peteranecz & husband Kit (who is on staff at Hood) welcomed their second son, Leo Albus Peteranecz, in May. Also, her rock star law firm, Antietam Law Group, was recently voted #1 law firm and she personally was voted #2 attorney in Hagerstown Magazine’s 2017 Hotlist.

Catrina Wiles moved to Charlotte, NC from McDermott, OH in March and now works for Entercom (A Radio Broadcasting company) as a Business Operations Manager…because she is the BOM!

On a gorgeous weekend in September, Ellen Bosek McMahon hosted a mini-reunion with Marcia Ritter Doiran, Lynda Strasser Brooks, Pricilla Munkenbeck Cherrin, Fran Vogler Groves, Laura Lee Hickman and Sharon Dahlstrom Cannon at her cottage in Haven Beach on Long Beach Island. The devastation caused by hurricane Sandy was no longer visible, with a beautiful, large beach and dunes. It was the perfect weekend for sun-bathing, good food, wine… and so much fun to catch up with second floor Memorial friend Sharon from freshman year! She lives in northern Virginia with her husband Carl. They missed Ann Shackleford Silva and Lisa Ohler Kennedy, but hope to do something similar next year with all in attendance!

Lynda Strasser Brooks and her husband Jay are semi-retired and have been living in Wilmington, NC for the past three years. They love the climate and coastal life style here. Their son Sean and his wife are living in Raleigh, only two hours away, which is great because they had a beautiful baby boy 11 months ago. Lynda and Jay go to Raleigh frequently to see our grandson!  Life is good! Anyone visiting the Cape Fear area is welcome to stop in!

Since Hood’s last Alumni Update, Cheryl Cuddeback went on a business trip to Cincinnati. Being a live long New Yorker, she thought it was really cool getting a different perspective of city living in a beautiful town. Cheryl learned that the predecessor of the Brooklyn Bridge was the Roebling Bridge, a bridge named after John Roebling that connects Kentucky to Ohio. It was like living in a mini-NYC. Cheryl wishes well to fellow Hoodlums and feels so blessed to build the memories we have.

Retired now, Barbara Baird Rogers is enjoying this new chapter in her life. Jim and Barbara are still a very happy twosome, with three daughters’’-in-love and seven grandchildren, between the ages of 1 and 7. Their two standard poodles keep them hopping. Deedee Gustafson Dohan lives nearby, and of course, they both wear our Hood rings proudly when they get together!  Wish I still had mine, but unfortunately it was stolen years ago.

 Anna Kluth vonLindenberg and Von have certainly been enjoying boating this year. They spend half of their time aboard their boat in Cambridge from May through October and then continued the great loop from Chicago down to Tampa last December. They just returned from a trip down the inland coastal water way to the quaint town of New Bern, NC. They plan to go by car to Hilton Head for a month this winter. Von and Anna are in good health, and she has been enjoying bike riding, yoga, Pilates, and water aerobics. Anna is involved in the environment, garden club, landscaping committee, social committee, book club, and local public issues. Their grandkids are ages 9, 7.5 and 6, and are adorable and thriving.

 Arlene Russo Bujeses’s inspiration for working as a fundraiser is generated by studies in Gerontology and Death and Dying at Hood. This year she chairs the 18^th Annual Boxart Auction for East End Hospice. As a Board member, she is privileged to see the importance of the great work being done on behalf of this great cause: end of life care, with love and dignity, open to all. Arlene has also become involved with Project Most, an after-school program for children of working parents.

Aldan Weinberg became a grandfather for the third time in September. Turner Allen Florance was born to his daughter Casey and husband Keith. His first name is Al’s middle name. His two granddaughters live in Pittsburgh with his son and his wife. Since retiring in 2015, he has been busy moving to a new house in Frederick with Connie and raising money to try to save the studio of famed local artist Helen Smith, also a former faculty member.

Thank you to everyone who shared with their fellow classmates. Hearing from you brings back such great memories. I continue to work for a firm marketing and designing the best retirement plans for small businesses. Since the ladies in my office are all crafty, we’ve been making wreaths and other decorative items along with having an occasional paint party. Hope everyone has a wonderful 2017. Wishing you, your families and friends the best! Debbie Page Rath