1973

Sara “Sally” Parkhurst Van Why
814-623-1557
sallyvanwhy@gmail.com

I asked classmates on my email contact list for stories about running into other Hood alums.  I thought this would be a fun theme for this column because I already had three stories.  Well I still only have those three stories.  Leslie Hawkins wrote that you just never know when those Hood connections show up. She was on a Caribbean cruise in late February with her older sister; at dinner they had the usual introductions shared around the table with names and where they were from. One woman mentioned she was from Maryland, Leslie said she had gone to college in Frederick, at Hood. The other woman responded that she also was a Hood graduate, Class of 91, and she turned to the rest of the table, and announced that they were fellow Hoodlums. Small world. Leslie is still working in health care administration, now at a health system in southeastern Washington but plans to retire in early 2017.  Alicia Parlatore Payne wrote that the speaker at one of her community Women’s Club meetings was local author, Cheryl Carlson Peyton ’66, whose first of eight books is entitled Six Minutes to Midnight. Alicia also met another Hood alumna, Mary Bloodgood VanHyning ’68. Mary is a greeter for new residents in the community where Alicia has recently moved near Knoxville, TN. Toni Lucia wrote that in April, President Chapdelaine visited NYC and was hosted at a reception held by Trustee Judy Messina ’66.  She said that it was great fun seeing so many alums and impressive to hear about the programs and the progress the college continues to make.  Toni especially appreciated President Chapdelaine’s enthusiasm and her respect for the culture and standards that define Hood.  Mary Stevenson wrote that she and Charlotte Miller Ponticelli (aka Charlie) had a planned, not chance, encounter in January.  Mary continues full time with her professional duties (academic, research and administrative) as a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University. Charlie continues her professional work with various human rights and political organizations as well as various volunteer activities with local organizations. Her latest project is at the local prison where she meets with Hispanic inmates and provides spiritual counseling.  Ann Jones also had a planned meeting with fellow classmate Pat Funari Bevacqua. They had a wonderful weekend together while Ann was in Washington DC at The Garden Club of America’s annual National Affairs & Legislation (NAL) meeting. Several classmates wrote to tell me that they has not had any recent Hood encounters but filled me in on their news. Debbie Christ Zourdos has been elected to the Hood College Board of Associates for a three year term beginning this summer.  She is honored to serve the college we all love so much. She is also a new grandmother!  Amy Hanley Dove, her husband, and 8 others from their church went on a 10 day mission trip to Rwanda at the Urukundo Children’s Home/Village. Kathy Nixdorff Wilson hasn’t run into anyone lately, but has seen a few Hood stickers on people’s cars.  Her son was recently married. I want to finish with more from Leslie Hawkins. Leslie wrote “My mother passed away in December, one month shy of her 90^th birthday, and her failing health in the past year had consumed much of my attention and emotion.  It truly was a blessing to know she is without pain, and with my father now, but of course those losses always take a piece of your heart, and remind you of losses that seem to come more frequently as we get older.”  This sums up my own feelings as my mother ages, and I am sure the feelings of many of you whether your own parents are aging or no longer with you.  One more reason to keep the connections we have alive and well.  I am grateful to hear from so many of you.  If you have stories, please let me know and I will include them in the next column.

1971

Mary McMunigal Burland
610-733-4009
mburl5@verizon.net

Mindy Laighton Wilcox
619-462-6230
mlwilcox3@gmail.com

Mary McMunigal Burland attended the reunion and reported the following:  “On a beautiful weekend in June, the class of 1971 returned to Hood to again find “a place in the sun for 71” at our 45th reunion!  It was a three-day celebration that featured good food, great company, and endless conversation.  We were a small, but enthusiastic group of 16 alums and one brave husband!  Some of us have attended many reunions while others like Cathy Moon McClure and Betsy Ziegler were attending their first one.  Betsy Cooper Pizzolato, Diane Miller Jackson, Cathy Moon McClure, Betsy Ziegler, Janice Butz, Sharon Brown Vejvoda, and I once again enjoyed the joys of dorm life in Shriner.  On Friday evening we had a wonderful Maryland themed picnic in Coblentz Dining Hall.  Saturday began with Hood’s new President’s first state of the college speech followed by the Alumni Luncheon in the Volpe Athletic Center.  Edith Purdie, Connie Dawley Seeley ’72, and Linda Wicks Crites ’72 joined us for the luncheon. We were very proud of our classmate, Dr. L. Martha Thomas, P’99, P’09, who received the Distinguished Alumni Award!  Saturday evening we were joined by Gail Haulenbeek, Nancy Sword Hollyfield, Lynn Patterson Jacobs, Barbara Hasbrouck Murphy, Marlene McGibbon Santucci, Lucinda Tyson, and Jan Renn as we enjoyed the all class dinner in the Volpe Athletic Center.  I am sure no one will be surprised to learn that our class was still celebrating after all the other classes had left!  Sunday began with the traditional favorite, Strawberry Breakfast, followed by a chapel service before we all went our separate ways.  Although we all had a marvelous time, it was a bit disappointing that so few classmates were able to attend.  One of the best things about reunion weekend is the joy we share in talking with classmates who we did not really know well during our student days.  Each time I return from a reunion, I realize that I spoke with some classmates more in those few days than I did in our four years at Hood! All of us who were present for our 45th want all of our classmates to be present for our 50th (!!!) in 2021!  What a party that would be!” Janet Schultheis Plitt married the love of her life, Calvin, just after graduation. They discovered their fondness for road tripping, and have explored 48 states. While traveling, they scout antiquarian bookstores in search of readable collectibles for their home library. Janet’s 102-year old Dad, who still talks about Dad-and-Daughter Weekend, Calvin’s parents, three children and their spouses, and eight grandchildren all live locally, so they spend many days with family.  Calvin retired from cardiology practice in 2015, just as their son, David, began his cardiology career.  Daughters, Claire and Laura, enjoyed teaching careers and now practice their craft “at home” raising their children. She says she is filled with gratitude to God for His faithfulness in times of joy and challenge as the seasons of life move forward and cherishes those grand Hood memories. Roslyn Glantz Trojan retired from the U.S. Army as a Colonel after almost 30 years of service.  As one of the first female officers to be integrated into the regular Army from the WAC Corps, she saw a lot of “firsts” for females in combat and leadership positions.  After the Army, she spent several years on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee specializing in Homeland Security and Defense.  She then worked for private industry and became a Senior Vice President with Michael Baker Jr. Engineering specializing in large program management projects.  Moving west to Colorado and then New Mexico, she opened her own management consultant firm with clients across the country and volunteered for ten years with a Veteran non-profit organization.  Roslyn is married to Hans-Georg Atzinger a retired German General Officer.  They met in 1991 in the US Army War College where Roslyn was Hans’ foreign student sponsor.  Friends for over 25 years, they married in 2014 after the deaths of their spouses.  The two couples were great friends in spite of living on two different continents.  She is now semi-retired and maintains a household both in Germany and in Albuquerque. She is stepmother and “Oma” to three grown children and three grandchildren.  She has been in touch with her roommate Elaine Alexander and with Donna Eaton Mahoney both of whom are doing well and busy in their own semi retirements.  She would love to hear from Hood friends and can be reached at rglant0310@outlook.com.

1970

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

Classmates sent news of happy retirements, continued or second careers, interesting travel, and beloved grandchildren.  Janet Bear Ander joined the ranks of “grandmotherhood” with the birth of a grandson; for her, the experience is “awesome.” Marj Menchey Bernstein continues traveling with her partner.  A recent trip to Cuba was “amazing”, and they plan a trip to the canyonlands of the Southwest in recognition of 100 years of the National Park system.  She recently attended her 50^th high school reunion and enjoys activities on Hood campus and off campus with Sam Ryan Reeves.  Ada Karen Blair and her husband took a spring road trip to join former colleagues at two conferences in Mississippi. One was a literary and cinematic conference in Natchez, and the second was The Conference for the Book in Oxford.  Christine Bradley Pecor, M.A.’88 moved to a new home and enjoys one-story living.  She recently returned from a trip to Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and Salt Lake City. Chris welcomed a grandson in 2015.  Jeanne Bryant Wyland and her son visited several colleges with lacrosse programs.  Her son liked Hood and the lacrosse coach the most and verbally committed to attend Hood in 2017.  Jeanne is excited that her son might be the third generation of her family to attend Hood.  Jeanne keeps in touch with Linda Kramer Evans, Anne Parkin Pierpont, Sandra White Harper, Barbara Pepi Danella, and Cynthia Smith Kinney.    Lynne Britt Demers Becker finished consulting at the U. of Houston.  She enjoyed the work and being close to her oldest daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter.  She and her husband are cruising the eastern and western Caribbean but will travel to Connecticut for Lynne’s 50^th high school reunion.  Dana Eser Hunt works in Cambridge, MA as public policy research scientist focusing on substance abuse and criminal justice policy.  She likes her job and does not anticipate retirement anytime soon.  She has two adult daughters; one is a health policy analyst and one is a clinical social worker. After two Master’s degrees and several career changes, Ellen Farrand Carpenter enjoys renovating her homes in MD and FL.  She uses her captain’s license to sail and dive, a favorite pastime.  Cynthia Forbes sent an e-mail about herself and Lucie Picard Allen.  They will celebrate their 50 years of friendship with a ten-week cruise beginning in Spain and ending in Australia.  Cynthia retired as a senior analyst with the Government Accounting Office.  She lives in Atlanta, GA and has traveled to all 50 states and all seven continents. After the trip, she will have visited 100 countries.  Lucie retired as a financial director after 30 years, lives in Pittsburgh, PA, and has two children and two grandchildren. Christine Goodwin Oster lives in Montana and continues her second career as a potter. Her summer will include an Alaskan cruise with her children and grandchildren and attending her 50^th high school reunion.  Elaine Hubert had an “interesting life” in the past six months.  She broke her leg while decorating for Christmas, and her house caught fire while she was hospitalized.  She and her husband feel lucky to be alive and glad that their golden retriever got out of the house in time.  Elaine’s leg is mostly healed, and they will be back in their house soon.  Elaine sends word of a “gorgeous” new grandson.  Lynn Johnson Houze had difficulty sending news for this column, but Marianne Clark Cordyack helped resolve the problem.  Thank you to both for your perseverance.  Pamela Nesbit enjoys the quiet, often overlooked joys of nature and family.  Karin Ninesling Infuso and family spent a week in Orlando, FL while her daughter attended an international conference on learning disabilities. They also visited Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown, VA to introduce Karin’s darling baby grandson to the National Park system.  Ethelyn Riley lives in Columbus, GA and is retired from teaching.  She has two children and six “beautiful grandchildren”.  Ethelyn takes each grandchild on a trip to celebrate his/her 13^th birthday.  The child chooses the destination; this summer Ethelyn will travel to NYC with her granddaughter. Nancy Schneider Alder will attend two 50^th high school reunions, one in Green Lake, WI where she attended school from K-10^th grade and one in Gettysburg, PA.  Nancy enjoys seeing her five grandchildren who live in Pittsburgh and Shippensburg, PA.  Lisa Smith Roney is happily retired but does some consulting work and is on the Board of Directors of Amigos de las Americas.  She and her husband traveled recently to Turkey and Greece and Australia and New Zealand.  She has two granddaughters who live in Philadelphia and Rockville, MD.  She plans to attend our 50^th reunion in four years.  Thank you to the classmates who contributed to this column.

1968

Sharon Burns Walsh
410-749-0426
sharon.walsh68@gmail.com

Most of the news in this column was sent to me last fall.  Unfortunately, length limits prevented me from including it in the late winter column. My apologies to those who had to wait to see their news appear. Cheryl Bonynge Harker is thrilled that she and husband Dick are expecting a baby boom in the next few years to add to their 34-person combined family including 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. They spend lots of time boating with family and friends when they’re in Island Heights, NJ and go to their condo in PA for the colder weather. In the last year and a half they took two extended cruises, one for 78 days to the Far East and another for 35 days on the Voyage of the Vikings. She keeps up with Lucille VanBaaren and admires her stamina as she continues to work at a cosmetics company. She was hoping to see Ginny Munson Hammell ’67 in Florida this past winter and congratulates her on the Virginia Munson Hammell ’67 Trading Room dedicated at Hood in October 2015. When she wrote, she had just communicated with her little sister Linda Ayers ’70 for the first time in years so may soon have more news to report. Sandy Deemer Harra and husband Ed became retirees in June 2013. She occasionally returns to her former school to sub and likes maintaining a connection with that community.  She loves seeing her former students and visiting with the staff, but she enjoys retirement more.   She and Ed have traveled some, usually somewhere where they can snorkel. The Big Island is a favored destination. When she wrote in October 2015, it was 83 degrees at her home in California and they were hoping El Niño would bring relief from a difficult summer of drought and forest fires. “We feel blessed that our little country town has remained fire safe.” Both of her sons live out of state. Matt is in Portland, Oregon and Nathan is in Fulton, Missouri.  Our condolences to Sandy on the death of her mother Joan Pouchot Deemer ’40, P’68, P’81 in May 2015.  Bev Thompson Gardner and husband Bernie are both enjoying retirement although Bernie continues to do consulting work at the School for the Environment at U MASS, Boston.  They live in Pembroke, MA, for the winter and Eastham, MA, on the Cape in the summer. They are both active at their Unitarian/Universalist church.  Son Alan is an engineer at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute; his wife Nora is an artist. Bev has three granddaughters-Ella, 12 years old; Lucy, 9; and Tessa, 5. Her Hood connections at church are Joyce Clarke Hockman ’67 who left before our class arrived, and Meredith Owen Atkinson ’69. She added thanks to Linda Search Atack for the years she served as class columnist. Carol Huntington and husband Al live with four “formerly feral felines” in their 1840s home overlooking the Kennebec River in Bath, ME.  They have been there since 2002, a difficult time for them since four members of Carol’s immediate family died that same year.  Carol still works full time as a social work senior therapist at the local hospital intensive outpatient program and as a hospice social worker in Portland, ME.  She is also an ordained Episcopal Church deacon.  Her career has included both medical social work and parish-based ministry in Boston and northern New Jersey cities. She and Al met 25 year ago when they were both working at a homeless shelter in Hoboken. Carol is a peace activist and toured New England teaching about Palestine which she  visited twice in recent years. She is also a nationally certified nonviolence trainer and has taught courses in seminaries and several schools of social work. In what must be very limited spare time, she is working to reclaim and maintain the formal gardens that were planted by previous owners years ago around their home. Stephanie Negoescu Goble and her husband have been living in San Antonio, TX for over 30 years ever since he retired from the Air Force.  They have 5 children, so she now spends lots of time flying all over the country visiting grandchildren.  Since retiring from teaching high school geometry to the children of wounded warriors at Fort Sam Houston, she invests lots of time in the kitchen preparing all her food from scratch.  She began eating organically several years ago at the urging of her oldest daughter who is a master herbalist.  She is hoping to reconnect with classmates Jane Walters Jasper and Rosemarie Dempsey Curlett.  Finally, from your class columnist, happy 70^th birthday to everyone who has celebrated (or soon will celebrate) that landmark life event this year!

1967

Patricia Rosner Kearns
kearns.patricia@gmail.com

Lots of anniversaries, generational achievements, old marriages, new marriages, pursuit of new careers, travels, retirement/nonretirement and acquiring new skills reported by the class of 1967 as we move forward. Thanks to all who responded quickly to my panic email of pending news deadline. My apologies to those who are not on the email list. I actually had letters printed out and envelopes labeled but then the grandkids arrived for 10 days!  Patrosnerkearns. Joh Van Wert Thompson writes: Our first grandchild just graduated from high school and will be attending VA TECH in the fall. One of the highlights of our year was a trip to Cuba in March with Joan Peschel Young and husband Bob.  My husband, Michael, even brought back some Cuban cigars.  We all loved Cuba and found the people very friendly.  Old Havana is beautiful with its lovely squares and architecture.  Even saw lots of those 50’s cars! Love retirement!!!!  Hope to see lots of you at our 50th! Jane Rowell Arnold is still living in New York City and working as Director of Admissions at the Episcopal School. Married to Alex (47 years) Two married sons. Three grandchildren. Not interested in retirement! My biggest news, Cheryl Wray Kirk writes, is that my grandson had his Boy Scout Eagle Ceremony last month. He built a small stage with backdrop and wheelchair ramp for our church day care center as his project. This represents four generations of scouting in my family. My father was an Eagle Scout, I was a Girl Scout for 10 years and earned my 10 year pin, my youngest son Phil became an Eagle Scout, and now my grandson Lucas is an Eagle Scout. It meant so much to me. Attending the ceremony was Margo Emrich Trexler, mother of two Eagle Scouts and of course Hood buddy and family friend. She and her husband Bob drove 4 hours to attend. Judy Lehman Ballinger is enjoying life to the fullest. She writes: Why am I responding to an email before 8am?!!  Life remains way too busy, but the good stuff fills most of it: art, family of 9 grandkids (some requiring visits to Costa Rica and San Francisco), community, friends, 5th year of marriage, etc.  I’m not sure if local & national politics and my feeble attempts to address social issues (support for immigrants and our Islamic center) count in the “good stuff” category, but they do consume a lot of thought. As a member of the Hood Board of Trustees, Cynthia Newby is totally enjoying the Board, especially the opportunity to observe Andrea Chapdelaine‘s first year in office. Cynthia writes that President Chapdelaine is a terrific leader; “we are very lucky, I think, to have her in charge of the key efforts re credentialing, strategic planning, and enrollment. New senior staff — VP for Enrollment Management Bill Brown and new Provost Dr. Debbie Ricker–equally impressive.” Barbara Morgan Herron says it was really great to see and visit with Laurie Seymour Carlson when she came to Annapolis last October (2015). They met up at a Navy football game, and enjoyed cheering the Mids on to a win. The short film that I wrote and produced was finally finished, and I was invited to screen it at the 4th Annual Female Filmmakers Showcase in Baltimore this spring.  Funny thing. I wrote and produced it (which included everything from making costumes, lining up locations and hiring a caterer to trimming the leading man’s hair), but until then hadn’t thought of myself as a filmmaker. Beyond that, I’m trying yet again to learn to play the guitar. Wish me luck! (Keep on strumming, Barb.) Best regards from hot Georgia! Writes Gail Witham Pohl. Today is our 49th anniversary (June 17), so we’re thinking about how Doug and I met at a Shriner Hall mixer.  It had to be moved to Meyren because it was so well attended despite the umpteen inches of snow on the ground.  Good Hood memories! May Mumma Ohman wrote, “Hi Pat… here is a “flash from the past.” In the summer of 1966, I went to Chile as a Hood College Ambassador. It was a remarkable experience that changed the course of my life. (As a result of that time in Chile, I worked as a Pan Am stewardess for several years after graduation… wanting to see more of the world.)  The program was called The Experiment in International Living– and Susan Wadia-Ells talked me into applying and going. (She had gone to Iran the year before with the same program.) The group from 1966 just had a 50th reunion  We managed to get 5 of the 10 original group members together in Rochester, NY– skyed two others.  One of our Chilean families came– five of them! It was an amazing experience.  Something very good– from the Hood we knew 50 years ago– lives on. I hope as many of our classmates who can come, will come– to our 50th Reunion next year! Looking forward to that! Kris Campbell Joyce wrote, “We just returned from a 2 week safari in Tanzania which was wonderful with Thomson Travel which has a supportive role in that country. We were able to learn a lot about the land, animals, and people for my art and teaching and would definitely recommend that travel company.” From your class reporter. Not much from Northern Virginia. Working to help the homeless, taking a nonprofit to the next level – stuff I did 30 years ago! Updating my 100 year old house to get ready for sale –eventually. Trips to see grandkids in Sonoma and north Georgia take up most of my vacation time. A nice Caribbean beach with drinks with umbrellas sounds good right now. But I second Jane Arnold’s comment– retirement? Why? Pat Rosner Kearns

1966

Dianne Beebe Barske
907-346-3167
dielbarske@gci.net

Reunion chair, Ginny Wheeler Jones, M.A.’88, in encouraging each of us to return to the Hood campus for our 50^th class reunion, promised it would be “a very big deal.” It was, and it was wonderful! At our Class of 1966 50^th Reunion Dinner in the Whitaker Campus Center, I asked those there to share a thought about the reunion. Common themes in their quickly written notes were how much it meant to be together again, how beautiful and well-maintained the campus is, how much joy was found in laughing, hugging and sharing stories. And gratitude was universally expressed to our reunion committee: Ginny, Chair; Sarah Bruce, Class Gift; Judy Messina, Class Gift; Susan Worth Fiala, Chapel Service; and Pat Vozar Bailey, Commemorative Book. (What an amazing job Pat did in putting that memory book together.) The standing ovation for the committee at the dinner was so well deserved. Thanks were also expressed to Linda Roth, Senior Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, and the staff in the Alumni Office. What a well organized event! For me, I was reminded of why I chose Hood College over a half century ago – the friendliness on campus. It still prevails! And then there is quality. We were able to meet the new college president, Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D., sense her warmth and commitment, and hear her plans for the college. She continued to pop up at various reunion events as did Immediate Past President, Ron Volpe, who was there at the new Volpe Athletic Center for Saturday’s Alumni Luncheon. Pride prevailed when we were able to present our class gift at this luncheon – $102,326.54– and were told that over the 50 years, our class has given over one million dollars to the College. Ginny commented, “The luncheon, like all of the weekend, was full or reminders of our special days at Hood, the things we did as students, and what good things continue to keep Hood of today a special place.” Other moments of great pride were the presentation of the 2016 Excellence in Service to Hood College Award to Judy Messina; remembering that Terri Petrillo Connolly had been named the ’66 White Blazer Girl; and that over the years both myself and Pat Chapple Wright, H’90 had been given the Distinguished Alumni Award. As a testament to her service, Judy Messina has been on the Hood College Board of Trustees since 2004 and is now Vice Chair of the Board.  More pride occurred at the Sunday morning chapel service. Two classmates led the service: Rev. Geneva Butz and Rev. Alice Coffman McDermott. I am grateful for the happy moments I had to visit with both of them during the weekend and will long remember a quote shared by Geneva that seemed so fitting for the reunion – “The time that was continues to tick in the time that is.” Past and present came together for all of us back on campus. As part of the service, the names of the deceased members of our class were read in remembrance. There were 31 of us there: Pat Vozar Bailey, Dianne Beebe Barske, Laurie Wheeler Brown, Sarah Bruce, Geneva Butz, Dottie Moore Byerly, Anna Buhr Cole, Terri Petrillo Connolly, Gail Mancke Curtis, Carolyn Embree Drake, Sue Agnew Elter, Joy Mc Neely Engel, Sara Wislar Farneth, Milli Towner Fazey, Susan Worth Fiala, Beth Harlow Foster, Kandy Kiefaber Higinbotham, Ginny Wheeler Jones, Ann Johnson Kupferberg, M.A.’90, Carole Ann Kemp Lovett, Susan Esterline Markey, Betty Schmidt Martin, Alice Coffman McDermott, Faith Parker Mentzer, Judy Messina, Cheryl Carlson Peyton, Carolyn Wyckoff Platt, Nancy Frederickson Sherlin, Linda James Stewart, Patricia Kehoe Tylander, Harriet Rudman Weiner.  When meeting these classmates again on campus, it seemed as if what first appeared as a fuzzy photo would click into focus and memories of that person would come flooding back. Along with people memories came food memories. I was not able to be back on campus for a Thursday evening reception on the Beneficial-Hodson Library Reading Porch, but I’m told that the favored spring salad was served – bacon, lettuce, tomatoes – along with apple butter and cottage cheese and cranberry crunch for dessert. Then there was Sunday’s Strawberry Breakfast, bringing back that long-standing tradition. It should be noted that all the meals were delicious, whether served in the beautifully renovated Coblentz Dining Room, the Commons of the Whitaker Campus Center, or the Volpe Athletic Center. Space considerations will only allow me to share one of the written comments I received. It comes from “The Terrace House girls” – Dottie Moore Byerly, Kandy Kiefaber Higinbotham, Linda James Stewart, Milli Towner Fazey and Cheryl Carlson Peyton. “We had a great time seeing all the new improvements to Hood and our old friends who didn’t need any improvements.” We were a fine bunch indeed, especially as we paraded into the Alumni Luncheon as honored guests, dressed in our sunshine yellow and carrying bright yellow flowers – to the tune of “Pretty Woman.” Many of us shared that we were surprised by how much being together at the reunion meant to us and vowed to return for our 55^th!

1965

Catherine Beyer Meredith
410-252-1947
alto1cat@aol.com

Emily Kilby
443-485-7443 
erksome44@verizon.net

Your class reporters—Cathie Beyer Meredith and Emily Kilby—had a rather disheartening go at news gathering this time around. A number of telephone messages recorded; zero return calls/emails. Thus we are especially grateful to you three who did respond for filling us in on your lives. The rest of you, how about an update before October rolls around again? In the case of class reporting, no news is NOT good news. Marlene Collector Wolfe was very disappointed that a family wedding prevented her from attending our 50th reunion. She and husband, Irv, who’s still practicing dermatology in Owings Mills, Md., remain quite active. They particularly love traveling in the U.S. and Europe. They have two grown daughters and three grandchildren. Daughter Janet is now head of a school at the Ideal School and Academy on New York City’s Upper West Side. She and her son Teddy moved to New York in January and are loving the offerings of the big city. Daughter Sharon lives in Hockessin, Del., where she is a genetic counselor.  Marlene retired from teaching English and journalism, then worked for 10 years at WMAR-TV in Baltimore as a volunteer coordinator for a weekly feature show. Today she’s active in Art Seminar Group, an organization that “offers an extensive program of weekly lectures across a broad range of art and art history including the visual arts, theater, film, architecture, music and dance.” Marlene keeps up with the Hood news through regular contact with fellow Baltimorean Paula Adler Williams. After a late-January/early-February visit to see her granddaughter and former daughter-in-law’s family in Australia, Carolyn Oldman Gregory returned to Albuquerque and began planning a move to South Carolina to be with her sister. A surprise visit from her “down under” son in May, inspired the pair to take off on their great cross-country road trip which eventually took Carolyn to South Carolina in June. Though she was still missing the High Desert sky and New Mexican mountains where she’d made her home for more than a decade, she was looking forward to reconnecting with East Coast friends and lifestyle. Her beloved cocker spaniel Higgins made the journey in style and is now adjusting to two pug roommates. “Stay tuned,” Carolyn wrote, indicating more adventures ahead. Marci Williams Ross was intending to attend the 50th Hood reunion but had to cancel the week before because of a partial knee replacement gone bad. She’d had to use a walker because of stress fractures under the plates. Since then, she has had a full knee replacement and is back to golfing, travel and fun with grandchildren. Another factor in her no-show was that the Ross’s 50th anniversary party with the whole family of 14 was to be in Costa Rica at the end of June, and Marci wanted to save herself for that trip. The Rosses have lived in Jacksonville, Fla., since 1992 when Chuck retired. They have three sons and “six fabulous grandchildren,” Marci wrote. “We are blessed to be in great health but as an insurance policy we can literally walk to the Mayo Clinic. We built a new house last year (our last, I hope) and also renovated a house in Charleston that’s just three doors from our grandchildren so we have our own place when we visit. Even though I didn’t make the reunion I did reconnect with my roommate Beverly Jones Gibson. We were in each other’s weddings 50 years ago, and we both looked forward to rooming together at the reunion. Maybe for the 75th?!”

1964

Barbara Maly Fish
919-688-9125
barb2fish@yahoo.com

I send the sympathy of the class to the family of Alyce Burn Sheaffer, who died on April 29, after a 42-year battle with multiple sclerosis. Those of us who saw Alyce at reunions always marveled at her courage and the tender care she received from her husband, Fred. On a happier note, Joanna Miller reports that she is cancer-free five years after being treated for breast cancer. She enjoys retirement and country life in Garrett County, MD, although she fell several months ago and broke her clavicle. She has had frequent episodes of rapid heart rate, which should be corrected by ablation by the time you read this. Charlie and Mary Frances Gaver Trunk celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary in July 2015. In November, Mary Frances had a total right knee replacement, which was completely healed in time for the Trunks’ move to a new patio home at the Homewood retirement center in Frederick. “Living on one floor is especially nice,” she says. Cal and Bobbi Wiley Erdman also celebrated their 50^th anniversary last July. Their three daughters and families (including seven grandchildren ranging in age from 3 ½ to 18) joined the Erdmans for a weekend in Little Compton RI with professional beach photos, a cookout, and presentation of a photo book covering their 50 years together. Bobbi and Cal have lived in Pinehurst NC for 16 years and continue to enjoy the climate, new friends, and golf. Carolyn Clewell came for their 3-day ladies golf member-guest in April and they won their flight. Bobbi continues to take needlepoint courses and learned gold work this year. She also volunteers with the First Tee program in Pinehurst. Ben and Betsy Benson Walker celebrated their 6^th anniversary in May on a 15-day Viking river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. Betsy says, “Our home, backyard birds, and gardens bring us joy, and our German shepherd and 20 grandchildren keep us active and amazed! Life is good.” Ed and Scottie Hansbrough Sneckenberger have just finished the  overwhelming task of downsizing and moving to a retirement village not far from where they have spent the past 46 ½ years in Morgantown WV. Over the years, their travels filled their home with treasures such as a coolie hat from a Vietnamese rice paddy, a carved piece of bamboo from China, woven placemats from Guatemala, and Russian art from St. Petersburg. The Sneckenbergers’ three daughters have given them five wonderful grandchildren. Hal and Kathie Tatem Brody will celebrate their 50^th anniversary this summer with a special trip to Pittsburgh with their two children and four grandchildren. The Brodys’ children suggested the trip in order to visit the city where they grew up and to show their own children their old haunts. Kathie and Hal look forward to reconnecting with relatives and old friends. Hal still works as a professor at UConn, teaching and doing research. Kathie volunteers with the UConn League and the Tourism Bureau. Their home in Willington CT is big enough for guests and Kathie encourages classmates to visit. Marta Schneebeli Johnson keeps busy with volunteering and traveling.  She had a wonderful trip to Japan last fall and recently visited the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. In alternate years, Marta and her sister and their families get together in Stone Harbor, NJ. 2016 is the year and there will be 21 in the group this time. All of the grands especially enjoy visiting with cousins who live far apart.

1963

Dottie Snyder Engle
301-371-5170
dengle3699@aol.com

Sisters, do I have news for you!  First, our sympathy to Gail Kloeblen Spertzel on the death of her husband, Richard, who had a storied career with the federal government in any number of roles including leading teams into Iraq to look for weapons of mass destruction. He and Gail traveled the world over, partly because of his job and she worked for a travel agency.  After putting out several  messages about our mini reunion for June 10, I received very few responses, but heard from Karen Beck Gould whom I hadn’t heard from since she sang at our wedding.  Unfortunately, Karen’s husband died 14 years ago and she has been in a nursing home in Pittsburgh for the past 13 with a back injury.  Pat Lytle Frost called to say she has Parkinson’s, but with the help of her husband Nick, still gets around.  They had lived in Montana, Nantucket, her favorite place in the world, and now on Cape Cod.  Rude person that I am, I paid a surprise visit to Elena Koch Flom and her very kind husband, and at lunch time, too, when I was visiting friends in Cocoa Beach, FL. We had a lovely chat over lunch, and I learned of all the degrees she had gotten and the places she had taught including Suriname.  She, too, is having some health issues including declining eye sight.  Sadly, my roomie, Brenda Eklund Pearson did not attend  reunion because she was going to be in Europe for 25 days.  How could she!  Jo Ann Twilley Plichta, M.A.’86 reports that she and Dave are in the process of moving to PA to be near their son’s family. She said that she, Mary Ann Holloway Ford, M.A’79, and Joanne Zink Markey, recently visited Helen Buss Mitchell and husband Joe at the Mitchell’s lovely home in Ellicott City, MD.  Cindy Klopp Butler and husband Keith spent a few months in CA with their daughter and, this summer, went to England where their son was teaching at Cambridge.   As usual, Kathie Anderson Houchens and Dave had many happy trails but none better than to Alaska.  They engage in more activities than I can mention. Marilyn Monson Baldi  is a real world traveler.  She has recently been to Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, taking lots of photos.  She enjoyed the colorful, interesting cultures and will be going to the Arctic with National Geographic on an expedition for more photos.  She thinks age is getting to her as she is minding the long flights, and although she feels she is aging gracefully, she says gravity is taking its course. Check Marilyn’s websites at www.imagerybymarilyn.com and www.torchegalerie.com. As for myself, Dottie Snyder Engle, I always have an exciting life.  In addition to my usual activities with local seniors, I have a disabled friend who moved here from Sante Fe.  She has no one to help her but me.  She has no use of her right arm, right leg is off at the knee and lots of other issues.  She is on her third prosthesis and is hoping to be able to get out of the wheel chair.  She wanted out of the house where she was living and my son and I deposited her in a motel that she had arranged.  She wanted a service animal, so I bought her a fighting fish. Our family entertained our Danish exchange student’s in-laws for two weeks in May and had a wonderful time with them.  They now think all Americans are just plain nuts, but like it!  We had one day of normalcy after they left, then got a frantic message from our friend at Virginia Beach with whom we had spent five days in Cocoa Beach, that his wife was gravely ill, so we rushed down to visit them.  Lung issues!  She seems a bit better.  Thank goodness my family is well and all are active.  Son Ryan is back East in WV.  Robin and I are poised for a big trip down south and will see Nancy Craven Jacobus in Elon, NC, when we are returning.  We had a mini reunion for the Hood class of ’63 here at our house and everyone declared it a success.  Twelve Hoodlums attended and seven spouses.  Thanks to Bobby Campbell Rickman, M.A.’75, P’96 for showing up hours ahead to help and to my husband Ron who puts up with me and helps me through all my endeavors.  Next reunion:  June 2018, our 55^th.

1961

Katharine Baum Wolpe
212-677-5469
kwolpe@gmail.com

Marty Kaiser Canner
410-747-0321
plcanner39@gmail.com

Nancy Brown Braudrick is having a new home built to replace her current one at the same address in Gold Beach, OR. Our 55^th Class Reunion was attended by 14 classmates and 2 husbands, Jean Shuey Wadsworth and husband Don and Sue Meeks Freeman and husband Dave.  Sue and Dave celebrated their 55^th anniversary this year and enjoy living in Mathews, VA, a small town on the lower Chesapeake Bay. Also on hand were Ann Mitchell, still active as a convention manager; Marty Kaiser Canner, Jeanne Duncan Jehl, Sandra Doty Zeitler, Brenda Sheaffer Hillard, Ann Corderman Helton, Vivi Bruckel Harvey, Anita Ranoldo Miner, Mary Anne “Fleet” Fleetwood, Judy Freedom Westenhoefer, Estelle Harrison Brendle, and Katharine Baum Wolpe. Pictures are posted on the Hood reunion website. Fleet, who lives in Rehobeth, DE, spends time every year in Taos, NM, and works to save animals, especially horses. Estelle lives in Matthews, near Charlotte, NC, close to her children & grandchildren in North Carolina and Arkansas. Judy Westenhoefer lives on a farm in Bedford, VA, and has been reducing the number of animals including horses she keeps there. Kathie Baum Wolpe still enjoys life in her East Village neighborhood (NYC).  She and her friend Philip attend concerts, off-Broadway plays, and modern dance performances.  She remains active in her church and local Democratic club and volunteers to escort frail seniors living at home to doctor’s appointments, exercise classes, and shopping.  She also attends a reading group on Israel & Palestine. Anne Bierstein Grenfell will be moving July 1, 2016 from a large townhouse to a small condo.  Her new address will be 901 East MacPhail Road, Unit 2F, Bel Air, MD 21015.  She volunteers for hospice and is selling her book, Prelude to Eternity.  The book can be purchased directly from Anne, who will sign it, or online from Amazon, BN, or Google.  Anne is enjoying quality time with her family and staying in touch with Hood classmates.  She is still healthy and stays active with fitness classes and aerobic dance, her favorite exercise. Shirley Garrett Haley, P’85 and husband, Ed, recently moved to Patapsco Overlook, a condominium community in Catonsville, MD. Mary Beth Snyder Hall’s big news was the birth of her only grandson and her younger son’s only child, Patrick Cooper Hall in July, 2015.  The Cooper part of his name is for his great-great-grandmother’s family.  Mary Beth and husband, William, feel blessed to have a new grandson 18 years after the birth of their youngest granddaughter.  Their older son has four daughters ranging in age from 27 to 18.  Cooper and his parents live in Virginia, so Mary Beth and William are considering moving to Virginia from Pennsylvania to see Cooper grow up and because they need to downsize their homeowner’s chores. Vivi Bruckel Harvey is looking forward to spending the winter (December to April) in Guatemala again, where she is involved in a large project to improve the water quality of Lake Atitlan.  Last winter she worked with the local Audubon group in training Mayan young people to be bird guides. Ann Corderman Helton enjoys her ornamental garden, her book club, church administration, the CASA program and politics.  She vacationed in New Orleans in the spring with her daughter, Leah, and Leah’s two sons.  She traveled in May to Asheville, NC to visit friends, and planned to spend the last two weeks in June at the Maryland shore. The focus of Hilda Koontz’s life continues to be Civil War history.  She gives lectures in the mid-Atlantic region and plans to travel to Missouri in the fall to give a presentation to the Civil War Roundtable of St. Louis.  She will then proceed to Iowa for several more lectures and to visit with her latest grandson, Charlie, born in April, 2016.  Hilda visits often with Joan Jacobsen Halbert and Janice McDavid Kuntz ’62. She and Spencer are active with re-enactments and will spend Christmas in Williamsburg, VA. Anita Ranoldo Miner spent two weeks in Cuba this spring on a people-to-people educational trip, meeting artists, musicians, chefs, and people on the streets in four cities.  She found the experience fascinating and would like to go back. Sandy Murphy Schmidt and husband, Bob, continue to love apartment living at Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville, MD.  She keeps physically and mentally fit with daily brisk walks, pool aerobics, cultural offerings on site and in Baltimore.  She also volunteers at the Walters Art Museum.  She and Bob plan a trip along the Maine coast in September with American Cruise Line.  She enjoys outings in Baltimore with Jeannette Phelps ’59 and theater and golf outings with Bob. Barbara Hufham Wells and husband, Richard, continue to be happy living in Moscow, ID, which combines the benefits of a vibrant small town community with the cultural amenities of the University of Idaho.  Richard stays busy caring for all the trees and plants he has planted on their property and Barbara serves on the board of trustees of the community hospital.  Barbara and Richard enjoy the Metropolitan Opera’s Live HD performances shown at a local movie theater on Saturday mornings. I (Marty) enjoyed the class reunion in June and eleven days later left on a two week trip to the Midwest and Montana to visit our daughter and her daughter and other relatives and friends.