Hi everyone!

We’ve got a few fun updates this season, so let’s get started!

Erica Smith writes that she recently got her National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) certification in teacher training! She’s currently the Assistant Director of the Justice and Legal Thought in Law and Society Program at the University of Maryland. Erica was also recently inducted into the Disco America Hall of Fame in June.

Next, some exciting wedding news! Lisa Forrester Meyer married Kevin Meyer on June 16, 2016, in Dry Ridge, KY.

And some good news from Taryn Chubb – she was granted tenure and promoted to Assistant Professor of Art and Art History at East Central University in Ada, OK! Taryn has been at ECU since 2010; her responsibilities also include being the director of ECU’s Pogue Gallery of Art.

That’s about it for us this season! As always, we have a Facebook group called Hood College Class of 2003, so come find us there!

Anna Kluth VonLindenberg and her husband Von are both well and retired. She has become involved in the environment and her clubs: book club, bike club and kayak club. They are still boating around the Chesapeake on their boat during the summer.  They go traveling during the winter. Last year, San Diego. This winter, Australia. She has fond memories of Hood!

For Ann Wiggins Ely and her husband, things are going along well in their 15th year in Burlington, Vermont.  Tom is still working hard as the Episcopal Bishop of Vermont and Ann continues in her position as an administrative assistant at Rock Point School.  The biggest news is that their youngest daughter, Jennifer, is expecting her first child at the end of October – a girl (her side of the Ely family does not seem to be able to produce boys!) – and they are very excited to welcome their third grandchild.  This past May, Tom and Ann celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary which she found hard to believe – She feels so young!  They will all be traveling to southern France this August to spend time with their family and their son-in-law’s family in a villa for a week.  Tom and Ann are very much looking forward to their first visit to France.  All together there will be over 20 of them!  Cannot wait to hear about her trip.

Cheryl Cuddeback is now in the field of Real Estate.  If you’re thinking of selling your home or just wonder how much it’s worth, please contact Cheryl.  She is a NYS licensed sales associate.  You can call or text her at (917) 562-6747 or send her an email CherylCuddeback@kw.com.  In looking back, she is truly blessed to have the memories she has shared with all.

Jan Vasa Di Beneditto’s year has had some high and lows. Jan battled with cancer in the beginning of the year. The good news is that it was caught early and she didn’t need chemo or radiation.  The year continued with even better news as her husband, Tom and Jan became grandparents for the first time!  Her name is Claire Noelle and of course she’s an absolute delight.  The year will end a trip to Ireland that they have been planning for a long time.

Arlene Russo Bujese has just completed curating the permanent collection of approximately 80 works of art for the newly opened East End Hospice Kanas Center for in-patient care in Quiogue, NY.  After 20 some years of planning and fund-raising, the 8 patient suite center serves the East End of Long Island.

Carol Fleck Whetzel emails that life is good with them. Dennis (Mike to some) and Carol spent 10 days in Hawaii for their 40th wedding anniversary.  They cannot wait to go back!  The catamaran cruise up the Na Pali Coast of Kauai was the highlight.  Now they’re looking forward to the grand-kids spending some time with them this summer as they always a blast when they’re visiting!

I hope everyone has a wonderful summer.  California remains in a drought although we did get more rain during the past 6 months.  Keep your fingers crossed that wild fires stay away from us, and our Hood friends and families.  Feel free to share information with me throughout the year.  Wishing you and your families the best for the remainder of 2016!  Debbie Page Rath

NANCY TRESSEL BROWN

Just got back from tricycling a book over to Alice Riddle Metry as she’s going back to Detroit in a couple of days. Just finished the book in time to keep her out of trouble for awhile.  We had lunch with Stevie a couple of months back and had a GREAT time. Had a cat (Balimese) disappear also about two months ago. Her sister is handling this better than I. What you don’t know is that I used to cry when Lassie didn’t come home and cried harder when she did (Even if she was a he).  In this case, I feel like Peter Pan. (Never did grow up). In Roger’s and my life cycle, we’re looking at moving to a retirement home. (The Dreaded Home). He’s gung ho, but I’m dragging my feet. I’ve always felt (as learned at Hood) rules are made to be broken.

Other than the above, Mr. Lincoln, I enjoyed the play. Take care of yourself, Molly. I enjoy reading about everybody.

GENIE (EUGENIA) SMITH DURLAND

Doing this by email is so easy. Hope you have happy travels. Latest from us is that Bill celebrated his 85th birthday in March and we had a huge party for the event. He finished is 8th play which goes into production May 21 and 22. Writing plays and books keeps him young and me too, since I do all the editing, communications with publishers, and lots of the leg work on play production.

We have two great granddaughters and a third (daughter or son?) on the way in July. One is in Hawaii with her parents (our grandson who supervises construction projects there) but the other is right here in Colorado so we see her often.

We continue to be very active in our Quaker Monthly and Yearly Meetings, and look forward every year to Yearly Meeting – coming up in early June in Ghost Ranch New Mexico where the hiking and birding are unmatched!

As always I will have my birthday – 81 while there.

ANN  FORTENBAUGH EICHOLTZ

Unfortunately I do have news this time.  Paul died on April 19th, and I am trying hard to adjust to my new way of life after 58 years together. My family and friends have been so supportive and have been  helping me get through all the “stuff” you have to do.  Molly, where do you go in PA?  Are you ever near Gettysburg?  I would love to see you. 717 359-0289or you have my email.  Nancy Cohen Locker is in Gettysburg and I see her occasionally.  Have fun on your travels.

SUSAN WINTER SMITH

Does time roll around faster or is it me? Anyway, not much to report from the Great Northwest. We are settled into our routine in our apartment after three years. I confess I still miss our house on Mercer Island but know this is way easier to live here.

We acquired the cutest little dog last summer when we rescued Mandy from the Yakima Humane shelter. She is a little white poodle mix. I never really liked poodles but she is so very sweet.  We went to Phoenix in April to visit our son and his wife. Very much enjoyed seeing them in their new home. The day we arrived back home I entered the hospital with bilateral pneumonia.I was a sick puppy for a while but am slowly recovering. I have idiopathic Pulmonary fibrosis (meaning only idiots get it) so the pneumonia really hit me hard.  Mother’s Day was delightful with two of our kids coming. We had a lovely brunch here (that I didn’t have to cook). We heard from our daughter in Bellingham and our grandkids as well. We have two grandaughters in college now, one a senior at Western WA and the other a freshman at Evergreen College.

This is all there is and it isn’t much, and do what you wish with it. Enjoy all your travels.

ELEANOR HESTON SHIPLEY

My Dad was Assistant to the President there while I was in high school so Hood was my second home.  I went to Connecticut for two years, then transferred to Hood as a day student.  Got married that Thanksgiving.  I did not graduate because #1 child (Ginger Shipley Hankins, Hood 1980) arrived exactly ten months after our wedding.  Mamas were not allowed in those days!  So now here I am these many years later with four happily-married offspring, 13 grandchildren (#14 on the way!), and one great-grand.  I have lived in the same house for 46 years – up on Gambrill Mountain overlooking Frederick.  Unfortunately my husband died very young so there have been many tough battles to fight.  I guess I have made it!  Pretty strong for an 81-year-old.

PEG REEVES LEOPOLD

From Christmas and another letter, Peg’s shared stories of her family and extended Leopold family adventures sounded exciting for those who attended (not always Peg) – to include the finals of the women’s World Soccer contest (yea, USA) in Canada, a Leopold family reunion in Duck, NC where they filled out ancestry kits (she didn’t share if she is linked to the Neanderthal line), and a number of stories from the younger generation.  What a variety of involvements – Early Childhood Education, UVA linguistics and Spanish teacher/advocate for teenage children of immigrant farm workers, massage therapy, musician and photographer, and doctorate study for physical therapy.  Peg herself continues in yoga to help those ailing bones and works with the Master Gardeners.

MOLLY SMITH SPERANDIO

If I didn’t travel to see family and friends, I probably wouldn’t travel at all – too busy doing the things I’m interested in here at home.  My sisters’ reunion in April is always a blessing to me – to be able to spend time with my four older siblings – and this year enjoy celebrating the matriarch of our generation’s Smith Family celebrating her 90^th birthday – Kitty Smith Dunn, Hood 1947 – in June at the extended Smith Family Reunion, our 35^th year together.  I was also able to travel to CA (flew this time) and enjoy my four grands, children of my deceased son, Doug.  Life goes on with us octogenarians – we have our aches and pains to deal with and now bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is telling me maybe I need to look for someone else to take over this editorial job.  Hint, hint!! 😉

Sara (“Sally”) Zimmerman
Class Reporter

Greetings You Talented, Dedicated, Traveling, Major-Life-Decision-Making, Care-giving, Creative, Fit, Physically active, Musical, Mini-reunion loving, Spouse-Children- Grandchildren- and -Pet adoring, Teaching, Newly-retiring, Still working, Volunteering, Gardening, Reading, Art and Fiber-art making, Amends-making, Life-loving, and Beautiful-people Classmates!

Thank you everyone who sent news:

Linda MacDonough Morrow : “George and I spent two weeks in Europe in May. His youngest is living near Paris while in grad school. George, as a dutiful father, visited her to be sure she is doing OK (in Paris!) and I, as a good wife, accompanied him (to Paris!). We also spent a few days in Barcelona to visit a former Penn State nutrition student/friend.

In September my 42-yr-old daughter married for the first time to a man 10 years her senior who had never been married before. I’m sure there was a lot of adjustment to be made on both sides, but they seem to be doing well. George and I visited them over the Mother’s Day weekend and had a great day touring Ft. McHenry, near their Baltimore home.”

Marjorie Simmons Carlson: “Our oldest grandson, Chris, Jr., is now an attorney in the States Attorney’s Office in Charleston, WVA – he recently vacationed with two buddies in Iceland; Bill and I were at High Point University on May 7 to attend the graduation of our granddaughter, Hannah; granddaughter Molly Carlson Berger will receive her Elementary Ed. Degree from Maryland Univ. on May 19, and…the “Library Lady” (that’s me) will be retiring from Riverdale Baptist School, Upper Marlboro, MD, on June 8 after 37 years of service. These are the highlights; there’s much more ‘on my plate’!”

Candee Mack Westdorp: “We have two grandsons graduating from college. Our granddaughter is in her second year of serving in the Peace Corps after graduating from college.
We are fine and playing lots of tennis. Best wishes to all classmates.”

Jane Hoskins Bollman: “Not much has changed for me, but as I write this, just home from teaching a weekly art class, I’d have to mention the enjoyment I get teaching senior citizens (as opposed to junior high students in the 60’s). It is a lot more fun! Thanks to Jack Davis at Hood for developing my passion for art.”

Pam Roberts Welham: “Bonjour! Walt and I were in Paris for a three week visit- another item off our bucket list. We had an apartment in the Marais with a small ‘place’ across the street that has a Wed and Sat market. Yesterday I bought cherries, strawberries, cheese, and lilacs. Idyllic! We took a two-day tour to the Loire Valley and also visited Chartres for a day. Otherwise, we learned more about the Paris bus system and visited some of our favorite places in this wonderful city.
We sold our house in Annandale, VA before leaving on this trip and will move to the retirement community nearby, The Fairfax, in August. We are looking forward to living in smaller quarters with less upkeep- easier to leave when we travel. A classmate of Walt, USNA ’62, and his wife (Joan and Pete Odell) are staying in our house while we are away and they wait for their apartment at Bay Woods, an Annapolis retirement community, to be completed. A sign of the times for our contemporaries. We are looking forward to this next chapter- what better way to begin than a trip to Paris?!!!”

Marvia Slade Perreult: “We flew to Buffalo in February to spend time with daughter Melanie, now the Provost of Buffalo State University, and had our return trip delayed one day due to snow. I’m becoming involved in committees in the 55+ community in which we live. Also have been volunteering at Salisbury University, in the Historical Research Center, transcribing a 1799 handwritten (duh!) diary of a prominent local figure to computer. Very interesting!

Other than that, looking forward to finally getting together again with Bobbi Arthur Pretzsch, Linda Martin McManus, and Gail Wood Fortin this September in Fenwick Island, DE.

Barbara Arthur Pretzsch: Our business (daughter, Lyn included) of buying houses in foreclosure, renovating and selling them has been quite a challenge. Mostly I’m a “gopher” and a baby sitter for the grandchildren. When I’m not helping at a house under renovation I’ve been active in 2 line dancing groups, some Zumba classes, Silver Sneakers classes and a crochet and knitting group. Bob and I recently went on a cruise to Cozumel and Progresso. It was lots of fun as several of the cruisers in this group were some of the line dancers in one of my groups. My other line dancing group put on a fund raiser for the Gulf Coast Woman’s Center for Nonviolence. We had 3 line dance teachers, food and door prizes and made nearly $1000.00 for the center. I’m planning on another Crochet Conference trip, one to the Hemingway Days in Key West (my brother-in-law is a Hemingway Look-alike and as such helps select the next Papa Hemingway) and to visit with Hood friends, Gail Wood Fortin, Marvia Slade Perreault and Linda Martin Mc Manus in September. It will be a busy summer. My grandchildren are growing up as they are wont to do and playing baseball/softball this season. They have also played basketball, soccer and karate. Going to games takes up a number of hours each week.
BTW I was at one of my grandchildren’s basketball games and saw a car with a Hood license plate frame. I left a card on the car to let them know there was another Hoodlum in Gulfport, MS but never got a call. Anyone know of anyone in this “neck of the woods” from Hood?”

Doris Dalziel Kimball: “Greetings, all. There are no big changes in our lives. George and I still love living in this cozy condo right on the lake. It is like living on a cruise ship except no one makes our bed or turns the towels into elephants. I plan and plant the gardens surrounding the building because it is still a pleasure. Am trying to find time to do watercolors again and continue to walk around the lake, read for two book clubs and try to remember all the cards played at Bridge. Helping the staff to serve the patients at our gorgeous, local hospice facility is about the only volunteer work I still do. Life is good and precious.”

Judy Hammond Blatchford: “ Park and I continue to travel with Lindblad Expeditions a couple of times a year, most recently to Peru, Chile and Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in addition to two weeks in Baja California. We love experiencing nature and exotic animals and places on their small ships with expert naturalists and photography advisors.

This spring we are celebrating two of our granddaughters’ graduations (from Lehigh and Proctor Academy) while our three younger grands are in middle and high schools. Soon thereafter we’ll be heading north to the Adirondacks for the summer. As I write this at the end of May, in three days we’ll be gathering in Baltimore for a mini-reunion with Roger and Jane Hoskins Bollman, Carl and Susan Shinnick Hossfeld, Susan Rugemer Kurtz, Penny Misirian Mardoian, and Ben and Nancy Turner Heckscher. Hard to realize it has been 58 years since we girls first met one another on the Hood campus!”

Penny Mardoian: I went on a wonderful 3 week trip with Smithsonian Journeys to Australia and New Zealand. The highlight of the trip, for me, was seeing the Sydney Opera House from every conceivable location. It has been two years since Art passed away and my life is full of family, friends and volunteer work.”

Susan Shinnick Hossfeld: “Carl and I just returned from a trip to France, five days in Paris in a small, eclectic Latin Quarter apartment, followed by a River Boat Cruise on the Seine. Highlights on the Seine were: charming French villages, Rouen, Normandy, Honfleur and Monet’s House and Gardens. We had a wonderful get-together with Judy and Parker Blatchford, Jane and Roger Bollman, Penny Mardoian, Susan Kurtz , Nancy Heckscher and Ben.”

Harriet Rusty Papst Midge Hoagland: “In May, Bill and I returned from an exciting Viking Ocean cruise to Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Estonia, Russia and Finland. Now we look forward to an array of events… a grandson’s last crew meet, the national championship in Philadelphia and his high school graduation, a granddaughter’s ballet performance at the Kirov and the youngest of my daughter’s boys receiving his Eagle Boy Scout award. This summer all the children and grandchildren (4 boys, 1 girl) have found time to spend time with us at our summer home in Old Saybrook, CT. Hooray! Life is good.”

Lillian Detrick Blood: “Dave and I have been busy with our organic vegetable garden. This year it was chosen to be featured on the Ridgewood Garden tour. Our 19 year grandson, Aiden flew in from Hermosa Beach, CA to give us some extra help. We are fortunate to be in good health and continue to ski, hike, kayak and spend time with our family. Dave continues to practice cardiology, however, I retired to pursue other interests.”

Elizabeth (Betts) Davis Ackerman: “Here’s the latest exciting(?) news from the Pacific Northwest…….
The nicest part of being a piano teacher right now is that I am teaching my little 8-year old granddaughter. What could be lovelier? This year I have gotten into contra dancing and English country dancing; both lots of fun and good exercise. I am about to put in my veggie garden. My Japanese garden is an ongoing project which I share with my landscape architect son. Recent travels include Cabo San Lucas and Williamsburg Virginia where I learned so much about our history. I live in a beautiful part of the country and welcome any classmates who would like a tour guide.”

Regina Schlank Pyle: “Celebrating our 75 birthdays, I joined a long time pal in Phoenix, where she grew up, and spent February and March, renting a condo to escape Boston’s winter. Monica had driven out with her wonderful albeit large dog, Francesca, and I offered to drive back. So we had a wonderful road trip- 8 days, 2,700 miles, 6 dog friendly motels and visits with friends and relatives along the way. No real sight-seeing because of Francesca but gained a new appreciation for how vast the country is, how totally different various parts are, and just how much of what we buy every day is transported by the thousands of semi-trailers we passed along the way. My major souvenir is a semi-flashy T-shirt with Route 66 emblazoned in sequins.
In early May I attended the first ever reunion of my NYC elementary school – PS 6 – class of 1954 – a mere 62 later. Two gals came up with the idea and through the internet and various networking connections were able to find about half of the 90 classmates. The gal who found me was best friends in high school with my best friend in college, Liz Kovacs, and we were bride’s maids in her wedding…and she remembered. The gals were the hardest to find because of name change. 29 attend the reunion along with 11 spouses. We had a tour of the school with lunch and a dinner reception and buffet at the University Club donated anonymously by a generous class mate. It was an amazing gathering to say the least.

When I was contacted I shared my memories shrouded all these years in shame about a boy who joined our class in 5th grade, 1951 – shy, pudgy, spoke little English and had numbers on his arm. The shame was that no teacher told us what Michael had been through – surviving Auschwitz and being freed 1/45 when 4 years old. He was reunited with his mother who had been sent to another camp and they immigrated to NYC in ’51. The organizers were able to find Michael Bornstein through a holocaust website and he came with his wife. He earned advanced degrees in chemistry and worked for Eli Lilly and Johnson and Johnson; now retired he lives in NYC and New Jersey. After the event he emailed that he wasn’t sure why he attended but now felt closure after 62 years meeting the children that shunned him and the adults who now embraced him. He has co-authored a book, Survivors Club: The True Story of a Very Young Prisoner of Auschwitz, with his daughter, Debbie Bornstein Holinstat, available on Amazon 3/7/17.
All is well in Boston – keeping busy chairing my neighborhood association and a trustee of my condo association. Fortunate to be in great health and sharing my life with Monty, a cairn terrier, and Rossy, a cat.”

Elizabeth Kovacs Dudley Washburn: “Small world. Regina Schlank Pyle (who was my dear half sister at Hood) was invited by my dear friend from Music and Art High School, Lillie Anderson, to attend their 54th Reunion at P.S. 6 in New York City. They had a blast. Both were bridesmaids in my wedding in 1963. My husband Ted and I are enjoying retirement immensely: family time, good friends, entertaining. church activities, gardening – Portland is “Rose City”, doggie time, reading great books, “Silver Sneakers” aerobic classes, etc. I’m painting as much as I can and exhibiting here and there. Since we lived overseas for 16 years (England, Kenya and Turkey) we are happy to stay put. We are always ready to share a meal and visit with any Hoodite passing through Lake Oswego, Oregon.”

Ann Holmes Flatt: “Aside from a few health issues, JP and I have gratefully enjoyed another good year, keeping happily occupied with family, friends, community activities, trips in our RV, and travels abroad, most recently a Safari in Kenya. I never thought that item in my bucket list would become a reality. WOW! What a treat! In September we have plans to return to Switzerland to visit family and friends.
Art classes have me exploring different mediums. For now it’s challenging watercolor. Singing with the Worcester Chorus has been rewarding in many ways. In addition to our 4 annual concerts, we recently hosted singers from Mexico City for a week and performed 2 concerts with them in New Haven, CT and in Worcester, MA. This August we will be going to Québec City for a week to perform in a Music Festival. Two of our concerts will be with a Québec chorus.
Skiing in the winter, yoga, hikes up our local Mt Wachusett, and happy hours in my garden help to keep me centered and sane!
JP and I enjoy occasional get-togethers with Rusty Papst and Bill Hoagland. We welcome any other Hood classmates to visit us whenever they are in the area. We are still in our large turn-of-the-century home in Princeton, MA and like to have reasons to keep it! We are not ready to downsize – yet – but realistically know it is not far away!”

Judi Simonsen Ziobro: “Ed and I are still enjoying good health and as much family time with our kids and their kids as they are able to share with us. We did our usual Florida trip in March, saw Judy Bailey Allison and Tom, then did a cruise with Judy Jensen Burgess and Gordon to the Panama Canal and some other ports along the coasts of South and Central America. Beautiful scenery and a truly wonderful experience with our only mosquito encounter happening in Ft. Lauderdale before the cruise began. I still am involved in making music in my church, in both vocal and handbell choirs, and sewing of all sorts for all sorts of projects (Shepherds’ robes, Days for Girls kits, alterations for prom dresses, etc.). It keeps the mind active and gives me an excuse for not doing housekeeping duties. Life is good!”

Barbie Reeves McGee: “Wow – What a year it has been for me. My husband has been in the hospital twice for heart issues. He is stable now but is not in good health. As for me, I am lucky to be in good health. I just keep going. Being busy is good for me. I finished another year of subbing – had decided to give it up but changed my mind. I need the mental stimulation of dealing with the youth of today.

I am also involved in a retired teachers group. My position is to plan five luncheons a year. Then I work with a “Find Arts” group to raise funds for scholarships for high school seniors who are going to college in the arts.

For a great read: Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson. It’s non-fiction but reads like a novel.

I wonder what Dr. Lewis would have to say about the ‘2016 Race to the White House.’ Looking forward to our next reunion.”

Sara (aka Sally) Zimmerman: class reporter…. For all of you who said you may get in touch with me next time you are coming to the west coast of Florida, yes, do it! I have a small home on a lake preserve and bird watchers’ paradise on Esprit Drive in New Tampa, only three miles off of I-75, and I love sharing it with friends. Not during these summer months, though. It’s a good time to beat the heat, and I’ll be flying to Columbus, OH in a few weeks for a national meeting of Unitarian Universalist ministers and a visit with a niece and her family. In July, I’m booked for a trip to Milwaukee to visit my daughter and grandchildren Henry (12) and Helen (9). Henry just graduated from 6th grade. In August, I’ll be flying to Pennsylvania to attend our 58th Central Dauphin high school reunion. Now in retirement from full-time parish ministry, I’m much busier as a consultant and free-lance minister doing Sunday pulpit supply than I ever thought I would be and loving it. SZ

CLASS of ’69 – SPRING NEWS

Proud grandparents, Nancy Roe Hebdon and Fred announce that grandson Christopher will attend George Washington Law School in September. Barbara Sims retired in 2015 after 30 years with the same executive search firm. She remains in New York doing volunteer work and choral singing. My childhood chum, Karol Bedyk Strang and Bill (whom she met at a Hopkins/Hood mixer) have 2 married sons and a grandbaby on the way. Karol has a doctorate in clinical social work, but is now retired, living in the Asheville, NC area and enjoys quilting and dulcimer playing. Marty Silcox Hankins and Fred will celebrate their 45th anniversary with a trip to the Pittsburgh area and meet up with Libby Miller Jacobs and husband Jack. Marty plans to retire from teaching next year and pursue Master Gardening. Thanks to Facebook Esther Kofod Whitfield managed to reconnect with her roommate, Joanne Fodor. Do consider Esther’s memoir, The Libyan – a fascinating and compelling read. As a result of renewed health, Sarah Jane Snyder Raffety is devoting more time to family and church as well as exercise and painting. She is also about to publish a children’s book. Margaret Dunkle has retired from her position as Lead Research Scientist at the Dept. of Health Policy at G.W. Univ. and now lives full time in Maryland after spending years in the workforce in DC, Boston and LA. She will receive the 2016 W. D. Schaefer Helping People Award for Calvert County in June. After 40+ years in Alaska, Jill Stanley and husband Adam are moving to Greenfield, IN. – via a motorhome! Chris Diehl retired from teaching math in 2007 but remains an adjunct teacher at her local community college. She keeps in touch with former roommate, Marya Rusinak of Cincinnati. Joanne Ingoldsby Peters looks forward to summer trips through New England and a jaunt to Ireland come fall. Meanwhile she quilts, golfs and gardens. Maureen Clancy continues to write her food blog – Matters of Taste. She, husband T, and their sons all enjoy skiing and biking – even completing a couple of bike Centuries (100 miles) each year. Travels to Vienna, Austria and Northern Italy are planned for summer. Maureen recently visited Diane Campbell in Boston. Sharon McDonald Sayles and husband John are completing 18 months of providing care for their grandchildren, ages 12 and 14. Soon the “kiddos” will relocate to Keene, NH. Jan Erbacher Greening checked in from Austin, TX where she cares for her elderly Mom, records texts for the blind, and participates in a French conversation group. Her careers included teaching grades 7 – 12, as well as ESL, and marketing technical software. Boca Raton resident Linda Lam looks forward to spending a month in NC this summer. Carole Downing Staton and Emily Smith Brownson and spouses attended the girls’ 50th high school reunion in Salsibury, MD last summer. Carole loves retirement – and her 4 ½ year old grandson. Jean Swan and husband plan to trace the Lewis and Clark expedition this summer in their RV. Their son will be married in November. Also following the Lewis and Clark route are Meredith Owen Atkinson and husband George. The trip will include Glacier National Park where the couple honeymooned. Despite facing spinal fusion surgery, Peggy Jackson Wyckhouse continues to teach food preparation and nutrition classes. She has a son (and 3 grandsons) in St. Louis and a disabled daughter in Las Vegas. Pat Etzel Parker and her husband found “surprisingly gratifying” their mutual 50th high school reunion. Cynthia Werner Biber continues to work in NY at the Frick Collection. She frequently travels to Maine where her 2 daughters live and to Switzerland, home of her brother. Despite a few family health scares, Ellen Kiel and Russ had a wonderful trip to Barcelona in October. Current projects include a wellness ministry at church and New Story Leadership. Betsy Seele Gotta is still involved in square dancing, “calling” 4 or 5 nights a week. Summer gigs include stops in Des Moines, Toronto, and Regina, Canada. Cheryl Brown Dreiling has two loves – her 2-year-old twin grandsons, and traveling. This year she’s been to India, the Italian Riviera and in July will head to the Baltic Sea. Ginny Monaco Hatfield (a “professional volunteer”) was recently tapped as on the of 5 Inspiring Women of the San Fernando Valley by the United Chambers of Commerce. As new Tesla owners, Dave and I, Sayre Roney Steere are seeing the country “gas free.” We’ve been to South Florida, where we visited with Valerie Dietz Polansky (our husbands are HS and USNA chums), the Hill Country of Texas, western Tennessee, and soon all the way to Seattle to visit our girls – and take an Alaskan cruise.

Sarah Tapscott
301-807-7821
st12@hood.edu

Wow! What a crazy last few months we’ve seen, Class of 2015! In our years at Hood we experienced a lot of change and since graduation, less than a year ago, our lives have been no different! We have so much to celebrate and so much to look forward to! Miguel Caruso has been accepted to the Officer Candidate School for the United States Army. Eliza Jacobs will be heading to Bucheon, South Korea in February for a year to teach English. Tara Biser started graduate school at Johns Hopkins University and is working towards her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Meg DePanise is working for Hood’s Marketing and Communications Department and towards her MBA. Maya Jackson is working for Keswick Multi-Care Center as a Social Work Designee and looking into graduate school. Brigid Ayer works at Hood as a Student Life Assistant in Sports Information and is pursuing her Masters in Business Marketing. Krystal Wood is currently attending Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia and pursuing a Psy.D. Degree in Clinical Psychology. Sarah Wagstaff is an Assistant Teacher at The Goddard School in Columbia, Maryland. Emily Eckard started graduate school for Occupational Therapy at Chatham University. Lindsey Willhide began graduate school at the University of Maryland School of Social Work in Baltimore and plans on getting her LGSW license after school. Stephanie Kelley and Amanda Decker also began graduate school at the University of Maryland School of Social Work in Baltimore and will be completing school with Lindsey in 2016. Prettany Overman will be in Berlin, Germany until late-summer 2016 working at the Jüdische Gemeinde (Jewish Community Center and Synagogue). She also gives tours at a museum and at a former Concentration Camp and Soviet Special Camp. Chelsea Bunker moved to rural Cofradía, Honduras where she is now the fifth grade teacher at the San Jeronimo Bilingual School, and loves Central America. Caroline Schuetz moved to Frederick, Maryland and was promoted to Site Director for the Crestwood Middle School Boys & Girls Club where she runs an after school program for about thirty students, and is an AmeriCorps member. Angela Moore got engaged to her boyfriend on graduation day, and will be getting married next October. She lives in Texas and works at Therapy & Beyond as a behavioral therapist. Heidi Marino is now a graduate student at Shippensburg University pursuing a Master’s Degree in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Public Relations. Erin Botker is now an Admissions Counselor for Hood. Oritsegbubemi Ndze-Williams is working in the construction industry installing geomembranes on landfill sites across the lower east coast of America. Amanda Shaffery and Robert Vaughn moved to Memphis where they are attending the University of Memphis for graduate school. Rob is working towards a Masters in Statistics and Amanda is working for a Masters in Egyptology. Logan Bachtell began her graduate studies at Marymount University in the Forensic and Legal Psychology Program. Kacy Strasser accepted a job teaching middle school art at Frederick Classical Charter School. Megan Rodriguez will be getting married in January 2016 and works as a Software Developer for iNovex Software Solutions. Jessica Zambreny is a Therapeutic Support Staff member and is attending graduate school at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Julianne Berg moved to Charleston, South Carolina as an AmeriCorps VISTA. She is serving for a year with the Palmetto Project, a non-profit that serves as the statewide navigator for the affordable healthcare act. Ryan Lenhart is teaching math in Frederick County and coaching cross-country and indoor/outdoor track. Anet Zhandosova is applying to medical schools and working as a medical assistant at MetroMed Urgent Care in Leesburg, Virginia. Jessica Morales is in Charlotte, North Carolina at The Charlotte School of Law, pursuing her Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree. Teresa Rivera has accepted the position of Marketing Manager at All-Fill Inc in Exton, Pennsylvania. I, Sarah Tapscott, am working during the day, Publicity Chair for the Choral Arts Society of Frederick, and researching graduate schools to pursue a Masters in Museum Studies and hope to also obtain a Teaching Certification. Please keep in touch with me about all of your amazing changes and keep persevering!

Bianca Padilla
301-437-8772
hoodcollege14@yahoo.com

Hello Class of 2014! Let’s catch up with what our classmates have been up to. Congratulations are in order to Emily Singleton who is engaged to Joshua Dimeler and will be looking forward to a September 2016 wedding. Jackie Frenning who recently got engaged and looking forward to an October 2016 wedding. Melissa Caples is engaged to Greg Miller. Katie Jenkins is engaged to Andrew Hansrote and will get married in April 2016. Classmates Zach Lynch and Kelsey Knippenberg are engaged. Congratulations are also in order to Tabitha Browne who married Byron Milliken in June 2015. Lauren Engel married Brian Ulander in September 2015. Classmates Ashley Rose Bennett and Menzi Khumalo recently got married. Christine Carter Cohee married Herman Cohee ‘15 in May 2015; Mindy Everleigh King married Justin King in October. Tiffany Zechman Flook welcomed her first child, Ava, in December 2014 and teaches kindergarten at Liberty Elementary School in Frederick County. Jackie Frenning has a new job as an Academic Testing Associate at Frederick Community College. Lauren Shaak is the Tree Fruit Extension Entomology Research Technician at the Penn State Fruit Research and Extension Center in Biglerville, Pennsylvania. Emily Singleton has been working since November 2014 as a Grants Administrator for the Maryland Energy Administration. Kate Kopasek is an Outreach Rehabilitation Counselor at Key Point Health Services. Bianca Padilla is in her second year of teaching as a fifth grade teacher in Montgomery County. Christine Carter Cohee works for W.L. Gore as a Lab Technician. James Thuman works as a data scientist for Booz Allen Hamilton. Will Haller works at Schaefer Center for Public Policy, Envolve. Olivia Sledzik is working at the White House Historical Association in DC as an editorial specialist. Nathaniel Erb has kept busy with his involvement in social justice. Since his cross-country cycling trip with human trafficking advocacy group, Worthwhile: GO, he continues to be involved with human trafficking policy, youth leadership, and global social justice initiatives. He recently authored the first law in the United States to open college access to human trafficking victims. Melissa Caples works as a part-time contract as a conservation technician at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Brianna Dyckman was accepted into the Americorps NCCC program for the Atlantic Region where she will start in February 2016. Kierianne Lupari is a 3rd grade teacher in Fairfax County. Amanda Price is currently at an internship at the BirthPlace at Frederick Memorial Hospital. Denisse Guitarra is working at Alizee Pathology as a Laboratory Specialist. Lauren Engel is in the Applied Behavior Analysis Master’s program at Ball state university. Will Haller is a Psychology major and attends the University of Baltimore for Industrial/Organizational Psychology for Graduate school. Melissa Caples is attending George Washington University to obtain a Master’s in Museum Studies; and Amy Hagerdon has a Master’s of Public Affairs and a Master’s of Science in Environmental Science from Indiana University. Katie Jenkins will graduate from Shippensburg University with her Master’s Degree in Social Work in May 2016. Amanda Price is in her second year of graduate school for her Masters of Social Work at Salisbury University. Denisse Guitarra is pursuing a Master’s at the University of Edinburgh. Steven Powell received his Master’s in School Psychology and pursuing an EdS degree. Continue to keep in touch with your success, joys and accomplishments Class of 2014!

Megan Dancause
717-285-7056
mdancause@comcast.net

With endless accomplishments under their belts, the class of 2011 continues to strive for more! As the years grow greater in time away from the college, so do the many milestones the classmates are achieving. John Boasi is still employed by the Social Security Administration. He has been appointed as a Key Representative to assist the SSA in his region’s Combined Federal Campaign. Emily Cucchi Raines has been promoted to Senior Marketing & Communications Program Coordinator at the ARDMS, a global nonprofit organization that administers examinations and awards credentials in Sonography. Emily and her husband, Kyle, celebrated their first wedding anniversary this year! Lauren Dods is working as an Administrative Associate II for Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management at Frederick Community College. Juliana Eaton was married last year. Travis Harrant is currently stationed at USARAF Italy – Vicenza. Tiera Hawkes graduated from the University Of Baltimore School Of Law with her J.D. and is currently awaiting her bar results. Dana Martindell was married on August 29 to Gregory Perry in Bay Head, New Jersey. Kayla Murphy Caw was married to Mathew Caw on October 10 in Frederick, Maryland. Nickolas Spicer started a new job at Washington College as the Director of Student Engagement. Yana Schick is enlisted in the U.S Army Reserves. She spent a year in Italy and then ventured off to D.C for graduate school. She holds a Masters in International Relations with a concentration in International Economics and American Foreign Policy from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. In addition, she completed an internship with the Department of State over the summer and now works full time as a program assistance at the National Foreign Affairs Training Center. Victoria Utoh is working at Seton Hall University as a Senior Assistant Director of Admissions Operations, where she resides in Union, New Jersey. Victoria will be graduating from the University of North Texas with her Masters in Educational Leadership. In 2014, Morgan Wright graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law and passed the bar exam in Virginia. In 2015, she started working at Fastcase, a small legal software company in downtown D.C, as a customer outreach manager and reference attorney. Fastcase produces the most popular mobile app among lawyers, in addition to many other products, and has partnerships with 28 state bar associations to provide small and solo firms with free access to the law. Phillip Yerby has been promoted to account supervisor at Weber Shandwick where he works out of its Baltimore office.