Leah Giambarresi MacDonald ’03, M.S.’10, C’05
240-409-7439
lhg1@hood.edu

Hi everyone! 2003 doesn’t have too much news to report this time, but what we do have is pretty exciting! First of all, Mary Northrup Smerk, M.S.’07 wrote that her children’s clothing business, Lovin’ Ewe, is booming! It was voted Best Children’s Boutique according to Fort Worth, Texas magazine’s readers. You can see her items at lovineweboutique.com–I’ve ordered a few things for various babies (some Hood babies included, of course!) and her stuff is fantastic! Stephanie Bulka Smith and her husband Kevin Smith ’05 bought a house in Rockville last year. She’s excited to re-enter civilian life, too, after finishing her Naval career in October 2014. She’s currently working as a family medicine physician with a medical practice in Frederick. I’m full of news about myself as well! Matthew MacDonald and I were married in September 2014. The wedding was at the Hood chapel and we got some wonderful pictures on campus, as well as some curious looks from students. We currently live in Leesburg, Va., although I still work in Frederick. Speaking of work, I was also promoted in January 2015–an exciting few months for me! That’s it for this season–everyone, keep those updates coming! Also, I started a Facebook group for us, called Hood College Class of 2003, so come join in there if you haven’t yet!

Heidel Goldenman
goldenmanh@hotmail.com

Holly Kirkpatrick
215-346-2080
kirkpatrick@arcadia.edu

Hello 2001ers! It seems so long since we all shared news, but life is never at a standstill for our class. HUGE hats off to Heather Brigham Dellerman who had a busy 2014. Heather’s family welcomed baby number 3, Layla Arabella, on Jan. 9, 2014 and her husband was selected as a Major in the U.S. Army. In February 2014, Heather received her Ph.D. in public health with a specialization in epidemiology from Walden Univ., and in July 2014 she was the recipient of the Carol Ann Watson Award for outstanding volunteer service to military members and their families. Wow! Me (Heidi), hubby and big sis Rémi are enjoying our newest addition, Andrew, who arrived in November. Thank goodness he’s a champion sleeper to counteract his sister’s energy! Penny McLaughlin Purtell, husband Colin, and 5-year-old big brother Jacob welcomed their second as well when daughter Hailey Ann was born on January 6, 2015. Congrats to Katie McGowan, husband and 5-year-old big sister, Genevieve, who are also living up a second round of pattering feet, Simon Alexander Elliott born July 8, 2014. Wedding bells rang last year for Carolina Guevara married to Aguedo Cruz Jr. in a private ceremony on August 15, 2014 in Towson, Maryland. Niki McElroy and husband Toren Grant also tied the knot on at The Westin at National Harbor, Maryland on November 1, 2014. Sister Tammy McElroy McNish ’05 was matron of honor and Mandy Stevenson McHugh ’02 was a bridesmaid. Hoodlums in attendance included Gina Long Dillman ’02, M.S.’07 and husband Mike Dillman ’02, M.S.’06, Tiffany Still Grant ’05, M.A.’07, C’08 and Lisa Zaleski-Larsen. Lisa also reported that she joined a dermatology practice part-time at the Dermatology Center for Skin Diseases in Coronado, Calif. Congratulations to all; keep the news coming!

Alison Drum Althouse, P’12
804-814-0470
alison.althouse@gmail.com

Hello, my 1986 HoodLums.  I have very little news to share this month, but I would be remiss if I didn’t start with the most difficult. It is with a very heavy heart that I convey news of the death of Leslie Shapiro Fippinger’s son, Scott Fippinger, while he was on a Mid-January break in Mexico. Leslie, her husband Eric, and their daughter Rachel are still mourning the sudden loss of Scott and appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers on their behalf. Elizabeth Shimer Murphy’s mom, Judith Washko Shimer ’63, P’86 died in her Pennsylvania home on February 26, 2014 after a 7-year battle with ovarian cancer. Elizabeth and her family appreciate the thoughts and prayers they have received over the past year and hope that all women listen to their bodies and be pro-active in their own healthcare. Christie Nicodemus Bailey, P’16, P’18 wrote to say that her daughter Samantha Bailey ’18 just started her freshman year at Hood, so she is part of the class of 2018! She is a thrower on Hood’s track and field teams and having a great first indoor season. Congrats to you all, Christie! Stacey Robins Baum shared that she and Frank sold their business and after 37 years of employment, she’s now retired! Can’t wait to hear all about your retirement, Stacey, although it’s also fun to see photos of all the HoodLums you find along your travels! As for me, Alison Drum Althouse, P’12 my husband and I have moved to Harford County, Md., as Michael now works for PayPal in Timonium, Md. Older son Drew Althouse ’12 is finishing his master’s degree in athletic training at Shenandoah Univ. and younger son Evan has been working for a research firm in NOVA since his graduation from UVA in May 2014… the empty nest life is getting more and more comfortable! If anyone wants to share news of kids, family, job changes/searches or general updates, please know you can reach me anytime. My home address is now 292 Kitty Court, Forest Hill MD 21050.  My email (especially for Hood news) is alison.althouse@gmail.com and my cell is 804-814-0470. If you’re coming to the Northern Baltimore area, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Just an additional update, for those of you who actually read this message online:  I will always do whatever I can to get you in touch with classmates and friends from our HoodLum years.  I’ve had a few people who have reached out to me because of this article and would be so glad to connect more of you to one another!  I’ve included my email and cell phone for a reason… as your class reporter, I believe it’s important for us to continue to keep in touch with one another, support one another, and befriend one another.  I’m here… just let me know how I can help!

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

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

After a long, cold winter here in Pennsylvania, it is encouraging to write this column for the summer edition of the Hood Magazine. Thanks to those classmates who chose to send unsolicited news. It was wonderful to hear from you!  Judy Ashway is living in the Boston area and is working part-time as a therapist with children, adolescents and their parents. Judy sees Maylun Buck-Lew several times a year and hears from her former roomie Janet Schultheis Plitt at Christmas. Judy is in the process of adjusting to life as a single woman as she is going through the process of a “collaborative divorce.” Debbi Hamlin Hitchings shared news of a March mini-reunion in Tucson, Ariz., hosted by Jean East who is on sabbatical from the Dept. of Sociology at the Univ. of Denver and is writing a book on leadership. Debbi is director of congregational care at the Congregational Church in Camden, Maine. Classmates Edie Fletcher Flynn, who is retired, from Rhode Island, Laura Tonkel Romesburg, retired Air Force historian, from Ohio, Helen Pierce Whitley, ESL teacher, from Florida, and soon to be retired Susan Fuller from Denver were present to celebrate 48-years of friendship with great food, fine wine, tasty margaritas, explorations of the Sonoran Desert and lots of conversation and laughter. Laura, ever the seamstress, presented everyone with beautiful, quilted wall hangings to commemorate their reunion. Wendy Scott McDonald and Marsha Bissell ’72 were unable to make the journey and were greatly missed. Last summer, Darcy Bevelacqua and her husband Charlie Becraft enjoyed a two-week Alaskan vacation. The first week was spent in Anchorage and Denali where they luckily were able to see all the animals and the Denali Mountain, while they spent the second week on a cruise down the inland waterway.  The rest of their summer was spent at their lake house in upstate New York where they were visited by Nia Lourekas and her husband Mark Kaplan. Darcy is still running her own business focused on customer experience consulting for large firms such as AARP and Ritz-Carlton, and is still running five-miles-a-day! She spent the winter in Bradenton, Fla., where she welcomed her Hood roommate Pamela Russell Bell who is living and working in Austin, Texas. After working 44 years in retail, Diane Miller Jackson retired this past February. Except for vacations, she only took off nine months after her daughter was born. Impressive! Diane and husband Drew plan to sell their home in the Philadelphia area and are building their retirement home in Surry, Maine. Their daughter Jennie was being married May 2015. After celebrating my “Medicare Birthday” in December, I guess that I am now officially old! I’m not exactly sure how this has happened so quickly, as I still feel quite young, but the numbers do not lie! I celebrated my 65th in Kiawah Island, S.C., and had a lovely week there with Bill, my younger son Brendan and his fiancee Kristina who both ran in the Kiawah Half Marathon. We are looking forward to their wedding sometime next year, but first are anxiously awaiting the birth of our older son Patrick and wife Kate’s second daughter this summer. Finally, next summer, our class will have our 45th reunion. Those of us who have attended reunion have always had wonderful times. The only things missing were so many of our classmates who we would love to see. So, if you have never attended a reunion or have not been to one recently, please make plans to join us in Frederick in June 2016. I always come home feeling so very impressed by the wonderful women of the Class of 1971!!! Mary Barton Freeman died May 11, 2015 while traveling on the Isle of Wight. The cause of death was complications from cancer which she had battled since 2012. She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Varel; children and their spouses: Thomas (Katie), William (Beth), Joanna and by her sister Elizabeth Barton.

Patricia Rosner Kearns
kearns.patricia@gmail.com

The request for news for the online column came while I was away so my apologies to my classmates for the dirth of responses but will try to update as they roll in. Classmates on the Eastern half of the U.S., all the way down to the Florida border, have had their challenges on the weather front. It was almost spring and the weather kept on coming. I’m a Yankee and I love the snow but the older I get the less fun it is. It’s not like I get a snow day from school. The only parts of the U.S. that seemed to escape the extreme cold and snow were those places that make a living off snow. Two of my sons went skiing in Utah and said there was very little snow. I flew over the Rockies on my way to California and noticed a lot of bare spots on the range. But I digress… back to the issue of getting older, most of us are about to or have just hit the big 70. So what? Remember when Hood sent us a survey asking us how it felt to hit 50? Was that really 20 years ago? Where did it go? So, I have to ask: how does it feel to turn 70? Personally, I’m grateful and still waiting to see what I’ll be when I grow up. In reality, for many of us, we are facing retirement (of sorts), taking care of aging parents and making sure the next 20 years are all we can make them be. Debbie Smith Aldrich wrote from Snowmaggedon (Boston), “I just turned the magic 70-years-old in a blizzard. The snow around Boston has been monstrous. A sheet of plywood on my snow piles makes a garage for my car.” Meredith Cook Held wrote from Dallas, “I am still busy working in real estate in a hot market in the Dallas, Texas area. I love what I do and have been involved at the grassroots level keeping the area’s power company from putting 138 kV lines down the middle of Main Street, a developed area in Frisco, Texas, where I live. I got the Realtor Association at the state level (Texas Association of Realtors) involved and we have been awarded significant funds from the Issues Mobilization Political Action Committee to fight the power company’s proposal. Now the National Association of Realtors is watching what’s happening since this could happen elsewhere. It’s been really exciting to see what can happen when many people band together to make a difference. I’ve been given the Strike Force Award by TAR for my efforts. Also, last July my husband and our two daughters took a fabulous vacation to Hawaii. We spent eight days touring the Big Island, going to the Keck Observatory at the top of Mauna Kea, seeing the volcano Kilauea, shopping at the farmer’s market in Hilo and basically just having a great time! One of the best vacations ever!!”

Johanna Chait Essex, Class Reporter
516-487-1883
johalessex@gmail.com

Best wishes to President Volpe on his upcoming retirement–thank you for all you have done to help Hood grow and maintain its position in the academic world. The Truxal scholarship winner for this year is Hope Lichtman ’15. Condolences to the family of Nancy Jones Knotts; Nancy passed away in January 2015. Condolences to the family of Jane Fruechtemeyer Dillon who passed away this February and condolences to Joan Gebhardt Tambling on the passing of her husband Don this past July. I had a short note from Nancy Brown Kohlheyer. She had a reunion with Buffie McKim Powell and Lois Wolfe Haffly; she and John planned to spend May and June in Europe. I also had a lovely note from Dottie Joyce Coffin who sends her greetings to the class of 1953. “It seems like yesterday when we wore those red hats as freshman.” She also wants to thank Hood for the tremendous education she received. Marge Aronson Dalmas and Bob celebrated their 61st anniversary in December. They are well and have enjoyed visits from their children. Margaret Church Smith-Loeb has been attending classes at Fordham Univ. College in the sixty program as well as attending the theater art Signature and Lincoln Center. Elaine Green Powell and Dave have moved to Concord, New Hampshire. Her new address is 149 East Side Drive, 177, Concord New Hampshire, 03301-5410. It is a newly built home in Heritage Heights–an independent living community. They are both busy and well. Penny Fradd Vahsen, P’77 and her brother took a cruise around the Baltic this past summer and planned to go to Barcelona with him in March. She now has four married grandchildren and asks the question we all seem to ask: “where did the years go?” Joan Gebhardt Tambling adopted a rescue dog, part collie and part Australian Shepherd; her name is Lucy and they have become inseparable. It has helped her get over the rough spots of losing a mate. Joan would love to hear from anyone in our class if they have had the same experience with adopting a dog. Pat Lloyd Fordham and her daughter drove to the Grand Canyon and it was a great treat. In May, her youngest grandson graduated from high school. Pat has adopted her third dog, an 8-year-old rat terrier who gets along well with her other two dogs–she calls the three of them her “second family.” Bim Mayer Werle had partial knee replacement surgery in November and already has full range of motion. She and Jerry have a home in Florida about a mile from Margy Brown Barati and Bill and are able to see them frequently. The good news from Janet Peek Clancy is that her family continues to grow– marriages and a lot more great-grandchildren. There is plenty of bridge, tennis and family visits that keep her busy. I had a lovely note from Lynn Phillips. Her granddaughter Sarah is an architect and Ryan is on the Appalachian Trail. Tyler graduated from college and is now engaged; she had a visit from her son, grandson and two great-grandchildren. Life is good. Beverly Rosenberg Sager was vacationing in South America; when she returned she was on to the Turks and Caicos and thus escaped all the snow they were having. Hal and I are doing well. I cannot remember ever seeing this much snow in our backyard. I’m still volunteering at Kings Point (our 5th Federal Academy) and working in “Cookie Café” every Thursday––how those midshipman love their cookies, milk, coffee and tea. I have also joined a gym and try to go three to four days a week. Hal is busy at the senior center four mornings a week and at Kings Point when he is needed. Our daughter Jess retired from IBM and is now the executive director of their synagogue in White Plains. Barbara (Bim) Mayer Werle wrote, “Thank you for sharing news of Jane Fruechtemeyer Dillon’s passing. I remember fondly a date and enjoyable weekend at Annapolis, thanks to her. She was adorable and could have had all the men to herself. I noticed Dot Rost Kretzer’s name on the message list. Dot died about two years ago. She spent her last years in an assisted living facility in Williamsburg, Va., her twin daughters, Gail and Caren, a constant and loving presence in her life. We spend a lot of time with Margy Brown Barati and Bill, giving help and support as they prepare to sell their Sun City Center home. They are selling their Pittsburgh home also and will be moving into a life-care community. The rest of my remaining Hood friends are in good, and not so good, situations. Elaine Green Powell and Dave have already made this transition to a life care community and are very happy with the free time and new activities. Pam Presbrey Grinnell is in assisted living in Michigan, near two of her sons. Kathie Redelfs Rott, P’78 is traveling and enjoying three generations of offspring. Jerry and I are most grateful we are able to continue our yearly migration between Vermont and Florida. We move slower, but are active in both places. I had a partial knee replacement in November and have had a remarkable recovery.” Our very best to everyone. Jo

Jean Louise Baker Leister Weikert, Class Reporter

I, Jean Louise Baker Leister Weikert, am thankful to be able to serve as the class reporter and hope to be able to communicate with each member of the class of 1954. Kudos to Dorris Smith Radcliffe for her many years of faithful service as our class reporter. It is heartwarming to have Joan Wagner Tolbert living nearby. I have occasionally heard from Betsy Oehrle at Christmas. Mark and I were pleased to host Betty Remsberg DeColigny last August for lunch. At reunion, it was great to see Tillie Jacks Sunnygard. In addition, Dr. Joyce  Michaud was a delight to share dinner and tell us about the ceramic arts program and show us the new kilns on Sunday after the chapel service. Peace and Love, Jean Louise Baker Leister Weikert.

Marjorie Blakeney Filmyer
215-925-2348
mbfilmyer@comcast.net

Dear classmates: Thank you for the many replies via mail and phone which I received in response to my plea for news. As you can imagine, several of us have been attending funeral services. Shirley Benson Rice received word of the passing of Ginny Bare Francis, P’72 from Ginny’s daughter after she had attended the service for Doris Reininger DeHart in October 2014. Ginny mentioned that Doris had received the Distinguished Graduate Award in recognition of “her decade of contribution to society.” In addition, she was a “dedicated public servant who served on over a dozen state boards.” Bette Blome Winyall reported that Milt has suffered some traumatic injuries, but they push on helped by “four wonderful and exceptional grandsons.” Bette is chairman of the Little Theater Company and is slated to direct the April production. Janet Beck Agnew is now living with her daughter and can be reached at 1390 Southern Hills Blvd., Hamilton, OH 45013.  She comments that, in time, she’ll get use to the colder weather as compared to living in North Carolina. M.F. Six Copenhaver is happy to report the last family wedding of her grandchildren and the arrival of the third great-grandchild. M.F. got together with Joan Lowry Taylor and Jean Oliver Reymer and her husband Bob. What did they do? Talked and talked! Ever faithful to my reporting requests, Corinne “Corky” Edwards Shulman reported time spent in NYC for the engagement party of her granddaughter Maile. Corky grew up in the “big apple” and enjoys returning. Louise Ford Ralph enjoyed the lovely wedding of a grandchild in Savannah–she even had fun dancing the night away. Louise mentioned that Terry Montrastell Meier is managing with a positive attitude regarding the stroke that has impaired one side of her body. Jayne Gillis deConstant called to tell me that she had five feet of snow against her back door. She’s grateful for having a son with a snow blower to shovel her out. Luckily, she hasn’t experienced a power outage as so many have. Barbara Heiss Jackson is feeling the loss of another dear friend – Ginny Bare Francis, P’72 leaving only four of the Round Robin Contacts remaining. Elaine Henderson Cortelyou enjoyed the Christmas season with a visit from her family and returned with them to Raleigh, N.C. Elaine attended her 70th high school reunion last June. Her “lunch bunch” members are slowly dwindling in numbers. Katherine “Katsy” Maguire Rafferty no longer has her mountain condo, but continues to enjoy driving trips from Colorado to California. She topped off this year’s travels with a two-week river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam. Mary McClain O’Connell has given up her frequent tennis matches but enjoys spending time with her many good friends where she lives. She loves catching up with you all by reading the Hood class notes. The good news is that Louise “Tootie” Renninger Rittenhouse, P’74, G’07 has recovered from her 4th melanoma surgery. Unfortunately, her home suffered roof damage from one of the recent winter storms. I, Marjorie Blakeney Filmyer, am growing weary of the snow and cold weather that has limited my activity this winter.  Despite the winter weather, I was able to make a trip to the Midwest to visit my dear brother. I remain living in my home in Philadelphia and enjoy the company of my friends, children and grandchildren that live near-by. News from our class always brightens my day.  In addition to those specifically mentioned, I heard from Anne Chaney Mesmer and Elizabeth “Betty” Paterson Reims that all is well with them and they look forward to reading your news. Thanks for staying in touch and best wishes for a healthy 2015.

Elizabeth Anderson Comer
410-243-2626
ecomer@eacarchaeology.com

Ann Barber wrote, “The fall was very exciting! Elizabeth’s boyfriend proposed while they were vacationing in Italy. They’ve decided to have their wedding September 2016 after buying a house in November. And, I had a fabulous trip to South Africa. The first week we stayed at Zulu Nyala Safari Lodge. Seeing the animals in the wild was more exciting than I could have imagined. Then, we flew to Zimbabwe to see Victoria Falls and then back to South Africa to Cape Town for a week. We had a great driver who took us to see everything we wanted. The sights and people were amazing. It’s a long flight, but well worth it. It was the trip of a life time. The winter here in New Hampshire has been filled with snow and cold. Bring on spring!” Ruthann Melching Arneson, P’12 sent this news, “After nearly 20 years as an education specialist for the local Head Start agency here in Huntington, W.Va., I left in June to take a position at Marshall Univ.  I am now an assistant professor in early childhood education. I am still working on finishing my doctorate in curriculum and instruction, but hope to finish that by the end of the year. My husband has been at Marshall in the College of Education for 28 years. We are enjoying working together. My daughter Emma is finishing her master’s degree in biology at Marshall after graduating from Hood in 2012. Our son Ethan is doing well as a junior in high school.” Dale Hilgartner Cirillo wrote, “In my life, we’ve had some changes… on Oct 21, 2014, my youngest son Matthew and his wife Cara had a little girl, Layla Brynn Cirillo! She is our first granddaughter and quite adorable! In June 2014, my eldest son Jonathan and his family Christi, Nathanael, Joseph and Samuel came back from a Navy Tour in Japan! They are now in Chesapeake and loving all the snow that they are getting at the coast!  My father Colonel Peter Louis Hilgartner died January 8, 2015. He was ready to go be with the Lord in heaven! We had him 87-years on this earth and we were very blessed!!! His memorial service was amazing with 10 relatives, son, grandsons, nephews and son-in-laws being honorary pall bearers. His funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, with full military honors, will be at the end of June. We are looking forward to great weather and a lovely service at the Old Post Chapel. Jim and I continue to live outside Warrenton. I am now a teaching assistant in an ID, intellectual disabilities class in Marshall, Va. I love Marshall Middle School and the students and staff! Jim and I live in a 100+ year old house on Grace Episcopal Church Casanova’s property. We have some chickens, a few guinea fowl and we love to work in our vegetable gardens! We have a lovely congregation and live in a beautiful area! I hope all is going well with everyone! Blessings!” I (Elizabeth Anderson Comer) am still conducting archaeological projects and working as a volunteer at the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society just north of Frederick. Margaret received her MPhil from Cambridge Univ. in January and we had a great time observing the ancient traditions that are part of the ceremony. She is a Gates Cambridge scholar, so she will be returning in the fall for her Ph.D.  Jacob is also there getting an MPhil in land economy. He joined the rowing team and has been trying to explain “bumps” to me…. since the Cam is too narrow for boats to race side by side, they bump each other to advance! Anne is finishing her senior year at the Baltimore School for the Arts and trying to decide where to go next year. This past weekend we got to hear her sing as part of the 2015 High School Honors Choir at Carnegie Hall. Very exciting!!! Send some news my way so we can keep up the class of 1977 tradition of never missing a column!

Susan Boebel Alis
757-229-8541
susanalis@yahoo.com

Pam Noble wrote, “I am still employed almost 24 years (March 2015) at the scientific library at NCI, Fort Detrick. I have taken an on-call job working for Frederick County Public Libraries. I am volunteering with the Alumni Heritage Committee for Frederick High School and I’ve sought the expertise of the archivist of the Hood archives several times. My oldest son Austin graduated with a history degree (just like dear old Mom) from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. He is deliberating on what graduate school to attend in the fall. My middle son Hollis will graduate from high school this May which is quite an achievement for him since he has autism. We are even enrolling him at Frederick Community College part-time in the fall. My youngest Lauren who is 9-years-old, is a few years away from all of this excitement, but she has mentioned going to Hood.  Of course, that all depends on what career she wants to pursue. She was impressed with the Claire McCardell (fashion designer from Frederick who attended Hood College) exhibit at the Frederick County Historical Society. So, who knows!”