Class Notes

Barbara “Bobbi” Bishop Mann beautifully summarized our reunion weekend saying, “What a fantastic 50th reunion!” It was a team effort to coordinate, and the wonderful staff at Mary Washington was only an email away! They were really helpful and cheerful about all the arrangements and assisted us throughout the weekend. Bobbi was personally delighted to see so many dear friends face-to-face after emailing, texting, and posting on Facebook.

Jana Privette Usry exerted extra effort to collect and compile classmates’ stories in a printed booklet so each of us could have a copy. She facilitated our orders of light blue polo shirts and arranged to have our original MWC of UVA seal on the front. Jana and Carolyn Eldred found three mannequins, dressed them in period outfits, and displayed them in front of our class tent at the Saturday picnic, as well as set up guest booklets, and caused us to win a third-place ribbon in the tent decoration contest.

Joan Cuccias Patton directed a Memorial Moment preceding our Friday night class dinner in the Jepson Center and chaired our Saturday class meeting in Ball Hall, our senior dorm. Joan assembled three displays of classmates’ pictures including Dr. George Van Sant, our beloved class sponsor. Friday evening we had a moment of silence and raised our glasses to toast our classmates who are no longer with us. Saturday afternoon, when the math majors assembled for a group photo at the foot of the stairs in Ball, there was a light shining behind them!

Our Class of 1966 dinner in the Jepson Alumni Center brought together 72 classmates. Ginny Bateman Brinkley remarked that the number very closely matched our age! The highlight of the evening was Terry Caruthers’ fantastic slide show. She not only matched our yearbook photos with current ones of each of us, but she also gathered, amassed, and organized an outstanding selection of nostalgic pictures plus recent photos of practically all of us! Terry also produced multiple DVD copies and made them available to everyone. Later in the evening we were each presented with a little velvet bag containing a pin for the 1908 Society. As members of the 1908 Society, we are, “invited and encouraged to attend all future Reunion Weekends and other alumni activities.” The pin features the 2004 adapted UMW seal symbolizing the importance of learning and knowledge and prominently shows the motto, “For God, Home, and Country.” (Our spinning wheel has been replaced with a flaming torch.)

At the Saturday night All-Class Party, the Class of 1966 shined and danced. Barbara Bishop Mann was awarded the Frances Liebenow Armstrong ’36 Service Award from the UMW Alumni Association. Bobbi was overwhelmed when she learned of this, thinking she was “just doing what was right for UMW and the College of Education.” She continued to say that it has been her great pleasure, along with Katharine Rogers Lavery, our Class Agent for 40 years, to help keep our class together. She even credited Katharine as our unsung hero for faithfully submitting our “class news” while presently competing with the instant gratification aspect of Facebook.

Bobbi also fervently mentioned that many alumni feel that a public institution such as UMW has all the money it needs, but are unaware that Virginia has been “shortchanging public education forever.” UMW receives about 21% of its budget from the state, with the balance coming from grants, tuition, donations, and contributions. Our class helped significantly with this year’s fundraising.

Tyla Matteson was especially pleased to see President Hurley to thank him for his vital role in moving UMW to divest from fossil fuels. Tyla attended the historic climate conference last December in Paris where 195 countries signed an accord to decrease carbon emissions. As the U.S. works to do its share, Tyla has spent three years in a campaign to seek divestment of fossil fuels from the University’s endowment. She even sat with UMW students in a demonstration and together they prevailed. In April, UMW became the first university in Virginia to divest! The students, President Hurley, and the Board of Visitors show a commitment to environmental sustainability.

Diana Hamilton Cowell “loved our terrific 50th reunion!” It was a great time to renew friendships and to make new, unexpected connections. She enjoyed her time with Mary Bishop Morris, her freshman class Psychology lab partner and fellow Framar resident. Diana had a mini-reunion with MWC grads Margaret Winton Engvall ’65—her sophomore roommate—and Bonnie Wohlfeil Weatherall ’65. Bonnie and Diana’s fathers were both classmates in “K” Company, Class of 1939 at West Point. Diana continues to “count fish” around sites on the Assawoman Bay as a citizen volunteer for the Inland Bays in Bethany, Delaware. It is part of a research study to monitor the health of the water and wildlife in the estuaries.

“Entrepreneur” is Diana’s newest volunteer title as manager of the new apparel sales for the South Bethany Property Owners’ Association. She has never taken a business class but is enjoying developing the products and managing the accounting of a tiny business. Its purpose is to help the community with their branding as “The Best Little Beach in Delaware” by making items available to summer visitors. Diana is still very active in the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company, serving as Secretary of the Ladies Auxiliary.

Katie Green attended our reunion for the first time ever. She was pleasantly surprised to find that she could match many senior class photos with new faces, renew old friendships, and make new ones. She lamented that Linda Bausserman, Carole Trent Fletcher, and Alice King Smith were not in attendance. Katie enjoyed seeing the old dorms and classrooms and marveled at the beautiful campus with all its expansions. One significant change is that Chandler Hall, where we took our English classes, has been rebuilt into a magnificent University Center with offices, banquet hall, and a major cafeteria facility.

After the reunion, Katie took a road trip through Virginia to visit three historical sights she hadn’t seen since eighth grade. She spent a day at the original Jamestown site—a wonderful archeological tour. Her day at the Yorktown battlefield was inspired by reading Ron Chernow’s biography of George Washington. She then moved on to Williamsburg, Appomattox, and Poplar Forest, Jefferson’s second home near Lynchburg. Katie plans to return to UMW as a member of the 1908 Society and hopes to see more classmates there.

Nancy Dean Wolff was unable to attend our reunion but sent a note with vibrant memories. Her arrival on the first day was somewhat familiar since her sister had just graduated that June. Nancy has fond memories of her Virginia Hall roommates Linda Harvey and Katharine Mooklar Courtney; the community bath down the hall; one phone on the floor: “Lights out, girls—Good night!” from Mrs. Chase, the house mother; not being allowed to wear pants anywhere; and curfews. Nancy plans to attend our next reunion.

Elaine Gerlach McKelly enjoyed attending her first reunion in several years and loved seeing everyone and the improvements on campus. She returned to Northern Virginia from Wake Forest, North Carolina, the following week for her grandson’s graduation from Woodbridge High and also gave her granddaughter admissions information in hopes that she may attend UMW.

Carolyn Eldred had an inside view of the reunion preparations by serving on our reunion planning committee. She echoes all our kudos to her teammates, Bobbi, Jana, and Joan, for their wonderful, productive collaboration and to all our classmates for being so actively involved all weekend. Carolyn noted that at the All-Class Party, “We could have danced all night—and we did!” For some time our class members outnumbered the Class of ’86 and younger alums on the dance floor. Carolyn is excited to make a donation of a valuable antique to Brompton and will give us details in our next article.

Susanne Landerghini Boehm declared it was a real joy getting together with alumni friends at our 50th and is already looking forward to our 55th reunion! She and husband Ralph are enjoying his retirement from the Manassas public school music program. Ralph still keeps busy with private violin, viola, and cello students and occasionally performs for weddings and parties in the D.C. area. Susanne and Ralph spent a month last summer in Long Boat Key, Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico, where their two sons joined them for a while. At home they relax watching numerous birds at their backyard birdfeeders along with deer and red foxes. They will soon start decluttering the decades of “stuff” accumulated in their basement.

Susan Roth Nurin priced a rental car in NYC to drive to the reunion. The cost was so outrageous that she took a bus to Baltimore, rented a car there for a quarter of the cost and drove to Katharine Rogers Lavery‘s home in Vienna, Virginia. Betsy Chappelear Tryon flew into Dulles and also went to Katharine’s home, where the three of them had a mini-reunion before driving on to Fredericksburg. Susan and Betsy stayed at the Hyatt within walking distance of campus, registered, and took their own walking tour of UMW before attending the elegant dinner at the Jepson Center. They joined the other Hyatt guests afterwards and stayed up into the wee hours visiting and reminiscing. Betsy commented on all the beautiful floral arrangements at the Jepson events plus the wonderful food and royal treatment we received.

Susan returned to her tiny apartment overlooking Central Park and resumed her never-ending sequence of cultural activities. Betsy stayed an extra night with Hank and Katharine before flying back to California, where she enjoys her “meet and greet” duties with Princess Lines at LAX.

Yvonne March was sorry to miss our reunion because of too many other travel plans! She and Chris Ferree married last year and had plans to travel to Paradise, Pennsylvania, to visit his family, check out several historical sites, then visit other friends and relatives on the return trip in July. Yvonne also had plans to take a GoAhead tour to Paris in October and include a river tour while there. Her main objective, however, was to refresh and refine her ear for French.

Barbie Barriga Rowe couldn’t get away from her full-time job as Director of Admissions in an independent school near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, which operates until the end of June and then runs a summer camp in August. Her historical house and garden require constant attention and make a suitable B&B for visitors. Barbie also spends considerable time with her three children and five grandchildren who all live nearby. Her primary memory of MWC was arriving in an orange corduroy dress and wearing a beanie an unbelievable 50 years ago.

Susan Williams Rura attended our reunion with husband Frank after a long time away. She recalled that her first job after graduation was using mathematics, computers, and foreign languages for the National Security Agency. She was a young widow before meeting Frank, an electronics engineer, and has now been married to him for 40 years. Their married daughter also lives in Maryland and works at Amazon.

Susan keeps quite busy with projects such as planning reunions in Richmond and Charleston for the Claiborne Society, a family group tracing genealogy and doing DNA studies. She is working on transcribing her father’s WWII letters written as a B-29 pilot in the Pacific. Her gardening pursuits include designing a hornbeam tree allée, planting hundreds of tulips, caring for the English boxwoods her mother planted, and caring for a champion white oak tree with an 18-foot circumference. Susan was really pleased to see old friends, new friends, and finally meet up with her freshman roommate after a 50-year hiatus.

Winnie Woodson Stribling traveled from California with husband Brad to Richmond and convinced Eleanor McJilton Thompson to accompany them to our reunion. Winnie loved all the campus improvements, loved seeing everyone, and is pleased with the direction UMW is headed. She saw President Hurley several times and was quite impressed. In fact, she’s standing next to him in our class photo! Winnie remarked that the grounds are stunning; the architecture of all the buildings is beautifully consistent; and the classrooms and teaching at the seminar sessions were exemplary.

Eleanor stated emphatically that if her dear friend from elementary school through college could come from California, then surely she (Eleanor) could make it from Richmond to her very first reunion! She is amazed at the changes over the last 50 years and expects the dorms will change again next year after becoming coed. Eleanor feels blessed to be able to walk the campus tour. After the reunion, Winnie and Brad went to Hungry Mother State Park and then returned to Richmond to see her 100-year-old uncle and celebrate his birthday with a big family dinner.

Genie McClellan Hobson and husband Don attended the reunion and were elated to announce that Genie finally retired in February. She worked 26 years at Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware, and now she has the official title of Principal Research Scientist Emeritus. She kept her office, computers, cell phone, and materials in order to complete papers and carry out some volunteer work in research at the hospital. Genie reveled in spending time with so many friends all in one place, especially her senior roommate, Sheri Gates Brindle ’67.

Our reunion was the first leg of a long southern trip for Genie and Don. They had plans to visit longtime friends en route to a wedding in Atlanta, then vacation in Chattanooga

and Nashville (and visit the Grand Ole Opry). Next was a medical conference on

PMD, the disease Genie has been studying, and then the return to Wilmington to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Later in the summer, Genie and Don took a northern trip to Michigan’s Mullett Lake and Sault Ste Marie, Canada’s Algonquin Provincial Park, Niagara Falls, and Watkins Glen. Retirement is awesome!

Marty Spigel Sedoff had recently returned from France where she and husband Bob had visited their “adopted son,” a TA who taught at their son’s French Immersion elementary school. After the reunion they were going to Lincoln, Nebraska, with the Edina HS drama group to present the play Peter and the Starcatcher at the International Theater Festival. Bob still designs and builds sets for the Edina theater group. Son John Riedlinger, still an actor, was scheduled to perform in an ABC special “In an Instant” in July. Marty spent much of the summer in tap dancing performances at senior centers, community centers, etc., with her troupe, “Rhythmic Feet.”

Kathy Fowler Bahnson and her husband have recovered from some health issues and are now thoroughly enjoying retirement. When they’re not heavily involved in church and community volunteer activities, they like to take road trips near and far from North Carolina. Kathy facilitates a movie discussion group at church and her husband has taken up hiking, biking, and snow skiing for the first time in his life. He has also survived three seniors dance bouts and remains Kathy’s “granola guy,” a great inspiration every day. They have two delightful young grands, ages three and one, and two wonderful early teens, ages 13 and 15.

Sandra Hutchison Schanné noticed that UMW was especially beautiful after our cold, rainy spring. The grounds and flowering shrubs and plants were lovely. Our reunion was well organized, complete with golf cart tours for those who preferred not to take walking tours. Sandra, Katharine Rogers Lavery, Lynn Smithey Campbell, and Susan Hanes Chaney shared a delightful riding tour all over the grounds, guided by a UMW ’82 alum whose wife and son were also UMW grads. Sandra enjoyed meeting many “old friends” and throughout the summer made one-on-one visits with classmates. She marveled at how strong the bonds are even after 50 years. Earlier this year Sandra and her daughter traveled to Berlin to absorb the sights and some of their German heritage.

Lynn Smithey Campbell also was stricken by the beauty of UMW and her amazing additions and renovations, but the best part of the reunion was seeing so many friends. Lynn has made plans to sell her condo in Tazewell, Virginia, to move to Richmond, close to her son and his family. Once there she hopes to see MWC classmates more often.

Susan Hanes Chaney returned to UMW for the first time since our 25th reunion and was very impressed at how well organized everything was. She was disappointed to miss her roommates and suitemates but was happy to join Katharine, Sandra, Lynn, Kitty Downs Gregg, fellow math majors, and many others. Susan was amazed at the number of new buildings on campus and was dismayed at the condition of Willard, which needs renovation. The grand lobby in Ball, where we held our class Saturday meeting, has definitely shrunk since Susan lived there, or is it just the perspective?

Anne Clagett and husband John continue to lead a very quiet life in the countryside near Warrenton, Virginia. Anne is still active in local politics, usually joins us in the MW Lunch Bunch gatherings, and “had a terrific time” at our 50th reunion!

Sheila Denny Young, still a resident of Fredericksburg, has retired and recently updated her 1970s house. First, her son-in-law’s parents came from Newfoundland to enjoy some springtime warmth, and then her daughter and grandchildren came from Denver. Her oldest grandchild asked, “Is all of Virginia a garden?”

Sally Albrecht Brennan, Carol Pettigrew Hallman, Julie Bondurant

Freeman and Prentiss Davies, aka, the “Fabulous Four,” gathered in Wilmington, North Carolina, last year for their annual get-together. Julie had visited UMW earlier with college friends Charlotte Hansley from Trenton, New Jersey; Ruth Robinson Wardlaw from Dallas, Texas; and Judy Hanson Wilcox from Venice, Florida. This year they all met at Carol’s home before the reunion to get a two-day head start. Carol had recently moved into a 1951 house in Orange, Virginia, and this was her house-christening! All four of them found the reunion to be exquisitely planned with an elegant dinner festively supplemented with Terry’s slide show, and offered their sincere appreciation and admiration to the entire planning committee for their outstanding effort and accomplishments. What a wonderful event! Prentiss is pushing the ladies to make their 2017 trip a visit to Florida and her house.

Kitty Downs Gregg and husband Don first traveled to North Carolina to spend a couple of days with Terry Caruthers in her fabulous lakefront home before driving in tandem to our reunion. Kitty loved seeing everyone and had a chance to talk at length with Julie Bondurant Freeman and her “famous roommates.” Kitty also spent time with twins Eileen and Kathleen Goddard, the first people she ever met freshman year, and math major friends Marty Spigel Sedoff, Kathy Rogers Lavery, and many others. Kitty remarked that the campus looked and smelled wonderful with the magnolia trees in bloom. Terry reminded us that she and Kitty had lived together in Arlington, Virginia, right after graduation and also mentioned that her senior roommate, Berny Arnn Hayes, was attending our reunion for the first time. Although Terry had had some heart trouble in the spring which cancelled her plans to travel to China, she was glad to produce our fantastic slide show and bring it to the reunion to share with us all.

Kay Dawson Meyers recalled in our class meeting that Dr. Shaw had been instrumental in her gaining employment at the NSA. She remarked how wonderful it was to see the college again, to see so many friends and learn how our lives are progressing. Pat Jones Wagner exclaimed, “Well—one can go home again! What a fabulous weekend reconnecting with friends and sharing good (and bad) memories. The campus is beautiful with the new buildings fitting in so well with the old ones—it’s a reunion to remember!”

Emily Cosby Dieter was a newcomer to our reunions and she so enjoyed her first, our 50th. It was great fun to see classmates, share memories, and make new ones. Emily is looking forward to staying in touch.

Eileen Perna Thomason added that the “girls in our class are still gracious, caring, funny, and smart and are still trying to keep up with the latest trends while retaining the best of our traditions. Fifty years later, the more things change, the more they stay the same! Reunion 2016 was fabulous!”

Eileen’s sister, Diane Perna Olive ’67, was adopted by our class back in

1966, and she loves us still. She described us as “wonderful, accomplished women,” and had a wonderful time sharing memories with everyone.

Bernadine Arnn Hayes rejoiced at meeting so many old friends in such a beautiful setting, where we were fortunate to spend a few years. Bernadine celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with husband Jay, daughters Emily and Julia and husbands, and their grandchildren by taking a cruise to Alaska.

Anne Powell Young and Betty Birckhead Vickers traveled together from Tennessee and managed to talk eight and a half hours straight! Since they have the same sense of humor, they really enjoyed their pre-reunion time together and were eager to mix with everyone else and see things “through each other’s now-spectacled eyes.” Anne was especially pleased finally to meet Bobbi Bishop Mann in person after many, many telephone conversations. Anne and Betty enjoyed every aspect of our well-planned activities (even a manicure!) and thought the gift of seeing everyone at the opening reception was like “opening a much delayed Christmas present.”

Betty’s degree in economics has served her well. She worked in the Economics Department at the World Bank for three years before moving to Knoxville, Tennessee, to the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Tennessee. She retired from there in 2004. This year is a spectacular one for Betty because her youngest daughter had a baby girl to complement their set of six grandsons.

Clair Golihew Cosby was once again amazed at the beautiful additions to our campus. She expressed appreciation to the entire group of students, staff, and volunteers who really wanted us to have a great experience with our 50th reunion, and to our classmates for making it so. After 40 years of resistance, Clair finally agreed to have both knees replaced (July and

August) and is looking forward to improved mobility afterwards.

Gerry Sargent Habas reiterated that, “Reunion Weekend brought back many fond memories—the Class of ’66 arrived from far and near. It was so welcoming and very special. Everyone who was not able to attend should consider joining us for the 55th—well worth the journey! Friendships renewed.”

Sally Souder was unable to join us this year but she sent an email containing her regrets and best wishes to all of us to have a wonderful time. She was with us in spirit!

Patty Bergin Bergman missed several classmates but had lots of fun reconnecting, sharing memories, and walking around the beautiful expanded campus of today! She also thanked everyone who worked so hard putting our reunion events together.

Grace Marie Bamforth Garriott exclaimed, “What a worthwhile experience to reacquaint with classmates! To see the positive growth of the campus was so impressive.” She was definitely pleased to know that the “basic focus of academic excellence is still alive and the opportunity to live in a community that creates lifelong friends still exists.”

Pat Johnson Orgain sent her many thanks to all who organized and planned our 50th, making it such a wonderful time for us all. “Renewing friendships and enjoying memories as we strolled along the brick walks where we began this adventure called adulthood! Love and thanks to all who helped me make that transition. Once again I left part of my heart on Marye’s Hill!”

Mary Kathryn Rowell Horner absolutely loved seeing everyone—all her young friends—at our 50th. Her only surprise was that the bookstore still sells blue books for tests and exams at a whopping $.21—surprising in this age of technology. Mary Kathryn and Charlie continue to spend winters in Florida, golfing and soaking up sunshine, and summers in Alexandria, Virginia.

Lee Enos Kelley transferred to MWC our sophomore year and missed much of the bonding that comes with life in a freshman dorm. She has returned for every reunion since our 25th, when she roomed with Kathy Fowler Bahnson in Ball. It was terribly hot and they stayed up all night talking. Lee joins “Bobbi Bishop’s Lunch Bunch” at times in Fredericksburg, visits regularly, and sometimes travels with Joan Cuccias Patton. Lee now feels more and more connected with our class and the college, saying, “It has been fun to grow old with such a great group of women.”

Linda Glynn Hutchinson had a wonderful time reminiscing about “the good old days” and echoed the praise for our reunion planning committee and our hosts. Linda and Pat Lewars Pace continued their travels this fall. Their first landing was Dubai with a side trip to Abu Dhabi, but Egypt was their main focal point, since twice before their plans had been cancelled and they finally got to see the pyramids.

Linda Mitchell Spiers was especially happy to see Mary Grace Wright Day, Kay Dawson, and many others, catching up after many years apart. It was extraordinary to walk the pathways, stand in familiar places, and discover the newness of the present—our reunion was awesome!

Ann Kales Lindblom and husband Steve had just returned from a six-month journey along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in their cruising boat, Bravo. They traveled from the Chesapeake Bay south to Key West, Florida; north along the Gulf Coast to Naples and Ft. Myers; across Florida via the Okeechobee Waterway; and then north again to the Chesapeake. Despite close quarters they are “still best friends!” At our reunion, Ann roomed with Eileen Goddard Albrigo, reenacting freshman roommate life in Virginia dorm. She also spent fun times with Patty Bergin Bergman, Gerry Sargent Habas, Kathy Goddard Moss, Anne Clagett, Jana Privette Usry, and many others. Ann sent a special shout out to Ann Martin Allen, who was sorely missed at this reunion.

Mary Parsons Black and a few classmates, all wearing our class polo shirts, took a walk down to the amphitheatre as a remembrance to Linda Spangler Berkheimer, in hopes of finding some sign of her there. Later there was a dedication ceremony to initiate the renovation of the amphitheatre, which will soon be a magnificent venue for University and community events. Mary and Ron were married two days after graduation and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family cruise on Disney Dream. They also celebrated with a return trip to Rota, Spain, where they lived for six years.

Annette Maddra Horner commented on the excellent tour of Belmont, which she found enlightening and reviving with all the Gari Melchers art works. She also was glad to renew old friendships with classmates—it was a great reunion! Annette and John are enjoying their role as grandparents. They travel from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, to Mooresville and Richmond to visit their daughters’ families.

Diane “Dee Dee” Nottingham Ward is one of the few classmates who is still working. She just finished another tax season even though she sold her San Diego CPA firm in 2010. Since husband Nat has had medical issues recently, he and Dee Dee have decided to downsize from their large house to a medium-sized unit in a retirement community being built near them. Dee Dee thinks the two-year construction goal is just about right for them to prepare for the move.

Kathleen Goddard Moss and husband Tom actually sold their home in Falls Church, Virginia. They lived a few weeks with her sister, Eileen, before spending the summer in Spain with their daughter and family. Then they started driving around the U.S. to visit family and friends along their way to Oakland, California, to a retirement community near their son and his family. Kathy joyfully announced at reunion that she was homeless and felt free as a bird! She really enjoyed our reunion!

Eileen Goddard Albrigo was also really enjoying our 50th reunion, which brought back so many great memories. She and John were looking forward to spending the summer with their grandchildren, who all live nearby, and their end-of-school activities—plays, music recitals, baseball playoffs—and many hours relaxing by the pool.

Lois Rucker Scott was navigating well after recovering from extensive back surgery. She remarked that it was great to see everyone—“so many faces and no one has changed!” Her most exciting news was that daughter Holly was moving back to D.C. after living in California for 14 years, arriving with her fiancé during our reunion. With her older daughter and grandchildren right across the street, Lois will have her whole family close by. Now that husband Sam is healthier since retiring last year, he and Lois are looking forward to spending more time at their Delaware beach house and perhaps traveling in the fall.

Cathe Cantwell Luria returned to Gig Harbor, Washington, from her “other home” in Mexico before coming east to the reunion. After retiring from a glorious career as a nurse practitioner, Cathe has expanded her music and country dancing activities to include joining a Mexican choir which has performed in Cuba. At our reunion, Cathe reconnected with fellow chemistry major Nancy Derrick Denslow, who traveled from Florida, and they happily enjoyed sharing memories of hours in the chem labs. They were both delighted to chat with Dr. Bernie Mahoney. He was a new faculty member our senior year and taught Cathe and Nancy’s physical chemistry lab.

Judy Blum Wasserman entertained us all at the class meeting with the story of her freshman roommates’ attempts to make her a bleach-blonde. Judy was surprised when she returned home for the holidays looking quite different than when she left and her parents never mentioned her hair!

Anne Fortney told us that after becoming a lawyer she finally bonded with MWC and classmates by working with the Alumni Association. This was perhaps her second class reunion and she was very favorably impressed with everything, especially the fine group of accomplished women we have become.

Carolyn Hogeland Ruppar surprised us all by flying directly from her granddaughter’s graduation in New England to our Saturday class meeting! Carolyn remarried a few months ago and splits her time between living in Jacksonville, Florida, and Reston, Virginia, while also traveling to many interesting places.

Katharine Rogers Lavery was really pleased to reunite with Susan Hanes Chaney. Katharine and Susan attended elementary school, high school, and college together, then taught math about 20 years in the same high school but had not seen each other since Susan retired and moved to the Northern Neck of Virginia. They both joined 16 math majors at the class meeting, most of whom were in the group photo at the foot of the Ball staircase. (Pam Kearney Patrick—we needed you!)

Marilyn Wood Hunter, who sat alphabetically next to Katharine in several MWC math classes, has since joined the players of cell-phone word games with Katharine—fun! Right after the reunion Katharine and family went on their annual beach vacation to Nags Head, North Carolina, where she met with Muriel Haley Montgomery for lunch in a quiet restaurant in Pirate’s Cove. Muriel and Katharine each lived and taught school several years in Culpeper, Virginia, and also share experiences serving on the vestry at their respective churches.

Ginny Bateman Brinkley wants to remind all who were unable to attend our reunion that it was fantastic and they should make plans now to attend our 55th! Ginny’s proudest news is that her talented granddaughter, Brittany Hewitt, was accepted at Julliard School of Music in NYC and begins her studies there this fall as a vocal student. Ginny has commandeered Susan Roth Nurin to keep an eye on her and expects to be visiting Susan while Brittany’s in New York.

In April, Ginny and Bill traveled to Hawaii, met Roger and Ryan Stewart Davis in Maui, stayed a week, and celebrated Ryan’s birthday at the renowned Merriman’s restaurant. That was actually the same place Ryan and Roger held their son’s wedding a few months earlier. Ryan missed our reunion because her other son and his wife were expecting twins early in June; Harry and Maxine were born June 13 at more than 5 lbs. each. Ginny and Bill returned to Hawaii to spend another week with Navy grandson Brad, who is stationed there, and two other grandchildren. Ginny’s latest project is a “tell-all novel based on our lives at MWC. You all will be the first to know when it’s ready for sharing! Don’t worry—the names have been changed.”

Judy Wells Clark will travel to Japan for a return concert tour June 25-July 5, where she will accompany Bryan and Kevin Matheson of the Classic Strings Duo, as well as Scott and Amy Cofield Williamson, the Executive Director and Co-Director of the Apprentice Artist program for Opera Roanoke. They will perform at Yamaha Hall (Japan’s “Carnegie Hall”) as well as other locations. She writes, “THANK YOU to the wonderful music faculty who patiently nurtured my feeble fingers and inspired me to achieve!”

Jeff and Nancy Shackelford Jones recently returned from Cambridge, Massachusetts, where their daughter Alexandra Shackelford Jones Thorne was graduated from the Harvard Business School on May 26, 2016.