Class Notes

These are the unedited class notes as submitted by class agents and other alumni. Edited notes appear in the print edition.

If you prefer to submit Class Notes by mail, send to:

UMW Magazine – Class Notes
1301 College Ave.
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1970s

1970

Anne Summervold LeDoux
ledouxanne@yahoo.com

Many thanks to Susi DeMaina Duffey for her help in gathering some news from the Class of 1970! She has set up a Facebook page titled Mary Washington College Class of ’70. As Susie says, “Since I barely know what I am doing it is rudimentary at best, but I encourage all of you to go visit and ‘like’ it! If you haven’t signed up for Facebook, you may as well do it. It isn’t difficult to do and doesn’t have to take over your life, unless you let it!”

Karen Anderson Muszynski sent a lengthy letter regarding her horrible year which included a massive re-grouping to salvage the house she and her husband were building that had been abandoned by the contractor who took their money; her husband breaking his leg when they finally moved into their house; her son being diagnosed with a large mass in his chest which turned out to be an extra stomach; and her 87-year-old mother having a heart attack while her son was in surgery!

Understandably, she was stressed and her hair started falling out. After all of that, everything finally calmed down and her son does not have cancer and her mom is well. Karen is looking forward to retirement in December after working 28 years at the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Maryland.  In January, Karen, Karen Stifft Caroll, and Barb Bingley gathered in Richmond at Francie Cone Caldwell’s house where they enjoyed viewing the Downton Abbey Exhibit that featured clothes and accessories from the popular show as well as the Rodin exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Last Halloween Susi Duffey DiMaina spent some lovely quality time on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, at the beautiful home of Tina Kormanski Krause along with Gabby Pagin, Kathy Thiel, and Kathi O’Neill. What a gorgeous place for a girls’ getaway! Susi is very excited for her 26-year-old daughter Caitlin, who is going to start nursing school this fall at Johns Hopkins. Recently Susi had the pleasure of assisting with the UMW 2016 Reunion Weekend held at the beginning of June. Because she is on the Alumni Board of Directors, she volunteered to help out wherever needed, and the experience was wonderful—different from our own reunions, but terrific fun nonetheless.

Patti Boise Kemp ’69 and Susi got to judge the tent decorating efforts of the classes celebrating their 10th, 15th, 20th, etc.  (She got some great ideas for our 50th!) They ate, laughed, and danced away the evening on Saturday night at the All-Class Party in the gorgeous new University Center, joined by Donna Sheehan Gladis ’68 as well as lots of Class of ’71 women, including Mary Bradley MacPherson, Barbara Halliday, Dory Potter Teipel, and others. Extremely impressive was the attendance list for the Class of ’66—they had about 75 members of their group there. It would be wonderful for that to be us in 2020!

If you’ve never come to an MWC/UMW reunion or haven’t been able to attend a recent one, please make a special effort to be there for our 50th. Put it on your calendar now—probably the first weekend in June. You’ll love seeing what our college has become AND I promise you’ll enjoy reminiscing and catching up with old friends and classmates again.

Laurie King Myse still splits life between the Fredericksburg area and Florida, but has chosen to list their Stafford house and its 34 acres of privacy. Another one of her “grands” is off to college. The latest family addition is a precious Havanese rescue. This summer she and her husband are headed north to Alaska for a cruise and land tour.

I was so happy to hear from Dinah Douglas, who sent news in for the first time! She is happy and healthy and living in Lynchburg with her partner of 14 years. Dinah retired as an LPC, having worked with the seriously mentally ill for many years. Her daughter lives in Italy with two wonderful little half-Italian grandsons, and her son recently married his partner of 10 years.

Frances Cone Caldwell has added to her fiber arts repertoire by taking up weaving in addition to knitting and needlepointing. It seems to add balance issues to her life which includes two yearlong contracts with churches on opposite sides of the country and both of her daughters a long way from home. She loves those mileage points, is not bored, and life is good!

Kathy Thiel, Kathi O’Neill, Jean Burgess Botts, Suzanne Ferguson Buchanan, Elaine Wilson Maloney, and Anne Sommervold LeDoux gathered at Gabby Pagin‘s beautiful home in Vienna for a farewell to Northern Virginia dinner for Tina Kormanski Krause and her husband, Paul. After grad schooling, working, and raising their daughters in the D.C. area for the past 40-plus years, the Krauses have moved to Richmond to be nearer their older daughter, Lindsay, her husband Wade, and Eleanor (7) and Spencer (5). Their fourth grandchild, Will, was born this past March in Rye, New York, to younger daughter Megan and her husband John, joining big brother, Jack (2). Tina and Paul made a quick trip to Arizona this spring to visit the Grand Canyon for the first time. They hope to travel to Japan in the fall for their nephew’s wedding, and then to Australia with her sisters to round out the trip.

Cathy Dover Stetson wrote that she retired from her life’s work as a librarian in August, 2014.  She and her husband live in Needham, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. In the past year and a half they have traveled to Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia), Croatia, Montenegro, Sicily, and the Caribbean. Upcoming are trips to Italy and Cuba.

Lee Howland Hogan skied for a week in Lake Tahoe in March and went on a river cruise through Bordeaux and Loire Valley in France in May. She caught up with Kathi O’Neill for a day in D.C. after her 50th high school reunion, and they did museums and lunch.

Donna Accettullo DeNyse is now the proud grandmother of four granddaughters! Donna and husband Bob have lived in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, for the past 11 years.

Carole LaMonica Clark is living in Colorado Springs and loves it. Pikes Peak Center is very near their home and she and Ted have attended several concerts there. Carole loves the beautiful mountains and she and Ted have hiked around the Garden of the Gods and in Palmer Park. She is looking forward to attending home games at the Air Force Academy.

Thanks again for all the news! I hope more of you will send me news for the next edition. Keep in mind our 50th coming up in 2020 and be sure to check out the Mary Washington College Class of ’70 Facebook page!

1971

Karen Laino Giannuzzi
kapitankL11@yahoo.com

Well, we had a wonderfully successful 45th reunion. Lots of kudos to the whole UMW staff who worked so hard for so many months to have kept the weather at bay! Well done! Of course, thanks to all of us in the class of ’71 for a successful fundraising campaign which took the honors this year. I am so proud to be part of our class and for those who attended some or all of the reunion, thank you for turning out. Thank you for allowing me to represent you once again as class agent and for the prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award.

It was great to see many who came and the pictures on the site as well as personal photos shared on our Facebook page really show what fun we had. Now on to the 50th!

Penny Falkowitz Goodstein came all the way from Anchorage and Mary Weaver Mann, Betty Barnhardt Hume, and Bryn Irving Roth came from downtown Fredericksburg, so we covered the gamut of distance to the campus and opportunities to renew friendships with all the classes. We also took the time to remember our friends who are no longer with us but will remain in our hearts always.

I heard from several of you just before and after the reunion so we all hope to see many more at the 50th. WOW—A 50th reunion to think about in 2021! Send the news, and if you read this and are not on the alias I use, please contact me and let me add you to the list or go to Facebook and join the Class of ’71 group.

1972

Sherry Rutherford Myers
dllmyers@netzero.com

Thank you to all of the wonderful classmates who sent in their news this time around. It was a genuine pleasure to hear from some of you that haven’t written in a while. Hope to see many of you at the reunion next year.

Gale Mattox continues to enjoy teaching midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. She just published Coalition Challenges in Afghanistan: the Politics of Alliance with Stanford University Press (See: Books by UMW Alumni). Way to go, Gale!

Sarah Cross Eyre and husband Jim have lived in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, for 10 years. Yes, they moved to warmer climes after raising their children in Richmond. Jim retired from business in Richmond and they headed south. Sarah taught high school in Chesterfield County, Virginia, for many years. Now the two of them play quite a bit of tennis and Sarah teaches statistics and math part time for the local community college. Daughter Sally and her husband live close to them. Their other daughter, Kathleen, lives in southwest China with her husband and children and they are expecting their fourth child. Sarah can’t wait to meet them in Thailand for the delivery and will be helping out for five weeks. She is also pleased that the blessed event will be at western-type medical facilities. Sarah and Jim recently celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary. Congratulations to you both!

Sarah stays in touch with Kathy Bradford Lehman, and Kathy took Sarah’s advice and wrote as well. She is well noted in library circles and has been a national officer in their society in addition to doing a lot of work for the library community in Virginia. She was in the same high school where Sarah taught for a number of years. Kathy retired after 37 years in the profession, most of which was in Chesterfield County Public Schools. She still keeps her hand in library work by teaching one online class a semester for the ODU library program and supervising student teachers in library placements. Kathy and her husband, Frank, split their time between Midlothian (near Richmond) and Machipongo (on the Chesapeake Bay) while thoroughly enjoying visits with children and grandchildren. Their son Andrew recently moved his family to Garden City and works in Manhattan. Daughter Julia is in Seattle finishing up a double master’s degree at Bastyr University. Kathy’s goal for the summer is to improve her golf game, play more bridge, and make a dent in her stack of great reads. She wants us to come see them at the Bay.

It is with much sorrow that we announce the passing of our dear classmate, Susan Palmer Bender. Eileen Reynolds Cantoni had contacted many of us after receiving a letter from Susan’s husband, John. Both Eileen and I were in the same freshman dorm (Betty Lewis) with Susan and remember her as such a fun-loving person who was also a great organizer. Susan was a terrific asset at the college reunions and heartily encouraged many about the importance of attending same. She will be sadly missed and our hearts go out to her family.

Eileen also wrote about another Betty Lewis resident and that news helps to balance out the sadness a little bit. Our lovely Patti Barrow Rios became a grandmother this past April. Her daughter, Alex, had a baby boy named Daniel. Patti is as thrilled as she can be and is quite the happy granny. They are all still living in Spain.

As another HONFest bites the dust, I’m settling back into my job at the law firm which remains challenging. Summer has come to our hot, humid town, so one of our goals is to stay cool. Between the home in Baltimore and my late mom’s home in Roanoke, I’ve got quite a time of downsizing ahead. Dennis and I caught up with Dave and Cheryl Prietz Childress in April when they were doing their colonial re-enactment at Ft. Frederick. Daughter Thea was along so it was a lovely reunion. Apparently they did quite well with the little business they take around to these festivals. Thea and her husband, Eric, are still enjoying Atlanta. The next big thing on the horizon is the wedding of their son, Alex, in October. Much as we are looking forward to that, we hope to get together another time before that.

Here is hoping you all have a good summer and that we get a record turnout at the reunion. Anyone who wants to help in the planning is welcome. In closing, our prayers go out to the families of the victims in Orlando. For those living in the area, be safe. Until next time.

1973

Joyce Hines Molina
Joyce.molina@verizon.net

Greetings to the Class of ’73, and the year many of us reach that landmark age requiring us to dive into the alphabet soup of Medicare plans. It is not for the faint of heart. Hope all is well with each of you.

Music continues to keep me busy between church at the organ and oboe with the Henrico Concert Band. My honeybee hobby is a challenge and a constant learning experience. They swarmed this spring and we were lucky enough to capture one of the swarms. It was an incredible experience; well over 10,000 bees clustered on a small holly tree branch and I’m within inches. But not without putting on my veil! In June we made our annual flight in our 1946 J3 Piper Cub to Sentimental Journey in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. Over Maryland we were faced with black skies and lightning bolts. We diverted to the closest airport and waited out the storm. Otherwise, skies were beautiful and we got in lots of flying time in our yellow bird.

Patricia Stewart writes, “We welcomed my older son and his wife’s first child, a son Logan, on May 24. The family lives in Puerto Rico—nice place for ‘Nana’ to visit!”

Janet Hedrick writes that she continues to visit Sharon Richmond Janis and is the proud “aunt” of Sharon and Bill Janis’ daughter, Catherine. This spring they attended the ceremony where Catherine received two awards from the National Traffic Safety Board. As “adopted” aunt and niece, Janet and Catherine do things together including a vacation to Cape May this summer. She is learning to bowl and continues to work at the School Nutrition Association Foundation. Janet shared a memory of Barb Barnes from the 2003 reunion. Barb, who passed away last year, was surprised that this southern small town girl was living in Massachusetts, which was her home state. “Jan” had come up in the world.

So, what about you? What’s happening? It would be great to hear from more of our classmates. Send news any time of the year; don’t wait for the reminders. I look forward to hearing from you. Soon!

1974

Sid Baker Etherington
sidleexx@yahoo.com

Suzy Passarello Quenzer
sq3878@att.com

Class of 1974, we all need to take a lesson from the “Jefferson 4th Westers” and their annual reunion meetings—they are one dedicated group. This time the group, Peg Hubbard, Susan Tyler Maguigan, Karen Sunnaborg, Patti Goodall Stawderman, and Nancy Pederson Trcinski met in Richmond, Virginia, on the weekend of June 3, 2016. The group’s flower child, Patti, organized a restorative yoga class on Saturday morning and everyone but Susan participated; she instead went for a morning jog. By the way, Susan recently completed a full marathon, 26.2 miles. Congratulations to Susan! The group then went on a Segway tour of Richmond landmarks on Saturday afternoon. That evening they had drinks at Sam Miller’s and dinner at a wonderful French restaurant, Bistro Bobette. They finished the weekend with Sunday brunch at their hotel, The Berkeley, where they were joined by Patti’s husband Dennis and daughter Megan.

And classmates, just to show you that our notes are read—look at this great note I received from Diane Bassemir Takao’s mother: “Hi, Folks. I am the mother of Diane Bassemir Takao (pronounced: ‘Ta Cow’) who receives her American mail here on Long Island, New York, as she lives in Japan. I recently saw a name under the alumni news of ’76, that of Beverly Haynes Vaughn. I remember her, as she was a classmate of Diane’s. I thought I would write and tell you news of Diane. After teaching for a number of years there in Japan, she is currently Principal of Komazawa Park International School (KPIS) which is a pre-school in Tokyo, Japan. She and her husband, Hiroshi, have three boys, all having been educated in the U.S.  The oldest, Matthew, works in Japan; the middle son, Tim, was married last year and has a job in California; and the youngest is still in college—Northeastern in Boston. I am very grateful that although she makes Yokohama, Japan, her home, she always comes to the States in the summer. During the year, Skype makes the distance closer. I will tell her about seeing Beverly’s name in the Mary Washington Magazine. Very truly yours, June T. Bassemir.” Thanks so much to Mrs. Bassemir for letting Diane’s Class of 1974 friends know how well she and her family are doing.

1975

Armecia Spivey Medlock
vagirl805@msn.com

Cynthia “Cindy” Snyder has taken a new position George Mason University’s School of Law. In supporting the efforts of professional staff in career, academic, and alumni service, Cindy’s new position allows her to be involved in higher education in a totally new environment which she finds is a wonderful opportunity to keep learning. As the law school campus is convenient to her home in Arlington, it’s a welcome change from daily I-95 commutes.

Jacalyn Ewansky Bryan and her husband, Rich (now retired), celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary with a cruise on the Danube River, stopping in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. Jackie, who is an Associate Professor and Reference and Instruction Librarian at Saint Leo University, completed a sabbatical in spring 2016. During that time, she published an article in the Journal of Academic Librarianship on the preparation of academic librarians who provide instruction. Rich and Jackie’s son, Richard, is a graphic designer living in Tampa, and son Eric is a professional English/writing tutor at Saint Leo.

By the time you read this, our daughter, Taylor, will have graduated from the University of Tennessee’s 12-month accelerated BSN program. After graduation this past August, we moved her back to Kansas City, Kansas, so she could begin her nursing career at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Your fellow classmates would love to hear about what you’ve been up to! If we missed receiving your news in time for this update, please send your news for the next issue!

1976

Madelin Jones Barratt
madbarratt@aol.com

Hard to believe it, but our 40th reunion was in June! Bill and Terry Crawley ’77 hosted a lovely party in their home. The lunch tent decorations won second place thanks to the efforts of our reunion committee.

Ann Chryssikos McBroom writes that she is still assisting elderly to live independently in a retirement community. Her elder son, Kerry III, and his wife Megan have moved back to the Roanoke area from Arlington and are expecting her first grandson in September!

Eva Grace missed the reunion due to an appendectomy. She is still working at the American College of Cardiology and husband Brett’s with the D.O.D. Their son John recently graduated from the Institute of Massage and Healing Arts and is studying for his national licensure exam. He will work in massage therapy and related modalities and do more college work. Eva’s father sadly passed away this year.

Janice Gernhart Bogy reported that the arts are alive and well in Montana. She has a harp student who was one of seven finalists in the American Harp Society’s national competition. Janice had her art accepted into the Heart of the West art show and auction in Bozeman, Montana, this August.

Becky Adams Mauck is still the director of a small church preschool in Richmond. Husband Newby retired and spends most of his time at the river! They both enjoy going there in the summer and on holidays; it’s a good getaway. They have three grandchildren ages four, three, and nine months; two girls and one boy. They are all in Richmond. Her youngest is getting married next summer.

Lucinda Simpson Simon lives in northeast Pennsylvania with husband Phil who is the director or instrumental music at Wilkes University. When she pulls out her oboe or flute to rehearse with one of the University’s music ensembles, she thinks back to her years as a music student at Mary Washington. Being around 18-23 year olds several days a week keeps her young. She retired from athletic bands when the University pep band turned into a marching band three years ago. They still need her sewing skills for making guard costumes and even a tuba bell cover. She was unable to attend the reunion because she was in New Hampshire meeting her fifth grandchild, Ranger, who was born in May.

Myra McCord Lovelace and her husband Jim had a great time at the reunion. Myra had not been back on campus for 40 years! She enjoyed a lecture by Dr. Atalay, her former physics professor. Dr. Crissman, her advisor, was there looking for former students during the picnic lunch on Saturday. It was wonderful for Myra to see the woman who helped her launch a career in chemical marketing! The All-Class Party on Saturday night had an incredible band and everyone danced. Our class shut the place down. She hopes more ’76ers will come to our next reunion in 2021.

Glenda Burrow Jackson and “sisters” of the Class of 1976 attended the 40th reunion. The group included Esther Adams Artis, Alice Keeve Blackstone, Veronica “Teeny” Burton, Sandra Powell Mitchell, and Marsha Parker Thomas. Deborah Jackson Young joined them for the Sunday brunch. All agreed it was much better than the 30th, and thought the committees did a great job planning. Glenda did a lot of prodding to get them all to attend. The Saturday night All-Class Party with the excellent band was a highlight of the events. It was unanimous; the group had a great time.

They very much enjoyed and appreciated the time Dean Cedric Rucker ’81 spent with them Saturday, bringing them up to speed on all the MW changes. He convinced some of them to attend next year’s Multicultural Fair. He also made it a point to make the proper contact to ensure Alice was removed from the reunion packet list of deceased alumni since she was alive and well at the reunion.

It was good to catch up on each one’s life over the weekend: Esther’s husband Jonathan passed last year, her son is getting married this summer and her daughter embarks on her journey to obtain her Ph.D. at UNC. Esther has worked for the City of Martinsville, Virginia, for over 30 years with no plans for retirement. Alice, also a widow (Terry), has a daughter, Aliceson Phillips ’05, two sons, and is retired from teaching after 38.5 years. She is busy day to day helping with her two grandsons and a granddaughter in Manassas, Virginia. She is looking forward to returning to work in the classroom next year.

Teeny is happily retired after a career with the USPS and is living in Richmond with two of her three daughters. The oldest daughter is an entrepreneur and the middle was recently promoted to 1st Class Petty Officer (E-6).

Sandra lives in Manassas with husband Albert. This June 2016 she celebrates 40 years with the Fauquier County School system, currently as an Assistant Superintendent. She is planning retirement soon and possibly a part time second career in the college system.

Marsha is living and working (over 30 years with IBM) in Pittsburgh with her husband Michael, who is happily retired. Both daughters have graduated college, one from the University of Maryland (B.A. and MBA) and one from Hampton University. Marsha noted from the reunion packet materials, there was no MW alumni group in Pittsburgh and as a result was connected at the Sunday brunch to another ’76er who lives in Pittsburgh.

Deborah is living in Glenn Dale, Maryland, with her husband Steve and daughter.

Glenda worked and lived in Pittsburgh for the first 15 years after MWC. She moved back to Richmond, Virginia, and has been working as a chemist for the state of Virginia for almost 25 years and is anxiously counting down the last 5.5 to retirement. Glenda told the Class of ’76 sisters of the sudden death the previous week of one her very best friends for over 32 years and how in the midst of that grief she realized how important it is to spend time with longtime good friends at events like the reunion. It was unanimous, the sisters of ’76 enjoyed the 2016 reunion so much—10 years is too long between (especially at this age/stage of life) and they will plan to attend the 45th.

Greetings, classmates of 1976 from Helen Thornton Branch! She is still living in Peachtree City, Georgia, and unfortunately did not attend the class reunion activities. However, she is a frequent visitor to Fredericksburg since it is home for her. Retirement continues to be a wonderful experience. She keeps busy with tons of community, church, and volunteer activities. She is blessed to be in great health at age 76, and continues to enjoy so many activities that have been special to her over the years. She loves to travel, and is preparing for a trip to Mexico to visit Mayan ruins. Her grandsons, Avery and CJ, are now 20 and 27, so she only gets sightings of them as they are busy with college and careers. Her dogs Baxter and Joey are her house companions.

My daughter Ellen added twin granddaughters, Margaret and Evelyn, to the family in May. They join their brother, Timothy. Husband Henry and I have enjoyed helping take care of the grandchildren to allow the tired parents a rest. Please send news my way for the next newsletter!

1977

Anne Robinson Hallerman
arhmwc77@yahoo.com

Kathy Diehl Hartman retired in 2015 after 38 years in cancer research at National Institutes of Health. She has four grandchildren. Kathy writes that Kathye Baldwin Geary has her first grandchild, and Laura Ann Ewers Cline‘s daughter recently married. The ladies of Ball 3 West, including Kathy, Laura Ann, Alison Stern Wood, Jane Albert McGehee, Dana DeGroot Grobicki, Lisa Lyle Wu, and Jody Nutter Amberly ’76 gathered at Kathye’s home in Bethany Beach, Delaware, in July.

Janice Wenning is enjoying retirement after a 35-year career in Environmental Consulting. She and her husband pursue their passion for SCUBA diving, following professional cycling races, and traveling. They spend about half the year somewhere else besides their home base in Berkeley, California, often wintering in Belize where they have a home on Ambergris Caye. They drive from the west coast to the east coast and back each summer and fall, taking a different path each time, and use those opportunities to meet up with other MWC/UMW alumni (Karen Hertzel Pratt, Carol Yancey Orlando, Lisa-Rae Campbell Walker, Mary Dornin Michaud) while crossing the country. Their dog, Blaze, a four-year-old Schipperke, is a frequent traveling companion. Janice also volunteers for an environmental conservation non-profit (Seacology) and is a Commissioner for the City of Berkeley’s Zero Waste Commission. She also is the sole owner of Bayside Marketplace, doing online consignment selling for people going through life’s transitions. Janice says, “All in all, we are having fun and enjoying life!”

Jeanne Marie McDonough McClure writes, “We met up with Joan Castner Niederlehner and Jim for brunch a few weeks ago when they were up for a wedding in Shepherdstown. Ron and I have been retired for four years now and are enjoying every minute of it! We travel quite a bit and were blessed with a precious granddaughter, Adalynn, in June of 2015. We are fortunate to have her with us every Wednesday and love being grandparents. Looking forward to our reunion next year!”

Speaking of grandchildren, I, too, have news! Nora Lee Hallerman was born June 20, and my thoroughly unbiased opinion is that she is the prettiest, smartest baby ever. (Gee, wonder how many other grandmothers think that??)  Her two moms, my daughter Mary and my daughter-in-law Nicole, are easing into motherhood quite well.

That’s all the news from ’77 this time. Our 40th (!) is coming up next year. We have a Facebook page for the class, “Mary Washington College Class of 1977.”  Please join, if you haven’t already done so.

1978

Janet Fuller
janetpfuller@aol.com

I recently received an email from Beverly J. Wood-Holt indicating that she has been in California since 1983—San Francisco first, and currently in Los Angeles for the past 30 years. Beverly just retired from Deluxe Entertainment, after 23 years working in the post-production of motion pictures. She had a blast!  Per Beverly, “Who would have thought that a black woman with a B.S. in Chemistry from MWC and an M.S. in Analytical Chemistry from UGA would end up the cinematographer’s best friend.” Beverly turned 60 in March, retired early, and is looking forward to a new life in her home town of Chase City. Chase City is a very small village where she and her husband, Brian, have a twelve-acre organic food farm. Brian is from NYC, but loves the farm life. He continues to write scores for small films and Beverly has a consulting business, working with library archives. They are looking forward to their new life and will keep their tux and gown handy! Good luck to you both.

I also received an email requesting assistance in reconnecting college roommates. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Susan Morosko is trying to reconnect with Janet Schultz McKenna. Both ladies are from New Jersey originally, met in Willard their freshman year, and last lived in Westmoreland. Janet, if you are reading this please send me an email. If anyone can assist in reuniting the roommates, please let me hear from you.

This is the year that the majority of the class of 1978 turns sixty. In honor of that milestone, several of my previous classmates have decided to tackle their “bucket list.” In March, Darrhea Pierce Donlavage, Allen Nichols Scott, Cathy Selleck Quimby, and I traveled to Las Vegas! Cathy is currently living outside of Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband Joe and son Andrew. Darrhea, Allen, and I had reconnected previously but this was the first time I had seen Cathy since Mary Washington days. This trip was specifically on Allen’s bucket list. Let’s just say that a great time was had by all and what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

In June a group led by Mary Jane “MJ” Ford Johnston with Joni Joseph Owens, Darrhea, and myself took a cruise from Miami to the Bahamas, Coco Cay, Key West, and back to Miami. Lots of sun, food, and good times enjoyed by all.

1979

Barbara Goliash Emerson
emers3@msn.com

Members of the Class of 1979 have been busy with travel, milestones and celebrations.

Lorenza Amico writes that she took an escorted tour of France and saw much of the countryside. She noted highlights included visiting Omaha Beach and the American cemetery and museum, as well as Monet’s house and garden at Giverney, which she deemed “spectacular.” She also spent time on the beautiful Mary Washington campus this past school year to see her nephew play some rugby matches, observing, “The sports complex is quite an improvement over the overgrown golf course that I remember.” She added, “I attended this year’s graduation exercises: Ball Circle was a bit wet underfoot but the rain had stopped and it was a beautiful day; the speakers kept their remarks short and sweet; and the graduates looked happy, excited, and spiffy in their regalia. There are now two Mary Washington graduates in our family.”

The following weekend, she attended the gala celebrating the completion of the Mary Washington First campaign and Mr. Hurley’s presidency where she saw Lisa Bratton Soltis and Sue Tillery and noted, “A great time was had by all.”

Anita Churney Lossing explains her new last name with “I have had a busy year! I married a wonderful man I met on Christian Mingle and changed my name to Anita Lossing. Evelyn Way, my BFF, was my matron of honor and my daughters gave me away. We enjoyed a honeymoon in Scotland.” She added that she moved from Burke, Virginia, to a 55-plus community in Fredericksburg and is “loving life again!”

May and June saw graduations for the sons of Linda McCarthy Milone (son Oliver graduated from the University of Georgia); Betsy Larson Kyker (son Jake graduated from Fairfax High School); and Judy Kemp Allard (son Jacob graduated from Lee-Davis High School). In addition, Judy’s daughter, Melanie, was married on June 25 to Matt Bryan.

I took a long weekend trip up to New York City in June to celebrate my sister Irene’s birthday with our other sister, Patricia Goliash Andril, ’80. Irene, who attended Mary Washington from 1980 to 1982 before transferring to nursing school, had been born on Governors Island, which is about 700 yards from Manhattan. We hadn’t been there since 1964 when it was an Army base. It was fun to walk around the island which is now part of the National Park Service and only open on weekends. The New Yorkers we spoke with who go there for picnics and to get away from the city were eager to hear what it was like to live on the island and we shared many happy memories.