Class Notes

The famed line often attributed to Mark Twain seems to cover the deep snows of the past winter, devastating storms of spring, and excessive heat of summer: “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” Wherever you live, you probably were affected.

Three of our classmates in Virginia came back to campus in early April for the annual Scholarship Donor Appreciation Luncheon. Elizabeth “Betty” Fischer Gore of Fairfax, Dolores “Dee” Ross of Kilmarnock, and Erma Whitaker Bockoven and husband Fred of Hampton visited with their respective scholarship recipients. Dee visited Colonial Downs horse races with a friend, has taken several trips abroad with her tour group, and planned to join a bank tour to Paris in November and board a riverboat for a scenic cruise to Prague. After a relatively quiet summer, Betty anticipated traveling to Turkey and Greece in October with a group from Vienna Presbyterian Church and visiting places where St. Paul preached on his travels. Both countries should provide Betty with ample inspiration for future artworks. Betty’s BFF, Mary Elwang Sharpley, was delighted to have her granddaughter spend Easter with her at the Colonnades in Charlottesville. Mary sent word that Barbara Westerman Newlon lost her brother in May. We reported the sad news of the passing of Barbara’s sister, Rosemary Westerman Butterworth ’48, last September, and again offer our sympathy to Barbara and her family. Mary also kindly forwards various news items from the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star concerning our alma mater’s plans, about which you can read elsewhere in this issue.

Marion “Wendy” Selfe Kelly and husband George made their annual trip to New York City in June. They boarded the train in Lynchburg, Va., sat in the “quiet car” (no kids or cell phones), and arrived in NYC six hours later. It’s Marion’s favorite place to visit, and George, a native New Yorker, is a splendid tour guide. Marion reported the arrival of another Mary Washington alumna at their Westminster Canterbury retirement abode, making a total of four to date. Sue Quelch Bass ’54 joined Wendy and Esther Reece McVeigh this year, followed by the newest addition, Norvell Millner Thomson ’48.

Anna “Andi” Dulany Lyons, Elizabeth “Liz” Krebbs ’47, and Margaret Ruth Harrell Youngblood ’48 all live at The Summit. When Andi goes to Lexington for dental checkups by son Clay, she and Betty Bond Heller Nichols get together for lengthy luncheons and catch up on news. Betty was to join the others in Lynchburg for a summer luncheon and mini-reunion. If their number keeps growing, they said they may need to reserve a stadium!

Despite several setbacks, “like falls and things like that,” Jeanne Farrington Leslie and Mike are still fairly active in their St. George Village retirement community near Atlanta. Jeanne said they feel fortunate to live where the people are nice and friendly, adding it reminds her of our college days. Jeanne and Mike have 15 grandchildren and five great-grands who give them much joy. Judy Stone Johnstone’s news is mostly about their seven grandchildren. None of them is married, but two are engaged and another is almost ready to propose to his sweetheart. Judy and Bob’s oldest granddaughter graduated from law school in May and was busy studying for the New York and Massachusetts bar exams. The other three, ages 12, 16, and 21, still are in school. When the economy turns around, Judy hopes to sell their farm at Melfa on the Eastern Shore and move into a retirement facility.

Harriet Scott Brockenbrough remains delighted with the Covenant Woods retirement community in Mechanicsville, Va., where she has lived for more than four years. She stays busy with her two supper groups and her church, the trips she helps plan for Covenant Woods residents, and their daily happy hour. She maintains that even exercise classes are fun there. They traveled to Canada and to Richmond’s Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and planned a September trip to Annapolis, Md. In July, she spent eight days in Seattle with son Scott and his wife. Harriet drives to the Eastern Shore to visit her bachelor son at Onancock. Last year’s big snowstorm prevented his traveling to be with her for Christmas. Harriet especially enjoys getting together with five high school friends twice a year for a “good old slumber party.” As actively outgoing as she is, we wonder how much “slumber” is involved in a group of six octogenarians!

Frances “Frannie” Houston Layton relayed the news of Margaret “Peggy” Elliott Sweeney’s move to a retirement center in Fort Washington, Pa., near one of her daughters. Two of Frannie’s great-granddaughters from Kentucky, ages 5 and 6, were with her for a week in June to attend a morning dance camp. After lunch each day, Frannie took them swimming at a state forest pool, brought them home for a quick supper, and then drove them to her church’s vacation Bible school. Frannie said once they were tucked in bed, it didn’t take long for them to fall asleep! The girls want to come back soon, and the proud great-grandmother hopes they can. “I miss them,” she said.

From her country home and kennel in Georgetown, Del., Frances “Blackie” Horn Nygood reports she is healthy and happy at 83. She has six basset hounds, still shows her AKC Grand Champion, Calvin, and just started showing his and Bunny’s daughter, CJ. They both win, but she said it’s mostly just plain fun. Blackie judges at various shows and is president of her local kennel club, for which she is an AKC delegate. With all her acreage, her spare time mostly is spent cutting grass on her trusty tractor.

Katherine “Kate” Mayo Schmidt is busy with her house, farm, and activities – such as her bridge groups – in Palestine, Texas. She planned to visit her sister in Alabama for two weeks in July. Good friends in her longtime home of Houston were to pick her up in Palestine, host her for a few days in Houston, then take her to her plane.

Corinne “Conni” Conley Stuart and Bonar of Toronto celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in April. She loves Skyping on the computer with their sons, Tony in Los Angeles and Curtis in St. Louis, as she gets to see them while they chat. But, she admits, she is never ready for a close-up without a make-up person standing by – shades of Norma Desmond and Cecil B. DeMille! Curtis and family planned to spend part of August with them in Toronto. The two grandchildren loved their former lakeside cottage but, now that they are teenagers, Conni thought they might enjoy summer in the city, especially the cooler climate. Conni had a glorious trip to Nova Scotia in June, driving around beautifully maintained historic fishing villages. She was there to be in an episode of Haven, a Canadian TV series based on a Stephen King novel. In July, she was to play an eccentric old lady in Against the Wall, a new NBC cop series being shot in Toronto.

Since Bonar can’t travel, he and Conni won’t be joining Betsy Thorne Bultman and Phelps in New Hampshire this year, which is a disappointment for the MWC suitemates who have enjoyed many fun reunions through the years. Norah Pitts Byrnes and “Doc” came to the same conclusion in Georgia, saying driving that distance is not feasible and flying today is strictly for the birds!

Gwen Brubaker Connell and Jack observed their 65th wedding anniversary in October and welcomed three new great-grandchildren. Their joy was doubled when the newborns included twin girls, Ava and Phoebe. That gives the Connells a total of 14 great-grands, which possibly earns Gwen the “Classmate with the Most Great- Grands Award.” Can anyone top that? Gwen and Jack planned an August trip to Tennessee and the Washington, D.C., area to see family and to get acquainted with the newest additions to their extended family.

Gwen passed along word that Jane Yateman Spangler had a knee replacement in June. Jane’s daughter, Janet, said she was doing really well in rehab and expected to return home in mid-July. Keep up the good work, Jane. We’ve lost track of the many knee and hip replacements among our classmates but think it’s wonderful that today’s medical technology includes spare parts!

Gwen has kept in touch with Virginia Wilson Woods since they were roommates during Virginia’s two years at Mary Washington. She finished her degree in Iowa, where she still lives. Virginia visited Atlanta in May and enjoyed the symphony and botanical garden. After the Atlanta traffic, she was glad to get back to a slower pace in Iowa. Virginia has four children who are out of state. She lives for visits from her grandchildren, two of whom are 30 miles away in Iowa City and are around to watch over her. Virginia takes their advice seriously and listens politely, she said … then does her own thing!

At the end of the fiscal year in June, our Class of 1949 Scholarship endowment balance was $54,437.45, with no new donations received during 2010- 11. Our scholarship recipient, Jennifer Gibbons ’12, received $2,500 for 2010-11 and was awarded our scholarship again for her senior year, 2011-12. Jennifer, a historic preservation major from Roanoke, Va., is a member of the Historic Preservation Club, is president of the Civil War Reenactors Club, and aspires to be a curator or university history professor. We all should be proud of our ongoing endeavor to assist deserving students get an excellent education at an excellent school. It is likely that this year’s program of underwriting a seat in the new William M. Anderson Center caused the redirection of some Fabulous Forty-Niner funds. Several classmates planned to attend the August dedication of that beautiful building honoring former President Anderson. This fiscal year, may we keep in mind our purpose in funding the class scholarship as our lasting legacy.

Once again, our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed the preceding news. As ever, love to all of you from both of us.