Class Notes

You all are the greatest! Thank you for responding to my email for news. Numerous classmates have told me how pleased they have been to receive news of you all through Class Notes.

Mary Montague “Monti’ Sikes was to have another book, Jungle Jeopardy, published in August. She uses her experiences visiting Maya ruins as part of the plot and has a series of large acrylic paintings, Revisiting the Maya of Central America, which she plans to exhibit in connection with the book. Another book, A Rainbow for Christmas, is due out later this year. Last March Monti visited Mary Washington to present a writer’s workshop in Lee Hall, sponsored by the University Bookstore, where some of her books are available. In July, she spoke on two panels and served as a moderator on a third for the Public Safety Writers Conference in Las Vegas. She would be happy to speak to classmates’ book clubs or at arts centers. Many of her paintings are 4-by-6 feet, and she would love to schedule a show in conjunction with a talk by an expert on the Maya.

Barbara Craft Grantz and husband Walt are “still perking along” and spent Easter with Helen Grantz Fortner. After all these years, they still laugh like they did at Mary Washington, only now it’s with white hair and wrinkles. Barbara and Walt left Peru in 1969 and looked forward to seeing what’s changed during a trip back for an archeological theme tour in July. Barbara met Martha Jane “Marty” Spilman ’59 at a woman’s club meeting, where she recognized her MWC ring as she poured tea. It is a small world!

Kay Nelson Richardson and husband Clay haven’t done anything exciting this year because of his illness and rehab, but things were looking up since he got a pacemaker. We wish Clay a rapid recovery! Kay emails and exchanges jokes about retirement and old age with Nancy Hallett Guest, who is always on the go with husband Harry. I got a chuckle from an email from Joyce Bistrow Wrestler that said, “Sorry, no news, as they say, that’s ‘fit to print.’”

Charlsey McFarlane De Lorenzo sent the news of the death of her former roommate, Isabella Phillips, who passed away in January from lymphoma. Charlsey was shocked; they attended our 50th UMW reunion together in 2007 and she saw her frequently when traveling to Sarasota, Fla., to visit two of her daughters and their families.

Nancy Hallett Guest and husband Harry spend the winter in Vail, Colo. Their twin granddaughters come to ski every weekend, and Nancy enjoys the time with them. She doesn’t ski anymore, but between Harry and their son, Jim, the girls have excellent instruction. Nancy volunteers at the local hospital, and they stay home for the summer in Albany, N.Y., where they are busy with their younger son, who lives in Short Hills, N.J., and thinks nothing of hopping on his bike and riding to Albany.

Barbara “Bobbi” Falkenbury Wright and Jim have enjoyed traveling while they can to far-flung places these past few years. They took a boat trip through the Low Countries in Europe and visited old friends in the United Kingdom on their return home. Barbara visited her daughter and family in South Carolina, where she watched their two granddaughters’ ballet practices and soccer games. She rented a car (“… a white Jeep for this old granny!”) and drove to Georgia, where she joined forces with fellow alumnae at Patsy Whitmire Culberson’s home on Lake Lanier. They meet with Nancy Moore Cavins of Florida, Patricia “Patty” Falkenbury Cook of Atlanta, and Mary Frances Pierce Burton of Rochester, Minn., every couple of years and have the best time ever, remembering, teasing, and most of all, laughing!

Erna MacLaughlin Lawrence was honored in the spring by ISITC, a financial services industry group she was associated with before retiring. This was only the second time their Standard of Excellence Award has been granted, and Erna was surprised and thrilled. The award, a beautifully etched 6-inch Tiffany crystal disc, is given to a former ISITC member in recognition of lifetime achievement. Congratulations, Erna!

Elizabeth “Libby” Fordham had a splendid spring visit with Florence “Foncie” Lawrence Williamson.

Mark your calendars for Reunion Weekend, June 1-3. Classes ending in 2s and 7s, from 1942 through 2007, will be celebrated. Hope to see you all there!