Class Notes

Let me hear from you, so we can have news for each printing.

I toured New Mexico, visiting White Sands, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe. While there, I tried contacting Patti Head Ferguson, but she was away in Florida and Bermuda. Her son, Scott, and his wife visited her en route to Fiji, where they were to work for a few months. After living with his family in Virginia and Kansas, her older son was asked to head a consortium of colleges and universities in Dubai.

Because she has difficulty standing for long, Carol Bailey Miller, a Cumberland, Va., planning board member, gave up her horseshow judging and stewardship duties and can enjoy being a spectator.

Hello, classmates! I’d love to hear from more of you!

I keep in touch with Sarah Herring Estes and Ruth DeMiller Hill. Ruth heard from Winnie Horton Brock’s daughter, Sherry, who married Dale Holzhausen, a missionary from Russia. The family planned a July reunion.

Betsy Fletcher Adams’ husband, Bill, passed away in May. Jane Zeigler Lifsey hasn’t been able to attend reunions. Her husband passed away in 2008, and she moved to Westminster Canterbury in Richmond. She visits son Bill, who has three children and a granddaughter, in Rock Hill, S.C. Jane’s daughter, Mary, lives in Richmond and also has three children. Jane keeps in touch with Dorothy Gravatt Hunter and sent news of the June death of Elizabeth Bunnell Bauder, who is survived by only child Page Wharton Bauder. “Bunny” was yearbook editor and received the Jefferson Cup at graduation. She won several awards during 40 years at Thalhimers, was involved in the community, and was passionate about children’s education, the arts, and creating a progressive city.

Lorraine Frantz Foulds passed away in July. She toured as a dancer and worked briefly for the CIA after graduation. She was an activist in Northern Virginia, the first community liaison for Media General Cable, and a leader in the Northern Virginia Swimming League. Later, she was a tax preparer for H&R Block for more than 20 years. Lorraine is survived by sons Carter and Eliot, daughter Susan, and four grandsons.

During Reunion Weekend 2012, we went to classes, saw the renovated Monroe Hall, had a sumptuous Friday night dinner hosted by UMW President Richard V. Hurley at Brompton, and joined other alumni Saturday evening for wine, dinner, and dancing at the Tennis Center. We talked to UMW undergrads, who were eager to hear about our Fredericksburg days, Mrs. Bushnell, dining hall protocol, and dress codes.

Gwen Amory Cumming and Rita Morgan Stone did much of the planning. My husband and I met up with Carol Edgerton Cooper, Pat Leech Benton, and Weege Attianese Harlow. Maryanne Heatwole Cox, Betty Jefferson Blaisdell, Betty Jo Braithwaite Gayle, Susan Jurgens, Nancy Straughan Russler, and Bettie Willard Wiltshire didn’t have far to travel. We sat on Ball Circle Saturday with Ann Staylor Johnson, Joyce Long Moore, and Phyllis Webb Pegram. It was sad for me without my twin sister, but many friends spoke of memories of her.

Thank you, Mary Washington, for bringing us all together.

In April, Lindsey wed James, 52, who’d never been married, at Keswick. We met in-laws from as far away as Seattle and New Hampshire. The next day our kids celebrated our 60th anniversary. The younger generations partied that night, while Bub and I escaped to the quiet bedroom in the big rental house. The next week, we left for a Gettysburg tour. In May, our second daughter, Kim, was diagnosed with stage-three ovarian cancer. After her second chemo session, she hurried to the maternity ward, where, just as Kim arrived, her daughter gave birth to Harper Rhodes Woodward, Kim’s first grandchild and our first great-grandchild!

Peggy Hopkins Johnson, who stayed in Fredericksburg and still lives near campus, is a charter member of Mary Washington Elder Study. She’s active in church, plays bridge, and is often on the road. During Reunion Weekend, she went to Jepson and celebrated the Class of 1952’s 60th with them. Betty Raynor Pittman’s husband had an “amazing recovery” after a hemorrhagic stroke last fall. Grandson Tommy graduated from Charlottesville High School and planned to attend UMW. Betty celebrated her 80th at Michie Tavern.

Garnette Bell Crawford and her husband, who retired as Salisbury University president and helped strengthen the athletic program, are still involved with the school, celebrating its recent national men’s lacrosse championship. Garnette attended a summer family reunion with cousin Carol Ann Boyes and Carol’s husband, Bill. My family also now supports Salisbury, since granddaughter Madison of Ellicott City, Md., is a student there. We looked forward to a fall visit.

Ginny Bailes keeps in touch with Betty Anderson Buck, who traveled to Peru and climbed to the Temple of the Sun. Nell McCoy Savopoulos and I visited Kay Toe Laer in Boynton Beach, Fla., one summer when Kay was our suitemate. Peggy Hopkins and my then-future husband also came. Kay was the sixth person crammed into the 1958 Hudson on the return trip! Nell has been dealing with chronic health problems, but she counts her blessings. Mike is in great shape.

Ginny Poole Kinniburgh returned with John to Mary Washington to audit a meeting chaired by then-BOV Rector Daniel K. Steen ’84 and was a guest of President and Mrs. Hurley for a dinner and lecture. Ginny and John had dinner in January in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., with Kitty Garland Obenshain and Ray. Since then, Kitty had been ill but was home, receiving therapy, and looking forward to a complete recovery.

Jean Kimball Gray built a house on Kentucky Lake in 1995 and lives alone there with an assortment of dogs. Her youngest daughter was killed in 1992, and her surviving four children, except for one in Georgia, are nearby. Jean has seven grandchildren and two greats. She was a kindergarten teacher, church organist, and health care facility owner. She plays tennis and has traveled extensively, visiting places like Iceland, Australia, and Egypt. Jean lives near Martha Lyle Pitman, who married biology teacher W.J. Pitman. Jean stays in touch with Joan Collins.

Barbara White Ramer was born in Fredericksburg and lived just blocks from UMW until moving to live with daughter Robyn, son-in-law Todd, and two grandsons in Georgia, where she works with students with learning differences. She worked with Peggy Hopkins Johnson in Fredericksburg public schools and went to high school with Betsy Dickinson Surles.

Doris Linsday Whitfield moved to Raleigh, N.C., in 2010 to be closer to family and downsize. She misses being near campus and her work with UMW Ecology Club students who interned with the Rappahannock Sierra Club. Doris was chair, and they coordinated environmental programs. She recalled that ecology students helped the city and Sierra Club build Alum Springs Park. Doris swims, reads, watches birds, and volunteers with kindergarteners and children who need individual attention.

Each time I send news requests, more return as “undeliverable.” Please go straight to your computer and send me your current address!

I’m still looking for news, so email me.

My granddaughter graduated from high school in June. She stayed with Neil and me for ninth and 10th grades. Since she went back to her San Leandro, Calif., school, I’ve missed her and learning the new slang, music, and fashion. When she was in ninth grade, I saw her leaving for school and asked if she was wearing thongs. She paled and asked why I wanted to know. I replied, “Because, I really don’t think they are good for your feet.” Who knew the shoes we called thongs had morphed into underwear?

Marian Minor’s brother, who is married to Frances Brittle Minor, fell on the steps while getting medicine for Frances and broke seven vertebrae. As of March, he’d had two surgeries and was still in rehab. In addition to helping them, Marian completed a book about the Minor family, finished renovating the 1795 Minor home in King and Queen, Va., sold the home place, and worked the past five years with the King and Queen Historical Society. Miriam majored in physical education; taught, coached, and refereed for 35 years; and earned a master’s degree.

Bad weather kept Sally Hanger Moravitz and Fran busy at their cottage. Fran is a member of the Jefferson Society, and he and Sally attended a reunion at U.Va. Sally planned to go to the Sacred Dance festival at Hope College in Michigan and on a September cruise with Fran to Danube.

Anne Lou Rohrbach Culwell was enjoying a great-great-grandbaby and traveled through the Chunnel and to London and Paris. Patricia Seitz Hartel works in real estate, enjoys her grandchildren, and was accepted in the National Society DAR. Joan Kleinknecht said the extreme heat got to her. One of Diane Farans Green’s grandson’s birthday is July 4. His older sister is a junior at the University of Connecticut. Diane, who also has an 11-year-old grandson and a 9-year-old granddaughter, has been a real estate broker since 1970. She’d been less active due to illness but was getting better every day.

The summer 2012 UMW Magazine featured a story on Hettie Cohen Jones, whose life and accomplishments have been extraordinary.

I’m writing this from sketchy notes while out of town, so please excuse omissions. A UMW alumni office reminder prompted these replies. I’m depending on you for coming issues. You could add me to your Christmas/Hanukah card list.

I planned to visit my late husband’s family in Maine and Massachusetts in August with my sons and grandchildren. Mickey Foley McDaniel and Tim of Atlanta have one son and his family, and four of their six grandchildren, in the area. Mickey does ESL work in the Hispanic community and planned a June humanitarian trip to Honduras.

Angela Walton Barksdale, Beth Poteet Pollard, Connie Hook Felvey, Ann “Stokey” Scott, and Turner Christian Richardson attended their 60th Thomas Jefferson High School reunion in Richmond last April. Turner and Connie visited homes and gardens in Fredericksburg and Lancaster County during Virginia’s Historic Garden Week. “Red” Rosanelli Metzger lives in New Hampshire from spring to fall and visits Italy yearly. June Ann Tingler Buie took a June British Isle cruise. She spent two April days with Barbara Strangmann Hiscock, after sightseeing in Washington and Virginia.

Ginny “Mabel” Fisher Ward, whose grandson is a plebe at the Naval Academy, recalled her many trips there while at Mary Washington. She and her husband of 55 years of Providence Forge, Va., planned to visit their soccer goalkeeper in Annapolis. Otelia “Tillie” Westbrook Harris and her husband of 53 years, Allen, retired 22 years ago; they golf, travel, and participate in church and civic activities. Joan Tengzelius Wunderlich and fiancé Stu took a June Rhine River cruise. Joan, who has 10 grandchildren and four greats, attended a granddaughter’s Long Island wedding.

Suzanne Borke Grasberger and Tom have four children and nine grandchildren, and hope to attend a grandchild’s high school graduation for each of the next six years. Their oldest granddaughter is a senior social work major at JMU. Another graduated from high school in June and is in a program for special needs youth at George Mason University. Grandson Matt finished a Rotary International exchange program in Brazil and was to start college in a George Mason computer technology honors program.

Hope to hear from you all soon.

Thanks to everyone who sent news. Without your input, there would be no column!

Mahlon and I move more slowly, but we have quality lives and laugh a lot! My former roommate, Ann Humphreys Howard, who was visiting husband Bob’s brother in Northern Virginia, called me. They enjoy retirement in Florida and planned to join extended family at the Howard lake house in New Hampshire in July.

Joyce Bristow Wrestler couldn’t attend the reunion. Her husband has a blood disorder and was undergoing treatment. They had to cancel his dream trip to Australia and New Zealand. Nancy Hallett Guest couldn’t attend the reunion because she had knee replacement surgery.

Ellen Hertz Hewitt and Charlie didn’t visit Europe this year. They couldn’t come to the reunion because they were at a Nashville timeshare. They were to spend a July week in Massanutten with their son and his family.

After not having seen her former roommate, Barbara Morton Williamson of Chapel Hill, N.C., for more than 50 years, Jean Durham Busboso and husband Buz hosted her for a June weekend, and they toured the UMW campus.

Peggy Gray Williams sent the sad news that Joanne Insley Pearre died peacefully at home with her husband by her side in early August. Joanne, whose father was a professor of chemistry at Mary Washington, had long lived with Alzheimer’s disease. Our condolences to all.

After moving to Hendersonville, N.C., Susan Bender Trotter’s husband died in February, and Susan is sorting things out. Deepest sympathy, Susan.

The committee for our class did a splendid job organizing our 55th reunion. There were 14 of us, and

Elizabeth “Libby” Fordham was the group’s backbone. What follows was among her sentiments. The reunion went off with few hitches, thanks in great part to the Alumni Association staff. The Friday evening rain caused a venue switch from the Brompton lawn to the Tennis Center, but trolleys took everyone to Seacobeck for dinner. Wind on Ball Circle made it challenging to decorate our Class of ’57 tent, but we did and won second place. A handful of us braved the Saturday night reception at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center and were proud to be named the class with the highest giving participation in the Race for the Eagle! The establishment of the 1908 Society for alumni who graduated more than 50 years ago was announced, and we were first to wear the pins. President Hurley listened to stories from our campus days and answered questions about future plans. Next time you’re in Fredericksburg, plan to see the renovated Randolph and Mason halls and other changes – and ask if golf-cart service is available!

Please send news. God bless, Joan.

In 2013, the Class of 1958 will celebrate its 55th reunion. We are now members of the new 1908 Society. Please share fond memories – or things you didn’t care for – from the 50th reunion and what you’d like to see at our 55th. We also need to think about hotel arrangements.

I scheduled a July hip replacement and learned a lot about the process. Carol Lehmann is a member of the Women Gardeners of Ridgewood, N.J., and her garden was on the Secret Garden tour.

Lucas is 3 and is going to be tall like his parents and Granddaddy Tom. He’s still a no-nap kind of boy, and his newest interest is maps. Grandma’s pride is boundless.

Jane Tucker Broadbooks and John attended a spring conference and stopped in Richmond for barbecue. Jon Karl of Springfield, Ill., left newspapers and is director of communications for the Illinois Association of Realtors. Tucker is in high school. Jane wrote that, after an April house fire, Jo Neal Hendricks was getting things back in order. Molly Bradshaw Clark winters in Florida.

Irene Piscopo Rodgers and Don are well. Irene ran into Edie Weber Staib, who was visiting her children and grandchildren, and looked forward to an October visit from Kay Rowe Hayes, who’s battling Lyme disease.

I read an article about Martha Huffman Wood, an activist with the VEA/NEA-Retired organization for educators, who received the first annual district service award. Instrumental in creating VEA-Retired 20 years ago, she is secretary/treasurer, and has held other posts, including president.

Let me hear from you.