Class Notes

Barbara Bishop Mann and Jana Privette Usry attended a UMW networking reception at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond. Bobbi spoke to UMW President Richard V. Hurley’s wife, Rose, who mentioned seeing Dee Dee Nottingham Ward at a similar reception in San Diego. In April, Bobbi arranged a meeting of the Mary Washington Lunch Bunch at La Petite Auberge in Fredericksburg. Bobbi, Jana, Joan Cuccias Patton, Anne Kales Lindblom, Sheila Denny Young, Ann Meade Clagett, Diane Twiggs Woodworth, Pat Lewars Pace, Ann Enders Hughes, Lois Rucker Scott, and Kathleen Goddard Moss attended.

Dee Dee Nottingham Ward enjoyed the reception with the Hurleys in San Diego, where she lives. She keeps getting emails from Bobbi regarding Mary Washington lunches in Fredericksburg and vows that one day she may surprise everyone and show up!

In June, Nancy Shackelford Jones and Jeff attended a reception at the Virginia Governor’s Mansion in honor of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. They also attended a dedication service at Werowocomoco on the James River in Gloucester, Va., the capital of the Powhatan chiefdom, which had 30 tribes and encompassed much of coastal Virginia.

On Feb. 15, Sally Souder represented the UMW Alumni Association at the Sarasota, Fla., inauguration of the president of New College, Donal O’Shea, formerly of Boston College. In April, Sally and Gerry Sargent Habas met in St. Petersburg, Fla., for their annual mutual birthday lunch. In May, Sally traveled through Alaska and saw Denali and wild animals but only saw fresh grizzly bear tracks, no grizzly bear. She passed through Wasilla, saw Sarah Palin’s house, and marveled at the wide variety of Palin souvenirs available there, some very amusing.

Linda Spangler Berkheimer sent a lovely photo of herself with Mary Parsons Black and Annette Maddra Horner on the balcony at Linda’s condo in the Outer Banks, N.C. The tradition of Linda’s family beach vacation began when she was very young and has transitioned over the years to include kids, grandkids, and friends. Mary and Annette live nearby in Elizabeth City, N.C., have become regulars at the “Spangler retreat,” and enjoy leisurely mini-reunions.

Katharine Rogers Lavery was finishing her third year on the vestry of historic St. John’s Episcopal Church in Centreville, Va. She still plays cornet regularly in the worship services and honored a request of one small parishioner to teach her how to play the trumpet. Katharine and Hank remain active in two senior bowling leagues and the Pentagon Sailing Club year-round, but Katharine’s favorite pastime is tutoring high school math, mainly to grandkids. The whole Lavery clan gathered at South Nags Head, N.C., for their annual beach vacation. Son Stephen took his boat out into the Gulf Stream about 40 miles away from Oregon Inlet and caught a 233-pound tuna!

Joan Cuccias Patton celebrated her June birthday playing golf and made a personal best score. In July, Joan convened with her family in their favorite beach spot in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and they all continued celebrating.

Mary Kathryn Rowell Horner recovered from her Segway accident and resumed playing golf. She and Charlie spend several winter weeks each year in Naples, Fla., where they have happily hosted friends, including Phil and Linda Spangler Berkheimer. Mary Kathryn, a longtime member of Nellie’s Needlers, is a waitress in March at the Woodlawn needlework exhibit in Alexandria, Va.

Carol Bingley Wiley planned to open a gallery at her home in Maine to add to the exposure she enjoys with two other galleries on an ongoing basis. She did small still-life paintings while she and husband Peter were visiting Pam Hughes Ward and husband Jim. Carol helped her father move into Goodwin House, an assisted living facility in Northern Virginia, where he enjoys the view of the Washington Monument from his window. Carol stayed with Pam Kearney Patrick and TaB in Irvington, Va., where they were preparing for TaB’s retirement. Pam is also a recognized watercolor artist whose miniature paintings are outstanding. Carol also visited Sandy Pearson D’Acunto in Reston, Va.

Winnie Woodson Stribling traveled home to Richmond for her 50th high school reunion in October 2012 and shared some of the festivities with Eleanor McJilton Thompson. Winnie and Brad celebrated daughter Sarah’s graduation from Pacific School of Religion, Graduate Theological Union, in Berkeley, Calif., where she received a master of arts degree. Winnie and Brad are active in their church and were excited about touring next year with their choir in London, Paris, and Rome, performing in various venues, including the Sistine Chapel.

Catherine Cantwell Luria spent a week in June at Lady of the Lake Dance Camp on Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, including two sessions of English dance each day. On some evenings, the group enjoyed country dancing as well. Cathe is “getting brave in her retirement” and had seriously practiced her voice so that, at the festive dinner and closing activity of her camp, she was able to sing A Simple Song from the Bernstein Mass, performed with flute and piano accompaniment.

Yvonne March traveled in Spain, from Granada to Bilbao, and to Tangier in Morocco. She admires the Muslim/Jewish era of Spain, particularly the famous architecture and jewelry. Yvonne stopped in D.C. in June to join her family as they feted her brother for his 70th birthday. Four years ago Yvonne moved from Hollywood, Fla., to Tampa with her significant other, Chris, and she has been renting out her Hollywood apartment. Yvonne spent quality summer time with her grandson.

Kathleen Goddard Moss and husband Tom traveled to Spain and California in the spring to visit kids and grandkids. Their newest grandson, Charlie Moss, was born in California in February. Kathy and Tom still work part time and spend most of their time close to home. This summer they celebrated their 47th anniversary and posted Facebook photos of a warm family gathering.

Eileen Perna Thomason and husband Phil attended the June outdoor wedding of their older son, a chef and restaurant owner. It was a Virginia country wedding on a family farm on the Eastern Shore, using as many Virginia products as possible: wines from Chatham Vineyards, Suffolk peanuts, honey, Smithfield ham, produce from the Shore, Spring Lakes bottled water. The happy couple departed for a grand honeymoon in Scotland and Morocco, and Eileen and “Dr. Phil” turned to recovering after all the festivities and joyous parental duties.

Susan Roth Nurin still lives the dream in NYC, in a small apartment facing Central Park, and posts on Facebook many of her daily adventures. She attends as many ballets, operas, and symphonies as possible and personally talks with the major stars (Mikhail Baryshnikov and Placido Domingo, for example). She is a Metropolitan Opera volunteer, which involves sitting with student groups during performances, allowing her to see every opera for free!

Genie McClellan Hobson sent news about her roommate, Sheri Gates Brindle ’67, and husband Paul, who live in an RV, are traveling the United States, and visited Genie and Don in Newark, Del., for a couple of weeks this spring. There was lots of conversation and reminiscences of the good old MWC days. For several years, Sheri and Paul lived on a boat, traveled, and hosted their friends at various ports. Genie and Don are not so adventuresome but have enjoyed the visits! Their daughter’s family lives a few miles south of Newark, and their son’s family lives a few miles north, making it easy to see the grandchildren. Genie heads the Neurogenetics Research Laboratory at the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. They specialize in research on the genetic disease Pelizaeus-Merzbacher (PMD), for which they have developed several models and are working on potential treatments. Genie got a late start on research after teaching school, staying home with her children for nine years, and then getting a Ph.D. at the University of Delaware. Don has been retired from AstraZeneca for 13 years but is fully occupied as chairman of the board for the PMD Foundation and with volunteer jobs.

Robbie James East celebrated the 100th birthday of her mother, Geraldine East, with a huge party. Robbie’s siblings and more than 100 guests attended. Robbie and husband Dennis have decided to downsize from the farm in Loudoun County to their small home in Southport, N.C. Meanwhile, Robbie is her mother’s part-time caregiver and attends their 8- and 9-year-old grandsons’ baseball games.