Class Notes

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1970s

1970

Carole LaMonica Clark
clarktjcj@gmail.com

Please note my new email address above. Ted and I sold our North Carolina home and moved to a 55+ community in Canton, Ga., in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, north of Atlanta. We’re renting in the community while our home is built and hope to move in before the end of the year.

After 12 years, Tina Kormanski Krause retired in June as the lower school librarian at The Potomac School in McLean, Va. She called it “the best job in the world,” but she’s excited to begin the next chapter in her life. Youngest daughter Megan married John in spring. Older daughter Lindsay, husband Wade, and their children live in Richmond.

We offer condolences to Ellen Grace Jaronczyk, who lost her mother in February. Catherine Alexander Alspaugh ’73, a teacher, wrote that her sister, Beverly Alexander Lawson, was named an endowed distinguished teacher, which is a $1.5 million gift for budget relief and to recruit or recognize exemplary teachers for their life-changing work with students. The gift endows an individual’s position, and the head of the school appoints the distinguished teacher to a renewable one-year term. Bev has a Ph.D. in chemistry, teaches at Hockaday School in Dallas, and was previously named one of Texas’ top teachers.

1971

Karen Laino Giannuzzi
kapitankL11@yahoo.com

I apologize that it’s been awhile since the Class of ’71 had a column. I officially retired from the government at the end of January after more than 40 years of military and civilian service. It’s been an interesting transition and I’m still finding my way, but I’ve been finishing a second master’s degree and teaching a pre-GED class for the literary council in York, Pa. Ralph and I took a 30-day cruise in April to Hawaii and the South Pacific. I hadn’t been to Hawaii since ’97, and Ralph had never been. It was fun to cross the equator on the ship and see the Southern Cross at night. Our ship set sail from San Diego, so it was a great reason to visit Liz Keith, who retired last year as a professor at San Diego State. She has lived in California longer than in her home state of Virginia.

Lisa Barker of Richmond recovered from foot surgery earlier this year. After 33 years in the Hanover County Attorney’s Office, lately as deputy county attorney, Lisa is senior counsel. During her tenure, she’s represented and advised officials, agencies, and departments, including the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission.

Susan Lohin, director of alumnae connections at Wellesley College, and Wendy Dickenson Smith stay in close contact and celebrated birthdays last year at the Canyon Ranch in western Massachusetts.

Bryn Irving Roth shared stories of her mother’s trips to Fredericksburg while attending the College of William and Mary. The W&M girls were headed to the Naval Academy but stayed overnight at MWC after a train ride. I hope some of these adventures have been captured, even from women who didn’t attend but visited frequently.

Elaine “Cookie” Brennan Wright and Rich spend days and nights on their boat, exploring the Chesapeake Bay. Daughter Elisabeth holds an MBA from U.Va.’s Darden School. Daughter Katie is engaged and in her second year at Darden.

Betty Hume works at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library. Daughter Robin married in May and lives in Wilmington, N.C. Daughter Janet is still in Fredericksburg. Robert “Randy” Hume ’75 remembers taking a home economics course in the basement of Chandler, giving him the dubious honor of being the only male to take such a course. Some of us, like Mary Mann and me, remember Ruby Harris and her home economics courses.

The UMW Foundation Board of Directors is in good hands since Diana “Diney” Rupert Livingston joined. She recently retired from QVC as the general manager of the Port St. Lucie contact center and moved to Richmond.

Kathy “Ernie” Marilla Kent and husband are settled in Eastport, Md., after finding a great location almost by accident last year and selling their Alexandria, Va., place. They are just a block from the water and closer to the beach and, of course, grandkids.

Nancy Belden Russonello and husband John still own a Washington, D.C., public opinion polling firm, working with progressive nonprofits and foundations on everything from civil liberties to environment issues. Son Giovanni runs Capitalbop.com about the D.C. jazz scene. The Russonellos also own a home in Umbria, Italy.

Mary Weaver Mann still works at her local library. Her mom is 103½ and loves bingo. Son Zephyr graduated from college and lives in Santa Monica.

My fellow German major Sylvia Schwab reconnected with Freda Jo Lodge, since both now live in Florida. Sylvia retired from the Pentagon in 2011, and Freda retired this year after many years as a civilian with the Marine Corps.

While I was still on active service for DOD and commuting to Fort Meade, Md., I visited Laurie McIntosh, who was teaching writing courses there, and at JSOC and JWAC, including at the new state-of-the-art Dahlgren facility, where UMW set up its third campus. Laurie’s business is in Port Tobacco, and she travels all over to teach courses for federal agencies, from the DHS to the U.S. Forest Service.

Beth Fleming Skidmore hopes to retire from teaching next year so she and Alex can travel. Son Alex plans to finish medical school in spring 2014, and Chas lives and works in South Carolina. On a sad note, Beth said her sister Kathy’s husband of 30 years passed away last November. His interment was not until June at Arlington National Cemetery, and Beth said the ceremony, there among our national heroes, was moving.

Sadly, Doris Lee Hancock’s husband, Robert, who had been ill several years, passed away in July from leukemia. It was a comfort for Doris that several classmates were at the funeral. Many of us remember Robert from our reunions. Doris and I worked the first reunions as a team, putting together primitive class books that had to be done by typewriter, and Robert always helped. Our class sends condolences.

1972

Sherry Rutherford Myers
dllmyers@netzero.com

1973

Joyce Hines Molina
joyce.molina@verizon.net

Turnout for our 40th class reunion was great; 31 classmates registered. At the class party, we gave “elevator speeches,” about the highlights of our lives since MWC. Jo Billings joined us Friday but couldn’t stay the weekend. Memorabilia filled our lunch tent on Saturday, when Bambi Creighton Willis joined us. With Deb Reynolds Linder, Jeanne Coats Black, Anne Bevans Cooper, Virginia Davey Addison, Joyce Hines Molina, Helen McKann, and Winnie Stalnaker Feldhaus, the Class of ’73 was well represented on the dance floor Saturday night. Deb was our long-distance traveler, flying in from California. She was then off to London for the birth of her first grandchild.

Rod and I made our 16th Sentimental Journey to Lock Haven, Pa., in June, flying in our 1946 J3 Piper Cub. When weather moved in, we made an emergency landing at a private strip, were greeted by security, and learned we’d landed on the Paul Mellon estate, where we were until the weather lifted. Reunion weekend highlights were walking the beautiful campus, taking the trolley to Carl’s, and dancing with President Hurley.

Deb Reynolds Linder sent her “elevator speech.” She met future husband Bruce, then a senior at the Naval Academy, in her sophomore year. Turns out, their dads were in the same air group onboard the USS Yorktown out of San Diego when Deb was in junior high. She and Bruce married two days before Christmas in Deb’s senior year, as Bruce was deploying to a ship in Yokosuka, Japan. Deb joined him after graduation, and they lived in Japan for more than two years. They moved every other year or so for 22 years, splitting time between San Diego and Alexandria, Va., with tours in Michigan, Hawaii, and Charleston, S.C., before ending up in San Diego. Deb balanced her jobs – as a math teacher, instructional computer aide, educational software company manager, and Qualcomm senior IT manager – around the moves. She played tennis, and was on a 2005 national championship team, until a torn meniscus sent her to golf. The Linders have two married daughters, one in London and one in Santa Clara, Calif. After retiring in 2004, Deb did Web development and was involved with her church and with a charity organization supporting women furthering their education.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue. Continue sending me your “elevator speeches,” highlighting your years since MWC.

1974

Sid Baker Etherington
sidleexx@yahoo.com

Suzy Passarello Quenzer
sq3878@att.com

Class of 1974, several of us are planning our 40th reunion, and we ask that you plan to meet us at UMW for the entire weekend. We would love to hear what you’d like to do at this very special gathering.

The Honorable Pamela J. White received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Washington and Lee University. White has been a judge for the circuit court of Maryland for Baltimore City since 2007. Before that, she practiced law in Baltimore for three decades, dealing largely with cases of discrimination, harassment, benefit disputes, wrongful discharges, and equal-pay violations. A talented, tenacious attorney, she was the first woman named partner at Ober, Kaler, Grimes & Shriver. At Washington and Lee University’s School of Law, she earned a law degree, and was editor of The Law News and a member of the Washington and Lee Law Review.

Patti Goodall Strawderman said that, at our 35th reunion in Fredericksburg in 2009, the Jefferson 4th West gang decided to hold annual mini-reunions – and they’ve done it! Jonette DeButts Hahn hosted in Annapolis in 2010, and they met in Old Town Alexandria in 2011, Baltimore last year, and Boston in May. Many thanks to host Karen Sunnarborg, their tour guide extraordinaire. This year’s group included Patti; Peg Hubbard; Susan Tyler Maguigan; Susan McDonald Osborn ’75, Patti’s third-year roommate; and honorary member Deb Ryan Howard, who actually lived on 3rd West. They took the Boston Duck Tour, ate at Legal Seafood, walked the Freedom Trail, and enjoyed one another’s company. They look forward to our 40th next year and hope to get more of the Jefferson 4th West gang involved.

Jonette welcomed her second grandchild, son Bert’s son, Alexander Aaron Hahn. Daughter Tory has 10-year-old son Michael Edward Byers. Susan Osborn and husband Paul welcomed granddaughter Quinn Osborn.

Jonette, Peg, and Patti gathered in Arlington, Va., for the April engagement party of Susan Maguigan’s eldest daughter, Caitlin. The wedding was scheduled for December in Tennessee. Susan’s daughter Megan graduated from Middle Tennessee State University and plans to teach fifth grade in Murfreesboro. Patti’s daughter, Megan Strawderman, graduated from VCU, where she’s taking graduate classes in environmental science. Peg Hubbard traveled to Richmond to share in the Strawdermans’ joy and, during the graduation ceremony, pulled a fourth-grade picture of Megan out of her wallet!

Sadly, Susan Maguigan’s dad, Art, passed away in June after a long illness. Many of us have dealt with losing parents or issues surrounding aging family members. Time marches on, making us realize that we should grab the chance to reconnect with our past and our college friends with whom we share so many memories. We hope that you will seize the opportunity to join us next year in Fredericksburg and return to the scene of the crime, so to speak! It’s a wonderful experience, trust us! See you there.

1975

Armecia Spivey Medlock
vagirl805@msn.com

1976

Madelin Jones Barratt
madbarratt@aol.com

Yolande Long and husband Mike went on an Alaskan cruise and saw whales, seals, sea otters, and bald eagles. They stopped in Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria, B.C., before returning to Seattle. Older son Ross Fallen, a finance and economics major at VCU, had an internship at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, where he learned about small business finances. Younger son Drew Fallen is in his fourth year at U.Va. and had a summer internship at the Virginia Historical Society. He’s in the Distinguished Majors Program in history and double majoring in religious studies. Yolande’s daughter, Elizabeth Fallen Brockwell, is a stay-at-home mom working hard at the best job ever!

Lundy Baker Updike’s son, Jim Updike ’13, received a computer science degree from UMW in May and is a junior Java developer in Sterling, Va. Third son Tom
Updike ’17
, who is interested in music and engineering, started UMW this fall. The family will claim alumni from ’76, ’13, and ’17!

Barbara Baylis Hinton’s husband, Don, went as a contractor to FOB Sharana in Afghanistan for six months, and their older daughter, Lt. Laura Hinton, was deployed last winter to Kandahar. She hoped to return home in September but missed her sister’s graduation from the University of South Carolina. Daughter Jacklyn Hinton is staying in Columbia, S.C., and contemplating graduate studies in genetics. After being a substitute teacher for 15 years, Barbara joined the “dark side” and works in a Fairfax elementary school front office. It seems strange to her to go back to work as many of our contemporaries retire, but she hopes it will keep her young. Barbara reconnected last year with old roommate Penny Beard Jones ’77.

Newby and Becky Adams Mauck welcomed second granddaughter Kaitlyn Virginia Mauck in April.

Beverly Downey McCraw and husband of 29 years Jon live in Spencer, N.C., near Charlotte. Daughter Sara Beth is a senior at Columbia International University and was to do a summer internship in Guatemala. Son Ethan graduated high school with honors. Beverly planned to serve on a Campus Crusade team in July for two weeks in London and a week in southern France, working with a small Baptist church in Carpentras. Beverly, a full-time substitute teacher in Rowan County for 13 years, enjoys teaching kindergarten one day and high school the next.

Sharon Reel Fuhrmeister, a middle-school speech/language specialist for 11 years, retired in June. Before nearly 30 years in public schools, she worked in rehabilitation at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center. Older daughter Krista has Sharon’s grandson, Everett, 1. Son Gregory works in Chicago. Younger daughter Erica is a Johns Hopkins University senior. Tom and Sue Smith Hane joined Sharon on a summer trip to Spain and France.

Nancy Saunders Puckette and husband of 37 years Jim of Pleasant Valley, N.Y., are legacy executive directors for Tupperware Brands Corp. Daughter Annalise is a corporate event planner, and Nicole is a photographer.

Eva Grace Shedd lives in Silver Spring, Md., with husband Brett and son John, who finished his first year of college. Eva still works at the American College of Cardiology in D.C. Sadly, her mother passed away in February. Her dad, 92, lives in Williamsburg near Eva’s sister, Ellen Grace Jaronczyk ’70. 

Karen Sullivan Iseman and husband Ron of Ormond Beach, Fla., volunteer year-round with Operation Christmas Child of Samaritan’s Purse, which sends shoeboxes around the world to children who never receive presents. The Isemans vacationed in Maine in June, covering most of the state, from Acadia National Park to Mount Katahdin. Karen volunteers at a children’s home, is on the Genesis Counseling Center advisory board, and teaches classes at her Methodist church.

Carolyn Roberts said Cathy Colbert came for the January inauguration in D.C. So, Lucy Dee Kinsey hosted a lunch at her house with Hannah Patterson CrewDaphne Johnston Elliott, Elaine Perrino Mazur, Judy Sledge Joyce, and Carolyn Roberts.

Suzanne Hawkins Stephens is back to being a lady of leisure, aka jobless, and still coaches 4-H archery. Jack still works at Rayonier Performance Fibers in Jesup, Ga. Older daughter Linda had one semester left at Georgia Southern University and aims to make the 2016 U.S. Olympic Archery Team. Younger daughter Emily is a freshman at Georgia Southern University. Suzanne is The Star-Spangled Banner lady, having sung the national anthem at three public events!

Mary Johnson Mulligan is an official empty nester. Son Patrick graduated from Emory School of Medicine in May and married a fellow med student in Phoenix. They began their residency at University of California, San Francisco, so Mary plans lots of trips to the West Coast. Daughter Katie works for a Spanish pharmaceutical company in Miami. Daughter Courtney works in sales with MicroStrategy and lives in D.C. Mary hopes to work another five years for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center before retiring.

Originally in the Class of ’59, Sylvia Pyle gradually earned her degree and graduated as an older adult student in ’76. She taught at Drew Middle School in Stafford County for 19 years, retiring in 1995 with her husband to Singer Island, Fla., then to Indian Wells, Calif., outside Palm Springs. Her son is an art curator; her daughter is an attorney. Her grandson is a senior at Marymount College in San Pedro, Calif. Her granddaughter graduated from Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles and works at an Orange County firm. Sylvia is active in her community women’s club. Her husband loves golf. They vacation in Monmouth and San Diego, and travel to Florida and Fredericksburg.

Henry and Madelin Jones Barratt’s son, William, returned from Shanghai in March to a new job in Arlington, Va. His wife, Susanna, joined him in July. Madelin’s daughter, Ellen, still teaches in Fairfax, and younger daughter Anna goes to James Madison University. Henry still does venture capital work and lots of gardening.

Please send me your news! It’s great to hear from you.

1977

No Class Agent
classnotes@umw.edu

John and Kathye Baldwin Geary’s daughter, Meredith, wed Kevin Hawley in October in the gardens of Maryland’s historic Oxon Hill Manor. Kathy Nutter Hartman, Jody Diehl Amberly ’76, and Janet Pulliam Read helped celebrate.

Wendy Veselick Pacheco lives in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, with husband Al and border collie Mac. A senior editor for an ophthalmology journal, she telecommutes to the Virginia office. Al manages Opera de San Miguel, which promotes young singers, is a graphic designer, and co-owns the culinary tour business Flavors and Magic. Daughter Emily Pacheco Williams ’04 teaches high school science in the Bronx. Son Justin of Annapolis, Md., is in music production and has a DJ business. Last year Al’s 96-year-old mother came to live with them, and their kids and other relatives visit frequently.

1978

No Class Agent
classnotes@umw.edu

1979

Barbara Goliash Emerson
emers3@msn.com

Thanks to those who sent news.

Mary Anne Kennedy Kane, husband Brian, and adult children Allison and Bobby spent four days rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in May, hiking 9 miles down Bright Angel Trail, and boarding pontoon boats for a 100-mile, three-day journey through the canyon, exploring waterfalls and sleeping under the stars.

Gayle Weinberger Petro spent the July Fourth holiday at Lisa Carle Shields’ Smith Mountain Lake home. Gayle, Donna Anaya, Nancy Quaintance Nelles, and Lisa Bratton Soltis went to Edinburgh and London in July. Gayle is vice president of class reunions on the UMW Alumni Board and spends lots of time on campus. Our 35th reunion is coming up next summer. Be sure to note it on your calendar!

My sister, Patricia Goliash Andril ’80, attended daughter Katie’s Connecticut College graduation. Katie double-majored in English and art and planned to start George Mason University’s museum management grad program. She’s grateful to Claire Kelly ’83, who works in that field and gave her an informational interview and career advice.

I hope to hear from more of you for the next issue.