Class Notes

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.