Class Notes

From Linkey: Arlene Drescher Wilson and Julie Burch Southall reconnected after 50 years! They were freshmen together in Virginia, then roomies in U.Va.’s Mary Munford Hall. Julie’s son lives in Nashville, too, so they’ll see more of each other. After 25 years in textiles, Arlene is painting and, as an urban land scout, helps maintain green spaces in Nashville. She recently held an art sale to benefit Walden’s Puddle wildlife refuge in Tennessee. Arlene is in centering prayer groups and welcomed granddaughter Eva, compliments of son Henry, a plastic surgeon in Lynchburg, Virginia, and wife Caroline, a Ph.D. in education administration who’s now a stay-at-home mom.

In response to Betsy’s question about a favorite professor, Arlene chose James Croushore, with whom she had English freshman and sophomore years. She said he gave her a lasting love of literature.

Nancy Maynard was disappointed to miss the reunion. After graduation, she earned a master’s degree in zoology and Ph.D. in marine biology at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS). Her career alternated between scientific research and science policy/administration, including work involving the Atlantic Ocean, the Everglades watershed, and oil spill response. She’s been a science policy analyst for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and done NASA satellite remote sensing of the ice edge and Arctic tundra, among other things. In 2012, Nancy changed her NASA status to emeritus, officially retired, and returned to Miami to a visiting scientist position at RSMAS, near her daughter and new grandson. The last few years she’s worked on climate change assessments in the U.S. and internationally.

Janice Coleman taught for 44 years in Manhattan, but the increasingly overcrowded sidewalks and cost of big-city living prompted a move. She rented a Fredericksburg apartment and was looking forward to being a Virginia resident and seeing Mary Washington friends at campus events.

I saw a Facebook post by Patsy Ballou Hindman about a visit from her daughters and grandchildren. Betsy Chamberlain Hartz visited with Patsy and freshman roommate Jean Duncan in Charleston in May 2013.

In response to Betsy’s question about her favorite professor, Linda Gulnac Steelman said she couldn’t remember names but loved a senior year art course with an energetic new teacher who inspired her to understand Impressionist art and seek out paintings on trips to Europe. Linda spent much time senior year learning how to throw clay and working at the potter’s wheel. She also remembers an energetic blond professor who introduced her to children’s literature sophomore year. Linda used the textbook for years when teaching elementary school. Older son Rob, in New York banking, wrote a children’s book called The Duck and the Bear: Learn Good Manners, illustrated by a fellow Swarthmore graduate.

Anne Rasmussen Lyles retired from a 32-year teaching career but still subs. She’s involved with historic preservation of old homes in Salisbury, North Carolina, serves on the board of the Historic Salisbury Foundation (HSF), and has restored nine houses in recent years with her two sons. This past fall, Anne’s house was on HSF’s October tour of homes, with 900 people trudging through her house in two days! While attending her 55th high school reunion in Richmond this spring, Anne visited Sally Tarrant Bernert and Nancy Lee Leidy. Betsy Hartz had to work and couldn’t join them. While in Wilmington, Delaware, Anne visited Nemours, home of Alfred I. duPont, who married Jessie Ball duPont, for whom MWC’s duPont Hall is named. She enjoys AAUW (Dean Hargrove would be proud) and is on the board of the local library friends organization. She and David bought a camping trailer and planned to visit Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore. There are only 12 states Anne hasn’t visited. She said her favorite professor will always be William Castle, who was our class sponsor. They kept in touch until he died.

We’re now members of the 1908 Society, which means we can go to a reunion any year. Let us know if you want to go, and we’ll spread the word. I made a photo book of the reunion for Kathy Friedman Levinson, who had surgery and couldn’t come to our 50th. You can add pictures to our Shutterfly group site. Anytime you get the urge, send news to Betsy or me.

From Betsy: Nancy Slonim Aronie sent a link to a keynote talk she gave at the Women on Fire Conference. She was funny, insightful, encouraging, and fabulous!

Nancy Pida Remmers majored in math but enjoyed education classes and earned a Virginia teaching certificate. She stayed home with her three children for 15 years, then went to work to put money in the college coffers. With the help of the Women’s Center in Vienna, Virginia, she translated her activities into a meaningful résumé and became a courseware designer/developer. During her interview, she drew from her classes, particularly geometry. She spent the next 30 years in the field of training, working on contracts involving military and government clients.

Martha Van Zandt Fickett, UMW professor of music, traveled to Vienna. She lives near College Avenue and can walk to work. They’ve spent the past 14 summers in Maine. Her husband is a retired UMW political science professor, and their son is a lawyer in Richmond.

Carol Van Ness Clapp and Karen Vandevanter Morrison met near the Sagamore Bridge in June and spent time together! Carol was in Cape Cod for summer and hoped to visit Ginger Logie Carr before returning to Florida in fall.

Pete and I still enjoy life on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle. I take a class called Creative Crones, which explores creativity, and began painting this year. I also offer summer workshops on Bainbridge in character education and personal growth and have facilitated for The Virtues Project for years, recently offering webinars with a colleague in Manitoba. I loved most of my English professors at Mary Washington. Dr. Early for poetry and Shakespeare was entertaining, standing on his tiptoes and speaking with enthusiasm! Mr. Mitchell’s seminars were thought-provoking, and Dr. Croushore challenged us in American literature.

Thanks to everyone who has written such wonderful news.