Class Notes

We had a fabulous time at our 45th reunion in May, with 82 classmates, the largest number of returning alumni from any class. We missed those who couldn’t make it.

We enjoyed a Friday evening reception at Brompton hosted by President Hurley and his lovely wife, Rose. This was followed by a dinner for our class hosted by William and Theresa “Terrie” Young Crawley ’77 at their home. Terrie made all the food herself, and the Crawleys donated the proceeds from the dinner back to UMW. Many attended Saturday classes, and our class won the prize for the best decorated tent at the picnic. The reunion tent committee, headed by Iris Harrell, did a great job! Our theme was “The Way We Were.” We had memorabilia from our time at Mary Washington, including the ever-popular beanies we wore when we first arrived in 1965. All the decorations were a blast from the past. We enjoyed a buffet and a band at the all-class party at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center. Many of us danced the night away, including President Hurley and Rose! Our class won the award for the largest percentage of alumni giving, at 44 percent. We contributed more than $900,000 to UMW, placing third overall. Once again our class won the two highest alumni awards. Patti Boise Kemp most deservedly was presented the Frances Liebenow Armstrong ’36 Service Award for her lifetime of service to UMW. The Distinguished Alumnus Award for an alum who’s made significant achievements and contributions to her profession and community went to Iris Harrell, who personifies this with her successful company, Harrell Remodeling. She recently retired as chair, and the company is now entirely employee-owned. The Class of ’69 is so proud of Patti and Iris. The reunion ended with the Sunday farewell brunch. There were many sad goodbyes, but we all agreed it was the best reunion yet. I encourage you to go to our Class of 1969 Facebook page to see the pictures. Our 50th reunion in 2019 will be here before we know it!

In addition to the Mary Washington reunion, Betty Wade Miles Perry attended family reunions in Norfolk, Virginia, and Hilton Head, South Carolina. She traveled to the LPGA U.S. Open golf tournament in Pinehurst, North Carolina, and planned her annual family trip to the Outer Banks in July.

Cheryl Ulmer retired as a study director at the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, in December 2013. In January, she joined senior year roommate Judith Farrell Bechtold of California on a trip to the Galapagos Islands, hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling. At our 45th reunion, they were joined by former roommates and hall mates Jan Desmond Melluzzo, Carol Greenwood Trejo, Tanya Belt Nickson, Loretta Horgan Nagle, Beverley Clare Coates ’68,
Doralece Lipoli Dullaghan ’70, Anne Howell Wood ’70,and Kirsten Mackey ’70.Cheryl’s son and daughter-in-law of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, welcomed a baby in April.

Anne Witham Kilpatrick was sorry to miss her first reunion in 25 years. Her granddaughter graduated from high school, so Anne and her husband took her to Aruba. Anne’s roommate, Jeanine Zavrel Fearns, also missed our reunion as she was on an Alaskan cruise with her daughter. Anne and Jeanine hope to have a mini-reunion this summer with suitemates Suzy Bender Winterble and Toni Turner Bruseth. Toni lives with husband Jim in Texas, where the group’s formal reunion will be next year. Their exhibit on the explorer LaSalle’s ship La Belle will open to the public in the Bullock Texas State History Museum. The project and book received many awards and was the subject of a TV show. Anne looks forward to her 50th high school reunion next fall. She’s taken up yoga again and is vice regent of her DAR chapter. She’ll be regent next summer. Anne’s husband, Roger, is active in the bagpipe band Greenville Pipes and Drums. Anne and Roger planned to attend a competition in Charleston, South Carolina, in September.

Lesley Fanning Atkinson attended the reunion, joined by Nancy Raisor Schlossberg, Polly Francis Rosenstein, Donna Jones Searle ’70,and Gabrielle Pagin ’70. They all lived in Russell together. They had such a good time they decided to return for the Class of ’70’s reunion next year.

Phyllis Newby Thompson attended the reunion, her first ever. Husband John and their dog, Kona, who became our unofficial class mascot, accompanied her. Phyllis gathered with Carol Greenwood Trejo, Betsy Crews Nielson,and Gloria Shelton Gibson, who were all in her high school class. Phyllis and Betsy were together from first grade through Mary Washington graduation. Phyllis’ son planned an August wedding in Napa Valley. The newlyweds will live in Minneapolis, and Phyllis and John planned summer visits with them and with their daughter in New York. They also planned a trip to their second home on Hawaii’s Kona coast. Last time they were there, Phyllis fell on slippery lava while hiking and had to be airlifted off the island for surgery to repair cuts on her face.

This is my last column as class agent. Iris Harrell is taking over. I’ve had fun hearing all your news over the past few years. Please send your news to Iris at irish@harrell-remodeling.com.