Class Notes

I can always count on Lisa Bratton Soltis and Gayle Weinberger Petro to have lots of class news. Lisa reported that Gayle, along with her significant other, Jim, visited Roanoke in April and they had a great time! She is still waiting for Gayle to move to the Star City, but not sure the move is still in her plan. She added that Donna Anaya attended her cousin’s wedding in May in Greece, and she absolutely loved being there and hopes to make it a UMW girls’ trip in the near future.

Lisa had plans to meet up with Nancy Quaintance Nelles at Wintergreen over Father’s Day weekend. Gayle, Nancy, and Lisa were looking forward to a visit with Karin Hedberg to celebrate her birthday the weekend of July 24–26 in Cape Cod. Gayle had plans to travel to Boston to visit friends, while Nancy and Lisa were headed to Newport, Rhode Island, and Woodstock, Vermont, ending their journey in New York City to attend Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway.

Lisa added that Sally Hart Morgan stopped in Roanoke on the way to visit her parents in Ferrum, Virginia. Sally, Julia Martin Belvin ’72, and Lisa had a great visit at dinner. Julia and Lisa are planning a trip to Sally’s house in early fall to ride the Virginia Creeper Trail.

Over Memorial Day weekend, Diana Rupert Livingston ’71, of Richmond, and Lisa visited UMW Foundation Board peer Jeane Baughn Stone ’75 in Birmingham, Alabama. They had a fabulous time eating their way through this lovely Southern city. Lisa noted that it was a great experience and the silver lining is that they learned a new game—Mah Jongg!

Also in May, Vickie Nichols Sherertz ’78 and Joan Castner Neiderlehner ’77 hosted a wonderful dinner for just the girls, and it was a stellar meal!

Lastly, Lisa noted that Shelley Roberts Havnoonian lost her father-in-law in May. He was a wonderful man and was 90 years old when he passed away.

Gayle Weinberger Petro continues to stay busy traveling the country. She attended the wedding of a former student who is now a police officer and ran into another four students that she taught. While retired from Fairfax County Public Schools, Gayle is still subbing at her former school when needed. She calls it “diva” subbing, as she only works at her former school and only when it’s pre-arranged to fit into her busy schedule. She and Jim volunteered at Reunion Weekend where they served as Host and Hostess of the Carl’s Trolley, and Gayle announced the Alumni Awards at the All-Class Party.

Gayle noted that Lisa Bratton Soltis does a news show for Economic Development called Biz Roanoke. According to Gayle, Lisa is quite good at interviewing new businesses in the Roanoke area. Gayle added that Lisa Carle Shields handles mortgage loans for Sun Trust and now lives at Smith Mountain Lake.

Mark Fortney emailed from Ohio to say he has been retired for several years but keeps involved by coaching track and girls’ basketball at local schools. He added that Athens made it to the state of Ohio Division III finals in football before falling to Toledo Central Catholic.

Carolyn Bess Pantzer wrote that she retired from Fairfax County’s Department of Family Services in January 2015 after 26 years and is loving retirement! She has a new grandson, Landon, born in March, so retirement allows her to spend more time with him.