Class Notes

From Sally Hangar Moravitz, I was talking to her a few days ago and we enjoyed talking to each other about our age and how we felt.  No comments, except that we’re still of course here.  She has some positive news!  She is now starting her 30th year as s docent in the Insect Zoo in the Smithsonian Natural History Museum.  She talks about forgetting things.  Some times she has to take a deep breath and the words do come.  Well for me it’s first names which take a while, but eventually I find my words!

    I have a very nice note from Ann Strickler Doumas who dropped me a line while Reunion events were still fresh in her mind.  She was the only alum registered from the class of 1955.  So she hung out with sister Ellen S. Richardson class of 1957.  Class night dinner Kenmore Inn had grads from 1966 and older.  They numbered 45 or so.  Dr. Paino appeared in to greet them for a few minutes.  Mary-Montague Sikes ’57 promoted her art books which UMW Bookstore also stocks.  One on Historic Hotels and the other a children’s Animal ABC.

As always she enjoyed the sample lectures of various subjects.  “Shakespeare: Genius or Fraud” by Helen Housley from the drama department was super.  Also one on James Monroe.  Then to a visit to his law office now run by UMW.  Reception at Brompton lovely as usual.  Perfect weather for the picnic as well.  She sat with Peggy Gray Williams ’57 and her husband from the Eastern Shore.  Peggy is battling Parkinsons bravely.  Also want to say the Ridderhof – Martin Gallery featured the Life and Work of Margaret Sutton ’26.  Interesting fact, she never sold much art but left 1000+ pieces to UMW.  She made her living in NY City in art related jobs, fabrics design, etc., from Abington, VA originally.  Art students had done the discription of each piece.  Very well done.  Ann thanks for all the news is is appreciated!

From Anne Lou Rohrbach Culwell, she says Chris Harper Hovis was lucky to get back to Fredericksburg to attend her granddaughter’s graduation.  Anne Lou went to a great grandson’s wedding in Chicago last weekend, she has another grandson getting married in Norman, OK next Saturday, and a third in July, plus (2) new great-great grand babies due the end of June or end of Sept.  (Ok Anne was it this end of June of end of Sept.?  Didn’t quite understand.)  She was supposed to go to the Chickasaw Nation this Tuesday but fell last Sunday and is not moving too swiftly.  There will be a lot walking and has a hitch in her “git along” also a slight fracture in her left wrist so she is feeling her age.  She wishes everyone to have a good summer and hopes it is well with all.

Had a great talk with Carol Cooper on June 12th on the phone.  She remarked about a wonderful boat trip she took on the Queen Mary last year.  Then we had a wonderful time talking about many Classmates.  Such as who is so and so, haven’t seen them in years – or who is doing what, and where are they doing it?  I will try some more you guys.  I know all our ages but what the heck.  I still want a least a little info about your life.  Look out or I will start asking for your opinion of the federal government and you know what that will do about opinions!

Dotty Booth Sanders wrote me a nice note about my recovering from my stroke and arthritis, and I feel pretty good right now. Our family went to my granddaughter’s graduation in May. More about that later in this letter. Thank you Dotty.

On May 13, 2017, right after commencement at UMW there was an article posted on UMW’s website featuring some current graduates.  It was called “Birds of a Feather: Eagle Grads Flock Together.” It seems there was something special about UMW’s commencement ceremony on Saturday.  One of the group is a member of my family, my granddaughter Morgan Hovis James ’17 who double majored in German and Environmental Affairs.  Next year she will attend Lewis and Clark School of Law, class of 2020, in Portland, Oregon.  Lisa Chinn Maravashti ’92 took pictures of me with my family, including Robin and Lance James, and Neil, Morgan, and Harper Hovis James ’19. Harper, as a part of his school job, ushered at the commencement.  Although not mentioned in the article, Charles Nicholas Harper (my father) graduated from the University of Virginia medical college around 1916 (I am not sure of the exact date – rather ancient times!) When I attended Mary Washington College it was connected to the University of Virginia. In the article I note that in 1955 MWC was a different school; it was an all women’s school. I noted in the article that when I visited in the fall of 2012 so much had changed. It was now UMW and now co-ed. But Morgan said in the article that the Mary Washington magic remained. I think UMW has grown so much that it has developed many beautiful buildings and especially the introduction of the new types of studies that are available in 2017. They will be available to both men and women forever as UMW will always develop as needed.