Class Notes

Connie Booth Logothetis (A – G) connielogothetis@gmail.com

Renee Levinson Laurents (H – Q) arjle@aol.com

Lynne Williams Neave (R – Z) lyneave@aol.com

Please send news to the designated class agent according to the first letter of your maiden name.

From Connie:   Jerri Barden Perkins is always doing something challenging. This time, “Encouraged by a business colleague who thought my life adventures should be preserved for grand kids, I have written 8 stories for the 11 kids for Christmas.

It is dedicated to Cal and his 11 grand children with sketches by a local artist. Marcia Minton Keech has been generous with her time and most helpful critiquing the art for the book. On May 27, I will host cocktails for local artists, my sketch artist from Savannah School Art and Design, my writing teacher and other classmates and friends -assuming I have any left after this – who have listened to my struggles during this project.  Marcia and I had fun dealing with recent art graduates and the generation gaps in how we see art! First of June I am off to UMW to meet the student there with whom I have been corresponding this past year.  This was another fun project and the University did a super job in pairing us together.  She is interested in medical research, NIH and travel.  It forced me to write about my college, medical school and career choices.  Some of these I shared with my son who was astonished to learn more about my medical training and my life choices.  Although written for the student, I always receive more than I give.  Can’t wait to meet her and visit, Belmont in Fredericksburg.”

Carole Grant LeMay wrote: “It has been a busy Spring and Summer so far.  I am still a tour guide for Natchez Pilgrimage Tours here in Natchez, and I do tours off the paddle wheelers American Queen and Queen of the Mississippi.  Spring is especially busy as many busses come in from up north to escape the snow and see the azaleas and magnolias in bloom.  I specialize in Civil War tours, which for a Yankee girl like me doing a tour of Southern history is often amazing to the tourists, but where else could I talk about history and have a captive audience?  Ralph and I are still traveling.  We just returned from a trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina with our daughter, Jill, and her husband, Frank, and our grandson, Jacob who is 12 going on 20.  In a few weeks I am going to New Hampshire with a former MWC girl, Bee Stone Byrnes.  If you lived in Trench Hill our Freshman year, you may remember her.  Her son lives on a lake up there and has kindly invited me to come visit with her.  Bee lost her husband, Charles, last August, and this will be a nostalgic trip for her. [Carole and Bee connected when Bee became Ralph’s secretary. Bee left MWC after one semester. cbl] The end of July I am going on a girls’ cruise.  Eight of us are going to take off and have fun for a week.  Then it is back home and up to our lake house in north Alabama for some serious cleaning and work. Ralph and I are in good health except for the occasional ache and pain and sometimes it takes two of us to remember something.  My memories of Mary Washington are wonderful, although I was from up north and had a hard time understanding the southern accents, (and I am sure most didn’t understand me either at first), it was fun, and I value the education I received and the friendships I made.”

Linda Giles Poole was sad to report the death of her husband, William (Buddy) Poole, class of 1961, University of Virginia, in December 2016. They have lived in Houston, Texas for a most 50 years. We send our deepest sympathy to you, Linda.

Kelly Cherry just keeps on writing – “New book coming out this summer, Beholder’s Eye: Poems. Anyone who is interested will have to look at the website Small Press Books. I hope I have that name right. It will soon get furiously hot here (Halifax, VA), but right now we have open windows, fresh air, birdsong, and the poor squirrels who want to raid birdseed from the feeders but can’t figure out how to do it.

Mary Gilliam Dodson Larson has some exciting news: “I am moving to Seattle, Washington to be close to my daughter and her husband and my two adorable grandchildren. My grand daughter is 4 years old and grandson will be 2 on Father’s Day.  My new address is 2315 NE 65th Street, Apt. 402, Seattle, WA 98115. My oldest daughter is a Captain with DELTA.  She just received a diamond ring from her boyfriend so she has a wedding to plan.”

Clara Sue Durden Ashley wrote: “In April Clarence and I went to Columbia, SC, to visit some family and to attend my 60th high school reunion. The reunion was a wonderful affair but also sad because so many of our classmates were not there. On June 4th our son Park, his wife and seven kids arrived to spend most of the week with us.  One evening there were seventeen members of our family here for dinner and togetherness. We are so proud of our son Dennis.  He passed the Professional Engineering Exam! The bad news is that after eleven years my cancer (ovarian) has returned and I will begin my chemotherapy on June 22. I expect to have six treatments, one every three weeks. I will continue to work as long as I am able.  Before, I would sometimes work half days or none at all.  My boss has always been very accommodating of my needs whenever I have had take time off.  We have plenty of work (quilt repair) to do, so I will do what I can. I am optimistic that all will go well.” Thoughts and prayers are with you, my dear suitemate.

Some older news: from Dee Doran Cairns and Doug who are very happy living in San Antonio at the Army Residence Community. Their two “kids” are daughter Cathy and son Rob. Cathy and William Brown live in Montgomery, AL; their son Chris and wife Jordan live in San Francisco and were expecting their first baby. Rob and family live in Camp LeJeune, NC; their son Nathan will be in third year at West Point and daughter Katye graduated from HS and volunteers as a helper in physical therapy for the wounded warrior Marines at the Navy hospital there. She will start college this fall.

News from Ellen Gotwalt Willing laments that they are no longer able to travel due to Bill’s various infirmities…no more escaping the winter cold of York, PA, for Naples, FL, which they did for many years. Fortunately Bill’s mind is OK and his personality is “still wonderful.” Her daughter lives in Vienna, VA, and visits 1-2 times a month. Grandson graduated from HS this June. Ellen keeps busy with exercising and volunteer work.

My news is that Andy and I have been busy! A wonderful cruise to Cuba in Feb, a master bathroom upgrade in March, the wedding of my niece in Livermore, CA, in April, and a week in Delaware in June for my great-niece’s HS graduation. This young lady has wisely chosen UMW for college! Emily Rossi is my sister Linkey’s (UMW ’63) granddaughter. Emily plans to study theatre. While in DE we had lunch with Barbie Upson Welch and Chuck who spent a month in Arizona in Feb. and went on the Queen of the Mississippi music cruise from New Orleans to Memphis in April – loved it. We continue to enjoy life here in Wilmington, NC, in spite of the current GenX water crisis. Grandson Leo is now10 and loves surfing and anything active and outdoors. He is an avid reader and has read to dogs in the library’s Paws for People program.

From Renee: Sandra Phillips Conklin wrote a lovely tribute for Dr. Cover, her chemistry professor.  She learned of his passing in the last issue of the magazine.  “It was sadness mixed with gratitude for his long life….  Of all of the fine professors I encountered at MW he is the one I have thought of most often over the years because of a simple bit of information he gave me: ‘Rinse the container out three times.  It will be clean then.’ If you think of all the times you rinse something – from the wine glasses to the dog’s water dish – then you can imagine how many times I think his words!  OK, I’m weird, but that’s what happens.”  No, Sandy, not weird at all.  I have similar thoughts about Dr. Laura Voelkel Sumner every time I read or see something about Greek Mythology!  Sandy went on to say that she never knew much about Dr. Cover’s personal interests. “He was a perfect gentleman, an excellent teacher, and an important and appreciated part of my education at MWC.  Thank you, Dr. Cover.”

Sandy’s personal news is that she and hubby recently acquired a new Tibetan Mastiff puppy.  Their first one, Ketu, died last September.  This one is a female. Sugar Bear is white, light tan and honey colored.  White ones are called Snow Lion Tis and eventually develop a lion’s mane.  The house is no longer quiet & lonely.  Happy new pup, Sandy.  Are you going to build her a home of her own?  Or just add onto yours to accommodate her?!!!! Please write more about your “Steampunk Art” projects for our next News.

Donna Henninger Henderson has gained a new granddaughter!!  Her name is Eleanor Rose and she lives in Portland, OR. Donna does get to see her two or three times a year.  She will be two in July.  Donna’s son’s three children are 21, 19, and 17.  They live on the farm where Donna lives in Troutville, VA.  The oldest will be a senior at VT in August.  Donna’s hubby still helps their sons on the dairy farm; she writes checks, runs errands, and plays bridge anywhere any time!   She continues to volunteer in her community and on June 30th will celebrate 22 years of retirement!  She likes watching the Washington Nationals and NCIS, and in her spare time makes pickles!!  Donna, I LOVE NCIS…miss Cote de Pablo and Michael Weatherly, though.

Donna still fondly recalls her wonderful years at MWC.   Don’t we all, Donna!

My News: I want to thank Sandy Conklin again for the lovely tribute she paid to her chemistry professor.  Isn’t it wonderful that we had have gifted educators in our lives at MWC whose influences remain strong and bright in our memories.  Our professors received far too few accolades for the excellent work they did.  A favorite of mine was Dr. Laura Voelkel Sumner, classics professor.  I took as many of her classes as I was able to fit in.

Not much exciting news here…still busy with UCLA classes, my book group, and a political action committee in which I participate especially around election time.  I am thinking of selling my house here and moving to the desert.  Friends of mine have already done so and often urge me to join them.  I’ll probably rent something here in L.A. for the unbearable desert summers.  Maybe I’ll have news about new digs in the next installment!  My wonderful cat, Dickens, is 18 and not doing well.  But he still is eating and grooming and walks with my dog, Buddy, and my other cat, Domino, and me at night when it’s quiet here and no traffic to speak of.  So, as long as he enjoys his life, I’ll keep loving his company.

So, only two of you wrote this time.  My bad, I was very late in sending my request for news to you.  But, c’mon, gals…we meant something to each other at MWC and still do.  Hearing from all of you does my heart good. I mean it.  Please urge as many of our classmates as you can to share thoughts and life’s stories with the rest of us.  Thank you.  And God bless.

From Lynne: Thanks to all who provided us with news. Life continues to be good to me. Sandy and I are planning another Seabourn Cruise in August, this time to Alaska, celebrating a significant birthday for him!   We have two grandchildren heading off for their first year of college in September!! I continue to enjoy bridge and serving on UMW Foundation Board as well as the Board of our condo in Litchfield, CT.

Janie Riles: Janie and Jim are spending more time in Ft. Lauderdale these days, although they still go back to San Diego from time to time.  She had a nice visit from Connie and Andy last January after having houseguests every day of December! She took a quick trip to Cannes at the end June to visit friends from her years of living in France.

Pat Scott Peck: Pat had a wonderful two week visit with Carolyn Crum Pannu in April. It was her reward after completing her tax returns! Carolyn showed her so many exciting things – Muir Woods, wine tasting with her daughter, Kara, 2 great museums, beautiful coastal drives to small villages, etc. But the best was long chats about their lives and how blessed they have been. MWC was such an important part of their/our youth.  She hopes all who can will meet next spring in Texas for a mini-reunion. The years are flying by and five is too long to wait.  Pat will be in Calais, ME by mid-June and welcomes any company! It’s a small town on the Canadian border-about 2 hours North of Bar Harbor. Her cell is 305-205-0400.

Eleanore Saunders Sunderland: “Good news health wise this year is finally getting my exzema skin issue under control. The best news I have is all the time I am spending with my children.  First a wonderful trip Milan, Italy to visit my daughter with my 19 year old grandson in tow.  Of course, within 3 days he took off for Marseilles to visit with a high school friend.   Then it was time for his brother to graduate from Ohio State, so I joined my son to celebrate his son, who is promptly taking off for Tanzania for work under the arm of the State Dept.  He graduated summa cum laude in Tanzanian studies and international politics.   He speaks perfect Swahili.  The FUN news I have is my going sailing with my son on his oceangoing sailboat (now on Lake Erie going through upkeep and trials).  His big dream is to sail the Atlantic to Russia, and to navigate its rivers.  Willard is an 18/19th century Russian historian professor at the University of Cincinnati.  He speaks fluent Russian, and has written several books on that fascinating period.”

Lynne Wilson Rupert: “I returned home from an amazing 10 day trip to Iceland on May 18. What a unique country it is, although a bit chilly for this CA girl. The following weekend began with my twin grands graduating from high school in Valencia, CA. In June, my granddaughter here in Temecula graduated from high school and the following morning my grandson had promotion ceremonies at middle school. Such an exciting time for all. High school grads are off to OSU, WPI, and UCSB in the fall. One proud Grammy!!! Looking forward to traveling back to hometown Easton, MD for a high school reunion in Sept.”

Nancy Wright Wright: “Greetings to the MWC Devils of ’61 from my retirement home in Springfield, VA. I am happy to tell you that I am in good health and in a lovely Erickson Community retirement place not far from my last address so my life has not changed very much. Several friends are here and the nicest part is they serve dinner! I will be going back to my little hometown for part of the summer–my sister (also MWC) and I own a cottage there and love being together for part of the summer. My three sons and family live close by here in northern VA and my five granddaughters continue to be a great source of happiness to me– the youngest is in kindergarten and the oldest has graduated from William and Mary, is working at the Smithsonian, and has enrolled at GW for graduate school in museum studies this fall. I’m busy in the DAR –the old history major loves their programs. I’m also involved in my church, play bridge and stay busy with community life here. I love reading your news and always look forward to it.”

Kay Slaughter wrote: “Sadly, earlier this Spring my beloved friend, Judy Matthews Kennedy, (BS school of nursing UVA 1961) died after a second battle with breast cancer. Judy, from Richmond, attended MWC 1957-59 before transferring to UVa to complete her nursing degree. There she met John Matthews of Roanoke. They had three sons and raised their family in Martinsville, VA. Judy practiced nursing and became the first female chair of the Martinsville school Board in the 90s. For years we met annually to catch up. From 2001-05, my work took me to Martinsville almost monthly and I stayed with Judy and John becoming even closer to them both. I miss her. On a happier note, my daughter Margaret and I will visit Charlottesville’s sister city, Poggio a Caiano, west of Firenze, Firenze, Pisa and the environs. We’ve hosted the Italians this summer in Charlottesville to celebrate our 40th anniversary.”

CONDOLENCES

Linda Giles Poole ’61 who lost her husband

Bee Stone Byrnes ’61 who lost her husband

IN MEMORIAM

Judy Matthews Kennedy ’61