Class Notes

 Patsy Monahan Holden writes that she retired from education as a school counselor in 2005 and retired from being lead therapist at a local psychiatric hospital in 2012. She continues to work as a Licensed Professional Counselor one day a week at a local agency and has a small private practice. She and her husband Mike travel to Austin once a month to visit their triplets and their families. They have 4 grandchildren ranging in age from 2 to 15. They’re planning a family trip to Hawaii next year to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

Nancy McDonald Legat and her husband Dan celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary in June (2017) and enjoyed a trip to Myrtle Beach where they had spent their honeymoon. Later in the year they’re going on a cruise to the Bahamas. They love spending time with their 3 daughters and sons-in-law, 7 grandchildren and 2 grandsons-in-law and 3 great grandchildren all of whom live within a couple of hours from them!

Leonora Talley Burger writes:  “Recently I met up with Mary Carter Bishop ’67 in Charlottesville. She has written a book that is scheduled for publication next summer. I knew when we were roommates at Mary Washington that she would one day publish a book! Her career has been as a newspaper reporter and feature writer. She is married to Dan Crawford and lives in Roanoke. I am continuing to practice as a therapist in Annandale and have daughters living in Manassas and New Orleans (a great place to visit!) In April I enjoyed a wonderful Viking river cruise in Eastern Europe with family members.”

Please note:

Just after the celebration of our 50^th Class Reunion, Eleanor Frith Peters wrote the following letter to our Class of 1967:

Dear Classmates,

We happy few (twenty-four plus a few brave husbands) gathered at Mary Wash for our 50^th reunion this past weekend. We missed those of you who were not able to join us. We know sometimes it’s hard to deconflict those things that pull at us but we still missed you!

From those first classmate sightings and big hugs on the lawn of Brompton on a beautiful Friday afternoon, we enjoyed one another’s company whether we had really known each other in 1963-1967, were vague acquaintances or couldn’t remember ever laying eyes on one another! Wish you could have been with us. . . After an opportunity to meet the new and impressive UMW President, Dr. Troy Paino, and wonder through the lovely and historic President’s residence, we adjourned across the street to the Jepson Alumni Executive Center for a delightful dinner where we were inducted into the “1908 Society” because it was our 50^th reunion. However, best of all, we had more opportunity to catch up and reminisce. Some classmates had brought memorabilia and Susan Saffran Potter and Peggy Ford Poe had generously volunteered to provide some entertainment! First, there was a flat screen TV running a loop of photos of our classmates—you were probably part of that show! Then, at an appropriate moment, Susan and Peggy stood and began, in turn, to ask us questions beginning, “Do you remember. . . ?” or “Where were you when. . . ?” or “Did you ever. . . ?” or. . . People shouted out answers to lots of hilarity.

On Saturday, because it was another chance to gather with our classmates, the highlight for me was the picnic lunch. Again, Susan and Peggy took the lead. They had decorated our tent on Ball Circle and had two maps, an activity for us to all join in on. One was a map of the world with stick pins for us to mark where we have traveled. The second was a map of the US to mark where all our classmates are. Based on those two maps, we are a well-travelled group! The world was pretty well covered! Our tent won second prize in a competition we didn’t know existed! During the picnic, we gathered briefly on the steps of Ann Carter Lee Hall for a class photo. Following the picnic, we had a brief class meeting in Ball to remember our classmates who died too young.

That afternoon there was also an opportunity to hear Dr. Paino talk on the state of the University, and to meet his lovely wife, Kelly Paino. Those of us present were pleased to hear his vision for the future. While he didn’t pitch us specifically, he did point out that everything costs money and he is always happy for us to give financially to our Alma Mater!

On Saturday evening, some participated in the All-Class Party in the new University Center on the site of Chandler Hall which we all remember, some more fondly than others, depending on what classes we had there! Some others gathered in smaller numbers at local restaurants where we could hear one another talk!

There were lots of interesting sounding classes offered over the weekend which some of our classmates attended. To one degree or another, we all wandered the expanding campus, sticking our heads into classrooms, the library or dorms and meeting some of the few, though enthusiastic, students still on campus. Some classmates visited historic sites around Fredericksburg, some shopped at the College book store where the “C shop” used to be, some participated in the wine and beer tasting, some took naps to be fresh for the evening!! No matter the activity, we missed YOU, our absent classmates!

Five years will fly by and 2022 will be here before we know it. I know the other 23 of our classmates who were here in 2017 join me in encouraging you to come to our 55^th (!!!) reunion. If this year was any indication, I know we’ll have fun! In the meantime, when you take a trip or retire or have a new grandchild or move into new digs, or to share whatever is going on in your life, please send a note or a postcard (or your Christmas letter) to Nancy McDonald Legat (dlegat1@sc.rr.com), our class scribe, so she can share the news with the rest of us in the college magazine. It’ll only take a couple minutes and the rest of us will be so pleased to hear!

With love,

Your classmate,

Eleanor Frith Peters

June 5, 2017