Class Notes

Hello, Class of ’91! Hope this finds you all well. Here’s the latest news…

Lori Klugman was one of the animal activists who lobbied for the newly passed Dog and Cat Meat Prohibition Act of 2018, which makes dog and cat meat illegal in the U.S. She also lobbied for the newly passed U.S. Resolution asking other countries to ban dog and cat meat. In addition, Lori choreographed, for the second time, the staff/residents musical review at the Continuing Care Retirement Community, where she works as a fitness trainer and group exercise/dance instructor.

Gina Haney lives in Mountain View, California where she runs her own firm, Community Consortium http://www.communityconsortium.net, consulting on heritage resource management around the world. She is also a graduate student at Stanford University. Gina has a teenager, an 11-year old, a young Corgi, and an active husband from New Zealand to also keep her busy.

Sharon Conner and her high school sweetheart, David Rooks, celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary in June. The couple resides with their two boys, ages 16 and 13, in New Kent County, VA. Sharon serves as the District Manager for the Hanover-Caroline Soil and Water Conservation District, where she just celebrated 20 years. When she is not working to “Save the Bay,” Sharon enjoys traveling, boating, and scuba diving. Sharon’s former UMW roommate and friend, Paula Williams Dye and her husband, Randy, whom she met while attending UMW, reside in Gloucester, VA. Paula works at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. She is the proud mother to three girls, with one currently enrolled at UMW, one at William and Mary, and one a junior at Gloucester High School. Sharon and Paula get together several times a year and reminisce about the fun they had when they lived together in Westmoreland Hall in 1987.

Monnie Huston Wertz recently earned her Ph.D. in Education from the University of South Florida. She is currently serving as the Assistant Vice President of Operations and Planning at the University of Tampa, where she has been working in a variety of different positions for the last 26 years. Monnie is married with two daughters, one who has just completed her first year at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC. Monnie also serves on the board of Three Strand Cord, 3strandcord.org, which facilitates international community development, so she has had the opportunity to have lots of adventures in growing places. She recently saw Lisa Hohl Isbell and Melissa Bosley Rice ’90 on a business trip.

Billy Germelman is part of a band, called City of Winchester Pipes and Drums, which does a St. Patrick’s Pub Tour as a fundraising event. This year, as Billy was headed to a local pub, he was surprised by MWC classmates Barb Elwell Carmichael, Anne Thompson Mendez, and Rachael Schmeller Crout who had been in town for a get-together. Billy enjoyed catching up with them and sharing a little cheer!

Mary Washington grads continue to be able to enjoy the music that they so fondly remember from the college days as The Rabble Rousers have been playing at various venues in the Fredericksburg and Northern Virginia areas, including a June reunion show at The Colonial Tavern. They still sound just as good as they did back in the day! Follow their Facebook page for information on upcoming shows.

Frank and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary this summer. Time sure flies! Seems like we were just attending Junior Ring Dance. I hope you all will stay in touch and send your news and updates! I always enjoy hearing from you!