Class Notes

Anna Austin Ware still has her routine, with a relative who takes her to the grocery store and doctors’ appointments on Tuesdays and a house helper on Wednesdays. They fill in for her busy daughter, who stops by every morning before going to her office in Chestertown, Md., where they had a recent sailboat downrigging. Anna said it’s fun to see the ships when driving over the Chester River Bridge, and she’s ridden on them in the past. Anna had a recent outing with Libby Phillips Roe and Bill, and Libby’s son, Bud, who drove them around Sudlersville, where they saw their now-sold home. They visited the Roe farm, where Bud lives at Sarah’s Fancy (1748). Libby and Bill spent the night, and Bud took them back to Cokesbury the next day. The first Roe ancestor came to the area in 1673 and had other property before Sarah’s Fancy. They found a paper at Washington College in Chestertown listing the men in the troop of Col. James Roe (War of 1812), who lived at Bud’s, and a re-enactment was being planned.

Elizabeth Cumby Murray celebrated her 90th birthday in September with a 90-year-old friend. They had a party with about 200 friends at Sankaty Head Golf Club, with good food and weather, and a great band for dancing. Because of arthritis, Elizabeth doesn’t walk too well, but she still drives and plays bridge four times a week. She recently visited niece Debbie of Richmond. Since Elizabeth no longer travels, she doesn’t get to see her remaining relatives in Virginia. She looked forward to Thanksgiving with most of the family at daughter Trish’s home.

Mary Ellen Gardiner Starkey is doing pretty well, but walking is difficult, as it is for all of us 90-year-olds! She needs some help but still lives alone in her townhouse. She told me about her family, but it was hard to keep up. She has two great-nieces in college; one was about to graduate. Jan is a high school teacher, and Mary Ann has her master’s degree.

I (Phyllis Quimby Anderson) turned 90 in May. As I said last time, my children had a big party for me. Since then my daughter has married, and they are living upstairs while they look for a house. My son from Utah has been staying here and doing jobs around the house. I still drive, except at night, and he does a lot of the driving when I need it. I still play bridge, sing in the choir, am a Red Hatter, and work with our church’s Women’s Fellowship. I visited the new USS New York, built from the metal of the destroyed Twin Towers, with my two sons. Hank was on it, and every year they have a reunion in a different place, this year in Baltimore. I never knew there was so much to see there. While there, we saw my daughter Melanie, who has cancer but was on the mend. Her daughter and son-in-law in Arlington, Va., brought her to Baltimore to see us. Her son was with her for a while before heading to a new job in Chile, and friends stay with her when they can. My other children, grands, and greats are well and successful. Looking forward to a bright New Year!