Class Notes

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1970s

1970

Carole LaMonica Clark
clarktjcj@gmail.com

Last October we traveled to Arlington, Va., where my parents’ cremains were inurned in a moving ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. It was wonderful to honor my parents with my siblings, their families, and many of our cousins. Ted and I live in Soleil, a Canton, Ga., 55-plus community north of Atlanta. We planned to move to our new home in December and unpack all the boxes that sat in our rental home for months.

Ellen Grace Jaronczyk visited son Forrest and family last August in Seattle and saw Mount Rainier National Park. Her sisters and other son, Morgan, visit her regularly.

Kirsten Mackey Fleisher and suitemates Tanya Belt Nickson ’69, Anne Howell Wood, Cheryl Ulmer Nashel ’69, Jan Desmond Melluzzo ’69, and Doralece Lipoli Dullaghan had a summer mini-reunion in Newtown, Pa., toured Philadelphia, saw a demonstration by French chef Jean Pierre Tardy, and reminisced about college days.

Please send news. I would love to hear from more of you.

1971

Karen Laino Giannuzzi
kapitankL11@yahoo.com

When we read this, spring will be on the horizon. Many of you said not much changed in past months, but any news lets us connect. Send additional email addresses so we can stay in touch, through Mary Anne Burns’ class Facebook page and my column alias.

Liz Keith, Barb Exline Staller, and I – suite/roommates for most of our MWC years, though Barbara left for Ursinus College after sophomore year – had our second annual lunch while Liz was on the East Coast in November and caught up with gossip and pictures.

Mary Jane Chandler Miller and husband Fred celebrated their 41st anniversary in February. They plan to work another few years so they can comfortably retire. Their granddaughter is 3½, and Mary Jane was expecting another granddaughter.

After 42 years teaching, Beth Fleming Skidmore planned to retire at the end of the school year. Her two unmarried sons are happy and healthy. Oldest Alex interviewed for an interventional radiology residency program and was to learn in March if he’d made a match with a hospital and program.

Susan Brown Lohin is in close touch with Wendy Dickerson Smith. Her youngest child and only daughter, Amanda, 32, graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in the Caribbean in June 2012. She was interning in animal medicine for a year at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Massachusetts and living at home.

Elaine “Cookie” Brennan Wright still works but was able to spend a month with Rich in Italy, teaching a course in Venice. Rich loves the Chesapeake and his boat. Their younger daughter and her fiancé were to finish grad school at U.Va. in May and marry in June. Their older daughter received an MBA in May 2013.

Mary Weaver Mann’s son, Geoff, and Becky had their fourth child, second girl, Virginia “Ginna” Ruth, named after Mary’s mother, who’s 103. Daughter Emily and Steve expected their fourth child, third girl, around Jim’s March birthday. Mary is still with Betty Barnhardt Hume at the Fredericksburg library, where she’s worked 27 years.

Mary Anne Burns’ mother, 95, passed away in January 2013. Mary Anne said mothers deserve to be honored for raising us. Her mother was her best friend and highest ideal in ethics, using one’s gifts, the purpose of intelligence, and kindness. Her mother dressed for the day and, shortly after Mary Anne’s brother arrived, took her last breath. Mary Anne spent time with her in November 2012 and will always cherish that last visit. She’s still with the Library of Congress, does yoga, travels, and meets friends like Kathi O’Neill, Kathy “Ernie” Marilla Kent, Jane Touzalin, and Philo Funk. Mary Anne planned a Caribbean cruise honoring Edie Windsor and Maya Angelou.

Thanks to all who send notes, cards, and the occasional letter. Our 45th reunion is just two years away! Start planning now, and let’s surpass the great numbers at the 40th.

1972

Sherry Rutherford Myers
sherry@nqgrg.com

Hello, one and all. My apologies for the lapse in news. It seems we all stay too busy.

I saw Gale Mattox and Kathy Deneke Clatanoff at an October UMW cocktail party in Annapolis, Md. Gale planned a trip to Germany and is in touch with Debbie Gill, Susan Hanson Roberts, and Eileen Reynolds Cantoni. Kathy and husband Bud downsized from a house in Alexandria, Va., to a condo in downtown Annapolis, where they can walk almost everywhere and sometimes go weeks without driving. One grown child lives in Italy, the other in Arkansas, and Kathy and Bud try to visit at least once a year. It’ll be fun having them in Baltimore when they get a chance to visit.

Many girls from the third-floor front of Virginia Hall spent a November weekend in the Nelson County mountains. Shirley Harris Sutton hosted Nancy Mahone Miller, Mary Saunders Williams, Terri Hall Alford, and Martha Stansell Vogel in her mountain home near Roseland, Va. Brenda Franklin, Anne Toms Richardson, and Ilona Kardos Tonelson, visiting from her Wintergreen mountain retreat, also attended. They caught up with Laurie Clark Crigler, who many hadn’t seen since graduation, in Charlottesville. Highlights included buying apples in Piney River and Gouda from nuns in Crozet. It’s wonderful to hear about these lifelong friendships and annual traditions.

Dennis and I joined Cheryl Prietz Childress and husband Dave at a Fort Frederick Market Fair reenactment last April. The Childresses had reenactments all over the place this past year. Cheryl got requests from organizations for the custom buttons she made for historical costumes. Son Alex works for a Richmond radio station. The Childresses visited daughter Thea and husband Eric in Montreal, where Eric’s company sent him on assignment. They were to be closer to home after the first of the year.

Dennis and I planned to spend part of Thanksgiving weekend at their farm and part of it, as well as Christmas, with my mother, 91, who still drives, gardens, and lives independently. We keep busy with cultural activities in Baltimore. My law firm position remains hectic but satisfying. We vacationed in Portland, Maine, and Boston in June and spent a weekend in Carlisle, Pa., seeing foliage and the Army Heritage Museum.

Would love to hear from more of you, so don’t hesitate to write. I hope you had a happy holiday season and a terrific beginning to

1973

Joyce Hines Molina
joyce.molina@verizon.net

We spent a week with family at Corolla in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, walking on the beach and eating crabs, and saw magnificent fall colors in the Smoky Mountains. Rod and I have a 3-year-old grandson and expected a new grandchild in April.

Those active in the Campus Christian Community remember director Loreeda Jones “Jonesy” Niemann. She passed away in September, and a celebration of her life was held in Fredericksburg in October.

Janet Hedrick continues her job search and recently learned the pastor of her church, Franconia United Methodist, is Catharine Tidball Guest ’72. Catharine, or Cathy, as we Jefferson basement residents remember her, has four grown children and was finishing course work on her doctorate of ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary.

Sharon Richmond Janis closed the doors of The Delaware Inn in October. Kaye Carrithers continues her Spanish class. Virginia Davey Addison looks forward to retirement and babysits her two granddaughters and granddog. Deb Reynolds Linder welcomed grandaughter Arabella Grace in August and traveled with Bruce to England to see her.

Patricia Stewart had fun seeing those at our 40th reunion. Now that life has quieted a bit she hopes to make more of these events and participate in the local alumni chapter. A semi-retired physical therapist, she has lived in Richmond’s Fan/Museum District since 2006, after living in Tidewater since 1974. She and husband Bob Traub live in a house built in 1914 and can walk to restaurants, shops, and museums. Her two sons moved from California to Virginia. Patricia swims, bikes, and participates in community activities. She’s active with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the country’s largest grassroots mental health organization, and recently trained to teach its Family-to-Family educational program, a 12-week course for families of those with severe mental illnesses.

Dale Cole Carter has a new grandson, earned an Indiana health facility administrator license, and will provide leadership in a long-term care community. Dale founded Transition Aging Parents, wrote a book, and has a radio program.

Susan Regan’s September Mediterranean cruise left from Barcelona and stopped in Marseilles, Monaco, Pisa, Rome, Naples, and Sicily. Susan lunched recently with Debbe Heiman-Hughes and Ruth Siko; they try to get together a couple times a year.

As always, thanks to everyone who shared news. Please continue; without you, there will be no entry for the Class of ’73.

1974

Sid Baker Etherington
sidleexx@yahoo.com

Suzy Passarello Quenzer
sq3878@att.com

1975

Armecia Spivey Medlock
vagirl805@msn.com

Natalie Whitcomb received the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies’ 2013 Outstanding Educator Award, presented to college/university educators, for her contributions to geoscience education in the Gulf Coast area. She was nominated for the award by the Southeastern Geological Society, of which she is a member. Natalie teaches at Polk State College in Winter Haven, Fla. She was honored as an exceptional teacher and enthusiastic and innovative educator whose work has brought schools and community leaders together to promote knowledge and application of geosciences.

My husband, Gene, and I have lived in North Carolina’s Sandhills area for more than a year. We bought a home in Pinehurst, unofficially known as the country’s golf capital. I still work part time with Weight Watchers; do yoga, Pilates, and Zumba; sing in the church choir; and read novels when I can. Like many of you, I celebrated the big 6-0 this year. How did that happen? My apologies for not sending the yearly postcard last year. I promise to get back on track this year. I look forward to seeing many of you at our 40th reunion in 2015. It’ll be here faster than you know. Keep the news coming!

1976

Madelin Jones Barratt
madbarratt@aol.com

Jeanne Hepburn St. Martin of Louisiana, a Mary Washington music and theater arts major, earned a master’s degree in education from East Tennessee State University. She taught 20 years in Virginia and was recognized as an outstanding educator by the Governor’s School of Virginia. She and husband Jack Cline moved to Louisiana, where he’s in the petroleum industry. Son Richard is in university. Dog Fideaux, half Cajun, half Creole, loves to eat alligator. Jeanne’s mother, Jean Quillen St. Martin ’48, majored in chemistry and history and passed away in 2007. Sister Jo-Marie St. Martin ’82, married to Robert Green, majored in math and physics, went to law school at the University of Tennessee, and is general counsel for Speaker of the House John Boehner.

Sue Sendlein Luscomb was appointed to the P.E.O. International STAR Scholarship project’s board of trustees. She’s been a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a philanthropic organization seeking to motivate women to achieve their highest goals, for 22 years. Sue does community Bible study, served this year as small group discussion leader, and works part time in a home décor fabric store. She and psychologist husband Rich travel and spend time with daughters Alicia, married and working on a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, and Ashton, who works in e-commerce marketing for the Hunter Fan company and recently renovated her home.

Helen Taylor Salter teaches two autobiographical writing courses a semester at a Colorado university. She and Alison Haworth Regan do needlework and cook together. They planned to have Thanksgiving together at Red Cliffs Lodge near Moab, Utah, with their mothers. Helen said Judy Clark Hays’ two children are in medical school. Rebecca Reams still teaches choral music at SUNY Potsdam. Lundy Baker Updike’s youngest son is a UMW freshman. Patty Jo Anderson is retired.

Sharon Reel Fuhrmeister is retired and recently went to Chicago with friend Michael to watch son Greg run the marathon. They planned to visit Sue Smith Hane and husband Tom in Raleigh, N.C.

Janice Gernhart Bogy and husband live in southwestern Montana. She still teaches harp but was focusing on the visual arts. One of her scratchboard pieces was selected for publication in Strokes of Genius 6, highlighting excellence in drawing.

Helen Thornton Branch moved to Peachtree City, Ga., near grandchildren CJ and Avery. She works part time as a domestic violence victim counselor and advocate, doing education and prevention programs in the local jail. She travels when she can and loves to read. Cat Miss Gertie and dog Baxter think she’s privileged to live with them.

Sylvia Soutzos Pyle and husband Arnie traveled to Mammoth Lake, Calif., to fish and read. They escaped the San Diego heat with their children and grown grandchildren. Sylvia hoped to see news of classmates from ’55 and ’56, when she first enrolled at MWC.

Madelin Jones Barratt and husband Henry were preparing for daughter Ellen’s November wedding. Younger daughter Anna was to begin the pastry arts program at L’Académie de Cuisine in Maryland in January.

1977

Anne Robinson Hallerman
arhmwc77@yahoo.com

1978

Cindy Drury Clark
classnotes@umw.edu

1979

Barbara Goliash Emerson
emers3@msn.com

I hope everyone has our 35th reunion, May 30 to June 1, on their calendars. It’ll be great to see everyone and the beautiful Mary Washington campus. Gayle Weinberger Petro, Lisa Bratton Soltis, Bonnie Berry, and I are helping coordinate for our class.

Sue Moore Davis is an intervention specialist at Leesville Road Elementary in Wake County, N.C. Husband Dan is still economic adviser to the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. They look forward to retirement so they can both be in North Carolina all week. Oldest daughter Rachel graduated early from UNC Chapel Hill and is a grad student in medieval history at the University of Edinburgh. Sue helped move her to Scotland and loved exploring her new home country with her. Youngest Hannah is a UNC Chapel Hill junior. Sue walks their two dogs and rides Hannah’s horse.

I hope to hear more from you for the next University of Mary Washington Magazine.