Class Notes

Judy Wolfe Allen convinced her husband Jack to go on a river cruise in Europe to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Having spent two tours on a carrier flying F-8s over Viet Nam, it took some convincing on Judy’s part, but he agreed to go and they flew to Paris and were whisked from the airport to the river boat on the Seine. They soon discovered that over a third of the other passengers were couples celebrating their 50th anniversary of graduation from West Point (Class of ’64.) They had a great time ragging on Jack, Annapolis Class of ’61, and Judy and Jack became known as “Judy and Jack from that Boat School!” Judy walks regularly in the U.K. with several friends also from the U.S.; last May it was Cornwall. Moving to a smaller home near the San Diego beach gives Judy more time for reading, genealogy, and walking.

From Jane: my sister and I made our annual visit to relatives in Virginia in June, and had our annual lunch in Charlottesville with Emily Lewis and Joan Akers Rothgeb. Amazing how our conversation continues easily even though we only see each other once a year. In September my sister and I traveled to Ireland to visit the places our paternal relatives had come from. We started with the library at Trinity College in Dublin, reading some papers written by Walshe relatives from the early 1800s, visited New Ross from where our great grandfather emigrated to New Orleans, and ended our visit in Termonfeckin, where our five times great grandparents were buried. We had a great trip and learned a lot of family history, and managed to also learn that Guinness is really good!

Judy Walsh White and her husband Chris attended a show of Nancy Burch Brassington’s work in the spring, “Life Made Still: The Last Ten Years” at the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania. Judy added to her collection of pictures by Nancy. Nancy’s work will be on exhibit at the Agora Gallery in New York City during December 2014 and January 2015; Nancy is now represented by that gallery. Judy has one of her plays for young adults, Ariadne’s Thread, now in print.

Gayle Harris Stevens ’63 wrote after seeing news of the death of Carolyn deCamps Dunaway. Gayle and Carolyn were freshmen roommates and had kept in touch. Carolyn had told Gayle of her interest in archeology.

Noel Sipple’s 97 year old mother is living with her. Noel continues many activities, including swimming, museum trips, lunch with friends, and welcoming family and friends to visit.

Marcia Kirstein Fitzmaurice and husband Ed headed to the warmer climate of Florida and now live at Coconut Creek.

Nancy Cheek Mitchell and a friend had a great trip to England with two retired professors from Shenandoah College. Nancy said that they may have seen every church in England! Her son and his family are back in Richmond after living in China. Nancy has a granddaughter who is a freshman this year at James Madison University.

Much sympathy to Donna Floyd Parker, whose husband Scott passed away this past summer. Donna’s dear sister Patra was able to spend some time with Donna and Gale Taylor. Drew and Lewis were also able to be with Donna for Scott’s service.

Barbara Schwab Jesser and husband Bill spent a month at their property in Hawaii in the fall. Bill continues to do interesting research. Joan Akers Rothgeb and Eddie spent a great day with the Jessers at their river home in the Shenandoah Valley.

Diana Copple Smith is looking forward to a wonderful celebration of her dad’s 100th birthday. He lives at Westminister Canterbury in Richmond. Diana continues to teach, and had another visit with Mary Chambers Hodnett Minozzie in the fall of 2014. Mary Chambers lives south of Richmond on property that was once part of the Civil War battlefields. They spent much time looking through MWC year books and reminiscing about MWC friends.

Several classmates were able to meet for lunch in beautiful Nelson County this summer: Gale Taylor Drew, Bettie Stewart Kienast, Emily Lewis, Barbara Schwab Jesser, Joan Akers Rothgeb, Maggie Walker McAlister.

The Austin, Texas, alumni chapter was coming to Bastrop, Texas, in November for a history tour with Lucy Ritter Todd and Janice Tucker Goebel ’76 hosting. A friend of theirs was going to open her grand Victorian home for the group. There are now 14 members in the Austin group. Several years ago Lucy and Janice met each other and discovered that Janice was from the same county in Virginia as Joan Akers Rothgeb and had babysat Joan’s children years ago.  Lucy and husband Frank planned to spend Christmas in Portland, Oregon with Frank’s son and daughter-in-law.

The Class of 1962 Scholarship had a value of $36,753 as of June 30, 2014. Donations in 2014 totaled $5,500. Georgiana Silva, a freshman from Vienna, Virginia, is the first recipient of the $1,220 scholarship. The MWC connections are so special – we would love to hear from more of our classmates.