Class Notes

From Betsy: 

Diane Lovewell Melton writes that in October, she met with Bev Sangston, Lois Smith McDaniel, and Kitty Shannon in D.C. for brunch and to see “Carol King, the Musical.” She said that it was terrific and they all left the show with smiles on their faces. They hope for and attempt to get together every few months, but Diane seems to be the only one who stays in the area year-round. Lois and Kitty travel all around the U.S., and Bev has another home in Florida. Diane is still working as a convention planner, but is gradually cutting back to fewer hours each week. In August, Diane and her husband Howard took their first river cruise through Bordeaux. Then they went on a UVA Extended Learning trip to Oxford, England. She explained that the dorms they stayed in were far superior to what she ever had at MWC and the lectures were both informative and memorable. It was all about Jefferson’s trips through England and the architecture he saw, and sometimes copied. Great adventures both.

Nancy Slonim Aronie is still teaching writing on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. She’s generously offering her course, Jumpstart Your Memoir, to Mary Washington Alumni for free. I can attest that this is a wonderful, encouraging, and inspiring course, and of course Nancy is funny, wise, and entertaining! Nancy’s husband Joel is still inventing and has many toys in his collection at www.zerotoys.com.

Arlene Drescher Wilson says she continues to facilitate two Meditation groups in Nashville. It really feeds her soul. She’s been “obsessed” with painting abstracts the last three years and planting “volunteer” trees as much as she can. Volunteers are little trees that sprout spontaneously from seeds or acorns and are usually mowed or discarded.  She digs them up and pots them until they are big enough to survive in a garden setting.

Bev Bird Miller writes that life is still good for them, as they can still walk, talk, and chew gum as the saying goes. Bev still gives tours at the Jimmy Carter Museum and Library in Atlanta, and she and Paul deliver Meals on Wheels in their area. They have visited friends in the D.C. area several times this year. She says that she still has skin cancer issues with surgery about every three to six months, but she is thankful this is caught early. Most important is her time with neighbors, fellow retired teachers, and dear friends, whom she meets for lunch several times a week. She is enjoying every day and thankful for so many blessings with her family who live nearby and friends.

I was surprised and delighted to run into Lois Smith McDaniel and her husband at the Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake, New York, in September, when my husband Pete and I were staying at Hemlock Hall, where we had last stayed in 1971! Lois and Howard were on a photography tour from their home in Virginia. I am busy babysitting for my one-year-old twin grandsons and getting together with daughters Kate and Sara and their families who live near Seattle. My mother passed away in July at 97 years old. I still enjoy working part-time facilitating webinars and professional development in character education for teachers. Two highlights this year for me have been meeting in person Virtues Project Facilitators from Kenya, whom I had met online, and knowing that an online course I developed was useful for women in war-torn Burundi. What a privilege to be connected with people working to make the world a better place from all over the world. Looking forward to time out of the rain in Hawaii this winter! I’m thankful for good health for Pete, myself, and our family.

From Linkey:

Linda Gulnac Steelman writes that it was another busy full year for the Steelmans. Her husband Bill had some health issues but they seem to be resolved and he is healthier now than ever. They continue to walk 10-20 miles per week and that helps keep them mentally and physically fit. The big news for the island was the December opening of Ron Howard’s movie “In the Heart of the Sea,” based on the true story of a Nantucket whaler. It was the basis for Melville’s “Moby Dick” and generated record breaking numbers at the Museum in 2015. Summer of 2016 should be heavy as well. Several years ago when Ron Howard was on island doing research for the movie, Linda had the privilege of presenting our Whale Hunt talk to him. If anyone is thinking of coming to Nantucket, this would be the summer to do it!

Nancy Lee Leidy continues to get together with Betsy Chamberlain Hartz and Sally Tarrant Bernert whenever they can. Nancy Lee has had some health issues but now is just fine.

My Freshman roomie, Mary A. Settle Johnson, wrote at Christmas that her big family news was that her son Ben’s family adopted a little two-year-old boy from China in March. Mary A. stayed with her granddaughters Reese, 8, and Riley-Kate, 5, while Ben and his wife went through the adoption process, which apparently includes lots of red tape. Mary A. lost her brother this year. Our deepest sympathies to you, Mary A.

Jeanne Chabot Wallis apparently had back surgery from which she is now mostly recovered with the excellent caregiving of her husband, Wally. They go to Florida for several months each winter. Jeanne is an avid golfer so Florida allows her to play all year.

As for the Greens, we did not do any traveling this year. In May, I became the President of the Carlisle Branch of AAUW. The Branch is excited to have gotten a Collegiate Affiliate Chapter started at Dickinson College in Carlisle. None of these girls had ever heard of AAUW. I am so amazed at the many people I meet who have no idea what the organization is and does. Miss Hargrove made sure we all knew before we graduated! My Poodle/Irish Setter mix, Mr. MacDoodle, and I have begun serving as a Pet Therapy team for Celtic Hospice. I find this very rewarding and have met so many interesting people. One man even knew my mother, who was active on the West Point Centennial Committee for years. Mac and I still perform with the Steppin’ Woofs Canine Freestyle Dance group and David and I (and Standard Poodle Maggie) are still involved with Dog Scouts. We love participating in the camping trips and being involved with neat projects like Wreaths Across America and Salvation Army Bell Ringing. I’ve gotten hooked on yoga this year. I feel so much better!!!

A number of us keep in touch on Facebook, including Patsy Ballou Hindman, Karen Vandevanter Morrison, Betsy Lydle Smith, Gloria Moskowitz Fischel, Carol Vanness Clapp, Barbara Brown Sherrill, and Barbara Scherberger Offerman. I also keep up with Rosalie Moyer Schwarz via her husband Gene’s Facebook page. It’s fun to see pictures of everyone and find out what they are doing. I’d like to suggest that you connect with us if you have a Facebook account. If you don’t, think about joining. I’ve organized a Facebook page for our class. To join and share your news, stories and photos, go to the Facebook page: Mary Washington Class of 1963. Don’t forget to send us your news!