Class Notes

Elizabeth “Beth” Moses Mathes says she would like to make this a first-person remembrance of someone who was her freshman English professor – a person who was her teacher for just two college semesters, only nine months in her life – but whose influence has been lifelong: “I am speaking of Dr. Nancy Mitchell, whose obituary was in the most recent issue of our University of Mary Washington magazine. When I entered my freshman English class, taught by Dr. Mitchell, I certainly needed to learn structure in writing. I think that mine was a bit haphazard . . . kind of creatively (I think in retrospect!) “all over the place.” She sought to instill order in my thinking and writing – and I believe that, after almost nine months, it did happen. There are several things about my interactions with her that I will always remember. First, she told me in her notes about one of my papers that there is no such thing as “very unique.” Unique means one of a kind. The second is that I learned that she and her husband, as a side occupation, had started a sheep farm. This was pretty innovative in the early 1960s. And, finally, I have this unique (yes, Dr. Mitchell, unique) memory of the day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Dr. Mitchell and I were scheduled to have a meeting that afternoon – to discuss how I might improve my writing — in the building that housed our English classroom.  I had learned, less than an hour earlier, that the president had been shot.  I didn’t know what to do.  Should I go to the meeting or not go?  There was no precedent for this. So I went. It was a bit eerie.  The halls of that building were totally silent – except for the sound of radios broadcasting the most recent news updates, a sound that echoed from floor to floor. Dr. Mitchell was there, at the appointed place. We did not discuss the assassination attempt (which at that point had not led to an official announcement of the president’s death).  I believe that this was not in any way disrespectful of the president.  We simply did not know what else to do other than conduct our meeting as planned.  The early 1960s were a more formal time.  And, as I have previously said, there was simply no precedent for this. I will always remember Dr. Mitchell for her intelligence, her quiet kindness and her scholarliness. I think that, when we are young, we usually don’t understand what a profound impact our teachers will have on us. I do now.  Thank you Dr. Mitchell.”

Nancy McDonald Legat and her husband continue to enjoy their family and their time together in Lexington, SC. They have 3 daughters and sons-in-laws, seven grandchildren, one grandson-in-law, and 3 great grandchildren, all of whom live nearby. Dan and Nancy enjoy traveling to the beach.
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From Christine Brooks: I enjoy taking classes at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at George Mason University in Fairfax.  I usually take literature classes.  My favorite was reading “War and Peace” with a small group of other people who loved every word.  In addition, I volunteer at a second hand shop run by my church and take an exercise class twice a week.  Last but not least, I spend quality time with my cat in the sunroom while reading the paper and watching birds at the feeder.