Class Notes

Carol Aarseth Jackson reports that her daughter Kim was married in Baltimore on November 9.  It was a lovely ceremony and lots of fun was had by all. Kim and husband Brian honeymooned in Argentina and they are now living in the Shaw neighborhood in Washington D.C.,  and Kim has just started working as an associate at Williams and Connolly.  Carol’s son Stephen is also living in Washington D.C. and he recently began a new job providing IT support at a non-profit in the DuPont Circle area. Carol retired in July and is taking rally and obedience classes with her corgi Kara, and looks forward to trying some competitions in the spring.  Carol and husband Kevin are planning a trip to England next summer to attend the British Open (they have attended the other 3 golf majors and are excited to complete the set).

Barbara Gant Kinner and husband Greg continued their RV travel adventures, and Barb met up with Jan Stankiewicz McCarthy and Sue Garter in December, 2019 for lunch and an architectural tour of Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL.  Jan and husband Mike live an active lifestyle in St. Petersburg, FL, and have been exploring many of the state’s bike trails.

Sadly, David Lewis wrote to inform us that his sister Diane Mary Lewis passed away unexpectedly on February 15, 2016.

It was wonderful to hear from so many of our classmates in 2019; keep those updates coming!  Please join our class Facebook group: “MWC Alum 1980 and Friends”. 

2019 was a year filled with almost every type of event and emotion for Karen Snyder Boff.  Two of her daughters were commissioned into the military – one in the Navy (after graduating from UVA School of Nursing/NROTC) and one in the Coast Guard.  Both are now stationed in San Diego, California, so Karen came out several times to help them move — and I was able to visit with her! In addition, two of her daughters were married (one in August, one in October) so there has been a lot of activity in her life.  She experienced sorrow with the loss of her dear mother-in-law to whom she was very close since she lost her own mother when she was just out of college.  She also lost her doggy of 16 years.  Karen and husband Jamie plan to do some traveling this year to visit their children spread about the country.

Mike and Katrina Ray Landis are in the process of moving from Maryland’s Eastern Shore to Sedona, Arizona.  Anyone going to Sedona and hiking the red rocks should look them up!

David Turley has been with SANS for 20 years and is enjoying his career as Director of IT Finance and Enterprise Applications. He travels enough that it is interesting, but not so much that being home for dinner is a rarity.Colleen McCahill Turley stays busy with hobbies and her volunteer interests. Their son, Nolan, graduated from Virginia Tech in May 2019 with a B.S. in Business Information Technology and a minor in Computer Science. In November 2018, he accepted a position for after graduation as a Systems Analyst in Northern Virginia. He proposed to his girlfriend in December 2019, so a 2020 wedding is in the works. David and Colleen went to Ireland in October 2019 for a two week trip to celebrate 35 years of marriage.  In November 2019, Colleen’s father died at age 91 after a short battle with cancer.

Cedric Rucker has been named by the Governor of Virginia to be one of 17 members of the Commonwealth Transportation Board.

In July, Mark Ingrao left his job as CEO of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, and began a new job as CEO of the Northern Virginia Home Builders Association.

I’m still in San Diego, working for the Navy in the corrections field — at the Miramar Brig.  My husband, Craig, is fully retired as of the end of 2019.  We celebrated our 30th anniversary last July.  Our daughter, Megan, graduated from Elon University in 2019, and is now pursuing a Master’s in Social Work at San Diego State.  Our son, Brian, is pursuing a career as a professional golfer while also coaching high school basketball.  Craig and I traveled to St. Kitts in the eastern Caribbean last January for a vacation with two of my sisters.

Condolences to:
Colleen McCahill Turley ’81, who lost her father.

Elisa Devorshak Harvey ’81, and Christina Devorshak ’91, who lost their father.
In Memoriam:
Curtis Hoffman ’87 

Mike Bennett wrote that he currently spends a lot of time in the U.K.  He purchased an historic building near Greenwich with friends 10 years ago and they are currently renovating and looking to expand the buildings future with local government.  He volunteers on the board and in the kitchen of a local food pantry in New York City; work he finds incredibly gratifying that provides perspective on just how fortunate he is.  He will be volunteering with the DNC in 2020.  Cinda Sheehan Haas continues to enjoy her long summers at her cottage in Maine but recently moved to Jacksonville Florida to be closer to family and 3 grandsons.  She has also taken up painting.  Vicki Haynes Morris welcomed second grandson Macklin.  She visited Mexico, Amsterdam and Costa Rica in 2019 and will visit Australia and New Zealand in early 2020.  In June 2020 she plans a 14 day cruise visiting 10 countries in Eastern Europe.  Diana Burton Utz recently retired after 30 years with the George Washington Regional Commission, most recently serving as Director of GWRideConnect; a nationally recognized rideshare program.  She has certainly been part of the tremendous growth in the Fredericksburg area.  She also shared news that her daughter Juliana Utz danced in the Moffat ballroom scene of the Little Women movie.  I believe she was also featured in the movie trailer – yellow ballgown on the staircase.  Beth Doyle continues her 30 year career in nonprofit management and was recently named Executive VP for the Centra Foundation. Betsy Rohaly Smoot announced her retirement from the NSA in 2017 but went back on a part time basis to complete two manuscripts and the biography of Colonel Parker Hitt will be published in October 2021.  She and husband Andy celebrated her final retirement with a cruise on the Queen Elizabeth from New York to Southampton via Canada, Iceland, Scotland and Ireland and then around Britain on the Queen Victoria and back to the US on the Queen Mary 2.    In late October, I joined Annmarie Cozzi, Jenifer Blair, Carla Richardson Barrell, Debbie Snyder Barker and Jennifer Goodwin Donegan for a New York city adventure.  We took in several museums and danced in our seats at the Broadway show Ain’t Too Proud.  Nancy Kaiser and wife Mary McElhone planned to join us but were sidelined as Nancy continues to recover from knee Re-replacement.  I have seen several group birthday celebrations on Facebook as most of us will turn 60 this year.  I plan to celebrate all year with lots of travel. In early February, I will spend a week in Bonaire followed by a two-week cruise with my mom in early April to Holland and Belgium.  Please stay in touch and share how you plan to celebrate your birthday.  Our 40^th reunion is 2 years away – go ahead and put the first weekend AFTER Memorial Day on your calendars.

Susan Leavitt   wrote to say that after 19 years, she left McEnearney Associates, Inc. and joined Compass, which Susan says is a whole different model of real estate.  She also visited Nepal  for 5 weeks earlier this year, which she says was a life changing experience.  Susan returns to UMW frequently and now has a scholarship in her name for a “family challenged” incoming freshman.

I recently bought and moved into a new condo on the ocean in Pompano Beach, Florida. I am still with CVS Aetna, and have changed roles to working with technology that influences population health management.  In 2019, I  traveled to Japan, China, England, Portugal, Greece (a tiny island called Ikaria) and the South of France.

Mark Scott gives us his latest info: “We now live in Southport, NC. I am retired, and my wife, Marianna Rixey Scott ’85, may get back into the work force at some point. Our 19-year-old daughter, Kat, lives with us. Beach life!”

Auby J. Curtis writes with the wonderful news that he is now cancer free! He would like to stay in touch with classmates, and his email is DrAubyJ@gmail.com.

I, Christine Waller Manca, had fun attending a Mary Washington Texas alumni brunch in Houston in November, organized by Jessica Mitchell Essalih ’05 along with her husband, Tony Essalih ’99. It was great to meet people in my area who share memories of Mary Wash from across the decades, and I encourage you all to get involved with your Alumni Regional Network.

No news from any classmates this period.   Joanne Bartholomew Lamm ’85 and Christopher Thomas Lamm 85’ are enjoying their empty nest after their son, Stephen ’19, landed a job in Washington, DC back in July.  They are thankful to Mary Wash for an outstanding liberal arts education which enabled Stephen to quickly and easily land the “perfect” job upon his graduation.

Looking forward to hearing from members of the class of 85!

No notes this time.

From Maya Wilder: I wanted to share that the daughter of my sweet roommate Lori (Hile) Fuller was married this past September. Among those who attended were Mike and Maya(Valenti) Wilder, Margaret(Duke) and Mark Hildrup (’86).

From Kim:

After 30 years of teaching at a large Catholic elementary school, Kelly Aylmer McDonald has moved to a new position as the Instructional Technology teacher at The Catholic High School of Baltimore. Congratulations Kelly!

Eda Spivey Price reports that Eda Price Editing is still alive and well with a bunch of self-published titles on Amazon that she has either edited or proofread. She is also teaching online ESL classes to some pretty adorable kids in China through VIPKid. Eda considers herself so lucky that her Mary Washington education has opened so many doors for her and set her on a path to jobs that she finds truly meaningful. Don and Eda have been married for 20 years, Patricia, at 16, is 6’2″ so they are trying to find a car she can fold herself into comfortably as she takes Driver’s Ed. Olivia is 14 and has found her calling as a thespian at her middle school.

Recently, there have been a lot of changes in my life. After 6 years, I closed my yoga studio in October and am taking a break from teaching. We are also in the process of selling our computer company so that we can focus on our engraving business. Lastly, after 10 years of serving as your class rep, this will be my final edition of the alumni magazine. I have enjoyed the opportunity to keep everyone updated on what is going on with our classmates, but I feel that it’s time for a fresh voice. If you would like to serve as a class rep, please contact classnotes@umw.edu. Thanks for a great 10 years!

From Beverly:

I am still loving payroll and working for a local company in Richmond, VA, and enjoying hanging out at the pool and beach with friends as often as possible, weather permitting.  I’ve seen SGGL and Skip Castro bands recently and man that has brought back some fun memories!  I used to follow SGGL with Laura (Starbling) Kowalewski Laura Kowalewski, Gail Zeigler ’87 Gail (Zeigler) Pietrafesa ’87 and Kathy Leahy.  I went with Kathy to hear SGGL, and Laura and Kathy were able to get together over the summer at Kathy’s lake house.  Laura, who lives in NJ, has 3 beautiful daughters–Allie, a 4th year at UVA, Maddie, a Jr at Furman University, and Morgan, a Sr in high school.  Laura loves to golf and is getting excited to be an empty nester this fall with her husband Dan when Morgan heads off to college. Gail, who lives in NY with husband Mark, is enjoying being a grandmother to 8 grand kids–so far!  When they aren’t with the grand kids she and Mark love to travel.

I just met Michelle Martin in Fred after Christmas, and we had lunch at Sammy T’s…of course we had to, it’s almost impossible to go there and not go to Sammy’s!  Michelle is doing well, living in MD.  I saw Matt Fogo ’87 back in September when I was passing thru Lexington–as usual it was great to catch up!  I heard from Kathryn (Berube) Ortega over the holidays and she and her husband Ed are both retired now, both doing easy (in her words) PT jobs!!  They live in FL, and still love to volunteer.  Sue (Thomasson) Coleman lives in Northern VA with her husband Robert and 3 kids–Wes who’s a Sr at George Mason, Allie who’s a Sr at Mary Wash this year–go legacy!, and Emma, who’s a freshman at UT in Knoxville.  They are adjusting to the empty nester life also, and also love to travel, and always take great Fam vacations.  Kelly (Gould) Stewart  is still up in ME with husband Bob, and her beautiful daughter Joie (my goddaughter!) is a Sr at Drew University this year.  Kim (Jones) Isaac ’87 is out in OK with husband Ken, and they own both a computer service and an engraving business.  She loves photography and has recently had an exhibit of her photos at a visitor’s center, and she still enjoys doing her calming yoga.  And thanks to Anna (Wilson) Hudson for reminding me to submit class news!

That’s it for me for now, will send more hopefully next time

From Jay:

Hello MWC Class of 1988!  Greetings here in 2020!  It has been 32 years since we exited our beautiful Fredericksburg campus.  Social Media has reduced the number of updates I have received over the years.  Please take some time in the future to share an update  via email for publishing the next time the request goes out.

FROM Kelly Gould Stewart:

The coolest moment for me was making my daughter’s (Joie) last tuition payment a few days ago.  That was 8 years of hard work, for both of us, to pay for boarding school and undergrad.  She will graduate in May from Drew University with B.A. in Media & Communications.  She loves to edit videos and hopes to live with her friends in Brooklyn upon graduation.

I’m going into my 5th year as the Director of Outpatient Forensic Services for the State of Maine.  This is a specialized psychiatric service that treats clients who have been adjudicated not criminally responsible by reason of mental illness.  It is never the same day twice and always has an element of risk, which keeps me on my toes.  I spent a lot of time in the courtroom providing testimony.  This job falls under public safety, so there is a lot of responsibility.

I recently completed my national certification to teach basic handgun safety, and formed my owned company Foothills Firearms Safety, LLC. I often specialize in female only classes for women who have been subjected to violence or other traumatic events with a firearm.  I must say I was surprised at the amount of interest, as I have waiting lists at this point, since I am only doing this on the weekends.  Many individuals prefer to be taught by a woman, and there has been many a man, I have surprised with my skill- lol!

I am still Chair of the Select Board here in Sumner and remain on the Fire Department with my husband.  So life is very busy!

FROM Anna Wilson Hudson:

The year 2019 was quite momentous!  In July I was offered a position with Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer in Roanoke (the same firm that leases and manages Eagle Village!),  our middle son was married in Norfolk in November, and in the Fall I got to hang out with Dawn Tanner Erdman ’86 at an impromptu SW Virginia Alumni Network event at Roanoke College.  Our men’s soccer team played RC’s men’s team (it ended in a tie!).

FROM Anne Crowe Kroger:

A lot has changed since the last I wrote (eons ago). For the sad news: We lost my dad in January 2019. It’s been a long year.

On the good side: I remarried in 2018. (I lost my first husband in 2013, which was published.) My husband, Scott, and I live with his twin daughters in our mountain home in New Hampshire. We ski in the winter and bike ride in the summer. Life is good! We honeymooned in California at Mammoth Mt – ski trip, of course! Loved it so much, we’re going back this year.

I opened my own consulting biz in 2018, Kroger Grant Consultants (krogergrant.com), through which I teach business development skills and coach public speaking to clients all over the country. My focus is architects, engineers, and contractors, but I work with other clients as well. Love my job!

I am currently serving my second, two-year term on the Mary Wash Alumni Board – a position I’m thrilled and honored to hold. Not surprisingly, all Board members share an unbelievable passion for Mary Wash! After a much-too-long hiatus, this role has brought me back to campus, and I’ve had the opportunity to see Kathy Brosnan Kilgore ’89 and Cindy (Cie) Murdock Shepard ’88 several times. If there’s anything I can do for our classmates in this role, please encourage them to reach out to me.

Thanks Jay for serving in your role to keep us all connected! Cheers to 2020.

Heard from a few former classmates since last issue.  Michele Linden Sheridan is married with 4 kids in Wisconsin, and loving the snow.  Her children range from college to 5^th grade.  She is active in the Wisconsin Republican Party.

Andrea Schwalm Stolz is married and living on Long Island, after travelling for 10 years as a military spouse (thank you for your service).  She has 2 children, now in college, and is working for her county’s mental health system as an advocate and teacher.  She write a parenting blog (with several other alum), and is also active in local politics.

I heard from Trent Ibbodson- he has nothing to report, but he did reminisce about our time in Mrs. Olsen’s Spanish class- our apologies to anyone who was in class with us, and to Mrs. Olsen.

Chris Miller lives in Sarasota, has 2 children (one at UCF, one in High School).

Darren Boczar is married to Carol McMillan Boczar, and they have 2 children at Auburn.