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UMW Magazine – Class Notes
1301 College Ave.
Fredericksburg, VA 22401

1964

Susan Rowe Bunting
Susan.bunting@gmail.com

I hope you are well and like many of us, coping with the isolation, social distancing, and mask-wearing to stay safe. I, Susan Rowe Bunting, feel fortunate to be retired and living in a rural community where folks check on and take care of one another. It’s amazing how long my husband and I can now last on the groceries we have in our home without the usual weekly shopping. We look forward to warmer weather and vaccine availability for all. 

After living for 30 years near the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, Margaret Goode Watkins downsized to a condo in Alexandria, Virginia, last April. She is closer to her son and his family, and closer to Mary Washington roommates Jane Showker Capehart in Winchester, Virginia, and Betsy Johnson Rule in Richmond. 

Susan Armistead Evageliou and Harry live in Ellington, Connecticut. Susan enjoys tutoring and challenged herself to manage online teaching. Susan and Harry look forward to resuming community theater musical productions once things get back to normal. They were in rehearsals for Mamma Mia when COVID shut down the production. The pandemic forced son George to temporarily close his New York City business, Urban Homecraft, but he’s been able to reopen. Son Nick is a pediatric oncologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. 

In Northern Virginia, Patti Jones Schact feels fortunate to live on a small lake where she can see wildlife. She has used the pandemic time for reading; long, lazy naps; and catching up with friends via phone, Zoom, and FaceTime. Sadly, she shared news of the January 2020 passing of classmate Susan Jonas. 

Victoria Taylor Allen has lived in Westchester County, New York, for 50 years and downsized to a condo there in November 2019. Though much of New York’s cultural life shut down due to COVID, she notes that many museums were open by appointment. Victoria writes, “We New Yorkers are very faithfully following the mask mandates. You are not allowed to enter our shops without a mask and can be fined a great deal of money if you don’t wear it.” Victoria keeps in touch with Sally Crenshaw Witt in Richmond, Virginia. 

Judy Trevvett Lair and husband Bob of Columbus, North Carolina, moved four miles to a continuing-care community in December 2020. The Lairs, married 58 years, are active in their church via Zoom and in the local Rotary Club. They also support their local hospital. 

[Editors’ note: Susan Rowe Bunting also prepared notes for the online-only fall/winter 2020 issue. We republish a shortened version here.] 

Melinda Watterson attended Mary Washington for two years but went to Oklahoma University for her junior and senior years to be with her high school sweetheart, Chuck. They married in 1963 and had a wonderful 42 years together before Chuck died unexpectedly in 2005. In 2007 Melinda met John, a widower, and they married four years later. They have a blended family of three daughters and sons-in-law, four grandsons, and a granddaughter. Melinda would love to reconnect with roommates Francine Zuzzolo Taylor, Diane Smith, Martha Moore Townsend, and Verna Carlson Hawk, and riding buddy Carolyn Kendall. 

Barbara Ioanes has continued her work on community service art projects, including refurbishing of the Marilyn Monroe mural in northwest Washington, D.C. 

Kay Pannell Howe shared sad news of the death of her husband, Norton, of cancer. Our sympathy goes out to her and her family. 

Phil and I, Susan Rowe Bunting, recently adopted a 6-year-old boxer dog, Hettie, who has added excitement and interest to our self-isolation. Thankfully, I am now forced to take walks many times a day – sorely needed.