Class Notes

Did you notice the pull-quote about Dean Whidden in the Fall/Winter 2011 edition of University of Mary Washington Magazine? Sandy Phillips Conklyn ’61 was thrilled to read that her beloved freshman year English professor was still with us at 106. She’s often thought of him and her other favorite, Professor of Chemistry Earl G. Insley, with appreciation and affection, and would like Dean Whidden to know how glad she is to have taken his class. He helped her grow, and both her children said they appreciated her “red penciling” their English papers through high school.

In our monthly email newsletter to classmates, we’ve been sharing memories of professors, classes, and college life. Unfortunately, space doesn’t permit printing them in the magazine, but if you want to join the fun, send your email address to Jody or me.

How many of you spotted the picture on page 35, also in the fall/winter magazine? Jan Latven Allnutt of Maryland recognized herself on the left, Susan Cramer Drouin of California behind her, and Joey VanTol Goetz of Florida, who’s clapping. It’s the beanie-shedding ceremony, but we can’t remember why we were clapping and holding pots and pans. We also think the other two girls in the picture look familiar but aren’t sure who they are.

Jan has been in contact with Joey, Susan, and Betty Bruce Shepard of Virginia. They consider themselves original UMW suitemates and still make each other laugh as if they were in their 20s. Jan was looking forward to a visit with Emy Steinberg Hyans. Jan and her husband planned to visit western Africa, Dakar, Banjul, and Guinea-Bissau by passenger boat.

Bonnie Davis Hall reported that her dearest friend, Deborah Mallett Cressall, died peacefully in her sleep in February of multiple fast-growing cancers. Ross and Bonnie visited her in January and had the honor of being her caregivers for four days.

Since selling their beloved “River Boulders” home, which they built and had for 11 years of fun, friends, and fly-fishing in New Zealand, Judy Davidson Creasy no longer dashes there for vacations. Liz Hill Heaney of North Carolina enjoys her garden. Bob skis each year, tuning up in North Carolina and heading for more challenging slopes in Utah. Two of their grandchildren were graduating from college, one was entering college, and two are in high school. Liz had health issues this year but was back in the swing of things. Sue Smith Goodrick took a Panama Canal cruise, with stops in Aruba, Columbia, Costa Rica, and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. She also took a road trip with her daughter and son and their families, including her two grandsons, from her Wilmington, N.C., home to Washington, D.C., to tour and visit where their grandmother grew up.

Pat Voelker Donnell of Missouri City, Texas, had an interesting time at the first annual Old Dominion potluck event for graduates of Virginia colleges who live in the Houston area. In her career at small building-industry engineering and architectural companies, Pat served as personnel manager and bookkeeper. She loves visiting the Y. Her son lives in Dallas, where he manages some of his father’s properties.

Sandy Poole is active in church and leads morning prayer at a state chronic care hospital. A friend asked Sandy to accompany her mother, an energetic 80-something, on a spring trip to Cape Town, South Africa, and Sandy expected to have a hard time keeping up with her. Ten years ago Carole Lingo Brown retired after teaching public school in Virginia Beach for more than 30 years. She enjoys bridge, church, exercise groups, and visiting her three grandchildren in Florida.

Gray Dodson is a professional artist and has a website. Joyce Neil Krost of Cleveland, also an artist, said blogging about her work is entertaining. Joyce enjoys Gray’s website and has been in touch with her roommate, Jan Rutan Wright of Washington State, who expected her first great-grandchild in March. They went to high school together.

In July, Jan lost her husband, who had been in a coma for many years. Jody Campbell Close called, and we sent condolences and words of respect for the 14 years Jan cared for her husband after he became paralyzed and unable to communicate. Jody’s quick call to Jan turned into hours of laughter and memories of Mary Washington. We count on seeing her, her sister, Susan Rutan Joehnk ’63, and former roommates Emy Steinberg Hyans and Joyce Neil Krost at our 55th reunion.

Jody also talked to Bayla Goldberg Manis of Memphis, Tenn., who received a Christmas card from suitemate Marietta Jo Ames Steinberg, with a picture of her grandson. Jody is in touch with Pat Voelker Donnell, and they’ve discovered that their lives have followed similar patterns and that they’ve practically been neighbors several times.

Jody’s eldest son returned to Afghanistan this spring. She looked forward to a March visit with Bonnie Davis Hall and Ross during a winter vacation in Florida, and she hoped to take a road trip to call on classmates from the East Coast to Texas. Jody was about to conduct another genealogy merit badge workshop for the Scouts. Genealogists from other states have expressed interest in copying her program.

Recently widowed, Iris Hall Newton sold her home of 25 years, moved to a senior apartment in Fredericksburg, and was ready for a new life. The skilled crafter comes from a long line of talented quilters on both sides of her family, and she cherishes her many heirloom quilts. Iris stays in touch with Jody and Billie Bushong Boyd. Betsy Watts Haskell moved from Wadesboro, N.C., to a senior apartment in Keller, Texas, to be near her son. Intense physical therapy has improved Gaye Roberts Olsen’s mobility. She enjoys church and visiting friends, appreciates hearing about classmates, and still has her purple walker.

Jayne Linton Ely still loves hanging out with the girls and has three sets of girlfriends. Her “Birthday Girls” group has been together since 1974, when they all moved to Knoxville, Tenn. They started playing tennis and bridge; after their children were in school, they went to work and got together for birthdays. Most no longer play tennis, but they do play “new bridge,” have brought in new girls, and travel together. Jayne is in touch with Barbara Ashburn Rodriguez of California, who married Ron Rodriguez, USNA class of ’59. Jayne and I (Karen Larsen Nelson) share many memories of freshman year in Betty Lewis.

Darrell and I traveled to Florida for the May graduation of one granddaughter from high school and another from junior college, then returned to Show Low, Ariz., to enjoy summer activities. Do you remember the once-a-month concert series, where after dinner we dressed up and filed into GW to our assigned seats (with roll call) for professional theatrical performances? The most memorable for me was Mark Twain Tonight with Hal Holbrook. I saw his performance again here in Mesa, Ariz., a few years ago, and it brought back memories. Jody’s best memories from the series are hearing John Gielgud and meeting Margaret Mead.