Class Notes

Iris Harrell enjoys playing golf with her partner, Ann Benson. Iris heard from Beverly Holt of North Carolina and Pam Hogan Baynard, who was doing well. Iris sees Phyllis Newby Thompson and Suzanne McCarthy Van Ness, who also live in California’s Bay Area. Iris’ company, Harrell Remodeling, was named one of last year’s top 50 winning workplaces by Inc. magazine. Iris is excited about the new UMW College of Business, and she said its dean, Lynne Richardson, and Donna Mejia, UMW director of leadership, giving, and corporate and foundation relations, visited the Bay Area. They met with local members of the Class of 1969, including Iris, Phyllis, Suzanne, and Carole Findlay Phipps.

In February, Gloria Shelton Gibson attended an informal alumni gathering in Charlotte, N.C., hosted by Donna Mejia. Gloria continues her human resources consulting practice, Workplace Dynamics. She and Sidney Robins Lockaby ’71 traveled to Guatemala in January. Highlights included the Mayan weavings and fabrics market at Chichicastenango; Lake Atitlan, a volcanic crater; and a hike through the Mayan ruins at Tikal.

Jeanine Zavrel Fearns of Fairfax, Va., planned to meet suitemates Anne Witham Kilpatrick of Greenville, S.C.; Carolyn “Suzy” Bender Winterble of Yorktown, Va.; and Toni Turner Bruseth of Austin, Texas, for their regular reunion in April. Jeanine said Toni planned a “croning ceremony” for all, since they’re each approaching the age where they can be considered crones. That should be hilarious, and I’ll expect a report for Class Notes. Toni recently retired from a long career in nonprofit foundation work; husband Jim retired from a career in archeology. They’re writing a sequel to their book, From a Watery Grave, the story of Jim’s discovery and raising of the Spanish ship La Belle in the Gulf of Mexico. Anne visited her sister in Aruba in winter. Suzy and husband Charlie had a winter golf getaway in Florida.

CPA Bonnie Page Hoopengardner enjoys golf and her six grandchildren. She lives in Williamsburg but keeps up with two bridge groups in her former home of Vienna, Va. Barbara Marks Poppleton and husband Don of St. Augustine, Fla., travel to see friends and their seven grandchildren, who live in Denver, Indiana, and Boston. Jane Jackson Woerner, who is retired, and Barbara had a wonderful time in February when Jane visited while in town for a wedding.

Patti Boise Kemp asked me to remind you that it’s only two years until our 45th reunion, the weekend after Memorial Day. They’re planning some different things, including something awesome for the Friday night party. It’ll be here before we know it, so put it on your calendars.