Class Notes

Please send news to the designated class agent according to the first letter of your maiden name.

From Connie:  Sadly, Cay Whichard Lewis died in her sleep, and Sara Prosterman Brown died of pancreatic cancer in January. Our sympathies go to their families and friends.

Clara Sue Durden Ashley and Clarence took the Auto Train to Sanford, Fla., from Lorton, Va., visiting friends and family on the way home. Son Dennis’ family lives in St. Augustine, where they wanted to get to know 2-year-old Payton, the youngest of four boys, who is autistic. He brings joy and challenges, but is full of love and musically inclined, like his father. In October, they traveled to the Great Smoky Mountains, had car trouble, and received roadside help from strangers. They realized they were “down South where people still … help others.”

Dee Doran Cairns and Doug’s last overseas trip started in July in Switzerland, where they celebrated a family wedding attended by Patty Cairns Hourin and Jim. Dee and Doug’s son, Rob, and family have lived in Bella Napoli, overlooking the Mediterranean, Capri, and Mount Vesuvius, for 10 years. They parasailed there, then traveled together to their home. Grandson Nathan is a high school junior trying to decide on a U.S. college. Katye is in ninth grade. They planned to see them all this summer. Their daughter, Cathy, a cardiovascular nurse, is nearby in Montgomery. They hoped to visit oldest grandson Chris in San Francisco in fall. Patty and Jim’s son, Scott, on active duty with Marine Forces Europe, and his family moved from Hawaii to Stuttgart, Germany. Their other two sons and families live in Mississippi. Patty golfs, plays tennis, and is a junior warden at church.

Jean Ryan Farrell and Frank had a family reunion at their Lake Lanier, Ga., house in July 2013. There were 17 in their Christmas card photo, including their three married sons and several grandchildren. Carolyn Crum Pannu visited Renee in L.A. before and after her December cruise to Mexico. Pat Scott Peck planned to visit San Fran in March. She and Carolyn planned to meet Renee in Santa Barbara.

Jerri Barden Perkins visited Marseille, Paris, London, Italy, and NYC. About her January trip to India, she said, “Words are inadequate to describe the poverty, pollution, lack of infrastructure, and sanitation.” Jerri guest spoke on clinical trials for medical research at universities. She teaches alignment-based yoga and incorporated their philosophy on yoga for health into her practice.

Joan Gibson Lippold and Jim were in good health and spirits. Despite Joan’s knee replacement, they vacationed twice in Florida and planned a river cruise – their ninth – through Europe in May. Their youngest daughter and her family are building a house next to them on a cliff overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.

A Kind of Dream is Kelly Cherry’s new collection of interlinked stories. She and Burke planned to attend the Associated Writers conference in Seattle. Kelly lost her “sweet and funny and feisty” younger sister, a flutist, in November. Our sympathies to you, Kelly.

At Christmastime, Eleanor Knight Jensen cruised from Fort Lauderdale to Venice via the Panama Canal, South Pacific, and Suez Canal for 134 days, and visited Australia. Sarah Leigh Kinberg and Tom saw family and friends, including granddaughter Laura, who’s in the Navy on the USS Roosevelt destroyer out of Mayport, Fla. Sarah was sick in July. Tests at Stanford showed a mass on her kidney, but experts were stumped. With the insight of her sister, Margaret, a pediatric pulmonologist, an E. coli abscess was diagnosed and Sarah started long-term antibiotics in December. Niece Sarah, 11, sent encouragement: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” As Lynn McCarthy said, “The challenges we face only make us wiser and cause us to shift our priorities.”

Ellen Gotwalt Willing and Bill spent another winter in Naples, Fla., despite Bill falling on his back in July. He had a scalp laceration and deep hematoma, and injured his body. Their daughters and their church’s Stephen Ministry helped.Lloyd Tilton Backstrom and Art traveled to Croatia and Slovenia in September, had their ski trip in December in Vail, and spent part of January in Sun Valley. They planned to visit Art’s cousins in Florida’s Fort Myers area. They have 13-year-old Maltese Fred and a Cavalier King Charles spaniel.

Janie Riles and hubby Jim Dietz went to Mazatlan in March as guests of her brother, Tom, for a Riles family reunion, so they left Florida early and returned to their primary home in San Diego. Janie looked forward to meeting one nephew’s children and the other nephew’s fiancée. She paints outside on the Intracoastal Waterway with friends.

I (Connie) am recovering, albeit slowly, from my mild stroke, seizure, and femoral hernia surgery through physical therapy and walking. We haven’t traveled except to Duke for clinical checkups after the lung transplant, but lots of friends have visited us in Wilmington, N.C. We’d love to see any of you!

From Renee: Donna Henninger Henderson’s son, Jeff, runs their Troutville, Va., farm. His daughter, Ashley, was to graduate from high school. Donna is retired and plays bridge.

Debbie Phinney Wylie of Connecticut visited her daughter and son-in-law and their four children in Georgia, and her two sons and their families in St. Louis in October. Debbie plays tennis and bridge, and is involved with the library and local community pantry.

Judy LaRoe Hare moved to Georgia in 1969. She plays tennis and visits her three children in Louisville, Phoenix, and Portland. She planned to visit Seacrest, Fla., for their annual family vacation. She was considering attending Wimbledon and needs only the Australian Open to complete the Grand Slam. Judy’s in touch with Mouse Messier Whitmore, Bobbie Brooks Nation, Jan Murphy Reifler, and MJ Giles Stearns.

Nancy “Pepper” Jacobs Germer has sung in the church choir since childhood. She and Hank took a winter Caribbean cruise. Last year in New Zealand, Hank grabbed a suitcase off the belt, initiating a rotator cuff tear, then finished it off when he slipped during an ice storm. After surgery and therapy, he was doing great. Pepper collects mink stoles, gloves, and tea party accouterment and, in retirement, gives tea parties in their vintage home. Pepper is a greeter, receptionist, and phone girl at a jewelry store.

Bette Marchant George has lived in McLean, Va., for 33 years. She and Vern have a blended family, with three children each and 13 grandchildren. Bette was well, despite having had MS for 15 years. She still drives, gets around with a cane, and does leadership and life coaching. She has a master’s degree and works with clients from around the country and students from Georgetown University’s leadership coaching program. Bette was sorry to have missed our 50th, and we missed her! We heard about her from roomie Sue Wilson Sproul and others.

I (Renee) love being retired. I take classes at UCLA for fun. For astronomy, we get to go to Mount Wilson and Griffith observatories. I’m also taking a class in metacinema about movies within movies. I saw Sunset Boulevard and met playwright Terrence McNally at an event honoring him and “George” from Seinfeld and others at the after party.

I hope you are well. Emails have kicked back to me, so if you haven’t heard from me lately, please send your new address. We’d love to hear from you.

From Lynne: Thanks for all your input! We’re the best class ever. Sandy and I took a January Panama Canal cruise with President and Mrs. Hurley and others from UMW. Since selling our place in Florida, we enjoy life in New York and Connecticut. I’m trying to improve my bridge game by taking classes and playing duplicate, and have 12 masterpoints.

Marilyn Messier Whitmore of Simi Valley, Calif., lost husband of 51 years Bill in September to lymphoma. They have three daughters, 10 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. They were childhood sweethearts in West Orange, N.J., and had lived in California since Bill was transferred to a Burbank aerospace company in 1968. Marilyn has been a Ronald Reagan Presidential Library docent for 10 years.

Marcia Minton Keech’s husband, Bill, had his bladder removed in August 2013 and was in and out of hospitals. He seems to have beaten the odds after six years fighting cancer. They spent an afternoon with Stuart and Sylvia McJilton Woodcock and the Wetzels last fall while vacationing at Hilton Head, S.C. Stuart and Larry are Bill’s brother rats from VMI.

Lynne Neave was “flattered and excited” to be elected to the UMW Foundation Board of Directors. Sylvia and Lloyd will enjoy having her on board. Sylvia and Stuart planned a May trip to Italy and to attend their son’s June wedding at Keswick Hall, near Charlottesville. Judy Youngman Wigton planned to attend London’s Chelsea Flower Show in May. Carolyn Spell Robertson lives in north Florida. Oldest grandchild Katie is at FSU. Cameron is a high school senior.

After October surgery, Marcy Trembath Pitkin suffered infections requiring hospitalization and emergency surgery. Her children and their spouses were with her and took over Christmas meals and household management. After high doses of antibiotics, Marcy felt better than she had in years. She lost her appetite, is three sizes smaller, and has a new easy-to-maintain hairstyle.

Aggie Welsh Eyster is busy with her art in San Antonio and sees Jill Cusack Clay occasionally. Unfortunately, I’m not able to see them on my trip to Houston (for the rodeo) and New Orleans.

Sue Wilson Sproul and Dave of Colorado Springs spent five of the past six winters in Tucson, Ariz. Last year they traveled to Sue’s ancestors’ homeland. (They visited Dave’s in Bavaria in 2012.) In October, they went to London, Sussex, and Jersey. Sue’s Poindexter immigrant ancestors came to Virginia from Jersey in the 1600s, and they toured with a group of U.S. descendants. Instead of spending Christmas with family, they visited Chimayo and Taos, N.M., watching the Taos Indian pueblo dances. They planned to travel to UNC for the May “hooding” of Dave’s son, Chris, who earned a doctorate in toxicology, spend time in Virginia in June, and hang near home until September.