August 2007
Dear Classmates,

Now the latest: Constance “Connie” Seeley Andrews was kept busy by five hurricanes, trying to care for their Orlando “ Florida ” home and their Cocoa Beach condo. They had quite a bit of damage, so went on a cruise – “to see more water.”

Faith Hope Barnard had the pleasure of entertaining her California son and Chicago daughter and their respective families for a Florida Christmas. After they left, Faith and husband Dave and their two golden retrievers went to son Jason's in the Keys, even going kayaking on Christmas Day. They see Dave's four children and eight grandchildren when they go to Chicago in the summer. Faith hopes to be at Reunion.

Janice “Happy” Chiquoine Beacham is not too sad that “the children won!” They finally convinced her to move back to Dallas area where she is reunited with family and old friends. Happy hopes to rent in her beloved desert during the winter.

Jean Alvord Donohue is still in the house they bought 49 years ago. They also own a ski condo and a house on Hood Canal, for variation and sports. Phoebe Darling Harper gave an enthusiastic update. She writes that Montana life is still great after almost eight years with many friends and a variety of activities. She participates in arts and crafts shows and pot luck dinners where they do some Native American drumming. The huge drum they sit around reverberates through ones whole body and synchronizes everyone's energy so they all feel like one. Every Sunday she gets together with for a pot luck brunch with her adopted Montana “cousins.” They adopted her the first week she moved there and are now like family. Phoebe enjoys many lectures and workshops on healing and energy work, as well as an occasional Red Hat Society lunch for laughs. She also teaches T’ai Chi classes and gives private lessons. She says “The name of the game at this age is keep moving!” and adds that one can see that her mind, body and spirit are well nourished in Montana.

Constance “Connie” Abbott Koeniger’s grandson, Paul, is a freshman at Skidmore. He spent the first semester in England and is now on the campus in Saratoga. Barbara “Barb” Smith Martien reports 2005 as a year of mixed blessings: She lost her darling dog and she sold her summer home, both of which evoked much emotion. Now she is trying to unload her winter home so she can move on to whatever comes next. Barb is fine but not so for husband Harry, for whom she is the principle caregiver.

Ellen Hinds McGrath took the big step, packing up and throwing out fifty years of stuff, then moving to New Hampshire. It was a heroic task since she was on chemo. Her daughters rebuilt Ellen’s father’s beautiful lakeside log cabin, making it year-round, cozy and comfortable, and bringing her near to them. Ellen keeps in touch with her Massachusetts sons and friends by phone, seeing them frequently, but limits her own driving.

Elizabeth “Betty” Ewald Opie is happy in her new apartment, to which she moved after husband Al's death in 2004. He had Alzheimer's for four years and was able to be at home until the last four months. Betty had help from a live-in young women from the Republic of Georgia who had had experience with Alzheimer’s patients. Al adored her and she thought of him as her grandfather. Betty now hopes to reconnect with friends after the years when her attentions were the care of Al.

Priscilla “Pris” Smith Osborne is happy to be able to stay in her home, thanks to son who is living with her. Pris has recovered well from a stroke, drives, but found daunting the tasks of maintaining her home solo. She proudly reports two great-grand children.

Frances “Fran” Schermerhom Sherley notes they have been in Hanover, N.H. over seven years and are fully involved in the community. She sits on four boards “many meetings.” She plays tennis at Dartmouth’s tennis center. Fran and husband, Warren, went to the U.S. Open in September. They spent Christmas in Quebec. Son, David, and wife are now in Wheeling, West Virginia, a lot closer than Boise, Idaho, where they had been previously. Fran is looking forward to seeing many Classmates at Reunion.

Dorothy “Dottie” Weeth Wiitala, too, had Florida “adventures.” They had a dry season brush fire in the woods across the street, with huge black clouds billowing over the house. Then, after a time, they had Wilma. No structural damage was done. It took two weeks to clean up the garden and there is now a better view of the pond. They find full- time Florida residence has plenty of activities. Dottie notes they tell the seasons by what's blossoming in the garden and enjoy snow on the TV.

Elizabeth “Betty” Bryan Rosenbaum wrote a long note, telling of husband Gil's death about a year ago and of her current activities. Gil had an aneurysm and cancer. Looking around at people who suffered for years, he refused treatments, said he would go when it did, and went peacefully in his sleep before the cancer became a painful problem. Among the myriad activities for which there is not enough hours in the day, Betty works on the Elim Park “retirement community” archives. She hopes her experience working in libraries will get 100 years of documents and picture “files” in order, as she feels they are interesting from social history perspective. Betty’s granddaughter was accepted at Skidmore but chose to follow the money to Hobart, which makes a big difference since her father is retired. Betty's eight year old grandson, like the European side of his family, is bi-lingual in French and English.

I am fine, grateful that a recent health problem has been successfully dealt with. Latest trip is to Mexico's Copper Canyon. My most fun and demanding volunteer job is organizing bus day trips for our township adult education school. We venture to New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Delaware, and of course, around Pennsylvania. If I can find it, I plan to wear to Reunion my freshman bib and somewhat moth eaten sophomore hat, which hopefully is moth free.

Our condolences to the families of deceased 1946’ers:

Patricia “Patty” Kahan Mirisch died March 30th, 2005. She was a sociology major and worked as a social worker prior to her marriage to Walter Mirisch, who survives. She also leaves daughter Anne and sons Andrew and Larry. Joanna Turner Lawrie died in 1994. She is survived by daughter Joan. Joanna was a music major. She completed her degree at Northwestern University and was at one time, a teaching assistant at the University of Illinois.

Our condolences also go out to the family of Kay Horrie Salwitz, who died on March 14, 2006. She leaves behind husband Richard, and sons James and John Salwitz.

Sincerely,