class notes

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In Memoriam | People & projects

1950s

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1953

I have the pleasure of taking up the baton from outgoing class secretary Susie Eustis Bogart. We thank her for all her work and wish her well as she recuperates from hip surgery.

Memories of our 55th, like those of the great 50th, remain strong. At a Reunion panel discussion, several classmates offered a look at activities they’re engaged in. Dianne Snow Brennan is in her sixth year as first lady to a college president, Pat Lanpher Compton creates house portraits and chocolate holiday houses, Jackie Bailey Martin teaches English as a second language, Gail McKay is an outreach volunteer for her community and church, and Joanne Teale Snell takes frequent educational trips with Elderhostel.

Joanne Snell and husband Don have gone on about 50 Elderhostels, including some with me and my husband, Roger. Most recently they were in Monterey, CA, before joining us in Warwick, NY. Did you catch Joanne’s inset picture in the summer issue?

Sally Sanderson Cutler was driven to Reunion by Joanna Bullard Hills, a close friend and mother of three Skidmore grads who is very close to our class—so much so that we made her an honorary member.

We are grateful to Tillie Jones Neri, who was primarily responsible for planning our 55th (and is our new class president).

In August Californian Gabrielle Fuchs visited Barbara Feder Mindel in Poughkeepsie, NY. Gabrielle also had plans to connect with Dot Foster Napoli on Vashon Island (off Seattle) in September. Dot traveled to Alaska (on a wonderful but rainy cruise), sojourned in Greece (where she visited her seriously ill brother), and spent a month in Mexico to study Spanish with a friend. Dot was planning to visit her NYC son and grandchildren before Gabrielle arrived for her visit.

Carol Pistler Martin and Bill had a wonderful reunion with Judy McEndy Lynch and Bob in Naples, FL, last March. Bob’s doing a great job of fighting Parkinson’s and looks great.

Phyllis Thorp Pennington is alive and well in Nashville, TN, still photographing horses and spoiling grandchildren. A new pacemaker helps her keep up.

We share Ruth Thomas Goldzier’s grief following the death of her husband, Bud, after a lengthy illness. Ruth had a mini- reunion with fellow nursing majors Janet Danzinger, Mary Lyman Heist, Millicent Rademaker Buie, Carolyn Roberts Breakenridge, and Mary Lyon Holton.

Helen Briwa is a proud “mom” of several puppies born just as we gathered for Reunion. She was sorry not to be among us, but had to be in Oshkosh, WI.

Lois Kite VanWagner continues playing organ and piano in retirement and nursing homes. She has also performed in piano recitals this past year and is a musician for the Saratoga Springs, NY, chapter of the Eastern Star organization.

Joy Grady Simpkins and husband Gill enjoy their new home in Connecticut after 40-plus years in Pound Ridge, NY. Joy has retired from politics, and Gill is still working on setting up a home office.

Ruth Thomas Goldzier loves the desert life in her Wickenburg, AZ, home. She traveled to the Galápagos last October and visited Baja this year.

Roger and I have ongoing ties with several schools and very close ties with Boston-based Lasell College and Walnut Hill High School, both formerly all women’s and traditional—now co-ed and modern.