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1960s

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1963

Deborah Frankel Reese
bybynj@aol.com

The inaugural Karen Levin Coburn Lecture in Women’s Studies—titled “Same-Sex Marriage and the Shadow of Polygamy”—was delivered by Colby College philosophy professor Cheshire Calhoun at Skidmore this spring. The lecture series was a 40th anniversary gift from Karen’s husband, Steve. A former English major and student leader, Karen is now associate vice chancellor for students and dean of the freshman transition at Washington University in St. Louis. She is co-author of the acclaimed book, Letting Go: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding the College Years.

Meg Reitman Jacobs felt like an 18-year-old when she contracted mononucleosis last fall and was laid up for six weeks. She and husband Howie undertook a six-month-long house renovation, overseen by Meg, a professional interior designer. Howie sold half of his wine-and-spirits distribution business to a large NYC conglomerate, and he and his son-in-law Jon now have nonfamily partners for the first time. Meg and Howie, along with their kids and grandkids, took a winter trip to Antigua.

Antonia Geis Oliver and husband Norwood, co-owners of Norwood Oliver Design Associates, have created something extraordinary, even by Las Vegas standards. The couple designed a 27-foot-tall chocolate fountain—the tallest in the world—which circulates nearly two tons of melted dark, milk, and white chocolate at a rate of 120 quarts per minute! Conceived of by pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury, the fountain was unveiled at Jean-Philippe’s Patisserie in the Bellagio’s Spa Tower this spring.

After 37 years teaching primary grades through doctoral students, Carol Smith Witherell retired this May. She simultaneously completed a new book manuscript titled Imagining Moral Worlds: Nurturing Ethics, Hope and Possibility in the Developing Mind. Carol was asked to write some parting words on the back page of The Chronicle of Lewis & Clark College. Drawn from her book manuscript, the essay, “Imagining Moral Worlds: Ethics in Teaching and Learning,” can be viewed at www.lclark.edu/dept/chron/afterwordw05.html.

Jane Finneman Hochman co-wrote and edited Infant Mental Health and Early Intervention: Unity in Principles and Practice, due for release later this year. In December Jane welcomed a granddaughter, born to daughter Amy and her husband.

Ginny Payne Morse’s husband, Jack, sent a new e-mail address for those who wish to contact Ginny: jf.morse@verizon.net. Jack reads all the class columns and newsletters to Ginny and says she loves hearing about and from old friends. He reports that she is fairly stable and that Ginny Nyvall Durfee visits her very regularly. She also had several visits from Ronnie Zolondek Bramesco. Ginny, who was very fond of teaching, also stays in touch with education professor Ruth Andrea Levinson.

Carolyn Caesar Ingraham probably never expected to become a soccer mom at 63, but that is exactly what happened. Carolyn’s daughter, Lora, accompanied her on a trip to China last winter.

Elizabeth Cater Jones put her business major to good use back when she founded Elizabeth Van Buren Inc., the highly successful aromatherapy company she runs with chemist husband Larry. She believes that in the near future, the healing power of essential oils will be recognized by medical science. Elizabeth is educational director of the College of Botanical Healing Arts and is Pacific director for the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy.

In February Patty Forman Balbirer and husband Arthur hosted a mini-reunion with Lynn Edwards Hendricks and husband Peter, and Ronnie Zolendek Bramesco and Ronnie’s beau, Art, at the Balbirers’ winter home in Tucson, AZ. Ronnie reports that the house is “gorgeous” and features a view of three mountain ranges. The Hendricks and the Balbirers have also visited Roberta Lahn Simon and Larry in Scottsdale. And this past summer, as always, Patty and Arthur met Alix Carver Spielman and husband Mike in Saratoga for the races. Ronnie also spoke with Terry Lang Philips, who has relocated to West Palm Beach from Sedona, AZ, and misses it terribly. Terry’s new e-mail is tslp@adelphia.net. In March, Ronnie and Art went on a two-week cruise to the “Mexican Riviera,” the Panama Canal, Costa Rica, ending up in Key West and Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Ronnie and Art visited Jan Silverman Rifkin shortly after Jan had back surgery in January. They had not seen one another in 25 years. “Seeing her was wonderful,” writes Jan. “It felt as though we had seen each other yesterday.” Jan also enjoyed a weeklong visit in March with her daughter, son in law, and grandson—who, at 20 months, is “a complete charmer.” Jan’s son, who lives in Newport Beach, CA, joined them for several evenings during the visit. Jan enjoyed having the whole family together.

Artist Lois Sommer Goglia’s exhibit “X-Rays Cut and Pasted” was held at the Margaret McDonough Gallery in Albertus Magnus College last fall. For more information on Lois’s use of X-ray film as a medium, visit her online gallery at www.logoes.net/index.html.

Psychologically unable to be a lady of leisure in retirement, Judy Pettingell is a board member of one of the largest food cooperatives in the country. She is also deeply involved in a new arts alliance in the central Vermont–New Hampshire region. Judy hopes that the organization will promote the growth of the creative economy in the area. She and I plan to get together with perennial student Anne Beaman, who lives nearby.

In Coronado, CA, Gerry Emerson MacCartee co-owns the Coronado Touring Company, leading 90-minute walking tours through the historic island. Gerry and her colleague have been hailed for “doling out heavy-duty history and pure gossip.” Recently Gerry was reappointed vice chair of Coronado’s Historic Resource Commission.

Joan Ellenbogen Geller, who runs a yoga studio in Rome, Italy, has teamed up with a group of creative expatriates to provide tours of Rome.

After enduring the long Iowa winter, Laura Young is thrilled to be teaching this summer at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. A visiting professor at the School of Art and Art History at the University of Iowa, Laura also manages to fit in a lot of studio time, and has been selling her still-life images at various gallery venues.

Evelyn Nutman Siegel has become an old-fashioned matchmaker. Along with selling Florida real estate, she has developed a second, highly successful business that grew out of an attempt at Internet dating. The experience yielded Evelyn “a little stable of recyclable gentlemen who, while not suitable for me, were eager to meet other single ladies of my acquaintance.” Evelyn also babysits for her three grandchildren, whom she considers “the joys of my life.”

“What were we thinking?” queries Judy Hestwood Feagin in describing the radical move that she and husband Tom made from their Memphis home to a 1900 farmhouse in Readfield, ME. In mid-December the couple regretfully left behind friends and neighbors to answer what Judy terms the “call of the Northeast.” Despite the long harsh winter, Tom came to love his snowblower and enjoyed scraping snow off the roof and wading through three-foot drifts to put more seed in the bird feeders. In March they made their own maple syrup. Judy too loves the house, which still requires a year’s worth of rehabilitation—including a new kitchen and master bath. Judy stays busy painting in her new studio.

 Jane Goodnow Doyle retired from the faculty at Western New England College in December. She is on oxygen most of the time. Old friends can contact her at Moxiecat111@aol.com.

Betsey Burstein Schneider’s husband, Jerry, died in October after a long struggle with cancer. “His last six months were very difficult, as he needed help for all his activities of daily living,” writes Betsey. She is nonetheless “coping very well” and feels blessed by good friends who continue to include her in many fun activities.

Diane Harroff Bristol and husband Melvin run a daylily farm called Bloomingfield’s in Sherman, CT. Beautiful plants can be purchased online at www.bloomingfieldsfarm.com.

I spent all winter and spring painting, in preparation for a two-person impressionistic landscape show that ran from mid-May through mid-June in Lebanon, NH. I also completed a large portrait commission and three pieces to be included in an illustrated book of poetry on several western national parks; Parks in Pen and Paint is being published this summer. I did take a break from painting when my third grandchild arrived in February, in an already very active household in Wilton, CT. She has a 2-year-old sister and a 4-year-old brother, who commented, “I think she is nocturnal.”

Don’t forget to check out the class newsletter forum-discussions at www.skidmore. edu/alumni/classes/1963/1963.html.