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1957

Joan Page Hayes
joanhayes@verizon.net

Last September Janel McKay Carlson’s son Chad got married in Rhinebeck, NY. Stephanie Merber Lench and Mike were there, along with Alice Vassallo Scott, to join the celebration. Stephie and Mike went to Punta Cana for a week this past winter and then spent two weeks in Sarasota, FL. They enjoy playing golf and tennis in their retirement. They also keep busy with four grandchildren and delivering Meals on Wheels.

Hope Thompson Kerr made her annual trek to Sarasota in March. There she met with Julie Gaines Phalen, Elise Snow Aston, and Pat Naigles Lyons at Pat’s traditional restaurant; they had a good time catching up. This year they missed seeing Dottie Wakeman Mattoon, who was getting over back surgery, and Joan Benninger Nixon, who was out of town. Julie and Cliff had to miss Reunion as they were taking their children on a cruise to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Snowy was planning to be at Colgate with Jim, who has been working on his reunion there.

Sarasota also attracted Carol Elsaesser Squiers and Jim for February and March, and Sally Huberlie Hale and Jud for five days in April. Leaving snow behind in New Hampshire made the Hales’ trip even more enticing. Sally and Jud also enjoyed a Caribbean cruise in February.

Eloise Hills Burbank and Bo live in Marion, MA, where Bo spent his first five years of teaching. Their six children live in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Arizona, and Costa Rica. They have eight grandchildren, ages 1 to 15, who they are enjoying.

Nancy Wyman Horner and Lee were looking forward to coming to Reunion with Timmie Buck Wiant and Jim. The Horners have nine grandchildren, who they love to see at their summer place in Stone Harbor, NJ. The oldest is off to college this fall, and the youngest is a year old. Timmie and Jim live in St. Louis, where she is into gardening. Nancy talks on a weekly basis with Mo Keeney Nunnery. Unfortunately, Mo’s husband, John, is not well.

Ann Talbot Brown and Bill spent two weeks in Florida this past winter, visiting friends and family.

Bonnie Ward Wood and Ken are avid sailors and belong to two sailing clubs.

Linda Gorham Harvey spent February in Ft. Myers, FL, escaping New England’s cold weather. In March she spent a week in the Bahamas with friends who knew Toby Rowe Hohenstein and George; they were able to connect and get together for lunch. Toby and George, who have gone riverboating in France for several years, were planning a Reunion presentation about their scenic routes.

Joan Firmery caught up with Jo Lyon Short in California. Jo and her husband had been in Hawaii for five weeks earlier this year. They enjoy traveling, but weren’t expecting to make it to Reunion, because John was due for shoulder surgery. Their grandson is now in med school in Pennsylvania.

Shirley Gunnell took a 17-day trip to from Beijing to Shanghai. She says China is a land of contrasts—ancient to very modern, with construction everywhere. She adds that the hotels, food, and guides were all excellent and the scenery awesome.

A few years ago Sandy Mokrzynski Douglass attended a wedding in Upstate New York and ran into Marie Bonady Napier from California.

Although she only attended Skidmore for two years, Hannah Zuckerman Weiss says she still has a very warm feeling for the college. Now retired from her job as VP of fundraising and community relations at a Milburn, NJ, hospice, she is happy and enjoying traveling with her husband.

Joan Firmery dropped in to see Joan Sears Keelan in Fairfield, CT. She was hoping to make it to Reunion. Joan Keelan learned that Sue Schanck Fawcett’s husband, Russell, passed away around New Year’s. Sue was planning to come to Reunion before going on a horseback-riding vacation in the Loire Valley with Chick Glassey Ehbrecht. During the summer of 1957 Sue and Chick peddled bicycles and stayed in youth hostels in that area and have dreamed of doing the trip to see the chateaux on horseback.

We were sorry to learn from Judy Fletcher Baker that her husband, Bruce, died in February. Also, Joan Firmery reports that Joan Benninger Nixon’s husband, Clyde, passed away in April. We send Judy and Joan our heartfelt sympathies.

Bob and I took a cruise down the Mississippi from Memphis to New Orleans on the Delta Queen. Fascinating speakers brought the Civil War to life, and being on a charming paddlewheel boat recreated the life of the river in its heyday. Thus ends my five years of writing our class notes column. Thanks to all for staying in touch.