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1959

Carolyn Brown Straker
Momstraker@aol.com

There have been a number of get-togethers among classmates in honor of our big birthdays and our soon-to-be big reunion (no numbers mentioned!). Joan Cangelosi Kicska, Jane Haddad Evans, Gail Lichtenstein Edelman, and I spent three wonderful days and nights at the Ritz Carleton Hotel in Sarasota, FL. One morning at breakfast, we all had complaints about the food and service. We told the manager we were having a college reunion and were very disappointed. He asked where we went to school, and when we told him, he put his hand on his forehead and said, “I am from the class of 1984!” We talked and laughed, and the Ritz gave us a free lunch—we Skiddies stick together!

Another reunion was had by Martie Hubbard Harrigan, who visited Ginny Diefendorf Preston at her home in Mill Valley, CA. They went to Lake Tahoe for three days to celebrate their birthdays. Says Martie, “We felt younger by hiking, walking on the beach, enjoying the sights, and, of course, shopping!”

Helen Vaughn Meyer had a visit from Jane Knight Hence and b and had lunch with Joey Haufler Rosenthal. “We had great fun,” says Helen. She keeps busy with five children scattered around the country and five grandchildren.

Sandy Bendfeldt is singing, taking acting classes, and doing shows in NYC. After completing eight months of chemotherapy, she is feeling well now and is very optimistic. Her oldest grandson is getting a PhD at Harvard. Sandy was looking forward to the luncheon reunion we had planned for April in NYC.

Marge Goreff Neuwith is retiring from the board of directors of the Komen for the Cure for Greater NYC, but will assume a new post as cochair of a symposium for Komen NYC which will take place in March 2009. Writes Marge, “Breast-cancer experts from around the country will come together to discuss clinical trials, nutrition, and more.” Marge is looking forward to the birth of a second granddaughter.

At the end of March Evy Zoda Shippee returned from a 10-week stay in Florida where it was warm, sunny, relaxing—and very busy. She saw Jean Gracie Lifland and John as well as Syl Smalley Chapman and her husband, John. Evy says, “Syl is making a fantastic recovery (she’s now cancer-free).

Susie Gosch Martineau, Syl Smalley Chapman, and Evy Shippee were planning a trip in June to Geneva, Switzerland, to meet up with Beth Oliver Linguri and husband Edward, who are now Swiss citizens, and then tour the French countryside.

Marlene Nicholas loves living on Sanibel Island in Florida. She writes, “Spent 18 days in Portugal and Spain last fall and plan to go to Italy in September. Looking forward to our Reunion and hope lots of nurses will attend.”

Gail Wheeler is still running her clothing business, called G.Wheels, and travels with an old beau from RPI. They’ve been together for the past nine years and have traveled extensively since Gail’s 70th birthday—including St. Petersburg, Athens, Dubrovnik, Brindisi, Syracuse, and Malta. In January they went with the Abercrombie and Kent travel group to Egypt and Jordan. They share a beach house on the Jersey shore, where they spend many weekends year-round when they are not enjoying the cultural treats of the Big Apple.

Barbara Huge Homeier is back from Boca Grande, where she and her husband take in the warm and sunny weather every winter. She is looking forward to Reunion next spring.

Rosemary Anziano Ducey, with 10 grandchildren, is very busy baby-sitting. The Duceys also enjoy time spent at their home in the Hamptons.

Janet Sliter built and moved into a new home in Richland, WA. Although she is now retired, she keeps busy doing volunteer work and is also “designing and working on a large, muddy backyard.”
Marg McFeeley Burton and husband Ken moved to a new community in Newtown, PA.

Sue Clark Jorgensen and Bev Sanders Payne will be in Saratoga to meet and greet our class scholarship students who we support with our contributions. I will be unable to attend, as my daughter is expecting her first baby. I also have an 8-month-old granddaughter who lives less than half a mile away. She always puts a big smile on my face. I will soon be teaching stand-up comedy at a program specifically for 60-plus-year-olds. As one young person said to me, we surely will have a lot of material.