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1960s

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1969

Elizabeth Mckinley Loomis
lizyloo@comcast.net

Now in her third year as president of the Aspen Choral Society, Hattie Motley Cleveland runs most aspects of the nonprofit organization together with the music director. She helps produce Christmas concerts (this year a 30th- anniversary presentation of Handel’s Messiah) and sings soprano. After being a widow for six years, she met retired attorney Elliot, a professor of philosophy and aeronautic engineer; they enjoy traveling and skiing. The couple attended a niece’s wedding in July in Spain, taking side trips to England and Italy. Hattie hopes to get back to playing USTA competitive tennis.

Tina Vogt Fisler says she will be at Skidmore for our 40th reunion “for sure!” She has been volunteering once a week at the Humane Society in Burlington, VT, for over three years now, ever since her two wonderful German shepherds died from cancer. She says, “I decided to work in the cat area, because it was just too much to be around dogs at first; but I love all the animals alike.” Her nickname is “Top Cat Tina,” and she has adopted one cat—so far. Tina’s other passion is rug-hooking; she has had five of her rugs in the anuall Shelburne Museum shows. Daughter Gina has taught for the last two years at the American International School in Brazil. Tina is envious of her many adventures but is glad she’ll be back in the US, teaching at the United Nations School in NYC.

Sandy Smith Dovberg has switched from jewelry to painting and is showing at several galleries and participating in shows and competitions. She says, “Call me the new Grandma Moses!” Her work is mostly abstract acrylics, mixed water media, and collage.

Serving as president of Anne Arundel Women Giving Together and vice chair of the board of the Summit School (for students with learning disabilities) keeps Gloria Martin-Pressman busy. She and husband Howard moved back into their renovated home in Annapolis, MD. Gloria also has a part-time job as a community preschool special educator, managing individual educational plans of three- to five-year-olds in community nursery schools and day-care centers. She manages to find time to visit with her grandsons, ages 2 and 4, and younger son Roger ’02 in Denver, CO.

Edie Pieper Bidwell, now separated, took a newly acquired trailer and her Lab Maggie out West last summer to celebrate her 60th birthday (with her children and families) in Bozeman, MT. Along with living in a log cabin, there was white-water rafting, horseback riding, and hiking. “It was most memorable and empowering for me to make it on my own with the trailer!” says Edie. She is still teaching biology at Pensacola High in Florida when not horseback riding, and the kids keep her motivated. Her oldest son is a veterinarian in Maryland; the other son works for the Department of Environmental Protection in Florida, and her daughter is in pharmacy school at Virginia Commonwealth.

Sue Hubbard Okie’s daughter Suzanna ’11 will be a sophomore at Skidmore. Sue was excited to visit the campus and experience all the new construction and improvements firsthand. She is struck by how our alma mater has grown and evolved to suit a changing world and meet today’s student needs. “The recently upgraded dining ‘experience’ is particularly impressive!” she reports. Suzanna, who is focusing on arts and environmental studies, finds her classes stimulating and loves being a member of the Ultimate Frisbee team. As a member of the Environmental Action Club, she was part of a strip-mining protest group that marched down Broadway in Saratoga Springs. “She is happy and doing well,” says Sue. “What more could I ask for?”

Maxine Isaacs has launched her third successful career, this time as a theatrical producer. She is very proud that Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA, with which she has been involved for many years, sent Glory Days to Broadway in April. It marked the first time in 40 years that a Washington production has moved to Broadway. Maxine has scaled back her teaching and will do a freshman seminar at Harvard this fall on “American Presidential Campaigns and Elections 1960–2008.” A Skidmore trustee for the last three years, she is “learning a lot, and very impressed with the school Skidmore has become since we left.”

Judith Allen Wilson and husband Randy have traveled to Japan, Easter Island, South America, Jordan, and Egypt, and circumnavigated the Black Sea. In South America they traveled with Mike Messick ’85, an owner of adventure travel company Zegraham Expeditions. Judy still does some consulting work on water and transportation issues, although she is now carefully choosing projects that will allow both flexibility and intellectual challenge. She chaired a $6.5 million capital campaign for a family learning center in Pasadena, CA, and is on the board of Descanso Garden, a public botanical garden. She is looking forward to our reunion next year.

To correct a note published in the winter issue of Scope, it was Barbara Herbert von der Groeben who sees Stephanie Brewster Wagoner and hosted Carol Bogardus and husband Mike Lichty. Sorry for the confusion.

Jane Nordli spent 10 wonderful days in Paris in September and went to D.C. for a weekend event honoring her cousin, who was installed as chair of the US Army Joint Chiefs of Staff. She continues her work with Harvard as an online coach and occasional presenter. She took her 6-year-old granddaughter to the Metropolitan Opera to see Hansel and Gretel. She sees Michelle Cherney Gillett and Barbara Griffith-Powell to compare notes on grandchildren, among other things. “At age 60, being able to count one’s blessings and appreciate the simple gifts is enough,” she remarks.

Professor of biological oceanography at MIT Penny Chisholm, who led genetic comparison studies of marine microbes, is consulting with the firm Giant Microbes to develop a line of “good microbes” to offset their line of “nasty microbes” as stuffed toys for kids. See her site at giantmicrobes.com.

After retiring from the Child Welfare League of America in Washington, DC, in 2005 Carol Ann Holt moved to Ocean Park near Old Orchard Beach in Maine. She enjoys spending time with grandchildren and family living nearby, walking the beach, reading, and writing, as well as church activities, creative pursuits, and travel with friends.

Kris Sandberg Koff left a 30-year career as a physical therapist to become a biodiversity advocate and environmental educator, volunteering for the Audubon Society in Denver, CO. Her younger child is a junior at Bucknell.

Nancy Pullman Lynch and her husband divide their time between Lopez Island, WA, and Wickenburg, AZ. Oldest son Keith graduated from Whittier Law School last May. Three grandsons keep them entertained.