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1967

Chris Filbin Hoffman
choffman04@starband.net

Retired Vermonters Martha Hodgdon Bisbee and husband Tom “can’t imagine living any other place in this world.” They spent the spring and summer working with a trail designer to design and excavate an extensive cross-country ski trail on their property. Marty invites anyone coming by the Sugarbush/Mad River Valley area to escape the crowd and enjoy a tour by foot, snowshoes, or cross-country skis.

Sara Schroeder Keaney was overjoyed at the July birth of first grandchild Cooper—son of daughter Ann Keaney Gavin ’95. Sara sent a great photograph of herself and Nancy Kneeshaw Kruger taken this summer in the lobby of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, where Cooper was born and Nancy is VP of patient-care services. Sara notes that Nancy is “too modest about her status as the only classmate who holds both a bachelor of science degree and a doctorate in nursing” and adds, “the patient care was fabulous.”

After a lifetime spent within 20 miles of Hartford, CT, Mary Harris Leger and husband Paul have retired and moved to Greensboro, NC, where daughters Carrie and Susie attended college and subsequently settled. Mary would like to hear from other Skidmore grads in the area.

Susan Gottlieb Beckerman organized the second of what may become a tradition for all ’67 NYC alumnae: a dutch-treat dinner party. This year’s gathering was held in September at a restaurant near the Grand Central Terminal. Susan reports that the Class of 1967 Lobby in Palamountain Hall is “a lovely nook,” and adds that she and Bev Harrison Miller are “extremely proud of our generous class.”

Bev Miller and husband Wayne enjoyed a September trip to visit the cave paintings in Dordogne and sample fine French wine. The Millers attended the Palamountain Scholarship Benefit at Skidmore in August. Bev noted that a number of our classmates donated items to the benefit auction.

Judith Ritter is officially the owner of an “empty nest.” Daughter Devorah is enjoying her work as a criminal defense attorney with the Public Defender Service in Washington, DC. In August mother and daughter traveled to India, where Devorah did volunteer work with homeless children who live in a train station. Judith produces programming for National Public Radio’s Marketplace, Only a Game, and Sound Money.

Sudee Sanders, who corresponds in beautiful script rather than e-mail, is still teaching art at the International Baccalaureate Middle School in Cherry Hill, NJ. Summer work included reading the praxis exams (taken by beginning teachers) for the Educational Testing Service in Princeton. Last summer Sudee attended the Lincoln Center Institute for the Arts in Education, where she studied the aesthetics
of choreographers George Balanchine and Alvin Ailey. She then took a weeklong seminar with the NJ Council for the Humanities on African American history, and finally some vacation time with her mother at Hilton Head, SC.

Self-described “field-hockey mom” Alberta Lappano Uhran travels most weekends to see youngest daughter Caroline—a freshman at Hartwick College—play. Son Tim is at Lynchburg College. Sarah, who graduated from Notre Dame and worked in San Francisco, will return home and is considering applying to law school. Oldest daughter Katie moved from San Diego to Denver in October. Al says, “It’s a good thing I keep their addresses in pencil!” She also enjoys visiting NYC and making occasional trips to Saratoga.

In August Izzie Maccracken Winn spent 18 days in Ghana as team leader for a group of 12 Maryland Episcopalians (including her husband), 16 Ghanaians, and three British citizens, who presented the church’s Cursillo program to African-Anglican parishes in Accra. The visitors stayed with families in Ghanaian homes—most of which, notes Izzie, are supplied with little electricity and cold, if any, water.

Maryanne Byington is a longtime activist for animal protection legislation. As a member of the League of Humane Voters, she participated in the first annual NYC Animal Protection Lobby Day in October. The lobbying group introduced a bill to ban cruel practices in rodeos in NYC. Anyone interested in learning more can contact Bub or the League of Humane Voters at 212-889-0303. In March the LOHV will participate in a Lobby Day at the State House in Albany.

Among the last in our class to have children, and striving for some balance between the worlds of business owner, wife, and mother, Andrea Peterson Mauro and I met in October for some hiking, biking, and R & R in western Massachusetts. We talked nonstop as we took in the beauty of the landscape. In other news, I was pleased when alumni board president Bev Harrison Miller asked me to assume the role of at-large alumni board member for 2004–05.