class notes

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In Memoriam | People & projects

1970s

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1973

Joanne Rubin
jrubin610@aol.com

Zoë Vose Morsette’s costumes for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade included fried eggs riding tricycles, three flowerpots worn by girls wearing poinsettia headpieces, and a giant stem and leaf helmet for the man on top of the Big Apple float. Additionally, Zoë made faux-leather armor and weaponry for a production of Man of La Mancha and several prop pieces for Shrek the Musical. The new “go-to girl” for the costume department at Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock, Zoë was asked to create three costumes in just three weeks this past fall. The first call came in from SNL: a commentary on the Wall Street plunge called for a barrel costume.

After 35 years of teaching in Brookfield, CT, Deb Brownell retired in June and is enjoying every minute.

Marc Geller and his family were caught up in Hurricane Ike. They evacuated their home in League City and weathered the storm in Houston. Luckily, the surge out of Galveston Bay failed to reach their home, and they returned to find the electricity working. Marc’s wife, who works at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, discovered that her office was under four feet of water. The hospital requested $600 million in aid and is still has a long way to go. Television does not convey the severity of the damage on Galveston Island. Marc sends his best to classmates.

Debby Barton’s daughter Katrina was married in June—“a perfect day we’ll always remember fondly.” Debby’s son Chris is a sophomore at Lynchburg College, planning to study abroad. Debby wishes she could go too! She and husband Ray spent some time in Maine with friends following Reunion. They were glued to their seats during the summer Olympics, rooting for hometown hero Michael Phelps. The Bartons enjoyed a trip to Puerto Rico to celebrate Ray’s brother’s 60th birthday in November; Katrina was there too.

Catherine Offinger was in Indianapolis for Katie Kunz’s marriage to Antonio Duran on July 20. In early September, Katie, her sister Sesie, and Catherine had their annual get-together at the CM Ranch in Dubois, WY. They went horseback riding and fly-fishing in the Wind River Mountains!

Timi Green thanks everyone who sent 80th birthday greetings to John Reed, former chair of Skidmore’s department of education. Timi, who has stayed in touch with him over the years, notes, “He really appreciated the sentiments and being remembered.” John and his wife, Doretta Miller, who still teaches art at the college, attended one of our reunion functions this past May. Over the summer Timi enjoyed a great hike with son Brad Richards ’00 and some of his classmates.

Bonnie Galagan is a freelance consultant in change management. In September she flew from her home in Paris, France, to Varna, Bulgaria, for a five-day mission to help the European Commission with a change-management project involving 30 EU and three associate countries. Bonnie is also coaching young adults in vision, interviewing techniques, and basic English presentation skills. Bonnie left for France after graduation, intending to stay for less than a year, and ended up living in Paris for more than 12. She came back home to Cambridge, MA, in the mid-’80s and then spent several years in San Francisco before returning to Paris in 2002. In 2006 she met again with the Frenchman with whom she had shared a three- year relationship in 1974; Alan Sharp is now Bonnie’s fiancé.

Anne Blodget met up with Anne Alger Hayward at a Skidmore Business Network reception in Boston. The two Annes were the “senior Skiddies” in attendance and had fun mingling with younger graduates. Jets Blodget reports that Jenny Pearman Lammer’s daughter Sarah spent a gap year overseas before entering Rhode Island School of Design this fall. Jets has a 17-year-old high-school junior beginning the college selection process as well (she welcomes all advice from veteran classmates). Jets had fun exchanging political e-mails with Sue Garlock Lesser. Jets also passed along the sad news that Judy Ahlheim Beal’s mother passed away in September. We send condolences to Judy and her family.

Joan Carey and husband Andy Baron spent last year traveling. In March they went on a Road Scholar trip to California’s Death Valley, hiking mountains, exploring the salt flats, climbing the sand dunes, and star gazing. They skied in the Lake Tahoe area with son Andy III and his partner, Nicole; and they skied with daughter Sara at Mont Tremblant near Montreal. In August the couple embarked on an Elderhostel tour in Canada, exploring Banff, Yoho, Jasper, and Kittenay National Parks as well as Mt. Robson Provincial Park. Over the summer they hiked and biked in Maine’s Acadia National Park for a week and capped it off with a 31-mile rail-to-trail trip in central Pennsylvania to celebrate their anniversary. Joan, who had a wonderful time seeing classmates at Reunion, saw Trish Niemitz and husband Jeff twice over the summer.

Connie Terry Ferguson and husband Bob rented a cottage in Weekapaug, RI, for a few weeks this past fall. Connie got her “saltwater fix” while her husband fished for stripers. In addition to beach walking and antiquing, they enjoyed some rest and relaxation. Back at home Connie volunteers for the Manchester Music Festival, Southern Vermont Arts Center, and the capital campaign for Choate Rosemary Hall. Three dogs also keep her busy, and a large crop of tomatoes was reduced into relish by the end of the harvest season. Children Peter, 30, and Abby, 28, are happy, healthy, and pursuing their passions. Connie’s 88-year-old mom is still very independent.

Susan Hayward Donahue spent time with Kris Hansen Wardwell and Betsy Ward Holm in September. Kris, a lawyer at Goodwin Proctor in Boston, sees more of daughter Lisa now that she has graduated from Colby and is a researcher at Dana Farber. Daughter Annie is a sophomore at Colby. Betsy and husband Bill live in Longmeadow, MA. Son Brett, who graduated from Tufts, is now coaching lacrosse there (he captained the team as an undergraduate) and is working on a master’s in urban planning. Charlie is a senior at Middlebury, where he plays football. Susan, who still lives in Norwell, MA, spends a couple of days a week in NYC, where Digger conducts business half of the week. Susan “has the great privilege” of sitting on the boards of the Boston Medical Center, Museum of Fine Arts, and the Boston Children’s Chorus. Oldest son Aidan lives and works in Boston and ran the marathon last year. Abby is at veterinary school at Penn, and youngest son Pete plays rugby at Trinity.

On the train to NYC recently, Susan heard her name being called by a fellow passenger and discovered it was Maggie Moss Tucker. Maggie was on her way to a board meeting of an organization that works with at-risk juveniles in the city. Still involved in marketing consulting, she spends a lot of time on the West Coast visiting son Jonathan, a successful actor. Her daughter, who is fluent in Chinese and spent the summer working for NBC at the summer Olympics, is finishing up at George Washington. Husband Paul, an internationally renowned Monet scholar, still teaches at UMass. The Tuckers maintain a house in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Susan also meets Erin McHugh ’74 for breakfast every Thursday morning in NYC. A fellow English major, Erin is a published author with more than 16 books to her credit.

Ever since celebrating our 50th birthdays together in Montreal, a group of us get together for a weekend in Maine every summer. No husbands or kids allowed. The gang includes me, Kris Wardwell, Betsy Holm, Susie Hazelett Miller, Susan Furber Mair, Margo Hand Anderson, Janet Steinmeyer Egan, Nancy Reade Everett, Lucia Sontag Johnson, and Susan Donahue, with occasional guest appearances from Erin McHugh. We’re still trying to find a weekend that Beth Gould can make it. Check out the great picture of Anne Pouch, Nina Nightingale Braziel, Mira Fish Coleman, Marguerite Woodworth Seefeld, and Anne Alger Hayward enjoying our great 35th reunion in Saratoga last year here.

I recently returned from my goddaughter’s wedding in the Catskill Mountains.
It was strange flying into Albany and not heading to Skidmore. I stayed at a rustic bed and breakfast without television or telephones. It was great being one with nature and the great outdoors. I had lunch in Woodstock before driving back to the airport for the flight home to Toledo and work and responsibilities.