Skidmore College - Scope Magazine Fall 2018

32 SCOPE FALL 2018 luncheons in the city for ’55 nursing majors; she leaves her friends with many good memories. Both classmates will be greatly missed. See “In Memoriam” in this issue. Barbara McBride Sterling sterlingbarbara1@gmail.com ’56 When it wasn’t 95 degrees in the shade, rain soaked everything here on Long Island. Fortunately, on a beautiful day in August we were able to celebrate our Skidmore backgrounds at an alumni event held at the Devon Yacht Club in Amagansett. Skidmore staffer Joe Porter joined us as we celebrated reconnecting with one another. We were delighted to welcome Ada Vapnak ’57 , who braved the summer traffic from her home in Sag Harbor to join us. JoanMaertinsHansel lives in Lancaster, Pa. (My husband and I travel there several times a year to visit our son, a resident since his college days at Franklin &Marshall.) Joan had lived in Hingham, Mass., for 53 enjoy- able years. Two years ago, she celebrated her 60thwedding anniversary at a family reunion inWilliamsburg, Va., for which her grandchildren came east. Joan enjoys the Lancaster area’s music traditions and choral groups. Activities for her include dog-walking, metal- andwood- working, and fundraising. Six older grandchildren are pursuing careers in ad sales, construction, supplymanagement, nursing and teaching inManhattan and NewEngland. The family travels to Europe for reunions; son Luke was inGermany this summer attending a cousin’swedding. I am saddened to report that Phyllis Probst McIntire died in December, and Cherry Pepper Kaneff passed away March 21. Many remember Cherry as the live-wire blonde of Penfield House, who left after freshman year to marry Howard Kaneff. She traveled the world with him, was fluent in Spanish and French and taught herself Russian. Averill Dayton Geus egeus@optonline.net ’57 Phebe Grauer Appleton lives in Niagara on the Lake in Ontario, Canada. A dual U.S. and Canadian citizen, she is grateful for all the region has to offer, including wineries, fruit farms, a magnificent view of Fort Niagara and the George Bernard Shaw Theatre, which presents plays and a popular summer music festival. Phoebe is active in green-space conservancy in the rapidly developing area, observing, “It’s an uphill battle.” She continues to sing with a local choir of retirees. Ginny Carter Lombardi and Dick have moved to Traditions, a senior community in Dallas, but spend the summer months in Colorado. Ginny plays ten- nis, volunteers for hospice, drives for Meals on Wheels and enjoys travel and reading. I received an email from Mary “Bang Bang” Gund Farr , who said she hadn’t used her Skidmore nickname in 50 years! She and Hap live at Moorings Park at Grey Oaks in Naples, Fla. She says, “I can’t tell you how often we laugh over Skidmore adventures.” A few times each summer, they spend two weeks in Michigan at their family compound, which was built in 1926 and includes an island. Relatives come from everywhere to en- joy reconnecting there. Other times, they’re in Cleveland, where they enjoy activities with many childhood friends. Still painting and making jew- elry, Mary donates proceeds from the sale of her work to charities in the name of son John, whom they lost to can- cer in 2006. The Farrs’ other son, Warren, runs the family air conditioning business. A won- derful gaggle of grandchildren live in New York, California and Washington, D.C. Let’s plan to get ’57ers together on Florida’s west coast this winter! Linda Gorham Harvey stays in touch with Joan Hayes , who winters on Sanibel Island, Fla. She also had fun catching up with Judy Fletcher Baker in Falmouth, Maine, in August. Linda and John hopscotch between three homes: They spend winters in Sanibel, spring and fall at their Cape Cod home in Harwich Port, where Linda gets her garden fix, and summer escapes in a small lakeside cottage in Bridgton, Maine. Linda enjoys lake swimming and still plays some tennis.  I received an email from Pat Naigles Lyons ’s husband, Herb. Given Pat’s advancing Parkinson’s, Herb is “acting as her corresponding agent.” She sends her greetings and enjoys hearing from classmates. The couple lives in Bellingham, Wash. An enthusiastic alumna, Pat or- ganized some mini-reunions on Florida’s west coast. I am still wearing a yellow shirt she convinced us to wear in the Parade of Classes at Reunion! Ginny Carter Lombardi passed along the sad news that Carla Pepperman Kernan died in May. Carla lived just four houses down from Ginny and Dick before moving into assisted living three years ago . Carla’s daughter Nancy Jagielski shared that her mother had cherished a framed photo of herself and other members of the Skidmore Chorus that was taken during their late-1950s appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, which Carla often called “one of the best experiences I ever had.” Unable to travel due to a fairly severe case of COPD, she regretted not being able to attend Reunion. And Linda Harvey informed me that Ann Talbot Brown passed away; she had been in failing health for quite some time. We send condolences to both families. (See this issue’s “In Memoriam.”) My husband, Jim, and I enjoyed a trip to Santa Fe and Taos, N.M. I had never been there and absolutely loved the gorgeous scenery, so beauti- fully captured by Georgia O’Keeffe. We visited her mu- seum, home and studio before driving out to the Ghost Ranch where she often painted. The trip included a family reunion, making it even more special. Dotty Wakeman Mattoon dottymattoon@comcast.net ’58 At 82, Connie Hey Morton says she is doing “OK” despite the challenges of MS and fibromyalgia. At home in Meadowlakes, Texas, she is getting physical therapy and participating in a study at Baylor University. The study includes riding a mechanical horse, which has really improved her balance. Beverly Beatson Grossman reports that she thoroughly enjoyed Reunion and wishes more classmates could have attended. Bev was pleased to represent Skidmore President Philip Glotzbach in the installation ceremony for the new president of Williams College, where she and husband Felix have a grandson who is a member of the freshman class. Felix continues to participate in an aquatic masters’ program as a diver; he has won gold and silver medals in his division. Fran Garrett Crew enjoys country living in Elmira, N.Y. She and her husband feel fortunate to have their four children and seven grandchildren nearby. (Their youngest daughter is a Skidmore graduate.) They take long walks with their two 5-year-old Labs, who keep them on their toes. Although Elmira is the glider capital of the world, Fran admits flying one is something she still has yet to check off her bucket list. The couple travels in a big motor home, which has allowed them to enjoy some amazing trips to Alaska. Fran has fond memories of being active in student government at Skidmore (just take a look at our yearbook). In Lake Placid, N.Y., you can find Tina Brodley Eigen- mann playing tennis, down- hill skiing, hiking, walking or swimming (“like a true Pisces,” she says). She and her husband enjoy their home on 3 acres surrounded by the great outdoors. She recalls the excellent experience she had studying home econom- ics at Skidmore, and her skills and passion for sewing led to a successful alteration busi- ness. For fun, she and a friend keep their vocabularies sharp by doing lots of crossword puzzles. In good health, Tina feels fortunate to be living completely “pill free.” Susan Hecht Goldstein loves the summer weather in Aspen, Colo. The rest of the year, she resides in Los Angeles, Calif. C L A S S N O T E S