Skidmore College - Scope Magazine Fall 2018

33 SKIDMORE COLLEGE Susan is often busy fundrais- ing for Skidmore. At Reunion this spring, she spent time with Monica Reis de Janosi , a connection that she says “warmed my heart.” Sue, who feels quite comfortable with technology, has encouraged me to “love” my cellphone. (I still need to be convinced.) Portsmouth, N.H., resident Barbara Warriner Engel- bach has been active in the National Society of Colonial Dames of America, serving as president of the New Hampshire chapter from 2004 to 2008. She has also enjoyed classes at the local Strawbery Banke Museum, which encompasses the site of the earliest known European settlements from the 17th century and show- cases period gardens and homes as well as trades and crafts. Barbara served for 15 years as the manager of the historic Warner House, home to sea captains, mer- chants, explorers and even a royal governor. Barbara and her husband of 61 years have three sons. She and Fred lived in Germany and England while he was in the Air Force; they have also visited China, Vietnam and Thailand and have a favorite little hotel on the island of Naxos, Greece. Barbara’s hearing loss has not slowed her determination to improve her Greek-speaking skills to “more than 10 words.” Claire Steinmetz McCleery sounds upbeat and positive as she continues to deal with the effects of a nasty fall. She admits she gets annoyed at her painful arms and legs, but she is encouraged by the help of her husband, a part- time caregiver and her family. She’s in the pool three to four times a week and volunteers at her church office. She also enjoys the antics and com- pany of her dog, Tame. Ann Pizzutello D’Innocenti was just home from playing tennis when I spoke with her. She was experiencing a few aches and pains and may discontinue playing with folks 10 years her junior. Ann and her husband live near the Kennedy Space Center in Florida; her son and his 13- and 16-year-old children live nearby. She retired after a successful and rewarding career teaching art in New York and Miami. She plays bridge twice a week. Monica Reis de Janosi had a good time at Reunion and also wished more of us were there. She especially liked meeting Connie Masciale Carino , whom she had not really known. Connie surely did our class proud for all her work and service! Monica keeps in touch with Esther-Ann Solotaroff Asch and Naomi Goldfarb Tamerin . She hosted Cathy Yacker Winter for a little reunion of their own. Monica has plans to tour the national parks of the West, and she is the proud owner of a miniature Dachshund named Blossom (don’t you love it?). I had a chatty and delight- ful lunch with Joan Bowles Averette and Chris Rouse while Joan was here in the Wild West to visit Chris. There was lots of catching up and happy observations that “we all look pretty good.” Jackie Bush Collopy and husband Bruce visited Saratoga and Skidmore on her birthday last spring while attending Bruce’s 60th reunion at RPI in Troy. They celebrated their 60th anniversary with family and friends at home in Roswell, Ga. Daughters of the Ameri- can Revolution, genealogy research, church choir and alter guild, quilting, and play- ing bridge keep her busy. Jackie was disappointed that family commitments kept her from attending our reunion. She and Bruce went to Min- neapolis twice, for their old- est granddaughter’s wedding and for her younger sister’s graduation from college. Jackie visited Barbara Ford Ostrander in Florida, where Barbara spends half the year. Marge Sigsby Noble is “ex- tremely happy in retirement” at her adult community in Hendersonville, N.C. She and Joan Bowles Averette com- prised the “southern contin- gent” at Reunion; both physi- cal education majors, they enjoyed getting reacquainted. Marge also ventured off cam- pus for a mini-reunion with Bobbie Bongard , who lives on a farm in nearby Schuyler- ville, where she raises (win- ning) racehorses! Marge and Joan had previously gotten together in Virginia Beach, Va., where Joan resides, for mini-reunions. Marge keeps fit by teaching aerobics and swimming, playing pickleball and taking Zumba classes. She feels really blessed to be feeling well and active. She loved the activities at Re- union, including the bus tour of the old campus, touring the beautiful new campus and participating in the Parade of Classes. The lively dinners were a treat, and she was im- pressed by the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery and its beautiful surroundings. Joyce Gilburt Hood-Jelliff is “feeling fine” in Scotts- dale, Ariz. She and a friend took a lovely but sometimes weather-challenged cruise to explore the beauty of Alaska. Elsa Daspin Suisman was happy to hear that class- mates who attended Reunion were appreciative and pleased with all the activities. I am sure it was satisfying to see it all come together! It was a severe blow when my sister Alice passed away in Rochester, N.Y., from a short bout with cancer. I know many of you have experi- enced such a personal loss and the deep, difficult and soul-searching feelings that it brings. It is so hard to accept that a very special person in your life is gone forever. Jane Goodman Hunter knew Alice, as they both worked as counselors in Stephen Minis- try Program, so it was good to see Jane and share some thoughtful time with her. I returned to Rochester to see my brother-in-law and also met Mary Ann Groves Carley , whose son Rick lives nearby. Mary Ann recently lost her vibrant husband after a long illness. Although she and I have phoned over the years, it was wonderful to connect in person over lunch in a restaurant her son owns. Stan has been with me through all this and has been a great support. He and I caught up with almost all of our family members at a beach-house reunion on the Outer Banks of North Caro- lina. It is getting harder every year to corral all 22 of us, due to jobs, soccer tourna- ments (do they ever stop?) and other commitments. My daughter Allison and husband Mike spent a year camping all over the United States with their children Jeff, 12, and Kate, 11. We missed them at the beach; they were still in the Ozarks. Now back home in southern California, they are savoring the many great memories, for sure. I hope you all read about Connie Masciale Carino in the last “Class Notes.” A great picture and productive and meaningful nursing career! I wish we could all have been at Reunion together. I love hearing your voices, but please feel free to email me as well. Bobbie Schwartz tucsonschwartz@gmail.com ’59 REUNION ’19 Gail Wheeler ’s longtime companion Bob Schulz passed away in March. Gail laments, “I’m lost without him. We dated senior year then went our separate ways but always kept in touch. We were a twosome for the last 19 years and really the perfect couple! Fortunately, I’m keeping busy and have my beach house at the Jersey Shore as an escape.” She stayed occupied planning a trip to Paris with sister Dona for the first week of October. Gail gets together with Cynthia Magriel Wetzler every few months; they recently met for lunch and a museum tour. Gail Lanctot Hamlett still loves living in Florida. She stays busy with activities at Shell Point, her church and an associated thrift shop, as well as several other ministries. She spent time in Buffalo, N.Y., to celebrate the graduation of four grandchildren (two from high school and two from col- lege); there are still two grand- kids to go! Gail had the good fortune to run into Nancy Marsh , and they had lunch to celebrate Nancy’s birthday. Barbara Denney Woods says “all is well” with the Woods family. Three out of four grandsons are in col- lege, and the youngest is a high school senior. Barbara and her husband still live in a lakeside home in Victorville, Calif., and hope to stay put. They spend time with friends and family and are commit- ted to getting rid of “stuff” in-