Skidmore College - Scope Magazine Spring 2019

34 SCOPE SPRING 2019 exceptional educator, her warmth enlivened countless alumni events and celebrations. We extend condolences to her daughter Beth, son Bart and grandchildren William, Benjamin and Grace. Alice Lawrence Roehrig died Jan. 11, 2018. Alice’s son, Paul, wrote this lovely tribute: “Mother found her true calling in life at Skidmore College. A natural caregiver in all aspects of her life, she helped countless families through the joys — and occasional heartbreak of childbirth — as a labor and delivery nurse … Her friends and family will always cherish the stories and pictures of her time at Skidmore.” Barbara Engster Sullivan died Aug. 12, 2018. A career coaching professional and avid gardener, she treasured spending time with her children and grandchildren. We lost Anne Dougherty Wilson Sept. 17, 2018. We recall her lifelong passion for the design and creation of clothing. Although Dael Gilroy Piro died in 2008, the College was not notified until October 2018. A speech patholo- gist and teacher, we remember Dael as inspirational, non-judgmental and compassionate to anyone in need. Sandra Stees Sudofsky sansatham@yahoo.com ’60 “I believe we all have passed the 80-year mark by now, which encour- ages philosophizing,” says Mary Jane Adriance Hall. “The challenges of life, golden-years style, keep us perpetual students. We are always dealing with change and losses but joy as well.” Pat Timothy-Riffle has moved into independent living at Center Com- munities in Brookline, Mass. There, she was asked to paint portraits of three centenarians. Pat enjoys all the opportunities for art and music. Donna Case Peck resides at Senior Independent Living in Denver. She loves living among active, intel- ligent and involved people. Betsy Dunnet Lindfors and her husband of 59 years, Ken, live at Rivermead in Peterborough, N.H. They attended the 50th anniversary of the Interna- tional High School Scholarship, an exchange program. Mary Winters Cooper and Jim made a move in Naples, Fla., to nearby Aston Gardens in Pelican Marsh. Mary is especially happy to be freed from cooking. Hadley Sillick Robertson and Dick moved to Foulkeways in Gwynedd, Pa. Sadly, Dick suc- cumbed in October after seven years with Lewy Body Dementia. He received excellent care, and Hadley appreciated the many good friends and worthwhile activities. I had lunch with Kathey Adair Coombs and Fred. They moved to an apartment at Lantern Hill in New Providence. A fabulous reunion luncheon for NYC-area ’60 alumnae was held at Sardi’s on Nov. 15, 2018. Planned by Nelle Nugent , guests included Sue Elsaesser, Rosemary Bourne, Elaine Pearlman Cohen, Avis Pomeranz Kniffin, Toni Levin Smith, Joan Simon Goldfarb, Peggy Silverman Steffans, Kelly Shack Lustig, Astrid Kradjian Dadourian, Liz Atterbury Harrington, Mary Kelchner Lindner and Kathey Adair Coombs . An “out- of-the-blue snowstorm” hit that after- noon, and the New Jersey contingent spent six to 10 hours getting home! At the age of 80, Cynthia Goss Triplett retired from nursing and sold her house to her granddaughter. Cynthia is now trying to figure out “what’s next.” Elizabeth Perles Gillman was induct- ed into the Senior Hall of Volunteer Fame in December. She plays the piano at the White Plains Hospital and lectures on health care advocacy. Ellen VanDusen Guthrie , who lost her husband in 2016, continues vol- unteering with Habitat for Humanity in Louisville, K.Y. Judy White is still involved in good old-fashioned get-out-the-vote work. In November, Judy and her fellow volunteers helped win a hard-fought battle to elect a diverse, all-Demo- cratic government in Colorado. Cherry Talbott speaks of her many enduring friendships that began in college. She enjoyed reconnecting at a lunch with Booty Jaeger and Elaine Cohen Perlman . Mary Jane Adriance Hall keeps in touch with Mary Jane Springer Auch and is “looking forward to another reunion with the fifth-floor gang.” Judy Harmon Miller and Roland drive to Don Pedro Island on the Gulf in Florida each winter. On the way, they stop to visit Pam Crossley Faulkner in Rhode Island and Bar- bara Block Zwick in Connecticut. Becky Martin Watson is busy making a wedding dress for her first grand- child’s June wedding, using sewing skills she learned at Skidmore. Sue Smith Wilkes sends her best wishes to all our octogenarians and expresses sadness that some of our dear friends are no longer with us. May these classmates who died in 2018 rest in peace: Gail Bendix Jaffe, Linda Kittinger Wadsworth, Judith Krysto Williams, Julia Smith Pringle and Meredith Jenkins Judge. A New England mini-reunion is being planned for May 2 by PamCrossley Faulkner, Linda Stevens Lucas and Lura Swift Provost. Contact Pam by email at rpfaulk@yahoo.com for details. Marty Miller Spencer spencer.mam@gmail.com ’61 Most of us turn 80 this year. Can you believe it? I’m one of the “young ones” who will wait until December for that event! Judy Mutti Grinnell is doing marvel- ous work in her home city of North Adams, Mass. Impressed by revital- ized cities such as Providence, R.I., and San Antonio, Texas, Judy saw an opportunity to help the former mill town achieve a similar rebirth. After 10 years of study and endorse- ment by local state and federal agencies, the Hoosic River Revival is now underway! Thank you, Marilyn Schutrum Coughlin , for sharing Judy’s story. Find out more at HoosicRiverRevival.org. Linda Collier Kenerson suggested sharing the accomplishments of Fran Malino. Linda attended an April lec- ture at Wellesley College commemo- rating the 30th anniversary of Fran’s appointment as chair of the Jewish studies program. Fran spoke on “Jewish Voices: Muslim Lands.” Fran was also celebrated at a December conference of the Association for Jewish Studies. Linda Collier Kenerson took her entire family, including five grandchil- dren, to Tulum, Mexico, for Christ- mas. Linda’s three grandsons attend Taft School in Connecticut; her three granddaughters live in Newport Beach, Calif. In January, Linda signed up for North Hill in Needham, Mass., a life-care community. Having lost her husband Ted 14 years ago, she thought it was the right move. Linda’s roommate, Kay Davis Flynn, and husband Charlie are residents, as are Pat Moorhead MacKinnon and husband Dick! Carole Sussman Heller is still sailing. She enjoyed two trips to Bermuda last year. Carole has had fun recon- necting with Debbie Goldfarb Isen- stein , who lives nearby. Carole and her husband sold their house and now reside in a condo in Fairfield, Conn. The couple recently returned from a safari in Southern Africa. Antarctica is next. North Carolinian Margaret “Skeet” Howe-Soper enjoys the warm climate, volunteer work and her grandkids. A trip to Massachusetts last year included a stop in Saratoga. She also traveled to Colorado to visit a friend and her other alma mater, the University of Colorado. Skeet spends time with two granddaugh- ters, 5 and 7; singing in a church C L A S S N O T E S