Skidmore College - Scope Magazine Spring 2019

38 SCOPE SPRING 2019 independent schools. Sue attended our 45th reunion while running Emma Willard School in Troy. The 2017-18 school year found them in Vancouver, B.C., at Stratford Hall, an international baccalaureate school. They are now in Fayetteville, Ark., at The New School, a day school. Next year, the couple will go to Mus- cat, Oman, where Sue will run the American British. Sue and Mark were thrilled to visit with Judy Costello Brinckerhoff at the Darien High School 50th reunion in September. The couple’s home base is still Hilton Head Island, S.C. Carolyn Bliss Corcoran’s grandson, David Burg ’23 , was accepted early decision to Skidmore. “That makes three generations of Skiddies: me, our daughter, Michele ’01, and now David. I couldn’t be happier!” Pamela Scott Morris and her daughter, Kristin Reilly, co-authored a children’s holiday book about the power of human connection. Written 27 years ago, “A Gift of Love” never went any further. Pamela woke up Christmas morning to find their story beautifully presented in a promo- tional copy. Unbeknownst to Pamela, Kristin had found an illustrator and a publisher. The book was released by Halo Publishing on Jan. 25, but they will focus their marketing efforts on this year’s holiday season. Ellen Gingras Barkhuff is retired after leaving her position as high school science chair and full-time chemistry teacher. She and her husband moved to Falmouth, Mass., but do a lot of traveling. Their three children are all married. Among the kids and their spouses, two work for the government, two are doctors, one is an electrician and another is a marketing research director. The Barkhuffs have three granddaugh- ters and a grandson. They encour- age classmates to look them up in Cape Cod at barkhuffe@gmail.com . Pat Lawrence Bucher’s husband, Rich Bucher, was one of the first Colgate exchange students; he lived in Wilmarth in spring 1970. A retired writer, he decided to focus on autism and the impact it has had on the family since the birth of their son in 1976. “A Mommy, a Daddy, Two Sisters, and a Jimmy: Autism and the Difference It Makes” was published this year. For more information, visit ajimmy.com . Barbara Devine Bode Barbara.bode1@gmail.com ’73 Cathy Offinger decided that April 1 would be an appropriate date to retire! She is now official- ly designated as oceanographer emerita! We wish Cathy good luck as she starts her next chapter. Since graduating with a B.S. in dance and theater, Joan Halpert has worked as a dance instruc- tor and costume designer for the stage. In July 2018, she retired as assistant professor of theater arts after a career at Stonehill College in North Easton, Mass. Joan started the dance program there in 1988. She and husband Peter Hanson will celebrate their 44th anniversary this summer. The couple’s eldest, Eric ’03, was recently hired as director of revenue products at PubOcean, a digital marketing enterprise. Middle child Simcha works on an organic farm in Northampton. Youngest child, Olivia, completed the Appalachian Trail on Oct. 17. Olivia raised over $5,250 for cancer research, surpass- ing her $2,190 goal. Joan talks with Raejean Richardson Fellows several times a year; they hope to see each other in San Diego this summer. Since two of the Halpert children live in Brooklyn, Peter and Joan have had several opportunities to spend time with Manhattan resident Jan Mi- chell and her husband, Mitch. Joan also spends time with Abbey Steere Koutnik ’74 and her husband, Gary. Cheryl Bonini Ellis is currently visit- ing Cuba. She loves the experience and will share some “wonderful stories” upon her return. Happily retired, Deborah Barton enjoys staying up late reading or watching something special on DVD. There is also the opportunity to spend leisurely mornings with a cup of coffee and a print newspaper. With more time and energy, she spends time with family and friends, fosters Labs and travels.   After retiring from a career in nursing, Martha Blankinship Ide went back to part-time employment before saying goodbye to work again. Martha and husband Rob enjoy family activities with son Jacob and his wife, Amy, and daughter Betsy ’00 , her husband Matt and four grandchildren. “I love retirement,” exclaims Barbara Prince Stone . After living in the same house for 37 years, she and husband Howard have moved twice in 12 months. Barbara is fine with having two new cities to explore. She spends time babysitting three granddaughters in Philly and Wash- ington, D.C.  Barbara and Howard spend winters playing tennis and golf in Florida. Anne Blodget Holberton hosted singer-songwriter Kyle Carey ’08 at a Skidmore event in Lake Went- worth, N.H., last fall. Kyle performed for an audience that included Patricia Walton Osmond ’55, Joan Moore Cowen ’56, Charlotte Megill Hix ’57, Martha A. Brown ’69, Donna Hembling Fogle ’69 and Anika Brand Hastings ’87. Joanne Packer , who retired as a cer- tified school nurse in a Philly school district, now spends more time at her family house in Rhode Island recon- necting with childhood friends. Her little white dog, Buddha, “continues to bring much joy and laughter to the whole family.” Retired attorney Marcia White and husband John are both enjoying life in Santa Fe, N.M. Marcia is spending more time with daughter Kate, plan- ning to tour Civil War sites. Kathy Chwals Milligan is a part-time art teacher and oil painter. Daughter Sarah lives in Laguna Beach, Calif., with her daughters, Cecilia, 2, and Nora, 13 weeks. Matthew lives in Cincinnati with his sons, Tyler, 3, and Zac, 1. Kathy’s husband is still work- ing full time. Marcy Davenport sent in this “over- due thank-you” to fellow nursing majors Trish Kaiser Niemitz and Karen Sroka . Confined to a wheel- chair after surgery four decades ago, Trish and Karen cared for Marcy for four weeks, “helped me with showers, and pushed my wheelchair (along with Stacey Schneider, Eloise Trissler Armstrong and Jane Sher- wood, among others), to meals and classes — even to Stewart’s for ice cream,” she recalls. Now a hospice nurse, Marcy observes, “During that difficult, awkward time in my life, Trish and Karen offered me an unex- pected gift of the highest quality, for which I remain deeply grateful.” Judy Beal was appointed inaugural dean of the College of Natural, Be- havioral and Health Sciences at Sim- mons College in Boston. Her new role began in conjunction with the institution’s transition to university status on Sept. 1. A former professor and dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Simmons, Judy spearheaded the expansion of its family nurse practitioner mas- ter’s program and added an online curriculum. She also helped forge academic practice partnerships with facilities around the world. Penny Knight plays violin in a com- munity orchestra and sings with a women’s a capella group. “I’m taking care of grand-dogs while I wait for grandchildren!” she quips. We were saddened by a call from Linda Gregory, wife of Jeffrey J. Grey , informing us that he died July 29, 2018. We extend condolences to Linda and the family. My Rosie has won the “Most Lovable Award” at her doggie day care. Rosie saves her mischie- vous side for me. We are working on a dance routine for a charitable event. Rosie is mostly just interested in performing to get her treats. C L A S S N O T E S