LOUISE MACKIE '61 TO RECEIVE THIS YEAR'S WCA AWARD

WellsNotesWells College Alumnae and Alumni Newsletter

Wells College Association of Alumnae and Alumni

Spring 2021

IN THIS ISSUEPAGE 2 | WCA REUNION VP’S MESSAGE

PAGE 3 | WCA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

PAGE 10-44 | CLASS NOTES

PAGE 49 | VIRTUAL REUNION SCHEDULE

PAGES 50-51 | WCA BOARD CANDIDATE INFO & BALLOT

WCA AWARD CEREMONY INVITATION

The Wells College Association of Alumnae and Alumni cordially invites you to attend the

2020 and 2021 WCA award ceremony, recognizing the achievements of

Stephanie Batcheller ’79 Gwen Wilkinson ’77Louise Mackie ’61

FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 11:00 A.M. EDT

Registration required.

The Wells College Association of Alumnae and Alumni will present the 2021 WCA Award to Louise W. Mackie ’61, for her exceptional contributions to the field of historic textiles from Islamic lands.

Louise Mackie received her bachelor of arts in art history from Wells College and with Carol Gaines Ruckle ’61 after graduation enjoyed visiting her Wells professor, Hannelore Glasser, in Florence, Italy, during two enlightening years of traveling, studying and working in Europe and the Middle East. That led to secretarial work in the Islamic Art Department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York which inspired studying Islamic art history with Professor Richard Ettinghausen for a master of arts at NYU’s Institute of Fine Arts, integrated with stimulating graduate studies at the American University in Cairo, Egypt.

She recently retired as curator of textiles and Islamic art at the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio. During her impressive curatorial career of 45 years, Mackie held positions at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, The Textile Museum in Washington, D.C., and taught at the University of Toronto. She was a founding director (in 1987) and past president of the Textile Society of America, which is thriving with over 800 members; sat on the Advisory Committee of The Textile Museum; and served on the Conseil de Direction of the Centre International d’Etude des Textiles Anciens (CIETA) in Lyon, France. She was honored by the Textile Society of America as a fellow in 2017.

People ask, “why textiles?” Mackie clearly enjoys talking about their significance and states that, historically, textiles drove economies and fueled prosperity, just as they do in China today. Luxury textiles, which dominate in art museum collections, were symbols of power, wealth and status in the ancient Middle East, well before the advent of Islam in the seventh century.

Believing that the stars have been aligned with wonderful opportunities, Mackie feels blessed to be considered a “second Mom” by a loving family while also enjoying a stimulating career in the art museum world. As a young curator during the 1970s at the internationally renowned Textile Museum, where she was trained in Islamic textiles and carpets by senior scholars, she enjoyed promoting the museum with frequent exhibitions, scholarly lectures, textiles conferences, annual rug conventions and publications. Many events, especially exhibitions, were co-sponsored by an embassy, including the Turkish, Iranian and Spanish embassies, a delightful Washington benefit. Typical of specialized museums, Mackie handled a rich variety of responsibilities that are departmentalized in larger museums.

Special invitations expanded Mackie’s horizons during the 1970s and 1980s. They included: consulting on an Iranian textile collection in Tehran, for the Special Bureau of Her Imperial Majesty, the Shahbanou of Iran; attending the grand opening of the new Carpet Museum in Tehran, by the Special Bureau of His Imperial Majesty, the Shah of Iran; studying museum textiles in India for three months by the Indo-U.S. Subcommission on Education and Culture, Museum Program; and medieval textiles excavated at Fustat (Old Cairo) by the archaeologist, Professor George Scanlon. continued on page 45

LOUISE MACKIE ’61 TO RECEIVE THIS YEAR’S WCA AWARD

2 Spring 2020

HELLO, WELLS FAMILY!Happy Spring to you—I hope you’re having beautiful weather and things are beginning to feel normal for you. I am looking forward to seeing you when we can do so. This time of year always fills me with energy and hope, and I appreciate it especially this spring.

As I write this, I’m busy planning final details for our Activism April Series—by the time you receive this issue of WellsNotes it will be wrapping up; but it is going to be an awesome series of Wells alums and other speakers engaging with our students, faculty, staff, and alums about a variety of topics. I’ve enjoyed participating in class calls, crafting happy hours, and other virtual events with many of you this year. Seeing your faces, albeit on my tiny screen, has made my year feel more cheerful!

Class of 2006, I’m disappointed that we aren’t celebrating our 15th Reunion together in person—we always have such amazing turnout and sure know how to party—let’s make 2022 wonderful and our 20th in 2026 REALLY special (maybe it’s time to rent another mechanical bull?).

I’m looking forward to seeing more alums at our virtual events and can hardly wait until we are able to gather in person again. I love to hear from you all, so please reach out through social media, phone, or email and let’s catch up!

Best,

Rachel Porter ’06 Alumnae and Alumni Engagement Officer

Wells College Association BoardPresidentAmy Cerand McNaughton ’[email protected]

Nominating Vice PresidentSue Eskedahl ’[email protected]

Reunion Vice PresidentChristin Schaaf ’[email protected]

Fall Weekend Vice PresidentKristine Selander Gordon ’[email protected]

WCA TrusteesKatie Fong ’[email protected]

Joanne Kelley ’[email protected]

Heather Kowalski ’[email protected]

National Annual Giving ChairEliza Heppner ’[email protected]

Award Committee ChairMegan Donovan ’[email protected]

Members-at-LargeCrary Reynolds Brooks ’[email protected]

Rachael Ristau ’[email protected]

Member-at-Large—FARGOBrad Murray ’[email protected]

Admissions LiaisonTalyse Hampton ’[email protected]

Member-at-Large—Strategic LiaisonDeb Callahan ’[email protected]

Interim Alumnae and Alumni Engagement DirectorPamela J. Sheradin ’[email protected]

Alumnae and Alumni Engagement OfficerRachel Porter ’[email protected]

WellsNotes April 2021, Volume XIX, Issue IWellsNotes is published by Wells College. It is circulated free of charge to College alumnae and alumni.

EditorsKelly BrownChristopher PollockPamela J. Sheradin ’86DesignJacobs PressClass Notes EditorKelly BrownContributorsEmily Van NostrandRachel Porter ’06 Kellie StindlePhotographyEmily Van NostrandMichele Vollmer

REUNION 2021Hello, Wells Family!

So far, 2021 has yet to make amends for 2020. We waited as long as possible to make the call that this year’s Wells College Reunion will be a 100% virtual experience. There will not be any events taking place in Aurora. Health and safety must be paramount.

We have some pretty fabulous classes celebrating some milestones this year—and we have some celebrating to make up for from last year. I have my fingers and toes crossed for serious shenanigans in Aurora for Reunion 2022.

We are looking on the bright side of the situation in that a virtual program allows for greater access to the event. I’ve received emails and texts from people that are excited about the possibilities this could create.

We are still planning the schedule of virtual events, but will be able to continue with many of the traditional Reunion events. Below are just a few of this year’s events (times, dates, and details to be announced). Certain items will be pre-recorded, others will be live.

• WCA Award Ceremony. Louise Mackie ’61, 2021 WCA Recipient • Reunion Trivia • WCA Annual Meeting • Reunion College: Preserving the Personal Connection as We Accelerate into Learning in New Ways • Coffee with President Gibralter and the Cabinet

I’m glad that we will be able to have a form of Reunion this year—even if it isn’t what we were hoping for. Please stay safe. Keep checking back on the WCA Facebook Page and on the website at alumni.wells.edu/reunion for more information. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] or call 315.364.3200.

Christin (aka SCHAAF) ‘99 WCA Vice President for Reunion

Sustainability PracticesWells remains committed to environmentally responsible practices. This piece is printed at Jacobs Press, an environmentally conscious facility run by 100% wind power, with vegetable inks and on paper from tree farms with sustainable harvesting methods. They practice sustainable production methods in which nearly all waste paper, plastic, wood and metal is recycled.

If addressee has moved, please contact the Alumnae and Alumni Engagement Office at [email protected], 315.364.3200, or via postal mail at Alumnae & Alumni Engagement Office, Wells College, 170 Main St., Aurora, NY 13026.

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To Have and To ShareAnnual Giving provides a path forwardYour support during this difficult time has been nothing short of inspiring. It is due to your remarkable commitment to Wells we are able to share all of the great things being accomplished in Annual Giving!

We are excited to introduce Mary Webber ’17 as our new Assistant Director of Annual Giving. As a student, Mary worked in the Advancement Office as a student employee, phonathon caller and manager, Reunion ambassador and so much more! After graduation, she was an integral part of the Admissions Office as an Admissions Counselor. Although she has never gone far we are so grateful to have her join the Advancement team.

“The first time I stepped foot on this beautiful campus. I knew it was the place for me, and I would call it home.” - Mary Webber ’17

As a result of the pandemic, phonathon was unfortunately put on hold this last year. However, with the help of Jonathan Rowe (the Title IX and COVID-19 Coordinator), and Mary’s creative thinking and hard work we were able to hold the Spring Phonathon. It was a pleasure to have students back in Pettibone (even with masks, social distancing and dividers) connecting with alums! Our students were able to gain real work experience for their resumes and of course have some laughs (and a lot of great snacks).

Also making a return…The Odd/Even Challenge! (Cancelled last spring due to COVID) Get ready to cast your vote in May!!!

The Strategic Plan offers a sustainable way to move Wells forward. We are grateful to all of its contributors and the tireless hours spent on its production. The Annual Giving Office is proud to be an integral part of this plan and looks forward to sharing with you how you can join this effort.

We are so thankful to the Wells Community with their endless support, without you we would not be able to continue the great mission of Wells. It would be nearly impossible to identify an area of the College that cannot be supported through the Wells Fund. Gifts to the Wells Fund directly support students and all the areas needed to provide them with a one of a kind education.

Thank you for all you do for Wells!

Jessica L. CorterDirector of Annual Giving

P.S. To make a gift, visit our secure, easy-to-use donation site at wells.edu/giving at any time, or call the Office of Advancement at 315.364.3476.

WCA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEMany of you indicated an interest in volunteering for the Wells College Association of Alumnae and Alumni (WCA) last fall through either an online survey and/or one of the listening sessions we moderated. I am pleased to share that the WCA is working with College leadership to implement two key components of the strategic plan — both of which are focused on mentorship, experiential learning and career support — and we anticipate this will create numerous additional volunteer opportunities for alumnae and alumni of all ages.

As you know, the ad hoc Strategic Planning Steering Committee worked last fall to guide a rapid strategic planning prioritization process, based on input from more than 90 members of the Wells College community. Last month, the Board of Trustees formally approved that plan, which you can read about in more detail at our website (wells.edu/strategic-plan).

One of the plan’s five objectives is to “leverage the Wells alumnae/alumni network to increase investments in our students, their futures and in the College.” The WCA has been given primary responsibility for the two key initiatives in support of this objective, which are:

• Initiative 4.1: Implement a formal WCA mentorship program (project leader: Eliza Heppner ’06)

• Initiative 4.2: Initiate WCA alumnae/alumni career engagement and experiential learning support programs (project leader: Kris Selander Gordon ’80)

The feedback we received from many of you was integral to developing these programs, the goal of which is to enhance the student experience, increase student retention rates and strengthen the connections between alums and students. Our next steps are to create implementation plans for both projects by June and begin execution this fall.

Thank you for raising your hand to help. When we have worked out more details we will let you know and provide specifics regarding potential volunteer opportunities. We want the experience to be valuable and rewarding for volunteers and students alike, and we appreciate your patience while we further develop our plans.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Warm Regards,

Amy Cerand McNaughton ’86 WCA President

4 Spring 2020

Mary Webber ’17 Welcomed to the Advancement Staff What was it about Wells that made you decide to earn your degree here?

During my time working in admissions we often asked students Why Wells? My why Wells moment started the first time I stepped foot on this beautiful campus. I knew it was the place for me, and I would call it home. In 2012, I went on my very first tour given by Zach Tripsas ’16! This experience was the main reason I choose to attend Wells. It was his complete love for Wells, involvement in the community, and the joy he expressed while showing me around. In that moment I knew I wanted that same experience, I wanted to be a part of this wonderful community! Thank you, Zach!!

What was the most important thing that you learned while you were a student at Wells?

I learned my “Wells Voice!” Wells helped me learn who I was and how to express it. Overtime I learned how to critically think, reason wisely, and act humanely. Not just one person influenced this. It was a multitude of community members that helped shape me into who I am today!

What’s your favorite place at Wells?

That is such an easy question for me. If you have never been in the belfry do it! From the very top of the Bell Tower you can see the whole campus, and a beautiful view of the lake. It is so special to be in there near the bells. It always has a way of making me feel grateful and reminds me to smile. I also love to play the bells!!

What’s something that people might not know about you that you’re willing to share?

Something you might not know is that I am a plant and dog mom! I absolutely love taking care of my plants, I have too many to count! I also have a seven month old Goldendoodle. He is super energetic and a sweetheart. I spend most of my free time with him on walks through our beautiful Aurora!

What are you most looking forward to as you get settled at your new job at Wells?

The last few years I have been working in the Admissions office. It was a remarkable experience welcoming new Wellsians. With that said it is exciting to be making the transition to this new position. I am grateful for the opportunity to expand my Wells experience. As a student I worked in the Advancement office, so it is like coming home! I’m looking forward to working with a fantastic team as we collaborate to advance the mission of sister Wells.

Thank You and Farewell Today my message is bittersweet as I’m writing to let you know I will no longer be working at Wells College. Over the past seven years, in my role as the coordinator of alumnae and alumni engagement, I have made many friends, accomplices and family members at Wells. It is with a heavy heart but uplifted spirit to say goodbye to all of you, my alumnae and alumni friends and family.

I am so honored to have had the opportunity to talk to many of you on the phone, converse via email and if really lucky, got to meet you in person! I loved being the face of alumnae and alumni engagement when you needed information, support, direction and a friendly face. I am especially grateful to the class secretaries who have answered my calls for solicitation of class news and alumnae who’ve helped plan their Reunions.

In addition to my day to day duties, I will really miss the annual Wells Reunion as it is my “most favorite time of year!” During the Reunion I’m always about on campus making sure things are running smoothly and am so happy when I see a familiar face, share a hello, or my favorite, …a hug.

The next phase of my career will be a return to my original profession in the field of banking. I will not be far, in fact my commute to work will be three minutes instead of seven! I will be at Cayuga Lake National Bank in Union Springs, NY. I’d love to hear from you when you return to Aurora…maybe enjoy a glass of Finger Lakes wine! Please feel free to email me at [email protected].

Who knows…I may show up at a future Reunion just to see you!

Best,

Kelly BrownCoordinator of Alumnae & Alumni Engagement

The Power to ConnectMake Purposeful Connections. Create Opportunities. Share Experiences.

You are important to the future of Wells and her students. One of the ways you can help is to ensure that we have your current contact information. It helps us stay connected to you, and keeps you connected to our students and the wider Wells community.

Connecting students with alumnae and alumni has been identified as a critical need. They are eager to hear your story, ask you questions about your major, graduate school, career path and so much more. You can be one of their best resources. So in addition to providing your current information please consider ways you would like to engage with the Wells community.

Please take a few minutes to update your online profile by visiting www.alumni.wells.edu/updateyourinfo

If you have questions, please contact the Office of Alumnae and Alumni Engagement at [email protected] or 315-364-3200.

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Greek Tragedy is a new play about social media influencers, swag, trolls, friendship, and addiction. Directed by Siouxsie Easter, the play was performed in Phipps Auditorium March 26 & 27, 2021. Due to COVID restrictions, the performances were open to the campus community. The show was also recorded and can be found on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8o1c7AzJWQ

Greek Tragedy won five awards from the Theatre Association of New York State (TANYS), awarded by a professional adjudicator that came to see the show. The cast won Meritorious Achievement in Ensemble Work, Brookel Sabella ’24 won Excellence in Acting, Katie Ostrander ’24 won Excellence in Acting, Siouxsie Easter won Excellence in Directing. Wells College and The Farm Theatre were awarded Excellence in Theatrical Collaboration and Production of New Works.

The Farm Theatre develops early career artists, which may not have the support system afforded

others, through workshops, productions, and mentoring. The program is in its eighth year and has been featured in American Theatre Magazine twice, won awards from the Kennedy Center, and plays developed have gone on to be produced Regionally and Off-Broadway. Due to

the College Collaboration Program with The Farm Theater, the students had the opportunity to talk to the playwright and participate in readings of the script as the playwright was writing. We also were able to meet with the artistic director of The Farm Theater, Padraic Lillis, to have workshops about Directing and Careers in the Arts.

Cast: Kayla Groth ’24 (agent/chorus/wardrobe assistant), Berenika Lehrman ’24 (chorus), Jacob Myers (banker guy/chorus), Katie Ostrander ’24 (Jennifer), Joey Root ’24 (Brandon/James/guy/chorus), Brookel Sabella ’24 (Anna), and Kaleigh Smith ’24 (agent two/chorus).

Crew: Emma Colton-Heins ’22 (light board op), Marypearl Echard ’24 (props), Mireya Celline Hoffens ’24 (AMS/deck chief), Kayleigh McCormick ’23 (projections op), and Alanna Reidler (stage manager).

Director: Siouxsie Easter, technical, lighting and projections designer/sound operator: Patti Goebel, costume designer: Barbara Murphy.

Sloane Bailey ’87 spearheaded fundraising for “Greek Tragedy” sweatshirts for all cast and crew members. Special thanks to the following donors: Sloane Bailey ’87, Crary Reynolds Brooks ’87, Deb Callahan ’85, Kathleen Davies ’87, Dulcie Corkill Elwood ’73, Kate LeBoutillier O’Neill ’66, Jennifer Stump Pelton ’92, and Gail Pesyna ’70.

Spring Theatre Production: “Greek Tragedy”

by Lia RomeoWritten for Wells College in collaboration with The Farm Theater

Padraic Lillis, artistic director of The Farm Theater

6 Spring 2020

Zoom In!No matter our profession or employment status, the social distancing requirements of this past year have challenged all of us to find new ways to accomplish our work. One important role of the Wells College Advancement Office is to bring the alumni community together, to provide occasions to gather with friends and ask questions about the College. With travel and public gatherings halted, the Wells College Advancement Office has had to look for new ways to accomplish this work, and we are pretty excited about one such solution. In February, Wells Advancement began hosting a series of class events over Zoom, an opportunity to speak with Jonathan Gibralter, President, Larry Jerome, VP for Advancement, Pamela Sheradin ’86, Director of Leadership and Planned Giving, and others, and to catch up with old friends.

Since February, Wells College Advancement has held Zoom meetings with the various classes, with more planned throughout the spring.

Each of these events begins with an alum to “host” the event – encourage their classmates to register and attend, draw more voices into the conversation as people reminisce and share recent news, and urge their classmates to ask questions about Wells. In many cases these were College trustees who wanted their classmates to have an opportunity to be updated on how Wells is faring. (If you want to volunteer to host a Zoom event for your year, contact [email protected]).

Everyone in Wells Advancement looks forward to moving past the need for social distancing, to the time we are once again able to travel and meet with Wells alums in person. Still, these class Zoom events provide opportunities that our in-person gatherings do not; they allow Wellsians who cannot travel easily, or who do not live in a place we typically hold gatherings, to be included. They also provide a chance to gather with classmates who do not live in the same geographic area. It will be interesting to see if this particular pandemic solution becomes a permanent part of Wells alumnae/i engagement.

INTERNSHIPSAcademic credit is awarded for successfully completed internships. Students of all class years may participate in the internship program, and internships are the most popular way to meet the College’s experiential learning requirement.

During Summer 2020, amidst the pandemic, two Wells students had wonderful, successful internship experiences.

Senior Dana Grover ’21 completed her sustainability major internship, working as a clean energy intern for HeatSmart Tompkins. HeatSmart is a grassroots effort that “works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Tompkins County by promoting the deployment of solar and wind energy and by facilitating the adoption of home insulation, sealing, and heat pump technologies for heating and cooling.”

As a member of the HeatSmart team, Dana provided program support, researching and writing case studies of successful projects and helping deliver educational webinars.

Dana has incorporated what she learned into her sustainability capstone project this fall, researching the possibility to integrate heat pump technology into proposed upgrades of Dodge residence hall and perhaps the Long Library, both of which are heated (but not cooled) with less efficient electric resistance systems.

Sophomore sustainability major Feleesha Jones ’23 completed a fascinating internship as part of the program staff for Sailing Ships Maine. Her responsibilities in the intensive 4-week camp period included teaching students enrolled in an AP high school Environmental Science course during the first 2-week “land-based” camp period, while everyone was quarantined to ensure that no one had COVID. Feleesha led her campers through activities in land and shoreside science, physical activity, meal prep, and astronomy.

Feleesha then successfully completed a two-week, 600+ nautical mile sail training cruise aboard the iconic, 131-foot tall ship SSV Schooner “Harvey Gamage.” After four days of dockside training to literally learn the ropes on this tall ship, the crew got underway.

Under the direction of Chief Scientist Erika Stafne (Feleesha’s internship site supervisor), sail trainees studied marine science, stood watch, learned to trust themselves, each other, and their ship while enjoying phenomena like marine phosphorescence. Trainees spotted finback whales, mola mola, tuna, dolphins, porpoise, seals, humpback whales, minke whales, and squid. The crew avoided shore excursions in ports to protect the integrity of their “pandemic pod,” however, they did visit uninhabited islands to study wildlife.

Are you able to provide an internship for a current Wells student? Please reach out to the Center for Academic and Career Advising: Katharine Cooper, administrative assistant at [email protected] or Linda Galbato, director at [email protected]. Phone: 315-364-3225

Dana Grover ’21 (L) during her internship with HeatSmart Tompkins

Feleesha Jones ‘23 (L) during her internship with Sailing Ships Maine

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Wells College Receives Major Grant for Student Support ServicesSEPTEMBER 30, 2020

Thanks to a five-year, $935,125 award from the U.S. Department of Education, the College will be able to increase support services for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a $935,125 five-year grant to Wells College through the TRIO Stu-dent Support Services program. Start-ing with the current year, the first-year grant award is $187,025, with the rest of the grant to be distributed over the subsequent four years.

The federal government’s Student Support Services (SSS) Program is a comprehensive academic and personal support program that aims to increase retention and graduation rates among students who are first-generation college students or from low-income backgrounds, as well as individuals with disabili-ties. The program provides academic and personal support services, including tutoring, academic advising, career counseling, financial literacy, post-graduate preparation, and mentorship to all participants.

The federal government’s TRIO programs were first created in the 1960s; the program’s name originated from the fact that it was initially comprised of three initiatives: SSS, Upward Bound, and Talent Search. Today, there are a total of eight programs under the TRIO umbrella, all designed to identify and provide a wide range of services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“Receiving this grant is evidence of Wells’ commitment to supporting all of our students from admission through graduation,” said Charles Kenyon, dean of students and principal investigator under the grant. “In the fall of 2019, over

57% of our students were eligible for support under the Student Support Ser-vices program. This grant will allow us to annually provide 100 eligible students from disadvantaged backgrounds with a continuum of wrap-around support to address academic, personal, financial and social issues that impact their per-formance.”

Earning this grant was not easy, as Wells was in competition with over 1,700 col-leges nationwide. “It is almost unheard

of for a college to be awarded a TRIO grant the first time they apply and this is a tribute to the outstanding team who worked on the grant proposal,” said Wells College President Jonathan Gibralter. “Last spring, Wells received a New York State Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) grant — and for Wells to receive a federal TRIO grant and a NYS CSTEP grant in the same year is a remarkable achievement,” he added.

Under the terms of the TRIO grant award, Wells will be able to devote ad-ditional resources to a number of student services areas, including tutoring and mentoring, course advising, understanding and applying for financial aid, financial and economic literacy skills, and guidance in applying to graduate or professional schools. By boosting support in these areas, the goal is to remove the academic, social and financial barriers that can negatively affect rates of persistence and graduation for eligible students, compared to their peers.

Hannah Sterling, MD ‘12Pediatric Resident, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington DCThis past year has been quite different as rates of pediatric illness have gone down due to kids staying at home and not sharing all their germs with each other! That does not mean there isn’t work to be done- I am working on a project comparing maternal postpartum depression rates pre and post covid. I even spent a week in April working on a surge team taking care of adults admitted with covid or other medical reasons. While I am glad I don’t take care of adults full time it was so meaningful to be able to help in any way I could.

Jessica Falgiatano, MD ‘99 I am currently the Pediatric critical care transport coordinator and a PICU nurse at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Syracuse. Although it has been a fairly slow year for us (masking has shown us that it helps prevent flu, RSV and most other respiratory viruses that usually keep us busy), I was able to travel to Stony Brook in Long Island to provide support to our sister hospital on one of the Covid floors. It was an experience that I hope to never have again. I was also able to daily vlog my experiences which proved to have quite a following. I think that many people really needed to hear what was happening from a front line worker, especially because it was fairly early in the pandemic. My husband and I are both essential workers (he is a firefighter/paramedic) which has forced us to leave our 4 children home much of the time to tackle remote schooling on their own. They have managed it well and I am very proud of them.

Nicole Fambo Minton ‘09Dean of Students Although this past year has been tough, it was important for me to work on some self care, as well as still trying to empower my scholars during these difficult times. Some ways we uplifted ourselves was by reading a ton of books, as well as writing down our thoughts, feelings, and concerns. I tell my scholars, “let it out!” There is never a place in your mind, body, or soul for anything other than joy, so let go and move forward.

Raquele Laury ‘09 I am a 4th year resident pathologist at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, KS. Pathologists diagnose cancer and other diseases by looking at tissue samples underneath the microscope. We also perform autopsies and oversee all clinical labs. Pathologists were essential in the development and implementation of COVID-19 testing around the country. Cancer does not stop for a pandemic, so it was important for us to continue to read slides and handle specimens including from patients who tested positive for COVID-19. As a trainee, it is imperative to see as many cases as possible to be confident to practice outside of supervision. With hospitals cancelling elective surgeries, programs had to be creative to continue to deliver quality education including moving all of our didactics to video conferencing.

Sara J Chiochetti, MD ‘11

We sing to you! Thank You Essential Workers

8 Spring 2020

Activism Series 2021Activism Series 2021Wells’ Activism Series 2021 was held in April and featured several alums virtually hosting events on topics including the following: Fight for Black Lives, Politics and Civic Engagement, Gender & Intersectionality, and Health & Wellness. Most of the events were recorded. Please visit alumni.wells.edu/activism and click on the link to the YouTube recording that you’re interested in.

Working in the Lion’s Den: How to Do Racial Justice Work in Majority White Spaces and Not Get Eaten Alive with Tabitha Moore ’00

Tabitha Moore ‘00 will explore the ins and outs of racial justice work in her home state of Vermont and the perils that come when we try to center anti-racist practices in the places that need it the most. She will offer tips and reflective questions that you can take with you, whether you are a justice novice, warrior or long-time leader.

Identity Matters: Navigating the Workplace as a BIPOC with Nicole Minton ’09

In this presentation, Nicole Minton ‘09 will address how navigating the workplace as a person of color can be nothing short of exhausting, frustrating, and even infuriating. Together, we will explore tokenism, imposter syndrome, and micro aggressions, which will lead to a discussion on how to be authentically you in the workplace. No more being told who “they “ want you to be. Who do YOU want to be?

“No Love Without Justice” with Saira Raza ‘02

In All about Love, bell hooks writes “There can be no love without justice…abuse and neglect negate love. Care and affirmation, the opposite of abuse and humiliation, are the foundation of love. It is a testimony to the failure of loving practice that abuse is happening in the first place.”

Affecting positive social change is rewarding...and exhausting! For activists who are part of underrepresented and oppressed groups, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities, the toll on personal well-being can be even more amplified. Making self-care, rest, and inner exploration part of your leadership practice is essential to creating sustainable movements and preserving your authenticity, self-esteem, and

capacity for empathy. It is a radical act in its own right, challenging core tenets of capitalist imperialist white supremacist patriarchy that rely on our addiction to work, accumulation, and self-deprecation.

Empowering Justice: Transforming Public Legal Services to Further Cultural Equity with Stephanie Batcheller ’79

The legal system and its processes impact all areas of our lives, and marginalized communities and community members are often denied reasonable access to justice in the desert of essential public legal services, thereby compromising their ability to achieve stability and sustainability in basic social welfare needs, which impedes advancement on all levels. Movements to expand the constitutional right to counsel to include

a wider range of critical civil legal concerns are gaining momentum and would provide protection and relief in many circumstances.

Healthy and Empowered: Becoming Your Own Best Advocate with Nadirah Blassingame Chestnut ’08

Nadirah Chestnut’s presentation will provide a brief overview of the social determinants of health and discuss the factors that influence health outcomes. Acknowledging our experiences surviving a global pandemic, we will also explore how we can better advocate for our own health, and work towards a healthier, more equitable society.

MADE WITH LOVE FOR OUR STUDENTS!These beautiful winter items were made by Mary “Twitch” Mitchell Goodman ‘70, Fran Trubilla Kissell ‘78, and Joanne Parker (mother-in-law of Melanie Jones Parker ‘06) for our current students. They were made available (at the Wells Food Pantry) to any student who needed a hat, scarf or

mittens for the Aurora cold weather.

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Activism Series 2021Activism Series 2021Compassionate Ageism: The Impact of COVID-19 on Attitudes Toward Aging with Tarah Loy-Ashe ’98

COVID-19 has changed the way most individuals perceive the needs of long living adults. Terms such as “vulnerable”, “lonely”, and “expendable” have been used to describe nursing home residents over the past year. This presentation explores ageist and sexist stereotypes and behaviors common in both our society and nursing home culture. Research on long term care employees’ attitudes toward aging during the pandemic will

be discussed with particular attention being paid to the concepts of com-passionate ageism and what the presenter refers to as ‘conformity of care’.

Anti-Racist Raja Yoga with Felicia Savage Friedman, Yoga Roots On

Location YogaRoots On Location, LLC® leads embodied antiracist organizing through Raja yoga. We aim to meet people where they are and offer AntiRacist professional development, integrative group and individual yoga classes, and Certified AntiRacist Raja Yoga Teacher Training across the country. Collective liberation is our

path to healing. It is our dream to recognize our humanity and find the courage to end systems of racism, patriarchy, and capitalism, together. We see Integrative Raja Yoga as a path to do so.

Artists and Activism in Action with Tara Kohn and Leah Mackin

Team taught by an art historian Tara Kohn, assistant professor of art history and a studio practitioner, the course will be centered around artistic projects inspired by a study of the history and theory of activist art. The class is not structured as a comprehensive survey or overview of activist art. Instead, it is designed to narrow in deeply on a selection of artists, artistic projects,

and exhibitions as case studies. The course focuses on the book arts and publishing/distribution and dissemination of information as the central strategy of social change. We will explore a range of contemporary artists who incorporate the strategies of historic activist groups into their research-based practices, offering students

models and examples as they develop their own research-based forms of activism. List of Student Presenters: Avery Avalos, Sonia Rivera, Angie Otterbein, Emily Greenwood, Ellie Beavers, Keelan McGreevy, Mat LaFrance, Sasha Brady, and Fiona Chavez.

Bryant Sanders ’12 will discuss his journey since graduating from Wells and his new non-profit company

Bryant has recently taken a huge step in his career, and we’re excited that he’s offering us his brain to pick about his new position and life since Wells. In this casual setting, attendees will have the chance to ask questions and network with Bryant.

Planning a Protest (BLM Seneca Falls 2020) with Syd Abad ‘22

Jamie Joyce ’20: Facilitating a conversation about the documentary “Saturday Church”

In Saturday Church, a 14 year-old-boy, struggling with gender identity and religion, begins to use fantasy to escape his life in the inner city and find his passion in the process. To watch the movie visit https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5654600/

Special thanks to The Activism Series Planning Committee: Avery Avalos ’22; Jamie Joyce ’20, Interim Activities Coordinator,;André Lynch, Associate Dean of Student Equity and Inclusion; Rachel Porter ’06, Alumnae and Alumni Engagement Officer; Emily VanNostrand, Assistant Director of Advancement Communications.

The AurorA FAmers mArkeT will be opening May 29, 2021 marking its 7th season! The market was started through the Wells College Center for Sustainability and the Environment. For the last few years, it has been managed by four experienced vendors. Each season, two Wells College students are hired as paid interns to help manage and work at the market to ensure an enjoyable experience is had by all. Local vendors include farmers/gardeners who bring fresh vegetables, fruits and flowers; artists; painters; musicians; bakers; pottery; wood-crafted items; a seamstress who makes fun and fashionable aprons, upscale jean jackets and totes; and a food truck. Those are just a few recent vendors who will be returning this year. The market is always looking for new local vendors. As a result of continued College sponsorship, the vendor fee is a nominal $5 per week. For an application, email [email protected]. The new Facebook page link is https://www.facebook.com/AFMBoathouse.

If you are in the area, be sure to check out the market on the Wells College Boathouse lawn, State Route 90, Saturdays May 29 through October 2, 10am to 2pm, rain or shine!

10 Spring 2020

ClassNotes

2020JAHAIRA POLANCO1770 Andrews Ave. Apt.. 4DBronx, NY [email protected]

2019BRANDON JACKSON120 Co-Op City Blvd, Apt.. 15BBronx, NY [email protected]

Lindsay Burwell, chemistry professor at Wells, recently updated us on recent graduate Bellina Mushala. Bellina graduated with a degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, is in her second year as a PhD student in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology at the University of Pittsburgh. In November, she and her PhD mentor, Iain Scott, published the paper, “Adropin: a hepatokine modulator of vascular function and cardiac fuel metabolism.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33216612/. This past fall, Bellina mentored Wells students Dan Popp, Shane Syms, Stacey Mars, and Emmanuel Chea in developing their fall Internship research poster sessions.

2018DALLIA RORICK479 County Rte. 13VanEtten, NY [email protected]

2017KELLY REPPERT397 Doing Rd.Norwich, NY [email protected]

Lindsay Burwell, chemistry professor at Wells, recently updated us on recent graduate Alexander Milliken. Alexander graduated with a biochemistry and molecular biology degree. In his fourth year as a PhD student at the University of Rochester in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Alexander just applied for an American Heart Association grant after being on a National Institute of Health training grant. Alexander published two papers with Paul Brookes, his mentor, “Amber Alert: Getting to the Heart of Succinate Efflux in Reperfusion Injury” in July and “Acid enhancement of ROS generation by complex-I reverse electron transport is balanced by acid inhibition of complex-II: Relevance for tissue reperfusion injury” in September. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32666087/ and https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33007502/. For two years in a row, Alexander has been an invited speaker for the Wells Biology and Chemistry Sciences Senior Seminar.

On Valentine’s Day, Derek Graney surprised Simcha Glassman at the Wells College waterfront by proposing…of course she said yes!

2016CHELSEA CARLIN373 Ayer Rd.Williamsville, NY [email protected]

2015TYLER FISCHETTI53 Park AveAuburn, NY [email protected]

2014JES LYONS361 S Manoa Rd.Havertown, PA [email protected]

2013ROSE CHAMBERLIN8906 Center Pointe Dr.Baldwinsville, NY [email protected]

Madeline Bass is working on a research project titled Oromo Women in the Afterlives of Empire; Imperial Spaces and Geography Guraacha. This work seeks to analyze how historical policies and epistemologies influence modern identities and ways of moving. What are the roots of these post-colonial routes? How do people move within, around, underneath, and despite the violences of the post-empire? What shared history connects these distinct journeys? And, how do these processes play out within a diaspora community? “I believe that thinking through these ideas is a crucial part of supporting groups in transit, both the displaced and the autonomous. My academic experience and personal background heavily influenced my approach to this project. I was born and raised in a settler state, on the border between two former colonial empires, descending from both immigrants and stolen people. I have an undergraduate degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Wells College in Aurora, New York, and an M.S. in Sociology from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. My M.S. was received as part of Peace Corps’ Masters International program, and I lived and worked in Oromiya, Ethiopia from 2014-17. Each of these moves has guided me to the work I hope to do with MOVES.”

2012JESSICA WARD EVANS30 Gail Dr.Owego, NY [email protected]

Sami Sheehan and Kevin Wilson are proud to announce that their little guy is here! Seamus Denny Wilson was born on February 26, 2021. He was born a month early so he only weighed 4 pounds, 3.7 ounces and was 16.5 inches tall, but it doing well.

Colin Evans and Jessica “Turtle” Evans are excited to announce they are expecting a baby girl at the end of May. Her name is Aurora Mae, after the place her parents met and fell in love.

2011CHRISTINE BECKER5119 Williams Fork Trail Apt. 113Boulder, CO [email protected]

Rachel Snyder got up to a whole lot of nothing this year. Well maybe not “nothing” per se. She watched the entirety of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Frasier (for the 5th time), Will & Grace, the entire MCU, all of the Lord of the Rings films a few times (her tallies are in the high 30s at this point), The Wire, Community, Superstore, Schitt’s Creek, and every episode of Guy’s Grocery Games. In between the mind numbing saccharine IV drip of every streaming service known to man, Rachel got back into writing letters to her friends, helped a small community farming organization get its non-profit status, traveled to

Seamus Denny Wilson, son of Sami Sheehan ’12 and Kevin Wilson ’12, born on February 26th, 2021.

Derek Graney proposed to Simcha Glassman ’17 on Valentine’s Day 2021.

Bellina Mushala ’19 in her second year as a PhD student at University of Pittsburgh.

ClassNotes

Alexander Milliken ’17 in his fourth year as a PhD student at University of Rochester.

Thomas Goodman and Rachel Snyder ’11 ringing in the new year!

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Nicole Montgomery Sandoval and Josh Sandoval welcomed their fourth baby on February 25, 2021. Eden is loved by her three big siblings Rylan, Isla, and Charlie. Nicole reports that their days are crazy but full of love.

Cymone Bedford Haiju and husband Rabin Haiju are excited to build a self-sustainable, eco-friendly home this summer. The home is to be an earthship, which collects, treats, and recycles its own water; generates its own electricity; grows its own food; and is built primarily from recycled materials. An earthship uses exclusively renewable energy and requires little to no additional energy to heat and cool itself. Cymone and Rabin have been passionate about building an earthship for many years now and recently relocated to Vermont to do just that. Anyone can learn more about, follow, or support their build at www.taboriearthship.com.

The good news out of 2020 for Crystal Dupre Dalo is that she has started a new job at Bandcamp as a support specialist, and her beloved dog, El Hefe (the spelling is intentional; he’s named after the guitarist of NOFX), beat cancer! Crystal and husband Mike currently

live in San Francisco with El Hefe and his cat sister, Waffles.A video Melissa Vair posted on TikTok, in which she happened to be wearing her Wells Lacrosse hoodie, went viral with over a million views! This video is titled “Tips from a Professional Crier”

places in NYS she had never been to, registered people to vote, got back into bike riding, marched for social justice and racial equity (and knows there’s still so much work to do), wrote letters to the editor, signed people up to get the COVID vaccine, made meals for friends and family going through hard times, had icebreakers of the day, bartered things on her local buy-nothing page, made blueberry muffins for the first time, made a lot of pesto, cried A LOT, drank A LOT, danced, stained her deck, screened Independence Day in her backyard, celebrated her one year wedding anniversary to Thomas Goodman, with a 4 star meal cooked by John Norris ’09 and Jess Kanick Norris and finally painted that boring beige bathroom. Rachel was so lucky to have her Wells family to laugh with her on the sunny days and virtually hold her on the hard ones. She can’t wait to sit on Main lawn with all of you and drink a gin and tonic or three. Cheers.

After nearly 10 years in Happy Valley, Jess Kanick Norris recently relocated to Pittsburgh, PA with her husband John Norris ’09. In the wake of the first lockdown, Jess was unfortunately laid off from her job at State College, but is excited and grateful for her new position at a sterile compounding pharmacy outside of Pittsburgh. They are in the process of buying a new home and can’t wait for visitors! She and John are looking forward to exploring the city, reconnecting with friends and family, and coming back to Aurora as soon as it is safe for everyone! Jess considers herself incredibly lucky to have her Wells family; who provided virtual laughs and hugs at just the right times.

2010ANNA FELDMAN52 Maynard. Rd..Northampton, MA [email protected]

Elizabeth Sloan Cornelison and family welcomed their newest

addition, Forrest Wesley Carl Cornelison, on January 28, 2021. He was born at home at 7:24 PM, weighing nine pounds and measuring 22 inches long. He joins big sisters

Eleanor Mae and Rosalind.

Places We Return To, a 20th anni-versary anthology collection of work published by CavanKerry Press, co-edited by Joan Cusack Handler and Gabriel Cleveland, was just selected as a Da Vinci Eye and Montaigne Medal finalist in the 2021 Eric Hoffer Awards. While the book doesn’t feature Gabe’s writing, his hard work in the selection and editorial process is present on every page, and he is very proud of the result of all that effort! Gabe also reunited with Khadeja Merenkov at the end of March for an extra-fun episode of Gabe’s radio show, The Andover Special. You can catch all the music and laughter at http://mixcloud.com/theandoverspecial. Enjoy!

and can be viewed on her channel, @yogaforpmdd.

JamieLeigh Csizmar Accordino and Nick Accordino’s family grew by one more in 2020. They had another beautiful baby girl, Anna Michelle Accordino, on April 1.

I have very little to report; since the world shut down last year I’ve pretty much just been focused on work and on getting through each day, each week, each month… It’s been really hard not to be able to rehearse with my choral groups or see my students in person (a handful of kids have returned to in-person school, but most are still at home, so while I do still work with my high schoolers every day, it’s more often than not on a screen). Over the summer, I did learn that one of my groups, the Illuminati Vocal Arts Ensemble, won third place in the Community Chorus division of the American Prize in Choral Performance, 2019-2020. We found out back in January that we were semi-finalists and finally got the news in July that we were one of the winners, so that was some much-needed good news. Other than that, things here are pretty uneventful. While I am a little ambivalent about celebrating our 10-year Reunion in an odd year, I’m still looking forward to seeing as many friends as possible at the remote activities, and I eagerly await the day we can all reunite in person!

- Anna

2009TALYSE HAMPTON59 Elm St.Binghamton, NY [email protected]

Gina Rios and family bought a house in Las Vegas in October 2020 and, at the end of February 2021, Gina moved her family across the country from Brooklyn, NY once construction was complete.

Kayleigh Punch switched jobs from being a doctor in a hospital to primary care in Rochester. She and her fiancée, Tim Kaestner,

Nick Accordino ’10 and JamieLeigh Csizmar Accordino ’10 with their daughters Amelia and Anna on a hiking adventure.

Jess Kanick Norris ‘11 sporting her Wells gear at her new job

Elizabeth Sloan Cornelison ’10 and family welcomed their newest addition, Forrest Wesley Carl Cornelison, on January 28, 2021. Also pictured big sisters Eleanor Mae and Rosalind.

Tiphanie “PH” Copeland ’09, Scott Reed and Grace Hansen ’09 in Asheville, NC.

Nicole Montgomery Sandoval ’10 and Josh Sandoval ’09 welcomed Eden on February 25, 2021.

Gina Rios ’09 and family in front of their new house in Las Vegas.

12 Spring 2020

ClassNotes

SHARE YOUR NEWS Please submit your news to your class secretary by the following deadline:

July 1, 2021

continue to renovate their house in Spencerport, NY, complete with backyard chickens that have all been given “old lady” names! Great news, she’s been clear after radiation for a spinal cord tumor as of June 2020!

Rachel Anne Baxter married Ernesto Roldán on March 7, 2020 in Parishville, NY. Rachel also received tenure as a school counselor in August 2020!

Elizabeth “Liz” Babiarz and her partner, Andrew Long, had an adorable baby with a head full of red hair on October 18, 2020. They named their daughter Margaret Claire Slayer Babiarz. (Slayer – after the band!) Over the year, Liz’s sister-in-law and her children have moved in. They’ve all enjoyed living together in Toledo, OH, surviving COVID and loving as much as possible.

After graduating from Wells Nicole R. Fambo Minton went to Nazareth College in Rochester, NY to pursue a career in teaching. She earned a masters in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) in 2010. In 2011, she began her teaching career as an ENL teacher in Buffalo, NY. With a goal of school leadership, Nicole received a masters in educational leadership in 2015. In July 2020, she became a dean of students with the Enlarged City

School District of Middletown, in Middletown, NY. Nicole currently resides in Middletown, NY and is a board member of Because it Matters 24/7 LLC, a community organization that spreads the importance of community and service to others, and provides educational resources to the public at large. In May 2021, Nicole will be beginning her doctoral studies through Montclair State University in teacher education and teacher development. She believes that there is a big need for educational reform and plans to do her part by helping to build teachers into true change agents.

Raquele Laury completed her four-year residency in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine this past June at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She is currently pursuing a fellowship in Cytopathology at the same institution. She was first inspired to bake by Dr. Gagnon, who made Raquele “the greatest chocolate cake” when she was a student at Wells. It was the pandemic that prompted her to actually start baking. It was an excellent way for her to cope with the stress of the pandemic. She brings treats to work weekly because it also helps to improve morale.

Grace Hansen married Scott Reed on top of Black Balsam, their favorite mountain near Asheville, NC on August 30, 2019. In June 2020 the Reed-Hansen’s started a flower farm and flora design business called Sun Bird Blooms in Ashville. They currently operate locally, but are planning to have a u-pick field open for visitors in summer 2022! Tiphanie “PH” Copeland visited Grace and Scott at their flower farm in June 2020.

Lydia Chapman and husband Matt Decker gave birth to a beautiful daughter, Emma Jane Decker on November 17, 2020. Lydia, Matt and Emma enjoy hiking and recently hiked at Joshua Tree National Park.

Icontinue to enjoy working on the campus recruiting team at Guggenheim Securities, an investment bank in Manhattan. While the firm’s New York City offices are currently closed due to COVID, I’ve been working remotely since March 2020 in Binghamton, NY, my hometown. In March 2021, I transitioned to warmer weather in Arizona and plan to spend some time at a beach house in California over the course of the coming months. I’m looking forward to meeting and reconnecting with Wells alums along the way!

- Talyse

2008NICOLE RILEY124 Pendleton St.Cortland, NY [email protected]

Ryan Dwyer continues to work in higher education and this spring will be defending his dissertation to earn his EdD in curriculum & instruction from Liberty University. His dissertation is titled “Addressing the Problem of High Attrition in an Online MSW Program at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work”.

Ashley (Bittner) VanAlstine and her husband Mitch welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Leyna Grey on May 21, 2020. She is a ball of fun and full of smiles.

Ashley Zanca had two big pieces of information: (1) her move from

New England to CA and (2) her engagement! “I have made a recent move from New England to the California Bay Area working at the intersection of math, CS, and education as a teacher at a private school - what a time to be an educator. Before the declared COVID global pandemic, Wells sister Jessica Stern ’07 was in the area so we met up! During COVID several group calls with my Wells sisters kept us all in fair spirits, where we processed national and global events, reflected on our Wells 101 readings, consoled each other, and even celebrated! We have had more babies being born into our Wells family and I recently got engaged to Osborn de Lima, whom my Wells sisters love for his heart, mind, and soul! Sisters on our Zoom call: Ashley Bittner, Allison Inga, Rachel Gaskill, Allison Stern ’07, Jessica Stern ’07, Abbie Corwin, Allison Schooler, Megan Chamberlain, Jessica Sincavage, Belen Plasencia, and Nicole Riley.”

I recently purchased a house and adopted a one-year-old pug named Winnie. I continue to work in emergency services and spend time with my now 11 nieces and nephews.

- Nicole

2007ALLISON DODGE GUNNIP11329 Bonta Bridge Rd.Cato, NY [email protected]

Osborn de Lima proposed to Ashley Zanca ‘08, just as a huge wave came rolling in!.

Rachel Baxter ’09 married Ernesto Roldán on March 7, 2020.

Nicole Fambo Minton ’09 will be pre-senting at the Wells Activism Symposium in April.

Dr. Raquele J. Laury ’09 delivering almond bars to her co-residents.

Margaret Claire Slayer Bariarz, daughter of Liz Babiarz ’09

Lydia Chapman ’09 with husband Matt and daughter Emma at Joshua Tree National Park.

Leyna Grey, daughter of Ashley Bittner VanAlstine ’08 born May 21, 2020.

Kayleigh Punch ’09 and fiancée Tim Kaestner with fur baby Padme

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ClassNotes

in August of 2020—leaving the banking world behind and now working entirely remote for a company based out of Milwaukee as a data specialist, which came at the perfect time as the world went into lockdown. Luckily, I have been able to spend more time with my family and video chat with Angie Constantino near daily. Her tween and threenager keep her on her toes and pandemic times has led to new crafty hobbies like cross stitch! Class of 2007-please reach out if you all need anything or just want to chat—I’d love to catch up!

- Allison

2006KATIE FONG2599 State Route 34BAurora, NY [email protected]

Michelle “Mikey” Davis and son Noah continue to reside in the Buffalo area. Mikey has been working as an Outpatient Clinical Therapist and Intake Coordinator at Genesee County Mental Health Services in Batavia for 4 years now. She also contracts for Presence Counseling Services, based out of Seneca Falls, providing individual psychotherapy to children, adol-escents and adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. She has recently passed her clinical exam, and is now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in NYS.

Rachel Porter wrote, “I have nothing terribly exciting to report but have made the most out of the year with continuing to work on our house, one project at a time. I haven’t really made new friends here with the pandemic, but there is a dog park and canal bike path both less than a mile away so I’m getting lots of outside time all year, and have a good bucket list of other hiking spots in Ohio to try. I’m going to meet up with my brother & sister-in-law from Louisville, KY in May at Hocking Hills State Park (look it up! It’s lovely!). I started volunteering a few times a month with Meals on Wheels, as they lost a lot of volunteers this year and I can deliver 100 meals contact free in about an hour and a half! It feels good to get to know the community and give back. We also have been spending time with my partner’s sister and her family, who are our “pod” – and get the bonus of regularly baby-sitting her 5-year-old great-niece and so it feels like summer camp at our house with all of the projects and crafts and science experiments! If you are in Ohio let me know – I would love to meet up!”

Sarah Alexander emailed, “This is my first ever note, so I’ll throw in some highlights of the last 15 years. I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, acquired some original Wells College lecture chairs, finished my PhD, turned 25 (at some point), performed with my improv troupe directly above the SNL stage at 30 Rock (so I technically performed on SNL, if you think about it), birthed a pretty rad human (Hudson), ate countless vegan burritos, sang at karaoke with Vicky Sherwood and Liz Young, and said goodbye to my beloved dog Tonks after almost 16 years (who once not-so-secretly lived in GP).

“Commemorating by FABulous & 40 year in 2021”, Stephanie Achille “purchased a Kansas cabin-style home near some beautiful farmland (only second to a cabin near the beautiful Cayuga Lake in Aurora), will be celebrating my one-year anniversary as executive director of the local Humane Society, and will be completing my masters degree in art leadership and management from Wichita State University. I’m happy to share that my painting event business, Paint Date & Decor Events, also survived the pandemic and will be celebrating our 5th official year too! I look forward to being able to return home to Aurora for a Reunion soon and that all my extended Wells family remains hopeful with heART!”

My partner Abby and I made a big move this winter and purchased a 170-year-old octagon-shaped home in Aurora! We’ve been enjoying fixing it up and our cat Bea has loved having a huge house to explore. Family health issues took us to Texas for most of Spring 2021, where we also adopted the sweetest senior dog, Lucy, who is glued to Abby’s side. I finished grad school in Spring 2020, at the New School in organizational change management. I have enjoyed being an alumna trustee for Wells and staying connected with the community. Last fall I was nominated and chosen as the Young Alum Award recipient and I am looking forward to celebrating when we can all be together again! Make sure to reach out when you’re in Aurora next, I would love to get together! - Katie

Allison Inga ‘08, Ashley Bittner VanAlstine ‘08, and Ashley Zanca ‘08. “Nostalgia on our phones kept us together over the lockdown.”

Ella, daughter of Courtney Hughs Shoemaker ’07 during her school’s Wonder, Explore, Create Fair presentation of How Is Paper Made?

Angie Azevedo Constantino continues to be the badass she’s always been. She kept herself sane over the past year by video chatting with Allison Dodge Gunnip and her amazing daughter Meg Pie and her cute as a button son Theo. She also discovered a love of gardening. It’s wild. A mid-quarantine job change finished out the year and really put things into perspective. She plans on hugging all the fully vaccinated people she can find. You’ve been warned.

Life for most of us, the past year has been…interesting…for Courtney Hughs Shoemaker. Above all, it’s been a year to learn. How to sew masks (like a champ). How to build a raised bed garden (and not kill all the plants!) How to cook (better). How to paint, and draw, and dance (well enough). She and husband Dan have had their fill of school; with her in a doctoral program in clinical psychology and he in paramedic school, all while homeschooling their daughters Ella, age 6, and Ryleigh, age 4. Courtney is, however, in the home stretch of her degree at Fielding Graduate University and will do her final internship at the University of Albany’s Counseling and Psychological Services program in August. She also recently published several chapters in the book, Psychology Ethics in Everyday Life. Her family grew, with the addition of their fur baby, Maslow, who is training to be a therapy dog. “This year has taught us to appreciate all we have and reminded us to hug those we love often.” Courtney’s daughter Ella was excited to participate in her school’s Wonder, Explore, Create Fair presentation of “How Is Paper Made?” after getting a tour of the Wells Book Arts Center in February 2020 (Shout out to Leah Mackin for all her help!).

I have spent the past year adapting. I’ve made a huge career change

Ryleigh, daughter of Courtney Hughs Shoemaker ’07 sporting her Wells gear. Sarah Alexander ’06 with partner Yosh,

baby Hudson and dog Tonks.

Sarah Alexander ’06, Vicky Sherwood ’06 and Liz Young ‘06 singing karaoke.

14 Spring 2020

ClassNotes

2005SARAH BRYCE HEPPNER6134 Sligo Mill Rd., NEWashington, DC [email protected]

2004ALEXIS BOYCEPO Box 425Aurora, NY [email protected]

2003BROOKE ANDERSEN BEDARD27 King St.Monson, MA [email protected]

Katie Lysyczyn Bacon, Shannon Seddon, Ruth Hurysz, Marie Rice, Kristin Puleo, Katie Kaufmann, Melissa Knight, and Stephanie Roberts Lipary have been staying connected with frequent Zoom dates throughout the pandemic. “Over the past few months, we have been welcoming one another into life as quadragenarians!”

2002MEGAN NAGURNEY PHANTHASY11028 McIntosh CtWaldorf, MD [email protected]

2001JENNIFER BURKE6548 Elmer Hill Rd.Rome, NY [email protected]

2000KK [email protected]

JILL MULLINS-CANNON1714 Alabama St.Bellingham, WA [email protected]

Abby Lawrence Belanger is enjoying life in Maine with her husband and four children. She is the registered nurse at a camp which she and her husband operate, although it has not been open during the pandemic. She is taking a painting class with a Wells Alumnae Alice Morse Mellin ’64, who is wonderful! Abby keeps in touch with Amanda Davis Twinam, Alana Cordeiro DiMario ’99 and Sarah Strong ’03 on a regular basis.

Jen Bunyar Carrigan is getting through the pandemic with her sanity mostly intact. Her eldest child is 6 and the twins are now 4-years-old. All are navigating school and friends via Zoom. Her husband chose to be a stay at home parent prior to the pandemic, and it has been a great decision for her family. Work continues to be in Greater Boston commercial real estate. Jen was promoted at the beginning of the year to director of leasing and oversees approximately five million square feet of office space.

Chioma Deere is celebrating— her son Aidan Dixon, who plays the tuba, is going to college to study music education (he would have been Odd Line!). Chioma is an electronic discovery and privacy litigation attorney and also recently

started her estate planning practice in Palm Beach County, FL.

Melissa Molholm Fatni, her husband Simo and son Laith have been busy this year with online schooling and finishing house renovations. Quarantine activities include trying out new recipes and exploring hiking places in the area!

Jena Tesse Fox is still in New York City, although she is seeing a lot less theater these days, for some reason. About a year ago, she started volunteering with a deep canvassing group and spent much of 2020 calling voters in Pennsylvania to share stories and talk about the

election. By October, she was going door-to-door in Philadelphia, and even got to help Spanish-speaking voters get to the polls (Thanks for the lessons, Professor Gil!). She is looking forward to seeing everyone at Reunion…whenever we can make it happen!

Stacy Wolverton Hunsicker is forging onward through graduate school and has been remote since her program began in the fall. The cohort she belongs to is incredibly kind and supportive and reminds her of our class at Wells. She is grateful that her husband Sean and their kids are behind her every step of the way while she’s studying full time!

Those of you that have kept up with me over the years know that I traveled a lot before the pandemic. Good thing, because as we all know, everything came to a halt. The highlight for me was being one of the four finalists for the Carny Cuts Film Fest put on by Carnival Girls Productions, run by our fellow classmate Christie Perfetti Williams. That is something I never thought I would ever do—create a 60 second short film to be shown to the general public—and it was an incredible experience!

I thoroughly enjoyed catching up with all of you who contacted me back—even if there was “nothing new to report.” Connections are something I have grown to appreciate more than ever, especially during this physically distant time in our lives. I wish you all well and look forward to when our class can finally celebrate our 20th Reunion, no matter when that is! - KK

Cindy Dubuque-Gallo and her wife Kathleen live in Hartford, CT with their cat Penny. Cindy is finishing up her second year of a PhD program in social work at UCONN. Her dissertation research focuses on rising school lunch debt and the National School Lunch Program. Cindy is also a board member of the National Social Work Voter Mobilization Campaign (Voting is Social Work).

TZ Morfei finished her MBA in marketing. She continues to create artistic jewelry and run her business, Earthwork Gems. She and her partner bought a large plot of land that they plan to build a tiny house on. Once the world is allowed to come together again post-pandemic, she plans to use her MBA in marketing as a live entertainment, music, and arts events coordinator in her community. She and her partner also hope to open a bookstore/gallery.

Connie Landry Vatsa continues to live in Virginia running a program for adults with Schizophrenia. Last year she was elected as the president of her neighborhood civic association. She recently celebrated 10 years of marriage.

Alyssa Frederick ’06, Jhan “Punky” Hall Seabrook ’06, Katie Fong ’06, Rachel Porter ’06 in Fall 2019 at the baby shower of Eliza Heppner ’06 and Sarah Bryce Heppner ’05.

Frequent Zoom dates throughout the pandemic have kept these ‘03ers connected: Shannon Funke Seddon, Ruth Hurysz, Marie Rice, Kristin Puleo, Katie Kaufmann, Melissa Knight, Stephanie Lipary and Katie Lysyczyn Bacon.

Chioma Deere ’00 and son Aidan

Melissa Molholm Fatni ’00 enjoyed hiking during quarantine with husband Simo and son Laith

Wells.edu 15

ClassNotesDanielle Sullivan has had a successful year with work, as a national director for curriculum associates. She pivoted her role to provide virtual support to educators across the country. She published her first professional paper on social emotional learning and connection, which has been a long-term goal. She supported thousands of educators virtually by helping them feel better, using improv and research. She and her wife Haley live mostly in St. Petersburg, FL, but they spent 2.5 months in a 300 square foot yurt in Ithaca in the summer of 2020 and hope to spend more time this summer in Ithaca to see friends and family. Her dog Luna had major back surgery, but she is doing much better now.

Rebecca Wagner made a bold decision in 2016 to leave the job she held for 10 years in Buffalo, NY as managing veterinarian to purchase her own veterinary practice, Countryside Veterinary Hospital and Kennels, in Dryden, NY. The practice has grown so much in the last four years that she has begun plans for an expansion and incorporation of doggie daycare, agility courses, full-service grooming, and puppy classes. She moved back to her childhood hometown in Homer, NY with husband Jon and their three children, Lucas (10), Gabe (8), and Lizzy (5), three dogs, four cats, and two birds. She lives within five minutes of her brother’s family and her parents. Rebecca also owns, Wagner Property Management LLC providing rental units since 2016.

I continue to work as a staff attorney for Northwest Justice Project, the largest Civil Legal Aid organization in Washington, State. I took on a number of pandemic projects, including gardening, painting the exterior of my house, and maintaining a Little Free Pantry for my neighbors. Thanks to Facebook, the pantry significantly improved when Megan Minot Condon sent vinyl letters to stick on to the pantry. I am in my fifteenth year as an organizer of the Seattle Dyke March, though 2020 was a virtual event and 2021 will be virtual or happen in September, or both.

- Jill

1999CAROL LAGROW25 Oak St.Wurtsboro, NY [email protected]

1998DORI SHAND RILEY8517 Evans Mill PlaceRaleigh, NC [email protected]

AUDREY KITTREDGE YEAGER220 Edwards Dr.Fayetteville, NY [email protected]

1997KARLYN KASPEREK BACKUS159 Princeton AveDepew, NY [email protected]

KATIE HALLIGAN-ELINOFF3541 Caribeth Dr.Encino, CA [email protected]

I was excited to hear from Dede Ojeda De Sevilla who writes with great news: “My oldest will head off to college at the University of Wisconsin on a full tuition scholarship in the fall, my entire family is so proud of him and how much he has accomplished at such a young age. I’ve taken a break from teaching for a less demanding job as a call center rep for a local utility company, but look forward to getting back into the classroom once my daughters have gone off to college and careers. Angel and I have been happily married for over 20 years and it’s all gone by in the blink of an eye. I miss all my Wells sisters, but am happy to be able to connect with them on social media and with holiday cards. Love to you all!”

A year into the pandemic, I hope you are all staying safe and healthy. I started a new full time job—despite the crazy times—this past November as a western art specialist at Bonhams Auction House in Los Angeles. It’s definitely been a weird time to begin a job but I’m enjoying the challenge (mostly!). My girls are still remote learning 1+ year in but may start hybrid classes finally at the end of April.

- Katie

1996LEAH CERMAK DIMLER941 Sheehan Ave.Glen Ellyn, IL [email protected]

LISA GIL12258 Scotts Mill Dr.Bristow, VA [email protected]

1995BRIDGET WILLIAMS DUDZIK194 South Montgomery St.Walden, NY [email protected]

1994ALUMNAE AND ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT OFFICE170 Main St.Aurora, NY [email protected]

Leah Eagan finished her masters in marriage and family therapy. “In the time of COVID I presented my capstone project on a Zoom but needed to celebrate the occasion so I wore my son’s graduation gown while presenting in honor of our Wells tradition.”

1993KELLY BOUCHIE BELL30 Holly Tree CourtRichmond Hill, GA [email protected]

DAYANNE DOUGLAS IZMIRIAN10489 E Aberdeen AveEnglewood, CO [email protected]

Trine Vanderwall writes from Haverford, PA, where she spent the pandemic baking and caring for a stray cat that moved into her family’s sunroom. Her daughter started at Williams College and her son is currently a high school remote learner.

Anne Rausch Wagner states that the silver lining of the pandemic has been re-connecting with her Wells Sisters online. “I cannot wait to see all of you in-person! Phebe Anne turned 18 in November and has been applying to colleges. She is making the most of her senior year of high school. A special shout out to Bev Brittain Black ’92, Beth Goodell Archer, and Jessica Johnson Taube for supporting Phebe Anne’s last Girl Scout cookie sale. Loved “Zooming” with Emily Yeo Schuls,

Cheryl Zandt Weinstein, Danie Roffe Roman, and Heather Glenn Holl so we could all catch up. Looking forward to planning our annual visit together, hopefully this summer. I am not ready to have an empty nest, but am looking forward to having more designated “me” time. Happy Milestone Birthday Class of 1993!”

Jessica Johnson Taube writes: “Like everyone, I’ve been buffeted by all of the uncertainty of the pandemic. I have been teaching remotely for a full year now, but the students and I have found our groove. I’m really proud of how well they have persevered and grown! This generation will be resilient. The vaccination has been a great relief, and it’s opened up the opportunity for Sasha Swetland Wyckoff and Jennifer Baker Roopnarine ’94 to finally plan a weekend getaway to Denver in April. It will be a wonderful balm to be with my sisters again. Blessings and good health to everyone!”

As for me, we were on a cruise that docked in early March last year, so we considered ourselves to be very lucky when we were able to disembark without any problems! Since then, I’ve been working from home providing telehealth therapy sessions, and managing the private practice office remotely since the pandemic. I’ve also been providing online schooling for my 1st grader, which has been challenging. Life has been busier than ever! I was able to take an online yoga class with Laurel Shimko Goeke, which was wonderful. I highly recommend her class! I hope everyone is well and I look forward to when we can all get together with our friends and families again! - Kelly

Hello Class of 1993!

Michelle Kloda wrote in and shared that all are doing well in spite of an entire year spent in close (very close!) proximity as a family of four schooling and working from home. She is grateful that her museum was able to successfully reopen and she was given a leadership position within the organization. She notes that for her family, COVID has been a time to sharpen some skills and explore new interests. They’ve hatched and raised hens, are in the midst of training a (pandemic) puppy and keep challenging themselves to grow more fruits and veggies. The Quint ’93 (Jen Craig, Julie Farrell, Cris Gonzales-Allelo and Kate Lenz) have definitely made more time for each other—and they’ve relished every minute of their “Room Zooms.” Special Guests

Leah Eagan ’94 earned her masters in marriage and family therapy.

16 Spring 2020

ClassNotes

Tiffany Hancock and Char Austin Imhoff have graced their screens. They say— “More time with Wells Women is the best medicine!”

Char Austin Imhoff wrote from Florida, where she and her husband Java are celebrating one year of residency. They sold their home in Maine and are loving living in Satellite Beach. They can sit on the patio and watch rocket launches and are a five-minute walk to the beach. COVID has put the brakes on plans to find part-time work and volunteer opportunities, but Char managed to complete a virtual food drive this summer that raised over $1,000, and is keeping busy with lots of craft/art projects. Their son Nate is in college in Maine, doing great. Char also has dyed her hair pink and bought a surfboard, and is looking to new adventures ahead, as she counts her blessings during these very turbulent times.

We relocated to the Denver, CO area in 2019 and I love the mountains, but miss being closer to the ocean. COVID has of course stopped us from exploring much, and I am hopeful that my outdoors heart will be more fulfilled later this summer. In the interim, the local trails and Cherry Creek Reservoir have been a great substitute and spring break in Aruba granted me lots of beach time. My family is doing as well as can be expected, and I continue to work full-time, currently at Regis University. I love staying in touch on Facebook and Instagram and wish you all a great year!

- Dayanne

1992SUSAN ARTHUR GORMAN4506 Mainfield Ave.Baltimore, MD [email protected]

JULIE HAMBLIN KING10 Brighton Ave.Andover, NJ 07821-4547

[email protected]

1991DAVIDA BARBOZA KOSA10024 Hume CourtBristow, VA [email protected]

1990COLLEEN CORCORAN406 Church St.Saratoga Springs, NY [email protected]

KRISTINE SWANSON MUNDEN6501 Brownwood CtAustin, TX [email protected]

It seems the class of 1990 has COVID fatigue. I didn’t receive very many responses. At least it sounds as though everyone is hanging in there and looking forward to our 35th Reunion!

Kerry Gleason Cusick is still living in sunny San Diego, CA. Her blended family of six is quickly getting smaller. Kate is living her happy life in Bozeman, MT, Justin is finishing up a very different freshman year at CalPoly, Nick will be heading off to Purdue in the fall and Kacey is finishing up her junior year and the college search begins. Between kids, work, mountain biking and golf, she and her husband Jay are pretty busy and looking forward to travel soon (hopefully).

Even Heather Kowalski, our trusty trustee, has had an uneventful year. Heather writes that after a year of mostly teleworking, she is bored of her condo! Her cats seem to be ok with her being home. Like so many, she has paid a price for being too close to her kitchen. Going forward, she will need to work on that habit and on the weight that seems to be stuck. She is very sorry that we missed our Reunion, and that the next Reunion has gone virtual.

Heather suggests we plan to crash our sisters’ Reunion in 2022. She remains busy with work and condo board duties and Wells’ board duties. They help keep her out of trouble. She is looking forward to being vaccinated and resuming travel.

Looking back on the past year, I cannot complain. Ron and I were able to take our annual trips to Cape Cod and Ogunquit, ME, in addition to taking one of my bucket-list trips to the Grand Canyon. We weren’t able to do everything we wanted, but we were able to be at the Grand Canyon in June, with much smaller crowds! From March through August, I worked 50% of the time at home and 50% in the office. Starting in September, I went back into the office 100% of the time. That made me a much happier person! I had a nice chat with Katie Camarro ’85 around the holidays, when I stopped in her workshop to pick up some jars of her hot fudge, Sundae’s Best, to give as gifts. I’m looking forward to getting together with some Saratoga Wells women in the future! Hang in there everyone! You can always count on your Wells sisters if you need anything! Be safe.

- Colleen

Marli Hertz Pinochet celebrated her 26th anniversary with Ernest last year – they are still based in Connecticut with their two kids (Nathan & Sophia). She’s thankful everyone in her family is well although getting a bit stranger each week from COVID quarantine. Nathan is starting to seriously look at colleges and all are getting very stressed with the choices (In person? Remote? Near? Far?). Sophia is collecting high school credits while in 7th grade – and they feel lucky Nathan’s around to help with algebra! Marli has worked full-remote since March 2020 but thankful for the stability of her job and company (Gartner, 10+ yrs). Ernest continues to remodel homes and keeps the kids organized while injecting a much-needed sense of fun for the family (boating, mountain biking, skiing, etc.). Marli plans to attend Reunion whether in person or virtual—fingers crossed we’ll get to visit our Wells home!

Susie Post Nadrich has been lucky enough to work from home during the pandemic. “I do miss seeing friends and family. I am enjoying watching my daughters grow. My eldest is a senior in college at Nazareth (music ed), and is currently student teaching. My youngest is a freshman at St. John Fisher (business management), and is playing softball for their team.”

Erika Rich Sweeney reports we are staying close to home still, working remotely, and are happy we have all gotten our vaccinations, so we look forward to family holidays again. Our granddaughter Blakely, going on 2, is a constant source of entertainment. We babysit her a lot and she calls me Lita (for Abuelita). She loves books and her new tricycle. Our big news is grandchild #2 is on his way. Charles Pierson Gard will make his arrival in mid-July. Katherine and Nick (Blakely and Pierson’s mom and dad) are doing great, working, staying safe and enjoying being a little family. We see them often as they are part of our bubble. Caroline is living in Cleveland, OH reporting for WEWS and staying safe in her apartment with her beautiful kitty Midge. We look forward to seeing her again. I wish my classmates good health!”

This year has had its share of ups and downs for Cheri Rosen. “I’ve managed to need a bunch of surgeries in August, September and November. So I was in and out of the hospital and nursing home. Somehow, I managed to NOT catch COVID, and even got my vaccinations back in December/January. Thankfully, my brother David has been there for me, as well as my wonderful WELLS SISTERHOOD, for which I am forever grateful. I’m home now, with an aide six hours a day. I am doing arts and crafts, watching TV and Netflix, and posting silly memes on Facebook.”

Rachelle Stanko was furloughed for 12 weeks and it was the greatest gift. “Suddenly I had free time. I power washed, expanded my cooking skills, and road tripped with my daughter. I learned to mow! I also began to hold KaffeeKlatsch Zoom calls with Kristine Swanson Munden, Erika Rich Sweeney, and Jules Rothrock. In June, I returned to Nordstrom and joined a newly formed team supporting lots of fun projects, like Curbside Pick Up, In Store Order Pick Up, and CSR initiatives. Mike continues to work for Continental Mills (Krusteaz Pancakes, Ghirardelli brownie mix) and if you purchased any of those items during the early days of the pandemic you found them on the shelf due to decisions made in our home office! We spend almost every weekend hiking, skiing or boating. Annelene is a sophomore at CU Boulder, where she is active in NROTC and the outdoors. We love visiting her in Colorado. Hope to see everyone at our 2025 Reunion!”

Catie Wilson is working as a gastrointestinal nurse practitioner, so

Young Alumni Award for Outstanding AchievementWells College, in partnership with the Wells College Association of Alumnae and Alumni (WCA), seeks

nominations for the Young Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement. This award recognizes a recent graduate

who has shown extraordinary achievement in professional, philanthropic, and/or service work—within the first decades

following graduation. The award is presented each fall.

Nominations are due by June 15, 2021. Nomination forms can be downloaded from alumni.wells.edu.

Wells.edu 17

ClassNotesshe worked throughout quarantine. “But my husband was home for four months since our restaurant was closed. Thank goodness it worked out this way since he could help monitor remote schooling for our daughters (Lily age 15 and Hannah age 11). Summer in Maine was strange with all events being canceled. The restaurant did open with limited numbers and social distancing. Schools returned in person in the fall. Lily played a modified soccer season and just completed her ski racing season. Hannah played basketball and it was great to see games—in person. John closed the restaurant again at the end of the year; he plans to re-open in May. Otherwise, John stays busy with house projects, including painting our kitchen cabinets, re-tiling around our fireplace and building an awesome fire pit! We are looking forward to summer; I feel very lucky to have hiking, boating and skiing right in our backyard!

Bonnie Navarra is presently living in Grafton, MA trying to move back to Westborough, MA, where she was living until two years ago when she traded in her 140 year-old home for a shiny new condo in the town next door, but quickly realized shiny and new is not always what it is cracked up to be when the quality of the construction is not the same as the 140 year-old aging beauty. So she’s selling the shiny condo for, hopefully, something in-between like a nice safe 1950s ranch in Westborough. “My son starts high school in Westborough next year and I want to be in the same town where he is going to school. I am presently working for BJ’s Wholesale corporate office, working in trade compliance and international logistics. Shout out to Alyse Pedranti Lisk for helping me land a career after our graduation from college many moons ago. No, I have not heard from her recently, but I would like to.”

Marisa Pawlewicz Goodenough wrote, “We’re fine and basically the same over here in England...working mostly from home, going into the office just once a week and otherwise spending the weekends in the garden! First dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine for me last week...waiting for our second doses so we can have super-powered immune systems. So, happy, healthy and waiting for the time when we can travel again. That’s about it!”

Dina Johannemann Prisco is working as the safety health and environmental manager at a food manufacturing facility in New Jersey. We are part of a large global company with our headquarters in

Maryland. It requires me to travel to other locations periodically, which is interesting. Managing the safety of essential workers during the last year has been a monumental challenge. If you told me during my days at Wells that this is what I would be doing in 2021, I would not have believed it. It is a rewarding job. Both of my sons have been home this past year. Nate (21) is a Junior at Georgetown and AJ (23) graduated and is working. Tony and I both agree having them here is the silver lining of the quarantine. Focusing on family, local hikes and spending lots of time gardening has been our past year.”

Julia Rothrock hopes that all of her fellow classmates and their families are well in light of the unprecedented pandemic. “We love being back home in Chicago. Tommy, a sophomore, is thrilled to be playing football again for a shortened spring season. Thankfully, he is a skilled cook now and consequently quite self-sufficient. Christopher is wrapping up his second year of law school and is flourishing. Much love to all!”

I visited my parents in New Hampshire during the pandemic; I quarantined at a wonderful inn, where I loved my alone time for nine days and then stayed with my parents for three weeks. Robert works from home and—as a company whose clients are first responders—they are busier than ever. Zoom has allowed for ’visiting’ with friends and family, as well as letting me take part in writing conferences. I continue to hone my craft, with the goal of becoming a published author. Schuyler and Jasper are juniors in the IB (international baccalaureate) program. Jasper performs with Austin Civic Orchestra and Schuyler sings with Illumine—classical choral music. Sadly, Robert’s mother passed away this March—she had been in hospice care for a long time. Robert got to see her though, before she declined, for which we are grateful. Recently, I got my first vaccine dose and booked my family’s vacation to New Hampshire in July! It’s good to have something to look forward to. I wish everyone well and hope to see you at Reunion 2025!

- Kristine

1989JOELLE CABAL VITALE4 S Hunter AveAuburn, NY [email protected]

1988JENN BARNETT690 Main St.Hampstead, NH [email protected]

1987SLOANE BAILEY8113 Smithfield Ave.Springfield, VA [email protected]

1986HEIDI RUSSELL JOHNSTON3412 Westbury PlaceBirmingham, AL [email protected]

1985DEB CALLAHAN1222 Boucher Ave Apt. DAnnapolis, MD [email protected]

UNA MONEYPENNY226 Canaan Rd.Brooktondale, NY [email protected]

Hi All. I’m so happy to hear from several classmates. Although many us keep track of each other via Facebook, texts, Instagram, etc., it’s nice to have this format as another means for keeping up!

Janet Aldrich writes: This note comes on the heels of a one-day jaunt up 95 (from my home in Baltimore) to visit Carol Wilcox Accetta in her relatively new house in Princeton, NJ. We always pick up where we left off, whether on the phone, in notes, or in person. The small private school where I teach 6th grade has been operating in person all year, in creative and energetic pods, with all CDC precautions. In-person school, combined with lots of walks with neighbors and maximal hikes in state

parks in all seasons, help maintain a sense of normalcy throughout this unprecedented time. I look forward to meeting up with my sister in New Hampshire in June to celebrate my spry mom’s (Margaret Pearson Aldrich ’47) 95th May birthday! While it feels liberating to be vaccinated since February, I still, however, slink about with caution! Let’s look forward to our 40th Reunion in 2025 with joyful anticipation!

We can always count on Katie Camarro to send a note. This time around she wrote: “I have been learning a new stroke during COVID switching up from 75% wholesale sales and 25% direct and website sales to 70% website sales and 30% wholesale. Not bad, just different. I am grateful that we were chosen to be on Good Morning America’s Deals & Steals in June of 2020. That helped create a sweet base of website customers so Sundaes Best is running along and I have been blessed to be able to come to my office kitchen every day during the pandemic and not be trapped at home. My biggest sadness during the pandemic after the loss our dear friend Matt McCabe, is the time my niece Addy and my nephews Chaz and AJ have missed at college. Virtual learning sucks at the college level; it made me feel so grateful and happy to think about those days at Wells and worry about the resilience that dear old Wells has had to endure. Besides our first pandemic, I experienced being pet-less for the first time in over 30 years and it was hard. Only lasted about five weeks and happy to report that we adopted Barrett a 2-year-old great pyrenees from the National Great Pyrenees Rescue. I could not be happier, and it really does make a difference to adopt not shop. I am continuing to become more comfortable with video presentations and am working hard to sell conventional grocery/produce departments my Chocolate Farmer Fruit & Pretzel Dip an

Dodge House circa 1981. (L to R) Dana Townsend ’85, Deb Callahan ’85, and Myriam Godfrey ’85.

18 Spring 2020

ClassNotesall-natural spreadable chocolate for fruit and pretzels…anybody know the buyers at Wegmans? I am happy, healthy and busy creating the chocolate empire. I am white labeling the Inns of Aurora Bittersweet Hot Fudge Sauce and they are delightful to work with and one of these orders I plan to deliver in person and see those shores of Cayuga Lake. Hope all is well with you and yours and all the people in Class of 85. If anyone is looking for a great fundraiser…Sundaes Best makes a delicious choice! Sending lots of sweet vibes to all xoxox.

Karen Burri Becher checked in from across the pond!!! She said, “I hope this message finds you well during the times we are all experiencing. It has been a massively long time since I last sent a message about what’s up in my life so instead of writing too many paragraphs about loads of things, I’ll keep it brief: I have more or less lived the last 34 years in Europe, many years in Germany—in Bonn and the Munich area. I originally started out in journalism, working for the Wall Street Journal Europe (boy is that a long time ago as this edition no longer exists). Life has taken many twists and turns and we found ourselves also living in London for 10 years, then Vienna, Austria for eight years, where I moved into education, working at the American International School. We are now situated north of London, in Nottinghamshire, where for the last six years I have been a senior educator at the National Holocaust Centre and Museum. The last year has been spent mostly sitting in front of a computer at home, teaching our educational programs online, over Zoom or Teams, as well as hosting and presenting at a number of livestream events. It has become the new normal, but I look forward to the day one can see people face to face again. I truly do love my work, being very passionate about Holocaust education and helping people of all ages to learn about the past to improve our own times, and it is such a privilege to work with the many Holocaust survivors, who are dedicated to sharing their testimonies. The U.K. has been in lockdown since the end of December—the second lockdown. Things have loosened up a tiny bit in that students are now all back at school—since the 8th of March. I miss the group of Wells women I used to meet up with regularly in London from 2000 - 2008. Fellow alumna Anne (unfortunately I have forgotten her surname, she was significantly older than me) hosted the loveliest teas at her flat just across from Parliament. Anne sadly passed away shortly after this time. Very fond memories. Hopefully you are well and safe. Take care and all the best.”

It was also wonderful to hear from Lisa Lundquist Freitag. “I am still living on the St. Lawrence River about two hours north of Aurora. I am looking forward to seeing boats return to the river for the spring and summer seasons as winters are pretty quiet up here, even though they are beautiful. It has been a very stressful year as I am an elementary school principal for Thousand Islands Central School District. Trying to open, and keep open, a school during a pandemic is nothing I ever imagined. It has put a lot of grey hair on my head and added a lot of stress to my life, but I am proud to say that we have had students in school, five days a week, since September! The great staff and community have made this possible. In addition to being principal, I am also director of special programs, which includes special education and homeschooling. Helping students and families is what I am about. My husband, Craig, and I will be celebrating our 34th wedding anniversary this summer. We have two grown children, Kristi and Tim. Kristi is a teacher in the Albany City School District and Tim is a civil engineer with Bohler Engineering. Tim is married and just made me a grandma! Our granddaughter Isla is 6 weeks old and the love of my life! Friends always told me, “Wait until you are a grandma, there is nothing in the world like it.” And that is so true! If any fellow Wells alumni travel to the Thousand Islands area, I would love to hear from you! I am on Facebook as Lisa Blair.”

I think it’s safe to call the past year a long strange trip (thanks Grateful Dead). But we’ve made it through!! I’ve fully embraced remote work—which for many was the temporary or permanent result of the pandemic. I grumbled for 30 years about rush hour traffic in the DC/VA/MD region, but it took a pandemic to help me realize just how much it was affecting me! I’m happy to report that all is well in my world. I’m still employed as a non-profit CEO (although if I had a dollar for every time over the last year that I said or heard “you’re muted” I would be retired by now!!!!). My wife Emilie and I are impatiently awaiting our first grandchild, due in May. I imagine our lives will change a bit with a little one about. We’re also chomping to resume travel as multiple scuba diving trips and European walking tours were canceled in 2020. I’m also looking forward to catching up in person with a few of you—Gina Todd, Anne Lovejoy, and Jennifer Betts remain dear friends and I’d love to cocktail with them soon! Finally, I’ve been dedicating my free time

to several volunteer opportunities—including dear Wells. As a member of the WCA board I’m involved in projects that will connect students with alumnae/i, spread the word about the work that WCA does for Wells, and overall, promote this extraordinary institution. I would love to have more from ’85 volunteer for Wells. Please contact me if you’re interested—[email protected]. Wells College has rallied over the last year and I’m proud of all the alums who rallied alongside her. I hope we can all get together soon and raise a glass to each other and to Wells. Until then, take good care!

- Deb

As we all know quite well, it’s been a very strange year with the pandemic and the changes that COVID has wrought in our lives.

Marsha Lawrence writes that all is well in Northern New York. During this COVID year she has finally gotten a long-awaited puppy! Her puppy’s name is Joy and Marsha walks with her three to five miles a day. Marsha is working as a nurse in an orthopedic office, therefore lucky enough to be fully vaccinated. She writes that she is blessed with lovely friends, healthy family, and fresh air. Her grown children are not too far away and are employed. Bonus- Marsha and Jim remain married and are happy doing more together as “empty-nesters.” She sends all her best to her amazing Wells sisters.

Sara Thornton (formerly Sarah Houser) sent greetings and hope that all is well (Wells?) with you. She is doing reasonably well too. She noted that she hasn’t provided many updates in the past but has spent decades slogging through corporate feeling overqualified and vastly underpaid. She now runs an herb shop, built on decades of self-research on herbal medicine, and is now the proud holder of dual certification through Dr. Tieraona Low Dog and a vitamin shop in Simsbury, CT. Throughout COVID, the shop has never closed, and Sara reports that they can help improve immune response and help folks keep healthy. This is her 11th year and, knock wood, she’ll continue to prosper. As for her name change, she changed the spelling of her first name, dropped the middle and last, and legally changed it to Sara Amelia Thornton: “all full of curlicues and melody.”

Melanie Valencia visited Aurora and Wells this past October, ate at the Fargo and the Aurora Inn, walked the campus, and showed her husband the arts buildings. She reports that aside from the obvious

updated safety features (the dining hall has a cashier’s booth upon entry) and locked doors requiring passcodes, it appears much the same physically. Melanie is on her 22nd year in her school district as a band director, sometimes choral and general music teacher, and musical director. Melanie writes that “my Whirligigs years serve me well when I work with vocalists!” She coordinates her school’s community garden from spring planting through the fall harvest. Additionally, Melanie performs in several instrumental music groups: Blue Velvet Band (bari sax, flute/piccolo, clarinet, soprano sax, violin, vocals); Basin Street Dixieland Band (bari, flute/piccolo, vocals); Renaissance Jazz Band (clarinet, flute, piccolo, alto sax, vocals); and directs the following groups: Silver and Steel flute and guitar duo; Silver and Ivory flute and piano duo; Horizon Jazz of flute, sax, piano, and drums; and The Parlor City Flute Ensemble (4+ flutes). Melanie has a 6-year-old granddaughter named Lola (everybody start singing now!). Her two kids are grown and on their own, and she has a cat and a newly adopted dog named Coco. She and her husband are urban gardeners, they web kayak/canoe, bike, xc and downhill ski, travel, dance, and perform in music groups. Additionally, Melanie is rediscovering her art side by starting back in with sketching. She teaches private instrument lessons via Zoom (it was in-person pre-COVID). [Phew Melanie!] How do you find the time for all this? She also keeps in close contact with Anne Shepherd ’84, who is the godmother to both of her kids. Greetings from Melanie: “here’s hoping everyone is healthy and stays safe; let’s hope the world heals and the doors start opening! Sending hellos and healing vibes❤”

After moving temporarily during the Pandemic to the Panhandle of FL (family - taking care of 82-year old mom), Jennifer Betts will be off in June with her pup Leon to northern Virginia to work with The Siena School opening a new campus and getting back to mission-driven work with bright, college-bound students with dyslexia and other language-learning differences. It will be a new challenge being head of school, but definitely looking forward to being in Deb Callahan’s neck of the woods and getting mentoring and leadership advice as well as opportunities for bourbon and conversation! The school’s in Oakton, VA, and am hoping to score a house in the area—so psyched, too, that I can be closer to Polly O’Brien Morrow and Laurie Golden ’84 and other friends and family in

Wells.edu 19

ClassNotes

New York, Connecticut, and New Hampshire (Laurie Griggs—we’re overdue!). I stay in touch with Jenn Young Lawson and love to be connected to other Wellsians via Facebook and social media.

Maryse “Marie” Levy Williams (the best damn JA & RA ever) wrote to say hi and to let everyone know that she has a new email address (contact the alum office). She started a new company www.jobmorph.com. Among her first two clients were Wells women! One married to a Wells man! Maryse wrote “that just seeing all your names in the email brought a BIG SMILE to my face. Such memories! Cherished even more now as I near (gulp) 60! Stay safe!” Maryse also encourages all to pop her a note anytime. She’s in Highland Park, IL these days with husband and dog, expecting a puppy (via surrogacy) this fall.

I’m still in Canaan Valley, southeast of Ithaca, NY, still working remotely and staying safe. I also picked up a new puppy last year, and she keeps me relatively sane. I’m an empty nester too, and Bella’s good company. My three young men are all close by and living their best lives despite the pandemic. - Una

1984BETSY BRADY26 Rockaway St.Marblehead, MA [email protected]

JEANNE LEFEVER1121 1/2 Harbert St.Tallahassee, FL [email protected]

LISA KENDRICK NICHOLS847 Hale St.Beverly Farms, MA [email protected]

JUDITH SCOTT PELLOWEPO Box 1222Alton, NH [email protected]

Pam Anderegg is almost fully recovered following a broken femur last spring. She is very much looking forward to taking longer and longer walks as spring slowly unfolds. [Keep on advancing Pam!]

Mary Pastore Cryan shared a distinct pattern to the extent of her travels...room to room and frequent visits to the kitchen. The extended homestay provided countless hours for gratitude, creative thinking and meaningful conversations. She enjoyed a few nights at the Inns of Aurora in August 2020, enjoying a first swim ever in a warm and reflective Cayuga Lake. Yes, it’s been quite a year since joining the Wells Board of Trustees in February 2020. Mary sends enormous thanks to our classmates and everyone else who brought Wells through this COVID nightmare to where we are in the Spring of 2021 moving forward with the strategic plan and initiatives. In the meantime, here’s to seeing Class ’84 via Zoom!

Diana Dean officially retired at the end of 2018, then ended a toxic relationship the day after returning from Reunion 2019, largely due to the support and input received from her Wells community. She spent 2020 packing and selling the Connecticut house and finally realized her dream of moving back to Central New York. Oswego is

only an hour from Wells, so she will be visiting once things open up again. Son Rhys took a gap year during COVID and is returning to SUNY Oswego in the fall. Daughter Nakora just got promoted to assistant principal of a charter school in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Diana could not be prouder of them both.

The pandemic permitted Karen Russell Esperson to spend quality time with her mother and family. “Sharpened my card and puzzle skills while FedEx dropped plenty of wine at my door. Enjoyed a fun Zoom call with Laura Bishop, Betsy Brady, Annie Cronin and Antoinette Ptak.” During the warm weather, Karen will continue to chase the golfing goal of scoring a hole-in-one with Betsy Brady and Antoinette Ptak. [Betsy reminds you that the honor of scoring an ace is to buy the bar a round!]

Thank you to ALL who responded to the plea to commit funds to the College last year. Tremendous support from 1984 and leadership from MaryPastore Cryan, our fearless champion on the board. A dozen of us were on the call last month with Larry Jerome, VP of advancement. My Mom Sally Hitchcock Brady ’60 joined us on the Zoom and we both felt confident in the direction of the administration and the caliber, quality and diversity of the incoming classes. Mom and I especially enjoyed seeing familiar faces Gretchen Alsdorf, Emma Weiss ’83 and Joanne Kelley.I have weathered the COVID restrictions with the gift of activity balanced with purposeful down time. The summer/fall sailing season for small boats was allowed, and being on the water in my Town Class ’birdie’ for the 3x a week races here in Marblehead was extra special. My daily badminton matches have been integral to mental health. The joy of walking to the club at sunrise to meet three masked friends to share the laughter and comradery to start the day is just good for the soul. Very grateful to be heading to Buffalo for Easter with my parents. We are all vaccinated and extra aware of the true gift of time. And I wish that for each of you—a healthy spring and the gift of time well spent with those you love. Keep on ’84!

- Betsy

As many of you, I have been work-ing from home throughout the pandemic. I go to my office at least once a week to make sure everything is still there and working properly. Out of a staff of 60, we have five or six who have continued to work at the office wearing masks, staying socially distanced and spraying and wiping down everything they

touch. As with everyone, Zoom is everything. I realize I do not get near the exercise I used to for several reasons, but a big one is that I walk a heck of a lot more at the office than at home. And then there is the friggin’ pantry…sigh! My husband also works from home and the dog is confused—she will need therapy when this is over. Our daughter Lydia is a sophomore at Virginia Tech and is at school, living on campus. She is lucky to live in a suite, so they are considered a family unit. They really enjoy each other and are making the best of —having family dinners and taking family outings to the grocery or Target. She is enjoying school but is anxious to have things back to normal. She has really only met the few folks she met last year and her suite-mates but is keeping a good outlook and doing well. All we can really ask! I hope these notes find everyone well, able to get a vaccine if they want it and enjoying the emerging spring. Love to you all.

- Jeanne

Christy Helsens Short writes: “Still living in Front Royal, VA and commuting to Reston, so I spend a lot of time in the car. My husband and I stay busy on the weekends renovating our lakefront cottage for future retirement. In my free time (ha), I am a Harley triker, jogger, quilter, and dog mom. Would love to see some old Wells friends!”

Susan Trainor reports: “Just a few weeks before the coronavirus lockdown, my husband Jan, son Conor and I had moved to State College from a rural town 20 miles out. Conor’s in the process of launching and the three of us hunkered down—him to do online classes at PSU, me and Jan to keep trying to help our patients in the Endocrinology practice where we work. Daughter Caela is in St. Louis in law school. We all keep trying in our own ways to make things a little better and at the end of it all I’m more grateful than ever for the time at Wells, and really glad to have reconnected with so many of our Wells sisters. Hoping the next year or two will bring a chance for us to be together in Aurora.”

Marilyn Meagher Stuelke says, “Commercial real estate, begun at age 55, is the most interesting thing I’ve ever done. Every deal is completely different. Today I moved along a doctor’s office lease, warehouse, high end salon in St. Pete, and used car lot in the sticks. I love helping entrepreneurial people succeed. Husband Jim is enjoying retirement better now that he has a boat in which to play.”

Christy Helsens Short ’84 on her Harley trike.

Diana Dean ’84 enjoying life!

20 Spring 2020

ClassNotes

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Terry Ellis Thomas writes: “I am teaching theatre arts in Goliad, TX, being a mom to my 16 year-old Luke and enjoying life—especially keeping up with my Wells College friends. Cori Asaka Pratel came to Austin for my birthday in October.”

My middle daughter Amanda and her husband welcomed a son in July of 2020, our first grandchild. Husband Jim has retired, and while I’ve never had any particular interest in retiring, I’m now starting to think about it. So many adventures left to explore! In the summer of 2020, I was able to enjoy a socially distant visit with Su Wood and Una Moneypenny ’85 in Tamworth, NH. Looking forward to connecting with Wells friends in 2021.

- Judy

1983BAMBI TANCIOCO KOKINOS185 Washington St.Marblehead, MA [email protected]

IANA BURHOE STROMINGER22 Moulton Rd.Arlington, MA [email protected]

1982KRISTIN SODERBERG ZIMMERMAN97 Stone Ridge Rd.Franklin, MA [email protected]

Michele Baranowski is surviving the pandemic just like everyone else. She entertains her Wells friends on Facebook, but under her Wells name. Connecting with everyone on social media helped her through this year of isolation. It is spring and Michele is getting her herb and vegetable gardens ready. Michele hopes everyone stays safe and is looking forward to Reunion next year.

Norma Timerman Bowley’s granddaughter Evelyn was born in 2020 and named after her mother (who a few of you may remember as one of the hostesses on our 1981(?) choir tour). Norma, believe it or not, is still a choir accompanist, church organist and piano teacher (some online now). One of Norma’s Wells professors always said she was in a rut, and she guesses she had been, but it was a good rut to have been in. Norma texts and calls Natalia “Lee” Czar occasionally.

Sharon Badian has been Zooming weekly since a year ago with Kathleen Dooley, Cindy Lehman Kester, Jacquie Domachowski Meyer, Chirstine Tierney, Ann Marie Miralles, and Judy Venditto ’84. It’s been a really fun way to catch up for them and they manage to have plenty to chat about! The weekly Zooming gives all of them something fun to look forward to. Sharon has seen Cindy Kester a couple of times in person. They live near each other and can get together outside. By the end of April, they’ll both be vaccinated so she expects Cindy to be her first social date in a long time! Pamela Badian-Pessot ’14 drove from Cincinnati at the beginning of March and spent the whole month with mom and dad. Her adorable dog Poppy came too. Sharon and her husband have so enjoyed having both of them in Colorado. Sharon hopes to visit Pamela and Poppy in Ohio later this year, after everyone is fully vaccinated.

Ann Ruback Edwards reports that since Mark and she both work from home, the pandemic hasn’t caused any real radical changes for them (for which she is grateful!) The only interesting thing Ann has to report is that she’s been teaching at Wells.

Or, rather “for Wells”, since she’s teaching online classes from her home in Oklahoma. Anne taught an Introduction to Philosophy class in the fall, and is teaching an Epistemology class this spring. Anne is also supervising a student thesis for the one philosophy major—which is an experience for her, since as a math major, she didn’t write a thesis. Anne says it’s been fun and kind of exciting to be able to teach at Wells!

Denise Smith retired in May 2019 and immediately went on a cruise to the Caribbean. In September 2019 Denise was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer (multiple myeloma). Denise had therapy for six months and beat it into remission. She had a stem cell transplant in August 2020 to hopefully increase the time of the remission since she couldn’t cruise anyway. Denise couldn’t have gotten through this without her Wells sisters Cathy Ruhland Mauhs, Deborah Long ’84, Ann Shepherd ’84, Judy Venditto ’84 and Ronda Brands ’87. Denise hopes to attend Reunion in 2022!

Amy Jones Richardson learned so much about herself during her first full year of retirement that occurred during the pandemic quarantine. Amy’s surprise discovery: she is a natural recluse. With the privilege

of a safe home, country views and wildlife, a love of movies, books and writing, the ability to stay in touch with people by phone/text/social media and mail, being home for her—even for a much longer time than anticipated—was a pleasure, not a hardship. Fortunately, Jim had a short hospital stay in the spring. Amy’s recent cancer was caught early and does not require additional surgery or treatment. Amy’s and Jim’s families have weathered the pandemic well—a few mild cases of the virus; a few quarantines; a few job adjustments but no severe hardships. With the vaccines now available, hope has soared! The coming months will be filled with returning to their campsite in southern Indiana to enjoy Patoka Lake and country festivals. Amy and Jim are also hoping to take a couple of road trips to visit with family members. But mostly, Amy and Jim continue to enjoy their simplified, home-based lifestyle. Amy has discovered that so many of her prior activities were truly non-essential and were being done through habit or a sense of obligation…she has let those go. She doesn’t intend to return to normal. Amy now focuses on activities that truly are meaningful to her. This year has been quietly creative, restorative, and reminded her of the joy of stillness. Amy looks forward to in-person visits with family and friends, but also how to continue to embrace this quieter, more meaningful lifestyle.

For Laurel Roe Morris 2020 was a very big year for her! “I turned 60 in July, and after 33 years working at the same library system, with all but three years not only in the same building but the same floor (the one without many windows!), I retired as director on October 1. This was a difficult decision for me, since being a public library director has been my career dream since about the age of 13, but the challenges of leading the

In the summer of 2020 Su Wood ’84, Una Moneypenny ’85 and Judith Scott Pellowe ’84 got together in Tamworth NH.

Terry Ellis Thomas ’84 and Cori Asaka Pratel ‘84 got together in Austin, TX to celebrate Terry’s birthday.

Pamela Badian-Pessot ’14 and her dog Poppy enjoyed time with dad and mom Sharon Badian ’82 in Colorado.

Wells.edu 21

ClassNotesstaff through the pandemic as well as my desire to spend more time with husband Jim led me to know it was time. And of course retiring in the middle of the pandemic meant many of my retirement goals of volunteering and travelling had to be put aside. So lots of reading, puzzles, and Netflix binging as well as food delivery have gotten us through the last six months, with hope for travel this fall now on the horizon. One important way I was able to connect with Wells sisters and brothers has been my mask making project which began about a year ago. I was so glad to find a way to support Wells and help keep people safe, and the fundraising brought about $3,000 to Wells. Last summer, as the mask sales were winding down, I decided to try to welcome the incoming students to the college by providing a pair of masks, one in Odd or Even colors and one in Wells colors, to each new student. These projects really helped me feel more connected to Wells and also had the benefit of introducing me to alumnae/i from the early 1960’s to incoming first-year students. Coming up for me is a year as president of our local 100+ year old Rotary Club and a long-awaited Viking Cruise in Europe. Wishing my Class of 1982 friends all the best and hope to see you at Reunion next year!!”

I’m trying to keep a positive attitude during this pandemic. I’m doing a lot of breathing and meditation! Believe it or not, it does help…for me anyway. Both my sons, David and Matthew got engaged two months apart, in December and in February. Wedding plans are underway, but definitive dates have yet to be set. Two joyous occasions to look forward to. I still enjoy hanging with my dog Jonah. Who knew an animal could bring someone so

much happiness?! Mitch and I are plugging along. He celebrated his 80th birthday in March. Having stage four kidney disease and being on dialysis has taken a toll on him, but he’s muddling through. I hope to be at our 40th Reunion next year. I wish for each and every one of you peace, harmony, tranquility and happiness.

- Kristin

[Note from the class news editor: Thank you Kristin for your years of service as the class secretary, gathering and submitting your classmates’ news. Kristin is stepping down from this role, so we are looking for a volunteer to take this on. Please email [email protected] for more info or to volunteer.]

1981HELEN SCHWICKRATH390 Broadway, #14Somerville, MA [email protected]

ROSEMARY DUGAN STEVENS1 Pine Tree Dr.Katonah, NY [email protected]

Cris Kasales-Gimenez writes that she and Michael will be married 33 years, May 2021. They are happily retired in Charleston, SC and trying to make the best of keeping safe and healthy. Their daughter Caroline is clerking for a federal judge in Greenville, SC. She and her husband of two years are quite happy. Son Matthew is a Captain in the U.S. Army and stationed with his wife in Seattle. Daniel is also a Captain in the U.S. Army, and is finishing his assignment in Kuwait. Chris and Michael eagerly await the day when all will be able to travel again to see family and friends.

Deb Venuti writes from Lawrence, MA. “My ‘day job’ is as a family support navigator for an organization that works with families and individuals who have special needs: autism, cerebral palsy, cognitive delays, brain damage, etc. I help people find services and spend any allocations they get from the state; connect families to rent and fuel assistance, or find therapeutic horseback-riding classes or speech therapists; lead group recreational activities and help teach art classes. And of course I do all the paperwork and bookkeeping it all requires. I recently had some cool gigs: photographed a group of Canadian nuns and wrote an article about Oprah (and sat in the press box!) when she visited UMASS Lowell. In 2018, I was right in the middle of Lawrence, MA when all those gas explosions occurred. I had to not only evacuate myself but also many of my clients. I documented and wrote about the next five months for the Merrimack Valley Magazine.” Here’s a link to the photographs and article. https://www.mvmag.net/2019/01/07/lawrence-explosions/.

It’s been an interesting life for all of us, since March 2020! There was a very quick pivot from working on the Harvard campus to working from home. I managed to use some of my time to take on-line classes (including an intensive Spanish 2 class through Framingham State University) and additional Italian conversation/book groups. I look forward to being fully vaccinated and meeting friends, mask-less, for coffee & conversation. Please feel free to send me class news—anytime!—and I will submit to the alumnae/i office for Wells Notes. Stay safe! I miss all of you! I look forward to the day when we can celebrate in Aurora!

- Helen

1980JANICE COLLINS158 Hillside Dr.Swannanoa, NC [email protected]

KRISTINE SELANDER GORDON21 De Bary PlaceSummit, NJ [email protected]

1979PATTI WENZEL CALLAHAN320 Overlook Dr.Syracuse, NY [email protected]

MARTHA DOVE1008 Pleasant St. Unit 24East Weymouth, MA [email protected]

1978BETSY HURSH GINSBURG109 Hillside Ave.Glen Ridge, NJ [email protected]

1977RHONDA RIVERS TEVELS3543 Kinley Brooke LnClermont, FL [email protected]

MEG TOCANTINS24 West TrailStamford, CT [email protected]

1976MK DECKER KAMFONAS228 Church Rd.Devon, PA [email protected]

SUSIE HENGERER SNEERINGER7 Keats CommonSlingerlands, NY [email protected]

SHAUNA TINDALL1053 Scio Hills CourtAnn Arbor, MI [email protected]

1975PAM BUGBEE LAURIONW176N8432 Sunset RidgeMenomonee Falls, WI [email protected]

WENDY PRATT501 North Lucia Ave.Redondo Beach, CA [email protected]

Anne Cash Edwards wrote: “Roger and I are down here in Austin, TX…the crucible state where issues are pounded out.” She is still working part-time as a publicist for American Music artists and Roger is retired and playing golf. They spent the first nine months of lockdown at their newly purchased maisonette in the south of France where they were when the worldwide realization about COVID happened. Now they “wonder when we are getting back. What a world! At this point we are alive and healthy, watching more TV than in decades and studying French!”

Mary Kay Dugdale Danskin is still in mid-state New Jersey. “A very convenient location, but like everyone else I’m anxious to start Masks made by Laurel Roe Morris ’82 for Wells students.

22 Spring 2020

ClassNotestraveling again and see something other than my neighborhood!” Bittersweet with COVID: her job was put on hold—so this past year she had newfound free time and was able to spend it with her 91-year-old mom, and 1-year-old granddaughter. All three of her children have been working virtually, so like many other New Yorkers, they took advantage of moving, temporarily, to rather nice rural locations for a change. Their youngest Kate became engaged to Julian Lorber, an artist, and hopes to marry this spring— in a private ceremony because of COVID. “So life goes on, with adaptations and hope that all remain well.”

“It was certainly a year we will never forget. Who would have imagined a global pandemic?” wrote Wendy Baker. Luckily in South Carolina she experienced a very short lockdown (two months) followed by the same strict health protocols that all states instituted. They were allowed to participate in all outdoor activities such as tennis, golf, biking, etc. with certain minor restrictions; restaurants opened with limited seating back in June. Two wonderful events: niece Catherine had a baby boy, Mason; and nephew’s wife Beth had a baby girl, Lucy. They were born six days apart. “So I am a great aunt.” They are beautiful and lovely little children. She has visited Lucy in DC and hopes to visit Mason in Denver in May. She recently spent two weeks in Hawaii with family. “It is difficult to follow all the guidelines for entry into the state, but once you are there it is paradise.” Also spent 10 days in New York City. “While I found it incredibly sad to see the city in such a state, I was surprised to see more businesses open than I had imagined. New Yorkers are a tough bunch.” One highlight was to go to The Met with MJ Spellane Marchisotto to see a Goya exhibit and browse through other galleries. “Often we were the only two people in the gallery—our very own art museum. I still worry about the small businesses in the city, such as an Italian restaurant I used to frequent. I have known the owner since the early 1980’s when he was a waiter, then the maitre d’ at another place. Now he is the owner of his own place on Madison and it has been a terrible struggle for him, his employees and his family. I am praying he succeeds.” [I wholeheartedly agree – our favorite Chinese restaurant was taken over by the long time owner’s nephew in 2019 and we haven’t been in a year so I worry about him and his family…and others!] She was able to visit Vero Beach with Ripley Ross ’74 and Mimi Smith ’74 and had a fabulous time together.

Like the rest of the world I have

been anxiously awaiting the end of lockdowns, quarantines, social distancing and masking. The biggest blow was when our library closed. I told my husband the other day “I want to go somewhere!” Missed seeing family at Christmas, my mother in law’s 96th birthday, etc., etc.…Although I was able to virtually attend two nieces’ basketball games. Our son moved out into his own apartment last summer (although I usually see him on laundry day!) I truly enjoyed a Zoom reunion with fellow classmates Nancy Wood Heitz, Dianne England Sperling, Allison Moore Toms and Dorothy Burgdorf Gunther. Here’s to a brighter future.

- Pam

Beth Mather Graves and husband Joe and are doing well in Houston—it’s been almost six years. “We’ve quarantined, relied on Instacart, and Zoomed for nearly a year but have now received our two vaccines. Yay! We also survived the cold weather—it really was not as cold as I remember upstate New York and lack of power, but Texas just wasn’t prepared. Granddaughter number two arrived January 30th and we are thrilled.”

Daisy Young Skupien reports that she feels very fortunate to have avoided the consequences of COVID, save mild inconveniences. She and Charles were able to hold the wedding of their daughter Sophia in Ireland in January 2020 without anyone becoming ill, as COVID hit Ireland and the U.S. in March. The planned second wedding reception in Baltimore in April was cancelled due to COVID. Sophia and Conor were able to join them for Christmas this year, and made it back to Dublin just before the new U.K. variant resulted in another lockdown. Daisy’s house has just gone on the market and they hope that vaccine distribution and the policies of the new administration will encourage people to return the real estate market, which was hard hit in Baltimore.

Victoria Willock is still hanging out in La Quinta and enjoying a very quiet life for the past year—reading, learning to cook, and generally relaxing. Vicki enjoyed a mini Zoom reunion, set up by CM Deucher with Kay McGinley, River Karmen, Lorena Sol, and Sandy Oxley ’77. She said that “in some cases, we had not ’seen’ one another in several decades; it was delightful to catch up and find out what we were all doing, and how we had all dealt with COVID shutdowns. Otherwise, I’ve had my vaccines, like many others in our class who have shared their relief on

Facebook. Glad we can all start to consider coming out of our cocoons and venture out with caution.”

Not much news to report from Redondo Beach. I’m enjoying married life and retirement in our self-imposed quarantine. We had the house (exterior) painted and completed other long-overdue repairs. The dogs are getting lots of attention and plenty of walks since we’re both home all the time. Tom had successful back fusion surgery last August; and I had cataract surgery in December. I spend my days reading, relaxing, cooking and feeding the birds and squirrels in our front yard! Now that we’re both fully vaccinated, we hope to be able to travel and see friends and loved ones on the East Coast this fall, if not sooner.

- Wendy

1974PAM THOMAS DYER8 Troon LaneBluffton, SC [email protected]

JD Benson and spouse Mary retired from the UU ministry, studied Spanish in Oaxaca, Mexico and planned to travel domestically before the pandemic hit. Plans had to change but they still traveled nearly 10,000 miles across country in August and September. They have tentative plans this year for a civil rights tour and trip to Europe, all depending on travel restrictions. They visit safely with their three adult children and three grands.

Candyce Cavanagh is busier than ever with her Denver law firm working remotely, but truly misses the in-person interaction with colleagues. Zoom is not the same! Candyce and husband Tom Sitz have missed restaurant dining, visiting friends and going to the gym. Exercise has been limited to walking

park trails. They plan to celebrate their 40th anniversary at their house on St. Simons Island, GA in May. They created a basement apartment for daughter Lindsey so she could live with them during the pandemic. Lindsay has been a paralegal at a law firm for several years and will be starting a new position for the City of Longmont, CO.

The plan for Debra Johnston Cobb and husband to spend semi-retirement going back and forth between U.S. and U.K. was shattered with COVID. Deb feels our lives are forever changed. Deb’s husband returned to their flat in Leicestershire in late August with Deb joining him for two months during the very strict British lockdown. Deb is back in Greensboro, NC and reports that the fashion and textiles industry is undergoing profound change, thus her freelance writing assignments have dried up. She has transitioned to focus on technical textiles such as those used for PPE and anti-ballistic clothing. Deb cannot wait until she can hug her family, whom she has not seen for a year. For now, phone conversations and Zoom with her husband and friends have been her lifeline. Gail Kotch Farrell ’75 keeps her laughing and she has been in touch with Coco Ward.

Daisy Young Skupien ’75 at the wedding of her daughter Sophia in Ireland in January 2020. Pictured (L-R): Daisy, son-in-law Conor O’Reilly, daughter Sophia and husband Charles.

Beth Mather Graves ’75 holding her new granddaughter Gemma, born January 30, 2021.

Wells.edu 23

ClassNotes

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Carolyn Anderson Connors reports that living in Aurora during the pandemic has been a blessing. They can walk in town, talk with neighbors, and get take-out from the Fargo! Carolyn and Alan have been fortunate to have Erin and family in their “bubble” and once a week have the 9-year-old twins for virtual study. Kids were amused that Carolyn brought out her old multiplication flash cards! Alan and Carolyn are heading to Charlotttesville, VA after their second vaccine to meet newest grandson, Holland Connors, born February 12, 2021. They are hoping to visit Becky English Kennedy in Sedona to celebrate their April birthdays. They saw Patty Kummel and husband Les when they brought their daughter Charlotte to Wells last fall.

Roxanna Douglas and husband Ron still live on a lovely lake in Falls Church, VA, five miles from DC. It is a wooded paradise and very involved community. Ron has been on its board for five years and Roxanna was president of a social luncheon group for eighteen years. Ron is working on a start-up cyber security business while Roxanna has been extremely gratified being a part-time companion for an elderly lady. They are thankful for all their previous travel experiences since any international travel is on hold for now. Roxanna wanted to implore all to be proactive about getting MRIs if anything is suspicious about annual breast exams/mammograms. She recently had surgery for breast cancer followed by radiation. This was not caught on a regular mammogram, but on a subsequent MRI for a suspicious growth, which was not on the cancerous breast. Thank goodness it was caught early. Roxanna welcomes any Wells people in the area and would love to host a picnic on her lake.

Kathleen Duffy turned her Florida room into a mask production center and created more than 250 Pelon filtered masks to donate to hospitals, long term care facilities, friends and family. She also worked to get Democrats elected in November. She plans to be in the Adirondacks for the summer. Her sister, Linda Duffy Carl ’70, recently stopped by for a visit to Canaveral National Seashore.

Liz Carroll Helsel’s son Chris married his longtime girlfriend at Georgetown University chapel September, 2019. On the terrible downside, after three devastating months of cancer suffering, husband Greg passed away on June 1, 2019, before the wedding. Liz spent the end of 2019 rehabbing a wrist with torn ligaments and a shattered right shoulder, all due to dog related accidents. Now fully vaccinated, Liz is heading to New Jersey to meet her newly born first granddaughter who burst into the world in March. At The Villages, bad 9 hole golf is Liz’s main activity. She is also involved with book clubs, card games and dancing.

Gail Kirkpatrick and husband started 2020 with lots of traveling. They took a 10-day trip through Jordan in January, Greece in February, then a 10-day trip to New York City just before travel was put on hold. They have managed to travel in between Germany’s multiple lockdowns. This past summer they traveled to Italy to visit their son who completed his master s degree in transportation design from the University in Umea Sweden and was working with a company in Turin. (Gail says great city to visit.) In September they discovered new parts of Germany on a river cruise, ending up in Berlin. Like many, Gail took this year for major cleaning and discarding. She ramped up her yoga routine and rediscovered the woods directly behind their home. Lucky for Gail, her husband is the chef in the family and has been busy experimenting in the kitchen this year.

After too many years of 50 miles per week exercising her dogs, Marilyn King Leetaru needed a total right knee replacement in September. She is spending the pandemic doing PT exercises, walking and organizing closets/bookcases plus 100 years of family genealogy/photos.

Donna Krager Lyon started 2020 at the Rose Bowl Parade/Bowl game in Pasadena followed by a trip to Spain. Once COVID hit, things changed drastically. In mid-March 2020 Donna flew to her house on Lake Ontario in Pultneyville, NY where she hosted daughter Katherine and family (who normally live in

Manhattan) for five months. Donna was nanny to granddaughter Helen for a month while her parents worked from home and then in April Kate delivered a healthy baby son, Ansel, at Rochester General. It was a busy summer! In September Donna returned to her home in Sandy, UT when her daughter’s family returned to Manhattan. Zoom and FaceTime are great ways to keep in touch with extended family and Donna looks forward to more travel and family time post vaccines.

Ellen Brenton McAllister’s family has navigated the pandemic in good order. Ellen is delighted and relieved to have had both vaccines. After two postponements in 2020, Ellen is thrilled that son Hoitt’s wedding will happen this July on Long Island…third try is the charm! Younger son Ned is living at home in McLean, VA working for a dog walking company which he really enjoys.

Pat Mistretta has been an ER physician assistant for many years at the Ft. Benning, GA Army Hospital. Needless to say, 2020 was a year to remember. Long hours, extra shifts, new learning and different routines. As planned, Pat retired this past January. It is going to be quite an adjustment after medicine has been part of her life 24/7. She is hoping that having a grandchild, more quilting and hopefully increased travel will help her adjust to retirement.

The best outcome of our 45th Reunion was that Vicki Keller Panhuise reconnected with her Wells friends and became inspired to become more active with Wells. In February 2020 Vicki joined the Board of Trustees and has headed the committee to develop the new strategic plan for Wells during this changing and challenging time. Vicki has worked tirelessly with many students, faculty, staff, and alums. [Thank you Vicki for all your hard work which will benefit the entire Wells community!] She still lives in Scottsdale and escapes the hot

summers by going to their Flagstaff house where she hopes to connect with Kathy Lampros. Vicki and husband John celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in August 2020. Son John lives in Parker, CO and spends his time writing and producing music and now venturing into screenwriting. Vicki has spent some time with sister Sara Lee Keller ’78 who lives in Tucson and is looking forward to socializing again.

Like everyone else, Mary Gruss Perrone has been housebound for a year with her library closed (no volunteering) and minimal socializing. She and most local buddies are fully vaccinated now so Mary expects life to pick up beyond her four walls. She is still not comfortable about travel, but hopes to get to Minnesota this summer to see Anne Whitin Gruss ’75 and nephew Carter. Mary is waiting for life to start to normalize…whatever that is!

Bonnie Phinney took a 10-year hiatus from her career to take care of her mom who sadly passed away in January. She is diving deep to reestablish herself as an aging coach and finish her book, Thrive to 95. When the curtain rises from this pandemic, Bonnie is excited to start traveling all over the country to do workshops and speaking engagements. She had a blast speaking at the Wells Women’s Leadership Conference in February 2020 and enjoyed dinner with Vicki Keller Panhuise and Carolyn and Alan Connors at the Aurora Inn. Daughter Claudia is finally coming back to the east coast (DC) after eight years between California and Oregon. Daughter Blair was a life saver in assisting with her grandmother and is re-grouping to determine next steps in her life’s journey.

Bicycling has not only kept Marjorie Salzman sane during this long stressful year, but has also kept her in shape as she rode almost 6,500 miles in 2020! Marjorie recently escaped to Greenville, SC for a couple of days of bicycling, which

Kate Duffy ’74 and sister Linda Duffy Carl ’70 at the Canaveral National Seashore.

24 Spring 2020

ClassNoteswas her first time away since last September when she had a bicycling trip to the Virginia mountains. The bright moment of the year was when their oldest daughter married in October...only 5 guests, all masked at a beautiful outdoor ceremony. Earlier this year Marjorie attended Ruth McCrea’s virtual presentation to her community travel club about a 2019 trip to Italian cities Puglia and Matera. Now with both vaccines, Marjorie is looking forward to better times for all.

Jayne Dolton Shaw retired in January after close to 11 years at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Jayne loved her job but was ready to retire and travel with husband Brian (when that is possible). Together they have raised six children and, so far, have eight grandchildren. Their youngest is getting married this fall in Kiawah, SC. They love living in the heart of the old part of Richmond, VA, and witnessed many of its monuments coming down this past summer.

Carol Nelson Shepherd is grateful that everyone in her family has stayed healthy and working. Carol has been able to work remotely from her NJ home with all the pluses and minuses of that arrangement. Carol’s husband, a dentist, has been able to work nearby. They miss seeing their kids on a frequent basis, but are pleased to report they are now in grandparent mode. Grands include toddler Riley and two COVID babies safely delivered, Cameron and Will.

Carol Langevoort Wirth has been working remotely for the most part of this past year. The State Public Education Department decreed that all New Mexico schools would be back to full in person attendance by April 5, 2021. Carol says it will be very interesting to see how the transition will work out. She wants all to stay safe and healthy!

Roberta Husted Young reports that most of the cultural and exercise activities husband Bob and she enjoy have smoothly transitioned to online formats. Multiple daily gym classes, webinars and/or Zoom calls have definitely helped keep them safe and sane. While both are fully vaccinated they will continue to practice social distancing for the foreseeable future. Roberta says this pandemic had better be over by 2024 for our 50th. She can’t wait to see everyone then!

Randi Shaw Zabriskie and daughter Haley have just announced that Jane Morgan’s Little House, LTD is officially for sale. Randi feels it is time to be a fully present “Grandi” to granddaughters Adeline and Leila. Haley helped Randi transform the

business but is also ready to look in a new direction. Amazingly, this business of 60 years has only had two owners. Randi, the second owner, started there within months of her Wells graduation and her wedding to Steve. The Inns of Aurora is opening its state-of-the-art spa this spring and Randi feels this is the perfect time for someone young, tech and social media savvy to take the reins and be the third store owner. [Randi, we have all enjoyed shopping at Jane Morgan’s over the decades and visiting you. It is part of the Reunion routine. Happy retirement!]

Like many of you expressed, I also appreciate the activities and travel of 2019 before the pandemic. Will never take these things for granted again. 2019 highlights were our Wells Reunion, an adventurous girls’ trip (with Ellen Brenton McAllister) to Rwanda, Zambia, and Botswana and a cruise with my husband through Spain, Morocco, Canary Islands and Portugal. We have been in a wonderful safe bubble this past year. Weather has allowed daily walking/biking and tennis five times a week, which is needed because baking has become therapeutic for me. Now with both vaccines in our arms, Bill and I are planning to see family whom we have not seen in over a year, including my 94-year-old mother in New Hampshire. During an uncertain year, it has been comforting to see many of you on Zoom…nothing like old Wells friends! Looking forward to seeing you in person!

- Pam

1973KATHI LENROW15 White Oak CourtMontvale, NJ [email protected]

1972HOLLY GOSSELINK DAVIDSON5897 Lower Lake Rd.PO Box 331Cayuga, NY [email protected]

Hello Class of ’72! Our 50th Reunion is June 2022—I’m assuming we will all be vaccinated and the Pandemic will be over…So circle that first weekend in June to return to campus and party with “old” friends in person! Read on to see how y’all survived this past year.

Elizabeth Abbe never envisioned writing a children’s book, until she did! Liz self-published Finn Finds His Forever Home on Amazon and all the proceeds go to animal welfare organizations. [My granddaughter Greta LOVES this book and we plan on taking her to visit Finn at his animal sanctuary in Watkins Glen this spring]. Liz is pleased to be able to financially help those who love animals but can’t afford to give them the care they need. She has maintained her invaluable friendships with Susan Dancik, Kathy Shapleigh, Marley MacMillen, Jane Carlson, Julie LeBlanc, Anne Cagwin and Thayer Quoos. Sharing grandchildren stories, (her own bright light is Roxcy Harlow) has kept her upbeat.

Sandy Sparling Allen struggled to come up with any positive news to report. Serious illness has side-lined her sister-in-law, and daughter-in-law. [We wish only the best for them!] Thankfully her husband John is doing well after contracting the “good” kind of pancreatic cancer [and I’m sure his wacky sense of humor is intact!] and Sandy is undergoing PT for newly discovered scoliosis-Phew! But, true to form, Sandy reports that she is growing out her hair and resembles a red headed Cruella

DeVille. [But I seriously doubt that claim Sandy!]

In March 2020 Dorothy Zayatz Baker and Larry essentially moved to their beach house in Galveston, now their “COVID bunker-by-the-sea. They return to Houston weekly to see their young families—masked and outdoors. They are both vaccinated and have stayed healthy! Dorothy stays sane by reviving her spoken Russian skills via Zoom classes (wondering if Dr. Barooshian would be pleased or upset by how much she has forgotten). She then took up surfing via YouTube and can stand briefly (feel free to laugh). Dorothy was named to the board of Houston’s Red Cross chapter—happy to contribute to their important work. “My 2020/2021 life is smaller perhaps, but in many ways richer.”

Nancy Bishop’s family contains some notable, interesting members! Her Aunt Pat graduated from Stanford in three years and just passed away at the age of 96! Her Aunt Betsy, age 84, has overcome the Coronavirus—she and her husband marched with Martin Luther King in Boston. And her Uncle Jack was on the Bridge in Alabama at the start of the Civil Rights movement. Nancy stays busy with her photography hobby and meeting new friends in her building.

Susan Roeller Brown and Langdon live in the country and have a lakeside cottage in the Adirondacks, so they had no trouble social distancing and thankfully have stayed healthy! They still managed to spend two months at their condo in Florida, this winter, opting to drive instead of fly. Susan’s 70th celebration birthday trip to England was postponed to June 2022. [Hope that trip is after Reunion!!!!]

After 36 years in the same home in Oakland, Julie Burnet has moved to the suburbs of Walnut Creek to a senior community of 11,000 people! Golf, pickle ball, bridge, swimming, exercise, etc. all within five blocks of her new home. She hopes that her Oakland house is sold by the time you read this. Julie misses travel, hugging friends, her family and volunteering at Guide Dogs. Always on the move—she was off to a Zoom class after she wrote this.

Jeanne Cronin Ceccolini reports that thankfully her family is healthy, but her “business sucks as a direct result of COVID.” She still dabbles in real estate and hopes to close a deal or two soon. She has adopted a big, cute rescue pup, Pepper, a bluetick coonhound who loves to chase squirrels—making a walk in the woods a bit of a challenge.

KEEP YOUR INFORMATION UPDATEDHelp us go greener by providing a current email address and/or cell phone number. Receive invitations to events, our monthly Alum2Alum e-news and other College [email protected] 315.364.3200

Old roommates Ellen Brenton McAllister ’74 and Pam Thomas Dyer ‘74 in Botswana in July, 2019.

Wells.edu 25

ClassNotesAlthough she retired from the board of education, she got hooked into serving on their finance and audit committees. And she continues to serve on the board of the local Historical Society and her Village Waterfront Committee since she loves her view of the Hudson River and the Palisades. Luckily Cronin gets to see son Christopher and son-in-law Jordan now that they are in New York City. “Christopher got ’matched’ with NYU/Bellevue Hospital for his one-year internship for his PhD in Psychology. He will defend his dissertation in the fall and finish up in the summer of 2022—WOOHOO!”

Linda Law Clark reports that like the rest of us—all family celebrations were cancelled this year—but hopes to have a family get together in June at their Florida home. Thankfully, Linda is winning her battle over breast cancer. She has completed five months of heavy chemo, a lumpectomy, one month of radiation and now five months of light chemo and five years of Letrozole. [Way to go Linda!!!] She and Chris both work remotely, keeping their puppy happy, and Linda still walks 10 miles a day. The Louisiana State Bar Foundation has named Linda as the distinguished attorney for the state—hopefully the New Orleans Gala can take place. In June she and Chris will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary!

Lee Baumann Cohn is a grandmother to beautiful Quinton and has been able to fly privately up to Portland to visit twice already—she is totally smitten! She and Mike spend most of their time in Prescott, boarding horses, hiking in the adjacent national forest, and trying new recipes while Mike is able to work remotely. Lee still serves on the board of the Desert Botanical Garden and has joined the board of the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, TX. Lee highly recommends visiting as Donald Judd’s vision of integrating art, architecture and landscape is a unique experience. They enjoyed two quick-drive getaways to Zion and Winsow, AZ. They haven’t been able to get to their Whistler condo as the Canadian border has been closed. Their big family 70th birthday celebration in Hawaii was postponed to September—so she and twin Keith will be 69 for a very long time!

Deb Soule Esposito is happy that she and “Espo” moved to a smaller home north of Seminole with an acre to enjoy. Good timing! Their businesses have essentially stopped. Deb was planning on retiring this year—just not so abruptly. Although she still has a few assignments—the photo event business was cancelled due to

COVID. Deb is looking forward to family visits since everyone will be vaccinated—she hasn’t seen them since Xmas 2019!

Susan Carlson Garratt has just completed a long “journey” of purging, consolidating, packing up and moving from her house to an apartment five miles up the road. She is still doing freelance editing but on a much smaller scale. So for much of the year there was no work, but lots of walking and keeping up a social network that included Kathy Kerrigan, Billie Grieb, Jessie Brinkley, and Kathy Haight. Susan made a trip to Pasadena to see her son and family—her granddaughters are 2 ½ and 4 ½ and the change of scenery was fabulous. Like most of us, Susan has kept a low profile and wonders how we will all emerge from the pandemic—if our values will have changed.

Feasting on lobster rolls and socially distanced hikes with friends in the Maine woods has helped Lynne Magnuson Gilbert and husband survive. Their bubble includes son Scott who lives in the apartment over their garage and works locally. Son Dan and wife Su came up from northwest Boston for a driveway visit as they were going stir crazy. Lynne has built a cottage (or camp as in Maine they say “goin’ upta camp”) near their pond. Looks like the family will be visiting a lot this summer! Lynne stays in touch with Abby Snell Sandling and Chris Woods Kitto.

Letty Gardine Gittens reports that she has survived a most dramatic and wrenching year and is happy to see the back of 2020. She has retired and is living near her sons in Knoxville, TN. Letty says “If you are reading this I am overjoyed for you and our entire world. Love, to all the Wells girls.”

Suzanne Grey is living in Old Saybrook, CT, overlooking the Sound. She is now retired and spending lots of time in Anguilla,

trying to improve her golf game—all is well!

Bonnie Gould feels very fortunate to live in area where public transportation is exceptional so she has decided to sell her car and rely on Uber, Lyft and friends. She’s happy to know her carbon footprint is getting smaller as she ages. Bonnie claims that lots of tennis, bridge and dog walks keeps her sane these crazy days!

Otti Mex Hallihan laments that this has been the year of NO TRAVEL! And having grandkids living within a mile of them has stymied all plans of home projects. The kids swim clubs were closed, but Otti’s pool was open—all summer. When the schools closed, Otti and Joe took over remote learning as the parents are all teachers. And when school is in session, they pick the kids up from school—exhausting work! They are hoping that their three cancelled trips will happen, especially the January adventure to Antartica! Otti has had fun visiting Deborah Wright Dawson, ’73 and hubby Ronny Hardaway in Ithaca, NY.

Harriet Higgins states that “there are a lot of smart people providing valuable resources during this pandemic.” Her investment advisory firm, Mayflower Capital, is now eight years old, Schwab is the custodian. Harriet stayed busy as president of the local Rotary running 52 club meetings, 12 board meetings, 12 standing committees and 10 fund raisers, all virtual. Phew! She meets Randi and Steve Zabriskie in Aurora for shopping and lunch.

Like the rest of us, Mary Hotchkiss had travel plans scrapped, including a trip to Yosemite. She did get to Maine for a week in September and went to the beach a few times when Connecticut was at 1%. She has also been able to do some therapy visits with her dog Bee while outfitted in PPE. Mary is grateful for her wonderful home and enough land and critters to keep her busy and outside! Fortunately, her younger sister with Downs Syndrome survived a serious scare with COVID. She hopes that a Zoom Christmas will be a one-time experience!

Thanx to Deany Merrit Wood for finding Linda Brodie Kaufman! Linda reports that husband Bill passed away in 2009 [our belated condolences]. Linda moved to South Carolina as the pandemic was shutting things down and is now much closer to family in Hilton Head. She has been staying busy with eight grandchildren, ages 7-21, and enjoys being on the move. Linda

reports that through DNA testing she found family in Scotland and has bought a flat in Ayrshire, the town her great-grandparents left! She hasn’t been able to visit her Scottish family in over a year, but hopefully, with both shots, she will be able to soon!

Joanne Betlem Kehr says that husband Philip’s Parkinson’s Disease has gotten steadily worse. Even though he tires easily and has round the clock nursing care, he is still able to amuse with hilarious comments! Joanne practices her French with some of Philip’s caregivers who are from French speaking parts of Africa. She still plays piano daily and since she has retired she plans on gardening every nice day. Hopefully a Baltic cruise and meeting Lech Walesa will be rescheduled. Joannes’s 13-year-old grandson has turned into a sports star—soccer, football and karate—a triple threat! Joanne hopes to visit Marley up in Maine and attend Reunion!

Leslie Knapp reports “nothing of interest.” However, I know that she and Lexie Knapp, ’76, dote on their two cats and that Leslie is Auntie Tinka to my little Greta! Tink and Lexie “snuck” into Rhode Island over the summer—when the governor wasn’t looking—brought their own groceries, wore masks and stayed 10 feet away from their neighbors! Vaccinations will be done when you read this. Lea Manly-Power Kusner reports that her three children and families are all fine and living within an hour’s drive, for which she is grateful. She says that Baltimore City has been slow to open up. Lee has no vacation plans, just trying to survive this thing and hoping that sports start up again soon so she can resume her job. She’s at 50% now, but thinking that warmer weather may open things up. Paula McKee Corbett saw Lee when she visited her brother over Thanksgiving and Lee had lunch in Philadelphia with Kathy Muller Salom and Pat Harrington McMullen.

Karen Nadder Lago retired the same week the pandemic lockdown began. This time away from work gave their daughter Ruth the ability to work on building her house on Nadder’s 75 acres, only a few minutes from their home. Nadder is very proud of Ruth’s tenacity and honed carpentry skills! Meanwhile, she was put in charge of monitoring 13-year-old James during remote learning—ever try to keep a teenage gamer from opening new windows to play while Zooming with his teachers? Thankfully school started again in Lee Baumann Cohn ‘72 and grandson

Quinton

26 Spring 2020

ClassNotesthe fall so she got to “retire” again. Hoping for fuller life experiences in 2021, including a one-man show of husband Greg’s work at the Art Center in Clayton, NY this August-October!

Cathe Foley MacInnes says “not much to report, as the pandemic has kept us in our own bubble here in New York. We have been able to travel to and from our second home in New Jersey and spend time with family there. Like everyone else, Zoom has become a way of life—“all my meetings with the American Legion Auxiliary and other nonprofit groups have been virtual (but no less frequent).”

Never one to sit still, Liv Mayer Marks and husband just finished up their 10-week ski instructing season, teaching two to three times a week. Now they are gearing up for Boy Scouting, trying to keep 25 scouts ages 10-18 busy and planning the winter Klondike rally! Travel has been minimal, but they were able to enjoy their Detroit family in Hilton Head, staying in a house and loving a sparsely populated beach. Looking forward to another August visit and a September wedding in Kalamazoo. Liv doesn’t miss getting out and about as she can spend hours at her quilting table or in the glass studio. But she is looking forward to seeing people without masks!

Ezzie Baumline McGuire moved to a new home right before “the world changed”. She has water right outside her window and enjoys the waterfowl over the squirrels and rabbits at her old place. Ezzie has discovered the joy of crossword puzzles and walks and reads more than usual. She meets outside weekly with her “coffee shop” friends—meeting in person is far better than meeting via Zoom! All in all, no complaints—she’s “healthy and itching to get back out in the world (and maybe reschedule her trip to Morocco), but patience is a virtue.”

Pat Harrington McMullen was part of the socially distanced lunch crew at Kathy Muller Salom’s home in Pennsylvania. She also keeps in touch with Paula McKee Corbett and Cathe Foley MacInnes. Pat and Rick miss traveling around Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York for music and theatre, which was a large part of their retirement routine. Her volunteer work as a reading tutor and library fundraising committee has also been on hold. Worse yet, daughter Katie has had to postpone her wedding three times and is hoping that the September date is a charm! Son Jim and wife Karen enjoy living and working in Seattle. And

the best news yet—Pat just celebrated her 12th anniversary of being cancer(anal) free!!!! [Yay Pat!!!]

When Connie Root Nuss married Maynard in 2004 she inherited a large and growing family of four sons and daughters-in-law and five grandchildren! They are now great-grandparents to Kalvin Luca Roe, his mom Masha had perfect timing as he was born shortly after she graduated from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks! Granddaughter Lindsay just graduated from the University of Arizona in Tucson. Grandson Terry lives in Moscow. Christina is a senior at UAF and Conner lives in the Midwest troubleshooting wind farms. Connie has been in Alaska for 44 years and has grown accustomed to constant earthquakes. As she says “Oh well—you bolt your bookcases to the wall and avoid collecting breakables like glass and ceramics. And it gives us something to talk about!”

Kristin Edwards Possee writes that she and Jeb are enjoying retirement and spending most of their time at their house on Lake Winnipesaukee in Tuftonboro, NH. They especially love it when some or all of their five grandchildren come for a visit! Kris has a question for Sue Hadzor Reynolds and Bob—“Do you remember our harrowing adventure sailing on Lake Winnipesaukee in the early seventies?!!”

Moving to Virginia has had an advantage for Debbie Brown Ricci, they live in a warm rural area with lots to do outside! She still made it back to Cape Cod for a few weeks and loved seeing family and friends on the beach. Needing puppy care while her daughter was having her first child enabled Deb and Ron to housesit and see their grandbaby. They now get to visit for a week at a time since they are working from home. Debbie celebrated her February 70th birthday with a trip to DC with friend—last trip before shutdown. Now they see each other for weekly Zoom Happy Hours!

Susie Olmstead-Wang and Mike are grateful to see grandsons (ages 7 and 9) in settings with masks or outdoors. Their sons work mostly from home and their daughter-in-law is a wedding portrait photographer working in outdoor locations near San Diego. Daughter Laura works in a medical clinic near the Capitol and on January 5 and 6 had to ride the Metro with unmasked, loud demonstrators who were eating and drinking on the train. As Laura is “Asian appearing” and a female—it was a nerve-wracking trip! Susie and Mike are recording songs weekly for the church choir, reading lots of books, watching Chinese TV series and scanning/shredding old paperwork. They are happy to be able to hike and bike.

Deany Meritt Wood and Rob got a sneak preview of Reunion last Spring! They took a road trip to Aurora, enjoyed a beer on the bench in front of the Fargo and took their dog Junie for a swim at the boathouse. [She had best call me the next trip!] They are both vaccinated so they can see their grandchildren in Vermont and are hoping that the Canadian border will open soon. Deany claims that Hamilton, NY is a great place to live and the welcome mat is out!

The Davidsons continue to be healthy and are now vaccinated! Wondering if we remember how to socialize in public again?! I continue to garden and process waaaay too many tomatoes (50 heirloom plants from seed), Brad golfs and we both hike, bike, cross-country ski and snowshoe. And of course we spend tons of time with Greta, loving every second! Heather has several weddings to plan this summer, Tom is prepping for a business trip to Saudia Arabia. Greg works from home in rural Vermont for a NGO, still doing logistics and training for women’s reproductive health need supplies in underdeveloped countries. His girlfriend Allison is an ER nurse in Burlington and we really, really like her! So life goes on and we feel very fortunate with our circumstances. I know you all love hearing about each other, so keep me posted on your news and thanx so much for your contributions to this edition. See you for our 50th!!!

- Goose

1971SUZANNE DOTY1555 Merrill St. #109Santa Cruz, CA [email protected]

PAULA SCALI5604 Chesterbrook Rd.Bethesda, MD [email protected]

1970KAREN BROWNPO Box 520E. Middlebury, VT [email protected]

1969ANNE OLIVER ROBERTS3107 WeSt. Sentinel Rock Rd.Phoenix, AZ [email protected]

NANCY TILLINGHAST164 Island WeSt. Dr.Bluffton, SC [email protected]

1968KAREN KENNEDY GALLIMORE1290 Boyce Rd. Apt. 405CPittsburgh, PA [email protected]

ANDI MCMAHON LAMOREAUX21 West Goethe St. #8BChicago, IL [email protected]

1967EILEEN KRASKOUSKAS1201 Melville Square, #211Richmond, CA [email protected]

ELIZABETH VAN RANST120 Foster St.Cambridge, MA [email protected]

When Betsy Van Ranst and I put out the call for class news, we learned that, after a series of health challenges, Linda Sayre passed away on September 19, 2020. Several members of our class attended a Zoom memorial in her honor.

Carol Quinley responded after being “abed with a nasty reaction to the second COVID vaccine.” The last year in Florida has been a crazy year as it was everywhere. Her oldest daughter, husband and two grands were stuck with her for five months because of the virus, as well as her best friend who has a home in Guatemala. Although the kids are gone the friend is still there waiting to get her shots. She is hoping she will be able to get back to Guatemala by June after having been stuck in Florida for a year and a half. “But we have survived quite well. Stir crazy at times like everyone but we Greta Joan Adkins, 18 months, grand-

daughter of Holly “Goose” Davidson ’72

Wells.edu 27

ClassNotes

omeka.net). I do Zoom with the Australians to keep a handle on its management and, most recently here, I’m establishing a fellowship for study of that uncharted period at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. And most fun, I am publishing a book that catalogues the small portion of the collection that still lives here. The ghosts of my old publishing career at the National Portrait Gallery are back to haunt and help.”

Sandy Shenk lives near Montpelier, VT (the land of Bernie and his mittens) with her husband. “We are presently sugaring (making maple syrup) with our small home operation. We have two sons: one lives in Maine and has four children and the other in California. We have been quite fortunate during the pandemic to live in a beautiful state and have access to the outdoors which has been a lifesaver during the pandemic. Most importantly I have been able to see my grandkids during this time. After our 50th Reunion, a group of us gathered two years later on Cape Cod for five days and had a wonderful time! We continue to keep in touch through Zoom. So great to reunite and renew old friendships.

Margie Brown Shullaw and her husband are wrapping up their fifth winter in Arizona and about to head back to Iowa. “Each winter I like it better here, but I always love going home. We joined the throngs who adopted pets last year and added a second West Highland terrier to our household. I heard myself telling someone the other day that if Angus had come first I might never have gotten a second dog. Actually he and Oliver, his 10-year-old brother, are great fun. I have enjoyed Zooming with Kingsley Briggs Eaton and Nancy Catherwood Magnusson. And

rather confirmation of long-held beliefs on the sad state of government and citizen support services. [One may select either the ’US’ or ’Thailand’ for ’government’.] Their family has been touched: a brother recovered, miraculously, after only minimal hospitalization; one nephew lost a business, another lost employment; a niece has lost colleagues. We, though, remain both healthy and employed, so very grateful that our work has long been conducted at home and electronically. Our home in Bangkok has been a haven throughout. That said, the possibility of vaccines here for non-citizens remains a great unknown. Darned good thing we are happy where we are!”

Martha Ryan Severens focused on learning new things during the pandemic. “I have been going to the Academy of Hair Technology for the past 28 years, forking out $7.00 for a haircut and shampoo. I decided one economy I could make, as well as avoid COVID, was to cut my own hair, and believe it or not I think I have succeeded! Someday I might just have to break down, however.”

Virginia Meeker Munklewitz and Rich have had some health problems but managed to cross-country ski at their local golf course. “The snow recently melted very quickly in Burlington (the ’banana belt’ of Vermont), but the mountains are still getting snow, so we hope to enjoy a little late season skiing.”

Over the past pandemic year, Frances Stevenson Tyler has benefited from being a hermit. “Released from obligations to travel and loving the new peace and quiet of Georgetown, I’ve found new ways to forward recognition of my late husband’s collection of Romanian non-propagandist art of the 1970’s and 1980’s (tylercollection.

[I’m sure we all send Kaffie and Wollfie a warm and hopefully fortifying hug as they adjust to their losses.]

For Anne VanDeWater McComiskey small things and new awareness made up her news during this strange time. “I have reconnected with both my brothers and my beloved sister-in-law. I virtually workout with my S-I-L four days a week in her AMAZING Rockin’ with Roxie sessions which are wonderful and I am stronger than I’ve been in decades. My bat wings are even gone! I have a sweet new/old dog named Katy. I’ve gotten to know several of my neighbors who are now close friends, and stay connected with my other friends on Zoom or at a distance. And I feel even luckier to be with my Frank. I have heard from my APH aditor that the book I’ve written, Babies with Cerebral Visual Impairment may actually be final and in my hands May 1st after eight years of work. I am a very lucky woman. Best to all and prayers for safety.”

Carol Voorhees reports that she is well and has avoided COVID since last March by staying home and reading, exercising, and Zooming with friends. “I am working out twice a week with a trainer, which I’ve been doing for six years now—although now we are Zooming! I’ve had to cut off my traveling for a while, and really miss it, but am not scheduling anything out of the country until early 2022. My last trip was to Ethiopia, which was so fun, as I travelled with Smile Train, one of my favorite nonprofits, which repairs cleft palates in third world countries. My favorite travel destinations have been to Asia and Africa, which I’ve visited 10 times in the last decade, loving the art and music and getting to meet the people. Blessings and Peace to all, and thank God for Biden!”

Kathy Sawyer White notes that this year she hasn’t much news about exciting travel, but can say she is immensely grateful for a healthy family and daily chances to get outside and enjoy long walks in the many trails in Northeast Connecticut. “John and I have now been vaccinated and long for the days when we can reunite with our kids! Our three teenage grandchildren are much to be commended for staying positive and careful all year. They miss their friends terribly, but have managed well. We are all hoping for some time in Maine together this summer.”

Susan Milne Ritter wrote from Bangkok that she is happy to report that John and she “have had no ‘unusual experiences’ regarding COVID and that her ’insights’ are

have been incredibly fortunate. Our governor is a total idiot so we have had to be doubly careful. But all is well and I hope all of our classmates have survived in good health, physical and mental. Everyone please continue to stay safe!!! I’m sending everyone lots of good wishes!!!!”

Carol Mawhinney reports that the moment she got her second COVID vaccine shot, her “world suddenly seemed to expand. The very next morning, there was an email from the National Parks Conservation Association about a trip to National Civil Rights Monuments in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. She contacted her travel buddy in California and, by that evening, they were signed up. “It isn’t until October, but that’s good—not too soon. And it’s a domestic trip—for a cautious start to venturing out again. I’m very excited about being ON THE ROAD AGAIN! I’ve really missed it. And I’m looking forward to next year back on campus for our 55th!”

Kaffie White McCullough had a life-altering event with the death of her husband Bob on December 5, 2020. She was very fortunate in that she was allowed to live in his skilled nursing room for the last three weeks of his life. When he woke up after the first night and she was there he said “I was afraid I was going to wake up and find that I had just dreamed that you were here.” That was a testament to the gift they both received. Now she is learning how to live her life as a single. Otherwise since the pandemic controlled everything, 2020 was pretty uneventful. While in a total lock down for 77 days at her retirement community, she occupied herself with lots of reading and online classes in book arts and Zoom calls with family and friends. Now with vaccine on board she is planning lunches in homes with vaccinated friends and an April trip to South Carolina to visit her vaccinated brother and his wife. “Life WILL return to normal sometime …I hope…and in the meantime, I’ll just be grateful to be alive.”

Similarly, Kathy “Wolffie” Wolff had some sad news. “This has been a busy, sad year for me. Following my hip replacement in March, I went to Denver to be with my twin for her fourth back surgery. Already suffering early Alzheimer’s, the anesthesia affected her memory and I had to move her to memory care and sell her house, etc. She then got COVID in November, which furthered her decline and she died in February from Alzheimer’s.”

In MemoriamMarian Parker Congdon ’39Isabel Sullivan Sefton ’41Hollis Logan Clark ’44Martha Miller Vayhinger ’46Sally Doerschuk Ketchum ’47Lois Burton Merkel ’47Betsy Rieley Troth ’47Mary Loomis Beer ’47Ann Justice McLendon ’48Anne Litchard Bird ’49Joelle Seiff Weiss ’49Anne Churchill Jones ’50Hanna Kiep Clements ’51Roxanne Per-Lee Motter ’53Jane Pollock Hepner ’53Joan Jordan Lyons ’54

Diana Charlton Lyford ’54Valerie Tennett Caron ’55Barbara Van Ness Ritz ’57Gina Rankin Riddiford ’58Peggy Royal Hudson ’58Sylvia Wackenhut Kittredge ’60Barbara Reid Hecklinger ’61Ann Simonsen Hughes ’65Mary Pollard Breyer ’66Linda Sayre ’67Catherine Byrum ’75Debra Dahn ’78Gareth Guy ’78Dawn Sobierajski ’89Chelsea Sullivan ’06

To view the most up-to-date obituary notices, please visit alumni.wells.edu/memoriam

28 Spring 2020

ClassNotesSadly, Laurie Herrick Gilmour lost her dear husband of 17 years in October, after a valiant battle with Lymphoma. Having not seen her children and grandchildren in two years, she managed to secure a ticket to Sydney, and after 14 days in a quarantine hotel, was enjoying a virtually COVID-free life in Australia with her family. “Going forward I will split my time between Nantucket and Sydney—just following the sun! Feeling so fortunate.”

For the past few years, Masako Sugimura Inaoka has been involved in a group that produced a movie about her great-grandfather, Tomoatsu Godai. The lead actor unfortunately committed suicide in July, but his fans kept going to the movie over and over, so the movie became very popular in Japan. The film will come to the U.S. and other countries. Its English title will be Godai —The Wunderkind. Mako has also been working on translating and reading/correcting the abstracts of the Japanese Symposium for Educational Counseling. She and her husband have been staying home to avoid COVID. She is hoping the Olympics will be held (in Japan) without much trouble.

Nancy Atwater Janus continues to teach at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg. Since her 2012 accident, she has been teaching at a reduced load, global children’s issues and human trafficking now. The fall after Reunion she taught a semester at sea. She happily found she could manage in a wheelchair in developing countries with the help of her husband Brian. She will be taking Eckerd students to Cambodia in January 2022, as she has done before. Nancy reports having an amazing service dog. “Since my hands no longer work, I drop everything all day long. Fajita picks it up and gives it back to me.” Two of their three daughters live with them, with one grandchild, 2 ½. This period is great fun for them all. The third daughter lives with her partner about 1 ½ hours away.

Greg, Barbara Hopgood Jones’ wonderful husband of 49 years, succumbed to his over eight-year confrontation with Multiple Myeloma. Throughout this journey, they learned a lot about ever evolving treatments, compassion, kindness, and courage—displayed by him and so many others. Family has been a huge support. Boston and Vermont based sons, six grandkids, piano students (FaceTime lessons), tennis, and Pilates fill Barbara’s days. Not knowing when rehearsals will be possible, she is planning a tentative 2021-22 season for the

am looking forward to not depending upon Zoom to be in touch.

The pandemic messed up Ann Freehofer Manley’s daughter’s plans for a large wedding on August 1, 2020 at the new Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts in downtown Orlando. “Obviously she had to adjust to COVID and went to the Justice of the Peace on July 31. We followed with a dinner for the immediate family. When life permits, she will do a vow renewal ceremony followed by the reception she originally planned and wear her beautiful wedding gown.” Ann spent much of her time during the lockdown working to launch a new nonprofit organization called Poverty Solutions Group. They got IRS determination in record time because of the work being done to help low-income individuals cope with the impact of COVID on their jobs. They have successfully completed their first year with a balanced budget and are expanding services. Check out the website at povertysolutionsgroup.org.

After 37 years in Buck’s County, PA Kathy Boehm Shaw and Rick have moved to Fairfax, VA near their oldest daughter and grandchildren. “It has been one of our best decisions! COVID has forced us to keep our distance but now that Rick and I are fully vaccinated we’re ready to resume our lives to some extent, with caution of course. Our youngest daughter lives in New York City, and Zoom has been a wonderful way to stay in touch. It doesn’t provide the hugs and closeness we all would like to have but for now it has been a much needed lifeline!! Hopefully we’ll all be able to resume life as we wish it to be by summertime. We will be heading to our little place in Stockton Springs, ME by mid-June not having been able to get there last summer. As long as Rick’s health remains steady (he lives with Parkinson’s) we’ll be off, escaping the summer heat!!”

All is well in New Orleans for Cindy Gravely Morse and Bill, now married for nearly six years. “After the initial blaze of COVID, right after Mardi Gras 2020, we were shutdown mid-March and followed very strict rules for months. Now, we are slowly returning to normal and enjoying friends and some music again. We are lucky that we found outside music a few months back and have therefore been blessed. What a city we live in for food and music!!! My two sons are well, on opposite sides of the country in Washington, DC and Washington state, and we’re looking forward to seeing

all of them again, maybe even this summer. Seattle is great to visit in summer and the DC area whenever. Four grandchildren are also well but growing up very fast.”

Betsy Kimbell Rogers had a quiet year. “We did manage to host a grand celebration for our daughter Katherine’s wedding in February 2020 just before things started to shut down. And of course birthing babies don’t observe quarantines, so we were thrilled to welcome granddaughter Isabel Grace in April. But our son and his fiancée postponed their wedding, originally planned for June 2020, for a year. God willing, we will celebrate it this June. Otherwise...we were beyond happy that most of the kids, in-law kids and both grandchildren had time with us in Wisconsin last summer, made possible in part by the pandemic and remote work. I stay busy with the Climate Change Coalition of Door County (Wisconsin) and our Episcopal Church there; again, the pandemic has taught us how to be engaged long distance, and I feel fortunate to be able to do this work even when I’m not there. Otherwise, I’ve had more time to read—and have appreciated the book recommendations shared at one of our ’67 Zoom meetings last fall!

Cindy Stewart, her husband and cat still enjoy living in Vienna, VA, a suburb of Washington, DC, but a town rich with pre-Civil War history. “I continue to enjoy volunteer work with a local women’s club and our Fairfax County Animal Shelter. Retirement has opened up these wonderful opportunities to get more involved in my community. My husband is an adjunct professor at the George Washington University Law School and volunteers at a local Civil War site called Historic Blenheim.”

Ann Maxwell popped in to say “nothing new here.”

Like Ann, there’s nothing new on my end, which is a good thing, considering the events of last year. I continue to enjoy being class secretary for M through Z and love getting your updates. My fingers are crossed for the future of Wells and I hope you will continue to support our alma mater in whatever way you can. If all goes well, we can be together in 2022 to celebrate our 55th Reunion. In the meantime, I wish everyone all the best as we go forward.

- Eileen

Sally Hauk Allen has been married to Peter for 52 years, 50 of them living in Ann Arbor. They have three kids

and eight grandkids ages 11-25. Two kids and six grandkids live in Colorado so Sally and Peter visit often; one son lives two doors down from them “which is the BEST.” Peter is in phased retirement from UM and Sally, an accountant and sole, long-time employee of a small family investment firm, is trying to do the same. They love travel and golf and can’t wait to make their first trip in April; it will include visits with Keare in Cleveland and Anne in Atlanta. COVID has left them more actively grateful for the blessings in their lives and once again alerted them to the severe hardships of others.

As Whitney Scofield Bagnall has written, “a year in lockdown does not produce much news.” Her family is well and she hopes the extended families of our whole class have also managed to remain in good health.

In January, Karen Frankel Blum taught a very intensive version of her police misconduct course, five days, five hours a day. [Wow!]—and she continues to promote reforms in policing and civil rights laws, especially with respect to the area of qualified immunity. Serving as a Wells trustee this year has been challenging and rewarding; it’s been an honor for her to work with the administration, faculty, staff, students, and fellow trustees to get us through this crisis [our thanks to you Karen!]. She feels very optimistic about Wells’ future and hopes we will all continue our support. She is looking forward to our 55th Reunion on the Lake—in person! A saving grace for Karen during this pandemic has been regularly seeing/sitting for her two young grandchildren.

March 12, the anniversary of our entering “COVID sequester,” is also Karen Lewis Foley’s Boston granddaughter’s second birthday, which Karen regrets missing as she did the first. Vaccinated now, she and Dan hope to finally see her daughter’s and granddaughter’s unmasked faces in Charlottesville, and eventually travel to DC and Boston for time with their other granddaughters, Dan’s daughter, and her son. She is grateful that most of her activities transfer online—spiritual direction, professional and friendship groups, history and literature “adult” courses. Delightfully, correspondence with friends has multiplied. “This Luddite has learned a few new skills and [has] immense gratitude for so many connections made possible by (gasp) technology!” Finally, she reports that an endless but delightful new rabbit hole has swallowed her up, family genealogy.

Wells.edu 29

ClassNotes“As we’ll all have been saying, it’s been quite a year,” from Susan Huntley Baker “but with vaccinations and spring slowly creeping into the Northeast, things seem more hopeful. Unlike a lot of us, I haven’t been catching up on knitting and reading and doing zoom classes much this year, but have been busier with childcare than at any time since the 1970s! My daughter and grandson have been with me throughout the pandemic, first at my house in Connecticut and partly in New York City as Sarah’s workplace started to open up, and Corey started a hybrid kindergarten, with me as his teacher many days. It’s been both rewarding and exhausting, a far cry from discussing philosophy over tea at Wells, but with many fun moments in both the city and village. Best to all!”

Debby Beaman Hopps wishes she had some newsy-news, but although the past year has been interesting, her activities of note were few. “Our Condo has only 13 units, so our isolation was not very severe, especially as spring and warm weather came along. And New Hampshire had low cases and not very severe restrictions. In April, our son’s family were able to visit for a walk in the woods and a meal outside, and soon thereafter we decided they were part of our ’bubble’ of safe people. We did fun things like boating, fishing and kayaking, and were excited when outdoor dining started up. The weather was very cooperative. We’re looking forward to being vaccinated this week. Hoping we can connect virtually for Reunion, or plan a big bash next year!” Deborah Nelson Aylesworth’s biggest news “I completed my two year plus responsibility as warden of Christ Church, Harwich Port. It was as demanding as a full-time job. I learned a lot but am delighted to have more freedom. And when the pandemic is more under control, I hope to travel further than the post office and supermarket!! I miss all the arts that were so much a part of my life. And of course, it has been a nightmare planning worship. Most of our Holy Week and Easter services will be outdoors. As of today we are experiencing another spike here on the Cape. Such a roller coaster.”

Anne Peters King thinks our generation fared the best during COVID. “We are retired, financially secure, no school-age children to steer through virtual learning, already own too much stuff, so all we needed was a weekly trip to the grocery store. Luckily I was able to walk Caisson daily, often in single-

of restoring 1763 house. Moved to Manasquan, NJ near one son, daughter-in-law and grandson; in 2020 she reconnected with a former professional colleague and friend (widower), “NO ONE more surprised than I—planning marriage this year.” (Never say never!). “To heck with awards and business successes—best recognition was a song about me, purchased by Pepsi in 2005 and played at the Super Bowl (it was voted worst Super Bowl ad that year!). In the end, I won’t be a history footnote. All I want in my obit: “She worked hard at being a good mom and always left lots of brownie mix in the bowl to lick!”

Christie Stagg Austin says that she has no news this time ’round! [So, no news is very good news, I think!]

“As probably with most of us, I don’t have anything exciting to report.” wrote Pamela Hotine Espenshade. “We have been conscientious about staying home and not seeing anyone close-up, and remained healthy. Who would have guessed grocery shopping early in the morning could be such a thrill! By mid-April we will be two weeks past our second vaccine shots and hope to have limited visits with our children and grandchildren. Last saw them Christmas morning outside on a patio in Baltimore with temperature in the 30s, masks, blankets and lots of layers! Warmer weather and more time will be a delight! Tom has continued to work on his research project remotely, and I have had regular Zoom meetings for a virtual knitting group, lectures and chats. Blessed by technology. My best to everyone!”

Here’s the downside of 2020-21 from Mary Ella Wagner Jones. “Like everyone else, I’ve been navigating the challenges of (1) the pandemic; (2) finding vaccines, either for myself or others; (3) computers’ continual demands for my myriad of passwords; (4) computer’s demands in general; (5) spending inordinate hours in ZOOM meetings, and (6) bemoaning the lack of in-person learning and lifetime experiences for all of my school-age grandchildren. Here is my upside of 2020-21: (1) I’ve gotten both vaccines; (2) my family is healthy and well; (3) I get to see them all on a regular basis; (4) I live on Hilton Head, and we can still be outdoors most days to exercise, and even see our friends and neighbors. I’ve managed to get through several projects which have been fun: needlepoint, cooking, volunteer work, and editing. So, all in all, my family and I have been lots more fortunate than many. Hope the same is true for all of my classmates.

occasionally but that’s about it for going anywhere. We watch a lot of Netflix and Kanopy and read, and I have my weekly French conversation group. I am also transcribing letters for the Longfellow House. They were written to her family here in Cambridge by one of Henry’s granddaughters while she was living in France during WWI. I am so enjoying seeing the wartime from her perspective, and she sprinkles in a lot of French so I get to use mine. We are hoping to see friends in the flesh before long. Oh, I’m worn out from all the excitement! My thanks to all who have submitted news. It feels good to catch up even in this limited way and especially after the year we have had. Please stay safe!

- Betsy

1966RUTHELLEN POWELL HOYLE1014C Greenleaf Rd.Rochester, NY [email protected]

JODY KESSLER LAKE1300 NE 16th Ave. Apt. 431Portland, OR [email protected]

KATE LEBOUTILLIER O’NEILL55 North Main St.Pennington, NJ [email protected]

1965SUSAN STAMBERGER9335 Belvoir Ave.La Crescenta, CA [email protected]

NANCY ROSE STONE1940 Mahre Dr.Park City, UT [email protected]

For those classmates who aren’t on our email list, we report with sadness the recent deaths of two classmates. Susan Gardella Shean, died of cancer on July 11, 2020. Sue’s home was in Forest Hills, NY. Ann Simonsen Hughes was also taken by cancer on March 3, 2021. Ann lived in Woodstock, IL. Obituaries for both Sue and Ann can be found at Legacy.com. Search under obituaries by location and then name.

Charlotte Jenness Foster summarized her life to date—with one surprise!! She retired/closed business in 2011 after a good run. Even worked in Iceland; she served for seven years as elected council person for previous home town (2004–2011); from 2011 (24/7) she cared for her husband; widowed in 2018; in 2015 she sold their home of 34 years; did a good job

chorus/orchestra she has directed for 41 seasons. Barbara has a huge pent up desire to travel, especially active trips (hiking, e.g.) but also cultural. She would love to do something with a fellow Wells woman. If anyone hears the same call to explore, let her know.

Carol Doty Kalauskas and Charlie have spent a quiet year missing their family members who are spread across the country but have kept up via Zoom. Their grandson in California has spent his entire kindergarten year online, but despite Carol’s doubts, there has been success, he has been learning basic skills. “It is, however, difficult developing social skills on a computer screen, and we all look forward to classroom learning next year. We are grateful that we have received our vaccines but continue to lay low as guided by the scientists and medical professionals.” She has enjoyed staying in touch with classmates this year on Zoom and looks forward to gathering again for another Reunion on the Wells Campus.

Margaret Morse Kuykendall and husband Dave have two passions: their 5-year-old grandson and SLO Village (www.slovillage.org) now in its fifth year. Despite the pandemic, both are thriving. Son Brian (39) has struggled this past year with bipolar disorder, addiction, and homelessness. Although doing better now, he lost ground when he could no longer meet in person with his support system. Brother Chris (43), wife Danielle (37), and son Grey have reestablished roots in SLO since their 2016 move from the San Francisco Bay Area. SLO Village has continued to support older adults living independently in their own homes, transitioning during the pandemic to Zoom calls for socialization, providing grocery shopping/delivery, while staying in touch with the isolated elderly members via phone calls and Pen Pals.

Kathy Hourigan Lique is retired and more retired than she wants to be due to COVID. Much of her volunteer work has been cancelled because of it. Quinn reports being at the other end of family life compared to many classmates. They adopted two girls from Korea when she was in her late 30s, and both are now in their 30s. The younger daughter Maya just got engaged. Quinn is thinking she may have grandchildren sometime! In the meantime, she has five grand dogs.

Jerry and I have stayed put all year, even having someone shop for us. I swim (summer), walk, and ride our indoor bike, and go to the post office

30 Spring 2020

ClassNotesindoors—only seven of us. Bob and I have been vaccinated. Schools here have been in session since last September without significant problems. We now have a twelfth great-grandchild—born just a week ago! Unfortunately, we only see our grandchildren and great-grandchildren by way of social media. I hope my Wells classmates are faring well.”

Lorrie Ball Holmgren is thankful they got through this year without losing any family members to COVID. “I hope all our classmates did too. It was a scary time and I missed going to the theatre, movies, concerts, aqua aerobics, dance, etc. We celebrated all the holidays twice—once with our completely quarantined son and daughter-in-law, and then again with our daughter, son-in-law and adorable grandson, who goes to in-person school. (We thought that was an acceptable risk; our son thought it was too risky, so we waited two weeks before we had the second holiday.) Jon and I took on-line art classes—drawing, painting, and art appreciation. I did on-line dancing. Until it got too cold, we gathered outside with friends six feet away and enjoyed canned cocktails and individual bags of snacks! In winter, we built a fire in the fireplace and watched British TV mysteries. Now we’re vaccinated and ready to cautiously venture out a bit.”

Barbara Peterman Boissonnas and Christian continue working in their community, but all their meetings have been on Zoom. “There are advantages: you only have to look good from the shoulders up and you get to stay at your desk at home when the weather is nasty, but also disadvantages: you can’t read the body language of people as you can when sitting around a conference table, some people have networks that can’t handle the bandwidth so they fade in and out. But mostly, we miss the human contact denied to all of us during the quarantine. We look forward to getting to the new normal at least by September, when we hope to be able to attend the wedding of the first grandchild to take this momentous life step.”

Hello! Thanks to all for your news! Amazing how similar the news from each of us is! That’s because we have played by the rules during the pandemic. We postponed a Danube River cruise for the third time, and I expect we will be postponing it again!! And the U.S./Canadian border didn’t open last summer so I could not reach the brand new cottage! I am not counting on it opening this summer! But I am staying busy as a board

most of the time until March when I drove to St. Simons Island, GA. After having two shots I felt a bit safer to leave home. All other travel was cancelled. My grandchildren are slowly going back to school in Arizona and California. My children have not had shots. While in New Hampshire, we did get out a little bit, but in small groups with people we knew were also cautious…I have hopes that this year will be better. Oh, I have a new boyfriend who is making this time much more pleasant!!”

When Leslie Stewart Ketchum said she would submit some news, she wrote, “I realize that nothing much has changed for me, other than having a new hip, which is super, and not being able to travel to see my kids (now in their 50’s) on the West Coast, or my granddaughter (age 6) in France, or my grandsons who are both in their 20’s. I traveled to France in 2019, my first visit, where I stayed at the family home in Seignosse France, with my older son Greg, his wife Melina, and granddaughter Lilia. Because of COVID, Melina and Lilia couldn’t come to the U.S. in 2020. It doesn’t look as if travel restrictions to Europe will change. But I get to watch Lilia’s progress, and all of her activities via photos, videos, and FaceTime. My husband John and I made it through without getting COVID, and now are both vaccinated, so feel happy and relieved that we can now gather with others who are also vaccinated. Last summer, we took a motorhome trip to Arkansas, where John did a land speed race in Blytheville, AR on his souped-up 1974 Norton motorcycle, setting a new land speed record for that class of motorcycle, getting up to 125 MPH for the distance of one mile. Then we traveled to Bentonville to the amazing Crystal Bridges museum. I still have an income tax practice, which I never thought I would still be doing at age 77. I’ve kept in touch with Nancy Fitzsimmons Cornell, and she is doing well, though Doug had a few health problems this past year. So, I’m hoping in 2022, I’ll be able to again travel.”

Cheryl Reid Byrd and husband Bob feel lucky to be living in Florida. “For one thing, we are able to enjoy the outdoors without masks all year round. Most meetings of non-profit organizations are on Zoom. The Garden Club had two outdoor gatherings at a local park—with masks and distancing. It also just held its annual plant sale and festival to raise funds for scholarships. I chair the Merit Scholarship Awards committee, so we have been busy and have had three meetings

down at home for over a year now. Maryland has been in a pretty strict lockdown, and whenever we do venture out, it is always masked. All family activities such as holidays and birthdays have been outside during this long, cold and snowy winter. Looking on the bright side, Doug and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary, COVID style, with a family backyard picnic, in August. We had a reality check and decided to give up our much loved sailboat rather than become a Coast Guard rescue. We are glad to have a yard and garden to occupy us during the warm months, and I’ve had the time to try lots of new recipes, most of which are showing up around my waist! We are thankful for the technology that allows us to stay in touch with family and friends, but back in 1965, I never imagined that 55 years later our lives would be taken over by things with names like Zoom and Google! It is sad to learn of the loss of classmates; remembering each one brings back so many memories. Let’s hope we will be able to get together again in Aurora one of these years. Doug and I are now fully vaccinated, so things are looking brighter. I hope everyone is safe and healthy!”

Fiona Morgan Fein and Harvey have been riding out the pandemic in the far northwest corner of New Jersey. “We make regular short trips into New York City and I even went to the Met Museum with a friend on my last trip. What a pleasure! And of course, I can walk for miles in the City, something that actually takes more planning in the country! In New Jersey, I’m an hour closer to Wells and am looking forward to being able to take advantage of it! Though we won’t be in Aurora for a make-up 55th Reunion, there will be virtual events that we can participate in and we will have class Zooms for sure. Please plan to join in during the latter part of the first week in June. It’s been inspiring to be part of the large team dedicated to sustaining Wells through this crisis and to creating the blueprint for the future of our alma mater. If you want more information about any aspect of Wells, have questions or advice to offer, or just want to cheer us on, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Wells directly at [email protected] or with me at [email protected]. And if anything you learn about our efforts inspires you to invest in the future of our alma mater, your gift will be gratefully received at www.wells.edu/wellsfund.”

This past year was a bust for Laura Beth Mason Foster as it was for most of us. “I stayed in New Hampshire

digit temperatures, and visit with neighbors. And most often, I got to the lake every day to swim, sail and kayak. Zoom kept me up with my woman’s study group, Great Decisions class, presentations to the Cazenovia Garden Club of which I’m president, HOA business (VP this year) chamber music concerts, bridge games weekly (with Pat King Blommer, et al.) Family is well. Four grandchildren have graduated from college, and are all employed. Seven are in college, and the other five in high school. Each one so special and achieving in their varied interests. We talk and Zoom often to stay informed. Jay and I have had our vaccines. I’ve booked an UnCruise Alaskan Wilderness trip this summer with a daughter and granddaughter…we’ll see! I was in Morocco last March with OAT—only six days of a 16-day trip (pandemic!). It took us three days to get a flight home; we were on the last one out before the King shut down Moroccan airports! One more thing—Jay and I just celebrated our 55th wedding anniversary. We can’t believe that we’ve lived with one person for so long!! And we met at Wells!!”

Pat King Blommer has been cooking, eating, masking, distancing, reading, walking, tennis, bridge, water aerobics, looking for COVID shots (finally with success), and avoiding the news. That’s about it. “We’ve been down in Florida since January. Kids/grandkids coming from Portland, OR in late March. On to whatever else is coming our way…we’re tough and ready!”

Sandy Lascell Bruce and husband Bill have been doing what everyone else has been doing, hunkering down at home. “We have received our vaccines so we are now planning a trip to Boston to see the grandkids. This year has been spent doing all those projects we have put off for years, sprucing up our garden, catching up with friends via FaceTime and Zoom. We are looking forward to seeing family in person, and getting back to traveling in 2021.”

Constance “Connie” Burns continues to live in Campbell River on Vancouver Island, BC; the once small city has become a much larger community, and the quiet neighborhood has many more cars, driving twice the posted speed. “Folk who have decided to leave their larger city are moving here to enjoy the small town environment that we previously enjoyed before they moved here.”

Homebound news from Nancy Fitzsimmons Cornell: “As has everyone else, we have hunkered

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ClassNotes

doses of the vaccine in early March; remote visits with children and grandchildren were the norm for the year. We were saved by our RV; we spent the spring in St. George, UT and a good part of the fall in Mesa, AZ where Dick and I could bicycle, jeep and do outdoor activities together. This winter we skied in Park City with ski reservations, only skiing on weekdays, and just the two of us on ski lifts with masks. As all who have responded have stated ’hope you are all doing well’.”

- Nancy

1964BARB KENNEDYPO Box 317748 Donax StreetSanibel, FL [email protected]

After being involved with the writing, editing, proofreading, typing and finally getting our History of Lake Preston published, Mary Melony Rockino found a new calling last year! “The former newspaper of Lake Preston ceased publication in early last year, but the communities of Lake Preston and DeSmet got together to start a new county wide newspaper The Kingsbury Journal. Our museum in Lake Preston has all the issues of The Lake Preston Times, so I took over the writing of the weekly column called Looking Back which chronicles various excerpts regarding people and happenings in the town from 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago. People really enjoy reading about either their accomplishments, or the big stories of the times. Then, I also started writing a weekly column called At the Museum where I have a photo of an item in our museum with a story that I have researched on the age of the item, when and where it was invented and the uses. This has sparked a lot of interest in our museum which we hope to reopen this spring. I learned so much about writing at Wells that

member of VOX Femina LA, a superlative women’s chorus, walking, gardening, and cooking much more than I would like to be! Oh, please…let us have our Reunion next year!!!!!

- Stu

It has definitely been one of the most, if not the most, unusual year for us in the 56 years since we graduated from Wells in 1965. Cancelled trips, Reunions, remote visits to children and grandchildren and just trying to survive our vulnerable age.

Helen Wentz Panitt reports: “Sending you our news…what little there is. Jeff and I are getting our second vaccines in just a few days and are looking forward to getting out more. The weather here in the Charleston area is warm enough for us to take day trips to visit plantations, parks and restaurants where there is outdoor dining. During the past year we have tried to keep busy and to occupy our minds. Jeff has done a lot of research on his family history and has written up an impressive amount of material. I started a virtual course in kitchen gardening and am planning to install two raised garden beds. If all goes as planned, I will have some home-grown vegetables in a few months. Getting it set up is more than I can handle physically (we know this), and I am hiring a landscape company to help me. We are fortunate to be living close to our son and his family, with whom we get together almost weekly, being careful to social distance. Our grandson Will is turning 20 next month, has a great part-time job with Apple, and is about to release another song, under the name Cai Gray. You may be able to hear it on Spotify. Our granddaughter Cameron is a freshman at Wando High School, and has managed to keep up with classes virtually, but is glad to be back in class this semester. She continues to be involved in color guard with the school’s award-winning marching band but is looking forward to having competitions again. I hope to see many classmates at our virtual Reunion in June. Meanwhile, I trust that everyone stays healthy.”

Anne Kent Necker and David managed to escape COVID and now have had both of their vaccinations. “Actually, the only people in our family who came down with it were two granddaughters, one in college and one in high school. Neither were very sick, thank goodness. Now we are ready to hit the road! We will be traveling and camping in the desert Southwest in April and will be in Florida for a couple weeks in May.

2020 wasn’t such a bad year for us. We seemed to find plenty to do in spite of the pandemic and we enjoyed being at home, since we have always traveled quite a bit. We’re super sad that we won’t be in Aurora for Reunion but we’re looking forward to 2025. We’ll only be 80!”

Sue West Langton hopes everyone is surviving this pandemic. “I tested positive in January, but the only symptoms were loss of taste and smell. Still have not returned, but I will live the rest of my life this way if necessary, at least I did not suffer what others had to. I am still dreaming about getting back out into the world. A fourth trip to Africa was cancelled, as was a trip to Machu Picchu. I am signed up for a trip to Antarctica January 2022. Here’s keeping my fingers crossed. Thank goodness, my family is safe and healthy. My oldest grandson is a sophomore at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. My other grandson is a freshman at Ohio State University, enjoying the experience despite remote learning from his dorm room. My granddaughter, 11-years-old, is obsessed with soccer and lacrosse and is on both travel teams but waiting for COVID to go away. Everyone is healthy. Saddened to hear about the loss of Sue Gardella Shean and Ann Simonsen Hughes. My sympathy goes out to their families. Take care, stay healthy and stay safe.”

Susan Rice Lewis says, “It’s been a quiet year for me. We had only been in our apartment in a continuing care community for nine months before they shut down the campus. Because there is a nursing care component here, we had to abide by stricter rules than most. But that’s ok—it kept us healthy and safe, and we adapted, like everyone else. Although they shut down the library and the fitness center, we were able to walk every day, exercise via closed circuit TV, and read (because I brought lots of books with me). They brought us our dinners and I ordered groceries online. We were grateful for the technology which kept us in touch with our children and two small grandchildren. And now we have been able to visit with them in person! They are ages 3 and 5 and have been homeschooled this year by their parents who have also been teaching remotely (they are professors in the School of Music at Illinois State). It’s been an especially tough year for them, but the children are doing very well and have become very close, having no other playmates. I’m going to refrain from sending you a photo of me with my pandemic hair style ( just visualize Medusa). I finally was able

to visit my hairdresser too—hooray! My son had COVID but recovered, thankfully. He too has been teaching music classes, mostly remotely, at U Wisconsin, Oshkosh.”

Linda Holdredge Ross writes: We are happy to be well and partially sane. I did not step foot in a grocery store, or mall store or a store by any other name for one year. The one-year anniversary was last week and I went shopping and found it is not all that much fun. We are expert Zoomers and have kept in touch by phone and Zoom. Big decision now is whether to continue having our food delivered to our front porch or whether I venture out in person. Movies on TV, our papers (WSJ & NYT ) and MSNBC, and books of course, kept us going. Gave up on cooking my way through the pandemic early on. Our puppy, a morkie, was a constant distraction—or attraction. Hope our class is doing well. Please take care.

“Not much news since the last time.” wrote Kathy Wenner Palmer. “Our move last May was a good one, just a bit hard to meet new people with COVID restrictions. We’re within 30 minutes of where we were, so we’ve kept our church, and doctors and still have our puppet ministry. We’re within 11 minutes of the Hartford airport, but we’ve only used it once since May. We just returned from Florida for a teen missions board meeting and the wedding of a close friend. We did take the train into New York City to visit one granddaughter who works at a publishing house in the City and lives in Brooklyn. Our oldest grandson was married in July in California, but only parents and siblings were able to be there…we did see it by Zoom. We are healthy and praising God for all his blessings.”

The Stone family news sounds pretty much like the preceding news. One daughter and three of four grandchildren had COVID, but mild cases. Happily, we completed both

Anson Garnsey and Cesily Coors Garnsey’65 visited Ellen Fleming Yeckly ’65 and Bill Yeckley in Arizona.

32 Spring 2020

ClassNotesNow that they are fully vaccinated, Olivia and Paolo are looking forward to taking a few trips away from Brooklyn, where they have lived in the same tiny apartment for 10 years. They will be spending time in Rosendale in the Catskill region, where they were fortunate to be able to spend most of 2020. Olivia continues her work in residential real estate and background acting in film and TV. Paolo is still trying to decide what to do next, since his client died in June.

Linda Kendrick Levenson writes that Maine has had a good response and plan for administering the vaccine. She and Tom have been double vaccinated for several weeks now. She has arranged a few Zoom sessions with Jane Brooks, A.L. Carlisle, Bonnie Sawyer, Marcia Dillon Mazeine, Wendy Todd Bidstrup, Karen AhlbergArmour, Jane Kohring Hoey and Pleasant Thiele Rowland. She and Tom plan a June trip to Lake Placid for their granddaughter’s graduation. They had their first “dine in” last week and their first trip to the supermarket in two months. Her condo community has sidewalks and wide roads, so walks with three friends have been on her daily schedule.

Like many of us, Sandy Maceyka feels that this has been a lost year. As her back and left hip are still struggling, she spent a good deal of time at PT and with her chiropractor. Despite not being fully mobile, she has managed to raise almost $800,000 for the Elizabeth Cady Stanton by Kristen Visbal, who sculpted the Fearless Girl of Wall Street. Her group had hoped to unveil the statue in a park between her childhood home and the Fulton County Courthouse in Johnstown last August. Now they are thinking of May 2021. Another thing Sandy has been working on was the 2020 Elizabeth Cady Stanton Women’s Symposium, originally scheduled for March 2020, now rescheduled for March 2022.

Eleanor “Coco” Annable Siewert and family are all well in this new normal. Missed the usual trips with and to visit the family, and appreciate all of the technology that lets us “see” each other. “We’re gathering in northern Michigan in the summer and that keeps us going. Organizations we are part of pivoted quickly and went virtual so we’ve kept up on those activities. Robert regularly delivered his weekly Meals on Wheels assignment.” Coco was particularly busy assisting a variety of organizations, especially municipalities, as they wrestled with changes to accommodate new ways of meeting.

their celebration will be rescheduled for next year. Wouldn’t it be fun to see again some of those women who shared our college years?” Contact Jane if you think this is a feasible idea.

Jane Kohring Hoey described the trip she and her twin sister took just before the COVID crisis began. They left for Brazil on February 14, where they traced family roots in Sao Paulo. Then they moved on to Buenos Aires via Iguacu. There they boarded a cruise ship that took them down the coast of Argentine and up to coast of Chile. At Lima they were “stranded at sea” for a week due to COVID before they were allowed to proceed through the Panama Canal and home to Miami. Jane and Mary celebrated their 80th birthdays at their cottage in Michigan. Friends and family were unable to join them, but celebrated with them on Zoom.

Bonnie Fraser Lundberg’s response could have been written by most of us. I am sending it verbatim.

I imagine it will be a sender amount of news! What news?All tucked in our houses, take on skype or zoom classes…Perfect time to put things in order theoretically!Walking every day, yoga on zoom, instead of tennis or golf.Tired of the same old meal recipes…the occasional take-out is such a treat!Our daughter came to visit us from Arizona—first time in a year. That was wonderful.Several design projects at the drafting table—rest is keeping up or catching up.A few books.

Olivia James writes that she and Paolo have gotten the Moderna vaccine shots and are looking forward to seeing friends this summer, at least in small gatherings. The publicity from her daughter Cecily’s new novel Cobble Hill brought communications from old friends. Among them were Carroll Flannery Auccella, her first Wells roommate, and Ellen Eisendrath James. Carroll and her husband live in Annapolis, but spent most of the pandemic year in their cottage on Cape Cod. Ellen and Paul and their daughter Mia have been quarantined in Pebble Beach, CA all the past year. They normally spend time in Sun Valley, ID, where they have a house. Their married son Ian lives nearby in Carmel, and has produced a grandson. Olivia and Susan Berry Matthei have been in close contact for more than fifty years. Susan was not able to make her semi-annual trips to New York to visit her daughter Steffi for more than a year. They hope for a reunion in the fall.

Betsy Boehme Howe and Muriel Farley Dominguez to bolster my spirits. We’re grateful to already have had our vaccine inoculations. Restrictions are very gradually being lifted; and spring has arrived, which is always so lovely in Asheville.”

1963MARY FRANCISCO MILLER700 Clayton Corners Dr.Ballwin, MO [email protected]

1962FRAN MURRAY MCARTHURPO Box 420Orient, NY [email protected]

Jane Jowett Brooks wondered when the call came for class news if the response would be sparse. Like everyone she knows, she and Jon have been living quietly and more simply. She mentioned that our 60th Reunion is almost upon us. She says, “I can’t even begin to gauge the enthusiasm for such a project or the work that precedes it. Since the Class of ’61s Reunion this month was cancelled, I am hoping that maybe

I am happy to be really using it even at this late stage. My husband of 59 years Bill and I are still living on our horse farm in peaceful eastern South Dakota and are looking forward to the coming spring with the haying season and my gardens!”

One of Cynthia Frederick Bright Kahn’s last in-person events before COVID closures began last March was a Wells alumni gathering in Greenville, SC, arranged by Martha Ryan Severens ’67. “Ann Davidson Moorefield ’59, who had recently moved to Asheville, and I drove together to Greenville where we joined several South Carolina women for lunch. Marty then gave us a guided tour of the Greenville County Museum of Art’s Andrew Wyeth and Impressionism in the South exhibits. It was a lovely day with much lively conversation. Since that time, Jace and I have survived isolation well together, in spite of missing our dance activities and in-person conversations with friends. Many books have been read, crossword puzzles worked, and a few sewing projects completed. Zoom has kept me involved with church and book club activities, and there have been many long phone calls with my Wells roommates


(WCA) Annual Meeting

June 5, 2021

Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Virtual

Minutes from the WCA’s June 2020 annual meeting are available at

global.wells.edu or contact the Office of Alumnae and

Alumni Engagement.

Wells.edu 33

ClassNotesFoulkeways and created an online walk-through which may be the beginning of a new tradition. I am disappointed that our Reunion won’t be in Aurora. As we have done before, dear class of ’61, we will have to think out of the box and reinvent our class self. I think we can do that. It was really fun and uplifting to see a lot of you on our Zoom gathering. Stay well, treasure friends and family, take heart! Love to all.”

Barbara Boyle Leggat “Feels fortunate…have had my COVID shots, didn’t catch COVID, the days are getting warmer in Massachusetts and my family is okay. I see them outside and on Zoom. I’m getting quite used to having most of my social life on Zoom and enjoy it! Walking, reading and playing the piano are pleasures too! I hope we can get together for a Reunion in the fall!”

Life in Pine Knoll in Southern Pines, NC is very easy for Nancy Johnston Howe. “They delivered all my meals while the dining room was closed due to COVID. We are still wearing masks on the campus and whenever near strangers even though I have had my vaccinations. Aurora Hills Farm Nursery and Landscaping is 20 minutes away and is being well run by my two sons. I have grandchildren and great-grandchildren and a 17-year-old cat that is content to sleep about 22 hours a day. There are many activities and I am still in

retired, Louise had been looking forward to extended textile-based travel; then the pandemic brought all such excursions to a halt, including an exploration of remote Indonesian Islands with Karen Kessler Sade planned for May 2020. Also cancelled for the second year is the annual gathering of ’61ers that Louise brought together in Bethlehem, PA, for the Bach Festival. Again, we can view and listen to some music online, but it’s just not the same as live music in the spring on the lovely Leheigh campus with friends.

Anne Kruesi Nordlander Baldwin and Louise Mackie are neighbors in the Quaker inspired CCR, Foulkeways, In Gwynedd, PA. Kruesi and John enjoyed quality independent living there before John’s struggle with Primary Progressive Aphasia became severe and Kruesi broke her hip in 2017. Now that residents and most employees have had two vaccines, Kruesi can again visit John daily. She writes that they have eight grandchildren ranging in age from 3 to 26 and begin to believe that the together times we long for are not impossibly far removed! As in all families, big adjustments have been required. Two have had COVID [but] following developments in treatments [we have] reason for encouragement. “I, personally, am ok. In September and October I had an exhibition of my art work at

1961SUSAN BIELE ALITTO5200 South Kimbark Ave.Chicago, IL [email protected]

SALLY MACLAY DAYTON615 Laurel Lake Dr. Apt. A-235Columbus, NC [email protected]

Is it really just a year since we last wrote? To many, it feels as if it has been forever. Thankfully those of you who have written have stayed safe and well…and even found enterprising ways to shelter in place for weeks on end. We do hope those of you who haven’t responded have also stayed well, that you’ll have news for us next time and even join us for future Zoom gatherings and a potential future gathering on campus. Many shared the disappointments they, their children and grandchildren experienced in having to make career adjustments and forego so many traditional class, sport, extracurricular and graduation activities due to COVID. Now our own on-campus 60th Reunion is cancelled! We’re devastated, especially because we cannot toast in person our own Louise Mackie when she receives the outstanding Alumnae/i Award. This award recognizes both her outstanding career and contributions in the field of Islamic textiles and the many other awards she has received. Now

Two of A. L. Wagner Carlisle’s grandchildren graduated from high school, both virtually. Since the weather was nice the family gathered to celebrate outdoors masked and socially-distanced. They also managed a Fourth of July celebration, which was the last family gathering they had. In September she spent a few days with Jane Jowett Brooks, Wendy Todd Bidstrup, Marcia Dillon Mazeine at Bonnie Sawyer’s in New Hampshire, and she recently had dinner with Jane and Jon, since they’d all been vaccinated. “It’s just like it used to be,” she wrote.

Thanks to all of you who sent news this spring. It is always nice to hear from you. My news is that Jack and I sold the house we built in Orient and moved to Bloomfield Hills, MI, to be closer to our daughter Beth and her family. Our house sold on the first day it was on the market, and we had forty-five days to pack up and buy a house. Because of the Coronavirus, we couldn’t fly to Michigan to look at houses, so we bought our new house on the internet. We are still reeling from the chaos. It was bittersweet selling the house we built, but it is wonderful living so close to Beth. We will most likely revert to being what we were to begin with—summer people there as my sister Greer still has her house in Orient. - Fran

SMART PLANNINGAs members of the Wells family, we all have gratifying reminders of the difference Wells has made in our lives. It is why we support the College. Planned gifts have had a dramatic impact at Wells, from its founding to the present. In addition to your annual gift, one of the most meaningful ways to support the Wells experience is to include Wells in your will, estate plan or through a life income gift. A legacy gift is a lasting statement about who you are and what is important to you.Simple ways to make your mark on the future:• Make a gift through your will or trust• Donate appreciated stock and save on taxes• Make a gift through your retirement plan• Make a gift that gives you fixed payments for life• Give life insurance you no longer need

Interested? Contact Wells today for more information.

Pamela J. Sheradin ’86 Director of Leadership and Planned Giving

[email protected]/plannedgiving

34 Spring 2020

ClassNotesElmira & Ohio Wesleyan will have virtual graduations. So sorry for that as you only get to walk (or ride) once. One was star setter on OWU volleyball team. Worked her whole academic career around her sport. Season aborted her senior year. The other grad had her tennis varsity cancelled at Elmira. However both have career opportunities and that’s certainly positive going forward. Fortunately, I’m fine. Hoping for fall in Aurora???

Mary Jane “MJ” Fryer was fortunate to get vaccinated and will be cleared to go in a matter of days. “The confinement has been challenging but as have others, I have found new ideas through adversity. I discovered the author Will Durant, beloved by my father, and he has led me to thinkers from Confucius to Darwin. I have especially liked the former and practice calligraphy and piano in an attempt to coordinate mind and body. Not easy. I am still ecstatic over Perseverance and the Mars mission. My neighbor’s son and daughter-in-law have been on the Supercam team so we here are excited. I am in awe of our scientists and engineers. Wish I could say more, but the quarantine has found me saying too much about too little!”

Jane Perry Hempel called with her news because she had fallen and shattered her right shoulder; consequently, she is unable to write or type. Widowed after 54 years of marriage, she relocated to Milwaukee to be closer to her three sons who live in Milwaukee and Evanston. She is grateful that she has had her shots and that she and her family have not had COVID.

Sandra Scheurle Sinclair is happy that “spring is here in my garden in beautiful Orient. The crocus and snow drops are out. Daffodils are peeking. I videotaped a bee enjoying crocus nectar for my grandchildren who share my interest in bugs and distaste for the American lawn looking like

forward to some hugs. Needless to say my business has been almost nonexistent and so am not sure what the future brings. I take lots of walks and play lots of bridge. Hope to see everyone on Zoom again soon.”

Over the last COVID year Mary Ann “MA” Sheller Carter completed her autobiography, Are You There Gin? It’s Me, Mary Ann at 80. Violin lessons continue and minor performances keep my nails short. My violin teacher has Monday night Violinos Quarantinos performances for all her students, ranging in age from 4-81! I usually play duets with a friend. A few of us started an organization to support women’s education. We’ve applied for a Vancouver Business License and the Canadian status of being a charitable organization. Hope all is well with everyone.”

Ruthie Samuels Drucker bullet pointed how she spent the past year: Zoomed, zoomed and zoomed some more • Learned to love audiobooks while walking in my neighborhood • Consumed several tons of sugar • Solved endless numbers of crossword puzzles • Acquired an enduring taste for Netflix • Emptied and promptly refilled closets and drawers with different useless stuff • Maintained human contact hostessing on my deck during decent weather • Battled flooded basement and ant invasion • Periodically met with group of francophiles who enjoy speaking French • Joined and then quit a meditation group—My brain refused to turn off • Attempted to keep my brain active through book clubs and online classes. I am grateful for technology and for friends and family who have kept me sane this year!Be well, everyone, and let’s get together soon!!!

Judy Miller Colie: Hope all will tell they’ve had their second shot and feel a sense of relief and hope. This week, I’m seeing my second son and his wife from Colorado. Haven’t been with them in almost 2 years. It will be that long till I see grandkids too. Maybe this summer. All five granddaughters are in college,

Penn, again on Zoom. When my husband died of pancreatic cancer and I needed to find a new path, I took dancing lessons and I continue to learn both smooth dances and my favorite rhythm dances. Dancing has brought me much joy—physically, cognitively and socially. The person I am dancing with has been my teacher and dance partner throughout my dance journey. I feel that I am blessed with two wonderful families—my daughter Jennifer and her husband with teen aged boys—one soon to be 20 and at Virginia Tech, and my son Fred who lives in Savannah with his wife and two teenaged daughters. But the greatest blessing of all is that I am well and can share this with you.”

Lockdown in the U.K. has been quite strict for Roberta “Bobbie” Kay Ladenheim. “No meeting of families, no holidays, no gym classes or eating in restaurants. The senior generation are quite law abiding but the youngsters and students are finding life tough. My children are vaccinators and delivering care parcels to the vulnerable in their spare time. I’ve had both vaccinations and would be ecstatic to meet up somewhere in the U.S. in the autumn, if I am able to leave the country. Wishing you all to be safe...and see you soon.”

Sylvia Boecker is alive and well in Virginia Beach.

Betty Loeb Levin enjoyed seeing everyone on the Zoom call and wants to do another one. “We have not been back to New York City since last March. Were in Florida until June, then in Westchester with 10 of us and then back to Florida in December. We have had some family with us. Going back to the City at the end of April. However one set of children and grandchildren coming to visit now and can’t wait. We have been vaccinated and so am looking

a lady’s bowling league. I have not been on any trips except to the North Carolina Zoo about 90 minutes away. I would be interested in a fall trip to Aurora of maybe next spring to be sure things are all OK and more time to plan how I would get there!”

Karin Loverud wrote from her home in Las Vegas to promise a newsy write up next time. We wish her improved health and are eager for more news!

When asked recently how she was, Marguerite Raymond Long said, “I responded without thinking, I feel like I’ve lost half my life. But I shouldn’t complain; I’m healthy and so is my family. My daughter-in-law, Melissa Long, is working very hard to get up to speed as a newly appointed member of the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Other family members work remotely and also volunteer to coordinate the fresh water system. Having terminated her job on the Orcas Island Community Foundation, Kate has lots of crazy, and not-so-crazy ideas for her next venture. My granddaughter Arla is doing well as a freshman at Olin College of Engineering in Needham, MA (an amazing new college; look it up) and Sam is about to return to school in person as a high school freshman. Twice a week I Zoom and read with my granddaughter Helen, a middle-schooler, quite turned off by remote learning; we both enjoy my return to middle school teaching. I find I just don’t have much energy. A small load of laundry, a few emails or bills, and that’s it for me for the day! Maybe after my second vaccine, spring daffodils and promises of summer I’ll get my energy back!”

Adelyn “Heidi” Miller Gross: “Since I graduated from Wells and married, I have lived in the Philadelphia area. I got my masters and doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania in literacy and have been involved with school districts and teachers for over 50 years. Currently I am a literacy teaching coach to teachers supporting the learning of children as they navigate their way through the Zoom classrooms. I also teach a graduate course on literacy at

Photo of Mary Ann Sheller Carter ’61 for her published autobiography, Are You There Gin? It’s Me, Mary Ann at 80

Nancy Johnson Howe ’61

MJ Freyer ’61 taking a “selfie”

Adelyn “Heidi” Miller Gross ’61 with her dance partner.

Wells.edu 35

ClassNotes

an indoor rug. Sad I won’t get to show off my new wrinkles, both physical and mental, to my 1961 classmates. Geez. It’s been that long or that short depending on your time frame. Viewing YouTube docs on the nature of space/time came along at the right moment in my quarantine. In the more immediate, I have finally come to understand the ‘roaring twenties’ of the 1900s. The great so-called Spanish flu epidemic. Here come the 2020s after the COVID pandemic and I’m ready to roar, whatever that means. I hope roaring includes a Reunion gathering. Stay safe.”

For Martha Smith Manning things have been very quiet in Maine. “Much snow and ICE tend to keep us in!! Along with COVID. Still, all is well and we use our ingenuity to communicate (i.e. ZOOM). Good communication with ’61 Classmates helps! Hoping for gathering next autumn by the lake. Hi and love to all.”

Jan Lenhart called from her home in Connecticut. She has been there since she returned from Florida in February 2020. In place of going to Florida this year, she has made several trips to and from her original home in Huntington, Long Island, first to visit her sick brother, and then to clear out the family home

after he died…a real challenge because he was a committed hoarder! Fortunately, just before the pandemic, she and her daughter spent several weeks in Spain where they enjoyed museums, exploring and watching flamenco dancing twice(!) a day.

Sue Hemmersley Homestead claims the past year leaves her with no new

news to share, but does let us include the wonderful photo of her talking with Minerva when she and her husband Jack visited campus after attending Pick Hamlin Schade’s funeral in 2019. And she strongly

urges us to stay well and have more Zoom meetings!

Linda Glick Conway wrote, “It turns out a small college town in the Berkshires has been a perfect place to quarantine for the past year—fresh air, beautiful scenery, and lots of trails for long walks. I have also been grateful for continuing board work for a social service agency and its social-change-through-music program, as well as the local historical museum. Many Zoom lectures and meetings with friends have also been welcome. Our recent class Zoom session was special and I look forward to the next one. I am excited about the plans Wells has for moving forward, especially the hospitality program with the Inns of Aurora and the business degree with Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Let’s hope we can make a good plan for celebrating our 60th virtually and honoring Louise and her Alumnnae/i Award appropriately. I’m grateful for good health and stimulation and the possibility of adding back some travel. Best to all!”

Susan Biele Alitto grabbed the last opportunity for travel to and from China last February. “It was risky but I’m so glad I went! It may be a long time before I see my daughter and her family again; they have resumed a more normal work and school life there but can’t travel or receive visitors. Fortunately, I didn’t get sick and now have my shots. Since my return I’ve tried valiantly to declutter but it is terribly slow; even in a pandemic there are too many distractions. I also continue to work with our local not for profit “Village” to support aging in community. Last Thanksgiving we delivered 50 turkey dinners to neighbors who were alone because of the virus. Stay safe and well everyone! As Kruesi says, it’s time to reinvent ourselves and our Reunion; and as Sandy says, it’s time to roar!”

- Susan

Quincy Lockett Northrup says, “My life in the ’80s, lived in the ’20s, remembering the ’50s. 525,600 minutes. Numbers were never my strength but I’m grateful for all of them: of singing, reading, walking, writing, downward dogging. Still one husband, two kids and six grands, all well and doing their best. May we gather soon. Peace.”

In December 2019 Judy Behrhorst Munro’s entire family (minus their 23-year-old granddaughter studying in Paris) celebrated her 80th birthday for a week in Captiva, FL. “I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease 2 ½ years ago…didn’t lose my smile or handwriting, no tremor, but have

fallen six times, so I have to use a walker. Husband Bill and I are about to celebrate our 59th anniversary. He is my hero; he cooks, drives, walks our big goldendoodle, does the laundry, etc., etc. I’m thankful this didn’t happen when I was younger. Hope we can Zoom often and certainly celebrate our 60th!” News from Jane Borsch Robbins: “Here in our comfortable home in East Aurora, NY we, personally, have been spared COVID tragedy. Not much baking done, but certainly more imaginative dinners than in the past. And, because travel within New York State has been allowed, we have been able to stay several times at our time-share in Manhattan which, without crowds is, unfortunately to say, delightful; with timed entries to my favorite art museums and libraries and unencumbered walks through Central Park, the time there has been joy filled. I am enthusiastic about a fall reunion in Aurora!!”

Cricket Cunningham Twichell’s news from southern California is that there isn’t much news… “Except that Terry and I are actually enjoying many aspects of the slower pace of our lives while hunkering down in our casita. I’m making great in-roads into my “to read” mountain of books, taking meditative walks, playing cut-throat cribbage with my boyfriend of 59 years, banging away on the piano, writing bits and pieces of my memoir, growing tresses, tidying up. I’m now used to wearing the ubiquitous mask with no make-up since last March, am seriously considering donning a burka. This winter our far-flung kids (who are all working on-line these days and so can be anywhere) spent a glorious month in Ojai at a near-by VRBO. We had masked, distanced, out-doors get-togethers but it was wonderful to see them. Looking forward to getting together with the ’61 gang, virtually or in-person. Sending everyone much love.”

Linda Glick Conway ’61, Judy Miller Colie ’61, Carol Gaines Ruckle ’61 and Louise Mackie ’61 at one of their pre-COVID get-togethers.

Daughter and grandchildren of Susan Biele Alitto ’61 in Shanghai in February 2020 on the normally very crowded Bund.

Sue Hemmersley Homestead ’61 conversing with Minerva during a campus visit in 2019.

Susan Biele Alitto ’61 in Shanghai giving granddaughter Naomi a bath.

36 Spring 2020

ClassNotes

Judith Trencher Marshall says she’s “interested in Aurora in the fall.”

Kelsey Kastner Mason opines that “It’s been a challenging year, finding ‘safe’ ways to connect with family and friends, celebrating Thanksgiving with our Toronto family in an Ontario Provincial Park. A quick Christmas Eve visit from our Toronto children and grandchildren; all wearing masks, exchanging gifts, then ‘good bye’—all too soon! Missing our Oregon family. Positive things have happened; connecting with friends on ZOOM instead of driving everywhere and working on a project to publish a book of stories I’ve written over the years, hopefully for our grandchildren. Time to reflect on what is important to keep doing and what can be dropped! A cleaner and less cluttered home!”

Holly Howard Pollinger guesses no one wants to talk about this year. “One thing that is good news is that Wells is still alive and kicking, right? One of the bright spots was a trip I made last summer when no one was traveling because there were no safe places to stay. So I stayed in Linda Glick Conway’s driveway on the way up and Louise Mackie’s on the way home! Well, somehow I ended up having marvelous outdoor meals and safe housing in both places—and the best part was getting to see and talk to two old friends that I never would have known if not for Wells. Imagine that—friends for more than 50 years. What a gift. Love to everyone.”

Joan Thielbar Sharkey says that “The most exciting thing in my life in the past year was moving into Ingleside at Rock Creek Presbyterian Retirement Community in Washington, DC the day the City and the community shut down for COVID. We are all vaccinated now so things are starting to open up…a little…slowly. The Mayor and the administration here are as conservative in their COVID response as they are liberal in their

politics but we at Rock Creek have lost no one to the virus. It’s been difficult continuing the volunteer work I’ve done for 10 years in the community I’m now living in because of COVID, but my Boy Scouts have gone into overdrive. I help those in Washington, DC to get through the bureaucratic challenge of earning Eagle Scout and am pleased that I have three girls working on Eagle now, too. Our Zoom meeting to celebrate Louise Mackie was really fun. I’m hoping we can get together again virtually for our 60th in the spring. If some of you make it to Wells in the fall, please remember to set up a virtual chat with those of us who can’t make it.”

Sally Walker is still in New Jersey, 12 miles west of the Lincoln Tunnel. “Ah yes, the past year, what to say about that. I’ve spent countless afternoons playing bridge online with some friends I used to play with in real life. The rest is mostly books, the New York Times and crossword puzzles. Then there’s my daily roster of chores caring for six cats and a dog. She’s an elderly bichon frise I adopted from a local shelter about four months before the pandemic began. It’s been a fairly ghastly winter all around, what with the plague and an unusually large quota of snow. But I survived it intact thanks to Netflix and Amy’s frozen entrees. So here we are and now it’s spring, with lovely balmy air coming through my freshly open windows. I hope we’ve all had our shots so we can start doing stuff. Blessings!”

Carol Gaines Ruckle has been so busy moving this past year that she’s thought of little else. “We sold a wonderful place in Lake Huron to move into a retirement community in Zionsville, IN (near Indianapolis) to be closer to my son and his kids. Then we sold our condo in Indianapolis for the same reason. Next on the list is a condo in Florida but we have to decide what to do with it and we haven’t been able to get down there because of COVID.

The timing couldn’t have been worse! I hadn’t been able to see the kids since October and had my first real contact with one of them this week. We have had both shots and remained isolated for the required two weeks so we are anxious to get on the road. The Zoom call set up by Wells a few weeks ago was fun; everyone wanted to congratulate Louise Mackie on being selected alumna of the year and talk about a future get together at Wells. I hope it will happen. We don’t have a lot more years to be able to get back to Aurora and I would love to be able to reminisce with classmates!”

Linda Large Wood is happy to finally be vaccinated “after such a lonely year—a wonderful feeling! I look forward to making a hair appointment, and even one with the dentist. I’ve been fortunate to be enjoying Osher Lifelong Learning classes via Zoom, with topics ranging from the brain to Brahms to endangered oceans. In addition, I still volunteer with the AARP/IRS Tax-Aide program, preparing returns from home this year instead of from a central location. I do hope that our class can get together sometime. I would plan to be there, even with my mobility issues.”

Nancy Pickering says “This past year has been so difficult for all of us! I’ve stayed home in Burbank all year, even having groceries delivered. PROJECT HOPE sent me a wonderful volunteer shopper named Joseph. Even though he’s an astrophysicist at Cal Tech with a young family, he found time to volunteer for us old folks! I got very involved in the election, will never get over the shock of January 6! I recently started Transcendental Meditation to help with my depression. I’ll definitely participate in our virtual 60th Reunion but won’t be with you all in Aurora in person. I only attended Wells for two years before transferring to UC Berkeley, but my ties are deep because my mother was a Wells alumna, Marian Tolle ’34. Love to you all and prayers for your safety and good health.”

Molly Harding Nye and her husband Joe fled Stanford in a hurry a year ago, not to be trapped out there in pandemic lockdown. For the last three years they have spent two winter months there, but this year they returned to the east coast and have been in virtual isolation in Sandwich, NH on their farm. They plan to move in May from their house in Lexington, MA to a CCRC, Brookhaven at Lexington; they have lived in that house since 1965, so this will be a new chapter.

Molly’s looking forward to our next “class chat” on Zoom. It was so much fun celebrating Louise Mackie. This is a big year for the class of 1961.

Joan Thompson Majeed says hello to all her classmates and families, hopes we are staying well and safe in these strange and difficult times. “Here’s to the continuation of Wells as a strong and important institution that prepared us for our successes and gave us wonderful memories. Tony and I are enjoying, after a year, doing what we like rather than what we have to do. We are careful with the pandemic but began to go out to restaurants half capacity in the DC area, to enjoy and even meet neighbors on our patios, Zoom classes, long walks and now getting our large garden ready for spring. What we miss most is not travelling and we think a lot of our next trips to Morocco and second trip to Machu Picchu with an extension to the Galapagos. Thanks to our new knees we can consider doing them.”

Linda Gilgore Klopfenstein is still very active in the administrative side of officiating swimming matches at all levels. She and her husband are both doing OK, have both had their COVID vaccinations, and were looking forward to our 60th Reunion but now will try to enjoy its virtual version. They have missed, because of COVID, having their annual backyard Easter egg hunt which after 50 years has become an annual tradition in their neighborhood and now involves children and grandchildren of some of the original Easter egg hiders and finders. The older children (the hiders) bring their decorated hard-boiled eggs to be hidden for the younger children (the finders) to find; those with the greatest number of eggs in their baskets at the end receive prizes of chocolate bunnies. Maybe next year!”

Cynthia Corning Richardson says that their COVID year has been filled with Bob’s quadruple bypass, their glaucoma surgeries, books, British crime series, drives, dog, takeout, and wine. “We hope to see our children soon after a year of not seeing them: Seth who works for the University of Chicago Press, and Sophie who works for Human Rights Watch. When we are finally released from captivity, we’ll return to our volunteer jobs—mentoring in the middle school and working in the food pantry.” She wishes the best to all her classmates.

As for me, this COVID year has given me time to ponder what “You can’t go back” means in that the house in Savannah where I lived

Family of Judy Behrhorst Munro ’61 in December 2019—Judy and husband Bill at far left.

Wells.edu 37

ClassNotesfor 31 years has been completely re-arranged inside and now bears no resemblance to the home I loved, all achieved to double the asking price. Even worse, the white brick colonial in Summit, NJ where I grew up is gone completely and been replaced by an 8-bedroom monstrosity selling for fifty times what my parents paid in 1946. It’s a very good thing, however, that we love the CCRC we’re living in now in North Carolina and feel no desire whatever to “go back.” Stay well, everyone. - Sally

1960EDIE WILCOCK PATRICK114 West Fairview Ave Apt. 417Johnson City, TN [email protected]

SUSAN BECKER TIER2838 Lakeridge LaneWestlake Village, CA [email protected]

Anka Katan Angrist writes: “I don’t believe that what I have to say can legitimately be called ‘news.’ Burt and I are still living in the mid-Hudson Valley of New York State. Compared with what so many have experienced we consider ourselves fortunate. Particularly with respect to the COVID pandemic. I feel lucky to live in an area where we can enjoy nature, take walks and hold some (very distanced) meetings with friends. Our daughter moved in with us and while that has mandated some adjustments, it has some definite advantages. I’ve continued to volunteer for some local organizations, mainly those with an ecological mission, since the pandemic has greatly limited human-to-human contact. I keep in touch with Sandra Satterthwaite Scheuer, who lives about an hour’s drive away.”

For 50 years Sally Hitchcock Brady and Fran crossed the Peace Bridge to spend summers at their cottage on the eastern Canadian shore of Lake Erie. With the borders closed, they spent last summer in unusually hot Buffalo, missing many summer clothes that live in Canada. She and Betsy Brady ’84 wish a third generation would attend Wells, but the granddaughters’ interests may preclude that.

Holly Carlson Campbell writes: “I’m glad for my two children, my daughter-in-law, and my two grandchildren and the life each of them is living against the headwinds of this present pandemic. After Cary died, I moved into a village outside Pittsburgh where I can walk to the library and the grocery and to meet a friend and where Susan, my daughter, lives right around the corner and my sweet Anglican style

church is just up the hill and is a great treasure to me with its host of fellow believers.”

Cathy Cox writes, “Am now fully vaccinated so at last can go to an indoor restaurant and what a joy to be with friends in person and be waited on.” In August Cathy flew to Richmond for her great niece’s wedding. “Fifteen of us were in our own little bubble and the wedding was in the office of the bride, so all was well and I was happy I went.” After three months of shutdown, she could swim laps at the Y by reservation. “I began to play bridge online with three friends, and then we moved to playing in a duplicate club. Playing online has many irritations as cards disappear too fast, hitting the wrong button, etc. I learned to Zoom which has led to some interesting talks and even a funeral that was in another state.”

Barbara Berger Goldman says: “It’s been a really quiet year. Because of the pandemic we stayed in North Carolina this year. No summer in Maine. I have had my groceries delivered. Haven’t been to a restaurant since a year ago February. Last takeout was in July. Craig and I have had our vaccines so we feel a little safer. We are hoping to go to Maine this summer. I’ve been knitting and reading. Not so bad. Stay well.”

Pat Lewis Goodman’s message: “What a year! I am answering you but I’m not well at the moment. In addition to the COVID miseries I am fighting a severe dizziness that has me pretty desperate. I keep hoping we will find a solution and allow me to get back to life. Meanwhile my third book is due to be published in July from Kelsay books. The family is well and very busy and I am fully vaccinated. I am trying to let these good things carry me through. Life should be good here at Cokesbury Village.”

Anne MacMillan Holst: “Greetings from sunny La Jolla! We are enjoying a lovely winter with flowers blooming everywhere. I moved in August to a retirement community in the heart of the village one block from the ocean. My dog and I enjoy daily walks around town. I have had both my shots and am hoping that things will open up soon. In the mean-time my wonderful daughters and granddaughter come by every weekend to visit and run errands. My granddaughter Chloe Marcus ’20 graduated from Wells in June via Zoom. She had four wonderful years there and now has returned to San Diego. Hope you stay safe and healthy! Best wishes to all.”

I can’t resist quoting most of the letter from Polly Pollock Leaf: “About two weeks after we moved into our little home in western Massachusetts, COVID struck and we were in isolation, didn’t get a chance to meet any of our neighbors until we were outside gardening last spring and even then contact was, and still is, minimal. Our third son and his family live nearby and on March 26 I have the calendar marked for our first indoor family gathering since I think it was February 20, 2020. At first Andy and I did what little we could to make our home livable since no contractors could enter. We pretty much lived in a mess until last fall but now are on our way to bringing the house into the 21st century. We Zoom with our family so actually we see more of them, albeit not in the flesh, than we have in years. All three sons have gone agricultural, one even to the point of raising chickens in his little Ocean Beach backyard until a neighbor complained about the early morning noises. The search is on for quiet chickens and I would appreciate any help I can get from classmates. Andy and I have gotten to know each other really well now, as I assume have the rest of you with your partner. During the daylight hours we manage to go our separate ways, but once the sun starts to set and one hour of news has come and gone, we have a glass or two of wine and go down the rabbit holes created by Netflix and Amazon Prime. We have watched so many foreign conspiracy series, crime series that we have lost count. In our dotage we get names mixed up, sometimes lose the plot, watch the same show a second time before finally realizing it, and very often nod off mid episode. Now that the weather is beginning to warm up we have been walking regularly around Historic Deerfield, which is just a few minutes away from us. Once mud season finishes we hope to take to the hiking trails that abound in this lovely area. And I am chomping at the bit to get out in our garden. God bless Priscilla “Chillah” Keith Kirby, Lil Vitanza Ney, Gail Zabriskie Wilson, Marta Samuels Weiner, Susan Becker Tier and Viki Graf Turner because we meet often on Facebook, as well as via emails and texts, and without them I never would have maintained what is left of my sanity during the last four years. Now feeling hopeful and very much looking forward to hearing from everyone.”

And from Audrey Mishuris Lewak: “We are both celebrating our birthdays this week—mine today [March 8] and Norm’s tomorrow. I celebrated by meeting my trainer

for a scheduled workout. As I am interested in strength training, she had me bench pressing 10 pound weights, two sets of 10 each, among other things. I was amazed that I was able to do it. I seem to be living in yoga pants, doing workouts in our ‘gym’ at home, going for walks, watching the market and trading stocks. Our three children and their spouses and children are well. I am still interested in art galleries (online) and collecting art when affordable. I am looking forward to a better 2021 than last year and wish all my classmates good health.”

Sandy Redmond continues to reside in Cleveland where she has had a great career in early childhood education. Last full-time job was directing the Children’s Museum of Cleveland. Semi-retired, she continues to supervise student teachers for Lakeland Community College and has become a potter there, working on bird sculptures. Family is scattered along the east coast for holiday visits. Also enjoys golf.

Barb Holtz Smith has had a rough year. Her retirement community went on lockdown to keep the residents safe from COVID; then her “lifeline,” her computer, went into the shop for a couple of months; she’s had problems with a shoulder, a 15-year-old knee replacement, and knuckles. “Thank God for my cat and the bird feeders outside.” Her daughter is deeply involved in the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. A program she initiated more than 20 years ago is in the process of going national. Barb’s older grandson is working on a masters in public administration with a grant funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Foundation. Her middle grandchild, who worked in two restaurants, suffered the most from the pandemic. His parents have helped him cope, and his drums have given him joy. Her granddaughter just graduated from nursing school and has accepted the offer to stay on at the hospital where she trained; she loves life in Vermont.

“What a strange year this has been wrote.” Nancy Mathias Granborg. “I have no complaints—I am well, active and still have fun, looking forward to more social fun now that I and most friends have had the vaccine! My ‘home’ is still Incline Village, NV. February 2020 I came to my condo in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii, planning to return in April. Poor me, I was stuck in Hawaii until August, because of COVID—cancelled flights and connections, not to mention the risk of disease! My daughter, who lives in California, also came—so instead

38 Spring 2020

ClassNotesof being housebound alone in the cold climate, I had both my daughter and son, who lives near, with me for company, the outdoors, and the beach and ocean to enjoy without tourists. It is comforting that Hawaii has been one of the safest places in the country—most restaurants stayed open for take-out, and Whole Foods and Amazon delivered! I have been back in Hawaii for this winter, and since I do not want to enjoy snow anymore, it is now my intention to move back here full time fairly soon. I have friends and activities in Incline that I will miss, but I still have old friends from when I lived here for 35 years! Aren’t old friends the best? My best wishes to all my strong classmates of ’60 and congratulations for being tough in tough times!”

Sylvia Wackenhut Kittredge’s long-term caregiver notified me that Sylvia died in Cocoa, FL, after a long illness, on March 2, 2021.

I left Bill at home and visited my son Martin and his family in January 2020, before they closed the country to all but permanent residents and citizens, and before Zora flew to South Korea for her second year of college. (She had a lovely time and told me that it was interesting in her second semester to take a course in German taught in Korean.) I’m in awe. I’ve knit at least 18 pairs of socks since the shutdown. Thank goodness for the “good intentions” on my ebook. To keep sane, Bill and I treat ourselves with 70% dark chocolate after meals. - Edie

Janell Tyler Fiarman shared a letter that is being printed verbatim:Dear Wells women of a certain age, We’re almost through! I can tell, not just because there’s a softness over the forsythia and everyone in the aqua aerobics class has gotten the vaccine, the nightly news is about hopes to reduce child poverty, and Wells just invited community members to come hear Bevely Tatum speak about race in the U.S. That’s all good, but there’s something more. Something in the air—we are going to get through this and not go back to the old normal. Of course the aqua aerobics class and our church and lecture series are still on Zoom, and we are experiencing the warmest March in history, and none of the Republicans voted for the stimulus package. But it still seems as though there is a break in the heaviness that has been with us. Ever since that day that we found out that Biden really had won, when neighbors and strangers here in our blue part of Boston in blue Massachusetts hurried out to the street to shout and dance and

wave to honking cars (even the bus drivers! even the UPS driver!) and the church down the street opened its doors so that anyone who wanted to ring the bells could create a wild peal, ever since that day it seems as though things might really change. Of course there is such a need for police reform/judicial reform—though Massachusetts got a start on it this past session—and of course we Americans haven’t come near to figuring out what to do about children at our border...Edie and Becker, I know you can’t put any of this in our alum news [However, we did.] You could say Sidney and I are still living. Trying to live as fully as we can, surviving marriage by avoiding discussions of Israeli politics but fully engaged in more local affairs, helped by book groups and tutoring and family and church (for me) and friends. Still seeing Masterpiece Theatre pieces through the lens of Miss Bohanon’s take on the British class system. Still remembering the day Frances Perkins came to give us a chapel talk. Still remembering the way the sycamores in front of Main gleamed silver in the moonlight. Wondering why Wells still addresses my mail to Mrs. Sidney Fiarman.

Look at us! We’ve survived a frightening pandemic and a horrifying sedition/insurrection.

First up is Cam Roeder Nielsen who echoed a common truth: ”No real news.” It was “full of canceled trips, too many books, too many puzzles, too many online bridge games, and I cleaned every closet.” The arrival of great grandson Nathan Nielsen was the big thrill.

Lil Vitanza Ney says hello to the whole class, “Glad we are still in touch. I’m amazed that the friendships formed so long ago still persist today.” She’s grateful for it. [Me, too but I’m not surprised; we were always a unique class—in unity if not basketball.] Daughter Aubin and family live near, in a lake community. Such wonderful propinquity has allowed Lil to maintain close relationships with grands Olivia and Alexandra, now in college and high school, respectively.

Elinor Bradt Posey is “sad that this year also had no Reunion.” Ellie doesn’t know yet if her high school class will be able to celebrate their 65th. “It was such a long time ago but I actually remember the day itself!” Ellie’s father has slides of the event but time has savaged them after 60 years. “They may have survived better than I have!”

Jane Carlson Robb summed it up—the Year of the Rat, the sad, scary time when “no news—I’m simply home is the best news I can report. Safely made it to the miraculous vaccine.” The Robbs haven’t seen any family since Christmas 2019 but have kept track via the totally unsatisfying Zoom experience. They will reunite at their Santa Barbara place come June, only a year-and-a-half late. Jane’s pandemic plans included cleaning out drawers, closets and the like, organizing bags and boxes of old photos, but “they were not sane goals, so I quit! [Good for you, Jane.] Books and Netflix were better.

Two book clubs helped Karen Smith Rosenbaum, combined with swimming and long walks. She looks forward to resuming photography, when she goes back into the world, and will be able to emerge from the house without the mask and gloves. Zoom and the backyard location have kept them all within sight of each other. To fight the isolation depression, “I think about how lucky we are compared to so many others.” She’s feeling hopeful since the regime changed, “the evil clown” gone and COVID spared their family and friends.

Judy Blake Schumacher is happily relocated to a condo in Hingham, MA and has plunged into all the activities offered by the retirement community. Now she’s near her children and grands, all of whom are reassured that she’s secure and “starting a new chapter.” Rattling around in the big Cape house alone seemed less than sensible, so she made the move.

Barb Bravo Smith turned to reading long, long novels to help her through and made it out of the house daily thanks to a new Australian shepherd puppy. “One thinks one remembers how much trouble a puppy is, but, trust me, one does not.” Barb wonders if maybe it was easier in her younger days. Everybody is healthy. Her pilot son is back flying (with a new bladder), her daughter is in remission, and the son who lost a leg several years ago just ran his first marathon. “Can you imagine how acutely we are all aware of our good fortune?”

Leave it to MJ Mather Snyder to come up with a precise description of her status: “David and I have survived this year without getting the virus. We are still talking to each other. We even contemplate taking a trip somewhere…anywhere. And then we pull back. Now that we’ve had our second shots and spring is coming, things are looking more

promising. We’ll see.” MJ wants us all to “stay well and come out of this awful year intact.”

Here’s Marcia Specht’s list of gratitudes, now that she’s fully vaccinated and well: “Netflix, as I binged on The Queen’s Gambit [me too, Marcia] and Bridgerton [not so much]; Zoom lets me take courses from my favorite LIU/post English prof, and keeps me in touch with family: Kindle, on which I can read anything; my telephone, on which I have uncharacteristically long conversations; the grocery store and doctors’ offices, my only outside ventures; my condo, where the HOA takes care of snow removal, critical this past February. Having said all that, I will be glad for this to be over so that I can hug someone.” [That’s perfect, Marcia.]

Betsy Truex Steele invoked the magic chant: No news is good news. “The last 12 months we’ve done nothing but we’re alive and kicking and survived the two shots without side effects. Watching TV together has been fun, given the right series (e.g. Homeland, The Crown) that monopolize us for a month.” Singing, a major part of Betsy’s activities, is all suspended and is missed. They’re in touch with the whole big family, within 50 miles away, although not in person. Zoom! Two of the grandsons are in college, two of the girls are applying, and the three smaller ones have time to go.

Viki Graf Turner happily announces her first great-grandchild, Ames, who lives with his parents in Colorado, so there’s no holding him in her arms, yet. Granddaughter Allie married this past summer and everybody came! “Getting ‘shot’ seems to be the major preoccupation these days,” she observes. Of course there’s always bridge (online) and they are able to play tennis, masked. Lots of dog walking and errands to run, sometimes just for a change of scenery. Viki is hoping “we’ll be able to reune before we are too feeble.”

Marta Samuels Weiner takes full advantage of Ithaca and Cornell, and always has. She’s taking two classes online, one of which is taught by a theater veteran so it revolves around specific themes: “Sex on Broadway” was the most recent. The two sets of twins her sons have provided are great, and bets the two-year-olds are fun. (Don’t you all miss having babies around?) Part of her routine is physically daunting. She explains, “It’s a cold winter so I walk every day in what’s left of our shopping mall.” Brrr! Remember? Come spring she’ll shift to one of Cayuga Lake’s parks.

Wells.edu 39

ClassNotesGail Zabriskie Wilson and Peter partake of all the activities offered at their senior community: like aerobics, golf, and long walks “in the sunshine under the swaying palms.” Restrictions are not too onerous, closed dining rooms not a problem: dinner is delivered. The whole clan made it to Maine last summer, at some point, everyone tested, fully PPE’d and shielded. Mostly outdoors and they had the groceries delivered. Now the Wilsons are expecting Aubin and Anne for a long visit in late April, a real treat. Most of the grandkids are studying remotely, getting jobs, and working.

Now me. I’m awestruck by all you swimmers, tennis players, long walkers. Wow! I have avoided anything physical. My excuse? Leg and back issues married to lazy lazy. I had intended to whip this place into shape—closets, drawers, windows. Forget about it. Holed up since February 4, 2020, that’s more than a year of nothing. Only two accomplishments: gaining weight and getting thousands of photos into albums, which started out highly organized by theme/people—until I drowned and just shoved the snaps into any empty slot willy-nilly. Of course, I’ve read and read, more books than I can count. We’re all vaccinated, except Beckett, 11. Pandemic traumatized, marketing gave birth to ritual and I wipe down every item with the relevant wipes before stowing. All this masked and gloved. Fruits and veggies soaked in a mixture of Dial dish soap (99.9%) free, alcohol, Lysol, and, just for safety’s sake, a touch of Clorox. Luckily, I didn’t kill anybody. I’m back to normal, but I still wipe down everything. Why are all those people at the beach, going to parties, dining in restaurants? Such reckless behavior. So I stay home. I feel terrible for all the kids who have been affected. When I remember going to Wells for the first time, and what joy I felt, freshman year in particular, I mourn for all those youngsters locked alone in their rooms, my granddaughters Miller and Bradley included. I remember it all and treasure those memories—and all of you. You have my enduring love. - Becker


Caroline “Sukie” Campbell Knott wrote, “We have no sensational news. Bob and I are still sheltering in place and reading lots of good books.

One of our son’s is still with us and working remotely from Columbia University. He is still doing our grocery shopping. The big news is having had our first COVID shot with the second due soon (March). Spring is soon approaching.”

“Not much news here.” wrote Nan Leeming. “Life in Ithaca has been quiet. We are all looking forward to spring and getting all our shots. I have been able to see my two sons on a fairly regular basis. Reading a lot of books and Zooming on the computer.”

Joanna Crowe Dillon wrote, “At last the beauty and hope of spring arrived! I am well, exercise with a trainer once a week and do Tai Chi with a leader—classes are via Zoom. This winter has been cold but with less snow, so thank heavens I can still walk the beach and watch the tides coming and going. I haven’t been able to see Tricia and Tracey—almost two years. They plan to come home in July if all goes well. France is at a snail’s pace in getting out the vaccine thus far. I hope all ’59ers are doing well wherever you may reside.”

Susanne Whiting Slayton said she does not have much significant news “as is the case with many of us who have not been moving around for over a year. I had to move up the road three months before COVID took over. The nice little carriage house which I had been renting was sold along with the landlord’s larger house next door. New owners are using that location for a second home when they come to Vermont to ski, etc. I did find another small rental, still close to both daughters. It is very pleasant, just wouldn’t allow a cat! My last one had died shortly before the move. Because family is close, I get all kinds of free service such as snow shoveling, landscaping improvements and indoor house care, especially when my back has one of its spells. (My grandmother used to speak that way!) I do keep in contact with Ann Davidson Moorefield, my last roommate at Wells. I have tried to find Terri Goodfriend Lynch, but am no longer sure of her whereabouts. It is nice to get all of the emails from the President and have an idea how Wells is growing and changing with the times.”

“Given that the pandemic and deep snow have kept us on lockdown,” Lynn Rider Jacobsen replied “there is not much news to tell. Pre pandemic we did enjoy our time in Florida and the annual lunch gathering with Ann Pohlman Lang and Trixie Clyde Girolamo. We also escaped for part of the summer to Martha’s Vineyard—a much welcomed change of lockdown scenery. I

Pre-pandemic at the Wells luncheon in Florida: Trixie Clyde Girolamo ’59, Lynn Rider Jacobsen ’59, and Ann Pohlman Lang ’59.

appreciate receiving all the news from Wells and am reassured by the manner in which they are handling all the current issues. We have some health issues to deal with but are grateful to be basically well and count our blessings daily. Wish the best to all of you.”

Liz May Groskoph and Ralph are doing well and hoping COVID will soon be past. “We were able to spend two months at the beach in Florida and hope to return to our Upstate New York home soon. We are much encouraged to hear that Wells has weathered the pandemic storm and pray that they will be able to keep on, keeping on!”

Barbara “Petey” Dunnell Clough and Richie “are still alive! No one in our family has had COVID. We haven’t seen our Chicago son Jon and family for a year and a half. Haven’t seen son Rick and wife for almost two years. However, we do see the local family every Wednesday night. Adam, his ex-wife, his three children, and two grandchildren (our greats) who squeal. My granddaughter and I started out drinking wine on the porch, but it got too cold so we moved to the garage, beautifully decorated by the grandsons, but everyone hovered around the space heater, which was not COVID smart. Now Richie and I sit and eat in the living room and everyone else is in the dining room. They do come in to talk with us. We are really lucky to sort of live in the woods, I can walk around whenever I want to. I’ve also enjoyed spending a couple of days in the gardens.”

1958CYNTHIA FERGUSON CAMPBELL535 Mountain Ave Apt. 16New Providence, NJ [email protected]

M’LIZ CAMPBELL PARKHURST681 Fairfax WayWilliamsburg, VA [email protected]

PATRICIA SMITH WATERBURY7955 16th Mnr Apt. A103Vero Beach, FL [email protected]

1957ELLIN MESSOLONGHITES JOHNSON4280 SW 78th Ave.Portland, OR [email protected]

I’m sad to begin with Kitty Sauerman Albertson, whose husband Tommy died at their home on Block Island just before the pandemic, on February 8, 2020. He was an integral part of our class history, a frequent visitor from Williams, a successful lawyer and delightful man, civic minded, mildly irreverent on occasion and eternally loving. Tommy was always a part of any Wells gathering; Fletcher and I saw the Albertsons in New York City as well as at Emily Shaw lunches in Pound Ridge most recently. So, many months later, we send our sympathy to Kitty and her daughters.

Betsy Boveroux clearly didn’t spend the “lost” year à la Tom Hanks (rueing in a March Wall St. Journal that he spent 2020 largely playing solitaire). She wrote: “One of the earliest jokes on the pandemic was an appointment calendar, Day, Day, Day, etc. Hard to relate news when not much happens. So, some books I have read include these. XX Brain, Lisa Masconi: How to reduce your chances of dementia. If you can keep your waist to less than 30 inches and follow a Mediterranean, diet you have a good shot. Lots of thoughts about conversations with your doctor. The Splendid and the Vile: the first 100 days of Churchill as Prime Minister. What a strange fellow he was. Moon Tiger, Penelope Lively: memories of an unusual if not particularly likable woman. Beautifully written. The Warmth of Other Suns, Isabel Wilkerson: The 70 year migration of African Americans to Northern and Western cities.

40 Spring 2020

ClassNotesGreat book. Oil and Marble, Stephany Storey: Not a great writer but fun to read. Evicted, Matthew Desmond: Now a Sociologist at Princeton, but in 2008-9 embedded himself in the wrong side of the tracks of Milwaukee, got to know people who were desperate for housing, assembled tons of information. A tough read but very valuable.” [I was lucky enough to have a long phone talk with Betsy mid-March and enjoyed hearing about her productive year. Themed Zooms and a lively physical therapist made the year less oppressive].

Lolly Hill Clayton writes: “Cheers to everyone! Now to spill the tea, as the kids say. The Claytons stayed in Maine all winter and missed Florida, and I managed to get some superficial frostbite on several toes before my boots arrived. While in lock down, I worked on genealogy research, painted, and Zoomed. I grew dahlias, raspberries and fed the birds. Jim rows and bikes indoors and listens to lectures. We enjoyed yard visits from family close by and from our new great-grandson. Three grandchildren currently attend Cornell, Brown, and Northwestern. One grandson was married and another wedding is slated this summer.”

Valerie Hansen Cross has survived this COVID year quite well, partly due to the excellent care at Medford Leas, a CCRC, celebrating its 50th anniversary and founded by Lewis Barton, the father of Nancy Barton Barclay’s ’56. With an official arboretum as a campus, with many woodland trails, Val herself is active on the Trails Committee. She has been able to see most of her family, including five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, all exceptional! Tennis, golf and bridge occupy the rest of her time.

More sad news from Judy Reid Fitz-Patrick, my freshman roommate, to whom I introduced her husband, Jerry, during that first year. They were a perfect couple in many ways: India born, he was British via France, Belgium, and Bermuda; she, a Canadian from Toronto. Living in Newport News most of their life, they’d moved to assisted living fairly recently. It was a huge pleasure to keep contact with the Fitz-Patricks all my life, Spence Sweet and I having visited them; Fletcher and I, likewise. Jerry suffered compromised health during the last years and died October 10, 2020. It is painful to lose the wonderful husbands of my two equally wonderful Wells roommates. Continuing sympathy to my sweet Judy, bravely meeting life despite the difficulties of a stroke some years back.

Mary Kniffin Gillett said, “I don’t have much going on in my life. Tom, who had been living with me for 12 years, gradually started losing his memory and his son took him to live with his family in January 2020. I had been married twice and then Tom and I decided there was no reason to get married. That left me alone and the virus arrived. I had taken a writing class with a friend many years ago, so I decided to write the story of my life. That kept me busy for a few months and it was fun remembering so many great times. Since then I have cleaned out closets and drawers, but have so much more to do. I have lived in my home for 60 years now and it needs so much help. Five years ago I started with a personal trainer after colon cancer and the exercise has done wonders with my body and health. So every day I walk and exercise with weights. My family is all well and during this last year either my son or daughter would shop for me so that I could stay home. I have had both antivirus shots and little by little I will get out more. This has been a horrid year for so many people, children without school and so many losing their jobs. I hope you and our fellow classmates are well and safe.”

Suzanne Love Huml dictated to me this from her own Journal of the Plague Year: “I continue expressing my creative skills through a weekly seminar and discussion, entitled World Affairs 2021, at Elevate Care near Chicago, though now in a newsletter.” One of her tours de force was a trio of simulated conversations with (gasp) FDR, Elvis, and President Biden. Her fourth book is in the works—an anthology of poetry, memories, short stories, quotes. (Mrs. Schemm is beaming down from Heaven.) Suzanne’s extended family at Elevate Care has resulted in her brushing up her Wells Spanish and cultivating many new Latinx friends, endearing herself to the staff in their native tongue, as well as another in Wells German. Now in her new digs, Suzanne wants to be quoted thusly: “I’m in a nursing home, and I love it.”

Sibyl McCormac Groff and I have a lot of phone talks, with or without the virus menace. She has a lively New York City life and was able to work out on her York Avenue apartment roof during clement times. Lots of contact with her beloved Victorian Society and many other do-good groups. We’re all looking forward to a Rockefeller Center reunion even without a post-prandial stop at the ‘21’ Club, alas.

Betsy Ridall Henry says she “is still kicking, only not as high,” as

her mother used to say. She enjoys living at Quarry Hill, a retirement community in Camden, ME, for the past dozen years. Same town as a couple of other classmates, Sandy McCloud Covington and Lolly Clayton, although of course they haven’t gotten together recently. She’s doing a lot of escape reading and enjoys e-mailing with friends all over the country.

Anne Koenig Larson survived this past year of quarantine with no problems at all, “thanks to three incredible children who took over my life to make sure I had everything. I am scheduled for my first vaccine shot tomorrow, so by the time this news goes to press, I will have received both shots and hope everyone else will have also. My big news is that my youngest grandson has had a wonderful first year at Virginia Tech and I am so impressed with all this university has done to protect its students. And on February 11 I became a great grandmother for the second time, this time a girl!!! Parker Rose Jackson is, of course, a scrumptious and beautiful little girl and her cousin can hardly wait for her to be able to play. Grayson Koenig Curtner is a year and a half. I send my best to you all, praying for a better year and hopeful that all my classmates will stay safe, healthy and happy.”

Betsy McConnell: “The past year will be remembered as the year spent keeping up groups’ activities and friendships as well as family relationships on a computer screen. Not satisfying to watch one’s great-grandchildren’s images from week-to-week on the screen, growing up before one’s very eyes. No matter, ’though. It beats never seeing them at all. Also very grateful to have a loving and healthy spouse at home. So I have done lots of virtual meetings interspersed with an occasional masked visit to the tennis court, long walks, and various projects to keep busy at home. (Even took up making masks, after learning that a new sewing machine could be ordered from home and delivered to my doorstep). Now vaccinated, catching up on doctor and dentist visits and a much-needed haircut.”

Jean Richardson McKeon was a faithful and comforting visitor to Kitty Sauerman Albertson after her loss in 2020, surmounting challenges to travel mid-winter to get to Block Island. [Bravo, Jean. I remember how graciously you and your family boarded me during my Amherst visits in the ’50s.]

Suel Withus Novak and I com-municate periodically when we’re not precluded from al fresco dining in the Santa Barbara/Montecito area, where the Novaks have been

working on facelifting a new house. Despite the plethora of interesting neighbors [Al Gore and Oprah: are you listening?], Suel has not mentioned Sightings of Sussexes.

Jan Lutton Olt “hanging in there these days in Washington, DC I’d hoped that all the political unrest would settle down after Election Day, but not so. Now we all know that it went on and on to the Georgia Senate Election, and even on to the January 6 break-in at the Capitol. For that, I did have sort of a front row seat, before I knew it was so serious. Granddaughter Madison Graham had been working at the Department of Agriculture, and Security had sent her home to work that morning, in case of problems. Her home for five days that week as she moved between apartment rentals, was my spare bedroom, so here she was at 2:00 p.m. January 6, diligently working her office computer at the dining table, when she called out, ‘Oh, they’ve broken into the Capitol!’, and we all know what happened then.”

On a whim I wrote Suzanne Crelly Nash about a Princeton academic luminary-cum-radical featured in The New York Times and got a provocative response from her with first-hand recollections.

Mary Lou Lehmann Peterson has moved from her home in St. Helena, CA, to assisted living 10 minutes from daughter Soren. Gayle Rich Roberts and Mary Lou have talked during the past year.

Roxanne West Powning and Al are still living at Moorings Park in Naples and both doing well.

Crary Pearson Reynolds writes: “Moved in with daughter Crary Reynolds Brooks ’87, and her family in New Jersey. Best decision ever. Out in the garden every day, walking the mile perimeter of the yard most days until the snow fell (22 inches, eight the next week and more). Fun for a couple weeks with fires in the fireplace, cocoa, books, puzzles, sudoku and needlepoint until fanny fatigue set in—the beginnings of sittings disease. Zoom a wonderful idea! Cannot wait to see all. Many thanks to Betsy McConnell.” [Zoom plans ideally will have taken place after the class news went to Wells, by the way].

Gayle Rich Roberts: “What a year it has been with more to come, which includes Zoom as our new nest friend! I am pleased with the politics: the new, very visible-position of women from NPR to the cabinet and the Vice President. I have done

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ClassNotesa large volume of knitting, from throw pillows to blankets, plus some gardening and general sorting of stuff. I also do some elaborate cooking and enjoy seeing friends on a sunny, pleasantly warm deck.”

Nancy Dye Robinson and I have had to substitute phone talks for Palo Alto visits. She was safely ensconced and early vaccinated in lovely Channing House there in the Bay Area. Her son John works in Washington on political campaigns, so we have no end of lively conversations.

Sue Standfast-Wright wrote: “My husband Ted passed away in January. I am adjusting alright, but miss him a lot. I had a mild case of COVID last March, but am getting the vaccine now. Granddaughter Jessie is celebrating her 16th birthday this month. Plenty of snow this winter, but looking forward to spring.” Many of us had met Theodore Paul Wright, Jr., Ph.D [he and our doc Sue were truly a “paradox”], celebrated at many United States’ groves of academe, a two-time Fulbright professor with a very long CV. [Google him]. He and Sue traveled to all seven continents. Fletcher and I loved having them here for dinner before the pandemic.

Via Anne Larson our Florida “stringer” (as in journalism), also source of news from Roxanne: “Gail Benedict Van Winkle sends her best to everyone. She and her kitty cat have spent their first winter in their Cape Cod home and, even though it is considered a summer home, they have been as warm and cozy as can be. She is surrounded by friends and neighbors, who are also year rounders at the Cape, and she is as happy as can be.” Thanks, Anne, for birddogging Sunshine State news as well as elsewhere. And I followed up with a call to Gail, finishing her first full year on the Cape, seeing snow for the first time in years. Osterville provided a great place for a pandemic year, with friends and support at the ready. And did we know that Gail’s Benedict ancestory provided a link with Ezra Cornell and that the Benedict family were instrumental in the founding of the University of Vermont? Ezra got around.

Georgia Cortright Weathers cheerily responds: “In good health here in Alexandria Bay. Kind of enjoying the enforced ’sabbatical’ with no meetings, no open mics, no reports. I continue to write a column for a local paper. Talked with Sue Standfast-Wright after Ted’s death. Sent her six pages of memories and a 67-year-old Christmas card she drew featuring Tony the Flea. Actually,

I’ve saved many Christmas cards over the years, from Glynn Robinson Betts, Judith “Judai” Warren and Elizabeth “Liesel” Moak Skorpen.”

An early spring and late summer improved the pandemic year in Oregon. Fletcher and I languished on our enlarged deck and met all the dogs within a two-mile radius on our walks. On the day I moved mushroom compost into the new raised planter boxes, my Fit-Bit clocked over 20,000 steps, never to be duplicated, however. Luckily dodging the virus, I also survived a yellow jacket bite when six years of weekly allergy shots merely localized the attack. The first time bitten, I turned tomato red all over my body (indicating a life-threatening allergy) and was vigorously pumped with epinephrine in the ER. By the time this hits print, we’ll have returned to Costco and Nordstrom Rack, among other COVID-denied places of interest. By the time we read this in the spring, we all should have (hopefully) experienced the Fauci Ouchie, not an original term, of course. - Ellin

1956MARILYN SANDERS FIERTZ26455 S. Tamiami Trail Apt. 103Bonita Springs, FL [email protected]

Mary Lou Foradora Webber shared, “2020 was an up and down year for us. Among the pleasant—three weeks at the New Jersey Shore. Thanks to the pandemic, all our adult grandchildren who were working from home worked at the Shore with us. But the sad is and always will be sad, was the death of our son-in-law, due to glioblastoma in March…such a loss. About our handling of the pandemic—Ross and I are very fortunate to have hobbies we love. Ross’s is painting and mine is scrap quilting. Walking about two or three miles a day is refreshing and beneficial. Also a plus in our lives is having classmates Sally Clark Brummer, Nancy Barton Barclay, and Eleanor Diederich Pennington nearby.”

Sue Kendall Scammell wrote, “Hello to my dear friends of 1956. The quiet of the Corona virus restrictions brought time to kick back. We are still in our Cape Cod house with the help of a home health aide for Frank and me twice a week. Frank uses a walker and I walk with a cane after knee surgery last year. My dear sister Winnie Wannamaker ’52 is now 91 and still spending the winter in Naples, FL and the rest near her family in her house on the pond in South Carolina. I see Robin Hogan McIntyre ’81, who’s summer house is right next door, for a chat in the summer.”

Cornelia “Keela” Messenger Rogers and Jim continue to live in the same house they bought 55+ years ago. “I still work part-time at our local bookstore. I’m vice president of our local library board and secretary of our local beautification board. We both continue civic and church involvement and are thankful to have each other and some of our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren living in Lake Placid with us.”

The year 2020 seemed very hopeful to Irene Hirschman Brown. “Even years have been milestones in my life with birth 1934, graduations (high school) 1952 and Wells 1956 and marriage 1956. No more am I proud to be an “Even.” Never have I been happier to kick the old year out the door! Bill and I moved to Luther Crest Retirement Community in Allentown, PA where we will celebrate our 4th year in September. This is one of the older established apartments and cottages in the area, and with so many choices available we are glad we chose it. It is really ‘the residents’ that are most important in the decision, as they will be your close neighbors. Things went well, until COVID closed down all our activities, meetings, outings, dining etc. Things are very gradually being restarted. Three times a week I enjoy swimming, which helps my sore back as a result of a fall on the golf course causing a broken collar bone and a compression fracture in my spine. Last summer Bill, our daughter and I spent some time in Aurora at the Rowland Inn. Wonderful spot to enjoy the lake, Inn dining, touring, etc. Our daughter stayed in the ’MacKenzie’ room with its vibrant and eclectic decor and loved it. Wells College was closed down, but the grounds and buildings looked good and there was a Saturday market next to the boat house and stretching along the lakeside with vendors of various goods. Aurora is truly a superb town to enjoy summertime at its best.”

1955ANN GREENER OTTAVIANO275 Date Palm Rd. Apt. 405Vero Beach, FL [email protected]

1954KATHERINE VAN WORMER HOWARD5729 36th Ave. SouthMinneapolis, MN [email protected]

Sympathies to Judy Herbeveaux Sullivan on the death of her husband and Ann Olson on the death of her daughter.

Invie Vogel Jessup and Dick “can happily report that we are in good health, and now have received our second shot, which makes it possible for our children and wives to take Dick out west on the yearly ski trip. He has really missed his skiing. We’ve been pretty much self-quarantined except for grocery shopping but we have a great back porch and neighborhood to walk in, and our son has us to dinner once a week with his 94-year-old mother-in-law, plus our daughter and granddaughter live nearby also, so we are not as isolated as it feels. One of our twin grandsons is having a summer wedding up north, with friends planning to come from all over the country...we’ll see how that works, these are certainly different times. This will coincide with Dick’s 90th, so we are keeping our fingers crossed. The news from Wells sounds as though all are working hard to keep it alive and meeting all the necessary standards to keep it functioning well. Weren’t we lucky to have been there at such a good time as the fifties, which seemed carefree? Take care & stay healthy.” For the last three years Sally Hayes Dorn has been “living in a senior community which suits me very well. My health is good, family is nearby, and I have a small dog, Nina. I still go to New Hampshire every summer to see my cousins and extended family. My boys are all married, and I have eight grandchildren. My vision is poor so I don’t drive anymore. I would love to hear from any classmates.” Florence Dowdell Fasanelli has been reading through pages of reports as she wrote the history of a grant-giving program she had designed (and directed). It convinced her there is much more we need to do to reach equality in just math. “The MAA/Tensor Program for Women and Girls reached 25 years in August 2020. Being able to watch seemingly endless hearings meant…for the first time…I learned how our government actually functions and January 6 increased my shame as a lifelong educator. How could we have done such a poor job with so many? My daughter Antonia’s work as a lawyer for homeless people has been overwhelming with so many, many people unable to find any kind of work. (If you have more than one home please give to your local homeless organizations…the amount of one home’s month’s utility can be a start). After twelve years in Baltimore, she is back in Washington now as the executive director of the National Homelessness Law Center.”

42 Spring 2020

ClassNotesMarilyn Wenner Gordon lives in an assisted living facility and they were well taken care of during the year. “No one got sick with the virus. We were all vaccinated in January. We are waiting for friends and family to get vaccinated so they can visit us. Classes have begun again, as has communal dining, card games, swimming, billiards and church services. All the things that make living here great.”

Yvonne Koser Kun’s only news this past year is that she moved from her home where she lived for 25 years in New London, NH to a lovely apartment just around the corner. “It is independent living, but has many services if you want them, a most unusual place. I was a bit concerned if the move would actually take place in the midst of the pandemic, but fortunately it did with no problems. I continue to keep in touch with Kathie Van Wormer Howard, Nancy Dobson McGilliard, Mabel Depue O’Brien and Marilyn Wenner Gordon, so grateful for their friendship all these years. Sending my very best wishes to everyone.” Flora Howie Logie says, “We are feeling our years, but Broadmead, our retirement community, has done an excellent job during the pandemic. Our big exciting news is our first great granddaughter. Collins just had her first birthday and she is a joy.” The year of isolation gave Nancy Dobson McGilliard a lot of time to read, do puzzles, enjoy her new iPad, and be comfortable with herself. “I have had both shots and things are opening up a bit at my facility. My daughter Sarah has shopped for me and just seeing her at my door has helped. She has also been able to take me to medical and dental appointments. My health is good, my hearing poor, but my eyes are holding up just fine. I have liked attending church at my computer. I think of our time at Wells fondly and cherish friendships. Greetings to all of you.” Alice Hanawalt Morgan is delighted to see Nancy Dobson McGilliard almost every day. “We have had our second Moderna shots and are pleased to be eating in the dining room three days a week and just now can have two visitors in our apartments, with masks of course. Unfortunately my children are in Minneapolis and Seattle so we will be staying with Zoom.” Mabel Depue O’Brien is fine. “Maine is starting to open up. I’ve had one shot and am so happy. I’m still somewhat active with walking and biking on the flats. No more travel except for family. Son Conall lives

nearby and bails me out of constant computer problems (self-inflicted).” Ann Lennox Olson wrote: “2020 was not a good year for me as I lost my eldest daughter to lung cancer in April and I was diagnosed with lung cancer in July. I am having Keytruda infusions every three weeks, and it seems to be shrinking the tumor. On a happier note, my first great, Peter IV, was born in August. Things seem to be getting better, but I am still double masking and distancing. Hugs to all.” Daphne Harrison Pfaff moved to a senior facility in Naples, FL. Children have the house now. “As soon as we moved here, David fell and had a serious brain bleed. Operations later, I became our only driver with lots of appointments, etc. I am not so sure Florida is happy this 88-year-old driver is still on the streets! Acquiring great grandsons now—girls seem to have stopped two generations ago. Only real news is, I am alive and functioning.” All is well with Sallie Youngman Ransom “masked & isolated! Still in Palm Beach Gardens—30 plus years! Jack has been gone for 19 years. Son Frederick and wife Julia live in New Hampshire, son Robert and his wife in Scottsdale, AZ and son David and his wife are currently in New Orleans. Two grandchildren—grown and working are in California and Vermont. We all try to gather for Christmas and Thanksgiving—usually in New England—hopefully the world will let us this year!” Louise Veprovsky Reebel and Hal are trying to maintain status-quo and are grateful for all their blessings & wonderful memories. Hal will be 100 in July. Judith Herbuveaux Sullivan sends greetings to all. “Colorado was so peaceful until so many moved here. My husband died in September from Parkinson’s and a stroke. I live in Centennial, CO, in a townhouse near two sons. Our daughter lives in Vail. Our oldest son passed away six years ago. I keep busy with church and friends. I have happily had both shots.”

Bettye Bennett Speed wrote, “Sallie Youngman Ransom, has been a wonderful phone companion to Joan “JJ” Dordan Lyons, Carolyn “Lindy” Hill Finnegan, and me. I lost my MacNair after almost 64 years last June. But I am still chugging around—albeit with a walker. Hips deteriorating after all these years.” [Our condolences to Bettye]. As for me, I am fine, had my second shot and have a pacemaker. What a feeling of freedom. The quarantine

has not been too bad for me. I have a large back porch and I sat out there with friends until the middle of November (swaddled in heavy clothes and boots!). Our children stay much the same. All well so far. The sad news is that Kit died in July, at 93, at home in his bed as he wished. Not COVID—just age. It was a blessing as he was failing. We will be having a memorial jubilee for him in July of this year, when everyone should have been vaccinated. On the bright side, the quarantine has been somewhat blunted by my sister Jo’s announcement of her first grandchild—at 81! Everyone has been so excited at the prospect, and Gigi was born at the end of February. Jo is over the moon. Wishing all of you health, love, and a much happier 2021.

- Kathie


Edith Blaney Greene wrote, “My husband died in a fall and I have now moved to Ohio to live with my daughter. She has gotten me into bird watching and the natural history of the part of Ohio—we counted nineteen species of birds in our section of the Great Backyard Bird Count this winter. I am having a hard time getting used to the very cold weather after my 31 years in Daly City, next to the Pacific Ocean. I now have two great-grandchildren who I am anxious to spend some time with in Maine this summer. I do get around a bit on paved trails with my rollator and we visit local parks in this area. I talked with Jenna Hardy Speer before my move here. There are book clubs and excellent libraries here and I’m near my oldest son, who is a professor at Dennison University in neighboring Granville. Hoping to get all children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren together at the family island in Maine this summer.”

Sadly, Ginny Nash Wheeler’s husband Willard “Pud” passed away in December. “I sold my house in Miami after 37 years and am moving to my home in New Hampshire that we have owned for 20 years. It was a very difficult year for the family but we are all moving forward. Four of my daughters are in the north, which will be very supportive for me. I talk to Lynn Minton Bower often but cannot see her because of COVID. She has been living in Juno Beach for some time.”

“Annus Horribilus”, Queen Elizabeth’s phrase, most aptly describes this year for Mary Jane Scriggins Jarvis. “I have so far eluded the virus, as has my family. Fortunately, I have moved to a lovely assisted living facility, so I will be receiving the first wave of the vaccine along with health workers. Heidi, Roger and Paul (my daughter, son and son-in-law) deserve medals of honor for their heroic efforts to close down my apartment and get me settled in my new apartment in assisted living during the COVID pandemic. My son Eric was unable to help as he is now living far away in Prescott, AZ. Thank heavens for FaceTime, so we can have family ‘visits’! My other blessing has been Joe Biden’s victory in the election. My anxiety level has been so high over the past four years waking up each day and wondering what terrible thing had taken place while I slept. So I welcome the sanity of the next few years. I hope you are all well and happy and have managed to have a good life in spite of the pandemic and its damage in so many respects to our lives. This too shall pass. May 2021 be a year of happiness and recovery!”

1952ROSEMARIE WIRTH KRENITSKY575 Osgood St. 1212North Andover, MA [email protected]

1951JANET POOLE REINHARDT723 Oak OvalMechanicsburg, PA [email protected]

1950JUDI BLANK GOLDSMITH3550 SW Bond Ave, Apt. 1804Portland, OR [email protected]

SARAH LEIDT HOCKINGS200 Library PlacePrinceton, NJ [email protected]

Well, Sally and I had slim pickins’ this year, but we did hear from a few of you.

I am going to quote Betty Schurmeier Christensen (aka Bones) directly because it made a major impression on me. She says “Hopefully I can write something that will make some sense but I can’t see worth a damn nor remember what happened a day ago, much less what happened during the last year. The macular degeneration is pretty bad, my balance is bad, I fell and had three compression fractures and now

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ClassNoteshave round the clock care. I did get to go to Beaufort to have some time with Crick’s cousins. Hope everyone else is well and healthy although we are all getting mighty old.”

Lily Parssinen Delphey lives in a senior residence in Albany where there is dining, transportation, and many activities during ordinary times. They even had their shots on the premises. Her family is not in the area but scattered from coast to coast. Lily has one great-grandson whom she hopes to meet soon and another due in April. She’s also looking forward to two formal weddings, which were postponed. She too is aware of the passing years and hopes to contact us next year.

Peggy Beatty Finch says she has not much in the way of news. They are all vaccinated and they get out and walk and socialize at the prescribed distance.

Katherine Silvernail Johns says that when I reported that there were only 25 of us left she felt the need to “squeak up” and join the “team.” Her life is going smoothly, she has no aches or pains, has had both vaccinations, and is looking forward to her annual (except last year) trip to Hilton Head with her two daughters. She also anticipates gathering with family in the Fayetteville-Manlius area with social distancing due to the virus. Katherine has not seen her youngest of six great-grandchildren except for waves through a porch window. [So say we all as we add new words to our vocabulary.]

As for me, my living arrangements are similar to Lily’s, and everyone in my building received both doses of the vaccine in February. Health-wise I’m doing fine, although I did have a malignant tumor removed from my bladder last May. I also didn’t get to do the zipline at the Grand Canyon for my 90th, but my family made me an incredible, socially distant birthday party, which lasted from morning until evening. It included a volume of the NY Times front pages for 90 years and something called a Kudo Book where my daughter-in-law somehow

managed to get almost everyone I ever knew to write nice things about me. (I’m thinking she had to pay them). My three great-granddaughters visit me on Zoom every Sunday, which is delightful, and, like everybody, I’m looking forward to the day when we can all kiss and hug.

- Judi

It is with sadness that we record these recent losses. For some of us the enduring memory of Corinne Howard Farnham was trying to keep up with her during our last Reunion. She had to share a greeting with everyone. Anne “Winnie” Churchill Jones left Codman Point to relatives and went in retirement with Kaye to join the group at Moorings Park. Although Constance Macdonald had family in Massachusetts, she counted her children as those she had cared for over 27 years of Pediatric Medical practice. I appreciated Mette Munck’s gracious hospitality to my daughter Susan when she toured the Scandinavian countries during her gap year. We send our condolences to all these families.

Char Floyd Kerr agrees that it surely has been a year to remember. At Summit Place all had received their vaccines and were waiting for new guidelines coming out soon. Her three girls live nearby, so they have been able to have outdoor visits on nice days, sometimes meeting in a parking lot with coffee in hand and visiting through rolled down windows. She has had many Zoom calls with family members in New York. Since their pool is open, she goes to water aerobics and also chair yoga, has just started playing ping pong again, and hopes bridge and mahjong will be allowed again soon in larger groups. She feels lucky to be there where there are people and activities to be a part of.

Ginny Grace Small had no news to report other than that she is still at Moorings Park, enjoying life despite the pandemic. Family now all vaccinated so she is looking forward to visits from them.

Carol Kane Weiser and Ken have survived this horrendous year in good shape and spirits. They’re blessed to have most of their family nearby. So, while they couldn’t get close, they visited from their glass sunroom with family who stood on the adjacent deck, using cell phones to converse. It worked! They got to see and to hear whoever came, which was better than nothing, but surely not as rewarding as a visit with a hug and kiss! They can’t wait to see their four greats up close. Now that they’re vaccinated and feel more secure, that may happen. They recently took the big step of deciding

to invite four friends (all vaccinated) for dinner. Joan Safir Wiener wrote from Florida where she was spending her 30th winter. She expects to return to New York the end of April. She is doing OK, but more limited in mobility, still living alone, still driving, and with COVID contacting friends and family mostly by e-mail and phone. Her fifth-great grandchild was born in March. The count is three boys and two girls, none of whom live nearby, so she enjoys them with pictures.

Eric and I have been well and continue to be looked after by kind friends who do shopping and other essentials for us. Card games and Zoom meetings keep us entertained. I always look forward to hearing from more of you than I do. Considering what a year this has been, it was great to hear from so many. By now the recurring theme seems to be success with the vaccination so now we can visit with family and friends again. What a treat that is. Stay well and keep in touch.

- Sally

1949BARBARA ABT HICKLING109 Village Dr.Endwell, NY [email protected]

My thanks to those of you who answered my request for news. The numbers were few, but most appreciated.

I am saddened to report to you that Lenore Elman Asher died March 8, 2020. Lennie was our brilliant, funny, energetic Wells Alumna Award winner classmate, involved in multiple activities and a fierce fundraiser. She is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law and 10 grandchildren.

Joelle Seiff Weiss suffered a mortal fall and died two weeks later on October 30, 2020. “Inky” lived most of her life in Westchester County, NY, was a trail-blazing teacher and loved to travel. She was the mother of four children (one son pre-deceased her), seven grandchildren and five greats.

Jeanne “Midge” Munning Leuhs emailed “The last year has been one of walks in the park, tracing ancestry, enjoying the ocean and reading, reading, reading.”

Dana Garnock Scadden reports, “There is nothing exciting to report—we’re allowed out to see doctors but no visitors in our condos, no bridge, no eating together. I now

have four great-grandchildren, one of the first girls born in the Scadden family since 1927.”

Shirley McKee Shreiner’s daughter Alex Markee emailed me. Shirley is in assisted living without access to a computer. She has been living in strict quarantine for the last twelve months isolated from family except for occasional “window visits” from both her daughters, who live locally in the Philadelphia area. She has happily had the Pfizer vaccine and she does keep in touch with some ’49ers through letters and phone calls.

Martha Stephens moved from her house in Old Saybrook to a condo in Guilford, CT, thus eliminating gardening, mowing, shoveling, pool care and garbage cans to the curb. She is no longer on the coast, which also ends fearing flooding and hurricanes. She had 100 classmates in her medical school class, six of them women, of which she is the last one alive. She has several new great nephews.

Betsy Taylor misses California reunions she regularly had with Midge Munning Leuhs, Ann Skerratt Richardson, who has moved to San Luis Obispo, and with whom Bets has lost contact, and Carolyn “Deck” Decker Whipple. Her retirement home in Oakland is on lock-down and she is still eating all food in her apartment. No one is allowed to go out except for essential business and of course, no visitors. She is therefore doing a great deal of reading.

Carolyn “Deck” Decker Whipple is more certain than ever considering all the COVID restrictions, that she made the right move to her Saratoga retirement community near San Jose. She writes that they are well protected, management is alert in confronting crises, and thus they have had few cases of the virus in independent living, with no hospitalizations. Meals are regularly delivered to their apartments and there are a large number of activities made available on Zoom. As a result of a campus-wide Pfizer vaccine program for all residents, the dining room has just reopened and a few “in-person” activities restored.

Ruth Miller Woodcock reports, “It is almost spring in Lexington; we’ve had many restrictions in my retirement community: no visitors, no dining together, few activities, but now we are all vaccinated and are ready to make some changes. I have been fortunate that this year my daughter and her husband have been living here most of the time instead of in Massachusetts, so I have been able to see them, usually outside their house.”

Lily Parssinen Delphey ’50

44 Spring 2020

ClassNotes

Roberta Berry Humez ’44

Elizabeth “Betty” Imbrie Werrenrath ’35 THEN and NOW

As for me, because this village is on an old cow pasture, we are semi-rural. Although there are suburban streets all around us; also we are small in size—only 200 independent residents in cottages and apartments—this meant we were able to “open up” for shared dining—only four to a table, sometime late this summer and also play bridge, masked. By late fall we were also able to activate our village chorus of 24 (again masked), there was some pool activity (only 10 at a time), and most other activities, especially exercise, by Zoom. However, except for the first month, I could grocery shop masked (everybody in this area had to stay masked, including Binghamton University students, many of whom live in the surrounding communities). Otherwise life was pretty restricted and there was no socializing. I have spent the time reading a lot, some genealogy, crossword puzzling. In the warm weather I could walk and garden and yell pleasantries to my neighbors. I haven’t seen any family in a year but now that all of us are vaccinated I expect to see each of them separately in the next few weeks for brief visits. I am still dragging around oxygen as a result of my “mysterious virus” a year ago Christmas. I actually tested for COVID antibodies this year in January but had none. In the warmer weather I could forego the oxygen during the day, but once winter hit again I needed it all the time. I have a portable box so I am not limited to going about. Stay safe!

- Love, Bobbie

1948CAROL NALEN BOSLET217 Winsor LnHaverford, PA [email protected]

1946-47ALUMNAE AND ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT OFFICE170 Main St.Aurora, NY [email protected]

1945MARGE LEINROTH GOTSHALL2900 Foxboro LaneHolland, MI [email protected]

Hello to all of you!

There are only eight of us hearty ’45ers still surviving. Pam Stemler Reynolds died in November 2019. Four of you checked in this time. Of course, the COVID virus has impacted all of us, but we seem to be coping well.

Jean Eisele Andon writes that she is “in good health—exercises daily. I do a lot of reading using my Kindle. I have quarantined for more or less a year! Blakehurst (where I live) is very good at keeping us occupied—Baltimore Symphony concerts on our very own TV station, movies and lectures etc. Life goes on!!!”

Betsy Lent Cohen’s daughter-in-law wrote that since the death of her husband Martin, Betsy has continued to live at her beautiful home in Palm Beach Gardens, with the help of excellent caregivers who are by now very old friends. The year of social distancing has been quite a burden to Betsy’s festive, sociable nature, but now that she’s immunized she is once more enjoying cozy lunches with her son and daughter-in-law, and other excursions.

Jessie Maben Smith emailed “At this point in my life I have very little news. Living in the same retirement building in the same unit for over 12 years means I do not go out and due to COVID there are so many restrictions that life is quite dull. This is my news for now.”

Joan Parry Helde emailed “The pandemic is of course the big news for all of us at this time. The residential (retirement) community where I’ve been living for fifteen years now has done a great job managing the quarantine we’ve been in. And we’ve had very few cases of COVID. Greetings and warm wishes to all the other ’45ers.”

After 4 ½ years of living independently in an apartment in a life-care facility, I moved in with my son and daughter-in-law, (still in Holland, MI) where my retired son is my caretaker, along with a helper three times a week. I don’t dare take a step without my rollator and even with hearing aids I still miss a lot—but I seem to have my wits about me (at least most days!) for which I am grateful. I am sure we are all grateful that Wells has students on campus for this semester, thanks to our president, who has done an outstanding job in saving Wells, in my opinion. Thanks to you who responded and I hope to hear from all of you next time. Stay active and stay well! With warm wishes to each of you.

- Marge


Roberta Berry Humez is still in her home in Massachusetts at age 98, with lots of support. Despite losses in hearing and vision, she continues to enjoy life, and keeps up with what is going on in the world around her. She has two living daughters, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, all doing well in different parts of the country (Massachusetts, Vermont, Georgia, Washington, DC and Oregon). The great-grandchildren also have roots in several other countries (Egypt, Ireland, and Germany), which keeps life interesting. Roberta enjoys communicating with friends and family by email, and would welcome news from Wells friends

1943-44ALUMNAE AND ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT OFFICE170 Main St.Aurora, NY [email protected]

Jeanne Bahn Hutchins is always happy to hear about her classmates. “Not too many of us are still here! I enjoy my walks in the woods, going out for dinner with my four children and playing golf—but the golf isn’t so pretty anymore. I feel very fortunate to live in such a pleasant area where my apartment has two bedrooms, kitchen, living and dining room and office for my computer and files. I gave my dog Jackie to my daughter. I miss her, but really couldn’t take proper care of her anymore. I look forward to hearing from all ’43ers, so please send your news to our College.”

1942LAURA BEALE TOY1400 Waverly Rd. Apt. A324Gladwyne, PA [email protected]

1941POLLY VANNEMAN FISHER1063 Edgemere Court Apt. Akron, OH [email protected]

Polly Vanneman Fisher called the alumnae/i office to report in that she is the “lone survivor” from the class of 1941. She still lives alone and takes daily walks. She is fortunate to have family nearby. She remembers her Wells days fondly.


When Elizabeth “Betty” Imbrie Werrenrath graduated in 1935, Amelia Earhart flew solo across the Pacific, Parker Brothers released a new board game called “Monopoly,” the Volkswagen Beetle was a brand new car in Germany, Persia was renamed Iran, nylon was invented, and “Swing” was officially named as a type of music. Betty loves nothing more than to receive email and is able to read them if the font size is HUGE (28 point or EVEN larger). Betty turned 107 years old on Thursday, January 8, 2021. Happy Birthday Betty!

Wells.edu 45

ClassNotes

LOUISE MACKIE ’61 TO RECEIVE THIS YEAR’S WCA AWARDcontinued from page 1

Finally, she was among several hundred foreign guests invited to the grand opening of the superb Islamic art collection of Sheikh Nasser Sabah al Ahmed al Sabah and Sheikha Hussah al Sabah in the Kuwait National Museum, a truly magnificent celebration.

During the 1980s and ’90s at the Royal Ontario Museum, Canada’s foremost museum, she was welcomed by staff immersed in the significance of textiles and fashion, much to her delight! As department head and curator, she helped plan new galleries and organized special exhibitions, one acknowledging a recent donor’s carpet collection with a welcome introduction to Oriental carpets. One of the benefits of being a curator, Mackie commented, is the opportunity to see, handle and study objects, rather than photographic images. They can help train the eye which contributes to connoisseurship, understanding the physical characteristics of fabrics in addition to aesthetic and technical features — all of which are critical in confirming the authenticity of works of art, a subject she addressed throughout her career.

After joining the Cleveland Museum of Art, renowned for exemplary collections, she enjoyed developing special textile exhibitions with capable professionals: textile conservator, designers, lighting specialist, carpenters, painters, editor, docents and public relations specialists, interspersed with researching potential acquisitions, refining gallery plans and writing a survey of Islamic textiles. Popular exhibitions included Renaissance paintings depicting textiles together with similar velvets and silks, “Draped in Splendor: Renaissance Textiles and the Church,” plus a pioneering touch-screen interactive, “How to Look at Textiles.” Popular acclaim promoted another exhibition, “Where’s the tent?” The beautifully installed recent acquisition from the 1840s, “Muhammad Shah’s Royal Persian Tent,” enabled visitors to walk into the tent and admire its walls and ceiling embellished with gorgeous floral decoration, in wool and silk-thread embroidered piecework, and comment, “It’s awesome!”

Inspired by the beautiful Islamic textiles in the Cleveland Museum of Art, Mackie published Symbols of Power: Luxury Textiles from Islamic Lands, 7th–21st Century (Cleveland Museum of Art, 2015, 520 pages, 513 figures), considered the first comprehensive and authoritative source on Islamic textiles. It won four awards: the World Award for Book of the Year in 2015 from the Islamic Republic of Iran, the R.L. Shep Ethnic Textiles Book of 2015 from the Textile Society of America, and the Joseph V. McMullan Award for Scholarship and Stewardship in Islamic Rugs and Textiles from the Near Eastern Art Research Center. It was also named Outstanding Catalogue for 2016 by the Midwest Art History Society and continues to be a key reference for anyone interested in textiles and Islamic art history, plus material culture.

In addition to this magnum opus, Mackie has written catalogs, chapters, and scholarly articles and contributed to large research projects. She led an international research team to record traditional textile practices before they became extinct in Fez, Morocco, and produced a 1996 video documentary, Threads of Time: Handmade Textiles for Weddings in Fez, Morocco about these ancient practices. Subsequently, she did extensive collaborative and privileged research on imperial Ottoman silks and velvets in over 50 international collections for a substantial co-authored publication, IPEK: Imperial Ottoman Silks and Velvets (London, 2001).

She has traveled extensively to national and international conferences and conferred with experts usually combined with researching textiles stored under lock and key. On one privileged occasion, multiple stairs and keys led to an awe-inspiring closet: dozens of exquisite 16th-century velvet and silk ecclesiastical vestments embellished by nuns with gold, gemstones, and pearls,

some bearing Biblical inscriptions, all hanging in a long row — a wondrous sight to behold in the great Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Although retired, Mackie still enjoys her field and has written an article about 15th-century Ottoman velvets and a chapter about Islamic textiles, plus recently reported on exceptional collaborative research in India studying drawlooms (on which elaborately patterned textiles were woven in Asia and Europe for over a thousand years) at the virtual Textile Society of America conference and in the proceedings. She currently serves on the Costume and Textiles Advisory Committee at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

As a museum curator, Mackie’s expertise and kind nature have encouraged open dialogue with scholars, students and members of the public throughout her career. One colleague notes, “She is a champion of the textile arts with a personal mission to communicate their wonders to the public.” Associates often recall her kindness and enthusiasm, and museum visitors, her gentle and insightful teaching through gallery talks, lectures and exhibits.

Wells classmates love sharing stories beyond Mackie’s academic career and scholarly pursuits, citing her dynamic personality and sense of humor. Their connection is strong: for 30 years now, Mackie has led a mini-gathering of Wells sisters to the annual Bethlehem Bach Festival in Bethlehem, Pa. In every conversation, they laud her grace, charm, and generosity.

“She’s kept the connection together, a very special person . . . quietly elegant, generous and kind.”

“She has enriched my life beyond description.”

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2022 WCA Award! Find more details and an online nomination form at alumni.wells.edu/awards.

Call for NominationsWCA AWARD

The Alumnae and Alumni Award Committee is actively seeking nominees for the Wells College Alumnae and Alumni Award. The award honors Wells alums of high achievement in professions and careers, in volunteer and community work, in service to their alma mater, or in some combination of these

endeavors. Nomination forms can be downloaded from alumni.wells.edu on the WCA page.

committee chairMegan Donovan ’88

[email protected]

46 Spring 2020

Carol Gyory Fitzsimons ’72

Artwork title: "The House on the Hill"

Spun fiber is an ideal, yet somewhat unconventional medium that I use to capture the textures, colors and fluidity of the ever-changing landscape of my Cape Cod home. My fiber “paintings” allow me to share the beauty and tranquility of this unique landscape, and the wildlife and plant life it nurtures, with those who appreciate the natural world.

Christine Foster Meloni '63

Book title: "Growing Up in Mussonlini's Fascist Italy"

The Book is based on Andrea's memoirs of growing up under Fascism and its impact on his life.

Kathleen West ‘15

Greeting Cards Company Name: “Waggle Nub Cards & More” Handmade cards featuring unique raised decals. Personalization available. No two cards are alike!

Courtney J. H. Shoemaker, M.A. '99

Book title: "Psychology Ethics in Everyday Life"

I have first authorship of two chapters in this book, and acted as supporting author on two others.

Shirley Paul '58

Shirley's work is mixed media with Acrylic.

Painting and playing with art in various styles and media. My work falls into the category called “Intuitive” or “process” painting. This is the practice of meditating with brush in hand.

KT! Eaton '99

Book title: “Father Unknown” Endearing true story of a man's search for connection on a journey with the father he's never known

Carol Gyory Fitzsimons ’72

Artwork title: “The House on the Hill”

Spun fiber is an ideal, yet somewhat unconventional medium that I use to capture the textures, colors and fluidity of the ever-changing landscape of my Cape Cod home. My fiber “paintings” allow me to share the beauty and tranquility of this unique landscape, and the wildlife and plant life it nurtures, with those who appreciate the natural world.

Courtney J. H. Shoemaker, M.A. ’99

Book title: “Psychology Ethics in Everyday Life”

I have first authorship of two chapters in this book, and acted as supporting author on two others.

Christine Foster Meloni ’63

Book title: “Growing Up in Mussolini’s Fascist Italy”

The Book is based on Andrea’s memoirs of growing up under Fascism and its impact on his life.

Kathleen West ’15

Greeting Cards Company Name: “Waggle Nub Cards & More”

Handmade cards featuring unique raised decals. Personalization available. No two cards are alike!

Shirley Paul ’58

Shirley’s work is mixed media with Acrylic.

Painting and playing with art in various styles and media. My work falls into the category called “Intuitive” or “process” painting. This is the practice of meditating with brush in hand.

Kalee Doeing ’11

Polymer Clay Jewelry

Handmade earrings in a variety of funky styles and earthy colors wit elements of nature. I create with whatever tickles my fancy at the moment. Examples: acrylic & watercolor Painting, Polymer Clay Jewelry, Digital Prints, ornaments, and more.

KT! Eaton ’99

Book title: “Father Unknown”

Endearing true story of a man’s search for connection on a journey with the father he’s never known.

Patricia Goodman ’60

Book Title: “Walking with Scissors”

Full length book of poetry, her second.

To read the full descriptions, bios and to find links to purchase products, please visit www.alumni.wells.edu/ink-and-grooves

Ink and Grooves is an online column that features literary pieces (Ink), artwork, music, pottery, etc. (Grooves) by alums.

Do you have something you’ve created, written, drawn, composed (musically) or painted that you’d like to share with the Wells community?

Please visit www.alumni.wells.edu/ink-and-grooves and complete the online form that includes a short bio, headshot (if desired), specific info about you and a photo of the book or item that you’ve created. There is also a place for you to provide a link that will direct the Wells community to find more information and to purchase your item as well.

GIVING TOTALS – REUNION 2020 Class Year

Total Dollars Raised

Class Participation as a percentage

1945 $1,071,751 31%

1950 $7,850 30%

1955 $32,138 46%

1960 $88,115 48%

1965 $614,673 51%

1970 $349,638 50%

1975 $1,784,238 30%

1980 $99,683 35%

1985 $10,575 16%

1990 $51,860 23%

1995 $1,317 11%

2000 $3,147 20%

2005 $6,962 29%

2010 $5,243 15%

2015 $1,003 11%

Totals $4,128,193 30%

Reunion 2020 GivingPersonal connectedness and lifelong friendships are stalwart traditions at Wells. Our alumnae and alumni are vital stakeholders in the College, and their exceptional support is a significant factor in the success of Wells College. This past year was no exception even though we were not able to gather for Reunion last spring—our Reunion classes still stepped up. We are also grateful for the selfless efforts of the volunteers who are essential to our fundraising program.

Every gift for Wells College is important. We are reminded of how special our donors are and are moved by their spirit of generosity.

This chart lists the giving totals for Reunion classes ending in 0 or 5. Totals include one year of giving for the period July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020 and pledges for the following two fiscal years.

Wells.edu 47

60th 35th 25th

To honor the classes (0s and 5s) that celebrated milestone Reunion’s in 2020, we’ve gathered photos from Reunion 2015. In the event a photo was not available, a previous Reunion photo was used. The celebration year on the respective photo signifies the class’ milestone year for the 2020 Reunion.

50th

75th

30th 70th

20th

55th

45th

15th10th 40th

65th

1970

2000

1965

48 Spring 2020

To honor the classes (1s and 6s) that are celebrating milestone Reunion’s in 2021, we’ve gathered photos from Reunion 2016. In the event a photo was not available, a previous Reunion photo was used. The celebration year on the respective photo signifies the class’ milestone year for the 2021 Reunion.

50th

75th

70th

65th

55th

45th

60th

30th10th

35th

40th

15th

20th

1971

25th

Wells.edu 49

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

7:30 p.m. EDT | College Update with President Gibralter and Cabinet: LIVE EVENT Virtual capacity is 500—Registration required. Recording will be available on-line.

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

7:30 p.m. EDT | Reunion College 2021: Preserving the Personal Connection as We Accelerate into New Ways of Learning. LIVE EVENT Virtual capacity is 500—Registration required. Recording will also be available on-line.

Gender Journeys and Gender Diversity with Visiting Assistant Professor in Women’s and Gender Studies Kerr Mesner

Our understandings of gender have expanded and evolved in incredible ways in recent years. In this experiential workshop, we will explore some of our own understandings of gender and the ways that those understandings have shaped us. We will also look together at the constantly evolving world of gender diversity, both within and beyond the Wells College community, as well as the ways that we can engage in learning and activism about these important issues. This workshop will be interactive and participatory, and suitable for people with all levels of understanding about these topics.

Thursday, June 3, 2021

7:30 p.m. EDT | Reunion College 2021: Preserving the Personal Connection as We Accelerate into New Ways of Learning. LIVE EVENT Virtual capacity is 500—Registration required. Recording will also be available on-line.

“Accidental medicine: how luck, debauchery, and blunders gave rise to modern therapeutics” with Assistant Professor of Chemistry Lindsay Burwell

Have you ever wondered where the ideas of different medicines have come from? Many of us think medicines are developed in a lab after being carefully designed. However, we will discuss how sometimes the biggest drug discoveries are due to just plain luck.

Friday, June 4, 2021

11:00 a.m. EDT |WCA Award Ceremony: PRERECORDED.

2020 WCA Recipients: Gwen Wilkinson ‘77 and Stephanie Batcheller ‘79

2021 WCA Recipient: Louise Mackie ‘61

7:30 p.m. EDT | Toast to WCA Award Recipients, LIVE EVENT by Invitation Only. Virtual capacity is 500—Registration required.

Saturday, June 5, 2021

11:00 a.m. EDT | Bell Ringing PRERECORDED. Sarah Viele McLean ‘92 returns to Wells to ring the bells and give you a virtual tour.

Saturday, June 5, 2021 continued

Noon-1:00 p.m. EDT | “Ask a Current Student!” HourThis is a Q&A session that will allow alums to hear from a panel of current students and ask them about their Wells experience. LIVE EVENT Virtual capacity is 500—Registration required.

2:00 p.m. EDT | Wells College Association of Alumnae and Alumni Annual Meeting Come hear from your WCA officers. LIVE EVENT Virtual capacity is 500—Registration required. Recording will also be available on-line.

8:00 p.m. EDT | Reunion Trivia, Put on your thinking cap—or beanie or freshman sign—and join your classmates in some fierce & fun competition! Folks will be split up into teams and play virtual Wells trivia for prizes. Even better, the event is being hosted by the VP of Reunion, Christin Schaaf ‘99. LIVE EVENT Virtual capacity is 500—Registration required.

Sunday, June 6, 2021

10:00 a.m. EDT | Service of Remembrance, PRERECORDED. Barb Blom ‘82 will lead a prayer and blessing and then honor those we have lost with a slideshow.

We hope you will join us for a variety of virtual Reunion events—LIVE on Zoom or to enjoy at your leisure. Anything that indicates that the event is “PRERECORDED” does not require registration. We are publishing those videos at the time indicated in the schedule. Anyone may watch these events at any time, once published: alumni.wells.edu/reunion.

Questions? Contact the alum office: [email protected] 315-364-3200

Virtual Reunion Schedule 2021MORE DETAILS AND EVENTS TO COME! For more info visit www.alumni.wells.edu/reunion

REUNION GIVING Your total class Reunion gift includes everything given or pledged by members of your class between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. This includes gifts to the Wells Fund, gifts designated to another specific fund or purpose at Wells, expected employer matching gifts, planned gifts contracted during the Reunion year, and gifts made by friends or family members in honor or memory of a member of your class.

All pledges made this fiscal year that are payable by June 30, 2021 will count as well. That is, if you want to give a sizable amount over a period of time, you can contribute a third of the total each year beginning this fiscal year and all of it will go toward your class Reunion gift.

Your gift made by June 30, 2021+ Your pledge payable by June 30, 2021+ Your pledge payable by June 30, 2022

= Your Reunion gift!

50 Spring 2021

ClassNotes

Wells College Association of Alumnae and Alumni (WCA)Board Candidates 2021

As nominated by the Nominating Committee of the WCA

Nominating Vice President

Eliza Heppner ’06B.A., Women’s StudiesM.A., Public Administration, University of VermontWashington, DC

Eliza recently returned to the Department of Health and Human Services to serve as senior advisor in the Immediate Office of the Administrator at the Health Resources and Services Administration. HRSA is the primary federal agency for improving health care to people who are geographically isolated, economically or medically vulnerable. During her federal career Eliza has led the implementation of high profile federal

priorities including the Affordable Care Act and the opioid epidemic. She is currently focused on supporting HHS’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic and maximizing HRSA’s $12.1 billion annual budget to improve health outcomes and address health disparities through high-value programs. Previously, Eliza served as the director of programs for AARP Foundation where she provided expert guidance on programs, policies and initiatives impacting low-income older adults. Eliza has served on the WCA since 2016 and was an active volunteer on FARGO Board from 2006-2016. She bleeds blue and green (former Evenline coach) and visits Aurora whenever she’s able.

Alumna Trustee

Talyse Hampton ’09 B.A., Sociology & AnthropologyNew York, NY

In her time at Wells, Talyse found her engagement as the Admissions Liaison on the WCA board one of the most fulfilling. She is now excited to serve the College in a new capacity, as a member of the Board of Trustees. During her matriculation, Talyse served as secretary for the class of 2009 and was a “vocal” member and co-chair of Henry’s VIII. An intern in the Admissions Office, Talyse discovered a love for educational advocacy and access. She joined the Wells College Admissions team in July 2009 and has

since maintained a career path with aligning values. Following her work at Wells, she joined the Cornell University Undergraduate Admissions Office, was VP of sales & marketing for an educational tech start-up, and now manages campus recruiting efforts at Guggenheim Securities, a full-service investment bank. In both her professional and philanthropic endeavors, Talyse enjoys giving back through educational advocacy and access. She looks forward to further serving Wells as it’s so abundantly given to her.

Member-at-Large, FARGO

Bradley Murray ’15 B.A., Sociology & AnthropologyJ.D., Albany Law SchoolMenands, NY

Brad is excited for the opportunity to continue serving on the Wells College Association of Alumnae and Alumni Board. While at Wells, he served as Community Court chair and was a Reunion student worker through the Office of Advancement. Since graduating, Brad has been an active volunteer, serving on the FARGO Executive Committee and the National Planned Giving Committee. After graduating from Wells, Brad earned his Juris Doctor from Albany Law School. He is currently an associate attorney at the law firm

of Cioffi Slezak Wildgrube P.C. in Schenectady, NY, where he focuses his practice on estate planning, trust and estate administration, elder care and guardianships, and real estate law. In addition to his involvement with Wells, Brad also serves on the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, and is an active member of the Schenectady County Bar Association and the Estate Planning Council of Eastern New York. He resides in Menands, NY with his partner, Leslie Green ’17, and their dog, Kintla. In his free time, Brad enjoys biking, kayaking, and hiking in the Adirondacks and Catskills.

WELLS COLLEGE ASSOCIATION OF ALUMNAE AND ALUMNI 2021 ELECTION

BALLOT

Please mark the box next to each candidate for whom you are voting.

Nominated by the Nominating Committee of the WCA

Nominating Vice President Eliza Heppner ’06

Alumna Trustee Talyse Hampton ’09

Member-at-Large, FARGO Bradley Murray ’15

Original: do not duplicate

WELLS COLLEGE ASSOCIATION OF ALUMNAE AND ALUMNI 2021 ELECTION

Return with ballot by Friday, May 29, 2021 to:WCA Election 2021, 170 Main Street, Pettibone House, Aurora, NY 13026

ELECTION VERIFICATION FORM

Please print

Name:______________________________________

Class Year:__________________________________

Signature:__________________________________(You must sign for ballot to be valid)

Original: do not duplicate

fold

an

d t

ape

voting form

Wells College Association of Alumnae and Alumni BallotImportant Notice to Electors

Pursuant to the requirements of the bylaws of the Wells College Association of Alumnae and Alumni (WCA), notice is hereby given all eligible electors whose addresses are known that the alumnae and alumni (alums) listed herein have met the requirements for nomination, and hereby are designated as the official nominees for the terms described.

The WCA bylaws require that the Nominating Committee provide a nominee for each open position. Additional candidates elected by the alums may be nominated by petition providing such nomination is in the hands of the nominating chair prior to the regular meeting of the Nominating Committee at Volunteer Retreat in the fall. (No nominations by alum petition were received for this election.) All nominees must meet prescribed requirements as set forth in the bylaws. Elected trustees are to be ratified by and serve on the Board of Trustees of Wells College. The bylaws are available upon request or at alumni.wells.edu.

It is required that all alumnae and alumni voting in the election return the ballot and verification form by May 29, 2021. You must fill out your name, class year, and signature on the verification form for the ballot to be valid. Ballot cards will remain anonymous. Vote online at alumni.wells.edu or mail to: WCA Election 2021, 170 Main Street, Pettibone House, Aurora, NY 13026.

■ For anonymity you may want to fold and tape the ballot form. You do not need to do this for the verification form.

■ Mail both forms in the same envelope.

Wells College Association170 Main StreetAurora, NY 13026

Non-Profit US Postage

PAIDPermit #1

Auburn, NY

Hey everyone…join Gabe as he and his new friend, the sloth, show you their favorite items at the campus store!”Check out the Wells College Store (https://bookstore.wells.edu/inside/) and see some of the cool Wells gear that Rich has in store (pun intended!). Gabe is a 7 month old goldendoodle and belongs to Mary Webber ’17, assistant director of annual giving.

LOUISE MACKIE '61 TO RECEIVE THIS YEAR'S WCA AWARD

Documents

Transcript of LOUISE MACKIE '61 TO RECEIVE THIS YEAR'S WCA AWARD