HERD IN THE HALLS II

HGHS CLASS OF 1960

Some sad news to relay first. Lynn DeFelice Wright’s hubby Lee sends word that Lynn died on July 22^nd after a long battle with cancer. I know we all remember Lynn’s cheerful ways and her very active sports career at Greeley. Lee says she really treasured the close friendship with classmates. He sent a copy of the obituary from the local paper, and here is an excerpt.

Also on a sad note, Beth Porter writes that her dad died recently. Many classmates will remember him for his work with local drama groups. Beth says he passed on peacefully, at age 90, and both she and brother Steve (Class of ’61) were present and had the blessing of sharing goodbyes.

And finally, Kirby Oak writes that he has been in touch with Carol Chafin’s brother and that Carol died a year or so ago. Sorry, I don’t have any details. Another fine classmate that we will miss.

Gay Mayer and wife Mary were in Boulder earlier this year and had the opportunity to have dinner with Ann Bliss Mygatt. Gay also helped staff a men’s retreat for about a week and says it was quite some time before his back recovered from sleeping on the ground. Gay and Mary also celebrated the birth of grandson Taron on March 5^th. Here’s a picture of three generations. That’s son Ken, proudly holding the heir. Gay also said that he met a local sculptor there named Andy Sweet, who turned out to be the son of Mr. Sweet, our former teacher!

Penny Clark Nichols reports that she and her husband Bruce are enjoying retirement and plan to be in Florida this winter. Sanibel in February and Marathon (in the keys) in March. Let her know if you will be in that area as well.

Steve and Marie (Barkman) Blue recently visited China.   "We just returned last night from an interesting and exciting trip to China - might be worth sharing some photos and impressions." Steve also has a new email, sblue46@qwest.net, and so does Marie, mariesnp@qwest.net. (And of course we are all awaiting those photos.)

As many of you already know, Ken Nye has published a quite successful book of poetry, entitled Searching for the Spring, all with themes relating to Maine. Ken says he is really surprised to be a poet, but is delighted with the book itself, and also with its success. Here’s a web site where you can check it all out. http://www.kennyepoetry.com. The book normally sells for $14.95, but Ken would like to give classmates a copy if you will just send him your address and perhaps include $1.50 for postage. I have a copy and it is a good read.  You can click on the picture to see some samples of Ken's poems.

Steve Walsh and wife Sue (Class of '61) report on their doings: "We are happily retired here at Amelia Island, enjoying the year round beach, tennis and golf that is out the back door literally. To stay mentally active, I am starting an adjunct law professorship next week at Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville teaching a securities regulation course. This supplements my arbitrator and mediator roles here in Florida, all of which keeps me busy about half the time. We are just back from a week at Nantucket with our older son, Tucker, and his family (including two grandchildren) and are looking forward to a visit from our Los Angeles second son who runs the west coast sales operation for GOLF MAGAZINE."

Here is the latest from Nick Bowen.

"Pat and I just returned from our first missions trip, to Asunción, Paraguay.  This impacted us so much that we want to do more, and are looking to do this in retirement. We went with a team from our church and had such a great time with the teens that we want to join the youth group instead of the senior group! I studied Spanish for 3 years in high school (with Señora Gallas) and majored in it in college, and Pat began studying it about 3 years ago, so we're both fluent. We really enjoyed meeting the people and talking with them. I thought that to be a missionary you had to go to the jungle; but you can go to the city, with restaurants, shopping malls and all! We saw extreme wealth, but also extreme poverty, and made a lot of good friends. We worked at a church in Asuncion doing painting, construction, teaching and preaching. I raised money at work to take them 2 guitars with cases." The picture is of some of the people in their church.

Joan Kather Henry and her husband Bill have been doing a lot, as you can tell from her message:

"This year Bill has been the President of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and we have done a lot of traveling around the U.S. and throughout the world representing this organization.  Since December, we have been on 5 continents - a trip to China last December, to Brazil, Panama and Mexico in March and to Canada, Egypt and Europe in June. It's been an amazing opportunity - and a reminder that the issues people face around the world are very similar.  Our traveling has enabled us to meet many new people and visit with some "old" friends.  In June, we were able to spend some time with our son's family who live in Cheltenham, about an hour and a half outside of London. Attached is a photo of me taken in March when we were in Rio."

And here is the latest from Doug Weiss:

 "I celebrated my 38th anniversary of working for IBM and my 62nd birthday by retiring.  I will now be found boating, fishing and working my way down the "honey do" list during the week. I'm planning to get my real estate license and try my hand at a completely different career, undeterred by the fact that there are already 5000 real estate agents in Sarasota.  We'll see how it goes.
Jennifer (29) was married this past April in NYC and Matt (25) will be starting his MBA at Sloan Business School (MIT) in Boston next month.  Talk about income not matching expenses......makes retirement planning somewhat interesting, to say the least.  Fortunately (for me), Marianne is still working :) 
Marianne and I are heading off on an Alaska cruise with friends next week.  Looking to the future, we're planning to visit the Pushkar Camel Fair next November (Google Pushkar Camel Fair if you want to know why in the world anyone would want to go to a camel fair in India).  Anybody want to join us?
I'm attaching a picture of the current Weiss Family.  That's Jen and Adam Handler on the left and Matt on the right."

I got a very nice letter from Mary Holsapple Sarubbi last month. She and Kenny have been married for 41 years, and their 5 children are all doing well. Mary retired after 30 years of teaching at Benedictine University and she currently keeps her hand in by running the PE program for ages 4 – 10 one day a week at the local Montessori school. Her mom (our former dancing class instructor) is doing well, living in White Plains, and looking forward to her 90^th birthday. Kenny still teaches at DePaul U. They recently returned from a nice vacation in Ft. Myers where they enjoyed the sunsets and the dolphins.

Clem Lagala and I had a great talk on the phone. He is retired and has moved to Florida. New address is 509 NW Ashton Way, Port St. Lucie, Florida, 34983. Clem says that when they moved in last year, they went through two hurricanes the first month. This year they have been more fortunate, as Katrina passed just to the south. Clem stays in contact with Jim Hands, whom he will be visiting later this year, and also tells me that Biff Fowler recently retired finishing his career with Doeskin as a regional manager.

Carlos Ballantyne has had an interesting, if somewhat chaotic time the last year. You may recall that he was planning a trip to Thailand last year and we were all wondering if the tsunami had gotten him. Turned out he didn’t go due to lack of flights. Then he traveled from Carson City to Portland to be with his girlfriend who was laid up with meningitis. This was after a three-day ordeal getting back to Carson City to start with due to the worst snowstorms in the mountains since 1916. And finally, in his own words – "I recently found out the many statues of the reclining Buddha I have seen during my travels represent Buddha at the time of his death. Buddha dined at a devotee’s house and upon leaving began feeling progressively sicker. Buddha asked his chief disciple Ananda to spread out a cloth upon which the Buddha lay for a bit before leaving this world in the reclining pose shown. Here I am in the reclining pose in Death Valley on March 13, 2005 in good health, to my knowledge. I forced myself to travel here to Death Valley due to the reports of overwhelming wildflowers this year. The flowers are ineffable. The distinction between the 1998 El Nino inspired once-in-a-100 years blooms and this year is that in 1998 the flowers went for 5 and 10 mile stretches - this year the wildflowers are continuous and they go right up the side of the mountains. I drove for 75 miles with continuous wildflowers in bloom everywhere." Carlos’ pictures defy description, so I will just give you two of them here to interpret as you wish. (Yeah, I know he got two pictures and everyone else just got one, but, well, with Carlos, one isn't enough.)

And this from Kit Thomas Weiss: "Well I finally did it.  My internet site is up and running.  At first I tried to change it twice a week!  I am now changing the news, pictures and Bible verses each Sunday night.  It is daunting. I hope to put my writings on the site soon.  So tell "the world" that www.ThereIsNoPlanB.net is up and ready. Just for fun check out what was written as my "In the future" sentence in the Yearbook. I have been teaching Bible for the past 30 years and I love it. I am also a conference speaker if anyone is trying to set up a retreat or Christian conference...just let me know."

Got a nice email from Robert Kevin Malone (Class of ’59). He is still in the Boston area and has taken on the job of Chief Financial Officer for the Boston Red Cross. He had expected to finish his career in more of a "wind-down" mode, but says this challenge simply could not be ignored. New email address is Krmalone@verizon.net.

Speaking of new addresses/emails, here are a couple for you. Doug Gibson is now at PO Box 82, Plymouth, VT 05056 and his email is dougg65@vermontel.net.

Janice Adams Lyons, Class of 64, reports that brother Andy Adams' current address is P.O. Box 322, Bayside, CA 95524.  That's way up north of Eureka.  He owns a Volvo repair business there.  Andy's email is privatepilot1988@yahoo.com. Janice, as you may recall, is married to Dick Lyons, Class of '58, and Dave Lyons' brother.

Mary Ellen Necarsulmar Walsh's new email is walshmellen@patmedia.net.

Brian and Beck (Beckwith) Walsh’s new electronic location is bandbwalsh2002@yahoo.com.

Debbie also reports that she and George, and their sons and daughter-in-law took an Alaskan cruise in June. She says the boat was a perfect size – just 90 passengers, and that of course the scenery was wonderful. and she sent this nice picture.  I'll let her explain:

"Here we are at Denali National Park in Alaska.  (We  climbed UP 1800 feet to get to this ridge.)  From left:  Son David  who lives in San Francisco, husband George, me, son George and his  wife Mirella who live in San Mateo, just south of SF.  We had a great  time being together as a family."  (Ed. note: Is it just my impression, or does George look kind of like Bill Gates in that photo?")

Here is a very interesting and informative update from Cindy Rose: "Meant, a long time ago, to change my email address with you, since I am "retiring" my old one (the only part of me that is retiring).  Have been very involved in Haiti and the human rights movement these past few years. The group I work for operates a hospital for HIV/AIDS and TB patients on the top of a mountain in central Haiti. While we avoided much of the fallout from the coup and floods last year, a couple of our ambulances were hijacked (even with a big red cross on them) and our staff roughed up -- and this was miles from Port-au-Prince where all the violence has taken place.  The danger is always present.  One of the sites I spent some time at last year became the barracks for the U.S. Marines when they were assigned to Haiti, and now houses the Brazilian peacekeeping force.  I always suspected that the Marines chose that spot because it contained the only basketball court in the country (and we all know how important basketball is for American men). My arthritic bones are a little old for this kind of work, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.  Might as well go out with a bang, hmm?" (Ed.Note – her new email is crose@pih.org. Also, that picture is not from Cindy, just a generic Haiti scene.)

John Viscomi has sold his deli and moved on to other things, and here is his latest email: "Yup, we sold the Deli January 30, 2004, just a year ago, took a little cruise, first real vacation in five years, got home in CT. about 2am on a Friday and sold our house to a neighbor the next day at noon time. What a
stroke of luck that was. We moved to NH on April 6th, 04. My new AD is 509 Bradley Hill Rd., Benton,
NH 03785. Phone: 603 787 2272.We have been busy since, we bought a four family house in nearby Woodsville in June. Did some restoration/renovation and have all four apartments rented.  Patty's Dad occupies one of the apartments. He wanted to come with us from Atlanta. That's about it. Oh ya, it's 7:25pm and it's already 11 deg. below zero. The good news is there isn't much snow thus far this winter. The skiers aren't real happy about that!"

Judi Chatfield Schwerin had some nice memories to share and also an update on the wildlife in Sharon, CT. "I wish I had known that Mr. Visca was at Noble Horizons - it is just up the road from Sharon, and I would have stopped by.  I have vivid memories of his trying to get us to sing "Listen to the Lambs all a singing...(or was it sighing...."  Lugubrious droning on our part.  He was a good man.    Are you snowbound?    Here in Sharon we have lots of ice...the coyote pack was yipping much too near the house for comfort at 4 a.m.   (cats safely in at night!)." (In answer to Judi’s question, no, we hardly ever get snowbound this side of the mountains. The maritime climate makes the winters quite mild.) 

She also has been very active in her career and as you will see, continues her wide traveling.   "It has been a too busy year..Early February I made a trip to LA to see a friend,and  do museums.  In March I went to Brazil to visit Santa Caterina, and the forest preserve of my traveling companion's cousin, then on to Rio de Janeiro to see my goddaughter, and photograph the home of garden designer Roberto Burle Marx.  Ten days after that I flew to Nairobi and went on safari, along with a travel agent friend who was making an Abercrombie and Kent Informational Trip checking out camp sites.  I adored it - landscape, people, and the proximity to the animals.  Then in  early May until mid June I was in Italy, running one of my tours of gardens and Palladian villas for Classical America/Classical Architecture.  I lingered on to check out some "new" gardens which I hadn't previously visited:  two have symbolic programs which is a future book topic.  I also searched out three sacre monte sites which are religious chapels filled with tableaux figures in remote locations:  they were built as pilgrimage destinations. I ended up in a small village, near Klosters, playing Swiss nanny to two youngsters while their parents were in Nashville taking in American country music.   July was filled with a trip to Rockford, Illinois for a cousin's wedding, and preparations for the local library's annual booksigning cocktail partywith 21 authors,  and the used book sale which I have run for 17 years.  Also monthly I host my book group in my studio.   By August  12th I took off again to Chicago, this time with the intent of really seeing the city and its museums. Exhausted ,  I came down with small pneumonia and Ehrlichosis landing me in a hospital there for four days.  On the mend now, staying home quietly for a month or two, and devoting my energies to working on the revision of H. Inigo Triggs' book, "the Art of Italian Garden Design" which was published in folio edition in 1906. I'm bringing it up to date, adding photographs, essays, glossary,  corrections and bibliography."  (Whew! It makes me tired just reading it all.)

Sue Rynd Billings has a new email address too. It is   billingssue@yahoo.com. She writes that her daughter has moved back east from the Seattle area to take advantage of a great job offer. Sue also notes that while she loves retirement from teaching, she really misses those little faces.

Here is the latest from Liz Lewis Usborne, as well as a picture of several of her family. "We have been really busy enjoying retirement with lots of travel. We leave in two days to return to Alaska for two weeks. This year we have been roaming around the US...My husband's Dartmouth Class '62 had a big 65th Birthday celebration in New Orleans in February..Lots of fun. Not too long ago, Joan Kather Henry and her husband were here in San Diego and came for dinner..It was great seeing her and we had a great time reliving old memories. Our three boys are all here in Southern California for a change. Mike, his wife and our grandson all live in El Cajon. He is a sales rep and she owns a day spa.  Paul is a third year resident doctor in family practice at USC and lives near Pasadena. Scott is a high school teacher at Point Loma High School in San Diego. I have spent three years with some  medical problems but am now holding my own and have actually been back playing tennis for the first time in four years...A year ago we went to my Denison reunion and enjoyed seeing Debbie Moslander Baxter and her husband along with Doug Hoeft's widow Libby. We just got back from a jazz festival at Mammoth Lakes.  Also including picture with my sons and grandson."

Speaking of Peter Kilburn, he sent me a note and article about Swede Murphy, who was recently appointed to a judgeship on (I think) a federal court. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find his note, so I don’t have the details right now. Peter, if you or Tony will send me the info, or for that matter, Swede, you could too, I will put this newsletter right regarding the position.

Dan Gildesgame, PhD, is still teaching math in New York City.  He is also director of a high school - college partnership to get more students into math and science pursuits.  You can check out the web site for the organization at  http://www.hostos.cuny.edu/oaa/access/index.htm.

Here is all the news from Sue McKinley Carpenter:  "Retired life has been great for us. When Charlie stopped doing orthopedic surgery (almost 4 years ago) he dropped medicine completely (except for appeasing my complaints!) I keep intouch the most with Sandy Gardner. She and her husband were at our son's wedding in Moose Junction, WY last Dec. They are a favorite couple to both of our boys. Sandy is doing fantastic work in pottery and has been winning prizes with her talents. Carolyn Greico Hill lives within 20 minutes.... we get to catch up occasionally (and when we do it's like we hadn't missed a beat). We often go to musical events together... she hasn't lost her touch with loving music. We also understand that Chris Collins is in the area, but our paths haven't crossed.... Carolyn and I keep talking about getting in touch with him.

Charlie has become a maple syrup maker and a boat builder.... McKenzie drift boat, two cedar strip canoes and helped with a boat cradle (I can only wish it was for grandchildren for us... but not yet)... and an amazing project of helping a friend build a canal boat of for him to celebrate his 50th birthday.... it is a peddle boat.... yes, I said peddle!.... for the Erie Canal... the latest is a Greenland kayak. That keeps him busy so I can run off to be with my quilting group (stitch and bitch)... continue with choir, some gardening, and lots of golf. The sad news is my knees have let me down for tennis.... total knee is in the near future. Son, Don is in Wyoming working for NOLS. He got married last Dec... very small wedding in the log cabins of Dornans. Bob is still living in Baltimore. He started the premier lacrosse magazine - INSIDE LACROSSE and has a web site... Insidelacrosse.com. The magazine is going great guns as is the sport of lacrosse. Please, anyone going across NYS on route 17 or coming north on 81... we are within 10 minutes of each... come and see us! and I promise I'll help on the next reunion.

Peter Kennedy is still doing real estate in Maine according to his wife, Karen (Fellows, Class of '63.)Here’s what she had to say: "Peter and I are doing well here in Maine.  Peter is still wheeling and dealing in real estate development in Maine and New York after having left Holmes and Kennedy Real Estate in Chappaqua. I have retired from the floral design business and Peter is hoping to retire, God knows when!  He thrives in the challenge of the deal!  We have three grown children: Tim is married with two daughters (5 and 3) and one on the way, and is following in father's footsteps with real estate development, but totally not connected to Peter's company. Bryan is a building general contractor, has a girlfriend who is an occupational therapist in the Portland Public Schools, and our youngest, Kelly, is a sophomore in college majoring in business marketing.    Peter and I have traveled extensively in Europe via motorcycle, but have put the long-distance riding to bed.  We have also sailed and powerboated for years on the coast from Nova Scotia to the Keys and mostly the Bahamas which is where we are headed again this week.  Our boat is our second home which we live on in the south during the winters. (Hopefully for more extended times now that Kelly is in college and Peter can take the time.)

Peg Dickenson writes that she and her husband Don will be in New Jersey for a nephew's wedding and then proceed on for a visit to Chappaqua.  He has never been there, and Peg hasn't been back since 1971.  Don sent me a picture earlier of Peg, and as you can see, Florida certainly agrees with her! Peg also writes that while visiting with Carole Odiorne Munro, they discovered that Don and Carole were born in the same hospital in East Orange, New Jersey and attended elementary school together and had the same kindergarten and 2nd grade teachers.  In one class photo they were even sitting next to one another!  Amazing!

And here is a real nice update from our regular reunion picnic host, Peter Davidson. "I left the State service last year - retired actually and am now in a low key part time law practice back here in dear little Chappaqua.  Coffee most mornings at the Little store with friends.  Just rejoined Rotary which meets every Mon at the Kittle House. 2 grandkids now - Satchel is 4.5 years and Casey will be 2 in May.  We see them a lot - live in Pleasantville with our son Pete and his wife Nancy.  Daughter Sarah got married last July to an Aussie - lots of his relatives came form Australia for the wedding.  Had a home reception here at the homestead as daughter always wanted.  She teaches at Rippowam-Cisqua and they have bought in South Salem.  My Bro' Jack is in a nursing home in Americus Ga. due to his M.S.  Remains quite cheerful and upbeat.  I was able to have 2 nice visits w. him last year.  Americus is in Jimmy Carter Country - Plains is just down the road a piece.  Mom is 93 and doing pretty well.  Justine Elliot/Hazzard comes by twice a week and helps her out.  Justine's H, Ted, passed away several years ago. Am taking Spanish - continuing ed - in the class room next to the late Senora Galas' - now there's a time warp!"

Locke Bogart and I got together for an afternoon in Tampa. I happened to be in the area, attending to the sale of my mom’s condo in Bradenton, as she has moved to assisted living in Alexandrian VA, near my sister Kathleen, Class of ’61. Anyway, Locke drove down from Weeki Wachee, and we had a nice time. He continues plying his trade in engineering and physics, working with a west coast company on various energy initiatives, and splits his time between California and Florida. He also does a lot of puttering and recently restored an Astin-Martin auto, which brought a rather nice price. Here’s a picture of us two seasoned citizens, taken while we were touring MacDill AFB there.

Last, but not least, here is all the news for Lynne Dennison Fitzhugh: "Son Ben got tenure at U. Washington this year, and he and wife Laada had a 2nd daughter, Larissa. No grandkids from son Josh and his wife Naina yet, but they did buy a house in Arlington, VA, across the river. My parents and half-sister Joan have all passed away. Bill's mom Florrie is hanging in, still whippy and charming, but Wyvill is in the Alzheimer’s unit at Kendall in Hanover NH. My sister Kris now has 2 grandkids plus those of her second husband. She keeps trying to retire but ultimately can't stand it and
retreats back to her job at Varien after a few weeks. I, however, love retirement! I'm writing and have lots of projects on the go. Bill is still chairman of Anthro Dept. at Smithsonian, doing field work in
Mongolia and Quebec. His siblings are all well. We all get together in Vermont since most of his family lives within 45 minutes of us.
Good to hear about others in the newsletter." (Ed. Note: perhaps that last line of Lynne’s will inspire some of you to write in. There’s virtually unlimited room on the web version, you know.)