Doris Little Osterhoudt retired after 34 years of teaching and is active in her church and in Senior Olympics. She is chairperson of the Senior Advisory Committee in West Milford, N.J., where she lives. Doris also serves on the Republican County Committee and helps with senior entitlements. Evelyn Dries Mathews and her husband recently returned from Boston where they took several tours and met up with friends. Nancy Morrell McClatchie enjoys kayaking and runs her late father’s insurance business where her two sons and two grandsons work. Florence Austermuhl Larson and her husband, Rob, celebrated their 60th anniversary with family and friends. Their pastor son, Bruce, just returned from an evangelistic crusade in Peru. Florence would like to hear from more “49ers.”
1950 Ann Messenger-Via 260 Chatham Road Harwich, MA 02645-3365 (508) 432-1049
1952 Carla Bloecher Derner 70 Lincoln Ave. Florham Park, NJ 07932 (973) 822-0652 nibbs01@aol.com
1953 Drusie Fox Jenkins 208 Linden Ponds Way Apt. CL 601 Hingham, MA 02043 (781) 740-1769 drusiej@verizon.net Ruth Wilcox Dotterer moved to a retirement center in Iowa, and continues to spend her time on woodcarving. Her children live in Des Moines and Davenport, Iowa and Izmir, Turkey, where her daughter, Julie, and son-in-law are both teachers. Vangie Rob Sweltzer is in touch with many classmates including Barb Ashworth LaMont who lives in Conyingham, Pa., and Mary Barto Hughes, who lives in Central Pennsylvania. Vangie recently learned that a recent cornea transplant failed and may undergo another procedure. Her classmates wish her good health. Carlotte Pugh Pearson moved from Indiana to Delaware, but was heading for India on Christmas Day to spend three months with her son’s family. Gail Dodge Williams Smith lives in a retirement home in California, near her son, and keeps busy with special events. Ruth Gaudino DuVall lives on Long Island, but winters in Florida, where she sees Ginny Smillie Wilson in North Palm Beach. Ginny recently saw Nancy Cunningham Paris and husband, Dan, as well as Ruth Gaudino Duvall — the three friends reunite for lunch each winter in Florida.
Margie Holmes Brown and husband Ken continue to travel to many interesting places — Canada, Cape Cod, the Trapp Family Lodge in Vermont, Amsterdam, Budapest, North Carolina and a cruise from Los Angeles to Hawaii. When at home, Margie volunteers at the McLean Health Center, the Encore Club and plays bridge. She wonders whether anyone has any information about Gertie Lei. Sue Sigmund Weidenhammer and husband George enjoyed a 14-day cruise from San Diego to the Panama Canal, as well as a vacation in Myrtle Beach. The couple love Plantation Village in Wilmington, N.C. Sue quilts, sings in the chorus and tutors children in English as a Second Language. She recently underwent hand and arm surgery and had a nerve replaced in her elbow. Jane Ayares Mangano writes: “Our first grandchild, Noah Anthony Mangano, was born on April 7, 2009. Needless to say, we are extremely happy over this event.” She also sings in a community college chorus, is an active gardener and has made many friends attending Barry Manilow concerts and fan conventions. Drusie Fox Jenkins, and husband Norm, live in a life-care community in Hingham, Mass., and Chatham, Cape Cod. Drusie and Joan Gosnell Birch meet up each summer as Joan, who lives in Pittsford, N.Y., visits family in Harwichport. On a sad note, Drusie reports that Nancy Steele Scudder passed away in Connecticut. She writes: “This is always difficult news to hear, and yet feel I should pass it on to other classmates. Please continue sending me news of our Centenary ’53 friends — any time of year. I know we all look forward to receiving our copy of The Centenarian.”
1954
changes at the College, from coeducation to new athletic facilities, a beautiful Equestrian Center and the new Lackland Center to be completed in 2010. She writes: “I believe all of us have received a request (Building Blocks for the Future) to contribute for individual paving stones. My fellow classmates and I who attended Homecoming are of the opinion that the Class of 1954 should donate one stone in honor of our class. Consider this: Carol Burgess and her husband, David Lackland, have been very generous, so why not support their generosity, and set an example? For more information call Kathleen Ward at (908) 852-1400, ext. 2387. It was fun catching up with those that did attend, and we all agreed that we should try to attend our 60th, assuming all of us are still alive and kicking! That would make most of us 80 years young!” Any questions or suggestions you may have, please contact Lesley Field Dunbar at 21 Robbins Road, Ayer, MA 01432, phone (978) 772-9741 or e-mail hldlbd@verizon.net.
1955 Eleanor Rausch Greene 2411 NE Pinecrest Lakes Blvd. Jensen Beach, FL 34957-6648 (772) 334-8006 richardgreene@bellsouth.net Joyce Tietjen Barry and husband Bob were in Orlando, Fla. in November for a high school reunion and later joined Ellie Rausch Greene and husband Dick for dinner in Jensen Beach. Ellie and Dick look forward to the usual group of “in season” classmates; the couple also attended the Centenary alumni luncheon in Vero Beach in March. Carol Guerber Messner and husband Bill became greatgrandparents recently.
Gwen Kennedy Butz Westin Innisbrook Resort 36750 U.S. Highway 19 North Palm Harbor, FL 34684 (727) 943-3772 jackbutz@aol.com Claire Couch Bosee became a Bronze Life Master in bridge. Last summer, she taught five classes of bridge a week in Nantucket. Claire writes: “My 20 years teaching experience has served me well. Now I have a new career!” Lesley Field Dunbar, along with eight fellow graduates from the Class of 1954 — Mary Fennel Gerber, Peggy Mansfield Wargo, Patty Foulkes Smith, Joan Foulkes Seaman, Doris Stockman Pooley, Carol Chainese Van Duyne, Shirley Gongwer Cochran and Carol Burgess Lackland — attended the 55th class reunion during Homecoming and Alumni Weekend. Leslie notes the many
Members of the Class of 1955 meet each winter at Panama Hatties. Left to right: Ellie Rausch Greene ’55, Dick Greene, Joyce Tietjen Barry ’55, Bob Barry, Bill Hepper and Evie Klebe Hepper ’55.
Nancy Blumoehr Morse and husband Ron celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on May 18, 2008. They were remarried at St. John’s Episcopal Church of Somerville, N.J. Following the ceremony, a reception was held in the church hall for 100 friends and family.
The Centenarian 23