We’ve worked twelve years to get to the top ... And now we’re here we won’t ever stop ... nohow We came, we saw, we conquered and absolutely nothing is the same We’ve got that special something and class of ’75 is what we’re named.
Who parks their cars all over the lawn ... we do
Who has new thoughts about right and wrong ... we do
Our charm and beauty captivates every single person that we meet They come and flock behind us whenever we go walking down the street.
Though Core and Math are sometimes a drag ... we live Cause more important things are our bag ... we live
Our weekends are so loaded with lots of things that we could never tell
But then come Monday morning we’re ladies at the sounding of the bell.
We’re dancers, actors, singers and jocks ... our claim
We’re lovers, scholars, leaders and crocks ... our fame
And though our interests differ we somehow manage always to survive At Long Last it’s our year now
There’s nothing left to fear now Cause we’re the class of ‘75!
Commencement
The Graduating Class of 1975
Donna Albani
Leslie Bacon
Theresa Bailey
Carolyn (Lyn) Baruch
Elisa (Lisa) Boyer
Cynthia (Cyndy) Boylan
Natalie Brinton
Maud Campbell
Linda Christie
Lynette Coleman
Wendy Davy
Ashley Denton
Catherine (Cathy) Dickey
Catherine (Cathie) Donahue
Amy Erskine
Eleanor Funkhouser
Heidi Hartshorn
Susan Groseclose
Dorothy (Chrissie) Hawke
Jill Henon
Cynthia Hoffman
Lauren Hurtubise
Lindsay Johnson
Nancy Kress
Joanne Lloyd
Sarah (Sally) Lange
Elizabeth (Libet) Martin
Aini Moa
Laura Morris
Helen Nemir
Anne (Wistie) Oppenlander
Leslie Ogden
Betsy Rettew
Barbara Roche
Diana Sanderson
Ann Schimminger
Wynnetta Scott
Sally Ann Sells
Martha Sharples
Leslie Somers
Nina
Gay
Leslie Stuart
Emile Trimble
Alida (Lylee) Van Pelt
Kimberley (Kim) Veitch
Ware
West
Estelle Whitney
Anne Williams
College/University Choices
Donna Marie Albani
Yale University
Leslie Chevalier Bacon
Ohio Wesleyan University
Theresa Denise Bailey
Princeton University
Carolyn Carpenter Baruch Kenyon College
Elisa Creighton Boyer
Westhampton College of
The University of Richmond
Cynthia Ann Boylan
Carleton College
Natalie Dixon Brinton
University of Virginia
Maud Elizabeth Campbell Denison University
Linda Jean Christie
Princeton University
Sylvia Lynette Coleman
New York University
Gwen Elisabeth Davy
Denison University
Ashley Wynne Denton
Denison University
Catherine Sloan Dickey
Yale University
Catherine Ann Donahue
Elizabethtown College
Amelia Elizabeth Erskine
Randolph-Macon Woman’s College
Eleanor Kent Funkhouser
Princeton University
Elinor Susan Groseclose Denison University
Heidi Stevens Hartshorn
William Smith College
Dorothy Christen Hawke Ohio Wesleyan University
Jill Angela Henon Salem College
Cynthia Logan Hoffman Barnard College
Lauren Elizabeth Hurtubise
Mount Holyoke College
Lindsay Darby Johnson Pine Manor Junior College
Nancy Jane Kress
Westhampton College of The University of Richmond
Sarah Lange
Dickinson College Joanne Lloyd
Princeton University
Elizabeth Hennick Martin Hollins College
Laura Remington Morris University of Delaware
Helen Powell Nemir
Boston University
Lesley Littlefield Ogden
University of Virginia
Anne Wister Oppenlander Radcliffe College (deferred)
Elizabeth Cavender Rettew
Bishop’s College, Canada
Barbara Longstreth Roche
Northwestern University
Ann Elizabeth Schimminger
University of Pennsylvania
Wynnetta Ann Scott University of Pennsylvania
Sally-Ann Dorothy Sells
Sweet Briar College
Martha Brinton Sharples
Connecticut College (deferred)
Leslie Ann Somers
Northwestern University
Leslie Irene Stuart Year Off
Emile Jean Trimble
Mary Washington College
Alida Milliken Van Pelt
University of Pennsylvania
Kimberly Walker Veitch
Randolph-Macon Woman’s College
Nina Wolfgram Ware Green Mountain College
Margaret Gay West Pine Manor Junior College
Estelle Harriet Whitney
Carnegie~Mellon University
Suzanne Gillmore Williams
Ohio Wesleyan University
A Trip Down Memory Lane
From the Archives
Helen Nemir and Martha Sharples
Anne Lenox
a.f.s. students
Agnes Irwin Is most fortunate this year in hosting two lovely young ladies through the American Field Service. Each of them have submitted their impressions and background for you to share. We wish them all the best in the future.
“When I arrived in America, this December, I knew that I was on the verge of a tremendous experience, and I knew that I would find several differences between England and America. Unlike many foreign exchange students, I did not have to learn a new language, although there are some differences.
I live in a village about twelve miles from city of Hull, in Yorkshire, in the north-east of England. However, I have attended boarding school for nine years — So I find it very difficult going home to the family each evening. I spent three years at my preparatory school, which was in a big, old country house on the edge of North Yorkshire Moors, about sixty miles from home. The other six years were at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, which is the biggest and oldest girls boarding school in the country — founded in 1855 and with almost 900 students between eleven and eighteen years of age. Cheltenham is a spa town in the beautiful cotswold area in the southwest, about 200 miles from home. The school had the tradition of being very academic, and I specialized in physics, chemistry, and math during my last two years. I took my Advanced Levels (public exams at the end of the equivalent of 12th grade) last summer. I returned to take some extra exams in the autumn, which is why I arrived here in December. Despite the name of the school, we did have some joint lessons and societies with the boys school in the town! This October, I am going to Durhan University, in the north, to read, applied physics and chemistry. However, I have not yet decided upon a career, although I may possibly study law after I have my degree. Since I am so often away from home, my hobbies and interests are influenced by where I am. My main hobby during the holidays is riding, and I also enjoy visiting horseshows, horse trails, and thoroughbred racing. I also enjoy reading — any and everything — and listening to music, but especially folk and classical. I often visit my school friends during the holidays and so see many different parts of the country. When at school, I belong to many of the societies and we often went on outings, both in the area and two places like Stratford-on Avon and Wimbledon. I also enjoyed walking and cycling, and since Cheltenham is very central, attending the theatre and concerts.
This year, my school is hosting an a. F. S. Student from Texas and she stayed with me for three weeks last summer. We visited many places of interest, and I saw my country in a new, more appreciative way, and also experienced the other side of AFS — hosting a student. It was great. I hope this has given you some indication of my life in England, I think that America is wonderful too!”
~ Diana June Sanderson ’75
“The day I was accepted as an AFS student and got information about my new American family, I was happy and excited as I have been here for half a year already, and I am having a great time with my “family,” friends and in school.
Agnes Irwin is very different from the high-school I graduated from last summer. We were about four hundred and fifty girls and boys in three grades. The classes were set, but before entering the school, you could choose whether you wanted a science course or language course. I, myself, took the most intensive language course with written English, French and German. High-school is not obligatory in Norway and strictly academic. Yes, all activities had to be done outside school.
My family, that is my father, who is an engineer, my mother, who is a “drawer” and my fourteen year old sister, who is in the eleventh grade, just outside Oslo. Thus, I could benefit from all the cultural institutions of the city. I love going to the theatre and I really enjoy the Modern Drama course I am taking this year. I also went a lot to ballet and operas as well as to concerts, with friends or with my family. As for handicrafts, I really enjoy weaving and enamel jewelry making.
Unlike most Norwegians, I am not sports oriented. However, I practice some cross-country skiing during winter and I love going hiking and camping in the mountains and in the woods. As my family has a small place on an island in Oslofjord, We take trips in our small motorboat or sometimes go sailing and fishing in summer.
It was through the Red Cross youth, of which I was a member for many years, that I first got interested in international work and worldwide understanding, which eventually made me apply for the AFS program. As to my future, I hope to get a job, offering the opportunity to travel and meet many people. Thus, when going home, I shall be going to an economic day school for two years to take French, social economy, business law, and business managing, among other subjects. This education opened the way to many different careers and will, hopefully, help me decide what to do.
So far, however, I am really enjoying my stay here with Cynthia and the rest of the Hoffman family, my new friends, the school (which is much more challenging and inspiring than the Norwegian schools I have attended) — in short, all the nice people I meet here every day who make my stay here such an interesting and enjoyable experience."
~ Aini-Moa ’75
Diana June Sanderson is staying with classmate Catherine Ann Donahue in Malvern.
Aini Moa is living with Cynthia Hoffman in Wayne..
Kim Veitch, Donna Albani, and Libet Martin in the Modern Dance Recital
Memories
Leslie Stuart-Matthews
Mme Knauer chewed on her wart on her tongue. Totally freaked me out. And she used to kick me out of class for coughing. Granted I was really terrible at French, but I had bronchitis so I couldn’t really help it.
Mr. Moss Vreeland oversaw Art club. I, of course was making a bong in ceramics. He asked what I was making and I told him with a very serious look that it was a water filtration system. He never questioned me. Just said “Ahhhh”. At least I put a face on it.
I took modern dance in my junior year and I remember Mrs. Snyder telling me if I promised not to be in the recital she would give me a C. Seemed like a pretty good deal to me.
The maintenance guy who helped me jack my car up when I was a junior. I pulled too far in the parking spot and got my mother’s Toyota stuck on the cement parking stop. He went and got the jack from his car (a Cadillac) and brought it to me. When I saw it I said, “Don’t you think that’s too big?” and he smiled and said, “That’s what you said last night and it worked out OK,” without missing a beat. I was so stunned I couldn’t speak. He just laughed and jacked up my car. I’ve never forgotten it.
Lucy Cooper-Karlsson
A memory that has stuck with me goes back to second grade; Mrs. Whartnaby instructed the class to take out our spelling workbooks, open it to one of the lessons, and then emphatically stated that “cute” is not a word and that we were to cross out the word from the list of spelling words in that lesson. I also remember being in somewhat of a state of wonder when Mrs. Lenox came to check on me in the infirmary when I hit my head on the edge of an open first floor window retrieving a blackboard eraser that had been tossed out of our 7th grade classroom window into the courtyard. There was a significant amount of bleeding, but Mrs. Lenox reassured me that head wounds were prone to bleeding profusely and that my wound was not serious. After her show of concern, I was much less intimidated by Mrs. Lenox.
Natalie Brinton Krovetz
In 9th grade (I think) I was on the JV field hockey team. During a game there were multiple absences on the varsity team, so Mrs. Keyser put me in at fullback on the Varsity team for a spell. I was nervous, but played well and that confidence she had in me gave me a lot of self confidence. I got a shout-out in the local paper and still have that column.
Mr. Ross led the photography club — I remember a club trip he took us on down to the Italian market in downtown Philly. That was such a fun excursion. I always enjoyed him as a teacher.
I was never particularly musical so Mrs. Carter’s music class was never a favorite. I recall leaning the cello (lord knows why I was playing that) against a chair, then tripping over it and breaking it. Mrs. Carter was not happy with me at all.
Laurie Hiestand
In 5th grade I had a fall off a pony and broke my right hand, but we had an exam the next day and I couldn’t write so of course I thought I was off the hook that day for the exam. Mrs. Schimminger said I had to take it anyway and would have to do it orally. Needless to say, I wasn’t well prepared for that and did not do well on that test.
On another note, I loved French with Mr. Ross!
Gay West-Klien
When I was asked for a memory, the one that popped into my head was from the 10th grade. We had to take the PSATs. When the results came in, we had to go to Mrs. Lenox’s office, one at a time, to get our scores. I remember (what seemed like) the long walk to her desk. She handed me the piece of paper and said, “You will do better.” I did.
Alida Nicholas Van Pelt ’53 and her daughter Alida Milliken Van Pelt ’75, granddaughter of Marion Grant Van Pelt ’14
Diana Scott Oppenlander ’51 and her daughter Anne Wister Oppenlander ’75
Angela Girlibald Hurtubsie ’51 and her daughter Lauren Elizabeth Hurtubsie ’75
Priscilla Longstreth Roche ’45 and her daughter Barbara Longstreth Roche ’75
Lauren Hurtubise
I feel so fortunate to have attended The Agnes Irwin School for 13 years. I was blessed to have amazing teachers and mentors during my whole time there, but as an educator I know how important the first few years of school can be! I had Miss Amram in Kindergarten, Mrs. Beesinger for 1st graded, and Mrs. Whartnaby for 2nd grade. I loved my time at Irwin’s and met so many amazing people. Although I played field hockey, volleyball, and lacrosse my favorite memories are of being in the musicals at both Agnes Irwin and Episcopal Academy and especially singing in the Bel Cantos! The Agnes Irwin School instilled in me a lifetime love of learning and helping others.
Line Farr
I remember being intimidated by (and somewhat recalcitrant about) reading “A Tale of Two Cities” in 9th grade English with Mrs. Sands. When it turned out to be a page turner and I said I loved it, she smiled a knowing smile. She didn’t push, she suggested and opened the way.
I remember Mme Wiktor who taught French. She had a crush on Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum) on The Man from U.N.C.L.E. We could always get her to blush. She was a lovely and kind teacher. She told us about her husband Tadeusz, a veterinarian who worked for the Wistar Institute who was on the team that developed the new anti-rabies vaccine (1968) which did not have as painful side effects as the previous one.
I’m not sure if this is apocryphal, I heard it from my sister, or it’s my own memory of Mr Rapp, who taught history. One Monday he came in, obviously hurting. Someone asked him if it was true he’d fallen off a horse because the rumor had gone around. The answer: “Mr Rapp does not fall off horses; I was thrown.”
Mrs. Wagner made Latin fun. When I met her again, at least 15 years later, she was the Vice President for Conservation and Education at the Philadelphia Zoo and an excellent educator and administrator. She later became a consultant for strategic planning and business, specializing in zoos and conservation non-profits.
Lylee Van Pelt
Many of my memories are techniques my teachers used which I copied when I became a teacher. In fourth grade, to take attendance, Mrs. Bosser, taught the class to recite our last names in alphabetical order. It became an invaluable technique in my classroom to start off the day, and then for fire drills and class trips. It means students are helping take responsibility for their presence and so efficiently being able to tell who is or is not there. I’ll bet most of us that were in fourth grade together can still recite the entire roll call. Baruch, Brainerd, Brinton, Cooper…
I loved Math with Miss Munger, but don’t remember if she taught only 7th grade. Something must have stuck because I taught fifth grade math for 29 years.
We had a really small Latin class with Mrs. Yoselson. I think we were five students, so there were times when other, distracting, maybe even troubling stuff was going on, and she did stop Latin to help us talk and digest whatever it was. At the same time, remembering my Latin roots has served me well my entire life. For my own teaching, I think from her and others I learned and still believe that teaching and learning happen best when a good relationship can develop, and that requires smaller groups.
Finally along that line, I loved Mr. Barnett’s history class in ninth grade. Besides learning English history thematically, the Kings, rise of the middle class, he had us read relevant short novels, which did bring history alive. I was glad to have him as my advisor senior year.
And Miss Jenkins, with her dark red lipstick that often got on her teeth, her dark dyed hair, made understanding and working to grasp the concepts covered in CORE that year exhilarating. She guided the conversations in tutorial, again small group, so that we were asking questions about and discussing issues of the “Quattro Cento” but also that seemed relevant to the days we were living through..
Lenox at the Bat
They couldn’t do it in the field, for TRICKY couldn’t catch
And ROSS was off in far left field, sunbathing in the grass.
And LENOX couldn’t pitch a thing, although she kept on trying
While MRS. SANDS was so upset, she sat on second crying.
It looked extremely rocky for the Facultyville nine that day.
The score stood 2 to 4 with but one inning left to play.
So when BROWN died at second, the CRESSON did the same,
A pallor wreathed the features of the teachers of the game.
BARUCH made throwing to second look like such a cinch
While tagging out on third was neatly done by LYNCH.
And WHITMAN threw to OGDEN a ball so swift and smooth
That OGDEN just stood smiling, knowing she needn’t move.
A straggling few got up to go, leaving there the rest,
Because they knew with McKINNEY coaching, we surely had the best.
But they thought, “If only LENOX could get a whack at that.”
They’d put even money now, with LENOX at bat.
But SANDS preceded LENOX, and likewise so did ROSS
And the former was a pudd’n and the latter was a loss.
So on that stricken faculty a deathlike silence sat
For there seemed but little chance of LENOX getting to bat.
But SANDS let drive a single, to the wonderment of all!
And the athletic dropout ROSS tore the cover off the ball!
And when the dust had lifted and they saw what had occurred,
There was ROSS safe at second and SANDS a-huggin’ third!
Then from the gladdened faculty went up a joyous yell.
It rumbled in the mountain tops, it rattles in the dell.
It struck upon the hillside and rebounded on the flat
For LENOX, mighty LENOX, was advancing to the bat!
(continued)
There was ease in LENOX’ manner as she stepped into her place. There was pride in LENOX’ bearing and a smile on LENOX’ face.
And when responding to the cheers, she lightly doffed her hat, No student in the school could doubt ’twas LENOX at the bat!
MADIERA’S eyes were on her as she rubbed her hands with dirt
And CARRIGAN looked disgusted when she wiped them on her shirt.
Then when the writhing ROCHE ground the ball into her hip, Defiance gleamed in LENOX’ eye, a sneer caught LENOX’ lip.
And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air.
And LENOX stood a-watching in haughty grandeur there.
Close by the sturdy batsman, the ball unheeded sped.
“That ain’t my style,” said LENOX, “Strike one” the KEYSER said.
From the benches bent with faculty, went up a muffled roar.
Like the students in the hallways beating feet upon the floor.
“Kill her, kill the KEYSER!” shouted someone in the stand.
And it’s likely they’d have killed her had not LENOX raised her hand.
With a smile of Christian charity, great LENOX’ visage shone.
She stilled the rising faculty, she made the game go on.
She signaled to ROCHE the pitcher and once more the spheroid flew.
But LENOX still ignored it and the KEYSER said, “Strike two!”
“Fraud,” cried the faculty and the echo answered, “Fraud.”
But one scornful look from LENOX and the faculty was awed.
They saw her face grow stern and cold. They saw her muscles strain
And they knew that LENOX wouldn’t let the ball go by again.
The sneer is gone from LENOX’ lips, her teeth are clenched in hate.
She pounds with cruel vengeance her bat upon the plate.
And not the pitcher holds the ball, and not she lets it go.
And now the air is shattered by the force of LENOX’ blow.
Oh somewhere in this favored school the students’ faces are bright.
The Glee Club’s singing somewhere and the students’ hearts are light.
And somewhere students are laughing, and somewhere students shout.
But there is no joy in the faculty lounge. Mighty LENOX has struck out!!!
What Was Going On?
Major Events During Our Senior Year
• Gerald Ford’s tenure as the 38th president of the United States began on August 9, 1974, upon the resignation of President Richard Nixon.
• President Ford survives two assassination attempts in a 17-day span (in Sacramento and in San Francisco)
• John N. Mitchell, H. R. Haldeman, and John D. Ehrlichman — three of the most powerful men in the nation during the Nixon Administration — were sentenced on February 21 to serve two and a half to eight years in prison for their roles in the Watergate cover-up.
• The Vietnam War ends (April 30) as Communist forces take Saigon, resulting in mass evacuations of Americans and South Vietnamese. As the capital is taken, South Vietnam surrenders unconditionally.
• Margaret Thatcher defeats Edward Heath for the leadership of the opposition UK Conservative Party. Thatcher, 49, is Britain’s first female leader of any political party.
• Egypt reopens the Suez Canal after eight years.
• Construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System begins on March 9.
• The Apollo–Soyuz Test Project begins as an American Apollo spacecraft and a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft dock in orbit, marking the first such link-up between spacecraft from the two nations.
• 1975 was designated as International Women’s Year (IWY) by the United Nations. Since then, March 8 has been celebrated as International Women’s Day.
— Lesley Ogden
Show Debuts
1. Wheel of Fortune (1975– ) 2. Baretta (1975–78)
3. The Jeffersons (1975–85)
4. Barney Miller (1975–82)
5. Ryan’s Hope (1975–89)
6. Space: 1999 (1975–77)
7. Wonder Woman (1975–79)
8. Match Game PM (1975–82)
9. Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–79) 10. Saturday Night Live (1975– )
Top 10 Grossing Movies
1. Jaws
2. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
3. The Rocky Horror Picture Show 4. Shampoo
5. Dog Day Afternoon 6. The Return of the Pink Panther 7. Three Days of the Condor
Funny Lady
The Other Side of the Mountain
Tommy
1975 Academy Awards
• Mood Rings
• Rubik’s Cubes
• Pet Rocks
• Hip-huggers, Leisure Suits, and Bell-bottoms
• 8-Tracks
• Disco
• PEZ Candy • Magic 8-Balls
1975
Mood rings hit the market in August 1975 and skyrocketed with the help of department store
• Best Actress: Ellen Burstyn, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
• Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Ingrid Bergman, Murder on the Orient Express
• Best Actor: Art Carney, Harry and Tonto
• Best Actor a Supporting Role: Robert De Niro, The Godfather Part II
• Best Picture: The Godfather Part II
• Best Director: Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather Part II
PEZ Cockatoo
Bonwit Teller, who marketed them as “truth rings.”
Cast of SNL’s first episode: Laraine Newman, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Garrett Morris, Dan Aykroyd, and Chevy Chase
1. Love Will Keep Us Together, Captain & Tennille
2. Rhinestone Cowboy, Glen Campbell
3. Philadelphia Freedom, Elton John
4. Before the Next Teardrop Falls, Freddy Fender
5. My Eyes Adored You, Frankie Valli
6. Some Kind of Wonderful, Grand Funk Railroad
7. Shining Star, Earth, Wind & Fire
8. Fame, David Bowie
9. Laughter in the Rain, Neil Sedaka
10. One of These Nights, Eagles
Music News
John Lennon and Yoko Ono become parents of Sean Ono Lennon on October 9, 1975. The birth heralds the beginning of John’s temporary retirement from the music business as he vows to devote himself to family for the next five years
Elvis Presley performed at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan — the biggest concert and highest-grossing show of his career.
The official break-up of English rock band Faces is announced at a London press conference.
Rod Stewart continues his solo career while Ronnie Wood — after a chance encounter with Mick Jagger at a party — would land his dream job as the Rolling Stones’ guitarist.
Inventions & Technology
• Home videotape systems (VCRs) are developed in Japan by Sony (Betamax) and Matsushita (VHS).
• Sony’s Betamax becomes the first commercially successful home video recording unit.
• The Altair home computer kit designed by Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS) allows consumers to build and program their own personal computers.
• Computer hobbyists Stephen Wozniak and Steven Jobs begin working on computer designs. Together they develop the Apple 1 prototype.
• Bill Gates founds Microsoft
• Steven Sasson of Eastman Kodak developed and produced the first handheld digital camera.
Sports
• Super Bowl IX: Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Minnesota Vikings 16 to 6 in New Orleans
• World Series: Cincinnati Reds win 4 games to 3 over the Boston Red Sox
• Basketball: Golden State Warriors win 4 games to 0 over the Washington Bullets for the NBA Championship
• Boxing: Muhammad Ali defeated Joe Frazier to maintain the Heavyweight Championship of the world. (Known as the Thrilla In Manila, many regard it as the greatest fight in boxing history.)
• Soccer: West Ham United wins the FA Cup at Wembley, beating Fulham 2–0 in the final
• Cycling: Bernard Thévenet of France wins the Tour de France
• Golf: Jack Nicklaus wins the Masters Tournament and PGA Championship
• Hockey: Philadelphia Flyers defeat the Buffalo Sabres 4 games to 2 for the Stanley Cup
• Rugby Union: Wales wins the 81st Five Nations Championship series
• Tennis: Wimbledon is won by Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King
Inventor Steven Sasson with the portable digital camera
Philadelphia Flyers Bernie Parent, left, and Bobby Clarke, carry the Stanley Cup off the ice in Buffalo on May 28, 1975, after winning over the Buffalo Sabres.
FICTION
August 4 – October 6, 1974
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré
October 13, 1974 – February 2, 1975
Centennial by James Michener
February 9, 1975
Something Happened by Joseph Heller
February 16 – April 27, 1975
Centennial by James Michener
May 4 – July 27, 1975
The Moneychangers by Arthur Hailey
NON-FICTION
June 30 – November 10, 1974
All the President’s Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
November 17, 1974 – January 26, 1975
All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot
February 2 – 9, 1975
The Bermuda Triangle by Charles Berlitz
February 16, 1975
The Palace Guard by Dan Rather and Gary Paul Gates
February 23 – June 8, 1975
The Bermuda Triangle by Charles Berlitz
June 15 – August 31 Breach of Faith by Theodore H. White
Cost of Living in 1975 Average
Motor Trend Car of the Year: The Chevrolet Monza — a subcompact automobile produced by Chevrolet from 1975 through 1980.
This stamp is one of four designs issued in observance of the U.S. Postal Department’s 200th anniversary. $2.03
Reunions
Reunion 1990
Reunion 2000
Biographies
In Order of Appearance
Ann Schimminger Marcus
Chrissie Hawke Flavion
Cyndy Boylan
Ashley Denton
Eleanor Funkhouser Doar
Leslie Ann Somers
Theresa Bailey Baker
Natalie Brinton Krovetz
Nancy Kress
Elisa Boyer Moneymaker
Leslie Stuart Matthews
Lauren Hurtubise McKinney
Lylee VanPelt
Cathie Donahue Horneff
Lucy Cooper-Karlsson
Sally Anne Bensur
Linda Christie
Carolyn Baruch Hickey
Dru Carey
Martha Sharples
Wynnetta Scott-Simmons
Sally Lange
Aini Moa
Catherine Dickey
Line Farr
Susan Groseclose Price
Nina Ware
Laurie Hiestand
Heidi Hartshorn McPherson
Gay West-Klien
Debbie Diehl Becker
Barbara Roche Wille
Leslie Bacon
Joanne Lloyd Butler
Donna Albani
Ann Schimminger Marcus
Wow! Fifty years flew by. I have been married to my best friend and love of my life Howard for 45 years this year. After living in PA for the first 15 years, with an adventure of two years in Paris, we moved to New Jersey thirty years ago. Our daughter, Sarah, who started her academic career at Irwin’s in the class of ’06, followed in our footsteps to Penn. She married Matt in 2015 and they became parents to our precious granddaughter, Charlotte in 2019. So that’s the data part!
Most of my time has been spent with committee work at Sarah’s schools where I met a wonderful group of bright and motivated women. We continue to be involved in working for important causes including food insecurity and voter registration. I love to read and am still trying to become a less stressed knitter. We enjoy being “Lolli and Pops” and see the kids as often as possible. Sarah works in Broadway advertising/marketing so we try to go to as many shows as we can. Traveling (especially cruising) is our passion. Whether it be to Ushuaia, Argentina and around Cape Horn or crossing the Artic Circle to Honningsvag, Norway, we love experiencing new places, foods, people and cultures. We have also traveled to wine country in California, Oregon, Chile, and multiple regions of France and Italy.
Looking forward to seeing you all!
The two pictures without Howard include my granddaughter Charlotte Hansen, and me with my daughter Sarah Marcus Hansen ’06 and my sister Mary Schimminger Hinds ’02.
Chrissie
Hawke Flavion
Jim and I were married in April of 1980. Amanda was born in 1985, followed by Gary, Lindsay, Whitney, and Alexandra in 1989. Life was a whirlwind for sometime, but with Jim at my side we have had a very rich life with family at the center of our universe as it continues to be to this day.
Agnes Irwin School, my memories of Anne Lenox, my classmates, teammates, and friends will always hold a special place in my heart.
Cyndy Boylan
This feels a strange thing to write up! I am trying to avoid life summation perhaps life update might be a more encouraging way to think about it…
I have spent the past 32 years living in a small village in Oxfordshire about 25 miles west of Oxford in the UK. Here my husband, Jim, and I have raised our four children: Olly, Eliza, Will and Jemima. Olly, who was married in August of last year, has lived in Philadelphia since 2011. Eliza and her husband and their two children live in London, as does Will and his fiancée, Emily. Jemima, our youngest, moved to New York in September of last year for work. So our family is very diverse in location! I suppose it is karma with regard to my own departure from the USA. A few years ago I gave up my American citizenship and became a UK citizen. I had to swear allegiance to the Queen!
I began a PhD at NYU in the 80s but didn’t manage to get round to finishing it until 2015. Life was quite busy with the children as well as adjusting to life in a new culture. In 2009, I went to Oxford University to complete an MST in Medieval Studies followed by a PhD in manuscript studies at the University of London. I have been employed by the University as a Senior Lecturer since 2015 and it has been an interesting and challenging job. Some of you may remember my parents, Dick and Hildegarde. My father died quite young at 57 very tragically from melanoma. My mother lived a long and wonderful life. She passed on in 2011 at the age of 94. My sister, Jenny, will be remembered by some of you as Jim. She transitioned in 2001 and is now a well-known public figure in the trans movement.
I used to bring the children to stay with my mother at our old house on Waterloo Road for sometimes up to a month during the summer. When Jim would join us for the last two weeks of the holiday, we would often go to Eagles Mere, Pa in the Endless Mountains where the children made many friends and got to understand American culture. During our visits my children got to meet the children of some of my Irwin’s classmates: Martha, Cynthia and Heidi and their families were yearly visitors.
I recently saw Martha and her husband in London which was just wonderful. If any of you are passing that way, please do come and say hello!
Ashley Denton
My favorite time is family time ~ with my three children Meredith, Caroline, and Matthew and my grandchildren Emmeline and Henry. Being ‘Nana’ is the best!
A second career keeps me busy as a Public Health Nurse for the residents in the town where I live, Wellesley MA.
Eleanor Funkhouser Doar
During the recent devastating Los Angeles fires, I heard a radio interview with a teenage girl whose family had been evacuated, lost their home. Her mom was so shocked, she could hardly speak, but the girl shared how a friend invited her over. Sitting with the family around their kitchen table and later watching a movie with her friend made her feel normal again—hopeful even.
It reminded me of the moms of my AIS friends and how they always made me feel at home. Natalie’s mom zipped around in her convertible with her dog, Rover, letting us feel the thrill of the wind. Wistie’s mom rode horses and played Scrabble with us. Leslie Stuart’s mom taught me to ski, play squash, and fall in love with skinny dipping. Lylee’s mom was the “cool” mom who let Lylee have a “Sock Hop” in her basement and go out with college boys. Catherine’s mom was soft-spoken, offering honey instead of sugar and cream instead of milk from pretty handmade pitchers. Amy’s mom barked orders like a drill sergeant but couldn’t hide how proud she was of Amy. Laura’s mom was artistic, always tending her garden or designing floral arrangements for competitions. Susan’s mom, always dressed for golf, opened her home in Buck Hill to all of us. Linda’s mom, with her Scottish brogue, served hot tea with milk and always with a side of wise advice. And Lyn B.’s mom taught me yoga—a lifelong gift.
Did our moms have a clue that AIS was the perfect place for us to thrive? When I asked my 97-year-old Mom today, “Why Irwin’s?” She answered, “I didn’t like Shipley (go, Mom!) and I had some friends who had sent their daughters there. I had gone to an all-women’s college and I guess I thought it would be good for you.” It was. And the Class of ’75 was special—we still are! We pushed each other to do our best and cheered each other to follow our dreams. Still do.
After Princeton, I landed my dream job in NYC book publishing. After a few years, I married my love, Michael, and we settled in Atlanta. There, forced to leave publishing, I switched to advertising, which I loved and Michael into a law firm, which he eventually did not love. With a third baby on the way, we moved to the Midwest to raise our children. He worked in manufacturing - making machine tools -
and I switched to the client side working in marketing in a regional bank.
I loved my work in advertising and later in banking, where I became an EVP. After 15 plus years, I pivoted to become an independent trustee, which gave me the freedom to volunteer in Tanzania. The children at The Rift Valley Children’s Village (RVCV) stole my heart, and I’ve returned every year for 16 years, teaching preschool and just loving on them.
A few weeks ago, I stepped down as board chair of the Tanzanian Children’s Fund, the non-profit that supports RVCV, but I remain dedicated to the mission and devoted to the children and people of this beautiful area of Tanzania.
Now, Michael and I are enjoying life in Indiana, surrounded by our eight grandkids, who all live nearby. We’re pinching ourselves—to be so lucky is unreal. If you’re ever in the area, don’t just fly over, come visit!
Leslie Ann Somers
My years at AIS spanned 6th grade through 12th grade. After graduation, I attended and graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in education. After a very short-lived career as an elementary school teacher, I moved into the business world and held jobs in the fields of marketing research, human resources, and finally nonprofit fundraising, where I should have been all along. I lived in Chicago and Denver before returning to PA, where I have lived in Chester County since 1987.
I have three children: Kathleen, 35, Michael, 30 and Philip, 29. Kathleen was born with a congenital defect and has neurological disabilities. She has had an amazing journey which has taught me what really matters in this life. She lives a happy and busy life in a group home in Phoenixville, where she works, volunteers, plays the piano like a champ, and enjoys spending time with her friends in the community.
My Irish twin sons are pretty terrific young men.
In September of 2024, I married a wonderful man who has filled my life with joy. Life is better than ever.
I love spending time with a good book, doing yoga, writing and tracing my elusive Irish ancestors.
Theresa Bailey Baker Natalie Brinton Krovetz
Looking back 50 years ago to 1975 is a chance to truly count my blessings, challenges, surprises, disappointments, and changes. And I count it all joy! My years in the Upper School of AIS were a pivotal part of the foundation for the life I have lived since commencement in June 1975. For this, I am thankful.
Snapshots of fond memories: lunchtime trips to B. Altman’s to try on fancy gowns with my BFF Joanne — the laughter and joy before heading to McDonald’s for French fries. Only a couple of us in fourth-year Latin class, yet we managed to pass notes between us, written in Latin of course. A fun sleepover at Donna’s house freshman year. Getting rides home to Philly with Sally Ann and her mom. Classmates slipping bananas into my mashed potatoes during lunch, knowing that I dislike bananas intensely.
My favorite teachers were Senora Van DykeBonneti, Mrs. Goppelt, and Mr. Hutchinson. I enjoyed a special connection to Mrs. Sands.
Life since AIS has been blessed with joys — marrying the love of my life Vernon in 1982 and the birth of our sons Vernon III in 1986 and Stuart in 1991 are at the top of the list. My family moved from the East Coast to the Midwest in 1999, which wasn’t in my plans, but the Lord knows the plans that He has for us and they are always the best.
After graduating from Princeton in 1979 and Columbia Law School in 1982, I enjoyed years practicing corporate law on Wall Street. Post retirement, my husband and I are traveling, working in various Church ministries, and working with several non-profit civic and community organizations.
Life is good. And I am thankful.
Years at AIS: I was a lifer! Kindergarten through 12th grade.
Education After AIS: I went to UVA, graduating in December 1979 with a BA in French. In 1988 I earned a BS in Nursing also from UVA. In between those degrees I was licensed to practice as an LPN.
Places Lived: Primarily in the Charlottesville, VA area since 1975. Left from ’88-’89 when we lived in Bellingham WA / Winchester, NH.
Where I’ve Worked: UVA Medical Center since 1989, in Neurosciences — as an ICU nurse for roughly 13 years, then in outpatient neurosurgery. I loved working in healthcare. It was challenging, I learned constantly, I made close friends, and I loved working with patients and their families. Other jobs: include nannying, scooping ice cream, working in an aquarium/pet shop, nude modeling! and nurse’s aide.
Family: Dave and I married in 1979 — I met him when he moved into the house I was living in with his sister :). We lived in rural Virginia for much of our life, commuting into Charlottesville until 13 years ago when we moved to the city. Our daughter Tess and her family live a mile away — she is a third-grade teacher and Jamelle is a journalist, writing for the NYT. Our grandchildren are 3 and 6 and we are so fortunate to see them often. My parents both died in 2011, but Dad lived down here for 5 years prior so we had some great quality time together.
Odds and Ends: I retired in 2020. I run and/or swim to keep in shape. We have ebikes that we use a lot around town. I love to take photos – film and digital, sew, knit, garden and cook. We’ve had dogs all our lives and after being dogless for 6 months are enjoying our rescue yellow lab Griff. He’s 5ish and keeps us busy, as do our grandchildren Carter and Julia. Over the years Dave and I have traveled across country, to Europe the summer of 1979, to Kauai/ Maui/Big Island several times, and to St. John and St. Croix. We’ve done a lot of camping and traveled often to Maine and Vermont.
I’m looking forward to reconnecting with classmates at our 50th reunion.
Nancy Kress
I entered Irwin’s in 7th grade and I remember Mrs. Lenox on my first assembly look down from her podium at me and say out load, “Oh no, another Kress girl”. LOL. (My two older sisters had graduated from Irwin’s).
I also remember Madame Knauer who scared me so much in French class that I actually broke out in hives. She said I was too American to ever speak French. I quickly switched to Latin! Irwin’s was my extended family while attending since my high school years had my parents living in Maryland and Idaho. The friendships made in our class of ’75 are still going strong 50 years later. After Irwin’s and university, I lived in Washington, D.C., Tacoma, WA, back to Haverford and Devon, got married and moved to Toronto, Canada for 28 years and now reside in Palm City, FL, where we bought 10 years ago and spent our winters there.
Interests are tennis, squash, golf, painting, duplicate bridge, and reading.
My main volunteering for the last 10 years is at The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast where I concentrate on working with the shelter dogs. It gives me my greatest pleasures to spend time with the dogs, staff, and other volunteers.
Elisa Boyer Moneymaker
Fondest Memory at AIS: When I entered AIS in 5th grade, the only classmate I knew was Gay WestKlien who attended Rowland Elementary School with me. On the first day at AIS our teacher asked the students to elect a Class Chairman, a week long position to assist the teacher. Gay nominated me (thanks Gay) and somehow I was elected. What a welcoming experience for this nervous new girl!
Scariest Memory at AIS: Some of you may remember this incident. A new gym teacher stopped our 8th grade field hockey game to give us instruction and to restart the game threw the ball behind her as most of the coaches did. What she didn’t know — I was right there in the crouched hockey position. The hockey ball broke my nose, fractured my cheekbone, and in later years caused eye issues. It all happened so quickly that it really didn’t hurt. At that point in my life I was more disappointed that I didn’t get a shiner from the accident — only a swollen nose and my one and only nose job.
Life Since AIS
School/Family/Work: I graduated from University of Richmond’s business school with a BS in Finance. Of note is that Nancy Kress was my freshman roommate. I met my husband, Dave, at Richmond and we married in June 1980 which makes this June our 45th anniversary. We live in Strafford and have two children, Jay and Carolyn. Carolyn made a dramatic entrance into the world by arriving a month early in the backseat of a police car. At least we made it to the front of Bryn Mawr Hospital. Much to our delight, Jay and his wife Dana, and Carolyn and her husband Corey, live close by so we see them often. Jay and Dana welcomed their son, Aiden, 3 years ago and we have too much fun playing/watching him every other Friday. Being a grandparent brings us so much joy.
I actually used my degree :) and worked in finance for the majority of my career. First at Girard/Mellon Bank in Corporate Cash Management, then in the Treasury Department at Aramark, and finally at Coho Partners, an investment advisory firm. I worked at Coho from 1999 until my retirement at the end of 2022. We started with 2 employees (the
portfolio manager and me) and no assets under management. When I left the firm had grown to 30 employees and $10 billion under management.
Proving that the world is small, Sally Lange and I were in the same department in our first job at Girard Bank. After Girard was acquired by Mellon Bank, I learned that Sally Ann Sells worked for Mellon in Pittsburgh and connected with her on one of my trips to the headquarters.
Hobbies: I was a runner for 20 plus years until my body told me to stop. I now walk 3-5 miles several times a week (often with Dave) and take Pilates classes on the reformer. AIS instilled a love of music in me through Glee Club and Bel Cantos. I continued singing after college taking voice lessons and was a member of our church choir for over 20 years. I’m an avid reader and have appreciated not only Lylee’s leadership in our AIS book club but the chance to stay connected with class members who live locally.
Retirement: In addition to playing with our grandson, I have enjoyed quite a bit of travel in and out of the US. Trips have included: Dana’s Mom –Charleston, SC; friends from work — Ireland; AIS friends — various beach towns in NC; and of course time with Dave. When Dave retired in February 2024, I took him away for 3 weeks. We saw family in SC, historic St. Augustine, FL, and then to Sarasota, FL, for 2 weeks to watch the Orioles pre-season games and get some beach time. This year will be our 4th trip to Sarasota for pre-season baseball. We visited Acadia National Park last fall along with a “boy trip” to Cooperstown, NY. We also have a family shore home in Bethany Beach, DE, so we are there often. We’re looking forward to traveling to a number of the National Parks in Utah this fall. If all goes well a work friend will join me for a trip to Florence and Lake Como shortly after our reunion. Hope to see many of you in May.
Leslie Stuart Matthews
50 years! Oh my.
Let’s see…So after a friendly and thankfully short lived marriage I spent most of my twenties in Philadelphia working and playing. Five years after high school I finally went to college and got a BFA from Moore College of Art.
I worked mostly in advertising and marketing throughout my years although I had a couple of wild jobs along the way: plant washer, assistant school photographer, sign painter…. After being an independent curator for a few Philadelphia galleries I got an incredible job running a large private art collection. I’ve been there 18 years and it’s been quite a ride.
I consider myself truly fortunate to have found such amazing work at 50!
My husband David and I met in our early 30s and married at 35. He was worth the wait. Our kids followed when I was 38 and 42. I still find it hard to believe that we lived in Villanova on Lesley Road for 30 years, raising our kids just down the street from Irwins and driving by the school daily.
Our kids are launched, Olivia in LA and Dylan in New Orleans. I miss them both daily and find it hard to comprehend that they are full grown adults who live thousands of miles away. I hate not having them close but love the lives they have crafted for themselves.
David and I now live down the hill from our old house. We have 2 wonderful pups that make our days better. I still love playing racquets of any kind despite two knee replacements.
As an artist, art continues to be a constant in my life. My practice ebbs and flows depending upon how busy the rest of my life is but art creation never loses its importance. Everyday I am inspired by ordinary things. I expect to be making art as long as I’m alive. My memories of AIS are fairly vague despite being there since 2nd grade. Miss Munger’s math class (loved her), Mrs. Jewel’s homeroom (not so good). Mrs. Carter putting me in the Bel Cantos until one day saying “Stuart — you can’t sing”. (She was right). Mme Knauer kicking me out of French class everyday for coughing. (Didn’t mind missing the French). Playing tennis doubles (More focused on the parties that night than the ball). Many many uniform infractions. (I proudly continue that trend).
Lauren Hurtubise McKinney
After graduation, I attended Mount Holyoke College and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology. I then went to Penn State University and got my Masters in Special Education. I met my husband Rodger in 1985 and we married in June of 1989. I taught Special Education at both private and public schools in PA and Delaware. Our daughter Courtney was born in 1991 and our son Andrew was born in 1997. I had several different occupations after teaching including Associate Director of an adoption Agency, Sales manager of a book publisher of library books but the most rewarding has been the last 18 years working at Ithan Elementary School in Radnor Township helping students with IEPs navigate their school day!
Lylee
VanPelt
When I started thinking about what I wanted to write for this page, I took a glance at our original yearbook, thinking I might get inspired. In our class poll of 1975, I saw that I was voted “Talks most says least”. When I read that again, I had not remembered that. I know class polls are not serious, but even in many jests there is a grain of truth. Anyway, that rereading made me think. Nowadays, most of you know that I’ve been a teacher for my entire professional life, after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. And, many of you know me now as one of our book club organizers and coordinators, and if you have chosen to join the email list, you know the book club has been a way for the class of ‘75 members to periodically keep in touch.
But, back to the “Talks most says least”. Rereading that and thinking about what I wanted to say, I reflected on why that could have been even a humorous perception. At Irwins, no one challenged my speaking or writing styles. But once I got to college and then later as I had to write student evaluations, I required a lot of editing. That must have been it. You will be glad to know that I have figured out that verbosity strikes me when I do not know what I am talking about, or when I am nervous or uncomfortable. Understanding that helped me grow to a more succinct communicator. I also credit growing to adulthood in the age of word processing incredibly helpful. Being able to throw every thought down and then editing and throwing out most of it, after having grown up writing 1st, 2nd and 3rd drafts by hand, was practically blissful. So, having thought a little more and a little longer about the “Talks most says least” award, even if it was in jest, I’ve now decided that my classmates were prescient and so right. I have always liked learning, and I think my excessive talk has usually been about sharing what I know or am asking questions about. Both work pretty well for teaching, and I feel very lucky that I got a job teaching right out of college and was able to do it until retirement. Along the way it was really exciting to discover that students themselves could be sources of knowledge. To have had work that I enjoyed so much and that also satisfied and furthered my intellectual curiosity was rewarding. I retired from teaching in 2011 to mostly be more around to take care of my husband. I was a little bit
young, and kept thinking I might go back to teaching somewhere. After a second hip replacement in 2014, our beloved but handicapped lovebird died. She was old, and it was amazing that had even lived as long as she did. Her story is not for now. It took a little while, but soon we had adopted six and then another six baby lovebirds. I had in the past hand raised one chick at a time, but so began a new education. Finally in 2023, when I turned 65, having lived with at times up to 14 lovebirds who taught me all about bird reproduction and care, I decided this last stage of my life must include a dog. Prior to that, my husband had only wanted birds, but I had loved having dogs as a teenager. Prince Albert of the InaCans, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel joined our family in April 2023. Not too big, full of spunk and attitude, he’s got my number. Although I’ve lived in the same neighborhood for 30 years, I’ve gotten to know many more neighbors because Bertie walks me, usually 3 times a day. And of course, any training of him has really been about training me. I look forward to telling you more Bertie stories at the reunion. Not having a dog all those years did allow for travel, and I even went to Egypt with funding from my school, and the Galapagos. Back home when not teaching, I was usually knitting something, trying to practice my guitar, or thinking about the next thing to plant or cull in my backyard. Early days of guitar I tended to work on favorites from the 60s and 70s, but now I try to play in a bluegrass jam once a week. There is not too much practicing necessary and plenty of fun. Occasionally I used my guitar while teaching, and because of my students, I found one of my favorite songs that seems appropriate to end with. Pat Humphries who wrote the song said the words just came to her one day while sitting on her porch, sort of all at once. It is very wordy, but I mostly just love the sentiment. I sing it as often as I can just to send it out into the world.
Swimming to the Other Side
We are living ‘neath the great Big Dipper
We are washed by the very same rain
We are swimming in the stream together
Some in power and some in pain
We can worship this ground we walk on Cherishing the beings that we live beside Loving spirits will live forever
We are all swimming to the other side — Pat Humphries
Cathie Donahue Horneff
Since graduating from AIS, I attended E-town (Elizabethtown College). I earned an AS degree in Medical Secretarial Science and a BA in History. My internship was in Medical Records at Hershey Medical Center when I was hired to work weekends. The following year, I was hired as the Secretary to the Director of Nuclear Medicine. He was the Editor of Clinical Nuclear Medicine and I assisted with the monthly publications.
Wedding bells rang in 1980. At that time, I moved to Bedford, PA (extremely rural) where I still reside with my husband Art for the past 44+ years. Worked for the local hospital for 3-1/2 years, Family Health Services for 4-1/2 years, and Bedford/ Somerset MH/MR for 24 years as an Intensive/ Blended Case Manager.
I earned my second degree black belt in International Tang Soo Do and taught for 4 years. I’m an avid gardener and involved with a variety of art crafts.
Retired!!!
P.S. – All my kids have been and are 4 legged.
Lucy Cooper-Karlsson
Married
Erik Karlsson, 1985
Children
• Emily (b. 1988) AIS ’07
• Lydia (b. 1992) AIS ’11
Interests, Activities & Hobbies
• Reading, tennis, gardening, travel, knitting, sewing, basketry and other crafts
• Pennsylvania Master Naturalist volunteer
Education
• Miss Porter’s School 1975
• Duke University 1979
BS Botany
• University of Pennsylvania 1985
Master of Landscape Architecture
• Registered Landscape Architect
Sally Anne Bensur
Following my fours year at AIS, I continued down the all-female education path and graduated from Sweet Briar College in 1979 (back then, we weren’t given the option of taking a gap year or changing majors multiple times and graduating in 6 years!). I majored in Economics and was offered a position in the National Department Credit Training Program with Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh. At the time, I thought I would complete the training program and then return to business school or return to work in Philadelphia. It’s now 45 years later and I never left Pittsburgh and remained with Mellon until my retirement in 2009.
My husband, Bill and I were married at St. Peter’s Church in Philadelphia in 1990. We have two grown children, Holly and Will. They both live in the Washington D.C. area. Holly is married to her college sweetheart, Leo and Will is engaged to Lynn, whom he met while they were both working on the Hill. Lynn’s mother and I were in the same class at Sweet Briar but had not stayed in touch since college! We do not have any grandchildren (yet) but do have two very energetic, COVID-era doodle dogs who keep us entertained and busy!
Bill retired in 2024 and now every day is a Saturday for both of us! We enjoy golf, fly fishing and traveling most. We still live in Pittsburgh and spend part of the year in coastal Georgia, near Savannah.
Linda Christie
Education after AIS: Princeton University, BS Biology University of Pennsylvania, MD
WHERE I HAVE LIVED POST-COLLEGE: Baltimore, Philadelphia; Chambersburg PA, Gloversville NY, and Northville NY (my rural years) and now, Singer Island, FL
My Work:
I spent most of my career working in Primary Care and Nursing Homes.
My Family:
I met my husband, Curtis Mills, in 2002 and we married in 2010. He is also an Internist, and we worked together off and on over the years. We retired in 2021, and now enjoy living in Florida. My eldest is married with 3 children and my youngest got married this past year. My middle son has developmental disabilities and lives in a group home in PA. He calls me multiple times a day, and keeps me hopping! Curtis’ 3 children and their spouses have a total of 7 children, so we spend a lot of time traveling to see everyone!
Next Adventure:
My siblings (Tom, Michele, and Diane) and I are going to Scotland next September to explore the village where both of our parents’ ancestors lived (and reportedly feuded at times!).
Carolyn Baruch Hickey
First my thoughts on attending Irwin’s. My favorite teaches were Mr. Gardener and Mrs. Goppelt. My love of math came from the teachings of Mr. Gardener. Mrs. Goppelt actually focused on the content and ideas of what we were assigned to write about and did not focus on grammar, punctuation and the flow of the assignment. I felt my freest with all her assignments. One of my funniest memories of Irwin’s was being on the softball team. The coach pulled the team into a huddle prior to the game and we were told we could not steal any bases. We were playing a Catholic all-girls school and it was against the ten commandments. I believe we beat them playing a “polite” game. Having only attended all girl schools (Baldwin K – 3, Irwin’s 3 -12), I always thought girls were expected to voice their opinions and ideas freely.
After Irwin’s I attended Kenyon College for one year. Kenyon and I did not get along. At the same time, my parents moved our family to Vero Beach Florida. So, after a year at Kenyon I took some time off and I worked multiple jobs. I worked in retail, first a clothing store and then a gift shop and finally I was a nanny to four amazing children. While I was a nanny I decided to go back to school. I received
a A.A. in pre-business administration and then attended the University of Florida. My first lesson learned was how impossible it is to get into the curriculum path if you don’t start as a freshman.
After another year of trying to align my course work, I gave up and transferred to Florida Institute of Technology. Received my B.S. in Computer Science with a minor in Math. (Thank you Mr. Gardener)
I was offered a job with Martin Marrietta (now Lockheed Martin) and moved to Colorado. I lived there for 39 years. During this time, I left Martin Marietta and went to work for Hughes. Hughes was bought by a division of GE, then GE was bought by a division of GM, then GM sold to Raytheon and then Raytheon and United Technologies merged.
I traveled quite a bit for work and enjoyed going places I never would have gone to on my own. When I retired, I had worked for five different companies and never left my office. The last company was Raytheon Technologies. I performed many different tasks. Did a little bit of software development, quality assurance and process improvement. My titles ranged from an individual contributor, project engineer to a manager. I retired in March 2023. Having always been encouraged to speak up, I found
myself speaking up a bit too much and decided it was time to go.
I have four children, two girls and two boys. Jessica and her husband, Mike live in Prairie Village Kansas with their two children Henry and Caroline (she was named after me!). Christina lives in Brookville, Indiana with her husband Evan, three dogs and six chickens. I have been told the next member of their family will be a donkey. Andrew lives in Florida with me and is not married. Colin lives in Colorado with his significant other Sydney and their two dogs. I don’t get to see everyone as often as I would like. It seems every time I turn around Henry and Caroline have grown a foot! While I was living in Colorado, hiking and kayaking were my passions. I have been living in Florida for about three years. Dad died in 2017 and I moved to be closer to my mother (92). It has taken some time getting used to the humidity. Volunteering has kept me busy. I volunteer at the Ximenez-Fatio House (historical museum) in St Augustine. I am also a volunteer for the State Park near my home. I take folks on Kayak tours, weed around the ranger station and anything else that needs assistance. I also volunteer for a whale watching survey being performed out of Marineland.
When I am not volunteering, I am clearing out my backyard, gardening, kayaking and sitting on the beach. I have kept in touch with Barbara Wille. She has visited many times. I so much appreciate the visits. Each time, is like I saw her yesterday.
Dru Carey
I left Irwins 53 years ago, after ninth grade. I moved to a suburb of Boston to finish high school. It was painful to leave my home in the middle of high school, but I did adjust and I went to a public school with boys and blue collar kids and fewer rules. Thank god really. So of course, sex, drugs and rock and roll in the 70’s! After that, I didn’t want to go to yet another school (college) so I left the U.S. and lived in France then Greece and then a kibbutz in Israel. The kibbutz was on the Lebanese border. There were constant border hostilities, and my mother would write and plead for me to get the hell out of there. I stayed. Some time later I returned to the U.S. and moved to Telluride, Colorado. There I had 6 jobs over a two-year period and skied. A beautiful mostly undiscovered mountain town. I felt like I hadn’t really faced the reality of what my life was supposed to be so I returned to the east coast and worked in Boston and lived in Cambridge. Eventually, 4 years after high school, I started college. Four years after I finished college, I went to Law School. I have always treasured those years of freedom and challenge and often say to younger people that I never wished I had started practicing law 7 years earlier than I did. I was 32 when I graduated and moved to NYC to be a public defender in the Bronx. It was the height of the crack epidemic and it was crazy up there! My opponent in my first ever trial was shot in the head and killed in a bodega days after by a drive-by shooter. I stayed there for 3 years and tried a lot of cases. Somewhere in there I met a good guy at the Y pool and married him in 1991. I had twins in 1993, a girl and a boy. Bronwen and Griffin. They are 31 now and they are wonderful people. Really wonderful. I am blessed. Somewhere in there I divorced their dad, and I have been solo for a while. Another chapter of freedom and challenge. In the last few years, I fell madly in love with Americana music. Never doing anything half way, I have been travelling all over the south to chase my passion. I go to scores and scores of concerts every year. I love it completely. Then the Pandemic. It killed my legal business as the courts were closed and my clients went out of business. Other than flying to Texas to see music (there was no COVID in Texas), I feel like I spent 2 years in my bunny slippers watching bad Scandinavian detective shows. It drove me crazy just
like the rest of you. I insanely took a job with United Airlines as a ramp agent at Newark airport. Yep, I am a luggage handler who loads your bags into the cargo pit of that plane you are sitting on. I’m also that person out the window waving those wands to direct the plane in and out of the gate. Its really hard loading hundreds of bags a day and I’m sure I’m the only old lady lawyer luggage handler in the world. But I get to fly for free anywhere in the world too. I still practice law.
My memories of Irwins are Ms. Jewel being bested by our class as we made hidden noises with cellophane wrappers and our desk lids. It drove her crazy. Maud and Ruthie spearheaded it and it was called MaRu Revolts. Still gives me great joy that girls could stand up to authority. Then we hung a Ken doll dressed as Mr. Rapp with his round glasses from the overhead lights. Another blow against the patriarchy! I was given demerits for small earrings that had too much color, holes in my bloomers (always) (who was checking this ??), skipping stairs, no name in my belt, sweater, tunic, etc., not white enuf saddle shoes, constant lateness, too short tunic, running in the halls late library books and the list goes on. I had a tower of demerits on the demerit board. I was by far the winner! All of this led up to getting suspended for smoking pot. My mother told me I was dead.
I’m thinking maybe these 2 paragraphs should be flipped. One thing leads to another. My rebellion as a young girl has led me to the life I have now. I gained so much strength and resilience from surviving the challenges of not fitting in and not conforming that I am nearly fearless! Or rather I know that scary doesn’t mean don’t do it.
Martha Sharples
50 years! I so appreciate the gathering of AIS class of ’75 gatherings via book club or every 10 years or so. I’m amazed at how we are still the dynamic group of ladies we graduated as and continue to evolve and live life! Touchet
So for me, I became an executive assistant to the CFO of Lavino Shipping Company (thru a temp agency) then the EVP of Provident National Bank. When I married William Daniels (still married) I finally, after 7 years of marriage, started baby making — 2, one girl and one boy — and went to start my own gardening business with a friend of mine. The company Perennial Gardeners is still going having been passed on to my business partner’s kid and an employee. I retired from that gardening business thinking I’d do some great study or start the next chapter of my life when in fact I retired into Needlepoint, listening to some great books and volunteering heavily for my Quaker meeting (aka Religious Society of Friends). I’ve been a First Day (Sunday) school teacher, gardener, Clerk, and now bookkeeper. And I have yet to stop gardening at my place or my sister’s. And I did start dancing again
— something called Open Floor, a conscious dance modality. I realized my “life’s work” turned out to be Needlepoint - what I started at 15, I’m still doing with the help of Hank Wilson at Creative Way. My Opus was taking the “flower” pots at Chanticleer Garden and turning them into a hallway rug incorporating all the flowers I love or have meaning for me. (I continue to do belts and door stops(bricks covered in needlepoint) and contemplate larger projects — stair risers, another rug???):
Wynnetta Scott-Simmons
Seven Years at AIS — 1969–1975
My time at Irwin’s instilled in me a passion for learning; a belief in the power of education to positively change the trajectory of lives; a strong sense of self; an understanding of the power of women; and the responsibility that comes with each awareness to live a grateful life.
My Education Since AIS
• University of Pennsylvania
• Bennett College
• Mercer University: Teaching Certification
• Mercer University: Masters in Education
• Mercer University: Masters in Educational Leadership
• Mercer University: Educational Specialist in Reading
• Georgia Southern University: Doctorate in Curriculum Studies
Where We’ve Lived Since AIS Life with a Coca-Cola Auditor:
Hello all AIS classmates: from Sarah “Sally” Lange Our 50th! How did the years go by? I thought I would share some personal thoughts. As you all may recall I was very shy at AIS. Maybe it was in part because I was over 6 feet tall and a girl who lived on a 5th generation farm. I was not one of the cool kids. I remember how kind Adele Sands was to me. Ann Lennox was also very accepting in my senior year of the boy from Episcopal who would wait for me outside her office at the end of school. That boy was and is William Shoemaker, son of the then head of Baldwin Anne Shoemaker, and my husband since 1981! Estelle Whitney, our AIS classmate who has passed, set William and me up for a blind date on February 14, 1975. The date was a party at Martha Sharpless parents’ house.
At AIS I worked hard at school and strived to be on the honor roll. My reward from my parents was a meal at my favorite local restaurant each time. To this day I am a foodie.
Irwin’s taught me to think critically, ask questions, and take risks. When I got to Dickinson College, I was very surprised that most, if not all the women in class, were silent and let the men dominate the conversations. Well, I was different and have been all my life. No colleague would ever describe me today as shy. I do believe in listening first and then taking action. And the status quo is something I challenge a great deal. I have had leadership roles in investment management firms over 30 plus years and learned to focus on team success rather than individual stardom. Today I continue to serve as a chief investment officer for Siemens Healthineers. Given all my experience, this job is really fun for me! My passions are the same they have always been: horses and preserving open space. We raise American Saddlebreds. My daughter Rachel is an accomplished equestrian and manages the farm. My son Gordon writes books and makes movies.
I rarely have time for the class book club but will do so when I retire, several years from now! I do keep in touch with Cathy Donahue Horneff, a fellow horsewoman. All my best to our wonderful class. Make the most of our time in May 2025 and in the years thereafter.
Hello from Willisbrook Farm babies!
Aini Moa
When I came to Cynthia Hoffman’s family as an AFS student in the fall of 1974, I had already graduated from Norwegian high school. Coming to a private, all girls school was a bit of a culture shock. However, I really enjoyed the American Core program and felt it contributed immensely to my understanding of American history and society, as did meeting with all of you classmates at AIS.
Back home in Norway, I studied Business Administration in Oslo whilst working as a multilingual tour guide in Scandinavia during the summers. I went back to spend the Christmas of 1977 with the Hoffman family and then had a wonderful tour of many American states before going back to Norway and starting full-time editorial work in Norway’s then largest weekly magazine. To further my education, I also attended night school, studying ADB and computing, and then marketing.
That is where, in 1981, I met Rainer, who is still my beloved husband. We both had challenging and interesting managing jobs in a variety of fields until in 1997 he had the chance to retire early. There was so much more we wanted to learn, see and do together, so I decided to quit on the same day, and we have never looked back.
We visited various European countries as well as Thailand and Malaysia and sailed, in Scandinavian waters with our own Nauticat 35, and with friends in the Mediterranean between southern France and Greece three times. In January of 2000, whilst visiting sailing friends in southern Spain, we came across and fell in love with the small white village of Gaucin (1500 inhabitants) between Ronda and the coast with spectacular views to Africa. We ended up buying a three-story apartment there and sold the boat and house in Oslo and moved to Spain. We sailed with our friends from England to Spain and on to the Canaries, and started studying Spanish during our first year. Then in 2001 we looked after their sailing boat in Venezuela for two months and later sailed with them again from Phuket to the Maldives via Sri Lanka. Mrs. Hoffman came to visit us in Gaucin twice, and after she passed, Cynthia came in March of 2007.
Spending most of our time in Spain reading, studying (Spanish, nutrition, bio-resonance and complementary medicine) and doing wonderful
mountain hikes in the nearby “serrania” with international friends and summers in our cabin in the Oslo fjord, we were bitten by the cruising bug in 2009. Since then we have sailed all over the world on “proper” ships with 170 passengers and more. We have had wonderful experiences everywhere and a highlight was coming to remote South Georgia in 2024 and seeing thousands of penguins. So, 50 years after AIS, it seems beautiful Andalucia, Spain has become home, and we would love to share our experience with more of you. Welcome!
Tilly X
Luna X
Beau X
Catherine Dickey
Wow! It is so hard to believe that fifty years have passed since we all graduated. 2025 finds me still living in the Boston area where I have been for most of my post AIS years. Some things have changed a lot for me, and some things have not in these many decades since being at Irwins. I still find it extremely challenging to organize my thoughts and to put them in written form. And when writing is involved I still procrastinate as much as I did back in my AIS days. But here goes anyway:
Life Since Irwins
The decade or so after high school were challenging years for me. I went to two different colleges and eventually left college three Incompletes short of graduating.
In the gap between the two schools, I worked in politics and married young to someone who had dreams enough for two. I discovered that I was an excellent fundraiser and campaigner, but sputtered in getting traction on my own work and life path. My husband and I adopted a beautiful infant son from Korea. Three years later it was clear that our marriage was not working, and we agreed to divorce. Divorce was wrenching for me, particularly as a parent, but it also was a powerful life reset. I am grateful that by my late 30s ADHD began to be more widely diagnosed and understood, particularly among women and girls. I benefited from this emerging understanding. And life got better for me personally and professionally as I began to understand my own process, and to try little by little to stop expecting myself to be like other people, and instead began to better accept myself as I am and how I need to function.
For number of years I worked as a real estate broker and this proved an excellent fit for me. I met, got to know, and married my husband, Peter, who has been a wonderfully supportive partner for over thirty years through thick and thin. At age forty I managed to finally finish my fifteen year old Incompletes and graduate from Wellesley College as a continuing education student. I am still very proud of myself for this.
Today, with my husband, Peter, I find myself on the verge of moving to a new passive home that we have spent the last several years envisioning and
building. Together we are raising my ten year old granddaughter, Matti. She has been with us for six years. Parenting as a grandparent is tremendously challenging, profoundly life affirming and takes a lot of my focus….In the not too distant future I hope to get back to doing much more of the body based coaching and healing work that I have done for the last 20 years. It is work that I have loved and has me feel wonderfully well used.
When I think back at my Irwins’ years I often wonder how much difference it would have made for me if there had been some better understanding then about different learning styles. I know I would have benefited so much (and I am sure this applies to others as well) if the help I got in my late thirties had come when I was in second or third grade. Looking back I realize how much always struggling to complete school assignments and being lost in chronic overwhelm kept me from getting to know and be able to connect with more of my Irwin’s’ classmates.
I look forward to connecting with all of you.
Nina Ware
Oh, what fun my life has been so far!
I have enjoyed being with animals at Francisvale, working with two veterinarians and a carpenter in Vermont, horticulture through the Barnes Foundation, landscape design, being surrounded by plants at Waterloo Gardens, an ongoing attempt of controlled chaos in my garden, teaching at a nursery school and helping children find their way and the love of my family through many adventures. With the support and kindness of teachers and classmates, I was guided in the directions my life has taken with gaining confidence which led to much exploration.
Laurie Hiestand
Though I didn’t get to graduate with my classmates at Agnes Irwin because my father took a job in NYC and we moved to NJ, I have the fondest memories and one in particular I want to share. Beginning in kindergarten, I took the train every day from Paoli to Villanova and then a bus from Villanova to the school and then back in the afternoon. I think back often to those days of being driven from our home in Malvern to the Paoli train station and waiting on the platform with all those kids from the other prep schools like Baldwin, Shipley, Haverford and Episcopal. At 5, in today’s world, I can’t imagine any parent letting their kindergartner take a train alone to and from school. But back then, I always felt safe. The older students from AIS always kept an eye on the little ones. We would go to the station store and buy candy bars and run back in time to get the train. For 8 years, I took the train to school morning and afternoon. I will always be fond of trains because I really did enjoy it and it gave us time to finish homework. There was a feeling of being independent and grown up, and
since we were in our uniform, we were a special group. We all pretty much sat together in one car with all of us, in our school colors, representing our respective schools in public, and I have to believe we did so with pride. I don’t recall anything really bad ever happening except one time a boy got a peach pit stuck in his nose and occasionally someone would get caught smoking in uniform. Other than that, I am grateful for the memories. Our family was very lucky to be able to send us to private school and the training I got in field hockey at AIS followed me to college where I played college field hockey too. They did put hockey sticks in our hands in 4th grade, so we had to learn to play!! Of course, academically, we got a fantastic education though I am not sure I totally appreciated it in my youth. After leaving AIS I read To Kill a Mockingbird two years in a row in 9th and 10th grade at the two schools I attended post AIS. It just shows how far ahead we were than other schools. Happy Memories and congratulations on your 50th high school reunion.
Heidi Hartshorn McPherson
Here is short para in life as Heidi — “Where did 50 years go? The short version of my Life so far… College, happily married still (after 40 years together), two grown kids, (daughter Ellie went to Irwin’s), one grandson, six dogs and cats (not all at once) — 40 years of an amazing processional career working in philanthropy for social change and community impact — retired January 25 as CEO of community foundation on the coast of California. Lived in Chester County, Boulder, Colorado, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo (coast of CA) and just retired January 25 to New Mexico! Just south of Santa Fe — I’m a cancer survivor, sandwich generation with the honor of being with my folks as they passed on and looking forward to whatever retirement will bring. Wishing all the best to all of the class of 75 — on to the next 50.
Heidi
Gay West-Klien
After graduation, I attended Pine Manor Junior College in Chestnut Hill, MA (since absorbed by Boston College and no longer exists) then transferred to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX — I thought Texas would be an interesting change of pace. I wasn’t wrong.
After returning home, I worked several jobs, met my husband, Allan, and we married in March 1984. I became a stay-at-home mother when my daughter, Meghan, was born in March 1986, followed 20 months later by the birth of her brother Andrew, in December 1987.
In 1993 I started teaching a weight lifting class at the Upper Main Line YMCA. At that time, many women avoided it — afraid of being ‘bulky’ so the Y offered it solely to women to make it less intimidating and more welcoming. In 2005 I was certified to teach mat Pilates but didn’t start teaching it until 2007. I still teach it today and probably will as long as I am able.
I’ve been involved with Irwin’s over the years, first as a parent: my daughter graduated in 2004 (transferring there in the 10th grade). Then, when Heidi moved, she passed on her role as class agent to me and I’ve enjoyed the shared responsibility with Lylee — it’s allowed us to stay in touch with everyone! And, several years ago, I was asked to join the Leadership Advisory Council which meets twice a year.
We became empty nesters many years ago — my daughter moved to LA to follow her dreams of working in TV production. It is a fickle business but she’s managed to find her way. She and her husband, Carlos, who also works in TV as a video effects editor, are very happy together — who could ask for more?
My son moved out west a few years later, met his wife, Tandy, and 3 years ago moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL, where her family lives. They both enjoy their jobs — his is working for Airbnb and Tandy is a physicians assistant at Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital. No grands yet but Meghan has 2 cats and Andrew has 2 dogs — does that count?
Debbie Diehl Becker
I attended Irwin’s for grades 7 and 8, followed by a return to public school. Then, I went to Penn for undergrad, law school, and veterinary school. I practiced small animal medicine until retirement and owned two veterinary hospitals. I have been married twice. I have had numerous furry kids, but not the other kind, very much by choice. About ten years ago, Lylee contacted me and invited me to the class book club, which I have been attending ever since. It has been great spending time with the women of the class of ’75. It is hard to believe that we are nearing our 50th reunion. I am so glad that we all managed not to get old!
Barbara Roche Wille
I started Irwins in 7th grade, after graduating from Haverford Friends School. My Mom and sister also went to Irwins, as did my grandma.
When I think back on my years there, it is with mixed emotions. I did okay academically, loved the athletics, played hockey, softball, volleyball and did modern dance, but always felt on the outside looking in socially. I loved the plays – Oklahoma, Brigadoon with EA and all the Gilbert and Sullivan plays with Haverford, loved performing with Estelle in those, along with friends from Baldwin and Shipley.
One of my most vivid memories was being called into Mrs. Lenox’s office (again) for popping off in French class with Mme. Knauer. I think I was a junior. Mrs. Lenox closed the door and sighed “Barbara, please stop being such a pain in the ass, or the poor lady is going to have a heart attack… do it for me, okay?” I did, and passed French that semester!
After Irwins I went to Northwestern as a theater, then an oral interpretation major, which is the study of literature through performance. It was fun, I loved the athletics the most, and traveled all over the country playing field hockey and softball – mostly getting soundly beaten by other Big 10 schools until Title IX kicked in and we began to attract the best scholar athletes in the country on scholarship. It was a very exciting time to be a female college athlete!
My other favorite subject at NU was my future husband, John Wille, who diligently studied in the library while I snored in the next carrel. We fell in love in Lyn Baruch’s Vero Beach Garden while on a road trip from Chicago to visit his girlfriend…
We married in 1980 (with Leslie Somers as a bridesmaid) and moved back to Wynnewood where I worked in non-profit fundraising, after starting my career at the Lincoln Park Zoo. I worked for my dad’s firm in Executive search and then, after living in England for 2 years with my husband’s job, went to work for Bryn Mawr Hospital and then Main Line Health. In 2000 we moved to DC as John then worked for the World Bank and I worked for Sidwell Friends School and served as the founding Head of School for a small Quaker day school. I am still consulting in fundraising for all kinds of small nonprofits all these years later, and am thinking hard about retiring in May.
We have 3 sons – Conor who is 38 tall, creative
and autistic – he lives in a group home in Richmond, VA. David 37, is a VP for Sustainable Investing at JP Morgan and, along with his fabulous wife Marina, looks after our grandson Gideon for us when we can’t be with him. Nick, 29, works for the Forest Service as a Wilderness Biologist and firefighter in the wilds of Idaho and Oregon. All very different, and very wonderful.
We divide our time between Reston in the Northern Virginia suburbs and our house in Solomons Island, Maryland – rural southern MD on the water, very quiet and private, which we love. We are planning to buy a house back up north much closer to family this year. My Mom, who so many of the Class of ’75 knew, is ticking along at age 97 at Quadrangle.
Leslie Bacon
How is it possible that 50 years have gone by? How do you sum that up in a few sentences?
College. Career indecision. Moved to CT. Tried my hand at sales. Turned out I am good at it. Built a career in media. Traveled the country. Met amazingly smart & fun people, many becoming lifelong friends.
Married my guy, Curt, in my thirties, and we just celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary. We’ve been blessed with two incredibly talented, funny, and beautiful daughters. Those wonder years flying by were filled with milestones, celebrations, and the occasional chaos, but mostly just so many good times.
Now, I’m still working in sales and marketing, watching how rapidly AI is changing our world. Trying to figure out what I want to do next, looking forward to changing it up!
Joanne Lloyd Butler
After Irwin’s, I graduated from Princeton with a Psych degree, and instead of going on to further my education, I opted for the work and motherhood route. I have two children — a daughter and a son — and three grandsons. I was employed by various social service agencies until I began working for the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health in 1996 as a Program Analyst developing and monitoring children and adult mental health and substance abuse programs. I also worked for
the Philadelphia Phillies for nine years. I retired in 2021 for two weeks and have been working parttime at my local veterinarian’s office ever since. I happily separated from my husband in 2022 after almost 40 years, and bought my first house on my own.
In my spare time, I attend my grandsons’ sporting events, indulge in my favorite pastimes — reading, and spend time with my two rescue pooches, Franki and Henry.
Donna Albani
In Memoriam
Remembering the Classmates We Have Lost
Amy Erskine Hunter
Emile Trimble
Cynthia Hoffman Carosso
Estelle Whitney Maud Campbell Tierney
Libet Martin Perkins
Amy Erskine Hunter (2015)
Amy fell in love with a Texan, Barcus Hunter who she met in college, and she then moved to Texas! In Fort Worth, TX, she developed and grew her own catering company doing confirmations, wedding/baby showers, scholarship dinners, etc. She was a bit of a night owl and did extraordinary work in needlepoint. She spearheaded her church’s campaign to do the kneelers in needlepoint, but my favorites were all the ornaments she needlepointed. We kept in touch because she dutifully came back to this area to see her mother who died at 96 of dementia. She had a lifelong friend in Sue Hitchner who grew up in this area, but most of all had high tales of life and adventures at the NJ shore. Barc generously donated Amy’s guitar to AIS for students to use. She was full of life and vim and vigor! Below is a picture from my wedding, June 1982, of Amy on the far left, her mother on the far right, Ashley next to Mrs. Erskine and Marcia Jordan and her husband then, Gordon McIlvain, in the center.
~ Martha Sharples
Bright Spirit
Our phone rang, “Wanna go to Paris?” It was Libet. In the 9th grade, some wonderful new faces joined our upper school class, including Libet. She was dancing in the hallways on our first day and we stayed friends forever after.
We were grown now — kids, jobs, husbands, mortgages, aging parents yet here was Libet — always up for an adventure! So off we went. A quick trip to Paris to buy some wonderful things for her lovely little shop in historic Baltimore.
We shared a garret flat — big enough for a minute but it overlooked the Louvre. Of course we were successful in shopping, adventuring, dining, and after I twisted my ankle outside Notre Dame she wheeled me through de Gaulle airport as my “sister “going through customs. The best way to get through customs to be sure.
I made it through Latin with her — shared sports teams, cheesesteaks before our after-school tutoring for at-risk kids, shared her wedding, weathered marriages, the passing of her parents, heartbreaks — and tried to visit whenever we could.
My kids knew “aunt Libet “would always dance into their lives with treats and hugs, sharing stories about their mom, that I thought were long ago forgotten.
Those we have laughed with, cried with, shared joys and sorrows with will always hold a special place in our hearts — and I know Libet will always be in mine — reminding me to dance, laugh and enjoy life.
~ Heidi Hartshorn McPherson
Libet Martin Perkins (2012)
Hoffman Carosso (2012)
Cynthia had a warm personality and always welcomed me to have lunch with her in the cafeteria. I enjoyed our conversation and getting together at her house. We shared the story of Higgins oatmeal bread, which I grew up on, and her grandmother was the well-known Mrs. Higgins. During WWII the government allowed Mrs. Higgins to expand the bakery and allotted her extra rations of flour.
~ Nina Ware
Dear Cynthia,
Indeed unique and a remarkable individual with a very strong character. We were very different, and being “sisters” was not always easy. However, I loved you very much, and as we both matured, we grew to cherish and respect each other even more. Always true to yourself and your artistic talents and with a big and inclusive heart, friends of Vincent and Christina were always welcome, and you took wonderful care of “our” darling Mother, Nadine Hoffman, in her last challenging years. The last time we saw each other was when you came to visit in Gaucin in March of 2007 (see picture). We had a very good bonding and found that we shared interests in health, philosophy, spirituality, and much more. Contact was maintained through Skype and the internet until you passed much too early.
With all my love, you dwell forever in my heart, dear Cynthia!
~ Aini Moa
Cynthia and I became friends through dance at Irwin’s, and although we didn’t see much of each other during our college years, we reconnected when I moved back to the East Coast in 1981 after nearly four years in the mid-west at Carleton and then Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. We remained friends for the rest of Cynthia’s life, seeing each other in the summers when I came back from England with the children to visit my mother in Devon. Sometimes we visited with our children, although Cynthia’s children, Philip and Christina, were several years older than mine. Cynthia was always interested in ideas and artistic expression whether that was through
her writing, dance or fine art. Her ideas and intellectual sophistication were years beyond my own during high school, and Cynthia and her family, particularly her father the famous sculptor, Edward Fenno Hoffman, introduced me to ways of thinking that were completely new to me as a teenager. Mr Hoffman’s practice of Rosicrucian faith, Mrs Hoffman’s glamourous Russian ancestry and Cynthia’s older brother, David, who was then very much interested in the ideas of Ayn Rand all provided me with new ideas about how to go about living one’s life. I suppose that the strongest sense I observed was individualism; something we were taught to value at Irwin’s but perhaps very challenging in practice for teenagers who wanted to fit in with their social group. The Hoffman’s cast all this to the winds; I found it exhilarating and I have been grateful to them all for this for the rest of my life. What a great privilege it was to be in their orbit!
Aini was central to all this whose arrival for our senior year as a foreign exchange student from Norway brought such joy to the family. Aini’s pragmatic approach to life proved a perfect fit for the Hoffmans who loved her as a daughter, and to Cynthia she became a second sister.
One of my strongest memories of my adventures with Cynthia and Aini that year was a trip to New York with the family to see Rudolf Nureyev dance Les Sylphides in New York’s Lincoln Centre. This was quite the introduction to classical ballet and something I have never forgotten. For my parents, high culture was the Philadelphia Orchestra on a Thursday afternoon. For the Hoffmans, a trip to Manhattan to see Nureyev via the family station wagon was not completely out of the ordinary. Aini and I had our eyes popping out of our heads!
Of all of Cynthia’s gifts, I think the thing she taught me best was the gift of friendship, and of fidelity. She never forgot to ring during all those summers, and even when my visits in the later years to my mother were short, we spent many hours on the phone talking about our lives. I miss her more than I can say, and hold close the gift of her friendship through all of our years together. Sometimes I still feel her by my side.
~ Cyndy Boylan Johnston
Cynthia
Emile Trimble received her BA degree from Mary Washington University and her MFA in Theater from UNC Chapel Hill. After earning her MFA from UNC, Emile had a 1-year acting residency/fellowship with Playmakers Repertory Theatre in Chapel Hill, NC, appearing in numerous productions and earning her Actors Guild Equity Card. Emile then spent 10 years in NYC waiting tables and pursuing her dream to be a Broadway actress, where she appeared in several off-Broadway productions. Emile, then, left New York to join Busch Gardens Williamsburg theatre staff where for 25 years she had various roles as a theater director, writer, actor and singer. Tragically, during this time, Emile contracted breast cancer and had a long struggle, which ended in her death in November 2012. To this day, she is remembered by her brother Martin and her nieces and nephews as a whirlwind of artistic energy and fun that brought much light into our lives. We miss her greatly.
~ Martin Trimble, Emile’s brother
Emile’s inscription in my yearbook ended with “you will always be welcome in my house, because my house is your house”. This is a perfect reflection of Emile.
Emile entered Agnes Irwin in middle school, and graduated in 1975. She went on to earn a BA from Mary Washington College followed by a Master’s in Theater from the University of North Carolina. She worked at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg for 25 years as an actor, singer, dancer, and the theater director.
Cyndy recalls running into Emile in the early ’80s at Saks 5th avenue. They both had a passion for dance, but Cyndy recalled how determined Emile was to make dance and musical theater her life. Clearly she was dedicated, and succeeded in her goals.
I kept in touch with Emile periodically in the early 1980s, and my husband and I went to a production she was in at Busch Gardens. I remember how much she loved showing us around, and also how amazing she was in the performance. Classmates remember both her beautiful voice and her talent in ballet and modern dance. “Her dance expression came from a deep place; her voice beautiful – she felt everything
very deeply.” Emile was warm, gentle and had a great love for her family.
Coworkers in her life after AIS also commented on her kindness and gentleness. She was remembered as a wonderful mentor and teacher at Busch Gardens.
Her note in my yearbook ended with “Always love to you, and diet Pepsis.” Same to you Emile Jean. Our class was better because of you.
~ Natalie Krovetz
Emile Trimble (2012)
Estelle was one of my first friends. She had a big heart and welcomed me to the school. I will always remember her spunk and beautiful singing voice. We went to Merion Cricket Club to watch a tennis tournament and she dressed to the nines and looked spectacular!
~ Nina Ware
I remember that Estelle was a member of the Bel Cantos and had a lovely singing voice. She had a solo in the Christmas concert one year when the AIS and EA glee clubs sang together.
~ Theresa Bailey Baker
I do not remember which year Estelle joined our class, but I think it might have been 7th grade. I do not remember knowing that she could sing until we joined Choir in 9th grade, when she shared a magnificent, almost operatic voice while she was soloing. Blew me away then.
There were in those days, dinners before performances with Episcopal, Hill, Lawrenceville, Haverford(?) the boys schools with whose choirs we were allowed to fraternize. At some point, I remember hosting one of those dinners. Leroy J., an older black man, who had worked for my father’s family, and had come to my mother’s employ once those grandparents were gone, was helping us prepare for that dinner. Leroy was a beloved caretaker. But I will never forget how he objected to Estelle coming to that dinner. He spoke his piece to my mother and me, about her not belonging there with all the rest of us. That was a first for me; a kinda-sorta beginning to witness very complex race and interracial relationships in our country. It took me many years more to begin to understand them. From the moment she blew me away, I knew we were lucky to have Estelle in our choir.
Estelle attended Anne Williams Dlugos’ baby shower, some twenty years ago. . Estelle shared key obstetric advice that day, to help Anne manage her rapidly approaching delivery date.
Once Estelle was working in Delaware and living in her family’s house in West Philadelphia, just across City-line from Friends’Central, she was more able to join our book group dinner/discussions. She always
broached all topics with such grace and insight. I also remember her showing up at Cynthia Hoffman’s Memorial service, with a daughter in tow. At our last bookclub dinner before the pandemic shut everything down, we specifically made a point of meeting closer to Estelle’s house so that she could join. I think by then she had cut back some of her practice, but was still commuting north and south on 95, returning home to kidney diálisis every evening. She spoke about needing a kidney transplant that night. She was her usual graceful, and I thought very sanguine self, explaining that a match was hard, but that she was on a transplant list. She had an uncommon blood type, or tissue match, or whatever matters in kidney transplants. She said that a match could be found, but that if it wasn’t found in time, she was not resentful, not even scared, because she had lived a great life. I always say that is how I feel, were I to be taken suddenly or take sick, but hearing that, knowing what she faced, and said with such grace was amazing. That was January 2020, and she died in March 2020.
On her Facebook page after her death was announced, patient after patient, it must have been every woman she ever helped gynecologically or obstetrically, wrote, each needing to share how much she appreciated Estelle’s gentle, sensitive, warm, excellent care. I felt honored to have known her, and still do.
~ Lylee Van Pelt
I knew Estelle best as a friend in the Glee Club. She had an absolutely wonderful voice, and her good spirits were contagious. She had known my future husband William Shoemaker for several years from joint AIS/Episcopal events. She arranged for him to take me out on a date on February 14, 1975. Well, it worked!
She was a successful OBGYN and had raised two wonderful daughters. I spent some time with her at a group book club dinner Lylee and Gay had hosted a few years ago in Ardmore. She did mention her ailments but was positive about the future. I was impressed by her caring about others. I wanted to spend more time with her, but my job got in the way. To me she was one of our most outstanding class members who is very much missed.
~ Sarah (Sally) Lange
Estelle Whitney (2020)
I’ve been thinking about what to say about my best friend Maud. We were inseparable during my four years at Irwin’s, yet it’s hard to find the words to express how much she meant to me. Our time outside of school was spent playing tennis at Pier 30 in Philadelphia or Merion Cricket Club, eating ham and cheese roll-ups (without the bread, of course), forcing ourselves to like yogurt, dining at a Chinese restaurant on 2nd and Chestnut or eating ice cream at HoJo’s during the times we were permitted to leave campus in our junior and senior years. We shopped, went to movies and concerts, followed the Flyers (Rick MacLeish was Maud’s favorite Flyer) and tried to be cool by smoking weed (which was probably oregano!) and listening to WMMR while riding around in Maud’s Buick Riviera or my VW Beetle. Of course, boys were on our minds but neither of us had any true high school romances.
Maud and I stayed in close contact through our college years, including a serendipitous party at my family’s home in Society Hill where Maud met Brian Tierney in 1976. I moved to Pittsburgh when I graduated from college and, other than exchanging annual Christmas Cards, Maud and I drifted apart. Then, one October day in 2021, Maud reached out by email and said she and Brian had moved into Center City and asked if I was ever in the area, to please let her know as she would love to meet. Maud never mentioned she was sick and it was just two months later when Brian called me to say Maud had passed away from Parkinson’s Disease. I was so sorry I had not made the effort to get to Philadelphia to visit her while she was alive but I did attend her memorial service on December 17, 2021.
Maud and I had many roller-coaster days as highschool girls. I am forever grateful she was there at my side to take the ride.
~ Sally Anne Bensur
Class Directory
Donna M. Albani
dmaesq@comcast.net
c: 610-733-4623
11 Hampton Lane
Glen Mills, PA 19342
Leslie C. Bacon
Baconcleslie@gmail.com
c: 203-918-1378
96 Aspen Ledges Road
Ridgefield, CT 06877-1826
Theresa Bailey Baker
norphillygirl57@MSN.com
c: 248-821-5826
h: 248-370-9231
5826 Pine Aire Court
Rochester Hills, MI 48306-2251
Elizabeth Rettew Bauer
erettewbauer@comcast.net
c: 804-677-7008
1807 Dusty Miller Lane, Apt. 1201
Wilmington, NC 28412-4301
Deborah Diehl Becker
ddb927@gmail.com
c: 484-753-5792
h: 610-269-3885
1101 Lincoln Drive
West Chester, PA 19380
Sally-Ann Sells Bensur
sasbensur@gmail.com
h: 412-782-1906
104 Westchester Drive
Pittsburgh,PA 15215-1639
Lynette Coleman Briggs
h: 630-719-1021
6936 Sun Drop Avenue
Woodridge, IL 60517-2003
Natalie Brinton-Krovetz
nkrovetz@gmail.com
c: 434-989-3585
712 Shamrock Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903-4021
Joanne Lloyd Butler
thebookguru@yahoo.com
c: 215-316-1536
261 Merion Avenue
Aldan, PA 19018-3010
Dru B. Carey
drucarey@gmail.com
c: 917-796-0130
585 West End Avenue, Apt. 1A New York, NY 10024-1715
