Colby-Sawyer College Alumni Magazine Summer/Fall 2023 by Colby-Sawyer College

summer | fall 2023

magazine

NEWS+STORIES

RECURRING

Traveling with Purpose: Jordan Pollard ’23 Realizes Her Peace Corps Dream

Answering the Call: In Wilmot, Six Volunteer Firefighters Share More Than an Alma Mater

Colby-Sawyer Expands Graduate and Professional Studies Offerings

The Ambassador of Tea

Building on Break: Colby-Sawyer Volunteers Lay Tin Roof on Tennessee Home

Selling the Dream: For Collin Bray ’06, a Summer Internship Blossomed into a Passion for Real Estate Sales

Styling the Stars: How Positive Relationships and a Little Business Savvy Helped Take Mary Francis ’10 From New London to Los Angeles

colby-sawyer magazine

College News

A Sustainable Campus

Around Campus

Sports News

Portfolio

Class Notes

Alumni News

In Memoriam

In Fond Memory

Archives

Epilogue

cover:

s ta ff wr ite r

Nishchal Banskota ’15 enjoys a fresh mug of tea outside his home office in Jersey City. this page:

A selection of freshly brewed Nepali teas set out for tasting. editor

production manager

Michael Pezone a s s o c i ate e d ito r

Mary McLaughlin

Nicole Butler designer

Kate Marstaller ’15 s ta ff ph oto g r a ph e r

Christopher Peirce ’18 class notes editor

Tracey Austin printing

R.C. Brayshaw & Company, Warner, N.H.

Colby-Sawyer welcomes letters to the editor and reserves the right to edit and condense them.

Send address changes to alumni@colby-sawyer.edu or to:

Please send your letters to editor@colby-sawyer.edu or to:

Colby-Sawyer College Office of Alumni Relations 541 Main Street New London, NH 03257

Editor, Office of Marketing & Communications Colby-Sawyer College 541 Main Street New London, NH 03257

summer | fall 2023

Greetings from Colgate Hall The fall semester is well underway, and the return of our students means the campus has resumed its usual hum of activity. After a soggy summer, the typical, beautiful summer weather returned to New London just in time for our incoming students to move in, kick off the official start of the year with the Convocation ceremony and participate in Orientation activities. Students returned to discover that over the summer, the Janet Udall Schaefer ’52 Center for Health Sciences has begun to take shape. The project is on schedule to open in fall 2024. One of the hallmarks of Colby-Sawyer’s current students and alumni is a sense of service. In this issue, you will have an opportunity to learn more about how individuals and groups are lending their talents in important ways. Whether pursuing a dream position in the Peace Corps, lending a helping hand during a spring break trip focused on serving a community in the southeast or volunteering time to a local fire department, Colby-Sawyer students, faculty and alumni are giving back in meaningful ways. Another shared feature of Colby-Sawyer students and alumni is leadership. Each day on campus, I marvel at the wide range of leadership roles our students hold. Their collective contributions create a campus community that is active and exciting. This issue highlights how several of our alumni have extended the leadership talents they cultivated as students into their professional and personal lives today. This issue features two alumni — one who creates fashion for high-profile athletes and another who matches individuals with unique homes — who have found their niche professionally and lead the way in their respective industries. The Nepal Tea Collective, led by Colby-Sawyer alumnus Nishchal Banskota ’15, combines elements of leadership and ser-

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vice in powerful ways. Through his business, Nishchal introduces consumers to high quality tea and, importantly, creates awareness and opportunity for impoverished Nepali villages. He is an extraordinary example of combining his different academic passions, applying his entrepreneurial and leadership abilities and keeping service at the center of all he does. A few other Colby-Sawyer alumni join Nishchal in fulfilling this company’s powerful mission. Finally, this issue highlights how Colby-Sawyer’s enrollment has expanded to include graduate and professional programs. Over less than five years, the college has explored and pursued programs that fit our mission and that support workforce needs within the region. While our focus remains primarily on educating traditional undergraduate students with a strong liberal arts foundation, these new programs are an exciting evolution of our educational offerings. I am truly grateful for your support of the college. Your interest and investments in the college have a direct and meaningful impact on our students, who hold the promise to become thoughtful professionals and dedicated volunteers within our communities. Kind regards,

Susan D. Stuebner, Ed.D. President and Professor of Business & Social Sciences Volanakis Family Presidential Chair

College News office of marketing & communications

Eden Wales Freedman Begins Role as Academic VP and Dean of Faculty Eden Wales Freedman, who previously served as vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, began her role as the new Academic Vice President and Dean of Faculty on July 1 following the retirement of former AVP Laura Sykes. Wales Freedman comes to Colby-Sawyer with more than a decade of diverse experience in higher education, holding positions from vice provost for faculties and academic affairs to department chair and dean of liberal arts to deputy Title IX coordinator. In her role at Colby-Sawyer, Wales Freedman serves as the chief academic officer and second-in-command at the college. She leads a talented group of 57 faculty members who were recently ranked No. 1 in the region by U.S. News and World Report for best undergraduate teaching. She is also tasked with providing high-level vision and leadership for the college’s many academic departments and programs as she supports faculty in their work with students both inside and outside the classroom. In addition, Wales Freedman serves as a member of the college’s Senior Leadership Team, which advises the president on strategic issues associated with the institution.

Colby-Sawyer Faculty Recognized with No. 1 Ranking by U.S. News & World Report Colby-Sawyer College has once again been recognized for the quality and dedication of its faculty, earning its second No. 1 ranking in three years in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Undergraduate Teaching category. The Best Undergraduate Teaching ranking, released Sept. 18 as part of the report’s 2024 Best Colleges issue, recognizes schools where faculty and administrators have “an unusually strong commitment to undergraduate teaching,” according to

COLLEGE NEWS

U.S. News. Colby-Sawyer earned its first-ever No. 1 ranking — in both the category and the overall report — in 2022, and was ranked second in the category last year. U.S. News also ranked Colby-Sawyer fourth in its Best Value Schools category, a ranking that considers the academic quality of an institution as well as its cost, and a No. 12 ranking in its Best Regional Colleges North list.

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College Raises Near-Record $20.8M in Fiscal Year 2023 Colby-Sawyer College raised $20.8 million in fiscal year 2023, marking the second highest single-year fundraising total in its 186-year history. The $20,852,672 raised in 2023 represents a 78% increase from last year’s fundraising total and is just $660,430 less than the all-time mark set in 2021. Colby-Sawyer also saw its second highest number of donors, with nearly 3,500 individuals and organizations making gifts over the course of the year. Students will benefit significantly from this year’s fundraising success thanks to gifts made to the Colby-Sawyer Fund that will enable improvements to facilities, including renovations and enhancements to the student game room, as well as expanded academic and extracurricular opportunities. In addition, this year’s fundraising also provides significant support for endowed scholarships that play a critical role in enabling students of all backgrounds to enroll at the college.

Community Award Presented to Adventures in Learning Colby-Sawyer College has selected Adventures in Learning (AIL) as the recipient of the 2023 Community Award in recognition of its 25-year partnership with the college, as well as the vital role the organization plays in enhancing the intellectual lives of area residents and strengthening the relationship between the college and the town of New London. The Community Award, formerly the Town Award, is presented annually to an area resident or organization that has demonstrated extraordinary involvement in, and made noteworthy contributions to, Colby-Sawyer. The organization first won the award in 2014. “For 25 years, Adventures in Learning has provided enriching learning opportunities for the region’s residents,” Colby-Sawyer College President Susan D. Stuebner said. “Colby-Sawyer is proud to have been a partner with AIL for over 20 years. The college and AIL share a commitment to lifelong learning. I thank the AIL board members, the course leaders and all of the organization’s members for contributing to the community and the college.”

Amy Hedison, Caroline Barry ’16 Elected to Board of Trustees The board of Colby-Sawyer College elected two new trustees who began their terms on July 1, 2023. Amy Hedison was appointed to a three-year term. Caroline Barry ’16 is a Winton Black Trustee, which is a role for young alumni who have graduated, generally, in the past 3-9 years, and she will serve a oneyear term. Amy Hedison became involved with the college in the summer of 2022 after attending a college event at Lake Sunapee. She is a graduate of Princeton University and Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business. Amy owns a consulting firm, ASH Consulting, that provides business development, strategic planning and communications strategy to small companies in the energy, technology and life sciences/healthcare sectors. Caroline Barry ’16 has an extensive relationship with Colby-Sawyer College. As an undergraduate, she served as editor-in-chief of the Colby-Sawyer Courier, an Admissions student ambassador and a member of the a cappella group CSC Riffed. She received the Baccalaureate Award for the media and communications major during Commencement weekend in 2016 and was appointed an inaugural member of the School of Arts & Sciences Advisory Board in 2020. She also regularly participates in alumni events and often contributes to the Colby-Sawyer Fund.

The college’s Board of Trustees includes individuals who represent a variety of backgrounds. The primary role of trustees is to provide fiduciary and strategic guidance for the institution. Their focus is on ensuring that students of the future receive an educational experience that is at least the same as, if not better than, what is offered today.

OPPOSITE PAGE: ACADEMIC VICE PRESIDENT AND DEAN OF FACULTY EDEN WALES FREEDMAN. ABOVE LEFT: TRUSTEE AMY HEDISON. ABOVE RIGHT: WINTON BLACK TRUSTEE CAROLINE BARRY ’16.

COLLEGE NEWS

A Sustainable Campus by zoË tice adams Second Nature – Presidents’ Climate Commitment Signatory In 2017, President Susan D. Stuebner signed the Second Nature Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitment and made Colby-Sawyer College the 100th institution to do so. The commitment built on existing commitments the college has made since 2007 to reduce campus emissions and strengthen the culture of sustainability. Colby-Sawyer College follows various steps laid out by Second Nature to ensure actionable measures are taken to reach institutional goals, including a plan documenting the implementation of those goals and an annual greenhouse gas inventory.

Another important component of the climate action commitment has officially launched: the creation of a campus-community task force. The Sustainability Committee, comprised of faculty, staff and students, will be convening in fall 2023 to begin actively working towards the institution’s sustainability goals. Actions will be measured, documented and reported to track progress and identify areas of improvement.

sustainability

For more information on the signatory or the Blueprint for Resilience and Innovation, the college’s official sustainability plan document, please visit colby-sawyer.edu/sustainability.

Earth Day 2023 – A Resilient Colby-Sawyer College On April 20, a day shy of Earth Day, 50 faculty, staff and student volunteers wearing Earth Day T-shirts designed by student Baley Tremblay ’24 gathered on the sunlight-drenched quad, rakes in one hand, Parkhurst pizza in the other, and got to work. They filled garden beds with mulch, raked leaves and hauled away dead branches. Like many institutions of higher education, Colby-Sawyer College has not been immune to many of the negative impacts of the pandemic, which include challenges with affordable housing, transportation and workforce shortages. The Facilities team has been working hard to keep up with the demands of the college while struggling to find an adequate number of employees to fill the gaps in their team. The first annual Earth Day service event was launched this year to rally campus to support the groundskeeping services that Facilities performs to prepare for Commencement. The event required rapid organization, and sustainability was incorporated in all aspects of planning, down to the T-shirts, which were produced by Teemill, a circular design company utilizing all renewable energy and certified organic products. Earth Day serves as a reminder to us that we have a lot of work to do to rectify massive environmental degradation worldwide. We are also reminded to look beyond replanting

trees or recycling and recognize that supporting each other is an important and necessary component of sustainability that lays the foundation for the work required to make the changes we want to see in the environment. While garden beds were planted, weeds uprooted and mulch dispersed, we were actively building our community up and strengthening our bonds with one another to move forward with goals for sustainability as a collective team. That’s what Earth Day is truly about. The Office of Sustainability & Innovation will be expanding opportunities for engagement to the greater community every year going forward to build upon the foundation of this first successful event.

ABOVE: STAFF ACCOUNTANT JAIMEE HOFSTETTER PARTICIPATES IN COLBY-SAWYER’S FIRST ANNUAL EARTH DAY SERVICE EVENT.

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Janet Udall Schaefer ’52 Center for Health Sciences Sustainable design has been at the forefront of the much-anticipated Janet Udall Schaefer ’52 Center for Health Sciences since its conception. Contracted architects and engineers based much of the design on the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) scorecard. Colby-Sawyer Sustainability Coordinator Zoë Tice Adams received the LEED Green Associated certification through the college’s professional development program and is using it to further aid sustainable design for both the Schaefer Center and future construction.

When the project nears completion, two Level 2 dual-port chargers contracted through ReVision Energy and programmed by ChargePoint will be installed in anticipation of more students, employees and visitors reaching for electric plugs instead of gas-pump handles to charge their vehicles. ReVision Energy has also been contracted to install 179 QCELL 405-watt solar panels on the southern roof of the building, which will produce an estimated 89,602 kilowatt hours and offset 87,810 annual carbon dioxide emissions. The solar panel project includes snow guards to protect pedestrians from snow falling from the roof during the winter months.

sustainability

The Office of Sustainability & Innovation researched electric vehicle charging stations and solar paneling, which the college has officially included in the design and budget of the new construction. These technologies are vital to upholding the

campus’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency and encouraging the growing culture of alternative energy supply.

ABOVE: AN ARCHITECT’S RENDERING SHOWS THE EXTERIOR OF THE JANET UDALL SCHAEFER ’52 CENTER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES.

Zoë Tice Adams is the sustainability coordinator for the Office of Sustainability & Innovation. She holds a B.A. in anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and an M.A. in Sustainability from Wake Forest University.

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Traveling with Purpose Jordan Pollard ’23 Realizes Her Peace Corps Dream by michael pezone Jordan Pollard ’23 developed a passion for traveling at a young age. Inspired by family trips to remote locations often overlooked by conventional tourists, Pollard found that she was at her happiest when immersed in cultures she knew little about. While peers in school recounted visits to destinations like Disney World, Pollard spoke proudly of pilgrimages to places like Jerome, Arizona, a former copper-mining community located on an isolated hillside in the center of the state. “I love to travel but I don’t really like going to resorts or things like that,” said Pollard, who transferred to Colby-Sawyer as a junior and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design this past spring. “Growing up, our vacations were usually camping trips or going to these unique little towns across the country. And so, I’ve always been looking for ways to continue doing that but in a meaningful way.” Pollard found the perfect opportunity to do just that in the Peace Corps, a government program that sends volunteers to underdeveloped countries to teach residents about advancements in industry, agriculture, education and healthcare. And though admittedly skeptical she’d be admitted — according to the Peace Corps, only 23% of applicants are offered a volunteer position — Pollard said she was thrilled to be notified that her application had been approved. So, as summer came to a close, Pollard packed her bags and set out for Lesotho, a landlocked, enclave country encircled completely by South Africa, where she’ll spend the next two years teaching English to children. Pollard said she had never heard of Lesotho, home to 2.2 million people, prior to her acceptance into the Peace Corps, but has done plenty of research in the weeks since.

“...IT’S TRULY A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY.” Formerly a British colony, Lesotho was granted independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 and is now a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations and the African Union. Residents of the country primarily speak Sesotho, a Southern Bantu language spoken by roughly 5.6 million people, though Pollard said English is becoming more and more popular as the country pushes to boost its economy.

“I’m so excited,” said Pollard, adding that her willingness to volunteer anywhere took a bit of stress out of the application process and may have made her application more attractive. “I really wanted to travel, and I just feel like this is a fun way to do it while helping people at the same time. And I’m really excited to be going to Southern Africa.” According to Pollard, Peace Corps volunteers are expected to work during the week but have weekends free and are granted additional days off for every month of their two-year stay. She said she expects that at least some of her downtime will be spent exploring the Maloti Mountains, which contain the highest peaks in Southern Africa — including Thabana Ntlenyana, at 11,424 feet. An avid hiker, Pollard is no stranger to summiting the tallest mountains in her area. As of May’s Commencement ceremony, she had successfully scaled 18 of New Hampshire’s 48 mountains with elevations of at least 4,000 feet. Pollard, who was awarded both the Graphic Design Capstone Award and the Graphic Design Baccalaureate Award, said she’s hopeful she’ll be able to incorporate art into her interactions with the children in Lesotho. Whether that’s possible or not, she said she fully expects to utilize her degree upon her return to the United States, adding that she’d like to work in marketing or branding eventually. School of Arts & Sciences Assistant Professor Scott Horsley, who served as a reference for Pollard during the application process, said he has no doubt his former student will have a meaningful impact on the lives of those she works with in Lesotho. “Jordan is smart, thoughtful and a resourceful and tenacious problem solver,” Horsley said. “These are all important qualities for the sort of work the Peace Corps does. I know how selective they are, but I wasn’t at all surprised that she was accepted.” Pollard said that though the thought of being so far from home is certainly a little intimidating, it doesn’t outweigh the enthusiasm she feels for what’s ahead. “I mean, it’s definitely scary, because I’ve never really lived alone. So that part is definitely going to be an adjustment. And leaving all my friends and family,” Pollard said. “But I’m so excited ... It’s truly a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Michael Pezone is director for the Office of Marketing & Communications. He holds a B.A. in journalism from Keene State College.

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ANSWERING THE CALL

In Wilmot, Six Volunteer Firefighters Share More Than an Alma Mater by nicole butler

In Wilmot, New Hampshire, when you dial 911, the volunteer fire department will probably be dispatched to assist you. The name is doubly misleading — for one, most of the calls fielded by fire department are not for fires, but rather for medical emergencies and car accidents. And, there’s the word “volunteer,” which belies the reality that being a firefighter is a serious commitment and that it’s very hard work — it can, indeed, be dangerous and sometimes grim. However, it correctly indicates that the job is also usually unpaid. In the U.S., about 60% of fire departments are volunteer run. In New Hampshire, that percentage is closer to 80. The position requires a kind of allegiance to the common good that, for most people, rarely translates into meaningful action. So, it’s unsurprising that many departments have trouble recruiting. This makes it even more extraordinary that, in a small town like Wilmot, six members of the volunteer department — one third of its active roster — are all graduates of the same small college. Kelsie Lee Clarke ’11 has a degree in graphic design and her “day job” is in marketing, but for the Wilmot Volunteer Fire Department, Kelsie plays the roles of both firefighter and PR manager. Her husband, Sam, is the station chief. They serve with

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Kyla Pillsbury ’11, second lieutenant; Gage Bensley ’12; Katelyn (Kate) DuCharme Bensley ’12; Garrett Dunnells ’16; and Melynda Seaholm O’Neill ’19, who is married to Tim O’Neill, captain.

“Don’t be afraid to explore the area,” Kyla said. “Talk to people that live here. They’re more than friendly. Go other places and meet the people that live here, and even the people that vacation here — they’re super, super friendly.” So, what’s special about these six? They’re certainly no less busy than anyone else — they have jobs and kids and homes, and they have relationships with friends and family to maintain. At first glance, nothing obvious seems to set them apart — none of them appears any more likely to be, as Fred Rogers would call them, “the helpers.” For Kyla, at least, the answer to that question is closely attached to the time she spent at Colby-Sawyer College.

“Just in the school community, there’s so much encouragement to join in,” said Kyla, who served two

terms as Student Government Association president. “Even just an intramural sports team or a club or whatever. And so that kind of just overflows when you leave school. It’s like, ‘Oh, yeah, I should do something if I can.’ Like, I’ve done that my entire life. It kind of echoes what you do in school.” Kelsie said that their experiences in the classroom did a great job of preparing the group for a future of service to their community. “Honestly, I think that’s what makes us as good of a team as we are, because we all have different knowledge and specialties,” she said. “And we all look at things and problems differently ... We can work together as a team to collaborate to get to problem litigation.” Kyla, herself a transplant from Northern New Hampshire, shared a plea to future Colby-Sawyer students to go ahead and get involved outside of school. “Don’t be afraid to explore the area,” Kyla said. “Talk to people that live here. They’re more than friendly. Go other places and meet the people that live here, and even the people that vacation here — they’re super, super friendly.” Nicole Butler is a staff writer in the Office of Marketing & Communications. She holds a B.A. in creative writing from St. Lawrence University and an M.F.A. in creative nonfiction from The Ohio State University.

ABOVE: WVFD VEHICLES SIT AT THE READY OUTSIDE THE STATION. OPPOSITE PAGE: (FROM LEFT) GAGE BENSLEY ’12, MELYNDA SEAHOLM O’NEILL ’19, GARRETT DUNNELLS ’16, KYLA PILLSBURY ’11, KELSIE LEE CLARKE ’11 AND KATE DUCHARME BENSLEY ’12. RIGHT: (TOP TO BOTTOM) WILMOT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT SECOND LIEUTENANT KYLA PILLSBURY ’11 STANDS IN FULL GEAR.; MELYNDA SEAHOLM O’NEILL ’19 MAKES ADJUSTMENTS TO THE VEHICLE.; O’NEILL SITS IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT OF AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE.

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Colby-Sawyer Expands Graduate and Professional Studies Offerings by mary mclaughlin When most people think of a Colby-Sawyer College education, they imagine a traditional, residential undergraduate experience and academic programs that blend a strong liberal arts foundation with robust professional preparation, internships and field experiences. And, to be sure, that image paints an accurate picture of the programs that are at the heart of Colby-Sawyer. But the college offers additional programs — a growing number, in fact — designed to meet the needs of a less traditional college population: working adults. Graduate & Professional Studies is the umbrella term for a diverse array of academic offerings at all levels, from associate through doctoral, currently available at the college. The college launched its first graduate program, a Master of Science in Nursing in clinical nurse leadership, in fall 2016. The first cohort included 12 registered nurses employed at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, four of whom had also completed their bachelor’s in nursing at Colby-Sawyer. From those humble beginnings, the college’s graduate and professional studies programs have grown exponentially over the past seven years. “The growth and success of our graduate and professional programs reflect Colby-Sawyer’s mission to empower

students to succeed in a dynamic, diverse and interdependent world,” Academic Vice President and Dean of Faculty Eden Wales Freedman said. “By expanding our offerings, we provide students with additional opportunities for advanced knowledge, specialized skills and professional development.” Available programs now include an Associate of Science in health science, which was developed as part of Colby-Sawyer’s partnership with Dartmouth Health to help meet increasing workforce shortages in healthcare. The program is available to people training through Dartmouth Health’s Workforce Readiness Institute (WRI) for careers as medical assistants, pharmacy technicians and surgical technologists. By completing five to seven additional courses, all offered by the college online, students earn an associate degree in addition to their professional training. They then have the option to continue their education with Colby-Sawyer by enrolling in the A.S. to B.S. in health studies program, another online offering through Graduate & Professional Studies. But the WRI programs are only one branch of the wide array of opportunities offered in Graduate & Professional Studies. At the bachelor’s level, online programs include an RN to BS in nursing for registered nurses and an RT to BS in respiratory therapy for registered respiratory thera-

TOP LEFT: MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING DIPLOMAS ARE SHOWN PRIOR TO THE START OF LAST SPRING’S COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY. TOP RIGHT: RECENT GRADUATES OF THE COLLEGE’S MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM STAND FOR A PHOTO ALONGSIDE FACULTY MEMBERS.

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pists. A 16-month, in-person Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, available for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, provides a quick route to licensure as a registered nurse. Graduate programs have also seen tremendous growth. The college now offers three tracks in the Master of Science in Nursing, with the additions of nursing education and nursing management and executive leadership options. Two programs for pursuing a Master of Business Administration are currently in place — an online program available to Dartmouth Health employees and an in-person 4+1 program that allows students who earn a bachelor’s degree in any discipline at Colby-Sawyer to earn an MBA with one additional year of coursework. Graduate & Professional Studies continued to grow in fall 2023 with the addition of three new online programs: a Master of Science in exercise science, a Master of Social Work and the college’s first doctoral-level program, a post-master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice. “Our commitment to graduate and professional education grounded in our liberal arts tradition ensures that our students are equipped with the skills they need to excel in their chosen fields and contribute meaningfully to society,” Wales Freedman said. “As we build and support academic programs, we remain dedicated to nurturing our students’ intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and holistic development, preparing them to shape their futures and positively impact their communities.” From 12 graduate and professional studies students in 2016 to 253 in 2023, Colby-Sawyer continues to serve its mission of providing academic programs based in the liberal arts and health, social and natural sciences, with a focus on vocational exploration and experiential learning. The college also continues to find new and innovative ways to meet the needs of an ever-changing student population, workforce and world.

TOP: IN 2016, COLBY-SAWYER ENROLLED 12 GRADUATE STUDENTS

IN ITS BRAND-NEW MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING PROGRAM. TODAY, THE COLLEGE ENROLLS MORE THAN 250 GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES STUDENTS SPANNING EIGHT PROGRAMS. BOTTOM: STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE COLLEGE’S ABSN PROGRAM WORK IN ONE OF TWO CAMPUS NURSING LABORATORIES.

“By expanding our offerings, we provide students with additional opportunities for advanced knowledge, specialized skills and professional development.”

Mary McLaughlin was director of residential education at Colby-Sawyer from 1996 to 2020 and is currently a copy editor and writer for the Office of Marketing & Communications. She holds a B.A. from the University of New Hampshire and an M.Ed. from the University of Vermont.

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The Ambassador of Tea by nicole butler Today, Nishchal “Nish” Banskota ’15 is Nepal’s unofficial ambassador of tea. This isn’t entirely surprising; Nish is the son of Nepali tea farmers, and his company, the Nepal Tea Collective, imports and distributes Nepal-grown teas, hosts private tea tastings and takes groups on tours of a tea-growing area in his native country. His passion for tea, and for its connection to his homeland, is clear. Once upon a time, however, Nish had planned to leave all that behind. As a student, his sights were set on a high-powered career in New York, a hub of the global finance industry. “When I went to the U.S.,” Nish said, “I had the idea that I’d be carrying a briefcase and wearing a suit, working on Wall Street for a lot of money.” In high school, Nish revealed himself to be just as ambitious as he was talented. He helped found a newspaper called Vibes, a gambit to stand out from the crowd and garner interest from American universities. It did so well that a national media company offered to buy it out. Even then, however, Nish found himself placing principle ahead of profit, declining to sell his creation. When Nish, the youngest of eight, accepted a spot at Colby-Sawyer, he assured his parents that he wouldn’t ask them for another penny to fund his studies abroad — a promise that he managed to keep. Fast forward a few years, and Nish was well on his way, excelling in business classes and making a name for himself by organizing service trips through the Wesson Honors Program for Colby-Sawyer students, and eventually the then-college president, Thomas Galligan, to visit his country. It was on one of these trips that Nish’s social conscience once again caught up to his plans.

“And so,” Nish said, “what happened is now it’s a thriving community of more than 200 farmers — 175 acres of tea gardens in the hills.” 12

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“My mom and dad had this vision, you know, ‘if we want to get our community out of poverty, we need to plant tea,’” Nish said.

“And so,” Nish said, “what happened is now it’s a thriving community of more than 200 farmers — 175 acres of tea gardens in the hills.” At Maya Universe Academy, a school near Nish’s home village where he and his Colby-Sawyer classmates had helped build a classroom out of bamboo, he casually asked a young boy what he wanted to do when he finished his studies, expecting, perhaps, the sort of response that Nish himself would have given at that young age. Instead, Nish recalled, the boy — whose daily journey to and from the school required four hours of walking — told him that his dream was to become a teacher, so he could help provide the same opportunity he had received to others. “That was what killed the CPA in me,” Nish said. “I was, like, ‘I want to do something that is a meaningful use of my education, of my privilege.’ I also understood what a privilege it was that I had the opportunity to come to the U.S. I had this opportunity to attend college, and all of that. I’ve got to do something, use this privilege that I have to do something for the less privileged ones. And that was the mindset of my final year of college, where I wanted to merge the degree, the business degree or business acumen that the college had provided, with my passion for social impact.” Nish may have been ready to bury his Wall Street CPA dreams, but he still had a business skill set. What he needed was a new idea — the right opportunity to use the knowledge he’d accumulated as a business student to make a meaningful difference in the world. Then, he realized he was overlooking the obvious answer. In the 1980s, in the rural village of Phidim, Nish’s parents had been the first to bring tea as an agricultural crop to their impoverished community. “My mom and dad had this vision, you know, ‘if we want to get our community out of poverty, we need to plant tea,’” Nish said.

RIGHT: BLACK TEAS ARE MADE FROM LEAVES OF CAMELLIA SINENSIS THAT HAVE BEEN WITHERED ROLLED, ALLOWED TO OXIDIZE AND THEN DRIED.

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The Ambassador of Tea His parents tried, to no avail, to convince the local farmers that tea would grow well there. Having failed to persuade their neighbors, they planted tea themselves, right in their own backyard. The plants thrived, and soon Nish’s mother and father were able to persuade the local farmers to lease them their fallow land and, eventually, to plant tea of their own. “And so,” Nish said, “what happened is now it’s a thriving community of more than 200 farmers — 175 acres of tea gardens in the hills.” Unfortunately, although the plant itself grows well in Nepal, historically, the Nepali tea industry has faced unfavorable conditions. Tea production in Nepal continues to be structured by a post-colonial economy that drains profit, and recognition, from the producers, and creates an unnecessarily long supply chain between the farmer and the consumer, with many intermediaries. According to Nish, these problems are compounded by the fact that almost all exported Nepali tea is sold wholesale to India, where it’s combined with the Indian tea crop and relabeled, losing its distinctive character as a Nepal-grown tea. This is one thing that Nish has set out to change.

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“We’re really trying to create an identity for the people who make things,” he said. “Because that’s — that’s never been done. And because of that, they’re never identified in the global tea space. Like, tea’s the most popular beverage. But if you ask anybody, ‘Do you know where this tea is coming from?”, I bet most of the people would say they have zero idea.”

And so, this was Nish’s insight: Not only was there a market for locally sourced, ethically grown tea — but there was also opportunity to build a business around that concept in America to help lift up his own family and the families of many other tea farmers in Nepal. The idea was sound, but, like most good ideas, just as with most good teas, it still required years of careful attention to fully mature. The process actually did take Nish to Wall Street — and through several years of struggle and sacrifice, all while engaging in the continual hustle of finding investors. But today, Nish’s business, the Nepal Tea Collective, is bearing fruit. In 2022 alone, his company imported more than 80,000 pounds of tea and distributed product to more than 10,000 customers.

“It’s very, very futuristic, I guess,” Nish said, “but the thing that we really want to do is really get one million farmers out of poverty within this generation and within my lifetime.”

But along with his success came a quandary. Nish realized that he could say anything he liked about his pro-social goals, but his business was still bound by company bylaws that obligated it to act in the best interest of one group, and one group alone: his shareholders. It bothered him. “I don’t like making statements and not following through,” he said. “In today’s world, there’s a lot of greenwashing. You can say you’re doing this, and you can say you’re doing that. But then who knows? And we are saying we are farmers, we’re the first producer-focused tea company that is bringing in all of these amazing teas. I want to make it farmer-focused and producer-focused. But how can I do that legally?” Nish discovered that there was a solution — converting the Nepal Tea Collective into what is called a “public benefit corporation.” This, Nish explained, essentially meant changing a single word of the company’s charter. Where once it said that the company’s financial obligation was exclusively to its “shareholders,” now the charter states that the company is bound to serve its “stakeholders,” which includes not only its investors, but also the environment, his customers and the farmers who grow the tea. For Nish, that change was the final piece of the puzzle — a way to build a business that was truly accountable, not just to the shareholders, but also to the world. WIth this safegaurd in place, Nish is able to focus on his goal, which he hopes will remain an integral part of his company, no matter what else may change. “It’s very, very futuristic, I guess,” Nish said, “but the thing that we really want to do is really get one million farmers out of poverty within this generation and within my lifetime.” Futuristic? One hopes. Ambitious, probably. But for Nepal’s de facto ambassador of tea, that’s never been an obstacle.

OPPOSITE PAGE: A SELECTION OF THE NEPAL TEA COLLECTIVE’S OFFERINGS.

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Around

Campus The fall 2023 semester was off to a beautiful start with warm, sunny days and plenty of Charger spirit. Old friends reconnected and new friendships began as students started classes on Tuesday, Sept. 5. The next day, the community gathered to tie-dye T-shirts in preparation for Mountain Day. When the bells rang at 10:05 on Friday, Sept. 22, students, faculty and staff in their newly made shirts became a colorful caravan to the top of Mount Kearsarge.

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Building on Break Colby-Sawyer Volunteers Lay Tin Roof on Tennessee Home by mary mclaughlin

In March 2023, while other students were heading out to spend their Spring Break on sunny beaches, five students, two professors and a staff member packed up a van and drove to a small town outside Johnson City, Tennessee, to spend the week laying a tin roof overlay with the Appalachia Service Project (ASP). ASP is an organization committed to eradicating substandard housing in the Central Appalachia region by training groups of volunteers to complete home-repair projects. The Colby-Sawyer group partnered with ASP through their College Alternative Break program, which focuses on projects in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. “Spring break alternative (SBA) offers students the opportunity to contribute to meeting an expressed community need in collaboration with community partners, whereby seeing themselves in someone with whom they may not have otherwise had the privilege of engaging,” said Associate Professor of Nursing Ann Fournier, who planned the trip with Coordinator of Community Engaged Learning and Coordinator of BOLD Women’s Leadership Network Katherine Burt. “SBA offers students an opportunity to live into values such as respect, humility, stewardship.”

“It was really moving to meet her during the week,” Fournier said. “Her advocacy for her own needs and her profound joy in the face of marginalization and oppression moved me.” Though no one in the Colby-Sawyer group had any experience with roofing, an ASP team leader taught them everything they needed to know to get the job done in four days. It was an empowering experience for the group. “Never in my life did I think I would ever get up on a roof and repair it,” psychology major Julia Lally ’23 said. “But a little support from new friends and the knowledge that I was making a difference carried me to heights I thought I’d never be able to reach.” Lally said the group members didn’t know each other before the trip began, but by the time the van stopped for their first lunch break, their friendships were well underway.

Fournier and Burt, along with Assistant Professor of Nursing Kathleen Nunes and a student group that included one senior, three juniors and one first-year student, made the two-day drive to Tennessee before spending four days laying a new roof for a woman named Miss Deb. “The unique thing about ASP is that they have found a niche in the community,” explained Burt. “For a lot of organizations who do service projects, the homeowners are normally required to either put in a monetary amount or ‘sweat equity,’ which means that some individuals who are really impoverished or are disabled or elderly don’t necessarily get help. ASP doesn’t require anything from their homeowners, so it’s normally a lot of older, elderly individuals who we support.” According to Burt, Miss Deb was one such homeowner — a woman in her 70s who contacted ASP because she was living in a house with a roof that leaked.

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COURTESY PHOTOS ABOVE: (FROM LEFT) BETHANY RALPH ’24, FAITH MAZZAPICA ’24, BEZAWIT KEBEDE ’25, JULIA LALLY ’23 AND BRIANA ANGELLI ’26 TAKE A MOMENT TO BREATHE ON THEIR ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK TRIP.

“By the time we reached our amazing cabin the following day, it felt as though I had a new family,” Lally said. “I was incredibly grateful for this quick bond because getting on a roof for the first time was a little intimidating. Okay, very intimidating! But there they were — my six new friends — supporting me every step of the way.” ASP provided housing for the group in a 20-person cabin with a full kitchen, which Burt said allowed them to cook all their meals together. It also gave them time and space to process their experiences. “While we had planned time for reflection each evening, the length of reflection always extended beyond the planned time. Students wanted to process what they had seen, heard, felt,” Fournier said. “They shared that they were transformed by the experience … see(ing) themselves and others in new ways while still being aware of the way they were before. They shared that to be transformed felt vulnerable, that there were things they did not understand, but were now sensitive to or understood differently.” Faith Mazzapica ’24, a forensic psychology major, said she didn’t know what to expect going into the trip but decided to do it because she knew it would put her outside her comfort zone. She said she also wanted to help others and experience the Appalachian community. “I was most surprised by the impact this trip had on me,” Mazzapica said. “I now have a bond with the other students that is stronger than any bonds created in the past. I cannot wait to participate in more service trips in the future.”

“Never in my life did I think I would ever get up on a roof and repair it,” psychology major Julia Lally ’23 said. “But a little support from new friends and the knowledge that I was making a difference carried me to heights I thought I’d never be able to reach.”

The impact of the trip was also a surprise for nursing major Bezawit Kebede ’25, who frequently did volunteer work back home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. “I was yet again surprised by the power of service and how much it can impact people,” Kebede said. “For people seeing us from the outside, not understanding what we were doing, it might have meant a week college students spent to add something to their resume, but for me, it meant (finding out) what my purpose was through offering my talent where it’s needed. For the people that received this help, it meant a non-leaking roof over their head as well as understanding that their sincerity and vulnerability to ask for help did not go in vain, as Appalachian Service Project was able to answer through their action in completing the project.”

COURTESY PHOTOS THIS PAGE: COLBY-SAWYER STUDENTS AND FACULTY SPEND SPRING BREAK 2023 AS VOLUNTEERS REPLACING A ROOF IN TENNESSEE.

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Selling the Dream For Collin Bray ’06, a Summer Internship Blossomed into a Passion for Real Estate Sales by nicole butler One of the most successful luxury real estate agents in the state of Massachusetts, Collin works as a managing partner at Century 21 Cityside, an agency founded by his father. That connection, he says, has only made him work harder. “In a family business, you get the opposite of what the public perception is of a family business,” Collin said. “The perception is you get handouts. It’s easy. If you talk to anyone that’s in a family business, it is the total opposite.” Collin, who is now a member of the Colby-Sawyer Board of Trustees, wasn’t originally planning to go into the family business. His great passion as a student was basketball, and he was drawn to Colby-Sawyer by singular love for the sport and his connection to former men’s basketball Head Coach Bill Foti, whom he credits with having a tremendous influence on his development. Collin ended up playing for the basketball team as a four-year starter at the point guard position, all-conference honoree and eventual team captain. As for what would come after he graduated, however, Collin says he had no idea. The turning point for him came in the form of an internship at Century 21 Cityside.

“When I came into the workforce, the market was challenging,” he said. “But every job market is always challenging. Every real estate market is always changing. The stock market is always unstable. So, my advice is, don’t take anyone else’s advice.

TOP: IN FRONT, DOUGLAS BRAY, THEN JORDAN BRAY AND COLLIN BRAY BOTTOM: JORDAN AND COLLIN BRAY

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“We had an agent here at the office who basically took me under his wing for the summer and mentored me and gave me a little flavor of what real estate was like,” Collin said, admitting that he soon learned that the real estate business is trickier than it looks. “I was terrible at it. I actually was able to get my license when I was at Colby-Sawyer, so I was able to conduct business but — zero. I couldn’t do one rental, one sale.” With a bit of guidance from that mentor, Collin learned to hone his skills and practice his craft. Today, he puts himself within the top 5% of real estate agents in Boston, selling more than $50 million in real estate. The key, according to Collin, is to always be studying your trade. “I’m out looking at property and researching. I’m talking with people,” he said. “I’m in action. So that has made a big difference.” Now, at the height of his profession, he’s committed to sharing with others the same opportunity he was given as a young, uncertain student: the opportunity to learn, to fail and to grow. Over the years, Collin has hosted seven Colby-Sawyer student interns at his firm, and he makes sure they get the same kind of practical, meaningful experience that he did. “No one picks up my dry cleaning,” Collin joked. “They don’t bring me coffee; they’re not doing filing. They are in there — they are now a team member. And I think that’s the best way to get someone to be excited. I remember being in an internship and, like, I was probably more terrified than I was excited. And being excited and being terrified ... those are very similar emotions.”

When student interns leave him after six or eight weeks, there is one thing he says he hopes they bring with them: emotional intelligence. “(It’s) learning that people really recognize when you care,” he explained. “And that shows up in symbols. It’s how you present yourself, it’s how you show up, it’s how you follow up. It’s how you communicate. It’s how people feel loved and acknowledged. And so we’re practicing that in many different ways.” Lastly, Collin has some advice for those students who perhaps hope to emulate his success. “When I came into the workforce, the market was challenging,” he said. “But every job market is always challenging. Every real estate market is always changing. The stock market is always unstable. So, my advice is, don’t take anyone else’s advice. “Follow your heart and your passion. And that will be your compass.”

“No one picks up my dry cleaning,” Collin joked. “They don’t bring me coffee; they’re not doing filing. They are in there — they are now a team member. And I think that’s the best way to get someone to be excited.”

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Styling the Stars How Positive Relationships and a Little Business Savvy Helped Take Mary Francis ’10 From New London to Los Angeles by michael pezone Mary Francis ’10 understands the value of relationships. It’s why she remains in touch with former classmates from her days at Colby-Sawyer. It’s why she still directs business to her first post-college employer, a high-end Boston clothing retailer called the Tannery. And it’s why she stuck it out for a full two months after giving her two-weeks’ notice with a New York City fashion brand, L’AGENCE, as the pressures of Fashion Week loomed. So when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, crippling retailers and other industries from coast to coast, Mary — who had just moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of working on her own as a stylist — didn’t panic. Instead, she called upon the knowledge she had gained as a business student and relied on some trusted relationships to help her get by. “There were a lot of obstacles to overcome during that time and I

was like, ‘I could either quit my dream or I could pivot

and figure out how I can make this work,’” Mary remembered. “So, I leaned on some of the relationships I had been building with stores and brands and started to focus heavily on personal shopping and digital styling.” Her top clients, as it turned out, were NBA athletes.

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By the time the pandemic hit, Mary’s designs had already begun turning heads in locker rooms around the NBA. She credits Los Angeles Clippers forward Terance Mann, for whom she made a pair of patchwork shorts using game-worn jerseys from his college days, for being the first to showcase her designs. And it wasn’t long before Mary was making apparel for more players, including former Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart. “A lot of players began asking me to make them custom shorts and other products from my clothing brand, and so guys were wearing my name in the tunnel before games and events,” Mary said. “Eventually, people were kind of like, ‘Well, who is Mary Francis?’ Then, during the pandemic, I had an idea to fill the void for clients who were unable to shop but still wanting the newest clothes. I still had access to stores and had continued to stay in communication with relationships I had built over the years, and so I was able to kind of bridge the gap and give my clients early access to the latest clothing drops. It was my way of not giving up and being able to think of a different way to generate income during a time when everyone was scrambling.” Since the pandemic, Mary has only added to her lengthy list of talented clients, working with names like Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies, Bruce Brown, Jr., of the Indiana Pacers, Devin Vassell of the San Antonio Spurs, De’Anthony Melton of the Philadelphia 76ers and even non-athletes, like the actors Da’Vinchi and Young Dylan.

“Never give up on your dreams,” Mary added. “The ability to manifest and turn your dreams into reality is real.”

In addition to the relationships she’s built over time, Mary said she relies on a strategy not typical in her industry, and one that was driven home during her days as a business student: thinking outside the box to reduce costs for her clients.

COURTESY PHOTOS OPPOSITE PAGE: MARY FRANCIS ’10 WORKS WITH HIGH-PROFILE CLIENTS IN THE WORLD OF FASHION. ABOVE LEFT: FRANCIS’S PATCHWORK SHORTS HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY POPULAR WITH HER NBA CLIENTS. ABOVE RIGHT: LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS FORWARD TERANCE MANN IS SEEN WEARING A PAIR OF PATCHWORK SHORTS MADE FROM HIS COLLEGE BASKETBALL JERSEYS.

NEXT PAGE RIGHT: MARY FRANCIS ’10 STANDS FOR A PHOTO ALONGSIDE ONE OF HER CLIENTS, YOUNG DYLAN.

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Styling the Stars

“I try to do things a little differently than a regular stylist or personal shopper by being strategic and working within a budget for example,” said Mary, adding that she often works directly with her client’s financial advisors. “I’m not just going into

stores with a clients’ credit card and shopping. I think that I add a different perspective and value in my industry.”

Mary said she also credits Colby-Sawyer for being one of the first in a series of steppingstones in her life that culminated in her realizing her dream of becoming a stylist. Though she considered larger schools in places like Miami, Mary, a native of a small costal community in Maine, followed her father’s advice and chose to pursue a degree in business at Colby-Sawyer while playing collegiate tennis. And while that decision meant she wouldn’t necessarily be studying the finer points of fashion, Mary said she still utilizes lessons she learned in New London — and at her internship at RBC Wealth Management in Hartford, Connecticut — in business dealings today. “My whole life has been steppingstones and Colby-Sawyer was definitely a perfect steppingstone for me,” Mary said. “I’m extremely grateful for the experiences I had there and the people I met there. It was an important part of my progression with where I was in my life.” Mary said if she could offer one piece of advice to students today, it would be to value every relationship and to avoid burning bridges, even during difficult circumstances. “Never give up on your dreams,” Mary added. “The ability to manifest and turn your dreams into reality is real.”

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“My whole life has been steppingstones and Colby-Sawyer was definitely a perfect steppingstone for me.”

Women’s Tennis Serves Its Way Into History by sports information For the first time since 2017, a Colby-Sawyer athletic program advanced a round in an NCAA Division III tournament. The Colby-Sawyer women’s tennis team once again dominated conference play, earning a second straight Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship behind its 6-0 conference record. The Chargers’ reward was a date with the University of Massachusetts, Boston in the opening round of the D-III tournament. Colby-Sawyer was up to the task despite their opponent’s homecourt advantage, fighting its way to a 5-2 victory behind singles wins from Mary Thoms ’24 (Northwood, N.H.), Lily Tria ’25 (Westerly, R.I.) and Grace Carpenter ’25 (Milford, N.H.) and doubles victories from Tria and Mei Genest ’25 (Keene, N.H.) and Carpenter and Emily Hill ’23 (Wilmington, Mass.). “Making the NCAA tournament is a great accomplishment for every team that qualifies. Very few people realize how hard it is to win a match in the tournament,” Head Coach Barry Schoonmaker said. “Every team is a league champion or a nationally ranked large participant. Nothing comes easy in the NCAAs and I’m incredibly proud our ladies gutted out a win. The win in 2022-23 could be the proudest I’ve ever been of a team in the NCAAs. We were missing our third singles athlete, who had to fly home right after finals. Then to make the situation more difficult, the morning of the match when Amelia Campenella ’25 (Chepachet, R.I.) was under the weather. So, players had to move up two spots in the line-up and pull out a huge 5-2 victory for us.”

The win earned Colby-Sawyer a spot in the second round, this time against a Massachusetts Institute of Technology team that headed into the matchup with a 14-2 record. Unfortunately for the Chargers, MIT proved too much and claimed a 5-0 victory. In all, six Chargers earned GNAC All-Conference Teams honors for their contributions. Carpenter and Alyssa Owens ’24 (Grain Valley, Mo.) were named to the GNAC First All-Conference Singles Team. Hill, sophomores Elise Hogan ’25 (Duxbury, Mass.) and Isabella Gutierrez Avendaño ’25 (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) also earned GNAC All-Conference Second Team Singles honors. Hogan was also named the GNAC Tournament MVP after scoring four points in the postseason. She was joined by Owens on the GNAC Second Doubles Team after a perfect 6-0 record as a doubles pair. Both Owens and Avendaño earned a spot on the GNAC All-Rookie Team while Campenella was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team.

COURTESY PHOTOS

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SPORTS NEWS by Sports Information

Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Rebecca Hooker ’84, Women’s Basketball Rebecca was a three-sport student-athlete at Colby-Sawyer, competing in women’s soccer, women’s lacrosse and women’s basketball. Rebecca’s top sport was basketball where she was a dominant presence on the defensive side of the ball during three seasons with the Chargers. One of the best defensive players in school history, Rebecca ranks first in program history in rebounds (1,222) and second in blocks (223). Rebecca was also a member of one of the best teams at Colby-Sawyer, going 21-2 in 1981-82 under Head Coach Michael McMahon.

Will Bardaglio ’12, Men’s Basketball Will was a four-year starter for the men’s basketball team at Colby-Sawyer and is the top three-point shooter in program history with 327 career three-pointers. Will also sits 11th in program history in total points with 1,400 career points, and averaged 13.3 points per game with a 42.7% career three-point percentage in 105 games. Will was selected as a New Hampshire Division III Basketball Coaches Association First Team selection in 2010 and 2011, and was also named to the All-Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) First Team in 2010 and 2011.

Adrienne Bender ’14, Lacrosse & Women’s Soccer Adrienne was a two-sport athlete at Colby-Sawyer, competing in women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse. Adrienne remains the soccer program’s all-time leader in both goals (44) and game-winning goals (14), and ranks third in total points with 99. She was a three-time All-Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) First

Team selection in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and was also a NEWISA All-New England Third Team member in 2013. On the lacrosse team, Adrienne began as a goalkeeper in 2012, recording an 8-8 record with 99 saves. In her final two seasons, Adrienne shifted to offense where she tallied 18 goals and seven assists in 33 games. In 2014, Adrienne was named the Wynne Jesser-McGrew Scholar-Athlete of the Year as well as the Colby-Sawyer Female Athlete of the Year.

Ashlyn Ramsay ’16, Women’s Tennis Ashlyn was a four-year member of the women’s tennis team at Colby-Sawyer and one of the program’s most successful student athletes. She logged 128 total victories for the Chargers, including 57 singles wins and 71 doubles wins. Ashlyn helped the Chargers win four-straight North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) East Championships and four-consecutive NEAC Crossover Titles. Ashlyn was a two-time NEAC Player of the Year in 2014 and 2015, and the NEAC Rookie of the Year in 2012. She was also a member of the NEAC East Division Singles & Doubles First Team during each of her four years and was a three-time Salve Regina Grass Court Doubles Flight Champion in 2012, 2014 and 2015.

Denali Sexton ’18, Men’s Soccer

COURTESY PHOTOS

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Denali was a four-year starter for the Colby-Sawyer men’s soccer program and was one of the best athletes in program history. He currently holds the program record for points (145), goals (56) and assists (33). Denali was also a four-time North Atlantic Conference (NAC) First Team All-Conference selection, a two-time NAC Player of the year in 2016 and 2017 and a NAC Rookie of the year in 2014. He was a United Soccer Coaches All-New England First Team selection in 2017 as well as a 2015 and 2016 United Soccer Coaches All-New England Third Team member. Denali was also recognized by the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) as the Co-Rookie of the Year in 2014 and an ECAC First Team AllStar in 2016.

New Head Coaching Hires Christina Baudis, Swimming & Diving

Tim Viola, Women’s Basketball

Christina Baudis was hired as head coach of the swimming & diving program and aquatics coordinator in February. Baudis joined the Chargers after 13 years as an assistant swim coach at Simmons University. Prior to Simmons, Baudis served as the head varsity swim coach at the Winsor School for nine seasons. Baudis is no stranger to the New London area as she has also worked as the swim instructor and waterfront director for the Lake Sunapee Yacht Club. Baudis earned a Bachelor of Science in health and nursing science from the University of Delaware, and a Master of Health and Family Consumer Sciences K-12 from Cambridge College. She joins the Chargers program that placed third at the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championships on the women’s side and fourth on the men’s side.

Tim Viola was hired as head coach of the Colby-Sawyer women’s basketball program in May. Viola becomes the sixth head coach in program history and takes over a Chargers team that finished 9-17 (7-10 Great Northeast Athletic Conference) last season. Viola joins Colby-Sawyer following six years as an assistant coach at Assumption College where he helped the Greyhounds to an NE10 Regular Season Championship and an NCAA Elite Eight Appearance. Prior to his time at Assumption College, Viola spent one season at Newbury College and also one season at Fisher College. Viola earned a Bachelor of Arts in biblical studies and a minor in youth studies from Northpoint Bible College in 2011. He went on to earn his Master of Science in recreation and sport sciences with a concentration in coaching education from Ohio University in 2016.

Ryan Purrington, Track & Field and XC Ryan Purrington was hired as head coach of the cross country and track & field programs in March. Prior to his arrival in New London, Purrington served for one season as head cross country coach and assistant director of track & field at Virginia Wesleyan University. During his time at VWU, Purrington led both men’s and women’s cross country teams to their best showings at the NCAA Regional championships since 2016. Prior to VCU, Purrington climbed the ranks at his alma mater, Randolph College, first serving as an assistant coach before finishing his four-year tenure as the director of cross country and track & field. During his time at Randolph, he coached the Wildcats to a pair of conference championships. Purrington graduated from Randolph College in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in sports and exercise science. He earned his Master of Arts in Teaching in 2015. COURTESY PHOTOS

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Portfolio Publications, Exhibitions and Awards office of marketing & communications

Sally Williams Cook ’74, who graduated with an Associate of Arts in liberal arts before going on to earn a Bachelor of Arts at Skidmore College in 1976, recently completed a biography on American tennis legend Maureen “Little Mo” Connolly. The book, which details the life of Connolly, the first woman to complete tennis’s grand slam in a calendar year and the youngest women to win the U.S. Championships (now the U.S. Open), is slated to be released in fall 2024 by Arbitrary Press. Nichole Hondros ’18, a master’s student enrolled in Champlain College’s early childhood education program, recently traveled to Glasgow, Scotland, as one of four representatives from the United States chosen to present their research at the Triennial International Play Association’s annual conference. Hondros‘s research focused on how children’s resilience strengthened through play during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the weeks following the conference, she was notified that her research would be published in the International Play Associations’s PlayRights magazine. Colby-Sawyer Head Equestrian Coach Pam Payson was awarded the National Hunter Seat Coaches Sportsmanship Award this past spring at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championship Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky. Payson had just concluded her 20th season at Colby-Sawyer and first full year as the IHSA Zone 1 Region 2 Regional President. Colby-Sawyer Content Creator, Photographer and Videographer Christopher Peirce ’18 recently directed Tom Stoppard’s award-winning 1993 play, Arcadia, in Barnard, Vermont. The production, performed outdoors on a scenic farm, was sponsored in collabora-

tion with BarnArts, a nonprofit organization founded in 2012 to create more opportunities for the rural Barnard community to engage in arts. The cast, crew and production team were all members of the surrounding community, and included CSC alums Erin Bennett ’16 and Aaron Hodge ’14. Despite unpredictable weather, the team completed an outstanding five-show run. Arcadia explores the complex intellectual themes of time, science and historiography, while also remaining rooted in genuine human experiences and connections. Ethan Sabatella ’20 recently sold two short stories to independent pulp fantasy anthologies. “The Vengeance of the Silvern Hand,” published in Broadswords and Blasters’ February 2023 issue, Futures That Never Were, is a sword and planet story about space-faring Vikings, cyborg elves and a young warrior’s quest to avenge his father. “The Abartachs’ Hostage,” appearing in DMR Books’ Die by the Sword, vol. 1, May 2023, is a sword and sorcery adventure set in medieval Ireland, in which Eachann MacLeod and Connor Ua Sreng, Sabatella’s recurring heroic duo, team up with faerie maidens to fight dwarf vampires and their army of cheerful zombie warriors. Both anthologies are available for purchase on Amazon.

COURTESY PHOTOS TOP LEFT: COLBY-SAWYER EQUESTRIAN COACH PAM PAYSON. BOTTOM LEFT: COLBY-SAWYER CONTENT CREATOR, PHOTOGRAPHER AND VIDEOGRAPHER CHRISTOPHER PEIRCE ’18

ABOVE: ETHAN SABATELLA ’20 HAS A SHORT STORY PUBLISHED IN THE FUTURES THAT NEVER WERE.

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Indie groove rock band Of Conscious Mind, featuring Colby-Sawyer Manager of Graduate & Professional Studies Beth Svahn-Monroe, recently released their latest single, “Dirty Grindy,” recorded at The Underground – Recording Studio. The track is available on Bandcamp and can be found on the band’s website, www.ofconsciousmind.com James Thorpe ’06, who graduated with a degree in English and was a member of the men’s basketball team, recently published his first book, a nonfiction self-help release titled Do ... More Than You Think: The Subtle Art of Living on Your Own Terms. The book, available on Amazon, encourages readers to get away from anxious wondering, waiting and worrying and start taking action on what they are passionate about, which, Thorpe offers, will lead readers to a life built on their own terms.

Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences Hilary Williams was recently named as a member of the Class of 2024 of Leadership New Hampshire (LNH), a select cohort of informed, engaged leaders who will connect with each other over 10 months as they learn about complex issues facing the state and serve their communities through their own diverse roles. Williams is one of 37 individuals representing private, nonprofit and public sectors who were chosen through a highly competitive selection process to join this year’s class. They join more than 1,000 alumni from the program’s 32-year history in their commitment to increasing civic engagement and strengthening communities throughout New Hampshire.

Debra Taubert Morris ’79 is releasing a new book, Unbreakable Determination: Inspiring Women to Overcome Limiting Beliefs. In the book, Morris, who has spent three decades serving as chief financial officer and operative executive of national and global companies and on the boards of public and private companies, illustrates how women in the workplace can unlock their potential by tuning out irrelevant factors and focusing on what matters. At this writing, Unbreakable Determination was scheduled for a Sept. 2023 release. More information is available atdebbymorris.com. COURTESY PHOTOS LEFT TOP AND BOTTOM: DO ... MORE THAN YOU THINK AND ”UNBREAKABLE DETERMINATION” ARE NEW BOOKS WRITTEN BY COLBY-SAWYER ALUMNI. RIGHT: DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES HILARY WILLIAMS. BOTTOM: MANAGER OF GRADUATE & PROFESSIONAL STUDIES BETH SVAHN-MONROE PERFORMS WITH HER BAND.

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Class Notes 1939-1946 Send your news to the Alumni Office at 541 Main Street, New London, NH 03257 or alumni@colby-sawyer.edu.

1947

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Hopkins and his wife, Lyn, are now year-round residents and proud owners of Windy Top, the family’s home since the 1960s! Bobbie reminds us that the welcome mat is always out for CSC alums!

1949

Since her husband, Dave, passed away in 2005, Marion Nickerson Paulson has lived at The Village at Duxbury in Duxbury, MA, a retirement home of around 200-plus people. There are many interesting programs that keep her busy and she has made some nice friends. She has family nearby, including her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Marion often thinks of Colby Jr. College days and enjoys reminiscing.

ELIZABETH REYNOLDS MATTHEWS elimtth@aol.com

1948

Sebago Lake in ME. Ruth Gray

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Barbara “Bobbie” Hamilton Hopkins attended a Colby-Sawyer reception at the Riverside Yacht Club in Riverside, CT, in May. It was not only a beautiful evening overlooking Long Island Sound, but it was also wonderful to hear a college update from President Sue Stuebner, which made us stand up taller and be so proud of our alma mater! The latest survey of the class of 2022 showed that 100% of the graduates are fully employed or are in graduate school. Most impressive! Bobbie expected to be in New London this summer, as her son Jeff

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1950 CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1951 BARBARA EASTERBROOKS MAILEY smlbluebird@outlook.com

Barbara Easterbrooks Mailey had a wonderful 2-week visit in July with her family, including her great-grandchildren, at Pratt is still happily living at Hilltop Place in New London. She spends her time taking care of the COA library, doing jigsaw and crossword puzzles, playing bridge, watching movies and wondering how she got to be so old!

1952 CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1953 CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1954 JO-ANNE GREENE COBBAN jjcobban@ne.rr.com

1955 CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1956 CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1957 JILL BOOTH MACDONELL jillphotoart@yahoo.com

Janice Eaton Atkins and I, Jill Booth Macdonell, have been friends since Colby and continued our friendship rooming with other friends on Beacon St. in Boston. After a year, we drove to Wyoming where Jan’s future husband, Courteney, was a forest ranger and we worked summer jobs in the Grand Tetons. She married Courteney, who was from San

1951 Barbara Easterbrooks Mailey ’51 and her great-grandchildren.

Antonio, TX, and had 2 fabulous kids, Andrea and Parker. I visited several times and Jan took me to the famous Haven for Hope homeless shelter the first day they opened. I brought the idea to Sacramento, and it is in process. Court died this past spring and I’ll miss him when I visit again. Such a wonderful and wise man — and a real Texan! Garnett Seifert Shores writes, “Jan Park Been and I got together for lunch recently in Virginia Beach. Jan lost her husband, Ted, this past winter. It was fun to visit her and catch up on what we have been doing. David and I moved to Atlantic Shores Retirement Community 3 years ago and it has been a good move for us. I still volunteer at the Chrysler Art Museum in Norfolk, which I do enjoy. Last Oct. I was in Meredith, NH, to visit my sister for a few days. It was nice to be back in NH in the fall.” Carol Morgan Southall continues to live in her old farmhouse in Freeport, ME. She loved the spring issue of the Colby-Sawyer Magazine and was delighted to read about the many exciting programs. Carol continues to be in touch with her roommate Sue Hadler McCloskey. Last Aug., after 20 years as an archivist at Boston University, Diane Shugrue Gallagher retired at the age of 84. “’Bout time,” she says! Since then, Diane has become very active volunteering for the Peace Corps and for candidates running for political office. She spends her time writing postcards and making telephone calls to voters. Her favorite story is when she called Georgia voters and in her best southern accent told them, “Y’all go

and vote for that nice minister man. He will get the job done!” Raphael Warnock is now a U.S. Senator. “Mission accomplished,” exclaims Diane. I, Jill Booth Macdonell, am gathering information for a book on older age (not old age which has a negative bias sometimes) including body, mind and spirit. Call me or write to me to share your experiences.

1958

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Editor’s Note: Many thanks to Cindy Grindrod van der Wyk for her years of service as the 1958 class correspondent. How can it be 65 years ago that Jill Booth McDonnell ’57 MT (my roommate) and I, Cindy Grindrod van der Wyk, took on the job of class secretary of our respective classes? Little did we know we would set a record 65 years later (Dibbie Spurr Appleton filled in for me a few times)! Jill and I are friends forever. We were United Airlines stewardesses together in San Francisco. I was her matron of honor and we have seen each other regularly through the years. Life has been good for us. I retired 8 years ago after working for 65 years and now live with my youngest daughter and sonin-law in Denver, CO. I play bridge at the senior center and continue my 15-year relationship with a wonderful man. I am signing off as class secretary. It’s been fun! Hope someone else will take over and keep our class notes going! Dibbie Spurr Appleton visited Colby-Sawyer this summer, accompanying one of her grandsons, who is college shopping. They were

there on a lovely sunny day and he loved the school. Dibbie said, “My grandson had a great tour with his mom and stepdad, but I pooped out on the tour! The tour guide walked too fast for my current pace, so I had a lovely time sitting in a chair out on the lawn in front of Burpee. You should see the campus now. Doubled in size from when we were there. Lovely new buildings, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool. There are so many nice additions and no more 3-mile limit to have a beer!” Dibbie is battling kidney disease, so that is a bit frightening. She says in her heart she is still 25, but pieces and parts are wearing out! Dibbie sends her love to all our classmates. Meredith Chase Boren says no news is good news. She loved hearing from Pat Cusumano Baltes not long ago. Meredith has been trying to reach Monica Wetterberg Gustafsson, to no avail. She sends her best to all 1958 classmates! Judy Cameron Barwood notes that this is a big reunion for us at CSC and she hopes that many will attend. She is always interested in your “happenings” on Facebook! Judy had a nice weekend visit with her CJC roommate Sandy Hopkins Dings in Hingham, MA, and another classmate, Helen Storey Barrow, in Duxbury, MA. Sandy lives primarily in Naples, FL, but has a condo in Hingham where she spends the summers. Her 3 children live in the Boston area, and she has 7 grandsons. Helen has lived in Duxbury for many years. Her husband, Wylie, has moved into a memory care facility and they have sold their house, with Helen moving

into a beautiful assisted-living facility, The Village in Duxbury. Two of their children live nearby with her older son, Michael, living in CO. Son Jeff is a veterinarian and Lynda is a teacher.

1959

MARSHA HALPIN JOHNSON marnamhj@gmail.com

This fall will mark 10 years since Barbara “Bobbi” Shepard McCoy lost her husband, but she tries to keep busy. She is very involved with her church and looked forward to starting choir after having the summer off. Over the summer Bobbi enjoyed a trip to PA to visit her son Todd and his family. Her grandson Connor is starting his sophomore year at Kutztown University and granddaughter Tori will be a senior in high school. Bobbi’s son Scott lives in Ankeny, IA, so she sees him and his family more often. Scott’s son Riley is studying for his doctorate in physical therapy and his daughter Carly has graduated with an art degree from Grand View University in Des Moines. Bobbi is very proud of all her grandkids! She said it was a very hot summer in East Moline, IL, so she was looking forward to fall, which is her favorite time of year. Sally Trussell White shares that her late daughter Susan Blair ’88 was remembered at the 9/11 commemoration ceremony at the Massachusetts State House on Sept. 11. Susan tragically lost her life during the 9/11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. Sally and her daughter Leslie Blair ’83 established the Susan L. Blair Memorial Scholarship at Colby-Sawyer College. Lauren Wilkinson ’23, the 2023

recipient of the scholarship, joined Leslie and some of Susan’s Colby-Sawyer friends at the commemoration ceremony. Sally encourages anyone who wants to make a donation to Susan’s scholarship to contact the Alumni Office at 603.526.3426.

1960

PATTY CANBY CALHOUN pccolhoun@gmail.com

I, Patty Canby Colhoun, have reached out randomly to members of our class. Debbie Stevenson McGuidwin writes from Gainesville, GA, that she is very fortunate to have a variety of life experiences, but has nothing to share at this time. Diana Davis Kingman writes from Islesboro, ME, where she and her husband enjoyed their summer. Di said the 70s were a “piece of cake” but that the 80s have “knocked me for a loop!” Her children and grandchildren live far away, so she appreciates WhatsApp and FaceTime. Di keeps in touch with Linda Blodgett Osborne and Linda Read Stewart. Marcia “Goodie” Goodale MacDonald and her late husband, Jerry, built a home in Saratoga Springs, NY, and life there is a full-time job. It is a very philanthropic community. Marcia volunteers at the senior center, the hospital and for Skidmore Galas. Back in 2003, she and Jerry bought a condo on the beach at Sanibel Island, FL, and got hit by Hurricane Ian! Marcia stopped at 8 different places before returning to her condo area. Her house on the Cape is shared with family and rentals. Since Jerry died in 2016, Marcia does not return to the Cape often. Every Oct.

summer | fall 2023 31

Marcia goes to Italy, as her daughter Ashley Turner owns L’Esperta and designs fabulous trips to Italy. She plays golf and walks with her 7-year-old golden doodle, Darby. She has plenty of room for visitors in Saratoga! Sharley Janes Bryce still enjoys Tucson in the winter and Napa in the summer, where she has a 7-year-old granddaughter. Sharley and her husband moved from Portland, OR, after 51 years to be closer to family. Her granddaughter Maren, aged 24, does fundraising work at Boston University Medical School, and Charlie, 22, graduated from Miami of Ohio and will work with Stryker in Kalamazoo, MI. Sharley and her husband walk 2-3 miles daily and play golf. She enjoys Mahjong and loves to write essays and poems; quite a few have been published. Susie Frank Hilton still lives in Naples, FL, with her husband, Dick. Sue had a hip replacement in July, so she has not played golf since Feb. She wants to get back to the game in the fall. She is very active in the Cypress Woods Golf and Country Club ladies league as a board member and on 2 major league committees: member/guest tournament and their cancer fundraiser in the spring of 2024. Susie and Dick are planning a paradores and pousadas trip across Spain and Portugal for 17 days. Susie plays Mahjong 3 days a week and finds it challenging and enjoys the camaraderie. Susie still sings in her church choir, works as the choir communications director and is a member of the worship, music and liturgical arts committee and the membership and involvement

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committees. How are there enough hours in her days? Ann Parsons Klump took a 7-day cruise to visit her daughter in England by way of Iceland. She stayed with her for a week and then flew back to Boston. Ann’s oldest grandson and his wife had their 1st child, which is Ann’s 1st great-granddaughter! Her younger grandson will become an Eagle Scout in Sept. Judy Provandie Johnson wrote from Belgrade, ME, that she still subs at the Belgrade Central School where she had been involved for 40 years! She works anytime they call. Judy is the co-president of the Belgrade Public Library and has been involved for 18 years. She is in a book group with other Belgrade teachers and plays bridge. Judy’s son Dean is the head men’s basketball coach, which plays in the CACC Division 2 and went to the NCAA Division 2 Eastern Regionals. Dean was elected men’s basketball coach of the year! He is also the associate athletic director at Caldwell University in Caldwell, NJ. Judy’s daughter Cindy is account specialist in the Skowhegan School District and her husband, Richard McCarthy, has been inducted as the Fire Marshall for the State of ME. Her grandson Kevin is a cross-fit coach and plays semipro soccer in Boston, grandson Ryan is working construction in MT, and her granddaughter Katelyn does private appointments for facials in NJ. My roommate, Gale Hartung Baldwin, is living in an assisted living community in Annapolis, MD, so she is near her daughter Emilie and her grandsons. I, Patty, have finished a 4-year term as senior warden for St.

Columba’s Episcopal Church in Boothbay Harbor, ME. It was very challenging, as our priest resigned with no notice. I met many interesting people while searching for a new priest. I will finish my term as chairlady of the St. Andrews Village Association, which involves 25 cottages working with Lincoln Health. I am the secretary for the Harbor Theater, a nonprofit movie theater in Boothbay Harbor. The theater seats 150 and is open daily during the summer and from Wednesday through Sunday in the off-season. I am still hooking rugs, gardening and enjoying 3 walks a day with my Standard Poodle, Daphne. I live across from a land trust property with many trails in the woods. My daughter, Ann, from Paris, France, came for 2 weeks in Aug. I visit her in Paris for 2 weeks at Christmas. My son, CB, and his wife, Kendra, are coming in late Sept. My next-door neighbor and I took a Viking Riverboat Cruise from Lyon to Provence and will be taking another from Amsterdam to Basel in Sept. I want to thank those who responded to my random emails for information. I will be reaching out to more of you next time.

1961

LYNNE GOODWIN HORNE joly76@aol.com

1962

TILDA HUNTING tildah@gmail.com

1963

DONNA DEDERICK WARD meadowoodfarm@comcast.net

Once again, I did not hear from many classmates. Thanks to those who did respond. It ap-

pears you are all doing very well. For me, this year has been our worst. Last May (2022) my husband, Cliff, became 100% disabled with a spinal cord injury. As a Vietnam vet, his injury is service related, so now he is in the best and largest VA hospital facility (Tampa, FL) in the country. I am staying in Apollo Beach, a lovely spot near Tampa. With acute physical therapy and rehabilitation, I will soon take Cliff to in-home care at our place on Tampa Bay. Before May 2022, we had everything going for us; life was good. Then we had to sell our beautiful Vermont farm to seek the best medical therapy, neurological expertise and the friendship of many vets. We are so grateful to the VA for their generosity and support. Sandy Newbert Fitts and Jeff are lucky to have their health and each other. As snowbirds, they split the year between Wolfeboro, NH, and Sarasota, FL. It has been many years since Linda Fehlinger Hoey has seen any classmates, but she thinks of us often. She and her husband, Peter, are doing very well. They have been on Nantucket since 1990 and have lived there year-round since 2001. But it’s time to make a move and head to the Santa Cruz area of CA to be close to family. They hope to move in the fall so they have one more summer on Nantucket, as it’s a very hard place to leave. They have a daughter with a family in VA and their son and his family in CA. Linda reminded me as a caregiver to take care of myself. Thanks Linda, I hope to be able to do so. Karen Archambault Hubbard and her husband, Skip, have

spent the past year in Chester, CT, with trips to San Francisco and Chicago to visit family. Their grandchildren are in prep school, graduating and going to college. They are very proud of them for doing so well. Skip celebrated his 80th birthday in San Francisco, attending a baseball game and visiting the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame. It was a perfect way to celebrate his lifetime love for America’s favorite pastime. Planning on wintering in Marco Island, FL, they are thankful for good health and family. Patty Thomson Russell says that she is thinking of Cliff and me in our health struggles.

1964

KATHY CONATHAN REARDON kathyr1230@aol.com

Ann Franklin Ewig had a great visit with Alyce Cushing Stick and Howard in Conway, NH. She has also spoken with Linda Tilton Coker in SC. Linda is doing well. The Ewigs love being in ME full time, quite a change from NJ. Their youngest daughter is principal of the high school in Topsfield, MA. Ann says it is very exciting, but scary with the way education is right now. The Ewigs 2 oldest grandsons are living and working in NYC. Their 2 granddaughters will begin their 2nd year at their colleges, one in TX and one in DE. One granddaughter started college in Aug. and will play ice hockey. Their youngest grandson is busy looking at colleges and working on applications. The youngest granddaughter will be a junior in high school and worked as a lifeguard this summer. Pam Materne Shirley still loves summers on Lake Mich-

igan. They swim almost every morning, but in their pool not the lake. They find the lake too cold most of the time and the pool is 84 degrees! The Shirleys enjoy their grandchildren, who are growing up so quickly. William, Bobby’s son, just turned 21 as of this writing and they were to host a birthday dinner for him. The summer included a trip to Brooklyn to stay with Sarah and a visit with Pam’s sisters, taking 14-year-old Duncan, Sarah’s youngest, to Quebec City for 5 days, back to NYC to attend the US Open, then back to Wilmette. They will remain there until Nov., then to Maui until May. That has been their life for 25 now. Jack and I, Kathy Conathan Reardon, ran into Bonnie Place Noonan this winter at the Winsor House in Duxbury, MA. They seated her next to us and I recognized her immediately. She also lives in Duxbury, and we hope to get together. I talk to Betsy Myers Hunnewell every now and then. We will organize a lunch once all my health problems give me a break.

1965

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Joan Rockwell and her husband, Bill Austin, have retired from their formal careers: Joan as a landscape architect and Bill as an architect. They have yet to formally become Mainers, but have lived in beautiful Cushing, ME, for the past 3 years. An article about the home they built, Bird Point, was featured in Maine Home + Design in March 2021. Read about it at https://mainehomedesign.com/features/artful-point/. Joan says, “Transi-

tioning from a 5-plus day work week to every day is a Saturday, has been a slow, steady and enjoyable journey. We are grateful for our good health, family and friends.”

1966

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1967

SIS HAGEN KINNEY kinivan06@gmail.com

It saddens me that I don’t have much to relate this time for the Colby Junior College Class of 1967. I only heard from Francie King, who faithfully sent news of what is going on in her life. She continues as a book editor and personal biographer through her History Keep company and, not surprisingly, finds that 24 hours in the day is just not enough time. She has also been working with a very committed group of journalists and townspeople to start a nonprofit weekly newspaper in her hometown of Marblehead, MA, after the demise of their longtime weekly newspaper. They are doing well with this project after its 1st anniversary in June. Their efforts have been well received in town and they are constantly fundraising. They do not want their

community news source to die out as more than 2,500 have done throughout the country in the last few years. Francie’s B&B keeps her going nonstop. After Halloween they have a little respite, but people seem to be out and about again post-COVID. Francie is “ever grateful to live in New England, where the air is still relatively clear, the water is good and fire hasn’t ravaged the land.” Not having heard from anyone else, I guess I, Sis Hagen Kinney, should report that all is well— considering our ages—here in the western NC mountains. The fires that are ravaging Canada continue to cause our skies to be hazy—some days worse than others—but we are enmeshed in our summer activities that include walking the dog, golf, church and related activities, old car shows and just enjoying life to the greatest degree we can. I continue to be the editor of our community monthly paper, as well as writer of a weekly update on activities here in Linville Land Harbor. Hubby Bob and I enjoy going to Banner Elk, the next town over, to attend weekly concerts presented through the coordination of Lees-McRae College, as well as

1967 Former roommates Elise Phillips Watts ’67 (l) and Veda Kaufman Levin ’67 (r).

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smaller, weekly music at Land Harbor’s snack bar and grill on Friday evenings. We hope to continue to reap the pleasures of our garden and the continued feathering of our nest here in Land Harbor, as well as enjoy the company of some of our grown children and grands. We also enjoy going back to our hometown of Newport News, VA, to visit not only our daughter and her family, but friends from our time there too many years ago. Classmates would enjoy hearing updates from more of you. Please make note of my email address above and send me updates whenever! Hope you are all doing well, and I sincerely hope to hear from more of you next time!

1968

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Marie Birdsall Chaffee and her husband, Tom, live in MA with their 9 dogs and 3 cats. After working many years as an instructional designer and technical writer, Marie retired in 2016 and now walks dogs professionally and volunteers for a dog rescue facility.

1969

DEBI ADAMS JOHNSTON debiajohnston@gmail.com

Anne Laverack Gallivan is happy to be in Center Sandwich, NH. She gave up her barista/server gig at the Foothills Café, letting younger folks have their turn. She wrote me just after finishing her 1st day of league golf and said it felt good to get out there. It was her retreat when her middle son’s family of 4 spent 7 weeks with her this past summer. She is also happily involved

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on the board of her Children’s Center (preschool and other childcare) as well as other committees. The whole family (all 3 sons and their peeps) spent time on Squam Lake for a week before they retreated to her village home. Lots of swimming, hiking and farmers’ market bounty for all. Joan Przbyla Wilson and her Best Hall Book Group is still going strong with monthly Zoom sessions. Allison “Sandy” Whitmore, Madelyn “Leli” Carey Simpson, Martha Packard Ross, Paula Caldarone Morris and Joan began this group during the pandemic. She still can’t believe it’s been almost 3 years. They all have different points of view on what they like to read, so the biggest part of the discussion is usually what to read next! Ruth Rhodes Nahm sent news summing up the years since graduating from CJC. She transferred to Drew University in NJ where she met her future husband, Eric. They married in 1971. Ruth worked various jobs for 4 years until they welcomed Kristin Heidi in 1975, Lindsay Ann in 1978 and Erica Elizabeth in 1983. She was an at-home mom for 20 years with various parttime jobs that allowed her to be home when the girls were. In 1995, when the family was facing 2 college tuitions, Ruth went to work as activity director at a local continuing care retirement community. After 44 years of marriage, Eric died in 2015 of bile duct cancer. Ruth retired shortly after that and now spends time with family, church and the local YMCA. All 3 daughters married wonderful husbands and Ruth has 2 granddaugh-

ters and a grandson. She currently learning Portuguese in advance of a trip with one daughter’s family to Brazil to spend time with her in-laws on their family farm. Ruth currently lives in Bedminster, NJ, with her Havanese dog, Sami. Joannie Steward Joffres is still spending some of the year in the southwest of France, but always manages a few weeks in the summer at Bow Lake. She often walks by my family’s old place, Camp Idlepines for Girls, wishing it was still a summer camp. I do, too, Joannie. We have certainly seen a lot of changes in the years we have known each other. Joannie summed it up for all of us, “Seventy years old this year! Feeling good and happy to get this far.” If you enjoyed reading about your friends, please answer the next call for news of you and your family. I cannot make this stuff up! We would love to hear your story!

1970

GAIL REMICK HOAGE gail@michaelsschool.com

1971

ELLIE GOODWIN COCHRAN elliegc51@gmail.com

I, Ellie Goodwin Cochran, guess everyone was having a busy spring and summer as I didn’t hear from anyone. David and I celebrated our 50th anniversary in June with a cruise to AK. It was magnificent! We returned to a restful summer at Lake Winnipesaukee with great family and friend visits. We are looking forward to a river cruise in the fall and more Gram and Papa time. Hope all is well and look forward to next time.

1972

LINDA “KELLY” GRAVES dikeroka@aol.com

Greetings! I regret to report that this column is going to be short, as none of you sent any news for me to report. I miss hearing from you! I am currently writing from our vacation spot in NH. Coming up here in the summer is a special time, as I love Lake Winnipesaukee, but it also gives me a chance to visit with my freshman year roommate and best of friends since, Nancy Bianchi Miller. While both of us lead busy lives, we have managed to have several lunches and a dinner together while I am here. Lucy Main is visiting the

1971 Ellie Goodwin Cochran ’71 and her husband, David, in Vancouver, Canada.

lake, too but we, unfortunately, were not able to connect schedules to meet. Lucy lives half the year in St. Petersburg, FL, the other half in Malone, NY. I saw Lydia Biddle Thomas in May and had a chance to catch up briefly. Lydia has lived in NYC since she left Colby 51 years ago. She leads a busy life and enjoys having Broadway just “down the street.” Lydia spends the month of August in Jamestown, RI, where her family has vacationed for years. Deborah Ross Chambliss lives in Baltimore and winters on Sanibel Island, FL. Unfortunately, the hurricane that decimated Sanibel last fall damaged her condo, but it is standing and repairable. Much of her time this past year has been spent working with insurance companies to get the repairs accomplished. When not working on Sanibel issues, she has been enjoying playing golf and visiting friends in Nantucket this summer. Here’s hoping, Debbie, that your home is back to its beautiful condition very soon. So, that’s it friends! Hope this column finds you all well and having a good fall. Remember to send your news to Colby-Sawyer or to me so I can share it!

1973

new things to do. Christine’s French mom passed away at almost 101, so condolences to the family. Christine still writes her mom’s childhood friend in Burgundy and keeps up with her French so as not to lose it. As a hobby, with the help of a dobsonian and refractor telescope, Christine loves to look up to the clear night skies and see what’s happening. Cathy Moore Pomeroy and husband, Ted, have 2 grandchildren, ages 2 ½ and 5 months, living in Washington, DC. They love to visit. Cathy is still involved with the SCFD in Denver, which is the scientific, cultural, financial district. She reads grant proposals and helps distribute funds to seven counties around the Denver metro area. She has also joined the board of Florence Crittenton. Jane Haslun Schwab has a new grandbaby, born in Feb. Now she has 6: 3 in Warwick, RI, and 3 in San Diego. Her entire family gathered on beautiful Block Island for a week in July, along with Nancy Haslun Wall’s 2 daughters and her 5 grandchildren. Jane golfs when she can and looks forward to resuming pickleball after having a knee replacement. My (Nancy Messing) Caroline lives in San Francisco, and my

Peter lives in Boston, and they both came for my 70th birthday festivities in mid-Sept. It was a lovely few days with them. I also hosted my family reunion earlier in Sept., which was fun and noisy (I am one of 6 kids). I am grateful for so many things at this point in my life. Hope you are all well. Please stay in touch.

1974 SUSAN BROWN WARNER sbw426@outlook.com

1975

JILL MCLAUGHLIN GODFREY jillgodfrey25@gmail.com

So wonderful to hear from some new and former writers! My apologies for not sending in the notes for the last alumni magazine. Let us try this again! Shout out to Marlene Mustard Graf, who sent me the following note, which was lost in my spam in 2021! She wrote, “I sold my property in Georges Mills, NH, so now live full time in AZ. My daughter, Virginia Osborne Ricker ’89 married Dwayne Sampson at their home in Palm City, FL. Her 31-year-old son, Marcus Ricker, and I gave her away. A lovely intimate affair with a few good friends and close family.” Janet Lochhead Sullivan has

NANCY MESSING nrmessing@gmail.com

Hi everybody. Hope you all had a nice summer. Christine Gram Croarkin and her husband, Rick, have been on daycare duty for their grandson the last 4 years while their son and daughter-in-law were working. Now mom is at home with the now almost 4-year-old, so Christine and Rick are finding

1975 Jill McLaughlin Godfrey ’75, Marsha Meyer Hall ’75 and Nancy McIntire Zemlin ’75 spent a fun, long weekend in Key West. Sandy Comstock ’75 and James Maxner were slated to join the group, but a broken leg for James kept them in Portland, Maine. In the spirit of friendship, the group photoshopped Sandy and James into their photo!

been keeping very busy of late and was recently elected to a 2-year term as president of the Saint Mary’s Garden Club in Saint Mary’s, GA. Janet and several others represented the club at the State of Georgia Garden Club Convention at Stone Mountain in April, where they won 1st place for their Arbor Day Celebration and 2nd place for Gardens for the Challenged in the State. The club of over 50 members is active in projects and programs to educate members and the public, to encourage them in trying new ideas for their own homes and garden and to improve educate and beautify the community and conserve natural areas. Throughout the year, the club awards many businesses that have improved their landscape through the use of plantings. They also work to preserve the beautiful azalea bushes that border Orange Hall, a historic building in Saint Mary’s. The club works in several gardens at various historic community churches and have begun to recreate gardens in the National Seashore Park on Cumberland Island that were prevalent during the time of the Carnegies. They celebrate Arbor Day in Feb. and organize a celebration, along with the Tree Board, planting a number of trees in Saint Mary’s. Janet writes a monthly newsletter about gardening for the subdivision in which she lives and she serves on the advisory board responsible for common area landscape and lakes within their community. Janet writes, “I am busier than when I was working! I look forward to hearing about other graduates from my class!” Anne Winton

summer | fall 2023 35

1975 Nancy McIntire Zemlin ’75 and her family.

Black ’73, ’75 and Rick and celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary in June with a trip to Bermuda. Anne said, “It’s really amazing to think that we have been married for so many decades and started dating just before our senior year of high school!” The Blacks’ 4 grandsons continue to provide them with lots of laughs and much joy! They are grateful that their children, Rod and Windy, along with her spouse, Dustin, remain nearby. Anne looks forward to attending Reunion this fall with several of her classmates. She says, “We have a core group from our freshman days in Burpee’s Mole Hole who have remained connected, along with a Best girl who spent a good bit of time in the basement with us!” Sandy Comstock’s daughter Hallie is approaching her 3rd year of her doctorate in marine science at the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg and is thriving. Sandy is actively involved in outreach organizations focused on tracking and mitigating climate change. Marsha Meyer Hall is enjoying retirement and continues to love Charlevoix, MI, with family and friends. She and Steve have 2 granddaughters in CA and 2 granddaughters in MI. Nancy McIntyre Zemlin reports both sons are married, and she and Ray are traveling

colby sawyer magazine

and loving retirement.

1976

JANET SPURR spurr1@msn.com

Ann Erickson Shaw lives in Acton, MA, and is a partner with 4 other women at Keller Williams Realty in Concord, MA. Her sons Evan Shaw ’11 and David are great. David and his wife, Jill, are expecting their 1st child in Oct., Ann’s 1st grandchild! Ann keeps busy with renovating her 200-year-old home, gardening and painting when she has time. She still skis in the winter, mostly at Sugarbush in VT, and plays golf in the summer with her partner, Jim. Ann sees Priscilla Walker Dallmus and Lynn Specker Skinner on occasion, as they live nearby. She’s has also enjoyed keeping in touch with Dawna Cobb. Ann sees the old Burpee gang at least 2 times a year, including Maura Curry ’77, Suzanne Burchfield ’77, Kathy Neilson Detore ’77, Beth Jones Westra ’77, Emily Leclair ’77, Linda White Gemmer and Nancy Hill Smith. Sadly, we lost Louise “Lucy” Martin 2 years ago due to a long illness. This year the group met in Crested Butte, CO, at Emmy’s house in Aug. Other group trips have included Nantucket, FL, MA, CT, Martha’s Vineyard, Peaks Island and Chebeague Island in ME, and they did make a nice trip to New London for one of the reunions one year!

Ann writes, “It would be fun to all go back in 2026 for our 50th Reunion. I am definitely going to that! I love our CSC memories and cherish the friendships we made.” Lesley Shanahan Odland enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing lots of tennis, traveling and volunteering at The Nativity School and Seattle Art Museum. In July, Dick Baynes’ family hosted a surprise party for his 75th birthday. Friends came out of the woodwork to celebrate, along with his 3 children and 4 grandsons. Dick’s eldest son even arranged for a phone call from a high school friend from MN. Dick reports he’s been busier than ever since retiring 2 years ago. He writes, “The honey-do list that I accumulated over the last 20 years has risen it’s ugly head!” Dick still enjoys photography and woodworking. Last July, Dick’s wife Susan’s youngest son and his wife had a son over 3 months premature. Fortunately, as he approaches his 1st birthday, he is doing extremely well. Dick has plans to head to England in the fall with his sister Anne Baynes Hall ’67 to visit their younger sister Janet Baynes Benzie ’71. The trip is for an in-person family celebration for Janet’s daughter and her husband, who were

married via a Zoom ceremony during Covid, while she was also dealing with breast cancer and associated treatments. Barbara Carroll was named Silverado Family Memory Care Community Ambassador of the Year in June. She was recognized for her exceptional ability to guide families with compassion during the emotionally demanding journey of navigating memory care. I, Janet Spurr, am pleased to share that finally after many changes in my accessory business, my website HopeandWords.com is up-todate. Please take a look and feel free to share the link with your friends.

1977

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

See 1979 column.

1978

JODY HAMBLEY COOPERRUBIN jcooper323@gmail.com

1979

DEBRA BRAY MITCHELL –dbraymitch@gmail.com

Elisabeth “Lisa” Moles Sykes retired at the end of Jan. 2023 after a nearly 40-year career in the hospitality industry, planning meetings for various medical and legal associations. Throughout her

1979 Burpee gals (l to r) Lisa Hammond Carvalho ’79, Susan Chapman Warren ’79, Caren Demoulas Pasquale ’79, Ellen Fitzpatrick Criscione ’79 and Diane Remondi De Falco ’79 met at the Providence Flower Show in April.

1985 Jen Norton Henningsen ’85 was in London for the Coronation of King Charles III.

1985 Jen Ellis ’85 (2nd from left) traveled to Montana with friends in July.

1985 Jane Forrestal ’85 working on the set of “Confess, Fletch” in Boston.

1985 Peg Rogers Andrews ’85 and her partner, Ken Limburg, at Col de La Madeleine.

career, she enjoyed traveling the US and Europe, providing educational and networking environments for members to learn and connect to further their careers. She also had the pleasure of meeting many extraordinary people through the years, which enabled her to grow and experience things to expand her horizons. Now Lisa looks forward to returning to the Lake Sunapee area with her husband of 44 years, Peter. Amazing update, Lisa. I look forward to trying to connect locally in NH. Emily Wagner ’77 reports, “I was a vendor at a local antique mall for 8 years until they closed, so now I am keeping busy as a ‘furniture flipper’ out of my house in Northern KY.” Emily’s daughter Liza lives in eastern PA and works as the assistant treasurer for the University of PA, her alma mater. She and her husband have 3 daughters, all under the age of 3, including a set of twins. Emily’s son Philip is a staff sergeant in the USAF, currently stationed at Ramstein AFB in Germany. Three Under 3 sounds like a potential Netflix series, Emily! Susan Sommer Ballou ’77 has been retired for 5 years from her position as an assistant principal. She keeps busy with 3 granddaughters, ages 10, 8 and 3, who live about 4 miles away. Susan’s daughter and son-in-law are also CSC

alums from the class of 2007. Susan and her husband, Matt, live in Lyndeborough, NH — small-town living. They adventure through the country in their motorhome as much as they can. They enjoy heading south for the end of winter each year and spend their summers in ME and New England. They are planning a trip west very soon. Susan, if your travels (or anyone else’s) take you near Park City in the winter or New London May-Oct., please give me a shout. We’d love to have visitors. Wendi Braun’s son graduated from UMASS Medical School with his Ph.D. in biosciences and was married over the summer. Wendi is in her 5th year at Baystate Health in Springfield and was recently promoted to senior director of organizational development. She spends as much time as possible on the Cape during the summer. Received a note from Jennifer Taylor Rossel ’77, an occupational therapist living in Trumbull, CT. If you’d like to connect with Jen, drop me a line. I’m really hoping that several of you will be motivated to help with these class notes It would be even more fun to do it as a team!

hopefully good news. I’m sure everyone is busy with life, family and where your education from Colby-Sawyer has taken you. The friendships, life and study skills have been a strong foundation that I lean on still today. Working in the medical field, transitioning into raising a family, starting a business have all been attributed to my time at CSC. I hope my classmates reach out with your stories, challenges, books and life lessons. Please share a quick note for the next issue. Thank you and take care!

1984

1980

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

NATALIE “LEE” HARTWELL THRASHER lifegrd121@aol.com

Hello, classmates. No news is

1981

PAMELA AIGELTINGER LYONS pamalyons@verizon.net

Marlene Haglund Hatch has retired after working in healthcare administration for 43 years. She earned her master’s degree in healthcare administration some years ago at Valparaiso University. She’s ready now to challenge herself with travel! She’s enjoyed catching up with old friends from CSC. Marlene’s daughter Alexandra is a CPA in Boston, working for one of the top accounting firms in the country. Marlene would love to hear from you!

1982 1983

GAIL SMART SCIBELLI gail@famapr.com

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1985

JEN ELLIS jenpeter1@comcast.net

Jane Forrestal, who resides in the stunningly picturesque Williamstown, MA, continues to work writing fiction and nonfiction and acting for TV and film. She hopes for the very best outcomes in the current WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Jane moved back to her former home region of the Northern Berkshires in western MA in June 2020 to help establish a new music academy, the Berkshires’ Academy for Advanced Musical Studies, BAAMS, a nonprofit cultural and music-education organization. She serves as the organization’s director of development & communications. In its 4th year of operation, and based in the Western Gateway Urban Heritage State Park in North Adams, MA, BAAMS serves students from age 5 to 18 with after-school and weekend music instruction and an annual summer jazz band day camp. The world-class faculty have performed, toured and recorded with the likes of Stan Getz, the Brecker Brothers, Smokey Robinson, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis, the Allman Brothers Band, Prince, the Saturday Night Live band

summer | fall 2023 37

1987

KYM PRINTON FISCHER mkjfischer@yahoo.com

1988

MELISSA CLEMONS RUSSELL melissarussell6699@outlook.com

1985 Doris “DeeDee” Dean Rich ’85 (r) and Dana Eliopoulis Regan ’85 (l) have been besties for 42 years!

and countless others. Jane is the grandmother of 4 beautiful, brilliant, healthy grandchildren: Charlotte, 10; Jacob, 7; Lincoln, 5; and Olivia, 2. She was lucky to work on the same shows as both of her granddaughters, and her youngest, Olivia, was cast as Baby Nadia in season 2 of the Netflix series Russian Doll. Jane says, “Side joke to my voice professor, Dr. Donald Cox: Guess I should’ve been a theater major after all?!” Jen Norton Henningsen is retired and living in the Rogue Valley in OR. She’s been married 30 years and enjoys time with her 2 Irish Wolfhounds and 2 Great Pyrenees. Doris “DeeDee” Dean Rich moved to York, ME, in Dec. 2022, but somehow finds herself in Newburyport, MA, regularly visiting her bestie of 42 years, Dana Eliopoulis Regan.

1986 CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

colby sawyer magazine

Cathy Hood-Pittenger and her husband, Gary, welcomed their 1st grandchild on June 8, 2023. Elyse Catherine was born to their daughter and son-in-law, who reside in NC. Cathy and Gary became empty nesters in 2020 and moved to eastern TN, where they enjoy all that the Great Smoky Mountains have to offer. They recently built a tiny cabin out of reclaimed barn wood, which they offer as an Airbnb.

1989

CAROLYN CHERUBINO MCGRAW mcgraw.carolyn@gmail.com

Kathy Tuck Higgins and her husband, Jon, live in Cumberland Center, ME. They have 3 daughters: Piper (13) and twins Greta and Lily (10). Kathy has been working at L.L. Bean since 1993, currently in the internet services department. Kathy would love to hear from Kathy White and Jo Calisto. She hopes her 1989 classmates are all doing well.

1990

eled to TX last June to visit Laura Hoefer Kochan ’92 for her daughter’s (Wendy’s goddaughter) wedding. Wendy has been living on Cape Ann in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, for the past 24 years and would love to connect with anyone in the area.

1991

GRETCHEN GARCEAU-KRAGH redsoxfan78210@yahoo.com

1992

BETH BRYANT CAMP ecamp@colby-sawyer.edu jENN BARRETT SAWYER jjmasawyer@comcast.net

1993

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1994

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1994 Jeremiah Boobar ’98 with his wife, Rachelle, and their son Alpine in Australia.

1995

ALLISON LATHAM HOSGOOD ahosgood13@gmail.com

Kerrigan Stone Marcum lives in Plymouth, MA, with her husband and 8-year-old daughter. She is an English language teacher and is working towards becoming an education coach. Mike Rosmus and Theresa McLoughlin Rosmus are still living in Portland, ME, and celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary last Oct. While they didn’t do much on the day itself, the family had taken an 8-day trip to Ireland a few months prior. They visited Dublin, Gallway, Kildare, Killbegan and Sligo, the town that Theresa’s grandparents were born and raised in. They also celebrated their daughter’s graduation from Endicott College last year and their son’s graduation from Portland High School this year. He’ll be heading to UMaine Orono this fall. Professionally, Mike is the creative marketing manager at the Maine Credit Union League and its credit union service center, Synergent. His career there has spanned 25 years and is still going strong. He earned a credit union marketing executive certification last Oct. He’s also won 2 CUNA Marketing &

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Wendy Johnstone Sullivan’s daughter Emalia began her sophomore year at CSC this fall. Wendy enjoyed spending time on campus last year to be part of Emalia’s first year. “So many great changes, but it still feels like home,” she says. Wendy has been the director of a preschool in her town for the past 16 years. She trav-

1995 Allison Latham Hosgood ’95 and Derek Hosgood ’95 with their daughters Hope and Page.

1995 Mike Rosmus ’95 and Theresa McLoughlin Rosmus ’95 with their kids Logan and Kit.

Business Development Council’s Best Diamond Awards and a Maine Public Relations Council Golden Arrow Award this year. Theresa is celebrating her 20th year at Capozza Floor Covering Center as their marketing and public relations manager. She spends a lot of time with a variety of fundraising opportunities for various charities in the Portland area. Theresa is on the Board of Directors for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program, where she has worked tirelessly on events such as the Strikeout Cancer in Kids initiative with the Portland Sea Dogs. Mike

and Theresa will soon be in the empty-nester chapter of life and are looking forward to getting out more, traveling, reconnecting with friends and enjoying time together with whatever adventures they stumble across. After some trying times in Oct. 2022, Stefan Schwartz landed a great job in Feb. and works from home 2 days a week. He’s a government contractor who tests software and web applications to verify that websites and web applications used by the government are compliant for people with disabilities. He’s happy to have training in that area because it’s not very common. Earlier this year, Stefan had spinal fusion surgery on his neck. While it was a serious operation, the recovery has gone well. Stefan’s senior Chihuahua mixes he rescued over a year ago are doing well. They are a bonded trio and love spending time together. Marc Wysocki has been promoted to captain with the Sheffield, MA, fire department. Congratulations Marc! The highlight of the year for Allison Latham Hosgood and Derek Hosgood was their children’s graduations. Hope (22) graduated with a degree in public health/epidemiology from the University of TX San Antonio, and Page (19) graduated with academic honors from Round Rock High School in Round Rock, TX. Allison and Derek still live in Round Rock, TX, just north of Austin.

1996

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1997 1995 Stefan Schwarz ’95 and his Chihuahuas.

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1998 Mark Macenas ’98, owner of Carolina Hemp Company in Youngsville, N.C.

1998

JAMIE GILBERT KELLY kellynewhouse2015@gmail.com CHRIS QUINT christopher.quint@gmail.com

Since 2019, Mark Macenas has successfully managed Carolina Hemp Company in Youngsville, NC. The store is an educational hemp store where customers can come in and learn about the benefits of the products. Mark says, “It was a bit of a struggle convincing some older residents that I’m not selling marijuana, but once I showed them how these products work to reduce pain and improve sleep, they were interested and spread the word.” Read more about Mark in the online CSC Alumni Journal at colby-sawyer. edu/journal/with-pain-comesstrength. After 8 years on the East Coast, Jeremiah Boobar’s family decided that they wanted to get back to mountain living in a small town with world class mountain biking. In Dec. 2022, they moved from CT to a small town in the Southwest of Tasmania, Australia. Jeremiah writes, “My wife and I left our positions at Cannondale

1998 Christine Sweeney Caouette ’98 was on campus in July for a tour with her daughter Lena, a high school senior.

and GT bicycles respectively to move with our 3-year-old, Alpine, to Maydena, Tasmania, a small town that houses one of the world’s best mountain bike parks. Between spending time with the family and riding bikes, I am focused on getting my own bicycle components business started here in Tasmania.”

1999

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Ryan Morley and Diane Marsden Morley ’96 live in Peabody, MA. Ryan works as an IT manager for radiology at Mass General Brigham. They recently took a trip to New London for their daughter to tour CSC. They enjoyed being back on campus and are thrilled that their daughter loved their alma mater. It’s near the top of her list! During the tour, the Morleys ran into Karen Newton ’97, who was also on tour with her daughter. Ryan and Rob Kasprzak ’98 visited Kevin Flynn ’00 and his family in Miami recently. They explored the Everglades and took in a Marlins game over a much-needed long weekend.

summer | fall 2023 39

girls’ soccer, basketball and softball teams. Tia Holt Savage is starting a new career at CSC as a mental health counselor at Baird and will be a part-time adjunct professor. Tia and her family are in the process of building their dream home in Sutton. 1999 (L to r) Kevin Flynn ’00, Rob Kasprzak ’98 and Ryan Morley ’99 enjoyed catching a Marlins game during a Page Hall mini-reunion.

2000

TARA SCHIRM CAMPANELLA taracampanella@gmail.com JENNIFER PRUDDEN MONTGOMERY jenpmontgomery1978@gmail. com

2001

DANICA LETARTE MEDEIROS danicamedeiros@gmail.com

This spring Danica Letarte Medeiros joined RE/MAX Harmony in Wakefield, MA, as a fulltime real estate agent. It’s been fun for her and a great adventure learning about the real estate industry. She recently met up with Dana Baier for coffee. Dana is also a real estate agent, with Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty in NH.

2002

NICOLE FOWLER MARTIN nicole.martin3@gmail.com

Matt Clemente and his wife, Jackie, moved to Norwalk, CT, in Feb. and welcomed their 1st child, Brittany Rose, in June. Karen Kotopoulis Koutsavlis, the owner of New England 360 Fitness, recently celebrated 10 years of business. She says, “It was great to catch up with Jean Eckrich and it meant a lot to have her there.”

LISA NOYES HARDENBROOK litha81@hotmail.com

2004

ERIC EMERY ericemery20@gmail.com

2002 Matt Clemente ’02 and his wife Jackie welcomed their first child, Brittany Rose.

colby sawyer magazine

Elisabeth “Liz” Graham is in her 15th year working for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as an investigative analyst. She has 2 daughters: Taylor, 10, and Peyton, 9. Liz has been busy coaching her

2006

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Adam Perron is still coaching at the University of Virginia and was recently promoted to associate head coach for Virginia men’s soccer. 2004 Liz Graham ’04 with her daughters Taylor and Peyton.

2005 MONICA MICHAUD MILLER michaud_monica@hotmail.com

2002 Heather McMahon Nadeau ’02, CSC faculty emerita Jean Eckrich and Karen Kotopoulis Koutsavlis ’02 at the 10th birthday party for Karen’s company, New England 360 Fitness.

2003

ulations and policies while providing expertise in strategic communications, community relations and real estate development. Richard and Abby live in Charlestown, MA, with their 1-year-old son, Charlie, and their 5-year-old Golden Retriever, Shyne.

Richard Gould received his MBA in May from the UMass Amherst Isenberg School of Management. He and his wife, Abby, launched a consulting firm, Oak & Argyle, which is a full-service government affairs, strategic communications and real estate development consulting firm. Oak & Argyle is dedicated to helping clients navigate the complex landscape of government reg-

2007

STEPHANIE GUZZO IRELAND stephanie.guzzo@gmail.com ASHLEY RODKEY rodkeyah@yahoo.com

Janine DeSerres Tadakowsky was recently promoted to director of operations-total rewards for The Richards Group. She was awarded the 2023 Dr. Lilyan B. Wright Volunteer of the Year award for the NH Governor’s Council on Physical Activity & Health. Amanda LeMarier graduated from an orthopedic manual physical therapy (OMPT) fellowship from Duke University and will be a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (FAAOMPT). She has been a teaching assistant for Duke University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. Kristen Young Treacy was promoted to the role of youth services manager for the Office of Youth Services in Manchester, NH. Thomas “TJ” Coffrin moved to NC and bought his 1st house. He has 3 dogs and 2 cats who absolutely love it down there. TJ recently changed jobs after 15 years

and is currently a store manager at CVS and is also on the path to having his own district by the end of the year! Kate O’Neil finished her doctorate in clinical psychology in Aug. 2022 and is working with children and teens with trauma in NH. Lauri Baudanza Dublikar moved to Litchfield, NH, with her husband and daughter and shortly after gave birth to her son, Ryder. Just this past summer she became a team lead in Academic Advising at Southern New Hampshire University, where she is also an adjunct faculty member in the liberal arts department. Stephanie Guzzo Ireland is living in Severn, MD, with her husband and their corgi, Tucker. She is working at St. Vincent Pallotti High School as the head athletic trainer and assistant athletic director. Sadly, Melissa Ferrigno Trow passed away in June after a long battle with cancer. She leaves behind her husband and young daughter.

2007 Former roommates April Buchheit ’07 and Stephanie Guzzo Ireland ’07 at the alumni rugby game during Homecoming 2022.

2008 Kelly DeCharles Bridge ’08 (l) poses with her new stepson and her wife, Chelsea Bridge, on their wedding day.

2009 (L to r) Chris Adams ’04, Leah Salach Adams ’07, Jenna Payton LeBlanc ’09, Amy Beaton Burke ’07, Chris Burke ’05, Laura Nitu Rafferty ’07 and Chris Rafferty ’08 with their children at a summer mini-reunion.

2008

NICOLE POELAERT COSTANZO nmpoelaert@gmail.com

SARAH HEANEY PELLETIER sh.heaney@gmail.com

Matt Parker and his wife, Ashely, welcomed their 2nd child, Avery Noel Parker, in March. Matt was also hired as the new varsity basketball coach at Proctor High School and promoted to vp of sales at Danforth Pewter in Middlebury, VT. Stephanie Kimball was promoted to chief marketing officer at JMJ, a cultural change consulting firm. She and her husband also welcomed identical twin boys, Oscar and Miles, in Feb. Big sister Sally is one of the few family members who can tell them apart! Kelly DeCharles Bridge married wife Chelsea Bridge and became a stepmom; wedding guests from CSC included Kristin Costello and her family, Kate Managan Newcomb and her son, and Justin Holshuh ’06 and his wife. Kelly was recently promoted to senior UX designer at Amazon. Matt Erickson and Elizabeth “Liz” Luddy Erickson ’07 are excited to move from PA back to NH.

2009

ELIZABETH CRESSMAN cressman1986@yahoo.com

Aubrey Thomas was surrounded by love and friends at her Oct. 2022 wedding. CSC alumni were spotted among the crowd, including Alicia Harris ’07, Chris Thompson ’12, Jeff Gosselin ’12 and Xanthe Hilton ’11. Ryan Oldfield and Amanda Wasel Oldfield welcomed Rooke William Oldfield (named after the dorm on campus obvi!) on Sept. 8, 2022. He’s the perfect addition to the family and loves his furry siblings and soccer — just like his dad. Tom White and Ellen Naughton are enjoying life in NH with their boys, 3-year-old, Colin, and 1 ½ -year-old, Connor. Tom is currently the head baseball coach at Colby-Sawyer and Ellen is working as a registered nurse at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical

2009 Aubrey Thomas ’09 was surrounded by her CSC friends on her October 15, 2022 wedding day. Pictured are (l to r) Alicia Harris ’07, Aubrey, Chris Thompson ’12, Jeff Gosselin ’12, and Xanthe Hilton ’11.

Center in Lebanon, NH. Jenna Payton LeBlanc, Chris Adams ’04, Leah Salach Adams ’07, Amy Beaton Burke ’07, Chris Burke ’05, Laura Nitu Rafferty ’07 and Chris Rafferty ’08 gathered with their families over

2009 Ryan Oldfield ’09 and Amanda Wasel Oldfield ’09 welcomed Rooke William Oldfield (named after the dorm on campus) on Sept. 8, 2022.

2009 Tom White ’09 and Ellen Naughton ’09 with their sons Colin and Connor.

summer | fall 2023 41

the summer for a mini-reunion. Everyone’s children have even become good friends! Elizabeth Cressman has been coming to grow and accumulate responsibilities in her career as a family child care coordinator at South Middlesex Opportunity Council. She works with families that have high risk factors, such as those living in homeless shelters and those receiving services from DCF. In her free time, she enjoys horseback riding, swimming, her book club and spending time with her 2 nieces. Nicole Poelaert Costanzo is living in Pembroke with her husband, Rob, and their children, Colton and Callie. They recently spent 5 ½ weeks camping along the East Coast.

2010

BRITTANY MAILMAN bjmailman@gmail.com

2011

JAYCEE MCCARTHY johnmccar.11@gmail.com

Kimberly Peters Noyes mar-

2010 (L to r) Lauren Campiglio Burrows ’10, Caitlin Pond Jaeger ’10 and Leslie Dunn McLaughlin ’10 are raising future Chargers.

2011 Colleen Curley Reece ’11 and her husband, Steven, with their children Annabel, Tommy and Emily.

ried Adam Noyes Oct. 30, 2022. Kathryn Murray is living in San Francisco, working as a senior clinical trial manager for a biotech company. This year marks her 12th year in oncology research. Colleen Curley Reece and her husband, Steven, welcomed twin girls, Annabel Clare and Emily Linda, on Dec. 16, 2022, making their almost 3-year-old, Thomas Leo, a big brother for the 1st (and 2nd) time!

Sarah Cahill Spencer and Shalyn Spencer were married at Camp Cody on Lake Ossipee in NH on Sept. 10, 2022. Meghan Hudson ’04, Shalyn’s soccer coach at CSC, was their officiant.

2012

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Erica Cornellier Kowalski received a master’s degree in APRN from Rivier University in May 2022 and is working as a provider in family medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene.

2013

MATT MULDOON mattmuldoon123@gmail.com

2011 Kimberly Peters Noyes ’11 married Adam Noyes on October 30, 2022. CSC alumni guestsincluded (l to r) Lauryn Daigle Penn ’11, Kimberly, Nicole Matott Dunia ’11, and Gina Gherardi ’11.

colby sawyer magazine

2013 Sarah Cahill Spencer ’13 and Shalyn Spencer ’13 were married September 10, 2022.

2014

STACY HANNINGS stacyhannings@gmail.com

Since May 2022, Caitlynn Fallon Doocey has been working as a sales and graphic design assistant for Cityscapes Plant Care in Boston, MA. She creates plant/biophilic design presentations to show clients in the Boston area. In Aug. 2021, Caitlynn went on a month-long, 10,000-mile solo road trip across the US to visit state and National Parks. Jenelle D’Isidoro married Dr. Steven Wojtkiewicz during the summer of 2022. Ashley Miller and Stacy Hannings were her bridesmaids. Jenelle and Steven live in Norwalk, CT, for his residency, and Jenelle teaches English in Danbury, CT. Hannah Batchelder lives in Burlington, VT, and is engaged to Brenden Green after being together for nearly 14 years. After graduating, Malia King Minnick went on to attain her M.Ed. in K-12 school counseling at Plymouth State University in 2016, and her Ed.D. in higher education administration at New En-

gland College in 2021. Malia currently owns a travel agency, teaches college courses for the University of AZ, and works for a consulting company writing trainings for government agencies. Malia married Tyler Minnick in 2019 and adopted her foster daughter a month later. Malia went on to have 2 biological children in 2019 and 2020. She is currently expecting her “Mini Minnick” baby in Oct. 2023.” Stacy Hannings recently accepted a position at Colby-Sawyer and is excited to be the new Advancement & Admissions communications manager. Julia Yee Willis married Corey Willis ’13 and now lives in Mansfield, MA, with their sons Jack (2.5) and Wade (10 months). They own a gym, CrossFit First Down, also in Mansfield. In Dec., Ashley Miller officially became a licensed mental health counselor in the state of MA. Nick Ciarlante started a new job in April as the deputy chief administrative officer for the U.S. House of Representatives in the Office of the Sergeant at Arms. In June, Nick married Bridget Kelleher. Max Kinne and David Kinne have purchased a home in Kansas City, MO. Max recently started a job at Missouri Vocational Rehab as a counselor. Vocational Rehab helps people with disabilities get jobs by removing barriers to work by funding training, equipment and services. David is working as a consultant at the Missouri Department of Mental Health, helping providers who work with people with developmental disabilities improve their operations. Max and David work on a comic together, www.jackbeloved.com. Max is

the comic artist and David is the comic writer. Kelsey Monahan St. James sent the following touching update: “My dad, Kevin Monahan, worked in the Campus Safety Office during my time at CSC. He passed away in Sept. 2021. I just wanted to tell you all that he had a lot of fun reading your updates and remembering some of you (and some of the trouble you got in). So, thank you. I hope he had a chance to help you out or make you smile.”

2015

MOLLY PAONE mollypaone1109@gmail.com

2016

MEREDYTH JOLY meredyth.joly@gmail.com

the view of Mt. Kearsarge. I look forward to serving as your class correspondent. Please feel free to send any life updates that you would like to share in the magazine. Since graduating from Colby-Sawyer, Kelsey McCulley completed her master’s degree in athletic training, which led to fulfilling one of her goals and taking her current position at St. Joseph’s University New York, Long Island (Patchogue campus). After working in MD for about 3 years and in the process of earning her master’s degree, she returned to Long Island and now works with an amazing group of student-athletes in Division 3 NCAA athletics. She personally works with

2014 Nick Ciarlante ’14 (center) was joined by Colby-Sawyer friends (l to r) Mama T, Karen Craffey Eldred ’86, Dan (Moir) Mawhinney ’13 and Amanda Giovannucci ’14 on his wedding day in June.

Greetings, fellow Chargers from the Class of 2016! My name is Meredyth Joly and I have volunteered to be our new class correspondent. I majored in athletic training at CSC and was on the indoor and outdoor track & field teams 20122016. I am starting my 7th year at the Berkshire School, a private high school in the Berkshires, serving as the assistant athletic trainer, concussion coordinator and health & wellness professor. I was recently back at CSC for a visit and I can’t believe how much has changed since we graduated, yet at the same time I felt right at home, especially when I saw

men’s soccer, men’s basketball and men’s volleyball. Laura Young and her partner, Ryan Parsons, welcomed their first child into the world on July 29. Elliott Logan Parsons, the first grandchild of Colby-Sawyer alums Carole Horton Parsons ’74 and Bruce Parsons ’77, was born at Concord Hospital at 2:39 a.m., weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces.

2017

MORGAN WILSON morganwilsonportfolio@gmail.com

Meghan Mamlock recently celebrated 1 year as the lifestyle host and producer of “Hello ENC!” on the Eastern

2017 As host and producer of the Hello ENC! Lifestyle show, Meghan Mamlock ’17 flew with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

2017 After receiving her Ph.D. from Clemson University, Olivia McAnirlin ’17 celebrated with the Clemson Tiger!

North Carolina CW and part of WNCT. She also had the honor of flying with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. In May, Olivia McAnirlin officially graduated with her Ph.D. from Clemson University in parks, recreation and tourism management.

selected. To my delightful surprise, I was one of the 6. I traveled to Glasgow, Scotland, this past June and presented my research project: Empowering Children’s Resilience through Play during COVID-19, to more than 25-30 educators out of 800 educator attendees at the IPA (International Play Association) Conference. Attending the conference allotted me the chance to network with educators from all over the world and to look at children’s development through a different perspective. A few weeks later, I received notice that my research project (Empowering Children’s Resilience through Play during COVID-19) was selected to be published in the International Play magazine.

2018

BEN MAINES amaines@gmail.com

Anna White earned her master’s degree through Chamberlain University and earned her M.S.N. with a focus on nursing education. Since graduating, Nichole Hondros has had the opportunity to work with many students, from early childhood to elementary school grades (2nd grade). A year ago, she was accepted into Champlain College’s M.Ed. early childhood graduate program, which is an intensive year-and-a-half program. Not only has she been working towards her master’s degree, but she has also been researching how children’s resilience strengthened through play during COVID-19. Her research led her to an amazing opportunity to submit her abstract to the Triennial International Play Association Conference located in Glasgow, Scotland, this past March. Nichole wrote, “I found out that out of more than 1,600 applications, only 400 projects were chosen, and only 6 representatives from the U.S.A. were

2019

WILL HYLAND willhyland207@gmail.com

Jourdain Bell accepted a new role supporting investment operations for alternative investing at Long Angle, a global peer-led community for very high-net-worth individuals. Prior to joining Long Angle, he worked just under 4 years at Alumni Ventures, which is known worldwide as one of the most active venture capital firms for individual accredited investors. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in supporting fundraising efforts and facilitating the closing of

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over $273 million in syndications from a diverse pool of 13,000+ investors across an impressive portfolio of 200+ syndications. Jourdain shares, “I joined Alumni Ventures right after graduation in 2019, and I’m excited to take everything I have learned from my time at CSC and Alumni Ventures to my next journey, supporting investment operations at Long Angle.” Ethan Forrest married his wife, Ashley, at a beautiful ceremony at Castle Hill in Newport, RI, on June 4, 2023. Brendan Barrett and Sierra Schuster were engaged in Paris while visiting Europe in May. Brendan works for Marcum LLP’s Boston Forensic Accounting Dept. He will complete his master’s degree in forensic accounting in Sept. Sierra is a phlebotomist at Elliot Hospital in Manchester. She will add a nursing degree to her CSC bachelor of science degree in May 2024. Tanisha Clark has begun her 5th year working as an athletic trainer at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, CT. In addition to her work in the Sports Medicine Department, she is a dorm adviser and co-coordinator for the school’s Prefect Program and participates on various

2019 Tanisha Clark ’19 works as an athletic trainer at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Ct.

2022 2019 Elizabeth Cressman ’09 enjoys horseback riding in her free time.

school committees.

2020

CARRIE LEBEAU canne5515@gmail.com

Ethan Sabatella sold 2 short stories to independent pulp fantasy anthologies. “The Vengeance of the Silvern Hand” (in Broadswords and Blasters’ Futures That Never Were, Feb. 2023) is a sword and planet story about spacefaring Vikings, cyborg elves and a young warrior’s quest to avenge his father. “The Abartachs’ Hostage” (in DMR Books; Die By the Sword vol. 1, May 2023) is a sword and sorcery adventure set in medieval Ireland. Sabatella’s recurring heroic duo, Eachann MacLeod and Connor Ua Sreng, teams up with faerie maidens to fight dwarf vampires and their army of cheerful zombie warriors. Both anthologies are available for purchase on Amazon.

2021

MICHAEL QUEEN michaelqueen27@gmail.com 2019 Ethan Forrest ’19 and his wife, Ashley, had a beautiful wedding at Castle Hill in Newport, R.I., on June 4, 2023.

colby sawyer magazine

tal health specialist (REHS/ RS) exam from the National Environmental Health Association. He passed the exam and accepted a position in the private sector with a chemical and hygiene company called Diversey. In this position, he conducts sanitation audits in food prep areas, as well as repairs and installs Diversey’s chemical dispensing machines for these areas.

Immediately after graduation, Steven Moody began preparing for the registered environmen-

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

After graduating, Hailey Searles moved home to Shelton, CT. She immediately began the process of looking into graduate programs to further her education and enrolled as a human services and counseling graduate student at Post University. She found the social work field wasn’t for her, so she’s currently enrolled in Grand Canyon University’s online program for her master’s in clinical mental health counseling. Hailey has been using her degree in 2 forms of residential houses. First, she utilized what she learned in a step-down program for adolescent males who have gone through the justice system as a reintegration mentor. As a reintegration mentor she worked with youth from their admission towards discharge concerning their goals for when they finish the program. After their discharge, she continues work with them for a year to ensure a healthy transition back into their community. Currently, Hailey works as a residential counselor at Silver Hill Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in CT. As a residential counselor she

helps clients recognize goals, works with medication management, assesses the resident on the milieu and provides emotional support throughout the day. Hayley Kingman ’22, ’23 MBA has been hired as an admissions associate at Stratton Mountain School. She had interned with SMS during the summer of 2022. She’s also continuing her work as a project manager part-time for Hungry Hearts Gym + Kitchen in New London.

2023

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Since graduation, Alyssa Brown has taken her NCLEX exam and passed. She began working at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA, in Aug. Before beginning her job, she spent time traveling and hanging out with friends. Alyssa’s biggest piece of advice is to take advantage of the time you have before you start working. You will be working for the rest of your life. Take this time after graduation to find new hobbies and enjoy yourself. It’s ok to have no idea what you’re doing, embrace having no clue! Take time for you! Chloe Brisson is working as a graduate assistant in the Colby-Sawyer Admissions Department while completing her master’s of social work degree.

2019 Brendan Barrett ’19 and Sierra Schuster ’19 were engaged in Paris while visiting Europe in May.

News from Alumni & Community Relations Join Us for an Alumni Event

Stay Connected With Colby-Sawyer

The Office of Alumni & Community Relations hosts both online and in-person events that help keep alumni, families and friends connected to the college. We hope that you’ll join us for a lecture with a favorite faculty member, a campus update with President Stuebner or a panel discussion with alumni who are experts in their field.

At Colby-Sawyer, we want to be certain you are able to remain connected to the college and your classmates. To ensure that you have access to the most up-to-date information about Colby-Sawyer news and events, we need to have your current contact information on record. Visit colby-sawyer.edu/update or call (603) 526-3426 to update your information today.

CONNECT

A listing of upcoming events can be found at colby-sawyer.edu/alumni/events. If you missed a past event, visit the Virtual Event Archive at colby-sawyer.edu/alumni/ events/archive.

/school/colby-sawyer-college /colbysawyeralumni /csc_alumni /csc_alumni

Office of Alumni Relations Colby-Sawyer College 541 Main Street New London, NH 03257 603.526.3426 | 800.266.8253 alumni@colby-sawyer.edu colby-sawyer.edu/alumni

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In Memoriam Cornelia Woolley Clifford ’50

Donald J. Fager

Cornelia Woolley Clifford ’50, a former member of Colby-Sawyer College’s Board of Trustees, died peacefully June 18 surrounded by loved ones. She was 94.

Donald J. Fager, Esq., a former member of the Colby-Sawyer College Board of Trustees, died March 6 at his home in New Canaan, Connecticut He was 92.

Born in New York City to Abraham Linington Hopkins and Cornelia Woolley Hopkins Kasznar on March 1, 1929, Clifford spent the majority of her life in the Big Apple before eventually calling both Palm Beach, Florida, and Duxbury, Massachusetts, home. A dedicated learner, Clifford earned an associate degree from Colby Junior College in 1950 and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Born in New York City, Fager attended high school in Manhattan before leaving the city to pursue his bachelor’s degree at the University of Notre Dame. Upon graduation, Fager returned to his home state, earned his Juris Doctor degree from New York University and went on to spend the next four decades as a prominent defense attorney specializing in medical malpractice.

Clifford was a passionate volunteer and generously offered her time to numerous institutions, including Colby-Sawyer College. She severed two separate tenures as a member of the college’s Board of Trustees, first as an alumni trustee from 1983 to 1986, and then as a conventional trustee from 1992 to 2001. During her time on the board, Clifford was an influential member of its Academic Affairs, Student Development, Board Organization and Finance Committees.

In 1975, Fager founded Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company (purchased by Berkshire Hathaway in 2018), the first physician-owned insurance company and the largest mutual insurance company of its kind in the United States. Fager was also a founding board member of the Medical Professional Liability Association, where he also served as president, as well as a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the International Association of Defense Counsel and the Defense Research Institute.

Beyond Colby-Sawyer, Clifford was a board member of New York City’s Children of Bellevue Hospital, vice president of the Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center and chair of the New York Junior League Sustainers Committee, which named her Outstanding Sustainer Volunteer of the year in 1987. In 2004, Clifford was honored as a “New York Treasure” by Health Advocates for Older People and Carnegie East House. She also served on the boards of the Brick Church Women’s Association, the Drama League of New York and the National Institute of Social Sciences. Clifford was preceded in death by her granddaughter Cornelia Ashley Wareham. She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Steward Burnett Clifford, her children, Lee Clifford Wareham, Rebecca Mailer-Howat, Jennifer Clifford Danner and Steward Clifford, Jr., as well as six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

COURTESY PHOTOS

colby sawyer magazine

Fager’s ties to Colby-Sawyer were formed in 1978 when his daughter, Gwendolyn Fager ’81, enrolled in the college’s business administration program. Fager remained connected with the college following Gwendolyn’s graduation and served on its Board of Trustees from 1984 to 1987. While on the board, he was an active participant on its Board Organization, Development and Student Development Committees. He is survived by his wife, Geraldine, three children and four grandchildren.

Erik E. Joh Erik E. Joh, a former member of Colby-Sawyer College’s Board of Trustees, died May 5 at his home in Lake Worth, Florida. He was 78. Born to John and Alma Joh on March 28, 1945, Joh spent his childhood in Binghamton, New York, and went on to graduate from Dartmouth College and, later, Albany Law School. Joh specialized in estate and trust planning and administration, and was a member of the American Bar Association, the New York Bar Association, where he served on the House of Delegates, and the Florida Bar Association, where he chaired the Ethics Committee. Joh served on Colby-Sawyer’s Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2016 and was a prominent member of its Academic Affairs, Audit, Board Organization, Executive and Student Development Committees. He also served as a trustee for a number of other institutions, including the Florida Institute of Technology, Albany Law School and the Gertrude E. Skelly Foundation. Through his service with the Skelly Foundation, Joh helped them forge a close relationship with Colby-Sawyer. Over the years, the Skelly Foundation has supported Colby-Sawyer’s nursing program and has funded scholarship support, capital improvements and emergency assistance for students. Among other investments, Skelly Foundation gifts helped improve the nursing skills laboratory in Colgate Hall. In 2016, the foundation offered $100,000 in matching funds to create a new simulation laboratory in Mercer Hall. Joh was supportive of the college on a personal level as well, contributing regularly to the Colby-Sawyer Fund and supporting the highest priorities of the Board of Trustees and the president of the college.

Elizabeth Visvis ’55 Elizabeth Visvis ’55, a former member of the Colby-Sawyer Board of Trustees, died April 13 at her home in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She was 88. Visvis was born to Edward and Betty Gunter in Burlington, Vermont, and was subsequently raised in Athol, Massachusetts. She attended what was then Colby Junior College and graduated with a degree in art in 1955. She married Christopher Visvis, and together they raised a family. She later returned to her work as an artist, studying under Maxine Hegsted, and rapidly establishing a reputation as a painter who worked in oils and acrylics before choosing watercolor as her preferred medium, with a focus on flowers and the human form. Her water-medium still life paintings were frequently recognized with achievement awards from art association jurors, and her work was featured in a solo show at Regis College and an exhibition at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. She was awarded the prestigious title of Designated Copley Society Artist by the Copley Society in Boston and was a member of the National League of Pen Women (Arts) and a longtime supporter of the Wellesley Society of Artists, The Danforth Art Museum, The West Palm Beach Armory Art Center and Dreyfoos School of the Arts. Visvis served on the Colby-Sawyer College Board of Trustees from 1973 to 1974. She is survived by two children and two grandchildren.

An avid volunteer, Joh served for 25 years as a leadership volunteer for the American Red Cross. In 2001, Joh received the Harriman Award, the highest award given by the American Red Cross, for his exceptional leadership, and was later honored as its first Honorary Red Cross Nurse. He has also been recognized in publications such as Outstanding Young Men of America, Who’s Who in American Politics and Who’s Who in American Law. Joh is survived by his wife, Caroline Partin Joh, his stepchildren, Jeremy, Jason, Noelle and Carrie, his brother, John Joh, his sister-in-law, Janey Joh, and two nieces, Susanne Reihard and Elizabeth Joh.

COURTESY PHOTOS

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Leave Your Legacy and Build on Ours... Together we can preserve the quality education that future generations of Colby-Sawyer students deserve.

By naming Colby-Sawyer as the beneficiary of a planned or estate gift, you will become a member of our Heritage Society. For more information, contact Planned Giving Officer Peg Andrews ’85 at pandrews@colby-sawyer.edu or via phone at 603-526-3726. 48

colby sawyer magazine

In Fond Memory 1932 Dorothy Hanson Lewsen June 25, 2010 1938 Louisa Clark Harrington June 19, 2010 1940 Judith Verrette Christiansen July 19, 2022 1942 Nancy Tinkham Barlow October 8, 2013 1943 Elizabeth “Diane” Stretch Henry February 13, 2023 Eleanor Davis Howard June 21, 2022 Nancy Hopkins Knollman July 29, 2016 Joyce “Joy” Beardsley Spiegel May 21, 2023 1944 Janet Smith Patterson January 10, 2023 1945 Emma J. Goldhorn June 5, 2023 Nancy Erickson Murphy July 4, 2022 1946 Nancy Fitzgerald Kerver May 16, 2023 Frances “Twink” Randall Wood May 29, 2023 1947 Elizabeth “Anne” Doele Curran August 17, 2023 Jocelyn Moffette Schermerhorn November 24, 2022

1948 Janet Kenerson Andrews April 6, 2015 Jean Musser Batie January 16, 2018 Beverly Anne Johnson Bitner August 31, 2023 Dorothy “Dodie” Olmstead Cayce May 22, 2014 Mary English Diamond August 7, 2002 Constance Ryan Foster October 27, 2008 Mary Healey September 28, 2022 Sylvia Elsaesser Taylor August 30, 2019 1949 Jane Miller Stabler June 4, 2023 1950 Cornelia Woolley Clifford June 18, 2023 Anne Perry Ford April 29, 2023 Carol Lynch Hermance June 28, 2023 Harriet Fitkin Orren November 22, 2022 Dorothy Zucchi Tosti July 28, 2023 1951 Dorothy Ernst Bean June 16, 2023 Margery “Gery” Moore Rosa January 23, 2023 Irene “Pat” Baker Salmonsen February 21, 2023 Priscilla Whyte Traugott June 24, 2023 Maryann Henry von Dwingelo June 4, 2023 1952 Jennifer Mertens Brock July 20, 2023

Sarah “Sae” Bond Gilson June 17, 2023 Joanne “Judy” Fowle Hinds February 10, 2023

Anne Tracy February 17, 2023 Elizabeth von Gal Whitman October 26, 2022

1953 Marie Somers Ali August 25, 2021 Clare D. Conover August 16, 2023 Jean Vincent Donelan December 13, 2018 J. Carole Fisher Eyges November 15, 2012 Corinne Ouellette Gravel September 29, 2021 Jean Millard Grenier April 27, 2020 Ingrid Petersen Mortimer April 18, 2022 Nancy Stern Steiner May 19, 2009 Joanne Clark Stephens December 12, 2004

1961 Judith Froehlich Amato February 11, 2023 Joyce Welch Kerce August 1, 2023

1954 Judith Dickinson Taylor December 21, 2022

1974 Patricia “Trish” Brink July 7, 2023

1955 Mary “Terry” Whitten Bailey July 24, 2023 Virginia Collins Dalton July 14, 2016 Ruth Burke Marshall May 31, 2023 Sandra Rieger Ryan August 16, 2023

1978 Carol Paterno Ellis June 3, 2023

1957 Gladys Edmunds Anderson August 8, 2023 Judith Keagle Maier June 9, 2023 Sarah Taber August 4, 2021 1959 Elizabeth “Penny” Kyle June 3, 2023

1964 Jean Powers Crenshaw February 4, 2023 Arlene Isaacson August 13, 2022 1967 Anne Jennings Feeley August 18, 2023 1973 Barbara Cady McDevitt July 25, 2020

1981 Mary F. Van Leer Robertson February 19, 2023 1991 Ann Pfeiffer Robinson August 7, 2023 2007 Melissa Ferrigno Trow June 30, 2023 Former Faculty Donald F. Bent June 20, 2023

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During the Heat of the Cold War, Colby-Sawyer Brought U.S., Russian Journalists Together by frank riccio ’23

In the mid-afternoon on Monday, Aug. 30, 1982, 11 people stepped off a plane in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and made history. They were transported to Colby-Sawyer via bus that evening and met with college officials and their translation team. These special visitors to our sleepy little town? Eleven newspaper editors who had come as representatives of the Soviet Union. They were here to meet with 11 New England regional newspaper editors for a week-long journalism conference at Colby-Sawyer College. Nothing like it had ever been done before. Local papers had been chattering about it in preparation for many weeks up until that point: a meeting of the brightest journalistic minds to discuss the philosophy and purpose of press and news reporting.

The conference was organized in part by the New England Society of Newspaper Editors and was hosted by Colby-Sawyer College. The delegation of U.S. editors came from all over New England, some associated with small, local papers, others with large, regional ones. The Soviet delegation was made up of the same. To help facilitate discussion, a team of translators worked tirelessly to make conversation between the two groups easy. Topics of discussion ranged from the characteristics of certain papers to a philosophical debate on the role of press in society. There was agreement on some things but fundamental differences on many others, such as the Soviet perspective that journalism serves the means of the State and the U.S. perspective that journalism serves the interests of the people. The Soviet delegation expressed their opinion that American news was too sensationalistic and glorified violence, while the American observation of Soviet news was that it was dry, sugar coated and non-critical of their government.