Colby-Sawyer Alumni Magazine Summer/Fall 2021

summer | fall 2021

EMBRACING CHANGE

DETERMINED TO REMAIN TOGETHER, CHARGERS ADAPT TO LIFE AMID COVID-19

MAGAZINE

NEWS + STORIES

3

Board of Trustees Announces Election of Five New Trustees

6

Recommendations Highlight Diversity Task Force's Progress

23 Remembering 9/11: Susan Blair ’88: An Enduring Legacy Looking Back 20 Years Later

7

Colby-Sawyer Receives Record $10.2 Million Gift

8

Vicky Ge Huang ’15

10

Ashley Vajentic ’21

12

2021 Commencement

16

Practice Makes Perfect: Nursing Simulation

19

Taking Pride in Our LGBTQ+ Community

20

Fifth-Year MBA Program Offers Familiarity, Savings

22

First in Her Class: Cheyann Ellis '20

28

The Obvious Choice: Tom White Tabbed as Baseball Coach

IN EVERY ISSUE 4

College News

14

Walking the Talk

26

Portfolio

30

Sports News

32

News from Alumni Relations

33

Class Notes

43

In Memoriam

44

In Fond Memory

46

Archives

48

Epilogue

Life at Colby-Sawyer was anything but typical during the 2020-21 academic year as a result of COVID-19. Nonetheless, students, faculty and staff embraced changes to policies and procedures in order to remain together on campus.

From wearing masks to occupancy limits, campus community members did their part in order to best ensure the safety of their New London neighbors.

Pictured on the cover: Kaycee Wilson ’21 (facing camera) hugs friend and classmate Kaylie Demitraszek ’21 following the college’s 183rd Commencement on May 8.

cover:

Colgate Hall as seen on a warm June morning. this page:

editor

Michael Pezone

production manager

Gregg Mazzola

associate editor

Mary McLaughlin

designer

Laura M. Young

staff photographer

Henrique Plantikow 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.

Please send your letters to editor@colby-sawyer.edu or to: Editor, Office of Marketing & Communications Colby-­Sawyer College 541 Main Street New London, NH 03257 Send address changes to alumni@colby-sawyer.edu or to: Colby-­Sawyer College Office of Alumni Relations 541 Main Street New London, NH 03257

GREETINGS FROM COLGATE HALL What a year it has been! The academic year was dominated by COVID-19. Faculty and staff had to sort out how to best teach and learn during a pandemic. I am especially proud of our faculty who worked tirelessly this past year to deliver in-person classes for our students.

I am also incredibly thankful to our students who adhered to the many guidelines and policies that we had to put in place to make in-person learning available. With the exception of a spike of COVID-19 cases in March that required ten days of remote learning, the college met its goal of being in person all year and holding an in-person Commencement for the Class of 2021.

In addition to managing the pandemic, the college participated in conversations about race and diversity — topics that permeated our country’s dialogue as well. I thank the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force for its thoughtful work this past year in developing recommendations for the college to implement. Over the summer, the Senior Leadership Team prioritized the recommendations into those that can be enacted immediately, those that will be attended to in 2021-22, and those that will take more time and resources.

We have hired a Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer who began Sept. 1. I am committed to ensuring that the work of the task force is ongoing and leads to real change at Colby-Sawyer.

Despite its challenges, this year also included good news. The college received the largest gift in its history from William and Sonja Carlson Davidow ’56. The Davidow’s gift enabled the college to invest in endowed scholarships as well as new endowed faculty chairs. The Davidow’s generosity helped the college achieve its highest fundraising total ever in any given year, at over $20 million raised. I thank each of you who contributed to the college despite the pandemic and all of the challenges it brought. Thanks to the Davidow gift, others’ generosity and a good market, the college’s endowment is at an all-time high of $61.8 million.

The college’s strategic direction in the health sciences also continues to go well. This past year brought new professional learners to Colby-Sawyer in associate degree and master’s degree programs that benefit our partner Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health. Our undergraduate nursing program also continues to grow along with new undergraduate majors in addiction studies, healthcare administration, health sciences, medical laboratory sciences and social work.

As we look ahead, the availability of COVID vaccines gives us reason to believe many aspects of the college experience will return to a pre-pandemic version of teaching and learning, with some precautions still in place.

Throughout it all, the core values of the college remain strong. A sense of community helped us weather the pandemic in ways that we never could have imagined. The educational experience here continues to prepare young people for lives of difference.

I hope you enjoy the various stories in this issue about how Colby-Sawyer continues to make a difference for our students and for our alumni. My thanks to each of you for your continued support of the college and our students.

Kind regards,

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

Colby-Sawyer College Board of Trustees Announces Election of Five New Trustees The Colby-Sawyer College Board of Trustees recently announced the election of five new trustees, including three alumni, who began varying terms of service Thursday, July 1, 2021.

Edwin A. Cowell, Mitchell E. Harris, Susan MacMichael John ’68 and Sally Shaw Veitch ’66 will each join the board for up to three, three-year terms, while Jourdain Bell ’19 will serve up to three, one-year terms per his role as a Winton-Black Trustee. Created in 2009 in recognition of former board chair Anne Winton Black ’73 ’75, Winton-Black Trustees offer a unique set of perspectives as recent graduates, and, in turn, are afforded an opportunity for professional growth through service as a trustee.

Office of Marketing & Communications

Sally Shaw Veitch, who earned an associate degree in business administration from then-Colby Junior College in 1966, previously served on the Board of Trustees from 2011 to 2020, and was the recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award. Shaw Veitch is the general partner of Marca Associates, LLC, a privately held residential property management firm in Colorado Spring, Colo., and is a member of both the college’s Legends Society, which celebrates individuals who have given more than $1 million to Colby-Sawyer, and the Athletic Hall of Fame.

Jourdain Bell, who will replace Nick Ciarlante ’14 as one of two Winton-Black Trustees on the board, graduated from Colby-Sawyer with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and was a standout member of the men’s basketball program. Now a senior investor relations manager for Alumni Ventures Group, one of the most active venture capital firms in the world, Bell remains active with the college and often participates in alumni events.

Edwin Cowell, who works as the director of community and inclusion at St. Christopher’s School for Boys in Richmond, Va., brings 28 years of varied leadership and teaching experience in educational institutions. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Virginia Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in education from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Susan MacMichael John graduated from then-Colby Junior College with a degree in medical technology in 1968 and currently works as a certified financial planner for FL Putnam in Wolfeboro, N.H. A generous donor to the college, MacMichael John is a member of the Heritage Society, which celebrates individuals who include Colby-Sawyer in their estate planning, and recently established the Susan MacMichael John ’68 Scholarship Fund.

Mitchell Harris joins the board after a 35-year career in investment management and private banking, most recently serving as the chief executive officer of BNY Mellon Investment, one of the world’s largest investment firms. Harris earned both his bachelor’s degree (political science and history) and master’s degree (public administration) from the State University of New York at Albany.

SUMMER/FALL 2021

3

COLLEGE NEWS Earnings from Student-Managed Investments Help Fund Campus Wi-Fi Upgrade Colby-Sawyer College investment management students generated enough profit through real-world investments made since 2010 to partially fund an upgrade to the campus’s Wi-Fi network.

Students in the college’s investment management course have been investing in the stock market since 2010 using a fund established by Suzanne ’66 and John Hammond with an initial investment of $25,000. Since its creation in 2008, additional gifts to the Suzanne ’66 and John Hammond Student Managed Investment Fund have totaled about $306,000. Through student-managed investments, dividends and capital appreciation, students have grown the portfolio to a value of more than $783,000.

This summer, a portion of the fund’s earnings was used to support a Wi-Fi upgrade in 11 residence halls, the Susan Colgate Cleveland Library/Learning Center, the Colby Homestead and the Dan and Kathleen Hogan Sports Center. Profits from the student-managed investments contributed $350,000 toward the total cost of the Wi-Fi upgrade, which was in excess of $600,000.

The more than $400,000 not used for the Wi-Fi upgrade will remain in the Suzanne ’66 and John Hammond Student Managed Investment Fund for future studentmanaged investments.

Nursing Degree Articulation Agreements Established with N.H. Community Colleges In an effort to increase access to affordable fouryear degrees for professional nurses across New Hampshire, Colby-Sawyer College established formal articulation agreements with all seven public community colleges in the state.

Through the agreements, students who earn an associate degree in nursing in a two-year program at one of the state’s community colleges and become a registered nurse can then enroll in Colby-Sawyer’s Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BS) program. Classes in the RN to BS program are held exclusively online in eight-week sessions, allowing students to schedule their academic coursework around their work commitments.

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In addition to direct entry to the RN to BS program for any student who meets the admissions criteria, the agreements give students the preferred tuition pricing of $270 per credit, making the total cost of the RN to BS program as low as $8,400 for students who transfer the maximum credits allowed.

The seven institutions that make up the Community College System of New Hampshire are Great Bay Community College, Lakes Region Community College, Manchester Community College, Nashua Community College, New Hampshire Technical Institute, River Valley Community College and White Mountains Community College.

above:

$340,000 Raised During Annual Day of Giving

GIVING DAY 04.08.21 lit tle moments. big impact.

Colby-Sawyer College raised more than $340,000 during its third annual Day of Giving on Thursday, April 8, 2021, to support student scholarships, experiential learning opportunities, athletic programs and faculty initiatives.

The college far surpassed its goal of 900 donors during the 24-hour event, with 1,314 individuals — almost as many donors as the first two Day of Giving events combined — making financial contributions to the Colby-Sawyer Fund. Donors consisted of current students, alumni, faculty, staff, families and members of the Board of Trustees, as well as longtime friends and supporters of the college.

The college’s third annual Day of Giving was celebrated with food and fun on the quad.

Milestones met throughout the day unlocked $110,000 in challenge gifts that eventually brought the day’s final total to $340,122. These gifts helped inspire first-time donors to support the college and were celebrated in real time on social media.

The 2021 Day of Giving came in the midst of a record fundraising year in which the college raised nearly $20 million. To learn more about how to support Colby-Sawyer College, visit colby-sawyer.edu/giving or email giving@colby-sawyer.edu.

President Stuebner Elected to NAICU Board of Directors Colby-Sawyer College President Susan D. Stuebner has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU).

Founded in 1976, the NAICU represents private, nonprofit colleges and universities across the nation on proposed legislation that would impact student aid, tax policy and government regulation. The NAICU is one of six major presidential higher education associations in the nation and is the only association focused solely on private, nonprofit institutions.

Stuebner will represent the New England region, one of eight national regions designated by the NAICU, and its 84 member institutions. Board members meet twice annually and are tasked with setting the association’s agenda, garnering support for its priorities and initiatives and overseeing finances.

In addition to the board’s work advocating for private colleges and universities, Stuebner said she’s looking forward to promoting the successes of Colby-Sawyer and ensuring institutions like it are represented in the lawmaking process.

SUMMER/FALL 2021

5

RECOMMENDATIONS HIGHLIGHT DIVERSITY TASK FORCE’S PROGRESS

by Gregg Mazzola

O

ver the course of the 2020-21 academic year, the Colby-Sawyer College Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force developed a list of 14 recommendations that, when employed, will begin the long work of embedding equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) throughout the college — work that the task force acknowledges can never truly be over.

Primary among its recommendations was the creation of a senior leadership position in EDI. In response, the college has hired a Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer. This new member of the college’s senior leadership team reports directly to the president and provides leadership, vision and strategic planning for EDI initiatives across the college, while working directly with community partners. One of the chief diversity officer’s top priorities is recruitment and retention of historically and currently disadvantaged and discriminated students, staff and faculty based on their group membership.

...will begin the long work of embedding equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the college— work that the task force acknowledges can never truly be over.

“It is critical for Colby-Sawyer to have a strategic thinker at the senior staff level who is adept at policy, practice, training and hiring and also has experience in equity, diversity and inclusion work,” Colby-Sawyer College President Susan D. Stuebner said.

“Importantly, this position will not be solely responsible for all EDI efforts — it has to be a shared and collective action for cultural change to occur. Instead, this individual will play the crucial role of helping the institution prioritize, plan and implement policies and

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COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

practices both in human resources and in equity, diversity and inclusion work so that the college is an institution where all students can succeed.”

In addition to hiring a senior officer, ColbySawyer is responding to EDI Task Force recommendations by implementing name pronunciation software for use throughout the college, requiring diversity statements for syllabi and developing anti-racist and anti-bias statements for the college’s website.

In the 2021-22 academic year, the college will address additional task force recommendations like developing an EDI strategic plan, revising hiring practices, providing training for all employees, examining revisions to the college curriculum and providing opportunities to foster intercultural competence and global engagement.

The mission of the task force is to assess the current state of EDI on campus; investigate and recommend implementation of the best practices to increase diversity on campus, including underrepresented and discriminated groups; and recommend to the senior staff both short-term and long-term changes to institutionalize equitable and inclusive policies and make the Colby-Sawyer community safer for faculty, staff and students.

“I am pleased that task force members were able to lay the groundwork to begin this important work and provide recommendations that ranged from easy-to-implement action items to longer-term goals that are aspirational, yet attainable, in our future,” Academic Vice President and Dean of Faculty and EDI Task Force member Laura Sykes said.  Gregg Mazzola is the vice president for the Office of Marketing & Communications. He holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of Dayton and an M.A. in organizational leadership from Southern New Hampshire University.

Colby-Sawyer Receives Record $10.2 Million Gift Office of Marketing & Communications

Courtesy photo

Colby-Sawyer College recently received the largest gift in its 183-year history in the form of a $10.2 million investment by longtime supporters William and Sonja Carlson Davidow ’56.

According to the terms of the gift, the $10.2 million investment will almost entirely benefit the college’s endowment, accounting for an immediate increase of 20% to the fund which now stands at nearly $57 million. In addition, the gift will fund both endowed faculty chairs and scholarships for years to come, and has the potential to add an additional $5 million to the endowment through matching gifts.

“Sonja and Bill Davidow’s generosity is truly transformative for the college,” Colby-Sawyer President Susan D. Stuebner said. “By giving this gift to the endowment, the Davidows have signaled their belief in the well-being of the institution and its future. I am deeply appreciative and humbled by their incredible support of our strategic needs.”

Roughly half of the Davidows’ $10.2 million gift will be used to establish two endowed faculty chairs, create a fund to maintain and improve the Davidow Center for Art + Design and establish an endowed scholarship fund to provide financial assistance to students who would otherwise be unable to attend Colby-Sawyer. An additional $5 million will be set aside to inspire others to give to the college, with $3 million to be used as matching gifts toward the creation of three additional endowed chairs and $2 million to match gifts made to endowed scholarship funds.

When these matching gifts are realized, the full impact of the Davidow’s investment will add more than $15 million to the endowment, growing the fund by more than 30%.

BREAKDOWN OF GIFT $4 MILLON

two endowed faculty chairs

$3 MILLON

matching funds for three endowed chairs

$2 MILLON

the “davidow challenge” matching gifts for endowed chairs

$500,000

davidow center for art + design fund

$500,000

davidow endowed scholarship fund

“Financial aid made it possible for Sonja to attend Colby-Sawyer,” said William Davidow, who met his wife, Sonja, in the mid-1950s while attending nearby Dartmouth College.

“It was a gift that changed her life, so we would love others to have access to that same life-changing opportunity.”

Inducted into the college’s Legends Society in 2013 for lifetime contributions totaling more than $1 million, the Davidows’ $10.2 million gift makes the couple the most generous donors in the college’s history. In addition to the lead gift that led to the construction of the Davidow Center for Art + Design, the Davidows also funded the Sonja C. Davidow ’56 Endowed Chair of Fine Arts and are supporters of the Student Aid Emergency Fund and the Colby-Sawyer Fund.

“Colby-Sawyer is a college of the future,” William Davidow said. “At a time when many are questioning the value of a college education, Colby-Sawyer is producing graduates who are in great demand as they enter the workforce.” 

SUMMER/FALL 2021

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HOW COLBY-SAWYER HELPED PREPARE ME FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL AND A CAREER POST COLLEGE

by Vicky Ge Huang '15 Courtesy photo

Growing up as an only child with my grandmother in China, I always sought refuge and found solace in books. Reading has never failed to bring me unspeakable joy and show me the immense possibilities of the world. That’s why I immediately saw the opportunity to chase what I wanted when I first heard of liberal arts colleges in the United States.

In 2011, with a generous offer from Colby-Sawyer College, I made the 24-hour trip from Nanchong, China, to New London, N.H. It may very well have been the most important journey of my life, but little did I know how much my life was going to change. The cultural differences between a Chinese city of 7 million and a New England town of 4,000 presented some initial challenges, but soon I was swept up by the wellsprings of knowledge, creativity and ideas in a true liberal arts environment.

Stepping into English 160, Thinking About Literature, during my first week of college, I learned how to write thoughtfully, think critically and read between the lines — skills that continue to prove useful in my job today as a journalist covering investing and markets. And that was only the beginning.

In history classes, my perceptions of everything from world historical events to the true meanings of democracy, liberty and equality were challenged and elevated. In sociology classes, my understanding of societal norms expanded. In media studies classes, I overcame my fears of public speaking and presentation. But it was in English literature classes where I learned that the act of reading and writing is as much a learning experience as it is a lifelong pursuit for knowledge and the truth. I am so grateful that I still get to do both every single day.

I thought I had learned all I wanted about the creative arts, then found out I had the opportunity to travel even further, so I took the chance to study abroad in Paris, France, during my junior year. There, I saw and felt everything I had learned about history, literature, philosophy and writing reflected in innumerable museums, bookshops, exhibitions,

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COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

theaters and street performances in one of the world’s most dazzling cultural hubs.

Throughout college, the Wesson Honors Program not only gave me the opportunity to explore fascinating topics in depth but also allowed me to take my intellectual curiosity to the next level through experiential learning, including an illuminating trip to Nepal during winter break of my senior year.

Colby-Sawyer taught me how to be a critical thinker and problem solver, but it did not neglect to instill in me the practicality of the real world. Because every student needed to complete an internship prior to graduation, I made sure to land mine in Bangkok, Thailand, well ahead of time.

“It may very well have been the most important journey of my life, but little did I know how much my life was going to change.”

All the academic experiences aside, I am most appreciative of the professors who taught and mentored me, the peers who gifted me with friendship and the closeknit New London community that made everything at Colby-Sawyer — from Mountain Day to the International Festival — that much more special.

Four years passed by in the blink of an eye. When I look back on my college years, I know that despite my anxious desire to make something of myself, Colby-Sawyer prepared me in every way possible for a rigorous graduate school program at Columbia University and for the eclectic and competitive journalism industry. ® Vicky Ge Huang '15 is a senior investment reporter for Business Insider.

She holds a B.A. in English from Colby-Sawyer College and an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University.

MAKE AN I M PAC T

98% of our graduates are employed or attending graduate school within six months of graduation

THE COLBY-SAWYER FUND provides resources to every part of a student’s experience, from funding for academics and faculty, to athletics and student life activities, to classroom and campus facilities.

What motivates you to support Colby-Sawyer?

100%

of our students gain vital professional experience through one or more internships: 59% of graduates were offered jobs by their internship or clinical sites

YOUR INVESTMENT IN COLBY-SAWYER KEEPS OUR CLASSROOMS VIBRANT, OUR CAMPUS BEAUTIFUL AND OUR CHARGERS IN THE GAME!

THANKS TO GIFTS LIKE YOURS TO COLBY-SAWYER...

We are able to continue to offer a transformational experience for all of our students. To make your gift to the Colby-Sawyer Fund, visit colby-sawyer.edu/give-now or use the enclosed envelope.

An Unexpected Outcome

by Ashley Vajentic ’21 Ashley Vajentic ’21, of North Conway, N.H., was a student worker for the Office of Marketing & Communications. She holds a B.A. in creative writing and communication studies from Colby-Sawyer College.

To Everyone Who Doesn’t Have It All Figured Out: When I was in high school, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do for a living. I wanted to write ­— whether that meant as a journalist, editor or author. I was set in that path at the time, but after four years of college, I suddenly have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life.

“These past four years gave me invaluable experiences and knowledge, life-long friendships and new perspectives.”

I began my time at Colby-Sawyer as a creative writing major and tacked on communications studies as a sophomore, but I spent senior year falling in love with … wait for it … farming. Yes, you read that right: farming, the regenerative or organic kind. My newfound interest sparked from my Sustainable Food Systems class in fall 2020, during which we worked in the college’s permaculture garden and new Main Street garden. I was also given the opportunity to volunteer at Sweet Beet Farm in Bradford, N.H., and continued doing that for a few hours each week until graduation.

Sitting in my room a few months ago, I really started thinking about what I want to do for 40-60 hours per week. I realized it didn’t involve sitting at a desk staring at a screen all day. I want to be outside; I want to be making a difference. So I started applying for farming positions. After months of searching and sending cover letters, then interviews and rejections, I accepted a farm apprenticeship position at Siena Farms in Sudbury, Mass.

My friends and family were surprised and a bit confused. I had a lot of explaining to do when people asked me about my post-grad plans.

No, farming was not part of my degree, but does that mean the degree is going to waste? These past four years gave me invaluable experiences and knowledge, life-long friendships and new perspectives. They helped shape me into the person I want to be, so I wouldn’t call that a waste.

I still plan on starting my own podcast and writing a blog. I still love to read and write and create, but I’m figuring out what my full-time job will entail, whether that’s farming or something else entirely. Don’t let people (including yourself) box you in. What do you want to do for the rest of your life? Don’t worry if it’s always changing. That’s okay.

Signing off,

Ashley Vajentic

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'Same as it ever was' The 2020-21 academic year may not have been typical, but following a year that ended with several quiet months of remote learning, campus once again came to life as students gathered — masked and at an appropriate social distance — when the college fully reopened in the fall.

Though classrooms and residence halls were at limited capacity and testing for COVID-19 became a weekly habit, the mood on campus was upbeat as students developed new routines and learned to be flexible and adaptable.

The college experienced a single bump in COVID-19 cases, but thanks to a quick response and the cooperation of the entire campus community, it resolved without a significant disruption to the academic calendar.

Clubs met and teams practiced. Internships progressed and capstones were conquered.

Friendships developed and memories were made.

It was a year like no other, but the Charger spirit prevailed.

SUMMER/FALL 2021

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COMMENCEMENT

2021

by Mary McLaughlin

Colby-Sawyer College celebrated its 183rd Commencement on Saturday, May 8, with an in-person ceremony for its 148 graduates, faculty and staff. Participants were masked and socially distant, in accordance with the college’s COVID-19 protocols, and family and friends joined the celebration remotely via livestream. Despite the modifications, the opportunity to celebrate in person marked a joyful milestone for the college community.

clockwise from top:

Julia Roy '21, a child development education prep major, celebrates as she takes part in the processional march.

School of Nursing & Health Sciences Professor Anne Fournier helps Molly Schilling '21 adjust her gold sash prior to the start of commencement.

KJ Svnvrit '21, a self-designed major, gives a thumbs up during the processional march.

Alexus Farrell '21 sings the National Anthem at the Commencement ceremony.

Students show off their caps decorated for Commencement.

School of Arts & Sciences Professor Chery Whipple gestures while addressing graduates during the Commencement ceremony.

Graduates heard from speakers who acknowledged the challenges they faced, the perseverance they showed and the skills they developed to navigate the realities of a changing world beyond Colby-Sawyer.

As recipient of the Jack Jensen Award for Excellence in Teaching, Professor of Arts & Sciences Chery A. Whipple delivered the Commencement Address, titled “Breathe.

Believe. And Persevere.” Kayia Alleyne ‘21, a public health major from Dorchester, Mass., reflected on the challenges her class faced in her Senior Address, “Measurable Moments.”

The ceremony also recognized several students and members of the greater community for outstanding contributions to the college.

Anette Helin ’21, a self-designed major in international business from Espoo, Finland, received the David H. Winton Baccalaureate Award. Quinn Stuebner ’21, a double major in sport management and business administration from Boise, Idaho, received the Colby-Sawyer Award. Chief Executive Officer and President of Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health Joanne M. Conroy, MD, received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters and former chair of the Colby-Sawyer Board of Trustees Peter F. “Pete” Volanakis was awarded the Susan Colgate Cleveland Medal for Distinguished Service.  Mary McLaughlin is a writing specialist in the Student Learning Collaborative and an adjunct faculty member.

She holds a B.A. in communications from the University of New Hampshire and an M.Ed. from the University of Vermont.

walking the talk

by Jennifer White ‘90

We Made It: 70% by 2020

EMISSION REDUCTION GOALS ✔

50

%

2015 ✔

70

%

2020

100

%

2050 Information in this article is based on the Emissions Plan created in 2010 by Colby-Sawyer College.

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In 2020, Colby-Sawyer reached an exciting and important milestone along its sustainability journey. The college reduced its annual carbon footprint by 70% compared to its initial 2008 baseline, which is a reduction of more than 5,400 MTCO2e (metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent). According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this amount is the same as the annual CO2 emissions from 650 homes’ energy usage or the greenhouse gas emissions of 1,174 passenger vehicles driven over a year.

Because of the college’s long-standing focus on experiential learning, the origin and continued evolution of sustainability at Colby-Sawyer has been student centered.

Achieving this latest goal required significant collaboration and leadership from many students, faculty, staff and community partners.

The process began in earnest in 2007 when students recommended that Colby-Sawyer become a charter signatory of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, in which the college pledged to be 100% carbon neutral by 2050.

Since 2010, the college has run on green energy through the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for 100% of its electricity consumption. In 2012, a campus-wide energy efficiency project, including upgrades to lighting, building envelopes and HVAC systems, resulted in $163,000 of annual cost-avoided savings. The addition of a fifth rooftop solar array on the new Davidow Center for Art + Design in 2017 brought the total number of photovoltaic panels on campus to 745, which together generate roughly 380,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.

At Colby-Sawyer, we encourage our students to make a difference and discover their potential to build a better world. And, as an educational institution, it is our responsibility to model the values that we hope our students and community will embody. Campus stakeholders continue to explore ways to journey further down the path toward carbon neutrality, enhance the resilience of both the college and the region and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Student research helped build the foundation for both the original 2010 GreenROUTES Climate Action Plan as well as its 2019 addendum, the Blueprint for Resilience and Innovation. Like many organizations, the college followed a carbon reduction hierarchy to systematically address conservation of resources, increases in efficiencies, installation of renewable energy systems and investment in offsets. A few highlights are mentioned below, but details regarding these many initiatives can be found in the Blueprint and on the college’s website at colby-sawyer.edu/sustainability.

COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

above:

Solar panels are installed on the new Davidow Center for Art + Design. opposite page: Students take part in a socially distanced yoga class in the field behind the Curtis L. Ivey Science Center.

Inaugural Fellows Program Focused on Health Equity and Rural Empowerment The newly formed Health Equity and Rural Empowerment (HERE) Initiative launched its first class of HERE fellows this fall. The HERE Fellows Program seeks to equip the next generation of leaders with the skills and knowledge to address complex and urgent challenges confronting rural communities and health systems. The inaugural cohort included 12 junior and senior nursing and public health majors from Colby-Sawyer College and Plymouth State University. Students benefited from monthly seminars with rural health leaders as well as interactions with a network of faculty and staff mentors and peers. The HERE Fellows Program is embedded within a network of academic, health systems and community partners that includes Colby-Sawyer College, Dartmouth College and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health.

The 2020-2021 HERE fellows are Kadirah Abdul-Jabbar, Avery Brennan, Maegan Castriotta, Zoe Daudier, Emma Veazie, Madyn Kenney, Marissa Nance, Sara Osborne, Callan Rees, Isabella Robinson, Madelyn Turell and Annaliese Volckaert.

Finding Peace of Mind: Koru Mindfulness Program Launched for Students and Employees As part of its commitment to personal and community well-being, Colby-Sawyer sponsored four individuals to participate in a Koru Mindfulness Teacher Certification.

These instructors will offer ongoing campus-based (or virtual) meditation programming for students, faculty and staff. Available workshops include Koru Basic and 2.0, taught over four 75-minute sessions, as well as a half-day retreat. Participants in these workshops receive free instruction on techniques shown to help reduce stress, increase productivity and improve overall wellbeing, as well as lifetime access to the Koru meditation app. The Koru program, offered at more than 100 institutions, is the only evidence-based mindfulness curriculum specifically designed for college-aged adults, and many businesses, including Google, General Mills, Nike, AOL Time Warner, Aetna, Goldman Sachs, Intel and Proctor & Gamble have also recognized value in providing similar programs to their employees. The Koru initiative at Colby-Sawyer launched this spring and, to date, more than 60 individuals have taken part in seven different classes. ® Jennifer White ’90 is the director of sustainability and innovation at Colby-Sawyer College, where she collaborates with stakeholders to implement policies, initiatives and curricula that promote sustainability and resilience on campus and within the greater community.

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PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: State-of-the-Art Simulations Prepare Nursing Students for Virtually Any Clinical Scenario

by Michael Pezone

Brenna Hopkins ’22 comforted the crying infant while Shelby Kantor ’22 put in a call to his provider.

“It feels real,” said Ferrier, a member of the Wesson Honors Program and women’s soccer team. “Once the simulation starts, you become immersed in what’s going on. It feels The patient, 4-month-old Ricky Tundra, was very real. As Ricky’s vitals became concerning, admitted earlier in the day with a cough and I could feel myself having a stress reaction a slight fever, and his team of caretakers was that I would have with a live patient. You also growing concerned with changes to his vital signs. experience genuine relief when the patient begins to stabilize and the simulation ends.”

With his provider on the phone and Ricky coughing in the background, the team’s third The exercise was one of a variety of simulamember, Rachel Ferrier ’22, carefully read off tions that all students enrolled in Colby-Sawtheir patient’s blood pressure, temperature and yer’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program oxygen levels to Kantor, who relayed the inforare required to take part in. Run in conjunction mation to the voice on the other end of the line. with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health (D-HH), a Moments later, a prescription was delivered to strategic partner of the college for more than Ricky’s bedside and was methodically adminis40 years, simulations are conducted using tered by the team. state-of-the-art technology that allows faculty to replicate virtually any clinical scenario.

“Great job. That’s it,” said Adjunct Professor Katelyn Cormier, MSN, RN, prompting others in For Hopkins, Kantor and Ferrier, the exercise Colby-Sawyer College’s Mercer nursing laborawas a pediatric simulation, in which they were tory to applaud. told only that they’d be caring for an infant patient in respiratory distress. As third-year Visibly relieved, Hopkins, Kantor and Ferrier nursing students, they’ll participate in three congratulated one another before joining the additional simulations before the end of their rest of their classmates to debrief. second semester.

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above:

“Our main goal is for students to enhance the application of their knowledge through these scenarios,” said Assistant Professor Nicole Felisme Chartier ’11, MSN, RN, who, along with Cormier, also works at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in nearby Lebanon, N.H., in the Intensive Care Nursery. “We want them to learn how to work together as a team, ask for help and communicate effectively to ensure safe patient care.”

D-HH has been conducting simulations for Colby-Sawyer students since 2008. But unlike previous years in which the majority of simulations were held at the Patient Safety Training Center (PSTC) at DHMC, restrictions put in place due to COVID-19 have forced most simulations to be relocated to the college.

Fortunately, the transition has been seamless, as Colby-Sawyer is home to two nursing labs designed to the specifications of a typical hospital inpatient nursing unit — complete with Hill-Rom adjustable beds, IV pumps and wall-mounted oxygen connections.

During the pediatric simulation, students worked in small groups on one side of the lab administering care to a pediatric patient

simulator so lifelike, its operator could change its skin tone to reflect changes in its oxygen levels. Across the room, a Dartmouth-Hitchcock PSTC technician controlled the pediatric patient simulator’s vital signs and bodily functions through a laptop, while nearby, the course’s nursing faculty and the rest of the class watched a live video feed of the action.

Brenna Hopkins ’22 participates in a pediatric patient simulation in the Mercer Hall nursing laboratory.

“The simulations are created by faculty members and the simulation experts at Dartmouth-Hitchcock,” said Chartier, adding that all nursing clinical courses have a simulation component. “They are updated using the latest evidence-based practice, which is critical for nursing students to learn and understand as they complete their clinical rotations.”

Matthew Charnetski, director of simulation based education and research at D-HH, said it’s not only the Colby-Sawyer students who benefit from the experience and knowledge gained during simulations.

“The more experience students have as they start clinical, the easier they are to work with as they begin to rotate through our facilities,”

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above:

Nursing students Brenna Hopkins ’22, Rachel Ferrier ’22 and Shelby Kantor ’22 administer care to a pediatric care simulator named Ricky inside the nursing simulation laboratory at Mercer Hall.

“Once the simulation starts, you become immersed in what’s going on.

It feels very real.”

Charnetski explained. “This has the potential to lower the workload and mental energy cost on our nurses working with students.

We are also creating a workforce that’s better and more comprehensively prepared to work at Dartmouth-Hitchcock.”

Charnetski and his team are tasked with supporting the experiential educational needs of D-HH and its partners like Colby-Sawyer.

He and his team work closely with educators, patient safety specialists and others to define their educational needs and meet them through creative and, often, innovative means like simulations.

“We allow learners to practice in this high-frequency, low-consequence environment,” Charnetski said. “By having the opportunity to fail early and fail often without any real functional consequence (no patients were harmed in the making of this simulation), we can provide direct observation, feedback and debriefing to best assist our learners. Being able to iteratively practice literally anything, we can create a volume of experiences that might take years to develop, particularly in uncommon or highly acute situations.”

Ferrier agreed and admitted that while simulations may not be her favorite part of the nursing curriculum, there’s no denying their value.

“Being able to make mistakes in these simulations without the consequence of harming a living patient is incredibly helpful,” she said.

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“We learn the most from our mistakes and it’s important that we learn without compromising the quality of a patient’s care.”

During the debriefing process, Hopkins, Kantor and Ferrier reflected on their decisionmaking, and listened to feedback from both their instructors and classmates. Chartier complimented the students for working well together as a team and highlighted something unique each brought to the table.

For Hopkins, it was her constant reassessment of the patient’s condition that drew praise from her instructor. Kantor was credited for her situational awareness and ability to see the big picture. And Ferrier was applauded for her critical thinking amid stressful, ever-changing circumstances.

“I absolutely feel more comfortable working with living patients and handling stressful situations after having participated in these simulations,” Ferrier said. “In clinical, nursing students will never be in charge of leading or handling a stressful situation — we are only permitted to observe or follow instructions from the nurse in charge. Simulations allow us to practice leading and handling stressful situations, making us more prepared for when we become working nurses.” ® Michael Pezone is assistant director for the Office of Marketing & Communications. He holds a B.A. in journalism from Keene State College.

TAKING PRIDE IN OUR LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY

BY MOLLY BERNARD

PROGRESS STARTS WITH A COLLEGE THAT CARES...

In her 10 years working as the college’s LGBTQ+ liaison, School of Business & Social Sciences Professor Kathleen Farrell has seen the LGBTQ+ community on campus grow and has collaborated across campus to help make Colby-Sawyer welcoming to everyone.

“Having a campus LGBTQ+ liaison has been essential to ensure that students, faculty and staff know where to turn if they have questions or concerns connected to their LGBTQ+ identities,” Farrell said.

The college has also made progress with visual demonstrations of support that make members of the LGBTQ+ community feel more accepted on campus. LGBTQ+ Safe Zone stickers, commonplace on office doors, signal to members of the community that those faculty and staff members have had training regarding basic LGBTQ+ terminology and the importance of inclusion.

Similarly, Colby-Sawyer recently made changes to its criteria for emergency housing during college breaks.

Once vague language now includes domestic violence, transphobia and homophobia as qualifying factors.

“Colby-Sawyer staff and faculty are definitely eager to learn and to be more accommodating to the LGBTQ+ community,” Kelly said. “They happily work with us when we have ideas and take our concerns seriously.”

School of Business & Social Sciences Professor Kathleen Farrell has served as the college’s LGBTQ+ liaison for the past 10 years. left: Matthew Kelly ’21, served as the president of PRIDE, a student-run club that promotes LGBTQ+ initiatives on campus, during his senior year.

In 2019, students created the LGBTQ+ Resource Center in Colgate Hall, which is open 24 hours a day for students to borrow LGBTQ+-themed books, videos and magazines or simply use the space to study or socialize with friends. Farrell and other members of the campus community continue to set goals for future progress, like the creation of an LGBTQ+ advisory board on campus. Farrell said the board would be tasked with making climate assessments, suggesting additional resources and providing networking opportunities for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The title for this article was set in the typeface Marsha, designed by VocalType.

It is named for the LGBTQ+ activist Marsha P. Johnson who protested at Stonewall in the 1960s-70s. The design of this font was inspired by the sign that hung outside the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, New York, NY.

“(Having) pronouns in the roster is super helpful, especially for me when I was coming out but not totally passing yet,” said Matthew Kelly ’21, who served as president of PRIDE — a student-run club — prior to graduation.

“During my first year, I had to go to every professor and let them know my pronouns, which was super scary.”

above:

“We need to create more opportunities for members of the LGBTQ+ community and others on campus to learn from one another,” Farrell said. “There’s plenty of work to be done, but continued growth will make us a stronger community.” 

COLOPHON

Farrell has seen small changes and large gains made in her time at the college. One of the largest was an initiative launched in 2018 that allows students to list their personal pronouns on class rosters. Previously, software limitations prevented pronouns from being included, leaving professors to make assumptions that weren’t always accurate. But the change, like the addition of gender-neutral restrooms a few years earlier in Colgate Hall and some residential buildings, was supported campus-wide.

Molly Bernard, of Lowell, Mass., was a student worker for the Office of Marketing & Communications.

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FIFTH-YEAR MBA PROGRAM OFFERS FAMILIARITY, SAVINGS

by Hannah Murphy ’24

T

his fall, Colby-Sawyer began offering a new fifth-year Master of Business Administration (MBA) program that allows students the opportunity to graduate with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree over the course of five years.

The program, available to both business administration majors and non-majors alike, is designed to save students both time and money when compared with standalone MBA programs offered elsewhere.

That’s because eight of the 35 credits needed for completion must be taken during a student’s time as an undergraduate and are therefore priced at the undergraduate tuition rate. Students enrolled as business administration majors will have met all prerequisites needed to enroll in the program prior to graduation, while students in other majors must complete a business administration minor as well as other preparatory courses in order to enroll.

Cameron Brooks ’21, who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration, said he was drawn to the fifth-year MBA program for the same reasons he was drawn to Colby-Sawyer’s undergraduate program.

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“With smaller class sizes there’s a sense that, as a student, our voices and ideas are truly heard,” Brooks said. “I’m also excited to work with a class of highly motivated young professionals. Colby-Sawyer has been my home for the past four years and I’m ecstatic to have the opportunity to pursue an MBA here.”

According to School of Business & Social Sciences Professor Beth Crockford, the fifth-year MBA program was created in response to an increase in the number of students seeking master’s degrees soon after graduation. And with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Crockford noted that some students may be reluctant to enter the workforce immediately following graduation and would rather further their education.

Crockford said the fifth-year MBA program allows students the opportunity to remain involved in the college’s close-knit community and continue to foster important connections with faculty members they already know. Students enrolled in the program have the option to live on campus, in graduate-specific housing, or off campus.

opposite page from left:

Jenna Bessette ’21, who interned at Hudkins Law & Title in New London, N.H., is taking part in the college’s new fifth-year MBA program.

Julia Lanctot ’21, who is also participating in the new program, says she’s most looking forward to continuing her education with the faculty members she has already formed relationships with as an undergraduate.

“With smaller class sizes there’s a sense that, as a student, our voices and ideas are truly heard...”

“What interested me the most about this program was the opportunity to continue my education with the same professors,” said Julia Lanctot ’21, a standout field hockey player who plans to remain with the team for an additional year after her senior season was cancelled due to COVID-19. “They have done a tremendous job over my four years as an undergraduate, so I am looking forward to furthering those relationships and benefiting from the knowledge they provide.”

Crockford also highlighted the unique opportunities the program offers, including an emphasis on field experience that expands on the college’s internship and experiential learning requirements. Crockford said that emphasis is key in helping students gain additional experience as they prepare to enter the workforce.

Nicolas Adornetto ’22, a member of the men’s soccer and Alpine ski teams who plans to enroll in the fifth-year MBA option, agreed and said he’s most interested in the experience he’ll garner through collaborations with local businesses.

“One of the most appealing aspects of the program is how the professors are looking to integrate our

experience with other businesses in various industries,” Adornetto said. “With true exposure to real-life situations in the workplace, our knowledge in the business field will be strengthened through a number of personal experiences. This is an aspect of the curriculum that’s very unique to the experience that Colby-Sawyer offers.”

For Michael Queen ’21, who recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, the decision to enroll in the fifth-year MBA program was clear.

“The program provides a great opportunity for a seamless transition [within my business education] and I will be able to complete it in a shorter period of time,” Queen said. “I look forward to seeing the difference in teaching and information from pursuing an MBA compared to an undergraduate degree in business.”  Hannah Murphy ’24, of Merrimac, Mass., is a student worker for the Office of Marketing & Communications.

She is majoring in creative and professional writing.

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FIRST IN HER CLASS Cheyann Ellis ’20 graduates with bachelor’s degree, teaching certificate through UVEI partnership

by Donna Shepard Long “It was important to identify when and what classes should be built in to satisfy both the liberal arts and teaching certification requirements,” Ellis said. “Professors at Colby-Sawyer and UVEI asked me for a lot of feedback.”

Upon completing her student-teaching requirements, Ellis accepted a position at the Grantham Village School in Grantham, N.H., to help accommodate social distancing amid COVID-19. She was responsible for 12 third graders, working one day remotely and the rest in person.

Photo by Donna Shepard Long

Colby-Sawyer College and the Upper Valley Educators Institute (UVEI) entered a partnership in 2018 to offer an accelerated teacher certification program in which students can save time and money by completing the program in four years. The goal was for students to complete the required courses for their bachelor’s degree at Colby-Sawyer in 3.5 years and complete the remaining requirements for teacher certification at UVEI during the second semester of their fourth year.

The first person to successfully complete this program was Cheyann Ellis ’20.

Ellis realized she wanted to pursue a career working with children during her senior year of high school. But it was not until she took the pilot class at Colby-Sawyer with UVEI that she realized she would be interested in earning a teaching certificate.

“Remote teaching was challenging after learning all classroom management techniques. Some of them are not transferable to teaching online,” Ellis said. “But I felt I was able to use a lot of the skills that I learned at Colby-Sawyer to get me through it.”

Ellis finished the school year with her third graders and is currently working on her master’s degree which she hopes to complete by spring 2022. Her advice to students following in her footsteps by receiving their teacher certification while at Colby-Sawyer is this: “Enjoy your opportunity to work with the faculty at both CSC and UVEI. Remain passionate about the program. It is hard, but worth it in the end.” ® Donna Shepard Long is the communications and marketing coordinator for the Office of College Advancement. She holds a B.A. in communications from Syracuse University.

EDUCATION & TEACHER CERTIFICATION

“I did my practicum in New London and I thought, ‘This is so cool. I would love to be in my mentor teacher’s position someday,’ ” Ellis said. “That’s when I decided to push for that goal.”

Being the first person to go through a program is not always easy, however. As with any new college offering, many hours of planning and input went into the new collaboration. Due to the accelerated schedule, it was important to figure out when students should take each class and when exams should be taken.

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Partnership between Colby-Sawyer and Upper Valley Educators Institute (UVEI)

Accelerated pathway to certification

Both bachelor’s degree in chosen major and UVEI certification earned in four years

Photo courtesy of the Blair family

REMEMBERING 9/11

Susan Blair ’88: An Enduring Legacy

by Michael Pezone

Susan Blair ’88 had big plans.

Engaged to be married and less than five months into a new job with Aon Insurance on the 92nd floor of the World Trade Center’s South Tower, the 35-year-old had just taken her first steps toward an eventual career change.

Blair enrolled in night classes, motivated by her love for children, and set her sights on earning a degree in teaching.

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above left:

Holley Fasano Georgiadis ’87 (left), Katrina Wing Clark ’88 (second from left), Suzanne Fitzgerald Travers ’88 (second from right) and Susan Blair ’88 (right) take part in an event on the quad. above right: Leslie Blair ’83 (left), Sally Trussell White ’59 (center) and Susan Blair ’88 (right) pose for a photo on the steps of Abbey Hall. Photos courtesy of the Blair family

“Sue’s joy in life was interacting with children,” said Susan’s sister Leslie Blair ’83, who, like Susan and their mother Sally Trussell White ’59, also graduated from Colby-Sawyer. “She was ‘Aunt Sue’ to dozens of her friends’ kids and was able to make each one feel as though they were the most important child in the world. She would have been such a great teacher.”

But in the blink of an eye on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Blair’s dreams — and those of 2,976 others — met a sudden and tragic end.

“Like Sue, we believe that every child deserves to feel as though they are the most important person in the world...”

Leslie Blair said her family has heard enough witness accounts to piece together a timeline of Susan’s final moments, and one that fits seamlessly with the way she lived. Shortly after the North Tower was struck by American Airlines Flight 11 at 8:46 a.m., Blair sprang into action, urging those around her to evacuate to safety. Witnesses credit Blair with helping to guide a pregnant woman who was struggling in a stairwell to about the 78th floor where the two women entered an elevator. At 9:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower between the 77th and 85th floors. The women were never seen again.

Such selflessness was nothing out of the ordinary for Blair. When the child of one of her Colby-Sawyer classmates was diagnosed with cancer, Blair put her own life on hold to be there for her friend, even sleeping at the hospital so the family could rest without having to leave the child alone.

Leslie Blair recalled another instance when Susan drove for more than five hours across five states to watch their cousin’s 4-year-old daughter, Sally, dance in a school recital.

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Leslie said Sally’s routine lasted all of five minutes, but to Susan, it was well worth the drive.

“After the show, Sue presented her with a huge bouquet of flowers like she was the prima ballerina of the whole performance,” Leslie remembered. “To Sue, she was. And to little Sally — and her siblings who loved riding around in Sue’s convertible — Sue was everything.”

Though Blair never realized her dream of becoming a teacher, her family, along with friends and classmates from Colby-Sawyer’s Class of ’88, have gone out of their way to ensure that others can. In 2002, the Susan L. Blair ’88 Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in Susan’s honor, intended to support female students majoring in Colby-Sawyer’s child development or education programs.

“Like Sue, we believe that every child deserves to feel as though they are the most important person in the world — not just at their recitals,” Leslie Blair said. “She never got the chance to have her own kids, but watching her taught me how to listen, how to understand, how to be present in the moment and how to love generously with laughter and without conditions. She was always so good at that.

I know that her Colby-Sawyer classmates remember that girl and miss her as much as our mother and I do.”

For more information about the Susan L. Blair ’88 Memorial Scholarship Fund, or to make a gift, contact the Office of College Advancement at (603) 526-3426 or alumni@colby-sawyer.edu.

September 11, 2001: As remembered 20 years later by those who were on campus

September 11, 2001, was a gorgeous, sunny morning at Colby-Sawyer.

I was standing on the quad, full of optimism as I discussed with a few colleagues our dreams for an upcoming addition to Mercer Hall. It was then that we learned that a hijacked airplane had crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.

It took hours to learn more about the two additional hijackings and what had actually happened. The college has had many alumni, parents and friends who live and work in New York and the Pentagon, but we didn’t have a sense yet that day about the magnitude of personal loss our college community might be experiencing. Our own campus, which had felt entirely safe just a short time ago, began to grapple with the many unknowns and the attendant disquiet.

As the uncertainties grew, we knew that we needed to be together, as our campus has always done, both in celebration and in strife. We did what one would expect a fine liberal arts college to do — we gathered together to try to make sense of that soon-to-be-historic event. Because these were the days before ubiquitous cellphones, texting and consistent use of email, I used the campus voice mail system to personally invite our community to come together.

We convened mid-afternoon that day on the quad near the rear portico of Colgate: students, faculty, staff, trustees, friends and neighbors. At that subdued event, we held a moment of silence for friends, family and strangers alike. We asked why and sought answers to the human questions of tragic loss. We talked, shared our grief and informed ourselves about what was known and what remained a mystery. All of this took place against the backdrop of recurring footage of an iconic American building collapsing in the news media. The only thing we knew for sure is that our world would never be the same again.

Anne Ponder Colby-Sawyer President, 1995-2005

“I returned to my dorm room after my first college class as the second plane hit the World Trade Center. I was immediately introduced to a new, unimaginable, frightening uncertainty. The silence in Abbey Hall was eerily deafening. There were no words to explain the sense of emotion flooding the halls.”

Melissa Berry Vasquez ’05 Then: First-year student Now: Mom of two, assistant director of a childcare center

“A television was set up in Ware and people began migrating over to try to collectively make sense of what was happening. Everyone was just staring at the screen as the towers collapsed. I felt scared because I didn’t know why this was happening and profoundly sad that this tragedy had changed so many lives.”

Laura Sykes Then: Director of the Hogan Sports Center Now: Academic Vice President and Dean of Faculty

“By noon, the feeling on campus was covering the gamut; shock, disbelief, profound sadness, sense of loss and anger. I was feeling all of it and pretty much all at the same time. I remember thinking, ‘How wide spread is this attack?’ What should we be doing right now to make sure everyone’s safe?’”

Pete Berthiaume Then: Director of Campus Safety Now: Associate Dean of Students and Director of Emergency Management

“That afternoon, the college community gathered on the quad to hear President Anne Ponder speak. I can’t remember a single word of what she said but I remember that she said exactly what I needed to hear at the time. I was profoundly grateful to her.”

Mary McLaughlin

Then: Director of Residential Education Now: Writing Specialist for the Student Learning Collaborative

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portfolio

publications, exhibitions and awards

by Michael Pezone

As part of the award, South Portland High School received a core archive of American history books, Gilder Lehrman educational materials and a $1,000 honorarium in Bailey’s name.

Taylor Aines ’18, who graduated from Colby-Sawyer with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, was awarded the DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health in May 2021. The award, bestowed quarterly at hospitals across the country, celebrates the skillful and compassionate care nurses provide every day. Aines, who began working at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., in 2016 as a licensed nursing assistant, specializes in critical care and currently works in the hospital’s System Staffing Office.

Sarah Welch Bailey ’03, a social studies teacher at South Portland High School, was named the 2020 Maine State History Teacher of the Year. Bailey graduated from Colby-Sawyer with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education before going on to earn her master’s degree from the University of Connecticut.

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Julia Carr ’22, a child development education prep major and member of the college’s field hockey team, wrote an article titled, “For the Love of the Game,” which was published

by USA Field Hockey on teamusa.org.

In the article, Carr shares her feelings about being a college athlete amid the COVID-19 pandemic and why she devotes so much time to the sport she loves. Carr says, “Even though it scares me to not be certain when we will have a true season again, I know that no matter what, I will still be with my team and I will still be playing some form of field hockey.”

In celebration of National Poetry Month this past April, School of Arts & Sciences Associate Professor Ewa Chrusciel participated in a virtual event hosted

by Bookstock and the Norman Williams Public Library in Woodstock, Vt. Chrusciel read from her book, Of Annunciations, in which she maps the biblical event of annunciation onto the current migration crisis.

An article written by Jaclyn Goddette ’16 about Colbytown Camp, a former Colby-Sawyer-sponsored summer camp for refugees and underserved girls, was published

by German media outlet DW.com in October. Goddette, who majored

in English while at Colby-Sawyer, includes within her article information from primary sources collected from the Colby-Sawyer archives along with interviews with former campers.

Couper Gunn ’22, a history and political studies major and captain of the men’s soccer team, shared his story of coming out as a gay athlete with OutSports.com, a national online publication. Within the article titled, “Wearing a Pride Shirt Inspired a Gay College Soccer Captain to Come Out,” Gunn says, “For most of my life I wished to be something that I thought I wasn’t: I wished to be normal. It turns out that I always was. I am normal. We are normal … but also extraordinary.”

the nearly 2,500 students surveyed experienced high levels of stress or anxiety amid the pandemic. McAnirlin majored in exercise science during her time at Colby-Sawyer and is pursuing her doctorate in parks, recreation and tourism management.

Natalie Hansel, a registered nurse currently enrolled in the college’s Master of Science in Nursing program, was awarded the DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health in January 2021. The award, bestowed quarterly at hospitals across the country, celebrates the skillful and compassionate care nurses provide every day. Hansel began working at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., in 2017 as a nurse resident and currently serves as a clinical nurse on the Medical Specialties team.

Olivia McAnirlin ’17, a Ph.D. student at Clemson University, helped author a study on the psychological impacts of COVID-19 among college students. The study, titled “Psychological impacts from COVID-19 among university students: Risk factors across seven states in the United States,” found that almost half of

an almost forgotten era from 1864 to 1963 when the small town of Newcastle was once the center of a busy coal mining industry.

Malia King Minnick ’14 recently graduated from New England College with a Doctorate of Education focused in Higher Education Administration. As part of her studies, Minnick published a dissertation titled “Fostering Success: How Students Involved in Foster Care Progress in Higher Education Through the Development of a System of Support” which is available through ProQuest. Minnick graduated from Colby-Sawyer with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and also holds a Master’s of Education in K-12 School Counseling.

Dean for the School of Arts & Sciences Hilary Williams and Sarah Lyman of Farm to Institution New England led a presentation titled “How Design Can Help You Change the Food System” at the 2021 Northeast Farm to Institution Summit. The presentation, and coinciding workshop, focused on how schools, hospitals, correctional facilities and other institutions can use simple design techniques to transform the food system.

Barb Russell Williams ’62 served as a researcher and writer for a recently published book on the history of Newcastle, Wash., titled, The Coals of Newcastle — A Hundred Years of Hidden History. The book, published by the Newcastle Historical Society in October 2020, tells the story of

Last March, Laura M. Young ’16 participated in the group show, De-functioning the Functional, at Studio Place Arts in Barre, Vt. Her collage series, “Working from Home: A Year in Notes,” documents her transition from teaching in person to remote instruction. The series combines reflective writing with handwritten notes written while working during COVID-19. Young currently works as the graphic designer for ColbySawyer’s Office of Marketing & Communications.

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THE OBVIOUS CHOICE Former baseball standout Tom White replaces Jim Broughton as head coach

by Nick Penkala The year was 1995. Colby-Sawyer had just started a baseball program and recent college graduate Jim Broughton was hired as its first head coach.

Broughton came to Colby-Sawyer with no coaching experience, but as a two-time All-American who led the University of Southern Maine to three Division III College World Series appearances, his accolades on the playing field were plentiful. But as with any brand new program, there were growing pains.

Broughton’s Chargers won a combined 25 games in his first three seasons at the helm before things quickly turned around. In both 1998 and 1999, Colby-Sawyer baseball had breakthrough seasons, earning back-to-back Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) titles — the Chargers’ 25-win season in 1999 remains the program’s best ever. This turnaround didn’t go unnoticed either, with Broughton earning CCC Coach of the Year honors both years.

As the years went on — 25 in all — Broughton coached a number of eventual Colby-Sawyer Athletics Hall of Famers. One of the best was Tom White ’09. The Lisbon,

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N.H., native batted .353 during his career with the Chargers, setting Colby-Sawyer records for most games played and most at-bats. He also ranks second in program history in hits with 164.

Like Broughton, White jumped right into coaching after graduation, becoming an assistant for the Plymouth State University baseball team in 2010 while pursuing his master’s degree. Three years later, he accepted his first

above:

Tom White '09, a stand-out baseball player during his time at Colby-Sawyer and a member of the college's Athletics Hall of Fame, was hired as the men's baseball coach in 2021. bottom left: Jim Broughton retired as men's baseball coach after the 2020 season following 25 years leading the team.

head coaching position at Northern Vermont University-Lyndon, where he led the program to three playoff appearances in five seasons. White eventually left Lyndon, Vt., to accept a position in the Office of Admissions at Colby-Sawyer, and it wasn’t long before he found his way back to Kelsey Field to help out his former college coach as an assistant.

“Coach Broughton has always been extremely supportive, from all the way back to my first time on campus in 2005,” said White, reflecting on his days first as an athlete and later as an assistant coach for the Chargers. “He’s always been a great resource for advice during my coaching career.”

In White’s first year on the staff, the Chargers saw improvement from the previous year. But in year two, the season was cut short because of COVID-19. Then in 2021, with uncertainty surrounding the future of spring sports at Colby-Sawyer, Broughton announced his retirement from coaching.

Director of Athletics Mitch Capelle didn’t have to look far to find a replacement, however. In fact, he just had to walk across campus. And on Feb. 3, White was named the second head baseball coach in Colby-Sawyer history.

“It means everything,” said White, on landing the head coaching position at his alma mater. “I am humbled and take great pride in the opportunity to be the head baseball coach where my love for college athletics began 11 years ago.”

In the months following the hire, which Capelle called “a win” for Colby-Sawyer, White got his team ready to go even as the season remained in limbo. But with COVID-19 numbers on a downward trend, the Chargers opened their season on April 18 against Norwich University and went on to finish the season with a .500 record after sweeping a doubleheader against Rivier University on Senior Day. With only four months under his belt in his new role, White said he still has a lot of work to do. Even so, he said he knows where he’d like the program to go.

“Our goal going forward will be to continue to build Colby-Sawyer’s baseball program into one of the more competitive programs in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference and within New England,” White said.

“We look forward to growing our baseball facilities, alumni events and overall baseball experience for our student-athletes each year.”

White said Broughton instilled in him the mentality you need to be a successful coach, and that shows in his approach to the 2022 season.

“We want to put our program in a position to qualify for the GNAC playoffs,” he said. “Once you are in the playoffs, anything can happen.”  Nick Penkala is the sports information director for Athletics. He holds a B.A. in communications from Plymouth State University.

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SPORTS NEWS

by Nick Penkala

NEW HIRES Grace Lincoln Sokolow was hired as the head women’s soccer coach in December 2020. Sokolow comes to Colby-Sawyer after spending the last two seasons as the head coach at Finlandia University in Hancock, Mich. During her time with the Lions, Sokolow put together a record of 11-6-1 and reached the American Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) Championship game in what was the first conference final appearance in school history. A native of Parker, Colo., Sokolow was a four-year letter winner and two-year starter at Vassar (N.Y.), where she was named to the Liberty League All-Academic Team three times (2006-08). She holds an A.B. in women’s studies from Vassar, an M.A. in American Studies from Lehigh and an M.S.W. in social work business from the University of Southern California.

Andy Locke was named head coach of the men’s and women’s Alpine skiing programs in May. Locke arrives at Colby-Sawyer after 11 years with the Pats Peak Ski Club in Henniker, N.H., where he served as director for the last six

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COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

years. Locke is a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Level 300 Alpine Coach as well as a Level 100 Coach Developer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from St. Lawrence University and a master’s in regional planning from the University of Montana. During his time at Pats Peak, Locke helped drive significant growth in the ski club and consistently placed athletes into divisional and regional championships.

Prior to Pats Peak, Locke taught skiing and coached in Sun Valley, Idaho, and was a business executive in the geospatial data industry.

Bob Reasso was named assistant athletic director and head men’s soccer coach in June 2020. In 35 seasons on the sideline, including stops at Division I Rutgers University and Division II Pfeiffer University, Reasso accumulated 436 wins, ranking him 30th all-time among collegiate men’s soccer coaches. During his 29 seasons at Rutgers, Reasso compiled a 351-183-71 record that included 13 NCAA tournament appearances, three Final Four appearances and one national championship game appearance. During his tenure in New Brunswick, N.J., Reasso won Atlantic-10

Coach of the Year three times and Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year four times and captured the 1990 NCAA D-I National Coach of the Year award.

Reasso later returned to his alma mater, Pfeiffer University, as vice president for athletics and head men’s soccer coach, and led the program to its first-ever NCAA tournament game. In 2015, Reasso won the NCAA D-II National Coach of the Year award after leading Pfeiffer to a national championship following a 25-0 season. Reasso also served as the director of athletics and men’s and women’s soccer coach at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, before returning to the U.S. to accept a position as executive director and head coach of soccer at the Combine Academy in Lincolnton, N.C. He has coached more than 60 athletes who have gone on to play professionally.

SEASON RECAPS MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING The Colby-Sawyer men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams competed in a number of virtual events during a winter season impacted by COVID-19. Junior Kelsey Brown (Douglas, Mass.) set school records in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly on the women’s side, while seniors Garrett Scahill (Manville, R.I.) and Ty Minton (Port Huron, Mich.) swam well for the men’s team.

BASEBALL The Colby-Sawyer baseball team finished its COVID-19 shortened season with a 2-2 record.

The squad started off the season with a doubleheader at Norwich University, where sophomore Tommy Sasso (Grafton, Mass.) tallied a pair of hits in both games. The Chargers finished the season by sweeping Rivier University, with senior Noah Yeingst (Middleboro, Mass.) earning the win in Game 1 after pitching five innings and allowing one run. In Game 2, junior Jake Choiniere (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) tallied three hits to help the Chargers squeak out a 9-7 victory.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE The Colby-Sawyer women’s lacrosse team finished its COVID-19 shortened season with a 1-4 record, highlighted by an 18-4 victory over Rivier University.

The Chargers were led offensively by senior Briana Couture (South Hadley, Mass.) who scored 11 goals in four games, while senior Jess Tattersall (Keene, N.H.) finished with nine goals. Senior Mattie Iaria (Hingham, Mass.) was a defensive force for the Chargers with 10 forced turnovers and first-year student Simone Long (Wales, Maine) started all four games for Colby-Sawyer in goal. She finished with 43 saves on the season. 

opposite page:

Senior lacrosse captain Jess Tattersall evades defender during a game against New England College. this page from top: Senior Noah Yeingst pitches for the baseball team. Junior Kelsey Brown swims the butterfly during a meet. Members of the women’s lacrosse team are introduced prior to a game. Members of the baseball team warm up before the start of a game. Photos courtesy of Colby-Sawyer Athletics

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news from alumni relations HOMECOMING

2021 October 15-17

We look forward to welcoming alumni, parents, family and friends to campus for an in-person Homecoming celebration Friday, Oct. 15–Sunday, Oct. 17. We will follow COVID-19 protocols recommended by state health authorities to ensure the health and safety of our campus community. Milestone reunion celebrations will take place for all class years ending in 0, 1, 5 and 6.

Visit colby-sawyer.edu/homecoming for more information and to register online.

Alumni Speaker Series Colby-Sawyer has launched a brand new Alumni Speaker Series, a virtual experience for alumni, students, parents and friends that highlights the accomplishments and success stories of Colby-Sawyer graduates in varying fields.

To view past events featuring Drew Lydecker ’00 and Lisa Hogarty ’81, visit colby-sawyer. edu/alumni-events. Watch your email inbox for announcements about future Alumni Speaker Series events.

Alumni Journal The Alumni Office’s monthly e-newsletter features stories and profiles on alumni, students, faculty and staff members. To read profiles from the current issue, as well as to view an archive of profiles, visit the Alumni Journal online at colby-sawyer.edu/journal. If you are not receiving the e-newsletter and would like to join the recipient list, email the Alumni Office at alumni@colby-sawyer.edu.

Stay Connected With Colby-Sawyer 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.

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above: left:

Lisa Hogarty ’81 Drew Lydecker ’00

CONTACT the Alumni Office: alumni@colby-sawyer.edu 603.526.3426 colbysawyeralumni colbysawyer colby-sawyer alumni group csc_alumni

class notes 1945 1946

RAMONA “HOPPY” HOPKINS O’BRIEN 54 Texel Drive Springfield, MA 01108

1947

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1948

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1949

ELIZABETH REYNOLDS MATTHEWS elimtth@aol.com I missed contacting some of you by phone as I have done in the past while vacationing in Vero Beach, FL, during the winter months. This year however, I took a trip to the beautiful hospital since I fell and my brittle bones settled in a lump.

I had a hip replacement in April and am recovering in a rehab known for its athletic programs.

I am certain there are some ’49ers in Sea Oaks, The Moorings and John’s Island. We’d love to receive word from all of you! Last year Priscilla Swezey, Knapp Teich and Nancy Hunt Swezey were in FL for a brief period. Where were you this year? Let’s hear about any exciting trips you’ve taken. It will brighten all of our days. Two of my grandchildren in Chicago have announced their engagements. A nephew, whose mom is Joan Reynolds Irish ’50, also announced his engagement in Atlanta, GA. Best to all of my classmates!

1950

KATIE VALLIERE-DENIS OUILETTE nanapa@beeline-online.net In Feb., Barbara “Bobbie” Fetzer Hebert moved from AZ to Boise, ID, to a CCRC Community. The facility is only 5 years old and Bobbie enjoys the many activities and wonderful meals. She serves on the food and beverage committee and the garden club. Bobbie has her own large garden in which she grows her own vegetables, as well as a south facing terrace where she grows flowers. There are over 60 miles of biking and walking trails and a river adjacent. Bobbie says, “They call this Treasure Valley and it truly is!” Bobbie is fortunate to have her son and daughter-in-law living nearby.

1951

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED The Alumni Office is sad to report the passing of longtime class correspondent Roberta “Bobbie” Green Davis on March 12, 2021. Bobbie had served as the 1951 correspondent since 1991. Following CJC, Mary Em Bodman Kenner received her B.S. degree from the University of Southern CA. She took a teaching job in San Francisco and was soon convinced that she really was a New Englander! She returned to the Boston area and taught kindergarten for several years before marrying a Canadian and moving to Toronto, then Long Island, Westmount, Montreal, NC and back to Toronto, where she

has remained. Mary Em shares, “Toronto is now a very large city with many languages spoken.”

Two of Mary Em’s children are in Ontario and one is Anchorage, AK. A granddaughter recently graduated summa cum laude from the University of CA, Santa Barbara. She wants to be a doctor, is an equestrian jumper and is musically talented. Lots for Mary Em to be proud of! After 17 years, Hilltop Place in New London, NH, is still Ruth Gray Pratt’s happy place. Her daughter lives nearby in Newport, NH, which is a big plus. Ruth talks to Mary Loudon Eckert often and they enjoy sharing memories of their days at Colby Junior.

Ruth has 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren so far. All of the grands call her GiGi. Ruth encourages more classmates to send updates for the class notes.

1952

MARILYN “WOODSIE” WOODS ENTWISTLE 16 Cooks Mill Road Naples, ME 04055 In a note to the Alumni Office, Nan Norton Wasniewski shared, “I kept recalculating because I could hardly believe that 1952-2021 equals 69 years since I graduated from Colby Junior College! I loved the school, the location, the teachers and the friends.”

1953

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1954

JO-ANNE GREENE COBBAN jjcobban@ne.rr.com Barbara Ritter Peterson has kept up her longtime friendship with Sara-Lou “Sally” Monroe Skar, as their young families grew and had a fun time enjoying a visit and lunch together.

Her son lives about 30 minutes away in CT and her daughter and husband return from CO in the summer for a visit with them all. Barbara has visited the CSC campus, including the library and other new buildings. She says, “It is still

a beautiful spot and beautiful school.” Ann Rosenbach Scott enjoyed her winter in NH by cross country skiing and snow shoeing with her neighbors.

In July, she will be taking a river boat cruise from Juneau to a number of Alaskan ports.

Plans for early Aug. include assisting her daughter, who is a member of The League of NH Craftsman, at Mt. Sunapee State Park for 12 days selling children’s clothing. Come late Sept., she will be back on a river boat trip down the Ohio River.

My (Jo-Anne Greene Cobban) plans remain to continue dividing up what household items are extra and donating where it is needed and/or useful.

After accumulating post cards from years of traveling, an idea to address them to as many acquaintances and/or shut-ins, I knew turned into mailings across the country.

1955

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1956

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Joan Cochrane Pelletier is doing well and living with her daughter in Corona, CA. Gloria Wiley Hughart and Tom have been living at Evergreen Woods in North Branford, CT, for 2 years now. Though the pandemic was a challenge, they felt safe, comfortable and entertained at Evergreen Woods. Gloria keeps herself quite busy, exercising daily on the bicycle, walking with friends, playing pickleball, reading, doing counted cross-stitch, playing games of Sequence with Tom, as well as virtual bowling and Jeopardy. Despite the challenges from COVID, Joyce Carron Hall enjoyed spending the summer of 2020 in New England, visiting with friends outside and social distancing.

They also completed renovations on their 1780s Cape and still had time for a good-sized vegetable garden. During COVID, Jenny Laughlin Warner enjoyed the company of her daughter, who was living with

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her. Jenny did miss her 2 sons and their families, including 6 grandchildren, terribly. She is looking forward to travel plans this fall.

1957

JILL BOOTH MACDONELL jillphotoart@yahoo.com Diane Shugrue Gallagher shared what she did during enforced isolation during the pandemic. She wrote, “One early morning, as I was sitting with my cup of tea on my condo porch, I saw a young woman in blue scrubs walking briskly towards a car. I called out good morning and when she stopped I asked if she was a nurse. She paused and said yes. I asked if she was heading into work, to which she also responded yes. I informed her that I make an apricot rum Bundt cake and would donate one for her to take to fellow nurses. I now do this about 5 to 6 times a week for different nurses in the neighborhood during the pandemic. They love it, and I feel it is the least I can do to thank them. Sometimes, if it is a nasty night when I bake, I add a li’l extra rum! Colby taught me many things, one of which was giving back. Peace Corps and rum cakes — it all connects.” Carlene Johnson Thompson thanked me for the work I’ve done as class correspondent throughout the years. She and Jim still live in Kings Ridge in Clermont, FL. Jim will be 92 in May, and they are thank-

CONNECT colbysawyeralumni CSC_alumni Colby-­Sawyer Alumni Group csc_alumni

ful to have had 16 wonderful years together after the deaths of their spouses. They escaped COVID, had their shots and are healthy. Their combined families are doing well and producing more great-grandchildren.

Deborah Stafford Gilchrist went to Heaven on Nov. 17, 2020. Such a kind person.

Rest in peace, Debby! Robin McDougal is finally visiting family in San Jose, CA, after the pandemic. I, Jill Booth Macdonell, continue working with the homeless. I’m simplifying my life and sorting boxes of photos and memories over the years. Keep the news coming in!

1958

CINDY GRINDROD VAN DER WYK cindyinhb@hotmail.com

1959

MARSHA HALPIN JOHNSON marnamhj@gmail.com During the pandemic, Marcia Bittle Rising’s 80th birthday and 60th wedding anniversary passed very quietly. Puzzles and books kept her busy, but she missed volunteering at the hospital. Her science background proved to her that scientific minds prevailed in most cases.

Priscilla Tufts Bartle and her husband are fully vaccinated, as are 98% of the residents of the independent living community they live in. Diane Taylor Bushfield’s husband, Frank, passed in 2019 and she really misses him. She lives in Ormond Beach, FL, and plays golf. She hoped to visit Cape Cod this summer to visit her sister. Judy Runge Hjerpe sends greetings from Georgetown, TX. She is involved in music — choirs at church and volunteer groups that perform at nursing homes — and theater. After 63 years of marriage, she lost her husband to kidney disease. Carole Hamell Wenthen’s year was much like that of most of us, being locked down, but healthy. Zooming with friends

34 COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

and family kept her connected.

Diana Yale Hake is happily living at Indian River Estates, an assisted living facility in Vero Beach, FL. She met another Colby gal at a cocktail party — Marilyn Hines Ingalls ’54. They had a great time talking about their experiences on campus.

1960

PATTY CANBY COLHOUN pccolhoun@gmail.com Hello, Class of 1960! This has been a most interesting time and hopefully all of us have come through safely. Susie Frank Hilton, like most of us, had her 2nd Moderna shot when she sent the note. She has been elected the secretary of the Cyprus Woods Golf and Country Club Ladies Golf Association. It is a 2-year term starting in Sept. Susie is also prayer director for the Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church Capital Campaign. She also serves a 3-year term on the nominating committee. Susie has started her 15th year as a docent for Artis-Naples at the Baker Museum and continues to serve on the Board of Directors. She and her husband, Dick, have adjusted to the new COVID lifestyle by staying safe.

Sue Barto Monks has spent time with longtime friend Jim McEathon, which has developed into a wonderful relationship. Sue spent time in Naples, FL, then at her shore house. Late last summer, Sue and Jim came to her family home on Roque Island, ME. No visitors came due to COVID-19.

Sue saw some family. She continued to work at the polls on Election Day, where she enjoyed watching the voters.

Jim gave her a surprise birthday party, which involved her family and a drive-by celebration.

Judy Butler Shea was in FL for a month, which helped Jim’s breathing. They enjoyed walking the beaches. Jane Bacon ’53 helped Judy with the 30th benefit for the Ambulance Service of Lake Placid. They reminisced about Colby Junior days.

Judy was able to ski midweek.

Barbara Buesking Milledge wrote that she and her husband, Droste, have lived in Kansas City, MO, for 80 years and married for 57 years. Droste worked for Hammerhill/International Paper for 40 years. They have 2 sons, each of whom have 2 sons. Two grandsons work in investment banking in Dallas, another is at Dartmouth and another is a junior at Greenwich High School in CT. Barb and Droste spend 4 months at their home in Phoenix, AZ, which is located on the golf course of the AZ Biltmore Hotel, built by Frank Lloyd Wright. Charlotte Heyl McLaughlin has taken up FL residency due to the high taxes of NJ. They returned to Princeton, NJ, in mid-April, then went to Sun Valley, ID, for 3 months. Gale Hartung Baldwin lives on Nantucket. She serves on the Nantucket Ecumenical Council and does some palliative care as well. She is looking forward to attending a wedding in Denver with her son, Josh, her daughter, Emily, and her family.

A lovely 4-day reunion. Gale was my roommate our second year. I, Patty Canby Colhoun, have kept busy, first with 2 hip replacements, January 26 and April 6. Great time to do it since I could not travel. I am the senior warden for St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Boothbay Harbor. Our minister is on medical leave, so I have been extra busy trying to keep the church on an even keel. Thanks for a great diocese and vestry.

I also chair the Joint Outreach Committee, which works with our summer chapel, and the Community Resource Council, to help people in need. I am the chair of the St. Andrews Village Association, which works with Lincoln Health and the cottages in the retirement community.

It was interesting to be a patient in the Lincoln Health system and the rehab unit. I continue to do some minimal volunteer work for the YMCA and continue with our class notes. I do hope to see many of our class come

back for reunion in October.

Judy, Gale and I are planning to be there.

1961

LYNNE GOODWIN HORN Joly76@aol.com I sincerely hope this note finds you well after this very trying year of COVID-19. I assume that most in our age group are vaccinated, allowing a return to some normalcy in life. My granddaughter contracted the virus at college and recovered at home. Another family member was in the hospital and rehabilitation for 4 months during a very difficult period but is now doing well.

I did not hear from many classmates for this edition, but hopefully next time will be more successful. Joan Bryan Davis is happy and healthy living most of the year in Hilton Head Island and working at Rose Hill Golf Club. She is also the Eastern Regional Sales and Marketing Manager for “The Golfer’s Buddy Bags.” Joan has been in a 15-year relationship with a NY state trooper and reports that her girls are well. Susan is in Lowes Management and Wendy works for Broome County in NY. Joan enjoys staying in touch with Nancy Hemmings Fuchs, Barbara Steinemann Crosby and Carolyn Stanton Peirce.

The highlight of today was a wonderful telephone conversation with Sue Romer Ladouceur, who resides in Carlsbad, CA. Sue and I were 2 of 12 who traveled through Europe for 8 weeks following our college graduation. Nine of us were from Colby Jr. and I hope to touch base with most of them at some time. Sue spent time at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston through Tufts University following her graduation. She eventually completed her master’s degree in TX. She spent 30 years as a craftsman in jewelry making and worked in sculpture with bronze. She now continues her love of art with oil painting.

Sue and her husband have 2 daughters, one of which received her doctorate at Yale University.

What fun it was to catch up after 60 years! Susan Lawsing Dow wishes all of her classmates a happy 60th reunion. She and Peter are happy to be out and about again following the pandemic. They were able to ski during the pandemic winter, but they look forward to traveling and seeing many good friends again. Please continue to email me with any news as we love hearing from you!

1962

TILDA HUNTING tildah@gmail.com Judy Park Kukk was pleased to have things open back up in Naples, FL, following the COVID pandemic. She enjoyed seeing family and friends again and enjoyed visits with her Colby Junior girls, Sally Mollenberg Taylor, Judith Bodwell Mulholland and Lynn Wavering Shotwell.

1963

DONNA DEDERICK WARD meadowoodfarm@comcast.net This time I heard from only 4 of you. Things are so different now and I was hoping to find out how you coped with all the changes. I hope that you all are well and have been safe. Cliff and I, Donna Dederick Ward, stayed at home, except for essentials. We did not venture to FL this winter until March when we had our vaccinations.

Winter at our Meadowood Farm in Shaftsbury, VT, was spent next to the woodstove. Summer 2020 at the farm was very different.

We had many long-term rentals but no B&B guests. We developed a couple of complete units from suites to rent out. All in all, we did well and stayed safe.

Since VT regulated that there will be no food waste in the garbage/landfills, we’ve been creating compost with food waste, manure and leaves, delivering and selling locally. It’s been fun and rewarding. Martha Herndon Williamson and her husband, Jim, were scheduled to move into a CCRC (retirement community) in Winter Park, FL,

but it locked down for COVID, so their move was delayed 3 months. During that time they prepped and sold their house.

They moved July 21, 2020, and have been settling in ever since.

Martha shared, “Now I’m drinking cocktails instead of cooking.”

She also enjoys the relief from home maintenance chores.

Martha’s biggest challenge was getting a window seat built when workers were scarce. One prospect threw a tantrum when told he must wear a mask in the facility full of fragile elders!

Martha and Jim are 8 months in now and well adapted. She recommends such a move for anyone in their 70s. Sandy Newbert Fitts and her husband, Jeff, spend winters in Sarasota, FL, and mid-May to mid-Oct. in Wolfeboro, NH. She says they are not in bad shape for their ages! Jeff, at 82, still plays golf 3-4 times a week and Sandy walks and swims, which she says has done wonders for her cholesterol! She sends her well wishes to her classmates. During COVID, Patty Thomson Russell spent her time knitting 3 baby blankets for her nieces’ and nephews’ new babies and doing jigsaw puzzles. She and her husband own a percentage of 4 thoroughbred horses and they enjoyed watching them race at tracks in NJ and PA. The horses ran well, and Patty hopes that will continue to be the case through the summer months.

Virginia Swain Baratta shares, “This year, though we were challenged by COVID-19, brought us more time together for a spiritual rebirth for our marriage. We dance, pray, walk and dialogue every morning together and watch PBS nature shows in the evening.” Virginia and Joe celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on 1/1/20.

1964

KATHY CONATHAN REARDON Kathyr1230@aol.com It certainly has been a very long year. Jack and I, Kathy Conathan Reardon, are still getting

used to townhouse living. Putting in a new bathroom and kitchen during the pandemic was not fun! I hope you are all well and seeing friends and family again. Just leaving the house is a treat! To survive confinement, Martha Andrews Locke spent a lot of time taking day trips around MN. She looked forward to a trip to the east coast to see the ocean and family in June. Martha is glad that Colby-Sawyer is doing so well under the guidance of a Minnesotan.

Ann Franklin Ewig and her husband Tom have sold their home in NJ and moved to their home in ME. They are looking for a place in New London but have not found the perfect one yet.

Ann is exhausted going through 46 years “of stuff.” Elizabeth “Lee” Reisner Murray is happy to get back to somewhat normal.

She has resumed judging figure skating after staying home and seeing family nearby. Her daughter Barbara teaches at Drexel, daughter Julie works for an IT firm in Boston, and daughter Susan and her husband farm locally. Laurie Whittemore has 2 children and 6 grandchildren.

She moved to Whitefish, MT, to live closer to her daughter and grandkids in Alberta, CA. She published her 3rd book, Financial Infidelity: Love and Theft in Retirement: Conversations with a Victim. The book sounds fascinating and can be purchased on Amazon. Betsy Myers Hunnewell moved to White Cliffs in Plymouth in 2016.

She and Bob enjoy golf, sea breezes and the new friendships they have made. She writes, “We spent another winter on Singer Island, FL. A good choice! We were able to get vaccinated by Feb., go to the beach, use our pool (limit 10 people), movies (12 people in theater tops), dinner at open restaurants and play golf!

Everyone wore masks in public and in elevators. Contrary to media reports, FL was safe and open with careful safe choices.”

Betsy and I wanted to plan a lunch last year, but COVID got in the way. We may try again in late

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summer or fall. There are quite a few classmates living on the South Shore of MA. If anyone is interested please let me know.

It would be fun to get together after all these years. Susan Patricelli-Regan has announced her campaign to run for Connecticut governor in 2022. Her corporate career and community involvement provide a diverse and comprehensive skill set to address the state’s need for common sense leadership.

She offers an objective perspective to solve the state’s fiscal challenges. Her slogan is “Truth + Transparency = Trust.” See her website, susanforct2022.com, for the opportunity to contact Susan or donate to her campaign.

1965

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Sue Wells Ferrante shares news of the birth of her 5th granddaughter. The girls range in age from 6 months to 19 years. So fun for Sue, as she is the mother of 3 boys! Her 19-year-old granddaughter Emma will begin her sophomore year at Colby-Sawyer and Sue is delighted in her choice.

1966

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Kathie Kock Hewko is a longtime realtor. She married Emil Hewko on June 2, 1984, and moved to wine country north of San Francisco. In 1976, she started swimming under and across the Golden Gate Bridge. She has completed over 75 swims from Alcatraz to San Francisco.

1967

SIS HAGEN KINNEY Kinivan06@gmail.com Despite the extraordinary year, Elizabeth “Beth” Holloran Bourguignon’s family has remained healthy and employed. She is still “slowly retiring,” with her original retirement date being June 1, 2017! She continues to work 2 days a week at the Needham Children’s Center and enjoys seeing her 5-year-old grandson every day. Two of the directors of NCC are CSC alumnae Susanne

Day Teachout ’01 and Carolyn Day Reulbach ’09. Beth says, “It is wonderful to work with these women whom I once had in class as preschoolers!” She planned to go into consulting-only in June.

Beth has been living in the same house in Needham, MA, since 1972 and has not yet reached the point of wanting to move or downsize.

She spent most of June-Sept. 2020 at her family home on Long Island in Casco Bay, ME. During that time Beth’s son worked from the home full time and her daughter, son-in-law and grandson joined them there as much as possible.

Like everyone, they missed having relatives and friends join them but hope to see them this summer, as they all will all be vaccinated.

Beth did not bother skiing this past winter because she did not want to deal with the COVID restrictions, though she really missed that activity. She enjoys the company of her 2 dogs, which keeps her hopping.

1968

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1969

DEBORAH ADAMS JOHNSTON navypub@aol.com Debbie Standard Cook writes, “Although my husband, Tom, and I thought we had retired several years ago, Tom seems to have picked up several engineering jobs as we sat home during the pandemic, and I have become increasingly involved in local environmental projects, making our dream of going on a big adventure in an RV look increasingly unlikely. That’s the unforeseen danger of staying put during a pandemic!” However, just before the pandemic the Cooks were able to accomplish one of Debbie’s bucket list goals — visiting every continent. Their final continent was Australia and New Zealand, where they could see smoke from the giant bush fires just beginning to form behind the Sydney skyline. Another unexpected pandemic effect was the hours of work required to make the

36 COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

Vicky Leidner ’69 with her miniature poodle Muffin

2 preschools that they co-own with their son, Trevor, safe from COVID. One project involved building 70 individual desks so the kids could sit 6 feet apart.

The schools remained free from COVID except for one 2-week closure right before Christmas.

Trevor’s 3 little girls spent 8 months doing Zoom school at home. Debbie’s daughter, Whitney, is a 2nd-grade teacher in Asheville, NH. She was grateful for her 2 St. Bernard dogs to keep her company as she taught full time at home on Zoom.

Debbie recently published a book called Parted Waters, which takes place in a fictional small NH town (not unlike New London). I’m going to check it out. My dear CJC friend Vicky Leidner shared, “The fall 2020 CJC/Sawyer Magazine arrived in my mail last week, and I enjoyed your write-up and relished the 50th class reunion photograph (wow…what a good turnout of great-looking vibrant women for the reunion. So very sorry I couldn’t join in).” After years of working in the administration of The Philadelphia Orchestra, Vicky left in late summer to join a small private investment firm in Radnor, PA, (suburb of Philadelphia) as office administrator-manager. Vicky lives with her miniature poodle, Muffin, who is a real ruffian, with never-ending energy and is smart as a whip. Joan Przybyla

Wilson and I had a hysterical email conversation this spring.

She and her Best dormmates formed a pandemic book club!

This spring they read The Paris Library, and they continue to do a ’69 Zoom house party once a month. Roommates Madelyn “Leli” Carey Simpson and Martha Packard Ross, along with roommates Allison Whitmore and Joan Przybyla Wilson, are the fearless foursome in this group. I tried to encourage them to take a screen shot of their Zoom session, but apparently they were all suffering from pandemic bad hairdos and “forgot” to take the picture. I am hoping that they will find the courage (and hairdressers) now that COVID is under control and get a photo for us to publish in the next issue. What a wonderful idea; sounds like they are having great fun. Maybe they will review Debbie Cook’s book, Parted Waters, in their next book club meeting! My (Debi Adams Johnston) daughter, Emily, finally made it home from London after almost a year of being separated from her American roots. I am so happy to have her here for most of the summer. My youngest son moved to South Beach in Miami during COVID and visiting him was a whole different world from our tiny island life here outside Beaufort, SC. My oldest son has been locked down in Italy for almost 18 months. Thank God for Zoom and FaceTime. What would we do without all this incredible technology? Fred and I continue to hold down the fort here on the island, hoping that it will call all my kids and grandkids home soon. I got my master naturalist certification this spring.

I wish I could share my experience with Mrs. Currier, who inspired me at CJC. I continue to talk to Nancy Gill Richardson. Someday the 2 of us will get together in person and all of FL will be rockin’. Meanwhile, dear college friends, stay healthy and safe.

Each column I can write without having to report the passing of any of our friends is a good column! Please share your

achievements and experiences so that I have something exciting to write next time.

1970

GAIL REMICK HOAGE gail@michaelsschool.com Hello, classmates. I hope you have all had your shots and that we are all safer at our ages during this crazy COVID pandemic. It’s time to write and let your Colby family know you’re healthy and what you are up to. Hoping as you read this column you will have received information about our reunion and all that has transpired during the COVID pandemic. Although there was a margin for hope that the reunion would still prevail in 2020, that did not materialize.

It was sad for sure, but at our age we are in the high-risk group. In June and Oct. 2020, not wanting our graduation year to go unrecognized, the college hosted 2 Zoom calls to discuss the reunion — it was great to have participation so thank you so much. Luckily, plans are on for Oct. 15-17, 2021, for our faceto-face 50th Reunion! We hope you will be part of this fun event. Along with the on-campus activities, our Class of 1970 and Med Techs ’71 will be scheduling informal class gatherings with time to reconnect and to share our stories. Contact me, Gail Remick Hoage, or anyone that is one the Reunion Committee if you have questions. Kudos to Beth Roland Hunter, who has been in charge of writing all of the correspondence for our reunion letters and emails. We look forward to seeing you in the fall! Please write me as soon as you can so I can add your news to our next column. Until we meet again on Zoom or in person, blessings.

1971

ELLIE GOODWIN COCHRAN Elliegc51@gmail.com Greetings classmates. I, Ellie Goodwin Cochran, hope you are all well and that life is getting back to normal for you. We are thrilled to finally be able to hug

Bev Bethell Dolezal ’71 and her husband, Ed, with their eight grandchildren

and play with our grandchildren and actually eat in a restaurant.

It really makes you appreciate life’s simple pleasures. I continue to stay busy with volunteering in a variety of capacities that typically involve fundraising, but I love that I see the outcomes of my efforts. Karen Siney Fredericks had a great visit to CO to see her daughter, son-inlaw and 3 grandchildren. She continues to work in real estate management but looks forward to slowing down. Bev Bethell Dolezal announced the birth of their 8th grandchild, Ryan Patric Deppe, born 2/1/21. She and Ed continue to love Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Sara Warner Blackburn and her husband, Ted, left the Florida Keys 3 years ago after Hurricane Irma and now live in Osprey, FL. They felt lucky to be able to do all the activities they loved during the pandemic. Their sons live in CA and VA and between them there are 4 grandchildren, whom they are thrilled to see again. Sara wonders if anyone has news on Cindy Sawyer Campbell? I know from Facebook that Kim Crowell Arndt is happily back kayaking and enjoying the spring weather.

Sadly we have lost several classmates — Ann Grinnell, Mary Clark Whalen and Terry Wadleigh Ferland. Dates and details will be on the Memoriam page. Happy 50th anniversary of our graduation. Hope to reconnect with many of you and keep the news coming.

1972

LINDA KELLY GRAVES dikeroka@aol.com Welcome back to your favorite

column in this magazine! Hope this finds you all healthy and vaccinated. A variety of news this issue, so let’s get to it! Though 2020 was challenging for all of us, it started out tragically for Jodi Serling, who lost her wonderful, courageous mother.

She shares, “There is never a day that passes that memories of my mom do not flow into my mind.

I often wonder if we will ever experience any form of normalcy again. My wonderful animals and my husband offer some form of tranquility and sanity. Phone calls to my son and friends offer a light at the end of the tunnel, as well.”

Jodi retired from her nursing career 10 years ago. She then volunteered at the SPCA, as animals remain her true passion.

Jodi keeps in touch with Nancy Neustadt Barcelo and they enjoy the conversations that bring them down memory lane. Nancy lives in Boston and Patricia (Patty) Herbert Merriam lives outside Boston. Nancy has become an incredible bird watcher and her skills of photography are quite impressive. Lindsey Stewart and Jon continue to spend Jan. and Feb. in Belize every year. They moved to Saugatuck, MI, but still spend time in Chicago. Their 1st grandchild was born this year and he is adorable. Jon is soon to retire and he and Lindsey have lots of trips lined up for later this year and next, including national parks, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Papua New Guinea. Susan Erhard Todd and husband Rob live in Sarasota, FL. Last summer they were able to go to their home on Rangley Lake in ME for 4 months. I am Facebook friends with Ruth

Ann Riley Shuler, and I have enjoyed keeping in touch with her since our days at Colby and as Colbytown Camp counselors.

Our mothers were friends while they both attended Colby Jr. in the early 1940s. Ruthann, now a widow, lives in Helena, MT. She has had great adventures in her RV and has become a great photographer, sharing many of her pictures, particularly of wildlife, on Facebook. She recently took herself in her RV with her 2 trusty Corgi companions to Yellowstone to photograph the wildlife, but mostly the babies being born of that wildlife. Recently she posted pictures of 2 sandhill cranes, a Bald Eagle taking off from a branch, a bison calf with its mother and a coyote looking on in the background! Someday, I’m going out there to have her take me to all the places she has photographed! Sherrill Howard and her partner, Janet, retired to Campton, NH, a few years ago from Columbus, OH. Campton is in the White Mountains and they have beautiful views and land on which to hike, sled, explore and enjoy the fresh air.

They built their home on land they had bought years ago and have even enticed some friends from Columbus to build homes in the area, too. Sherrill and Janet enjoy having friends and family come and spend some time and have a “Nana Camp” in the summer for grandchildren.

What fun! Lydia Biddle Thomas and I spoke via phone a few weeks ago. Lydia still lives in NYC and is anxious for it to open up some more. She has joined a group of birders who meet in Central Park and is enjoying becoming better able to identify birds on the fly. Lydia enjoys returning every Aug. to Jamestown, RI, where her family has vacationed for at least 3-4 generations. Over the winter, like many of us, Martha Cary Shuster and Steve were happy and healthy, but led very quiet lives and missed seeing their family and friends. Their daughter and family moved to Duxbury, MA, closer to Martha and Steve.

SUMMER/FALL 2021

37

Marlene Mustard Graf ’75 and her daughter, Ginny Osborne Sampson ’90, at Ginny’s wedding

Daughter Molly had her 2nd child in Feb., joining big sister Abigail, who turned 3 in July.

Barbara Baldwin Newby has been meaning to write for years!

She is doing fine and is still married to the most wonderful, generous man, Steve. They have 12 grandchildren. Barbara and Steve live in North Potomac, MD, and also have homes in Bethany Beach, MD, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Earlier in the year, I enjoyed a lovely week in Sanibel, FL, with Deborah Ross Chambliss. Deb and I were finally able to catch up with Abbey dormmate and friend Lucy Main. We met for lunch in Sarasota and spent 2 ½ hours chatting away, with Nancy Bianchi Miller joining us via phone. Though some of us had not seen each other in 7 years, it was like yesterday, as those Colby-Sawyer friendships

CONNECT colbysawyeralumni CSC_alumni Colby-­Sawyer Alumni Group csc_alumni

tend to be. Since Nov. 2020, I have been at Ft. Drum, NY, helping my daughter-in-law and my 2 grandsons while my son is deployed to Afghanistan. Lucy’s home base is Malone, NY, though she is a St. Petersburg, FL, resident, and we were able to arrange a couple of meetings during the winter. We actually met for dinner to celebrate getting my first COVID vaccine in late Jan. Any excuse to meet up with a Colby friend will do for me! While I was living at Ft. Drum, I tried to reach out to Elisabeth (Betsy) Barker, who at one time lived outside Syracuse, but no luck in hearing back from her. So, Betsy, if you read this, send me a note! On a more somber note, I did receive notice of the passing of 3 of our classmates: Margaret (Maggie) Burt in Oct. 2019, Susan (Susie) Leab Gordon in June 2020, and Marianna Arena in July 2020.

We extend our condolences to all their families. Finally, I want to remind you that our 50th reunion will be in the fall of 2022. I do not know the exact dates yet, but Homecoming Weekend/Alumni Weekend is often the weekend before or after the Columbus Day weekend. Please think about coming and please reach out to your friends from your ColbySawyer/Jr. days and plan to join us. The more the merrier! Come see how the campus has grown and learn about what wonderful opportunities for students there are. You will leave impressed, I guarantee it! Also, since most of us were not able to attend our 50th high school reunions (thank you, COVID), this should be a reunion not to miss! Stay well and stay connected. Feel free to email me anytime with news.

1973

NANCY MESSING nrmessing@aol.com The major highlight of Cathy Moore Pomeroy’s year was becoming a grandparent for the first time last Sept. She and her husband drove from Denver to DC after their grandson was born, and they learned all over

38 COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

again how to change diapers, hold a baby and cook dinner at the same time! Their family has been healthy, and they have been able to do things they enjoy locally. Not being able to travel to see family in Toronto has been disappointing. Cathy has continued her work at the Denver Botanical Gardens and the Arapahoe County Arts Council, where she reviews grant requests submitted by organizations involved with the arts and sciences. The Pomeroys looked forward to a family visit/reunion in Westport Point, MA, in Aug. Jane Haslun Schwab managed to make it through the year COVID-free and had the ups and downs that many had with having to isolate at times. She’s putting it behind her and wishes everyone a healthy life moving forward.

Jane continues to see her sister Nancy, who lives in CT, as often as possible. Jane loves her condo, which she moved into 2 years ago. She has a great group of friends as well as 3 grandchildren who live locally.

Jane’s younger daughter, Taylor, had her first baby, a girl, and Jane was able to visit them in San Diego in April. As for your class correspondent, Nancy Messing, I am planning a few trips, as I feel the need to break out of confinement, as I am sure all of you are, too. Will be visiting San Francisco to see our daughter, who lives in Pacific Heights and works at Iconiq Venture Capital, and to Boston to see our son, who works in the Intensive Care Unit at Boston Children’s Hospital.

It will be nice. Stay well and please drop me a line!

1974

SUSAN BROWN WARNER warners@optonline.net

1975

JILL MCLAUGHLIN GODFREY Jillgodfrey25@gmail.com Janet Lochhead Sullivan and her husband, Dennis, are pleased to announce the birth of their grandson, Jameson Patrick Sullivan, born March 24, 2020. Jameson’s parents, Phillip

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Barbara Carroll ’76 worked on the front lines of rehab and nursing home care

Sullivan and Christine Beecher, and older brothers, Eli and Kian, welcomed him home.

Marlene Mustard Graf sold her property in Georges Mills, NH, and now lives full time in AZ. Her daughter, Virginia Osborne Ricker ’90 recently married Dwayne Sampson at their home in Palm City, FL. Her 31-yearold son Marcus Ricker and Marlene gave her away. It was a lovely intimate affair with a few good friends and close family.

1976

JANET SPURR Spurr1@msn.com Sadly, Melinda Miller Sexton’s husband, Brian, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 64.

Brian leaves behind his 2 sons, Scott and Chris, his daughterin-law, Meagan, and his 2 grandchildren. Both Ruth St. Onge Fortini and her husband, Ed, are loving retirement. Last year, they purchased a 42’ trawler and although with the present conditions they can’t travel as they had planned via plane, at least with the boat they can still travel to the Bahamas and other close islands with friends and family. Natalie Macdonald Whelan and her husband, Bill, have retired to FL for the winter months. Natalie sees Pam Kinsella White frequently, as she and her husband Sandy recently bought a home in the same community! Natalie also

Karen Wessel Cohen ’80 and her family, including her husband, three sons, three daughters-in-law and two grandchildren, last summer in Fenwick Island, Delaware

lives very close to Barbara Zenker Parker in MA and they have become dear friends.

Dawna Cobb feels lucky to have gotten through COVID without losing a loved one. That being said, like so many others experienced, trips, weddings and holiday gatherings didn’t occur. Donna’s immediate family lives out of town, so she did not see them for almost a year. But the future looks brighter, and her family is looking forward to family weddings (her 2nd son among them) and the 1st grandbaby (her 1st son and his wife!). Donna retired from the University of MD School of Law a couple of years ago but is busy working on many worthwhile projects.

One includes helping returning citizens coming home to the Baltimore area locate services that can help them rebuild their lives. Check out returnhome. org. Dawna shared that Louise “Lucy” Martin passed away this winter after a long illness. She was a big part of a great circle of friends who met in Burpee and they were very sad to lose her.

1977

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Lynn Lovelett Elizondo’s daughter, Melissa, gave birth to Berea Lynn on March 3, 2020.

She joins her brother, Reuben, and sister, Sophie. The baby arrived at the beginning of the pandemic and Lynn’s son-in-law began working from home, which was a great help to

Melissa with 3 little ones to take care of. Melissa’s family moved back to the Cincinnati area after living in Pittsburgh, PA, for 6 years. Lynn is thrilled with this move. She also loves being retired!

1978

JODI HAMBLEY COOPERRUBIN Jcooper323@aol.com

1979

DEBRA BRAY MITCHELL dbraymitch@gmail.com I recently caught up with Victoria Corse Donaldson via telephone, with Betsy Clark Miller ’77 chiming in from the background.

They have been roommates for the last 6 years, not only as great friends but also as caretakers for their elderly fathers, who have both passed on. Vicky continues to judge, show and breed dogs.

Her latest is the Leonburger and you can find more information at corsairedogs.com. She has 3 gorgeous, kind and loving daughters, and is so looking forward to Natahlie’s upcoming wedding. Betsy is a retired nurse and keeps herself busy managing her Airbnb. It’s a sweet, secluded, dog-friendly upstairs apartment in Eastham, MA. They both are looking forward to better days ahead and life returning to our new normal. Susan “Ozzie” OzenichParent is managing life on the front line and elaborated how difficult life has been for so many.

She works full time as a practice manager at Baystate Cardiac Surgery in Springfield, MA, and has masked up every day for over a year, supporting healthcare providers in many capacities. She is beyond grateful to all our alumni on the front line and to the millions of Americans who have been vaccinated so eventually our doors can reopen and we as a nation can hug each other and celebrate together the joys of life. Ozzie will be the 1st in line to hug her new grandson, Henry. Her eldest son was fortunate to get married 2 days before the country shut down and her youngest will have had his virtual college graduation by the time you read this note. Ozzie has been back to New London several times in the past few years, bringing along her family for a meal at Peter Christians and a walk down memory lane: sledding on cafeteria trays, summers working the Gordon Research Conferences, and sneaking swims at the camp. “The campus remains much the same, quaint, heavenly place and very much a landmark of who I am today,” she shared. I couldn’t have said it better! Karen Hill Maloney closed her FitnessReality location after 14 years in business with her oldest daughter, Lauren. She continues to see clients in her professional gym in her home.

However, she does not charge them. She gives her time to sick children that can benefit from strength training. Karen’s daughter has maintained clients in an outdoor environment. Karen is now pursuing photography as a professional, selling many of her wildlife and landscape photos. Her work has been featured on the local news and in magazines. Karen plans to make a permanent move to her home in Sutton, NH, in the very near future.

1980

NATALIE “LEE” HARTWELL THRASHER LifeGrd121@aol.com Thank you to those classmates

Natalie Hartwell Thrasher ’80 with her family, including her newest grandbaby, Sawyer, who was born on Valentine’s Day 2021

who found time to write back. It sounds like during the difficult time of the pandemic you were still able to follow through with important things like family time.

Ellen Achenbach Lewis sent an incredible photo of her family from their trip to Fenwick Island, DE, including her 3 sons, 3 daughtersin-law and 2 grandchildren. Mary Ellen Blatchford Walker is doing fine and working hard as a medical technologist at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of VT. In her role she has been working on COVID-19 trials. In April, she planned a rafting trip, doing the entire Grand Canyon for 3 weeks. This will be the 2nd time she’s done this adventuresome and spiritual trip. Enjoy the beautiful scenery, Mary Ellen!

On a sad note, we lost classmate Melinda Hanson Walter. Stay well, stay in touch, and love each other. And send a note my way to share in the next column.

1981

PAM AIGELTINGER LYONS pamalyons@verizon.net

1982

SUSAN HOLDERNESS CUSACK sehchoy@aol.com

1983

GAIL SMART SCIBELLI gail@famapr.com

1984

DIANE PLACE STATKUS d.statkus@comcast.net

SUMMER/FALL 2021

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Practice, practice, practice! I have decided to be the class correspondent for our class, and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

1989

CAROLYN CHERUBINO MCGRAW mcgraw.carolyn@gmail.com

1990

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Kristine Prioli Rodman ’07, her husband, Matt, and big brother, Nathanial James, welcomed Hannah Winifred to their family on Sept. 5.

Despite this image, Hannah is Nate’s best friend!

1985

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1986

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1987

KYM PRINTON FISCHER mkjfischer@yahoo.com I was so thrilled to be able to connect with my freshman neighbor Julianne Scherer Mackay. Julie has been living in Grand Haven, MI, for 22 years and has been married to her husband, John, for 29. They have 3 beautiful children, all of whom are grown and on their way to creating their adult lives. Julie recently began a new job as director of sales for J&L Tweed LLC, a manufacturer of bags and other products created with classic tweeds and cashmere made in the Scottish Highlands by artisans in century-old mills.

The products are beautiful! Julie has also been working with ASSE International Student Exchange for the last 6 years, welcoming and supervising exchange students from all over the world.

It was so great to reconnect and remember our special days in Abbey Dorm! I, Kym Printon Fischer, have been married for 20 years and have 2 kids in high school. Jack is a junior and Bella is a freshman. Both are super active in sports and school activities and Jack is beginning

his college search, which is crazy because I was just in college! We live just outside of Boston in North Reading and I have been working for a local home builder in town as a project coordinator.

The job is great, as it is local and flexible! My husband, Mark, is the general manager of The Revere Hotel Boston Common, which I think would be a great place for a mini-reunion! I hope to hear from more of you next time!

1988

MELISSA CLEMONS RUSSELL Melissa6699@outlook.com My husband, Bruce, and I (Melissa Clemons Russell) have lived on the southeast coast of FL for the last 6 years and are enjoying our 1-acre fully landscaped piece of paradise.

We enjoy gardening, bike rides, walking the dog and exploring our surroundings, whether it be visiting botanical gardens, museums, beaches, or trying out a new restaurant. I continue to research my family history. My parents and relatives grew up in New London and Sutton, NH, and it has been a thrill to converse with my Mum and Dad about their early days growing up. I also dabble in drawing and have uploaded a few of my designs to Spoonflower.com out of NC. I have also had my designs printed on various fabrics. I am trying to perfect my sewing and giving away my creations as gifts.

40 COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

1991

GRETCHEN GARCEAU-KRAGH redsoxfan78210@yahoo.com In Aug. 2020, Theresa Sombric Westgard successfully defended her thesis and received her Ph.D. in medical sciences from the Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Health and Rehabilitation at the University of Gothenburg in Gothenburg, Sweden. Her research focused on frail older people and the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment. Related to her thesis, Theresa has published multiple peer reviewed research articles and has presented and promoted her work internationally.

Currently, Theresa works as a lecturer teaching undergraduate occupational therapy students and as a post-doctoral researcher within the multidisciplinary research group AgeCap, the frail elderly research group (FRESH) at Gothenburg University, and Swetaly Aging, a research collaboration between Swedish and Italian Universities.

1992

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

1993

DAWN HINCKLEY Prettygyrl911s@gmail.com

1994

JULIE CAMP camp_julie@hotmail.com STACEY BANKS NIEMAN sniemana@gmail.com

Stephanie Guzzo, and her fiancé, James Ireland, Jr., and their dog, Tucker

1995

ALLISON LATHAM HOSGOOD ahosgood13@gmail.com

1996

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1997

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1998

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

1999

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

2000

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

I hope you have all fared well through the pandemic. It’s been quite an experience! I, Jen Prudden Montgomery, am still living and teaching 3rd grade in Andover, MA. My son and daughter are in 3rd grade and kindergarten at the same school where I teach. We were all very happy to be back in the classroom full time in the spring! My husband continues to work in residential real estate throughout Boston and eastern MA. Melissa Labrie Ashley and her husband, Jason, left

Justin Tardif ’08 with his wife, Chentel, and their daughter, Emilia

San Diego, CA, where they lived for the past 8 years, in Jan. 2020.

Jason retired from the Navy after serving 24 proud years. They moved to a small rural town, Ashland, OH. There are lots of farms in Ashland and Amish neighbors in their community.

This past school year she’s enjoyed home schooling her son, Benjamin, who is 4. Her daughter, Amelia, is enjoying her 5th grade year. They had a mini family reunion in Sept., cabincamping in NY with her mom, sister, Michelle Labrie Strand ’03, her husband, Matthew Strand ’03, and their children.

their son, Jackson (age 2 ½ ), they are now a complete family of 4!

2007

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

DANICA LETARTE MEDEIROS danicamedeiros@gmail.com

2002 2003

Jon Bryan ’08 and Aleshia CarlsenBryan ’08 with their daughter, Maya

2004

Kristine Prioli Rodman and her husband, Matt, welcomed Hannah Winifred to their family in Sept. 2020. Hannah joins big brother Nathaniel James.

After working at the James & Matthew ad agency in Shirley, MA, for nearly 8 years, Laurie Shaughnessy Busby has been named a managing partner.

Stephanie Jaques Guzzo was promoted to lab manager at Chesapeake Neurology Associates in MD.

LISA NOYES HARDENBROOK litha8@hotmail.com ERIC EMERY ericemery20@gmail.com

2005

MONICA MICHAUD MILLER michaud_monica@hotmail.com

2006

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Katie Mills Ryder and Rob Ryder ’03 welcomed their 2nd child, Nora Ryder, in Aug. 2020. With

2008

SARAH HEANEY PELLETIER sh.heaney@gmail.com Justin Tardif and wife Chantel welcomed their 1st daughter, Emilia, on June 6, 2020. John Bryan and Aleshia CarlsenBryan welcomed daughter, Maya Evelyn Bryan, on Dec. 17, 2020. Holly Tumiel Stevens is working at SMHC in the ER as a registered nurse and gave birth to twins, Charlie and Violet, on Feb. 12, 2021.

2009

2001

NICOLE FOWLER MARTIN nicole.martin3@gmail.com

Holly Tumiel Stevens ’08 with her husband, Chad, and their twins, Charlie and Violet

NICOLE POELAERT CONSTANZO nmpoelaert@gmail.com ELIZABETH CRESSMAN ecressman1986@yahoo.com Charlie Shine and his wife, Chelsey, welcomed their 4th child. Elizabeth Cressman continues her career working with high risk families in need of and enrolled in a subsidized child care program. She also is the representative from her church on a steering committee with representatives from surrounding churches that is helping to support and acclimate a family seeking asylum in the US.

2010

BRITTANY MAILMAN bjmailman@gmail.com

2011

JOHN CHARLES MCCARTHY johnmccar.11@gmail.com Hi, classmates. I hope these

past few months have been good to you. I, Jaycee McCarthy, continue to be a special education teacher in Chicago Public Schools, where we (like most school districts around the world) are balancing the job of teaching students in person and online. Andrea Hoyt O’Donnell and her husband recently bought a home in TN, where she is a 2nd grade teacher. Meghan Steele Horan started a new position in Aug. 2020 as the manager for the Center for Professional and Academic Development at Cambridge Health Alliance.

Cambridge Health Alliance is a healthcare system and a Harvard Teaching Hospital, serving the communities north of Boston, MA.

2012

COURTNEY PIKE courtney.pike@fliptable.io KASSIE PIKE kassandra.pike@gmail.com

2013

MATT MULDOON mattmuldoon123@gmail.com On Aug. 17, 2019, Taylor Funaro Mersereau married Jon Mersereau ’14 in CT. Many of their CSC friends were in attendance, including Kirsten Moore ’15, Christina Winnett ’13, Jason Chevrefils, Eric Hurst ’14, Matt Wahlgren, Karen Fondoules, Sarah Cahill, Shalyn Spencer, Julia O’Leary,

SUMMER/FALL 2021

41

Many Colby-Sawyer friends gathered to celebrate the Aug. 17, 2019, marriage of Taylor Funaro Mersereau ’13 and Jon Mersereau ’14. Those in attendance included Kirsten Moore ’15, Christina Winnett ’13, Jason Chevrefils ’13, Eric Hurst ’14, Matt Wahlgren ’13, Karen Fondoules ’13, Sarah Cahill ’13, Shalyn Spencer ’13, Julia O’Leary ’13, Pat Martin ’13, Mike Laskowski ’14 and Rainah Goguen ’15

Pat Martin, Mike Laskowski ’14 and Rainah Goguen ’15.

After graduation, Taylor completed her nursing degree and Jon his MBA. They live in CT with their black lab puppy, Finley. Taylor works as a nurse and Jon works in sales. Devin Wilkie received a promotion to director of operations at Steerforth Press. Outside of work, Devin was elected to the Lebanon, NH City Council and began a MS program in organizational leadership.

CONNECT colbysawyeralumni CSC_alumni Colby-­Sawyer Alumni Group csc_alumni

2014

STACY HANNINGS stacyhannings@gmail.com

2015

MOLLY PAONE mollypaone1109@gmail.com 2019 was a busy year for Aaron Records, as he eloped and got married, graduated from law school and passed the bar exam. In May 2020, he was sworn into the NY State bar.

Recently Aaron and his wife moved from NYC to Syracuse and Aaron has taken a position as an associate attorney with Bousquet Holstein PLLC.

2016

HERMELLA TEKLE-SHIRLEY hermella.tekle@gmail.com

2017

MORGAN WILSON morganwilsonportfolio@gmail.com

2018

BEN MAINES bamaines@gmail.com

42 COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

Shae-Lyn Walker ’20 is pictured in the PPE she wore when taking care of patients with COVID-19 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

2019

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Marina Good is finishing up her time working at Adimab as a predoctoral research associate and has accepted a graduate student position at University of CO, Boulder in their Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Ph.D. program. During her time at Adimab, she learned a lot about science and industry biology and a lot about herself, too. In the last 2 years, Marina has run a marathon (Mount Desert Island Marathon 2019), adopted a beautiful and crazy Bengal cat named Appenzelle, spent a lot of time with her horse (Ebony), gone to a scientific conference (Keystone Symposia on Cancer Epigenetics and Emerging Therapeutics), and worked to complete hiking the 48 NH 4,000-footers before she headed to CO in Aug. Michael Bullen ’20 and Oona Bond are planning a summer 2022 wedding. They both work as staff accountants in MA. Michael works at 6 River Systems and Oona works at Bevi. Katherine Nguyen has recently been accepted to Touro University

Nevada’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. During the COVID pandemic, she worked as an inpatient rehabilitation aide at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. In that role she worked with some of the most vulnerable patients, including those with a COVID diagnosis, traumatic brain injuries and neurological disorders.

2020

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Shae-Lyn Walker is working as a registered nurse at DHMC on the Medical Specialties Unit, which is also where patients with COVID-19 are taken care of. It has been very challenging, but she has a supportive staff by her side. Ethan Sabatella is writing educational fantasy adventures for GuardUp!, Guardian Adventures’ live action roleplaying games.

2021

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Leah Tramondozzi has accepted a position as the Helen Gurley Brown Business Fellow at Northern Stage in White River Junction, VT. 

in memoriam Becky Irving ’42 MT: A lifelong commitment

by Michael Pezone Becky Irving loved Colby-Sawyer.

But unlike most enduring love stories, this 80-plusyear romance was sparked by nothing more than sheer convenience.

That’s because Irving, the daughter of a prominent Boston doctor, knew from an early age she wanted to pursue a career in medical technology. And in 1939, only two schools in the country — the University of Minnesota and what was then Colby Junior College — offered degrees in the growing field.

“In those days, going to university out in Minnesota was about a six-hour train trip whereas coming up here was about a six-hour drive with at least one flat tire between here and Concord,” Irving told the college’s marketing and communications department in 2019. “I had an automobile and so I decided it would be much easier to come up to Colby.”

From then on, the two were virtually inseparable.

Irving, who died in August just 10 days prior to her 101st birthday following a brief period of declining health, spent the majority of her life either learning, teaching or advising at the college. After earning her associate degree in 1942 and her bachelor’s degree the following year, Irving returned to Colby-Sawyer in 1954 to teach in — and eventually head — its medical technology program.

Under Irving’s guidance, the college’s medical technology program received national acclaim, most notably for its internship requirement that mandated that all students spend their fourth year garnering hands-on experience within a hospital. During a time when clinical placements at hospitals were anything but guaranteed, Irving went to great lengths to ensure her students could fulfill the requirement by writing, calling and even driving to hospitals as far away as Ohio to make the case for her students.

By the time she retired in 1982, Irving had successfully arranged clinical placements for her students at 75 hospitals spanning 23 states.

Irving also played a pivotal role in ensuring that graduates of the medical technology program had a fundamental knowledge in the liberal arts — something the college continues to require of its students today.

“Becky is, and forever will be, an icon for those of us who were fortunate enough to sit in front of her in class,” said Ann Lozier Rohrborn ’71, a former student of Irving’s and

Becky Irving ’42 MT handles a microscope with a student inside a medical technology classroom in Reichhold Hall in 1982.

Photo courtesy Colby-Sawyer Archives

a graduate of Colby-Sawyer’s medical technology program.

“She was clearly behind us.”

Irving was recognized with Colby-Sawyer’s Alumnae Service Award in 1978, and in 2016, she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in recognition of the positive, far-reaching consequences her life’s work brought to the college. In 2014, at the recommendation of her former students, the Rebecca “Becky” Irving ’42 MT Scholarship Fund was established in honor of Becky’s many contributions to Colby-Sawyer and to those she taught.

The fund awards scholarships annually to students enrolled in a healthcare-related major whose values reflect Irving’s strength and integrity.

“Becky was truly one of a kind and had a significant impact on hundreds of medical technician students at the college,” Colby-Sawyer President Susan D. Stuebner said. “She devoted her career to building a highly successful medical tech program that had a national reputation. She loved teaching her students and the college very much. Becky will truly be missed.”  For more information about the Rebecca “Becky” Irving ’42 MT Scholarship Fund, please contact Director of Development Beth Bryant Camp ’92 at 603.526.3723 or ecamp@colby-sawyer.edu.

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in memoriam Eleanor Bernert Sheldon ’40 Eleanor Bernert Sheldon ’40, of New York, N.Y., died May 8 with her sons by her side.

She was 101. Eleanor was a dedicated member of the Colby-Sawyer community and an integral part of the college’s Board of Trustees from 1977–1985. During her time on the board, Eleanor served on the Board Organization, Development and Finance Committees, vice chaired the Executive Committee and was a member of the Investment Subcommittee.

Eleanor was a sociologist and leading figure in the establishment of the field of social indicators and served as the first woman president of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC). She was also a fellow of the American Statistical Association and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. After her tenure as president of the SSRC concluded, Eleanor served as the first woman member on the boards of several major corporations, including the Mobil Corporation, Citicorp, Citibank, Heinz and Equitable Life.

Eleanor credited Colby-Sawyer as having been a major influence on her personal and professional path.

Courtesy photo

Read more: colby-sawyer.edu/news/eleanor-bernert-sheldon

in fond memory 1937 Marion Rich Tillinghast December 2, 1992 1939 Dorothy Carter Ahearn November 30, 2020 Janet Morton Coates September 24, 2020 Barbara Perkins Emmenegger October 31, 2020 1940 Janet Rockwood Cartmill September 22, 2020 Judith Hersom Foley January 21, 2008 Louise Gross Minot April 5, 2020 Jane Rich Nugent March 30, 2019 Eleanor Bernert Sheldon May 5, 2021 Margaret Cumming Waller June 22, 2021

1941 Mary “Marie” Westerberg Francis December 21, 2020 June Skinner Peacock August 12, 2019 1942 Rebecca “Becky” Brewster Irving August 7, 2021 Beatrice Neal Niemi October 16, 2019 Gretchen A. Ray May 25, 2018 1943 Priscilla Coan Barnes December 11, 2020 Jean Marquier Molloy April 3, 2021 1944 Cynthia Alexander Carlson October 25, 2020 Lila Latham Touhey October 27, 2019

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1945 Joy Waldau Hostage September 18, 2020 Ruth Anderson Padgett December 17, 2020 1946 Barbara Bell Clark October 15, 2020 Nancy Stead Duble November 17, 2020 Barbara Goodell Flynn January 7, 2013 Catherine “Kitty” Otterman Peixotto December 5, 2020 Marcia Scarles February 28, 2006 1947 Emily Blunt Batten September 16, 2020 Ann Savoye Beddiges June 28, 2020 Joan Brabrook Doherty December 3, 2020

Helen Rotch Garfield September 15, 2020 Villette Upham Smith January 7, 2013 1948 Sybil Adams Moffat June 17, 2020 1949 Cynthia Overton Blandy December 16, 2020 Ann Poindexter Ives February 19, 2020 Catherine Chiquoine Jaccodine December 1, 2020 Constance “Connie” Pauline Dunn Lanata June 16, 2020 Elizabeth “Betty” See Hill November 23, 2020 1950 Priscilla Fields Aloise October 10, 2020

in fond memory Norma Lepore Borino August 21, 2018 Elizabeth Hansen Cohen November 18, 2020 Jane Steinharter Friedman August 1, 2018 Nancy Hendrickson Latham August 1, 2020 1951 Marilyn Pheatt Born February 25, 2020 Susanne Crosby Haile August 6, 2020 Roberta “Bobbie” Green Davis March 12, 2021 Mary Scott Jahn January 23, 2020 Catherine Miller Ray February 28, 2018 Nadena Thompson Wonkka October 8, 2020 1952 Nina Hall Geilich September 18, 2020 Nancy Dunn Lenahan February 17, 2020 Jean Hassett Mardigan December 10, 2020 Elaine Achbar Pfeiffer April 30, 2020 Patricia Flynn Spurgeon September 28, 2020 Nancy Angell Turnage November 30, 2020 Patricia Reynolds Wilson December 2020 1953 Jane Pearl Dickinson October 4, 2020 Margaret “Margie” Frost Fenton October 15, 2020 Virginia Merklen Hutchins June 28, 2021 Janet Hunt Murphy August 4, 2009

Margaret “Peggy” Magoun Rothrauff May 29, 2017 Shirley Moulthrop Stange April 10, 2019 Barbara Gowdy Tongue December 7, 2020 1954 Jean Bowers Axelson September 1, 2011 Cynthia Bryant Reavis November 14, 2020 1955 Marjorie Burwick Bernstein January 26, 2016 Morgia Dunham Nardy April 25, 2017 Nancy Roessler Neubauer August 6, 2020 1956 Jane Walker Coggan November 4, 2015 Mary Ann Plunkett Wollner October 5, 2008 1957 Carol McMahon Ehnat March 11, 2020 Deborah Stafford Gilchrist November 17, 2020 Helen Culliton Whalen May 26, 2019 1958 Eleanor Hubbard Anderson December 4, 2018 Jayne M. Brindle December 30, 2014 Stephanie Smith Cross August 20, 2012 Linda Thomson Righter June 21, 2020 1959 Hester Hellebush Cramer February 13, 2018

Constance Hay van Heuven October 21, 2020 Judith Wilkinson November 17, 2014

1969 Darlene Dunn Pye June 4, 2011 Debbie H. Weirum October 25, 2018

1960 Ann Skeels Nielsen November 4, 2020 Barbara Ham Webber April 12, 2019

1971 Marianna Arena July 21, 2020 Terry Wadleigh Ferland November 27, 2016 Ann H. Grinnell February 2, 2021 Mary Clark Whalen April 4, 2021

1961 Elizabeth Radcliffe Field October 16, 2020 1962 Caroline “Kelly” Corbin Howe July 28, 2020 1963 Pamela J. Causer October 6, 2020 Bonnie Loeser Corcoran July 7, 2017 Ann Palmer Johnson November 30, 2020 Judith Boujicanian Oljey May 8, 2017 1965 Lynne Alsdorf April 3, 2020 Cheryl Doeller Hurlock October 7, 2019 Mary Dunford Reid September 19, 2020 1966 Charlotte Williams Neinas December 1, 2020 1967 Marilyn Schuchard Dusenbury November 12, 2018 1968 Elizabeth Meacham Frattare December 25, 2020

1974 Deborah A. Quinn September 13, 2013 1975 Annemarie Kurz Gordon February 14, 2020 1976 Paula Tilson Conrad May 29, 2016 Louise “Lucy” Martin December 28, 2020 1980 Melinda Hanson Walter June 14, 2018 1990 Suzanne Marsh Symonds November 29, 2020 1996 Ryan Fulgueras December 15, 2020 1998 Joshua D. Libby October 28, 2020 2001 Elizabeth Faulkner Rowe June 10, 2021 2004 Amanda E. Gaukstern October 22, 2020

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archives

Marilla the Mountain

by Brantley Palmer

Aug. 18, 2020, marked the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted women the right to vote. One of the suffragists who fought for more than 50 years for women’s voting rights was Marilla Marks Young Ricker, who attended the New London Literary and Scientific Institution, now known as Colby-Sawyer College. Following her schooling, she went on to become not only a pioneering suffragist but also a trailblazing lawyer and activist.

Marilla was born on March 18, 1840, in New Durham, N.H. Her mother, Sarah Young, was a devout Free Will Baptist and her father, Jonathon Young, was a freethinker who valued logic and moral philosophy over religion. Marilla grew up with the choice of attending church services or staying on the farm to work with her father. From a young age, she preferred to stay home. Seeing her as a fellow freethinker, Jonathon began bringing Marilla to town meetings and the local courthouse to witness firsthand how politics and the law functioned and encouraged her to become educated in politics and philosophy.

By the time she began attending the local school, Marilla was an enthusiastic student, often running the two-mile journey to school and studying her course materials late into the night. Marilla (then Marilla Marks Young) eventually headed south to attend the New London Literary and Scientific Institution from 1860 to 1861, though she does not appear to have graduated. After leaving the private academy, she went on to teach in the local New Durham schools, and then in Lee and Dover, N.H. Marilla attempted to enlist as a Union nurse in the Civil War but was rejected due to a lack of medical training.

She taught for a few more years and married John Ricker, a man 33 years her senior, in 1863. John, a wealthy farmer and real estate developer in Dover, N.H., was also liberal-minded, believing in women’s equality. He died just five years after they were married, making Marilla a 28-year-old widow.

The following year, Marilla attended the first National Woman Suffrage Association convention. One year later, in 1870, she attempted to vote in the Dover town election, reasoning that since she owned property and was forced to abide by the laws of the United States, she should have

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archives

the right to some say over how those laws were formed.

This attempt to vote in 1870 was the first by a woman in New Hampshire. Marilla continued to cast ballots for many years after, although her ballots were never counted.

Marilla then made her way to Washington, D.C., where she won the right to practice law in 1882, making her one of the first female lawyers in the country. In 1884, she became the first woman appointed commissioner and examiner in chancery in the district. And in 1890, Marilla became the first female lawyer in New Hampshire, winning her admission to practice law by citing rules that 10 other states already used in admitting women to practice. In 1893, she became the first woman to serve as the assistant attorney general for the state.

Marilla applied unsuccessfully in 1897 for the ambassadorship to Colombia, making her once again the first woman to attempt to do so in the country. That same year, she unsuccessfully ran for a congressional seat in New Hampshire.

More than a decade later, in 1910, Marilla became the first woman to run for governor in New Hampshire. All of these attempts to gain equality and grant women the right to vote earned her the nickname “Marilla the Mountain,” as published in the Boston Herald in 1913.

In her attempts to run for governor and Congress, Marilla understood that she had little chance of securing either position. Nonetheless, she ran to raise awareness of gender equality and the suffrage movement. She said at the time, “Whether I secure the appointment or not, I have established a precedent in asking for it … there is no gender in brain, and it is time to do away with the silly notion that there is.”

As a lawyer, Marilla was a strong advocate for prisoners’ rights, earning her yet another nickname, “the prisoner’s friend.” She often worked pro bono for defendants who could not afford legal counsel and fought to improve conditions in prisons. She also dedicated all earnings she received through her legal work to these causes.

After half a century of fighting as a suffragist, Marilla lived long enough to see women secure the right to vote. She died on Nov. 12, 1920, following a stroke, just three months after the 19th amendment was ratified. With roots right here in New London, N.H., Marilla was truly a pioneer suffragist and trailblazing lawyer and activist responsible for many firsts both in New Hampshire and the nation. ® Brantley Palmer is the college archivist. He holds a B.A. in film production and critical studies from Keene State College and an M.L.I.S. from Simmons College.

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epilogue

LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING FORWARD

M

any memories of my years at Colby-Sawyer surfaced as I packed up my office this summer. Rereading a note from a student or looking at a work of art they shared with me brought up many emotions.

While I have focused most of my energy on students, I also had the opportunity to engage deeply with faculty through the Teaching Enrichment Center (TEC). The opportunity to submit a grant for developing a teaching center was presented to me by the Academic Vice President in 2008.

The focus of the TEC is enhancing student learning. One of the exciting challenges has been to strategize how to help those new to teaching and to engage experienced faculty who want to try something different or want to fine-tune an assignment or class activity that they thought could work better.

Jean Eckrich joined the Colby-Sawyer College faculty in 1995 and is the founding director of the Teaching Enrichment Center. In 2003, Professor Eckrich spearheaded the effort to establish the Susan Colby Colgate Scholars’ Symposium as a way to celebrate the depth and breadth of learning achieved by members of the graduating class. She was awarded the David H. Winton Endowed Teaching Chair in 2012, served as department chair and chair of the undergraduate research task force and led new faculty orientation for many years. Her colleagues and former students will always remember her as a visible and committed community member, faithfully attending athletic competitions, student performances and exhibitions, alumni events and presentations by faculty colleagues.

Activities include our annual teaching salon as well as communities of practice, reading circles, workshops, discussions and webinars. More recently, we have increased the number of online resources and have also have coordinated opportunities for faculty to attend conferences together.

The success of the TEC results from a substantial number of colleagues facilitating sessions over the years. The biggest change has been around the topics the TEC promotes. College initiatives such as two new iterations of our liberal education program, the commitment to sustainability across the curriculum and creating an inclusive classroom environment have resulted in some of the programming. In any given year, the pedagogical interests of the faculty evolve and might include team-based learning, the flipped classroom, case studies or concept maps as well as providing student feedback, increasing active learning and enhancing class discussions.

In addition to the changes in topics, there has been an increased interest in the use of technology in the classroom and maximizing the use of our learning management system (Moodle). As the college implements its new strategic plan, the TEC will need to broaden its scope to include helping faculty create the best learning environment for graduate students and professional learners.

Despite the many changes, what is memorable is what has remained the same, specifically the college’s commitment to teaching excellence and the faculty’s commitment to helping each other. Faculty are always exploring new ways to incorporate evidence-based teaching practices to enhance student learning. ®

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JOIN THE DAVIDOW CHALLENGE! Bill and Sonja Carlson Davidow ’56 have committed $2 million of their record $10.2 million gift to help Colby-Sawyer address the college’s most critical need: support for student scholarships and financial aid.

The Davidow Scholarship Challenge will provide a dollar-for-dollar match for gifts made to endowed scholarship funds, doubling the value of every gift!

HOW DO ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS WORK? Once established, an endowed scholarship fund produces income every year to support educational expenses for students now and for generations to come.

MEETING A CRITICAL NEED Each year, Colby-Sawyer grants more than $25 million in scholarship support to students. Increasing endowed scholarship support allows the college to attract highachieving students and to remain competitive in the admissions marketplace.

To learn more about the Davidow Challenge, visit colby-sawyer.edu/davidow or call us at 800.266.8253

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