Colby-Sawyer College Alumni Magazine Winter/Spring 2023

cover:

Academic Vice President & Dean of Faculty

Laura Sykes ’98 prepares to belay on Zephyr, an ice-climbing route at Mt. Pisgah near Lake Willoughby, Vt.

this page:

Sykes makes her way up Zephyr. editor

Michael Pezone

associate editor

Mary McLaughlin

production manager

Gregg Mazzola

staff writer

Nicole Butler

designer

Laura M. Young ’16

staff photographer

Christopher Peirce ’18

class notes editor

Tracey Austin

printing

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

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

The spring semester is well underway, and it is always a busy time on campus. Senior students are working hard on their capstone projects, which will be featured on Scholars Symposium Day in late April. This is one of my favorite days during the academic year, when we pause to celebrate the culmination of teaching and learning across disciplines and get a chance to hear directly from our students about their academic passions. None of this work would be possible without the mentorship and advice of our faculty, and in this issue, you will get a glimpse into the talents of one of our faculty members and her outreach beyond Colby-Sawyer.

You will also have a chance to read about other interests of our students. You will learn about internships required for every student, which have the power to transform the student experience through the application of major-specific knowledge as well as so many liberal education skills. You’ll see how our students continue to benefit from off-campus trips, such as the nursing trip to Ecuador over holiday break, during which our students shared their professional abilities with high-need populations. The Colby-Sawyer experience leads to wonderful outcomes for our students, and you will have a chance to hear about one of our alumnae who has had a fascinating and meaningful career path.

Perhaps few individuals have illustrated what it means to be a Colby-Sawyer student or a part of the college community more than Dr. Laura Sykes ’98, who will be retiring in June 2023 and is the subject of our feature story in this issue. Thirty years ago, Laura began her career in the Hogan Sports Center, earned her bachelor’s degree here, went on to pursue a doctorate in

environmental science, taught on our faculty for more than a decade and then became the academic vice president and dean of faculty. We will miss her commitment to our faculty, her connection with students, her love of this institution and her dedication to all she does in support of the college.

I am pleased to report that progress on the center for health sciences building continues to go well. Fundraising for the project has been a success thanks to the contributions that so many of you have provided. Janet Udall Schaefer ’52 has provided significant support to the building project and we will be naming the facility after her. A dedicated alumna, Jan believed strongly in the college, earning her associate degree in 1952 and returning to the college in the 1980s to achieve her bachelor’s degree. I greatly enjoyed my many meetings with her, and she loved hearing updates about her alma mater..

I consider it an enormous privilege to be the president of this special college. I truly appreciate your interest and your ongoing support of the institution.

Kind regards,

Susan D. Stuebner, Ed.D. President and Professor of Social Sciences and Education

Volanakis Family Presidential Chair

top:

the Janet Udall Schaefer ’52 Center for Health Sciences.

right: Janet Udall Schaefer ’52.

Colby-Sawyer Receives $1.5M in Federal Funding to Support New Health Sciences Building

Colby-Sawyer College has received $1.5 million in federal funding to support the construction of a new home for its School of Nursing & Health Sciences.

The $1.5 million, allocated as part of the 2022 government funding bill signed into law by President Joseph Biden earlier this year, was earmarked to support the construction of a new nursing and health sciences building on campus at the request of U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.

Colby-Sawyer announced its intention to construct a new 20,500-square-foot home for its School of Nursing & Health Sciences earlier this year to help accommodate growing enrollment within its undergraduate nursing and health sciences programs. Construction of the facility is slated to begin this spring and be completed by fall 2024.

Center for Health Sciences to be Named for Janet Udall Schaefer ’52

by Michael Pezone

Colby-Sawyer College has announced plans to name the soon-to-be-constructed home for its School of Nursing & Health Sciences after Janet “Jan” Udall Schaefer ’52, a lifelong supporter of the college and donor of the largest one-time gift in its history.

The Janet Udall Schaefer ’52 Center for Health Sciences, to be completed in 2024, will accommodate growing enrollment in the college’s undergraduate and graduate nursing and health science programs and allow for the integration of new, state-of-the-art technology into classrooms and laboratories. Schaefer, who died in Feb. 2022 at the age of 89, left one of the largest one-time gifts in Colby-Sawyer’s 186-year history, with a portion being designated to help fund the construction of the new health sciences building.

“Jan’s generosity is an extraordinary gift for the college, not only in regard to the new center for health sciences, but also in terms of supporting initiatives and other important areas of the institution,” Colby-Sawyer President Susan D. Stuebner said. “I had the pleasure of meeting with Jan several times. She loved her alma mater, and it was a privilege to hear her stories about Colby Junior College and returning to complete her degree. Her commitment to Colby-Sawyer ran deep, and this gift illustrates how much she wanted the college to thrive.”

Following her time in New London, Schaefer went on to work as an executive secretary at the architectural firm Eggers and Higgins in New York City. During her tenure at the firm, she served as president of the New York Chapter of the Architectural Secretaries Association and eventually met her future husband, Rudolph J. Schaefer, Jr., president and chairman of the board of F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company.

Schaefer, who left what was then Colby Junior College in 1952 before returning to complete her associate degree in 1996, was inducted into the college’s Legends Society in 2004 in recognition of lifetime giving of more than $1 million. In 2015, Schaefer was awarded the Susan Colgate Cleveland Medal for Distinguished Service, the college’s highest honor, in appreciation of her unwavering commitment to the college.

“Jan’s gift to Colby-Sawyer is a reflection of the positive relationships she enjoyed over the years with staff, faculty, trustees and alumni of the college,” Vice President for College Advancement Dan Parish said. “She enjoyed getting to know Colby-Sawyer’s presidents, and she also appreciated meeting with advancement staff and spending time with alumni and trustees. Jan really loved the people she got to know through the college, both during her time as a student and over her many years as an alumna and supporter.”

Colby-Sawyer announced its intention to construct a new 20,500-square-foot home for its School of Nursing & Health Sciences in January 2021, with construction slated to begin this spring. The announcement of the building and the college’s commitment to increasing enrollment in its health science programs comes at a time when healthcare providers across the nation are struggling to fill workforce vacancies. To address this issue, Colby-Sawyer has pledged to significantly increase enrollment in its undergraduate nursing program, introduce and implement its Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and add additional health science programs in areas of specific need, such as a master’s of science in nursing with three tracks of emphasis, a master’s degree in social work and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

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

Courtesy photo.

An architect’s rendering shows the exterior for

College News

Valerie Leclair Hired as Vice President for Admissions and Financial Aid

Colby-Sawyer College has hired Valerie Leclair of Windham, N.H., as its vice president for admissions and financial aid.

Leclair, who began her role Jan. 3, comes to Colby-Sawyer with more than 20 years of experience in higher education enrollment. Most recently, Leclair served as the executive director of undergraduate and graduate admissions at Rivier University in Nashua, N.H., where she oversaw recruitment, outreach and enrollment efforts for the institution’s diverse student population.

Leclair, who is tasked with designing and implementing a holistic strategic plan for the Colby-Sawyer’s long-term enrollment success, holds a Master of Science in higher education administration from Southern New Hampshire University and a Bachelor of Arts in theater from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

William H. and Sonja Carlson Davidow ’56 Give $5 Million to Benefit Colby-Sawyer Endowment

Expanding on their record philanthropy as the college’s most generous donors, William H. and Sonja Carlson Davidow ’56 recently gave $5 million to Colby-Sawyer’s endowment.

The Davidows, whose donations to the college over the last five years total more than $17 million, have expressed through their giving a belief in both the college’s mission and its strategic direction. Their most recent gift also serves as encouragement for others to follow their lead and give as well.

That’s because $2 million of the $5 million gift will be designated toward matching gifts given by others

in support of endowed scholarships. Of the remaining $3 million of the gift, $1.5 million will be used to endow a maintenance fund for the new center for health science, $1 million will provide endowed funding for student internships and $500,000 will be put toward the establishment of an endowment to support the work of faculty in the arts.

Inducted into the college’s Legends Society in 2013 in recognition of lifetime contributions totaling more than $1 million, the Davidows have supported numerous initiatives on campus, including construction of the Davidow Center for Art + Design and the William H. & Sonja Carlson Davidow ‘56 Fine Art Gallery and the establishment of the Sonja C. Davidow ’56 Endowed Chair of Fine Arts. The Davidows have also donated to the Student Aid Emergency Fund and are longtime supporters of the Colby-Sawyer Fund.

College Breaks Ground on $2 Million Athletic Pavilion

Colby-Sawyer College has broken ground on a $2 million athletic pavilion to be situated on the Kelsey Athletic Campus, marking the college’s first major construction project since 2017.

The pavilion, made possible by a $1.5 million gift from Colby-Sawyer Board of Trustees member Sally Shaw Veitch ’66, will open this spring and include team meeting spaces, an athletic training room and a covered picnic area, among other spaces. The 2,700-square-foot facility will also feature wireless internet, allowing for enhanced livestreaming of college athletic events from nearby fields.

Veitch, who participated in intramural sports and was a member of the Athletic Association during her time at the college, is an avid supporter of her alma mater and a member of both its Legends Society — which recognizes individuals who’ve contributed more than $1 million to the college — and Athletic Hall of Fame. She also served as a member of the Board of Trustees from 2011 to 2020 and was reelected to the board last year.

Colby-Sawyer Earns Top 10 Rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Colleges Issue

Colby-Sawyer College has once again been recognized as one of the top colleges in the region by U.S. News & World Report, earning a pair of top 10 rankings in the publication’s 2023 Best Colleges issue.

The annual report, released in September, ranks Colby-Sawyer in a tie for second place in its Best Undergraduate Teaching (North) category for regional colleges, and in the top 10 in its Best Regional Colleges (North) category for a sixth straight year. Colby-Sawyer also earned a 23rd-place ranking on the report’s Top Performers on Social Mobility (North) list.

“We are delighted to be recognized by U.S. News as one of the top institutions in our region,” said Colby-Sawyer President Susan D. Stuebner, who had previously announced plans to cut tuition by more than 60% to $17,500 to begin for the 2023 academic year in an effort to increase transparency in college pricing. “Many prospective students and families find this information useful in their college searches. Our top 10 ranking affirms our institutional strength to prospective students.”

Lake Sunapee Protective Association Honored with 2022 Community Award

Colby-Sawyer College recognized the Lake Sunapee Protective Association (LSPA) as the recipient of the 2022 Community Award in recognition of the critical role it plays in preserving and enhancing the region’s lakes and watersheds, as well as its decades-long partnership with the college.

The Community Award, formerly known as the Town Award, is presented annually to an area resident or organization that has demonstrated extraordinary involvement in, and made noteworthy contributions to, Colby-Sawyer. Since its founding in 1898, the LSPA, the state’s oldest environmental organization, has advocated for the Lake Sunapee Region’s lakes and watersheds at the local, state and federal levels, while also engaging with the local community through educational and research opportunities.

The LSPA’s partnership with Colby-Sawyer dates back to its first student internship in the 1980s, followed soon after by the establishment of the LSPA Water Quality Laboratory on campus. The laboratory, now located in the Curtis L. Ivey Science Center, is managed by Teriko MacConnell, a Colby-Sawyer staff member who works cooperatively between both organizations.

above left: Yener Bartolon ’26 and Jessica Stuckart ’23 join Colby-Sawyer Trustee Sally Shaw Veitch ’66 at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new athletic pavilion. above right: Executive Director Elizabeth Harper accepts Colby-Sawyer’s 2022 Community Award from President Susan D. Stuebner on behalf of the Lake Sunapee Protective Association. opposite page (top): Valerie Leclair has joined the college as vice president for admissions and financial aid. An architect’s rendering shows the interior for the Janet Udall Schaefer ’52 Center for Health Sciences. opposite page (bottom): William H. and Sonja Carlson Davidow ’56.

CREATING through CONFLICT

As war rages in Ukraine, refugees turn to poetry

by Nicole Butler

On a July afternoon, 14 women gathered around a table in the basement of a café in Krakow’s Old Town to write, read and discuss poetry. Thirteen of them had recently fled Ukraine to neighboring Poland to escape the war at home. The 14th, poet and Colby-Sawyer College Associate Professor Ewa Chrusciel, served as facilitator. A native of Poland, Chrusciel conceived of the idea for a poetry workshop as a way to help her Ukrainian peers whose lives had been upended. She also hoped to use the workshop’s poetry to spark a more nuanced awareness of the concepts of exile, displacement and identity for her students in New Hampshire.

Each writer brought a unique vocabulary of personal experience to the workshop. Some were seasoned poets with an established literary reputation, while for others — a television scriptwriter, a children’s author, a researcher with a slate of scientific publications — poetry was a less familiar medium.

Language itself was an agent of contrast for the group.

“Some of them spoke Ukrainian, some of them spoke Polish and Ukrainian, some of them knew English,” Chrusciel said.

They wrote in different languages and translated for each other. Despite their differences, however, the Ukrainian writers were united by a common experience of loss and by the need to make some sort of meaning from their collective ordeal.

Poet Iryna Feofanova explained the personal power of the workshop.

“You take your pain out into the text,” she said, “and you feel relief.” But the poetry that emerged from the workshop is rich with the potential to have an even broader impact. The pieces are clear, resonant expressions of anger and pain, but they also reveal moments of humor, insight and resolve — a testament to the resilience of their authors.

“Literature is a medium of witness,” Chrusciel said. “Poetry is a way for them to contribute to liberating Ukraine — a tool to spread the word around the world. It's through this medium that they can do that, so they take it very, very seriously.” 

Olesya Mamchych was born in Kyiv in 1981. In 2003, she graduated from the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, where she studied creative writing. Her first poem appeared in the Ukrainian children’s magazine Sonyashnik in 1992, and her first collection, Perekotybole, was published in 2004. Her other two collections, The Cover and The Sun on Maternity Leave were both published in 2014. She has also published her poetry translations from Polish, Byelorussian and Lithuanian. She was the recipient of the Blagovist Award in 2006 and the Urba-Crossing Award in 2014. She is currently living in a creative commune and working on an alternative school education project.

War

A few honorable men sowed this war and then looked after it, fertilized it, brought rainwater in the palms of their hands to prevent it from withering away but the war still grew weak and wilted and sunshine, water and fire couldn’t prop it up the war didn’t turn out good – thought the men of another year let’s plant here, instead of the war, a pear

Translated from Ukrainian by Anatoly Kudryavitsky

Yulia Berezhko-Kaminska is a Ukrainian poet, journalist and editor, as well as the secretary of the National Union of Writers of Ukraine, which focuses on the promotion of young writers. She is the author of eight volumes of original poetry and her work has been awarded a succession of literary prizes. She was born and grew up in the village of Chornobaivka in the Kherson region of Ukraine. More recently, her permanent residence has been in Bucha, in the Kyiv region. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which particularly affected Bucha and other settlements north of Kyiv, she relocated as a refugee to Krakow, Poland.

The scariest thing is the warm scarf of my evacuation, That served me as a pillow on the mattress, Thrown on the floor. Dreams remained on it — Dry, prickly wreaths of acacia, Woven for the road.

Who should I ask —

When will the night become dawn, fade into memory, Cut by sirens into a gray piece of insomnia?

I close my eyes and the scarf smells like home. It smells so good that just the smell makes the temples turn gray. Resting quietly, I think: what will the trophies brought from our settlements Smell like to the women of the occupiers ––Mountains of scarves of Ukrainian women, knitted for us, or by us, Our earrings, necklaces, pearls, pendants, cameo brooches?

Do they taste the bitterness of the smoke of burnt homes?

Won't a chiffon scarf strangle their cherished necks?

I lay thinking, and the shadows of the fire flicker in the basement, While shells hit the new residences. Would you like to take my warm evacuation scarf?

I don't care. I left behind everything that was there, Because every little thing of mine smells of my land. The smell curdles the blood in my veins, While the invaders plunder our homes To please their loved ones.

Iryna Feofanova is a script and fiction writer. Born in 1985 in Kyiv, she obtained a degree in psychology, going on to work in TV as a journalist for documentaries and reality shows and as the author of 20+ scripts for TV films and series. Until February 24, 2022, Iryna lived in Irpin with her husband and young daughter. After Russia attacked Ukraine, Iryna and her daughter had to flee to Poland while her husband joined the military forces of Ukraine. He has been fighting the Russians since March 2022.

From the first days of the war, Iryna has been writing — first notes in her diary and then drama and prose pieces, most often raising the problems of displaced persons and refugees, the challenges the military wives face, and the way children adapt to wartime reality. The following poem, which was written in Ewa Chrusciel’s workshop, was her first.

THE HATRED

And what I gotta do with the hatred?

Where to pour it?

Where to pile it, how to can it?

How I gotta live with the hatred?

Should I pour it to the river, ocean or sea?

It will blend there with waters and relieve my grief. The Black Sea though is too small — could it hold all this, All these pains and all these griefs?

And who will cure my poor heart when the war is gone? Who will give me back the one I was in the times bygone? And even if I find the place for hatred to discharge, Then won’t it leave the blankness in my heart?

–Krakow, 28.07.2022

Translated from Ukrainian by Ksenyslava Krapka

above: School of Arts & Sciences Professor Eva Chrusciel meets with 13 Ukranian poets in Krakow, Poland. below: A member of the Ukranian women’s writing group reads to her follow poets. opposite page: A Ukrainian writer crafts a poem.

Nataliya Belchenko was born in 1973 in Kyiv. She is a Ukrainian poet and translator, working in Ukrainian, Polish, Belarusian and Russian. Nataliya graduated with honors from the Department of Philology at Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University. She has worked at the O. O. Potebnia Institute of Linguistics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and has scientific publications on mythopoetics. She is a member of the Ukrainian branch of PEN International.

Untitled poem

And first what one needs to learn — To walk the city flawlessly; you’re from here. The myths should be dug out To round each of pain’s corners. The body needs to dissolve in walking

As an evanescent flower to forget your age. Within love, concealed in shadow until now Your childlike observer could hide. Today no longer — need to play and pretend, Tomorrow you won’t wake up here: Your streets on the heaven’s map Converge now from all sides.

Hałyna Tkaczuk is a poet and prose writer, as well as the author of over ten children’s books. She’s a graduate of the Kyiv Institute of Philology and has published a bilingual collection of poems, „Я та інші красуні/ Ja i inne piękności” (I and Other Beauties), translated by Aneta Kamińska. Her poems have been included in various anthologies and Ukrainian and Polish literary journals.

Floaters

- Good morning — says one city.

- Good morning — I reply.

- I have a task for you — says the city.

- What task? I ask.

- Console my drowned ones.

- What?

- Console my drowned ones, what.

- How so?

- Come and see, how so. I boarded the train and came. At first it was hard to find the drowned ones. They would hide in a river. Only at night they would come out Out of waters.

I have a keen eye for weirdos. Who haven’t I met there?

Olena Zamoyska is a Ukrainian writer, local history researcher and translator from English and Polish into Ukrainian. Among many other fiction and nonfiction books, she has translated works by Ayn Rand, Agatha Christie and F. Scott Fitzgerald. At present, as part of the residency program of the Institute of Literature in Krakow, she is working on a fictionalized documentary story under the working title “What the Monastery Chronicles Are Not Silent About,” based on the authentic documents of the Basilian monastery in Krystynopol (now Chervonohrad, Ukraine).

Svitlana Povalyaeva

i’m a downed pilot

i’m a downed balloon

i’m a downed woman both deaf and blinded

i’m still a mother i have to be one meanwhile the power of love and rage holds up the someone's child of earth i will be light when i meet my death

Translated by Olena Zamoyska

Those who thought of themselves as eternal. Those who thought the soul was mortal. Those who had two, three lovers at once. And those who never loved anyone. Those who thought they were the wisest. Those who did not think of themselves as human. As in each city, the weirdos Filled the rooms.

And the rooms — full flats.

And flats — full houses, And houses — full streets.

And the streets long so long And twisted.

Now, back to the floaters. Somehow on Rajska street, I did meet a floater.

Just like me he sat in a library And read a few books at once. Trying not to splash water on them Which from time to time dripped from his collar. If you want, I can drown you, he kindly offered. No, I replied gently. As you wish, but remember I would gladly drown you, Just like the day I jumped from the pedestrian bridge into green waves with a stone at my neck.

Translated from Ukrainian to Polish by Aneta Kamińska

Translated Polish to English by Ewa Chrusciel

You take your pain out into the text... and you feel relief.”

Nicole Butler is a staff writer in the Office of Marketing & Communications. She holds a B.A. in creative writing from St. Lawrence University and an M.F.A. in creative nonfiction from The Ohio State University.

On the night after New London’s first winter storm of the season, a small group of Colby-Sawyer College students, faculty and staff made their way through the snow-dusted roads to catch a film at the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum (MKIM).

MKIM, a cultural gem in the heart of Warner, N.H., runs regular guided tours and hosts special programs to highlight the importance of preserving Native cultures and to provide a space to celebrate and share contemporary cultures with visitors.

Specifically, MKIM’s unique collections reflect the diversity of historical and contemporary Native peoples and their associated cultures through intimate conversations that are often tied to the connectivity of nature and each other. The Abenaki, our local Native group indigenous to New England numbering in the thousands to this day, work with MKIM to promote the museum’s mission. Powwows, basket weaving classes, beading workshops and other engaging activities hosted by the museum bring people of all backgrounds together to experience the richness of Native cultures.

Our visit this snowy November evening marked the first collaboration between the college and MKIM. Adjunct Professor MJ Richardson ’05 coordinated with the Office of Sustainability and MKIM to host the event for students in her community engaged learning class. MKIM Executive Director Andrew Bullock, members of the MKIM Board of Trustees, and Colby-Sawyer’s Community Engaged Learning (CEL) Coordinator Katherine Burt were also there to welcome us. Nearly every student in attendance was visiting the museum for the first time, though it is situated only two exits away from campus on Interstate 89. The film we gathered to watch depicts some difficult topics related to the survival of Native cultures. What Was Ours, directed by Mat Hames and co-produced by Beth Hames, uses narratives of three Indigenous community members from the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho to explore the struggle that Native communities face in reclaiming historical artifacts that carry significant cultural and spiritual value from established museums. The screening was followed by a group discussion that wove together personal stories, educational references and intimate reflections about how this topic was relevant to their own understanding of the importance of “things.”

with Zoë Tice Adams

Why do we feel the need to keep things? What value does a Mayan statue bring to someone visiting a museum in Scotland? Or a West Virginian coal miner’s boot to a New Yorker in Washington, D.C.? Or an Abenaki handwoven basket to a Colby-Sawyer College student in a museum in a small New Hampshire town?

Many of the artifacts that the subjects of What Was Ours were trying to get back were made by a community member’s parent or grandparent and were sold to feed their families. Other artifacts were taken from ancestral lands uprooted by archeological digs, then placed into national museums. For Indigenous groups who fought to survive after centuries of genocide and forced assimilation, reclaiming these pieces is about connecting them to their heritage and taking back a sense of cultural independence that colonization sought to strip them of.

The discussion that followed the film continually led the group back to the concept of cultures and the differences and similarities between them. Culture plays a larger role in sustainability than many people think. Without trying to understand someone’s culture through community engagement, we lose the opportunity to make greater steps toward positive change in our technologies and strategies to combat pollution, climate change, food insecurity and environmental degradation. We cannot expect to work together on these complex issues if we don’t take the time to understand each other’s complexities.

Community engaged learning is a burgeoning field that is finding an important place in the world of sustainability and in educational institutions like Colby-Sawyer College. At Colby-Sawyer, the partnerships between the Office of Sustainability, CEL and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strengthen the college’s institutional mission and vision.

Working with the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum on this event is a direct reflection of that vision. It is energizing to see where our students, faculty, staff and communities will take us as we plunge forward into the power of possibilities.

Zoë Tice Adams is the sustainability coordinator for the Office of Sustainability and Innovation. She holds a B.A. in anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (2017) and a MA in Sustainability from Wake Forest University (2020).

above left: Adjunct Professor MJ Richardson ’05, Sustainability Coordinator Zoë Tice Adams, Community Engaged Learning Coordinator Katherine Burt and Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum Executive Director Andrew Bullock join students for a film screening and discussion at the museum. above right: Adams and Richardson discuss a museum artifact.

LAURA SYKES’98: A CAREER WELL CLIMBED

by Michael Pezone

Laura Sykes ’98 is a climber.

So when the college’s academic vice president and dean of faculty finally calls it a career, after a 30-year ascent of the company ladder that took her from fitness center specialist to second-in-command of the institution, rest assured she won’t stop.

prized peaks

Chimborazo, Ecuador: 20, 702’

Cayambe, Ecuador: 18,996’

Illiniza Norte, Ecuador: 17,267’

Ruku Pichincha, Ecuador: 15,413’

Mt. Rainier, WA, US: 14,410’

Mt. Adams, OR, US: 12,307’

Mt. Olympus, WA, US: 7,980’

Mt. Washington, NH, US: 6,288’

Mt. Katahdin, ME, US: 5,267’

Sykes, who announced last year that she’ll be retiring from Colby-Sawyer in June, has already purchased a pickup truck and a fifth-wheel camper, and plans to travel the country with her husband, Jon, stopping at whatever cliffs and mountainsides catch their fancy. Once at a desirable location, the duo of experienced climbers will visualize a path to the summit — often a route not marked by previous climbers — and take to the rocks (or, in some instances, ice).

“We like putting up first ascents because it’s an adventure — and because it’s terrifying,” Sykes explained. “When you climb a route that has already been put up, you can learn about it through all sorts of means. When you put up a new route, you’re not sure whether it will ‘go’ — whether or not you will be able to climb it all the way to the top. You’re not sure how hard or easy it will be, or exactly where it will go. You need to figure that out on the fly and keep your head together while doing it. You can imagine what it may be like when you scope it out from the ground, but you never really know until you’ve climbed it.”

For Sykes, blazing her own trail — whether in the outdoors or her professional career — is nothing new.

Seeking a change of pace from her work as a project manager for a construction company, Sykes came to Colby-Sawyer in April of 1993 to accept a position as a fitness specialist at the recently opened Hogan Sports Center. It was only a summer position, though, and not the full-time opportunity she had hoped for. So, with an eye toward extending her stay beyond summer, and noticing the sports center’s continued need for swim instructors, Sykes took steps to become certified and was soon hired. Then, as the college looked to fill a vacant role for a water aerobics instructor, Sykes once again became certified and answered the call.

That November, after the departure of the sports center’s first and only previous director, Sykes applied for the job and was chosen for the role. Finally full time, Sykes didn’t stop climbing.

“It’s wild,” Sykes remembered. “I had an associate degree in accounting and I never saw myself going on with my education. But then I saw that we had — and still have — a sport management program, and so I thought, ‘that’s kind of the job I’m doing. And it’s free. So why not try that?’ And so I took two courses a semester from 1993 until I finished my bachelor’s degree in 1998.”

above left: Academic Vice President and Dean of Faculty Laura Sykes ’98 pauses to make notes while teaching her Alpine Communities class in the White Mountains in 2016. above right: Sykes and the Alpine Communities class brave the elements in 2015. opposite page: Sykes forges her own path on an icy winter climb.

“You can imagine what it may be like when you scope it from the ground, but you never really know until you’ve climbed it.”

— Laura Sykes ’98

While directing the Hogan Sports Center and pursuing her bachelor’s degree, Sykes met Leon-C. Malan, a fellow outdoors enthusiast who had recently joined the college as a faculty member in the business department. Malan had relocated to New Hampshire from South Africa and credits Sykes for helping him make a connection to the area through hiking. And it was during one of these hikes where a simple conversation inspired a career change.

“He told me that he and some colleagues were thinking about proposing an environmental science program, and I was like, ‘Oh man. If I had it to do over again, I would totally teach, and I would teach environmental studies. That’s so cool.’ And Leon said, ‘What do you mean, if you had it to do over again? Why don’t you just do it?’ And I said, ‘Oh, really? I guess I could.’ ”

Malan remembers the exchange well and said there were two factors that led him to believe Sykes would excel as a faculty member in a potential environmental science program: The first being her passion for the outdoors and the second, while maybe not initially recognized by Sykers herself, was her thirst for knowledge.

“I could clearly see how much she loved being outside. She just loved being in the woods,” Malan said. “And the thing about Laura is, she’s curious. Her job at the time didn’t require her to continue her education with an undergraduate degree. But she was curious — it wasn’t just a case of checking the boxes. She was a learner and she still is.”

About a month after completing her bachelor’s degree, Sykes enrolled at Antioch University – New England, in Keene, N.H., to pursue a Master of Science in environmental studies with a concentration in environmental education. By 2000, still working as the director of the Hogan Sports Center, Sykes had completed her master’s degree and, the following year, she began her career as a faculty member.

Still not done climbing, and with the newfound goal of becoming a full-time professor, Sykes once again set off to further her education and enrolled in a Ph.D. program at Antioch. She completed her Ph.D. in 2008 and was later promoted to full-time professor, and the accolades piled up quickly.

Sykes received the Jack Jensen Award for Excellence in Teaching, the college’s highest teaching award, in 2009 and was named New Hampshire’s Environmental Educator of the Year in 2014. Her passion for the subject matter and dedication to her students made her the perfect fit to serve as chair of the environmental studies department from 2013 to 2016, and her success in that role earned her a leadership position in the form of interim academic vice president (AVP) in 2016 before becoming the permanent chief academic officer in 2017.

“The search committee looked for someone that faculty could trust,” said Colby-Sawyer President Susan D. Stuebner, a member of the committee formed to instill an interim AVP.

“We wanted someone who had been a successful academic themselves. We sought someone who could think institutionally as well as advocate for the various academic priorities across the college. We wanted someone who understood and respected academic governance. Laura emerged as someone who had all of these qualities while also having extensive knowledge of the college. She was the obvious choice.”

What may have been obvious to some was anything but to Sykes. Nonetheless, she was up for the challenge.

“None of this was planned,” Sykes said. “I had my sights on nothing but teaching, teaching, teaching and then I’d retire one day. But I thought, ‘I think I can do that for a year. Sure, I can keep the ship afloat.’ ”

Once again, she exceeded her expectations. Sykes’s interim position led to a seven-year run as the college’s permanent academic vice president and dean of faculty, and a run that wasn’t exactly a Class I hike on the Yosemite Decimal System. Sykes helped oversee a review of academic programs that resulted in some being cut. Then, she shepherded the college’s shift to a three-school model and to a revamping of its liberal education program. And, perhaps most difficult, she led the charge as the college shifted to a remote-learning model during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

above middle: Sykes meets with faculty to plan for teaching during COVID-19.

above bottom: Sykes laughs with her Alpine Communities students in 2015.

opposite page: Sykes gestures toward the terrain during an Alpine Communities trip in 2015.

Stuebner agreed, noting that Sykes was thrown into the mix right from the beginning of her tenure as AVP and handled every hurdle with class.

“Laura has been the academic vice president and chief academic officer through some of the most challenging and active times at Colby-Sawyer,” Stuebner said. “The cuts we had to make early in her tenure were unfortunately necessary and painful, and she approached them in a thoughtful and humane manner. She has been leading important conversations about faculty workload and has been an exemplary academic vice president and dean of the faculty. Laura has been all of the things the search committee sought seven years ago and much more.”

Through all the years and all the positions, Sykes said her favorite role at Colby-Sawyer was that of professor. Her favorite course — aside from the field studies courses that took her from desert climates to elevations far above the tree line — was a history of New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

“That was a course where you couldn’t just buy one book and understand the history,” she said. “And it developed because of my hiking and me being up on the Franconia Ridge one day and looking over at Mount Hitchcock and being like, ‘That’s weird, it kind of looks like it has lines going down it.’ So I started looking at some White Mountains history, and what made those lines was that the mountain had been stripped completely of trees at one point, and those lines were the logging roads. And that logging spurred grassroots conservation efforts and it was so fascinating to me. And to put all that into a course was just really cool.”

Next up for Sykes is Commencement — Colby-Sawyer’s 185th and her 30th — where she’ll be awarded the Susan Colgate Cleveland Medal for Distinguished Service, the college’s highest honor. From there, she and Jon will officially move into their camper and take to the highway, headed first toward the Black Hills area of South Dakota, then Lander, Wyo., and Bozeman, Mont., and then over to City of Rocks, Idaho. After that, Sykes said they’ll chase warm climates, most likely in the desert southwest.

But with family in New Hampshire and a lifelong affinity for the White Mountains, Sykes said she won’t be a stranger to the state or college that she’s called home for so long. A college, she offered, that while always evolving, will always stay true to its commitment to its students.

“I think the college will continue on a path toward having more graduate and professional learners, but still always stay true to our undergraduate education and liberal arts education,” Sykes said. “I don’t see that going away. I think we’ll always stay true to what we are to our students. We stay in touch with them when they’re gone, we see them outside of class, we have frank conversations with them. I don’t think we’ll ever lose that.”

“I think we’ll always stay true to what we are to our students. We stay in touch with them when they’re gone, we see them outside of class, we have frank conversations with them. I don’t think we’ll ever lose that.”

— Laura Sykes ’98

above: “Begin,” a photograph by Alicia Bergeron.

Award-winning illustrator, cartoonist, fine artist and author Peter Noonan ’95 published his latest children’s book, The Bike Bus: Adventures in the Queen City, in December. The book, based on the true story of children in Manchester, N.H., who opted to ride to school on their bikes instead of taking the bus, was published in coordination with Manchester Moves, an organization that promotes healthy living and recreation in the city of Manchester.

School of Arts and Sciences Adjunct Photography Professor Alicia Bergeron exhibited her latest series of photographs at the 89th Annual League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair in August. The Craftsmen’s Fair is one of the oldest continuously running craft fairs in the United States, with over 200 participating artists each year. Bergeron was also one of the featured artists in the fair’s prestigious Art, Craft and Design juried exhibition. Her work often explores intimate subjects that are in the midst of transformation.

An excerpt from Sugar Hill, a novella written by Aaron Michael Hodge ’14, will be published this spring in the 15th volume of Bloodroot Literary Magazine, a digital publication based in the Upper Valley. The pulp noir work centers on a ski town whose local snowmakers are preparing to strike, and the plot features a mysterious drifter, a champion ski racer, a firefighter investigating a strange case of arson and a young poet in search of the sublime. Sugar Hill will be self-published in the spring.

As a clinical trial manager with Sutro Biopharma, Kathryn “Kate” Murray ’11 is collaborating on important research in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia. Murray was a co-author on an abstract with a number of pediatric oncologists and Sutro colleagues.

Former roommates Will Hyland ’19 and Kyle Diezel ’19 helped lead the launch of Sportland USA, an online sports media network, in 2022. Together, the friends host podcasts and create content to share on social media and across the web. The roots of their project can be traced back to their days at Colby-Sawyer, where they frequently talked about sports for hours in the residence hall or teamed up to produce similar content. For more information, visit @SportlandUSA on Twitter or email sportlandmedia@gmail.com.

portfolio

publications, exhibitions and awards Office of Marketing & Communications

When Karen Hill Maloney ’79 is not doing watercolor painting, wildlife photography or hiking, she tries to give back to her community. Maloney rescues hawks, gannets, geese and other wildlife with the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue in Hampton Bays, N.Y. She also volunteers for Imagine Special Equestrians, an equine therapy center for people with disabilities in Calverton, N.Y. She has made the news both for rescuing a cat stuck in a pool filter and for discovering the destruction of snapping turtle hatchlings, and she is currently involved in a project to shut down a sloth encounter program in her area.

School of Business & Social Sciences Assistant Professor Michael Staunton has been awarded a prestigious fellowship with the Nielsen Center for the Liberal Arts at Eckerd College related to teaching in the liberal arts. The fellowship cohort will gather three times during 2023 to discuss the vocation of liberal arts teaching.

In September, Professors Andrew Cahoon, Semra Kilic-Bahi, Kate Turcotte and Peter White were invited to present at the national annual symposium sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Science Foundation (AAAS-NSF) in Washington, D.C. Their presentation focused on an NSF S-STEM (Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Grant, which provides financial support and academic mentoring to eligible Colby-Sawyer students majoring in biology. This Colby-Sawyer scholarship program, entitled EMERGE (Engage, Mentor, Retain, Graduate), has a current enrollment of nine NSF EMERGE Scholars. Timothy Schubarg ’23 is expected to be the college’s first NSF EMERGE graduate this spring, after which he will pursue graduate studies in biology.

Samantha LaCombe ’21 was a recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, an international recognition program, in October 2022. LaCombe is a registered nurse in the Intermediate Specialty Care Unit at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. She was nominated by Madison “Maddie” Varano ’22 for whom she served as preceptor in the spring of 2022. Reflecting on watching LaCombe help a patient through a panic attack, Varano wrote, “I have never experienced a person having so much compassion and empathy for another.”

Itwas a spectacular fall on campus, and students enjoyed warm, sunny days and breathtaking foliage as they settled into the new semester. New students were introduced to campus traditions like Mountain Day, Wacky Bingo and visits with everyone’s favorite Santa, Area Coordinator Michael Brown. It was a perfect semester for making memories.

Service Learning:

Nursing Students Work Hands On in Ecuador

by Marketing & Communications

Earlier this year, just before the start of the Spring semester, 22 Colby-Sawyer nursing students headed to South America to take part in an eight-day medical service trip in Quito, Ecuador.

The semiannual trip, and the first in Ecuador, allows nursing students the opportunity to put their classroom and clinical experience into practice, lending their services to members of the local community with varying access to healthcare facilities. Colby-Sawyer students worked at a local grade school, and, despite a sometimes tricky language barrier, performed community and student health assessments while getting to know each individual.

Host families welcomed the group with open arms, and students and their faculty chaperones quickly became immersed in the local culture of Quito. The group also visited the Tsachilas tribe, an indigenous community in Ecuador, toured natural landscapes and even visited the Equator.

Here are just a few memories shared from the trip...

above: Colby-Sawyer nursing students meet with members of the Tsachilas tribe, an indigenous community in Ecuador.

below: Anna Bieszczad ’24 works with a grade-school child in Quito.

Melanie Davis ’23

The most valuable lesson I took away from this trip was that even during the most difficult parts, when I was trying my hardest to speak Spanish to the kids, they were patient and understanding that this was not my language and that I was doing my best. I hope to engage with other languages and culture in my practice and do my best to make people feel comfortable and show that I do care to learn about them as a person and where they came from. I do not ever want a patient to feel that their culture does not matter to me, and I will do my best to put myself in their shoes and be present in their care. The most memorable part of the trip was going to meet the indigenous tribe. I learned so much about another culture and was amazed by how much they can take care of themselves with their natural remedies. It was an amazing experience to really experience a whole different kind of medicine and a culture opportunity I never thought I’d learn.

Jessica Stuckart ’23

In many ways, our trip to Ecuador reaffirmed my passion for nursing. During our trip, we were able to perform hands-on health assessments for children in the school programs. Through this experience, it was clear that there is a high demand for healthcare needs in the community. I am beyond grateful for this experience because it showed me the differences in healthcare systems around the world and allowed me to provide compassionate care to others. Being able to provide care and seeing the impact it left on the school, children and community was the most rewarding experience. If I could go back to Ecuador to do it once more, I absolutely would.

This opportunity allowed me to fully immerse myself in new scenery, languages, cultures and healthcare systems to contribute to my education. I am grateful to Colby-Sawyer College for providing us with this opportunity and I know this experience will continue to make an impact on the rest of my nursing career.

Briland Laycock ’24

This trip absolutely reaffirmed the reasons I wanted to study nursing. During our working time at the school, I felt connected to the people, helpful and part of something bigger than myself. Nursing allows me the opportunity to create relationships with people and I gain great satisfaction from that. This trip allowed me the great joy of both assessing kids and also seeing them play around and chat in a school setting. I loved seeing the smile on a child’s face once they realized they could trust me. A gentle smile or tickle goes a long way, especially with a language barrier. I can see myself working in a pediatric clinic or as a school nurse or summer camp nurse later on in my career.

I also love that the professors advocate for our learning. I feel seen by my professors and this allows me to feel comfortable going to them for advice. They make me feel inspired to consider being a professor or clinical faculty one day.

Kristian Viljanen ’23

The most memorable part of the trip for me was going to visit the Tsachilas Tribe. We were able to join them for the day and learn what they value most. We were welcomed into their community with open arms and were able to participate in their traditions, dances and enjoy some of the customary food such as plantains, chicken and rice and fish. We walked around different parts of their land where we learned about their rituals and various plants they used for medicine. It was fascinating to hear how they have used different plants and herbs for hundreds of years to cure many of the same diseases and illnesses that we in the United States use chemical compounds for.

The Tsachilas Tribe opened my eyes to the world of alternative and natural medicine. I believe many diseases and illnesses can sometimes be cured through a more natural way. It has instilled in me more curiosity as to how we conduct healthcare in the United States and how it affects the human body. I am grateful to have been able to go on this trip and experience what healthcare is like in another country.

from top: Colby-Sawyer nursing students conduct health assessments for children in Quito.

Dorothea Alberti ’23 reaches new heights.

Kristian Viljanen ’23 takes a musical break. Signposts in Ecuador remind students they are a long way from home.

Not Just a Tagline:

Samantha Wolthuis ’99 Explores, Connects and Makes a Difference

by Mary McLaughlin

If you set out to find an alumnus who embodies the Colby-Sawyer tagline, “Explore. Connect. Make a Difference,” you would not need to look further than Samantha Wolthuis ’99, the vice president of global operations for Resolve to Save Lives, an organization founded five years ago by former CDC director Tom Friedan and dedicated to the dual mission of preventing epidemics and saving 100 million lives from heart disease.

Explore.

Wolthuis came to Colby-Sawyer in January 1996 from Brussels, Belgium, with an eye toward exploration. Her brother William “Woody” Wolthuis ’98 had started at the college the previous year, and she wanted to experience the sense of community that Woody had found.

“I had gone to 11 schools in 13 years by the time I landed at Colby-Sawyer because we moved all the time all over the world,” Wolthuis said. “And then I was in this perfect town — village — in this perfect cocoon, and I could grow my confidence and my sense of self while feeling really safe in that space.”

Colby-Sawyer gave Wolthuis the opportunity to be “a bigger fish in a smaller pond,” and she was determined to experience everything the college had to offer. That range of opportunities was so instrumental to her growth that she said she hopes current students are taking a similar approach.

“Get out of your comfort zone and do the things that you won’t be able to do when you leave,” Wolthuis said. “Experiment. Dabble in a lot of different things. College is not just about figuring out who you are; it’s figuring out who you’re not a lot of the time. There’s value in crossing things off the list.”

Connect.

As valuable as her exploration was, it was the connections that Wolthuis made with people on campus that really made her Colby-Sawyer experience transformative.

“The community, the people, the professors, the staff all shaped different pieces of who I wanted to be and grew my confidence leaps and bounds, while also providing this really nice stability,” said Wolthuis, pointing to a specific moment from her first semester at the college as an example.

Wolthuis had decided to join a hiking trip sponsored by the Outing Club and met early one weekend morning to travel to the White Mountains with the group. While she was waiting for the van, she started talking to Laura Sykes ’98, then director of the Hogan Sports Center and now academic vice president and dean of faculty.

“I met Laura, and she was introducing herself and she said, ‘Oh, I ran 10 miles this morning,’” Wolthuis said. “I was, like, ‘Wow, this woman ran 10 miles and we’re about to go hiking.’ I’d never met anyone who could run 10 miles. That’s crazy! And it’s very cool. And that was the moment that I thought, ‘I’m going to try that.’”

It was a moment, Wolthuis said, that shaped her. She began running, often meeting up with Sykes in the early morning so they could run

together. Now Wolthuis competes in Ironman triathlons and says running is “a huge part of my life.”

Make a difference.

When Wolthuis graduated in 1999, the temptation to stay in the safe, cocooned village she’d found in New London was strong, but she knew she needed to leave. Her first step was to join the Peace Corps, where she was stationed in Uzbekistan. From there, she became an AmeriCorps volunteer working with HIV/AIDS at Planned Parenthood in Oklahoma, and then she earned her master’s in international studies from Oklahoma State University.

In 2006, she and her wife, Xan, moved to Princeton, N.J., and for the next 15 years, Wolthuis did human rights work with American Jewish World Service (AJWS). Her responsibilities as associate vice president of programs included overseeing the organization’s global human rights work in 19 countries in Asia, Africa and Central America around four issue areas: sexual health and rights, civil and political rights, climate justice and humanitarian response.

In 2021, Wolthuis left AJWS to join Friedan’s team at Resolve to Save Lives. As vice president of global operations, Wolthuis oversees teams in Nigeria, China, India and Ethiopia, providing functional management to doctors and technical experts who work in the organization’s two pillars of cardiovascular health and epidemic prevention.

A typical day might include remote meetings with teams in each country, updating a security manual for Nigeria, arranging for an office setup in India and working with staff on the ground in Ethiopia, a country currently experiencing a civil war.

“Every day is new and exciting,” Wolthuis said. “They’re long days, but I’m exactly where I want to be.”

A meaningful sense of place.

Though Wolthuis’s work regularly takes her all over the world both virtually and actually, the draw to New London is still strong. Every summer for the past 22 years, she and Xan have rented a lake house in the area.

“We sit on the lake, and we stare at the water,” Wolthuis said. “We go all over the world all the time, and the one vacation that is the best in the world is staring at the water on the lake.”

As Wolthuis talks, though, it’s clear that “staring at the water” in the New London area is a profoundly meaningful activity for her. It provides her the peace and serenity she needs to explore her thoughts about where she is, where she has been and where she is going. It lets her reconnect with the people and the places that have been so instrumental in her life. And, perhaps most importantly, it allows her to rejuvenate, reset and recommit to leaving this place that she loves so much and going back out to continue to make a difference in the world.

Mary McLaughlin was director of residential education at Colby-Sawyer from 1996 to 2020. She currently serves as an adjunct faculty member and a content freelancer for the Office of Marketing & Communications. Mary holds a B.A. from the University of New Hampshire and an M.Ed. from the University of Vermont.

“Every day is new and exciting,” Wolthuis said. “They’re long days, but I’m exactly where I want to be.”

THE HARDEST WORK THERE IS

Yalmokas

semester as a Department for Children, Youth and Families intern

by Nicole Butler

Every student at Colby-Sawyer College has the chance to complete an internship in their field of interest before graduation. Most of these internships are opportunities to explore the practical aspects of a career in areas such as business, environmental science or healthcare. For some students, however, an internship is an opportunity to explore the possibility of taking on some of society’s most demanding yet vital roles.

Emma Yalmokas ’23 is willing to do some of the hardest work there is, and through her semester-long internship with the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DYCF), she learned about what it takes to care for the most vulnerable victims. DYCF handles cases of child sexual abuse, among other things.

“They also handle neglect, physical abuse and things like that,” Yalmokas explained. “If it’s reported to the police or DCYF, instead of having a police officer or a detective interview the child, the child gets referred to the Advocacy Center. And there's a trained forensic interviewer who is trauma-informed and knows how to ask questions without influencing their answers.”

The work is, of course, very delicate and not always suited to active participation by an intern. For that reason, Yalmokas was able to observe the interviews with children and parents but not conduct them. Likewise, she was invited to learn about other programs connected to the DCYF, including the Concord Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Team, which deploys a support team when children are exposed to trauma at home.

“They'll follow up at the homes and offer support to the child,” Yalmokas said, adding, “I didn't go with them to deploy to homes because they wear bulletproof vests and everything.”

Instead, she was able to work directly with the DCYF staff member who went on the calls and learn about the resources that are available. Yalmokas also visited the equine therapy program offered by UpReach Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Goffstown, N.H., where she toured the facility and learned about the therapeutic process.

“They do this program where (the children) work with these ponies,” she said. “They learn how to care for them, and

then they design an obstacle course to go through with the pony. It's supposed to be a metaphor for their obstacles that they've had to go through.”

Yalmokas participated more actively in some of the other programs offered by DCYF.

“I was able to help one of the staff members there do research on trauma-informed care for incarcerated women,” she said. “We developed laminated cards and gave them to jails with resources for when you get out of jail, for finding housing and jobs, food banks and stuff like that.”

She also had the opportunity to run her own session of the Merrimack County Juvenile Diversion program’s positive decision-making group, which is primarily for teenagers who have committed nonviolent offenses related to substance abuse.

“Instead of probation, they did this program,” Yalmokas said. “And once a week, they had this positive decision-making group. I got to help lead the group one week. We just went over impulsivity and the consequences of your decisions.”

Lastly, while Yalmokas’s role at DCYF was primarily that of an observer, she was able to interact with the children in a rewarding way.

“After every interview,” Yalmokas said, “a child had an opportunity to do a painted handprint on a canvas. And then when the canvases are full, they're like hung up all over the building. So I got to do that with the kids.”

She also helped the children choose a stuffed animal to take home after their interviews, which prompted her to donate her own stuffed animals from childhood to the program.

Yalmokas knew she was interested in this difficult but important work even before she started the forensic psychology program at Colby-Sawyer, but her internship with the DCYF helped her determine some of the finer details of her future career plans.

“I want to eventually get my Ph.D. in clinical forensic psychology — so not as much the research side of things as much as, like, doing child custody evaluations,” she said, adding that the internship solidified her commitment to seeking a career in which she could do clinical work with patients and actually treat their trauma, rather than simply assess it.

Courtesy photo.

Emma

’23 spends a

A RECORD-BREAKING CAREER FOR AOIFE DALY ’23

BY MIKE WASZECIAK + EMMA AUCLAIR SPORTS INFORMATION

When Aoife Daly ’23 arrived in New London, N.H., for the first time in 2019, she never imagined she would become one of the greatest student-athletes in Colby-Sawyer history.

Daly chose Colby-Sawyer because it allowed her to pursue a nursing degree while also playing field hockey. Daly, who is on track to graduate in May, has excelled on both fronts, becoming the most successful field hockey student-athlete in college history while also maintaining a 3.52 grade-point average.

“It has been really awesome to have all this success but I could not have done it without my teammates,” Daly said. “We work hard together in season and have fun while doing it, which makes field hockey an outlet to get onto the field, not think and just do what I love to do. And that’s what has gotten me to where I am.”

In three seasons with the Chargers (her sophomore season was canceled due to COVID-19), Daly registered 88 points (35 goals and 18 assists) in just 54 games. She holds program single-season records in points (42), goals (18), assists (12) and game-winning goals (9), and is also the program record holder in career game-winning goals with 14. Daly’s individual achievements weighed heavily on her team’s

overall performance, resulting in the Chargers’ most successful seasons in 2021 and 2022.

Daly has also received national recognition when she was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) second team two years in row. She joined 2018 graduate Jordan Teixeira on the 2021 second team and teammate Aleah Murph ’24 on the 2022 second team.

“Aoife has grown so much from her first year, where she would just come off the bench,” field hockey Head Coach Emily Dewdney said. “She really put in that hard work to earn a starting spot when she returned to play as a junior, and the hard work really paid off for her.”

In 2021, Daly led the Chargers to their first regular season title, going 16-4 including a 10-1 conference record. Colby-Sawyer also hosted its first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship game, ending the year as the runners-up.

This past season, Daly continued her success, tallying 15 goals and 12 assists to become the first double-double scorer in Colby-Sawyer field hockey history. The Chargers ended the year 13-6 after falling in the GNAC semifinals.

“Colby-Sawyer has allowed me to find myself as a person,” Daly said. “Being able to be so close to my professors, coaches, classmates and just be in such a small environment, that has definitely helped me grow. I am definitely going to take all the skills here into the real world.”

above: Aoife Daly ’23 celebrates with her field hockey teammates.

sports news

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2021

JUDITH BUTLER SHEA ’60

Inducted ’21 * Women’s Alpine Ski

Butler Shea was the No. 1 skier on the Alpine ski team and competed in the slalom/downhill events. During her time on the slopes for the college, she won or finished near the top in all of her meets. Butler Shea was also honored by Sports Illustrated as one of the magazine’s ‘Faces in the Crowd,’ which highlights high school and college students making an impact at their institution. She continued her Alpine career after her time at the college, earning a second-place finish in the women's combined event at the 1963 North American Alpine Championship. She also competed in the 2000 Senior Alpine Games, placing first in the slalom and second in the giant slalom event for her age group. She also competed in the 1960 and 1964 Olympic Trials.

MITCH STONE ’97

Inducted ’21 * Men’s Soccer

Stone will go down as one of the best goalkeepers in the college’s history. He was voted 1995 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Player of the Year for his efforts in net, ending the year with a 10-4-3 record, 102 saves and a goals against average of 1.09 in 17 starts. Stone ranks first in program history in wins (30), third in saves (348) and fifth in goals against average (1.27). He also registered 20 shutouts over his three seasons for the Chargers, and was voted to the CCC first team twice in his career. From 2000-2003, Stone was back in New London, N.H., serving as an assistant coach at Colby-Sawyer for the men's soccer program.

TARA STEWART-DARAK ’08

Inducted ’21 * Lacrosse & Women’s Club Rugby

Stewart-Darak was a four-year member of the women's lacrosse and women's club rugby teams at Colby-Sawyer. On the lacrosse field, she was one of the most dominant scorers the program has ever seen. She ranks third all time in goals scored for the Chargers with 198. In 2008, she scored 64 goals on 77 shots, which ranks sixth in program history for a single season. She also ranks fourth in program history in career points with 220. Stewart-Darak earned the Coaches Award and was named captain as a senior for her leadership on and off the field. Stewart-Darak was named to the All-Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) First Team

in 2006-2008 and was recognized as an Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Academic Honor Roll athlete as a senior. On the rugby pitch, Stewart-Darak was a two-time captain and led the team as its top three-point scorer.

KEVIN KEITH ’14

Inducted ’21 * Baseball

Keith established himself as one of the best pitchers in the college’s history. He ranks first, or is tied for first, in a number of pitching categories, including earned run average (2.51), strikeouts (208), starts (35) and shutouts (7). In addition, he is tied for the most appearances (44), complete games (22) and saves (5) in program history. Keith was named North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Pitcher of the Year in 2013 following a season in which he amassed eight wins, four shutouts with 61 strikeouts. He ranked third in the country in earned run average (0.97) and was seventh in the country in strikeout/walk ratio (8.71) and 13th in complete games. Keith also earned All-NAC First Team, New England Independent Booksellers Association (NEIBA) All-New England Second Team and D3Baseball.com All-New England Second Team honors during the 2013 season. Keith continued his dominance on the hill during his senior season, ending the year ranked 15th in the country in complete games after leading the Chargers in wins (4), appearances (9), strikeouts (43), starts (8) and innings pitched (43).

PETER DONATO ’16 Inducted ’21 * Men’s Basketball

Donato started 83 games for the Colby-Sawyer men’s basketball team over the course of four years. He is a two-time North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Defensive Player of the Year and a NAC Player of the Year. He ranks 13th in program history in points (1,331), third all-time in blocks (115) and seventh all-time in rebounds (662). Donato is a two-time NAC First Team member, as well as a two-time D3 Hoops All-Region Third Team selection. He was also honored by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) as a junior with an All-New England Third Team appearance. He averaged 12.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game over his career, including averaging 22.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game during his senior season.

above: (from left) Judith Butler Shea ’60, Mitch Stone ’97, Tara Stewart-Darak ’08, Kevin Keith ’14, Peter Donato ’16,

SPORTS NEWS

by Sports Information

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY:

The Colby-Sawyer women made a statement to kick off the season, sweeping the top five places in the season-opening 4th Annual Chargers Invitational to secure the team victory. The Chargers continued their dominant performance into the 2022 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship (GNAC) Meet and collected their second championship title in as many seasons. Shannon O’Connell ’23 (Peabody, Mass.) crossed the tape first in the title meet, completing the 6-kilometer race in 24 minutes, 11.8 seconds. O’Connell’s performance earned her the 2022 GNAC Women’s Runner of the Year award and a spot on the GNAC First All-Conference Team. She was joined by five other Chargers in earning All-Conference Teams honors. At the NCAA East Regional, seven women represented Colby-Sawyer with Samantha Carus ’25 (Brownfield, Maine) leading the pack with a 46th-place finish.

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY:

The Colby-Sawyer men opened the year with a second-place team finish at the 4th Annual Chargers Invitational. Jordan Piechowski ’24 (Windham, Maine) recorded a personal best of 29:02.6 in the 8K race

at the University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth Invitational. The Chargers also had a strong performance at the GNAC Championship Meet where the team placed second. Piechowski led the charge as the top Colby-Sawyer finisher, crossing the line seventh in 30:34.8, good for a selection to the GNAC First All-Conference Team. Five additional Chargers also earned GNAC All-Conference Teams honors based on their performance in the championship meet. And in the NCAA East Regional, Piechowski once again paced the Chargers with a time of 29:52.7.

FIELD HOCKEY:

The Colby-Sawyer field hockey team completed the 2022 season with a 13-6 overall record and an 8-3 GNAC record. The Chargers started the year with a thrilling 4-3 home victory over Plymouth State University on Sept. 3. Colby-Sawyer secured fourth place in the GNAC standings to earn a home playoff match against Rivier University, the same program that handed the Chargers their first conference loss of the year. Colby-Sawyer got its revenge after defeating Rivier, 2-0, to advance to the semifinals where it faced off against Johnson & Wales University. The Chargers gave the reigning GNAC champions a hard-fought match but fell, 1-0.

above: (from left) Shannon O’Connell ’23, Tessa Millette ’25, Heather Hanson ’25, Samantha Carus ’25, Adriana Nadeau ’26.

The 2022 season delivered several record-breaking highlights for the Colby-Sawyer field hockey team. On Sept. 9, Taylor Gaudette ’26 (North Conway, N.H.) made program history after scoring four goals in the Chargers 8-0 win over the University of Maine – Farmington. Gaudette’s stellar rookie season continued when she set another record for assists in a single game, dishing out five assists in the Chargers 6-1 win over Regis College. Aoife Daly ’23 (Harwich, Mass.) tallied her 11th game-winning goal of her collegiate career on Sep. 14 against New England College to become the all-time leader in game-winners for Colby-Sawyer. Daly also reached 42-season points during the team’s quarterfinals match to break the program record for most points in a season, a record she previously set during the 2021 season. On the defensive end, Aleah Murph ’24 (Portland, Maine) posted a program-record three defensive saves in a match during the regular season contest against Johnson & Wales. Murph ended the year with six defensive saves, putting her at nine total in her career to become the all-time leader in defensive saves as a Charger.

MEN’S SOCCER:

The Colby-Sawyer men’s soccer team entered the 2022 season with a new face at the helm. Head coach Zachary Grady began his first season as a Charger with an impressive 4-1 home victory over Clark University on Sept. 1. Colby-Sawyer had another memorable win on Sept. 20 to the tune of a 2-0 shutout against Elms College on Kelsey Soccer Field. Jah Gordon ’25 (Pittsfield, N.H.) notched his first collegiate goal as a Charger in the win off a corner kick by Callum Buchanan ’23 (Eastbourne, England). The Chargers missed out on the playoffs, ending the year in 10th place in GNAC standings with a 5-11-3 overall record.

Buchanan ended his senior year registering nine goals — tied for ninth overall in the conference — and five assists after starting in all 19 games for the Chargers. His performance earned him a selection to the GNAC All-Conference Third Team. Joining him on the GNAC All-Conference Third Team was Jadon Baros ’25 (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Baros finished the year with five goals and four assists. First-year goalkeeper Yener Bartolon ’26 (West Palm Beach, Fla.) was selected to the GNAC All-Rookie Team following an impressive season for Colby-Sawyer in which he recorded 124 saves in 17 starts for the Chargers.

WOMEN’S SOCCER:

The Colby-Sawyer women’s soccer team completed the 2022 season with a 7-10-4 overall record and 5-5-3 conference record. Head coach Anthony Cosky earned his first win as a Charger on Sept. 10 against Anna Maria College. Colby-Sawyer tallied a 4-0 victory behind a pair of goals from Kara Keiper ’24 (Peterborough, N.H.) and Bridget O’Connell ’25 (Peabody, Mass.). Later in the season, the Chargers celebrated Senior Day with a 5-0 victory over Rivier University led by Keiper’s first collegiate hat trick. Alexis LeBreton ’23 (Bangor, Maine) earned their fourth shutout in that matchup and finished the year with 8 total shutouts and 123 saves. Colby-Sawyer secured seventh place in the GNAC standings to clinch a playoff berth. In the semifinals, the Chargers fell to Lasell University, 4-0, to end the season.

Three Chargers were named to the GNAC All-Conference Third Team in Thea Alberti ’23 (Wilmington, Mass.) Kara Keiper ’24 and Bridget O’Connell ’25 (Peabody, Mass.). Hannah Marquis (Weare, N.H.) ’23 made the All-Sportsmanship Team.

WOMEN’S RUGBY:

The Colby-Sawyer women’s rugby team kicked off its 2022 season at Castleton University on Sept. 4. The Chargers went 1-2 in three matches against the Spartans. Celina Dao ’23 (Portland, Ore.) made the game-winning try and Tori MacLeod ’23 (Franklin, Mass.) nailed the first conversion of the year to win game three in a 12-10 final. The Chargers ended their season at home hosting three 7’s matches on Mercer Field during Homecoming weekend. Colby-Sawyer battled against Norwich University and pulled away with the win in the final match thanks to Grace McLaughlin ’24 (Brownville, Maine), who scored two tries and was later named the player of the match.

WOMEN’S TENNIS:

The Colby-Sawyer women’s tennis team was crowned GNAC champions for the third time in the past four years. Colby-Sawyer finished the season with a 10-3 overall record and went undefeated against conference opponents. The Chargers earned their first win of the season against Emerson College on Sept. 11 in a 9-0 sweep. From there, Colby-Sawyer went on an eight-match win streak including an impressive victory over Wheaton College on Oct. 2. The Chargers earned the top seed in the GNAC tournament and hosted Lesley University in the semifinals. Emily Hill ’23 (Wilmington, Mass.) and Grace Carpenter ’25 (Milford, N.H.) earned the victory in No. 1 doubles, 8-0.

Six Chargers were awarded GNAC All-Conference Team honors after their stellar seasons. Carpenter and Alyssa Owens ’24 (Grain Valley, Mo.) were named to the GNAC First All-Conference Singles Team, while Hill, Elise Hogan ’24 (Duxbury, Mass.) and Isabella Gutierrez

Avendaño ’24 (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) earned GNAC All-Conference Second Team Singles honors. Hogan also was named the GNAC Tournament MVP after scoring four points in the postseason. She was joined by Owens on the GNAC Second Doubles Team after a perfect 6-0 record as a doubles pair. Both Owens and Gutierrez Avendaño earned a spot on the GNAC All-Rookie Team while Amelia Campenella ’24 (Chepachet, R.I.) was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL:

The women’s volleyball team concluded its season with a 9-18 overall record and a 5-8 conference record. The Chargers picked up their first victory of the year on Sept. 2 against Worcester State University winning, 3-2. On Sept. 19, Colby-Sawyer earned its first GNAC win in a 3-1 defeat of Dean College. In that match, Olivia Werner ’23 (Williston, Vt.) led the team with 20 kills and eight digs. Another highlight of the season was from Brooke Patnode ’24 (Weare, N.H.), who recorded a career-high 49 assists at New England College on Sept. 22. Mia Harmon ’23 (Concord, N.H.) had an impressive match against University of Saint Joseph’s, tallying a career-high 16 kills to complement one assist, two digs and a solo block.

Two Chargers were selected to GNAC All-Conference Teams including Harmon who was named to the GNAC All-Conference Third Team. Harmon finished the season with 203 kills, 33 service aces and 63 digs. Ameesah Cotten ’23 (Newburgh, New York) was also named to the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team. Cotten ended the season with 153 kills, 18 digs and 53 blocks.

A Pandemic-Driven Career Path

BY DONNA S. LONG

Morgan Kuhnly ’16 has had many catalysts for her passion for the medical field. At a young age, Kuhnly’s sister had tumors in her knee that stunted her growth and required an external fixator and many surgeries. Since Kuhnly was the eldest sibling, care often fell to her. “I had a strong, empathetic urge to care for her and the rest of my family throughout this ordeal,” Kuhnly said. “After that, I had a few other health scares with my family, which prompted me to care in other capacities, thus sparking my interest in the medical field even more.”

Kuhnly started her career working as a nurse at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) and became a member of the High Threat Infection Team, which helps the hospital prepare for high-threat and emerging diseases. After the start of COVID-19, Kuhnly moved to Connecticut to work with the CDC Foundation as a public health COVID-19 corps nurse. Kuhnly’s responsibilities included disaster management, mass vaccination, incident command activities and COVID-19 education to homeless and vulnerable populations in the Hartford area.

Once Kuhnly’s contract with the CDC Foundation was over, she had an opportunity to take a position in infection prevention, which she realized was her true area of passion. In April of 2022, DHMC offered Kuhnly a position as an infection preventionist and she has enjoyed working with the other members of her team to promote patient, staff and visitor safety.

An infection preventionist plays many roles, including conducting hospital-acquired infection surveillance; educating staff, visitors and patients on infection prevention strategies; and monitoring and motivating compliance with regulatory bodies.

“With high-threat emerging diseases, I help prepare committees and staff members on responses to up-and-coming diseases and monitor CDC, WHO and other major organizations for new information related to these areas,” Kuhnly said. “Some of those responses include what personal protective equipment (PPE) staff should wear, how to wear that PPE, how to treat, if vaccinations are available, if we are able to help the state with vaccination efforts and motivating a culture of safety in that all staff members are equally responsible in keeping our patients safe.”

Kuhnly also is one of four co-founders of a nonprofit organization called Terra Firma International, which was established during the COVID-19 pandemic to support unaccompanied minors in Greece fleeing war and persecution. The Terra Firma Mentorship Program is a structured mentorship and life skills program for at-risk minors to help them build stable futures, deterring participation in high-risk activities that could put them at risk of abuse and exploitation.

Kuhnly has found the perfect match of her love for health care and the need for infection preventionists during the everchanging guidelines, updates on vaccinations, PPE and community transmission levels while the world still navigates through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Donna Shepard Long is the communications and marketing coordinator for the Office of College Advancement. She holds a B.S. in communications from Syracuse University.

above: Morgan Kuhnly ’16.

news from alumni relations

Congratulations to the 2022 Alumni Award Recipients

During Homecoming & Family Weekend, the college honored four alumni for their accomplishments, service and commitment to Colby-Sawyer College. Tony Librot ’94, vice chair of the Board of Trustees, received the Distinguished Alumni Award. Longtime volunteer Linda “Kelly” Graves ’72 and Director of Development Beth Bryant Camp ’92 were both recipients of the Alumni Service Award. The Young Alumni Achievement Award was presented to Rachel Quaye ’17. Read more about the recipients at colby-sawyer.edu/alumni-awards

Alumni Events

The Office of Alumni and Community Relations hosts both online and in-person events that help keep alumni, families and friends connected to the college. We hope that you’ll join us for a lecture with a favorite faculty member, a campus update with President Stuebner or a panel discussion with alumni who are experts in their fields. A listing of upcoming events can be found at colby-sawyer. edu/alumni/events. If you missed a past event, visit the Virtual Event Archive at colby-sawyer.edu/alumni/events/archive

Save the date now for Homecoming & Family Weekend 2023: Friday, October 13 – Sunday, October 15.

Alumni, parents, family and friends are invited to campus for a fun-filled weekend, featuring the Colby-Sawyer Athletics Golf Tournament, food and live music at the Quad Fair, workshops with faculty, campus tours and much, much more. Milestone reunion celebrations will take place for alumni with class years ending in 3 and 8. Additional information will be posted at colby-sawyer.edu/ homecoming

Thanks to everyone who attended Homecoming & Family Weekend 2022. Photos from the event can be found by visiting www.flickr.com/photos/csc_ alumni/albums.

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 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.

above: (from top left) Linda “Kelly” Graves ’72, Tony Librot ’94, Rachel Quaye ’17 and Beth Bryant Camp ’92.

class notes

1946

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Ramona “Hoppy” Hopkins O’Brien passed away in Sept. 2022. She was a very loyal alumna and had served as the Class of 1946 correspondent from 1996 until her passing. Our deepest condolences to her family.

1947

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1948

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1949

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1950

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1951

BARBARA EASTERBROOKS MAILEY

Smlbluebird@outlook.com

Anne Baynes Hall ’67, a volunteer in the Alumni Office, informed me that Susan Clapp Humphrey passed away this past July. Otherwise, my college mailbox has been empty, so I will add a personal note. I, Barbara Easterbrooks Mailey, have been blessed with 2 more great-grandchildren in the past 3 months,

1 boy in CT and 1 more girl in TX, thus a grand total of 4 now. My grandson, his wife and their new son spent a long weekend with me in early Nov. The entire family, including our TX “greats,” are planning a week at the family camp at Sebago Lake, ME, next summer. I am hoping to hear from you all for the next column in 2023.

1952

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Since March 2022, Mary Jane Fritzinger Moeller has been dealing with various heart issues, including 2 surgeries on the aorta and the installation of a pacemaker. As of this writing, she was also planning for thoracic heart surgery. Mary Jane writes, “My mind is baffled because I was very healthy until about 83, but I am grateful because I can still lead a full life.” She sends her best wishes to the wonderful Class of 1952. Noel Henriques Brakenhoff had a glorious 90th birthday bash at the W Hotel in Hoboken, NJ, where her brother lives. She shared, “Sibs, children, grandchildren, various in-laws and live-ins came in from all over the country to help me celebrate reaching old, old age. I have been living in a CCRC, better known as a ‘home for the aged’ for almost a year. Not all bad, except that everyone is my age or so.” Noel shared a wonderful story about being at dinner with a group of folks at her CCRC and they were talking about cats. Noel shared that she

knew a great cat song and sang the first line of “A Persian Kitty.” Noel said, “Well, one of the men at the table, (Princeton) (not Williams, Sae), knew it so we sang the whole song together. At least they didn’t kick me out of this place!” Noel has been in touch with Sae, Shum and Fritzie, all of

general. Despite being unable to walk, Hank still gets on the mower and mows the golf course and surrounding property at Twin Lake Villa. Polly and Hank’s daughter Lauri, her husband Ken and their son Tanner are all involved in the family business, which has operated since 1897.

1953 CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

whom seem to be thriving. Polly Heath Kidder and Hank are doing ok. They spent the winter at their apartment in Palm Beach Shores, FL. Their son Scotti was with them, doing all of their driving and helping them out in

Life is good for Bobbi Johnston Rodgers and she feels very fortunate. Normandy Farms Estates, a continuing care retirement community, provides many fun activities and volunteer opportunities. Bobbi enjoys meeting friends for dinner every evening and participating in Active Learning classes, painting classes, Old Spokes biking group, which bikes weekly during good weather, and she is even still trying to play tennis! Her motto is, “Use it or lose it!” Tracy Rickers Siani is planning a 90th birthday gathering this coming summer with friends and family, including her 5 great-grandchildren. She has spent the last few months flying north for a family wedding, Thanksgiving and Christmas. This winter she hosted many visiting her in FL for great snorkeling and beach outings. During her

Jeanne Losey Bole ’44 graduated 78 years ago and Linda Kelly Graves ’72 graduated 50 years ago. Jeanne was a classmate and dear friend to Kelly’s late mother, Jane MacCabe Kelly ’44.

Beverly Hastings Shepherd ’48 with her daughter Debbie and Ann Wyllie Jarrett ’48 with her son William in a photo taken in 1953.

outings at the shore, she recently spotted a goliath grouper and 5 nurse sharks in one morning. Tracy does weekly water sampling for the Marine Resources Council and the Loxahatchee River District. She shares that climate change is keeping the sea water temperature unusually warm this winter, but the pH level is ever lower and a challenge for corals and creatures.

1954

JO-ANNE GREENE COBBAN

jjcobban@ne.rr.com

Jo-Anne Greene Cobban reports the summer and fall were generous in providing wonderful weather, allowing her fingers to find weeds mixed in with her flower gardens. She declared that the extensive weeding was part of her exercise. Her winter project consisted of sorting through items in her home and separating them in “to keep” or “to donate” piles. Barbara Dennett Howard shared the sad news that her husband, Bob, passed away Aug. 1, 2021. Eight months later, April 10, 2022, her son, Bobby, passed away. He fought brain cancer bravely for 5 years. The good news is Barbara had 2 great-grandsons born last year: James on July 7, 2021, and Bryson on Sept. 17, 2021. Dorothy “Dottie” Colburn Holstine is still living at The

Village at Orchard Ridge but is in a different section of the retirement community. They are now in assisted living for Jon. Dottie is still categorized as independent living but is able to be in a lovely apartment with husband, Jon. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Nov. 24. They were married in the historic Baptist church in New London, NH, adjacent to the Colby-Sawyer campus. They held their reception in the Alumni Lounge at the college and Senator and Mrs. Cotton attended their ceremony. Dottie was working for Norris Cotton (R-NH) at that time and her first foreign service post was in Cairo, Egypt, that next year.

1955

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Carole Binney Haehnel reports that she is still alive and active. She lives in the village of White River Jct., VT, which has become quite an active place, especially for young people. Carole’s daughter in Keene, NH, is in contact with Jo-Anne Greene Cobban ’54, sometimes. Stephanie Brown Reininger is still painting in Lyme, NH, with her work being shown at Matt Brown’s gallery in Lyme, and the Members Gallery at the AVA in Lebanon, NH. In the spring, Stephanie will teach a painting

course for Osher at Dartmouth at her studio in Lyme. Carol Myers Ditmore and Irmeli “Imie” Ahomaki Kilburn were roommates 1954-55, and both now have lived in Needham, MA, for a long time. They see each other at senior center exercise class and sometimes at church. Imie reports, “Carol is still the lively girl she was when she ran the Curb in Burpee. I look forward to chatting with her again, once the current after-holiday COVID surge calms down.” Bev Stearns Bernson and her daughter, Julie, went to Provincetown, MA, last summer to see former Colby-Sawyer Professor Bert Yarborough’s show at the Berta Walker Gallery. It was a wonderful and very successful show. Bev and Julie spent the day with Bert, having lunch, carnival and gathering at the Provincetown Art Association. They also met Bert’s son, who had just come in from Taiwan. Bev said it was great to reconnect with Colby-Sawyer and the professor who curated her show in the art center on campus in 2017. Bev and Bob have moved to North Hill in Needham, MA, for their retirement journey.

1956 CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Editor’s Note: The Alumni Office extends apologies to Jeanette “Jenny” Warner Laughlin, who was mistakenly listed as the 1956 class correspondent in the last issue.

Jeanette “Jenny” Warner Laughlin remains busy and active in Scituate, MA. She had been looking forward to using her timeshare on Sanibel Island, FL; however, that was impossible this winter given the destruction from Hurricane Ian. Jenny is very active with the Scituate Senior Center. She is also a self-proclaimed animal lover. She enjoys the company of her 2 cats and a dog. During the winter she loves

watching the birds on one of her 7 bird feeders and in the spring, she enjoys watching the hummingbirds on her feeders. Jenny has 2 sons and a daughter and 5 grandsons and a granddaughter. She has a fun tradition with her grandchildren and their spouses/ significant others. Every Monday night they host a trivia game via text on their cellphones. Jenny sends the trivia questions via text message and the grandchildren all race to see who can respond with the correct answer first! Jenny misses classmate Paula Anderson Bothfeld dearly. They were dear friends during college and remained in touch through the years. Thanks to her camping days in Maine and her choice of Colby for college, Patricia “Pat” Cooke Dugger and her husband moved from Philadelphia to the Keene, NH, area 63 years ago and never looked back. They raised their family in a beautiful 200-year-old hipped roof colonial in Swanzey, and then they built a cape in Westmoreland. Currently they reside in a new retirement community in Keene. It seems to be working perfectly for them. The Duggers enjoy attending CALL classes at Keene State College, so they are still learning!

1957

JILL BOOTH MACDONELL

jillphotoart@yahoo.com

Carol Travers Lummus and I enjoyed catching up recently and we concluded we are still eagerly learning. Carol remarked that it made her feel like it was still 1957! Joan Fullerton Lockhart shares, “It is with a heavy heart that I report that my roommate of 2 years and lifetime friend Martha Allen Combs passed away on March 18, 2022, in Palm Springs, CA, her home for many years.” Martha’s death was listed in the In Fond Memory section of the last magazine. Others who have passed are noted in the In Fond Mem-

Decades later, Beverly and Ann enjoyed a wonderful reunion with their children in Brunswick, Maine in September 2022, decades after the photo on the opposite page.

ory section of this issue. Janice Eaton Atkins, Suzanne Vander Veer, Diane Shugrue Gallagher, Robin McDougal and Kim Yaksha Whiteley went to Santa Fe, NM, in Oct. with Road Scholar. They are planning another trip and hope other ‘57 classmates will join them. I, Jill Booth Macdonell, continue my work with homeless issues, particularly mental health. Barbara Koontz Adams reports that her life has changed significantly in recent years, from being a social worker in private practice to becoming a full-time artist painting abstractly in oils. She is a member of an abstract painting group, which has created several successful exhibits and has a current gallery exhibition about abstracting jazz. It keeps Barbara very busy and enjoying lots of new experiences. She feels very lucky that all of her children and grandchildren live in NH, so she is able to see them easily. Diane Shugrue Gallagher continues to bake her famous apricot rum bundt cake for nurses working on the front line. They deserve the support! She said she puts extra rum in her neighbor’s cakes.... no charge! Diane also writes postcards and makes phone calls to voters who must vote.

1958

CINDY GRINDROD VAN DER WYK

cindyvanderwyk@gmail.com

Sandra Clare Fessenden still lives in an independent living cottage at Highland Ranch in Highlands Ranch, CO. So far, they have avoided COVID. Sandra’s granddaughter, Lily, is a senior at Willamette University in Salem, OR, and grandson, Cedar, took a gap year after high school and is playing soccer in Spain. Sandra’s son, Robb, is still designing and building houses in Crested Butte, CO.

1959

MARSHA HALPIN JOHNSON Marnamhj@gmail.com

Diane Taylor Bushfield still lives in a golfing community in Ormon Beach, FL. She plays twice a week. Several of her friends live in Elkins on Pleasant Lake, near New London. Small world. Priscilla Tufts Bartle enjoys life at the Edgewood Lifecare Community in N. Andover, MA. She and her husband are healthy but recognize that mobility is slowing down a bit. Many of their friends from Andover, MA, where they

lived for 50 years, have moved to Edgewood as well. Catee Gold Hubbard lives in New London. She is caregiver for her husband, Lev. She is able to get out a bit as they have a wonderful VNA staff who come 5 days a week for 2 hours. Catee gets to the local gym at the Hogan Center at Colby-Sawyer 3 times a week for a light workout. I get to see her from time to time at Colby activities. Marcia Bittle Rising is sad to report her husband of 61 years, Donald, passed away on Sept. 1, 2022. He had been in declining health for several months and entered hospice in Aug. He was surrounded by his loving family, and they are now trying to adjust to the empty place in their lives. Marcia continues to live in Stow, MA, where they’ve lived for 62 years. My husband, Bruce, and I, Marsha Halpin Johnson, are well and finally got to travel this past fall to ID to visit our son, Jeff, and family, who live in Boise. Previously, every time we made plans to go, someone came down with COVID. We now have plans for 2 trips: 1 to Portugal in June with our girls and their husbands on a Viking River trip and the other to Scandinavia and the Arctic circle. We will visit 2 of our AFS exchange students, one from Norway and one from Finland.

1960

PATTY CANBY COLHOUN pccolhoun@gmail.com

News from our class is sparse! Charlotte Heyl McLaughlin and her husband, George, spent several days with Diana Curren Bennett and her husband, Pete. They had been fishing in MT and stopped in to visit in Sun Valley, where the McLaughlins spend their summers. Charlotte keeps in touch with Julie Dornemann Steck’s daughter, who lives in San Francisco. Julie had been in Charlotte’s wedding, as was Diana. Ann Hoar Floyd wrote from Chappaquiddick about the

memories of many years ago, the social restrictions we had. What do our grandchildren think? Ann keeps in touch with Hannah “Haydi” Caldwell Sowerwine , who still lives in CA, and Nancy Hemmings Fuchs , who lives in NH with her husband. Ann built her home on the family farm 3 years ago. Her youngest son, Colin, his wife and 3 granddaughters and her daughter, Leslie, have homes on the farm as well. Ann’s husband, Tom, has end stage Alzheimer’s and is no longer at home with her. This has been extremely difficult for her, as we all can imagine. Ann is very proud of Colby-Sawyer for taking the step to reduce tuition, making the college more accessible

for more students. Sue Barto Monks writes that she is healthy, does not wear glasses for reading or driving and has not had COVID! Her children, Sandy and Bryan, both live and work in CO. Sue has been in a serious relationship with Jim McEathron for the last 4 years. They both love the theater and enjoyed a theater trip to London in Jan. Travel is also important. They have enjoyed Viking cruises, as they took the riverboat trip from Munich to Budapest in Oct. 2021 and a riverboat and ocean cruise from Flam, Norway, to Basel, Switzerland, in May 2022. They will be

Lee Norris Gray ’64 (l) and her big sister from her Colby Junior days Carole Underwood Bruere ’63 (r).

Alumnae members of the New London Garden Club invited Director of Alumni and Community Relations Tracey Austin and Director of Development Beth Bryant Camp ’92 to join them to make boxwood trees for their annual holiday fundraiser. Pictured are (l to r) Tracey Austin, Carolyn Farrand Hager ’59, Suzanne Simons Hammond ’66, Beth Bryant Camp ’92 and Connie Taylor Raven ’58.

doing a Christmas cruise with her family to the Caribbean. Sue came back to the Oct. 2022 class reunion. We had a small turnout, Sue and me, Patty Canby Colhoun, who was there for the Athletic Hall of Fame induction. Sue successfully lobbied to have the name of Sue’s Sugar House on the Colby-Sawyer campus corrected to read Sue’s Sugar Shack. That came as a result of several conversations with President Stuebner. Finally! Sue still volunteers with several nonprofits in the Springfield, MA, area and her church in Longmeadow, MA. She is now playing pickleball. As I said, I had returned to Colby-Sawyer for the induction of Judy Butler Shea into the Athletic Hall of Fame. We now have 2 of us from the Class of 1960 in the Hall of Fame. It was my privilege to do the introduction of Judy, who has had a long career in sports: skiing, hockey and refereeing 6 different sports. It was a wonderful event and Judy, her husband, Jim, and daughter, Sarah, were there along with some other friends. My life has been one of travel as I went to British Columbia to visit my sister, then

on a Viking riverboat trip from Lyon to Provence, on the Rhone River in Sept. Then I took the 1680 Marriot chair to Winterthur in DE for its final resting place. It will be on permanent exhibit! I was able to stay with cousins in Philadelphia. I went with my son and his family to Denver to celebrate Thanksgiving with his in-laws. Christmas was spent in Paris with my daughter and her friends. I always get to usher for the Christmas service at the American Cathedral. I am about to finish my term as Senior Warden for the Episcopal church here in Boothbay Harbor. It has been a challenge that I have enjoyed. I continue to serve as chair of the St. Andrews Village Assoc. for 25 cottages as part of Lincoln Health. I will start serving as the secretary for the Harbor Theatre board, a small nonprofit movie theater here in town. My roommate, Gale Hartung Baldwin, called to say she was spending the winter in Annapolis with her daughter and son-in-law, Emily and James, and her 2 grandsons, Cole and Landon. Nantucket is too quiet during the winter. She will re-

turn for the summer. Had hoped to catch up with Linda Read Stewart when she came to ME from her home in Scotland this past summer, but we did not connect. I am looking ahead and hope we will have a good turnout for our next reunion in 2025. Plan ahead. Hope everyone’s winter went well!

1961

LYNNE GOODWIN HORNE joly76@aol.com

The only classmate who responded to my email looking for news was my roommate, Brenda Birkemose Arnold Brenda and Jack moved from Marblehead to Lunenburg to be near their son and his family of 4 children about 5 years ago. The grandchildren have been the light of their lives. She is also closer to her daughter in Portland, ME, and she mentioned that ME is such a great place to visit, especially when you take a few days away from home and stay at the Mountain View Grand Hotel in Whitefield, NH. The foliage was beautiful, and the weather was wonderful. I, Lynne Goodwin Horn, have kept busy with my 7 grandchildren who are growing up too fast. Becca graduated from UMass in Amherst and Emily is a junior at UMaine and loves it. My grandson, Connor, took a gap year and is skating with a premier hockey team, which keeps him very busy. My youngest son, Christian, who turns 40 this month, was recently promoted to sergeant for the Manchester, NH, police force. He is busy building a hockey rink in his yard for his 3 children. Next time I will call some classmates to get more input for the next newsletter. Here’s wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2023!

1962

TILDA HUNTING tildah@gmail.com

1963

DONNA DEDERICK WARD

meadowoodfarm@comcast.net

I, Donna Dederick Ward, wrote the following to the Class of 1963 in June 2022 when asking for my classmates’ news: “This time is very tough for me. We are in the process of selling our VT B&B/ farm/home and finally retiring. We will miss the farm and all our wonderful guests but have great plans for the future.” I had no idea back then that things would get much worse. We did sell our farm in July 2022 and retired just in time for my husband, Cliff, to get very sick and become disabled. Cliff and I spent most of the summer and Thanksgiving in the hospital. We bought an accessible condo and cared for him at home until his last hospitalization with sepsis. Cliff had served his country in Vietnam, 1965-66. Thanks to Agent Orange, we’ve probably lost the best years of our lives. Martha Herndon Williamson reported that Hurricane Ian flooded the garage of their retirement center, wiping out the electrical equipment and, thus, the elevators. All the residents were evacuated Oct. 13. The Williamsons have been staying in an evacuee hotel ever since, with no date of return. Martha writes, “We have had to adjust to sharing one room after decades of not even sharing a bathroom, but we have shelter and have food and water.” Sadly, Phyllis “Phee” McPherson Grandbois reported that her husband, John, died in June. Phee is coping with the help of family close by and wonderful neighbors. She talks to Maureen Murphy Gormley on a regular basis, and she always hears from Mary Lew Adams at Christmas. I’m proud of Colby-Sawyer and its continuing growth and opportunities at Dartmouth Health for the students. They are really thinking ahead of their time. Colby For-

Beth Holloran Bourguignon ’67, her son Greg Bourguignon, grandson Drew Marsh, son-in-law Mike Marsh, and daughter Amy Bourguignon Marsh, with Beth’s two dogs, Minnie and Mickey.

ever. Patricia “Patty” Thomson Russell and Bill finally got to take their twice-postponed trip to Scotland and England in June. The trip was originally scheduled for September 2020, but COVID took care of that! Patty reports that it was worth the wait, and they enjoyed every minute, despite the fact that they were without their suitcases for 5 days! “We discovered that we definitely pack too much stuff. Lesson learned!” she said.

1964

KATHY CONATHAN REARDON

kathyr1230@aol.com

Hope all of you are healthy and doing well. I know I, Kathy Conathan Reardon, am looking forward to spring. I broke my right humerus the end of last summer and spent over 4 months in a “clam shell” cast. I have learned not to wear flipflops! As my family likes to point out, they were the direct cause of my fall. My daughter now lives close to us in Duxbury and that is a big plus in our lives. I had a long talk with Marcie Kromer Langeland. She is very lucky to have all her children living nearby. She and Wes have 6 children between them and 13 grandchildren from the ages of 2 to 25. Lee Reisner Murray

lives in Dartmouth, MA. She had planned that skating would be her “retirement job,” keeping her busy in retirement and that has been the case. Now that COVID restrictions are down, ice skating is getting back to normal and Lee has had a skating competition or 2 every weekend starting at the end of Oct. and requests for next year are already coming in. Lee is a judge and an accountant, though she’s been doing more of the accounting lately. Lee shares, “My kids have moved up the street to the farm and so now I am dealing with being at home with no one around to talk to. It was a challenge at first, but I am adjusting. But I do not miss all the eggs in the kitchen!” Lee Norris Gray was able to visit with her Big Sister Carole Underwood Bruere

They had not seen each other in years, and she said they have not changed since 1963! Lee attended a Colby-Sawyer reception in Kittery, ME, in Sept. She was very impressed with President Stuebner and the direction the college is going. Ann Franklin Ewig had a wonderful visit with Alyce Cushing Stick at her fabulous home in Sugar Hill, NH. They had not seen each other since our 50th reunion, but they picked up as if they had seen each other yesterday. Betsy Myers Hunnewell’s granddaughter is a junior in high school and enjoys lacrosse. Betsy read the lacrosse article in the last Colby-Sawyer Magazine and is going to suggest that she think about Colby-Sawyer as a college choice. We are trying to plan a lunch in late spring or early summer for classmates on the South Shore of MA or Cape Cod. Both Betsy Myers Hunnewell and Lee Reisner Murray are interested. It would be great to have more! Just let me know and we will put a plan together! Our sincerest sympathy to the families of the 4 classmates we’ve lost since the last issue. Please see In Fond Memory.

1965

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Suzanne “Suzi” Sincerbeaux Brian is living a wonderful life in sunny AZ. She enjoys playing golf and hiking. She lives close to her 3 daughters and 5 grandchildren. “New England will always be home, and I have fond memories of Colby-Sawyer,” Suzi shares.

1966

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Sue Chapman Melanson’s Christmas letter indicates that she and Arthur have been fully retired from their Oak Hill Farm for almost 2 years. She says, “Habit makes it difficult not to watch the weather in March for good maple sap run days, but we don’t miss the cottage laundry.” Sue, now in Shapleigh, ME, enjoys finding time for her artwork, including watercolor painting and up-cycled epoxy resin windows. Sue had a knee replacement in March. Since then, she’s discovered that visits to her daughter, Kristen Horn Guerrieo ’03, and her family in Billerica, MA, have been made easier by taking the train. Senior rates also make it more affordable than driving! Sadly, the Alumni Office learned that Arthur passed on Jan. 20, 2023.

1967

SIS HAGEN KINNEY

kinivan06@gmail.com

All is well with Beth Holloran Bourguignon and her family in Needham, MA. They had a glorious summer on Long Island, ME, in Casco Bay off Portland. She and her son were there for 5 months with many visits from family, including her 7-year-old grandson, Drew, who spent the month of July with them. Her son works from home, which allowed him to be on the island

full time. Beth is still working part time at Needham Children’s Center where she has been since 1980. She will always appreciate the joy of being with children and working with Susanne Day Teachout ’01 and Carolyn Day Reulbach ’05 and equates this to keeping her young! She was looking forward to the Boston Pops annual Christmas concert as well as skiing in NH. She now sticks to the easier slopes but still enjoys being out on the mountain. Beth wishes the class of 1967 all the best for 2023. She included a picture of her family on Long Island, ME, and said maybe next time she will corral Susanne and Carolyn to take a pic with her. Polly Whisnand Butler sent news from Naples, FL, and made it safely through Hurricane Ian. She indicated it was “a doozy” and will take months for Naples to completely recover. Polly has lived in Naples for over 50 years and has been through a number of hurricanes but said “this one was different,” in that the winds and rains were serious, but it was the water surge from the Gulf of Mexico that did the real damage. Those who live in Naples were more fortunate than those in Sanibel Island and Ft. Myers Beach, which were both completely decimated; the surge came inland 2-3 miles and everything in its path was in trouble — homes, stores, cars, pools, everything. Though Polly was very fortunate, as were both her daughter and her son, her brother lost his home, as did a lot of her friends. The cleanup of home furnishings, cars and vegetation debris will take months. Polly retired from her full-time position at her church and is now loving her work in a local gift shop 3 days a week. She and Janet “Jannie” Sawyer Campanale keep in close touch. Deborah Brakeley calls herself “semi-retired,” which means she sees fewer counseling and divorce coaching clients than previously. She still lives in Van-

Laurie Rendall Coursin ’69 with her first grandchild Wren Baruch Coursin.

couver and also spends time in Whistler, BC, and has lots to do. She remains active and enjoys skiing, hiking, paddle boarding and biking. Deborah feels blessed to enjoy her 8 grandchildren, although only 1 lives close by as she attends university. Time will tell when Deborah will fully retire. As for me, Sis Hagen Kinney, since our last column I’ve experienced my share of health concerns, including Moh’s surgery on the tip of my nose to remove a cancerous “dot,” followed by facial plastic surgery to cover the hole from the Moh’s surgery; a mild (thankfully!) stroke; a repeat catheter heart ablation due to a-fib; in and out of hospitals in the space of 3 weeks due to the ablation, pleurisy and pneumonia, including a full week in the hospital for pneumonia! I think I’ve about had it with surgeries and hospitals. I feel healthy and am able to do everything necessary to continue to enjoy living in these beautiful NC mountains. My husband and I enjoyed going to our local patio grill in the summer for music on Friday evenings. We participated in the Cleveland, OH, “Turkey Trot” (walking a mile) with our daughter’s extended family. I have been enjoying the creative process of stained glass, I con-

Judy Leeming Thompson is doing well in San Diego! She is a breast cancer survivor from 2020 and is now cancer free! Judy started as president of her rotary club on July 1, 2022, and will finish up on June 30, 2023. The club is the 7th largest in the world and Judy finds it gratifying to be a part of the wonderful organization. She married her husband 20 years ago as of this coming Aug. and they will celebrate in Bali, Indonesia, a wonderful area full of art and culture.

tinue to sew and enjoy playing the wonderfully satisfying game of Mexican Train Dominoes, and I, too, am looking forward to skiing this season! All in all, I’d say that those who have sent in their news, including me, are doing quite well for 75-year old women, despite hurricanes, part-time work, surgeries and hospitalizations! I do wish, though, that more women from the Class of 1967 would send me news. I believe there are others out there who would enjoy it as well.

1968

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

It was great to hear from Doreen Forney. She lives in southern VT and in a village in the south of Scotland. She still loves to ski and spends time with friends hiking and kayaking in New England. When she is in Scotland, she plays in a brass band and hikes in the beautiful hills. Doreen loved her time at Colby, then a junior college. She says, “I wish it had been 4 years. I went on to graduate with a BA from the University of VT and a got a MEd from Columbia. I’m still in touch with a couple of friends from CJC and really feel very fortunate to live in 2 special places in the world.”

Judy’s son is the lead pilot for a major billionaire in the Bay area and her 2 grandkids are 16 and 18, Brianna in high school and Kaiden a freshman at UC Berkeley. Judy’s husband has 2 daughters, each with 2 children of their own, Lily (3), Lorenzo (7), Jacob (18) and Tiffany (22). All live in CA, though not in San Diego. Judy would love to see any CSC alumni or current students who are in or passing though San Diego! Carol Way Wood recently sold her house on her beloved Slocum River and moved into a smaller house in the charming seaside village of Padanaram, both in South Dartmouth, MA. She is still as busy as ever making art, doing shows and participating in a co-op gallery in Padanaram Village center. You can check out her website at www.carolwaywood.com or join her on Facebook (Carol Way Wood, Artist) to see her work. Carol has 2 daughters, one who lives nearby, who is the mother of Carol’s 2 grandchildren, and one who lives in Japan, whom Carol will be visiting later this winter. Carol stays in touch with Kris Karlen Davenport , Deedee Waldinger Bentley , Debby Coolidge , Barbara Swanson and a few others.

1969

DEBI ADAMS JOHNSTON debiajohnston@gmail.com

I, Debi Adams Johnston, send

winter greetings to you all, my classmates of CJC 1969. This news was gathered in that crazy period between Thanksgiving and Christmas when all the world becomes either magical or nuts — you pick! The Johnston Christmas was quiet this year — not my favorite kind of holiday but when half your family lives overseas you learn to accept quiet holidays. Many thanks to Meredith, Lynn and Laurie for coming to my rescue with news to print at such short notice. Now that things have quieted down, perhaps other classmates will want to share some of their stories for the next issue. Meredith Bennett and Tom are still in Free Union, VA, and not hunkering down as much as they had been at the height of the pandemic. They have a big garden and were very pleased that the 8-foot deer fence worked well. They wish they had installed it many years ago, as it would have saved a lot of vegetables. Meredith’s family had their annual reunion in New London. Meredith was not able to attend, but hopefully next year she will get up there for a visit. Meredith spends her free time reading many books and walking many miles. Lynn Johnson Pettengill shared, “When I attended the 50th reunion in 2019 several classmates (me included) said that they cried as they approached campus. I think we were all wondering how 50 years had gone by so fast and also wondering how many more reunions we would make it to. If we had known then that we were weeks away from the isolation of the pandemic we might have cried even more!” Lynn recently enjoyed a trip to Norway and the Netherlands. In all, she has visited 12 European countries. Her very 1st plane journey was to Bermuda with a CJC trip. Lynn says she had no intention of becoming a traveler but having 3 children and their partners who love to travel and

The Class of 1970/71MT kicked off their 50th reunion with a class dinner. Standing (l to r) Paula Caldarone Morris ’70 MT, Gale Spreter ’70, Ann Lozier Rohrborn ’71 MT, Karen Dunnett ’70, Val Turtle ’70, Beth Constantinides Meurlin ’70, Deb Marcoux Deacetis ’70, Beth Roland Hunter ’70, Sue Pomerantz ’70, (seated, l to r) Nancy Teach ’70, Muffy Clark Faucher ’70, Ann Felton Severance ’70, Gail Remick Hoage ’70, Bonnie Adamski Lewis ’71 MT and Lynn Winchester ’70.

a daughter who lives in the Netherlands is incentive for Lynn to travel. Laurie Rendall Coursin moved to Amherst, MA, right before COVID to be closer to her son, Owen Coursin. He was married to Aliza Rosenstein in their backyard with only 20 family members during COVID. They had their 1st baby in July, Wren Baruch Coursin, Laurie’s 1st grandchild! Laurie enjoys babysitting on a regular basis. Laurie is very active in her Quaker Meeting in Northampton, MA. She’s been hiking with neighbors, is taking a quilting class and is in several reading groups. She gets together with her siblings and their families, but hasn’t done much traveling because of COVID. Laurie had a shoulder replacement and was able to kayak without pain last summer. She loves living in Amherst and feels lucky to be in good health. There seems to be a theme here. Our friends who are sharing news (in this edition and previous ones) seem to be very active. I, Debi Adams Johnston, am jealous of all these hikers, kayakers and travelers. After 6 joint replacements, I have slowed down considerably. Lynn’s comment about crying as she got nearer to CJC hit me hard. Contacting old friends makes us smile remembering the “good old days.” Let me help you find some of those “gal pals!” I hope you are having a wonderful, healthy 2023.

1970

GAIL REMICK HOAGE gail@michaelsschool.com

The 50th Reunion for the Class of ’70 was a great time. Although it was a small group, it sure was a fun group with lots of stories, reminiscing and laughs! I don’t know anyone who didn’t enjoy the time. In memory of classmates who have passed, the Reunion Committee donated a sugar maple tree that was planted in front of Colgate Hall. This

tree will serve as an enduring connection for all members of the Class of 1970! Also, the Reunion Committee presented President Stuebner a check for $58,140 for the Class of 1970 Endowed Scholarship Fund. Thank you again to all classmates who contributed, no matter the

you all enjoyed the holidays. If you are like me, they seem to fly by faster these days! The college notified me that Stephanie Beals Swaney passed away in Feb. Ilona Tirnadi Sherratt was motivated by our 50th to share that after CJC she transferred to the University of CT and

she just started working with Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Sanctuary. She also reconnected with Paula Greene, who has retired from nursing and lives in FL with her sister. Mary Lou Sibley Wolfe wrote about her wonderful Viking Cruise along the Danube with husband, Cory. He was such a fan he booked a 4-month around-the-world cruise and they couldn’t have been happier with the experience! They came home to their son, Alex, becoming engaged to his girlfriend, Sarah. Keep the news coming!

1972

LINDA “KELLY” GRAVES dikeroka@aol.com

amount. It is so appreciated and will benefit Colby-Sawyer students for generations to come! It would be great to hear from those who were not in attendance, as I’m sure your names were mentioned. It would also be great to hear from those in attendance to hear their feelings about this special event. That means you all “Elite 8.”

1971

ELLIE GOODWIN COCHRAN elliegc51@gmail.com

Greetings! It was fun going through the reunion notes and thinking about all the amazing changes on the campus over the last 50-plus years. I hope

majored in studio art. Almost 40 years later, she went to graduate school and in 2011 earned her MBA in sustainable business from Green Mountain College. In early 1975, she moved to Chesire in the Berkshires with her college roommate, Paula Greene. Several years later, she met her husband, Jim, and they’ve been in their 1870s house since 1980. They have 2 grown children, and she feels blessed to be in the beautiful hills and woods. She loves to garden, bird watch, kayak, ski and camp. She and Jim own a solar energy business and are slowly retiring. Ilona was with Storey Publishing for nearly 29 years as the illustration editor. Finding retirement boring,

Happy 50th Reunion to us all! Our 50th on campus in Oct. was great fun! A beautiful weekend, foliage in peak color and a wonderful opportunity for many to reconnect to the college that launched us all into the “grownup world.” The largest group of the attendees from our class gathered on Friday for the Alumni Awards ceremony where I, Kelly Graves, was one of the proud recipients of the Alumni Service Award. That was very special. Later, our classmates met for dinner at the Lake Sunapee Country Club. Those in attendance included Lucy Main, Deborah Ross Chambliss, Nancy Bianchi Miller, Susan Leach Moody, Sharon “Missy” Spreter, Molly Steffey, Judy Young Degroot, Brooke de Lench, Pat Harding Gruttemeyer, Robin Mead, Sarah “Sally” Cary Lemelin, Maureen Thompson Coykendall and me. Though we had to sit at 2 tables, it was great fun to exchange memories of times at CSC, discuss life experiences since and share information about friends from Colby days with whom we are still in touch. I was told that Linda Roberts Williams would be on campus on Saturday. Unfortunately, I was

Dawna Cobb ’76 submitted this photo that she took of a group of alumni on the steps of Burpee Hall. Can you help us id the people in the photo? Email us at alumni@colby-sawyer.edu.

not able to catch up with her that weekend, but I am glad she came over from VT. Several of you did your “homework” and filled out the 50th Reunion memory book forms. Yay! I will share the news of those we heard from. Brooke de Lench, editor of our yearbook, continues to live in Concord, MA. Her triplet sons are now grown up and making their mark on the world. Brooke focused her life’s work on child protection and safeguarding in sports. She became a safety awareness spokesperson for national TV, wrote a book on the subject and produced a PBS documentary on sport safety. With the impact of the pandemic on the world for sports for children, Brooke semiretired but continued to work in international sports safety. In addition to her international travels for her sports safety passion, Brooke volunteers her time in the areas of children’s and women’s rights issues and politics and enjoys walking, sports, photography and golf. She was admitted to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and would love to connect with any classmates who are also members. Carol Hall now lives in NC. Her career in office administration lasted 45 years, taking her from the UN in NYC to the Dept. of State and the Brookings Institute among other places in the DC area. After retiring, Carol moved to Leland, NC, near Wilmington, NC, enjoying the beach, traveling and social activities, including being a board member at the local Kiwanis Club. Carol credits her studies at Colby in helping her get her first job as a bilingual secretary at the UN. Since then, she has become fluent in French, Spanish and Italian. She notes many of her CSC friendships continue today. Deborah “Debbie” Congdon Lorenson retired in 2016 and moved to Westport Island on the coast of ME. She and her husband had a jewelry store in NJ

for 43 years but are now enjoying living the country life. Debbie volunteers with local organizations and enjoys visits from their 2 sons, who live in NJ and MT. Her memories of Colby include the fun times in Best Dorm with friends with whom she is still in touch, along with Mountain Day and a trip to a quaking bog! Judith Calogero Perkins has been living a happy life in Nantucket since graduation. Her memories include beanies, blazers and the mailroom in the basement of Colgate. Lindsey Stewart and her husband divide their time between Chicago and Fennville, MI, and yet, reports traveling constantly to distant lands such as Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Doha and Manila. For her 70th birthday, Lindsey will be cruising the Nile with a friend. Lindsey mentions her good memories of life in Burpee and fun with friends Megan Young Zwerner and Laura “Pixie” Cogswell. Another Burpee alum, Lydia Biddle Thomas, has lived in NYC since graduation. She has worked in the fashion industry, pay television, and nonprofit fundraising, working her way from secretary to director. On the side, she taught at an afterschool program in East Harlem. Lydia, widowed in 1995, has traveled extensively, hiking, biking and kayaking around the world, and she finds solace in the natural world. She has volunteered with organizations that focus on history and the environment. As a New Yorker, Lydia loves taking advantage of the museums, concerts and theater. Lydia sends a “shout out” to her roommate, Diane Roberts Adams. One of Lydia’s favorite memories was the summer spent in Nairobi with Margaret Kurtz and student colleagues. It was a life-changing time for her. From Sammamish, WA, Mary Lou Sibley Wolfe has found great fun in cruising with Viking Cruises. She and her husband chanced the pandemic and cruised

around the world in 2021, leaving LA in Jan. and arriving in London in May. The ocean liner was only ½ full, fully staffed and full of quality entertainment. They had such a good time, they have booked another world cruise in 2024! Their son, and only child, Alex, is a firefighter and is engaged to a lovely young woman. Mary Lou is thrilled. Molly Steffey is also living in Concord, MA, like Brooke. She moved there in the past year, having lived in FL for 15 years and Pittsburgh for 17 years before that. Molly is living near her daughters and their families and is thrilled to be back in New England. Robin Mead is now a resident of New London! The memory of the comfort and peace offered at the Colbytown Camp on Little Lake Sunapee while at Colby led Robin to buy lakefront property and is now building a home there. Through the years, Robin has been a professional golfer, touring and working at private golf clubs before deciding that (at the time) there were not many good opportunities for women in the field. Thus, she returned home and worked for her family in commercial property management and administration of their investment interests in oil and gas and venture capital. She has served on numerous boards, including for Colby-Sawyer, where she was a trustee for 19 years. She has traveled the world (including a world cruise, too). Joan Messenger Tolles writes that her greatest joy in life are her 3 children and 8 grandchildren. In fact, she moved the fall of 2022 to Lake Forest, IL, to be closer to 2 of her children and the 5 grandchildren there. She’d love to connect with any Colby classmates in the area. Joan’s career was in early childhood education where she was able to direct several large, private childcare centers around Boston and Dayton, OH. She and her husband lived for several years outside Amsterdam, where

she learned Dutch and traveled extensively around Europe. After retiring in 2012 she had fun as a substitute teacher at a preschool until COVID arrived. So, there we are. A lot of news. Isn’t it fun to read? So now you are motivated to send me your news, right? Always eager to hear from you, so do it now. Thanks to all who made the trip to campus for reunion and to all who sent their news. You all are important to Colby-Sawyer and to each other. It was wonderful to see the reconnection between those of us at the reunion and to see the renewed spark of interest and awe as to how our college continues to inspire its students and provide them with the skills to be launched into a constantly changing world. Be well!

1973 NANCY MESSING

nrmessing@aol.com

We are sorry to report the passing of our classmate Paula Smith. Paula was smart, witty, always up for adventure, great to talk to and just fun to be around. She was from the Pasadena suburb of La Cañada and regaled us with tales from the west coast. She would always bring back See’s Candies, specifically the chocolate assortment, for all of us to sample and would educate us on quality choc-

Sue Copeland Taylor ’84 and her grand-dog enjoying a summer day on the boat.

olates. Our 2nd year, she was Best dorm president and was a very good leader. She went on to become a nurse and moved back to Los Angeles. Our condolences to her sister, Barbara. Jane Halsun Schwab is happily retired and living the condo life in Warwick, RI, doing volunteer work, exercising and hanging out. She is fortunate to have 3 grandchildren living nearby. Her other 2 grandkids, with another on the way, live in San Diego. Jane rents a house on beautiful Block Island every July for the whole gang. Her annual girls weekend with 14 sorority sisters from PI at UVM sounds like a blast, as they get together every year. For their 70th birthdays, they are planning a Hilton Head get together. Martha Chaplin Frink has a son who is now a 2nd lieutenant in the US Navy. Her oldest is a 4th year Ph.D. student. Her middle child is “an inventor kid.” Martha feels blessed to have a full table for the holidays, and problems and projects solved for her when they visit. Martha has retired to Bremen, ME, which is a small Midcoast fishing village. It is a beautiful place where she gardens and often swims in the Medomak River and enjoys watching the river flow between the cathedral pines. Sounds idyllic! She

keeps up with Margaret Stewart, Elizabeth “Liza” Learned Baker, Pamela Wilde Stenberg and Lynn Emerson. Elizabeth “Lilly” Heckman Cleveland and her husband, Mark, have 2 new grandchildren, McCartney, now 2, and Olive, 1. They are thrilled and say taking care of 2 babies at our age is an incredible experience! Lilly stays busy in both the art and genealogy arenas. She has a part-time job with a lineage society in Boston and really enjoys working with people all over the country. Lilly also paints historic images, which combine history and art. After doing research, studying measurements, researching house styles of the era and visiting museums to see relevant paintings, she paints. She recently completed a painting of John and Priscilla Alden’s 1627 home in Duxbury, based on what she imagined the house and farmlands looked like. It is now on permanent exhibit at the Alden House Historic Site in Duxbury. Lilly is a signature member of The New England Watercolor Society. Gail Spaulding York and her husband, Don, are keeping busy with their 5 sons and families. They have 10 grandchildren and feel very fortunate they live in the area so they can enjoy all the grandkids’ activities. They love living in Bedford, NH.

Their family business, York Athletics Mfg., keeps them busy, and it is fun to see their footwear brand on people when they are out and about. They get away for a few weeks in the winter to Naples, FL, and enjoy traveling when they can. Cathy Moore Pomeroy continues to be involved with the beautiful Denver Botanic Gardens, both working with visitors and reviewing grant requests for the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. She is also involved with the High Line Canal Conservancy, which is turning a canal into a 72-mile linear park. Recent travels include Santa Fe, Canada, Westport and New Smyrna Beach for a Peace Corps reunion. She and Ted have a 2-year-old grandson in Washington, DC. As for me, Nancy Messing, it was a fun year. In June we visited Vienna and Salzburg, and Lake Hallstatt in between. Austria is a beautiful country, and one of the highlights was the Sound of Music bicycle tour in Salzburg. We went on to The Dolomites in Italy, took the cable car up the Alpe di Suisi and hiked along the Witches Trail, dodging cows along the way. We visited and hiked around the Zugspitze in Germany, the Eiger and Jungfrau in Switzerland, then Chamonix and the French Alps. All the fondue and beer cancelled out the calories lost hiking! We had another big adventure in July. Our boat hauler cancelled at the last minute, so we looked at each other and said let’s do it ourselves! We went out Port Everglades, the shipping channel in Fort Lauderdale, out into the Atlantic Ocean and took a left. We had no idea what we were in for. We took our Boston Whaler all the way up the coast to Cape Cod. The wind, the waves, the weather, including a severe lightning storm, were all challenges along the way. We exhaled when we rounded the tip of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty on a bright sunny July Sunday. The whole trip took 2 ½ weeks

and I will never do that again! Hope you are well. Please keep our wonderful college in your giving plans. The next generation will greatly benefit from your donation, as well as the buildings and programs. Colby is a vibrant college today in a beautiful town. I look forward to seeing all of you at our 50th Reunion in October 2023! Hoping you all have a very Happy 70th Birthday! Some have already celebrated, and some are coming up. Wishing you good health in 2023!

1974

SUSAN BROWN WARNER sbw426@outlook.com

1975

JILL MCLAUGLIN

GODFREY

jillgodfrey25@gmail.com

1976

JANET SPURR spurr1@msn.com

1977

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

June Bascom met up with Ellen Dutra Houghton for the 40th reunion and they had a grand time catching up. June shared, “It had been a while since I was on campus. What a change! Oh, to have had that athletic facility back in the day.” June is still in VT working in developmental disabilities services at the state, perhaps for another year or 2. She is active with outdoor sports. She loved CrossFit until COVID shut things down. June married her partner in 2019 after 25 years together. June spent the better part of COVID working remotely and staying with her mom, Margaret Hale Bascom ’46, supporting her through her last stage of life so she could stay in her home in northern VT and die on her own terms, which she did at age 95. “She was my best friend. It was just everyday life together and yet an amaz-

(Back row, l to r) Jennifer Enos Iacopino ’85, Nancy Sullivan Bussiere ’84, (seated, l to r) Karen Walles Wilber ’83 and Brigid Gunn ’84 enjoy some time together over lobster in Brewster, Mass.

ing journey for the two of us. We were both lucky,” said June. Kathy Brown Teece shared that her newest grandchild, Leonardo “Leo” Apollo Teece, was born Dec. 20 to her son, Alex and his wife, Stephanie, and joined big brother, Gus. That makes 4 grandchildren and counting! The Teeces purchased and renovated an old 1881 farmhouse in West Burke, VT. “My goodness, the air is certainly fresh up in those VT hills,” Kathy says. These days, their time is split between Northampton, MA, and VT. She sends a shoutout to her fellow Burpee pals! Susan Gallup Filin has been living in Niskayuna in upstate NY, working in several retail settings, mostly as a floral

Susan got to see her Little Sister Karen Griffiths Helin ’78 at her beautiful wedding. Susan and her husband have spent a lot of time getting to know Cape Cod over the past few decades, renting some lovely homes overlooking the bay, especially in the offseason. They would love to move there someday, but until then, it’s wonderful to have dear friends to visit as often as they are able. Susan shares, “It’s hard to believe it’s been over 45 since I was a student at CSC, and I still hold dear those memories of beautiful New London and am grateful for my friendships that have rekindled and will remain so special!” Jennifer Taylor Rossel cannot believe

music business. Wendi Braun is working remotely for Baystate Health in Western MA as senior director, organizational development. Her son was recently engaged, and she is eagerly awaiting wedding plan details. Wendi summers in Dennis, MA.

1978

JODY HAMBLEY COOPER-RUBIN jcoop323@gmail.com

designer for the past 30 years. She retired this past Oct. to have shoulder surgery and she’s still recovering but is happy to have lots of time now to enjoy her 1st dog, Charley. Susan is looking forward to better weather so she and Charley can get out on hikes again. Until then, Susan will be needle felting, crafting and loving the retired life! Susan feels fortunate to have reconnected with her Abbey friends Morah Alexander ’78 and Kay Kendrick Reynolds ’78 almost 10 years ago. The trio spends lots of time together and are always looking forward to their next adventure! Last Aug.

that she’s in her 25th year as an occupational therapist, working at a regional special education school located in Trumbull, CT. She primarily works with autistic students from middle school/ high school to young adulthood. Her husband, Todd, is retired, filling his days with golf, tennis, tennis officiating and visiting the local farmer’s market on a weekly basis. Their daughter recently finished her year of service through Terra Corps. She just began a 7-month farm internship in the Berkshires. Their son is a junior at Messiah University. He is spending his junior spring semester in Nashville, TN, learning about the

Greetings from your class correspondent, Jody Hambley Cooper-Rubin . I am still living on Main Street in New London with my husband, Tom, who just retired from Miller Knoll (formerly Herman Miller). He is settling into retired life quite nicely and hasn’t gotten in my way yet! He has lots of projects planned that he never had time for while working in the corporate world, and he’s excited to get started on them. I am still working as director of development at the New London Barn Playhouse (which, incidentally, is right across the street from my house, so a perfect commute) with no plans to retire yet. My son and his wife welcomed their 1st child, Riley, a girl, into the world on 10/13/21. Between visiting them in Woodbridge, NJ, and our other 2 grandchildren, Tyler (7) and Colton (5), in Queen Creek, AZ, we try to spend as much time visiting and enjoying their early years as I am sure many of you know how quickly they grow! I am just hoping that we will be able to keep up with them as we age, but so far, so good! Rebecca Reeves is living in Cape Cod and loves it. She teaches Lakshmi Voelker Chair Yoga (a Kripalu certification) twice a week and loves keeping her participants flexible and strong as we age. Rebecca looks forward to hearing from her Austin dorm gang and would love a reunion! Linda Simon Miller and her family are doing very well. Linda officially retired

in Sept. 2018, but went back per diem working up to 10 hours a week for the last year just to get out of the house. As of the end of Oct., she is fully retired from Dartmouth Health. She keeps very busy by visiting her son’s family in Westerly, RI, taking care of her 2 granddaughters, as well as going to Truro, MA, to be with her daughter’s family, which includes 3 more granddaughters! Linda also helps her husband, George, with farm chores but looks forward to the time when George will stop milking cows so that he can join her on her trips to visit the extended family. They do, however, take a week to get together with their entire extended family in the summer in Truro, MA. Austin dorm roommates Meredith “Meridy” Meyer Tinkham , Diane Guilbault DeBiasi , Jane Venie Earls and Linda Simon Miller got together in Sept. for lunch in New London, followed by a self-guided tour of the Davidow Center for Art + Design building on campus. They had the opportunity to chat with a couple of current students which was a lot of fun. Linda shared, “It’s always wonderful to get together with these ladies and catch up. We still have lots of belly laughs.” Linda is so grateful that after 46 years when they first met, they still have such wonderful lifelong friendships. Isn’t that what it is all about? Thank you, Linda and Rebecca, for your updates! I hope to hear from many more of you for the next installment of class notes! Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2023 and hope to see you on campus for a visit!

1979

DEBRA BRAY MITCHELL

dbraymitch@gmail.com

Karen Hill Maloney is still a wildlife rescue volunteer for Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue in Hampton Bays on Long Island. She has rescued many different

Sandra Beattie Hand ’85 and her dog Beacon.

species, including a red-tailed hawk. She recently volunteered for a nonprofit organization called Imagine Special Equestrians. She enjoyed working with the beautiful rescue horses and the beautiful people with various disabilities. Karen shares, “I used to own, ride and show horses, and growing up with a mom in a wheelchair, I fit right in.” Karen has been on the news for being that wildlife photographer that discovered the gruesome mow over of hundreds of hatching snapping turtles. She was interviewed by several tv stations. She was also featured in articles in Newsday and Daily News. Google “Karen Hill Maloney turtles” and you’ll find some of the coverage. Karen is also actively involved in protests to shut down sloth encounters.

“I am fully retired and when not photographing wildlife, I stand up for the animals with no say. I give back to my community as it has been kind to me,” says Karen.

1980

NATALIE “LEE” HARTWELL THRASHER lifegrd121@aol.com

It is always nice to have something to report from our classmates. This time did not disappoint, as we have heard from Dana Peters Frizzell. She recalled that she had traveled with fellow classmate Julie Lundberg Cameron to

Austria over a Jan. interim. They visited Salzburg, Vienna and Solden for skiing. Does anyone else have memories from this trip or other exciting interims? In Dec., Dana and Julie were planning a return trip to Salzburg and Vienna. So exciting! Dana has been busy writing books and has completed her 3rd book, When You Can’t Go Home, centered around Sydney, Australia. She enjoys writing romantic thrillers. You can look her up on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Laconia, NH, is her home, but she truly loves traveling abroad, seeking new adventures and stories for her next book. This year, I, Natalie “Lee” Hartwell Thrasher, am busy as president of the Service Club of Manatee County. It is one of our local children’s charities. Last year I chaired our Boots & Bling Gala fundraiser, and we raised close to $200,000. Helping our youth is so fulfilling, as they will be our future. Wherever you are, and whenever you have a chance, please drop me a line so I can share your news with our classmates. Take care and my best to you.

1981

PAMELA AIGELTINGER LYONS

pamalyons@verizon.net

1982

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Sara Prouty retired as an elementary school principal in MA a few years ago. She loved her teaching and administrative career and credits Colby-Sawyer’s child study program with her strong foundation and understanding of child development. She travels and enjoys her lake home in NH with her husband, Bill.

Lisa Dargis Nickerson has lived in a small town in the Tidewater area of VA on and off since 1989, when her husband was stationed

in Norfolk. After he retired from the Navy, they decided to stay because they love VA. Lisa says there’s just enough of a change of seasons. Lisa’s big news is that their daughter is getting married in Oct! She lives in CA, but has chosen Wells, ME, as her venue, right near where Lisa and her husband both spent their childhood. “We can only hope that the Farmer’s Almanac is correct, as it is predicting a drier than normal fall 2023!” says Lisa.

in an area where heavy traffic is not part of daily life. She wonders if others live nearby. Dana has 6 children and the youngest recently received her driver’s license. Dana’s 2nd daughter has made Dana a grandmother twice now, and Dana is thrilled! This spring, Dana is going back to school for her 2nd master’s degree. She earned her first master’s degree in clinical psychology 30 years ago. This time she will attend Liberty University online, earning a master’s in mental health counseling, while working fulltime as a therapist. Brigid Rice Gunn and her husband, Peter recently took advantage of their remote careers and moved from CT to Cape Cod, across from a quiet Kettle Pond in Brewster. Brigid is employed at Alera Group as senior director of mergers and acquisitions integration. Brigid and Peter have 2 pups and their adult kids live in MT and CA. They spend vacation with their children, and they enjoy exploring new places. Renee Potvin

1983

GAIL

SMART SCIBELLI gail@famapr.com

1984

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Sue Copeland Taylor lives in Essex, MA, with her husband, Mike, to whom she’s been married for 32 years. They have 2 daughters: Jesse, 30, who lives in DC and Sam, 27, who lives in CA. Sue and Mike enjoy their “grand dog” Tucker, who visits frequently. Their summers are spent on their boat on the back side of Crane’s beach. Sue occasionally sees Diane Place Statkus and often wonders what happened to some of the other Burpee ladies. Dana Wall lives in the northwestern corner of IL, a mile from the Mississippi River and IA, and a mile from WI. She is happy to live

O’Neal and her husband, Jim, live in coastal ME, where Renee has been working for MaineHealth in patient experience. She recently accepted a new position as HR business partner. Her 2 sons have followed her lead and also work for MaineHealth. Renee continues to be involved in her community, serving on various committees and boards. Jim owns a software company and is also a talented and busy musician.

Nancy Sullivan

Bussiere lives with her husband, Dan, and their 2 children in the Boston area. Nancy is an elementary reading interventionist in a neighboring school district. She has a busy year looking at schools with her daughter, who is a senior in high school, while her son is preparing for the real world as he finishes his senior year at UNH. Nancy has seen many CSC friends over the last few years as they welcomed the next decade!

Jody Anderson Mills ’85 and her dog Biscuit.

Francesca Durant DeRosa ’85 and her Malti-poo Yukon Cornelius

1985

JEN ELLIS

jenpeter1@comcast.net

Martha “Mo” Leary Niehaus and her husband, Mark, are blessed to have their 1st grandchild Zoe. She is the daughter of their oldest daughter, Abbey, and son-in-law, Christian, who live in Little Rock, AR. Son JP and his wife, Hunter, and 2 dogs live in CO. Colby, JP’s twin, lives in CO, as well. Kyle, Martha’s 3rd son, lives in Indianapolis with his girlfriend, Andi. Between all 4 children are 4 dogs. Martha and Mark have been blessed with being back in CT for the past 6 years, but as the children are far away, they will eventually move near one of them. Sandra Beattie Hand still lives in Fair Haven, NJ, and she loves being so close to the ocean and rivers. She shared a photo with her dog,

1987

KYM PRINTON FISCHER mkjfischer@yahoo.com

1988

MELISSA CLOMNS RUSSELL melissarussell6699@outlook. com

1989

CAROLYN CHERUBINO MCGRAW mcgraw.carolyn@gmail.com

1990

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Editor’s Note: Thanks to Dawn Hinckley who served as the 1993 correspondent from 2003- 2023.

1994 CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Beacon, and shared that Beacon does AKC tracking events. Someone walks and makes turns for about 600-800 yards through fields and woods and they leave a glove at the end. Beacon and Martha arrive 3 hours later and are told where the starting point is. Beacon uses his nose to follow the track and ultimately find the glove. Martha has a great time at the events, and Beacon loves it! During a weekend in Dec., Jody Anderson Mills along with her dog, Biscuit, and Tracy Shipman Thompson traveled to Jen Ellis’ home to help decorate for Christmas. They gathered for dinner with Peg Rogers Andrews, Amy Carrier Lyon and her husband, Jay Lyon.

1986

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Greta Sanborn Shepard is working in a collaborative K-12 school for children with special needs. She recently joined a committee at the school to be their guest writer and will be writing about the good work that is being done at the collaborative and student stories. Greta’s youngest son is finishing up his architecture degree at Norwich University. He’s enjoying being in VT as he’s an avid freestyle skier. Her oldest son is a trainer and a pro body builder. He loves what he does and hopes to own his own business in the future. Greta and her husband enjoy hiking and being outdoors. They had several great days of biking this fall with Carla Gordon Russell and her husband, Andrew.

1991

GRETCHEN GARCEAUKRAGH redsoxfan78210@yahoo.com

1992

BETH BRYANT CAMP ecamp@colby-sawyer.edu

JENN BARRETT SAWYER jjmasawyer@comcast.net

1993 CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Editor’s Note: Thanks to Julie Camp and Stacey Banks Neiman, who served as the 1994 cocorrespondents from 2012-2023. Heather Dutton Dombroski has been working for the state of NH since 2001. Since 2007, she has worked for the Child Care Licensing Unit as a licensing coordinator. She has been able to use her child study/early childhood education degree in a capacity that she had not fully realized existed. Heather shares, “I’m proud that my public service work helps keep children safe in childcare settings while also using my teaching skills to help educators with licensing requirements and promoting quality early care and education in NH. I’m also currently the licensor for Windy Hill School on campus!” For the past year, Jen Deasy has been working in New London at the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust. Their mission is to preserve the rural landscape of the Mt. Kearsarge/Ragged/ Lake Sunapee region and Jen enjoys her work immensely. In Dec., she collaborated with past employer YMCA Camp Coniston on a grant-sponsored trip to Africa. Alumna Nicole Berthiaume ’08 is the summer camp & staff development director at Coniston. Together with an experienced team of 5, they traveled to the South African College of Tourism (SACT) in Graaff-Reinet, South Africa. Their mission was to work with the SACT instructors and create an orientation for their students that shaped connections between the adult students and staff, and to welcome students to a new culture and campus and prepare them for their academic pursuits.

(Above) Adorned in their CSC t-shirts, these ladies gathered for a minireunion in Chatham, Mass. Gretchen Kolb Cauble ’88 and Stacey Collins Pelletier ’90. (Below) Gretchen Kolb Cauble ’88, Suzanne Carlisle Stebenne ’89 and Jennifer Hyora-Williams ’93.

1995

ALLISON LATHAM HOSGOOD ahosgood13@gmail.com

Chris “Koz” Kozlowski and Christen Kozlowski ’96 just finished the busiest food truck year yet with their annual 3-day Thanksgiving weekend run at Conley Tree Farm in Farmington, NH. Koz was enjoying a few weeks off before starting at Gunstock Resort and getting ready for snowmobiling season.

that her life is good and changing quickly. Lynn and her family decided to move back north from Hampton. They bought a house in Springfield, NH, (not far from CSC) to be closer to family, friends and their kids. She is finishing the year in Hampton as the library media specialist and then will be looking for a new job in the Springfield area. They are very excited and happy to be back where they met and lived previously. Josh Morse is happy

daughters both had big birthdays this year. Hope turned 21 and Page turned 18. They took a family trip to Palm Springs, CA, where they played golf, went up the Aerial Tramway (where it was nice and cool!), went to the air museum, spent quality time by the pool and took Hope and her boyfriend, Cole, to a casino for the first time! Allison is excited to share that she brought her golf clubs on vacation for the first time. Their family headed from Palm Springs to Anaheim and spent the day at Disney and California Adventure before flying home to TX. The family also had the opportunity to check out the Rockport/Fulton area along the TX coast. The Hosgoods spent the long July 4th weekend going to the beach, seeing dolphins and catching speckled trout while out bay fishing. Derek shares that their 1 ½ year old German shorthaired pointer Olive hunted quail and pheasant for the first time this year in TX and CO.

1996 CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1997 CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Fawna Gallant Neyrey has been in FL for 24 years and still loves it. She does miss the changing seasons, but a few cold fronts in FL cure her of that. Fawna has been working on a private yacht

Christen is still plugging along in the real estate world and riding her new horse, Magnum! Son Gabriel (14) broke his collarbone at mountain bike camp this summer and is back in full force biking. Son Dominic (16) is praying to the snow gods for the ski areas to open so he can ride his new snowboard! The Kozlowskis encourage you to look them up if any of you are visiting NH. Lynn Hart Cutting let us know

to share that his son Owen is a sophomore at CSC and, like his dad, plays hoop. In fact, Owen wears his dad’s old jersey number — #31! Josh attended CSC’s first golf outing this year and shares that “the old gang” played together. Chris Andriski, Jim Durrell ’94, Dave Martinelli ’97 and Josh had fun and laughed the whole time! Allison Latham Hosgood and Derek Hosgood’s

Brian Ahrens married his wife, Heather, in 2016 and they moved to Andover, MA, about 3 ½ years ago. They have 2 cats, Oliver and Motorboat. Brian changed careers about 8 years ago, becoming a commercial real estate broker and is currently a vice president at Horvath & Tremblay. Brian and Heather enjoy traveling abroad and are planning a trip to the French Open next year, so they’ll visit Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and London while they are there. They’ll also attend their first Formula 1 race in Las Vegas this coming Nov. Brian and Heather enjoy volunteering with nonprofit organizations in Boston and NYC, including Greater Boston Food Bank and God’s Love We Deliver.

for over 6 years with her husband. Their son is 4 and travels with them. They were docked in Nantucket last summer and had an amazing time. They took the boat out to go whale watching and her son still talks about it. He caught his 1st fish, explored the island making new friends all summer and even got a gold ring on the carousel in Martha’s Vineyard. Fawna met up with Amy Carroll ’98 and loved catching up with her. Fawna lives in Jupiter (South FL) and would love to meet up with anyone traveling in the area. Laura Powell has been working at the Junior League Thrift Shop for 10 years. She competed in a half marathon in Cape May in Oct.

1998

JAMIE GILBERT KELLY

Nicole Berthiaume ‘08 and Jen Deasy ’94 during an amazing trip to South Africa in December.

Josh Morse ’95 and his son Owen ’25 stop for a photo opportunity during CSC Move-In Day in Sept.

1999 CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

It’s been a very exciting few months for Jaime Powers. In Aug., she left state service to accept the position of executive director at GH Recovery Solutions in Nashua, NH. GHRS offers partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient services for substance use disorders, and many of their clients take advantage of the recovery housing available through their sister company, GateHouse Sober Communities. Jaime writes, “I am very much enjoying being back in the private sector and the position and company as a whole! I also welcomed my 1st grandchild at the end of Aug. Leo Isaiah is happy and healthy and thoroughly spoiled by his YaYa (me) and Poppy Patricia Sawyer Powers ’66, also a CSC graduate.”

2000

TARA SCHIRM CAMPANELLA taracampanella@gmail.com

JENNIFER PRUDDEN MONTGOMERY jenpmontgomery1978@gmail.com

2001

DANICA LETARTE MEDEIROS danicamedeiros@gmail.com

2002

NICOLE FOWLER MARTIN nicole.martin3@gmail.com

Marieke Heather Jansen was engaged to Derek McGee on April 22, 2022, at Colt State Park in Bristol, RI. Marieke’s future stepdaughter, Ainsley, was part of the proposal. They are planning an Oct. 2023 wedding. Karen Kotopoulis Koutsavlis was on campus this fall for the 1st in-person Employer Expo since before the pandemic. She had the chance to talk with lots of students about internships and jobs. She’s excited to have openings for internships in quite a few majors for 2023 and says it’s been great working with faculty and staff at the college. Karen’s business New England 360 Fitness will celebrate its 10th birthday in May 2023.

2003

LISA NOYES HARDENBROOK litha81@hotmail.com

2004

ERIC EMERY ericemery20@gmail.com

2005

MONICA MICHAUD MILLER michaud_monica@hotmail.com

2006 CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

2007

STEPHANIE GUZZO IRELAND stephanie.guzzo@gmail.com

ASHLEY RODKEY rodkeyah@yahoo.com

2008

SARAH HEANEY PELLETIER sh.heaney@gmail.com

Pat Sylvia and Angela Eastman Sylvia welcomed 2nd daughter Violet in April.

2009

ELIZABETH CRESSMAN ecressman1986@hotmail.com

NICOLE POELAERT COSTANZO nmpoelaert@gmail.com

2010

BRITTANY MAILMAN bjmailman@gmail.com

2011

JAYCEE MCCARTHY johnmccar.11@gmail.com

2012 CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Erica Cornellier Kowalski graduated with a master’s degree in

APRN from Rivier University in May 2022. She currently works as a provider in family medicine at Dartmouth Hitchcock in Keene, NH. Jessica Cassidy runs a rescue called New Paws for Life with 3 other women. The organization flies dogs to the U.S. and finds adopters. Last year Jessica opened her home to over 20 dogs in need of a safe and loving space and helped nearly 600 dogs find their forever families. Jessica shares, “My heart has never been so full.” Carly LaCrosse is an associate at the Nebenzahl Law Group in Sharon, MA. In April 2022 she participated in a trial where they won a $2 million

verdict against Smith & Wesson in a product liability case involving a defective muzzle-loading rifle. Last summer Carly and Cody Houston enjoyed a road trip to Virginia Beach, the Outer Banks of NC and Myrtle Beach.

2013

MATT MULDOON mattmuldoon123@gmail.com

Krislyn Rousseau McGettigan recently left her career as a school psychologist and started her own business in personal development called Neurotactics. Neurotactics provides science-based tools as a modern alternative to therapy. The one-on-one sessions provide solutions to issues with

Chris Andriski ’95, Dave Martinelli ’97, Jim Durrell ’94 and Josh Morse ’95 get together for a round of golf.

(L to r) Krista Payne ’07, Kathy Bresciano ’06, Becky Schaefer ’06 and Anne Coulter ’06 got together for a girls weekend in Fla. in March.

focus, motivation, communication, anxiety and depression.

Kaitlyn Hayward and her fiancé, Jeremy Fontes, were engaged in Hampton Beach, NH, on July 19, 2022, and are planning a wedding for Oct. 2023.

2014

STACY HANNINGS

stacyhannings@gmail.com

2015

MOLLY PAONE

mollypaone1109@gmail.com

2016

CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

Zac Kershaw is in his 2nd year as assistant athletic trainer at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA. Previously he spent 5 years in Norfolk, VA, working as head athletic trainer and sports medicine teacher at a public high school. Zac and some former colleagues recently had a paper published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science titled “Effects of Athletic Trainer Direct Employment on the Management of SportsRelated Injuries in High School Athletes.” Zac and his wife purchased a home in Newton, NH, this past summer. Caroline Barry has been continuing her career path in marketing with a new role as marketing and communications manager at Mass General Brigham. In the Boston area, she proudly serves as a committee member for the Friends of the Public Garden, an organization that works to care and advocate for the Boston Common, Public Garden and Commonwealth Avenue Mall. Caroline continues to work within the Colby-Sawyer community and has been serving on the advisory board for the School

of Arts & Sciences, and she was recently nominated to serve as a Winton-Black Trustee on the CSC Board of Trustees. This past summer, Caroline traveled to Paris and London with her sister, Courtney.

2017

MORGAN WILSON

morganwilsonportfolio@gmail. com

Matthew Plouffe recently started a new job as an energy advisor for Clinton/Essex counties in NY through the Cornell Cooperative Extension.

2018

BEN MAINES

bamaines@stanford.edu

After completing graduate school in 2020, Bobby Madden spent a stint as an athletic trainer at Boston College. He ended up moving back to NH and took a position working as a trauma sales representative at Stryker in the northern New England area, alongside 2 other CSC graduates. Coincidentally, he works with a physician he used to play baseball with. He also works with New London Hospital, where he completed his internship senior year at CSC.

2019

WILL HYLAND

willhyland207@gmail.com

This fall, Emily Hichborn started a Ph.D. program in clinical child psychology at the University of KS. Meghan O’Connell Smith began teaching at Bluff Elementary School in Claremont, NH, last year following the acquisition of her teaching license. She and her husband, Tanner Smith, were married in Sept. 2020 and now own a home in Claremont. Brandon Beaudry began teaching 8th grade science at Woonsocket Middle School in Woonsocket, RI, this past Sept. In Nov.,

Patrick Adams was promoted to be an assist center senior representative at MFS Investment Management in Boston, MA.

2020

CARRIE LEBEAU

canne5515@gmail.com

Olivia “Liv” Randlett works as a clinical research coordinator at ActivMed Practices and Research. The facility houses various research projects on Alopecia, Alzheimer’s, COVID-19, influenza, psoriasis and more. The combination of her public health and sociology education from Colby-Sawyer and LNA work at Dartmouth Hitchcock on One West prepared her well for the position. Olivia shares, “Not only do I get to work faceto-face with study participants every day, but I get to be in the lab processing biological samples. It has been an exciting mix of policy, protocol and hands-on clinic work.” As busy as life gets, Olivia stays in touch with other Colby-Sawyer alum, especially her roommates. Ariel Donnelly graduated from Boston College in May 2022 with her master’s in history and graduate certificate in digital humanities.

Colby-Sawyer provided a beautiful setting for the August 2022 wedding of Brittany Mailmain ’10 and Trevor Davis ’08. Joining in the celebration were Brian Doucette ’09, Amanda Jones Doucette ’10, Kim Munsey, Dan Munsey ’07, Julia Steese Murray ’09, Ryan Murray ’09, Trevor Davis ’08, Brittany Mailman ’10, Erin Varney, Justin Varney ’10, Liz Cotreau ’10, Callie Burnell, Andrew Burnell ’09, Corey Hotham, Sarah Zirnkilton Hotham ’10, Phoebe Dubay, Topher Dubay ’08, Brendan O’Neill ’09, Chantel Tardif and Justin Tardif ’08.

Cody Houston ’12 and Carly LaCrosse ’12 during a summer road trip.

2021

MICHAEL QUEEN

michaelqueen27@gmail.com

Since graduating from Colby-Sawyer, Michael Callum ’21, ’22 MBA has pursued a career in the banking industry, currently as a full-time relationship banker for Citizen’s Bank. He is currently exploring the Upper Valley and pursuing bigger and better life goals. Michael says, “There is so much room to grow and pursue my largest dreams. I owe that honor to Colby-Sawyer College, and I am forever thankful for them. Keep pursuing your dreams and they will become a reality. My dreams are not fully conquered to date, but the motivation from being a Charger has taught me to keep pushing and striving!”

Julia “Dottie” Lanctot ’21, ’22 MBA has been working at Stonyfield as an assistant brand manager and absolutely loves it. She was the assistant coach for the CSC field hockey team and had a great experience staying involved with the campus. She is currently looking forward to the winter, when she will be coaching a club field hockey team for high schoolers.

2022 CLASS CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

After graduating with her degree in child development in May, Madison Chase moved back home to MA and took a job as an assistant preschool teacher at South Shore Early Education, the Headstart program in Plymouth, MA. Madison learned about Headstart in a college class with Professor Amy Carrier Lyon ’85, so she was excited when her local Headstart was hiring. Charlie Graffius is working as a personal trainer and strength coach at Coastal Performance in Brunswick, ME. He specializes in working with clients dealing with neurological conditions and also works with athletes and the geriatric population. Charlie shares, “I believe that my experience living with cerebral palsy gives me a unique perspective to understand and help these people with neurological conditions.” Coastal Performance is connected with Coastal Orthopedics, where physical therapists and medical doctors work under the same roof, so it’s been an incredible setting for Charlie to learn from numerous professionals. This model of working as a cohesive unit has also enhanced Charlie’s understanding of how to treat patients along the entire spectrum, from post-surgery to athletic performance. After graduating, Nina Hills moved back home to Jacksonville, FL, to take 2 gap years before entering medical school. She is currently working as a membership engagement specialist for the Florida Academy of PAs (FAPA), which she adores. In this position she has balanced working remotely and traveling for business, and it has pushed her out of her comfort zone.

Nina also volunteers with Volunteers in Medicine, an organization that treats patients with no insurance for free. Nina shares, “The work is important to me

because it provides the opportunity to care for underserved populations in my community, a practice that I aspire to carry as a medical professional. I am a member of the patient education, advocacy and community engagement (P.E.A.C.E.) department, where I have the privilege of attending various events in Jacksonville and interacting with potential patients. Working with the lead doctor, students and other volunteers is not only fun, but has expanded my network and opened me up to new opportunities, such as walking in the MLK Day Parade!” Nina is still actively working towards medical school. While taking a gap year was not her first choice, she feels it has been a blessing in disguise.

Caroline Barry ’16 (l) and her sister Courtney in Paris.

Ariel Donnelly ’20 and her twin brother Gabriel at Ariel’s graduation from Boston College.

William “Bill” Sloan Berger

Former Colby-Sawyer College Trustee

William “Bill” Sloan Berger died on Dec. 24, 2022, in New London, N.H. He was 82. Bill was born in Berea, Ohio, and graduated from Denison University in 1962, the same year he married his high school sweetheart and life-long partner, Jeanine. Bill went on to earn an MBA from Harvard Business School before beginning his career with the international division of National Cash Register (NCR). The family lived in Mexico City, Mexico, and Bogota, where Bill served as president of NCR Colombia before leaving NCR for a career in investment banking.

Bill, Jeanine and their children moved full time to their summer home on Little Lake Sunapee in 1979. For nearly 20 years, Bill and Jeanine owned The Country Press, publishing The Kearsarge Shopper and providing printing services to the New London area. Bill was active in the community, serving on a variety of business, civic and philanthropic boards, including the town Budget Committee and the boards of King Ridge, New London Trust, Charter Trust and The New London Historical Society. He was a member of the founding board of the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust.

Bill and Jeanine have long been supporters of the college. They were awarded the college’s Town Award in 1996. Bill was a member of the Colby-Sawyer Board of Trustees from 1998 to 2008, serving on the Board Organization, Buildings and Campus Planning, and Finance Committees and the Audit and Investment subcommittees. He served as chair of the Executive Committee from 2005 to 2008.

Bill leaves behind his wife, Jeanine, three children, Steven Berger, former College Librarian Sondra VanderPloeg and Greg Berger, and six grandchildren.

Richard C. Munn

Former member of the Colby-Sawyer College Board of Trustees Richard C. Munn died Nov. 29, 2022 in New London, N.H. He was 87.

Born in Montclair, N.J., on March 5, 1935, Munn became the first in his family to attend college when he enrolled at Yale University. After serving briefly as a naval air intelligence officer in California, Munn returned to the East Coast to attend Harvard Business School, where he earned his Master of Business Administration.

In his professional career, Munn worked for a variety of companies, including IBM, Xerox, Itek and Digital Equipment Corporation (now part of Hewlett Packard), and also founded two information technology research and consulting companies. One of those companies, the global growth consultancy firm Momentum ITSMA, is now run by his son, David. Munn, a dedicated financial supporter of the college, served as a member of the Colby-Sawyer College Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2005 and was the chair of its Enrollment Management Committee. He was also a member of the Executive and Student Development Committees, as well as the investment subcommittee.

A lover of the outdoors, Munn was a member of the Baker Hill Golf Club in Newbury, N.H., and the Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club in Palm City, Fla. He leaves behind his wife, Holley, of 37 years, two daughters, Tracy and Julie, a son, David, five grandchildren, two stepchildren, Lisa and Rob, four step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.

Janet Rich Nixon ’54 ’00 P’78 GP’04

Former Alumni Trustee Janet Rich Nixon ’54 ’00 P’78 G’04 died on Sept. 23, 2022, at The Birches in Concord, N.H. She was 90 years old.

Janet graduated from Colby Junior College with an associate degree in liberal arts. Forty-six years later, after completing additional coursework, she graduated from Colby-Sawyer College with a Bachelor of Arts in American studies. In a 2003 Colby-Sawyer Magazine article, Janet said, “At Colby Junior College I was taught what to think, and at Colby-Sawyer College I was taught how to think.”

Janet’s commitment to the college was strong. In 1954, she served as president of her class. In the years that followed, she was active with the Alumni Association, serving as vice president and president. She was alumni trustee from 1984 to 1987, serving on the Academic Affairs, Buildings and Campus Planning and Executive Committees,

and in 1989, she was awarded the Alumni Association Service Award. Janet was also actively involved in campus events, attending Adventures in Learning courses as well as building dedications, college receptions and alumni activities. Taking Janet’s lead, both her daughter, Melanie Nixon Danver ’78, and her granddaughter, Cecily L. Danver ’04, graduated from the college.

Following her 1954 graduation from the college, Janet married David Lee Nixon. Before having children, she worked at the Dean of Women’s offices at the University of Maryland and the University of Michigan, and then part-time for law professor John W. Reed. She and Dave mourned the stillbirth of their first son before going on to raise six children. Janet loved attending her children’s and grandchildren’s activities and was devoted to her animals. She enjoyed skiing, golfing and hiking, and she was committed to forest conservation.

Courtesy photo. Courtesy photo.

Courtesy photo.

1940

Priscilla LaFlamme Dudis

December 9, 2022

1941

Barbara Vaiden Weiland

November 26, 2018

1942

Dorothy Wentzell Butcher

August 1, 2022

Shirley Baxter Herron

March 14, 2018

Elizabeth Wells Monroe

September 11, 2018

1943

Sara Gerrish Mase

August 18, 2022

1944

Jane McCabe Kelly

November 6, 2022

1945

Mary L. Bell

May 15, 2017

Carolyn “Kelly” Eaton Carbonneau

January 3, 2023

Charlotte Knight Carrasco

March, 2022

Rosemary Beede Fournier

August 31, 2022

Nancy Teachout Gardner

August 19, 2022

Edith “Ann” Avery Todd

December 8, 2022

Barbara Macaulay Watkins

July 16, 2022

1946

Ramona “Hoppy” Hopkins O’Brien

September 10, 2022

Jean Gillchrest Simmons

November 6, 2022

1947

Barbara Kesell Berkman

April 23, 2021

1948

Olga Kavochka Mayo

June 23, 2022

Rose Miller Shapiro

August 4, 2022

Dorothy Hale Simpson

October 21, 2022

Polly Wheaton Wimer

September 27, 2022

1950

Marian “Tibby” Barlow

Brown

January 10, 2023

Joan Smith Eastman

August 4, 2022

Joanne Allardice Keuper

October 15, 2022

Virginia Murphy Sarno

July 19, 2022

1951

Susan Clapp Humphrey

July 21, 2021

1952

Judith Chamberlain Nickerson

December 28, 2020

1953

Janet Arminio Connolly

December 5, 2022

1954

Shirley Wax Baron

April 30, 2020

Helga Osgood Dunbar

July 31, 2022

Glenice Hobbs Harmon

July 7, 2022

Shirley I. Marshall

December 16, 2021

Janet Rich Nixon

September 23, 2022

Wilma Morrison Smiley

July 1, 2022

1955

Nancy Colby Garipay

June 30, 2022

Madeleine Melly

Wingertzahn

April 25, 2022

Sonia Wiberg

November 14, 2021

1956

Shirley Croft Coleman

October 6, 2022

1957

Melinda Weber Achenbach

May 28, 2022

Gail Griffith Ackerman

December 12, 2013

Janet Gustafson McKay

May 27, 2022

Ann Revelle Newcomb

January 20, 2022

Barbara Trekell Palmer

May 25, 2017

Elizabeth Porter Schaefer

October 22, 2015

Dorthea Wind Teasdale

April 20, 2022

1959

Winifred Beasley Bellinger

September 1, 2022

Elizabeth “Betsy” Laidlaw

Cochran

July 2, 2022

1960

Linda Beals McCollister

July 8, 2022

Janet Morley Siers

June 9, 2022

1961

Nancy Bolster Fales

December 11, 2022

Joanne M’Grath Hetrick

November 4, 2022

Lois Ann Sjostrom Smith

October 9, 2022

1962

Susanne Landa Moliere

September 1, 2022

1963

Martha Wardner Riley

July 5, 2022

Martha Walker Slowik

November 15, 2022

1964

Ruth Corbin Caruso

December 21, 2022

Martha Whitlock Freeman

January 3, 2023

Jane Record Frick

May 27, 2022

Helen “Lonnie” Lonsdale

Snyder

October 23, 2022

1966

Anne Grasmere Berndt

June 15, 2017

1967

Michele Moreau Normandin

December 7, 2022

1968

Margaret Miller Bennison

February 1, 2019

1969

Mary Anne Yeo Lane

December 15, 2022

1970

Darryl DelTorchio Motzi

January 4, 2023

1971

Stephanie Beals Swaney

February 26, 2022

1972

Barbara Beichek

July 6, 2020

Susan Eberts Sodano

February 18, 2022

1976

Deborah A. Byington

April 27, 2022

Elizabeth “Betsy” Vail Carruthers

November 20, 2022

1977

Charlotte Pattison Mann

November 26, 2022

1978

Kimberley Elliott Tibbetts

October 4, 2019

1981

Susan Ross Day

March 28, 2022

Jacqueline Kelly Moody

May 16, 2020

1982

Cindy Shepard Johnson

March 22, 2016

Wendy Wescott Ramsay

October 11, 2016

1983

Kristina L. Jensen-Nikolaidis

January 4, 2023

1986

Jill Nason

January 5, 2014

1990

Nancy Chickering Cherrier

November 27, 2022

FORMER FACULTY

Donald W. Clark, M.D.

September 27, 2022

Hester L. Fuller

October 18, 2022

Reichhold:

historyAcomplicated

Sixty years ago, Colby-Sawyer College was Colby Junior College, a private junior college for women that specialized in medical technology and medical secretarial science degrees, where young women from across the country could study a mixture of liberal arts and science programs. It was these programs that developed the college’s nationally renowned reputation and sparked the idea for a new, state-of-the-art science building on campus. A $300,000 donation to the college by Mr. Henry Reichhold — an immense gift in the 1950s — allowed the college to begin preparations for the new science building.

above and opposite page: The Reichhold Science Center, built in 1962, was demolished in the fall. The new home for the center for health sciences will stand in its place.

by Liz Charpentier ’24 + Hannah Murphy ’24

Correspondence between college administration, Mr. Reichhold and the architects of Donald D. Snyder & Son., Inc., suggests the development of a building with a complex structure and aesthetic. Architects Edgar Hayes and Margaret King Hunter were leading champions of the mid-century modernism architectural movement in the United States, and they designed Reichhold in accordance with mid-century modernism’s clean lines, lack of ornamentation and interior design based in functionality. Completed in 1962, Reichhold’s comprehensive and pragmatically designed aesthetic embodied the science programs it would hold within its walls.

While Reichhold and mid-century modern architecture had their moment in the spotlight, appreciation for the style expired quickly. Criticism arose after mid-century modern’s national takeover; many viewed the style as impersonal, cold and methodical. Mirroring this trend, the campus community began to develop a general dislike for Reichhold’s appearance. According to Susan Pomerantz ’70, this mood shift began to occur as early as 1968.

“Architecturally and aesthetically,” Pomerantz said, “[the community] didn't think it met the needs.”

Luckily, this was not the end of Reichhold’s service to the campus. The Ivey Science Center was built in the fall of 2004, becoming the campus’s new central hub for laboratory science. Reichhold began to serve a new purpose: housing the arts, another important discipline at Colby-Sawyer.

Former labs became art studios and classrooms for painting, photography, printmaking and more.

Zachary Melisi ’17 minored in studio art and spent a lot of time in Reichhold. He said he looks back on Reichhold fondly and noted a newfound respect and nostalgia for Reichhold among Colby-Sawyer’s art students in the early 2000s.

“They had the panels on the wall for pinning people’s work to it, so everything had this kind of raggedy, homemade feel,” he said. “Reichhold kind of stands as a monument to what students can accomplish.”

The art programs left Reichhold when the Davidow Center for Art + Design opened in 2017, and in early 2022, the college announced that a new home for nursing and health sciences would be constructed at the location where Reichhold stood. The space was cleared in the fall of 2022 and the new building is expected to open in the fall of 2024.

With the excitement of new construction and state-of-the-art innovations, it’s important to look back and appreciate the past. Reichhold had a complicated history, molding over the course of its time to fit the needs of the campus. Its uses spanned generations of students from varying classes and majors, sealing its rightful place in Colby-Sawyer history.

Liz Charpentier ’24, of Harrisville, Rhode Island, is a history and political science major at Colby-Sawyer. She served as an intern in the archives during the summer of 2022.

Hannah Murphy ’24, of Merrimac, Mass., is majoring in creative writing and professional writing.

Guidance for Years

How a keepsake from a professor helped confirm I was on the right path

above: A laminated card given to students by White Mountains History Professor Laura Sykes ’98 on the last day of class in 2001 became a source of inspiration for Jorden Blucher ’01. The card shown was given to students of Sykes’s class in 2004. below: Blucher wrote to Sykes nearly a year after graduation to express his gratitude for the inspiration she had provided.

Editor’s note: The following passage has been modified by its original author, Jorden Blucher ’01, from a hand-written letter mailed to Laura Sykes in February of 2002. Blucher was a student in Sykes’s White Mountains History course during Sykes’s first year as a faculty member at Colby-Sawyer...

I came to know Laura Sykes during the spring semester of my senior year. I was three credits shy of graduating and her White Mountains History class seemed like the easiest way to get what I needed and get out.

I did not know joy during my time at Colby-Sawyer. This was due to self-loathing, loneliness, confusion, anger and sadness directed at myself, for the choices I had made, and at the world for the things that I had experienced.

Despite taking the class for an easy grade, White Mountains History turned out to be one of the best classes that I have ever taken. On the last day of class, Laura gave us a small, laminated card with a picture on one side and a quote and a note on the other. The quote read:

I said in my heart. I am sick of four walls and a ceiling. I have need of the sky, I have business with the grass.  - Eleanor Early, Behold the White Mountains, 1939

After graduation I moved to Boston, young and cocky, I assumed I would get a career job as a graphic designer. As my grandmother wrote about her twenties, “I thought I had reached the zenith and was wiser than all the prophets.” For eight months, I looked for a design job while taking temporary low-paying jobs and borrowing money from friends to pay rent.

Throughout my time in Boston, I had Laura’s card tacked to the wall by my bedroom door as a reminder to go to the wilderness I so dearly loved. As I was packing to leave the city in favor of Vermont, I pulled the card off the wall and read the quote. As I wrote to Laura in a letter from February of 2002, “it made everything seem right and I knew I was on the right path.”

My path has been far from straight, and I never did have a career as a graphic designer. But I did find one as a stay-at-home-dad who writes and sketches between kid pick-ups and household duties. I still have the card, it is tattered and worn and fills me with joy. It sparks a thirst for adventures with my family. It reminds me that small acts of kindness can have a great impact and precipitate guidance for years.

Quietlymakingnoise.net

Jorden Blucher ’01

“I said in my heart. I am sick of four walls and a ceiling. I have need of the sky, I have business with the grass.”

— Eleanor Early, Behold the White Mountains, 1939

Endowed Scholarship Opportunities

When you create an endowed scholarship, you will help students today and for years to come. Endowed scholarship funds generate income every year to support deserving Colby-Sawyer students.

In honor of their 50th reunion, the Class of 1970/ MT’71 raised over $58,000 to establish an endowed scholarship that is already supporting a student each year.

Pictured L to R: Elizabeth Roland Hunter ’70, Beth Constantinides Meurlin ’70, scholarship recipient Jaiden Bessette ’24, Val Turtle ’70 and Sue Pomerantz ’70.

Thanks to a generous gift from Bill and Sonja Carlson Davidow ’56, gifts made to endowed scholarship funds will be matched dollar-for-dollar, doubling the value! To learn more about the Davidow Scholarship Challenge, contact Director of Development Beth Camp ’92 at 603.526.3723 or ecamp@colby-sawyer.edu.

learn more at colby-sawyer.edu/giving/davidow