Dianne Appel-Niemi writes, “Not much to tell you about my professional life because I retired at age 50. I have two granddaughters, ages 2 years and two months, by my son Andrew and his wife Danasha. My daughter Brianna graduated from California Lutheran University on May 13 and is pursuing a career in marketing communications while preparing for the GMAT exam. Katy MacKinnon has been instrumental in coaching her for entry into the professional world. Shout out to the fabulous Katy! I have three purebred Cavalier King Charles spaniels who keep me busy, including one young sire who I plan to breed eventually. I recently purchased a purebred AQHA registered quarter horse with a rather nice bloodline including the foundation sire Doc Bar. I am reliving my earlier equestrian days and loving it.”
Class of 1981 E. Fraser Demetree Benzal efbenzal@yahoo.com
Class of 1982 Anne Morton August guinvere@hotmail.com Wow, what a great Reunion! Let’s begin by thanking Jennifer Beecher Cooper and her husband Gordon for hosting such a wonderful dinner at their home on Friday. We all loved playing with her new puppy, Audrey. It was great to see so many of us, including Sarah Raymond, Beth Yaghooti Collis (first time back in 30 years!), Mary Alice Fuller Sarandopolis, Suzy Burnett Doolittle, Tina Gross Kruczynski, Sally Wattles, Kristin Cassady Kos, Tina Choe Gorin, Sandy Friis-Hansen Halverson, Joanne Saint-Louis Butterfield, Karen Tobasky Garb, Heather Cameron Ploen, Susan Gibbons Gray, Stephenie Frawley (my houseguest!) and even Susan Mary (SM) Broadbent ’81! Apparently Mary Alice’s daughter and Jen Mathews’ daughter are both students at Dana but they didn’t realize it. Even more classmates showed up for the Saturday dinner, including Beth Nordstrom Keach, Derya Samadi, Gail Sund-Lussier and Page Franson ’83. Everyone had all sorts of news, so let’s get to it. Gail Sund-Lussier and Sarah finalized the adoption of their second son,
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‘Q,’ so Jacob is now a big brother. Jacob made the varsity football team as a freshman! They are living in Oxford, Mass. Suzy Burnett Doolittle’s sons Griffin and Charles are keeping her busy. Stephenie Frawley has her own gourmet food business, Road Food Company, based in Manchester, Vt. She brought me a jar of Vermont Fudge Sauce and I can’t even describe its deliciousness. Her daughter Grace is at Northeastern and her son is at Governor’s Academy. Kristin Cassady Kos and her husband Basil are finally empty-nesters! Katie is at the University of New England in Maine studying animal behavior and Zaria is in Colorado. Kristin is relieved to no longer drive hundreds of miles all over for Zaria’s Irish dancing competitions. Sarah Raymond also joined the ranks of empty nesters, with her oldest son working in New York City and her other son at Lehigh University. Heather Cameron Ploen looks wonderful and we are all so grateful for her “one percent” full recovery. Sandy FriisHansen Halverson is living in Maine still and is now a step-grandma. Apparently I’m still the only actual grandmother in the class. Sally Wattles’ daughter Alice is in a K–1 program at an excellent Boston pilot school, and Sally is teaching art at the public school in Chinatown. Beth Nordstrom Keach very helpfully wrote down her news for me. She writes, “It was great to see many of you at our 35th Reunion. So glad my husband urged me to go. His theory of life of ‘don’t miss the important stuff’ is so true. I’m still a software engineer at IBM. We are empty nesters. Son Mike is a civil engineering living in Manchester and has a very social life going to concerts and spending time with friends. Daughter Meaghan finished her math degree at the University of New Hampshire and wants to open a restaurant someday. She loves cooking and is in management at Chipotle and lives in Dover, N.H. She is thinking of spending a few years in St. Croix and running a food truck. I keep telling her to live her dreams. Cindy Ewing, Jill Haller, Mindy Dobra and I are planning a mini-reunion in Napa Valley in October. Can’t wait.” Catherine (Cathy) Goglia Shoemaker was unable to attend but sent this note: “Hi! I’ve been trying to make it work but it looks like my husband will be in China at that time so I’m on house duty. I’m
bummed! Maybe we can plan a time to have a get-together when I am back in Boston next.” Ramsay Baker Nilu Steward was also unable to make it from North Adams, but she and I (Anne) are still trying to get together while I am out in Deerfield. Thank you everyone for a great Reunion Weekend! Please keep posting in the Facebook group. It’s fun to see what we are all up to!
The Class of 1982 gathered at Jennifer Beecher Cooper’s home on Friday night of Reunion Weekend
Beth Yaghooti Collis, Anne Morton August, Tina Choe Gorin, Sandy Friis-Hansen Halverson
Jennifer Beecher Cooper and Heather Cameron Ploen
Susan Gibbons Gray and Beth Yaghooti Collis