Class Notes 1957
Gretchen Kiger Cryer and Nancy Ford Charles teamed up to create a musical based on the classic novel, Anne of Green Gables. The musical will premiere in New York, March 2007, at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. Gretchen wrote the lyrics, and Nancy wrote the music. Kappa Alpha Thetas from the Class of 1957 met in Chicago to share old DePauw memories and create new ones. (See photo, left.) Dr. Maynard D. Poland is the author of On Wings of Trust: The Quest of Pilot Carole Leigh. His e-mail address is maynardp@earthlink.net. (See Recent Words, page 16.) 1957 Thetas met in Chicago. Those attending the mini-reunion included Sue Farrell Supple, Barbara Maher Epstein, Doris Smith Miguelez, Mary Harris Harris, Lou Hart Williams, Elizabeth Ives Thompson, Joene Cline Bruhn, Jane Umbreit Nestory, Susannah H. Lippman, Jane Jones Williams, Jo Petry Hershberger, Dorothy A. Drake and Mary Dahlen Naylor ’58.
1951
Russell F. Triebel, C. Salen Herke and Donald A. Page ’50 attended a celebration dinner at Peoria (Ill.) Civic Center to recognize the 150th anniversary of Peoria Central High School. In addition to being graduates of the school, Don, Russell and Salen are members of Beta Theta Pi fraternity at DePauw. (See photo, page 99.)
1952
Elizabeth “Betty” Ayres Tucker lives at 204 Marjorie Lane, West Columbia, SC 29169 in the Agape retirement complex. Betty relocated to be closer to her daughter and family. She continues her interest in United Methodist church history. Formerly, she served as historian and columnist for the Marion-Chronicle in Marion, Ind. Lee H. Hamilton, former member of the United States House of Representatives for 34 years, is the co-author of Without Precedent: The Inside Story of the 9/11 Commission. Lee served as vice chair of the 9/11 Commission. (See Recent Words, page 15.)
1953
Gene C. Gephart was inducted into the Ashtabula and Harbor high school’s Hall of Fame, Sept. 15, 2006, in Ashtabula, Ohio. Gene retired as principal from both schools and was the head boy’s basketball coach at Ashtabula High School from 1961-71. John W. Jakes, author of 16 New York Times bestsellers, took part in Florida’s Sarasota Reading Festival, Nov. 4, 2006. John’s latest novel is The Gods of Newport. David W. Widmoyer retired as judge of Nappanee (Ind.) City Court, Sept. 1, 2006. He served as judge from 1980-2006. He was one of the longest-serving citizens in the city’s history.
1954
William A. Pendl represented the United States at the Gordon Trophy, an annual senior
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tennis event pitting the U.S. against Canada, July 28-29, 2006. The tournament was held in Toronto. Playing in these matches has allowed Bill to make friends from many countries, including England, France, Germany and Australia.
1955
Othmar G. Grueninger is the chairman and founder of Grueninger Travel Group in Indianapolis. Othmar began the business in 1954 when he was a German exchange student at DePauw by offering student tours to Europe. He recently acquired the Ambassadair travel club and plans to add a number of charter flights in January 2007 to revive Hoosiers’ interest in global travel.
1956
Richard W. Peck, award-winning young adult fiction writer, took part in the 2006 National Book Festival held Sept. 30 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The annual event is organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress. His stories are included in Best Shorts: Favorite Short Stories for Sharing, an anthology.
1958
Ann Johnson Tudor is a writer whose works include memoirs and collections of personal essays as well as spoken word CDs. Her recent spokenword CD, Rosie & the Angels, is the tale of Rosie’s near-disaster adventures and evokes the question of whether life is just good luck or angelic intervention. Ann lives at 51 Gothic Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M6P 2V8, Canada. Her e-mail address is ann@anntudor. ca. Her Web site address is www.anntudor.ca. Martha Obear Huggins held her seventh oneperson show of watercolor paintings, September 2006, in Swarthmore, Pa. Marte’s e-mail address is mioh@rcn.com. Charles B. Shroyer retired as manager from the 3M Company in Hartford, Ind., after more than 37 years of service. He was a longtime football coach. Lois Stewart Perry is the author of Pushing Sixty-Behind Me, a humorous look at life through the eyes of a 60-something mother, grandmother, wife and friend. She and her husband, Ron, divide their time between Denver and Lois Stewart Perry ’58 Glen Arbor, Mich. Her e-mail address is loiseperry@yahoo.com. (See Recent Words, page 16.)
DePauw alumni and friends on the Danube/Hapsburg alumni tour. Those traveling included Gilbert J. Wise ’54 and his wife, Sharon; Joan Furlong Huisinga ’61; James O. Huisinga ’60; William V. Blake III ’59 and his wife, Linda; Jo Misselhorn Usher ’61; Joanne Cockrill Vetterick ’68; and Joan “Jody” Trader Long ’56 and her husband, Nick. Paul W. Hartman, former DePauw secretary of the university, and his wife, Becky, were the DePauw hosts.