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Marci Easterling frequently, since they live just across the water in Falmouth. Marcia Brooks ’74 and her husband came for a visit at the end of the summer. If anyone comes to the Vineyard, let me know; I would love to see you.” Alice van Straalen reports some big changes in her life. After all those years of living in Manhattan, Alice is now a bona fide New Jersey resident! She has moved to Montclair, New Jersey, and is living happily with sweetheart Jeffrey Cole. She is freelance fund-raising and editing, and studying for master gardener certification, which is mostly for volunteer purposes and “could not be more fun,” she says, adding, “I’m acclimating to suburban car culture, but thanks to Montclair’s multiple semi-urban neighborhoods, I can still do most things on foot. I often make the quick trip into the city; you can take the girl out of the city but you can’t take the city out of the girl!”
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Ronna Cohen, 3661 East Macintosh Lane, Salt Lake
City, UT 84121, 801.733.0603, ronna@ ronnacohen.com
I am compiling this between turkey and friends and family. This is the set of days where we all are juggling the same things. Amazing, though, how many of us continue to reinvent ourselves. I had to start with Holly Turner…it’s her first four words that grabbed me. Holly wrote, “I am incredibly happy in a new job I began in April. Never imagined I could replicate the amazing career I had in sports! But at 60 (!) I find myself genuinely enthralled as national director of corporate partnerships for Canine Companions for Independence. We are the preeminent assistance dog organization in the world, training dogs in four levels of service for people with disabilities; service, skilled companion, facility, and hearing dogs. Every day is a joy. Wonderful colleagues, puppies (!), and inspiring dogs and graduates! Nothing could be better. I am actually trying to establish a puppy-raising program at Emma! It’s been delayed this fall but I am going to re-engage with the powers that be next month. We already have programs underway at Foxcroft and other
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boarding schools in the east. We also have a terrific prison program that provides inmates the opportunity to raise puppies. Hugely successful program in several prisons around the country. I will miss being with my beloved cousin, Catherine Eliot, her siblings, and my sister, Laurie Turner ’69, e familia on Thanksgiving. They always get together in Maine. I am perennially jealous!” With the puppy theme, Betts Howes Murray emailed, “On August 10, we got a puppy and we are now in puppy mode which really is crazy…a full-time occupation. Son Francis is working for Lindblad Expeditions in NYC and had a weeklong trip to the Galapagos for his job. Daughter Polly is working for an engineering firm in Boston and has taken up furniture-building and jam-making. Feeling very blessed as I head toward the 60th birthday.” Mary Nelson: “I have been spending time in the pottery studio. I sold 91 pieces at my show in June. Took a pottery class this summer at the Taos Art School with an Acoma Indian Potter, Lucy Lewis’s granddaughter for any potter collectors out there. Hoping to return to study with a Hopi potter.” Carol Gundersen Haid: “I have been battling health problems these past few months. I had two TIA’s a week apart and have had other diagnoses I have been dealing with. Just a few bumps along the way. I am very blessed having an understanding boss, supportive boyfriend, and family standing by me.” Eleanore “Bijou” Clinger Miller: “Things are busy here. I continue to coach kids in voice and acting. Husband Greg is about to release a musical composition app which introduces kids to musical concepts and different genres of music. Now that the nest is empty, we have put together a cabaret act and are performing again. Older daughter Sara is currently living in Kenya and working for the RSC (Resettlement Support Center, not Royal Shakespeare Company!). She works in a northern Kenyan refugee camp. We are trying to steel ourselves for not having her home for the holidays, which will be difficult beyond words. Younger daughter Juliet is a freshman at Hamilton and loves it. I thoroughly enjoy catching up with Emma classmates on Facebook but
Mary Wertheim ’73 and Sara Johnson Meyers ’73 in NYC, November 2014
my major resolution is to have some face-to-face meetings in 2015!” Mary Wertheim: “Sara Johnson Meyers, husband Eric, children Sophie and Chad (their son Sam unfortunately couldn’t join us due to studies in California), and I recently enjoyed a night of delicious hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, theater, supper, and cupcakes in NYC.” Pat Whittle: “Busy here with the new job. Very demanding and much to do. The job change has been a big deal for me in many ways and just working to establish my new normal. Finally getting a management team together and delineating responsibilities. Have a few days off this Thanksgiving and looking forward to a few more at Christmas. Maybe come January or February I can take a bit more time. Husband Steve passed his pilot’s exam. Hooray!! Now on to new adventures and instrument training. Kids are all good, happy, healthy, and employed. Dad not doing well but not surprised. Dementia becoming more evident. Mom doing well though fell and broke her wrist on July 4 which put a crimp in things for a while. Thank goodness they are already in a retirement community that includes assisted living and skilled nursing. There’s a nurse available at all times. We all feel better for it. Steve has been wonderfully supportive.” A recent article on Ranche Sante Fe’s water use prompted ML Bass to immediately contact Steph Sides. Steph reminded me that the community using much water during a drought is nearby but not where