1956 Class Agent – Communications: Betty Weichsel Compton bwcompton@sbcglobal.net When I saw an article in the Dallas Morning News in August 2013 featuring the restoration of the Marcus house at Number One Nonesuch Road by current owners, I was reminded of class parties at that house, where Wendy Marcus Raymont and her parents welcomed us on many occasions. While Mr. and Mrs. Marcus hosted the world’s famous and powerful, they also graciously hosted us. Their home was the most interesting house I was ever in growing up, and the only modern house I can remember. Carolyn Higginbotham Schley remembers sitting on the floor for a beautifully prepared Japanese meal. Carolyn’s mother had bought her a Japanese kimono for the party, which Carolyn wore for many years afterwards, happily remembering the occasion for which it was purchased. Perhaps the meal complemented a NeimanMarcus Fortnight. Louise Phinney Caldwell remembers eating curry there for the first time and Mrs. Marcus explaining all the condiments to her guests. Louise wrote further, “I believe the first time I ever saw a Picasso in a private home was when several of us were looking at some art on our way out to the pool, and Mr. Marcus happened by and engaged us in a conversation about Picasso and also ethnic art. He explained the works of several artists he had collected in a way I have never forgotten.” Also, “The home was one of the few private homes with a swimming pool in the 1950s, and I remember swimming parties with delicious refreshments. However, if St. Mark’s boys were expected to drop by, there was more lounging and less swimming on the part of some of us to protect our hair styles!” Jo Oakley Stone remembers the amazing library with its leather floors and gorgeous bookcases, and the “inner sanctum” of that library, a small room concealed
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behind a false door of bookcases. That room held Mr. Marcus’ miniature book collection. “In that room,” Jo wrote, “was my favorite memory of all: viewing a very small, framed painting of a group of nuns in an art museum. On close examination of that painting, one could see one of the nuns looking over her shoulder at the nude painting on the wall behind her, a painting within the painting. I laughed so hard and Mr. Marcus laughed with me, seeming to appreciate the fact that I ‘caught it.’ It was always a special event to go to the home, whether to see a current movie on the descending screen (nobody I knew in West Texas had one of those!) or to take a dip in the pool, having selected a swimming suit in one of the dressing rooms nearby.” – Betty • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
1957 Class Agent – Communications: Myrtie Rawlins Rice myrtierice@sbcglobal.net I will start off with Wendy Faunce Johnson, who has her own design shop for baths and kitchens. It was necessary for her to come to one of her clients in Texas, so instead of staying on point, Wendy and her client took off for Scottsdale to play. La Diva! Wendy said the best part of the trip was the private jet. She was met in Dallas by nine of her classmates, so she had to come back down to Earth! Susan Sibbitt Lott was present at the gathering. She
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continues her design work. She took a quick look at China with other friends and gaped at the art and past treasures of this fine country. You cannot have a gathering without Marietta Scurry Johnson, who continues to teach fifth grade at St. Mark’s. She even has Nancy Lee Foree’s grandson in her class. In the summer she works intently at Camp Balcones Springs, smothering four of her 10 grandkids. Caro Alexander Stalcup is taking off to Italy to learn how to cook under Paula Lambert’s tutelage. Barkley Adams Rice traveled northeast to Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia this past spring. She visited intriguing art collections and museums. Carol Vesey is busy training her terrier, but the most fun she had was visiting Jane Slater in Montana, who has now moved back to Dallas with her husband Denys. Linda Bailey Borwick was married on May 4, 2013, to Geoffrey Borwick at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Atlanta. He is a retired architect who still does a lot of work for private clients. They are residing in Marietta, Georgia, and life is good. We have a reunion in the spring, and Kathryn Manion Haider has all her reservations ready to join us. I, on the other hand, can’t seem to get past Northwest Highway. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
1958 Class Agent – Communications: Nancy Greene hockaday58@gmail.com It was wonderful to have our 55th Hockaday Class Reunion in the year of the Hockaday Centennial! Marilyn Munger Watson and Betty Moreland Knapp put in a lot of planning and work to produce a wonderful reunion for us all. We appreciate everything that both have done in making our reunion so great. Our reunion started on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the beautiful double condo of Peggy Simmons Dear. The weather was perfect for a fantastic evening. The food was fabulous and everyone was so happy to see one another. Harriet Schock, once again, came up with that
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Linda Bailey Borwick ’57 and husband Geoffrey Borwick
SPRING
2014
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