CLASS NOTES
Lulu Lason Cannon had a couple of classmate visitors in Kalamazoo, Mich. Stephanie Mayer Wilson flew in from North Carolina and met with Lulu and Chris Davenport, who is a professor at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. They had lunch and enjoyed hanging out together. Courtney Small Francis is on the faculty at Northeastern Illinois University, teaching in three departments: English Language Program, TESL, and social work. In TESL, she is also supervisor of the TESL Clinical Experience. Courtney was an elementary school principal for seven years on Chicago’s west side and lives in Hyde Park with her husband, three children (18, 11, and 9), and a stepson (20). Several classmates came to campus in balmy weather in October and ran the Pie Race: David Hiler, Joe Cooper, yours truly, Allyson Goodwin, Per Furmark ’82, and Jamie Bailey ’82. Allyson saw Dana Christensen Thompson and Dave Thompson ’82 at a great NMH event in D.C. in December. Dave is a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps. Dana is finishing up graduate school at USC with a degree in social work and will work with military families. As a member of one herself, she has moved 12 times. They have three children, Emily, Elizabeth, and Robert. Dave is now stationed at the Naval Shipyard in Washington, D.C., where he is the senior marine adviser for PEO ships. Leslie Meyer Rayburn has been teaching 20-plus years, mostly in bilingual classrooms, and is now teaching first grade in a dual-language immersion program in San Juan Bautista, Calif. She has dabbled in journalism and photography over the years, is a union official, and has always been very interested in politics. She has two children. Leslie writes that her daughter “takes after my husband with her incredible singing voice. My husband is working on his second CD (check him out at www. craigrayburn.com) California alt-country-rock. Still
love traveling the world, do it when I can. Never can make those dang reunions, as I’m in the throes of report cards and end-of-year mania.” Lysa Ramos-Smith Curry graduated from Boston University after NMH, and then went to medical school and now lives in San Antonio, Texas. She writes, “I married Mitch, who was in medical school with me, in ’96, and we have three children: Nikki and Alex (11) (a boy and a girl) and Cooper (5). It has been many years since I have been back to NMH. Hope to make it back someday.” Claire Johnson-Hurry was sorry to have missed Vera Heidolph’s latest half-marathon run on Grand Cayman, but vows to catch the next one. Bill Schubart, who is now back in Vermont, and Claire have been conferring about attending reunion. The ski racing season has begun again, so Claire will be looking—and cheering—for the NMH racers at mountains around the Berkshires. Kirsta Schmitt Davey is enrolled in a 20-month, part-time digital photo program at the Center for Digital Imaging at BU with hopes of teaching a middle or high school photo class and shooting portraits. “It is rewarding, humbling, and entertaining to be back in the classroom at age 47. I am also still teaching, but now part-time, at Nashoba Brooks School in Concord as a literacy specialist.” Kirsta still lives in Groton. Her oldest is a junior at Boston College; her middle one is a junior in high school; and her youngest is in seventh grade. Kirsta writes: “I see Thekla Smith Alcocer ’84 and Sue Leonard Toll ’81 as we play hockey together weekly, and I am in touch with NMH on a regular basis, serving on the strategic advisory committee of the Alumni Council.” Dave Hiler has a great new venture in Brattleboro called Whetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery: www.facebook.com/whetstonestration. Great food, brew, and atmosphere. Dave and his business partner hatched the idea of an openconcept, industrial-themed brewpub and casual dining spot in ’11. Whetstone features an unparalleled array of unique, rare micro-brewed and international beers complemented by a fresh menu with an emphasis on small plates, comfort foods, and grilled dishes, made using local products whenever possible. Dave says: “I’d like to personally welcome any and all of my NMH brethren to drop in for a beer and a bite (well, alumni only on the beers, anyway). And if you do come by, please make sure to say hello. Cheers.” Lulu Lason Cannon and Stephanie Mayer Wilson will co-chair reunion with Janice Russell,
David Whitman ’82 and Carrie Roantree Ahlborn ’75 in Boston in late ’12
Doug Werner ’62, Dodd Wragg ’52, and Andy Hewitt ’82 climbed Mt. Soledad in San Diego, Calif., in December ’12 to celebrate Andy’s 50th birthday.
Daniel Kellison ’82, his sister Laura Kellison-Wallace ’83, and David Hiler ’83 last summer on the deck of David’s new restaurant in Brattleboro, Vt.
so expect lots of fun planning and a great time this June 6–9. George Miller posted some of our reunion photos from years past on our Facebook page. If you haven’t done so already, please join our class of ’83 Facebook page at: https://www/ facebook.com/groups/nmhh83. Write in to share what you are up to, and most important: come to reunion; it’s always fun.
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NMH
MARGGIE SLICHTER 43 Cleveland St Greenfield MA 01301-1905 mslichter@nmhschool.org
Greetings, classmates. In just over a year, we will be celebrating our 30th reunion. Those of you who have been back for reunions know how great it is to reconnect with classmates and friends. Plan to come back—for the weekend, a day, or just for dinner, but come back. Save the date: June 5–8, 2014. Rachel Clapham Gambone has started her own business as a professional organizer, ReOrganize with Rachel, LLC. She helps busy families and seniors manage their possessions, paperwork, and time commitments. She custom designs organizing systems and works side-by-side with clients to put them in place, teaching skills as she goes. She and her husband and son live in the Reading, Pa., area, and she continues to enjoy choral singing. Sue Hill Smith writes: “I enjoyed seeing everyone in the latest NMH Magazine. It’s always fun to reconnect with people. I live in Telluride, Colo., after attending Colorado College. I have lived here for 24 years. Can’t imagine a more beautiful place to call home. I am married with one child, Delilah Raven (11). I have pursued a life full of sports, creativity, and healing. I was a massage therapist for 20-plus years and am now moving into a new life’s journey of homeopathy. I am a certified homeopath and plan for this to be my later life journey. I have continued to create jewelry and am selling my work at various festivals and farmer/craft markets, as well as the Telluride Gallery of Fine Art.” Sue keeps in touch with Jill Peelor Rikkers, who lives nearby and has been a lifelong friend, and Betsy Miller, who lives in Telluride. Sue occasionally talks to John Korhumel ’85, who lives in Seattle. “Love to all of my friends from way back when.” Sarah Prescott was back on campus for the Pie Race last fall. Sarah always does our class proud, coming in with the fastest time for a women’s
Tim Lam ’83, John Yang ’85, Brian Rooney ’82, and Jim Shoemaker ’83
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