with an A.B. in biology in 1949, an M.A. from Wesleyan in 1954, and a Ph.D. from Yale in 1959. He taught biology at Johns Hopkins for six years and at the University of Virginia, retiring after 31 years as professor of biology but continuing there as emeritus professor until his death. His specialty was genetics and biology of drosophila (study of fruit flies). In this field, he was an expert, and co-author of 54 research papers and several books. His sister, Lydia, and 10 nieces survive. With our 70th class of 1945 reunion June 4–7, the Reunion Committee—Peter Devenis, Carnot Evans, Don Krueger, and Cal Swan—has been hard at work. Class Gift Chairs are Dick Unsworth and Colin Selley.
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BETTY BOLGER FLEMING 456 Riverside Dr Princeton NJ 08540-5421 bettyb.fleming@verizon.net
I greatly regret that our class column was blank in the last NMH Magazine. I had gathered all the news and coordinated your stories when three events took over my life. As many of you know, my brother, Bill Bolger ’44, died after a long illness. My husband, Bob, had a successful operation two days before, and our computer went down. I am now happy to be back in the business of being your scribe. Isabel MacLeod Walker emailed me in the midst of a terrible storm in California. Happily, she escaped the mudslides and floods. She has managed to be active all year with a few clients and a group for cancer patients that she started in 1975 when she was at Stanford in the oncology department. “I keep up with the ‘grands’ (ages 8–21) and try to understand their attachments to hand-held phones as a means of constant communication. I think of my four years with ‘Silent Time,’ and I am grateful for learning the joys of silence. Had a real rainstorm and hope for more, as California has a major water shortage. Manage to drive to Santa Cruz on weekends to do paperwork, read, and use the ocean view and beach walks to recharge the batteries. Will keep up with Jean Scheller Cain, Joan Skillman Shaw, Nancy Adams Shields, and Joan Litchard Wyon during Christmas card season.” Joan Litchard Wyon says she has no news other than being alive and well: “My memories of NSFG are clear and special, and one of the blessings for which I give thanks to God. We can rejoice in the great leadership and promise for the future at the school as our ‘tour of duty’ winds down.” Sunny Sundt-Busch sent a cheery note, mostly talking about her good Northfield friends, Jean “Cass” Cassidy Gowans and Ruth “Dinky” Rogers Hague. Cass apparently keeps very busy with houseguests whose families have students at Dennison University, all the while being happily accessible to Sunny for health updates, discussions of concerts attended, memories of happy and funny times as well as the arrivals of new great-grandbabies. Dinky lives with her son, David, and her puppy. As for Sunny and her husband, Bill, they welcome many visitors to their home: “All our children and their families, our church, our camping
friends, choir, and neighbors, too.” Summertime still involves camping, traveling near and far with their companion dog, a Cavalier Spaniel. Most recently, they watched 600 hot air balloons ascend into the New Mexico sky. Alice Elder Leake: “With Mt. Hermon brother, Joe Elder ’47, at last officially retiring from a half century of exciting teaching and international service, we celebrated our sisters’ 80th and 90th birthdays with family reunions in Madison, Wis., and Marquette, Mich.—welcome days of being together!” Jane Shanahan Anderson said, “The aging process is so challenging with the many losses we experience—not only of our loved ones, but also of ourselves due to our physical and cognitive decline. A good support system is mandatory, which is usually provided by our ‘children’ and friends. Fortunately, I live near two daughters who keep me in good spirits, as well as give me the energy and desire to give back to those less fortunate. Apparently, once a social worker always a social worker!” Elaine Wilson Kuck happily reports that everything is the same. She lives in a town house in Darien, Conn., with two of her four daughters and six grandchildren close by. She uses a cane, as her back and knees can be troublesome. Elaine still drives but only goes to stores that have carts she can push. Jeanette Mitchell lost her husband in 1976 and has been on her own since then. She worked as a veterinarian in France until 1971. After retirement, she went to law school and is now working on a thesis comparing American and French administrative law. “I don’t go back to the States anymore. However, I’ll always welcome my classmates here in Paris. I live in the center of the city. Best wishes to all.” I may take Jeanette up on that, as I have a grandson who is studying very near to Jeanette’s home in Paris, poor Jeanette—perhaps the whole Fleming household may call up to visit one day. Jane Everett Haslun sends her very best. Her husband, Bill Haslun ’46, reports that they are holding their own and are still independent while living in their little cottage in their over-55 community…the average age is 85! Bill says, “It’s not Sandals, but lovely and what we need.” If you are not hearing from me via email, it means that I do not have your email address. Please write to me at BettyB.Fleming@verizon.com to bring me up to date.
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HUGH FINDLAY 500 Ocean St Apt 152 Hyannis MA 02601-4766 hughf@occia.com findlay22@verizon.net
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JOAN PEARSON TURNER 49 Seymour Ct Concord MA 01742-5753 turnerjoan4@gmail.com
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CHARLES A. KENNEDY PO Box 112 Newbury NH 03255-0112 chask@myfairpoint.net
A common theme in the notes received this time is that age 85 is not for the faint of heart. Jack Daggett, recovering nicely from heart bypass surgery, called R.S. Elliott to check on his wellbeing. Jack is volunteering with the Charlottesville, Va., chapter of Habitat for Humanity, where his boss turned out to be Peter McFarren ’71. Peter is only the second NMH alum that Jack has ever met off campus. John Hall must hold the record for teaching courses on Gilbert and Sullivan in West Virginia. His latest effort was The Sorcerer, which demonstrates how deeply he has studied the Savoyard canon. For relaxation, he heads to the Shaw Festival in Canada during the summers. Apologies to Bob Willard for moving him from his home in Minnesota to Michigan in the last column; my ignorance of the postal code abbreviations is to blame. Bob keeps in touch with Bob Bacon, now located in Maine after many years in the construction industry in Chapel Hill, N.C. Bob reported that Bruce Brackett passed away in St. Paul, Minn., on 9/14/14. Bruce had served in the Navy and was a graduate of Babson Institute. Several of our classmates are in Florida. Dave Giordano is active on the executive committee of a nursing home, and is a doctor emeritus on the Sarasota Memorial Hospital medical staff. For fun and sport, he sails his 30-ft. Catalina boat in the Gulf of Mexico. Chuck Haffenden has downsized, but remains in the same country club community in Homosassa, Fla. He remains active in Kiwanis, Elks, and American Legion, but notes his comedic role in the US Navy musical, Sea Plane, commemorating the first flight across the Atlantic by the NC-4. He played the Kennedy Center in Washington to an audience of members of Congress and Washington VIPs. Bravo, Chuck. His sensible take on life at 85: “Many friends that I run into say, ‘Nice seeing you.’ My retort is, ‘Beats viewing!’” Writing from Miami, John Adams recounts his adventure on a motorcycle trip from Burlington, Vt., back to campus in 1977 for a bit of “time travel.” He arrived on a summer Sunday to find the campus deserted, but did find his last assigned seat in chapel for a few moments of nostalgia. Harry Cook now lives in Deltona, Fla., after Hurricane Sandy destroyed his home on Long Island. Being 40 minutes from Disney World and Universal assures him that the grandchildren will visit often. Roly Coates takes a class in writing memoirs, which prompted him to write an essay on his experiences singing in Sacred Concerts over the years. Roly holds the class record for years in the alumni choir. An advantage of living in New Hampshire is the proximity to campus after a career that took me to Hawaii, Texas, and Virginia. Last fall I made the trip back for the Rope Pull. In the opening remarks, I learned that if the seniors won, the dean would spring 2015 I class notes I 49