Martha Johnson, Judy Wagner McKernon, Suzanne Wright, Peg Wilson Taylor, and Wendy Hsu Lee from the Class of ’57 got together at Peg’s B&B in KY.
Morning ’56, has passed on. She was my wonderful “cop” in Marquand when I was a shy newcomer. She had been living in NYC, as does our classmate Norma Darden, who was her equally helpful roommate. What a great dorm I lucked into. After the meeting at Sarah’s, my husband Sterling and I will vacation in ME/Canada, then return for more 55th planning with cocoordinator Paul Reyes and others during the weekend of Judy and Darrell Cooper’s annual ’57 NMH reunion and salmon roast, and we’ll take in the NMH lobster fest, too. Then we’ll visit old CT and NYC friends and relatives before driving back to TX. We’ll see you this coming June for our 55th. Write the dates on your calendars now: 6/7–10/2012. From David: Marshall Greenspan learned of the untimely passing of Bob Pease, our valedictorian, from their MIT class secretary. Bob died in a car accident on 6/18/11 in CA. Marshall writes: “Although I don’t remember what Bob said at our graduation, I do remember that it was full of humor and probably very different from any other valedictorian’s speech that Mt Hermon ever had. It was only a couple of weeks ago that I saw Bob at our 50th MIT reunion and spoke with him about that speech, which, although he didn’t have a copy, said he still remembered and would write it down and send me a copy as soon as he had a chance. Bob will be missed, not only for his unique outlook on life but also for his true caring about the environment and his many friends that he left behind.” I’m sure we all have Bob stories from our days on Hermon’s hill and since, so I ask that you feel free to email me your story at revdcwms@ metrocast.net. Most of us have been celebrating our college 50th reunions this spring, and soon we’ll be descending on the NMH campus for our 55th. In the meantime, Judy and Darrell Cooper will host us for our annual salmon dinner in South Portland ME on the eve of the annual NMH lobster dinner, also “down Maine.” Please watch for communications about other regional gatherings and registration materials for the 6/12 gathering. Having little news from you all prompts me to request that each of you drop me a message at revdcwms@mertrocast.net with a neat paragraph (or more) about the exciting things you are doing in these retirement years, whether you are fully re-
tired or not. My news is simple: I finished a 10-year part-time “retirement ministry” as the stewardship associate for the NH Conference of our United Church of Christ in 10/10 and was then recruited by our national church’s United Church Funds as the regional rep for NE and NY conferences, encouraging congregations to invest their endowment monies with UCF. That gives me an ongoing sense of worth for my professional life and still leaves me with plenty of time for family, skiing, snowmobiling, motorcycling, and boats as the seasons change. So, what is on your bucket list?
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NMH
CLAIRE KURTGIS-HUNTER 7595 Solimar Cir Boca Raton FL 33433-1034 mizzengift@bellsouth.net
WILLIAM HAWLEY PO Box 91927 Anchorage AK 99509-1927 hawleys@acsalaska.net
From Claire: Trinka Craw Greger and a goodly bunch of 1958ers were at Sacred Concert in May. She writes: “The main works were Haydn’s Te Deum and the Gloria from Beethoven’s Mass in C. Glorious music and such a joy to share it with the students.” Tom and Ellie Watson Payzant sang with Trinka in the alumni choir. Kathy and Bob Burnett, Steve and Joan Millett Walker, and Howie Scheinblum with his wife and sister, Tobi Scheinblum-Freund ’54, and John Stone were in the audience. Trinka enjoyed seeing many friends in exotic places last winter and spring. After an idyllic sail in the British Virgin Islands in Feb, she and John “Stoney” Stone spent a week on Jost van Dyke with Debby Martin Pearse and Bruce Donath. In June, they went to ME to launch Epilogue. She writes: “Looking forward to being back on this lovely seacoast and to sharing good times with friends.” Tom and Ellie Watson Payzant with Trinka, John Stone, and Howie Scheinblum enjoyed their tour of the Northfield campus on Sacred Concert weekend. One of the highlights was a visit to Sage
Members of the Class of ’58 who gathered at Sacred Concert included Howie Scheinblum, Trinka Craw Greger, John “Stoney” Stone, Ellen Watson Payzant, Tom Payzant, and Steve and Joan Millett Walker.
Chapel, which has been repaired and cleaned. Ellie reports: “It, along with the rest of the campus buildings, looks terrific. The C S Lewis group has given the chapel new life through renovation, and they graciously opened it for us to visit.” Of Sacred Concert, Ellie says, as usual, “the ‘Benediction’ brought tears. We thought we did a better job singing ‘Jerusalem’ than they did at the royal wedding.” Ellie attended the special luncheon for Northfield women and spouses last Feb when the trustees met in Boca Raton FL. Dorrie Krakower Susser ’56 hosted the group. Ellie says: “It was a nice gathering, appreciated by all. I encourage everyone to attend one or more of these events, because they are special and a superb way to reconnect, reminisce, learn about NMH today, and have fun.” In June, Tom and Ellie traveled to London and Scotland with a group of ’62 classmates from Williams preparing for their 50th. Jane Hougen Fast is smitten by the travel bug: she spent Christmas on a Danube cruise from Budapest to Passau, Germany, where she enjoyed the Christmas markets and the historical towns. She traveled to Tlaquepaque, Mexico, sister city of her home in Springfield, MO. She loves the Mexican culture, crafts, and art of the region. Next Jane went to Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. She writes, “It was not the most scenic trip, but the cultures and histories were fascinating, despite the many sad tales we heard about the Vietnam War. It is, indeed, an experience to spend the New Year (of the Cat) in that culture. Ho Chi Minh City was beautifully decorated and the million motor scooters on the streets were quite a sight.” Jane was home all spring and admittedly had “itchy feet.” No doubt she’ll be planning her next travelogue soon. Steve and Joan Millett Walker have had an interesting few months. By late summer ’10, they thought the “small house” on Nantucket had been sold, so they made alternative plans to live in a 38' trailer, which once belonged to Joan’s sister Craig Millett-Yohn ’60, at Oak Embers Campground in W Greenwich RI for ’11. At this writing in May ’11, Steve is putting everything back into the house on Nantucket, since the state of MA caused the sale to fall through. When the house does sell, they will be able to finish their geodesic dome home in Bell FL. In Jan, Joan and Steve went to PA for the Cabin Fever Expo, where he again exhibited and ran some of his creations (remember Steve in the yearbook photo with some of his steam engines?). On Feb 23, Steve donned a suit to walk his daughter down the aisle. Daughter Mary celebrated her 40th birthday by marrying Chad Koonsman. Of Sacred Concert, Joan adds that the auditorium looked wonderful “if strangely empty from the days we were singing. Our chapel looked beautiful— we can all be happy at the job Hobby Lobby has done to restore it.” A highlight for them was a postconcert dinner at nearby Bella Notte with Trinka and Stoney, and then several days later another at Foxwoods with them and Linda and Tom Chase. Joan and Steve volunteered at Sun ’n’ Fun, the
Fall | 2011 CLASS NOTES 63