annual fly-in in Lakeland FL. Joan worked in the office registering pilots and Steve worked the flight line directing planes. “We were there during the mini-tornado that came through on 3/31/11, along with about 8 others who chose not to head to the hangers to which we had been directed. We had only about 10 feet of visibility, and saw only horizontal rain and hail. About 40 planes were damaged or destroyed, but fortunately, no one was badly hurt, and the campground itself suffered little damage. Amazingly, the show did go on the next day: volunteers worked all night to make it happen, and the Blue Angels even came in to perform all weekend as scheduled.” Finally, Joan adds: “I would like to ask for some help from the Northfield portion of our class. I will be working on the Annual Fund again, with Trinka, and ask that you all help support the school as strongly as you have in the past—or even more so, if you have missed the past few years. I have missed talking with so many of you, and look forward to catching up.” A note from your secretary, Claire KurtgisHunter: After much consideration and some kicking and screaming, and after pitching out about what seemed to be 500 lbs of papers and files, I’ve decided to give up adjunct teaching at the college from which I retired in ’06. Even after I formally retired, it was hard to give up my side of the desk, so I went back as an adjunct. It wasn’t any easier to give that up this May. Yet now, having turned in my final semester grades and after 48 years of teaching, I realize there are still so many challenges out there I am eager to meet—I have a book to finish, more paintings to paint, and faraway travel to yearn and dream after. From Bill: Everyone must be traveling except Dave Eberhardt and John Stone, the only classmates who responded to my request with news. Dave is visiting Dave Newman and Dale Bailey this summer. He retired in Nov ’10, turned 70 in Mar, at which time he planned to tell everyone that “70 is the new 50.” Unfortunately, between gout and sciatica, it was the new 90.
Former Northfield employee Doris McNabb, Trinka Craw Greger ’58, and Ellen Watson Payzant ’58 on Sacred Concert weekend.
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John Stone spotted Susan and Steve Fuller in Stonington Borough getting their boat Jubilee ready for a summer cruise to Nova Scotia. Linda and Tom Chase, Woodstock CT, along with Kathy and Bob Burnett, Riverside RI, sing in choral groups in their respective communities. Jane and Norm Barstow will spend the summer at their retreat in Romania. Joseph Bassett carves marionettes in his workshop in Peabody MA. Bill Curtiss has discovered a new hobby— antique clock collecting to go along with antique car restoration in Delmar NY. Betsy and Bill Hawley attended a mini-family reunion Easter weekend in Scottsdale AZ with our 2 children Bill and Eliza, their spouses, and Eliza and Derek’s 3 children. Bill’s sister, Mary Hawley Siquig ’65, and her daughter Katy, a recent graduate of UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, joined in the festivities. John also tells us that the NMH wrestling team won the New Englands and placed 7th in the nationals. Next Feb the New Englands will be at NMH. John says you should mark your calendar for a mini-reunion in anticipation of our 55th in ’13. Another mini-reunion was planned for Aug this year on Bailey’s Island ME as part of the annual NMH ME lobster bake. It is sad to have to report that Frank Eten of Bellport NY passed away on 3/17/11. He graduated from Dickinson College, obtained a pharmacy degree from Columbia, and later obtained a master’s in hospital administration. He enjoyed careers as a pharmacist and as a hospital administrator. He is survived by his wife, 6 children, and 9 grandchildren.
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NANCY BISSELL GOLDCAMP 2002 Chantilly Dr Sierra Vista AZ 85635-4866 ngoldcamp@cox.net PETER WELSH 10246 Old Shiloh Rd Pefferlaw ON, Canada L0E 1N0 peter@cantope.ca
From Nancy: Mia Bulgarin Gay and I, both residents of southern AZ, shared a rental car and a hotel room the night before reunion, so we had extra time to visit, and I enjoyed that very much. After reunion Mia stayed in NE for a few days, visiting friends and places in the Lakeville CT area, where her family settled after their arrival in the US. Here’s her story of the weekend. “Staying in touch with classmates since graduation fits certain personalities (geographic proximity helps). Descending after 50 years was more daunting, but also a hoot—a weekend of laughter, nostalgia, heartfelt welcome, food, and singing. If you’re going to make any reunion, it should be the 50th. We aged well. “I don’t know if 44 out of 155 mostly well-preserved ladies (or 15 out of 40 from the freshman
class) is a high or low number as far as half-a-century blasts go, but adding spouses and guests and those active, fraternal, popular Hermonites with current wives made us a huge, noisy group (and a formidable economic asset for the school, having raised more than $3.8 million in 5 years). My admiration and thanks to the organizers, promoters, fundraisers, cheerful greeters, and janitorial helpers, and to Peter Welsh for pre- and postreunion hoopla. “I connected with about 30 of our 160 composite attendees and have reread their bios in the 50th reunion yearbook with renewed enthusiasm. I haven’t heard from or written to anybody yet—our meeting after 50 years was understandably more fluffy and superficial than continuous long friendships, but fun. Several people commented on not knowing I was a refugee. It was a time of assimilation; one hid being foreign. Nancy Johnson—I sure enjoyed her—apologized for taunting me— whoa, what a burden to carry for 50 years. Now the school boasts students from 30 countries. “The Northfield campus was hazy and placid, like my memory of it, and meeting at Mt Hermon did not upset me, although Crossley was a bit spartan and monastic (one blanket, 2 hangers), and the party room was cramped. But people make a party, not the place. The good weather fit our mostly outdoor activities in tents, the golf carts helped with the hills. The buffets at Alumni Hall were ample and varied, the steak and shrimp and Thurs lobster feast were great. I especially enjoyed the more intellectual seminars on Fri, the poetry reading, and excellent concert by mezzo soprano Bonita Hyman ’74. Dave Winchester’s keyboard talent blew me away—he deserved a good piano. And singing aside, the acoustics in the chapel were challenging. “Besides educating the youth of today, providing leadership training and ethical growth, the school needs the financial support of alums and knows how to woo it. We were coddled and dined, stimulated and praised, coaxed and honored. And we responded, and had a hell of a weekend.” Mia had hoped that Barbara Fanning Jay, one of her closest friends while at school, would come to reunion. Mia sent the above letter to her, and here is Barbara’s response. “I am so happy to have received Mia’s description of reunion. I was sorry to miss it. “I was amazed to learn that not everyone knew Mia was a refugee. We roomed together for 3 years, and for me her background and story were such an important part of her. “Her mother, who was an artist, wrote Mia wonderful letters in her European hand, filled with her colorful English and her humorous, improvisational drawings when her English didn’t suffice. She arrived for day visits with Mia’s elegant Russian grandmother Omushka and a picnic basket filled with food more interesting and delicious than anything I had ever eaten. I remember loving her stuffed eggs and beef tartare. Also, she made at least one folkloric summer top that I admired so much that I received one just for me. I