They join big sis Ariana Rae (7). All are doing well and adjusting. I was delighted to see Stephen McCrocklin when he returned to campus with his mother Callie Nakos McCrocklin ’48 for NMH homecoming last Oct. He lives in Louisville with wife Claudia and Mariah (14) and Ethan (11). He and Claudia are in the 19th year of running Langsford Learning Center in Louisville, where they help kids develop the love of reading. He and his family spent the Christmas holiday in Greece, and they had a great visit thanks to the recommendation of Bob Cooley. If anyone is in the Louisville area, they have room for guests. Nancy Bishop was on campus last year working with NMH theatre students. Nancy still lives in Prague, where she bought and renovated an old flat. She works freelance as a casting director, and last year did the European casting on Mission Impossible IV and is now working on a new ABC series called Missing. Nancy says: “Europe seems to be home. People ask if I will be here forever, but in my experience it’s better not to make plans ... so I’m playing it by ear. Sometimes I feel very homesick for NE lately.” Walid Yassir lives in Ann Arbor MI and works in Detroit at the children’s hospital. He’s finishing a master’s in health care management at Harvard School of Public Health. Wife Lisa Prosser teaches at U of MI in Ann Arbor. They have 2 sons, Khaled (7th grade) and Samer (3rd grade). “We love this university town but still get back to the Cape every summer. I would love to hear from the ‘fellas’ that lived in Tron with me.” From Tyler Tawahongva: “I think it is apropos to let my classmates and former instructors as well as administrators know that I am now a substance abuse mentor on the Hopi reservation in northern AZ. I work with alcoholics and addicts to change their lives, with some relative success. I have committed myself to helping people and left the city for a more humble life. Some of my experiences at NMH have served me well in my new position. I would like everyone to remember Erik Peterson in their prayers; he is still fighting and someday hopefully he will walk and talk again. Erik had a stroke a couple years back. He lives in London with his wife and is slowly recuperating.” Ron Randall and I have exchanged several emails reminiscing about freshman year and
Kristin Kellom ’80, Ellen Plummer ’78, and Marggie Slichter ’84 at Sacred Concert ’11.
Kathy Miller ’84 and Akbar at her business Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory and Gardens. catching up after 30 years. Ron writes: “Although I didn’t get to graduate with you, the year I spent at NMH has made an everlasting impression on me, as I have dedicated my life to education. We live in CA and enjoy hearing from you and others from NMH.” And more news from the West Coast—Kim Kirby Matthews reports: “All is good here in Southern CA. Colby and I went to the Angels/Red Sox game in Anaheim this Sat and it wasn’t until we were at the game that I remembered there was an NMH tailgate event.” From Gene Lipitz: “Moved back into Seattle from off the island. We’ll miss Faerie Hill Farm and our chickens and goats, but 10 years of Green Acres adventures is enough, we think. Still think fondly of the time spent with classmates at last year’s reunion with my daughter (6).” Sasha Ackler sends news of her family: her father Lynn Ackler ’55 is teaching at Southern OR U, raising large black hogs and goats. Sister Stephanie Ackler ’80 just returned from a trip to Brazil. She is growing her business, Ackler Wealth Management. Sasha lives in Portland OR and is celebrating her 20-year anniversary with her company. Son Drew (14) loves sailing and is finishing his 1st year on the sailing team. Great to hear from Juan Rachadell: “NMH was a turning point in my life, and I remember it fondly. After finishing my PG year at NMH (Crossley rules.), I went back to Venezuela and pursued a medical degree. Afterward, I did a residency training in general surgery. In the meantime, I married and had 2 boys and a girl. I had the chance to live again in the US for 1 year while doing a fellowship in laparoscopic and pediatric surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami in ’00. Going back to Venezuela was a shock. The political situation prompted me to emigrate to Europe. We have been living in Portugal since ’02. I’m now working as an attending surgeon in a small hospital in south Portugal, a beautiful place full of sun. Not a day goes by without having some memory related to NMH. And when some clown says bad of the Americans, I say that I know better. I met some of the very best people there. I would like to catch up with Javier Urtiaga, Jose Pokorny, Ricardo Peña, and others.” Rachel Clapham Gambone lives with her husband and son near Reading PA. She and her husband recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. She switched careers from teaching
history part time in college to desktop publishing and online communications for historic Trinity Lutheran Church in Reading. For her other church (where she worships), she coordinates adult education programs, especially a series of presentations by local professionals to help people cope with life passages and issues such as parenting, aging, and health care. She’s been singing for 15 years with Reading Choral Society and served on the society’s board of directors. And she plays Baroque and Renaissance recorders regularly with a local ensemble. Rachel loves to read, garden, take nature photographs, and make bead jewelry. Adam Berlew is working hard in this start-up software company that has a product that is helping to defend our nation and critical infrastructure from cyber attacks. In his spare time, he has taken up yoga and meditation practice. Looking forward to connecting with other NMHers. Kathy Miller and I are neighbors in Northfield. Kathy writes: “I’m still a Northfield girl. I’ve lived here for the past 15 years, and my fiancé Donald and I just bought a house up behind the Northfield campus. No matter what’s on that property, it will always be the Northfield campus to me. We are busy planning for our upcoming 10/22 wedding. I’ve only had furry children, but thanks to my fiancé, I will become the stepmom to 2 daughters and a stepgrandmother to 2 boys. It’s all been very exciting. My family business, Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory and Gardens (www. magicwings.com), takes up most of my time. My father George, my brother George Jr ’83, and I run the show, along with an amazing staff. I am the general manager as well and the weddings and special events coordinator. Our conservatory is home to about 4,000 live butterflies from around the world. We also have lizards, turtles, birds, and fish. It’s a lot of dedication and hard work to run our business, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” From Erik and Siobhan McCready Bunaes: ”After 15 years on the West Coast, we decided it was time to move back east. Siobhan and I both wanted to raise our kids on the East Coast, and be closer to family and friends. So, in Jan we moved from CA to Albany NY. Obviously, we had lived too long on the West Coast, as Jan is not the best time to move to upstate NY. Our kids, Jack (4 1/2) and Christopher (2 ) and our yellow Lab loved all the snow at our new house. Plus, we told them
Nicole “Nikki” Armstrong Williams ’84 and grandmother Carrie Brown (102)
Fall | 2011 CLASS NOTES 85