al um n ae now
Laurie Hooker McCarthy ’87 and Michelle Briere Finn ’85 at a half marathon in California.
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Cindy Levinson Lefkoff, 3034 Seventh St., Boulder, CO 80304; cindy_lefkoff@hotmail.com Suzanne Wishnack Morris, 402 Henri Rd., Richmond, VA 23226; morrissuzanne@yahoo.com
Congratulations to Kristen Vilsek White who was married in October 2014. Kristen told us, “Chris and I have two adorable and loving dogs and are getting ready to build our first home. Right after our marriage, I was promoted to a Title I Math Specialist. I have a Master’s degree in Math and endorsement as Math Specialist K-8th grades. A LOT happened in 2014! In 2015, Chris and I enjoyed
A mini-reunion of ’87 classmates, Jane Anne McJunkin Randolph and Mary Deane Davis.
a fun summer with a few beach trips in North Carolina and relaxing weekends at our river cottage in Bon Harbors. I am hoping to get to a reunion in the near future.” Liz Cain Hassan finished graduate school, passed her boards and is now a certified and licensed APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) in Connecticut. Liz reports that she and Brian took fourth grader Annabel, and second grader Abby, on their first trip to Disney this summer, and they had a blast. The Richmond crowd is thrilled to have Marshall Trow Lynch and her family back in town. Daughter Eleanor joined the St. Catherine’s class of 2019! It was a treat to hear from Maria Jones Malacina. Maria says, “I’m still in the Chicagoland area, where my husband and I enjoy golfing and
bowling with friends and family. I am working in Chicago as a domestic relations attorney, as well as an independent contractor with other attorneys. Living in the Chicagoland area has caused me to really appreciate spring and summer!” Come back for a visit anytime, Maria! Leslie Abercrombie Noland enjoyed time this summer touring colleges with her oldest son, William. While en route south they had a terrific visit in Greensboro, N.C. with Mary Birgel Dehnert and Meghan McAuley Davis ’90. She also had a great time catching up with Mallory Wood Norvell and her family in Charleston, S.C. Leslie’s daughter went to boarding school at St. George’s this fall. Mallory also got together with Mary Michaels Orr Estrada and her family this summer at Sullivan’s Island, S.C. Bacot II roommates Catherine Hudson Clark and Biz Elder Read enjoyed catching up at a Member-Guest golf tournament in Charlotte. It’s hard to believe both of their oldest also headed off to boarding school this year. She and Pete enjoy Winston-Salem North Carolina And their 8 year old Mary Elizabeth. Lydia Jones Johnson is still in Richmond, treating skin disease and skin cancer. She ran into Simone Harris Pratt on Martha's Vineyard this summer. When not working, she spends a lot of time at St. Christopher's, where her boys are in 2nd and 3rd grades. Lydia says she enjoys seeing Blair Whitley, who teaches in Extended Day at St. Chris, and Elizabeth Davenport Edmonds whose youngest is in class
SPOTLIGHT
Katharine Armstrong Herndon ’86
As she contemplated her 13 years at St. Catherine’s, Katharine Armstrong Herndon selected for a senior quote in the Quair, “Someday they’re going to say ‘This is where it all began.’ ” Those prescient words reflected a lifelong love of writing that first manifested itself in work with the Arcadian, the poetry club, and on Atelier (creative writing magazine) as well as her own creative work. It comes therefore as no surprise that Herndon was selected to be Executive Director of James River Writers (JRW) in Richmond. Established in 2002, James River Writers builds community by connecting and inspiring writers and readers in central Virginia. “Richmond has an incredible nonprofit community, and I’m lucky to have found the organization that best fits my passion,” Herndon said. “Every day, I get to hang out with amazingly creative people who inspire me both personally and professionally.” According to the JRW website, the “multi-faceted non-profit… serves as central Virginia’s literary hub and a welcoming home for anyone who loves the written word.
“Aspiring and professional writers and passionate readers in all genres benefit from a variety of programs, services, and events, often presented in partnership with other cultural organizations. We are supported by government grants, foundations, corporate partners, and the generosity of our members.” Prior to her appointment as Executive Director in 2014, Herndon served on JRW’s board for several years in a variety of roles, including executive secretary, co-chair of the 2011 conference committee and membership chair. Longtime former English and creative writing teacher Buffy Morgan recalls, “Katharine Armstrong is the only high school student I ever taught who had completed a novel when I first met her.” While at St. Catherine’s, Herndon was inducted into in the Cum Laude Society, and was the recipient of the 1986 Bishop Brown/Ellett English Award. After attending Davidson College and University of Central Florida, Katharine taught middle school language arts for 13 years. More recently her work won second place in the Style Magazine fiction contest and has been published in The Great Richmond Zombie Book and in the anthology River Town.
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