Take Note
L-R: Alexis, Bobbie, Sergio (son of Maria Salome Casanova Aguero ’54), and Betty Richards Tripp ’54
join us from Miami; instead we all spoke on the phone and took photos. Also in August I was happy to see Ursula Bitter Ulmer in her house in Watch Hill, RI with its wonderful ocean views. Together with her houseguest, we shared a delicious dinner, had interesting conversations, and a chance to see her son and his family also visiting from Switzerland. How lucky I am that, from time to time, Frannie Haffner Colburn invites me to Boston. Next week we shall meet to attend a lecture about Cuban architecture (we were both in Cuba in 2012) and a Boston Symphony Orchestra performance. I always have a fine time and return home brimming with new knowledge as well as an update on Frannie’s many interesting travels. Finally, I was sad to learn of the death of our classmate, Virginia “Pidge” Wack. Excerpts from Virginia’s obituary mentioned, “Virginia Wack Wood died at home in Scottsdale, AZ on Friday Oct. 7, 2010. She was married to Robert M. Wood of Sheridan and Sam J. Campbell of Nashville, Tenn. (deceased). Virginia, owner of Goldwood Farm, was a highly successful breeder of Arabian Show Horses. Her accomplishments included six National Championships, six Reserve National Championships, and she was the only breeder in the
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Arabian Industry to date, to win two National Futurity Filly Championships with two different horses. Pidge is survived by a daughter, Diana W. Kenyon; three stepchildren—Sam J. Campbell, Deidra C. Gessner, and Christopher M. Campbell; two grandchildren—Kailee A. Kenyon and Lea S. Campbell; a brother, Ward Wack and a sister Carol Bauer.”
1955 Letitia “Tisha” McClure Potter 44 Rockwood Lane Greenwich, CT 06830 203-869-6069 lmpotter@earthlink.net Life brings us moments of both joy and grief, and these two opposites have touched the lives of our classmates. It is with sadness I report the recent deaths of two dear family members of our classmates. Susan Salant Wierdsma’s husband John passed away peacefully and pain-free on October 14 after a long illness. I remember John as a warm and friendly man. Susan and John had many years together, and she is fortunate to have numerous children and grandchildren from their blended families. We send much love with sympathy to you all.
Bryan Gill, Liz Nash Muench’s beloved son died suddenly and unexpectedly in May, the night before he was to give a workshop during Walker’s Alumnae Weekend. Those of you who came to our 50th Reunion will remember that Bryan and his wife Gina opened their house to give our class a splendid, festive dinner. Their hospitality, delicious dinner, and visit to his art studio created a wonderful, unique evening. Recently Bryan reached a pinnacle of success in his artistic life, making prints from cross cuts of old trees. His last work is a lengthy print of a Ming dynasty temple pillar. To see a video of Bryan working on this piece Google The Ming, Bryan Nash Gill (http://vimeo.com/75055262). His prints bring to view the story of the lives of these diverse wood pieces. A collection of his work can be found in Woodcut, the largest selling art book on Amazon in 2012. Liz mentioned that anyone who is inclined to honor Bryan, can send a gift to The Center for Contemporary Printmaking, 299 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850. Bryan’s creative, loving soul is missed deeply by Liz and his family, and we wish them peace and healing. And now as life often does we move onto a lighter note—class notes. Our class has been travelling and often by boat, it seems. After four months in Spring Island, SC, Meg Doubleday Buck and Austin
visited Berlin, Germany and then cruised on the rain-swollen Elbe River, ending in Prague. This summer many Bucks clustered in Montana at the Lazy E-L Ranch. Austin said Meg is enjoying working on needlepoint now that they are at home. Joined by her son Bill and granddaughter Kaitlin, BJ Russell Broda travelled to Kansas to visit a family farm in Lyndon, her family in Lawrence, and friends in Topeka. She did not travel by boat, of course. I suspect she was showing her granddaughter her roots. By December, she hopes to be in the Hartford area, catching up with Bill’s family, and planning to drop by Walker’s. BJ added