be a better option. We are currently living about 30 miles east of Cleveland in a rural setting about 12 miles south of Lake Erie. We have four dogs: three Golden Retrievers and a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. We foster for a local Golden Retriever group but due to our present large “family” we are on hold for a while. We also have three cats, Siamese types. This makes for a lively household when a new dog comes in, I can tell you that!! All in all, we lead a pretty sedentary life. I still enjoy reading and so does Kristi. We are eagerly anticipating the times when we can again sit outside next to the pond and relax with a book and bottle of wine. Almost did it last night (3/25/16) before the weather changed, but it started to rain so that killed that idea. That rain turned to snow for a while but it is slowly disappearing. That’s all for now.” Lisa Johnson writes that “spring is coming to Byfield. It hasn’t been much of a winter, but if you combine last winter and this one it evens out. We are busy doing house renovations to put our house on the market. We’re getting ready to move back into the family home on 28 Main. The old homestead reminds me of all those times I climbed up the lilac tree into my bedroom coming home too late from being “out” when I should have been “in.” I’ll be sure to cut the tree down so that future grandchildren don’t have the same access for sneaking in. Hope everyone is well and finding their busy lives as calm as they can be.” Vickie Bell Jones writes: “The Reunion was great, and I really enjoyed the tour with Spencer. The school looks beautiful! It was a lot of fun catching up with everyone! I have fond memories of my time in Byfield. And every spring I’m reminded of some of my fondest as I assist the local high school coaching staff in assessing players for the upcoming lacrosse season. Most of my news, though, is about my children/grandchildren as I’ve been retired from teaching for a few years now. All three of our children are married now and we are expecting our second grandson at the end of April. Most of my travel consists of numerous trips to San Francisco to visit our oldest grandson!” Starr Gilmartin shares that “the Gilmartins had more dreams of travel than actual travel this year. We had plans to go to Ireland, but were afflicted by Lyme disease, both of us at the same time so our Ireland trip was postponed until this summer. Now, in celebration of my making it to 60, we are splurging on that trip in June: a trekking trip in Scotland and Ireland. We managed a short, soggy trip to Seattle in January to visit friends. Then because there was scant snow in Maine this winter, I went to Banff in March for a solo ski trip in the majestic Canadian Rockies. In September I am doing my second 400 mile, seven-day bike trip, this time along the Bold Coast of Maine. We have had several kind offers to accompany friends on various world travels, and so I’m looking forward to a year of great adventures … if the stars align in my favor. I am hoping to see my good friends, Brit Babcock and Pam Pandapas during the summer months and any of my former classmates who may want visit Acadia National Park for their Centennial.” From Guatemala, Bud Rice writes, “I am down here for work, a frequent destination over the last few months. I had planned 62
The Archon | Spring/Summer 2016
to retire by now, but I just needed a bit more cash with my youngest son, Nick, heading back to school. At twenty-five he should have been done by now. Oh well. I am now planning on changing to part time work in June, though this had been the plan for last September, then January and then March. I think my employer will agree this time in June, since my project is running out of money! Also, since last report I have another grandchild, Beatrice Ann, who is now (in April) six-months old. Best wishes to the GDA crew.” Bill Shaheen shares that he is “semi-retired now, running my consulting business and playing lots of golf. While looking through my archive I found this ’71–’72 photo. Let’s see how many of you can identify the faces! And about this photo: it sure seems to prove we were way ahead of the curve on Title IX athletics!”
Ed Gage: Filling in the gaps and errata: (Sorry for being a smarty pants). First Row: L to R—Andy “Potted” Plante, Towner, “The One Eyed” Fiona Harris (For those who know Lyle Lovett’s ouevre), Wild Willie, Draper and SS Second Row: How Can You Forget Dick “Hey Watch What You’re Saying, Gage” Downs, Lovetron, Chris Richards, Sly, Gary Coorsen (not to be confused homophonically with Bob Tourison—both running buddies of Towner) Jim GreeeeenStone, That Pingree Kid, “Cloud Splitter” and Jim “Take Me To Your Fearless … Oh, I Am Your Fearless Board Leader” Pierce Third Row: Ed Carrier, Steve Lu, The White Boys—Brad and Roger and Rim Shaker. What can I say? If you do politics at any time in your life, you need to remember faces. Chris and I still think the Red Sox got hosed on the Jose Iglesias deal. E Ant. G.
The next four entries are in response to the photograph of the ’71–’72 boys basketball team photo:
Peter Richardson writes, “We continue to renovate our house in Vieques, PR. It should be available for vacation rentals by late summer. Let me know if you are in need of a warm place to escape the cold winter. Our son and daughter-in-law are living in Brussels and were close to the latest bombing. The metro stop that was hit is my son’s stop, near his work. Fortunately he drove to work that day because he had misplaced his metro pass. They are fine.” Pam Post writes that “It’s hard to believe the season is almost over here in Florida. This winter has just flown by. I made my annual visit to San Miguel Allende, Mexico this fall. I go with friends during the Day of the Dead festivities for a mixed media art retreat with women from all over the world. We all stay in a former brothel there, Casa de la Nocha. This year will be my third trip and I can’t wait to go back. I am just finishing my first term on my condo board…interesting experience. Not exactly Del Boca Vista, but close. Business at my Sleep Disorders Clinics has continued to grow, this growth being a blessed relief considering the predicted effect of Affordable Care Act on medical practices. I have had
Charlie Albert: Front Row (left to right) The Other Spencer Purinton, Bruce “Yeasties” Towner, Fiona “And One” Harris, Bill “Flying Semite” Shaheen, Scott “White Chocolate” Draper, Bruce “Swedish Solstice” Hoaglander. Second Row (left to right): Jim “Lovetron” O’Donnell, X, Ethan “Sly” Stone, X, Jimmy “One and Done” Greenfield, Some kid from Pingree, Craig “CloudSplitter” McConnell, X. Front Row (left to right) Top Row (left to right): X, X, Brad “I’ll be Rasslin” White, X, Rob “RimShaker” Kaplan. Barry Miller: Well done! Jim O’Donnell: Outstanding and incredibly accurate. Wow! Now that is as blast from the past. The most famous people in the picture were Fiona, as the only woman on the team but could play, and I think Jimmy…? Greenberg, who left after freshman year. I recognize ¾’s easily but a few escape me. Ouch, the hair! All the best, “Lovetron”!
1971–1972 freshman basketball team