CLASS NOTES As a reminder with so many moving and downsizing, it is a good idea to update our family, friends, and alma mater with changes of names and addresses. Kathleen Sprenkle Lisagor is sad to say her cousin Elaine “Woodie” Woodson Markham passed away Jan. 17, 2019, at 96. She attended Mary Washington in the stressful days of World War II before graduating from the University of Virginia’s nursing school in 1944. This energetic, lovely lady was a nurse in Charlottesville and Richmond. Kathleen also extends compassion to classmates who have lost pets with long histories as loyal friends and companions. She recently lost her 10-year-old redand-white cocker spaniel from a brain tumor. He was her buddy and sat on the piano bench as she practiced. She strongly recommends reading The Legend of Rainbow Bridge by William Britton.
1963
“Cover the earth before it covers us.” – Traveler Betsy Churchman Geary ‘64 Frany Lee Carr wrote that life is grand in Huntington Beach, California, where she enjoys good health, outdoor activities, and lots of friends. Son Lance lives in Huntington Beach with wife Kazuko, and daughter Cynthia lives in New York with husband Dave and two sons. Suellen Grant Knowles calls 2018 her recovery year after getting a pacemaker in 2017. Ginger Logie Carr wrote that she and her husband planned to see Dick and Carol Van Ness Clapp and Ray and Eileen Hildebrand Andrews in December 2018. Hope to have some news about this get-together for the next issue. Barbara Grant Fox and Faye Russell Hatcher Haggerty sent get-well messages to me but no news about themselves.
Susan Woodward Kilborn wrote that any day she doesn’t hurt and can remember her name is a great day, “so the level of definition of top-notch health doesn’t have to be Arlene Drescher Wilson ‘63 had an thaaaaaat high, incredible time painting in Valmondois, just high enough.” France, Charles DeGaulle’s weekend home Great attitude, Susan! Kay Barret northwest of Paris. Bilisoly says getting old isn’t for sissies!
Linkey Booth Green linkeyg@embarqmail.com
Christmas cards brought news from Karen Vandevanter Morrison, Jeanne Chabot Wallis, Mary A. Settle Johnson, and Linda Gulnac Steelman. Karen and Jeanne are enjoying their grandchildren. Karen’s daughter moved to Portland, Oregon, so they see each other much more often. Mary A.’s good news is that her cancer checkups continue to be normal after intensive treatment. Mary A. lives in Panama City, Florida, and saw Hurricane Michael firsthand. She lives at the beach and did better than those in town, including her son. As of December, he still had a blue tarp covering his roof. Linda wrote that Bill preached his last sermon May 6 and retired as associate minister. Linda retired from the Nantucket Historical Association. They have decided to move to a life-care community and are on the wait list for Kendal-Crosslands in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
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Ethel Thomas Sanford lost husband Tom last May, so she is making her way down a new path with the support of dear friends and family. Ethel has lived in Long Beach, California, for 50 years. Tom worked there for his entire career, and they raised their two boys there. Ethel taught kindergarten some of the time and volunteered with the Junior League, the symphony, and an Episcopal church. Ethel sometimes sees Susan Ring Keith and reports that Susan lives in Coronado and is busy with civic and Navy endeavors, plus her grandchildren. Arlene Drescher Wilson saw Julie Burch Southall while she was visiting her son. In September, Arlene spent an incredible 10 days painting in Valmondois, France, Charles DeGaulle’s weekend home northwest of Paris. Gloria Moskowitz Fischel had a wonderful trip to Alaska last summer with her two youngest grandchildren. Glo has been volunteering in schools,
UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON MAGAZINE SPRING/SUMMER 2019
reading to “at-risk” children. What fun to be sort-of teaching again and enjoying their smiles and enthusiasm!
Betsy Chamberlain Hartz wrote that she, Mary Saunders Latimer, Eleanor Powell Darden, and Nancy Lee Leidy see Sally Tarrant Bernert in Richmond, Virginia. Betsy says Sally deals well with her health issues and is an inspiration. I planned to be in Richmond in April for my high school reunion, and I hoped to see Sally then.
1964
Susan Rowe Bunting Susan.bunting@gmail.com As I write this in January, I am watching the snow climb up to 2 feet and am itching to put on my cross-country skis and roam the beautiful New Hampshire woods. All I can hear is the sound of my skis shooshing along the snow. Often I will come upon a deer or two who move away from the trail quickly. I only catch a glimpse of white from their uplifted tails as they leap gracefully away from me. Others will stand their ground, stare, and let me pass. I talk softly to them as I glide by, and they seem very attentive and then ignore me. The story of my life! I was so happy to hear from Barbara Ioanes and hope others of you will email me so we can include your Mary Washington reminiscences or stories about your life today. Barbara summed up her life since the late 1960s, including time teaching English in Athens, Greece. She retired from a career with the federal government in Washington. She wrote: “I keep active in community service. However, I enjoy most of all helping my son and his wife with their 3-month-old infant and 2-year-old toddler.” You can read more of Barbara’s letter online, in the unedited class notes. Bronwyn “Bronnie” Jones Polk spends summers in St. Louis, Missouri, and winters in St. Petersburg, Florida. She would love to get together for lunch with classmates when they’re in either area. She and her husband, married 50 years, have two children and four grandchildren and have lived in six states. They met when Bronnie, a nutrition major, was an Air Force dietitian and second lieutenant in South Dakota soon after graduating from Mary Washington.