Your gift. Their opportunity.
“Your
Elizabeth McKinley '26 President, Student Government Association
Thank you for investing in the next generation of Wheaton alumni and leaders! student success!
generosity is not just a gift; it is the foundation upon which Wheaton students build our agency, find our clarity and grow in confidence.”
Dear Alumni,
As we embrace the energy of the spring semester, we are reminded that Wheaton’s greatest strength is the enduring connection between our past and future. This is a time of growth and excitement on campus. Nowhere is that more evident than in the ways you—our alumni—continue to invest in the next generation of Lyons and build relationships with each other.
In January, the classes of 2020 through 2025 met at Splitsville in Foxborough to start 2026 with networking, fun and connection.
This April, we are thrilled to host Career Close-ups, a program that brings the Wheaton network to life. Through short-term experiential learning opportunities, alumni offer students a window into professional life. Whether inperson or virtual, these one-to-five-day experiences allow students to shadow professionals, explore industries, and begin building the networks that will sustain their careers. Your willingness to open these doors to current students is a powerful testament to the strength of the Wheaton network.
Looking ahead, excitement is already building for Reunion Weekend 2026, May 15–17. We look forward to welcoming back classes ending in 1 or 6 to celebrate their milestone years. These gatherings are a vital reminder of the spirit of Wheaton.
This edition of the Class Notes Supplement serves as another bridge among us. Now in its third edition, this publication remains a dedicated space to celebrate your personal and professional milestones. It is a reflection of a community that stays connected.
We are deeply grateful for your continued engagement—whether you are hosting a student for a Career Close-up, submitting a note to this supplement, or planning your return for Reunion. Your involvement ensures that Wheaton remains a resilient, vibrant and connected community.
With gratitude,
Michael Graca Assistant Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Katy Spencer Johnson
’05 Director of Advancement Marketing
Troy Watkins
Wheaton magazine Associate Editor
Did your contact information change?
Report changes of address and email to Alumni Relations at 508-286-8207 or alum@wheatoncollege.edu.
Is your class year missing and you have news to share?
Email us at classnotes@wheatoncollege.edu and we will put you in touch with your class secretary.
To learn more about volunteer opportunitiies, visit: wheatoncollege.edu/volunteer
Contact Alumni Relations at 508-286-8207 or alum@wheatoncollege.edu.
For class secretaries: How to submit your Class Notes
Please submit text (up to 800 words) and photos via the Class Notes Submission Form.
Note: Please supply a brief description of the event and all the names and class years of the alumni in all submitted photos, which must be sharp and clear. Photos that are out of focus, or that have harsh shadows, over-exposed areas or “red-eyed” subjects may not be usable. We often receive more photos that we can use in any issue. When this happens, we will select photos that represent a variety of class years and timely events.
For more information, please scan the QR code or visit the Class Notes Guidelines page at wheatoncollege.edu/wheaton-magazine/classnotes-guidelines/
Front cover photograph by Michael Parrella ’19
Class Years in blue are celebrating their reunions May 15–17 in 2026.
John Hitchcock shared that Pam Jewett Hitchcock is in longterm care at Christie Gardens in Toronto and is no longer able to provide news. Gail Schiot Mott writes “No Matterhorn, but I am working with—and thoroughly enjoying—a special young refugee from Democratic Republic of Congo who has applied for asylum but his hearing was canceled. He’s now in limbo, with ICE present in our community. A friend has taken him into his home, and he feels safe and knows he is loved by everyone in my church. He returns that love with a warm smile and cheerful heart. I can’t imagine how he has kept up his spirits after having fled for his life nine years ago and endured unimaginable situations from Brazil through Mexico and into the U.S. When he came, he spoke five languages, including French. Now he understands everything he reads, and his English gets better every day. My house has become a school for morning and afternoon ‘classes’ with friends who want to help him get his GED. Hope you’re still having fun at 91! Jane Scovell shared “So sorry to hear about Pam Hitchcock but glad to see there’s still a mess of us hanging in there. I can’t remember what I told you last time. Probably something about my book, At Large: Behind the Lens with Brian Large, which was published in July in the U.S. I went to Vienna in April, where the book was launched at the Vienna State Opera. I hadn’t been in Europe since before the pandemic and had a great time. I became a frequent flyer when my daughter, Lucy, married an Englishman and moved to London. Still living in New York, son Bill and daughter-in-law Jane Donahue moved back from St. Louis to Manhattan a few years ago and their two daughters are now Brooklynites. My daughter, Amy, lives in Washington, D.C., as does Charlotte, my granddaughter. Her brother, Ben, is currently my boarder. He’s looking for a place in New York City. Lucky me, my 95-year old brother, Alan, transported himself from Cambridge to the Upper West Side and lives down the road from me.
Still getting about, going to Los Angeles next week to see a friend, and hope to get to London one of these days. Best to you and all my old pals.” Sad news: Joyce Angeletti Thompson passed away in December 2024. I, Barbara Young Bodden , report on the joys of living in a 100-year-old house, where a new project seems to pop up every day—including sewers, air ducts, earthquake refits and a new pool filter. This keeps my new professions as civil engineer/contractor and swim manager on my toes … no idle minutes to reflect on other “stuff.”
• Barbara Young Bodden, barbarabodden@sprintmail.com
• Elizabeth Burham Watson, watsup5623@gmail.com
Hopefully, all of us had a pleasant fall. The weather, everywhere, has caused many problems and unhappiness this past year. All of us are spread around the U.S. so, I hope, that we are still OK and active. Margit Bliss Orange got a nice report from the Wheaton assistant director of Annual Giving. “I’m delighted to share that our Class of 1957 contributed an incredible $50,101 last fiscal year from 22 generous classmates. What a wonderful testament to your class’s legacy of support for Wheaton and its students.” Hopefully, we can keep up our kindness with donations. Old age is settling into our lives now as most of us must be in the late 80s or early 90s age group! I’m so glad that I am older and was able to grow up in a more peaceful and happier world than what our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are experiencing. It’s sad for education with so many changes now for children and programs! Our computers are being hacked a lot now, which is causing many problems. Jane Rowe Mraz was recently hacked as was I, several times, having to change so much computer info plus new bank accounts, etc. My twin sister and I are still here in my retirement home in Bend, Ore. Thankfully, my daughter lives nearby and is so helpful looking after us when old-age problems appear! My granddaughter, who lives next to my daughter, just had a baby at the end of October, so now I
am a great-grandmother! My twin and I are still active playing pickleball several times a week, indoors now, and we hike. I continue to play golf, but I did retire from skiing last year for safety reasons. Keep active as we age to continue on! Happy winter! All the best!
• Hilary Thompson Kenyon, 19855 SW Touchmark Way, Unit 11, Bend, OR 97702, htktwin2@gmail.com
Leaves have fallen, Daylight Savings Time is over, holidays have come and gone, and here is our Happy New Year 2026 greeting to all, along with the news that Ashie and I gathered in the fall of 2025. Kay Sproat Chorao continues to enjoy life in New York City, still walks her dog every day, and shares an apartment with her successful artist son, Peter. Another son, Ian, a psychotherapist/writer, lives in Brooklyn “with his professor/ writer wife” and two children. Ian’s latest book is When We Talk to the Dead. Kay’s third son, Jamie, has two children, and lives and teaches in the Jamesport area of Long Island, so Kay sees lots of him and his family during the summer months. Linda Kennedy Giragosian still enjoys summer trips with her daughter to Isle Au Haut, Maine. High school and Wheaton classmates, Linda and Lucia Taylor Holland live near one another in New Hampshire so they visit or go to church together when time allows. Lucia’s husband, Bob, has memory issues, so much of her time is spent supporting and visiting him. Janet Hobbs Schnurr and Herm enjoy visiting their daughter in New Hampshire, as well as with our California classmate, Sara Pattershall Knight, during her annual stay at her N.H. home. This year Linda Giragosian joined classmates for lunch on their way home from a visit to Hamilton College, where their granddaughter, Helen, is a student. Marilyn Talbot Gass and Wayne had lunch and a great visit with Janet and Herm in Slingerlands, N.Y. Later in the fall, Janet and Herm visited Wayne and Marilyn for lunch in South Hadley, Mass. Janet closes her notes with “so good to see everyone … I hope for the
same next year!” Ashie Lavieri Santangelo and daughter Susan continue to travel. Their latest adventure was to southern Italy. In July, Arden Kahlo and husband Stan Okun celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary. Arden writes, “We’re still kicking. Florida and Vermont supply lovely sunshine!” Both also celebrated “important birthdays” this past summer. Our co-president, Susie Keene Stitt, sent lots of news from the West Coast. “We are getting our second rain of the season, so today is a happy day at home with no commitments—rare and lovely. In September, we spent two weeks on Nantucket, and we are now planning a Christmas open house for all the new friends we have met over the past 20 years living full-time in Inverness, Fla. It has been wonderful. This as we (privately) acknowledge our entry into our ninth decade without the hoopla around a 90th birthday. Just happy to be at this point!” Great news from Mary Jane Dawes Bolon and Tom in Ohio, who are spending some time again in Florida. Their winter apartment complex has been rebuilt after a severe storm two years ago destroyed everything. Linda Berry Trimble and John sent news that they are back in Naples, Fla., for the winter. “Our daughter, Dede Trimble Griesbauer, announced that after 22 years she is retiring from IronMan triathlon racing. She leaves an exemplary trail behind her!” We all send love to Kim and Mollie Osmundsen Mason , who bravely continues to cope with her Parkinson’s diagnosis, and to all ’58 classmates dealing with major health issues. Thanks to those of you who sent news! Happy spring to all! Although we aren’t permitted to include classmates’ full addresses in the Class Notes, upon your request, Ashie and I may send you anyone’s address. We also encourage more classmates to connect with us. So, in the next issue, we hope that those of you who are “folks of a few words” will join our “Hello Notes.” Using one of our addresses below, send us your favorite very short greeting, such as “Hi” or “Hello” or “Howdy” and your name. Let’s stay in touch as we celebrate longevity! In closing, we are sad to report that two of our classmates have died. Happy
Langmaid Bradford passed away in Maine in October 2025 after a brief illness. In December 2024, Dorothy “Dotty” Linton Graf passed away.
• Marilyn Talgot Gass, 69 Woodbridge Terr., South Hadley, MA 01075, mtgass@comcast.net
• Ashie Lavieri Santangelo, 111 Cocoa Ave., Hershey, PA 170331470, ashiesan@aol.com
A challenge! How to share our shmooze in 800 words or less! Several of us long-time friends met via Zoom in September: Casey Hotchkiss Clark , Karen Greenland Dyer, Margareta Helm Feller, Carole Engel Gladstone, Kate Kozodoy Johnson , Phyllis Braun Leventhal, Marty Stecher Lewis, Amanda Tevepaugh Macaulay, B.J. Northup Owen , Betsy Ferris Puchner, Henny Nelson Skeen , Nancy Dravneek Sullivan, Jill Galston Walsh and Betsy Jenkins Weber. Of central concern, Wheaton’s financial insecurity, leading to our loss of Marco Barbone, a treasured Wheaton connective tissue. “Mills College,” Betsy Puchner said, “merged with Northeastern. Wheaton is not in a position to benefit from such an arrangement.” Casey’s grandson was married over the summer, lives in D.C., and works at the International Defense Organization, specializing in China. Casey noted, “He’s fluent, unlike his envious Dad who also studied Chinese and can’t speak a word.” Talk turned to hardships that graduates face in the job market. Her granddaughter is fortunate, Amanda said, in a two-year program working in reinsurance. Marty noted, and many agreed, that the next millionaires will be tradespeople. Two of Carole’s grandchildren are ‘neurodiverse.’ Betsy Puchner spoke highly of the Forman School, where two of her grandsons are thriving. “Specialized schooling is a lucrative field, charging huge tuition to parents grateful that particular needs can be satisfied,” she said. Karen told of another trend: two California grandsons who’d flunked out of college, returned home to community colleges and then gained entrance to colleges. It was at this point that
Jill shared news of Barbara Davenport McLoughlin’s passing. Barb, initiator of Jill’s book club, said “all except me were in her tennis group,” which Barb had been unable to attend of late. Betsy Weber, Barb’s roommate for three years, reminisced about her lovely, flute-playing roommate and the extraordinary musicales in her living room. Betsy attended Barb’s funeral virtually, and Jill attended the “upbeat memorial” in person. Jill raved about Barb’s and John’s four extraordinary children, noting that the McLoughlin’s oldest daughter’s very successful book store, Pages, is in Manhattan Beach, Calif. Quite logically, talk turned to books. Carole endorsed The Book Club for Troublesome Women, expanding on how Betty Friedan had affected women’s lives. Amanda was most enthusiastic about reading the recent book about Claire McCardell, “who set women free. No more girdles and garter belts.” Jill added, “my mother was a great sewer and admired McCardell greatly.” Phyllis, occupied with recording every last syllable, was too busy to add that her mother was also a McCardell devotee. Kate, ever thin, shared “I didn’t wear a girdle.” Kate continues to work in real estate, and said that home ownership is very hard on young people. Kate and Carole realized they are Connecticut neighbors and set up a Wegman’s lunch date. Once-upon-a-time early ’60s rental prices were fondly recalled, none paid above $80 monthly, including Jane Hooton Ince and Betsy Puchner in California; Marty in N.Y. and Karen in Cambridge, Mass. Henny enjoyed family company all summer and responded to Jill, who noted a painting in the Zoom frame. “A copy [Boston in the 1700s, painted in the ’60s] is in the Mass. Historical Society,” Henny said, then shared that her grandfather had designed university plates and had been in Wedgewood, England, in this pursuit when his son, on the Olympic ice hockey team, was competing. He missed the whole thing. College plates raised money for institutions. This conversation was prompted when Betsy Puchner produced one of her rose-colored Wheaton Chapel plates, a gift she was amazed to receive from Phyllis’s son, Lionel, in his gratitude to Betsy.
She detoured for Phyllis and they drove together to Reunion and back. To which Phyllis adds: two most fortunate friends had the greatest time enjoying one another’s company, non-stop, on the four-hour ride to Norton and back, “our own miniReunion bonus!” Dear Margie had a too-eventful summer in Stockholm, visiting her sister in a nursing home. Shortness of breath was identified as a broken heart and a reaction to stress and one chamber had a blood clot. After considerable time in hospital, the clot evanesced and, thankfully, Margie is recovering nicely. Nancy popped in after her neuropathy support-group meeting. She’d just enjoyed a fun weekend in New Hampshire with her daughter and son-in-law in their new fixer-upper on Silver Lake. And then, Marty’s recurring plea: Where and when is our next mini-reunion? Although cruise possibilities surfaced, the answer remains elusive. Please forward all news you’d love to share.
• Phyllis Braun Leventhal, 580 Park Ave., New York, N.Y. 10065, 212-838-3734, budnphyll@aol.com
• Marty Stecher Lewis, mbslewis@gmail.com
Hello ’61 classmates! Our former secretary, Sally Stapleton Campolucci , is now a resident at an assisted living facility, following a mild stroke a couple of years ago. She is enjoying a “lovely place,” where she feels fortunate for the safety and the company of some women. Wendy Fox Williams is in touch with Anya Steinberg Silverman and Ellen Freiburger Young. We are belated in condolences to Jean Kessler Wolf upon the death of her daughter following an illness in 2023. Jean is finishing her work at the National Park Service and planning her retirement. She remains in touch by phone with Betsi Brown Dugan and Jan Marshal-McConnell. Nancy Leavens is pleased with her relocation from California to Lake Oswego, Ore., where she is miles away from her daughter. She has opportunities to return East to see her family and remains active, dancing and competing in senior jazz com-
petitions. She recently traveled to Scotland, to the Highlands region, preparing for a trip to Newfoundland to trace the life of her maternal grandmother and to meet some second cousins. Terry Stratton Flagg actively pursues news of Wheaton. She reports info about an alumna. Though not a matriculated student, Roslyn Lander Knutson enjoyed a career as a professor of English at the University of Arkansas and was granted emerita status. As for yours truly, I am happy to help out with Class Notes until May 2026, and then it will be time for someone to pick up this torch. If possible, please volunteer, for at least a specific period of time. Add your identity to the group of people who have contributed toward bringing 1961 to our present status. And please send us your information for our next column.
• Sheila Kunian Vernick, 280 Boylston St., 606 Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, 617-795-7200, wheaton61notes@gmail.com
Judith “Judy” McKinlay Prosser moved from her house on the Indian River in Vero Beach, Fla., to a HOA on the mainland, loving a simpler lifestyle without all the drudgery of maintaining a house. She is happy to have more time to play croquet, duplicate bridge and Mahjong, as well as to read and spend time with family and friends. Diane Mehaffey Garnsey ’s picture of her family would include 30, including three great-grandchildren born this year, bringing the total to nine. She and Herrick have nine grandchildren. She says having her daughter, Jenny, and son-in-law living next door is like having angels watching over them. Linda Silvestri Sykes’s husband, George, passed away in February, and she has had some health issues. She, too, is grateful to have her son and his family (including six grandchildren) 10 minutes away. A year ago, Sue Darling Norris moved to a Kendal CCRC in Lexington, Va., where it’s beautiful, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. She loves having a cottage where she can garden and is “thankful almost daily for the many wonderful professors she had at
Wheaton who instilled a love of learning that has brought her so much joy.” Ann Woodcock Hurd Fralix reports that life is good for her and Henry in Charleston, S.C., with summer at Cape Cod for a break from the humidity of South Carolina. They took a round-trip transatlantic crossing on the Queen Mary 2 in June and a super cruise down the St. Lawrence River from Toronto to the Gulf and around the Gaspe Peninsula to the Canadian Maritime provinces of Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia (with beautiful fall foliage) to Boston. Also on the go, Susan Jacobus Pierson and husband Jay took a hiking/walking trip to the Azores (Sao Miguel). Abby Brody says “gardening keeps me going,” as she continues to be involved with the Mimi Meehan Native Plant Garden in East Hampton, N.Y., and maintains the roses at the railroad station. She still opens her own garden for The Garden Conservancy’s open day program. Now for the sad news: we lost Lois Anderson Harvey and Sally Carter Fleming this year. Lois had a varied career in teaching, publishing and promotional products. She enjoyed her retirement on Cape Cod. Sally graduated from Ripon College and was married to husband Andy for over 60 years. She was delighted to have reconnected with Wheaton classmates.
• Muffy Newman Pepper, 1812 Verrazzano Dr., Wilmington, NC 28405-4228, 910-256-0055, muffypep@mac.com
Having been “fixed up” on a blind date by Judith “Judy” Feldman First while at Wheaton, Debora “Debbie” Collier Zug and Jim celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in December, and from their three children they now have five great-grandchildren! They are planning to travel to Albania at the end of April for the marriage of one of their grandchildren to an Albanian. Debbie and Judy continue to keep in touch at Christmas. Wide-ranging interests and a varied career have fed Madeline Champagne’s curiosity and provided excitement, growth and a multitude of rewards. Following graduation from
Wheaton, she worked for IBM for four years, then founded a costume jewelry company which had sales in New England, New York City and Florida. After two years, she returned to work as a computer professional at Howard Johnson’s, Sheraton and National CSS (an early time-sharing company). Her last 20 years were at The Foxboro Company. As an officer of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club for many years, Madeline has been deeply engaged with finding and raising butterfly and moth eggs and caterpillars, and is dedicated to teaching about butterflies and moths to teachers and school children and nature organizations. In 2025, she received the club’s 2025 Butterfly Champion Award for her ongoing outreach. In 2004, she became active with the Peace Abbey, a spiritual center for all religions and an advocate for peace throughout the world. One major project was the on-site construction of a wall display of 4,492 individualized wristbands to honor each U.S. military service member killed in the Iraq War. She was honored to present the Courage of Conscious Award to Pete Seeger and to Joan Baez (whom she had heard many years earlier in an intimate performance at Wheaton). Later, the arts captured her interest and she provided major production support for 24 Massachusetts performances of the play We Did It For You, portraying 23 women who fought for women’s rights. COVID, unfortunately, interrupted its run. After having a bit part in a movie (“Being Robin,” now streaming on several platforms), Madeline became involved with editing, cell phone shooting, producing and touring. She constructed the Memorial to Victims of Mass Shootings across America in 2023, which consisted of 657 five-inch rounded beach stones inscribed with the dates, locations and symbols for the 716 deaths and 2,689 injuries. There were three month-long installations at churches in nearby towns, and other partial displays. On a fun note, in July 2025 she visited a corpse flower in bloom. It was on display at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, but was on loan from the Wheaton College Greenhouse (where visitors aren’t allowed). It is truly an intriguing plant.
Currently, she is trying to restore our precious democracy, and was arrested for civil disobedience on January 20, 2025, where she settled her case for a fine. Madeline has continued to participate in weekly vigils since then and in October, hosted the first No Kings rally in her hometown of Foxboro, Mass. She concluded her newsy note by adding: “We’ve lived our decades in a democracy. The generations following us deserve the same.” To which I, Judith “Judy” Pickard Cohn add “Amen,” as well as my admiration for her many meaningful endeavors and gratitude for her news after such a long time without having heard from her. I hope that inspires others to send me an email, write me a snail mail note, or call me with updates on your lives and/ or your thoughts, so that I have news to share in our forthcoming columns. Quite a few of my emails to classmates were returned to me, so if your emails or addresses change, or you know about changes for fellow classmates, please remember to let me know of the changes. Meanwhile, I hope that 2026 is a good year for each of you!
• Judith “Judy” Pickard Cohn, 100 Fallen Leaf Drive, Hillsborough, CA 94010, 650-430-0180, judycohn3@gmail.com
You should receive this message in the new Class Notes supplement, which replaces past issues of Wheaton magazine. Let me begin with an apology to any of you who were inconvenienced by the person who hacked my email. Peggy McCarthy and Jill Eiseman Witherell alerted me to the scam, and I notified Wheaton. Dianne Cobbs Schaefer wrote a note saying she was glad that the hacker’s pathetic plea was false because it was “too strange.” Electronic communication has altered so many of the activities that marked our college years like: letter writing, pay phones, long distance rates and singing telegrams. Yet members of the class have adapted to changing times and share their experiences.
In September Susan Stetson Clarke took a cruise with her brother around Newfoundland, where their father was born
and raised. They stopped at interesting locations, including the island of St. Pierre (part of France), the summer home of Alexander Graham Bell, and a Viking settlement established before Columbus. And speaking of Vikings, Margie Young Furniss took an enjoyable Viking cruise on the Rhone River with visits to Arles, Avignon and Toulon, whose Valrhona chocolate factory merited special mention. Margie also reported that the rebuilding of her house, destroyed by Hurricane Ian in 2022, is completed and she “can enjoy following the sun from room to room.” Intrepid voyager Judy Sapadin Orlando wrote that she and Jack “are traveling fossils. We went to Jack’s 69th homecoming at Dartmouth in October and joined six other returning classmates, accompanied by wives, companions, two wheelie walkers, an electric wheelchair, an electric scooter and a cane.” With their strong spirits, further travel plans continue to develop. Betsy Dexter Ose attended a family reunion in Maine this summer, then took her granddaughter apple picking in the fall and managed to snag an abandoned Chippendalestyle loveseat on the trip. Her daily activities include walking, swimming, reading and dancing to Sirius radio music. An avid and accomplished gardener, Betsy continually updates and adds to a myriad of imaginatively cultivated spots around her seaside house. A recent addition included brick and flagstone access to her ”secret garden.” Betsy and John visited my husband, Bret, and me in the spring and together we went to the amazing Van Gogh display at the New
York Botanical Gardens. We took them on a tour of the Greenwich coastline in “Giggle,” the mini trawler Bret built during the COVID confinement, and we all enjoyed meal sampling at local restaurants. My own news includes a family gathering to celebrate the marriage of Bret’s son, Ian, to Jeannine Malvey, whose maiden name is so close to mine that our ancestors may have been related before the Mulvey spelling became standardized. Last summer we visited Vinalhaven, Maine, and I got in touch with Lorna Brookes Russell on the nearby mainland. She sent me a wonderful picture of herself with husband Carlton, as guests at the wedding of a 2019 Wheaton alumna. Sally Alice Unkles Smith wrote and shared that she took a Smithsonian trip around the British Isles with a friend last spring. It included a private tour of Saint Paul’s Cathedral and an invitation to the Dean’s house, where they saw his invitation to the Queen’s funeral and the King’s coronation. Sally Alice now spends June and July in an 1888 house in Twilight Park in the New York mountains, where her husband and his son are buried. In August, she attended a service at Sabbathday Lake in Maine with the three remaining Shakers in the world. Peggy Backer Walk lives in a retirement community in Pennsylvania. She had a difficult spring, spending a month in the hospital, but she is at home now with grandson Kevin as her aid. “He is a real blessing to me,” she said. Her sister lives nearby, but she misses friends and flexible independence. Anne Kilguss wrote to ask if my posted email was still operative, and I said it is still working and the best destination for class news. Please, give it a try and provide news for the next class notes.
• Susan Mulvey Rattray, 30 Strickland Rd., Cos Cob, CT 06807, 203-858-7765, smrattray@yahoo.com
As I, Rolly Fork Grover, write this I’ve been trying to get my holiday decorations ready for “launch.” Our homeowners association allows readiness early, but we cannot light anything until closer to Thanksgiving. I’m
sure many of you understand. My thanks to all who sent news! Shelley Swift Plakans is now living closer to her daughter’s family in North Carolina. She and her dog, Governor, even have room for the grandchildren to sleep over. After a nice summer, Linda Sherman Schnierer is back in Florida for the winter, where she spends mornings at the gym and enjoys both Pilates and barre. (I had to look barre up. It sounds quite challenging!) Bravely, Susan McGunigle Linnell drove from Burlington, Vt., to Brewster on Cape Cod to see Catherine Hill Fay for a few days. While there, they went to a No Kings rally in Falmouth. Rosemary Backus Coskey had a major life event. After spending 10 wonderful days in Amsterdam in May, attending and enjoying various concerts at the Gustav Mahler Festival, Rosemary was accepted at a retirement community where she “managed to snag” a lovely apartment. Cynthia Erb Hammer wrote that, having been told at age 49 that she had ADHD, she went on to run two non-profits that educated others about ADHD. She recently founded a website (www.FindTheADHDGirls.org ) with a mission to identify all girls with ADHD before age 8. Snjolaug Sigurdardottir says she’s still going strong and has returned from a safari trip to South Africa. I asked if she had pictures of herself from the trip, but she only took pictures of the wildlife this year. Anne Rial Nicholas’s usual summer trip to a trustee meeting at an American private high school in Greece included interesting discussions about current U.S. political developments with the Greeks. Then, not long ago, she overheard a young woman mention “Everett.” It turned out the young woman, like her elder sister, chose Wheaton for its nursing program. She loves Wheaton and likes the idea of being a pioneer who might have influence on how the program develops. Anne added, “Hmm, food for thought.” Helen Condon Powell says she’s started her memoirs in earnest and plans for the book to join her other two books on Amazon. Helen also told me that Tani Clinchard Erickson , who has finished her performances in Our Town, is moving to Seattle to be nearer
to family and that Stephenie Davis Ericson has found a “travel-loving guy” with whom she travels to Canada. Wendy Taylor Foulke and her husband are enjoying retirement in the Philadelphia area and caught up with Helen in Charleston. Linda Langston Copeland enjoyed visits to the Chautauqua Institution, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, and a trip on the Buffalo River where she learned about Erie. In Jamestown, N.Y., she found the Lucy Desi Museum a lot of fun. Candy Yaghjian Waites says she isn’t doing anything new but mentioned that this is already her 15th year of leading “Seniors on the Move,” and enjoying it. Bonnie Page Downing also filled us in on Sylvia Impert. Sylvia has been retired for many years from her post as dean of a large community college near Los Angeles. She was also an instructor of photography. Currently, she and her husband live in a pretty section of Long Beach, and she spends a lot of time working with a personal trainer, reading and walking. She also sees a lot of her four siblings. I got in touch with Peggy McLennan to find out how her October-scheduled trip to Uzbekistan had gone. I discovered that she had awakened one morning just short of two weeks before her departure and discovered she had lost her balance. Although she missed her trip too close to get a refund, the good news is that she feels fine and is back hiking.
• Rolly Fork Grover, 6405 Prairie Dunes Drive, Grand Blanc, MI 48439, 810-208-6667, acgrover01@yahoo.com
Greetings from Sue Mettey McLellan! Ever since the March publication of her memoir, Two Women, One War, An Unlikely Friendship During the Vietnam War, Jane Couser Barton (pen name Jane Barton Griffith) has been giving book talks at libraries, universities and book stores. In addition, she has presented at two university conferences and webinars. Her family hosted a reception for her after a book talk at LaGrua in Stonington, Conn., and both her children attended. In October, she was accepted to speak at
an international conference at Harvard University with speakers from around the world. “Of the 30 speakers only six were women, and I was the only one without a Ph.D.,” she said. Jane’s summer on Cranberry Island, Maine, was blessed with almost perfect weather every day. She continues to volunteer at Blithewold Manor, Gardens & Arboretum, in Rhode Island. Despite a broken foot and knee surgery, Mary-Jo Cipriano Amatruda is still a docent at the Met. MJ has been in phone contact with Linda Setapen Burton and they visited each other. She and husband John enjoy weekends in Connecticut with their 4- and 6-year-old grandsons. “They are the best antidote to what’s happening in our country!” She and John created their own “voting rights tour” in October. They visited Memphis, Birmingham, Montgomery, Selma and Jackson. “The sad thing is how much of that story continues.” Congratulations to Susan Aylward Brown, whose son Gordon and his wife, Nikki, had their first child, a son, in November. Betty Dill Cheyne and Jeff are busy with two singing groups. In September they visited both a friend and the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford. They also attended Jeff’s 60th college reunion at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and picked up some good ideas for ours next May. In November they had lunch at Wheaton and saw the play, Urinetown. “It was very humorous and the singing and dancing were great.” Betsy MacCarthy Westendorf and her business partner, David, have made great headway in their Sacred Engagement program. “We enjoyed two retreats in Maine, and the current program, run by three alumni, is half international!” They are now working on building a website and designing a second module of the program. Susan Sherk writes from her hobby farm in Portugal Cove-St. Philips, Newfoundland and Labrador. She’s retired, but “still involved in the vibrant arts and culture scene by mentoring up-andcoming artists and cultural nonprofits to the organizational and business side of their craft and organization.” She volunteers at the University’s beautiful
botanical garden. “Despite the ongoing rift between the U.S. and Canada, I still cross the border for family events.” She has dual citizenship. Anne Crosman is celebrating the release of the book she translated from French, written by her Swiss friend, Danielle Maillefer. The book, The Return of the King, is Danielle’s memoir that traces the behind-the-scenes drama of the triumphant return of King Michael and Queen Anne in 1990 after the fall of the Ceausescu (Communist) Regime. Anne and Danielle met in Geneva, Switzerland, when Anne was working for NBC Radio Network. Congratulations also to Ellen Silverman Nassberg, who has attained the “exemplary service” level of volunteer service points from the American College of Healthcare Executives—the highest service level they award. Alison Grant Small and Peter enjoyed a riverboat cruise down the Mississippi River. They loved Vicksburg and Natchez the most. “If you ever get to Memphis, don’t miss the National Civil Rights Museum. Fabulous!” Louise “Pooh” Hemingway Statton retired a year ago and is enjoying her new status. She is sporting a new hip and is learning how to play Mahjong. The past several months were busy with travel and celebrations for Carol Dey Hartman and John. In May they were in Tucson, where one of their eight grandsons graduated from the University of Arizona. Early summer took them to Switzerland for two weeks, partially guided by another grandson. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with all 17 family members in Connecticut in August. Carly Nichols Detwiller shared, “For the first time ever, I have begun to protest for what I believe.” Last summer, Carly discovered a place in Groton, Mass., “where every concerned citizen was welcome to make a poster and sign on to protest the first Saturday of each month. I decided to make it a priority and a commitment to stand up for democracy in this country. I believe we will prevail!” Sally Willis Bancroft and Ron embarked on a trip west in their vintage Airstream for their annual reunions with two different groups: in Ketchum, Idaho, and Steamboat, Colorado.
They avoided the interstates, traveling mostly on U.S. Highways 20 and 30. “Aside from the great vistas, the magnificent mountains, rivers, animals, fishing and hiking, we also loved the midmorning stops we made in small towns along the way. What a great way to get a sense of place! People were so friendly and helpful.” Rice Smith Flanders is doing “a very large Resist standout in the Peace Park in my town every Saturday—it’s wonderfully uplifting and fun.” Blakely Fetridge Bundy and her husband took their first international trip since COVID (and her three joint replacement surgeries) in August, with their daughter and youngest son’s families. “We had spent our honeymoon in Bermuda and were amazed to find our inscription in the guest book at the Swizzle Inn, written in 1966!” They spend winters at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Fla., and most of the summers in southwest Michigan. “We are lucky to see our 12 grandkids frequently, as they love both places.” In August, Sue Mettey McLellan and Bob hosted their family at their camp in Maine. “We enjoyed lots of games and card tricks.” In October they attended Bob’s Marine Corps Basic School 60th reunion in New Orleans. They later visited Bob’s brother in Dallas for a week. Sally Hutton Telzrow reported that her husband, Bob, had surgery to help ease his back pain. “I miss connecting with Carolyn Lutz Gibson since her death, but we had many great experiences together both visiting and traveling, which resulted in hysterical moments to recall!”
• Susan Mettey McLellan, 2 Hampton Lane, Andover, MA 01810, 978-470-1146 (h), 978-914-5204 (c), susie864moose@yahoo.com
Greetings to all from your class secretary, Judith “Judy” Morison Eastwood. Like many of you who have already marked your 80th birthdays by the time of this writing (November), I’ll do so soon. Mine will fall on Thanksgiving Day this year (2025), a fitting coincidence because I’m very grateful for
every one of the (almost) 80 years with which I’ve been blessed. Our two children, their spouses, our five grandchildren, and my brother and his wife will gather at the Omni Mount Washington in Bretton Woods, N.H., during Thanksgiving week to celebrate the occasion. Barbara Buxton Crouchley (Newport, R.I.) wrote that “Suzanne Affolter-Tedesko (Seattle), Nancy Spencer Lieber (San Francisco), Sue Perrott Stafford (Cambridge), and I rented an Airbnb in York, Maine, in September 2025, to celebrate turning 80! When we made the 75-year mark, we rafted the Colorado River and slept in tents. Being a bit older, we chose a cozy cottage on the ocean. Lots of walking, talking and memories. We decided we’d best do this more often as we really like each other, and we’re getting up there in age. We have aged well or at least we thought so!” Wheaton’s annual “Symphony Under the Stars Reception and Concert” was held on July 25 this past summer at the Presidents’ House. It is always a great occasion to visit with our classmates, partake of the interesting buffet food, and hear a concert on the lawn. As usual, our class representation was higher than most, except for some of the younger classes. There was a speaker this year, Sean Schofield. He is the assistant vice president in charge of the Life and Career Design Institute, whose mission is to help students think about what their goals and values are and how their life experiences can provide the basis for a career when selecting a major. It was a very interesting perspective on Wheaton academics today. The following classmates and class guests were in attendance: Roberta Bourassa with guest Lynore Frew, Susan Michelson Glazer with husband Gary,
Donna Barker Johnson with husband Dick, Debra Weiner, and special guest Peter Brown, who attended in memory of his late wife, Joan Fishman. That’s all the news for this column. I hope you’ll consider sending an update for the next one. If you aren’t receiving my email requests for your submissions and you’d like to, please email me. I’ll be back in touch when it’s time to gather news again. Be well.
• Judy Morison Eastwood, PO Box 56, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538, 865-719-5106, judymorisoneastwood@gmail. com
Greetings classmates! Sue Stampler Paresky reports that she and her husband are looking forward to leaving Boston’s cold weather and heading to Palm Springs, Calif., for the winter. She says, “We have had a home in the Palm Springs area for many years and we love the weather, the open bright blue sky and the surrounding mountains. While we miss Boston, we don’t miss the snow. I continue on with a variety of volunteer work. I’m still on the Indian Wells Grants Committee. This year we reviewed over 50 grant applications, all from deserving organizations. Whatever we can do to support our communities in need, we are trying to do. I’m also on the Eisenhower Health board, which supports the residents of the greater Palm Springs area. Eisenhower Health is a comprehensive hospital with a $2 billion budget and growing very quickly. I marvel at how they juggle the health care needs of such a large and diverse community. I’m still on the board of our country club, which is fun and a good way to meet a lot of very nice people from around the county.” Sue extends an invitation for anyone who might come through the Palm Springs area and looks forward to reconnecting with classmates. Deborah White Holt reports, “We saw all our grandchildren this past summer in Cooperstown, N.Y. The 12-year-old grandson in Minnesota and the 12-yearold grandson in Virginia, who both play baseball, ended up in Cooperstown the same week. Each boy played in many games
Wheaton roommates Beth Junge Bertsch ’68, Carol Schepis Ferrara ’68, Jeannie Clark Weller ’68 and Vivienne “Bim” Mortimer Semler ’68 had a wonderful time at a
and had a great time. From there we drove north to Quebec and stayed for a few days. The Canadians were welcoming. Then, we were on to Cape Cod to see family, with a stop in New Bedford to see friends and the wonderful whaling museums. We are getting ready to host all 16 of us for the Christmas holiday. Seven grandsons and one granddaughter will fill this house with joy!” Jane Perkins Stein writes, “Eddie and I are leaving our wonderful Portland, Maine, for the only thing that could get us to move—two grandsons in Denver. Arlo is 7 and Jude is 2. Our East Coast granddaughters are out the door. Gabby is a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin and Gracie is a junior after spending the summer in a total immersion program in Paris. Give us a call if you find yourself in Denver.”
Anne Hignite Gilbert says, “The only thing I have done recently is a trip to Colorado to visit two grandchildren at the University of Colorado in Boulder. While there we went to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, as well as Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak. What a beautiful state that is. We are also planning a cruise around the British Isles next summer for my 80th. Something to look forward to.”
Nancy Wells Woods says “When our travel agent friend, Tom, asked us to join him on a trip to Southeast Asia in January 2025, Fred and I thought about it for about one minute and said ‘yes,’ even though that part of the world seemed too hot and humid for me. It was neither. Tom made all the flight and hotel reservations and promised we would love it. He’s not a tour guide and said we needed to fill in activi-
ties on our own. Off we went to Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, creating our adventures along the way. In the spring we met our Australian friends in Slovenia for a self-guided, eightday walk in the northeast Julian Alps. This was our first visit to a Slavic country and admired the Slovenians for their long, complicated struggle for independence. In September, Fred and I walked for a week along the rugged Lighthouse Way, “Costa de Morte,” in northwest Spain—very sparsely developed with spectacular beaches. After that adventure, we used Spain’s high-speed trains and headed to Salamanca, Alicante and Valencia—all new to us, easy to explore on foot with all the delicious seafood and wine we could want.” Our fabulous Class of ’68 trip planners are at it again! After visiting Florence, Vienna, Berlin, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, they are sticking closer to home. From September 14–17, 2026, they will travel to Brunswick, Maine, home of Bowdoin College. It is easy to drive there, or fly into Portland Airport and take a shareable Uber ride. Or, take the train from Boston and walk a few blocks to our hotel. A block of rooms at the lovely boutique hotel, the Brunswick Inn, will be set aside for us. We’ll enjoy local sights like the Peary-Macmillan Arctic Museum at Bowdoin, the (Bath) Maine Maritime Museum and a boat ride on the Kennebec River and the (Boothbay) Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens with their fabulous flowers and trolls by Danish sculptor Thomas Dambo. Of course, there will be a traditional oceanside seafood dinner too. Contact Anne Hignite Gilbert at annehgilbert@gmail. com to add yourself to the list. We hope you can join us in celebrating our (can you believe it?) 80th birthdays. That’s all for now, friends! Please send news.
• Carol Schepis Ferrara, carol.ferrera@gmail.com
• Jeannie Clark Weller, jeannieweller@gmail.com
Twelve classmates joined the class Zoom gathering held in November 2025: Dinny August, Linda Moye Cheatham , Debby Black Drain , Cary Campbell
Edwards, Susan Hoffman Howell , Peggy Keim Labell, Melinda Murray, Valerie Shurman Silverman , Jane Flues Simchak , Ellen Stern Teeman , Julia Turchick Whalen , and me, Marcia Seifert Hoffman. It was very special to share our experiences with classmates, some of whom we had not seen or talked to for many years. We talked about the things that brought us joy in 2025 and our biggest challenges. Travel experiences brought joy to many of us, and we shared them. Constance “Connie” Anderson Edmundson and husband Henry trekked for three weeks along the Nepalese/Indian border and also in Sikkim. She still manages the demands of high-altitude trekking and sleeping under canvas in the cold and damp, but does admit to training in a local gym for that particular trek! Debby Drain and I (Marcia) enjoyed a trip to Panama in October 2025, which included a narrated transit through the Panama Canal and an afternoon visit to an indigenous village in the Gamboa Rain Forest. Liz Rice-Smith and her 87-year-old friend, Christopher, traveled to Texas in March 2025. They visited the birding sanctuary on South Padre Island. They spent time with her son, Stephen, his wife Katie, and Liz’s 18-month-old granddaughter, Eleanor Lucia, at their home in McKinney, Texas (near Dallas). Liz Rice-Smith baptized Ellie-Lu last July in Rockport, Mass. Liz continues to serve on a pastoral formation process team with candidates for ministry in the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ. She was sorry to miss the Reunion in May 2025. Dinny August and husband Tony Fainberg traveled to Berlin in September, primarily to participate in a ceremony to lay Stolpersteine—concrete cubes— in front of the apartment house where his family lived from 1939 to 1941. Her father-in-law and his brother (her husband’s uncle) had lived there until the Nazis ordered them to leave the country after removing German citizenship from all members of the family. Both were born in Berlin, and the Jewish communities of Berlin and England facilitated their legal escape to England. During their time in
Berlin, they also took a boat ride on the Spree, the river that flows through Berlin, and the narrator explained the architecture and what the buildings housed; they took a walking tour and saw major landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Cathedral, as well as a bus tour where they could get off, walk around, then get back on. They highly recommend a trip to Berlin. In terms of what made us sad, we agreed that it’s challenging to manage medical issues that come with getting older. We are sorry to share the news of the passing of two classmates, Terry Wilham Gallagher and Denise LaBella , in 2025. We send condolences to their families. At the end of the call, we congratulated Linda Cheatham on participating in the campaign to get her home in Atlantic Beach, S.C., designated in the National Register of Historic Places in 2025. The community was founded in 1934 and is recognized as “Black Beach,” a hub for black culture. All the buildings and property are black-owned, including hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and more. Linda was thrilled to see Earth, Wind and Fire; The Four Tops, The Temptations, and other favorite musical groups perform in 2025. Judy King received the Connecticut Horticultural Society Mehlquist Award in August 2025, to honor her contributions to the society and to Connecticut gardening for many decades. Congratulations, Judy! Please send news of your latest travel adventures. Let us know what’s energizing you. What brings you joy? What’s particularly challenging? Look for an invitation to attend a class meeting on Zoom in 2026.
• Marcia Seifert Hoffman, 19 Gary Circle, Westboro, MA 01581, 508366-8704, euromom01@msn.com
• Dinny August, 4500 Wetherill Road, Bethesda, MD 20816, daugust@msn.com
1971
By the time you read these notes you will have received information about our reunion “memory” book. Thanks to the hard work and leadership of Cathe Cronin Echterhoff, we believe we are the first class to have a professionally published
book. If you are reading this and have not yet submitted your page, we hope you will do so. It has been an adventure to get this project off the ground, but I will put in a plug here for how much fun it is to serve as a class officer or member of a class committee. It is an opportunity to get to know classmates who were not in our friend group while in college. I hope that more of you will choose to become involved when we elect new officers at our reunion this May. My roommates, Susan “Sooie” Anthony Wilson , Wendy Taylor Sawyer and I (Cindy Smith Pendergast) gathered on the Cape at Jane Temple’s house in June. As always, we were happy to see that none of us had changed a bit (!) since meeting in Chapin Hall in 1967. Aware of how the years are flying by, we all met again for a weekend at my house in Boston in October and were joined by Marsha Maynes. Marsha now spends the winters in Stuart, Fla., and the summers at her home in the Berkshires after her many years living in St. Thomas. We missed seeing Linda Ucko Leiby during our weekend this summer. She and husband Ken were hosting a party for families who have contributed to their yearly cycling fundraiser for pancreatic cancer—something that is very close to their hearts and to mine. Sooie, however, did rendezvous with Linda at “their” Burger King on the N.J. Turnpike when Sooie was en route to Baltimore to visit her brother. In early fall, I spent several days with Barbara Flavin Richardson at her home in Chatham, Mass. We had fun exploring the area, eating well and talking. We also met Jane Temple for lunch at the Wequasett Inn. Tina Rice Connelly and her husband have left Manhattan for Brooklyn to downsize and, more importantly, to be near their granddaughter. Our class president, Leslie Fisher Muir, who is frequently on the move to amazing places, sent the following: “This spring our seventh grandchild was born. My husband, Art, and I now have six grandsons and a granddaughter. We frequently spend time visiting those residing in Iowa City and Denver and are fortunate to have grandsons in the Chicago area as well. In September, we attended a wedding in Brazil. After
the wedding, we tagged on a trip with friends to visit the Amazon and Iguazu Falls. The beauty and majesty of these natural wonders was awe inspiring. In October, our family celebrated Art’s successful climb of another of the Seven Summits, Carstensz Pyramid, located in Papua New Guinea. He is now the oldest person to climb all Seven Summits.” I (Cindy) am keeping busy with activities at my church, volunteer work, two book groups and spending time with my 11 grandchildren, soon to be 12. Sooie and I both have grandsons who are high school juniors. Sooie took Luke, who lives in Connecticut, to a visiting day at Wheaton recently. My grandson, Phineas, lives on the east end of Long Island, but I hope to arrange a visit with him to campus also. With the high cost of college tuition, I am very aware of the generous merit scholarships that Wheaton offers. Keep Wheaton on your radar for grandchildren, nieces and nephews, or neighbors. Please send your news and news of any other classmates you are in touch with.
• Cindy Smith Pendergast, 232 LaGrange St., West Roxbury, MA 02132, 617-469-6360, cindypendergast@gmail.com
Sally Bachelder Keil here, reporting as class secretary. My big news: I treated my whole family (my husband, two sons, one daughter-in-law and three grandchildren!) to a trip to England last September. The idea began when I was doing research as part of Philippa Langley’s
Celebrating their 75th birthdays in September on Amelia Island were 1972 classmates, from left: Sue-Ellen Roper McClain, Barbara DiNatale, Cynthia Meglaughlin Campbell, Candy Young Guittarr and Martha O’Neill Lindeman.
‘Missing Princes in the Tower’ project. I formed a group based here in the U.S. (Missing Princes in America Project) in support of Ms. Langley’s efforts. Our goal was to look for primary source materials physically located in the U.S. that might be relevant to the search for the two princes. One member of my team found a lock of hair reportedly to have been taken from King Edward IV himself. (The hair is in the collection of Emory University in Atlanta.) To ‘kick the tires’ of its provenance, I stumbled upon a link to a medieval castle/manor
house that once belonged to a relation of King Edward’s, named Shute Barton. Much to my surprise, I read that the castle is now owned by England’s National Trust, and you can reserve it for private use. With six bedrooms, it could easily accommodate my entire gang so I booked it and over we went. We had a fabulous time and made some unforgettable memories. While we were in Devon, my husband and I also signed up for a ‘Tudor Experience.’ Lady Samantha sews up authentic Tudor clothing, and you can arrange with her to be outfitted with her elegant Tudor wardrobe! Once attired, you can stroll around the grounds of Sudeley Castle while her husband, a professional photographer, takes photos. As a certified ‘nut’ on medieval English history, I had always wanted to know what it was like to wear authentic Tudor finery, so this was a childhood dream of mine. Check out the photo of me in elegant Tudor clothing. As the Queen, I’m trying to look regal and haughty, but I think I came away angry! Elaine Naddaff organized a mini-reunion luncheon in Sarasota, Fla., last November. Rochelle Hedison Ryan and I attended. We both live in Florida in the winter and Elaine was visiting her son and his family who live in Sarasota. Priscilla Johnson Chesna writes, “Cora MacPherson Hall and I enjoyed the reception at President Whelan’s home and the “Symphony under the Stars” concert by the Great Woods Orchestra. I also caught up with my ‘big sister,’ Marcia Seifert Hoffman ’70, from Westboro,
Mass. Remember when we were paired up with a junior when we first arrived at Wheaton?” Who else remembers their ‘big sister?’ Write in and tell me. Priscilla goes on to report on her recent trip to Scandinavia. She visited with relatives in Stockholm and relived the 1965 trip she took with her parents through the Norwegian fjords. Highlights were spectacular views on the Sognefjord and Geiranger Fjord, riding on the Flam Railway, and taking the Loen Skylift. Sally Pym has once again been globetrotting! She “had an awesome summer avoiding Florida! Three weeks in Sicily (practicing Italian and eating seafood), three weeks in Nova Scotia (hiking and painting) and the balance of the summer in New Hampshire and Maine. I’m back now and tennis league season is in full swing. I captain two USTA leagues and paint on Fridays with a small group. I am busy enough to stay out of trouble!” Well that’s good to hear. Wouldn’t want to have to bail her out. Candy Young Guittarr reports on the big birthday celebration: “Five of us met in Amelia Island, Fla., in October to celebrate our 75th birthdays.” Candy has also been doing some recruiting for the college, starting with her adorable granddaughter, Hallie. Please be sure to write in with your news, or simply share your memories of Wheaton. Thanks everyone.
• Sally Bachelder Keil, classsecretary72@gmail.com
Marion “Dee” O’Grady is thrilled to share that in November she was elected to the Board of Trustees of Ballet RI, one of the nation’s top regional ballet companies. In September, as a longtime member of SAG-AFTRA, she was cast as a “Nantucket local” extra in an adaptation of Nantucket author Elin Hildebrand’s novel, Five Star Weekend, starring Jennifer Garner. She had lots of fun on the set, and it’s a good read, too! She remains active in the National Arts Club in New York City and also serves on the communications and events committee of The Hope Club in Providence, R.I. Life at home on beautiful Nantucket is wonderful in all
seasons. She revels in long walks in brisk salt sea air with friends and breathtaking ocean sunsets. In addition to her hectic schedule, Dee loves to travel across the U.S. and abroad. As always, feeling blessed! Brenda GerosaBeal and husband Bob continued their travels with National Geographic Expeditions—this time for two weeks to Alaska’s Inside Passage on the 62-passenger Sea Lion. They began in Sitka (a favorite) and went in and out of passages and fjords through Juneau and Ketchikan. “I never breathed air so pure and clean in truly amazing wilderness,” she said. They stopped in Seattle on the way back and did every touristy thing possible—the waterfront, Space Needle, Pike Place Market, the Gum Wall, Chihuly Garden and Glass museum and more. What a fun city! Brenda wrote, “Summer flew by doing a lot of slow and old running with the Amity Island Running Club on Martha’s Vineyard— pretty much a 5K every weekend! Missed the annual fishing derby in favor of a knee replacement for Bob.” Their son, LCDR John William Beal, is now the operations officer on the National Security Cutter James, and is out to sea in locations unknown for four months until he ports in Charleston, S.C. Kathy Foley Denniston is living In Duxbury, Mass., during the summer, and Naples, Fla., in the winter. She has four fabulous grandchildren who live in Massachusetts. Kathy spent a night on Cape Cod with Susan Herman Aprea and Chris Holgate Pearce, where “a lot of fun memories of our youth were recalled.” She sees Eileen Ward Barrett periodically in Florida. “All these old birds look great,” she said. “Keep it up!” Laurie Livingston reports that she and Kathleen Rand Oliva had a couple of visits together. Kathi and her husband were in California in September and they all met for dinner in Pasadena in October. Vickie Spang recently saw classmates Tina Leback Sitwell in London and Debbie Dwyer Geary, the latter after a Canada cruise that ended in Boston. So great to see them! Vickie then re-visited campus and the first person she crossed paths with was President Michaele Whelan! Check out our Wheaton College Norton MA 1973 Facebook page, where I will post
some pictures Laurie and Vickie sent. Take care!
• Debbie Dwyer Geary, 48 Pinewood Road, Needham, MA 02492, gearydebbie@hotmail.com
This came in from Carrie Farmer. I have worn several hats since graduation. I showed horses, worked as a registered nurse in the hospital setting, trained horses for therapeutic riding programs, and ran a therapeutic riding program until retirement. I live in Duxbury, Mass., where I continue to enjoy travel, art, pets, music and mobility (with the help of a prosthetic hip). I’m grateful to Wheaton, and the people I met and toiled with while there. Over the past 51 years, classmate Susan “Sue” Lawson Ogburn has crisscrossed the country. Starting in San Francisco, then moving to New York City for her work in medical insurance. She has played tennis, squash and skied on winter vacations. The Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation required a risk management program, and she was recruited to UNC Chapel Hill to establish its program. And, on occasion, she lectured at the UNC Law School. Sue and husband Paul have been married for 45 years. At the start, they moved to Minnesota for his medical fellowship. After the birth of their son, Eric, the family trekked to Rhode Island. They now live in an 1897 vintage Victorian in Rochester, N.Y. That’s a lot of mileage, Sue! From Cynthia “Cindi” King: After reconnecting at the 50th last year and staying in touch regularly, Linda Smith Unland and I and our husbands had a magical
couple of days at the Unland’s incredible yurt compound in Driggs, Idaho. We were on a road trip from our Sonoma home. They have a stunning location; the Tetons are in their backyard! We hope to see each other in Los Angeles at Thanksgiving this year; we both have kids living there and plan to be in town at the same time. I, Jane Martin , got an unexpected email from classmate Beth Mitchell DeMartino, who apparently has a bottomless crate of Wheaton memorabilia, which revealed a haiku I had written in 1974. As for me, I continue to love life by the sea on Cape Cod. One of the few positives that came out of the pandemic was the “Zooming Boomers of ’74,” a constant series of lovely virtual visits with Priscilla Brown Carey, Krys Kornmeier, Maxine Phillips Blackman , M.J. Morrow and Cheryl Vedoe. My dog, Annie, proudly wears her Wheaton collar at the dog park, where we have met a surprising number of Wheaton alums and current students. Thanks to Assistant Vice President of Engagement Courtney Shurtleff Ryan for that wonderful gift that keeps on giving!
• Jane Martin, janemartin. photoeditor@gmail.com
Greetings classmates! I received the Wheaton magazine in the mail this Thanksgiving week and enjoyed reading everyone’s memories of our 50th reunion last May. It was great fun, both the reunion and reading about it! One important item we neglected to mention during our Mary Lyon dinner that weekend was that your current class officers would like to step down (aren’t you sick of us?) and are looking for a group of folks to take on the leadership roles for our class going forward. Technically, we should have a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. But now that we have passed the big 50th, the upcoming reunions, which are the major tasks for the class leaders, are less onerous and the Wheaton Alumni office guides you through every planning step. I think a group of two or three could ably handle the 55th reunion in 2030. If
anyone is up for this, please contact me (P. Gail Dickson Martin, (pgail1975@gmail.com), Barbara Horlbeck (behorlbeck@ gmail.com), Nancy Rossiter Mobley (westportpress@gmail. com) or Ann Harvey McMurray (AHMcMurray@aol.com). We can let you know what is expected and put you in touch with the very helpful folks in the Alumni office. We think we have already identified someone to take on the important writing of the Class Notes. More on that in the next edition. Jo Ann Simons wrote to share that her organization, Northeast Arc, was again “named among the top 100 women-led businesses by the Boston Globe and the Women’s Edge. Boston Business Journal named me among this year’s Power 50. And the Northeast Arc was named by Boston Globe Magazine a top place to work in the category of 1,000 or more employees. My Down Syndrome Transition Handbook (2010) has been completely updated with the invaluable assistance of a co-author, and we have made this resource free for downloading. I love the difference I get to make in the lives of people with disabilities. Looking to take an aroundthe-world jet trip in 2027 if my 2026 Southeast Asia trip goes well.” Jo Ann, you have helped so many navigate these complex waters. Marylou Shearing wrote, “I am semi-retired. I still see clients for therapy, but no more administrative work. I am loving it.” In March of 2026 Janet Pearce Foster, Jane Wiley ’73 and I are going on a Viking cruise together. We are very excited.” Enjoy semi-retirement Marylou!
I also heard from Hope Gallagher Ogletree, who reports some big life changes. “We have sold our house of 40 years and are moving to Niantic, Conn., into a houselike condo that will also bring us closer to our daughter, Heather, in Portsmouth, R.I. I will officially retire from Fordham in June and work on building my consultancy in women’s philanthropy … a long time coming. We’re moving near old friends from Fairfield and searching for a new church. A new chapter is finally beginning. We’re spending now until June renovating the condo.” Sounds great, Hope, good luck! Barbara Horlbeck wrote with an update on a recent trip, “In November, Nancy Mobley and I met in Charleston, S.C., to attend the Charleston Literary Festival. We attended 10 sessions held at the Dock Street Theatre, built in the 1730s. It was absolutely fascinating and stimulating, and, of course, we couldn’t let the days go by without exploring some new restaurants, visiting with friends, taking walks and filling the days with laughter.” Finally, an update from me. Carolyn and I took a wonderful trip to Scotland in June, visiting both Edinburgh and Glasgow for some touring, dining and the requisite whisky tasting. We also spent several days hiking in the Highlands, with an incredible visit to the Isle of Skye. We continue to enjoy our six grandchildren who range in age from 13 to 4 years old. They get along famously and it is controlled chaos when we all gather. That’s all for now. Thank you for sending in your news. Please consider stepping up for a class leadership role and be in touch with one of us for more information.
• Barbara Horlbeck, 651-370-3857, behorlbeck@gmail.com
• P. Gail Dickson Martin, pgail1975@gmail.com
Correction: In the fall issue, Merrie Beth Moore was misidentified as Liz Popieniuck Moore. Merrie Beth, her twin sister and their husbands took a Viking cruise from Paris to Munich and Zurich. Happy new year! In a few short months we will go back to Wheaton to celebrate our 50th college reunion. Our graduation coincided with the Bicentennial,
and now our 50th with the country’s 250th. I could not be happier to go back and see so many of our classmates from when the college was all women. Great friendships were made, and relationships lasting until this day. It has been so much fun. To those who have not been back: Please join us May 15–17! Maureen O’Hare-Mercer writes: I am so excited to know our class is going to try to break the attendance record for the 50@50 challenge. Friends are connecting, calling other friends and committing to come back to reminisce. Let’s show Wheaton how the Spirit of ’76 shows up. Love and laughter until then. Wynn McDaniel writes: This has been the year of travel for me. My husband, Andrew, and I celebrated my big birthday by returning to England last April. I spent my junior year at the University of Surrey and received my master’s from the London School of Economics. My family has spent a couple of Christmas vacations in England, but it had been a few years, so I was glad to return. London never changes! We are fans of Downton
looking forward to the reunion and hope to bring some Wheaton alums with me. Judith “Judy” Dodge Speck wrote: Harvey (my Golden) and I are a therapy dog team for CHAMP Assistance Dogs. We visit schools, libraries, the USO, Down Syndrome Association and special events requesting friendly dogs to provide comfort to those in need. And Henry, my first grandchild, is the son of Joe ’12 and his wife, Svet. I, Liz Coutrakon Lacy (I also have a grandson named Henry), took an eight-week Harvard online course last summer on civic engagement in a constitutional democracy. I had forgotten so much history and learned even more in the process. Allyson McGill told Robin Smith-Johnson: “We are starting to prepare for next year’s big reunion. Can you believe it has been almost 50 years since we graduated? It would be great if everyone could mail me their class dues ($50). You can make out a check to Allyson McGill and mail it to 1424 Filene Court, Vienna, VA 22182-1608, or contact Allyson to use Venmo or Zelle.”
• Liz Coutrakon Lacy, 11 Woods Edge Road, Bethlehem, CT 06751, 917-930-2038, eijjlacy@gmail.com
• Robin Smith-Johnson, 30 Ships Anchor Dr., Mashpee, MA 02649, 508-648-6365, rosmithj@yahoo.com
Abbey and visited Highclere Castle, which was amazing. On our way to Yorkshire, we stopped at Blenheim Palace. I am also a big fan of the PBS show All Creatures Great and Small, and we went on a private tour of the many locations on the show. It is a beautiful area of England. Last July, we took a Viking cruise from Barcelona to Rome and spent three days in Umbria, another beautiful spot in Italy. I am
tanical garden, we were treated to an impromptu tour by Cindy Sitzer Packard, who volunteers there. In addition to reconnecting, renewing relationships and reminiscing, we talked about our hopes for seeing as many as our classmates as possible at our 50th Reunion, May 14–16, 2027. Please put this on your calendar! A committee is forming to plan the details; if you would like to be a part of it, please let me know. Whenever I am together with my Wheaton classmates, I am reminded of just what a special place Wheaton was those four years of the mid-1970s! Cathy Marcoux Dodwell and husband Lloyd welcomed a seven-week Seeing Eye puppy into their home in May 2024. Maeve is a black lab and spent 12 months learning basic obedience and socialization. She was also introduced to many real-life situations that she could encounter as a working dog—including rides on a train, bus, ferry and ambulance, and exposure to Times Square, Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park in New York City at Christmas time. Maeve was recalled to the Seeing Eye campus in Morristown, N.J., in May 2025 to begin her rigorous training with a professional trainer and we observed her in action in September when we followed her with her trainer as she negotiated the streets of Morristown. We anticipate
Twenty-one classmates participated in ’77 Celebrates 70! Attending were Deborah Burrow Blanchard , Susan Blair Brew, Sylvia Holden Chalmers, Catharyn “Cathy” Teare Cutright, Libby Derrico, Deirdre Houlihan DiCara , Catherine “Cathy” Marcoux Dodwell , Sue Little Doyle, Atalanta Grant-Suttie, Darcy Kimball Hackert, Anne May Hart, Jeanne Motyl Hebert, Dorothy Escher Kerr, Susan Mills MacDonald , Marci Lunder Miller, Alison deJong Novello, Cindy Sitzer Packard , Dana Ogden Welles and Kathie-Lee Wilcox . This amazing Berkshires weekend took place in Stockbridge, Mass., September 12–14. We visited Naumkeag, Berkshire Botanical Garden and the Norman Rockwell Museum. At the bo-
Dorothy Escher Kerr ’77 and Karen Leonard Magnus ’76 recently reunited in Jacksonville after 32 years without seeing each other.
learning that she has been placed with a visually-impaired person and will begin her career providing independence, reliability and freedom to a special person somewhere in the U.S. Elaine Brown has just published another book, The Next Little Black Book of Success: Laws of Leadership for Black Women, which completes her leadership trilogy. Elaine is a Daytime Emmy Award-winning writer for ABC-TV’s “FYI,” and the critically acclaimed author of Lemon City and Amazon best seller The Little Black Book of Success: Laws of Leadership for Black Women. Her new book, co-authored with two other women, is a complete revamp of their 2010 release, The Little Black Book of Success (a One World hardcover with more than 60,000 copies in print). These authors—with more than a century’s worth of career experience among them—address new hurdles in the leadership arena and propose strategies for overcoming them, updating their advice and approach for the way the working world has changed: the advent of hybrid and remote work, employee resource groups and DEI initiatives, and the burst of invitations for people to bring their “whole selves” and “authentic selves” to work. Sylvia Holden Chalmers writes that she continues to work as an elementary school lunch lady and gets a kick out of the kids! Her son, Christopher, has started at Columbia Medical School. Cackie Scott spent a relaxing fall weekend with Kathleen O’Donnell and her wonder-dog, Kramer, in Maine. She arranged a meetup with Janet Yoos Hathaway and Sue Little Doyle and served wonderful lobster rolls for lunch. It’s surprising to her (and to so many of us) that despite long stretches of time with no contact, the relationships continue along as if they were never interrupted.
• Jeanne Motyl Hebert, hebertjeannem@gmail.com
• Alison deJong Novello, alison.novello@gmail.com
I heard from Shawna Flynn , who is part of a Zoom group with Anne Lyness Ward , Carter Jordan White and Betsy DeCoste Evans —all part of the
exchange program at Bowdoin College. They are angels bringing joy and laughter to two friends they made during their time in Brunswick, Maine, who have had life-changing events. Y’all are the best. I received a wonderful message from Sally “Holly” Hermann Gulick. Holly has one son who lives nearby in St. Louis while the other lives in Dallas. She has five grandchildren, ranging from 22 months to 9 years old. She and husband David spend most of their time at their farm in western Missouri. Holly either swims or walks every day, and tries to go to daily Mass and Rosary. She also belongs to a Bible study group. Life goals, girlfriend! She and David spend time in Boca Grande, Fla., in the winter, where she has reconnected with Alison McEachern Clegg. Holly and David also had a wonderful meetup with Judith Howe Tucker and James when they visited Bermuda in October.
• Ann Riddell, riddell.ann4@gmail.com
Hello, everyone, it is good to keep in touch through the Class Notes column. For those who may not have seen the email sent out in mid-November from Sue MacArthur Curran and Polly Bartlett Bryson regarding classmate Maryann Carroll: “It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of our dear friend and fellow classmate, Maryann Carroll. Maryann served with both of us on the Board of Trustees, and we were all proud to represent the Class
of 1979. Her service to the board began in 2017, and last spring, she was elected trustee emerita. Her sage advice and commitment as a member of the college’s Finance & Facilities Committee, as well as the Investment Committee, were invaluable, helping to secure the future of our alma mater. Maryann truly gave her all, dedicating herself to her family, her community, and Wheaton College, and her departure leaves a huge hole in the fabric of all three.” Jovonna Van Pelt emailed this update: “I recently travelled to New York for a four-day slumber party and mini-reunion with classmates Ann Peoples, Liz Eaton , Katherine Schwartz Lapuh and Class of ’78 alums Janna Frelich and Rose Larrabee Fox. We’ve been gathering every few years over the past decade. This time, the centerpiece was Rose and Bob Fox’s 45th wedding anniversary. We did some local sightseeing, cruised the Hudson River and talked our heads off—like you do with old friends. Since retiring, I am a writer and staff member at Local Access to Valley Arts in Greenfield, Mass. My first poetry collection was Unrelated Questions, Human Error Publishing, 2019. A second poetry book and a Christmas memoir collection are due out in 2026.” Christine D’Arrigo has been living in Florida for the last 10 years, where she spends her time writing, traveling and staying healthy. She recently published her first book, Rising: Notes on a Resurrection Diane DeRosier Mackie and I, Lisa Connell , continue to meet every few months at Molly’s Restaurant in Hanover, N.H., for lunch. Hanover is an equidistant spot between Berlin, N.H., and Hampden, Mass., where Diane lives with her family. Diane is retired from a lengthy teaching career. Her husband, Jim, is a piano restorer and operates his own business, Mackie Piano, from Hampden. Son Gavin Mackie ’13, is an attorney in New York City and son Alex has begun working with Jim. Thank you for your contributions and keep them coming! Wishing everyone a happy, healthy 2026. Take care.
• Teresa Daloian Alexander, alexterryd@gmail.com
• Lisa Connell, lisadconnell@gmail.com
Greetings from Guilford, Conn.! Happy 2026! Some classmates took pity on me and responded to my plea for news: From her home in Pawleys Island, S.C., Nancy Barton Fellinger wrote that she underwent breast cancer treatment and is hoping her experience encourages others to get regular checkups. “While not happy news, I’m sharing this in hope that it may be helpful to one or more of my classmates, especially any who might, like me, be lulled into thinking that breast cancer is something that happens to other women. I had my annual mammogram on April 25 and the results were “abnormal,” which was a shock. This was followed by an ‘abnormal’ ultrasound and, finally, a biopsy that revealed cancer. I had a lumpectomy and a couple of weeks later, an oncoplastic reduction/tweak on the affected side. With my oncologist’s blessing, I decided not to go forward with chemo because there wasn’t enough of a benefit to outweigh the potential side effects, so I moved on to complete 20 days of radiation. I will be on an aromatase inhibitor for five years. Later next year, I will have surgery to make the hopefully still unaffected breast look more like her newer sister. The funny thing I’ve learned about breast cancer (and I’ve learned way more than I ever wanted to know) is that even in a situation like mine—caught early, mid-level aggressive type, not triple negative, etc.—you’re never quite in the clear. There’s always the possibility of local recurrence, meaning it’s breast cancer again in the same or other breast, or worst case, it’s a distant recurrence, which means it has metastasized. I’ll have two to three years of closer monitoring, and then that will start to taper. All this to say, get your mammogram and then savor the best moments of every day!” Nancy’s been living in South Carolina since 2018, when she moved from Simsbury, Conn., to care for her in-laws. Wishing Nancy a complete recovery. June Lemen has started her second term as a commissioner of public works in Nashua, N.H. June writes that she’s working, full-time, at the Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter as the community resource coordinator and advocate. “I
see Donna Tuttle and Jaye Warry for a quarterly lunch and just last week I received a large donation to the kitchen by Anne Eustis Hough in honor of Abigail Gardner.” June says the donation in memory of Abbie, who died in March 2024, was emotional. “I wept in the middle of the work day. I hate that she’s gone,” she said. Like the rest of us, Edie Dillon Thompson is gearing up for her big 50th high school reunion next summer in Swampscott, Mass. She said she’s excited to see Diane Nordin , who attended the same school. Audrey Cady Scanlan was elected bishop of the newly created Diocese of the Susquehanna, a combination of the Dioceses of Central Pennsylvania and Bethlehem, of The Episcopal Church. After serving as bishop of Central Penn., since 2015, the new diocese was established January 1, 2026.
• Carolyn Milazzo Murphy, 13 Orcutt Dr., Guilford, CT 06437, 203-453-0676, carolyn.milazzo@gmail.com
Hello! The small column this time is primarily due to my lack of planning. Time and technology got the better of me again. A sweep of Wheaton Facebook friends netted the following: Anne Moore and her partner, Cynthia, have moved to Millbury, Mass., outside Worcester. When we connected in December they were mid-unpacking, and as Anne said, trying to figure out what to do with retirement time now that there is plenty of it. Amen! If you have retired, what have you found to do in your new world? Claudia Dunne let me know she was off to New York
City for four days to celebrate her birthday with pals. Reflecting on last year, when she was facing medical challenges at the same time, she pointed out how lucky she is to be supported by good friends. She also has a new pup, and he is a cutie! Monique Shire was jetting off to California, planning to meet with Ellie Horlbeck Thompson to start planning our 45th Reunion, May 15–17. Jane Duffy Hughes is in on the planning, too, so you know it’s going to be a good time! Ann Pauley and I, Ann Wroth , celebrated 45 years together in November. Child brides! We are still living in Ocean View, Del., visiting the beautiful ocean as much as we can. I’m using this weird thing of retirement time to volunteer as an ESL teacher at the local library, and singing in a humongous chorus. See you in May!
• Ann Wroth, ann.wroth@gmail.com
Diana Keller Fernandez writes, “My husband and I just got back from a hiking trip on the island of Madeira and then we spent a month in Portugal. Our son and daughter-in-law live in the United Kingdom so we coordinate family trips and meet-ups.
ing freshman year took our 4th annual celebration of our 60th birthday trip in July (we actually went on our 61st birthday due to COVID). Deborah CroxonTrammell, Lynn Bowman , Ianthe Zannetos McCarthy and Christine Baker started the trip in Scotland, where the highlight of the trip for Croxon was seeing the puffins on the Isle of Mull, and smaller islands of Staffa and Lunga. I joined the group in Oslo, where we took a rail tour of Norway. It was lovely. The highlight was the beautiful Flam. The group is now busy planning next year’s annual 60th birthday trip to Sweden. The same group met for our annual fall trip to Truro, Mass., hosted by Lynn at her beautiful Corn Hill cottage on the ocean. As always, it was great catching up. I, Drusilla “Drusie” Colby Milford , finally decided to retire from my medical device Regulatory Affairs profession in mid-2026 and I am looking forward to it.
• Drusie Colby Milford, 540-4648079, drusmilford@gmail.com
We just demolished a cottage we own in Rockport, Mass., then designed and are building a new four-season home there. We’d love to have visitors in 2027 when everything should be done. Julie Howard Acker writes “Some of us who met at Everett Hall dur-
Hello ’83 friends. Lisa Riley Kovach reports that she is splitting time between Florida and Bristol, R.I. Lisa is still a corporate entertainment producer. Her husband retired from Disney and has been doing amazing hiking. Joyce Ozer writes from her Portugal vacation after retiring from Dana Farber. She will be consulting, volunteering and traveling next year. Jill Dalury Sullivan reports that she was recently laid off but now has time to spend with her grandkids. Denise Bryan Dukette is enjoy-
ing retirement but feels a little twitchy. She is going to a matinee of the Nutcracker in New York City because she can. Janet Fischer is selling her condo after 25 years in Swampscott, Mass., and is keeping busy working at the Pops and cooking at Salem Country Club. Barbara Barr Sheerin’s son recently got married and her second son will be married next December. She and I (Jane Orcutt Kirsch) continue to enjoy our Cape Cod tiny houses in Brewster—lots of adventures on the Cape to explore in retirement. I keep busy with travels to the Cape and New Hampshire while having my home base in Weymouth, Mass. Most of us must be thinking about signing up for Medicare in the coming year! Stay young!
• Jane Orcutt Kirsch, jokirch@comcast.net
• Denise Bryan Dukette, ddukette@live.com
This issue of Class Notes for the ’84s comes with a special announcement—go buy stock in The Children’s Place! I mean, with all the reports of new grandbabies flooding my inbox, I’m sure that, like me, you’re out shopping for the cutest clothes every chance you get. Congratulations to the following new grandmas/nanas/ grammies/mimis—or whatever you’re called by those precious new members of the family. Karen Barnard Choate has two grandbabies, Phoebe in Maine and Teddy in Ohio. Karen spends four days a week with Phoebe. Lucky grandma! Margaret
“Margie” Kelley Harrington’s family welcomed Graham in May. Susan Salvadore Franklin and Maggie Dickey Kerkoff each have two grandsons, George and Teddy for Susan and Elijah and Caden for Maggie. Cynthia Fulton Biagini’s first granddaughter, Emilia, arrived in June, and has already stolen their hearts. As far as I can tell from recent reports, the biggest contributor to the stock price for The Children’s Place must be Susan Moore Ferry. YaYa Sue has five grandchildren, ranging from eight months to five years old. I (Janis Robinson Daly) will add my Nana name to the ring with the arrival of my first grandson, Weston. At 10 months in August, he participated in my other son’s wedding as an unofficial ring bearer. The flower girl, niece of the bride, pulled Weston and her younger brother in a white wagon down the aisle for cuteness overload. I was thrilled Mariellen Mooney O’Hara , Susan Reals Treadway, and Jean Sylvester joined me for the big day, 39 years and one week after they all attended my wedding. Another mini-reunion took place in October with Jean Pfeiffer Lopez , Nancy Torigian Buczko, and Tatiana Ramirez van der Noordaa meeting up in Washington, D.C. where they walked and talked for miles, catching up on life. Emily Johnson Goode and Juliet Hastings also traveled for a mini-reunion destination to New York City to cheer on Emily’s daughter, Cassie, who ran the NYC Marathon the first weekend of November. That was the fifth marathon Emily and Juliet have attended together to
support Cassie’s runs. Starting in January 2025, a few of us gathered every 6–8 weeks over Zoom for a virtual class book club. We had insightful discussions about The Path Beneath Her Feet (my second historical novel), The Bravest Voices by Ida Cook, James by Percival Everett, The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin, The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson by Ellen Baker, and How to Read a Book by Monica Wood. It was great to share thoughts about reading with classmates who had sat in
enjoyed a Mediterranean Sea cruise with son Hugh. The night before our reunion, Suzanne Niemela Hellmann flew into Boston, and we planned to meet some of our fellow classmates for dinner. Unfortunately, they could not attend the reunion, so it was great to catch up with Rebecca “Becky” Parker Flanagan, Michele Adams Norman, Jenny Kimpton Pickett and Sarah Connell Campbell. Please email us some information, no matter how small it might be. There will be a prize for the next three submissions we receive.
• Elizabeth Forsberg Wadman, ewadman@verizon.net, 781-820-4840
• Suzanne Niemela Hellmann, snhellmann63@gmail.com, 571-233-8433
the same English classes over 40 years ago. We are saddened to hear of the passing of our classmate, Lauren Cedarfield Penta , in November. From her obituary: Lauren was the wife of David Penta and the mother of Emily Penta. After Wheaton, Lauren earned an M.Ed. at Rhode Island College. She retired in 2024 after a 30-year career as an eighth grade science teacher in Mansfield. Finally, we extend our deepest condolences to Susan Salvadore Franklin, who lost her amazing mother in March 2025. Here’s hoping 2026 is off to a great start for all!
• Janis Robinson Daly, janisrdaly@comcast.net
I was so impressed with the latest newsletter online. Thanks, Suzanne! So, back in September, I (Elizabeth Forsberg Wadman) attended a book talk on Cape Cod with a friend of mine from East Falmouth. She tends to know a lot of people, so I wasn’t surprised when I found her chatting with a friend a few
minutes after we arrived. She called me over to introduce me to Dorinda Danforth Underwood. She and I both looked at each other with our whole mouths open, amazed that we recognized each other after all these years. She and my friend were docents at the Museum of Fine Arts. Dede lives in Cambridge, Mass. In October, I was visiting Deerfield, Mass., with my husband and Elaine Kaiser texted me a picture of her homegrown gourds. She and her husband, Reese, also raise their own chickens. Cynthia Daut Love and her husband, Robert, moved into their new home in Greenville, S.C. They recently
Hi, ’86ers! This is your notes secretary, Pam Campbell Messenger. A bunch of our class summers in Maine—yes, it’s a verb. In July, Jacqueline Corbett, Michele Imhof, Maura Murphy, Paula Nulty ’87, Brenda Pearsall and Leslie Aubin Pryor met for a day in Bath. My family gathered in Maine this summer for our daughter Annie’s wedding at Sugarloaf Mountain. Someday, we’ll summer and winter there, too! Congratulations to Laura Fassett Russell on the birth of her granddaughter, Ava. Angela
Katsos Ray’s son, Charles, is a freshman at Wheaton, adding to our class legacy. Hugs to Joanna Cox Burdett on the death of her mother in August. Our 40th reunion is May 15–17, and planning is well underway. Email me if you want more info or if you want to join the planning committee. Mark your calendars now and watch for more info. We hope to see new faces and hear from new voices at our 40th. If you’ve never come back to campus, please plan to come in May. Join us! Stay well, sisters! Send news!
• Pamela “Pam” Campbell Messenger, 4 Mill Run Road, Boxford, MA 01921, pamelacmessenger@gmail.com
Hello classmates! As I write these notes, it’s almost the winter holidays and the close of 2025. Most/all of us have reached the 60th birthday milestone. Hope you are all happy and healthy as we enter 2026. Which incidentally, gives us one year until our 40th reunion (May 2027). I, Amy Marr Collins, celebrated #60 with Elizabeth Contarino DiPrizio, Catherine Subotich Pollack and Laura Cahill in Boston in August. We dressed up in ’80s fashion and danced at a “Lost ’80s” concert, featuring several bands of that era (the best era of music, in my humble opinion), and enjoyed the city and dinner in the North
End. Always too much fun to get together for a Wheaties weekend! Christine Porter Barton also had a mini-reunion weekend in New Hampshire with Carrie Beech Griswold, J. Cameron “Cammie” McGraw Wagner, Margaret “Peggy” Bridges Curtain and Ann Farrington Reis. They all plan to attend our 40th! Christine adds she is now a “Gigi” to grandson Calvin (3 months old at time of writing). Ann also has two grandchildren. Jessica Bruce writes that she is officially semi-retired (at least from the Associated Press), but keeping busy. She is still consulting with AP and other small businesses. She is developing a virtual gallery (with Nancy Franzino ’86) to make her Mystic Pottery Studio more functional. Her son is applying to colleges for fall 2026. Jessica is also helping friends and colleagues negotiate their exits from the working
still amazes me that even after 35 years we are just as close as we were at Wheaton.
• Sara Smith, saramichale13@gmail.com
world into retirement. If you (or your spouse/partner, etc.) need any guidance, Jessica’s 40 years in HR has its benefits, so reach out. Eileen Salathe Hollcraft received the Pillar Award from CropLife America (CLA) in October, recognizing her contributions to the pesticide industry and commitment to CLA. Eileen serves as lead counsel, crop protection regulatory for Corteva Agriscience, which she represented on the CropLife America Law Committee and other CLA committees. Again, mark your calendars for May 2027. We’ll be in touch to solicit ideas and dues and encourage you to join us for Reunion #40. Cheers!
• Amy Marr Collins, amymarrcollins@yahoo.com
• Tamara Kish-Eubanks DiCesare, tamaradicesare@gmail.com
Laura Sheppard Faussié is a commercial litigator, legal analyst/strategist and appellate attorney with Butzel Attorneys and Counselors. She is a shareholder in the firm’s Troy, Mich., office.
• Karen Sennet, ksennet@yahoo.com
• Mary Rockwell Thon, maryrthon@gmail.com
I, Megan Russell-Witalis, was so blessed in 2025 to catch up in person with several of my dearest friends from Wheaton. In January, I traveled to London to visit with Hillary Blade Webster. In July, Michelle Olin McLane visited me on Long Island. In August, I caught up with Stephen Larkin ’92, at the Hampton Classic Horse Show in Bridgehampton, N.Y. And finally, in September, Kirsten Manninen Lewis and Jenn Morris visited me on Long Island, and we viewed the Long Island Museum’s wonderful exhibitions “Gatsby at 100” and “Triumph of Nature, Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art,” where I am the gift store and visitor services manager. It
Dear classmates, it’s hard to believe you’ll be reading this in 2026, but 2025 is coming to a close. Where has the time gone? In two years, we will celebrate our 35th reunion at Wheaton. Save the date! We would love to have a fantastic turnout. Thank you to Joanna MacDonaldIngham for writing in with an update for class notes. Joanna writes that she, Liz Cote and Tracey Marino got together at the end of October in Portland, Maine, for a mini-reunion. Tracey is a principal at her local elementary school, Liz is retired and Joanna is still teaching. Joanna writes she was in Austin, Texas, visiting her oldest daughter and attending the Formula 1 racing in October. The best way to stay in touch is via our Facebook W92 page. Please share it with any classmates who may not be aware of the page. Keep the info coming, we would love to hear from classmates far and wide!
• Louise Seeber Scrivines, lscrivines@gmail.com
Hello Class of 1995! Kristin Fowler and Beth Robinson have taken over for Heidi Milne as co-secretaries. Thank you to Heidi for her years of service. Now for updates. In July, Beth attended a birthday celebration for Anne Blair Hudak ’97 on Cape Cod. Also in attendance
brewery in Barre, Mass.
were Jill Bourgeois ’94, Michael Brogna , Erik Bullerjahn , Kimberly “Kacie” Bryant Gough ’94, Kurt Mogolniki ’97 and Kristen Andersen Olson. Beth also saw Eddie Welsh and Sara Jane Miskinis Welsh ’97 in October at Parents/Fall weekend. They had dinner Friday night at Wendell’s and hung out on campus Saturday and watched some soccer games. Stacey Linnartz played Mrs. Gibbs in Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” in Union, N.J. She interviewed Jenney Wilder and her mother about the play. Sarah Weill has been playing a ton of tennis in Colorado the past two years. Her women’s team went to the nationals in San Diego last year and this year. Sarah won a USTA women’s double tournament at the APEX facility in Colorado.
• Kristin Fowler, kristinpfowler@gmail.com
• Beth Robinson, betharobinson@hotmail.com
Hello 2003! You are all very impressive. Matt Talbot shared that he completed his doctorate in forensic psychology in 2023 and built a violence prevention program for a Fortune 50 national retailer in January 2025. He then launched a new company, Key Operational Insights, with a dear friend and current business partner who was a former director for the Department of Homeland Security. Together, they provide consultative, evaluation and training services to workplaces, schools, universities, law enforcement, government entities and more, on best practices to prevent targeted violence such as mass shootings, do-
mestic violence, stalking, suicide and extremist violence. They also co-authored and released a book in August titled Predators, Posers, and Pained Personalities: Defensible and Effective Strategies to Prevent Targeted Violence and Manage Malevolent Behaviors. It discusses effective ways to support people experiencing emotional crises and choose non violent ways to resolve their concerns. Matt credits his exposure to the dark side of psychology and criminology at Wheaton for leading him to a career he finds meaningful and incredibly rewarding. Kat Hudson Bernardo has been busy pursuing her second career as a child life specialist. She finished a 600-hour internship and will take the certification exam in March. Kat shared “it’s been amazing working with kids in the hospital to educate them about their medical treatments, support them through procedures and bring them joy.”
Jen Vigorito Turner had her first solo exhibition, titled “Into the Woods, A Series of Small Works,” last fall at Attleboro Arts Museum. Take care, everyone.
• Maggie Stone, margaretelizabethstone@gmail. com
U.S. Congressman Gabe Amo (D-R.I.) received the Rising Star Award from the New England Council (NEC) in October 2025. The NEC is the nation’s oldest regional business association, composed of business and organizations and formed to promote economic growth and a high quality of life throughout New England.
• Auriele Marcotte, armarcot@asu.edu
Emily Parker and Knute Gailor were married on October 24, 2025, at the Boston Public Library. It was the perfect fall day to celebrate the occasion and they were thrilled to be joined by their family and friends in a beautiful Boston venue. Nicole Francis has returned to the learner role as a pediatric critical care medicine fellow at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla. Kristen Hunt and Katie Sudbey welcomed their second daughter, Marley Paige Hunt Sudbey, on October 31, 2025. Their first daughter, Emma Elizabeth, was born in November 2023. Kristen and Kathryn were married in December 2021. Hadi Raad is director of pro scouting for the
Parker Gailor ’11 and husband Knute
San Francisco Giants. Raiyan Banaji passed away in December 2024, while practicing jiujitsu. His family has the finest memories of Wheaton, and shared that Raiyan loved the track and rugby teams. The Bombay Gymkhana, which has the oldest Rugby Club in India, has instituted a memorial trophy called the Raiyan Banaji Friendship Cup.
• Emily Parker Gailor, emily.lynn.parker@gmail.com
The Class of 2013 has much to celebrate this year. Amy O’Neil married Joseph Goodinson on October 5 in Brewster, Mass., surrounded by 13 Wheaties and with a heartfelt tribute to her late mother, Nancy O’Neil ’72. Frank Holbrook is the head baseball coach at Brown University. Max Swanson welcomed his first child, a daughter, Sloane Foley Swanson, on July 25. Lewie and Kirsten Russell Alfano celebrated the
arrival of their second child, Ava, on August 27. Longtime friends and freshman roommates Liz Watkins and Heather Gordon—whose friendship survived multiple cross-country moves, career changes and three pet snakes—were married in May 2023. They’ve since settled into a new home near family and recently celebrated their son’s first birthday in fall 2025 and are excited for more adventures ahead.
• Davide di Cagno-Hagen, davidedicagnohagen@gmail.com
2014
Richard Nealston , a senior software engineer at Apple, visited Professor Mark LeBlanc’s class in November to talk with students about his career trajectory. He also addressed the job market for computer science and tech-focused majors, the arrival of and effect of Artificial Intelligence and how college is a simple machine—you get out what you put in.
Jason Lewis ‘13 married Tiara Lewis on October 26, 2025, in Peabody, Mass. Wheaton alums in attendance were (L–R) David Perelman ’12, Sean Sidoti ’11, Amy O’Neil Goodinson ’13, Troy Henderson ’13, groom Jason Lewis ’13 and Daniel Lanctot ’11.
the wedding of Amy
and Joseph
on
Karalyn Kickham ’18 and Riley Tetreault ’19 were married in June 2025 at Glen Magna Farms in Danvers, Mass. From left, Wheaton alumni who attended were Alex Dubrow ’20, Rob Lowey ’20, Matt Allegrezza ’20, Sammy Zaidi ’18, Drew Vittum ’19, Krista Tramonti-Pinkham ’18, Liam Bruno ’18, Lexi Tramonti-Pinkham ’16, David Carbonello ’19. Christina Smith ’19, Ryan Fogarty ’18, Nick Geremia ’19, Duaka Ekwensi ’19, groom Riley Tetreault ’19, bride Karalyn Kickham ’18, Tyler ’16 & Kim Lagasse-Kickham ’16, Amanda Herzog ’17, Heather and Neil Henry ’18, Catherine Dennis ’18, Lindsey Jacquier ’18, Phyllis Williamson ’17 and Rebecca Venuto ’19.
Several Wheaton College alumni and members of the Founder Society visited campus for the performance of the Urinetown musical. Front row, from left: Joscelyn Varieur ’74, Ellen Bryan ’74, Nicholas Helldorfer Cicchinelli ’14 and Jeffrey Cheyne S’66. Middle row, from left: Patrick Summers ’94, P’28, P’28 & Trustee, Skyler Stegall ’96, Rebekah Dunklee ’96 and Betty Cheyne ’66. Back row, from left: Stephanie Burlington Daniels ’97 & Prof. of Theatre, Makiyah Moody ’00, Irvin Mangwiza, Cynthia Brown and Don Larsen.
This list reflects individuals of the Wheaton community who passed before November 30, 2025.
Doris Rydgren Lamont ’47
Peggy Crowell Walklet ’47
Jeanne Fetter Tufte ’49
Mary Hurlbut Elm ’50
Cornelia Severance McVicar ’52
Louise Hall West ’53
Helen Marsh Tredwell ’54
Nancy Hayward Mitchell ’55
Morrisa Basseches Zwetchkenbaum ’55
Becky Byerly ’56
Jane Woodworth Ross ’56
Happy Langmaid Bradford ’58
Dorothy Linton Graf ’58
Jean Aikenhead Smith ’58
Joey Saxe Wechsler ’58, P’84
Julia Evans ’59, P’88
Sister Joanna Hastings ’59
Ann Pedersen Orr ’59
Nancy Olson Broadhead ’60
Barbara Boersma Chaffee ’60
Barbara Davenport McLoughlin ’60
Phyllis Parziale Beedle ’61
Sally Thomas Eggers ’61
Betty Murrell Halpern ’61
LeeLee Selling Glenn ’61
Emily Atwood Kruger ’61
Carmen Smith Meyer-Cuno ’61
Sophie Rinos ’61
Gail Hinman Rowland ’61
Susan Webb ’61
Deborah Peltz Hetherington Wesson ’61
Ginny Westover-Weiner ’61
Sara Grindlay ’63
Nancy Constantin ’65
Anne Fankhauser Dewell ’65
Dorinda Evans ’65
Myra Reingold Promisel ’65
Lucy Riddell ’65
Jane Perrine Houston ’68
Donna Bishop Pleasants ’68
Susan Stephenson Gates ’69
Andree Schwedersky Growney ’69
Constance Stewart ’69
Suzanne Gras Althoff ’70
Denise LaBella ’70
Nancy Dykens O’Neil ’72
Deborah Friend ’73
Joan Brunhoelzl von Arras ’74
Barbara Bowen ’77
Maryann Carroll ’79
Abigail Gardner ’80
Lauren Cedarfield Penta ’84
Chris Davio Southam ’90
David Fleming ’93
Christen Bergeson ’96
Fran Lavallee Weldon ’16
1956 Arthur DeGraff Jr., husband of Sandy Ketelhut DeGraff
1961 Richard Kett, husband of Jane Henzel Kett
1984 Brian Babcock, husband of Melissa McNerney Babcock
1984 William Healey, father of Katherine Healey
1988 Peter Yelle, father of Allison Yelle Buttafuoco
2003 Kathleen Scheufele, mother of Jessica Scheufele Ward
2009 Agatha and Thomas Perkins, parents of Emily Perkins
