Fall 2011 - Wheelock College

Thanks to Louise Butts ’51/’55MS for sending in this photo showing eight of the 11 Class of 1951 members
who attended Reunion 2011, gathered with banners in hand for a photo op on the quad. (L to R): Jerry
Walsh Clauss, Pat Gindele Guild, Priscilla Janeway Sherwood ’51/’89MS, Judy Handley Garvey,
Sally McKey Pieksen, Laura Richardson Payson, Louise Butts, Nancy Williams Mohn
This Wheelock Magazine includes Class Notes
news that was received before Aug. 19, 2011.
1937
reunion 2012
June 1–3
Lora Erhard Crouss wrote to Wheelock back in
April to say that she was already thinking ahead
to her 75th Reunion in 2012! She’d like to know
if any other classmates are considering returning
to campus to celebrate next spring. I (Lori Ann in
Alumni Relations) sent her a list of those of you
from 1937 living in Massachusetts. If any of you
are thinking about attending Reunion, please let
me know at (617) 879-2123. Thank you.
1940
Marion Cockrell Schickel was in touch with
Wheelock back in March, sharing proudly about
her late husband’s career as an architect and
their 13 homeschooled children. A biographical
piece she sent about her son Jacques—“part of a
large and varied family of artists, architects, and
designers”—told of his sculpture and pottery
and of his art studio in Dryden, NY, Maryhill
Clayworks (www.MaryhillClayworks.com). Inez
Gianfranchi Snowdon is well and still volunteers
at her church “Bright Box,” a second-timearound
store that sells “clothing, dishes, and most
anything,” she writes. “The shop is doing very
well. We give some money to the church and
various organizations.”
1941
Lucy Parton Miller
Joanne Lilly Abbott writes: “I’m still here and
grateful for my ability to enjoy life and see my
family. I’m grateful that they all live in Colorado
and mostly in the Denver area. My 6-monthold
great-grandson is the newest addition and a
darling.” Joanne would be glad to welcome any
Wheelock grad who is visiting in Denver. Alice
Johnson Talbot says everything is about the same
with her. She visits her children and grandchildren
as often as she can, and she does volunteer work
and is in craft fairs when she’s in New Jersey.
1942-’43
Stevie Roberts Thomas
reunion 2012
June 1–3
1945
Jean Reilly Cushing
Sophy Church Hansen called Wheelock in late
May to share her news. At 89, she is still leading
an independent life. Her adult family members
live nearby and are very helpful, and her four
grandchildren have all done well after graduating
from college. Sophy’s sister, Frances, broke her leg
and wrist and has been in a nursing home for two
years. Mary “Polly” Davies Wolff has been busy
working at the hospital as a volunteer for many
years and also works at the Woman’s Club and
church as a volunteer. She has a son with two children
in Florida and a daughter with two children
living near her; the grandchildren are all in college.
1947
reunion 2012
June 1–3
1950
Edith “Anne” Runk Wright
Nancy Spencer Adams keeps in touch with
Bev Maurath Newell, Kent Wright Holt, and
Barbara Thompson Trainor. They are all living
in, or in the process of moving into, condos.
While owning a condo may be “the way to go,”
Nancy still has her same house and mows her
own lawn, which seems to grow larger each year.
However, her views of nature include watching
a pair of Canadian geese walk over the freshly
Class NOTes
mowed grass with five goslings this May and
having a nesting swan in her front yard. The
hatching date for three cygnets was June 10,
2011. I (Anne) rename you Swan Lady, Nancy.
Still active and able to travel, Marjorie
Johnson Cilley and her husband are very
thankful for their health and many blessings.
They spend the summer months in Illinois and
the winters in Arizona. Marjorie writes: “This
spring we had the privilege of spending the
month of May in Austria and Czech Republic.
This was a combined trip to visit our grandson
and his family in Vienna and do mission work
in Czech Republic. Our grandson teaches at
the International Christian School of Vienna.
Our grandson and wife have two little boys,
and we were able to get to know our little
great-grandsons better. While in Czech, we
were able to speak and minister in six different
churches.” Summer 2011 plans for Marjorie
and Charles included traveling to California
for a grandson’s wedding and celebrating their
60th wedding anniversary while there. Polly
Page Cobb writes that she’s very busy with her
growing family of 15 wonderful grandchildren
and six super grands. Grandson Chris, doctor
of osteopathy, met Mary Hartwell Truesdell
’57, who joined in a “fun” conversation about
Wheelock College back in the ’50s.
Janet Cole Crohn says all is well in her “octogenarian
world”! Her two grandchildren, Nolan
(27) and Leah (25), are both third-generation
teachers. Their mother teaches third grade in
Mount Kisco, NY; Nolan is a science teacher in
a private school in New York City; and Leah is a
kindergarten teacher in Marblehead, MA. Three
cheers for them—NO, make it 1,000 cheers!
Janet keeps busy playing bridge, has joined a
book club, and partakes in other “senior activities.”
Jean Rogers Duval loved the addition of
our class Ode. Thank you, Jean.
Barbara “Buzz” Moog Finlay and Jack
are “chugging along” after having a lovely 60th
Wheelock Magazine 41