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next day with some of us touring Rockland and
Camden while others participated in a class golf
tourney. Marcia Sayward Blake told me there
were four groups of men and women within a
stroke of each other on the front as a scramble
team. Displaying sportsmanship, they didn’t
declare a winner. The back nine was played not
as a team, just for fun. The evening of the second
night we met at a lobster pound restaurant and
enjoyed Maine’s favorite crustacean. After that,
it was time to travel inland to Orono.
Once on campus, we met in our class lounge,
located in the Allain Library of the Buchanan
Alumni House. The library was established by
Stan Allain and his wife, Kathleen, in honor of
Stan’s parents, Robert W. and Evelyn Chase
Allain. Shirlene Heath Gosline ’73G, with
assistance from Ellie Shibles, set up the most
interesting display of class and University
memorabilia—everything from fraternity favors
to tee shirts and photos (and all the girls were
in skirts!). There was a collection of yearbooks
and I had made up a notebook with all the bio
sheets classmates had sent in. Larry Schiner
’62G presided over a short meeting during
lunch that included recognizing classmates
who have served in the military. The nominating
committee announced class officers for the
next five years—Larry for president, Andy
McGarry for vice president, me for secretary,
Jean McNeary Woodard, treasurer, and Meg
Thompson for Senior Alumni representative.
On the executive committee, tasked to make
the 55 th Reunion even more special than this
one, are Anne Collins, Richard Drisko, Jane
Goode, Robert Kelleter, Ian McKinnon, Ernie
Ridlon, and June Heintz. During the afternoon
there were tours and visits to favorite places.
That evening we attended the class dinner in
Wells Commons where Pete and Gail McLain
Berry, class agents, announced that our class
gift since last Reunion totaled $3,149,936.
Peter Haynes received a Black Bear Award
for outstanding service to the University and I
was honored with the Golden “M” Award. We
had our class group photo taken which turned
out fantastically. If you didn’t order a copy and
want one, email me and I’ll tell you how to get
a copy. The athletes met early on Sunday at the
annual “M” Club breakfast. The “M” Club is for
varsity letter winners and honorary members.
Larry Schiner and Bob Kelleter represented our
class.
The last day of Reunion began on a
solemn note as we shared in a service of
remembrance at the Newman Center for the
more than 300 classmates who have passed
away. Peter Haynes played the organ while
Fr. Bernard “Bud” Welch conducted the
service. Nancy Woods Rearick organized the
tribute that concluded with Woody Beach ’51
on bagpipes leading us from the chapel with
a heart-wrenching “Amazing Grace.” Reunion
concluded with an all-alumni dinner Saturday
night where our class was inducted into the
Senior Alumni group.
Once again, a big thank you to Barbara
Schiner for putting together the class photo
CD which also includes the “Stein Song.” There
is not enough room in the printed column to
include all the news gleaned from the bio sheets
Three long-time friends enjoy their 50th Reunion together last June.
Class of ’61 members Jean McNeary Woodard (left), Ellen Banks Shibles
(center), and Carolyn Sleeper Williams grew up as neighbors in Orono.
They went all through grade school, junior high, and high school together
and then all enrolled at UMaine in 1957. They have remained friends
since graduation.
that so many of you sent to me. Therefore, go
to umainealumni.com, click on Get Involved,
and then go to Class Pages and click on 1961.
There you will find news from every single bio
sheet I received. Happy reading, and joyful
remembering of a time when we were all so
young, innocent, and full of hope.
1962
50 th Reunion June 1-2, 2012
Diane Ingalls Zito
24 South Hills Drive
Bedford, NH 03110
bluewatersailors@comcast.net
Our 50 th Reunion is just a few months away. If
you have not responded to the University and
locked in your reservations both in Bar Harbor
and Orono, it is time to do so now. We have four
wonderful days planned for you.
The pre-campus event will take place in
Bar Harbor on May 30 and 31. Contact the
Bar Harbor Inn to reserve your room. We are
having a lobster bake on Wednesday evening
to get things started off in true Downeast style.
Luncheon on Thursday will be at the Jordan
Pond House. Don’t forget to pack an item for
our class auction.
This tradition was started at our 40 th and
has proven to be a great fundraiser. Acadia
will be open at that time, so bring your Golden
Age pass with you for free entrance into our
national park. We have not scheduled every
moment of your time on the island, as we know
GO BLUE!
that reconnecting with
classmates is the most
important part of Reunion.
Weather permitting, a
boat ride will be available.
Information on other
activities such as kayaking,
biking, and tours of Bar
Harbor and the island
will be provided for those
interested. FYI: Pat’s Pizza
opened an establishment
in Bar Harbor this past
summer.
Campus activities start
Friday afternoon, June 1.
Accommodations are at the
Black Bear Inn. Friday night,
classmate David Lamb will
be the featured speaker at
our class dinner. David’s
career as a journalist and
author is well known. We
are excited that he has
agreed to share some of
his experiences with us.
Saturday morning has been set aside for our
class meeting and a memorial service to honor
all those members of our class that have passed
away during the 50 years since graduation. Rev.
Barbara Spiller Currie has agreed to help
us with the service. Barbara is minister of the
Deering Community Church in Deering, NH. At
noon our class will be welcomed at the Senior
Alumni luncheon as the “new kids on the block.”
The weekend concludes Saturday evening with
the All Alumni banquet.
We hope that you all will be able to make
the weekend. But remember, whether you will
be with us in person or not, please take the time
to fill out the profile sheet that will be sent to
you by the Alumni Association. Include your life
story and some pictures if possible. It would
be fun to have both a recent photo and one
taken during your campus days. Committee
members are compiling a memory album that
will be circulated during Reunion weekend. We
are still looking for a classmate to help us get
the information gathered for this album online
for everyone to enjoy.
I have already heard from several classmates
that are planning to attend. Jeff and Peg
Boothby Lyon are looking forward to joining us.
The couple wrote to tell me that they celebrated
their 50 th wedding anniversary at a wonderful
party given to them by their children at Point
Lookout in Northport this past summer. The
Lyons divide their time with summers at their
lake home in Swanville, ME, and winters in
Naples, FL.
Also planning to be at Reunion weekend
are Ed ’81G and Pat Smith Ranzoni ’76G, ’91
CAS. They emailed to share a great experience
of their own. “We are renewed from a journey
to ancestral grounds in Northern Italy, a 50 th
anniversary gift given to us by our children.” This
summer Pat was a featured poet at the American
Folk Festival. Her seventh book, Bedding Vows,
Love Poems from Outback, Maine, is due to
be published this winter by North Country
38 MAINE Alumni Magazine
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1/5/12 10:38 AM