Summer 2005 - Hood College

Summer 2005
Hood Magazine 29
1959 Yahoo!
By Anne Wilson Heuisler ‘59
Alumnae of Hood's class of 1959 are active on the Internet, e-mailing each other about
what's going on in our lives. We have heard from classmates in 16 states as well as from two
in Australia and one in Rome. We have shared expressions of concern about Florida hurricanes,
geological activity on Mt. St. Helens and snow accumulation in New England. In
January we were all moved by the harrowing story of the miraculous escape of a classmate's
son, his wife and baby daughter from the Sri Lankan tsunami. We have grieved with those
who have mourned parents and with one who recently lost a son to cancer. Others have
shared personal and spousal health concerns. Most messages, though, are just along the lines
of “It's so good to hear from everybody.” Old acquaintances have been rekindled, as we
explore the shared experience of being the same age and having had one to four years of life
in common at Hood.
At the 45th reunion of the Class of 1959 in June 2004 classmates suggested the establishment
of a YAHOO! Group for more frequent communication. Since July 2004, 35 classmates
have joined the group and are now enjoying the convenience and spontaneity of being
in easy contact. We have just scratched the surface of the technology available to this group.
We have posted one photo, a circa 1955 freshman-year gathering in evening gowns at
President Truxal's house, and have had fun trying to identify the faces. We also have logged
in some files of information of common interest such as previously published class news, our
reunion report and a list of deceased classmates. Possibilities exist for individual photo
albums as well as for more extensive files of information.
In January 2005 we started an e-mail newsletter and the initial offering consisted of more
than 7,000 words in 30 pages. It prompted many responses offering additional information.
This newsletter was also sent to non-YAHOO! Group classmates with known e-mail
addresses. A happy byproduct of the group e-mailing has been the resurfacing of longnot-heard-from
classmates, including some who left Hood early for nursing school or
other reasons.
Something about the passing of time seems to make early bonds more poignant. We now
compare notes about grandchildren, health issues, travel and other pleasures and worries
just as we once did about coursework and blind dates. Women who were barely acquainted
at Hood now find commonality in maturity. Being within frequent and easy contact with 35
other women the same age and with a shared experience is a recurring source of reassurance,
good humor and joy.
Note: The College offers to create and coordinate a YAHOO! Group for interested classes, contact
Nancy Hoffman Hennessey ’83, assistant director of alumnae and alumni programs.
experience.” Eleanor Brown Wheeler is still
working half-time at a library. The Wheelers anticipated
seeing their son and daughter and her
family at Pacific Beach. Their daughter-in-law is in
Morocco on a Fulbright Fellowship. Betsy Chinn
Rossi and Ernie are both teaching part-time at
their local community college. Betsy, who has an
M.Ed. in reading, teaches developmental reading
to students not ready for college-level text. Tarun
Comegys Johns took her granddaughter on a
cross-country camping trip last summer, culminating
with a week at a ranch, and then joined
her wagon-train friends for a trip in the mountains.
Beverly Cramer Smith is an ovarian cancer
survivor and, as of Aug. ‘04, all is well. She and
Pete have nine grandchildren, from age 8 to 16.
Gloria Friedman Greenspun lost her mother at
94 last spring. The Greenspuns enjoyed a yearlong
celebration of Dick’s 75th birthday, cruising
in Hawaii, partying in Baltimore and visiting
Florida’s Club Med. Midge Guild Simmons
entertained Tarun when she was in Frederick for
April’s Hood meeting, driving to D.C. to enjoy
the cherry blossoms in 84-degree heat. Sandy
Hanson Hargrave sells real estate for Coldwell
Banker with her son and is anticipating the birth
of his twins in the fall. Mary Jane Finlay Hodge
works part-time in a mental health clinic on Long
Island. She enjoys classical music concerts and
Yankee games and supports liberal causes. She
and her daughter visited Puerto Rico in Jan. and
encountered Red Sox fans in the heart of the
Yunque forest. Janet Hobbs Cotton is a tour
guide at the Phoenix Art Museum and a member
of support groups for the Phoenix Youth
Orchestra and the Desert Botanical Garden. The
Cottons sail their 48-foot ketch in Puerto Vallarta,
where they own a villa. They have a 3-year-old
granddaughter adopted from Changsha, China.
Edee Howard Hogan thanks all her classmates
who sent condolence notes on the loss of her
mother. Carol Wick Ericksen, Anne Wilson
Heuisler and Carol Koreywo LeGore, as well as
Edee’s Little Sister, Sandy Murphy Schmidt ‘61,
attended the Mass. Edee chairs the Food and
Culinary Professional Practice Group of the
American Dietetic Association. Last spring she
enjoyed a culinary tour of Provence. Edee
applauds our goal of 100 percent participation
for our 50th reunion gift.”It has never been done,
but ‘59 was a class that always was and is
unique!” Debbie Jones Appel and Ted live in
Vail, Colo., both working on Vail Mountain. Ted is
a ski instructor and Debbie does guest service
and leads ski tours. Marcia King Wilke’s son,
Chris, lost his battle with cancer last spring.
Marcia, her husband, and Chris’ wife were at his
side when he died peacefully. Our deepest sympathies
to the family of Diane Dotter Amato,
who died April 17, 2005, in State College, Pa.
Carol Lumb Allen and Bob traveled last spring
with the United Methodist Global Ministries to
Guatemala, where they have a special interest:
their first granddaughter was adopted from
Guatemala. Carol has completed two volunteer
projects: serving as ombudsman for the City of
Port Orange to assist hurricane victims and doing
research for a judge. Barbara Manger Kraske is
enjoying her husband’s retirement from Northrop
Grumman as well as her own from teaching and
selling real estate. Linda Mohler Humes serves
on the Mechanicsburg Borough Council and supports
a Main Street revitalization effort. She participates
in a book group, exchanging titles with
Myra Silberstein Goldgeier for her Eastern
Shore group. Linda attends Baltimore’s Center
Stage, occasionally visiting the Walters and the
American Visionary Art museums. Judy Moreland
Granger anticipates a family reunion in July at
the home of her cousin, Ethel Kintigh Spence
‘62, in Cincinnati. Gail Mulliken Painter and
Roger have lived in Australia for the past two
years with their daughter and her family. They
just returned from a four-month U.S. trip and
plan to spend at least one more year in Canberra.
Jeannette Phelps enjoyed a visit with Mary
Anne Fleetwood ‘61 in March. She often sees
Sandy Murphy Schmidt ‘61. Martha Shortiss
Allen completed a six-year term as a Hood
trustee this May, serving as chair of the institutional
advancement committee. The Allens have
planned summer trips to Albuquerque, Lake
Tahoe and Sandpointe, Idaho, to visit Susan
Reed Beebe. Myra Silberstein Goldgeier’s latest
absorption is digital photography. Carolynne
Veazey Lathrop recovered from a broken shoulder
in Feb. She teaches library skills at the Univ.
of Dubuque. Her son, his wife and children visited
Carolynne in March. Their physical injuries
from the Dec. 26 Sri Lankan tsunami are healed,
but the emotional and psychological scars will
last much longer. Joan Victor Boos volunteers at
her local library and at the American Cancer
Society Discovery Shop. John teaches at Ohio
Wesleyan, directing the Center for Economics
and Business. Their son and his family visited
from Uganda, their home, for the birth of their
second baby, the Boos’ first granddaughter.
1961
Suzanne Brown Wellcome
321 Stafford Ave.
Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007-1666
swellcome@cox.net