Fizzy Business - Regis College

his new book, Practicing Catholics. ¶
Jill had recently spoken with Nancy
Quinn O’Keefe, who came to the May
Tower Luncheon even though our
chauffeur, Jill, was suffering from
painful back problems and unable to
attend. Of course, we have our other
South Shore driver, Marie Fleming
Sisk—so we are always ready to go.
¶ I would love to hear from other
’52ers, so please call or write to me.
¶ Before I close, I would recommend
that you read the beautiful articles
on Sister Therese Higgins in the
spring/summer issue of Regis Today.
Mention is made of Sister Flavia.
I found the write-ups so touching
and inspirational. Their lives are
what Regis is all about. ¶ And so my
friends, as most of us will be 80 this
year, HAPPY BIRTHDAY… Exercise.
Energize.
1953
✒ Shirley Connors Sardella, 52 Eunice
Circle, Wakefield, MA 01880, 781-224-
3468 ¶ As I write I hear midsummer’s
gentle wind and cannot believe you
will read Regis Today sometime in
autumn. Thanksgiving and Christmas
plans will undoubtedly be spinning
around in our minds by then. ¶ We
remember in sorrow our recently
deceased classmates. Barbara Lynch
Flynn died on Good Friday, Apr. 2,
2010. Sister Katherine Higgins, CSJ,
died on Apr. 14, 2010. Anne Ward Ward
died on May 20, 2010. We will never
forget their vibrancy and zest for life.
May they rest in the peace of Christ.
¶ Joan Carroll McAuliffe writes about
her extensive travels, and I will share
her experiences with you. “A year ago
this Feb. I was on a cruise through the
Panama Canal instead of waiting for a
snowstorm! It’s amazing to see passenger
and container ships being raised
and lowered as they pass through the
locks on their way east and west. In
Costa Rica we toured banana plantations
and went by boat through the
rain forest, sighting monkeys, toucans,
sloths, and crocodiles. We enjoyed an
afternoon in an Embera Indian village
and joined native songs and dances. A
day in Cartagenia, Columbia, brought
us to the historic walled city, the
mighty San Felipe fortress and an
ancient Spanish monastery. Of course,
we shopped for emeralds. Stops in
Aruba and Jamaica filled out our trip.
¶ In Oct. of 2009 my friend (my son-inlaw’s
mother) and I journeyed to the
Mediterranean and Aegean seas. After
4 days touring Rome, we sailed from
the Port of Rome to the gorgeous Isle
of Capri and on to the boutiques, cafes,
and flower-filled streets of Sorrento.
A stop at the Cameo factory near
Pompeii was most interesting. On a
walking tour of the ruins of Pompeii,
we explored the villas, theaters, and
baths of this buried Roman city. ¶
We cruised the Mediterranean Sea
and stopped in Athens, where we
climbed the 80 steps of the Acropolis
to the Parthenon. Later, we dined
on a traditional Greek feast and
then strolled the cobbled lanes of the
Plaka, home to shops and boutiques.
On our stop in Ephesus, Turkey,
we walked the marble roads of the
ruins of this Roman capital. Here St.
Paul preached to the Ephesians in
the Great Theater and St. John the
Apostle was buried. We visited the
House of the Virgin Mary, a shrine
recognized by the Vatican as the final
resting place of Mary. ¶ The Grand
Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, was a
shopper’s paradise. The Blue Mosque
entrance, adorned with 6 minarets
was impressive. The climax of our
trip was docking at Port Said, Cairo,
and traveling overland to the Great
Pyramid at Giza. It was, indeed,
an awesome sight to see the pyramids
rising from the desert. We also
enjoyed the view from on top of a
camel’s back! We stood amazed at the
sight of the Sphinx, thought to guard
the Pharaoh. We relaxed for lunch on
a Nile riverboat. It was a totally memorable
trip.” Thank you, Joan, for your
fascinating letter. ¶ Lenore Walton
McCormack wrote from California
about Anne Ward Ward’s death on
May 20. Lenore attended Anne’s
memorial mass and will deeply miss
her. Lenore also wrote about her fabulous
trip to MA for a reunion with her
two younger sisters. They had
a wonderful journey together
through the Berkshires and
southern VT. She enjoys reading
Regis Today and hopes the
northeast summer heat wave
wasn’t too difficult. Palos Verdes
had a cool summer. Thank you
for writing to us, Lenore. We are
always delighted to hear from
you. ¶ Claire Russell Megan and
Claire O’Connell McAuliffe hosted
a luncheon get-together for our
class on June 3 at the Woodland
Country Club in Newton, MA.
About 19 classmates attended,
even a few from NH and the
Cape. We thank both Claires for
keeping our class together. ¶
Last May, John and I attended our
granddaughter Jennifer’s graduation
from Bucknell University in
Lewisburg, PA. In Aug., our 8th
grandchild, 6-week-old Stephanie,
visited us from Texas along with her
older brother, 28-month-old Jason.
Their parents accompanied them, of
course. ¶ It is with great sadness that
I report the passing of our classmate
Elizabeth Devlin Kenney on Aug. 8,
2010. ¶ Until next spring, please stay
healthy and continue to send news.
Good luck and God bless.
1954
✒ Maureen Sullivan Carey, 1202
Greendale Avenue, Needham, MA
02492-4626 ✒ Marie Dalton Leuders,
32 Brentwood Circle, Needham, MA
02492-1944
1955
✒ Peg Vincent Kelley, Box 1346,
Edgartown, MA 02539, pevky@aol.
com ¶ Yes, I know you are saying,
“What happened to Janet.” Well, she
retired, and I have taken her place.
I will try to fill her shoes, but it will
be difficult. ¶ Our 55th Reunion in
May was a great success. From the
opening luncheon in the foyer on
Friday to the final event on Sunday,
it was fun. There were about 26 of us
there, and it was good to be together
again. As usual, Rosalie L’Ecuyer came
the farthest. She reports that she
stopped in at the Spellman Stamp
Museum during her stay and a week
later the museum posted a visit from
a member from Alaska. We all know
who that was! At our class meeting it
was suggested that we might include
more specific information about our
classmates, so that will be added, but
we will still focus on our thoughts
and ideas. ¶ “If you could be any
age, what age would you be? Why?”
This was the question we asked our
classmates. Nancy Roche Buckhoff
says, “I really can’t decide on one
time in my life because there are so
class notes
Living to be 80,
we have learned that
life can be beautiful, but
not at all times, and
not for all of us.
many. I would love to be in college
once again because I loved my 4 years
at Regis. I would love to walk down
the aisle with Buck because it was
the beginning of our life together. And
last but not least, I would love to be
young enough to have more children.
Might sound crazy, but that’s how
I feel.” ¶ Nancy Goggin Lane writes,
“In response to your question, I think
I will stay where I am and ‘bloom
where I’m planted!!!’ Happy that I am
on my way out, and disappointed in
the direction this country is headed.
Our grandchildren deserve much
better than this!” ¶ Janet Condrey
55
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