Fizzy Business - Regis College

62
REGIS TODAY
this exceptional woman.” ¶ Barbara
Bouchard Haggerty, who sang at the
services, said, “The several eulogies
by friends and family were indeed
very moving. The Alumnae Chorus
sang ‘Holy Ground,’ which was the
hymn requested by St. T. at the Fine
Arts Center groundbreaking. It was
one of her favorites.” ¶ Nancy Brine
Frederickson was also present and
said, “Sister Therese was always a
source of strength and encouragement
for many of us. She would want
us to follow in her footsteps and
help one another.” ¶ Adrienne Butler
was prompted to write and recall
some very happy times at Regis.
“As a chemistry major, I never had
the chance to have Sr. St. T in class,
although I was very aware of how
beloved she was by her students,
especially her English majors. What
is amazing to me to read and think
about, is how much she shaped the
lives of our class at a time when the
women’s movement was only beginning.
How many different paths we
have taken! What an interesting journey
it has been! And weren’t we fortunate
to be in that place, at that time,
with such strong women to mentor
us! Looking back from the perspective
of retirement, I am amazed that
I was privileged to be there during
such a remarkable era. Thank you
Sister Therese, and all of the wonderful
women of Regis!” ¶ Mary Beth
Cormier said, “After reading all the
remembrances … and yes, the Boston
Globe article was wonderful, I had
to add my memories of Sister. My
background was not firmly planted
in English Lit, although through the
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur I
had a good base in Shakespeare, the
Iliad, the Odyssey, Cicero, Caesar,
etc. As a math major and then economics
major, I was lucky enough to
have Sr. Therese in English freshman
year. I was having difficulty understanding
and interpreting Sartre
and Chekov, and probably at that
point had no idea who John Donne
was. I made an appointment to see
Sr. and told her of my difficulties in
her class, as if she didn’t know! She
sat and talked, asked me if I liked to
read modern novels, and I told her I
seemed to like John O’Hara paperback
novels. She told me to continue
reading him, add John Steinbeck to
my list, and pick up anything I might
like for my own enjoyment. Through
her, over a period of years, I became
a voracious reader. Still haven’t read
John Donne, or maybe I have and
don’t know it. My career path took
me from being a high school math
teacher, a MOM, and I have been
working in libraries for the past 20
some-odd years. Because I see so
many readers in a day, I’m often
asked what to read next. I also see
the homeless reading James Joyce,
U.S. Civil Code, Bloom’s criticisms
of major works. Sr. Therese Higgins
led me on this path. I never realized
how important she was/is in my life,
and sadly, I never told her. Through
her and her love of English, I have
had an education that has brought
me to meeting new people each day,
people of all walks of life, and that
has enriched my life. I will think of
her as I help those on the other side
of the desk.” ¶ We also had secondhand
reports from the Regis phone
bank, which are wonderful to pass
along. Mary Leviness Jones is still
living on Long Island and spends her
time with her many grandchildren.
Maybe she’ll be able to join us for the
next Reunion. Tina Wende Knoll has
2 grandchildren and keeps busy with
her store. ¶ Kathy McFarland Kelly’s
son has just made her a grandmother
for the second time. ¶ Last but not
least, Pat Grosz Korzendorfer is continuing
her life with illness and is an
inspiration to all. She has persevered
throughout her diagnosis and treatments
and has remained funny and
positive. In her reports about chemo,
clinical trials, radiation, tumors, and
more consultations, Pat’s musings
are, “I’m going to glow in the dark
pretty soon! I should be popular at
Halloween!” Pat’s son, daughter, and
granddaughter are all doing well.
Perhaps the lesson learned is that we
are likely to remain the same 40 and
45 years later as we were as college
students, as we can all close our eyes
and see and hear Pat as a teenager
with a constant smile and laugh. ¶
Your class reporters were sighted in
Bernkastel imbibing the local color in
May. The wine tour down the Rhine
and Mosel with a stop in Trier and
Luxembourg was a spring highlight.
Last year the tour concentrated on
the wines of the Rheingau and Pfalz
(Rhineland Palatinate), next year
it will be to Lake Constance and
environs. We never forget to toast our
friendship and the Class of 1968.
1969
✒ Linda Gartska Daigneault, 300
Forker Boulevard, Sharon, PA 16146-
3609, lindad@wintronicsinc.com ¶
The last issue of Regis Today was
excellent. I so enjoyed reading about
Sister Therese Higgins ’47. Although
it was a sad time, it was a celebration
of her life. She was truly a shining
star, and I’m sure we, as a class,
have fond memories of Sister Therese
before she became president of Regis
College. I think I still have a photo
of Sister playing softball during one
of the college picnics at the athletic
field in the days before the change to
street clothes. She left an impression
on us all. ¶ I guess you could say I’m
semiretired again. (I’ll get this right
someday!) I’m more retired than not
but still go in to work when needed.
I’ve been trying to spend more time
at home and with our grandchildren.
What a joy!!! Ted and I are taking
a 21-day trip to Europe, celebrating
our 40th wedding anniversary.
We are staying in Rome, going on
a cruise of the Mediterranean, and
then staying at a villa in Tuscany.
I have tried to learn Italian but so
far have only covered the basics. I’ll
try to report on our trip next time.
¶ I received a lengthy email from
Christine Curran Brandt. She retired
after 38 years in education, the last
18 years as a school principal. After
only 6 months of retirement Christine
started her second career as a school
reviewer for a local company as well
as for the Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education. Christine
works with small teams inspecting
charter schools in MI, NY, and MA,
as well as traditional schools in MA.
She has had the opportunity to work
in Dubai, U.A.E., with the ministry in
private and public schools. On a personal
note, Christine married Jerry
Peek after the death of her first husband,
Rick, and gained two stepchildren.
¶ I’m afraid that’s all I have to
report this go-round. Please send me
some information! I can only report
the information I get. You must have
something to share. We are all busy
with a variety of interests. Some of us
are still actively employed, and some
are enjoying our retirement years.
Have a second career? Traveling?
Babysitting for grandkids? I would
love to hear from you. Take a minute
and drop me an email or a note.
Enjoy the rest of the year.
1970
✒ Nora Waystack, 126 Merrimac Street
#50, Newburyport, MA 01950,
nqwaystack@comcast.net ¶ With
memories of our 40th Regis Class
Reunion and summer activities
behind us, we are looking forward
to 2011. ¶ For this issue I decided to
see what luck I would have seeking
alumnae news via email only
and was pleasantly surprised at
my results. Only half of my contact
information includes email, so please
be certain the Alumni Office has your
email if you have one or, better yet,
send it to me! ¶ First of all, we’d like
to send our prayerful condolences to
Bruce O’Reilly and family upon hearing
of the passing of our classmate
Karen Porcella O’Reilly. ¶ Liz Carr
Hamlin responded quickly to my email
inquiry. She’s living near Portsmouth,
NH, working as Director of Financial
Aid at Great Bay Community College
in Portsmouth. She loves the area
and invites any Regis alums passing