OLD TRAIL SCHOOL MAGAZINE

ALUMNI | Ne w sALUMNI | Ne w sIn MemoriamClass of ‘69Dr. Karen Kennedy Sinclair ‘54, passedaway in October.Thanks to Carol Cressman Rohrback“Tweetie,” we have learned of anotherwonderful reunion that the women of theClass of 1969 had this past summer inSwitzerland. In attendance were LynnDarkow (Rochester, NY), Pam PedlerHutchinson (Phoenix, AZ), Nancy LikesGallagher (New York), Susan “Rosie”Rosenthal (Boulder, CO), Mary Doherty Ellroy(Connecticut) and Henry and Nancy Hengen(New York City). Several of the ladies whoattended this reunion shared their thoughtsabout this gathering, past gatherings andthat “something special” that binds the 15members of that graduating class together.Thanks to all for their contributions:• Gatherings began in 2001, when most of the classmates were celebrating their50th birthdays. Several of them note that the terrorist attacks on September 11also seemed to draw them closer. The 2001 event took place in Onalaska, WI, atthe home of Polly Hazlett Ranallo. Eight classmates attended and spent a weekendreminiscing.• In 2002, six of the women journeyed to Bigfork, MT for whitewater rafting, touringGlacier National Park and antiquing.• 2004 was the class’ 35th reunion so many returned to Akron to celebrate.• In 2005, six classmates were hosted by Nancy Hengen at her farmhouse inwestern Connecticut.• 2006 saw the women travel to Key West for shopping, antiquing, boating andmuch more!They have a 2008 outing planned for Arizona and then they will return to Akron in 2009 tocelebrate their 40th reunion.Some of the women commented on what makes this class special — what bindsthem together:“There is some sort of magic in the class of 69’s friendship. We have such a wonderful time atour reunions because we loved each other so much when we were in school together.”– Mary Doherty Ellroy“The beginning of our current string of reunions began about three months after the disasterof 9/11 struck. Perhaps that pulled us together even more. The ease of communication byemail makes the bond more convenient and stronger. We were a small graduating class tobegin with and I don’t remember that we were anything but one cohesive group even backthen.”– Julie Mankin Barnett“We are just a fortunate group that happened to like/love each other enough to keepthe fire burning.”– Polly Hazlett Ranallo“I think we have remained so close because we all really loved and appreciated each others’different personalities during our time together at OTS. My 1969 classmates are among myclosest and dearest friends to this day because I know that I could go to any one of them atanytime with anything.”– Susan RosenthalJodee Ann Clarke, wife of JamieKaye-Clarke ‘83, died in September inGarfield Heights.Nellie Mae Pierce Cole, mother of retiredOTS teacher Penny Thompson andgrandmother of Trent Thompson ‘92,died in August.Dr. James D’Ianni, father of Vicki D’IanniBitner ‘59, passed away in August in Akron.Lucille Hagenbuch, mother of OTS teacherMary Johnson, died in August in Aurora.William Hammerstrom, father of 1st Lt.Anne Hammerstrom ‘97, passed away inHudson in September.Gordon Heffern, grandfather of MichaelHeffern ‘03 and Richard Heffern ‘01, diedin August in Chagrin Falls.Reverend Rex Humbard, father of AimeeElizabeth Humbard-Darling ‘77, CharlesHumbard ‘80 and Rex Humbard, Jr. ‘81,passed away in September in Atlantis, Florida.Carol Alger Kasa ‘57, sister of Diane AlgerJohnson ‘62, died in September in Medina.Sophie Kolar, great-grandmother of HalleWasser ‘14, Tyler Wasser ‘11 and HunterWasser ‘09, passed away in August.Mary Griffith Meyer, former OTSEnglish and History teacher (1954-59),died in September.Avereal Rhea, grandmother of GraceWorley ‘12 and Grant Worley ‘10, passedaway in September in Bonita Springs, Florida.Martha Smith, mother of OTSemployee Debbie Casto, passed away in July.Robert Stotlar, grandfather ofDale Stotlar ‘01, died in Septemberin Lakemore.22 24 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF OLD TRAIL SCHOOL