CLASS NOTESThe Alumnae/i Programs Office would like tothank all the class secretaries who volunteertheir time to collect classmates’ news forConcord Academy magazine. They play a vitalrole—helping to keep alumnae/i connected toeach other and to the school. Please help usstay in touch by sending your email address toclass_secretary@concordacademy.org.The Chameleon Connection:Your Online Alumnae/i CommunityLog in at concordalum.org and use the links in theleft column to:• Read alumnae/i news and register for events• Update your profile and write a <strong>Class</strong> Note• Check your class page• Find other CA alumnae/i in your area or line of business• Find faculty and staffC O N C O R D A C A D E M Y M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 1 0401930 75th reunionBetsy Doughty Debevoise remembersher wonderful four years at CA.1932Susan Lawrence Hazard is in NYC andworks once a week in a soup kitchenand half a day in her church thrift shop.1936“Time goes by too fast,” says HelenReynolds Smith. “I can tell as I watchmy great-grandchildren grow up, whilemy activities are mostly listening tobooks on tape and walking my dog. I’mblessed with a loving family and goodhealth; who could ask for more?”1939Anne Michie Sherman sends greetingsto her classmates. Several falls have lefther dependent on a walker, but shehopes to be back using a cane againsoon, “which will have a definite speedfactor!”1940 70th reunion<strong>Class</strong> Secretary: Lucy Richardson Rand,65 Dartmouth Ct., Bedford, MA 01730Betsy Smith Bagby did a lot of travelingthis year: a garden-opera trip to London,Windsor, Bath, and Wales. She alsocruised the Panama Canal. She went toBoston for the funeral of her sister, AliceSmith Cornish ’40. Emily Cobb continuesdriving between Littleton, MA andAmagansett, Long Island, with gardensand pets in both places. Her garden inNew York is open for charitable eventsfrom May to September and the GardenConservancy comes each July. Hardwork and long hours, but she loves it.Rosemary Baldwin Coffin’s husbandDavid writes that she continues to live atRiverwoods, is holding her own, and isn’tin pain. Mary Thorpe Ellison is enjoyinglife at Deerfield Episcopal RetirementCommunity in Ashville, NC. She hasmade many new friends and is as busyas she wishes. She went to LA forChristmas, as usual, but flying isn’t muchfun anymore. She has recovered wellfrom last February’s hip replacement.Priscilla Patch Johnson reports she crochetsa lot of wool blankets, walks witha cane, and sold her car. I, Lucy RichardsonRand, and my husband Ted live inCarleton-Willard Village, and we oftenspend time at our New Hampshire property,which we used to run as a boy’ssummer camp. Thank you for your news.I hope those I didn’t hear from are well.1941<strong>Class</strong> Secretary: Joan Talcott Batchelor,71 Abbotsford Road, Brookline, MA02446, joawil@rcn.com<strong>Class</strong> <strong>Notes</strong> compiled and edited by Ingrid von Dattan Detweiler ’61Since Jane Peck Alexander is prettymuch confined to the house, she ischeered by daily visits from her daughter,who lives nearby. Sally Foss writes thatliving in town instead of the country isfine, but she finds the contrast of her lifewith what is going on in the world dizzying.Sally still works with friends andneighbors on health, education, and environmentalaffairs. Last summer Sallytook a young friend to eight nationalparks in the West and enjoyed campingat the same site in Zion where she hadbeen 50 years ago. Olivia SwaimLeFeaver enjoys walking in California innearby sunny hills. Her two sisters havedied, but last year she and her daughter,Daphne LeFeaver Ball ’76, and twoother daughters went to Damariscotta,ME to visit family. Helen Whiting Livingstonenjoys where they are living.Her offspring, including four grandchildren,who live in France, give her muchpleasure. Julie Turner McNulty writes,“the years go by quickly, but I go veryslowly with a walker and cane. The cold,dark months are spent in Hanover, NH,where everything is under one roof. Thelighter, warm months are spent inAnnisquam, MA, where I have dinnerwith the sunsets.” Betty Twitchell iscutting down on travel, but tries to walka lot and do exercises and yoga. “I thinkit keeps my body limber, if not my memory.”Mary Rowse West reports theyhad a wonderful celebration for her husband’s90th birthday. She sends bestwishes to all. As for your secretary, JoanTalcott Batchelor, I became a greatgreat-grandmotherin October. I am agrateful user of The Ride (public transportationsystem for those who areunable to use buses or the subway), so Ican go to the Wellesley Public Library tomend books and an Apple store to takecomputer lessons.1942<strong>Class</strong> Secretary: Rosamond BrooksMcDowell, 10 Longwood Dr., Ames 224,Westwood, MA 02090, robinmcd0224@verizon.netI am very sorry to report that CappyMaguire Cumpston died on January 27,2010. Cappy had two daughters and ason, six grandchildren, and four greatgrandchildren.Her husband and sonpredeceased her. She worked as developmentdirector at Bennington Collegeand as a fundraising consultant, and shewas a talented singer. We remember hervoice so well at CA, where she sangmany solo parts. We send our deepestregrets to her family. Joan BigelowKennedy asks how many of our classare still living? We know about 12 members;13 have died and some are lost.Robin Brooks McDowell writes withgreat pride of the birth in September of a
great-grandson to her step-grandson,Matthew Jennings. He is beguiling!Betsy Day Moulton writes, “At thisadvanced age it is mostly a question ofwatching and applauding my children andgrandchildren doing fascinating things:granddaughter Kate Murphy, as a summerintern to her U.S. senator from RI;granddaughter Ruth Adler, tendingtoward a career in graphic design; andmuch more.” Betsy is still “poking aheadat writing fiction and essays.” MargotFenn Borden says, “No exciting travels,nor major accomplishments other thanstaying healthy and active. Maculardegeneration cramps my style some, butlife is still a lot of fun. Scenery and peoplein Vermont are beautiful.” PhyllisRothschild Farley was delighted to hearher stepdaughter-in-law had a doulaassist her when she had her baby in September.It was Phyllis who adapted thedoula concept for people who are dying,and she is still working with people whoare at life’s end. “Oddly enough, thesame qualities for both are useful.”1944“All things considered, I can’t complaintoo much,” writes Lucia Cabot Cipolla.“Four nice kids, six wonderful grandkids,and although we live far apart, I spentmost of the summer near family living inthe Seattle area.” Elizabeth PerkinsDraper is leaving Maine to return toMassachusetts, where most of her familylives. A great-grandchild was expectedin April. “At 84, I’ve turned into a frail oldlady and returned, as well, to the pasturesof yesteryear — Cape Cod,” writesAti Gropius Johansen. “My husbandand I made the move to a Cape Cod cottagefrom our self-designed residence inupstate New York last fall.” Ati enjoysweekend art classes and is still aBauhaus true believer. Muffy McKinstryThorne was disappointed to be the onlymember of her class at reunion last year.She spent the summer months in NewHampshire with family and returned toCalifornia in September. In January shetraveled to London again for theatre —her record is 23 plays in 13 days!1946<strong>Class</strong> Secretary: Penelope WeadockSlough, 159 Grosse Pointe Blvd., GrossePointe, MI 48236Cory Benson Johnson has settled in theretirement community of Kendal atHanover in Hanover, NH. She finds theresidents friendly, supportive, andinteresting. The facilities are comfortable,and the view splendid. The cold northernclimate is quite a change from Cape Cod,and she misses her house in Chatham,which she designed and had built as herretirement home 11 years ago. BettyEames Hooper has moved from Englandto Perth, Australia, where her two sonslive. She is a volunteer teacher onemorning a week in her grandson’sprimary school and is doing waterexercises. She says two of her fourgrandchildren are moving into theteenage category, which isn’t too easy.Cynthia Hill Williams has retired fromtraining and running dogs in retrieverfield trials. “As I have aged, I find it lessfun to chase up and down the east coastto go to the trials.” She fills her hourswith painting and has completed 46paintings in the last year-and-a-half. Onepainting was accepted for a calendarpublished by a local art association andanother hung, for the month of January2010, in a juried show at the Concord ArtAssociation. She is proud to say that sheis no longer a “refusee,” but a small frogin a big pond. Sally Hill Friedlanderremarks that we are certainly getting upthere in years. “In my dotage, I am tryingmy hand at watercolor.” She’s alwayshoping that someone will come andpaint, or just visit, in Maine. After 26years, Debbie Perry Clark has “retired”from singing barbershop. She got tired ofnight driving and putting on makeup(eyelashes) for shows. As a result of this“retirement,” she joined two othersinging groups — her church choir and anew church enterprise called ThresholdChoir, which will provide pastoral carethrough life’s transitions. A thirdpossibility, just for fun, is a madrigalchorus. Lee Lawrence Pierce haswritten seven doll stories. She has acollection of 180 dolls from 40 countries.One doll, in particular, Perla Negra,changed the course of her life forever(see Alumnae/i Profiles, page 8). BettyRowse Wilson reports that last year shewent to Southern California, from Utah,for a short visit with friends she hadworked with at the school district. Heroldest grandson drove her — the firsttime she’s had a chauffeur — and theyalso went to see Price is Right andJeopardy. “It was a celebration of my80th birthday.” Hannah Tilly SniderKeevil says that nothing is muchdifferent with her. “Her health is good,energy sufficient, family interesting andinvolving, and her husband is stillpracticing good medicine. In our eighties,much gratitude abounding (oh yes, musicstill a joy)!” I, Penny Weadock Slough,report that my health remains prettygood, but my zip is flagging a bit. In aneffort to reduce the amount of energyexpended, I am selling my house inCanada to the daughter and son-in-law ofa very good Canadian friend. I amdelighted to have the house sold tosomeone familiar. It makes giving it upmuch easier after uncounted years. I’mstill volunteering at the University ofMichigan’s archaeological museum,cataloguing ancient coins. As your classsecretary, thank you to all whoresponded by sharing their news.1947<strong>Class</strong> Secretary: Laura RichardsonPayson, 865 Central Ave., Apt. M-304,Needham, MA 02492Mary Leonard Allingham writes of “along and happy life.” She was married in1952, has four children, seven grandchildren,a career as a librarian/media specialist,and did a lot of traveling. Bob diedin 2007, and Mary stays at home morenow. “I loved my years at CA.” WendyAppel Brown had a wonderful 80thbirthday, spending a month in Californiawith family and friends and attending agranddaughter’s wedding on the edge ofPuget Sound. She is volunteering at aretirement home, and Larry plays tenniswith other seniors. Mary Leigh MorseHouston says her house in Concord is“still home after 52-plus years.” She is avolunteer driver and helps in a soupkitchen in Boston once a month. She visitedfamily in Colorado and Louisa NobleDrury in Vermont. They had lunch withAnne Johnson Jones ’48 and Joe — “anice reunion for us.” Mary Leigh’s marriageto her late husband Bud was featuredas a CA “love story” in the wintermagazine, which is online only at concordacademy.org/magazine.Laura RichardsonPayson and Sam are enjoyingretirement living, now able to go to symphony,theatre, and ballet door-to-door bybus. Mary Leigh Morse Houston andPatty Walcott Berger came to Laura’s80th birthday party. Bunty PeirsonRichardson says she and her family areall well. They had a cold winter in NewMexico. Our sympathy to the family ofMyra Blanchard Rucker, whose daughterJulia writes that her mother died inher sleep in August 2009. Edie ClarkeWolff and Jan went to Turkey in Octoberto visit her sister Emilie ClarkePrivratsky ’62, who lives on the Sea ofMarmara. They toured ancient sites in asailing schooner along the Carian coast.“We were the oldest of seven passengers,but the fittest for scrambling overthe ruins.” Ethel Borden Wood is enjoyinggolf, painting, selling her cards, andgoing on hikes and walks with her dog.All the family is doing fine — “no onehas lost a job or a house.”1948<strong>Class</strong> Secretary: Katherine FlatherBreen, 57 Chestnut St., Dedham, MA02026Addie Eicks Comegys shares the sadnews that her daughter Catherine diedunexpectedly on August 30, 2009.“Catherine was an inspiration for thosewith significant challenges, determinedto achieve full inclusion in their jobs,housing, and social/community lives.”Addie traveled to Florida in the springwith her daughter Lee Comegys Chafee’74, where she got together with PamelaCash Fisher and her daughter. Your classsecretary, Kitsey Flather Breen, says allis well; we enjoy time when all the familycan get together. As a class we are allthinking of you, Addie, and send you allour sympathy. Mary Lawrence Curryspends April–June and September–December in Groton, June–September inNova Scotia, and January–April in Florida.Mary enjoys volunteering in the hospitalin Vero Beach, FL. Ann Bemis Day continuesto write a weekly nature columnfor the Valley Reporter and sells herpoetry book and journal. Ann has twogreat-grandchildren, 3 and 1, who live inBrisbane, Australia with their parents;they are the grandchildren of daughterDeb, who lives in Gettysburg, PA. “Weall miss my son Alan, who died in 2008.His twin daughters are doing well.” “Notmuch news as we putter along towardfour score — how can that be?” asks KitEaton Dreier. “We are grateful for goodhealth in all three generations. Love toall.” Enjoying her smaller house, ZoeComninos Eleftherio likes her walks onthe rail trail. She has one granddaughterat Vanderbilt and one at RISD, and agrandson at Groton School. Since sheretired, Pamela Cash Fisher has beenleading a quieter life. She enjoys workingat her church thrift shop. “Life is good —busy as always,” writes Anne JohnsonJones, who skied every day in the winter.She enjoyed time with Polly EdgartonLanman and Sylvia ShawBrandhorst ’49 in Duxbury and lunchwith Mary Leigh Morse Houston ’47and Louisa Nobel Drury ’47 at SugarBush in the fall. Polly Edgarton Lanmantraveled to England in May with herbrother and other Morse relatives on an“ancestral tour.” Polly enjoys playing tennisin spite of a bad knee. Ann McKinstryMicou and her husband havemoved from their remote mountain tothe pretty village of Upper Montclair, NJto be near their daughter Julie. Ann haspublished a third book about fiction set inVermont. Nancy Bird Nichols is stillplaying viola da gamba and teachingNoyes Rhythm (creative dance). She alsoenjoys downhill skiing. She has “lots ofamazing grandchildren about to launchinto the adult world.” Joan GathercoleRice can hardly believe — until she looksin the mirror — that she celebrated her80th birthday last summer. This year hergranddaughter graduates from collegeand her oldest grandson is 25. “Happybirthday to all my classmates!” DeedySargent reports that this was the first41C O N C O R D A C A D E M Y. O R G S P R I N G 2 0 1 0
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