Class Notes

C 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 0Class of 1959 mini-reunion: (standing) Jennifer Johnson and Holly DicksonChaplin; (seated) Judy Speckman Russell and Mary PooleBoardman saw Hope Howland Halerecently, met Hope’s granddaughter, andtook in their stunning view of the Pacific.Elizabeth moved back to her house inDavis, CA after 26 years away and isdoing a lot of “deferred maintenance.”She is close to grandkids and last (butcertainly not least) she is protesting theportion of her taxes that go to fund ourwar(s). Faith Childs is “bored withhealth issues taking over my life.” I’msure many of us can sympathize. She islearning new music pieces every week,which is “good for my brain” and worksthe hands. How right! She has two petquail, producing little spotted eggs, andstill loves living in Vermont near Dartmouth.Would love visits. HenriettaBriggs Cosentino is busy learning toteach prenatal yoga. She went to Turkeyfor the birth of a grandchild and is veryinvolved with Haiti — a longtime focusof her husband. They’ll be retiring inJune 2011. Caroline Craven Nielsentook a tour to Morocco, where she rodea camel, camped in the desert, andcrossed the Atlas Mountains — anadventure worth having even if it conflictedwith the Florida mini-reunion inKey West with Judy SpeckmanRussell, Holly Dickson Chaplin, MaryPoole, and Jennifer Johnson last January.Jennifer’s pilot husband was generouslyflying doctors and supplies to Haitiwhile she attended the mini-reunion. Sheis still involved with her gallery in PonteVedre, FL. Judy became a grandmotherFor more Class Notes, go toconcordalum.org.46while she was at our mini-reunion! Shealso celebrated her 40th weddinganniversary. Helen Stuart Twiss is stillteaching piano students, reading, walking,and “being in the moment.” Herhusband is completely retired.1960 50th reunionClass Secretaries: Pam Prouty Ikauniks,ikaunip@hotmail.com; Eleanor NobleLinton, nlinton@rcn.comThe big news this year is our 50threunion! Many classmates are planningto come June 11–13, which is wonderful.Anne Booth is trying very hard to bein denial about the 50 years. Incredulousis more like it. “I started working at alocal kitty shelter (pro bono, of course)about a year ago and it has turned into a30–40 hour a week, all-consuming occupation.I keep trying to set boundaries soI can have some life back. I’m also stillstruggling with the very part-time job asthe town of Sharon’s deputy town clerk.I’m also still on the Sharon (NH) ConservationCommission, which is a learningexperience. So much for art history.Robert is still working half of each monthat the New Bedford Whaling Museum,where he has been for 25 years.” BobbieYonts Buxton can’t wait to seeeverybody at reunion. “It will come onthe heels of my son Russ’ wedding inWilmington, NC. Annette Shaw and I hada great phone conversation; anyone listeningwould have thought we werecrazy 14-year-olds. I volunteered over thesummer at the Thoroughbred RetirementFoundation farm in Montpelier,which was fun and rewarding.” MargotLisa Volckhausen McCann ’60 with hergrandson Aidan, born in OctoberDewey Churchill has officially moved toBass River, “although travels to Graftonare frequent as we have yet to sell. Welove the changing landscape and thewarmer temperatures of the Cape. Andwe have downsized dramatically, whichis feeling really good and I think our kidsare grateful. If any of you are on theCape, give a call and visit. I look forwardto seeing you all in June.” NickyChurchill is still singing at a semi-professionallevel. “Wally and I love the spot inthe hills where we live, and we are, I’msure, in better shape for living here.There is always physical work to do —renovations, landscaping, garden, and awood stove for our primary heat. Wealso are enjoying watching our nephewsand niece move into adulthood withgraduations, marriages, and babies alongthe way.” Tucky Frazier Jones is reallyexcited about our reunion, 50 or otherwise.Her big news is the arrival last Februaryof her second grandchild. Herdaughter Sarah is coming again toreunion. Laura Smith Lynch is still travelingfor FEMA, but says 2009 was quietwith “only one deployment to Washington.Most of their time and energy wasspent fixing up a barn in Massachusettsfor summer visits with the kids.” Theyalso have an RV lot in ME and one in SC.Their kids keep giving them grandchildren— the latest grandchild arrived inMarch. Lisa Volckhausen McCann’sgrandson was born in October 2009.“He is gorgeous, of course.” We hopeshe can join us in June. Sally HeroyMunday wonders if anyone will recognizeher at reunion. “A lot can happen in50 years. Here’s my life in a nutshell: college,convent, married, two sons,divorce, remarriage, Jim died, widow . . .NOW. And I still bounce when I walk.”Ursula Ulli Schubert Never writes, “Iam sure we all share similar feelings forCA, even more so realizing what a privilegeit’s been to be part of this school.CA not only was/is a school aiming atteaching students, but touched at leastmy life up to this day, something forwhich I am very thankful.” Ulli traveledto Namibia and spends time with hergrandchildren and doing volunteer work.She would love to come to reunion, butis not sure she can make it. Susan Perryhopes to come in June, but the challengeof living with Parkinson’s diseasemay not allow it. Belinda Binnie PleasantsSmith wrote from Sanibel Island,where she and Kim were escaping thecold weather. They are still in Concord,but spend a month in the Adirondacks inthe summer, two weeks salmon fishingin New Brunswick, Canada, and are inSanibel in the winter. She looks forwardto catching up with everyone. Happily,Annette Shaw will be with us in June.She says it seems like yesterday whenshe was running around on all fours withBobbie Yonts Buxton, Heidi Moss,Carol Ganson Burnes, Judy Bentinck-Smith Covin, and Jay Hutchinson asgalloping horses. “If I tried that now,you’d have to call 911!” Annette gave upher partnership in their local gallery inSeptember, but continues participating inthe annual “Coastal Journeys” summerart show. Her two grandkids and occasionalworkshops also keep her busy.Meredith Brenizer Sabol had all threegrandchildren (5, 3, 2) and their parentsvisiting after Christmas — “crazy, wonderfulchaos.” From Pamela StraussSullivan in Maine: “The long and shortview of 50 years — WOW!” Pam stillworks as a family therapist and says,“This is one field of practice where youcan actually increase your skills andknowledge as you grow older.” She ispolitically active and has one grandchildnearby and another in California. Pamwill be at our 50th reunion and hopesthat many of our classmates will come.It was wonderful to get a long messagefrom Mary Thomas Purcell, who lives inQueensland, Australia. She would like tocome in June, but says chances are slim.She and her husband John and 170 peopleof all ages celebrated the 50-yearlandmark of her husband and hisbrother’s arrival on their beef cattle propertyin Central Queensland. They alsohad a not-so-good, eight-week periodwhile John received treatment forprostate cancer. They are thankful thathis latest tests were good. “We look forwardto 2010 as a better year healthwise,remaining busy at ‘Yatton,’ andhave begun the year with a wonderfulrain. Australia is such a land of contrastsand extremes, and life in the bush canbe overwhelmingly challenging at itsworst and pleasingly rewarding and satisfyingat its best.” Together Mary andJohn have 20 grandchildren; theyoungest is her third granddaughter, bornlast July. They enjoy time at their beachhouse on the Capricorn Coast. “It’s goodto dream, and if it’s meant to be mydream — attending our 50th — it justmay come true.” As for me, Noni NobleLinton, I have a new knee. It is not funhaving that body part replaced, but it and