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Sally Dabney Parker ’55 and husband Everett with their grandchildren on their50th wedding anniversary1954Class Secretary: Sarah Kraetzer Dallas,100 Keyes Road, #320, Concord, MA01742, GeoSalDallas@yahoo.comClass Secretary Needed“The year 2008 is truly a banner year formy husband and me,” says JaneFletcher Geniesse. “Not only are ourthree grandchildren (6, 4, and 3 yearsold) great fun, but their parents haveacquired a house of their own onFishers Island, so they no longer need tostay with their exhausted grandparents.My latest book, American Priestess:The Extraordinary Story of AnnaSpafford and the American Colony inJerusalem, will be published by Nan A.Talese/Doubleday on June 17. It hasbeen seven years in preparation, and thepast two years were really hard work. Itis the story of a beautiful, blue-eyedwoman from Chicago who sufferedsome terrible tragedies, heard messagesfrom God that she must go to Jerusa -lem, and, accompanied by enthralledfollowers, became a participant in thetitanic events that created the modernMiddle East. Her grand mansion is nowthe famous American Colony Hotel, afavorite of spies, diplomats, and journalists.Doubleday has kindly undertaken tosend me on a cross-country tour fromDC to NYC to Boston, Chicago, and SanFrancisco. What a joy it would be to seesome of my classmates enroute.”Gussie Crocker Stewart says: “I’m stillbusy with my painting. I have picked upmost of my work at various galleries, asI’m doing quite well selling through adesigner, who likes my vivid use of colorin landscapes and florals. This past fallwe took a super trip to Williams town,MA. While Dick hiked, I painted acrylicsand sketched in oil pastels.”1955Class Secretary: Diana Murfitt Meyer, 30Merriman St., Unionville, CT 06085,meyerdm218@snet.netBetsy Atwood Nelson and husbandPeter are still involved with a small foundationin France and the InternationalPartnership Network, which bringstogether people from different parts ofthe world to share good practices ineducation partnerships with business,government, and the community. Theyare getting ready for their biennial conferencein Helsinki in September 2008.Betsy reports their family is doing well,and they see their four grandchildrenoften. Her daughter, Helen NelsonAnderson ’84, has a boy and a girl, andCharles has two boys. “We are hopingthis next election will give us an enlightenedgovernment in the U.S. Our bestwishes to all.” Carolyn Smith Daviesemailed that she saw Mary LeeBennett Noonan in Weston and atEmerson Hospital with her mother . . .[who] was back at rehab, and Mary Leewas on her way to see her new grandchildin NYC. Weecha Buse Crawfordmoved both her office and her homelast year because she retired. To celebrate,she and her husband traveled alot. In the midst of their travels theywere notified of an opening in a localretirement community and decided tomove. Sally Dabney Parker and Ev splittheir time between Maine and Arizona,with brief stops in Concord. They lovethe winter climate, outdoor activities,and cultural offerings in Tucson, plusthe proximity to their two West Coastchildren. Their son, who lives in England,brings his family to Maine every summerand now owns “the big house.”Last summer she and Ev bought andremodeled a nearby cottage for themselves.Their grandchildren count is six,ages 2 to11. When in Concord theyenjoy seeing Carolyn Smith Davies.After 44 years in Denver, Ding HallRichardson moved to Los Angeles. Shelives on a hill looking toward the mountains“and just 200 paces away fromyounger daughter and her family, wholook toward the ocean. It’s a big change,but much as I miss my Denver friends,which I do horribly, I’ve never lookedback.” Ding did get together in May2007 with Carolyn Smith Davies,Deborah Smith Leighton, and SarahBurley Birkett in Maine. Ding welcomesvisitors — she has a guest room.Dagmar Hayden Kadula writes: “Thispast year I had breast cancer and acourse of radiation. [In] January allchecked out well, so that was goodnews!” They are still in their Brooklynhome (with eight cats and a few additionalstrays), working on their apartmentand basement. Son Matt and wifeRose, who live upstairs, are always busyworking and traveling. Bobby LloydMagoon has more wild tales from outWest. Last summer she encounteredboth moose and buffalo. The latter hadapparently escaped from some ranch.The winter of 2008 “has been dreadfulwith the wildlife all over the placesearching for food. The mountain lionsare back. The Division of Wildlife is inconstant contact with all of us here onthe ridge.” Bobby is fine — “still workingat the store” — and sends hellos to all.Edie McMillan Tucker, a reporter forthe NH weekly Coös County Democrat,“enjoyed a wonderful campaign seasonthat started in January 2007 withMayor Rudy Giuliani of NY coming tothe Mt. Washington Hotel and Sen.Hillary Clinton visiting Berlin City Hall inFebruary to kick off her Granite Statecampaign. I heard former President BillClinton speak twice, and Sen. BarakObama three times, and listened andtalked to nearly all the others. I cappedthe experience by being on-air commentatorfor BBC Radio’s “5 Live” programfor 3½ hours on primary election night.”Edie’s granddaughter, Lauren Moye, aMt. Holyoke student, heard it live at herdormitory at University College London,where she is spending her junior year.Betsy Moizeau Shima spent a lot of2007 traveling. They “came east toCambridge in early May . . . and after asummer with the grandchildren here inSanta Barbara . . . flew to Europe wherethey visited Rotterdam, Edinburgh, andGlasgow.” Diana Murfitt Meyer is stillinvolved in local Unionville, CT issues(“redevelopment, a possible historic district,and our small history museum”)and her far-flung children and grandchildren(in the NH White Mountains andthe California Bay Area). “I had a delightfulpreholiday break with my sister,Caroline Murfitt-Eller ’58, sailing thewaters of Tortola, BVI for a week, beforestaying up in the rainforest of El Yunquein Puerto Rico. In my head I still hear thechirps of the coqui, as well as the insistentcrowing of early morning roosters.Betsy Shoemaker Watt emails she’sfine, but there was lots of snow in NH.In addition to shoveling, she workedthree days a week in the ski shop,mainly to introduce old customers to thenew owners.1956Class Secretary: Abigail SenklerKazanowski, 23 Newson Ave., Kittery,ME 03904Molly Arnold Bachman is working onher novel. She and Van continue to lookafter their 70 acres, large vegetable garden,and homeschooling grandchildren.There was a setback when Van experienceda heart problem which, fortunately,was resolved. Congratulations ontheir 45th wedding anniversary. InJanuary 2007, Natalie Jones marriedChauncey Bartholet. They spend mostof the year in Stonington, CT, with acouple of winter months in San Miguel,Mexico. They travel often to visit theirchildren. We all send our best wishes.Kate Wells Brewer continues sellingreal estate, enjoys her three grandchildrenand great skiing. Sue Harris Curtinhas done a lot of traveling — Sedona, AZ,Turkey, Japan, Canada, and a visit to herson Michael, who teaches English inThailand. Daughter Jennifer works at aradio station in Medford, OR. Sue continuesto teach online courses forHarvard, weave, and work on her novel.Tom is enjoying a busy retirement. KayWilson DeFord and Bill have beguntheir 10th year of innkeeping in Chathamand enjoy meeting guests from allover the world. She would love to seeclassmates and other CA alums. TheCranberry Inn is open year-round(cranberryinn.com). Marna Hayden traveledto Morocco, where she slept in atent in the Sahara Desert and rodecamels. She also visited major cities andtraveled through the Atlas Mountains.She is building a house in Nazareth, PAtogether with her daughter, son-in-law,and three grandchildren, which theyhope to move into in June. MargaretLewis Herbert continues to work with47WWW.CONCORDACADEMY.ORG SPRING 2008