CONCORD ACADEMY MAGAZINE SPRING 2008devastating time, as no one could tellme if he would recover. Our lives arechanged, but we are coping. We need tofix our healthcare system! My advice forall — if you have to go into a hospital,rehab, whatever, have someone withyou at all times — have a living will andhealthcare surrogate and ask questions— don’t assume medical professionalsknow what they are doing! We love ourhome, cats, gardens, and studio sobeing ‘forced’ to stay here is not sobad.” Sallie Cross Kingham says: “Wecontinue to be a global family with Dougand Britta in Sydney, Australia, andReed, Lua, and their sons Ramsey andLeo in Beirut. Eva is in Chicago, so onlyJames is close to home in Philadelphia.John and I were in England twice lastyear, both trips concerning his alumniassociations. I visited Reed and Lua inBeirut this past January — luckily missingmost of the unrest there. A big eventwas Doug and Britta’s wedding in Berlinat the end of May 2008. I am still teachingadult classes of English as a secondlanguage at the local community college.With China becoming such a globalpower, I decided to study Mandarin thisfall. It is a challenge to write and to pronounce,but there is very little grammar!My mom and I traveled to Woodstock,VT last fall, where we were treated to adelicious lunch by Peggy WilliamsonMerrill and her husband Fred. Gale Hurdwas a surprise guest and we had a wonderfultime. We also paid a visit to TinaKaufman Thompson’s mother at heramazing home outside of Woodstock.She is still sculpting and doing needlework— fascinating and inspiring. Weloved hosting Ingrid and Doug Detweilerin the fall.” We have our first “formal”news from Penny Brown Willing. Shehas a new granddaughter (daughterAbbie’s child), and her eldest, Jessie,turned 40. This will be her last year ofteaching, so she is beginning to thinkabout “the rest of her life — somewhatexhilarating and somewhat stressful.”Penny tries to be thankful every day thather health remains good and for all theblessings in her life. When LuciaNorton Woodruff’s family visited BigBend National Park last Christmas, shewas thinking of Mrs. Hall, who once recommendedshe visit there. Their familyis expanding as children and nownephews are getting married. “Our timeat CA continues to resonate in my life inmany different ways. I met a man whograduated from Exeter in the late 60sand loved CA girls!” Living in Naples,FL, Shelley Swift Plakans is enjoyinglife immensely. “We are still ‘young’ andcan play golf, tennis, walk, and go to thegym.” Their children are married andhave their own lives, but share their kidsto enrich their experience. They areexpecting their 10th grandchild. Shelley52continues to stay in touch with HesterParker Jeswald and sees her abouttwice a year. Priscilla Smith sawMerrie Crafts Thorpe at a memorialservice in Concord for the first time inmany years. Peggy Williamson Merrillsays that the best of 2007 was seeingGale Hurd and Ingrid von DattanDetweiler last summer, though sad asthe three went to Tina KaufmanThompson’s service. Peggy and Fredvisited their older son, a pilot for AirTran,and family in Georgia and their youngerson’s family in Hawaii. “It is nice to havetime and ability to travel around thisgreat wide world!” As for me, JanieLanigan Gaitskill, I am still event-planningat the conference center at MiamiUniversity in Oxford, OH. My son Clayand daughter-in-law Mandy are now inRaleigh, NC, Clay with SunTrust Bankand Mandy back with Ann Taylor districtmanaging. They love Raleigh, but it isharder than ever to coordinate times tosee them. That part of the move I donot like.1962Class Secretary: Phebe Vance,phebevance@yahoo.comSanna Adams, who lives in Colorado, isenjoying her artistic endeavors, whichinclude pottery, felting, watercolor, andjewelry-making, a new medium for her.Jane Bunker attended our reunion andwrites that it was “wonderful!” Shesays that she “particularly appreciatedhaving the opportunity to see beyondphysical changes, beyond time passed,to a vibrant essence in each person thatI recognized from so long ago. . . . Whata gift to live long enough for old relationshipsand old ideas to come back intomy life after almost half a century andget to learn from them again!” Janesends love to all. Lyn Burr Brignolicontinues her work with mentally challengedchildren, “a work that I love.”In July, Lyn returned to Ghana, WestAfrica, to spend time with a handicappedboy she met in 2000 whosemother, Sibri, has enrolled in the university,“She is the first woman in herMuslim family ever to learn to read andwrite.” Lyn says that her two sons andtheir families (including two grandchildren)“are a great and sustaining joy tome.” Lyn appreciated reading the notesfrom reunion participants, saying “Ourbonds are certainly deep.” From LeeHall Delfausse is news that she retiredin June after 20 years of teachingAmerican literature, writing, and journalism.Her husband Peter is retiring aswell, after practicing medicine for 35years. Also in June, Lee was inductedinto the Tennis Hall of Fame in RhodeIsland. Sally Newhall Freestone andher husband continue full-time workwith their pottery. Check their Web site:freestonepottery.com to view a recentPBS show, “Tennessee Crossroads,”that features the Freestones and theirpottery. Sally’s two daughters and fourgrandchildren, as well as many dearfriends, live in Rhode Island, and Sally islooking for a cottage there. She thinks itwould be a great place to retire “. . . ifwe ever decide to!” Ellen Smith Hardewrites that her family is blessedlyhealthy. The Westford Common restorationproject that she initiated in 1995wrapped up this year with the constructionof a replicated 1861 bandstand,many newly planted trees, and newbenches. “This $75,000 project hasrestored the Common to its 19th-centuryglory!” Ellen says: “Friendshipsforged at CA remain strong and I valuethem deeply.” Ginnie Smith Hibbardwrote to say that all is well. Turi Bogh-Henrikssen Janes continues teachingkindergarten and loves it. Her two childrenare “fine and useful adults — onetraining domestic violence counselorsand volunteers in LA, the other teachingalternative high school students inTucson.” Turi says they are all blessedwith good health, good jobs, and a life inone of the most beautiful parts of ourcountry: “Welcome mat is out, if you arein the Pacific Northwest.” Liz DavidsonKidder continues her work as a ChristianScience practitioner. One of her daughtersworks in law enforcement and theother is doing educational work in St.Croix on a 137-foot, historic nationallandmark schooner, “Roseway,” throughthe World Ocean School. Liz’s husbandRush continues his work with theInstitute for Global Ethics, which hasoffices in Maine, London, andVancouver. Toni Russell Merrickenjoyed a family reunion last June thatincluded Ann Hemingway Tarlton and“crew.” Toni and her husband were“land-based” last winter, giving themtime to get caught up “with stuff andaging parents.” Toni, who has worked inalternative medicine for many years, hasrecently gotten her Reiki certification.She anticipates doing volunteer sessionsin the local hospital. Anne BuxtonSobol shared “lots of newsy bits!” Shesang in a Down East a cappella choruslast summer and loved it. She also sangin a short concert with NevaRockefeller Goodwin’s Bar Harbor summerchoral group. Anne is working tostart a cooperative grocery store in NewOrleans, a project she describes as “atough sell.” Her core group of workersis trying to do “nitty-gritty communityorganizing,” marketing studies, andfinancial planning. Anne was looking forwardto a post-Mardi Gras visit fromEllen Condliffe Lagemann ’63. AnnHemingway Tarlton is completing herJane Bunker ’62 and granddaughterLucysecond year as president of the RumsonGarden Club. She and her husband Peterare getting ready to move from theirhome of 30 years to Portsmouth, NH.“Lots of change and adventure ahead.”They went to Mississippi to build ahome for a Katrina victim, and she hasplans to travel to Bhutan. “I, PhebeVance, am thankful for all of you whotake time to write with your news. I wasvery sad to miss our reunion due to thepostponement of my knee replacementsurgery. Happily, I now have two bionicknees and am enjoying walking aroundwithout pain. This year brought me twonew grandchildren. My son and his wifeadopted a newborn in April of 2007, onlyto create their own “lovely” who wasborn just 10 months later. I have hadgreat fun “grandmothering” these twolittle girls, along with my daughter’s twochildren. Such wonder! My husbandGary and I spent January in Florida andsome time in August doing a littleCanadian fishing and paddling.” SusanKemble West now works for theVisiting Nurses’ Association. She says:“As always, I love my patients, havebeen amazed at being able to translatewhat I did at the VA to these new andvery different patients, who are muchmore functional, and call for whole newskill sets . . . I am not so thrilled at theexploitation that comes with working athome on a laptop on my own time.” InJanuary they celebrated husbandGeorge’s 80th birthday with a formalluncheon for 30. Sue cooked, daughterSophia and her friend were waitresses,and son Zhenya was the parking attendantand wine steward! The party was asuccess, ending with champagne and
Faith Andrews Bedford ’63 and familyPhoebe Best-Devenish ’63 and husband Philip, with grandsons Benjamin andPhiliptoasts! “Both children are happy anddoing well at their respective schools.”1963 45th reunionClass Secretaries: Muffy MyersJohannsen, mjohannsen@meadowbrook-ma.org; Sally Fisher Treat,sweetdogs@earthlink.netFaith Andrews Bedford and husbandBob love the sunny, warm winters inFlorida and summers in Virginia, wherethey see Sarah and her family often.They celebrated Christmas with all thekids and grands (numbering six now)and planned their annual winter ski tripto Park City, UT, where Drew and hisgirls live. In May 2007, Faith was inKatmandu being Granny-nanny to Benwhile daughter Eleanor worked with theNepalese government as a consultantfor USAID. “A dawn flight to see Mt.Everest and side trip to the Taj Mahalwere both breathtaking.” Eleanor andPhilippe are based in Brussels, but Faithsees them several times a year inWashington. “Bob is experimenting withretirement this winter (much more timefor sailing and golf!) as I am ratchetingup my writing — mostly on the artistFrank Benson. We are busy and happyand counting our blessings. I hope tosee you all at the reunion.” PhoebeBest-Devenish emailed from PigeonBay, South Island, New Zealand, “oursouthern hemisphere piece of paradisethat we come to annually from Januarythrough April. I still work two days aweek as an operating theatre nurse here(likewise at home in Hancock, ME); wehave lots of time to hike (or tramp, asKiwis say), travel, or just sit on ourporch, looking across the valley to sheepand cattle grazing. As Philip says, wecan’t make ourselves live any longer, butwe can get plenty more hours of daylight!New Zealand is an awesomelybeautiful country. Otherwise, the focusof our lives is Benjamin and Philip, childrenof our daughter Miranda and herhusband Jason Benefield . . . We hada visit from newly (and I believe quitehappily) retired Anne Gaud Tinker.Otherwise, I’m looking forward to seeingmy classmates at our 45th (who’d-athunk-it!)reunion.” Aileen Ericksonwrites: “Last year a close friend, AnneNicholas Atlamazoglou ’64, died. Anneand her husband Stelio lived nearby, so Isaw her often and miss her company.Cropsey, our wonderful dog of 13 years,also died. I moved into a bigger studiowith more light, better heat, a bettershape, a friendlier view. Joe still paintsin his very small studio at home. Ourdaughter Helen, a freelance stylist workingin NYC, is into the second year ofher engagement. She has done a terrificjob of refining her mother’s style ofdress — you might not recognize me atthe reunion. Last spring it was so nice tomeet Nancy Bentinck-Smith Souletteby chance, leading a bird-watchinggroup around Fresh Pond Reservoir inCambridge.” Daria Bolton Fisk writes:“Been thinking a lot about MaryBuxton’s death and hoping we can dosomething special in her memory . . .Her partner, Lynne, organized a wonderfulservice last summer on the coastof Maine, with Mary’s Maine tennisbuddies in fine form.” Daria continuesworking at UMass Amherst, helpingcoordinate and teach in a program calledLabor/Management Workplace Educa -tion, which offers classes in ESOL, reading,writing, and math, plus the NextSteps component focused on things likecommunication, conflict and stress, classism,etc., all for blue-collar and clericalworkers at the university and in thearea’s colleges and businesses. “I’mhaving fun, but restless to be on toother things, like designing and buildingcluster cottage communities for folkslike us,” Daria says. “I’m also toyingwith children’s book ideas, plus environmentalsculpture. Is this all to assuagethe empty nest realization? Would loveto hear from others who’ve launchedentirely new ventures at this late date.”“We have been fortunate this year, TheGuide to Working Differently is finallypublished,” writes Anne DaignaultHartman. “And I am certainly workingdifferently — my ‘slash career’ includes:business ownership/real estatesales/affordable housing activity/Haitianeconomic development project. My sonsare thriving. My daughter-in- law’s workon her dissertation, while raising Jack,who is 3, makes me so proud. Comevisit Curtis and me in Truro.” BettyGlover writes: “Everything I know aboutlife I learned from running this year.Encouraged by my daughter Maggie, Ibegan running in January 2007. Nowwith the help of my running buddies andour coaches, I am among the fastestdozen women in our age group in MD,DC, and VA. I’ll probably start runningmarathons this year.” Betty feelsblessed to have four generations of familynearby and she sees them often:mom, sister, son Alex, and his youngfamily. Betty loves her job as a graphicdesigner for exhibits and print. “I havetwo kitties and a cute little house. Nowall I need is a wonderful boyfriend, andI’ll be all set!” Margy Jennings Best isstill doing some hospice work, includingworking with an AIDS client for 13years. She also volunteers at a wildliferehab center, working mostly with birdsof prey. At home in the summer sherehabs raccoons and ravens. Margy isalso a woodworker, making furniture,doors, wall hangings, and cages forrehabbed animals. “Life is good in thedesert. Hello to former classmates andfriends.” Laura Kennedy de Blankwrites: “Paul and I celebrated our 40thwedding anniversary this year and feelvery blessed to have made it so far. Weare just taking it one day at a time. Ourtwo incredibly bright and beautiful grandchildrenwill be joined by two cousinsthis summer. Our daughter Gabriel andher husband are expecting a baby in lateMay, and our son Peter and his wife areexpecting a baby in early July. Thedynasty continues to expand!” Lauraand Paul are still at work: he as a lawyer,and Laura as a family counselor, but theyare looking increasingly longingly atretirement. Jeannie KraetzerDidrichsen still lives in Finland, butspends summers in South Londonderry,VT. “I have yet to spot you, M.A.Rowland Swedlund, but I hear a lotabout your brother. Our youngest sonspent his junior and senior years at Burrand Burton Academy, an excellentschool which is very appreciative of yourbrother’s support with the RowlandCenter.” Both of Jeannie’s sons residein the States; Christian is a graphic53<strong>WWW</strong>.<strong>CONCORDACADEMY</strong>.<strong>ORG</strong> SPRING 2008
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