Sweet Briar College Magazine - Fall 2016

Class Notes
fondly remember Mary and Frank from
school.) Also with us at the incredibly
moving ceremony (with full military
honors: 21-gun salute, horse-drawn
caisson, presenting of the American
flag—to our Slats— on behalf of a
grateful nation) were Meg Shields
Duke and Jamie, Margot Mahoney
Budin, Lisa Nelson Robertson, Sally
Old Kitchin, Sally Mott Freeman and
John, Maggie Shriver ’77 and Becky
Dane Evans ’78.
“Jim and I were in ME twice (once
visiting Gray Thomas Payne ’75 and
Tom in June in charming Camden and
again in the fall with my Winnetka
Book Club in Kennebunkport. While in
ME I discovered my relative Hannibal
Hamlin’s beautiful gravesite in Bangor
and his eponymous dormitory at
University of ME. (Little known Hannibal
was Lincoln’s first Veep, Governor, U.S.
Congressman, and U.S. Senator from
ME and Ambassador to Spain.) In mid-
Aug., Margot Mahoney and I spent
a few delightful days in NYC (stayed in
the much updated, now chic boutique
hotel we lived in as students during J
term our sophomore year studying with
Mr. James). She and I saw “Hamilton”
on Broadway— couldn’t believe how
FAB it is! Jim and I took a “heaven on
earth” Tauck river trip up The Danube
in Sept. I don’t think we will ever forget
those special memories…
“If you find yourself anywhere near
Scott Stadium on game day, we hope
you’ll join us at our tailgate, where
Jim’s passion for UVa keeps us busy
during much of the fall. (His license
plate is DBLHOO.) In fact, he and I
both celebrated Reunions the same
weekend this past June. As much fun
as it was being back on our beautiful
campus, and as terrific as the Class
of ’76 Friday night dinner was, we
departed for Charlottesville Saturday,
and I was sad to miss seeing some of
you and our class picture; first one I
have not been in!
“I’m very fortunate to have both
my parents still alive and in relatively
good health. Mother and Dad will turn
90 this year. Mother had a cochlear
implant, which has improved her life
and ours! I get to see them a couple
times a year in Akron and Naples, FL.
Both my children (Caroline 28, Hollis
23) are out of school and employed as
I write, whew!
“I spend the rest of my time as a
passionate volunteer at The Virginia
Home—a wonderful residence (these
lovely folk hold a special place in my
heart) for permanently disabled people
in my new town of Richmond. I was
elected to the board or trustees in
2015. I’ve joined The Woman’s Club
and The Tuckahoe Woman’s Club and
am getting into the swing of things in
our new home. But I haven’t broken
ties with Chicago, still going back almost
monthly for my theater subscription
groups and dear book club pals,
now together for 17 years! And this
Dec. Jim, the children and I will host
our 16th Annual Christmas Eve coat
and tie sit-down dinner at our home
with the same 37 friends we have been
‘caroling and turkeying’ with since our
family moved to Winnetka! We all love
the tradition and I intend to keep it up
for a few more years (being a ’76er—
who ‘can’t say no!’)”
Here’s Andy Yellot’s submission,
verbatim: “Howdy! So sorry I couldn’t
get to our big 4-0 Reunion last spring,
but I didn’t have any Pink and Green
clothes, so I figured I wouldn’t be
allowed on the campus. :-) Anyway,
life continues to roll along. I’m still
working at Johns Hopkins University’s
CTY Online Programs (along with my
husband, Ben) supervising a number
of writing courses/instructors/students
in distance education. And, because
Ben and I work in Academia, we can
never retire. I routinely help out my 87
y/o mom, who moved to a wonderful
retirement community 15 months ago
and is still living independently with
her 2 dogs but, unfortunately, not her
car, which she totaled a month after
she moved in, thereby necessitating 4
months in Rehab; I am now her official
chauffeur. I have two Coonhounds,
Brosif and Caper, who are Therapy
Dogs spreading love, joy, and comfort
at retirement communities, schools,
colleges, and wherever else they
might be needed. I also still have my
Irish Cobb, McBlarney O’Pony (O’Pie),
who spent the past year-plus (at the
same time mom was recovering) at
death’s door fighting a mysterious
illness, the cause of which was never
fully diagnosed. I have recently begun
riding him again, and have my fingers
crossed that he will remain healthy.
Between my mother and my pony, I
have learned a huge amount about
human and equine medicine over the
past year. Both my sons, Benet and
Andrew, are still my little boys, despite
their protestations to the contrary; I’m
sure all you moms can relate! Thus, I’m
officially a member of the Sandwich
Generation, worrying about both my
mother and my sons, whilst working
full-time. I’ll get a vacation some year.
Maybe. In the meantime, I still revel in
the fact that our beloved Sweet Briar is
alive and well!”
Becky Wilson McDonough is the
CEO of the Hopewell/Prince George
Chamber of Commerce & Visitors
Center, a recently expanded community
role. She and Steve live on the
James River farm in PG County, VA;
are empty-nesters with weddings on
the horizon for kids. She stays in close
touch with Missy Briscoe McNatt,
Melanie Coyne Cody, Adele Patricia
Neal, and Jody Anderson Wharton.
Ainslie Jones Uhl reported,
”Robert and I moved back to Raleigh,
NC after 7 years in Del Mar, CA.—we
missed our East Coast life and our
families. Robert is continuing as managing
director for Westwicke Partners,
with a regular bicoastal commute. I
am working on the renovation of our
dilapidated 1926 house and training
our rambunctious curly coated retriever
Stella. Youngest son Henry is a junior
(philosophy major) at the University
of Miami, oldest son Hart just got his
master’s in Columbia University’s SIPA
program, youngest daughter Everett
works in DC in sustainable energy, and
oldest daughter Colbern works in NYC in
culinary media/branding. Now that we’re
back, I am very happy to be able to get
together with Ebet Little Stevens ’77 for
lunch and cocktails on a regular basis!”
Kelsey Canady Grice submitted
the following: I’m sitting here in my
home in Virginia Beach waiting for
Bruce Fisher, UVa, Theta Delt, to arrive
from NJ with wife Beth, as he will be a
guest lecturer at the business school
at William and Mary Monday! How
we have come full circle! Some days
I’m so grown up, and yet there are
still some days I’m the same kid that
arrived at SBC clueless.
“We are well, and enjoying the end
of summer. I work as a yacht broker
in the family brokerage on the ICW
in Chesapeake. The fall is extremely
busy, and the weather spectacular,
so we love it now, less so in Jan. Son
Parker has joined the business, and
we are thrilled. It is a joy to have him
with us everyday. Daughter McKenzie
is still performing on Royal Carribbean
Cruise Lines, currently on the Brilliance,
just completed summer in the Baltic,
and home for a short visit. Husband
Chuck and I had unexpected renovation
of our home this summer and really
embraced the 104 degree days as
we grilled dinner daily outside. We
travel up and down the East Coast for
work accompanied by Emma Divine,
our golden. We had a lovely break at
the Costa d’esta in Vero Beach, FL
and they were wonderful to our pup.
If you travel with your dog, we highly
recommend the Estebans’ hotel on the
beach, and the town in general. That’s
it! We work hard, we play hard, and we
try to stay in touch.”
Virginia Spangler Polley wrote,
“David and I are recovering from son
Frank’s wedding in June. He and his
bride have both started MBA programs—she
at Wharton in Philadelphia,
and he at the Stern School of Business
in NYC. I am still showing horses,
and David and I are traveling. We just
returned from a river cruise in the south
of France. We are busy and well.”
Trish Talbot Reed remarked that
“seeing so many people at our 40th
Reunion was a highlight of the summer.
I particularly enjoyed seeing and catching
up with Melanie Holland Rice
and Lori Neasham Keegan—it had
been many, many years since we had
been together. Tom and I welcomed a
granddaughter to our family this year
and enjoy visiting every chance we get.
Our family spent a week at the beach
in Corolla, and I am currently taking
a Master Gardener class, which I am
thoroughly enjoying.”
Ann Works “Workado” Balderston
wrote, “I am at the tail end of 4
months at our place in Jackson, WY.
Lots of hikes, riding, animal sightings,
and best of all, time with our 2 daughters
Sarah ’09 and Maggie ’11, who
live here. I am anxiously awaiting Biv’s
retirement so that we can both be here
for at least 6 months. If anybody heads
this way in the summer, be in touch
with me. Would love to see you! Will be
home and in Rochester soon and looking
forward to getting to NYC to see
son John, who works and lives there.
Was so sorry to miss our reunion, but
things get busy in Wyoming with family
and friends!”
Lisa Nelson Roberts is still very
active in her community. She founded
Changing Seasons, a speaker series. A
variety of nationally known inspirational
speakers to share their stories of hope
and joy with the women of Va. Beach
and Norfolk community. Richmond now
has their own series and Liz Jenks
Carden helps lead it there. Liz and
Lisa must have been inspired by their
time at Sweet Briar. You can check it
out at www.changing seasons.com.
She remains involved leading Faithful
Beginnings—a school readiness
guide to help children ages 0-5. Faith
foundations are partnered with school
readiness activities. It is designed to
help parents and grandparents prepare
their children as they learn how to
learn. Lisa also remains involved in
teaching a women’s Bible study at her
church. Her children are spread around
the country, LA, NJ, DC and Va. Beach.
She has 6 grandchildren and her second
daughter, Elizabeth, is expecting
twins girls any day (she has a 3 and 1
year old). Tim and Lisa will celebrate
our 40th anniversary in 2017. Time
flies when you are having fun, and she
is having fun with family and friends.
She regularly sees “Saint” Sally Old
Kitchin and her growing family, and
“Kevin”—the grandmother name for
Ann Kiley Crenshaw. Lisa’s alias is
“Honey.” They have been known to
“Whine and Wine”—a favorite time for
all of them.
Asimina Coroneos wrote, ”My
2nd son, James, got married in May
to a wonderful young lady, Kiki. He has
served as a Marine, 4 years active and
4 years reserve. My 3rd son, Theo, is
starting his own wood making business.
His specialty is coffee tables and
SWEET BRIAR MAGAZINE | SBC.EDU 63