Sweet Briar College Magazine - Spring 2017

Class Notes
Georgene Vairo sends a short,
sweet note: “Still doing my best to
finish the job of Saving Sweet Briar!”
Beverly Horne Dommerich and
her husband, John, spent three weeks
in January traveling to Japan, Vietnam,
Cambodia and Thailand. It was a
fabulous trip but it required some
ingenuity due to the drastic change of
temperatures from Japan to Southeast
Asia. They packed a “cold” suitcase for
San Francisco and Tokyo, which they
left at their hotel, and a “hot” suitcase
for their cycling tour of Southeast Asia.
They returned to Tokyo, picked up the
“cold” suitcase and returned home
three days later. Late in 2016, Bev and
classmates Debbie Wilson Hollings,
May May Brian Gay, Sade Dabbs
Fryer, and Elizabeth Williams Bowman
spent a “Girls Just Got to Have
Fun” week at the Lake in Georgia.
1973
Eveleyn Carter Cowles
P.O. Box 278
Free Union, Va. 22940-0278
ecc52@icloud.com
Anne Major Gibb: Ernie and I spent
a wonderful Christmas in Philadelphia
with our son, his wife, our daughter
and grandchildren. I keep busy working
as a grant writer for a small town and
serving as president of my Rotary Club.
Glenys Dyer Church: I retired
6/30/16 from Northrop Grumman after
34 years. The first several months were
spent getting the house back together
after remodeling the kitchen. Now I am
enjoying spending my time doing things
that I like to do, like making cards and
scrapbooking.
Robin Harmon O’Neil: I started
an art school last year and am loving
painting again! My two partners are
professional artists and instructors in
the school ... check out MSArt.org on
the Web!
Renee Sterling: Had a wonderful
visit with Cary Davis King while on
a business trip to New Orleans; can’t
wait to get together with her and Linda
Lipscomb for a girls trip! Enjoyed
time with Jill Steenhuis Ruffato ’80
during one of her annual art trips to
Dallas. Lunched with Ann McKie Kling
’74, Melanie Bowen Steglich ’78,
Lisa Wray Longino ’78, Ellen Sellers
McDowell ’77, Cissy Humphrey ’76
and Tennessee Nielsen ’76. Jill brought
her son, Sergio, along on this trip, and
I purchased a wonderful bronze that he
had created. Talent runs strongly and
freely through this family!
Scottie O’Toole: Lots of news in
2016 ... as you can see I got married
to Ed Goss in Sept. We met online in
2013 and built a house together in
early 2016. We now live in Flowery
Branch, Ga. I retired from my corporate
HR role last Dec. I am now a parttime
corporate coach, and I facilitate
employee development and provide HR
consulting services. Life is good!
Marion McKee Humphreys:
Hunter and I celebrated our 40th
anniversary last Aug. and I wonder
how that is possible. We are still busy
with work/life and the wonderful
addition of 6 grandkids ages 1-9. He
is still practicing law and teaching a
Real Estate Transactions course at the
U of M law school. I am teaching a
wonderful Chronological Bible Study
and learning more than our group for
sure! I continue to swim etc. and am
trying to include some yoga to stretch
it out! Loved seeing Jane McCutchen
McFadden this past Oct. at my niece’s
wedding. She seems to be as busy and
wonderful as ever!
Laurie Norris Coccio: I am missing
my sister Lynn Norris Pfeiffer ’75,
who passed away in July 2016. But
keeping in touch with her roommate,
Janet Sheppard Kelleher ’75, has been
a wonderful connection. Hearts and
prayers to Janet. My husband and I are
moving from one house to another in
Saratoga Springs, N.Y., so if you want
to come to the races in Aug., give me
a call! Chris is still running a business
in the Hudson Valley, so we travel there
each week. I also have had fun playing
mahjong with Sue Dern Plank and
hope for a visit from Ginger Woodward
Gast in spring 2017.
Kristin Howell: In the past year or
so I’ve traveled a lot, as I love it. Went
on a photo workshop windjammer
cruise in the Grenadines, Dominica,
my usual Texas and Germany visits to
relatives, my Howell family reunions at
Wrightsville beach (we’re 50+ members
now), and I love to go camping
when I can, especially in Fla. I had a
little heart blip in which I ended up with
3 stents but glad to be feeling better!
Back in Key West now for a while
and getting on the water as much as
possible. Also still with the same guy, a
record for me!
Susan Hancock Duke: It was 1
degree in Franklin this a.m. I have no
memory of temps this low before, ever!
I’m still working for Prime Media/ Cable
TV and Digital Sales.
Christine Eng Leventhal: I teach
science at Darien High School, as well
as tutor and teach one fitness class
a week, take 3 ballet classes a week,
volunteer, and love being a Mormor!
Peter is retired and stays active with
Spanish class, Tai Chi, and fighting
back against Parkinson’s disease. We
have one grandson, Milo (3), whom we
adore (Amy & Giovanni, Vt.). Nick has
moved back from Maui to Conn., and
Jon lives and works in Denver.
Diane Dale Reiling: Our son,
Steven (32), got married in Seattle in
July 2016 & daughter, Erica (28) will be
married in Long Beach, Calif., in May
2017; so we are busy, busy with the
delightful details that accompany these
joyous celebrations. I have also started
the Master Gardener’s program locally.
Planning to be at our 45th reunion in
2018 and hoping to make several side
trips from Va. to the Carolinas and Ga.
then.
Sandra Schwartz Tropper:
The art appraisal business continues
to grow, and I have been active in
appraisal organizations. I am now
on the Board of Governors of the
American Society of Appraisers and
chair the Personal Property Advisory
Council for The Appraisal Foundation
(the organization that sets standards
and qualifications for appraisers in the
United States). Between those activities
and teaching valuation theory, I stay
very busy.
Molly Dunn Martin: William retired
from his law practice in 2016, and
we enjoyed trips to China, Portugal and
Maine. We’re fortunate that our two
grands (almost 4 and 1) live nearby,
and we babysit a lot! I continue to enjoy
Scottie O’Toole, Ed Goss
John Brenard, Diane Dale Reiling, Steven Reiling, Chuck Reiling, Erica
Reiling
Diane Dale Reiling, Steven Reiling, Lauren Gagnon Reiling, Chuck
Reiling
58 SBC.EDU | SWEET BRIAR MAGAZINE