Class of 1949

Phone calls instead of letters seemed appropriate this pandemic year, which means we are mostly at home and answering our phones. A bonus for me was hearing your voices.

Sister Beth McCormick still enjoys apartment living and maintains her walks along the Hudson, although
distances are now shorter, and a cane assists her. Of concern to her are the virus and the political situation, but life is still good. For safety reasons, she has only attended Mass virtually. We agreed that a plus for this is more attention to the readings and lack of distractions during the service. Beth does experience the actual Holy Eucharist, brought to her home.

Another regular walker has been Mildred Carey Hubler. But one daily stroll led to disaster.
When her glasses fogged up because of her mask (we all can relate to that), she missed a step and
fell, breaking her shoulder and humerus. When I talked with her, she was back from rehab and amazingly taking one-armed care of herself. Milly is trustee for the Rotterman Trust, which offers to Catholic young women a Trinity scholarship of $100,000 for five years or $80,000 for four years. A recipient of the former amount could obtain a nursing degree plus a Masters. If anyone knows of a possible candidate, call Milly. Milly’s family does not live close but visits often.

It was so good to hear the voice of Barbara McMahon Sullivan after all these years. She lost her husband some time ago, but her son Patrick is living with her and brings joy. She and I have in common a son named Patrick. Mine lives 15 minutes from me. I again thanked her for the time she entertained Mary Welch Porter and me at her home in NY, when we Midwesterners could not get home for Thanksgiving.

Another voice from the past was that of Alice Traynor McGarey from her retirement facility in NC. I reminisced with her about my very first meals at Trinity, where we shared a table and I talked for the first time in my life with someone who had grown up in New York City where it was not possible to go trick-or-treating on Halloween. I doubt if she had ever talked to a Hoosier before either.

I reached Joan Monagan Clinton at the home where she had raised her nine children, seven of whom live nearby and provide help when needed. I only had seven and live NEAR the house where I raised them but not IN it. We both marveled at how we did what we did in those crowded years. I had enjoyed getting to know Joan better at our 70th Reunion, attended by only four of us, including Milly.

Mary Quinn Scolio sounded just the same as always. With three daughters in town, she is well looked after as she navigates with her walker. She plays bridge weekly. A son, formerly an electrical engineer, took a career turn, obtained a doctorate in psychology, and now teaches at Santa Clara University (a Jesuit institution) in San Jose, CA.

E-mail worked for Marita Rover Frank and Joan Dunn-Williams. Marita misses Bill, who passed away unexpectedly last March. She manages well in her over-55 townhouse community in Wilmington, DE with help from family and neighbors. Two grandchildren experienced virtual college graduations and are having a hard time finding jobs, but thankfully no one in the family has been infected with the virus. Joan notes that Covid-19 has a few perks – ZOOM for one (amen to that). This enables her to continue producing plays at Eckerd College, the latest being “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”, her fifth ZOOM play. These of course are just read, not acted, and a granddaughter and her husband, Eckard graduates, are taking part. It is the story of a 15 year-old who is autistic and a math savant. No grass grows under Joan’s feet, as I was well aware when trying to keep up with her at our 70th Reunion. What a great time we four had. A final thrill was when Pat McGuire sat at our table during the dinner for 55th and above classes. A truly remarkable lady.

Contentment reigns in my little house these days. Life slowed when I quit driving, but it grants me more time to prepare for the eternal phase of my life. Daily virtual Mass from Catholic TV in MA is comforting. And I love the sound of the Boston accents. Four of my seven children live very nearby and enrich my days with the latest technology, which adds both instruction and entertainment to my daily life. I hope that soon I will be able to resume hosting them all on holidays.

Best wishes to all,

Ellen Wagner Healey
ewhealey2@gmail.com

Mail bag was light this year, but Mildred Carey Hubler continued her custom of being first to respond. Our world traveler now restricts herself to Virginia and Florida, for family reunions. Grandchildren are graduating from colleges all over the country.  Milly’s quota is one per year.  Her major activity centers on lifelong learning classes at University of Dayton, including Agatha Christie, Viet Nam, Broadway musicals, and World War II.  Milly is eclectic as always.

Another lifelong learner, of course, is Joan Williams Dunn-Williams.   She is deep in production of plays at Eckard College – the latest one being a complex work based on original documents of the Elizabethan Age (NOT the current Elizabeth!). She and I are optimistically planning to attend our 70^th Reunion in May. Milly expects to join us, along with Joan Monagan Clinton and Ann Groschan Murphy.  Cristina Muniz Lizzo is thinking about it.

Mail brought a card which announced: “JOY is the most infallible sign of the presence of God.”  Teilhard de Chardin.   Sister Beth McCormick’s  “ quiet but pleasant life” does indeed radiate joy.   Last September brought a 90^th birthday party with four generations of family, ages 90 to three months.  Walks along the Hudson River, weather permitting, are reachable from the apartment she has enjoyed for 15 years.

No one can top the news from Mary Quinn Scolio.  Her granddaughter Emily made Mary a great-grandmother (for the first time) of twins, no less.  August and Anne were named after Mary’s own twins of years ago. In the understatement of the year, Mary said, “We are all happy about this.”

Another faithful contributor, Marita Rover Frank, wrote that she and Bill are still enjoying their 55-and-over community in Wilmington, with no major health issues at the moment, although Bill is somewhat limited.  Daughter Susan and family live nearby and help when needed.  Other children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are out of town but visit often.  Marita and Bill also join his family yearly for a week at the Jersey Shore.

During a phone visit with Mary Welch Porter, I could almost hear the din connected with destruction of the deck of her long-time residence, which is to be replaced under the direction of her retired son-in-law.   Mary did not commit as to whether this means she is considering a move to smaller quarters, rumored for some time.  Family lives nearby, including son John. Mary dog-sits John’s pet Ellie (a greyhound-lab mix) from time to time.  Just looking after herself consumes most waking hours, to which most of us can relate.

After my deadline came two phone calls. Patricia Herron in Sonoma CA is happily retired from judging and vineyard owning. She is thinking about moving to a house she owns where she might install a hot tub. You probably saw her included in the notable alums featured in Trinity’s recent salute. She asked about Barbara McMahon Sullivan

who by some chance happened to call me the very next day. She reminded me that she met her future husband, Dick, at Joan Williams’ Halloween party in our sophomore year.  Dick is home but in hospice care for heart problems, but he is quite lucid.  All three of us

reminisced of the good times we had on Fourth South our last two years and what a

lasting gift was our education at Trinity.

Diversity in my extended family continues, to the delight of us all. Piotr from Poland will shortly become a grandson-in law, joining a granddaughter-in-law from Taiwan, a Jewish daughter-in-law, and three Jewish grandchildren. We all gather happily each year in May for the Indianapolis Five Hundred Mile Race Weekend. The tradition was started by my own father, who attended the first race in the early nineteen hundreds.

Best wishes to all of you,

Ellen Wagner Healey

In the year when many of us turned ninety, we have set a record. Forty percent of our 30 remaining members responded. How wonderful to hear from so many.

The first e-mail came from Cristina Muniz Lizzo, residing in Huntington, NY, near two of her seven children, a citizen of two great countries she loves. Children and grandchildren accompany her on yearly visits to her native Dominican Republic. After losing her husband Nicholas (CUA ’49), she has lived alone and healthy, enjoying the garden she and Nicholas developed. Nearby daughters make this possible. She sends love and regards to her Trinity sisters and hints she might attend Reunion in 2019.

A caller from the past was Sister Jean Murray, now retired at her motherhouse in Sinsinawa, WI, which is where her order was founded. Our other religious, Sister Beth McCormick, sent a two-page note which I would love to include in full. On some days she thinks a mistake has been made on her reaching 90. She is grateful to just “be,” after years of endless “doing,” enjoying quiet walks to the Hudson River nearby. She and her order think, contemplate and discern about a new future for religious life.

Another phone call from E. Patricia Herron was so welcome, as a couple of years have passed without her usual reply. Pat is thriving in an assisted living facility. She almost has a second home near the vineyard she had sold, but which is still called hers by the new owners. She misses the stimulation of the law, but is doing well in her new situation.

Mary Harvey Walker is “still going strong.” 2017 was a good year for her family, with the addition of three more great-grandchildren. When she last spoke to Pauline Downey Conway, she was alive and relatively well. Mary Quinn Scolio lost her dear husband A.J. two years ago, but continues to live comfortably in Erin, PA, near three of her seven grandchildren, three of her children, and a sister. She has lots of help should an emergency arise. She enjoys a bridge club, book club, and her tablet (!), though she considers herself “electronically challenged.”

The third Mary to reply was my best friend, Mary Welch Porter. Still in the same house and with daughter and son nearby, I hear from her often as she has been most kind to my granddaughter, Erin, who recently moved to the Denver area. She THINKS about moving to smaller quarters, but remains content where she is for the time being. She gives thanks for Sister Columba’s parting gift: “Do the duty nearest you which you know to be your duty.”

Faithful Marita Rover Frank and Bill are still doing well in Delaware, managing in their home with daughter Susan nearby should help be needed. Bill will be 93 and feels his age, but Marita is in good health so far. Like many, she sends love to all the 49’ers and looks forward to Reunion. Which brings to mind Joan Dunn Williams, another (like me) planning for Reunion. She still lives in Florida and goes to nearby Eckerd College every day, where the Academy for Senior Professionals makes her life busy and fulfilling. She keeps her hand in with theater, recently directing a seven-member reading. She hopes to see Esther Hurley Tecklenberg in Charleston, SC, on St. Patrick’s Day when Joan will be there for a grandson’s wedding.

So good to receive a last-minute e-mail from Cornelia Keller Hudson. She and Fred moved to a condominium in Alexandria, VA, in 2004. Fred lived until 2014. Her family is scattered from DC to California, so Texas has been chosen for celebration of her 90th. She is now known as GG (great grandmother), but the times of her life are marked by various names: Cornelia, Corny, Corn, Connie, then back to Corny, and, once again, Cornelia.

I worried when I had not heard from Mildred Carey Hubler, as she has traditionally been my first responder. Sure enough, Milly has had a fall which set her back. So, no more trips across the “pond,” although she will still be able to fly to visit children in Tampa, Norfolk and San Francisco. She reports that her friend Eleanor Montville Schaeferdied last year.

Loss is a part of all of our lives these days. An e-mail from Agnes Hohman Doth’s kind son Tony, who lives in Hawaii, reports she now lives in home care with his brother Peter in Kentucky. Tony knows she would like to offer well wishes to those who remember her, and he promised to let her know I wrote.

On the day I planned to submit this letter, an e-mail arrived from another thoughtful son, Frank X. McGarey, with news of his mother, Alice Traynor McGarey. She is still in her independent apartment at Southern Pines, NC, but has 24-hour care. “Her spirit is still strong,” he commented. It always was, say I.

I am blessed many times over with 12 family members (sons, daughters, sons-and-daughter-in law, grands and a great) living no more than 15 minutes away. They look after me as I remain in my little house, host holiday meals, and welcome the rest of the family to town as they descend on us in May for the 500-Mile Race weekend. Thirty attend the race! Life is indeed very good.

Best wishes to all,

Ellen Healey

First mail received this Reunion year (more on that later) was from Alice Traynor McGarey.Her family keeps growing, with two recent grandchild weddings, so she rented a house on the beach sleeping 50 for the McGarey Family Reunion in August. Another growing family belongs to Evelyn Matthews Berube,who welcomed a great-grandchild. She and her husband are still in their house and belong to a group which makes that possible.

Jeanne Domark Hammarlund sent word of Laurie Scherer Sexton,who had been in rehab but was able to return home with help. Jeanne also talked with Joan Healy Calame,who splits her time between Vero Beach and MA. Jeanne’s daughter died this spring.

Beth McCormick, OP, regretted being unable to travel to DC for Reunion, but is very close to NY where she has been able to attend ballet performances, which she loves. Her health remains good, so she continues spiritual direction, her only ministry these days. She was quite busy this spring with chapter meetings and work for her community. “These are interesting times for American Sisters – I’m sure you have heard of ‘investigations’ and ‘examinations’ of us by Rome…a terrible waste of time, energy and money – and we don’t have much of any of them,” Beth observed. All of the Sisters are close to our hearts these days.

Not one but TWO notes arrived from Barbara “Barbie” McMahon Sullivan.At Christmastime, she sent a card saying she had an excuse for not writing sooner due to a health issue. The up side was that Dick had taken over scrubbing the pots and pans. In July, she reported that Dick had a horrendous winter health-wise (too many pots and pans, I ask?) but is now better.

One day this summer, my phone rang; a lovely voice from the South was on the line. Esther Herlihy Tecklenburgsaid she had some really happy news – Tim Donnellan (son of our class president, Cornelia “Cornie” Scannell Donnellon)had recently moved to Charleston and was living nearby. Esther has been slowed by some health issues. She also has help daily. Four sons, lawyers and a doctor, live in Charleston. One is running for mayor, in line with family tradition of involvement in politics. Her DC lawyer son, who is also deaf, works for Nancy D’Alesandro Pelosi ’62. Esther finally has more girls in the family – three of her four greats are girls (including twins). The count of the grands is seven boys and only three girls

Now for the 65th Reunion. Ahead of time, a few of us tried to call our classmates and encourage them to come. Here are a few short notes from these phone calls.

Adele Benziger Markey was unable to leave a very ill husband. Moyra Siu Moy was hospitalized at the time of the call. Eleanor “Ellie” Montville Schaefer was unable to travel. Mary Harvey Gormley Walker is on a walker. Mary Welch Porter is unable to travel but still enjoys her home which she shares with son John.

Let’s move on to the Reunion. The hardy ’49ers who attended were Joan Dunn Williams, Mildred “Millie” Carey Hubler, Marita Rover Frank, Vivienne Lambert Ehret, Joan Monagan Clinton (luncheon only) and myself. First our news: Joan D. continues to be well-traveled and attends classes, including playwriting! Vi continues as librarian at the Gesu School in Philadelphia and, in fact, had to hurry back in order to work on Monday. Millie, continually on the move, traveled to Spain with two daughters, studied a wide variety of subjects at U. of Dayton and planned two weeks of study in Cambridge, England, in the fall. Her work as a trustee for the Rotterman Trust (Marie Rotterman of Dayton was in Trinity’s first class of 1904 and has been a major donor) involves recruiting students for scholarships. Marita and her husband, Bill, have moved to an over-55 community in Wilmington, DE, to be near a daughter and Bill’s family. They miss their Bethesda friends, but appreciate not having to keep up an old house and large yard. Joan C. remains in Falls Church and enjoys her bridge friends.

Millie, Joan, Vi and I were housed in Kerby; Marita was in town with Bill. We had a very full day (in beautiful weather), the highlight of which was the outdoor groundbreaking ceremony for the new Trinity Academic Center. Lunch for all classes was in the athletic building, followed by Mass in the Chapel with music by a lovely Gospel choir. A beautiful close of the day was the gala dinner for all classes 50 years and over as guests of President Pat McGuire ’74 in the tastefully-renovated Social Hall. Our table was honored by the presence of Sr. Margaret Claydon, SND, ’45 former president, on a walker but alert, engaged and intellectually stimulating. President McGuire greeted us all with her usual energy, at the end saying: “I love my job.” At the end of this 12-hour day, we retired to Kerby, got out Joan’s latest play about her year in France while at Trinity, divided up the parts and staged a performance. We heartily wished more of you could have shared our experience. Maybe next time!

Ellen Wagner Healey