Class of 1968

Irene Horstmann Hannan writes: For all of us this year has been a test of what we’re made of. Sure hope I pass the test! I continue to be thankful for my work as CEO of Fatih in the Future that manages the 17 high schools for the Philadelphia Archdiocese, it more than fills my days..and nights. I welcomed two granddaughters this year who bring me great joy. I am also grateful for my work on the Trinity Board, now as a trustee emerita, but no less fulfilling than before. I send my best wishes and prayers to my ’68 classmates for health and happiness.

Ann McKenna Fromm wrote: In April, 2018, I married a wonderful man, Bill Payne, in Santa Monica, California [Photo]. Trinity women Jane Datillo Voigt (’68) and Jane Drew Waller (’68) [photo] acted as “honorary bridesmaids” for us. Although we live in Pittsburgh, Bill and I spend winters in Santa Monica, mostly to be near Bill’s family and my son and his wife, whose little girl, six, has Rett Syndrome. Bill and I golf, and do a lot of bicycling along the ocean path that runs 22 miles between Pacific Palisades and Redondo Beach. Both are great pandemic activities — outdoors and away from other people. We spend a lot of time on Zoom with book groups, non-profit activities, family and friends. I just had a Facetime call with a friend in Cornwall, England, I haven’t seen in 25 years!

Mary Buckley Flannery sent in her news: I am fortunate enough to still be working at a very interesting job as a child and adolescent psychiatrist treating adolescent boys, mostly from NYC, all of whom have suffered from trauma of one sort or another. The job keeps me in constant touch with colleagues less than half my age, and it got me vaccinated x2! It also keeps me from watching too much CNN and fretting all day about the virus and everything else that is going on in this world. My three kids are all healthy and employed, and they know how lucky they are. Am in touch with Joan Savarese and Ann McKenna, and I terribly miss my fun phone chats with Leah O’Leary. Here’s to 2021.

Bernadette Bonanno Kingham-Bez sent in the following: This has been an interesting and challenging year in my continuing role as Executive Director of St Vincent’s Hospital. All of our inpatient, outpatient and residential services have been significantly impacted by COVID-19. Our staff have been terrific but this long time operating in a state of emergency creates very unique challenges for frontline essential workers. Unfortunately we are also addressing the growing mental health and addiction treatment needs resulting from the Pandemic. I am blessed to have a wonderful family which includes our five adult kids and their spouses plus nine grandchildren with more on the way! The importance of our connection to family and friends has never been more significant. Hopefully we will emerge from this with resilience and an increased sensitivity to the needs of all around us.

Kathleen Shaheen Sinnott writes: My roommate (in Alumnae Hall remember it was two rooms with a shared bathroom), Margaret Mitchell Quinn died last year, not from COVID-19. I reflect as this time for giving updates has rolled up again, that I remember many of you but I looking back Margaret and I were perhaps, more observer and introvert possibly, so I imagine many of you don’t remember me. That is fine. I still feel part of our class and hearing of these inevitable deaths, thumps a reverberating pain of memory and passage of time. This solitary time continues, not perfectly, of course, but largely continues to be very good solitary time, with expansive reflection, long noticing, exercise routines, reading, studying, ta and ordering my living space in more pleasing fashion, simple changes. I expect to continue my richly rewarding work with refugees, teaching and/or tutoring citizenship in preparation for the USA Naturalization exam. Relationships have sifted out and continue to deepen even with absence of physical contact. I’ve only gained 3 lbs., so life is good 😊! I accept days gratefully and try to remember to….grasp for what cannot be held in my hands (a paraphrase of Thomas Merton).

Susan Barreca Smith writes: I have spent the last year successfully fighting ovarian cancer. I was supported by my family and friends throughout. God is so good. I am officially in remission and grateful to everyone who prayed so hard for me. Denning and I purchased a Lakehouse in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania in October. What a highlight of the year. It is only two and 1/2 hours from our home in Yardley, and our three daughters and their husbands and our 10 grandchildren can visit often. We created a mission statement after our purchase. “A place to build memories.”

Allyson Cook Gall writes that she is grateful to be alive and healthy. Grateful to have a partner in life for over 50 years. Grateful to have money to pay all bills. Grateful to have three adult kids and two “in law” kids who are all good people and four grandkids ( ages 6,8,10, 12) who she can finally see again in person! Also, even though she was only at Trinity two years, grateful that Trinity is more than ever a wonderful institution for good in DC! She’s doing volunteer work, grandparenting, kayaking, reading, playing piano….and eventually travel again. Life is good.

Red Class of 1968

What can we say about our 50th reunion? Fabulous. Memorable. Moving. Perfect. The superlatives are endless. Seventy-six of us, some with spouses, some solo, had a wonderful weekend, from start to finish. I will try to briefly recapture a bit of the magic, and ask that you also take time to view the many photos posted on the Trinity website at this link: https://discover.trinitydc.edu/alums/class-of-1968-reunion-photos/.

On Saturday morning we began gathering at the Payden Center, where we received programs and ID buttons displaying our names and graduation pictures. At 10 AM President McGuire and a panel of four faculty members gave a presentation of some of Trinity’s impressive achievements over the past few years. When the audience was invited to comment, Mary Schwarz McCabe, who has had a career in the field of medical administration, remarked that the Howard Hughes Medical Institute grant, which Trinity received last year to support women of color in science, is a very prestigious honor. Other alumnae voiced appreciation for some of the challenging programs offered by the School of Education. Judging from the enthusiastic rounds of applause, we all felt very proud of the outstanding educational opportunities our alma mater continues to offer.

At 11 AM the ’68 alumnae moved to the Notre Dame Chapel where we held our class meeting and a prayer service. After hearing short recollections from our class presidents — Bernadette Bonano Kingham-Baez (freshman year), Caryle Murphy Howe (sophomore year), and Leah O’Leary (junior, senior year) — other classmates offered their own comments and memories of special faculty members. We then held a prayer service in celebration, remembrance and gratitude for our deceased classmates: Alyce Chase, Christine Eisenhardt Gardner, Ellen Garvey, Regina Ragosta Homoya, Barbara Watt Lawson, Mary Hogan Leslie, Joanne Mitchell, Robin Murphy, Bernadette Nohe, Francis Murray Oliver, Eleanor Petracca, Susan Malisek Reardon, Deirdre O’Meara Smith, Marion Martin Smith, Irene Kearney Walsh, Judy Doherty Waunsch, and Sheila Williams. As each woman’s name was announced, friends placed flowers in a vase. After Ginny Reilly’s beautiful guitar performance of the closing song, “Calling All Angels”, Joanne Lucey Ainsworth, who put together this truly moving service, led us in a final prayer:  “As we go forth from this gathering, we ask our God to bless us and make us holy. Called to seek peace and love in one another, we pray that wisdom and kindness guide our actions as we depart this holy space. God, be with us now, and always. Let us close with the prayer we said at the beginning of every class at Trinity. May the power of the Father govern and protect us. May the wisdom of the Son teach and enlighten us. May the love of the Holy Spirit renew and quicken us. May the blessing of the all Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever. Amen.” With tears in many eyes, we emerged from chapel, heading to our next event.

The luncheon in the Trinity Center was a time to mingle and catch up with old friends, and for some of us a chance to make new connections with ladies we were not so close to during our student days. Martha Andrews Ceresko and I discovered that we both had obtained nursing degrees after Trinity, had rewarding careers, and are still working part time as nurses. We discussed how satisfying it is to be in one of the few professions where an experienced person can keep working as much, or as little, as she wishes. Martha also shared that she has been in touch with Janie Horan Smith, who obtained a doctorate in neuroscience, worked for NIH, and lives near Charleston. Janie could not come to our reunion but sent her best to everyone. Liz Murphy Ward and Pamela Meyer Zuckerman had a chance to discuss their sons — Liz’s just got married for the first time and Pamela is still hoping for hers to do the same. All our classmates chatted as much as they could, but Mary Anne Sharer lamented, “I need an hour at least with each of you”, and Jane Dattilo Voigt summed it up, “So many friends, so little time!”

After lunch, the ’68ers received our 50-year medallion and posed for our class picture. There were so many of us, we barely got everyone on the stand and in the photo. Leaving Trinity Center, we made our way in small groups around Alumnae Hall, through the courtyard, and into Main’s marble corridor. Ginny Reilly took up her guitar again and led us in a well sing. There were not enough of us to populate the bannisters on all four floors, but some of us were on the second floor and can attest to the enduring magical acoustics as singing voices wafted up the well.

Saturday evening was our dinner party at the Sulgrave Club, an event sponsored by Nan Shaver Whalen, with souvenir CDs of Trinity Belle songs provided by our very own “belle”, Chris Taylor Power. A DJ provided 60’s music and most of us danced at least a little. We especially enjoyed the dance of this year’s newly-weds, Ann McKenna Fromm Payne and Bill, and Caryle Murphy Howe and Herb. Susan Barecca Smith assisted Caryle by holding her oxygen tank while Herb elegantly spun his wife around the floor. As we consumed the delicious buffet food, danced to old favorites, mingled and conversed, there was great joy, tinged with regret that there simply was not enough time to reconnect with everyone.

The final event was a lovely Sunday morning brunch at The Dubliner, which was organized by Kathy Doyle Field. In addition to the lively conversations, we were entertained by our very own stand-up comic, Joan Savarese, who presented a lighthearted summary of the weekend’s events. We laughed a lot and cried a little. Joan, who initially hadn’t planned to attend the reunion, was enticed by me to come. We shared a hotel room, poignant reminiscences of our deceased sisters, and laughter all weekend. Joan was “grateful for the opportunity to connect with my beautiful classmates”.

Here are more of the comments I received during and after the weekend.

Anne McGrath Thomas: “I was very moved by our reunion — most especially the liturgy for deceased classmates and the well-sing.  I had not expected to feel so much affection and pride and had a truly wonderful time.” Anne also remarked to me that she wished Ellie Hamill had been with us. Joan Parmelee Ruhl: “It was so nice to see so many of our classmates. It’s amazing how connected we still are after 50 years. Our class events were so very special, made that way by the work of so many on the committee. Especially poignant was the service in the chapel.” Carla Lyddan Hunter: “I had a super time. Particularly enjoyed breakfast. Our conversation made me wish we had been friends back in the day.” Kathy Bailey Donahue: “What an amazing weekend!  The schedule was so well done, and it was such a joy to be a part of it all.” It left us “with the realization how lucky are we to be such a truly wonderful ‘sisterhood’ of 68-ers.” Ginny Reilly:  The planning committee, especially the co-chairmen, Irene Horstmann Hannan and Pat Griffith Hollis, “knocked it out of the park!” Irene expressed her heartfelt thanks to all classmates who made generous financial donations of any size to our class gift to Trinity, which broke the record for class giving.

Paula Ganley Keefe: It was “the best reunion ever. Every detail, from special napkins, the CD (which I am loving and planning to share with my niece who was also a Belle), and the very moving service at the chapel and the luncheon to the fabulous party in the evening, was perfect! I’m so happy I went to Trinity. It is so impressive to hear of the accomplishments of our classmates. And everyone is so nice! Thinking about the Well Sing! I really miss those days, and the smoker sings too. My sister graduated from TC in ’58 and had a super time at her 60th, but she was so impressed with our class, and how well planned the weekend was.” Sally McKenney Branon: “I came with my cousin, Lisa Scholl, a Trinity graduate from the 80’s, and had a wonderful reconnection with my roommate Carla Lyddan Hunter.  As I go through old papers as part of downsizing, I found a picture of my 11-year-old self on the steps of Trinity at an older cousin’s graduation in the 1950’s. Trinity has played a key role in the life of four women in my family, and I’m so grateful to all who support the school and the education of women.  I am so proud of Trinity’s current work. The reunion was moving, inspirational and fun.”

Jane Dattilo Voigt: “I am still smiling as I think of the remarkable weekend we just spent! The venues were perfect, the food and drink wonderful, the Belles CD —such a trip back to our innocent youth!!—and sharing the whole thing with dear friends was the most delightful part of all.  I, more and more, believe that the friends I made at Trinity have never been equaled.” Chris Taylor Power: “I left the reunion with a deep sense of gratitude for the gift of Trinity, the education and friendships that began 50+ years ago and continue! Kudos to the reunion committee for orchestrating the ‘all-star’ events which flew by in a heartbeat. A quick shout-out to my roommate Judy O’Hare Ryan, my fellow Art History major Melissa Martinez Beard, and high school/TC classmate Susan Burkhardt Telford who were not able to join us; and finally to my dear Art History Professor, Dr. Ilona Ellinger who inspired me every day in her darkened classroom with slide lectures that enkindled my love of art and ultimately led me to pursue a career as Corporate Art Curator at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. I loved every minute of my time at TC and our reunion gathering.”

Lynda Montoya Haran: “It was amazing how so many special memories were relived during that one weekend.  It made me well aware that, although we have all traveled in many different directions since our Trinity days, the special values shaped during our years at Trinity have remained constant and we all clearly share a bond that has remained with us.” Kitty Lorenz: “Our delightful 50th Reunion reminded me why I always tell people that my four years at Trinity have been the most enriching of my life.” In addition to appreciating the chapel service and luncheon, Ellen Kennedy reminisced about curfew rules, trips to Georgetown and even some memories that are “less happy-go-lucky, especially the DC riots the day of Martin Luther King’s assassination”. On her way home from reunion she found herself singing “There uptowers a Red roofed building/ Home of wisdom and of truth/ Fortress firm of faith and knowledge/ Reverend even in early youth….”

Reunion attendees I have not mentioned above, but who expressed to me and others their pride in Trinity, their joy in reconnecting with classmates, and their gratitude for our fabulous weekend, are:  Denise Lynch Aguero, Gilda Calleja Ameijide, Cathy McGraw Bahl, Kathleen Blackburn, Teresa Brooks, Sharon Stoffel Chalmers, Ginny Crane, Sharon McIntyre Cranford, Ellen Delaney, Mary Kate Damien Dugan, Patricia Dwyer, Ilsa Figueroa, Mary Ellen Finigan, Mary Kelley Graefe, Maureen Matus Grosheider, Louise Fiocchi Gunderson, Genevieve Haddad, Susan Thomas Hollendoner, Joanne Mellow Jacovec, JoEllen Lucchi Joseph, Alison Burns Larkin, Lory Manning, Chris Tully McLaughlin, Suzanne O’Donnell McLaughlin, Carolyn Stazeski Morris, Margaret Moster, Betty Gallahue Nichols, Diana Powers Nicholson, Angela Murphy O’Connell, Maeve O’Toole, Maria Isobel Parra, Judy Smith Pastusek, Chris Casey Rath, Susan Saccoccia, Mary Anne Conti Salmon, Judy Poksienski Schick, Pamela Mularoni Shiells, Mary Wolfe Siciliano, Mary Kotte Smyth, Barbara Labriola Sonnino, Lila O’Brien Sullivan, Jean Giuliani Terheyden, Rita Cahill Toscano, Robin Collins Vermylen, Jane Drew Waller, June Maguire Wiehn, and Kate Woods.

Some reunion attendees sent me additional news this winter. Mary Anne Sharer reported that her son has taken a government job in Africa for a few years, and Mary Anne hopes to follow them for a good long visit with his family, especially her two young granddaughters. Meanwhile, on Amelia Island, she and Guy have established an affiliate of Rock Steady Boxing for Parkinson’s Disease, a terrific life line for them. She also is an active civic volunteer and avid tennis player, and particularly loves playing with her college roommate, Anne McGrath Thomas, who also sent me a summary of her life since retiring from practicing law. She and Mary Anne have many Amelia Island friends and have hosted visits from classmates Diana Powers Nicholson and Mary Hamill. I had hoped to visit them last fall, but a hurricane got in the way. Anne has enjoyed a single life since her divorce and plans to retire in May from her position on the board of Cambridge Trust Company after 40 years of service.

My reunion roommate, Joan Savarese, sent news that her book about her deceased sister, Out-Dancing the Devil: A Journey of Faith, Laughter and Healing: The Story of Helene Savarese Gibbons, is now at the printer’s. People can contact her at joansbook@yahoo.com, if interested in getting a copy. Over the past two years Joan, in the character of sweet, slightly naive Aunt Polly, has also been writing letters to the president, in which she gently tries to correct his errors and says she is praying for him.. As Aunt Polly, Joan distributes the letters to interested folks. If anyone wants to receive them, please contact her at lettersfromauntpolly@yahoo.com. Happily, Joan received permission to report news from Mary Buckley Flannery. After 25 years of practicing pediatric medicine, at age 60 Mary completed a fellowship in child psychiatry, followed by a residency in general psychiatry, and is now a full-time child psychiatrist. Last May, Mary was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer, but treatment has been successful and she continues to enjoy her life and her six grandkids.

Irene Horstmann Hannan reports that she is now a Trustee Emerita at Trinity and greatly values her work on behalf of its students and legacy. She has also retired from the bank where she worked for many years and has started a new job at a foundation which operates and manages 21 schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Lila O’Brien Sullivan‘s son Ted and his family are taking a year off from their NYC lives to travel the world. Lila has joined them in Machu Picchu, Peru, and next will meet them in Johannesburg, South Africa, and from there trek to Zimbabwe for a safari.

Update came from Leah O’Leary that in her home town of Norwood, MA, she is involved with several activities, “Library Trustees, Democratic Town Committee, running for Town Meeting member, to name a few.” She is also doing much work as a FEMA reservist: a month in TX with Hurricane Harvey, seven weeks in Puerto Rico with Hurricane Maria, and a month in CA working with the survivors of the Paradise Fire. Leah would like to put together a reunion of MA classmates and requests anyone interested to contact her. Jane Datillo Voigt reported that she and Howard traveled to London to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Chris Tully McLaughlin wrote “For me, it seems that life has become a journey of ups and downs, and I turn to prayer to get through the lows and give gratitude for the highs. I am blessed to celebrate 50 years of marriage to John this year, and a still growing family.”

Other classmates could not attend the reunion but sent news and greetings. Kathy Mansfield Tassini wrote from NJ that she and Jim are well and happy, enjoying golf, travel and their granddaughter. Jim is retired from his ophthalmology practice and she from being librarian for the local historical society. She remains an active volunteer in the archives and school programs, and is working hard on fund-raising for a new archives building. They recently returned from the trip of a lifetime to India with Rotary International, where they met wonderful Rotarians in Delhi and Dharamsala, had the great joy of an audience with the inspiring Dalai Lama, and participated in two days of administering oral polio vaccine as part of Rotary International’s commitment to eradicating polio worldwide. Working with many wonderful nurses, social workers and local Rotarians was “both an exhausting and unforgettable experience.”

Andreanne Temmel Rode expressed regret that she could not attend reunion, especially since her best TC fiends, Maeve and Gerry, were there. She and her partner, Dale, were going on a biking tour of Sri Lanka. “It takes skill,” she wrote, “to ride in Sri Lankan traffic with buses, cars, tuk tuks, water buffalo, and goats.  Scares the heck out of me at times.” I can imagine — scares me just thinking about it. Andreanne is hoping in the next few years to step back from her X-C ski shop and place it in the hands of young people who are as passionate about sports as she is. She also has a new granddaughter who is “so beautiful and a joy beyond words.”

Grateful for health, financial security, and a partner of 56 years, Allyson Gall is enjoying bird watching in Israel, volunteer work with Sierra Club, Social Justice Chair for her synagogue, and keeping up with four grandkids, ages 3-10. Only bad thing in 2018 was a broken sternum when her parachute deployed during sky diving over Cape Cod. (My first thought, thank goodness the parachute deployed!) Julia Ripley Glover checked in to say that she finally retired from organizational development consulting, youth development programming, and a singing career on the side. She is enjoying life on Whidbey Island with her husband of 46 years. Kathy Shaheen Sinnott remains involved in a refugee center and other volunteer activities.

Julia Ripley Glover was a singer with the Threshold Choir for several years, and through that spent a lot of time with hospice patients. Here’s a link to something I sang for some of these patients, right up until the time they died — can you imagine frail elderly patients “flapping their wings” with me as I would celebrate their coming freedom? Totally heart-opening! https://youtu.be/8aOZ-aWaKdU If people copy this link into their browser, they can hear me singing this brief song (which is all about the joy of life — which is what I would most like to share with everyone!) Hi to all from Julie Glover :o)

Marie Ruzicka Hardenbrook was not able to attend our 50th reunion but is grateful for her experience at Trinity, most especially for the friendship of Sally McKenna Brennan, Mary Kay Wood, Mary Ann Tate, and Paula Ganley. My eternal gratitude to my advisor, Dr. Edna Fluegel who took me under her wing. She retired as Director of Secondary Education at Vanderbilt University in January 2010. What’s new since her retirement? She’s engaged in political and social activism as well as educational consulting –all these endeavors keep her busy!  Most importantly, she and her husband Vance celebrated their 46^th wedding anniversary in 2018. Their two sons and three grandchildren are doing well! All peace and good for the New Year!

Jane Dammen McAuliffe, a world-renowned scholar of Islam and a senior leader at the Library of Congress, delivered this year’s Commencement address to the Class of 2019 and received an honorary degree from The College of the Holy Cross.

Before I close, a reminder for us to fully communicate with each other in this cyber age: You may at any time submit photos or notes directly to Trinity by going to https://discover.trinitydc.edu/alums/class-notes-submission-form/. If you are trying to contact an old classmate, email a request to me. If she is willing to share her email address, I would be happy to reconnect you.

I am doing well. My lung function has not improved, but not declined either. I am staying as active as I can, which includes weekly line dancing, Mah Jongg, Canasta, and Pinochle. I still work part time as a hospice nurse, travel around the states, and enjoy spending time with my grandsons. Our 50th reunion was the highlight of 2018, as I’m sure it was for many of you. I hope we will see each other again at the next one. Meanwhile, thanks to everyone who sent comments and news. Blessings to you all.

Noel Mariam, Class of ‘68 scribe
Noel.mariam@gmail.com

Thanks to all my classmates who answered my call for news. Many of you are planning to attend our 50th Reunion. I hope that many of those who did not send news will be there as well. As I expected, most of you are now retired and filling your lives with grandchildren, travel, hobbies, and volunteering. Some are still working part- or full-time and planning to retire soon. The downside of getting older, as we all know, is increasing loss of health, vitality and loved ones. The upside is finding great joy in cherished memories and the daily pleasures of the present.

Kathy Shaheen Sinnott deeply appreciates her daily pleasures. After her husband died a few years ago, she moved back to her home town in the Mohawk Valley, and to her surprise has found a life “rich in silence, reading, contemplation, putting life’s puzzle pieces together and moving them around, giving me ah-ha moments, ramified understanding and compassion.” She volunteers at a refugee center, regrets having to give up tennis and skiing but enjoys walks and remains reasonably healthy. She tries to “speak the truth respectfully and listen well to others.”

From MN where she has lived for 38 years, Jean Salgot Bierly still loves the glorious winters of sun dogs and clear frosty days. Currently, she is occupied with post-surgical knee replacement infection and subsequent revision. She remains in touch with Joan Wagman Laffey and sees her occasionally when she visits her daughter in NJ. She writes, “Only now am I realizing what a significant year 1968 remains for our lives. I am ever grateful to have been at Trinity. The SNDs are tremendous educators and faith-full women. We are all blessed through them.”

Pamela Meyer Zuckerman, who shared memories of being a “day-hop” at Trinity and having dorm girls spend weekends at her house where “we didn’t have to abide by curfew or other rules,” is one of the few classmates still working full-time. She has been a pediatrician for 46 years and, along with her pediatrician husband Barry, has had the good fortune to travel all over the world where he has spoken about child development and literacy initiatives. They have also found it “surprising and sobering to see the real increase in autism, ADHD, anxiety and depression disorders in children.” As much as she loves her patients and their families, Pam plans to retire at the end of this year to devote more time to her own family and her hobbies of painting, reading, writing, western riding and exploring underwater life. Pam’s daughter finally gave birth to the first grandchild last summer, but Pam is concerned that her son – at 42, an eligible, industrious, handsome restaurateur – has never married.

Bernadette Bonanno Kingham-Bez is another classmate who continues working. She is executive director of St. Vincent’s Hospital in Westchester, which provides treatment, mobile services and housing in Westchester and New York City. “It is fascinating,” she says, “to be in this intense period of change and opportunity for behavioral health.” She and Steve now have eight grandchildren, who keep them beautifully grounded in a challenging world. She is also blessed to be living near Allison Burns Larkin and Kate O’Neil Glennon, her links to TC in her daily life.Perhaps now is a perfect time to report that our classmate Caryle Murphy got married for the first time last October to her long-time love, Herb Howe. After the Jesuit-officiated ceremony at Holy Trinity in DC, they celebrated with family and friends at River Farm in Alexandria. Herb is a retired Georgetown professor of African politics and Caryle retired last year after being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive lung disease (I also have PF; she and I will have much to discuss at Reunion). In 2016 Caryle and Herb took trips to Costa Rica and the Grand Canyon. She remains in good spirits with medical care and the support of her fabulous husband. I must also mention a post on her Facebook page last October: “Love’s a tenacious huntress who can capture you at any time.” So, Pam (and anyone else who is wishing a child would marry), don’t despair. Love is out there a-hunting.

After more than two years of partial retirement from superintendent of schools in Concord, NH, Chris Casey Rath returned to “active duty” this year as the interim superintendent of schools for Exeter, NH, school district when the former superintendent, a friend, passed away suddenly last June. Although finding it an interesting experience, Chris is looking forward to returning to a more retired status in July. She continues to serve as adjunct faculty in the educational leadership program for the University of NH, teaching graduate courses and supervising students completing internships for certification as district leaders. She enjoyed visiting Virginia Beach last fall with a group of Trinity ʼ68-ers and looks forward to attending our Reunion in June.

Celebrating her 10th year of life after corporate America, Katherine (Kitty) Lorenz is a docent for the Chicago Architecture Foundation, sharing with visitors from around the world the history and amazing architecture of Chicago, and at the same time getting great exercise on each two-mile tour of city streets. She also relishes her international walking/hiking trips, in 2017 to Wales, London, and our own Seattle/Olympic National Park, and in 2018, to Southeast England and the Channel Islands. She plans to catch up on the DC museum scene when she attends our Reunion.Robin Collins Vermylen and Paul celebrated Christmas with their four children and their spouses, nine grandchildren, and Daisy – the best dog ever. Robin is still volunteering weekly in east Harlem, bringing an art project for a parent-child development program. She and Paul enjoy their time in NY and summers in Southwest Harbor, ME. They are having fun traveling and trying to play golf.

Gilda Calleja Ameijide reports from Leon, Spain, that she and her family are all fine. “Three sons have given us five grandsons (no girls here) and we are a happy couple of old shoes trying to travel as much as possible.” She goes to the European Chapter Reunion every year, spends much time in Madrid, and plans a trip to Edinburgh in April.

Marguerite Wordell sends greetings from KY and says that she is still loving retirement but had no recent changes in her life. Allyson Cook Gall and Marty will celebrate their 50th anniversary with a big party to include families of kids, siblings, cousins – “a real huge family reunion.” Her time is spent volunteering for synagogue and Sierra Club, taking care of four grandkids, kayaking, practicing yoga, bird watching and traveling – this year to Cuba for bird watching, to Yosemite for hiking, and possibly to Israel for the eighth time.

Judy Smith Pastusek and Bob have been in TX since May, but traveling a lot. This year was Bob’s 50th reunion from the Air Force Academy so they were in Colorado Springs for that in October. In August, they went to NC for Bob to get his annual flight training and detoured through St. Louis to see the eclipse.

After her first husband died at the age of 42, Carole Manella Cotter Acebal focused on motherhood and a career in health information technology, then married Ed about 10 years ago and is now retired and living in St. Augustine, FL. She regrets that she cannot attend our Reunion due to her nephew’s wedding on the same weekend, but she wants to send some shout-outs to classmates. Every Thanksgiving she bakes pumpkin bread using Marg Moster’s recipe from their first year in San Francisco. She still makes the chicken dish with cream of mushroom and sherry that she learned from Ginny Riley. Every Christmas she displays green apples in the crystal bowl Gerri Troisi Torres gave her as a wedding present. And she is thankful that Maureen Matus Grosheider re-introduced her 15 years ago to nine lovely and fun classmates who get together every year. She will be sorry to miss “all of you who were so special 50 years ago and I am sure are better than ever now!”

Leah O’Leary retired from working 47 years as a social worker in child and family services, the last 17 years operating a nonprofit adoption agency helping couples adopt children internationally and domestically, and helping immigrant families adopt their orphaned siblings, nieces and nephews and bring them to the USA. Now, she is a FEMA reservist and was called to Austin, TX, in September to work with victims of Harvey. Her three kids are all doing well and her first grandson was born last year in Denver, prompting Leah to muse about a move from MA to CO to be closer to him. (All of us grandmothers can relate to that sentiment). She remains in touch with Ellie Hamill and Fran Tietjen Wiener. Juggling plans for shoulder surgery, and attending a Red Cross volunteer reunion, Leah is uncertain about attending our class Reunion, but writes, “The four years at Trinity were pretty important in helping me become the person I am today. … I think of the Reunion as an occasion to celebrate the girls we were with the women we have become.”

“In many ways my life runs the same as it did a decade ago,” writes Lila O’Brien Sullivan. She still enjoys volunteer tutoring, playing golf and bridge with good friends, traveling a bit and reading NY Times bestsellers. The big change in the last 10 years has been the arrival of six (soon to be eight) grandchildren, who are her husband Brendan’s and her greatest joy and occupy a great deal of their free time. Since Brendan is still practicing law, they have no exotic travel plans in sight, “but in the meantime heading to the playground with a couple of toddlers suits us just fine.”

Joan Savarese retired as a psychologist from an HMO last year and filled her free time writing a book about her sister Helene Gibbons, who passed away in 2007. The book is titled “Out-Dancing the Devil: A Story of Faith, Laughter and Healing.” “Helene was very funny and very spiritual, and the book contains our conversations during the last year of her life. Our brother Joe provided whimsical illustrations. A family collaboration!” The book is not out yet, but will be available soon. (Joan, please do let me know when and how I can get a copy. I still work part-time as a hospice nurse, so I have a professional as well as personal interest).

En route to VT last summer, Pat Griffith Hollis and Nick visited Joanne Lucey Ainsworth and John at their hideaway in upstate NY. Their son, Nate, joined them for a week on Prince Edward Island, and they later met him at Glacier National Park in MT. Along the way they had a fun weekend with Chris Taylor Power and David in MN, including dinner with Carolyn Stazeski Morris and Rick. After recovering from their “road warrior” journey, Pat shared a delightful evening with Kate Woods and Mike Drew in VT before returning to DC in October. Since then, Pat has been working overtime with our 50th Reunion Committee.

Speaking of the Reunion Committee, I was happy to be able to have lunch in January with Pat Hollis, Mary Pat Kelley Graefe, Lory Manning, Chris Tully McLaughlin, Liz Murphy Ward, Nan Shaver Whalen and Terry Brooks. The conversation was full and lively. We reminisced about teachers and classmates, including those now deceased. Liz Ward expressed how much she missed Robin Murphy, who died a few years ago. We also caught up on our own news, but, to my chagrin, I did not take notes. I do recall that Mary Pat attempted retirement from teaching but missed the classroom and decided to go back part time. Lory is retired from a successful career in the Navy. Terry recently sold her VA home and moved to DC. And it was Nan’s efforts that secured the venue for our Reunion dinner. Chris McLaughlin followed up with a note that she now has seven grandchildren ranging in age from 11 months to 21 years, and she remains involved in work, church, community, family and friends.

Irene Horstmann Hannan, one of the committee chairs, was not at lunch with us, but emailed that her big and best news is the birth of her first grandchild born to her youngest daughter in October. She is still enjoying her work with Trinity as a member of the Board emerita. Irene also shared a special memory of Robin Murphy and our freshman year adventures. “A group of us,” Irene wrote, “crashed the Inaugural Ball when Johnson was president-elect. Robin had a strong resemblance to Lucy Johnson and the secret service at the Shoreham thought Robin was Lucy and escorted us to the Presidential box. When the real Lucy and family showed up the gig was over. The Washington Post got wind of the ruse and sent a photographer and reporter to campus the next day and they ran a story in the Post. I don’t think Sister Margaret was amused.” Irene’s note prompted others on the committee (me, too) to confess that we likewise had crashed an inaugural ball, although no one else made it into the newspaper. “To think of doing that today is unbelievable,” Irene commented. “No doubt we would have been arrested and then to jail!” True, but what a hilarious memory it is – and we all matured into law-abiding citizens!

As usual, my “Oxford sisters” have kept in touch by email (and sometimes in person) over the past year. Ann McKenna Fromm has had a busy year. She co-authored a book, “Fly by Wire,” a thriller about a hacked plane, with Captain Rick Payne, an American Airlines pilot. She also helped her daughter through a health ordeal. Last September, Ann held a fundraiser dinner in Pittsburgh for the Rett Syndrome Research Trust on behalf of her granddaughter Lily, a sweet, happy little girl. Jane Dattilo Voigt donated one of her paintings (appropriately, of a lily) to the fundraiser and Ann loved it so much that she was the highest bidder for that item. Ann was thrilled that the dinner raised more than $87,000 for this important research. Ann and her fiancé Bill Payne then spent five months in CA, closer to Lily and her parents and Bill’s relatives, and commenced planning their wedding to take place on March 24 in Santa Monica. Jane Voigt and Howard and Jane Drew Waller and Mike are planning to be in CA to celebrate with Ann and Bill. We hope to see a lovely picture of them (and Lily) on their happy day in next year’s column.

Mary Hamill still loves living in Charleston, SC, especially now that her son and grandson have moved there, close enough for Mary to enjoy more grandmother time. Mary Anne Sharer and Guy continue to split their year between Fernandina Beach, FL, and their lake house in the MD mountains. Mary Anne’s chief regret is not being able to visit her granddaughter as often as she’d like (Ah, those grandchildren. How they rule our lives).

Anne McGrath Thomas also lives in Fernandina Beach and is loving her retirement. Jane Voigt and Carolyn Morris, living at least part of the year on the other side of FL in Naples, were grateful that last fall’s hurricane damage was not as great as feared. Sally deJesus Pico could not say the same from Puerto Rico. She wrote that the island “has been destroyed by Irma and then the truly ferocious Maria. My family is one of the lucky ones. Aside from the hours of howling winds and deluge that shook the building where we live, our shutters and windows withstood the hurricane. Aftermath very difficult. No communications, roads blocked by debris, terrible gas lines, and diesel was like liquid gold, water supply and electricity off.” Sally and her husband had already made travel plans for Barcelona, Seville and Granada and they went ahead with their vacation when the airport reopened, but later returned to PR where power, schools and hospitals were still not functioning. “Life is going back to normal slowly,” she says.

As for me, Noel Zallnick Mariam, in my column last year I announced that I had pulmonary fibrosis, and since it is impossible to predict how quickly this disease will progress, at that time I was concerned I might not be able to continue as scribe. My news this year is much better. I have been taking a relatively new drug which, though not a cure, has stabilized my condition, allowing me to remain active, play weekly mahjong, canasta, and pinochle with friends, continue working part time as a hospice nurse, enjoy weekly playtime with my two young grandsons, and travel to a bunch of “bucket list” destinations in the last two years (AK, HI, Canadian Rockies, China, Galápagos Islands). Now, like many of you, I am looking forward to celebrating our 50th Reunion in June. Thanks for all your news. I love hearing it and sharing it.

Noel Mariam
noel.mariam@gmail.com

Hello classmates,

So many of you responded last timewith lots of news, it apparently left you speechless this time around.  Heeding the old adage, “no news is good news”, I am hoping that most of you are doing reasonably well this year.  That certainly is the case with those who sent news of family, travel, learning, and contemplation.  Many also commented on Pope Francis — all positive remarks. Now let’s get to the news.

Irene Horstmann Hannan reported that her life is good and she continues her work on the Trinity Board and with Citizens Bank. As for the topic of Pope Francis, she wrote “at the moment I am less involved with the spiritual and theological impact the Pope is making and more focused on his physical impact on my hometown of Philadelphia with his visit last September.  The city turned on its head.  Everyone was concerned about the Pope’s safety and that of the millions in attendance

Now retired after 30 years in the Concord School District, and 15 as Superintendent of School, Chris Casey Rathcontinues to teach graduate courses as an adjunct professor for the University of New Hampshire and recently for Southern New Hampshire University.  She loves the teaching, but she and her husband want to travel and visit their four grandchildren more often.  Chris also plans to learn to play the violin.

Maria Isabel Parra checked in with news that for the last twelve years her home has been in Miami, where her two oldest sons and their families live close by, while the youngest lives in Washington, DC.  She and husband Joe travel frequently to Puerto Rico to visit with family and friends.

Happy to be in touch again after many years, Tomassina Nania Panepinto is retired from being a clinical social worker with Rensselaer County Mental health  and now volunteers in the clothing pantry of the Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless in Albany.  She originally planned to volunteer in her local parish, but the parish director did not welcome ministry by laity, so she and her husband Bill left their parish after 35 years and joined a parish that encourages laity participation.  She and Bill now have the opportunity to serve on a Peace and Justice Committee, something she has always considered an essential part of Catholic life.  She feels that their goals seem consistent with Pope Francis’s agenda, and she considers it a blessing to have him as their leader. “He seems to be getting the church back on track,” she wrote, and is showing “the caring, accepting part of the church that was a good part of our history.”  Tommie’s three grown children are doing well, but she still grieves the death of her mother three years ago. That lingering grief is something many of us can relate to.

Another classmate who reconnected is Irene Kearney Walsh.  She currently lives in Fairfax, VA with her sister Kathleen Kearney (’68) and is retired from working as a paralegal for many years.  She has two grown sons, one a Marine Corps Major, the other a research scientist at St. Jude’s Research Hospital for Children.  She also has three grandsons whom she adores.  On the down side, she has had breast cancer for five years, but is feeling good and is grateful for her wonderful doctors.

Kathy Mansfield Tassini has had a year of exciting travel.  Last September she and her husband Jim took their family to Italy for two weeks, a week in Rome and a week in a villa near Todi in Umbria.  While there, they had fantastic caterers make a most memorable dinner at which they celebrated four birthdays and three anniversaries. “It was an absolute dream,” she wrote. “So nice to have wonderful adult relationships with adult children.”  She and Jim then continued on alone to Puglia where Jim’s grandfather came from and then met up with a high school friend who has lived in New Zealand for 45 years.  Last spring they went on a fantastic three week trip to China with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.  They saw “incredible gardens, the Peony Festival, and all the usual sites.” Jim is slowly retiring from his practice – down to one and a half days a week – so they plan on lots of travel while they are still able to do it.  Kathy also went to her 50th HS reunion where she saw Virginia Crane.

France was a vacation destination for a couple of our classmates.  Sally De Jesus Pico and Alberto had a wonderful time in Paris, Bordeaux and surrounding areas, and are already planning to return.  Sally laments PR’s economic woes and says they are holding their breath to see what happens. Jane Drew Waller and Mike were in France twice in the past year, doing a trip to Normandy in the fall, then down to the Saone and the Rhone in the spring.  Jane now works only a few hours a month and loves having “just a toe in the work world”. Jane is grateful that her son John weathered a 2012 tour in Afghanistan and came back “the same kid in mind, body and soul.” Amen to that.

Ann McKenna Fromm-Cotton is engaged to a wonderful man. “My first two husbands, also good men, both died,” she explains, “and I was resistant to the idea of marrying again.  But I fell in love – real love!   We golf, bicycle, walk my big dog, and visit far-flung families who are all very happy for us, including my two children, their spouses and children.  Last September, we moved into a new condo on Pittsburgh’s Allegheny River, near where Bill and I each live now.” Last March, they had dinner in Naples, FL with Carolyn Stazeski Morris and Rick, Jane Datillo Voigt and Howard, and Jane Drew Waller and Mike.

Mary Anne Sharer Waikart sent news from Halifax, Nova Scotia where she and Guy were visiting his two sons. Mary Anne is thrilled to finally be a grandmother, but is sorry that living in Florida makes it difficult to see as much of her granddaughter as she wants. She and Guy keep busy playing tennis and petanque, biking, and volunteering for the much needed social services on Amelia Island where they live.  Last year they took a barge and bike trip to Belgium.  In the summer they live in western Maryland.

In Martha’s Vineyard for the summer, Mary Green Hamill went swimming every day, saw old friends and classmates, and discovered that she has many distant cousins that she never knew before.  One husband of a distant cousin started delivering free clams to her. Mary joineed the grandmother ranks last January and naturally is overjoyed.

“My best news,” wrote Andreanne Temmel Rode, is that she and Maeve O’Toole have been reunited.  Maeve moved out to the Bay area in the fall and Andreanne was able to visit her and Gerry Dunn-Gerardin.  She is hoping Maeve has a chance to visit her in Oregon.  Andreanne’s ski and mountain bike business suffered from the lack of sufficient snowfall last winter, but she is grateful to have a good mountain bike season.  Several good pieces of family news: her daughter, now a labor/delivery nurse, is engaged and her boyfriend has two new hips and is able to do long bike trips with Andreanne struggling to keep up, and her best friend from PA visited her for some fun hiking, biking, and kayaking outings.

Moira Heffron has moved from her home of 25 years to an upscale apartment nearby. She is a great fan of Pope Francis, especially his recent encyclical, but reports that the Minneapolis-St.Paul Archdiocese is in bankruptcy and the Archbishop has resigned under a cloud.

A tour of Charleston, SC, was among some of the short trips Marguerite Wordell has taken.  She lamented the tragedy of the racially-motivated church shooting, and said, “I ask myself what I got from my Trinity education. Then I remember studying the Book of Job in freshman English. It doesn’t help me understand why there is so much evil in the world, but it helps me feel a little better to know humans have been considering the problem for a long time.”

Health issues and loss of loved ones have led some of us to a quieter life of contemplation and appreciation of everyday joys. Joanne Mitchell continues to live with her husband Jon in Franklin, MA.  She is happy that her recurrent brain tumor is now stable and that Jon recently became a new grandfather. Kathy Shaheen Sinnott has decided to move back to her hometown area in central NY “to live a small, but rich, simple life balanced, contemplative, and active.”

As for me, I’ve been thinking about a quieter, more contemplative life following my diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), an incurable, progressive disease of unknown cause.  The disease gradually turns the lungs into scar tissue, making it difficult and eventually impossible to breathe.  Although life span following diagnosis ranges from 2-5 years, my mother survived 12 years.  At this point, I am still feeling fairly well and remaining active.  At this writing, I’m awaiting the arrival of my second grandson, so I plan to spend lots of time with him and his older brother.  If my health permits, I hope to take a few more of my “bucket list” trips.  Eventually, I will have to reduce my activities, and this is why I am asking for volunteers to take over the scribe job next year.  Once again, I have really enjoyed being scribe and hearing from all of you.  Stay well, and do as much as you can, while you can, as will I.

Noel Zallnick Mariam
noel.mariam@gmail.com