First, a big thank you to Julie Hunter Galdo for all the work she has done to keep us all up to date with each other’s news for so long – and for giving me the chance to take up her pen and re-connect with classmates myself. And another big thank you to everyone who responded to my request for news: it has been a real treat to hear from you all, as we emerge from this most challenging year!
Julie sends news that she and Manolo and family are all well. They visited son Sean Manuel Galdo, living in Preston, Lancs, UK for the birth of a new daughter, in February 2020, returning just in time to face the arrival of the pandemic. Julie has now been retired for five years, filling her time volunteering for the Democratic Party in VA, and fundraising for other causes. Manolo is still working, promising to retire ‘next year’, but is intrigued by the promise of high-speed rail getting nearer, which he first joined the Department of Transportation 30 years ago, to facilitate. They are pleased to have their daughter Kate and her son Joseph (13) living nearby. During these long months of restrictions, Julie is overseeing the sorting of family documents, photo albums and remodeling the basement – and hoping to make progress on her family genealogy study.
First reply came from Jeannette Festa, by return, straight from her phone! Jeannette sums up beautifully the peculiar nature of this last year when she writes that the phone has been “one of the lifelines of this extraordinary year”, noting that Zoom, text, and videos have kept her in touch with family and friends, and is amazed to see how history, however catastrophic and transformative, is nonetheless lived day by day in the million small events that comprise a day. Her grand-daughter Viola (2) has a new five-month-old kitten named Pita. The quotidian is now magical, punctuating the ongoing adjustments — passwords, ID numbers, the ‘I am not a robot’ box, muted and frozen screens, brain fog. She writes “Against this year of vast loss, limitation and uncertainty, we have come to the hope of a tipping point — the triumph of science and compassion over the darkness that has preyed upon us”. Jeannette reports that she has lost three friends this year, not to COVID, but each day confirms how dearly they are and will ever be missed. Brood X arrives this spring: the 17-year cicadas, and Jeannette feels that their arrival is particularly poignant as we understand human life to be as brief as their passionate song. Jeannette says that her garden sustained her this past year and looks forward to its spring joys returning. She sent her wishes to us all: “may spring arise in your heart. Be well”.
Maureen (Mo) Dwyer writes that she and all her family are very thankful to have stayed healthy during this first year of COVID-19. Mo reports that she has behaved, and sequestered, except for trips to doctors and grocery stores and didn’t even go to Florida. Mo has enjoyed playing bridge several days a week thanks to Bridge Base Online and wonders what it will be like to sit at a bridge table and hold cards again. Her second knee replacement in November was uneventful and well timed, with no travel plans ahead possible. Mo reports that she is most excited to be “‘fully vaccinated’ as of April 1st – no joke!”
Paula Meyer Brassfield writes that she remains her same brave, curious, adventurous self, loving travel and meeting new people, so she flew to Phoenix and Minneapolis-St Paul. Her tales enthused her husband to join her and they travelled throughout the year, to SC, GA, OH, Wyoming, SD, NC, WVA, Delaware, Colorado, and Nebraska. Then in December they drove from VA to AZ where they set up home base in Phoenix, continuing short trips in AZ, Nogales, Mexico and the California coast. Amazingly, Paula met a lady in the pool there, from Rockville, MD! Paula plans to return to her Chevy Chase preschoolers to teach after Easter – unless they want help with unaccompanied minors at the border town near Phoenix. Paula issues an open invitation to all TC blues: “Come visit!”
Mary Patricia (Trish) Hopkins Bernes sends greetings to all. Trish reports that the last year has been a quiet reflective time for her and family, who are all grateful to have survived it. After being fully vaccinated, Trish and her husband saw a new grandchild for the first time since Christmas, and celebrated the arrival of spring and a feeling of renewal by bringing home a new senior lab mix rescue dog, Lucy, who has brought daily walks and affection. Trish also reports staying close to home, with one refreshing trip to a cabin in Virginia in October, enabling refreshing socially distanced forest walks. The cabin was near Montpelier, close to James and Dolley Madison’s home, providing a good place to reflect on the Constitution and life in the US. Scholars visit Montpelier to study the intent of the founders, which Trish felt gave her food for thought when the January riot occurred. Trish’s daughter enrolled as an adult student at Trinity, sings its praises and is grateful for the sensible approach to online learning in this odd climate, where Trish notes that she is developing a strong social conscience! Trish closed by wishing us all peace, health, and joy as we strive for normalcy as a country, praying that we all be well and stay safe, and sending her prayers also to all who have suffered a loss this year.
Elizabeth (Betty) McGuire Kaseta writes that she is alive and well, living in Colorado. She took a wonderful trip with their family to South Dakota in July, where they visited Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, The Badlands, and environs.
Theresa (Terry) Jacober Houle notes how fortunate we were as a class to have celebrated together at our 50th reunion, and to have had the chance to reflect on our lives since we graduated. Looking back, not knowing how much time for reflection lay ahead, she recalled freshman year Philosophy: “the unexamined life is not worth living”. In retrospect, she and Tom felt that their lives were not impacted as so many others were, particularly those with children and/or aging parents. They feel fortunate that they and their loved ones remain healthy, noting that their hearts go out to countless others who experienced loss, sending their prayers and blessings to all.
Anne Sheridan Wilson also reflects on how fortunate the class of ’69 was to get together two years ago. Anne and her husband Dave feel very fortunate to have survived the pandemic thus far, though a few of their family members and friends have had mild cases and recovered. Anne and Dave are now fully vaccinated, and hoping to finally see their daughter’s family and grandchildren in Kansas when travel becomes safer. Anne and Dave live in Delaware and are very proud of our new President Joe Biden, saying that there was indeed dancing in the streets to celebrate Biden’s election victory! Anne looks forward to reading the class news and hopes and prays that everyone has survived this challenging year!
Nancy Oram Lesher writes to say that both she and Don, along with their extended families have been safe and well this past year, and that they are most thankful. Nancy feels sure that their many outdoor interests such as walking, biking, and golf have helped a lot, especially since they could do them year-round. Both Nancy and Don are also fully vaccinated now, and are looking forward to traveling a little further away from home, hopefully to Portugal in 2022, and to seeing T.C. friends again!
Anna DiStephano writes that she, too, feels enormously grateful to have remained healthy (so far) and for already getting her two doses of vaccine, and her spouse’s love and companionship. Anna notes that somehow, everything moving to Zoom has made life “fuller”, although not necessarily more meaningful. Together they attend lectures and performances and activist meetings and set up friendship meetings for book and film discussions. They schedule family gatherings on Zoom and tried to do some holiday sharing online too. Their older daughter and her fiancé moved in with them last fall, and their younger daughter is close by, in her senior year at UCSB, so feel that they don’t want for stimulation! Anna continues to volunteer for Hospice of Santa Barbara and also as a driver for a program that supports undocumented neighbors who need transportation to court or ICE appearances or to medical appointments. She is also very involved in her Unitarian Society’s anti-racism work. Anna too continues to reflect on the wonder of our 50th Reunion. She LOVED seeing everyone then and those relationships seem more important than ever now, as she looks forward to catching up on everyone’s news and thoughts.
Kathy DeVoto Shuman writes that for her, COVID was the big news this year, just keeping safe and keeping in touch. Kathy works as a museum educator at the National Portrait Gallery in DC, where, normally, school groups come in buses to the gallery for their programs. This year they went virtual, which has been fun for them as providers because they are now doing programs for schools all over the country. Kathy also volunteers every other Saturday at the National Gallery of Art, from which they have been Zooming with the Gallery’s education department, providing regular training programs. And the leader of the Saturday shift is a docent who practices exploring paintings with them — Kathy’s idea of fun. Luckily, all is well with Kathy’s family: all seven grandchildren are doing school in one form or another, and she can’t wait to see them again!
Mary Kelly Vasile writes that, despite the year’s challenges, she is so grateful that both she and Jim and all their family are safe and healthy. Mary reflects on how we left Trinity in the wake of the social and political turmoil of 1968, and then, just after our 50th reunion, experienced a year we could not have imagined, bringing to mind again many of the same societal issues. Mary has valued notes from Julie, and from Pat McGuire, because “it’s been uplifting to learn about the Trinity family, young and old, and read about so many who are making a difference”. Mary says that she and Jim can’t wait to be able to travel again to see their family, and wishes all of our classmates many blessings, especially good health, hoping that we all may stay safe and enjoy many happy reunions in our evolving new normal.
Paula Donahue Sharfman writes that she and Steve are now residents of Florida, after almost 50 years of being Northern Virginians. They keep a condo in Fairfax but their home is another condo in FL, where they live for seven to eight months of the year, absolutely loving it, returning to NOVA in the summer to see their daughter and her family and Paula’s sister and her husband who live in Arlington, VA. Paula’s daughter Deborah and husband Dan have two children: Matthew (14) and (Eloise 12) with whom Paula and Steve delight in spending time during the summer months. Son Nelson and wife Gretchen and two children: Taylor (21) and Skyler (17), live in Foxborough, MA. Paula recalls growing up in a little town north of Boston called Nahant where her sister still lives, so she and Steve usually take an annual summer trip to MA to visit them as well as nieces, nephews, and other family and friends. Paula and Steve were also forced to limit their travel during 2020, so haven’t seen those loved ones for over a year now. Luckily, they are both now fully vaccinated, and hope to see them THIS summer. Paula reports that although she is very grateful for the invention of ZOOM, “it is no substitute for real live hugs!” Nonetheless, Paula is happy to be healthy and still thriving, despite the challenges of the past year, and aches for the families who have suffered the loss of loved ones or who are dealing with the obstacles of long-haul COVID and/or related economic losses. Paula too says how glad she is to have attended our 50th Reunion, noting that it was fabulous to catch up with classmates she was close to, as well as get to know those she saw less of while at Trinity. Paula says “we have such an amazing assortment of wonderful women in the class of 1969”, and she still considers it one of the luckiest days of her life when she started out her freshman year in September of 1965.
Vanessa (Sam) Sanchez-Williams reports that for her, this last year has gone by without disease, gatherings with friends and family, hugs and dining at restaurants. Vanessa and Jim have been healthy, cooking comfort food (every day), and are longing to kiss the grandkids. Despite the challenges, Vanessa says that she and Jim “have been blessed with health, supported by the Moderna vaccine, life is good in Puerto Rico”.
Claire Blyberg Brown writes that, with COVID, there is not much happening. Their one bright light this past year was the birth of their sixth grandchild, a boy, on July 1st: Canada Day and Claire’s birthday, a wonderful gift! Fortunately, Claire and Drew have been able to see him fairly often, as they are in a bubble with her son and daughter-in-law. However, they’ve only seen the other grandchildren at a safe distance as they are in school, working, etc. Claire says that the vaccine rollout has been erratic in their area: Canada does not manufacture it, so citizens are relying on imports. Claire and Drew have been fortunate to receive their first shot, but have to wait until July for the second one. Canada has extended the time between shots to enable more people to be vaccinated. Claire feels that even one dose helps! Claire, too, reports that she is so thankful that our class was able to celebrate our 50th, because it was a happy time. Claire and Drew are looking forward to the summer: they have a boat that they spend most weekends on and Claire has some friends with whom she plays golf all summer. “So, bring it on!” says Claire!
Margaret (Peg) Connell writes that, for her, it has been a strange year. Thanks to an infection followed by a severe reaction to the antibiotics prescribed, Peg’s kidneys failed and she is now on dialysis, so Peg has been isolating for the year, noting “Going to the kidney clinic has become [her] social life!” She spent a good part of last year following politics and was thrilled that we now have such a good man in the White House. Peg says that she has learned a lot from her dialysis community. Seeing so many, much younger, people, missing limbs and with serious heart problems, she feels very blessed. Peg’s doctor told her that she is one of his healthiest patients. Peg now feels that she has learned to appreciate every day: though never expecting her life to go this way, she remains grateful that dialysis exists to keep her alive. She is hopeful that next year will bring more contact with family and friends, and sends much love and appreciation to all her Trinity sisters.
This pandemic year brought many challenges and a renewed appreciation for family and friends. Alvina Murphy McHale has just recovered from a seven months-long healthcare battle that began in July. Murph says that it was thanks to her Trinity buddies and family that she came out on the other side. In April she had the first visit with her four grandchildren in Pittsburgh in more than a year, a visit that meant the world to her. She and Julie Hunter Galdo worked together throughout 2020 in support of Democratic candidates in Virginia state elections. After eleven years on the board of the Two Rivers Public Charter School in DC, including several terms as chair, Ann Gosier has stepped down. The pandemic did not stop her from spending some weeks in upstate New York helping her brother move to a retirement home. Ann remains an active volunteer at Two Rivers and is surviving the pandemic with a few good friends and neighbors.
Ara Johnson-Bland has spent many months watching her son teach remotely and being impressed by all he has been able to accomplish. He followed her footsteps teaching in DC Public Schools. Ara is a volunteer in the AARP Experience Corps where she is a virtual literacy tutor for 1st to 3rd graders at a DC school.
Beth Powers continues to see family in Madrid as much as possible under sometimes tough Spanish pandemic restrictions. Throughout the year, she has had occasional adult children living with her, which she has seen as a wonderful gift. Beth still practices law on a limited basis.
Blanca Zayas Hendrick continues to serve as CEO of Zayas Hendrick Mediaworks, her media production company, which is growing, despite the pandemic. Between that, running a busy household, and helping her aging mother, Blanca still keeps her lovely peaceful demeanor.
Susan (Susie) Hughes Hunter is very happy to report that she and Michael are doing well and loving life in FL. Because of COVID their closets are cleaner, our waists are more ample and we are caught up on every episode of “The Queen.” They haven’t seen their youngest daughter, Megan, for 16 months but she and her family will be visiting from CA this week, so it is celebration and hugging time for them. Susie sends her best to all our Trinity sisters, and hopes all are experiencing similar joyous reunions with far-flung family and friends, also noting how lucky we are that our 50th class reunion happened before the world closed down!
Ginny Mathis Cappucci remains healthy in FL, but has been unable to take her customary trips to New England and New Jersey to see family and friends.
Katie Kenneally Kelly is involved in community work promoting local history in Boston. She also serves on the board of the Gavin Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the restoration of dignity from addiction through treatment, education and support. She and Joe have a new kitten which brings them great joy.
Ellen Kelley writes that she and husband Jeff, are just back from a brief three-day junket to Charlottesville where they visited the trifecta of Presidential Mansions: their first foray out into the world, post being fully vaccinated: a much-needed change of scenery during DC schools’ spring break. Most of their past year was spent in a pod with their daughter’s family, enjoying time with two of our three grandchildren. As the younger returned to day care in September, Ellen and Jeff rose to the challenge of the increased intensity of his online learning schedule, noting that they “have basically been in second grade again, and it’s been good for us, but it is definitely time to get these kids back into the classroom for in person learning”. Ellen plays bridge on line a couple of times a week and keep up with a local neighborhood book group, and has weekly phone conversations with Jeanette Festa and Suzanne Fahy. Jenny drove down Easter Sunday and they enjoyed a delightful Sunday brunch…. outside and distanced. Ellen also continues as Treasurer of FOMP their local neighborhood park, a 501(c)(3), and it’s been interesting to try to fundraise for this sort of entity during the pandemic, without the concert and film series they normally run. Ellen thinks that “Returning to life as it was will certainly be interesting to navigate.” They are looking forward to seeing NYC family, where their son and his wife have a daughter who will soon be two: brighter moments on the horizon.
Marian Macchi recently became a grandmother and her friends in DC are hoping that the baby’s residence in Arlington will entice her to move down from Princeton at some point. Marian continues her pioneering voice recognition work. She and Don spend summers in his native Canada.
Norma Cirincione, the quintessential New Yorker (we thought), retired from an over four-decade career at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and moved to a penthouse in DC, never looking back at the Big Apple. Of course, the birth of her second granddaughter, who lives in DC, might have something to do with the lure of the nation’s capital.
Not long ago, Paula DeRosa Rossi retired from her second career managing an ESOL program for adults in Princeton. She lives near two of her three sons and their families, and has eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. (Is Paula our first great-grandmother?) As the pandemic has allowed, she has spent time with family and friends, doing ‘too many’ zooms, and honing her Bridge skills. Memories of Kerby 5th floor smoker anyone?
Peggy O’Brien loves a challenge and her role as Director of Education at the Folger Shakespeare Library during a period of renovation and renewal offers too many opportunities to retire. The lack of time with family during the pandemic has been tough, but she is planning a mega family reunion with her children and grandchildren from Boston and Abu Dhabi this summer. Peggy chairs the board of the St. Coletta Special Education Public Charter School.
In January Sharon Brady Raimo retired after 28 years as CEO of St. Coletta of Greater Washington. Over those three decades Sharon grew St. Coletta from a basement in Arlington serving 19 children to a multi-campus nonprofit serving over 500 intellectually disabled children and adults from DC, MD and VA and employing over 400 people. Never short on vision and courage, “Shossie” made miracles happen. Now her granddaughter, Addie, a mini-Sharon, hopes to be claiming more of her time.
Sheila Joyce Peabody came to the rescue of her daughter’s family when their home had to be rebuilt due to mold infestation. The young family, with Sheila’s four-and six year-old grandchildren will be returning to their rebuilt home early this summer. Their presence has made the pandemic anything but lonely.
On a very sad note, we lost several classmates in recent times. If classmates know of other deaths, please email me at sarwilliams6347@gmail.com or Julie at jgaldo@cox.net.
Mary Beth Then Morton lived in Williamsport, MD when she passed away in December 2019. She held many positions during a long career including as a cryptologist for the National Security Agency and analyst for the CIA. She was inducted into National Women in Science in the early 1980s.
Madeleine Marcouyeux Brown passed away in March 2020 after an extended battle with cancer. Madeleine had a long professional career with the State Department, serving both overseas and domestically. She lived in Northwest DC and maintained lifelong friendships with her Visitation and Trinity’s classmates. Madeleine was remarkably strong through her struggle, maintaining her own unique sense of humor throughout.
Mandy Donovan Moran died in July 2020 from chronic heart and lung conditions. Mandy was much loved and valued in Arlington VA, where she and Bob raised their four children. Mandy lived in Arlington since soon after graduating from TC, and was active in leading the community to ground-breaking work supporting families in need. She founded what was to become the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families, which she also chaired. Her obituary noted that “She fed the hungry, clothed the poor, and helped the needy.” What more beautiful words can be said?
Ed note: Many thanks to Julie Galdo who managed to get more news at the eleventh hour from at least as many classmates as I did in two months: thank you Julie!
Our update is a happy one too: last spring, our two daughters joined Huw and me, to help us ‘lockdown’. Our younger daughter Hilary left us in the summer to start work as a doctor (her second career) in a hospital on the south coast of England. By Christmas her hospital was overwhelmed by the new Kent variant of COVID-19. Now that cases are lower, and after two weeks holiday at home, she is much recovered (though we are unable to see her yet). Our elder daughter Allison continues to stay with us, while working fulltime for a German Press Agency from our home in Wales, so we are having a very well cushioned pandemic! Despite the restrictions of isolating, and Wales’ extended national lockdowns, Alli has kept us entertained and never short of cake: we couldn’t be luckier. Now all fully vaccinated, we are cautiously hopeful that Huw’s rehabilitation support, halted a year ago, can be re-started soon, albeit remotely. So, we too are grateful for all that we have.
Finally, a big thank you from me to all who have responded with their news. We lucky survivors, keen to share our relief and our stories, nevertheless keep all those who have suffered or lost family, friends, or livelihoods in our hearts and prayers, hoping these notes are consoling, not discouraging.
If you didn’t receive my email request, it may be that the Alumnae Office has not got up-to-date contact details for you, so please, if you can find a minute, do send your new details to the Alumni Office where Stephanie Melvin is doing an excellent job of keeping track of us all.
Very best wishes to all, for a happy and healthy summer ahead.
Steffi Ross Williams
