Colby-Sawyer Magazine ~ Fall 2020

FALL 2020

FACING COVID-19 CAMPUS COMMUNITY STEPS UP

AMID UNPRECEDENTED PANDEMIC

NEWS + STORIES

3

Colby-Sawyer, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health Partnership

8

Board of Trustees Elects New Chair, Vice Chair, Trustees

10

Commencement 2020: Graduates Reflect on Virtual Celebration

26

Community Steps Up

28

Outgoing Professors Adapt to Remote Learning

22 Colby-Sawyer Alumni: On the Front Lines of COVID-19 IN EVERY ISSUE 16

Walking the Talk

30

Portfolio

32

Sports News

34

News from Alumni Relations

35

Class Notes

54

In Fond Memory

56

In Memoriam

58

Archives

60

Epilogue

cover: Colby-Sawyer’s return to inperson instruction amid COVID-19 was the result of the hard work and planning of a variety of entities, as well as the willingness of those on campus to adhere to the policies put forth. One of those policies requires that all on campus, whether they’re a student, faculty or staff member, wear a face mask for the protection of those around them. Pictured on the cover: Student Government Association President Amira Eid ’22 (r), School of Business & Social Sciences Professor Lynn Garrioch (l) and Senior Associate Athletics Director and Men’s Head Basketball Coach Bill Foti stand on the quad wearing face masks donated by Board of Trustees Vice Chair Anthony “Tony” Librot ’94. Librot donated 5,250 Colby-­ Sawyer-themed masks that were distributed to students and employees upon move-in. With the help of individuals like Librot and the cooperation of those on campus, Colby-Sawyer is facing COVID-19 head-on.

this page:

Colby-Sawyer’s Permaculture Garden is shown from the rear of the Susan Colgate Cleveland Library/ Learning Center. The garden was active during the summer and fall, producing fruits and vegetables that were shared with the campus and local community.

editor and production manager

Sarah Smith

associate editors

Mary McLaughlin and Michael Pezone

designer

Nancy Sepe

staff photographer

Henrique Plantikow class notes editor

Tracey Austin

printing

R.C. Brayshaw & Company, Warner, N.H.

Colby-­Sawyer welcomes letters to the editor and reserves the right to edit and condense them.

Please send your letters to editor@colby-sawyer.edu or to: Editor, Office of Marketing & Communications Colby-­Sawyer College 541 Main Street New London, NH 03257 Send address changes to alumni@colby-sawyer.edu or to: Colby-­Sawyer College Office of Alumni Relations 541 Main Street New London, NH 03257

GREETINGS FROM COLGATE HALL The past several months have been dominated by the coronavirus, so it seemed only fitting that we dedicate this fall issue to the ways COVID-19 intersected with the college.

I was on my annual trip to Florida to visit alumni and friends when the coronavirus began to hit the news and spread into the United States. At that point, the virus was more of a novelty and the main concern was not shaking the hands of visitors I met. When I returned from Florida, COVID-19 had intensified internationally and had begun to become a serious issue here at home as well.

Our first concern was making sure our students traveling abroad were able to get back to the U.S. safely. For example, we had two students studying in Italy, where the virus was particularly bad, and fortunately the students were able to fly back before things intensified too severely.

The college’s Incident Response Team had convened while students were away on Spring Break to assist in making recommendations about how to deal with the COVID-19 emergency. On March 13, we announced that Spring Break would be extended for a week and that the college would shift to remote learning through early April. As time passed, however, it became apparent that we would not be able to bring students back in April, and on March 25, we announced the extension of remote learning through the end of the semester as well as the postponement of Commencement until August 2020.

As much as we wanted to have an in-person Commencement, it became obvious that holding the event virtually was going to be our best option. We knew this was disappointing for the seniors, but we worked hard to make the day as special as possible, sending them a Commencement box that contained their diploma, a senior shirt, a Lodge cookie and other special touches. On Aug. 8, the ceremony was held — bagpiper and all — and livestreamed for various campus constituents to enjoy.

In my two decades of leadership roles in higher education, I have never seen a situation that changed so rapidly. Throughout the process, our focus was on the safety of our

students, faculty and staff, as well as the New London community. Information on the virus came very quickly and often changed daily, if not more frequently.

I am especially proud of how our faculty, staff and students responded to changes. Faculty worked extremely hard to deliver course content in new ways, often doing so with young children at home. Staff provided technical support as we increased our reliance on technology, and communicated regular updates regarding scheduling changes and future plans. Students showed great resilience as they, too, were sharing their households with siblings also studying remotely and parents working from home.

I am also incredibly inspired by the number of alumni who have served the greater good during this pandemic. Our graduates in healthcare are on the front lines caring for patients afflicted with COVID-19. Many others continue to volunteer their time in meaningful ways. The value for community service and service to others remains strong among those affiliated with the college.

Colby-Sawyer worked hard to plan a responsible return to in-person instruction this fall, albeit with several protocols in place to protect the safety of the community. We have policies on physical distancing and masks, and other protocols that are designed to keep the campus community as safe as possible. It was good to finally see students back on campus as we had missed them dearly. And while it may be quite some time before things get back to “normal,” I am confident that the college will weather this latest crisis just as it has multiple others during its 183-year history.

I hope you enjoy the stories in this issue and continue to be proud of your alma mater and the ways it is not only engaging in the lives of young people but also producing alumni who make a difference. As always, thank you very much for your support of the college.

Kind regards,

Susan D. Stuebner, Ed.D. President and Professor of Social Sciences and Education

Colby-Sawyer, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health Expand Partnership to Build Healthcare Workforce

C “The demand for healthcare providers — at all levels of practice — continues to grow.”

left to right: Colby-Sawyer President Susan D. Stuebner and Joanne M. Conroy, MD, CEO and president of Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health.

olby-Sawyer College and access to high-quality educational Dartmouth-­Hitchcock (D-H) programs locally. announced a significant enhancement of their longstanding “I am very grateful to Dartmouth-­ academic relationship aimed at Hitchcock for its investment and directly addressing a growing belief in our mission, as well as its willshortage of qualified healthcare proingness to help us enhance it further,” fessionals both within the Dartmouth-­ said Colby-Sawyer President Susan D. Hitchcock Health system and across Stuebner. “We look forward to conthe nation. tinuing to work closely with the health system on ways to alleviate specific As part of the enhancement, workforce needs, while offering Dartmouth-­Hitchcock will make a meaningful academic programs to multi-year strategic investment of up our students that fit our mission as an to $3.25 million, beginning with an institution.” initial installment of $750,000. The This fall, Colby-Sawyer began offering agreement provided the college the bachelor’s degree programs in five financial resources necessary to new disciplines — addiction studies, implement a variety of new health science programs announced in 2019 healthcare administration, health and increase enrollment in the colscience, medical laboratory science and social work — to complement its lege’s nursing program. Intended to directly respond to current and antici- existing majors in health-related fields. Additionally, the college has pated workforce needs, the agreedeveloped an associate degree ment includes milestones the college program in health sciences designed must meet for additional investments to further the education of current from D-H. The programs, specifically D-H employees. Two new tracks are developed with input from D-H, will also being offered as part of the coltrain skilled candidates to help D-H lege’s Master of Science in Nursing address the more than 1,000 job program — nursing leadership and vacancies within the state’s largest, and only academic, health system and nursing education — to augment the original clinical nurse leader track. provide current D-H employees “This investment allows us to strategically leverage our long-standing academic relationship with Colby-Sawyer as we continue to develop ways to best serve our patients,” said Joanne M. Conroy, MD, CEO and president of Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health. “The demand for healthcare providers — at all levels of practice — continues to grow, and Colby-Sawyer remains a key partner in our efforts to meet that demand.” ®

FALL 2020

3

The Rapid Shift to remote Learning

by Mary McLaughlin

W

hen Colby-Sawyer students left campus “By the end of the second week of remote for Spring Break on March 6, 2020, they learning, we detected high anxiety and stress didn’t know they’d already attended levels from students and faculty,” Sykes said. their last in-person class for the academic year. Before the break ended, the college had “We responded by reiterating messages we extended it by a week to develop a plan to stressed when we began the transition.” respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those messages included focusing on According to Academic Vice President and student learning outcomes as opposed to Dean of Faculty Laura Sykes, on March 16, adhering to original assignment plans; underwhen classes would have resumed, faculty standing the need to be flexible in light of gathered to discuss a transition to remote technological issues and competing family learning. They adjusted syllabi and attended needs; and prioritizing the physical and emoworkshops on online learning and teaching tional health of students and employees. platforms and other tools. The information “These messages to the community helped technology team prepared training docurelieve some anxiety,” Sykes said. ments. Academic support services staff developed plans for remote tutoring, A student survey administered in May indiresearch assistance and disability services. cated that an overwhelming majority of stuThe college librarian secured access to dents had adequate access to the internet e-books for students who had left their textduring remote learning and felt that faculty books behind. Faculty gathered information were responsive to their needs. about students’ needs.

One week later, on March 23, the college launched remote learning. According to Sykes, some classes met synchronously, with everyone logged in at the same time to Zoom or Microsoft Teams; others communicated asynchronously, with people logging in at different times to central discussion boards and email. Course content was delivered using Zoom lectures, voice-over PowerPoints and video-recorded laboratory exercises.

At the same time, Sykes said, the college focused on individual well-being.

ON APRIL 20 AND 21, the college hosted a virtual Susan Colby Colgate Scholars’ Symposium, the annual event at which graduating seniors present their capstone work. The two-day, 12-hour event sponsored by the Undergraduate Research Task Force featured student presentations via Zoom and was a celebration of students’ academic achievements. One student or team of students in each major was awarded the Capstone Experience Award following the event.

4

COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

Despite the success of the rapid shift to distance learning, Sykes said that for the fall semester, “Students were really happy to be back on campus, and faculty were very happy to have them here.”

Some students and faculty with documented health issues continued to participate from a distance, with 37 students and 10 faculty remote by the end of the add/drop period.

In-person learning for the fall semester concluded when students left campus for Thanksgiving break, and final exams were completed remotely. A similar plan is being developed for the spring 2021 semester.

Mary McLaughlin is a writing consultant in the Student Learning Collaborative and an adjunct faculty member.

She holds a B.A. from the University of New Hampshire and an M.Ed. from the University of Vermont.

Inspired to Help: Nursing Enrollment Climbs Amid Pandemic As the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continued to highlight the importance of qualified health professionals, Colby-­Sawyer College saw a significant increase in the number of first-year students enrolled in its undergraduate nursing program.

This fall, Colby-Sawyer welcomed 90 first-year students into the state’s top-ranked nursing bachelor’s degree program. This number marks a 34% increase from the 62 students who enrolled in the program last fall and a 64% increase in the number of nursing graduates in the Class of 2020.

“More and more students are interested in pursuing careers in nursing and the health sciences because, now more than ever, they see these professions as ways to

directly help others,” said Kevin Finn, dean of the School of Nursing & Health Sciences.

Colby-Sawyer’s undergraduate nursing program entered 2020 ranked first in New Hampshire by RegisteredNursing. org, with more than 80% of graduates going on to accept positions within the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health system.

The college’s nursing graduates consistently surpass the national pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination, with 97% of the Class of 2020 having passed on their first attempt.

“I think prospective students see both the quality of our program as well as the infinite amount of possibilities that come as part of the college’s partnership with Dartmouth-­ Hitchcock Health,” Finn said.

New Dean Joins School of Nursing & Health Sciences

By Sarah Smith Kevin Finn was named dean of the School of Nursing & Health Sciences and director of clinical partnerships at Colby-Sawyer College in January. Finn, who brings more than a decade of administrative, teaching and research experience, was most recently the associate dean for the School of Health Sciences at Merrimack College.

At Colby-Sawyer, Finn is tasked with providing leadership for the existing nursing and allied health programs as well as the development and implementation of new health-related programming. In addition, he is responsible for academic and strategic planning for the school, including new program development and program changes that align with the institution’s strategic plan and partnership with Dartmouth-­Hitchcock Health.

experience in the fields of the school, a proven history of building partnerships in support of academic programs and success in developing and implementing academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.”

At Merrimack College, Finn worked as an assistant athletic trainer, lecturer, professor and department chair. In his most recent role as the associate dean for the School of Health Sciences, Finn created and oversaw initiatives on clinical and internship placements, curriculum development, program implementation and research outcomes that were instrumental in the growth of health sciences at the college.

“I am excited to join the Colby-Sawyer community and look forward to collaborating with colleagues to build upon the outstanding “We are delighted to have Kevin Finn join academic programs and clinical opportunities Colby-­Sawyer as dean of the School of that promote student success,” Finn said.

Nursing & Health Sciences and director of “It is an exciting time for Colby-Sawyer as we clinical partnerships,” Colby-Sawyer College look to enhance the Dartmouth-Hitchcock President Susan D. Stuebner said. “As a leader, Health partnership and expand academic Kevin brings valuable administrative programs in health sciences and nursing.”

Sarah Smith is the director of the Office of Marketing & Communications. She holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of New Hampshire.

FALL 2020

5

PANDEMIC ON CAMPUS: LIFE GOES ON All around campus this summer and fall, students engaged in a variety of activities despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Some semblance of normalcy was often in full display as students were seen on mountain bikes, walking the quad and giving away vegetables from the college’s own organic garden on “Free Veggie Friday.”

While wearing masks was certainly the norm, and part of the preventative protocol, the campus burst to life as warm weather led to outside classroom activity, cornhole tournaments and just simply hanging around the quad with friends.

6

COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

VIRTUAL MOUNTAIN DAY Given the circumstances surrounding COVID-19, a traditional Mountain Day celebration in which the entire campus community gathered to hike nearby Mount Kearsarge was not possible. Instead, in 2020, the decades-old college tradition was held virtually over the course of a month.

Mountain Day 2020 kicked off Sept. 9 with the ceremonial ringing of the bell atop Colgate Hall at 10:05 a.m. From there, using a downloadable app, participants were challenged to complete a virtual map that began at the college, ascended the 2,937-foot mountain and concluded at the Winslow State Park parking lot for a total of 10.4 miles. Participants had the opportunity to walk, jog or run, outdoors or on a treadmill, as the app tracked the participants’ progress through the duration of the challenge.

The always popular tie-dying of shirts continued leading up to the Sept. 9 event. Throughout the month, those who completed the challenge were celebrated during “Finisher Fridays,” where participants were featured on social media, asked to signed the Mountain Day 2020 banner and were entered into a weekly raffle for prizes.

Mountain Day 2020 concluded Oct. 9 with a traditional barbecue adapted to accommodate physical distancing requirements.

During the event, the complete banner featuring the signatures of all who finished was displayed.

FALL 2020

7

Lisa M. Hogarty ’81 Elected Chair of Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees Elects New Chair, Vice Chair, Trustees

By Michael Pezone

The Colby-Sawyer College Board of Trustees elected Lisa M. Hogarty ’81 of Cambridge, Mass., to succeed Peter “Pete” F. Volanakis as its next chair.

Hogarty began her three-year term July 1.

Hogarty, the first Colby-Sawyer alumna to head the Board of Trustees since Anne Winton Black ’73, ’75 in 2011, joined the board in 2016 and has served as its vice chair since 2018. She served on the Finance and Investment Committee, chaired the Facilities Subcommittee, and is a former member of the President’s Alumni Advisory Council.

“Under the leadership of board chair Pete Volanakis and President Sue Stuebner, the board has worked through multiple challenges and capitalized on crucial opportunities to set the college on a path toward continued, long-term financial sustainability and to maintain the highest quality education available,” said Hogarty, Boston Children’s Hospital’s senior vice president of real estate planning and development since 2016.

“I am honored and excited to take the ‘baton’ from Pete and carry on this work.”

After graduating from Colby-Sawyer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1981, Hogarty went on to earn a Master of Science in economic development and tourism from New York University. She worked as a Broadway stage manager on several notable shows — including “Whoopi Goldberg” and “Brighton Beach Memoirs” — before embarking on careers in hospitality, higher education and healthcare. Prior to her current role at Boston Children’s Hospital, Hogarty worked as vice president of campus services and facilities at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. “Lisa brings a wealth of expertise that is especially pertinent to Colby-­

8

COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

Sawyer’s strategic direction, Colby-­ Sawyer President Susan D. Stuebner said. “Her knowledge of healthcare and capital projects will be huge assets as the college prepares for its next decade and beyond. I look forward to working with Lisa on behalf of the college and continuing to build on Pete’s legacy.”

Anthony H. Librot ’94 Elected Vice Chair of Board of Trustees Joining Hogarty on board leadership is Anthony “Tony” H. Librot ’94, who began serving a three-year term as vice chair on July 1. Librot was elected to the board in 2015 and has served on both the President’s Alumni Advisory Council and the Infinity Steering Committee.

In his professional career, Librot is the chief operating officer and chief financial officer of AAM 15 Management — a hotel development and management company based in Burlington, Mass. The 2009 recipient of the college’s Young Alumni Achievement Award, Librot graduated from Colby-­Sawyer with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and earned a Master of Science in finance from Suffolk University.

“Tony has been a great contributor to the board since he joined us five years ago,” Colby-Sawyer President Susan D. Stuebner said. “He has shared his extensive financial expertise on several committees in leadership roles and has been generous with his support of the college. I look forward to working with him as vice chair.”

Bernard N. Botchway ’15 Elected to Board of Trustees The board has elected Bernard N. Botchway ’15 of Charlotte, N.C., as its newest trustee. Botchway began his three-year term July 1.

After graduating from Colby-Sawyer with a bachelor’s degree in history

opposite:

Lisa M. Hogarty ’81 (top), Anthony H. Librot ’94 (bottom), this page: Bernard N. Botchway ’15 (top) and Bonita S. Basnyat ’14 (bottom).

and political studies in 2015, Botchway went on to the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill, N.C., earning a juris doctor degree in 2018. He currently works as legal counsel for Bank of America in Charlotte.

“As a young Black man, I look forward to presenting diverse viewpoints on matters affecting the college and helping drive its continued growth,” said Botchway, who is originally from Accra, Ghana.

While at Colby-Sawyer, Botchway served as president of the Student Government Association and was also a resident assistant. His academic success earned him induction into the Alpha Chi National Honor Society, and he was awarded the Barbra J. Stearns Award his senior year in recognition of his leadership and dedication to the college community.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bernard to the board and look forward to the diverse perspectives and ideas he brings with him,” Chair of the Colby-­ Sawyer College Board of Trustees Lisa Hogarty said. “Bernard exemplifies everything we hope the college’s graduates represent through his outstanding leadership and volunteerism.

He will undoubtedly assist us in our efforts to guide Colby-Sawyer as it continues to evolve as an institution.”

Bonita S. Basnyat ’14 Elected as Winton-Black Trustee The board has elected Bonita S. Basnyat ’14 of South Kingston, Rhode Island, as its newest Winton-Black Trustee. Basnyat began her one-year term July 1, replacing Cailin Bullett ’13

as one of two Winton-Black Trustees on the board.

Created in 2009, Winton-Black Trustees are alumni three to nine years removed from the college who, as recent graduates, offer a unique set of perspectives to the board. Basnyat, who graduated from Colby-Sawyer in three years with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, joins Nick Ciarlante ’14 as the second of the board’s two Winton-Black Trustees.

“I have a diverse background as an international student and look forward to sharing my views and perspective with my fellow board members,” said Basnyat, who is originally from Kathmandu, Nepal. “I’m excited to have meaningful conversations around the issues which students today face.”

Since graduating from Colby-Sawyer, Basnyat has taught psychology research methods at the University of Rhode Island, and previously worked as a health economics and outcomes research intern for Pfizer. Basnyat is currently a Ph.D. candidate in psychology at the University of Rhode Island.

“As the United States and higher education in particular work to embrace real systemic change in equality, recent alumni like Bonita can bring fresh ideas and perspective to the board’s work on these vital issues,” Chair of the Colby-­Sawyer College Board of Trustees Lisa Hogarty said. ® Michael Pezone is the assistant director of the Office of Marketing & Communications. He holds a B.A. in journalism from Keene State College.

FALL 2020

9

COMMENCEMENT

2020 Graduates Reflect on Virtual Celebration

by Michael Pezone

C

olby-Sawyer's 182nd Commencement sounded a lot like previous ceremonies held over the years. There was the reverberating sound of bagpipes, the rhythmic cadence of Colgate’s iconic bell and of course the ever-inspiring words of wisdom from faculty and graduates alike.

But for the Class of 2020, and the hundreds who would’ve otherwise been in attendance to cheer on their graduate, this year’s ceremony was anything but typical.

Instead, as COVID-19 continued to throw a wrench in plans for graduations, weddings and even political conventions across the nation, Colby-Sawyer made the decision to hold a virtual Commencement.

And while the hour-plus long event, which could be viewed from the college’s website or on YouTube, followed the same program as previous in-person Commencements ­— awards and the issuing of diplomas included — nothing could replace the feeling of celebrating together on campus.

But just as they had through the college’s shift to remote learning in the spring, the Class of 2020 embraced the change in plans with an open mind.

Some made the most of the opportunity and took in the ceremony in their own creative way.

10

COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

“My family and I had a barbecue in my backyard the day of the ceremony. We set up a projector in our gazebo that was connected to a laptop and projected the ceremony onto a sheet hanging inside. I was disappointed not to be able to share the day with my classmates, but it was nice to be able to celebrate with my family who have been so supportive over the last four years.” kaitlin bernashe ’20, biology

“I watched the ceremony on “My sister and I watched the my couch with my parents ceremony from our apartand little sister. I had my ment in Baltimore. I watched computer open on my lap it on my laptop as I had yet and was live-texting in a to purchase a TV. I was Snapgroup with all my friends. We chatting classmates were actually laughing throughout the ceremony because we were totally able [and] had my parents and to talk more than we would brother on the phone from have if it had been in person.

Ethiopia. Even though they After the ceremony, I went weren’t with me in person, it on Zoom to meet with some was heartwarming to celeof my classmates and Dr. brate my graduation day with Kathleen Farrell, and then I the people I love and care virtually hung out with my friends to round out the day.” about.” anna masters ’20, sociology nathnael feleke ’20, nursing

“I watched the ceremony from home with my mom, sister, aunt and cousins. We connected a laptop to the TV and all sat in the living room together. My aunt made a few special dishes and we had a small cookout.

Being able to share that moment with my family is something I’ll always remember.” nichelle cousin ’20, sociology

opposite page:

Hannah Collins ’20 is recorded by a production crew as she performs the National Anthem for the college’s virtual Commencement ceremony. this page, clockwise from top left: Kaitlin Bernashe ’20 stands with her diploma next to a projection of the college’s virtual Commencement ceremony; School of Business & Social Sciences Professor Patrick D. Anderson gives the Call to Order to officially begin the ceremony; Nichelle Cousin ’20 poses in her cap and gown outside her home in Cambridge, Mass.; Nathnael Feleke ’20 (l) looks over an outline of events alongside Vice President and Dean of Students Robin Burroughs Davis; Eryk Bean plays the bagpipes during the Processional portion of the ceremony.

FALL 2020

11

GOING REMOTE: What Student Internships Looked Like from Home

by Ashley Vajentic ’21

D

uring the spring semester, creative writing and communication studies double major Ashley Vajentic ’21 worked as a social media and marketing intern for the Center for the Arts-Lake Sunapee Region (CFA) in New London, attending board meetings, assisting with public events and photographing gallery openings, concerts, plays and poetry contests for social media.

When in-person gatherings were canceled in March due to COVID-19, Vajentic continued helping the CFA remotely by keeping its social media and online presence alive, communicating through email and attending virtual monthly meetings.

“It was nice to remain connected, even if only through screens,” Vajentic said.

Vajentic wasn’t the only student whose internship went remote. Psychology major Isabelle Lovett ’20 completed her internship with Family Promise of Greater Concord, a nonprofit organization that helps homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence. Before the pandemic, Lovett worked in the office, attending provider meetings, facilitating in-person intake sessions and reaching out to local agencies and businesses to garner potential support.

By the end of March, however, Lovett was forced to shift to a remote internship structure. Instead of in-person meetings, Lovett met with coworkers via Zoom to discuss

12

COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

families in the program and how they were faring amid the pandemic. She wrote several grant proposals from home, created surveys for volunteers and managed the organization’s social media accounts.

“Interning at Family Promise was an incredible learning experience,” Lovett said. “All my hours interning, whether they were in person or remote, have molded me into a more wellrounded and open-minded student.”

“All my hours interning, whether they were in person or remote, have molded me into a more well-rounded and open-minded student.”

Business administration major Clare Brady ’21, who interned with Canary Systems in New London, was also forced to complete her internship remotely. Brady said she was fortunate in that she could complete much of her accounting work easily from home. She was provided a Canary Systems laptop that could access the company’s server, allowing her remote access to her office desktop.

“The transition was fast and quite easy,” Brady said. “My department also conducted daily group phone meetings to make sure we all stayed connected and on the same page.

Overall, conducting almost half of my internship remotely was surprisingly very doable.”

WHEN

thursday, april 16, 2020 by ethan sabatella ‘20

Today I had an appointment with my employer and mentor, Caren Baldwin-Dimeo, concerning my capstone critical component. At the end, she talked about seeing each other again and said, “if,” but corrected herself and said, “when.” Often people now say, “This too will pass,” but the question remains as, “when?” The “when” of the end seems so mysterious, since all seem to be losing their heads because they don’t know “when.” I know I will meet my friends again, not just see them on the screen; I just don’t know “when.”

Alexis Morgan ’20, a child development major, completed her internship as a student teacher with Canaan Elementary School in Canaan, N.H. Her original role involved assisting her mentor and helping out in the classroom. Morgan taught lessons and learned from her mentor teacher until the pandemic hit and everything went virtual.

After that, Morgan held daily morning meetings with first graders who had access to Zoom. She kept them engaged by assigning them different jobs, such as telling jokes or finding fun facts for the class.

What if we were to not quantify “when?” Rather than have “when” mean an exact date or time, what if it were an oath? A promise that “if” can turn into “when?” Where we know that something good can happen, but all we can do is move toward it without knowing the day or time it will happen? This idea of “when” can apply to more than the isolation — it can be the mastery of a skill, the meeting of a significant other, the winning of a prize. We should not put dates and times on our goals, but also know that they will not just come to us; we must go to them to get what we want. Just know what you want will happen when you strive for it.

Outside of their short online sessions and to accommodate students who couldn’t access Zoom, Morgan sent students homework packets for reading, math, social studies and science. Parents snapped pictures and sent them to Morgan so she could grade the work. Although her internship ended before Canaan’s summer break, Morgan continued to volunteer to support the first graders and finish out the school year.

Despite sudden changes brought about by COVID-19, so many people and places adapted how they do business. Internships can be just as valuable and inspiring remotely, and connections and relationships can still be formed through computers and phones. ® Ashley Vajentic ’21, of Conway, N.H., is pursuing majors in creative writing and communication studies.

Ethan Sabatella ’20 has a B.A. in creative writing and is enrolled in Saint Francis Xavier University’s Celtic Studies Postgraduate Program in Nova Scotia, Canada.

This is an excerpt from his journal. The above narrative is an excerpt from an informal assignment in which humanities majors were asked to document their experience as a Colby-Sawyer College student amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Entries have been archived to provide a lasting record of how COVID-19 impacted the college and its students.

FALL 2020

13

Student Aid Emergency Fund

saef

Last spring, members of the Colby-Sawyer community came together to establish the Student Aid Emergency Fund in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gifts to this fund are pooled to help students with short-term, nonrecurring financial emergencies including travel assistance, uncovered emergency medical expenses and other unforeseen costs resulting in hardship.

Thanks to many of you, the Student Aid Emergency Fund is now in place to help students today and well into the future.

Want to learn more? Head to colby-sawyer.edu/give-now or call 800.266.8253.

Six Students’ Safe Haven Ashley Vajentic ’21

As Colby-Sawyer College transitioned to remote learning after Spring Break, six students, mostly international, remained on campus.

These students experienced a time at Colby-Sawyer unlike any other.

“We each had our own suites with bathrooms, so social distancing wasn’t a problem,” biology major Hanna Degefu ’20 said. “The dining hall was great in accommodating everyone’s needs. It was comforting to have familiar foods and snacks available anytime.”

Degefu said remote classes and keeping in touch with family in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was easy with the college’s wireless internet. Staff members in Residential Education helped students feel less isolated by organizing get-togethers, such as walks on the quad or Netflix watch parties, and everyone from Campus Safety to housekeeping did their part to keep students healthy and happy.

Graphic design major Laksh Balloo ’21, from the Republic of Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, said he didn’t mind living on campus during the initial days of the pandemic. When not doing school work, he passed the time by sleeping, watching shows and playing video games with friends. Balloo said he enjoyed not having to leave his residence hall for class, but eventually found himself struggling with the lack of a normal routine.

With final exams, daily video calls with friends and family in China and a summer internship at the campus store, business administration major Yashu Yang ’21 remained as busy as ever. She said she had already adapted to remote learning since most of her classes were online to begin with, so the adjustment was fairly easy.

Psychology major Kristin Landry ’23 said she enjoyed her class with School of Arts & Sciences Adjunct Professor Beth Krajewski the most. Landry said Krajewski set aside time for students to check in on their mental health and well-being, which Landry found helpful.

“We had a self-care discussion board every week on Moodle and it was our time to make sure everyone in the

class was doing alright and to ask for help if we needed it,” said Landry, who is from Bristol, Vt. Business administration major Dibin Sainju ’21 of Kathmandu, Nepal, said he kept a consistent routine of attending remote classes, taking walks and going for a run if the weather was nice. He also read books and watched documentaries to keep his mind active. Sainju said he felt lucky to be living on campus and considered it the perfect place to stay safe during a pandemic.

“In New London, we have a lot of places to walk around and do stuff,” Sainju said. “I think it’s the first time for me that living in a suburb has been more stimulating than living in a city.” ®

QUARANTINE DESIGNS While quarantining on campus during the spring semester, graphic design major Laksh Balloo ’21 created a set of icons symbolizing “my status during quarantine.” From the Republic of Mauritius, Balloo wasn’t able to return home when the college emptied out last March. An athlete and artist, Balloo described his solitary time on campus as “really helpful for my creativity. There was little distraction, fewer responsibilities outside of doing things I like to do — like designing.”

For public health major Monika Adhikari ’23, of Lalitpur, Nepal, remote classes proved stressful.

Adhikari said her workload increased with the transition to remote classes, though she still found time to stay active by walking around campus.

FALL 2020

15

WALKING THE TALK

by Jennifer White ‘90 Colby-Sawyer Collaborates to Address Food Insecurity Many local organizations have worked diligently to alleviate temporary food insecurity and improve the long-term resiliency of our food system by offering emergency assistance, fostering beneficial relationships, providing local products and creating educational opportunities. The unprecedented social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have intensified many of those existing regional challenges and revealed the fragile nature of our dependence on a global food system and supply chain.

A rapid and collective response was needed to strengthen the capacity of our current community support networks and ensure availability of necessary resources for all — specifically, access to healthy food. FEED Kearsarge (Food Expansion Education Distribution) is a collaborative network of organizations committed to nourishing our community by feeding and empowering ourselves and our neighbors.

The growing list of partners includes Colby-Sawyer College, Spring Ledge Farm, Kearsarge Food Hub/Sweet Beet (KFH), Kearsarge Neighborhood Partners (KNP), Kearsarge Lake Sunapee Community Food Pantry and New London Hospital. FEED Kearsarge’s initiatives are designed to enhance the immediate health of residents in crisis, while also promoting the perennial well-being of a regional food system and a robust local economy. opposite:

Environmental science major Cassandra Lashier ’21 tends to the college’s Permaculture Garden, an organic garden and nursery located on Colby-Sawyer’s 200-acre campus.

16

COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

Spring Ledge Farm and Colby-­ Sawyer’s own Main Street Garden will oversee the cultivation of crops most

in demand by food pantries, schools and New London Hospital’s Food Rx program. These “extra” rows, totaling more than an acre of land and at least 1,000 pounds, will primarily feature root crops, which would be available to recipients long after the growing season is over. KNP will help raise funds for materials and identify paid assistants and volunteers who would help tend the designated land and process and deliver produce when it’s ready. And the Food Hub will help coordinate the aggregation and distribution of food to local pantries and the hospital program.

Via the “Tray it Forward” program, participants in Spring Ledge Farm’s annual Seed Sowing Workshop have donated 250 trays of seedlings for easy planting by essential medical workers and families with stretched finances.

Spring Ledge split the cost of the trays with donors, and Vermont Compost Company and Pleasant View Gardens contributed planting materials.

Kearsarge Food Hub and Colby-­ Sawyer students will offer educational materials and technical training to empower more at-home food production and preservation. Inspired by historic “Victory Garden” programs, they will also provide sample garden planting designs to help families be more successful and self-sufficient.

The Food Hub and the college will also run a pilot program where they will establish three model “Victory Gardens” at the elementary school, food pantry and apartments. Interested donors and volunteers for FEED Kearsarge should contact Kearsarge Neighborhood Partners at knpnh.org.

COLBY-SAWYER DOES IT AGAIN! 50% Carbon Reduction Milestone Met In its Climate Action Plan, Colby-­Sawyer committed to a 50% reduction in its carbon emissions by 2015. And for the fourth year in a row, the college has met that benchmark. In 2010, the college began purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for 100% of its electricity consumption, drastically reducing its overall emissions and earning it annual recognition in the EPA’s Green Power Partnership. In 2012, a grant from NH Pay for Performance helped support a comprehensive campus-wide energy efficiency project.

Through a combination of continued and expanded behavioral interventions, conservation measures, and investments in sustainable carbon offset projects, Colby-Sawyer is now on track to hit its 70% reduction goal in 2020.

SUSTAINABLE BITES: Colby-Sawyer Earns Green Restaurant Certification Lethbridge Lodge and Ware Dining Hall were recently recognized as Level 1 Certified Green Restaurants®. Colby-Sawyer College and Parkhurst Dining took many steps that helped to qualify these locations for this designation, including installing energy and water efficient equipment, offering reusable to-go containers, composting food waste, using nontoxic cleaning products, purchasing organic and sustainably-farmed produce, selecting humanely-raised/hormone-free meats and eggs, and offering vegetarian and vegan options with every meal.

Students Partner with Stakeholders for Community Resilience The landscape of sustainability within higher education has expanded from emission reductions on campuses (mitigation) to include resilience and capacity building in partnership with the communities in which institutions are embedded (adaptation). Colby-­ Sawyer responded to this global shift with an addendum to its original Climate Action Plan called the Blueprint for Resilience and Innovation.

This year environmental science and studies students in the Community-Based Research Project took the first steps toward implementing the Blueprint through collaboration with New London Hospital, the town of New London, and the college. Students analyzed local data and regional best practices and developed recommendations regarding agricultural land preservation, increasing food security, socially responsible investing, stormwater management projects and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. ® Check out the weekly meal plan the students developed: kearsargefoodhub.org/sweet-beet-market

Jennifer White ’90 is the director of sustainability and innovation at ColbySawyer College, where she collaborates with stakeholders to implement policies, initiatives and curricula that promote sustainability and resilience on campus and within the greater community.

FALL 2020

17

A MEDICAL JOURNEY Ben Maines ’18: Following His Passions

by Donna S. Long

D “It’s a scary time, but I’m excited to take a role in shaping the future on the other side.”

Ben Maines ’18 tests novel anti-cancer peptides at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. Maines worked with Dr. Jamie Jukosky to inve stigate potential new ways to kill cancer cells.

uring these uncertain times, pandemic only further galvanized his Ben Maines ’18 is sure of one choice. thing: following his heart and pursuing things that he’s passionate “A global health challenge this enorabout will lead him to happiness and mous is a little bit daunting,” Maines success. This is his mantra, and, so far, said. “As I get ready to start medical it has led him to some very interesting school, the coronavirus crisis has places ­— the latest being Stanford forced me to think more about health Medical School, where this fall he systems and the challenges and began studying medicine. inequalities that ours is rife with. It’s a scary time, but I’m excited to take a While at Colby-Sawyer, Maines took role in shaping the future on the other advantage of many opportunities, side.” and it was a service trip to Nepal and Maines said that he is going into a summer research internship in a lab medical school with an open mind at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical and using it as a time to explore.

Center in Lebanon, N.H., that he believes helped shape him into the “My only predilection at this point is person he is today. that I think I will enjoy becoming more “The internship led to a job as a cancer of a generalist, something along the lines of pediatrics, family medicine or research assistant after graduation, general surgery,” Maines said. and the service trip inspired a job abroad in Sri Lanka teaching English Maines may not know what the future for several months,” Maines said. holds for him, but he said he knows he will find his way naturally.

When Maines came to Colby-Sawyer, he had no intention of furthering his “While I was in school, and ever since, education in medical school.

I’ve really just been pursuing what I “Sometimes it’s hard to put a finger on love doing, whether that meant taking the classes and electives that just how it is that you got to where sounded interesting, doing summer you are,” he said. “And it’s easy to want to look back and ascribe success biomedical research and mentorship, or moving to Sri Lanka to teach to one experience or opportunity.

English,” he said. “Along the way, the That said, I’ll always owe my success skills and interests that have helped to the people I met along the way at me to be successful in the things that Colby-Sawyer: professors who chalI’ve chosen to pursue have developed lenged me to think deeply and engage beyond the classroom; faculty organically. I worked hard, no doubt, but always at things that I’m paswho challenged me to take chances sionate about, which has kept it from and to create; mentors who chalfeeling like work.” ® lenged me to nurture my humanity and empathy; and others who led and taught by example. ” Although Maines’ decision to enter a career in medicine occurred before the existence of COVID-19, the

18

COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

Donna Shepard Long is the communications and marketing coordinator for Advancement.

She holds a B.A. in communications from Syracuse University.

F DIVERSITY TASK FORCE

by Gregg Mazzola

John Lewis’ New York Times opinion piece “Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation,”was installed in the dining hall.

ollowing the May killing of George Floyd and the ensuing protests by the Black Lives Matter movement to address social injustice in the United States, Colby-­Sawyer College took an introspective look at its own social justice policies and procedures. What emerged was an opportunity to create a task force committed to a campus climate that welcomes, values and represents equity, diversity and inclusion. Colby-­ Sawyer believes that a diverse community is critical to the emotional, psychological and intellectual growth of faculty, staff and students.

Colby-Sawyer College community safer for faculty, staff and students.

To serve as reminders of the task force’s and the Colby-Sawyer community’s work to be done, stenciled Black Lives Matters imprints have been placed around campus, and former congressman and civil rights activist John Lewis’ New York Times opinion piece “Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation” has been emblazoned in the dining hall.

“Our goal is that these outcomes will be evident at every level of the college.”

The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Task Force is a joint faculty, staff, alumni and student-led committee.

The focus of the EDI Task Force will be The task force’s mission is to assess the on ongoing community education about issues of bias, prejudice, stereocurrent state of equity, diversity and typing and discrimination; constructive inclusion on campus; investigate and dialogues about the discrimination of recommend implementation of the minority groups; and creating strucbest practices to increase diversity on tures, policies and practices that campus, including underrepresented promote interconnectedness, incluand discriminated groups; and make sion and a sense of belonging in our both short- and long-term recommencommunity. dations to the college’s Senior Leadership Team to institutionalize equitable “Our goal is that these outcomes will and inclusive policies and make the be evident at every level of the college,” said Lynn Garrioch, psychology professor and chair of the task force. “Colby-Sawyer College values equity, diversity and inclusion, but it, like many colleges, has fallen short.

Our goal is to make our faculty, staff and students feel welcomed, respected and supported to fully participate in our community. The task force will review and recommend changes, when necessary, to our structures, policies and practices to promote equity, interconnectedness and inclusion. When this task force disbands, we hope we have a permanent equity, diversity and inclusion office on campus.” ® Gregg Mazzola is the vice president for the Office of Marketing & Communications. He holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of Dayton and a M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University.

FALL 2020

19

What’s Our Why?

By Jennifer White ‘90

A

above:

This compass concept emerged from the 2019 addendum to the college’s climate action plan and points to the heart of Colby-Sawyer’s long history of resilience and meaningful impact: Tradition, Innovation, Self and Service. You can explore Colby-Sawyer’s Blueprint for Resilience and Innovation at colby-sawyer.edu/sustainability.

uthor Simon Sinek states, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” Organizations with a clearly embodied purpose benefit not only through higher profits, but also from greater employee and customer engagement and more focused strategic priorities.

majors and departments. The “C-S-C” is designed to adapt to varying contexts. For example, the Wellness Committee used it to promote a COVID-19 kindness campaign: Chargers. Spreading. Compassion.

Imagine a banner for Mountain Day: Climb. Summit. Celebrate.

Last fall, an interdisciplinary task force at Colby-­Sawyer College set out to answer the question, “What’s CSC’s Why?” Through research, exercises, surveys and outreach with students, faculty and staff, our community worked together to narrow in on Colby-­Sawyer’s North Star.

Colby-Sawyer’s new tagline — “Explore. Connect. Make a Difference.”

— reflects the personalized and transformational journey fostered at our “home on the hill.” We explore passions and possibilities, connect with each other and what matters most, and then learn to put it all into meaningful practice to make a difference wherever we go. There are many ways to share the hashtag and tagline, including on t-shirts, email signatures, giant wall motifs and nursing scrubs.

This collaborative process revealed that three layers of meaning would help capture and articulate the essence of Colby-Sawyer to different audiences: an internal hashtag campaign, an institutional purpose statement and an external tagline. All of these would align with Colby-Sawyer’s strategic plan, core identity, culture and emerging curricular and co-curricular initiatives.

The hashtag “#whatsyourcsc” is a flexible moniker that encourages creativity from individual students,

CHANGE AND UNCERTAINTY have become commonplace within higher education and around the globe, and to survive and thrive in that unpredictable context, individuals and organizations must strike a balance between tradition and innovation.

Colby-­Sawyer’s long history is the embodiment of that flexibility and resilience. Over and over again, it has demonstrated both a commitment to the essential aspects that give the college its familiar identity and a

20

COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

Our purpose statement, Colby-­ Sawyer’s own “why,” expresses why we exist and what we seek to do best as individuals and collectively: “To discover our potential to build a better world.” This compass point can guide the development of policies, practices and partnerships that keep us climbing toward that summit, day in and day out, year after year.

willingness to embrace unfamiliar approaches that have redefined its future.

During this process, the college can also become a model for the integration of self and service, as it deliberately designs opportunities for students and employees to realize their unique purpose and potential, while simultaneously helping them to understand the vital role they each play in the achievement of the local, and global, common good.

Leading the Charge, No Matter What

by Ashley Vajentic ’21

guidance. That’s something that we really try Throughout his four years at Colby-­Sawyer to do. We try to be a conduit of information.

College, business administration major We try to reach out to people.”

Bronsen Stevens ’20 was the embodiment of involvement and leadership on campus. A Stevens said that while he was certainly disapmember of the Alpha Chi National Honor pointed he couldn’t spend the final weeks of Society and Presidential Blue Key Society, an his college career with friends, the shift to ambassador for the Offices of Admissions remote learning reinforced to him and his and Advancement and president of the classmates that they have the tools necessary Student Government Association (SGA) — Stevens proudly held all these titles and more. to persevere through adversity. And that’s something, Stevens added, that’s typically Even as the unexpected occurred and the not taught in the classroom. college transitioned to remote learning in March, Stevens maintained his efforts as a role model for the Colby-­Sawyer community. “Obviously, it’s not exactly how anyone pictured it,” Stevens said of the spring semester.

“In fact, I don’t think anyone could’ve guessed His outreach stemmed mostly from his position as SGA president. Once the organization our college careers would’ve ended this way.

But I think it just goes to show that nothing in realized the hiatus from in-person learning life is ever how you plan it to be, and that’s wouldn’t be a short one, SGA brainstormed okay. You have to be willing to roll with the efficient methods to remain connected. With punches.”

Stevens at the forefront, SGA “... nothing in life became more involved on Stevens added that even though his final is ever how you social media, utilizing Instasemester was cut a bit short, he left Colby-­ gram Live to host quesplan it to be, tion-and-answer sessions, as Sawyer with no regrets. In fact, he even had a and that’s okay.” well as Zoom and other digital full-time job waiting for him after graduation. channels to communicate with That’s because his internship with the Portland, Maine, branch of KeyBank – a Fortune students. In addition, Stevens met with 500 bank – went so well that he was offered a Colby-­Sawyer President Susan D. Stuebner job pending the completion of his degree. biweekly to discuss student concerns and to act as the link between the administration “I feel like I got the full experience,” Stevens and the student body. said. “I had a great internship that led to a job and I had all these great leadership roles.

“I really enjoyed my position in leadership Even though things didn’t end the way we being student government president,” thought they would, I still feel like I had a Stevens said. “I enjoyed helping people.

That’s the reason why I got into the job. Espe- great experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” ® cially in times like this, people are looking for those answers and people need that

FALL 2020

21

COLBY-SAWYER ALUMNI: ON THE FRONT LINES OF COVID-19 Reporting by Gregg Mazzola

Healthcare workers in general, and nurses in particular, have long been associated with a chaotic and frenetic work environment. Stress is part of the job and coping is a required skill. Perhaps those traits have never been tested more than during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Front-line workers have become today’s heroes cloaked in scrubs. Colby-Sawyer College healthcare alumni are making their mark around the region, playing caretaker, friend, support staff and provider to patients desperately in need of care and attention at a time when their health is also at risk.

22

COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

KIM FISH RUMRILL ’84 genomic technologist dartmouth - hitchcock medical center

“We now have to wear masks all day at work from the minute we step into the building until we leave at night.

Analysts working directly with the COVID samples wear hospital scrubs that they can change out of before they go home, and everyone leaves a pair of shoes at work so that the virus doesn’t get tracked home.

“Getting out a large number of samples when needed is really important. We are currently pushing out 96 samples each hour and we do four runs a day. Being able to get large results in 24 hours is critical to our effort. People [need to] find out much sooner if they have the virus because they might be pregnant or are waiting on surgeries. That makes me feel good that we can get answers sooner to help them make important decisions.”

HEIDI THOMA BERGERON ’87 registered nurse — emergency room, winchester hospital “I am working as an ER nurse in Massachusetts. I graduated from the Colby-­Sawyer nursing program in 1987. This is certainly the strangest and most stressful time in my 32 years as a nurse. The men and women I work with are fighting the good fight every day, though we all hope things can get back to somewhat normal soon.

“I think the most inspiring moment so far was on April 29 when we discharged a patient who had COVID-19.

To see people who are really sick, and then we get to send them home, feels really rewarding.

“I cared for a woman in her 60s who tested negative but was treated as though she had COVID. She was intubated the next day and then she ended up on a respirator for 2 1/2 weeks, which is a long time. Since then, she was sent to a rehab facility and she continues to do well. That was a good ending.

“I love to see it when people pay attention to medical advice and wear their gloves and face masks. It’s really discouraging when people aren’t paying attention, for me as a nurse. It puts me and the people around us in danger.”

“Everyone leaves a pair of shoes at work so that the virus doesn’t get tracked home.”

opposite:

above:

Kim Fish Rumrill ’84.

Heidi Thoma Bergeron ’87.

FALL 2020

23

“These patients don’t always have someone to talk to and the support we provide can make their lives a lot less stressful.”

KRISTEN ORVIS SALTER ’95 health services administrator vergennes residential care

“What I’m most proud of is when I get a thank you from a family member after telling them of monthly updates and notifications. I’ll provide an update on their loved ones and their activities. We try extremely hard to keep the normalcy in the building. I love it when I can bring a resident to the porch so they can wave to their loved ones.

“We had admitted a new resident and her granddaughter had brought her over from a nursing home to our assisted living facility. I saw them across the street sitting in the park and having lunch. I went over to bring them to our facility. The granddaughter told me that she had not seen her grandmother in over four months, so I told them to take their time. These are people, as they get older, their family may never see again. The granddaughter said they had such a narrow window of opportunity to spend time with her. I had tears in my eyes. I wanted to give them the time they needed.”

ASHLEY MIKKILA ’18 population health coordinator reliant medical group

“I’ve been working on the front lines with COVID-19 patients. We have testing set up for patients with respiratory issues, such as difficulty breathing. I find my work really rewarding because these patients don’t always have someone to talk to and the support we provide can make their lives a lot less stressful.

“We had one gentleman in his 40s who came with severe back problems and because of COVID-19, his surgery was postponed. We were able to set up future video appointments with him. This was a man who was living alone and not working.

Knowing that I could help him get on track and be a lot less stressed was extremely satisfying.”

this page, left: Kristen Orvis Salter ’95, above: Ashley Mikkila ’18 opposite, top: Chris Charles ’19, bottom: Phuong Vo ’17.

24

COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

CHRIS CHARLES ’19 registered nurse, medical

intensive care unit dartmouth - hitchcock medical center

PHUONG VO ’17 staff nurse brigham and women’s hospital

courtesy dartmouth - hitchcock

“Many COVID-19 patients develop symptoms of depression from the “We would leave work but we’d lack of socialization, so it’s so always take our experiences home important now to provide emotional with us. Families are not allowed in support to patients when we can. the hospital for COVID patients, so We’re trying to connect patients with we are constantly updating families the nursing staff and their family by phone. This starts to weigh on through phones and iPads. I you because these are private remember having a non-Englishmoments for the families to share. speaking patient, and he was very quiet most of the time. The staff was “We had a particularly sick patient very good about using the interwho we would FaceTime with their preter to help him understand his family. It was brutal, emotionally. The plan of care and call his daughter to family was so emotional and disupdate her on how the patient was. traught. They’re crying and I’m trying When I came to his room, I casually not to cry. asked if he had talked to any of his family, and he told me he had not “This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime situtalked to them since his daughter ation. This has solidified my thoughts brought him to the emergency room. and beliefs on compassion and He was very weak, so I helped him empathy for a nurse. The importance dial his daughter’s number and hold of simply brushing someone’s hair, the phone to his ear. I also used the that’s not clinical in nature, for iPad interpreter to make sure the instance. It’s reinforced this belief in patient and his daughter got through to each other. being a bedside nurse. There’s an understanding of the roles and unique position we play at the “Another time I had a patient who bedside.” wanted to listen to music so he could sleep at night. I put on some music on the hospital TV, but he was not impressed. I asked him for his permission to use his phone for YouTube, and I was able to put on a playlist of “This has solidified the kind of music that he liked. He my thoughts was able to sleep well that night with the music on, and the next night and beliefs when I came in, he told me, ’thank on compassion you for being my friend last night.’ and empathy.”

When I first knew I would be on a COVID unit, I was afraid, not knowing what to expect. But as I come to work now, I’m glad I can still provide the best care that I can to help patients during this difficult time.” ®

FALL 2020

25

PROVIDING A SENSE OF COMFORT: How the Colby-Sawyer Community Stepped Up Amid an Unprecedented Pandemic

by Michael Pezone

Gail Spaulding York ’73 understands the value of community. It’s the reason she chose to study at small, close-knit Colby Junior College as a 17-year-old and the reason she went on to follow in her father’s footsteps as a New Hampshire business owner.

Even now, with her professional career mostly in the review mirror, the self-described “team mom” of YORK Athletics, MFG., a third-generation family-owned footwear company, Gail is still making an impact on those around her. That’s because way back in March, when COVID-19 was only beginning to dominate the news cycle and overwhelm hospitals, YORK Athletics decided to turn a blind eye to profits in order to provide a sense of comfort for those on the front lines of the pandemic.

courtesy of york athletics, mfg.

The Boston-based company, of which Gail’s son, Dylan York, serves as the marketing and community coordinator, announced that for every pair of their iconic shoe, “The Gail,” sold – named after, you guessed it – a second pair would be donated to a frontline worker on behalf of the buyer. By mid-November, YORK Athletics had donated more than 1,000 pairs to healthcare workers and community service providers across the country.

“We knew there were so many people out there who could benefit from something like this, so I think right away it was a no-brainer,” said Gail, whose father Henry Spaulding founded the Indian Head Shoe Manufacturing Company in Manchester, N.H., in 1946. “We know the quality of our footwear and how comfortable they are, so when you think about how often these essential workers are on their feet with the amount of hours they’re working, it just all tied in together.

It’s been a great way to express gratitude for what they’re doing.”

Front-line workers pose with shoes donated by YORK Athletics.

Here are some of the other ways members of the Colby-­Sawyer community have stepped up to help others amid the pandemic: Lauryn Masse ’21 volunteered with NH Responds, an emergency response team of healthcare professionals, covering staffing shortages in long-term care facilities, including a unit in which all residents were COVID-19-positive.

Ann Preston Roselle ‘98 has been volunteering for Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America, taking calls and answering questions from people with a diagnosis or their family members. Call responses range from managing a crisis to directing people to the organization’s support groups.

Natalie Hartwell Thrasher ’80 used her love of cooking to help her elderly neighbors and her daughters’ young families. She started doing “Drive-by Dinners” once a week, boxing up and delivering six family suppers.

Marc Wysocki ’94 serves as a lieutenant with the Sheffield, Mass., Volunteer Fire Department. During the shutdown, he worked on five-person teams on 12-hour shifts responding to medical and fire calls to minimize exposure for firefighters.

Janet Spurr ’76 has used her business Hope and Words (hopeandwords. com) to feature face masks, face shields and hand sanitizers and has given these products to nurses. She also volunteered helping two elderly members of her church, Trinity Church Boston, to join remote services.

Dan Berry ’94 , executive director of the South Shore YMCA Emilson Branch, did his part during the pandemic by helping to deliver meals to those in need.

Susan Carroll Hassett ’79, CEO and founder of Cocktail Sneakers LLC received a surprise package filled with several hundred face masks from the women who make her sneakers in a female-owned factory in China. Susan and Cocktail Sneakers promptly donated all of the masks to Rosie’s Place, a women’s shelter in Boston.

Darlene Chamberlain ’80 became a member of the pen pal program at the Sullivan County Health Care facility. The program is designed to lift the spirits of residents who deal with isolation during the pandemic.

Darlene makes her own cards and has so many that she’s going to start sending them to their activity department to pass on to the residents.

In the wake of the pandemic, Nicole Horgan ’07 began making masks for her immediate family and friends. Her network grew quickly and by early June she had made 633 masks! She posted on her personal and local community social media pages and reached out to local vendors. Eventually, she started a Facebook Group, Masked In Style, to better manage the requests.

When her regular work with Reliant Medical Group halted during the shutdown, Ashley Mikkila ’18 had the opportunity to shift her focus and help out in one of four COVID-19 testing and respiratory tents. She also placed outreach calls to patients to ensure they had everything they needed.

Celena Salvo ‘20 hand-sewed more than 50 fabric masks and distributed them to residents in Philadelphia, Pa. She also volunteered with Food Not Bombs West Philly, a nonprofit that redistributes gleaned produce and nonperishables to people in need.

They supplied more than 100 houses with fresh produce and bread.

In the early days of the pandemic, when supplies were scarce, Colby-­ Sawyer donated supplies including masks, shields, hand sanitizer, gloves, and goggles to Dartmouth-­Hitchcock Medical Center, New London Fire Department and New London Hospital.

School of Nursing & Health Sciences Assistant Professor Lisa Purvis donated five yards of material to Woodstock, Vt., upholstery company Got it Covered as it produced masks for local hospitals. Lisa also provided financial support to the Thompson Senior Center’s Meals on Wheels program and worked with a local crafter to donate masks to its volunteers.

Colby-Sawyer Dining, an affiliate of Parkhurst Dining, donated gloves and aprons to help the Kearsarge Regional School District serve its students throughout the shutdown through its Brown Bag Breakfast and Lunch To Go Program. ®

Over the years, School of Arts & Sciences Professor Jon Keenan and his ceramics students have raised funds through Empty Bowls events.

In September, Colby-Sawyer’s Empty Bowls project made a $750 donation to the New Hampshire Food Bank to support its mission of feeding the hungry during COVID-19.

FALL 2020

27

Outgoing Professors Adapt to Remote Learning

by Donna S. Long PATRICK ANDERSON

School of Arts & Sciences Professors Patrick Anderson and Ann Page Stecker have taught a combined 80-plus years at Colby-­ Sawyer College. They worked under five college presidents and saw the school expand from an all-women’s campus to a coeducational institution. They began their Colby-Sawyer careers using typewriters, blackboards, landline telephones and mimeograph machines, and ended them using laptops, PowerPoint, cellphones and scanning devices. They saw many changes over the past 40 years, but nothing could have prepared them for their last six weeks at the college.

Professor Patrick Anderson came to Colby-­ Sawyer in September of 1977. Early in his career, Anderson took a leave from Colby-­ Sawyer to become a visiting professor at his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, in Indiana. He was subsequently offered a job at Notre Dame, but decided to move back to New Hampshire and return to Colby-Sawyer.

“It was a difficult decision to make, but I decided to stay here because we loved raising our young children in New Hampshire and because Colby-Sawyer’s focus on undergraduate teaching best fit my own talents and passions,” Anderson said.

“Because of its small size, I was able to create and teach numerous courses and add to the curriculum in some substantive ways.”

As Anderson ended his tenure at Colby-­ Sawyer, he admitted the final six weeks were the most unprecedented of his long career at the college. Because of COVID-19, faculty had to quickly and radically shift their modes of instruction to remote teaching.

“Because of its small size, I was able to create and teach numerous courses and add to the curriculum in some substantive ways.”

Although Anderson had never taught remotely before – and had no inclination to do so – he admitted to loving the dynamics of the classroom during the last six weeks of his final semester.

“I feel I adapted pretty easily,” Anderson said.

“After learning how to use Zoom before we resumed classes after Spring Break, I plunged in and I must say it went really well.

All my courses were discussion-based, with some PowerPoint lectures, and I found I could use essentially the same pedagogy teaching remotely. After my original

28

COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

trepidation about finishing my final semester outside the comfort of my classrooms, I learned some new skills and felt very good about what students were learning – since they had to adapt, too.”

ANN PAGE STECKER Over the past 40 years of her career at Colby-­Sawyer College, School of Arts & Sciences Professor and Wesson Honors Coordinator Ann Page Stecker created thought-provoking courses, worked closely with students and produced stimulating honors classes. But the last six weeks of her career were the most challenging.

“The last six weeks of my final semester were the toughest times I had to navigate,” Stecker said. “The most difficult change was that I had to work and teach at home and not be able to sit across from my students and colleagues.”

“I wanted to offer them what the college had offered me in the Commencement-to-be: public recognition and praise not for me, but for them.”

Stecker was involved in a lot of change during her tenure at Colby-Sawyer — some that happened to her and some that she created on her own. In 2000, she approached then-President Anne Ponder and asked if she could create an honors program at the college.

Given the authority to move ahead, Stecker began forming the structure of what would eventually become the Wesson Honors Program.

Stecker is very proud of the students participating in the Wesson Honors Program. She said that even though the last semester posed many challenges, the work the students produced was exceptional. She said, “In the Wesson Honors Capstone, final student work was the best ever and its stimulation of brilliant new ideas will be published in a student-designed portfolio.”

In her final days at Colby-Sawyer, Stecker decided to put all her energy into praising the Wesson Honors Capstone participants for their contribution to the college.

“I wanted to offer them what the college had offered me in the Commencement-to-be: public recognition and praise not for me, but for them,” Stecker said. ®

opposite: School of Arts & Sciences Professor Patrick Anderson joined the college’s faculty in 1977 and quickly earned both the respect of his peers and admiration of his students. above: A prominent fixture of the college’s School of Arts & Sciences since 1980, Ann Page Stecker taught courses in environmental literature, autobiography, British literature, New England history and women’s literature.

FALL 2020

29

portfolio ,

publications exhibitions and awards

by Sarah Smith Creative writing graduate Cameron Bolling ’20 published two novels during his senior year — Skyborn in September 2019 and Seablood in April 2020. The books are the first two installments of a trilogy; the third book, Battle of the Horizon, is expected to be published sometime before the end of the year. Both books are available in eBook and paperback formats on Amazon.

Collin Bray ’06 recently published his first children’s book, Baby Broker: The Adventures of Caleb the Realtor. The book was in honor of, and a surprise gift for, his nephew Caleb on his first birthday.

This past spring, a tapestry woven by Meredith Bennett ’69 MT was accepted into the Fiber National 2020 exhibition at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Va.

anthology published by Edizioni Ensemble.

In June, several of her recent Polish-language poems were published in the Czas Literatury (Time of Literature) journal. Additionally, she has been invited to be featured on the Psychology Today blog, “One True Thing,” during the next year.

A poet currently living in Easton, Pa., Juditha Johnson Dowd ’62 published her fifth book of poetry in May through Rose Metal Press. Audubon’s Sparrow, a verse biography, is told in the voice of Lucy Bakewell, the naturalist John James Audubon’s remarkable young wife. It follows the couple through the extraordinary early years of their long relationship — a journey marked by heroism, poverty, perseverance and love amid the challenges of the American frontier. It provides an illuminating backstory to what would become Audubon’s acclaimed work, The Birds of America.

School of Arts & Sciences Associate Professor Ewa Chrusciel had an English-language poem selected for the anthology, Alone Together: Love, Grief, and Comfort During the Time of COVID-19. Alone Together, a collection of essays, poems and interviews, was published this summer by Central Avenue Publishing. She was also invited to submit selected poems written during the COVID-19 pandemic for an Italian

The Marion and Jasper Whiting Foundation awarded School of Arts & Sciences Professor Jon Keenan a fellowship to pursue research in Italian art and majolica ceramics, and to be a visiting artist at the Florence School of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy. Additionally, while on sabbatical in the fall, Keenan will return to the University of California, Los Angeles as a visiting professor at the George and Gerry Gregory Laboratory for Solid State Materials and will be featured in a solo exhibition at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts in Ojai, Calif.

30

COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

Psychology graduate Sarah Dow-Fleisner ’07 was recently named to the Kelowna (British Columbia, Canada) Chamber of Commerce 2020 Top 40 Under 40 list. While in the final year of her Ph.D. program in social work at Boston College, Dow-Fleisner was recruited for an assistant professor position at the University of British Columbia in the UBCO School of Social Work.

During her time at UBCO, Dow-Fleisner has co-led two major tri-council funded grants — one looking at youth health and well-being related to vaping and the other examining child welfare services — and has collaborated on several others. Dow-Fleisner also holds a master’s degree in child development from Tufts University.

Nursing graduate Ann Preston Roselle ’98 published “When the Provider Becomes the Patient” in the April issue of the Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services. Additionally, she was invited in February as a guest lecturer at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, where she spoke on the topic of psychosis and the lived experience.

This summer, School of Art & Sciences Dean Hilary Walrod was one of 79 female graphic designers invited to design a nonpartisan poster for the American Institute of Graphic Arts’ “Get Out The Women’s Vote” initiative. The posters will launch a broader nonpartisan initiative and were available for download and printing for use in exhibitions, events and rallies.

In lieu of an in-person artist talk, Nancy Sepe presented her work and process through a video presentation hosted by the Newport Art Museum in Newport, R.I. in April. Sepe was also part of a running video loop at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts in Lubbock, Tex. from June 5 to Aug. 1, and the Quarantine Project: Wildness for Others Orders, on funhi.org. Sepe is the senior graphic designer in the Office of Marketing & College Communications and an adjunct faculty member in the School of Arts & Sciences. Above, a still from Mukta, A Narrative in Three Acts (duration 00:02:24).

Greta Sanborn-Shepard ’90 earned her master’s degree in higher education from Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass., after completing her capstone, “Leading Transformational Change: Enhancing the Adjunct Faculty Experience Through Narrative and Relationship,” which focused on the under valued and under-utilized adjunct faculty population. In her capstone, Sanborn-Shepard demonstrated the importance of building a culture of support and success through a significant mindset shift, dedication of extensive resources, and visionary leadership to create cultural change.

FALL 2020

31

SPORTS NEWS

by Ryan Emerson

COPING WITH CANCELLATION The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on Colby-Sawyer student-athletes.

The baseball team had already left for its Spring Break trip to Florida, where it annually plays 25 percent of its schedule. The Chargers were able to play 11 games before the restrictions and cancellations occurred. “The news hit me and the other seniors incredibly hard,” Ben Lewis ’20 (Needham, Mass.) said.

Sophomore Orlando Plagata (Los Senior Alison Fairbairn (Dover, N.H.), Angeles, Calif.) and the men’s volleyan exercise science major, was a ball team had its season cut short member of the cross country and midway through the schedule. The track & field teams. The cross country Chargers were 11-6 in their second season culminated in the fall with a varsity season when play was halted. conference championship and the “Having the season canceled was indoor track & field season was comheartbreaking,” Plagata said. “We pleted, but the outdoor schedule was were at the peak of our season and scrapped. Fairbairn hasn’t stopped it’s a shame that all our hard work this running and keeps in touch with her teammates as they follow each other’s year wasn’t used to its full potential.” training. “I don’t know what the future holds,” she said, “but I am grateful to have spent almost eight full semesters on campus, and 11 seasons of cross country and track, running with my best friends.”

NEW ADDITIONS TO ATHLETICS STAFF

Mitch Capelle was named director of athletics in June. Capelle, Colby-Sawyer’s sports information director from 2006-08, returns to New London, after having spent the last four years as the associate athletic director at Saint Anselm College, in Manchester, N.H. At Saint Anselm, Capelle managed external relations, athletic communications, marketing and branding for 17 NCAA Division II intercollegiate teams and more than 450 student-athletes. Capelle is also a former assistant athletic director for media relations at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Ryan O’Connell was named head coach of the cross country and track and field programs in May. O’Connell joins the Chargers after four seasons as the assistant coach of the men’s and women’s cross country and

32

COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

Senior Kailyn Lapham (Medway, Mass.), a graphic design major, was a member of the field hockey and lacrosse teams. Lapham completed a successful four-year field hockey career in the fall, but her final lacrosse season was canceled after four games. Though her collegiate career ended abruptly, Lapham knew she had to continue to compete. “I’ve realized that my competition now is starting my own business,” she said.

“Everything I’ve learned while playing sports at Colby-Sawyer is the same skill set I will need in this lifestyle and coping with the pandemic.”

track & field teams at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill. Prior to Wheaton, O’Connell spent a year at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Mass., and two seasons as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Springfield College, in Springfield, Mass.

Devon Quattrocchi was named women’s basketball head coach — the program’s fifth in its 40-year history — in May. Quattrocchi joins Colby-Sawyer after two seasons as an assistant coach at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). Prior to TCNJ, Quattrocchi was an assistant coach and graduate assistant coach at her alma mater, Smith College, in Northampton, Mass., and spent a year as assistant coach of the Vaerlose Basketball Klub, a professional basketball team in Denmark.

Ben Lewis ’20 Steps to the Plate for College, Conference Like students nationwide, student-athlete Ben Lewis (Needham, Mass.), a member of the college’s baseball team, endured a roller-coaster senior year. Nevertheless, one of Lewis’ fondest collegiate memories came shortly before the pandemic hit.

Lewis, a three-year member of Colby-­Sawyer’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), was selected as one of four students in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) to participate in the GNAC SAAC Commissioner’s Council. The council is tasked with enriching the student-athlete experience through open communication with the conference office, administrators and each of the 13 core institution SAAC groups. In January, members of the council joined GNAC Commissioner Joe Walsh and Assistant Commissioner Michael Ghika at the 2020 NCAA Convention in Anaheim, Calif.

Ben Lewis ’20, second from left, stands with fellow GNAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee members at the 2020 NCAA Convention in Anaheim, Calif.

“The opportunity to represent Colby-­Sawyer on a national level and give all of the athletes in the conference a voice was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Lewis said.

Once on the West Coast, Lewis’ schedule was full of meetings, workshops, legislation review, volunteer work with Special Olympics, networking and other events that focused on enhancing the student-athlete journey. The sport management major also got to hear industry professionals speak about the field and watch them conduct business.

“I took every chance to shake as many hands as possible and I cherished this unbelievable opportunity,” Lewis said. “I cannot thank everyone at Colby-Sawyer enough that helped foster my passion into the opportunity of a lifetime. When (former Athletic Director) George Martin approached me and asked me if I would like to join the Commissioner’s Council and attend the conference, he gave me a platform to not only give myself a voice, but give a voice to the rest of the Colby-­Sawyer Chargers. And for that, I could not be more thankful.”

UPDATE ON FALL SPORTS On Monday, July 20, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), of which Colby-­Sawyer College is a member institution, announced that it had canceled all conference competition scheduled for the fall season due to COVID-19. This cancelation includes men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s cross country, equestrian, field hockey, women’s rugby and women’s volleyball.

Colby-Sawyer’s athletics department offered a safe and meaningful student-athlete experience – through conditioning sessions, small group activities, leadership programming and practice opportunities – that preserved eligibility for future involvement in athletics.

FALL 2020

33

news from alumni relations Colby-Sawyer Hosts First Ever Stay-at-Homecoming Event While alumni, parents and friends were not able to be on campus for Homecoming this fall, the tradition was not forgotten. On Oct. 16 and 17, the college hosted a very successful virtual Stay-at-Homecoming event that featured academic workshops, a virtual tour of campus, a college update with President Susan D. Stuebner, a virtual escape room and much, much more. If you weren’t able to participate, visit colby-sawyer.edu/homecoming to view recordings of several of the events.

Due to the inability to host an in-person Homecoming celebration in 2020, Colby-Sawyer will host a combined celebration event for all classes whose milestone reunion year falls in 2020 or 2021 (class years ending in 0, 1, 5 and 6). For more information or to volunteer for your reunion planning committee, contact the Alumni Office.

Members of the Class of 1970 gathered on June 7 for a virtual toast to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their graduation from Colby Junior College.

TE SAVE THE DA Annual Alumni Awards Presented at Homecoming

During the Stay-at-Homecoming festivities in October, the college honored three alumni for their accomplishments, service and commitment to Colby-Sawyer. Sally Shaw Veitch ’66, a former member of the Board of Trustees and a generous benefactor, received the Distinguished Alumni Award. Longtime supporter, volunteer and member of the President’s Alumni Advisory Council Ann Lozier Rohrborn ’71 MT received the Alumni Service Award. The Young Alumni Achievement Award was presented to Bernard N. Botchway ’15, a new member of the Board of Trustees who serves as a counsel on Bank of America’s Global Financial Crimes legal team.

Read more about this year’s award recipients at colby-­sawyer.edu/alumni/awards.

HOMECOMING 2021 FRIDAY, OCT. 15 – SUNDAY, OCT. 17

Join your fellow alumni, parents, families and friends for Colby-Sawyer’s annual Homecoming festivities. Enjoy time on the hill, tour campus, reconnect with your favorite faculty and socialize with old and new friends.

CONNECT with the Alumni Office: alumni@colby-sawyer.edu 603.526.3426 or 800.266.8253 colbysawyeralumni CSC_alumni groups?gid=143715 csc_alumni

34

COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

class notes 1945

RUTH ANDERSON PADGETT ruthlajolla@aol.com How many 1945ers remember this song? “Little red school, high on the hill, where the Coke bottles sit on every windowsill.

We welcome Jack when he calls on Jill, for we belong to Colby and we always will.” Jean Morley Lovett’s dementia is slowing her down. She spent the winter in FL, but was leaving for her home in NH, close by Shirley “Shal” Glidden Splaine. Jean’s grandson Collin Bray graduated from Colby-Sawyer in 2006 and serves on the Board of Trustees.

“Shal” had a tough winter/ spring with hospital and rehab and she has now joined the walker group. “My walker is my best friend; his name is George!”

Shal says she’ll never get used to being unable to do the things she used to do. A note from Joy Waldau Hostage indicates that she is interested in helping with local politics. She gets to the gym and enjoys Bible study. I’d like to say ditto to all that, except the gym! Suzanne Curtis Smythe is doing well in a nursing center, where she remains cheerful and positive. Suzanne keeps in touch with Mary June Troup Kingsbury. It was good to hear from Nancy “Shenny” Teachout Gardner, who is in an assisted living apartment in MA. Like all of us, Shenny has been quarantined. Please keep in touch with me. We need to know who is still standing. I need to leave you now to put ice on my cracked rib, injured in a fall.

Please stay well and don’t fall!

1946

RAMONA “HOPPY” HOPKINS O’BRIEN 54 Texel Drive Springfield, MA 01108 Ramona “Hoppy” Hopkins O’Brien lives at The Reserves assisted living facility in East Longmeadow, MA. At 94, she has a few health issues, but is doing well. She fell a couple of years ago and uses a wheelchair to get around. She’s thankful to have her children nearby to help her. Barbara “Barbie” Arnesen Wheaton is happy and healthy, living in a senior apartment in North East, MD. She has 8 great-grandchildren. Barbie is thankful to have wonderful family nearby and enjoys dinners and picnics with them. Barbie remained homebound during the onset of the pandemic and was amazed to see empty supermarket shelves when she did get out.

1947

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1948

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED During a 9-day visit to Copenhagen in June 2019, Ann Wylie Jarrett spent each morning drawing a scene from the historic Nyhavn Canal. The drawings, completed in permanent ink pens, featured boats, the row of colorful historic attached homes, now restaurants, on the street level and the inns on the upper level. When she arrived home at Kendal in Kennett Square, PA, the individual drawings were placed

together and enlarged 5 times their original size to produce a wall mural for the senior living community. Olga Kavochka Mayo, from Hingham, MA, recalled being a scholarship student at Colby Junior College, back when tuition, room and board totaled only $500.

1949

ELIZABETH REYNOLDS MATTHEWS elimtth@aol.com Jeanne Delbridge Little celebrated her 90th birthday at the Pelican Beach Resort in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Her whole family was in attendance, making for a wonderful celebration.

1950

KATIE VALLIERE-DENIS OUILETTE nanapa@beeline-online.net Patricia Davis Hoffman appreciates living near family in Davidson, NC. She keeps in touch with Betty Alden Parker, Lindy Clapp Macfarland, Jean Bryant Meyer ’49, her sister, Gretchen Davis Hammer ’55, and her cousin, Carolyn Mugar ’63. Lindy finds it difficult to believe that the Class of 1950 graduated from Colby Junior College 70 years ago! She enjoys reading news about Colby-Sawyer today. “It’s exciting observing life at the college as a 4-year, co-ed school,” she says.

1951

ROBERTA GREEN DAVIS 117 South Chester Rd., Unit 307 Swarthmore, PA 19081 Mary Jane Critchett Lane has fond memories of her days at Colby-Sawyer and recalls times she and classmates would meet on the front lawn of Dr. Sawyer’s residence.

1952

MARILYN “WOODSIE” WOODS ENTWISTLE 16 Cooks Mill Road Naples, ME 04055 Greetings, all, and I hope this finds you well and looking forward to a brighter tomorrow.

Natalie Clarke Jones is living quietly in the house her husband, Ed, built in Hopkinton, NH. She has 6 children, 4 grandchildren, including a set of twins, and one great-grandchild. She has plenty of company, with one son living in CA and her other children scattered throughout MA. My “old bird” roomie Betty Carlson Salomon lives near a beach, which she walks to every morning at 6:30 a.m. to beat the crowd. Other than the beach, she lives quietly, greets her neighbors on her open air porch and gets her hair cut now that her salon is finally open. My other “old bird” roomie, Nancy Angell Turnage, told me an amazing story about her iPhone.

She contacts her library, finds out if they have a certain book, and if so, she hits a button that immediately transfers it to her iPhone so she can read it at her leisure – which I’m sure she did while on vacation with some of her large family in Northern Florida.

Nancy “Shum” Shumway Adams is keeping mind and body healthy by playing tennis twice a week and has been learning to play cribbage with Roger.

Ellie Morrison Goldthwait ’51 (l) and Bobbie Fetzer Herbert ’50 (r) at Lake Sunapee Country Club in September 2019.

FALL 2020

35

Joyce Miller Titus says age has finally made itself known. She has given up skiing and sold her condo at Waterville Valley after 27 years. Meanwhile, I’m (Marilyn “Woodsie” Woods Entwistle) fine, with the exception of my skiing. I had to take a year-plus off because I had a cyst removed from my ankle. Nothing serious, but attempting to wear a ski boot would reinjure the area. At the end of Jan. 2020, I started up the mountain with 2 friends to give it a go again. As I started down a familiar trail, I caught an edge and had to jump around a little bush coming to a big right turn. I don’t remember what I did there, but I’m going to call it a “dipsy doodle.” I fell on my face, just in time for a nice guy skiing behind me to stop and ask if I needed help. He got me up and skied away, obviously to send a rescue squad my way.

Sure enough, soon arrived a sled, which I totally refused to ride in! I’ve been skiing for many years without ever needing a sled ride down the mountain and wasn’t about to take my first! Eventually I “dipsy-doodled” down the trail and decided to go home and think about my next try in Jan. 2021! Fond regards to all my classmates!

1953

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Gordon McAllen Baker encourages classmates to report their news for the 1953 column to the Alumni Office. Gordon lives in a wonderful continuing care facility in VA, which was locked down during the pandemic. She ventured into town every couple of weeks for necessary supplies, but otherwise was happy in her cottage. Gordon is thankful to be exercising and aging well.

Her daughter Hannah is in Wheeling, WV; son Josh is in Portland, OR; and daughter Sarah is in Silver Spring, MD. Gordon’s only grandchild, Ellie, graduated high school and will take a gap year before attending college. Bobbi Johnston Rodgers lost her husband, John, in early 2018. She has been living at

(l to r) Jean Cragin Ingwersen ’54, Sarah “Sae” Bond Gilson ’52, Natalie Langley Webster ’54, Sandra Davis Carpenter ’55 and Jane Shoemaker Storm ’55 at a birthday celebration in honor of Natalie in York, ME.

(l to r) Debra Bray Mitchell ’79, her aunt, Nancy Wiesner Conkling ’58, and her mother, Susan Wiesner Bray ’53, pose with Colby-Sawyer President Susan D. Stuebner during a spring visit to campus.

the Normandy Farms Estates retirement community for 10 years. Bobbi enjoys visiting with family and friends, gardening, volunteering, taking watercolor classes, exploring genealogy and photography, attending concerts and reading. She is thankful for good health and still plays tennis and travels. Bobbi and a widow friend went on a Grand Circle cruise, “The Romance of the Rhine and Mosel,” and enjoyed bike rides around the lovely old windmills in Kinderdijk, the Netherlands.

1954

JO-ANNE GREENE COBBAN jjcobban@ne.rr.com Editor’s Note: In the Fall 2019 issue of “Colby-Sawyer” magazine, we incorrectly reported that Barbara Ritter Peterson ’54 had passed away.

We offer our sincerest apologies for this unfortunate error. Barbara is alive and happily living in CT! Shirley Wright Cantara talks with D. Percilla “Per” Horridge Savacool often. Per resides in Ann’s Choice Senior Living in Warminster, PA. She is doing well and enjoys living in the lovely facility. Shirley lives alone in an oceanfront condo in Old Orchard Beach, ME. Per has a summer home in Bethany Beach, where she spends the entire

36 COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

summer. Shirley is planning a visit with her sometime when the pandemic is over. Helen Johnson Sargent and Dick enjoy being in Lake Wylie, SC, for the fall and winter months and return each year to Kennebunk, ME, for the summer. After months of staying home, social distancing and wearing masks, Helen and Dick look forward to resuming their activities, such as church, bridge and visits with family and friends. They also look forward to finishing up their visits to the 45 presidential libraries, with just 8 to go. Helen misses Carol Nelson Reid, with whom Nancy Paige Parker and she visited often. Dorothy Colburn Holstine and her husband, Jon, have relocated from Alexandria, VA, where they had lived since 1975, to a lovely retirement community 2 hours south of DC. They enjoy many cultural activities in the community, including performances at the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music. Dorothy had emergency open heart surgery last July, but recovered well. The Holstine’s two 21-yearold granddaughters graduated from college in the spring and the older grandson completed his first year at Carnegie Mellon.

The youngest grandson will enter the 4th grade. Margot Thomspon had a quiet winter as she fractured a vertebra before Christmas. She is doing better and trying to garden, but it is slow. She planned to go to Cape Cod in July. Her big trip, planned for Sept., was to go to France, take a boat out of Paris north, then a bus to Normandy. Janet Hoffmann Hansen and her

husband were looking forward to returning to their home built in 1894 in Harbor Springs, MI. They ride their bikes in town and enjoy their front porch view of the lake. Sachiko “Sachi” Mizoguchi Taneda wrote from Tokyo, Japan, where as of May there were 15,291 cases of coronavirus and 499 deaths. With a population of around 120 million and being close to China on the map and in business, Sachi thought these statistics weren’t too bad.

She shared, “The whole country is under control so as not to go out except for a good reason, but there is no monetary fine like some European countries. Of course schools are closed, and many shops too, people are losing jobs and the economy is very bad. Spring is the best season with all the flowers blooming and holidays in a row, so it is sad to be restricted.” Natalie Langley Webster celebrated her 90th birthday with a luncheon party courtesy of her daughter Pamela and son Peter. Natalie’s dear Colby friends Sandra Davis Carpenter ’55, Sarah Bond Gilson ’52, Jean Cragin Ingwersen and Jane Shoemaker Storm ’55 were in attendance. I, Jo-Anne Greene Cobban, am busy keeping up my house and gardening,

SEE MORE ALUMNI PICS ON

colby-sawyer.edu/ classnotesphotos

sorting out and donating items and researching my family genealogy. I appreciate your contribution in sending in a bit of news, as I continue to serve as your class secretary for CSC.

1955

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Editor’s Note: Special thanks to Gretchen Davis Hammer, who served as the 1955 class correspondent since 2006.

Rosemary Carhart Keenan did her part to help stop the spread of the coronavirus by staying at home. Rosemary lives in NYC, which was hit especially hard by the pandemic. She lives by herself, but email, the internet and television kept her feeling connected to the outside world.

1956

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Editor’s Note: Special thanks to Nancy Hoyt Langbein, who served as the 1956 class correspondent since 1991.

Sally Maras Culbertson lives in Avon Lake, OH. She enjoys living near family and keeps busy with exercise and volunteer work.

Sarah Rudy Terhune and her husband, Frank, spent much of last Sept. and Oct. in New London. Sadly, Sarah was unable to attend reunion activities in Oct. due to the sudden illness and passing of Frank’s sister, Ellen Terhune Schauff ’64. Joyce Carron Hall keeps busy taking care of her house and grounds in Oakland, NJ. She also has a little farm in Lempster, NH, where she spends time during the summer and enjoys visits from family.

Joyce remains active with the Oakland Garden Club and participates in their activities, maintaining local public gardens, teaching flower arranging to care center residents and putting together plant sales. Joyce’s 4 grandchildren have all graduated college. Judy Davis Somers is enjoying life as a southerner in Aiken, SC, but says she will always be a “damn Yankee” at heart.

1957

JILL BOOTH MACDONELL jillphotoart@yahoo.com Judy Abbe Longo says the stayat-home orders have not really changed her life. Since retiring in Dec. 2018, she’s enjoyed the peacefulness of her home in Warminster, CO, with her wonderful companion, Charlotte (O’Hara), a harrier/pointer mixed dog. Judy enjoys the luxury of getting up at 10 a.m. and the lack of a rigid schedule. She feels very lucky to have tried and true friends and a daughter who lives in the vicinity, while her other 2 children are on opposite ends of the US (a daughter who is an immigration attorney in northern KY and a son who is a carpenter in northern CA). Judy has 3 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and another on the way.

Judy writes, “I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that I have a man friend, several years younger, whom I have known for 11 years.

That also sparks up my life.

Although I choose to live alone.

I will be 83 in a few months, am plumper with age, but am told my personality and attitude have not changed much over the years.” Diane Shugrue Gallagher writes, “I used to be an archivist. I am now an archaeologist. I go on ‘digs’ in my home and discover all sorts of treasures that have been buried for eons. Just like Egypt, where there are grave robbers. I stumbled upon some in a dark cave outside of Cairo, off the Nile when I went off the trails from our tour group. They were doing some bad things so I yelled at them in Portuguese and said policia a lot and finally they decided to flee. They must have thought I was crazed, which I was. That was 3 years ago. Now I stay in my home, read amazing books I have put aside for years, make fires in my small fireplace and enjoy listening to the birds at twilight from my small porch.

We will survive, we are Colby gals, after all.” Debra Lamson Perkins married Chandler Perkins one week after our 1957 Colby Jr. College graduation.

They had met the year before while skiing at Mt. Sunapee.

Debra’s parents asked Chan if he would like to join them in their business, New London Agency Real Estate and Insurance, and he was delighted to move “back home.” Debra and Chan have 2 daughters and 2 sons, and 3 of their children are in the family business. Their son Todd Perkins owns the New London Insurance Agency and daughters Pam Perkins Quackenbos ’79 and Stephanie Perkins Wheeler own Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty, which includes a total of 17 Four Seasons offices across NH and VT. Son Jeffrey is a property manager. Debra shares, “Sadly, Chandler passed away last Dec. I will never get over his death, but more to the point, I will never get over his life. We were blessed with 62 ½ years of marriage.” Elizabeth “Betty” Kendig Eastman’s granddaughter Natalie was to be married in Sept. Natalie graduated from UConn and is working in Cleveland. Betty’s good friend Sibyl Sutton Strickland ’56 died recently. She had fallen and hit her head and never recovered.

Carol Dornemann Sellman is happily retired in Naples, FL. She has 3 children, 10 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. The family loves Naples and they visit frequently. Carol had 2 wonderful Dartmouth husbands and one Dartmouth daughter. Jane Baxter Richardson is incredibly proud of her great niece, Quinn Manion ’23, who is on the swim team at Colby-Sawyer. Jane hopes the pandemic ends soon, as she finds staying home to be quite boring. I, Jill Booth Macdonell, spent most of Sept. ’19 – Jan. ’20 in the hospital and rehab with 2 life-threatening, infected shoulder surgeries.

That got my attention and changed my life. I saw my Higher Power/God of the Universe.

Seems I’m here for a few more lessons.

1958

CINDY GRINDROD VAN DER WYK cindyinhb@hotmail.com Life has certainly taken a 180. I, Cindy Grindrod van der Wyk, find myself at 81 looking around and thinking how fortunate I am to have lived so long and made so many memories along the way, many of them at Colby-­ Sawyer. I’m still in touch with my dear roommate Jill Booth Macdonell ’57. Sandy Clare Fessenden and her husband, Peter, live in a retirement community in Highlands Ranch, CO. In 2019 they took a cruise to Iceland, Greenland, eastern Canada, Bar Harbor, Boston and NYC. Sandy said it was a great cruise but it was depressing to see how global warming has affected Iceland and Greenland.

1959

MARSHA HALPIN JOHNSON marnamhj@gmail.com Marilyn Winn Goodwin shared that our 60th reunion last Oct. was enjoyed by 13 classmates plus 1 husband. A welcome reception, State of the College presentation by President Stuebner, a foliage cruise on Lake Sunapee, a cocktail reception and plenty of time to visit with each other filled the weekend. My husband, Bruce, and I, Marsha Halpin Johnson, were unable to attend as we were in AZ and ID at the time. Virginia Dana Windmuller spoke of finally being able to get a muchneeded haircut in the midst of COVID-19 as NJ was finally opening up. Marcia Bittle Rising and her husband moved from their antique home in Stow, MA, where they had lived for 58 years, to an apartment down the street. She serves on the local Board of Health, has become a Zoom aficionado with family and committee meetings and enjoys puzzles and antique car restoration. Nancy Kolar Bowen spends her time between the Northeast Kingdom of VT and Shenandoah, VA, hiking, walking and spending time with children

FALL 2020

37

The Class of 1959 had a wonderful time celebrating their 60th reunion!

Pictured are (back row, l to r) Gail Thomas Leonard, Ginny Dana Windmuller, Shirley Noakes, Catee Gold Hubbard, Jane Voss, Barbara March Wilson, Marilyn Winn Goodwin. (front row, l to r) Carole Hamell Wenthen, Suzy Parris TenBroeck, Barbara Brodrick Parish, Judy Gilmore Getchell, Carolyn Farrand Hager and Priscilla Tufts Bartle.

and grandchildren. Marion Hill Dunn lives in historic Tallahassee, FL. She is a National Garden Club Flower Show judge and enjoys garden club activities.

Catee Gold Hubbard’s husband, Lev, had a broken elbow and replaced hip and spent the winter at a rehab center. As a result, Catee spent the winter in New London instead of AZ. Rebecca Lovingood received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis Who’s Who in Berkeley Heights, NJ, last May. The award honored her work in education, musicology and plays.

1960

PATTY CANBY COLHOUN pccolhoun@gmail.com Susie Frank Hilton and Dick developed a “stay-at-home” lifestyle due to the pandemic.

Sharley Janes Bryce enjoys her Tucson poetry group, golf and friends. She went to Disneyland with all but the 2 oldest grandchildren. The 2 had to return from university studies due to the pandemic. She hopes to make a Canadian Rockies trip this fall with 2 other couples.

Sharley received a nice note from Becky Brewster Irving ’42 MT after making a donation to a scholarship fund in her name at Colby-Sawyer. Fran McKenzie Seeman and her husband have moved from Whitby Island into a retirement community in the

Seattle suburbs. She hears from Sue Barto Monks and Judy Lambert Crawford. Sue Barto Monks is in a happy relationship with Jim McEathron, a longtime friend. They have been traveling between MA, NC, FL and the Panama Canal. Sue enjoyed a 10-day African Safari with friends.

They saw amazing animals and took a hot-air balloon ride. Sue and I, Patty Canby Colhoun, took a Viking River boat cruise, starting in Prague for a few days, then onto the ship in Decin.

Amazing, as it was the first time the ship had sailed due to low water. We sailed down the Elbe River, stopping in towns along the way, ending in Berlin. Sue hoped to spend part of her summer in ME and to do another river boat cruise in Oct. Ann Parsons Klump kept busy with family and friends, while staying safe. Her daughter Suzy did her shopping. Ann is lucky to have family nearby. She has 3 teenage grandchildren, and the youngest is raising 25 baby chickens for a business course. Hannah “Haydi” Caldwell Sowerwine’s son, Michael, has been diagnosed with ALS. He was able to marry his longtime girlfriend, Amy. Haydi and David have done extensive traveling, sailing, bicycling, a trip to Spain for a wedding and another wedding on the Hudson River. They were able to get in some skiing and saw her grandson race in the Jr.

38 COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

Nationals. Her granddaughter was to compete in a snowboard race at Copper Mountain, but it was canceled. Ann Hoar Floyd writes, “Finally and happily ensconced in our newly-built fully handicap accessible home on Chappaquiddick. Aging in place (how can we be this old?) in this beautiful setting is such a gift.” Judy Butler Shea enjoys life in the mountains despite health issues slowing her and Jim down as they enter their 80s.

They enjoy paddle tennis and skiing, and Jim hunts for his annual deer. Judy commends the college for the great job they are doing academically and in athletics. She is pleased that Colby-Sawyer is expanding programs in the medical fields. I, Patty Canby Colhoun, went to Paris for Christmas with my daughter, Ann, and we had hoped to finish our “Canby” trip to Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; and Surrey, BC, but the border to Canada was closed, the flights from Europe were canceled, and so went our trip. I have been keeping busy with gardening, my dog Daphne, hooking and as senior warden for our Episcopal Church. Our thoughts and prayers are with all our class for good health.

1961

LYNNE GOODWIN HORN Joly76@aol.com Editor’s Note: Welcome and thanks to Lynne Goodwin Horn, the new 1961 class correspon­dent.

Since I have always enjoyed reading about our classmates, I decided to accept the responsibility of class correspondent. I thought it would be fun to hear from classmates, especially those that I have not seen or heard from in almost 60 years!

Though I was a medical secretary and worked for doctors, I ended up as records administrator for the Danvers Police Department for 16 years, retiring 2 years ago. I enjoyed working with the wonderful officers who helped me through the loss of my husband 10 years ago. I now

enjoy the company of my 4 children and 7 grandchildren, who range in ages from 1-23 years.

Brenda Birkemose Arnold was my roommate in Best and we have remained close. After 20 years living in Marblehead, MA, Brenda and her husband, Jack, at 77, moved to Lunenburg, MA, to live closer to their son and young grandchildren, ages 2-10.

Though they miss the ocean, they have a lake nearby for boating. Their daughter and family are closer, too, in Portland, ME. Brenda enjoys gardening and watercolor painting, and she has been busy making masks during this pandemic. Diane “Dee” Gilmore Williams retired in 2014 from the Arkansas Department of Health and has been living in Yellville, AK, most of her married life. Hasty, a retired lieutenant colonel, has been busy in real estate and they just celebrated 58 years of marriage. Their 5 children live nearby, except one, so they are busy with 7 grandchildren and also an 8-year-old great-grandson. Deb Gilbert, who used to live in Reading, MA, moved to San Francisco for 10 years but has also lived in MN, FL and Japan. Deb has traveled around the world most of her life, but now lives quietly with her French bulldog in a converted carriage house on an old estate in Beverly, MA. Nancy Gay Hill resides in Santa Rosa, CA, but spends every summer in Jessica Stiteler Koeberle ’61 (l) and Ellen Bolt Kaiser ’60 (r).

Newport, VT, on Lake Memphremagog. She has many friends in New London from her time living there. Nancy spends a week on Pleasant Lake with her sister-in-law. She and Steve parted ways after 39 years and 2 wonderful children, who have all graduated from college and are on their own. One great-granddaughter lives just an hour away.

Nancy is an involved Rotarian and enjoys knitting, painting and sewing. Sally Morris Hayen has remained in her beloved town of Carlisle, MA, for over 50 years.

She has 3 daughters, 2 of whom live nearby while the 3rd daughter resides in Paris. Sally loves her comfortable apartment in the center of Carlisle, which she moved into after selling her large home there. She enjoys her 5 grandchildren and spending time at her 2nd home in Littleton, NH, close to Franconia Notch. Sally keeps in touch with her roommate Anne Mansell Moodey. Anne enjoys living in Wilmot, NH, with her husband, Jim. Two daughters also live in state and their son lives in Seattle. Like all of us, they have great enjoyment with their grandchildren and are blessed to have a 2nd home in Nova Scotia. Helen “Doddie” Evans Kiesewetter and Bill are very busy living in Marion, MA. For many years they lived in NH, but always spent summers in Mattapoisett and enjoy Cape Cod living. They spend a few months each winter in FL and have traveled to every continent, except Antarctica.

They have 2 sons and 3 grandsons. Doddie is looking forward to getting back on the tennis court and golf course. Judy Kosteck McCusker, Doddie’s roommate, is busy in her home in Cape May, NJ, where she resides with her daughter, Jean.

Her 2 sons live out of state, so she does not see them often enough. Judy has been a widow now for 23 years but keeps busy, especially with her love of gardening.

Susan Kershaw Brostoff has been living full time on Cape Cod for 11 years. Prior to that she lived in Atlanta, GA,

for 27 years. Her son, daughter and 5 grandchildren all live in Atlanta. Susan travels to Atlanta for Christmas and then again for 6 weeks later in the winter. Her family visits her on the Cape in the summer. Susan enjoys gardening and has taken up pickleball. Felicia Marinelli Connolly left her beautiful family home in Wenham and moved to the lovely country setting of Edgewood Retirement Community in North Andover, MA. It was very difficult to leave her home of 68 years, but she found it too big to care for and, without Jim, too lonely. Felicia could go on forever listing Edgewood’s pleasures and encourages those who live nearby to stop for a visit. She sends her warmest wishes for good health and cheer. After graduating from Colby Junior College in 1961, Pat Faragher Sahm earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a master’s degree from Florida Atlantic University. She taught physical education in the Palm Beach County school system for almost 23 years. Pat and her husband, Walt, live in The Villages, FL, where they enjoy tennis, swimming and walking.

Jessica Stiteler Koeberle and Ellen Bolt Kaiser ’60 found themselves working as volunteers for the Soroptimist organization in Anacortes, WA. They shared many memories of their days at Colby Junior and expressed their desire to return to campus for a reunion someday. Jessica has retired on Whidbey Island (north of Seattle) for 20 years and lives in a home built in 1910. Ellen has lived in Anacortes on Fidalgo Island – the gateway to the San Juan Islands – for 29 years. Thank you to those who helped me with my first column!

1962

TILDA HUNTING tildah@gmail.com Editor’s Note: Welcome and thanks to Tilda Hunting, the new 1962 class correspondent.

It’s my (Tilda Hunting) delight to serve as the 1962 correspondent.

I’ve spent much time in New London and on campus over the years. I returned to the college in the 70s and served as a resident advisor in Abbey. It was such an informative time, full of changes in parietals and in the students themselves. I returned to CSC yet again in 1988-89 and received a B.A. in psychology. Even though I’ve always been a tradeswoman (interior painting), I treasure my degree. Now we’re in unprecedented times and the college is dealing with necessary and difficult strategies, but it’s a wonderful and heartening time, as well. The college is in most capable hands with Pres. Stuebner’s careful direction. Jill Schofield Wainright shares, “I’m sad to report that Gail Graham Lee passed away on June 15 after a long fight with lung cancer. Gail loved her time at Colby Jr. College and Colbytown Camp, and spent many years as our class correspondent.

In 2012, the college honored her with the Alumni Service Award.

Gail earned her B.A. from Boston University and had a long career as an administrator at New England Deaconess Hospital. In retirement, Gail split her time between Cape Cod and Bonita Springs, FL, playing golf, sailing and staying in touch with Colby friends. We will all miss her at our CJC reunion gatherings.” Jill is enjoying retirement, splitting her time between Cape Cod and Delray Beach, FL, where she volunteers at the local art center, plays golf and participates in a senior wellness program at a nearby university. Each summer she takes a trip to Europe with her granddaughters. After 40+ years living in Arlington, TX, Jill’s CJC roommate Connie Earl is moving to Santa Fe, NM. Get ready for the Best group to visit, Connie! Barbara Russell

Williams and her husband, Steve, live in Bellevue, WA. They enjoy gardening and hiking along the wonderful network of trails in their area. They are involved in several research and writing projects, one of which will result in the future publication of a book about local coal mining history. Another includes articles that appear in the local historical organization’s newsletters, and a 3rd involves the development of a guided tree tour for the City of Bellevue. Barbara’s son and daughter-in-law live and work in the area, but her daughter and her family live in Scottsdale, AZ. Karen Loder Davis was sorry to hear about the passing of Gail Graham Lee. Gail and Karen were also high school classmates. Karen shared, “Gail made a huge impact on the success of our class. Her passing will leave a big hole in our ranks.” Karen continues her nomadic ways, traveling between Cape Cod, VA and FL, depending on the time of year. Of course, that was before the coronavirus brought travel to a halt. Karen was in VA for an extended period, as her younger daughter fought, and has finally seemed to win, a battle with cancer. Karen looked forward to her summer on Cape Cod. Pat Bryant Webber lives in Laguna Woods, CA. She married Richard Girardi 2 years ago. They enjoy 2 cruises a year. Pat volunteers at the local library once a week, plays cards twice a week and does water aerobics three times a week. She would love to hear from anyone in the area.

Having downsized to a condo in Denver in 2018, Mitzie Fraker Wynkoop and her husband escaped to their summer home in northern MI in mid-March.

They felt fortunate to be stuck in a house in the country overlooking a beautiful lake during the pandemic. They did miss their summer visits from their CA grandchildren and other family and friends, as well as their trips east for various reunions. Mitzie says, “It’s hard to believe we have a 60th Colby reunion in 2 years!”

FALL 2020

39

1963

DONNA DEDERICK WARD meadowoodfarm@comcast.net Hello to all my (Donna Dederick Ward) classmates. This pandemic has been a unique experience for us 70+ folks. We thought we knew it all, but this has left us wondering. After each new career and each re-retirement, it’s been a unique experience to be “unemployed.” Last summer I worked at the Bennington Battle Monument and had a wonderful time with visitors from around the world. As of this writing, it has not reopened for tourists. I’ve been an innkeeper for 20 years, but that’s becoming a risky business, too. Maybe it’s time to really retire? Too much energy for that. Hubby Cliff and I will work it out. Planting an amazing garden, selling our organic compost, planning the winter in FL and going out west to visit the kids may fill our days. For now, we’re enjoying peace, quiet and the beautiful green mountains surrounding our Meadowood Farm in Shaftsbury, VT. Karen Archambault Hubbard and husband, Skip have the good fortune of staying in their Marco Island, FL, condo during the pandemic, distancing themselves and ordering out groceries. They will return to their home in Chester, CT, when it’s safe to travel.

They’re fortunate to be able to quarantine where they can watch the dolphins and wildlife play on the river. Deborah Landon O’Kain has been quarantining like all of us. She’s learning that she doesn’t have to be out and

CONNECT colbysawyeralumni CSC_alumni Colby-­Sawyer Alumni Group csc_alumni

about to stay engaged. With Zoom calls to her church, the Flower Guild, calls to her friends, Netflix, as well as lectures from her clubs, she remains busy.

Marilyn Zimmerman Hoff enjoyed a Caribbean Cruise over the Christmas holidays. The Hoffs live on a golf course in FL and were happy that golf was declared an essential activity. As of her writing, the governor had opened almost everything with 50% occupancy in restaurants and bars. Marilyn writes, “We will get through this, but we need to stay safe, stay healthy and stay home! No more travelling!”

Beverly Holbrook Treen is currently in lockdown in Yorkshire, England. She has been living there off and on for the past umpteen years, although she still has the family homestead in MA. Her husband, a UK citizen, is immuno-suppressed, therefore they canceled their plans to head back to the US. They rely on grocery deliveries from the local supermarket. She shares, “While there are no violent protests here as of yet, there has been a general outcry against the government’s handling of the situation. We have taken note of a local crime wave, as our next door neighbor’s specially-adapted handicap car was stolen. It seems Mother Nature is reveling in this pandemic. The garden has never looked so lush.” Patty Thomson Russell thanks me for serving as class correspondent. She and Bill celebrated their 56th anniversary in June. “Not a bad result from a blind date from Dartmouth!” she said. Patty’s family is safe, healthy and working, as their jobs are deemed essential (medical, emergency equipment sales and service and education). Sue McBride Gottschall writes that in Chicago, as elsewhere in the country, they are fighting 2 pandemics: racism and COVID. It makes her sad maintaining the ‘stay at home’ advice for older folks, rather than being able to join the peaceful demonstrations. It feels like the 60s all over again. While staying home, Sue

40 COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

and her oldest daughter work with pregnant and new parents, helping to prepare and support them as they have babies in this strange time. During the pandemic, Martha Herndon Williamson wrote, “Things I hoped I’d never have to do again, but have now done, include washing my own car, cutting my own hair and sweeping out our garage. An unexpected thrill was scoring a bag of basmati at Target after a 4-week search.” During this time she’s completed jigsaw puzzles, caught up with long distance friends by phone and read 20 books. She also researched her usage rate of toilet paper by noting the date she installed a new roll to compare with the date she installed its successor. Martha’s initial face mask was a thermal underwear ski mask from a trip to reindeer races in Finland years ago. Currently, she’s journaling for a National Museum of Women’s History pandemic project.

1964

KATHY CONATHAN REARDON Kathyr1230@aol.com Jack and I, Kathrine Conathan Reardon, downsized from our home in PA to a condo in my hometown of Duxbury, MA. It has been an adjustment, including lots of remodeling and repairs. We are happy we finally made the move, and our kids are thrilled. Our son and grandchildren live here, so we see them often. We ran into Marcia Kromer Langeland and her husband, Wes, at a local restaurant. She is lucky to have her family close by. Ann Franklin Ewig and her husband, Tom, are selling their home in NJ and relocating to NH, maybe New London. They will be closer to family and their other home in ME. Hedy Ruth Gunther and Bruce are still in Houston. They spend weekends at their lake house. Their daughter and family live close by. Joanne Hess MacKay and Bruce live at The Villages in FL in the winter and spend the summer in NH, 30

miles from the Canadian Border.

Their son Ryan and family live in Winchester, MA, while son John and family live in Seattle, WA. Katherine “Kay” Gilkeson Hughes and her husband, Brian, recently relocated from Highlands Ranch, CO, to Southport, NC. They enjoy being closer to their sons and families in West Chester, PA, and Parkville, MD. Martha Andrews Locke and her husband, Randy, have lived in MN since 1972. She was glad to learn that Colby-Sawyer’s president is also from MN. She wrote, “No wonder our college has a strong nursing program and internships. My internships helped me work at Harvard and IBM. Thank you, Colby!” Alice Lawton Lehmann and her husband, Bill, live in West Concord, MA. She is very active, running, biking and walking. Bill is a personal trainer at The Concord Fitness Center. Their son Fred and family live 5 minutes away.

Her daughter Heidi and partner spend time at their NYC and Kansas City residences. Alice and Bill look forward to visiting their cabin on Lake Sebago, where they enjoy swimming, canoeing and paddle-boarding.

Marianne Olmsted has had great fun living in NYC for many years. She loved her time at Colby Jr., 1966-68. She spent time during the late fall and winter in Los Angeles with her family.

I hope you all are staying healthy in these unprecedented times. I think of our time in beautiful New London with such fond memories. How lucky we were to go to college in such a beautiful environment.

1965

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Leslie Seymour Wears lost her husband, Ken, in Oct. 2019. They had been married for 52 years.

1966

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1967

SIS HAGEN KINNEY Kinivan06@gmail.com Things are very quiet, reporting wise. I didn’t hear from many classmates this time around.

I guess everyone is busy taking care of business at home during these strange and stressful times. Anne Baynes Hall has been dealing with a fractured shoulder and torn tendon after a fall in late Feb., neither of which could be corrected by surgery. She started out with a sling for 6 weeks, then progressed to PT. She felt lucky to have been able to have one PT appointment a week, and was still able to complete her volunteer work for CSC, her church and her high school class, all from home. All of that work, reading and cross-stitch have kept her busy. Prudence Hostetter appreciated our condolences on the loss of her son Adam. She said that “waves still wash over” her, but she is now able to hold conversations without tears most of the time. I cannot imagine how awful that must have been, Prue. She said COVID-19 is wreaking havoc on her retirement schedule. She can still play golf by herself. She does Zoom meetings with friends and enjoys seeing people that way. She was supposed to have gone to the Dallas area in May for a spring visit, but then everything shut down and she didn’t get to see her step-grandchildren, who are 3 and 1. Her 55th high school reunion was cancelled. Prue is hoping to come to NC for a visit once this pandemic has run its course. As for me, Sis Hagen Kinney, I’ve been fortunate during these days of self-quarantining, social distancing and COVID-19. The county in which we live, Avery, in the western NC mountains, has been relatively untouched by the virus. Most people have stayed home and obeyed the rules as mandated by our governor and our county administrator. We had a mild winter, lots of rain and a wickedly cold spring. We had snow on May 9! Mind you, it was

a mere dusting, but nonetheless it was snow! Finally, in mid-May, we began to get consistently warmer weather. We’ve been able to walk our dog daily and even continued with some landscaping details at our new house. We live in a wonderful neighborhood and have our share of good friends. Despite the aches and pains that accompany getting older, we feel truly blessed physically, mentally and emotionally. I’ve been sewing face masks for all my children and grandchildren, as well as some scrub hats for my daughter, who’s a nurse in a Richmond, VA, hospital. I’m the editor of our community’s monthly newspaper/magazine and have had plenty of time to do that. Right before the self-quarantining began, our youngest grandchild, 4-year-old Kilby, stayed with us for nearly 2 weeks and we enjoyed that time. Hopefully by the time this goes to press we’ll be able to have grands come from other areas of NC to visit again.

1968

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Gusty Lange has been a professor at Pratt Institute since 1985, teaching visual perception, among other courses. In 1990 she co-wrote a textbook called Foundations of Graphic Design.

Gusty has 2 master’s degrees from Pratt: a communications design degree and a degree in art therapy. Gusty was honored to speak at Pratt in Feb., when she delivered a lecture about her thesis (The Archetypal Construct: Creative Synthesis in Visual Communication). Gusty and her husband, Steve, have 2 grown children: Dylan (30) and Chelsea (25).

1969

DEBORAH ADAMS JOHNSTON navypub@aol.com In a quiet moment on my porch swing, in the middle of the crazy summer we are experiencing, I am remembering the summer of 1967. Our whole lives lay ahead

Members of the Class of 1969 at their 50th reunion. Pictured are (back row, l to r) Nancy Brown Anglada, Cynthia Cole Heslam, Leslie Rutherford Purdum, Janette MacLean Weir. (middle row, l to r) Kate Sandford Morgan, Karen Greene Timm, Martha Halloran McLaughlin, Lynn Johnson Pettengill, Sue Baroni Hilbert, Anne Laverack Galligan. (front row, l to r) Sally Waterhouse Dotzauer, Joann Franke Overfield, Holly Lippman Trevisan, Julia Stoddart Strimenos, Margo McVinney Marvin and Sally Heald Winship.

of us! Marni Fowler (now Marni Fowler Most) and I had corresponded by mail and we were making arrangements to meet, along with our mothers, to talk about bedspreads and curtains for our room in Shepard. Can you even imagine? It is like watching an old black and white movie in my head! When does Cary Grant sweep in to pick us up in a convertible and whisk us away for a picnic on a grassy lawn? Like you all, I have been sequestered here at home in SC, although I must admit, it isn’t very different from our usual life here on the island. Watch the first 5 minutes of “The Prince of Tides” and you are watching my life here outside Beaufort. I should not complain. But my only daughter, my BFF, is trapped in England. My oldest son and his family are trapped in Naples, Italy. I am FaceTiming with them all, along with my sons in MI and Miami, and we are wondering if we will ever get to hug each other again. Carol Church Bishop lives on a 15-acre farm near Gainesville, FL, but is moving closer to the Keys soon.

Jacob, her youngest grandson, graduated from high school this year in Key West, FL. Colby, her oldest grandson, will return to the University of Miami in Aug. Marni Fowler Most hopes

everyone is safe and enduring this time with a sense of humor and compassion. She is in Gainesville, FL, and happy to have space enough to get outdoors to walk, ride and garden.

Anne Laverack Gallivan says these turbulent times give all plenty to reflect on, but that can get old when we are abiding by personal concerns around the pandemic. She misses west coast families, as well as her one closer son, and is thankful for FaceTime and Zoom. She has been in her new home in NH for one year after leaving her previous home of 42 years. Her new town is active, educated, fairly self-sufficient and busy for a population of 1,200. She is thankful for its insulation, but now questions the white privilege and the unintended separations of such a move.

Tiffany Spake Petty lives in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, an hour west of Toronto. She said the Prime Minister and their provincial premier had stepped up to the plate in their response to the pandemic. At the time of her writing, the Canada-US border had opened to immediate family members of either Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

That was good news for Tiffany’s Colby roommate, Janet Campbell Kerr, who planned to travel

FALL 2020

41

Marni Fowler Most ’69 and her daughters, Lisa and Lindsey, at their home in Arlington, MA.

to Canada for the birth of her 1st grandchild. Tiffany has been busy learning Zoom and is currently hosting one regular Zoom meeting and providing tech support for another. She’s walking lots, wearing masks a lot and reading. Laurie Rendall Coursin moved to Amherst, MA, from Putney, VT, last Aug., closer to her son Owen and his fiancée, Aliza. They were planning to be married in Sept. in the Berkshires, but the gathering was postponed. Instead, they will have a small ceremony in their backyard. Laurie is grateful to have moved prior to the COVID outbreak so that she could get involved with the Northampton Quaker Meeting and her condo

association. She enjoys walking in the beautiful woods behind her house with a few of her neighbors (staying 6 ft. apart and wearing masks).She has been busy working on a wedding quilt for Owen and Aliza. Laurie misses seeing family and friends, but she’s getting used to the world of Zoom and FaceTime.

Holly Lippmann Trevisan was glad she and Nello were able to travel to CSC last fall for our 50th reunion. They enjoyed spending time with Joanne Franke Overfield and her husband, Dale.

Holly shares, “The campus is amazing and New London is quite the bustling little town. Big changes since we were students, that’s for sure. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. A great way to spend an autumn weekend!” Joan Przybyla Wilson reports that all is well with Best alums Allison “Sandy” Whitmore, Madelyn “Leli” Carey Simpson, Martha Packard Ross and Joan Przybyla Wilson. The group has managed to stay in touch after 50+ years and have fond memories of their times together. Sarah “Sally” Walker Helwig was sorry to miss our 50th reunion. Their daughter was married in Aug. in a small VT wedding. They did stop by New London on one of their treks for a campus visit and were very impressed by the new student

Debi Adams Johnston ’69 with her husband Fred, daughter Emily and sons Ian, Garth and Alec, in S.C., in the summer of 2019.

42 COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

center! They still live outside of Boston. With 2 grandsons in CA, they can only visit them virtually during the pandemic. Just before I-89 was opened, Jan MacLean Weir remembers being in a car with Maggie Legg Lynch ’68, returning from a meeting in Hanover for the Talladega (Alabama) Upward Bound Program that they worked on during the summer of ’68. Jan writes, “That summer was transformative for me in many ways, which I credit for my eventual career in social work. It was an immersion in understanding racism and privilege; new, eye-opening and heart-wrenching learning for me. The ride home on the unopened highway was a bit terrifying (think: Thelma and Louise for this girl). Thanks to Jack Jensen for the opportunity and to Maggie for challenging me to step way out of my comfort zone, where I have continued to live.” Jan, your note snapped me back. We were privileged and lived a sheltered life in the tiny town of New London. The 60s and 70s, which seem so far away now, were pretty turbulent, as well. Maybe this time the world will get it right. Classmates, I appreciate your continuing to share. Fifty plus years ago, when I stuck my hand in the air and volunteered to keep up with y’all, there were pages and pages ahead of the Class of 1969. Now we are the “old ladies” and we are getting closer and closer to the front of the class notes, where we cry at the loss of so many friends, and gasp that so many of us are still alive. I love to hear where you are and what you are doing with your lives and I know that many of your CJC friends are wondering the same things. Nancy Gill Richardson and I have reconnected and I love being back in her life.

1970

GAIL REMICK HOAGE gail@michaelsschool.com I hope you received the letter from the Class of 1970 reunion committee in the spring.

Although there was a margin of hope that our 50th reunion would still prevail, that did not materialize. It is sad for sure, but at our age, we are in the high-risk group for COVID-19. Please know that we will celebrate our 50th Oct. 15-17, 2021, along with the Class of ’71, our “little sisters.” The plans the committee has scheduled for this reunion weekend will still provide multiple opportunities for just our class to gather. Not wanting our graduation year to go unrecognized, the college hosted a “Host a Toast” via Zoom on Sunday, June 7, which was 50 years to the day of our graduation on June 7, 1970. It was great to see classmates online for the event.

A group of friends (The Mag 7) have stayed close since the Colby days by vacationing a week together every summer.

This year we had Zoom meetings to stay connected since canceling 2020 vacation plans. Besides me, Gail Remick Hoage, the group consists of Susan Pomerantz, Val Turtle, Beth Constantinides Meurlin, Deb Marcoux Deacetis, Karen Dunnett and Lynn Winchester. In the last few years another Colby friend has joined the Mag 7, so thanks to Ann Lozier Rohrborn for gracing our presence and changing our name to The Mag 7 plus One! Ann has settled and lives in Gilford, NH, with her husband. Sue Pomerantz, Val Turtle, Lynn Winchester and Karen Dunnett have all retired!

Also retired from real estate is Barbara Griffith Stevens. Barb lives in Norwalk, CT. Her 2 children and 2 grandchildren live close by. Barb enjoys painting, reading and yoga. During the reunion committee meetings, it has been great to see and hear from Elizabeth “Beth” Roland Hunter. Beth is often in the New London area to visit her sister.

Still living in VT, but retired from

Child Protective Services is Lynn Winchester. This allows her more time to spend with her granddaughter, Charlotte, from NJ, though she now misses her terribly due to the virus. I was glad to receive a short message of hello from Vincente “Vinny” Tang. Beth Roland Hunter writes, “The 50th Reunion Committee was happy to see so many familiar faces on the ‘Host a Toast’ Zoom call the college sponsored on the 50th anniversary of our graduation. It gave each of us a taste of the fun we can look forward to at our reunion in Oct. 2021. We won’t have the time constraints or conversational limits next Oct. when we celebrate our 50th and 51st reunions, face-to-face in New London. The ‘Host a Toast’ was the 1st such effort by the college to celebrate a reunion class’s graduation. We may have inaugurated a new tradition.” Beth encourages all classmates to share their email address with the Alumni Office so that you don’t miss any announcements regarding reunion developments. Bonnie Beehler Corey and Les have lived in Tucson, AZ, for almost 25 years, working in conservation organizations and teaching earth sciences and natural history. They have 5 grandchildren who live nearby and they feel very fortunate to be close enough to watch them grow and to be able to impart a sense of Earth stewardship to them. Bonnie and Les celebrated their 50th anniversary this year. They had plans to celebrate in the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu, however, since the pandemic they were grateful to remain close to home.

1971

ELLIE GOODWIN COCHRAN Elliegc51@gmail.com Greetings! The pandemic has led to many renewed connections and it’s been wonderful to have the opportunity to slow down and enjoy the things we can. I, Ellie Goodwin Cochran, kept busy making masks and trying to stay out of harm’s way. I

am not a fan of Zoom, but it was better than not being able to connect with folks. As I write this, we have become grandparents again to our 1st granddaughter, Vivian Mae. I had a lengthy conversation with Karen Siney Fredericks, who was busier than usual with her real estate management work, keeping up with renters and the crisis. She missed her time in CO with her daughter and grandkids, but had an opportunity to travel to New Orleans with her daughter just before the travel ban and experienced a fun New Orleans-style wedding. My roommate Jan Kunkle Sundquist reconnected with Susan Rich Daylor at their 50th high school reunion. Jan and her husband, Brad, are retired in AZ, where Jan enjoys quilting and painting. She has 2 daughters, one in TX and one in AZ. She became a grandmother to Petra over a year ago and, like the rest of us, is thankful for FaceTime. Susan and her husband, Bob, spent the entire month of Feb. visiting coastal New Zealand and Australia, then on to the Great Barrier Reef.

They saw amazing wildlife and managed to avoid the fires and COVID-19. At home in Westport, MA, she is rowing recreationally and competitively and is scheduled to race in London on the Thames in Sept. Jean Bannister is still on Cape Cod and traveling back and forth to Squirrel Island, ME, from May to Oct. Before the virus, she was working 3 days a week for a local cardiology group doing vascular ultrasound. Her daughter Jillian had a baby boy in Sept. She’s looking forward to our 50th next year. Janet Baynes Benzie and Rod did a 2-week Disney Cruise in March with her daughter and fiancé up the Panama Canal.

Many of the excursions were cancelled due to the virus and upon return to the UK they were in quarantine for 2 weeks. Jennie Kroll Hollister reports, and I quote, “Stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive, ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive.”

Bev Bethell Dolezal and Ed celebrated 48 years in Dec. with

their 7 grandkids. In the beginning of March, Bev spent a beautiful week in Sanibel, FL, signing copies of her photobook Seashell Poems and Reflections to Soothe the Soul at the Sanibel Shell Show. We hope this will be behind us so we can celebrate our 50th reunion in person rather than virtually. Stay safe!

1972

LINDA KELLY GRAVES dikeroka@aol.com What a winter this was! I hope you are all well and have managed to dodge the COVID-19 bullet that has gone speeding around our country. Please know that all of you and your families are in the thoughts and prayers of the Colby-Sawyer community.

Sarah “Sally” Cary Lemelin and her husband, Michael, remain in their home of many years in South Dartmouth, MA. They are in good health and have a 6-year-old granddaughter and a 4-year-old grandson, who live within 2 hours of them. Last summer, Sally had the pleasure of hosting her CSC roommate Maureen Thompson Coykendall and family for a visit. Sally’s twin sister and CSC classmate Martha Cary Shuster joined them and they all had a great time catching up and revisiting memories from their days at CSC. They resolved to gather as many friends from CSC as possible for our 50th reunion in 2022.

Maureen and her husband, Rick, live outside Chicago. Deborah Congdon Lorenson has spent a full life and career in NJ. She first worked as a medical secretary, thanks to her CSC education.

She raised 2 sons with her husband, Rich, and then joined him in working in their retail jewelry store for 20 years. They have now retired and moved to Westport Island, ME. They have become farmers, beekeepers, boaters and volunteers. They were beginning to travel, but I’m sure COVID has sidelined that plan for now. Kathy Norris is doing well and still working in Philadelphia in the architecture world.

Like many of us, I, Linda Kelly

SEE MORE ALUMNI PICS ON

colby-sawyer.edu/ classnotesphotos Graves, celebrated my 50th high school reunion virtually this spring. Since my high school class of 39 could not meet in person, we had a Zoom cocktail party, which was terrific! At this virtual reunion I did get to visit briefly with Lydia Biddle Thomas, who remains in NYC, and is healthy and as active as the constraints of COVID in NYC will allow. In late March, I drove 1,700 miles from Philadelphia to Sanibel Island, FL, as I wasn’t about to forego my planned visit with Deborah Ross Chambliss at her home. I arrived just as the beaches of Sanibel were shut to the public and restaurants went to pick-up only status. Because Debbie’s condo is on the beach, we thankfully were permitted access. We had a lovely week of sun, visiting, long walks, carryout and catching up on reading for me and learning about Zoom!

The original plan was for Nancy Bianchi Miller and Lucy Main to join us, but COVID concerns prevented that. Lucy now lives at least half the year in St. Petersburg, FL, in a lovely condo that she bought and decorated exquisitely. She spends the other half of the year in her home town of Malone, NY. She is retired from a career of world travel working for Talbots.

Nancy Bianchi Miller, as many of you may have done, has taken on helping her children, who are working from home during COVID, by hosting 2 of her grandchildren at her home in NH during the week. Nancy has her 6- and 3-year-old grandchildren 4 days a week and has become an excellent kindergarten teacher for her grand­ daughter. It is a huge endeavor for all families to

FALL 2020

43

handle the education of children still in school or in support of your family. I know all your efforts are given with great love and concern and are greatly appreciated. Thanks to all who contributed to our column. Stay well and stay safe.

1973

NANCY MESSING nrmessing@aol.com Greetings, classmates. We are in unprecedented times and so much is happening around us, yet so many things have been cancelled. I hope this finds you and yours safe. It is crazy out there. It was nice to hear from some of you. Lynda Hynson has lived in beautiful Asheville, NC, for 30 years. She started a business, Dancing Spiral Woodturning, 8 years ago, making wood-turned pens. Her husband makes boxes from exotic and domestic hardwoods.

Linda has traveled with him to craft shows all over the country.

In the interim, she has been a sign language interpreter, directed a radio reading service for the blind and raised twin sons and a daughter. Linda reconnected briefly with French teacher Christiane Rimbault, and also rediscovered and became friends with Tom Biuso’s daughter, whom she first met on campus 46 years ago at the age of 3. Cathy Moore Pomeroy lives in the Denver area. For the past year, she has been involved with the Aurora Arts Council, reviewing grant requests from small art programs in Arapahoe County. Cathy has also been doing some fundraising for CSC, so please remember to donate!

Cathy and Ted have done a bit of traveling lately, including a hiking trip in Madeira and visiting Lisbon. Her 3 kids are doing well and their 1st grandchild is on the way. Dr. Julie Fagan retired in 2020 following 34 years as a professor at Rutgers University. Julie is thrilled to now have the time to devote to being an artist. Deborah Ritter Moore and her husband completed the final phase of renovating their house

in Sharon, CT. They have started raising White Holland turkeys and spring lambs. Their daughter got married last spring at their working dairy farm, with the bridal parties arriving in the meadow in an REO Speedwagon! They spend part of the winter in Boca Grande, FL. This year Deborah’s CJC roommate, Mary Cunniff Lambert, visited and they had a great time of laughter and reflection. Since I know Mary from high school, I can vouch for this. Sounds like Deb is adjusting to farm life, which seems really good right now. Jan Lyle Malcolm lives in Riverside, RI, and is still selling real estate. She stays in touch with Alexandra “Sandy” Cumings Sullivan regularly, and through the wonders of Facebook has been in touch with her Abbey roommate Susan Hatch Barton ’74, as well as Mary Kennedy ’74 and Heidi Hammond ’74. Jan sees Chris Armbrust Rooks ’72 around town occasionally. Cindy Knight lives in beautiful Chatham, MA, and is one of the best golfers I know. It was nice to see her and catch up.

As for me, Nancy Messing, I am quarantining for who knows how long. Our daughter, Caroline, loves San Francisco and has been living there for 6 years. She is the Chief Operating Officer of a medical startup in the Dogpatch neighborhood. Our son Peter lives in Boston and works in the cardiac intensive care unit at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Stay safe, everyone!

1974

SUSAN BROWN WARNER warners@optonline.net Greetings, everyone! Ann Woodd-Cahusac Neary, Sue Brown Holtham and I, Sue Brown Warner, along with a few others, connected at our 45th CSC reunion last Oct. We had a great time on a beautiful fall weekend in New London. We missed those of you who weren’t with us! Our 50th (gasp) is in 2024 – just 4 years away! Let’s start planning now to ensure a great showing and a good time

44 COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

Sue Brown Warner ’74 (l) and Ann Woodd-Cahusac Neary ’74 (r) take a selfie on the quad at their 45th reunion.

together. Ideas? Want to be on the planning team? Let me know! Patty Quinn Whiting has been married to her husband, Steve, (whom she met at a water fight at Best back in 1972, arranged with his SAE fraternity at Dartmouth) for 40 years in May. They have 5 children scattered around the country and their 11th grandchild is due in June. Pat has been a nurse since 1976 and has worked at New England Rehabilitation Hospital of Portland, ME, for 26 years. Pat and Steve became Christians back in 1973, and have had an amazing life with Bible studies, Christian growth groups, etc. Pat and Steve’s biggest hobby is travel and hiking, especially throughout Berner Oberland, Switzerland. After 2 years at Colby-­Sawyer, Amy Davis graduated magna cum laude from Ursinus College with a degree in economics. She retired from PNC Wealth Management in 2018 after a 32-year career as a trust officer in Wilmington, DE. In her free time, she has been studying Latin at the University of DE Academy of Lifelong Learning. Amy enjoys gardening, cooking, interior decorating, travel and spending as much time as possible with her family.

1975

JILL MCLAUGHLIN GODFREY Jillgodfrey25@gmail.com Marsha Meyer Hall and husband, Steve, are enjoying their retirement home on a golf course in Charlevoix, MI. They spend as much time as possible with their 3 granddaughters, 2 in

CA and 1 in MI. Sandy Comstock and James Maxner enjoy having daughter Hallie home from South East Asia. She returned after completing 2 internships and her degrees in marine biology and sustainability. She also attained her master diving certification. Nancy McIntire Zemlin and husband Ray are delighted that both sons are engaged and plan to be married next year. Nanci Schallman owns her own luxury goods line in NYC. Jill McLaughlin Godfrey and husband, Scott, report that all 4 of their children are married. They enjoy time with their granddaughter Bryn, who lives in Philadelphia. Jill enjoys her social work career for the Office of the Public Defender.

Dimension Design has Bradley Nevins Olufs working from home. She misses the business travel, but completely understands the importance of isolation. Since the event business has been shut down, her company is now making washable cloth face masks. The best part of her day is delivering the masks to first responders, shelters and nursing homes. Bradley misses hugging her daughters and grandchildren, as well as going out to restaurants, but FaceTime and Zoom are keeping her connected. Anne Winton Black and Rick celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in June. In anticipation of that, they spent a week in Feb. cruising the western Caribbean on the Disney Fantasy with their Cohasset, MA, daughter, Windy, son-in-law, Dustin, and their 3 sons, Flynn (9), Hayes, (7) and Tucker (4). Anne writes, “Albeit, Rick and I would not choose a ship that large were we on our own, I must say for intergenerational travel, Disney does it supremely well. Now, we look back on that trip with immense gratitude for special memories, all the more poignant given the times in which we now find ourselves, which has required many weeks of social distancing. ”The Blacks’ son, Rod, became engaged last Dec. to fiancé

In May, friends from the Classes of 1975 and 1976 gathered via Zoom for a birthday celebration in honor of Heidi Scheller ’75.

Terry. They will enjoy seeing them more regularly as they bought a new home in Smithfield, RI, less than an hour from Anne and Rick in Narragansett.

Rod’s son, Patrick (6), who lives with his mother in Newport, is also nearby. Rick enjoys building custom furniture by commission and they both enjoy the flexibility they have in their schedules by being retired. During the early weeks of the coronavirus, Betsy Coleman Potter spent her time caring for her parents, ages 93 and 95. She did shopping for them, as well as for some elderly neighbors.

Snowmass Vlg, CO, working for the Aspen Ski Co. She recently completed her 38th year as a private lesson pro for the ski school.

Her summers are quite busy with her garden design business, Smith Hall Designs. Wendy Dow Miller and her husband, Tom, retired on May 10, 2019.

They were both in IT – Tom worked at ESPN on X-Games as a DBA and Wendy worked at Optum (United Health Care) as a project manager. Their house in Lyme, CT, is for sale and they moved to their home on Cape Cod, located in East Harwich, which they had rented out in the summers for more than 20 years.

Now that it is theirs fulltime, they JANET SPURR looked to spend their first sumSpurr1@msn.com mer kayaking, biking, hiking, On May 28, a group of CSC gardening and going for walks friends had a surprise Zoom with their Golden Retriever, birthday party for Heidi Scheller Ollie. Kristen Dabrowski Gould ’75. The video call included has lived in Kennebunk, ME, for Marybeth McEvoy Webster, 32 years. She is retired but her sister, Brigid McEvoy Russo spends her time working their ’75, Anne Tilney, Cabby Herr, small farm, riding her Morgan Janet Spurr and various other mare and volunteering as a Tai friends who have been a part of Chi for Health instructor for the Heidi’s life since the 1970s. Her Southern Maine Agency on brothers, Charlie and Douglas, Aging. Her oldest son, Adam, and their families also joined the was married last Sept. to the celebration. They both spent daughter of Kristen’s best friend many a weekend at Colby-­ growing up in NJ. They have Sawyer during Heidi’s college known each other all their lives. days. Anne Tilney happily Kristen was very excited to welremained at home during come her 1st grandchild in Aug. COVID-19, enjoying the most Through social media she beautiful spring in the past 23 remains in touch with Sandy years in Charlottesville, VA. The Warner Vanlerberghe, Janet flowers were flourishing with Dreher Hart, Carolyn Van Vleck color! Patricia Smith is living in ’75 and Susan Whalen ’77.

1976

Dawna Cobb reports that everyone in her immediate circle of family and friends is healthy and safe. While she is retired, several meaningful projects are keeping her busy. The last 2 years were spent as co-chair of the Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle, a collective giving organization.

The group consists of 450 women who each contribute $1,150 and then grant it away to nonprofits whose work meets the Circle’s mission to help women and their families achieve self-sufficiency. This year they granted almost $530,000 and it couldn’t have come at a better time given COVID-19’s devastating impact on the nonprofit sector. Another project arose after having done volunteer legal work for people returning home from prison.

Dawna shares, “If there ever was a population that desperately needs access to information about resources available to them, it is returning citizens. My partner, Joe Meyerhoff, and I formed a nonprofit to create a one-stop website for returning citizens to the Baltimore metro area. We just launched returnhome.org.” After close to 25 years working in medical education, Ruth St. Onge Fortini retired in June 2018 from the Medical University of SC. Although she loved her job working with med students and residents, she loves retirement even more. Her husband, Ed, will retire soon. Ruth hopes by then, traveling will be possible again.

Barbara Carroll volunteers with the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

She donated a series of black and white safari photos she had taken in order to raise money at their gala last Oct.

1977

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1978

JODI HAMBLEY COOPERRUBIN Jcooper323@aol.com

1979

DEBRA BRAY MITCHELL dbraymitch@gmail.com Just because you are self-isolating or quarantine-bound doesn’t mean you can ignore your class correspondent. You must have some news. Who has set a record for most Netflix movies watched? Least weight gained?

Most baby clothes knit? Cancelled weddings? Longest time without being able to hold a new grandchild? Most hours logged in a hospital (and God Bless You!)? You can do it; send me a note. I, Debra Bray Mitchell, recently got out of quarantine after travel back to NH from UT. My aunt, Nancy Wiesner Conkling ’58, who is battling cancer, and my mother, Susan Wiesner Bray ’53, came to stay with us for a few days. The highlight of our time together was a trip to the Colby-Sawyer campus. We checked out one another’s dorms and pointed out our rooms. I was interested to learn my mom had a single in Page right above the door that had a bathtub and she would fill it up with hot water, go over to Burpee to smoke (in the only “smoker” on campus, I guess) then hustle back to her dorm in a raccoon coat and jump into the tub to warm up in the winter.

Fortunately, we didn’t have any stories of such deviant behavior to share with her of life in the 70s.

The highlight of the visit was driving up to Colgate only to run into President Sue Stuebner.

Sue graciously chatted up my mom and aunt and posed with us for pictures. We talked about the wonderful new deal for support from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health that Sue was instrumental in cutting and heard that we are expecting more than 90 new nursing recruits this coming fall, a big increase from last year.

We’re lucky to have Sue in this role and Colby-Sawyer is solidifying its position as the best nursing program in New England. My investigative reporter tells me that Karen Hill Maloney has been spotted socially distancing herself by

FALL 2020

45

Pleasant Lake. The pandemic gave her an opening to close her health club business and sell much of the equipment (the remainder fitting nicely into her expanded workout facility downstairs at her home on Long Island). She was in New London helping her dad. Look her up when you come back to town!

Susan Carroll Hassett, CEO and founder of Cocktail Sneakers LLC, shared a heartwarming story at the height of the pandemic last spring. She received a surprise package filled with several hundred face masks from the women who make her sneakers in a female-owned factory in China. Susan and Cocktail Sneakers promptly donated all of the masks to Rosie’s Place, a women’s shelter in Boston.

1980

NATALIE “LEE” HARTWELL THRASHER LifeGrd121@aol.com During the pandemic, Darlene Chamberlain became a member of the pen pal program at the Sullivan County Healthcare facility. The program is designed to lift the spirits of residents as they deal with isolation during the pandemic. Darlene makes her own cards, and she has so many that she’s going to start sending them to their activity department to pass onto residents. During this pandemic, Natalie Hartwell Thrasher noticed that food was a major expense for those with bills coming in, but not much else. Natalie has 4 daughters with young families, along with elderly

CONNECT colbysawyeralumni CSC_alumni Colby-­Sawyer Alumni Group csc_alumni

neighbors. As she and her husband were isolating at home, she felt the need to help somehow. Cooking is a love and form of therapy for Natalie, so she started doing “Drive-by Dinners.” Once a week, she prepared and boxed about 6 family suppers and then delivered them to their front doors.

This started April 1, and by the 27th, Natalie had prepared more than 100 meals.

1981

PAM AIGELTINGER LYONS pamalyons@verizon.net

1982

SUSAN HOLDERNESS CUSACK sehchoy@aol.com As your class correspondent, I would like to share with you a bit of what I am feeling in this time of COVID-19. Some of us are stranded far from our homes, or are locked down at home, unable to travel safely across our country. You may have left home for a holiday and not been able to return at all, or with some difficulty. You may have a parent in a nursing home you fear you will never see again. You or your children may have lost their business or had it severely curtailed. Your grandchildren may be being home-schooled for the foreseeable future. You see an out of order country and a strained social order. All of this is true for me! So, going forward, I pray for a society that prioritizes public health and safety, a safety net for all, especially for our essential workers, and a society based on social harmony. We thank the administrators of our common alma mater, nearby universities, and our vital hospital workers during this time. When the virus is defeated, we will recognize more than ever the value these institutions play in our lives and communities. We will be kinder and more generous to the often-undervalued essential workers, especially the heroic medical caregivers. We will value more the struggling artists, musicians and writers in our communities. Many of us have

46 COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

innovated during this time. We have learned how to work more effectively from home. We have learned how to educate and share our gifts and talents. All best wishes for a renewed sense of purpose at this challenging time!

1983

GAIL SMART SCIBELLI gail@famapr.com As we all adjust to this postCOVID-19 world, I did have a bright spot. In mid-June, I did a Zoom call with 3 former CSC classmates from Burpee: Lynnellen “Lynne” Glaser-Creager, Sharon “SH” Carroll Gross ’84 and Mary Martin Maxfield.

Tracey Lamb ’84 and Dana Knapp ’82 could not make it.

We had a great time catching up. Mary Martin Maxfield is a principal in the Barrington, NH School District. She and her husband, Fred, live happily near New London. Mary’s son, Ethan, has embarked on a successful tech career and is living in Marblehead, MA, with his fiancée.

Sharon “SH” Carroll Gross ’84 is a successful hospital administrator, living in Calabasas, CA (outside of Los Angeles), with her husband and children. Lynnellen “Lynne” Glaser-Creager lives in a beautiful home outside of Denver, CO, with her 2 sons.

As for me, Gail Smart Scibelli, I am still doing public relations for technology companies in Boston. Would love to hear from other classmates!

1984

DIANE PLACE STATKUS d.statkus@comcast.net Hi, Class of 1984. 2020 thus far has proven to be a most difficult year for many people, but I hope it finds you and your family safe and healthy. Kimberly Fish Rumrill went back to medical technology after retiring from the NH State Police Crime lab after 25 years. She now works at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in the molecular pathology lab as a genomic technologist, analyzing hundreds of COVID samples. Kim shares,

“Our lab went from being a weekday single shift lab working on cancer diagnoses and infectious diseases, to a 24/7 lab with the same number of workers.”

Thank you, Kim, for the work you and many others are doing to fight COVID-19. I, Diane Place Statkus, recently celebrated my 30th anniversary at IBM. It’s hard to believe that I’m working at the same company this many years later. As the director of the Headquarters Marketing Program Management Office, I’m leading a very large transformation of all marketing systems to a single vendor. It’s very exciting, challenging and sometimes overwhelming! My son, Michael, will be a senior at Keene State in the fall, studying architecture.

Don’t forget to reach out fellow classmates, to those you were close with, and want to share with. If you are one of those folks who goes right to your class news section of the magazine, it’s because you want to know about your CSC sisters. You do have news to share, and we’d love to hear it!

1985

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Caroline Kittredge is an educational assistant at Sunapee Middle High School, working remotely during the pandemic.

Her daughter, Isabelle Crane Kittredge Lovett ’20, graduated in May with a BA in psychology. Caroline adopted Buck, a wonderful 2-year-old dog, in Aug. 2019. She is thankful for his companionship, especially during these uncertain times.

1986

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1987

KYM PRINTON FISCHER mkjfischer@yahoo.com

1988

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

1989

CAROLYN CHERUBINO MCGRAW mcgraw.carolyn@gmail.com

Janette Robinson Harrington ’90 with sons Grady and Billy.

1990

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Janette Robinson Harrington’s family hit the trifecta of graduations! Her son, Grady, graduated from Hingham High School and headed to St. Lawrence University in the fall. Her son Billy earned his degree in aerospace engineering from RPI. And Janette earned her master’s in elementary education from American International College.

She is licensed to teach in the state of MA and hoped to have her own classroom in the fall.

1991

GRETCHEN GARCEAU-KRAGH redsoxfan78210@yahoo.com

1992

BETH BRYANT CAMP ecamp@colby-sawyer.edu JENNIFER BARRETT SAWYER jjmasawyer@comcast.net I hope everyone is staying safe and managing these challenging times. Lots has changed for many of us over these last few months and I greatly appreciate all who reached out to send news. It’s nice to stay connected as we continue our individual life journeys. Kelly Lynch Collins has lived in CA for 25 years. She works on the devices & services marketing team at Google. She has been working from home since early March and learned that her team will not be returning to the office for the remainder of 2020. Kelly has spent her quarantine time working on a landscape design in her backyard. Outside of work, most

Beth Bryant Camp ’92 (l) and Kendall Crowley Quackenbos ’92 (r) at Mount Sunapee.

of Kelly’s fun travel plans were canceled due to the pandemic.

She did manage to squeeze in a trip to Santa Fe and Taos, NM, for her birthday in Feb., and hopes to go through with a 10-day vacation to Vietnam and Cambodia in Sept. Kelly has not been back to NH in more than 2 years, but will return to help her parents move out of their family home as they relocate to CA to join Kelly in the warmer climate.

Brenda Manus White’s family bakery, Blakeney’s, is working harder than ever to make their artisan breads, baguettes, scones and other baked good available to more communities.

Especially now, people are looking to their local businesses for fresh goods. Brenda’s daughter, Sloan, and mother, Marge Huston ’98, have been incredibly helpful in the bakery. Sloane is waiting patiently to head off to North Macedonia with the Peace Corps. She was supposed to leave in Sept., but the trip has been postponed until Feb. Brenda’s son, Jay, is finishing up the 2nd year of his doctorate in chiropractic medicine at the University of Western States.

Brenda still enjoys working at Windy Hill Lab School in the nursery program, where she’s completed her 16th year. She and her husband, Dave, are making time for walks on various rail trails around NH and enjoy nature. It was exciting to hear from Christiane “Ketje” M. deRoos. Ketje’s father passed

quickly and unexpectedly from pancreatic cancer on July 1, 2017. He passed 3 days after his official diagnosis. About a year later, for a variety of reasons, Ketje sold her house and almost everything she owned, moved back in with her mom and started a new job at Littleton Public Schools in the southeastern Denver area. She works with special needs children, having secured her teaching license in special education in 2012. Kristi Dyer lives in Santa Fe, NM, with her dogs, Thelma and Louise.

She writes, “Since healing myself from Lupus 7 years ago, I’m able to enjoy life again, taking daily hikes with Thelma and Louise in the gorgeous high desert.” Kristi competes on 2 USTA tennis teams: she is captain of a women’s 3.5 team and co-captain of a women’s 4.0 team. Her passion, Web of Life Myofascial Release, celebrated its 1st anniversary last fall. This past spring during COVID-19, Kristi started a new digital marketing business called The Bump Card, which allows businesses to share a digital footprint/business card via a smartphone. Kristi describes the business as “a website on steroids and a must have for any business owner, organization and entrepreneur.” Kristi recently helped her Naturopath (and CEO), who helped her heal from Lupus, launch Bio-Pana, an all-natural, non-toxic, non-staining, child and pet safe antimicrobial that is 99.9% effective at killing all harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses. The company vision is to help Americans feel safer and more confident knowing they’re protected using Bio-Pana as a disinfectant and hand sanitizer. As for me, Beth Bryant Camp, I am in my 21st year at Colby-Sawyer and enjoy my work as director of development. My husband, Nathan Camp ’98, and I enjoy life in New London with our daughters, Ellie (17) and Caroline (16). It’s hard to believe our oldest is in her senior year of high school and will soon be off to college.

Didn’t we just graduate? I have

SEE MORE ALUMNI PICS ON

colby-sawyer.edu/ classnotesphotos really enjoyed reconnecting with Kendall Crowley Quackenbos, Alison Carney Senior and Amy Coletti, all who have vacation homes in the area and, together with their families, enjoy the recreational opportunities offered at Mount Sunapee and Lake Sunapee. Finally, like many of us, I recently celebrated a milestone birthday and had hoped to travel with my family to the Amalfi Coast of Italy, but that was postponed due to COVID-19. Please take care of yourself and each other, and please let me know if your travels bring you to New London.

1993

DAWN HINCKLEY Prettygyrl911s@gmail.com

1994

JULIE CAMP camp_julie@hotmail.com STACEY BANKS NIEMAN sniemana@gmail.com Marc Wysocki is a lieutenant with the Sheffield (MA) Volunteer Fire Department. During the height of the coronavirus pandemic in late March, Marc responded to medical and fire calls, working with 5-person teams for 12-hour shifts in order to attempt to decrease exposure to the virus for all firefighters.

Dan Berry, executive director of the South Shore YMCA Emilson Branch, did his part during the pandemic by helping to deliver meals to those in need.

FALL 2020

47

Chris “Koz” Kozlowski ’95 and Christen Wallingford Kozlowski ’96 with sons Dominic and Gabe.

The Class of 1994, Colby-Sawyer’s first coeducational class, celebrated its 25th reunion last October. Those in attendance included Chris Gasparro, Chuck Rodgers, Tony Librot, Tony Bertone, Matt Reed, Maria Sinacola Borland, Hillary Waldbaum, Dave Morin, Stefan Schwarz, Dan Berry, Heather Dutton Dombroski, Liz Toole Witham, Kirstin Steudler, Patty Randall Berry, Jack Tremblay, Beth Sargent Fenton, Jen Deasy, Holly Irvine-Salvi, Tracie Long and Jen D’Orazio Hollingsworth.

1995

ALLISON LATHAM HOSGOOD ahosgood13@gmail.com Well, classmates, it’s our 25th college reunion year! How crazy is that? In some ways it seems like yesterday, and in others it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. Kerrigan Stone Marcum moved from Phoenix, AZ, back to the East coast in Plymouth, MA, with her husband and 5-year-old daughter. She is currently an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. Liz Ford Breton got married in Nov. 2002, bought a house in 2007, and since 2011 has been the manager of a Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop in Meredith, NH. It is located across the street from Lake Winnipesaukee and in normal times is a very busy location.

Every year the franchise chooses 4-6 managers and names them Manager of the Year, which she won back in 2013. Her Ben & Jerry’s location has a catering program that has grown over the years, which allows her to travel throughout the state. Sometimes these travels bring her right through New London and past CSC. She typically has a staff member with her and will

reminisce about her days at the college. Also, Liz’s niece attends CSC, which makes Liz a very proud aunt. Liz and her husband never had children, but dote on their nieces and nephews and their children. She’s been a great aunt since 2001! Liz and her husband have a fur baby (a Yorkie named Baby) and a parakeet that keep them company. Lynn Hart Cutting and her family are doing well despite all the craziness in the world. Her son is a fulltime Portsmouth, NH, firefighter and her daughter graduated high school and is planning to attend UVM in the fall to study nursing. Laurel Rickert Ciechon lives in Plymouth, NH, with her husband and 3 kids.

Her oldest daughter graduated high school. Laurel is a director in the compliance department for Lincoln Financial Group.

Matt Richards has finished his 17th year at Southern Maine Community College as associate dean of students/director of athletics and men’s basketball coach. Matt has kept in touch with many CSC folks via Zoom, including his old roommates, Don Varnum, Pat Desmond and Jim McGilvery ’96. Matt also stays in touch with Rick Ellis

48 COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

and participated in the showing of the Rick Ellis production “Hell on the Hill” video Zoom call with many of the old-timers from CSC. He also sees classmate Travis Hersom regularly. He recently helped Travis install a dock at his new camp and they get together for family gatherings often. Travis is doing well and living in Portland. Stefan Schwarz is living in Reston, VA. As of receipt of the update, Stefan has been working at home for the past 3 months. He anticipates working at home for the foreseeable future because he is high risk. Stefan loves to travel and is planning to vacation and go on cruises once allowed, but probably not until 2021. Allison Latham Hosgood and Derek Hosgood have lived in Round Rock, TX, (just outside of Austin) for 10 years and celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary in July. Their daughter, Hope, is 19 and a sophomore at the University of TX- San Antonio, majoring in public health with a minor in psychology. Hope also works in child care with a daycare and preschool franchise. Page is a 16-year-old sophomore at Round Rock High School and is focusing on health science. She is one of 5 girls on the Round Rock wrestling team. This summer, Page had her 1st job as a lifeguard at Typhoon Texas waterpark. Derek spent the last year-and-a-half as a behavior education teacher at Pearson Ranch Middle School in Round

Rock. He’s now transitioned back into physical education and is a traveling elementary school P.E. teacher in Austin ISD. Allison has continued her career in human resources and worked most recently as the executive director of organizational development and HR with the city of Hutto, TX. As of March 2020, Allison is no longer in the position and looking for her next opportunity. In the meantime, she is recruiting business builders to join her online ecommerce health and wellness business. After Spring Break in March, the family was blessed with time at home together, getting outdoors, cooking and smoking meat and experienced the birth of their first litter of German Shorthaired Pointer puppies! Chris “Koz” Kozlowski and Christen Wallingford Kozlowski ’96 got off a Caribbean cruise right before the pandemic hit in early March, thankfully with no issues. As with everyone, they had to adapt to life getting flipped upside down, including home-schooling their 2 sons. With all the event cancellations, Koz decided to suspend his food truck operations for the summer and focus on carpentry and other home improvement projects that they have been putting off for years. Christen is back to work soon and the catering operations will resume after Labor Day. Jill Rivers started her 10th year in Singapore (13th overseas). After 9 years of teaching grade 2, she is now teaching

Brian Morrisey has kept very busy with his company, Asphera Inc., as well as with marathon training. He released a new issue of his POESY Magazine in Aug.

1998

Sean Paradis ’96 and his wife, Kristen, welcomed baby Logan in June 2020.

grade 4. She successfully completed her master of education teacher librarianship degree, which means she is now certified to work in any type of library. She hopes to work in a primary school library in the near future (unsure where in the world that will be). Just as Jill was finishing up the online degree, which took 3 hard years of balancing work, studying over all her holidays, and basically on her computer all the time, she was ready to go out and spend time doing fun things. Then COVID19 struck and she was home, teaching virtually for the rest of the school year. Jill finds it difficult to know what the future holds personally and globally, but as the Class of 1995 celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, she feels this is a wonderful time to reach out to our CSC friends, share stories and memories and reconnect with friends.

Thank you for all the updates!

1996

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Sean Paradis and his wife, Kristen, celebrated the birth of Logan Robert Paradis on June 1, 2020.

1997

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Laura Powell ran her 14th marathon last Oct. Alan Handlir is living in Beavercreek, OH and working as a project coordinator. He looks forward to the next time he is able to visit campus.

JAMIE GILBERT KELLY kellynewhouse2015@gmail. com CHRIS QUINT christopher.quint@gmail.com After graduating from CSC in 1998, Mark Macenas went on to teach figure drawing classes at Manchester Institute for Art. He then moved to FL to work as a graphic designer. After moving to NC to work as the designer for the Clinton Trial in DC, he attended the fire academy in 2001. Mark was employed by the City of Durham Fire Department for almost 20 years before retiring as a lieutenant/acting captain. Mark is now the proud owner of Carolina Hemp Company. His business is an education focused hemp general store with quality CBD oils, hemp flower extract products such as sublingual oil, vape oils, concentrates and other hemp products, including organically-grown hemp flower, bath and body products, topicals and edibles. Ann Preston Roselle’s work as a psychiatric nurse practitioner keeps her pretty busy meeting the mental health needs of her community. She has also been volunteering for the Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America, taking calls for the organization.

Calls can range from crisis calls to simply directing folks to support groups offered via the organization. Ann finds it incredibly rewarding to give back to a group that focuses on those with serious mental illnesses, particularly during the pandemic. Ann is also president-elect of the International Society of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurses’ Foundation Board. During the quarantine, Ann’s family obtained 26 new chicks, which have been great for the family and are keeping them company.

Mark Macenas ’98.

1999

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

2000

TARA SCHIRM CAMPANELLA taracampanella@gmail.com JENNIFER PRUDDEN MONTGOMERY jenpmontgomery1978@gmail. com Hi, Class of 2000! What a crazy spring it was! Hoping everyone is healthy and happy. My (Jennifer Prudden Montgomery) family and I live in Andover, MA, where I teach 3rd grade. Chris Fitzpatrick lives in Darien, CT and works for Vineyard Vines. He and his wife recently welcomed baby girl Teagan Lynette Fitzpatrick. Shannon Rowell Pine lives in Newport, RI. Her son, Landon, is now a middle-schooler. She said “it’s crazy to think 20 years have passed since our CSC days.” Shannon is a licensed mental health clinician

working within the juvenile justice system and corrections. Tara Schirm Campanella recently completed the highly competitive Fiscal Crisis Management Assistance Team Chief Business Officer certification program.

Tara was selected as one of 29 students from the state of CA to participate in this esteemed program. The program runs annually and it provides free scholarships for candidates. The program met monthly in Sacramento with the top school business experts from around the state. It required more than 400 hours of coursework. Now Tara has her CBO certification and all the skills she needs for success as the chief business officer of Bass Lake School District. Ryan Smith and his wife, Jen, welcomed Kai Bahli Smith by adoption in Sept.

2019. Five-year-old Sofie loves being a big sister.

2001

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

2002

NICOLE FOWLER MARTIN nicole.martin3@gmail.com Editor’s Note: Thanks to Cheryl Lecesse Richardson, who had served as co-class correspon­ dent since 2002.

After graduating in 2002 from the nursing program, Andrea Broughton worked as a critical care nurse for 5 years, starting at Kai and Sofie Smith, children of Ryan Smith ’00 and his wife, Jen.

Chris Fitzpatrick ’00 and his daughter, Teagan.

FALL 2020

49

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in adult medical ICU and then at DHMC in the pediatric ICU. She then transitioned into a clinical educator role for a short period before moving into medical sales in 2007. For the last 6 years, she has been working for ZOLL Medical, selling transport ventilators to EMS, fire departments, private ambulance services and hospitals. Andrea and her husband, Jim, who is the head baseball coach at CSC, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in Jan. Their daughter, Emily, works as an LNA at a long-term care facility in Plymouth, MA, and their son, Caleb, began his senior year at Bucknell University, where he plays on the varsity baseball team. Lindsey Holcombe is working as an LPN at Mt. Carmel in Manchester, NH. She feels that she’s finally found her calling. Robert Buckley has been living in Boston’s South End for 8 years and enjoys it very much. Rob has been working at Niemitz Design Group for 10 years, focusing on restaurants and hotel design. He has worked on many exciting projects, including a few at the Encore Casino in Boston. Erin Hardy Yelle has lived in CO with her family (husband Jeff, and sons Ben, 16, Ryan, 10 and Noah, 8)

Courtney Stevens ’04 and her daughter, Elinora Louise.

for almost 2 years. They love all that CO has to offer, including skiing, biking and hiking. They recently purchased an RV so that they can go on many adventures. Erin owns and operates a small fitness business out of her home. It has been a great way for her to do what she loves and also be a stay-at-home mom.

Karen Kotopoulis Koutsavlis is living in Auburn, NH, with her family, enjoying lots of bike riding. She completed her first “century” (100-mile bike ride) last Sept. in ID. Karen’s business,

A group from the Class of 2004, along with spouses and children, enjoyed Fall Fest at Mt. Sunapee in October 2019. Pictured are Tim Morin ’04, Eric Massa, Erin Sawler Massa ’04, Jason Feitelberg ’04, Tina Morin, Lisa Maggio Crowley ’04 and Shawn Crowley ’04.

50 COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

Jenni Beaulieu Calvi ’05 with her husband and three children.

NE360Fitness, celebrated its 7th birthday in the spring, and Karen has really enjoyed the Coffee with a Coach events she’s been doing on Facebook Live for the CSC Alumni page. Thanks to those who shared updates! I always look forward to hearing what the Class of 2002 is up to!

2003

LISA NOYES HARDENBROOK litha8@hotmail.com

2004

ERIC EMERY ericemery20@gmail.com Aside from COVID and quarantine, life has been pretty good for Tia Holt Savage. She’s been able to spend a lot of quality time with her 4-year-old son, Tanner. They love being outside, hiking and swimming in any body of water they come across … oceans, lakes, rivers, pools and even puddles. Tia and her husband love exploring local breweries, trying new beer, enjoying awesome food trucks and listening to live music. Erin Sawler Massa teaches art at Pembroke High School. She and her husband, Eric, enjoy skiing.

This past winter they took their 2½-year-old daughter, Hazel, skiing at Loon and she mastered the bunny hill by the end of the day. Erin keeps in touch with a number of classmates. She and Eric, Lisa Maggio Crowley and

her husband, Shawn Crowley ’04, and Tim Morin and his wife, Tina, enjoyed their annual trip to Key West in Feb. They also enjoyed a mini-reunion at Mount Sunapee last fall, including the Key West group plus Jason Feitelberg and all of their children. Courtney Stevens teaches 3rd grade in MA and adjusted to the challenges of distance learning this year. On Sept. 11, 2019, she welcomed daughter Elinora Louise into the world. Since their due dates were 2 days apart, she was in a friendly competition with Kayde Czupryna Gower ’03 to see which one of their babies would be born first.

Kayde won by 3 days! Lauren Palma Katz and her husband live in Holden, MA. Their son, Teddy, is 2 ½. They were rather busy through the pandemic, but happy for health and safety. Lauren keeps in touch with many of her CSC girls, including Tia Holt Savage, Dayna Selvitella Carignan, Allison Huckabee Stenson, Karen Salvo Nigrelli, Becky Brault Bearce, Kelly Dubois Lane and Gretchen Walker. Lauren is thankful for FaceTime, as it’s replaced their normal in-person get-­togethers.

Katie Mills Ryder ’06 and Rob Ryder ’03 with their son, Jackson.

2005

MONICA MICHAUD MILLER michaud_monica@hotmail.com Marissa Zinsser Hayes lives in West Palm Beach, FL, with her husband, 4 beautiful boys and 2 dogs. She is the corporate director of communications for Retreat Behavioral Health, a treatment provider for substance abuse and mental health with locations up and down the East Coast. Marissa is an avid runner and enjoys the beautiful trails and beaches in FL. Jenni Beaulieu Calvi, her husband, and their 3 children live in CA. Her husband is a pilot in the USN and Jenni is a nurse for the naval clinic. They enjoy taking advantage of the many activities the Central Valley has to offer.

2006

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Editor’s Note: Thanks to Anne Coulter, who served as class correspondent since 2016.

Katie Mills Ryder and her husband, Rob Ryder ’03, are proud parents of son, Jackson and expected their 2nd child in Sept.

They live on the NH seacoast and love seeing their CSC friends frequently. Krystal Heins Searah and husband, Shaun, welcomed a 2nd son, Gordon David, on Jan. 24, 2020. Big brother Gibson has already decided that they are best friends. Carolyn Wilson was recently named an alumni inductee into the Delta Omega Honor Society for Public Health

Anna Clark Ramsay ’07 and Kris Ramsay ’08 with daughters Ruby and baby Cora on their first trip as a family of four to Anna Maria Island, FL.

at New York Medical College. In Feb., Adam Perron was hired as an assistant soccer coach for the University of VA men’s soccer program. He had previously served as the top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for men’s soccer at James Madison University.

2007

STEPHANIE GUZZO stephanie.guzzo@gmail.com ASHLEY RODKEY rodkeyah@yahoo.com At the wake of the pandemic, Nicole Horgan began making masks for her immediate family and friends. Her network grew quickly and by early June she had made 633 masks! She posted on her personal and local community social media pages and reached out to local vendors. Eventually, she started a Facebook Group, Masked In Style, to better manage the requests! So far her masks have made it from North Andover, MA, to CA, FL, AZ, NC and NY. The community has been so supportive and has ensured that her supply stays strong so she can continue donating on a regular basis. John Manganello lives with his wife, Lauren, and three children (Otis, Vera and Seth) in Freeport, ME. John recently completed his MBA from Boston College and previously earned his M.S. in Adult and Higher Education from the

Justin Tardif ’08 married Chentel Tourigny Tardif in July 2019. Pictured at the wedding are (l to r) Ryan Murray ’09, Trevor Davis ’08, Andrew Burnell ’09, Brittany Mailman ’10, Julia Steese Murray ’09, Topher Dubay ’08, Chentel Tourigny Tardif, Justin Tardif ’08 and Brendan O’Neill ’09.

University of Southern ME. In May 2020, John became the President and CEO of Baskahegan Company. Since 2014, he has served on the Boots2Roots board and recently joined the board of the Maine Coast Waldorf School. Ben Warnick was named director of athletics at Massasoit Community College in Brockton, MA, in April.

2008

SARAH HEANEY PELLETIER sh.heaney@gmail.com Tristan MacKay Henson took a pause in her nursing career after welcoming twins in Nov. She’s staying busy at home with her husband, their beekeeping and maple syrup business and their 5 children. Justin Tardif married Chentel Tourigny on July 6, 2019, with many CSC alumni in attendance. Molly Hetrick Klansek married Matthew Klansek on Dec 14, 2019. Kyle Koch Taylor and husband, Roddy, welcomed a son, Lochlan O’Mara Taylor, on June 7, 2020.

Kyle is in a graduate program at Central WA University studying primate behavior and ecology.

Zackary Irish and his family relocated to Norton, MA, in June

2019 when he was appointed the assistant vice president for student affairs at Wheaton College.

Zack was later appointed to the role of interim vice president for student affairs and dean of students in Oct. 2019. Kris Ramsay, wife Anna Clark Ramsay ’07 and daughter Ruby were ecstatic to welcome baby Cora Charlotte on Oct. 24, 2019. Kim Simard Ackles and Zach Ackles ’07 welcomed their 3rd child, Emery Cole (Cole for Colby-Sawyer) in Nov. 2019. Tyler Birnbaum was featured in an article in the spring 2020 edition of CoSIDA 360 Magazine. Tyler is the sports information specialist at the University of WI-Superior.

CONNECT colbysawyeralumni CSC_alumni Colby-­Sawyer Alumni Group csc_alumni

FALL 2020

51

Amanda Wasel Oldfield ’09 and Ryan Oldfield ’09 were married on the Colby-Sawyer campus in Oct. 2019.

2009

NICOLE POELAERT CONSTANZO nmpoelaert@gmail.com ELIZABETH CRESSMAN ecressman1986@yahoo.com On March 2, 2019, Kathryn Migliaccio Choiniere married Joshua Choiniere and this year they bought their 1st house.

Amanda Wasel Oldfield married Ryan Oldfield on Oct. 13, 2019, on campus behind the Windy Hill School. Elizabeth Cressman was promoted to family child care coordinator for the South Middlesex Opportunity Council.

2010

BRITTANY MAILMAN bjmailman@gmail.com Kim Shannon married Ryan Daubert on Aug. 24, 2019, in PA. Jamie Church married Mark Majewski on May 16, 2020.

Although their original plans were cancelled due to COVID19, they held a private ceremony in the Boston Public Garden.

2011

JOHN CHARLES MCCARTHY johnmccar.11@gmail.com Jill Dunn graduated from Northeastern University with a doctorate of education. Sara Norris currently lives in Seal Beach, CA and is working as the

Jamie Church ’10 and her husband, Mark Jajewski, were married in Boston in May 2020.

director of special events at Hoag Hospital Foundation, located in Newport Beach. She was married in 2019 in Gloucester, MA, to her husband, Rick, who is active duty in the US Coast Guard. They are looking forward to settling back East on the North Shore of Boston soon.

Ashley Finethy Wheeler was married to Matt Wheeler on Oct. 5, 2019, in Wolfeboro, NH. Joining in the celebration were Michelle Doody, Sarah Castelot Drake ’13, Kristin Sawyer ’12, Julie Albiani ’12 and Nick Rockwell.

2012

COURTNEY PIKE courtney.pike@fliptable.io KASSIE PIKE kassandra.pike@gmail.com

2013

MATT MULDOON mattmuldoon123@gmail.com Editor’s Note: Thank you to new class correspondent Matt Muldoon.

Hi everyone. I, Matt Muldoon, am happy to serve as your new class correspondent. Please be sure to email me your updates for future issues. I have been working at Buildium, a property management software company based out of Boston for the past 3 years. I am engaged to Kayla McGillivray and we plan to marry on Sept. 19, 2020, in

52 COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

A great time was had by all at the wedding of Kim Shannon Daubert ’10 and Ryan Daubert. Pictured are (l to r) Liz Cotreau ’10, Kristen Romanko Read ’09, Brittany Mailman ’10, Trevor Davis ’08, Sarah Zirnkilton ’10, Justin Varney ’10, Ryan Daubert, Kim Shannon Daubert ’10, Sandra Guglielmi McLeod ’10, Liz Perrino ’10, Jess Galaid Long ’10, Max Johanson ’10, Amanda Jones Doucette ’10, Shayln McEntire Johanson ’10, Brian Doucette ’09 and Michelle “Mickey” LaPan ’10.

Plymouth, MA. Krislyn Rousseau McGettigan graduated from Millersville University in May 2019 with her master’s degree in psychology. This past May, she graduated from Millersville University with an educational specialist degree in school psychology. In the fall of 2018, Krislyn married Patrick McGettigan in Lancaster, PA. Katherine Lucas Merola ’10 was in attendance with her husband, Michael Merola. Kaitlyn Hayward graduated in May with her master’s degree in management and human resources from Lasell University. She works as a sales coordinator for the New England region at Caesarstone.

2014

STACY HANNINGS stacyhannings@gmail.com Julia Soleau works as a vision rehabilitation therapist at the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Rutland, VT. She is also working on passing the certification test to become a CVRT. She has found the work very rewarding.

Stacy Hannings took a large career leap from organic farming and is now working at the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, a local newspaper in southern NH. She currently manages the circulation department, but hopes to branch out into other aspects of the newspaper. She misses the farm where she worked for nearly 10 years, but is thankful it is still in her backyard (literally).

Ashley Finethy Wheeler ’11 and her husband, Matt Wheeler, pose with their wedding party at their Oct. 2019 wedding.

(l to r) Mike Cocce ’13, Natalie Dolan, Katie Flaherty ’15, and Nick Cadogan at Katie’s Curry College MBA capstone presentation and pinning ceremony in Aug. 2019.

Rachel Benoit ’13 wishes a heartfelt congratulations to Kelsey Monahan St. James and her family on the arrival of baby Juniper in March.

2015

MOLLY PAONE mollypaone1109@gmail.com Five years since graduating, the Class of 2015 is busy making change, helping others and shaping the next generation.

Sara Cornelius works at the White River Junction, VT, VA Medical Center, managing a research group conducting exciting mental health Kelsey Monahan St. James ’14 with her husband, Silas, and their daughters, Ansel and Juniper.

epidemiologic research looking at suicide prevention efforts and improving PTSD care within the veteran population. She is also pursuing a master’s degree in public health on a biostatistics and epidemiology track. With this degree, she hopes to play a more crucial role in study design and data analysis. In 2019, Anjali Schutt received her master’s degree in occupational therapy from American International College. She works in Boston as a licensed therapist with the geriatric population, directly assisting COVID positive and COVID recovered patients improve their activity tolerance and activities of daily living. Prior to COVID, Anj enjoyed trips to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, and is looking forward to exploring more beautiful places in the future. Ellen Graham completed an accelerated nursing program at Regis College in 2019, earning her BSN. After passing the boards, she accepted a job as an RN at Franciscans Children’s Hospital in Boston, where she works with patients from birth to 21 years old with medically complex illnesses. Katie Flaherty is a sr. practice quality associate for Tufts Medical Center, where she has worked for almost 5 years.

This past year, she graduated with her MBA from Curry College. Now, she is working toward becoming a certified project management professional. In her spare time, she enjoys kayaking with her boyfriend and hiking with her pup, Ace. Van Son moved to Napa, CA, after graduation and has worked his way up to the position of district secretary for the Napa County school district. He loves being part of a team supporting students, even organizing emergency food supplies for students affected by food insecurity during COVID-19. Van recently adopted a husky puppy named Bear. Anthony Despres is in his 5th school year teaching 6th grade science at a middle school in his home town of Peabody, MA. He recently

with locations in Portland and Falmouth, ME and Portsmouth, NH. Sadly, the Alumni Office reported the too-early passing of Carl “CJ” Harris. CJ was a beloved member of the CSC community and he made an incredibly positive impact on campus. Our condolences to CJ’s family and friends.

2016

HERMELLA TEKLE-SHIRLEY hermella.tekle@gmail.com

2017

Anjali Schutt ’15 at the Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia, in fall 2019.

graduated from Gordon College with his master’s in education.

Alyson Wickline has worked in Montessori education for the last 5 years. She built a CSC internship at Newport Montessori School in Newport, NH, into a 4-year tenure at the school as the head upper elementary teacher, teaching grades 3-5.

Last year, she moved home to MA, where she is teaching 4-6 grade at The Montessori School of Northampton. Taking her Montessori career further, Alyson is currently getting AMS Montessori Certified through MACTE accreditation, a rigorous 2-year accreditation that is the best accreditation in the US and will allow her to teach in any country in the world within the Montessori realm. Kelsie Coccia has started her 2nd school year living and working at the Greenwood School in VT, a boarding school for boys with learning differences that focuses on language and social emotional learning. Kelsie says she loves working there with the 6th-12th grade boys because it allows students “to learn in a way that best fits them.” Rebecca Strout Letourneau recently executed the logo design for a new real estate team, Maine Moves, as part of her work as the graphic design specialist for RE/MAX Shoreline, a real estate office

MORGAN WILSON morganwilsonportfolio@gmail. com Olivia McAnirlin is a doctoral student at Clemson University, where she is pursuing a degree in parks, recreation and tourism management. At Clemson, she manages the Reality and Nature Lab. One of her research projects in the lab was to explore virtual reality as a storytelling mechanism.

2018

BEN MAINES bamaines@gmail.com

2019

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED

2020

CORRESPONDENT NEEDED Ethan Sabatella is writing education fantasy adventures for GuardUp, Guardian Adventures’ live action role playing games. Veronika Raczek graduated as a nursing student and is happy to report that she officially passed the NCLEX exam.

She began working as an LNA at Woodcrest Village in New London in Sept. and trained as a nurse there over the summer. In Aug., she began working as a nurse in the pediatric unit at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Veronika lives in Croydon, NH, with her boyfriend, Kaelen Close ’22. Mackenzie Rokes is attending Vanderbilt University to pursue her master’s degree in human development counseling with a specialization in school counseling. 

FALL 2020

53

in fond memory 1935 Constance Alley French January 8, 2020 1938 Mary Lee Kingman Natti May 31, 2020 1940 Helen B. Johnson May 20, 2020 Marguerite Biggs Lovelace June 21, 2020 Virginia Tousley Nordbeck March 23, 2020 Margery Valentine Rugen October 9, 2019 1941 Betsy James Wyeth April 21, 2020 1942 Claire Basch Barger July 7, 2020 Barbara Leary Parrish August 6, 2020 1943 Olive Heyman McLaughlin January 5, 2020 Jean Aronson Rea May 16, 2019 1944 Ann Norton Merrill September 25, 2019 Verna Kenniston VanFleet November 27, 2019 1945 Susan Roberts Bean January 10, 2019 Emily Morgan Clemmer March 16, 2018 Susannah Quale Denny October 25, 2019

June Mitchell Douglas-White July 17, 2020 Mavis Goldblatt Harris November 29, 2017 Janet Davis Keegan October 3, 2019 Doris Peakes Kendall April 8, 2020 Joan Janpol Kurz November 10, 2017 Wilhelmina “Billie” McFee April 17, 2011 Elizabeth “Libby” Bryant Parker October 16, 2019 Caroline Goff Prentiss February 24, 2017 Ruth Wilgus Rockwell May 17, 2020 Martha Whitney Steers December 29, 2019 1946 Elizabeth K. Gabriel October 20, 2019 Edith-Ann Bell Garneau March 18, 2016 Barbara Lewis Jarrard June 29, 2019 Mabel “Mel” Livingstone Pattridge March 13, 2020 Betty Bauersfeld Soderberg September 29, 2018 Marjorie Geerts Swanton May 19, 2014 1947 Lois Bood Campbell September 29, 2019 Eleanor Hayne Chisholm June 23, 2020 Agnes Cornell Cook January 14, 2020

54 COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

Virginia Schofield Mueller March 18, 2020 Barbara Dydek Tomlinson April 1, 2020 Janet Shepard Vogt December 30, 2019 1948 June A. Alexanderson November 24, 2003 Marion “Jane” O’Neil Auby June 15, 2020 Caroline Cornoni Dinsmore January 30, 2019 Sallie Fillebrown Hofmann October 7, 2019 Jane Martin Kant June 20, 2016 Dorothy Cowles Rouillard May 6, 2020 Marjorie Reed Schide June 26, 2017 Renee Chepovsky Silverman April 22, 2020 Barbara-Jane “BJ” Smith Thompson March 5, 2020 Phyllis “Les” Harty Wells January 26, 2020 Martha “Patsy” Dimmitt White November 19, 2019 Louise Parmelee Zemzicki January 21, 2020 1949 Helen R. Casciani April 7, 2020 Betsey Pallat Merrifield November 1, 2012 Karen White Milliman June 5, 2020 Joan Hamilton Sweetland April 8, 2020

1950 Deborah Price Gundersen December 9, 2018 Marilyn Smith Hooper February 11, 2020 1951 Consuelo Wiberg Clark June 26, 2020 Audrey J. Leward July 26, 2020 Sally Conner Parry May 5, 2020 Joan F. Sullivan June 20, 2020 1952 Mary Elizabeth “Mimi” Bentley Burton September 17, 2019 Audrey Rosenberg Goldberg March 12, 2020 Junia Dunham Kennedy April 1, 2020 Sallie Craighead Leighton January 18, 2020 1953 Joan Kaufman Kirkpatrick September 27, 2019 Susan Murdock Rogan November 9, 2014 Ann Radcliff Stephenson November 27, 2019 Gretchen Hoch White ’53 September 1, 2020 1954 Frances Kiehn Browne July 7, 2020 Gloria Fish Chick July 1, 2019 Jacqueline London Covin October 11, 2019 Rosalie Nelson Hakansson August 1, 2020

1955 Marcia Symmes Harmon November 13, 2019 Ann Fletcher Howes April 12, 2020 1956 Paula Anderson Bothfeld March 13, 2020 Sarah Clemence Hardy March 5, 2020 Patricia Anderson Little March 22, 2020 Janet McClure Shoemaker October 7, 2019 Patricia “Pat” Thornton December 10, 2019 1957 Sandra Dennis Allen June 30, 2019 Sally Little Dussault June 9, 2020 Ellen Fotter Jamison October 3, 2019 Shirlee Bousa Johnston February 23, 2020 Elizabeth Alderman Lee April 22, 2020 Barbara J. Scheelje April 25, 2019 Ann Reynolds Smith May 2, 2020 1958 Sara “Sallie” Mathes Graham August 4, 2020 Hilda Hutchins McCollum July 10, 2020 Barbara Lefebvre Morse April 10, 2020

1959 Christina Flander Holbrook September 23, 2019 Carol Casagrande Johnson May 22, 2020 Jane Bruns Lenher July 26, 2020 Martha Hartley Torpey March 23, 2020 1960 Atlee B. Caldwell January 8, 2020 Martha MacHale Lyttle October 1, 2019 1962 Judith Dowling Lauster November 15, 2019 Gail Graham Lee May 15, 2020 1963 Linda Froehlich Arle May 14, 2020

1967 Elizabeth Antolini Marsho July 29, 2020 Susan Sheehan Pearsall December 18, 2019 Sally Bickel Wickers December 29, 2019

1982 Laura Homan Dow February 27, 2020

1968 Victoria Crear Winslow March 23, 2017

1985 Fritz Giddings November 23, 2019 Patricia Cassidy Kater June 21, 2019

1970 Maureen Recke Mulliken April 16, 2013 1971 Cynthia N. Gray April 5, 2020 1972 Margaret Burt October 8, 2019 Susan Leab Gordon June 10, 2020

1964 Constance “Kira” Nassikas Hohenadel October 27, 2019 Margaret Campbell Jackson October 28, 2018 Katherine “Cappi” Harris Post July 25, 2020 Ellen Terhune Schauff October 22, 2019

1974 Charlene E. Churchill December 22, 2019 Patricia Terrien Josselyn March 16, 2020 Patricia McGuire Schwamberger December 31, 2019

1965 Ann Hodgkinson Low July 19, 2019

1977 Kathleen Harrison Richards November 7, 2019

1983 Mary Ann Burgess Rivard January 5, 2020

1998 Gary James Kennedy January 25, 2020 2010 Christopher C. Feltes December 1, 2019 2015 Carl “CJ” Harris March 29, 2020

1975 Judith B. Morton March 6, 2020

1981 Kimberly Horton Koepfler October 13, 2019

FALL 2020

55

in memoriam

Award-Winning Artist and Illustrator Tomie dePaola

by Michael Pezone

C

olby-Sawyer was a special place to Tomie dePaola, and likewise, he was special to the college. dePaola taught here. He exhibited his art here. He even stumbled upon the creation of his most iconic children’s book character here.

On March 30, dePaola died following complications from surgery. He was 85.

Tomie dePaola captured in front of one of his colorful paintings at an artist’s talk at the The Marian Graves Mugar Art Gallery at ColbySawyer in 2014.

56 COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

happened to draw Pulcinella, the commedia dell’arte character with the big nose and big chin,” dePaola told the college’s marketing & communications department in 2013. “All of a sudden a little kerchief appeared on him, and this fat little old Italian lady showed up.” dePaola took the idea and ran with it.

“Tomie was a gift, a beloved treasure Strega Nona: An Original Tale was who was an inspiration to audiences published in 1975 and was quickly recof all ages,” said School of Arts & Sciognized as a Caldecott finalist for ences Professor and Sonja C. Davidow “best illustrated work.” While his career ’56 Endowed Chair of Fine Arts Jon as an author and illustrator took off, Keenan, who met dePaola in the early dePaola continued teaching courses 90s, soon after accepting a position at at Colby-Sawyer off and on as an the college. “His pure joy, warmth and adjunct professor, most recently in the love of life was contagious and bound- spring of 2016. less. He was a loving human being who will be dearly missed.”

“Tomie was a dear friend and a generous, fun, kind and supportive dePaola’s ties to Colby-Sawyer began person,” Keenan said. “He loved in 1959, when he was hired to create attending art openings, supporting sets for — and even participate in — our students and interns and bringing the first-ever production held in the the faculty together for special celenew Sawyer Fine and Performing Arts brations at his home.”

Center, Thornton Wilder’s “The Matchmaker.” He returned to New And while the man behind the smiles London in 1972 to accept a position may be gone, dePaola’s legacy — teaching in the college’s art departboth through those he touched at ment and remained as a fulltime Colby-Sawyer and the millions he faculty member through 1975. inspired with his bestselling books — will continue to be felt.

It was during this period, as it turns out, that Colby-Sawyer played a “He was a treasure to both the Colby-­ pivotal — albeit limited — role in Sawyer and New London communidePaola’s creation of the character ties,” Colby-Sawyer President Susan D. Strega Nona.

Stuebner said. “Tomie was a great example to our students in terms of “I was sitting in the back at a faculty pursuing one’s passion and talent. meeting, doodling on a notepad He will be missed dearly.” instead of taking notes, and I

in memoriam Patricia A. Thornton ’56

Alexander Wilhelm Wenner

Patricia “Pat” A. Thornton ’56, a resident of Cambridge, Mass., died Dec. 10, 2019 with her niece by her side. She was 83. Pat was a dedicated member of the Colby-Sawyer community. Elected to the college’s Board of Trustees in 1986, Pat served on a variety of committees before the conclusion of her second term in 2005. Her impact on the academic affairs, board organization, buildings and campus planning, and student development committees is still felt on campus today. In addition to donating her time, Pat’s generosity to Colby-Sawyer earned her membership in both the Legends and Heritage Societies. In 1991, she was presented the Alumni Service Award for Distinguished Service, and in 1993 she received the Susan Colgate Cleveland Medal for Distinguished Service.

Alexander “Alex” Wilhelm Wenner, 80, a resident of Boonsboro, Md., died on March 12. He was born in Basel, Switzerland. Alex’s connection to Colby-Sawyer began when his father attended Gordon Research Conferences at the college, prompting his parents to retire to New London in 1971. His generosity toward Colby-Sawyer spanned more than three decades. In 1988, he established the Gisela & Wilhelm Endowed Scholarship in memory of his parents, and in 2012, Alex established the Alex Wenner Endowed Nursing Scholarship in honor of his mother, who was a nurse. In addition, he was a loyal leadership donor to the Colby-Sawyer Fund and supported multiple capital projects. Alex’s generosity earned him membership in both the Legends and Heritage Societies.

Read more: colby-sawyer.edu/news/patricia-thornton Read more: colby-sawyer.edu/news/alexander-wenner

Antoinette Iadarola

Hilda Hutchins McCollum ’58

Antoinette “Toni” Iadarola, a resident of Clinton, Conn., died May 23 after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was 80. Toni began her career in academia as the chair of the History Department and coordinator of women studies at the University of St. Joseph and went on to accept a position as dean of faculty at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Toni arrived at Colby-Sawyer College in 1986 to teach history and was soon promoted to the role of provost – a position she held until 1992. A dedicated member of the New London, N.H., community, Toni was awarded the Gown Award during Colby-­Sawyer’s commencement ceremony in 1992 in recognition of her work and contributions to the surrounding area.

Hilda Hutchins McCollum ’58, a resident of Bangor, Maine, died July 10 at her home after a lengthy battle with a variety of health issues. She was 83. Hilda was a dedicated member of the Colby-Sawyer community. Elected to the college’s Board of Trustees in 1993, she served on both the finance and building and campus planning committees before the conclusion of her three-year term. In addition to donating her time, Hilda’s generosity earned her membership into the Heritage Society in recognition of provisions made to her estate plans in support of the college. In 2011, she was presented the Alumni Service Award for Distinguished Service for her outstanding volunteer contributions to both Colby-Sawyer and the general public.

Read more: colby-sawyer.edu/news/toni-iadarola Read more: colby-sawyer.edu/news/hutchins-memoriam

FALL 2020

57

archives

A History of Rising to the Challenge

by Brantley Palmer C OVID-19 has been a world-changing event unlike any other in the history of the institution. No other event forced students, staff and faculty off campus in the same way. Though the 1918 flu pandemic arrived at Colby Academy, there is no record of it forcing students off campus. To the contrary, the historical record shows the school year continuing without a hitch.

To find another event that had anywhere close to the impact of COVID-19, one must go back to the junior college days and World War II. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Colby Junior College was thrust into a new reality without having time to prepare. Immediately, the college put a plan in place to respond to the emergency. It created a steering committee of faculty and students to set policies, delegate tasks and adapt to a changed world.

Returning to campus for the spring semester of 1942, students had more responsibility as they adjusted to new ways of life. Colby students, working in pairs, were asked to survey the skies around campus on the lookout for enemy aircraft. This practice continued until Oct. 15, 1943, when the Army sent a telegram discontinuing the practice across the United States. The college also implemented an air raid alarm, with each dormitory’s telephone ringing five short times, repeating for a total of 15 short bursts at the start of a blackout. The first student in each dorm to hear the alarm was instructed to ring the dormitory’s bells to alert her fellow students. Students also practiced evacuation from New London when the State of New Hampshire did its blackout training exercises.

Red Cross War Fund Drive: Lois Lippincott Lang ’46, Jane Ferguson Molt ’46, Jean Thomas Gray ’47 and Mary Leigh Woodrow ’47 participate in a Red Cross War Fund event in 1945.

The Red Cross organized blood drives, and many students volunteered for the organization. The college developed plans to manage important defense resources like food, fuel and transportation should an evacuation from New London be necessary. Students attended lectures on nursing, first aid, sewing, knitting and bandage rolling and volunteered to roll bandages and knit garments and materials for the Red Cross. Students also put together gifts for the Red Cross to send to wounded veterans.

The college community also found ways to help local businesses and institutions. Colby Junior College students put their newly acquired skills to work to aid New London

58

COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

Aeronautics Course: Students in F. Eldred Hodge’s Aeronautical Secretarial course, the first in the country, examine a plane on the campus of Colby Junior College, circa 1940s.

Hospital. As the hospital was overwhelmed with patients and understaffed during the war, Colby students were called on to help the hospital in areas of need, including bandage rolling. Colby students also helped local farmers pick produce, as some of the farms in the area were short of laborers during the war.

Sugar began to be rationed in February of 1942, with rationing of heating oil, gas, coffee, meat, cheese and many other items to follow.

Like all Americans, Colby students were issued ration books to use when purchasing meals on campus and buying food off campus.

Students set the heat in their rooms to specific temperatures at different times of the day to conserve heating oil. The school limited the use of its bus to conserve gas and urged students to stay on campus on weekends to further save gas for the war effort.

Dye shortages created issues in acquiring clothing for students, which forced some students to get creative and combine older garments into new fashion styles.

Colby even adjusted the curriculum to aid in the war effort. Most notably, the medical secretary course of study, then a three-year program, was accelerated to a two-year program, with students taking additional summer terms to complete the needed credits. Mr.F. Eldred Hodge of the Science Department introduced an aeronautics course to teach students about the burgeoning aeronautics industry. The course covered the history of flight, the types of

planes in operation, motor construction and operation, and the various parts of planes.

Colby even purchased a small plane, a Taylor Cub Trainer with dual controls, from a man in East Jaffrey, N.H., so Mr. Hodge could use the plane in class for demonstrations.

Students held stamp and war bond drives on campus 1942-45 to raise money for the war effort. Colby also found other ways to raise money. The Campus Curb, a newly opened shop on campus in 1942 that sold sandwiches, hot dogs and sodas (in reduced quantities due to sugar and meat shortages) donated some of its profits to war bonds. The college also showed movies throughout the year and donated some of the profits to the Red Cross war bond drive and to New London Hospital.

While COVID-19 has altered higher education in a way never seen before, Colby-Sawyer has, throughout its history, risen to meet the challenges of the day. From transitioning from an academy to a women’s junior college, to adapting to the constraints created by World War II, to transitioning to a four-year college and then to a coed institution, Colby-Sawyer has survived 183 years. Its strength lies in its community of faculty, staff and students, who will help the institution get through this time, too. ® Brantley Palmer is the college archivist. He holds a B.A. from Keene State College and an M.L.I.S. from Simmons College.

FALL 2020

59

epilogue

Class of 2024, Welcome Home The following is an excerpt from an address delivered during the college’s 183rd Convocation ceremony by School of Business & Social Sciences Associate Professor Amy Carrier Lyon ’85, recipient of the 2020 Nancy Beyer Opler Award for Excellence in Advising. Convocation marks the official opening of the academic year and the matriculation of the entering class.

O

ver and over, I’ve been witness to a remarkable transition that happens amongst and within students at Colby-­ Sawyer. It’s transformational, difficult to quantify, hard to explain. This evolution seems to happen to you at first, but as you progress through your four years here, it happens because of you.

Our new tagline, “Explore. Connect. Make a Difference,” is the very essence of what I’m trying to describe. You explore your new surroundings, hear novel ideas and opinions, meet new people. You start to connect with those around you in courses, clubs, teams — you build your social network. And finally, you start making a difference. This is where you pivot from focusing inward to facing outward and seek ways to help and inspire others.

At this moment, you are poised on the brink of this evolution. You most likely feel like an awkward rookie college student. And being new at things, especially big things, can be really hard. So, to make it easier, you might try to fast-forward through the messy, difficult parts. You might resist trying something you haven’t before: having a challenging roommate conversation, navigating Moodle, or heading to the dining hall alone. But here’s a truth: the more you’re willing to try new things, the more new things you’re willing to try. This very moment is the perfect time to embrace being that awkward rookie and dive into the beginning stages of that transformation I spoke about.

Colby-Sawyer holds the key ingredients that make this possible. The faculty and staff here thrive on supporting you, allow you room to grow, and provide necessary feedback so you know how to improve. We are good listeners.

Seek us out and use us.

60

COLBY-SAWYER MAGAZINE

Your classmates will help you feel more secure, but also encourage you to take risks.

Try speaking up in class. Ask a question.

Weigh in on a discussion. Your professors will appreciate your effort, and you will have tried something new, which really is the start of you “finding your voice.”

Finally, there’s no better place to start stepping up and out than in a place that feels like home. Instagram has about a million quotes from you all, describing how you felt when you first arrived on campus for a visit. The words “home,” “welcoming,” and “friendly” were used over and over.

You’ve got a perfect environment in which to build your self-confidence, solidify your identity, become grounded in your own self-worth and value.

You are exactly where you belong. Every single one of you will make that transition from inward to outward by relying on the magic that has been identified by Colby-­ Sawyer College: “Explore. Connect. Make a Difference.”

Class of 2024, welcome home.

Amy Carrier Lyon ’85 recalls the feelings she had being dropped off at Abbey Hall by her mom on a late September day in 1981: struck with homesickness and a sense of loss, while simultaneously overcome with the feeling of being poised on the brink of something vast and promising. In 2018, after earning an M.A. from Dartmouth College and an Ed.D. from New England College and working for 33 years in the public school setting, she returned to her alma mater as an associate professor in the School of Business & Social Sciences, where she approaches her work with an educational philosophy grounded in the concept of grit and the character traits that define it — optimistic thinking, selfcontrol and perseverance.

STAY CONNECTED!

There are so many ways to stay involved and engaged with Colby-­Sawyer and more than 15,000 alumni around the world.

Keep the Alumni Office up to date with your contact information and news, and we’ll keep you informed about the college, career networking opportunities, and events on campus, online and in your region.

Let the Alumni Office know how we can better serve you and if we can help you find classmates or connect with alumni in your career field.

CONTACT US: Office of Alumni Relations, Colby-Sawyer College 603.526.3426 or 800.266.8253 alumni@colby-sawyer.edu  colby-sawyer.edu/alumni Update your contact information: colby-sawyer.edu/update

CONNECT WITH COLBY-SAWYER ALUMNI FOR THE LATEST NEWS FROM CAMPUS. colbysawyeralumni CSC_alumni Colby-­Sawyer Alumni Group csc_alumni

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

MANCHESTER, NH PERMIT 724

Office of Advancement 541 Main Street New London, NH 03257 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

A Banner Institution With funding from the Board of Trustees, the college designed and installed 21 banners on lamp posts along the quad and Colby-Sawyer Loop. The banners feature one of three notable images: the college’s official cupola logo, the Chargers logo and the Student Government Association logo (shown here in front of Colgate Hall).