ALUMNI NEWS
1947 Beth Guye Kittle, Elkins, W.Va., published two volumes of poetry: “The Sanctioned Fruit” in 1998 and “A Widow’s Lament” in 2014.
1955
1959
Tish Davis McKenzie, Greensboro, N.C., thoroughly enjoyed her 87-year adventure on this earth and was a delight to all who knew her. As a child, Tish had a gift for the spoken word and public speaking, winning national and regional speech contests. She pursued higher education at D&E, and it quickly became one of her favorite places on earth. She was drawn to the stage and breathed life into lead roles in “The Philadelphia Story,” “Glass Menagerie” and “The Heiress.” It was also on the D&E stage that Tish would meet her leading man for life, John McKenzie ’55, as they were cast as Eliza and Alfred Doolittle in “Pygmalion.” For 63 years, Tish and John held each other close with love, respect and laughter, and inspired their children to find that same sort of happiness. They shared their love of West Virginia and D&E with their children, daughter Tara McKenzie Sandercock ’80 and her husband, Steve Sandercock ’82, Greensboro, N.C.; sons, Shawn McKenzie, ’84, Stevenson, Md., Scot McKenzie ’96, Mount Rainier, Md., and Mark Skye McKenzie, Los Angeles, Calif.; and cousin, Bryan LaFollette ’19, Elkins, W.Va. Scot writes, “The foundation of my parents’ connection with each other, certainly the setting and circumstances in which they met and fell in love, iconic chapters in the mythology of our family, flowed from their experiences at D&E and
The late John McKenzie and Tish Davis McKenzie – a legacy of love. See 1955.
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brought them great joy.” On April 2, 2021, sadly, Tish passed away. The McKenzie family invites all who knew and loved Tish and John to consider making a gift in their memory to the D&E College Theatre Program.
DAVIS & ELKINS COLLEGE Forward
On October 10, 2020, Dick and Kay Woodward Royster ’62, Williamsburg, Va., celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. Sadly, Dick passed away on February 18, 2021. William H. Sudbrink, Lompoc, Calif., a lifetime coin collector, was recently interviewed for an article published in The Numismatist magazine titled “Bill Sudbrink: The Thrill of the Hunt Drives this Cosmopolitan Collector.” Bill’s love of coin collecting began as a child when, on a rainy day, his mother let him “play” with her jar of old Indian Head cents. He started sorting the cents by date and realized some were more worn than others, and a numismatist was born. Over the years, Bill has collected many coins from all over, and has served as a volunteer curatorial assistant for the American Numismatic Society. Several of Bill’s coins have been donated to D&E and are on display in the Howard-Sudbrink Collection of The Stirrup Gallery.
1961 Gary Horvath, Nellysford, Va., shares that 2021 is the 60th anniversary of the first soccer team at D&E. Gary and Willard “Bill” McQuary were the co-captains. In this tribute, Gary honors the teammates who played on the first soccer team: Robert Grote ’65, George Scott ’65, Jim Bushyeager ’65, Dennis Bye ’65, Jim Fishel ’64, Bob Maitan ’65, David Clapp ’65, Jim Douglas ’64, Floyd Back ’65, John Creaturo ’65 and Stoddard Best ’65. And, remembers teammates who were on the first soccer team who have passed away: James Nunn ’67, Eric Sennhenn ’65, Saeed Alavi-Naini ’65, Farid Shahid Noorai ’65, Bob McWilliams ’65, Duncan McGill ’65, Dave Vivian ’65, Joe Seid ’65 and Ray Luce ’65. On October 18, 1961, D&E won the first intercollegiate soccer game in the College’s history, defeating Wesleyan
2-0 on the old athletic field where Robbins Memorial Chapel now stands. William W. “Bill” Ward and his wife, Carol, Hamilton, N.J., celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on February 11. They have three children, eight grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren. Bill was a police lieutenant and is now enjoying his retirement.
1964 Karen Harmeier Berner, Washington Crossing, Pa., is the proud grandmother of Benjamin and Cody. Benjamin is in his second year at Penn Technical Institute and Cody will graduate from Hopewell Valley Regional High School in June.
1965 H. Thomas “Tom” Mullis and his wife, Diane, are enjoying retirement on their farm in Staffordsville, Giles County, Va. Prior to 2020, they always looked forward to meeting with David Kirk ’64, Roanoke, Va., and Curt and Gail Hagerman McKee ’67, Pilot, Va., for lunch. They now see each other via Zoom.
1966 Gary T. “Tim” Swift and his wife, Suzy, celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary in August, and a move to a new home in Henrico, Va. They are delighted with their new community and share hope that 2021 will bring health and happiness to all.
Gary “Tim” ’66 and Suzy Swift. See 1966.
1968 Virginia “Ginny” Howard Bryant, Okeechobee, Fla., and her daughter, Melissa, are both part of the quilt ministry of First Baptist
