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Academic EXCELLENCE | Personal ACHIEVEMENT | WINTER 2015
A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNAE, PARENTS AND FRIENDS
In this issue: Strategic Planning | Lessons from the Magic of Live Theatre | Alumnae Class News
Scenes of Saint Mary’s A blanket of autumn leaves covers the field in front of the Chapel in November. Saint Mary’s historic campus, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is picturesque in each of the four seasons. (Photo by Mary Virginia Swain ’77C)
EXPLORATION DAYS: Never Stop Exploring!
Board of Trustees 2014-2015 Lane Turner Nash ’72HS ’74C, Chair Theodore D. Bratton, Vice Chair Martin H. Brinkley, Secretary William C. Monk, Jr., Treasurer Members At-Large R. Marks Arnold, Raleigh, N.C. Gloria Taft Becker ’92HS, Raleigh, N.C. Martin M. Boney, Raleigh, N.C. Theodore D. Bratton, Raleigh, N.C. Martin H. Brinkley, Raleigh, N.C. Barbara Eagleson Cain ’65C, Wilmington, N.C. Eric W. Evans, Raleigh, N.C. Carter Warren Franke ’75HS ’77C, Owings Mills, Md. Sallie Harris Glover ’81HS ’83C, Raleigh, N.C. R. Gordon Grubb, Raleigh, N.C. Hubert B. Haywood III, Raleigh, N.C. Kenneth B. Howard, Raleigh, N.C. Lynn Cowell Ives ’85HS ’87C, Rocky Mount, N.C. Elizabeth Stewart Long ’78C, Milwaukee, Wis. William Scott Mahoney, Raleigh, N.C. William C. Monk, Jr., Greenville, N.C. Lane Turner Nash ’72HS ’74C, Raleigh, N.C. Elizabeth Rasberry Pitts ’79C, Charlotte, N.C. Margery Johnson Springer ’79HS, Raleigh, N.C. F. Jefferson Stocks, Raleigh, N.C. Gray Clark Stoughton ’78HS ’80C, Greenville, N.C. Jeff Szyperski, Irvington, Va. Nancy Kerr Thomason ’73HS ’75C, Dunwoody, Ga. Edwin L. Walker, Raleigh, N.C. Margaret Longley White ’79C, Greensboro, N.C. Faculty Representative to the Board Teresa Assenzo, Chair, Visual and Performing Arts Department Parents Association Representative to the Board Aurelia Monk, Parents Association President Student Representative to the Board Bailey Ham ’15, Raleigh, N.C., SGA President
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Mission Statement Saint Mary’s School, a community dedicated to academic excellence and personal achievement, prepares young women for college and life. Founded in 1842 in the Episcopal tradition, Saint Mary’s School is an independent, college-preparatory, girls boarding and day school dedicated to academic excellence and personal achievement for grades 9-12. Saint Mary’s School admits high school girls of any race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin. Administration Monica M. Gillespie, Ph.D., Head of School Sarah Hanawald, Dean of Teaching and Learning Josette Huntress Holland, Associate Head and Dean of Students Kim McDowell, Director of Admission Laura Novia, Director of Marketing and Communication Jeannie Norris, Interim Director of Development Sally Woods, Director of Finance Saint Mary’s School Magazine Published by Saint Mary’s School 900 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, N.C. 27603-1689 919-424-4000 www.sms.edu Editor Mary Virginia Swain ’77C Director of Public Relations and Publications mvswain@sms.edu Class News Editor Emory Rogers Church ’74C Contributors: Monica M. Gillespie, Ph.D.; Heath Hilliker; Margaret McGlohon ’81C; Vicky Monroe ’16; Laura Novia; Jennifer Rundles; Mary Virginia Swain ’77C Design: Heath Hilliker, Senior Marketing Coordinator Printing: Metro Productions, Raleigh, N.C.
The Heritage Society
Anna Redding Pitt ’50HS ’52C leaves enduring legacy of leadership and generosity Anna Redding Pitt ’50HS ’52C made a difference at Saint Mary’s throughout her life. Anna died July 23, 2014, leaving a legacy of leadership, service and philanthropic generosity at her alma mater. Anna served Saint Mary’s with distinction as a two-term trustee, a class gift agent, a member of the Heritage Society, an Alumna Council member and a regional and reunion host. She was awarded the 2005 Mazie Strickland Froelich ’51C Outstanding Alumna Award. She was a member of the Heritage Society, by virtue of naming Saint Mary’s as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy. Anna’s unwavering love and support for Saint Mary’s was evident in her life and, through this generous planned gift, her impact on the school will live on. Not only did Anna think to leave Saint Mary’s a major gift upon her death, she was a consistent Annual Fund donor throughout her
life, as well as a major gift donor to the capital campaigns over the years. Since Anna’s death, Saint Mary’s has received more than 100 gifts in her memory, just another testament to the lives she touched and the love her classmates and friends had for her.
summed up her feelings about the school that helped shape her into the graceful, beautiful, intelligent, courageous and strong woman we all loved, say her daughters, Susan Pitt Herring ’75C, Mariah Pitt Waltemyer ’79C and Mary Howard Pitt Lassiter ’81C.
Anna’s fondest Saint Mary’s memories include her future husband, Howard, coming to visit her at school and having to sit in the back pew during Chapel; Howard hitchhiking from Durham to spend time with Anna at Saint Mary’s, always supervised under the watchful eye of the chaperone in Smedes Parlor; serving as a marshal; and laughing and giggling with friends such as Ann Patterson Scott ’50HS ’52C, Becky Gordon Hoggard ’51HS ’53C, Margaret Cheatham Williams ’50HS ’52C, Ann Penton Longley ’52C and Nancy Dawson Rascoe ’52C. Her dearest friends in her young adult years were made at Saint Mary’s, and she remained close to them throughout life and always loved their reunions.
Anna wrote, “Saint Mary’s is more than a college, more than a school and more than a place to go to achieve a degree. Saint Mary’s transcends all of these to become a way to live, a way that has been forged into a sure and steady reinforcement of life’s lessons. For some, a genetic inheritance; for others, a surprise gift of joy that carries us far down life’s road with loving and positive influence. This serves us well. The friendships, lessons and disciplines learned at this place can reach to the very heart of our souls. Saint Mary’s – no matter a college, no matter a school – what matters, a constant.”
Anna’s daughters have shared an essay their mother wrote about Saint Mary’s in 1997, when the college program was phased out. Titled, “Saint Mary’s in My Mind,” it
Anna’s love for Saint Mary’s was clearly deep, and her impact will carry on for generations after her death, thanks to her generosity and foresight to leave a significant planned gift to her alma mater.
If you are interested in leaving a legacy at Saint Mary’s through a planned gift, contact Margaret McGlohon ’81C, director of alumnae relations, at memcglohon@sms.edu or 919-424-4171, to learn about becoming a Heritage Society member.
WINTER 2015 | VOLUME 100, NUMBER 1
CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS Head of School Message Granddaughters Club
FEATURES
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Academic Achievement
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Personal Achievement
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Athletics
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Calendar of Events
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Events
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Milestones
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Class News
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From Page to the Pittman Stage: Lessons from the Magic of Live Theatre
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Saint Mary’s students leave the gates on bikes for a Saturday exploring downtown Raleigh. Story on page 12. (Cover photo by Mary Virginia Swain ’77C)
Exploration Days: Never Stop Exploring Strategic Planning 2014-2015: Planning for the Future of Saint Mary’s School
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MESSAGE from the Head of School
Lifelong Learning Beyond the Classroom By Monica M. Gillespie, Ph.D., Head of School
Ten minutes before the curtain opened, Ms. Catania settled into her seat in the seventh row in Pittman Auditorium. Although all the students in the crowd knew Lou Whitmire Catania ’77C, most of the audience did not and likely assumed that Lou was just another excited theatergoer ready for “Steel Magnolias,” another outstanding Saint Mary’s production. I sat three rows behind her and kept watching her look at the stage. She was clearly excited, although calm, and smiled as she spoke with her husband Joe seated beside her. The curtain opened; the show began; and we all turned our attention to the stage. Why focus on one guest that evening? Well, Lou Catania is Saint Mary’s talented new theater director and drama instructor, and “Steel Magnolias” was her first Saint Mary’s production as the director. Unlike every headset-wearing school director I have ever known, who either stayed backstage or paced in the balcony, Lou chose to sit in the audience. When I asked her about why she made this decision, she told me, “It’s the girls’ show now,” and she was exactly right. It was the girls’ show and they were ready for that responsibility; in fact, they were more than ready. From the stage manager to the lighting designer to the costume designer to the six actors, the students had learned their craft, practiced their parts, and functioned as a dynamic team. Lou had done her part teaching the girls and instilling confidence in them. She also made sure that they understood how to learn from failure by figuring out how to adjust when mistakes happen, as they always do in the theater and in life. She set high goals and ensured that the girls had the skills, resources and courage to succeed. At Saint Mary’s School, our students have myriad opportunities to learn beyond the classroom as they develop the habits of lifelong learning—critical thinking, communication and character. Our students develop these important life skills through hands-on experiences like participating in a theatrical production, working as a Habitat for Humanity Woman Build volunteer, serving as docent at a local museum, interviewing women entrepreneurs at the Innovative Women’s Conference at N.C. State and creating and leading a session on Exploration Day. Our students benefit from these authentic learning experiences where they make meaningful connections, apply and enhance their skills and reflect on what they have learned.
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Our educational program is designed to foster the habits of lifelong learning in all aspects of a student’s experience from robust classroom discussions about poetry, debates about historical events, group projects in math, experiments in science and blended learning in religion class to students tackling important issues in student life, negotiating roommate relationships and making decisions about how to use their time over the weekend knowing that they want to visit with friends, finish their English essay and make sure that they get their laundry done. Our students thrive because they are encouraged to expand their learning in exciting ways and confidently accept the responsibility that is paired with the opportunity. Because of this, our girls can imagine and then do more than they ever thought possible. Lou Catania sat in the seventh row of Pittman Auditorium on the night of the play. Like all great teachers and coaches, she understood that the girls were ready to make the show their own. As the curtains slowly closed, the audience jumped to its feet clapping loudly in appreciation for the cast and crew who transformed Pittman Auditorium into Truvy’s beauty parlor in Chinquapin, Louisiana, and shared the story of six extraordinary women. A few minutes later, Ms. Catania quietly made her way to the girls who were gleefully hugging family and friends and embraced each one with pride and love.
Monica M. Gillespie, Ph.D. Head of School
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e h t o t e g a P m o r F : e g a t S n a Pittm s n o s s le e h t m o r f c i g a m e v i l f o RE t a e th Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
The red velvet curtain is down; the reviews are in; and everyone gave five stars and thumbs up for the cast and crew of Saint Mary’s School Theatre Department’s fall production of “Steel Magnolias.” The play delighted audiences in historic Pittman Auditorium during its three-day run to packed houses in November. The play and the story of the making of the play embody the best of what students gain from participating in the drama program at Saint Mary’s School. “Steel Magnolias” is an example of a production that is a wonderful ensemble piece with hilarious repartee and truly touching and memorable characters. Through the saddest of times, the women of Chinquapin, Louisiana, show strength and support for one another, much like Saint Mary’s friends, in general, and the cast and crew of a play, in particular. “’Steel Magnolias’ is such a terrific play because it celebrates women’s friendships and how they help us overcome all of life’s hardships,” says Director of Saint Mary’s School Theatre Louise Whitmire Catania ’77C. “For so many of our girls, the friendships that they forge at Saint Mary’s will help them navigate the rest of their lives.”
“’Steel Magnolias’ is such a terrific play because it celebrates women’s friendships and how they help us overcome all of life’s hardships,” says Director of Saint Mary’s School Theatre Louise Whitmire Catania ’77C.
applies stage zie White ’16 Iz st ti ar p eu Mak kstage in addis ’15 bac G e lic A to makeup orium. Pittman Audit The tiny dress ing room in Pittman Aud busy place on itorium was a opening night of “Steel Mag nolias.”
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“Drama at Saint Mary’s School is about telling stories that make us laugh, feel good, cry, question, be affirmed, be challenged, and perhaps even learn something through experiencing our shared humanity,” said Catania.
Saint Mary’s dynamic production of the play had the audience laughing and crying as the actors demonstrated a range of skill navigating the nuanced fine line between comedy and drama in the story. The cast included veterans of the Pittman Auditorium stage – Augusta Moran ’15 as Truvy, Maggie Collier ’15 as M’Lynne, Molly Williams ’16 as Shelby and Alice Gaddis ’15 as Ouiser – and ninth-graders Isabel Fuqua ’18 and Hailey Peterson ’18, who seemed as comfortable on stage as the seniors. So, how do actors act? What about lighting, sets, costumes, hair, makeup and sound? How does a play get from the page to the stage at Saint Mary’s School? “We do this with a community of students, faculty, staff and parents who create a theatre company of stage managers, actors and crews for set, costume, light, sound, backstage and front of house,” says Ms. Catania. “When the audience arrives and the house lights dim, the magic of live theatre begins.” The drama program at Saint Mary's School gives students handson opportunities to participate in classes and theatre productions. Students learn acting and movement techniques and gain experience in stage management, design and technical production skills. They also
Moran ’15 n ’18, Augusta so er et P y le ai H e from s ’16 in a scen m ia ill W lly o and M lias.” “Steel Magno Augusta Mora n ’15 and Isab el Fuqua ’18 perform in “S teel Magnolia s.”
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experience the pride and joy in seeing something they created come to life and be applauded by peers, families and friends. From working collaboratively with a cast, crew and director, students learn how people can achieve great things when they bring their ideas and talents to a group project. With great courage, the actors in “Steel Magnolias” took on the challenges of a lengthy play heavy with dialogue, a small ensemble cast where the acting must carry the show, playing characters with heavy regional accents and losing themselves in a range of emotions from joy to sadness inherent in the story. The actors succeeded in making us laugh at the right humorous moments and making us cry when M’Lynne shares her broken heart over the loss of her beloved Shelby. “Drama at Saint Mary’s School is about telling stories that make us laugh, feel good, cry, question, be affirmed, be challenged, and perhaps even learn something through experiencing our shared humanity,” said Catania.
Saint Mary’s drama students inducted into International Thespian Society Saint Mary’s School has chartered Thespian Troupe 8103, joining the thousands of high schools that participate in the International Thespian Society (ITS) to honor outstanding drama students. With the help of Saint Mary’s Theatre Director Lou Whitmire Catania ’77C and three drama students from Enloe High School, 10 Saint Mary’s girls were inducted December 4, 2014, into the newly established troupe. Inductees qualified for membership through their involvement in at least two aspects of theatre, two major productions and their completion of at least 100 hours of work in theatre. The International Thespian Society (ITS) is the Educational Theatre Association’s student honorary organization. ITS recognizes the achievements of high school and middle school theatre students. Since 1929, more than 2 million Thespians have been inducted into ITS. Having a Thespian troupe at your school raises the profile and stature of your theatre program, making both your school and community aware of the activities and success of the students. Students earn an invitation to be inducted into the Thespian Society.
d Isabel erson ’18 an et P y le ai H s Ninth-grader Mary’s drama their first Saint in d re ar st Fuqua ’18 s.” teel Magnolia production, “S
Congratulations to Lou Whitmire Catania ’77C and the members of ITS Troupe 8103: Sophia Barsanti ’15, Maggie Collier ’15, Savannah Gibson ’16, Vicky Monroe ’16, Augusta Moran ’15, Stephanie Seda ’16, Morgan Seidel ’15, Catherine Sugg ’17, Taryn Travis ’15 and Molly Williams ’16, and the troupe’s first honorary member Mr. Michael Bianca, Saint Mary’s technical theatre specialist. Vicky Monroe ’16 Corresponding Secretary Saint Mary’s School Thespian Troupe 8103 International Thespian Society
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Message from the
Theatre Director
It is such a blessing to be back at Saint Mary’s as theatre director. My happiest memories as a student here were spent in Pittman working on productions such as "Anything Goes" and "The Glass Menagerie." Working with Harry Callahan was my first experience with a true professional. He instilled in me a love of theatre traditions. I can see him now standing in the balcony on opening night. His inviting us to his home has been a tradition I adopted as a high school director. On opening night, he would hand out apples to the cast because the famous theatre family, the Barrymores, always did. My vision for the theatre program is that we can recapture some of the theatre traditions lost over time and to create new ones to pass on to future Saint Mary’s girls. “Steel Magnolias” is such a terrific play because it celebrates women’s friendships and how they help us overcome all of life’s hardships. I learned this first-hand 12 years ago when I went through a mastectomy and six months of chemotherapy. I got through it with the love and support of my dearest friends, Jennifer Cates and Mary Currin, my daughters, Liz and Margie, and so many women at St. Michaels’s Church. For so many of our girls, the friendships that they forge here will help them navigate the rest of their lives. It has been an added blessing to have found such a wonderful friend at Saint Mary’s. It feels like I have known Jennifer Moran for years instead of a few short months. Her support and help has been invaluable and I look forward to many years of sisterhood with her. Lastly, I want the cast and crew to know how proud I am of them. They have come together to create a wonderful show. There has been much to learn and achieve and they have done both. I know that with each production we will do more and more. Thank you, girls, for trusting and believing in me. I promise the feeling has always been mutual. To female friendships, old and new!
Saint M ary’s Th eatre Dir Louise W ector an hitmire C d alumn atania ’7 a her offic 7C has s e in Bra e ttled into tt o n Hall. Her diploma hangs on Saint Ma the wall. ry’s
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Lou Whitmire Catania ’77C Theatre Director Lou Whitmire Catania ’77C is a Saint Mary’s alumna. She holds a B.A. in dramatic arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and teaching certification in theatre arts from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. She worked previously as theatre director at Leesville Road High School.
Fuqua ’18 ’15 and Isabel Alice Gaddis nolias.” m “Steel Mag in a scene fro Augusta Moran ’1 5 and M in “Stee olly Wil l Magno liams ’16 lias.”
“I got a lot out of doing ‘Steel Magnolias,’” said ninth-grader Hailey Peterson ’18, who played Annelle. “It was different for me to work with a cast of only six people. A small cast size was a very interesting experience, and it was fun to not have as many people as some shows I have done. Most of the cast members were on stage throughout the entire play, and it was challenging to remain in-character the whole time. Mrs. Catania taught us a lot about characterization and how you can understand your character. I now know how to think of things that make a character act in a certain way, and being a part of ‘Steel Magnolias’ taught me so much about acting in general. “Another advantage of having a small cast was that it was easier to share ideas and give suggestions to Mrs. Catania. Play practice provided an open environment where we could develop our characters and improve our skill set. I will always remember the lessons that I learned, as well as cherish the time I spent with the cast,” said Peterson. The talented crew skillfully handled all of the details behind the scenes that make the actors look good in the show. From hair to makeup; from lights and sound to costumes and props; from scenic design to paint and construction; the crew artfully recreated Truvy’s salon and magically transformed six girls we know and see around campus everyday into the six women of Chinquapin Parish we came to know and love in the play.
“Play practice provided an open environment where we could develop our characters and improve our skill set. I will always remember the lessons that I learned, as well as cherish the time I spent with the cast,” said Hailey Peterson '18. 9
“I really enjoyed collaborating with my crew and getting to know a group of girls that I might not have otherwise,” said Vicky Monroe ’16, makeup designer and crew head.
“Any show on campus allows us to create friendships across grade levels, but in ‘Steel Magnolias,’ we were able to come together as a family to produce the wonderful product that was our show,” said Props Designer Morgan Seidel ’15. “Because I was in charge of props I was able to see the show in a different way than others. For those that do not know backstage has just as much, if not more going on than on stage. With hair, makeup, lights, props and sound backstage, it was alive. Once the curtain closed you could feel the excitement and our pride of what we had created.” “I really enjoyed collaborating with my crew and getting to know a group of girls that I might not have otherwise,” said Vicky Monroe ’16, makeup designer and crew head. “I've always felt a sense of camaraderie with everyone in the shows that I've worked on, but this year, that feeling was much more prominent. A lot of the girls who worked on ‘Steel Magnolias’ are also in Chorale, Chamber Choir, and the new International Thespian Society troupe, and getting to spend that much time with them has been great. I feel like in them I have a support system that I can really rely on. I'm very grateful to be part of this group that has a love of the arts and lots of shared experiences.”
’16 puts Allie Swanson Scenic painter e set of touches on th ng hi is fin e som lias.” “Steel Magno Makeup desig ner and crew head Vicky M transforms A onroe ’16 ugusta Moran ’15 into Truvy.
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Shared experiences are at the heart of the memories Lou Catania has from her days as a drama student at Saint Mary’s in the 1970s. She says, “My happiest memories as a student here were spent in Pittman working on productions such as ‘Anything Goes,’ and ‘Glass Menagerie.’ My vision for the theatre program is that we can recapture some of the theatre traditions lost over time and to create new ones to pass on to future Saint Mary’s girls.” It looks as though Catania is already creating the kinds of memories for young actors that she has from working and studying under legendary former Saint Mary’s drama teachers Harry Callahan and Nancy Stamey.
“I want the cast and crew to know how proud I am of them,” says Ms. Catania. “They came together to create a wonderful show. There was much to learn and achieve, and they did both.”
Morgan Seidel said, “As this was the first show under Mrs. Catania, we had the chance to work with a wonderful director who was wonderfully caring and pushed us to make the best show possible.” “I want the cast and crew to know how proud I am of them,” says Ms. Catania. “They came together to create a wonderful show. There was much to learn and achieve, and they did both.” Mark your calendars for the spring musical production, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella Enchanted,” March 7 and 8, 2015. Mary Virginia Swain ’77C, director of public relations and publications
The cast and
crew of “Steel M
agnolias” take
a bow.
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Expl ration
Days: Never Stop Exploring
Explore, innovate and learn! That is the mantra of Saint Mary’s girls as they set out to explore the world around them on Exploration Days. Exploration Days are part of Saint Mary's commitment to provide innovative learning opportunities for girls. Through this program, students enjoy expanded learning experiences centered upon a specific theme on four dedicated campus-weekend Saturdays during the school year. The goal of the program is to provide innovative, integrated and hands-on learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom.
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Exploration Days are intended to be a reflection of the Habits of a Lifelong Learner building on the “three Cs,” communication, character and critical thinking – which are integrated into all academic and student life programming at Saint Mary’s and integral to the choices made for explorations. “I think that the explorations held both on and off campus can be enlightening because they have the potential to help students recognize that a fun kind of learning can happen all around them, wherever they are every day,” said one faculty member. The program started at Saint Mary’s in 2013 with an idea of having the opportunity to have extended time beyond the school day to offer learning experiences that would not be possible in a standard class period.
LEFT: Students board the R Line bus to explore downtown Raleigh. RIGHT: Students participate in an art exploration in Bratton Hall.
“I think that the explorations held both on and off campus can be enlightening because they have the potential to help students recognize that a fun kind of learning can happen all around them, wherever they are every day,” said one faculty member.
The guiding principles of Exploration Days are: Explorations should reflect student interests and allow for student choice; Explorations should engage the talents and resources of the Saint Mary’s and larger communities; Explorations should be collaborative and interactive, with an element of fun;
Explorations should encourage participants to stretch beyond their comfort zones in active learning experiences; Explorations should stimulate character development, communication, life skills and creative, critical thinking; and Explorations should include a time for meaningful reflections.
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Students explore downtown Raleigh during September’s Exploration Day.
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“The explorations are very interactive,” said junior Caroline Fountain ’16. “They are not like sitting in a classroom like we do on a normal school day. We get to explore real world experiences.”
ntation in
la Stagville P aveled to tr ts n e d Stu ay. loration D for an Exp
Durham
Exploration activities, which are planned by faculty, staff and students, can include field trips that help make connections to material learned in the classroom; community building opportunities; activities that demonstrate how what is studied in class is manifested in the real world; activities that connect Saint Mary’s with the greater Triangle community; handson activities and experiences; activities where students learn practical skills that are connected to academic skills and content knowledge; cross-disciplinary activities and realworld experiences. Faculty participate along with students, as a part of the school community of lifelong learning.
City of Raleigh,” was the theme for September’s Exploration. Raleigh, one of the fastest growing cities in the nation with a vibrant downtown and interesting neighborhoods, offers myriad opportunities to explore big city life. Exploration Day offerings included a study of cartography, a city planning session – Imagine Raleigh 2050 City Build, the creation of virtual geoglyphic art while riding bikes, Humans of Raleigh, discover downtown, passion-inspired health and wellness, a Raleigh museum hop, a visit to the Duke Homestead, an art and science mash-up with glass blowing, a visit to the Duke Lemur Center, the math and science of Pullen Park and more.
“The explorations are very interactive,” said junior Caroline Fountain ’16. “They are not like sitting in a classroom like we do on a normal school day. We get to explore real world experiences.”
November’s Exploration Day was planned and led by students. Explorations included happiness in self-exploration through art, create your own Nebula, beauty through a cultural lens, photography scavenger hunt, poetry slam workshop, learning to free your mind through yoga, cooperative drawing, a Habitat for Humanity workday, a visit to the Nasher Museum to see the works of Joan Miro and more.
During the 2013-2014 school year, the first year of the program, two Exploration Days were focused on specific themes, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and “The Wiz,” Saint Mary’s spring musical production, a reimagining of L. Frank Baum's “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Three other Exploration Days that year were collections of offerings from faculty, staff and students. There are four Exploration Days for the 2014-2015 school year, all with a specific theme and focus. “Explore the
The feedback from students has been important to assessing the program and planning for future activities that will capture the passion and imagination of the girls. “The cartography activity was interesting, because it allowed us to explore the history of maps, how they work, what they do and how to use a compass,” said a ninth-grade day student.
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“I learned all about lemurs, their habits, their mating habits, their living habits, basically, all about lemurs,” said a ninth-grader, of her visit to the Duke Lemur Center. “We learned about lemurs in their natural habitat and how lemurs can be used for research. Moreover, we learned about the culture in Madagascar and how it relates to lemurs.”
An 11th-grader spoke about the glass blowing activity. “I got to explore a different type of art and a type of beauty that is made, and how to make something that is used for multiple purposes in everyday life. I got to do something hands-on to further my knowledge and have fun with my group.” “I did Humans of Raleigh,” reported an 11th-grader. “It allowed me to meet new people and develop better communications skills. I had to use courage to go out of my comfort zone and ask about people’s personal stories.” “I learned all about lemurs, their habits, their mating habits, their living habits, basically, all about lemurs,” said a ninth-grader, of her visit to the Duke Lemur Center. “We learned about lemurs in their natural habitat and how lemurs can be used for research. Moreover, we learned about the culture in Madagascar and how it relates to lemurs.” “Everything was great for me,” reported an 11th-grader. “I really
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enjoyed the Golden Ratio, sort of an art/math fusion activity. The teachers made it fun and enjoyable. If I could sign up again, I would!” One 10th-grader sums up her approach to Exploration Days, saying, “Just go and be ready to have a good time!” With an adventurous and curious spirit, Saint Mary’s students are surely developing the habits of lifelong learning that they will carry with them through the real-world explorations of education and life, inspired by Saint Mary’s Exploration Day motto, “Never stop exploring!” Jennifer Rundles, associate director of teaching and learning, and Mary Virginia Swain ’77C, director of public relations and publications, contributed to this article.
ABOVE: Students participate in a health and wellness exploration at Happy and Hale in downtown Raleigh. RIGHT: Students and faculty volunteered with a Habitat for Humanity Women Build project on Exploration Day, November 2014.
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2014-2015 GRANDDAUGHTERS Club
The Granddaughters Club consists of students who are direct descendants of Saint Mary’s alumnae, including mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers. The Granddaughters Club is the oldest club on campus, established in 1909 by Kate McKimmon, who was an alumna, teacher, secretary and treasurer of the Saint Mary’s Alumnae Association. During that first year in 1909, there were 33 members: 11 granddaughters, 27 daughters and five girls who were the third generation of their family at Saint Mary’s. Today, some students represent the fifth generation of their family to attend Saint Mary's. Sarah Catherine Anderson ’15 and Frances Jane Anderson ’18, daughters of Ashley Williamson Anderson ’86C Mary Katharine Barker ’16, granddaughter of Eliza Chipley Douglass ’48HS ’50C and great-granddaughter of Agatha Knox Chipley 1921C Virginia Whitley Barnes ’18, granddaughter of Ann Farmer Barnes ’61HS ’63C and great granddaughter of Rachel Ball Ditzler 1939C Mable Elizabeth Blount ’17, daughter of Elizabeth Grine Blount ’85HS ’87C Mary Ann Williamson Borden ’18, daughter of Elizabeth Rouse Borden ’83HS and granddaughter of Ann Robinson Rouse ’57C Callee Elise Boykin ’16, daughter of Cathy Call Boykin ’80HS ’82C
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Mary Claire Brewer ’16, daughter Michelle Fountain Brewer ’80HS
Mary McGowan Collie ’17, daughter of Kim Norfleet Collie ’88C
Charlotte Barker Broadwell ’16, granddaughter of Charlotte Lilly Broadwell ’54C
Eliza Robeson Cozart ’17, daughter of Valerie Purdie Cozart ’80HS ’82C
Jane Williams-Gower Brown ’17, granddaughter of Jane Gower Brown ’48C Sydney Elizabeth Brown ’15, granddaughter of Betsy Crutchfield Bethune ’62C Kathryn Chandler Cahill ’18, daughter of Sallie Thorpe Cahill ’87HS ’89C and granddaughter of Harriet Dill Thorpe ’70C Rachel Taft Amherst Cecil ’15, daughter of Ruth Taft Cecil ’84C and granddaughter of Mary Hannah Finch Taft ’58C Lucy Downing Church ’17, granddaughter of Virgilia Leggett Church ’63C
Charlotte Rollinson Crumpton ’15 and Elizabeth Grimes Crumpton’18, daughters of Andrea Kramer Crumpton ’86HS, granddaughters of Charlotte Williams Bridger ’60HS ’62C, greatgreat-granddaughters of Charlotte Grimes Williams 1868, and great-great-great granddaughters of Charlotte Bryan Grimes 1848. Margaret Edmundson Dixon ’18, daughter of Elizabeth Patteson Dixon ’80HS and granddaughter of Margaret Bridgers Edmundson (1951-52)
Jane Courtney Dodge ’16, daughter of Beth Wilson ’78C and granddaughter of Mary Tuder “Tudie” Hudson Harris 1939C Grace Muriel Dohner ’18, greatgranddaughter of Nancy Croom Murchison (1930’s) Caroline Whitehurst Fountain ’16 and Margaret Burton Fountain ’18, granddaughters of Margaret Uzzell Bowen Vanderberry ’59C Dorothy Isabel Fuqua ’18, daughter of Duvall Schultz Fuqua ’79HS and granddaughter of Ruth Clark ’48HS Emily Watson Garvey ’15, daughter of Louisa Harley Garvey ’82HS ’84C and granddaughter of Rose Potter Garvey ’48C Harriet Lucile Glover ’18, granddaughter of Harriet Conger Glover ’52HS ’54C and great-granddaughter of Nellie Cooper Rose 1917C Bailey Elizabeth Griffin ’17, daughter of Kim Goines Griffin ’89HS ’91C Elizabeth Darden Grubb ’16, granddaughter of Lucile Best Jones ’48HS ’50C Shelby Hardee Holmes ’16, granddaughter of Frances Spain Holmes ’54C and Louise Cheatham Holmes ’57C Jane Gregory Ives ’17, daughter of Lynn Cowell Ives ’85HS ’87C Devon Lee James ’15, granddaughter of Katherine Ligon James ’63C Hannah Elizabeth Jones ’16, daughter of Mary Hannah Wyman Jones ’84HS ’86C and granddaughter of Carol Ann Tadlock Wyman ’60C Madeline Coker Joslin ’15, granddaughter of Annie Hinsdale Joslin 1903C Franny Cooper Lail ’17, daughter of Fanny Peel Lail ’85C and granddaughter of Frances Perry Peel ’52HS ’54C
Elizabeth Cole Lanier ’17, granddaughter of Mimsie Roberts Lanier ’68HS Maryanne McLeod Martini ’15, daughter of LuAnne Sanders Martini ’82C Aurelia Stafford Monk ’15, granddaughter of Aurelia Fulton Stafford ’48HS ’50C Kylie Macon Nelson ’15, greatgranddaughter of Columbia Macon Walters 1923C
Mary Hannah Sigmon ’17, granddaughter of Mary Hannah Finch Taft ’58C and Martha Anne Olsen Sigmon ’47HS Louise Dibrell Sloan ’17, granddaughter of Louise Ficklen Folger ’60HS Madeline Jane Sullivan ’15, daughter of Maura Moylan Sullivan ’87HS Lindley MacRae Spears ’18, daughter of Mandy Johnson Spears ’84HS ’86C
Virginia Thorne Pace ’17, daughter of Anne Gregory Pace ’81HS ’83C
Katherine Porter Stallings ’18, daughter of Jennifer Jones Stallings ’90C
Lillian Geiger Parker ’18, daughter of Betsy Joyner Parker ’83HS, granddaughter of Georgia Cobb Joyner ’59C, greatgranddaughter of Sarah Elizabeth Borden Cobb 1914, great-great-granddaughter of Sallie Smith Jones Borden and great-greatgreat-granddaughter of Georgia Whitfield Borden
Allie Elizabeth Swanson ’16, daughter of Carolyn Thornton Swanson ’83HS ’85C
Isabel Manning Peel ’15, granddaughter of Frances Perry Peel ’52HS ’54C Patricia Vaughan Poole ’17, granddaughter of Pat Exum Bassett ’60HS Emma-Claire Wood Purdie ’17, granddaughter of Claire Lynn Boyce Purdie Brennan ’62C Mary Suiter Ragland ’18, granddaughter of Anna Wood Ragland ’41C, greatgranddaughter of Alice McKenzie Ragland 1913 and great-great-great-granddaughter of Alice Caldwell McKenzie (attended during the civil war) Lucy Mae Holliday Rascoe ’15 and Katherine Granbery Rascoe ’17, daughters of Kathy Keel ’83HS ’85C, granddaughters of Nancy Dawson Rascoe ’52C, greatgranddaughters of Edna Jones Nixon Dawson ’26C, great-great-great-granddaughters of Cornelia Townsend Nixon (pre-1870), and great-great-great-granddaughters of Isa Benedicta Gordon Granbery (pre-1870)
Grace Battle Thompson ’18, daughter of Heather Moore Thompson ’88HS ’90C and granddaughter of Sue Battle Moore ’63C Ashton Radcliffe Vermillion ’17, greatgranddaughter of Margaret Banes Gold Borden 1918C Elizabeth Hope Voelkel ’17, daughter of Marcy Whitehurst Everett Voelkel ’87C, granddaughter of Bettie Ann Whitehurst Everett ’59C, great-granddaughter of Esther Bernice Stearn Whitehurst 1923C, and greatgreat-granddaughter of Bettie Ebourn Marsh (early 1900s) Beverly Elizabeth Watson ’18, daughter of Leigh Ann Corter Watson ’85C Emma Riley Whitford ’18, granddaughter of Jeanne Moye Whitford ’59C Sarah Perryman Winborne ’16, daughter of Jane Dowdy Winborne ’86HS, granddaughter of Corinne Grimsley Donkle ’45HS and Ann Smith Winborne ’52C, and great-greatgranddaughter of Fannie Sharp (early 1800s) Kimberly Cameron Wood ’17, granddaughter of Janie Stronach Wood ’62HS ’64C Lucy York Wyche ’17, daughter of Susan Grady Wyche ’84C
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ACADEMIC excellence
Sophia Buehrer ’15 is National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist Saint Mary’s School senior Sophia Buehrer of Durham has been named among the 16,000 semifinalists in the 60th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Sophia now advances in the competition for approximately 7,600 National Merit Scholarships, worth about $33 million, that will be offered next spring. 2015 National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced from April through July. These scholarship recipients will join more than 308,000 other distinguished students who have earned the Merit Scholar title.
Saint Mary’s students chosen for Spoleto Study Abroad Sophia Barsanti ’15, Megan Blelloch ’15 and Frances Cayton ’14 attended the Spoleto Study Abroad 2014 Arts and Humanities immersion program in the historic town of Spoleto, Italy, last summer. This interdisciplinary program featured a dynamic curriculum in the arts and humanities. Twice weekly day-trips to cultural centers such as Florence, Orvieto and Sienna offered students the opportunity to experience significant artistic, cultural, and historic treasures first-hand. Megan, Sophia and Frances were part of a select group chosen for this intensive summer study abroad program. Frances and Megan participated in the photography program, and Sophia participated in the vocal music program. Saint Mary’s School is an active member of the select consortium of schools across
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Sophia Barsanti ’15, Megan Blelloch ’15 and Frances Cayton ’14 in Spoleto, Italy the country that supports the Spoleto Study Abroad program mission. Spoleto Study Abroad is committed to bringing an integrated style of learning to those students interested in pursuing their academic and artistic interests as they explore the rich cultural heritage of central Italy.
“Acceptance into the MIT Introduction to Engineering and Sciences in itself is a distinct honor and privilege for a select group of students,” writes Shawna L. Young, executive director of the Office of Engineering Outreach Programs at MIT. “Your hard work and determination have been recognized and appreciated by the faculty, administration and staff of the MIT MITES program with the Director’s Award.” Since 1975, the six-week MITES program has leveraged a demanding atmosphere to help students develop the skills and confidence needed for success in technical fields. Along with calculus, physics, natural science and humanities courses, students take a hands-on elective course and participate in lab tours and social events at MIT. MITES serves up to 80 students per year. (web.mit.edu/MITES/ Curriculum)
Grayson Rodriguez ’15 attends MIT summer program Saint Mary’s senior Grayson Rodriguez ’15 reports having a “phenomenal experience” at the Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology this summer. Grayson was recognized at the closing awards ceremony for her work in the architecture class. She received the MITES 2014 Director’s Award, which requires that a student be in the top 25 percent in each of the five classes taken, fit the criteria of an ideal MITE student and encompass the theme, “Crafting the Pillars of Innovation.”
Grayson Rodriguez ’15 at MIT
Saint Mary’s seniors empowered by Girls State experience Last summer’s Tar Heel Girls State experience left Saint Mary’s seniors Alex Eubanks ’15 and Danielle MacGregor ’15 feeling empowered with new life skills and a new perspective. “You’re put with people who might not be like you, and it teaches you to work with others and learn from others. And the message was empowering – that girls can do anything – run for governor, manage a campaign, give a speech,” said Alex. Alex and Danielle were selected to participate in the 75th annual Tar Heel Girls State hosted at Catawba College in June 2014. Sponsored by the North Carolina American Legion Auxiliary, Tar Heel Girls State is a week-long workshop in the legislative process sponsored by the North Carolina American Legion Auxiliary. North Carolina's program is the longest continuously-running Girls State program in the United States. Approximately 300 of North Carolina's most promising rising high school senior girls from every part of the state come together for the week-long workshop to learn about and participate in various parts of government. Participation is invitation-only following an application process that identifies high performing, motivated girls who are involved in their schools and communities and are academically at the top of their classes. The week was intensive with programming beginning at 7 a.m. and ending at 9:30 p.m. According to Alex and Danielle, the program fully engages the participants all day, every day. The participants were divided into groups representing different cities who
Alex Eubanks ’15, left, and Danielle MacGregor ’15, right, participated in N.C. Girls’ State campaign for city offices and conduct a mock election based on the issues of their city. Following the elections, the girls roleplay the positions they have secured and, as members of their city’s administration, engage in the work of local government - writing bills and passing legislation. The experience challenges girls to take new risks and provides them with myriad opportunities for building skills in leadership, collaboration, communication and resilience. Both Alex and Danielle felt they learned a lot from their Tar Heel Girls State experience, and that much of it was an extension of what they are learning every day at Saint Mary’s. “The experience pushed you out of your comfort zone. I left there more willing to try new things and to never give up,” Danielle said. “Now I’m more comfortable if I don’t know all the answers. Now when I think about someone being smart, I think of someone who doesn’t necessarily have all the answers but is ready and able to find the answers.”
Alex and Danielle both agree that they believe they brought new skills and perspectives to their life at Saint Mary’s School, as well as returning to school this year with more confidence and a greater willingness to take risks. “I want to try new things, even if they don’t work out,” said Alex . Danielle wants her classmates to know that “it’s okay to take risks; it’s okay if you lose; those experiences will help you.” The students also learned that leadership is not about having a title, but it is about “working together for the betterment of a community,” said Danielle, who sits on Saint Mary’s Judicial Board. The notion that there are many voices out there that need to be heard was another important lesson the girls brought back to Saint Mary’s. “Everyone has their share of great ideas,” said Alex. “We all need to hear different voices so we can learn from each other.” Laura Novia Director of Marketing and Communications
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PERSONAL achievement volunteers. The program seeks high school and college women who have demonstrated entrepreneurial initiative and interest in business. The Young Entrepreneurs show a record of community involvement and service, leadership, academic acumen, and strong entrepreneurial interest. “We really want to be a positive influence on other girls our age,” said Alex. “We want to show them that if you have a dream, then follow it. You can be successful as a young woman in business.” Learn more about the Pinky Girl at thepinkygirl.com.
The girls engaged in a range of activities designed to develop leadership capabilities, resilience and an understanding of themselves and their leadership styles. The conference focused on developing leadership capability and assisting the young women in managing the responsibilities of leadership. Each day, at the high-energy conference began at 7 a.m. and concluded at 9 p.m., with time spent connecting with other young female leaders in small groups and interactive workshops; attending keynotes; participating in outdoor team and group challenges; taking time for personal reflection; and having fun.
Sophie and Alex Eubanks with Susan G. Komen CEO Nancy Brinker
Eubanks sisters chosen 2014 SPREE! Young Entrepreneurs Saint Mary’s sisters Alex Eubanks ’15 and Sophie Eubanks ’17 were chosen as the Junior League of Raleigh SPREE! Young Entrepreneurs for 2014. The Eubanks sisters turned their monogramming hobby, started with the gift of an embroidery machine from their parents, into The PinkyGirl monogramming boutique, an international business that has shipped products all over the nation and the world. They have donated thousands of dollars from their profits to the Susan G. Komen N.C. Triangle to the Coast organization to support breast cancer research and awareness. In recognition of their efforts, the Junior League of Raleigh chose the girls as the 2014 SPREE! Young Entrepreneurs. The girls had a featured booth at the 2014 SPREE!, where they sold their Pinky Girl merchandise. The JLR SPREE! Young Entrepreneur Program is designed to fulfill the mission of the JLR to promote voluntarism, to develop the potential of women and to improve the community through the effective action and leadership of trained
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Andy Smithey ’16 chosen for girls’ leadership conference in Australia Saint Mary’s junior Andy Smithey ’16 was selected by the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools (NCGS) to serve as a delegate at the 2015 Alliance of Girls Schools Australia Student Leadership Conference, held January 6-10 at Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Students from Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States attended the premiere girls’ residential conference in Australia. Each year, the Student Leadership Conference provides unparalleled opportunities for girls to explore leadership styles and strategies, reflect on their own leadership aspirations and build meaningful lifelong connections with other young leaders. Based on research and feedback from past attendees the conference programming responds to the challenges faced by girls on their leadership journey.
Grace Battle Thompson ’18 earns Girl Scout Silver Award Grace Battle Thompson ’18 has been awarded the Girl Scout Silver Award, one of Girl Scouting’s highest honors. The Girl Scout Silver Award challenges scouts to excel in leadership, community service, career-planning and personal development. Young women who have earned this award have demonstrated self-discipline, time management, originality, initiative and a significant mastery of skills. They have completed a long-term service project designed to promote growth and knowledge in areas such as business and technology, arts and humanities, cultural and global relations, energy conservation, personal well-being, the outdoors and the environment.
Saint Mary’s junior represents school and museum on national Action for Nature Youth Panel Saint Mary's junior Molly Paul '16 represented Saint Mary’s School as one of six students nationwide selected to participate in the Action for Nature Youth Panel during the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) annual conference hosted by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh, Tuesday, October 21. Molly – along with the other five award-winning youth conservationists – spoke about environmentalism, leadership and entrepreneurship in a panel discussion led by Dr. Emelyn Koster, director of the museum. All six student panelists – including students from California, Florida and North Carolina - have had their work recognized by many organizations, including “Action for Nature” as “International Young Eco-Heroes.” The youth panel event, held in the SECU Daily Planet Theater at the museum, marked the first time in the 40-year history of ASTC that a collective youth voice was included in the annual ASTC conference. The presentation included a video message from Dame Jane Goodall – primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, and the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees – who recognized and congratulated the young conservationists by name. The panelists also toured the museum, visited with students in classrooms at Moore Square Middle School and had lunch with the principal of Moore Square as well as the principal of the Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy.
Molly Paul, seated, far right, was chosen for the Action for Nature Youth Panel at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
On Friday night, October 17, Molly also participated in the keynote address at ASTC with Dr. Hayat Sindi, founder of i2 and recipient of the Civil Society Award from President Bill Clinton. Molly served as emcee for the student Q&A segment of Dr. Sindi’s presentation, welcoming the crowd of some 1,800 people in English, French, Spanish, Khmer and Arabic. Molly is a junior curator at the museum and founder/director of “Raleigh Aquatic Turtle Adoption.” She re-homes unwanted pet turtles, mostly the Red-eared slider, which is an invasive species; fundraises for North Carolina conservation efforts through the sale of Molly’s Turtle Soaps; and
founded STEM Leadership Camp. Molly’s work has been recognized by the State of North Carolina, the City of Raleigh, the Junior Leagues of Raleigh and Greensboro and with the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. Molly accompanied Dr. Koster in May to Washington, D.C., to accept the Institute of Museum and Library Services National Medal from First Lady Michelle Obama. Mary Virginia Swain ’77C Director of Public Relations and Publications
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ATHLETICS
Saints Club Parents Weekend Tailgate in the Grove celebrates Saint Mary’s athletics tradition
Saint Mary’s Parents Weekend 2014 tailgate under the stately oaks in the Grove offered a festive kick-off to the September 12 afternoon home athletics games and served as a celebration of Saint Mary’s rich and longstanding athletics tradition, which dates back to the 1800s. The tailgate was sponsored by parent volunteers of the Saints Club, the school’s volunteer organization open to all parents who have an interest in supporting athletics at Saint Mary’s School. As part of this year’s tailgate party, Saints Club volunteers created a historic display of memorabilia from the Saints Mary’s athletics archives, honoring
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teams and athletes, past and present. The display featured trophies, vintage pennants and varsity letters, newspaper clippings of Saint Mary’s notable teams and championships, commemorative team photo books and more. Teams from the past featured at the tailgate display from Saint Mary’s history included the 1975-76 tennis team and the 2001 soccer team. Saint Mary’s 1975-76 tennis team, a team that consisted of high school and college girls, was called the best women’s tennis team in the state – high school and college – by the "News & Observer." The team finished the year with a perfect 18-0 record, including
decisive wins over teams from N.C. State, Carolina, Duke, Wake Forest, East Carolina and many other colleges and universities. The 1976-1977 team followed that up the next year with a 16-0 record over many of the same teams, making for a 34 match winning streak in Saint Mary’s storied tennis program. A previous winning streak from 1961-1969 was 64-0. Saint Mary's teams won the North Carolina Women's Colleges State Championship in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989. North Carolina Tennis Hall of Famer Mary Lou Jones, longtime Saint Mary's faculty member and beloved Dean of Students, coached for more than 30 years during this era. The 2001 soccer team captured the state championship with a 1-0 win over Greensboro Day School, capping off a 211-1 season, and ending the Bengals six-year run as state champion. The 2001 Saints also won both the Triangle Independent Schools Athletic Conference (TISAC) regular season and tournament championships. Other notable teams from the past include the 1999 high school swim team, which finished the season at a perfect 19-0, including sweeping both the TISAC conference and NCISAA state championships; and the 1980 state championship tennis team. More recent championship milestones include a string of TISAC championships by the tennis team in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010; TISAC field hockey championships in 2007 and 2008; the undefeated 2009 golf team and the magical run of the 2011 basketball team to capture the TISAC championship.
Saint Mary’s championships and undefeated seasons are honored on the milestone banners in Bacon Gym that fill the North wall with the rich history of Saints athletics, and will continue to be highlighted at future events and displays. Saint Mary’s history of organized athletics teams dates back to the 1800s, when an athletic association supervised the activities of the sports groups – the walking, tennis and cycling clubs; two baseball teams called the “Sunny South” and “Dixie;” and the Sigma and Mu basketball clubs. For many years in the early 1900s, the Sigma-Mu program offered true intramural sports in the years before interscholastic sports became the norm. In the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, Saint Mary’s competed primarily on the collegiate level, with teams comprised of college and high school girls. In the 1980s and 1990s, the high school sports program was expanded with teams participating first in the Piedmont Athletic Conference and later in TISAC, both members of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association. Today, athletics at Saint Mary’s are thriving and participation is high in the program. Saint Mary’s offers a comprehensive interscholastic high school athletic program, consisting of 18 teams in the following sports: cross country, field hockey, golf, tennis, volleyball, basketball, swimming, lacrosse, soccer, softball, and track and field. Saint Mary's School competes as a member of the Triangle Independent Schools Athletic Conference (TISAC) and the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA, 3A Classification). “Through dedication, courage and discipline, a Saint Mary's athlete earns the privilege of participating on a team,” says Saint Mary’s Athletic Director Dean Monroe. “In addition to learning skills and strategies, our athletes also learn the life lessons of sportsmanship, leadership, competition and responsibility.” To cap off the afternoon of athletic competition for Parents Weekend 2014, a newer Saint Mary’s athletics tradition could be heard around campus – the ringing of the Class of 2010 Victory Bell, signaling another Saints' win! Mary Virginia Swain '77C Director of Public Relations and Publications
Crumpton named 2014 N.C. State Field Hockey All-Star Saint Mary’s senior Rollins Crumpton ’15 was named to the 2014 North Carolina State Field Hockey All-Star team. Rollins represented Saint Mary’s on the winning team in the annual state All-Star game, which was played at Duke University, November 9, immediately following the Atlantic Coast Conference field hockey championship.
Saint Mary’s swimmers compete in YMCA Nationals Saint Mary’s swimmers Tori Hester ’15, pictured left, and Charlotte Broadwell ’17, right, qualified for and competed in the YMCA long course nationals swimming and diving competition at Indiana University in Indianapolis in the summer of 2014.
Fall athletes earn all-conference honors Congratulations to these fall athletes for earning Triangle Independent Schools Athletic Conference (TISAC) all-conference honors for 2014: Lucy Mae Rascoe ’15, all-conference field hockey; Rollins Crumpton ’15, all-conference field hockey honorable mention; Caroline Utt ’15, all-conference tennis; Anna Gray Stallings ’15, all-conference volleyball honorable mention.
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2015 CALENDAR of events
winter/spring 2015
Save the dates and join us for these special season! events for the Smedes Parlor Concert January 27 | 8 p.m. Smedes-Emory Parlor
Board of Trustees winter meeting February 4-5
Four Seasons Concertos by Vivaldi February 28 | 7 p.m. Smedes-Emory Parlor
Winter Musical: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella”
Orchesis Dance Theatre Spring Concert
March 20-21 | Friday night at 7 p.m., Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Pittman Auditorium
Winter Alumnae Council meeting and luncheon
March 7 and 8 | Saturday evening at 7 p.m.; Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Pittman Auditorium
Admission Special Invitation Event
African-American Read-In
Grandparents and Grandfriends Day
March 24 | 8 p.m. Smedes-Emory Parlor
February 6
February 9 PIttman Auditorium
March 20
March 23
Smedes Parlor Concert
Easter Eucharist Chapel April 14 | 11 a.m. – noon Saint Mary’s Chapel
Board of Trustees spring meeting April 22-23
Auction Gala
March 6 Angus Barn Pavilions 26
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Commencement for the 173rd session May 17 The Grove
Chorale Spring Concert: “A Night at the Opera” April 23 | 7 p.m. Smedes-Emory Parlor
Admission Sneak Peek for seventhgraders May 1
Spring Fling
May 1 | Noon – 2:30 p.m.
Eucharist Chapel
May 5 | 11 a.m. - noon Saint Mary’s Chapel
Saint Mary’s opened on this day in 1842. May 12
end k e e g ion W Reun sses endin a for cl o and five in zer il 24-25 Apr
For a complete calendar of school events throughout the year, visit www.sms. edu. Regional alumnae events will be added to the Alumnae web page, as they are scheduled. Events are subject to change due to inclement weather and other unforeseen circumstances, and any changes will be announced appropriately.
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EVENTS
ATLANTA
September 17, 2014 At the home of Sam and Dabney Mann Hollis ’83HS ’85C
Left to right: Holland Coward Muscio, Mandy McGuire, Betsy Wilkins Robinson ’72C, Florrie McCard ’14
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Left to right: George Scott, Elizabeth Stickley Scott ’86HS ’88C, Wick Dunlap Gerrard ’88HS ’90C, Duvall Schultz Fuqua ’79HS
Left to right: Head of School Dr. Monica Gillespie, Jo Crawford Phelps ’68C, Susan Davis Virgin ’66HS ’68C, Susie Soper ’66C, Wendy Soper McSweeny ’69C
Left to right: Laura Fanjoy ’03, Erica Sayers, Julia Walker Barge ’82HS ’84C
Left to right: Florrie McCard ’14, Katie Mathews ’08, Margaret McGlohon ’81C, Becca Vinson ’00, Gates Killian ’10
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ATLANTIC BEACH Left to right: Elizabeth Rasberry Pitts ’79C, Sally Borden Worrell ’66C, Paula Johnson Stewart ’68C, Anna Neal Blanchard ’76HS
Left to right: Jennifer Locke McCann ’97C, Amy Carr Thullen ’69HS, Clarine Pollock Powell ’67C, Nancy Haywood ’68HS, Monica Gillespie
Left to right: Clarine Pollock Powell ’67C, Lois Perry Sawyer ’52C, Charles Sawyer, Cheryl Lee Taft ’68C, Richard Taft
July 18, 2014 At the home of Mark and Dawn Carter
Left to right: Elizabeth Hardy Hogan ’81C, Sarah Poole, Mark Carter, Dawn Carter
Left to right: Scotty Grine Frantz ’81HS ’83C, Ann Diedrick Dill ’81HS ’83C, Marilee Eagles Reed ’81HS, Emily Longley ’81HS ’83C, Anne Gregory Pace ’81HS ’83C, Bettine Bikle Boyd ’81HS ’83C, Sydney Brown Black ’81HS ’83C, Sallie Harris Glover ’81HS ’83C
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EVENTS
BALTIMORE and WASHINGTON, D.C. December 3 and 4, 2014
At the Baltimore home of Phillip and Carter Warren Franke ’75HS ’77C and the Washington, D.C., home of Elizabeth Spratt Cooper ’94HS ’95C
Washington, D.C., left to right: Crutcher Nash ’08, Jessica O’Shea ’08, Monica Gillespie
Washington, D.C., left to right: Elizabeth Spratt Cooper ’94HS ’95C, Rush Williams ’04, Caroline Williams ’06, Leigh Habegger ’06
Washington, D.C., left to right: Crutcher Nash ’08, Molly Bryant ’10, Georgia Worthington Sullivan ’77HS, Laura Gulledge ’10
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Washington, D.C.: Head of School Monica Gillespie awards a reunion medal to Georgia Kennedy Irvin ’50HS
Washington, D.C., left to right: Britt Vice Kirkbride ’82HS ’84C, Rush Williams ’04, Caroline Williams ’06, Lauren Vitek ’09, Leigh Habegger ’06, Sarah Nolan ’07
Baltimore alumnae group, seated, left to right: Kimberley Sutton Brady ’89C, Frances Elder Baldwin ’50C, Brandon Moore Berkeley ’72HS; standing, left to right: Margaret McGlohon ’81C, Elizabeth Olson ’94HS, Sally Pelletier ’77HS ’79C, Macky Dixon Ayers ’70C, Sally Betts Goss ’75C, Carter Warren Franke ’75HS ’77C, Monica Gillespie
Washington, D.C., left to right: Georgia Kennedy Irvin ’50HS, Georgia Worthington Sullivan ’77HS, Tricia Kelly Pinkard ’79C, Lee Broadfoot Hathaway ’76C Washington, D.C., left to right: Everett Uhl ’09, Laura Gulledge ’10, Adams Paschal ’09, Molly Bryant ’10, Lauren Vitek ’09
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EVENTS
Charleston/ Sullivan’s Island, S.C. November 6, 2014 At the home of Bobby and Kristin Trammell Cummings ’91HS Left to right: Dan Krueger, Katharine Pate Krueger ’79HS ’81C, Susan Avent Irvine ’84HS ’86C, Caroline Kelley Holt ’88HS
Left to right: Randy Currin, Megan Currin ’09, Monica Gillespie, Taylor Currin ’12, Tina Currin, Whitney Currin ’12
Left to right: Emily Dockery Carlson ’70HS ’72C, Joe Johnson, Beverly Stoney Johnson ’74HS, Carl Carlson, Cammie Cramer Sweeney ’74HS
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Left to right: Lea Milstead Clement ’84C, Caroline Ragsdale ’82HS, Anna Brooks Schoderbek ’89HS
Left to right: Anna Brooks Schoderbek ’89HS, Katherine Cvetko McElroy ’00, Richard McElroy, Kristin Trammell Cummings ’91HS
CHARLOTTE
October 2, 2014 At the home of Sam and Susan Creech Rankin ’74HS
Left to right: Alice Hicks Dorsett ’50HS ’52C, Dewey Dorsett
Left to right: Kathryn Calder Barmore ’01, Missy Underwood Miller ’80C, Liza Wooten ’10, Monica Gillespie, William Taylor
Left to right: Scott Cole Bryan ’89C, Olga McCoy Faison ’88C, Allison Sprock ’82HS ’94C
Left to right: Peaches Rankin ’70HS ’72C, Tuga Wilson Adams ’45HS, Mary Peyton Cortright ’62C, Lynn Boyce Purdie-Brennan ’62C, Katie Mitchell ’10
Left to right: Dee Williamson Marley ’77HS, Coco McConnell Killian ’72HS, Lee Archibald Taylor ’78C, Missy Basinger Plyler ’80C
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EVENTS
GREENSBORO October 1, 2014 At the home of Claude and Betsy Hardwick Dawson ’76C
Left to right: Margaret Overcash White ’98HS, Sally Dillard Cohen ’78C, Monica Gillespie, Marilyn Stadler Gideon ’62HS ’64C, Holly Davis Braden ’82HS
Left to right: Dottie B. Edwards Nutt ’76C, Betsy Hardwick Dawson ’76C, Martha Kornegay Howard ’77HS ’79C
Left to right: Margaret McGlohon ’81C, Kathy Durham, Laura Deane Matheson Gresham ’51HS ’53C
Left to right: Emily Smith ’01, Elizabeth Jernigan Andrews ’72C, Elizabeth Andrews Pryor ’01
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Left to right: Nancy DuBose Greenway ’83HS, Natalie Carter Hyde ’86HS ’88C, Martha Anne Allen DuBose ’87C, Deane Gresham Holt ’81C, Mary Barnett Hale ’84HS ’86C
Left to right: Marion Turner Hubbard ’49C, Michelle White Porter ’87HS, Lane Turner Nash ’72HS ’74C, Aurelia Fulton Stafford ’48HS ’50C
RICHMOND
October 7, 2014 At the home of Bruce and Sara Coleman Cann ’71HS
Left to right: Stephanie Bishop Williams ’90HS, Marty Williams, Claudia Bishop Stubbs ’93HS
Left to right: Katherine Ligon James ’63C, Bonnie Brinser Nelms ’60C, Virginia McGratty ’88HS ’90C
Left to right: Monica Gillespie, Sara Coleman Cann ’71HS, Janie Parker Pinney ’80HS, Margaret McGlohon ’81C
Left to right: Molly Jordan Carey ’75HS ’77C, Anne Bailey Lewis ’53C
Richmond alumnae gather at the home of Sara Coleman Cann ’71HS.
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EVENTS
Wake County Alumnae Gathering and Head of School Event October 15, 2014 Smedes Hall
Left to right: Mike Hoyt, Judy Rhodes Hoyt ’63C, Monica Gillespie, John Gillespie
Left to right: Ashley Richardson Allen ’81C, Steve Allen
Left to right: Carter Warren Franke ’75HS ’77C, Audrey Wall Black ’65C, Bess Knotts Walker ’76C
Left to right: Elizabeth Rasberry Pitts ’79C, Mary Virginia Swain ’77C, Blanche Williamson ’76HS, Gray Clark Stoughton ’78HS ’80C, Margaret Longley White ’79C
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Left to right: Judy Rhodes Hoyt ’63C, Lou Johnson Johanson ’58C, Blanche Robertson Bacon ’53HS ’55C, Eve Hargrave Smith ’53HS, Chip Dodd ’71C
Left to right: Heather Moore Thompson ’88HS ’90C, Margaret Longley White ’79C, Coles Hines Jones ’79HS ’81C, Pam Stocks
WINE AND DESIGN Raleigh and Charlotte
Charlotte alumnae painted the Chapel at Wine and Design, Charlotte, October 2, 2014.
Left to right: Wake County young alumnae at Wine and Design in Raleigh, left to right: Mary Brown Taylor ’08, Mary Reid Larcade ’08, Sarah Walker ’08, Sydney Dawson Dozier ’08
Wake County young alumnae painting the Chapel at Wine and Design in Raleigh, September 16, 2014.
Wake County young alumnae painting the Chapel at Wine and Design in Raleigh, September 16, 2014.
Wake County young alumnae painting the Chapel at Wine and Design in Raleigh, September 16, 2014.
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EVENTS
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH July 25, 2014 At the home of Jeff and Robin Ballard Earp ’84HS ’86C
Left to right: Robin Ballard Earp ’84HS ’86C, Susan Snider Wilson ’77HS ’79C, Linda Love Grice ’63C
Saint Mary’s alumnae gathered by the pool at the home of Jeff and Robin Ballard Earp ’84HS ’86C.
Left to right: Spencer Everett, Mary Ann Powell Everett ’59C, Jane Hight McMurry ’73C, Clayton Callaway
Left to right: Kit Tiedeman Mason ’56HS ’58C, Dorothy Overbeck Guggenheimer ’58C, Annie Gray Calhoun Lane ’58C
Left to right: Alice Hemingway Baker ’84HS ’86C, Margaret McGlohon ’81C, Julia Bunton Hunt, Chrissie Currence Pierce ’84HS ’86C, Robin Ballard Earp ’84HS ’86C
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Left to right: Dorothy Overbeck Guggenheimer ’58C, Dorothy Guggenheimer Bridger ’85HS, Robin Ballard Earp ’84HS ’86C
NEWS brief
Strategic Planning 2014-2015: planning for the future of Saint Mary’s School The Saint Mary’s School Board of Trustees has embarked on the important work of developing an updated strategic plan for the school. Informed by the school’s mission and designed to ensure long-term sustainability of the school, the new strategic plan will serve as a road map of sorts, for the next three to five years. The plan will identify priorities for the institution and will allow for thoughtful and informed decision making in the allocation of resources school-wide. Last spring, the Board of Trustees appointed Gloria Taft Becker ’92HS to lead a Strategic Planning Committee of 26 members. Comprised of trustees, the Institutional Leadership Team, parents, alumnae and students, the committee began work on the strategic plan in the early fall of 2014. Under the direction of Patrick Bassett, senior consultant with Heads Up Educational Consulting and former president of the National Association of Independent Schools, the Strategic Planning Committee gathered in November for three days of focus groups, information gathering and review. Small groups of parents, alumnae, students, faculty, staff and school leaders, met with Mr. Bassett to share input about Saint Mary’s School and learn more about independent school trends nationwide. Results of recent surveys conducted by Saint Mary’s School (including the Southern Association of Independent Schools parent survey, the Employee Engagement survey from the Society of Human Resource Management, School Climate survey, all given during the 2013-14 school year, as well as the High School Student Engagement survey given this fall) were reviewed and discussed in the context of focus group feedback and national trends. This open-ended process allowed the Strategic Planning Committee to ask generative questions and identify emerging priorities for the school, which, in turn will help inform the focus of the strategic plan.
In mid-December, the Strategic Planning Committee again spent three days on campus working with Bassett to further winnow down the priorities emerging through this process and review them in a wider, national-trends framework. As part of this work, Bassett presented “Schools of the Future: The Big Shifts,” in Pittman Auditorium on December 18, to an audience of the committee, trustees, faculty, staff, and parents. The presentation was also live-streamed for the information of everyone in the Saint Mary’s community. Following the presentation, faculty and staff met in small groups across campus to discuss the presentation and what the Saint Mary’s “school of the future” might look like. In addition, on December 19, students, alumnae, parents faculty, staff and trustees, were emailed an online survey asking them to rank the top school trends in order of importance to Saint Mary’s School, which results will help inform the committee in their planning. This information will be reviewed and processed by the Strategic Planning Committee when it again gathers in January 2015 to begin the thoughtful and intensive work of drafting a strategic plan. This plan will represent hours and months of work, thoughtful deliberation and meaningful discussion. It will reflect data-rich analysis and a national context. Most importantly, this plan will be informed by Saint Mary’s enduring mission to prepare girls, not only for college, but for lives of purpose and meaning. This plan will be presented to the school’s Board of Trustees for review and discussion at the February 2015 Board meeting. Laura Novia, Director of Marketing and Communications
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MILESTONES
IN MEMORIAM Athelia Whitaker Johnson Green ’33C, December 6, 2014
Elizabeth Hackney Baskervill Williams ’43C, October 15, 2014
Kathryn Dena Moore ’50C, October 22, 2014
Alice Cheshire Haywood ’34HS ’36C, November 2, 2014
Margaret Rodwell King ’43HS ’45C, August 31, 2014
Helen Young Pierce ’50C, September 6, 2014
Elizabeth Robertson Stoker ’34C, September 21, 2014
Lena Grantham Overman ’44C, August 31, 2014
Anne Rixey Ruffin ’51C, September 17, 2013
Hazel Pendleton Dixon ’35C, October 30, 2014
Pauline Blanton Rasberry ’44C, August 31, 2014
Jean McGhee Russell ’51C, November 7, 2014
Louise Walker Adams ’37C, August 4, 2014
Virginia Hart Reid ’44C, September 12, 2014
Anna Redding Pitt ’50HS ’52C, former trustee, July 23, 2014
Margaret Bellamy Alexius ’37C, November 10, 2014
Virginia Wilson Crawford ’45C, September 21, 2014
Hazel Herring Harvey ’52HS, December 5, 2013
Barbara Davis Hunter ’38C, October 30, 2014
Jean Johnston Kirkman ’45HS, June 6, 2014
Mary Fuller DeBerry ’52C, October 26, 2014
Margaret Bevilaqua Kitterman ’39C, June 13, 2014
Betty Lee Lokey ’46HS ’48C, October 2014
Mary Stuart McKee Langston Pope ’52C, April 28, 2014
Julia Tatum Bridger Cox ’40HS, October 27, 2014
Roberta Bryant Dunn ’46C, October 16, 2014
Irene Emory Blackwell ’54C, July 25, 2014
Janet Teller James Lindsey Petris ’40HS, August 20, 2014
Nancy McEachern Neal ’47HS, July 13, 2014
Elizabeth Mebane Dowd ’57HS, September 14, 2014
Mary O’Keefe Miller ’40C, September 9, 2014
Elizabeth Martin Foreman ’47HS ’49C, August 7, 2014
Camilla Rodman Moore ’57C, July 25, 2014
Rachel Edwards Taylor ’40C, November 21, 2014
Katherine Clark Hare ’47C, August 8, 2014
Susan Wise Harris ’62C, July 8, 2014
Bertha Cochran Wright ’40C, July 31, 2014
Zelita Newman Smith ’47C, June 29, 2014
Elizabeth Chambers Garrett ’64C, August 14, 2014
Ann Baker Beale ’41HS, July 2014
Barbara “B.J.” Schumacher James ’48HS, June 14, 2014
Jane Patrick Stuchell ’67C, September 28, 2013
Polly Dore Korner Donnell Wolfe ’41HS, November 4, 2014
Anna Garrison Smith ’48HS ’50C, March 13, 2014
Mary Page Thurmond Pettyjohn ’68C, November 5, 2014
Marian Jacob Britt ’41C, June 21, 2014
Virginia Leland Jones ’48C, October 12, 2014
Pat Pollard Schroeder ’71C, September 21, 2014
Leila Morrison Haw ’41C, September 10, 2014
Elisabeth Burns Nimocks ’48C, August 26, 2014
Beth Anne Brooke McCray ’72HS, November 26, 2014
Margieanne Gregory Suhling ’42HS, July 15, 2014
Edith Redwood Cook ’49C, September 2014
Lisa Barringer Nichols ’79HS, August 28, 2014
Lucille Smith Parsutt ’42C, August 23, 2013
Ann Shuford Idol ’50C, October 25, 2014
Katherine Ives Thompson ’85HS ’87C, October 22, 2014
Hilah White Armstrong Dorsey ’43C, October 2, 2014
Nancy Sue Burdette Jones ’50C, December 4, 2014
Carlyle Herbert Dorroh ’90HS, July 27, 2014
Virginia Page Max ’49C, November 5, 2014
Betty Ann Haley Coble, former bookstore staff, July 31, 2014
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MARRIAGES Patsy Daniels ’51HS ’53C to Jim Lindley, June 7, 2014 Martha Anne Marsh Sigmon ’79HS ’81C to Cornelius Trawick McDonald III, November 29, 2014 Karen Edmundson ’96C to Adam Dann, October 5, 2014 Jeanne Jolly ’97HS to Todd McLean, October 11, 2014 Hallie Sessoms ’02 to Ralph Griffin Kennedy, October 25, 2014 Laura Hill ’03 to Field Dunaway, September 20, 2014 Caroline McClintic ’05 to Gary Flannery, September 6, 2014 *Dorothy Matteson ’04 to Jason Pierce, April 12, 2014 Courtney Holmes ’06 to Will Mann, August 23, 2014 Hannah Kate Mitchell ’06 married John Bennett McWilliams, November 8, 2014 Leigh Tyndall ’07 to Samuel David Snow, October 4, 2014 Sidney Dawson ’08 to Christopher Glenn Blow Dozier, June 21, 2014 Roslyn Ragsdale ’08 to Max Manning, July 14, 2014 Lauren Worthy ’08 to Taylor Barker, December 13, 2014 Jessie Finch ’09 to Ryan Weaver, July 6, 2014 *Married in the Saint Mary’s Chapel
Saint Mary’s friends at the wedding reception for Meredith Bell Hughes ’00 to Daniel Hughes, May 18, 2014, from left to right, Anna Burkhart Turner ’00, Kathleen Kelly ’00, Megan Cox Gonzalez ’00, Meredith Bell Hughes ’00 and Michelle Malecha ’00, also celebrating a new daughter on the way for Megan.
NEW BABIES Jennie Minges Hobbs ’91HS ’93C, a son, September 9, 2014
Milly Weathersbee Asbury ’03, a son, December 4, 2014
Catherine Hair DeBellis ’92HS ’94C, a daughter, November 5, 2014
Shea Vause Gravely ’03, a son, September 3, 2014
Anna Dale Bazemore ’00, a son, September 25, 2014
Elly Wilkins Johnson ’03, a son, September 23, 2014
Katherine Kemp Robbins ’00, a daughter, June 21, 2013
Kate Yandell Reece ’03, a daughter, October 30, 2014
Jamie Miller Brown ’00, a son, December 2014
Lindsay Alexander Strickland ’03, a daughter, September 15, 2014
Elizabeth Andrews Pryor ’01, a daughter, September 7, 2014
Casey Johnston Winslow ’05, a daughter, December 2014
Katherine Rose Williams ’01, a son, November 28, 2014
Paige Nelson Grimball ’06, a daughter, September 22, 2014
Cottie Barber Williams ’02, a son, May 8, 2014
Helen Johnson Mao ’07, a son, August 18, 2014
Dorothy Matteson ’04 married Jason Pierce April 12, 2014, in the Saint Mary’s Chapel.
These milestones were compiled based on information received by the school by December 16, 2014. Every effort is made to include everyone for whom we have official confirmation by press time. If we missed you or your loved one, please send an official announcement to mvswain@sms.edu, or mail to Mary Virginia Swain ’77C, Saint Mary’s School, 900 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27603, for inclusion in the summer 2015 magazine.
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CLASS news Class News
College
It’s all here – the latest and greatest news from alumnae in even-year classes. Saint Mary’s extends a special thanks to the dedicated class secretaries who compiled and crafted these class newsletters, many who have served for decades.
Bertha Cochran Wright of Lexington, Ky., passed away on July 31, 2014. She was the widow of Warren Wright, Jr. She is survived by her children, Lucille Drinkwater, Courtenay Lancaster, Warren Wright III and Thomas C. Wright; a sister; and nine grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grand-children.
Odd-year classes will be featured in the summer 2015 magazine. Alumnae in these classes will receive information to facilitate the reporting of news to class secretaries or directly to the school.
1940
Class News Policies Due to the uncertain nature of certain types of news, Saint Mary’s does not publish news of wedding engagements or pregnancies. We publish news of marriages, births, adoptions or deaths, based on published news reports or direct phone or email contact with the Alumnae Office from the parties or immediate families. Please remember to include Saint Mary’s in your wedding announcement in the newspaper and please send birth announcements to the Alumnae Office for inclusion in the milestones section. Saint Mary’s Class Notes are published for each class once each year. Due to the extended nature of the production schedule for the magazine, class news is meant to be a once-a-year general update of your news for the previous year. We cannot guarantee the exact timeliness of your news, so please keep our advance deadlines in mind when submitting news. Saint Mary’s School reserves the right to edit class news for content, length and timeliness. Photographs may be submitted for consideration for the class news to mvswain@sms.edu or Mary Virginia Swain ’77C, 900 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27603. Photos must be highquality prints or digital .jpeg photo files of at least 300 dpi. Group shots should include Saint Mary’s alumnae (and spouses and children) only and must include a detailed listing of everyone pictured, including full names and class years.
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1940
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High School Catherine Gant Powell lives in Washington, N.C., and writes of her recent visit with her sister Erwin Gant Burhoe ’38HS ’40C in Asheville. “We both dote on our grands,” says Catherine. “Ten for Erwin and four for me!”
1944 College
Mary Lynn Lewis DeLany Dear Ladies of 1944: As usual, my first postcard came from Rebecca Drane Warren, and then came Charlotte Crawford Arrendell. Thankfully, they are staying put, still at their old haunts: Rebecca at Carol Woods and Charlotte in Black Mountain. Rebecca sees Sara Stockton Hill occasionally – good to hear about her as well. Charlotte and C.W. like Highland Farms there in Black Mountain – they have been there many years. These are my old “stand-bys.” Hannah Lyon Dawson attended commencement exercises at Saint Mary’s last year, when her daughter Hannah Dawson Gage ’71HS ’73C was the featured commencement speaker. “It was in the Grove, and everything was beautiful,” reports Hannah. Her last grandchild has graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill, so for the first time in years, she has no students. She has not been traveling lately but enjoys hearing about the travels of her children and grandchildren. She now has two great-grandchildren. Carol Talbot lives in Williamsburg, Va., but travels to Edenton to see Rebecca and others, cousins and all. Still the same lovely Eastern Carolina town. Ruth Moore Glass is still in her Eastern Carolina town with Johnny B. Their daughter has moved back to town. Their granddaughter is planning a big event in NYC in June, and thanks to technology, they will see it on iPhone. My two reunion buddies wrote – Bettie Gaither Stokes still loves River Landing in Climax, playing golf and holding her own with 25 younger players! Way to go, Bettie! She still plays bridge and may begin duplicate later. Mary Pierce Johnson White says she did so enjoy our 70th reunion last April, and we did so enjoy seeing her! She has been living at Croasdaile Village in Durham for 6½ years, partaking of all it offers. Just like here at Twin Lakes, never a dull moment. After our lovely reunion in April, we
can now look forward to April each year – do not have to wait another five years to get all those good hugs. In searching for a name in my annual, I was struck by a curiosity. Did you realize that in our class there are 28 of us with the first name “Mary?” We are indeed girls of the South – ready for it? Mary- Juanita Anderson, - Fox Clarke, -Ethel Coons, -Faith Craig, -Virginia Freeman, -Patricia Gwyn, -Virginia Hart, -Tom Gilman, -Adams Hough, -Pierce Johnson, -Lynn Lewis, - Margaret Mahon, - Louise (Chinkie) Martin, -West Paul, - Hodges Person, -Ann Price, -Darden Quinerly, -Faith Rogers, -Foster Sowell, -Elizabeth (Betsy) Blount, -Lois Franks, -Charles Godwin, -Edith Justice, -Louise Parker, - Betty Suiter, - Lib Jones, -Helen Terry, -Helen Wilson. Have I covered everything? Any more oddities? I am still here at TLC, where I belong. I am right between my two beautiful daughters – Lynn Johnson Titchener ’73C in Raleigh and Carter Johnson Overton ’76C in Greensboro and DeBordieu, S.C. My four grands are just that – GRAND, on their way, on their own. Winnie is at Biltmore House; Liza is in promotions; Marshall is in real estate; and Lewis is a medical intern at UNC Hospital. Okay, ladies, again I say, start packing for next April; line up your rides; the hotels can wait a bit. We do get better with age. Much love
1944
High School Olive Camp Johnson writes from Aberdeen. She enjoyed seeing alumnae she knew at her reunion last spring, although she was the only member of the high school Class of 1944 to attend. Her cousin and classmate Frances Marks Parker is living in a wonderful retirement community near Figure Eight Island. Olive spent the summer at her lake house, about 20 minutes from her home. “Sometimes the house was full, and then at times it was quiet—very pleasant. I now have one adorable great-grandson in Washington,
two greats in Raleigh, two greats in Atlanta and five others by marriage. I love it.”
1946 College
Dabney Little McElroy '46C Margo Martin Young writes from Clinton, S.C., “It’s been good year and I have enjoyed more time at Pawley’s Island. I had a great visit with ‘Stelle’ in August, when I went to Burlington. She has an apartment at Brookwood Village. Stelle looks great and she and Jim are doing well. She always catches me up on all the Saint Mary’s news and we had fun going through the annual.” Margo reports that her whole family gathered in October for “Mimi’s reunion.” All three of her children live close by, so she feels truly blessed. Mary Billings Babcock writes from Valpariso, Ind., to say that all of their grandchildren are grown and “off doing their things.” She and Dick enjoy their phone calls and visits when they are in town. She received a lovely gift from her church commemorating 40 years on the organ bench! “I have so many pleasant memories of my two years at Saint Mary’s, even though our country was still at war when I was a freshman. I think we all felt loved and cared for.”
1948 College
Lenoir Williams Tucker writes from Black Mountain, “I have been happily living at Givins Highland Farms retirement home in Black Mountain for 11 years, and we have been able to keep our Montreat home for family gatherings. I have learned to age with macular degeneration for nine years. My years at Saint Mary’s were special.” Rose Potter Garvey reports that she and Alfred are still in their house in Greensboro. They have a granddaughter at Saint Mary’s, and she loves it! Emmy Garvey ’15 is a day student from Raleigh.
1950 College
Bettie Ray McCain '50C Dear Classmates, thank you for your letters and for your continued devotion to Saint Mary's. Anne Cahoon Stratton writes that she and Jack are great grandparents three times over, and a fourth is on the way! She may hold the class record! Patty Starr Willis writes that she is enjoying life with her husband Rex, two sons, five grands in New Bern and one in Wilmington. She still enjoys tennis, bridge, church, bible study and reading! She sends love to our class. In the last few years we have lost several classmates including Rosalie Huske Kelly and Gloria Farnell Cowan. In addition, two of our beloved classmates have lost their husbands, Frankie Strosnider DuBose and Olivia Lynch Hardin's husbands passed away within the last year. Please drop them a note if you have a chance. And please let me or Saint Mary's know of any other losses. I was lucky enough to have lunch recently with Luke Hill Page and Aurelia Fulton Stafford. Both are doing well, but Luke has had to stop driving because of glaucoma, and Aurelia can't hike as much as she would like because of back issues. Thank you all for what you are still doing to make this a better world, and please know that our beloved Saint Mary's is doing well thanks to your efforts. Much love, Bettie Ray McCain
1952 College
Nancy Dawson Rascoe writes from Hertford, “Our two oldest grandsons, Raggs and Hunter Rascoe, are married and live in Wilson. Raggs and Briley Johnson were married in June 2013, and Hunter and Betsy Peters were married in April 2014! Raggs and Briley have a precious little boy, Braxton Bragg Dawson Rascoe III, born August 12, 2014, and we call him ‘Briar!’ Our two oldest granddaughters are
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CLASS news happily settled in at Saint Mary’s. We are so very proud of them! Lucy Mae Rascoe ’15 is a senior, and Katie Rascoe ’17 is a sophomore. Both of them play varsity field hockey for SMS, and I believe that they study very hard!” Nancy’s younger grandchildren are Nixon Rascoe (14), who plays football, basketball and baseball at Lawrence Academy and Joyner Rascoe (11), who is playing tennis and basketball. Nancy’s sons Peter, Dawson and Fen, as well as their wives, “are all very good to me and are wonderful parents! I am so very grateful! My fervent prayer is that they each one know, love and honor our lord Jesus!”
1952
High School Jean Groves Dixon ’52 is living in Belmont, N.C.
1954 College
I was sorry that only three of you responded this year. I also hated to miss our big reunion in the spring, but was ailing and even had to miss our granddaughter's graduation from Brevard College the first weekend of May. I really enjoyed seeing the picture of all of you who made it and wish I could have been there with you. Pat Perry Moser keeps up with me via email and she was so good about telling me all the good news of our reunion. Pat told me that she stayed in a suite with Carolyn Baldridge Creech that Abbot Henderson Howard's daughter had arranged. She said that after the cocktail party most of the gals went to dinner in a restaurant private dining room that the local Raleigh gals arranged. Alma Weston Green's husband joined them. The next night they went to Alma's lovely home for cocktails and dinner. The weather was apparently perfect. She was so happy that the "regulars" showed up
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and wished more of us could have been with them. Pat says she is still hanging in there, dealing with multiple myeloma. She says she had a melanoma removed from her shoulder and the tests showed no metastases, but was having further tests and treatment. Abbott Henderson Howard told me that her daughter, Ann Howard Foster ’79C had her reunion, too. Abbot said she visited her daughter in Tulsa, Okla., in July. Abbot also said some of the 13 who were at the reunion she had not seen in 60 years. Sally Shapard Hill wrote that she, too, loved seeing everyone at the reunion. She said that it had been a busy year for her – two grandchildren graduated from high school, now in college, and two more that will graduate from high school in June 2015. This year she took a trip on the "Queen of the West" for the Lewis and Clark expedition and then went on to Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse. She has a trip planned on the ship "Independence" to do the Chesapeake Bay. She says that, like most of us, she turned a young 80 this year and is having a great time. Henry and I live in our Florida home most of the year now, but go back to North Carolina for Thanksgiving and Christmas and then for the months of June, July and August. We have had some health issues and have wonderful doctors here. Our oldest granddaughter is in her third year of medical school here in Florida and just a few hours away. We don't see her much, but she knows we're here if she needs us. She is doing her rotations at St. Petersburg General Hospital this year and is kept quite busy. As I said at the beginning of this letter, our next granddaughter graduated from Brevard College in May and is working in Charlotte now. Our youngest grandchild (male) is a senior in high school and is busy with college applications at present. He has been on an Odyssey of the Minds team all the way through junior and senior high and his team won second place in the world in his division. We are so proud of him. First place went to a team from Singapore. We aren't getting younger, and I really wish more of you would respond when Saint Mary's sends out the letters.
1954
High School Ruth Watkins Barber recalls the class reunion last spring: “It was so special for Reba White Williams to give a beautiful and delicious luncheon at the Carolina Country Club for everyone who could come. It was fun sharing stories about our classmates—some funny and some sad! Several classmates had dinner together at Glenwood Grill. The chapel service was beautiful and always special. Several classmates continued on to Nags Head for more fun! We all are thankful for the friendships formed at Saint Mary’s and continuing into our ‘golden years!’” Mott Butler Goff adds, “The Class of 1954HS had a great time at our reunion. Many old friends returned!” Reba White Williams writes from New York City, “My big news is that I have three books, ‘Restrike,’ ‘Fatal Impressions,’ and ‘Angels,’ out in the marketplace; a fourth is finished and in the hands of my publisher. All are part of the series featuring Coleman and Dinah Greene. ‘Angels’ is about them when they are young.”
1956 College
Martha Brooks Bricio '54HS '56C Well, it's news time again, and we don't seem to be winding down very much. And, since we seem to be doing so well, remember that in April of 2016 we'll have a chance to get together for our 60th reunion! Put that on your “Distant Early Warning System!” I went to two 60th high school reunions last spring—one at Saint Mary's, plus my Kinston high school, and seeing friends from our salad days is truly special. Nevertheless, our time of life means loss, too. Since last year's letter we have lost three classmates: Sumner Parham Broughton in March, Kathleen
SAINT MARY'S REMEMBERS Hartsock Lilly in April, and Valentine McMillan Armstrong in May. We extend our sympathy to their families. Betty Mixon Daughtry is often the first to send in her news despite being busy as ever. She says she and Gerald are "doing great," and are involved with church activities, grandchildren's ballet performances and football and basketball games, as well as both Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. They also make time to visit a daughter who lives at Wrightsville Beach. Susan Patman Day has moved back to Raleigh after 13 years in Wilmington. She has resumed playing duplicate bridge and is busy with her artwork. She has also has taken up "pickle ball" with a passion. And she's happy to be back near her daughter and grandchildren. Pearla Ann Revelle Lowe writes that she loves living at the Cypress in North Raleigh. She says she misses the warm weather of Florida, but that the Cypress has been everything good for her and her family: she enjoys watching the grandkids play sports! Another duplicate bridge player, Helen Walker Webb, has earned 19 master points: 421 more to go! She also says her grandson (8) spent the summer trying to teach her how to catch a baseball. No real news, she says – and then mentions that she went zip lining in May! And has the photos to prove it! Mary Louise Bizzell Burress is, as always, quick to point out what a great school Saint Mary's has become. She sends her thanks to all who have worked so hard to strengthen our school. She also sent a photo of John and herself in front of St. Basil's in Moscow. In addition to the trip to Russia they also went to Chatauqua in August. "Both great," she says. She and John also love seeing Ruth Watkins Barber and Margaret Brunson Hill whenever they can. She had a visit with Coleman Jenkins Dance '55HS '57C at Saint Mary's School. Mary Louise says the loves seeing her special Saint Mary's friends and looks forward to seeing more of these friends in the coming year. Nancy Mallon Towe's news is that
after "five years and nine months on the market, my house has sold, and I will be moving to Colorado the second week of December. My daughter, son-in-law and younger grandson live there, and, as it seems most 'old' folks eventually do, I'm moving near my children. And no, I don't mind the cold and the snow." Nancy's other news is the birth of her first great-grandchild, a little girl named Hannah. Nancy's sad news is that her grandson, Hannah's dad, has been diagnosed with MS. Martha Williford Zollicoffer reports that she and John are fine. They enjoyed a wonderful trip to Normandy, and John is becoming "of counsel" in his law practice, so maybe they'll be able to travel more! Mott Butler Goff sent news for the '54HS letter but also wonders, "Why do I stay so busy? Ten grandchildren and a small town will do that to you!" Finally, it was wonderful to reconnect with Ann Dorris Garvin. I saw her at Reba White Williams's luncheon for the '54HS Saint Mary's graduates, and Ann also sent a newsy letter full of good things about her children, grandchildren and the birth of her third great grandchild! Most of them live in Atlanta or South Carolina, as does Ann. She writes, "I am mostly retired from being financial administrator at a large Baptist church. Still love to read, walk in the woods, go to the mountains and do scrapbooking. I have a Shih Tzu named Molly, who is adorable, bossy and loving. God is good, and I get better every day. To Him goes the glory and my gratitude for being with me and guiding me through the struggles of life." That's a good note to close on. Thanks so very much to all who sent news, and here's hoping everybody is well and that we'll all get together soon! Love, Martha
Anna Redding Pitt ’50HS ’52C, former trustee Anna Redding Pitt ’50HS ’52C, former twoterm trustee, died July 23, 2014. Anna stood out as a loyal and supportive alumna, serving the school throughout her lifetime in many important ways. Anna was born April 5, 1932, on Long Island and lived in New York until she arrived as a student at Saint Mary’s in 1948. Anna celebrated her 60th anniversary with husband Howard Pitt, June 12, just five weeks prior to her death. The Pitts have four children: Susan Pitt Herring ’75C, Mariah Pitt Waltemyer ’79C (husband Mike), Mary Howard Pitt Lassiter ’81C (husband Jack) and Bill Pitt. Anna and Howard were blessed with six grandchildren: Patrick Herring, Susanne Herring, Stuart Cochrane, William Pitt, Ann-Hollis Pitt and Ingram Pitt. Anna’s Saint Mary’s family connections extend to sisterin-law Cammille Grice Redding ’55HS ’57C, also a former trustee; and nieces, Cammie Redding Duncan ’84C and Anna Redding Gilbert ’86C. Anna served Saint Mary’s with distinction as a two-term trustee from 1990-1998, a class gift agent, a member of the Heritage Society, an Alumna Council member and a regional and reunion host. She was awarded the 2005 Mazie Strickland Froelich ’51C Outstanding Alumna Award. She was a member of the Heritage Society, leaving Saint Mary’s School a significant gift upon her death through a planned gift of a life insurance policy. She was also involved with the Junior League of Charlotte, the Charlotte Assembly, the board of governors of the Blowing Rock Country Club, was a voracious reader and enjoyed travel, bridge and writing. Saint Mary’s is fortunate to have many wonderful and supportive alumnae, and Anna Redding Pitt surely stands out as one of the most devoted to her alma mater.
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CLASS news
1958 College
Barbara Hauser Bryan '58C Super glad to hear from so many, despite some sad news. Dot Ricks Lind lost her husband, Tom, in the fall of 2013 and broke her hip in the spring of that year. "Life is getting better now," she writes. From Jessie Allen Ogburn, "It is a sad, sad note to tell you that my darling husband, Tom Ogburn, died on Sept 20, peacefully. He was one of the most wonderful men I have ever known, and he will be missed by many people who loved him." After a shorter than usual summer at her cottage on Lake Michigan, Carole Barber Fauth enjoyed a busy autumn in Charlottesville, Va., before heading to Key West for the winter. Son Carson lives in Charlottesville, so she's seen lots of his four children. "In spring (2014) I had a nice visit from 'Hauser' and her beau Ken." Carole is the perfect hostess of her Truman Annex compound. Helen London Hill wrote from Columbia that their seven "great, beautiful, handsome grandchildren" love to visit them at Kiawah where they enjoyed Thanksgiving together. Dickie Robinson Tyler is enjoying her "fourth quarter" in Edenton. Son Dawson and wife Claire Spruill Tyler ’01 live blocks away. Dickie's sister Boo Robinson Beasley ’54HS lives nearby. Lots of old and new friends in the area. Dickie joined Jenny Whitehurst Hawkins ’56HS '58C in New York for bridge classes and visited Nellie Holmes Ballou Smoot '59C in Wilson for golf and bridge. Great fun! She sees Saint Mary's grads often. Millie Fary Coleman reports thankfully that she and Tom, three children and five grandchildren are well, and she looks forward to our next class reunion. Peggy Hamme Youngblood's adult family members live away from Florence, S.C., in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Greenville, S.C. She has four grandchildren in college, one graduate in Japan, a freshman in high
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school and one high school senior. Sue Sandlin-Plaehn continues her work as a financial advisor in Raleigh, where she frequently sees her daughters and four Bowman grandchildren. The 14-year-old attends the new science and math magnet at Research Triangle Park, and she hopes the twins (10) will head for Saint Mary's. Sue plans to travel to Prague, Budapest, Warsaw and Krakow for her 77th birthday. She visited Jenny Proctor Schwoebel '57C in New Bern, both voice majors with Miss Cate in the late 1950s. Judy Scott Sanders pens that children and grandchildren are happy in South Carolina: Scott in Mt. Pleasant and Cathy at Pawley's Island. Cathy's daughter Sara is a junior architecture student at Clemson University, headed for study in Italy in 2015. Judy and Cathy plan to visit. Judy still plays bridge with Nancy Coston Barwick and paints on Thursdays with Coleman Jenkins Dance. Husband Phil still works part time and recently was interviewed for “Dental Town” magazine. We would love to hear more of Judy's communications with classmates Sally Royle Hardy and Catherine Rakestraw. On site Saint Mary's news from Mary-Hannah Finch Taft, who attended the induction of two granddaughters into the Granddaughters Club. Rachel Cecil ’15 is now a senior boarding student from Charlotte and Mary Hannah Sigmon ’17 is a sophomore day student. Lou Grady Johnson Johanson is very involved in creating a new museum for Raleigh and the state - the Gregg Museum of Art and Design at N.C. State University. Lou had a good visit with Dickie, Bill and Betsy Brinkley Amis ’57C from Pittsburgh, and Tom and Janie Stronach Wood '62HS '64C at Nags Head and in Edenton. Emeline Elmore Keith and H. L. are enjoying their retirements: a quarter-century for her as a real estate broker and a half century of general dentistry practice for him. Son Lon now has that practice. Lon's wife Sandi teaches at Cape Fear Community College. Son
Brandon and wife Cathy have the Keith's grandchildren, Samantha (8) and Ben (6), and live in Annapolis, Md., where Brandon sells robotic systems for spine and brain surgeries to hospitals. Virginia (Ginger) Vann King advises that downsizing and moving at age 75 are not for the faint of heart. Their house sold so quickly there was little time for packing and cleaning, but they remain in Durham. It may be chaotic, but congrats to you both. Dorothy Overbeck Guggenheimer and daughter Dorothy Guggenheimer Bridger ’85C enjoyed the summer alumnae event in Wilmington. Our classmate especially enjoyed catching up with Kit Tiedeman Mason who's moved back to Wilmington with son Will and is reconnecting with so many. We made catching up easier for many with a summer lunch get together inspired by a Wilmington visit to son Andy and wife by Florence McGowan Turner. Planning for it began in March 2014, when Ken and "Barbie" (moi) visited Florence and Bob in West Palm Beach, returning from visiting Carole in Key West. So many exchanges between and among Emeline, Annie Gray Calhoun Lane, Susan Hardin Flynn, Brooks Newton Preik (she and Kit sharing stories from old Southport), Peggy Withers Allen and scribe Barbara Hauser Bryan. And speaking of Annie Gray Calhoun Lane, her news came at deadline and mentioned our summer mini-reunion, a fun, four nights in NYC with Jenny (shows, 9/11 museum, shopping and good food) and the debut of her granddaughter Annie Gray Dixon in Raleigh, where she knew many other grandmothers. She and Charlie keep moving with their new shelter dog, a Jack Russell terrier named for Harry Truman. Among others we connected with – classmates possibly in the Wilmington area last summer, ones we hoped could join us – were Ann Rountree Lineweaver, Jessie, Sara Barber Weatherman, Carol Crumpler Verrone and Becky Walters Taylor. News of Becky was encouraging
after her too-long stretch of rough health. Recovering from a stroke a couple of years ago, she fractured her hip in a fall but has fought back to driving to the grocery store. Health and happy times with old and new friends, doing my own yard work and pretty much whatever needs to be done along with blood drive, Friends of the Organ activities at church – all overfill my days. Eason and family moved to Fayetteville; Russ remains busily the primary parent for Kol and Lydia in Wilmington and oversees ZipQuest. com; Callan, Nicole and the kids love their RV trips of which I post pics on Facebook. Love and best to all. Barbara
1960 College
Peggy Pegues Kinney ’60C Mark your calendars in red! It's our 55th reunion this spring, so please note the new date of April 24-25, a bit earlier than the traditional first weekend in May. Plan to come and see longtime friends! It's disappointing that few of you will take time to send in a bit of news of you and of classmates you are close to. Please email, call or write me of events in your life and others beloved to all of us so I can share it. Last news, as of May '14, was that Ann Smiley Gillman was bravely battling illness and also endured some 20 inches of rain during a storm in Florida. Jane Teague Allred in Little Rock, Ark., writes that since retiring 10 years ago, her new career as rental owner of about 30 houses of the WWII era has been fun, and she's learned lots about electricity, plumbing and carpentry. What works and more importantly what doesn't! Oldest granddaughter has graduated from high school and the rest are eighth-, sixth-, and fifth-graders, all in Little Rock where she can see them regularly. She's playing tennis again after back surgery in early 2014 and planning a trip to France in 2015. News from Judy Crippen Armstrong: between
Rod and her there are eight grandchildren. One of her granddaughters married last year and two others are at N.C. State. Her daughter's three children (9, 7 and 3) live in the Atlanta area. Husband Rod's two children live in New Jersey. She's hoping to come to our reunion! It's always fun to see Rebecca Hines Sherrill's photo holiday letter. "Becca" has a grandkids camp to die for. She and John are having a wonderful time tripping about to London and the Wimberton with family and a trip West including a pic from the Grand Canyon. It's always great to hear from Nancy Siegling Fortiere of Sullivan’s Island, S.C. She and Dave spend the summer in the Chesapeake Bay area and connect with Blanche Bonner Stevens of Greensboro at their retirement home in that area. Nancy was quoted in a Charleston “Post and Courier” article about protesting coyotes on their beachfront property. Yikes! Many of us have been fortunate in the past couple of years to celebrate 50th wedding anniversaries. Bill and I celebrated our 50th in March with a short trip to Florida to visit cousins and warm up in Key West, and in the fall we enjoyed a great cruise in the Adriatic Sea visiting Croatia, Montenegro, Greece and Italy. See you at the reunion!
1960
HIGH SCHOOL Dabney Johnson Mann and her husband, Tift, moved to Wilmington following his retirement two years ago. They also spend a good deal of time at their home in Sun Valley, Idaho. Their son Billy lives in Sun Valley. Their daughter Dabney Mann Hollis ’83HS ’85C lives in Atlanta.
1962 College
Mary Larsen Jordan '62C Lynn Boyce Purdie-Brennan writes that she is having such fun with her granddaughter, Emma Purdie ’17, who is a 10th-grade boarding student at Saint Mary’s. Together they are enjoying the Granddaughters Club of Saint Mary’s. Lynn is also a new member of the Saint Mary’s Alumnae Council. She says that Saint Mary’s is doing great things and she asks that we all consider raising our pledges and to please donate an item to the auction in March. Dabney Johnson Mann writes that she has moved to Wilmington. Her husband, Tift, retired two years ago. They spend winters and summers in Sun Valley, Idaho. Their son Billy lives in Sun Valley, and their daughter Dabney Mann Hollis ’83HS ’85C lives in Atlanta. Her daughter and family travel to Wilmington and Sun Valley so they all can visit. Dabney says, “Life is good.” Shelia Hannah Duggan still lives in Atlanta where she grew up. She has retired from teaching. Her husband has returned to his avocation of boat building. He builds what she calls the perfect grandma boat, a 16-foot wooden electric boat. Sounded like fun to me! Shelia likes to float in the boat on the water while listening to a CD. Shelia talks with Tot Hofler Williams, her Saint Mary’s roommate, and to Ann Neimeyer Williamson and they all reminisce. What fun that must be for all three of them! Marty Watkins Prevost writes that she is still in the real estate business, trying to pump the market back up. She saw Dorothy Rosemond Christian and says that Dorothy has not changed a bit! As for me, Mary Larsen Jordan, my life has changed drastically. I had to place my wonderful husband, Peter, in a care facility for those with Alzheimer’s disease this past July. Needless to say, it was a devastating experience for me and our boys, as well as
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CLASS news for my husband. It is very lonely to once again live alone after almost 40 years of married life. However, with the love and support of my family, dear friends and darling grandchildren, I have managed to survive and deal with this enormous change to my life. I thank God for my four-yearold twin grandsons who are so much fun and a breath of fresh air for all of us. It is always good to hear from those of you who respond for our newsletter. I thank you for doing so again this year. Hopefully, I’ll hear from more of you next time. Take care yourselves and stay well. Mary
1962 1964
HIGH SCHOOL College
Janie Stronach Wood ’62HS ’64C Our 50th reunion for the College Class of 1964 was such a fun and memorable time. Our thanks go to Margaret McGlohon ’81C, our alumnae secretary, who coordinated a cocktail party on Friday evening and a luncheon on Saturday at Saint Mary's. Martha Weeks Daniel '64C and Clare Garden Maddison '64C helped in planning another extremely enjoyable get together on Saturday night at the Renaissance Hotel in North Hills and Midtown restaurant, where we loved not only catching up with each other’s news, but also reminiscing about our school days at Saint Mary's! Martha writes, “Are we REALLY THIS OLD NOW? We enjoyed seeing a lot of familiar faces but I was somewhat disappointed with the smallish turnout! I especially thank Clare Garden Maddison, Janie Stronach Wood and Marilyn Stadler Gideon for your great help with the reunion! We had a lot of fun and I was very impressed with look and feel of the Saint Mary's campus, the students, and meeting again new head of school Dr. Monica M. Gillespie.” Shortly
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after the reunion, Martha took a motherdaughter trip to Paris with her two daughters and they had a great time. One of those daughters, Sarah, is married to Clare and Larry Maddison's son, Bo, and they really enjoy sharing two grandchildren, Kate (6) and Beck (9). Sarah is an OBGYN in Raleigh. Other daughter Holley McArthur and her family live in Charlotte; she and husband Paul have three daughters, Charlotte (18), Sarah (16) and Mary Daniel (14). Martha adds, “The end of June, while rummaging through my pocketbook, I fell off a front porch stoop and broke three ribs and cracked my pelvis. OUCH! Only time would heal. It was pretty rough, so, ladies, do watch your step! This event tested the few threads of patience left by husband Curt after 48 years of living with me. I hated walking with a cane but it surely helped!” Martha still has a passion for doing documentary filmmaking and says that over the last 10 years it has taken her places she never would have expected. She is currently working on project called “Digging Up the Dead” and asks, “Did you know Western Carolina at Cullowhee has a body farm and an excellent Department of Forensic Anthropology? Think television show ‘Bones.’ Creepy but fascinating! We just returned from a trip up there and I keep getting whiffs of... something that smells... think it’s my...shoes!” Nancy Gray Baker '62HS '64C writes that she is working in an edible flower, herb and figs business. She has been to Cape Cod with Audubon friends and enjoyed becoming a birder. She also became fascinated with whales and seals, as well as wild fruits and vegetables. She states that she is a proud member of the “Wisdom and Endurance Club” (coined by a natural food store in Virginia Beach)! We can all be proud of this milestone! Marilyn Stadler Gideon '62HS, '64C writes the following. “Janie, I loved seeing you and the others at our reunion last April – what fun! I am down to one board now, The Red Cross. I am also involved in some church work; however, I spend a lot of my time
‘improving my bridge!’" Lola Kearney Hines '62HS '64C writes that she and her husband Bob moved in June from Pawley's Island, S.C., to Hendersonville. They are now within two hours of their two girls. “The grandchildren are with us almost weekly, and we have so much fun seeing them more often!” says Lola. Sharon Floyd Jones '64C has once again been tapped by the Bishop of Central Florida to be the executive director of the Episcopal Counseling Center. She and husband Don and enjoy grandchildren Alex (13) and Ashley (8) in Gainesville, Fla., and Hannah (10) and D.B. (7) in Jacksonville, Fla. They are looking forward to a Disney cruise with them! Ellen Scurry Reynolds '64C is enjoying her grandchild Emily, who is now three. Ellen is also volunteering at the hospital each week. She sees Anne Chamberlain Fowler '64C and says, "She is just as beautiful as she was in 1964." Elizabeth (Bet) Taylor Tricomi '64C has a new grandson, Samuel David Shiflett, born on March 14. Marion Purcell Whatley '62HS writes that she is retired now and living in Fletcher, close to the Asheville airport. She says, “I am engaged in a lot of reading; and I especially enjoy a course in ‘Miracles.’ Several months ago, I called Gretchen Craig Vandenburg ’62HS ’64C and enjoyed a long conversation with her. Sorry that I missed our 50th reunion, and I am hoping to come for a visit this year. Love to all!” Susan Carol Cook ’64C enjoys selling real estate and seeing her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter (2) in Raleigh on weekends. She thought our 50th reunion was a wonderful occasion and was thrilled to see that everyone looked just the same as she had remembered. She writes that she hopes that we can get together again before our next reunion! Susan Ehringhhaus ’62HS ’64C lives in Chapel Hill with husband Stuart Bondurant, dean emeritus of the UNC-Chapel Hill Medical School. She is busy traveling to and from Boston, where she is an adviser to the Bingham Children's Hospital on
medical ethics. Susan also teaches seminars at the UNC-Chapel Hill Law School. She and Jean Winborne Boyles ’62HS and Marguerite McKee Moss ’62HS enjoy catching up over coffee and lunch as often as possible. Jean Winborne Boyles ’62HS practices law in downtown Raleigh, where she is of counsel with the Johnson, Hearn Law firm. Jean is mainly involved with bankruptcy law, as well as administrative and health law. Her son Winborne lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has a son, Richard and a daughter, Helen. Jean’s son Benjamin is also married and is a dentist in Raleigh. Marguerite McKee Moss '62HS lives in Dallas, Texas, with husband Bob, and travels to and from Raleigh, where she was a wonderful caregiver to her mother, Lucille Aycock McKee, who passed away last year. Marguerite enjoys visiting daughters Lucille and Dorothy, who live in Washington, D.C., and New York. She also loves babysitting for her grandchildren. Susan Spangler Hendricks ’64C writes from South Carolina, “As a certified journal therapist and clinical social worker, I offer small groups teaching a variety of ways that writing can be a powerful tool for selfexploration. ‘Pilgrimage’ is my continuing passion – a topic I like to study and experience as often as possible. See more on my website www.susanhendricks. com<http://www.susanhendricks.com and sign up for my occasional blog messages.” Anne Scott Miles '62HS '64C lives in Raleigh and has been employed at Acquisitions, Ltd., (a high-end British antiques shop at Five Points) for almost 15 years. She and Joel have two children, Janie and Hart, who also live in Raleigh, and she loves spending time with the five grandchildren. Elizabeth Ponton Manning '64C and husband "Howdy" live in Raleigh, where he has been a Superior Court judge for a number of years. They enjoy their getaways to Oriental and to Charleston, S.C., where daughter Ana lives with husband Jamie and their son Manning, who is the "apple of their eyes." Son Howdy
lives nearby in Mount Pleasant. "Ibis" is an avid reader and an excellent bridge player and is often seen playing duplicate bridge. This past summer, Ibis and Howdy made a special trip to Nags Head to visit two of their favorite, longtime friends, Wood and Boo Robinson Beasley ’54HS. Our condolences go out to Elsie Ives Thompson '64C, who lost her mother, Katherine Thompson, last year after a long illness. Anne Edwards Barefoot '64C lives in Raleigh. She and husband Richard enjoy their trips to Atlantic Beach and love visits from their two sons: Richard and his family from Charlotte, and Bradford and his wife from Atlanta. Daughter Ashley lives in Raleigh. Anne is very involved in Bible study, as well as playing bridge and a game of canasta, on occasion. Clare Garden Maddison '64C and Larry live in Raleigh, as do all their three children: Bo, John and Sallie Maddison Wooten ’85HS. Clare is so fortunate to have all of her eight grandchildren living nearby. Clare is also very involved as a board member of Haywood Hall Museum House and Gardens. She loves playing bridge and canasta, in her spare time! Mary Jeffries Wright '62C writes that she is living in Rocky Mount and has three children: Jane, Jeff and Katie. Jane has two boys, and Katie has twins. Tom and I are still enjoying the bed and breakfast business here at Mulberry Hill, just outside of Edenton. We have also enjoyed the weddings that have been held here. Tom and I love being here with four of our six grandchildren, who are Thomas and Adrian's children: baby Amos, Blair, Russell and Thomas. This past summer, we went to visit my sister, Anne Stronach Genter '53HS '55C and her husband David, who treated us to a fabulous concert by the Bee Gees at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh. I also try to work in a game of bridge and mahjong every now and then. It has been such an added treat to see Amelia Yancey Bond ’59HS, Dickey Robinson Tyler ’56HS ’58C, Boo Robinson Beasley
’54HS, cousin Nancy Wood Mordecai ’45C, Mary Rhea Spivey Jones, France Drane Inglis and Virginia Hall Wood, all living nearby. I would like to add that our granddaughter, Kimberly Wood ’17, loves being at Saint Mary's and we cannot say enough good things about her experiences being at this wonderful school! We would recommend it to anyone who has an upcoming ninth-grade granddaughter.
1966
HIGH SCHOOL Jackie Walker Andrew writes from Alexandria, Va. She has two daughters, married with children. “I moved up to Virginia to be close to my younger daughter and her husband and my two grandsons, Porter (3) and Graham (1), who are my precious angels.” Her other daughter lives in Rocky Mount. Jackie lives in a nursing home, and struggles with pulmonary fibrosis, which requires oxygen all the time, but she takes a taxi to visit family at least one day a week. Her two sisters, Julie and Haynes, were both Saint Mary’s girls, but they have passed away. “I wish I could see some of you girls I was in school with, but I think I am going to remember all of you and the wonderful times we had there. My love to you all!”
1968 College
Paula Johnson Stewart '68C After the “unofficial gathering” of 34 classmates in April at the beach, I guess everyone feels as though they are all out of news. This beach weekend idea started when we were at the reunion and we talked of getting together again before we have our 50th in 2018. Carolyn Blaine was the person who wanted to get together again, so after her death about this time last year, is when the ball started rolling. Several people have homes at the beach so Juliet
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CLASS news Smith Barrus generously offered hers and her son's house in Morehead and other classmates with houses or condos housed classmates who could come. Duffy Beasley Gibbs arranged for a delicious catered "pick-up supper" at Juliet's on Friday night, and everyone went to the Coral Bay Club in Atlantic Beach for Saturday night dinner. There was a lot of porch time, walking on the beach, tons of laughter and stories, and even some people who we had not seen in years were there. We hope to do it again, so if you weren't able to come or didn't know about it, let me know and I will see that you get info about it, if and when it does happen again. I only have four classmates who actually sent something to me to report. Mary Ann Allen Cowherd wrote, “All children are married, two living in DC/northern Virginia area, and the other still in New Orleans. I keep busy, and enjoyed serving on the search committee, Master Gardeners and DAR. All well and good!” Georgia Henry Gates writes from Oklahoma, "My husband Bob and I are in our third year as chaplains to the retired clergy, spouses and widows of Oklahoma. We plan two overnight gatherings a year for this group and also make sure a newsletter goes out twice a year. We really enjoy being a part of this group. Both of us are also now on the board of the Bartlesville Farmer's Market. As such, we got to visit a couple of the vendors this summer, and it was really fun to see their operations. I joined the Bartlesville Genealogical Society a few years ago. Have been working hard on family history, and this group has taught me a lot. Then too, Bob and I continue our travels around Oklahoma. Last spring, we went to Great Salt Plains, an amazing place." Susan Davis Virgin wrote that she and Frank went on a trip to Paris and Normandy and that Cathy Swain Crossett and Ed were also on the trip. She had lunch with Cathy Walp Askew to tell her about the "beach trip reunion." She went to the Saint Mary's alumnae party in Atlanta; Jo Crawford Phelps, Susie Soper and her
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sister, Wendy Soper McSweeny '69, were also there. Beth Harris Isenhour had two of her children get married this past year. Her son Carter was married in April and daughter Tipton was married at Fearrington Gardens, outside of Chapel Hill, in July. Carla Heaton Bailey, Frances Garriss Jilcott, Mary Pearshall Maxwell, Cathy Swain Crossett and Carolyn Bertie Goldfinch all attended. Duffy Beasley Gibbs is the proud grandmother of twins: a girl, Maddox, and a boy, Bates, who were born October 22. One of Molly Richardson Swan's twin boys and his wife welcomed twin baby girls on November 3. Vivian (Vivi) weighed 5.3 pounds and Corinne weighed 5.13. “They are so precious!” reports Molly. “We are on top of the mountain with our hearts being so full!” Diane Stockard Wade had a weekend house party at her beach house in Atlantic Beach in October. Present were "four-year girls," Bagley Waddill Reynolds, Cissie Hobgood Wellons, Claire Duff Dodd and Diane. Hope you all enjoyed this beautiful fall! Saint Mary's love, Paula
1968
HIGH SCHOOL Sarah Chamblee Childress '68HS '70C Hello, once again! Kathy Anderson writes that she is still a professor of economics at Vanderbilt University and has traveled for pleasure to Portugal this past June. She spent one month in Kyrgyzstan and one month in Sweden on business from July to September. Kathy is on academic leave this year and has enjoyed the break from teaching. She has made no personal changes. She is actively involved as a volunteer to enroll people in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. She continues to enjoy a lot of yoga and hiking. Edie Cutler reports that she is still loving her 1951 M.G.TD and driving all over! She even had her out on the Myrtle Beach Speedway with the local club, British Motor Club of the Cape Fear. Wilmington is still terrific and Edie loves
living there, especially for the fishing and boating. Sherwood Byrd Fowler "Woodie" writes that she is still enjoying retirement and splits time between Greensboro and their place in Little River, S.C. As for me I am still working part time in my new practice in Winchester and teaching court-ordered divorce parenting classes for the Virginia Supreme Court. Life is good in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Sarah
1970
HIGH SCHOOL Peaches Rankin writes that she still lives in Charlotte, enjoying retirement, “traveling and taking it easy.” She looks forward to seeing everyone at the reunion this spring! Jane Weaver Rigby reports, “Life is great for Tim and me in Atlanta. Tim is a financial advisor, and I get to work with him every day! Our daughter Katie lives in Atlanta and works in education with KIPP Metro Atlanta. We are delighted that she is close by. Son Michael is married, lives in Greensboro with wife Lauren, and is a resident physician. They have two adorable children, ages 4 and 1, who bring much joy to our lives. We feel so very blessed!”
1972 College
Ann Elliott Newbern writes from Enfield, “I’m enjoying traveling, visiting grandchildren in Wilmington, Annapolis and Franklinton, and spending time at Atlantic Beach.” She continues to enjoy a second career selling real estate and is “savoring each day!“ Sharon Henry CooperStone lives in Green Mountain. “Remarriage after widowhood has been a blessing!” she reports. “I am enjoying living up here (north of Asheville) more than ever, even after 23 years. I stay in close touch with Mary Kemp Mebane of Rocky Mount. She is raising a fine young man who recently became an Eagle Scout. Mary Kemp is an example of the best of the best of Saint Mary’s!” Teresa Vaughn Stephens lives in Rutherfordton and writes, “Craton and I are enjoying being retired, and
ALUMNAE BOOK CORNER we love being grandparents to Lizzie (3) and Caitlyn (1).” Lynn Jonakin Royal says, “Doing great in Chadds Ford, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia.” She retired last year from 31 years of teaching special education and is enjoying traveling all over the United States with fun visits with old friends and family. She is now looking forward to her husband’s retirement. “After that, we’ll be packing our bags for anywhere we can manage to go. Time to have fun, see the world and work on our bucket list!” Lynn’s boys are grown and living in Chicago and Detroit.
1972
HIGH SCHOOL Susan Hundley '72HS Hello, everyone. I hope you and your families are well. Lauren Jones Worth is looking forward to our next reunion. She is a busy practicing artist in Greensboro. She sends the following announcement. “Lauren Jones Worth, a collage and mixedmedia artist who has shown in galleries across North Carolina, had an exhibition at the Walter Wickiser Gallery, 210 Eleventh Ave. in Chelsea in New York City, in November.” She then traveled with the Wickiser Gallery to the Los Angeles art show in January. Lauren’s work can be seen online at laurenjonesworth.com and artsy.net. Coco McConnell Killian writes from Charlotte, “Ray and I are busy. I’m doing a lot of hand lettering for weddings, etc. Rally (26) is in Charlotte working for Wells Fargo. Gates Killian ’10 is in Atlanta working for CoStar Group as a researcher. We are selling our home and moving across town. I’m looking forward to downsizing!” I, Susan D. Hundley, have been busy with a new practice, PATHS, in Boydton. I am able to see my dad’s home from the window. Aside from a busy medical practice, I have appointments to the Medical Society of Virginia and Virginia Academy of Family Physician Boards. I
‘Legendary Locals of Elizabeth City’ by Marjorie Ann Berry ’78C Marjorie Ann Berry ’78C is celebrating the publication of her new book, “Legendary Locals of Elizabeth City,” a collection of stories of the intriguing characters and everyday citizens who made history in the county seat of North Carolina’s Pasquotank County. The book chronicles the stories of unique individuals and groups, past and present, who have had a lasting impact on the community throughout its history. Known as the “Harbor of Hospitality,” Elizabeth City is a modern Southern town that looks ever to the future, but is richly endowed with legends and lore of the past. Berry’s book features vintage images coupled with facts and anecdotes that reveal the fascinating history of legendary locals in Elizabeth City. “The message that I hope readers take away from this book is that everybody has a story,” says Berry. “You see a down-trodden old man on a street corner – that could be billiards champion Wimpy Lassiter in his later years. That skinny kid next door could grow up to be Edward Snowden. You never know what stories ordinary-looking people carry around with them.” “The story of Maudie Fearing really touched me,” Marjorie says. “Miss Maudie was widowed at the beginning of the Great Depression and was left with eight children to support. She eked out a living playing piano for silent movies and minstrel shows, and teaching dance lessons, even though she never received a formal piano or dance lesson herself. She also had a sense of humor in the face of grinding poverty. One Thanksgiving, there was no money for a turkey, so Miss Maudie served up a wooden duck decoy on a platter to make her children laugh and forget their hunger pangs – you have to admire that unflappable attitude. Miss Maudie was fond of saying, ‘I’ve never been anything but poor and happy!’ How many people think those two states could exist together. She was a truly courageous spirit.” Berry is a native of Elizabeth City. A graduate of Saint Mary’s and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Berry worked previously for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of History in Washington, D.C. She now serves on the board of the Museum of the Albemarle and is an active volunteer with the Elizabeth City Historic Neighborhood Association (ECHNA). She researches and writes the scripts for ECHNA’s Historic Elizabeth City Ghost Walk, an annual living history event. Proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to ECHNA, which supports historic preservation in and around the town. Published by Arcadia Publishing, the nation’s leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States, the book is available through events, area bookstores, independent retailers, online retailers and through the publisher at legendarylocals.com. Legendary Locals of Elizabeth City,” by Marjorie Ann Berry, Arcadia Publishing, $21.99
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CLASS news have enjoyed renovating my grandfather’s old barn, riding my horses and lake country living. My son, Willoughby, resides in Richmond. Daughter Susannah is a secondyear family medicine resident at Wake Forest in Winston-Salem. Daughter Eliza is pursuing a career in modeling and acting in Los Angeles. Let’s make our next reunion the best! Susan
1974 College
Melrose Whitfield Fisher '72HS '74C Thanks to all those sending information in and changes of address. Our class, as we all know, was and still is the best college class ever at Saint Mary’s. We continue to be the best and by the news being sent in, the reason is clear. We’re special, caring, intelligent and driven young women. I hope you’ll enjoy the latest and greatest read on ’74C. It’s always my pleasure to share it with you. Now first thing first. April 25, 2014, was our 40th SMC reunion and our class once again WON! We had the most attendees of any of the classes – 44-45, I do believe. We nudged out another class (one of those “children’s classes” like 2009 or something) by one person. Now, we cannot allow this competition to be that close ever again. So open that calendar of yours right now and mark April 2019 down for our 45th reunion. Heck, we’ll all be near retirement age and should be able to go. Don’t want to hear any whining. Now, for the latest happenings with our “60-something”crowd. In all the years I’ve been writing this up, there’s one person who always, and I mean always, is the first to submit her news and so it still goes for this year – Robin Thorp McCoy. Although their Mecklenburg County, N.C., farm is a joy for Robin and husband Tom, there’s a lot of work needed in order to keep it up and running she says. Along with maintaining the farm, Robin continues to teach yoga. Tom and Robin live in Charlotte in a condo but enjoy getting
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away to the farm when possible. I believe Gail Goforth Ward sees Robin in yoga class frequently. Son Tom and his wife live in Cambridge, Mass., where Tom is doing his medical residency. Daughter Arrington taught school in Switzerland for several years but is now back teaching in Brevard. Thanks for always being the first, Robin Shelley Tosto Snider, came in from Mt. Pleasant, S. C., to attend our reunion. Year 2016 will be the year Shelley is finally going to wrap up her 40 years of teaching kindergarten and retire. Forty years is “aplenty” Shelley, you’re right. After she retires, Shelly’s flights to visit her grandbabies will pick up, for sure. Currently, Shelly has two grand-babies, with Asher (2) living in upstate New York and Hazel (1) living in San Diego. How’s that for complete opposite sides of the country. Once Shelley retires, she’ll be able to visit those babies at times other than summer and holidays. “Signing in” from Charlotte is Diane Odom Jackson-Szymczyk. Remember those “signing out/signing in” times at SMC? Or, maybe you never did, haha – couldn’t resist saying that. Anyway, Diane’s daughter Ashley is a buyer for Dillard’s in Little Rock, Ark. Lucky husband Roger played the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland last year while Diane stayed home doing what she continues to love doing, being a pediatric physical therapist. How fortunate those kids are, Diane. A mini-reunion of the West Rock girls is on Diane’s bucket list. You know who you are! Do it! Another over-the-top grandparent is Beth Nicolson Dick. Beth and her husband continue to burn the road between Atlanta and Raleigh visiting their daughter, Elizabeth Walker and her husband Lee, proud parents of Anna and latest child, Henry Lee Walker, born in March 2014. Fortunately, Beth has her two sons nearby. Hagan and wife Katie are living in Atlanta, as is Beth’s youngest child Andrew. Beth is so thankful that two out of her three children live in Atlanta. Sure makes life easier during the holidays! Libba Barbour Shelton writes that she is still teaching kindergarten in Morehead City. She and Scott are enjoying their six grandchildren,
ages 10, 3, 3, 18-month-old twins and the baby. Libba and Scott had great fun spending a weekend last fall with Sukoshi Williamson Roberts and her husband Paul. Emory Rogers Church and husband John are still in Raleigh, where they are “mostly retired” and traveling as much as possible. They enjoyed a river cruise in Russia last year. Emory feels fortunate that all three of their children live in the Raleigh area. Winner of the “fastest growing family award” for our class goes to Tonia Bryan Vary. “Sugar,” as we all called her at Saint Mary’s, married Dennis Vary in August 2013, at the Beaufort, N.C., courthouse. Then over the Thanksgiving 2013 holiday, when all of the family was in town, Tonia and Dennis had a Blessing of the Marriage service. Between the marriage service with contemporary Christian music, a black and white theme, and all the other elements of grandeur, the entire week was a blast and perfect, she says. Between Tonia and Dennis, they have six children and currently five grandchildren. Dennis has two sons and a daughter (one son is best friends with my son Robbie Fisher – small, small world) and Tonia has two daughters and a son. All the girls are married, with the five grandkids between them, and more on the way. Congrats! Ann Smithwick Sellman continues to work at LaGrange College in Atlanta but took time off this past year for some travel. I know that was time well deserved, Ann. Daughter Kathryn is a junior at University of Georgia and son David is in his first year of medical school at Medical College of Georgia, which is in Atlanta. Having her kids close by is a joy, I’m sure. Ann would love to rendezvous with other classmates living in the Atlanta. Ann, you need to email me your contact information so I can pass it along to the school and put you on my Monday morning email list. We don’t have your email or phone number. This goes for any of you receiving the Saint Mary’s magazine, but are not on my class of ’74C email list. Low and behold, here comes Gary McKenzie Copes, Gigi. Now that’s a first. I haven’t heard from this chick in forever and a
day. Thanks to Facebook, I was able to “stalk” her and find out that she’s alive and doing well. Thank goodness! The big news with Gary is that her son, Josh, and wife Mary Catherine just gave Gary and her husband their first grandchild, James Francis Dabney Copes, in September 2014. Congrats! Of course Gary is prejudiced and thinks he’s all that and more. What grandparent doesn’t, right? The Copes live in Cincinnati, Ohio, and son Josh and family live in Richmond, Va. It’s only a nine-hour drive. You can do it, Gary! Love knowing you are just a Facebook click away, Gary. Susan Byers Muir kinda’ sent in class news but not really. A picture doesn’t cut it, Susan, although it was one that brought back great SMC memories. I will report that Susan and husband George are in Augusta, Ga., where George is an interim Episcopal minister. Susan says they just love it there. Susan made the trip to our reunion. I believe both of Susan’s parents are still living in Charlotte, if I’m not mistaken. Of course, George and Susan are proud grandparents of a granddaughter who looks very much like Grandmother Byers. Now, from our baseball babe and classmate Gaily Sue Shackelford Narron. Gail and Johnny split their time between Smithfield, N.C., and Milwaukee, Wis., where Johnny is one of the coaches of the major league baseball team, Milwaukee Brewers. Son John III got married to Jessica Emick in January 2014, which was a first for the Narrons. Gail’s daughter, Holden Royall ’00HS, lives in Raleigh and just started a new job with Quintiles. Middle daughter Julia Royall is in Wilmington and loves living there, while Jane Royall lives and works in Durham. Gail may get the award for the longest living parents. Both of Gail’s parents are alive and well, still living independently in the house Gail grew up in, in Mt. Olive. Dr. Shackelford just retired from his medical practice last year at the age of 89. That says a lot about his patients and the trust they had in him, Gail. Gail can never make the reunions because it conflicts
with baseball season – well you know what I have to say about that! Forget the baseball for one weekend, girlfriend. Lord have mercy – get those priorities straight. Ellen Goode Moore has had a bittersweet past year. First off, her father passed away peacefully in August 2014. But, on the heels of this sadness sprang much happiness, when Ellen married Steve Moore in September 2014. After living 30 years in Kentucky, Ellen and Steve are living in Virginia. Keeping it all in the family, Steve’s daughter Hannah Moore ’16 is currently at Saint Mary’s, which Ellen is thrilled about. Now living in Virginia and having a stepdaughter at Saint Mary’s, Ellen hopes to reconnect with some of us North Carolina and Virginia gals. We’re sorry for your father’s death, Ellen, but so happy for your happy marriage. Now from our brave and stoic classmate reporting in from Charlotte, Marcia Neely Gilbert. Marcia and Jamie’s daughter Neely married in 2013 and their son, Grant, married Laura Pinnung in May 2014. The wedding was in Atlanta, where Laura is from, but the new couple is now living in New York City where both of them work. Daughter Neely and husband are living in Charlotte, which makes Marcia happy to have her nearby. In December, Marcia will celebrate 20 years since first being diagnosed with breast cancer. For the past 11 years, Marcia has been physically and spiritually fighting stage four of this metastatic disease. Marcia attributes God for giving her the strength that has allowed her to live well with her chronic disease. Go to www.teammarcia.com, a blog site that daughter Neely started to keep up with Marcia’s amazing conquests. Jamie and Marcia spent a lot of quality time at DeBordieu, S. C., last summer, and they look forward to continuing the same in summers to come. It’s their “happy place,” she says. We love you, Marcia. Ellen Henson, class photographer extraordinaire, and her dear friend and partner of 30 years, Sandy Robeson, are in the process of
selling their home and 16-acre farm in Forsyth County as I write. Doing what many of us should probably seriously consider doing, but are too hardheaded to do, moving into Winston-Salem to a one-level floor home. I know several of us who could benefit from downsizing and simplifying life! In addition to the excitement of moving, Ellen and Sandy’s 30-year partnership was officially recognized on April 28, 2014, in Cumberland, Md., therefore causing Ellen to miss our reunion. Congrats to Ellen and Sandy, but mark that calendar for April 2019! No excuses to miss our 45th reunion! No sooner had Ellen and Sandy returned from Maryland, did their partnership become recognized as marriage in North Carolina, therefore affording them the medical and legal benefits we will all need in the coming years. Congrats for what you’ve waited so long for, Ellen. Another strong and resilient classmate, Susan Stancil Plyler, writes in from Scotland County, near Laurinburg. Unfortunately, Susan was diagnosed in 2011 with breast cancer and went through surgery, chemo, and radiation, which as we’ve all heard and some are all too well familiar with, the radiation zapped her energy. Susan says so far so good regarding no recurrence of the cancer. We will definitely add you to our prayer list, Susan, and pray for continued positive reports. Husband Brent and Susan have lived in Scotland County for 17 years in a small community called Riverton on the Lumber River. Of course, Susan describes it as being “back in the woods,” but I bet those woods and the river make for a gorgeous setting. Due to a torn tendon in her foot, Susan was not able to attend our 40th but I just know our 45th will be a high priority for her in 2019. As for my family, we’re still hanging around Chapel Hill. Son Rob (no longer going by Robbie) is living in Lowell, Mass., working with the New England Revolution’s youth academy and working towards a profession in soccer. Younger son Davis is finishing up his MBA
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CLASS news at Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) in Harrogate, Tenn., where he was promoted to assistant basketball coach with the men’s team in spring 2014. Prior to this, he was an MBA grad assistant with the team. We are all healthy and for that we feel blessed and fortunate. I continue to wear many hats ranging from independent clinical research nurse to operating my Lots of Luxe agency which involves representing both Carlisle and ETCETERA lines of clothing for women, and J. Hilburn, a line of custom menswear. It keeps me busy and happy, so that’s a good thing. Husband Rob still works with Wells Fargo Advisors. Being secretary for our great class is another blessing and love of mine. Now that’s it for the official class information that was sent in. Thanks to all of you who got in just under the deadline. We are still strong in spirit and love. Thanks to all of you for your support to our beloved Saint Mary’s and the nice emails I get from you. It’s truly a labor of love. Life is good. Thanks be to God—Melrose
1974
HIGH SCHOOL Catherine Blankenship '74HS '76C Anne DeLuca Lucht lives in Columbia, S.C., and writes, “Over the last 32 years I have had at least one child at home. My boys are 14 years apart and in December my 18-year-old will enter the Marines. This has been a dream of his since he was 10. My empty nest experience is going to be hard. After retiring from University of South Carolina, I began a second career as a special education assistant. It is wonderful. New friends and new experiences are what make life interesting I have reconnected with Jennifer Powell whose daughter will be going to USC.” Julia Ridgeway Jenkins lives in Raleigh and graduated from N.C. State in August 2013.
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1976 College
Bess Knotts Walker '76C Barksdale Spencer Thompson has happy news from Wilson. Their second grandchild was born September 28. She writes, “A boy! I don't know what to do with a boy! With three daughters and a granddaughter, this is all new territory for me! But loving it! Sister Molly (2) is adjusting well. We are quite busy around our house. Philip is good, and is still with Merrill Lynch. As he says, retirement is not in his future! It has been fun seeing folks at different weddings this year.” Mazie Swindell Smith retired as county manager of Hyde County and is enjoying her time gardening, crafting, writing and doing volunteer work. She is serving on the local Salvation Army and Local Government Federal Credit Union boards. She and husband Dan look forward to relocating soon to Lake Waccamaw. Gayle McConnell Tallardy writes that she and husband Carl are moving back to Charlotte. She is looking forward to being back in North Carolina and “seeing more of you Saint Mary’s girls!” Like everyone else, my life is busy and in different directions! Win and I recently completed a renovation of our deck that was never used (except by the dog) into a new living space. We started the project in the fall and finally had it completed by spring. Not much has changed with our children except Ila Walker Bittner '05 has taken a new job with AmRisk Insurance company. She is still loving life in Morehead City. And our son, Locke, just purchased his first home in our neighborhood. He is enjoying his job at Wakestone. Our youngest son, Carr, is a sophomore at Clemson University. Win, Ila and I are planning to attend the Saint Mary’s auction gala, March 7, and hope many of you will plan to also attend. Bess
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Bebee Bason Lee '76HS '78C It was great to hear from Mary Lawrence Hicks ’78C that she has been working as a nurse practitioner in the HIV/AIDS clinic at San Francisco General Hospital for 17 years. She is co-chair of San Francisco’s HIV Services Planning Council, which advises the Department of Public Health on the allocation of federal Ryan White funding for HIV care and services. Mary Lawrence loves her job! She moved to the Bay Area in 1994 and has been happily married to Rhodes Bruns for 15 years. They live in Berkeley with two cats and a dog. Jan Stewart Atkins ’76HS ’78C is back in North Carolina. She says she is thrilled that they are full time here. She loves being back and hopes to catch up with her Saint Mary’s buddies soon! She lives in Burlington and says come visit her in Burl-Vegas. Last summer, Anne Martin Cochran ’78C, Cantey Sutton Brown ’76HS, Lisa Lofton Tomlinson ’78C and Hester Gregory Hodde ’76HS ’78C got together with Jan in Linville to celebrate her return to the sunny South. Liza Lamm Gauss ’78C writes that she and husband Harry are still in Wilson. Harry in real estate, and Liza tutors children with dyslexia and ADHD at Greenfield School. Their daughter, Mary Riddick Stallworth, lives in Atlanta and teaches at Westminster School. Their other daughter, Anna Wooten, is an interior designer in Atlanta with Amy Morris Interiors. They have enjoyed recent travel to California and Chicago. Dillon Robinson Manly ’78C writes that life is good in Asheville with husband, “Dr. Dave.” Their three children are scattered in three different states. Dillon keeps up with lots of SMC girls, but rarely gets to see them. She works part-time as a bookkeeper
at Trinity Church. Dillon shared that one of her favorite memories of Saint Mary’s was moving Sally Dillard Cohen’s ’78C bed into the elevator the night she got inducted into the Cold Cuts. Good times! Elizabeth Vann McDuffie ’76HS ’78C was recently appointed executive director of the State Education Assistance Authority, a state agency that administers financial aid programs and the 529 savings program that help families pay for college. She started working in financial aid 30 years ago at Saint Mary’s. Elizabeth’s oldest son, Vann, is working in D.C. and her younger son, John, will graduate from high school in June. Anna T. Webb Wheeless ’76HS ’78C is in Raleigh and sees some of her SMS classmates from time to time: Cecelia Winslow ’78C, Helen Revelle Cain ’78C and Lee Scott Worth ’76HS ’78C. She also keeps up with SMS friends on Facebook. Anna T is making homemade mayonnaise (a family recipe) and icebox pickles. If you stop at Star Flight at Five Points in Raleigh, buy a jar or contact her. Son Joseph (28) is assistant coordinator of Greek and Sorority Life at the College of William Mary. Son William (25) lives in Raleigh and is taking classes at N.C. State. Carter Ward ’76HS ’78C has been relocated back to North Carolina and she has been working in Charlotte since August. Welcome back, Carter! We have happy and sad news from Susan Worth Costabile ’78C. She is happy to let us know that her son, William, will graduate this spring from the Terry School of Business at the University of Georgia with two degrees: accounting and economics. He will sit for the CPA over the summer and will begin a position with Ernst & Young in Atlanta. Daughter Hannah will also graduate in May, with a degree in early childhood education from Georgia Southern. And very sadly, Susan lost her husband in September following a three-month battle with stage IV stomach cancer. She appreciates so much all the thoughts and prayers from her SMS friends. Elizabeth Kerr Agnew
’78C writes that oldest son Pen graduates soon from UNC-Chapel Hill and will be working in Charlotte beginning in June. Daughter Stuart is a junior at UNC and is studying in Cape Town for the semester, and Kerr is going to visit her! Youngest son Duncan is a sophomore at Episcopal High School. Her husband Pen still works for the State Department. Nancy Welby Check ’76HS checks in to say that she and Jeff still live in Lexington. They both teach school in the career and technical education curriculum. Jeff teaches middle school business education, and Nancy teaches in the Academy of Health Science at North Davidson High School. They are the proud grandparents of two beautiful boys - Barrett was born in June 2013, and Henry was born September 22, 2014 to their oldest daughter, Sydne, and her husband, Travis. They are co-pastors of First Presbyterian Church in Canadian, Texas. Son Joe is in the Navy and stationed in San Diego. Their youngest daughter, Meredith, is a senior at N.C. State and will graduate in May 2015. Once she graduates, that will end a 13-year legacy of the Checks having a child at NCSU. They take every opportunity to travel to see the kids or spend some time at the beach. “Come see us in Lexington and have some BBQ,” says Nancy! Marjorie Berry ’78C has published a local history book, “Legendary Locals of Elizabeth City.” Congratulations, Margie! Margie still serves as a trustee of the Museum of Albemarle and is in her 11th year of researching and writing scripts for the Historic Elizabeth City Ghost Walk. Loved hearing from Marsee Edwards Lee ’78C. She and Doug are still in Charleston, S.C. Their son, Pierce (23), is a recent UNC-Chapel Hill graduate and has completed a year of active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps. Thanks for his service to our country! Marsee’s daughter, Carter (27), an SMU grad, married in November to Geordy Johnson. Congrats again Marsee! Lee Scott Worth ’76HS ’78C is doing well in Raleigh and loves seeing many
SMS friends at home or in Atlantic Beach during the summer months. She and Hal have three daughters. Catherine Worth ’09 is in her second year of Teach for America and is living in Dallas. Sarah Scott Worth ’12 is having a great time as a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she is a member of Chi Omega sorority. Hallie Worth is a happy seventh-grader who plays soccer for both her middle school and the Capital Area Soccer League. Her dad is her club coach. As for me, I serve as president of Junior Achievement of Eastern North Carolina (covering 18 counties – Raleigh east) and love my job. If you have the opportunity in your community to volunteer for Junior Achievement, I suggest you do so – it is very rewarding getting in the schools and teaching students about business, finance and helping them prepare for the workforce. My daughter Anna O’Neal ’05HS is a talent acquisition specialist with Manpower, working out of Raleigh, and stepson Sam is a project engineer in San Diego. Husband David and I are living the country life in Clayton. David is still with Wake Stone Corporation, which keeps me in contact with Jane Bratton Fleming ’76HS ’78C and her wonderful family!
1978
HIGH SCHOOL Sara Vestal Morgan and husband Tim became grandparents last year. “Our first grandbaby was born March 25, 2014. Her name is Lucy Dean Wrenn, and the proud parents are my daughter Melissa and her husband Daniel. They live in Heritage in Wake Forest. My son James and daughterin-law Kimberly just bought a house in North Hills (Raleigh). Tim and I are still working and hoping to retire one day and be full-time grandparents. Life does not get any better!” Fern Bugg writes, “After 35 years in Texas, I have enjoyed living back in the South, in Wilmington. It has been a pleasure to reconnect with Hope
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CLASS news Saunders Hackler ’78HS ’80C, Kathy Sawyer Mann ’78HS ’80C and Caroline Ward Cone. I hope to see Amy Brown North in the near future as well. It was great to spend time with Michele Sparrow before she moved out of state. The Saint Mary’s reunion was a blast!” Ann Womble Strader reports that all is well in Atlanta. She is now officially an empty-nester. Son Haynes (26) is in Dallas with CBRE; daughter Jane (23) is in Jackson, Wyo., at the Teton Science School graduate program; daughter Olivia (19) is a freshman at Davidson College. Ann and Richard are having fun traveling.
1980 College
Cissy Lofton Elmer '80C Thanks so much to those of you who sent in your news. It’s always fun to catch up on everyone’s whereabouts. Hopefully we’ll have a great group gathered for our 35th reunion in April. Watch your mail and/or email for event updates. Scottie Evans Chastain has joined the team at Rinehart Realty in Rock Hill, S.C., and would love to help you with any real estate needs if you are considering the area. Elizabeth Harris (of course, we all remember her as “Buff” but she’s Elizabeth these days) is still in Raleigh where she owns a paralegal business that she bought from Michele Crisp Narron in 1993. Elizabeth is fortunate to still have both of her parents (84- and 85-years old!) nearby and she enjoys every minute that she has with them. She has promised to try to get Cathy Plummer Steed and Michel Crisp Narron to come to the reunion. Raine Gilbert Archer reports that all is well in Darlington. She has taken some time off from her work with special needs children in the public school system to enjoy time on her farm. Raine and Steven are almost empty nesters. Their son, Will, is 27 and lives in Denver, Colo., and son Graham
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is 25 and living in Salt Lake City, Utah. Raine’s daughter Hannah is home attending the community college and will be applying to nursing school soon. Kathryn Nanney Alice writes from Malibu, Calif., where she has settled with her husband and three of her four boys. They chose Malibu after island hopping for five years after her book came out. She keeps up with quite a few of our classmates and sees Alicia Sedwick sometimes as Alicia lives in Santa Monica. Elizabeth Arrington Sinsky is in Asheville with her husband Mark, who is a fabulous architect. Elizabeth has many titles, two of which I may need to call her for one day, she is a chronic disorganization specialist and an aging specialist. Elizabeth’s son, Sam, is a student at Christ School, where I work, so I get to catch up with her on occasion. Katie Zevenhuizen Medlin and husband Danny are doing well living in Benson. Katie went back to school to get her teaching license and has been teaching high school English for the past four years. Oh, Mr. Tate would be so proud! Katie’s son Grimes (26) is living in Benson and working at Medlin and Dorman and daughter Cathryn (23) graduated from Clemson and is working in Atlanta. Good times were had at Atlantic Beach recently with Katie, Missy Underwood Wooten, Phyllis Alexander Slye, Carolyn Walser Johnson, G Lee Lewis Taylor and Margaret Williams. Edie Lindsey Eckman and Bill are truly empty nesters with two children now graduated from college and working. Daughter Meg is in Charlotte and Edie’s son Charles is in the Silicon Valley. Edie would like for friends to Google her or find her on Facebook. Karen Turner Clapperton is the assistant to the chief operating officer at Parker Poe in Charlotte. She’s been with them for 23 years and is married to Jake, who is a personal trainer at the Dowd YMCA. They have two dogs and Karen enjoys watercolor, gardening, bird watching and sports. Kea Capel is currently editing “The Scout Guide” for Pinehurst and
Wilmington. She loves the work and suggests that if you are going to be in either area that you take a look at thescoutguide.com to see the pages from the two areas. Kea’s two oldest children, Capel (25) and Charlotte (24) are in NYC and Beaver Creek, respectively. Kea’s boys, Rook and Jesse, ages 15 and 16, are busy with tennis, lacrosse and shooting. Sara Vestal Morgan writes, “Tim and I have become grandparents since last year. Our first grandbaby was born March 25, 2014. Her name is Lucy Dean Wrenn and the proud parents are my daughter Melissa and her husband Daniel. They live in Heritage in Wake Forest. My son James and daughterin-law Kimberly just bought a house in North Hills (Raleigh). Tim and I are still working and hoping to retire one day and be full time grandparents. Life does not get any better!” Terry McLennan Whitney is in Charlotte, enjoying working with Reid’s Fine Foods, which happens to be one of my favorite shops in Charlotte. Terry’s son, Hayes, is in Washington, D.C., and her son Josh has joined the banking world in Charlotte. Elizabeth Rouse Ferguson has never moved away from Raleigh, yet she has traveled all over the world. She and her husband have been lucky enough to travel to Spain, Portugal, Bali, Singapore, the Amalfi Coast, Italy, French Riviera, Greece, Turkey and Hawaii. Elizabeth’s daughter Isabel (16) visited Saint Mary’s recently for a tour, and Elizabeth loves the improvements that she observed on campus. Elizabeth has worked the last two sessions proofreading for the N.C. General Assembly. Missy Underwood Miller is in Charlotte. Her son, Rob, lives in Mount Pleasant, S.C., and daughter Liza just graduated from the University of Georgia and lives in Atlanta. Her stepdaughter, Katie, is in 11th-grade, and Missy and husband Will are bouncing around between children’s locales: Charlotte, Blowing Rock and Atlantic Beach. Missy and her daughter share the same reunion weekend in April, which will be fun. Hope to see lots of you that weekend! Danny and I are still in Asheville and we both enjoy working for Christ School. Our oldest son,
Ben, is a fly fishing guide with Brookings in Cashiers, and Sam is a sophomore at the University of Georgia. I’d love to catch up with you if you are travelling this way. All the best, see you at the reunion, Cissy
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HIGH SCHOOL College
Rita Woltz Beale writes that after serving for 16 years in the Virginia Attorney General's office, most recently as deputy attorney general for Ken Cuccinelli, she has accepted the position of associate dean of internal affairs for Liberty University School of Law. Cathy Call Boykin lives in Raleigh, and has a junior at Saint Mary’s Callee Boykin ’16, as well as two older children. “All is well with us. We got a puppy and that changed my world! Had dinner with Kaky McCabe Bowden recently.”
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HIGH SCHOOL College
Beth Morris Gobble '82HS '84C Katherine White Messenger '84C Rhetta Cooke is retired from Pitt County DSS. She is hoping to sell her house and move somewhere exciting. Any ideas for her? Landon McKinney Smith and husband William live in Raleigh. Landon has worked at the Wake County District Attorney's Office for 28 years. Their son, William, is a sophomore at Ole Miss, and they enjoyed visiting him and tailgating in the Grove during football season. Their daughter, Lucy, is a junior at Broughton and is beginning the college touring process. She will be taking the Christ
Church mission trip to Belize in June. Landon and William enjoy weekends in Ashe County and Morehead City when they have free time. Susan Grady Wyche and her husband Hunter are grandparents. Susan’s stepdaughter, Cameron Wyche Jones, and husband Jack had a baby boy last August. Susan’s daughter Lucy Wyche ’17 is a 10th-grade day student at Saint Mary’s and loves being at her mom’s alma mater. Virginia White Pou stays on the go with work and family. She still enjoys teaching fifth-and sixth-grade math and social studies. Daughter Sara-Morgan is a junior at East Carolina and son Cameron is a freshman at Gardner-Webb (both are swimming on the swim teams!) Youngest daughter Cary is a junior in high school and swims in the club league. Virginia grades a lot of papers while sitting in the stands of swim meets! Laurie Reiley Dean is really enjoying her new career as a surgical technologist at Milton Hall Surgery Center in Alpharetta, Ga. She recently visited daughter Meredith in New York City, where she is assistant to Deborah Norville on “Inside Edition.” Laurie's son Harrison is a freshman at Georgia College and State University. Caroline Ragsdale reports from Charleston where she is selling homes in the historic district. She adopted an adorable puppy in January who is totally spoiled. Please let her know if you come to Charleston. She would love to catch up with any Saint Mary’s alums! From Katherine White Messenger, “I’m in Raleigh, always in the car taking Jack (15) to swim team practices, Hank (13) to soccer or basketball, and Stewart (10) to gymnastics. Bill and I enjoy getting down to our little getaway in Stella to fish, crab and relax by the White Oak River.” From Beth Morris Gobble, “Dan and I moved to Greensboro this year and seem to spend all our non-working hours tending to this 75-year-old house. I am enjoying reconnecting with old friends and spending more time with my family.”
1984
HIGH SCHOOL Annabelle Brandeaux Robertson '84HS Virgilia “Gillie” Church Nichols married Stephen Dwight Nichols. Congratulations, Gillie! It was great to hear from you, and we wish you the very best! Ellen Zollicoffer Jackson loved hosting a party for our 30th reunion last spring. She and more than a dozen '84HS grads enjoyed great food and drinks, and also catching up on news with old friends. As for me, Annabelle Brandeaux Roberts, I passed the California bar exam in February and was finally sworn in to practice law in the United States. But after the unexpected death in June of my father-in-law, who lived with us, another cross-country move seemed too much for the girls (9 and 12). So we're now in Columbia, S.C., where I'm completing the mandatory four semesters at the University of South Carolina School of Law toward a traditional J.D. When it's over, I'll have a total of seven years of law school, but will be eligible to practice in all 50 states, including both North and South Carolina. All I can say is, life is strange and so is attending class with 22-yearolds. It definitely makes me appreciate the outstanding education we received at Saint Mary's, and has turned me into an advocate for quality education. Please keep the updates coming, and best wishes to everyone.
1988 College
Olga McCoy Faison '88C It was so great hearing from our crew! Julie Rochon lives about an hour north of Montreal. She is completing her master’s degree in architecture from the Academy of Art at the Art University in San Francisco. Her first contract is with UN Habitat (the United Nations’ program “working
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CLASS news toward a better urban future”). Her daughter Coralie Rochon Trudeau (16) plans to follow in her mother’s footsteps and come to the United States for college. Elizabeth Vandiver married Rick Harris four years ago. She left Atlanta and they are now in Greenville, S.C. She teaches preschool at The Academy at First Presbyterian, works at Paisley and Paper, and plays as much tennis as possible. Jane Pattishall Snyder loves her position as the director of fellowship services at First Presbyterian Church in Albemarle. Her son, Jack, is a sophomore at Appalachian State. Her daughter, Caroline, is a high school senior, and Lily is in second grade. Her husband of 20 years, Michael, is the manager at Axiom America in High Point. Betsy Manuel Pennington is a special education elementary substitute teacher. Her daughters are Mary Arden (15) and Katherine (9). James is the managing partner of his law firm and all stay busy! Ruland Brown Gagne sends a hello from Norfolk, Va. She teaches children ages six to nine at Ghent Montessori. She loves her job of 18 years. Madeleine is a high school sophomore, and son Quinn is completing his 12th year of Montessori. Parker Gabrielsen Cunningham and her family are happy in Atlanta. Her children are Louise (4) and Jack (9). She sends a hello to all of her Saint Mary’s friends. McLean Bradshaw ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon recently. (You may not have recognized her as she was dressed as Princess Ariel!). McLean is in Raleigh and keeps in close touch with our Saint Mary pals Harriet Adams Harvey, Stephanie Yelton Willard, Shore Tucker McCall and Corinne Kirksey Alvai. Roommates Beth Van Dorp Collier and Neely Barnwell Dykshorn caught up at High Point where Van Collier (the company Beth founded with husband Chris) exhibited for their sixth market. The Colliers’ line of accessories and furniture is landing in collections as far flung as Dubai and London. Their booth (featuring Beth's wonderfully creative styling) was a knockout. Vancollier. com! Neely handed over the polyester print pants that Hope Dooner found in an old
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trunk room on third east Smedes 25 years ago. (The class of ‘86 has been "tagging" each other with these lovelies for over two decades.) Lee Lee Kirkland King and husband David recently celebrated their 23rd anniversary. Their son John Robert is a sophomore at N.C. State. Lela is a high school junior and travels the state playing soccer. Anderson in in eighth-grade and stays busy with Boy Scouts and soccer. Life in Wilmington is busy! Kim Norfleet Collie’s daughter Mary Mac Collie ’17 is a sophomore at SMS! She serves on the vestry and dances with Orchesis. Kim is co-chairing the Saint Mary’s School auction and encourages us all to attend this fun alumnae event. Jay and I are in Charlotte with our three children, Amelia (13), Hannah (12) and Henry (8). Life is good and it certainly is nice to touch base with so many from our class. Love to all! Olga
1988
HIGH SCHOOL Melissa Morrisette Tillman '88HS News is light from the Class of 1988HS, and the theme seems to be around children. Joelle Doanne Pemberton lives in Raleigh and stays busy with her daughters, who are eight and five, and volunteering at the girls' school and at church. Heather Thompson Moore is thrilled that daughter Grace Battle Moore ’18 is a ninth- grade day student at our beloved SMS and loves all the same traditions we did. However, as Heather pointed out, Grace Battle plays a sport until 6 p.m. unlike her mother who was waiting in line at the dining hall at 4:45 p.m.! Heather's younger daughter May is ruling the roost at Our Lady of Lourdes as a fourth-grader. Heather continues to enjoy working as the community development coordinator for a local nonprofit, The Green Chair Project, and asks that we continue to support SMS with our time, talent and resources. “She is ours to take good care
of and preserve for future generations,” says Heather. As for me, our two children, Rollie (14) and Eliza Dunn (10) keep me on my toes. I work for First Citizens Bank, Raleigh, as manager of human resources shared services. Whenever possible we head east to the beach, no matter the season. Please do let us hear from you next time. Love, Melissa
1990 College
Barbara Bryant Palmer '88HS '90C Hello to the Class of '90C! Thanks to so many of you who wrote! It is always fun to pass along your news. Holly Byrum Camak teaches fitness classes in Raleigh and stays busy with her three girls. Rebecca is a freshman at Meredith, where she is playing lacrosse; Liza is a junior at Cardinal Gibbons; and Addie is in seventh-grade at Daniels. Neal enjoys coaching Liza and Addie's club lacrosse teams in his spare time. Katherine Tierney Canady is a fourthgrade teacher in Roanoke Rapids. She writes that daughter Slade is in 10th-grade and that they enjoyed a summer trip to Paris. Kate Harrill Cole is still working for Bank of America in Pennsylvania and writes that she is homesick for North Carolina! She has two children, Caroline and Woodson, and sends big hugs to all. Caroline Crumpler is an actress and filmmaker in Wilmington, where she wrote, produced and acted the lead role in a film called "Wax." She also had a speaking role on the TV series, "Secrets and Lies” with Juliette Lewis! Lauren Black Currin loves being a grandmother to three little ones who live close to her farm so she gets to see them often. She stays busy with her law firm but writes that she would love to plan a visit with other SMS girls. Flossie Dossenbach Parks is living it up with her husband Tracy in Pinehurst, Figure Eight Island and Palm Beach! She adores her three granddaughters and she just completed a triathlon in Chapel Hill! Flossie also writes that a highlight this year was having the men’s and women's U.S. Open Golf Championships in Pinehurst.
ALUMNAE BOOK CORNER Liz Bull Sri is in Raleigh where she often sees Heather Moore Thompson. Their girls enjoy participating in gymnastics and Girls on the Run together. Sam Walker has been a New Yorker for 20 years and absolutely loves the big city! She works for Rafanelli Events. As for me, we are still enjoying Greensboro. Ben (16), Drew (13) and Lilly (10) keep me on the soccer fields but it is fun. Many of you know that we lost Pat to a massive heart attack in the summer of 2012. While it has been very difficult, my Saint Mary's friends have been wonderful and my family truly appreciates your thoughts and prayers. We are doing well. Keep writing and I look forward to seeing you all at the next reunion! xo Barbara
1990
HIGH SCHOOL Mandy Perry Buchner writes from Zebulon. She and David have been married for 18 years and have two wonderful children, Caleb (10) and Lily (8). Mandy works at a local church preschool teaching 4-year-old children. She also builds residential homes in Wake County with Phoenix Builders, Inc. and Skyline Development Corporation. She has recently started her own company, Buchner Properties, with which she lists and manages vacation rental properties. Tisha Carroll Edrington enjoyed two back-to-back U.S. Opens in Pinehurst last year. She saw Flossie Dossenbach Parks ’90C, Anne Goldman ’91C, Amy Augustine Watson ’92C and Carolyn Bullock Walker ’89HS ’91C. She sees Kimball Harris Saunders ’90C, Louise Harris ’90HS ’92C and Blanche Slade Hancock ’90C often. In July, Tisha and David celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary with a trip to the Dominican Republic.
‘Best Bones’ by Sarah Rose Nordgren ’00 The University of Pittsburgh Press (UPP) has published “Best Bones,” a book of poetry by Sarah Rose Nordgren ’00 (sarahrosenordgren. com/). Nordgren was the 2013 winner of the UPP’s Starrett Poetry Prize. “Nordgren’s poems are part science fiction, part surrealism, part ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and wholly originally, playful and personal,” said Ed Ochester, editor of the Pitt Poetry Series. According to Nordgren, “Best Bones” is like a house. “When you walk around the rooms of the house, you overhear the desires and griefs of a family, as well as the unresolved concerns of lingering ghosts,” she says. “The voices in the house struggle against the family’s roles and social identities which they wear like heavy garments – mother, father, wife, husband, sister, brother, servant and master. All these voices crave unification. They want to join themselves into one whole sentient being, into a mansion steering itself.” A native of Frankfort, Ill., Nordgren was raised in Durham. Her poems have appeared in “Agni,” “Ploughshares,” “The Iowa Review,” “The Harvard Review,” “The Literary Review” and the “Best New Poets” anthology, among other publications. She is also the winner of the 2012 James Wright Poetry Award from Mid-American Review and a two-time fellowship recipient from the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Mass. After graduating from Saint Mary’s School in 2000, Nordgren earned a B.A. degree from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.F.A. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she held the Fred Chappell Fellowship. A resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, she received an Individual Excellence Award from the Ohio Arts Council. She teaches in the English Department at Miami University of Ohio in Middletown. Nordgren is also collaborating on a creative project with Saint Mary’s friend Kathleen Kelly ’00 (kathleenkellydance.com). “Digitized Figures: A Practice of Choreographing Text,” is a collaborative project in development by poet Sarah Rose Nordgren and choreographer Kathleen Kelley. Set to premiere in 2015, “Digitized Figures” will create an interactive performance environment that weaves words and images through both digital and analog space to investigate the other face of digital technology: its mirrored relationship to organic and evolutionary impulses. The final version of this installation will include 3 video projections that surround and react to the viewer, animating poems as living and responsive text. Visitors to the installation will be able to move through each of the projections, changing and redirecting them with their own gestures. In addition to the projections, there will be dancers performing live in the space, providing a geometric embodiment that works contrapuntally to the abstraction of the moving words. The viewers will be able to interact with the dancers using touchscreens that give the dancers qualitative and emotional directions. Kelly and Nordgren credit their success to experiences at Saint Mary’s studying dance with Lisa Yount, studying English with Vickey Posey and Randall Lathan and late nights studying in Cruikshank Hall. Kelly sees their professional experiences and collaboration as “another example of how the Saint Mary’s experiences can continue to reverberate through the lives of students as they move into adulthood.” “Best Bones,” poems by Sarah Rose Nordgren, University of Pittsburgh Press, $15.95 59
CLASS news
1992 College
Michelle McLaughlin Cheshire ’92C Hello, Class of '92C! What a year it has been! Katherine Hubbard Ward lives in Raleigh and works at The Cypress of Raleigh Club. She is in admissions and marketing, serving as director of social services. Weldon Jackson Byrtus reports from Raleigh that she enjoys working at Saint Mary’s School and always enjoys seeing alums when they return to campus. Her daughter, Liza, is almost five and will be starting kindergarten next year. Tisha Carroll Edrington reports that last summer was an exciting time in Pinehurst, with two back-to-back U.S. Opens. She enjoyed watching golf and visiting with SMC girls. She saw Flossie Dossenbach Parks ’90C, Anne Goldman ’91C, Amy Augustine Watson ’92C and Carolyn Bullock Walker ’89HS ’91C. She sees Kimball Harris Saunders ’90C, Louise Harris ’90HS ’92C and Blanche Slade Hancock ’90C often. In July, Tisha and David celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary with a trip to the Dominican Republic. Gray Williams Carlin has been constantly on the move with her three boys attending three different schools. Gray and her husband Kevin just celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary. Gray still keeps in touch with her Saint Mary’s buddies Debbie Goldstone Horwitz, Weldon Jackson Byrtus, and Robin Bullard Stanfield, and relived the glory days of Holt with a trip to the beach. I, Michelle McLaughlin Cheshire, got the entrepreneur bug and am now a Stella & Dot stylist. You can visit my website atwww.stelladot.com/ michellecheshire. Julie Hamilton Caviness is planning a family trip to Southern California with her kids, and I hope to see my Cruikshank suite-mate, when she visits San Diego. All of your classmates would love to hear from you! Please send in your news next year. And, if you find
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yourself close to San Diego, please look me up. I would LOVE to see you. I wish each of you the very best! Until next year, Michelle
1994 College
Andrea Staunch Green ’94C Greetings, to the Class of 1994C of Saint Mary’s! Our class celebrated our 20th reunion in May of 2014. Our reunion was well attended and an absolute blast. I was amazed by the changes on our beautiful campus, especially to Smedes Hall. I, Andrea Staunch Green, have lived in Charlotte for five years, and John and I are celebrating our 14th year of marriage. We have a second grader, Caroline, and our son, Alex, is in his last year of preschool. Between chairing committees at both of my kids’ schools, being room mom for Alex’s class, and weekly volunteering, I stay pretty busy. We make lots of time for play, and spend as much time as possible at our cabin on Lake Tahoma in Marion. Kendy Allen Smith, husband Bryan, and son Henry (8), have been in the Pacific Northwest for almost seven years. They love Seattle, but definitely miss friends and family in North Carolina. Kendy has started her third year as a nanny, while Henry is in second-grade. Kendy loved seeing everyone at the reunion in April. Alison Britt White lives in Asheville with husband Tilden and their two girls, Sara Grace (13) and Sailor Rose (8). Alison is a real estate broker with Beverly-Hanks & Associates. Angie Bunn moved to Anchorage, Alaska, two years ago for work. She loves it, but looks forward to moving closer to family and friends. She’s a proud mom to two fur babies, and is a proud aunt to her nephew, Grant. Toccoa Choate Patterson has relocated to Greensboro for her husband’s job. She and James are happy to be back in North Carolina, closer to friends, and their first-grader Harriet keeps them busy. Elizabeth Grant lives outside of Asheville and went back to
school last year. She got her CNA last spring and is now taking classes to be an RN. She spends her free time hiking and kayaking, as well as helping her mother with her business breeding English Labradors. I love seeing pictures on Elizabeth’s Facebook page of crazy cute lab puppies! Ann Green Floyd has been married to John since 2008. They spend most of their free time traveling. Their favorite places to visit are Jackson, Wyo., and New York City, both of which they try to visit at least twice a year. She loved seeing everyone who attended the reunion. Catherine Hair DeBellis and her husband love living in Austin, Texas. Her son Ramsey just turned five and is in KinderReadiness. They were excited to welcome their daughter into the world in November. Sally Howell Donaldson married Sean Donaldson in April 2013, and they live in Raleigh. Sean accepted a position with Technical Innovation and Sally continues to staff nannies as owner of Trio Nanny Agency. They had a great summer going to Lake Gaston and Smith Mountain Lake and look forward to starting a family. They celebrated Sally’s fortieth birthday in Mexico. Sally enjoys seeing SMC girls frequently, and she and I had a ball at Lake Tahoma Weekend this year, an event that I chaired. Emily Jackson Hines has been in the Charlotte area for 12 years, working as a city planner. She married three years ago, and they welcomed son Thomas in July 2014. Jeannie Jackson McKenzie has been living in Gray, Ga., since 2002. She and Andy have been married for eleven years, and have a son Jackson (9). Jeannie is the general manager for a large financial company. She has worked in finance and lending for eight years and holds a Georgia real estate license. Down time is spent at the beach, on the water, watching their son play baseball, and attending as many UGA football games as possible. Go Dawgs! Amy Kilgore Mangus lives in Carolina Beach with her husband Sean. They enjoy boating, the beach and travel. Amy does public relations at Cape Fear Museum in
Wilmington. Margery Knott Clifton and husband Ben are wrapping up renovations on a house they bought in June. Margery enjoys working for the law firm of Ellis & Winters in Raleigh. She loved celebrating our 20th reunion with friends. Alison Leith Myers relocated her family to Annapolis, Md., in 2014, and is glad to be back on the coast. She took the opportunity to rebalance a few things, and left her corporate career to start a marketing research consultancy. She loves that she has more time with Mitch and Genevieve (6), to coach soccer, and to explore their new home. Amy McIlvain Powell works and lives in Raleigh. She’s been married for 13 years, and they have two kids, a future Saint Mary's girl, Hartley and a son, Hays. She still sees lots of SMC girls that are still local to the area. She spends time with Anne Glenn Rettinger, Katie O'Neil Hortsmann, Ellie Jarman, Stacey Stallard Shaughnessy, and Allison Partridge Beckham. She loved seeing everyone at the reunion and hopes to see more people at the next one. Heather May Hughes lives in Mooresville, on Lake Norman. Their daughter, Libby (8), is in third-grade and just won third place in a Wake the Lake division wake boarding competition. Paige (6) is in first-grade and keeps them all entertained. They try as often as possible to attend N.C. State football games. Heather had a great time seeing everyone at our reunion and hopes we can get together again BEFORE the next one. I couldn’t agree more, Heather! Hillary McGee Lacouture lives in Charlotte with husband Danny and daughter Barrett (5). Barrett started kindergarten at the same school as my daughter, and I think I see her every time I volunteer. Hillary is the vice president at the Jewell Agency, advertising, PR, and marketing agency. Caren Mills Shoop, after spending several years in Manhattan, has returned home to Richmond, Va., and is teaching pre-school. She and Dan, her husband of nine years, have a son Will (7). Last year they ran into the Travel Channel in Richmond and were picked to be on their reality show “Trip Flip.” They were
taken to Alaska, where they went Iditarod racing, glacier repelling, salmon fishing, and “Learn to Return” which is escaping underwater from a helicopter. It aired in May 2014. Some people have all the luck! Lori Misenheimer Miller and husband Andy have been married since 1998, and have two girls, Harper (7) and Phoebe (4). They moved last year from Greenville, N.C., to Clayton. They love it there, and the close proximity to Raleigh allows her to see her SMC friends frequently. Elise Morgan Whitley lives in Winston-Salem with her husband of 14 years, Cameron, their two children Milo (8) and Wren (4), and their golden retriever Russet. Cameron works at Stitch Design Shop. Elise graduated from law school at Wake Forest University in 2001, and is a board certified family law specialist and a partner at the law firm of Tash & Kurtz, PLLC. For the past several springs she’s been teaching advanced family law at the Wake Forest School of Law. Katie O’Neal Horstmann celebrated 12 years of marriage to Kurt in 2014. They are the proud parents to first-grader Camilla Grace and they live in Wendell. They spent the summer at the pool and at the beach as much as possible, as well as visiting family and friends all over the state. Mary Pat Phillips Radford’s life is busy in Sarasota, Fla., with her two active girls. Izzie (11) is an avid ballerina, and Eliza (8) loves karate and is in an acting troupe. Husband Kevin does a lot of traveling as a consultant for pharmaceutical companies. Mary Pat manages June Simmons Jewelry and helped open its second location on St. Armand’s Circle. Family fun includes boating, paddle boarding, and spending time with family and friends on the water. Mary Pat loves keeping up with everyone through social media and hopes to hear from anyone visiting the area. Susan Taylor Hawes has three children, Catherine (14), Wilson (12) and Matthew (9), and Rosie the yellow lab. Susan nannies for a two-year-old and lives in Charlotte. She was so glad to finally show Saint Mary’s to her boyfriend David when she brought
him to our twentieth reunion. She is working on her private pilot’s license, and David is her instructor. Meredith Toomes Gibbs is in Orlando, Fla., and is a “pre-vivor,” which means she tested BRCA-2 positive. She has had all of the preventative surgeries and is happy to talk to anyone else with a strong family history of breast cancer. Sadly, Meredith lost her beloved step-mom this year to breast cancer, as well as her mother to the same disease years ago. Life is good otherwise. She loves her job working at a private Christian school where her twins, Jacob and Lilly, are in first grade. They enjoy time together as a family, taking advantage of their proximity to the water. Austin Staunch has been living in California for 12 years, the last eight of those in San Francisco. She’s worked for Burning Man Art Festival for the last nine years and does various work in the off-season, mostly tour guide-related. She enjoys building and welding on large, metal art sculpture, and volunteers in her spare time with women who have been trafficked. She loves all the absurd, crazy and artistic things that the Bay Area has to offer, and traveling around California. She’s “Aunt Kooky” to my kids, and they are absolutely crazy about her. Baxter Wagner Smith is in Raleigh with Allen, her husband of 14 years, three kiddos, Allen (12), Bennett (11) and Barry (9), a dog, and two cats. Baxter teaches preschool a couple of days a week at St. Michael’s Parish Day School, and stays sane by training for marathons! They enjoy spending family time hiking and biking in the mountains. Robin White Mangum lives in Raleigh with her husband and three boys, Bear (10), Gus (6) and Hugh (3). She’s stays at home with the boys full time, yet consults on education and children’s programs on the side, and has a small catering business with her sister. That sounds like a busy schedule! Her husband Ned is district court judge and interim district attorney. I hope many more classmates will share their news for the alumnae bulletin in 2015. Please find me on Facebook, or contact me at andrea_sgreen@hotmail.com.
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CLASS news
1994
HIGH SCHOOL Cyndi Akers Harris '94HS Hey ladies! It was great to see those of you who made it to our 20th reunion in the spring. For those of you who didn’t make it, hope life is treating you well. As far as news, Leslie Wagstaff McKay reports that she and husband Andy live in Raleigh with their son Logan (4) and two-year-old twins, Zadie and Will, making life very busy. After working 11 years at GlaxoSmithKline, Leslie decided to make a move to work part time at Med Communications. She loves having more time to spend with the kids, volunteer at school, church and the Junior League. Leslie and her family had a fun summer with trips to the beach and lake and she really enjoyed catching up with everyone at our reunion. Julieanne Arnold Thomas writes from Wilson that she had a great summer spending time with her twin boys at Wrightsville Beach and that they are now back into the groove of school and other activities. Julieanne also enjoyed catching up with those of us who attended the reunion. Eliza Pittman Stephenson lives in Wilson and works as an interior designer. Her children are three and five. Daughter Mallory is now in kindergarten and loves it. As for me, my family and I are still in Raleigh. I work part-time and spend the rest of my time with my son, Ford, who started kindergarten this year and my daughter, Grayson (2). Needless to say, we have lots going on between school activities, sports, traveling when we can and everything in between. Over the last year, I have managed to make some time to teach an after-school art class to elementary school-age children, which has been fun and rewarding. As always, I love any chance I get to spend with Saint Mary’s girls and am lucky to see some on a regular basis. The campus has really changed over the years, but it is always
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nice to go back to or drive by. If you’re ever in town, you should make a special trip to check it out. Until next time - take care.
1996 College
Phebe Hubbard Mott '96C Eliza Pittman Stephenson lives in Wilson and works as an interior designer. Her children are three and five. Daughter Mallory is now in kindergarten and loves it.
1996
HIGH SCHOOL Christina Lind Overby '96HS Courtney Weill Doi '96HS Hello class! I am still living in Mebane with my husband Chris and our two girls, Meredith (6) and Amelia (1). I am busy teaching English at Alamance Community College in Graham. I had a great time catching up with my Saint Mary's girls and all their adorable kids at Laura Raynor's wedding. Laura Lee Raynor married Matthew Richard Martinez in Raleigh on June 1, 2013. Laura enjoyed seeing her Saint Mary's friends, Adrianne, Angie, Ashley, Courtney and Sarah who were in attendance or part of the wedding ceremony. She continues to practice as a neonatologist and has moved to the Salt Lake City, Utah, area with her husband. Adrianne Stone Wegner and her husband Dave welcomed Spencer Thomas Wegner on January 1, 2013. Angie DeMario McGovern started a new job at SPUR Design, LLC in August 2012. She moved to Austin, Texas, with her husband and daughter in July 2013 and continues to work remotely with SPUR Design. Sarah Givens started teaching early childhood education classes at Colorado Mountain College in January 2013. She continues to teach in her home preschool as well, while having adventures with her two children, Grayson, (4) and Henley (2). Love, Courtney
Hello Class of ’96! Laura-Burke Davis Kerr, with her husband John, and daughters Grace (7) and Ellie (3), continues to reside in Raleigh. The girls keep her busy! Laura works part-time as a speech therapist in several assisted living and skilled nursing facilities in the area, mostly with adults who have had strokes, dementia or other neurological diseases. My family of four: Chris, Anna Kate (3), Allison (2) and I continue to enjoy calling Raleigh home. I am teaching my 13th year of fourth-grade at Heritage Elementary in Wake Forest. Life is never a dull moment with two little ones running around. I enjoy keeping up with many of you, and hope everyone is doing well! Love, Christina
2000
HIGH SCHOOL Katherine Cvetko McElroy '00 Anne Dale Bazemore and husband Jonathan welcomed their second son, Myers Broughton Bazemore, on Sept. 25, 2014. Hudson is five, in kindergarten and loves being a big brother. Anna loves having two boys! She sends hugs to everyone. Meredith Bell Hughes was married in St. John on May 18, 2014, to Daniel Hughes of Mt. Pleasant, S.C. They had a reception in June to celebrate their marriage with friends and family. It was a great weekend to catch up with Megan Gonzalez, Kathleen Kelley, Michelle Malecha and Anna Turner. Meredith and Michella Malecha planned to take part in a fundraiser last fall that would take them up the California coast as part of a team that would run 7,000 miles in seven days to raise funds and awareness for young adults affected with cancer. It was sponsored by the Ulman Cancer fund. Sarah Rose Nordgren's book of poems, “Best Bones,” won the Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize and was published last fall by the University of Pittsburgh Press. She is also collaborating with Kathleen Kelley on
Saint Mary’s Women of Courage a performance installation titled “Digitized Figures.” Michaela Idahammar married Nick Ketpura on September 20, 2014, in Aspen/Snowmass, Colo. She works as director of marketing for a non-profit based out of Snowmass, Colo. As for me, I'm super busy with two young children, Mac (4) and Gray (2). I joined Beautycounter, and when I have the time, I am helping to spread their mission to get safe, non-toxic personal care products into the hands of everyone. I can’t believe we all graduated 15 years ago. Time flies!
2002
HIGH SCHOOL Sophia Sunseri writes from New York City to say that she is beginning her first year as a doctoral student in the English program at the City University of New York's Graduate Centre. Meg Duncan graduated from the UNC-Chapel Hill combined MD/PhD program in May. She reports, “Since then, I have moved to Boston, where I have been having a blast at Red Sox games, sailing on the Boston Harbor, and exploring all of the Italian restaurants near my condo in the North End. I've been enjoying traveling for business in my new position as manager in medical affairs at an awesome global biopharmaceutical company, Alkermes, with headquarters up here in Boston and in Ireland. I am so glad to have this unique opportunity that allows me to use both my Ph.D. in pharmacology and my M.D. to bring groundbreaking treatments to patients in need. I hope all of my SMS classmates are doing well and that they will contact me if they are in the Boston area for a visit.”
2004
HIGH SCHOOL Katie Whitmore '04 In May of 2014, a handful of members of the Class of 2004 came back to SMS for our 10-year reunion. It was a fun weekend full of reminiscing and catching up! For those of you who couldn't make it, we hope to see you at the next reunion. In the meantime, here is what the class of 2004 is up to. Hannah Barker lives in Los Angeles and works at the Montage Beverly Hills in communications. Britt Carl is a “freshman success coach/advisor” at High Point University. She is also a member of the SMS Young Alumnae Advisory Board with Katie Whitmore and Charlotte Smith. Nia Triantis Gillespie moved to Spokane Valley, Wash., in January 2014, where she is the yearbook/publications teacher for the high school at Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. She is also seventh- and eighth- grade English teacher and the assistant girls' soccer coach. Allison Schoen Hepfner is in her final year of her doctorate in education and is working on her dissertation, studying the growth in Lexile scores of English as a Second Language (ESL) students in remedial reading classes. Allison is a master teacher and head of the English Department at a middle school in South Carolina. She was recently named
Sarah Blake ’10 USNA Midshipman Sarah Blake, a 2010 graduate of Saint Mary's, visited campus November 24, days after receiving her certification for selection in the Navy Pilot community. Sarah will graduate from the United States Naval Academy this spring and then go to Navy flight school. Saint Mary's is proud to have a future Navy Pilot in its ranks. After her years at Saint Mary's, Sarah had the courage to pursue her Naval Academy dream, and is now living her dream, achieving extraordinary things and serving the nation and the world.
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CLASS news director of children's ministry with her church in Lugoff, S.C., where she lives with her husband and daughter. Cameron Moss lives in Raleigh and works as the marketing coordinator for Barnhill Contracting Company. For the last three spring seasons, she has been coaching a Raleigh Parks and Recreation young girls’ softball team and enjoying it so much. She has had the same girls for all three seasons! Merriweather Raidle Mulé married Michael Gerard Mulé on March 28, 2014, in New Orleans, La. After honeymooning this summer in Italy and Malta, they returned to Charlotte, where Merriweather is a portfolio manager for CornerCap Investment Counsel. Dorothy Matteson Pierce was married in the Saint Mary's Chapel on April 12, 2014. She and her husband live in Benson, where Dorothy is the accounts manager for Dr. Lane. Sarah Simons Team lives in Winston Salem. She and her husband Coleman welcomed a daughter, Anne Miller Team, on June 13, 2014. She will go by, “Milly!” Emily Stocks Walker and her husband continue to live in the inner city of Dallas, where she works for a mentoring program. I moved from Raleigh to Colorado Springs in July 2014, where I am working for the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region. I enjoy taking advantage of all Colorado has to offer and am attempting to master hiking, skiing and driving in the snow.
2006
HIGH SCHOOL Caroline Ward ’06 Morgan Brinkley works as a staff accountant for the U.S. Tobacco Cooperative and has recently purchased a home in Raleigh. Leigh Habbeger graduated from University of Rhode Island in May 2013, and then spent the summer and fall working at an aquarium on Nantucket. She then moved to Washington, D.C., and is finishing up a year-long Knauss Marine Policy fellowship
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with Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. She works as a legislative assistant on the congresswoman's coastal, oceans and fisheries portfolio, which has provided Leigh with the opportunity to travel to Maine to meet with constituents and participate in campaign activities. Leigh is hoping to return to North Carolina soon and reconnect with her Saint Mary's friends. Courtney Holmes Mann married William Mann on August 23, 2014, in Charlotte. She is still working with Bradford Management GroupTalentbridge-Recruiting and has recently purchased a home in Plaza Midwood. Britt Lang moved to Chicago and works as a designer at Studio K, where they do commercial and hospitality design. Leslie Marshall has been overseeing data collection and management for a woman’s empowerment and child nutrition study being conducted by two economists in the southwestern part of Uganda. She planned to return to the U.S. last fall, and begin to write her dissertation. Hannah Kate Mitchell McWilliams married John McWilliams on November 8, 2014, at Washington and Lee. Paige Nelson Grimball lives in Charleston, S.C., where she works in economic development. She and husband Heyward had a baby girl on September 22, 2014, Ellerbe Grace Savage Grimball. Carly Phillips Duguid married Stuart William David Duguid on May 17, 2014, and lives in Los Angeles, where she works in merchandising for Frame Denim. Taylor Rice started her first semester of nursing school last fall in Raleigh. She traveled with Virginia Claire Tharrington to Shanghai, China, last March and had an incredible time. Alexandra Speros is a registered nurse for labor and delivery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., where she has been living since graduation from UNC-Chapel Hill. Alexandra is involved in the community through the Junior League and other non-profit organizations. Sarah Eberle McAnulty married Peter McAnulty at Sacred Heart Cathedral in downtown Raleigh on Saturday, August 24, 2013.
After getting married, they relocated to Harrisonburg, Va., and Sarah works at INC Research, a clinical research organization in Charlottesville, Va. She is working on multiple clinical studies for oncology therapies. Even though she enjoys the mountain views and abundant wineries in the area, she misses Raleigh. As for me, Caroline Ward, I am still living in Augusta, Ga. I have taken on the role as special events manager for Augusta National Golf Club. I have had the pleasure of traveling to Thailand, Malaysia, China, Argentina and Australia planning for the Asia-Pacific and Latin American Golf Tournaments, and I am currently gearing up for a successful 2015 Masters Tournament. As always, it is great to hear from everyone and to have the opportunity to keep in touch with my wonderful Saint Mary’s girls.
2008
HIGH SCHOOL Annie Whitmore '08 Clair Chewning lives in Spartanburg, S.C.
2010
HIGH SCHOOL Emma Powell ’10 Hi, everyone! I hope everyone is getting excited for our five-year reunion coming up in May! I can’t wait for everyone to reunite for a fun weekend in Raleigh. After living in Bath for the summer, I moved back to Raleigh in September and am a recruitment coordinator for Additional Staffing Group with Kristi Brown Grass ’97C. Catherine Doyle is working as a research assistant at the Biochemistry Department at N.C. State. Her focus is on resistant crops for Cassava Mosaic Disease. Chandler Black is teaching fifth-grade in Nashville, Tenn., as a part of Teach for America. Grayson Potter is teaching third-grade in the Washington, D.C., public schools. Rachel Finney is getting her master’s in
teaching in early childhood education at College of Charleston. Tory Daley is working on her master’s in communication disorders (speech language pathology) in Johnson City, Tenn., at East Tennessee State University. She is participating in a graduate apprenticeship on top of classes and clinicals. KK Vinson is getting her master’s in biomedical science at East Carolina University. Sarah Blake is looking forward to her graduation from the Naval Academy in May 2015. After graduation she plans on attending flight school in Pensacola, Fla. Sarah Ann Rhoades and Laura Gulledge are living together in Washington, D.C. Laura is loving working for The Ransom Company and invites everyone to visit D.C. and stay with them! Anna Dillon is also in Washington as an event coordinator with CEB. Cameron Crawford is getting her master’s in accounting from Clemson University, while living in Greenville, S.C. Peron Graeber planned to start vet school at Ross University of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts in January. Cassie Helda is working as a sales representative for Sloane Street Jewelry and living in California. After graduating from Georgetown, Kacie Thompson spent the summer hiking the Appalachian Trail with her dad. She is now in Raleigh. Lisa Michelson spent the summer working with the Illinois Junior Golf Association after graduating from Wake Forest. She is applying to graduate schools and studying for the MCATs. Rebecca Harrell is working for MSA Talent Agency and the School of American Ballet in New York City. Whitney Currin is pursuing her MBA at Citadel Graduate College while working a full-time job at Charleston SEO Firm. Olivia James is working as a press assistant for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Taylor Morris is a third-grade teacher with Morris Grove Elementary School in Chapel Hill. Carrie Weaver graduated from the University of Georgia in May and is working on the marketing team for a technology startup in Washington, D.C. Liza Wooten also graduated from UGA and spent the summer working for Moondance Adventures in Hawaii. She moved to Atlanta and is working for an advertising agency. Alise Willis will graduate from Virginia Tech in May with a professional bachelor’s degree in architecture.
2012
HIGH SCHOOL Carrie Coleman graduated from Johnson & Wales last May with an associate’s degree in culinary arts. She lives in the Charlottesville, Va., area, running her portrait and wedding photography business. Bailey Jeutter transferred from Wofford College to the University of South Carolina to study athletic training. Sam Macfarlane is a junior at Georgetown University, majoring in cultural politics. She has studied abroad and traveled throughout Europe and Africa.
2014
HIGH SCHOOL Mary Stuart Fountain ’14 Greetings, everyone! It is so exciting and hard to believe that it is time to send in our class’s first alumnae report. It was so wonderful to hear from you all and what you have been up to! Thank you to everyone who submitted news; it sounds like you all have been busy and having so much fun since we graduated from Saint Mary’s last May. Meredith Burke writes that in her gap year from UNC-Chapel Hill, she has traveled through Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru with a group of other young people. She has enjoyed whitewater rafting, exploring Machu Picchu, volunteering in small villages by teaching English and nutrition, exploring the effects of gold mining on the Amazon, helping with the conservation efforts with Ridley sea turtles and surfing! Frances Cayton spent the summer working on photography in central Italy and has enjoyed getting involved with campus life at UNC-Chapel Hill. Alexandra Meads writes that she has been enjoying her time at Elon College as an Elon College fellow. Ann Moore Robertson is loving her first year at N.C. State and recently pledged the Sigma Kappa sorority
along with Mary Haley. Holden Stanley had a fun summer working as a counselor at Camp Seafarer along with Anna Lane Mayo. She is also loving college life at Wake Forest University. Anna Claire Stark is working at Edible Art Bakery during her gap year. She is also using this time to train for several marathons and pursue her teaching certification in yoga. Freddie Woronoff has loved her time at Wofford College and has involved herself in various campus activities, including pledging Kappa Delta sorority and working with the admission office. In her role as a “Bell Ringer,” she hosts prospective students and gives campus tours. As for me, after an awesome summer of working as a counselor at the Saint Mary’s School Junior All-Sports Camps, I am enjoying immersing myself in the traditions, culture, scenery and people of the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. I am hopefully looking forward to some Saint Mary’s friends coming to visit soon! Until then, keep in touch, everyone, and go Saints! Much love to you all!
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Supporting Saint Mary's School
Welcome new trustees The Board of Trustees welcomes five new members this year. New trustees, pictured from left to right are: Scott Mahoney of Raleigh, father of alumna Alex Mahoney ’14 and ninth-grader Mary Kate Mahoney ’18; alumna Carter Warren Franke ’75HS ’77C of Owings Mills, Md.; Jeff Szyperski of Irvington, Va., father of alumna Emily Szyperski ’14; alumna Lynn Cowell Ives ’85HS ’87C of Rocky Mount, mother of 10th-grader Jane Ives ’17; and Burns Jones of Greensboro, head of Canterbury School.
A Profile in Courage Megan Harlow ’14
“At Saint Mary’s I found the courage to try new things and put myself out there... I am a confident student, certain I will succeed in whatever I choose. That is a powerful thing to believe, and I am forever grateful to my teachers for showing it to me."
Your gift to the Saint Mary’s School Annual Fund makes it possible for girls like Megan to reach for the stars with courage and confidence and grow as women of intellect, character and purpose. Please support Saint Mary’s Annual Fund today. Encouraged by the passion and support of her “amazing teachers” during her junior year at Saint Mary’s, Megan applied to and was accepted as one of NASA’s Women in STEM High School Aerospace Scholars (WISH). The program gave Megan the chance to collaborate on complex physics challenges with young women from across the country and complete a radiation research project culminating in a presentation to NASA personnel and community leaders.
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Saint Mary’s School | www.sms.edu
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Academic EXCELLENCE | Personal ACHIEVEMENT | WINTER 2015
A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNAE, PARENTS AND FRIENDS
In this issue: Strategic Planning | Lessons from the Magic of Live Theatre | Alumnae Class News
Scenes of Saint Mary’s A blanket of autumn leaves covers the field in front of the Chapel in November. Saint Mary’s historic campus, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is picturesque in each of the four seasons. (Photo by Mary Virginia Swain ’77C)
EXPLORATION DAYS: Never Stop Exploring!