CLA C SL S A SNSO N TO ES TES
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Gloria D’Aiello Wehle’s daughter, Deborah Ann Wall Wilcox ’75, an accomplished artist, passed away on Aug. 7, 2021. Gloria’s granddaughter, Abigail Deborah Wilcox, also a gifted artist, graduated from Paier College of Art with a BFA degree. The trio exhibited their works in a trigenerational show at the Madison Art Cinema Gallery in Madison, Conn., in 2018. We extend condolences to the family and friends of Zilpha “Dotsie” Slosson Erskine, who died Jan. 26. A stalwart volunteer, most recently serving as class correspondent, she was recognized by the Alumni Association with an Outstanding Service Award in 2018. She will be dearly missed by the Skidmore community and many others. Office of Alumni Relations classnotes@skidmore.edu
’50
Ann Perkins Ott is still going strong at 93; she does all her yardwork (including mowing), housework, and cooking on her own. “I’ve been blessed and am very fortunate.” She was happily married for 75 years to husband Norm, who died in 2010. Sadly, Perkie lost her son, Dale, to cancer in 2018. Daughters Sharyn and Sharman live in Pinehurst, N.C., and in Annapolis, Md. Perkie has three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Ellen Kelsey Dubocq is happy and well at her retirement community in Tucson. Nan Radack Strauss loves living in her condo in Hopkins, Minn. It overlooks a pond and park. Several neighbors have “adopted” Nancy and even take her on surprise overnight trips. Two of her sons live nearby, as do her three grandchildren. She 28
SCOPE SUMMER 2022
visits her oldest son in Paris every year. Nancy is fully recovered from injuries sustained in an auto accident several years ago. As an active member of a Peripatetic Group, she authors research papers on select topics. Sina Nazzaro Conte lost her beloved husband Frank on Aug. 4, 2021, “after 60 years of wedded bliss.” It was most unexpected and left Sina devastated. Fortunately, she has a wonderful, supportive son and daughter-in-law and three fine grown grandsons. Sina resides in Pine Plains, N.J. She still hasn’t lost her beautiful handwriting, which your correspondent greatly envies. I received notice of the death of John A. Beals, one of our special WWII service veterans who added so much to the class. John was 95 and died in the Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Albany. I’ve been in Greenville, N.C., just over two years. Although they haven’t taken the Connecticut Yankee out of me yet, I’ve settled
in and appreciate being close to my growing family. Bill and I have two children, but when the family gathers these days, we number 18, including my newest greatgrandson, Marcus Cadger, who arrived last year. It’s just more evidence that moving south was the right thing to do! Irene Marcus Senter senter2@comcast.net
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Anthea Merrihue Turner enjoyed a trip to Lake George last summer, as she lives in Florida. A grandson was married in Munich, Germany, in September. Two great-grandsons were born in 2021. Being surrounded by family is a gift that keeps on giving, says Anthea! Janet Ainsworth MacDonald says that life is getting harder every day! Mary Dunham Scott passed away on Oct. 5, 2021.
Lois Burch Whitford’s son died from cancer in June 2021. He was living in England at the time. Lois was unable to be with him, but her daughter and son-in-law did get to go to England after getting vaccinated. The Class of 1951 sends its condolences. For Lois, it was mostly a “stay at home and read books” kind of year. Barbara Tyson Hartman’s daughter Pam, who lives in Virginia, and grandson Logan, who lives in Connecticut, celebrated Thanksgiving with Barbara. She also received a special mention at the Thursday Musical Club concert for her volunteer work while singing with the chorus. It was a nice surprise. Barbara is still getting shots in her eyes for macular degeneration. She says it is hard to read letters and numbers. Barbara Freedman Wolfson has kept busy with Zoom meetings, meditations, walking, double masking, telephone visits with friends, and other “signs of the times.” Other than that, all is thankfully status quo.
A Tribute to Class Notes Editor Mary Monigan After serving Skidmore for more than a quarter-century, Class Notes Editor Mary Monigan has retired. Mary (officially associate director of alumni communications) joined the College’s former University Without Walls program in 1996 before joining the Alumni Relations team five years later. Over the years, she has fostered enduring relationships with alumni and told their stories through Scope magazine, Scope Monthly, social media, and a variety of other platforms. A talented writer, she has written countless alumni profiles for important community celebrations and supported Skidmore alumni and the Alumni Association Board in numerous other ways. “She’s done all of this with talent, skill, and a deep understanding of Skidmore’s history — not to mention good humor,” said Mike Sposili, assistant vice president of Alumni Relations and College Events. “If you ask Mary what her job has entailed, she’ll tell you it is all about telling alumni stories. Mary has been our storyteller, and she will be missed.” The Scope editorial team thanks Mary for her many years of dedicated service and wishes her a very happy retirement.
