Sweet Briar Alumnae Magazine | Vol. 85, No. 1 | Summer 2014 by Sweet Briar College

MAGAZINE VOLUME 85 NO.1

Dear

Friends:

n this issue of the magazine you will read about women of character, courage and commitment. Several stories feature alumnae in military life where, prepared by their Sweet Briar educations, they have embraced many challenges and adventures. For example, this year was a reunion year for the marvelous class of 1944: We celebrate the anniversary of the commissioning of several classmates in this issue. What an inspiration it was to spend time with members of this class on campus! Other stories continue the theme of challenge and adventure outside the military; in this issue you can share in the adventures experienced by students in the Outdoor Program and the intellectual challenges currently motivating our wonderful faculty. Perhaps I am especially taken with this issue’s theme of challenge and adventure because, as many of you know, I am about to embark on a new professional adventure myself. In August, I will assume the presidency of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh as the first woman to lead that distinguished organization. One theme that I have consistently heard from Sweet Briar alumnae since I arrived five years ago is that life is full of surprises — and that a liberal arts education prepares Sweet Briar women to embrace whatever comes their way with character, courage and commitment. Certainly, the opportunity to extend my career as an educator and nonprofit leader into the world of museums and public education came unexpectedly to me. After all, as I told the Carnegie recruiters when they first contacted me, I already had a dream job as president of Sweet Briar. But, for very fortunate people, life sometimes has more than one dream job in store, and the opportunity for continued learning and growth is always enticing. And so I reflect that I am without doubt among the very most fortunate of women. It has been my great good fortune — and an honor, and a privilege — to serve Sweet Briar and to come to know her people. Taking my leave is bittersweet, but in the true spirit of Sweet Briar women, I have found the next challenge irresistible. And so, with gratitude and deep respect, I say farewell. Please know that I will always be glad to see my Sweet Briar friends at the museums! If you visit, please do let me know. Sincerely,

Jo Ellen Parker, President

MAGAZINE VOLUME 85 NO.1

SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE MAGAZINE POLICY The magazine aims to present interesting, thought-provoking material. Publication of material does not indicate endorsement of the author’s viewpoint by the magazine or College. The Sweet Briar College Magazine reserves the right to edit and, when necessary, revise all material that it accepts for publication. Contact us anytime. MAGAZINE STAFF Christy Jackson, director of media, marketing and communications Jennifer McManamay, editor/writer Janika Carey, editor/writer Meridith De Avila Khan, photographer Catherine Bost, designer Contact information Office of Media, Marketing and Communications PO Box 1056, Sweet Briar, VA 24595 (434) 381-6262 mmc@sbc.edu SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Paul G. Rice, chair Please see sbc.edu/about/board-directors for the full Executive Committee and board members.

ON THE COVER: We honor those who serve by telling some of their stories beginning on page 18.

Find Sweet Briar online

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Twitter: sweetbriaredu

Facebook: sweet.briar.college

YouTube: youtube.com/sweetbriarcollege

Visit sbc.edu/magazine.

SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE ALUMNAE Board Sandra Taylor ’74, president Please see sbc.edu/alumdev/current-board for the full board. Printed by Progress Printing Company

Contents Sweet Briar Magazine | Summer 2014

Features

14-17

In the Spotlight Awards and honors celebrate Sweet Briarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faculty

18-29

Those Who Serve Character, courage and commitment in the SBC community

30-31

Salamander Lives Art and science unite to tell amphibiansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; story

32-37

New Heights An Outdoor Program adventure challenges students to reach for the top

Departments 2-13

On the Quad Parker Bids Farewell; Taking the Helm; Campus Art; On Stage; History in 3D; Green Future; Medals and Pearls; Riding High; A Century of Lacrosse

42-80

Class Notes & Alumnae News A Distinguished Alumna; Out in the Elements; West Coast Wine Queen

50-51

Because of You Devoted Donor Reflects on Wartime Career

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Parker Becomes First Woman to Lead Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

resident Jo Ellen Parker has announced she has accepted the presidency of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, becoming the first woman in the museums’ almost 120-year history to hold the post. In this role, she will oversee four distinguished institutions: the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Carnegie Science Center and The Andy Warhol Museum. Her last day at Sweet Briar will be Aug. 15. Parker originally told museum recruiters she was not seeking new opportunities. “I had a job I loved, and I clearly expressed that,” Parker said. But the museums persisted, confident she had the background and skills they sought, and after a while, Parker began to consider this “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Leaving Sweet Briar is bittersweet, according to Parker, who views her new appointment as a testimony to both the liberal arts and women’s colleges. “My career trajectory is evidence of the power of a liberal arts education at a women’s college to prepare graduates for leadership in many different fields,” Parker said. “I have been a scholar and teacher, led an educational technology organization, served as a college president, and now, I begin my tenure as president of the Carnegie Museums. My education in the liberal arts at a women’s college was the foundation of every achievement of my career and prepared me to have not just one dream job, but several.” James F. Jones Jr., retiring president of Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., will succeed Parker as interim president. “President Parker has advanced the College’s mission with intelligence, business smarts, wit and kindness,” said Paul Rice, chair of the Sweet Briar College Board of Directors. “We regret her departure, but we wish her and her husband, Rick Manasa, well on this exciting new journey.” Parker became Sweet Briar’s 10th president in July 2009. Under her leadership, the College developed “A Plan for Sustainable Excellence” and has made significant progress in key strategic initiatives since its adoption in 2011. Approximately $10 million has already been raised in support of the strategic plan, funding additional scholarships for students, the renovation of 15 classrooms, and the Fund for Educational Excellence and Innovation to encourage faculty-led initiatives to enhance instruction and curriculum.

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In addition, a multimillion dollar renovation of Mary Helen Cochran Library is slated for completion this fall. During Parker’s tenure, the campus also has seen growth in the diversity of its student body. When she arrived in 2009, 11 percent of the first-year class identified themselves as members of underrepresented races or ethnicities. In 2012, the number was 29 percent. Numbers of first-generation college attendees and students eligible for Pell Grant support have grown similarly. For Parker, this is a point of special significance. “Making sure that women from across American society have access to a Sweet Briar education extends our proud tradition of changing lives,” she said. Under her leadership, the College has also reduced its operating budgets, reorganized administrative units and reviewed its instructional staffing plan. “It has been my privilege to serve Sweet Briar College alongside its remarkable faculty and staff,” Parker said. “I am proud of what we have accomplished together to give students an exceptional educational experience, and I remain confident in the direction we are moving. I leave knowing that Sweet Briar is poised to take another step toward an inspiring future.” Prior to her appointment as Sweet Briar’s president, Parker served as executive director of the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education and as president of the Great Lakes Colleges Association. She also has served as a faculty member and administrator at her alma mater, Bryn Mawr College, and taught in the English department of Swarthmore College. Parker earned her A.B. in English from Bryn Mawr, her M.A. in English from the University of Kansas and her Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Pennsylvania.

Presented to Jo Ellen Parker

JUNE 7, 2014 by the Sweet Briar college Board

of Directors

Founded 113 years ago and nurtured by gene rations of talented, dedicated and committed women and men, Sweet Briar College has been sustained primarily through the accomplishm ents of a handful of leaders whose selfless dedicatio n to its core values and educational mission has seen the College through the challenges of war, depr ession, financial constraints and societal chan ge. By combining an unwavering commitment to liberal learning with a 21st-century response to new demographic, pedagogical and technological reali ties, we are confident that you, Sweet Briarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10th president, deserve to be recorded among a select number who have left an indelible mar k on our College. Leadership comes in different forms, but it is not a process through which one person pulls and others follow. You reminded us that Sweet Bria r can only move forward when there is a shar ed sense of purpose and agreement on a common destination. Successful leaders reflect and shap e this consensus and, yet, their vision must encompa ss the community of the present and of all poss ible futures. You have led with decisiveness, wisdom, integrity and courage, and have wholeheartedly dedicated yourself to sustaining our College. You inspired our creativity and innovation and quickly became the embodiment of Sweet Bria r women of all generations, social and cultural backgrounds. As a scholar of Victorian literature, you have never lost your profound respect for the power of words. You once said that Sweet Briar, to you, is all about preparing women to achieve and accomplish. You taught us to respect hard wor k and to cultivate a sense of humor, to value the integrity of every individual and the potentia l of every idea. You gave this private college a public consciousness about its past and a new voice that embraces complexity, inclusion and diversity. It is your ability to communicate in a very personal , thoughtful and genuine way that we will long remember and value. We will never be able to thank you enough for this courageous, prescien t and enduring contribution, but it is one of the mos t prominent examples of your role as an institutio nbuilder. Five years was not long enough, but in that shor t period you prepared us for a potentially transformative journey. Now, as you leave the Sweet Briar presidency, we, the members of the board of directors, wish to express our apprecia tion for your distinguished service. You have carr ied the privilege and responsibility of serving as pres ident with grace and grit. Your innovative, entrepreneurial and collaborative vision has firm ly set the College on a path that will define its future and, we trust, its continuing progress. We who share your deep affection for Sweet Briarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s people, traditions and values are profoun dly grateful. All who love Sweet Briar take joy and confidence in knowing that the legacy of your service has prepared the College for the next challenge, and we are profoundly grateful.

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y of Trinity College Al Ferreira, courtes

James F. Jones Jr. J Named Interim President of Sweet Briar College

ames F. Jones Jr., retiring president of Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., has been named the interim president of Sweet Briar College. He succeeds Jo Ellen Parker, who announced in April that she had been recruited for the presidency of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. Jones will assume his new duties Aug. 15. Jones’ appointment follows an intensive recruitment and selection process, according to Sweet Briar College Board of Directors chair Paul Rice, who noted the search committee was impressed with Jones’ professional accomplishments, his commitment to collaboration and transparency at every level, and his understanding of the College. Jones’ wife, Joan “Jan” Sheets Jones, is a 1969 graduate of Sweet Briar. “We are pleased to welcome Jimmy Jones as interim president of Sweet Briar College and delighted to welcome back his wife, Jan,” Rice said. “Jimmy’s twenty years of experience as a highly effective president of two distinguished liberal arts colleges, his academic credentials, his boundless energy, and his knowledge of Sweet Briar uniquely qualify him for this appointment. He will be a solid leader as we navigate the College’s immediate future and

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complete the research and planning already underway for longterm sustainability.”

hold her in the highest regard. I know she has constructed a firm foundation for us to build upon as we move forward.”

During his 10-year presidency at Trinity College, Jones led a college-wide strategic planning process, with input from hundreds of faculty, staff, students and the Trinity Board of Trustees. The resulting 2005 Cornerstone Plan was instrumental in establishing an ongoing process for annual planning at the college. In addition, the Cornerstone Plan helped Trinity develop the goals of its six-year Cornerstone and Legacy Campaigns, which concluded in 2012 after raising $369 million in contributions and donor commitments — more than double the amount of Trinity’s previous fundraising campaign.

Parker says she is leaving assured the College is in very capable hands.

Jones oversaw the successful $33 million restoration and renovation of Trinity’s historic Long Walk buildings. Other campus improvements during his tenure include the establishment of the Crescent Street Townhouses and the Koeppel Community Sports Center; renovation of Vernon Social into a vibrant student gathering place; and the creation of the Gates Quadrangle, linking the classical architecture of Trinity’s Long Walk Quad with the modern buildings of its math and sciences quad.

“Sweet Briar could not have found a more ideal interim president,” Parker said. “For me, personally, passing the torch to Jimmy Jones, an admired colleague and friend, is an honor — and knowing that Sweet Briar will be in such good hands is a joy.” Prior to Trinity, Jones served for eight years as president and professor of humanities at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Mich. Before that, he was at Southern Methodist University in Dallas as professor of the humanities, dean of Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences and vice provost of the university. Earlier, he served as professor of Romance languages and literatures, director of the Summer Language Institute in France, and chair of the department at Washington University in St. Louis, and as preceptor for the Department of French and Romance Philology at Columbia University.

A native of Atlanta, Jones graduated cum laude from the University of Virginia. Longtime collaborators and friends, Parker and Jones established a program He earned his master’s degree in Nairobi together in the late 1990s. Here they are visiting a Maasai village. at Emory University and did During Jones’ decade as doctorate work at Columbia University, earning both an M. Phil. president, Trinity saw more than 30 percent growth in its overall and a Ph.D. He also holds a Certificat, Degré Avancé, from the College endowment and achieved significant annual fund growth. Ecole des Professeurs de Français à l’Etranger, the Sorbonne. Today, annual fund contributions represent between 8 and 9 His publications include “Rousseau’s Dialogues: An Interpretive percent of the college’s operating budget — almost double the Essay,” which was nominated for the Louis Gottschalk Prize; “The contribution 10 years ago. In addition, Jones, who also served as Story of a Fair Greek of Yesteryear”; a translation into English of Trinity College Professor in the Humanities, taught at least one L’Histoire d’une Grecque moderne by Antoine-François Prévost; and class every year. “La Nouvelle Héloïse: Rousseau and Utopia,” along with more As he looks toward his interim presidency at Sweet Briar, Jones is than two dozen scholarly articles. taking a personal approach to an institution to which his family has Jones has received numerous awards for his community alliances strong ties. In addition to his wife, his sister-in-law Elizabeth Sheets and scholarly and cultural achievements on both sides of the Reed graduated in 1982, and a great-niece, the child of the Joneses’ Atlantic, including Chevalier, Ordre des Palmes Académiques by goddaughter, is currently enrolled. declaration of the French government. He maintains positions on “My wife loves every blade of grass on Sweet Briar’s campus, numerous boards, with directorships and trusteeships on select and the College has played — and continues to play — such an educational and cultural committees, including the Consortium important role in her life and in our life together. As with many on Financing Higher Education; the Centre d’Echanges of the College’s alumnae, Jan’s excitement and enthusiasm for her Internationaux, Paris; and the Rassias Foundation at Dartmouth alma mater are contagious,” Jones said. “I view the next two years College. as a professional and personal obligation to safeguard Sweet Briar Jones and his wife have three children, Jennifer, Justin and Jason; in the face of shifting demographics in our country. We must six grandchildren; and an Irish field setter, Colleen. continue to adjust to the myriad changes that confront higher education. I have known Jo Ellen Parker for many years and sbc.edu | Sweet Briar Magazine

FOA Taps Alumna for Sculpture

site-specific sculpture to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Friends of Art will soon adorn an area near Mary Helen Cochran Library and its brand-new addition. After inviting about two dozen artists to submit proposals last spring, the Friends of Art selected alumna and Blue Ridge Architects associate Catherine Peek ’01, who will be working with students and a campus committee to realize her vision in the coming months.

“The scale of the waves will be large enough to present a compelling visual effect … and human-sensitive to make it an enjoyable spot to relax on,” Peek says. The waves will also complement the ship-like form of the library addition.

Josh Fox, A documentary filmmaker who gained international fame after the release of “Gasland” at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, opens his case against fracking for natural gas with a banjo. Fox was the speaker at Sweet Briar’s 2014 Waxter Environmental Forum.

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Titled “Uplift” in reference to the 1880s to 1920s women’s movement, Peek’s sculpture will pay homage to Sweet Briar’s history as a women’s college and to its natural surroundings. Red clay, which constitutes most of the soil on campus, will be central to the artwork and will be represented by vivid-hued monolithic retaining walls “sweeping across the site,” Peek said. Friends of Art has set aside a project budget of $50,000 from member donations it received in the last two years. Construction of the sculpture is set to begin this fall, along with workshops that will engage students in the creative process. Peek hopes to complete the project in time for the planned library dedication on Nov. 7.

Scan for a video of Fox’s talk.

Kylene Hayslett ’07

College Stages ‘Brundibár’

n April, Sweet Briar Theatre staged Tony Kushner’s translation of “Brundibár,” the opera that was originally performed by Jewish children in Nazioccupied Czechoslovakia. The production was underwritten by Sen. Elliot Schewel and his wife, Rosel. Designer Cheryl Warnock created the set to look like a concentration camp, and Sweet Briar’s own student orchestra delivered the soundtrack dressed in prison garb.

The cast of “Brundibár” performs on stage at Murchison Lane Auditorium.

“In Sweet Remembrance” Aug. 27, 29 & 30, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31, 2 p.m. Murchison Lane Auditorium, Babcock Fine Arts Center Free Admission Additional Special Events Sponsored by the Alumnae Office Written by Tearrance A. Chisholm and commissioned by Endstation, Sweet Briar College, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and the Greater Lynchburg Community Trust, “In Sweet Remembrance” is a tribute to the significant role of the black community throughout the College’s history. For more information, visit endstationtheatre.org.

Contractors install the new sound booth in Murchison Lane Auditorium, thanks to a $30,000 grant from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. Renovations were completed in March and also included a lighting and projection booth, a family viewing room, additional storage and a new box office in the lobby. sbc.edu | Sweet Briar Magazine

Remaking History

weet Briar’s Margaret Jones Wyllie ’45 Engineering Program teamed up with a local company, GoMeasure3D, this spring to make a bit of history. The College donated the use of its 3D printer to reproduce missing pieces of 400-year-old Virginia Indian-English artifacts excavated from the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown.

Above right: Jamestown archaeologist David Givens holds a recreated 400-year-old artifact still warm from the 3D printer behind him. Above: A fragment is produced in the 3D printer.

GoMeasure3D used high-definition scanning to capture images of fragments of broken ceramic vessels found in the James Fort. Technicians then processed the data to generate 3D computer replicas of the pieces the archaeologists didn’t find. Finally, those results were used to “print” the missing fragments so conservators could piece together the whole — now composed of original and reproduced shards, blending 17th- and 21st-century technologies. One of the artifacts Sweet Briar helped reproduce is a small kiln used by Joseph Cotton to fire clay pipes. Cotton made the pot by pressing clay inside an Indian basket, which burned off during firing. The distinctive weave impression left on its exterior is thought to be the only known example of a Virginia Indian basket from that time, said David Givens, a senior staff archaeologist at the Jamestown Rediscovery Archaeological Project. About 48,000 shards of Indian pottery have been found within James Fort since its discovery in 1996. They help reveal how the colonists incorporated Virginia Indian identity, objects and technology into their material culture in ways that haven’t been told before, Givens said. “In archaeology, context is everything,” he said. “I can’t tell you that this basket was with Pocahontas, but she, John Smith and John Rolfe were walking around when this basket was used. Certainly one of them laid their hands on it or their eyes. … It’s pretty cool.” The recreated artifacts will be part of a new exhibit at the Voorhees Archaearium, the archaeological museum at Historic Jamestowne. “World of Pocahontas” opened this summer and focuses on Virginia Indians.

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In April, Sweet Briar House was voted No. 1 in an online poll conducted by the Virginia Center for Architecture to identify “Virginia’s Favorite Architecture.” It bested Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, Poplar Forest and his Academical Village at UVa.

The Grass Is Greener … I

t’s been a year of great strides toward environmental sustainability for Sweet Briar. In January, the College joined four other private Virginia colleges in partnering with Collegiate Clean Energy to convert methane emissions from landfills into environmentally friendly energy for their institutions. Emory & Henry College, Hollins University, Lynchburg College, Randolph College and Sweet Briar became the first institutions of higher learning in the state to provide 100-percent renewable electricity to their respective campuses. As a result, the independent colleges are offsetting between 50 and 70 percent of their total carbon footprint and establishing a new standard for sustainability at colleges and universities in the commonwealth. The combined savings is estimated between $3.2 million and $6.4 million over the next 12 years. Collegiate Clean Energy provides colleges, universities and businesses with renewable energy products and is an affiliate of Ingenco, Virginia’s largest landfill-gas-to-energy operator. Landfills account for 35 percent of all manmade methane emissions in the United States, and by capturing those emissions, LFG-to-energy projects preserve the environment while reducing the need for fossil fuel. Electricity generated from landfill gas will be delivered to each college through the distribution system owned by Appalachian Power. The Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia coordinated the sustainability initiative.

to convert approximately 250 acres of its hayfields to native warm-season grasses with perennial borders. The grasses will be sold as biofuel, with the borders becoming pollinator habitat. “Not only will we be growing a biofuel to be used as a green energy source, the warm-season grasses also enhance carbon sequestration through greater root production,” said vice president for finance and administration Scott Shank. Sweet Briar students will also benefit from the collaboration through research opportunities. About 61 species of wildflowers, including three types of milkweed, are being planted. The intent is to study the impacts of establishing pollinator-attractant plant species next to the energy crops. “The project has the potential to provide substantial educational opportunities for us in the areas of biology, chemistry, environmental studies, engineering and perhaps others,” said Dorys McConnell Duberg Professor of Ecology Linda Fink. While the research will take about three years, Sweet Briar is entering into a “longer-term arrangement to manage and harvest the warm-season grasses to be sold in Virginia as biofuel under a revenue-sharing agreement,” Shank said. “Overall, this opportunity will not generate a large sum of revenue; however, it will generate substantially more than our former leases with local farmers.”

In April, the College announced that it has entered into an agreement with FDC Enterprises Grassland Services

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Above: Trethewey with Taneal Williams ’16 during her book signing at Sweet Briar. Right: Trethewey with Professor John Gregory Brown at her reading in Pannell Gallery.

Poet F Laureate Visits Campus

rom the moment Natasha Trethewey took the stage in Murchison Lane Auditorium this past February, she had everyone’s attention.

“A poem can help us cross divides,” she said, adding that it allows us to hear difficult things about ourselves and others.

“Poetry,” she had told listeners during an intimate Q&A in Pannell Gallery earlier that day, “can help us have some of the most difficult conversations,” referring to the sometimes invisible racism still present today.

Being appointed U.S. Poet Laureate in June 2012 was a pleasant surprise for Trethewey, and she takes the honor very seriously.

Born in Mississippi in 1966, on the 100th Confederate Memorial Day, to a black mother and a white father, Trethewey has firsthand experience with its various forms, some more explicit than others. Since her debut “Domestic Work” in 2000, Trethewey has tried to make sense of the “American idea of difference,” leading her back to 18th-century notions of racial distinction. Many of these ideas, first promoted by Enlightenment philosophers and scientists, still inform modern versions of racism, she said, even if it’s not always intentional. When Trethewey was growing up, people attributed anything she did well to her “white side,” she recalled, “as if being half white improved me.” “Native Guard,” in which the poet traces her own history back to the Civil War, serves as an elegy to her mother, who was murdered when Trethewey was 19. “Thrall” explores the nature of inheritance, mostly through poems about her white father. Working through her own family history has helped her come to terms with some uncomfortable truths about her biracial identity, but Trethewey believes the personal is always also a reflection of the bigger picture: If art can be used to confront one’s own demons, it can also serve to reveal problems in society.

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In January 2013, upon being called to a second term, the Emory University professor moved to Washington, D.C., where her office in the Library of Congress allowed her to hold regular office hours for anyone who wanted to talk to her — about anything. Determined to make it a position of service, she hoped connecting with people might help her come up with a project to devote her time to. As it turned out, the conversations themselves became the project she was looking for: Talking to strangers about her poetry led to discussions about larger issues that concerned them. Hearing from others that she’s making a difference has been one of the most gratifying parts of her job, Trethewey said. She recalls one incident in particular, when an old man stopped her on a D.C. street last year. “You’re the poet laureate,” he said. “You’re doing a heck of a job!”

A ‘Paragon’ of Sweet Briar Excellence F

or many, it didn’t come as a surprise when the Presidential Medalist was announced at this year’s Awards Convocation. After all, Spencer Beall had been making a name for herself practically from the minute she stepped foot on campus four years ago. For Beall, it was a magical moment. “Receiving the Presidential Medal is an honor that I only could dream about ever since my freshman year, when I saw Kathryn Alexander receive it,” she said. When President Parker announced the 2014 award, Beall’s “heart froze” and she could “hardly breathe,” said the Ashburn, Va., native. “As if in a fairy tale, I have become the woman I have always wanted to be. I now know why Cinderella felt so great.” The former Pannell Scholar and Honors Summer Research fellow graduated in May with a triple major in French, history and art history and a minor in medieval and Renaissance studies. Her Senior Honors Thesis was written in French and fills 119 pages — not a big deal for her, considering the Apple iBook she published

last spring with her mentor and French professor, Marie-Thérèse Killiam. Beall was also the first recipient of the Virginia Collegiate Honors Council’s Honors Scholar of the Year Award, which was given out in April of this year. The Presidential Medal followed various departmental awards and her induction into Phi Beta Kappa as well Nu Mu, the Sweet Briar chapter of Pi Delta Phi, the National Collegiate French Honor Society. Beall said she always knew Sweet Briar would be the perfect place for her. “I was never more delirious with happiness than when I received my acceptance letter in the mail,” she said. “I will remember that day for the rest of my life.” At Sweet Briar, Beall served on the Academic Affairs Committee and was a member of the French and medieval and Renaissance studies clubs. She also worked in the admission office all four years, first as an office assistant and docent, then as the co-ambassador chairwoman. Among numerous nominations, Beall received praise from a professor who called her “one of the paragons of what Sweet Briar stands for … academically accomplished, intellectually motivated, fearless in seeking out opportunities and at the center of an intellectually inspired social life on campus.” Another faculty member’s endorsement was equally enthusiastic. “It is no exaggeration on my part when I say that she is an exceptional young woman and one of the very best students Sweet Briar has ever seen,” the nomination letter states, adding that Beall also made a lasting impression on her French teachers while studying abroad at the Sorbonne. While praising Beall’s academic achievements, the professor made sure to point out her personal qualities, as well. “Anyone who knows Spencer also knows that she is a genuinely good person, compassionate and generous, and that wearing pearls in her case is more than a Sweet Briar tradition … [She] is, truly, the rare pearl of Sweet Briar.” Beall plans to pursue a doctorate in art history and hopes to someday work as a museum curator and researcher.

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Al Cook

Above: Sweet Briar’s 2014 ANRC Novice Division Champion team Right: Seniors Olivia Smith (from left), Sarah Hibler and Katie Drake are flanked by head IHSA coach Lizzie Fisch (left) and coach and riding director Mimi Wroten.

Spring of Successes S

weet Briar’s riding program enjoyed a successful spring with several team wins and a number of seniors ending their college riding careers on a high note. In April, the College hosted the 37th annual American National Riding Commission (ANRC) National Intercollegiate Equitation Championship, which brought renowned equestrian judge and show official George H. Morris to campus. The venue, weather and riding were just what the former U.S. Equestrian Team chef d’equipe could have hoped for. “The ANRC is a great program. It upholds the value of the sport. This competition took me back to the good old days,” said Morris, who also attended a dinner and presented a lecture during his stay. “The campus, the buildings, the landscape, the rings, the jumps — all, if I graded it, would grade an A-plus.” Sweet Briar’s National Division team won third place overall, and the Novice team won the championship in its division.

In the National Division, Olivia Smith ’14, Katie Drake ’14, Kathryne Richard ’15 and Abigail Strohmeyer ’16 each had top-10 finishes in at least one competition phase, while Smith and Strohmeyer finished in the top 10 overall in individual competition. 12

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In the Novice Division, Alexandra Markmann ’17, Jenny Mix ’15, Olivia Fabian Slocum ’17 and Haley Reeves ’16 had top-10 finishes. Markmann was the division’s reserve champion overall, and Mix also finished in the top 10 in overall individual standings. In May, seniors Sarah Hibler, Katie Drake and Olivia Smith traveled to Pennsylvania, each having qualified to compete at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championships. All three placed in their competitive classes — and Hibler returned from the show as the intermediate equitation over fences reserve champion. Smith competed for the second year in the Cacchione Cup — a special class for the top-36 riders in the open division, who represent each IHSA region in the country — placing ninth. “This is a very competitive class, so being ninth nationally in the Cacchione Cup is a great accomplishment,” riding program director Mimi Wroten said.

Sweet Briar lacrosse celebrated 100 years this spring. A special tailgate and anniversary festivities, sponsored by the alumnae and annual giving offices, campus safety and the Vixen soccer team, were held during the March 31 lacrosse game against Hollins University. The centennial celebration also included a T-shirt design contest to commemorate the milestone. sbc.edu | Sweet Briar Magazine

Faculty Focus 14

Virginia Honors SBC’s Robeva In March, Sweet Briar professor of mathematical sciences Raina Robeva was one of 12 professors to receive a 2014 Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the commonwealth’s highest honor given to faculty at its private and public universities and colleges. The General Assembly and SCHEV established the awards in 1986 with two guiding principles: first, that successful nominees must show superior accomplishments in all dimensions of scholarship — defined as teaching, discovery, integration of knowledge and service — and second, that their accomplishments “strongly” reflect the mission of the institutions they serve. “What feels good about this [award] is that it’s for all of the above,” Robeva says. “Teaching, research, publications — to be recognized for all of these combined, at the state level, it really feels nice.” It’s even nicer given Robeva’s initial skepticism when her colleague, math professor and department chair Jim Kirkwood suggested that the College nominate her. Kirkwood was resolute about her chances, citing Robeva’s knack for being both demanding and nurturing with students and her contributions to the emerging field of mathematical biology education, in which she is a nationally recognized leader.

the potential of new mathematical approaches in the life sciences. And, she engenders the same enthusiasm and confidence in others. “There are few characteristics that define good teaching more than transforming a student’s fear of a subject into excitement, or self-doubt into curiosity,” wrote Ashley Baker ’15, a chemistry major. “When I began my freshman year, I was terrified by one word that appeared on my schedule: calculus. Fortunately, Sweet Briar College hosts a gem of a mathematics professor.” One of Robeva’s tricks is not waiting for a struggling student to ask for help. “I have witnessed her practically begging underperforming students to come for extra help,” Kirkwood says, an observation corroborated by student course evaluations. Her research partners and those who’ve collaborated with her on the development and dissemination of teaching materials for educators find her equally persuasive. John R. Jungck, who directs the Interdisciplinary Science Learning Laboratories at the University of Delaware, calls her a “leader who delivers time and again” and an “extraordinary pioneer in higher education.”

“She truly cares about her students,” Kirkwood wrote in support of her nomination. “What’s more, the level of her research for someone at a liberal arts college is almost beyond belief.”

“It is rare that biologists feel that a mathematician really wants to serve them and their students in a genuine and non-condescending collaboration,” Jungck wrote. “Raina’s friendliness, enthusiasm and incredible breadth manage to win over even the most skeptical and resistant professors in our workshops.”

There are common threads in the testimonials Robeva’s students and colleagues made on her behalf — that she is an always cheerful bridge builder, enabler and a powerful influencer, because she so ardently believes in

The Outstanding Faculty Award recipients were honored at a luncheon at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond on Feb. 20 after an introduction on the floor of the General Assembly.

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Mapping Art History Sweet Briar associate professor of art history Tracy Hamilton is one of 16 fellows selected to participate in the first Kress Summer Institute on Digital Mapping & Art History, which takes place Aug. 3-15 at Middlebury College. “I feel really honored to have been chosen for this institute and know it will transform what I am able to do with my scholarship and teaching,” Hamilton said. “It’s incredibly exciting.” The institute received 128 applications in all, but organizers were impressed by Hamilton’s project “Mapping Medieval Women’s Patronage: Paris in the Fourteenth Century.” For almost two weeks, Hamilton will investigate and visualize the cultural geography of the Middle Ages using geographic information systems and other digital mapping technologies. Creating these maps will support her latest

Winning an Academic Trifecta Professor of anthropology Deborah Durham has received three awards to support her work while she is on sabbatical next year. In March, she learned that she is among the 8 percent of applicants nationwide and one of three in Virginia to receive a 2014 National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Stipend. The $6,000 award will support her project on “Elusive Adulthood in Botswana.” The second award is a Fulbright Scholar Grant for field research this fall to explore how people in Botswana today approach “adulthood” — a concept that

book-length project, “The Ceremonial Landscape: Art, Gender, and Geography in Late Medieval France,” which focuses on the perception and manipulation of geography by a group of royal women patrons in late medieval France. Hamilton’s research is based on the work of cultural geographers, such as J. B. Harley and Dennis Wood, “who claim that culture is spatial, that space is ideological, and that we can discover issues of power, identity and social regulation within landscape,” she wrote in a recent proposal.

“Maps have always been intrinsic to my understanding of time and place,” she wrote. “As a historian of medieval women’s habits of patronage, collection and exchange, visualizing the places and spaces that frame and locate these actions is unavoidable and — for me — one of the most exciting elements of this work.”

Hamilton said illustrating her findings in a digital map will help illuminate the subject as well as support other scholars in their research.

has gained new meaning and greater stakes in its attainment because of changing social and economic conditions in the country. Durham’s new work picks up on research she conducted in the 1990s on youth and youth groups in Botswana, which resulted in several publications. “I will talk to youth I knew in the early 1990s about their own lives,” she says. “I will also meet with people in organizations based in schools, churches and business circles to discuss their ideas, and strike up conversations in malls and markets.” This is Durham’s second NEH Summer Stipend and third Fulbright grant. She also was awarded a Sweet Briar faculty fellowship for spring 2015. During that time, she will work on a monograph

on changing ideas of youth and adulthood in Botswana and a volume on the anthropology of adulthood. “The sense that adulthood is elusive, unattainable for some, or insecure or unrecognizable for others is common around the world,” Durham says. “Yet, while we can see commonalities — unrealized economic hopes, a connection of growing up with improved class status — the problems, discussions and creative solutions to elusive adulthood vary in fascinating ways around the world.” The edited volume will include chapters by anthropologists on Japan, China, India, Georgia, Egypt, Sudan, Papua New Guinea and Botswana.

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Faculty Focus 16

Its blending of disciplines reflects shifting priorities in both scholarly works and teaching at Sweet Briar and elsewhere, he says.

The Physics of Writing Seth Clabough, director of Sweet Briar’s Academic Resource Center and an assistant professor of English, traveled to Nuremberg, Germany, in May to present his paper “Quantum Novels: Theoretical Physics and the Art of Writing” at a firstof-its-kind conference. The inaugural symposium, Physics and Literature: Theory – Popularization – Aestheticization, was presented by the Erlangen Center for Literature and Natural Science, known as ELINAS, at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. ELINAS seeks to develop the exchange between physics, literature and literary criticism as a field of research — one that is “rich with interdisciplinary potential,” Clabough says. Clabough’s work explores how elements of quantum physics might be applied to the creation of a novel and offers an overview of the “physics fiction” tradition.

“I think the hybridized aspects of the ELINAS conference mirror an overall trend in liberal arts education that Sweet Briar is really embracing,” he says. “The world is more instantaneously interconnected than ever before, and colleges need to keep up if they want to stay relevant. I think Sweet Briar has an exciting opportunity to take the lead and is, in fact, already making strides.” Literary criticism, linguistic studies and novels are increasingly incorporating and exploring aspects of theoretical physics, Clabough explains. “[Meanwhile,] those working and writing in the field of physics appear to be growing increasingly aware of the linguistic aspects of scientific research and communication. It’s a mutually beneficial partnership of seemingly disparate modes of inquiry.” The international slate of speakers represented colleges and universities from Italy to Poland to the Canary Islands, as well as the range of science and humanities, including physicists, astronomers, novelists, philosophers and poets. Some notable names were physicist Brian Schwartz and poet Durs Grünbein, among many others.

Project Takes Poet to Peru Associate professor of poetry John Casteen has been awarded a $2,000 Mednick Fellowship by the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges. He will use the grant for a multimedia project in Peru next January. “It’s a great opportunity, and I feel very lucky,” said Casteen, who was selected by Sweet Briar College as its only nominee to compete against proposals from other VFIC faculty. It is also, he was told, the first creative project funded by the fellowship — and it comes at a perfect time. “The Mednick Fellowship will let me build on what was probably the most important project of my career so far,” he said.

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In 2012, Casteen traveled to China on a faculty grant to document his experiences in a country that had undergone rapid cultural, economic and climatic changes. He wanted to get to know the people and explore how these developments had influenced their lives. The project included essays, poems and photographs, all of which Casteen brought back to Sweet Briar. The only problem with China was that Casteen doesn’t speak Mandarin or Cantonese, making it difficult for him to communicate with locals. This time, he wanted to make sure there was no language barrier. For two weeks, Casteen will be touring Peru writing poems and essays, as well as photographing and filming what he encounters. He wants it to be a true multimedia project that is slated to “live on the Web” from the get-go.

Sweet Briar Loves Librarian Julie Kane This spring, Sweet Briar College librarian Julie Kane was named one of 10 winners of the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award. The honor came with a $5,000 check presented at a ceremony hosted by The New York Times. “It’s a little more special because it comes from the people we serve,” Kane said.

Reflecting new responsibilities, Kane’s title recently changed to director of digital teaching and learning and digital pedagogies librarian. Since 2007, she has served as head of technical services, charged with cataloging, acquisitions and serials. In July 2013, she was promoted to full professor.

American Library Association administers the program. This year, more than 1,100 library patrons submitted stories detailing how their librarians impact their communities and lives. Nominees work in public, school, college, community college and university libraries.

In addition to her work at Sweet Briar, she is pursuing an M.A. in English

Kane believes the award has as much do with the community she serves as anything she has done.

from Lynchburg College. She earned her M.S. in library and information science at Simmons and her bachelor’s at Mount Holyoke, both women’s colleges — which helped draw her to Sweet Briar after nearly seven years as a serials librarian at Stanford Law School.

“Every facet of my nomination that highlights what I’ve done or what I do for Sweet Briar, I can trace back to members of the staff, faculty and administration who have supported, encouraged and pushed me out of my comfort zone to explore, travel and learn new things,” she says.

Kane’s colleagues also recognized her for volunteering as an advisor to first-year students from 2009 to 2011, for her service on numerous American Library Association committees and for her own scholarship.

“I’ve taken advantage of the incredible support here and pounced on every crumb of encouragement. I only hope that I can give back something of value that reflects a fraction of what that does for me.”

Indeed. Seven grateful people — including five faculty members and the College’s grants officer, Kathleen Placidi — contributed to Kane’s nomination. It was Placidi who coordinated the effort, along with associate dean for academic affairs Jill Granger. “I’ve been so impressed by how Julie has expanded the role of what an academic librarian is, by enthusiastically helping our faculty incorporate digital resources into their classrooms and research, and by working so hard to learn new techniques and skills in order to turn herself into a digital humanities resource for the community,” Placidi said. Integrating technology across the curriculum is a cornerstone of the College’s strategic plan. Kane served on the Digital Sophistication Planning Group and has been a key mover in digital learning initiatives. Writing in support of her nomination, English department chair Marcia Robertson cited Kane’s leadership on the fall 2013 implementation of the Digication ePortfolio platform. “Having Julie there to handle questions and soothe anxieties and solve problems makes a qualitative difference in our lives,” she wrote.

“Julie Kane loves being a liberal arts college librarian — and it shows,” Granger wrote in summation of her nomination. Only 60 librarians nationwide have won the I Love My Librarian Award since it was inaugurated in 2008. The

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Character • Cour

hen the National Women’s Histor y Project announced its 2014 theme, “Celebrating Women of Character, Courage and Commitment,” it struck a chord with us. The Sweet Briar family brims with individuals, both men and women, who’ve given of themselves in service to community and country in different capacities — and we wanted to tell a few of their stories. Over the next several pages, we highlight how the people of Sweet Briar — students, alumnae, faculty and staff — have served the United States. Sweet Briar seniors are sworn in to the Women’s Army Corps by Maj. Gen. Joe Dalton on April 17, 1944. Susan Somervell (from left), Margaret “Peggy” Gordon, Norma Bradley, Anita Lippitt, Janet Staples, Alice Hepburn and Marjorie Willetts reported for duty following graduation.

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age â&#x20AC;˘ Commitment

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Army Days By Anita Lippitt Clay ’44

In June of 1944, I was inducted into the Army by Maj. Gen. Joe Dalton at Sweet Briar College, along with six of my classmates. We were inducted as part of a publicity drive to encourage more college girls to enlist in the services. Those who went in with me were Susan Somervell Griswold, Peggy Gordon Seiler, Norma Bradley Arnold, Janet Staples Munt, Alice Hepburn Puleston and Marjorie Willetts Maiden. We all scattered in different directions after basic training. Susan and I went into the Air Corps, which was still part of the Army. We were stationed at New Castle Army Air Base in Delaware in a swamp where mold grew in my high-heel shoes in two days. I enjoyed being a statistician, and one of my duties

was to plot on a huge map all the flights of U.S. planes in the China-Burma-India region. Our base received most of the wounded soldiers from that region. I spent the rest of my service in the Army at Westover Field (now Westover Air Reserve Base) in Chicopee, Mass., where I was in the public relations office. It was exciting riding out in a Jeep with a photographer to interview VIPs who arrived from overseas. I remember how charming Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s sister was. I really enjoyed being a “lowly corporal” in the Army, but rather than go to officer’s training, I retired after two years. The war was over, and I did not want to make a career of the service. I was proud of those two stripes and proud to have served my country in World War II. It was a remarkable learning experience. Having been educated in small girls schools all my life, I must say, it was a real education for me to get out and meet all kinds of people. It stood me in good stead when I married a naval officer a year later and ended up living on military bases around the world.

Reflections from the Class of 1944 Alice Lancaster Buck was sitting in her family’s on-campus home. Virginia “Dykie” Watts Fournier was listening to the radio in her dorm room in Reid. Catherine “Tee” Tift Porter had just finished watching “Sergeant York” and was leaving Lynchburg’s downtown movie theater. She said for a moment she thought she had stepped through the screen to the movie set instead of outside onto the street. Young boys were running about, waving papers and yelling, “Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” For all of them, the moment they heard Pearl Harbor had been bombed is one that no amount of time will ever erase. “We knew immediately we were going to war,” Porter said. And they were right. World War II changed lives across the globe, and the students at Sweet Briar weren’t immune from its effects. Members of the Class of 1944 remember comforting classmates whose fiancés and boyfriends went off to war. Louise Smith Barry recalled a classmate whose boyfriend, a pilot, had said he would fly over the College

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before he headed overseas. The two women were sitting together in the infirmary when they heard the sounds of the promised plane buzzing overhead. Students gave their ration cards to the College and took turns waiting tables in the refectory because many of the employees had joined the war effort. Despite the difficult times, the young women still found opportunities for fun during their time on campus. They participated in tap clubs — like Paint ‘n’ Patches and Aints ‘n’ Asses — staged class shows and enjoyed overnight adventures to the outing cabin. All of these times drew the class together, according to Buck, who regularly oversees get-togethers for the class in between their Reunions. “What we shared together, good and bad, made us so much closer,” she said. See Reunion class picture on page 78.

Meridith De Avila Khan

Career Volunteer

“People ask what I found most helpful in enduring the vicissitudes of Army life,” says Joanne Holbrook Patton, the wife, daughter and granddaughter of career military officers. “Aside from the obvious dedication to the mission of serving our country, a sense of adventure has been most helpful. Adventure doesn’t promise rose gardens, but [it] promises something new and interesting around every corner — including new opportunities to serve.” Serve is what Patton did while she and her husband, Maj. Gen. George S. Patton, raised five children and lived in 27 different homes during his career. Being an Army officer’s wife comes with privilege but also responsibility — even more so when you marry the son of a famous World War II commander, and in a time of war. Her husband saw combat in Korea and Vietnam,

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Patton Family Private Collection

and his decorations include two Distinguished Service Crosses for valor in Vietnam. It was an era of frequent war zone deployments, yet there were few formal support systems for spouses and children as there are today. “I came along in the days when it was almost impossible to have a career because we moved so frequently,” Patton says, noting she was married a week after graduating with an English degree from Sweet Briar in 1952. “Because military wives didn’t work, they volunteered to assist community programs the Pentagon couldn’t or wouldn’t support at the time. They became professionals at it.”

Col. George S. Patton in Vietnam

“I felt like we were a team, even though he might be overseas,” Patton recalls. In 1980, George Patton retired to Hamilton, Mass., and began work on an organic farm at the home he inherited from his parents. Joanne Patton stayed part time in Washington, where she had been asked to establish two new executive volunteer positions. For the next year, she served concurrently as the first national volunteer consultant for Service to the Armed Forces of the American Red Cross and first volunteer consultant to the Department of the Army for Army Community Service.

“I was proud that by then I was considered to be a professional by those organizations, even without a paycheck,” Patton says.

She started as a Red Cross Gray Lady and later became a staff aide. Over the next 29 years, she assumed numerous roles, particularly at the Red Cross and Army Community Service, a military-sponsored program she helped establish while then-Col. Patton was serving his third tour in Vietnam. He cared deeply about the men he served with and encouraged her involvement. She viewed the two of them as partners in service.

Being part of growing their programs and seeing their maturation — as well as those of the National Military Family Association (NMFA), which she also had worked with from its earliest days — was her reward. “The most satisfaction came when we could show all military community members that they were part Patton Family Private Collection

Family Tradition Joanne Holbrook Patton ’52 is a fifth-generation Army daughter, raised by a career officer. Her mother also was born into a multigenerational Army family. In 1952, she married a young officer, George S. Patton, who retired as a decorated major general after serving for 34 years, including two wars. His father, who died in December 1945, was the famous World War II general by the same name. It is little wonder that Joanne and George Patton’s children are as committed to service as their parents.

The Patton family (from left), Helen, Margaret, Benjamin, George, Joanne, George Jr. and Robert at the Patton Homestead in South Hamilton, Mass., circa 1967

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“The family does not forget its military roots,” Joanne Patton says. “[Our] children, who shared twenty-seven different homes over the Army years, have continued to give service in their own ways.”

of a family and that there were places where they could give and receive help,” she says. “And [to show] that the military family has a heart.”

She also was on the board of CAST, the Center for Applied Special Technology, which works to provide universal access to learning, especially for those with intellectual challenges. Coping with the special needs of their eldest son, George Jr., led to her involvement in helping people with disabilities. Patton Family Private Collection

For her work, Patton was later awarded the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal and the Distinguished Civilian Service Decoration from the Department of the Army. The American Red Cross of Northeast Massachusetts gave her its Enduring Hero Award, and the NMFA named its Military Spouse Scholarship for her.

and was Sweet Briar’s 2001 Distinguished Alumna in recognition of her accomplishments.

Patton closed her consultancy after her husband died in 2004 and In 1983, she opened became CEO of Green her own business, Patton Meadows Farm, George’s Consultant Services. now-thriving certifiedorganic agribusiness. He “Because I had come named seven of his fields to know and experience the for soldiers who died as skills of trainers, consultants heroes under his command Joanne and daughter Helen in their Red Cross uniforms and speakers who had in Vietnam. Every year, the talents I knew could help farm dedicates a day to veterans and honors these fallen nonprofit organizations, I created a [national] resource men. agency representing them,” she says. Patton explains she made a lifetime commitment to Throughout, she has continued volunteering those who served with her husband and their families. for local and national programs — Operation Troop “It’s to remind the public that sacrifices have been Support in Danvers, Mass., for example — and served made and continue to be made,” she says. on several boards, including the NMFA’s and Sweet Briar’s. She is the recipient of two honorary doctorates

The eldest, Mother Margaret Georgina Patton, is a Benedictine nun. Skilled in several languages and trained in horticultural therapy, her responsibilities include maintaining her abbey’s vegetable and fruit plots. George Patton Jr. is a gifted watercolor artist whose horsemanship earned him gold and silver medals in the International Special Olympics. Their second son, Robert, is the author of five books, including the just-published “Hell Before Breakfast,” telling the story of early war correspondents. His titles also include “The Pattons: A Personal History of an American Family.”

organizations. Among several objectives, the Patton Foundation and Patton Stiftung: Sustainable Trust seek to bring countries and cultures together through the arts — such as concert events for veterans at the recent 70th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy. Benjamin Patton, the youngest son, is a documentary filmmaker. He currently conducts therapeutic workshops for veterans of many eras who are suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder, helping them tell their stories through collaborative filmmaking. The Pattons also have seven grandsons and five greatgrandchildren.

Helen Patton is a professional in various aspects of the performing arts and the founder of two nonprofit

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Dana Dotten ’78 is in the pilot’s seat of an EC-130 Hercules following flight engineer Rhonda Buckner’s airborne reenlistment ceremony.

Cmdr. Dana Dotten Endacott (Ret.) ’78 A First-person Essay As a Sweet Briar senior, I spent many Saturdays studying in the Guion library at my favorite table in front of a picture window facing south onto a green field. One day I asked myself, would I rather go to graduate school or fly airplanes? I looked up from my books and, in a rare occurrence, a plane was crossing the sky. I took it as a sign.

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The timing was fortunate: I applied to the Navy while it was conducting a trial pilot training program for women in 1978. After graduation, I joined the Navy, attended Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, and was among 14 women who entered pilot training in 1979. The character “Sugar Britches” represented us in the movie “An Officer and a Gentleman.” In the Navy, one can expect sea duty tours and overseas deployments alternating with shore duty tours stateside. Every day is different and rarely boring. Leadership is gained through experience in working and taking on challenges with personnel as part of a

team to achieve a common goal. Military service brings people together from all walks of American life, cultural backgrounds and geographical areas. What counts most is character, competence and commitment, not gender, ethnicity or religion. You ask: “Can I trust my life in the hands of that crewmember?” If the answer is “no,” then get that crewmember more training — and if that doesn’t work, another job.

pressure to impress all 17 male crewmembers aboard. There are no second chances to make a first impression.

There may be a few days when you ask yourself, “Why did I sign up to do this?” There will be far more days when you say to yourself, “This is so cool — I can’t believe I get paid to do this!”

I looked at the aircraft commander in confusion. I continued taxiing to the hangar, and the antenna operator called to the commander again.

For me, living in Japan and the Philippines while flying transport aircraft all over the western Pacific was a career highlight. Assisting in Cuban asylum seeker humanitarian efforts as Naval Station Guantanamo Bay’s operations officer in 1996 was also rewarding. I should also mention that I met an incredibly dashing, intelligent Navy fighter-attack pilot named Steve aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway in Yokosuka, Japan. We married in 1987. When I retired from the Navy in 1999, our two children were ages 7 and 4. Since then, I have focused my best energy on family and volunteering in local school improvement projects. The leadership and executive skills that I developed during naval service, I now apply to community service projects and mentoring high school students through the college application process. One memory — and a good lesson — from my service stands out. As the newest member of a Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron in Maryland, I wanted to make a strong impression. I was one of two women pilots in the squadron with 110 officers. As my first mission flying an EC-130 — towing a 5-mile-long communications antenna — was drawing to a close, the aircraft commander decided to let me make the landing. After flying for 12 hours, I was looking forward to having a little fun by landing the large Hercules. However, I felt

The landing was a little firmer than I liked, but it was a safe one. As I taxied off the runway, the antenna operator from the rear of the aircraft called up on the interphone system. “No casualties aft,” he said.

“Sir, we’ve sustained damage to the fuselage and there’s a large crack in the observation window.” My heart sank. We shut down engines and went to inspect the damage. Of course, the rest of the crew followed us to the rear of the aircraft. “Look at that crack in the observation window!” someone yelled. We looked up to see the crew chief mooning me. If it was a test to see if I could be easily flustered, embarrassed or disgusted, I disappointed them, because I laughed. I was so relieved that I hadn’t really damaged an airplane. I later learned the prank was a rite of passage for the F.N.G. — short for what crusty crew chiefs and salty sailors call the new guy, or in my case, new gal. From then on, I was part of the crew. Lesson learned: Keep your sense of humor, even under pressure!

Dana Dotten ’78 and her then-fiancé Steve Endacott used this 1987 photo to announce their engagement. Dana flew EC-130s and C-12 transports in the Navy, while Steve flew an FA-18 Hornet during their respective 20-year careers.

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SBC in the Armed Forces

Amber Crandell ’16

Former Army Spc. Amber Jo Ergenbright, now Crandell, trained as a combat medic and was assigned to a medical company ambulance platoon with the CMC 215 BSB (Base Support Battalion) 1st Cavalry 3rd Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas. She deployed twice to Iraq, where her unit operated a Level II echelon of care station. Crandell left the Army in May 2012 and is studying biology and psychology at Sweet Briar

through the Yellow Ribbon Program. She is a dean’s list student and a member of Psi Chi and Alpha Lambda Delta. Crandell is from a small Wisconsin town and says that, in addition to the medical training and college benefits she received, serving in the military was an opportunity for her to grow as a person.

SGT. Leslie Wertz ’12

Born and raised in Virginia, Leslie Wertz joined the National Guard in 2006 at the age of 17 as an all-wheel vehicle mechanic. She enrolled at Sweet Briar in spring 2007 but was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008. Her deployment with the 276th Engineer Battalion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom’s counter-improvised explosive devices operations lasted through most of 2009. Wertz returned to Sweet Briar and graduated in December 2012 as an environmental studies and biology double major with a minor in archaeology. She is in the Army Reserve and plans to become a drill sergeant. “I really value my education, especially after learning the literacy rate for Afghanistan is less than 30 percent and less than 13 percent for women. I think my deployment also helped me to take things in stride — when I feel like times are hard, I can always think of a time when things were harder and the present doesn’t seem nearly as bad.”

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1ST. LT. Celeste Rustom Winslow ’10

Celeste Rustom Winslow (second from right) is an executive officer with the Headquarters Company of the 864th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade. The Blacksburg, Va., native graduated from Sweet Briar with a double major in economics and environmental studies. “I had no plans to join the military until I found out that the military and Department of Defense were working on converting fifty percent of their energy sources to biodiesel,” she says. “I had never seen myself working a typical desk job. I thought it was just the kind of experience I was looking for right out of college.”

LT. COL. Katherine I. PolevitzkY ’93 “Kate” Polevitzky is the commanding officer of Support Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. Commissioned in 1994 as a communications officer, she has held commands at the platoon and company level and currently leads a battalion. Polevitzky is a veteran of operations Desert Fox, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. She deployed to Okinawa, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. Her decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Stars, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Mary NEELY Woerner Mary Woerner, Sweet Briar’s post-award grant administrator, postponed college to join the U.S. Air Force in 1981 and attained the rank of E4 sergeant before her discharge in 1986. She trained as a cryptologic linguist and served two tours in South Korea, completing her service at the National Security Agency. Woerner also traveled all over South Korea for the Osan Air Base women’s softball team and made the all-Korea team, which took her to Japan and the Philippines — fulfilling one of the goals she had set. “I wanted to travel and see the world,” she says. In the photo above, thenSgt. Mary L. Neely is presented the Air Force Commendation Medal, one of several decorations that were awarded to her, including the Joint Military Achievement Medal and Air Force Overseas Short Tour Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters.

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Q&A with Petty Officer 3rd Class Emily Davies â&#x20AC;&#x2122;11, Marine Science Technician How did you end up in the coast guard in Louisiana?

What is different in your new job as a marine science technician?

I went to Coast Guard boot camp 10 days after I graduated from Sweet Briar with a major in biology and a minor in environmental science and spent eight weeks in Cape May, N.J., going through basic training. I graduated on July 15, 2011, as the honor graduate of my company and reported to Aids to Navigation Team Dulac, La., on July 25. An Aids to Navigation unit maintains the navigational beacons that mark the waterways for boats so they are able to stay in the middle of the channel and in safe water.

As an MST, it is my job to enforce regulations for the safety of the marine environment and the security of the port. I conduct vessel boardings to ensure compliance with applicable domestic laws and international treaties by checking structural and stability conditions; by verifying appropriate electrical, fire safety, lifesaving, mechanical and navigation systems; and by examining living conditions for crew members on foreign-flagged vessels. I also conduct commercial waterfront facility inspections to ensure compliance with safety and security federal regulations, as well as shipping container inspections for hazardous material and structural compliance. Finally, I respond to oil and chemical spills, and help contain and clean up the environment that has been affected.

What were your job duties? As a seaman, my responsibilities were vast and usually involved getting dirty. I had to scrub bird poop off the lights and buoys, scrape barnacles and other marine life off the buoys, and repair or replace any aids that were broken or missing, as well as clean and maintain the boat and our equipment. We were responsible for over 300 aids to navigation, which is a lot of bird poop!

Were you ever confronted with extreme situations? Being stationed in Louisiana, I have weathered many tropical storms and hurricanes, including Tropical Storm Lee and Hurricane Isaac. The latter caused extensive damage to over 75 percent of our aids. We quickly responded to repair the damage and reopen the ports, allowing commerce to start up again, and received a meritorious unit commendation for our efforts. Our unit was also a secondary Search and Rescue unit, called out to aid in a search if the situation called for it.

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How has your job changed your personal life? I was born and raised in England and got my green card once my family and I moved to the U.S., but after joining the military and experiencing the pride I feel putting on the uniform every day, I decided to officially make the States my home and become a citizen. â&#x20AC;Ś Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very excited for the future and what my new career holds. Above: Louisiana, winter 2013; Emily Davies works on a malfunctioning navigation aid as dawn rises over the bayou.

Music with a Mission It was a love of music and the appeal of a funded education that lead Annie Covault Jones to audition with her clarinet for the Marine Corps the summer before her senior year of high school. She was quickly accepted, but there was a problem: Annie was a self-described “band geek,” not an athlete. Determined to be ready for what lay ahead, she spent her final year of high school conditioning her body — starting by running just a quarter mile each day. By the time she arrived at Parris Island for basic training in October 1993, she had made progress in her physical stamina, but says she knew others still doubted her abilities. “Being a Marine taught me I could do more than I ever imagined,” Annie says. “I discovered most of life’s challenges are mental, and if you just make up your mind that you’re going to keep putting one foot in front of the other, you can do anything.” Annie proved her naysayers wrong, excelling in boot camp and achieving one of the highest ratings among East Coast recruits, which means she bypassed additional training and headed straight to her first band assignment at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina. Following Cherry Point, she was stationed in Okinawa, where she met fellow Marine and musician Jeff Jones.

For Jeff, the Marine Corps was part of his family’s history, having many relatives on his mother’s side who had served in World War II and the Korean War. He, too, found the ability to perform as a musician while serving his country and working toward a college education appealing. He joined the Corps in October 1994, completing his basic training at Parris Island before going to Camp Lejeune for infantry school and the Naval School of Music in Little Creek,Va. Though he was recruited for his musical abilities, every Marine is a rifleman, according to Jeff. “We all had to learn how to handle weapons, such as rocket launchers and grenades,” he says. “It was all part of what was expected from us in the job.” It was that job that taught him the value of hard work and service. “Being a Marine really made me understand that there are things in life worth working hard for,” Jeff says. “It also made me appreciate servant leadership, investing yourself in a cause you truly believe in.” The Joneses completed their service in July 1997, both attaining the rank of E4 corporal. Jeff is an assistant professor of music and Annie is director of residence life at Sweet Briar.

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Marcelle Coronel ’17 works on her “Salamander Life Cycle,” pictured above.

ur campus is home to an

abundance of creatures — some more

visible than others. From the omnipresent

deer and squirrels to the Lower Lake’s chattering flock of Canada geese; from giant snapping turtles to microscopic crustaceans, Sweet Briar’s woods and streams are always buzzing with life. But there’s another species that makes its home here, and it’s best observed during warm rainy spring nights: the spotted salamander.

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Etching by Carley Beatty ’14 with corresponding essay by Field Natural History students

Professor of studio art Laura Pharis and Niki Epperson ’14 analyze Epperson’s print “Pond Predators,” far right.

Field Natural History and Ecology students have

the salamanders and collected their findings into essays.

studied the secretive amphibians since 2007, and in the

Pharis’ Two-dimensional Design class created the initial

spring of this year, the Field Natural History class teamed

letters and typeset the text, while her Etching students

up with Professor Laura Pharis and her studio art classes

illustrated various aspects of the salamanders’ life cycle

to create an illustrated narrative of the salamanders’ lives.

and habitat.

It’s the most recent of several collaborations between Pharis and Dorys McConnell Duberg Professor of Ecology Linda Fink, who have known each other for

The result is a work of art that is both fascinating and educational.

more than 20 years. All semester, Fink’s students in Field and Natural History researched and documented every detail about

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Cliff

Notes

Story by Jennifer McManamay | Photos by Meridith De Avila Khan 32

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Facing page: Briana McCall ’17 looks for a foothold on a top-rope climb at Pilot Mountain State Park in North Carolina. Laurie Tanjuatco ’16 rappels down a cliff face at Pilot Mountain. Each student packed and carried her own climbing gear.

Fumin Li’s hand scans the uneven rock for a purchase, finds it.

each other; they’re just here to have fun. It is better than sleeping in and watching TV all week.

“Money. That was beautiful,” Tasha Gillum ’04 says. “Shift your weight to those feet before you step up.”

“It’s kind of a Sweet Briar thing,” Caroline McDonald ’17 explains. “I wasn’t thinking, ‘I’m going camping with ten strangers’ — I’m going with other Sweet Briar students.”

Li inches up the cliff face until she can touch the carabiner attaching her rope to an anchor at the top. Gillum, belaying for her, tells her to sit back in the harness and relax. “Look over your left shoulder, Fumin,” Gillum says. “Don’t look down. Look up and over and enjoy the view.” Past bare, wintry trees, the North Carolina piedmont drops away from the trail below — a ledge clinging to the side of Pilot Mountain. Minutes later, Li’s feet drop to the ground and an enormous smile lights her face. The senior engineering major’s first outdoor climb is a success. It’s what this spring break trip with the Sweet Briar Outdoor Program is all about: trying something new and being challenged. The students don’t even know

Emily Wartella ’15 had thought about it but forged ahead despite her shyness — and her fear of heights. She worried about her physical conditioning, but Gillum, who directs the program, assured her it would be all right. And it is. Although she struggles the first day, she ascends several feet. The next day, she attempts a route called “Goldilocks” on a different section of rock and nails it. It’s hard to tell who is happier, Wartella or her fellow climbers. “She totally tapped that ’biner,” says Lizzie Newhart ’15, one of two in the group besides Gillum who has outdoor rock climbing experience.

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Left: Tasha Gillum ’04 preps Emily Wartella ’15 before she ascends a route. Above: Fumin Li ’15 is pretty happy after her first outdoor rock climbing attempt.

State Mankato and working in outdoor education. “It was these experiences of … trying new things, being really challenged,” she says, noting one of the first times she felt it was at the top of a rock climb.

But Wartella is satisfied. “I’m really proud of myself. … Halfway through, I didn’t think I was going to get to the top. My legs were shaking really bad and my arms [were tired].” It’s a victory for Gillum, too. “My goal is to expose these women to new activities and give them confidence and pride in their accomplishments,” she says. “It’s also something that they own. We were here to support Emily, but she accomplished that on her own.” Gillum knows what Wartella is feeling from her own participation as a student. It brought her back to the Outdoor Program as its director in 2011 after earning an M.S. in experiential education at Minnesota

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“There’s such an awareness that you have of your body and how it moves, and it’s really a powerful thing that you own,” she says. “I just found so much confidence in myself from that, and I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” Gillum ensures the programs are suitable for students of all interests, abilities and experience. Each year, she and the student instructors plan a different spring break trip in addition to numerous day and weekend outings. Last spring, a group backpacked to Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon and paddled the Colorado River. Closer to home, students kayak places like Balcony Falls on the James, backpack and hike the Appalachian Trail, learn to fly fish, or ski at Wintergreen — typically at reduced rates when fees are involved. The climbing trip, for example, includes five days of instruction in top roping, belaying, rappelling and friction climbing with a professional guide.

Student instructors, who undergo extensive training in outdoor skills as well as leadership, also plan and lead activities. In April, Emily Dallas ’16 and Kayla Finn ’16 take a group hang gliding at Jockey’s Ridge in Nags Head, N.C. On a warm and cloudless but unusually

“My goal is to expose these women to new activities and give them confidence and pride in their accomplishments.” — Tasha Gillum ’04

windless day, some of them discover the feeling of weightlessness — about four feet off the ground. But they are off the ground, briefly, bare toes almost skimming the sands of some of the highest dunes on the East Coast. “It’s completely different than being in a plane,” says Jess Heiser ’16. “I feel free but in control, and it’s an incredible feeling.”

Briana McCall ’17 (from left), Marcelle Coronel ’17 and Laurie Tanjuatco ’16 take a break from hiking at Stone Mountain State Park. Marcelle Coronel ’17 stokes the fire while others prepare dinner.

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Jennifer McManamay

Outdoor Program instructors Emily Dallas ’16 and Kayla Finn ’16 organized a hang gliding trip to Jockey’s Ridge in Nags Head, N.C.

The Outdoor Program is one of the reasons she chose to attend Sweet Briar. Hang gliding is her latest adventure. “I just like [the program’s] whole environment,” Heiser says. “Everybody is chill, friendly and outgoing. Nobody feels uncomfortable. It’s really fun.”

Jennifer McManamay

Almost six hours west of the Outer Banks and an hour’s drive from Pilot Mountain, the morning has dawned bright and cold at the Stone Mountain State Park campground. Frost-on-your-tent cold. But it is warm by midday, and the climbers rest in patches of early March sunlight.

Emily Dallas ’16 achieves unpowered flight at Jockey’s Ridge.

Over a breakfast of milk and cereal, Gillum runs through a checklist. Harness, shoes and helmet, water, snacks, clothing layers — preferably synthetic. And someone needs to pack lunch for the group. Food is fuel. It’s an all-important and therefore highly orchestrated component of these outings, and

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for this excursion, Outdoor Program instructor and trip leader Dallas is in charge. The previous afternoon, while the rest of the party hikes to one of Stone Mountain’s waterfalls, Dallas shops from a carefully planned list. The Elkin Walmart doesn’t have falafel mix, so she adjusts. Through the week, students take turns at food prep and dishwashing assignments. Camping doesn’t mean skimping on tasty meals, and there is always dessert. On the first night, the group huddles around the fire, where blueberry cobbler bubbles in a Dutch oven. While they wait, Dallas plucks her banjo and Briana McCall ’17, playing guitar, sings a love song she recently penned.

Meanwhile, at a picnic table strewn with plastic dinnerware and Nalgene water bottles, Li studies for the GRE, face eerie in the refracted light of her headlamp. It shines through steam rising from a cup of hot chocolate. In a knit hat and hooded jacket, the rest of her disappears in the darkness.

Li’s is one of many memorable images from a journey that is just under way. They will endure bitter cold, wind and snow. Give up horseback riding in the rain for bowling and dinner out. But the temperature will soar and the sun will shine, too. They will learn to tie useful knots, bake brownies on an open fire, climb Stone Mountain’s bald slabs and push their physical limits. They will trust almost-strangers to belay for them — and make both friends and memories. Some, like Gillum and now Dallas, even find a vocation.

Laurie Tanjuatco ’16 (from left), Morgan Howard ’17, Tasha Gillum ’04, Emily Dallas ’16, Briana McCall ’17, Marcelle Coronel ’17, Lizzie Newhart ’15, Caroline McDonald ’17, Emily Wartella ’15 and Fumin Li ’15

On kayaking and hiking trips, Dallas has seen how being a leader makes you a role model. Now she is exploring adaptive outdoor sports for people with disabilities as a career.

“I want to be a role model,” she says. “I love doing this, and I want to do it for the rest of my life.”

Every Gift Is Personal Every gift made to Sweet Briar comes with a special story. For an alumna, it is who she became as a result of the education she received. For families, it is the transformation of a daughter, granddaughter, niece or mother. For friends, it is the impact made on them or their community by the College. Together, these gifts create incredible opportunities for our students to write their own stories.

“ Traveling across the country to attend Sweet Briar has been the

most rewarding life choice I have made. The College has helped me to be independent and expand my knowledge outside of the classroom. Because of all the support from my professors, I have become equipped to really succeed in my studies. Sweet Briar gives me motivation and encouragement to continue my education, and because of that, I see myself becoming an aerospace engineer.” –Citlali Molina ’16 Engineering major

Your annual gift ensures more young women like Citlali will have a Sweet Briar story to share. Your investment allows them to dream, achieve and flourish. Make your gift today at sbc.edu/gift or call toll-free (800) 381-6131.

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Commencement 2014 Photos by Meridith De Avila Khan and Allegra Helms â&#x20AC;&#x2122;89

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1. Jacqueline Oliver with sister Madison Oliver ’17 2. Anna May Imbrie with mother Victoria Archer ’81 3. M.A.T. graduates, front row: Angela Curtis, Alyssa Berkeley and Lauren McTague; back row: Katherine Paige Tisher, Jessica Murphy, Madalyn Mawyer and Charity Brown. 4. Amanda Johnson and sister Christina Pappas ’08 6

5. Catherine Freeman and Sarah Freeman with mother Sarah Smith Freeman ’75 and sister Mary Margaret Freeman ’16 6. Olivia Smith and aunt Kate Kelly Smith ’76

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7. Micheala Bryant with sister Ana-Elisa Bryant ’11 8. Sarah Slutz with sister Deborah Slutz ’10 9. Spencer Beall with sister Hannah Beall ’17 10. Anna Richards with grandmother Christine Devol Wardlow ’63 11. Turning Point graduates Jocelyn Jones, Maryam Rasoulian, Rachel Rose and Elizabeth Wise 12. Elizabeth Wise with aunt Toni Christian Brown ’78, sister Anne Wise Staat ‘06 and mother Carrington Brown Wise ’76 13. Charity Gaile with sister Faith Gaile ’17 14. Mary Earnhart with mother Marie Engel Earnhart ’82 15. Commencement speaker Virginia Upchurch Collier ’72 with President Parker

Scan for more photos or visit sbc.edu/commencement-2014

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N O T ES C L ASS

Sarah Belk Gambrell ’39 returned to Sweet Briar for her 75th reunion. 1942

Ann Morrison Reams 771 Bon Air Cir Lynchburg, VA 24503 Amrsbc42@gmail.com

Edie Brainerd Walter is in good spirits. She enjoys her daily walk, often to the library as she is a constant reader as well as active in other activities. Lamb Hodges Fuller is still living in her house in South Boston and enjoying bridge and a busy life. One of her daughters and her doctor son also live in town, which is a joy. Dottie Malone Yates in Atlanta is still keeping up with her gardening. She enjoys getting with Sudie Clarke Hanger weekly for lunch. Bless Bobbie Engh Croft’s heart. She always communicates at Christmas time with good news of her life and family. She is living in a cottage, has a busy life with several of her children close by. Mimi Galloway Duncan has lived in her Palm Beach home for 43 years. She stays in touch with Sally Schall Van Allen, whom I enjoy seeing each spring when she visits her son and daughter-in-law here in Lynchburg. Eloise Emglish Davies lives in a group home in Chestertown, MD, and sadly has lost her eyesight. I’m still in my house and enjoying the usual bridge, garden club lectures and concerts, as many of you are. All of us would love to hear from the rest of you, so please send news.

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Many thanks. P.S. Several days have passed, and I have picked up where I left off. Gloria Sanderson Sartor and I share the same birthday, so I gave her a call. She has had some health issues, but is holding her own. Lane is still with her, which is a blessing. She still enjoys playing the piano, and it was so good hearing about her daughters. I then called Lucy Call Dabney and had a long and conversation with her. She had tidbits of news about Debbie Wood Davis who lives in a retirement place in NY. Virginia McGuire Britt’s granddaughters have a successful shop in NY. We enjoyed reminiscing about many of you, recalling Butch Jackson Mead’s musically talented husband, Bobbie Engh Croft’s being Color Girl at Annapolis, wartime beaus, visits to UVA, etc. She reported that one of her grandsons is engaged to one of Peggy Gearing Wickham’s granddaughters. What a small world it is. We share so many similar experiences, tales of children and grandchildren. May I suggest that each of you pick up the phone and call an SBC friend. It’s such a very special treat and it will truly make your day! Please stay in touch and send news. God bless.

1944

Alice Lancaster Buck alicelbuck@gmail.com

1945

1949

486A Beaulieu Ave Savannah, GA 31406 dalemorgan@comcast.net

21045 Cardinal Pond Ter., Apt. 119 Ashburn, VA 20147 ccevans49@verizon.net

Dale Sayler Morgan

Carolyn Cannady Evans

1946

1951

955 Harpersville Rd., Apt. 309 Newport News, VA 23601

Spring Lake Village 5555 Montgomery Dr., #23 Santa Rosa, CA 95409 patella2@sonic.net

Mary Vanderventer Saunders

1947

Linda McKoy Stewart 18 Osprey Ln. Rumson, NJ 07760 lmckstewart@verizon.net

1948

Margaret Sheffield Martin 2525 Peachtree Rd. NE, Apt 24 Atlanta, GA 30305 Msm700@comcast.net

Ann Virginia Vaughn Kelly Goodwin House 4800 Fillmore Ave, Apt. 614 Alexandria, VA 22311 Dmkelly01@comcast.net

Patty Lynas Ford

Thank you for your contributions to our Class Notes. Please write at any time. MJ Eriksen Ertman: Eric and family were here for Christmas. Three grandsons are h.s. seniors heading for college. One granddaughter graduates from USC in spring and another finishes grad school at Tufts (Fletcher School). Gardner is getting good care and the children are cheering us. I’ve talked to Sue Ostrander Hood in Lake Forest, IL, where they’ve moved to a retirement place, too. Ruth Oddy Meyer: We’re up to our eyebrows in snow and our new English bulldog puppy is chewing the sofa to pieces due to cabin fever. Susan Taylor Hubbard: I’ve been in the same house since ’65. I continue to bird watch as a hobby. This morning we had our SBC Day breakfast. I was the

only one from ’51; there were two alumnae there from ’43! There were 40 -plus attending as well as the dean. SBC is especially proud of the new library. I’m in touch with Angie Vaughan Halliday who still prepares tax returns etc. She has nine grandsons. Mary Pease Fleming: A day doesn’t pass here at Cedarfield Retirement Community that we don’t hear by mail or telephone or visit from family. We were happy when our brother-in-law, Bill Curdts, moved here to Cedarfield. I only had four SBC Christmas cards this year: Ann Sheldon Campbell, Joan Davis Warren, Ann Petesch Hazzard and Barbara Birt Dow. Everyone seems to be in good health and observing the Cedarfield rule: WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T FALL. Ann Gamble-Blechta: Joined the “Octogenarians,” 84 like our whole class. Remember Belle Boone Beard studying Octogenarians—those between 80 and 90 years old? Spent Christmas in Paris with daughter Daphne. Jean Graham Randolph “Randie” Bruns: I’m in FL for another winter. It will be a quiet Christmas. Son Bryan, now working in India, will be in Chiang Mai, assuming the unrest doesn’t interfere. One of his daughters is in grad school in London and the other is hiking in Nepal, then will return to Occidental. Anne Sinsheimer: I had Thanksgiving in Redondo Beach with 2nd nephew and lots of family. I had Christmas Eve with my local nephew and family. Still keep busy with dog walking, knitting, reading with ESL children. Sue Lockley Glad: The grandchildren are scattered around the country in colleges: Boston College, UCLA, TCU, AZ, West TX and one left in AZ at a Soccer Academy. Had a great family gathering in LA for Thanksgiving and hopefully we’ll be together at Black Butte Ranch this summer. Ann Benet Yellott: I’m working on Utility (advanced dog obedience degree) with my Brittany. Getting ready to do therapy visits. Still riding my horse. Joan Davis Warren: Yes, this winter has been very hard to take. The potholes are king-sized, trees are uprooted. Not to mention days without power. Lynne McCullough Gush: We’ve performed assorted duos since Halloween. We played the Nutcracker five times over the holidays. I invited 30 people for the big party, expecting 10 regrets. Nobody regretted and all the inherited silver was put into play at last. Kensington is gorgeous. He loves the cold. I wear a parka. Even ballet class was cancelled because of ice on the freeway. Patty Lynas Ford: We’re settling in and meeting interesting people at Spring Lake Village. There are 105 people here over 90! The big news for me is that my brother, Dick Lynas, has had a fossil named after him—a special and rare honor as he isn’t a professional paleontologist. He graduated from the Webb School in Claremont in the mid-1950s. A recently published paper with Webb student co-authors published by the American Museum of Natural History reveals a new species named after him. Nannodectes lynasi lived 60 million years ago in southern CA. It was a plesiadapiform, an early primate. In the last 10 years, Dick has spent more than 4000 hours supporting the museum and has been on more than 40 field trips since his 1st trip in 1952. Alf Museum at the Webb

School is the only nationally accredited paleontology museum on a high school campus in the world, where students actually are involved in research from dirt to professional publication.

1952

Jane Russo Sheehan 600 S. Main St. Mansfield, MA 02048 dqjane31@gmail.com

My apologies for being out of touch. Husband Dick had major surgery. He’s coming along better now, but it was a stressful time. My children came through like stars to help. Many thanks to Joanne Holbrook Patton for sharing her holiday correspondence so that there would be this many ’52 notes. Joanie’s Thanksgiving letter caught you up on a good deal of news. In addition to Joanie’s news of Charlotte Snead Stifel’s husband’s death, Anne Hoagland Kelsey sent me a printout about the work Hank had done in establishing the Stifel Paralysis Research Foundation in 1982. In 1984 this joined with the American Paralysis Foundation, with Hank as chairman. This came about as a result of Charlotte and Hank’s son’s auto accident at 17, which left him a quadriplegic. Thanks to early pioneering in electrode stimulation, Henry III was able to get some movement back. He lives in an apt. in NYC and is a VP at Morgan-Stanley. I’m sure that most of us never knew of Charlotte and Hank’s commitment to the foundation, which in 1995 became the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation. Joanie also forwarded to me a letter from the son of Ann Garst Strickland. Her health is in serious decline and she needs constant care. Pat Layne Winks and Henry traveled widely in the U.S. last year and hope to go to Europe in 2014. Her granddaughter, Carmen, a sophomore at Brandeis, hopes to follow Pat’s footprints and do her junior year in France. From Joanie’s classmates’ Christmas letters/cards: Harriet “Binji” Thayer Elder had a difficult year, but is on the mend. Anne Hoagland Plumb Kelsey’s husband Jack had a bad case of vertigo, requiring a hospital bed. During the winter their address is 460 Coconut Palm Road, Vero Beach, FL32963-3709. Mary Lois Miller Carroll’s husband Hugh passed away in Feb. ’13. She has since moved to MD. Her new address: Mary Lois Carroll, 16505 Virginia Ave., Unit 1096, Williamsport, MD 21795, Tel: (301)223-8784. Pauline Wells Bolton sent a card with a Paris scene. Martha Yost Ridenour lost her only child, Suzanne, a talented dancer. Martha planned to move into her daughter’s house, but a fire destroyed it and its contents. Martha soldiers on, lives in the 95-year-old house she was born in and still runs the family business. Her address: 105 Myra Barnes Ave.-Box336, Pikesville, KY 41501. Laura Radford Goley wrote from Richmond where husband Gene was attending the annual Farm Bureau State Meeting. Her address is still: Rothsay, 15330 Forest Rd., Forest, VA 24551. Virginia Sheaff Liddel has moved to a senior community. One fellow resident is her freshman year roommate Kate Shaw Minton. Ginge now has three great-granddaughters. Her

address: Unit 2308, 122 Palmers Hill Rd, Stamford, CT 06902. A nice card from Josie Sibold who lives at 1109 E. Dallas Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37405-2303. Helen Graves Stahmann wrote from Australia that her husband Deane died in Oct., after fighting cancer for over 20 years. They had 61 years together. Her address: PO Box 19060, Newtowne, Toowamba West, Australia 4350. Grace Delong Einsel has also moved: 28 Liberty Sq., Apt. 191, Bloomfield, CT 06002, Tel: (860)9667185. Linda Brackett is active in her retirement facility, The Virginian. She has had friends and family visit, and has even been president of the local chapter of VA Retired Residents. Her new address: 9229 Arlington Blvd, Fairfax, VA 22031. Sue Judd Silcox and Jack moved to a retirement community in Hanover, PA. They still travel all over despite Jack’s Parkinson’s. Besides their 60 years of marriage, they’re celebrating being greatgrandparents. New address: 610 Morning Glory Dr., Hanover, PA 17331-7828. I’m looking forward to a trip to visit my daughter Diana and her family in Dallas later this week. I’ll get to see Diana in two shows. She plays Masha in “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” a Christopher Durang play. Then on Tues. she opens in her new cabaret show featuring the songs of Gertrude Lawrence. One of the hardest things about being class secretary is having to bear sad news to you all. I think we all can agree that old age is not for sissies! But who said that Sweet Briar girls were ever sissies? My best to you all—we’re a remarkable class!

1953

Florence Pye Apy

40 Riverside Ave., Apt. 6Y Red Bank, NJ 07701 floapy@verizon.net A Christmas card showed Anne Joyce Wyman standing, along with a message that she has improved considerably after her stroke. She and Joseph travel back and forth from their home in Quogue to their home in NYC. Anne “Kim” Green Stone and John are still involved with raising horses. This year they took an Alaskan cruise. My lunches with Patti Tighe Walden and Jeanne Duff continue. Unfortunately just before Thanksgiving Patti had a bad fall and missed our Nov. lunch. She recovered sufficiently after hospitalization and rehab to go on a family cruise to Nassau, Bahamas. Since retiring from teaching four years ago, Jeanne has been active as a member and officer of Community Without Walls, an organization which plans programs and activities for seniors to keep active and connected. Katzy Bailey Nager and Chuck have continued with their book distribution program at a local Title I elementary school. Carolyn Smith retired as a librarian after 30 years of service at Johns Hopkins U., specializing in special collections. Following graduation from SBC, she earned an MA degree from Johns Hopkins and an MS degree from Columbia. She’s still writing for literary publications. Ginger Timmons Ludwick has never retired. She lists her occupation as “Assistant to my Pasadena Congressman.” The following news was compiled from the reunion questionnaires. It was good to

More class notes online sbc.edu/magazine hear from classmates who were unable to attend the 60th. Joan McCoy Dean: “despite a fall in Chile in ’99 which limits me, I still write and photograph and get published here and there.” Over the years she has visited 56 countries and 42 states. Midge Chace Powell still works. She has spent 27 years in the real estate business, having obtained a broker’s license along the way. She is more than just a traveler, having climbed 15 to 20 mountains, including Mt. Kilimanjaro. Betty Moore Baker served on her Township Planning Board for over 20 years. She was the first woman member and helped write the first comprehensive plan for her growing community. In recent years she has taken 10 trips sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History (NYC), one of which took her to the North Pole. …to be continued

1954

Bruce Watts Krucke 7352 Toogoodoo Rd. Yonges Island, SC 29449 b.krucke@hughes.net

A note from her daughter, Kendall Ames Wayner, tells us that Barbara Tompkins Ames died a year ago. Kendall says Barbara would’ve loved to be at our big 60th reunion. The class sympathies go out to her family. Doreen Booth Hamilton is still involved with the Children’s National Medical Center where she’s on the Emeritus Board and with the National Cathedral where she occasionally sees Peggy Jones Steuart. She’s about to become associated with Sibley Hospital. Doreen has 10 grandchildren. Bev Smith Jeans details about her new marriage. “After nine years of widowhood I remarried. We’d intended for the wedding to be low-key sending no invitations and only mentioning in our Christmas cards that there would be a wedding ‘between two old coots in two old suits.’ Nearly 80 people from CA to RI showed up, Nan Locke Rosa ’53 among them.” Bev keeps in touch with Ann Henry Wilson, Sally Bumbaugh, Lynn Carlton McCaffree, Barbara Ballard Wommack and Scott Bryce Griffey, whom she sees regularly since she lives in Houston near Bev’s husband’s daughter. Bev’s SBC daughter lives in Mobile, and she and Vaughan Inge Morrissette’s children and grandchildren are good friends. Ann Thomas Donohue isn’t able to make reunion because of unwilling knees. And Dilly Johnson Jones either because of a bad back. Dilly has heard from Billy Isdale Beach, who lives fairly near her in GA. Billy is hoping to sell their business. She has heard from Shirley Poulson Broyles and Page Anderson Hungerpillar, both of whom are still gorgeous, but also can’t come to reunion either. Shirley will be in Europe celebrating Norris’s birthday and Page’s health is not up to the trip. Dilly, Shirley and Lamar Ellis Oglesby represented our class at the Sweet Briar Day Atlanta luncheon. Dilly’s daughter Louise SBC ’84 took her to the luncheon. Dilly enjoys her new home at Carlyle.

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Mary Jane Roos Fenn plans to attend reunion, as does Mary Hill Noble Caperton. Sadly, Mary Hill’s longtime partner, Tom Hughes, died in Feb. after a long bout with Alzheimer’s. He was 91 and greatly admired in Charlottesville. Old graduate students and colleagues are coming from all over to honor him. Mary Hill is selling her 1830s cottage and moving to a condo. Later this summer Mary Hill is going on a river cruise from St. Petersburg to Moscow. She goes to water aerobics 5 days a week, takes courses, goes to plays, concerts, and sees lots of her children who still live either here or in Richmond. She has 12 grandchildren. One grandchild is being married this summer. Mary Hill had lunch not long ago with (Rosalee) Alexes Ogilvie Echols and Martha Dabney Leclere. Anne Allen Pflugfelder is living now at Vicar’s Landing in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Her daughter and family live in northern VT. Her son is ‘Science Bob Pflugfelder.’ He teaches elementary school science at Fessenden School outside of Boston and appears regularly on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the Dr. Oz Show and Live with Kelly and Michael. Margaret Lotterhos Smith is living in Houston. Ames had a hip replacement, but is looking forward to golf again. They won’t be able to come to reunion as they’re going on a short cruise. Their last big trip was to China. They have one (and another almost) great-grandchild. Their younger son is a surgeon in Seattle. Margaret keeps busy with bridge, a book discussion club, golf, water aerobics, walking, Bible study and family activities. Sally Gammon Plummer went on two big birding trips in 2013—one to Southwest TX and one to the CO Plateau in UT and AZ. She’s active in her church, volunteers at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, is in two book groups and takes courses. Jerry Driesbach Ludeke is still traveling, principally by train. They had a big gathering at Christmas at her son Scott’s home in San Francisco. Kevin and family came from Costa Rica and grandchildren came from all over. Then Jerry went to Costa Rica for a wedding. She also spent a week with her sister GA in Charlottesville. She enjoyed going to tapings of the Garrison Keillor show, and attending the famous Earl Lectures of the Pacific School of Religion at Berkeley. She went with the Archeological Conservancy to the Cahokia Mounds, near Springfield, IL. She was busy with her job as archivist for Bakersfield College. As I write this, I’m preparing for another trip to Botswana with three other birding gals at the end of March. I can’t stay away from Africa. But I’ll be back in plenty of time to get to reunion! See you there!

1955

Emily Hunter Slingluff 1217 North Bay Shore Dr. Virginia Beach, VA 23451 emilyslingluff@aol.com

Gail Davidson Bazzarre of Charlottesville, VA, died on Jan. 19, and Mary Langs Holekamp died on Jan. 12. Anne Lyn Harrell Welsh, Sterling, VA, celebrated her 80th in Nov., surrounded by all four daughters and 26 old and new friends. She also gave a dinner party that included four couples from her West Point

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days. She was widowed in 1989, having lived in the house they built in McLean for 25 years. She and her youngest daughter Carol live together now. Carol has endured 13 years of poor health but still smiles, and they travel, especially to the Outer Banks, NC. Anne Lyn volunteers as a landscaper in her community and writes the prayer ministry for her church. She’s blessed with one grandson, Warren Michell, a freshman at Elon. Anne Lyn mentioned some anemones that Honey Addingon Passano dug up from Anne Lyn’s old garden years ago are still blooming in Honey’s garden on Gibson Island. Ginger Chamblin Greene, Charlottesville, VA, has a new address: 250 Pantops Mt. Rd, #6102, Charlottesville. In Oct., she and her friend Fred Landess moved from their separate condos in Charlottesville to a cottage at Westminster-Canterbury in Charlottesville. They have been going out for about four years and enjoy traveling. One interesting trip took them to Holland. They lived on the barge, but rode bicycles all over the place to see the gardens. Ginger still does rock climbing and is a stable hand for horses in a riding therapy group. In 1991, Dianne Verney Greenway, Wakefield, RI, legally changed her name to Lumina. Living in Taos and Maui, she found people there often changed their names. So she did! While she has had hip surgery several times on one hip, she is planning to go to China and Maui this spring to visit family. Lumina loves living in RI, where she grew up. Suzanna Bernard Odence, Cotuit, MA, says that in her 40s and 50s, she traveled all over the world with her husband. Now she’s pursuing piano, painting and writing. Didi Stoddard, Carlisle, MA, goes to the Cape almost every weekend in the winter and finds it beautiful! She was in two separate automobile accidents. Still, she plans to go to Turks and Caicos soon. Kathleen Peebles Ballou, Atlanta, GA, travels all over and still goes back and forth to Macon from Atlanta. She and husband Dennis visited Anne Williams Manchester and Eli in Manasota Key this winter. Kathleen became a Silver Life Master in bridge! She’s planning a trip this summer to the NC mountains with several other Sweet Briar classmates. Sue Lawton Mobley, Atlanta, GA, has been living at Canterbury Court in Atlanta for six years. Lamar Ellis Oglesby ’54 moved in recently. I heard elsewhere that Sue is the chairman of the residents. She stays very busy, but not too busy for her granddaughters (16 and 18). Newell Bryan Tozzer, Atlanta, GA, enjoys life in Atlanta and seeing her son and daughter and grandchildren, all nearby. She was head of Atlanta SBC Alumnae Living Room Learning, but has passed that job on to Camille, and just helps her with what must be a very popular endeavor since over 200 people have signed up! Betty Byrne Gill Ware, Richmond, VA, enjoys traveling with husband Hudnall to many places, including Jackson Hole, WY, recently. They spend time in the summer at their place at Smith Mountain Lake, near Roanoke, and in the winter, they spend several months in Naples, FL. Betty Byrne enjoys bridge, golf, community work and exercise. It’s a full life with children and grandchildren visiting, too! Meta Space Moore, Charleston, SC,

is involved in St. Michaels Church in Charleston and keeps up with her children and grandchildren in Charleston, Princeton, NJ and IL. Daughter Margaret and her family live in Princeton, where Margaret is head of the alumni association at Princeton U. Meta will visit Bermuda this summer with her son and his family. Camille Williams Yow, Atlanta, GA, said the annual Sweet Briar Day was held at her house in Jan. and that President Jo Ellen Parker was there. Mary Lee McGinnis ’54 came from Charleston and Dilly Johnson Jones ’54 came from Macon. She is involved with Atlanta SBC Alumnae’s Living Room Learning with seven lectures this Jan. and Feb. They’ll meet at the Atlanta History Center due to the 245 participants that have signed on! The topic this year is WWI. Emily Hunter Slingluff, Virginia Beach, VA, enjoys keeping up with classmates! Please keep sending news! I’m busy with my new book which just came out: “Parenting without Punishment.” I’ve been writing articles and giving talks, so let me know if you have any ideas to help spread these ideas about parenting. The response has been thrilling, almost a surprise! I had a full page article published in USA Magazine and some more articles are coming out in local publications. This is not at all the usual book about how to manage the complex problems of parenting. Instead, it’s about the clarity, simplicity and pleasure of parenting, and about how everybody is affected by how every parent treats her child. Sending thankfulness and love to all with happy thoughts of our lives at Sweet Briar and today.

1956

Frances Shannonhouse Clardy francesclardy@gmail.com

Nancy Salisbury Spencer nancyspencer59@gmail.com

Louisa Hunt Coker’s husband Mac died in April 2013. Joan Broman Wright’s husband Jim died in May 2013. After Ginny Echols Ogain’s husband John died, Ginny moved to be near her son in NC. We send our sympathy to Louisa, Joan and Ginny. Mary Koonz Gynn writes, “I’m continuing to operate my 350-acre farm by myself with my own equipment and enjoying every minute!” She also enjoys playing golf, bike riding and gardening. Mary Ann Hicklin Willingham and Rose Montgomery Johnston enjoyed the SBC trip to Cuba led by President Jo Ellen Parker. Meredith Smythe Grider has moved into an independent living facility. Meredith enjoys being one of the four Louisville alumnae: Cissee Pfeiffer Ward, Macie Clay Nichols, Sudie Shelton and herself. She still has her shop in MI. Nancie Geer Howe Entenmann is now Nancie Roberts. She and spouse Jim Roberts stay busy with 17 grandchildren. This year, they’ll visit New Orleans and FL. Jim will be 85 and she 80, so they’ve planned a big reunion/birthday party. Nancie serves on many boards and sings in a choir. Parksie Carroll Mulholland is spending winter in FL adjusting to life without Jack. She stays busy volunteering, supporting the Children’s Hospital and helping

friends. She plays golf, bird watches, entertains and enjoys the theater and symphony. Kitty Harrison and Corky Lauter Murray enjoy summer trips such as the NC mountains, Vancouver and Victoria. Kitty had an exciting 12th trip to Greece in 2013. She introduced a young Greek doctor to a Greek girl she knew in Chapel Hill. Kitty attended their wedding in Greece, where she read a speech in Greek to the wedding party. Macie Clay Nichols sends news of other classmates. Norma Davis Owen is good in Tunica, MS, and is keeping husband Penn healthy. Mishew Cooper Williams and husband Murray in Raleigh spend time at Atlantic Beach. Cissee Pfeiffer Ward has endured health challenges but hosted a lovely Christmas lunch. Macie and husband Robert are in good health. They attended their family reunion in France with daughter Martha, son Rob and their families. Martha and Eric live in Providence, RI, with their two children, where she teaches French at Brown. Rob and Susanna and two children live in Barcelona. Macie is active in real estate, volunteers at church and enjoys the arts and fine restaurants in Louisville, KY. Ann Greer Adams says, “All is well with me, although widowhood is not the greatest.” Ann enjoys her three children, their spouses and eight grandchildren. Ann spends weekends at their hunting camp walking in the woods, fishing and playing piano in her studio. She stays in touch with Carolyn Pannell Ross. Marty Field Fite was in CA at Thanksgiving with her daughter’s family and next visited her son’s family in OK. She spent Christmas visiting her other daughters and their families. Another son and his wife live in France and have a new daughter. Her granddaughter lives nearby with three great-grandchildren. She is very active at her church, serving on the vestry. Marlene Etienne Engdahl will celebrate her 58th wedding anniversary this year. Marlene and husband are active in ME politics. Grandson Sam graduated from Dartmouth and granddaughter Annie is a junior at Trinity Coll. Granddaughter Eliza is in high school in MI. Bunny Burwell Nesbit lives in a splendid retirement community in Sarasota, FL. Bunny had a nice visit with daughter Katherine and husband Larry who live outside Charlottesville. Katherine works for the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond, and Larry works for the DoD National Ground Intelligence Group. They enjoy their RV as does their dog, Sam. Bunny had a lovely Caribbean cruise in Jan. Betty Dietz Buxton volunteers for her church, the NC Symphony and the Republican Party. She has four grandchildren ranging in age from 10-15. Betty beat breast cancer in 2011. She belongs to the Order of the Daughters of the King of the Episcopal Church. Betty and Burt will celebrate their 53rd wedding anniversary this summer. Joan Broman Wright decided to return to Coral Gables, FL, to be closer to daughter Elise and family. She enjoyed the 18 years she and Jim spent in Charlottesville, and has stayed in touch with our VA classmates. Mimi Thornton Oppenhimer and Lou Galleher Coldwell visited Joan for a few days to attend a forum with outstanding political speakers.

Distinguished Alumna Has Light Touch Michela English ’71 accepted Sweet Briar’s 2013 Distinguished Alumna Award with her usual grace and good humor. “Today we are enjoying a nice lunch at the beautiful Cosmos Club, and I have just received a wonderful honor from this very special College. I’m not sure any of us thought there was the slightest chance of that back in 1971.” The award was presented at a May 8 luncheon in Washington, D.C., in recognition of her volunteer leadership and successful career. English became president and CEO of Fight for Children in 2006, after serving as president of Discovery Consumer Products and president and COO of Discovery.com. She also held senior positions with the National Geographic Society, Marriott Corp. and McKinsey & Company, in addition to leadership roles in a variety of education, youth-related and other nonprofit and corporate initiatives. She is vice chair of the Board of the Educational Testing Service; a member of the boards of the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art and Design, the public charter school DC Prep, D.C. Public Education Fund, The Gladstone Companies, and the advisory council of William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science. She has served as president of the Women’s Forum of Washington, D.C., a member of the Yale School of Management Board of Advisors, director of the NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education, director of Riggs National Corp. and director of Potomac KnowledgeWay. The College also appreciates English’s 11 years on its board from 1994 to 2005, including five as chair,

during which she led a critical strategic planning initiative. Known as a problem solver with a light touch, she would take the “worst problem and nibble at it until she found a solution,” said Sara Lycett ’61, who preceded her as chair. In English’s remarks at the award luncheon — attended by family, alumnae and College officials — she noted that the College is again facing difficult challenges and engaged in a new strategic plan. “While I do not have a crystal ball that shows what Sweet Briar will look like in the future, I can say with clarity what it has meant to me,” she said. Her experiences as a student and board member built on the values of hard work, perseverance and respect for others that her parents instilled in her, she said, beginning with the political, economic and cultural awareness that the liberal arts engender. She learned civic activism, gained the confidence to embrace change — which propelled her career — and discovered the imperative of deep personal relationships. “I’m sure many of you can say similar things about the role the College has played in shaping your own personal development and values,” English said. “It is a very special place, and we are all lucky to be a part of the Sweet Briar family.”

Read Michela’s full remarks.

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Helen Turner Murphy writes, “Tayloe and I are fortunate still to live in our house on our farm on the Potomac. Our daughter Anne’s husband died on their son’s ninth birthday. I prayed to live long enough to see her happy again and I did. She married a wonderful man whose wife died leaving him with two small children. Now, Anne has a 13-year-old son, a 9-yearold daughter, a 6-year-old son and a 10-month-old baby (John Taloe Lewis Brumley).” Barbara Darnall Clinton’s grandson Chip Jackson graduated from VA Tech and grandson Kyle Clinton is a freshman at Texas A&M. Granddaughter Shannon Fulton is pursuing a degree at TCU. Grandson Ken Jackson is taking a gap year and living with Barbara and her husband. Son Charlie is stationed at Langley, AFB in VA. Daughters Laura and Mary Kay received honors. Laura was named the Most Outstanding CFO in Houston and Mary Kay was named a Distinguished Alumna of Civil Engineering Department at Texas A&M. Barbara sings in the church choir and the Houston Master Works Chorus. Her husband is president elect of the Rotary Club in Houston. She enjoys Women of the Rotary. Karen Steinhardt Kirkbride traveled to Maui and Kauai in 2013. She continues to live in Northern VA, but purchased a home in DE after retirement. Son Steven in Springfield, VA, is on active duty in the Army and has been promoted to lt. colonel. Son Kevin and wife live in Bethesda, MD, and stay busy with careers. Her son Trevor, wife and daughter live in Lower Manhattan. Karen asks all classmates to mark 2016 for our next class reunion.

1957

Carol McMurtry Fowler 10 Woodstone Sq. Austin, TX 78703 carol@curnon.net

1958

Jane Shipman Kuntz 4015 Orchard View Pl. Powell, OH 43065 kuntz@columbus.rr.com

1959

Ali Wood Thompson 89 Pukolu Way Wailea, HI 96753 808-874-8028 travisnali@hawaii.rr.com

Nellie Morrison passed away 12/15/13 due to cancer. Kathleen Mather Koestler’s husband Fred passed away in Jan. Lucia Woods Lindley’s new address is 1 North Franklin St., Suite 2360, Chicago, IL 60606. Val Stoddard Loring’s email address is val.steve61@gmail.com. Eleanor Read Rice is at 855 Ribaut Rd., Beaufort, SC 29902. Debbie Von Reichach Swan Snyder is at 9013 Whimbrel Watch Ln., Unit 2, Naples, FL 34109. Telephone: (239) 260-5755. Email: dvswan@icloud. com. Joanne Bossert Thompson: We sold our FL home and moved into a retirement complex across the street. Gurney and I still belong to our golf club. I attend fitness classes there. I still serve on local charity committees and we still travel. I

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can’t come to reunion since we’ll be in CO for a grandson’s college graduation. We now have a great-grandson (2) and greatgranddaughter (3). Looking forward to a cruise on the Baltic this June to celebrate our 56th anniversary! Mary Boyd Davis: Irvin and I went to Titusville, FL, last week for a mini reunion with Erna Arnold Westwig and Ralph and Sandy LaStaiti Sylvia and Ed. Pat Davis Sutker: We’ve lived happily in Naples, FL, for the past 10 years. Alice Cary Farmer Brown: “Happy 55th Reunion to all our classmates! Endless thanks to Elizabeth and Ali for your enormous efforts to make it wonderful and to raise the money for our class gift. We’ll be in Vienna where I’ll think of you and miss being with those who go. We’ve recently moved into Lee’s family’s house in Gulf Stream, FL, after having to tear it down and rebuild it. It’s a cultural paradise for non-golfers like Lee and me and has an active Garden Club of America. Mary Blair Valentine, Tabb Farinholt and Tricia Ware are all coming here soon as well as our children and grandchildren. We’ll have our second college graduate this May and the other six all in boarding schools.” Penny Fisher Duncklee: John is writing books and short stories. Lately I’ve been illustrating kids’ books for a couple gals. The current one is about a little dog that is glad she is little. Fun project. Pat Frawley Gates: Marianne Ramsey, SBC’s major gift officer, came to Chestertown, MD, to visit her friend Barbara Bailey Heck, senior associate VP at Washington Coll. They gathered three area SBC alumnae, Joan Darby West ’46, Stephanie Butan Profaci ’58 and me for a luncheon Sept. 2013 at our local yacht and country club. Regrettably Sorrel Mackall McElroy was unable to join us. We enjoyed our time together and were impressed with Marianne’s enthusiastic PowerPoint presentation, which showed off SBC’s enduring beauty and academic creativity. Lucy Frost Dunning is spending about three months in CA and will head back to their home in Vail in April. Suzanne Hafer Hambrick: Our five grandchildren all live in Hickory. We vacationed in picturesque HI in 2007. We went to Oahu, the Big Island and Maui. Meriwether Hagerty Rumrill: The saddest news for me is the death of my most cherished friend, Nellie Morison. Kind, gentle, compassionate, caring—a gentlewoman of true blue character of a bygone era. She was a bridesmaid in my wedding and godmother to my firstborn, Dudley. We loved many of the same things. We worked on her garden together. We could confide in each other with confidence. We shared joy and sorrow. We also could confront each other and did. Then there were the grandchildren. We never tired of talking of them and Nellie was full of stories about hers. She was sick for a long time and very courageous. Cookie Carle and I planned a visit last Oct. Cookie was a star with her sweet wicked sense of humor. I saw Nellie once more in Dec. after she had come to VA for Thanksgiving. Friends like this are always with us. Thank God for that. Gay Hart Gaines: I’m writing to you from a ship, The Crystal Symphony, off the coast of Australia. Stanley and I flew from Palm Beach to LA to Sydney on Feb. 10, where we spent four days. It was a trip

down memory lane for me, since I lived in Sydney for three years, 10-13. I returned to my old school, Ascham, my home, friends’ homes, Bondi Beach and saw old friends who had a party for us. We’re now sailing up the coast and then returning March 10. I stepped down from my beloved Mount Vernon Board on Dec. 31, reluctantly, and will miss it. We accomplished a lot and opening the library last Sept. 27 was the culmination of my dream. I’m working on several political races and trying to do everything I can to elect a Republican Senate. I’m also helping our very fine governor, Rick Scott and Gov. John Kasich in OH to get reelected. Our 11 grandchildren are well. The eldest got married last Oct. Stanley has macular degeneration. He and I are doing everything possible to slow down the progress of the disease. While he still has some sight, he wants to travel, so we’re going to places he has never been. Susan Hight Rountree: Our lives are in disarray at the moment getting our home ready for prospective buyers. We’ll be moving to a town house nearby in Kings Mill. We’ve been spending several months of the summer into fall in NH. Grandchildren in Richmond and Annapolis/Kent Island keep us busy. I’m working with Isabel Ware Burch and committee designing kneelers for Bruton Parish Church. Joe and I are working on putting a tour together for a group we belong to, going to several of the historic houses on the Northern Neck of VA and staying at Stratford Hall. Jane Jamison Messer: I’m in Naples, FL, on my way to the Magic Kingdom in Orlando. I spent time with Snowdon who was here visiting a friend. Snowdon has returned to Shepherdstown. I’ll be in Naples until the end of March. I’ll be off to The Masters after that. Still doing two months at Torch Lake in northern MI during the summer. Elizabeth Johnston Lipscomb: It’s been a real pleasure for me to help coordinate our 55th reunion. I’ve enjoyed phone calls and email conversations with a number of classmates, and I hope to be in touch with more of you. Thanks to all of you who have contributed to our reunion gift and called friends to encourage them to be with us on campus in the spring. Jini Jones Vail: Just sent you a photo of my 77th. Also just got a call from the SBC bookshop, Lynn Lewis. She has ordered more of my “Rochambeau, Washington’s Ideal Lieutenant” books! I may miss the 55th reunion, but my books will be there in my stead! Isa Mary Lowe Zieglar: Now I’m in FL; it’s almost as busy here as at home. CA is finally getting a little bit of rain. More drought tolerant plants are on my shopping list when I return. Virginia MacKethan Kitchin: We have seven grandchildren spread around the country; we all get together in summer and at Christmas. Two are close by in Charlottesville. We’re going to Memphis to visit Cameron and Katie and their three. While there we’ll drive (5-6 hours) over to Bentonville, AR, to see the Crystal Bridges Museum. As for running into classmates, that often happens at funerals, sadly, such as at one in Virginia Beach last week where I enjoyed seeing Mary Blair and Fleming. Sorrel Mackall McElroy: We’re spending a lot of time on our farm near Chestertown, MD. We just finished restoring a 1770s

cabin. So many grands are in college, so see less of them. In fact we have three graduating from different high schools this spring. Ginny Marchant Noyes: I’m just back from a month revisiting old haunts in Southeast Asia, did a long trip in Central Europe last fall and met my Belgian son for Thanksgiving in London, which included everything from a concert by the Attica Prison Symphonic Band to dinner in the House of Lords! Sally Martin Kohrs: Bob and I went to HI for our 25th anniversary. We boarded a ship and cruised around the islands. Kathleen Mather Koestler: I lost my husband Fred in Jan. Not much else to report except that I’ll be putting my house on the market this spring; it’s much too big for me now. Lizora Miller Yonce: Isabelle is 13; Sam is 18; Miller is seven; and Caroline is 13. Nita Mixon Cox: I’ve been homebound for quite a while. I was going barefoot as we often do in South GA and hit a chair leg with my foot. Dislocated a bone, tore off ligaments, and have been limping around for over a month. One granddaughter is graduating from medical school in May, a grandson is graduating from Sewanee in May also, and another grandson has taken the plunge and asked his girlfriend for her hand in marriage! We’re hoping to get back to our little retirement home on St. George Island when the mean man doctor lets me out of the house and prison! Hope my classmates are all wearing shoes, and if not, this is a good time to start! Liz Myerink Lord: Come spend the winter in Carmel, CA! We’ve had the most beautiful weather this winter. Of course, we worry that we might have a major drought this summer complete with water rationing, which is nothing new. Cheerio! Judy Nevins LeHardy: Youngest son Peter and wife Becky presented us with our 12th grandchild, Jacob, in June ’13. Daughter Sally’s oldest son, Durrant Kellogg, was married in AZ in Dec. ’12, and his sister, Sara, will be married in March. Sally and Mark and the two younger children (13 and 19) have moved to Batesville, VA, near Charlottesville. We’re proud to have an All American runner in the family—Marcel and Nancy’s daughter, Annie LeHardy, a junior at UNC. Last summer we attended an international LeHardy family reunion in Brussels. Afterwards we all traveled in Italy to visit Vicenza, where we used to live. We’re still living in Kilmarnock on the Northern Neck of VA. We spend most of the winter at our cottage on Kiawah Island, SC. Fleming Parker Rutledge: More and more, alas, we meet at funerals! I read somewhere that gatherings at funerals tend to be embarrassingly cheerful because the more elderly attendees are so glad still to be alive! I particularly enjoyed seeing Tricia Ware, Isabel Ware ’60, Mary Blair Valentine, and Virginia MacKethan Kitchin in Virginia Beach at a reception following the services for Josh Darden, known to many of us as a member of the UVA ’58 class. There was a small graveside family service, which I conducted, and then the huge service in the church, which was attended by tout Hampton Roads. I had lunch with Tricia and Betsy Duke Seaman last spring in Richmond, and it was so obvious, 54 years later, that they were truly the people to lead our class. Both of them have lost their husbands so

sadly (Marshall so prematurely, and Peter Seaman is now living in a 24-hour-care facility where Betsy visits him twice a day) and both of them have set such an example of courage and grace. Marcia Payne Grant: Highlights for the year: a river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam, an interesting four-day sojourn in the Amish country around Lancaster, PA, and the arrival of my second great-grand. I’m on three boards and belong to three other groups. My youngest granddaughter is being married the same weekend as reunion. Ann Pegram Howington: With over 200 participants, our alumnae club’s Living Room Learning has burst out of our living rooms and taken up residence at the Atlanta History Center. Last year we did the Civil War and now, World War I. Susan Perry Farmer: Still living in San Diego. Jerry and I are planning a trip to Sicily and France in April/May, and I try to visit my mother (101) in Pittsburgh several times a year. We have three grandsons in college, one ready to go and two more in high school. Our only granddaughter (12) keeps them all in line! Sue Pohl Moulton: I’ve lived at water’s edge in the Monadnock region of north central MA for 45 years. Ten years ago I lost my Charlie, the light of my life, to cancer. Diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago, I went through the chemo, losing my hair and radiation and developed a small heart attack brought on by the cure. I’m well now. Two afternoons a week are spent painting with a small group. Lots of gardening, weather permitting, kayaking on the lake, quilting and reading. I work three to four hours a day with my oldest son, John at our modular home business in its 44th year. His son, Ian, is a junior at U Mass Amherst and daughter Keara is a freshman in high school. Middle child, Kimberly, is married to a native German and has lived in Bimmen, Germany, for 22 years with Nicolas (15) who is a Downs child with autism. His sister Sidney is creative and talented (13). My youngest, Bruce, lives in Flower Mound, TX, near Dallas with Taylor (17) and David (13). Rew Price Carne: We took a family cruise in the Mediterranean last summer. Caribbean with my daughter over Thanksgiving. Golfing and volunteer work keep me busy. Cay Ramey Weimer: Ben and I celebrated 20 years. First we spent a week in St. Petersburg, which was full of museums, monuments, palaces, churches, operas and ballet. Then we went to Claire Devener’s special island, Anguilla. Claire is the editor of Anguilla Life, celebrating 25 years. Debbie Von Reischach Swan Snyder: Don and I moved from Williamsburg, VA, to Naples, FL, where I’m now on the Civic Involvement Committee for the League and playing golf and tennis. We spend our summers in ME where I’m the president of our sailing association. We spent last Nov. on a National Geographic Tour to Antarctica. (ed. note: from a previous email: our new permanent home is a condo on the golf course in Pelican Marsh, not far from the beach and the Philharmonic. We will keep our summer home in Boothbay Harbor, ME.) Ginny Robinson Harris: All is well with family, boyfriend and me. Three boys for grands. I’ll not be coming to reunion because I work at the Art Center here and

everything picks up for “the season” about then. Barbara Sampson Borsch: Stuart Borsch and Fang Zhang were married in July, first time for both. They’re professors at the same college, in different departments. We’re still commuting between Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Fred’s written his second novel; no publisher has seen it yet. Do we have one in our class? Mary Blair Scott Valentine: Sorry to miss reunion. Have five graduations in May, two high schools, two colleges, and one eighth grade. (Ed. note: Congratulations on 55 years of marriage!) Ann Smith Heist: Yep, this is a true blast from the past! Ali, our faithful correspondent, has gotten me all worked up to come to the Sweet Briar reunion in the spring. It’s bound to be a delightful experience. My husband encouraged me too. We all have so much to share and compare. I noticed that many of you live in places near to either us or our daughter or to places we’re familiar with. What fun to stir the pot with memories, stories and experiences. Betsy Smith White: Our oldest granddaughter, Bess Dickens (Davidson ’13) is living and working in NY now and always thought she would love a great snow, until this Feb.! Does anyone have Nat Morison’s address in Middleburg, VA? I wanted to write him a note after Nellie died. Judy Sorley Chalmers-Simpson: I’m in GA at the moment visiting my children and my daughter Cameron’s triplets (5). Polly Space Dunn: Painting, playing golf (less often) and enjoying family. Val Stoddard Loring: Steve and I celebrated our 50th anniversary with a trip to Paris in April 2013. I had a visit with Dede Ulf Mayer in Nov. Have two grandsons graduating from high school in May and June. Will miss you and send love to all. Susan Taylor Montague-Reese: I won’t be attending reunion as I’m having some health issues and don’t know where I’ll be in my treatment in May. Tabb Thornton Farinholt: We spend a lot of time going to grands’ games. Grandsons Blair and Bart play lacrosse. Bart lives and works in Denver. His sister, Ida, is off to Cornell next year. Our daughter’s eldest, Stewart, is at Middlebury. The next one, Sam, is looking. We cling to the youngest, Jack, who’ll be at the Haverford School four more years. Book Club is thriving! I’ll bring the video I had made for our 50th. Kathy Tyler Sheldon: Unfortunately, I will not make it to the reunion. I cannot leave John as his vision is so deteriorated and we’re making a trip to England in April for his 60th reunion dinner at Cambridge. We live in a place that isn’t easily accessible to the rest of North America, but only four and half hours to London! How I’d like to see all of our classmates and do appreciate staying in touch. Dede Ulf Mayer: I’m in the midst of trying to declutter and downsize. Good friend Val Stoddard Loring was a big help to me with her knowledge when she was here in Nov. My major project now is to get all the family history sorted. I love to attend book club meetings with Tabb, Tricia, Mary Blair, Betsy, Sorrel, Cay and Mary Ballou. My two sons and their wives and my four grandchildren continue to live in Richmond, so I’m happy here, too. Judy Welton Sargent: I’ve finally moved into my house in Austin. In Jan. I had the opportunity to travel to Cuba with Jo

Ellen Parker and a group of alumnae and friends. There were three of us from the class of ’59, Di Doscher Spurdle, Elsie Pritchard and Bill Carter and me. Jane Wheeler Garcia: Our 50th reunion was a once-in-a-lifetime treat for me; but I won’t rule out our 60th just yet. By that time I’ll have six granddaughters close to college age. Ali Wood Thompson: In Sept. our senior hula group had our best year ever in Kona where we took 1st in the women’s solo hula, second in the men’s solo division and third for our group dance. In Oct., Travis and I headed to Tanzania for another safari at three different small camps. As usual, the animals were spectacular!

1960

Carol Barnard Ottenberg ottenbergc@aol.com

Save the date for our 55th Reunion: May 29-31, 2015! We begin with expressions of deep sympathy to the families of Debbie Lane Lyon and Julia Scott Todd Kappler, both of whom died in Feb. Debbie had moved to the San Francisco Bay area with husband Bill in the ’70s, where she worked in public relations for United Press International and also as a field representative for an East Bay congressman. Later she became owner and operator of an art and gift gallery. Julia Scott, of Towson, MD, was an insurance agent who won awards for her handmade hooked rugs. She moved to Atlanta following graduation from SBC and worked at the Georgia Historical Society. She then moved to Baltimore and married James Kappler. Classmates are also remembering Patricia Russell Howard who died in July ’13. Elizabeth Meade Howard recalls: I was happy to reconnect with Patricia at reunions some years ago. She’d retained her whimsy and scholarly smarts along with a new talent for painting and a purple pixie cut. We stayed in touch, and I’m sad to lose her. I’m glad to have hooked up with Kadri Niider and Norris Smith at a NY reading of Molly Haskell’s newest book, “My Brother My Sister.” I also enjoyed NYC reunions with Teddy Hill and Liz Few Penfield, Suzanne Reitz Weinstein and Jackie Mabie Humphrey. As an editor with Streetlight Magazine online, I hope classmates will have a look, like us on Facebook and send submissions. Jane Headstream Yerkes: Pat Howard and I roomed together our freshman year. She helped me through Dr. Nelson’s Shakespeare class. We sat across from each other at a mutual desk. She had a small china kitty cat on her side of the desk named “Herlonditorious.” His kittyhead was removable and, according to Pat, was always turning towards me! She graciously gifted him to me and to this day the kitty sits on my dresser. As for me, I’m busy in Seattle. Leonard and I have moved to a flat, 11 floors above and right on Lake Washington. When the economy tanked, I retired from most of my interior design business. I’m involved in Seattle Garden Club, University of WA Press and a committee of 33 women who meet monthly with great speakers and interesting conversation. President Jo Ellen Parker was in Seattle earlier this year. I was impressed with her and the information she

imparted. Sounds as if SBC has only gotten better over time! Barbara Beam Denison: Our middle daughter, whose husband was killed in a horrific motorcycle accident six years ago, is remarrying in MT in July. They’ll still live in CA where our other two daughters and grandchildren live also. George is still working on the Hill here in D.C., and I’m now painting like crazy. Jane Tatman Walker: We’ve enjoyed being in a crossroad here in FL to reconnect with traveling friends. My main personal project is family history with a little golf. Lucy Martin Gianino writes from NY: Jack and I are enjoying our four grandsons. I’m still acting. Just finished shooting a pilot starring Tracy Morgan from 30 Rock. I’m playing a 90-year-old grandmother. Jack is still stage managing, involved now in a beautiful piece called “Bikeman” about 9/11, which may be performed under the wing of the 9/11 memorial. Our three adult children are busy in their professions and raising children. Lura Coleman Wampler: My life is full of grandchildren, church, garden club, judging horticulture and photography, and boarded horses. Barbara Murphy Hale: Phil and I leave for a 58-day, 17-port Hong Kong to Ft. Lauderdale cruise next week. We’ll see much of Africa; Archbishop Tutu will join the ship for three days. I saw Carter Nichols Jump at our church convention this weekend. Mary Ellen Dohs Acey: Basil and I moved six months ago from Baltimore to The Hermitage at Cedarfield, a retirement community near Richmond, to be closer to our son and his young family. We chose more familiar territory than Seattle where our daughter is living and have returned to VA after leaving 50 years ago as newlyweds. Carol-Ann Kolakowski Nalewaik: Daughter Alexia completed her Ph.D. in project management at SKEMA Business School in Paris, focusing on construction project performance. She’ll become chair of the International Cost Engineering Council (Sydney, Australia). She already serves on the governing board of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (London) and is president of the management consulting firm QS Requin Corporation based in Los Angeles. Although Jerry and I continue to be bicoastal, we spend more of our time in Charlottesville. Teddy Hill and Liz Few Penfield: We split our time between CO and Skidaway Island, 15 min. and a bridge from Savannah, at The Marshes, a retirement community. Had a great time in Venice during the Biannale with Teddy’s two daughters and some of their families and Christmas in NY. A week at Edisto Beach with Liz’s cousins and Thanksgiving there with friends from New Orleans. One of Teddy’s grandchildren is in Thailand teaching after graduating from Yale and another is taking her junior year from Johns Hopkins to spend her first semester in Argentina and second in Nepal. We had spent a week with Patricia Howard in NYC in 2012 and were so happy to renew and deepen our friendship, only to lose her. Jane Haldeman Hope recently got a new right knee. Judy Barnes Agnew: Jim still goes into his office every day— a good thing! Children and grandchildren activities are a big

sbc.edu | Sweet Briar Magazine

interest, as well as bridge, reading and socializing. Jean Morris Stevenson: Don and I spend our year between Charlotte (in and out for about three months), mountains around Banner Elk (from May 15-Oct. 15) with fly fishing trips to ID, cruises in Europe or U.S. river cruises. Nov.-March, we’re at the ranch in TX. We have two sons and families in Charlotte. Our daughter and family are in San Antonio and visit regularly. We are all going to Vail to ski this Christmas. Sue Styer Cahill: Was skiing in UT with Bessie Bulkley Bradley ’61 and spent a month in Pawleys Island SC, golfing with husband Ed just before. Stopped to see son Tor and grandson Houston in Denver on the way back from skiing. Mary Anne Claiborne Johnston: I’ll become president-elect of the Rotary Club of Summit County in CO in July. Son Richard, an orthopedist in Atlanta, and family will be joining us for a ski week in early March. Daughter Kristin, a clinical psychologist in Boulder, and her husband try to keep up with their two daughters. Son Claiborne and family will move this summer to Austin TX where he begins his position as dean of the new Dell School of Medicine at the U. of TX, Austin. My husband continues to work full time as associate dean for research at the U. of CO School of Medicine. Carolyn King Ratcliffe: Our family trips have included Tanzania, Egypt, and last summer Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Our grandchildren are now ages 15 to 20 (two at UVA, one headed to Duke and two in high school). I’m still volunteering and playing tennis, and Clyde stays busy with his genealogy. Patti Powell Pusey: We’ve been trying to keep up with the Ratcliffe family travel adventures. They took their family to Tanzania with the Thompson family group, so we did also. 18 of us had the trip of a lifetime, sharing animal life, village community and Masaai School. Our 55th Reunion is on the calendar. Gale Young Walker shares memories of Patricia Russell Howard: I was lucky enough, also having drifted north and over the border into Canada, to keep up a friendship with Patricia. She became a prominent member of the English Dept. at the U. of Toronto and, in retirement, a noted watercolorist. Carolyn Gough Harding still subs occasionally for Adult English as a Second Language programs and tutors some neighbors once a week. We’re planning a family trip to Jackson Lake and Yellowstone in July. I get to the YMCA each week. Linda Sims Grady Newmark: I’m on a cruise to China, Japan and South Korea. I, along with Nina Bugg and Ann Lemmon, have enjoyed the SBC Living Room Learning course with 22 alumnae and 225 others at the Atlanta History Center. Nina is the capable treasurer and Ann heads up the hospitality committee. I’m still enjoying life on Lake Keowee in SC with frequent visits to my second home in Atlanta. Nina Wilkerson Bugg and Ann Crowell Lemmon also write of the outstanding Living Room Learning series. Ann adds: I can’t recommend this program enough. We’ve done it for 40 plus years. I’m still so thankful at age 75 that my parents provided a SBC education for me. Phyz and I love visits with children and grandchildren (VT and NC).

sbc.edu | Sweet Briar Magazine

Carol Barnard Ottenberg: Simon and I leave Seattle in late July, just when the sun comes out, and head for ME. This year I’m speaking in Salem, MA, at a national jigsaw puzzle meeting. We enjoyed a week in AZ in Feb. with family. It was fun to work with my neighbor Jane Headstream Yerkes on hosting an SBC tea when President Parker came to town. Nancy Corson Gibbes: I’m in Morocco having just spent two nights camping in a tent in the desert. Ginger Newman Blanchard writes: We’re moving to Amherst to the farm. We moved out of NJ at the end of Jan. If anyone is in the area, we’d love to see them. Jane Ellis Covington: We have some ideas about how to make our 55th special and we welcome thoughts from classmates. Thanks to the efforts of our 50th reunion committee, our class was over the top with 78% giving participation. It would be so great if we could match our last effort or exceed it! I just returned from skiing in CO—first a week with friends and then a week with daughter and two grandsons. Our escape is a farm about an hour west of Richmond, on the periphery of the Deep Run Hunt territory. Isabel Burch Ware: I am still enjoying life in Williamsburg and hope to have a large group returning for reunion in 2015. Mark your calendars now, please, for May 2931, 2015.

1961

Bette Hutchins Sharland thefroghall@verizon.net

Patti Amanda Birge Spivey hosted a reception in her Russian Hill home when President Jo Ellen Parker and VP for Development Heidi McCrory visited San Fran. More than 30 alumnae, students and parents attended. President Parker filled them in on academic developments and summer programs. Last Nov.,Winifred Storey Davis returned to SBC to hear Molly Haskell discuss her latest book, “My Brother My Sister,” discussing a transgender transformation “told with understanding and love.” In April, she and Tread planned to attend the alumnae gathering in Asheville. Mary Hunter Kennedy Daly also praises Molly’s book. Mary Hunter is recovering from a “very rough course of treatment for lung cancer.” She had “wonderful visits” from Lou Chapman Hoffman, just back from Paris, and from Molly. Sara Finnegan Lycett continues as docent at Baltimore’s Walters Art Museum. Sara serves on her church’s vestry. Alicia Laing Salisbury and John spent two Feb. weeks travelling in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. With a granddaughter at the Coll. of William & Mary, they anticipate visits to VA. From Cape Cod, Mary MacKenzie Shaw is co-chair of fundraising for the new building, which Eastham plans to build. The new library will double the size of the town’s present one. Mary has three children and five grandchildren. Last May, Mary and her daughter spent several weeks in the small town of Dyke, outside of Inverness, whence came her MacKenzie ancestors. Margaret Gwathmey spends two threemonth intervals each year at her apt. on Telegraph Hill in San Fran.

Mary Danny Scott Wray’s Jan. Great Performance Tour down to Cartagena, Colombia was cancelled by one of those polar vortexes. Her children and five grands are all well. John and Louise Cobb Boggs spent the early part of the winter visiting friends and relatives in Ocala and Boca Raton, then at the beach at Ft. Myers where they rent a condo in Feb. On the way home, they visited their son in Atlanta, then friends in Columbia, SC. Sue Robinson Syquia in AZ is grandmother to six, ranging in age from seven to 20 all over the globe. Helen Cloie Syquia Skarne is in the Philippines, doing TV shows. “Every once in a while her mom flies over to join her.” Eldest grandson finished at Andover and now studies in Germany. Also in AZ is Laura Conway Nason, who hopes to see Hazel Ruth, son John’s first child and her first grand, who arrived last Nov. in Olympia, Washington. Susie Prichard Pace cheers for her grands in hockey, lacrosse, basketball and baseball. This year is Bob and Linda MacArthur Hollis’ 50th anniversary. Last winter they visited family and golf courses in CA and AZ. They’ll celebrate by taking all their family on an AK cruise in July, then themselves on a cruise to Antarctica during the Nov. summer. Linda’s discovered her talent for oil painting and enjoys herself at their retirement community near Asheville, NC. Julie O’Neil Arnheim gives the Coll. of Charleston the benefit of her experience in Princeton three days a week and then volunteers at the Children’s Hospital run by the U. of SC’s Med School. Daughter Boyd has twins, a girl and a boy, born in July 2012 up in Chicago, where Boyd’s in a doctoral program at the U. of IL’s Chicago campus. Son Patrick moved to Charleston and is active in theater there and in NY. Son Richard works on complicated actuarial projects in Indianapolis. Bill and Catherine Caldwell Cabaniss had dinner with Sally Mathiasen and Ted Prince in Washington and the next day attended the dedication of the Havel Place at Georgetown U. in memory of President Vaclav Havel, of the Czech Republic who died two years ago. 2013 was a year of receiving surgery at the Cleveland Clinic for a rare condition usually happening to women in their 30s and 40s. It has taken a year, but I am recovered and grateful. Mimi Lucas Fleming visited for her grandniece’s graduation, and Julie and Mimi “picked up just where we left off in 1959.” Bette Hutchins Sharland continues as secretary of the local umbrella civic group. Jean has been interested in the Etruscans, so they ventured to (E)T(r)uscany last Sept. They saw lots of their funerary urns (about all the Romans seem to’ve left), acres of vineyards, and rows of hills topped by three-armed windmills harvesting free power. Maria Garnett Hood sees Lynn Adams Clark who is “as beautiful as ever and doing well after Morton’s death.” She and Bob travel a bit and take care of their “incollege grandson, Juan Harvie.” Our leader reminds us ‘tis only two years until our next reunion and “We can make it back!”

1962

Parry Ellice Adam 33 Pleasant Run Rd. Flemington, NJ 08822 peaba@comcast.net

Louise Durham Purvis: “We’ve had trips to Venice and around the south of England. The next few months will be fighting against an independent Scotland.” Dulcie Heintz Germond: Moved from NY to Atlanta in 1989. Retired from corporate life in 2005. Peter Conrad (W&L ’62) and I moved to Kiawah Island, SC, in 2005. Built a Greek Revival house on Ocean Course Dr. so we can walk to Kiawah’s beaches, the Ocean Course and Kiawah Island Club. Peter and I went to his W&L reunion this year. Recently went to Beth Gottlieb O’Connor’s (’90) wedding reception at Carolina Yacht Club in Charleston with my daughter, Amanda Sloane Germond ’90 and enjoyed seeing young alumnae. Peter won Key West regatta in our Farr ’40 with my son Colby aboard. I have four children, Teddy, Amanda, Nathaniel and Colby who live in ME, NH, Atlanta and Cary, NC, with my grandchildren. Hope to see Judith Hartwell Brooks this year. Julia Shields: “I’m retiring this month after serving almost 22 years as register for our church. I spend time watching grandnieces and grandnephews perform on courts, fields and stages, walking with my dog, doing genealogical research, some writing and volunteer work.” Effie Castelli Sammis has been on the East Coast for three weeks (early 2014) between Philadelphia and ME. They celebrated their 50th anniversary. They took their children and grandchildren to a dude ranch in MT and spent three days exploring Yellowstone. Then she and Skeeter went on a cruise to the Bahamas, Caribbean, South America, Panama Canal and Costa Rica. They have three of their children and families living near them in Sun Valley. Seven of their eight grandchildren play ice hockey, ski, soccer, dance and ride. Effie saw Jane Aldrich the summer before last in MT. She brought her two horses over to the ranch where they were staying and had great ride together. Jane has a stable of three horses, two goats, two dogs and cats. She’s still living in Florence, MT. Also a couple of years ago, they had a visit with Lizzie Fleet Wallace and Gordon in Richmond, and then at their house in Figure Eight, NC.

1963

Allie Stemmons Simon 3701 Guadalajara Court Irving, TX 75062 asimontc@verizon.net

Jean Young Behan died on 9/23/13 after a long illness. We express our sympathy to her family. Sympathy also to Anne Carter Brothers whose husband, Dr. John Brothers, died at the end of last year and to Lee Kucewicz Parham and John who lost their younger son, Rob, to cancer in Feb. Ironically, Anne had sent a reflection on our 50th Reunion, which just missed the deadline for our last class notes: “As I pulled out of the gates of SBC I felt many of the same emotions I had felt when leaving after graduation. I imagine it was because I had anticipated this particular reunion for so long and now it was over. I

also wonder if we’ll ever entice so many back to campus. We must try.” Nerissa Vom Baur Roehrs: “Our daughter Marina was married on Easter Saturday 2013 in London to British Army Captain Nicholas Heppenstall. He was posted to Washington in Dec. Musically my offerings continue to be played here and there. Australia and China heard a couple of my songs, a couple more were sung in recital in Zwickau (Schumann’s birthplace) and my two piano solos were performed during Debussy Week. One of my Christmas carols was sung, in translation, at the Christmas Service of Bach’s choir, the Thomaner.” Betty Stanly Cates is entertaining all Sweet Briar colleagues who visit Vero Beach. Meta Bond Magevney and Hugh and Susan Dwelle Baxter ’64 were Betty’s house guests on Valentine’s Day weekend, and Lucetta Gardner Mannion and Ed spent the night with her in Jan., en route home after a Caribbean cruise. She had dinner with Mary Lou Morton Seilheimer and Charlie. Mary Lou is on the mend after knee surgery. The Sweet Briar cocktail party, which Betty sponsors annually, was March 4. Attending were Betty Noland Caravati and Charlie and Nancy Caldwell Briggs and Bobby. Lynn Carol Blau and Jeffrey were off to Nashville and Las Vegas to visit their two daughters and grandchildren and also spend time in their apt. in NYC. Pat Calkins Wilder’s (Victor, NY) husband Mike retired. Pat is still photographing full time, enjoying experiences in the U.S. and abroad and keeping a full schedule of shows. Pat and Mike have three children, one in Seattle, one in NY and one in London with their families. Ginni Corwin Millo: “I’ve been retired from my aerospace job for 18 years now and spend my time between HI where my family lives and MA where I’m involved with my church’s information technology.” Jean Meyer Aloe’s husband Ed tripped on the stairs and tore the quadriceps ligament off his kneecap resulting in surgery then leg cast and brace. Then Jean fell on her face twice, dislocating her jaw and ending up with a “monstrous black/red/blue eye and cheek.” Jean goes to Abu Dhabi in March to visit their daughter and her family who are there for her job. Cynthia Hubard Spangler and Charles visited Biarritz with her son and his family last summer followed by two days in Paris. In Jan. Cynthia had back surgery, which has eliminated pain she’s lived with for years. Susan Alexander, Nancy McDowell and Lyn Clark Pegg enjoyed a mini-reunion last Dec. while on a Witness for Peace delegation to Cuba. Prue Gay Stuhr and Ed have been enjoying the activities of grandchildren and dogs. Their Dalmatian, “Ticket” had a fine year in the show ring and their 10-yearold Dalmatian “Cole” is looking well. Prue tracked down a long-lost classmate, Ashley Schuler Rooney. Shortly after, I had an email from Ashley herself. “So many years have passed, but within 24 hours I heard from Prue Gay and Leslie Buchman Richardson, that tall beautiful blonde who was my roommate so many years ago!” Ashley is a writer with over 40 books to her credit. She has previously worked as a consultant and as a youth minister and youth center coordinator, working with teens. She has a master’s degree in Adolescent Group Dynamics and has

produced a TV series focusing on youth concerns. Through two marriages (her first husband died in 1998) she has collected two children, three step-children and 11 grandchildren. Judy Varn Hays writes, “After 43 years in the same house someone came along who wanted to buy it and we moved in about seven weeks! We’re now at our lake house 100 miles from Atlanta waiting to close on a condo.” Susan Scott Robinette and Lamar took a three-week trip to WA, MT, Canada and WY in Sept. then to the beach in Pawley’s Island, SC, and to NJ to see grandchildren. Lamar’s daughter Kate (their last) will be getting married next Oct. in Charleston at Magnolia Plantation. Nancy Dixon Brown’s oldest daughter is being married in June. Nancy attended the SBC brunch for President Parker. Cheri Fitzgerald Burchard: “I enjoy my grandchildren and have welcomed a new one, Anna. Painting and work in the arts delights me.” Mary Ann Utterback Burritt was sorry to miss our Reunion, but was in the throes of moving her mother into a retirement facility near her home. Mary Ann and Jim are looking forward to a cross country drive in May to visit their son Jimmy, who lives in Laguna Beach with his family. Marta Sweet Colangelo responded briefly, “Susan Terjen Bernard and I are currently in Tortola, BVI!” Lisa Wood Hancock: “Daughter Elizabeth is graduating from VA Episcopal Seminary and will be ordained in June. I had a visit in Dallas with Allie Stemmons Simon in early Feb.” Lisa came to provide me with a little R&R after nursing a husband recovering from spinal surgery complicated by infection for four months. He’s improving daily and we’re off for our CO home to spend the month of March.

1964

Virginia “Ginny” deBuys H16 Shirley Lane Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 gdebuys@gmail.com

Caroline Kincaid Pesola writes from Perugia, Italy that she spends the fall season in Hunterdon County in NJ each year where she has a home and the rest of her time in Italy, where she has a garden, olive trees and pets to keep her busy. Her son is living in Venice now after eight years in the U.S. She sees Gale Rogers Fortebuono in Perugia where she also has a house. Both will miss reunion. For news of reunion and pictures, go to Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/SBC1964. And, last but not least, it’s been fun being your secretary these past years. Now it’s time to pass the pen to someone else. Send lots of news and keep the new secretary busy!

1965

Sally Hubbard sally@hubbard.net

Eugenia Dickey Caldwell found an avian vet for Dollie, her 33-year-old parrot. Eugenia spends a lot of time caring for Dollie, from administering arthritis medicine to walks in the sunshine. Melinda Musgrove Chapman’s oldest grandson is a sophomore at the U. of FL and the rest of his family will be in

Germany for another 18 months. Her two granddaughters and selling houses keep her busy. Foy Roberson Cooley is still working as CEO of Access Self Storage, developing and managing self-storage properties in NJ and NY. Husband Ken retired a decade ago. She skis at Snowbird and takes long hikes (New Zealand last Nov.) and will go fly fishing in Argentina in March. Her four children are fine; two in UT and two in NJ. One is married and has two children. Foy is tutoring a homeless person for the GED exam and facilitates a grief group. Mary Ellen Freese Cota’s husband Alberto’s macular degeneration limits adventures, but they continue singing in the choir. Mel teaches yoga to professors from the U. of Mexico campus nearby. Each weekend they visit Alberto’s sister in Guanajuato. Sally Rasco Thomas is looking forward to a Danube cruise in April. Oldest granddaughter Naja is awaiting college admission letters. Sally Wright Hyde and husband Steve downsized and moved to Williamstown, MA, where he went to college. Mary “Dootsie” Duer ’64 and Sally used to visit that Birkshires campus from SBC. They have two daughters and four grandchildren, three to 15. Brooke Patterson Koehler and husband Dan enjoyed a 21-day river cruise from Bucharest to Amsterdam. She’s had knee surgery for a torn meniscus and a small tear. Brooke flew off to Australia with her tennis partner to watch nine days of the Australian Open. She returned to Indian Wells (where they own a house) to watch the Paribas Open. Brooke’s son Doug still works for her, but is getting restless; son Andrew is teaching school in Bosnia. Nancy E. MacMeekin traveled to Ireland last fall with Vicky Thoma Barrette. They’re about to embark on a trip to Panama and the colonial city of Cartagena, Colombia. Nancy volunteers for her church and her county’s literacy and ESL programs, and spends time with her grandnieces and grandnephews. Susan Strong McDonald had a wonderful two-week residence at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts in Oct. Since it is close to SBC, she visited with the art dept. faculty and saw the new art studio facility. Paige Critcher brought her art class to visit Susan’s studio and talk about creating collages. Susan’s oldest grandson is studying at Beloit College in WI. The others are thriving in St. Paul, MN, and Shepherdstown, WV. She moves seasonally between WI and Jacksonville, FL. Laura Haskell Phinizy’s husband Stewart has had to stop driving because of Alzheimers. On the up side, Laura drove 1800 miles from Augusta to Saint Simons Island, to D.C. and back, with grandson Wesley Gash (8) to visit his twin cousins, go to monuments, play in his first snow, visit the capitol, and celebrate Three Kings Day at St. Alban’s. Carol Reifsnyder Rhoads’ husband Bob has retired. In “Ring Around Charleston” they rang tower bells in three churches and then they visited D.C. to see “The Dying Gaul” in the National Gallery. 2015 is around the corner—hope everyone is planning to come to SBC! Magdalena Salvesen will visit 19th-century gardens and parks in Britain this summer in preparation for a seminar she’ll

More class notes online sbc.edu/magazine teach at NYU. She continues to manage the estate of artist Jon Schueler and is involved with his exhibitions. Saralyn McAfee Smith sent a pastoral scene of snow on a rural lane, but fussed that after a week of spring they woke up to that. Sally Norris Swan’s husband will retire soon from his accounting firm in Amarillo. They’re getting a Brittany pup and love to fly fish in the West; they have a Kevlar canoe (so old folks can carry it) and love backpacking and hiking. Sally’s mother gave her poem book that Robert Frost had signed to Goodwill in 1970; if you see it on E-Bay please buy it back for her. She enjoys writing and poetry. At 70 (aren’t we all), Sally McCrady Hubbard figures she has five years to do outrageous things. So here came an Anglican priest from Uganda to teach courses at Sewanee about various religions’ response to people with AIDS in their communities. Canon Gideon Byamugisha has provided a boarding school education for 900 children near Kampala (orphans and others affected by AIDS) and is working to establish a fouryear college open to all. Sally decided to volunteer for him for the month of April and then Ugandan President Museveni declared war on gays and people who counsel them. It’s terrifying, but she’s willing to be open to this opportunity, and then be coordinator of Canon Gideon’s fundraising efforts in Canada and the USA when she returns. And what was it Carol said? 2014 + 1 = OUR TURN TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS!

1966

Keenan Kelsey

keenankelsey@comcast.net

Penn Willets Fullerton pennhome@aol.com

Jane Nelson

jnelson@wcrichmond.org

Susan Sudduth Hiller ssdh22@yahoo.com

1967

Gail Robins O’Quin cgrobins@ix.netcom.com

Lynn Gullett Strazzini returned from her third biennial drive (5,000 mi.) around the U.S. with a fellow retired FAA girlfriend. The emphasis this time was the civil rights era in the South, where they visited many national park service civil rights historic sites etc. “I’m now aboard Ed Strazzini’s sailboat cruising the Chesapeake Bay for a week. Following this week’s trip is the annual gathering of nine ‘girls’ from my school days. 2013 will be our Nifty 68 trip. I travel with two other groups: Saucy 60s and Check Mates. I’m on the road about 200 days annually. Ed and I visit our three grandchildren in NYC as often as we can.” Dottie Dana King is still living in Jacksonville, FL. She’s been a widow for seven years and has three married children and six grandchildren (6 mos. to 8

sbc.edu | Sweet Briar Magazine

Merci, Mme. over her clothes and hair. It was all business during the day, she recalls. “It was hard work when I think back on it, but we didn’t think anything of it. It was just what you did,” she told an interviewer with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project in 2008. “We felt strongly about it, and we were winning that war, we were doing our part; that was a very big part of it. As I say, all our contemporaries, boys, men we should call them, were out fighting. So, by gum, we were doing our part. I mean, that was the sense of it.” Walter also volunteered at the Stage Door Canteen, a converted theater in Lafayette Square. “We were supposed to mosey around and talk to [soldiers] and dance with them, whatever, just generally entertain them. We were not supposed to leave with any soldier. That was part of the rules. But it was a very nice thing, and some of these guys were pretty lonesome. … It made you feel good. It was fun.” During her two and a half years at OSS, she often spent Sundays walking outdoors. “Working six days a week inside is a long haul,” she said. Edith Brainerd Walter ’42 credits Sweet Briar with a lot, including landing her first job. Yes, that’s what college is supposed to do. But it was January 1943, the country was at war, and women suddenly were working in capacities they hadn’t before. Walter, a French major and Spanish minor, was hired “on the spot” by the brand-new Office of Strategic Services in Washington, the nation’s first centralized intelligence agency. At first, she scoured newspapers from Spain and France for details such as train movements, which she learned might indicate troop movements. As her security clearance levels increased, she was promoted from assistant clerk to editorial analyst, responsible for editing reports from agents in Europe for distribution within the military and government. Six days a week in a hot, cramped temporary building at 26th and Constitution, Walter cranked out her typed briefings on a Ditto machine that flung ink all

sbc.edu | Sweet Briar Magazine

Walter was the youngest of five daughters. She and her sister, who also worked in the city, remained at their family home. It was large enough to serve as a civil defense shelter, and the two women were designated air raid wardens. They trained in first aid in case of attack and patrolled their darkened neighborhood at night to ensure every house was blacked out. As the war in Europe wound down in mid-1945, Walter tired of the long schedule with not enough work to stay busy and resigned her position. She parlayed her experience into a job as an editor at the American Automobile Association, where she continued part time after marrying George Walter in 1949. George, an attorney, retired from Acacia Mutual Life Insurance Co. as executive vice president in 1981. He died in 2006. The couple raised two daughters, Anne, now a biology professor, and Betty Jane, who died in 1973. They stayed in Washington, where Edie was active in the PTA, her church and Sweet Briar’s alumnae club.

Walter! She was a longtime volunteer at her local voting precinct and delivered Meals on Wheels for many years. Walter was a member of the Washington Club, where she held several offices and contributed articles for its newsletter. For the club’s 1992 centennial, she wrote a short history of the women’s group and the “clubhouse” it acquired in the 1950s — a Dupont Circle mansion that had temporarily served as the White House during Calvin Coolidge’s administration. While Coolidge lived and worked there, he received Charles Lindbergh following the flier’s Trans-Atlantic flight in 1927. Service has always been part of her life. Reflecting on her time at the OSS — the earliest days of what would become the Central Intelligence Agency — she knows now it was special. “I think it was,” she told the Veterans History Project. “I probably just sort of took it for granted a little bit, you know. It was special, I was very proud of it, and I did well.” In many ways, the war had felt far away at Sweet Briar, but students did feel its impact. “In lieu of going to France, I lived junior year in a house on Faculty Row, [where we were] supposed to speak French only,” she says, noting her disappointment at the time. “December 7, 1941, shocked everyone. My roommate’s father was captain of a ship at Pearl Harbor, and she sat up all night waiting to hear if he was okay — fortunately, although the ship was hit, he was okay.”

1942 classmates Ann Morrison Reams (from left), Grace Bugg Muller-Thym and Edith Brainerd Walter

Much like her experience at OSS, college shaped her future, she says, and that is why she has chosen to make a gift of $100,000 to Sweet Briar to establish an unrestricted endowed fund. “Sweet Briar intensified my interest in learning about things, to dig deeper. It gave me the ability to adapt to life’s challenges,” she says. “I am grateful for those four years. I believe that a women’s college offers advantages to young women. Sweet Briar has proved this to be true and shows a desire to maintain its high standards.” To learn how you can make a difference today, please contact giving@sbc.edu or (888) 846-5722.

Edie Walter ’42 (far right) enjoys the company of her friends Nancy Davis and Sid Kent at a Washington nightclub during the war. Kent was a lifelong family friend.

sbc.edu | Sweet Briar Magazine

years) who live in Atlanta and NY. She enjoys teaching and playing tournament bridge. Judy Bensen Stigle has adjusted to FL weather. She’s playing lots of golf, working two days a week and has jumped back into PEO, women’s club and newcomers. She sees lots of old roomie Bonnie Blew Pierie who has undergone second rotator cuff surgery on the same arm. Maria Wiglesworth Hemmings is cutting back to 24 hours at the hospital in March and spending longer weekends in FL. “We’re in Hobe Sound if any of you are nearby. Family is good; if any SBC grads need gardening or landscaping in the Jackson Hole area, daughter Emery’s Teton Gardens will take care of you. She and Jeff are now visiting daughter Anne in Park City skiing.” In June, the Hemmings go with their church to Kenya for a mission trip. After the work portion they’re going to Masai Mara and Tanzania. Mary Gillespie Monroe was flying across country to visit her grandsons, Vake and Gil Martin, who live in Klamath Falls, OR, when she reported. If not in OR she will be driving or taking the train to visit her granddaughter, Mary Frances Rivera, in Baltimore, MD. “I’m still teaching anatomy and histology at Virginia Commonwealth U. during the fall and spring semesters.” Barb Tillman Kelley and Carlton have a trip planned to the Galapagos Islands in March. They’re also taking a river cruise on the Danube from Prague to Budapest in Aug. Judy Schlatter Fogle enjoyed a trip to Berlin and Munich with her son Ander and his wife Robin and their three sons. Carroll Randolph Barr loves the printed word on a page in a magazine, especially our Class Notes in our SBC Magazine. “SBC’s magazine is truly one of the best I have ever read/seen, not that I’m prejudiced, but I do believe it’s worth the expense to write, publish and mail.” She writes, “Our son, Angus and his fiancée, Erin Holshouser, were married here at our house on Lake Latané in Oct. They live in Huntersville and work in Charlotte, NC, where he’s a chef at the downtown Hilton Hotel, and she’s an office manager with Duffey Construction. Michael and Ali and Eloise have moved into their house in Larchmont. Michael commutes into NYC via train to Neuberger Berman, and Ali owns her own pajama business called ThreeJNYC (threejnyc.com). I love retirement with tennis, golf, watching UVA basketball, tutoring French, and now the Olympics. Mike is still in real estate, but also enjoys golf, tennis and now pickleball. On my last trip to Larchmont, I visited with my goddaughter, Elaine Musselman and her son, Wes, in NYC. Elaine is Ina Brown Bond’s daughter. Adele Laslie Kellman and Paul sold their home of 20+ years and moved into a condo in Morristown, NJ. The Kellmans took two trips to Spain, first in June when their daughter and her husband had a legal wedding ceremony in Andorra, then later in Sept. when the couple had a destination wedding in Barcelona (where they live). During the summer, Adele spent several weeks in FL with her stepmother in her final days. The Kellmans went to Costa Rica in Jan. Hallie Darby Smith’s son remarried and is expecting a daughter in March to join older brothers (9 and 6)! This gives Hallie three grandsons and three granddaughters. 52

sbc.edu | Sweet Briar Magazine

“I have become interested in beekeeping. Last fall I went on a wine tasting tour of Germany, followed by a trip along the wine road of Alsace, France with Sophie Mackenzie Belouet ’68.” Stephanie Lucas Harrison: “About 5 years ago I married Ted Carpenter. We became engaged when we went to Carmel for Lyn Milton Cooper’s wedding. I have two married sons and three grandsons. When I married Ted, I acquired two stepdaughters and a step-granddaughter (6).” Stephanie is practicing commercial real estate law and taking ballet and salsa dancing lessons. Her sister Cathy, SBC ’70, lives there as does her younger son, Charlie, and his wife and the baby-on-the way. Everyone else is scattered in CA, OR and NC. Connie Quereau Graf and Ernie enjoy having both children nearby in the D.C. area. She babysits the three grandchildren once a week. She’s still riding and maintaining two horses. She sees Putzi Von Rebhan occasionally. Margaret Mapp Young’s oldest son died of heart failure in Feb. He had lived with a TBI since 1991, but had married and fathered two beautiful children before his divorce. He was living on his own with great caregivers in Accomac. She is fortunate to be able to spend time with Paul and Sara Mapp now as they live with their mother close by. Mapp lives in Northern VA, is a school teacher and he and his wife have three boys and a girl! Richard, Jr. is in Portland, OR, and he and his wife have two girls. Margaret and Dick plan to go back to the FL Keys for two months this winter. They missed last year due to her broken ankle and his collapsed lung! Bonnie Blew Pierie remembers Randy Brown: “Time passes and, while I miss Randy, I’m happy that Hospice made her transition away comfortable. It was offered in her own home with her family able to participate. Just yesterday, as I was going over a drawer of photos, there was another photo of Randy during a visit here looking like, well...Randy (!) with that big smile and joy-of-life look.” Randy’s daughter Lee has been in touch, and it seems that after the great ordeal the family endured, they’re healing and happy for their memories of their mother.” Judi Bensen Stigle is consistently winning in the Waterford Womens’ Golf League while she attempts a second effort to reattach the tendon in my right shoulder otherwise known as rotator cuff. Judi visited Gracey Stoddard in Naples in Dec. She is working to support the “African Dream Academy,” and also on rehabbing/decorating a family condominium. When she just recently went to Africa to visit the Academy and took a side trip safari with 12 other people; she just happened to mention that she had gone to Sweet Briar and met her first cousin. Now that is a small world! Judi looks forward to seeing Ginny Carpenter Delgado and everyone at our next reunion if not before. Martha Meehan Elgar married Tom after graduation and they moved several times in his career with General Electric Company. They’ve lived in Atlanta for almost 25 years. They enjoy having their children and six grandchildren nearby, who range in age from 12 years to 9 months. They volunteer for their church and community and travel. They had a reunion several years ago with Lindsay Smith Newsom, Peggy Handly Fitzgerald, Sally Haskell Richardson, Page Munroe Renger,

Gretchen Bullard Barber and Sue Morck Perrin. Dolly Caballera Garcia has eight grandchildren. The Garcias took a cruise to the Black Sea. This year they’re planning on taking two of the grandkids on a Disney cruise in April and then hope to go to Israel and Jordan in Sept. Victoria Baker made a sightseeing trip, interspersed with family visits, up the east coast from FL to Ft. Kent, ME (mile marker #1 on U.S.1) for partner Lee’s 50th high school reunion. In Oct. she took him to her remote anthropological research village in Sri Lanka to reconnect with old friends. Victoria and Lee continue to be avid ballroom dancers. Ginny Carpenter Delgado: “All is well in Madrid! My son and family have moved here. I tutor his boys in English (their second language). I’ll be spending the month of July in Breckenridge, CO, with my sister and husband and will be taking my grandson Álvaro (13). If any of you are in the Denver area, maybe we could get together in July? Looking forward to visiting with Glory McCrae Bowen here in Madrid in May.” Kim Waters Keriakos has been enjoying Washington, D.C., this winter. “I hope anyone passing through will give me a call. I volunteer with Travelers Aid at Dulles Intl Airport so would be happy to greet you and take you to the city if that’s your plan. I continue to serve as a floral designer at church and have joined a garden club. I visited SBC at homecoming last fall and, with our loss of Nancy Baldwin and Peter Daniel, have corresponded with many old friends. Both Nancy and Peter were great mentors when I worked for the Admissions Office after graduation. I became a greatgrandmother at the end of 2013.” Jill Berguido Gill retired from tutoring. She loves having the time to read and write. She’s planning an extensive vegetable garden. “Chamois, my yellow Lab (11) is still full of pep…I have added more duties to my roster at Christ Church, Philadelphia. Bruce won’t reach retirement age for several more years. He loves his work at Harriton House. He is good friends with his Harriton neighbor, Chef Walter Staib. Both Bruce and Harriton Plantation have been frequent guests on Walter’s PBS show, “A Taste of History.” My son, Tim Clement, has been working at the Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation in Philadelphia since last June. He is the Scattergood Fellow on Stigma Reduction.” Susan Sumners Alloway has moved from central NY to Rockport, TX, a shrimping village and artists’ colony on the Gulf Coast where she vacationed as a child and where she and her husband wintered the last 10 years of his life. “Current projects include making for my son, the farmer, a set of dishes incised with Pueblo prayer symbols for good harvests, and designing two retreats, one on ‘covenant,’ one on ‘power.’ I see my son and grandson four or five times a year in northern CA, and this summer plan a painting class at Ghost Ranch, a northern NM retreat center in Georgia O’Keefe country. My sister and I are contemplating a trip to the Greek islands to celebrate my 70th.” Beth Gawthrop Riely: “After a difficult period, at this age it’s better just to say so: divorce and death of former husband John, my life is now full and rich with family and friendships. I continue to write on food and food history and music. Right

now I am co-president of my chorus, The Boston Cecilia. My older son Christopher and his companion Ingrid have my first grandchild, Sylvia. Christopher is a forester working in RI’s reservoir watershed. Andrew, my younger son, teaches geography at National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C.” Stephanie Ewalt Coleman’s first husband, Rye Ayers, passed away. Judi Bensen Stigle and Lynn Lyle were both in that wedding. On a happier note, her youngest son, Brandon, married Ashby Wallace last Nov.! Lynn and friend, Jamie Sheridan, came from Raleigh to attend! Lisa Harvey Morton and John were to attend, but sadly illness hit Lisa after her family reunion the previous weekend! Now Lee and his wife, Amanda, have a daughter, Reagan (3). They’re expecting a son, Riley (named for granddad). Her middle son, Cameron, lives in NOVA and works in D.C. as senior editor at a large publishing company. Lisa has two grandchildren, two daughters-inlaw and sons nearby, two stepsons, their wives and four step-grandchildren. “I see my two brothers and one sister-in-law, Chloe Briscoe Ewalt ’74, in MD often as well as two half-sisters and one brother-inlaw in Amherst. One of my half-sisters has attended Ascension Episcopal Church in Amherst of which Kat Barnhardt Chase is deacon! I have a half-brother and sister-inlaw living in NC.” Ginny Stanley Douglas (Sacremento): “I’m off to Marrakech in April with girlfriends! Bill and I are off to Tunisia and cruising the Mediterranean in June. Our grandkids keep us busy. Bill and I are still here in Baton Rouge, LA, with our three dogs and three backyard chickens. In June we took a three-week river cruise. We drank the ship out of wine! We had a fun trip to the FL Keys with friends in Oct. for Fantasy Fest. In Nov. we went on a week plus safari to Kenya. We both keep busy with our volunteer work. Bill was honored along with several others last year as a volunteer activist. Between us we have five children, two of his plus one of mine in TX and two of mine in Baton Rouge and New Orleans plus five grandchildren scattered between the two states. If you’re ever in the Baton Rouge area, or any part of LA, please holler. We have an open door policy and I can certainly meet anyone wherever. In fact I had the opportunity to meet Randy Brown in Donaldsonville, halfway between New Orleans and Baton Rouge while she was still ambulatory. What a special treat! Glory McRae had seen Lynn Lyle at their 50th High School Class Reunion in Jacksonville, FL. Glory’s son T.J. graduated from the New School in NYC with a masters in economics. She spent Thanksgiving in D.C. with her older son Derick who works for the World Bank. Her daughter Glory’s theater festival in NYC was fantastic. Glory Jr. is working with the La Mama International Group on a production in Singapore. Glory and her daughter took a holiday cruise up the Brazilian end of the Amazon River. Mama Glory also took a cruise from San Diego to the west coast of Mexico, Guatamala, Costa Rica and through the Panama Canal with a stop in Colon, Panama, then Cartegena, Columbia, ending in Ft. Lauderdale. In Aug. she went to Iceland and Greenland. At the end of the summer she took a bus tour to Chicago. In Nov. she went to Winnipeg and then to Manitoba. Glory is still singing with the U. Women’s Chorale of A.A.U.W.

and performs with the opera chorus, Coro Lirica, as well as her choir at the Unitarian Church in Summit where she also leads the World Religions group. Janie Willingham McNabb and husband Lanny have eight children (plus seven son/daughter in-laws) and 20 grandchildren between them. Her hobbies are still grandchildren, photography, videography and gardening. All four of her children live in town and Lanny’s four all live in Atlanta except for one who travels with condos in Atlanta and Bangkok. “We’re downsizing into a garage apt., which I’m building at present. The apt. will be attached to our family ancestral home (built by my father in 1937) where we currently live and into which my oldest daughter will soon move with her family.” Linda Fite has a cousin in Scott, LA, whom she visits every Jan. Linda bought another farmhouse in her back-country hamlet. “I suppose these houses (the largest is 1,200 square feet; the smallest, 900) could be considered investments, only I don’t rent them out conventionally. Summers in the Hudson Valley are so wonderful that, except for a family get-together at Bethany Beach, DE, and a visit to ME, I stay home. Lots of visitors to this area, so I get houseguests galore (including the Brooklyn kids and grandkids). Last autumn I visited an English friend in the South of France, and on the way I stopped in Paris to see Pam Ford Kelley and Brendan. I love going to NYC to visit friends and the kids. I’m still in a writing group. I spent a week in Key West with Joanne Tumolo Bario ’68—heavenly!” Carole Munn is still single and living in FL; she’s flying for Delta (44 years total with Pan Am and Delta!) and spent a three-week vacation in Myanmar (Burma) last Nov. Pat Neithold Hertzberg and Mike moved to FL three years ago to a family home in Palm Beach. “We still go back to Bethesda, MD, in the summer and fall because our son and his family are there. The two grandkids, Graham (11) and Caroline (12), spend spring breaks with us in FL. Mike has started an export consulting business in West Palm, and I’m still working (remotely and part time) with an investment management firm (Keystone Asset Management in McLean, VA). Enjoy painting and drawing. Stay in touch with Mellie Hickey and Paul Nelson, Judy Powell and Harry Martin and Beth Gawthrop Riley. Gracey Stoddard is now retired (Dec. ’13) from her day job with Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. She hopes to have more time to travel and would love to hear from anyone who is in NY. At the time of the last Class Notes Anne Stuart Brown Swann was dealing with an Acoustic Neuroma in her brain. She explains, “I had Cyberknife surgery at Johns Hopkins last Aug., and my report last month was good. Tumor is slightly swollen from the radiation, but three fourths of it is displaying tissue death. Won’t need another MRI for a year! Even though I have lost hearing in my left year I feel blessed. Husband Kirk has retired. We have our two sons, two daughters-inlaw and five grandchildren nearby.” Barbara Annan: “I’m enjoying travel and taking writing workshops. I’ve kayaked in the Everglades, in British Columbia, and northern WI. I visit NYC several times a year and in the winter I use my condo in

Palm Beach, where my brother lives.” Page Munroe Renger is busy practicing for spring interclub tennis. She says, “Will go to the beach for Easter and Memorial Day. Doing a cruise of the Greek Isles and finishing up in Istanbul in June and then hope to take numerous long stints at the beach. I babysit for my little princesses (5 and 7) and drive back and forth to River Hills where my significant other lives.”

1968

Lynne Gardner Detmer lgdetmer@aol.com

1969

Nancy Crawford Bent ascb614@comcast.net

Betsy Blackwell Laundon Esch (Lynchburg, VA) was married to Mike Esch in ’10 having met in Honduras on a church mission trip. Betsy’s first husband and VMI sweetheart, Walt, died in ’05 and in ’07 Betsy sold her yarn shop of 18 yrs. and began traveling and volunteering, which led her to Mike. They continue to travel (bucket list: Machu Picchu and the Galapagos on the SBC trip) and volunteer, both away (NOLA, Haiti, Sandy clean-up in MD) and at home (Betsy at her local library, Meals on Wheels, Vestry and Treasurer at Trinity Episcopal Church; Mike doing maintenance work at L’burg’s Old City Cemetery with other retirees). Daughter Katie and Scott (Lafayette, LA) have twin girls Jordan and Taylor (5), and Beth and Kurt (Takoma Park, MD) have Nate (3). Martha Brewer is retired and plans to move to Atlanta in July when her girlfriend (also an ObGyn) starts a new job there. In addition to Marshall’s Walter (1) in Chevy Chase and Charles’s Lucy (3) in L’ville, Ed and Cathy Hall Stopher now have Edward. “Older sister Lucy likes him. Whew!” Cathy was in FL again this winter, golfing, playing bridge and reading and enjoying being head of their club’s speaker series. Brooks and Almena Hill Pettit (Tallahassee) moved into the local LCRC two yrs. ago, although her mother (93) refuses to join them, and enjoy their home as well as their vacation place in Beaufort, SC. Daughter Rachel will have a fourth son born 11/13. Son Coleman is embarking on his third career (six yrs. in the Marines, three yrs. in banking), about to graduate from law school and hoping to enter the historical preservation field. Son John and his wife have two girls, the younger about to graduate from college! Daughter Barbara teaches children with learning differences. Another daughter lives in VT. After reading emails from classmates wild with cabin fever in GA, NC and VA this winter, Jan Huegenin Assmus thinks maybe she should be grateful that “shoveling off the piles of snow from the roof” and then “shoveling the barriers of snow the plow leaves in front of our driveways” gets her out of the house. Jan x-country skis to enjoy Hanover, NH’s winter sights. Happily retired, Ronde Kneip Bradley spent two mos. this winter traveling first with a friend and then on her own in SE Asia. Elizabeth Lewis and husband David were planning a trip in Jan. ’14 to Myanmar (Burma) with a stop on the way in Taipei.

Son Matt’s company, Betabrand, has grown from three to over 50 employees and, they opened a store last June in San Francisco. Niece Caroline Lewis moved in with Elizabeth and David in Jan. ’13 while she studies for her master’s in psych. Caroline is a paraglider who spends holidays sailing off mountains in exotic places like Nepal. Not to be outdone, Elizabeth’s mother (96) remarried six years ago, and she and her husband play competitive duplicate bridge. Liz Medaglia retired in Jan. from the U.S. Dept. of Labor, but chairs the ABA Standing Committee on the Law Library of Congress; working with the Women’s Bar Assoc. Foundation; and now serving as editor of the Cosmos Club Bulletin. Liz and Joe were planning a late winter trip to Vienna and Venice and then Liz was going to Jordan with a friend in May. All this is in contrast to her summer ’13 road trip when Liz and Joe visited the Rare Book School in C’ville and Liz spent two days as a student at the BMW Performance Driving School. Last July Darlene Pierro retired as head of McLean School in Potomac, MD, after 16 years. Under Darlene, McLean grew from a K-9 school to a K-12. Come fall, she supervised the exterior painting of her 150-year-old house and with her former business manager formed a consulting company, The K-12 Leadership Advisory, for independent school leaders (K-12 LeadershipAdvisory.com). Sadly, Darlene’s only brother died from esophageal cancer in Jan. Robert Pierro, UVA ’71, received his MD from U. CT and was principal psychiatrist at CT Valley Hospital. Darlene is executor of the estate and trustee of a trust to be set up for his son. Finally, Darlene is helping organize her 50th h.s. reunion (St. Margaret’s School, now Chase Collegiate) for ’15. She hopes to get back to SBC for our 45th. Keithley Rose Miller is in Palm Beach with many new design jobs coming her way. Daughter Tory now lives in Delray and works in West Palm for ION Media. Son Gib is still in L.A., also in the media business. She was looking forward to her annual lunch with Cathy Hall Stopher in Feb. Jean Rushin Brown wrote, “Jonathan continues to teach the iPad and organic gardening to seniors.” On 2/22, son Rob married Julia Stroup of Wilton and NYC. Pat Winton Newmark: “Kent and I split our time between Orinda, a small suburb of San Francisco, and Rancho Santa Fe, CA. My daughter has three sons. Kent is retired, and we’re both avid golfers. We’re both volunteer USGA rules officials. I’ll be a walking official at both the U.S. Open and the Women’s Open in Pinehurst this June. I’m sorry that I’ll miss our reunion. I return from working the NCAA Div. I Women’s Championships in Tulsa the weekend before and leave for Pinehurst the following weekend. Hope everyone has a wonderful time.” At Lee Walker is content since her move from rural VA to D.C., much nearer daughter and grandchildren. A new job writing for an online organization keeps her busy. Our news is that son Charles and his bride moved in Jan. to Hong Kong where he’s now a business manager in Sotheby’s Asian office. They love it so far, enjoying the “ridiculous mix of old and new world Asia.” It has been such fun reading everyone’s notes. So many interesting lives and exciting experiences.

1970

Stuart Simrill

stuart.simrill@gmail.com

1971

Carol Remington Foglesong cfoglesong@cfl.rr.com

Anne M. Mell

anne.mell@yahoo.com

Beverly Van Zandt beverlyvz@gmail.com

Rhoda Allen Brooks had her appendix out at the beginning of Jan. after it had ruptured before Thanksgiving. She’s nearly recovered and looking forward to a cruise to Australia and New Zealand in Feb. 2014. Judy Brown Fletcher hosted a Sweet Briar Day luncheon in Dec. She convinced spouse Steve to have a garage sale. They’re taking the “kids” fishing, again staying on Green Turtle Cay in the Bahamas. Jeannette Bush Miller wrote in Feb. from Montclair, NJ. She had just returned from Ann Arbor where older daughter Sarah will graduate from Ross School of Business in May. She starts a job with Pepsico this summer and will live in NYC. Daughter Liz lives in NYC, works as a media editor for an educational publisher. They attended Libby Tyree Taylor’s daughter’s wedding in May 2013. Cami Crocker Wodehouse misses Nan Glazer Lagow. She was lucky to get to see Nan in Richmond when Cami went there to visit her daughter. On their last visit, they shared lunch with Nan’s daughter Caroline, and Nan was as upbeat as ever, even though they both knew this was likely their last visit. Cami will always remember Nan taking daily calls from her beloved girls, answering the phone as if the sun had just risen for the first time. In June, Cami’s mother, Marilyn Crocker ’46, passed away. She was fortunate to have her parents living in her neighborhood for the last 17 years. Cami’s son, daughter-in-law and two grandsons moved close by last spring. Their daughter and her husband live in Richmond. Cami and spouse have taken great cruises in the last couple of years on a small line (100 guests) called Sea Dream: Greek Islands and Turkey in 2012 and Crete and Adriatic Sea, including Croatia and Montenegro last summer. This April they have rented a house in Kauai and will take the family. Jacque Penny, SBC’s new Director of Boxwood Circle, will be visiting Cami, and they plan to see Kathy Burns Beaudreau and Trudy Slade McKnight as well. Lendon Gray continues to teach dressage, has an intensive program for 15 youth riders going on for three months this winter in Wellington, FL, and travels some to teach and do Emerging Dressage Athlete Clinics the rest of the year. Mimi Fahs enjoyed a trip to Viet Nam. Then her son Craig graduated cum laude from Middlebury College and will start work in July as an analyst at Goldman Sachs. Pat Fuller will be semi-retiring the week of Feb. 17, limiting her psychotherapy practice to three days a week and looking forward to new adventures with a retired husband. They’ve discovered the joys of grand parenting. They visit her father (90)

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in Long Boat Key, FL, and the west coast where their daughter and her husband have traveled via RV with baby and dogs to his various internships. They’ve fallen in love with the Pacific Northwest and plan to go to San Diego for little Indiana’s first birthday. They had two amazing visits with Cleveland Hall ’72, and her ever so appealing man, Lafe, on their WA island paradise! Barbie Gracey Backer had a house fire on Christmas Eve. No one was hurt, the damage was minimal. They’ll be out of their home for about six months. Besides this drama, life is good. Their children are all grown, unmarried and employed. Barbie is still working, but able to do some volunteer work. She takes yoga lessons twice a week. They’re leaving in a week for a 10-day trip to the Holy Land with the Episcopal Bishop of South FL. Carol Johnson Haigh says the Haigh family will be on safari in Africa for three weeks after visiting London and Cape Town. Later this year, they’ll be going to the Ryder Cup at Glen Eagles, Scotland, and then to Loch Lomond. Maintaining their VT ski house, ski condominium, Boston apt., and two farms in NC has kept her busy. Locally, in VT, she’s been working on the State of VT “Prevent Child Abuse” project through the Okemo Valley Women’s Club. She’s also in the Ludlow Garden Club. While in Niskayuna, NY, helping with the 50th High School Reunion, Emily Moravec Holt ’70 and Carol caught up. Alison Jones is still pursuing watershed research and documentation for No Water No Life (www.nowater-nolife.org). Sept.-Oct. 2013, she followed the TN, Cumberland and OH rivers, as the major eastern tributaries to the MS River. Spring 2014 will be an expedition to the Snake River, the major Columbia River tributary in the Pacific NW. Fall will bring a trip to lower MS (New Orleans, the Delta, Baton Rouge, Memphis, Natchez). She visits her daughters in New England and Jean Mackenzie Thatcher in Long Island. Carolyn Jones Walthall is enjoying Julian’s retirement (May 2012) and still adjusting to the change from his being on call 24/7. It has allowed them to travel more: Italy to see David in Sienna; Albany, NY to visit Claiborne, Beth and baby Madeleine; AK this past July for a Road Scholar trip and up to his family home in Newbern, Hale County, AL. Claire Kinnett Tate and John are busy with community endeavors in their retirement. She also goes to GA every month to visit her dad. Claire returned in early Feb. from six weeks in Southeast Asia, which brought back memories of The Vietnam War and life at SBC during those years. Son Austin became engaged on Valentine’s Day! Daughter Bright and husband Tim are both in graduate school at the U. of AZ. Amanda Megargee Sutton is in her third year as a Master Gardener through U.Conn and does her outreach volunteering at the Bartlett Arboretum. Brooke Thomas Dold is going to be a grandmother in March as her daughter Lindsay is pregnant. Amanda is Lindsay’s godmother. Amanda taught herself to snowshoe this winter just to reach the compost and birdfeeders! Liz Mumford is having a good time teaching drawing and “art history” designed for people going on trips to Italy, France etc. She went to Rome and Florence in Jan. 2014. She still paints.

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Wendy Norton Brown says the birth of their granddaughter was exciting and now they have one of each, and in town! Bev Van Zandt commented that it seems like only yesterday we were deciding whether to walk to the boat house or to study in the Pit. Jacque Penney loves her position as director of Boxwood Circle at SBC. It allows her to travel, reconnect with old friends and classmates and it introduces her to fabulous alumnae. She’s never been prouder to be a Sweet Briar graduate. She reminds each of us to give their best gift not just at reunion but every year. The College needs our philanthropy now more than ever. Thank you and she hopes to see everyone very soon. Carol Remington Foglesong continues to strengthen after her bout with breast cancer during 2013. She’s starting to plan short trip adventures for 2014 and making several trips to Baltimore to see her mom who is recovering from a stroke. Martha Stewart Crosland and her husband attended the wedding of Carter Burns Cunningham’s daughter Lolly on Cape Cod this past Sept. Last week she enjoyed lunch in D.C. with Charlene Sturbitts ’72. Charlene worked with Martha in the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Dept. of Energy before she retired two years ago to a life full of exciting adventures with her husband Rick Ahern. Martha is looking forward to a week in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, to enjoy the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic at the PGA Resort. She’ll to go to Vienna on work in April and then to England with the Colonial Dames in June for the Sulgrave Manor Centenary. Kay Glenday ’69 and her husband will also be on the Sulgrave Manor trip. Martha’s son Stewart, an associate with Williams and Connolly in D.C., is engaged. Her daughter Mallory enjoys living in Palm Beach Gardens and working for the PGA of America. Bev Van Zandt said that all is well in San Miguel. She took a driving trip along the Mexican Pacific coast with a good friend from Boston. Her daughter Roberta’s wedding is March 22 at the bay. Wendy Weiss Smith and Gil were just back from San Francisco. Next they’ll be off to southern Germany in May to hike on their own between small walled towns, partially inspired by their fun time in Berlin last fall with Susan Greenwald. Anne Wigglesworth Munoz and Milton just got back from a trip to South Africa (Cape Town and Kruger NP) and Zimbabwe. Anne has lots of batik/quilt projects in the works. She had art quilts exhibited in NY and AZ this winter. And she has a new Etsy shop, BatikEtc. Alisa Yust Rowe is feeling good after last year’s bout with breast cancer. She and Richard are excited to see what this year brings. He retired in early Feb., but is consulting some. They’re enjoying the grandchildren and going to the farm. They just began taking the Master Naturalist course. It may remind her of Ms. Belcher’s first year biology course!

1972

Jill Johnson

jilljohnson@isisllc.us Following a two-week tour along the Italian coast last fall, Deidre “DeDe” Conley and husband Gerard then sailed home. They loved Vernazza in Cinque Terra and the Sangiovese wines of Bolgheri nearby. They also took tours off the ship with a stop in Agadir, Morocco, where DeDe felt like she was almost back in Tunisia for a while. They loved the Canary Islands with one island, in particular, having spectacular, lunar-like volcanic vistas and vineyards growing in hollowed out pits in the volcanic soil. Once home in FL, DeDe got a new zirconium left hip, a miracle of modern medicine. DeDe reports Liz Clegg Woodard also enjoys sailing, having left in Jan. on a Round-the-World Cruise. Rosie Brache Leparulo and William continue to live in Tallahassee and are fortunate that both married sons, wives and grandchildren Gracie (5) and Anthony (3) live there as well. Her mother (90) is in good health and lives a little over a mile away. William is still on the faculty at FSU. Rosie and former suite-mates, Kathy Leibell Pasternak, Cindy Miles Martinez, and Leslie Armstrong Ramsey began having yearly reunions about four years ago, usually in Oct. Last year they were at Leslie’s lovely Santa Fe home, and this year they plan to meet in Tallahassee and get a beach house on the gulf for a few days. While Christmas shopping with friends, Bev Horne Dommerich ran into Pam Drake McCormick, whom she hadn’t seen since SBC graduation in 1972! Since then, Bev, Pam and Kathy Walsh Drake have gotten together for lunch and a little 40-plus year catch up. Pam is a snowbird, coming for the winter, and Kathy is a full time Floridian now. They invite any and all classmates who wander down to SW FL (Fort Myers, Estero, Bonita Springs or Naples) to contact them for reunions and merriment. Vivian Finlay and husband Clyde Boyer travel a great deal, and they also have family and friends visit them in Homer, AK. In Jan., Vivian went to Burma/Myanmar where she was born and raised for the first few years of her life. She did some Rotary service projects and was also able to find her place of birth, and an old family friend in Rangoon/Yangon. She, Clyde and their dog also drove out of AK and through the Western states visiting children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other family and friends for about two months last fall. They continue to enjoy their annual vacations in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Dale Shelly Graham reports from St. Louis that her mom passed away last Oct. Dale and James moved from D.C. to STL in Aug. ’11 to be near her mom who had been in frail health. She said she feels so lucky that she was able to have two years with her mom because they hadn’t lived in the same town since 1972 when Dale married and settled on the East coast. On a more cheerful note, son Fielding (27) is settled in Dallas and daughter Lily (24) is in NYC, and they’re both single, happy and gainfully employed! Marion Walker writes that the loss of dear friend Nan Glaser LaGow ’71 broke her heart, but the birth of her grandbaby helped the healing. Marion’s law practice

in labor and employment law for management continues to thrive with her Of Counsel association with Fisher & Phillips, LLP out of Atlanta and around the country. A terrific vacation at The Biltmore Inn last year introduced her to two new sports—shooting clays and fly-fishing. She got a shotgun for Christmas, and there are no plans at all to shoot any living thing! However, she recently learned how to cook duck. She hasn’t given up golf or sailing, but does find her free time has less gardening and her yard looks it. Inspired by an FDR letter written to members of the U.S. Expeditionary Forces in 1942, Kitty Adams Murphy spent the better part of 2012 putting together a tribute to WWII vets for her women’s club, The Chatterbox. Now Kitty can’t stop reading about WWII. We owe a lot. After the tribute, Kitty and husband Pat flew to Nashville to see friends, fell in love with the place and soon after, bought a house. Since the move, she’s been unpacking, getting organized, working with contractors, and enjoying Nashville. The people have been welcoming, although she did have to laugh when a very precocious 10-year-old neighbor said her mom had made a “welcome” coconut pie because her cookbook had said that that was what Yankees liked to eat when they came south. Jane Powell Gray is still loving retirement in Raleigh, NC. Husband Frank is practicing law full time, but taking time to go on trips with her—Key West in March and then Disney World with son, Matt, daughter-inlaw, Lauren, and grandson, Hunter. In May they headed to Napa for a wine extravaganza and then to Tuscany in Oct. Mary Pat Varn Moore continues to enjoy her role as VP of Government Programs for the Florida Association of Health Plans, although as the 2014 Legislative Session quickly approaches, retirement looks like a much better and less stressful option! Mary Pat and husband Paul enjoy getting away to their home in Balsam, NC, and hope to retire there in the mountains of western NC—at least during the hot and humid FL summers. The only drawback will be time away from two granddaughters, Adalyn Grace (5) and Arabella Renee (3), children of son Warren (33) and daughter-in-law, Anna. Paul and Mary Pat also welcomed another daughter-inlaw into the family in Nov. 2013 when son Taylor (25) married Caroline Strickland at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Tallahassee. Rhonda Durham is her 8th year as executive director of ISAS—the accrediting body for 90 independent schools in the Southwest and loves it. Work travel and visiting her children who live in LA, NYC and Salt Lake City keep her boarding planes way more than she’d like some weeks. Rhonda has been able to keep in touch with Bobo Ryan Hoyt when in Houston, and, when visiting her parents who are both well in their 80s in Virginia Beach, has had many a fun time with Susan Snodgrass Wynne. Rhonda’s iPad these days is full of precious pictures of her two grandsons Cole and Mordecai and the five adorable Wynne grands and a fabulous picture of Bobo as first-time mother of the bride, daughter Caroline. The Durham grandsons have just been through nursery school admissions in tough school markets—NYC and LA. Sweating school admissions again, Rhonda reports, seems like “Groundhog Day”—déjà vu all over again. And, of course, there is the thrill of

being in two more annual fund solicitation databases. Susan Snodgrass Wynne announces the birth of her five grandchildren (four girls and one boy) in four years! Identical twin girls arrived a year ago. This past year has been a “WhirlWynne” adventure of travel. She continues serving on the Norfolk Academy board and enjoys seeing Rhonda Griffith Durham (Midland, TX) who comes to town for the meetings. Susan shares the devastating news that Margaret Hayes Brunstad (Birmingham, AL) lost her third sibling, Susie, to cancer before Christmas. Susie was diagnosed with a brain tumor when Margaret and Susan were SBC sophomore roommates. In Jan. Margaret tragically broke her pelvis after slipping on ice. Somehow Margaret continues to shine with grace and gratitude. What a remarkable role model she is for all of us. (Margaret serves on the SBC Friends of Art Board returning to campus often for meetings.) Martha Holland and husband Chris Iribe are preparing for their daughter Katherine’s wedding this summer in Virginia Beach. They traveled last spring to China. Last fall they went to AK and enjoyed photographing birds, bears and whales. They divide their time between Washington, D.C. (where Martha sees Jill Johnson, Mary Heller, Charlene Sturbitts and Michela English ’71) and Virginia Beach. Kathy Upchurch Takvorian continues as the Clinical Chief of Rheumatology at UMass—a bit discouraging in the current climate of governmental cuts all across the board (teaching and research have been hit pretty hard, for example). Kathy’s and Tak’s oldest daughter (middle child) married in June so Kathy acquired new skills as the M.O.B! So many details, but all in all fun. Tak and Kathy both are talking more about retirement, but haven’t made the move yet and don’t know where or in what way they would transition. She writes that it’s good to get the weddings off the table before taking that step! Ginger Upchurch Collier’s husband Tom traveled to Cuba on the SBC trip last Jan. along with Eileen Gebrian and husband Tim Barberich. Ginger declined the trip as she was in Denver with her oldest daughter who just had her first baby. Her other news, and this on the QT from Kathy, is that Ginger is invited to be the SBC Commencement speaker this year! Quite an honor, to be sure. Although Carter Frackelton is semi-retired having sold the block part of the family business, she stays just as busy as ever running an equipment repair business and managing several rental properties. Her volunteer activities fill in many other hours, particularly in the spring and fall. In the past couple of years, Carter has traveled to visit nieces, nephews and cousins in various locations and combined visits to SBCers Dale Shelley Graham in St. Louis and Marty Neill Boney in Wilmington, NC. Last Sept./Oct. she and Mary Heller had a great trip to Tuscany and the Lake Como region of Italy together. Last August Carter had a fun time celebrating a “Summer Christmas” at Camp, her family summer home in the Adirondacks. All three brothers, wives, and most of their children and grandchildren were in attendance. Her dear friend and floral designer Jan came up from Fredericksburg and decorated the 100+-year-old log cabin. Other local

friends helped with securing a tree and preparing the holiday feast. On an administrative note, if you didn’t hear from me, then I obviously sent my witty (?) emails to an incorrect address. Please, please send the right one to jilljohnson@isisllc.us. One of the reasons I love Sweet Briar is because of the dear friends who stick throughout the years. In my last email, I asked if vexation came with wrinkles. The ever-straight shooter Dale Shelly Graham quipped back, “You were just as cranky 40 years ago only we called it feisty then, so don’t worry.” Through thick and thin, and now mostly thick around the middle...Do stay in touch, ladies. If not directly, then join the Facebook private group Sweet Briar College Class of 1972.

1973

Evelyn Carter Cowles ecc52@earthlink.net

Jane Potts: When I go to Richmond, I try to visit with my SBC alumnae/St. Catherine’s friends! Last week we had a fun dinner at Lacy Williams’ with Melinda Davis, Susan Dabney Smith (from Charlottesville) and Lisa Wickham. We have our 45th St. C. reunion in April and hope Anne Major Gibbs, Lisa Montgomery and Harriet Broughton Holliday will be there! I’ve gotten together with Deborah Ziegler Hopkins at their new house in Cashiers, NC, and we had lunch this past summer with Harriet Broughton Holliday who also has a house in Cashiers. Hope to see the other Charleston girls: Jane McFadden, Jane Perry McCutcheon McFaddin and Mac Cuthbert Langley. Her son, Cuthbert, is a news reporter on a local station here, so I see him on TV all the time! Weezie Blakeslee Gilpin: Christopher and Allison are expecting their second child, our fourth grandchild, on March 1, joining Tillie (2 ½). I’ll spend a week with them in Australia. Blake, Allison, and Bear (2) moved to N.O. in Aug. for Blake’s teaching position (history) at Tulane. Alexa and Mike bought their first house in Leesburg, VA, and have Elizabeth (1). I continue my work at St. Mark’s School as a counselor. My work with the Independent School Gender Project (check out our website), now 17 years old, is rewarding and our sixth conference for women and girls will take place in June at Hotchkiss School in CT. Joan May Harden: “Rick and I will celebrate our 41st anniversary in April with a Viking cruise on the Danube. Love seeing Ginger Woodward Gast’s twin grandchildren on Facebook.” She also reported that Julie Johnson Evans and Ken had their third grandchild and first grandson May 2013. Baby Andrew joined sister Grace and cousin Olivia. Linda Moscato Wagner: I was selected to be a member of the partnership between the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Tanzania Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority. Tanzania is one of six African countries the U.S. has agreed to assist regarding energy matters in a program called Power Africa. After the meetings concluded, I went on safari at Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania and visited Zanzibar Island. I’m looking forward to future exchanges with the Tanzanians.” Kathy Pretzfelder Steele: Husband Dave and I are enjoying life in FL. We play golf

and pickleball and partake in many other outdoor activities and cultural events as well as volunteering at a local camp. I love spending time with granddaughter Hailey (2) and had a visit with my roommate, Debbie Pollock Arce, from OR. Kris Howell says that anyone visiting Key West should give her a call. She is still engaged, still fostering animals and is off to Belfast, Ireland, for the Nashville Songwriters Festival/Workshop and to meet Donovan, the singer. Diane Dale Reiling and husband Chuck thought they were retiring to southern OR, but they have both relicensed as Realtors there. Son Steven (29) works for Amazon up in Seattle while daughter, Erica (26) works for a media company in Los Angeles. Christine Eng Leventhal: Our first grandson was born last Sept. We visited our son in Maui, and Peter sold his natural food store after 40 years in business. I’m still teaching full time, and Peter is working part time. Linda Lipscomb: I moved back to Dallas from Richmond in Sept. I’m working as a consultant for a firm that counsels nonprofits. I bumped into Cathy Rasmussen at a fundraising event soon after returning to Dallas. It was great seeing everyone at our 40th. Rene Conover Reed: Nat and I spent a week in Italy last fall celebrating our anniversary. Daughter Melissa is attending grad school for social work. Son Craig is a second year resident in internal medicine at UNC. Grandbaby Ava entertains us. Sue Dern Plank: My husband retired at year’s end. His co. was purchased two years ago and the new corporate culture wasn’t a good fit for him. We were able to spend more time in a cool and damp (rain 90% of the time) Belize. Our daughter and family spent two weeks with us over the holidays. Snow has closed schools often so I haven’t been teaching at the environmental education center much. We will be spending more time in TN in the coming months as our son-in-law unexpectedly is being deployed. Karol Kroetz Sparks is teaching law as an adjunct at Wake Forest while in the process of moving to Lake Keowee, SC (3.5 hours apart), practicing banking law with a Chicago firm, and teaching every other Fri. at Boston U. Daughter Ashley has sons Emmett (2 ½) and Ryan (8 months) in Boston and her son Austin has sons Jack (4 ½) and William (10 months) in Chicago. Austin and his wife are beginning to interview in the Carolinas and may move. Carter Morris: I have had nice visits in Atlanta with alumnae who attended a wedding here, Susan Craig, Jane Perry McCutchen McFadden and Robin Harmon O’Neil; and with Jenny Stockwell Ferguson, who was visiting from Reno. Our local alumnae club is hosting the most fabulous Sweet Briar Living Room Learning course this winter on the subject of World War I. About 250 men and women attend the lectures on Wed. mornings in Jan. and Feb. organized by alumna Camille Yow. Jane Knutson James and Michael in Southern CA have two granddaughters. I see both each week! I’m taking a break from painting classes while doing regular childcare. We have a trip to New Orleans planned in May as caregivers while the parents attend a wedding. I do Kung Fu

More class notes online sbc.edu/magazine

and yoga and enjoy gardening, reading, cooking and seeing friends. Lisa Fowler Winslow: Debbie Pollack Arce (my roommate sophomore year) came to visit me over a weekend in Jan. We had a great time catching up on each other’s news and doing a bit of seeing some sights in Los Angeles. Marion McKee Humphreys: The last six years have brought us two grandsons and two granddaughters ranging from age six to age nine months! Hunter is working as hard and teaching at the U. of Memphis Law School, and I’m co-teaching a chronological Bible study! Ginger Woodward Gast: I got to see my twins (2 mos.) in MS over Christmas and also got to visit Kathleen Schultz’s new house in Brandon, MS. Paul and I enjoy line dancing. Laurie Norris Coccio: We moved to Saratoga Springs, NY, as our “retirement” home, even though we go back to the Hudson Valley three days a week for Chris to run his company. I’m still on the board of the library there. My older daughter Stephanie is living in Oxford, England, and will become a permanent resident. We visit at least once a year. We’re expecting our second grandchild from Chris’s son and his wife who live in CA. Chris’s older son is getting married this summer. I’m hoping to see Sue Dern Plank and Ginger Woodward Gast this summer when Ginger travels up to NY. Trish Gilhooly O’Neill: For Christmas vacation we took the family to several of our favorite places where we had lived at one point or another. We spent a week in Hong Kong, spent Christmas in Bangkok, went to No. Laos (Luang Prabang) and then to Cambodia. We are spending much of our time in Greenwhich, CT, and still come and go to HI whenever we can. Charlotte Ann Evans: I’m retiring from private practice. I’ll still work as a physician, but entirely in the prison system in NC. It is, amazingly enough, the best and most satisfying job I’ve had! Low stress! Even when taking care of serial murderers! Kathleen Cochran Schutze: Steve and I retired near Jackson, MS, to a home on the Reservoir. We loved visiting with Ginger Woodward Gast during her trip to see grandchildren. Our oldest son, Taylor, is getting married this fall. Emily, who graduated Sweet Briar in 2011, is stretching her wings as the human resources manager for the Design and Production Company near D.C., and Walker, our youngest, is halfway through his masters in economics at George Mason U. after graduating Hampden-Sydney College in 2013. We had a wonderful time at SBC reunion last spring! All is well in my world except for the unusual VA winter. We had a great time visiting with the kids and grandkids around Christmas and went on a trip to Patagonia fishing with Reynolds’s daughter, son-inlaw and friends in Jan. Reynolds then had a shoulder replacement in Feb., which is going well. I’ve been foxhunting as much as I can with the weather and continuing to paint commissions. Like most people on the East Coast I’m looking forward to spring!

sbc.edu | Sweet Briar Magazine

ives to Remember

Since the last magazine issue, the College has lost four former longtime faculty and staff members. Collectively, they served Sweet Briar for 129 years. We mourn their passing and celebrate their lives.

Edward Lee Piepho Dec. 18, 2013

In December, beloved English professor Edward Lee Piepho died at his home at the age of 71. Piepho arrived at Sweet Briar in 1969 and held the title of Sara Shallenberger Brown Professor of English when he retired from active teaching in 2007. He retained the title as a research professor in the years since. Piepho was passionate about his subject and the humanities in general, loved teaching and was twice a recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award. He was a consummate intellectual and an internationally recognized scholar in his specialty. Unusual for a scholar of English literature, his research broadly addressed the diffusion of Italian Renaissance humanism in Great Britain and continental Europe, particularly in neo-Latin literature — European works written in Latin in the early modern period. He published two books and numerous articles in this area and continued to publish articles and present papers at major international conferences in his retirement. He spent many happy hours at the Folger Shakespeare Library in D.C. and at major research libraries abroad, including the Bodleian at Oxford. Throughout his life, Piepho was a collector of rare books, adept at finding treasures overlooked by most. He has donated this collection to the Folger. John Gregory Brown, Julia Jackson Nichols Professor of English, believes Piepho was beloved by students and colleagues because he so freely shared his “ardent belief

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in the beauty and grace of literature and in its deep and abiding consolations.” “Lee was a man of great erudition, but an even greater — far greater — generosity of spirit,” Brown says. His deep convictions served his friend well through an extended illness, Brown says of Piepho, who struggled for four years with leiomyosarcoma, a rare cancer. “Lee faced [his illness] with great dignity and humility. He never lost his mischievous sense of humor, his wit, his kindness. He loved Sweet Briar College, and Sweet Briar — its students, faculty and staff — loved him back. We will all miss him terribly.” Associate professor of history and fellow Renaissance scholar Lynn Laufenberg knows his generosity well. She counts Piepho and his wife, retired professor of chemistry Susan Piepho, among her most cherished friends. “Lee was a mentor to me and other younger faculty, introducing us to senior scholars, suggesting venues to present our research, and keeping up a running

intellectual conversation about the state of learning in our field,” Laufenberg says. She notes that he was instrumental in organizing and launching the College’s medieval and Renaissance studies program in 2011, well after he had retired. He even presented the program’s first lecture. Naturally, the subject was rare book collecting. “He brought part of his personal collection as showand-tell,” Laufenberg recalls. “The library’s Browsing Room was mobbed — and not just standing-room-only mobbed. Students and colleagues spilled out into the hall and far back into the stacks. I’ve never seen that kind of response for a talk on such a seemingly arcane topic. But that attests to the enduring respect and affection he has commanded during his long career.” During those years, he left an impression on many students. Kathy Upchurch Takvorian ’72 says those who studied with him were lucky. “Dr. Piepho was the perfect combination of rigorous teacher, academic champion and friend,” Takvorian says. “He had an uncanny ability to speak knowledgeably about everything from medieval English literature to all aspects of popular culture, including music, film and anything else ‘au courant’ or ‘avant-garde.’ “He defined the word ‘chuckle’ and redefined ‘professor.’ His students benefitted from a magnetic, inspiring, memorable and unique classroom experience, along with mentoring that lasted throughout a college career and beyond.”

Piepho was born on Jan. 10, 1942, in Detroit and grew up in Wilmette, Ill. He was a graduate of New Trier Township High School in Winnetka, Ill., and graduated with an A.B. in English from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. He received a Master of Arts in English from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Virginia. His specialty was Renaissance English literature. Susan Brand Piepho, his wife of nearly 50 years, his sister-in-law, Jane Brand Jacobs of New York City, and his nephew, Alexander Byron Jacobs of Chicago, survive him. Susan and Lee met on a boat going to Europe the summer after their sophomore year in college and were married in 1964, a week after they graduated. Together they have enjoyed being professors at Sweet Briar College, traveling all over the world, playing tennis and golf, and scuba diving. Piepho lived fully despite his illness, guest lecturing as recently as October at the College and playing golf just a few weeks before his death. A memorial service was held at Sweet Briar during Reunion. Donations in his honor may be made to the College’s Mary Helen Cochran Library for book acquisitions or to the Humane Society of Amherst County.

Cheryl Mares, who succeeded Piepho as the Shallenberger Brown Professor, says his range as a scholar and a human being made him a compelling figure. “Lee believed deeply in the value of a traditional liberal arts education, but also kept abreast of the latest developments in contemporary popular culture, especially film and music. He somehow managed to be both dignified and joyous,” she says. “His lively, inquiring mind, his essential nobility and his generous spirit impressed all who knew him.”

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the Tye River where they raised cattle and show beagles. They were ardent financial supporters of the College — especially of the art gallery and collection as Friends of Art members — and active community members. He also served on numerous civic and community boards and committees in Amherst and Lynchburg. In his retirement, Daniel became an accomplished painter. Jill Steenhuis ’80 recalls his influence on her when she joined Sweet Briar’s diving team, which he coached for several years.

Peter V. Daniel Dec. 12, 2013

The Sweet Briar community also learned of the death of Peter Vivian Daniel, vice president and treasurer emeritus, in December. Daniel came to Sweet Briar in 1954 as treasurer and assistant to the president and retired as vice president and treasurer in 1986. He oversaw numerous building and physical plant projects during his tenure — such as building Guion Science Center and renovating Pannell — while taking great pride in operating the College “in the black.” He was a pillar who stood between the College’s endowment and anyone who wanted to spend it, says Paul Cronin, director emeritus of the riding program.

“He laughed at all my stories, and it made me feel good. As I got better at diving, I think I became Peter’s top beagle,” Steenhuis says. “He was a wonderfully positive person, and he believed in me.” Daniel served in the Army Air Force as a navigator, bombardier and radar operator during World War II before graduating from the University of Virginia in 1949. He began his career at Chase National Bank in New York and State-Planters Bank in Richmond. In addition to Lydia, who died in August 2011, he was preceded in death by his sister, Helen Daniel Rodman, and his brothers, William V. Daniel and Channing W. Daniel. He is survived by his sons Peter Vivian Daniel Jr., of Wilton, Conn., and Dabney Maury Daniel and his wife, Margaret Perry Daniel, of Atlanta; two grandsons: Peter McLane Daniel and William Penn Daniel; and a sister-in-law, Lucy Kellogg Daniel of Richmond.

“He was tough, highly respected and vitally important to the success of the College,” Cronin says. “Peter listened, although he did not often yield. With distance and experience I would say it most often benefited SBC faculty.” Pat James, who worked for him from 1981 until his retirement, says Daniel was exacting, but he was fair and honest, decisive and always acted with integrity. “He loved Sweet Briar,” James says. “He was going to do the right thing for Sweet Briar.” For many years, Daniel, his wife Lydia and their two sons lived at their beloved McLivian, a farm on

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Connie Guion (from left), Daniel and then President Anne Pannell.

Reuben George Miller Jan. 8, 2014

In January, former professor of economics Reuben George Miller died from heart and lung complications. Miller was born in Philadelphia on March 28, 1930. He attended LaSalle University, graduating with an economics degree, and then enrolled in the University of Montana’s graduate program in economics. From there, Miller went to Sweden and Ohio, where he finished his Ph.D. He taught economics at Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, the University of Massachusetts and Oberlin, among others, before joining the faculty at Sweet Briar College in 1970. As the Charles A. Dana Professor of Economics, Miller headed the department and taught until his retirement in 2003.

in Taiwan as a Fulbright Scholar and enjoyed reading, traveling, lively conversations and good food. He was a connoisseur of good wine, liqueurs and cigars. He also loved new technology; horses and riding; as well as music — particularly opera — and the theater, both of which he discovered as a teenager. Miller also was skilled in calligraphy. People who met him were always struck by his wit, warmth, good humor, generosity and lively, engaged mind. “I was fortunate to have someone like him to advise me during my first years [at Sweet Briar],” German professor Ron Horwege recalls. “I was for many years a member of the Sweet Briar poker group and joined him and some other male colleagues once a month for poker. I miss these evenings, and I will miss Reuben. He was a good friend and colleague and a colorful character who will not be forgotten by those who had the good fortune to know him.”

He especially enjoyed the winter term, when he took students to various countries to study their economic systems. A global citizen, Miller spent a year

Catherine Coleman Seaman Dec. 24, 2013

Former professor of anthropology Catherine Hawes Coleman Seaman died at age 90 after a long illness with Alzheimer’s. “Kitty Hawes,” as she liked to be called, was born Aug. 28, 1923, at Rockford in Nelson County. An intense and driven student, she graduated from Graham High School at age 16 and attended Bluefield College, graduating in 1941. She immediately enrolled in the University of Virginia School of Nursing and graduated with a nursing license in August 1943. Seaman was

one of three selected to join the nursing staff at the Henry Street Nurses of New York. She moved to New York City in September 1943 and enrolled in graduate studies for working nurses at Columbia University. In early 1945, her brother was classified as missing in action and presumed dead after surviving the Bataan Death March in the Philippines. Intrigued by her father’s military service in World War I and devastated over the loss of her big brother, Seaman joined the U.S. Army Nursing Corps. “I felt if I could make it to some location in the Pacific, I could find my brother and bring him home,”

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she said later, according to her obituary in the Lynchburg News & Advance. After graduating at the top of her class in May 1945, now-2nd Lt. Catherine H. Coleman was instead assigned to the Woodrow Wilson Convalescent Center in Staunton. There, she pieced together information on her brother’s fate from the many wounded soldiers she treated. One of them was 1st Lt. John A. Seaman Jr., whom she married in January 1946. The two remained together until his death in March 1997. In February 1946, she was released to fill a much-needed nurse teaching position at the UVa School of Nursing. The Seamans moved to Nelson County, where they started a family, farmed part time, and she began renovating Rockford, her beloved 1768 family home. In 1963, Seaman returned to UVa to receive her RN license and in 1965 graduated with a B.S. in nursing. At UVa, Seaman also earned her master’s in anthropology and sociology, and subsequently her Ph.D. in 1969. She began teaching anthropology at Sweet Briar in 1967, serving in various faculty positions. She loved teaching and formed many enduring relationships with her students. Dance professor Ella Magruder, a 1975 graduate of Sweet Briar, remembers Seaman well. “I have such wonderful memories of [her],” she says. “[She] introduced me to new concepts and ways of looking at family and community and human behavior. She had an intellectual curiosity that seemed to know no bounds.”

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But Seaman was more than just a great teacher. She was also an “extraordinary role model,” Magruder says, because she showed her students “that it was possible not to have to choose between family or career, but that you could — if you were very clever — manage to achieve a full life with your family and have a rewarding career.” Seaman traveled extensively and in 1980 was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for research in India. She retired as chair of the department in 1993, at age 70, and was awarded professor emeritus. During retirement, she focused on farming, real estate investment, painting and writing until her declining health forced her to give up many of the things she loved. Seaman was the first woman to serve on the Nelson County School Board, a position she held from 1955 to 1988. She also published a nursing research text in the U.S. and abroad and wrote numerous books on the history of Nelson County. A member of the Nelson County Historical Society, she served as its president for three years and attended Adial Baptist and Trinity Episcopal churches. In addition to her parents and husband, Seaman was preceded in death by her brother William Irby Coleman Jr. Sisters Ann Coleman Currie and Elizabeth Coleman Gentry survive, as do her children Catherine Seaman Fisher, Gwendolyn Seaman Whipp, John A. Seaman III and Andrew C. Seaman. She also leaves behind 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

1943

1951

1958

Jane Norton Duncan March 20, 2014

Sally Anderson Bernays January 24, 2014

Sarah Benton Halsey December 13, 2013

Elizabeth Shepherd Scott April 17, 2014

Susan Ostrander Hod April 8, 2014

Elizabeth MacFarland Wilson December 17, 2013

Barbara McNeill Yow April 30, 2012

Eugenia Ellis Mason April 16, 2014

1959

1944

Elizabeth Cooke McCann January 19, 2008

Eleanor “Nellie” Morison December 15, 2013

Sally Skinner Behnke December 12, 2013

Evelyn Miller Meservey January 12, 2014

1960

Antoinette Hart Moore September 9, 2013

Janet Johnston Phillips December 25, 2013

Patricia Whitaker Waters February 8, 2014

1952

Mabel Breese Wellinghoff April 12, 2014

Sally Fishburn Crockett April 13, 2014

1945

1953

Lile Tucker Bell December 26, 2013

Lucinda Shaw Sangree February 23, 2014

Mia Hecht Owens October 28, 2013

1954

Louise “Petie” Cross Tate February 21, 2014

Clara Tretter Rosegger October 27, 2013

1946

Ann May Via March 7, 2014

Wistar Watts King December 6, 2013

1955

1947

Gail Davidson Bazzarre January 19, 2014

Gloria Gamble Jones December 12, 2013

Sally Strothman Eklund January 30, 2014

Elizabeth “Betty” Ball Fenson February 15, 2014

Nan Hart Stone March 10, 2014

Mary Langs Holekamp January 12, 2014

1938

Memoriam

If you wish to write to the family of someone recently deceased, please contact the alumnae office, (800) 381-6131, for the address.

1929 Martha Dabney Jones February 15, 2014

1933 Nevil Crute Holmes December 31, 2013

1934 Ruth Myers Pleasants March 9, 2014

1936 Adalyn Merrill Luthin August 13, 2011

1937

1948

1956

Edwine Schmid Mill December 8, 2012

Virginia Pekor Culpepper April 13, 2014

Jeannie Applequist October 1, 2012

1941

1950

1957

Jeanne Posselt Clear November 24, 2013

Anne Estill Campbell February 27, 2014

Marylew Cooper Redd November 30, 2013

Caroline Des Granges Wallis April 4, 2011

Marianne Delacorte Holland April 26, 2014

Eleanor Frost Wrotnowski October 27, 2013

Meredith Moore Lynn September 3, 2013

Barbara Nevens Young June 30, 2010

Dain Fuller Searle January 20, 2014

Julia Todd Kappler February 2, 2014 Deborah Lane Lyon January 30, 2014

1964 Charlotte Turner Springford November 25, 2004

1969 Frances Robinson Boyer October 15, 2013

1975 Elizabeth “Beppy” Walton November 7, 3013

1978 Valerie Phillips January 7, 2014 Emma Laura Pryor December 27, 2013

1942 Shirley Hauseman Nordhem December 4, 2013 Ann Hauslein Potterfield January 11, 2014

sbc.edu | Sweet Briar Magazine

1974

Rosalind Ray Spell rossie.sp@gmail.com

Vicki Bates: My mother Carolyn Bates passed away on 12/28/13. Many will remember her as the director of career planning at Sweet Briar when we were seniors. After her retirement, she lived about a mile off campus, where she continued to enjoy hiking, wildflower photography, swimming and playing Scrabble with a group of her retired friends. Seven years ago, she came to Tallahassee, FL, to live near me. She has left me with many fond memories. Phyllis Becker: I’m still living in Pacific Palisades, CA. I’ve left the television business in Los Angeles and am now a travel consultant for a company that provides travel arrangements for Americans to go to Cuba legally! In May I’ll be taking a trip to Cuba with a group of Hemingway scholars so I’ll miss being at the reunion. Daun Thomas Frankland: Daughter Leslie received her appointment to West Point and begins this summer! The Association of Graduates sent her to a year of military prep in Marion, AL. Paris to AL suits her just fine. Paula Hollingsworth Thomas: Steve and I still live in Lewisburg, TN, where he is the pastor at Belfast Presbyterian. Our daughter, Elyse is in Nashville and works for the restaurant Husk, which started in Charleston. Charles and Julie live in Franklin and are the parents of granddaughters, Eva (3) and Caroline (2 mos.) Bonnie Chronowski Brophy: Son Chris married Lori Allen in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, this past Oct. They now reside in CA where Chris is marketing manager for Foster Farms, and Lori is a telemetry nurse. Daughter Meghan left her job as PR manager at J. Mendel to work at the The Carlyle Group, a global asset management firm. Jim is still at BAML and I’m in my seventh year of running a Bible study in my parish. Missy Leib Veghte and Bob (college sweetheart) still live in Wilmington, DE. She has two grandsons and a third on the way. She plays competitive tennis—going to Nationals this year with her senior team— and coaches field hockey and tennis at Wilmington Friends. Mary Combs: I live in Naples, FL, full time and invite everyone to visit. My cell is 859/533-6946. I had my mom with me the last year of her life. My daughter Ann Sydney lives in Lexington, KY, and I visit her throughout the year. Laurie Epstein Dearlove: John and I welcomed our second grandchild, Cecilia Louise Dearlove, born 7/8/2013. Daughter Brady graduates from Indiana U. in May. I had a scare with an aneurysm last fall. I get checked out in a year to ascertain if it has enlarged. In the meantime, I was told to live life. Back to Pilates and training sessions, traveling this year. Mary Landon Darden: I’m serving my fourth year as Center Dean of Concordia U. Texas, San Antonio. Husband Bob is still commuting to Baylor U. where he teaches journalism. We had a third grandbaby last fall. Her name is Rhett and she joins San Antonio cousins Asa (5) and Eilan (3). Beth Franke Lynn: I’m on a leave of absence from being a second grade teacher at an elementary school in Warrenton, VA. Our daughter and son-in law are expecting their second child in March. For

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several months Ann Bailey was unable to lift their two-year-old due to her doctor’s restrictions, so I have enjoyed lots of time with granddaughter Lilly Bell. My mother is 90 and both of Jon’s parents are 99. One of our twin sons is an attorney in Washington D.C. and the other is at the Haas School of Business at Berkeley. This past summer our family stayed in a cabin near Lexington, VA, and took Lilly Bell to the Safari Park at Natural Bridge. I’d love to hear from classmates (bethlynn77@hotmail.com). Mary Lee Burch Doering: Unfortunately, the dates for reunion coincide with my youngest child’s graduation from high school, Vista del Lago in Folsom, CA. She’s been accepted to three CSU universities and will probably attend San Marcos. Marissa graduated from Ithaca College in May 2013 with a degree in clinical exercise science and is engaged! My sons both live in NY. Grant is doing well with his landscape business and snow removal. He is also employed by Crista Construction as a project manager. His wife is expecting their first child in Aug. Grayson is working for the government in communications and continues in the Air Force Reserves. My husband is a senior partner and account executive with Parkside Lending in San Francisco. I keep myself busy with a book club, church activities, Rotary Club and tutoring five or six students per week in ESL, French, Language Arts and SAT prep. Mary Bush Norwood: I was re-elected as a Citywide Councilmember to the Atlanta City Council. I’m so appreciative of the support I received from alumnae. Tricia Barnett Greenberg: Patty married Drew Shenkman in April, and they now live in Atlanta. Barnett is marrying Heather Meibach in Chicago in Oct., and they’ll move back to Florence. He’ll continue to do real estate in Charleston and Florence. Andy is a dentist in Charleston and available. I continue to have my antique booths at Terrace Oaks in Charleston. Rossie Spell, Meredith Thompson Sullivan and Lucinda Young Larson were the hits of the wedding weekend! Sandra Taylor: I’ve been busy with work (SunTrust Mortgage), my volunteer work (Sweet Briar, Young Women’s Christian League) and family. I have two nieces and two nephews ranging in age from two to 14! My parents are still well and living independently. Edie McRee Bowles: My oldest, Jamie, and his bride, Megha (from India, they met in London), moved to NYC a year ago and are expecting a baby girl end of March. My youngest, Alex, moved to Colorado Springs from TN last summer and loves the outdoor life. Barney and I bought a Richmond house last summer and spend time at our river house in Tappahannock during warm weather. For the last six years I’ve managed a nonprofit network focused on telemedicine and rural health, and now also am the consulting director for Virginia’s statewide telehealth group. Barney has a marketing/communications business and is an accomplished painter. He had his work exhibited at the VA General Assembly and helped found the art guild/gallery in Tappahannock. Mary Witt: I’m busy with work at United Healthcare, volunteer activities for UVA medical alumni and students, church and social activities. We spent a week in Oxford, England, with a UVA group staying at Trinity College, studying with

Andrew O’Shaughnessy, the author and Center for Jefferson Studies director at Monticello. Janie Reeb Short: I love my new job as senior VP/private client advisor for U.S. Trust. Last year I was chosen by the YWCA as one of their “Women of Distinction” and was also selected by Inside Business magazine for the “Power List,” one of 75 people who shape and influence Hampton Roads. Win and I have been married for 13 years and now have four granddaughters. I’m busy with civic activities, serving on the Virginia Symphony Board, on the boards of the Access College Foundation and ForKids, and have recently been invited to join the Board of Trustees of the Eastern Virginia Medical School. I have enjoyed chairing the SBC Boxwood Circle for the past three years and want to thank all my classmates who so generously give to the college. Haideh Khosrowshahi Partovi: We have two granddaughters. Hossein, my husband of 38 years, has been battling pancreatic cancer since last Feb. His illness has changed our paths and we’re both staying home now and though the changes have been challenging, we’re grateful and remain hopeful. Cindy Sorenson Sutherland: I’ll be coming to the reunion to see Ann Stuart McKie Kling receive the Outstanding Alumna Award. Andria Francis: I’m in my 28th year working at CTB/McGraw-Hill developing educational assessments. Daughter Ashleigh was married at the Eden Project in Cornwall, England. She and her husband live in England where Ashleigh is completing her doctoral dissertation in archaeology. I continue to volunteer at the local animal services. Eleanor Magruder Harris: Sandy and I have two grandsons now with one son married, one engaged and one single! I continue to do volunteer work with the museum, church and zoo and have my jewelry making business on the side. Cynthia Hardy McCabe: Husband Dave has accepted pastorates at the Cresson and Patton Presbyterian churches in central PA. I have been serving as director of records and registration for Montgomery County Community College. Our three children Brian, Tiffany (SBC alumna) and Caitlin are grown. I have three grandchildren. I’ve enjoyed the past six years in our cottage in Chester County. Dave’s parents both passed away this past year, and I’m helping my parents through health issues. They’re living in Hendersonville, NC. Julie Shuer: Youngest daughter Sofia is in her second year at Barnard. Our two older kids live in Tel Aviv where we will spend the next two months. Benji (26) works for an immigration NGO. Gaby (24) finished the Army there, serving as a sergeant and a caregiver for dogs who perform search and rescue and hurt locker operations. We purchased an apt. in the old north of Tel Aviv. Husband Steve is still a lawyer in a busy litigation practice. Barb Ashton Nicol: Our first grandchild, a boy, will be born about two weeks before reunion. Husband Robert is retiring in March, and I plan to join him in Oct. I will have been at the U. of AL for 25 years. Elizabeth Andrews Watts: After 22 years at Episcopal High School, Bobby and I are retiring in June and moving to our house near Onancock on the Eastern Shore of

VA. Our fourth grandchild, Grace Tomlin Metcalf (second daughter for Betsy and David) was born on Jan 27. Jan Renne Steffen: This spring we’ll travel to AZ, NM and TX. Early summer will find us traveling up to the Calgary Stampede in Canada then sightseeing through Canada to Newfoundland. I still edit two newsletters for different sewing organizations: Southern California Council of Quilt Guilds and San Diego’s ASG chapter. Lee Wilkinson Warren: I still work with Stop Hunger Now, an international hunger and relief organization. I will not make it to the reunion because I’ll be exhibiting for Stop Hunger Now at the International Rotary Convention in Sydney, Australia. Charles and I will celebrate 41 years together in May. Our daughter’s girls are four and one. They’re moving from Raleigh to Richmond. Our son and his wife live in Charlotte. My job took me to Boston this past year where I got to visit with Robin Ryan and Ruthie Lentz, Liz Camp and Ellie Boyd. This fall I returned to spiritual studies enrolling in Fr. Richard Rohr’s two-year Living School in ABQ. Marcia Brandenburg Martinson: My husband, Terry, retired briefly in June. He was offered an interim minister’s position on Martha’s Vineyard at the Federated Church of Edgartown. We’ll be moving into the church’s 1820s parsonage that sits on the shore of Edgartown’s Great Harbor! Two new grandchildren on the way in the next couple of months! Sarah Johnston Knoblauch: After 24 years teaching Montessori and art, I have begun a new career teaching watercolor to adults. I am also painting watercolor commissions of houses, animals and landscapes. Brendan (30), our Marine, finished his MBA at Case Western and is working at a startup grocery delivery service, PrestoFresh. Kelly (27) graduated from the U. of MD and is a compliance officer with UBS Bank, traveling throughout the U.S. Evan (24) graduated from Denison U. and works in marketing at DVUV with Michael, his dad. Michael and I have been married 36 years. He’s an entrepreneur, owning his own business. Last May we took a three-week trip to Tanzania. We traveled to Korogwe where son Brandon has worked hard coordinating volunteers to improve St. Raphael’s Hospital. Val Gordon-Johnson: We divide our time between NYC, where Doug and I continue to work as Theatrical Producers for Broadway and Off Broadway, WY, where we, with my brother and his family, are helping to run the family cattle ranch— and HI. Helen Willard Travis: I won’t be attending reunion as I’ll be in Beirut, Lebanon, visiting my older sister and her family. Since my parents’ death eight years ago, I’ve been managing the family “farm,” The Homestead, in Syosset, NY. My great grandfather bought it in 1909 from Walter Jones’ family who built it in 1810. Walter was the nephew of the original John Jones from Ireland of “keeping up with the Joneses” fame. I’ve made numerous donations of my father’s papers to Stanford U., SUNY Stony Brook and Cold Spring Harbor Library. I’ve found my life’s passion-archivist. I’m very lucky to have found a job at LiRo to help pay the taxes here. It’s a construction mgt. company in Syosset, and I work in accounting. Mimi Hill Wilk, Scottsdale, AZ: I had the most fun with Rip and Lou Rainey, Andrei

and Penelope Constantinidi at my daughter’s wedding last Nov. My son Beau and wife Heather have started their family with baby George. Wendelin A. White: Daughter Annie graduated from Duke in May and is now back in D.C. working at a PR firm (Hellerman Baretz). Daughter Cole graduated from Vanderbilt in May and is in NY working for Bank of America Merrill Lynch as an alternative investments analyst. Susan Stephens Geyer: I’m still involved with the Dallas Opera, teaching Sunday school and singing in the church choir. Stewart and Julia finished grad school years ago. Edward is still in grad school for counseling. All five of us traveled to Asia last summer for a month. Noni Petrovits Campbell: I’m living in Thomaston, ME, having purchased an old brick tavern built by General Henry Knox of Fort Ticonderoga fame. I will be in D.C. for my daughter Morgan’s graduation from GWU in May. My other daughter, Haley, graduated from Cornell and is now working on her Ph.D. in marine biology. I keep up with roommate Val Gordon. Ann Pritchett Van Horn: My grandchildren are: Wade (7), Henry (4) and Liam (2). I’ve been involved in our Churches’ Community Ministries for the past 16 years and more recently have become certified to travel as an educator for Living Waters For the World. Marion Van Horn Eagan is busy with her family and six grandchildren, but finds time to paint, sculpt, and travel with husband Lee for VanHorn/Wurth Co. Ellie Plowden Boyd: I’ll be joining Robin Ryan on the SBC Friends of Art Board and look forward to learning more about the sculpture/folly project being commissioned to compliment the library addition. Molly Gwinn, head of FOA has asked me to be a judge for the student art prize this spring. Our oldest, Clayton, has relocated from Brooklyn to San Francisco where he continues to work as a studio photographer/digital tech. Son John is happy at Vandy and will be working this summer in Austin. Kelly Borrowman Slobodian: I’m in New Bern, NC, involved in residential and commercial coastal real estate with husband Paul. We spend time at our place in southern VT. Our three sons are grown and one married two years ago. I keep in touch with Susan Brown, Lee Warren and Cottie Mathieson. Jennifer Smith Hanes: After 30 years of living and raising our family in Roanoke, VA, my husband, Tom, and I moved to Richmond where Tom’s law firm is headquartered and where two of our three children are now located. Oldest daughter, Whitney, lives in Chapel Hill, NC, with her husband, Dr. Michael Pencina, who is director of biostatistics at Duke Clinical Research Center. They have three children: Karolina (7), Henryk (4), Laura (2), with baby number four due in April. Whitney and Michael lived in Boston, MA, for 13 years where she was a regular flutist sub for the Boston Symphony, Boston Pops, Tanglewood, etc. Middle daughter, Ann Blair, is married to Harrison Higgins from Richmond whose grandmother is Emily Peyton Higgins ’41. They have two children, Millie (4) and William (7 mos). Son Leigh Thompson Hanes, Jr. lives in Richmond and is finishing his kinetic imaging degree at VCU. I’ve been busy singing, playing handbells (for over 30 years!),

teaching choir classes for children, volunteering, book clubs, gardening/garden clubs, owning a business (now sold), teaching preschool and raising children and now, grandparenting!

1975

Johna Pierce Stephens johna_pierce@yahoo.com

1976

Cissy Humphrey cissy1234@yahoo.com

1977

Sally Bonham Mohle

SallyBonhamSBC77@aol.com If you didn’t get an email from me, it means I don’t have your email address. Please send it to me at the email address listed above. Susan Griffith Grossman: I’m a professor at Providence College in RI and live in NYC (Union Sq. area) with second husband of 20 years. He’s now retired from his professorship at U. of CA, Berkeley, and we each have private psychotherapy practices in NY. My three children from my first marriage are all grown: Meghan (36) lives in Farmington Hills, MI, where she’s a psychiatric case manager for adults; the second and third are identical twin girls (34). The elder, Elizabeth, lives near Dallas, TX, with her son Jordan (12) The younger twin, Moira, lives outside of Pittsburgh and has two daughters Molly (6) in first grade and Charlotte (3). Hopefully they’ll follow in their grandmother’s footsteps, as I did in mine. My grandmother Katherine Knorr from Fargo, ND, attended SBC when the lower floor of Grammer was used as the quarters for the maid each student brought with her! I speak to Mary Winston Blount and Carolyn Williams Seeling less frequently than I’d like and always hold my SBC friends in my heart. I think the best birthday party I ever had was the surprise “Tacky 20th” that Dorothy Lear ’78 threw for me in the campus Laundromat! Ann Crossingham Cannon: Two grandchildren, boy (2) and a girl (4 mos.) Still work with rescue. Formed my own 501 c 3 Spay It Forward whose mission is to help fund spay and neuter pets of low income families. Have eight dogs of our own and have two foster dogs. Still feed five retired saddlebreds in barn behind house. And still show saddlebreds. Been married for 37 years. Garden, volunteer on boards, take care of dogs, horses and family. Think often of SBC. Carolyn Williams Seeling: I continue to enjoy work with elementary school kids in special ed. Son Justin (27) married Emily Hartsough in June ’13. They’re both working in the world of international medicine. We’ll celebrate his getting a master’s from Boston U. We will celebrate daughter Sarah’s (21) graduation, also in May, from Franklin & Marshall (psychology). My husband Stephen has a new job working with a medical school, St. Georges, in Grenada. We look forward to a trip to Cuba in two weeks. Jane Maloney ’74 is back in the Philadelphia area! She and I drove to SBC in the fall for the memorial service of Nancy Godwin Baldwin ’57. Saw Jane Mooney, Dorothy Lear Mooney

’78, Sophie Crysler Hart ’81, and Cannie Crysler Shafer ’78, the VanTreese’s and Lee Piepho. Anne “Rube” Rubel Waddell: I’m doing well as an artist (www.annewaddell.com). I also care for elderly/disabled patients in their homes part time. Husband Jim Waddell has been promoted to portfolio manager for the La Jolla office of Morgan Stanley. Youngest son Jack graduated from San Diego State U. with a degree in mechanical engineering. He plans to work for NASA. Both boys are college graduates with jobs. Jim and I plan to go on our first cruise in March. We’re also going to celebrate our 28th anniversary in Los Cabos Mexico. I hear from Toni DuPont Bredin Massie frequently. She’s in Kona, HI, as I write this. We hope to get together this summer on Nantucket Island. Debbie Falcigno Carr: Jed and I retired and sold our Alexandria, VA, home and moved back into our south FL townhouse last fall. I am also doing some consulting in between to support special initiatives for the CDC and national not-for-profits. Dee Hubble Dolan: I’m still loving employment at Brandermill Woods Retirement Community outside of Richmond, VA. All the critters on the farm (Paradise) are healthy, although I’m downsizing to have more free time. Love traveling back to SBC for alumnae board! Ellen Sellers McDowell: Oldest daughter Emily is getting married in April and moving to Portland, OR—any alumnae out there? Youngest daughter Kate is graduating from Samford in Birmingham in May. I’ll miss my trips to Birmingham and getting to see Lochrane Coleman Smith ’76 and Eve Jackson London ’78. Took a trip to Paris with my daughter Ginny and my sister Susan Sellers Ewing ’71. We’re working on a family history project researching our artist aunt, Rella Rudulph, who lived in Paris for many years. Ran into Sophie MacKenzie Belouet ’68 at the American Cathedral where we had gone with our cousin Lois Seward Kumpers ’58. Daughter Mary Susan is enjoying life in Houston and her work at Baker Hughes as a mechanical engineer. Rex is still traveling back and forth to AL for work, but we got in a fun trip to Spain last fall. I volunteer at church, organize cookbook clubs in Dallas and travel. Kathy Roantree Renken: Grandson Benjamin was born last June in GA. I’m working towards my master’s in curriculum and design with a focus in instructional design and technology. I still teach a GED class at our church. I tutor math at the local community college. Beth Wade: Today (2/16) is my 32nd anniversary with IBM. I’m still working in sales and my customer is Homeland Security. Husband John is in his fourth year as CEO of The Clearing, a management consulting small business located near Dupont Circle. Ellie (16) is looking at colleges—only co-ed. Noel, my son, is in 7th grade and is a basketball/football fanatic. We moved Mom and Dad to Rockville from Louisville a couple of years ago. Fran Scott’s marketing consultancy is celebrating its 15th year. Her son Zach’s music production career (aka CutThroatKid) is beginning to take off. His track “Sidewinder” climbed the charts from #88 to #12 in a matter of days. Elvira Cash Pecora, Chapel Hill: My husband Chip works for SunTrust bank as a financial adviser and refs recreational/

travelling/h.s./adult soccer. Oldest son Greg works with Schooldude as a customer service rep and plays and coaches soccer. Second son Kent lives in Baltimore and works for Columbia Bank as a teller and also part time for a lawyer. I have returned to teaching four-year-olds as of July. I still work at Talbots most weekends. Chip and I celebrated our 30th anniversary in Oct. with a two-week trip to Italy. Libby White Drbal: I had a wonderful girls’ weekend in NYC in late Jan. with Vivian Yamaguchi Cohn. Vivian and I will be together again in Lexington, KY, late in April at the three-day Rolex event. We’ll put our house on the market this spring. Oldest son Drew (24) is employed in Boston. I went to a dude ranch in MT last June with a childhood friend. Hoping to visit Maggie Shriver outside of D.C. Jean Romanske Zaniewski and husband Ken are enjoying their mix of early retirement and late parenthood. Their children (17, 14 and 11) are students in the public schools of Sharon, MA. Jean enjoys reading, writing, gardening, the Unitarian Church, the Sharon Historical Society; and swimming, biking, and running. Jean completed a full Ironman triathlon in Quebec in Aug. ’13.

1978

Suzanne Stryker Ullrich suzullrich@aol.com

Michelle Tarride Frazier michelle6135@me.com

Living here in Noumea, New Caledonia, has brought many surprises, challenges, and even some disappointments. Rick and I were able to come back to PA for our son Andrew’s wedding to Esther Martin in Aug. I’m amazed at the underwater life waiting just a short distance away, and also continue to wish I had taken more invertebrate zoology! Thanks to Margaret Simpson, who challenged us with that collection of specimens from the Pacific. The lagoon around the island, within the coral reef, is an amazing sight. This island is full of adventure, not to mention all of the French bread, wine and cheese! Paula Brown Kelley has been busy with weddings and Navy football, and trips down to SBC to see daughter, Genny, perform with the Sweet Tones and play lacrosse. She continues to stay busy with commercial real estate in the D.C. area, while husband Jack is still with NASA. Jean Beard Barden met with Ann Maricle Stefano, Lu Litton Griffin, Janet Smalley Todd, Julia Sutherland, Sue Griste Russell, and Becky Dane Evans for a visit in Charleston, SC, this past Feb. (Ann came all the way from CA.) They’re planning another get together in Bar Harbor, ME, so that Cecelia Garcia-Tuñon Lear can join. Jean’s son Scott is working in NYC, and daughter Lelia will graduate from Hobart in May. Jean keeps busy with small assignments in consulting. Julia Sutherland chimed in about their mini-reunion, adding that conferencing in Cecelia by phone was fun! Julia and husband Phil went on the SBC sponsored tour to Cuba in Jan., “an amazing trip and one that I never thought would be possible,” which included visits to artists’ studios, museums, musical performances and lectures on modern art, Havana’s architecture, and the Cuban economy.

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Her two-year-old business, Sutherland Consulting, keeps her busy with crisis and litigation communication. Ann Key Lucas was disappointed to have missed Reunion last year. Son William (22) graduated from U. of Dayton and is now in Cincinnati working for Fidelity Investments. Older son John (24) in living in St. Louis, and (also a U. of Dayton grad) helps with the family shop, Baumann’s Meats. Youngest son Hunt is a sophomore at U. of Dayton. Clare Cartwright Vaughn and husband George are opening a Youth Wildlife Conservation Photography Program at their ranch in South TX, but they enjoyed time in Dallas when son Gus married his college sweetheart! Kim Hershey Hatcher’s son George married his girlfriend of 12 years, Alexandra Lane Hostetter, in Easton, MD, last July. Daughter Lynn graduated from St. James School in MD, and attends Gettysburg Coll. For summer training Lynn used the indoor track and outdoor fields at SBC for a few days last Aug. They stayed with husband George’s aunt, Mary Smith Brugh ’57, at her home, “The Brick House” in Clifford. “There is hardly a day when I don’t think about my time at SBC and of professors like Miss Sprague who taught me so much.” Lee Corollo Boyes is still teaching h.s. chemistry, as well as teaching student teachers at the local university to become science teachers! Lee’s son followed in her footsteps, also teaching in an h.s. classroom, yet after six years decided to get a second master’s degree from U. of WI. The only person Lee hears from is roomie Tricia who is in San Diego. Mimi Borst Quillman got together in Center Sandwich, NH, with Ginny Craig and Mary Goodwin Gamper at the Gamper house last July. Mimi and Mary also got together with Meg Richards Wiederseim for Meg’s birthday. Meg is now executive director of the Devon Horse Show, Devon, PA. Mary will visit her daughter (in Durham, England) while she is in grad school and playing lacrosse. Mary will also attend the National Bee Conference in England, as she raises bees in Towson, MD. Nancyellen Keane Smithers’ son West III is applying to law schools. Daughter Austin is a junior at St. Catherine’s. Austin holds the school record for the 55-meter dash with 7.49 seconds! Nancyellen is still working as a lawyer in Richmond, while husband West is working at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in D.C. Cassandra Smith Babbitt has been bouncing around the world (Saudi Arabia, England, Philippines) for many years, but is now in Orono, ME, working as a paralegal. The great outdoors of ME, hiking, skiing and kayaking keep Cassandra busy. She has one child at home and three who are settled (for the time being) in Hong Kong and ME. Katie Renaud Baldwin in OR still teaches first and second grade. Her oldest daughter is an RN, soon to be BSN! Katie’s youngest is in San Francisco. Katie reflected on how lucky she was, with parents (90 and 92) doing well, and able to make it to a family reunion last summer in Duck, NC. She hopes to make the trip back to Duck this coming summer. Jane Lauderdale Armstrong’s son David is working for an investment bank in Atlanta,

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while daughter Kate will be graduating from W&L in May ’14 with a double major in music history and bio-chem. The plan is for her to take a gap year before heading on to medical school. Mike is working for a computer software group, while Jane is still teaching part time at Westminster Schools. Ieke Osinga Scully (New England) stated that Mark was at a new job in NYC three days a week and also in the Simsbury office, close to home! Their oldest, Brendan, is an analyst for an actuarial consulting group in Chicago. Ieke visited him there last Oct. Second son, William, will be graduating from Trinity College in May ’14 with degrees in physics and German. Youngest son, Kirk, is now a senior in h.s. and training at Mt. Snow Ski Academy for slopestyle skiing. He plans to attend college in CO. Ieke keeps occupied taking care of her mini-horse, pony and chickens, singing in the Women’s Praise choir and volunteering at the local historical society. From the West Coast, Holly McGlothlin wrote: “Won’t have a big veggie garden this year due to no rain, but I do hope to be making more peach jam this summer!” Cindy Whitley Auman has had no luck with the job hunt since being downsized in 2012. “Hubby Dave is still partner at his firm, and I’m raising a yellow lab puppy, Riley. We’re heading to Napa Valley in March for a wine-country trip.” Mary Page Stewart says: “Cannie Crysler Shafer and Win, and Kathy Jackson Howe and Root joined us to ring in the New Year at our new place in FL! I look forward to hosting more mini-reunions down there! This marks my last year of teaching.” Cathy Mellow Goltermann says twins, Catherine and Christen, graduated from Westminster Coll. in Fulton, MO, with degrees in early education. Catherine is teaching at a parochial girls’ school, Oak Hill Nursery School and Christen is teaching kindergarten at a charter school, Better Learning Communities Academy. Woody is finishing his junior year at Ole Miss and is involved with his fraternity ATO. Cathy is still teaching pre-school and is a “mother’s helper” and dog sitter on the side. Chris is still manufacturing shoe laces. Anne Taylor Quarles Doolittle is still in Nashville. Husband Bob’s son and daughter have graced them with six grandchildren (age 1.5 to 16). Daughter Betsy Beveridge is now associate director of admissions at McDaniel Coll. Anne rides almost daily and sees Emily Dick twice a week during hunt season. Her parents and family business in Fredericksburg, VA, have been through major changes, requiring Anne to return there monthly. She and Bob spend the summers on Cape Cod in Truro, MA, where they’re very near both The Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown and Castle Hill Center for the Arts. Carol Baugh Webster enjoys being a marketing consultant for small businesses, and celebrated the 10-year anniversary of her company, Cassel International, in Aug. ’13. She and Tim haven’t been doing much traveling in the last few years, “as it is difficult to arrange with taking care of aging parents. We plan on going to my godson’s graduation in May in Atlanta.” Carol hears from Jane Hemenway, SallyAnn Polson Slocum, Katie Renaud Baldwin and Lu Litton Griffin through Facebook. Youngest son Blake will be married April 26.

Katherine Powell Heller and John are looking forward to traveling in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Kyoto, Japan. With their youngest graduating in May 13, Katherine was hoping to see Carey Johnson Fleming in Hilton Head during the summer. Lenore Cox is still in Richmond working for Genworth Financial and also mentioned that major h.s. reunion coming up! From VT, Lauren Place Young got to see roommate Marianne Hutton Felch ’79 and Janet Deans ’77 when both godmothers attended Marianne’s daughter Sarah’s wedding in Bermuda in Jan. Lauren’s daughter Brittany is in Boston, as is son Jake, although Jake was able to snag a one month stint for a nonprofit in HI! Daughter McKenna is attending Rollins U. in FL, and enjoyed a six-week internship in Madrid. In Nov. ’13 Helen Bauer Bruckmann’s daughter Meg, graduate of W&L, was married in the Bahamas. (Helen and David moved from outside London to the Bahamas in the last year.) Classmates Michelle Tarride Frazier, Missy Powell Adams, Emily Dick McAllister, Lizabeth Lambert Bowden and her daughter Zara, and Lisanne Purvis Davidson attended the wedding while also coming early and staying afterwards. Drew Springer Oswalt with her husband and family also attended. Sadly Audrey Townsend Bertram was unable to attend at the last minute due to a family illness. Muffy Hamilton Parsons and others wanted to express their sadness over the passing of Laura Pryor and Valerie Phillips, as well as Paxson McDonald, a great friend of Suzanne Collins Kilborn, being ill. Sally-Ann Polson is president of MedWatch, a national medical management firm. Her husband of 29 years has spent much of the last five years traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan. Son Steven graduated From U. of SC. Sally-Ann is still in touch with Mavis Ray Griffith in Dallas or at their ranch in Blanco, TX, and Jana Joustra Davis ’80, as well as Lee Malley ’84. Barbara Mendelssohn Price enjoyed entertaining Janet Smalley Todd, Sue Griste Russell and Jean Beard Barden in FL, where they had a mini-reunion and “enjoyed biking, eating, talking and being together reminiscing about SBC and JYF. Our first son has graduated Vanderbilt and is working as a design engineer in Detroit for GM and our second son is graduating from SMU in Dallas, but plans to continue studying for a master’s.” She and her husband have moved into a co-op in D.C. “I’m still riding, playing tennis, playing golf and bridge. I walk to classes at the Alliance Francaise to keep up my French.” While it is always fun to hear what you have all been up to, hearing about accomplishments, large and small, and the major events of life, it’s also always great to see the names of a few “long lost” classmates! As time goes by, we are all too often reminded of the passing of time, the loss of a loved one or dear friend, and school days remembered with the news that a favorite professor has left us. It was indeed a rough time at SBC this past fall and winter. Remember to stay in touch, any time, one way or another.

1979

Mary “Robbie” McBride Bingham Bingham123521@yahoo.com

1980

Fran McClung Ferguson franferguson@comcast.net

Phyllis Watt Wilson

Phylliswjordon@hotmail.com

1981

Claire McDonnell Purnell cpgd@verizon.net

Molly Davis Garone and John are empty nesters in Franklin Lakes, NJ. “Daughter Maddie (24), a St. Lawrence grad, lives in Hoboken and is a marketing assistant at the high-end stationery retailer Dempsey & Carroll. Son Thomas (19) is a freshman at Bates Coll. I’m taking three art classes a week—one at the Art Students League in NYC—and concentrating on portraiture!” Margaret Robinson Tallmadge lives in Cincinnati, OH, with husband Dan and son Douglas. She is teaching chemistry lab courses at the U. of Cincinnati, Blue Ash Coll. as an adjunct professor. “Husband Dan is still with P&G, leading an R&D group. Douglas will graduate from Cincinnati Country Day School in June so we’re in college admission limbo.” Sarah Martin Herguner is in Richmond, VA. Son Levent (20) is a junior at Lehigh U. in Bethlehem, PA. Daughter Lale (18), a senior at St. Catherine’s in Richmond, will attend American U. in D.C. “I work part time for St. Catherine’s archives and am researcher on a book: ‘History of Church Schools in the Diocese of Virginia, Vol. II.’” Class co-president Brendy Reiter Hantzes enjoys seeing friends and playing tennis. “I had dinner with Eve Devine and Mary Kate Ferguson at Eve’s house. I also had a lunch with Claire McDonnell Purnell and Kearsley Rand Walsh. I caught up with Amy Marshall Lewis and Cari Thompson Clemens ’80 in Baltimore.” Our other co-president Mary Kate Ferguson runs Beeswax Bookkeeping service, on a small scale. Mary Kate rides and has begun volunteering at a farm that rescues draft horses. Eva Devine lives in Baltimore, MD, and has been working for five years with The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore as VP of human resources. “I see Brendy Reiter Hantzes and Mary Kate Ferguson often. I saw Tania Voss Ryan in Alexandria for a long overdue visit.” Eva’s family company, Faidley’s Seafood, is still going strong at Lexington Market in Baltimore and on the web. Last spring Nancy Webb Corkery (Dedham, MA) and husband David went to Baker’s Bay Bahamas with Virginia Donald Latham and husband Rick for a golf trip, hosted by Laura Evans ’79. Son Kevin (25) lives in the North End of Boston and works at The Brooks School in Andover, MA. Son Kyle (23) is in the training program at Putnam Trust and lives on Beacon Hill in Boston. Nancy spent three weeks in Southeast Asia with five other women including Carla Pelligrino Cabot ’84. They went to Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Hong Kong. Nancy and David played golf in Scotland last Nov. and look forward to upcoming golf trips.

Leah Jorgensen ’96 knows a good grape — and Wine Press Northwest knows it, too. In March, the magazine named her cellar an Oregon Winery to Watch for 2014. What’s special about Jorgensen’s wine is that it’s not a pinot noir, which is widely popular in Oregon, but a cabernet franc, and it’s made in the style of France’s Loire Valley. “Most of the vineyards in the United States plant cabernet franc so that it is a blending grape, but it has been a rock star in the Loire Valley,” Jorgensen told the magazine. “That is the style of cabernet franc I want.” Her “Loiregonian,” as Eric Degerman of Wine Press Northwest calls it — specifically last year’s Leah Jorgensen Cellars 2012 Tour Rain Vin Rouge — made it into The Seattle Times’ Top 50 Northwest Wines of 2013, ranking at No. 33. But despite all the praise, Jorgensen, who also works as assistant coach for the Jesuit High School girls’ lacrosse team, is still growing into her role. “I’m still new at this in terms of production,” she admitted. “To me, this is not second nature. It’s even weird for me to call myself a winemaker.” Her resume would argue otherwise. Soon after graduating from Sweet Briar with a degree in English and creative writing, Jorgensen managed Chrysalis Vineyards near Washington, D.C., before working for a distributor in the nation’s capital. Her sales

Photo: Josh Chang

Alumna’s Wine One to Watch in 2014

of pinot noir made by Domaine Drouhin prompted the producer to invite Jorgensen to Oregon Pinot Camp in 2004. “It took three hours before I called my parents and said, ‘I’m moving to Oregon,’ ” Jorgensen said in the article. Erath Winery hired her immediately for sales and marketing, and she worked for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates before joining Adelsheim Vineyard. By 2009, she was studying enology at the Northwest Viticulture Center in Salem. Harvest and cellar work kept her afloat, first at Anne Amie Vineyards and then at Shea Wine Cellars with Drew Voit, who left the producer to focus on his Harper Voit wines at the newly re-occupied Beacon Hill Estate winery in Gaston, Ore. Co-leased by a few friends, it’s where Leah Jorgensen Cellars wines are made. This year, her winery will produce more than 400 cases. “I feel very fortunate to be able to explore making my own wine, building my own business and just doing what I want to do,” she says. “Life is so short, and I felt a serious compulsion to pursue my own thing. I had no choice but to follow my heart, and I love a good challenge.” One of them is breaking the stereotype of the male winemaker. “I do want people to know these wines were crafted by a woman,” she told the magazine. “I’m proud of that.”

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After four years of serving the troops through the USO, DJ Stanhope has left the combat zone in Kuwait and Afghanistan. DJ said: “I will cherish those experiences and feel I made a difference in lives every day.” She runs the USO Warrior Center at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center serving wounded, ill and injured troops. DJ is “incredibly thankful to my great network of SBC sisters who have supported me in all sorts of ways, but particularly by sending items we use in our programs and activities. All I can say is ‘Thank you—and keep it up!’ I’ll be posting a list of our needs. I was thrilled to partner with Amy Leigh Campbell ’97 to create a special 12 Days of Christmas T-shirt that we gave out to troops participating in hilarious activities based on the 12 days of Christmas. That ‘hug from home’ is essential to their recovery!” Kearsley Rand Walsh held off writing because “I was sure I was dying. After trips to the doctor and much testing, they think I picked up a virus which affected my liver. The virus is gone, but I have jaundice.” Sons Angus (23) and Duncan (21) are in school and set to graduate in Dec. ’14 and in May ’15. On Jan. 31, Sarah Huie Coleman’s horse, Dakota Bell, along with 17 other horses, died in an electrical barn fire. “Joe and I are devastated and our hearts go out to our friends who lost horses and to the Brookwood Equestrian Center. We found complete and utter joy in Dakota Bell’s presence.” Dakota Bell was a Nokota, which is an endangered breed of (1200+/-) horses from ND. The Nokotas are believed to be descended from Sitting Bull’s herd. Susan Graham Campbell lives in Philadelphia, works at PNC, and rides. In addition to her quarter horse gelding, Ben, Susan is leasing Dixie, a large chestnut pony, who used to compete as a jumper. Susan visited The Hill Country Equestrian Lodge in Bandera, TX in Nov. Daughter Sarah (27) is back in the Philadelphia area living with her dad and best bud, Oscar, her puggle! As these notes were being written, Susan was heading to Boca Grande, FL, with her sister and niece to visit her parents. Carol Hays Hunley in Boston is chief compliance officer at Santander Bank, and travels to the parent company in Spain. Carol has two daughters out of college and working at New Balance in Boston. Son Tommy is a senior in h.s. “We love Boston and have enjoyed exploring New England! Tom is still with PNC and works from home in Boston, traveling back to Pittsburgh once or twice a month. I saw Vickie Archer before the holidays. Vickie’s daughter Annie will be graduating from SBC in May! Sandy Meade Turturro has had a busy year! Michael’s job with Corvias took them from Pinehurst, NC, to Palmdale, CA. Son Rick (30) lives in San Diego and is engaged to be married next May. Daughter Becca (26) is in Boston working on her doctorate in child psychology. Katie (23) is at DePaul U. in Chicago working on her master’s degree in nursing. Liz Winson Sweeney and Tom are scuba diving in Roatan, part of the Honduras Bay Islands in the Caribbean. They try to go every winter. “We spent a fabulous evening with John and Claire McDonnell Purnell and their two daughters, Mary and Lizzie, over Christmas.”

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Sigrid Carlen Veasey, Doug and their three boys, twins Carlen and Campbell (18) and Wylie (17) live in Philadelphia, PA. The twins are waiting to hear from colleges. Sigrid has been promoted to full professor at U. of PA School of Medicine. “Last year I was lucky enough to dine with Susan Graham Campbell!” Liz Seacord saw Caro Lawrence ’79, Hannah Craighill Morehead ’79, Stephanie Stitt Fitzpatrick and Claire McDonnell Purnell at the Dec. funeral of her cousin, Jonathan Pine, W&L ’79. “I wanted to let other people in our class know that he had passed away as he knew so many SBC girls, and loved SBC, having spent lots of time down at House 1, and of course having been married to his favorite SBC girl, Corby Hancock Pine ’79.”

1982

Jennifer Rae

sorrentoforever@gmail.com Claude Wasserstein still lives in Manhattan with three teenagers Jack, Dash and Lucy. They have fun together and try to travel to new places every year. Monika Kaiser subs part time at the h.s. her kids attended and volunteers for PTSO and drama club. Alexa was cast in the role of the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz at the Actors’ Playhouse in Coral Gables and will be part of Guys and Dolls in April. Julius is at U. of Miami. Richard is still busy at PepsiCo. She is hoping to visit her mom in Germany this spring. Charlotte Fitzgerald got her workout shoveling snow off the driveway with James (15). He’s a sophomore at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, MD, and plays basketball and baseball. He is a great kid who teaches them lessons in gratitude on a regular basis. James has epilepsy. “As parents, it’s hard to see one of your dear child having a grand mal seizure. James has a good attitude through it all. Once they asked him if he was bitter towards God for allowing this medical problem. He told them that he was thankful to God for epilepsy because it gives him a good reason not to give in to peer pressure and “party” like a lot of the high school teenagers. He lives an active life, even though he has a seizure disorder. And we are very thankful to God.” Francie Belliveau: Anna (17) is going to Sweet Briar next year! Class of 2018—Go Vixens! Michael (19) is a Fourth Classman at Virginia Military Institute (VMI). Ned (21) graduates in May from Hampden-Sydney and is interviewing for a job in sports. Scott continues to work at VMI. Francie still teaches at her church’s preschool. Heidi Willard is back in MD and teaching. She doesn’t ever want to go to any place in Asia again and doesn’t recommend Mongolia. As your fundraiser, I want to remind you to purchase the Sweet Briar Rose cards (box is $14.95) or make a donation in the name of the Class of 1982. Gail Mickley Murthy: Moved from Fort Worth, TX, to near Charlottesville, VA. Jettisoned the husband (long overdue) and decided to come home after farm-sitting for my brother in Rapidan, VA, in Aug. Having a great time getting to know neighbors and family again! Mary Ames Booker, Wilmington, NC, serves on her church’s vestry and continues to manage their website. She is learning about editing videos for church

and work creations. She is planning to attend Patti Snodgrass Borda’s nuptials in late April. Anne Bortz is developing an e-card business. Also, she is helping to take care of her mother in FL who has just suffered from two mini-strokes. Liz Hoskinson is training one horse and looking after her elderly horse, whom she’s known all of his 20 years. Traveled to Costa Rica and stayed on the Pacific coast on the “thumb” of the country. She continues to write and work at her proofreading/ editing job. Liz Kauffman is living in KY, working as a lawyer, and enjoying her horses. She and Keith are excited about their newest yearling colt. They may breed several mares this spring. Jean Bryan writes: Betsy is home and working toward an associate degree in multimedia arts. George (21) is a junior at VA Tech majoring in housing. Anne loves James Madison U. and sorority (Tri SIG) life. She has her sights set on the medical profession. Jean and Peter went to Prague last spring. The month of June “they” dealt with a kidney stone—Peter. The summer was celebrated with Jean’s father Chan’s 90th birthday. Nancy (83) is well. Eva (Peter’s mom) is a little frailer. When the kids went back to school they attended the American Community School of London Reunion in Annapolis over Labor Day. Then off they were to Sanibel for a week. Thanksgiving time they celebrated Peter’s uncle’s 95th and aunt’s 93rd. Joy and blessing being our class’s secretary! Jennifer “Jenny” Rae made Thanksgiving dinner with all her family’s recipes. Being with an Italian man all these years, he was the one that cooked all the time. Since the cook got sick she stepped up to the plate and started cooking again after 30 years. Well the “cat is out of the bag.” Hubby wants her to cook all the time now, and she enjoys it very much. Lost a little time with her business last year, but is playing catch up and making headway. Anne Powers Woodward, Williamsburg, VA, is a single mother of three boys. First career: boat sales and Mom; second career: government economic development; third and current career: medical-pharmacist technician. Would love to find Virginia Carabelli, Kim Hicks, Roberta Perillo, Nan Dabbs and Ellie Kay Gardner? Deborah Bowman re-entered the full time workforce as a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley and loves working with people to help them meet their goals. She moved into a new home in Dec. This year she is off to Miami and Newport to watch the tennis tournament! Lele Casalini’s kids live close by. Eli is in med school at IU in Indianapolis. Sophie is in nursing school. Liza, Ethan and their daughter Harper Willow (4 mos.) live near her new farm, Two Creek Hollow. She’s working on designs for their new house. She has hired her son-in-law, Ethan, as her farm manager. Lele is still teaching Pilates and working as a yoga therapist! She’ll begin a yoga therapy internship this spring working on a three-year yoga therapy research program for veterans at the VA hospital in Indianapolis. Carol Searles Bohrer in Greensboro has two seniors this year! Price is graduating from W&L. Emily will be graduating from Greensboro Day School, off to Sewanee next year. Jason is a partner in

a consulting firm, Newbold Advisors, with offices in Clearwater and Dallas. Carol is looking forward to traveling with him next year. She volunteers for the Greensboro Symphony Guild and the Guild of Family Services. She plays golf and is learning guitar. Valerie Youree came to visit at their Rappahannock River home. Valerie has moved to Sunrise Senior Living in Fairfax, VA. Marie Earnhart, Northern VA: Daughter Mary Whitney will graduate this May 2014 from Sweet Briar. They’re looking forward to returning to campus to see her walk the stage! Joan Vetter Ehrenberg is working part time organizing for the Democratic Party in her community having volunteered for many years. She and her daughter have some great times together, amidst the challenges of facing the loss of her daughter’s Dad and being a sophomore in h.s. They’re grateful to have the support of their friends in their community. Leslie A. Kavanaugh, Downingtown, PA, is the controller for Matt Slap Subaru in Newark, DE. Her three children live nearby, and she enjoys traveling, sailing and spending time with her granddaughter. Next trip is to Greece to sail for 10 days this spring. Last year she sailed in the British Virgin Islands for nine days and went to Scotland and the Caribbean. Beth Reed, Birmingham, AL: Kate (Sewanee ’08 and Vanderbilt ’12) is the assistant director of residential life at her undergrad alma mater, the U. of the South. Matthew (Sewanee ’10) is a specialist in the U.S. Army and posted in CA. Beth is now able to focus her attention on their Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. The first puppy that they bred earned his AKC Championship from the Bred-By class with her as his only handler. This is the first conformation title for Beth too. Bryan has proven to be a great kennel hand. Lisa Henderson Bice’s daughter has been accepted into the undergraduate communications disorders program at Auburn and will train to become a speech pathologist. Her son is still exploring options. Cathy Miller: Madeline and Ali are doing well in college. David and I are enjoying our empty nest. I have started showing again after five years (after back surgery). I’m showing on the flat for a while. David and I are trying to decide where to go for our spring vacation and to celebrate his 50th birthday. Gaye Browne’s oldest is in college, her middle in high school, and her youngest in seventh grade. She is relaunching Greenopia’s website this spring and releasing 15 city guide e-books. Go to Greenopia.com to sign up for your city guide! Greenopia makes shopping, eating and living green easier! Patti S. Borda: April 27, Patti will marry the Rev. Earl Mullins at All Saints Episcopal Church in Frederick, MD. Earl is the interim rector at All Saints, and retired Bishop Robert Wilkes Ihloff will officiate at their wedding service. Earl has also been rector at St. Paul’s Church in Dedham, MA, and at St. Barnabas Church in Sykesville, MD. Patti continues as a reporter for The Frederick News-Post, where she has worked since 2009. Mary Ames Booker will be her matron of honor and her daughter, Virginia Jackson Snodgrass Borda, will be a maid of honor.

1983

Cary Cathcart Fagan Cary1983@bellsouth.net

1984

Debbie Hodgkinson Jones elliesam@aol.com

Tracy Glaves Spalding and Randy in CO near Denver, celebrated their 25th last summer and are empty nesters. Daughter Emma is a junior at the U. of Puget Sound. Son Preston is a freshman at the U. of WY. They took a family trip in Aug. to Scotland, with a stop in Iceland. Tracy is studying to be a Natural Food Chef. Liz Rogers Boyd writes that Louie survived his knob year at The Citadel and is now Regimental Staff Clerk. Tommy has come back from back surgery in Jan. 2013 to play both football and basketball for Bethel U. Tom and Liz took a trip to Spain and France. Liz Sprague Brandt: Daughter Betsy graduated from Vanderbilt in May and is now employed with Ernst & Young in NYC. Oct. found them joining Chris and Elizabeth Willett on a trip to both Argentina and Peru—marvelous time. Betsy Becton Hannah and husband Harry moved to the Upper Westside of NYC after three years in HI. Before arriving in NYC they spent three weeks in Formentera, Spain. Betsy is working remotely for American Society for Training and Development. Peg Twohy Devan spent most of the summer in VA showing. She and her horse Crown Royal placed sixth in the Washington International Horse show last fall. Now they’re showing in CA with John French for the winter. Bob and Peg alternate weekends with Carolyn showing in Thermal. Carolyn is headed to college next year and has to make the decision between Sweet Briar, Rollins or Chapman! Michelle Klimt Scherrer: Recently relocated to Jacksonville, FL, from Clarksburg, WV. Still working for the FBI after 24 years. Recently named the first female Special Agent in Charge for the FBI Jacksonville office. Married to Robert going on 17 years. Colleen Kuebel Berthelot is now 28 years into a Commercial Real Estate brokerage career, chasing a black lab puppy, a middle schooler and a 25 year old! Colleen went to Paris last spring to meet her “man friend” who was working in Oman in the Middle East. She is planning an overdue 50th birthday in Tuscany (man-friend’s brother has an olive orchard near Lucca). Colleen has visited with Penney Parker Hartline and her hubby at the beach, and with Elizabeth Proctor in Houston. Anne Richards is still living at Sweet Briar, retired and enjoying her new puppy as her dog Fletcher had been poisoned! She’s still active with miniature structures which range from ¼ to 1 inch! She volunteers for Rotary and Meals on Wheels. John still lives in Boston; David is now at Lynchburg Coll. teaching government, with tenure; Arie is a lt. col. in the 101st at Fort Campbell, though doing his battalion command in Afghanistan. Anne mentions that all of us economics comrades must be saddened by Ruben Miller’s death. Patsy Roby Gotfredson is happily married 21 years to Ed. They moved back to Grosse Pointe, MI, from San Francisco

about 10 years ago. Teddy (17) is a senior awaiting college acceptance letters. George (14) will be entering h. s. next year. Patsy is a portrait associate for Portraits, Inc., out of Birmingham, AL. She’s still volunteering in assorted associations and The Garden Club of MI, a GCA club. Patsy and her mother travel annually with the Detroit Institute of Art. Erika Dorr Marshall says it will be a year in May, since opening the Marsh Tacky Market Cafe on Harbor Island, SC, where she welcomes all vixens vacationing on Fripp, Hunting or in the Beaufort area! Reel Marsh Charters is Foster’s charter fishing company. And, Erika is also the head trainer at Camelot Farms. Wiley (22) is working at the Charleston Angler where she enjoys buying trips to Atlanta; Foster (21) is a junior at the Citadel and captain of the sailing team. Erika enjoyed seeing Liz Rogers Boyd and Cheryl Fortin Young at football games. Elise (17) will attend College of Charleston. Janet Lewis Shepherd is divorced and living in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, with three kids at home full time and the oldest at Georgetown. She is working part time at Krista Eberle boutique. Janet ran a half marathon on 2/23/14 for breast cancer. She’s taking certification classes to teach yoga. Leslie Eglin was promoted to managing director and head of human resources for the Americas at The Carlyle Group. She is based in Washington, D.C., and will celebrate her 10-year anniversary with the firm in March. Leslie went to Italy last year, Spain this year, and Sweet Briar in May! Elizabeth “Betsie” Hicks Zedah and husband Frank live on the North Shore where they also have a restaurant, Frank and Betsie’s. They spent time this winter at their home in southern CA near San Diego on the coast. Betsie and Frank will visit NY for their 25th. Frank is a poet laureate. Here’s a list of all Chris Svoboda has going on! 2013: Founding board member of Virginia Equality Bar Association; Sr. Policy Advisor for Heather Mizeur’s Gubernatorial Campaign. 2014: “Russia Declares Discrimination Newest Olympic Sport”—PSA produced by my company, Berserk Creative Agency, after three weeks on YouTube we hit 920,000 views; Listed as one of 19 things happening on an international scale to highlight LGBT discriminatory laws in Russia and 76 other countries; hosting women’s comedy night at Artisphere in Rosslyn; co– chairing Mautner Gala—annual gala for the national lesbian health care organization; cover story for Metro Weekly magazine; (present) designing restaurant in Richmond and in charge of entire bar menu; guest executive chef at the Blagden Alley Social Club in D.C.; Coordinating restaurant for new brewery in SilverSpring, MD. Had a great time visiting with 12 other vixens at the home of Leigh Watkins on the Eastern Shore in late Feb. Looking forward to Old Lady Lax game in the spring and reunion; and also looking forward to the new Square One offerings coming soon to a liquor store near you. Laurie Scovel Pfeifer: We live on Cape Cod, and I teach kindergarten. Brad (HSC class of ’79) and I celebrated our 25th anniversary last fall! I’m involved with several charities including the Sampson Fund for Veterinary Care. We spend our summers volunteering as intern coordinator for the Hyannis franchise of the The Cape Cod

Baseball League. Last fall we were able to get to our first HSC football game since graduation when they played at The Coast Guard Academy in CT. Ginger Reynolds Davis and her friends visited Debbie Jones at her new farm in Jan. and had a blast. Debbie Jones: I’ve enjoyed being the class secretary for five years and look forward to our reunion. I’m in love with my new farm and not even the crazy winter has been a burden on me or the horses. Ginger Reynolds Davis has visited a few times as has Chris Svoboda. I’m down the road from Kathy Barrett Baker ’83, who was kind enough to include me in an “all girls” Christmas season party each year. I also run into Sarah Babcock ’83 from time to time and hope to see more vixens this year! Still in mortgage banking and supporting my sister in her Square One Organic Spirits biz—thanks for all the support and we have a new flavor coming out soon. Special thanks to Chris Svoboda who has been a huge supporter! Classmates: please email me at elliesam@ aol.com your current email addresses so I can cross-check to our database. I am getting more and more emails kicked back each time I sent out class notes! Thank you for letting me be your secretary for the last five years, it has been enjoyable to say the least!

1985

Ellen Reed Carver ellenreed8@yahoo.com

1986

April Adelson Marshall adm1127@yahoo.com

Leigh Ann White

leighann.white@gmail.com Anne Toxey met several alumnae from San Antonio and Austin at the home of Jenny Gough ’13 in Jan. “Feeling the presence of SBC in TX makes me feel more at home.” Anne is back in school where last fall she became a master naturalist, and this spring she is studying to become an arborist. Most of her time is spent with husband Patrick McMillan designing and developing museum exhibitions. Mary Johnson Ryan is saddened by the loss of Dr. Sharon Beard Testa. At Sharon’s funeral, there was a wonderful reunion of SBC alumnae. Mary was moved to see our class represented from as far away as CA by Betsy Knott Hall and Cara Heard Elliott. Mary is so fortunate and blessed to have had Sharon in her life. Mary is thankful to SBC and to our class, and proud to be part of this great school. She’d feel honored if her two girls also attended SBC. Louanne Woody is still enjoying life on the Outer Banks of NC. Bella Viguerie Gsell celebrated her 50th birthday on Jan. 1. She still lives in Houston with three teenage children. Bella still reminisces about her SBC days. Shannon Kuehlwein and her fiancé are busy planning for their upcoming wedding. To start off the festivities in June, they’re having a ring blessing in the chapel at Shannon’s prep school, St. Andrew’s, in DE. In Oct., they’ll marry at an inn in VT, where they’re making the event a weekend

More class notes online sbc.edu/magazine

celebration, complete with golf, fly fishing and kayaking. Mary Beth Miller Orson is still living in Scottsdale, still married, still raising two kids, working and hoping classmates stop by when they’re in town. Ava Spanier now lives nearby. Harriette Cooper Liederbach is enjoying her second year as a middle school science teacher. She and Mark have a son now at NC State U., a daughter at Appalachian State U., and a 9th grade daughter at home. Meme Boulware Hobbs enjoys life in Birmingham, AL. Daughter Libby is finishing her sophomore year at TX Christian U. and son Whit is graduating from Woodberry Forest School in May. Meme and David are awaiting college application acceptances. They spent five weekends in TX last year supporting Libby at football games (she’s on the dance team) and three weekends in VA watching Whit play football. Elizabeth Hall and Roger have been living in LA for 23 years. Their son Griffin will be 17 in June, and daughter Caroline is 14. Jessica Sinnott is still working for DuPont (15 years in Oct.) as assistant chief IP counsel. Together with husband Bill, Jessica enjoys horseback riding on their PA horse farm. Beth Ann Trapold Newton is in her fourth year at The Social List of Washington, and Bob is in his 15th year working for CSCI as a senior engineer. He retired last summer from his “other” job after 28 years as captain in the USCG Reserves. Youngest daughter Annie is a year-round lacrosse player and basketball player. The oldest two, Gus and Bonnie, are both in the Presidential Leadership Program at Christopher Newport U. Beth Ann had dinner with April Adelson, Barb Tragakis Connor ’85 and Vicki Vidal Blum ’85. Susan Mann Levy and Geoff are still practicing law together in Columbia, SC. Daughter Preston at Wake Forest. Susan and Geoff have a house in Brevard, NC, which they’re getting ready to renovate. Susan is so proud of our class and our efforts to support each other this year. Leigh Ann White is still living in Boston, sharing a peaceful but snowy life with Brian. Leigh Ann is still at Biogen Idec, loving her job as a health economist working in drug development for Alzheimer’s and ALS treatments. Contributing to initiatives that create wildlife corridors for endangered big cats makes her feel like she’s doing a little to give back. April Adelson is into her second year as a Virginian. Enjoying her apt. inside the home of Heidi Turk ’85. April turned 50 and had several celebrations, so spoiled by friends! Still at Fannie Mae, enjoying her work as a recruiter on the talent acquisition team. April attended a “Vixens in the Country” event on the Eastern Shore to honor Leigh Watkins ’85 visit. Karen Gonya Nickels is a superb party planner. Holla Holla—love our class!

sbc.edu | Sweet Briar Magazine

Nature Draws Young Alumnae Alison Lifka ’13 has always been fascinated by dog driving. She just

[I’m] working with the same team of dogs I worked with this past winter. Also, I am excited to be part of the community up on the glacier.”

never quite knew how one becomes a “musher” — until last winter, when she worked as a dog handler for Lev Shvarts, an Iditarod rookie, in Willow, Alaska.

The position is seasonal and will run all summer. In the winter, Lifka plans to return to Willow and her previous job as a dog handler.

It was there she met the owner of Alaska Heli-Mush, the company she’s working for as a musher this summer. “[He] trains his Iditarod team on the same trail system as us,” Lifka says. “Over the winter, I heard what a great operation he runs in the summer down in Juneau and decided to apply.”

“Life as a dog handler is fairly simple,” she says. “You live to take care of the dogs: feed them, clean up after them and run them.”

Alison Lifka running her 10-sled dog team, led by Envy (left) and Wrath.

After graduating from Sweet Briar with a major in environmental science and a minor in biology, the North Carolina native knew she wanted to work outside, and she wanted to go to Alaska. When the opportunity came to lead kayaking tours with Alaska Sea Kayakers, Lifka jumped on it. One day while giving tours, she met a friend of Shvarts’. The two started talking about sled dogs, and he told her about the dog handler job. Since May, Lifka has been leading dog sled tours on Norris Glacier near Juneau for Heli-Mush. She’s also in charge of feeding her dog team and treating any injuries or illnesses, responsibilities she was well prepared for through her job as a dog handler. “I [helped] with the general operation and maintenance of a thirtysled dog kennel and ran the dogs anywhere from ten to sixty miles a day,” she says. “I am most excited about being able to continue to work with sled dogs through the summer months, especially since

sbc.edu | Sweet Briar Magazine

While there is some stress involved, Lifka finds it mostly relaxing.

“Most of my day is spent on the runners watching the dogs with only my thoughts to keep me company,” she says. “While that may seem lonely, you’ve got the dogs, and it’s a beautiful — if forbidding — country we travel through.” Working as a dog driver and tour guide this summer is quite different. “I have all the company in the world, as people come up to the glacier to experience what it is like to run dogs,” she explains. “[It’s] a nice contrast to the silent, thoughtful winter. That is what I like about Alaska and my job: The winters are for me to train and work with sled dogs, and the summers are for passing that love on to other people.” Alaska, she adds, has taught her a lot in just one year: about herself, about sled dogs and about “enjoying life for what I do and not about the money I make.” Lifka doesn’t have a concrete plan for her future — at least not yet. But there are many ideas swirling around in her head. “At some point I’d like to take a year off and throughhike the Appalachian Trail,” she says. “I also enjoy working as a field technician, and I may want to pursue getting qualified as a Wilderness EMT — [I’m] currently qualified as a Wilderness First Responder. “I’m living my life one step at a time and jumping at each new exciting opportunity.”

to Northwest Since graduating in 2009, Sarah Doyle has been busy saving the environment, one tree — or salmon — at a time. As stewardship coordinator for the North Olympic Salmon Coalition, Doyle spends most of her days in the streams, fields and forests of the Olympic Peninsula, a wild, picturesque area west of Seattle. But her job also requires some paperwork — grant writing, developing and implementing small landowner restoration projects, coordinating a Washington Conservation Corps Crew, as well as monitoring the coalition’s completed restoration projects. One of them, the Morse Creek Restoration Project in Port Angeles, Wash., rerouted a creek to its original alignment and helped improve the stream’s natural habitat, including increasing the local salmon population by 500 percent. It was the second-largest in-stream restoration project on the Olympic Peninsula.

“I fell in love with the place and the ability for me to spend a day kayaking around the Puget Sound looking at killer whales and seals, and the next day hiking the Olympic Mountains observing marmots and black bears.” Since moving to the Northwest, Doyle has hiked about 200 miles each summer and practices yoga, horseback riding and stand-up paddle boarding, in addition to snowshoeing in the winter. “I’ve had quite a few Sweet Briar friends come out to visit, and we have had lots of fun [on] camping and hiking adventures,” she says. Attending Sweet Briar, she says, made her realize that she “couldn’t live anywhere that didn’t have beautiful natural surroundings.”

Doyle took advantage of everything else Sweet Briar had to offer, too. She majored in environmental studies with a concentration in environmental policy and a minor in biology. She was part of the Environmental Club, Amnesty International and Young Democrats. She also Each year, Sarah Doyle surveys salmon in the creek was inducted into Phi Beta to provide data on fish returns to the Washington Kappa and completed a Senior Department of Fish and Wildlife. In 2013, the coalition Honors Thesis, in addition received more than $13 million to studying abroad at the University of Cape Town the in funding to implement similar small- and large-scale spring of her junior year. projects in the area. But success doesn’t always come in dollars. “Since working at NOSC, I have coordinated the planting of over thirty thousand trees on forty acres of riparian habitat,” Doyle says, citing one of her proudest achievements. For the Baltimore native, making the leap across the country wasn’t so daunting after visiting her brother in Washington State her senior year. “[He] was living as a wooden boat builder in a small Victorian seaport called Port Townsend, about two hours north of Seattle,” says Doyle, who now lives in the same town.

After graduating in 2009, Doyle landed an Americorps internship with NOSC. One year later, she was hired full time.

“Sweet Briar gave me so many skills that have led me to where I am today,” she says. Collaborating with her professors on a daily basis and being able to talk to them about anything made a big impact on Doyle. But above all, she says, her professors gave her the confidence to go after her dreams. “The most important thing Sweet Briar did for me was to empower me to realize that I can achieve anything with hard work, dedication and passion.”

sbc.edu | Sweet Briar Magazine

1987

1989

pjcusick1@msn.com

fan-han@prodigy.net

Pamela Miscall Cusick Lee Caroll Roebuck leeroebuck12@gmail.com

1988

Christine Ans

itzbooks@gmail.com Katherine Cole Hite: Had a mini reunion with Katie Keogh Weidner, Kathryn Ingham Reese, Mary Halliday Shaw and Beth Bennett Haga in Miami. So fun catching up. Gussie Harrison Dunstan: My family and I will move from São Paulo, Brazil, where we’ve been for two years, to Belgrade, Serbia, for three years. Woody is a Foreign Service Officer with the State Dept. We were posted in El Salvador for two years before Brazil. My older daughter Millie (17) attends Exeter Academy in NH, and Guen (14) and Harrison (8) travel with us. I substitute teach in the lower school international school system. Sing it Sweet Tones! Stacey Vilar Csaplar: My daughter is starting to look for colleges. Sweet Briar is at the top of the list. I have retired from teaching. I am volunteering with NEADS, an organization that trains dogs for disabled people. My Sweet Briar friends are often in my thoughts. Paige Schiller Okun: It’s my 12th year living in Singapore. In July, I had a mini-SBC reunion in NYC with Cameron Cox Hirtz and Denton Freeman. In Oct. I joined an international group of 12 women to trek 100Km and do some rock climbing in the desert of Jordan to raise awareness and funds for Women on a Mission Singapore, an organization that supports women who are in war-torn countries or victims of domestic violence or victims of human trafficking. We raised nearly $100,000 for our efforts. Dena Driver: I’m still working in real estate in Brooklyn and have joined Stribling and Assoc. this year. Sent my daughter Emma Morcroft to Belmont U. in Nashville this fall where she is studying music. Kathryn Ingham Reese: I teach 5th and 6th grade reading at Tower Hill in Wilmington, DE, and I coach middle school lacrosse. Daughter Elliot is 12 and daughter Landon is 14. Christine Ans: I was able to have a mini-reunion with Andrea Fraley, who came down to Tampa/Sarasota to check out the hunt scene. Andrea was able to participate in the South Creek Foxhounds Hunt and then we attended the Hunt Ball on Fri. evening, followed by the races at Tampa Bay Downs on Sat. Remember, if you are a little chilly up there, please consider coming on down to FL! I can help you find a home, and I still work for an attorney. And the children’s books will always be near to my heart. It’s been a busy year as president of my local Rotary Club! As always, it’s great to hear what everyone is doing in our class. Looking forward to seeing you all if you happen to be in the area!

sbc.edu | Sweet Briar Magazine

Emmy S. Leung Stacey Quinn Hannan: After living in Boca Raton for most of my life, we found out in 2010 that Nokia was relocating my husband’s job to northeast TX! We have now been living in Frisco (just north of Dallas) for nearly four years. Mike and I have been married for 16 years and have two daughters (Courtney, 14 and Caitlin, 11). I volunteer with both of the girls’ schools, Girl Scouts and Junior League. Although I can’t believe it’s been so long, I am looking forward to our 25th Reunion!

1990

Kelly Wood Erickson skjs2@charter.net

1991

Lorraine Haire Greer lhgreer@gmail.com

1992

Charlotte Bonini cbonini@mac.com

Amy Peck Driscoll apdriscoll@verizon.net

1993

Lauri Leann Dabbieri lauri.dabbieri@comcast.net

1994

Mary-Linda “Molly” Morris Flasche molly.flasche@gmail.com

Greetings to the class of 1994! Things have been busy, and we’re in the midst of celebrating our 20th reunion this year! Alexandra Stewart Manwarren continues to remodel her home. She’s working to restart the Philadelphia area alumnae group. She is still enjoying teaching therapeutic riding and consulting and now golf. She keeps busy with her two boys. Parslee Robyn Barto has re-set her life and re-claimed her maiden name. She remains at Bryn Mawr College as student counselor and financial aid administrator, does the soccer and “core curriculum” mom thing, plays knights, dragons and Star Wars and otherwise wrangles the “mischievous twosome,” Madeline Axelle (8) and Alexander Scott (5). Elizabeth Gilgan saw Amelia McDaniel Johnson in the beginning of Jan. when she happened to be in Boston during a huge snowstorm. She was stuck at Liz’s house with her two kids Wyly (12) and Jed (8). They had a great time with Liz’s kids, Nicholas (5) and Isabella (4). Ashley Henderson Swigart visited last summer with her son Preston (6). At the end of Jan., she went to Austin for Rosemary Ratliff Harris’ wedding. Caitlin Sundby Russell and Scott celebrated their 10th anniversary last year. Eva is 8 and Julia is 5. Caitlin is a registered dietician nutritionist in Atlanta and has a private practice for adult weight management.

Amy Davis had her second book published in Dec. 2013. “Handsome Heroes and Vile Villans: Men in Disney’s Feature Animation” is earning a lot of buzz, and she has three more academic articles set to be published in 2014. Vinca Swanson moved from Seattle to Portland, OR, over Christmas. She’s still doing graphic design work, creating art, and playing and coaching lacrosse. Andrea Buck and husband Chris have settled in southwest Wales, not far from the ancient and historic town of Carmarthen. In 9/2013 they bought a 17th-century house and land and embarked on a longterm renovation project. On a clear day, they can see all the way to Lundy Island on the Devon coast. They hosted Lisa Johnston and Birgit Stolle as they traveled through Wales and hope to catch up with Birgit again when they travel to Germany later in 2014. Heather Bayfield Weidle is enjoying her work at Life Management Advisors. She’s been in business for 12 years, and started a second company called Care Management Advisors that helps to manage their clients’ healthcare needs. Katherine Lindsay Auchter came to work with her at CMA. Michael (9) plays soccer, Matthew (6) plays golf. She lost her mother in 2012, and her SBC friends were wonderful support. Now her father is engaged to marry his high school sweetheart, and she’s very happy for him. Kim Szuszczewicz Snead is working as director of information systems for a health informatics organization, Invalon. She spends her free time with boys Cole (12) and Grayson (9). Both boys are playing baseball, and Grayson also plays football. She had a trip to Spain last fall with Heather Roby, Christy Young McCain, Dorothy Bailey, Jodi Szuszczewicz McGee, Katherine Schupp Zeringue and Shelly O’Brien. She attended a baby shower for Heather Roby, and will travel with the family to San Francisco for spring break. Molly Flasche: I’m working for Delta Gamma Fraternity (I’m an alumna initiate, believe it or not, initiated at the American U. chapter in 1995), and I’m in their housing office. I work with the collegiate officers in the sorority, making sure they’re getting their bills paid. Chuck and I have an adorable Goldendoodle (1) named Indie (named after our Indiana Fletcher Williams), and we’re planning to grow our family through adoption, hopefully in the next year. We’re both looking forward to reunion, and hope to stop at some of the wineries and breweries around Charlottesville while we’re in VA.

1995

Beverley Stone Dale bsdale@comcast.net

1996

Sarah Reidy Ferguson serferguson@gmail.com

Kelly Collins Lear

kellycollins13@yahoo.com Robin Bettger Fishburne and Joe have been in Greenville, SC, for over 12 years. We have two children, Parker (1) and Gibbs (9). I’m with Keller Williams Realty. Joe and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary.

Catherine Lanter had tea with Jo Ellen Parker in Santa Monica beginning Feb. 9 at Shutters Hotel—fantastic time! April Collins Potterfield and family still live in Winnetka, IL. I have returned to work as an associate professor, director of biology and health professions programs for Westminster Coll. as they set up a new campus in Mesa, AZ. I commute between MO, IL and AZ. Mary Copeland Stockton and Martin are expecting their first child, a baby girl, on March 21! Beth Ike, Charlottesville: My daughter, Sara Temperance Tatum, (aka Tempe, SBC ’34) is one year old, and her brother Willie will be 5 in Aug. We’re grateful to spend time with Susie Gross Leroy and her son, as well as Margaret Brodie Williams ’97 and her son and daughter. We’re missing Leigh Mason Kitchin, who has a new son and lives in OR! Heather Baskett: After 16 years as a zookeeper I have decided to go back to horses! I’ve taken a position at the VA Tech Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg. I’ll be working in the operating room. Angie Conklin Abell is still running my real estate company Beach Bay Realty down here in Chincoteague Island, VA. Hope (11) is big into catching for a travel softball team. Taulman (14) plays guitar. I attended Tracy Walters’ wedding in Oct.’13. I’ve traveled with Heather Terry Adams ’97 to Dominican Republic, and in April we’re taking our daughters to Disney World. Sarah Dennis Roberts: Next year (201415), I’ll serve as Parent Teacher Fellowship president at Crossings Christian School (my kiddo’s school). Sarah Reidy Ferguson continues to write my daily lifestyle blog, Duchess Fare, coupled with selling vintage and one-of-kindfinds through One Kings Lane, Etsy and privately. Happy to be included by Rizzoli in previewing and featuring posts on their upcoming design book launches.

1997

Amy Leigh Campbell

amycampbell1975@gmail.com

1998

Chantel Nicole Bartlett pinkgreen1998@yahoo.com

Anne Smith Culver and Brian (VMI ’98) are still living in Chesterfield, VA. Anne is in her fourth year of teaching art at Banner Christian School, where all three of her kids attend. Their oldest daughter is 13, second daughter is 11 and son is 8. Brian started a new job with the City of Richmond last March. They volunteer with the church youth group, and Anne was asked to coach middle school girls cheerleading at school. She was never a cheerleader, but you can learn anything on the internet! Anne keeps in touch with Melissa Pembrooke and Andrea Sheetz McCarney, who has opened up her own dance school. Candince McMillian’s construction company, McMillian & Holden, opened a community center in central city New Orleans, named Exodus Place. Candince wanted to say a special thank you to her Vixen family for all of their support. Daughter Charli Tyler McMillian celebrated her 1st birthday on 2/18/14.

Cady Thomas saw Susan Barney and talked with Serena Putegnat over the holidays. “It was fun to go back to campus for the Homecoming weekend, and I am looking forward to being there in April again for the next alumnae board meeting.” Candice Broughton Maillard and Chantel Bartlett spent a few days together in early Feb. (Chantel had been in Vegas on business.) Candice reported that it was great having a few days with Chantel, and meeting fellow alumnae and prospective students in Santa Monica for an SBC tea with President Parker. Boys Everest (10) and Judah (8) keep her moving, as does working alongside her husband in his new fitness endeavor. Daughter River is three. Cynthia Bumgardner Puckett is teaching third, first and preschool to her four kids. She created the first rite-of-passage for her daughter (9), which included seeing Dannah Gresh’s Crazy Hair Tour in Chattanooga, TN. Cynthia and Darrin live10 minutes from Louisville. In Dec.’13, Anna Meres Wade started a new job at the U. of TN working with distressed students. Patrick and Anna still live in Knoxville, TN, and Patrick continues to enjoy his job as the director of the Pat Summitt Foundation where he is raising money and awareness for Alzheimer’s disease. Patrick and Anna are expecting a little girl in June ’14. “It’s been a long and emotional journey, and we feel so blessed and excited to finally become parents!”

1999

Lindsey Neef Kelly lindseyckelly@verizon.net

Margaret Dally Abate is still in Southern CA working as a hospitalist and enjoying her two kids Alamael (7) and Elionaye (4). Kate Akers is in Nashville. She is the director of retail sales and marketing for Gray Line of TN and has Ruby (2). Christy Carl Allison lives in Brambleton, VA, with husband James and daughter Laurel (4). In addition to working for author/educator Suzanne Scurlock-Durana, Christy’s hard at work on her first fulllength sci-fi “space opera” novel. Aimee Armentrout got engaged on Christmas Eve to Jesse Peacemaker; they plan to get married on 10/25/14. She’s in her eighth year teaching kindergarten in Caroline County, VA, but is applying for teaching jobs at private schools. Aimee and Jesse live Ashland, VA, with beagle Molly. Devon Vasconcellos Bijansky is working at the TX Racing Commission, where she prosecutes drug offenses in horses and contributes to various other projects relating to horse racing. At home, she gardens and focuses on running and triathlon training. Rachel Bratlie, husband Chris and son Zachary have moved to Hamilton, New Zealand for at least two years, where Rachel will continue to work as an inpatient psychiatrist. She and Chris are expecting another baby in Aug. Amy Gibbs Brown is living in Atlanta with husband Kenton and two boys, Cooper (8) and Malcolm (6). She’s busy with her design business Amy Brown Interiors. She plays tennis with ALTA. Angela Walton Carpita still lives, coaches and teaches part time in Annapolis with husband Chris and two boys Tommy(3) and Morgan(2). Angela renewed her

connection with Emily Sartor Patterson, and will visit Kibby Bryenton Furgesson ’00 in HI this summer. Aracelie Castro continues to work in Washington, D.C. as an international trade specialist at the Foreign Agricultural Service. Brenda Elze and husband Jon Mikan welcomed son Xander Elze in Aug. ’13. She was blessed with visits from Alex Sienkiewicz Auer, Jennifer Schmidt Major, Heather Carson ’00 and had a baby shower thrown by Kim Schmidt Miscavage ’01. Brenda is staying at home since she and Jon moved into a new house in Camp Hill, PA. After 14 years, Natasha White Gamboa, her husband and two boys left CA last year and bought a home in Glen Allen, VA! She enjoys being able to play tennis, volunteering at school and becoming a part of her new community. Katelin Chmielinski Garland, Meghan Pollard Leypoldt, and Sarah Kingsley all vacationed together for a week in Nags Head. Meghan’s daughter, Piper, and Katelin’s daughter, Abby, made a perfect team and may be together in the SBC class of 2030. Meghan and Katelin also got together in Los Angeles and ran the LA Marathon together. Kelly Turney Gatzke and family moved to WA last summer. She is keeping busy as a volunteer-aholic, Army wife and stay-athome mom. Lindsey Neef Kelly is still working at Shapiro Brown & Alt, LLP in Virginia Beach, where she represents banks by doing real estate title clearance, foreclosures, and mortgage, banking, and eviction litigation. She recently co-authored several briefs for the Supreme Court of VA. She and Sean are still running a lot and home brewing. Catherine (7) was the youngest finisher at a regional 8K race last Dec. and has started in a kids running program. Deborah Lanham still resides in Sneads Ferry, NC, with her three children. She is active in the BSA, at church and in the community while working from home as a seamstress. Heather McLeod and TJ Griffin are still living the dream in Austin, TX, with Eamon, who’ll start first grade in the fall of 2014, and Hazel, who’ll start her last year of preK. Both kids got into a new public charter Montessori school opening in the fall. Heather continues to copyedit YA novels for Simon & Schuster part time from home. Lindsay Hicks Watrous is still living in Gilbert, AZ, with Tim and their three children. She visited with Jera Niewoehner while she was in town on business last Oct. Shannon Smith married Duane Willis 9/7/13. She is still a veterinarian with Banfield, but is now living and working in Burlington, NC.

2000

Marilen Jordas Crump artinspiredme@gmail.com

Laura Wessells Waisner: Enjoying life with boy/girl twins Will and Hope and daughter Emily in CO. Victoria Zak Rosenthal and husband Ben are expecting a baby boy in May. Spent the first two weeks in Dec. in Amsterdam, Venice and Prague. Emily Pegues: Going back to school for Ph.D. researching the sculptor Jan Borman

at the Courtauld Institute of Art. This spring there was a mini-SBC reunion in London when Caroline Stark gave a lecture at the Warburg. Also saw Professor and Mrs. Witcombe and Misa Sarmento ’01 in London. I love being an aunt and working at the National Gallery of Art. Emily McGregor Fenlaw and husband Jay are enjoying their four kiddos and life in Dallas. Emily stays busy with artwork commissions and freelance architectural design. Heather Carson: Jan. ’13 was in D.C. to see Christy Carl Allison ’99, Kelli Rogowski ’99 and Katherine Carr ’99. Also became a licensed MA real estate agent in Feb. and am starting a new HR position. Kimberly Earehart Coleman: Living in Inwood, WV, working at WV Dept. of Health and Human Resources as a family support specialist. Enjoying time with my daughters Claire (7) and Allison (4). Kimberly Ann Burge: Kim, Christian, Sarah and Rebecca Burge are well. Kim enjoys staying home raising her girls. She had a great time when Dina Orbison visited in Dec. Carol Skriloff Starr and Pierce are having a blast with James (2) and are expecting their second child in Oct. They’ll attend Mary Friberg’s (’98) wedding in Charleston in May. Maureena Crawford: Busy raising two kids, working full time, maintaining our home and yard. Alethea Okonak: Living in Pittsburgh with her husband and enjoying the active handmade community. Runs “John the Craftist,” a paper craft company and loves being part of the rust belt revival. Cara Millar Bean: Opened her own daycare! Loving every day with Ellie (8 mos), Wyatt (16 mos), Abby(4), and Gabe(6). Josie Beets: Welcomed husband back from a deployment to Afghanistan in Feb.! Continues to work as a legislative analyst and enjoys connecting with alumnae in Nashville. Evangeline Easterly Taylor and husband Eric are heading to their next embassy assignment in Moscow, Russia. Elissa Pugh-Arguello and husband Enil welcomed baby Elida in Nov. The entire family, including Ziggy (6) and Goldie (2), is smitten! Melissa Bellan: Made the runoff in her election for Justice of the Peace. Runoff happened May 27. Melissa Fauber Carter: Teaches fourth grade in Amherst County. Jack (HSC ’00) is a sergeant for the county sheriff’s office. Aubrie will start kindergarten in the fall and Clara will be in fourth in my class— that could be fun! Lindsey Custer: Horse Copper that she rescued last May is thriving. She’s hoping to show him this year. Anne Harper Biard: Welcomed daughter Grace Margaret 7/3/13 with husband Will. Catherine (6) and Clary (5) are enjoying being big sisters. Anne-Ryan Sinnott Craig: Works as preschool director for a Catholic school in McLean, VA. Daughter Abbey (8) is enjoying second grade. They welcomed a baby boy, Colin, in Dec. Abby Schmidt Anzalone: Teaching Pilates and working at TjX. Will start teaching at Btone Fitness 05/14 (Wellesley & Sudbury).

Amanda Ankerman: Living in the D.C. area and traveling on occasion. Co-hosting a Mary Kay party with Evangeline Taylor in March and hoping to see more alumnae there! Amanda Atkinson and Noah welcomed their third son, Harvey Abraham Atkinson, 10/2/13. He enjoys big brothers Arlo (8) and Gus (8). Marilen Jordas Crump: Became a board member for Philippine-American Community of the Peninsula (VA) and performed at Dancing with the Williamsburg Stars in March to help raise nearly $100k for Big Brothers Big Sisters and The Literacy Foundation. Marilen is working on her businesses ArtInspired.com and VAPhotoClass.com.

2001

Julia Ambersley jambersley@sbc.edu

2002

Margaret Brooks Tucker Buck brookiebuck@gmail.com

Lori Smith Nilan lori.nilan@gmail.com

PLEASE SEND LORI or BROOK your UPDATED email addresses (or to the Alumnae Office)! Some of you still have @sbc.edu by your names and we know that isn’t correct! Thanks to all of you who submitted class notes and keep sending them. Nicole Stamant and husband James welcomed their first child, Henry Emile Stamant, on 12/19/13. She visited with Meg Anderson Richburg to celebrate the birth of their boys. Nicole and Jamie still live in Decatur, GA, where both teach at Agnes Scott Coll. Her book, Serial Memoir: Archiving American Lives, will be published in June ’14. Becky Lewis Dowdy had her second child, Ann, in Nov. ’13. She lives in Woodlands, TX, with husband Joe, George (3) and Weimeraner Dorian (9). Katherine Moncure Stuart and husband Harrison still live in Orange, VA. They have two boys, Teddy (5) and Jack (3), and are expecting twins at the end of April! Harrison is director of admission at Woodberry Forest; she is working for The Education Group. In Houston, TX, Jennifer Taylor Catano and husband Dave welcomed their second daughter, Emily Claire, on 10/2/13. Taylor Grace (4) loves being a big sister! Jennifer stays home the majority of the time. She’s still doing personal training and some telephone interviews for her former employer, YES Prep Public Schools. Serena Basten Kachinsky and husband Louey are selling their house in Oakland, CA, and moving back to VA to be near family. Serena is applying to graduate family nurse practitioner programs. She loves being mother of Claire (1). In Sept., Mary Tassone Dunlevy and family bought a house in Fort Lee, VA. Ariana (4) is now big sister to Lorien Gael born on 1/29/14. Melissa Rudder and son Shaine (2) live in Greenport, NY. They live near her family, the water, farms and vineyards of Long Island! Kassie Brown was married on 2/1/14 in San Juan, PR, to Edward Popwell at the El San Juan Resort and Casino. They live in D.C., and she is still working for PWC. Casey Perlow Davidson and her husband welcomed Larkin Hope on 11/22/13. Misa Sarmento Francis

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welcomed her daughter Mayumi Barbra on 8/23/13. Emily Johnston has been traveling this past winter and spring to LA and NYC! She had a mini reunion with Megan Tarnowski-Gundogdu and Arney Walker. She was in NYC for Fashion Week, and they went to see Justin Timberlake! Her blog, Fashion Foie Gras, has allowed her to do some amazing things, like spending a week in Antigua and LA for red carpet fashion! Kelly Monical Goossens and her husband spent three months in Merida, Mexico. Brook Buck is now the new events chair for the alumnae association! She’ll go back to SBC three times a year and participate in Reunion! After the meeting in Oct., she was able to have dinner with Lori Smith Nilan and Denise Mcdonald Gentry along with her son Graham in Richmond, VA. It’s fun reconnecting with SBC, alumnae, current students and seeing all the changes around campus! Her mom has done a remarkable job after her stroke, almost two years ago, and is now walking with a cane! She will always need help, but they are all amazed at how far she has come! Otherwise enjoying nursing, working on the house and playing with our choc. Lab Beaufort (5).

2003

Courtney Arnott Silverthorn courtney.silverthorn@gmail.com

Chesley Phillips married Owen Gaddis in Atlanta, 8/3/13. SBC girls in attendance: Alisa Cline Berry, Christi Rose Hart ’02, Samm Grist ’03, Erin Keck Walsh, Sarah Farber ’01, Erin Gibbs ’05. Laurel Speilman Rodgers and her husband welcomed their first child, Ivy Rodgers on 11/12/13. Kathleen Herndon moved to Roanoke, VA, so she has no excuse not to come to reunion next time. She started a new job with Staralight Custom Cycling Apparel.

2004

Virginia Wood Susi sbc2004@gmail.com

Autum MatysekSnyder Fish, Jeremiah and Xavier welcomed Daisy Geraldine Fish on 9/4/2013. Schyler Ellis Burke and husband Peter are expecting their fourth, a girl, to be born in June. Megan Owens Thompson and her husband Mike welcomed their second child, Lulu Rose on 2/27/14. Nicole Basbanes Claire became a firsttime homeowner in March with her husband Billy after they purchased his late mother’s lake house in Marlborough, MA. She is also excited to catch up with fellow alumnae at reunion. Billy is excited to visit SBC and meet the friends and community who are special to her. Camille Simmons is in her ninth year of teaching middle school Spanish. She was able to catch up with and attend the wedding of Caville Stanbury ’06 in Jamaica. Maria Kitchin Moore and husband Preston welcomed their son, William Preston, Jr. (Preston) on Jan. 24. Maria is looking forward to seeing everyone at our reunion in May! Denali LeeAnn Hetzel was welcomed by Stacey Maddox and John Hetzel on 12/27/13 at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage. She weighed 6lbs, 15oz and was 18 inches long. Denali was

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diagnosed with anencephaly at her 17week ultrasound and was not expected to survive past birth. She lived three incredible days and died on 12/30/13. She is greatly missed. Diana “Dee” Marshall spent most of Dec. ’13 at her family’s house in Fort Myers, FL. In Jan., Dee attended the Boston alumna clubs event in Milton with Michelle Badger ’06. Dee has enjoyed catching up with fellow classmates before the reunion weekend while working on the committee.

2005

Mindy Wolfrom

mindywolfrom@gmail.com Torrey Shallcross is VP of external affairs at the national nonprofit Women Against Prostate Cancer in Washington, D.C. Hillary Cooper Cook and husband Matthew moved to Dallas for a job opportunity that she accepted for Epsilon where she’ll continue working in the loyalty industry. They’ll be living in Addison, TX, and have already been welcomed by Lynnsey Brown Wilhelm ’07. Since she moved, she stepped down as president of the Richmond Alumnae Club and gave the reigns to Lara Salyer D’Antonio ’09. Amanda Watts Moffett took a 14-day vacation to France in 5/2013. She also got Macaroni, a Goldendoodle, last July. She and husband James are expecting a baby boy in April! Samira Hossain and husband Philip spent an amazing week in Istanbul in Feb. for vacation. She also attended the wedding of Christina Marchetti in Dec. ’13 along with Ashley LaGanga. She also planned a spring weekend getaway in SBC with Lynsie Watkins Steele. Sarah Kidd Burchett has started taking prerequisite classes needed to apply for George Washington’s physician assistant program. If all goes according to plan, she would start at GW in 5/2015. Cathy Sobke bought a house with her fiance in Wellington, FL. She’s working as an attorney in West Palm Beach and will be married on 5/31/2014 (and will become Mrs. Catherine Cole). Lynsie Watkins Steele has welcomed a new baby boy to join her two boys (ages 3 ½ and 2). Her two stepchildren are almost off to college. Her food blog (www. dinnerdivide.blogspot.com) chronicles her family’s challenge of cutting their grocery bill in half. She saved $10,000 after one year and teaches classes on the subject. Her goal is to spread this message to people living at or below the poverty line and to help those suffering from today’s “common ailments” such as obesity, diabetes and asthma.

2006

Cleveland Clinic for his cardiology fellowship. Daughter Samantha is still an ER nurse at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, and she hopes to go to grad school this fall to become a nurse anesthetist. Kimberley Battad is still living in San Jose, CA, and has been promoted to program instructor/music coordinator and case manager at Aim Higher Disability Services. She still works part time as a teacher for Noteworthy Music School. Brittany Lambert Locku married Alper Lokcu on 10/11/13 in Chapel Hill, NC. She writes, “Kristy Bloxom and Jackie Fowler attended. Alper and I honeymooned in Cancun, Playa Mujeres, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, Mexico. We are looking forward to Kristy’s wedding to Chris Fairman in Sept. of this year! Heidi Trude traveled to CharlevilleMézières, France in Nov. to visit her partner school, the Lycée Bazin. In Dec., Heidi presented at the VASCD conference. She has been selected to serve as a mentor teacher for new teachers at Skyline H.S. Heidi has joined the Warrenton Chorale. Heidi will be taking a group of her students to France and Spain in July 2014. Danielle Dionne Sullivan writes, “I married the love of my life, John Sullivan on 10/12/13 at Veramar Vineyards in Berryville, VA. We had a great time with family and friends including Lisa Bethune ’08 and Jenny Lowery. We are buying a house in NOVA. I continue to teach for LCPS schools and stay busy with work and horse activities. I visited with Jessica Wooten Allen at her baby shower. It was fun catching up with Amanda Cash Browning and Lindsay Henderson Moga. John and I caught up with Brooke Agee ’08 at DuCard Vineyards.” Laura Schaefer writes, “I passed the Association of Energy Engineers examination to become a certified energy manager and am continuing to put my skills to work for the ONPRC. I also completed an extensive 10-week leadership and management program within OHSU and am looking forward to using these new skills!” Kelsey Jeffers writes, “This winter, I moved down to Key Largo, FL. I completed the NOAA Dive Program last month and am now a NOAA Working Diver for the FL Keys National Marine Sanctuary’s Marine Operations Dept.” Corinne Davies Asakevich writes, “I’d like to announce the arrival of our baby girl Mirielle Lynette Asakevich! She was born 2/19/14 at 5 p.m. She was 5lbs, 1oz and 18 inches long.” I, Emily Olson, am in my third and final semester of the MAT program at Pacific U. in OR. I’m student teaching theatre at a local high school. I graduate in May and am looking forward to new adventures, which will hopefully include a full-time h.s. theatre teaching position.

Nicole E. Brandt

2008

2007

marysdberry@gmail.com

brandt06@sbc.edu

Emily Olson

emilynicoleolson@gmail.com Allison Shaw Camper and husband Ian welcomed son Liam on 9/8/14, weighing 3 lbs 7oz. Karen Summers (Atlanta, GA) became a grandmother to William Owen Summers on 6/6/13. Son Matthew is going to

Mary Berry

Alexandra DiFeliciantonio: I started working as a post-doctoral research fellow at Yale U. in Nov. and am living in New Haven, CT. My lab is starting a collaboration with the Max Planck Institute in Cologne, Germany, and I’ll be moving there in March. On New Year’s Eve 2013 I got engaged to Matthew Howe. We’ll be getting married in Oct. in Wilmington, NC. Jessica LaTray-Wilson: My husband,

Mike Wilson, and I welcomed our second child, Adalaide Temperance Wilson on 10/22/13. Kristin Barnes: I graduated from SMU with an MBA and an MA in May 2013. In Dec., I returned to Dallas to start a new job with Tantrum Street, a mobile payments startup, as the director of customer service and good returns. Meggy O’Neal: I graduated from the U. of Tulsa with a master’s in museum science and management and a tract in anthropology in May 2013 and was hired by the City of Gonzales to be the new director of the Gonzales Memorial Museum in TX. Over the New Year’s break I spent some time with Kristin Barnes and Laura Bowry. Chelsea Capizzi-Walsh Lomicka: Christian Lomicka (VMI ’08) and I were married 9/14/13 in my hometown of Ocean City, NJ, in the church where my parents were married. I was honored to have Heather Coley as my Maid of Honor and Mary Margaret Hammock as a bridesmaid. We honeymooned in HI. We live in Columbia, MD. Christian has accepted a position at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab after graduating from JHU, and I’ll be returning to grad school to complete my second master’s degree in the spring. Isabelle Jacque au Zanoto: A lot has happened since my junior year abroad at Sweet Briar in ’07! I graduated from the Paris Dauphine U. in France and got a job in HR at LVMH Watches (TAG Heuer, Zenith and Hublot brands) in 2010, got married in 2012 and am expecting. My husband made it to the U.S. for the first time last fall, and we got to catch up with Kelly Kincaid ’11 and Allison Vuillaume. Rebecca Penny: I’m engaged! My fiance surprised me with a proposal stamped in my dessert spoon on Jan. 23. We’re looking forward to planning a wedding for next spring (when I’ll be done with my Ph.D.). Rachel Gotwalt: I have been working as a software engineer since leaving college. I’ve been taking classes in ballet (just started en pointe), Japanese, tennis and golf. Brittany Carlton O’Bannon: On 1/20/14 Keegan Greer O’Bannon was born to proud parents Brittany and John O’Bannon III and big brother Norrie of Warrenton, VA. Erin Coyne Lanier: “I’m sending a picture of Jenn Milby Gutierrez, Whitney Towler Carpenter and me and with our little ones, Joaquin, Audrey and Quenton. Joaquin, Jenn’s son, was born 6/8/12. Audrey, Whitney’s daughter, was born 8/12/13, and my son was born 1/10/14. The three of us went through the MAT program and graduated in 2008 with our bachelor’s, and 2009 with our master’s in teaching.” Diana Simpson: After a few years out west, I have returned to the East Coast! Over Thanksgiving, I moved from AZ to VA for my job. The company where I was a fellow, the Institute for Justice, brought me on as a full attorney at our Arlington, VA office. Allison Hancock Kijak: My husband (Jeremy Kijak, H-SC) and I welcomed our first child, Grayson Montgomery Kijak, on Feb. 12. Jennica Harris: After graduating, I changed my career direction and got a second bachelor’s degree in accounting from a CA U. I have had several part-time tax preparation and bookkeeping positions since then, and I’ll be looking for a fulltime position soon. I moved to CT in July

’12 for a two-year program for adults with Asperger’s Syndrome, where I have been learning social skills, job skills and independent living skills. The program is very helpful, and I have had fun and made great friends. I plan to stay in CT for the foreseeable future. Amelia Villacorta: I’m living in Alexandria with my boyfriend, Joseph Lojek, (Stevens Institute of Technology ’07) and working as an intelligence trainer/analyst as contractor for the government. I have lately enjoyed my free time running and reading, and have started a book club with Stephanie Perks ’09, Lauren Miller ’10 and other girlfriends in the area. I am looking forward to seeing Brittany and Brianna Deane soon.

Allie Garrison Bridges is a medical claims representative for State Farm Insurance in Charlottesville. She and her husband bought a house in Lake Monticello, VA. Amanda Samford started working for Wisper ISP, a wireless high-speed Internet provider. She is working in their sales and marketing dept. as an associate. She handles graphic design, events (planning and marketing) as well as customer sales. Amanda got married while at SBC, so she’ll be celebrating her five-year wedding anniversary in Aug.

2009

Julia K McClung

mcclung.julia@gmail.com

Kennedy Munro: I earned my Master of Arts in Public Policy from Trinity Coll. I live in Middletown, CT, and often have mini reunions with Glenna Vine.

2010

2012

mckee.alaina@gmail.com

davey12@sbc.edu

Celeste Winslow Rustom got married, but hasn’t had the actual wedding ceremony yet. Celeste was deployed to Afghanistan and conducted deconstruction missions. She was also part of the main effort in the largest base closure in Afghanistan to date and returned home in Oct. Celeste and her husband moved into a rental house and got two heeler puppies. Beginning in fall 2014 Anna Rij will start her master of education program through Virginia Tech’s Coll. of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Anna was hired on 10/23/13 by Virginia Tech as a field faculty member working in their outreach department called Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). She works with the youth branch of VCE as a 4-H agent running the 4-H program in Caroline County, VA. Her job is to create experiential learning opportunities for youth ages 5-19 to develop leadership, citizenship and life skills. Sarah Davis Fishback is the assistant director of hunter programs with the U.S. Hunter Jumper Assoc. She is responsible for the day-to-day organization and facilitation of the hunter programs in the USHJA. In addition she coordinates projects, manages and works with task forces and assists with the implementation of new programs. Helen Ruth Phillips earned her master of the arts in teaching from Randolph Coll. in Dec. ’13 and is a licensed teacher in VA. She is in her second year of teaching biology at Brookville High School in Lynchburg, VA. Helen was awarded the MAT Research Award at Randolph Coll. Catherine Gumpman Springer married 2LT Logan Springer (2012, Liberty U.) in Aug. ’13. Devra Schachter was a bridesmaid. Rosalie Morgan graduated from Quinnipiac U. School of Law in May ’13. She is an associate attorney with Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante, PC, in New Haven, CT. She’s engaged to John Louis (H-SC ’09) who is completing his Ph.D. at Boston Coll. Rosie and John reside in Wallingford, CT. Jami Kontkanen: Currently getting my masters in Roman archaeology at the U. of Leicester.

Libby Hannon: I’m completing my M.A. in English literature at UNC-W, teaching composition to college freshmen, and am working on applications to teach abroad in South Korea.

Alaina McKee

2011

Ashley Corren Hinkle ashleychinkle@gmail.com

Elizabeth Martin Davey

2013

Jackelinne Montero jackiermontero@gmail.com

Emily Cochran works at Lendmark Financial Services in Charlottesville, VA. She started riding her horse Odessa again. Elizabeth Hansbrough is finishing BB&T’s Leadership Development Program in March at which point she’ll begin her first assignment as a sales and service officer for the commercial lending team in Chesapeake, VA. Sarah Morgan started her position at SBC as an accountant. Danielle “Dani” Humphrey is a professional swim coach at Machine Aquatics Club in Northern VA. She started her own candle company and will move to Southern CA in Aug. Katie Bitting is attending Duke U. to get her Ph.D. in chemistry. Jackelinne R. Montero is the barn manager and trainer at Grey Gables Farm in Swoope, VA. She adopted a Welsh corgi named Lilly. Lindsay Davis is a process engineer at AMTI, an electronic manufacturing company in Lynchburg where she lives with her dog, Doppler. Elizabeth Koslow began medical school at DMU in Aug. ’13. She joined the Army and enrolled in the Healthcare Professional Scholarship Program. Whitney Waller is now working for Bandwidth. She’s engaged to Michael Davis and is planning a Sept. wedding! Caitlin Swauger has relocated to Raleigh, NC, to start her first year of law school at Campbell. Alyson Booth is in her first year of veterinary school at OSU; she’ll graduate in 2017 with a DVM. Stacie Wilson is employed at Danville Pittsylvania Community Services at a residential crisis stabilization house. She is

working on an M.A. in marriage and family therapy from LU. Victoria Elizabeth Mills Ramsey works for Genworth Financial in Lynchburg, VA, and has started her MBA at LC. Carli Hammer will be moving to NYC in Jan. ’14 to apply to physician assistant programs. Sarah Lindemann is working as a regulatory technician at Wetlands Studies and Solutions, Inc. in Gainesville, VA. Cristina Thomas has moved to New Orleans, LA, to attend Loyola U. Coll. of Law to receive her JD. Morgan Franke started graduate school at Virginia Tech in the Invasive Plant Ecology Lab in the Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science. Samantha Schwartz is employed by Kitty Hawk Kites. Ann Roach is a front desk agent for The Inn at Perry Cabin in MD. She’ll be going to Rome for an internship this summer before starting graduate school in the fall for art therapy. A research paper Jennifer Gray wrote was published in the fall ’13 issue of the SBC Honors Journal. Marianna deLyon is enrolled at Lynchburg Coll. and is pursuing an M.Ed. Julie Moorhead works in the House of Representatives for Congressman Scott Rigell. Rachael Ashdown is a part-time contributor for a news website, American News Review. Julia Green is deferring her master of accounting at W&M for a year to retake core accounting courses at CVCC. She is hoping to qualify to take the CPA exam fall ’14. Margaret K. Johnson accepted a job at ZERO-The End of Prostate Cancer in Nov. and moved to Arlington, VA, with Jessie Edington and Kaitlin Eckenberger. Kaitlin Eckenberger works at Capitol Office Solutions, a Xerox company, as a client relations manager for large accounts. Alexandra “Ali” Davidson moved to Ocala to work at Don Stewart Stables in the equine industry. Ashley Hester Harris is working as a management assistant for Enterprise Holdings in Williamsburg, VA. She resides in Williamsburg with her husband and dog. They are expecting their first baby in May! Yuliya Rigg is now working as an admissions counselor at Emory & Henry College. She works with high school students as well as international students. Jenness Gough is living in San Antonio, TX, working as the corporate affairs assistant for Silver Eagle Distributors, the No. 1 Anheuser Busch distributor in the nation. She started playing golf again and is looking to buy her first home within the next few months. Remy Stein is attending the London School of Economics and Political Science. She will graduate with her Master of Science in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies in Oct. of this year.

Please submit your notes to classnotes@sbc.edu as follows: • Winter 2014 notes due Sept. 1, 2014 • Summer 2015 notes due March 1, 2015

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t h i s p i ct u r e

sbc.edu | Sweet Briar Magazine

1. Correction: Our apologies, this photo was mislabeled in the previous issue of the magazine. This is actually Judge Jane Powell Grey ’72 with husband Frank in front of Neptune’s Fountain in Gdansk, Poland. 2. Grace Janelle Sherfy Straszheim ’72 switched to Arabians and is pictured at an endurance race competition in the Shenandoah Valley. 3. Mirielle Lynette Asakevich, daughter of Scott and Corinne Davies Asakevich ’07, born 2/19/14.

4. Kim Hershey Hatcher’s (’78) son George Albert Hatcher III married Alexandra Hostetter. 5. 1978 classmates attended the wedding of Meg Bruckman in the Bahamas last fall: From left to right, Emily Dick McAlister, Lizabeth Lambert Bowden, Zara Bowden, Lisanne Purvis Davidson, Ellen Donnelly, Michelle Tarride Frazier and Missy Powell Adams 6. Charli Tyler McMillian, daughter of Candince McMillian ’98. 7. Samira Hossain ’05 and her husband Philip in Istanbul. 8. Jennifer Taylor Catano ’02 with her husband Dave and their two girls, Taylor Grace (3) and Emily Claire (2 mos). 9. Danielle Dionne Sullivan ’07 and her husband, John, on their wedding day, 10/12/13.

10. Melissa Rudder ’02 with son Shaine (2) on the Village Carousel. 11. 1978 classmates in the Bahamas last fall: From left to right, Lizabeth Lambert Bowden, Michelle Tarride Frazier, Helen Bauer Bruckmann, Missy Powell Adams and Emily Dick McAllister 12. 1978 classmates from left to right: Sue Griste Russell, Janet Smalley Todd, Ann Maricle Stefano, Becky Dane Evans, Julia Sutherland and Lu Litton Griffin 13. Bev Horne Dommerich ’72 and Pam Drake McCormick ’72 met for the first time in 40 years while shopping in Florida. 14. Jacklyn Fowler ’07 and Kristina Bloxom ’07 with bride Brittany Lambert Locku ’07.

15. Mary Donohoe Carrera ’72 and grandchildren at home in Bethany Beach, Del. 16. Class of 1972 President in Perpetuity and hardworking attorney Marion Walker ’72 taking a break in Newport Beach at Pelican Hill.

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Members of the Class of 1964 raised more than $1 million for their Reunion gift.

Reunion 2014 76

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The Class of 1964 processed into Reunion with bagpipers, marking exactly 50 years to the day since their commencement from Sweet Briar. Alice Fales Stewart â&#x20AC;&#x2122;64 brought her grandmotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gloves to wear during the commemorative procession.

Preston Hodges Hill â&#x20AC;&#x2122;49 and Kathy Upchurch Takvorian â&#x20AC;&#x2122;72

Children of all ages enjoyed the hay ride around campus.

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Sandra Taylor ’74, president of the board of the Alumnae Association, gave opening remarks.

Professor Hank Yochum and Lynne Crow ’64 (with engineering students) accepted a $10,000 grant from the Million Dollar Round Table Foundation to support the engineering department’s Tech and Society projects in Brazil.

Cindy Sorenson Sutherland ’74 and husband Dwight; President Parker; and Outstanding Alumna of the Year Ann Stuart McKie Kling ’74 and husband Bill.

Professor Linda Fink led a nature walk and described the College’s new warmseason grasses initiative.

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Catherine “Tee” Porter ’44 in Benedict 301; her donation helped to renovate the classroom, including technology upgrades.

Charitable Gift Annuity: A Gift Plan That Matches Your Goals Your Goals: To Strengthen Sweet Briar College and Supplement Your Retirement Income Your Benefits: Current Income Tax Deduction and Tax-favored Fixed Income Payments “Being an Amherst County resident and beneficiary of a tuition scholarship, I was able to receive a top-tier education at Sweet Briar. There is no question that the course of my adult life was greatly impacted by that gift. Over the years since graduation, I have been happy to be able to say ‘thank you’ with annual giving contributions. This year, celebrating my 45th Reunion, I decided not to wait until the end of my life to make a significant gift, but to give a gift annuity that would help the College and also provide some income and tax benefits to me in future years. When I visit the College and see the outstanding programs being offered these days, I want to help ensure that the Sweet Briar degree remains an option for young women.”

— Elizabeth (Betsy) B. Laundon ’69

Thank you for making a difference by giving to Sweet Briar College. Because of you, Sweet Briar students change the world. For more information, please contact the development office at (434) 381-6131 or toll free at (888) 846-5722, or contact Margie Lippard, director of major and planned giving, at (434) 381-6538 or mlippard@sbc.edu.

Box 1056 Sweet Briar, VA 24595

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Sweet Tones Reunion October 31–November 2, 2014

Have you heard? A Sweet Tones reunion is coming! Were you a member of the Sweet Tones when you were a student? If so, we want you to join us on campus for a very special reunion. We’d love to hear from you; please make sure we have your most up-to-date contact information and watch your email for more details! Contact Dinah Watson Office of Alumnae Relations dwatson@sbc.edu or (434) 381-6318