University of Mary Washington Magazine Fall 2016 by University of Mary Washington

University of

Magazine Fall 2016

VOL. 40 • NO. 2

He’s Got This President Paino Embraces UMW

Refurbished Statue Is Back in Ball | page 16 UMW Ties Span Four Generations | page 18 ’59 Grad Stays in the Swim of Things | page 33

Contents Features

Departments

8 Answering the Call President Paino acts on his passion for public education

2 On Campus 23 Notable and Quotable 26 Book Report 27 Get the Picture 28 Alumni Seen 30 Class Notes 56 Closing Column

16 Joan Returns Joan of Arc statue is back in Ball Hall 18 Family Ties The Boxley and Christian families have made a difference at UMW ON THE COVER: In July, Dr. Troy D. Paino arrived ready to lead when he became the 10th president of the University of Mary Washington. Photo by Norm Shafer

THIS SPREAD: Matthew Beeler ’19 concentrates on casting a line as he learns to fly fish on Jefferson Square. Jon Pineda, assistant professor of English, brought two fishing experts to campus to teach his ecoliterature class about fly patterns and the ecology of the river. That meant Beeler and 14 classmates practiced casting on a rainy fall day with no river in sight. Pineda, a poet, memoirist, novelist, and fly fisher, hoped learning to cast would help the aspiring writers connect with their craft. By choosing specific, essential details, writers build imagery, he said. It’s those details, which often come from experience, that can make writing credible. Photo by Reza Marvashti

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ON CAMPUS

Great Lives Renamed for William B. Crawley

he Great Lives lecture series returns beginning Jan. 24, 2017, with a new name. Originally called the Chappell Lecture Series, reflecting the instrumental role of John Chappell and his family in providing the initial endowment and continuing support for the program, it will be called the William B. Crawley Lecture Series. The name reflects the crucial role played by the distinguished professor emeritus of history who created the series in 2004 and has since served as its director. Chappell initiated the change. “We have long recognized Bill [Crawley] as the architect of the success of Great Lives, and we are grateful,” he said. The 2017 lineup will feature diverse personalities from ancient to modern times and wide-ranging fields of accomplishment. Many of the speakers are the pre-eminent authorities on their subjects, and a number have won Pulitzer Prizes. Harvard historian and Guggenheim

Hemings families. New York Times best-selling writer James Kaplan, author of Sinatra: The Chairman, will discuss the singer. Guggenheim fellow Catherine Clinton, author of Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom, will speak on Tubman. Other subjects include Nat Turner, Agatha Christie, George Lucas, Mark Twain, and the witches of Salem. For more information visit umw. edu/greatlives or call 540/654-1065.

Inauguration: Save the Date

Fellowship recipient Annette GordonReed, author of the Pulitzer Prizewinning The Hemingses of Monticello, will speak on the Jefferson and

Dr. Troy Paino will be installed as UMW’s 10th president in an invitation-only ceremony at 4:15 p.m. Friday, April 21, 2017, in Dodd Auditorium. In keeping with UMW’s commitment to sustainability, no printed invitations will be mailed. To receive an invitation, please go to umw.edu/inauguration and enter your email address or call 540/654-1087.

FA L L 2 0 1 6 • VO LU M E 4 0 • N O. 2 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Neva S. Trenis ’00 |

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Laura Moyer |

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

Anna B. Billingsley

ART DIRECTOR Lynne Smyers, Smyers Design | PHOTOGRAPHER Norm Shafer | CONTRIBUTORS Amy Beaulieu, Lisa Chinn Marvashti ’92, Hilary Kanter,

Maria Schultz M.Ed. ’11, Cynthia L. Snyder ’75, and Erika Spivey ’11

University of Mary Washington Magazine is published by the Office of University Relations for the alumni, friends, faculty, and staff of the University of Mary Washington. The magazine staff welcomes your comments. Email the editor at magazine@umw.edu; send letters to UMW Magazine, 1301 College Ave., Fredericksburg, VA 22401-5300; or call 540/654-1055. Please help us find you: Email address changes to alumni@umw.edu; mail changes to University of Mary Washington Office of Alumni Relations, 1119 Hanover St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401-5412; call with address changes to 540/654-1011. University of Mary Washington Magazine is printed with nonstate funds and is made possible through private support. Read and comment on University of Mary Washington Magazine online at magazine.umw.edu.

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ON CAMPUS

Sign of Segregation

Norm Shafer

“It was unbelievably cool to see the sign and hear the stories people had to tell.” – Elisabeth Sommer

historic sign procured by a UMW museum studies class holds a prominent place on the National Mall. Since the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture opened there in September, thousands of visitors have walked past a worn wooden sign from an Alabama bus station. One of 3,000 objects on display, it reads “Waiting Room (interstate and white intrastate passengers).” UMW donated the 1950s-era artifact in honor of the late James

The waiting-room sign shown above is now part of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Here, journalist Simeon Booker and Freedom Rider Reginald Green attend the UMW student exhibition in Dodd Foyer in 2011.

Farmer, a UMW distinguished professor and architect of the Freedom Rides that helped to desegregate interstate transportation. During the university’s 2011 semester-long tribute to Farmer and the 50th anniversary of the Rides, a UMW museum studies class purchased the sign on eBay to include in an exhibit students created. The class, taught by former instructor Elisabeth Sommer, researched the Freedom Rides, collected old recruiting posters and

magazines, and created life-size photo displays for an exhibit that told the story of the Jim Crow era. Once the exhibit was taken down, the class agreed that the sign should be donated to the African-American museum, then in the planning stages, as a tribute to Farmer. Sommer attended the donor preview of the museum. “It was unbelievably cool to see the sign and hear the stories people had to tell,” she said. “I’m so gratified that the sign was on display for all to see.”

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ON CAMPUS NEW STUDENT STATS

1,370

NEW STUDENTS From 12 foreign countries From 22 states and D.C. 35 percent male 65 percent female

989

FRESHMEN 27 percent identify as ethnically diverse 89 percent are Virginians

Norm Shafer

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Chem Stars! Top chemistry students from across the country came to UMW for the National Chemistry Olympiad in June. Professor of Chemistry Kelli Miller Slunt ’91, pictured above, center, long involved with the American Chemical Society event, pushed for UMW to host the annual two-week summer training camp for teenagers, held until this year at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. Four finalists represented the United States at July’s 48th International Chemistry Olympiad in Tbilisi, Georgia. The U.S. team, which competed against 260 students from 66 countries, brought home one gold medal, two silvers, and one bronze.

Meringolo Retires On the heels of the successful Mary Washington First campaign, Salvatore “Torre” Meringolo announced his retirement as vice president for advancement and university relations as of Oct. 1. Meringolo oversaw the $50 million campaign, which exceeded its goal by $1.5 million. Before coming to UMW in 2009, Meringolo was vice president for development at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. While associate dean of the university libraries at The Pennsylvania State University, Meringolo became actively involved in fundraising on behalf of the university libraries. UMW President Troy Paino has announced a national search for Meringolo’s successor.

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TRANSFERS (Includes traditional, adult-degree completion, and nursing students) 30 percent identify as ethnically diverse 97 percent are Virginians

NATIONAL RANKINGS Fiske Guide to Colleges, 2017: “Best Buy School,” one of only two colleges in Virginia and the District of Columbia reaching this distinction U.S. News & World Report, 2016: “America’s Best Colleges,” sixth among public Southern universities in the “Top Public Regional Universities – South” category Forbes, 2016: “America’s Top Colleges,” 275th of 660 undergraduate institutions The Princeton Review, 2017: Among “The Best 381 Colleges” Money, 2016: 252nd among 705 schools listed as best colleges Peace Corps: “Top Producing Colleges and Universities” for more than a decade; in 2016, ranked eighth among small colleges and universities with fewer than 5,000 undergraduates

ON CAMPUS

Fulbright Awards Grants to Alumni

ive recent University of Mary Washington alumni planned to travel, teach, and explore new cultures thanks to prestigious Fulbright grants announced last spring. They are Anna Boland and Luci Coleman from the Class of 2016 and Lauren Bortfeld, Lisa Johnson, and Cara Wimberley from the Class of 2015. Three other alumni, Shirley Martey ’16, Alexandra Hoenscheid ’16, and Ellen Rives Kuhar ’15, were named Fulbright finalists. Boland, a native of Leesburg, Virginia, is teaching English in Niedersachsen, Germany. She majored in German and minored in business administration at UMW, and she studied in Göttingen, a university town in Niedersachsen, during spring 2015. Coleman, a native of Montpelier, Virginia, is researching specialized shrubland freshwater ecosystems at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa. A double major in biology and environmental geology with a GIS certificate, Coleman made two trips abroad through UMW and delivered more than 400 sustainable solar lanterns to impoverished families in Moshi, Tanzania. Bortfeld, a Fredericksburg native, will teach in Argentina. She earned a master’s degree in education from

Fulbright scholars and advisers are, from left, adviser Nabil Al-Tikriti, Lauren Bortfeld, Luci Coleman, Anna Boland, adviser Dianne Baker, and Lisa Johnson. Cara Wimberley is not pictured. UMW and had studied in Quito, Ecuador, as a sophomore. Johnson, a native of Vienna, Virginia, is teaching English at an elementary school in La Rioja, Spain. She earned a master’s degree in education from UMW and had studied in Bilbao, Spain, and in Bath, England. Wimberley majored in psychology at UMW and spent spring 2014 in Amman, Jordan, where she studied Arabic and learned about Middle Eastern culture and history. She was scheduled to teach English in Turkey

when that country’s July 15 coup attempt changed her plans: Fulbright canceled the program. Nabil Al-Tikriti, associate professor of history and Fulbright adviser, said Wimberley plans to reapply next year. Fulbright grants “illustrate UMW’s rounded approach to the liberal arts, with recipients representing a variety of majors and disciplines,” Al-Tikriti said. Since 2006, 18 UMW students and alumni have earned the grants and 19 others have been named alternates or semifinalists.

American Icons Come to Dodd Stage Legendary performer Tony Bennett and actresssinger Kristin Chenoweth will appear with the UMW Philharmonic Orchestra in the 2016-17 season. Bennett will give a holiday concert Dec. 9. Chenoweth, winner of Emmy and Tony awards, will perform March 18, 2017. For tickets or more information, visit philharmonic.umw.edu. Tony Bennett

Kristin Chenoweth

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ON CAMPUS

UMW Welcomes BOV Members Gov. Terry McAuliffe named new members to the UMW Board of Visitors to succeed Tara C. Corrigall ’82, Theresa Young Crawley ’77, and Mark S. Ingrao ’81. The new members, serving four-year terms that expire June 30, 2020, are: Sharon Bulova Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors since 2009, Bulova helped establish the Virginia Railway Express commuter rail system and has served on the VRE operations board since its inception. Before 2009, Bulova was supervisor for Fairfax County’s Braddock District and chair of the board’s budget committee.

Edward B. Hontz Hontz, vice president of Basic Commerce and Industries Inc., oversees the company’s Navy programs in Dahlgren, Virginia. A retired Navy captain, Hontz served in Vietnam and was commanding officer of the AEGIS Training and Readiness Center in 1995. He promoted the establishment of UMW’s Dahlgren Campus and received the 2015 Prince B. Woodard leadership award from the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Deirdre Powell White ’91 White is founder and CEO of DPW Training and Associates, which provides technical training to employees of federal government agencies. She is founder and chair of The DPW Foundation, which offers scholarships for high school seniors planning to attend college. She has served on the UMW president’s diversity community advisory board and received the Laurie A. Wideman Enterprising Woman’s Award from the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Commencement 2016 Recognizes Grads, Faculty

n ceremonies May 6 and 7, 2016, the University of Mary Washington awarded 1,200 degrees – 164 graduate and 1,036 undergraduate. Three Virginia students, Katherine L. Coleman of Montpelier, Haley A. Kane of Fredericksburg, and Christopher J. Lloyd of Burke, shared the Colgate W. Darden Jr. award for

the highest grade-point average over four years of undergraduate study. Each had a perfect 4.0. UMW’s ninth president, Richard V. Hurley, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree as he presided over his last commencement before retiring. He also was awarded the title of president emeritus. Martin A. Wilder, UMW’s chief of staff, was presented the Washington Medallion, which recognizes an individual who has served Mary Washington with exceptional dedication. Other noteworthy honors were: Grellet C. Simpson Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching – Marie McAllister, professor of English,

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linguistics, and communication UMW Alumni Association Outstanding Young Faculty Member – Jon M. Pineda, assistant professor of English, linguistics, and communication Mary W. Pinschmidt Award, selected by the graduating class – Dawn Bowen ’86, professor of geography Graduate Faculty Award – John P. Broome, assistant professor in the College of Education. Emeritus status was awarded to six faculty members: Gail Brooks, professor emerita of management information systems; Joe DiBella, distinguished professor emeritus of art; Kurt Glaeser, professor emeritus of athletics, health, and physical education; James Goehring, professor emeritus of religion; Chris Kilmartin, professor emeritus of psychology; and Werner Wieland, professor emeritus of biology.

SPORTS

Darden Winner Is Top Scholar-Athlete

Brendan Kelly ’20 takes a swing during the Bay Creek Invitational tournament in September. The Eagles took third place.

Men’s Varsity Golf Arrives at UMW With this fall’s launch of a men’s varsity golf program, UMW has added its first new sport since 1998. Men’s head coach Rodrick Wood and assistant Sam Oglesby took their team of 10 freshmen and one transfer student to five tournaments this fall. The spring season will run from February into April. The team plays and practices at Augustine Golf Club in Stafford County. UMW will add women’s varsity golf for the 2017-18 academic year, with alumna and former basketball All-American Katie Wimmer ’12 as head coach. “Men’s golf is our 22nd sport, and women’s golf will become our 23rd next fall, which puts us among the top NCAA institutions in terms of sports sponsored,” said Ken Tyler, director of UMW athletics. Wood is director of athletic facilities and the former UMW men’s basketball coach. Oglesby has 15 years’ experience in golf instruction and numerous golfing certifications.

The Capital Athletic Conference named UMW field hockey player Haley Kane ’16 its top female scholar-athlete for 2015-16. Kane led UMW’s Division III field hockey team through four seasons, three as captain. She was twice named scholar-athlete of the year by UMW and by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. A psychology major from Fredericksburg, Kane maintained a 4.0 grade-point average and was one of three 2016 winners of the Colgate W. Darden Jr. Award, given to the senior with the highest GPA. “I hold myself to really high standards,” Kane told an interviewer last spring. “I wanted to fully experience what a liberal arts school could offer. I wanted to take hold of everything, and I think I did a pretty good job.” The CAC award is given to senior student-athletes who have a minimum

3.5 cumulative GPA, demonstrate athletic success, and contribute to their program. Kane is the fifth UMW recipient since the award’s inception in 1992. Haley Kane ’16

Track Up and Running UMW dedicated its state-of-the-art track and field facility at the Battleground Athletic Complex in October, after a yearlong improvement project. The updated facility features an eight-lane track with dual straightaways to accommodate sprints and hurdles. The home straightaway features long- and triple-jump runways with sand pits. The back straightaway features a pole-vault runway with landing pads at each end, to manage changes in wind direction. There’s a steeplechase pit inside the first turn. The grass infield has a hammer and discus cage and a dedicated shot put area. A javelin runway is nearby. The track has a top-quality synthetic surface in blue, with gray accents. UMW will use the facility for practice and competition and will host the Capital Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in April 2017.

Answering the Call

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Story by Anna Barron Billingsley Photos by Norm Shafer

The 10th UMW President Has a Passion for Public Education

Troy Paino was set. In his late 20s with a lucrative law career, he was married to his college sweetheart, Kelly. They were anticipating a family, the home of their dreams, and a rich life in Indianapolis. Fast forward 25 years. Troy Paino was set. Approaching his mid-50s, he was the popular president of Truman State University, living in a magnificent home near campus with his wife and two teenage daughters. Change has been a constant in the life of Troy Paino, attorney-turned-academic. Not subtle move-to-the-nextneighborhood kind of change, but radical pulling-up-stakes, life-transforming change. And it’s all in the name of alignment. “I only do things that align with my passions,” he said. Lured from a flourishing presidency at Missouri’s only public liberal arts university, Troy D. Paino moved this summer into the UMW President’s Office in George Washington Hall, and he and his family took up residence at Brompton. He succeeds Richard V. Hurley, who retired June 30 after serving six years as president. “I’ve come here to be a part of the remarkable story that is Mary Washington for the next decade,” Paino said. “I see this as a capstone experience … everything I’ve learned on my journey, I am bringing here.” And what a journey it has been. Growing up the youngest of five in a “conservative fundamentalist environment,” Paino said he spent much of his childhood in church in Indianapolis. His grandparents pastored an Assemblies of God congregation, and his parents followed in their footsteps. Like his siblings, Troy Paino enrolled at Evangel College, now Evangel University, a small Christian school in Springfield, Missouri. On his first day there he met fellow freshman Kelly Ragsdale, a girl from southwest Missouri who had worked for a year before enrolling in college. And life never was the same. Thirty-six years later, they share a home, two children, and bedrock values. “I zeroed in on her,” Troy Paino said of Kelly. “I can be single-minded in pursuit of a goal.” It helped that the two of U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A R Y WA S H I N G T O N M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 1 6

Troy Paino laughs with his guests at Brompton, where he and his wife host a small group of students for dinner each month. Guests include, from left, Victoria Triska ’17, Christian Potter ’18, and Olivia Nicotera ’17.

The president chats with Jennifer Monroe ’18 on Campus Walk.

The Paino family at home with Oscar: from left, Chloe, Sophia, Troy, and Kelly.

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“I see this as a capstone experience … everything I’ve learned on my journey, I am bringing here.” them had a history class together the next spring. Like Kelly, the instructor in that course, Professor Larry Nelson, “ignited a spark” in Troy Paino. Paino loaded up on Nelson’s classes and, he said, “those years changed my life.” In a Huffington Post tribute to Nelson, The Mentor That Inspired Me to Inspire, Paino wrote, “By the end of the first 50-minute class, he made me do something remarkable: think.” That thinking led to a dual degree in history and philosophy. Paino applied those disciplines toward a law degree from Indiana University. Three years into his career with an Indianapolis law firm, Paino grew restless. An offer of an early partnership made him feel “handcuffed,” he said, to a profession for which he had no passion. He couldn’t quit thinking about the love of history instilled in him by Professor Nelson. “He taught me to consider my own humanity by examining those who came before me.” Paino left the law firm and headed to Michigan State University for a master’s degree and a doctorate in American studies. He abandoned the salary of corporate law, but for him and Kelly, Paino said, “it’s never been about money or ego.” Kelly, an educator herself, is forest to Troy’s trees, constant joy to his reflective nature. After more than three decades of marriage, they have an easy banter and appreciate each other’s quirks. “He can be goofy,” Kelly said. She finds his willingness to laugh at himself endearing. Their new home, Fredericksburg, is within an hour of Kelly’s brother and his family, a vote in its favor. But the move was hardest for the couple’s younger daughter, Chloe, 16, now a junior three-sport athlete at Fredericksburg’s James Monroe High School. She’d spent her formative years in Kirksville, Missouri, and had deep friendships there. Sophia Paino, 19, a sophomore at Des Moines’ Drake University, said her sister should realize that Fredericksburg offers many more opportunities – and a Target. Their father first heard about the job at Mary Washington in October 2015, but he wasn’t interested. “Truman and I had become a part of each other,” Paino said. Plus, he and Kelly had just dropped Sophia off for her first year at a college 2½ hours

by car from their home, and Chloe had 2½ more years of high school. However, after a great deal of “soul searching” and countless conversations with Kelly and the kids, Troy Paino called the search firm in November to find out if he still could be considered. Stars aligned, and UMW became “the right school at the right time” for him. Happy and secure at Truman, Paino kept waiting for a sign that pursuit of the Mary Washington presidency was ill-advised. No signs appeared. Holly Tace Cuellar ’89, then rector of the Board of Visitors, chaired UMW’s Presidential Search Advisory Committee. Troy Paino’s “values resonate perfectly with Mary Washington’s fundamental principles of academic excellence and social uplift,” she said.

Education: More Than a Career

aino said he was raised with the expectation that he would do “something magnificent” with his life. In 1997, with his new Ph.D., Paino sent out 70 résumés for college teaching positions but heard little until a letter arrived from Winona State University in Minnesota. Darrell Krueger was president of Winona State when he interviewed Paino for that faculty position nearly 20 years ago. He knew instantly that Paino was presidential material. “Troy Paino has great judgment and wonderful interpersonal skills, and he is trustworthy,” Krueger said in a recent interview from his retirement home in Utah. “He does what he says he’s going to do, and he builds confidence in the people around him.” Paino had a brief tenure as a history professor at Winona before Krueger elevated him to dean of liberal arts. “Dr. Krueger saw something in me,” Paino said. “When he retired, he said, ‘I’ll be back for your inauguration.’ That blew me away!” Shortly thereafter, Truman recruited Dean Paino to become Provost Paino. But when he arrived at Truman, he learned that the president who had hired him no longer had the support of the board and was resigning. “I called Kelly and said, ‘Don’t unpack!’ ” Any murkiness about his future at Truman soon turned to U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A R Y WA S H I N G T O N M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 1 6

Paino said he walks the grounds and contemplates Brompton’s place in the nation’s history. The president’s home was central to the 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg, one of the largest and deadliest of the Civil War. By 1864, when Mathew Brady photographed the tree we now call the “Brompton Oak,” below, the home was a Union hospital. At right, the tree today.

clarity. The person brought in as interim president was none other than Paino’s mentor, Darrell Krueger. During the 20 months he served as Truman’s interim president, Krueger brought Paino into every critical decision. As the university undertook a national search for a permanent president, Krueger told board members they needed to look no farther than their own campus. “I said with confidence,” Krueger said, “Troy will rise to the top.” And so he did. “Every Truman State board member showed faith in me,” Paino said. Thus began six of the most rewarding years of his life. “Being a college president allows me to do what I’m most passionate about,” Paino said. “It’s a vocation that gives my life purpose. Isn’t that everyone’s dream?” 12

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All Roads Led to Mary Washington

s hard as it was for Paino to leave Truman, he was energized by the potential of this public liberal arts university – a “sister institution” to Truman – in the midst of a bustling East Coast corridor. “Here, you have the best of both worlds,” Paino said. “A small town plus the amenities of a metropolitan area.” He described UMW as “a tributary, not an ivory tower.” Once he started thinking about where he wanted to finish out his career, “all roads led to Mary Washington,” Paino said. “This is a place where I can feel at home.” The Painos’ home is the antebellum mansion on Marye’s Heights that was at the center of the 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg.

Above: Paino heads a Leadership Council meeting. At right are Sabrina Johnson, associate vice president of human resources and affirmative action, and Ken Machande ’94, associate professor and associate dean for faculty for the College of Business. Below: Relaxing at Brompton, Paino enjoys time with Oscar and a book.

“We love Brompton,” Troy Paino said. He enjoys walking outside with his morning coffee and Oscar, the family dog, to stand under the Brompton Oak – the scene of Mathew Brady’s famous photograph of wounded soldiers – and take it all in. “It’s awe-inspiring,” he said. “I still get chills.” Oscar, a lively beagle mix, has made himself right at home in Brompton. On a late-summer evening, Sophia chased Oscar around the house, Chloe got ready for golf practice, and in the kitchen Troy and Kelly Paino prepared pork chops and pasta salad. In his spare time, Troy Paino enjoys reading, running, riding his bike, and sipping an occasional glass of bourbon. Kelly reminisces about the girls’ younger days, when the four of them would blast music and dance around the coffee table. Since Kelly is a big John Mellencamp fan, her girls took a liking to his Jack and Diane, forever begging their dad to sing “the little ditty.” Now, the family enjoys binge-watching series like Veep and House of Cards.

Work for the Public Good

elly Paino, an elementary school reading intervention specialist, said the value of public education has been instilled in all four Painos. “My whole life since kindergarten has been in the public sphere,” said Troy Paino, president of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Public education builds character and allows individuals to work for the public good, to “live a life larger than themselves.” In his first campuswide address, Paino told faculty and staff that he is inspired by all that Mary Washington offers. He didn’t call UMW an institution. “It’s a community of caring that is bound together in a common cause,” he said. As he strode across the Dodd Auditorium stage with a handheld mic and no notes, the UMW president seemed to channel his evangelistic forefathers. “We’re all educators,” he declared, mentioning groundskeepers and painters as well as professors. “We face challenging times and difficult issues. We need to work together, not against each other. “The students are watching us, and we need to model the behavior we want to see in them. We’re their only hope in terms of showing how adults are supposed to behave.” Being a model of civility doesn’t rule out fun. Just a week earlier, Troy Paino rolled up his pants legs and jumped into the Monroe fountain during a photo shoot on campus. At Truman, he was dubbed “America’s coolest college president” in part because of a video shot during winter break in 2013. T-Pain Misses You – a YouTube video that has garnered more than 80,000 views – features Paino riding a tricycle around a lonely campus. A self-described nerdy history scholar who carries a pocket U.S. Constitution (“You never know when you’ll encounter a U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A R Y WA S H I N G T O N M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 1 6

“The students are watching us, and we need to model the behavior we want to see in them. We’re their only hope in terms of showing how adults are supposed to behave.”

Below: Troy and Kelly Paino welcomed new students and their families with an ice cream social at Brompton in August. Here Kelly Paino steps in as photographer.

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Left: The president snaps a selfie with resident adviser Lindsey Crawford ’18 on move-in day.

Constitutional conflict”) Paino is also perennially playful. “He is hilarious and constantly cracked me up,” said Kristin Kennedy, receptionist and administrative assistant in the Truman president’s office. “Laughing with him was one of the best parts of the job.” Troy Paino also inspired her to constantly re-evaluate whether she was making an impact on the world, Kennedy said. Her office mate, Presidential Executive Assistant Traci Hill, said of her former boss, “He wanted nothing more than to have all students achieve their highest aspirations, all staff and faculty members to find joy in both their work and personal lives, and for the institution to excel and prepare itself for the future.” Most important though, Hill said, “he treated us like family.” Paino left quite a legacy at Truman. A campaign called Paino Proud collected thousands of dollars for the Troy & Kelly Paino Emergency Student Relief Fund. The Painos asked that donations received in their honor go to help students facing unforeseen financial burdens due to personal or family emergencies.

Investing in People

lthough he has empathy for what is on the minds of faculty, Troy Paino puts students first. Move-in day is moving for him, Paino said. “I take very seriously the well-being of all Mary Washington students,” he said. “Parents

are putting into our care the most important thing in their lives.” Telling UMW faculty and staff that he aspires to lead with his heart first, then with his ears and feet, Paino said he expects to be on Campus Walk, to eat at the University Center, and to brush shoulders with students every day. Before Paino left Truman, students there persuaded their beloved president to deliver a last lecture. His poignant talk – sprinkled with humor – focused on the most important relationships in Paino’s life. He mentioned family and mentors, and he also included his co-workers Hill and Kennedy. Repeated throughout was his mantra: “Invest in people, not things.” In the lecture, which he called The Power of Letting Go, Paino talked about his oldest brother, Tommy. The lessons learned from Tommy related to “grace, suffering, and choosing to lead a life of joy regardless of your circumstances.” Tommy died 17 years ago of ALS at age 52. Upon being diagnosed, Paino’s brother told him “the world split into two parts: things that matter and things that don’t.” His brother’s life and death caused Troy Paino’s own focus to become crystal clear: “that which I feel called to do and the people in my life.” After all, Paino said, “at the end of the day, the only thing that really matters is lending a hand to someone who needs it.”

Paino was quick to adopt UMW traditions, such as a dip in the fountain on a hot August day.

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Joan Returns JOAN OF ARC is back in Mary Ball Hall, as splendid as ever. Unveiled last fall, after a much-needed restoration befitting her place in Mary Washington history, the cast-plaster statue is poised to inspire a new generation of students. “I know she’s just a statue, but having her back where she belonged really made me feel relieved,” said Kathryn Hall ’16, who spoke at last fall’s unveiling. “She’s just a part of what gives Ball its character and charm.” Joan of Arc was barely more than a girl when, guided by voices from saints, she led French forces to victory in the Hundred Years’ War. Captured by the English and burned at the stake, she was posthumously pardoned and canonized, becoming a symbol of women’s purpose and strength. “She reflects women’s ability to bring about change,” said Cedric Rucker ’81, associate vice president and dean of student life. “Think about the time of Mary Washington’s founding, when people didn’t really want women to have access to education.” The ladies of Ball came forth in force, anyway, with Joan at their helm, seeing them off to exams and welcoming them home after long days in class. Sitting with rapt face, clasped hands, and bare feet, the statue carries a satchel along with a puzzling past. At times, students weren’t sure who she was. Pocahontas, perhaps? The university’s namesake, Mary Ball Washington? A 1992 story in the student newspaper, then called The Bullet, mentioned identical statues at Virginia’s James Madison, Radford, and Longwood universities, which also began as teachers’ colleges for women. Mary Washington’s statue arrived on campus in 1917. Maker’s marks on three of the forms reveal they were cast by Boston’s Caproni Brothers. A response to the Bullet article from a Caproni descendant solved the mystery of the statue’s identity – she was copied from Henri Chapu’s 1872 marble Jeanne d’Arc à Domrémy, housed at the Musée D’Orsay in Paris. When Ball Hall opened in all its grandeur in 1935, the statue took an honored place in the center of the atrium, beneath a 16

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circular skylight, ringed by a spiral staircase. Through the years, Joan held bouquets and Solo cups; she was decked out in sunglasses and scarves, commencement cloaks and Halloween costumes, mortarboards and makeup. All that love took a toll. Cracked, chipped, and dented, she had lost some of her luster and almost her head. That’s when UMW painting supervisor Milton Kline, working to freshen Ball Hall, took note and called Tom Thomas of Fine Line Architectural Detailing. “Restoration to me is like being a character actor,” said Thomas, who already had given JMU’s Joan new life. “You need to get to know the subject and really think about the end audience. I was picturing her back home in Ball.” From photos Kline sent, Thomas surveyed the damage then hauled the statue to his Harrisonburg, Virginia, studio, where she stayed for a month. He shored up the head and stripped away layers of paint. Then he scrubbed, patched, and sanded. A time capsule placed inside the cast details the process. Now back home and restored to her original splendor, Joan of Arc claims a new pedestal, circled by blue velvet benches. A woman determined to fight for her country, she represents “the skills, talent, prowess, and leadership abilities in our community,” Rucker said. “She’s the perfect symbol for the University of Mary Washington.”

Ball’s Storied Resident is Back By L isa Chinn Marvashti ’92

Norm Shafer

Even when students weren’t sure who the statue represented – some thought she was Pocahontas – they adorned her for holidays and commencement. The photo at left appeared in the 1959 Battlefield yearbook with the caption “Senior Year petrified me.” U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A R Y WA S H I N G T O N M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 1 6

Family

Ties Four generations have made a difference at UMW By Edie Gross

60-minute drive separated Remus Boxley’s childhood home in Fredericksburg from his college dorm in Richmond. As far as Remus was concerned, that was 55 minutes too many. “Back then, it was like I was out of this country,” he recalled of his first three semesters at Virginia Commonwealth University in the mid-’80s. “When I went to VCU, I was homesick, absolutely homesick.” After a year and a half of trekking up and down Interstate 95 each weekend so he could sleep in his own bed, enjoy his mother’s cooking, and catch up with family and friends, Remus transferred to a campus closer to home – and considerably nearer his heart. Before he was a student at Mary Washington College, Remus had worked in the school’s dining hall at Seacobeck throughout high school, as had his three brothers. And before that, the siblings had made regular forays onto campus to a café in Lee Hall called the C Shoppe, where their mother and aunt – employees for nearly two decades – would treat the kids to burgers and sodas. And long before that, Remus’ grandmother and a greataunt had worked in the college laundry. 18

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Members of the Boxley and Christian families share a strong connection to the University of Mary Washington, with several having worked or studied on campus. Above back , from left: Gary Boxley ’11, Lloyd Boxley, and Kevin Boxley. Front: Remus Boxley ’88, Louise Christian Boxley, and Jean Watts When he graduated from Mary Washington in 1988, Remus Boxley was the first in his immediate family to earn a college degree. But he represented the third of four generations to forge a connection with the campus. His younger brother, Gary Boxley ’11, would also go on to graduate from Mary Washington, and a nephew, Gary Lamar Boxley, would participate in the university’s James Farmer Scholars Program throughout high school. “It’s like the family thing,” Louise Christian Boxley, Remus’ mother, said of her relatives’ many academic and professional links to the school. “It is awesome to think about it.” But Louise wasn’t all that preoccupied with family tradition when she applied for a position at the C Shoppe in 1966, she said. She and husband Lloyd were expecting their fifth child, and she simply needed a job. Her mother, Rosia Christian, and a maternal aunt, Nancy Jackson, had worked during the ’50s and early ’60s in the stifling heat of Mary Washington’s campus laundry. Taking the early shift at the C Shoppe would allow Louise to see her oldest children off to school in the morning and be back home in time to care for them when they returned. Louise’s sister, Jean Watts, also a mother of five, joined her at the C Shoppe in 1968 for much the same reason. Photo by Norm Shafer

The women arrived each morning before the doors opened, prepping trays of eggs, bacon, and cinnamon-sugar toast for the inevitable breakfast crowd. Lunches were even more popular, the sisters recalled, with faculty, staff, and students lining up for homemade fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, meatloaf, grilled cheese-and-bacon sandwiches, and the crowd favorite: a club sandwich, sections cut into triangles and held together with frilly toothpicks, and potato chips piled high in the middle of the plate. Louise and Jean’s boss, Mary Lee Carter, the cafe supervisor in those days, remembered, too. “We would have good ol’ Southern lunches at the C Shoppe,” she said. “We were really cooking in there.” Carter initially hired Louise to operate the C Shoppe’s drink fountain, but it wasn’t long before she was also handling inventory, food prep, and the cash register. Pretty soon, Carter said, Louise and Jean were indispensable members of the college catering team, working a full day at the C Shoppe and then handling special events at the president’s home at Brompton or serving meals to the Board of Visitors. “We were on our feet 15 hours a day, but it was fun because all the employees were like family. Louise had a wonderful personality. She wanted to move forward. She wanted to do U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A R Y WA S H I N G T O N M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 1 6

whatever was in front of her, plus more,” Carter said. And Louise had a memorable sense of humor as well. “Her favorite words were, ‘Oh, get out of here!’ if someone told her something funny, and then she’d laugh. We enjoyed working together so much and laughing together.” In those days, Louise said, Campus Drive – now Campus Walk – ran right through the middle of campus, in front of Lee Hall, and diners could smoke in the C Shoppe. No one used plastic to pay for meals, and students relied on cash and often asked for change in quarters so they could do their laundry. The C Shoppe was replaced by the Eagle’s Nest in 1987. “It’s amazing how things have changed over the years,” she said, adding that she and her co-workers knew many of the diners by name. “The students were awesome, they really were. It was a nice place to work.” In December 1984, Louise left the C Shoppe for a job as a bank teller at the on-campus branch of First Virginia. A month later, her son Remus Boxley took his first class at Mary Washington. Remus was no stranger to the college. He was a baby when his mother started working there and, like his siblings and cousins, spent his fair share of time enjoying snacks at the C Shoppe. As a teenager, Remus – like his brothers Larry, Kevin, and Gary

– worked part time on campus. Larry worked in Seacobeck Hall and on the grounds crew at Brompton, while the other three held jobs in Seacobeck, washing dishes, preparing the dining room for meal times, and – perhaps Remus’ least-favorite task – making sure the soft-serve ice cream machine was fully loaded and that the mix was frozen before students arrived. Remus and Kevin said they both enjoyed interacting with the college students, who invited them to parties and tipped them off to upcoming acts on campus, including Billy Idol, R&B/ pop artist Stacy Lattisaw, and comic Jimmie Walker from TV’s Good Times. And one of their favorite teachers at James Monroe High School, Frances Liebenow Armstrong ’36, now deceased, was herself a Mary Washington alum. But Remus said it never occurred to him that he could attend Mary Washington. “I knew it was the school where I wanted to go. I didn’t know if I could get in, and if I could get in, if I could get a GPA that would keep me there,” he said. “I knew Mary Washington was a great school academically. I didn’t know if I was that great academically.” By the time he was a sophomore at VCU, Remus said, he knew he wanted to come home, and not just on weekends. He also knew he still wanted to earn a bachelor’s degree. Applying

The students were awesome, they really were. It was a nice place to work. — Louise Boxley

Above: The C Shoppe was the place to go for an on-campus snack before the Eagle’s Nest opened in 1987. Right: Louise Christian Boxley, left, and her sister, Jean Watts, worked at the C Shoppe for more than two decades.

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A lot of faculty and staff at Mary Washington took an interest in me. Just having those folks … rooting me on really made a difference. — Remus Boxley ’88

Once he transferred to Mary Washington in the mid-1980s, Remus Boxley (in senior photo, top right) banished his homesickness and got involved on campus. Right: a yearbook photo shows him and other students with the late Frances Liebenow Armstrong ’36, a favorite teacher from high school. Above: Boxley shakes hands with then-President William M. Anderson Jr. at commencement in 1988, when he became the first member of his immediate family to graduate from college.

to Mary Washington was the only way forward, he said. To his delight, he was accepted. Remus leaned heavily in those first few semesters on close friend (and future cousin-in-law) Helene Bundy ’86, who married Jean Watts’ son, Lloyd. “Helene’s graduating from Mary Wash struck a fire in me. I thought, ‘Now I have to do it on my own,’ ” Remus said. He began treating college like a job, spending at least eight hours each day on campus whether he had a class or not. He became the social chairman for the Black Student Association and joined the Admissions Club, giving tours of campus to prospective students and their families. His professors encouraged his curiosity, and with each semester his confidence grew. He held a 3.4 GPA during his junior and senior years. “A lot of faculty and staff at Mary Washington took an interest in me,” Remus said. He noted among them Fred T. “Tom” Whitman, retired professor of business administration who taught him marketing; the late Rosemary Herman, professor

emerita of Spanish; and Edward Hegmann, the school’s longtime athletic director, who also taught a health class. “Just having those folks … rooting me on really made a difference.” Having his mother nearby and the support of her colleagues didn’t hurt either, Remus said. “It always felt nice to have my mom on campus. The other people she worked with, I felt a certain kinship. They sort of looked out for me. It was a good feeling.” Remus earned a bachelor’s degree in business and later a master’s in business administration from James Madison University. He has worked in the human resources field for more than 20 years and is now an independent HR consultant living in Bowie, Maryland. Because his own college experience was so positive, he said he preached higher education to his son, his niece, and his nephews – all of whom have pursued higher learning. He also bent the ear of his brother, Gary Boxley, who is a year younger. After graduating from high school, Gary worked briefly at a drugstore warehouse and in construction before attending computer school and landing a career in IT. Over the next two decades, Gary said he considered college. Three times he even U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A R Y WA S H I N G T O N M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 1 6

Above: In May, Gary Lamar Boxley (in bow tie) and two other students were recognized for completing UMW’s James Farmer Scholars Program. He headed off to college in the fall. started down that road, taking classes at Germanna and Northern Virginia community colleges and the University of Phoenix. Each time, said the married father of two, life got in the way. In 2009, the company he was working for offered a tuition reimbursement program for employees who earned a degree with a grade of C or better. “I said, ‘If I’m ever going to do it, now’s the time,’ ” Gary said. “Rem was a big part of it, always in my ear: ‘There’s opportunities out there for you.’ ‘If I can do this, you can.’ ” Most of Gary’s classes were in the evenings, after work, at

The Boxleys at Mary Washington

osia Christian – the mother of Louise Boxley and Jean Watts – and her sister, Nancy Jackson, worked in the Mary Washington College laundry during the 1950s and early 1960s. Louise Christian Boxley began working at the C Shoppe in 1966 and was joined by her sister, Jean Watts, about two years later. Louise worked there until December 1984, when she took a job as a teller at the on-campus branch of First Virginia. She retired from the bank in July 2005. Jean left the C Shoppe in 1987 after becoming the cafeteria manager at Falmouth Elementary School, where she worked for 27 years before retiring in 2014. Jean notes that her sister-in-law, Sandra Coleman, also worked at the C Shoppe, and her daughter-in-law, Helene

the Stafford campus, with the exception of a nightmare statistics class that he took on Saturdays – and earned a B in. The program was geared toward working professionals, Gary said. He sometimes met with professors via Skype and even attended a class that way while on a work trip. Gary set his sights on maintaining a 3.5 grade-point average. When he graduated in fall 2011 with a bachelor of professional studies in leadership and management, he did so with a 3.51 GPA. “As an adult learner, your mindset is different. I decided if I was going in both feet and I’ve got to get a C or better, might as well see how good I can do,” said Gary, who opened his own State Farm Insurance agency in Dumfries in January 2015. “The whole experience was great.” Gary’s younger son, Gary Lamar Boxley, participated in the UMW-sponsored James Farmer Scholars Program. Named for the civil rights leader and former UMW professor, the program helps African-American high school students in the Fredericksburg area prepare for college. It includes a weeklong residential camp at the school each summer. “That first exposure to being away from home for a week was helpful in and of itself,” Gary said of his son, who headed off to Bridgewater College in August without so much as a glance back at his parents. Oddly enough, the May 2016 ceremony that recognized Gary Lamar’s completion of the program was held in Lee Hall – right where the old C Shoppe used to be. “It looks different, but it was definitely the same building,” Gary said. “It was one of those things where I said, ‘Hey, I’ve been here before!’ ”

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Bundy Watts, graduated from the college in 1986. Louise and Lloyd Boxley, married 55 years, have one daughter and four sons. All four boys – Larry, Kevin, Remus, and Gary – worked part time on campus, either on the grounds crew or at Seacobeck dining hall. Remus graduated from Mary Washington in 1988, as did his former wife, Kristina Carnegie Boxley. Their son is a junior at Georgetown University. Gary, who is married to Helene Bundy Watts’ sister, Katrina Bundy Boxley, earned his degree from Mary Washington in 2011. His youngest son, Gary Lamar Boxley, participated in the UMW-sponsored James Farmer Scholars Program throughout high school before starting at Bridgewater College in the fall.

NOTABLE & QUOTABLE

Web Fests Do Series a Solid You might say Solid 8 got its start when theater majors Magan Carrigan and Taylor Williams met freshman year. The 2011 graduates went on to produce, write, and star in the web comedy series they released in February 2016. Within weeks, decider.com recommended the 10-episode first season, and later in the year Solid 8 was an official selection at the Brooklyn, Austin, and Miami web fests. Season one finds protagonist Nicki, played by Carrigan, trying to break into New York’s theater and film scene, hitting obstacle after obstacle – many of her own making – and tenaciously staying in the game. In one of many nods to the couple’s real life, Williams plays Nicki’s playwright boyfriend, Dylan. After graduating from UMW, Carrigan and Williams moved to New York City and completed master of fine arts degrees at Actors Studio Drama School, Williams in playwriting and Carrigan in acting. They founded Solid 8

Magan Carrigan, right, and Taylor Williams, far left, write and play in the web series Solid 8, about trying to make it as an actor in New York. Productions and launched an Indiegogo campaign that funded the web series. UMW theater alumni Maggie Bausch ’11 and Peter Mumford ’13 also write for Solid 8.

Historian Wins Coveted Guggenheim-Lehrman David Preston ’94 received the Guggenheim-Lehrman Prize in Military History for Braddock’s Defeat: The Battle of the Monongahela and the Road to Revolution, published in 2015 by Oxford University Press. The prize, which includes a $50,000 award, recognizes the most outstanding book in the field of military history published in English during the previous calendar year. Preston is its third recipient. Braddock’s Defeat explores the disastrous fate of British regulars and American Colonial troops in Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War. It challenges the stale portrait of Gen. Edward Braddock as an arrogant European officer who refused to adapt to conditions in the New World. It also shows how the French and Indian coalition achieved victory through diplomacy, tactics, and leadership. Preston is the Westvaco Professor of National Security Studies at The Citadel in Charleston, where he teaches cadets and officer candidates about U.S. military history and early American history. He majored in history at Mary Washington and earned a doctorate from the College of William & Mary. Besides the Guggenheim-Lehrman Prize, Braddock’s Defeat won the Society for Military History’s Distinguished Book Award in U.S. History; the Association of American Publishers’ PROSE Award for U.S. History; and the French & Indian War Foundation’s Judge Robert Woltz History Award. It was a finalist for the George Washington Book Prize. Preston also is the author of The Texture of Contact: European and Indian Settler Communities on the Frontiers of Iroquoia, 1667-1783, published in 2009.

David Preston

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NOTABLE & QUOTABLE

Creative Thinking Leads to Ad Age Honor

Joseph “Fitz” Maro ’11, above, is among 11 global “Creatives You Should Know” for 2016, chosen by Advertising Age magazine. As the senior innovation strategist for digital ad agency 360i New York, Maro was recognized along with the agency’s

vice president for innovation and technology, Layne Harris. Maro and Harris are co-founders of their company’s Innovation Lab, developing the technology to execute 360i’s ideas. They enabled the Canon Photo Coach ad campaign, whose digital billboards gave real-time information to help passers-by take perfect pictures. They also executed a campaign for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation promoting Adaptoys, which allow those with paralysis to play familiar games with their families. It’s not the first major recognition for Maro, who studied business administration at UMW. He was named a “Fearless Thinker” by the communications industry magazine Campaign U.S. and earned a trip to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in June 2015. The festival, in Cannes, France, brings together international talent from the fields of advertising and creative communications. “Cannes is like the Oscars of advertising,” Maro said at the time. “It’s the holy grail of getting to see and meet industry luminaries and top celebrity talent.”

Fey’s the Ultimate The U.S. Women’s Ultimate Team swept away the competition at this summer’s World Ultimate and Guts Championships, and Jenny Fey ’07 had a lot to do with it. The American women took gold in the tournament, held June 18-25 in London, dominating a field of 26 teams from around the world. Fey had nine assists and six goals over 10 games. Fey started playing Ultimate, a flying-disc game, as a high school student in Arlington, Virginia. She continued during her years at Mary Washington, where she majored in English. Fey has played for two-time national champion club D.C. Scandal since 2009. She is on the board of the Youth Ultimate League of Arlington. Off the field, Fey teaches English and social studies at an independent school in Northern Virginia. 24

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Jenny Fey, shown here in 2015, played on the winning U.S. Women’s Ultimate Team in London this summer. Paul Andris — UltiPhotos.com

NOTABLE & QUOTABLE

Retro Tech Is Must-Watch TV

Cedric Rucker at 2014 Devil-Goat Day

Cedric Rucker Named Living Legacy Cedric Rucker ’81, UMW’s associate vice president for student affairs and dean of student life, was named a Living Legacy by Richmond Public Schools. Rucker, a 1977 graduate of the city’s John Marshall High School, received the honor in an April 29 ceremony that also recognized Richmond public school alumni Willie Lanier, a retired NFL linebacker, and Henry L. Marsh, a retired state senator. Rucker was recognized as an inspirational leader who exemplifies an extraordinary life. The school system “prepared us to work hard, and to imagine a world anew,” Rucker said. He cited his parents and his grandparents as inspirational foundations, and he pointed to UMW alumni in the audience as innovative leaders. “We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us,” he said, “and we have a responsibility to uplift the next generation.” Known for his infectious laugh and bow tie collection, Rucker has spent more than three decades at Mary Washington. Though he was not the first African-American man to receive a degree from Mary Washington, he was the first who lived on campus and completed all four years there. Rucker earned a master’s degree from the University of Virginia and served briefly as U.Va.’s assistant dean of admissions before returning to Mary Washington as an administrator and a larger-than-life campus presence.

AMC’s Halt and Catch Fire, the brainchild of Christopher C. Rogers ’05 and creative partner Christopher Cantwell, got great press leading up to its third season premiere in August. The New York Times headlined Halt in its “What to Watch” column. The Atlantic called it “one of TV’s most elegantly crafted shows.” And Variety gushed that the ’80s-era tech drama is “both a retro pleasure and a forward-looking gem.” The Emmy-nominated series follows a fictional startup as it tries to compete with the corporate behemoths of the computer boom. Halt and Catch Fire’s first season aired in 2014 and won the 2014 Critics’ Choice TV Award for Most Exciting New Series. Rogers, a Winchester native, has been writing for more than a decade. After graduating with a history degree from UMW, he worked as a researcher at The Atlantic in Washington, D.C. He headed to Los Angeles, worked as a research editor for Condé Nast’s Architectural Digest, and studied screenwriting at the Writers Guild of America Showrunner Training Program before teaming up with Cantwell to create and produce the show. The name Halt and Catch Fire is a nod to tech history; the “HCF” command was used to shut down a computer when it needed to reboot. Rogers lives in Los Angeles with wife Meghan and dog Tilly.

Christopher Rogers’ AMC series, Halt and Catch Fire, has gotten great reviews and an Emmy nomination. It just finished its third season.

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BOOK REPORT

Books by UMW alumni The Inequality Equalizer: Want It, Claim It, Own It – and Maximize Your Career Success By Jena Efird Abernathy ’84 with Kelli Christiansen Abernathy illustrates how everyday experiences can affect the career objectives of business professionals. – Ankerwycke Books, the American Bar Association, June 2016

The Golden Apple: Redefining Work-Life Balance for a Diverse Workforce By Mason Donovan ’91 Donovan lays out steps corporate leaders can take to create a healthy culture of work-life balance. – Bibliomotion Inc., September 2016

The Politics of Staying Put By Carolyn Gallaher ’91, associate professor in the School of International Service at American University Gallaher measures the successes and constraints of a Washington, D.C., law that allows tenants to purchase apartment buildings that otherwise might be sold for condo conversion. – Temple University Press, March 2016

Coalition Challenges in Afghanistan: The Politics of Alliance Edited by Gale A. Mattox ’72, professor of political science at the U.S. Naval Academy, and Stephen M. Grenier The editors review commonalities and differences among 15 coalition member countries in the Afghan conflict and discuss lessons learned and application to future alliances. – Stanford University Press, December 2015

When Someone You Know Is Living in a Dementia Care Community By Rachael Wonderlin ’11 Wonderlin explains types of dementia and details the range of care communities available for people in need. The book speaks to the worry and guilt many feel when they must make decisions for loved ones, and it answers questions caregivers commonly ask. – Johns Hopkins University Press, August 2016

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Books by UMW faculty Hallow This Ground By Colin Rafferty, associate professor of English Beginning outside the boarded-up windows of Columbine High School and ending on the fields of Shiloh National Military Park, Hallow This Ground revolves around monuments and memorials. Rafferty explores places as familiar as his hometown of Kansas City and as alien as the concentration camps of Poland in an attempt to understand our common histories and his own life. – Indiana University Press, January 2016

Confronting Evil: The Psychology of Secularization in Modern French Literature By Scott M. Powers, UMW associate professor of modern foreign languages Noting that religion and secularity influence modern French thought, Powers sets out to explain the survival of religious themes in the works of Baudelaire, Zola, Huysmans, and Céline. – Purdue University Press, April 2016

GET THE PICTURE?

Give It Your Best Shot For a 1990 Halloween party, three students went as something really terrifying: Interstate 95. Apparently, I-95 was as frightening 26 years ago as it is now. If you think you know the identities of this highway crew, please tell us! And for good measure, try to ID the young woman in the background, who seems to be sporting cat whiskers. Go online to magazine.umw.edu and click “Get the Picture” or leave a comment. Or send an email with “Get the Picture” in the subject line to magazine@umw.edu. You may also write to: UMW Magazine – Get the Picture 1301 College Ave. Fredericksburg, Va. 22401-5300.

You Got It! We’re happy to report the names of these 1960s members of the Matthew Fontaine Maury Science Club of Mary Washington College. Left to right, they are Carol Meese ’65, Joanne Hamilton Curtis ’67, Susan Spatig Schmidt ’64, and Carolyn Luce Sangston ’64.

Carol and Carolyn recognized themselves and let us know. Carolyn noted that her interest in science translated to a career researching pediatric infectious diseases at the Emory University School of Medicine. Carolyn and Susan Orebaugh Nicholson ’64 identified Susan Schmidt. And Elizabeth “Betty” Adams Hansen ’67 identified Joanne, a math major who became her Mary Washington roommate. “Something about the way she stands made her identifiable, even before I got out the magnifying glass,” Betty wrote. Bronnie Jones Polk ’64 also helped with the IDs. Thanks to all! We use this column to supplement photo information for UMW’s digital collections. To see more images, go to archive. umw.edu and choose the Centennial Image Collection.

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ALUMNI SEEN

Left: Sarah Gildersleeve Strassheim ’01 and her daughter share a hug with Sammy D. Eagle.

Alumni award winners, left to right: Matthew Becker ’06, Young Alumnus Award; Barbara Bishop Mann ’66, Frances Liebenow Armstrong ’36 Service Award; Karen Laino Giannuzzi ’71, Distinguished Alumnus Award; and Bryan Campbell ’06, Young Alumnus Award.

Below: Face-painting and games are among the children’s activities on Ball Circle at reunion.

Alumni dance the night away at the the reunion all-class party.

Above: The Class of ’86’s Brent Davis, left, and Paul Killmer socialize. Left: Alums from the Class of ’91 – from left, Sara Goldschmidt Bloom, Beth Nystrom Wise, Michelle Howe Pearson, Beth Watson Barnes, and Selina Lewis Colburne – pose with Sammy D. Eagle at reunion in June. 28

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ALUMNI SEEN

Greetings!

Charlotte Smith Needham and Mary Turner Kincheloe, both Class of ’47, celebrated their 89th birthdays together in July 2015. They were born just four days apart and have been friends since first grade.

n behalf of our network of nearly 40,000 Mary Washington alumni, I wish to welcome the newest member of the Mary Washington family – Dr. Troy D. Paino, our 10th president. He is an incredible addition and will do great things. Mary Washington continues to embody the values we held dear as students – interactive academics, involved faculty, engaged scholars, a valued honor code, and a focus on impacting the world through service. The buildings, leadership, and technology have changed, but our core values still ring true. As president of the Alumni Association, I hope you will reach out to other Mary Washington alumni and connect back with campus. Get involved with a local network, attend a reunion (and it doesn’t even have to be your reunion year!), give to a cause on campus, or simply share with others your love of Mary Washington. Your Mary Washington alumni experience is yours to create. Get involved and make the most of it, just as you did with your years on campus! I look forward to seeing you soon. Angela Mills ’01  President, Alumni Association

The DC Metro Network got together with Professor Stephen Farnsworth, second from left. Others pictured are, from left, Shannon Maguire ’99, Jay Sinha ’07, Colleen Maguire ’95, and Kara Bennis ’98. U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A R Y WA S H I N G T O N M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 1 6

If you prefer to submit Class Notes by mail, send to: UMW Office of Alumni Relations − Class Notes 1119 Hanover St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401.

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ONLINE

Find the original, unedited text of Class Notes online at magazine.umw.edu.

stay in Maui, Hawaii, and lots of travel. Today, though she is widowed, Natalie has her three children nearby her home in Breckenridge Village retirement community in Willoughby, Ohio. “Most of my close classmates are gone, but for the years at MWC, thankfulness abounds,” she wrote. “Grace to you and peace.”

1946 1941 Dorothy Shaw dorothyshaw1919@gmail.com I have contacted each person for whom I have contact information. Among the many outstanding achievers in our class, at least two served with distinction in the U. S. Navy. Myra McCormick Cole sent a glamorous photo showing her with a large satchel and visible gun on her hip. Myra enjoys needlework, much of which she donates to charities and gives to her great-grandchildren. She is now a Texan. Lenore Magill Powell was a World War II WAVE officer, a teacher, and a highly honored religious leader whose work has taken her to well over 30 countries. Her son, Michael Downtain, captured her energetic spirit in the story of her life, Lenore, What Have You Done Lately? Lenore now lives in Arizona.

1942 Virginia Bennett Skillman classnotes@umw.edu

1943 No Class Agent classnotes@umw.edu

under 6 years old) from Germany, California, and New Jersey. My son Don has been living with me and helps me a lot. Three of my girls are also in the area and are always there to help if needed. Marie Kennedy Robins is holding on, but barely, in the independent living level of a retirement community in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Her traveling times are over except for a daily turn around the pond. Life is good but slows as one ages. Elizabeth Cumby Murray said that her life is pretty much the same. She is still living at the Shelburne Commons retirement facility in Nantucket and still plays bridge four days a week. Her two grandsons and their children planned to visit for a week during summer. Mary Ellen Gardiner Starkey said she is still hanging on. Her daughter from Florida was visiting her when I talked with her, and she has someone who helps her regularly.

1945 No Class Agent classnotes@umw.edu Rev. Natalie “Bug” Kerns McWilliams is grateful to MWC for lessons learned that prepared

Elizabeth Cumby Murray ’44 plays bridge four days a week.

1944 Phyllis Quimby Anderson pqhndson@comcast.net I still play bridge, am involved with church, and get around – usually with a cane or on another’s arm! We combined a family reunion with my 93rd birthday celebration. There were 40 in all with all my children, “grands,” and “greats” (seven 30

her for the years ahead, including a wonderful marriage plus three children. Husband Jay’s coaching career took the family to VMI, Alfred University in New York, and Trinity College in Connecticut. In 1978, Natalie entered seminary with the blessing of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and that “wonderful new life” took to them to Ohio and South Carolina, with an interim

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Patricia Mathewson Spring classnotes@umw.edu

1947 Betty Moore Drewry Bamman classnotes@umw.edu

1948

No Class Agent classnotes@umw.edu

1949 June Davis McCormick jaymccee@yahoo.com [Read class agent June Davis McCormick’s full report online, in the unedited version of Class Notes.] Sadly the year has brought reports of the known loss of five classmates. Lee Pelham Cooper Rowe died in February at her Fredericksburg home. The history major taught both history and Spanish, was a librarian, and wrote language books, including Little, Brown and Company’s bestseller for 1965, Fun With Spanish. In the mid-70s, Lee launched a new career as a Realtor, opening Cooper Realty next door to husband E. Randolph Cooper’s downtown Fredericksburg furniture business. After her husband’s death, Lee married Charles S. Rowe, the retired editor and co-publisher of The Free Lance-Star, who died in 2015. Lee had many friends on campus and will be missed by all who knew her during her fascinating life. Barbara Trimm Wright reported the death of her lifelong friend, Gladys Riddle Whitesides, in Smyrna, South Carolina. Barbara, Gladys, and Helen Lowe Eliason ’48 shared a room in Ball Hall our junior year. When Gladys’ mother learned of a romance between Gladys and an ex-Marine, whom she thought too old for her daughter, she made Gladys return

home to South Carolina, Barbara said, preventing her from graduating from MWC. However, the mother’s attempts to break up the couple failed; Gladys married Les Whitesides, and they had a happy marriage for more than 50 years. Barbara kept in close contact until recently when Gladys suffered a stroke, which left her unable to speak clearly by phone. Barbara sent frequent cards of encouragement and was dismayed to learn of Gladys’ death. While deeply saddened by the loss of such a dear friend, Barbara treasures the many memories of their shared lifetime. Our gentle Jeanne Farrington Leslie passed away in February. She majored in biology at MWC and made a close circle of lifelong friends there. Following graduation, Jeanne married Myron “Mike” Leslie, and they raised their four daughters in Pennsylvania, where Jeanne was born and raised. She cherished her close-knit family. Jeanne will be remembered for her unconditional love and sweet smile; she leaves a legacy of love and faith. Our dear friend and classmate Dolores “Dee” May Ross died in mid-June. Despite her ongoing health challenges in recent years, her brief hospitalization and sudden demise came as a shock. Born and reared in Richmond, she came to MWC as a 15-year-old and studied Spanish. After receiving a master’s degree in education from U.Va., she devoted her life to education, going from teacher to supervisor, assistant principal, assistant director of personnel, and principal. She retired after 37 years in 1986. Dee volunteered at St. Mary’s Hospital and at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. After retirement she moved to Kilmarnock and joined St. Francis de Sales Church and was a docent at Christ Church in Irvington. Dee and her sister, Anne Ross Parks ’46, established a Mary Washington scholarship in honor of their parents. Later, Dee,

Let us hear from you! Deadlines for submissions to class agents:

• For spring 2017 issue: Dec. 1, 2016 • For fall 2017 issue: June 15, 2017

We lost our dear class agent Dorothy “Dottie” Held Gawley ’50 in February. who always was generous to our alma mater, contributed a second scholarship in Anne’s memory for education students. She chaired a committee to form and establish our own Class of 1949 scholarship, and she donated a bedroom suite for the Kalnen Inn at the Jepson Alumni Center. She enjoyed staying in “the Ross Room” there. Further sad news came that Jacquelyn “Jackie” McConnell Scarborough of Stone Mountain, Georgia, passed away in late June, when her heart failed her just seven days after her 89th birthday. Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, Jackie earned a biology degree and spent the next 48 years in public health service. For 30 years, she and husband Leslie Scarborough worked together at their Carr-Scarborough Microbiologicals, Inc. Jackie loved her family. She was devoted to her faith, sang in the church choir, and rarely missed a Sunday service. She was passionate about life, travel, gardening, and Japanese flower arranging. Having had many pets during her life, she especially loved her precious dog, Lily. In happier news, Betty Bond Heller Nichols, still in recovery from last year’s near-fatal trauma, carefully made her way out in the snow last winter to play for a private party at the piano bar and has resumed her weekly playing at a retirement home sing-along. In mid-February, her daughters Kathy and Anne took her to Winston-Salem to enjoy son Kevin and the band in an Elvisthemed concert with the WinstonSalem Symphony Orchestra. With her life now geared around dialysis three times a week, Betty Bond can’t say she is back to normal but adds it’s her “new normal.” Frances Houston Layton left her West Virginia home in February with her daughter, Sarah, for balmy St. George Island. Her son, Mathew, and his wife, Kate, joined them. George and Marion Selfe Kelly of Lynchburg were looking forward to meeting their new great-grandchild, Zoe, when their daughter and family were to return from Australia for six weeks.

Corinne “Conni” Conley Stuart headed for Los Angeles in February to visit son Tony and family and enjoy the more moderate clime. Tony is an attorney, and Conni got to watch him in action during a trial. He’s also something of a chef and prepared dinner most nights in their Santa Monica home for Conni; his wife, Karen; their kids; and Conni’s adored great-granddaughter Tony. Conni and her son Curtis planned to take an Alaskan cruise in late June. Conni keeps in close touch with Norah Pitts Byrnes and Betsy Thorne Bultman. She reported that both still are in their respective homes and visit each other frequently. The many friends of Cynthia “Cindy” Snyder ’75, Mary

springtime bloom, a lovely scene fondly remembered by us all. Over these many years, the “Fabulous Forty-Niners” have been very supportive of our alma mater, with many providing generous donations, individual/combined scholarships, and special endowments and bequests for future generations. Read the names of our donors online, in the unedited version of Class Notes. If you send holiday greetings to your class agent in December, please include news. As ever, love to all of you.

1950 Marcy Weatherly Morris classnotes@umw.edu From Miriam “Mim” Sollows Wieland: As you know we lost our dear class agent Dorothy “Dottie” Held Gawley on Feb. 3. She peacefully went to sleep after calling me

Paul Morris ’10 married Cassandra Lewis ’11 on July 4 in the backyard of his grandparents, Juney Morris ’50 and Marcy Weatherly Morris ’50. Washington’s longtime director of alumni affairs, will be delighted to know that she now lends her expertise to George Mason University School of Law as career and academic services coordinator. Margaret “Peggy” Walton Mason of Bethesda, Maryland, made the short drive to Washington to view the famed cherry blossoms and enjoy walking around beneath the beautiful boughs with the many visiting tourists. Elizabeth “Betty” Fischer Gore said her new life at the Woodland Retirement Center in Fairfax includes good service, delicious food, and friendly residents. She recently visited the Amish country around Lancaster County in Pennsylvania on one of the center’s many trips. In April, Betty returned to campus to attend the annual Scholarship Donor Luncheon, which was held in the new Chandler Ballroom in the University Center, on the site of old Chandler, which she found “quite impressive.” Betty especially enjoyed seeing Marye’s Hilltop in beautiful

to wish me a happy birthday – her last thoughts. Her funeral was a lovely family affair, with both her boys speaking and playing music while pictures of Dottie’s smiling face flashed on the screen. The boys had found some UMW reunion pictures as well as photos from times we shared at our Cape Cod home. Earl and I planned to sell our house and move “up the hill” to our retirement campus in September. First, I faced hip surgery and the beginning of therapy to help me get around in our new home. I do hope all of you who have been so loyal to Dottie with reports of your doings will continue to let Marcy Weatherly Morris and the rest of us know what’s happening with you. Marcy has been working on a plaque to go on a UMW bench to remember our special friend. From Marcy: Do keep me informed of your news so we can keep our Class of 1950 together as Dottie did for so many years!

Dottie was one of the sweetest, most caring people I’ve ever known. Working with her for our many reunions formed a special, lasting bond. Mim, Dottie’s close friend since freshman year, wrote: “Dottie was like a sister to me, and we had a 70-year friendship. We met the first day of college in 1946 and roomed together the last three years.” Nan Riley Pointer wrote of her sadness about Dottie’s passing. “She was such a lovely and joyous person who made everyone around her happy.” Patti Head Ferguson took a cruise to Easter Island, which was well worth the stormy weather getting there. There were more storms as she headed to Pitcairn Island and on to Bora Bora and Papua New Guinea. Carol Bailey Miller attends horse shows and visits old friends, including members of the Hoof Prints riding club from her days at MWC. Our news includes the weddings of two grandchildren – children of Tip and Laura. Natalie Morris married Chris Hanway on April 9 in Old Towne Alexandria. Paul Morris ’10 married Cassandra Lewis ’11 on July 4 in our backyard. Juney Morris and I also are thrilled that our great-grandson, Lucas Prunczik, entered UMW as a freshman this fall! I had a joyous letter from Jerry Hipp Elliot, who attended MWC our first two years then returned to California to finish college at U.C. Berkeley and marry Gilbert P. Elliot, now deceased. They had two daughters, Paula and Marcy (yes, named for me – what an honor and surprise to find out after all these years that I have a namesake!), four grands, and six great-grands! Jerry didn’t know Dottie but sent a donation in her memory because of her wonderful memories of her two years at MWC.

Find the original, unedited Class Notes online at magazine.umw.edu.

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CLASS NOTES An English firm is publishing a children’s musical by Cynthia Medley England ’51.

1951 No Class Agent classnotes@umw.edu Cynthia Medley England, who lives in The Carlisle retirement community in Naples, Florida, is getting her children’s musical play published in the United States by a publishing firm in England. She feels it would do better in the future with a United States publisher, although it was performed in England. It’s also seen two performances in Florida. She freelanced with numerous national and state publications and now edits The Carlisle’s newsletter.

1952 Corley Gibson Friesen corleyfriesen@comcast.net

1953 Betsy Dickinson Surles surles@infionline.net Jesse and I are really putting down roots in Culpeper, Virginia, and looked forward to our 63rd anniversary in August. I teach in senior adult Sunday school and work on flower and funeral reception groups. Daughter Linda is special assistant to the director of the Association of American Law Schools. Son Stephen and his wife, Missy, still work six days a week, so family get-togethers happen every holiday. We attended our granddaughter’s high school graduation in May in West Virginia, and her 14-year-old sister moved in with her dad, our son David, still here with us. My brother is in fantastic health at 80 and is the “master gardener” of our small yard. There is no empty guest bedroom, den, or sewing room! It was good hearing from Betty Raynor Pittman. She and Pitt attended her grandson’s UMW graduation in May. Despite health problems, they stay busy with church and family. Doris Lindsey Whitfield lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, in a small community with nearby library, 32

pool, and a walking trail. She watches bluebirds in the backyard and tennis on TV. She enjoys visits from family in Maryland, Texas, Arizona, and Illinois. Nell McCoy Savopoulos and husband enjoy life at a continuing care community in Silver Spring, Maryland. They miss St. Augustine but see family quite often. Peggy Hopkins Johnson is recovering from health problems. She has enjoyed friends’ prayers and many contacts! Barbara White Ramer lives with her daughter and is still employed in private school administration.

learning computer skills to manage financial tasks. Barbara Trites Peterson wrote that we had fun at the reunion and wished that more of you could have made it. And yes, we did talk about you all and good times. Ann Dunaway Criswell was sorry to have missed our 60th, but Floyd’s reunion was the same weekend in Kentucky. Her roommate Frances Smith Schoeninger did some detective work, found her, and contacted her – proof that class notes do work and are read. Dottie Booth Sanders and sister Boofie spent a weekend in Georgia with their cousins at their lakefront cottage. Dottie got to visit Boofie in Nashville to see her nieces perform and direct theater there. Dottie’s husband, Dewey,

Dottie Booth Sanders ’55 and sister Boofie spent a weekend in Georgia at their lakefront cottage. It is always good to get updates, so please send your current email with happenings on a regular basis to keep in good contact. Have a blessed year and be a blessing.

has been blessed to do three more marathons (77 total). They traveled to Florida, the Panama Canal via a cruise, Northern Michigan, West Texas, and Bryce, Zion, and Grand Canyon national parks.

1954

Joan Kleinknecht wrote with thanks for the news of the reunion and wondered if we could fit in at UMW today. Well, yes we could, as the changes and new buildings are wonderful. The people who couldn’t fit in would be our old housemothers; they are somewhere spinning, I’m sure.

No Class Agent classnotes@umw.edu

1955 Christine Harper Hovis chrishovis@aol.com I received only two emails for this edition. If you have not been receiving my requests for information and have an email address, please send it to me. I also would like any letters that you would care to send; even a phone call would be nice. Most of what I have came from Christmas cards or emails sent after the spring deadline in December of 2015. You can find more contact information for me in the online class notes.

Anne Lou Rohrbach Culwell had a family increase this year. Two granddaughters married in April and October, and the oldest great-granddaughter has two wonderful little boys. Anne Lou and five friends go out for dinner every Friday night, then go to one of their houses for dessert and coffee. Her stepson passed away last August. He started their tribe of four children, 17 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Three more were due in 2016!

Polly Stoddard Heim sent news of Ken’s death in November 2015 after a short illness. Their house in McCall was sold, so she has been doing some sorting as well as

Charlotte Fisher Klapproth and Chris found it too hot to go anywhere in summer 2015, but in the fall they enjoyed going out to Delaware restaurants that weren’t

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crowded with summer tourists. Last Thanksgiving they went to Baltimore to help their daughter recover from surgery and to care for her two dogs. Patricia “Patty” Seibert Siegel and Mike are retired and live in Oceanside, California. They have three girls, two in the Oceanside area and one in Torrance. In June, Patty and Mike joined other San Diego alumni for a harbor cruise to say goodbye to President Hurley. Carole Kolton Bryson had a great-grandbaby born this year in Nashville. I want to apologize to Sally Hanger Moravitz’s husband, Fran, for leaving his name off my report of people who attended our 60th reunion! We are all too familiar with misplacing keys, cell phones, and the like, but this is the first time I have misplaced someone’s husband. Sally and Fran took a Viking cruise on the Rhine, attended Mass at Strasbourg Cathedral, and especially enjoyed Cologne. They were in Fredericksburg for their granddaughter’s UMW graduation, and they both came back for the 60th reunion. Sally attended a sacred dance festival in Erie, Pennsylvania, with a side trip to Chautauqua. She volunteers at an insect zoo and does low-impact Jazzercise. I’ve been exploring the garage of our home in San Luis Obispo, California, discovering treasures, and selling, giving away, or donating. I really miss The Dance Shop and customers. I watched many children grow up and have children of their own. But I live in a beautiful part of our country, between ocean and mountains, and can still enjoy life, rusty joints and all.

1956 Ann Chilton Power anncpower1@gmail.com Three cheers for our classmates who met “High on Marye’s Hilltop” for our 60th reunion – Suzanne Borke Grasberger, Connie Crigler, Sandra Cutchins Pittman, Connie Hook Felvey, Jo McPherson Heslep, Meredith Milne Roos, Ann Mitchell Wood, Carole Petley Toone, Jeanne Pinckney, Beth Poteet Pollard,

Swimmer Stays in Sync

fter 20 seasons as William & Mary’s synchronized swimming team coach, Barbara Gordon McNamee ’59 is a fixture of the school’s aquatics center. But long before she coached Tribe Synchro, she was a member of the Mary Washington College synchronized swimming team. At 78, McNamee has been involved in the sport for most of her life, serving as a coach for multiple teams, a top-level executive with organizations like U.S. Synchronized Swimming, and a judge at international events, including the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. It’s hard to believe that there was a time when she found herself heading in another direction. “I was a competitive swimmer, and my coach always told me that he did not understand how someone with such a beautiful stroke could be so slow,” she remembered of her high school days when her family lived in Panama’s Canal Zone. Determined to stay in the water, she knew she’d found her niche when she saw her first synchro demo at the Pan American Games in Mexico in the 1950s, where she traveled with her swim team at age 14. When her family moved to Arlington, Virginia, she helped organize a youth synchronized swimming group under a pool manager who also happened to be a coach at American University. She joined Mary Washington’s team, the Terrapins, as a freshman in 1955, performing a solo her very first year. When she wasn’t in the Mary Washington pool, McNamee studied math and physics. That, she said, influenced her work with young swimmers. “The relationship to math and physics comes through in my coaching style,” she said. She has also taught kinesiology at W&M. After graduating, McNamee stepped away from synchronized swimming to

“ I don’t retire; I just keep going.” – Barbara McNamee

Barbara Gordon McNamee, above, coaches synchronized swimming and teaches water fitness classes, left. focus on raising her seven children, but she returned when one of her daughters discovered the sport at age 11. “She got me back into it as a chaperone, and then her coach wanted me to be a judge,” she said. From there, she began coaching and judging for teams and events around the country. “I mostly ended up doing whatever was needed wherever I was.” Most recently, McNamee served as the competition manager for this summer’s USA Masters Games in Greensboro, North Carolina, and the chief referee for the Synchro America

Open, where several participating countries presented their Olympic duets. In addition, she’s a member and secretary of the board of directors for U.S. Synchronized Swimming and a trustee and webmaster of the U.S. Synchronized Swimming Foundation. McNamee always seems to be moving forward, making it her life’s work to help her beloved sport do the same – and she’s not slowing down anytime soon. “I don’t retire,” she said. “I just keep going.” – Erica Jackson Curran

U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A R Y WA S H I N G T O N M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 1 6 Heather Hughes Photography

CLASS NOTES Angela Walton Barksdale, Meg White Fary, and Stokey Saunders Scott. Beth presided and reported that among the missing who responded to her call were Anne dePadro-Bloom, still active in real estate in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Nancy Hanna Stone, who was busy babysitting in Mechanicsville, Virginia.

her grandson’s wedding. After that, she and her daughter took a theater trip to NYC. Son Quigg Lawrence is a bishop in the Anglican Church of North America. Barbara “Bobbi” Falkenbury Wright and Jim live in a retirement community in Spartanburg, South Carolina. They have lived in Japan, traveled with Jim’s work, and traveled in Europe and in Israel,

Retired physical therapist Dot Rice Clarke ’57 has traveled to 60 countries. It was beach week for Anne Walker Skinner, and MarieLouise “Red” Rosanelli Metzger was already at her summer home in New Hampshire. Diane Christopher Vance reported that one granddaughter had earned her master’s degree at UMW and another was applying. Help me keep this column going by keeping in contact.

1957 Joyce Bristow Wrestler joycewrestler@yahoo.com Sixty-four years ago, if I used the right number of fingers, we were young girls trying to decide which school we should attend. Now our friends from Mary Washington have contributed much to their communities, many of them world travelers. Dot Rice Clarke retired from a career in physical therapy. She and Tom have traveled to 60 countries, most recently to Spain and Portugal, and they planned a fall trip to Patagonia, followed by a family gathering in Topsail, North Carolina. They have a son, two daughters, six grandsons, a granddaughter, and great-grandsons. Deane Ford Rook and “relatively new” husband Clark recently spent two weeks in Cuba through the Road Scholar program, including spending a night in a Cuban home. She hopes to get an alumni group going in Tucson and in Pensacola. You can find her contact information online, in the unedited class notes. Bruce Ritchie Spain lives in Westminster Canterbury in Richmond and was a flower girl in 34

China, and Russia. Bobbi and sister Patricia “Patty” Falkenbury Cook of Suffolk, Virginia, keep in touch by visiting with their roommates, Nancy Moore Cavins and Patricia “Patsy” Whitmire Culberson, both of Florida, and Mary Frances Pierce Burton of Rochester, Minnesota. Jean Durham Busboso was in France during the flooding in June. Her itinerary was altered but she still enjoyed the trip, especially a visit to the American Cemetery of Normandy. She was treated to a marvelous lunch in the countryside by a Frenchman whom she had last seen in 1967 when he spent a week as an exchange student with Jean and husband Buz in Fairfax, Virginia. Mary Montague Sikes is still painting and writing. She participated this summer in an alumni book signing in Fredericksburg and in events in Mathews and Gloucester, Virginia, on the same day. She has eight published novels, a coffee table art book, and more. We are saddened to learn of the loss of Barbara “Bobbie” Hitchings Gresham on May 30, 2016, and of Florence “Foncie” Lawrence Williamson on June 12, 2016. Ellen Hertz Hewitt and Charlie are healthy, but traveling closer to home. This summer’s plans included Cape Cod; Newport, Rhode Island; Virginia Beach; and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, before returning home for more bridge and French lessons. Barbara Craft Grantz, enjoying life in Virginia Beach, is doing well. I am still in Chesapeake. My husband and I planned to visit Alaska

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again in August, as we like to keep a check on the glaciers there. My church choir in Great Bridge took no summer vacation from rehearsals, in preparation for a concert to observe the 15th anniversary of 9/11. I hope to hear from you again soon as we prepare for the spring class notes.

1958 Susannah Godlove sgodlove5465@gmail.com Carrie Lee Henderson lives in Lexington, Massachusetts, and works part time as a social worker at Boston ASAP. She has taken up biking since she lives close to the Minuteman Bikeway and other great trails. She went to Morocco in 2014 and the Bahamas in 2015. I am sorry that our class notes are incomplete for this issue. The powers that be decided to rehab our apartments, and we got notice April 8 that we had to be out by June. I had 30 years of stuff to deal with and was unable to gather class notes for this edition. Please send me your news for next time. My email and phone number remain the same.

improve her mobility with less pain. She sent news that Molly Bradshaw Clark is in Florida and spent Christmas with her family. Charlotte “Charlie” Wohlnick Wiggs and Archie celebrated their 55th in Hawaii. Charlie and Archie also took a cruise to eastern Australia, Java, Bali, and Singapore during the year. They surprised their son, Alan, with a 50th birthday party. Daughter Tracey and her husband, Andy, are fine. Tracey’s daughter Anna was in three plays in 10th grade, and daughter Molly graduated from MIT and was engaged. Mary Massey sent the sad news of Priscilla “Pete” Brown Wardlaw passing in her sleep in October 2015. She died peacefully of natural causes, according to son Robbie. It was unexpected, for her health was good, he wrote. Mary also sent news of the death of Jack Meiners, her husband of over 30 years, in April of this year. Jack died quickly and painlessly of pneumonia. She wrote that he had an amazing, long (96 years), active, healthy, and fulfilling life. Mary Fredman Downing and Glenn have toured all seven continents, all 50 states, and all Canadian provinces except the Northwest Territories. Mary has

Martha Huffman Wood ’59 lobbies for Social Security, public employee pensions, and education.

1959 Edna Gooch Trudeau ednanewkent@verizon.net Jane Tucker Broadbooks and John moved in 2015 to Chatham, Illinois, just south of Springfield, with help from son Jon Karl and grandson Tucker. Jon Karl lives nearby and is the director of commissions of the Illinois Association of Realtors. Catherine is wife, mom, cook, and English-as-asecond-language teacher at Lincoln Land Community College. Their household includes Tucker, 17; Anna, 15; Virginia, 13; and T.J., 12. Jane and John celebrated their 55th anniversary. Jane has joined a post-polio support group, and a physical therapist is helping her

volunteered with Travelers Aid at Dulles Airport, served on the UMW Alumni Association Board, and volunteered for local charity FISH. Daughter Allison is married to Justin Fox, has developed a website, and has a 16-year-old son. Son Stefan lives in Madison, Wisconsin, works in real estate, and has a bicycle apparel website. Beth Shochat Cole does business and personal coaching. For the last six years she has taught a course at the local library for job seekers. She plans to become a certified yoga instructor. She sent news of her daughters and their families, which you can read online in the unedited class notes. Martha Huffman Wood retired after 22 years of teaching in

California Fly Fisher magazine featured Judy Davidson Creasy ’60 for her fly fishing and her art. Stafford, Fairfax, and Albemarle counties in Virginia. She’s active in lobbying on behalf of Social Security, public employee pensions, and education. She’s involved with a nonprofit that helps working people weather financial crisis, volunteers for a library friends group, volunteers with public radio, and does water aerobics. She sees her five grandchildren frequently. Martha “Marty” Spilman Clark and Paul are involved in medical mission work and church groups. They attended the wedding of their granddaughter, Ashley, in Dallas. Celeste “Pug” Shipman Kaufman traveled with family to Florida and California. Her kids are great, most of her grandchildren are on their own, and grandson Smylie is still on the golf circuit. Pug is having a health problem but has been doing chemo and the prognosis is good. She told me Edie Weber Staib lost her husband, Allen. Dorothea “Dodie” Reeder Hruby invited a group for a get-together in Williamsburg. Attending were Carol Kowalski Reidy, Barbara Gordon McNamee, Nancy Gwaltney Gillette, Dianna Trischman Lee and her daughter, Linda Lee Earl ’82, Kay Rowe Hayes, Christa Huchthausen Mueller, Dodie, and myself. Lucas happily passed to second grade. Losing teeth and growing height! Swimming is his new love.

1960 Karen Larsen Nelson karenlarsennelson60@gmail.com Jody Campbell Close jclose2@cfl.rr.com Judy Davidson Creasy was featured in the January issue of California Fly Fisher magazine. Diane Delamarre Madgic’s husband, Bob, who writes for the magazine, saw Judy’s painting of her husband fly-fishing in a New

Zealand river. He thought Judy would be a perfect subject to feature as she is an avid fly-fisher and artist. Sandy Poole’s partner, Barb, has been approved as a postulant in the Episcopal Church and expects to be ordained to the priesthood soon – her lifelong dream. Joyce Neill Krost spends time in Spain with her sister and family, right on the Mediterranean, painting and visiting little villages. Jane Denslow McCrohan enjoys her home on Puget Sound, and she and Ed have college-age grandchildren. Sherry Farrington Green fences in local tournaments. She enjoys her work as a doula. Her daughter has been ordained to the Episcopal priesthood in New Mexico. Betty Ditmars Prosser writes from New York, “Remember the energetic and youthful young women we were in Fredericksburg? Those young ladies are still in all of us.” Sue Smith Goodrick hopes to sell her home in North Carolina and move to Illinois to be near her son. Bonnie Davis Hall was released by her oncologist and was getting back to a normal life. Judy Wandell Potter went to a quilting camp in California’s Sonoran Foothills. Liz Hill Heaney wrote that traveling with her walker is difficult. Gaye Roberts Olsen was recovering from a medical condition and used her battery-powered chair to dine out with friends for her birthday. Dana Lee Dunn Wasserman stays busy with two garden clubs and a book club. Daughter Lee Walker Shepherd ’84 runs an online gift company. Rose Bennett Gilbert visited Virginia and North Carolina furniture markets, wrote a newsletter for an art show, and planned a social event as a board member of

Marilla Mattox Haas ’60 has been organist at her church for 58 years.

the International Furnishings and Design Association. She took a remedial Italian class and planned to write travel articles about her cruise from Amsterdam to Iceland, Scotland, Norway, and London. Coleman McPherson Chambliss retired as executive director of the Richland County Bar Association in Columbia, South Carolina. She was involved with springer spaniel rescue for 25 years but most recently adopted a cute, hairy mutt. Husband Jack passed away in 2010. Her two daughters and their families live nearby. Coleman informed us that Sue May Smyth Lam passed away.

addresses above. We just learned that UMW will no longer support the “alumni.umw.edu” mailbox for individual alumni, so those two will be the only addresses you can reach us at. If you change your email address, please notify Jody or Karen directly, or we will lose you!

1961 Connie Booth Logothetis (A – G) connielogothetis@gmail.com Renee Levinson Laurents (H – Q) arjle@aol.com Lynne Williams Neave (R – Z) lyneave@aol.com

Kelly Cherry ’61 read from her Thirteen Women in a Country Called America at the Virginia Festival of the Book. We learned from Syd Collson Chichester that Cynthia “Cyd” Day Getchell has left us also.

Please send news to the designated class agent according to the first letter of your maiden name.

Gail Mooney Grobe learned of Linda Fuller Watkins’ passing and sent us two pics – one of her with Linda and Dodie Tyrell, and one of Miss Wynn, our house mother in Betty Lewis freshman year and again in Bushnell our senior year.

From Connie: Our 55th reunion was such fun. We had 21 classmates and 10 husbands in attendance from far and wide: Patty Cairns Hourin and Jim (Mississippi), Carolyn Crum Pannu (California), Dee Doran Cairns and Doug (Texas), Clara Sue Durden Ashley and Clarence (Virginia), Jane Ewers Robinson (Virginia), Pepper Jacobs Germer and Hank (Arizona), Sarah Leigh Kinberg (California), Renee Levinson Laurents (California), Sylvia McJilton Woodcock and Stuart (Virginia), Marcia Minton Keech and Bill (Georgia), Janie Riles (Florida), Cherry Sarff Everett and Woody (Virginia), Eleanore Saunders Sunderland (Virginia), Pat Scott Peck (Texas), Vesta Smith Newhouse (Virginia), Lloyd Tilton Backstrom and Art (Virginia), Becky Turner Perdue (Virginia), Polly Updegraff Champ (Connecticut), Graham

Marilla Mattox Haas still works for the commissioner of revenue in Fredericksburg and accompanies three community choruses. She has been organist at her church for 58 years. Penny Engle Burkhardt and Brad enjoyed a cruise on the Seine River. They traveled to Texas to visit new twin grandchildren. From Jody: We have more in-depth news, birthdays, and notice of passings to share with you monthly, in a more timely fashion, but we need your updated email addresses to include you in our class network. From Karen: Darrell and I were at our summer home near Show Low, Arizona, when the Cedar Fire broke out, and the smoke sent us back to Mesa for a time. We planned a fall camping trip through Colorado and Wyoming, visiting Yellowstone. We looked forward to the birth of a new great-granddaughter in September. Please note our new email

Let us hear from you! Deadlines for submissions to class agents:

• For spring 2017 issue: Dec. 1, 2016 • For fall 2017 issue: June 15, 2017

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CLASS NOTES Walker Burns (Tennessee), Lynne Williams Neave and Sandy (New York), and yours truly with hubby Andy from North Carolina! It was a special treat to see Graham, our freshman class president and first-time reunion attendee! She is a Realtor and has seven grown children. She lives in her childhood home in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. Read details about reunion online, in the unedited version of Class Notes. Carolyn Crum Pannu and daughter Kara were off to Paris at the time of the class notes deadline. Clara Sue Durden Ashley and Clarence planned to attend a family wedding in Charleston, South Carolina, then drive to St. Augustine to visit Dennis and

Wyoming; Niagara Falls; and Italy, where she visited Venice, Florence, and Tuscany. She met roommate Betsey-Ellen Hueston Hansen for lunch in Williamsburg, Virginia. She planned trips to Maine, New York, Rhode Island, and Arizona. Marcia Minton Keech enjoyed seeing friends at the 55th reunion but was sad to say goodbye to Rick and Rose Hurley. She shares more thoughts about reunion in the online, unedited version of Class Notes. In late March and April, I (Renee) went to Australia and New Zealand with a small tour group. We visited Melbourne, Adelaide, Alice Springs, Cairns, and Sydney. Uluru and Kata Tjuta are gorgeous and magical. We snorkeled at the Great

Barbie Upson Welch ’61 planned to paddle her single-person kayak in a lake in the Poconos. family. Later in the summer they planned a trip to Ohio to visit Park and his family. Betty Alrich Latta stays busy in widowhood being a grandmother of eight. She’s starting her 40th year as a Los Altos, California, art docent. She does yoga, square dances, and travels. She’s back from a trip to France, where she visited Paris and took a river cruise from Lyon to Avignon. Jerri Barden Perkins was in Provence for a yoga workshop in early June. She visited the poppy fields painted by Impressionists, the hospital room and facilities of Van Gogh, and the Cézanne studio. At the end of June, she was off to St. Petersburg to cruise the Amber Coast with Harvard alumni. Barbara Ashley Firesheets lost her husband of nearly 55 years in January, and Hilda Corker Kelly lost her younger sister, Gwen Corker Bennett, on June 10. Gwen attended Mary Washington but transferred her sophomore year. Bev Carlson Shea, Ellen Grumbly de Gail, Nancy Wright, and Joan Gibson Lippold got together for a mini-reunion in Annapolis, Maryland, in April. They had a lot of fun seeing old sights and catching up on news. From Renee: Mary Hatcher’s travels have taken her to Jackson Hole, 36

Barrier Reef and found Nemo – actually a whole school of Nemos! In Sydney I visited the Law Courts and the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and toured the Opera House. In New Zealand we visited Auckland, Christchurch, Fairlie, and Queenstown. It really was the trip of a lifetime. Sylvia McJilton Woodcock wrote to thank President Hurley for his leadership and says she has a good feeling that President Troy Paino will be a positive leader. She notes that Becky Turner Perdue is being considered for a position on the Alumni Association board and thinks Becky will do well. Peggy Howard Hodgkins spent two weeks in Finland with a friend who grew up there. She loved Helsinki, visiting Finnish friends, and people-watching. “As a fairly experienced traveler, I found these two weeks to be filled with fresh new sights, tastes, understanding, and history,” she wrote. She was sorry to miss reunion but plans to be at the 60th. From Lynne: At our reunion, Art and Lloyd Tilton Backstrom had a constant flow of classmates in their suite at the Hyatt Place. Eleanore Saunders Sunderland and Polly Updegraff Champ seemed well. Eleanore lives in Falls Church, Virginia, and Polly enjoys an active life in Florida

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and Connecticut. Patricia Scott Peck had fun at reunion, and visiting with freshman roommate Carolyn Crum Pannu in D.C. really reminded her how good friends should make the effort to see each much more often. Pat came from San Antonio, Texas, and Carolyn from San Mateo, California. Jim and Jane Riles planned a summer cruise from Copenhagen through the fjords of Norway, the Shetland Islands, Great Britain, and the Baltic region. Janie was most excited about visiting St. Petersburg and seeing the Hermitage. Sandy Walters Julifs was sorry to miss the reunion but was in the middle of a major bathroom remodel, a deck repair, and more. Her oldest granddaughter was to be married Aug. 6. Lynne Wilson Rupert keeps busy with AAUW, volunteering at the library, bridge, and book groups. Her oldest daughter and family are with her in Temecula, California, and the youngest is only a couple of hours away. She and sister Kay planned a Canadian Rockies tour and Alaska cruise in July. Marcy Trembath Pitkin is simplifying her life in Stuart, Florida. She moved to a condo from her house and yard earlier this year. She spends time with her daughter near Philadelphia. Kay Slaughter sent a marvelous message full of news of herself and other classmates. You can read it online in the unedited Class Notes. Among the highlights: Kay planned a trip to Alaska with adventures in Denali and along the coast from Seward. She also recently saw Hamilton in New York. Kay heard from roommate Cynthia Scott Cozewith. After many years in Houston, Cynthia and husband Charlie have moved to Washington’s Crossing, Pennsylvania, near three of their children. Kay stays in touch with suitemate Judy Kennedy Matthews, who lives in Martinsville, Virginia, and with Kelly Cherry of Halifax, Virginia.

Kelly and husband Burke Davis visited Kay in Charlottesville for the Virginia Festival of the Book, where Kelly read from her short story collection Thirteen Women in a Country Called America. Barbara Steen Paulman and husband Roger have lived in Barrington, Illinois, since 1971 and spend time at their house in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They visit their daughter and her family in England once or twice a year. Their son and family live four minutes away from them. They have six grandchildren, ages 10 through 16. Barbie is in touch with Prudie Shepard, who lives in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Nancy Wright was looking forward to moving, downsizing, and enjoying a new lifestyle. Barbie Upson Welch and Chuck spent a month in Arizona in February. They planned a summer trip to Alaska and a trip to their lake house in the Poconos, where Barbie paddles her single-person kayak.

1962 Joan Akers Rothgeb erothgeb@earthlink.net Kathleen Sprenkle Lisagor klisagor@yahoo.com Jane Walshe McCracken janemcc@cox.net From Joan: Jeanne Craig Gough went to the Panama Canal and then later had a trip on the Douro River in Portugal. She planned a three-week trip to Colorado and a French barge trip with Bob on Canal du Midi, with several days in Paris. Her grandson planned to enter West Texas A&M this fall; her granddaughter was to be a junior at Texas Tech in Lubbock. Julia Shumaker Bailess had a great visit with Susie Miller McDonald, Noel Sipple, and Dale Worsham Phillips in Linville, Virginia, in May. Nancy Cheek Mitchell’s grandson has finished his first year at VMI, so Nancy and husband Bob have made many trips to Lexington.

Nancy O’Neal Robinson ’62 received a leadership award from the Walnut Creek, California, Lions Club.

Bob is a VMI alum and was an outstanding member of the football team. Pat Mackey Taylor spends much time with her seven grandchildren. Two are in Virginia Beach and five are in Northern Virginia. In the fall, Mary Lott Haglund,

Wilborn Lacy and husband Lou celebrated the birth of their ninth grandchild. Carson Joseph Lacy shares a birthday with his daddy, Lou Jr. Betsy Williams Brothers, Reba Calvert Bayliss, Marsha Arlott Wooster, and Liz Kennedy Thomas Slate spent five days at

Louise Couch Girvin ’62 reminisced about arriving in 1958 on the beautiful campus, and wearing those green freshman beanies until Devil-Goat Day. Gale Taylor Drew, Donna Floyd Parker, Betsy Carper Cole, and Sue Grandy Farrar spent several days at Wintergreen. Gale has a new grandson, and she and husband Lewis were to be at Wintergreen for the summer concert series. Sue is director of the museum in Christiansburg. Betsy spends time at her place at Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and sees her grandson, who lives there. Mary helps at many benefits in Houston. Donna loves her visits to Virginia from her home in Atlanta. Lucy Ritter Todd and Janice Tucker Goebel attended a springtime dinner with President Hurley in Texas. Lucy was to spend a month in Portland, Oregon, visiting family. Ann Tench Huml’s oldest grandchild was married in May on Emerald Isle, North Carolina, where Ann and Jerry live. Ann heard from Nancy O’Neal Robinson, who received a leadership award from the Walnut Creek, California, Lions Club. Emily Lewis and husband Tony have been doing a major kitchen renovation. Helen Alexion James and her husband, daughter, and grandchild enjoyed a trip to Disney. Two pieces of sad news: Lynda Puckett Howell’s husband died April 17 after a long illness, and Barbara Schwab Jesser passed away April 3. She had done mission work in China, had lived in South Africa, was a world traveler, and crafted jewelry and painted in watercolor and acrylics. Emily, Helen, and Joan Akers Rothgeb attended her beautiful memorial service in Charlottesville. From Kathleen: In April, Joyce

the Homestead as guests of Lynda Puckett Howell in mid-May, after the death of Lynda’s husband earlier in spring. I visited with Louise Couch Girvin and her family and noticed a plaque in their home that touched my heart. It read, “God gave us memory so we can have roses in December.” Not long after that, I found myself snowed in at the Greenbrier in early March, and the quote lingered in my thoughts. I reminisced about treasured moments at Mary Washington, such as arriving in 1958 on the beautiful campus and wearing those green freshman beanies until Devil-Goat Day. I remembered our 50th reunion and look forward to the 55th in the spring. For more about changes to the campus, memories, and our next reunion, see the unedited Class Notes online. Looking forward to seeing you all at our 55th!

people, learning pickle ball, line dancing, and being closer to both children.

workshop on the island, they met for lunch. “A total ball,” she wrote. “Nostalgia with balsamic dressing!”

Barbara Moore Wheeler sadly reported that she lost her husband of 54 years, Jim Wheeler, in April after a long illness.

Linkey Booth Green is still involved with AAUW, the local library friends, and Celtic Hospice Pet Therapy. She keeps up with classmates on Facebook.

Janice Coleman wrote a nice note that you can read in full online, in the unedited Class Notes. She still has an apartment in Fredericksburg but her official address is Florida, where she hopes to start an alumni group. She’s increased the annual award of the Coleman Family Farm Scholarship at Mary Washington and hopes that alumni will help make the scholarship known to college-age students who live on functioning family farms.

Nancy Maynard ’63 is working with Norwegian researchers and reindeer herders at the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry. Nancy Maynard is a visiting scientist at the University of Miami, doing research on climate change. She’s working on a three-year project with indigenous Norwegian researchers and reindeer herders at Sami University College and the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry. She serves on the National Research Council Polar Research Board and on the advisory board for the Florida International University School of Environment, Arts, and Society (SEAS). She has a wonderful 2½-year-old grandson. Ginger Logie Carr and Calvin

Janice Coleman ’63 wants students who live on working family farms to know about the UMW Coleman Family Farm Scholarship.

1963 Linkey Booth Green linkeyg@embarqmail.com Betsy Lydle Smith betsy@virtuestraining.com From Betsy: After 38 years in one house, Bev Bird Miller and Paul downsized to a home in Hoschton, Georgia, just outside Atlanta. They’re enjoying meeting new

I (Betsy) recently spoke with Judy Wolfe Allen ’62 who just completed her 30th-plus walking trip in the UK. Judy and Jack Allen have been my friends since August 1963, when I left Virginia to teach in San Diego City Schools. San Diego recruited for teachers at Mary Washington, and Susan Rutan Joehnk, Cathy Foster, Nancy Slonim Aronie, and I all went. Judy welcomed us with strawberry daiquiris, and we all

visited Carol Van Ness Clapp and Dick in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Eileen Hildebrand Andrews and Ray joined the group. Ginger and Calvin celebrated their 50th anniversary June 24 with their two daughters, sons-in-law, and seven grandchildren. Nancy Slonim Aronie learned from alumni news that Linda Gulnac Steelman lives on Nantucket. When Nancy did a

lived on Mission Beach, dated Navy and Marine officers, partied, and taught school. Polly Roesgen Veeder also lived in the San Diego area in the ’60s. You can read more about those California years in the unedited class notes online. Judy donated a kidney to her sister; she mentored me several years later as I donated a kidney to my husband. In a short writing class I took in the spring, I wrote about the first days of our freshman year at the amphitheater, singing, “standing in the doorway, telling you goodbye.” Several of us emailed each other, including Linkey, Karen Vandevanter Chapman, Kathy Friedman Levinson, and Susan Rutan Joehnk, trying to remember the words. If anyone remembers, please email me.

1964 No Class Agent classnotes@umw.edu Susan Orebaugh Nicholson and Nick planned their second visit to Vietnam in October. This time, they concentrated on the northern part of the country, hiking in the Sapa area, followed by time in Hanoi and nearby parks.

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CLASS NOTES

An Accidental Journalist

hris Gay ’84 had earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Mary Washington when he decided to follow up with a master’s in public administration at George Mason. To pay for it, he answered an ad he found on a campus job board for a reporter at a Prince William County newspaper. “If there’d been another job on that job board, I might have done something else,” Gay said. Instead, he parlayed that initial newsroom gig into a job in Hong Kong – and ultimately, a 30-year journalism career. “I just sort of backed into journalism,” said Gay, who put his advanced degree on hold. “The job became full time, and I just sort of forgot about school.” Now an editor at The Wall Street Journal in New York, Gay spent the better part of a decade in Hong Kong, writing and editing for the Journal’s Asia edition as well as for Far Eastern Economic Review, Asia’s version of The Economist. He also spent nearly two years in Tokyo at Knight-Ridder Financial News. As a journalist Gay has chatted with

the likes of guitar legend Les Paul and Clare Hollingworth, the British war correspondent who first reported the outbreak of World War II. He covered the historic 1997 handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China. And he edited the final stories of Wall Street Journal reporter Danny Pearl, who was kidnapped and murdered in Pakistan in early 2002. While at Mary Washington, Gay wrote a political column for the student-run newspaper, then called The Bullet. In the classroom, Gay said his tendency to be pro-Ronald Reagan often put him at odds with longtime political science Professor Lewis Fickett, who served four terms in the Virginia House of Delegates as a populist-leaning Democrat. “At the time, I thought I was a supporter of Ronald Reagan. I can’t believe that now,” said Gay, who wrote a column for The Free Lance-Star honoring Fickett after his death in May 2016. “Fickett was right about a lot of things. You can’t really see that when you’re a student.” After graduation, Gay and a classmate spent the next six months

Chris Gay ’84, below left, tours Jerusalem with Greg Chapman ’83.

traveling through Asia, absorbing the sights, sounds, and scents of Thailand, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, with side trips to France and the United Kingdom. “I just wanted to have an overseas experience in my life,” Gay said. “At the time, I didn’t know I’d end up working over there.” After returning briefly to the U.S., Gay earned enough money working at an Alaskan salmon-packing plant to travel to Berlin, where he stayed with a friend and explored a divided city in the waning days of the Cold War. He came back to Virginia, intending to earn his master’s degree. But after spending 18 months in a newsroom, Gay decided to return to Asia, this time as a journalist. Hong Kong’s economy was booming, and within two days of his arrival, Gay secured a position at an English-language financial publication. “I barely knew a stock from a bond,” Gay recalled. “I just learned a lot on the job.” After a decade in Hong Kong and Tokyo, Gay moved to the Wall Street Journal’s international desk in New York in 1998, where he remains. He also earned that master’s degree, 20 years after he started, at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. – Edie Gross

“If there’d been another job on that job board, I might have done something else.” – Chris Gay

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Patti Jones Schacht ’64 wrote about her great-great-grandfather, steamship Captain Lindsay M. Jones, for The Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine. Patti Jones Schacht is the proud great-grandmother of Melody Joy, born in February, and daughter of her firstborn grandson, Scott Schulman. In December 2015, she published an article in The Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine on her great-great-grandfather, steamship Captain Lindsay M. Jones. Last year Patti and Richard toured Switzerland by train, visited Luxembourg, then met Patti’s French cousins in Paris. Vicky Taylor Allen is taking a break from being class agent as she is selling one condo and moving to another. She continues working at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich and loving it! You can still contribute Class Notes by sending news to classnotes@umw.edu.

1965 Phyllis Cavedo Weisser pcweisser@yahoo.com I’ve heard from several classmates with their news but would love to hear from more. I play tennis (three teams), enjoy book clubs (three groups), and visit with my daughter’s children. They live near me in the Atlanta area. My son was due to leave the Navy after 17 years but was called back to fly with the Blue Angels. If they perform near you, I hope you will see the show and pray that all the pilots stay safe! Janice Helvey Robinson is in the Atlanta area, close to kids and four grandkids. The oldest, Katie, took a whirlwind college tour in the spring and liked Mary Washington best! She also visited William & Mary, Duke, and Clemson. Martha Wangler Ryan and Chris of Richmond, Virginia, visit their daughter and son-in-law in San Francisco for several days and then tour different parts of California. They visit their son and his family in Atlanta. Connie Marsh Pollard ’64 and Martha Hanks Cooper ’64 visited Martha this summer. Connie planned travels to Prague in the

Czech Republic, Italy, and the Oregon wine country. Martha Hanks Cooper is busy with her grandchildren and trips to Washington, D.C., to see her daughter. Both Marthas – Cooper and Ryan – take classes at Open University. Pat Hartman Brownlee and John still live in California, with four daughters and seven grandchildren nearby. Pat and John recently took a cruise from Miami through the Caribbean, ending in Puerto Rico. In April, they went to Hawaii for their yearly trip. Their youngest daughter, Jamie, got her Ph.D. from Regent University in Norfolk, Virginia. Agnes “Missy” Bush Shives, Sonja “Toni” Algren Schuyler, Ophelia “Ophie” Baker Crowley, and Elizabeth “Liz” Kelling Leasure ’66 got together in April for a suitemate reunion. They stayed with Liz and Bill in their beautiful new home in Odenton, Maryland. They toured the Maryland State House in Annapolis, visited the Baltimore Museum of Art, and explored the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. They hope to meet annually, with next year’s get-together in Boston. Carolyn “Cookie” Davis Lakin Davis and her husband enjoyed a cruise of the Danube and enjoy entertaining their grandchildren. She has been active with Historic Port Royal in Virginia, coordinating docents at their three museums. She’s been president of the group for two years. Margaret Cobourn Robinson and Kenny married in April, after 23 years. Meg and Kenny aim to tour every state capitol building. They plan a trip to Hawaii soon. She, Lisa Corder Wharton, Barbara Hagemann Hester, and their husbands attended the memorial for Donna Lingo Rauch’s husband in Snow Hill, Maryland. Eric, who Donna met at an MWC mixer, fought pancreatic cancer for nearly three years. Lisa said she would like David to retire so that they could travel

more, but they do love spending time at their place on the Chesapeake – great sunsets! Lisa periodically sees Trudy Kitchin Kohl, who lives in Raleigh since becoming quadriplegic. She is an inspiration. Carol Meese went to Iceland in June to paint. She has had two solo shows of her art in galleries and a performance piece at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond. The oldest of her eight grandchildren was heading to VCU. She and her husband are seeing the world: Morocco, Turkey, Tanzania, and U.S. national parks. Susan Ford Irons expected her first grandchild in September. She and her husband planned a visit to Alaska and enjoy their Palm Desert Marriott time-share with golf and visits from family and friends. Joanne Lott Byrne and husband Dick have nine grandchildren between them and do a lot of traveling to visit them. Her youngest grandson, Declan, was born May 23 and lives with his parents in Washington, D.C. Her

Carolyn Kennett Barry and husband Richard made a donation valued over time at more than $35 million to Old Dominion University for a new art museum. The Barrys will bestow their multifaceted art collection to serve as the museum’s foundation, and they will also provide support through pledged annual gifts and a permanent endowment from their estate. Carolyn is a longtime art collector. She is a master docent at the Chrysler Museum of Art, specializing in glass, and she serves on the museum’s board of trustees.

1966 Katharine Rogers Lavery hlavery1@cox.net Barbara “Bobbi” Bishop Mann was delighted to see so many dear friends at our 50th reunion after emailing, texting, and posting reminders on Facebook. Jana Privette Usry compiled classmates’ stories in a printed booklet. Jana and Carolyn Eldred displayed mannequins dressed in period

Cheryl Gonzales Yancey ’65 drove from San Diego to Virginia with her daughter and her black Lab. three other grandchildren live with their parents in Fort Worth. Dick’s grandchildren are in Colorado and New Jersey. Joanne has retired and does oil painting, Tai Chi, aerobics, and gardening. Cheryl Gonzales Yancey writes that she drove from San Diego to Virginia with her daughter, Anne, and her black Lab this summer. Anne is married to a Navy captain, and they have orders for the Virginia Beach area. Lee Smith Musgrave exhibited her sumi-e paintings at her community center. Sidney Mitchell, who was on the English faculty when we were at MWC, lived in her retirement community before he recently passed away. His wife Nancy, also deceased, was in the English department and taught Lee freshman English. After the Mitchells retired, they bought a farm in West Virginia and raised sheep. Nancy was a wool spinner and weaver.

outfits at our class tent, winning third place in the tent decoration contest. Joan Cuccias Patton directed a memorial moment preceding our Friday night class dinner and chaired our Saturday class meeting in Ball Hall, our senior dorm. Our Class of 1966 dinner in the Jepson Alumni Center brought together 72 classmates. The highlight of the evening was Terry Caruthers’ fantastic slide show. Bobbi was awarded the Frances Liebenow Armstrong ’36 Service

Let us hear from you! Deadlines for submissions to class agents:

• For spring 2017 issue: Dec. 1, 2016 • For fall 2017 issue: June 15, 2017

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CLASS NOTES The Class of 1966 dinner in the Jepson Alumni Center brought together 72 classmates. Award from the UMW Alumni Association. Bobbi said it has been her great pleasure, along with Katharine Rogers Lavery, our class agent for 40 years, to help keep our class together. You can read about reunion events in more detail online, in the unedited version of Class Notes. You’ll also find more impressions and experiences of classmates who attended reunion, including Tyla Matteson, Mary Bishop Morris, Elaine Gerlach McKelly, Kitty Downs Gregg, Kay Dawson Meyers, Pat Jones Wagner, Emily Cosby Dieter, Eileen Perna Thomason, Eileen’s sister Diane Perna Olive ’67, Anne Powell Young, Betty Birckhead Vickers, Bernadine Arnn Hayes, Clair Golihew Cosby, Gerry Sargent Habas, Patty Bergin Bergman, Grace Marie Bamforth Garriott, Pat Johnson Orgain, Lee Enos Kelley, Linda Mitchell Spiers, Mary Grace Wright Day, Eileen Goddard Albrigo, Anne Clagett, Annette Maddra Horner, Lois Rucker Scott, Nancy Derrick Denslow, Judy Blum Wasserman, and Anne Fortney. Some who couldn’t join us included Sally Souder, Ann Martin Allen, Linda Bausserman, Carole Trent Fletcher, and Alice King Smith. Nancy Dean Wolff couldn’t attend but sent a note detailing fond memories of Virginia Hall roommates Linda Harvey and Katharine Mooklar Courtney; the community bath down the hall; one phone on the floor; not being allowed to wear pants; and curfews. Much of the following class news also involves classmates who attended our reunion. Diana Hamilton Cowell continues to “count fish” around sites on the Assawoman Bay as a research volunteer for the Inland Bays in Bethany, Delaware. She manages apparel sales for the South Bethany Property Owners’ Association, and she’s secretary of the ladies auxiliary of the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company. After reunion, Katie Green took a road trip through Virginia, 40

visiting Jamestown, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Appomattox, and Poplar Forest, Jefferson’s second home near Lynchburg. Susanne Landerghini Boehm and husband Ralph retired from the Manassas public school music program. Susanne and Ralph spent a month in Long Boat Key, Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico, where their two sons joined them. Susan Roth Nurin and Betsy Chappelear Tryon got together at Katharine Rogers Lavery’s home in Vienna, Virginia, and they all drove to Fredericksburg for the reunion. Katharine was pleased to see Susan Hanes Chaney at reunion. They attended elementary school, high school, and college together, then taught math about 20 years in the same high school but had not seen each other since Susan retired and moved to the Northern Neck of Virginia. After reunion, Katharine

Winnie Woodson Stribling and Brad persuaded Eleanor McJilton Thompson to accompany them to our reunion. Afterward, Winnie and Brad went to Hungry Mother State Park and then returned to Richmond to see her 100-year-old uncle and celebrate his birthday. Genie McClellan Hobson and Don attended the reunion and announced that Genie had retired in February after 26 years at the Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. Genie especially enjoyed seeing her senior roommate, Sheri Gates Brindle ’67. Afterward, Genie and Don took a southern trip to visit friends, attend a wedding, and sightsee before returning home to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Then they took a northern trip to Michigan and Canada. Marty Spigel Sedoff and Bob attended the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska, where the Edina, Minnesota, high school drama group performed. Bob designs sets for the group. Marty dances with the tap troupe Rhythmic Feet.

Diana Hamilton Cowell ’66 continues to count fish on the Assawoman Bay as a research volunteer.

and family went to Nags Head, North Carolina, where Katharine had lunch with Muriel Haley Montgomery. Yvonne March and Chris Ferree married last year and planned a trip to Paradise, Pennsylvania, to visit his family, check out historical sites, then visit other friends and relatives. Yvonne planned a fall trip to Paris. Barbie Barriga Rowe is director of admissions in an independent school near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Barbie’s three children and five grandchildren live nearby. Susan Williams Rura was a young widow before meeting Frank, an electronics engineer, and they’ve been married 40 years. Susan plans reunions for a genealogy group and is transcribing her father’s World War II letters written as a B-29 pilot in the Pacific.

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Kathy Fowler Bahnson takes road trips near and far from North Carolina. They have grandchildren ages 1, 3, 13, and 15. Sandra Hutchison Schanné and her daughter traveled to Berlin to absorb the sights and some of their German heritage. Lynn Smithey Campbell planned to sell her condo in Tazewell, Virginia, to move to Richmond, close to her son and his family. Anne Clagett and husband John live near Warrenton, Virginia, where Anne is active in local politics. Sheila Denny Young is retired and has updated her Fredericksburg home. Her son-in-law’s parents visited from Newfoundland, and her daughter and grandchildren came from Denver.

Sally Albrecht Brennan, Carol Pettigrew Hallman, Julie Bondurant Freeman and Prentiss Davies got together in Wilmington, North Carolina, last year. Julie had visited UMW earlier with Charlotte Hansley from Trenton, New Jersey; Ruth Robinson Wardlaw from Dallas, Texas; and Judy Hanson Wilcox from Venice, Florida. Bernadine Arnn Hayes celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary by taking a cruise to Alaska with husband Jay, daughters Emily and Julia, and their husbands and children. Mary Kathryn Rowell Horner and Charlie spend winters in Florida, golfing and soaking up sunshine, and summers in Alexandria, Virginia. Linda Glynn Hutchinson and Pat Lewars Pace traveled to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and to Egypt to see the pyramids. Ann Kales Lindblom and Steve took a six-month journey along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in their cruising boat. Despite close quarters they are still best friends! Mary Parsons Black and Ron were married two days after graduation and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family cruise. They also visited Rota, Spain, where they’d lived for six years. Diane “Dee Dee” Nottingham Ward sold her San Diego CPA firm in 2010 but continues to work. She and Nat plan to downsize to a retirement community being built near them. Kathleen Goddard Moss and Tom sold their home in Falls Church, Virginia, spent a summer in Spain with their daughter and family, then drove around the U.S. visiting family and friends. They were on their way to Oakland, California, to a retirement community near their son and his family. Cathe Cantwell Luria returned to Gig Harbor, Washington, from her other home in Mexico. Since retiring as a nurse practitioner, Cathe has expanded her music and country dancing activities to

Cathe Cantwell Luria ’66 joined a Mexican choir that has performed in Cuba.

include joining a Mexican choir that has performed in Cuba. Carolyn Hogeland Ruppar remarried a few months ago and splits her time between living in Jacksonville, Florida, and Reston, Virginia. Ginny Bateman Brinkley and Bill traveled to Hawaii, met Roger and Ryan Stewart Davis in Maui, and

daughter, who works in Seattle, was in for the wedding. Mary volunteers for the Weymouth Preservation Society, which created a township museum in Weymouth, Ohio. Judy and Keith look forward to their next travel-trailer trip through Canada and down the West Coast. Their oldest daughter and 6-year-old grandson live

Judy Wells Clark ’66 planned a tour in Japan to accompany the Classic Strings Duo. celebrated Ryan’s birthday at the restaurant where Ryan and Roger had held their son’s wedding a few months earlier. Ryan missed our reunion because her other son and his wife were expecting twins in June; Harry and Maxine were born June 13. Judy Wells Clark planned a concert tour to Japan in June and July, where she was to accompany Bryan and Kevin Matheson of the Classic Strings Duo. Jeff and Nancy Shackelford Jones recently returned from Cambridge, Massachusetts, where daughter Alexandra Shackelford Jones Thorne graduated from the Harvard Business School.

1967 Nancy McDonald Legat dlegat1@sc.rr.com Fonda Davis Eyler, Roberta Hatcher Graves, Mary Haga Doermann, and Judy Douglass Everett had a suitemate reunion at Mary and Perry’s home in Medina, Ohio. Fonda and John are retired from the University of Florida faculty in Gainesville. They volunteer and travel to California to visit their daughter and her two girls and their son and his three boys. Roberta and Spottswood still live on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She recently wrote, choreographed, and performed in a musical about George Gershwin. Her two children and two grandchildren live nearby. Mary and Perry celebrated the wedding of their son in January during a surprise snowstorm. Her

in Tampa. Another daughter lives in Austin and is fostering a 17-month-old with hopes of adoption. Their youngest daughter was just ordained a deacon in the United Methodist Church. Nancy McDonald Legat and Dan enjoy their retirement in Lexington, South Carolina. Their three daughters and sons-in-law, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren live close by.

1968 Meg Livingston Asensio meglala@aol.com I heard from a few classmates in time for this issue. I would love to hear from many more of you for next time!

Lotterhos, where she and Lieb moved last year. They were in a serious car accident the day after Christmas, and I went down to help when she was released from the hospital. It took Lieb a bit longer, but I am happy to say they are both well on the road to recovery. Luckily, both daughters live close by. Their granddaughter, Marlowe Juliet Bourne, celebrated her first birthday in late July. I reconnected with Christina “Kitty” Sheane on a trip to New York in June. She lives in Princeton, New Jersey, is recently retired from a career in education administration, and consults part time. Since retiring, Ash and I have enjoyed several cruises to the Greek isles, Tahiti, and Spain and Portugal. We bought an Airstream trailer and planned to hit the road with our recently adopted mutt, Izzy. Submitted by Sally Monroe Kelly and Donna Sheehan Gladis: Merrilyn Sawyer Dodson retired from teaching in 2013 and became a Master Gardener with the York/ Poquoson Extension Office. In 2015, Merrilyn and Steve toured the gardens of Victoria, British Columbia, and explored Alaska’s inner passage and the Tongass National Forest. Their son and his family (including grandsons

Merrilyn Sawyer Dodson ’68 and Steve met the recipient of their UMW scholarship; he will do research in medical or nuclear physics. Pam Tompkins Huggins and Jim are up to five grandchildren, the oldest of whom will graduate from high school this year. They travel to California to visit daughter KT and her family, with trips to Cary, North Carolina, and Reston, Virginia, to be with the others. They plan a trip to Normandy in the coming year. Sally Monroe Kelly and Pete recently visited. Rhoda “Dodo” Fisher Roberts has had a busy year with daughter Nell’s wedding, a month in Switzerland, and finally retiring after 48 years in IT. She was spending the summer on Nantucket. In January, I spent a week in Orlando with Janice Bryant

ages 9 and 12) live in Richmond. Merrilyn and Steve recently met the recipient of their UMW scholarship, an impressive young man who will do research in medical or nuclear physics. Carol Lee Hawtin was a psych major at Mary Washington, which led to her becoming a clinical social worker in private practice. She lives in Annapolis, Maryland, and loves watching Baltimore Ravens football. Reba Harnage Davis is retired from teaching and enjoys volunteering, playing golf and bridge, reading, traveling, and time with family including her 5-year-old grandson. Reba’s older son is an

associate general counsel at UNCG in Greensboro, North Carolina, and the younger son practices law with her husband, Gary. Both of Reba’s daughters-in-law are teachers. Lawson Stillman Greenwood is a retired chemistry teacher, lives on the coast at Wilmington, North Carolina, and enjoys her nine grandchildren. Eileen Curley Baker and Frank have lived in Connecticut for almost the entire 44 years of their marriage. Eileen retired after teaching almost 30 years of high school mathematics. She and Frank have four grandchildren and spend winters in Florida. Jane Bradley and Richard are retired, live in Washington, D.C., and spend summers at their cottage in New Hampshire. Her sisterin-law is Pam Toppin Bradley. Susan Morris is retired from educational consulting and volunteers near her home in Barrington, Illinois, near Chicago. She and husband Don Wolford have traveled to Italy, the Adriatic, and Cuba. They have six grandchildren. Stephanie “Stevie” Danahy Larson and Peter live on 10 acres about 15 miles south of Fredericksburg. Stevie is retired but teaches a two-week wetlands program in the summer for gifted kids who love to be outdoors. She has four grandchildren, and her 90-year-old mom still lives two blocks from UMW. Stevie fondly remembers our beautiful Gail Jargowsky Farmer, who passed away Jan. 20, 2016, of complications from Alzheimer’s. Gail loved Mary Washington and would have worn her tiara at our reunion. Let’s all be there! A note for all who may not know: 1968 was the last year of the May Queen festivities. That is why we all wear our tiaras with pride!

Let us hear from you! Deadlines for submissions to class agents:

• For spring 2017 issue: Dec. 1, 2016 • For fall 2017 issue: June 15, 2017

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CLASS NOTES

Cynthia Lowdermilk claims she is leading the most boring life imaginable, but that makes me think she has a quiet life with no drama.

Speaking of French, Karen Ralston Kilgore has been in France recently, and in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. She planned a trip to the South Pacific and Antarctica this year. In this country she’s visited her daughter in Florida and planned to see her grandkids in Denver, among other travels.

probably didn’t know I am “bi-dancual.” Ann and I perform concerts twice a year with our five-piece folk music band More Joy. After traveling extensively for three years (Africa, France, most of Europe) we have narrowed our interest to all of the American presidential libraries and national parks.

Pam Hogan Baynard just got back from Switzerland, which she

Joan Gillis Baker, Patricia Adair Spangler, and Franceen

Write to me, girls! Even if you are quietly at home enjoying living without drama, we want to hear from you!

1969 Iris Harrell irish@harrell-remodeling.com

Sharon Dobie ’69 was awarded the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award. found expensive – $36 for chicken enchiladas, and that was before she ordered Swiss chocolate for dessert! Laura “Tee” Johnson Atherton and family planned to visit Pam and Chuck at their Nags Head, North Carolina, beach house.

Huddleston King attended their 50th high school reunion last fall. Joan also keeps in touch with Gail Balderson Dise ’67 when she visits her daughter in D.C. Joan and her husband recently took a Pacific cruise to Australia and New Zealand.

Regina Sneed has been a museum guide at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art for 32 years, even while she was a full-time lawyer. Now she’s retired and more involved with art organizations.

Anne Witham Kilpatrick and Roger recently went to Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks in Utah. Her dear college friend Jeanine Zavrel Fearns and suitemates Suzy Bender Winterble and Toni Turner Bruseth planned a trip to Washington, D.C. for their annual reunion.

Sharon Dobie’s older son in Orange County, California, has recovered from a stem cell transplant. Her younger son lives in Seattle, close to her. Sharon was awarded the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award in May. She took a bike barge trip in France and went to a family wedding in New Zealand. In 2017 she plans to retire except for teaching. Phyllis Newby Thompson and John travel to New York and to their vacation home in Kona, Hawaii. They also visit John’s mother, who still lives independently. Phyllis is an avid gardener. Marianne DeBlois Zentz looked forward to her daughter’s wedding in October. She had a wonderful visit with Anne Hoskot Kreutzer, and she joined a group to practice speaking French. She does her best to only swear in Spanish, as when you swear in French, it just does not have the same oomph!

Linda Eadie Hood has two new titanium knees. She sets off airport alarms and has no knee reflexes

Anne Summervold LeDoux ledouxanne@yahoo.com Many thanks to Susi Duffey DiMaina for her help in gathering news! She has set up a Mary Washington College Class of ’70 page on Facebook. Last Halloween, Susi visited the Kiawah Island, South Carolina, home of Tina Kormanski Krause along with Gabby Pagin, Kathy Thiel, and Kathi O’Neill. Susi’s 26-year-old daughter, Caitlin, was to start nursing school this fall at Johns Hopkins. Susi had fun helping with the 2016 Reunion Weekend as a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Kathy Thiel, Kathi O’Neill, Jean Burgess Botts, Suzanne Ferguson Buchanan, Elaine Wilson

Though her titanium knees set off airport alarms, Linda Eadie Hood ’69 is delighted to be pain-free. but is delighted to be pain-free. She has been substitute teaching for 15 years, and she and Rick planned a three-week trip to New Zealand this fall. I enjoy my new role as a retired contractor in an active over55 community in Santa Rosa, California, two hours north of my home in Silicon Valley where we lived for 30 years. I play pickleball, golf, do yoga, and square dance at a gay/straight club in Sebastopol. You

Iris Harrell ’69 and Ann perform concerts with their folk music band More Joy. 42

1970

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Maloney, and Anne Sommervold LeDoux gathered at Gabby Pagin’s home in Vienna for a farewell to Northern Virginia dinner for Tina Kormanski Krause and Paul. After grad school, working, and raising their daughters in the D.C. area for the past 40-plus years, the Krauses have moved to Richmond to be near their older daughter, Lindsay, husband Wade, and their children Eleanor, 7, and Spencer, 5. Daughter Megan and husband John are parents of Jack, 2, and baby Will, born in March in Rye, New York. Tina and Paul visited the Grand Canyon in spring and planned trips to Japan and Australia.

Karen Anderson Muszynski had a horrible year. A contractor abandoned the house she and her husband were building. They regrouped and salvaged the project, but when they finally moved in her husband broke his leg. Her son had surgery for a large mass in his chest, and her 87-year-old mother had a heart attack while her son’s surgery was going on. After all that stress, it turned out that her son does not have cancer, and her mom is now well. Karen planned to retire in December after 28 years at the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Maryland. Last January, she, Karen Stifft Caroll, and Barb Bingley gathered in Richmond at Frances Cone Caldwell’s house. They viewed the Downton Abbey exhibit at the Virginia Historical Society and the Rodin exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Frances has taken up weaving in addition to knitting and needlepointing. She travels often, with two yearlong consulting contracts at churches on opposite sides of the country and both of her daughters a long way from home. Laurie King Myse splits life between the Fredericksburg area and Florida, but was selling their Stafford house and its 34 acres. This summer she and her husband took a cruise and land tour of Alaska. Dinah Douglas lives in Lynchburg with her partner of 14 years. Dinah retired as a licensed professional counselor, having worked with the seriously mentally ill for many years. Her daughter lives in Italy with two wonderful little half-Italian grandsons, and her son recently married his partner of 10 years. Cathy Dover Stetson wrote that she retired from her life’s work as a librarian in August, 2014. She and her husband live in Needham, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. In the past year and a half they have traveled to Southeast Asia (Thailand,

Find the original, unedited Class Notes online at magazine.umw.edu.

Lee Howland Hogan ’70 went on a river cruise through Bordeaux and the Loire Valley. Laos, and Cambodia), Croatia, Montenegro, Sicily, and the Caribbean. Upcoming are trips to Italy and Cuba. Lee Howland Hogan skied for a week in Lake Tahoe in March and went on a river cruise through Bordeaux and the Loire Valley in France in May. She caught up with Kathi O’Neill for a day in D.C. after her 50th high school reunion, and they did museums and lunch. Donna Accettullo DeNyse is the proud grandmother of four granddaughters! Donna and Bob have lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for 11 years. Carole LaMonica Clark loves living in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She and Ted have attended concerts at Pikes Peak Center, near their home, and have hiked around the Garden of the Gods and in Palmer Park. She looks forward to attending home games at the Air Force Academy. Thanks again for all the news! I hope more of you will send me news for the next edition. Keep in mind our 50th coming up in 2020, and check out the Mary Washington College Class of ’70 Facebook page!

1971 Karen Laino Giannuzzi kapitankL11@yahoo.com We had a wonderful 45th reunion. Thanks to all of us in the Class of ’71 for a successful fundraising campaign, which took the honors this year. Thank you for allowing me to represent you once again as class agent and for the prestigious Distinguished Alumnus Award.

I heard from several of you just before and after the reunion, and we all hope to see many more at the 50th in 2021! Send the news, and join the Class of ’71 group on Facebook.

1972 Sherry Rutherford Myers dllmyers@netzero.com Thank you to all of the wonderful classmates who sent in their news this time around. Hope to see many of you at the reunion next year.

It is with much sorrow that we announce the passing of Susan Palmer Bender. Eileen Reynolds Cantoni contacted many of us after receiving a letter from Susan’s husband, John. Eileen and I were in Betty Lewis Hall with Susan as freshmen, and we remember her as fun-loving and a great organizer. Eileen also wrote about another Betty Lewis resident. Patti Barrow Rios became a grandmother this past April when daughter Alex had a baby boy named Daniel. They all live in Spain.

Gale Mattox ’72 just published Coalition Challenges in Afghanistan: The Politics of Alliance. Gale Mattox teaches midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. She just published Coalition Challenges in Afghanistan: The Politics of Alliance with Stanford University Press. Sarah Cross Eyre and husband Jim have lived in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, for 10 years. They play tennis, and Sarah teaches statistics and math part time for the community college. Daughter Sally and her husband live nearby. Daughter Kathleen lives in southwest China with her husband and children and was expecting their fourth child. Sarah planned to meet them in Thailand for the delivery. Kathy Bradford Lehman retired after 37 years in the library profession, most of which was in Chesterfield County, Virginia,

Thanks to all in the Class of ’71, we won the largest class gift during reunion! Penny Falkowitz Goodstein came all the way from Anchorage, Alaska, and Mary Weaver Mann, Betty Barnhardt Hume, and Bryn Irving Roth came from downtown Fredericksburg, so we covered the gamut of distance to the campus.

Machipongo, on the Chesapeake Bay. Son Andrew recently moved his family to Garden City and works in Manhattan. Daughter Julia is in Seattle finishing up a double master’s degree.

public schools. She teaches one online class a semester for the Old Dominion University library program and supervises student teachers in library placements. Kathy and Frank split their time between Midlothian, near Richmond, and

Between the home in Baltimore and my late mom’s home in Roanoke, Virginia, I’ve got quite a time of downsizing ahead. Dennis and I caught up with Dave and Cheryl Prietz Childress in April when they were doing their Colonial re-enactment at Fort Frederick, Maryland. Daughter Thea was along so it was a lovely reunion. Thea and her husband, Eric, looked forward to the wedding of their son, Alex, in October. Here is hoping we get a record turnout at the reunion.

1973 Joyce Hines Molina Joyce.molina@verizon.net Greetings to the Class of ’73, and the year many of us reach that landmark age requiring us to dive into the alphabet soup of Medicare plans. Music keeps me busy between church at the organ and oboe with the Henrico Concert Band. My honeybees swarmed this spring, and we were lucky enough to capture one of the swarms. It was an incredible experience; well over 10,000 bees clustered on a small holly tree branch, and I was within inches. But not without putting on my veil! In June we made our

annual flight in our 1946 J3 Piper Cub to Sentimental Journey in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. Over Maryland we were faced with black skies and lightning bolts. We diverted to the closest airport and waited out the storm. Patricia Stewart welcomed baby Logan, son of her older son and his wife, on May 24. The family lives in Puerto Rico, and Patricia thinks it’s a nice place for Nana to visit! Janet Hedrick visits Sharon Richmond Janis and is the proud surrogate aunt of Sharon and Bill’s daughter, Catherine. This spring Catherine received two awards from the National Transportation Safety Board. Janet and Catherine planned a vacation to Cape May this summer. So what about you? What’s happening? Send news any time of the year; don’t wait for the reminders. I look forward to hearing from you. Soon!

1974 Sid Baker Etherington sidleexx@yahoo.com Suzy Passarello Quenzer sq3878@att.com Class of 1974, we all need to take a lesson from the “Jefferson 4th Westers” and their annual reunion meetings – they are one dedicated group. This time the group, Peg Hubbard, Susan Tyler Maguigan, Karen Sunnarborg, Patti Goodall Strawderman, and Nancy Pederson Trzcinski met in Richmond, Virginia, in June. They enjoyed a restorative yoga class, a Segway tour of Richmond landmarks, drinks and dinner out, and then had Sunday brunch at their hotel, The Berkeley, where they were joined by Patti’s husband, Dennis, and daughter Megan. By the way, Susan recently completed a marathon!

Let us hear from you! Deadlines for submissions to class agents:

• For spring 2017 issue: Dec. 1, 2016 • For fall 2017 issue: June 15, 2017

U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A R Y WA S H I N G T O N M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 1 6

CLASS NOTES Diane Bassemir Takao ’74 lives in Yokohama, Japan, and is principal of a preschool in Tokyo. I received a great note from Diane Bassemir Takao’s mother, June T. Bassemir, which you can read in its entirety in the class notes online. She recognized the name of Beverly Haynes Vaughn, and it prompted her to send news of her daughter. Diane lives in Yokohama, Japan, and is principal of Komazawa Park International School, a preschool in Tokyo. She and husband Hiroshi have three sons. The oldest, Matthew, works in Japan; the middle son, Tim, was married last year and has a job in California; and the youngest is in college in Boston. Diane visits the United States every summer.

1975 Armecia Spivey Medlock vagirl805@msn.com Cynthia “Cindy” Snyder, after retiring as UMW’s director of alumni affairs, works part time in the career and academic services office at George Mason University’s School of Law. She appreciates the short commute from her home in Arlington, Virginia. Jacalyn Ewansky Bryan and Rich celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary with a cruise on the Danube River, stopping in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. Jackie, an associate professor and reference and instruction librarian at St. Leo University, completed a sabbatical in spring 2016. Rich and Jackie’s son, Richard, is a graphic designer living in Tampa, and son Eric is an English/writing tutor at St. Leo. Our daughter, Taylor, recently graduated from the University of Tennessee’s 12-month accelerated BSN program. She moved to Kansas City, Kansas, to begin her nursing career at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

1976 Madelin Jones Barratt madbarratt@aol.com Our 40th reunion was in June! Bill and Terrie Young Crawley ’77 hosted a lovely party in their home. The lunch tent decorations won second place, thanks to the efforts 44

of our reunion committee. You can read more detail about the events and classmates’ experiences in the unedited class notes online, but here is some of the news. Myra McCord Lovelace and Jim attended, Myra’s first time back on campus in 40 years. She enjoyed a lecture by Bulent Atalay, professor emeritus of physics, who had taught her. And she was delighted to see Judith Crissman, professor emerita of chemistry, who was her adviser and helped her launch a career in chemical marketing. Glenda Burrow Jackson, Esther Adams Artis, Alice Keeve Blackstone, Veronica “Teeny” Burton, Sandra Powell Mitchell, Marsha Parker Thomas, and

from the University of Maryland and the other one graduated from Hampton University. Deborah lives in Glenn Dale, Maryland, with husband Steve and their daughter. Glenda lived in Pittsburgh for 15 years after college, but moved back to Richmond and has been a chemist for the state of Virginia for almost 25 years. Ann Chryssikos McBroom helps elderly people live independently in a retirement community. Her elder son, Kerry III, and wife Megan have moved back to the Roanoke, Virginia, area from Arlington and were expecting her first grandson in September. Eva Grace works at the American College of Cardiology, and husband Brett is with the Department of Defense. Son John recently graduated from the Institute of Massage and Healing Arts and was studying for his national licensure

Lucinda Simpson Simon ’75 plays oboe and flute with Wilkes University’s music ensembles. Deborah Jackson Young attended and caught up on one another’s lives: Esther’s husband, Jonathan, passed away last year, her son was getting married this summer and her daughter was getting a Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina. Esther has worked for the city of Martinsville, Virginia, for over 30 years with no plans for retirement. Alice is also a widow and is retired from teaching after 38½ years. She has a daughter, Aliceson Blackstone Phillips ’05, and two sons, and helps with her two grandsons and a granddaughter in Manassas, Virginia. Teeny is retired from the U.S. Postal Service and lives in Richmond with two of her three daughters. One daughter is an entrepreneur and the middle one was recently promoted in the military. Sandra lives in Manassas with husband Albert. In June she celebrated 40 years with the Fauquier County School system, where she is assistant superintendent. Marsha and husband Michael live in Pittsburgh, where she works with IBM. One daughter earned a bachelor’s degree and an MBA

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exam. Eva’s father sadly passed away this year. Janice Gernhart Bogy has a harp student who was a finalist in the American Harp Society’s national competition. Janice had her art accepted into the Heart of the West art show and auction in Bozeman, Montana. Becky Adams Mauck directs a small church preschool in Richmond. She and husband Newby spend time at the river in the summer and on holidays. They have grandchildren ages 4, 3, and 9 months, all in Richmond. Her youngest is getting married next summer.

grandchild, Ranger, was born in May. Helen Thornton Branch lives in Peachtree City, Georgia, and is a frequent visitor to Fredericksburg. She was preparing for a trip to Mexico to visit Mayan ruins. Her grandsons, Avery and CJ, are now 20 and 27. Her dogs Baxter and Joey are her house companions. My daughter Ellen added twin granddaughters, Margaret and Evelyn, to the family in May. They join their brother, Timothy. Husband Henry and I have enjoyed helping take care of the grandchildren to allow the tired parents a rest.

1977 Anne Robinson Hallerman arhmwc77@yahoo.com Kathy Diehl Hartman retired in 2015 after 38 years in cancer research at National Institutes of Health. She has four grandchildren. Kathy writes that Kathye Baldwin Geary has her first grandchild, and Laura Ann Ewers Cline’s daughter recently married. The ladies of Ball 3 West, including Kathy, Laura Ann, Alison Stern Wood, Jane Albert McGehee, Dana DeGroot Grobicki, Lisa Lyle Wu, and Jody Nutter Amberly ’76 gathered at Kathye’s home in Bethany Beach, Delaware, in July. Janice Wenning is retired after a 35-year career in environmental consulting. She and her husband scuba dive, follow professional cycling, and travel. They spend about half the year away from their home in Berkeley, California, often wintering in Belize, where they have a home on Ambergris Caye. They drive across the coun-

Kathy Diehl Hartman ’77 retired after 38 years in cancer research at NIH. Lucinda Simpson Simon lives in northeast Pennsylvania with husband Phil, who is director of instrumental music at Wilkes University. She plays oboe and flute with the university’s music ensembles and says being around 18- to 23-year-olds several days a week keeps her young. Her fifth

try each summer and fall, taking a different route each time, and use those opportunities to catch up with alumni including Karen Hertzel Pratt, Carol Yancey Orlando, Lisa-Rae Campbell Walker, and Mary Dornin Michaud.

Photographer Captures Life

t first, artist Mary Jane Condon Bohlen ’94 had to find fellow breast cancer survivors who’d let her photograph them – chest scars exposed – for her book about life after diagnosis. But as word of the project circulated, women started asking to be included. They were proud of their resilient bodies and eager to share stories about how surviving breast cancer changed them inside and out. The result is Bosom Buddies, a book of powerful photographs, essays, and poems celebrating determination and grace. Bohlen is donating half the proceeds of the recently self-published book to the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. She’s been involved with the center since 2008, when she and husband Bob moved back to her native New England after almost 30 years in the Fredericksburg area. The move north happened soon after Bohlen’s second breast cancer diagnosis. She wanted to be closer to family, and the diagnosis, 16 years after her first bout with cancer, sealed the decision. Still, Bohlen found it bittersweet to leave Virginia, where she’d earned a later-in-life degree from Mary Washington, had a satisfying career as an art teacher, and become a respected local artist. The oldest of eight children, she figured her formal education was over once she completed high school in 1961. “I thought you had to be really brilliant to go to college, or have a lot of money,” Bohlen recalled. Instead, she put her photo skills and artist’s eye to work as a medical photographer. It wasn’t until many years later, when she lived in the Fredericksburg area, that she reconsidered. The sisters at Montfort Academy, a Catholic school where Bohlen taught art part time, encouraged her to get a degree and teach full time. Cost was still a worry. But for

Mother’s Day 1990, daughter Nie and sons Bobby and Patrick, then ages 16, 14, and 5, made her a deal. They’d put their savings toward two college classes, but Bohlen had to promise not to watch TV or go on a date with Daddy until her homework was done. And she had to get A’s. At Mary Washington, Bohlen recalls, a financial aid specialist helped her piece together scholarships and grants to cover costs, and professors helped her balance scholarship, work, and family. “I don’t think you would find that in a large college or university,” she said. Her schedule was grueling, especially after her first breast cancer diagnosis. She remembers teaching elementary art on Thursday mornings, taking chemotherapy in the afternoon, attending a night class at Mary Washington, teaching again on Fridays, and feeling sick to death on Saturdays. But her college classes absorbed her, and with her family pulling for her, Bohlen stayed on the dean’s list and finished in four years. As a teacher and artist, Bohlen earned a Fulbright Memorial Teacher Fund scholarship to study in Japan, was twice honored as Northern Virginia’s outstanding elementary art teacher, and taught and exhibited in Virginia and Rhode Island. Creating Bosom Buddies melded a lifetime’s worth of artistic and personal development. And it’s tangible proof of Bohlen’s refusal to be daunted by cancer or anything else. “My philosophy has always been, when your time comes, it comes,” she said. Meanwhile, though, “I’m going to live my life as fully as I can.” – Laura Moyer

“I thought you had to be really brilliant to go to college, or have a lot of money.” – Mary Jane Bohlen

Robert M. Bohlen

Mary Jane Bohlen published Bosom Buddies to honor women who have had breast cancer.

I TFYMOAFR M R YSWA NN G TMOANGM E L• LFA U N I VUENRISVIETRYSO YA WA H I NSGHTIO AA Z IGNAEZ •I NFA 2 0L 1L62 0 1 6 4 5

CLASS NOTES Jeanne Marie McDonough McClure and Ron are retired, travel, and take care of granddaughter Adalynn on Wednesdays. They had brunch with Joan Castner Niederlehner and Jim when they were nearby for a wedding. Speaking of grandchildren, I, too, have news! Nora Lee Hallerman was born June 20. Her two moms, my daughter Mary and my daugh-

Las Vegas. Cathy lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia, with husband Joe and son Andrew. Darrhea, Allen, and I had reconnected previously but this was the first time I had seen Cathy since Mary Washington days. This trip was specifically on Allen’s bucket list. In June Mary Jane “MJ” Ford Johnston, Joni Joseph Owens, Darrhea, and I took a cruise from

Beverly J. Wood-Holt ’77 retired from the movie business and is moving with her husband to their organic farm in Virginia. ter-in-law Nicole, are easing into motherhood quite well. That’s all the news from ’77 this time. Our 40th is coming up next year. We have a Facebook page for the class, “Mary Washington College Class of 1977.”

1978 Janet Place Fuller janetpfuller@aol.com Beverly J. Wood-Holt has been in California since 1983 and just retired from Deluxe Entertainment, after 23 years working in the post-production of movies. She writes, “Who would have thought that a black woman with a B.S. in chemistry from MWC and an M.S. in analytical chemistry from UGA would end up the cinematographer’s best friend?” Beverly and husband Brian are moving to her hometown of Chase City, Virginia, where they have a 12-acre organic farm. He continues to write scores for small films, and Beverly has a consulting business, working with library archives. Susan Tart Morosko is trying to reconnect with Janet Shultz McKenna. Both are from New Jersey, met in Willard their freshman year, and last lived in Westmoreland. Janet, please send me an email. If anyone can assist, please let me hear from you. This is the year most of us turn 60. In honor of that milestone, several are tackling their bucket lists. In March, Darrhea Pierce Donlavage, Allen Nichols Scott, Cathy Selleck Quimby, and I traveled to 46

Miami to the Bahamas, Coco Cay, Key West, and back to Miami.

1979 Barbara Goliash Emerson emers3@msn.com Lorenza Amico took an escorted tour of France and saw much of the countryside. She visited Omaha Beach and the American cemetery and museum and Monet’s house and garden at Giverny. She also spent time at the Mary Washington campus to see her nephew play rugby, and she was at graduation. The following weekend, she attended the gala celebrating the completion of the Mary Washington First campaign and Rick Hurley’s presidency. There she saw Lisa Bratton Soltis and Sue Tillery. Anita Churney Lossing married a wonderful man she met on Christian Mingle. Evelyn Watts Way was her matron of honor, and her daughters gave her away. They honeymooned in Scotland. She moved from Burke, Virginia, to a 55-plus community in Fredericksburg. May and June saw graduations for the sons of Linda McCarthy Milone (Oliver graduated from the University of Georgia); Betsy Larson Kyker (Jake graduated from Fairfax High School); and Judy Kemp Allard (Jacob graduated from Lee-Davis High School). In addition, Judy’s daughter, Melanie, was married on June 25 to Matt Bryan.

I took a long weekend trip up to New York City in June to celebrate my sister Irene’s birthday with our other sister, Patricia Goliash Andril ’80. Irene, who attended Mary Washington from 1980 to 1982 before transferring to nursing school, had been born on Governors Island, which is about 700 yards from Manhattan. We hadn’t been there since 1964 when it was an Army base. It was fun to walk around the island, which is now part of the National Park Service and open only on weekends.

1980 No Class Agent classnotes@umw.edu

1981 Lori Foster Turley lorifturley@gmail.com Sandy Wise Conran is a physical therapist in Reston and has recently added certification in

Susan Knowles Alcorn has a household cleaning business and also works on Amish quilts. Husband Dave is an HVAC design engineer. Son Robert graduated from Old Dominion University and was substitute teaching in high schools. Daughter Lauren was pursuing an associate degree in sociology. Daughter Jennifer was to be a freshman at VCU this fall. Bill Pugh’s daughter Lindsey was to attend Kennesaw State University this fall. Daughter Katherine was to be a senior at Berry College. Bill and Allison celebrated their 25th anniversary in June. Bill keeps in touch with Tim Money. Susan Leavitt ran a marathon in Paris! She hopes to get to a full Ironman triathlon one day. Susan and Jon bought a place in Burlington, Vermont, overlooking Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks.

Valerie Martino O’Brien ’84 was named executive director of Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. osteoporosis and postural management. Sandy’s husband, Tom, has retired from the Navy. Her son earned a degree in civil engineering at Virginia Tech, where he is pursuing a master’s degree in transportation planning. Her daughter is a rising senior at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania, studying to be an occupational therapist.

1982 Tara Corrigall corrigallt@gmail.com

1983 Marcia Guida James marcia.g.james@gmail.com Susan Jones Hollister attended a May 2016 reception for Cedric

Susan Leavitt ’83 ran a marathon in Paris.

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Rucker ’81 in Fredericksburg with Estie Corey Thomas. Susan and Estie stay in touch.

Our youngest son, Frank, graduated from Vassar – we are done with college tuitions! I stay busy with work traveling all over the country.

1984 Auby J. Curtis DrAubyJ@gmail.com Freda White gets together frequently with Lynn Conville Abraham ’83, Yvonne Koontz Sening ’85, Carole Comly Dezii, Trish Bowdring Gordon, Teresa Negron Lough ’90, Marye Driver Downs, and Cindy Greer Chalkley. Lynn lives in Richmond and works for the state; Yvonne lives in Gainesville, Virginia, and though she is no longer practicing law stays busy with her three boys; Carole lives in New Jersey; Trish lives in Reston, Virginia, and also works for the state; Teresa lives in Fredericksburg and stays busy with her four children; Marye lives in Fairfax, Virginia, and is

Melissa Felts ’85 runs Re-Tail, a nonprofit thrift store that benefits animal rescue organizations. a beekeeper; and Cindy lives in North Carolina and was getting ready for her daughter’s wedding. Freda lives in Madison County, Virginia, and is a hearing aid specialist in private practice in Fredericksburg. She stays busy with her four kids and her granddaughter. James Miller is now vice president of consulting solutions with Right Management Consulting in Addison, Texas. Katherine Knightly Mulholland and Dave retired to the beautiful Hill Country near New Braunfels, Texas, between San Antonio and Austin. Katherine was an operating room registered nurse. She volunteers as an RN with a local health clinic for the indigent, is active with pro-life organizations, and volunteers as a Master Gardener. They have three daughters, two sons-in-law, and one adorable 7-year-old granddaughter. Their eldest daughter is a chef, the middle is a registered dietitian, and the youngest is a CPA – so one can cook for them, one can tell them what to eat, and the third can keep their books! The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA) has named Valerie Martino O’Brien as its executive director. Valerie has been with VTLA since 1991. She lives in Richmond with husband Rick, and they have three children – Kevin, 25, in Allentown, Pennsylvania; Michael, 21, in College Park, Maryland; and Eric, 19, at Hampden-Sydney College.

Let us hear from you! Deadlines for submissions to class agents:

• For spring 2017 issue: Dec. 1, 2016 • For fall 2017 issue: June 15, 2017

1985 Monique Gormont Mobley moniquemwc85@gmail.com Kathleen Dwyer Miller’s younger daughter finished her freshman year at the University of Mississippi, and her older daughter is a flight attendant for Trans-States Airlines, which flies for United and American Airlines. Melissa Felts has called Fredericksburg home since 1991. She was a store manager

1986

1988

Lisa A. Harvey lisharvey@msn.com

Nee-Cee “Ringo” Baker rstarr66@msn.com Beverly J. Newman bevnewmn@yahoo.com

1987 Kim Jones Isaac mwc87@infinityok.com Rene Thomas-Rizzo Rene.Thomas-Rizzo@navy.mil From Kim: Margie Sanfilippo’s son, Matthew Hardy, graduated from Eckerd College and works with the United States Geological Survey in St. Petersburg. Jane Ellen Brennan Herrin of Putnam County, Tennessee, is involved with voice work. She is the voice of most of the nursing

Voice-over professional Jane Ellen Brennan Herrin ’87 is the voice of most of the nursing courses at West Coast University. for Hancock Fabrics for nearly 20 years and volunteered at the local SPCA. In 2014 she opened Re-Tail, a nonprofit thrift store in Fredericksburg that benefits Rikki’s Refuge Animal Sanctuary and other animal rescue organizations. Melissa cares for four dogs and four cats of her own. Lisa Bentley Brouelette lives in Bothell, Washington, and was awaiting the arrival of a grandson in late August with older son Adam and his wife, Sara. Jennifer W. Johnston Davidson relocated from Cape Town, South Africa, to Bermuda in May 2015. Jennifer is near family, takes a ferry to work, and has great views of Hamilton Harbor to watch the America’s Cup boats practicing in the mornings. After living in the Madison, Wisconsin, area for 10 years, Scott and I relocated to Annapolis, Maryland, this spring. Scott completed his Ph.D. in history and teaches at the U.S. Naval Academy, his alma mater. I hoped to get a job using my six years of ESL experience in K-12 schools in the fall. Our daughter teaches elementary students in Wisconsin and our son works for the Boy Scouts in Seattle.

courses at West Coast University. She also does corporate training videos for MDLive. She has worked with clients overseas, mostly as a voice in animations to teach kids English. Husband Jim is the editor of a newspaper. Anna Grace and Jenna are both in middle school. Michelle Evans is a critical care RN in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Her two sons are college graduates and live in Northern Virginia. I attended Reunion Weekend in June and had a blast with the Class of ’86. It was fantastic to see so many friends after 30 years, and especially to spend time with Lisa Onucki ’86, Dave McKinney ’86, and Chris Bradford Cohoon ’86. After the reunion was over, I went to Fallingwater in Pennsylvania, went hiking on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and played tourist all over my hometown of Richmond. Please keep sending updates, either to my email address or on Facebook under Kim Jones Isaac.

Jay Bradshaw jaybradshaw747@aol.com From Beverly: I visited Matt Fogo ’87 a few months ago and got to meet his fiancé, Kevin, whom he planned to marry this fall. Laura Starbling Kowalewski has three beautiful daughters, Allie, Maddie, and Morgan. Allie was to attend U.Va. this fall. In early June, Kelly Gould Stewart’s daughter and my goddaughter, Joie, graduated from St. Margaret’s School in Tappahannock, Virginia. Joie was to attend Drew University this fall. In June, Kim Jones Isaac ’87 stayed with me during the Class of ’86 reunion. I also see Michelle Martin for lunch at Sammy T’s in Fredericksburg every few months. Like most in our graduating class I hit 50 this year! Susan Thomasson Coleman, Tricia Tosi Willis (transferred out after our sophomore year), and I were planning a celebration this fall. Sue has three kids, Wes in college; Allie who was to be a Mary Wash Legacy this year; and Emma, in high school. Both of Tricia’s kids graduated from college this year – Michael Tyler from West Point and Maddy from Penn State. Jen Smith took a trip to Mexico to celebrate her 50th! Michael Hendron moved to San Francisco in 2005, after working 12 years at the Smithsonian Institution as a decorative arts conservator. He married Bill Quinn, his partner of 10 years, in 2014. Michael is the assistant verger at Grace Cathedral. He is president of the Reed Organ Society.

After reunion, Kim Jones Isaac ’87 went to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and hiked on the Blue Ridge Parkway. U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A R Y WA S H I N G T O N M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 1 6

CLASS NOTES

1989 Leah Wilson Munnis leah.munnis@verizon.net Beth Mazza Robertson and Lance own Robertson Consulting Group, a small-business consulting company they run from home in the San Francisco Bay Area. Son Henry is a high school junior, and daughter Emily is in ninth grade. Beth hopes both kids will look at East Coast colleges when the time comes. Tina Forbes Pullen of Chesapeake, Virginia, was happy that daughter Leslie was going to UMW this fall, in the Class of 2020. Son Phillip was to start law school at the University of North Carolina. Tina and Phil celebrated their 25th anniversary in July. She works

I started working at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in February and planned to pursue a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in the fall, studying systems engineering with a focus on cybersecurity.

1990 Susan Crytzer Marchant march66358@verizon.net

1991 Shannon Eadie Niemeyer sfniemeyer@comcast.net It was great to see so many of you in June at our 25th reunion. Highlights included the Friday night class party, the picnic on campus, campus tours, trolley

Robin Carrier ’89’s son is a UMW Talon Award scholarship recipient. in public affairs for the federal government. Robin Carrier’s son, Wyatt Lipscomb, also was to start at UMW in August as a Talon Award recipient. Kara Thurmond and her husband, Andrew Amelinckx, recently launched an online shop, Fellow Well Met, which specializes in vintage and handcrafted men’s gifts and accessories. Kara is also a freelance graphic designer and lives in Catskill, New York.

rides to Carl’s, wine and beer tasting, and music from the Rabble Rousers. Our class was well-represented. In mid-May, Billy Germelman and many other Class of ’91 Westmoreland Hall residents gathered with other classmates to celebrate the life of Jennifer “Jenny Wren” Collins Dolan ’92, who passed away after a valiant battle with cancer. Wynn Yarbrough delivered a heartfelt eulogy.

Meghan Baldwin Lau and her family recently moved to Katy, Texas. Her older daughter, Rachel, moved with them, and her younger daughter, Hannah, is a student at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Billy works with Cetan Corp. as a solutions delivery project manager. In April, he became a grandfather to Bronson Bandy, who lives in Massaponax, Virginia, with his mom and dad. Billy’s youngest son, Andrew, was to attend VCU to study nursing.

Mike Tringale was accepted into a postgraduate program to study healthcare research and bioethics at the University of Oxford. He planned to study part time and keep his full-time job.

In April, Lyn Cizek married Tim Crist in Richmond. Sandra Richardson Coombs, Cynthia Dyche Coray, Kelli Miller Slunt, and Jonathan Stutzman ’89 attended.

Mike Tringale ’89 was accepted into a postgraduate program in healthcare research and bioethics at the University of Oxford. 48

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Bob Buchanan ’91 retired as chief information officer for the U.S. Secret Service. After nearly eight years in Canada, Nicole LaPorte Parker, husband Carl, and 11-year-old twins Chase and Emma recently returned to the United States and settled in a suburb of Cleveland. Bob Buchanan retired as chief information officer for the U.S. Secret Service, retired from the Navy Reserve as a lieutenant commander, and was running as a write-in candidate for president of the United States. Please keep in touch. It is always wonderful to hear from you! Reminder: Print updates are edited due to space limitations; however, the unedited version is available online.

1992 Courtney Hall Harjung charjung@hotmail.com In February, Tom and I moved to Mobile, Alabama, where Tom is working on the tallest suspension bridge of its kind in the country. I am responsible for the newcomers column, a new feature on the Visit Mobile website. After a brief illness, my grandfather passed away just before Father’s Day. Our cat Leo, part of our family for 15 years, also passed away. I look forward to seeking out alumni in the Mobile area.

helped organize the parents’ group, and her son Andrew LaMarca ’19 is one of the players. Kris Kabza ’91 has coached the women’s team for more than 20 years, winning a national championship a couple of years ago. Susan Rankin has worked for Fairfax County Public Schools for more than 20 years. She received a master’s degree in library science from Catholic University and has been a librarian for eight years at Flint Hill Elementary School in Vienna, Virginia. She lives in Herndon, Virginia, with husband Chip Smith and sons Cameron, 17, and Clayton, 8. Melissa E. Brugh and Myrna White know some of the same people but never met until the hospital where Myrna works – Martha Jefferson in Charlottesville – began integrating with Melissa’s employer, Sentara. Melissa works in Sentara’s IT department, based in Virginia Beach. Kate Gordon Crossman and Matt of Lexington, Virginia, have been married for 24 years. Kate is director of online communications and branding for Virginia Military Institute. Son William Henry was a sophomore at the College of William and Mary, daughter Elle was a high school senior, and daughter Claire was wrapping up elementary school. Kate’s roommate at Mary Wash was Carol Holsinger Zuraf, and their

Courtney Hall Harjung ’92 writes the newcomers column on the Visit Mobile (Alabama) website. Tim Brown ’95 says the men’s rugby club has seen significant contributions from 65 alums this year. Walter Martin ’88 has traveled to away games and helped students find jobs. John Jay Radshaw ’93 helped organize alums to raise funds. Adrian Martinez ’13 helped organize training camps. Jerry Podorski ’00 has gone on tour with the club twice, helped with games and weekend events, and had numerous students intern for him at the DEA. Amy LaMarca

friends included Gil Walker and Kevin Walker. Amy Morgen Liebert has been married to Karl Liebert ’93 for 22 years. Their son, Kal, is a junior at Old Dominion University, and their daughter, Morgen, is a junior in high school. They live in Burke, Virginia. Karl works for Boeing, and Amy is an office manager for a chiropractic office in Arlington. They get together with Edna Coste Borchetta, Jennifer Peterson Riggle ’93, Amy Larsen DeCarlo ’93, and Suzy Cole Ferger

a few times a year. Suzy lives in Odenton, Maryland, with husband Kevin and sons Cole, 10, and Rory, 7. She is a program manager for a federal government contractor in Washington, D.C. Mike “Gunner” Nelson’s daughter Savannah was on a travel softball team that won the USSSA 12U Virginia State Championship in June. Daughter Kaitlyn, who is a senior this fall, was considering colleges including UMW. For several years, Jeff Miers ’91 and Mike have worked together at Copper River Information Technology. William Rice ’90 was good friends with Jennifer “Jenny Wren” Collins Dolan, who passed away April 17 after being diagnosed with cancer five years ago. At her beautiful service at Leesburg Presbyterian Church on May 7, Arty Vogt read a reflective psalm and Wynn Yarbrough ’91 spoke. Many classmates attended. Tevin Chaney really enjoyed

in the Chicago suburbs. Their older daughter is an EMT and is working toward an ICU nursing career. Their younger daughter is a senior in high school who loves theater and wants to be a chemist. Jon works for a privately held software company and is a mental health advocate, leading a group called Fresh Hope and blogging for BPHope. Tama works in the technology division of SunTrust Bank and is pursuing a seminary degree. She leads retreats, speaks at her church, and blogs about faith and life. Jennifer Cochran Page lives in Northern Virginia and planned to visit Mary Washington as the ’92 women’s soccer team was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Kathy Opiela King is chief communications officer for Folio Investing. Teresa Duncan was named a top leader in dental consulting for the second year in a row. Her teenage

Melissa Czarnecki ’94 was training for Ironman Maryland. the Class of 91’s 25th reunion, where he saw Anne Thompson Mendez ’91, Barbara Elwell Carmichael ’91, Rachel Schmeller Crout and husband Eric, Libby Johnston Ross and Scott Ross, Billy Germelman ’91, Luke Peterschmidt ’91, Shannon Eadie Niemeyer ’91, Denise Mickelson Campbell ’91, Danielle Masters Szenas ’91, Mark Mesterhazy ’91, Amy Rose LaPierre ’91, Todd Stayin and wife Laura, Julie Lail Porter, Mary Ryan Cox, Megan Donnelly ’91, Rene Rios, Steve Lee and Lindsay Mast Lee ’93, Steve Wohleking ’91, Tammy Leigh Tucker ’91, Mike Antonio, Evan Stiles ’91, and Lisa Sellers Shepheard ’91. You can read more about the reunion and about UMW rugby in the unedited class notes online.

1993 Cheryl L. Roberts Heuser chatatcha@yahoo.com Bethany Zecher Sutton bethanyzechersutton@gmail.com Jon and Tama Welch Press live

son achieved the rank of junior master scuba diver. Ngozi Obi is a pharmacist in Virginia and has released her third book, Love’s Legacy. Stacey Renee Bailey James recently published her second book, Successful Leadership Principles: Common Sense Advice for Every Stage of Your Career. Cheryl Roberts Heuser caught up with several MWC alumni recently. Cheryl had dinner in Tampa with Felicia Baxter, a doctor. Cheryl visited with Amy Cole in Denver. Amy is an attorney with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and stays active running, playing the bassoon, and singing in a choral group.

1994 Nathan Wade smileynate72@yahoo.com Melissa Czarnecki was training for Ironman Maryland in Cambridge, Maryland. Shannon M. Kasley is a partner at

King & Spalding, an international law firm. He works in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, handling civil and criminal matters for a large oil and gas client. Shannon and his family live on a 10-acre farm about 30 miles north of D.C., where wife Amy and daughters ages 9 and 12 keep their five horses. Shannon, Sean Mahoney, Kevin Ahearn, and Allen “Al” Wolstenholme take an annual RV

visited New York for a conference in May. Sarah is the director of a preschool in Olney, Maryland. Kira Stchur Villarreal and husband Eddie bought a home in San Antonio. My husband and I visited them and their Great Dane, Gershwin, for a housewarming in April. I also connected with Joselle Poblete Duncan ’98 when I was visiting San Francisco on a business trip. Hoping to share memories with many of you in

Jason Tootell ’97 and his wife welcomed their fourth child in December. trip to Penn State for a football game.

1995 Jane Archer jane@janearcherillustration.com

1996 Jennifer Rudalf Gates jeni17@me.com Jill McDaniel jillmcdaniel215@gmail.com

1997 Michelle Trombetta michelletrombetta@gmail.com Renae Barnes married Mary Vanderklok on June 1 and honeymooned on Isla Mujeres. Renae, Mary, and their 12-year-old, Lukas, are ecstatic. Jason Tootell and wife Rhodaline of Loudoun County, Virginia, welcomed their fourth child, Maddox Avery Tootell, in

June for our *gasp* 20th reunion.

1998 Erika Giaimo Chapin erikagchapin@gmail.com Lee Ann Reaser welcomed son Peyton Reaser in April 2016. Lee Ann lives in Fredericksburg and works for our alma mater in the advancement office.

1999 Amanda Goebel Thomas goebel_amanda@hotmail.com Matthew Jondrow is special projects development team lead with a NASA contractor in Hampton, Virginia. They focus on programming systems that process satellite data for the international community. He also works with unmanned aerial systems – drones – and iPhone application programming. Marty Molloy of Wallingford, Pennsylvania, is a nonprofit execu-

Marty Molloy ’99 is a nonprofit executive with YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School. December 2015. Mai T. Trinh spoke about mindfulness, relaxation, and workplace productivity as the keynote speaker for the annual Innovation Health appreciation luncheon. Sarah Meyrowitz Meytin was grateful for the hospitality extended by Dan and Stephanie O’Connor Shockley when she

tive with YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School and teaches at Chestnut Hill College. He wrote a nice note recalling his experiences as a Mary Washington political science major and some inspiring discussions with Professor Stephen Farnsworth. You can read Marty’s reminiscence online, in the unedited class notes.

U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A R Y WA S H I N G T O N M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 1 6

CLASS NOTES

2000 No Class Agent classnotes@umw.edu Danielle “Dani” Williams Kruer lives in Chesapeake, Virginia, with husband Gregg and their children, 12-year-old twins Evan and Alexis and 8-year-old Lucas. Dani is a staff attorney for the Chesapeake Circuit Court. Reena Desai recently was accepted into the graduate fellows program of the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area. The fellowship allows participants to explore the role of the United Nations in global affairs through internships and seminars. Kate Amey Degnan is an assistant professor of psychology at Catholic University in Washington,

Columbia University journalism school – in September 2014. They live in Brooklyn, New York. Benjamin writes business stories for the Guardian and auto industry analysis for Car and Driver. He was directing a video series for Time featuring his misadventures restoring a rusted-out Toyota Land Cruiser. Daniela Kelley Sicuranza and Chris Sicuranza ’98 celebrated their 10th anniversary this year by heli-hiking, glacier trekking, and zip lining in the Canadian Rockies. They have children ages 6 and 4. Daniela has been class agent for several years but says it’s time to pass the baton. Anyone interested in becoming class agent should email classnotes@umw.edu.

The United Nations Association of the National Capital Area accepted Reena Desai ’00 into its graduate fellows program.

D.C. Kate and Matt Degnan ’99 have children ages 8 and 5 and live in Falls Church, Virginia. Kristin DeGraff Branson and husband Jonathan welcomed daughter Emerson in June. John Friday released his fourth album of original music in 2015. In 2016, he got married and his second grandchild was born. Robb Easton-Mullins is a freelance scenographer, opening a world premiere at Boston Playwrights’ Theatre. He is an associate professor of design and associate chair of Wake Forest University’s Department of Theatre and Dance. He recently completed his fourth charity motorcycle ride with Long Reach Long Riders, raising money for Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS and Behind the Scenes. Benjamin Preston married Juliana Schatz – a documentary film producer and classmate from the

2001 Annie Bates Johnston anniebatesjohnston@gmail.com The Class of 2001 enjoyed a great 15th reunion in June, as our very own Angela Mills was elected president of the Alumni Association. Let’s support her volunteer leadership term by participating in Alumni Association activities! Last fall I traveled with Madelyn Marino and Jennifer Amore to Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. In Estonia, Madelyn completed another half-marathon, while I ran a 10k. Jason Lane ’03 and Michael traveled from their home in Switzerland to meet us for the Finland portion of our vacation. Madelyn, Jennifer, and I planned a trip to the Rocky Mountains this summer and another international vacation in 2017.

Benjamin Preston ’00 directed a video series for Time featuring his misadventures restoring a rusted out Toyota Land Cruiser. 50

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Teresa Joerger Mannix ’01 is assistant dean for communications for the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. Madelyn also continues to pursue her goal of running a half marathon in every U.S. state. This year she planned to race in Boise and Yosemite with Jen Amore; New Mexico with me; and New Orleans, Nashville, South Carolina, and Asbury Park, New Jersey. Beth Waters Hunsinger is UMW’s director of annual giving and loves working for our alma mater. She lives in Spotsylvania, Virginia, with husband Brent and 10-yearold son Jackson. Thanks to all of our classmates who participated in the Race for the Eagle – we raised more than $100,000 for the university! Shari Wilcox is associate director for the Center of Culture, History, and the Environment at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Lauren Smith Flora lives in Roanoke and is an associate professor of communication sciences and disorders at Radford University. She and husband Adam are parents of Calder and Riley. Lauren Oviatt Brennan is an editor at Sidecar Post. We knew she had talent when she designed the homecoming shirt our senior year at MWC, which was on display at our reunion tent. Laura Reigle Campling lives outside of Reading, Pennsylvania, and is the proud mom of Grace and Ben. Kelly Turcic Bailey is director of alumni engagement at Slippery Rock University. Children Lily and Aiden have moved her into the soccer mom demographic she studied under Dr. Farnsworth. Teresa Joerger Mannix is assistant dean for communications for the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. She was elected president of the College Communicators Association of Virginia and the District of Columbia at its 25th anniversary meeting. Teresa visited campus last spring to honor longtime cross country and track coach Stan Soper, who retired. Caroline Jarvis works for a charity investment manager in London and planned to visit nine countries

this year with her boyfriend. She ran the NYC marathon last year and was considering another in 2017. Christina Wills Chaney and James Chaney ’02 welcomed second daughter Cecilia in July 2015. Son Colin graduated from high school in June. Solson Scherman lives in Costa Rica with partner Karol and their 1-year-old daughter, Olivia. Solson is a custom travel agent and photographer. Karol Kozak Lester and husband David of Charlottesville, Virginia, welcomed Elijah James on April 22. Big sister Lila and big brother Hayes love him to pieces. Kim Kelley Winslow is a senior audit manager with KPMG. Chris Winslow practices law at Winslow & McCurry in Midlothian, Virginia. Laura Indzeris Johnson and Tom Johnson ’97 welcomed their second daughter, Elizabeth Virginia, in September 2015. Sarah Osborn Barwick and husband Jason expected their second child, a boy, this September. Three-year-old big sister Lily eagerly awaited his arrival. Rachel Sykes Meyers is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administration at Rutgers University. She and her husband live in northern New Jersey with their two daughters. Virginia Green Bartlett and husband Shane welcomed daughter Latham in February, joining big sister Sophia and big brother Ellison. Lesia Kindrat-Pratt bought a home in Fairport, New York, where she works in communications. She completed her seventh home with Flower City Habitat for Humanity Women Build and continues to volunteer for a therapeutic riding program.

2002 Travis Jones tljones8@gmail.com Carolyn Murray Spencer turtlecjm@yahoo.com

Loving Life in Community

n the decade after Alyssa Martin ’96 graduated from Mary Washington College with a degree in economics and Spanish, life took a series of unexpected turns. She left graduate school after a semester, moved to Colorado, and worked odd jobs before becoming a certified professional midwife. She loved her calling, but not the toll it took. She worked all the time just to pay the bills, and it was nearly impossible to schedule time off. By 2006, she felt unfulfilled and disillusioned. “I knew that wasn’t sustainable or how I wanted to live in the world,” Martin said. “I wondered if there was a way for me to find more balance in life.” The answer was in a magazine article about a place called Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, a 280-acre commune in Rutledge, Missouri, devoted to sustainable living. Members live independently but agree to community rules, like building their homes using alternative techniques and powering them with renewable energy. They grow their food and own cars cooperatively. Martin was intrigued by the possibility of simplifying her life, of living on less money, of having an opportunity to do things she enjoyed. “My family at first was curious. One of my grandfathers was really worried. He called the state senator from Missouri to find out if there was anything negative about Dancing Rabbit, to make sure it wasn’t a cult,” Martin said with a laugh. “It’s not a cult.” She operates a small midwifery practice, lives in a mortgage-free house she and partner Tony built from straw bales, cooks on a wood stove, and home-schools 8-year-old son Zane. She cultivates a garden that supplies much of what the family eats and fits in hobbies she once had no time for – knitting, skiing, and Ultimate Frisbee. “My son lives in a community of people who all know him,” Martin said. “We don’t lock our doors. We feel very safe and comfortable here because we know and have a relationship with our neighbors.”

There are challenges, too – for example, solving conflicts in the 50-member community, where decisions are made by consensus. Martin is treasurer of the group’s vehicle cooperative and one of five members who make up the Dancing Rabbit Village Council, the community’s primary decision-making body. And in these roles, in this life that is fuller than she once dared to hope, she leans on what she learned two decades ago at Mary Washington. There are the budgetary and long-term planning skills she learned in the pursuit of

“I wondered if there was a way for me to find more balance in life.” – Alyssa Martin

Aaron Murphy

her degree. And small classes gave her Midwife Alyssa Martin lives with her the opportunity to think independently. family at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, “I figured out how to work with a a commune devoted to sustainable group of people to solve problems. I living. developed closer relationships with professors and felt valued and smart and capable both from them and my classmates,” Martin said. She also worked as a student manager for two years at the Eagle’s Nest. “It was a lot of responsibility. I could jump into that role at a small school. It gave me confidence.” – Kristin Davis U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A R Y WA S H I N G T O N M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 1 6

CLASS NOTES Leslie Brians ’05 was named the 2016 Fort Bragg Military Spouse of the Year. Andrew Mertz was ordained in May as a Unitarian Universalist minister. Last year he and his wife moved to Hayward, California. Christina Meluzio Morehouse and husband Walter welcomed baby boy Alden Joseph in September 2015. Christina, a licensed clinical psychologist, has a private practice, Meluzio Psychological Services, in Stafford, Virginia.

2003 Jessica Brandes jessbrandes@yahoo.com Meredith Camp Rhodes and Jimmy Rhodes ’99 welcomed twins Peyton Olivia and Declan James in November 2015. Meredith is an instructional designer for a government contract company in Washington, D.C., and Jimmy is director of financial services at the American Diabetes Association in Alexandria, Virginia. They live in Woodbridge, Virginia. Stefani Miller and her husband moved to Durham, North Carolina, in April. They have a 1-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter. Stefani has a private counseling practice in Durham.

2004 Sameer Vaswani sameervaswani@msn.com Andrew Blate and Jessie ThomasBlate ’03 live in Fairfax, Virginia, with son Leo. Andrew owns Beautiful Home Services, a remodeling and home improvement company. Sage Shaw lives in Bilbao, Spain, where she attends Deusto Business School’s executive MBA program and works for Deusto Business School Health in the area of chronic disease management. LoriAnn Maresca Solano lives on Long Island, New York, with her husband and daughter, and they expected their second child this fall. She is a licensed behavior analyst, providing services for children, families, and schools. Annie Mazes married Stefan

W. Spezio in October 2015 in Astoria, Queens, where they live. Bridesmaids included MWC roommates Claire Burke, Courtney Oser, and Summer Edell. Annie is director of library marketing at Workman Publishing Co. and Stefan is director of academic enhancement at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York. They planned a honeymoon to Spain and the south of France. Jess Kreider Hilliard and family welcomed baby Jaxon Ellis Hilliard in May. Sameer Vaswani was promoted to senior diabetes care specialist with Novo Nordisk.

2005 Allyson “Ally” V. Lee allyvlee@gmail.com Leslie Leffke Brians was named the 2016 Fort Bragg Military Spouse of the Year. She lives in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with her husband, Maj. Obadiah Brians. She is the co-founder and creative director of InDependent, a nonprofit organization serving military spouses. Cara Stout is an education consultant for Compass Learning in Austin, Texas. The Class of 2005 has had quite the baby boom. My husband, Rob, and I welcomed son Hunter Thomas in June. Laura Rawlett Taylor and husband Brandon welcomed daughter Eleanor Quinn in December 2015. Kimberly Pittman Gordon and husband Shamus Gordon ’06 welcomed daughter Tierney Mae in February. Kathryn Amirpashaie Kwiatkowski and husband Brent welcomed son Caleb in April. Abbey Meyrick Iliff and husband Jesse welcomed daughter Willow in April. Willow joined big brother Baxter. Nina Deboeck Wieczorek and husband Chris welcomed their fourth child, Vincent John, in June.

2006 Shana A. Muhammad email.shana@gmail.com Carl Frank Puleo cfpuleo@gmail.com Rebecca J. Barnabi lives in Staunton and is city editor of The Waynesboro News-Virginian. Christy Morris Magyar and husband Billy welcomed identical twin girls, Megan Michelle and Molly Anne, in February Sara O’Brien Cowling and husband Nicholas live in Baltimore and welcomed daughter Nora Elizabeth in January. Adrienne Hagen earned a Ph.D. in classics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and married Craig Dietz of Auburn, Nebraska.

Alison Baker Berry is a sustainability consultant at JDM Associates in Falls Church, where she supports national building efficiency programs. Husband Scott Berry is a lobbyist for the Associated General Contractors of America. Allison Chin Procious and husband Greg bought a home in May near Charlottesville, Virginia, the same week he graduated with distinction with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from the University of Virginia.

Courtland E. Crenshaw ’09 earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

2007

2008

Jay Sinha jay.sinha@alumni.umw.edu

Trish Lauck Trish.lauck@gmail.com

Daniel Clendenin Daniel.clendenin@gmail.com

Alyssa Lee Alyssa.linda.lee@gmail.com

Sarah Eckman sarahje@gmail.com Jay Sinha served on the UMW presidential search committee that helped select President Troy Paino. Jay recently joined the board of directors of the ACLU of Virginia, and supports HHS with their data privacy goals as part of Booz Allen Hamilton. Jennifer Wagar married Dustin Fulford in Woodbridge, Virginia, in May. Mary Wash classmates Joshua Rutherford, Marshall Vogt, and Jen Merritt attended. The couple honeymooned in Venice, Italy, and Edinburgh, Scotland. Elizabeth “Liz” Williams Nichols, husband Jonathan, and

Isaac Kassock ’08 teaches at Fredericksburg’s Saint Michael the Archangel High School.

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big brothers Max and Charlie welcomed baby Thomas Joseph in May. They live in Midlothian, Virginia. Katie Donohue McMillan was recently hired as the innovation portfolio manager at Duke Health in Durham, North Carolina.

Isaac Kassock works at St. Michael the Archangel High School in Fredericksburg. A teacher, he served as interim principal for part of the year. Charles Brown and wife Lindsey Marie Smith Brown ’12 are the parents of Jackson Wyatt Brown, born in November 2015. Jeremy Bloom and partner Robert Hubbard moved to San Diego, California, in 2015. Jeremy works for the American Civil Liberties Union. On a Virginia visit, he saw Kaitlyn Gardy, Ford Hamaker, Emmanuel Dabney, Lauren McMillan, and Denise Erickson Hamilton. Alyssa Lee is annual giving manager for Northern Virginia Family Service, a nonprofit based in Oakton, Virginia. Last year she traveled to Iceland to see the Northern Lights and Montreal for the Women’s World Cup. She planned to go to Rio de Janeiro for the Summer Olympics with her girlfriend.

Advertising Age listed Fitz Maro ’11 as one of 11 global “Creatives You Should Know.” Jeffrey D. Zeiders received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in 2015. He and wife Mary-Lacey Zeiders live in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he is director of learning and development at a government contracting firm. Jess McKenzie Mays married Zachary in January 2015. Maggie Lilley ’07 attended the reception. They live in Venice Beach, California, where Jess is director of customer success for Twenty20. Ryan Lacey married Elizabeth van Berg in October 2014. They honeymooned in Maui and live in Fairfax, Virginia. Karin Curtis moved to Los Angeles with her fiancé and is an attorney at Gordon & Rees in commercial litigation. Emily Frank Poulin and husband Josh welcomed their second baby, Thomas, in May.

Brent Monseur started an OB/ GYN residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals in Philadelphia after completing his M.D. at the Medical College of Virginia. He served three years on the board of Medical Students for Choice and participated in NASA’s aerospace medicine clerkship at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Charlotte Rowell Sellier and husband Joel welcomed their third daughter, Margaux Claire, in September. In June, Courtland E. Crenshaw earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is continuing his training in emergency medicine at Case Western MetroHealth/Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

Jeslyn Thomas married Jomy Methipara in Chicago in June. Amy Brewer, Sarah Price, Sherin Stephen, and Julia Sullivan ’07 attended. Jeslyn is a third-year medical student at Ross University, and her husband is a patent attorney. They live in Arlington, Virginia.

2009 Elizabeth Jennings elizabethsjennings@gmail.com Alexandra Meier alexandra.m.meier@gmail.com

Andrew Hogan Andrew.hogan819@gmail.com

Kira Lanewala klanewala@gmail.com

Christian Vega is a third-year law student at the University of

Elizabeth Crowe ’12 plans to teach English in Chile before heading to Uruguay to teach on a Fulbright grant. Fitz Maro was named by Advertising Age magazine as one of 11 global “Creatives You Should Know.”

Michelle Bond Kappert michellekappert@gmail.com

2012

Kelly Caldwell kellyecaldwell@gmail.com

Mandi Solomon msolomon211@gmail.com

William Backus is the author of A Want of Vigilance: The Bristoe Station Campaign, October 9-19, 1863, recently published by Savas Beatie. Matthew Brooks and Michelle Esch-Brooks, business and marketing manager for UMW Residence Life, welcomed daughter Teresa Ann in July 2015.

Courtney Melchione received her doctorate of optometry and planned to move to Guatemala to work in a community health clinic.

Laura Summers married John Patrick Maher III in May. They

Amanda Buckner McVicker amandabuckner1@gmail.com

Hannah Hopkins hannahhopkins89@gmail.com

2011

2010

In April, Jonathan Wigginton and Erin Cox ’11 were married in Cleveland, Ohio. Jonathan proposed to Erin in Monroe Hall, where the two had met in early 2009 for the annual European Capitals Tour orientation.

2013

From Amanda: Paola Alexandra Maldonado-Torres received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Richmond’s T.C. Williams School of Law in May. She earned the Carrico Center Pro Bono Certificate for completing more than 300 hours of pro bono legal work.

Sadly, Genine Catherine Geissler passed away on July 27, 2016.

Rachael Wonderlin lives in Pittsburgh, where she is director of memory care at a senior living community. She is the author of When Someone You Know Is Living in a Dementia Care Community, which was published by Johns Hopkins University Press in October. She blogs at Dementia By Day.

Johns Hopkins University Press published Rachael Wonderlin ’11’s When Someone You Know Is Living in a Dementia Care Community. Samantha Staebell Bosserman is director of communications and board development for the Virginia School Boards Association. She and husband David live in Waynesboro, Virginia, where Sam was elected president of the Kiwanis Club. She also has been very involved in Relay for Life.

live in Chesterfield, Virginia. James Garman and Kelly Landau Garman expected their first child in August. Rebecca Groman married Charles Griffin in June, and they expected a child in September. Sarah Payne married Matthew Belardi in April. They live in Baltimore.

Matthew DeMarr ’10 and Chrissy Boyer DeMarr welcomed their second child, a daughter, Mary Anna Lynne. Elizabeth Crowe completed a master’s degree in education from George Mason University and received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Uruguay from March to November 2017. Before heading to Uruguay, Elizabeth planned to teach English in Chile for several months.

Richmond School of Law. He was a summer clerk in Fairfax, Virginia, for Surovell Isaacs Petersen & Levy. Shelby Sanders received a master’s degree in earth and atmospheric sciences from the University of Alberta in June. I married William H. McVicker III in October 2015. The bridal party included Kat Dickinson ’12 and Emily Sherman ’14, and guests included Jen Crystle, Kate Johnson, and Ashley Nixon ’12.

2014 Stephanie Preston sepreston91@gmail.com Elizabeth Storey estorey@mail.usf.edu

2015 Evan Smallwood esmallwood15@gmail.com

2016 No Class Agent classnotes@umw.edu

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CLASS NOTES

IN MEMORIAM Frances Sherman Spencer ’37 Rhea Tannen ’38 Janie Crowder Boyd ’39 Elizabeth Frayser Brockman ’40 Marion Snead Cole ’40 Irella Lawson Bloxom ’41 Lake Cox Lee ’41 Anne Beal Gray ’42 Clelia Petruccelli Higgins ’42 Lucy James ’42 Anne Givler Lindsay ’42 Hilda Hodges Moody ’42 Lottie Brockwell Waters ’42 Ruth Westcott Hale ’44 Lilias Scott Keel ’44 Virginia McCartney Newcombe ’44 Helen Martha Vest Larkins ’45 Helen Webb Kei ’46 Vivian M. Wilkerson ’46 Mary Anderson Burroughs ’47 Carol Schwartz Robbins ’47 Beverly Payne Thompson ’47 Jeanne Farrington Leslie ’49 Dolores M. Ross ’49 Lee Pelham Rowe ’49 Jacquelyn “Jackie” McConnell Scarborough ’49 Gladys Riddle Whitesides ’49 Lucille Schoolcraft Commander ’50 Winston Jones Lata ’50 Elise Cleary Rawson ’50 Josephine Johnson Casler ’51 Brooke Woods Frautschi ’51 Anne Sapp Morrison ’52 Shirley Gibson Boyd ’54 Gayle Fox Duys ’54 Faith Grace Perlman ’54 Eleanor Jones Perry ’54 Elizabeth “Betsy” Randolph Bear ’55 Patricia Snellings Dyke ’56 Barbara Mead Heishman ’56 Alice Beazley Brown ’57 Barbara Hitchings Gresham ’57 Ruth Taylor Kellam ’57 Kathleen Wall Rice ’57 Florence “Foncie” Lawrence Williamson ’57 Marjorie Smith Starling ’58 JoAnn Dundon Alexander ’59 Susan Taylor Byren ’60 Cynthia “Cyd” Day Getchell ’60 54

Sue May Smyth Lam ’60 Ellen Smith McDaniel ’60 Linda Fuller Watkins ’60 Susan Bostwick ’62 Linda Camper Collingwood ’62 Barbara Schwab Jesser ’62 Grace Tucker Fruit ’63 Barbara Duke Jones ’63 Jayne Abshear Marsh ’63 Kathleen Ullrich McCarthy ’63 Margaret Palmer Valdrighi ’63 Jacquelin Kain Honeycutt ’65 Mary Harmon Litton ’65 Marie Hofer-Kerley ’66 Kathi Gelsleichter Rottiers ’66 Patricia Sinclair ’66 Dale Quel Woods ’66 Mary Coolidge Arthur ’72 Susan Palmer Bender ’72 Kathryn Hanna Honan ’72 Debra Branham Coffey ’73 Anna Puffenberger Constantino ’73 Jacquie Hopkins ’77 April Ticknor Davis ’78 Mary Dalpiaz Baker ’79 James Rufus Trice III ’84 Martha McMurtry Harding ’85 Julie Dickson-Brown ’87 Robert R. Epps Jr. ’87 William H. Pfister ’87 Sally M. Shively ’91 Jennifer Collins Dolan ’92 Joshua E. Lontz ’93 Emmett M. Mann ’03 James A. Polk ’06 Genine Catherine Geissler ’10 Brooke M. Durbin ’11 Patricia Sager-Dean ’12 Mary B. Wilson ’12

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CONDOLENCES Marie Rhodes Cappiello ’51, who lost her husband Elizabeth Smith Hughes ’51, who lost her husband Anne Lou Rohrbach Culwell ’55, who lost her stepson Polly Stoddard Heim ’55, who lost her husband Mary Massey ’59, who lost her husband Edie Weber Staib ’59, who lost her husband Barbara Ashley Firesheets ’61, who lost her husband Hilda Corker Kelly ’61, who lost her sister Lynda Puckett Howell ’62, who lost her husband Patricia Barclift McDermott ’62, who lost her husband Martha Van Zandt Fickett ’63, who lost her husband Barbara Moore Wheeler ’63, who lost her husband Donna Lingo Rauch ’65, who lost her husband Cathy Dover Stetson ’70, who lost her son Esther Adams-Artis ’76, who lost her husband Eva Grace ’76, who lost her father Theresa Young Crawley ’77, who lost her father Lisa Nichols ’80, who lost her husband Elizabeth Fruit ’83, who lost her mother Susan Jones Hollister ’83, who lost her mother Martha Newcombe Reed ’83, who lost her mother Scott C. Boyd ’90, who lost his mother Alison Cerul Lontz ’94, who lost her husband Nicole Rauch Puente ’95, who lost her father William Norfolk ’12, who lost his father Ismael Diakité ’16, who lost his father Jamie Broadhead ’18, who lost her father

OBITUARIES Professor Emeritus of Computer Science John H. Reynolds passed away Tuesday, June 21, 2016, after a long illness. A native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he served in the Navy before earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Southeastern State College in Oklahoma and a master’s degree in computer science from SUNY at Stony Brook, New York. He worked for the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Dahlgren from 1966 to 1981, departing for what was supposed to be a one-year faculty assignment at Mary Washington. It was a success, and Reynolds continued teaching until his retirement from UMW in 2004. He helped design the major in computer science, served as chair of the Department of Computer Science, and received the Grellet Simpson Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching. Reynolds was an active member of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, where he served on the administrative board and as an usher. His wife, Professor Emerita of Spanish Joanna L. Reynolds, survives him. Other survivors include a sister, a daughter, three sons, and several grandchildren.

Professor Emeritus of English Sidney H. Mitchell, 89, passed away June 13, 2016. A graduate of Swarthmore College, he began teaching English at Mary Washington as an instructor in 1954. He earned a master’s degree and a doctorate from the University of Virginia. He served as department chair from 1967 to 1970, and in 1973 he received the second-ever Grellet Simpson Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching.

The Mitchells were among faculty who established Mary Washington’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in 1971, and Sidney Mitchell was its first president. The couple retired from Mary Washington in 1987 and eventually settled on a farm in West Virginia. At the time of his death, Sidney Mitchell lived in Blacksburg, Virginia. One son survives them.

Sidney Mitchell was the husband of Professor Emerita of English Nancy H. Mitchell, who passed away at 83 on Oct. 1, 2014. Nancy Mitchell also was a Swarthmore graduate. She earned a master’s degree from Yale University and a doctorate from Catholic University of America. Sidney Mitchell She joined the Mary Washington faculty in 1960, served as assistant dean of the college in the early 1970s, and received the Grellet Simpson Award in 1978. She received a State Council of Higher Education for Virginia outstanding faculty award in 1987.

Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Political Science Lewis P. Fickett Jr., 89, passed away May 17, 2016. He joined the faculty in 1963 and taught at Mary Washington for 38 years, during which time he mentored hundreds of students through constitutional law and coached an award-winning debate club. He served as chair of the Department of Political Science and International Affairs.

Nancy Mitchell

University. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and saw combat in the Battle of Okinawa. Before coming to Mary Washington, he served in Germany and Algeria with the U.S. Foreign Service. He was the author of three books and numerous articles related to his scholarly focus on Indian politics.

In 1995, Dr. Fickett received the Grellet Simpson Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching.

A progressive Democrat, he served four terms in the Virginia House of Delegates, advocating for free textbooks for schoolchildren, protections for teachers, worker safety, and greater state support for education.

A graduate of Bowdoin College, he earned a law degree at Harvard Law School and a doctorate from Harvard

Dr. Fickett is survived by his wife, Professor Emerita of Music Martha Van Zandt Fickett ’63, and three children.

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CLOSING COLUMN

The Mesmeric Medinas of Morocco By Lydia Grossman

A peer adviser with the Center for International Education, Lydia Grossman ’17 studied in Rabat, Morocco, last spring. She wrote this essay about her neighborhood there. Back on campus this semester, the Louisville, Kentucky, native is studying international affairs and environmental sustainability. She has done service work and taken leadership roles with UMW Habitat for Humanity and alternative spring break.

here is no place in the world that can quite compare to the medinas of Morocco. The “medina qadima,” which literally means old city, is where I had the pleasure of living in the capital city of Rabat, Morocco. For four months, I walked through the crowded, noisy streets of the medina to go to and from my daily classes. Though my feelings on the medina were of the love/ hate variety, I can say that living there was probably the most defining aspect of my study-abroad experience. When you go through one of the narrow arched entrances to the medina, the sights, smells, and sounds immediately overwhelm your senses. Street food cooks, beggars sing, vendors yell out prices, cats wander around – the quantity of stray cats in Morocco is mind-blowing – and locals slowly push their way through the

crowds. On my street there was quite a display of foods being cooked right in front of you: fried eggplant, fresh bread, sausages, snail soup, and most noticeably, several large mystery animal heads being steamed. I came to know some of the shop owners and bakers in the medina, and their excitement at my use of broken Arabic perfectly embodies the hospitality and friendliness that is such an important part of Moroccan culture. Living in a country where you only sort of speak the language is often humbling and frustrating, but the medina was one place where I felt comfortable sounding like a 4-year-old. There were days when the thought of walking through the medina was daunting, but a glance at the friendly faces of shop owners and seeing my favorite medina cat always brightened my day. Studying in Morocco was challenging, but every day promised an adventure. Upon returning to the U.S., I found that my perspective on the world had changed, just by spending a few months surrounded by a culture and people so different from my own. Studying abroad gave me the opportunity to continue my studies of international affairs, improve my Arabic, and push myself to do things I never thought I was capable of. I returned to the U.S. with not only souvenirs and fond memories, but also a confidence in myself and in my ability to thrive in new situations. I know that I will travel many more places in the future and expand my understanding of the world around me. The medina of Rabat became my home, and I can’t wait to see it again. Lydia Grossman overlooks Chefchaouen, Morocco, also known as “The Blue Pearl.”

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Heads Up! Not long after new students arrived on campus in August, more than half of the 989-member freshman class gathered on Ball Circle to be part of this aerial photo of the Class of 2020. Behind them is the University Center, a gathering place where over the next four years theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll eat most of their meals, make lifelong friends, learn to lead, and experience people of different cultures and backgrounds.