Carolyn Cummings Crain '59 and Barbara Foster, daughters of Richard Cummings '32, wrote a lovely tribute to their father, who passed away last October 30. Richard had suffered from cancer for about a year and a half. Throughout the year he spoke of his annual trip to Maine in October. He flew from Los Angeles to Boston with Carolyn on October 16; they rented a car and headed to his wife's hometown of Milo. Many of you may remember his late wife, Barbara Hamlin Cummings '31. He spent five days enjoying the company of his relative, Pearl Hamlin, who is 104, and the beautiful Maine foliage. Although he was able to drive Pearl to the sites, he began to experience more pain, and as a result his plans changed and he returned to California with his daughter Barbara. His condition worsened and he died on October 30. His daughters write that Richard was an "unusual person with an extraordinary love of life, and a multitude of friends. It is hard to think of life without him." . . . Gladys True Phelps '32 visited Maine in the fall of 2000. She had a good visit with Ethel Watt Curtis '32 and Justina Harding Jenkins '32. In September of 2000, Gladys and her husband moved into an in-law apartment that their son built for them. Besides the advantage of being all on one floor, they see the family, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren, much more often than they did in Springfield, Mass. . . . Maynard Waltz '38 sent his questionnaire from his home in Exeter, N.H. He has created a talk, which he has already presented twice, "First 12 Years of the History of Exeter," covering housing, food, government, militia, clothing, etc. His other activities include volunteering for the Hampton, N.H., Historical Society Museum, the board of the Rockingham County Society of Genealogists and the State Mayflower Society. He recommends a book he read recently, Guns, Germs, and Steel, by Jared Diamond. Along with his wife, Kathleen, he enjoys cooking and eating. His children and grandchildren are scattered across the country. . . . Martha Wakefield Falcone '38 proudly announced that her new, very young granddaughter was adopted from China and that her one great-granddaughter was inherited in the all-natural way. Her volunteer activities include escorting friends to the doctor and taking shut-ins on scenic trips in the car. . . . This is the first column written in the new year, and we hope that you and your family are well.
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