ALUMNI PROFILES
Peter Doran '58
A Public Priority

Judi Garcia '63
Real People, Real Needs

Bob Duchesne '75
Egging Him On

Greg Ciottone '87
Drawn to Disaster

Harry R. Wiley '51

Charles J. Hely '68

Mike Swift '85

My apologies for the lack of a newsletter for so long--it's a tough assignment when so little news is forthcoming. With the exception of a great visit from my roomie, Jack Johnston and Nitsy, and a brief note about the Coddington family--Jane (Whipple) and Chad received the Overlook Hospital Lifetime Achievement Award for many significant services and contributions to their local hospital--there had been little in the way of good news. . . . Sad news first. After a long and difficult battle with ALS, Betty Cuthbertson Crossen left this life. For those closest to her, and there were many, she must have been an inspiration; possessed of a quick mind and sharp wit, an effervescent smile and infectious laughter, Betty was very special to all with whom she was in contact. She was truly cherished by all, will be sorely missed, but never forgotten. I can hear her now, saying, "Mouse, get on with this stuff"--and so I shall. . . . Dave and Ruth McDonald Roberts recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. . . . Peter Parsons reports that he is alive and well. Retired from teaching at College of the Holy Cross, he plans on returning to his precious love, music, and he's on the record for planning to attend our 50th reunion in 2005. . . . Kay Hartwell Philipps recently married Ed, whom she met on an Elderhostel ski week, and biked in Europe this past summer, where she met Nancy Moyer Conover '54 while in Provence, France--and all because Ed wore a hat from Maine. . . . Bob and Louise "Pinkie" Fall Achor are parents of four children and 13 grandchildren ranging from 6 to 16. She holds a weekly story hour for a dozen 4 to 13 year olds and continues to serve as pianist and secretary for her beloved church. . . . Betty Harris Smith also is looking forward to our 50th and to traveling more and more. Most recently, on 9/11, she and her family found themselves on a beach in Rhodes, unable to get a flight back to the U.S., so they went to Turkey where they sailed, snorkeled and visited small towns along the coast. She still manages to play a lot of tennis. . . . The Donald P. Lake scholarship award (which goes to the outstanding athlete) was awarded to a Milton (Mass.) High School graduate, Christopher John Daly--and Donny's grandson. . . . Jane Millett Dornish and Karl '54 find themselves well, traveling and involved with their family--something I am sure many of us could also say. . . . Lee Culver Johnson, a "snowbird" much like Jane and myself, recently attended her 50th high school reunion, also attended by Bob and "Sistie" Restal Horne, who flew in from the West Coast. Lee and her husband, Don, are parents of four children and five grandchildren and are both retired. . . . Dave and Nancy Robinson Rollins maintain contact with Dottie Dunn Northcott and her Colby roommate, Johanne Freiheit Broker. . . . To those who made contact, my thanks; to the rest of my classmates--help! A few minutes of your time per year would certainly make this job easier--and you wouldn't have to put up with me when I call, something I am going to attempt to do in '02. I hope you are having a peaceful, safe and healthy year.

--Ken Van Pragg

previous  |  top  |  next

What a great surprise we had recently at a neighborhood holiday open house. One guest was a vivacious, very tall, and handsome gray-haired lady who three years ago had moved to our town's retirement village (the same one where Brownie Brown's mother had lived). It was Harriet Bixler Naughton, daughter of Mary and J. Seelye Bixler. I had bumped into Dr. Bixler, who was an alumnus of Amherst College, on campus many years after graduation, and he remembered who I was and asked for Lou '55 by name. Harriet is a graduate of Smith and is 80 years old! . . . The next day we met Bob Bruns and Evie for our biannual luncheon as they stop on their way north to Vermont. Another Bixler story to savor--Bob throwing in a basket at the very last second to win the game for Colby, and Dr. B. racing out onto the basketball floor and enveloping Bob in a massive bear hug. . . . In September, Janet Nordgren Meryweather had a mini-reunion at her summer camp in Spencer, Mass., including us, Dave and Rosie Crouthamel Sortor, Brownie and Bobbie Barnes Brown, Susan Miller Hunt, Jan Stebbins Walsh and Ellie Shorey Harris '57. Jan's husband, Steen, has been activated by the Coast Guard to help at the station in Bar Harbor. At 76 he has passed his boards and is a fully qualified crewman! I guess life really can begin after 40! . . . Liz Russell Collins spent time this fall in Hawaii and sent a wonderful picture of herelf with John Jubinsky and Tess. . . . We attended homecoming this fall and welcomed the Sortors there as our new Alumni Council reps. During the big football game against Bates (we won, no contest!), the sky darkened, and for five minutes it was "Hail Colby Hail." The field was white by the time it stopped. Our oldest son has moved back to Maine (Cumberland) so we now have a B&B for Colby trips. . . . Thanks to all of you who have sent pictures of reunion. I am making a great album for our 50th. People who attended reunion include the following. Barbara Preston Hayes, who retired in 2000 from the National Academy of Sciences, and is available for private tours if you are visiting D.C. Her daughter lives in Costa Rica and plays violin with the National Symphonia there. Her son is in Norfolk, Va., getting his Ph.D. in physics. Nancy Carroll Luce started with a career in teaching, eventually attended the seminary and is now a retired Presbyterian minister. She spends summers on Peaks Island, Maine, with husband Phil '57. Joanna McCurdy Brunso worked for the state of New York as a transportation planner and has now retired to Green Valley, Ariz. Chris Layer Larson had a great driving trip down the California coast after attending an arts and humanity Elderhostel in San Francisco. Audrey Tanner was back for her very first reunion. I didn't "interview" her as she promised to send me an update. I am waiting, Audrey! It was also the first visit for Mary Ann Papalia Laccabue's husband, Ron. He brought along his guitar and a songbook, and we had a great sing-along led with gusto by Andy Anderson and Dave Sortor. Babs Faltings Kinsman and Warren '57 are leaving New Hampshire to make Datah Island, S.C., their permanent home. They'll spend summers in Ellsworth, Maine. We missed Jane Collins at reunion. Rumor has it that she has retired to St. Augustine, Fla., one of my favorite places. Where are you, Jane? . . . More reunion interviews in my next column. Until then, keep sending news.

--Kathy McConaughy Zambello

top  |  next

All things considered, Bev and Brian Olsen decided that the very best place for them to live year-round would be at Ocean Point, Maine, their summer home for many years. With very happy hearts, they made the move during the summer of 2001. . . . Pat Martin Maloney writes that she returned last October from a musical tour of Dresden, Prague and Budapest. She thoroughly enjoyed those beautiful old cities and especially loved the opera, symphonies and organ concerts in old Prague churches. But her family was very relieved to have her return home safely. Pat says, "See you all at our 45th." . . . Last May and June, Larry '56 and Diane Schnauffer Zullinger bicycled, as part of an organized tour, across the United States--more than 3,200 miles from Los Angeles to Revere Beach near Boston, Mass.! An extraordinary feat beyond comprehension! They have been biking in earnest for 20 years, pedaling through Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy, but in our opinion their trip across our country beats all! Dianne says she feels terrific and 30 years younger. . . . Don't forget the big reunion coming up in June. Lots of excitement in the wind and it appears that the turnout will be strong. So make your plans now, and we'll see you all in June.

--Guy and Eleanor Ewing Vigue

top  |  next

Very slim pickins this time--again. I am sure you don't want another non-column, but we are getting dangerously close to that. Please do take a few minutes right now to fill out the questionnaire and put in just a fact or two. Any and all information is more than welcome. . . . We do have faithful responders. Helen Payson Seager is a semi-retired professor of education. She has been living on Nantucket Island for a number of years and has been very active working as a volunteer for The African Meeting House. Helen is a preservation advocate in an area where people have been ruining historic houses through "gut rehabilitation," as Helen describes it. In addition to this, she continues to sing with her church and community. Her son finished his Ph.D. in environmental engineering at Clarkson University, and her oldest daughter, as reported earlier, has successfully survived advanced-stage Hodgkins disease. Her youngest daughter has remarried, to a classmate from the New York Botanical Gardens. The editor of the columns apologized for leaving out a line about Helen in my column in the winter issue. I wrote about Helen's work at the African Meeting House and its distinguished guests at the awards ceremony. The information about Helen went directly into what I had written about Caroline Hall Hui (the name was spelled Hai in the article), making her the distinguished guest. The last sentence should have read: "Among the distinguished guests at the awards ceremony was the noted African-American actor, Ossie Davis." The sentence made sense, but I am sure that Caroline was quite puzzled when she read the column. . . . Another classmate who keeps in touch is John Edes. John and his wife, Valerie, have seven children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandson (goodness!). All nine grandchildren are actively involved in sports and are doing outstanding work in the classroom. Since moving to Florida, Valerie has been extremely involved in their church, and at present she is having some of her poetry published. John is still active with the Smithfield, R.I., Lions Club, specifically in the area of "cancer in children," and he recently chaired the annual golf tournament, raising several thousand dollars for this cause. . . . Cynthia Gardner Bevin's husband, Doug, died after a four-year battle with cancer, and Cindy decided to move to Grantham, N.H., to be near her long-time friends Dick and Robin Hunter Clutz, who have a weekend house nearby. Also living in the vicinity is Lea Chase Frey. Now that Cindy lives in New England, she is lots closer (but not too close) to her children. This past Thanksgiving, Cindy went with her daughter, Cici Bevin Gordon '85, and her family to Geneva and Paris. Besides Cici's two children, Cindy has another grandson who lives in Connecticut. Although her life changed abruptly in the spring, Cindy says she knows she will survive with the love and support of her three super grandchildren and her wonderful son and daughter. She also wants to know if there are any class members living near Grantham. . . . And that is it. Ever since September 11, 2001, our lives and priorities have changed. But we are still interested in hearing from you and reading about you.

-Margaret Smith Henry

top  |  next

Greetings and very best wishes for a happy and healthy 2002 filled with only good things for you and all those you love. It is my hope that you will feel, as I do, the importance of staying in touch and that you will send along news of yourself, your family and your activities to share with our classmates. . . . Joanne Woods recently celebrated her 42nd year working at Harvard University, the last 23 of them spent in the offices of the Harvard Alumni Association. Over the years she has had the pleasure of hosting several alumni trips to such places as the Middle East, Russia and Eastern Europe. . . . On a personal note, I made two wonderful Colby-related trips in 2001. In the spring, I returned to campus for the Colbyettes' 50th reunion, a fun-filled weekend of socializing and song. The 'Ettes of today planned everything, including a gala concert featuring songs and singers from every decade. They are a fantastic group of young women, of whom Colby can be justly proud. The concert was very well attended (folks were even sitting on the chapel floor), and every group was cheered on by the audience. Prof. Peter Ré was our special guest. In November, I flew to Florida to spend several days with Cyndy Crockett Mendelson and Jane Mills Conlan at Cyndy's lovely condo in Naples. We went sightseeing, talked and laughed to our hearts' content and were able, with the uncanny ability that Colby alums seem to have, to take up where we left off, no matter how much time has passed since our last get-together. . . . It is my sad duty to inform you of the death of Bill Foehl, from cancer. Sincere condolences to Linda and their family.

-Ann Segrave Lieber

top  |  next