70		CLASS CORRESPONDENT Brenda Hess Jordan 141 Tanglewood Drive Glenn Ellyn, IL 60137 630-858-1514 classnews1970@alum.colby.edu
	It was wonderful to hear interesting news from several classmates this quarter--thanks, and let's keep a good trend going! . . . In 2000 Kathy Hill married Bill Wade, an Air Force fighter pilot turned Methodist minister, whom she met during the course of her involvement on the board of a homeless shelter for women and children. She continues to teach German at Amarillo (Texas) High School and may be found scooting around with Bill on their Harley Davidsons, much to the delight of their combined total of six children and five grandchildren. Kathy, it was so good to hear from you! . . . Libby Brown Strough and her husband, Bob, participated in a personal Great Escape to southern France last spring. Upon returning to the States, they turned their attentions once again to working on plans for their retirement home on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. Though retirement is still a way away, they're thinking ahead--it sounds like a beautiful spot they're developing. Bob continues to travel frequently to Japan and Southeast Asia in his work, while Libby is still working as a project management consultant at Royal & Sun Alliance. Their son, Jonathan, lives in Warwick, R.I., and began his graduate studies at Bryant College last September. . . . It was nice to read in an article in the Shirley, Mass., Oracle that Linda Loring Shea has become the director of the new and, according to Linda, "pretty close to perfect" Hazen Memorial Library in this community in central Massachusetts. After earning her M.L.S. at Simmons College, she began her career as youth librarian at Fitchburg Public Library and K-3 librarian at Peter Fitzgerald Elementary School in Pepperell. Over the course of her career, she has watched and taken an active role in many changes as her libraries have grown and successfully responded to the new challenges presented by technology and the Internet. She notes that, contrary to predictions that local libraries wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure of the Internet and the growth of the megabookstores and Amazon.com, libraries continue to have as vital a place in their communities as ever and that "computers make the routine part easier." . . . Clare Bonelli dropped me a note from her home 60 miles southeast of Tucson, saying "life in southern Arizona is good." She is involved in church activities, runs a guest cabin and sits on the governing board of "one of the country's best little high schools." Her husband is a certified fingerprint expert consulting for defense attorneys and also does bloodstain pattern analysis and crime scene consulting. Their daughter, Sparky, 11, is a straight-A student involved in several extracurricular activities. The family hikes and bikes, and Clare, with her characteristic dry humor, closed her note with "It's warm and sunny here on the 27th of February. Have a great winter." . . . I was pleased, but not at all surprised, to read in a profile from The New York Law Journal that Nicky Pach continues to distinguish herself on the bench of the Suffolk County (N.Y.) Family Court. After graduating from Boston College Law School in 1973, Nicky began her career as an attorney at Neighborhood Legal Services in Hartford and spent most of her career in various areas of family law before being elected to her present position. Nicky notes that "the Family Court's first priority is to assure the safety and best interest of children." I'm sure her expertise and commitment has touched many children and their families positively. . . . Eileen Boerner Patch e-mailed just the other day that she and Jim are pleased that their son will be a freshman at Colby in the fall. She says they "hope he will love Colby as much as we did." . . . We're on the other end of four years, as Ken and I will return to Colby this May to watch our son, Ken, graduate with a degree in American studies. We are pleased and proud that two of our three children--Laura graduated from Colby in 1998; our eldest, Sarah, graduated from Tufts in 1996--have benefited from the Colby experience. . . . Send news--it's fun to hear from you! --Brenda Hess Jordan top  |   next

 

	71		CLASS CORRESPONDENT Nancy Neckes Dumart 19 Deergrass Road Shrewsbury, MA 01545 207-524-5701 classnews1971@alum.colby.edu
	It was great to hear from Joe Greenman in January. Joe had been re-elected Manlius Village, N.Y., justice last year and was performing a wedding the weekend of our 30th reunion. Joe's son graduated from Cornell in May 2000 and is an actor in L.A. His daughter is searching for colleges as of this writing. . . . Charlie Ritch has been promoted to executive vice president at Plymouth Savings Bank. Previously a senior vice president of the bank, Charlie will head up the new banking services group, which will encompass commercial and consumer lending, compliance, residential lending, retail and trust services. Charlie was formerly with Sovereign Bank-New England and, before that, BankBoston for 27 years. Charlie is a director of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, treasurer of the Cape and Islands Development Corporation and a trustee of the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Foundation. Charlie has a master's of business administration degree from Northeastern University and is also a graduate of the Stonier School of Banking. . . . Is anyone interviewed more often in central Maine newspapers on the economy than Charles Colgan? Representing the Muskie Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Southern Maine, Charles remarked in the Morning Sentinel, September 28, 2001, "There's not a lot of good news here," an understatement in light of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. . . . Deborah Wentworth Lansing wrote that she is still in Chicago, where she operates her own insurance, brokerage and accounting services business. She reports having purchased land in Bradenton, Fla., for her next home. (Be sure to let your classmates know when the home is ready and we can all visit you there!) Her daughter, Sarah, is a sophomore at Michigan State, while her son, Gerrit, a junior at The Latin School of Chicago, is beginning the college search. . . . Leslie Anderson wrote of her reunion at Pat Trow Parent's gorgeous new house" in Keene, N.H., with Debbie Messer Zlatin, Karen Hoerner Neel and Jan Blatchford Gordon. Mary Jukes Howard participated by phone from Oklahoma City. Formerly in marketing, Leslie started her own marketing communications consulting business a couple of years ago, helping early-stage companies to get the word out about themselves. At this writing, Leslie was about to embark on a one-woman show of her paintings and collages inspired by a trip to Venice in the fall of 2001. Leslie's husband, a chemist, has been teaching in the winter at Northeastern and growing cut flowers in the summer. They hope to find a farm in Maine to relocate their cut flower business there. . . . Mark Chalek has been named chief, business ventures for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He will pursue opportunities for business development and strategic alliances and oversee intellectual property, technology commercialization and research collaborations with industry. Mark has directed BIDMC's office of corporate research since 1998 and has more than 20 years of executive experience in the health care and biotechnology industries. . . . Keep those cards and letters coming! -Nancy Neckes Dumart top  |   next

 

	72		CLASS CORRESPONDENT Janet Holm Gerber 409 Reading Avenue Rockville, MD 20850 301-424-9160 classnews1972@alum.colby.edu
	Doug McMillan forwarded the following news to me. Thank you, Doug--we'll all enjoy this. "A group of us attended Mitch Fox's 50th birthday party some months back. Mitch rented the penthouse at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, which is spectacular. I can say without reservation that the Colby alums set the standard for partying!" Mitch, Doug says, "continues a successful career in hospital administration. He and his wife, Martha, have a beautiful place in San Francisco as well as one in the Napa Valley!" . . . More from Doug on those in attendance as well as other classmates and younger grads from whom Doug has heard: "Ann and I continue to live in St. Paul, Minn. Four kids (three boys and a girl) all playing hockey. McMillan Electric continues to make electric motors for a great many applications, including treadmills, fans, pumps and air conditioners. We just opened a plant in Mexico. Olé. . . . Mike Gibbons continues to successfully operate Rafferty's Bar and Grill in Braintree, Mass. The food is great, the beer even better. Stop in if you have the chance. . . . Clark Ruff is living in Monroe, Conn., and is not only a fabulous carpenter but still a highly eligible bachelor. Great shoes at the party, Clark! . . . Martha (Hamilton '74) and Joe Benson live in White Bear Lake, Minn. Both have successful careers in real estate. Joe is managing an office for Edina Realty, and Martha is operating an appraisal company that she started a few years ago. Need a house in Minnesota? Call Joe and Martha. . . . Dana Fitts continues to set records selling furniture throughout the Midwest. He and Linda and their two boys live in the suburbs of Minneapolis. . . . Jay Peabody lives in Littleton, Colo., with his wife, Robin (Sweeney '74). Still a great skier and still listening to the Righteous Brothers! . . . Linda Krohn Kildow '74 is living in Vail with her husband, Al. Linda's daughter skied in the Olympics and came in sixth overall! . . . I played against Scott Ryerse '74 in a Blake/Saint Paul Academy alumni hockey game. He's still a darned good goalie, but we beat 'em 5-4! . . . Mike Mather '74 is a very successful insurance agent in Darien, Conn. He can still hold his beer! . . . Bill (Bugsie) Callahan '74 is a successful real estate agent in Brockton, Mass., and was voted the best dancer at Mitch's party. . . . Bob Preble '74 lives in Seattle and sells wood finishing products. Still the second best Ping-Pong player KDR ever produced and also a pretty mean pool player. . . . Rocky Goodhope '74 is a contractor in Billingham, Wash., and still wears a big smile! Well, that's about it from Lake Wobegon." . . . Doug, that was fabulous. Thank you from all of us. Janet Holm Gerber top  |   next

 

	73		CLASS CORRESPONDENT Jackie Nienaber Appeldorn Mohonk Mountain House New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-4875 classnews1973@alum.colby.edu
	I hope you all have heeded Alex Wilson's e-mail instructions and set aside June 6-8, 2003, to attend our 30th reunion at Colby. Alex has formed a committee to begin planning the festivities and welcomes input from any and all class members. Contact him by e-mail awilson@courier.com . . . You won't need to wait another year, though, to catch up on news from Joan Emery. She writes that though the world at large seems increasingly chaotic, her near world of home, marriage, career and friendships seems remarkably stable (even though her youngest child just became a teenager!). She enjoys her position as a genetic counselor, working with families and couples concerned with potential or existing birth defects and inherited disorders. Her husband shares her interest in genetics, and he works with the Human Genome Project. On weekends they trade in genes for surfboards. Joan sends a special greeting to Roberts Union grads. . . . The Buffalo News reports that Bruce D. Cummings left a 10-year position as CEO of Blue Hill Memorial Hospital in Blue Hill, Maine, to take the helm at Olean General Hospital in New York state. Bruce is credited with turning around Blue Hill Memorial, positioning it as an integrated primary care system serving 13 communities. Under Bruce's leadership, the hospital received national recognition for innovation and excellence in community-oriented care. In taking on his new role as CEO and president at Olean General, Bruce and his wife, Ellen, relocated to Portville, where they reside at the Wheeler House, a Greek-revival home constructed 150 years ago by a pioneering family. The house was willed to Olean General in 1951 by Lilla Wheeler and renovated in 1997. Best of luck, Bruce and Ellen. . . . Gary Lawless writes that he has taken part in poetry festivals in Latvia, Lithuania, Italy and Croatia. Next on his itinerary is participating in poetry workshops in China. . . . Lastly, a poignant message from Dennis Powers. Originally part of the Class of 1972, Dennis writes that "due to excessive card playing and drinking" Colby gave him a year off to contemplate his future. One of the last of the Colby DKE's, he finally graduated in 1993 and was assigned to the Class of '73. Welcome, Dennis--glad to have you join our class. Dennis resides outside Atlantic City, N.J., where he has been in the casino business for almost 30 years. Married for 22 years, Dennis and his wife had two daughters. Amy is a sophomore at Vanderbilt University. Sadly, on June 26, 2001, his youngest daughter, Tracey, was killed in an accident in Cuenca, Ecuador, where she was living with a local family to learn more about that country's language and culture. Tracey loved Maine, having spent three weeks off the coast of Rockland with Outward Bound when she was 15. In his daughter's memory, family, friends and community founded the Tracey-House Foundation, an organization that encourages youth volunteerism. Fund-raising events have included a golf tournament and a 5K run on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Condolences for your tragic loss, Dennis and Ellen. . . . You don't need to wait until the reunion to share what is happening in your lives. I'd love to include your stories here. --Jackie Nienaber Appeldorn top  |   next

 

	74		CLASS CORRESPONDENT Robin Sweeney Peabody 46 Elk Lane Littleton, CO 80127 303-978-1129 fax: 303-904-0941 classnews1974@alum.colby.edu
	I received quite a number of e-mails! Don Richardson writes that he and his wife, Janet, celebrated their 20th anniversary. They were awaiting the graduation of their son, Matt, from high school, after which he will attend Rensselaer. Don recently completed 25 years of service at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he is systems librarian. He sometimes bumps into Debbie Smith Selkow, whose husband is a professor at WPI. Don says he enjoys reading Brian MacQuarrie's articles in The Boston Globe. . . . Gay Peterson e-mails that she is still living in North Yarmouth, Maine, in the house she and her husband, Rob Wood, built in 1979. Their two children, a junior and senior in high school, are making Gay think that changing two sets of diapers at a time was nothing compared to finding colleges together! Gay is an R.N. at L.L. Bean. . . . Our former class correspondent, Shelley Bieringer Rau, sent word that after 14 1/2 years she left the busy orthopaedic surgeon group to start an occupational and hand therapy rehab program at a private physical therapy practice in Auburn, Maine. The smaller office is a real change of pace, but for the better. She and husband Rick are still very involved in their choral activities and were joined by both kids. The whole family will vacation at the Berkshire Choral Festival this summer. . . . Amy Caponetto Galloway returned to school for a master's in education at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. In exchange for tuition, Amy worked as an elementary school substitute teacher. Last fall she was a student teacher for six weeks each in second and fourth grade and then took over a fifth grade class to finish the year. Tiring but rewarding is the report! . . . From Down Under comes news from Robin Mycock that he survived the big 5-0 with a climb to the top of Sydney Harbor Bridge with his wife and kids, which was followed by a surprise party with family and friends. Both his daughter and son have begun university in Sydney. Robin changed careers about five years ago when he bought an import/wholesale business sourcing decorative lighting and accessories out of Asia. His travel is now mostly to Europe and Asia and very little in North America. He is in communication with Phil Deford, who lives with his family in Singapore. . . . I received a newspaper article reporting that Diana Krauss, a teacher at Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham, Maine, recently achieved national board certification--a year-long process. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards aims to establish rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. . . . Keep the mail coming! Robin Sweeney Peabody top  |   next