ALUMNI PROFILES
Hannah Laipson '46
A Need to Teach

Janet McMahon '79
Mapping the Uncharted

Jeremiah "Josh" Burns '81
Mountain Man

Chris Gieszl '93
SEAL of Approval

Roy Hirshland '85

David A. Ghertner '02

Just when I thought that the Class of '55 had totally disappeared from the face of the earth, news comes flooding through--at the deadline. Thanks! . . . Lee Fernandez reports that he continues ad repping the American Nuclear Society publications and has been traveling to exotic locales such as La Paz, Kathmandu, Fez, Xian and Oaxaca. This fall he is house boating on the Shannon River. . . . Kathy (McConaughy '56) and Lou Zambello, joined by other Colbyites, including Jane (Daib '58) and John Reisman, participated in a Colby, Bowdoin and Bates alumni cruise to Tuscany. Both reported a fabulous time. First time I ever heard Lou talking about "our advanced ages," but he continues to get back east and play golf with Seldon Staples, Dave Roberts and Gil Alfano as well as other Colby folks such as Bob Thurston '54, Aub Keef '54, Ed Fraktman '53, John Marshall '56 and Donny Rice '56. One other contact of note: Lou saw Jack Deering at the Athletic Council meeting this summer and, as usual when they get together, had the chance to laugh and cry a bit. Colby continues to be fortunate to have such a devoted person as Jack. In the meantime, John Reisman continues to be busy as he continues to volunteer as a counselor at Employment for Seniors, a nonprofit referral agency for folks over 55. I'm sure that must be frustrating these days--lots of applicants, too few jobs. John enjoys traveling, particularly visiting his two children, their spouses and five "wonderful" grandchildren. (How often do you hear anyone describe their grandchildren as anything else?) John attended his 50th high school reunion in Connecticut, where he reconnected with Jack Johnston (my old roomie), who was both a high school and college buddy. . . . George "Junie" Haskell has agreed to chair a select committee--consisting of Archie and Jean Hawes Anderson, Ann Burnham Deering, Jane Whipple Coddington, Jeanne Hahlbohm Hampton, Germain Michaud Orloff, Joe Perham and Lou Zambello--that will conduct a coordinated appeal to all '55 classmates to participate in our 50th anniversary activities and to plan ahead for our potential contribution gift to the College. . . . Our 50th anniversary! Can you believe it? Think back to that June '55 graduation day and tell me that you gave a single fleeting thought to our 50th reunion. No way! By the time this column reaches your home, we will have just a little more than two years to our 50th. It's not too soon to get our thoughts and our plans in place for this event. Given this time, every class member should begin to think about his/her positive response to this event--in terms of returning to Colby as well as enthusiastically participating in the efforts of the anniversary gift committee. One final note, especially for those of you who have never, or almost never, attended any of our prior nine reunions: you have missed out on some truly joyous occasions. Don't let that happen to you again. On behalf of those of us who have attended these reunions regularly, I say to you: we have missed you, come back; we are more than just a little curious about your 50 post-Colby years; come back, and let us share together our memories, our laughs, our ups, and yes, our downs; come back, and make this one of our finest Colby moments.

--Ken Van Praag

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Dear classmates--a bonanza news week with two e-mails . . . Joanna Mc Curdy Brunso is now living in Arizona but has seen several classmates. In May, Lois Latimer Pan and her husband, Ed, came for an overnight. Then in June, the Brunsos stopped in Menifee, Calif., for a visit with Vashti Boddie Roberts and Wilbert. They hadn't seen each other since graduation and talked and talked. Vashti has a lovely retirement home outside the L.A smog and still teaches post-graduate courses some evenings. . . . I also heard from Bob Fraser '54 that Lois Latimer Pan and Kathy Vogt were at the course on Islam that he attended at Colby this summer. . . . Bob Raymond retired from the Episcopal Church in May 1998 after 12 years but does a lot of "Sunday supplying," which he loves. He and Fran (Wren '58) spent most of the summer in Georgetown, Maine, with kids and grandkids. Living next door to Acadia National Park keeps them hiking, swimming, playing tennis and traveling from time to time. They came down to Boothbay this summer to visit with Jack and Sue Bower Hendrickson '58 and John '55 and Jane Daib Reisman '58. We also managed a lunch with the Reismans this summer in Damariscotta. They spend time each summer in Linekin Neck, but we didn't know this until we were with them in Italy. . . . . I was so sorry to read about the death of Betsy Burns Bomann '55 in the last Colby magazine. Betsy and I played field hockey together and were in the same sorority at Colby. I ran into her years later in a laundromat in Damariscotta with her three little boys, including a set of twins. She married late in life and had young children when mine were teens. But we managed to get together most summers, and she had such a wonderful zest for life. In later years she and her husband, Peter, could only come up to their place in New Harbor for brief vacation time and our visits ended. She always said they wouldn't be able to retire for years, with college tuition, etc., but were looking forward to finally fixing up the house and spending time in Maine. . . . We had our second overnight sailing trip with David and Rosemary Crouthamel Sortor. We had hoped to meet up with Harry and Lynn Brooks Wey but couldn't raise them on our cell phone from the high seas. The Weys, Jean (Van Curan '55) and Larry Pugh and Peter and Hope Palmer Bramhall have given up sailing and have taken up power boating. They all had a grand reunion by boat in Boothbay this summer along with Barbara Nardozzi Saxon, who summers on Southport Island.

--Kathy McConaughy Zambello

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As I write this column, just over a year has passed since the brutal attack on our nation. I'm sure that each of us paid tribute on September 11th in our own personal way. These days we hug our children, both large and small, a bit tighter and appreciate the little things in life with a whole new gusto. . . . Woody Winslow writes to tell us to watch for an upcoming issue of SAIL Magazine, which includes his story and photos of racing across the Atlantic in a square-rigger. The race was part of the Tallships 2000 series of races; this one was from Halifax to Amsterdam on the Europa, a 150-foot bark. . . . Michaline Chomicz Manno is retired from her very successful career in music and now has time to thoroughly enjoy her two (to date) little grandchildren. Her son was recently married, so Mickey hopes that there will be more good news coming her way in the future. . . . Tony Glockler tells us that he is retired after nearly 37 years with Educational Testing Service in Princeton, N.J. Now Tony is able to join his wife, Bev (Jackson '60), as a member of the Montgomery Emergency Medical Services Squad. Bev, an EMT, tends the patients, and Tony drives the ambulance. Tony also volunteers in many community activities. . . . Ken Haruta sends information about no changes in his life. Well, Bell Labs, the original company to employ Ken, has changed ownership at least four times and his complicated projects have changed even more. He has worked on solid-state physics projects, x-ray defraction and quartz oscillators to name but a few. But his love for the game of tennis continues to grow, although even Vic Braden's camp could not improve his game, according to information received. Ken has returned for most reunions and still looks the same after these many years. . . . Janet Kimball Clymer received the Candlewick Press Children's Award. She was one of six recipients nationally. Janet works in the children's section of the Toad Stool Bookstore in Keene, N.H. . . . One of our regular attendees for reunions did not show this June but had a very good excuse: Jerry Ventra was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Columbian Lawyers' Association of Nassau County, N.Y. Jerry was recognized for his contributions on various boards, committees and functions, including We Care and the Assigned Counsel Defender Plan. He also served as a mentor to younger attorneys. Congratulations, but excuses will not be accepted for our 50th reunion. . . . Many of our friends in the Portland area will soon be packing up their golf clubs and heading for the sunny south. Not so in the Vigue household this year because, as you know, we are forever full of surprises. This year it is politics! Back in June, Guy decided that he would like to make a run for the Maine Senate representing Yarmouth, Freeport and Brunswick, a very large territory to campaign in, to say the least. Armed with determination, common sense and a willingness to get involved and make changes in Maine, he has already, as of this writing, canvassed more than 2,500 homes--doing most of it on his bicycle! We shall keep you posted! Please get your news to us any way you can.

--Guy and Elenor Ewing Vigue

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Bruce Blanchard writes that he and his wife, Colleen, moved from their home of 35 years to an adult condominium-setting in Stratford, Conn. They spend their winters in Flagler Beach, Fla. All three of the Blanchard children are teaching and have produced six grandchildren among them. The oldest grandchild is now a high school freshman. Bruce recently played golf with John Edes. . . . James Bishop is in Sedona, Ariz., and says his year is going well with a new theater company called Canyon Moon Theatre. Jim's latest book, a novel titled Yonderman--A Tale of Two Journeys, was sent to his New York agent early in the summer. Not too long ago Jim had a visit from Bill Foehl '59's widow, Linda. They played the old songs and remembered the glory days at Onie's and all the wonderful Dekes. . . . A new voice heard from is Tony Kalloch (tkalloch@aol.com). Five years ago he started his own consulting company helping manufacturers of professional hair care products find distribution in foreign markets. Tony says it's going quite well and that he will most likely keep working "until I drop." At the beginning of August Tony was in Boston for the wedding of one of his identical twin sons. Three of his four kids live in the Boston area; the oldest daughter lives in San Rafael, Calif. Tony is hoping to attend our 45th reunion next June. . . . Helen Payson Seager lives on Nantucket year round and although retired is hardly idle. In August a fifth grandchild arrived. Last year Helen was honored by The Museum of Afro-American History in Boston for her work getting the African Meeting House on Nantucket restored. You can see Helen on a PBS documentary, "Nantucket: Rock of Changes," which is shown on local PBS stations from time to time. And she had a scholarly article published in a historical magazine this past spring. . . . Another new voice is Midge Reid Symmes (mysymmes@msn.com), who is also looking forward to the 45th reunion next year and hoping to connect with any and all who may remember her and the good old days. . . . The other night I had a long and wonderful telephone conversation with my former roommate, Lois Munson Morrill. We caught each other up on family news and what we had heard from other classmates. Lois also reminded me to remind all of you that our 45th reunion is coming up, so think about setting aside the weekend of June 7-9, 2003. Also, if time permits, you might be interested in a pre-reunion at The Samoset Hotel in Rockland, Maine, a day or two preceding the regular reunion. You should be receiving more information in the near future. Speaking of the reunion, during that weekend we will be electing our new class officers. After 10 years, I have decided to retire as class correspondent. If anyone is interested in continuing the job of writing this column, please let me know and I will pass your name along to the Reunion Committee. I have enjoyed doing the column, but it was even better when there were more responses to questionnaires. Let's see what we can do for next time.

-Margaret Smith Henry

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Al Wilbur states that he has not retired and will continue to raise funds for non-profit clients after he and Eileen complete their move to the West Coast. The new address for the Wilburs is Silver Sands Racquet Club, 5 Verde Way, Palm Desert, CA 92260. There are, according to Al, 300 golf courses and even more tennis facilities in the desert cities area . . . so little time! . . . Trish and Mike Farren spent five days visiting Marion and Bill Nicholson in the beautiful lake country of Minnesota this summer. It was the first time all four of them had been together in 40 years, and they had a wonderful reunion. Bill is retired, but Mike will continue working at the Manchester, N.H., airport until it isn't fun anymore. . . . A write-up from the department of sociology and anthropology at Lehigh University included an article by department chair Jim McIntosh, along with a nice photo. Jim's pride in his students was evident as he remembered their responses to the terrible, tragic events of September 11, and he was instrumental in creating a response to the senseless terrorism that would emphasize student concerns. Jim feels that if these students are representative of their generation, our society has a tremendous future. . . . Lydia Katz Pease retired from a 27-year teaching position in Lancaster, Pa. Her three sons are working in England, California and North Carolina--all great places to visit! Lydia has trained to become a master gardener, and she still subs in the local schools. . . . In an effort to return to their former weights, Sheila and Lloyd Cohen have been cruising again and partaking of all the wonderful fare offered on such trips. They've also, almost single-handedly, paid reparations to Native Americans by indulging in Indian casino gambling. Even though Lloyd says "old age" is zooming along, he seems to be taking it right in stride. Incidentally, through this column, Lloyd was able to re-connect with his Colby roommate John Brooks. Is there anyone with whom you'd like to renew a treasured acquaintance? If so, please let me know and perhaps I can get the ball rolling. . . . And speaking of re-connecting, keep June 2004 on your mind . . . our 45th reunion approaches! Hope to hear from you.