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Class Notes

 

Class Notes for 1961

Fall 2014

Thanks for concern about my safety during Hurricane Iselle. No injuries to your correspondent or her ranch, just downed trees and without water or power for more than four days. Although my Hamakua Coast fared relatively well, Hawai’i Island’s Puna district had millions of dollars in losses when homes, along with macadamia, papaya, and banana crops, were decimated. I’d just returned from five fantastic weeks in Namibia when the storm struck. Great memories help during a crisis! * Don Clark writes, “Over 50 years since we shared a classroom together. I was that old Marine in the back of the room, furiously taking notes to catch up with the academic environment. Enjoyed my entire Colby experience—fond memories include meetings with President Bixler, Blue Key, and serving on Dean Nickerson’s liquor control committee. The traveling concert choir provided a much-needed break from studies. Opportunities to sing with the Boston Pops and perform at New York’s Carnegie Hall were especially exciting. Highlight was meeting Linda Levenson ’60. We’re celebrating our 55th anniversary! After a 30-year career in federal law enforcement and living in nine different states, we found our retirement home in Birch Bay Village. Our Camelot is a gated community with 1,130 properties and multiple amenities. Our hillside house has views of snow-covered Mount Baker and the San Juan Islands. I’ll be 80 in December, and I still compete in 10 and 15K runs. One advantage of being old: stay in shape and you outlive your competition. Have had more ‘age group’ wins in the last few years than in the previous 50. Can’t wait until I’m 80!” * Richard Fields sends news: “Still working: strategic planning, marketing, and sales for four clients in fine jewelry and for Reactor Watches, where I’m on the board. Wife Kathy owns the Crafty Yankee, an artisan gift shop in Lexington. Spend much time at our retreat in Oquossoc, Maine, 45 minutes from Sugarloaf. Kathy gave me a 75th in May; we partied with friends Mike Silverberg ’60 and wife Gale. Daughter Ali Fields Bates ’95 and husband Dan (on teaching sabbaticals), along with 5-year-old twins, in Chile and Denmark for organic farming. When Ali co-captained Colby soccer, team T-shirts read ‘Life’s short—play hard,’ my motto.” * Jan Haskins Mandaville has taken two trips this year with Road Scholar. In May she went on a Panama Canal transit on the Crystal Symphony, and in July a family adventure in Costa Rica. * Patsy Houghton Marr, wife of David Marr, reports from Bras d’Or Lake in Cape Breton: “Dave passed away in January, and the entire family was here for a July memorial. He fought a long battle with tremendous courage, optimism, and his ever-present sense of humor. Through attendance at services, we learned how many lives Dave touched in some special way. Strengthened by three wonderful children and eight grandchildren. My oldest daughter teaches music, and my youngest daughter is a special-needs teacher. Last year son Scott was voted by peers to be the best sports medicine doctor in Maine.” * Betsy O’Connell says, “Life after retirement gets more interesting daily.” She’s now level-two certified in Reiki with a Seattle teacher. She planned to travel to a wild animal sanctuary in Idaho for a retreat with the same Reiki master teacher and shaman. “I’m taking a basic shamanism course, which includes animal communication via the shamanic tradition. Finally, on to Milwaukee for the zoo and aquarium volunteers’ national conference, including fabulous extras to sanctuaries, museums, nature preserves—especially want to visit the International Crane Foundation.” * Penny Dietz Sullivan worked the primary polls. “Sad how few people came in to vote. The next election is very important, and everyone should get involved.” She plays golf, bridge, dominoes, and canasta and still works part time for Weight Watchers. Penny looks forward to our 55th in 2016. “Retirement is great!”

 
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