Many classmates reported attendance at 50th high school reunions, which seemed to happen so soon after our 45th—at Colby, that is. Some weddings too, for Ed Mowry’s daughter in April, George Cain’s daughter Anne ’01 in May, and Bob and Merri Aldrich Egbert’s son in July. George, father of four daughters and a son, has one more daughter to marry off. He writes, “I’m finally old enough to have a ‘bucket list.’ Accordingly, we are off to Africa in late August, and then I will only have China and skydiving left to bucket my way to retirement.” * Red Sox alumnus Ed Phillips, who pitched for the Sox in 1970, was included in the 100th anniversary celebration of Fenway Park April 20. The ceremony filled him with emotional memories beyond description and left him flying high! * Diane Leach Wilbur traveled to Scotland last spring and to Spain and Morocco this spring. She loves retirement life in Portland, Maine, and invites others to visit her there. * Gayle Jobson Poinsette and Garfield Barnes planned to stop at Colby to attend lectures on this year’s reunion weekend en route to a visit with Wes Barbour and Chris Austin ’68 in Cape Neddick. * Californians Maureen and Ed Mowry also planned visits to Colby and to classmates on their summer swing through New England. * Bayard Kennett writes, “I recently attended the funeral of Thelma Hanson, whom many will remember as the dynamic little wife of Dick Hanson and co-owner of Dick’s, opposite Onie’s on Silver Street. Dick’s closed forever the night before our graduation, but Thelma lived to join ‘her boys’ at an ATO reunion in 2010. Thelma died in her 100th year.” * Marty DeCou Dick had recent visits with Colbyites from coast to coast: Janet Meyer Throop in Ore., Jerri Bost ’65, Sue Turner, Jay Fell, and Jim Ellis ’64 in Colorado, and Chris (Austin ’68) and Wes Barbour in Maine. * Semi-retired from his pediatric dental practice, Peter Lax still works part-time for the Oregon Health and Sciences University, the county, and the Good Sisters of Providence. He’s a board member of L’Arche Portland, and he and his wife keep involvement in a Jesuit faith community. “Have spent numerous hours fishing for the elusive spring chinook salmon, but would have better luck trying to beat Dag Williamson in golf or outrunning Fran Finizio!” Peter offers to entertain folks for hiking in beautiful Oregon and Washington * Sue Turner and husband Karl spent part of April camping, hiking, and taking photos, in state and national parks in southern Utah. Sue is on round three of fighting a slow-growing cancer but will be able to spend June to November in Bar Harbor. I have endless admiration for Sue’s optimism, positive attitude, and compassion for others. * Class president Fran Finizio plans to travel extensively this summer as he transitions into retirement, works on his golf game, and soon starts the planning process for our 50th reunion. * Birdie Tracy Hye writes, “Husband Allen and I enjoy retired life in Spring Valley, Ohio, and Ft. Myers, Fla. We had two wonderful years in Copenhagen, where Allen had a Fulbright scholarship and our daughter was born. Allen taught German at Wright State in Dayton, Ohio, for 30 years. I taught German part-time for several years at Wright State and Wittenberg universities while being at home with Courtney, now 41, and Carsten, 39. I left academia 25 years ago and worked as a contractor in the private sector on many interesting projects at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.” * A Shot in the Arm is the title of San Francisco trial attorney Barry Willdorf’s new mystery/thriller, part two of his 1970s trilogy. Check it out on Amazon! * Your class correspondent is happy to be back working in her gardens 10 weeks after acquiring a new hip.
Summer 2012