Category Archives: Mini-Reunions

NH Mini 2016

We had a small but warm gathering in North Conway on August 16.  So glad that Fran Hamburger Nickerson could come up from MA;  others were Bobbi Childs Sampson, Sue Wheatley Carr, Marian Strong Moore, Dee deFeranti Abrahamse, and the organizer, Judy Marshall Kennedy.
Our conversation quickly turned to books, picking up on the chat groups Summer Reading thread.  However I can’t find my notes!  From memory, I know When Everthing Changed by Gail Collins was one.Judy recommended Not My Father’s Son by Alan Cummings, The Girl Who Loved Baseball, November 22, 1963, and The Green Mile–all by Steven King. Between the World and Me by Coates was enthusiastically recommended. I hope Sue will add to the list.  (Apologies for lack of italics in titles but computer not co-operating)
We talked about Reunion, with Sue praising the spirit and flexibility of attendees.  This set the tone for a more relaxed time. Bobbi commented that it wasn’t driven, and that there was more emphasis on our “tomorrows” than at the 50th.
Looking ahead to our 60th (!), I think everyone was concerned about the loss of dining halls and thinking about having to schlep to the new Blanchard Center. There may be more mobility issues in the future.    Judy was enthusiastic about doing the skit again (send ideas to Sue)
We also talked about the relationship between the College and the Alumnae Assoc. and about the 3 year appt. of the interim president.
Our time together was too short but still a warm and wonderful get-together, in spite of rainy weather and freeezing air conditioning.
I hope others who were there will add their thoughts.
Next time on the Maine coast??
Barbara (Freeman Douglass)

South Rocky 2015

submitted by Liz Hottel Barrett:

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Six of the eight South Rocky HP Group got together in Williamstown, MA, at the beautiful home of Susan and Duncan Brown, where we’ve been meeting  for many years. Standing in the Browns’ living room are     (l to r) Jane Shaw Dietrich, Susan Griffen Meeker, Buarbie Sutton, Katherine Kaufman Snelson, Susan Rhodes Brown and Liz Hottel Barrett.  Babbie Baldwin Miller and Jenifer Grant Marx couldn’t make it.  Since 1989, this group has gotten together at least every two years, and more recently every year.  We feel so lucky to have each other.

KenSculpture

Beautiful Chinese sculptured ball by Ken Snelson

Conway Mini-Reunion 2014

Seven gorgeous women enjoy the New Hampshire sunshine.
Left to right: Carol Sweeney Benson, Dee Deferranti Abrahamse, Barbara Freeman Douglass, Judy Marshall Kennedy, Diana Diggin, Sue Wheatley Carr, and Marian Strong Moore.  You’re not getting older;  you’re just getting better!

Conway Group

Classmates- Debbie Holden Franz saw Carol in Come Back Little Sheba at
Quarryworks this summer while visiting her son in Essex, VT. Jean Austen also
visited Carol and they went to King Arthur Flour in Norwich, VT but missed Diana Diggin.  No surprise, her co-workers sang her praises.  Carol also said that
Chris Hollister Hila had reconnected with an old friend and was enjoying his
company.  Carol had a good season at her local theater and is really looking
forward to next summer when she plays the evil Moriarity in Baker Street and
will reprise her Trip to Bountiful.
Reunion- We were lucky to have the two reunion chairs, Sue and Marian,with us.
They asked us to imagine a blank slate and then say what we really want at
reunion.  Spending time with each other, classes and tours/discussions of new
programs, buildings were most important.  There was a lot of discussion about
ways to cut costs and to be sure everyone can come.  One saving could be
costumes, with us bringing more as we did with the shoes at the 50th. Another was to simplify meals, which may not be possible since offerings are pretty much
controlled by the college commissary.  We also discussed whether the booklet is
needed or could be electronic instead of printed.  The consensus was that it was
important. Another suggestion was that we all read the same book before reunion, perhaps with an alumnae connection.
Which is a segue to books: some that were recommended were Gone Girl, Orphan, All the Light You Cannot See, and Hope Against Hope.  Marion’s book group is reading the latter, written by Sara Carr (note last name) and describing success stories of new Orleans schools.  Students at Tulane will have this book as a campus wide read.
Dottie Smith Mann visited Judy earlier this summer and posed an interesting
question: “If you were Obama, what one thing would you try to do?”  Great topic,
with discussion about immigration, gun control, taming special interests, and a
fascinating political maneuver suggested by Maureen Dowd that Obama either resign or accept impeachment after initiating executive action on the programs he cares the most about and allow Joe Biden, the ultimate political maven,to finish the term while Hillary campaigns for 2016.
Other thoughtful questions were how to contribute in retirement?  “How can I
make a difference?” “What would you like to do as your senior years get more
senior?”  “What’s meaningful to you that surprises you?”  “What are things I
dreaded but now welcome and love?”
In answer to the last, some suggested public speaking, finding our voice,
improving listening.  For making a difference, Marion explained her church’s
“Pay It Forward” where an individual is given $50 and then reports how that made a difference.  Carol has her own “Abigail’s sister”, based on her role as a
homeless woman in Open Me Last.  She puts a $5 bill in envelopes, brings them to the food pantry, and tells them to distribute as they see fit.  One recipient
said, Wow, do you know how many bananas I can get now?
I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon, getting energized by this
group of wonderful, active, caring women.  How lucky we are.

Barbara Freeman Douglass  (I apologize that I can’t italicize or underline.  Aargh)

Williamstown Mini-Reunion 2013

South Rocky Eight (minus one, Jane Shaw Dietrich) met in October at the home of Susan Rhodes and Duncan Brown.   We started getting together twenty five years ago to celebrate Liz Hottel Barrett’s engagement to Bryan.  It was so much fun that we continued to do it every two or three years.  Now we do it every year.  Susan and Duncan have the most perfect house and are located near the beautiful Williams campus, The Sterling & Francine Clark Art Institute (referred to as “The Clark”), and MASS MoCA.   The 2013 highlight was Xu Bing’s Phoenix (photo to come) at MASS MoCA.  I’ll elaborate more on The Clark’s amazing collection when we meet again next year.  We had a three-day celebration of life:  successes and failures, laughter and tears.  Lucky us!

And even more amazing than us are the photos of Xu Bing’s beautiful tiger-skin rug.  Make sure to click on the photos to see the close up!

 


Philly Mini-Reunion Fall 2013

Submitted by Nony Barr, October 2, 2013

Mountain Day visit to Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ.   Sherry Welles Urner, Alice McGovern Doering, and Nony Moore Barr had been negotiating for weeks to find a good day when all 3 and their husbands could meet to explore this wonderful sculpture park and enjoy lunch together at Rat’s, the award-winning restaurant adjacent to the park.  Pure coincidence that we picked Oct.1st, which was Mountain Day at MHC.  The weather was perfect and we had a great time.  (Remember to click on photo for enlargement.)

 

Addendum to NH Mini-Reunion

Sue Wheatly Carr

I have just returned to my computer after three days of feasting on a memory sandwich. The meal started as I was driving toward North Conway, with a look at my favorite mountain, Mt Chocorua, just south of Conway.

image001

It continued through lunch with seven MHC pals (Ed. note: the NH Mini-Reunion), a ride with Bobbi Sampson, a visit with Marian Moore at Camp KeKoSing, a stop with Savings Bank friends of Elliott’s and mine and then overnight in South Bridgton with old friends from Pembroke.

And because I forgot to give you each a little packet of green mitts from our 50th reunion, at our lunch, I shared them with my friends at my last stop.  My old Pembroke friends seemed to pick up the MHC spirit, right away. And even Parker, the dog, thought they were swell.

I enjoyed getting together with such terrific women from Mt Holyoke, as well. The sharing of ideas and experiences was wonderful. I look forward to the next time.

All best, Sue


NH Mini-Reunion, August 2013

Submitted by Barbara Freeman Douglass

Judy Marshall Kennedy organized a mini gathering in North Conway, NH in
August,and eight classmates were able to enjoy catching up and sharing
views on books, non-profits, and health. In fact, we were so engrossed in
conversation that we completely forgot to get a picture of the group.

Sue Wheatley Carr”s daughter, Sarah Carr, has written a book, Hope
against Hope, about education in New Orleans. Sue has also produced a
book on lichens of Cape Cod with her photographs. Judy Kennedy explained
the vagaries of one’s own small business, in her case Whitehorse, which
involves guide books and motorcycle gear.

Diana Diggins’ job at King
Arthur Flour in Norwich, VT has us thinking about a field trip, perhaps
moving our venue next summer.

Dee deFerranti Ambrahamse saw Carol Sweeny
Benson’s performance in Open Me Last at Quarryworks in VT and said it was
excellent.

Bobbi Childs Sampson is about to finish off her last NH 4000
footer, saving Moosilauke for the fall. That means she has climbed 47
already! She also shared her involvement with a school in Haiti.
Membership on boards, getting and keeping board members, raising money are
all concerns.

Marion Strong Moore is involved with Salvation Army, Sallie
Crittenden with the Unitarian Church, Judy Kennedy with the local theater
and with MountainTop Music which enriches the Mount Washington Valley area,
Barbara Freeman Douglass with Dollars for Scholars. Barbara said 2013
hasn’t been the greatest so far because it’s been dominated by breast
cancer treatment, but the chemo is over, the prognosis is good, and the
support of women (like her classmates) is wonderful.

Marian shared that
“John and I have signed up for a retirement community and expect to move up
to the top of the list for entrance in 3-4 years. The decision does not
come easily, of course, but, it is a gift to our children and an exciting
time of new beginnings.There are, to be sure, pros and cons. On balance,
it seems the right thing to do while we are still able to move into
independent living. ”

Judy Kennedy contributed this comment:
“I must say that the happiness of being together and enjoying each other’s
company for a few hours lingered on well into the late evening for me. In
between visits like this, I forget how enriching it is to get together with
such an interesting and interested group of women and the openess and ease
with which we share our thoughts and concerns!!”


Philly Group visits Swarthmmore Gardens

Winter, 2013.   Nony Moore Barr writes that part of their mini-reunion was a tour of some of the gardens created and maintained by the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore college.  They were joined during their informal lunch by Swarthmore College Dean of Students Liz Braun, former Dean of Students at Mount Holyoke.  Liz has very fond memories of her years in South Hadley, and it was interesting to talk with her about some of the differences between a women’s college and a co-ed college.

Claire Sawyers, Director of the Scott Arboretum, led them on a tour of the central part of the campus.
Line-up for fun

Line-up for fun

Pictured above:  Bette Keck Peterson, Carolyn Williams Clendenning, Alice McGovern Doering, Sherry Welles Urner (partly hidden), Susan Kirchen Betts, Liz Kaplan Thornton, Claire Sawyers, and Gail Morris Dillon.
We're not getting older, we're just getting better!

We’re not getting older, we’re just getting better!

 
Alice McGovern Doering, Carolyn Williams Clendenning, Sherry Welles Urner, Liz Kaplan Thornton, Sue Kirchen Betts, Nony Moore Barr, Claire Sawyers, and Gail Morris Dillon.

2012 South Rocky HP Mini-Reunion

What a wonderful weekend we had in Williamstown, Massachusetts in May of  2012.  We were:  hostess Susan Rhodes Brown, Susan Griffin Meeker, Jane Shaw Dietrich, Babbie Baldwin Miller, Liz Hottel Barrett, and Barbie Sutton.  Jenifer Grant Marx couldn’t join us.  We all get together just about annually and have done so since 1989.  Our next one is planned for October 2013.


NH Mini-Reunion 2012

Notes from a Mini Reunion in North Conway, NH – August 21, 2012

A dozen members of the Class of 1961 gathered for a Mini-Reunion on August 21, 2012, organized by Judy Marshall Kennedy and Barbara Freeman Douglas, at the Front Side Grind in North Conway Village, NH.  At the suggestion of Dottie Smith Mann, we all sat down to an “around the circle” session, telling briefly a couple of things that have been most important to us personally in the last few months or since the 50th reunion in May 2011.

Sallie McCaleb Crittendon – Sallie, formerly Sallie Nealand, recently married Donaldson Moorhead and reclaimed her maiden name of Crittendon. Her second husband, John Nealand, died 2 years ago.)  Sallie has spent the past year largely occupied with managing 3 houses and trying to sell two of them. Now two houses are sold and she is happily settling into the third one, the big house in Norway, ME. And the new husband? “Best one so far,” Sallie quipped with a happy smile.

Barbara Freeman Douglass – Barbara has started a second career teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to immigrant women. “It’s not only needed education, it provides a heart-warming support group for these women,” she said.   Favorite personal activities are Yoga and tai chi – “It is wonderful to have the time to pursue them.”

Bonnie Stretch – After a surprisingly prolonged adjustment, Bonnie and husband Dan are feeling more at home in New England after a lifetime in NYC.   Their two children continue to live and work in Brooklyn and by all reports are doing fine.  Bonnie gladly ended a long-time job this spring that had continued to pay her after leaving New York, but was killing her soul.  She still writes mainly about art (exhibition and book reviews) for ARTnews, and is also pleased to have been found by the Editor of Art New England, who asked her to do reviews of interesting shows at the Williams College Art Museum and Mass MOCA and other venues in the Berkshires.  She continues to do other occasional editing – for example, documents for the UN Population Fund and an interesting academic article for a Boston College professor, titled “Of Unequal Advantages in the American Meritocracy”.

But mostly she writes gratis for people and organizations she cares about, such as the MHC Art Museum and the Congregational church she and Dan attend in Amherst.  She’s always passionate about politics, because she believes it dramatically shapes the future – for us, our children, and generations to come.

Her biggest personal concern at the moment is whether or not she has COPD or asthma – to be decided in September by a pulmonologist, after waiting for an appointment for 8 months.  She says it seems really weird to get this exhausting and frustrating disease now that she’s no longer living in NYC but up in the beautiful Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts.  She is also trying to start a memoir of her father who was a beloved country doctor in Connecticut from the late 1930s to 1968.

Elsa Anderson van Bergen – A new daughter-in-law has brought the most significant change in her life this past year—a young woman so very different from Elsa and her family, from anyone she knows, but as they have gradually grown closer the dynamism and the global involvement of Rebecca have been enriching. Rebecca founded NEST.org, which works with impoverished/trafficked/abused women in third world countries, supporting them as artisans to become self-sufficient (their products are then made available through special retailers here). Christopher, otherwise freelance musician, has joined her work as director of development and partnership. So they have brought new faraway/dangerous places into Elsa’s universe. And also brought back some of her comforting “old” world as they currently live in the Park Slope, Brooklyn area where all her maternal relatives once lived.

Carol Sweeney Benson – Carol is very excited about a grand new acting opportunity for her.  Award-winning Burlington playwright Maura Campbell, impressed with Carol’s past performances at Quarryworks Theater in Adamant, VT, has personally asked her to perform Open Me Last — Campbell’s one-act, one-character, half-hour play about a homeless woman who breaks into a storage shed.  Campbell even rewrote the play’s ending to accommodate Carol’s age.  Challenged to bring this complex character to life with both humor and compassion, Carol says it’s the most important and difficult role she has played. “I am constantly amazed and energized at the cooperative, collaborative and sudden inspirations live theater opportunities offer,” Carol declared.   The play will be produced August 2013 at QuarryWorks. Carol will send complete details next spring to both the chat list and also the mini-reunion list.  After the performances at QuarryWorks Carol will offer to do “Open Me Last” (with permission from Maura Campbell of course) for organizations such as churches, civic groups, etc. to raise awareness of the issues of homelessness and hunger.

Dottie Smith Mann– Dottie read two superb new poems – “Cardinal at my Window”  – about a bird who attacked its own reflection in a window –  and “Late Afternoon” – “This is where I am in my life,” said Dottie.   We were all deeply moved by the poems and encouraged Dottie to publish – even if it starts as only self-publishing.  Nowadays you can get a sizable audience by doing that, thanks to the Internet. We all felt strongly that Dottie’s poetry deserves a much wider audience. (*Both poems are included at the end of this report.) 

Dee deFerranti Abrahamse – Dee was inspired by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, a work that documents the oppression of women and girls around the world, and what individuals can do to change it.  The accounts of human slavery and trafficking for prostitution were especially shocking, and it was even more shocking to discover that the sexual exploitation of young girls doesn’t just happen in other parts of the globe, but right here at home. She and friends have formed a group in Long Beach CA to address the problem of trafficking and abuse of young women. The group has also been a mutual friendship and support group for its seven members in dealing with issues of illness, caretaking and setting priorities in retirement.  They have held fundraisers and brought in speakers to raise awareness that this is an American, as well as global, problem. They have also connected with national groups working to stop both local and global abuse, and would like to share resources for anyone interested.  She says she especially enjoys being part of a group that combines personal enrichment and activism. She treasures her trips to Vermont, where her extended family gathers each summer and she has a chance to reconnect with old friends and classmates.

Nancy Dingwall Platt – A recent college tour of New England with her oldest grandchild has been the highlight of the last year for Nancy.  Her daughter-in-law, Flora, called to ask her to do this, and Nancy said she felt honored at the request.  Her daughter-in law has had serious health challenges and, although she could have carried out this traditional journey herself, she asked Nancy to join her on the college odyssey.  Although Flora is only 40 years old, she suffers from Crohn’s disease and has thyroid cancer in remission.  What Nancy loves most about Flora is her positive attitude and the fact that she doesn’t let these health issues get her down.  This summer Nancy also spent a wonderful week with everyone from her extended family – all her children, in-laws and eight grandchildren at Chautauqua, but getting to know Flora has changed her own life for the better.

Nancy also strongly recommended the movie “Intouchables” – playing now to enthusiastic reviews, it tells the true story of two men who should never have met – a quadriplegic aristocrat who was injured in a paragliding accident and a young man from the projects.

Judy Marshall Kennedy – What Judy finds most enriching in her life right now is a new interest in jazz music. She and husband Dan have been taking a Jazz History course for the past three summers at Mountain Top Music Center, the local community music school in the Mount Washington Valley region. Judy has also joined the board of Mountain Top where she is focused on organizing their concert offerings to provide high quality music events in the valley and to fundraise for operating funds for the school. Judy, who says she had little or no background in jazz music, now is passionate about it. “It’s so wonderful to have something new like that in your life and be totally obsessed with it.”  Recently, she and Dan went to Boston to see Kurt Elling (Downbeat Magazine’s Male Jazz Vocalist of the Year for the last 12 years) perform live at Scullers Jazz Club and were “totally blown away.”

The other thing important to Judy has been Dottie’s courageous and beautiful writing about her and ED’s struggle with cancer.  “It had a very profound effect on me,” Judy told Dottie – a sentiment echoed by everyone at the gathering.

Diana Diggin – Shortly after our 50th Reunion last summer, Diana had successful total knee replacement surgery. Unfortunately, the antibiotics necessary for this surgery led to a life-threatening bout with C. Difficile – a very hostile intestinal condition which landed her in an isolation ward for 10 days and then months of slow recovery. She is only now feeling back to normal. However, she was able to do her beloved house-sitting in France again last spring. Feeling strong enough for paid work again, she has a part-time job at King Arthur Flour in Norwich (VT) on the retail sales floor and is loving it. Good people, great products – she feels like she’s found herself again.  “What a resurrection story,” she said.   More good news – Diana’s granddaughter is coming to Dartmouth from CA as a first year student in September!

Mette Lian Eglinton – Metta briefly joined the group, dropping in from Kenebunkport, ME with many family members in tow.  Her news, besides showing off 3 generations of her lovely family: They recently took everyone – all 15 of them! — on vacation to Costa Rica to celebrate their 50th anniversary!

Marian Strong Moore – Marian has been musing on the crisscross pulls and tugs of time. She spoke movingly of this summer’s opportunity to establish a closer relationship with her daughter-in-law, who spent five weeks in their summer home in Maine.  The place used to be a girl’s camp and so each member of the family can have a separate cottage.  Marian said, “I have had a chance to spend more time with Robin and learn new and wonderful things about her. My daughter and husband, son and wife had more time together, and the cousins had great play time to know each other better.”  Strengthening these relationships is so important to her.  Marian also recalled that classmate Nancy Niemann was a camper at Marian’s family’s camp in about 1948 and ’49!

This led to a brief (and unfortunately largely unrecorded) discussion among the group about how family relations are always changing and how important  they are to our own growth – sometimes bringing happiness and joy, sometimes worry and pain, but always shaping our lives.

–From notes taken by Bonnie Stretch and corrected by participants

NOTE FROM EDITOR:  THERE WILL BE ANOTHER NORTH CONWAY MINI-REUNION ON AUGUST 20, 2013.