MOUNT HOLYOKE CLASS OF 1975 SUMMER 2023 NEWSLETTER

Dear Classmates,

With many members of our class living under heat domes, others breathing air from Canadian wildfires, and still others enduring storm-related power outages, there is good news about how Mount Holyoke is dealing with climate change.  This summer, many of the lawns on campus are torn up as a campus-wide geothermal heating and cooling system is installed.  MHC will no longer rely on fossil fuels to keep the College buildings warm in winter and cool in summer, and will achieve carbon neutrality ahead of schedule.  How times have changed!  In our day, I recall some students kept dorm windows open in the depth of winter because ancient radiators overheated their rooms, while other rooms in the same dorm were cold.  Then came the Arab oil embargo and the energy conservation initiative, e=MHC 73, when thermostats were lowered uncomfortably across campus.  We can all be glad those days are over at Mount Holyoke!

This summer, we have sponsored two class events to make new friendships and network, a mini-reunion in New York City, and a Berkshires mini-reunion which will be held August 4.  Thanks to Class Reunion Chairs Judy Karen Stein and Linnea Wiltenburg Grealish for planning and hosting these fun events.  If you wish to attend the Berkshires festivities, please contact Judy judystein13@gmail.com as soon as possible.

In the fall, our class will resume our well-attended Zooms.  First, we will have a presentation on travel and living in France, featuring classmate Mary Jane Cowles, retired Professor of French at Kenyon College and possibly other ‘75 francophiles, moderated by Eileen Leahy Epstein, who has traveled in France extensively herself.  Later in autumn, Eileen will host a panel discussion with classmates who have recently moved.  If you are thinking of moving to live in a new location in retirement, to downsize, or to be near family members, this Zoom will be for you!  Watch your inboxes for details on these upcoming events.

Do you admire a special classmate for her professional achievement?  If so, Melissa Sherman Tassinari, chair of the Alumnae Association’s External Awards Committee, would like to hear from you.  At our 50th Reunion in 2025, we hope that the Alumnae Association can honor ’75’s with exemplary careers. In addition, the Alumnae Association Internal Awards Committee, chaired by Marianne Fouhey ’78, recognizes alumnae for service to MHC.  Please nominate a classmate for an award by emailing Melissa at melissa.s.tassinari27@gmail.com

Denise Schutzenberger Terrazas still has a few reunion books from our 45th Reunion in 2020, and she would like to send them to people who missed getting one three years ago.  If you’d like one of these books, please email Denise at deniseol@aol.com  Thank you! 

Our Head Class Agents Ruth Dillingham and Sandy Fotiades are pleased that members of the Class of 1975 gave $217,970 to Mount Holyoke for the fiscal year which ended June 30.    However, Ruth and Sandy have even higher aspirations for us in the coming year!  If you have not made a gift to MHC in recent years, please consider doing so through the college website.  Any donation given now counts toward our 50th Reunion gift.

Class Treasurers Alice Maroni and Coral Grout urge everyone to pay 2020-2025 class dues of $50 by sending a check to Alice at 15 Franklin St., Alexandria, VA 22314-3828.  The more dues we collect now, the better our Reunion Chairs can budget for the festivities at our 50th Reunion.  Below are the surnames of those who have paid to date.  Thank you!

Berney, Brown, Burden, Buendo, Campbell, Crosby, Dillingham, Ducat, Ellington, Epstein, Fine, Foster, Fotiades, Franchi, Gavalis, Geller, Gerber, Grealish, Grout, Hirsch, Hunter, Jukofsky, Kadlec, Koltes, Koser, Leber, Lipschutz, Lovelace, Luca, Lundin, Maroni, Milner, B. Murphy, D. Murphy, Owens, Pascale, Porrazzo, Seibert, Sherry, Sims, Sosnow, Souder, St. John, Stein, Stone, Tassinari, Teasdale, Terrazas, Walgren, Weinbarger, Wellvang, Welsh, White.

Lastly, I am sorry to report the death of one our our classmates, Liz Abrams Thompson, whose obituary is at https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nytimes/name/elizabeth-thompson-obituary?id=52539951  If you have heard of any other ’75’s who have passed away recently, please contact me at elizabethmstone2712@gmail.com or co-president Sandi Carbonari Welsh at  sandiwelsh12@gmail.com

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Stone, Co-President