1949 Class Notes for 2014
First mail received this Reunion year (more on that later) was from Alice Traynor McGarey.Her family keeps growing, with two recent grandchild weddings, so she rented a house on the beach sleeping 50 for the McGarey Family Reunion in August. Another growing family belongs to Evelyn Matthews Berube,who welcomed a great-grandchild. She and her husband are still in their house and belong to a group which makes that possible.
Jeanne Domark Hammarlund sent word of Laurie Scherer Sexton,who had been in rehab but was able to return home with help. Jeanne also talked with Joan Healy Calame,who splits her time between Vero Beach and MA. Jeanne’s daughter died this spring.
Beth McCormick, OP, regretted being unable to travel to DC for Reunion, but is very close to NY where she has been able to attend ballet performances, which she loves. Her health remains good, so she continues spiritual direction, her only ministry these days. She was quite busy this spring with chapter meetings and work for her community. “These are interesting times for American Sisters – I’m sure you have heard of ‘investigations’ and ‘examinations’ of us by Rome…a terrible waste of time, energy and money – and we don’t have much of any of them,” Beth observed. All of the Sisters are close to our hearts these days.
Not one but TWO notes arrived from Barbara “Barbie” McMahon Sullivan.At Christmastime, she sent a card saying she had an excuse for not writing sooner due to a health issue. The up side was that Dick had taken over scrubbing the pots and pans. In July, she reported that Dick had a horrendous winter health-wise (too many pots and pans, I ask?) but is now better.
One day this summer, my phone rang; a lovely voice from the South was on the line. Esther Herlihy Tecklenburgsaid she had some really happy news – Tim Donnellan (son of our class president, Cornelia “Cornie” Scannell Donnellon)had recently moved to Charleston and was living nearby. Esther has been slowed by some health issues. She also has help daily. Four sons, lawyers and a doctor, live in Charleston. One is running for mayor, in line with family tradition of involvement in politics. Her DC lawyer son, who is also deaf, works for Nancy D’Alesandro Pelosi ’62. Esther finally has more girls in the family – three of her four greats are girls (including twins). The count of the grands is seven boys and only three girls
Now for the 65th Reunion. Ahead of time, a few of us tried to call our classmates and encourage them to come. Here are a few short notes from these phone calls.
Adele Benziger Markey was unable to leave a very ill husband. Moyra Siu Moy was hospitalized at the time of the call. Eleanor “Ellie” Montville Schaefer was unable to travel. Mary Harvey Gormley Walker is on a walker. Mary Welch Porter is unable to travel but still enjoys her home which she shares with son John.
Let’s move on to the Reunion. The hardy ’49ers who attended were Joan Dunn Williams, Mildred “Millie” Carey Hubler, Marita Rover Frank, Vivienne Lambert Ehret, Joan Monagan Clinton (luncheon only) and myself. First our news: Joan D. continues to be well-traveled and attends classes, including playwriting! Vi continues as librarian at the Gesu School in Philadelphia and, in fact, had to hurry back in order to work on Monday. Millie, continually on the move, traveled to Spain with two daughters, studied a wide variety of subjects at U. of Dayton and planned two weeks of study in Cambridge, England, in the fall. Her work as a trustee for the Rotterman Trust (Marie Rotterman of Dayton was in Trinity’s first class of 1904 and has been a major donor) involves recruiting students for scholarships. Marita and her husband, Bill, have moved to an over-55 community in Wilmington, DE, to be near a daughter and Bill’s family. They miss their Bethesda friends, but appreciate not having to keep up an old house and large yard. Joan C. remains in Falls Church and enjoys her bridge friends.
Millie, Joan, Vi and I were housed in Kerby; Marita was in town with Bill. We had a very full day (in beautiful weather), the highlight of which was the outdoor groundbreaking ceremony for the new Trinity Academic Center. Lunch for all classes was in the athletic building, followed by Mass in the Chapel with music by a lovely Gospel choir. A beautiful close of the day was the gala dinner for all classes 50 years and over as guests of President Pat McGuire ’74 in the tastefully-renovated Social Hall. Our table was honored by the presence of Sr. Margaret Claydon, SND, ’45 former president, on a walker but alert, engaged and intellectually stimulating. President McGuire greeted us all with her usual energy, at the end saying: “I love my job.” At the end of this 12-hour day, we retired to Kerby, got out Joan’s latest play about her year in France while at Trinity, divided up the parts and staged a performance. We heartily wished more of you could have shared our experience. Maybe next time!
Ellen Wagner Healey