1953 Class Notes for 2015
Joanne McGuire Hafner and Jack start off with news of the trip they took to celebrate their 60th anniversary – a two week Viking river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest, with extra days added to both ends. They loved it! In September of 2013, Joanne’s sister, Clara, TC ‛55, passed away- she didn’t know she was sick until three months before she died. Jack and Joanne moved to Medford, Oregon in 2004 and are delighted with their present choice. The Hafners have three great-grandchildren and their own youngest child, Tom, is retired and has started his own business doing sound work for large parties and large bands.
Bill and Diane Ryan Kunkler feel very blessed that their extended family is well and all continue to visit regularly. Everyone is planning to be with Diane and Bill for Christmas 2015, including the four grands who are currently enrolled at Boston College, Georgia Tech and Notre Dame. Diane and Bill planned a trip to Bermuda and hoped for a hurricane-free season.
Claartje Rathjens Bertaut took a nasty fall in her kitchen last January and is now leading a safer life, dictated by her personal “committee of five” children. These include a lifeline pendant for in the house, a road ID bracelet for walking and a rule about not climbing on chairs to reach something. Prior to her fall, Clare traveled to Chicago with her son to attend the funeral of Ed’s sister. And after her fractured wrist had recovered, she flew to Portland, OR for a visit with her daughter, Nanette. Clare finds that she is gradually phasing out “bereavement” groups and replacing them with fun activities like yoga classes and cookouts.
Barbara Jennemann Mack writes that she and Dick are thoroughly engaging in community living and have plenty to do. They are both very much involved with Catholic Charities and Barbara volunteers in a literacy program for four year olds and their mothers. Barbara met Adelene Cowhig Quigley, Leah Stephens Snyder and Julianne Dempsey Largay at the Trinity Luncheon in Naples last February. Leah and George continue to shuttle between Naples, Buffalo and Canada. Leah’s daughter, Adair, visited Colorado Springs, CO and unexpectedly found herself at a memorial park for victims of the 1961 Boston Skating Club plane crash. She recognized the bench that honors our classmate Nathalie Kelley and her brother, Greg, who was a member of the team. What a special thing to be able to share that experience with all of us who knew Nat.
Adelene wrote with her typical enthusiasm about the Trinity Luncheon and about all the successes that are happening on Michigan Avenue. Trinity certainly occupies a unique place in the history of Catholic women’s colleges! Adelene spent the month of February in Naples and a week in Avalon, NJ with her entire family. George and Leah are back “up North” but not quite settled as usual – they are constructing a new bathroom in their Canada beach house and finding it a good deal more complicated that doing the same construction in just one country with one set of laws and regulations to follow.
Rosemarie Battistelli Altieri had spoken to Pat Furlong Smith during the severe winter rainstorms in Tennessee. Pat and Ken were safe but it was a frightening time and they were looking forward to a much calmer summer. Rosemarie, Pat and I are planning a lunch together once this letter is on its way to DC.
Helen Talbot Hitselberger, moved last year to an independent living community in Charlotte and two of her sons live nearby. It’s quite a change after living in the same house for grammar school, high school and college! She is the mother of five daughters and two sons and has 21 grandchildren. Her husband, Joe, died several years ago. Helen mentioned Christine Kennedy O’Connor and said they had been in each other’s weddings many years ago. Helen also mentioned Tardy Thayer McGregor and said that both Tardy and her husband had passed away many years ago. The McGregor’s had a large family, eight or nine children. Helen also spoke of Jack and Ginny Woods Greene who have long been happily settled in Florida. Helen said she had recently come across a football team picture of her husband Joe standing next to Pat O’Neal Schmitt’s husband Harry. Pat called after the 4th of July to report that she had happily survived a family party of 13 overnight guests over the holiday weekend. Pat drives or flies all over the USA to attend various family weddings, baptisms and graduations but she confesses it’s not as easy to do as it had been 20 or 30 years ago!
A phone call from Helen Martin McKenna brightened up a rainy July day and rolled back 60-plus years of memories. Who else remembers earning gym points by roller skating to and from Brookland?? After a generation of granddaughters, Helen was happy to announce the recent arrival of their first great grandson. Helen now lives on Connecticut Avenue in DC and she (and others) referred to the wildness of DC traffic.
A lovely letter came from Sr. Sarah A. Fahy, who had looked forward to our 60th Reunion, and then was laid low by a very aggressive virus. She hopes to attend our 65th! The death of her sister Agnes is a deep sorrow for Sarah and the prayers and the Mass our class had said for Agnes meant a great deal to her. Sarah’s own journey of faith has been a long and complicated one, and continues to be a transformative one for her.
Ginny Woods Greene refers to her home in Winter Haven, FL as “paradise”, so I am assuming she and Jack are quite content there. They have lived in Winter Haven for many years and always write quite glowingly. Shonie Hall Finnegan wrote upon her return from Damariscotta, ME, where she had attended the charming wedding of Marie Noonan Sabin’s daughter Margaret. Pat Carr Bruckman also was a guest at the wedding and the three members of the class of ’53 had a great time catching up. Shonie is active in the Social Justice Committee and a Feminist Theology book club in her parish. Shonie’s three daughters live nearby. Sarah is a child neurologist at the Univ. of Buffalo Medical School, Kate is a patient advocate at a local health insurance company and Lizzie is an Assistant Professor of English and Film at D’Youville College in Buffalo.
Betsy Staat Romson wrote last April as she and her husband were preparing to leave for Phoenix. They were able to spend an evening with Jim and Martha McGill Thornley. Yvonne Guertin Christopher writes that she is adjusting much better to life in the retirement home her children found for her – much better than living alone! Martha sends word that all of their children live within 45 minutes traveling time, except for one of Jim’s sons who lives in Texas. For many years Martha greatly enjoyed volunteering in a local prison ministry but that facility has closed, so Martha now brings communion to the nearby Episcopal Church. Martha and Jim take courses at the local Center for Lifetime Learning. Martha feels that there are events of great concern in the world but also great signs of hope. Martha’s own sons have brought three different cultures into their family – China, Belize via Africa and the Philippines.
Just prior to deadline, Pat Glunz Spencer called full of news about the arrival of her 31st grandchild! The majority of her family is planning a huge party in October when Pat’s daughter, who has been working with Opus Dei in India, returns home for a brief visit.
Florence Sullivan Christ reports that she and Mike are happy at their retirement community where Mike serves on the Residents’ Council. She describes the community as approximately 200 grumpy old men and demanding old ladies!
After surviving the worst Boston winter in two generations, Pat Shannon McNally-McDonough and Edwin just returned from the high seas, cruising first to Bermuda and then to Alaska. They are still very busy with church, exercise classes and the Boston Symphony and Boston Chamber Music Society.
My daughter, Kerry ’80, and I met Pat and Edwin in the spring for a wonderful tour of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, followed by lunch and much catching up and laughter.
I close this letter while encased in a bright green cast after suffering a “boxers’ fracture” on my right hand. I’m slowly learning how to brush my teeth with my left. I hope you all have enjoyed a happy and healthy summer with your families and friends.
Nancy McCormack O’Connell
Kerryoc1@gmail.com