1954 Class Notes for 2018
Dear Best Friends of the Green,
Our request for challenges and growth over the past year seems to have resulted in many health challenges as we mark our 85th year.
Ann Horbett Groshek still manages her hikes, but confesses to being happy she is still vertical. She keeps her mind sharp with book club and Sudoku. Pat Keeler Bader enjoys her new condo, but has had to resign herself to using a cane and not being able to get into NYC for theater and volunteering at the Met. Gloria “Ditto” Ford Murphy and George have had a bad health year with too many hospital stays, but are now on a walker and cane respectively and moving along.
We have lost three of our own this past year: our class president Alice Dargan Clark, Kay Hickey Lauler and Cathy Clony McGoldrick. We fondly remember Alice’s leadership of our class, Kay’s devotion to the Sodality and Cathy’s beautiful smile and many kindnesses to all. May they Rest in Peace. Drink ’em Down!
Pat Smith Daley speaks of her greatest challenge as being the death of husband Mick in October. He was buried with full military honors, flag draped, horse-drawn caisson and all, at Arlington Cemetery in February. Her thought for all of us. “May the power, wisdom and love make us Trinity strong.” Irma Fiol Alvarez continues to take care of beloved husband Tito, and as far as growth is concerned, “I am shrinking with age!”
Sister Benedicta Chang, SND, tells us that Pat Sullivan Wilson is also grieving for her husband Chris, as well as Mary Curtin Smith for Bernie. Sister Benedicta had a lovely lunch with Mary and Connie Sippel Daugherty who lives in the Baltimore area.
We have some still very active classmates also. Mary McLaughlin Bedard rides her beloved horse, Missy, for an hour three to four days a week. She also brushes and grooms her and she is the light of her life, aside from her sports-minded grandchildren, of course. Mary continues her weekly visits to a local nursing home. Nancy Thompson Jackson notes that she and Jim are in good health, though not as vigorous. As she wrote, though, he was just off to go skiing.
Judy Ryther Majcher continues with her jewelry business and was off for a 50th anniversary cruise in Australia and New Zealand. Ellen Daly Prokop keeps busy with family visits, her music, and books. Carol Aiken Preece enjoys bragging about her five great grands – all through her daughter’s line.
The DC local greens, Pat Daley, MM O’Brien, Jean Connell, Annette Kane, Nancy Crecca Schaefer, Anne Landry, Barbara Bemis Sullivan, Ruthann Arnsberger and guest Helen O’Neill May met at the Irish Inn to toast our long friendships. Helen May had us roaring at her tales of the residents at the retired citizens home where she now lives. It has been a difficult year for Helen moving from much loved DC area to Richmond to be near family. She eventually realized she had to learn her way around, make friends and get active. She has found 20 good Catholic friends who enjoy each other’s company and she is happy now with the community at Cedarfield.
Nancy Schaefer has moved to a centrally located high rise in northwest DC. She and Barbara Sullivan still volunteer at the Christ Child Society Opportunity Shop in Georgetown. Barbara enjoys her book club, as do many other respondents.
Dottie O’Brien Meisenzahl and husband continue to enjoy life in an independent living residence and she helps husband Bill with his memory issues. Children and grandchildren living nearby are an added bonus. A beautiful email came from Larry Kinch, husband of Sue Upthegrove Kinch, which tells of Sue in a nursing home. He reads all of our Trinity emails to her and she seems to enjoy them.
Roseanne Flaherty Madden says so many body parts not working well, so she calls this their armchair year. However, they are still managing to physically work in appropriate ways. They especially enjoyed watching the Olympic curling competitions from their armchairs, being long time enthusiasts of the sport. Peggy Inglesby Greenslade also noted slowing down to help husband Johnny more, but she continues to volunteer at Open Arms, an ecumenical group consisting of many local church volunteers who provide support and aid in many ways as an alternative to abortion.
We still have many other active volunteers such as Anne Carusone Landry, who has just completed a 14 year stint with St. Jude’s Hospital Gala, preceded by many years of volunteering with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Anne was in charge of procuring auction items. She asks that you remember in your prayers her son Jimmy, who is in need of a heart transplant.
Maureen “Pudgy” Malone Quine continues with her prison ministry, helping the inmates work toward high school diplomas. She is also an advocate for more education for the prisoners, but calls it an uphill battle and a real challenge.
Hope Savage Crawley still does her weekly volunteer work at the Salvation Army overseeing showers for the homeless and visiting with them, as well. She is also at the YMCA frequently exercising as it is important for her medical care.
Anne Denison Morgan DeAcetis, despite her blindness, wrote a beautiful email about the challenges of being the very senior member of the search committee for her Episcopal church to find a new rector. Anne helped go through 50 applicants’ resumes, winnowing it down to three. From there, the committee visited each of the finalist’s parishes, and then had the candidates visit their church to meet the parishioners. Anne was happy with their ultimate selection.
Margaret Mary Collins O’Brien spends her time with family as the top priority. She has two younger brothers with whom she keeps in close touch, as well as her many other extended family members. MM still enjoys light gardening and scrapbooking for her only granddaughter. She tries to be a patriotic citizen through her shopping sprees to support the economy.
To quote Jean Perry Connell: “At this time in my life, it IS my family that I am most focused on. Outside interests are less meaningful. It is in my family that continuous efforts can bring results. It is in my family that my influence can support change. My greatest challenge is to have the patience and grace to wait for this to occur.”
Peg Malone Fisher has had a rough flu winter, but offers some thoughts on the challenges we face as we age. “We must reinvent ourselves, but also accept the challenge. So many of those near and dear are either suffering or have died, and we must appreciate that we have our religion to help us on our way. We must pray for the future of our children, grandchildren and the whole world.”
This is from another classmate who prefers to remain anonymous, but also has words of wisdom for us all. “Our lives have had challenges and tragedies, which we have met as best we can and we still must maintain a sense of hope and some humor. We are blessed with curiosity which has kept us growing through the years.”
From Annette Pieslak Kane: “The most fulfilling work I am currently doing is serving as co-chair of the Care for Our Common Home team in my parish. This work is an outgrowth of a study of ‘Laudato Si,’ Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment. We are trying to implement the Pope’s call to care for creation through education on environmental issues in our community; fostering spirituality in prayer for the environment (we hosted an ecumenical prayer service during the Season of Creation); advocacy at state and national levels; and sustainability projects. Environmental activities contribute to my commitment to the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, which engages retired persons in work for the poor, in study, reflection and retreats. I also continue to serve as accompanist for the parish Resurrection Choir, which sings at all funerals – a beautiful ministry to grieving families. Like all of us, I face the bodily challenges that go with our age, but am grateful for a yoga class to help maintain balance and flexibility. I get great joy from continued piano study and even played in a recital last spring – the only performer over the age of 17! I cherish visits with friends, and like most of us, miss those dear friends who are no longer part of our lives.”
I, too, have faced challenges this past year from health issues that have slowed me down. I moved from a very busy life of volunteering to a quieter one of keeping in touch with folks via phone and prayer. I manage to participate in art appreciation classes (to my regret, I never took Dr. Ellinger’s art history courses), plus occasional lunch dates and book club meetings. I am trying to practice patience, courage, and hope.
From the founder of the Sisters Notre Dame de Namur order St. Julie Billiart: “My prayer is that the good God may establish His absolute reign in your heart and those of all.”
PS: Don’t forget May 31-June 2, 2019, will be our 65th Reunion at Trinity. Chairs Jean Connell and Nancy Schaefer urge you to mark your calendars for another grand party celebrating our long standing friendships. It will be a wonderful opportunity to tour the new Payden Academic Center, which is such a light filled educational building of which to be proud.
Hugs and God’s special blessings to all!
Ruthann Twomey Arnsberger