1955 Class Notes for 2022
Trinity’s Class of 1955 Group Zoom Call Late January 2022: The Alumnae Office worked patiently with us to set this up as we enter the 22nd Century online. Here are a few of our classmates who participated (I did not receive a final roster, but I think this is fairly accurate.), Mary Anne Smith Villaneuve, Dorothy Dannemiller Rogers-Abbey, Carolyn Hendershott Martin, Laila Curtin Cuddy, and Joie Lamb Krossa. Here are a few of our classmates who Experienced technical difficulties: Pat McCarthy and Lois McCann Ladds.
Mary Ellen Forbes McMillen
Sorry I missed the Zoom get-together. You’re 89. I’ll be 89 on October 15. If all goes according to plan, I shall celebrate in San Francisco at the Top of the Mark. Frances lives in Oakland and Matthew and wife Clara will come down from Portland, OR to raise a glass. Son Christian and family are here in Charlottesville, and I wish they could be there. We’ll celebrate twice! I’ve essentially completed research on another book, this one on the Canton Hospital in Guangzhou, China, the entryway for Western medicine and medical training into China, 1835-1935. It is a remarkable story of two cultures meeting and enriching each other. I’ll let you know how it works out. My computer is acting as though it’s 100! Love, Mary Ellen
Mary Anne Smith Villeneuve
Great to hear from you. I would love to go to this Anniversary event, but it is not going to happen for me. I enjoyed our Zoom mini-reunion, and it was great to get to be in contact with everyone. Wish that more joined us, but I enjoyed those who did, and I look forward to another session. Youngest grandchild graduated from high school, and I got to go thanks to son, Joe, who retired this year. Joe suggested we do a “memory lane trip”. We went in June to Vermont (sister-in-law), then to Syracuse (drove all around familiar places), then to Pennsylvania (son, John and family, graduation) and then home. It was a great trip. Other than that, my usual week is trying to walk every day with younger neighbors, play 9 holes of golf once a week, still lector at 5PM Mass Saturday night.
Joan Keller Tibbetts
I’m still living independently near the mountains in beautiful Saddlebrook outside of Tucson, AZ. Fortunately, my health continues to be excellent so I’m still able to do everything I want though I have limited my travels recently. I miss my trips to Australia and various cruises to foreign ports which I so enjoy but unfortunately Covid stopped that for the past three years. My daughter in Portland, and sons in Santa Barbara and Japan are all doing well, and my six grandchildren are scattered, two in Australia, two in Japan and two in California. I continue to sing with a woman’s chorus which is a fun- filled group of ladies here in my community. At 88 I continue to thank God for my long and healthy life!
Carolyn Hendershott Martin
Hello to all of you, and hope life is good for all of you! My biggest event was the beautiful wedding for my grandson David and his wife, Monica, on May 28! What a lovely time!! Have talked with Pat McCarthy recently on the phone and had a good chat! I also called Pat Queenan Sheehan as well! It is such a joy talking with them! All my family are doing well. We will be all together for Thanksgiving as usual with my daughter Mary and her family. Healthwise, I am doing well. God is good! My love to all! Carolyn
Donna Demann Neville
Marching on is my main tactic, and so far, it has kept me going. Just returned from a seven-day trip on the QM2 up the New England coast, joined by a friend from 1955/6, she the buyer and I the assistant. Old friends are a real glue in life. Many, many good wishes as we move through the corridor of life, to all classmates and families. Dorothy, hope you are well and keeping busy. On a personal note, we had two weddings in the family this year. I am going to be a great grandmother in February!
Josephine Lamb Krossa
Thank you so much for being ‘55’s scribe. I know some of your story since graduation, and I am constantly impressed by your innate strength, resilience, positive outlook, and enthusiasm for life. You are amazing! As for me: I am pleased to report that life at 89 (90 in June) is good, notwithstanding all the typical old age stuff. My greatest blessing: Ken and I celebrated our 62nd Anniversary last June and look forward to many more! As a couple, we are blessed to be the parents of four exceptionally nice, talented, loving, caring “kids” and their spouses whose achievements make us proud every day: Jim & Cheryl, Dwight& Nancy, Sharon & Rob, and John & Gwenn. Our five grandchildren (Dwight: Cody and Ellie. John: J.T., Lani, and Cooper) are a source of pure joy, and we have the great privilege of living next door to John & Gwenn and their three. The pandemic cut short our wonderful world travels and caused our world to be quite limited to family, very close friends, and our “dream homes” in two beautiful places: Cayucos and Kirkwood. Currently, we are dealing with “empty nest syndrome”. J.T. graduated from Santa Clara and is working in the Bay Area, Lani is studying abroad in London this semester, and Cooper is a Freshman at Gonzaga in Spokane. We still do have John and Gwenn next store. I’m sure we’ll survive “empty nest”, and we got our third Covid-19 Booster today! Life for us is good.
Pat McCarthy
I just realized that I am already late sending this to you and just want to apologize. My life is still busy even after my retirement two years ago, and I continue staying very active. I loved our Zoom meeting, and would love to do it again, even with so few. Beezie and I stay in contact, and I am also in touch with Carolyn Hendershott Martin. Life is still good!
Barbara Burns (Beezie) Weidenbruch
Doing fine and hope you all are too! Over Labor Day had a happy family reunion. Had my two one-year-old “greats”, one from Colorado and one from Texas, and everyone else came. Have such happy memories of my Trinity days…tea dances at Georgetown, the Naval Academy, the Shoreham, etc. Coming home on the bus from the Junior Prom as a Freshman. “Parlor calls” with “Sister Blue Glasses”. Trying to figure out Logic and Anglo-Saxon. Playing field hockey and basketball with my roommate, Pat McCarthy. Love and thanks to all my friends in ’55. Very blessed.
Dorothy Dannemiller Rogers-Abbey
Highlight of the year was the June 18th beautiful wedding of my eldest granddaughter, Charlotte Myer, and Shawn Hyer. It took place at Flanagan Farm, Buxton, Maine. When Wilma Kelly Kennedy realized how close that was to her, she contacted me, and we set up a meeting on the Monday after the wedding. Tragically, Wilma’s son, Paul, called me four days before the wedding to report that Wilma had a major stroke of her left side. I talked by phone with Wilma, and she was quite coherent She has had a set-back since. She is in assisted living: 27 Forest Falls Drive, Apartment 103 Yarmouth, ME 04096. Let’s send her cards. Luke Myer, Charlotte’s brother, is marrying an Australian, Ashley Day, on Easter, April 9th. The wedding will be in Hawaii since this is halfway for each family. They are planning a 90th Birthday party for me during the wedding time. Much ado!! They have just bought a residence in San Francisco and have invited the Myer family for Christmas. I’m going, naturally.
Since the word is out about my 90th Birthday, March 15th, all sorts of cousins, etc. want to come to Santa Fe on that day. We are a large Reunion-prone family! Son Bill is a successful metal artist. His wife, Sarah Morrison, is now showing her art in a Chicago gallery. Son Bob and Barbara’s two daughters are in graduate school. Mom is Mayor of Cranbury, NJ and up for re-election as I type.
Son Tim and Yvette’s daughter, Amelia, is gainfully employed as a corporate event planner in New York. Son, Nick, is a junior at Whitman College, Washington. Daughter, Cian, is a senior at Santa Fe High School. This family invites me to Sunday night suppers which are a delight and I especially enjoy the take-home treats. My big buddy is Nibsy, a “torty” cat. I use my walker when out of the house. Shopping for one? I highly recommend the “Nitro”.
Good health, God bless, and love to all you Golden Girls of ’55