1956 Class Notes for 2014-2015

Dear Classmates,

You apparently love a short deadline! I got very prompt responses and quite a few of them. Or you thought my 5+6 attempt to catch your memory was humorous. Anyway, it was great to hear from so many so quickly.
Lee Quasey Gowell was first to respond. She is still adjusting to living in Emerald Heights in Redmond, WA, where she is learning to navigate an electric wheelchair and volunteers to do in-house TV interviews. Lee had a call in February from Kathryn Cotter, oldest daughter of Kathryn “Kay” Farrell Noumair, sadly to report that Kay died the end of January.  Lee is godmother to Kay’s youngest daughter, Claire, but had not been in touch with her lately. Your scribe was teary; Kay and I were roommates for three years. I will always remember her phenomenal math abilities and ever-present knitting projects, as well as the very floral bedspreads we bought at Woody’s to counteract the standard tan rooms of Fourth North. Kay’s mother, Kathryn Fischer Farrell ’25, was a Trinity alumna as was her older sister Mary Patricia “Dickie” Farrell Russell ’53.

Sue Langhoff Barbella wrote a very nice letter stating, “I don’t e­mail, text or do other tech stuff. I find myself falling apart at the seams.” She feels very disappointed that she can’t attend the wedding of her first grandchild, Alison, who is also graduating from medical school and marrying a doctor. She attempted wheelchair tennis, which resulted in injury. Her Trinity roommate, Jean Hackett Barry, has the same shoulder problem as a result of tossing decrepit poinsettias after Christmas. (Hard to believe how we all ran up and down flights of steps and danced with abandon.) Kathy Lawrence Prochaska had successful back surgery and can now walk without a walker. Those of us who have dealt with a walker know what a milestone this can be. Mary Ann Wright Rasmussen noted from Globe, AZ, “I am upright and ambulatory so what else?” There are a number of us saying amen to that. Mary Farrell Jackson writes that her “descendants” remain at the same number and she is looking forward to celebrating her 80th at a family reunion in NC in the fall. Our Class has several who have already reached that landmark, and some of our younger members are holding out ’til 81. How did we get this old? Fortunately, I don’t remember.

Jean Sigmund Duane  is back to tap dancing and swimming, as well as advising her grandchildren at various universities and colleges. You are a miracle, Jean! She and Frank have sold the Ocean City residence and are considering assisted living options. Visiting FL this past winter were Barbara Ronan O’Hem and Janet Francis Filling, who once again visited Katy Florance Denny at her home in Hobe Sound. Barbara wrote that Katy is a great hostess so all enjoyed the time together.

Peggy Shirley Corlew mentioned that she was glad to hear from me as she noticed that she didn’t get the usual Christmas letter. (Trinity has changed their publication schedule, so now you’ll be hearing from me around Fourth of July.) Peggy is tutoring twice a week in a 2-3 classroom. She has decided to take “no more plane trips unless the President offers me Air Force One,” so I guess her travels are over, as opposed to Carol Cooney Barry, who cruised to southeast Asia – Bangkok, Saigon, Hong Kong, etc., this past spring. Sheila Jarvis Rice has had two weddings in her family as well as “glamping” trips in their mobile home. She reports that she takes an exercise class with Grace Watson Picciolo-Predmore’s sister. Sheila also said that Roberta “Mitzie” Kent Federici’s mother died.

Norma Matarese Kacen wanted to share her life inside the Beltway. She is retired but lobbys on the Hill for many causes such as education and social justice, to name only two. She, like many of ’56, belongs to a book club and feels blessed to live in DC with so much of the world centered there.

Rose Mary “Ronnie” Rafferty Libert and Jack have achieved their goal of visiting all 50 states and some locations overseas. They are settled in Wayne, PA, and Ronnie has retired from the local high school’s guidance department. Carol Lawless Mehr and Tracy are moving to Atlanta in September to be nearer children and grandchildren. They have seen Jim and Regina Malloy Shriver and Mike and Sheila Leary Craig on occasion. Carol also visited Lib Malone Mehr and her six children in Milwaukee last fall.

Carol joins Mary Farrell Jackson and Mary Marbach Morano as soon-to-be great-grandparents. Marie “Petsy” Flanagan O’Hora has already achieved that noble status with the birth of Margaret Josephine “Maggie” this past spring. Her oldest grandson, Patrick, and my only granddaughter, Jennifer, were both married on July 19. Not in the same place, nor to each other! Petsy continues to be horrified by her grandsons’ antics, and uses me as the sounding board on how to raise boys. I just laugh and deem them perfectly normal. Joe’s health is holding so Petsy’s thought is, “So far so good.” She had lunch with Roseanne Geeraert Carney in DC in May.

Joan Messineo Beck and George celebrated his 80thin February, went to Spain and Portugal, and are now on the Cape for the 32ndsummer. Joan saw Lois O’Connor Vaughan at the party the Vaughans gave to celebrate the 80th birthday of Leo O’Donovan, SJ, in Chatham. Joan is scheduled for Moh’s surgery on her nose; her comment was, “Hello, sunbathing with baby oil when we were young and foolish.” (Remember all those docks on the Potomac?!) I’m looking forward our annual get-together in Chatham – Lois, Joan and me. The years melt away and we chat and giggle just as we did on Fourth North. Lois and Jimmy’s first wedding of a grandchild (son) will take place on the Cape in September. A week later they will go to Paris and take a river cruise on the Seine to Normandy. Lois and Joan will get together with Mary Jane Ryan Malone as Mary Jane will be in Mattapoisett. She is still, believe or not, our stalwart Class President. Thank you, MJ, for all of us.

Mary Marbach Morano was inducted into her high school Hall of Fame at ­Our Lady of Good Counsel in White Plains, NY. (Champ received a similar honor a few years ago at White Plains High School.) 56’s own power couple! They sold their home in WP since Champ needed daily care and so Mary moved to Rye to be near him. She is enjoying the new place and says, “I enjoy easy living here and fill my days with friends and family.” Sheila Leary Craig and Mike are both involved and busy with the 54 members of their family. Sheila and two daughters had a wonderful trip to Ireland and loved the “pint a day” custom. Sheila has become a dedicated European soccer fan in the last few years. Everyone in her house knows to Do Not Disturb if there is a game on.

Barbara O’Neil Dailey Sorrentino wrote from her daughter’s home in northern CA. Her daughter Pattie, who lived in the DC-area, died a few months ago; we now share that dubious distinction of the death of an adult child. Few sorrows are worse. Barbara is bravely taking a Pilates class and was still mobile after the first day. She mentioned reading of the death of Mary Gerin Hines but had no details. Ruth Robinson McGrath also died within the last year, but I have no information on that either. Mary Eileen “Mary Pat” Paul wrote that she has difficulty walking. She is also a member of the 80-year club and is a consultant for many advocacy groups as far away as AK and AL and points in between. She and her partner of 42 years finally married. Like many of us, her home is “getting kind of full of books” so she is trying to discard some. Good luck, MP, I can’t seem to give up any.

So, “that’s all she wrote,” as the saying goes. It was terrific to hear from everyone and many thanks for the checks. Your scribe is the owner of a new, RED Honda Fit; should it be nominated for Class Car?!?

Love,

Margaret Mary “Peggy” Collins Morgan