1956 Class Notes for 2021

Sheila Jarvis Rice and I have solicited news and info from you all, and these comments reflect our survey.

Early callers include Janet Francis Filling, who enjoys suburban Westport where she visits frequently with son Greg and fam; her granddaughter thrives at Georgetown. Janet is in touch with Marie Collins, longtime NYC resident.

Bunky Jordan (Sr. Marcella) and I talk occasionally.  She lives in retirement (finally!) at Christ House and still visits with former clients.  After a brief health crisis, she generally settles for monthly drops for macular degeneration, and taking it easy. Petsy Flanigan O’Hora called, and I enjoyed her bouncy personality, as usual. She talks with our faithful former scribe Peggy Collins Morgan, who recently moved to assisted living nearby and no doubt enlivens that crowd! Maria Romero sounds bored in Boston because of pandemic isolation (and Needham is not NYC!) In more normal times she visits the senior center, playing chess, teaching knitting, Peruvian cooking, etc. Her daughter Maria Elena and family live nearby, of course, and take care of her shopping needs, etc.

I learned from our conversation that Esther Romero, after years in Geneva, has returned to Lima and a beach get-away to avoid the plague.  Esther has edited their father’s (Fernando Romero) book of studies on African-Peruvians. From the international scene to South Bend: a great note from Julie Whelan Considine.  She and Jim began to adopt in the early 60’s and moved from house to house as the family grew: Blaise, Meghan, Cecily, and Devin arrived, as did piano students and then a music-teaching career.  She produced two annual musicals at St. Matthew School;  remember TC’s class shows?!  Now Julie walks daily and takes occasional trips to family and the Jersey Shore, of course.

Joan Messineo Beck and George missed their summer at Cape Cod last year for the first time in 38 years!  Florida has been good for them, though, and they are grateful for a.c., cable tv, the internet, cell phones, and ZOOM.  Text messages keep them in touch with their large family.  Sheila Rice reports Mary Ellen Kelly “status quo” in nearby Maryland. Sheila finally contacted Mitzi Kent Federici who’s missing tennis and golf and is relieved she doesn’t have to work on our class reunion.  We’ve decided to skip a get-together for obvious reasons this 65th year since graduation.  Sheila did track Ann Jones Kittler to discover she died in May 20l9 in Bossier City, La.  Ann raised her family and taught school there for many years but did not keep in touch with family and friends in Md.  Remember how pretty Ann was?  We last saw her at our l0th reunion.  We uncovered a few other deaths of ’56ers: Lee Quasey Gowell died last summer after years of illness, and Jean Sigmund Duane died earlier that summer.  Jean had battled heart disease for 20-plus years.

I had a nice conversation one evening with Erin Sweeney Hogan’s son Matthew.  He called to tell me both his parents died last year;  Erin followed her husband by weeks, and they had a family funeral mid-summer in Saratoga Springs.  Since we all saw Sheila Leary Craig at our last reunion, it was surprising to learn last fall of her death from dementia.  Her large family was able to be with her at the end, a blessing.  One of my first responders was Peggy Shirley Corlew, our classmate from Lynn, transposed for years to Hacienda. CA.  She wrote that not only did she raise a large family but also received an MA at Cal State Fullerton.

From the Midwest:  Kathleen Lawrence Prochaska writes of the October death of George, age 90, and the death of their daughter-in-law the following month.  Kathleen is now living in a retirement community.  Kay Fitzgibbon Garrity lives in an ACTS community in PA, where she earned Life Master at bridge, all online.  Congratulations!  From Pittsburgh, Nancy Thibodeau Brockenbrough writes her three sons are Ph.D. engineers and that she and George have the usual old-age aches and pains. They continue to vacation in Gloucester, back to her roots.  It’s status quo for Mary Ellen O’Neal Heinze in MD where their pizza business thrives, with two locations (and two sons)and a pizza “hot line”!  She’s planning to hold two weddings at the farm this up-coming season.

Pat Paul, with a walker, and her partner are caring for each other with some helpers.  She recommends “Let go and let God” and “One day at a time” as succinct advice to us all.  I talk frequently with Barbara Ronan O’Hern, who walks daily and plays bridge frequently.  Her large family keeps her involved since Dan’s death; they have the usual joys and sorrows.  Sound familiar?
Ellen Dolan Carter (Cleveland area) is now at a senior living complex; her son and daughters are supportive as only family can be.  She had a long trip to a daughter’s in Connecticut last year.  Ellen is a librarian and a lawyer, and I’m sure her “retirement” is active!
Carol Cooney Barry, a New Englander in Georgia, is pushing through her great loss with Charlie’s recent death. She continues her community involvement and her church devotions. Her life has not been easy, but she always does the right thing.  (My comment).
I had a long phone conversation recently with Lois O’Connor Vaughan who welcomes the opening-up of our worlds.  Her oldest daughter is recovering from serious illness in Needham where she is a close friend of Maria Romero’s daughter.  I usually lunch with Lois and Joan Beck when I’m in Mattapoisett in the summer.  We missed last year, and who knows what August 2021 will bring?
It’s been 10 years since Owen died, and it’s status quo for me: same house, wonderful children, good health, some travels, and many masked get-togethers.
When she isn’t camping with family all over the country (and Canada), Sheila runs her household (which has always included a relative or two); retirement is not her style.  She has tracked-down a classmate or two and provided me with laughs and running commentary.  And she got out of co-chairing our reunion with the elusive Mitzi!
Since you have our contact info, please keep in touch as the days and years go by; until we meet again….
Sheila Rice and Mary Jane Malone