1957 Class Notes for 2019
Blue Class of 1957
Dear Classmates,
Thank you for your prompt email and letter responses. The first letter from Trinity and me did not reach everyone. I will repeat some details to you all. We have had several classmates die: Gloria Hewett Wills died in early January and was buried at Fort Tobacco Maryland, a family site.
Mary Lynn Graf Furth, wife of Donald died in Lake Forest Illinois on November 14, 2018. Eleanor Sopkovich emailed, “…that Lynn was a Trinity Bell. I wonder if the group still exists?”
I received word from Maryan Herr that her beloved husband Max passed away on February 12th. Joan Benzinger, an old friend from high school days flew over to Switzerland to console the family.
Kitty Solomita Canabuci(second from right) with husband Joe and family members
We have received a number of new addresses:
Joann Yeip Hanley 31 Robert Lee Highway, Wilmington NC 28412
Virginia Moore Kreisher 8101 Connecticut Ave. Apt N602 Chevy Chase MD 20815
Zoie Marhoefer Keithley PO Box 1476 Chico CA 95927
Kathleen Meehan Smith 3445 Broad ST Apt A Trenton NJ 08610
Bernadette Wortman Bailey, Blossom Ridge 3226 Lilly Trail Rochester MI 48306 cell: 248-425-4393 email: classicbeabailey @gmail.com
I was happy to receive a number of emails and letters. There were a number of pictures sent directly to Trinity.
Nancy Rubery wrote of a family dinner at Christmas for family from Nevada, 17 who traveled to Rochester, California and Long Island. Paul and Nancy were able to get to Ireland for three weeks last spring.
Elaine Halloran Harris my daughter and granddaughter
Elaine Harris emailed me: Dear Melissa: At this fragile moment of my life approaching 83, I find that my time and energy is mostly given over to “daily life”. I became a city mouse when Maryan Kiernan Herr and I spent our junior year in Paris (’55-’56). Now Chicago is not Paris, but I enjoy living downtown, taking courses at our Art Institute and going to Chicago Symphony concerts. When it’s not winter, there is a great lakefront park for walking. I keep busy reading contemporary French novels with some former and present French teachers. My grandchildren are grown; I follow them on Instagram. My daughter lives nearby and we have lunch indulging in details about our grown-up kids. I’m sorry to hear about so many of our classmates who have died. I say “hello” to those who are still in good health. Thank you, Melissa, for your work on the class notes.
Vinita Murray Burns emailed: Vin and I are still happily “chuggin” along. Summers in FL and winters in Maine. Sorry to say “no more golf”. Loss of strength. Enjoying membership in new UU spiritual community established near us. Talked to Myrtis Mixon and she is amazing. Has traveled to 89 countries and still going. It was also fun to catch up with Flo Finley by phone. Appreciate your effort to keep contact. Vinnie
Kathleen Meehan Smith wrote a full story of her current life. Herbie is now living in New Jersey near a son and family. But because of aging and health, she will be moving to Austin, TX. Son, Kevin is building a home there with a nice apartment attached for her. It should be completed by August.
Zoe Marhoefer Keithley contacted me by phone. She had helped edit my past newsletters, but she has been busy writing another book which I am anxious to read. It is called: Of Fire, of Water and of Stone: Jophile’s Story”. A review in Amazon states “It is historical fiction from the 12th century that deals with obstacles that include differences in social class, loss of loved ones, wars, and religious differences.” Now she is living near her daughter in Chico, CA near the fires in Paradise.
Heard from Cate Kervick Arrix. She and Bob went to Vero Beach his winter. They are living in a condo in New Canaan with family near by. She wishes us all well.
Jolyne Rocereto Dalzell and I had a nice phone conversation. It seems she has not heard much from Trinity. We hope that this is straightened out. All is well in Haddonfield, NJ. She is busy with family and her garden cub.
From Denise Malaney White I received a pleasant note of recurring information about family reunions, and travels. Her reunion was in Manzanita Beach, OR and a 60th Anniversary trip to New York. Glad to hear that she is in touch with Ellen O’Reilly Boyle, Eleanor O’Neil English, Eleanor “Bebe” Wilson Sopkovich and Maureen Milton Kennedy. I also heard from Maureen with familiar words of activities such as Bridge: it’s good for the brain I’ve been told.
Marilyn Dinkel Fry wrote that her granddaughter just gave birth to her 12th great-grandchild. The other part of the story is too many of us, we don’t travel as much as we used to, mainly to families.
This year I got many emails as listed below.
Agnes Renehan Collins still works for the Alzheimer Association and travels to FL. Agnes, Mary Lou Oswald and I try to get together with Sister Mary Florence Hayes as often as possible.
Paul Jachman, Mary Jane Handler Stanton, John Jachman, Betsy Ross Berg Jachman
Mary Jane Handler Stanton called to tell me that she spends time in Vero Beach, FL in the winter and Nantucket, MA in the summer and still sells real estate. Mary Jane writes that the past year had many sad events, including the death of her brother, Ed. The three siblings celebrated his 81st birthday together and he was buried at West Point less than three months later. Happy news includes her daughter Sue Ann’s marriage and a Christmas trip to London with two granddaughters. She was delighted to have Betsy Ross Jachman, her husband and brother-in-law spend a couple of days with her in February. Having a young business partner allows her to continue selling real estate in Rye, NY, where she is not quite the oldest broker in town!
Maria Badaracco-Apolito writes “I still live in NJ (Montclair) – a lifetime New Jersey-ite which I really appreciate. Thinking I knew better than my mother, I did not give the same message to my children as she had, so while I have one son in NJ (Montclair), the other is in the Pacific Northwest and a daughter in England. My oldest grandchild is at university in England, the next soon to be and the two youngest delightfully just seven and five here in the USA. Of course, German Shepherd Dogs also continue in my life as other types of children!
I am still in practice of my medical specialty (Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis), maintaining two offices, although I no longer rotate on emergency call at the hospital, nor consult at nursing homes. My care of my patients is very important to me. I’m still on the clinical faculty of the medical school and continue to teach medical students – which I love doing. Amazingly, in my groups, women often outnumber the guys – a far cry from how by the end of my first year of medical school I was the only woman remaining in my class!!
What I truly value beyond a doubt and cherish and what has such intense meaning to me is my active service as lector at Church. The messages whether from Old Testament or New are SO relevant to us in this very troubled, turbulent and dangerous world. I am so grateful for the intense Dominican training of high school and what else from Trinity that prepared me for doing what captures and sustains attention to this needed direction and reminder at Mass. (I’ve also become a Dominican Associate, keeping me connected to what has been in my life since age five). I am increasingly mindful of the legacies to me of my ancestors and continually grateful to the Lord God who has been and is so generous to me, to us.
Now whittling down organizational work for more time for friends and family. I have finally realized why retirement is appealing – yep, I admit it, I’m a late learner – but more and more grateful that the Lord has endowed us with humor – and of course reliant on His sense of humor.
Eleanor O’Neil English has lived in the same house in Paradise Valley, AZ for 50 years. Eleanor hears from college roommates, Ellen Boyle and Denise White. She traveled to Prague on a river cruise. “It is nice to hear about our Classmates” she stated.
John Jachman, Marilyn Brickley Clarkin , Betsy Ross Berg Jachman
Betsy Ross Berg Jachman and her husband, John, had the good fortune to be able to visit two classmates from the Class of 1957, Marilyn Brickley Clarkin in Honolulu and Mary Jane Handler Stanton in Vero Beach, FL. In both instances, it was amazing how we were able to reconnect and converse just as if no time had passed since we graduated. In May 2018, John and I took a Hawaiian Cruise on the Pride of America and while in Honolulu, we had dinner and a visit with Marilyn. In February, we stayed for a weekend with Mary Jane in Vero Beach, Florida. John and I were in Florida attending two different Road Scholar Programs – one on government and one on 19th Century Women Authors, Art and Aromatherapy. We would highly recommend Road Scholar Learning Programs and also visiting TC classmates. All my grandchildren have graduated from college and are making their way in the world. Where oh where did the time go!