1963 Class Notes for 2022
Oh, Gold Class,
Here we are again, our Sixtieth Reunion heading toward us like a freight train. Where did the years go? Where did last year go? It’s time again to catch up with each other and to comment on what might have helped you get through the last few years, which have been quite unusual for reasons I don’t need to enumerate. As I write, several of our classmates, including Muff Lorentz Richardson and JoAnn Smith Adler were cleaning up after Hurricane Ian. Muff had just flown down from Maine where she and Dave had spent the summer and got there just in time to be joined by Ian. Everyone seems to have survived although the cleanup will go on for some time. I’ll be coming back later to Muff, but first let me catch up with a few of you who wrote to share your news and your thoughts.
Kathy Mauceri Kelly was pleased to see that our old traditions continue with the Class News as she was surprised by the changing schedule of Reunion. Despite a few health battles, Kathy doesn’t feel her age, unless she looks in the mirror. She still enjoys golf and her volunteer activities. Her girls are doing well and grandson, Thomas, just started his first year at Drexel. Kathy feels gratitude for all the good in her life. Joan Mafongelli Umholtz notes that keeping equilibrium can be difficult what with Covid and the swirling political currents. She notes that her friends have been invaluable in these years, especially with Warren gone, adding “We have supported one another in ways I never dreamed. Joan has ended up devoting time and energy to a lot of meetings and events, particularly those sponsored by the Tewksbury Historical Society. Her talents have been recognized and she has ended up writing the publicity for all of them, which has led to a growth in her technical skills. She adds, “There are small blessings in every adversity. Pat Hickman Livingston and husband Howard have been keeping the health care system a little busier than they would like but all is well. They enjoyed a trip to see Pat’s three kids and their families who all live east of Tampa and hopefully all are safe and sound. Pat notes that what helps her keep her head when all about her are losing theirs is superb medical care, loving time with family and focusing on goodness in the present moment.
Brenda Fettig Murphy is sporting a new right knee and is grateful that she and jeff are “upright, mobile, and conversant”. To answer the question, she notes that she finds joy in making art, doing volunteer work, playing golf and tennis, and spending time with friends and family. Spending less time on Cable News helps her keep focused in unsettled times. She regrets the loss of civility and simple respect for people from all walks of life that seems to have become so prevalent. Turning 80 was a bit of a shock for Brenda as it remains hard for her to believe that we are old ladies. Connie Urciolo Battle has found herself somewhere between deep gratitude, restlessness, and boredom with the sameness of the last few years. Through a set of coincidences beyond her control, Connie was asked to fill the term of the President of the local ARC of Montgomery County. Although she had previously enjoyed the freedom from deadlines
and pressures, she finds herself feeling nourished by outside connections. Her daughter, Ursula, who many of us met at a bygone reunion, lives with Connie and Charles and, although profoundly disabled, is fully engaged with life. While for Connie, life seems, different, yet still the same, she notes the nation and the world do not seem to be in the same holding pattern, with threats on so many fronts.
Sad news of the death of the death of Judy Mannion O’Hara. Judy’s courage in the face of a devastating disability was a beacon to many of us at our 50th Reunion. She had lived valiantly for many years, with the support of her loving family, and is greatly missed. Her family and friends were there to honor her at a celebration for her life at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament. The Mass program with a photo of Judy and a favorite poem, The Lake Isle of Innisfree, captured the spirit that lived within.
Bonnie Doherty Delay has added pickleball to her tennis routine. She continues to work part-time at BH and as a docent at BC’s McMullen Museum. Bonnie’s museum duties fill her with regret that she didn’t take advantage of the opportunity to learn from Dr. Ilonger when she was in school…who knew that would come in handy later in life and was also a topic of regret for several of us who got together at the Cape..see below. Kids and grandkids are flourishing. Bonnie continues active at Glastonbury Abbey, her faith community and her duties there provide the motivation to stay abreast with technology to keep up programming since Covid. Ellen Malone Padden downsized to an apartment in an over 62 community near her former home. She loves the simpler lifestyle, noting that despite the necessary purge of possession, she hung on to her copies of the Alumnae Journal, so she could re-read what is a journal of our journeys over the past six + decades. She is looking forward to hearing how the rest of us have handled the stress of the last few years. For herself, she follows safe health precautions, contributes to organization that save resources, and promotes listening to others instead of criticizing their ideas, adding hopefully, “small things might add up!”
Janice Nocera Fornier is still living in the home she brought her beautiful baby boy home to 52 years ago. Her oldest grandson is off to DC to study at GW. Janice lost her brother Bob last year….Bob had been at Georgetown when we were seniors and was often on campus. His loss has been painful for Janice as she realizes she is now the sole repository of a lifetime of shared memories. She is still a “church lady, serving as Lector and Eucharistic Minister in her home parish and the Thomas More Chapel at Yale. She finds retirement offers more quiet time and prayer time which help her to stay balanced. She is grateful for her father, her family, her friends, her education, her travels and all the other experiences which have contributed to who she is today. She notes healing and reconciliation are so needed in today’s world and she shares with Ellen the belief that the way to healing begins with listening.
Hilda Basora King was still on the sunny side of 80 when she sat down to write, but that will change on Halloween. She and Neil continue to enjoy trips with their skiing club, and she looks forward to the only perk that comes with turning 80…free ski lift tickets. She credits daily Jazzercise for keeping her head on straight. She has a granddaughter in college, another in high school, and two preteen grandsons. It can get pretty noisy at the Kings’ when everyone is together but Hilda wouldn’t have it any other way. Dorothy Tanck continues to spend time at El Collegio de Mexico, working on her magnum opus, a history of the Jesuit primary schools in colonial Mexico, an educational venture Dotty believes was unique among the Jesuits far flung educational endeavors.. She is planning a trip to the US later this fall to visit her several of her children and grandchildren. Cathy Johnson sends greetings to all. She notes she is continuing to provide support to her partner and keeps grounded in turbulent times by paying less attention to cable news. Very sad news from Eleanor Durkin Berger, whose daughter, Lorie, died suddenly earlier this year. Lorie was very much looking forward to the future, had worked a full week and walked home from work only four days before her sudden illness and death. She was a gifted and accomplished physician, with degrees from Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, Pittsburgh, and BU. She is much missed by her sisters, Rosemary, Maria, and Natalie, Eleanor and Paul. As usual, classmates were there for Eleanor with Maria Masturzo Penman and Carol Bicknell Chapman coming to support her.
In September, I joined several classmates on the Cape due to the inspiration and efforts of Brenda Bennett Scannell, who made a wonderful old seaside home available to those of us who could come for a night or two to share memories and just be together. I drove down with Muff Lorentz Richardson, shared a room with Char Fitzmaurice Luddy, and shared good times, good conversation, and good food with Joan Formato Ferrante, Annie Frossad Pufall, Ann Davitt, Arlene Venerri Post, Brenda and Neil…Bonnie had come a little earlier, but couldn’t stay to join the group. The setting was beautiful, the company was good, the weather was fine and Brenda and Neil pulled out all the stops to make sure we had a memorable weekend, including providing an incredible cake with the Trinity seal created in frosting…it tasted as good as it looked! Ann and I took advantage of proximity to go and visit Nancy Roach. Nancy has downsized to a lovely independent living community and continues to enjoy time with family and friends on the Cape as well as all things Irish. As usual, the years fell away as we talked together. Brenda had imposed a “no politics, no religion” limit on conversation which made it a comfortable weekend for all…something to consider for Reunion as staying away from conflictual topics and confrontation and finding a way to connect seemed to be a common theme in your responses. Brenda was on to something…no hearts and minds would have been won during a weekend of wrangling! In what passes for my real life, I am engrossed in my teaching and clinical role at Portsmouth Hospital and working on academic rank at Tufts. Kids and grandkids come to visit, with my oldest grandson now in college at Curry and my middle grandson starting high school at Xavier in New York, where Dotty Tanck’s nephew is a senior.
It is a small world. As always, thank you for your thoughtful responses and what you bring to your communities and those you love. Trinity, our lives are living you.
Is mise,
Mary Alice O’Dowd