1974 Class Notes for 2016

Susan (AKA Freddie) Fournier wrote that life is hectic for the Fournier-McCabes. Last October their younger son and his wife, who live in Denver, presented them with their third grandchild.  Closer to home, they provide after-care for their oldest, a granddaughter, who turned four in March.  Although, both Susan and husband Michael are retired, he consults on energy issues he managed over his years at DOE and Susan continues to work part-time as a library assistant at a law firm, but may give them only one more year.  Bunion surgery in April kept Susan from physical activities–rowing and crossfit; but she did lots of needlepoint.  They are looking forward to a family wedding in Utah and celebrating her grandson’s first birthday in October.

Suzanne Days said she and husband Larry retired to The Villages in FL two years ago and have loved it. It’s the largest active retirement community in the world that is 40 square miles with over 115,000 residents.  They are never bored! She is still mourning the loss of classmate Jane Wietsma Gudgeon. The rest of their little Trinity group tries to get together annually.

Marilyn Manalastas Madarang is still working as litigation attorney with Office of General Counsel, Department of Energy.  This year she attended her high school reunion at Saint Theresa’s College in the Philippines.  Her vacation included travel in Bangkok, Thailand and Las Vegas. While in Las Vegas, she got together with a Georgetown University Law School classmate.

Her daughter Kristina graduated college from Johns Hopkins University and is currently pursuing her masters at Johns Hopkins University.  She works for Georgetown University School of Medicine.  Son Allen is a rising sophomore at Georgetown Preparatory School participating in the sports of cross country and tennis.  Her husband Alvin is a physician.

Stephanie Slepicka Shipp and her husband Ken are new grandparents and loving it! Francis Ryan was born in May 2015 to their older daughter Sarah Ryan (an architect) and her husband Joe (a biologist), in St. Augustine, FL. Ken was the “manny” for the several months with Stephanie joining on many weekends. Stephanie joined Virginia Tech in Arlington in 2013 to create the Social and Decision Analytics Lab, with a focus on bringing analytics to small and medium size counties and cities. Ken is now a part-time manny and in between takes French classes at the local community college in Alexandria and at Flagler College in St. Augustine. Younger daughter, Rachel Shipp, happily lives in San Francisco, working in the financial sector and competing in triathlons on a regular basis.

Cristina (Giambi) Dal Molin wrote that life is going well.  She stays in touch with her best friend, “Marcy” Marsha Wilson Aguilar. She has been a children’s librarian for 24 years and has loved it.  Retirement is looming on the horizon.  In retirement she will probably volunteer at any library that can use her services.  Her son, Francesco, continues to work for GSA and his vegetable garden is producing some huge gorgeous tomatoes this year.  Her daughter, Claudia, is an Assistant Professor of Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, at the University of Maryland Medical Center, and is married to the best son-in-law in the world, Chris. Their golden doodle, Monti, her grand-doggie, brings joy to all.  Claudia and Chris helped her remodel her mid-century kitchen last fall and then helped re-landscape a section of garden in front of her house. Her kitchen and garden fill her with gratitude and joy each day.  I am blessed.

Linda A. Schneider continues to adjust to retirement from the SEC almost two years ago.  She keeps busy with writing more short stories and essays, trying to find mainstream publishers interested in previous books (including her autobiography) and a new contemplated collection.  She particularly enjoys the company of her seeing eye Labrador, Teddy and her other hobbies of knitting and sculpture.  She still occupies the family homestead in Arlington, VA.

Donna Schlegel wrote that this has been a year of profound loss—a year of change for many friends held close by history and enduring friendships.  Mary Jane Wietsma fought breast cancer for more than 15 years. Jane lost that battle on March 18, 2016. Her services and burial were in Peekskill NY, followed by a luncheon celebrating Jane’s life. Establishing a Jane Wietsma Memorial Scholarship at Trinity Washington University is being explored.

The 2016 Memorial Day Holiday weekend prompted a mini-reunion for Pat Fitzpatrick, Pat Pfister and Donna in New York City.  Despite warm temperatures and threats of rain, the trio plus their husbands/partners enjoyed walking the High Line, exploring Chelsea Market, a performance at the Joyce Theater, The American Museum of Natural History, and spectacular panoramas from the observatory atop One World Trade Center. Pat Pfister reflects the fun of the weekend in the submitted photo.

Donna started a new job in mid-March as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Emergency Response Team with the Norwalk Health Department. Donna is enjoying the new challenges presented by the world of Public Health Emergency Preparedness. Greg Knowles, Donna’s husband, is working at North American Headquarters for Victorinox Swiss Army, Inc. in Monroe. CT

Jeanne Cox Zepp writes that 2016 was a “year of accomplishment and adventure.” Her daughter Megan entered her final year at the Medical College of Virginia and is currently exploring residency programs. Her daughter Erin received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from North Carolina State University in May and began a small animal internship at Cornell University in June. In between, Jeanne and Erin celebrated this accomplishment by taking a mother-daughter trip to Italy where they visited Venice, Florence, Rome and many other cities. Jeanne’s husband Kevin maintains a full schedule between work and volunteering with the National Parks Service’s living history program. Jeanne continues to direct public relations for a high-tech PR firm.

After years in the pharmaceutical/medical device industry, Cheryl Petrell Eaton took a forced retirement and is loving the fact that there is a life without commuting to Boston!!  It took her a while to get used to being home with her husband Walt, who retired three years ago. She has found out it really is OK to be retired!!

Cheryl’s daughter Catherine, is getting married in Rhode Island in September. Retirement has its pluses when making wedding arrangements! It has been so much fun helping Catherine and fiancé Tom make plans for their happy day.

She and her husband bought a house in Vero Beach Florida this past year. After spending the first winter in Florida they realized that they did not miss the cold and snow.  They still love New England where they plan to stay most of the year, and continue to enjoy the water visiting the cape and the islands on their sail boat.

Lorie Morris says she still is enjoying retirement.  It gives her more time to continue researching family history.  Lorie has recently started to use DNA in her genealogical research and has found a couple of cousins that she didn’t know about. Very cool!  She hopes to find more relatives as DNA testing becomes more popular.

I heard from Marcy Wilson Aguilar who has been busy with everyday life. She is still teaching Pre-K and loving it. She also continues to sing in the Multi-cultural & Gospel choirs at St. Camillus.  She enjoyed the honor of singing for the Pope’s visit last September with the Multi-Cultural choir.  She especially loves spending time with her 13 yr. old granddaughter, Ellycia with whom she is pictured.

Joan Pellerin wrote that she has six children, two of whom are adopted.  She interprets in ASL duringmost of her waking hours at the University of Vermont.  She gets to see Mary Darragh MacLean often.  She still knows Louise Muise…whose deceased spouse (Ben Muise) was our food service manager at Trinity. She encouraged us all to be aware of and care about disability as a part of our fabric of diversity.

Karen Gavigan Robert reported living in the triple digits of a Texas summer is a little rougher now that we are aging.  Her twin daughters got married in 2014 and 2015 to wonderful young men and all are very happy.  Karen has been a widow now for 11 years.  She expressed it is tough that her children’s father isn’t there for the special days.

She is looking forward to being a grandmother for the first time and all the adventures that are yet to come. Her daughter in Springfield, VA is expecting a little boy.   Her other daughter lives in CO and enjoys hiking, skiing, and sailing with her husband. They just bought a camper so as to lengthen the camping season through colder weather.  Karen enjoys visiting CO, VA and NY (where family resides), while still working part-time.

Anne Kearns is living in the Lot Valley in south west France.  She and her partner of 25 years, Penny, got married last year.  A very long engagement! Anne has retired from her psychotherapy practice and is now working when she can as an expert witness.

Andrea Croce Birch continues as Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Humanities at Brenau University in Gainesville, GA.  She has taken on some added duties as the Dean of the Undergraduate School.  As Professor of Philosophy, she enjoys teaching courses such as Philosophy of Art and Ethical and Legal Issues in Health Care (which she team teaches with a lawyer).  After having lived in an apartment for many years, she and her husband Tony bought a house and are discovering that yard work alone takes many hours!  However, she knows it is good exercise.

Catherine Marshall Hackett, still a Washingtonian, retired from the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics on July 29, 2011.  Since January 2013, she and her niece share caring for her mother, now 94 years old.  When her daughter or son-in-law is on job-related travel, she helps with her 11 and four year old granddaughters. Her son is still single.  She has done volunteer work for an advocacy organization for 27 years.  When Catherine attended the dedication of the Payden Academic Center, she was recruited by Sr. Mary Hayes to participate in a student’s history research project; and she enjoyed having lunch with Jean Herring Mayhan and Jane Tingley.

Gail Murphy is working in a non-profit that provides group housing opportunities for intellectually disabled adults in Richmond, VA.  She works on the administrative side.  Gail has taken up hiking and was able to log some miles this past spring in Shenandoah National Park.  During late summer and early fall, she is doing some urban walking to register people to vote.  It certainly is proving to be an interesting election season!

Karen Doherty continues to struggle with Lyme disease, although she believes she is on the mend and feeling much better.  Lori and Karen will be traveling to Sydney, Australia in the spring to attend the wedding of their son, Robert, to a very lovely Australian woman, who is like a daughter to us. They are looking forward to retirement in a year.  They plan to take some “little adventures”, enjoy the outdoors, and have fun together while they are still “young-old.”  New England, Quebec, the Southwest, England and Ireland are on the itinerary.  She sends affectionate regards to all her classmates.

Erica Lazaro is in Silver Spring, MD practicing acupuncture and craniosacral therapy along with other modalities at Spectrum Center for Natural Medicine. Encouraged at Trinity to take the road less traveled, it has been exciting to be a part of the evolution of natural healing arts to integrative medicine which is becoming more mainstream.  She also will be doing some teaching again at MUIH, Maryland University of Integrative Health. She is staying connected with family and community, heart and soul connections, and enjoying the journey.  Gratitude to Patricia McGuire for all of her amazing dedication!!

Dianne Gustafson decided to end her MIA status and sent this quick update. She continues to work in hospital administration at a small community hospital in Massachusetts. She and husband Claus have been empty nesters for some time with daughter Christine in California and son Mark in Minnesota. She is dividing her time between Orland, Maine (near Acadia) and Canton, MA for the past year to accommodate Claus’ last career move. With retirement for both on the horizon in the next few years they are trying to decide where “home” will be.
If there are any classmates in the Acadia/Bangor area she asks that they get in touch. She would love to get feedback on year- round life in Maine.

Terry McNearney sold her house in Indianapolis and moved back to Galveston, TX. Yee-Haw! Just in time for the sweltering summer and hurricane season. She is happy to be back in the land of friendly folk and big hair. This year she attended her 50th GRADE SCHOOL reunion.

Marti Kane Rodgers stills lives in the Philadelphia area. She has five grandchildren with one on the way. She and her husband are lucky because everyone lives nearby. Marti and Michael have become Viking River cruise fans! They enjoyed trips to France, Germany and China in the last four years. Marti plays tennis with Suzy Cunningham Hird and often sees Kathie Scattergood Moser.  Marti’s Mom turned 90 in May.

Katy Webster, SND continues in the Amazon, specifically in Anapu of the state of Pará, Brasil. She is living with four Sisters of Notre Dame this year.  Her work continues among the small farmers living in small Base Communities in the district of Anapu, as well as the landless people who are struggling to get land.  One of the high points of the year has been the Forest Pilgrimage, this year the 11th, a fifty-five kilometer hike over three days to the place where Sister Dorothy Stang was murdered in 2005.  She invites anyone who would like to participate to enter into contact!  Last year one of the high points was a visit to Trinity Washington University.  There is so much energy and power there!  She was grateful to “matar saudades e fazer mais”.  Roughly (see old friends and make new ones).

Lolly O’Connell Samolis and Frank’s family keeps expanding with their son Will’s marriage to sweet Sarah at Gonzaga High School in a December wedding. Their second grandbaby, Colin Thomas, arrived in Fairfield CT to their daughter Maggie and Mark in February. Now daughters Abby and Audrey and families live in Boston so they find themselves up on New England a great deal.

Lolly and Frank are downsizing to smaller digs in Arlington VA this year. This move brings them closer to Frank’s DC’s office and Lolly’s video conference art presentations with the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s off site schools around the country.

She has been keeping an eye on Mary O’Connor Barrett and Jean Flatley McGuire when visiting in Beantown and so far they seem to be behaving themselves and staying out of online Globe scandal websites.

Joan Austin Pellerin just had her 37th anniversary.  She continues to work as a staff ASL interpreter at the University of Vermont. She is the Chair of the Deaf Blind Membership Section of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and is active in her field.  She has six adult children and a grandson, Damien, who is ten.

Sue Rogers briefly stated nothing new or exciting to report.  Nothing dull either!

Marianna Dunn also said she had nothing new to report.

Connie Abrashoff Bentzen attended the wedding of Ellen Glennon Stanton’s son.  She said it was a gorgeous wedding and proclaims Ellen and Patrick are still in love!  On a sad note she reported that Connie Oprisch’s mom passed away about a month ago.  I understand that Connie’s mom painted beautiful watercolors.

Connie Bentzen and family are well.  Though she never knows where she is when she wakes up in the morning…..Pittsburgh? Chicago?  Houston? Omaha?  Travelling 3 days a week and alternating time with her hubby in Pittsburgh.  They both enjoy Chicago…..all the excitement of NYC without the dirt and attitude……however, crime and public corruption is another story……the days of Al Capone aren’t really behind us!

Jean McGuire writes that everyone is healthy, all the kids have great partners and good jobs, and she and Barb just celebrated 25 years together.  She left a series of public health roles in the private sector and in government and now teaches at Northeastern University.  Barb has moved from emergency to addiction medicine. They are both working on glide paths to retirement.  Over the last few years they have weathered a series of health issues that we all face now – their own and family members.  Last year their house in Cambridge burned down – but, they are on the other side of this and back in their re-built home after a year.  She is looking forward to less excitement in the upcoming year.  Trinity remains a fond memory and the bedrock of so much of her friendship and work over time.

Several months ago I heard from Julie C. Ouellette who reported our classmate, her roommate, sister-in-law and friend Christina Graham Ouellette passed away 4/12/2015.  Christina was dedicated and opened several clinics including Children’s Behavioral Services in 2000, New Dawn Partial Hospitalization in 2004 which is a behavioral health hospitalization organization which offers acute treatment to youth, and the Graham Academy in 2007 which was a private special education school specializing in educating children living with autism and those with emotional challenges.  Her sons, Will and Nick, are now committed to the operation of these programs.  They work together, with the guidance of their mother’s legacy and passion, to provide excellent assistance to children in need.  We are saddened at the loss of several of our classmates.

As for me, I have now been back in Charlotte for three plus years, working at the Matthews Heritage Museum.  I have enjoyed working with our 20+ volunteers who bring so much to the museum. As I work three days a week, my travel time is limited. Fortunately, one of the volunteers and I have taken a number of day trips exploring the area, and a trip up to Lancaster, PA’s, Amish Country.

We are planning a short adventure to Savannah and Tybee Island around Labor Day.

Last summer, I put together a reunion for my cousins (originally 30 of us!)  We met in New England and about half of them came.  This was the first time many of us had seen one another in 50 years, when we were children and our grandparents and parents were alive.  No other large family gatherings since.  It was such fun, we are going to gather again next summer!

I try to garden, but the heat and humidity during recent summers has diminished my enthusiasm.  Usually I have lots of tomatoes, but the deer took care of them this summer; however, they apparently are not fond of cucumbers. From one plant I have made 18 pints of bread and butter pickles and dill pickles and given any number of cukes away to friends and neighbors.

I volunteer at the North Carolina Room at the Charlotte Library one day a week.  I have been doing lots of research at work on Matthews’s history and finally am working on my own family history.  I recently discovered, through a genealogy done much early for my great-grandmother’s family, that way back we came from Wales… from the Lord of Llandaff!!  On my own I have tracked down a second cousin in Eynsham, England, where my grandmother was born, who sent me wonderful photos of my great-grandfather’s building where he worked and other related pictures.  I have also made contact with his aunt who lives outside Sedona.  Hopefully the next time I visit a niece in Phoenix we will get a chance to meet.

Thank you all for replying so quickly… especially during the summer.

Barbara E. Taylor