1980 Class Notes for 2018
Maureen O’Leary Brown wrote to report that her eldest daughter Corrine graduated last May with distinction from Miami University (OH) with a degree in education. She accepted a position with Teach for America in Cleveland, not too far from home. Younger daughter Cara is in her third year at Misericordia U and as her occupational therapy program is five years, she should graduate in 2020.
Dave and Maureen continue to hum along in Solon, OH. Dave keeps busy with his swimming officiating duties and is now on the board of The Singers Club of Cleveland. These endeavors of course are in addition to his real job at Southeast Security that pays the bills. This summer, Maureen will be celebrating 15 years working with Junior Achievement. Once the college bills are behind her, Maureen may retire from JA, but not just yet.
Mary Jane Brown wrote to send greetings and reported that she has been happily practicing law since 1985 and that she has a grown son, Ethan, who graduated from Regis High School in June 2017, and who became an Eagle Scout and an EMT over the summer. Ethan is now a freshman at Hamilton College.
Marti Barbella Price wrote as well with a very cool offer for all of us. She came out of a divorce and used 2017 to redesign her life and her home. It began with branching out, trying new activities and ended with the completion of a remodel of Marti’s home. As a result of these new experiences, Marti can say she has made many new friends, gotten more active with her church and joined Osher Lifetime Learning Institute at the University of Texas. As for the home remodeling, it was extensive. Marti moved out for eight months and did a full-scale down to the studs and back remodel. She is “thrilled with the results” and she has “decided to become the 60-year-old version of a Millennial and join the sharing culture and host in my home with short-term rentals. With Austin being an ‘IT’ city, there seems to be no shortage of guests. What I have been surprised to find out is how many people want to stay for a month or more because they are exploring moving to Austin. Please look me up if Austin is on your travel radar.” As I said, cool offer for anyone wanting to spend time getting acquainted with Austin, TX, and of course spending some time with the very cool Marti Price.
Holly Hubler sent a great photo with her and her Trinity mother along with news. Holly continues to live in Norfolk, VA, and works seasonally as a test scorer for Pearson Academic Company. She still loves to travel to new places in the US as well as overseas. For example, last year, Holly went on a llama mountain trek in Taos, NM, and also got to visit Santa Fe and all the amazing art galleries, as well as Georgia O’Keefe’s fabulous art museum. She also made her first trip to Asia to one of Norfolk’s sister cities in the Philippines. She noted that it was interesting to see the Spanish and Mexican influence, and the Filipinos were so warm and friendly. Holly can also vouch that the cuisine is delicious. Holly travels to the Dominican Republic every few years to visit her Dominican friends, who she met during one of her Foreign Service assignments.
Holly often visits her mother Milly (Class of ’49) in her hometown of Dayton, OH. Last August, Holly’s mother came for a visit in Norfolk. The pair attended the Soiree en Blanc (Night in White), an outside event at a private home overlooking the water where all dressed in white while dining. Holly recently returned from NYC and was planning a trip to DC to see her best friend.
Ever the optimist, Mary Kayne Heinze wrote that she hoped I would hear from many of you. We can see how well that went. Anyway, she reports that she and her extended family are all well. She continues to work at the family business and other things. Mary Kayne occasionally sees some of our classmates at the Chevy Chase Lord & Taylor (Lynn Delaney, Claire OʼDonnell and Marianne Robb). She also saw a number of TC’ers at Anne Marie McGovern’s memorial service at Trinity last fall. Speaking of our class locals, I run into or nearly run into Dottie McCarthy and Lynne Delaney from time to time (they were on the same block as me and Jerry at the March for Our Lives Rally on March 24, but we missed each other).
I hit the milestone of being an empty nest parent this past fall, when my son Elliot (19) left home to hit the ski slopes of VT and also attend the University there, studying business administration and the environment. Lizzy (20) transferred after her freshman year at Lesley U in Cambridge, MA, to George Mason U in Fairfax, VA, much closer to home. She is studying cinematography and living on campus. Oddly, they have both embraced “Greek life,” which we did not have at Trinity.
Last September my husband and I did a National Geographic hike in Spain that highlighted parts of the Santiago de Compostela route as our 25th wedding anniversary big event. Jerry and I had a blast and almost no blisters. Many of the people along with us were retired and seemed to be so carefree; we are not there yet. I remain a partner at Drinker Biddle in DC, doing communications regulatory law and running the firm’s Regulatory practices. Jerry is still at the FCC, but is considering retiring in the next two years.
In closing this relatively short report out, I have to say that I am struck at how many women in law and business I encounter who are simply impressive bridge builders (figuratively and literally) and who turn out to have attended women’s colleges. While there are plenty of great women who do excellent work and excel, it’s notable to me that a large proportion – in my own jaundiced view – had the benefit of experiencing in college the great gift of seeing that they did not have to take a backseat to any man.
DC has had some inspiring gatherings in the last year or so: the Women’s March and most recently the March for Our Lives. It is great to be in place here when there are events downtown. And we have used more poster board for signs in the last year and a half than since our kids were in grade school! You know where to find me if you are coming to DC to show up for one thing or another.
Yours in Trinity,
Laura Hathaway Phillips
laurahathawayphillips@gmail.com
1980 Class Scribe