1984 Class Notes for 2021

Judi Quinn and Kathleen Elliott-Birdsall

Kathleen Elliott-Birdsall writes in that she’s happy to report she’s been healthy and able to work. Her daughter Julia is a junior at Colgate. Her son Noah is home from his Marine Corps years, taking advantage of the GI Bill. Kathleen has finally found the love of her life and will retire in a few years and hopes to travel. She also was able to visit with Judith “Judi” Quinn in MA. Kathleen has many favorite memories of Trinity. She was fond of playing croquet in the courtyard; the dorm room she shared with Carolyn Dennehy in Cuvilly, where they had the wall upon which everyone left lipstick kisses; class night at Colonel Brooks; Alice in Wonderland; the Irish Times; Sam the Liquor Man who delivered. She feels so grateful for her Trinity experience. She had so much fun, with her friends, in one of the finest cities in the world.

Maureen Flanagan writes that 2020 truly sidelined her in so many ways. Professionally, she began her 15th year with Belgian company UCB Inc. as a hospital representative. Personally, she had a bout with a medical issue that was caught early and is now on the mend and doing well. She became an empty-nester with her son Aidan now enrolled at Furman University in SC. She is happy to report that she reconnected with Mary Clare Meade Sterret on the soccer field (their sons played for the same team) and they plan on drinking lots of wine together when they can socially distance outside when the warm weather arrives. Maureen had several favorite memories of TC. She loved the annual Well Sing with everyone putting on Lanz nightgowns with the different classes all serenading each other. She also loved Senior Class Prank Day. She doesn’t remember what our class did, but she does remember when the class ahead of us put a car in the Main lobby. Another favorite memory was exploring the underground tunnels and basements of Main & Alumnae with both Cheryl Carboni (85) and Ann Luhr. There was some really cool stuff down there.

Mary Sue Howley Dwyer and family

Mary Sue Howley Dwyer writes in that she had all three of her 20 somethings back living home for six months during the height of the pandemic. Two of them are still home working virtually (after virtual college graduations) and her husband is coming up on a year working from the third floor. Her business was fortunate to do very well over the past year. Her business makes dog collars and leashes and it seems everyone in the country got a rescue dog and needed to outfit them. Mary Sue’s best memory from Trinity that comes to mind (after seeing her girls lose the last eight weeks of college senior year) would be the camaraderie and friendships celebrated during the final weeks at TC and a beautiful graduation on that sunny day.

Mary Kirwin Formeller writes in that 2020-21 has been a big year with lots of wonderful changes. Her daughter Kate volunteered with the AmeriCorps Vista program in Denver for a year after graduating from JMU. Kate worked for the African Community Center (ACC), working with the refugee population. Following that Kate was hired by Volunteers of America in Denver as a project manager. During the 2020 Pandemic Kate earned her dream job and was hired virtually by ECDC ACC DC Metro. She is continuing her passion of advocating and working with the refugee population. She moved back to the DC area in July of 2020. Mary is thrilled to have her living 20 minutes away instead of 20 hours. After a very rewarding 37-year career with Montgomery County Public Schools Mary is officially retired as of July, 2021. She is striking out on her own and will continue to advocate for adults with intellectual disabilities. She is excited to get some travel time and having a daily schedule that is not run by bells. Mary has so many fond memories of Trinity but just one that comes to mind is “Where Do You Draw the Line?”

Isabel “Mimi” Sullivan and her family

Isabel “Mimi” Fitzer Sullivan writes as a third-generation TC alum, she grew up with loads of the TC traditions, including singing “Drink her Down” at family occasions as a child. Her favorite tradition was having a family alum march in the graduation procession. Marcella MacHale Seymour, (her grandmother) graduated in the red class of 1924 – 60 years before us. It was a special bond she got to share through shared reunion weekends, too, after graduation. Her grandmother really enjoyed sharing her love for Trinity through two of her daughters and again via three granddaughters. Mimi was blessed to have such a support system ready to celebrate graduation, and drink her down.

Patty Poirier and her husband Phillip

Patty Poirier writes in that she and her husband Phillip have managed to stay healthy and have used the time to complete several renovation projects on their house. Philip is talented in wood working and in just about any construction a house might need. Renovations included a beautiful screened-in front porch, renovated front door, screened-in back porch and, in a few weeks a complete 3-season room add on. In March, they adopted their latest rescue dog, Willie. He is mostly rat terrier and is fitting right in with their other dog Taco and cat Minnie. Patty and her husband bought a new travel trailer. In October/November they took off on a three week trip with their pets. They had a great time, and were able to safely visit family by staying at camp sites close to each of her siblings homes so that they could visit in an outdoor setting. Patty looks forward to hopefully retiring by end of the year and wants to take the camper everywhere, maybe follow the blue-grass festival circuit as a start.

Cathy Cunningham Skelly writes in that after raising their family in CO for the last 30 years she and her husband Dave are moving back to the east coast in VA. Dave plans to retire at the end of the year after 40 years at Johns Manville. Cathy has been in real estate for the past eight years and is trying to decide what’s next. Their middle child Grace is getting married in October so they are excited for that as well as spending more time with siblings on the east coast and Cathy’s parents in Philadelphia, PA. Cathy writes that her favorite memory of TC is the well sings. She lived in Old Main three out of four years and loved graduating up a floor each year. She also loved the education and friends at TC and hopes to make the 40th reunion.

Hilary Kurtz Elf and her husband, Dr. Randy Scott

Hilary Anne Kurtz Elf writes in that she married Dr. Randolph (Randy) Scott Elf on December 28, 2019 in Jamestown, NY. Her husband is an alumnus of Southwestern Central School, Duke University, and Syracuse University and is self-employed. Please note that the preceding note was sent in before Hilary Kurtz Elf passed away on April 11, 2021. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Randy Scott.

Lisa Carr writes in that she is keeping busy and enjoying her job at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). She does national outreach to faith-based and community organizations on COVID-19, the vaccine, changes to the Affordable Care Act and other health and wellness issues. Her favorite memory from Trinity was mass at the Chapel and being part of the Campus Ministry.

Elizabeth (Liz) Schroder writes that she is in her 14th year working as a Financial Advisor with RBC Wealth Management in Westport, CT. She is also serving her sixth year on the Women’s Association of Financial Advisors (WAFA) Board at the firm. The mission of WAFA is to support the recruitment, retention and to enhance the productivity of female financial advisors and branch directors within RBC. Liz’s husband Mike is still teaching at Sacred Heart University in CT and they are celebrating their 28th anniversary. Their fourth child, Bridget, is graduating from Providence College next month. All four graduates are in accounting or finance jobs. Their fifth, Molly, is a junior at Clemson studying engineering. Liz has been in touch with many classmates including Karen Devine O’Brien, Kay Toohig Goulette, Joanne Donovan Caputo, Shauna Teelin, Marie Rexer Monde, Kathleen O’Neal Eidson, Kelly McDonnell Varano, and Mary Kirwin Formeller. One of Liz’s favorite TC memories was the Well Sing with so many classmates wearing Lanz flannel nightgowns although she didn’t have one. People seemed so happy gathering around, singing and smiling.

Francine (Donohue) Harrington, Mimi (Brady) Marquet, and Marylee (Kerester) Klunder

Francine Donohue Harrington writes in that after living in VA for 20 years she and her husband moved to another city in VA and had been there the past two years. Since they are empty-nesters and her husband can work remotely they ended up moving again in VA recently. Her three kids are doing well. Griffin is a photographer in Brooklyn, NY, Katie works for Booz Allen & Hamilton in Washington, DC, and Liam graduates this May and will be working in Bethesda, MD at an accounting firm. Francine’s mom is 94 and still lives in their Holyoke, MA home that she has lived in for 65 years. Francine loved the well sings in our Lanz nightgowns. And she’s glad she got talked into crew from Kim Griffin and Julia Greene Senior year when they desperately needed bodies in the 8 boat.

As for me, Elissa Felix Woodall, sadly my brother Steve and I lost our mom Barbara Ann (Lee) Felix (‘60) in May of 2020 due to cancer. We are fortunate and grateful she was in a safe place protected from exposure to COVID but it was difficult to not physically be close to her due to the restrictions in place. I was however with her on the night she passed away and am grateful she wasn’t alone. I am in my 10th year with Cherry Bekaert LLP and continue to love my company and co-workers despite the stress of a busy season which seems to be year round these days. I have so many favorite memories of my time at TC but the friendships and laughter rank up there at the top. There was always an adventure. I also have to credit my mom for my even attending TC. My mom loved her time there and it was her biggest wish that I go. I have to admit I had my concerns about attending an all-female school but in hindsight I’m so glad I did.

Stay safe everyone!

Elissa Felix Woodall
Elissawoodall925@gmail.com