1940s
‘47
Nancy Vail Wilson says “hi” to all her classmates!
1950s
‘50
Irene Owen Blank writes: “I’m kept busy and happy with things I had no time for in my working years - church, Masonic woman’s organization, Red Hats, and Tuesday luncheon foursomes. My house is a wreck, but my housekeeping may improve if the cost of gasoline continues to rise!”
‘51
Ruth Barnes Moynihan says her 18 grandchildren and their accomplishments keep her fully involved in today’s complex world. The oldest is with Navigant Consulting, working on various environmental issues. The next four are in college: Mt. Holyoke, Amherst, Hamilton, and William & Mary - majoring in Architecture, American History, Political Science, and Music. The rest are equally accomplished and diverse, including a 5-year old and an 18-month old, the youngest. “I myself now have two new hips and two new eyes (cataract surgery) and a great vegetable garden.”
Barbara Beadle Renfroe writes: “After 12 years in Millbrook, we’re moving to Poughkeepsie, NY to be close to our daughter and her family. I am still accompanying singers and performing programs in retirement homes and other venues. Our daughter Molly has three children and formed a theatre company with several other actors. Our son is one of the directors of the soap, General Hospital. He lives in California and has a new baby with wife, Lynn.”
‘52
Joanne Carr Field writes: “Busy in retirement with some old interests: bridge, golf, arts and crafts, and calligraphy. Children and grandchildren all three miles away in Melrose, MA, except for five in college and grad school.”
‘53
Barbara Fritz Meier extends greetings to all her classmates. “I’m well and have three married children and eight grandchildren. Hope everyone is well.”
‘56
Edith Thorp Altvater writes: “I have two grandchildren now, so I am busy babysitting Fridays. My daughter has a Ph.D. in Art History from Hartford University. Also, having rental properties keeps me busy, overseeing tenants and repairs. I am also co-chair of St. Andrew’s Ladies Guild and like to volunteer food service after the 8:30 service. I am saddened lately by the loss of many classmates and friends.”
‘58
Elizabeth Studley Nathans continues to work with faculty and administration at Boston College, as founding Director of its Academic Advising Center. “Support from a generous donor will allow us significantly to expand programming in the coming year, improving support to both students and faculty in all four undergraduate schools. When I unexpectedly signed on at BC after leaving Harvard in 2005, I planned to remain for no longer than 2-5 years, and that’s still my expectation. My daughter and her husband remain in Silver Spring, MD, and my son, his wife, and their son are in Madison, WI.”
Carole Rund Robinson writes: “My husband, Dave, and I will celebrate our 50 years of marriage in December. Our family is well and expanding. Our son, Jonathan, is in marketing at Ascutney Mt. in VT. He also writes for many different ski magazines. Wendy and her family live about three miles from us. She is in her 18th year of being in the travel business, and just came back from Egypt last week. She has three children. Shaun is living on Long Island and is in the music business. Jessica is going to be a junior at Plymouth State (NH). Dan is entering 9th grade this fall. Mike works for the state; his office is in Concord, NH. Leanne still lives in Belchertown and teaches in Pelham, MA. She is going back to school at UMass this fall. Her daughter Bridgette, is seven and will be in 2nd grade in September. Debby is single and works in sales at Hazen Paper in Holyoke. Deb lives in Amherst, but comes to NH very often. Jenny, Debby’s twin, and her family live in Wilmont, NH, just 15 minutes from our home. Jenny is a stay-at-home mom. Sean is in the construction business. Savannah will be entering middle school this fall. Shea is 18 months old. He is all boy and a very active one at that! I have now been retired for ten years. Dave is still busy with our various businesses in MA. We enjoy being at our lake house on Lake Sunapee in the summer and at our “rest of the year” home six miles away. I send my best to all my classmates and hope that those that are able will make a real effort to attend our 50th reunion this October. My email address is dsrobinson@nhvt.net. Our phone is (603) 763-2534. I would love to hear from all of you.”
1960s
‘64
Anne Northrup Davies reports: “I retired after many years with the Court of Common, Luzerne County, PA, Domestic Relations Section. I’m now working part-time for Hospice Care of the VNA (Visiting Nurse Association). My older daughter, Barbara, lives in Adelaide, S. Australia. My youngest, Libby, left the UK and now lives in California. I am a long-distance Nan to four grandchildren.”
Sandra Volanakis Hanson is retiring from Case Western Reserve University as Director of the University Center on Aging & Health, and moved to South Carolina this past May.
Betsy Adams Hopkins emailed: “I was married in October 2007 to Bruce Hopkins, so I am now Betsy Adams Hopkins. We live in Northampton, MA. I work at Smith College, and Bruce is at Citigroup. We own a vacation home in Vinalhaven, Maine and spend as much time there as we can.”
‘67
Suzy Storey shares that she is an attorney and the Chief Public Defender for the state of CT. She is also the chairperson for CT’s Permanent Commission on The Status of Women and President of the Board for Families in Crisis, Inc., a non-profit organization that assists families of incarcerated persons. She lives in Durham, CT, with her husband, two dogs, and two horses.
1970s
‘70
Michelle Graveline writes: “I live in Westborough, MA, with husband Kent Stout and three children: Claire, 18; Madeleine, 17, and Robert, 11. I am currently Professor of Music and Chair of the Department of Art, Music & Theatre at Assumption College in Worcester, MA. I’m active as a choral conductor, I am currently President-elect for the Massachusetts American Choral Directors Association and a regular adjudicator for festivals and All-State auditions.”
Mary O’Connell fell on a hike in Arizona and broke her leg badly in June. She now has a walking cast, but still doesn’t have permission to drive and is a bit stir crazy. She recently was elected Vice Chair of The MacDuffie School Board of Trustees, but is on a leave of absence until she can travel. We wish her all the best!
‘71
Jan DeWitt Guthrie writes: “I was married to Davis B. Guthrie, II in November 2006 at my home in Coconut Grove (Miami). We are having a blast together - traveling, grandparenting and enjoying the time we have at this stage of our lives.
‘72
Ann Austin-Beck reports: “My husband, John, and I continue to teach at Michigan State University where I have had the privilege of holding the Mildred B. Erickson Distinguished Chair in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education. Our daughter, Katie, just graduated from Harvard and is starting as a Teach-for-America teacher in New Orleans. Our twin sons, David and Andrew, just finished their freshman year at Bates. We continue to be very involved in educational work with Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University where we spend several weeks working each year. I think often with great fondness of my MacDuffie years and friends.”
‘75
Sarah Wright Neal writes: “I have gone back to school to finish requirements for my teaching certification. I am also teaching Latin part-time at my local high school with a special permit (since there is a shortage of Latin teachers). I love being back in the classroom! My daughter, Emily, graduated from high school in June and is off to Kenyon College in Ohio next fall. Oliver just finished his freshman year in high school.”
1980s
‘80
Alison Thibault writes: “Life certainly has taken some unexpected and very delightful turns. After college I went into corporate banking in the Washington DC area and then about 10 years ago had a total life change, and now I am living on Vinalhaven - an island in Maine. Vinalhaven is an hour+ ferry boat ride from Rockland. I have a small gallery and studio (Five Elements Gallery + Studio) where I do my own fused glass work and carry the work of other local artists. Please stop in and visit if you find your way up to the Maine coast. Would love to reconnect with my MacDuffie friends!”
‘89
Melissa Mazer Davis and husband Matt at their wedding on August 23. Photo sent in by Amy Royal ‘93 who was a bridesmaid with Cheryl Lyncosky ‘93.
1990s
‘97
Meredith Harper emailed: “I received my Doctorate of Pharmacy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy-Worcester and began a one-year pharmacy practice residency program in July in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I plan to complete a second-year specialty residency in hematology/oncology.”
Here’s a quick update of the Macduffians I keep in touch with, says Maggie Chung Hill: “My husband, Greg Hill and I recently attended the wedding of Paige Bryant ‘01 and Doug Terry ‘01 on 6/28/08. The bride looked beautiful. Paige just graduated with her Masters and is a Pathology Assistant at a hospital in New York City. Paige and Doug are living in Stamford CT. Somer Bryant ‘98 is a central network technician at Verizon in Boston. Rachel Aronson ‘98 recently purchased her first home in Plymouth, MA. She is a sourcing analyst at Talbot’s Inc, the women’s clothing company. She looks amazing and is still keeping up with her rigorous fitness regime. Allison Zeigler ‘98 recently had a baby girl in 2007 whom she named Jamaica. She lives in East Longmeadow, MA. Liz Terry ‘98 will be starting her Masters Program in Public Policy at the JFK School of Government at Harvard University in the fall. Kurt Bruck lives in Providence, RI and works for Foster Miller as a robotics engineer in Waltham, MA. My husband, Greg Hill, was recently promoted to Vice President of Art and Production at www.iracing.com, based in Bedford, MA. The website is a subscription-based simulation service for real-world racers and racing enthusiasts, as well as a platform for a new branch of global motorsport - known as internet racing - which is the sport of real-time, online racing. Greg designed the website (it looks amazing, check it out!) and produces content for the game. He has amazing perks as the company is owned by John Henry, the owner of the Boston Red Sox! As for me, I just graduated with my MBA from Babson College in May and have started a new job as a marketing manager at the corporate offices of Thermo Fisher Scientific in Waltham, MA.
‘98
Kara Yopak writes: “things are great in sunny San Diego - post doc is going really well. Hope to make it back east for a visit soon.”
2000s
‘01
An update from Nicoline Hermans: “I just got back from a 12-day sailing trip on the North Sea last week, and now it is time to get back to work. I am currently employed at a psychological advice office (as a psychologist/consultant), where I conduct Assessment Centers for recruitment purposes and give counseling to employers with work-related psychological problems (such as burnout). I am still living in Amsterdam, where I bought and renovated my own apartment last year, and I still love living in the city. I ride my bike to work of course, as most of us ‘Amsterdammers’ do! I hope you are doing well and that you are enjoying the summer! Would love to hear from you (especially if it’s been a while since we were in touch)!”
Kathryn Gibson announces that Chelsea Gibson married Henry Keel French on August 16 at the family farm in Windsor, MA. Chelsea will enter the M.F.A. program in painting at Boston University this fall, and Henry is seeking work in Boston. They’ll live in Allston, and hope to connect with other MacDuffie alumni in the Boston area.
‘02
The following was published in the April 16 editon of The Republican: Benjamin W. Haley, son of Mark and Hollis Haley ‘67, of South Hadley, has been awarded a master’s degree in modern history from Durham University, Durham, England. A 2006 history honors graduate of Bates College, works at World Monuments Fund in New York City.
Krista Meyerhoff emailed she would be happy to continue serving as class rep. She currently lives in NYC and works as an editorial assistant at Family Circle Magazine.
‘03
Clayton Faits emailed: “after surviving Hurricane Katrina while at Tulane University, I am now living in Chicago. I have appeared in several shows around town, and will be opening “Trust” at the Raven theater in mid-August. I also work at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, guiding tours and developing educational programs.”
Jennifer Smith Howell writes: “I got married on October 6, 2007, and my husband Ed and I bought our first home in Enfield, CT in May. I am currently working for Aetna in their accounting department, and I would love to hear from anyone! HowellJ1@Aetna.com.”
‘06
A note from Tyler Faits’ proud Mom and Dad states: “At the University Athletic Association National Track Championships this past weekend, Tyler Faits’ relay team from Emory (a division 3 school) took fifth place in the nation. This officially makes Tyler (and his teammates) an All-American.”
‘08
George Caine is off to Europe!
MacKenzie Halpin says: “this summer I’ll be working on the small business I started with Tatiana Rossello-Cornier and Meghan Cote called ‘Party Girls.’ We serve and help plan parties for an hourly fee. If anyone needs some help at their next event, don’t hesitate to call! (413) 330-4617.”
Abby (Abigail) Hosley writes: “Immediately, I’ll be working at ‘the ol’ BK full time, but I’m hoping to also get my driver’s license towards the middle of the summer, so I can catch up with more friends before I have to leave home. I’m going to Bonndroo, a music festival in Tennessee with Alex Maleyeff ‘08.”
Tatiana Rossello-Cornier writes: “ I will be attending a six-week summer program at Boston College called Options Through Education (OTE). I will stay on campus for six weeks and take classes, along with 40-50 other incoming freshmen. It goes through the first week of August, and I return to BC in September to begin my first year in the Carroll School of Management.”
Stass (Stanislav) Shpanin writes that he will “create a new collection of paintings ‘Magic of Light’ for future exhibits.”
“I plan on working full-time over the summer, and part-time in college,” says Zachary Wilgus.
Jessica Yopak is “looking forward to my summer job and attending school in fall.”
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