Edna St. Vincent Millay - Vassar, the Alumnae/i Quarterly

Vassar Quarterly
WINTER
PUBLISHED
ALUMNAE
1994j
BY THE
AND
ALUMNI
OF
VASSAF®BpGE
“I
really think
is
over.
that the term Mate’
I think it’s
When my parents
they
went
on
just spent.
were
‘dates.* I
in
college,
just don’t
think that what they did applies
what
we
do today.
.
.”
Students Talk about Sexual
Expectations in
the ’9os
to
i
“You can never entirely repay
what Vassar gives to you.”
Virginia Cretella Mars
’5l,
McLean, Virginia
Chairman,
The Campaign for Vassar College
continue to be
and women
leaders in their professions
and where they live. When
I visit the campus now, as a
Trustee and as Chairman
of The Campaign, I see for
myself that an extraordi-
lifelong, globe-trotting
Virginia
philanthropist,
A
Cretella Mars ’5l has volunteered for organizations
that include the New York
Infirmary, Columbia Presthe
byterian Hospital,
of
the
AmeriGuild
Junior
nary
Cathedral in Paris, the
Smithsonian Institution,
and the National Symphofor
ny Orchestra —serving
can
four years
as
its first
“Just
is her
and only woman
presi-
are
current
outstanding
one.
They
care
about
cam-
effective one.
“When you give to The Campaign, you
opporgive students of promise the same
tunity you had to think independently,
work passionately, and
pursue course
the
world.
make a mark in
this
years ago. I know
the
an
in part because my own
daughter graduated from Vassar in 1982. But when I speak
with
students, I recognize them
“Although you
entirely repay
Campaign
from my years at Vassar: they question,
participate, and are exceptionalstudents.
what Vassar gives
In my generation, many of the
gift helps the College enter the 21st
who
went on
in the
were
to
Vassar
women
in
their
communities
graduates. Today,
Vassar
can
never
to you, your
cen-
tury in a position of intellectual and
financial strength. Your gifts help Vassar
be.”
be the very best it can
positions of importance
world and
the
is
of teachpus, which supports every aspect
is
a critical
and
at
at
Vassar,
learning
ing
transformaand
restoration
juncture in its
tion to meet current and future needs. It
is a beautiful campus; it must also remain
pride and the attitude that I could accomplish anything if I set my mind to it. My
involvement with the Campaign is my way
of giving something back to the college.
“Clearly, Vassar today is different from
40
important
undergraduate education. And
“highest priority.”
a
feeling of great
or
a
teachers and scholars who
an
“I left Vassar with
Vassar 10, 20,
as
remains
Vassar.
fact that the faculty remains
dent. Today, leading The Campaign for Vassar
eduction
constant at
men
Gifts of Cash
Pooled Income Fund
To date, 14,452 Vassar alumnae
Outright
and alumnihave contributed
Restricted and Unrestricted Gifts
Charitable Remainder Trusts
Pledges
Residences and Real Estate
more
than $120,000,000
to
The
Gifts
Campaign for Vassar through the
Named Gifts
Matching
Annual Fund and other methods
Securities
Bequest Intentions
of giving:
Charitable Gift Annuities
Your
gift will help Vassar
meet
its
$2OO million Campaign goal.
Surveys show
that 98.4% of
those who receive
the VQ do it, and
chances
do it
you
are
too.
Read Class Notes, that is.
So be well read and
of this magazine
the card
use
report your
(You may
change of address.)
Notes.
a
to
also
use
at
the back
for Class
news
the card
to
register
FEATURES
Vassar Quarterly
6
VOL. 91
Editorial
NO. 1
WINTER
1994
5447
or
a
Date?
Current students discuss this and other questions about
sexual expectations in the ’90s.
Staff
914/437-5448
What Is
Willa Panvini ’92
By
Editor
Georgette Weir
Assistant
Willa
12
Bridges to the World
Henry Noble MacCracken, Vassar’s fifth president, arrived
at the college in 1915 with radical ideas about
transforming
the pioneering Victorian institution into a modern college.
But first, he had to save
his job.
By Elizabeth Adams Daniels ’41
18
The Storied Maya
editor
Panvini
’92
Designer
Abigail Sturges ’66
editor
Copy
Sara
Hill
Books editor
Zeldis
Yona
AA
VC
McDonough ’79
Publisher’s
Caroline
Committee
Bryant Beebe
P. Berry ’72,
James C.
Lorraine
Weiss
Frank
Rachel
Greenfield
Louise
Bristol
’56
Since the
chair
’43
ago,
Minkoff ’77
’42
Silverman
Kerr
Valerie
’B4
Joan StrashinskyKjelleren ’7l,
they
Maya lost
in translation. But
Ransom
ex
the meaning of their glyphs centuries
to read and write themselves
only
have been able
a
literature exists in their lively oral
culture, and a recent
project sought
By Catherine Rendon ’81
officio
it out.
VQ Advisory Committee
Aloff'69
Mindy
James C. P. Berry ’72, AAVC liaison
William
W.
Gifford
Nancy Newhouse
Linda
’5B
Nochlin
Pommer
’5l
Dorothy Seiberling ’43
’B2
Jeff Wallach
B. Gerred
Williams ’77
Joan StrashinskyKjelleren ’7l,
ex
officio
Board
of Directors
of AAVC
President
and AAVC trustee
Joan StrashinskyKjelleren ’7l
Vice
president for strategicplanning
Ronald
Vice
24
Minkoff
Secretary
Barbara
McTigue Bruner
’77
Maguire
to
ber her generous spirit.
Landsman ’74 and Stephen Funk Pearson ’l7
’72
By KimJ.
Caroline
Bryant Beebe
’56
Fund chr.
Sherrie
26
Spohn-Lind ’77
Barbara
Muller not
only gave hundreds of students
study abroad, she invited them to
memorable parties. Two former Maguire Fellows remem-
Treasurer
House
Endearing Cosmopolite
opportunities
president for administration
Rachel Greenfield
An
Helen
Schwartzman ’75
committee
chr.
Muhs
Walker
Director
Is Carole Maso ’77 the American Woman in the
Chinese Hat?
’4B
By
chr.
Nominating committee
Mary S. Balfour ’6B
One Writer’s Character
Melissa Pierson ’BO
of communications
Valerie
Silverman Kerr
’B4
Directors-at-large
Katherine L. Babson
Jean Davis Falk ’6O
Kevin
Green
’69
'B5
Stephanie Hyacinth ’B4
Hope Christopolous Mihalap ’56
Leigh Proctor ’72
Constance
Lousie
Bristol
Barbara
AAVC
Ransom
Aaron
Rosston
’42
’B4
DEPARTMENTS
trustees
James C. P. Berry ’72
Jamshed Jay Bharucha ’7B
Barbara
Bennett
Blum ’5l
Lorraine
Weiss Frank
’43
Josh Hinerfeld
AAVC
2
Campus Notebook
’B3
Staff
28
Omnium Gatherum
32
A A VC Network
914/437-5445
Executive
director
Mary Meeker Gesek
’5B
Including the
Associate
directors
O’Shea ’76
Richard Floyd
annualdirectory of Vassar clubs
Terri
Assistant
director
Bronwen
Pardes
’94
The Vassar Quarterly, USPS 657-080, is published in the winter,
and fall hy the Alumnae
spring, summer,
and Alumni
of Vassar
College (AAVC).
POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to
Records, Box 14, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY
12601. Second class postage paid at Poughkeepsie, NY, and
additional entry post offices. Yearly subscriptions $lO. Single
39
Person Place &
40
Class Notes
67
Letters
68
The Last Pag e: On
Thing
Central
copies $3. Unsolicited
be accompanied by a
self-addressed, stamped envelope. Copyright © by AAVC.
Printed in North Adams, MA, by Excelsior Printing Company.
Printed
on
manuscripts
must
recycled and recylable paper using soy-based inks.
By
Sarnia
Coming
Hayes Hoyt ’60
Home
Front Cover: Vassar prom photo circa 1950.
Courtesy
Special Collections, Vassar College Libraries
1
CAMPUS
Clark Symposium in April
NOTEBOOK
Focus
on
to
Museum Culture
is under way for
’95
Planning
Spring
Evalyn Clark Symposium, titled “Gender,
Visual Knowledge, and the Formation of
place
campus, is scheduled for
on
and 22,
begin
to
2
at
P.M.
on
Friday.
take
to
April
21
Mary
added in
built in
1934, and the Lockwood wing in 1977.
Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates’ previprojects have included work on libraries
Angeles, New Haven, and Middletown,
ous
in Los
Connecticut. The firm has also
builtprojects
planning
institutions nationwide.
at
designed
or
thanforty educational
Associate
Professor of Art Brian Lukacher is
endowed by
Library was
Clark Thompson in memory of her late busband. North and south wings were
1918. The Van Ingen addition was
the
Museum Culture.” The conference,
Memorial
son
more
the conference.
For information,
Assistant
College,
to
contact
Kathleen Brown,
the Dean of the
Faculty, Vassar
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.
Box 4,
Changes
Students are
getting into the habit of carrying
their Vassar ID
SRO in
Avery
functioning
Mallika Sarabhai, co-director of the Darpana
you’ve accidentally
on
two
consecutive
eve-
audiences in
standing-room-only
to
Addition to
Library
MallikaSarabhai
performed to two
standing-room-only
Plans for
audiences in Avery
FrederickFerris Thompson Memorial Library,
a
of the
one
26,000-square-foot addition to
goals
the
of The Campaign for Vassar,
moved ahead in September with the appointment
of the architecturalfirm
Hardy Holzman
Pfeiffer Associates of New York and Los
Angeles.
The campaign seeks to raise
renovation and
$2O million for
expansion of library facili-
ties, building endowments, and funds for collection
The
development
and
wing will house
new
new
a
technology.
media center,
networkedcomputer workstations, enhanced
reference and reader services, and expanded
space for
Special
Collections and the Vassar
archives.
The
new
wing will also reflect
1994
of tradition.
a
strong
card
security purposes,
a
at
to
the
Vassar ID
now
house key. If you don’t have
can’t
easily get into your dorm—your ID, you
functions
as
a
unlike in the past, there isn’t always
the front desk to let you in if
at
and,
someone
left your card
behind
somewhere.
one
Electronic identification card entry is just
of the adjustments students returning to
are
making this year as a result of the
implementation of a new plan in residential
life. Although faculty house-fellows have re-
Vassar
mained
unique and solid part of the
a
structure, five
new
live-in house advisers have
replaced residence hall managers, indoor/
outdoor, foot-patrolling security guards have
replaced night building guards, and messengers (“white angels”) who formerly “sat desk”
from 7:00 A.M.
through 11:00 P.M. now staff
desks 2:00 P.M. to 11 P.M. (students sit desk
from 10:00 A.M. until the messengers arrive).
Dorm locks (for years, not
but the
only rooms
dorms too have been locked) have been replaced by electronic card entrydevices at the
front and back doors that can
be accessed by
any student with
a
valid ID.
also
is now
Entry to dorm computer rooms
regulated by electronic devices that require
an
ID. Dormitory kitchens and televisions/
VCRs (which have been placed in “tamperproof’ cabinets) are, however, now being left
unlocked.Those who wish to sign out dormicleaners or
billiard equiptory vacuum
do
ment, must
11:00
so
between 10:00
It is intended that the
and
will im-
changes
security and student
access
as
well
as
money. Faith Nichols, director of
some
residential life,
vides
A.M.
P.M.
prove
save
Says Charles Henry, direcof libraries, “While emphasis is placed on
tor
and tools,
sophisticated computer resources
the fundamentalsociology of a library figures
prominently in the new
design. The future,
after all, will be determined in large part by
students andfaculty and librarians using new
technologies in thoughtful, creative ways.”
Built in 1905, the Frederick Ferris Thompsense
2 VQ WINTER
charge
rary Indian dance
Plans Under Way for
September,
a
tion for
Avery, Ms. Sarabhai visited a number of
in Asian studies,
classes, including ones
women’s studies, and dance.
Ms. Sarabhai is a dancer, actress, choreographer, director, publisher, and social activist. She has performed internationally and
created the female lead of Draupadi in Peter
Brook’s production of The Mahabharata.
She is pictured at left in Kuchipudi style.
in
all times. In addition
at
college
store, meal card at the All Campus Dining
Center, a library card, and photo identificaas
Academy of Performing Arts of Ahmedabad,
India, was on campus with her company of
dancers and musicians for a two-day visit in
September. In addition to performing works
in both classical Kuchipudi and contemponings
Indian dancer
Residential Life
in
says
that the new
opportunity
an
to
take
system “prosome
savings
and put them back into house programming
further support the living/learning envito
in residence halls.”
ronment
The
and met
new
plan ruffled
a
few studentfeathers
mixedreviews whenit was
announced
last spring. There were
thatthe lack
concerns
of a twenty-four-hour presence at the front
desks would
mean
less security and
conve-
students. As
nience for
this fall
the idea and some
used to
far
to
as
they
say
have
even
ing
semester
progressed, however, students seemed
to
get
gone
like it. “It’s fine with
so
me,”
Kniffen ’97, a
that I’ve
resident. “No one
Josselyn House
spoken with has
haven’t said
any problem—or if they do, they
anything.” In fact, he said, “Access to other
dorms is a lot easier [now].” In the recent
past,
students wishing to gain access
to other dorms
restricted to entering through the front
were
said
Judson
doors and had to wait for
let them inside. Now,
to
through
enter
don’t have
a
desk messenger
they can
to
their IDs
use
front and back doors and
wait.
to
Not all students
with the changes,
restricted
are
completely satisfied
though, andfind thatbeing
signing
to
between 10:00
out
certain resources
and 11:00
A.M.
P.M.
space for Vassar’s Black Student
Union,
Asian Students Alliance, and Pode'r Latino.
Last, and furthest back from Main Building
along the Casper Kill, is the new Russell and
Janet Doubleday Art Studio, providing new
and expanded spaces for student sculpting,
print-making, and painting.
Linking them all is the “Spine,” or “Promenade,” a new pedestrian walkway that passes
between the Powerhouse and the OLB and
academic computer
vehicular driveway.
center
and
replaces
a
grounds surrounding these buildings
landscaped with grass, trees and
ground cover, including a range of species
from red maples, red oaks, beech, and Yoshino
cherry trees, to weeping forsythia, mountain
W.P.
laurel, vinca, and Baltic ivy.
The
have been
cramps
“They’re going to have to figure
out
a better way of distributing keys—sometimes we need things after 11 P.M., and under
the current
plan, we can’t get them convesaid
Nikki Brandon ’95. “You have
niently,”
catch a
to wait in the lobby and hope you’ll
his
which
can
rounds,
security guard making
take a while—and they don’t always know
where everything is.”
how they
“The houses have all voted on
want
to handledorm resources,” Ms. Nichols
said, “and given that the program is new,
there are some
minor glitches that will continue to be addressed as they arise. But for the
be running
to
most
part, things seem
W.P.
smoothly.”
their style.
Campus Renewal
If you
ever
ments
to
walked from the Terrace
Main Building, strolled
to
Above
Apart-
The
the Pow-
is
from
package
loading
building that used to
house the receiving department, you will be
hard-pressed to recognize the area behind
Main Building now.
It’s open, landscaped,
and lively, and includes several old buildings
erhouse Theater, or
the
retrieved
a
new
The Old
ground) now
on
houses the
computer science
and
development.
academic
Left
A view
(OLB) immehouses faculty of-
now
of the
InterculturalCenter
from
fices and classrooms for the computer science
department in its basement, and developoffices
Laundry
departments of
The “Old LaundryBuilding”
ment
attractive
Building (right, middle
and administrative uses.
diately behind Main
an
pedestrian walkway.
dock of the
that have been renovated for
behind Main
area
now
the
newly
landscaped area
the Casper Kill.
near
its first and second floors. The
“shipping andreceiving” building now
houses the Academic Computing Center,
providing significantly increased public comand
puting space, several small labs, a new
improved office complex for the center’s staff,
and a home for the college’s mainframe and
former
VAX computer systems.
Directly behind the Powerhouse Theater
are
more
Theater,
renovated spaces. The new
a
Coal Bin
black box theater that seats
any-
depending on
configuration, is devoted entirely to student
performing groups and overlooks the Casper
where from 125
to
200 people
Kill. Between the two
theaters is the Intercul-
tural Center, whichhouses offices and meet-
At the Loeb Art Center
“You Are
Missing Plenty If You Don’t
Images of Consumerism in
Buy
American Photography
27 January 26 March 1995
This exhibition examines how photographs
address differing notions of consumerism in
Here”:
-
American society from the 1930 s to the
over
forty images by
present. Included are
photographers working in a variety of formats
—documentary, photojournalism,advertising, and fine
art.
3
CAMPUS
NOTEBOOK
Among the works to be included are photographs by Walker Evans and Berenice
captured the idiosynAbbott, whose cameras
of
cratic
shops and fruit stands
appearance
throughout America; photos byWilliam Klein
and Dan Weiner, whose documentary style
withinAmeriportrayed the bitter contrasts
can
society; precisionist advertising images
made by John F. Collins and more
prosaic
goods by anonymous
photos of consumer
photographers.
The exhibition also presents
contemporary photographers who draw their
Frank
imagery from advertising, such as
whose arch commentary on consumption is revealed through sumptuous,
Majore,
high-gloss
on
Campus
The total student population
on
campus this
was
right on target, according to figures
from the Office of the Registrar: 2,250 FTEs
fall
(full time equivalents, in the lingo of higher
education). This translates to 2,312 persons:
2,219 full-time students and 93 part-time
Of this number, 63 percent are
ones.
women;
37 percent are men.
The registrar reports that the class of ’95
numbers 534 full-time students; ’96 is
and ’97
at
457;
602 students among its full-
counts
time members..
TheOffice of Admission reports that the
of 1998 numbers 606 (66
goods.
images of consumer
Who's
newly arrived class
34 percent men). Although
percent women,
with both the numbers and quality of
pleased
the
Vassar
newest
students,
Director of Ad-
mission Thomas Matos notes
that he “would
in future
the percentage of men
see
classes increase.” Below, a profile of ’9B:
like
to
Applicants
3,760
Admits
1,886
Matriculants
606
Legacies and siblings
24 legacies
13 siblings
Qiovanni Battista Naldini
The KatalanCollection of ItalianDrawings
(ca. 1537-15911
Hercules, the Nemean
Lion and the Cretan Bull
14
Pen and brown ink
on
April
-18 June 1995
This exhibitionof
202 male
fifty-five Italian Old Mas-
From the collection
Katalan.
of Jak
404 female
is from the collection of
Jak
City. The exhibition
will be accompanied by a fully illustrated
catalogue compiled and written by an interdrawings
ter
Katalan of New York
black chalk.
Gender
of experts.
The exhibition includes drawings,
Middle 50 percent range of SAT
560-650 verbal
scores
580-680 math
national team
of
What
high
unpublished, by Parmigianino,
367
public
Giorgio Vasari, Taddeo Zuccaro, Polidoro da
Caravaggio, Federico Barocci, Guercino,
176
independent
religious
which
are
most
63
schools did
they go
to?
Bernini, the Carracci, Guido Reni, and othThe exhibition will travel to
ers.
four other
American museums.
A Hudson
of
Landscape: Photographs by
William Clift
14
July
-
10
September
1995
Featured in this exhibition is the
group
complete
of forty-six black-and-white photo-
graphs by contemporary landscapephotographer William Clift. The photographs survey
the many personalities and moods of the
Hudson River Valley. The exhibition is accompanied by a book with text by T. Paul
Kane of the Vassar English Deparment.
The
art
10 A.M.
1-5
For
P.M.
a
1994
Top
ten
they come
feeder states
from?
190
New York
61
New Jersey
52
California
46
Massachusetts
30
Connecticut
25
Wednesday-SaturSundayfrom
17
15
Texas
recorded schedule of events,
12
Ohio
11
Florida
is open
to
5
call 914/437-LOEB.
4 VQ WINTER
Where do
Pennsylvania
Maryland
center
day from
identify themselves as members
minority groups?
Asian
19 male, 57 female
Black
11 male, 23 female
12 male, 22 female
Hispanic
Native American
0 male,
1 female
How many
P.M.
and on
Fall 1994 Sport Highlights
international students.
14 are
Foreign
Women’s
countries
Volleyball
Nicaragua
Canada
The Brewers made their mark in Vassar
Pakistan
India
women’s
Ukraine
Brazil
Austria
first 13 matches of the
Singapore
Paraguay
Greece
Romania
the final
volleyball history by winning
regular
season.
match with
season
pressive record of 25-7, including
then-No. 7
Languages
Eighty students are bilingual or speak English
as
a second language. The 19 other languages
spoken include:
poll and No.
Regional poll,
French
well at
over
the
Vassar entered
a
an
im-
victory
nationally-ranked Brockport
State. Ranked No. 4 in the New York State
5 in the NCAA New York
the Brewers look
Persian
German
Thai
Portuguese
Greek
to
perform
Championship,
which they will host, and earn the program’s
Gujarati
Spanish
Korean
Vietnamese
first slot in the NCAA Division 111 national
Japanese
Norwegian
Taglog
Malayalan
championship.
Hebrew
Italian
the New York State
COLDNY
Chinese
Russian
Men’s Soccer
Dutch
With
son
regular-sea-
one
themen’s soccer
had compiled
Honors
17
7
squad
a
Vassar
11-2-1
V aledictorians
history-making
Salutatorians
record and earned
a
27
Major
22
State scholars
ranking in the
Intercollegiate Soc-
2
No. 6
book award winners
Association of
Congressional Scholars
cer
30
National Merit finalists and semi-
America’s Metro Re-
finalists
gion Poll. The fact that
88
National Merit commended
the top four teams
in
each of the nation’s
National Council of Teachers of
4
English Award for
Writing
2
2
Excellence in
eight regions
National Science Foundation
Division 111
Award winners
ment
National Achievement
which shut
Commendations for African-
and
opponents
outscored the opposition 34-11, hope for
school
the
leadership
tourna-
gives Vassar,
eight
out
team’s first
soccer
Presidents of various school clubs
national
Varsity sports captains
Editors-in-chief of high school
ship
publications
Women’s Crew
22
Class or
At
22
Founded
114
73
63
student council presidents
a
16
Girls/Boys
13
Class
or
high
school club
State
13
All-State music
10
National Honor
What do
127
59
52
51
ten
champion-
berth.
Women’s Soccer
the Head-of-the-Hudson regatta, the
women’s varsity four boat placed first out
of
seven
boats
on
the three-mile course.
student council vice-
Society presidents
to
study?
his first
invitational race, covering the five-mile
course
at the Bard Invitational in 28 minutes,
12 seconds-—lB seconds ahead of the second-
place
runner.
Women’s Tennis
Vassar finished its fall
ranking
in the
season
with
a
No. 18
140-team NCAA Division 111
38
Undecided
32
Art
East region. No. 1 player Elisa Strauss ’9B
advanced to the championship match of the
22
Drama
consolation draw
21
Science
Northeast
18
Math
Heather Cohen ’97
16
Classics
16
Music
students were
fer into upper classes.
opponents 21-10. Pictured above:
Laura Jackson ’97 celebrates a field
match against
goal in a soccer
Montclair State.
Cross-Country
Sophomore David Zuzga captured
they say they’re going
disciplines plus undecided
English
Psychology
History
Biology
Thirty-two
the
Halfway through the season
were
7-2, outscoring their
Brewers
Men’s
presidents
T op
se-
are
lected for the NCAA
American Students
High
SUSAN
remaining,
game
at
Region
the Rolex Division 111
Championship.
captured the fifth-flight
Tennis
singles competition at the New York State
Championship, where the team
finished in fifth place.
Susan Colodny
Sports Information Director
Division 111
accepted for
trans-
5
Is
What
Date?
a
by Willa Panvini
’92
LIBRA ES
COLEG
Students discuss this
VAS AR
and other questions
about sexual
COLETINS.
expectations
in the ’9os.
SPECIAL
COURTESY
It’s
August and students new
late
to
V assar
are
cerns
(formerly
this Town House discussion. The
sexual expectations. The aim, says Director of Campus Concerns and Assistant Dean of the College
VQ; What does the word “date”
Pamela Neimeth, is
ISABEL: I was
means
to
to
raise student
give and
to
have
about
awareness
for sexual
consent
text
having this
calling
a
alcohol often
it was
“date”
him to kiss her.
Feeling tipsy, she lays down. She wants
When he doesn’t, she kisses him. He responds with kisses
unique in its program on sexual expectations (“Sex Ex,” as its known on campus). Such
programs have evolved on manycampuses inresponse
woman,
friend’s dorm room.
She thinks he’s
caresses.
becoming
says, “Slow down.” He does slow
become
intimate and
down, but his
intimate. She tells him
more
too
caresses
thinking he’ll get the hint that this means she wants him to
stop. He thinks she wants to continue, but slowly. Women,
he thinks, are supposed to feign resistance. She calls his
He takes this as a positive sign and pushes her legs
name.
the
is played out
stage lights dim and the sex scene
apart;
viewers’
in
she
cries. He,
only
imaginations. Afterward,
than
he
had
women
are
more
thinking
complicated
thought,
to be left alone. He leaves.
decides this must mean
she wants
When this
actors
scene
is
played
out
as
a
skit,
one
set
of
portrays the behavior of the characters while
another
set
of
actors
voices the characters’ simulta-
thoughts. Some who watch it say it
as
depicts rape. Others acknowledge the encounter
but
the
is
woman
unfortunate,
say
primarily responsible for it owing to her failure to clearly state
her
With
deliberate
the
skit
prompts
thoughts.
ambiguity,
serious thought and lively discussion about expectaneous
inner
a
tions and communication in sexual situations.
Sponsoredby the
college’s Office of Campus Con-
in sexual situations.
Vassar is not
to
again to slow down,
plays
about date rape. The above skit,
concerns
in fact, is
presentedat Brown University, Ms.
“What I really like about this skit,” she
modeled after one
Neimeth
says.
continues, “is that it shows
a
situation in which
everybodycan [say], ‘God, I see how easily that could
happen.’My goal is to help peoplesee the need to talk
out
what
of that talk
some
might be
on
campus, the Quarterly arranged an informal discussion on the subject with a group of upperclass students
(and one brand-new alumna). All are friends, all are
heterosexual, five share a Town House apartment.
Two describe themselves
relationships;
include a couple.
term
as
being involved
teed anonymity. With their
’95,
in
long-
the group, however, does
To encourage frank talk, the students were
Denise
calling
went
“date” with someone
it
a
freaked him
a
friend
what she
on
names
not
guaran-
changed, they are:
American culture
major; Doug ’96,
major; Geoff’96,
international studies major;
a film major; Beth ’95, an
John ’96, a mathematics major; and Jill ’94 and Isabel
’95, both psychology majors. Jill and Isabel are the
an
computer science and mathematics
a
is so disjointed from what we
term
do. I’ve been going out with Amy for a year and I don’t
think we’ve actually ever
been on a “date.” . . My
.
who didn’t think that
date. For
some
movie
as
reason,
they
long as she wasn’t
that word totally
If he
the idea of “date” is
really important
larger questions about romantic
linguistics. For example, the word “boyfriend.” I’ve
referred to people all my life as, “my special friend with
whom I spent lots of quality physical time” because I
me
too, because it raises
didn’t know what
out.
getting freaked out by the word
“date,” what exactly did he think it was?
ISABEL; He called it an “outing.”
[The group laughs.]
JOHN: I think that the word [date] is kind of anth
GEOFF:
date involves going and picking somebody
and
driving somewhere. Just the fact that there’s no
up
involved—it doesn’t fit my image.
car
a
DENISE: To
was
all. It would have been fine that
at
going to dinner and a
were
youl
was
call them. What do you call
to
had any
somebody that you really liked a lot, but never
kind of formal commitment, but you were
fooling
around and they mattered to you? It was black and
white in the olden
quated. My image of it usuallyfalls with my parents. It
implies that I’m going out with somebodywho
I might then form a relationship with. I can
how
see
days. You were going to the soda
shop to have a malt, or you were sitting home on your
all
porch. Now you are hanging out with someone
around
and
you’re
sometimes,
night anyway,
fooling
or
you’re going home and hooking up with an old
that word could kind of make
friend. It’s
kind of
about this.”
To find
a
to
mean
conversation with
of mine this morning. She
collegefreshmen, are alone in
They’re drunk. They’re infatuated.
and
JOHN: I think the
image of
activities, what constitutes date rape, and the role
and
1994
to
that follows is an edited transcript drawn from the
discussion.
evening of their orientation, 600 freshmen,
transfer, and exchange students sit in the chapel and
watch a performance of the following scene:
a
WINTER
visiting friends
being introduced to the who, what, where, and
why of the place and its culture. On the first
A young man
VQ
Rape/
Assault, Conflict, and Harassment), the skit precedes
an
evening of dorm-based discussions on the topic of
what it
6
Resources and Education for
GEOFF: It doesn’t seem
you anxious.
worth it
hung up
what exactly the person is thinking of when they say
“date” as long as there is the understanding between
the two people—that theyknow what they’re getting
into and what they’re doing. Call it a date, call it an
to
get
too
outing, call it whatever the hell you want.
be heading
[At] Vassar .
you can
JILL:
.
.
on
the
a
is a date ? You don’t have to
you
can
both end up
Laughingstock
concert
date at Vassar because
the cafe
at
at
the
same
or
the Mug
time.
or
the
a
lot
really
more
gray.
think that the
term
“date” is
over.
I
think it’s just spent. When my parents were
in college,
“dates.”
I
went
don’t
think
that
what they
on
they
just
did
VQ;
to
and run into random guy X and end
cappella concert
[say], “Shall I pick you
up sitting together. Or, you can
at
in
3:00
and
we’ll
Lathrop
up
go together?” Which
one
JOHN: I
applies to what we do today.
Why is “dating”
DOUG: I think it’s
BETH: Now you
out
out
the
...
Well,
I
hope.
of date?
sex.
don’t need the whole ritual of going
and you
someone
for pizza and a movie. If you like
normally hang out,
it’s not
that weird
to
just
go ahead
and have sex
with them. You don’t need to go through
the whole ritual of “I like you, and you like me.” You
can
just
cut
to
the chase.
7
Casual
takes
place
either with
sex,
in
a
going
with
without intercourse,
or
you don’t really
[expect] if you’re really
relationship where
expect the kinds of things you
out
of commitment that you
sense
bring into it—if that’s going to determinewhat casual
is or isn’t—then I really have to be a strong, strong
sex
supporter of
casual
no
I tried it
sex.
this
point, probably the only
I really, truly regret.
worked
very well. Neither
each other,
see
start
of commitment
and that was
people before and it’s
with
of
one
each other, but
to
and it’s, at
my life that
expected
relationship, or have any kind
a
to
us
fooled around
we
all right.
somebody and then we
to
me, has meant
start
hook up and
to
that,
that we’re
starting something else.
fooled
around
one
night and that was
just
DOUG: We
JOHN: You obviously are
quite all right with that. Are
that the other person didn’t feel
you quite sure
how used?
some-
far
as
that person was
JOHN: There’s
a
do
to
at
the time was
messing around was concerned.
hurt, I’m only half to blame.
as
certain part of this casual
it breeds awkwardness and
If
thing
generally
sex
that sounds very appealing, but I think that
somebody’s expectations
trampled.
to
don’t say anythingbefore, if you get hurt
[because] the other person just doesn’t want
anything
to
do with you
afterward, I don’t mean
but I think that’s just
to
bad. You got
too
sound blunt,
yourself into a
JOHN: Wait just a minute,
large
a
part of the
though. Would you also say
population feels that fooling
around is the first step toward
if not
relationship,
in the
some
then at least
kind of continued,
some
kind of
change
quo?
status
DOUG: You’re talking
about the way that you use sex?
JOHN: Are you saying that because nobody said anything about what their expectations were.
.
I didn’t
DOUG:
anything
assume
.
about what she
wanted.
JOHN: But she may have assumed that by fooling
the first step toward something else.
around, that was
I think that’s
part of the
a
reasonable expectation that
a
large
population probably has.
That might be
DENISE: I
feel like it’s a
a
dangerousthing to [say] people
together with no specific expectation, and
things happen, that’s just the way it works.
get
DOUG: Let me
got hurt in a
that
ask
a
question. When
you say
if bad
that you
relationship, what does that mean? Does
that the other person treated you badly, or
that things didn’t turn
out
the way that you wanted?
mean
went
and
he,
let him know [how I
encouraged me
doing.
to
go
He didn’t
...
was
me.
problem was that I wasn’t communicating
all and I didn’t know how
prompted me
to
to
with him at
communicate sexually,
really investigate
how you do
communicate sexually. What do you intend ? What do
you want
intend? I was
to
a
virgin at the time, and
learn how
so
very important for me
nicate about sex with someone.
to
DOUG: Communication can
be reallytedious... If you
it was
fool around with somebody and
to
to
commu-
they want
to
fool around with you,
talking about what’s going to
afterward
before
do it can be pretty
happen
you even
just take care of yourself.
hand, if you’re all worried about
how the other person feels, that’s a lot of weight to
a casual sexual
carry around, especiallyif you j ust want
hook up. You should be able to feel fairly comfortable
that if you meet
somebody and fool around with them
they know what they’re getting
have
baby
to
No,
into. You shouldn’t
them.
no, no!
DENISE: On the one
hand, I totallyagree with [Doug].
But, communication doesn’t end after whatever sexual
act
happens.
DOUG: But
you have to communicate for
yourself, not
Yeah, but you are responsible for fostering an
environment in which communication is possible.
DENISE:
analogy, at the risk of being cheesedriving. I was in an accident once. I’ll
simplify it—l did something stupid. I stopped in the
JILL: Here’s my
ball:
is like
sex
middle of the road. I shouldn’t have been stopping, I
should have been going. There’s this car
coming
toward me [and the driver] sees that I’m stopping, but
[he thinks], “She shouldn’t be stopping, she’s going!”
So, [the car] keeps moving and it hits me. Now, yeah,
it’s my fault. I stopped. BUT, this moron
could’ve
avoided an accident if he had said, “I know she’s an
crash into her.” So,
idiot, but she’s stopped. I cannot
yes, you
reasonable expectation, but if
better
be damn sure next
time that
hurt,
you’d
get
you
so you don’t get hurt.
you talk it out
DOUG:
him,
for the other person.
situation.
that
with
[I had a similar situation]. I realized the whole
ISABEL:
GEOFF:
DOUG: If you
1994
tered
tions
often
time when I
a
very, very pressured
doing something when it was clear to him that I
that we were
being physical because [he] mat'
GEOFF: But you can’t
are
and
comfortable
DOUG: On the other
as
way I
rape me, but I do feel like I
into
was
tedious.
have no idea. I didn’t articulate my intenfar as commitment or what I expected after-
quite clear
WINTER
was
DOUG: I
wards, but what we both wanted
8 VQ
being physical
was
further than I
want
it.
There
it varies.
me
hurtbecause I liked somebody and I
was
you
say you got hurt?
knowing that this was the
felt], took advantage of me
and it
JILL: But how did you know that? Wait, that’s really
interesting. I’ve been in situations where I’m friends
with
think I
meant
had casual
out
once
incident in
DOUG: I’ve
sex
DENISE: For
something else? What do
mean
when you
mean
for him. [l]
somebody.
GEOFF: If it’s a greater
does that
Or,
VQ; What is casual sex ?
DOUG:
an
can
accident,
just
go and
not
stop, but you
might avoid
problem, situation, if you stop.
This is interesting, because I drive like that.
DOUG:
a
a
[The group laughs.]
JILL: I
tell that you do!
Keeping with the driving
can
GEOFF:
metaphor—it’s
a
wonderful metaphor—when you’re driving, you can’t
just watch out for yourself. You could be doing every-
thing right and some other idiot could smack into you.
something that involves more than j ust
If you’re doing
Sex
at
Vassar? The Great Debate of 1962
April of 1962, Vassar’s President, Sarah Gibson
Blanding, gave an impromptu speech during a
to
college assembly that made headlines coast
dialogue generated by
In
Students called it her “sex
coast.
statement,” and
she delivered it inresponse to their request that she
in the student handbook that
clarify a sentence
said, “students
est
are
expected
maintain the high-
to
standards of behavior.”
Her message was repeated in an article in the
November 1962 issue of McCall’s; she wrote, “For
century, it had
a
occurred
not
to
president of a
a
college such as Vassar that there was any need to
make explicit what I, too, had thought was
imwho
plicit. .[M]y belief [is] that the young woman
drinks to excess
or
engages in premarital sexual
relationships is not living up to the highest stan.
dards of behavior. I advised those students who did
wish
Miss
Blanding’s speech.
Fifty-two
percent of the survey’s respondents
with
her views on moral conduct, 40 peragreed
did not, but,
cent
as
the Miscellany News reported,
only 28 percent took her
from the
suggestion of withdrawal
college seriously. Eighty-one percent felt
that “social mores”
were
should only be of
concern
a
personal
to
the
that
matter
college
student’s activities brought the college’s name
public disrepute. Only
students said
two
if
a
into
they
withdraw because of the
planned
speech.
One anti-Blanding survey respondent wrote, “If
taken seriously, probably twothe speech were
thirds of the student body would withdraw.” Another, “If Vassar is to become the Poughkeepsie
to
Victorian
change
of
Seminary for Young Virgins, then the
policy had better be made explicit in
comply with decent standards of conduct to withdraw from the college.”
The response to Miss Blanding’s “sex statement”
was
huge. By May 29, 1962, the president’s office
admissions
estimated it had received 300 letters responding
those of us who do have the moral standards which
not
to
her position.
than five were
According
to
one
“no
memo,
to
the
‘crack-pot’
rest
were
favorable.
Within
a
department
few
days of the speech,
did
a
the
sociology
body
survey of Vassar’s student
(1,470 students) that yielded 1,040 responses. The
Miscellany Newsprinted a special two-page supplement
to
its April 11, 1962, issue, devoted entirely
to
reporting the results
of the surveyand additional
yourself, especially any kind of intimate physical
relationship, any kind of possible emotional relationship, I think it is incredibly selfish and just bad form
to
worry just about yourself.
ISABEL: I
feel like I’ve
been able
never
to
have casual
I physically find it
impossible to be with someone
intimately and not be overwhelmed with lovey-dovey
words and feelings.
sex.
DOUG:
with
That’s very interesting. I find that when I’m
somebody who I’m not
I [still] find
interested in [long-term],
myself wanting to
them—even
love within
though I know
act
I’m
in a
not
loving way with
going
to
be in
physical
hour or when I wake up. It’s the same
action, but the feelings are coming from
different
place.
GEOFF: So
this sentiment: “I believe that the great
came
worth of Miss
Blanding’s statement
in
was
letting
We do, after all, especially the impressionable
us.
freshmen, occasionally tend to wonder if we are in
the minority here at Vassar.”
Lively discussion continued
for
a
and off campus
on
time. One entire box in the
some
Blanding
library’s Special Collections is
clippings (from as far away as the
collection in the
devoted
to
press
China
Tribune), magazine articles, letters, and inter-office correspondence on the subject.
W.P.
VQ; What about AIDS' 1
“Here’s
DENISE: To me, AIDS is a
really big deal.
The
reason
slept with the person I did, the one and onlyperson
I’ve slept with, was
in large part because I knew he was
my
analogy:
sex
is like
HIV
driving
I
how many
negative. My whole life, no matter
people I fooled around with, I was really pretty careful
about high-risk behaviors. When I
and found
a
guy that I cared
that I felt comfortable with
was
it
clean and that I was
while I knew it
keep going back
was
to
that
scares
GEOFF: I’ve
finally got
about,
at
to
be 20
safe. That’s
same
go for
I
of the reasons
one
person, because we’ve
much
so
out
there
me.
had talks with past
girlfriends—whenyou
reach the point where you do start becoming intimate
than just kissing, when the risk starts escalatmore
saying I’ll act in a tender way because
that’s the way I feel at the moment.
they have
history
couple of
I’ve
had
talks
about
what
might happen if
occasions,
there was an accident and suddenly she was pregnant.
to
[AIDS] is nothing, certainly, that anyone wants
talk
about.
really
At the same
time, personally, I think it’s the kind of
I
have
to play it safe. I’d rather
thing that
go through
moment, that it’s okay
to
act
at
that way?
DOUG: Yes. I’m
JILL: How do you know it’s
not
just
your hormones
talking?
DOUG: It is
JILL: You
my hormones. It’s all hormonal.
mean
DOUG: Yes.
JILL: Oh boy.
all love is hormonal?
.
physically, and I knew he
clean, I really wanted to
the
.
the time, and
the
way you
feel
side of the student debate
both been AIDS tested. There’s
an
you’re saying that the
opposite
she advocated know that the college stands behind
more
specifically unfavorable, perhaps
twenty could be called
catalogues.”
From the
ing—l’ve had talks about whether
or
been tested, what their past
is. On
not
a
9
the awkwardness and the initial uncomfort of bring'
like that with the person knowing
ing up something
what the stakes are.
.knowing what the person’s
.
sexual background is, knowing other relevant things—are
they some sort of drug user? You’ve got to know
before
you
think about doing anything that will result
ofknowledge that you don’t have AIDS, as far
amount
as
history
your past
JOHN: In
goes, then that’s
I find that too.
practice,
DOUG: Does
that
concerned about
that you’re
mean
it
good enough.
not
actually
as
you say you are?
as
JOHN: Yeah. I think that
people could acknowl-
most
in any kind of risk.
JOHN: A reasonable but sad
edge what they should be doing and what’s right, and
I don’t think there’s anybody [who,
it. But I suspect that
driving drunk
“Well, when
That’s all
a
right.”
ing drunk
is
analogy is drunk driving.
if] you asked, “Is
[would]
good thing,”
say, “Yeah.
So
bad,”
we
can
and
sit around and say, “Driv-
likewise, “Having
in any
for
AIDS
bad.”
is
that
in
kind
of
risk
puts you
way
any
But when you cut
of
I
to
the
heart
think
it
it,
right
about
whether
to
would be more
hear
interesting
everybody is
DOUG:
really quite
Well,
want
to
careful.
so
I have safe sex, but not
that safe. I mean,
far as pregnancy goes, but if you
protect yourself from AIDS, then you have to
take precautions
we
sex
as
do everything safe and that’s just ridiculous. If you’ve
been tested for AIDS, or you can
say with a reasonable
have
try
kind of politically correct
a
conversation about
people kind of figure that,
most
I get into situations where it’s an
issue, I
convince myself that whoever I’m with doesn’t
to
have AIDS, and I know I don’t, so that’s the point
where I’m comfortable.” I would say that I don’t do
what Geoff
about.
talking
was
Wait,
GEOFF:
I need
clarify myself.
to
Have
I,
at
any
point, said to the person, “All right, before we do
anything, let’s go get tested, waitsix months, and then
do it?” No. That’s
GEOFF: I’ve
the point.
not
JOHN: But that’s the
reality.
been tested. I know
know myself
be free of AIDS
to
myself to be clean.
I
any other sexually
or
transmitted disease. If I’m going to be getting involved with someone, I need first and foremost to be
able
Two Views of the ’30s
to
them
trust
they give
to
my
enough
questions
to
are
know that the
answers
going to be accurate
and
fair. That will be
“If
we
contributed
social and
furtive look
the
to
revolutions of the era, the
literary
sexual revolution
untutored mite
our
lost
was
on
Aside from
us.
a
Lady Chatterly’s Lover and some
uncomprehendingyak about Freud, we were basically ‘jeunefille enfleur.’ A good friend came up to
late at night my senior year and said, ‘lf I told
me
at
you I wasn’t a
imagine the
virgin, would
you hate
Mary McCarthy to be on
sophistication we wouldn’t
“1 have
a
hard time
saying that
man who
a
drunk
a
attain until
level of
after mar-
riage, if then (a hunch that her subsequent novels
bore out).”
From VQ Winter 1979, “Memoirs ofLiteratae
and Socialists 1929-33 , by Eunice Clark Jessup ’33
”
is
as
a woman
is
responsible
for his
actions in
a
way that she
isn’t.”
‘J’ [a regular
JILL & ISABEL: Boo!
DENISE: A
just like
to
really suck
too.
I would
really
be dead.
friends at VC have said to me that they were
terrified about sexual expectations and so forth because of
the whole issue of date rape. They felt like there was
so
much gray area in terms
of activity, that what they used to
VQ: Male
consider normal and appropriate behavior has now
documented as date rape. Where do you guys fall
been
on
this
subject ?
Speaking only for myself—and this doesn’t
the stag line
that anything is going
thing
her
head.
the
fact
that maybe I’m misthrough
Just
to
reading something—better
play it safe from that
end. I personally find it a bit more
exciting that way.
I’m dead serious. No whips and chains, but there are
a whole number of reasons
why I would prefer the
at
were
heart not
enthusiastic. In the
first
place, they couldn’t cut in unless introduced,
and moreover
they knew that all the boys there
If they’dbeen at all attractive,
duds.
were
probably
would
have
been
whisked away to the Outthey
door Cabin, where you could spend the weekend
(if you signed up early enough) inthe depths of the
forest with your current
beloved, with no chaperone, nothing but the birds and the bees for com-
sex.
It put you
Just because things
her part. I can’t assume
on
make the first
to
woman
are
change in my attitude or anyto try to not
initiate anything.
so tricky. I can’t assume
any-
make the first
done that,
now
Even when she does
move.
move, that’s not
at
all like, “OK. She’s
I’m home free and
can
do whatever I
want!” No, it’s far from it. It’s
on
a
relaxed attitude about
you honor
as
a
lady
to
behave
properly. After freshman year it took for granted
that you knew a thing or two.”
From
VQ, Fall 1983, “Of sex, pearls, and the
languages of time: Glimpses of Vassar 1929-33 by
”
Lucille Fletcher
Wallop
’33
where
no
matter
how far
really a type of thing
along you go, you’ve got to
try and stay in touch with what the other person is
sending
you, either
spoken
or
unspoken signals.
If
there’s any kind of question, then I pull back and
really kind of make sure. It’s real unsteady ground.
DOUG: I
think date rape is nonconsensual sex.
long as you don’t do that, it’s not
etration. As
rape.
1994
not
represent any kind of
thing—as a rule, I like
on
“Vassar in general had
VQ WINTER
lot of this is uncomfortable stuff to discuss.
It sucks. But dying would
campus] supposedly took
of our love life, but it didn’t. It was
care
just a place
to take boys you were
bored with. And the girls on
mixer
pany.
10
that’s another discussion.
Abstinence! Woo!
DENISE:
GEOFF:
“
as
absolutely fail-safe,
?’ One can
me
clankof that remark in today’s Vassar.
We considered
good enough for me. If you want to
talk about what it takes to be absolutely sure
and
Pen-
date
What about feeling emotionallypressured in
DENISE:
away that wasn’t like
holding
someone
you down?
whole different way of intimidating somePart of it’s physical, because men
are
usually
There’s
a
body.
bigger than women, part of it is emotional, I think,
depending on who is coming into the situation need-
ing and wanting what. I think that the definition of
date rape doesn’t just mean
vaginal or anal penetra-
ISABEL: I
think that there is
expectation that people here
underneath,
there are
of the
overriding
sexually active, but
sort
are
lot of people who aren’t at all.
a
JOHN: But that’s how the world is. The world is
so
of sexual misconceptions that it’s ridiculous. It’s
misconceptions
not
You get the
just here, but at any college. You get the impression
from watching TV, watching “90210” and stuff, that
impression
these
that
people have all kinds of crazyrelationships. But
they just don’t. You get the impression from a show
like “90210” that being a virgin at 18 or 19 is irregular
when alcohol is involved. As I understandour
or
if you have sex
with somebody—as a
I
guy—if have sex with somebody when she’s drunk,
if I am drunk, then that is rape. Whether or not
even
regulations,
she considers it
as
such is
different story. But tech-
a
simply
It
GEOFF:
through alcohol
says that if
a
is
not
JILL: No. If she’s
that’s it,
enough to make
decision,
a
DENISE: Wait. It’s not
if a person is
just drunk. I think the law says
incapable of making a decision, whether
they’re a child or a minor,
they’re inebriated.
JOHN: No. They told us at our
of whether
irrelevant,
or
can
wants
the
to
go
Sex Ex
thing, regardless
to
say that she
was
raped,
then she
college regulations board and you’re
in
DOUG: I
just
want to say
did NOT say that
[Editor’s
that I
in Sex
was
Ex, and we
Note: For the
the Sex Ex presenters do
record,
NOT suggest what John remembered. Sex Ex presenters
do
designed to raise discussion about what date rape
is, and emphasize that in most date rape cases, alcohol is
a
skit
involved. What the presenters DO tell
students
new
among other
things, “Students
tion from alcohol
or
are
any other
behavior of the aggressor,
reminded that intoxica-
drug does
not
does it mitigate
nor
excuse
or
the
nullify a
charge of sexual offense.”]
DENISE: I am
firm believer that you can be raped
when you’re drunk. Wanting to fool around doesn’t
to
that you want
have sex.
Getting drunk
imply that you’re loose for the evening. That’s
mean
doesn’t
the way it goes.. . But, I know that I’m not
just
always aware of what I say or what I do. I do things and
not
say
over
so
.
things that I wouldn’t do normally. I might walk
andkiss somebody that I wouldn’t normally kiss,
I have
drunk
as
a
hard time also saying that
a woman
is
responsible
a man
who is
as
for his actions in
a
way that she isn’t.
even
Vassar,
tions about sexual activity, and what
tions and/or social pressures
to
remain
virgins?
current
percepsurrounding those who choose
are
at
virginity.
real problem with the
strongly consider myself
a
I very
sexually active from a younger age than the point that
I lost my
virginity. Saying
virginity
at
21
doesn’t say anything about my sexuality, because the
actual sex act, to me, was
just one little blip in this
whole line of blips.
JOHN: My thoughts about being
a
virgin, when I
twelve, were
was
media and what I saw
on
a
virgin or
being
not
greatlyformed by the
television. What you
see
on
warped and what you read in books is warped.
right. It’s not the way the world is, but that’s
not
how your expectations are built up, because nobody
has these conversations that we’re having like this. I
mean, I’ve
Doug
for
known Geoff for
years—we’ve
two
years, I’ve known
two
had a conversation
never
like this before. You don’t really have conversations
like this unless it’s for a
we
specific thing like this.
Unless Isabel and I
talk about it
endlessly!
in the room, because
are
What
totally blows
mind is you’ve known Geoff and Doug for
and you’ve never
strikes
a
me
had
odd. I
as
It strikes
me
as
a
must
half minutes before
we
my
years
have known Isabel four and
started
talking about sex...
who I consider [to
interesting that men
guys with
talked about it. I don’t know if it’s
with
two
conversation like this. That
would have known each other so long and
a
sexuality
have
not
gender thing, but
I know—we get down and
women
GEOFF: If the
topic arises,
no
pun
dirty.
intended, I’ve
got
problem talking about sex with anyone. If
the two years that I’ve
to talk about why over
you want
known John and Doug, why we’ve never
had any kind
of big bonding moment
like
or
that, it’s
anything
because I’ve always equated that with jock, lockertalk. That’s an unfairequation to make perhaps,
room
very little
but that
did you have expecta-
bizarre.”
expectation, though. That’s
an
was
my reference point.
I’ve had more
reason
Part of the
VQ; When you arrived at
19 is
a
be] fairly sensitive, comfortable
a
or
some
point
have sex with somegoing
don’t think, is an unreasonable expecta-
not
concept of
DENISE:
regarding alcohol and charging individuals with a sexual
offense is quoted directly from the Student Handbook,
Part D: College Regulations, Section J, which states,
18
at
to
hope!
[The group laughs.]
ISABEL: I’ve always had
It’s
the freshmen.
to
I would expect
college.
to
like
TV is
trouble.
virgin
tion.
I lost my
or
if she’s drunkand you have sex, that if the
day she
next
they’re retarded
or
you’re drunk, because that’s truly
not
going
That’s
right?
being
is that in some
just shouldn’t be any. I
mean, there could be broad expectations, like, “Hmm.
more
sober
not
thing with expectations in general
a
.
ways there
an
for his actions.
excuse
The whole
one.” That, I
is inebriated
man
GEOFF:
along the line that I’m
drugs or whatever, that
or
bizarre.
I’m
nically, that’s considered rape, is it not?
DOUG: No.
full of sexual
full
tion. It’s any unwanted sexual act.
JOHN: I think the part of it that merits discussion is
college
“The world is
tions with
women
as
opposed
risk of sounding crude, from
a
to
sexual conversa-
with
men,
is,
at
the
practical standpoint,
I
learn more.
[The group laughs.]
S
3
11
Bridges
to
the World
Henry Noble MacCracken and Vassar College
by Elizabeth Adams Daniels ’41
college
THE FALL OF
IN
as more
than
million
U.S.
1918,
a
troops
i
Si
co m
cd
<
>
i
1
n
deep implica-
i—H
o B
rup-
connected with
reason
—
service
for
to
use
as
an
cl
cd
I
in a
b
thirty-sevenyear-old president they had
1
B
x
—i
B
p
<
retired in 1914, were
stand his
and attitudes and his lack of
ground and have
fortable with his
a
members, students, and
handful of women
trustees
Henry Noble MacCracken
The
a
to
—
egged him on to do battle.
By evening of the day after
Armistice Day, back
pus after
a
on
prolonged
immediately
MacCracken
believed he
MacCracken and
emergency put
Vassar
February
College, College
12 VQ WINTER
1994
must
proceed
setting things right.
was
empowered
to
set
on
the conservative
Avenue Press, 1994■
victor
the task ahead of
English. This
excerpted from
her newly published book
Bridges to the World:
Henry Noble
article is
said, the
the Vassar campus.
The differences leading to the showdown between
things right
and the president and his
trustees
largely progressive faculty had developed gradually
over
the preceding years. But they surfaced after the
United States entered the
a
strain
1918 the
Vassar that held itself
aloof from the community
.
of them didn’t
thoughts on the implications of victory
now
con-
ivory-
and theoutside world. Many
suffrage and
and off.
had
preferred to let
leave
gave a triumphal speech. As reported on November
13 in The Poughkeepsie Eagle News , he endorsed Presi-
to
tower
31 years
doing things. Those
cam-
for the victor and indicated that he, too, would use
them as his mandate. Covered with the mantle of
emerita of
to
ideas
tinue undisturbed the
.
He stretched his
less
victory, Wilson
trustees
fire him after 36 months
presidency
uncomnew
respect for the established
1915
wanted
been
dent Wilson’s
historian and professor
in
way of
trustees
during which the battle had
developed and won, Henry Noble MacCracken
is Vassar College
on
while,
a
Assured of support, the progressive president decided to
public showdown. The
forces on his side—faculty
Elizabeth Adams Daniels
who had been
working with his conservative predecessorT aylor, who
—i m
three years earlier.
hurry to change it. Those
the board quite
0-
quo:
impatient with it and
trustees
0
cd m
firing the
hired
he was
B
1
I
01
excuse
trust-
in what he had al-
titude towards the status
H
Bm
>
cd
LU
hcc
=)
war
were
ready displayed about his at-
i
IB
< B
0 i
LU B
m
o
guard of
trumped up a
lay
ees
dI
The conservative
Vassar trustees
||
LU
tured on the Vassar campus.
of them
to
Actually,
probably
His problem withthe
O i;
'
America,
in
away.
being
i
2
education
his
and
objections
back.
chi
tions for the future of higher
no
war-
term
happy to see him go off and
hoping he wouldn’t come
°l
cc
I
< B
Argonne campaign
a less global conflict,
had raised
some
d|
rope,
with
j|
m
in Eu-
one
j
-J
en-
gaged in the Meuse-
but
j
cc m
<
cc m
DO
H
were
engage in
to
work for the spring
I
CD
UJ
on
trustees
war
the
and
as
the wartime
college’s economy.
had consented
so
were
of sympathy with the times, both
out
approve
on
more
of
or
campus
were
Perhaps more
important, the trustees
to
accustomed
having their own way, uninterfered
with, on the campus. Internally, the college had never
really had an overall plan of operation. It had had no
budget. (Nor was this unusual: neither did other
colleges.) Bills came in and bills were paid, first served.
There
ness
was
very little coordination between the busi-
side of the
college and the educational side.
Somehow the college had scraped along in this fashion without an overall plan until 1915.
The college had been without a president from
February 1914 to January 1915, and the trustees, after
their customary fashion, had taken
matters
during
that
care
of all financial
period. After MacCracken
as-
In
sumed office in January,
to
had been chairman of the executive committee—the
MacCracken’s request for a part-time leave from the
trustee
group of power brokers that
was
George Dimock, who
the inner circle ofthe
Vassar’s fifth
president
was a
progressive, who arrived
with radical ideas about
transforming the pioneering
Victorian institution into
a
modern
college* But first, he
had to save his job.
trustees
to
him
—approached
say that
wish him
the board did
of
right
Taylor had judiciously
kept. He was not yet in a
be burdened
to
with the financial affairs of
position
the
he would be
He should in-
college.
stead be free
devote his
to
a
motion would be introduced
the
at
1915 meeting
June
hamstrung from
educa-
planning for the college, or even conducting the
day-to-day business of the
president’s office, without
being adequatelytied to the
purse strings and the plan-
busi-
trustee
Dimock said
understand how
tional
business and finances of the
nessmen.
to
doing long-range
energies to work on the educational side, and leave the
college to the
the
relinquishing
that
not
ning of how the college’s
rescinding the resolution
(which Taylor had insisted
upon at the beginning of his
presidency in 1886) thatthe
president should be ex officio
money would be spent.
chairman of the executive
trustee treasurer
committee.
lege,
Between 1915 and 1918,
however, he had discovered
all
At the time, MacCracken
did
not
object
being
to
An
thoughthat was
and because
with his
allowed
own
to
trustees
for control of the
college’s finances.
was
very little),
wish
to
administration of the
perfectly
this action. It meant
nature
that the
college’s
But he said that he
and significance of
authority in the
tive control of the business of the
execu-
College,
upon
which Dr.
the di-
always communicated
ecutive committee, and
he
That
that MacCracken did
necessarily know what
had been committed
by the treasurer
the educational
to
MacCracken.
sums
college.
the
spent the
to
not
be
to
the
of the col-
not
meant
it coincided
give his chief effort
“understood
early battle between
MacCracken and the
sistent with what had previously been told him (al-
was
committee, and what went
in that committee was
on
he
con-
Mr.
error.
who
rection of the executive
MacCrackenand his wife, Marjorie,
and daughter, Maisry, 1915
ex-
as
clearly his
Pelton,
money according
cluded from the executive
committee, because,
later observed, it was
too
H. V.
sometimes
was
and the ex-
caught short.
asked for
an
Occasionally
opinion
about an expenditure of college funds by the treasurer
until it was too late. Such was the case with expenditures
of $25,000 for a new
heating plant with new
not
even
of 1918.
Taylor had insisted by securing the action
him
ex
making
officio chairman of the executive
boilers
committee, had been removed from the office of the
President...” Furthermore, it meant
that “the respon-
indicated that the college’s annual expenses had in$lOO,OOO a year since the beginning of
creased over
sibility of the Treasurer to the President of the College
as ex officio chairman of the Executive Committee had
lapsed.”
Even though MacCracken thought he understood
the nature
of the action of the board and agreed to it
without objection, he could not have realized its full
significance. It was a crippling arrangement. New on
the scene
and new
to
administration, he perhaps
could not in 1915 have anticipated the consequences
MacCracken’s
The
1918
in
the
was
summer
president’s report
was
tenure.
to
the
trustees
in
June
1918
The situation in the spring of
the fact that a fire had
complicated by
occurred the previous February in the largest Vassar
building, which housed manyof the students, and that
the loss
fully covered by insurance. An emerto be raised for rebuilding. Separated
from the college’s immediate budgetary concerns, the
was
not
gency fund had
associate alumnae in
1915, at the
time of the Fiftieth
Anniversary celebration of the college (an
event
13
connected with MacCracken’s
away, didn’t
undertaken
trustees, it
raise a
to
inauguration), had
fund designated for endowment.
February 1918,
Between 1915 and
in this first
fund
have time
get there. These three
to
turned out, had been
the full board,
group, but not
delegatedby
drive of their organization, they had raised the better
for running
not
part of a million dollars. But it was
and deliver a message, which was really an ultimatum.
Polite, but indirect, the message stated that since
expenses of the college.
In 1918, in the wartime economy,
MacCracken’s interest in the collegeseemed
John Adriance,
trying to get a new heating plant
installed in the college. Owing to the government’s
need for metal, new
boilers could not be obtained, and
a
“local trustee,” was
so
substituted. Costs soared
second-hand boilers were
and although the executive committee authorized the
spend $25,000 for the heating system, the
$200,000. The money
bill had already run up to over
be
The
had to
found some
local trustees
apparplace.
of
ently suggested to some
treasurer
to
it
his desire
they would like
Decoded,
do
to
because he
his eye
seemed
was
free him for full-time
to
that he had
chance
good
a
get rid of the thorn
in
trustees
and
suggestions seriously,
encouraged them
that the time had
to
tional
policy
into their
to
own
of the
college
handsunder
free the institution from
its conservative ways of the
their
past, under which the fac-
7, 1918, MacCracken
and
campus with
throat and
was
a
septic sore
degrees. As a consequence,
his secretary decided to wait
day, when he undoubtedly
showing him
letter
a
view the
persons of the faculty. Com-
re-
pletely unbeknownst
an
inter-
met
was
at
from
a
Manhattan, but
MacCracken in
on
Chambers’s
mind. Although still confined to his bed, MacCracken
feeling better
on
Tuesday, and he agreed to
Chambers
at
was
ushered into MacCracken’s bed-
about four o’clock and first
expressedpolite
about MacCracken’s health. MacCracken,
concern
1915
before the national reading
who assumed Chambers could
Popular
public in September 1913
Monthly had published an
Next College President.” Al-
Science
article entitled “The
Professor,” but
who had been
unconventional “Full”
most
a
at
one,
Vassar since 1887.
him about fiscal matters, turned the conversation
cleverly analyzed the pitfalls of the
collegepresidency in the early twentieth century and
without hesitation towards his formulations of a
dealt with all the vested interests which had
plan
to
develop
a
budget
only have come
when The
though it was attributed to a “Near Professor,” and
published anonymously, the article was definitely
written by Vassar’s Lucy Salmon, who was no “Near
see
Chambers in the afternoon.
room
organizing college
governance had been placed
it
offer any hints about whatwas
did not
her prior to his arrival
Vassar, her sentiments
about
Vassar
business
a
to
MacCracken, who had not
following Tuesday
who
in
man
one
noncom-
morning. It came
Frank Chambers,
trustee,
distinguished historian and
of the leading spokes-
before
conference. The
questing
letter, short and
mittal, asked for
a
the educational
Vassar, was the maverick
Lucy Maynard Salmon, a
until the following Monwould feel better,
very little power,
turn
been well under way when
MacCracken arrived at
fever of 104
a
to
policy-making of the college over to the faculty. The
ringleaderof the faculty revolt, which had already
sick in bed in his residence
system for the
Chambers, however, interrupted
had
reason
not
come
to
discuss
him
to
to
Her article
see
new
college.
say that he
college finances, but for
a
quite different.
He then
1994
for
his leadership. He had plans
to
C3n Saturday, September
WINTER
think
to
come
take the educa-
them
ulty had
was
long
not
.
side.
on
meant
was
had their way..
In the three years that MacCracken had been on
campus, he had listened to the faculty, taken their
for Vassar if the
the campus. It
on
be
service.
war
statement
many radical ideas and
too
keeping
not
to
war
MacCracken knew, the
MacCracken’s fault
was
not
work away from the
great
had decided
leave.
The
trustees
he
should
college,
as
as
inner circle that
those in the
14
larger
a
“wait on” MacCracken
to
overcome,
could
avoided, and
shape his
own
be
a president
policy. She examined the power
of boards of regents or
who, for the
to
managed before
trustees, parents, and alumnae
always liked the existing
it to change. “Does somedropping the Latin salutatory and the
most
part,
explained that he had expected to be
joined in making this visit by two other trustees,
Florence Cushing and George Dimock. Since
institution and didn’t
one
MacCracken hadn’t communicated with him until
parent ‘likes the present plan’ and therefore the Latin
that morning, however, the others, who lived further
salutatory and the valedictory are retained.” Of col-
suggest
valedictory
from the
want
commencement
exercises, the
MILLAY
Missing class while “in pain with
EdNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY, twenty-three years old when
she arrived
Vassar, had
at
grown up
as
an
eccentric
genius
the
day on
happened
in
Maine. But because she
challenged the authority of
barred
too
one
many teachers in her local high school, she was
from attending classes and had to complete her secondary
education by herself. Besides that, she lacked the training to
Camden,
credentials
herself for Vassar, she attended Barnard
City
from
in New York
as
a
February
June
conditionally admitted to Vassar
and was
the
over
College
nonmatriculated student
1913
to
her “quick recovery from illness.”She replied, “It just so
in pain with a poem.”
was
keep Millay from making too many
constantly in trouble with the
wardens who monitored the rather strict social regulations of the
relaxed
college on behalf of the faculty. MacCracken’s more
attitude towards the regulations had not
yet begun to prevail:
possibly he would have dismissed them all as counterproductive.
He was too politic that early in his career, however, to make such
to
present certain other traditional
for Vassar admission in 1913. To prepare
required
in
an
faculty
exception
waters.
to
She
was
rules.
to
But in the spring of 1917, Millay
have graduated had it not
would not
of 1913 into the class of
summer
poem”
that at the time of your class I
MacCracken found ways
waves
Latin prose and
construe
a
been for MacCracken’s intervention.
1917.
Millay and MacCracken were
each other. The
the festivities
drawn
in his honor
later told a reporter,
1932, who wrote:
play
during
surrounding his inauguration
and the celebration of
all because of Caruso,” she
“It was
to
the Fiftieth
J erome
Beatty,
During Easter vacation in New York,
Anniversary of the founding of the college,
entitled The Pageant of Athena and
was
written by Millay. As soon
as he made her
acquaintance, he paid special attention to
her, encouraging her to use her talent as
poet and playwright.
had invited Miss
elderly woman
Millay to hear Caruso in Aida. It was
an
be
to
tremendous
a
knew Aida
note
Vincent
event.
by heart, couldplay every
of the score,
but had never
that the date whenCaruso was
Mildred Thompson, still a
was
The
history instructor
1913, recalled after retirement that she
history
Millay in her entrance
She had to, because the
(admission)
rest
though she had to flunk it,
Taylor said, “Oh, our poet!”
Millay was fortunately a student in
MacCracken’s Shakespeare class, and he
taught,
“Drama
220,”
substitutefor the more
students in his
the
one
allowed her
a
to
course
conventionalfinal exam
class, MacCracken encouraged
happened
compose
She wrote
a
those
days
and sick
Miss
Millay
excuses
. . . However,
could be
sent
used this convenient
o’clock drama class one
this did
not
deter
morning.
to
means
class for almost any
her eight
to cut
Dr. MacCrackensaw
her perform-
of fantastic capers about an hour afterward
her later in
under Main gate. He remarked teasingly when he saw
ing splits and all sorts
to
was
that shecould
tearoom
to
morning...
theAshokan
silly things in
guestbook, and drove
suddenly recalled that she was
was
at
some
illegally away from
gone. She stole in her room
at nine
.“A week later the warden of my hall
visit the tearoom” she told the reporter, “And allwas
lost.”
a
Vincent from getting up and spouting Shakespeare when the
frail in
occasion moved her to it. Physicians considered women
reason.
At dinner she
her
to
a
wrote
the tearoom’s
the minister’s house for dinner.
o’clock the next
observed:
lecture course.
Reservoir,
taken by the other
reporter, looking into Millay’s life as a
paper The Miscellany News. The reporter, Muriel Crane ’53,
a
went
one
’l7 at Vassar
the campus... .The last ferry
a
King. “She wrote
according to a
student for the undergraduate
was
to
he
class for three weeks and finished it,”
Drama 220
Millay
make
of dramatic literature. As
moral interlude called Two Slatterns and
during
a
luncheonat
Edna St. Vincent
play that wouldreflect her comprehension of the course.
a
Vassar, and
at
tell her. She
. . she
Saturday with her
and two Vassar graduates,
minister’s daughter. They had
driving
roommate
assignments. She took
history
sing
sup-
leave campus overnight for the
Remember she was
of the term.
went
even
creative innovations in her
was
25! Towards the end of May.
office
to report the result of the exam, and told
him she had just read a most
remarkable
exam
back
not
Her punishment
not
then unknown to
the wayto McCaleb’s
Vincent
to
ishment.
me.”WhenThompson encountered Taylor
on
be
know
not
the opera, had a glorious time, and
returned to Vassar to take her pun-
answers
extraordinary information given at the
beginning made me especially interested
was
to
did
woman
days after
Vincent did
didn’t bear any particular relation to the
questions asked. But, said Thompson, “The
in the writer who
elderly
two
posed
flunked
exam.
heard
Caruso.
Not that she needed encouragement:
she had the fresh breath of genius. C.
in
in
Just before graduation, Millay was told that she could not receive
diploma with her class and she was banned from the premises.
The faculty met
in solemn session and voted against leniency. The
students in her class were
affronted and defiantly demanded that
she be allowed to participate in the final festivities for graduation,
but she missed both class day and baccalaureate ceremonies, for
each of whichshe had written a song. MacCracken, later saying
that it was
the only time in his career
as president whenhe had
exercised his right to overrule a faculty decision, granted her
to the campus, and she graduated with the
permission to return
others. He repeatedly referred to her during his administration as
her
one
of the
most
talented students that had
ever
studied at Vassar.
—From Bridges
to
the World
15
lege benefactors, she noted:
member of the board of
great
authority.
...
science and wishes
laboratory,
the
trustees
“The benefactor is
and
as
If the benefactor is interested in
to
college
give the college
a
Salmon, although she
a
such wields
physical
accepts it without question
although its greatest need may be a new library building.” Continuing her analysis of various categories,
she found that [t]he force of tradition is strong and
tradition makes the student, at least in theory, passive
u
and receptive rather than active and creative.” How-
addressed
itself had been
delivered the
was
writing anonymously,
of the issues that the Vassar
some
mulling
trustees
an
cerned about the
over
faculty
in 1913 when they had
ultimatum. They were
con-
conservative educa-
increasingly
policies of James Monroe Taylor, who seemed
them to be failing to respond to perceivedneeds for
tional
to
change in student and faculty life and in the curriculum, especially in reference to faculty suffrage, and
faculty freedom of speech and action. After Taylor’s
Progressive MacCracken (left) and conservative predecessor James Monroe Taylor (right) with alumnae
iVlacCracken
was
as a headstrong
seen
Hotspur by M. Carey Thomas [president of Bryn Mawr College,
but] his lighter and more playful side was apparent to almost everybody else. To the übiquitous Jack
Hennessy, thesingular original campus security officer, “making rounds day and night bybicycle looking
for other stolen or misplaced bicycles,” (stealing bicycles was the most
serious campus crime in the
thirties and forties), MacCracken frequently played the role of a Prince Hal, resourcefully reproved and
parried in the act by Hennessy’s down-to-earth genius. William Murphy, later first head of Vassar’s
employees’ union, but a groundsman when MacCracken came to the college, illustratedtherelationship
between MacCracken and Hennessy in repeating in an interview a story that circulated among the
employees in his time. Soon after MacCracken’s arrival, the new president was wandering around the
alleyways in the service area of the college behind Main Building one night after dark. Hennessy saw
him. Not recognizing him, or pretending not to recognize him, he grabbed him by the collarand asked
him who he was andwhathe was doing there. MacCracken said he was the new
president, out for a walk.
Hennessy said he’d see about that. Holding on to him, he guided him over to the president’s house and
rang the doorbell. Marjorie MacCracken answered the door. Whereupon Hennessysaid, “Do you know
this fellow?” “Why yes,” said Marjorie, “this is President MacCracken.” “Well, I’m glad to hear it, but
you’d better tell him not to go wandering around like that on this campus at night,” said Hennessy. The
next
day, MacCracken gave Hennessy a raise. So was formed a special friendship, which lasted
E.A.D. in Bridges to the World
throughout MacCracken’s time at Vassar.
—
ever, there is a
“thin entering
wedge of alumni reprecollege trustees” which, given
time, would influence plans in the future. And the
faculties everywhere, as the article was being written,
were
beginning to work in new ways to gain legislative
educational policy. The article, in short,
power over
resignation under pressure in 1913, which took effect
in February 1914, and while the search that identified
MacCracken as the winning candidate for the presi-
constituted
group action for purposes of their
sentation
boards of
on
an
ian system that
indictment of the archaic, authoritar-
prevailed
colleges and universities
just before World War I and colorfully expressed a
belief that a more
organic system could take its place,
under forward-lookingpresidents of the future.
16VQ WINTER
1994
in
dency was
crued
vacuum
was
new
taking place, the faculty had quietly acpower as they stepped together into the
created by Taylor’s departure. Uniting in
in itself
In May
a
own
empowerment
novelty.
1914, the trustees
had put out
a
call
through
the Alumnae Council for suggestions for Taylor’s
replacement. No doubt the six alumnae trustees on
the board forced this call. At least
faculty
one
Events had
mem-
ber—Salmon—took advantage of the invitation, but
instead of just mentioning possible candidates that
she had in mind—MacCracken
Salmon
the committee
wrote
not
at
conspired to produce exactly the right
a progressive turnabout in college
circumstances for
Vassar....
at
governance
among them—
once
reasoned
a
chaotic month of scrimmaging and lobby. .met
in New York and voted to
a
analysis of the principles that should affect the choice
of president. It corresponded with her published ar-
ing, the
ticle.
president. Now
Now, especially Salmon, but others too, foresaw
that this showdown between MacCracken, himself a
faculty member as well as president, and the trustees, was a
ization, MacCracken quickly set the stage scenery for
his return
and bathed himself in the limelight. With
trustees
.
allow MacCracken
eager
tions
and off the
on
the campus gate in
relief
groundwork concerning professional ranks and employOther colleges were
ment.
in
emonies attached
seemed
perfect
a
time for
I—the
passed
October
on
day after the faculty
rousing endorsement
of MacCracken’s progressivism—not to resign.
a
MacCracken in the 1940s
beginning,
end. Do not
The
not the
fight will
be
on
with
president, faculty, and alumnae
ranged against an anti-
quated system of academic organization. Some of us have
long protested against the control of a body holdingofficefor
life, self-perpetuating, meeting
but
once
work
a
to a
year,
committing
its
small executive com-
mittee,
Vassar alumnae
met
everywhere he traveled. “Last
summer,” he confessed, whenputting
memoirs—never
together some
published—“l was
beguiled into
noted for its
a
Paris music hall not
like
prudery. My host,
the true
resign.
Americanclergyman he was,
wantedto see just how bad Paris could
and therefore
be,
accompany him. At
urged
me
to
the end of one
the most
of
soft voice
revealing scenes,
at
my side said, ‘I suppose you are
planning to introduce this art into
dramatic production at Vassar, Dr.
MacCracken.’ My neighbor was
a
Vassar
a
less than seventy,
whose motives in attending the show
I did
of not
woman
not
seek
to
learn.”
E.A.D.
—
records
publishing
of its meetings, and admitting
one
no
to
The issue is clear-cut and
well-defined.
institution that has had the
opportunity that
one
with
us.
I know
is
day may be realized in practical form
ours
of
to
now
on
and made
a
execu-
with him
met
plans to wipe out the
successfully
deficit, which were
executed within the
six
next
weeks. Two years later when
he was offered the chancellor-
ship of the University of Bufat a larger salary, he stayed
falo
Vassar, and the trustees
agreed to the reorganization of
at
the
college and the board
trustees
on
his
of
terms.
There was to be no turning
back, thereafter, either on the
college campus or in the world
at large from the cultural, technological, political, and social
levers for change set in place
during the world war.
They
to
affect and
every level. Certainly they affected
women’s roles and women’s expectations. MacCracken
redirect life
The opportunity is ours
to lead the way in the open
the
whole
of
question of academic control.
was
day the
next
tive committee
would continue
its discussions.
discussion
that
na-
personalvictory
stage and in
fact, the
!N/lacCracken
attendance at
This is the
cer-
pivotal
position for “getting things
right” on the home front. In
September 23,
and again
the
to
trustees....
MacCracken
ac-
Salmon, a superb goader, ex-
no
the
over
horted MacCracken twice by
1918,
off, he
stretch the
encompass his
center
on
to
tional armistice celebration
tion.
letter—once
kind of
a
campus and
on
managed
in the air. It
was
train
Taking full advantage of the
heightenedemotions of joy and
University
Professors had just drawn up its
charter and laid some
basic
revolt; reform
a
regal processional the evening
of the day after Armistice Day.
newly formed nationalAmeriAssociation of
so
from Manhattan and entered
every college in the country. A
can
was
exercise in the
to
Vassar stage, he took
be resolved, not
vital to
alone, were
to
Vassar’s
as
of dra-
sense
timing which he
future, both
and well defined. The ques-
cut
exquisite
frequently
clear-
his duties
his work of modern-
resume
the same
open the
larger subject of academic gov-
The issues were
full time to
return
to
matic
unique opportunity to
ernance.
to
at
in the years ahead addressed the
changes and
new
no
needs in the postwar world in the field of education.
and
Together with his colleagues, and with the active
cooperation of the students, and a largely new board
ifyou stay
. . [The question is] vital to every college in the
country. . . I wish we might make a permanent contribution to educational theory and practice in the form
of
a plan of academic government that would truly
repreall the elements included in a college.
sent
of trustees, he
consciously, step by step, made over a
stodgy Victorian institution (one,
conservative and
however, which the founder, Matthew Vassar, had
intended
modern
to
one.
be responsive
B
to
change)
into
a
thriving
2
17
THE STORIED MAYA
Since the Maya lost the meaning of their glyphs centuries ago,
they have been able to read and write themselves only in translation. But a literature exists in their lively oral culture, and a
project in Mexico’s Yucatan aimed to seek it out and
record it in writing, using the language of its makers.
recent
Catherine Rendon
by
EAR the unoccupied, an-
k|
pj
Mayan
cient
Maria Luisa is short and
cities of
and and she smiles
Mexico’s Yucatan penin-
Bb
S'!
a
Maya city
edgeof
the Puuc hills, the
otherwise vast, flat
landscape;
garden of northwestern Yucatan. Here citrus
bloom and packs of parrots and other noisy birds
in
an
a
stocky like
Yucatec
most
earrings and bright colors
wear
great deal. She
visiting elders
what they know so
the
at
to
in the
time
of Oxkutzcab.
Oxkutzcab lies
only undulations
She loves
women.
'81
that
spends all her free
vicinity and finding
we
out
go visit them and
can
record their memories. She and Santiago Dominguez
Ake, a graduate student in history and another of the
project’s collectors/writers,
always exchanging
are
discoveries. Theirfavorites are the stories about ghosts
it is the
and aluxes—-little clay figures that farmers fashion
trees
protect their land and crops.
Maria Luisa has been in touch with an
fill the early mornings and late afternoons with chatOne can
ter.
buy zapote fruit and mameys and the
hottest chiles in the world, known as
habaneras,
alwaysbustling market. Across the street
from the marketplace is a large, golden-toned,
fortresslike church with small, high windows typical
of the local mission constructions. In front of the
known
as
used
one
where the town
dances,
a square. This is
used
to be held, and where
vaquerias,
everyto
congregate before
ugly
an
installed.
tain was
church, one can catch a local cab.
Mongol-pencil yellow, but shaped like giant
In front of the
They are
tricycles. Passengers sit
on
a
plank or makeshift
seat
have been loaded the cabs
seem
Gongora Pacheco
literacy promoter, and one
in
a
sit
is
a
at
the
Mayan woman,
at
work
She lives with her mother and brother
distant end of Oxkutzcab. When
on
a
ning
some
of
us
at
a
who
the project visit Maria Luisa, we pile
the tricycle cabs and travel to her like a proces-
sion of
in
on
holidaymakers. We pass lazy, thin dogs sundoorways; a mother pig leading her piglets in
backyard shaded by banana and tamarind trees; a
sprinkling her potted plants; children and
women
standing in line at the local tortilleria, where
a
woman
a
rusty machine chugs
com; a
come
to
long
let
to
a
small bus pass.
returning home from work in the
are
fields. Some ride
bicycles, others walk. All around us
of those places
one
cicadas buzz. (The Yucatan is
insects of
where
we
all shades and sizes land
plantations: an
abandoned railway tracks mark each
we
come
one.)
on
pass the remains of old hennequen
old chimney, long, low buildings, and
site. Sometimes
church ruins being reclaimed
across
feel
we
by the
envelopedby the
all-encompassing horizon—Chum ka’an —the Maya
words for horizon
“base of the sky.”
mean
swinging, just
Maria Luisa’s
out
kilo after kilo of flattened
vacated hammock. At
corner.
does
last,
not
have much of
a
HADZIUH
plaza. This hamlet combines Spanish
and pre-Columbian characteristics, as
center
collection of contemporary indigenous Mayan litera-
onto
we
goods
cadre of Mayan writers
and story collectors who have been
collaborate
Campesinos
back up
to
a
progress there is sometimes
our
like overladen
more
gondolas; the steady-gazing matrons
like powerful buddhas.
ture.
by the need
the end of
at
waiting for the “next available” with
their baskets full of merchandise. Once their
Maria Luisa
slowed
straight road;
wilderness. Most of the time,
at
the back while the cabbie pedals in front. The taxi
stand is always crowded. It is not unusual to see plump
Yucatec matrons
narrow,
Sometimes
foun-
cement
old musician
nearby hamlet of Tadziuh and told him that
would be visiting him. Tadziuh is
at
Oxkutzcab’s
church is
in the
to
we
do many in the outback. Several ruins
largetrees surround the empty grass
and
center.
Across from
another church, still used
it is
an
itinerantpriest. As
we
look for someone
soon
to
by
descend from thecar
as we
tell us where Aureliano Carnal
party is Maya and
reluctant
to
the
tell us
are
Maya,
villagers
speaks
where he lives. Santiago later tells me that this is
lives.
Although the majority of our
in
because the
people of this hamlet had been particularly
during the time of the Caste War
(1845-1901) and had waged war against the local
anticlerical
establishment. A legacy of mistrust of all outsiders
remains.
Nevertheless, a
and his
man
son
who
are
walking
the direction of Aureliano Carnal’s house tell
follow them and
so
we
begin
to
climb up
a
us
narrow
in
to
Photo: Palace
of the
Qovemor at Uxmal,
Yucatan, Mexico
© D. Donne Bryant
19
“[M]uch has been written about the Maya, but by persons
this culture.
Today the living Maya are beginning
to write their own history in their own language, with
the
letters borrowed from the Latin alphabet, since.
writing of the ancient Maya was lost or has not been
deciphered. And even though the ancient writing was not
preserved, and many elements of our culture were lost, the
Maya people have not been extinguished .”
foreign
to
.
.
Gerardo Can Pat, Mayan poet
path. It is littered with stones, weeds, and discarded
candy and potato-chip wrappers. After walking up for
a
bit,
Maria Luisa and
procession,
He addresses
expecting
ing.”
across
us
you.
who
I,
the head of the
at
are
with a cane.
very old man
in Maya and says, “I have been
come
.
.
a
butterfly told
a
me
you
were
com-
This is Aureliano Carnal himself and he leads the
his
to
way
thatched hut, which is behind
own
small
a
wooden gate. The hut appears to be empty, but contains the rudimentary belongings of a Maya man:
small
bag
woven
with
gourd for water, and
to
wood that
are
days the flames
There
A belief regarding children
that when
he grows up he won’t be afraid to
wander in the field. A girl’s umbilical
cord
must
be buried under
kitchen hearth’s
stones
so
she grows up she will be
in her home.
one
a
or
large
stumps of
in his fire have been
announcing
..
many such
were
of the
that when
hard-working
be about
Many of the
a
be buried in the
so
stones
on
encounters
of these afternoons
course
might
to
shirt,
over
time—-
would
we
meet
wives,
daughters, grandchildren, neighbors—anyone who
It is said that the umbilical cord of
furthest bit of the bush
a
meetings inwhich Mayan stories, jokes, superstitions,
theater, religious beliefs, medical practices, political
ideas, and songs were heard and recorded. During the
Recorded by Santiago Dominguez Ake
boy must be taken
and
dotted around a fire. He also tells us that
arrival. .
our
some
a
hammock. Don Aureliano asks
sit either
everyone
for
a
trousers
influences
or
have stories
songs
to
tell.
heard had clear European
we
though they were
even
in Yucatec
Maya
Spanish words mixed into their refrains; others
might be pure Yucatec Maya, but with words that are
with
longerused. We heard songs sungon the hennequen
plantations where hemp was made at the turn of the
century. Some songs would elicit dancing. The elders
often explained the songs with anecdotes and memories of how life had been when they had sung these
no
years before. Sometimes
the
the fiddler
tune
was
singer
a
choly when he strummed
would get melan-
his guitar or listened to
playing. One old man smiled
on
self-indulgently before crooning:
. . .Girl. . .You abandoned
you preferred your turdedove
When I saw that
I
went
out
and tied
the
to
stone
. . .
fence
rope around
the branch of a saramullo
Girl,
me
a
I tried
to
tree
. . .
hang myself
and when the branch broke
I fell
on
the
stone
wall . . .
This capacity for self mockery is typical of the region.
20 VQ WINTER
1994
N the
Yucatan, even the religious figures have
lightness to them. Religion, like music, pen
a
the
meates
landscape and all social
The living Maya
activities
in Mesoamerica.
continue
folmany of the traditions their ancestors
lowed: they seek blessings for their tools and weapons;
they ask permission
to
tains
they
rites
the fields if
or
performed
are
Maize continues
going hunting. Special
are
ask for rain or
to
to
take animals from the moun-
be the
for
a
them since it provides them with more
In the
ment.
one
good harvest.
important
most
crop for
than nourish-
Popol Vuh, the Maya book of creation,
the gods finally agreed upon
men
how the
sees
were
those who
these
were
fashioned
were
kinder and
had made
of maize because
out
compassionate than
more
those
they
Throughout the Maya world there are men
who are consulted for blessings, for curses
women
for ensuring much
cures,
protection.
news
of wood.
out
are
In the
known
as
Felipe Manrique
Oxkutzcab. He is
His
an
rain
and
and maize, and for
Yucatan, these bearers of divine
j’men; j’menob in the plural.
is
of the
one
energetic
j’menob of
seven
in his late forties.
man
is often animated and
expression
and
as
A belief regarding
Recorded
dogs
by Santiago Dominguez Alee
he smiles he
shows off several
It is said that if
wealthy man.
oval-shaped thatched huts made of stone and lashed
poles caulked withearth. These stand behind a drystone
the
tears
see
the spirits of dead persons, but this
very grave sin which God punishes.
golden-capped teeth—the sign of a
Felipe’s property consists of several
and whitewashed wall. Several chickens
the
in front of the central
yard
about
run
hut, which
is
a
of
a
a
dog
person
were
to
put
in his eyes he would
is the
kitchen. Calabash, tamarind, mango, orange, and
lime trees
fill the back garden.
In order
through
reachFelipe’s office-temple, one
to
must
go
front hut—the
Here
family living room.
hammocks are knotted to the ceilings, a picture calendarfrom a local business hangs on the wall, as do many
a
family portraits. Someone is making a new hammock,
and its purple nylon strings hanglimply from its frame.
One of the palapas (thatched huts) is the temple
where Felipe sees
his clients, performs ceremonies,
and
makes
offerings. Sometimes, his services
prays,
in
the
are
field, as in the case of the blessing
required
of the land before planting a crop of corn
after
or
He
it.
is
talk
about
his
to
quite willing
harvesting
work,
As
as
we
is his
get
to
wife, dona Elena, who
know them
more,
graphsof recent
ceremonies he has
the Ch’aChaak,
a
ritual
to
assists him.
they show
us
photo-
performed, such as
petition the rain god Chaak
21
for rain.
the altar. There
is
are
Felipe’s central palapahouses
electricity here, and many chairs
placed
in a
semicircle around the altar. Here the floor is of
of earth
ment, not
property. A blue
in
as
dominates the
cross
of
a
his
of the
center
table. Severalbead necklaces hang around it. A
the left, and on
of a V irgin flanks it on
ce-
of the other huts on
some
the right,
statue
a
print
fair-complexioned, blue-eyed Christ. There are
several candles in glass containers of different colors
glassesholding freshly cut roses. Felipe is barefoot
a blue guayabera. When he prays he kneels
and
before his altar and speaks in a mixture of Spanish and
Maya, invoking saints and ancient gods in equal
He combines phrases from both worlds,
measure.
apparentlyindiscriminately. Felipe’s prayers, like that
of all j’menob, show the syncretism between Catholicism and a far older religion. J’menob’s prayers contain
long, Homeric-like choruses and are perhaps the most
ancient formulaic phrases of the Maya language that
have been passed down to this day intact from preand
wears
Some of the collaborators
on
the M ayan literature
project during a meeting in Mexico.
The Collaboration
Columbian times.
Maya Dziibo’ob Bejla’a (Mayan title),
Coleccion de Letras Mayas
Contemporaneas (Spanish title)
or
URING our
w
1
ill
Felipe
gave
Maria
Luisa, project director Carlos
Montemayor, and I individual blessings. These involved long ritual reci-
branches of different aromatic herbs,
of the Yucatan. The many writers and
contributors who participated in the
spirits and airborne illnesses. At the end of the cerroses, while
emony, his wife gave each of us some
project have varied vocations: some are
teachers, government officials, graduate
students, literacy promoters. Some are
Felipe told us to bathe
good things our way.
campesinos. All the writers are Mayan,
though others involved with the project,
where
the
Mayan
Letters Collection —was
its
Vassar,
at
was
a
conjuring different saints and gods before the
hitting
us
softly on the back with little
in rose
to
ward off evil
This would bring
water.
at the University of Yucatan,
were
Maya Dziibo’ob Bejla’e—Contemporary
be
to
officially
pre-
the culmination of twelve years’
work. The auditorium was filled to capacity. People
was
stood in the aisles
history
Maguire Fellow, earned
tations
altar and his
sented. This
not.
Catherine Rendon ’Bl studied
|l
That evening, we
Mexican writer
director,
Carlos Montemayor, are
including
a
Ph.D. in
history at Oxford, and is a
specialist in Mesoamerican history. She
hear the Maya poets and writers
to
speak and read from their work. The university rector,
the director of the National Indigenist Institute, and
heads of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Humanities
worked with the Mayan story project for
two
years. Her help in coordinating the
Division (the last
work included
Santiago Dominguez Ake spoke with pride and
pleasure of being at an official event where Maya was
introducing many of the
contributors to word-processing, working
with them on oral history techniques,
and accompanying them on field outings
to collect
songs, stories, and prayers of
the Maya in theYucatec Maya language.
(There are almost thirty branches of the
Maya language family in Mesoamerica.)
She is
currently
at
work
translating the
collection from Maya and Spanish into
English. This article is adapted from a
longer one
she has written.
The collected literature of the Maya of
the Yucatan was
published earlier this
volumes—twenty
year in Mexico in forty
in
Maya and
twenty in
Spanish.
two
project during the past
organizations sponsored the
year) were
present. Contribu-
tor
equal ground with Spanish.
Throughout Meso- and South America there is a
of native people writing in their
growing movement
native language. There is much to be learned from
on
them. Their writings
concerns, yet in
cover
a
variety of topics and
general deal with familiar, universal
themes. What makes their work distinctive
are
its
specifics and that the people are again writing intheir
own
languages for themselves. Given the opportunity
to
read their work, not
all ofwhat these authors have
say may please non-Indian audiences. This is especially the case in places like Chiapas, Mexico, and in
to
Guatemala, where Maya people
tablished
ing old
that
1994
this year,
T
Contemporary Mayan Letters Collection
is the product of a twelve-year effort to
collect and publish indigenous Mayan
literature—songs, folklore, ethnohistory,
poetry, theater, and essays—in the
indigenous languages of the Maya people
—
22 VQ WINTER
last visit to Felipe’s house
*n
—
can
political and social
stories and
creating
are
new
challenging
and
structures
ones
—new
are
es-
retellstories
still be told in their old languages. BJ
POVERTY
—Marfa Luisa
Gongora Pacheco, writer
translated by Catherine Rendon
from Oxkutzcab and Mani
From Stories
■
the story that there once
old
front door and this
What
tree
annoyed the old
that fruit wanted
saw
lived
huaya plant
her
long.
was
that whoever
it and without
eat
her permission they would climb up the
steal the huaya fruit.
One
day, when the old
of town
well
she
saw
coins, but
felt pity to
as
woman
old
an
woman
When the little
the old
and
ignored
everyone
him. The old
this old
see
in such a sorry
man
where she fed him.
had finished eating, he told
man
what
eaten
what you like because I can
you gave me,
ask
me
grant you your wish.”
“My good man,” said the old woman, “the only
thing I ask you is that you tell the huaya tree not to
let any of those who climb its branches down; at
least not
until I give them permission to do so.”
”
“May yourrequest be the rule! answered the old
Then he
went
visit the old
for you to
come
Poverty. That’s why
She
I
to
came
come
with
me,
old
of away of getting rid of
quickly thought
“I’ll go with you, but first I want
you
huayas so that I can eat them.”
to
get
me
some
“Very well, I’ll do
it
immediately,” answered
Death.
They approached the
the highest part since that is where
up to
find the
you’ll
Those
the
are
Very
sure
wasn’t able
to
largest
ones
and
most
delicious
huayas.
back into
what had
happened, she
her house and forgot about the
saw
whole business.
Many
did
not
doctors
years went
by
visit anyone,
were
thing he saw was the
an
overwhelming
laden with fruit. He had
tree
desire to
eat
get down.
and climbed up but then couldn’t
some
Up
in the branches he found Death and
asked him;
are
you
doing here? Everyone’s been
looking for you, since manywant to die already and
you don’t turn
up to take them away with you.”
“Look, what happened is that the foolish old
of this house put
woman
with
in this
if
even
astonished
to
see
of commission. I
out
me
look for her and the sly one
to
came
but that first I had to
me
said she’d
come
bring her down some
tree
I
unable
was
to
down again and here you find me. Anyone
who climbs up here is stuck, even
you,” Death told
him.
come
“So, that’s why no
“What
then he
dying,” the doctor said.
began to shout, “Come here,
Death is here with
and
is
one
do is get down from here.” And
must
we
a
me,
here!
come
and see!”
come
racket and screamed
much
so
loudly that all the village’s inhabitants
gathered around the tree.
“Come down,” they told them.
so
stuck,”
the doctor
replied.
The people then agreed to cut down the tree
in
order to bring down Death and the doctor. Just at
the moment
when theywere
going to cut it down,
old Poverty appeared.
“What do you think you are doing? If you want
to bring down all those who are
up on the tree, why
don’t you tell me?”
“We’re sorry,” said all those
gathered there.
Then old Poverty turned toward the
tree
and
said:
I want.”
of himself, Death climbed up but
down.
come
When Poverty
went
and there beneath it,
tree
told Death:
woman
“Climb
woman’s house and the first
fable
the Yucatan
the old
went to
“We can’t. Anyone who climbs up here is
find you.”
Death and said:
the old
of the doctors
one
He made such
to
He told her:
woman.
“The time has
his way quite satisfied.
day Death came
one
on
by and
Many years went
A
from
day,
huayas. Upon climbing this
woman:
“Now that I’ve
man.
when she searched for away in which
so.
“What
beggar. He asked for food as
and took him home,
state
got
asking
tree
the center
to
do
to
One
near
a
die, even
not
name
bore fruit all year
woman
to
certain
a
whose
the edge of town
lady at
Poverty. She planted
was
ZUMARRAGO tells
MR. AURELIO
a
manner
person
and Death
was
ill. The
that old Poverty did
“Let everyone down!”
When everyone had descended, the lord of Death
spoke to her:
Poverty,
I now
you with
me.
“Because you did
have
a
not
let
me
lot of work and
You shall have
to
down, old
take
cannot
wait for
some
other
day.”
Death
went
away and
Poverty stayed on here on
earth. That is why she’s still here among
us.
23
Helen Maguire Muller ’4SH
only
gave
not
hundreds of students
opportunities
invited them
Two former
to
to
study abroad,
she
memorable parties.
Maguire Fellows
remember her generous spirit.
Of
Capitalists
HELEN
and Communists
MAGUIRE MULLER
’45-4,
a
of Vassar
trustee
College
1987, died in New York City
to
5.
Her
commitment
educational —and, more
July
from 1979
cross-cultural
to
study
to
The ability
father, who had founded similar scholarship programs at Yale.
Vassar’s Dean of Studies Office has awarded Maguire Fellow-
ships
129 Vassar
ciaries of
graduates,
and
generosity of spirit that
a
they
far
beyond
the
of my
beginning
Maguire
Upon being informed
of my fellowship was a
by the dean of studies that the source
I
thank
her.
Helen respondedby
wrote
to
live
real,
person,
first year
inviting
as
Fellow in England.
a
me
at
visit her home in
to
Lausanne, Switzerland. I
Switzerland. I
was
wrong.
To be sure, Helen
was
a
cosmopolitan person. Indeed,
my
first experience of the cultural power of languages came
from
observing her shift effortlesslyfrom English to Spanish to
(less often)
German.
Just
or
not,
was
lively, warm,
to
however,
and
even
a
snob
zany
to
a
mountain inn
to
or
a
as
prig.
including
taste
Helen Muller was
That first trip
woman.
land left wonderful memories,
(in
form) the Vaudois specialty called
its
the first
most
to
a
evening’s long
unmodernized
however,
is of Helen
dancing to Latin music with her husband Andre
while regaling us with stories of the wild nightlife she had
known in prerevolutionaryHavana. This was also my introduc-
24 VQ
to
her many contradictions, for it seemed
WINTER
1994
to
me
statements
to
but
some
Irish-American father
an
years of her
marriage
States,
Spain,
in postwar
that only
and
east
was
Western
on
world, she nevertheless reached
familiar
with many of the
terms
leaders of Cuba, Vietnam, the Soviet Union, and the People’s
Republic of China.
That a
woman
mystery to
thoroughly of the capitalist world
so
was
so
by and sympathetic to the communist one remained a
She was very much aware
of and amused by the
me.
oddity of it —indeed, she boasted of putting her Ho Chi Minh
to
medal up on the mantelpiece next
the Somoza medal her
husband had been awarded. She never
thought the anomaly
worth more
than a humorous aside, however; I certainly cannot
remember her feeling the need to explain it. Like many of the
juxtapositions in her life, it was something that one
simply
accepted and enjoyed when, for example, it involved dinner at
to
with the Soviet ambassador
restaurant
or
of the
one
any
was
a
new
generous donor
to
for
Vassar
Maguire
the University
skills
to
a
the United
dinners she hosted each
numerous
celebrate the Chinese
year.
Vassar College and
to
to
many
the Maguire
graduate studies, she funded the Indonesia/
fellowship that sends new Vassar graduates to
IKIP Sanata Dharma
to
teach communication
English teachers. She also funded the Gallatin
Fellowships, administered by a foundation she created, that
allows European doctoral candidates to study in the United
States and Americans to study at the Graduate Institute of
to
future
Carnegie
only get along, but enjoy the evening together. On
night, as on many others, my own initial doubt that such a
and friendly gradually gave
disparate group could become warm
way to admiration that she could pull it off.
tion
early
International Studies in Geneva, and
that
in Lausanne,
the
to
Fellowships
Switzer-
raclette and the dinner party
evening
Bom of
me.
other educational institutions. In addition
would not
memory of that
contradictory traits and
Swiss-German mother, she grew up in the United
Helen
came
to
epitomize Helen. She brought together people who
that seemed
barely had a common
language in a manner
showed the slightest doubt that they
random, but she never
sweetest
out
year
Helen gave on my last night in Lausanne. That party, my best
of the elements that
memory from the trip, contained most
The
a
Nations
unconsciously, her
shift with the language; she always
personality seemed
seemed most
lively in Spanish and most imposing in French.
drive
and
Korean
to
She
infinitely endearing to
fascinated
accepted with much trepidation. I was already feeling very
much the American hick in England and expected to feel even
the home of a wealthy woman
fluent in four languages
worse
at
I
in
British
to
(while was struggling
English) who, since
get by
from
had
of
her life in Spain and
most
graduating
Vassar,
spent
French
was
Although firmly of the
Helen Muller in spring 1975
met
an
and then divided her time between Lausanne and New York.
mere
funding.
I
embrace
to
aspect of Helen that could be exasperating
was
spent much of the
have been the benefi-
went
so
before his
revolution.
in foreign countries.
1968, she founded the Vassar Maguire Fellowships, which
named for her
grants for graduate study abroad. They were
to
the invitation of Castro could talk
at
unselfconsciously about how much fun Cuba was
In
are
who had spent much of her life and her money building
the communist world and who had attended confer-
to
in Cuba
ences
educational—exchangesmade it
specifically,
possible for hundreds of students
woman
bridges
on
Council
Her commitment
was
vice chairman of the
Ethics and International Affairs.
on
international educational
exchange was
intelligence, and
skill at bringing people together. She loved people, not
merely
humanity in the abstract, as internationalists are often accused
of doing. Helen remained a mentor
and friend to me and to
one
to
that used all of her considerable energy,
innumerable other students she helped along the way. We have
lost a great and generous friend.
by Kim Joel Landsman ’74
a
Kim Landsman is
a
partner with the law firm Morrison & Foerster.
An
Endearing
Cosmopolite
The Voice
I
the Phone
on
SPENT almost
two
on
years
Maguire
a
Fellowship, including a Maguire “extern
sion” in the early ’Bos. As a studentof
classical guitar and composition, I
able
was
study privately with
the best teachers in
Europe without the
constraints of being
enrolled in
an
Spain,
result,
a
studying in London,
months
ten
institution. As
three months in
to
I spent
six months in
France, and three
Italy. Very few fellowships
allow this degree of flexibility; only on a
of
Maguire could I design my own course
of
and
obtain
this
breadth
study
private
instruction. Surprisingly, in addition to the
months in Siena,
valuable
and
living,
I
learned
actually
American
own
European ways
exposure to
of music
appreciate
to
my
better.
roots
On my way from France to Italy, I had the
good fortune to spend a couple of days in
Lausanne, Switzerland, and
Mrs. Muller. I remember
visit
being
with Mr. and
bit embar-
a
me, because I
by
interested
in
her life and
more
actually
the important things she’d done. (I’m sure
others can speak better of these things than I.)
Although we corresponded off and on for
her again,
saw
years following that, I never
rassed
her great interest in
was
have I since had such wonderful fondue.
nor
After some
passage of time, the phone rang
and I answered it. The person on the other
end of the line said her
name,
hear it. I didn’t ask her
to
I’d know
enough who
soon
but I didn’t
repeat it,
it
figuring
We talked
was.
for twenty minutes as I wracked my brain to
identify this voice who knew so much about
At every new
point of inquiry and
conversation about my life I breathed another
silent exclamation a la Butch Cassidy and the
me.
Mrs. Muller’s Ho Chi Minh
medal
was set next to
her
Sundance Kid —“who IS this woman?” I did
together, of course, and I hope she
sensed my despair. It goes to show how
never
she cared
husband’s Somoza medal
on
about
one
I never
the
mantelpiece
.
at
last put it
to
know and
remember
again have continued
conversation without
am
to
so
much
of her Fellows.
knowing
Stephen Funk
speaking.
Stephen Pearson
in
is
a
a
phone
with whom I
Pearson ’77
composer and writer.
25
One
Writer’s
Character
by
Melissa Pierson ’80
The woman
holding
is
sitting at
the
bar, wearing her Chinese hat,
notebook and crying.
She opens the letter again. “Stop running away,” it
says. “Come back to your real life.” A writer’s real life is
SHERIDAN
MAS AD
a
when and where she is writing, she thinks. She is not
running away in these pages, she is running forward,
DIXIE
embracing her real life.
In the book it will say, “The dark woman
was
cowardly
and always looked for her real life somewhere outside.
He appears from the old city. He’s on his afternoon
PHOT :
”
break. “You cry too much,” he says, and he just watches
her cry. He does not ask why and he doesn’t offercomfort.
He understands this: that it is not
that would make a
He’s about
possible to
say
one
word
difference. He just sits and watches her.
get up and leave.
to
“Attends,” she says.
“La
femme qui pleure,” he says with bitterness. “Stop
crying.
f. • J
”
I smile. We watch
“Look,” Isay.
“Over
presents and
people pass.
there.
”
I
I point
feel a little happier.
to
a woman
carrying
“She has
a dress shop in
walking poodle.
Or
salon-de-the.
Elle s’appelle
Cagnes-sur-Mer.
maybe a
Isabelle, non, Delphine.”
He laughs. He realizes I have the power to change what
a
he sees.
From The American Woman in the Chinese Hat
Carole Maso ’77
IN
novel, The AmeriHat, Catherine, the
CAROLE MASO’s fourth
can
Woman in the Chinese
main character, is
a
working holiday in
writer on
the Cote
has been. Some'
d’Azur—just as her creator
times Catherine relates her pained longings and lusts
in the first
line later, she may be described
person; one
in
a
third'person voice.
At every turn, Ms. Maso ’77 makes
what is going
She
on.
us
question just
purposely blurs the distinction
between author and character with her sudden shifts
of
perspective and
think
in so doing, she asks her readers to
closely about the relationship between the two.
Who is the American woman
it Carole
Maso, writing
in the Chinese hat? Is
as
herself? Carole Maso,
writing as Catherine ? A purely fictive Catherine ? The
object of
a
narrator’s vision? A
device who is
none
Ms. Maso is
a
decidedly modernist
of the above?
fearless writer. She embraces risk,
always playing with form and language. Her second
novel, The Art Lover, is less a story than a complex
collage of prose sections, drawings, actual
26 VQ
WINTER
1994
newspaper
Is Carole Maso ’77
the American Woman
Chinese Hat?
in the
clippings, and other suggestive ephemera. Her third
book, AVA, comprises the words, phrases, and sen—“a tapestry of fragments”—recalled by its
tences
In The
main character, who lies inbed dying of cancer.
American Woman in the Chinese
Hat, Ms. Maso employs a sharply reduced vocabulary. This has the
double effect of connoting Catherine’s precarious
of
state
of mind (she is left by her lover at the outset
the book) and of giving the prose a profoundlyrhythmic,
interview in a dark Manhattanbar, Ms. Maso
publishing’s inability to conanything but “commodities of the
entertainmentindustry, which these days means
safe,
sellable, warm, cozy, eighteenth-centurynovels,” she
of commercial
itself with
cern
remarks. “These editors would say, ‘Well, if you take
out
this part, and this part, and amplify this part...’
”
Ms. Maso
Early
recalls,
on,
serious writing—of
public
knew I
was
character Catherine, she hangs
kind of writing,
that
grounds her. “I have to
writing;
to
write every
it is the
dayor
to
compatible
lucre, say,
or
own
artistic
with the pursuit of
of a house,
even
or
of
renounce,” she says. “I
just had
to make
going
any money from this
never
so
to
I got used
it and got
to
on
with it.”
Yet in the perverse way of such genuine renuncia-
I just
don’t feel right,” Ms. Maso says. “[T]he writing has
be as exciting, dangerous, moving as life itself.”
protect her
to
—“I
speaks effusively, commandingly, passionately, intelligently. And always, at last, about writing. Like her
act
than slightly amazed.
more
she decided
esteem
on
them. Those efforts convinced
ultimately issued
her anew
interests. Dreams not
poetically repetitious sound.
In an
that
tions, the rewards have
finally found her—at
A solid audience has
come.
its core,
a
large
coterie of gay
The risks of writing like this become intensely
personal. “The writing of this book consciously in-
readers, ofwhom she says with a laugh, “I’m happy to
be embraced by any group!” Attentive reviews and
vaded my privacy,” she says. “Those were
its ‘rules.’ I
ask you to make comparisons between me and the
reading
character in the book, but
in situationssuch
as
it
still feels difficult
publicreadings,
to
me
where night after
night you invade your own privacy.”
The difficulty is certainly heightenedby the central
place
in the book
and with
men
of sex —Catherine has liaisons with
—and by the raw
women
by loss, especially
up
charted this
ity—my
she
own
been
never
known
what are
have really
AIDS. Ms.
by
particular loss in greater detail
Lover. She has
fronting
death
anguish called
as
Maso
in The Art
circumspect about conBig Issues. “All my books
just been rehearsals for accepting mortaland that of everyone else I care about,”
Ms. Maso’s books have been published
presses
(the
by small
defunct North Point Press for her first
two
Yet she has earned wide
works, then Dalkey Archive).
literary appreciation and other,
wards. The list of awards
Fellowship
in 1985 and
more
tangible
re-
with Vassar’s Rose
starts
proceeds
to
the receipt in
1993 of the prestigious and remunerative Lannan
Literary Fellowship. “One day they call me on the
phone, just like that,” she says. “And I think to myself,
‘You
want
reward this work?’
to
Her incredulousness
her talents,
purists,
as
those. It
comes
”
to four packed
portfolio. She has been freed from
the stocks of waitressing. (The money was lousy, but,
pages in her current
she said in an interview once, “There’s a great freedom
in beingignored.”) Those stocks have been exchanged
for the minimum security cell of
lack of belief in
just a realistic appraisal of her audience—-
she
comes
might
too
through channels
say, and
not
necessarily a lot of
from attempts
more
to
sell her novels
mainstream than the presses
teaching, at Colum-
bia University and elsewhere. And she has bought the
country house.
She
speaks often of being “lucky”—for not
disavow early work,
to
having been raised
being
nothing
able
to
to
as
wishing
other writers often do; for
special, an artist;
believe she was
write what she wants, limited
by
but herself. This theme in her conversation
reveals the same
expansive grace that makes her work
stunningly inclusive—pansexualeroticism, poetry,
of discipline, flights of inspiration all find their
place under her pen.
so
a sense
Her luck includes Vassar. “I felt
I really thrived
though, she
there,” she
was
drawn
to
write
a
so
in love with it.
says. Until her senior year,
to
anything but writing,
prefering painting, music, and
her request
from no
the country follow
across
and “luminous, beautifully written,” run
for
asserts.
invitations from
each novel. The juicy bits from those reviews, the
highlights like “gutsy, haunting,” “richly textured,”
even
fencing. When
creative thesis
was
rejected,
however, her desire to do so was galvanized. Barbara
Page, then associate professor of English, helped rethe decision, and the two remain great friends.
verse
From that time, Ms. Maso says about
I just knew.”
destiny, “I knew.
writing
as
her
Melissa Pierson is
nonfiction
a
critic and
writer in New York.
27
OMNIUM
Rod
Her Work Is ‘Gone Fishing’
GATHERUM
Women
picking up fly-fishing rods and
hip wader boots in record numbers
are
pulling on
reports a recent
els in fishing
New York Times article. Mod-
are
popping up in splashy
magazine layouts, and publications from
Women’s
vests
& Fitness
Sports
USA
to
Today
are
touting women’s fishing as the next big trend.
seemed so chic.
Trout fishing never
All this fish talk is music to
Jennifer Miller
only a handful of licensed, professional women
fly-fishing guides,
her living leading hopeful
Ms. Smith earns
anglers to some of the most pristine stretches
Smith ’Bl. As
of
of
one
in the world and
water
new-
the sport in the art of fly-casting.
who lives in Montana just
to
comers
instructing
Smith,
Ms.
outside Yellowstone National
travels
Park,
up to six months a year in the United States
and Scandinavia conducting seminars and
fly-casting demonstrations. Her easygoing
and folksy approach to fishing have
manner
made her somewhat of
media star.
a
She has
appeared on ESPN’s “Fishing the West,” “CBS
This Morning,” and on Swedish National
Television, where she has become the
dent expert
the American
on
fishing
resi-
scene,
particular, on women’s participation in it.
(Ms. Smith’s Swedish connections include
herfiance andfishing partner, Lars Olsson, a
Swedish riverkeeper.)
in
Ms. Smith is
not
Zen of
one
to
wax
on
about the
fishing,
flyendeavor that
as a lifelong pursuit, an
requires an open mind, a positive attitude,
and a healthy dollop of patience. “You can’t
learn it in a day,” and “you can’t be passive
about it,” she says, stressing her preference for
developing knowledge and skills by getting
rather than through more
into the water
cerebral approaches favored by some
armchair anglers.
What
are
the water, and an
fish, reading
keep
one’s concentration.
office
people to
let go,” to
enjoy the process
her
job, she
release,”
concentrate
to
next
year.”
on
and
is often the hardest part of
to
a
philosophy
and asks rhetorically,
have
a
ability to
Getting “hyper
says.
She adheres
both
of “catch and
“Why
kill it? Put it back. It will be
It is
natural
a
do you
bigger
that protects
and the means
to a
philosophy
resource
livelihood.
Ms. Smith was
1994
in a
egalitarian manner.
more
“I’m trying to get in there and make a place so
make an
that if my little sister wants
to
income from fishing, she can
the top
can’t.”
at
do it, how
can
do it. If
come
one
ten
guys
woman
Recently, Ms. Smith j oined with four other
women
guides in organizing a
women-only fly-fishing trip in Big Sky country. In the future, she hopes to develop special
Montana
programs for
cancer,
a
her mother
in recovery from breast
women
special
interest for her since
the disease. She is
to
losing
firm
a
believer in the healing andrecuperative powof fishing. Health professionals advocate
ers
fly-casting
for
as
good form of physical therapy
undergone mastecto-
a
who have
women
mies, and Ms. Smith finds that the confidence and
strength
nurtured in
be the ideal tonic for
can
women
fly-fishing
who have
suffered
physical and mental traumas.
Meanwhile, Ms. Smith’s literary interests
career:
persist in anotheraspect of her current
She
contributor
is
to outa
frequent
writing.
door sport magazines and has an essay in
Uncommon Waters , an anthology of essays by
about fishing that also includespieces
women
by Margaret Atwood and Tess Gallagher.
This winter,she hopes to find the time to pen
her own
book on the subject.
—Jill R. Yesko
Jill
ness
Yesko is managing editor 0/ Minority BusiEnterprise News in Baltimore.
Eight
Years at the Circus
Night After Night
Diana Starr Cooper ’66
Island Press,
1994
raised in southern Califor-
T o say that Diana Starr Cooper’s book Night
After Night is about the circus is akin to
claiming
thatM.F.K. Fisher’s books
are
about
food. Like
Fisher, Ms. Cooper paints portraits
rich with detail—the seemingly impossible
gyrations of a contortionist or the peculiar
sneering expression that camels wear —but
beyond these particulars lies an exploration
of things essential and enduring.
Night After Night, Ms. Cooper’s first book,
is a philosophical look at a single perforof the Big Apple Circus, a one-ring
mance
in a
circus that spends the Christmas season
tent
in Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park and
nia andrecalls early fly-fishing vacations with
travels through the Northeast in the summer.
her
The book takes the readerringside,
father, who would routinely pack up the
family and head to Montana. At Vassar, she
majored in English. She began her outfitting
business in 1987 after aborting a career
as an
that left her so
overnight radio announcer
exhausted during the day “I couldn’t do anything but fish.”
Jennifer Smith is the first woman
fly-fisher
be endorsed by the prestigious Scott Fly
to
28 VQ WINTER
moting fishing
of those skills? Graceful
some
and proper handling of a nine-foot rod and
fifty feet of line, tying flies, dislodging hooks
from
that other
hopes
and she
the same
companies will offer women
opporand will begin protunities they offer men
but she does talk about
fishing
Angler Jennifer Miller Smith ’Bl
Company,
showing
aerialist, the dignity of the
49-year-old elephant Anna May, the seemingly effortless flow of the horse’s “liberty
act.” And while Ms. Cooper’s evocative dethe
the
grace of
scriptions
reader is
create
can
at
the impression that the
the circus rather than
about it, Night
After Night
poetic musings
on
is also
reading
weighty with
what the author describes
as
a
classical
form in which creatures
art
varying species, colors, and
equals.
Considering
of
sizes interact
as
the vivid detail and depth of
reflection that this slim book contains, it’s
surprising
to
learn that its author
quite by accident;
circus
in
fact,
came
the
to
she admits
that she had little interest in the circus until
she
the
saw
Big Apple
Circus
perform.
Ms.
Cooper, who calls herself “a writer who runs
of farm,” happened to meet Katj a
a funny sort
Schumann, the Big Apple’s lead equestrihorse farm. Impressed by Ms.
a
enne, at
Shumann’sability, she started attending the
horsewoman’s practice sessions, and, after
a
observing the Big Apple Circus’s performances. By the time the book was completed, Ms. Cooper had spent eight years
watching circuses throughout the United
States and Europe, talking to performers in
their trailers, and taking in dozens of animal
time,
training sessions.
with a
Although the reader comes
away
of
the
skill, professionalgreat appreciation
ism, and sheer wonder of the circus, Ms.
Cooper says her book is not simply about this
art; instead, she describes it as a project that
synthesized everything she’d been thinking
about for the past eight years. She adds, “I
wanted to see what something looked like if
and looked at the
you got very, very close to it
details of it, didn’t think about it in the
abstract,
going
to
and didn’t do research except for
which in this case
primary sources,
the circus itself. This book is about that
was
way of
as a ragtag assemblage of crazy, unpredictable
people. Instead, it portrays circus folk as artists working at high levels of achievement.
Asked how
one
circus, Diana
can
away and
run
Cooper said, “Well,
join the
it’s kind of
like running away to join the American Balin common
let Theater. The circus has more
with ballet than with the stereotypes that
Americans have of madcap, grotesque,
most
crazy clowns.”
Although Night After Night conveys the
great skill of human circus performers, much
of the book focuses on the special relationship forged in the circus ring between huand “other animals,” as Ms. Cooper
mans
it.
Although she does not identify herself
puts
as a supporter of animal rights, she emphatically maintainsthat the circus treats animals
with respect. “One of the things that the
circus taught me
is that
you can’t focus on
people andanimals as if we existed in separate
worlds; we’re totally different, but we’re all in
it together. The harmony between people
and animals is restored in the ring.”
“The circus,” she adds, “encourages us to
how various and wonderful and quirky
see
and odd all of us are, instead of looking at the
world in terms
of abstractions and theories,
Diane Starr
Cooper ’66
whichdiminish what’s interesting about the
world. Circus is an emblem of this—a
meta-
phor
of away of
looking at the world.”
—Amy Arner Sgarro
Amy Arner Sgarro
the Quarterly.
is
a
frequent
’B3
contributor
to
seeing things.”
Such attention
to
rience is evident in
detail and faith in expeNight After Night. The
book deflates the popular myths of the
circus
What’s
The
a
Mother to Be?
Myths of Motherhood
How Culture Reinvents the
Qood Mother
Shari L. T hurer ’69
Excerpt from Night After Night
I notice a special gesture which an elephant uses to help a person leap aboard
her back. Peggy graciously proffers one
large foot for Marie-Pierre to hop up on.
Then an elegant little flip of the great
upward.
gray wrist propels the woman
This small, stylish variation on giving,
and getting, a “leg up” (by which you
might put out your hands in a cradle, for
me
to
toss
izes
me
put my knee into, so that you could
a horse’s back) symbolup onto
the vital
of connection be-
sense
species which is the soul of the act.
Because of the elephant’s grandeur, the
delicacy with whichshe holds her huge
foot out
the tiny person is infinitely
to
expressive of politesse. So a giant, his
nobility transcending any hint of condescension, on one hand, or subjection, on
the other, might offer to help a midget.
There is something delightfully offhand
and companionable about it. Peggy says
to Marie-Pierre, Up you go! The gesture
Houghton Mifflin, 1994
of years, because of her
ability to spew forth a child, mother
has been feared and revered. She has been the
subject of taboos and witch hunts, mandatory
pregnancy and confinement in a separate
sphere. She has endured appalling insults and
perpetual marginalization. She has also been
the subject of glorious painting, chivalry, and
idealization. Through it all, she has rarely been
consulted. She is an object, not a subject.
from The Myths of Motherhood
For thousands
awesome
tween
have worked this out
seems
say, We
Commanded
and commandtogether.
to
ing,
we
two
species
are
on
mutualground.
Mother has
an
uneasy
history.
Idols of her
have ranged from the sexually capricious, all-
powerful fertility goddess of prehistory to the
long-suffering Virgin Mother to the mediamanufactured Donna Reed and Murphy
Brown.
Inherbook The Myths ofMotherhood, Shari
L.
Thurer,
a
practicing psychologist and
an
assistant professor of rehabilitation counselat Boston University, surveys these idealizations and shows the degree to which our
ing
notions of Mother
are
hopelessly
bound
to
culture and fashion. She says that a twisted
thicket of history, politics, culture, lore, and
29
OMNIUM
GATHERUM
legend casts a deceiving shadow of a monolithic, idealized Mother over mothers today.
There really are no rules about what constitutes
a good mother, Ms. Thurer contends.
We’ve been making them up as we go along—and most
of the time,
haven’t been
women
consulted.
today are caught
guilt and inadequacy as they
No wonder real mothers
in a darkness of
the many demands and expectations —self-imposed and otherwise—of
struggle
living
to
meet
in this monolithic shadow.
it. It’s
Ms. Thurer’s book grew from her
di-
own
a
bonding—what we’d consider good
childrearing today, yet it was utterly prevalent.” Infanticide, too, she says, was epidemic;
“In Europe, there were
just too many kids.
There were
institutions
in every city
huge
where unwanted babies
Death
rates
a
[that] only
died
kids
were
are
couldn’t do what it seemed
Thurer
be saying you
to
good mother. I never
wanted to stay home. I was
pulled in two
directions
The literature was replete with
this ‘attachment theory’ and [the idea of]
bonding. You had to be there every minute or
the child would
felt
a
into
turn
an
murderer. 1
ax
guilty.”
A
of revelation
moment
conference, she
case
underdiscussion
during
came
says. The
child
a
older parents who
cessful children. “This kid turned out
fire-setter,
a
child who would kill
always precious
not
the way
they
today.”
If
women
be freed from the tyranny of
monolith, they can, Ms.
can
the Motherhood
hopes, shape
mothering
new
prac-
tices that work in their world. “Good moth-
really culturally relative,” she says.
really understand that and we
should try to define our
own
method, using
taking ideology
good common
sense, but not
so seriously.”
—Toni Sciarra Poynter ’Bl
ering
is
“We should
Ms. Poynter is a
book editor living in New York
City.
be a
to
when birth control be-
a
individual
adopted by two
had raised two highly suc-
was
out
available. The moral of the story is that
Psychoanalytically
trained, she found much of the psychoanalytic literature to be “very unpermissive. . . I
had to do in order to be
warehoused.
were
90 percent. This was
built-in way of life in Europe
over
were
very much
came
lemmas about mothering.
visit
years and never
total contradiction to the idea of
your child away for two
animals,”
Noted
Ms. Thurer recalls. “The mother couldn’t
control him.. .The supervisory analyst blamed
the mother for
child, and I said,
God go I.’
being empathic
not
with this
Books
‘There but for the grace of
NONFICTION
”
Ms. Thurer’sresearch expanded into many
disciplines as
Mom
she saw
how deeply the image of
embedded in culture.“You can’t go
was
look up ‘mother’. . .You have
images of mother. . . look at
look
to
at
Hamlet’s
mother
... and you really have to do that in
every discipline—religion, anthropology, architecture. You have
say,
look
to
does it
mean
would be much
Thurer
•69
house and
about that relationship?’
Surprises awaited her at
thought that the childrearing
Shari L.
a
at
‘Where would the mother be and what
more
founded
on
“I
today
science.
shows
Public Television for Sale
the Market, and the Public Sphere
Hoynes
Assistant Professor of Sociology
Media,
Westview Press,
1994
By Invitation Only
that I had discovered.
How the Media Limit Political Debate
a myth of my own
. I thought people
always loved their babies, and I guess that’s
. .1 thought family bonds were
just not true.
God-given, too. I didn’t realize that family
forms also developed.”
In her own
field, Ms. Thurer discovered
that findings about the psychology of motherhood were
profoundly shaped by
sociopolitical forces. The expectation that
mothers can
(and should) be totally emoattuned
their children was
to
essentionally
tially a post-Freudian phenomenon. “That
all popularized by Spock,” she says in an
was
interview. “Before that, unbelievably, it was
.
there. . . I don’t have
an
for
answer
Othersurprises includedthe enormous
dilection
care
“It
1994
’66
Popular Press ,1994
An analysis of 265 television game
from fifty countries.
I
why.”
i/Q WINTER
Village
Cooper-Chen
didn’t realize that this was
never
30
Ann M esserly
William
”
every turn.
advice of
Games in the Global
of
was
throughout history
infantscompletely over
prefor turning the
to
considered normal and
wet
good
nurses.
to
give
William
Hoynes (assistant professor of
sociology) and David Croteau
Common Courage Press, 1994
Remembering Elizabeth Bishop
An Oral Biography
Gary Fountain and Peter Brazeau
University of Massachusetts Press, 1994
A presentation of more
views with relatives,
than 120 inter-
friends, colleagues,
and students of the poet from Vassar ’34.
Bridges
to
the World
Henry Noble
College
MacCracken and Vassar
Elizabeth Adams Daniels ’41
College Avenue Press, 1994
(Available through the Vassar Cooperative
Bookshop, 914/437-5857)
CONTRIBUTORS TO...
Pleasure and the Word
Erotic
Writings by
Latin American
Women
Edited
Her Face in the Mirror
by Associate Professor of Hispanic
Studies Lizabeth Paravisini-Gebert and
Margarite Fernandez
Olmos
Women Writers in Russian Literature
by Toby
W.
Clyman
&
1994
From the Heart
This collection of poems, essays, stories, and
excerpts from novels includes work by writ-
Paley, Tillie Olsen, Letty
Judith Viorst, and the short
story “Second Person” by VQ books editor
Yona Zeldis McDonough 79.
ers
such
as
Thoughts
New Directions inTreatment andRecovery
about Their Married Lives
Edited
Edited
by
Columbia
Henry
Holt and Co., 1994
Meris Powell ’70 and Dale Atkins
FICTION
Tranquility
Paul Russell
Associate
Grace
Eating Disorders
Men and Women Write Their
Sea of
Mothers and Daughters
Cottin Pogrebin,
Diana Greene ’69
Praeger,
on
by Faye Moskowitz
Beacon, 1994
White Pine Press, 1993; Plume (paper), 1994
Edited
Jewish Women
Edited
Professor of English
by
Barbara P.
Kinoy
University Press, 1994
A collection of essays written by clinicians
who have practiced at the Wilkins Center for
Eating Disorders in Greenwich, ConnectiThe center
founded and is run by
cut.
was
Diane Wilkins Mickley ’67, who also prepared the introduction and several chapters
in this new
volume.
Dutton, 1994
Walk in
a
Lost
Music
Landscape
Sheila McKee Barrett ’65
Poolbeg New Writing, 1994
(Knocksedan House, 123 Baldoyle Industrial
Margaret Mills Plays
Estate, Baldoyle, Dublin 13, Ireland)
Margaret Aydelotte Mills
A
compact disk
Cambria Master Recordings, 1994
Pedigree
to Die For
(Laurie Snyder ’74)
Kensington Publishing Corp., 1994
A Melanie Travis Mystery
Laurien Berenson
Liebermann
and Schonthal
’55
(Box 374, Lomita, CA 90717;
1094)
Piano works by Lowell Liebermann
Cambria CD
-
and
Ruth Schonthal.
Remember the Alibi
Elizabeth Daniels Squire ’47
Three Poems
Berkley, 1994
Song Set for Medium High
by
W.H. Davies
Voice and
Piano
PHOTOGRAPHY
Calhoun Raemsch ’47
(West Oneonta, NY 13861)
Dorothy
Rodeo
Photographs, text by Louise Larocque Serpa ’46
Notes by Larry McMurty
Aperture, 1994
An
Alphabet of Angels
Photographs and verse by Nancy
Lecturer in English
Scholastic Books, 1994
Willard
Masked Culture
The
Qreenwich Village
Halloween
Parade
Photographs by Mariette Pathy Allen ’62,
Elijah Cobb, Harold Davis, Lauren Piperno,
and Marilyn Stern. Text by Jack Kugelmass.
Columbia University Press, 1994
Music Award
Composer Art Clay, known to his Vassar-era
friends as Keith A. Clay ’B9, writes from
Basel, Switzerland that his adopted city has
awarded him 30,000 Swiss franks ($25,000
U. S.). The award from the Music Commission of the City of Basel acknowledged Mr.
Clay’s contributions to the city’s cultural life
and is intended to allow him
to
work finan-
cially unencumberedon severalcompositions.
Mr. Clay, who majored in Germanat Vassar
and studied across
the music curriculum, ex“new
plores
paths” in live electronics, voice,
comperformance, and video in his current
Composer Art Clay ’B9
positions.
PRACTICAL ADVICE
Let Us Know
The Lice-Buster Book
What To Do When Your Child Comes
Home with Head Lice
Copeland ’68
Authentic Pictures, 1994
(89 Walnut Ave., Mill Valley,
Send
books, compact disks, tapes, and news
of otherachievements to: Editor, Vassar Quar-
Lennie
CA
94941)
terly, Alumnae House, 61 Raymond Ave.,
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.
31
FROM
THE
AA
VC
hopes
PRESIDENT
AAVC
ALU&
MNAE ALUMNI
VASSAR
COLLEGE
day be able
one
make available
to
For this president, returning to the AAVC
board after three years is an exhilarating
experience. Both AAVC and the college
communicate with any member of the
have launched major initiatives these past
Vassar’s high
years that aim to ensure
AA VC staff
Our
Many Initiatives
World Wide Web
standing in the twenty-first century. The
Campaign for Vassar inaugurated by the
college last fall seeks to raise the financial
that will support and
resources
the
nurture
college into the next millennium.
of the
Alumnae/i are crucial to the success
campaign, certainly as givers, and also as
volunteers with the development office and
with AAVC.
ization of Alumnae House as an
on-campus
home and program center
for alumnae/i
and others of the Vassar family, and the
expansion of the ways
implement
with
cate
Getting
One new
programs and communi-
new
one
in which we
another.
through
technology. AAVC
is
moving headlong
downloaded data for club and class officers.
at
this point,
we
information
to
tives in PC
format,
that will allow
ity
to
On
electronic hardware and software
invited
us
are
Macintosh users
only
able
to
official representa-
anticipate changes
we
to
to
contact
are
AAVC.
and Alumnae House on
Track
Under the direction of house committee
chair Barbara Muhs Walker ’4B and cochair Rachel Greenfield Minkoff’77 (vice
president for administration), committee
responsibilities have been expanded in
accord with AAVC’s new
responsibility for
expand
this availabil-
within the
next
year.
larger scale, AAVC hopes to
become more
broadly accessible to
alumnae/i with Internet connections
through the development of a campus-wide
information system (CWIS). AAVC
a
Current AAVC Staff
InternetE-Mail Addresses
advising
of policy
general manager on matters
and marketing, and providing overall
guidance on direction and goals.
I am pleased to report that the house
the
are
currently
working jointly with the college to
investigate ways of making AAVC and the
college more accessible to alumnae/i
through current
technological advances. A
recent
development is the accessibility of
While
through electronic mail (some
e-mail). Again, upcoming
include overseeing house finances,
electronic
into the computer age. We
provide
on
the overall management of Alumnae
House. The committee’s duties now
AAVC On-Line
way is
server.
already
changes in the AA VC office should make
this quick communication with AAVC
possible within the next year.
Alumnae/i with questions, suggestions,
or
helpful advice on the implementation of
are
...
AAVC’s initiatives includethe revital-
Joan Strashinsky Kjelleren ’7l
to
wide range of information
through a
Regardless of the
which this project proceeds,
pace at
alumnae/i with Internet and Bitnet
connections should anticipate being able to
a
ended its first fiscal
year underAAVC
management in sound financial condition.
The
college’s 1993/94 investment in
budgeted at $98,164,
and function income of
together with room
$115,420, covered operating expenses—such as utilities, service contracts, housekeeping, and maintenance (repaving the
driveway, painting, roof repair, deep
cleaning)—leaving a small surplus to be
reinvested in the house, as agreed with the
college.
During the summer, house committee
chairs Walker and Minkoff began working
with Vice President for Development
Kathleen Kavanagh to develop a list of
capital projects for Alumnae House, which
has been included among the Heritage
Fund objectives in The Campaign for
Alumnae House,
Vassar. With the assistance of house
Richard Floyd
committee member Tom
Associate director for Regional Activities
have reviewed maintenance needs and
[email protected]
house improvement priorities and have
submitted a plan for $2.1 million. Their list
Terri O’Shea
Associate Director for Classes
[email protected]
includes such
elevator
to
Lingel ’74, they
high-priority
items
as
an
make second- and third-floor
bedrooms accessible to
Bronwen Pardes
Assistant Director for Recent Classes
BRPARDES® Vaxsar.Vassar.edu
alumnae/i, parents,
and college guests who cannot
climb the
stairs, and air-conditioning for those who
find the Hudson
Willa Panvini
Assistant Editor, Vassar
Georgette Weir
Editor, Vassar Quarterly
Vassar.edu
Other work proceeds apace. General
Manager John J. Miglio, with the assistance
of Vassar’s Director of Buildings and
Grounds Services Don Wells, has overseen
several major maintenance projects over
the last several months: driveways were
repaved,
32 VQ WINTER
1994
weather
inhospitable.
Quarterly
[email protected]
GEWEIR® V axsar.
Valley’s summer
a
faulty sewer
line replaced,
cleaned, leaks mended, bathrooms
painted, and Alumnae House signs
gutters
reinstalled
College
Early
the
at
entrances
Fulton and
on
avenues.
AAVC Calendar
New Year’s Eve
Dinner and Dance
in the
year, Robert
new
Black,
Alumnae House
widower of Barbara Bell Black ’24, offered
Contact:
John]. Miglio, 914/437'? 150
Alumnae House several pieces of handsome
furniture and carpets from his home in
Cape Neddick, Maine. In making the gift,
Mr. Black commented that he and his wife
often
stopped
at
Alumnae House
and from South Carolina.
way to
furnishings
admired the
donate
first- and second-floor
to
1995
Midwinter Brunch
Poughkeepsie
Area Club,
914/297-5674
February 1, 1995
VQ deadline for
Summer issue
to
came,
of their furniture
some
They
in the bedrooms
and decided, when the time
Tables, chests, chairs,
in mid-August and were
their
on
January 8,
the house.
and carpets arrived
placed throughout
by house
rooms
February 4, 1995
Parties for the ’9os
Young alums, watch your mail for details.
Contact: Bronwen Pardes, 914/437-5442
committee decorator Tania Goss Evans ’59.
The optimism
Alumnae House
a
feel about the future of
we
evident in
was
special committee
June,
when
chaired by former
AAVC President and Trustee
Kay
at
Holman
Langan ’46 joined forces with Professor
Emerita of History Evalyn Clark ’24 to
celebrate Alumnae House’s 70th birthday
and 1924’s 70th reunion. A simple but
elegant program was staged during Reunion
Weekend. The icing on the cake was ’24’s
to
give its 70th reunion gift to
decision
Alumnae House.
New
Programs
at
the 1993
Fall Council meeting
urged the association
plan more
programs that bring alumnae/i
together in cross-generational groups.
Alumnae House is the perfect site for such
gatherings, and planning of such programs
has begun. One scheduled to take place at
to
about the time this magazine was
to be
mailed was
“Educate Your Palate,” Decem-
popular wine-tasting
(professor of
Valley
introduction
an
AAVC Board
Regular
26
of
Directors
winter meeting at
AlumnaeHouse
March 3-5, 1995
LAQAVC Annual Conference
to
March 10-12, 1995
Film Weekend at AlumnaeHouse
special AAVC program that will focus
American independent producers of
on
fictional cinema, led by the chair of
Vassar’s Department of Drama and Film
and director of the Film Workshop James
Steerman. (Ad on page 38.)
Contact: 914/437-7100
A
Club Leadership
Workshop
Seattle
Hudson
Contact: Richard Floyd,
914/437-5440
wines and foods.
The second theme weekend is scheduled
place March 10-12 and will focus
on
American independent producers of
fictional cinema. Our guide will be
professor James Steerman, chair of Vassar’s
department of drama and film and director
of the film workshop. [Details on page 38.]
If there are subjects you would be
interested in exploring through a weekend
to
February 25,
Regional
and local wine connoisseur Art
Levin and
Tampa Bay Club, 813/251-8456
March 17, 1995
instructor Morton Tavel
physics)
Florida International Museum
Contact:
Alumnae House
Class and club representatives
ber 2-4. It featured
February 12, 1995
Tour of “Treasures of the Czar” exhibit
take
program at
Alumnae House, send your
suggestions
to
Seattle
An AAVC
regional symposium
Floyd, 914/437-5440
Contact: Richard
April
Leadership Workshop
Alumnae House
Contact: Terri O’Shea,
Donors Blanche
Ferry Hooker 1894 and
Queene Ferry Coonley 1896 intended
Alumnae House to be a center
of alumnae/i
seeking a few
activity. Whether you come
days of escape from the workaday world or
as
a participant in a
program exploring a
will find a warm
new
to
you,
you
subject
at
Vassar in the Northwest
914/437-5439
AAVC Executive Director
Mary Gesek.
welcome
March 18, 1995
Hudson
your house in the
September 26-October 9, 1995
AAVC
Trip
to
Russia
Travel from Moscow
Valley.
—Joan StrashinskyKjelleren
May 19-June 3, 1995
AAVC Trip to Turkey
Faculty: Christine Mitchell Havelock,
professor emerita of art
Contact: AAVC office, 914/437-5436
’7l
to
St.
Petersburg
on
the waterways of the Czars. Contact:
AAVC office, 914/437-5436
33
New Graduate
AAVC NEWS
The AAVC is
pleased
Joins Staff
to
Bronwen Pardes ’94 has
the
that
announce
joined
Ms. Pardes served the association
her junior and senior years
as
classes.
during
committee, Ms. Pardes transferred to Vassar
junior from the University of Massaat Vassar, Ms. Pardes
a
For AAVC Trustee
(single slate)
Richard W. Roberts ’74
For AAVC Trustee
(single slate)
Stephen M. Hankins ’B5
For Treasurer
served as
Sarah North Hillyer ’56
Her
a
counselor and trainer for The
peer counseling group
and as a student fellow
work has included stints
summer
administrator for the Usdan Center,
summer
day camp in the creative and
an
performing
Ms. Pardes will work
the
ten
most
For
a
develop
among
undergraduates.
’59
For
Director-at-Large
(double slate)
Margaret
Cobb Hubard ’6B
Susan Porter ’63
Get Inside Info about
VC
Members of AAVC’s Admission Commitwelcome calls from
Directory-Large
(double slate)
Alison Church Hyde
recent
to
Potential Legacy Students:
tee
alumnae/i
and
secondary school seniors. Committee
members are:
For Nominating Committee
(double slate)
Martine Vilas Conway ’53
Anne S. Hopkins ’52
For
Nominating
(double slate)
Committee
Kathleen Hubbs Ulman ’66
Benna Brecher Wilde ’67
Kevin Green ’B5, committee chair
Independent Nominations
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Home phone:
212/242-3628
petition, such petition
Jamshed Bharucha ’7B
Hanover, New Hampshire
Home phone:
603/643-8490
Office phone:
603/646-3181
Constance Leigh Proctor ’72
Seattle, Washington
phone: 206/722-4626
Office phone:
206/623-7600
Home
Barbara Aaron Rosston ’B4
Bethesda, Maryland
Home phone:
301/229-7528
Ronald Schwartzman ’75
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Office phone:
212/909-9500
Nominations may also be made by
to be signed
not
fewer thanfifty
ing
at
least ten
by
members,
representclasses and five states,
and filed with the executive director
more
than thirty
days
after
not
publication
of
the slate of the nominating committee.
Such petition must
be accompanied by
the written permission of the candidate,
sent
to the executive
and should be
director, AAVC (Bylaws,
2).
Article XIV,
Section
Nominations for 1996
The nominating committee will meet
fall to select candidates for the 1996
next
slate. Positions
to
be filled
AAVC trustee, vice
are
president
one
for
strategic planning, nominating commit-
Bronwen Pardes ’94
AAVC Assistant Director for Recent
Classes:
Chair
Susan McCallumBledsoe ’64
classes and among
recent
Advisory Committee
(single slate)
Ruth Ransom Wilson ’55
programming and volunteer interest
current
For Fund
as
arts.
As the assistant director for
classes,
914/437,5442
chair, house committee chair, one
director-at-large, and three nominating
committee members. Suggestions for all
tee
When you
positions
to
dates, including supporting information,
should be sent
to:
Nominating Committee, AAVC Office, Alumnae House, 61
Raymond Ave.,Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
by January 15.
plan your trip to Vassar, be sure
let Bronwen Pardes know the date and
time and
begin your
visit at
Alumnae
House.
To
contact
directly,
1994
this spring:
(single slate)
and house intern for transfer students.
34 VQ WINTER
of
chusetts. While
Listening Center, a
for Vassar students,
Bronwen Pardes ’94
Nominating Committee of AAVC
and proposes the following slate
candidates to be voted upon by ballot
met
AAVC
as
working closely with her
predecessor, Amy Gardiner ’9O, who left
the association in August to
pursue
graduate studies.
A psychology major who served as cochair for that department’s major’s
student intern,
as
The
has
the staff
assistant director for recent
new
AAVC Nominations
the Office of Admission
call 1-800/827-7270.
are
invited. Names of candi-
Alabama
Admission Chair
Ross M. Goodman ’79
3600 Menendez Drive
Pensacola, FL 32503-3133
H 904/434-8197
Alaska
GET IN
President
Elizabeth Donelson Davis ’B4
TOUCH
(Mrs.)
2410 Sebring Circle
Anchorage, AK 99516-1954
H 907/345-8238
1994-1995
Admission Chair
A
Directory
of
Vassar Clubs
Bettyrae Fedje Easley ’7B (Ms.)
4921 Sportsman Drive
Anchorage, AK 99502-4193
H 907/248-2025
Worldwide
Arizona
Including club presidents
and admission chairs
Phoenix
President
Elizabeth Dawson Cullen ’69
(Mrs. David J.)
6040 East Calle Rosa
Scottsdale, AZ 85251-4221
H
602/947-0929
O 602/852-2900
Admission Co-Chairs
Lois Palestine Savage ’6B
3002 East Manor
Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85014
H 602/266-6945
O
602/956-7877
and
Deborah Edge Abele ’73(Ms.)
3116 North 47th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85018-6527
H 602/224-5244
Tucson
President
Joyce Goldwyn Becker ’6l
(Mrs. William)
6290 East Calle Alta Vista
Tucson, AZ 85715-3103
H 602/885-1481
Admission Chair
Erica
P. Wolf’72 (Dr.)
13110 East Placita Las Avenas
Tucson, AZ 85749-9211
H 602/760-0067
Mary G. Florendo ’B5
160 Maple Avenue
Watsonville, CA 95076
H 408/724-4412
San
Diego
President
K. Lynn Kivisild Mulhem’79
3942 Caminito Del Mar Cove
San Diego, CA 92130
H 619/277-6780
O 619/259-4797
Admission Co-Chairs
Kim Harley ’92
8650 Via Mallorca, Apt. E
Lajolla, CA 92037
H 619/458-9773
and
Chris Fry ’93
8650 Via Mallorca, Apt. E
Lajolla, CA 92037
H 619/458-9773
(Mrs. William)
7568 North Valentine Avenue
Fresno, CA 93711-0128
H 209/435-3231
O 209/261-4158
(Mid-Fairfield)
Admission Co-Chairs
Jennifer E. Bojonell ’B6 (Ms.)
21 Leonard Street
Stamford, CT 06906
H 203/359-0204
O 203/966-3504
and
Peter B. Korzenik ’B2
70 Strawberry Hill Ave., #2E
510/652-7032
O 415/896-0666
Fax 415/849-2134
Admission Chair
Barbara Currier Bell ’63 (Ms.)
160 Harbor Road
Southport, CT 06490
(East Bay)
H
(Upper Fairfield)
203/259-7724
Admission Chair
O
301/299-4855
Admission Chair
Jennifer B. Bonney (Ms.) ’B5
2737 Devonshire Place NW
#lOB
Washington, DC 20008
H
202/332-0101
O 202/626-4780
Florida
CentralFlorida
President
Open
Admission Co-Chairs
Heidi Rose Flinchbaugh’56
4855 Big Oaks Lane
Orlando, FL 32806
H 407/859-4855
and
Ronald M. Schirtzer ’B9
945 South Ridge Trail
Altamonte Springs, FL 327141287
H
407/290-2945
Gainesville
Admission Co-Chairs
Margery Leith Maines ’B2
O 904/334-2197
and
Mark Theodoropoulos ’76
2708 Mabel Street
Hartford
President
Berkeley, CA 94702-2330
H 510/848-4806
Fassett Sudell ’73 (Ms.)
164 South Road
Farmington, CT 06032-2552
245 North Lake Avenue
Lake Butler, FL 32054-1215
H
O 904/496-2832
(San Francisco)
Admission Chair
Chris Cosgrove ’9l
3354 24th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
H
415/647-8935
Santa Barbara & the Tri
Counties
President
Marion McKinney
Ramstad ’45 (Mrs.)
4452 Via Esperanza
Santa Barbara, CA 931102342
H 805/964-7284
Bonnie
203/678-1392
O 203/827-5980
John E.
H
Maines
IV
’BO
904/496-1673
The Gulf Stream
Admission Chair
Charlotte E. Loomis ’B7
1641 Durham Road
(Position Open)
Naples
Guilford, CT 06437-1639
H 203/496-0387
O 203/280-3761
President
CatharineLittle Motley ’42
New Haven
President
Susan
Ross Aube ’74 (Ms.)
5 Wildwood Drive
Branford, CT 06405-3973
H 203/483-1015
Naples, FL
(Mrs.)
225
H
Fifth Avenue S #2Ol
33940-6554
813/263-7760
Alternate Address
PO Box 448, Doll Road
North Haven, ME 04853-0448
H 207/867-2053
O 203/789-1818
Admission Chair
Leslie Rogers Steinmetz ’45-4
Southern California
President
Linda Civitello’7l (Ms.)
3741 jasmine Avenue #2
Los Angeles, CA 90034
H 310/202-7199
O 213/620-1555
Colorado
Fresno
Admission Chair
Barbara Blum Dahl ’69
186 Milbank Avenue
Greenwich, CT 06830-6627
H 203/869-9685
O 203/853-2000
H
(Ms.)
California
Tammy L. Kien ’B5 (Ms.)
Stamford, CT 06902-2633
H 203/348-6507
O 203/967-6000
2801 Ben Lomond
Santa
Barbara, CA 931052204
H 805/687-5031
Admission Co-Chair
Josiah S. McCalman ’BB
27 Glenmere
Little Rock, AR 72204
H 501/562-7797
(Greenwich)
Admission Chair
San Francisco Bay Area
President
Stephen M. Hankins ’B5
6680 Pineneedle Drive
Oakland, CA 94611
Arkansas
and
Book Sale/DonationInformation
Donna Stackman
D.C. Club:
H 203/637-2860
President and Admission CoChair
G. Lorene Lloyd Patterson ’54
(Mrs. James)
27 Wingate Drive
Little Rock, AR 72205-2540
H 501/225-4970
President
Pamela Costello Speer’Bl (Ms.)
22 Sunset Road
Old Greenwich, CT 06870
President
Richard Komar Replin ’75
490 Franklin Street
Denver, CO 80218-4009
H 303/333-0112
O 303/331-3232
MontereyBay
Admission Chair
Sara-Jane Mermelstein Cohen
’65
3120 Sixth Street
Admission Co-Chairs
Carla L. Gomez ’B5
740 30th Avenue #l5
Boulder, CO 80304-2508
H 303/444-0962
O 303/444-0964
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
H 408/475-4994
O 408/426-4357
and
Connecticut
Fairfield County Clubs
(Includes Greenwich, Mid and
Upper Fairfield)
Admission Chair
Frances
Thompson Clark ’53
(Mrs.)
320
Audubon Court
New Haven, CT 06510-1203
H 203/772-4455
O 203/772-4455
London
Admission Chair
Lee Davis Wilcox Kneerim ’47
New
(Mrs. Arthur)
3 Gold Street
Stonington, CT 06378-1307
H 203/535-2045
O 203/447-7566
Delaware
President
Nancy Lowe Diver ’57
(Mrs. Arthur Gordon)
1004 Overbrook Road
Wilmington, DE 19807-2236
H 302/656-2077
Prospective Students Chair
Lori Ingersoll Gaylord ’76
2850 Gulf Shore Blvd. #2OB
Naples, FL 33940
H 813/649-5731
O 813/263-4555
North Florida
Patricia Tubbs Greason ’6l
3890 Brampton Island Court
North
Jacksonville,FL 32224-7609
H 904/223-3073
Admission Co-Chairs
Alison A. Denis ’Bl (Ms.)
104 Troon Point Lane
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 320822065
H 904/285-0252
O 904/443-8142
and
David Harshbarger ’BB
Jill W. Piro-Harshbarger ’BB
7932 Southside Blvd. #9Ol
Jacksonville, FL 32256-7954
H 904/645-5031
Admission Chair
(Position Open)
District of Columbia
Washington, DC
President
Amanda B. Pedersen ’66 (Ms.)
3504 Lowell Street NW
Washington, DC 20016-5025
H 202/966-5508
O 301/443-1306
Pensacola
Admission Chair
Ross M. Goodman ’79
3600 Menendez Drive
Pensacola, FL 32503-3133
H 904/434-8197
O 904/434-8197
35
(Ms.)
3649 North Bosworth Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613
Virginia Morton Lange ’52
(Mrs. Peter W.)
Gulf Haven
26
5860 Midnight Pass Road
Sarasota, FL 34242-2132
H
813/349-3862
Admission Co-Chairs
’6B (Mrs.)
Susan Hord Horton
7043 Wild Horse Circle
H
O
312/935-0300
312/337-2400
Admission Co-Chairs
Anne
M. Borchert ’B5 (Ms.)
5496 South Hyde Park
Boulevard #1203
Chicago, IL 60615-5832
H
O
H
and
Monica Vachher ’77 (Ms.)
233 East Walton Street #2
Chicago, IL 60611-1526
813/923-7350
and
Kathryn Swain ’7B
4662 Gleason Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34242
H 813/349-4593
South Florida
President
Sandra Jean Glorian ’76 (Ms.)
820 NE 72nd Terrace
Miami, FL 33138-5263
H
305/759-1075
Admission Chair
Manuel L. Dobrinsky ’B5
c/o Holland & Knight
701 Brickell Avenue
Miami, FL 33131
O 305/374-8500
H
Maine
Steering Committee Chair
Nancy S. Gaylord ’79 (Ms.)
100 Highland Avenue
Auburn, ME 04210-4726
H 207/784-9336
O 207/777-8789
312/288-1706
312/702-7562
Sarasota, FL 34241-9609
Admission Co-Chairs
Anna
(Nan) Rearick Allen ’35
(Mrs. Joseph W.)
312/944-2370
Box 167 Mills Point Road
Brooksville, ME 04617
Indiana
H
President
Diana Hartley Mutz ’B5 (Ms.)
211 West 47th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46208-3509
H 317/257-8948
and
David N. Theriault ’B3
15 Hanson
Street
Winthrop, ME 04364
H 207/377-2454
lowa
Area Representative
Kathryn A. LaMair Peverill
(Mrs. William)
’53
4225 Greenwood Drive
Des Moines, IA 50312
Kansas
Rosalind Ebersbach Murray
(Mrs. HughV.) ’3O
Harbour House #BlO
2401 Bayshore Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33629-7306
H 813/251-8456
Admission Co-Chairs
(Hillsborough & Pinnelas
Counties)
Mary Lechner Ellis ’7B
4921 Saint Croix Drive
Tampa, FL 33629
H 813/286-2639
and
Sandra Burt Sullivan ’65
(Mrs.
Dennis
R.)
8345 Boca Ciega Drive
Saint Petersburg Beach, FL
33706-1522
H 813/360-2917
President
Todd S. Mann ’75
1797 Meadowdale Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30306
404/872-4434
O 404/279-4419
Fax 404/525-6906
H
Admission Chair
1032
Olathe, KS 66061
H 913/888-1140
Kentucky
Central Kentucky
President
Louise Fallon Bryans ’5O
(Mrs. John T.)
1158 Athenia Drive
Lexington, KY 40504-3006
606/277-2900
R. Fichtner ’9l
Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30307-1228
H 404/373-4850
President
Jill Chen Loui ’76 (Mrs.)
4945 Mana Place
Honolulu, HI 96816
H 808/735-8147
O
808/524-7400
Admission Chair
Deane
Waters
Wentworth ’63
(Mrs. Gordon C.)
47-641 Nukupu’uStreet
Kaneohe, HI 96744-5510
H 808/239-4422
O 808/536-4461
Illinois
Randolph Hollingsworth ’79
(Ms.)
1292 Magwood Park
Lexington, KY 40517
H 606/271-3017
Lynn D. Osborne ’77 (Ms.)
512 Pyke Road
Lexington, KY 40504
H 606/231-7241
Louisville
President and Admission CoChair
Barbara Waterfill Beard ’69
(Mrs. W. Robinson)
541 Barberry Lane
Louisville, KY 40206-2976
H 502/896-4187
Admission Co-Chair
Peter J. Herbener ’B3
735 Fairhill Drive
Louisville, KY 40207-1303
H 502/895-1827
O 502/568-7952
Southeastern
Acting President and Admissions
Chair
Scot Arnold ’B3
812 Henry Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
H 313/741-4290
O 313/845-4848
Fax 313/845-3393
Western Michigan
President
Sue Oberlin Conway ’6B
15490 Linn Court
Spring Lake, MI 49456-1547
Admission Chair
Clara Fear Hall ’5l
(Mrs. Randall C.)
110 Gorsuch Road
Timonium, MD 21093-4318
H 410/252-1837
Essex
Massachusetts
and
5841
County
’45
3261 Lake Drive SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49506-4320
H 616/949-4427
O 201/345-5748
H
’62
612/938-2339
Admission Co-Chairs
Sarah L. Jelley (Ms.) ’Bl
64 West Delos Street
H
(Mrs. Joel S.)
65 Palomino Drive
Pittsfield, MA 01201
H 413/447-7528
President
Charlotte Crocker Cleveland
’4B (Mrs.)
7 Russell Street #1
Cambridge, MA 02140-1313
H 617/547-0971
O 617/491-5757
612/225-9056
O 612/332-6966
and
David B. Littlefield ’B9
233 Oak Grove Street #304
Minneapolis, MN 55403-3340
H 612/871-6808
O 612/332-7563
Missouri/Kansas
Kansas City
President
Katharine MarshallKatz ’BO
8006 West 101st Terrace
Overland Park, KS 66212
H 913/383-2214
O 913/294-4361
H
201/239-5536
Prospective Students Chair
Lisa Rosa Bellani ’Bl (Ms.)
19 Slope Drive
Dover, NJ 07801
H 201/989-0819
O 201/948-1724
Jersey Hills
Co-Presidents
Julie Kautz Guerard ’76
123 Washington Avenue
Chatham, NJ 07928-1859
H 201/635-3712
and
Carolyn Peck Rutan ’7l (Ms.)
17 Crossgates Road
Madison, NJ 07940
H 201/301-1893
Admission Chair
Barbara Koller Huston
Brook Road
8 Canoe
Short Hills, NJ 07078
H
201/467-0151
New Jersey Shore
President
ShirleyGrande Carpenter ’57
(Mrs. JamesW.)
24 Riverside Drive
Rumson, NJ 07760
H 908/842-2594
Fax
Ulman ’66
17 Elm Street
Admission Chair
Admission Chair
(Position Open)
Cynthia Spera Neff
(Mrs. Robert C.) ’B5
St. Louis
President
Davis L. Allen ’75
621 Clark Avenue
Saint Louis, MO 63119
142 South Street
#6-C
Red Bank, NJ 07701
H
Northern New Jersey
President
Mark F. Kluger ’B4
35 Gladding Road
Boxford, MA 01921-2321
H 508/887-2018
O 508/887-6040
and
Joan L. Horgan ’B6 (Ms.)
39 Marshall Street
Medford, MA 02155-4318
H 617-396-9892
913/294-4910
314/962-8710
314/214-3559
FAX
617/868-3450
Pioneer
Valley
President and Admission Chair
Richard LePage Teller ’74
10 Glendale Street
Easthampton, MA 01027-2005
413/527-0369
Christopher A. Shustak
H
Admission Chair
Christine Paska Galica ’75
20 Timber Lane
O 314/721-5555
and
Sanford B. Scott ’B2
1106 South Spoede Road
Saint Louis, MO 63131-2611
O 314/466-0572
314/991-3902
’B3
PC Box 383
(Mrs. Michael)
Admission Co-Chairs
Sally Strassner Scott
(Mrs. Sanford B.) ’B3
’72
(Ms.)
Admission Co-Chairs
Kathleen (Kathy) Hubbs
Holden, MA 01520-0383
H 508/829-9423
O 508/829-9423
Gretchen Smelzer Coffman ’64
x
President
Ruth Schuster Manos
Saint Paul, MN 55107
Berkshire County
Admission Chair
Carol Selkowitz Greenberg ’56
504/246-8004
O 504/528-7195
504/288-3803
609/844-0767
O 800/842-2733
56 Hillsdale Road
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009-2008
Minnesota/Dakotas
Worcester
H
’Bl
O 201/321-8012
and
David A. Dufresne ’Bl
44 Green Avenue
Lawrenceville,NJ 08648
Admission Chair
Margaret Sanderson Bradshaw
’47 (Mrs. Conrad A.)
President
Nancy Ann Dunston Dorris
(Mrs. Albert F.)
5721 View Lane
Edina, MN 55436-1120
President
President
Jersey
Central
Co-Presidents
Christina Bachelder Dufresne
(Mrs. Christos)
16429 Falls Road
Aloha M. Cade ’76 (Ms.)
Drive
5831 Louis Prima
West
New Orleans, LA 70128
Admission Co-Chairs
Valera Theresa Francis’7s (Ms.))
New
H
616/459-6121
Upperco, MD 21155
H 410/239-3442
PrpdnprLt
H
402/551-7079
O 402/556-3772
Michigan
O
Louisiana
3638 Virgil Boulevard
New Orleans, LA 70122
1994
H
(Ms.)
H
Chicago
36 VQ WINTER
Kimberly
H 616/842-6043
President
Carol Gram Washbume ’BO
O
Hawaii
A. Skutt ’BO (Ms.)
Road
700 Fairacres
Omaha, NE 68132-1835
Holden, MA 01520
H 508/852-8135
O 508/799-7308
Boston
Admission Co-Chairs
and
Georgia
Aaron
Admission Chair
Carol Rivera Selvey ’77 (Ms.)
18735 West 116th Street
H
207/326-4576
Maryland
H 515/279-2318
Tampa Bay
President
A. Orticke ’77 (Ms.)
1419 North Prieur Street
New Orleans, LA 70116
H 504/947-5459
O 504/832-6577
Kristine
Sarasota
President
H
908/576-8595
O 201/622-4444
Caldwell, NJ 07006
O 201/642-5953
Fax 201/642-4236
Admission Chair
Steven D. Freesman ’B6
30 Johnson Court
Closter, NJ 07624
H
201/768-4051
O 201/461-8183
Nebraska
Admission Co-Chairs
New Mexico
Emily Goodwin Kemp (Mrs.
Philip S.) ’5l
740 North Happy Hollow
Admission Chair
Boulevard
Omaha, NE 68132-2121
H 402/558-3062
and
’52
Georgia Sims Carson
978 Indian Ridge Road
Santa
Fe, NM 87501
H 505/982-9147
Wendy Halpin Hallows ’B4
New York
Long Island
74 Lattimore
President
Judith A. Whitbeck ’65(Dr.)
149 South Country Road
East Patchogue, NY 117725412
H 516/475-0928
Admission Co-Chairs
Robin Rosen Kluger ’79 (Ms.)
28 Bayview Avenue
Great
Neck, NY 11020-2984
H 516/482-3613
and
Rochelle MitlakFrei ’B4 (Mrs.)
8 Chatham Place
Dix Hills, NY 11746
H 516/499-5062
O 516/484-1545
Road
(Position Open)
Rochester, NY 14620
H 716/442-0573
Toledo
President
Syracuse
Kimberly
(Mrs. Douglas W., Sr.)
Perrysburg, OH 43551
H 419/874-1225
206 Dorchester Road
Syracuse, NY 13219-1428
H 315/488-8549
Oklahoma
Westchester
President
(Position Open)
10804-
2404
212/866-6527
O 718/875-0710x404
H
and
Abby Tannenbaum ’B6 (Ms.)
15 Sheridan Square #IG
New
York, NY 10014-3514
H 212/989-7114
O 212/514-5534
Fax 212/514-5538
Northern New
York
Admission Chair
Judith Levine Lempert ’59
H 914/633-0492
Western New York
President
Marilyn Dubin Kaplan ’6O
(Mrs.)
24 Stonewood Drive
East Amherst, NY 14051
H 716/689-5881
O 716/645-3312
19 Pheasant Lane
Sharon J. Fine ’B4 (Ms.)
4609-1 Chestnut Ridge Road
Amherst, NY 14228-3302
H 716/689-2783
O 716/634-0677
Plattsburgh
Admission Chair
Angela Marvin
Scaglione
’B3
Mitchell HillRoad
Lewis, NY 12950
H 518/873-6713
Poughkeepsie, Inc.
President
Barbara W. Yanavage ’B4
Drive
17 Monroe
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
H
914/297-5674
O 914/471-7301
Admission Chair
Carney Heavey O’Brien ’B9
20 Whitehouse Avenue
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601-4940
H 914/485-7482
Rochester
President
Elizabeth Pratt Stewart ’5O
(Mrs. William D.)
31 Shire Oaks Drive
Pittsford, NY 14534
H
716/586-7396
Admission Co-Chairs
Laura E. Ettinger ’B9
72 Raleigh Street
Rochester, NY 14620
H 716/442-0348
and
Cincinnati
President and Admission CoChair
Patricia Adair Culp ’69
(Mrs. William S.)
2771 Walsh Road
Cincinnati, OH 45208-3428
H 513/321-4230
513/398-9515
O 513/865-1953
President
Anne
Ward Guinan ’B6
4425 Twin Post Road
Box
Dallas, TX 75244-6746
H 214/239-6578
O 214/220-4300
575
Ligonier, PA 15658
H 412/238-6573
O 412/622-1320
Fax 412/622-3443
East
6701 North Rhode Island
2222
Avenue
H
H
401/751-7506
Alternate Address:
568 Post Road
Wakefield, RI 02879
H 401/789-8117
Sheryl S. Sullivan ’72
1704 Coventry Lane
Oklahoma City, OK 73120
H 405/848-3869
(Mrs. Wayne)
20 Devon Court
Greenwich, RI 02818401/884-6707
Acting President
Margaret Townsend Downward
’36
Sea Pines Plantation
92 Lawton Road
Hilton Head, SC 29928
H 803/671-2004
Oregon
President
Thomas L. Webb ’B7
1812 NW Flanders #4l
Portland, OR 97209-2051
H 503/221-0400
O 503/221-0400
Admission Chair
Alison Lee Summey ’79 (Mrs.
Kenzil)
141 Silver Lake Circle
Columbia, SC 29212-2428
H 803/732-2517
O 803/734-2145
Admission Chair
Stephen M.
Aaron
’BB
12143 SW 34th Avenue
Portland, OR 97219-8276
H
503/222-9164
O 503/255-4900
Pennsylvania
Central PA-State College
Admission Chair
Dana Buckalew Zuhlke ’B5
Tennessee
Knoxville
Admission Chair
Maureen A. Hays ’BB
University of Tennessee
114 Charlotte Street
Matilda, PA 16870-9541
H 814/692-7266
Port
717/599-5959
O 717/763-7811
44122
216/751-1030
Admission Chair
Susan Ratcliffe Sour ’62
(Mrs. Peter K.)
11000
ChippewaRoad
Brecksville, OH 44141-2153
252 South Stadium
Knoxville, TN 37996
H
615/273-4157
O 615/273-4157
(Ms.)
RD 3
Memphis
President
Perre MacFarland Magness ’62
(Mrs. B. Percy, Jr.)
248 East Chickasaw Parkway
Memphis, TN 38111-2536
H 901/327-6236
Admission Chair
Elizabeth Nelson Smith ’52
(Mrs. Herbert, Jr.)
Philadelphia
6562 Bramble Cove
Memphis, TN 38119-5533
President
H 901/754-6003
Emily Barry Marston ’7O (Ms.)
209 South 24th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-5550
H 215/557-9445
O 215/545-5323
Admission Chair
Teresa W. Doyle ’B5 (Ms.)
915 Kirkwood Avenue
Admission Co-Chairs
Rosemarie Griesmer ’B9
340 Media Station Road
#3IBC
Media, PA 19063-4742
H 215/660-9236
Admission Co-Chairs
Lara A. Fischraan ’93
4626 North Lindhurst Avenue
Dallas, TX 75229
H 214/691-4319
O 817/334-7570
and
Catherine Whitmarsh
Thompson ’93
1858 Place One Lane
Garland, TX 75042
H
214/231-0138
O 214/684-7529
Houston
Admission Chair
Jeanie Stephan Charness ’B2
South Carolina
405/478-0189
and
H
Cleveland
President
Dr. Amelia E. Dubaniewicz ’74
20900 Halburton Road
216/838-4180
Dallas/Fort Worth
Margaret Bell Woodwell ’57
(Mrs. William H.)
116 Hermitage School Road
(Mrs. Ruprecht)
Admission Chair
Helen McVey Colvin ’64 (Ms.)
333 Hidden ValleyRoad
Harrisburg, PA 17112-9279
H
H
President and Admission Chair
H
7939
(Ms.)
Pittsburgh
West Oklahoma
Admission Co-Chairs
Vicki Miles-LaGrange ’74
6600 NE 63rd Street
Oklahoma City, OK 731419637
H 405/771-3132
O 405/524-1800
and
Elizabeth Mygatt Nitschke ’63
Harrisburg
Admission Co-Chair
Patrick G. Toner ’Bl
5223 Chapel Lane
Mason, OH 45040
O
2804 Allison Drive
Austin, TX 78741-7311
H 512/329-8948
Anthropology Department
Ohio
Shaker Heights, OH
H 216/921-5022
H 215/440-8016
O 215/686-5261
President
Emily Stone Cocroft ’39
(Mrs. Mason F.)
7 Barnes Street
Providence, RI 02906-1516
Admission Chair
North Carolina
Delmar, NY 12054
H 518/439-6747
Admission Chair
Susan L. Black Thickett ’B6
Oklahoma City, OK 73111-
President
Samantha Gordon Howland ’B7
4500 Gwynnebrook Circle
Raleigh, NC 27612
H 919/781-6502
O 919/851-8983 ext.
153
(Mrs. Neil)
R. Laver ’B7
262 South Fourth Street #3F
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Rhode Island
Oklahoma
Admission Chair
10 David Drive
Rochelle, NY
2043 Westmeyer Street
Toledo, OH 43614-4230
H 419/382-6416
East
Lisa Keller ’73 (Ms.)
93 Skyview Lane
New Rochelle, NY 10804
H 914/636-7924
New
Admission Co-Chairs
Jane L. Bender ’67 (Ms.)
784 Columbus Avenue #4T
New York, NY 10025-5917
Admission Chair
Jenny Rheinfrank Barthold ’6l
315/437-1899
Fax 315/458-8292
(Ms.)
New York, NY
10016-2555
NY Club Office: 212/697-7499
East
(Ms.)
Admission Chair
Deborah Boxer Minchin ’74
Executive Administrator
MonaLober (Mrs.)
24 East 39th Street
216
Admission Chair
Elizabeth Strang Crockett ’79
1359 Route
91
Fabius, NY 13063
H 315/683-5567
H
718/803-3803
O 212/908-4540
Fax 212/908-4701
A. Swirbul ’79 (Ms.)
Second Street
President
Barbara Pope Peckham ’5O
O
New York, Inc.
President
Christopher J. Moran ’B2
33-51 80th Street #42
Jackson Heights, NY 113724508
Miriam
Columbus
President
Nashville
Nashville, TN 37204-2603
H 615/297-2174
Texas
Austin
President
President and Admission Chair
Liza Yusuf Heintz ’79
3623 Drummond Street
Houston, TX 77025
H
San
713/669-1183
Antonio
Admission Chair
Laura ParkerDersh ’B7
117 Blue Bonnet Boulevard
San Antonio, TX 78209-4666
H 210/828-5574
South Texas
Acting President and Admission
Chair
Charlotte Prendergast Yochem
’B3 (Mrs.)
502 Elizabeth Street
Corpus Christi, TX 78404
H 512/883-8901
Utah
Admission Chair
Max B. Valerio ’9l
9863 South 2240th E
Sandy, UT 84092
H 801/942-1093
Vermont/
New Hampshire
Steering Committee Chair
Susan Deßevoise Wright ’69
(Mrs. James)
7 Quail Drive
Etna, NH 03750
H 603/643-8230
0 603/646-2243
(New Hampshire)
Admission Chair
Deborah Bacon Nelson ’75
1 Lakeview Drive
Hanover, NH 03755
H 603/448-5068
O 603/646-2244
(Vermont)
Admission Co-Chairs
Jonathan F. Plehn ’73 (MD)
RR 1 Box 406
C
Norwich, VT 05055-9776
H
802/649-2352
O 603/650-6154
and
Barbara Weinstein LeWinter
’66 (Mrs. Martin
M.)
29 Pheasant Way
South Burlington, VT 05403
H 802/863-0240
O 802/828-1370
(Position Open)
37
Wyoming
Hong Kong
Central Virginia (Richmond)
President
Carol Sutherland Keenan ’6O
Admission Chair
Admission Chair
(Mrs. Joseph H.)
102 Penshurst Road
Windsor Farms
Richmond, VA 23221-3270
Box 1222
Virginia
H
Margaret Peterson Hotchkiss
’69 (Mrs. 8.W., Jr.)
Saratoga, WY 82331
H 307/326-9617
O 307/326-9617
J. Craig Chapman’BO
Salomon Brothers
Hong Kong LTD
Three Exchange Sq., 21st Floor
Hong Kong
O 011-852/841-8060
804/358-9647
FOREIGN
Admission Chair
Sandra Hume Bailey ’76
(Mrs. L.R.)
9012 Brieryle Road
Richmond, VA 23229-7735
H
804/741-9522
O 804/784-0388
Charlottesville
President
Robin Robissa Halsey ’73 (Ms.)
2320 Cumberland Road
Charlottesville, VA
H 804/296-8513
22901
VirginiaBeach
Admission Chair
Hope Christopoulos Mihalap
’56 (Mrs. Leonid)
1316 Gray don Avenue
Norfolk, VA 23507-1009
H 804/623-0429
O 804/623-0429
Israel
Australia
Admission Chair
Sandra Burt McGrath ’5B
(Mrs. Rivkah)
(Ms.)
12 Douglas Parade
Dover
Heights
Sydney, NSW 2030
Jerusalem,
Australia
Japan
PC
H
H 001-61-2/371-9797
Box
Ontario
President
Robert Renaud ’76
10 Preston Place
Toronto, Ontario M4N 259
President
Matsumoto
A Weekend
Maki ’57
(Mrs. Fumihiko)
5-16-22 Higashi Gotanda
Shinagawa-Ku
Tokyo, 141
Japan
H 011-81-33/441-8038
Exploration of
American Independent
Canada
416/480-2467
Admission Chair
O 416/513-7977
(Position Open)
Admission Chair
Mexico
(Position Open)
Admission Chair
Caribbean
Tamayo-Cole ’79
Foote, Cone, and Belding
Mazaryk 61
H
Filmmakers
104 2 March 1995
Moira
Interviewer
Janet Rose Fuchs ’62 (Mrs.)
21 Walnut Hills Circle
Williamsburg, VA 23185-3425
H 804/229-0852
O 804/565-0373
Washington
State
President
George B. Gabriel ’9O
906 19th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98112
H 206/328-6132
O 206/461-8524
Admission Chair
H
England
London
President
Jill Brinnon Bace ’72 (Mrs.)
45 Downshire Hill
London, NW3
INU
England
UK
H
011-44-71/435-3761
Singapore/Malaysia
Admission Co-Chairs
Thomas L. Potzman
’Bl
11 Whitchurch Road
Singapore, 1543
H 011-65-13/472-4681
O
011-65-13/294-3138
151 G Kings Road
Singapore, 1026
H 011-65-13/473-3644
O 011-65-13/320-0555
President
Stanmore Middlesex, HA7
IPN England
UK
H 011-44-81/952-8528
O 011-44-71/487-5966
and
William A. Plapinger ’74
8 Essex Villas
(Position Open)
London,
87BN
W
England
Admission Co-Chairs
Audrey Schwartz Home ’55
(Mrs. Fred M.)
PatriciaDrive
Wheeling, WV 26003
H 304/242-3494
O 304/232-2110
and
Christina M. Humway ’B3(Ms.)
10 Linden Avenue
Wheeling, WV 26003
H 304/242-8188
UK
H 011-44-71/937-3152
0 011-44-71/265-6500
Admission Co-Chair
Carla E. Slawson ’B6 (Ms.)
1610 North Prospect Avenue
#BO3
Milwaukee, WI 53202-2448
H 414/224-0887
O 414/276-8842
Harris J. Vertlieb ’Bl
15-25
Farrer
Court
Spain
Admission Chair
Marilyn GalushaFarreras ’6l
(Mrs.)
Escorzoneras 6
Los Alamos de Bularas
Pozuelo
28224 Madrid,
France
President
(Ms.)
Le Mas Fleurie
26 Ch Des Nielles
Cap d’Antibes
06600 Alpes Maritimes
France
H 011-33-339/361-3002
Admission Chair
Margaret Frankston ’7O (Miss)
1 rue Boulard
75014 Paris,
hToI 1-33-14/321-5511
Germany
Admission Chair
Susan Vakili Ballenweg ’9l
(Mrs.)
Schollstrasse 10
69469 Weinheim,
Germany
H 011-962/016-2306
years
have
the
seen
emergence of a strong and vital group of
independent American filmmakers.
Come
explore the works of people like
Joel Coen, Martha Coolidge, Quentin
Tarantino, Nancy Savoca, Ang Lee,
and many more
while you enjoy the
food and comfort of Alumnae House.
During the weekend, we
will screen
unique and diverse films. In
four
addition,
the phenomenon of independentfeature
films, including the problems of finance
and distribution, will be examined as it
relates
to
the traditional
dominated American film
Costs will include
Thailand
Admission Co-Chairs
Vichada Vongsiridej ’77 (Ms.)
19/18 Sithakarn Building
Chidlom Road
Bangkok, 10330
Thailand
H 011-66-2/252-3716
O 011-66-2/213-2441
and
Elaine Toy Assarat ’62
(Mrs. Suthi)
Promsuk Condominiums #BC
45 Sukhumvit Road SOI 26
Bangkok, 10110
Thailand
Hollywoodindustry.
overnight accommo-
dations, meals, the discussion
programs,
and the movies.
Popcorn
For
about this
information
get your name
future events,
will be free.
on
our
and
event
mailing
West Africa
Admission Chair
Nancy Wills Keteku (Ms.) ’72
Box 9761 Airport PC
Accra,
Ghana
to
list for
call Alumnae House at
914/437-7100
or
write
to
Alumnae
House, 61 Raymond Ave.,
H 233-21/077-3699
1994
The last twenty
Spain
H 011-34-1/715-1332
Joan Zimmerman Shore ’56
Wisconsin
President and Admission CoChair
Katherine Wilcox Lambert ’75
4667 North Wilshire Road
Whitefish Bay, WI 53211-1261
H 414/962-9237
Alumnae House Special Event
011-52-5/604-4636
and
Virginia
an
11560
Mexico
(Position Open)
Admission Co-Chairs
Seamus Ross ’79 (Dr.)
6 Thistlecroft Gardens
Admission Chair
Christopher H. Martin’9o
80 South Jackson Street #205
Seattle, WA 98104
H 206/233-9855
O 206/223-6414
38 VQ WINTER
Visions
4353
011-972-2/263-6602
Misao
Canada
Williamsburg
West
Independent
President
Sara Duker Fishman ’67
Poughkeepsie,
NY 12601.
Shuttlebus
PERSON,
PLACE & THING
Vassar faculty,
are
students, alumnae/i,
invited to submit items
to
and staff
PP&T. There is
charge for this bulletin board service;
publication is as space permits. Submissions
should be typed and 75 words or less; they may
be edited for length and style. Deadlines are
three months in advance of each issue. Please
that AAVC cannot
note
verify the terms of ads
no
that
are
or
walk to
town
center.
Fantastic
winter skiing, beautifulsummer
hiking, championship golf, horseback riding. Winter: $900/
week. Summer: $700/week. Please contact
Norma Cummings ’55, 9 Pinecroft, St.
George’sRd., Weybridge, Surrey,KT13 OEN,
England. Phone: London, 0932-844790.
bedrooms or
with den andformal
dining.
(Mrs. Daniel)
Tellep, 4323 Park Vicente, Calabasas, CA
91302; or call weekdays 818/876-2610.
Address
Fripp,
two
reply
to:
Patricia
South Carolina.Three-bedroom,
two-
bath house
Adoption: Vassar alumnaand husbandseeking to adopt a baby. We are an affectionate
couple with a five-year-old daughter. We
offer a lifetime full of stability, security, educational opportunities, beach vacations, and
piano lessons. Medical/legal costs paid. Please
unrelated to AAVC activities.
year beginning January. Wouldlike three-
one
call Ellen and Seth collect;
301/593-0674.
overlooking marshes at private
island nature
refuge near scenic Beaufort, SC.
One block to beach. Site of filming for Prince
of Tides, Forrest Gump, and new Walt Disney
film. Available in winter for monthlyrentals;
for weekly rentals. For informain summer
tion call
write: Erin Beacham Scott
or
3380 Carlton
Rd., Gumming,
’66,
GA 30131;
404/889-6757.
Wanted: Set of Vassar commemorative
plates,
probably made by Wedgwood, complete or
incomplete. Please call Mary Ellen Aloia
Gray ’7O at 201/744-9063 (home) or 908/
321-2780 (office).
Apartment
for
in Hawaii: Deluxe
rent
two-
bedroom apartment available for rental on
the island of Kauai. Completely furnished
with
have
kitchen and
fully equipped
Perfect for
rooms.
an
ocean
two
view
on
to
four
the
most
two
bath-
House for sale: Columbia County, NY. Less
than
two
horse farm. Deck overlooks Catskill Mountains.
$99,000. Ken Herz ’75. 212/348-1181.
Leslie Friedman ’69 and
minium at reasonablerates.
Excellent ameni-
small group through
centuries of history and art in this lovely area.
ties on
and steam
editing by university professor
with twenty years experience in publishing/
editing. Any kind of writing welcome: journalistic, academic, technical, commercial.
Reasonable rates, prompt delivery. Naomi
Ritter ’59,454 GCB, University of Missouri,
Columbia, MO 65211; 314/882-4672; e-mail
[email protected]; fax 314/8845438.
Rome;
Vatican.
Spacious, furnished,
three-room apartment with two
baths, eatin-kitchen, washer/dryer availableon monthly
basis. $2,700 per month. Contact Florence
Squassi Swanstrom ’79 at 201/379-6107.
near
spacious,
two
tennis courts, workout room, sauna,
bath. Come year-round for skiing,
hiking, rafting, back country tours, camping, shopping, and fine dining.
Heidi Power McLean ’74. 303/674-1185 or
fax 303/674-6994.
mountainbiking,
Gardens of Northern
Free-lance
sunny,
site includea full-size indoor pool,
Jacuzzis,
Poipu Beach. Rates vary from $B5-$ 150 per
night depending on time of year and length of
stay. Call C. Farkas ’7B at 617/585-4509 or
808/742-1165.
Visit the great Italian
Venice, and the Lake
Italy Spring Tour.
gardens of Tuscany,
Region this spring!
Landscape designer and lecturer Marie Stella
Byrnes ’63 will lead a small, informal group
on
a
garden history tour of northern Italy.
Travel by air to Milan and tour
the Italian
and
lake ferry.
train,
countryside by
mini-bus,
Hotel lodging is arranged to savor
the charm
and regional cuisine of the area.
Spectacular
scenery, the splendor of enchanting gardens—visit Italy in the spring! March 25-April 7,
1995. Cost under $3,000 all-inclusive. Call,
write, or fax for detailed brochure and specific
information: 413/339-4278; fax 413/6252158, Kirin Farm Enterprises, Mountain Rd.,
Charlemont, MA 01339.
cottage for sale. Se-
Unique mountaintop
cluded octagonal retreat
in Bethel, VT (only
2,200cottage on mountaintop). 26.8 acres.
foot altitude. Spectacular view includesWhite
Mountains of NH and Green Mountains of
VT. Watch hawkssoaring from 1,300-squarefoot, wrap-around deck. Ski from front porch.
Mahogany interior, hanging fireplace, slate
floors. Perfect refuge for writers, artists, musicians—or anyone who wants
total serenity
and privacy. $109,000. Call Tom Carty at
802/479-0349 (evenings). [Lucy Carty Blue
’7o]
Vail,
14 and 31 (1995: Apr. 8-15
and Aug. 5-12). Sleeps ten.
Three bath-
fireplace, clubhousefacilities (indoor/
outdoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna,
bar, squash, etc.).
rooms,
Explore
the
Clark lead
Jonathan
Prehistoric
spacious Vermont condominium.
Located in Wilmington on first fairway of
Haystack Golf Course and only minutes away
from ski areas
at Haystack Mountain andMt.
Snow. Lovely countryside, charming town
and shops. Sleeps six, two
full bathrooms,
standard modern conveniences, fireplace,
covered porch with great view, cable TV,
tennis courts, free cut
firewood provided.
Great for families or people who want
to
make one.
Call Dan Kane at 802/464-7458
about Country Club #16. [Joan HowsonHelzle ’82]
rent:
photographic
artist
a
Roman Cirencester,
Avebury,
wool villages of Stow-on-the-Wold
charming
and the Slaughters, private tours
of photoare
graphic and art treasures
highlights. More
than sightseeing: outings, advice for photographers and artists; guided walks through
history of human and plant and animal life.
Spring 1995. Call 415/346-8959.
As
an
collector of ancient coins, I
amateur
interested
was
to
find that Vassar has
cabinet. I’d like to hear from
coin
no
alumnae/i
who
collect coins: how you began, what you collect, and whetheryou recall coins being used
in
classes,
or
collected
by faculty
members of the College. I’ll write
a
or
other
notice of
whatever numismatica Vassariana I discover.
Ellen Martin, assistant
Vassar
College,
professor of English,
Poughkeepsie, NY
Box 342,
12601.
Visiting France? Why not
Enjoy French hospitality
stay with Friends?
and see
the real
France. More than 50 host families in all
in cozy farmhouses and
chateaux. Paris apartment rentals—studios to two-bedroom—also available for
stately
minimum
flyer; 190Families, $l2.
Cathy Stein Greenblat ’6l, President, Friends
in France, Ltd., 40 E. 19th St., #B, New York,
NY 10003; phone 212/260-9820; fax 212/
seven-day
stays. Free
page illustrated Guide to Host
228-0576.
Telephoning
Vassar?
General Information
AAVC
Alumnae House
Forty-four graduate andhusbandseek apartor
townhouse to rent
furnished (or
ment
trade for large, ocean-front house in Carmel)
in Washington, National Cathedral area, for
Cotswolds. Historian
English
regions offer stays
For
Colorado. Condominium available ev-
ery year, weeks
Mansfield,
brook, hayfield, wood forest, buildings, showing available, call 412/363-3336.[Judith Getty
Treadwell ’63]
two-bath condo-
beautiful of
the Hawaiian Islands. A five-minute walk to
Vermont: 120 acres, view of Mt.
Vail, Colorado; Enjoy our
two-level, two-bedroom,
You’ll
people.
hours from New York City. Cute
three-bedroomhome surrounded by 200-acre
914/437-7000
914/437-5445
'914/43 7- 7100
Annual Fund and
Special Gifts
Admission
914/437-5406
914/437-7300
39
40 VQ WINTER
1994
41
42 VQ WINTER
1994
43
t
’39
I
Sally Kunkel
Stafford
1080 Patterson St. #llO6
Eugene, OR 97401
503/344-5104
Reunion is still a happy memory
for those of us who
fortunate enough to be there. I must
were
confess that
it was all such fun and so filled with
activi-
rewarding
44 VQ WINTER
1994
of gleaning a lot of news for the
that my intentions
column were
woefully neglected. Instead I have simties
ply a composite picture of the “Never Over 40”
gang—handsome, active, gracious, independent, fun
people, all of whom are a credit to Vassar. The men
who accompanied some
of us were
a credit to our
good
Our
share our
lives with each other. You may fill in the
card in the magazine and send it in or, better yet, write
me
directly. Only please, I beg you, make it legible.I’m
trouble
of the scribbles and
some
having
reading
simply have to eliminate the illegible stuff. In
keep your news
event,
coming. Salve!
any
new
Morton, has,
up
to
now
at least, been spending time
AARP and workforce programs
in
Tulsa, OK. This involves retirement-planning programs,
age discrimination in promotion, reentry into
workforce training, etc.
Her husband, Tom, has recently retired after 12 years as adjunct professor of
’40
For
the first time
in
many,
many
I have
years
“I received a wonderful education at Vassar and have
reaped the rewards of the intellectualstimulation and
social conscience
55 Alcott Rd.
or
A number of mini-reunions
are
being planned for
andfall. Doc and I are looking forward to
late summer
a lunch gathering at Sue Froelicher Holcombe’s next
55 th Reunion
week. In October, Hilda Reis Bijur, Marie Drew
Powers, and Peggy Jones Brooks are arranging a
1940 table at the large Vassar Happening at Avery
Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center in New York. Betty
Saeger Daniel and Sally Geer Pickett are hosting a
lunch at the Inn at Chester, CT, and Comfy Cary
Richardson is planning a lunch at Ellerslie, a lovely
Chester County farmhouse on
the grounds of
Grasslands, Kennett Square, PA, the community
I received the sad
of
news
Sylvia Carter Bridgman’s
from several classmates with affectionate reminisand more
information that I want
to pass along
cences
that “Syl battled
you.
Sally Geer Pickett wrote
hard against her cancer,
and she managed to stay at
home in Wilton (CT) the last two months. She leaves
who lives in Ontario, and a daughter,
a son,
to
Vassar provided. Tell Sally I enjoyed her remarks and also sang alto in the choir!”
Sure, now I remember, although the married name
had not rung a bell with me at first.
Atwood Hedge was sorry
miss the reto
Schuyler,
Edith Ventimiglia, in Topsfield, MA, and two granddaughters. The memorial service was in New Canaan,
We missed her and would have liked to tell her
in person
what a great job she’d done on the reunion
bulletin. She sent me a card she’d received from Mary
since
Payson Greene Hartdegen, who was
northwest New
Polly
union.
unable
to
come
her very
there. We’ll miss
were
much. We have remained close friends
college.” Betty
Nash Nicholson
when she roomed with “Silly”
courting her. He would drive up
Jersey,
at
remembered
Vassar. “Bob was
time
flat from
in no
where he worked for the New
Channing now live. There are other
afoot in other parts of the land, and I hope to
hear about them in time for our next
Class Notes.
A recent
letter from Ethel Rosen Price tells of
wonderful travel plans. She and Manny leave at the
end of this month (August) for a week on their own
in
London. There they will join an English Elderhostel.
This will consist
of a week with the Royal Shakespeare
Company in Stratford and London, and two weeks of
study of a particular collection
auspices of Sotheby.
of treasures
under the
Constance Hedin
Carlson ’37, long a
leader in higher
along with whatever her very outdoorsy—and athletically minded—parents wanted to do. I thinkthat
to
by the time she
college she had climbed, or
the church in
education in
been towed up,
Mountains!”
of the White
of others with regular visits
to people in the nursing
home component of her community, extensive
travel
I received word of Katherine Dain
(she’s been to Russia, China,Australia, New Zealand,
Egypt, Israel, Greece, most
European countries,
Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands), and frequent
came
Maine,
awarded
50th reunion. She had really wanted to be there,
but slow recovery
from a hip-replacement operation
prevented her from coming. A couple of years ago she
moved to a Presbyterian retirement
community in
our
reunion
because she was
her way to Italy and
on
Switzerland with her chorale group
and after that a
to
daughter in England. They were
to
the 10:30 Mass at St. Peter’s on June 19 and be
for the pope’s blessing.
square
sing
in the
Nice to hearfrom Hazel Wightman Harlowagain.
Her regret at not getting to reunion
was
expressed—“Darn and double darn! but whenthe month loomed
ahead I realized I could not cope withyet another trip.
In July I had
and rewarding but strenuous
Connecticut, where I had lived for 35 years,
a warm
trip
and
then was
going to take one to family in California.”
Faithful Nancy Chivvis Quackenbush is still
pursuinggenealogy, which is “as addictive as smoking
alcoholism; money and time mean
or
nothing when
up that family tree.”
Gertrude Good’s nephew Michael (age 37, has
barking
woodwork business in
withher, paid
us
Brooklyn), who was
’39ers
a
top
at
a
reunion
accolade: “You ladies are
all doers,” was his com-
only intelligent, you are
more
ment,
according to Gertrude. He was even
impressed by Carol Rothschild Noyes’s Sunday P.M.
talk than by her beauty (greater now
than when
PERcarrying the daisy chain!). “The weekend
not
was
FECT,”
says
Gertrude. “I
loved it
all,
as
Thanks to all who planned it.”
Frances Lawrie Geisel’s husband,John, is
did my
of her daughters. She wrote
one
about her life there and the new
friends she had made. I talked with her daughter,
Nancy, who lives in Warren, CT. She said that her
mother’s death was
although at the time
Orlando, FL,
near
enthusiastically
unexpected,
she happened to be in the hospital overnight for
Besides her two
tests.
daughters, Kaddy is survived by
four granddaughters.
Along with her myriad activities, Betty Goff
beto
Cook Cartwright has managed to find time
come
a grandmother. Alexander Cartwright Garner
born on March 2, 1994- The proud parents are
was
daughter Alice and her husband, Jim. Betty Goff
writes, “Now I know why they are called ‘grands’!” At
the end of June she was off to attend four nights of
ballet at the InternationalBallet Festival in Jackson,
some
MS—all young
dancers from 37 countries.
Later in
the summer
Betty Goff wrote, “It was superb. It’s every
four years in Jackson. Ballet aficionados should make
the scene.”
It was
“Sold my
good to
hearfrom Amelia Lashar
Houghton:
small house; have moved into this retirement
community [in Bridgeport, CT]. I threw out a lot
of junk, including sorting out old snapshots and tearc/o
of them.” Letters to Amelia sent
ing up most
AAVC will be forwarded.
nephew.
a mem-
Dorothy Bryant Nodine
ber of the pacemaker brigade (but still a nationally
ranked doubles tennis
player), andshe battledshingles
had
last fall. Three Armenian tennis-playing friends visited
grandchildren.
them for a couple of weeks last summer.
Now they are
eagerly awaiting a visit from the 25-year-old son of
their first Foster Parent Plan child, a Polish refugee to
West Germany after World War 11. “AufWiedersehen.
Remember the German department Meine Fraulein
Klep. Delightful.” Finally, and this has got to be a first!
Frannie is the mother of grandfather! “Sounds old
but doesn’t feel so. Jack and I are great-grandparents
of Lauren Brooks, daughter of granddaughter Laurie
and granddaughter of our son John.”
I’m counting on you to keep in touch so that we
Andes. Their parents
a
one
every
Binns’s death on April 3.1 remember thatKaddy had
health problems thatkept herfrom joiningus at
some
.
with her
just about
Only recently
an
honorary doctorate by
Husson College
to
number of Vassarfriends
where she and
plans
Jersey Zinc Company. His father was the renowned
physicist Percy Bridgman, who did pioneeringwork at
Harvard to try and split the atom.
Silly was a dear,
really totally unathletic, but always gamely went
was
visit
a
pains.”
Concord, MA 01742
508/369-8265
death just before our last column was due. At that time
1 could write
only a few lines. Since thenI have heard
and
a
Sibby Lamb Howe
petroleum engineering.
heard, indirectly, from Margaret Hopkins Priddle,
who lives in Toronto, Canada. She happens to be
related to one of my new, good friends, who shared my
remarks about a Vassar education with her because of
the Vassar connection.
to
Margaret wrote
my friend:
hardly a log cabin, in the woods
together. Getting to Halifax is pilgrimage of at least
12 hours plus a ride of an hourand three-quarters from
the
airport. It’s six miles off the main highway, requires its own generator, withoutTV or phone lines—it
a real
from civilization. It has a tremendous
escape
cathedral ceiling in the living room
and is generally
sort of awardfor
some
very spacious. The design won
the architects. I’m glad to report that I have no aches
a
volunteering with
built this house,
is
lot to the success
of the weekend.
class fund chairman, Frankie Davis
and added
taste
can
in
wrote
May that she
justvisited Anne Robinson Easton
I now
“Gorgeous area [Corinth]
...
The last
two
are
in
in Vermont.
have seven
Ecuador—in the
in the business of taking care
to
get
a
Village in
Cromwell. She
will be
active
Covenant
her life and the lives
living
seasons
Elderhostel programs.
When you read these
very
in
midwinter,
in
notes
our
only few short months away. I hope
you’re making plans to come.
Betty Goff Cook
Cartwright and Prudy Hemenway Hodge are working hard on the arrangements, and they have lined up
wonderful chairpersons to help organize differsome
reunion
a
parts of the weekend: Faith Crandall
Scott —hospitality; Barbara Arnold—the memorial
service; Anne Barrows Ramsey —rooming; Jane
ent
Lawrence Beaman and Mary Taber Honey—Friday
and Saturday night dinners; and Polly Spear Chapin
and Helen (Dixie) Dixon Kunzelmann—the marshals who will get us to Walker Field House in orderly,
but spirited, fashion. COME!
’41
Harriet Gibbs Gardiner
1660 Pershing Rd.
Jacksonville, FL
32205
904/388-4270
To quote Ruth Kogan Felmus, “The year 1994 has
been a very busy one,” beginning for her with the
Ruth has had
of the
shakeup
visits
January earthquake!
from friends and family
from Israel who won
near
a cousin
a
and far,
trip
to
see
including
the Oscars
Ruth has done her share of traveling, too.
packing for Alaska whenshe wrote. Later she
take a granddaughter to Detroit to see family,
was
to
then on to Minneapolis to see Ruth Firestone Brin.
Molly Bigelow McMillan has a new winter adin person.
She
was
dress in Carefree, AZ. Letters to
AAVC will be forwarded.
her
sent
care
of
was
planning a trip to Italy in the fall. Her greatest
pride, however, is a Princeton grandson, Shai Ingber,
and a Vassar sophomore granddaughter, Becca
She is now
living
haven’t much to say except that I’ve returned
Livingston.
ever
a
letter from Elaine Osterweil
in Palo Alto, CA. “I
writes, “We haveleft the
city [San Antonio] and are happily ensconced
ranch near San Angelo, TX.”
nice
member
Betty
She is now
a
backpacking.”
Betty Tweedy Sykes
was
Saeger
1991, and she has been
since.
Ever heard of a “Grand-friends Program”? Ruth
Firestone Brin volunteers in such a day care for 4- and
5-year-olds. This is only part of her many activities,
both on civic
boards and with her own
writing. She
are
of people
It
The May issue of the bulletin from the First
Church in Deep River, CT, has a
Daniel.
feature article on Betty
joined
Congregational
to
on
big
my
first love, sculpture, and I am enjoying it immensely.
I’m going up to Halifax to visit
my grandson.
Trips?
My granddaughters will be there, too,
as
my
children
Firestone ’97.
Janet Dillon Blair and husband Shelton toured
the
periphery
of France in
Normandy beaches. They had
a
May, including
the
reunion
sets
withtwo
45
of European friends,
one
couple
whom
they hadn’t
tuting, tutoring, and working
in the library. Also from
word thatElinor Scott Oswald still
California comes
1945.
since
seen
Norma Prichard Rogers observes, “Life falls into
one’s lap a happening at a time.” A surprise happening
has been a new
career
as a professional genealogist.
Norma and Bill had a lovely visit with Catie Morrison
Sippel and
her husband in Florida at Christmastime.
Another change of direction: Joan Mendenhall
Schreder has turnedfrom fiction writingto her “first
love,” painting. She has had two successful shows in
tours
(L.A. Today Custom Tours).
Ellen Lee Blackwell Meigs’s son was married this
runs
spring.
Congratulations to Kay Hallett Sutton, who recently received a Bachelor of Arts in history.
Peggy Mcllvaine Joyce is very enthusiastic about
retirement
her new
MA.
home (Kimball Farms) in Lenox,
Marsh Mundy, and Frances
Field sail with the Dennisons.
Emily Westwood
disappointed not
was
(Franny) Kilpatrick
Gardner loved Costa Rica but
to
meet
Margarita Penon de
Arias ’7O, as had been planned. Emily’s grandmother,
Lucina Johnson, taught at Vassar in 1869.
Priscilla Bullitt Collins and her sister continue
to
classical music
their Seattle, WA, radio
on
provide
station.
Our class extends its
deepest sympathy
Joan
to
New York City, whichbenefited her Unitarianchurch.
She has started a two-year project to create
a large
From Barbara (8.A.) Lattimer Krader comes
word that she and her husband have decided to stay in
Rothwell Moor, Nancy HaydenPhillips, and Valerie
Hathaway Tew, whose husbands died this year. I was
of new
work.
to
I wish I had room
quote in full the starry-eyed
from MelitaRenfert Harkness, telling ofher
message
marriage in Nov. 1993 to Ralph N. Harkness. Mixed
Berlin, Germany.
shocked
with the joys of congeniality and the challenges of golf
is a combined total of 14 grandchildren!
Shattan and her husband on a Baltic cruise, Connie
Havrilia to Cyprus, Molly Pratt Barringer and
Margaret Merry Willis came east with her sister
in June. They visited Annapolis and Charlottesville,
staying with Leslie Smith Hogeboom Norton ’4O,
Minor
body
who
was
former classmate
a
at
Holton Arms.
Various other peripatetic classmates include Betty
Menderson Schulman to London, Lois Chapman
Houghton to India and Pakistan, Mimi Fleiss
fish
Riviere St. John, Canada, and
Grace (Mimsey) Olmsted Potts and Ed to Alaska.
Ruth Middleton had an art show in Litchfield,
CT, this past September and is working on a stone
to
Please note
this correction:
In the Summer VQ,
Caroline Smith Stilwell’s daughter was
incorrectly
Tuscany, Italy, for
named. She is Patricia Stilwell Walker ’69, thirdgeneration Vassar.
Esther (Bickey) Fowler Pile and Bill, who have
rented a farmhouse for four years.
Like many
’4lers, Reba May Blum regrets she
where classmates can
isn’t near
areas
easily get together. Her enthusiasm for Vassar is still strong, and
she hopes one of the daughters of Barbara Blum Dahl
Three classmates who have
their 50th wedding anniversaries
’69 may be drawn to Vassar when the time
comes.
Reba and husband Bobby took these granddaughters,
Julie, 16, and Susie, 15, on a Caribbean cruise for
spring break. They all had a lively time!
A birthday
call
phone
to
Ruth Tucker reassured
that, with her characteristic independence, she is
recovering well from the knee surgery she underwent
in
May. Prior to her operation, Ruth traveled to
England, staying first with long-time friends and then
time
in
enjoying a few days in Exeter and some
London revisitingfavorite spots.
I had a lovely two
days with Lucy Hulburd
Richardson in early June on my way to my
grandme
daughter’s graduation
from the Exeter
sculpture
A
her
sleep
March 2, while on
on
Grove, Cordova, TN 38018. We send
pathy to
family.
him and
to
our
go
together?
’42
Anne
were
present.
Kasten and Fritz
in Wisconsin. Jean
Wyman
family reunion
were
off
to
a
Carpenter Winton
heading for Bermuda, while Nancy
and husband were
(Frankie) Wilson aimed
at the Adirondacks. Linda
MarlorPickens and husband were on a cruise.
Nancy
Noland Spreen and husband
shipped to London and
while
Garrett
Orchard
due for
was
Normandy,
Betty
Portugal and Turkey in September.
We have word from
Vassar clubs. One is in
Sarasota, FL, chaired by Mary HanchetteEberle with
the assistance
ofAnne Nevin Chamberlin.The other
two
Naples, FL, chaired by Catharine (Cathy) Little
Motley. ’42ers in the area are urged to contact
them.
Jacqueline Heinzen Houser is no longer teaching at
in
Westridge School Pasadena, CA, but is still substiis in
46 VQ WINTER
1994
Joys and despair
Kittens to love
All of the above
appreciated
hut
member
a
looks
forward
Isn’t that nice?
I hope everyone
of ’44
to
of last
pleasant memories
with family and friends.
includeclimbing a mountain
in
My happy memories
the Adirondacks with grandchildren—a bit too much
for me,
it turned out,
and as my
right knee frequently reminds me.
her
70th reunion, when
the class will “he
waited on hand and
has
that include visits
summer
as
Betty Barlow Cutler-Wotton spent
foot,”
readying
Westport
trees
garden
tour
on
“Wonderful continuity
give form and substance to
says,
age
to
see
the
the land-
was
transferred
scape.”
due
to
had
a
Mary Elizabeth Armstrong Lyons has finished
banding monarch butterfliesfor a migration study and
is now
working with Share Care, a new organization
in
Northport, MI, to make it possible for people to stay
in their own
homes as they age.
And another 50th: Peg Abbott Billings, her hus-
an
to Barbara (Baba) Blagden Sisson’s
illness in Phebe’s family. Seven arrivals
my
a lot of time
for the Hidden Gardens of
June 12. Another poetic thought
her
here—she
fine time.
Mary (Fergie) Ferguson Sullivan is still involved
the Vassar Club of Western New York and was
looking forward to their springmeeting and the Vassar
Jean Irwin Smith still lives in Brazil and came
to visit
Brazilian friends this past sumsome
band, four
stateside
mer.
among
Lady Lakes, FL, Bow, NH,
and Peakes
Gluckman,both widowed within the last few
years,
together on an Elderhostel trip to Greece last
spring, spending one week on the mainland and one
week on a yacht in the islands. Elderhostel combines
lectures with historical and artistic
sightseeing, so
one’s travel is greatly enriched.
Esther
Williams Dasenbrock and Henry
Mary
went
Wellesley, MA, Betty Anne Harvey
enjoyed lunch with Ruth (Patty) Patterson
Spang, Frances (Franny) Hunt Miltimore, and Florence
(Flo) Cushing Perkins.
A big family reunion
in Yellowstone Park was
planned by Ann Tracy Fisher last summer.
Still
teaching at tbe New School in New York,
NY, is our talentedclassmate Miriam(Mimi) Dworsky
Obler. She had a workshop for the staff of that school
and after the
“big snows” lunched with Connie
Havrilla, Mildred Swaybill Rothman, and Patricia
(Pat) Gardner House.
Anne Murray Barbey
spent the winter
Springs, CA, and is writing a paper on the
in
Palm
need for
volunteers.
Corinne Somerville Repsold teaches two
studies
each
week and
Bible
their wives, and four of six
spent a long weekend together on
Kiawah Island, SC.
Barbara Adler Zeluck and Charlyn Fisher
sons,
grandchildren
While in
traveling
attend, but 24
be
to
She enjoyed her 50th,
Morris
Again, many thanks to Franny Prindle Taft for
annualpicnic-hosting and transmittingyour 93
postals!
and unable to
Many of our classmates were
from
Cherished, savored, relished,
Island, ME.
Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
207/799-0326
wonderful poem
follows:
Adult children who share
Louisa Harrington Childs Butcher divides her
Selvage
a
as
Letters to send
Birds to feed
Last May, Phebe Perry Mixter invited those of us
in northern New England to a class luncheon, which
time
Carol Tompkins
30 Ironclad Rd.
with
Anything but “laid back”
A garden to tend
Trips to enjoy
My fax, a new toy
speaker.
As I close this column, here are my thanksfor your
welcome cards.
Keep them coming! And happy holidays to all!
this time
start
Business needs
in
other members of Marjorie’s
Jeanne Walser Burdell
1741 Dumbarton St.
McLean, VA 22101-4206
703/536-2169
At 73
I find it hard
completed by
a
deep sym-
heartfelt sympathy.
Mary Lib Wetzel Peddie,
are
condolences go to
her husband, Dr. George W. Henry, and two
daughMrs. Scott Morriss 111 and
Nancy Henry
MacKenzie ’75 (Mrs. William).
Marjorie Smith Leffler died on Oct. 15, 1993.
Her son,
Dr. Charles Leffler, lives at 285 Locust
We’ll
celebrated
in Switzerland. Our
ters,
’43
our
Lillian(Lig)
to contact
We all have an invitation
Lowrey Power if visiting Honolulu, HI. Shall we all
We are saddened to learn of the deaths of two
of
classmates. Dorothy Grueninger Henry died
in
Otter
Nancy Hallinan.
where.
unexpectedly
skiing vacation
recently
latest novel has been
recent
then went
to
Portland, ME, to see my niece, Pat
Bartlett, daughter of Margaret Gibbs Worthington
’32. Cool, clear weather and good company
every-
our
St. Michael’s church. She visited
weeks. Also in Tuscany were
two
sending
LauraWhitaker
Roberts, May Orton Westheimer, and Jozefa (Zef)
Malinowska Stuart.
I
Academy.
for
at
learn that Elaine Ott Timme’s youngest
I know you all join in
to cancer.
to
Jon, succumbed
son,
women’s
speaks
at
women’s conferences and workshops.
A good letter from Frances (Franny) Ferry
Dennison tells of volunteering in the Riverdale Hos-
pital, Riverdale, NY, and serving on several boards,
including the Riverdale Senior Center. She notes
that Katherine (Kay) Cooper Cary, Isabel (Izzy)
did Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia last spring and
since
then have been on a 10-country cruise
in the
Baltic Sea. In between, she squeezed in a ’43 lun-
cheon, givenby her and Sidney Meeker Keith
at
the
home in Haverford where
Quadrangle, the retirement
they both live. Present were Anne Tall Evans, Esther
Montgomery Kolb, Carol Bartlett Purdy, Eleanore
Zeiss Bradway, Elizabeth Wallace Muller, and
Jean
Deming Richardson ’42.
Lanny Wiener Atlas tellsof attending the August
get-together of the New England contingent at Rusty
Allen Upton’s family homestead in Bedford, NH.
Carolyn Perry Harwood and Barlow CutlerWotton helped Rusty host the occasion, which included Marguerite Stay Swain, Eleanor Mead
Strong, Lulu Allyn Sunderland, Marion Danielson
Campbell, Ellen Oldham, Jean MacLeod Noblin,
Susie Belding Eldredge, and Sis Tompkins Barnes.
Also present were
Nancy Crompton Wendell, who is
off to China, and Betty Chandler Alexander, who is
of Sunapee, NH.
working hard on the restoration
died on May 1 in Woodstock,
Nancy Merrill
Bailey
IL, after a long illness, leaving her husband, five
children, a sister, and seven
grandchildren.
Carol
Cortelyou Cruikshank says she accidentally brought home from our 50th a March 1943 copy
of the Vassar Brew with Betty Stockman’s picture on
it to its rightful owner,
the cover.
She’d like to return
if you will contact
her at PO Box 445, Astoria Hotel,
Rosendale, NY 12472.
Kate Johnson Armstrong and Charity Crocker
Cole, who’ve been in close touch ever since college,
both happily welcoming adult daughters moving
are
their respective homes, Kate in Alexandria,VA,
near
and Charity in Durham, NC.
My husband and I are going to France in September for the first time
in
navigate Paris traffic in
several years.
Can we
still
a rented car? Watch this
space!
realized that she’s also
last time about the death of Doris Perry
I wrote
Beecher. Since then, I had a nice letter from Helen
Speed Tuttle, who sent along Doris’s husband’s ad-
’44
in
on
1988. Unfortunately, I have no further information
family addresses.
Several people have written
to say how much they
enjoyed
our
worked
so
reunion
hard and
came
together beautifully
due
to
I loved seeingall of you I write
about withsuch
interest, and I had a wonderful time.
You know, there
is nothing like the camaraderie born of addiction.
Bobbie Baer Luchs, Ruth Tiffany Barnhouse, and I,
smokers all, thoughtfully removed ourselves about 50
feet from those of pure lung, to the middle of Noyes
lawn,where, after discussing our civil rights with some
a
on
a
or
we
two,
plans to
live
to
about,
be 90 and looks forward to
write
to
me
reunion, when we will stay in Alumnae
House and “be waited on hand and foot.” We were
their efforts and
next
discussing equal or unequal value of male and female
education when we were
joined by a perfectly charmBill Clement, whose curiosity about our
ing man,
isolation got the best of him. He didn’t smoke, but we
welcomed him anyway.
I learned that Ruth, who was
ordained
an
Episcopal priest in Washington, DC, in
to
Dallas, where women
1980, was promptly sent
priests were not acceptable. I hope her book is about
breaking
which I
Please
to
had a wonderful
number of topics. Ruth has written
moment
book, which she promises
new
I would like to commend
those of their committees.
Bets Moore Shea, particularly, for the Academic Day,
the point of wanting to rush over
the registrar and enroll for four more
years.
At dinner in the Villard room,
which we filled to
enjoyed
and to commend all those who
to
such great effect on it. For
myself,
our
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a very Happy
of us will forget 1994 and
New Year! Certainly none
50th reunion,which was justabout perfect, as I’m
our
we
all agree.
sure
Again we must thank Anne Meigs
Larkin and Peggy Burke Howe for what must
have
been several years of hard and successful work. It all
to
overflowing, Anne Wotherspoon Ross ’45-4 found a
complete elastic band in six pieces in her salad and
commented with perfect grace, “I love the watercress
but it was a little tough.”Phyllis Rosenthal Frankfort
reminisced about
squirrel her neighbor in Main,
Ginette de Bidart Merrill, befriended. They lived
the top floor, where they had dormer windows. This
French cuisine, i.e.,
lucky squirrel dined
Camembert, according to Phyllis, and became a “very
fun at our table, and dinner was
fussy squirrel.” It
delicious in spite of vagrant petroleum products.
Patty Gamble Hecker, in charge of having a
down those barriers.
is not
the end of it all, you
A 50th reunion
keep sending
me
news
of you
that we
know.
can
all
tape runs for 30 minutes
includes mailing.
NY 12601-6199. The
and the price is $ 12.50, which
I have some
from Gini Howell
very exciting news
Speairs. Her husband,Col. Anse H. Speairs, has been
invited by the French minister
of defense, with two
other Americans, to take part in the celebrations of
the 50th anniversary of the landing in Provence. Col.
Speairs commanded the 45 th Infantry Division on
that occasion.
Gini writes that it was his fourth such
engagement; the others included Sicily, Salerno,
Anzio, and then Ste. Maxime.
Lydia TynerAnderson, our
reunion
book editor,
would like you to add the following to your list of “The
Rest of 1944” in your book—those whose information
’45-4
Bunny Davison Leonard
spend
the Arts,
a
a
high
the
rest
of their time
in
Michigan,
of the Interlochen Center for
school and summer
in the
arts
camp
trustee
northern part of the state.
She says, “It’s an exciting
place with a splendid academic faculty and separate
arts
faculty and truly gifted young people from all parts
of the U.S. and the world.”
Madeleine Hulst Lawrence, summering in the
Berkshires, again discovered Peggy Burke Howe singing in the Berkshire Choral Festival. Mad says, “We
also
wrote
Wilson home with Friends of the Vassar Art Gallery
and had taken a winter
break in Sarasota, FL. At the
she
time
she
wrote
attending
was
Smithsonian.
Anne Stommel continues
Howard Stern and his on-air
Private Parts, devoted nine
art
classes
at
the
her crusade against
offensiveness. His book,
Stommie. She
to
pages
to be “a thorn in his side.”
Faith Higgins McCurdy has a press agent in the
ofLibby Austin Lindsay, who sent us Faith’s
person
rejoices
book, A Limner’s View—An Architectural Odyssey,
which
published as the catalogue for a oneshow in Nov. 1993 by the Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory press and presented by Liz Watson. It’s a
was
woman
“smashingly
of her works,
show and also made
glossy catalogue
attractive
which constituted
a one-woman
for the CSH Laboratory.” Libby was sorry to
the event
but enjoyed the book.
After nearly 42 years in the same
house, Elaine
(Lainie) Garrabrant Stulb moved to a condo. The
money
daughters,
Our word allotment is doubled for reunion, so I hope
’45-4 will rise to the challenge and send me a lot of
news! This column is necessarily being written
way
before the Aug. 20 deadline,
Florida’s long, hot summer,
vania
to
visit
my
son
I
as
first by
and three
breaking up
to
Pennsylgrandsons. Soon
am
a
trip
afterward I visit
in northern New York State, where I
used to live, and then journey to the ivied halls of
Dartmouth, where I used to work, though not at the
“The Riddles of
same
to take a course,
time, of course,
Creation.” Sounds heavy? The advance reading is!
Jackson was
hoping that the ravages of shingles will have disappeared from her forehead in time for a family reunion
in
Winchester, OR. Shortly afterward she was to
attend four-day meeting in Aspen, CO, of Farmer’s
Insurance agents of the Topper Club—people from
her region who have qualified by selling lots of life
She also planned to take a whitewaterraft
insurance.
a
trip down the Colorado River.
A card from Martha Harbrecht Darcy informs
to
us
Baltimore,
Anne (Sis) Carrington Wood is recovering from
cuff and is helped along by a 48-hour
rotator
week. She also reports on a “mini, but bighearted” reunion
at Jack and Debbie Smith Haight’s
exercise
in Bethlehem, PA. It was
an
overnight house party,
and up from Baltimore drove Lucy Brady Farrar and
Bill, Bunny Hewitt Lothrop and Oliver, and Julie
Clark Watts. Next day, Dorrie Hardin Dillon and
Sid, Karla Jones Conly, Polly Crawford Cummin,
and Sis arrived to meet
everybody at the Allentown,
Besides nonstop talking by everybody,
PA, museum.
according to Sis, included also was a garden tour and
walking
tour.
about a wonBobbie Dinsmore Simpson writes
derful (last) winter
in Vero Beach, FL. She was
so
from the ice, snow, and cold in New
to be away
happy
Canaan, CT. She was
playing
lots of tennis
grandkids,
nearby.
and
Dorothy Johnson
Mary Louise Wieboldt Sample writes, “We’re
justhanging in here (Wilmette, IL), hoping we won’t
break a leg on the ice. (Same infamous aforemenand
tioned winter.) Mary Louise is spending more
time
more
volunteering at the Chicago Botanic Garden, having completely retired from her garden design
business. She has also decided to become computer
literate
so
that she
can
converse
with her
grandchil-
dren.
Elisabeth Miller Burger finds (the same) winter
(N.Y.C.) much more
wintry than she’s
seen
in
City”
years.
Following
an
entertaining description
of what she has witnessed there, she adds, “Civilization, if that is what we have developed here, cannot
just rise above
a
real winter.” However, she and Chet
keep busy and are well. They are planning a trip to
Galilee and Jerusalem; the theme of the trip is biblical
history.
Retirement is not in the vocabulary of Sally Mather
Gibson and John. They are blessed witha family of 19,
including four grandchildren who are close enough to
be very
much
a
part of their lives. Their schedules
heavy with board service in several cities in
the areas
of youth, health, and education, and they
thoroughly enjoy three days a month in New York
with meetings, exhibiCity, packing every moment
tions, music, and good friends.
Dottie Brown sent
almost 100 dues slips with
me
the back (thanks, gals),
well as the innews
on
remain
torn
the Moravian buildings
three
den Honert
van
in “Fun
Thank goodness there’s no final!
At this writing, Nancy Johnson
a
where Char is
She suffered a broken collarbone. Camille
that she attended the tour of the Woodrow
tutions.
address in
Use Hochhauser Browner has a new
of ’94 is
Pittsfield, MA, and except for the winter
much. She has two
enjoying the Berkshires very
50th Reunion
year to attend a coed college. She reports that
although she has divided loyalties, she is always interested in Vassar doings and reads the Quarterly with
Florida but
but Marion had a car accident, so both their plans
changed. Marion was seeing her son, who is a judge,
off at the Oklahoma City airport; he is being sent to
Kiev as an adviser on democratic principles and insti-
piano and Ed his computer.
904/445-9133
man
“great interest.” She and her husband now live in Fort
Myers, FL.
Charlotte Carr Roe writes
(to Lydia—again too
in
late for the book) that she and her husband winter
to
Camille Cottrell Espeut intended to come
a
mini-reunion
with Marion Kurtz Lester,
May 1993
before the snows
of ’94 and was
to
very
content
watch others shovel, chip, and plow, as she had her
29 Welling Ln.
Palm Coast, FL 32164
she has moved from Lutherville, MD,
MD.
in too
who isn’t?
forced her to get rid of things she thought
essential and enabled her to “become more
organized than I thought possible.” She moved
late for publication. Sylvia Bardelmeier
Crouse, known in college as “Stevie,” left after freshcame
as
were
on
Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie,
Mainefor the 181 United Church
of Christ churches. She is looking forward to our 50th,
move
on
video tape made of allthe festivities, would like you to
know that the tape is available and may be ordered
through Terri O’Shea, AAVC, Alumnae House, 61
Charlotte (Scooter) Rice Wilbur attended the
convention
of the League of Women Voters, as
state
miss
enjoy!
a
was
were
capital campaign in
and Bobbie
809/775-7360
delightful evening
knows he would be pleased to hear from any friends.
also report the death of Maria L. Ouro-Preto
I must
a
6871 Upper Wintberg
St. Thomas, USVI 00802
a
with Sue Latson Blankley and Tom when they
in Ft. Pierce.
she is acting president of the Portland, ME, area
league. She is also co-chair of a four-million-dollar
conversation
Richards Harkness
and enjoying the beach, and had
dress, Henry Ward Beecher, Jr., 6533 Seaview Ave.
NW #502-A, Seattle, WA 98117. Helen says she
asperity for
Sally
the board ofdirectors. Neat
on
lady!”
and
golf,
as
formation that she spent a month on Sanibel Island,
FL, last spring.
Ellie Appel Golden was honored as the DistinAlumna of 1993 by her grade school, the
guished
Orchard School of Indianapolis. Her mother and her
Vassar ’O3 and ’O6, were
founders, inspired by
aunt,
of 1922. This is a progresVassar Euthenics, summer
sive
the arts and emphasizes
school that encourages
early development. Elbe was invited to have an art
exhibit and gave a workshop in silk screening for the
entire
“It was
art
a very
department. She wrote,
47
and the banners made by the
artwork
students turned out extremely well. My own
looked great. Grade school is about my speed. The
place is pretty yuppie compared to the rag-tag days of
touching occasion,
youth!”
own
my
More on last winter:
Lucy Brady Farrar wrote
from Connecticut, which was
extremely hard hit,
“Blizzard, beautiful blizzard! Picture book stuff. Many
sit in her
red cardinals.” She was
to
leaving shortly
daughter’s garden in
El Salvador.
Important words from Helen Chatfield Black;
“Response to our ’45-4 50th anniversaryfund solicita-
gratifying. It’s fun to be working on the
We hope to have 100 percent participahigh rate of attendance for our reunion.”
has been
tion
class
team.
and
tion
a
Meanwhile, her work in outdoor education and conservation keep her “hopping.”
Peg Conger Unsworth works on several boards
for suicide prevention and the Cornell Center for
Religion, Ethics, and Social Policy, but finds volunwork as a mediator the most
teer
challenging and
She recently traveled
satisfying.
Moscow with
Vespers
a
St.
Petersburg
spot. We don’t need any
she wails. The population has exploded
from 8,000 to 30,000 since
1960 and is still growing
fast. Johnnie spent last Christmas with family in Cabo
San Lucas and also visited family in Montana.
Mary Pilliod Enard summeredlast year in Canada
West Country, as well as the Lake District, Yorkshire,
travel
Franny; “If I never
and
and the Cotswolds.
again, I’ll consider
Says
myself really blessed
after that
wonderful trip!”
of her visit
to
Marjorie Carolin Bradford wrote
Guatemala last March, where she spent an afternoon
with
Evelyn Clark Rogers, whom she hadn’t seen
since
graduation. Evelyn showed her around the campus of the school that she had opened in the early
19505; it now has 600 students, grades 1-12, and 40
teachers. Marjorie continued: “Evelyn herself still
most
exciting!
reunion! About a year ago I was
diagnosed as having
Alzheimer’s disease.” She stays around her apartment,
where “everything is in context,
and I am much less
and mixed up than anywhere else.” She
some
news
later
.
.
.I’m
in the middle
forgetful
she’ll be thinking of all of
Mary Lloyd Steele has a new, sixth grandson.
off to Baja,
a trip to Maine to
see him, she was
CA, on a Winsor-Audubon trip, but planned to
After
in
book sale
time
in
to
help
with the annual
Hanover, NH,
to
raise
money
five-college
1994- She leaves her husband, Henry, and a son,
George. Madge Kenyon Fisher, in June 1994- She is
survived by her children, David, Ellen, John, Peter,
and Charles, two
brothers, five grandchildren, and
many
and
nieces
nephews.
Helen Maguire Muller in July 1994- Helen had
and was a strong
served on Vassar’s board of trustees
supporter of cross-culturaleducation. Debbie Smith
Haight had sent in a report for this issue on a “marvelous” N.Y.C. mini-reunion
Pomeroy
at
Helen’s.
teaches architecture three times a week. Her home is
part of the complex .. . [where she] brought up eight
children of her own.” Later, Marjorie took a
Smithsonian trip to the Galapagos Islands; on the
boat she met two
Vassar grads, Robin Rowan Clarke
’6O and Sandra Wood Scarr ’5B, which was a neat
surprise.
Katy Grace Riggs, writing on July 2, tells of a
weeks in Paris and Normandy in April.
She then spent a month in Ajijic, Mexico, “serving
delightful
a
chicken curry
luncheon at her lovely apartDebbie Smith Haight, Dorrie
Present were
Hardin Dillon, Libby Austin Lindsay, Julia Richmond Pomeroy, Prue Loeh Miller, Gloria Aronow
Roberts, Phyllis Cumins Robinson, Charlotte Brown
two
part of the largest Anglo community in Mexico and
their church.” I looked up that name
in my atlas—not
to
be found—butKay says it’s on Lake Chapala, 25
miles south of Guadalajara.
JuliaRichmond
the invitations, and Helen provided
sent
eon
Bobbie Lehman Dunlap arranged a Vassar lunchon
Friday the 13th of May, a beautiful spring
Adams Blake,
day. Jean
ment.
Nancie Coan, Mary O’Neal, Harriet (Harpo)
Harvey, and Marjorie Carolin Bradford attended.
They had
chatting
great time
talked about reunion.
a
and
A consensus
boater hats, beribboned!
catching up,
emerged:
and
let’s
Dallett, Jean Schmidlapp Humes, Franny Troub
Roberts, Barbara Lehr, Henriette deSieyes Montand Liz Burger. A highlight of the gathering
gomery,
have straw
Helen’s report on the
Maguire fellowship proFive Vassar seniors
selected each year for
are
graduate work in a variety of fields, often out of the
Betty Lou Firstenberger Hummel, Harriet Shand
Flotte, Alice (Sis) Forbes Bowie, Ruth Lee Knight,
Andy Campbell Watson, and Ann Counts Minor.
country. Helen emphasized thatVassar’s sound training prepared them well for further study. Helen’s
survivors
her husband, Andre, a brother, her
are
All expect to come
to the big Five-O! This summer
Bobbie was
expecting Elizabeth Wadsworth and
in the Adirondacks.
HenryReid for a visit at her
children, Lucienne, Edouard, and Jacqueline, and
sister-in-law Christiane MullerTyson ’54.
Keep those cards and letters coming in,and please
I have a new
note
zip code.
As
gram.
Bobbie also worked the
warm” chats with Elizabeth
’45
'
415/681-1548
and had “long,
Hood Phillips,
a result of this mini-reunion, Marjorie Bradford,
talking with Harriet, learned about Audrey Levey
Cooper, in Westport, CT; both Audrey and Harriet
make documentary films. When Marjorie visited in
Westport she called Audrey, who is moving back to
I had a great note
writing classmates
gathering. She went
time—and she
my
50th Reunion
phones
(Betty)
place
New York—no more
1 Anne Williams Britton
i 70 Santa Paula Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94127-1542
suburbia for her!
from Ola
Zachry Moore, who is
remind them of next
to
June’s
to
hoped
the 45th and had such
I’d be coming. That’s
a
great
certainly
plan!
Sheila Emerson Sadler writes
that she is “still
in a beautiful ocean-view
house on
the Jersey shore” and has “no real news”
except for
visits
in New York and three months in Sarasota, FL,
where she
tennis
and
reads trash, and
happily ensconced
It’s not
so hard to be wishing you happy holidays in the
middle of August in San Francisco: the fog lies heavy
the land, and the
on
temperature is in the high 50s!
The cool is delightful to me, just back from a swelter-
ing month’s study in Paris; the column may suffer from
touch of jetlag, however. And, as you
might expect,
this is the travel season
not
for everyone,
just me; let’s
a
get
to
48 VQ
that first.
WINTER
1994
grandchild.
Also very
rich in
descendants is Pat Williams
Faulkner, with 10 grandchildren equally divided by
sex and ranging in age from Sarah, 19, to Tiffany, born
last May. Sarah just graduated from Concord Acadher class president, and is a wonderful
was
emy,
She’s off to Brown this year for college, where
Pat hopes she’ll see Mary Bertucio Arnold. Pat loves
her garden and has a new
“baby,” a King Charles
named Emily, who—let’s hope—is
spaniel puppy
person.
delightful visit
plays
bridge,
enjoys the grandchildren. She,
tions
she’d just attended a meeting of the American Association
of University Professors. You may
remember
that I reported in the last column our lunch withher
here in San Francisco; everyone
who knew and loved
Ann was stunned. She is survived by her husband,
Robert; two daughters, Margit and Bettine; one son,
Norman; and one
grandson.
At this point I’d like to introduce Mrs. Marie
Lawrence of Poughkeepsie, mother of MarieAdelaide
Lawrence, who died last year. Mrs. Lawrence, who
was
up in the Poughkeepsie Journal, has, at 88,
daughters. She’s worked on her loneliness
witha therapist and has come
to a kind of
written
lost her two
and sorrow
acceptance. “Your children
“they are only on loan.”
are
yours,” she
not
says,
That is true
of children, family, friends —and
classmates. I think we should treasure
each other.
Carolyn Potter Harriman,
superb
was
to
an
for Vassar
scholarships.
Since I began this column,another card has come
in from Martha Harbrecht Darcy, telling of the sad
of the death of her husband, George.
news
I also, very regretfully, report the passing of the
following classmates: Edith Joan Haas Elser, in Feb.
return
She has four
a
of something.”
us!
return
Newfoundland again this past
grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren! Can anyone
top that? They are all
doing fine, especially Carrie, age 5, her youngest
hoped to
summer.
Cambridge, England, were inNewYork for hersister’s
is that she
50th wedding anniversaryparty. The news
is publishing her parents’ letters, in two
volumes, in
England and this country in January. Hetty told Ditta
that she’d seen
Janice Miller Freeman and Audrey
Levey Cooper while in New York. Maybe Audrey was
doing little apartment hunting?
We’ve lost a wonderful classmate, which I sadly
report. Ann Chamberlain Birge died suddenly last
June 19. She was a physics professor at California
State University at Hayward and was just four days
retired when she suffered
on
a flight
aneurysm
home to Berkeley, CA, from Washington, DC, where
“I’ll send in
Griggs
says
the #1 retirement
as
people,”
more
from Helena (Hetty) Malinowska Wayne and wrote
about it. Hetty and her husband, who live in
me
All classmates willbe sorry to read this from Betsy
Clark: “I’m so sorry I can’t attend our 50th
sends best wishes and
Prescott
house-broken by now!
Edith (Ditta) Turpin Potter had a
and
local chorus; singing Rachmaninoff s
the
was
to
of a six-week visit
Frances Wood Gillett writes
last spring in Oxford (England), staying with her
there on sabbatidaughter and son-in-law, who were
cal. Franny is a fan of Inspector Morse on the telly and
She also
had a great time really learning “his” town.
traveled, saw Portsmouth, Wells, and Bath in the
too,
sends exhorta-
reunion—“a great experience!”
to
come
to
Joan (Johnnie) Thomas Purnell writes of busy
days volunteering with the Prescott, AZ, Art Center.
She says she is “sick about
Money magazine choosing
’46
Betsey Grout Krida
5282 Heron
Way
Sarasota, FL 34236
The word “Elderhostel” pops
up regularly on
your
postcards. Roberta Hanson Brandenberger reports
visit
that Lois Kuhlen Johnson paid her
before and
a
after her Elderhostel bike
tour
in
Denmark in
June.
Mention was made of Joan Sondheim
Greece in the spring of 1994 and that
Vogel’s tour to
Margery Stomne
Selden has moved
to
Portage, ML Bob and I just
returned from Elderhostel in Quebec, learning tai chi
other things. Tai chi, a century-old Chinese
among
exercise, is
guaranteed
IF you
concentration
to
can
relieve
breathing and flowing (ha!)
and arms.
stress
get it all
and improve
the
together
of your
movements
Periodic Elderhostel catalogues
fascinating reading
can
legs
provide
for the armchair and otherwise
traveler.
Mary Lane Lissfelt Salsbury has retired but is
involved in the Academy of Life Long Learning at
when not
the road.
on
Carnegie Mellon
University
Having covered Ireland, Russia,Egypt, and Australia,
she is looking forward to her fall trip to Prague.
Eleanor (Scoozy) Myers Martini very possibly (as
of this August writing) is still
her
trip to
Baltic countries, and St. Petersburg.
Norway,
she is looking forward to
visit from
Upon her return
MarciaPeaslee Frank,who willbe visiting her daughin Mill Valley.
ter
Taking a breather from her community responsion
summer
some
a
bilities of choir, church elder, representative town
meeting, A Better Chance, and Stephen Ministry,
Joan Riley Burchenal, along with husband Joe,
ited their
vis-
Guatemala for a behind-thescenes
experience. Two other daughters reside in
Darien, keeping Grandma and Grandpa busy with
daughter
in
grandchildren.
seven
Grandmother Naomi Riker Linzer proudly anthat her granddaughter, Melissa Birrittella,
nounces
accepted early decision to Vassar, class of ’9B.
What pleasure that must afford to Naomi and Melissa’s
mother, Amy Linzer Birrittella ’76.
the links,
Vassar ’46ers may travel, spend time
on
was
and
of important
fly planes but are still very aware
issues. Believing that our country faces social catastrophe unless immigration is reduced, Ruth (Penny)
Keating Hyde has formed an immigration reform
coalition. The goal is to reform U.S. laws and policies,
eradicating the current
illegal immigration of floodtide proportions. The main objective is to persuade
the Reid-Bilbray bills. “ClassCongress to support
mates,” Ruth pleads, “please help.”
Rhoda Seman Hale has gone
full circle. Having
gained invaluable experienceas
48 years
Vassar senior
radio show for
Poughkeepsie,
PBS television program
originating in Denver. I can
recommend a good tai chi teacher! Hold on
more
to
rado Institute of Art and
language arts at Colodoes public relations and
promotions (Sandy Hale, Unlimited). Unlimited
I’d say. Son Mark is a city planner in Tokyo
energy,
with a 3-year-old daughter, and daughter Niko is a
university teacher in Germany with an 11-year-old
daughter.
Apparently there
three sizes
of reunions
Celebrating the survival of relentless winter, Isolde
(Bunny) Chapin, Joanne Winship Crawford, Betsy
a
Nye Suter, Christina Thom Hobbs, Katherine Foster Woodman, and Joan met
for lunch in May. Joan
frequently sees Sarah Lohmann Smith, whose fifth
grandchild arrived in December, daughter of her son,
Tim (editor of the Wall Street Journal ), and wife
Priscilla (business editor of Time ). The Knowltons
had a 45th anniversary three-week sojourn in Paris a
as interpreter
—arewarding
year ago with their son
trip after a 20-year hiatus.
A fine picture of Dr. June Biedler was printed on
from Center News, a publication from Memoa page
rial Sloan Kettering. In her interview, June, head of
the laboratory of cellular and biochemical genetics,
that her association
with the center
began in
to
1947 as a research assistant
Joan’s husband, Dr.
Joseph Burchenal. Having been exposed to the promstates
chemotherapy for
been interested
of
drug
resistance
Another
the waters
ever
the control of cancer,
June has
in the genetic mechanisms
since
was
spent under and
on
Skaneateles,NY. Mary
(Tommy) Tompkins Starkweatherand Ann Dewey
Kent
one
hot weekend
at
brought along their husbands
for
a
with
swim
Janet StarkweatherBesse and husbandDick. In her
letter, Tommy pays a well-deserved tribute to Harriet
Hall Dieterich, who died in late July. Tommy reminds us of how hard Harriet worked for the fund
drive of our 40th reunion.
Not exactly even
but nevertheless
a micro-reunion
grand fun was a house party at the home of Peter and
Jean Gumming McGregor
added Vassar touch was
’45-4. We all piled into
in
Rhinebeck, NY. An
Barbara Fredericks
cars
one
Applegate
morning for
a
fasci-
of the CIA (Culinary Instituteof America).
that it wasn’t too
guide assured us senior citizens
late to apply. Medicare will cover
any accident from
sharp cleavers or hot grease!
Deepest sympathies are extended to the family of
Alice O’Keefe Stakgold, who died in Jan. 1994, and
to
Sally Foster Robertson, whose husband died in
Feb. 1993. W e sadly report
the death ofAlec Mcßride
The
ofDavid and Anne Link Donaldson.
Alec’s death followed an extended battle with the
Donaldson, son
illness of manic
“terrific”
two
depression. The Donaldsons acquired
and
daughters-in-law this summer
fourth grandchild.
I deeply appreciate all your news-bearing cards, but
of my
favorites is from Mary Love
maybe one
a
Lehmann, who wrote in Feb. 1994: “I’ll send in some
later, I guess
l’m in the middle of something.”
news
No further word from Mary
most
mysterious.
Russia. (This
rates
“Just found that I may have time
deadline for the Quarterly. So,
had died but nine months earlier. Pat was a long-time
active
volunteer in many
roles in her community,
especially in the Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Program
and in the Interchurch Service Committee.
’4B from your
humble and grateful
who will try her best to live up to her
an
editorial
Our duly elected and esteemed new
class president was
unable to be at reunion, but the following
letter (from Joanie Allen Kastner)
for itself:
speaks
to
beat the
greetings to the class of
new
president,
predecessors but
of
good
very
years
will need lots of help! Please take
yourselves for the next five years because the 50th
reunion
is
‘must’ for all—my mother’s class of T 3
as
had its 50th
Twenty
of service
the handicapped through Pegasus,
to
saddler, side walker, and horse leader, led to an
annual Pat Bugg award for “outstanding dedication”
She learned of this honor three weeks
to the program.
before she died, and she hoped that any memorial
contributions would go to Pegasus, PO Box 2053,
Darien, CT 06820.
a
the now-famous typo found in your summer
chair’94 magazine:—l did not call our 50th reunion
men
“grave” and enterprising! The word is brave.
to
understanding, and I have forgiven the VQ
staff. Mary Anna Culleton Colwell says please tell
that their ideas about the 50th are weleveryone
(in strict confidence) their pet peeves about
come
—or
her or co-chair
previous reunions! So please write
Penny Postles Hutton about whatever is on your
mind.
On June 7, a Chicago group
for lunch to enjoy
met
another and lay plans for a fall ’95 Midwest
J
Haffner Chandler
Stanley French and Chris
the hostesses, and they gath-
oan
were
ered in Pat Hume, Betty Wagner Zeni, Cil Huffard
Rockwell, Shirley Hamilton McNerney, and Lydia
Kerr Lee. The plan calls for an exciting two-night
Dutch-treat stay in Chicago, to include the huge
Monet show coming to the Art Institute. Lots ofother
cultural goodies,
as
well
the joys of reuning,
as
the works. Midwest residents will get
tion
well ahead. Sounds great!
MarianneRichardson
in
are
Levey has a
July day. Marianne has recently
Owings Mills, MD. Present were
Hughes Carroll, Don and Chris
Vassar Tall, Ed and Betty Johnston Preston, Bruce
and Claire Wetzel Bairstow, and Pat Thayer Stevens,
to
whose husband,Russ, couldn’t come.
A great pleasure for me was a beautiful lunchon
a
they were
the
at
time
15 th, and I know
as our
fun than anybody!
same
having more
“From all reports, the 45th was
a ‘hard act
to
we
congratulate and thank Carol and
and Emmy Lou for
Betsy and their reunion committee
her class leadership and
for
the
follow,’ and
Gary
spearheading
fund drive. Thanks also
to the other new
(or continuing) class officers, Margarete, Ginia, and Jock,
article.
documentedelsewhere in Ginia’sfine reunion
“Your class officers are
in
agreement that we
should stay ‘togetherforever’ with our ’49 sisters and
withthem in June of ’99. The AAVC wants
reune
us
happy on this point, and our fund chairs will be
working
the details of our
out
“On the
Rex’s retirement
50th
gift.
since
after three moves
from Shell Oil Co. in 1983, we are
personal side,
happily perched
Mt. Soledad in La Jolla, CA (y’all
on
come!). The freedom and good healthto travel is our
by
great luxury—to the Idaho/Montana mountains
for the next
two
weeks, a tiny house in Provence
car
in October, ‘grandparents-in-residence’ in Seattle in
November, etc.
“Our four offspring are all married and
parents
in Houston, Seattle, Austin, and Orange County.
The weeklong gathering of that full group
(10 adults,
7 children) in June in five cabins along the Blanco
—
where
it
the world every
advance
two
or
means
from
some-
three years, which,
least eight
Needless
to
list oftravel
destinations.
“We’ll
future issues
our
a
in
planning of at
‘vacations,’ is quite an accomplishment.
to these families are
say, visits
high on our
since
some
gather one
moved from Ohio
Joe and Halcyon
care
River in the Texas hill country is what kept me
45th reunion! We’ve managed to do this
our
cabin
summer
Warner, NH, where she had classmates and
husbands
in
ample informa-
I
can
try to keep you posted on ’4B’s plans in
of the Quarterly. Volunteers to work on
50th reunion
and fund gift willbe most
welcome.
be reached at 619/454-2567during December.”
beautiful August day at the Thetford Hill, VT, home
of Nancy Packard King, to which Esther Judkins
Marshall also came.
Nancy was justback from a won-
A letter from Anne (Ky) MacKay ’49 reported
that Joan Javits Zeeman ’49 is also
looking ahead to
our
According to
“together forever” 50th reunion.
derful two-week walking
our
in Wales and showed us
tour
and friends and trips and on
enjoyable 50thschool
Baltimore, I in Philadelphia, and
our
reunions, Nancy in
Esther 3,000 miles from their home
Maine! The
in
Marshalls traveled the West for six weeks in
Westphalia camper,
attending the class reunion
their
from
the Santa Ynez Valley home of Jan
a house party at
and Sally Holt Smit near
Solvang, CA. It sounded
like a wonderful place and great fun. Jan and Sally, in
retirement, are runninga vineyard and making wine,
well as countless other projects. The Marshalls
as
continued
up the West Coast and had a quick visit
with Paul and Margot Landon Visher ’4B in Cannon
Beach, OR, where the Vishers recently built an earth-
natingtour
Petersburg,
St.
mained cheerful and productive throughout, though
her husband, Bob, a noted cartoonist
and illustrator,
photos. It was such fun I could hardly bear to
gorgeous
continue on to Boston! We compared notes
on families
development.
micro-reunion
to
“WOW”!)
regional mini-reunion.
Joan Aldrich Knowlton remicro, mini, and maxi.
the micro
variety at the Harvard Club.
ports on
ise of
on
one
are
Milton, MA 02186
They were
Rhoda also teaches
come.
short trip to Canada and thendeparture for
the Clan McLeod gathering at the clan castle,
Dunnegan, on the Isle of Skye in the Hebrides—then
plans—a
Once again, sadly, our story begins with a death to
report. On May 5, 1994, Pat Pans Bugg of New
after two
Canaan, CT, succumbed to cancer
very
difficult years.
Her brother wrote
that she had re-
On
a mere
host of a
in
teens
Rhoda is hosting “Senior Showcase,” a
as
ago
a
'47
Francy Lukens Hays
36 Cherry Blossom Way
quake-proof house.
Luckily, three of you
wrote
me
the
Pearly Taylor Gates, complete with Hallelujah
(Stay tuned for the next exciting
and Advil choruses.
plot installment!)
And speaking of musical spectaculars, a postcard
from Jane Ellen
Murray Wentz said, “My musical,
Fear ofFiling, that many of the Chicago Vassar Club
members
to see
at the Ivanhoe Theater, willbe
thisfall by the Dramatic Publishing Co. My
went
published
musical, American Rock, a musical salute to
Norman Rockwell, will open Dec. 1 at the Starlight
Theater in Rockford, IL. It’s Norman’s 100th birthday, and the post office was nice enough to issue
new
commemorative
stamps.
Hope Vassar alums will come
Rockford is only a little over
hour’s drive
an
from Chicago. For tickets, call 815/654-4296.”
see
directly this time,
but I received NO colored postcards from Vassar. DO
send yours in NOW from this copy of the VQ.
’48
Ky,
Cecil B. de Javits is planning the show ofthe
100th reunion
in 2048-9 at
century, to be set at our
own
it.
Creativity and travel
Class Notes. Write
’49
Ginia Schauffler Allison
200 Willard Rd.
Quechee, VT 05059
to
me,
willbe featured in
our
next
please!
Persis Gleason Laverack
Box 542
Norwich, VT 05055
802/649-1709
and
802/295-7818
Jane Murray Broeksmit
I hope the reunion
enthusiastic summary
addendum gave you
of our June reunion
As Barbara
Birmingham
great few days we
“What a
friends and wonderful to
McLeod
wrote
had—fun
be back
on
to
brief but
a
RR 1 Box 173
activities.
Dwight,
afterward:
815/584-1261
see
old
Carol
IL 60420
many
campus.
and Betsy promised an enjoyable time, and it was!”
Barbara went
describe their
travel
to
on
postreunion
The 45th reunion
was
superb.
All who attended had
wonderful time.
The campus
looked beautiful, the
Loeb Art Center stunning. Betsy Boland, chairpera
49
“I want
to
thank everyone
for all
help in organizing and coming to our 45th. It
off beautifully. We all had fun becoming reacwent
quainted and catching up on what has happened in
lives. If you missed the 45 th,plan to be at the 50th!
our
their
Reunions are fun.” Carol Levine Schwartz wrote:
of the joy, fun,
“Hope these pictures capture some
laughter, and love that permeated each and every
that so many
of the incredible 45th reunion
moment
worked
so
hard
During
our
make magical.”
to
class meeting at reunion,
was
approved.
Gleason Laverack; Council representative; Nancy
Leet Hetzel. Also the class voted unanimously to
have our 50th reunion
take place in 1999—“leading
the next
into
century.” Anne (Ky) MacKay has
written:
“At our
reunion, ’4B and ’49 voted to be
If
‘together forever.’
Ky asks
revote,
you
to
anybody wants
you
to please remember that
take
a
if we’re
show! And Cecil B. de Javits
together there’s
is already planning the show ofthe century and wants
everybody to come back and be in it! The show willbe
100th reunion
at the Pearly Taylor Gates
set at our
and will be complete with Hallelujah choruses and
Advil choruses. (The rest of the exciting plot will be
not
no
revealed later.)” Ky adds that there
are
and Lilly, born in
May.
Joan Javits Zeeman, with Hans and the dogs, had
The car was
terrible accident the Sunday of reunion.
a
totaled. It
frightening,
very
was
a
few 45th
is OK.
but everyone
Thank the Dear Lord.
“I hope the magic
Pussy Auerbach Neff writes:
[of the reunion] can be sustained, but distance and
other commitments
slate for
follows; coour
It is as
presidents: Nancy Farnam Gannett and Nancy
Edgehill Perry; vice president: EllenByer Friedlander;
co-reunion
chairpersons: Ellen Ryerson Conantand
Doris Garabedian Carlson; secretary: Susan DalianCynthia Eels Nagel; fund
tyne Mayfield; treasurer:
chairperson: Laura Ten Eyck Byers; co-class correspondents: Jane Murray Broeksmit and Persis
the 50th reunion
College of Art. His wife, Sandy, is a graphic
designer and the mother oftheir 2-year-old, Rosannah,
Alberta
seem
about a mini-reunion
idea. We do want
in
to
a
keep
to
us all apart. How
two?” A marvelous
keep
year
or
the spirit going!
’5O
was one
Weisberg
among 110
women
Mary (Molly) Izant White
’50
439 N. Main St.
Hudson, OH 44236
216/653-5881
45 th Reunion
is replaced
Hi from Ohio, where the glow of summer
ushered in by
was
by the blow of winter.
My summer
a wonderful dinner in Mary French Conway and
Bill’s
gracious home overlooking vast
most
Houston Maynard and Fred, JeanetteNortonBartram
and Maynard, Betty Hadden Alexanderand Quentin,
Marcie Patt Thompson, Bette Dawson Got
Blackwood and Terry, and my husband, Gene. Jay
showed us great photos of the last ’5O reunion, which
letter about
wonderful, warm
her from MarionHeath Mundy ’5l (the famous hilari-
books left. Write to her at Box 97, Orient, NY
11957 if you wish her to send you one.
Ann (Hutch) Hutchison writes:
“The phone
recently on a Sunday morning and a voice
rang
tentatively said, ‘Hutch?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ I knew it had to
be Vassar friend. Those
the only people who call
Hutch. And then I heard the most
me
heavenly
singing in the world. It could only be Caryl Bergman
Perkins ’4B. And it
voice.
As I said
a magnificent
in the reunion
book, I am always pleased to get
unexpected calls. When you get the additional gift of
Caryl’s voice, it really makes the day.”
Louise Myers Spizizen writes:
“I’ve recently
learned that my article on Johana Harris in the
Musical Quarterly has been nominated by the editors
are
was
the Oxford UniversityPress for an ASCAP-Deems
Taylor Award. It’s like an Oscar nomination—winat
more
We hear results in
important thanbeing nominated.
October or November.” Louise, be
informed.
has just retired from her
assistpost as
dean in the graduate college of the University of
ant
Illinois. She has applied to the Peace Corps and so far
sure
keep us
Nini Almy
to
has received encouraging communications.
Sally Smith Hasbrouck has written
the death of Margot Hedden Green,
ologist, of cancer
in
to
class
Ellen Kraft Weinstein writes now
husband’s stroke in June, whichadded to
their home
infirmary problems. He’s recovering nicely, and so
Ellen, from her triple bypass in March.What a year
is
in
California.
Dorothy NewmanPolayes writes from her condo
in Stratford, CT, which they call their “summer camp
for adults.” More time, however, is spent in their
Florida home. Their big volunteer thrust is at the
Kravis Center for the
Arts, which
a
tell
us
Orinda,CA. We send our sympathy
Performing
they
the wider
serve
community.Should we debate this “inner core” theory
’95 reunion? Toby is the only one
I’ve heard
at our
from this month mentioning our coming reunion.
And that is that from Hudson, OH, near muchunfair. Ohio’s
Cleveland, which is
totally
to
me
the TV, I
must
admit.
found us at JanetElderkin Azzoni and
Al’s quiet spot with Mickey Meyers Shriver and J im,
Betsy Hopkins Colt and Dave, Meg Kinard Peacock
and John, Fifi Locke Richards and Charlie, and of
husband, Gene. Prize dogs Moxie and
my
also stole the show. It’s a good thing they
couldn’t talk,for no way wouldwe have time to listen,
so busy were
we
catching up and eating and boating
course,
and singing to guess who’s easy piano. The years
between graduation and 1994 vanished. Such fun
renewing those bonds.
’51
Margot Courtright
49 E. 96th St. #7-B
New York, NY 10128
Letter from London. Once more
Pm back in the
Barbican, enjoyingthe breezes from my balcony while
the
of London swelters from what is reported
rest
to
be
the longest heat wave
since 1659. One cannot
help
but picture Charles II and his cohorts swinking and
sweating as they hammered out the details for the
of the monarchy. Could he drop in on the
royal family, he would be amused and amazed
restoration
present
that greets their every move.
Imagine
paying taxes and raising money by charging
admission to Buckingham Palace! Then she is advised
at
the criticism
the queen
to
sell the
palace
and build
an
up-to-date
home
modern monarchy. How would the “merry”
monarch, whose amorous
excesses
delighted his sub-
befitting a
jects, have reacted
to
his
20th-century
namesake’s
confession of marital infidelity on national
TV? Tarradiddle, my lad! More important issues are
painful
the increasing number of terrorist
bombings, the
deterioration of the National Health Service, the
disruptive railroad strike, and the rise of Tony Blair as
leader of the Labour party. The horrors of Bosnia and
Rwanda dominate the front pages.
Nancy Purdy returned to Cambridge last July for
on
Victorian England. Mary Coxe Schlosser
a course
will attend the International Bookbinding Conference
in
September sponsored by Designer Bookbinder
at Christchurch College, Oxford. Her daugh-
and held
ter,
Sarah, will join her for
a
week in London and
a
Charlotte Cleveland Look were co-hostesses for a tea
in Yarmouth,ME, in honor of trustee
V irginiaCretella
Mars. Members of all classes were
invited, as well as
wants
VC to
know
how valuable her
getting jobs and
degree and training have been,
contributing to the field of early
lic
career
on
and talked
ers, space
of the
vote
to
blue-collar chemical plant folks, shrimp-
employees. She won with 63 percent
job very rewarding. They
credible politician who had no pergoals, she says. Terry finds this an
and finds her
ready for
sonal economic
were
Bay,
pub-
the city council of this city of 8,500
the campaign she walked every street
program
a
a
news
in Scotland.
Our regional class activities
popularity. On June 21, Cal
continue
to
gain
in
Lincoln Harder and
Delma
From Little Seabrook, TX, on Galveston
Terry Comcowich Lucas writes of her exciting
excellent way to use
Watch your Texas
NancyLeet Hetzel’s son-in-law,ArthurGreenblatt,
has recently been appointed the new president of the
to a conclusion
role models who
children, and eight grands. She
put her brains and talents to wonderful use; it’s sad she
died this young.” Contributions may be made to the
California Pacific Medical Foundation.
Gretel.
on
holiday
people. During
Nancy Thomas Rees writes that her daughter,
Hilleary Rees Coleman,produced Emily Thomas Rees
Coleman on May 9, 1994- Emily joins 4‘/2-year-old
fellows! She goes
that some
of her Vassar faculty were
her the intellectual fuel to
gave
have been part of since
its very
beginning.
Joan Moore Etheridge, in Aurora, CO, is busy,
busy withspecial ed classes, church involvement,four
her mother and her four children. Sally writes: “As
I think about her, her radiant smile and enthusiasm,
and even
her voice, come
back to me clearly. She was
with almost too
for
a vibrant person
much energy
Vassar and the East Coast, which she considered too
stodgy to make much progress! It’s obvious that she
1994
about her
childhood education.
of
retired cardito
to
50 VQ WINTER
a
secretary), Lorraine fought a brave fight and
lost to cancer
last spring. She willbe greatly missed by
her family and friends.
That same
class of ’5l held the famous Jackie
Kennedy Onassis, whom one of our substitute columnists
recalls. Carmine Calenti wrote
recently in the
Poughkeepsie Journal about her making him feel more
comfortable in an English class and in a Shakespeare
play they were both in.
ous
ningis scarcely
Cape
According
paper.
a
column. She had been in Lawrence,NY, in
After years in Chappaqua, NY, Lorraine Adelman
Dickinson and husband Ernest had moved to North
for their local
Truro,
Cod, where she wrote
reunion
women
Hope
expanses
of the country club. A full moon
made this minireunion
mellowand festive with some 44years between
last encounters.
From near and far came Carol (Poody)
of our
architecthonored then
governmental
nine
mini-reunion
them.
1993.
only
were
cottage in West Southport, ME, where six of us ’soers
melded together in the sun and fog. This midsummer
nursing home with emphysema. She leaves her son,
Keith, and a sister, Roberta. We send sympathy to
fellows of the American
Institute of Architects in
client. There
of 110 new
out
Addendum
This correspondent can still smell the pines, the salt
the cozy Dry Point
air, and the mud flats and see
a
new
her nontraditional role of
Indians have got
out
of nine
profession by impacting community environments, quality of life, and architectural
education.”Good to be acknowledged by her peers for
maligned
I had missed.
that Ruth SilNancy Alderman Ransom wrote
Ridler’s death before last Christmas had been left
ver
Sarelle Toback
contribution to the
.
has written;
son,
lifetime of skills in retirement.
for more.
now
A wonderful letter came
from Sarelle (Toby)
Toback Weisberg in N.Y.C. She and
Maryann
Nathan Collin and husband Bob traveled to Bruce
Collin’s wedding in Dallas last winter.
Good reunion
for all. And she went
to write
about her (Toby’s)
on
big honor in ’93. She became a fellow in the American
Institute of Architects in recognition of a
“significant
Denneby Van der Veer from the DevelopGinny discussed her position as college
and as chairman of the Campaign for Vassar.
trustee
She enumerated several projects that the college
hopes to complete with funds from this campaign,
including the upgrading of buildings, additions to the
library, and the new North Gate. Both Ginny and
Delma stressed that despite the controversies
thatwill
Vassar can
always be raised on a liberal arts campus,
boast of a healthy, exciting, and special community.
Judi Ballou Freeman ’52, member of the Visiting
ment
Office.
a
Committee
to
the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center,
praised Vassar’s new
She is currently curator
museum.
of the Portland Museum of Art, where she recently
mounted an exhibition of Rodin’s sculpture. Present
from our class were
Coralie Hanly
Murray, Nancy
Lee Brown Snow, and Lucia Pierce Smith.
Elaine Beatty Timbers ’46 sent the
“Because my sister, Diane
following item.
Beatty Highley, is reticent
about blowingher own horn, I willdo it for her. While
raising four (lovely!) children, she worked at various
through school, though her stepfather always spelled
it “Allelu.”
Finally, she learned after college that her
like
artistic
father, 60, when she was born after three brothers,
exclaimed, “Alleluia, it’s a girl!”
On the scientific bent, Patricia Harris Backlar
early arrivalof forest
writes
that she is a senior
scholar at the Center for
Ethics in Health Care, Oregon Health Sciences Uni-
this season
Talked to our
class president, Mimi Gargill
Braverman, who is most grateful for the overwhelm-
business projects, such as designing and making leather clothes, then personalized or theme-box
of which is currently owned by Jack
Nicklaus’s wife, Barbara. Now living mainly in Fort
Lauderdale, she took a degree in interior
decorating
there, and her services are in demand. On the side she
pocketbooks,
one
golfer (champion of several tournaments), a tennis player (less enthusiastic), a dog lover,
and reader. She remains
size 8, which is enough to
is
excellent
an
a
do
a
of us
most
in.”
Louis Clemot. Su’s
daughter is an attorney based in
Paris and her husband a Parisian banker.... A beautiful reception was held in the Keowee Key Community, where Su and her husband, Everett, built a
magnificent home overlooking Lake Keowee. The
Clarkshave a pontoon boat, which they navigated to
show their guests the surrounding
area.
Horan and her husband, Jim, were
thefestivities.” Kathy Hartman
PatHemenway
also on hand for
Magram visited Bunny
Los Angeles. Kathy’s
Memorial Day weekend in
daughter, Linda, recently married in Boston. She is
head of public relationsfor children’s books at Little,
Brown and Co. Kathy was
awaiting grandchild #5 this summer.
Bunny’s daughter, Wendy, is a
college English teacher in Portland, OR. Her son,
on
are
moving
works for Nike.“It willbe
most
to
Portland, where he
for
convenient
me
to
have these former Easterners on the Left Coast, closer
time
to me and in the same
zone.” Bunnyand Dorothy
Saffir Victor “do lunch” together now
and then.
They received minimal damage in the
earthquake
but remain
on
edge
because of the
myriad aftershocks
that continue
to
occur.
Before signing off I must
relate a London experiFor six summers
I’ve listened to the all-night
ence.
radio quizzes from the London Broadcasting Co. “Dummies!” I shout to no one, “I knew that.” On Aug. 6
I screwed up courage
and made my
4 A.M.
at
long-
threatened debut. I knocked out a question that had
lingered for two months, but I did not win. However,
I have joined such faceless luminaries as Harry from
Hackney, Perdita of Paddington, and Pat on Edgeware
known as Margot in the Barbican. Happy
am
holidays to you.
Road. I
i
’52
f
Ann Wick West has been dabbling in politics,
helping elect her cousin, Christie Todd Whitman,
of New Jersey. Wiggle’s
to Wheaton.
governor
BunnySchwolsky Feuer spent some time on the
East Coast last spring. “The first stop on my eastern
swingwas Salem,SC, where I attended the nuptials of
Ursula (Su) Field Clark’s daughter, Ellen, to Andre-
Tom, and wife
versity, and recently published The Family Face of
Schizophrenia (New York: Torcher/Putnam, 1994).
Whittaker
2126 Connecticut Ave. NW #44
Washington, DC 20008
Hilary
Christie
only
sorry
Anna Ruth Sandin Masters
1028 Walker Rd.
Great Falls, VA 22066-1928
703/759-3489
to
Oseid
refreshingly willing
is
to
write
about
having had
to
deal, as have many of us, with disease, death, depression, growing legal traps, and the dissolution offamiliar
ways in society. She wonders if hopes for our children
flying away . ..
It was
pleasant
are
recently with Anne
living in Cincinnati,
Hampshire, where her
Arlington, Dallas,
and New
husband, Bob, has had Unitarian ministries, is
now
enjoying retirement
in Wisconsin, where her
family
has summered for generations. She reports that her
old roommate,
Lyndl Thorsen Marshall, visited for a
wonderful
week, and they agree they had a
perfectly
“born New Yorkerand probably the last
left,” works at a women-owned ad agency
Lyndl,
time,
renter
a
where they promote products such as Max Factor and
Easy Spirit shoes. (I wear them, too, and they’re the
best! ) After rearing four
daughters, she has two and a
third grandchildren and enjoys the good life of conmovies, reading, crocheting, and watching CNN
certs,
only. She, too, detests media editorializing.
a
Off in Texas, Mary Ditmore Mathews has made
homefor her
mother,substitute-reaches,
and works
at
on
95-year-old
providing food and clothes for the needy
her church. She has retired after 26
Our best
of teach-
years
Souter
who took
For
a
some
formidable audience.
time
we’ve been meaningto share a
note
from Allelu Beal Kurten about how she got her name,
which we often mistake as “Allie Lou.” She’d been
called “Alleluia” as a “wee girl” until one Easter she
walked up the aisle to the minister
thinking she was
forms
took various
answering his call. Her name
Lee Mills Petty, who is
the new
DC. She
Sibley Hospital in Washington,
daughter Tory and her long-time roomMatt Stone, “known by me
my ‘sin-in-law,’
at
”
mate,
are
to
that
writes
as
getting married
produced
two
in
the spring, and her older
sons
grandchildren.
new
On your next
visit
Stallworth and Rod
the bookstore, check for Lyn
Kennedy’s new Country Fair
Cookbook, published by Hyperion. Lyn continues
teaching at the New School, including a course called
“How
to
to
Boil Water.”
a
bed and
breakfast
of
in Ohio? Just east
Cincinnati, Connie
Dettmer ’53 has
renovated
and
a
historic house
opened it as
location is Boston!
B&B.
a
The wheels
already rolling
are
with a Boston-area committee meeting
dates and events.
schedule
to
The wealthof news
continues, thanks to that dues
But it runs
after this issue, so pull the
out
postcard in the back of this magazine and send your
New Year’s resolutions if nothing else! Better yet, call
me
(number above).
Did you see the article in the July 14 New York
Times entitled “For a Lost Child, Rooms of Flowers”?
Connie QuackenbushUmberger’s
garden on
a
quar-
ofland surrounding herNantucket home was
born of a need to work through the grief suffered after
ter-acre
her daughter Mary’s suicide five years ago. The article
has an abundance of fine photographic illustrations;
Connie under herrose-covered pergola,
lily pond, and curving stone and brick
a
captivating
paths through
abundance ofperennial herb and flower “rooms.”
What started as
simply a need to dig has transformed
her place into
of ineffable beauty and love.
one
an
From MargieBlum Epstein, news
thatshe changed
jobs in mid-April to become director of development
for the Greater New Orleans Foundation. She’ll be
responsible for establishing permanent endowment
funds as well as promoting public awareness
of the
Margaret
and local offices all
national, state,
The WCF is
a
819 Saint James St.
PA 15232
the country.
that
committee
practice in radiation oncology, she now offers primary
medicine in Manchester, a town of 1,800 on the
care
life that she
a whole new
edge of Appalachia
...
thoroughly enjoys.
Maggie Perkins Brewster penned only a senabout working as a docent at the Baltimore
tence
Museum of Art, playing piano, skiing, and hitting a
tennis
ball. Sounded exhausting to me, so I looked
our
40th reunion
handbook and
by Maggie’s confession:
have good health”!
So many
children as
of you,
news.
“I feel
and
was
cheered
extremely lucky
rightly
so,
see
to
children’s
Joan Morton McDonald’s 12th
a
finds little time
I’m writingthis in mid-August from a summer
cottage
the coast of Maine. This may be remembered as the
on
that shouldn’t have been! Dense fog here is
summer
the byproduct of a stubborn Bermuda
over
bipartisan political
Christmas dinner, Joan?Priscilla Heckmann Brown
for much else save
her business and
Pittsburgh,
high producing
days on
Boston and New York. For
end the TV weather map
candidates for
over
born year ago, making the count
five
grandchild
girls and seven
boys—all but four of them living
nearby. How many leaves will you add to the table for
Peggy Loizeaux Engel
412/683-8819
fierce heat
busy raising $1
Need a bed and breakfast in Ohio? Just east of
Cincinnati, Connie Dettmer has renovated a historic
house and opened it as a B&B. Retired from full-time
was
’53
“As co-chair of
in the 1992 elections.” Ann’s
supported 242 women
other big interest
is Indonesia, where she and Gilbert
have traveled to visit ancient
temples in Java.
back to
That all, folks, we’re out
of fresh news.
Have
wonderful holidays and be sure
send us a copy of
to
annual letter or write
of us with your
your
one
news.
as
majors is
Need
from now
on!
Ann Rasmussen Kinney writes:
the Women’s Campaign Fund, I am
million to support pro-choice women
have
on
mini-reunion
a
children.
and their younger
journalism and politics at the two-day Evalyn Clark
the Uses of History at Alumnae House
Symposium
last December.
Hoppy says it was an exhilarating
challenge and honor, a room full of Vassar history
the dues/news/views
to
responses
The clear preference for
foundation’s good work in the community. With that
awesome
a task and title, I’d better call you
chaplain
captain in the
Signal Corps, both served in the Gulf War, and Sarah
recently marriedanother captain in Seoul. The Careys’
elder daughter,
Betty, is a VP at Lehman Brothers in
N.Y.C., and her twin, Tom, a pathology resident at
Cleveland Clinic, and his wife, Chu-Shei Hong,
M.D., have bilingual sons. But Betty’s Chinese comes
with extreme
effort!
Janet Gregory Weary recently visited the Careys
in New Orleans.
Anne Hopkins chaired a
panel on history in
ing number of
ing school from first grade to high school and special
education; has raised three children and has six grand-
Carey
a
bringing my wishfor
for you all, skiers excepted! Find joy
of holidays and homecomings.
winter
in
mailing.
erup-
that the
to
notice.
chat
to
Torrison Clarke, who, after
and her neurosurgeon
husband, Michael, who flew
from a D-Day memorial trip in France to accept a
Medal of Valor awarded to them
jointly by the AMA
in Chicago on June 12. As for family news,
Michael
daughter, Sarah,
benign
storm
Add
Though we tend to prefer to share our happy news
with each other in this column, Leslie Muskat Smith
a
pediatrician Betty
yellow
West... all together,
fires in the
the best! So this issue arrives
In good health, which she considers essential to
enjoying life, BJ Scarlett Allen has welcomed her
daughter back to New York after three and a half years
in Sydney, Australia, with Proctor & Gamble. Both
her sons married in 1993, and her older son has twins
born in Feb. 1994Mary Louise Gardy Clarke’s 35 th anniversary
fine celebrating: first a surprise party
sparked some
hosted by daughter Anne Clarke Meyer ’B3 and her
husband, then a trip to Italy.
a
Congratulations
a
of acne—red and
case
that
Margaret
Morphy,
from computer analysis work at IBM,
early retirement
she’s
says
thoroughly enjoying golf, needlepoint, gettingher home back in order, and life in general. She
has a daughter at IBM and a son who will marry next
with Mary
She was planning on going to reunion
year.
Clark McCormack and
Audrey Barnum Ulm, but
jury duty deciding an extended case of bus driver’s
sexual assault of crippled girl kept her at home.
and
not
bad
pockmark a field of rainy green.
went
Canadian
202/462-8933
a
tions
ofthe Southeast has looked
her grands...
all of them
two
born in
1993 and
two
more
in
1994,
living close by. Tina Vavuras Lord
rejoices that daughter Sara, her husband Rob, and
little Charlotte have moved back to Albany, NY.
Likewise rejoicing is Nat Stepanovich Vujovich,
who lives withinfour miles of her four
grands! I envy
you
all!
51
Somewhere in the navel ofNew Haven toils
a
VC
the hearts of class correspondents
. . . she/he clips clippings! And when they relate to
Bitsie Thompson Clark, I am the happy recipient. As
executive
director ofthe Arts Council ofGreater New
exhibiart
various
Bitsie is called on to
alum
to
gladden
competition to choose a child’s
is far
drawing to grace the mayor’s stationery! Bitsie
more
self-deprecating, calling herselfand Jean (Chic)
One
was
Kelley the “older ladies” among young archiplanning a symposium called “The Future of
American Cities.”
A reference librarian at Digital Equipment Corp.,
Wini Sadler Ferguson is also pursuing a master’s in
library and information science at Simmons College,
grands, Patrick and Thomas.
Boston. She boasts two
The one-liners go on! Ruth Graham Siegrist,
who gained emeritus
in 1990, has resumed partstatus
time for
time
teaching,
travel... most recently
leaving
the Arctic Circle. Liane Hust Heydt was a prethe topic of “outcome-based education” at
senter
on
the national education conference of the AASA.
New Yorker Margaret Allen Sedgwick has joined the
Corcoran Group (real estate) after 17 good years at
to
Time Inc. And, from Kingston, Jamaica, Beverly
Junor Levy reports she is still in “tourism.” The
issue
of Town and Country featured her
February
husband, the hotel, and their country house.
And this just in, a PR release from the Private
Industry Councilof SouthernConnecticut headlined
“Vassar Graduate Elected Chair of Regional Workforce Development Board.” Yep, Denny Taft Davidoff
coordito a good cause! This one
in the Bridgeemployment and trainingprograms
just can’t say “no”
nates
port, Norwalk, Stamford area.
called
I’ve reached what a long-dead aunt
words now
instead of lines!
City! We count
Capa
’55
’54
i
210 E. 68th St.
New York, NY 10021
Riverside, CT 06878
dealers seen
the opening of the $l2
art
at
million Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh was
Holly Dworken Solomon. In November her Holly
Solomon Gallery in SoHo, New York City, showed
the Asian works of Izhar Patkin, which included a 14-
Among
foot dancing Shiva of hundreds of hand-blown
Venetian glass beads and gilded paintings on the
theme of the Garden of Eden.
We are sorry to report the death of Martha E.
and a stroke. An
Metford in July 1993 of cancer
Martha
attorney and Washingtonresidentfor 30 years,
had been a staff lawyer with the Humane Society of
the United States. She previously worked with the
Federal Home Loan Bank Board, the Democratic
National Committee, and the General Accounting
Office. She was a member of the DAR. In addition,
our
sympathies go to Mary BlanchardKirkiles, whose
husband died in March 1993. He owned and operated
in
the Calico Kitchen in Hartford and two restaurants
New Haven CT, the CopperKitchen and the Paragon
Restaurant, before his retirement.
Cambria Masterworks has released a new
CD by
Maggie Aydelotte Mills, her third, entitled “Margaret
Mills Plays Piano Music of Ruth Schonthal and
’54 is holding its 40th reunion.
I was
in the midst of retiring from the Milwaukee
as I was
schools after 25 years as a school psychologist
public
and supervisor. It’s been
rewarding and challenging
experience. People keep asking me what I’m going to
do, and I say, ‘Maybenothing.’ Stay tunedfor Audrey’s
a
excellent retiring adventure.” We’ll look forward to
the next
chapter in a future issue of the Quarterly.
Unfortunately Eileen Wolf Katz’s letter came too
late to post at reunion, as Eileen had hoped. She
chil“I’m
in Princeton with four grown
wrote,
living
grandchildren,
dren, two
going to make it
to
reunion
not
nearby. I’m probably not
but would be happy to see
eitherannounced or not.”
any classmates that stop by,
Eileen is in the Princeton phone book under E. Katz.
second
AnnRowland Koehler’s fifth
grandson, was
Cynthia and
born
on
grandchild,
daughter
March 21, 1994, to
her husband, John Bernstein, in West
Newton, MA. He joins his brother, Sam, who was 2
Bastille Day. Other family news
included a visit for
on
10 days over
July 4th from daughter Vicki Clare and
her husband, Tom, with their three little girls, ages
1
also joined over
the
6 /1 i, 5, and 2 /z. They were
holidays by son Robert, who moved to Los Gatos from
Fort Lee, NJ, last November. Come Sept. 1, Ann
“Husband Rege and I will vacation
for a month,
wrote,
weeks in the Alsace and two weeks in Normandy.”
Sure sounds like it’s a well-deserved and much-needed
two
together.
Leading a seemingly more sedentary life, but also
enjoying it, is Lynn Covington Davies. She writes,
home in Park City, UT,
“Enjoying my new vacation
in all seasons;
wonderful hiking, music, reading. All
the seasons
are
inspired here. Back in Palm Beach I
have my little granddaughter to look forward to. Life
is good.” What a wonderful note
to end on.
I hope that
of us are enjoying life this way, but regardless
most
please let us know what is going
I am now beginning an excitingnew part-time job
for the Green-
which she is
totally involved.” Both composers
the recording sessions, which pleased Maggie,
since one
of her special interests
is working with living
One piece on the CD was commissioned
composers.
at
by and scheduled
to
be introduced in Germany as part
Schonthal’s honor in Heidel-
of the celebration in
berg. Though particularly
music
contemporary
since
fascinated with
new
and
her student days, when her
debutfeatured Bartok’s “Suite,”Maggie has a versatile
repertoire. This past year she performed Beethoven,
Hayden, and Amy Beach at the Greenwich Arts
Center, Bach’s D Minor Piano Concerto in the First
Presbyterian Church, and a Charles Ives piece at a
conference in Worcester, MA. Maggie made her
Carnegie
Hall Debut in
1974- Recitals have included
Washington and New
the National Gallery of Art in
York’s Lincoln Center. Being
a
musician
is a seven-
day-a-week activity for Maggie, with recitals,recording,
publishing, four hours of daily practrice, and a full
schedule
as
chairmanofthe Third Street Music School
Settlement in New York.
Mina TangKan held an exhibition of her original
prints at the Gallery of the Winds in Estes Park, CO,
in June 1994 called “Spirit, Form and Earth.” Mina
photograph images in my
says, “Although I use
many
new
work, I assemble and recombine them to create
and personal visions
of the world.”
’56
Hope Christopoulos Mihalap
1316
Graydon
Ave.
Norfolk, VA 23507
804/623-0429 (phone)
804/640-0848 (fax)
time
on.
school consultant, at the Mayfield Junior School
Pasadena, CA. Quite a change from life in New
York City. It’s wonderful and exciting, but I miss my
as
a
in
522 VQ WINTER
1994
was
Hester Hinsdale Nau visited Barbara Philen
Chase at her beautiful ranch in St. Helena, CA,
where the Chases raise alpacas. Hester loved them,
sheared babies as “poodles with
the
describing
newly
long necks.”
A delightful spread in
last May’s “Styles” section
of flowerof the New York Times featured wearers
trimmed hats, all this at the Frederick Law Olmsted
AwardsLuncheon givenby the CentralPark ConserofPat Parton
The
center
was
prominent
photo
vancy.
Rosenwald, whose husband, John, was
people honored for Conservancy work.
That photo
Having just taken a killer 12-block walk through the
neighborhood so as to justify cheese for breakfast
(Greeks are strange), I glance through the postcards
in by some
of you for these notes
and find you are
sent
slightly more athletic than I am. For example, Anne
Salo Hallagan skis
Alpine, races cross-country, and
joins her husband, Dick, in racing their Lightning
sail-cat. They participated in regattas this past year in
Ecuador and Switzerland and, during their travels,
visited son
Peter and daughter-in-law in Cracow,
where they workfor MBA Enterprises.The other two
children are also married, and the kids, by now
aware
of their parents’ superb coordination, gave Anne and
spread
came
to
me
of three
one
from my faithful
misses
and witty source,
Jeanne Rejaunier, who never
item
about a classmate. As for herself, Jeanne
a news
number of fascinating projects: her novel
reports a
Mob Sisters, about the world’s first female mafia, has
been
now
optioned for network television, and Jeanne is
working on another novel, Fool’s Gold, a New
Age book set in California.
“Additionally,” Jeanne writes, “I’ve been doing
some
ghostwriting: in the past two years I have completed one book for an abused wife, one for former
Jesuit priest, and one for two people in the Witness
a
$500,000
Protection Program on whose lives exist
mob contracts.
I’m due shortly to start
working on a
with Graves’ disease and another
book for a woman
for
also negotiata colorful Oklahoma oil tycoon; am
of an 89-year-old Palm Beach
ing the memoirs
boulevardier.”
Penny Travis Lane’s book Night Physics can be
ordered from Brick Books, Box 38, StationB, London,
Ontario N6A 4V3. Its
catalogue
number is ISBN 0-
to
919626-70 X. Cost, approximately $lO.l continue
get great pleasure from Penny’s book of poetry, Reck-
onings.
My own book, Where There’s Hope, should be in
print by the time you read this and can be ordered
either from me or from Knox Publishing in Granville,
OH. From
contains
no
Maura
is probably easier.
I
calumny.
Mulligan Benjamin writes
me
assure
from
you
it
Palm
Beach, where she and her husband live in the winter,
moving to a saltwater farm in Pretty Marsh, ME, on
Mt. Desert Island, in summer.
She welcomes visitors,
especially in Maine.
Finally, news of a richly deserved award to Alice
Pack Melly from the Junior League ofGreenwich. In
giving Alice the Betty Hinckley Award, the Greenwich League cited her extraordinary record of volunteer
work since 1952. Among other things, Alice has been
instrumentalin such projects as Shelterfor the Homeless, Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Agency,
Long Island Sound Council, the Audubon
Society, and the Greenwich Library, which she has
served in numerous
capacities.
Be on the alert for news
or
questionnaires about
40threunion. It’s not till 1996,of course, but keep
our
Western
it
k
this,
“As I write
unable to attend
critic
wich Time, in Maggie’s hometown, calls it “an impressive album, expertly engineered with beautiful
pianosound, showing Mills at her best, playing music
'
says,
I
pipes.
were
Audrey Clark Mayer’s note
Anne is so agile is that Dick is
I think the reason
slouch himself. I’m going to get Larry to read this.
He tried to prevent me walking this morning because
and he figured I would be
it was
before
A.M.
eight
hoping I would be because I’ve been
practicing yelling YAH and slamming my fist into
cardboard toilet-paper rolls pretending they’re wind-
Collins
65 Stirrup Lane
40th Reunion
in
like a thing of the past, but
Our 49th reunion
seems
there were some
classmates who couldn’t make it and
with the rest of us.
wanted to share their news
reunion.
mugged.
Libby Prince
Lowell Liebermann.” The music
Selma Gruenstein Miller
Dick roller-blades last year for Christmas. Anne says
40th
that if she isn’t on crutches she’ll skate to our
no
supplied.
a
Russell
tects
well
judge
Haven,
tions.
sister, my children, and my grandchildren in the East.
A bonus is I’m spending lots of time with my niece and
her family—also on the plane, where I have lots of
Class Notes, so please keep me
to read and write
time
in
mind and don’t be afraid
to
come
back. The
40 years ago
people of whom you were in terrified
are
now
boggled by you. The ones you thought were
it.
weird now
seem
peculiarly normal. I mean
awe
’57
Alice Handelman Model
7 Sherwood Dr.
Larchmont, NY 10538
914/834-5661
Thefew cards received this quarterrepresent the usual
themes common
to
our
classmates;
accomplishments,
retirement, moving, and grandbabies.
Having received the first Carol B. Seidler Award
from Greenwich
where she teaches his-
Academy,
tory, economics, and art, Carol Nipomnich Dixon
in China for two
weeks to study its history and
was
and archeology; and
government; art, architecture,
economics
in
Beijing, Xi’an, andShenzhen, the larg-
This
zones.
country’s special economic
established in memory
of a
fellowship
who had been especially active for the school.
woman
The grant is designed to allow a uniqueopportunity
for faculty member to pursue
a project that would be
both personally and professionally beneficial. Com
gratulations, Carol! Your students willbe enriched by
thrilling experience.
your
Doris Stearns Swain still teaches high school
math in Rockford, IL, but will now be living in Davis,
of the
est
was
summer
a
church
IL, where her husband, Jim, will continue
ministry.
In anticipation of husband Larry’s retirement
in
November, Barbara Goldberg Niad reports that
they’ve sold their home, moved to an apartment, and
a home in Florida. They plan
between New York and Florida.
building
are
their time
divide
to
Pamela
and have lived with
Farrington Clayson
babysitting her
the
grandsons, ages 5 and 8, when
spoke
phone. They are the sons of her daughter, Jenny, who
was
two
we
35. Pam’s son,
is
investment
David,
is
on
31 and works for
an
Her youngest
management company.
daughter, Wendy, is 28 and is the mother of Pam’s
granddaughter, Anna, who is 1 year old. Wendy works
part time, tutoring and testing learning-disabled children. Lucky Pam! All of her children live near
her
Weston, MA, home!
Pam worked in real estate
for 15 years.
Now,
retired, she travels a lot with her husband, Barr. Barr
is with Standish, Ayer and Wood, working in internaShe says, “I am playing andenjoying
tional investment.
the
Ashe Handelman and husband Walter
Judy
(brother of
haveworked together for 30 years
each other for the past 10 years.
I
crew.
everybody
fortunate. I have great kids and
is happy and healthy.”
am
very
derful for her in many ways, that the fact that so many
of her classmates bought her jewelry was
“terrific
affirmation.” She
contribution to our
I received a phone call from Elenita Milbank
Drumwright, telling of Jean Shevlin Gerard’s recent
of bad luck. She is holding her own
after a serious
run
bout with cancer
and a stroke, undergoing aggressive
in
treatment
she
the
describes
quarterly magazine Sophisticated Traveler. Among
the changes under her direction was the weekly section
going to color from black andwhite.Nancy’s first
travel article
byline
.
l
’58
Sloane
Beverly Leßov
was
in
the
July 31st
Scottish gardens. Nancy says the pressures
to write.
editor don’t allow enough time
1301 N. Santa Anita Ave
on
ofbeing an
It’s too bad
a
“Alice in Warheadland, In Which the
essay,
Young Vassar Grad Falls into a Strangelovian World
of Post-Nuclear Planning.” Editor of Outlook, Jodie
servant,
tion
her days as an intern
and a junior civil
other things, “an evaluapreparing, among
of the psychological effect on the nation
of a
specific
nuclear attack scenario.” Thankfulfor
less.
leaves in late January for
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, where she will be an
in a large indepenexchange teacherfor one semester
Before Nancy became travel editor, she was
editor of the New York Times for several years.
nounce
dent girls’
the end of
husband, Michael lovenko. She is in touch with Jean
Sonkin Arbeiter, Betty Ann May Cannell, Alice
Garrett McClelland, and B.J. Lockhart Cowie.
'
it. We’re all relieved thatthose
or
day and boarding school. She will return
July.
Marcy’s daughter, Alison, was married in Toulouse,
French graphic
France, to Pierre Sardain, a young
she
artist
six
met
years
Marcy and her husband,
ago.
busy planning a wedding party on this side
of the ocean
for August. Alison plans to attend
graduate school at the University of York in England.
Jack, were
She
wants
be
to
a
medievalist. Marcy writes, “Dark
her ‘thing,’ but she is beginning to fear
are
Ages mores
that employment might not be there at the end of grad
lives in
a
brownstone in New York with her
style
She
lawyer
classmate
I must
report the death of our
Bodil Nielsen Van Kleeck. According to her obituary in the Valley Reporter, Bodil lived in Bedford and
Sadly,
Manhattanand died
She
rior
on
June 1,1994, ofheart failure.
journalist and editor whoseforte was intedesign. She moved to Bedford in 1991, when she
was
a
a
half-
VC in trauma
psychology, she completed the project but never found out what happened
at
course
year
to
Easterling
at
Vanderbilt and Ohio
member of the
to
because the piece was well written, interesting, and
chock full of useful information. I personally look
forward to more
Nancy Newhouse bylines.
Marcia Pears
Arcadia, CA 91006-2419
818/355-8915
edition
she couldn’t be
foreign
languages department at Berea since 1976.
I enjoyed reading Jodie Tetrault Allen’s rather
and Susan Morrison. David said that I
“great aunt”!
a
sorry
Sept.
After Vassar, Elise went
State, and she has been
ironic
was
moment,
hear from her friends in the
to
reunion, and eager
class. Letters to her sent c/o AAVC willbe forwarded.
Congratulations to Elise Andre, promoted to full
professor at Berea College, Berea, KY, as of
1.
For the past five years, Nancy Riley Newhouse
has been travel editor of the New York Times. In that
capacity, she is editor of the weekly travel section and
always
Paris, Elenita said. She told Elenita that
okay for the
was
class correspondent) are grandparents! Helen Jewell Handelman was born on June 2,
1994, to son and daughter-in-law David Handelman
your
able to make a substantial
class because of those sales.
was
days are
past,
more
G. Suzanne Murnane Maroon is pleased to anthe publication ofThe United States Capitol—“a coffee-table textbook”—her husband’s 10th book,
but the first to which she has contributed. She wrote
the text,
irony that she should
admitting a certain
write
about an American architecturallandmarksince
she is neither an American nor an architect nor
an
historian. But the book certainly sounds interesting!
As liaison to the Fund for Planned Giving, Alison
Church Hyde is eager to talk with classmates about
gifts
to
the
college
that
can
provide
and
income
benefits to the donor and future income
to VC. She
says that Helen Zalkan Pearl “has paved the way in
our
school!”
married BarnardD. Van Kleeck 111. In addition to her
husband, whose address is Box 310, Bedford, NY
10506, she is survived by her father, Tage Nielsen, and
article from the
I received from AAVC an
Poughkeepsie Journal on the subject of financial aid
twosisters, HanneNielsenWilliams ’56 (Mrs. Arthur)
and
Birgot Deeds of Charlotte, VT.
watch “A
Century of Women,” the
celebration of “some lesser-known American heroes
along with a few big-name figures who have helped
better the lives and transform the image of women
packages for college students. There is a statement
from Sally Donoho Griffen on the benefits of internships. Sally is director of field work at Vassar.
Had a delightful phone conversation
with Barbara Lebow. We became friends in college and were
It was
always struck by the similarity of our names.
great
plans
to
after all these years, and we made
each other in New York. Barbara is a
see
to
founder of the Academy Theater in Atlanta. Her
play,
Aug.
28
The
Keepers,
scheduled
was
the Jean Cocteau
at
Repertory
Greenwich Village. The play concerns
ily of lighthouse keepers off the coast
1854.The
cast
includes
a
retired
sea
a
to
on
open
Theater in
uniquefamof Maine in
captain, his wife,
and an adopted daughter who is black. A storm
forces
them all to live in the tower.
One of the characters
unravels and has
a
effect on the others,
the intimacy of the re-
profound
especially being confined in
mote
lighthouse. It is
poetic play spoken
a
Maine dialect. It sounds intriguing. I can’t wait
in
early
to
see
it.
Barbara has also been actively involved in Thein
Human Service, facilitating plays by
ater
disenfranchised groups,
disparate elements ofthe community like the homeless, prison inmates, etc. If you
would like
to
endeavor, write
find
to
about this worthwhile
this column and I will send it on to
out
more
Barbara.
Her oldest, Richteacher and active
in
sons.
a
environmental issues. He lives on
ing to work in Brainbridge,
the father of Barbara’s two
and
of you
but sunny
December when this issue
preferably at night,
if you
a
an
near
island, commutSeattle. He is
grandchildren,
a
5-year-old
Her middle son, Steven, is
business with his
the home construction
1-year-old boy.
31 and in
father, Barbara’sformer husband. Her youngest, James,
is 29 and plans to attend graduate school to study
archeology.
Barbara’s life partner is Frank Wittow, founder
and artistic
director of the Academy Theater. They
comes
Have
out.
found the ideal climate—warm, even hot,
of the time, with just enough rain,
most
to
nurture
the flora? Let
me
know
have.
but memories
a long time
Reunion seems
ago,
I recallwith special pleasure several trips to
the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center—both the
linger on.
building and the collection are spectacular, I think.
The panel of our classmates, the artwork, the reunion
with old friends, and the discovery of new—those
the highlights for me. The food was
were
good, too,
certainly different from what I remember from the
days gone by.
I tbink, too, of the moving replay ofthe slide show
prepared for the 25 thby Linda ClarkMcGoldrick, all
the more
moving, of course, because of her untimely
this question: did we
the keys like? No one
could remember, although we
didn’t have combination locks.
Ansie Silverman Baird wrote
memories
seeing some
last winter.
Our new president, Alice Bunzl Belgray, said she
felt that the reunion
was
very
stimulating; the panel
Egypt
and literary reading were
encouraging to find that
sionally
were
and involved in expanding their califelong learning,” she said, adding that she
looks forward
to
of
tear
out
about
the
ac-
postcard, please: Naomi Katz, Ann Allison O’Connell,
Carol Barden Brener, Joan Burdett Wilson, Mary
Goodman Walker, Rosalie Kerr Loud, Pauline
Morrison Ledbetter, Berry Reavis Eitel, Mary Rickey
Parker, Sandra Soderlund Soons, and Anne Warner
time.
of you next
some
more
Whiting. I’ll name
one
and all.
lock our
I talked
all
of her
sure
we
pleasant
seemed mellow, welcoming, and inclusive,”she
writes, concluding that we are aging gracefully. She
also announces
the birth of her fourth grandchild, Eva
Kerman, in Providence, RI, in February. She was
looking forward to vacationing with all her children
and grandchildren in August.
I am enjoying the terrific pin designed by Judith
that reunion
withas many
renewed,
tivities, books read, films seen, VC contacts
places visited, ideas thought, whatever. Send me a
’60
was
won-
Susan Hammond Hawley
Wilbraham and Monson Academy
421 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
35th Reunion
one
wrote
maintaining contact
possible during her presidency.
Not many postcards this issue. Please
comments
card right now, jot down some
as
you
of reunion, particularly her pleasure at
faces not seen
since
graduation. “Every-
Woracek Mullen. She
for her. “It’s
classmates are profes-
highlights
our
active
and
Happy holidays,
death.
Can anyone
answer
doors? If so, what were
reasons.
NY 14052.
Did any of you
reers
to
Barbara has three grown
ard, is 35 years old. He is
girl
here in soggy Tryon, I anticipate with some
enthusiasm the cold, crisp weather we’ll be enjoying,
hope, in
talk about her
On a sad note, a letter from Anahid Harrison tells
of the death ofher mother, Elsa Johnson Millward, in
As I sit
any
to
the past 100 years” (Walter Goodman in the New
York Times ) ? The six-hourshow aired in June and was
narrated by Jane Fonda. I missed it, alas.
704/859-2239
I
willing
over
141 Warrior Dr.
Tryon, NC 28782
reconnect
successful playwright who has been working at her
craft for 30 years. She is playwright in residence and a
current
’59
Caroline Skinner O’Neil
class” and is also
Alison’s address is: 211 Dorchester Rd., East Aurora,
35TH REUNION COMING UP. WHOOPEE!
Bob and I returned to teaching this
A new
plunge!
Note our new
address. He is academic
dean; I, a middle school English teacher. We willlive
the school. At 61 and 55—a new
adventure!
at
past
summer.
Gail
Sheppard Moloney
was
married
to
Philip
53
in Sept. 1993, and two
weeks later, her
daughter, Hillary, was married in London. Gail and
the
Phil bought a house in Vero Beach, EL,
naval air
Moloney
across
from Mary Ann Bickford Patton and husband
Flo Smith Stone and
Dick. Two of their roommates,
Robin Rowan Clarke, have visited the Pattons this
winter.
Gail serves
the board of Ethel Walker’s
on
street
cruise
in
clinical
dren are
psychology at
the
Felding
Institute. Her chil-
Mavin, 32, receiving a Ph.D in counseling
psychology; Boyce, 28, receiving a degree at Boston
University; and Julie, 30, who is in the retail business.
Judy Connolly Connally finished her third
sion of the Virginia General Assembly
delegate
in education
from Arlington, with special interests
ses-
as
a
and health-carereform. Husband Tom practices medicine; son Thomas, 25, is a lawyer in D.C.; Anne, 24,
volunteerswith the Peace Corps in Africa; and daughand works
ter Kate graduated from Princeton last year
in San Francisco. Martha Derby McDaniel has been
the program
coordinator at Ho’omaluhia Botanical
Gardenin Kaneohe, HI, fornearly Hyears. Hermajor
riding, and she and her Trakehner
mare
recently won three gold medals in dressage at the
Aloha State Games. Her daughter and three grandexercise
is horseback
children live in
Vermont.
Deedee Dauler Wilson,
at
Princeton, recently
won
of philosophy
1994 Howard T.
professor
the
Behrman Award for distinguished achievement in
the humanities. Deedee, a memberof the faculty since
1970, does research on metaphysics and epistemology
17th and 18th centuries. She writes that the
in the
prize included
mostly taken by taxes,
Blake-looking medal. She
rently serves as president of the Eastern Division of
the American Philosophical Association.
Mary Ellen Blumenfeld Doyle had a one-person
exhibition of her landscape
paintings—“ New Works
on Handmade Paper”— at the Susan Conway Gallery
in Washington, DC, in May and June ofthis year.
She
enclosed a card: pale bright dry field, fence, suggestion
of a road, a brighter field, trees, perhaps mountains
beyond—a vision caught, a dream painted on wakenand
a
sort
some
money,
of William
ing. Beautiful piece.
Ann Snyder Harrod was there
June 6, 1994, “with actual veterans
cur-
on
OmahaBeach,
who had made
early landings. Likewise talked withFrench whoawakened to fleet and landings on beach. Incredible history.”
Meg Taylor Flowers broke her leg in two places
over
a year
ago, had emergency
surgery, including the
nuts
and bolts and the like, was
on
crutches, had lots of time to think about her life, now
takes more
time
for herself and her family thanbefore.
Meg still enjoys directing the church choirs and
playing the Fisk organ.
installation of
on
a
British
frigate.
Ballet Competition in Russia. When she wrote
her
card she had just been home to New Orleans for a visit
100 years.
over
Jean Orndorff Summers has four grandchildren,
in medicine in North Carolina, andfour daugha son
the country. Jean stillworks long
ters scattered across
hours in her financial services
business. Rebecca Falk
in New York. Her son,
Steindecker sells real estate
Jimmy, imports steel products, and daughter Michelle
is a stockbroker. Mimi Brown Martin is a marriage
and family therapist, now
pursuing a doctorate in
EP-3E aircraft. Kathy earned her
an
Olga (Olguita) Guardia de Smoak has been working in Moscow as editor of Ballet in Russia since the fall
of 1992. This is Russia’s only dance magazine and is an
offshoot of the journal Ballet. Olguita is also the
official representative of the U.S.A International
with Missy Turnbull Geddes, who is now chair. Ann
that it was such fun to
Heroy Webb, M.D., writes
welcome the Clarkes to the Eastern Shore and to
ice
congratulate them for surviving the worst winter
storm
on
crew
wings in 1993. She expects to be in Rota, Spain
(Costa de la Luz), until at least June or July 1995. Her
next
deployment will be a Mediterranean/Adriatic
and
on
a
vacation
in
Episcopal priest/Christian psychotherapist
the 19905. It’s still
a
27 W. 86th St.
. New York, New York 10024
212/874-4081 (h); 212/664-2957 (o)
Greetings, all, and congratulations to Carole Lomax
Dempsey, who has been promoted to CEO of Aspen
Real Estate, which serves
the entire
eastern
from Maine to Key West.
Kathleen
Davis writes
thatshe
54VQ WINTER
1994
am
was
of the Hungarian Maltese Aid Service in
Germany, Although confined to a wheelchair, she
woman
traveled every
month to Hungary and around Gerand asking for assistance
from
raising money
Prior to her death, she founded
possible venue.
every
the
Osteuropa-Hilfe/Boeselager Stiftung—since renamed Csilla von Boeselager Stiftung—a foundation
designed to continue her work. Contributions may be
sent
to
Osteuropa-Hilfe e.v./Csilla von Boeselager
Stiftung, D-59757 Arnsberg/Vosswinkel, Hollinghofen, Germany. Our sympathies are extended to her
husband and children.
’62
Barbara Krone
Grenquist
1192 Park Ave.
and Vassar: the Reismans
have asked that any contributionbe made to the Ellen
Roth Reisman Memorial Scholarship Fund at Vassar.”
corresponding secretary)
’63
Well, classmates, this
included
dues
wrote
space
a
year.
She’s thrilled, as these
dwellings of choice for many of the
students these days. To me,
they don’t look so inviting
because they’re off-campus, but what do I know (as
she would
say)? Give me Raymond House any day.
Which reminds me; On July 30, I attended a
beautifulsoiree in Hopewell Junction to celebrate the
wedding of Julie Blodgett, daughter of my Raymond
SusanDeisseroth Blodgett, to Brian Ferki.
roommate,
Also in attendance were
J udy Winebaum La vine and
her husband, Burt.
news
On Labor Day (Sept. 4), I received some
sad
very
from Cyntbia Gilbert Kennison. She writes:
“On
Aug. 24, Hertha Gassmann Barrack, with her
family, and I attended the very moving, very beautiful
funeral service for Ellen Roth Reisman at Congregation
Rodelph Sholom in New York City. Ellen’s
the class
on
she likes Australiaso much she’ll go back, and
visit! Selby rafted on the Colorado River
through the Grand Canyon in June and thought it
was
writes
enough to be exciting! Selby
great—just scary
books and magazine articles for children and is
starting to do the illustrationsfor themas well. Selby’s
daughter, Amanda, Vassar ’9l, is in grad school at the
Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern. Son
Charles, Colby ’93, works for Piper Jafffey in Seattle.
Selby said that visiting Amanda at Vassar gave her a
whole new and different
perspective about the school;
maybe some of the rest of you “Vassar parents” could
of your thoughts about that. Selby had
give us some
lunch with Sue
Forney Boyd, who was in Minnesota
giving a talk. In a previous column, I talked about
classmates in the field of art but neglected
that Kathy Lee Reid is the director of the
of our
Badder is
in
Richmond, VA. Also, Susan Stevenson
now
director ofeducational programs
at
the
National Gallery in Washington, DC. Could there be
correlation between the superb experiences we all
a
had in Art 105 (and more
advancedart history courses)
and the substantial number of classmates involved in
art
world?
Some more
career
news:
Cynthia Jacob, a partner
the Somerset, NJ, law firm of Collier, Jacob, &
Mills, was
and
be the
note
can
Association in
to
a
hopes
Babs
and Canada, edited
seem
write
with the little (sigh!) news
I have.
Babs’s daughter, Meredith, spent the summer
of’94 in
Australia and was to start
Princeton this fall. Babs
in
a
to
both counts!
So here goes
museum
freelance editor: everything from the latest
Clancy blockbuster to how-to-plan-your-weddirector
ding guides. HusbandPeter is still executive
of the Association of American
University Presses:
more
books. Daughter Louisa will be living in a “TH”
for you
mailing—so, hopefully, you paid your dues AND
about yourself a while ago! If so, thank you on
and “loves even the weather.”A book review
came
my
way that features Abortion Politics in the United States
as
through various
whining! Maybe
do it! Babs Currier Bell and Selby Butt Beeler also
art
Tom
out
moral of the story is that ifyou want
to be able to read
about your
classmates, take the first step by writing
about yourself! Jot a note
to me
at the address above,
of this issue of the Quarterly—just
or rip the card out
mention
of books, that’s what I’m still involved
find
all about themselves just last
just hasn’t arrived yet!) In any case, the
it
the
Jelen.
Speaking
to
of the shorter colof the news
most
I
has written
week, and
full professor. Her son Chris just graduated from
UCLA in anthropology; son Bob is living in Seattle
G.
one
calls! (Oh, Dede, stop
phone
to
by Marthe and her husband, Ted
be
may
have is what I’ve been able
frantic
many
a
Rothenberg
Quarterly history, because
in
umns
212/831-6763
been visiting philosophy departments in China and
end up teaching Chinese
may
philosophy back at
De Pauw University, where she has recently become
Dede Nieman
k 34 Lakeside Rd.
F Mt. Kisco, NY 10549
914/666-2242
New York, NY 10128
Dear classmates: I got only one
card this time, from
Marthe Atwater Chandler. She writes
that she has
seaboard
recalled
was
Perry
to active
duty (because ofher language skills—SerboCroatian) from the U.S. Naval Reserves in Aug.
1992. Stationed in
Spain, she has been flying with a
instead of rac-
ism, sexism, competition, and domination—and I
many
was
roommates,
everyone
beginning to write about it.”
that yet another one of
And, sadly, I must report
classmates has passed away. Csilla von Fenyes
our
her
von
at
Boeselager died in Feb. 1994 of cancer
home in Hollinghofen, Germany. Csilla dedicated
her life to helping those in need—from Hungarian
refugees to the homeless and needy from Eastern
chairEurope. In Dec. 1988 she founded and
(town house) at VC this
’61
and woman
oppressive world for a
and I’m still passionate about
very
feeling, spiritual person,
equality, mutuality, and collaboration
YOU? Trek back, touch base, send back your
card: say you are coming! SALVE.
Elizabeth Orton Davis
re-
ports thatshe is back in North Berkeley, CA—a brief
walk to the seminary and within an hour of San
Francisco. “Everything I am
is a part of being an
in
post-
as
London with husband Jim.
talent and has participated in “Gallery 37.”
The Reverend Doctor Bonnie Kilstein Ring
in
Ellen’s quick affectionate wit, from our time
for 32 more
years.)
“Ellen had been particularly involved in ’62 (as
there
Melinda Johnson Burger writes that older daughHelen Joyce, entered Concordia University in
ter,
River Forest, lE, this fall to study nursing, while
younger
daughter, Carolyn Grace, a sophomore at
Kenwood Academy, is showing signs of real artistic
from Sue Crowder Cutler: “I don’t
a note
much. Somehow Poughkeepsie in the ’sos seems
far from California in the ’9os. But I do look
very
forward to our 35th in ’95 and think I’llmake the trek
back to touch base with old friends.” How about
Finally,
write
husband, Jim, and their children, Adam and Leah
(Vassar ’95), were among those who spoke eloquently
of Ellen’s devotion to their family, her strong leadertalents,
ship in public causes, her intelligence, artistic
strength in the face of debilitating illness, her warmth
and humor, her amazing wit.
(Yes, oh yes. Always
state
in
sworn
as
first VP of the New
May 1994. She
and
courts,
serves
on
is active
a
Jersey Bar
in bothfederal
variety of commit-
including those concerned withcivil and criminal
law, labor and employment law, and women’s rights.
(Yea, Cynthia!) Patricia Mainardi is visiting Clark
Professor at Williams
College as of this fall and cochair of the “Women and Society” seminar
at
Columbia U. for 1994-96. Cathy Cash-Spellman
writes
that she is “officially hyphenated—and back
home in Manhattan”after herdivorce. She is “writing
tees,
book and movie
in tandem with Brandon
new
Tartikoff (a wild island adventure called Trophies ).
Also, Bless the Child
book) is about to be
a
made into
a
(previous
movie! It’s been quite a year!
the “family front” (yours, not
Paramount
”
Some news
on
mine!): Anne Goldenheim Creem and Tim of
Bridgton, ME, became grandparents in July 1994 to
Daniel Adkins Paseltiner, son
of Linda Creem
Paseltiner and Phil, who live in Stamford, CT. Ellen
Frankel Winetsky also claims
is
“grandparenthood
be—absolutely heavenly!” The
Winetskys have two new grandchildren—Debra’s son,
Jordan Schiff, and Jill’s daughter, Erica Solomon—and another on
the way via
third daughter Amy
Schlakman! I’m jealous!
all it’s cracked
up
to
Babs,
as
involved in
and
concerns
forget
our
us
president, would like to
get
area-sharing and networking about issues
we
(Who can
might have in common.
see
all the interest
in
at
menopause
last
our
re-
union?!) Perhaps people would like to communicate
(by mail, E-mail, phone, or through this column)
about health issues,
elderly parents, information about
living in different areas, retirement
thoughts (even
still infants!), or volunteer
though we’re of course
activities
that encompass
all the responsibilities of
running a small business. For example, Babs mentioned that Kitty Sides Blather manages
(as a
volunteer) a child-welfare public service organization
in Boston with a budget of several million dollars! I’m
sure
of you
many
have joined a board and then wound
“running the show.” Let’s give each other the
our
experiences!
That’s it for now—l hope to be inundated with
of news from all of you by the next
column. In the
tons
you’re reading this in early winter,
meantime, since
up
benefit of
let’s
hope
it’s
’64
an
easy
one! Take care!
Christy Hoffman
days
Brown
begin writing the Winter issue, we are in the “dog
of August” in N.Y.C. Let me congratulate the
on
at
Albany, NY, one
Of course,
Alice Horsey Thiede celebrated her50th birthday
by starting violin lessons (Suzuki method). Often
playing with very young kids, she finds it a total
challenge. She and Roger own Carto-Graphics in Eau
Claire, WI, producing high-quality maps, charts, and
full
graphs since 1984. Son Will joined the company
time
in
1992. The example of their work she sent
along with her postcard was most impressive!
In the news:
Ellen May Galinsky, co-president of
the Families and Work Institute, was
quoted in the
May 11, 1994,New York Times on a study of in-home
day care done by the National Centerfor Children in
Poverty. “This is an important report because our
studies and others have shown that often low-income
children, particularly in these informal settings, receive
lower-quality
publication,
Vassar
care.” And in a Campaign for
of our classmates were
two
pic-
tured: Susan McCallum Bledsoe, chairman of the
Atlanta regional campaign, and Theodora
reunion
to
serve
helpful to me since I met with her at reunion.
Keep the postcards coming. My column will be
good as the news I get from all of you!
five years:
president, Alice Keidan Lanckton;
president, Margaret Appelbaum Levine; treaLlyn Christian Agress; secretary/class corresurer,
spondent, Christy Hoffman Brown; Council repre-
Louise Duncan
700 Madison Ave.
’65
New York, NY 10021
As the director of
subsidiary rights, she is
involved with the glamour of selling movie rights as
well as the less glamorous —selling rights to engineershe spoke of
ing titles. Reminiscing about reunion
“the compassion that our
classmates have for each
other that seems
to increase with every reunion.” Her
to
start
daughter, Emily,
Holderness this fall as a
sophomore. Mary Peacock, who works in the same
building with Marjorie, is now
deputy editor at
was
that “life continues
be a juggling act.” Her daughter, Allegra,
eighth grade
at
Chapin here in N.Y.C. Luisa is
real estate
at
Sotheby’s and traveling. Last
winter, she and Alex went
to Southeast Asia. In June,
her
family, including her 87-year-old mother-in-law,
off to Paris. Also on the move
were
is Alice Harper,
who was planning a two-week October trip with her
husband, Lou, and 6-year old son, Harper, to Japan.
due to
there was
Budapest and Prague. Her last time
ago! Her younger
son
Her older
musician.
is a senior
works
son
a
trip
to
and Radio here in
tographer,
the city. Brenda is part-time phoat the
computer whiz, and editorial maven
New York Outward Bound office, leaving her time to
travel with her “wonderful companion.” Karen
Mathisen Seatonand husband Edward seem
always to
be traveling to a
Spanish-speaking part of the world.
He is publisher/editor of the Manhattan
Mercury in
Kansas. Son Ned is married and a reporter on the St.
Petersburg Times; son Jay is at the U. of Kansas Law
School.
Anne
Youngclaus Stratton wrote
wedding in Little Compton,
niece’s
she missed
en
today she
route
RI. That
reunion, but she wanted
us
to
It seems
hard to imagine that I am writing this on the
25th anniversary of Woodstock. Even I knew it was a
watershedevent,
her
to
was
why
know that
but the closest I
ever
got to
hippiedom
aspiring to whatBill Blass called the “rich hippie”
look. Maybe the biggest change in me since then is
that now
I at least know enough to be embarrassed by
the expression.
was
Ruth Williams Cornelison said she and her husband were
on
driving up the New York State
Thruway
their way to Canada 25 years
the traffic, only later
finding
Ruth
dropped out
ago and got held up by
about Woodstock.
out
of Vassar in the spring of 1965
from what she says were
of “establishment
reasons
stress.” Later, she graduated in 1974. At her
graduathe stage wearing only an
tion, a streaker ran across
American flag.
I guess he had it, too.
her husband has made her a
In this hot summer,
cardboard fan to use when she has hot flashes. He,
Those three
capsules
she gave
me
are
stages of
Dorothy Coburn de Yore, another Marylander,
knowledgeable about the sciences than she
once
thought she would be, because she has a Ph.D. daughter, Nicki, who “has done gene slicing in
the summer.” Son Peter is at the U. of Maryland in
is more
mechanical
ian
in the army
Anne JunekFitzgerald says she became a librarbecauseshe liked the feel ofthe cards in herhands,
leafing through them. Now, of course, the business of
providing information is so changed it is like “a career
change, the biggest change since Gutenberg.” She
lives in Connecticut. One of her girls, Caitlin, gradusummer
rugby team). Her roommate
Tubbs Aspen, who lives in
(she was
captain of the
the daughter of Sue
Illinois. The
blew up
was
girls
on
the
at
the U. of Connecticut. She also
the
saw
Foundry Bookshop
Business and Professional
Not only is she the program
director but she is also involved in software
design.
She enjoys going to concerts
with Leslie MacCoull
in D.C.
Nancy Kent Eliot has moved to Buckinghamshire,
midway between London and Oxford. She is a fordeseign-based representative for American tourism
tinations
and suppliers. Her sons;
one
a lawyer in
was
working.”
Susan Schley Gristina moved to
after years in North Carolina to be near
Reston, VA,
the research
herhusband, Tony, started. He’s an orthopedic surgeon
and studies
why implants would encourage
infection. Mother of four boys who are now
adult,
she enjoys her cello. In amateur
she
groups,
institute
plays
symphonies
and chamber music, Mahler, Beethoven,
al.
I have gotten such
interesting mail from you.
Sheila McKee Barrett, who lives in Dublin (Ireland,
not
Ohio), has written a novel, Walk in a Lost Land'
et
Olga Smoak ’6l is in
Moscow, editing Ballet
in Russia, the country’s
only dance magazine.
Point cadet, in 1961. They married, and she was not
able to finish until 1967. In
January, they will celebrate their 30th anniversary. The Curtises live in
Tucson
a
They have two married daughters. He is
the university, andshe is the administraofthe UnitarianUniversalistchurch. His hobby is
now.
physicist at
tor
flying,
and they have been from the Mayan ruins,
which she studies, in Mexico and Guatemala, to
Barrow, AK, where she had to jump out and hold the
plane down
she put
on
her
on
the
runway
long johns in
against the wind—then
full view
of the control
’65, who also lives
And ifyou
“I
says,
a
Susan, who lives in Colorado, says she’s “free at
last.” Divorced, she has two sons who are now out of
the house. She works as the office manager
of a small
lbs., measur-
Catherine Paulson Gray has experienced the
information transformation firsthand, too. She worked
at Honeywell for 14 years
as a computer programmer,
starting on an old-style “card computer.”
In 1978 she and her husband,Jim (she met him at
Dartmouth freshman year), started their own
busiin Minneapolis. They have two children, a son
ness,
the U. of Arizona, and a daughter, 13.
at
She didn’t even
know about Woodstock. As she
completely different story was that of Joanne
Herscher Curtis, the first war
bride (Vietnam) to
graduate from Vassar. She met her husband, a West
option).
They
115
engineering,and Jesse, 17, is
reserves.
A
president-elect of her
Women’s Organization.
’4", weighing
four
life, aren’t they?
ing 36-22-35, flat tummy, thick, curly blonde hair.
believe any of that,”she goes on to say, “I’ll
love you forever.”
Lee Perkins is getting oriented to her new duties as
is “still 5
Maryland, where she keeps
is a psychiatrist. She’s an agoraphobia therapist. You have to ask if she makes house calls?
cold.
Susan Jane Brazell Eldridge
started school in
1960 but graduated with us. She mentioned Faye
Padelford Michener, who did the same
thing but is
listed as a member of the class of 1964 (you get the
now
even
she
Floyd,
30 years
N.Y.U. and a jazz
the Museum of TV
at
at
on
a
Squire Hay, who works at
30th Reunion
to
is 13 and in
selling
Brenda Walker missed reunion
And
the DOE. She says
process
90-acre farm in
horses.
on
in
that goes on in the sun and
the weekend, she foxhunts. She lives
energy
in New Haven.
versity Press, where she has been for the past 20+
the
studies the
law school
Carol
212/355-4820
Mueller McKittrick and I drove to and
She is happily working at Oxford Uni-
Mirabella magazine.
Luisa La Viola Pagel writes
Arkansans
ministration
Recently, Anne had dinner with Julie Brazina
Connolly, who is the director of development at the
sentative, Gretchen Smelzer Coffman.
years.
from Arkansas, she has fun with the ad-
Originally,
stars.
to
their mothers’ Vassarion pictures and put them
wall. Nobody could believe theirhairdos.
vice
from reunion.
alongside
also the “race
was
ated from Vassar this
as
for the
next
Marjorie
the establishment and the
the moon.” Anne Carlton
Davies went
from Vassar to Yale, where she
got a
Ph.D. in
applied physics and later went to the Atomic
Energy Commission. At that time, the AEG was
funded with moon
it’s part
of the
but now
money,
DOE. She is the associate
director of energy research.
war
Zopko
541 E. 20th St.
New York, NY 10010
class officers voted
new
in
Wei, chairman of the Princeton campaign.
I am busily trying to master
Microsoft Word for
Windows andfind a new job, hopefully in the career
office of an
academic institution.
Clare Graham,
director ofVassar’s Career Office, has been extremely
212/473-4671
As I
in the travel business in
one
international banking in D.C.
Ohio;
tower
it
was
scheduled to be published by the
scape, which was
Press this fall. She has six children, Niamh,
Bronwen, Denis, Tim, Michael, and Grace. Husband
Poolbeg
had taken extended years
abroad.
in the English department at UCD.
Vicki Smith Cole, who has moved to
Randolph,
has joined the Vassar club and took her little girl,
John is
so
NJ,
to
VC on Founder’s Day. Vicki has made a
in managing senior
housing, and she now has
Joanna,
career
her own
property management business. She sent me
her picture and, as corny as it sounds, she looks
exactly
the same.
manufacturing company.
Faye lives in New York City and has bought
house near
the south of France where
a village in
Martha (Mattie) Brody Banzhaf writes, “DaughAmy willattend MIT... son Jeremy... plays cello
... husband Walter... is a professor at U. ofHartford.”
Jill Weber Dean writes from Madison, WI, that
she is practicing law and looking forward to early
retirement
in a hot
place. She could go to Tucson with
several writer
the Curtises.
a
friends of hers have also gone.
ter
55
I don’t know how this escaped me except thatI do
know the bit of paper got lost, and I am very sorry. Last
March I talked to Selby Fleming Holmberg. She was
Hotel in Florida in
at the Walt Disney World
Dolphin
VP of the National Association of
Independent Schools, which promotes independent
schools. She has two
daughters, one, 23, is a VC
who works in the psychological wing of
her capacity
as
graduate
Boston Hospital. The other, at
sophomore at Carleton College in
thinks fondly of Ellen Dunbar.
that time, was
a
Minnesota. Selby
Our own
media stars are still generating plenty of
energy—Dr. Bernadine Healyand Margaret (Peggy)
and
Milner Richardson. The latter is going to come
speak to everybody on the Friday night of our reunion
in
June,
I
so
am
hoping
will get yourselves there,
you
Furthermore, she
at three different sites.
worked to obtain $50,000 from Head Start to make
funds to
grants available to mothers withoutsufficient
send their children to the school. The author of the
editorial credited Kathy with doing something about
and into the job
getting mothers off public assistance
market, while others just talk about it. Congratulations
to Kathy for a job well done!
Finally, from the New Times, Friday, July 22,
of a book by George A. Dudley, Sally
1994, a review
Dudley’s father, called A Workshop for Peace: Designing the United Nations Headquarters. According to the
review
the book brings to “vivid life a spirit of solidarity that has all but vanished from the architectural
13 -year-old daughter,Katherine, spent
the Summer Institute for the Gifted at
Vassar, lived in Davison, took fencing, archaeology,
creative
writing,and medieval legends, and loved her
first taste of college life (except for the food). In the
profession.” It describes the process thatthe architects
about in producing the building. It looks like a
went
Thomas and Julia, my twins, started kindergarten this
fall; big sister Cece started third grade; stepdaughters
Nathalie and Amanda are in their final years of high
playgrounds
interesting book.
Ken and I have had my 16-year-old
This summer
cousin, JuliaBuchholtz, from Bredstedt, Germany, for
too!
very
Puzzy Elder Peskin
I
’66
Erin
went
India.
to
Jordahn Beacham
Scott
3380 Carlton Rd.
Gumming, GA 30131
The
has sped by, and most of it has been spent
summer
fighting the rain. Rain has persisted so much that it
in Georgia. In fact,
has really slowed construction
schools in the Atlanta metro
some
area
because of construction
time
ing on
also a lot of delays in
the rain affected you,
are
not
open-
delays. There
from
are
Has
too? I am happy to report that
Ellen Lehman is alive and doing well in California.
My next
question is regarding Jerrilyn Greene
hearing
Marston. Jerri, where are you, and what are you doing?
And Sally Semos Couluris—what has happened to
the visit
promised while your
you
son
was
Judith Allen
people
in
that she has been
advising
Estonia on
training housing
a lot ofthe changes in Eastern
writes
Poland and
She got to see
Europe firsthand and would love
managers.
who have had any
Estonia.
experience
Cathy Scott-Craig
write
about
home of
a
Newell
to
in
hear from others
either Poland
kind
was
enough
or
to
held at the McLean, VA,
Files Lacey on June 18. Courtney
mini-reunion
Kathy
home to Austin, TX.
Hoge Brown was there en route
She had just concluded a trip to Hungary for the LBJ
School.
Cathy was there for a meeting of Even
Family Literacy grantees. Diana Francis was
there with her husband,Cal. Diane and Cal
are
Start
also
in the
Stobie
Lynch, Marcia
joined the fes-
tivities.
Several articles havebeen
and from others. In the
along from AAVC
April 1994 edition of Sky
sent
magazine, theDelta airlines magazine, Leslie Bedford
is featured in
a
Tokyo” exhibit
The interactive
short
at
explanation
about the “Teen
the Children’s Museum of Boston.
exhibit had details of the culture
the eyes of children of all ages—every-
as
through
thing from trying a song in a karaoke booth to a ticket
machine from a subway that says “out of order” in
Japanese. According to the article, Leslie first saw the
possibility of such an exhibit whenshe and her chilseen
dren lived in Japan in
1986. As Leslie puts it in the
article, “Unless you
a foreign country,
spend
it’s hard to connect
with people on a real human level,
to see them as people—as parents,
as children, as coworkers.” It’s too bad that more
children and adults
around the world can’t see the exhibit to have a better
time
in
understanding of differences and similarities of culIt certainly might invitebetter
tures.
understanding of
people unlike ourselves.
From the July 21,1994, GreenwichNews there was
editorial praisingKathy Lord McKnight. According to the article, Kathy was
from the
an
just retiring
Family
center
cluded
Child Care Center. Under her direction the
from 30 children to 165. Her work ingrew
a
new
56VQ WINTER
building
1994
at
the
main
campus
and
’68
716/655-3137
school and
college (Bucknell),respectively,
with ac-
to
having bought herfirst condo. Ownership
new
produced some
responsibilities! Ken’s
in Santa Fe and is
Vanderbilt. Please send all your news!
daughter spent a wonderful summer
back
now
at
’67
Georgia Shepherd
110 Mill St.
winter
see
head off to Italy for a few weeks of much-needed
Mary gave me an article from the Toronto
about Irene Dowd, who spent six weeks in
paper
vacation.
Toronto with the National Ballet School. Irene is
Maas
NY 12601
of my theories.” Back on the home front, Bob and
the summer
with
I had dinner over
Cathy Blaine
Muzzy, who was up from Atlanta for her 30th reunion
test
914/452-5212
Paula
at
recent
Weinberg Sabloff sent a card telling about the
changes in her life. She began an assistant
professorship in anthropology at the University of
in Sept. 1993, and
Pittsburgh’s Greensburg campus
friend of ours
Buffalo Seminary. Cathy’s dad
the notes
who sent
her husband, Jeremy, became director ofthe University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and
Anthropology on July 1. Paula and her daughter,
Lindi, who is entering the international baccalaurethe local high school, will stay in
ate
at
program
Pittsburgh until Lindi’s graduation in ’96, then join
Jeremy in Philadelphia. Son Josh is a math major at
Harvard.
Jane Manner writes: “Still living on the beach in
Ft. Lauderdale and loving it. Every time I thinkabout
selling my condo and buying a house, I thinkabout
how much I would miss
hearing and seeing the ocean!
August,
some
the University of Florida in
to
goes
and Catherine will be in fourth grade. Have
in
great projects
interior
design
this year,
mostly corporate.”
Eve Slater-Solomon was named senior
vice
presidentfor clinical and regulatory development at Merck
Research Laboratories last
associate
May. In addition, she is an
attending physician at Presbyterian Hos-
in New York and a consultant in medicine for
Massachusetts General
Hospital in Boston. She and
her husband and two
live in Short Hills, NJ.
sons
pital
that her son, JoshuaGeorgette Bennett wrote
Marc Bennett Tanenbaum, was born in Aug. 1992,
weeks after the death ofhis father, Rabbi Marc
seven
Tanenbaum. In addition to runninga public affairs
and communications
practice, Georgette is writing a
book abouther husband. She also serves
as president
ofthe Rabbi Marc H. TanenbaumFoundation, which
was
on
established in Dec. 1992. The foundation carries
Rabbi Tanenbaum’s ecumenical efforts and has
funded action
and symposia that promote
interreligious understanding. Georgette says she is
grateful for the support of many of her Vassar friends
the past few years.
over
one
programs
I again have the sad task of reporting the death of
of our classmates. Christina FaulknerMills died
onJulylS.We send our
Lawrence Mills (210
21218-1140), her
sympathy to her husband,Dr.
Northway, Baltimore, MD
daughter, Dorsey, and son, Robbie,
and her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. Lee Faulkner.
As for me; A couple of months ago I heard thatthe
Vassar Development Office was
relations assistant.
The job was
looking for
a
donor
part time —which I
wanted—and required writing and editing skills—which I have—so I sent
and started today
a resume
(Aug. 15). Meanwhile, my freelance writing/editing/
translating
career
is
taking off slowly,
a
professional dancer and choreographer and neuromuscular specialist in New York. She was
working
with the dancers on biomechanics and, according to
the article, found the work challenging and a “best
1-B
#
Poughkeepsie,
had
Nancy
t Lynn Russell Butcher
k 659 Knox Rd.
f East
Aurora, NY 14052
of passage,
has also
evening of catching up.”
Another great mini-reunion
held in Red
was
Bank, NJ, on May 21, 1994, when Diane Chambers
Wise Vaughan’s daughter, Vera, married her Princeton
’92 classmate, Rick Hough. Diane writes
that Betsy
Goodman Flanagan, Sally Goodman Graflund,
Neelie Caminati Gray, Jackie Fisher
Poughkeepsie Day
at
in western
New York. While taking Nat up to
the U. of Toronto, we had another wonderful but
all too quick visit
with MaryBalfour, who was about
Meredith, 17,
Bozzo Sherwood, and
before joining the class of’o3, she’s continuing
School.
years
Germany has any suggestions for her, I know she
would appreciate it.
My daughter, Veryan, has just passed another rite
of movingfrom Washington, DC, to St. Louis
for Olin. According to Cathy, there was
a “great
process
at
the second year
in a row.
Her English is rapidly
improving. She is considering going to Vassar in three
after her Abitur. If anyone
who is living in
years,
Georgia
at
Tech?
three weeks
all around. We
companying angst and excitement
spent July at the beach on the Canadian side of Lake
Erie, sailing and sunningand communing with each
other. It was great and bolstered us for the coming
of you.
some
optimistic. My
and I remain
I have from you
along the ones
First
is a
neighbor and
to the piles of
and Ann McElwee Howley,
here—small world. But
you
on
included with your dues!
hear from Lucy Lee about
Vassar hosted at the De
we
program
San Francisco with its
wonderful
Museum in
director and the director of
a
Young
Vassar’s new
There were
art
center.
alumnae/i from
the classes of 1928 through 1993, she said! From ’6B
Sara Scribner, Lucey Bowen, Linda Tedeschi,
Janice Tomer, and Connie Monroe and her daughter.
Lucy and Deb Hall Coburn, who now lives in
Phoenix, also saw Betsy Howland and her husband,
Dennis Zavac, last fall. Lois Palestine Savage also
visited. Lucey Bowen also wrote
about that show and
sent
along a card announcing a show of her work
entitled “Family Ground,” described as “an installation
of images and texts
inspired by an American
family history,” which was shown at the Worcester,
MA, public library last March. Colleen Burke writes
thatshe is “emerging from my 18-yearcycle of motherhood” with news
of her son, Bill Burke-White, who
was
a finalist in the Westinghouse Science Search (he
did genetics research in Russia the previous summer).
Bill graduated from Exeter, was
accepted at Yale,
Stanford, and Harvard (he’s going to Harvard), and
were
then learned that USA
a
member of its
Today had selected him to be
All-USA Academic High School
Team (20 chosen from 5,300 nominations
nationwide) with a scholarship awarded in ceremonies
held
in Washington. Colleen,who raised Bill alone follow-
ing
a
plans
“cruel decade-long custody battle” years back,
relocate to the Boston area.
to
She closed, “If
this sounds like I’m bragging, I am.” No wonder.
Marilyn Flood writes that she is now associate
executive
director of the YWCA in N.Y.C. and is
fun!” She is responsible for all the
having “great
programs,
service
for
not
from swimming to crafts and community
three facilities. She added, “No excuse
now
exercising or brushing up on my French.”
at
Henrietta Lintz Keller writes
that she and husband
Chris are “up to the same
old stuff.” Son Rob was
goalie for
the travel
Larry did a
semester
hockey
team
in Vienna and
last year,
and son
stayed the summer
in Austria. Connie Eaton writes
that she is living in
Washington, DC, and that “one of the highlights is
walkswithMary Wagner and somemy intermittent
times Martha
Taylor Schantz.” Amy Fiedler Lippman
writes
that she spent the end of summer
gathering
college supplies for son Russell, who is now at Yale
(Davenport, class of 1998) “after having the pleasure/
of having to resolve every
torture
student’s dream
dilemma of choosing between Yale and Harvard.” She
adds thatshe and husband Jon are “both working hard
at lawyering” and that daughterLindsay appeared to
be
tradition
the mock
on
following family
trial team
that won
by being
County compe-
the Westchester
tition.
from Ann McElwee Howley herself;
Maryland, she and husband Peter are
Wellesley, MA, where she is working
director of development for the Network
Finally,
news
after 20 years in
enjoying life in
as
part time
of Sacred Heart Schools. Peter is enjoyinghis position
at Harvard Medical School and was
recently inducted
into
the National Academy of Science. Daughter
Cristin is
Colgate, and Megan is a sophosenior
Boston College. Maura is now
at
at
Newton Country Day School. Ann says they saw
Anne Ashmore, who came
from Washington for a
visit.
Fois and Steve Savage also visitedfrom Phoenix.
In a small-world incident, Ann and Sally Pasley
Vargas found themselves on the same
plane headed
for Florida. Sally and her family live in Concord, MA.
senior
a
at
more
a
.
|
7568 N. Valentine
Fresno, CA 93711
209 1 435-3231
actually
want
of you
many
on
expected
never
this job. But after working with so
25th reunion
and getting reacour
quainted with at least 350 of the 380 of us, I realized
this
the perfect way to stay in touch until the next
was
I will be privy to all of your lives via the cards
in a while
to fill in once
you take the time
(please) and
the newspaper
and magazine clippings that wend my
reunion.
SUCH A DEAL!
is two
months
As I sit down to write, the reunion
in the past but I think about it often and have heard
from so many of you who attended that it was an event
who
you truly found memorable. Unfortunately, some
way.
planned
a
on
being
in
day! When
will be only about
seven
you read this,
short months
haven’t made your
reunion
gift yet, please
July, Gina Bronkie Hammond, our
fund-raising chair, reported that we had pledges and
gifts in hand of over $160,000. That’s a good beginning, but nowhere near
goal of $600,000. Let’s aim
If you
do it now!
away.
In
our
for 100 percent class participation so we can reach our
goal for this landmark year. Nowfor the news.
The Blanchards have had a busy summer—we
purchased
a
mini
new
and took it
van
on
short
two
trips to see our parents in New Hampshire and Maine.
Peter’s mother entered a nursing home, and my parents, Jim and Phebe
Mixter ’42, are preparing to
Perry
celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. We’re plan-
ning a big celebration for them in early October. I’m
quite busy these days with computers, at work and at
home. We’re planning to install a new
LAN at the
library,
and I’m
the vendor selection committee
on
on
in
Poughkeepsie never
son
Flehinger,
card from Harriet Wolf
College with a second master’s in math
leadership, our son, Roger, graduated from high school,
and daughter Libby graduated from middle school. I
(the only one in the family without a brand-new
diploma) took a great picture of the three of them!
Those of
in
you
Boston between Nov. 15 and
to stop
December 15 may want
by the Boston Museum
of Fine Arts. Some of the works of our classmate Judy
Riolo will be displayed there in the Torf Gallery as
part of the “Traveling Scholars Exhibition.” Judy was
of six winners
in the School of the Museum of
one
Fine Arts’ annual Fifth Year Competition and Exhibition. In addition to the honor of showing her
in
paintings
made it. In
she sent her
a
world-class
Will the class
that, like many of us at this
regrets and pointed out
has more
responsibility for
stage in our lives, she now
her aging parents than for her children. An emerfor her 86-year-oldfather
her from
gency
surgery
Judy has been
museum,
as
well
No longer are her weekends and holidays
She did manage,
however, to take a biking
through California’s wine
Judith Fibkins Tavel has
not
country recently.
strayed far from her
Poughkeepsie. A professor at Dutchess Community College since
1976, she is now
department
head of mathematics, physics, and computer science
(whew!). The Poughkeepsie Journal (yes, there is a
in Poughkeepsie other thanthe Miscellany
newspaper
News ) reports that Judy has won
a $115,000 grant to
of courses
to
develop a program
integratemath, physics, chemistry, English, and reading. “I got the idea
from students,” she says. “They want
know how
to
they can use what they have learned in a job.” Sounds
about
the parent of two young
women
good to me
off to college.
to
go
in
roots
as
As I type this column on my word processor
and get
ready to send a three-and-a-half inch disk to Vassar
(only with this issue has Class Notes entered the
computer age), it is 101 degrees in the Central Valley
of California that I call home. It is difficult for me to
imagine that the majority of you will be reading these
words in December, when it is
you live.
With
of you
grandmotherhood,
hopes for a
experienced
always nice),
in
1993 (or
a
to
be -10 where
a
happy
move
thanmost
the “best year
ever!” She’s taken a sabbatical from
Yeshiva U. to work on a book, but has continued her
practice of clinical psychology
she
cares
for
to
it
the feminist and antiwar
movements:
issues
of government power,
letting
to
same
and
Just heading into adolescence with her two children, Charles (10) and Maia (13), who “continue to be
wonderful additions to our planet,” Patricia Francothat she’s still working as an
mano
Jasper writes
at UCFA and in that
position, goes from one
another. She and Alan are celebrating their
21st wedding anniversary. In closing her note,
she
end I
says, “All in all, things are moving along to an
haven’t quite figured out yet.” And I thinkthat’s what
makes life so interesting, Patty!
Mary Ellen O’Farrell had a real scare last spring.
Her son, who’s 15, nearly died of alcohol poisoning on
the last day of school, after his j unior high graduation.
his mother’s part,
on
Luckily, thanks to fast action
this
he’s okay now, and they all had a good vacation
crisis
to
biking, hiking,
summer,
Gwenellen Janov has left N.Y.C. and moved to
Albuquerque, NM, where she has become a member
of Cover, Stetson & Williams, an Indian-owned,
women-owned law firm. Anne Mook Frost and her
family have returned to Switzerland. I ran into her
husband,Chris, very briefly when we were visiting in
Maine. He’s been named the new
headmaster of a
school over
there. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance
catch up with Anne, so didn’t
to
details.
get more
They plan to keep their house in Round Pond, so I’m
we’ll
each other
see
Five of you
the card
today !
not
203/637-5341
sent
next
I’ll keep you
back those wonderful cards the
are...), takea
run
on
of your
one
moment
Vassar Quarterly.
a while (and
in for
right
now,
tear
much about my own
family and will
for yours! Here’s news
from those “fabuso
25th Reunion
position
as
Dybas
manager
in
writes
that she enjoys her
at EMC
of Insecticide Discovery
Princeton, NJ. She’s been there for
living in that part of New Jersey.
She and her husband have a beautiful home way out
Corporation
a
sent
of this issue, fill it in, and send it back
I promise that if I get lots of newsy
cards, I will
make space
lous five”:
Jane Cohen
on
summer.
out
[email protected]
just
and horseback
This
riding.
children is
journey through adolescence with our
filled withunexpected twists, turns,
and dark places,
and is certainly not
for the faint-hearted. Hang in
there, Mary Ellen—here comes
high school!
Jane Levine Myerson is teaching Latin full time
at Rhinebeck Central High School. I’m glad Latin is
still taught, Jane. It comes
in handy all the time
here
that she’s very active
at the reference desk. Jane writes
you
and is about to enter
be very proud of all four
summer
must
five years
and loves
Well, folks, that’s all the news
you,
touch! The
stay in
exciting ones
as
suggestion—if
we
any
next
for now,
but I beg
few months will be
get ready for our 25th! I have a
of you are subscribers to America
Online, let
can
plan
can
meet
know (via E-mail, of course!), and we
me
the first Vassar “virtual” mini-reunion—we
in a “chat room” online and make plans for
the big reunion!
“It’s the
world philosophy that does not
...” All in all, it’s an eye-opening article.
A couple of our classmates have moved recently.
a
college provides in each issue
Old Greenwich, CT 06870
Manhattan while
to all of you,
Barbara.
to
people die,
honorall people
I know who you
It’s hard to believe that this column will appear
before Christmas as I sit here writing you all
for travel
Congratulations, Judy!
Philadelphia Gay News conducted an interview
with Ann Northrop in early April, when she was in
town
to make a speech at the “Fight the Right” town
meeting. Always vocal, Ann has been working as an
AIDS activist since the early ’Bos. In this article, she
describes her background and how she got to where
she is today. In describing AIDS activism, she likens
Those of you who have not
’70
use
India.
where it is
Sudie Mixter Blanchard
70 Laddin’s Rock Rd.
in
Molly. Congratulations
of them!
awarded $lO,OOO, which she will
posted.
1995.
happy
announce
eighth grade. Jane,
sure
milder winter
warmer,
I wish you
likely
I’m
thatBarbara Gerson gave birth to Molly
ElizaPearlman on July 7,1993, and since then has had
to
had his bar mitzvahthis
story of the May 9,1994, issue ofBusiness
Week featured
Nancy Lederman Karen, who is now
a director at Nynex and feeling the effects of corporate
vacation
Grossman ’7l.
After talking about
1993, and her son Ethan is a
junior at U.S.C. Honors College. Another son, Jeris entering 11th grade, and Ben, her youngest,
emy,
kept
sacrosanct.
would like to hear from our
classmates Melissa
Hawes and Sylvia Hummel, as well as Robin
Moody
U. of South Carolina in
joining us.
The cover
downsizing.
a
in Jewish organizations, currently serving as vice
president ofthe Empire Region ofUnited Synagogues
and as a member of the Advisory Council of the
National Board of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism. Her daughter, liana, graduated from the
of ’7O he
reuning on-line
as on
campus 7
in the country—off dirt road! She is also the proud
grandmother of Alisa Rachel Greenblatt, her son
that she
Jonathan’s new daughter. Jane mentions
attorney
there. In addition to mining for Internet treasures
library time, I volunteer as a reference assistant
Bank Street
My first column—and in all honesty I
to
late-summer
sunny,
reunion
our
America Online’s reference area (my “screen name”
there is REFSudie). In June, Peter graduated from
Barbara Blum Dahl
’69
bright,
Deborah
Lytle Plimmer
c/o Vassar Quarterly
61 Raymond Ave.
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
’71
’72
Katrin Belenky Colamarino
30 W. 74th St.
f New York, NY 10023
Well, no one is superhuman, and I
1972, for the dearth of news—we
you,
tion
in
Cape
Cod
on
the
Aug.
must
apologize
were
on
to
vaca-
20th Class Notes
deadline, and when I returned home I found our
housekeeper had jettisoned all of your pink cards by
mistake! However, I do have some
via
other
news
letters received and from the “grapevine.”
Oct. 17, 1994, was
the date scheduled for the
kickoff meeting for the Campaign for Vassar College
in New York
City at Avery Fisher Hall. Barbara
Long-Parker, our class president, encouraged us to
have 1972 get-together there, several of planned
attend. Betsy White sent
to
me
a note
enclosing a
relevant New York Times article and expressed her
of the Cynthia Fisher
dismay about the outcome
tenure
case
against Vassar. I was thereafter advised by
at the Quarterly that Vassar is appealing
my contacts
a
the
as
decision and that four married female
court
fessors
us
refuted,
pro-
the Vassar science
on
in
a
Vassar
faculty had vehemently
publication, Ms. Fisher's legal
57
Appartheory about Vassar's denial of her tenure.
in its appeal,
it has all
ently, the college maintains
decision was made completely
along, that the tenure
independent of Ms. Fisher's marital status.
If Jill Brinnon Bace could resend me her letter
(also lost in August), I could tell the class about her
as
Thank you for writingto me, J ill. I do
activities.
recent
recall that you mentioned you
of the London Vassar Club.
currently president
are
else has been
rewarded for their labors
mates
not
the first
in
seen
many
and
a
year,
an
and members of the Vassar administration, and
reunion
co-chair John Mihali—l
to
sincerest
dent.”
ing this fall. Son Adam, 16,is an animal rights activist
column in Otherwise magazine. He’s
own
campaigning to eliminate dissection in high school
Valerie Pawson
Pilot House, Lewis Wharf
Boston, MA 02110-3904
'75
with his
labs. Good for him! Daughter Ali has graduated from
middle school, and Lara is now
in second grade.
Stephanie Hoffman writes that Jamie Sunderland
617/227-9400 (phone)
617/227-2444 (fax)
and children Cameron and Taylor came
for a visit last
that she and her children,
April. Stephanie writes
20th Reunion
Mandy and Briona, showed them the sights ofcentral
Florida—“lots of theme parks and beaches and pools
and sunshine.”
Another Florida voice
DeMers, who
is
B.
Virginia
Aug. 1 started
on
in
a
Johnson
position
new
as
director of the Academic Skills Center of the
Ringling
School of Art & Design in Sarasota. Daughter Anna,
14,
is
house
“entirely taken up
on
the water
with
Suzanne Tolleson
done.
at
to
a
with ballet.” Virginia has a
sailboat and asks me to “tell
come
visit.”
Duly noted,
and
addition
her academic life, she has written
two
cookbooks, one of which, The Georgian Feast: The
to
living on Cape Cod for four
serving the Falmouth Jewish Congregation as
its rabbi. He reports the birth of his second child,
Anna Tova, on April 30, 1994. Within the last year,
he has seen
former Vassarites Liza Weiss Stern,
Sherry Greene, and Robert Lerman 76.
The public relations director from the Laurel
School in Shaker Heights, OH, reports that Gabriele
years,
Gossner has been appointed director of development.
Gabriele and her husband, Jeffrey Strean, moved to
the
formerly at
in
the
of 1994- Gabriele
summer
Guggenheim
Museum in N.Y.C.
The New York Times Magazine reports that Judith
Regan is now the president ofthe
a
was
Regan Company,
co-venture
with Rupert Murdock’s News Corp. She
“star reporter” on the TV news
magazine
Vibrant Culture and Savory Food of the Republic of
Georgia, won the 1993 Julia Child Award for Best
will be
Cookbook of the Y ear, sponsored by the International
Association of Culinary Professionals. Her husband,
that I have been class
correspondent, only 20 percent of the class has ever
Dean Crawford, teaches
at Vassar; a bit of a commute
says
English
and creative
writing
from Williamstown, but,
Darra, “Vassar students are worth it!” Their
daughter, Leila,
is
musicians in
a
revival group
called
Beat
Big Bang
recently staged a well-receivedmusical based on
the life of Karen Carpenter.
Abby Edleson Pollitt is an attorney in Santa
Monica, primarily in appellate work, and shares offices with husband John. She and John marked their
14thanniversary in October and 1 ive in the Brentwood
of West Los Angeles, an area we heard a bit about
area
this
Daughter Chelsea is nearly
7, and cat Princess is 17. Abby would like to hearfrom
her childhood and Vassarfriend Jane
Ayres. Jane?
Mary Alice Dixon underwent a major life change
recently. After years of teaching architecturalhistory
in places far and wide, she decided to become a
lawyer
and effect environmental
changes through the legal
Now
Mary Alice, single mom of 15-year-old
system.
son, practices as a public interest
attorney in Charsummer.
a
lotte, NC, representingchildrenwho have been abused
and neglected. The work is very emotionally packed
but satisfying. Mary Alice would like to hearfrom
any
other Vassar folk in and around North Carolina.
We’re still in the muggy
of
but
throes
August,
since
won’t be
you
enjoying
its last
healthy holiday
things.
'74
this until the year
is
hurrah, I’ll wish you all a happy and
and a new
season
year full of all
reading
good
Geoffrey
Poor
Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
[email protected]
We received the
following from class
B. Sauer: ‘Because
58 VQ WINTER
president Klara
ofVassar...everything...nowhere
1994
me.
What
doing? When
was
the other 80 percent of you
are
the last time
that YOU sent
in a
card?
a new
job with Mutual of Omaha. Alison is an
aspiring novelistand mother of Jessica, age 8. Sharon
Abarno-McArtin also has moved, to Peekskill of all
places! She and husband Jim and kids Andrew, 8, and
Alexander, 3, live in a condo on the Henry Ward
Beecher estate.
Sharon attended the wedding of Jane
Gerver last February (see my previous column for
details on this highlight of the social season!)
more
and especially enjoyed catching up with old pal Jon
especially enjoyed the Powerhouse Theater, Sunset
Lake, and the Walker pool! Unfortunately, the new
closed on the days they were
art
center
was
there.
Susan is looking forward to our 20th reunion.
(It’s not
that far away, folks, so mark your calendars for June
1996!)
I received one card from a member of the class of
1975 whose loyalties obviously cross
class lines. Gordon (Ariel) Hirsch wrote
just to say hi (hi back!) and
remind all our friends that “the spirit lives” now
to
as
well as then! Gordon has been
living in California for
and
in
10 years now
“the quaint
practices chiropractic
capital of yuppiedom,” Los Gatos. Gordon, father to
Corinne and Gabriel, willspend (or rather, didspend—
I hate this three-month time
lapse!) a week on a
reservation
Nice
to
'76
Risa Sherer Scranton
183 Homestead Ave.
Albany, NY
12206
moment:
as
I write
it seems
many of you
hand and fill
So here’s
a
were
too
weary
even
Chicago
a
volunteer.
area
and
are
the parents of
two
daughters.
Henry practices labor law at a Chicago firm, and Olga
was
recently made chair of her department at St.
Xavier U., where she is an assistant
professor of
Spanish literature. Olga is working to
this year. Always good to hear from
me
this, it’s 90
to
take pen
those littlepostcards this season!
reminder: WRITE! On to the news.
out
Karen Levinson Gaughan found a moment
to
write
with the news
of the birth of her son, Matthew,
in Dec. 1993. Karen says he looks like the Gerber
baby
and reminds her of Calvinfrom “Calvin and Hobbes”!
Karen is a full-time mom
and would love to hear from
Beverly Moran,
as
finish her Ph.D.
you,
Olga!
for the REST of you: It has been
brought
attention
that SOME of you (who shall remain
as
to
just assure
you
that YOU ARE BEING RIDICU-
LOUS! I
degrees in the shade and 100 percent humid! (So as
to shovel your
you trudge out
driveways ONE MORE
TIME, remember, it could be worse!) Apparently, I’m
the only one rendered limp
not
by this hot weather—in
summer
nameless) are NOT writing to me, your old and dear,
to
close, personal friend, because you DON’T want
have your life splashed all over
this column. Well, let
518/482-4508 (phone)
518/446-9178 (fax)
Another time-travel
in Arizona this
hear from you!
I also heard from another old friend, Olga VilellaJaneiro. She and husband Henry Valdez 75 live in the
my
only print here what you WANT me to
print—l don’t include things from personal correspondence unless you say it’s OK—and lastly, I MISS
YOU! So please, all of you, friend or foe, the deal here
to write.This is NOT
this: I write what you want
me
“gossip column” but a Class Notes column! (There,
I feel much better having
gotten that off my chest.) So
write
what you want
to
see
here—use the little postcards enclosed with every issue—and don’t be afraid
write
to
me
personally and say “this is NOT for
is
a
publication”—l’ll respect that!
One last plug: PAY YOUR CLASS DUES if you
haven’t already. Our loyal treasurer,
Mamie Eng,
would be happy to hear from you! As would I, your
loyal and trustworthy correspondent. So don’t be a
stranger! WRITE!
Ross Mandel, and Nancy Chusid
77.
Johanna Gaines, according to a New York Times
clipping, married W illiam Simms of Charlotte in May
1993.
Life has
'77
changed also for Susan Tannehill,who
sent
a lovely, long letter. Sue married MarkKenmore
in Oct. 1993, and is
happy and amazed! She teaches
in education at Canisius
a graduate course
College
and also does
96 East St.
“
show “On Assignment.”
Over the past five years
written
“playmates,” Ken
take
And
and
in the news
a
nearly 4-
In San Francisco to receive
the award, Darra saw
Katie Guthorn. Katie and husband Morey Goldstein
are
love to know whatbecame ofhis old
Kaess and Frank Wolff.
Alison Weary Henderson and husband Michael
have moved to Omaha, NE, so that Michael could
Delfin.
Susan Stanton Benedict wrote
to say how much
she and her kids, Katie and Peter, enjoyed a recent
visit
to the Vassar campus.
After 16 years away, Susan
Elias Lieberman has been
Cleveland Heights
Darra Goldstein is associate
professor ofRussian
Williams College, whereshe’s taught since
1983. In
and both she and
Centers, a bankruptcy and debt counseling firm. His
first child, Matthew, was born recently. Alan would
thanks! I am also pleased to report
following classmates agreed to serve and were
elected: Anne Board Richards, vice president; Richard
Melinda Beth Maidens,
LePage Teller,treasurer;
class fund chair; Geoffrey S. Poor, class correspon-
Some new
voices join us this time. June Sklar
Weissman has completed courses
for certification in
elementary education and planned to begin job hunt-
group,
the Quaker society. Thanks for
smiles on every
face
desire to share
intense
thatthe
914/969-3184
in
active
are
This must
be the season
of life changes! Late word
arrived from Alan Dubow, who writes
that he has
see
especially
express
1085 Warburton Ave. #717
Yonkers, NY 10701
storytelling
Mark
retired from the Florida bench and has moved to
Washington, DC, where he operates the Debt Relief
to
among
and build new
To all of those many
ones.
wonderful people who worked on the reunion—classmost
newsletterfor her
writing, Sue!
memories
mates
Margaret Sanborn
and chah
old
class-
by being
friends, witnessing jubilant embraces
they encountered,
Salve and apologies from your uncharacteristically
disorganized class correspondent!
'73
intellectually stimulating
as
This quote by Kim Landsman (printed in
the reunion
book) pretty much sums up the sense of
pride our classmates expressed during our 20th reunion.
Those who helped during the registration were
lenging.’
writing for her local newspaper.
Lately she’s been exploring the issue of television for
childrenand is active
in a television awareness
group.
This community group
advocates less television for
everyone,
especially children. (I know things in our
home became lots more
peaceful andproductive when
we
limited the TV our kids watch!) Sue also edits a
Jodi Bornstein
2431 NW 63rd St.
Boca Raton, FL 33496
407/997-9067
Summer and Winter
and
Elizabeth Putnam
427 Mapleton Ave.
Suffield,CT 06078-1707
Spring and Fall
some
This willbe
a short column since
only one person from
class wrote
in. Jane Baird Evans has
recently
married and moved to Arizona from
Washington,
our
DC. She would love to hear from old classmates.
Letters sent to Jane c/o AAVC will be forwarded. Jane
would also like to hear from the Rev. Petero Sabune,
who was on the cover
of the Summer ’94 VQ, and
Josip Novakovich ’7B, who
wrote
article in
an
the
issue.
same
McDonald had an interesting article pubthe May ’94 issue
of Essence magazine
entitled “A Sister in Paris.” Janet discusses racial
attitudes in France; despite some
she loves
Janet
lished in
living
in Paris and is
The
people
asked NOT
problems,
currently working on a novel.
in regular contact
with have
I am
be mentioned in this column, so those
to
of you
who would like
call!
or
please write
to
see
your
mentioned,
name
position
been
promoted
'78
I’m
any
in
1901 Wyoming Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20009
It’s Woodstock Weekend, and I’m
We really were
class: too
a transition
to
the
to
go
original;
revival. I suppose
too
old
to
#
45
young
to
we’ll always have the
to
go
be able
the
to
Noyes
Circle
version—which, as I recall, was about the only night
of our four years when Sly and the Family Stone was
in evidence than K.C. and the Sunshine Band.
All of which brings us, somehow, to Everett
Smith. In a letter that arrived the very same
day that
vandal worshiper Michael Fay dragged his caned-tomore
of Singapore, the Big Guy wrote
to say that—withhis wife and three kids in tow —he’d
left his ancestral homestead in Greenwich, CT, for
that idyllic Confucian police state.
is
Ev’s new
a-pulp posterior
out
job
managing director for South and Southeast Asia for
GE Capital’s Global
Project and Structured Finance
Group, which
is
likely
to
keep
him in
Singapore
for
the foreseeable future.
New
j obs seem
to
be the order of the day. Another
and financial high flier, Barbara Gault,
living in San Francisco, where
reports that she’s now
she just joined Bankers Trust’s Private Adviser Ser-
Mug Legend
vice
president. Babs
vice
reports running into
aging heartthrob Bill Hebner in Zion National Park.
She also attended Leslie
Johnson’s wedding and sees
Dance Theater compatriot
Wheeler Shanholt
as
a
Cindy
from time
to
time.
Two of our
divine divines—Rabbi Sue
most
Berman Stone and the Reverend Ann Philbrick—are
now
also professionally peripatetic. Rabbi Sue, who is
the mother of two, is moving to a congregation
that’s new,
where Sharon Spitz Fagan is
of directors, too.
on
is
assistant
to
headmaster. He and wife
if this counts
sure
as a new
job or not. In
Robin Gaines —writingher first-ever letter
15 years—reports thatshe received her Ph.D. from
not
case,
U. in
language
behavior and is
currently
practicing as a clinical researcher in speech language
pathology at AlbertaChildren’s Hospital in Calgary.
She’s also married to
neurophysiologist from her
hospital and has two children.
Another classmate deeply concerned about
children’s welfare is Beth Weitzman. Beth apparently
took umbrage at the comments
of a fellow classmate
(which I paraphrased in a previous column), who
noted that she had left New York City for the more
“child-friendly” suburbs. Beth writes that she “feels
the need to inform you ... that many of us find life in
New York City extremely child-friendly.” There follows a multipage “snapshot of family life” in the
VP for
new
business
Of course,
fortunate
as
Beth recognizes that not
hers. She’s planning
as
all city kids
spending
on
Time
sabbatical from NYU (where she’s been tenured)
and homeless families. Beth also
poor
reports seeing Diane Harris, Melissa Green, and
Ellen Smithberg at their collective 20th
high school
researching
reunion.
Beth recently spent “a nice day at the home
of Paul Mendelowitz and Patti Klein.”
A final note,
class president Mary Grace Elson
just called me to say that Martha Frish—who is
making a fine recovery
over
responsibility for
from cancer—is
going to take
class’s fund-raising. Our
our
outgoing fund chair Helen Hillegass for
thanks go to
all her hard work.
That’s about all for this time.
of
Peace, love, and—-
salve.
course—
k Sharon Shavers Gayle
'79
I
F D R Station
PC Box 8158
New York, NY 10150
or
may
not
know,
Zabatta Kauffman
is “living out
fantasy as a
my
athlete.” Nan’s
playing competitive tennis and was to have run
a “mini-marathon” in Central
but I’ve recovered, and I have to admit I’m thrilled—
school as the Zabatta-Kauffman kids.
Another happy
job changer, Rick Bloom, also
wrote.
After 13 years
of
working
in
jobs
he
“really
didn’t like,” Rick’s company—PPG Industries—sent
him (along with his wife and 4-year-old son) to
of the company’s
England, where he’s manager
European paint business. On a sad note. Rick reports
the death of “Beaver, the cat who lived in TA-21 ...
and was probably better known than I was.”
Yet another job-change report comes
from the
U.S. Geological Survey’s JeanNoe Weaver, who was
transferred from Denver to Reston, VA.
Jean—who
now
has responsibility for all ofher agency’s programs
in Latin America—often sees
Mary Dillon
Bird and
Tory MacLeod. Although she loves the new challenges, Jean concedes that trips to the State
Department are justnot as much fun as backpacking
around Wyoming.
Like Jean, Carla DeLandri and Phil Variano
have kept employers but changed posts. Carla, who’s
been with ABC News for 15 years—most recently
covering the O.J. Simpson story—justaccepted
a new
president, Robin Raphaelian Getzen;fund chair,
Shane Mitchell; treasurer,
Tracy Vogler.
vice
We left the
and traveled
banquet
practically
en
fashionable ’7os revival of disco music in
the Mug. Suffice it to say that suit jackets, ties, and
the disco beat
were
readily discarded once
pumps
began. The dance floor of the Mug has been filled in,
so we had to learn how not
to fall down those three tiny
(now imaginary) steps.
On Sunday we were
lectures and
treated to various
masse
to
a
“We traveled practically
en
to a fashionable
masse
’7os revival in the
Mug
.
.
.
suit
jackets,
ties, and pumps were
readily discarded once
the disco beat began.”
ofthe campus,
including a private tour ofVassar’s
addition, the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center.
It houses a phenomenal collection and is well worth
tours
new
weekend visit
VC just to take a tour.
to
The library held an exhibition of works
published
the head librarian
by Vassar alums, so please contact
a
ifyou’ve been published
so
that they may get a copy
of
work.
your
The weekend ended with a class lunch on Joss
beach (the lawn between Davison and Josslyn).
Here’s a list of some of the people who attended the
reunion:
Kathleen BalcezakBruce, Honesto Baltazar,
Liane Beier, Evan Berenzweig,
Gwynn Jagoda
Berney, Larry Berney, Martha Bednarz, Mark De
Fries, Bernice Feuer Garbade, Ross Goodman, ThoHildebrand, Avila Hendricks, Kathleen
mas
Monomakhoff Loree,
Nancy Reynolds, Shane
Mitchell, Robin Raphaelian Getzen, Thompson
Getzen, Catherine Wolff, Leotine (Lee) Hartzell,
Lauri Warner Masur, Cherie Voris
If you
attended the reunion
and I didn’t cite your name
(and
if I did), please drop me a note
and let me know
even
what you’re up to so I can mention
time
you next
...
classmates! As you may
elected class correspondent
Greetings,
I
Park this fall. She’s also doing fund-raising with Cyndy
Dietel Krieger 76, whose children attend the same
Saturday eveninginvolved a class twilight cocktail
party and dinner held in the Aula. After dinner we
had a recap of the past five years and an election of our
class officers: class president, Catherine Wolff;
new
are
Warner Interactive. While Scooter “carves out his
niche on the information superhighway,” wife Nanci
professional
keep
mind that Triple A VC holds events
throughout the
year and would love to hear from alums. Please conthe AAVC or me for more
information.
tact
her
the board
at
which is between the College Center and the Terrace
were
treated to
apartments. At the reception we
music, southern and Caribbean soul food, and
reggae
conversation
with current
students. Please
in
public school fourth-grade opera, karate, cooking and
woodworking lessons at the local religious center,
brownstone basketball, Little League in Prospect Park,
and multiethnic
dining experiences. The kids, it apall right.
are
pears,
Somewhat less
now
African-American alumnae/i by the African-American
Alumnae/i Association (Triple A VC). The reIntercultural Center,
ception was held in the new
Weitzman-Rothbart household for the week of June
7, 1994 —including a trip to the Botanic Gardens, a
poetically, the Rev.
Ann has left her pastorate in Carnegie, PA, to
accept
for evangelism and
a new
position as the associate
church development at
the National Capital
Presbytery.
Another job swapper,
the ever-interactive
Scott
Kauffman,
of that network’s “20/20” proHackley School, where he’s
the
a
feeling nostalgic.
want
at
Leslie Allen ’B7 are the parents of two.
Denise Degnan Clemons wrote
with not one, not
but three big changes to report. First, she has a
two,
husband (Jack Clemons). Second, she has two
new
children (they came
with the new
new
husband).
And third, she has a new
job at IBM, where she’s now
a software development manager
building imageprocessing equipment. Denise is in touch with both
Marcia Wood Hecker and Susan Wolf
Gallager ’79.
Boston
Jack Nadler
producer
as
Phil is still
gram.
was
reunion.
I
I was
hope
during the recent
certainly caught off guard when asked,
hear from all of you with whom I’ve lost
the years.
touch with over
I especially hope that you
bombard me with tons
of information and updates
about yourselves.
to
To all of you
who did not
attend the reunion,
you
genuinely missed. Our class consists of a wonderful group
of positive-thinking, down-to-earth
people
who are intent
on
having good time and fondly
remembering “those Vassar years.” It was the nicest,
were
a
most
relaxed weekend I’d had in
a
while—what a
surprise!
The reunion
took place the weekend of June 10th
until
through the 12th. I was not able to arrive
Saturday morning, so I missed the Friday night cocktail party, but by all reports I heard it
great fun—was
casual and unhurried.
On Saturday morning, the festivities
began in the
college chapel with stimulating speeches by AAVC
president Billie Davis Gaines ’5B and college presi-
dent Frances Fergusson.
a
The speeches were
chance to further
lunch there was
with the campus
followed
meet
up
by the class parade and
with old friends. After
the opportunity to
reacquainted
(and particularly the college bookget
store).
Later in
around!
I havealso heardfrom the following people: Alison
Lee Summey and her husband,Kenzil, now
have a
boy,
a
reception
was
held for
a girl, age 3. Alison was
recently
administrative law judge by the South
an
Carolina
legislature. She is responsible for deciding
involvingfoster care, environmentalissues, and
occupational licenses.
cases
Daniel K. Hellerstein has relocated to West Palm
Beach, where he is head of urology with the Palm
Beach Medical Group.
Thomas Edwards’s second child,
Phillip, was born
in October. Thomas is chief of allergy medicine at
Albany Medical College
Hospital.
as
well
as
at
Stratton VA
Claudia Mausner received her master’s
environmental psychology and is now
degree in
working to-
ward her doctorate.
Last but
not
least, I’ve been married threeyears
to
absolutely wonderful man, and I’m senior editor for
I’ve juststarted
a large children’s publishing company.
editorial consulting business focusing on
an
an
multicultural children’s books. That’s it for
you
want
just drop
to
a
contact
line
to
any
me
or
If
now.
of the people listed above,
the Vassar Quarterly and
will put you in touch with them. Take
and let me hear from you soon!
someone
the afternoon,
6, and
age
elected
care
59
’80
A practicing family law attorney, Sonja Trom
Eayrs resides in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Sonja had the
pleasure ofrunning into fellow classmate Kyle Lefkoff
in Baltimore in May. Kyle, a vice
at a seminar
president for a venture
capital firm in Boulder, CO, has
Mary Anne Wilson Gartland
Bullet Hole Rd.
Patterson, NY 12563
15th Reunion
of the
many
professional
same
interests
as
her hus-
band, Douglas.
’81
A fellow Minnesota resident, Sarah Jelley, coninvolved with Vassar admissions and
to be very
Pamela Costello Speer
22 Sunset Rd.
tinues
and
her Victorian home (roof, furnace, garage,
on
with a trip over
etc.). She kicked off a busy summer
conservator
Memorial Day weekend to visit
art
Judy
Susan Chevlowe
401 Second Ave. #2l-C
New York, NY 10010-4056
and Fall
Greenfield in Denver and was hoping to end it with
three weeks of canoeing. Sarah also keeps in touch
with Mackenzie Anderson, who is getting settled
into
her new
house in South Carolina, and Leslie
this quarter and limited space
in Minnesota have
Orfuss Tepper. VC connections
been invaluable and very enjoyable for Sarah.
of
In my last column I mused on the notion
work
Old Greenwich, CT 06870
Winter and Summer
Spring
Lots of
go
news
so
let’s
. ..
than by sharing new
What happier way to start
baby news! Fran Thorpe Rosenberg and husband
the arrival of 7 lb. 2 oz.
Gary are proud to announce
21-inch-longJames (Jamie) Lawton on May 17,1994,
at 3:34 P M. The Rosenbergs reside in Santa Barbara,
CA. My old roomie, Liz Parrott Brennan, and husband John are
thrilled with the birth of Charles
Calvert Brennan on June 4, 1994. The 8 lb. 4 oz. 20brother Jack out in Seattle.
Charlie
inch-long
joins
Sherry Stein Epstein and husband Jeff welcomed
Erica Lee Epstein into the world on June 15,1994,and
all are doing great. Jesse Ruth Sworden, born on Feb.
mom
26,1994, has
Kathy Canfield Sworden
provided
with a six-month maternity/family-care leave, which
she and Kyle, 5 years, and Samantha, 4 years, have
thoroughly enjoyed. But Campbell’s beckons, and
Kathy will be back at work shortly. Husband Brett
keeps busy with the farm. Jesse is a calm baby, Kathy
happily. And that is
reports, who sleeps and eats most
a rare
gift from God! My heartiest congratulations to
all the new
dads, and future Vassar legacies!
moms,
Johanna Kelly checks in from New Haven, where
she is anticipating
to Denver. Johanna willbe
joining DU Law School as director of development for
major gifts. In an interesting cycle, this move
brings
Johanna back to the town she grew up in andreturned
after
from
Vassar.
She
sends
best
to
wishes,
graduation
particularly to Christy Wood and Betsy StuartKehoe.
1993 proved to be quite an eventful year for
made partJoanna Swomley. She got married,
a
move
was
ner
wonderful new
apartment on N.Y.C.’s Upper
West Side. Alums present at her wedding to Brian
Meyer included Gregg Zoarski, Peter Weiss ’BO, who
flew in from Spain, and Melanie Czarra ’BO, who flew
a
in from London.
where he
is an
from beautiful Sonoma, CA,
“Life in the wine
orthopedic surgeon.
us
is terrific,” says this happily married father of
country
three (two sons, ages 5 and 3, and a 4-month-oldlittle
girl).
Noah’s
’B2, who
cisco
to
regular
include Eric Feldman
contacts
getting his Ph.D. and leaving San Fran-
is
go to
farm in upstate New York, which allowsher to indulge
in one
of her childhood passions, horses. She bought
this year. One produced a
thoroughbred mares
lovely colt by a German warmblood, and the other
future winningracehorse. She
will, she hopes, carry
two
a
often peruses
her old Greek and Latin books, but fears
Mr. Pounder “would be shocked at how I struggle over
the
Where does all that stuff we
simplest things!
worked
so
hard
Yale for
wrote
love
in—we
John Sperber
Maine, where he
a
couple
sends
continues
the New England real estate
would like
holiday
to
season.
in
us
from Down East
news
his involvement in both
market and the Sales and
Rose Brosseau, an engineering systems
specialist for
T.Y. Lin International, in May 1994. Among those
fellow
present at the “breaking of the glass” were
’Bl ers Paul Cristello, Katia Garrett, Patrick Sullivan,
Kenny Levin, Jamie Kurten, and Doug Rediker,
along with their lovely spouses and others. Other
recent
nuptial news includes Stephanie Mer this past
spring. I had a great chat with Susie Hill Mesrobian
when she, Pete, and their three terrific kids were
visitingftomLondon, and she filled me inonStephanie
and her new
husband Peter’s beautiful celebration.
Along with Susie, Marti Zimmerman Moseley, Jeff
Sumner ’B2 and Lisa SchumacherSumner, and Leslie
shared in the
special day. I’m sure all
of our class joins me in extending very best wishes to
John and Patricia and Stephanie and Peter.
1994
to
trials and tribula-
your
small. As
time, I
press
special, large or
a
close
a
wish you and yours
Think about adding me
at
happy, healthy
to
your
card list and jottinga quick note! Untilnext
take care, stay well, and stay in touch.
Christtime,
to
work
as
a
features editor
at
N.Y.C., Liz
sion
our
is a senior
Workshop,
tent.” At home in the wilds of
editor at the Children’s Televi-
and husband Jeff is
a
director of First
Boston.
As for this column’s better half, Amy
recently
JeffWallach ’B2 reports
that the time he spent on
Vassar's
has
golf course
His
book
finally paid off.
Beyond the Fairway: Zen
Lessons, Insights, and
Inner Attitudes of Golf
will he
published in April.
completed five
reputed
working
to
for a Japanese recording star
songs
be the “Madonna of Japan.” She’s also
on a musical depicting the life ofLawrence of
Arabia, “sort of along the lines of Broadway’s Tommy
or Jesus Christ Superstar.”
Jeff
Wallach’s
was
inadvertently dropped
apologies—so the following is
note
from the last issue—our
updated entry: “All that time I spent on the Vassar
whenI should have been writing papers on
golf course
18th-century British lit has finally paid off. My first
book, entitled Beyond the Fairway: Zen Lessons, Insights , and Inner Attitudes of Golf, willbe published by
Bantam in April.” Jeff has also had articles published
in Town and Country, Sierra, Men’s Fitness, Golfing,
an
and Health. Looks like Jeff has found his best stroke.
be Frank
to
Landscape architecture appears
Edgerton Martin’s best stroke. Frank writes from
Minneapolis that after founding the Suburban Documentation
Project with a panoramic photographer in
1990, he’s currently involved in planning small col1,000
leges, writing articles, and archiving over
negatives of new
midwestern suburbs.
From the suburbs ofPortland, OR, comes
’B2
years.
Division of L.L. Bean. John wed Patricia
60 VQ WINTER
sharing
tions, be they day-to-day or
the year will be drawing to
Pamela Thompson
2310 Woodsdale Blvd.
years—Jewels moved north to Portland, where she has
again relocated and recently held large garage sale.
Summer and Winter
Julie Riess, husband Nick
de Leeuw, and their children, Josh, 8, and Leslie, 3
from Pittsburgh to Poughkeepsie. Julie is now
the
a
Also
Powers
310 W. 72nd St.
mailbag
summer
for
our
discover that
chology
contained rather slim
column, I picked
up
the
phone, only
in some
of you were
phase of
vacation
preparation. So here’s what I gleaned, despite trips to the beach, mountains, barbecue grill, and
to
most
hammock.
In the midst of packing, class VP Martha Frey
informationbefore she, Cristina Celada
some
imparted
(our class fund chair), and
friend of Martha’s from
Tuck Business School departed for the Far East, specifically Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. This
marks the third trip Martha and Cris have taken
a
they set out as sophomores for the 1980 Lake
Placid Olympics.
At Chicago-area “DoubleDecade” party, Martha
reported talking with Rob Mayer, who is teaching
poli sci at Loyola. From nearby Windy City tennis
Martha spotted Remy Fisher brushing up on
court,
her game
and taking
break from her work as a
gambling/gaming industry analyst for Kemper.
since
a
a
a
on
the
move
are
directorofthe W impfheimer Nursery School at V assar.
in cognitive psyNick has been in a Ph.D. program
New York, NY 10023
Spring and Fall
Since the
news
Lincoln, NE 68502
402/476-1257
and
pickings
the
that Julia (Jewels) Blagden has moved again. After
leaving the Bay Area in June 1993—after seven
Amy
Kisco, NY. She would love to hear from any classin her area.
Denise is also working on herpilot’s
mates
license and taking pottery classes.
Tepper
there go? Downloaded
That’s allfor this quarter. Thanksagain to allwho
Rueppel Santomero, when not on one of
her previously mentioned pleasurable travel jaunts
with husband Camillo, is having a wonderful time
renovating a turn-of-the-century home in Mount
Orfuss
in
cram
all.
by you
Denise
Marketing
to
storage tapes no doubt. I thinkI need to re-evaluate
current
one
my storage and retrieval system, as my
seems
singularly inefficient.” No editorial comment
by me on this one. Just food for thought and reflection
N.Y.C.
to
zebras around
enthusiasts. Along with husband Peter and her two
stepsons, Kristi keeps busy maintaining their 60-acre
mas
Noah Weiss pens
has moved
People magazine. Amy said she bumped into our
former class correspondent at an Upper West Side
health club and promptly learned thatNO ONE calls
him “Danny” anymore.
They reminisced about tradingLevis in college and traded phone numbers in the
Big Apple.
from newly
Amy also shared with me a note
married Elizabeth Vitton Kelly, who detailed some
from her honeymoon in
memorable moments
Tanzania, complete with “lions roaring and chasing
turning35 and wondered how some of you felt about
it. Well, 684 of you chose not
to reveal to
me/us your
thoughts (are you all that indifferent about it? or are
traumatized? or in denial?), but Linda Walder
you
Fiddle cheerfully announced that “the big 35 was
great.” Her husband had a wonderful surprise partyfor
her at “50 and 100” in SoHo. Hurray! Linda keeps
busy in the Big Apple with children Danny, 3 1/z, and
Ara Jayne, 1. She wishes everyone
a happy birthday.
JudithKristi Spalding, having earned her C.P.A.
in
1993, is currently employed as a controller of a
multimillion-dollar corporation and would love to
hear from Vassar folk, particularly erstwhile classics
a
the law firm of Dewey Ballantine, and moved
in
into
A call to my column colleague, Amy Powers,
the news
thatformer Chicagoite Dan Santow
produced
at
the U. of Pittsburgh and
plans
to finish his
dissertation “out of residence.” Although sad to leave
Pittsburgh, “which is a great city especially for famithat they are looking forward to
lies,” Julie writes
being
on
campus
Another
and in
family
on
the Hudson Valley again.
the move
is Mona Jacobs
Marked, husband Dave, and daughters Rebecca and
Jenny. The Markellsreturned to Albany in late August
after spending the summer
in Portland, OR—maybe
they went
to Jewels’s garage
sale—where Dave taught
environmental law. Back in Albany, Mona writes
thatshe’ll “probably” resume
part-timeactuarial consulting work.
is Marcia
Far from part time
the Office of
analyst for
D.C. Marcia began
1992 after receiving
as
an
Occomy’s job as an
Management and Budget in
OMB analyst in the fall of
an
M. A. in public policy from the
U. of Chicago. Outside of work, Marcia is enjoying
the comforts of her
recently purchased condo near
Georgetown.
Although
she’s based in Connecticut rather than
D.C., Andrea Boissevain’s role
as an
environmental
consultant puts her in contact
with federal agencies
and local officials and
such as the EPA, as well as state
communityresidents in Fairfield County. In an article
about Andrea andher firm, HealthRisk Consultants,
the year, Lisa Zane appeared on my
television—perhaps yours as well—face to face with
the legendary Dick Van Dyke in “Diagnosis Murder.”
Despite the wily tricks she learned at Vassar, she was,
permanently.
she’s
in the end, a murderess undone. And hats off to
Daniel Fishman (officially ’B4 but ’B3 where it counts),
who is living in Pittsburgh, PA, with wife Nancy, son
Matthew, and daughter Ellie, but more
to the
Karen Masiello Beasley and husband Robert
welcomed Caroline Marie to their
growing family in
Jan. 1994- Caroline, brother Nicholas, mom, and dad
leave Charleston, SC, in the fall due to
to
were
who justfinished his Ph.D. in molecular (something-
Robert’s submarine base
quoted
saying that she became interested “in
public health side of the dark microbial world”
during her biology classes at Vassar and later at Yale
working toward her M.A.
as
the
Andrea’s environmental correctness
also extends
giving lianaCareen her daughters’ hand-me-down
clothes. liana writes from “brown, drought-struck but
California” that whenher 3-year-old fraternal
sunny
twins, Arielle and Jessica, outgrow those clothes she
to
sends the unisex
items to Kathy Boonin Andros’s
After liana married Andrew Childs ’Bl in 1989,
son.
she began work on
her Ph.D. in epidemiology at
in late 1991 slowed
UCLA. The birth of the twins
liana reports
now
working on her dissertation, involvingIUDs and
pelvic inflammatory disease and risk factors—parsections.
ticularly maternal age—for cesarean
she’s
Jeannine Vetrano Dowdle announced the birth
of their second child, Vincent Thomas, in late May.
Vincent’s 2-year-old sister, Shannon,thinkshe’s pretty
—especially the blond streak in his brown hair.
Marcel Laurene Riem reported the birth of her
son, Jesse, on Feb. 25,1994, and thought herfirst-born
“would one day get a kick out of seeing that his name
had appeared in the VQ.”
cute
Last but not
least is Francoise Senekdjian
Huffman’s news
that she married Steve Huffman on
June 18. The newlyweds live
in
where Francoise is
She
chiropractor.
or-other) deoxyribose and (something else) refractive
index of (a bunch ofother big words), etc. Call himfor
autographed copy of the dissertation.
News from the East Coast: Suzanne Batchelor,
now
an
attorney in Connecticut, was married last
Januaryto Andrew Pinkes and, after a honeymoon in
free
a
Antigua, returned
to
live in
West Hartford. Robert
to first vice
president
Alpert was recently promoted
with SmithBarney. He lives in Port Washington, NY,
with wife Lisa Deßruin Alpert ’Bl and their children,
Lauren and Steven. Josh Kaufman, who was married
in
is
notes
that she’s
the southern accent
down
Linda Sabith Molinari was a bridesmaid.
right.”
Well, that about wraps it up, except for the following blatant plug for my fax machine: USE IT!
’84
as
an
marketing work to make NASDAQ (the stock
change) household
Justina also attended the
christening ofher goddaughter, Caroline, daughter of
ex-
a
name.
Karen Masiello ’B4 and Robert Beasley. In
dance was Nancy Mack.
atten-
From overseas,
Peter Cummings sends word that
he is now
editor and publisher of Phase magazine (a
publication of BLASE Ltd.), the largest lesbian and
gay style magazine in Great Britain. And Valerie
Martinez writes
from a place called Big Bend—
Swaziland, that is—-where she teaches English. She
married last January to Keith Allen in Tucson,
AZ. From Japan comes
word that Jane Illsley James
has arrived, withhusband Thanand daughter Anika,
was
to
teach English.
In the “new persons
department,” we have several
class of 2016 members to welcome. Joan Hirschhorn
Bright and husband David had a daughter, Katherine,
last April.
Nelson and his wife, Victoria, had a
son,
Larry
Lawrence Shephard,
last
May.
Susan Russo
Walker and husbandDuncan Walker ’B2 have a new
daughter, Alice Eavan, who joins brother Max. Susan
busy as a freelance writer, chauffeur, and story reader
in the Baltimore area.
is
Charlotte Prendergast Yochem writes
briefly that
she is working as an attorney in
Corpus Christi, TX.
We’d love
to
get
more
details. I should also mention
attorney, but
you’d
at
Harvard. They both look forward
returning to California after
we’ll start
there.
in the last issue
with a recap
Liz Donelson Davis
scarce
of reunion
deserves
and
(and
this
news
kind of
some
re-
award. Not only did she fly in from Anchorage
for the weekend, she needed six plane tickets to do it.
brought
her husband and four children with her.
business in L.A. and is
searching for
the
next
Nirvana for his record label.
Rafael Flores still looks good in shorts but has
wear
a
suit
to
his
work
at
the
Department
ofDefense. Co-
Hallisey is planning an alumnae/i“Follies”-type performance to benefit the new Avery
Theater. It may not be too late to help out; you can
reach him through AAVC (or look him up in your
bulletin).
Lee Hettinger
reunion
is prosecuting child abuse cases
at
the D.A.’s office in Boston. He and his wife, Michelle,
a social worker, are
building a home in suburban
MA.
Filmmaker Fritzi Horstman (now at work on
Naked Man, a documentary to be shown at our
Marlborough,
next
writes
in with these observations of the
weekend: “We all seem to be getting on with our lives,
but I’m so happy to see that most
of us have kept our
immerse
our
ourselves in
ability
Higgins
look for Lisa’s latest novel, Tvoice
Verge.
Upon a Time , due
Sept. 1994In performing arts news, Elizabeth Frankel appeared with the Randy James Dance Works during its
at the Merce Cunningham Studio in
spring season
New York. Meanwhile, several parents of small children have noted that they have seen
of Jon
more
Tenney this
than in four years at Vassar,
summer
thanksto Lassie's big advertising budget. And yes, it is
that we are old enough for Jon to be playing the
scary
father
in the movie.
Ellen GatinsBlock wrote
let us know that she
to
and husband Andy Block ’B5 had a baby boy, Daniel,
on
May 4, 1994. They
to
laugh at
and
frequent
to
also
recently
became home-
and have moved to Armonk, NY. After
maternity leave, Ellen was planning to return
owners
summer
The
reunion)
of humor, our
ability to
what is, our playfulness, and
Amelie Tseng Lewis
and husband Scott just
a house in
Upper Montclair, NJ, just around
the corner
from Tom
andLisa
Be sure
bought
in
to
kill her.
Robert
sense
for missing the weekend is thatshe has
accepted an offer for an assistant
professorship in
19th-century French literature at Mississippi State
University. During the weekend she was in the Deep
South looking for housing.
Michael Me Vick er writes
that almost exactly 10
after graduation he proposed to Mile. Sylvie
years
Naux. The wedding was planned for September, in
France. (Michael notes
that being a French major
in very handy during this courtship.)
came
to
Lisa Levy Jensen tried to find out
what he does there, but he said if he told her he’d have
to
up
on
June 13. Sherry, husband Ivo, and the
girls live in Baltimore, where Sherry teaches law at the
U. of Maryland Law School. Earlier this year Sherry
made the Washington Post when she turned down a
high-profile job at the Justice Department.
In otherpost-reunionnews, Lydia Belateche writes
union
Liz
considering hanging
shoes in favor of a new
in the medical field.
career
A few of the people who didn’t make it to reunion
thather excuse
didn’t have much room
quarter),
gathered
miserable Boston
Knobloch,
6027 Harwood Ave.
Oakland, CA 94618
we
a
winter.
Winter and Summer
and
Cariad Hayes
correspondent
working
an
had good excuses.
One of these was Sherrilyn Ifill,
who welcomed her second daughter, Amah Alicia
music
D.C.
as
1037 Siena Oaks Circle West
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Guests included Michael’s wife,
in
well
guess.
business studies
Lisa Levy Jensen
L
of Kevin Watson and Kathy Hughes in
N.Y.C. last July, where Michael DeWitt was an usher.
in the EPA Office of Enforcement. She sees
attorney
her
quite a bit of Charlotte Morford, who continues
as
clown extraordinaire, is
because those postcards have been mighty
Leslie Damesek ’BB, Bruce Mendelsohn
mother now,
Judithis a freelance journalist in Chicago.
has three
Lee Squires Berezuk, lighting guru,
She is also
children, a husband, and a busy career.
in her local lATSE union.
quite active
Quinn Stills is spending one more
year in Cambridge, MA, while wife Lauren finishes her graduate
never
big
Since
’9O, and Victor Jockin.
Justina Fugh has been
a
Peter Wilson did a magnificent job constructing
the giant “84” made out of balloons for the parade of
classes. He managed to stay on his stilts while he led
class from Main to Walker Field House. Peter,
our
MonicaFerreri lives in D.C. and works in “the oil
bidness.” She’d rather be in Europe reviewing the
fashion collections, however. Mike Feld is in the
Stephanie,
Saturday.
picnic
be
to
“Naked Man.”
Dorothy Parnizzo. In attendance
Michael Cesta, Herm Farrell, Matt Fenton,
Sarano Kelley ’B4, and Judy Silverman Fenton ’B5.
914/ 241-7149 (fax, phone)
DeWitt ’B2, Alex Cooper and his wife, Karen, Gard
Little and Alice Meade, Bobby Zuckerman and wife
closing. Destination TBA.
Brooke Spanierman
and sister-in-law Judith
Nemes Spanierman made a brief appearance
at the
Walker Field House
Brooke claims
on
were
Bedford Hills, NY 10507
Margaret Alexander
less
Cavalier married
Spring and Fall
wedding
or
Ben Swett has been writingfor E! He is continuing to freelance while exploring the possibility of
He is not the
structure.
returning to a more
corporate
510/547-1168
less, or fact-less? In any case, kudos to Adam LevinDelson, who took one small fax for classkind whenhe
became the first to fax facts. Adam attended the
just
France, more
to
recently moved with Carol Hartley ’B4 to Charlotte, NC, where he’ll teach history at Queens College. Earlier this year on Long Island, NY, Matt
Dave Tobias
149A Broad Brook
Although I take pride in the fact that the class of ’B3
has a class correspondent with a fax, you folks seem
to
be lacking in fax skills. Are class of’B3ers fax lax, fax-
they move
Cole
Still always a bridesmaid myself, yours
truly is
living in both Omaha and Lincoln and trying to help
moderate Republicans get elected. See you at the
polls!
'83
In the fall
reunion.
to
now
Charlotte, NC,
“finally getting
Karen Littell and husbandDaniel returned from
their yearlong trip around the world
in time
for
medical director at New England
Rehabilitation Center in Framingham, MA. Tom
1993,
|
a
point
I
down her studies somewhat, but
that earlier in
part-time work in the fall
as
in New York.
Andy is also an
city specializing
an
attorney for
a
firm
attorney and works at a
in intellectual property
firm in the
work. Ellen says, “All in all, life is very good!”
P.S. For those of you who are wondering about
the tale of the “Naked Man,” let’s just say this; that
will teach you
to
miss
a
Vassar reunion!
ourselves.”
Wendy
Israel
is a freelance writer
contributorto Metropolitan Home magazine. By workto
ing at home, Wendy has finally found time
strip
wallpaper and redecorate her own place.
Sanjay Jaiswal, Mutuma Marangu,
Noonan live very
come
near
crazy
pany
and utensils
is doing very
well.
to
reunion.
Their toy
com-
Springfield,
MA 01089
10th Reunion
to
straws
West
413/737-2947
and Cebert
each other in London but had
Poughkeepsie to see each other.
Erik Lipson
and Stephanie Shepard Lipson
brought their two adorable little girls and a case of
to
’85
Peter J. Schindelman
130 Apple Ridge Rd.
We correspondents are now
limited to a certain
number ofwords in each column (currently 1,500). This is
based
on
our
class size
and the fact that
our
10-year
61
reunion
will occur
within the year. I don’t expect to
have trouble fitting this column within the size rehas appeared
striction, since recently little class news
work toward her doctorate in
before
ethics at Georgetown.
After five years practicing law in D.C., Donna M.
to lawschool—on the other
Nagy has opted to return
me.
Starting, as usual, with births; Michael Haas had
his second child. His daughter, Margot Francine, was
born on April 5, 1994Seth
Hirschberg
baby boy, Matthew
April 30, 1994.
Harris’s
Warren Harris, was born on
Deanna Aftab Guy also has a
DanielleFarideh Guy was born at 7:53
daughter.
June 20,
new
A.M.
on
1994. Danielle weighed 7 pounds 8 ounces
21
inches long. Deanna has returned to work as a neonafellow at Rainbow Babies and Children’s. Her
and was
of
year
finally
“will be Mr. Mom
surgical residency
his fourth
he does research and
as
during
call!”
no
Anne Borchert and Jeffrey Isaacs had their first
child. AndrewElson Borchert-Isaacs was born on July
6, 1994.
As for
weddings,
Susan H. Manbermarried Louis
I. Abraham at the Vassar chapel in Oct. 1993 (from
what I can tell). Susan works for Ammirati & Puris, a
New York ad agency,
as a vice president and associate
research director. Louis works in New York for Bank
Hapoalim,
Israeli bank,
an
as
a
computer network
administrator.
Dr. Sylvia Lynn Hargrave married Ralph David
Kelly on June 4, 1994, in Pittstown, NJ. Sylvia is an
resident at the University of Medicine andDentistry of New Jersey in Newark. She had
received her M.D. from Boston U. Her husband works
ophthalmology
for Trammel Crow
capital
Company
in Dallas as a director of
Natasha Cooper Benisty and husband Motti
Benisty became proud parents of ManonKayla Benisty
Feb. 17, 1994. Natasha has also been promoted to
on
In herfirst Class Notes postcard, Elizabeth Adams
wrote
to say that she is living in N.Y.C. again after
finishing architecture school at U. of Penn. The
reprint rights, comics, plus sales representative for
United Media, a newspaper
syndicate representing,
others, “Peanuts,”“Dilbert,”Jack Anderamong
many
Alan Dershowitz, and Cokie Roberts. Comics
son,
an
director. With Abramson Ehrlich Manes in
art
Washington, DC, she had “created and developed
advertising campaigns including print, collateral materials, and direct mail for clients in retail, financial
services, and communications industries.” Victoria
had also previously worked with DDB Needham
Worldwide in McLean, VA, USA Today/Gannett
Publications in Rosslyn, VA, and John Marks Associin Baltimore.
ates
As for me, I graduated from Western New England
School of Law in Springfield, MA, in
College
May
in
1994 • I took the Massachusetts bar examination
July. I have no definite plans for the immediate future
other than to care for my youngest daughter at home
while perhaps looking for nonlegal work in the out-
side world.
law.
recession, she tells us, has been a drag in her field, but
she landed a job with I.M. Pei. (Not too
shabby.)
Anyone need Beth
Jacqueline
to
to design a house?
Paskow moved from Baltimore back
Florida. After tryingMiamiand Boca Raton,
is trying to decide where to settle down with
sunny
Jacqui
her private practice in psychotherapy.
Last January, Scott Silverberg spent a week in
Guatemala providing anesthesia for a surgical team
from the U.S. caring for children in a mountain
community. In the fall he finished his residency at
SUNY Stonybrook and, by the time we read this, will
have a job, somewhere.
I misspoke in my summer
and her beau did
moved
into
a
Eric D. Ort
12 Parkview Rd.
a
press
conference
sented
by Catherine Contopoulos’s marriage to
Apostolos (Laki) Lambropoulos. The description of
their courtship was
charming and their Greek
Orthodox wedding inspiring.
Robert (Gobie) Fink
July,
wrote
Robert
was
to
announce
to
his bid for
announce
married
to
and Rob Forman ’B5.
have
the Assembly seat as a bully pulpit to
burden and then push for the economic
we
so
desperately need.”
of time
before Pat
is
I think it
relieve the
tax
development
is
just
a
set
a
completing
1994
of ’B7 reports,
other
things, three
among
master’s degrees, two law
degrees, one Ph.D., four
five weddings, two
moves,
babies, and
a
prize winner
medical
♦
Representatives.
As you can see from the return
address, my
is thatI have moved back to New England. I
news
associate
director of
big
am
Miss Porter’s
School (Farmington), and I have just begun to familiarize
number of MPS/
myself with the vast
Vassar grads—including our classmate Chris Orth.
development
at
When I called to get advice about life in the
Hartford area from Scott Parven, I discovered thathis
wife, Cari Shane ’B7, had justgiven birth to theirfirst
child, Olivia Shane Parven. Congratulations to the
growing family.
And speaking of first children .. . Myra Thomas
wrote
to
the birth of her
announce
daughter, Chloe
Myra are busy
Ann Thomas, born in April. Evan and
and deliriously happy.
Engelstein
gave
birth
to
a
son
last
Joshua
More Pratt’s son,
born last May. Libby
is
to
Michael Pratt,
still undecided about
to return
to work. But she has plenty of time
think about it while caring for the needs of her
“gorgeous little boy.”
Now that I have moved out
Pennsylvania, brunch has once
my
weekend
again become part of
In late August I had the
with several Vassar chums
up
scattered around New
England. On one
Joan Horgan, MarniKessler ’B7, and I got
occasion
together
in
West Hartford, and the following weekend I saw Joan,
Barbara Stachniewicz ’B2, and John Stachniewicz in
Boston.
’87
Bobbin
Bob
Samiljan,
Tom Webb, Tom Beller,
Slutsky,
under-
writing for planes and boats and also is the drummer
for the band This Is It. Ellen is living in Hoboken and
booking rock bands!
Another nice
letter announced that Cornelis
Overbeeke, Jr., was married to Sharyn Ingram on May
7, 1994 on Block Island, RI. It was a perfect day!
Cornelis is
four-year student at the Chicago Medical
is planning a career
in emergency
medicine.
Sharyn is a chemistry/biology major and a
graduate of Holy Cross. She is currently working in an
immunology lab at the U. of Chicago and will be
applying to medical school. Cornelis and Sharyn are
both triathletes and enjoy white-waterrafting, scuba
diving, and sky diving. The two are also planning to
bike Europe for three months next
spring. Wow!
Finally heardfrom Scott Cooper, who tells me he
is officially an attorney. Scott attended Temple Law
School in Philadelphia and
graduated with honors in
1992. After clerking for a federal judge for a year, he
work as a labor and employment attorney
went
to
with Blank, Rome, Comioskey & McCauley. Scott
also announced his Aug. 1993 marriage to Karen
Foytlin, who is also an attorney. His former rooma
School and
Paul Garcia,
was
best man,
and Paul’s wife,
Tracy, also attended. Scott andKaren had an amazing
two-weekhoneymoon in Hawaiiand have now
settled
in Center City, Philadelphia. Congratulations!
Cara McCarthy writes
from Boston that all is
going well. Cara graduated from Babson’s M.B.A.
last May and got a job on State Street as
program
She is now
global advertising manager.
engaged to
J. Brittan Hutchins, a fellow classmate, and the two
were
planning an Oct. 1 wedding. Cara also saw many
Vassarites at Marianne Martens’s wedding this past
March in N.Y.C., including Mary Chan, Laura
Macnow, Liz Darsh, and Evan Neufeld. Jeannie
thatshe justcompleted her master’s in
at
the Kennedy School of
public policy program
Kelley
137 S. Canon Dr. *3
Beverly Hills, CA
were
Owen Mazon, Russell Geekie ’B9, Marlin
and Ellen Stewart. Marlin is doing insurance
mate,
of ruralsouth-central
vocabulary.
pleasure of meeting
ronmental organization in New York. I heard from
Jim Saft ’BB and Rebecca Moore ’BB, who attended,
that the wedding was beautiful. OtherVCers attend-
ing
matter
running for the House of
Banker writes
90212
Government
Many cards
and lots of
great things going on with ’B7
classmates! Especially in the baby and wedding area
On
so here goes.
21, 1994, Cari Shane Parven
—-
date yet, Karen Y.
Roberts became engaged to Douglas P. Turner in
June. Karen is a third-year litigation associate
with a
courseWashington, DC, law firm and is
not
rights
a seat
the New York State Assembly, Dutchess County
legislator Patrick Manning said, “I would like to use
his
Fran
Goldman, U. of Wisconsin ’B7, at the Metropolitan
Club in N.Y.C. Vassar guests included Steve and
Jocelyn Strieker Mendelsohn, Scott Olsson, George
Tsiolis, Kathy Anderson, Linda Williams, Lisa
Maclean Malik, Bill McVail ’B7, Lance Levitt ’B4,
nonprofit
in
Libby
the wedding of Daniel Reichert ’B5 to Andrea
Marcovicci, but last June the class of 1986 was repre-
a
relationsfor Geffen Records
an assistant
to the president
human
and envi-
The class
N.Y.C., just blocks from the David Letterman
Craig and his wife, Sue Kellman ’B7, had a
mini-reunion
Memorial Day at the wedding ofMichael
Starnbach ’B7.
was
of you who share my passion no doubt enjoy “Vows.”
The featured wedding came
pretty close to home with
62 VQ WINTER
of Crescentera,
in
whether
Though they
directorofmedia and artist
in New York. Jennifer is
had been
Vassar.”
follow the marriages and charity work of
of our classmates, I have become an avid reader
some
of the New York Times. Those
of the “Styles” section
Last
Sage
Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Jim is the
Chapel at
Craig Ornstein completed his Ph.D. in health
psychology last June, with a dissertation on psychopathology in adults with epilepsy. When he wrote, Craig
was
working for a medical communication
company
In
a
newsletter to call her at United Media in New York.
Received the New York Times announcement
of
the June 4, 1994, wedding of James Merlis
and
Jennifer Richardson. The wedding took place in
together for some time.) Gail took a jewelry course
this fall and would love to hear from Linda Davidson.
West Hartford, CT 06110
to
wedding.
package of syndicated features designed to
supplement corporate and nonprofit newsletters.
Natasha welcomes anyone
looking to spice up your
together; they
living
in
place. (They
March, Brian Noah Engelstein. The mother reports
that “he is gorgeous,
brilliant, and plans to go to
203/232-5829
In order
Plus is
column. Gail M. Vincent
just move
not
new
Susan Nover
'86
a
studio.
markets.
Bill Sprance is “a civilian trial attorney for the
navy.” He pursues an LL.M. in internationallaw (on
a part-time basis) at
Georgetown Law School. He
keeps in touch with Joel Doolin, Jeff Fligelman, Eric
Allison, Tracy Galloway ’B6, and Melanie Mitchem
’B6. Bill also sends greetings to Tara Delson ’B6, Milla
Trigos ’B6, Lisa Shapiro ’B7, and Dave Rosoff ’B7.
Victoria Hecht recently joined Kershner & ComMarketing and Advertising in Alexandria, VA,
pany
as
of 12 hours. Cari planned on working at home for a
while and then returning to work part time.
Sounds
like long nights, but Cari says it’s definitely worth it.
professor at the U. of
teaching constitutional
side of the lectern. Donna is
Cincinnati College of Law,
tology
husband
philosophy/medical
June
and husband Scott Parven ’B6 welcomed their first
child, 6 lb. 14 oz., 20.5-inch-long, Olivia Shane
Parven, into the world. Cari was in labor for
short
just
Harvard U.
Jeannie does not yet
did make the big decision
back to N.Y.C. And Rebekah Gleason
to
move
got
her M.A. in music
at Columbia Teachers College and
is now
teaching math to LD students in
at
know whatshe
is
doing but
Maryland.
Lots of people on the move—
moved to Baltimore and has
Amy
a
new
Goldman has
position
as
the
director of development for the Peabody
Institute at Johns Hopkins University. Brian Ellis
Hanson has shakenoff hisfirst name
and now
goes by
Ellis Hanson. He went
to
Princeton, got his Ph.D.,
architect for the Central Park Conservancy. Debbie
in to say thatshe has a new
Sunderland wrote
job and
and moved back
Debbie also reports, “Recently visited Jessica
Slotkin in Columbia, SC, and Ute Joas in Washing-
assistant
to New York. Ellis has now
joined the
Sarah Lawrence, where he professes “all
of queer
manner
things.” And Sylvia Parkyn Koontz
and husbandGary have moved (hopefully for the last
faculty
at
time) just outside of the city of Winston-Salem, NC.
two
now
own
a home, and Sylvia is still a “library
peon” working for the state ofNorth Carolina, trying
make the library at the North Carolina School of
to
The
a
new
manager
husband. She’s now
technology marketing
for the publishing house of Prentice-Hall.
DC. Jessica is working on an M.A. to teach
ton,
foreign language. Ute finished law school and has
joined a D.C. firm.”
DawnM. Ever and SarahBishop (who’s starting
her own
landscaping business in Seattle) traveled all
the way to Philadelphia for Nancy Rhoads’s wedding
the more
to
planned to move
hospitable climate of northern California.
Millie Park is on the move,
too,
heading to the
University of Chicago’s Business School after a busy
summer
attending a couple of class of ’B9 weddings.
Emily Dephoure and Josh Laurence will be the latest
classmate couple. MonicaTrumble’s wedding rounded
Millie’s itinerary. She’s also looking for Aimee
out
Laman ’9l.
Already married is Leigh Ziemian Todd ’9O, who’s
the recipient of congratulations from Stephanie J.E.
Nicoll. Leigh, and any other VC grads in the D.C.
the Arts a friendlier place for art students! She also
sends hellos to Feme Kilcollum ’B9, Anuradha Murti
’B9, Stacey Greenberg ’BB, Sara Sezun ’BB, Sylvia
to
area,
ance
Niedner, Christina Chiu, and Andrea Gordon.
Amy Wilson.
Reston.
Melanie A. Wells, M.D., found time
between
Tufts and her emergency
medicine residency in Den-
Natalie Lowe
let us know that she
to
wrote
graduated from the U. of lowa College of Law and
Now all she has
passed the New York State bar exam.
wrote
do is find a job in Germany or the Virgin Islands
that does not
require her joining any of the armed
forces. Natalie sends congrats to Julie Szabo on her
Toni Herzog.
wedding and a big hug to old roomie
that Marc Plawker just won FIRST PRIZE
Got news
to
the F.C. Valentine Competition for urology residents—an out-standing achievement in his field!
in
Marc is
four-year resident
urology at
Downstate.
He is living in Brooklyn and says life is great but tough.
And lastly, Daniel Bucatinsky writes that he is living
a
in L.A. and
starred in
in
working as a writer/actor. Danny recently
new
pilot for Disney and is currently
a
Adam Click. Among the many VCers in attendMarc Saidenberg, Lisa Magaro, Jen
were
Mudryck, Wendy Membrino, Joan McMenemy, and
side. This fall she
Already
wed
Catherine Carleton Jones
the birth of the ir first
report
William, in June. And Cris Sanchez
Mary
in from Vermont to
child, Timothy
reported from Dallas that she’s engaged
to
medical
student Charles Eberhart. No date for the
wedding
yet, but
they’ve
closed the deal
on
their first house
already.
Finally,
and Liz Waller.
That’sall for now.
I’d love
hearfrom Lexi Lord,
Karl Mini, Peter Sweeny, Eve Wollman, and John
Berlinsky.
to
’88
192 Sixth Ave.
New York, NY 10013
and a happy 1995!
wishes for the holiday season
as
corporate attorney.
’89
cago
and hot it
in
was
you
July.
N.Y.C.
quarters. I ran
in Brook-
that Will Wood
and Ben
report thatshe’s completed herfifth year there and her
third year of marriage to Yasuki Nito, an executive
at
Nissan.
Gisele Richardson is still living in Northampton,
the Psy.D. program
at
MA. She was accepted into
Antioch New England Graduate School and started
in
her program
Scott R. Bloom has re-
September.
turned from sunny
Los Angeles and is now
“chilling in
sunny
Cape Cod” until the fog rolls in.
Samuel Bell wrote
in to report that after nine
Poughkeepsie, he’s finally escaped to Chapel
Hill, NC. He and Stephanie Schlagel ’B9 get together
“whenever she can be pried away from her dissertain
tion.” Christina Kanka Nelson spent part of the year
job-hopping but has finally settled into a “great” new
in central New
Wedding
Jersey.
bells continue
1988, and here’s the
order):
Alice Felarca
most
was
to
recent
chime for the class of
crop (in no particular
wed to Charles Scott Howe IV
Valentine’s Day, with Jennifer Childs Zidar as
maid of honor. Tamara (Tammi) Hawkinson married Api Sulistyo on Aug. 8 in Minnesota, with Janet
Arnold in attendance. Janet and her husband, Jim,
have become homeowners in Lancaster County, PA,
on
and plan
big housewarming party soon as they’ve
unpacking—whenever that is!
The New York Times reported that Karen
a
as
finished
Herskovitz
York back
in
was
wed
July.
to
William Ackman in
Karen is
as
as
a
in
because a chunk of their
to
extrapolate.)
anticipated
the
in
summer
to
working for The Gap, Inc., for the past five
Steve Epstein is moving to Philadelphia to
the Wharton School. Next summer
he’llalso be
more
hearing from any other alums in
“I’m just knee-deep in diapers
debris,” writes
literati. The May issue
autobiographical essay
living with epilepsy and
terms
with the
con-
the area.
and construction
Elisa Talbott Freedman from Venice,
FL. Last January, Elisa and husbandMike celebrated
the birth of their second child, Erica
who’s
Lynn,
2-year-old brother,
Christopher. The happy family
recently visited by
Rebecca DenHartog, who’s teaching and living in
Orlando. Elisa also sends congratulations to Pam
Johnstone.
Michael Gottlieb was
lighting designer for the
very
well with her
was
May
subway platform
a
is
I had
College,
getting along
the entertainment
Krevolin ’B9 were
both living in New York City and
in from Japan to
doing well. Jenifer Hermes wrote
job
conducive
dition while at Vassar. David Hochmanhad an article
in the
issue of US looking at the scapegoating of
News has trickled in from various
years
was
135
Paul Bartlett ’Bl on
and he gave me news
Medical
so
use
entering married life, though he doesn’t say with
whom. Being new
to Philly, Steve would be interested
New York, NY 10027-6814
Katherine H. Lipsitz on
the difficulty she had coming to
Another summer
has come
and gone. By the time
read this, we’ll probably be wishing it was still
lyn,
enter
in
ery
into
W. Morgan Smith
15 Claremont Ave. #3l
by
(Considering how steamy
this July, maybe not!)
missing,
was
to
inaccuracies
After
and
Juliet Meyers
Berkeley PI.
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Spring and Fall
(Any slight
Whitney and Craig’s tale
card
years,
First the clippings from our
of Mademoiselle contained an
Winter and Summer
a
research assistant
the curator
of European painting
to
at the Art Institute of Chicago, and Craig’s putting his
column.
clippings.
[email protected]
California.
Whitney Templeton-Zodikoff and husband Craig
Zodikoff’9o have been in Chicago for a year and have
of it. Whitney’s working
enjoyed every minute
The Santa Barbara News Press reports that Sharon
Leslie Broadbent did indeed graduate from the Chi-
thanreunions
suggesting that there’ll be lots of births
I’m referring to the large number of
next
summer.
people who took the time to send in cards, letters, and
Luxemburg
month-long trip through Nepal and Bali, and
a
the New York Times on the Voting Rights Act.
Keep those cards and letters coming! Juliet and I
can’t keep the class informed without your help. Best
in
The June air
and I’m not
Rachel
home in
at
University of Denver Law School degree
a new
prime-time soap for Fox. He would
hearfrom Missy Burke, Barb Murphy, Emily
Kemp,
Steph
contact
Andrew Benkard reports that he’s “still
Columbia Business School and designing a deck of
cards on the side.” (The latest business tool, no
tarot
doubt!) And kudos to Jordan Moss for his op-ed piece
at
| .
to
to
withNoelle Boyle in
visit
a
writing for
love
for
ver
encouraged
are
working
as
a
New
landscape
industry for violence and debauch-
in America today. David is listed
with a couple of other stories
butions
to
as a staff
reporter
his credit and contri-
to
the New York Times.
Erica Rubin ’BB
appearSpeaking of the Times , three Vassar names
of record during the month of
ing in the newspaper
May were Pamela Johnstone, Timothy M. Ognisty
at
’BB, and Charles R. Cohen. Pam, a gallery assistant
Linda Hyman Fine Arts with
M.A. in art history
from Hunter College, and Timothy, a vice president
in the equity trading department at Goldman, Sachs,
teacher on
married on May 14- Charlie, science
were
was
producer of
SummerStage 1994 a
free concert series in
the
,
an
New York’s Central
a
Long Island, married Debra M. Dicker,
a vice
Park that
featured
music from Verdi to
Morphine
presi-
dent at Revista Aerea magazine, on the 29th.
Other wedding news
from Elaine Anderson
comes
Phillips, who’s working on her Ph.D. in English at
Vanderbilt, as is Philip Edward Phillips, her husband
.
ofabout
a year
as you read this. At a belatedreception
the happy couple celebrated with Rob Scott and
Debbie Nassif Pugsley. Elaine, who should be done
with her comps
by now, sends congratulations to
Cybele Fisher ’BB on her marriage and greetings to
Holly Pease, Emily Powell Resmer, and Ann Sison.
Mint Theater
Elaine also reports that she and Philip are “the proud
‘parents’ of a papillon (butterfly dog).” I’m not sure
what that is, but it sounds like something out of Lewis
ment
Carroll.
Quarterly. Danny Sarubin, D.D.S., who’s serving his
residency in hospital dentistry, says he enjoys catching up with the lives of people he doesn’tremember.
He does remember, and misses, Steph Vucovich ’9O
and sends warm
regards to Liz Brown and Greg
Virginia (Ginger) Pittman is also tying the knot.
Ginger’s back in Atlanta working on a Ph.D. in
psychology and doing practica at Emory and Georgia
Tech. Her husband-to-be is Duke andWharton alumDale Pistilli. The two
will be “doing the housenus
yard-dog thing and would love some of you Yankees to
visit.” Ginger sends greetings to Claudia, lan, Bobby,
Joey, and Aaronand Kate, congratulations to Nell on
her engagement, and expressed the hope that she’d
see Noelle, Bobby, and Erik in San Francisco in July.
The
City by the Bay is also Rachel Rivera’s destination.
Having graduated from Columbia University
with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, Rachel headed to
the Big Easy only to find it a bit on the hot andhumid
Life in
Young writes
Your
Company production
of The Time
of
New York City in May. And Lauren
from Seattle, where she is a develop-
officer at the Lakeside School.
There was another card this month from someone
who left Vassar early but stays in touch through the
Gillard ’BB. He also poses
the question, “Did my
James Gifford Rogers-Linn, really exist?”
roommate,
Yes, Danny, I believe he did.
Here in New York City I’ve seen
a number of
classmates. JessicaMorris, whose previouslyreported
dissertation is entitled “Lesbian Mental Health and
the Coming Out Process,” was in town for Stonewall
25 and
ran
into
a
number of other VC
International Dyke March.
I talked to Deborah Kerker
at
an
women
at
the
introductory
63
home at the
at the New York Vassar Club’s new
Williams Club and saw, but then lost in the crowd,
Caroline Johnston. The club’s really very nice, though
we’ll have to get them to put up a portrait of Matthew
Vassar. If you’re interested in club membership, including reciprocal arrangements at clubs around the
world, get in touch with the Vassar Club of New York
event
for
information.
I’ve also run into David Leistensnider a couple of
times
the streets
of Manhattan.Dave’s working for
on
a scholastic publisher as an editor of history textbooks
more
planning his upcoming wedding.
last quarter so it’s older
I missed including this news
than usual. Emily Tobias Shumsky reported on her
Oct. 1993 wedding attended by Lynne Stem Elkes,
and
Wayne, Arlene Cooke, Doric Simmonds,
Danielle O’Hare ’B7, and Professor David Schalkand
Lisa
she wrote,
Emily was
public policy to work in
be
She noted, “I’m proud to
Vassar
wife Elisabeth. At the time
looking to put her master’s in
the Boston area.
alumna. When I
a
Georgetown
at
was
I
...
was
not
impressed.”
I’m sorry
has been misinreport that someone
forming us about James (Jay) Powers. After checking
up on a particularly tall tale, I heardfrom Jay thatwhat
read here about him was “bogus.” It
to
you’ve previously
makes my job more
consuming if I have to vet
be honest.
to
what you tell me, so I rely on everyone
I’d like to use
last few words this quarter to
my
Erica Ruben ’BB, the producer of
time
recognize
Summer Stage 1994, a free concert
series
in Central
Park featuring a multiflavored collection of music
ranging from Verdi to Morphine, and Queen Ida to
the Toasters. I’m
sure
I wasn’t the only alum who
weekend afternoons this sum-
sweltering
cheering the shows Erica
spent
mer
some
put
together.
M.A. in English lit in hand. (If I don’t get it then,
I’ll officially get it in December.) Now I’m headingfor
Lawn Geyeland and SUNY Stony Brook’s Ph.D.
my
program.” Jennifer Gauthier left her position at
Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, to work in
for the Whitney
public relations and special events
Museum in Stamford, CT.
that she married her high
Tanya Johnson writes
school sweetheart at a wedding attended by Dave
Hinchman, Mike Solomon, and Lisa Kulhanek ’9l.
Janie Weigandt ’B9 was the maid of honor, and Ina
Slater was a bridesmaid. The new
Mrs. Mickler and
her husband honeymooned in Venezuala. Tanya,
who is pursuing her Ph.D. in clinical psych, wonders
Jennifer Cutler and Carolyn Matzger are. Speaking of weddings, Carrie Schadle had already been to
ho w
three VC weddings
Carrie is working at
left.
and had one
more
Harlem library and plugging
by July
a
her M.L.S. She’s looking forward to reunion
and asks, “Has anyone
mentioned that Paul Freitas
at
away
and Karen Purtell ’B9 are engaged?”
Jim Palmer is apparently after my job! The following is a slightly edited mini-column he sent me. Jim
reports: “HannahSchneewind is already teaching on
teaching
at
guage
and presented her methods in whole lanColumbia this summer.
at
a conference
of us how to live, though, Francine
rest
Teaching
Lipton is doing her final coursework for her M.B.A. in
Rome for six weeks. Chris White participated in this
classroom exercise
by joining her in Sicily for a while.
“Nuptials
married
#1: Lisa
VC
at
on
and Kyle Moss were
Liz Addison and Julie
Penley
June 9.
Smith
stayed with me during the festivities. Afterward, Julie returned to Baltimore, where she moved
after living in N.Y.C. Liz is through with lawschool
UT Austin, I think.
“Laurie Martinka stayed with
135
Temple
St.
Founder’sDay was down. I did see Heidi Segal, Ruth
Manfredi, and Claude Meyer, though. Heidi and
Italian to
intensive
prepare
month in Florence
taking
for the academic
year,
whichhe is spending in Spain and Italy doing dissertation
research. Upon graduating from University of
College of Medicine, Larissa Meyer is in
residency in family practice in Monroeville, PA (just
outside Pittsburgh). MountSinai School of Medicine
(N.Y.C.) grad Christine Horowitz started her residency in pediatrics at Dayton Children’s Medical
Center and Wright-Patterson Air Force Medical CenArizona
Ohio. She says hello to Dan Choi ’B7, Christine
Yu Moutier, Raquel Apodaca ’9l, Pam Sexton, and
Doug Harris.
Heather Fox is living in Oakland, CA, with her
dog, Eli, and obtaining a joint M.S.W./M.P.H. (foci in
health and community healtheducation,
respectively)
She spent the summer
at UC Berkeley.
as a hospital
social worker,and sees Kelly Allgaier often. Heather
ter
in
has also started
learning guitar.
She says hello
to
Gary
Lubow ’B9, Justine Barda ’9l, Judith Holiher, Jodi
Sandf ort, Michele Miller,Danista Hunte,JenBruck-
Goldman, and Kim Glickman. Kim, meanwhile, is
living happily in Rhinebeck,NY. She graduated from
NYU School of Social Work with her M.S.W. and
works at Poughkeepsie’s Astor Child Guidance Clinic
providing therapy
to
children ages
4-18 and their
families.
to
a three-year degree in
acupuncture and oriental medicine. She sends regards to Hilary Strilko and
Marguerite Grable. As one Vassar grad leaves D.C.,
another arrives:
Jon Dauphine is studying to take the
bar after graduating from Harvard Law and
pursue
relocating
to
D.C.
on
reunion
weird
to
join Swidler & Berlin
as
an
associate.
Jon
misses
Boston University Ph.D. candidate David
He spent a summer
weekend on Cape Cod
with
Nancy Bagot ’B9 and Maura Heffner, and visited L. A., where he
with
Moore ’9l, who
Brody.
stayed
Daisy
pursuing her master’s in journalism at USC, and
Nancy Wolfson, who is working in the entertainment
industry. Jon hoped to see Drew McLeod, who
is pursuing his Ph.D. in clinical
psychology in Chiin August.
cago,
More relocations: Jennifer Frangos writes:
“I’ll be
shuffling out of Buffalo come August, hopefully with
is
64 VQ WINTER
1994
to
were
on
campus
for
a
training session
earlier in May. It
seeing classmates among
planning
start
was
incredibly
the particiin
work with women
where I usually
pants in sessions
the classes of the ’sos and early ’6os. Poor Amy
Gardiner was having an alumnae/i meltdown for the
thatweekend. She, however, is fleeing to
same
reason
grad
at
was
the artisans
among
the Dutchess
and Crafts Festival/Balloon Race
in
County
Arts
May.
position
the
Renee Hill left her staff assistant
at
World Bank to attend the Summer Institute of Linguistics, Dallas, TX, and the University of Texas,
Arlington, to begin study in linguistics for preparation
a
as
Bible translator with Wycliffe Bible Transla-
to
Wycliffe sends it missionaries
people whose
been recorded. Renee will help
language has never
the alphabet and assist in literacy trainingand
create
tors.
the eventual translation of the Bible into
their lanShe has heard from Paul Hebert, Olga Acosta,
guage.
Dawn Cohen, Danista Hunte, and Ray East ’9l, and
be in touch with Vicki Thomas ’9l. Renee
in Africa and wants
to hear from all her
hopes
to
wants
to serve
friends before her anticipated Aug. 1995
because she misses all of you!
at
departure
Baynard Bailey finished an enlightening five weeks
the Omega Institute working on inducing out-of
body experiences (OOBEs) before leaving
teach English through the JET program.
to
for
Japan
He’s
“excited to be back on the adventure horse” and
welcomes letters. Mail sent to him c/o AAVC will be
forwarded.
Finally, from first-time writer Natalie Keng: “Even
though I’ve been a Class Notes dud, I’ve been an
school in Texas this fall.”
(I don’t know nuthin’ about it!), then moved to
Niceville, EL (motto: Nice town; Nice folks; Have a
nice
time), to join Lloyd Gamble ’B9 (significant
other for over six years), who is rising predawn to track
red-cockaded woodpeckers; getting ready to move
to
Boston
to
attend
public policy
at
Kennedy School of Government in
Harvard in the fall. Hellos to Rob
D’Emilio, Rachel Algenio, and Rhea Hsu.”
Hope you all enjoy the holidays. . . Happy 1995!
Don’t forget—reunion is just around the corner
. . .
J im continues, “I was really proud to receive Larissa
from med school.
Meyer’s graduation announcement
in
Riss was
on
campus
February while looking at
residency programs.
“Nuptial#! is Hilary Hageman’s wedding to David
Wulf in Connecticut in early October. She and Dave
both practice law in the legal epicenter of D.C.
“Another of our class’s Hilarys—Hilairy Hartnett
this time—phoned not too long ago to tell me of her
great misfortune. Hilairy had to spend a month this
it’s
summer
on
a ship in the North Pacific.
OK,
what oceanographers do, and the Pacific is
chilly, but
landlocked me it sounds pretty idyllic!
to
in Po’town, where
“Me, I’m still plugging away
work is going well. I feel sometimes
like I’m slowly
of Betty Daniels ’41
becoming a young version
Vassar’s historian—and am racking up years of ‘instiso
’91
tutional memory.’ It’s
an
VC, though, and it’s nice
about the
place
as
an
exciting
time
to
be back
at
have a realistic perspecinstitution—especially for
to
Neil E. Jaffe 111
1549 N. Orleans #3
Chicago, IL 60610
312/587-FIRE
When told
be fruitful and
multiply, Harsh Gupta
July 1993, Harsh has been
working for himself, manufacturing components for
Xerox Corporation affiliate in India. Harsh hopes to
expand his business to something substantial in the
three years—but perhaps he’s closer to
next
two
to
took it
to
literally.
Since
a
world domination than he thinks, as it is
a
cruel and
Harsh world.
Although
—
tive
Julie Merrill left Washington,DC, for Santa Fe
Jeweler Abra Rothberg
displaying their wares
worked as an aide with the Atlantic City Council
until my councilman was indicted on bribery charges
Kristin Krase
a
laboratory,
rescue
work, and planning for grad
I noticed, however, that ’9O attendance at
>
Michael Levin spent
Columbia Medical School research
the neural control of movement.
She’s doing incredible things as a Montessori
teacher in New Jersey, as well as playing in bands,
school.
So much news!
a
studying
VC alum: I was founder and chair ofAPAVC
(Asian Alumnae/i of VC), 1990-92. We will be
celebrating our third conference in Nov. 1994- Please
join us/become a member! We need your support! I
doing emergency
Harrison, NY 10528
914/835-2099
at
active
for Founder’s
me
Day.
’90
somewhere in the Caribbean! “Hi” to
Wendy
Rasmussen ’9l, ChristineKolars, andKirsten Gantzel
from Liz.
Tony Hacking lives in Carroll Gardens and works
the
at
Michele Camardella
for the GAO in San Francisco, and Diana Garcia,
be lost
to
who left her job in Boston and appears
the world
Harsh may
be
a
few years
from
having
string, Wendy (Bubba) Bethel and
Julia Kyles ’9O have a few fish on a string. This
the two
of them “have finally found our
summer,
on
a
niche with the fish.
Julia caught fish
and
was
the
one
such rose-colored glasses.
It’s good
and all, Vassar
say that, warts
an
education.”
truly is a remarkable place to receive
the column over
Whew, maybe I’ll just turn
to Jim
else’s fish off the hook. I myself
who took everyone
read pretentious Generation X
type books and occa-
permanently!
Okay. Here’s the rest
Julia are
someone
who always
be able to
to
wore
of my column... Liz Shick
received her Master of International Affairs from
Columbia and is working in The Gambia, West Africa for a year.
While in N.Y.C., Liz spent time with
former district attorney’s office employee Dede Hill,
in law school; Evie Klein, who works at the
now
American Federation of Arts; NYUGraduate School
of Film grad Heather White,
living on an island in
Maine and making her own
documentaries; Marc
Perry ’B9, working with BlackSide in Boston after
leaving the “McNeil-Lehrer News Hour”; and Jennifer Carlin,
pursuing her clinical psychology Ph.D. at
NYU. Liz keeps in touch with Sue Kramer,
working
sionally sipped
out
soon,
a
Snapple.” Look
for their new
novel
Women Who Run with the Fishes. Wendy and
happy on Lake Monroe in Indiana and
very
in
their return
address refer
Vassar Bag Ladies.
From Bags
to
to
themselves
as
the
Riches: Emilie McDonald is in Los
Angeles pursuing acting and is also art modeling for
Walt Disney Imagineering. I'm not
what art
sure
modeling for Walt Disney entails, but Emilie assures
it is not
me
Mickey Mouse.
each other are Adam Mizock and
Goofy over
Lauran Stepsis, who
engaged to be married in the
of 1995. Lauran will be completing her presummer
med, postbaccalaureate studies, while Adam starts
grad school at the Pels Center of Government at the
University of Pennsylvania in the fall. Adam and
are
Lauran were
looking forward to being near everyone
for the first time
since graduation when they returned
to
Philadelphia in the fall.
Also
engaged is Meghan Williams, who recently
got engaged to be married to her best buddy, Kevin.
Perhaps the above-mentioned couples willwant to
contact
Lewis Meyer, who could probably help them
fashion some
unique wedding rings. Lewis is
nance
a
master’s in aeronautics
Stanford U. Con-
at
gratulations to Claire Hebner on the birth ofher son,
Aiden Huckleberry Hebner. Claire will begin her
third year of medical school at the U. of Washington.
She writes
thatshe misses
Liz Haberfeld. U of Massachusetts medical student Jeremiah Frank recently
Museum in
at
soul,” and recently took fifth
of the New
Jersey ChampionCharlie Kim is pursuing a Ph.D. in French at
NYU and was to be an assistant professor there this
the NationalOrnamental Metal
Memphis,
exhibits, constructing
props,
mounts,
It’s coming
while he
If you
a
at
on
Lewis
see
working
up
a
sweat
Chicago
Press in
move
,
February 4,
1995.
Be there
.
fine and good with
job at the University of
book publishing—“ Which I hated.
seemed logical to become a professor and literally
spend the rest of my life in school (saying things like
at
‘ergo’). So, I started at
Princeton in the fall of’92 and
am
getting my Ph.D. in English. This will be the
beginning of my third year—l’m teaching the Victorian
novel to undergrads and working on my dissertation.
It’s a busy and full life, and I’m very happy. Plus,
Dartmouth, and Laura
Benjamins, who willbe going to Wayne State Medical School in Detroit, MI, starting Aug. 8. She says
hello to her TA-44 roommates
and anyone
else she
I get simply months of vacation!”
Also thrilled to be a student again is Francesa
Gutierrez, who is pursuing her master’s in business at
the University of California at Berkeley, which she
Amy Wilensky, who has been working at a division ofLittle, Brown Publishing
Company in Boston,
will be studying writing at Columbia University this
“a
magnified
SUNYHealth Science Center in Brooklyn. Other
doctors-to-be include Deus Cielo, who is in his third
graduated from SMU
with an M.F.A. in stage design. He moved back to
N.Y.C. and has begun an internship as assistant
lighting designer at the New York City Opera and the New
If
Russian
York City Ballet.
Kenneth ever has any
ballet troupes in town,
he might want
call on
to
Jennifer Gargiulo, who recently received her M.A.
of medical school
year
has
at
touched base with in
not
a
while:
“I miss
you
all!”
fall.
of Vassar,
version
western
Condolences
Rosalia Padilla, who writes
to
her brother, Efrain,
passed
currently working
an
as
that
February. She is
investigator in the Neighboraway
in
hood Defender’s Office and says that she looks forward to our class reunion.
Speaking of reunions, Ken Storer informs us that
(with distinction) in international relations from
Boston University. And, should any of those Russian
ballet
is
injure themselves, perhaps Paul Frank
could be of assistance.
Paul just finished his second
of medical school and passed his state boards.
year
Well,gang, that’s all the news
that’s fit to print,or
at least all the news
that fits. For our next column, we
list, and we need your
will be compiling a top ten
suggestions. The topic: The Top Ten Things People
Say When Told You Graduated from Vassar. Send
your
fictional and true-life
responses
will receive
office in Chicago. The winners
in
addition to
their
having
published
Love,
your
in
this column. As always,
class
’92
names
to
the home
cash prizes
and responses
respond or die.
correspondent.
Odom
36 W. 90th St. #3-B
Tanya
New York, NY 10024
212/873-7018
Winter and Summer
and
and a half ago,
dealer working
year
experienced
sino
to
pursue
in
a career
in Reno!” He is about to
City Gen Art
of gradu-
I have since
become
Circus, Circus Ca-
at
travel across
the country
help train Native Americans to work in the gambling industry. He writes thathe believes that “it will
be rewarding helping Native Americans
gain badly
needed revenues
for tribal development.”
Mary Green writes that she will be beginning her
final year at George Mason University School of Law
in Arlington, VA. She said that at the end ofJune she
to
able to travel to Scotland
was
Heather Ann
of postgraduate
year
to
herformer TA-
visit
Thompson, who is in her third
study at the School of Ancient
History, University of St.Andrews. She recommends
traveling with a classicist—“on-the-spot- Latin translations are handy at museums
and medieval castles!”
They spent memorable fourth of July at the American
Cemetery of Normandy. She writes that she is in
her element at George Mason Law, which “boasts two
borked Republican
the
on
Supreme Court nominees
faculty ... right-wing bias in the classroom is refresha
ing.”
And
finally,
AAVC has
at
summer
Enrique’s apprenticeship
at
sent
me
a
of
copy
a
press
that talks about Woody
the Powerhouse Theater
Vassar and New York Stage and Film.
That’s all for now
... keep writing—or, for
of
most
debate organized by Jeff Dupre. From the West Coast
we
have news
of Joanna Pearlstein, who works with
Paul Devine ’9l at Macworld magazine in San Fran-
you—START writing. Thanks must go out to Joanna
Pearlstein, John Hunt, Cindy Lee, and Ritta
McLaughlin for theirhelp in gathering information
She says that she runs
into
a few Vassarites on
the Internet. Joanna is living with Meredith Steiner,
who hates temping and is searching for other work.
for this column!
cisco.
Meredith is
currently volunteering with ShantiProj ect,
AIDS service
organization.
Ritta McLaughlin is finishing up her master’s in
urban policy and management at the New School for
Social Research in New York City. Ritta has recently
an
been selected to serve
as a fellow in the Women in
Public Policy Program in SUN Y-Albany. KC Corbett
was
planning to enter U. Pennsylvania law school in
the fall. Hyun Chin Kim is going into her third year
of law school at
Temple
U. in
Philadelphia and spent
908/422/0643
Spring and Fall
pology
smiling, begging, and cajoling:
Chad Jennings reports that he is finishing his
second year
of teaching at Andover and hopes to
receive
a Department of Defense Scholarship to fiof
a
He is also studying for his series 7 exam.
We also received word of a New York
Other graduate school attendees include Cindy
Lee, who has begun her second year studying anthro-
help!
an
school
release from the
1102 Sweet Briar Ct.
Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852
press
the fall
Joel Rowland writes, “Having droppedout
ate
classmate and former TA-mate Sarah
Lichtman, and he works for a small Wall Street firm.
Vanessa Pardo
Please send in current
information! At
of the following
time, I had received some
submissions, and other contributions were the results
your
living with
this past summer
working
office in Philadelphia.
ofthe four columns
two
Hi! I have been asked to write
for our class—and I have gladly agreed—BUT, I need
in
beautiful. She saw David Bains ’93 and
island by haggling with vendors,
riding
the buses, etc.
She admits that she did not
want
to
leave.
mate
he keeps in touch with many Vassar alums including
Jen Siegel, Robin McCoy, Lawrence Pacheco (whom
some
of you saw in the pages of the New York Times
not
too
long ago), Suzi Hamill, Joanna Oilman,Jen
Krasinski, Lisa Dabney ’B9, and Ryan Hart ’9l. Ken
stars
Angeles
wedding was
enjoyed the
was
visited Claire in Seattle and then traveled to San
Francisco to see Robin Cooper.
Karlene Ross writes
in that she is in medical school
as:
Los
in that she recently visited
Virginia Smith writes
the Dominican Republic to see Darys Estrella and
Andy Wilson get married. She writes that the island
the people were
was
wonderful, and the
gorgeous,
Party for the ’9os
while welding
but without the Mug.”
Kenneth Schutz recently
to
film/TV. She willbe living with Nunzio DeFilippis ’9l
and Brian Donnelly ’94- InNovember she was to fly to
Michigan to be a bridesmaid in the wedding of Jennifer Cook ’93. She writes
that Boston has become
lonely since Katrina Holmberg moved to Portland,
City Chicago,
Man, the office life is not for me—and I had the boss
from hell. So, I decided pretty quickly that I belonged
back in school—and for as long as possible! Ergo, it
describes
the Children’s
OR.
to direct
the gatework of a cathedral, you might want
him to the church well. Speaking of which, we hear
from Sarah Churchwell. All
dear, sweet
Sarah, who had a
is currently working at
Workshop in New York.
Christina Weir, who received her M.A. in TV
in May from Emerson College, planned to
901/774-6380
still affordable.
is
Television
San Francisco, & Austin
his own.
So, for all you lucky
there who have iron gatework in
call
or
production
New York
on
out
property owners
dire need of repair, give Lewis
respect to body
in the first race
fall, and Ray Kim
.
To:
cases,
and crates,
and overseeing evening ground events.
After Lewis completes this two-year internship, he
will have the basic knowledge to start
seeking architectural commissions
living in Portland, OR, and
New York. He keeps in touch with Cindy Lee and
MikeBratter . He continues to mountain
bike “without
TN. In addition to working on
Lewis’s responsibilispecial projects for the museum,
ties
include conducting metalsmithing demonstrations
for visitors, conducting tours
of exhibitions for
groups,
designing and installing permanent and temporary
Dennis O’Brien.
Kenan Ginsberg is
place
ships.
a
metalsmith intern
with Marc Antezana, Tony Yanez, Stuart SclaterBooth, Allen Weinstein, Courtney Tedrowe, and
at
the district attorney’s
at Columbia U. Cindy spent the summer
as an
intern with Asian Americans for Equality in
Chinatown. (Cindy sends a “hello” to Brian Nishii ’93
and Peggy Cheng ’93 from her cousin
and his wife.)
After spending a year
teaching English in Japan,
and
to the NYU French lit program
John Hunt went
is
preparing for his master’s exam.
John recently
returned from Atlanta, where he visited John
Gutierrez and his wife, Nyria, who are planning to
move
back
keeps
in
to
New York
touch with many
recently enjoyed
a
pretty
City soon.
John Hunt also
of his old TH-mates and
pricey, wine-filled evening
’93
Jong
Soo Kim
206 W. 38th St. #222
Austin, TX 78705
512/453-0887
Happy Holidays, everyone! Please join
me
in
con-
gratulating our latest bride— Allison Scardino. On
Aug. 7, 1994, Allison married Nathan Belzer in Savannah, GA. Bridesmaids were Genie Chough and
Dorothy Royle. Best wishes to you in the future.
I received a postcard from Kate Buckner, who,
along with NinaEdwards, completed Sotheby’s yearin London. Despite the
long Works of Art course
of her studies, Kate enjoyed her experigorous nature
much that she is staying for another year;
so
“I’ve learned so much as well as meeting a lot of new
and interesting people. London is a lot of fun, and it’s
rest
of the
great being in such close proximity to the
U.K. and Europe.” She is currently enrolled in the art
rience
history
master’s program
at
the U. of London.- Kate
also reports that Merrill Falkenberg (another art
history major extraordinaire) is pursuing a Ph.D. in
American art at Stanford U.
I received quite a few notes
from, class members
who have recentlybeen awarded various
scholarships
and grants. Sherri Godlin reports thather research in
65
received
physics
space
funding through
prestigious
a
NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program Grant.
She continues to study for a Ph.D. in astronomy at
Boston U.
Erin Lehane is the recent
recipient of a Presiden-
tial Scholarship to Boston Law School. As an
undergraduate, Erin spent considerable time engaged
in oceanographic research,
this award enables her
so
to
her interest
pursue
law.
in maritime
Hey, did you ever wonder what happened to
David Paul? I saw him at Founder’s Day, and we had
chat. He believes that he is finally settling
a nice
down: “After a year in which I took a few science
classes at U. of Penn and put 40,000 miles on my car,
U. of Texas at Austin Law
don’t send your
letters to my previous
address in N.Y.C. Feel free to drop me a line if you
Austin and need a place to stay. As Kat
want
to visit
in the shade
Mills
stated, “It’s 100
currently attending the
School,
so
eloquently
degrees
and the music is everywhere. Texas is a great big land
of opportunity. So I want
to stick up for that and say
a
place to
great, affordable, laid-back, and warm
be! And the Butthole Surfers are from here—what
do you want?” Write me!
more
it’s
’94
4545 Connecticut Ave. NW #914
Washington, DC 20008
202/363-8769
Hello, class of ’94! August came
not
research technician
at
Mt. Sinai Medical
research technician
Center. Jennifer also works as a
and is employed at the New York Hospital-Cornell
Medical Center. She lives with Doug Hand ’92 and
plans
to
an
pursue
M.D.-Ph.D. at McGill U. Jennifer
time
with
Ceccarelli,
enjoys spending her free
Tanya
Elise
Billings, and Nikki Rabidou ’92.
Did anyone
see Anna Grace’s photograph in the
New York Times “Arts and Leisure” section? This past
Anna appeared in The Group, one of three
summer,
one-acts
by Sarah Schulman that was presented by
the Three Dollar Bill Theater in N.Y.C.
If you were
wondering about the Vassar
in
crew
foot
and went,
and I did
Vassar’s campus.
It was pretty strange
not
returningto school, but from what I can tell, most
of us have plenty to keep us busy. I hope everyone had
and that the first fall semester
of
out
a great summer
set
on
Vassar is treating you
from people, so please
well. I didn’t get many
cards
the cards in the Quarterly to
use
let me know what is going
classmates. Feel free to contact
with you
on
me
Karen Schmeelk began Penn State’s behavioral
this fall after selling ice cream
all
health program
Lisa Giovannini Turturro was married to
summer.
Bill Turturro on June 25,1994, and is living in El Paso.
In attendance
were
Alison
Emery, maid
of honor,
at
U. ofTexas
in
my
hometown. I received
a
detailed letter from
five in Chile. Using my
Vassar procrastination skills, I’ve deferred!”
Katrina Halloran continues
to wander about the
world and sends endearing thoughts to her former
Dylan Carson, who began law school at Suffolk
Judson Pierce this fall. Dylan spent a lot of time
housemates: “Love, hugs (and a good ‘pants’-ing!) to
TA 25ers David, Josh, and Jamie-Babes.” Katie, you’re
Jon Bailly, who
making
us
a
dope
nine
to
imaginations run
our
wild because the
of
rest
idea what a “pants-ing” is about?!
And for those of you who are still living at
have
no
home
and are dying to get out, you may want
ask Laurie
to
Eccard for some suggestions. She informs me that she
has finally flown the coop and has made the bold and
brave move
to
Tucson, AZ. Having spent an entire
working at
Dylan
is
in Boston. He ran
at
living
into
Jon
New York law firm, as was
with Austen Barron, who is
a
Random House.
also ran
into
Ethan Reece, Bennett
Graebner, and Steve Neu. Josh Lazar is teaching
Japan, Jim Leu is in Taiwan, and Sivan Nasoff is
in
in
Gabon with the Peace Corps. We have quite an
international contingent. Sam Yan is teaching in
Japan, Jennifer Jeffreys is teaching in the Philippines, and Mary Liao is teaching in Taiwan.
There are many people living and working in the
New York area, including Elaine Hutchins, who is
working for a commodities firm that enables Russians
make candy! Also in New York are Nicole Paoli,
to
less, she loves her “liberal-artsy” job as a research
assistant
and editor for a textbook development comherselfwith the art
to engage
pany.
Angela continues
who is studying at Bank Street, Felicia Liss, and
Darcy Katzin, who is working as a paralegal. And Liz
Philips, Janine O’Neill, Damon Ross, who works at
of storytelling and
Nickelodeon, and Michael Fanuele, who was managing a congressional campaign last I heard. More New
Yorkers are Eddie Gamarra, who is at NYU Film
School, Adam Pockriss, Patricia Bobadilla, Gracielle
Dejesus, who is a researcher at Columbia U., Alice
Lane, and April Thompson. Marina Myre is at
Rutgers studying criminology, Greg Oswana is working at Debit and Touche in N.Y.C., and Michael
at
home, she looks forward to living on her
Vassar alums this summer
Cole, who was working
with
with
the Windy
to
visit or move
City, please get in touch with Angela Bowman. She
is dismayed that the city lacks Vassar grads. Nonethe-
year
If anyone
happens
own.
to
spends
her free moments
with Leif
Tellmann ’92 and Drew McLeod ’9O.
Rowena Bowman writes
from Ann Arbor, MI,
thatshe has acquired a “hot” position in the corporate
headquarters ofthe bookstore chain Borders, Inc. She
teaching an archaeology class to
spent her summer
children at a local science
museum.
Finally, I received a thoughtful letter from our
musically gifted Austin connection, Kat Mills. She
is living happily with a beloved
punk rock singer and
her kitty, Venus. Kat focuses her energieson her fulltime
position as the office manager/assistant editor/
layout creator/person Friday/you-name-it for Texas
Iron Motorcycle
Magazine: “Yeah,it’s a Harley rag, but
with a great deal of taste! It’s actually the only Harley
magazine in the country for the whole family'—no
nudity or profanity—and it focuses mainly on the
charity work, great races, and shows that bikers are
involved in.” She reports that Kenny Davis, Jon
Rappaport, and Erin Weinberg are living in a fresh
bachelor/bachelorette condo in South Austin. She
also tells us that the esteemed class of ’93 band, Sick
Little Monkey (currently manned
by John Steiner,
James “Snake” Chapin ’94, and Andy Robbins ’92), is
of the hottest bands in Austin.
one
Andy informs me
that he, Kenny, Jon, Erin, and Jenn Tench want
to
maintain
undisclosed addresses in
an
effort
to
stay
one
ahead of the Vassar Annual Fund mailings.
However, he did reveal that they are all working
together to develop a children’s television show,
“Waxahachie Station,” to be aired in thefall of 1995.
step
Well,
that’s all the
66 VQ WINTER
1994
news
I have
right
now.
I’m
for
a
job
and
am
now
Tancinco is in Buffalo.
Rob Seixas is at BU law school. Ben Mattison’95
reports that Diana McFarland is student-teaching in
Poughkeepsie and that Debbie Goldman is at Tufts
Medical School.
Griffith is near
Vassar
Bronwyn
working at Wilderstein, and
Vassar working as AAVC’s
recent
classes. There is
a crew
Bronwen Pardes is
at
director for
of people in California,
new
asst,
including Jane Alexander, who is at USCfor occupational therapy. Laura McCarthy is living with Margo
Cam in San Francisco; they tell me that they graduated from bartending school this summer,
a degree
that might get them further than their Vassar B.A.
Anna Arnedt, Heather Reisz, Steven
Mangle, and
Hannah Koopman are living together in San Francisco also. Steven moved there after a brief
in
layover
Washington,
DC. Hannah is
a
Shaw is in U. of Louisville’s law school. Georgia
Zombolas is doing well after a relaxing summer
in
Chicago.
Kaori
Yokoyama
is at
U. of Chicago’s pro-
in international economics.
gram
I
more
hope
everyone
of you
soon.
is doing well. I hope to hear from
Good luck and keep in touch!
and fellow
U., and Alex Manugian is at CalArts. Cory Lippiello
and Amy Smith traveledaround the country together
this summer
and had an extended stay in Graceland,
Austin or
looking
directly, too.
research in Santiago. She reports that Wendy Raney
and Tara Sullivan continue
to reside and work in
at
summer
Also in Philly is Gabrielle Tenaglia,
wonderful trip to Italy this summer.
Penny
Simmons is working in Boston on First Night. Amber
who had
Jennifer Kroh, and a few members of the class of’9s.
Columbia
at
Amy Brienes is in the drama program
open-minded:
I spent the
respectively.
South America, I received a note from Kris Salen,
who was
in the process
of wrapping up her Fulbright
Chile. As for her future, Kris remains
“I’m choosing between a Ph.D. program
this summer
working on Middle East issues, and
Sebastian Bacchus interned on the Hill this summer.
Jung Yun and Mario San Martin are living the
married life in Philadelphia while attending graduschool at the U. of Pennsylvania and Rutgers,
ate
Sujata Tejwani
works
a
mer
interning in D.C., and Daryl Dyer worked at the
Urban Institute. Andrew Fishman is working at the
Labor Department, John MacDonald is studying criminology at theU. of Mary land, Priya Lothe was in D.C.
working at Senator Barbara Boxer’s office with Matt
Kagan ’92.
I am starting medical school in Biddeford, ME, at the
U. of New England.”
Other grads in the medical field include Patrisha
Woolard and Jennifer Bogdany. Patrisha currently
as
NAS A. Alison Hinchmanis working attheNational
Trust for Historic Preservation in the public policy
department, Melissa Morgenlander spent the sum-
working
at
a
small film
company.
Here in Washington, DC, I have run
into
many
Vassar alums, from every
Nikhil Dehejia is
year.
working at a small environmental law firm in D.C.,
Jennifer Haas spent the summer
working at a human
rights organization, Dave Howard is working as a
financial analyst, and Jenny Hopkins is working at
IN MEMORIAM
1915
1917
M. Dinsmore Patrick Conant Dec. 15, 1989
Carolyn Holbrook Hill
July 22, 1994
Feb., 1983
June 1, 1994
1920
Sept. 2, 1994
1920
Mar. 6, 1994
Isabel McConway Siebert
1920
Cornelia Springer
July 9, 1994
1921
Mercy Pegram Buck
unknown
1921
Carolyn Bailey Field
Sept. 1, 1994
1921
Charlotte Ball Geilen
June 27, 1993
1922
Mary Gaston Cornell
Sept. 10, 1994
1922
Josephine Hutton Douglas
Aug. 12, 1994
1922
Helen Bishoff Price
Sept. 14, 1994
Elizabeth Wales McLain
1924
July 9, 1994
1924 Louise Hayford Wolfenden
Sept. 3, 1994
1925
Susan Plummer
July 31,1994
1925
Elizabeth Coggeshall West
June 13, 1994
1925
Helen Rogers Wyman
June 27, 1994
1926
Nov., 1993
Mary Van Duyn Hill
1926 Keturah Robinson Nichols
Sept. 3, 1994
1927 Emily Floyd Gardiner
July 13, 1994
1928 Constance Woodworth Goss Aug. 27, 1994
1928
Elizabeth Tuttle Ritchey
Aug. 27, 1994
1929 Katharine Horack Dixon
Aug. 13, 1994
1929 Alice Heald Updike
Aug. 7, 1994
1930
Helen Spencer Cha the Id
May 7, 1994
1930 Madeline Verriere Muscanto Oct. 17, 1993
1930 Elizabeth McLaren Stovel
July 18, 1994
1931
Joanna Jennings Hadden
unknown
Edith Dalzell Wile
1932
Aug. 1, 1994
1933
Dec. 12, 1990
Elspeth Hill Coghill
1933
Marion Tobey Humphrey
May 24, 1994
1935
Dec. 24, 1993
Virginia Wilson Rulon
1935
Esther Vanamee Griffin
Aug. 12, 1994
1936 Elizabeth Hanavan Hube
Sept. 11, 1994
1936 Rose Collier Miller
Sept. 4, 1994
1936
Jean Smithers Moister
Sept. 29, 1994
1936 Lois Palmer Wallace
July 28, 1994
1938 Ruth Weiss Mandelbaum
Jan., 1994
1938 Alice Garrett Phillips
Feb. 26, 1994
1941 Martha Wellington
Aug. 4, 1994
1942 Elizabeth Gorham Clement Aug. 13, 1994
1943
Merrill
Nancy
Bailey
May, 1994
1945-4 Marjorie Ferguson Anderson Sept. 15, 1994
1945 Ann Chamberlain Birge
June 19, 1994
1945 Anne FreemanTurpin
Aug. 18, 1994
1946 Nancy Nichols Barker
Mar. 30, 1994
1948 Mary Betty Stevens
Sept. 13, 1994
Feb. 13, 1994
1949 Ann Kingman Curtis
1950 William J. McCord
May 14, 1994
1952
Agnes Mastrangelo Griesar
Aug. 14, 1994
1952
Nancy Hadzinoff Sheldon
July 15, 1994
1962
Ellen Roth Reisman
Aug. 22, 1994
1967
Christina Faulkner Mills
July 18, 1993
1969
Minia Rose
Nov., 1988
1980 Irene Goodale Perkins
Aug. 17, 1994
1988
Alice Felarca
July 26, 1994
1919
1919
Dorothy Morgenthau Eaton
Helen Ball Robinson
Mildred McAfee Horton
LETTERS
Quarterly welcomes letters to the
editor, preferably typed, doublespaced,
and no longer than 350 words.
Another Reaffirmation of
different career
Wimpfheimer Nursery School
very beautiful part of the world and found
Publication will be
reserve
the right
to
as
space permits. We
for style and
edit letters
length. Letters reflect the opinions of the
writers and not those of the magazine,
AAVC,
or
Vassar College. To be
for publication,
include a
current
letters
must
address.
be
eligible
signed and
interest I read the article “All I
most
ended up in this
a
world-renowned
The
With
paths before I
Needed to Know aboutKindergarten I Learned
at the WimpfheimerNursery School,” byKaren
Dahlberg VanderVen ’59 in-your summer
scientific-technical/environmental publisher just a few milesfrom the
beach! Eve been happy to be editing and
producing erudite books by day and developing
my inner beach bum after hours.
mainly because of my experience in discovering at the Wimpfheimer Nursery School the
largely to my somewhat belated
education, I not only learned to enjoy
learning, but also to appreciate the many
pathways and places whereI can continue to
educate myself and hone my appreciation of
best of what the field has
life.
issue. I too
student
learned much there while 1
Vassar. As the author
at
became
career
early
was
did,
a
my
childhood education
to
offer.
The strong stand taken in
Thanks
Vassar
advocating for
children
through quality programs was
ticulated clearly in the article. Vassar
Mary Kugler ’7B
Managing Editor
ar-
de-
CRC Press/Lewis Publishers
the credit for setting an educational
where
child development is taken seristage
ously. I hope the college continues to offer
Boca Raton, Florida
serves
students the
Professor
opportunities
same
VanderVen and I had. The principles
taught
there, based on sound theory and practical
application, are crucially needed if our children are to stand a chance in today’s complex
world.
The nursery school is certainly
where young children
place
a
have
a
living laboratory
for those
adults who have been fortunate enough
educated there. We learnedhow
a
in their
supportive, appropriate beginning
education. It is
than
more
can
to
be
stand up
for all children in the real world. We need
people
more
who
can
do the
to
same.
Pearl Waxman ’72
Res ton,
Virginia
Wanted: Bronsons, Brownsons,
and Brunsons
Researching all Bronson/Brownson/Brunson
graduates andfamilies, in the hopes of adding
information to the family history. Compilation of an
extensive Bronson genealogy is
underway, withexpectations that within the
next
couple of years nearly anyone of the
of their parents or
name
knowing the name
will
be
able
learn of their
to
grandparents
history. We now have a collection of statistics, documents, photos, stories, etc. on over
and an addi5,000 bearing the family name
tional 18,000 individuals connected
is welcomed.
the
to
family. Correspondence
Richard Bronson
221 N. SunderlandRd.
Some
Thoughts
after
Spokane, Washington 99206-3711
Reading
Recent Class Notes
Reading through
the Class Notes, it struck
that my classmates are
older
now
even
than I was when I graduated from Vassar in
me
1978. This may
but I was
jolt them into age
of those few older students in
one
the class. Our numbers
those of
who had
us
awareness,
were
so
small that
The
delayed our
education
had our
little support group, the
own
for Older Students (SOS). We were
referred
Society
later
“returning students,” which
always sounded mysterious to me: raising
to
as
questions such
as,
where had each of us been?
What had
brought each one back to this one
particular goal of obtaining a Vassar education?
of
them my top priority, because I’m not one
those lucky women
who have the energy to
participate
same
After
in several
Vassar
Quarterly (publication
number
657080)is published by the Alumnae and Alumni
of Vassar College (AAVC) from offices located
Alumnae House, 61 Raymond Avenue,
at
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 (Dutchess County).
adThe editor is Georgette Weir, at the same
dress.
As of the filing date of September 29, 1994,
the average
number of copies published of each
issue
during
the
preceding
twelve months
was
30,234; theactual number of copies ofthe single
issue
Attending Vassar, I always felt as if I were
of an observer than
in the background, more
Of
this was by my own
a
course,
participant.
choosing. There were
many tempting activities available, but I could not resist the pull of
from classes
my family awaiting my return
each day (I did bring them with me on occasion). I made the right decision, keeping
the
Statement of VQ Ownership,
Management, and Circulation
published
nearest
to
the
filing
date
was
31,058. The magazine has a total paid and/or
requested circulation of 170 (average and actual) . The average free distributionfor the twelve
months preceding the filing date
was
29,864; the
actual free distribution of the single issue published nearest
to the filing date was
30,679. The
distribution was
total average
30,034; actual
distribution was
30,858. Two hundred copies
were
not
distributed.
This information is reported
Service Form 3526 and here as
on
U.S. Postal
required by
39
U.S.C. 3685.
interesting activities at
dropping the ball.
time without
leaving Vassar,
I
set
out
on
a
few
67
THE LAST PAGE
On
Again
Home
Coming
by Sarnia Hayes Hoyt ’60
Yorkers believe their city is the
live
this
only place
meaningfully
planet. Instinctively, they distrust places
that don’t have fresh bagels and good hot
pastrami. They are the only people I know
to
of who refer
on
their hometown
to
as
“The
City.”
I
was
here for
raised in New York and have lived
eighteen years
of adult life, and if I
shared this ethnocentric world-view, I
once
creation is, after
time I
courses
That’s
I became
investors tell
Looking back,
my apostasy started early.
to
do with meeting Aunt
ing
than Europe, stimulat-
more
questions without necessarily
new
Rudyard Kipling
today, fortunately, East and West meet constantly
along the Pacific rim, learning from each
any
answers.
prisoner of his
a
other.
the
all
comes
worship of worldly women
too
easily. When 1 met the couple for the
first time, in the summer
of 1953, they were
expatriates living in Europe, and Uncle
has
Fred had just retired from the cork business
in Lisbon. Like migratory birds, they
spent
liberal Democrat
winters in Palma de Mallorca and
violent, less litigious
sum-
forgotten
Aunt Helen’s facility with languages and
her stylish Parisian clothes in that idyllic
Alpine setting.
So it seemed natural to
man
never
me
to
marry a
who had also wanderedfrequently
away from American soil to
graduate school
lured easily to Colombia
in 1964, we
were
before the drug lords ruined it. Later, we
took assignments for JP Morgan in the
Europe.
After
Mexico and
we
finished
Netherlands in the late 1980 s and
Singapore
include our
might even
in bilingual
three-year stay
1970 s as yet
defection from
Zigzagging
our
true
mockery
home.
a
home
feel
except in America.
I guess I’ve become a hybrid or a new
anywhere
species, grafting onto
original peanut
butter-and-jelly persona a new self, with
new
ideas, habits, and preferences. Re68 VQ WINTER
1994
my
that, prefer
the relative peace and security of
less
a
by a
talking
films,
country ruled
one-party authoritarian state? I’m
about a place where the censor
cuts
controls the sale of certain books and
magazines, and where political dissidents
can
be held without trial; a place where
drug trafficking
is
where vandals are
punishable by death and
caned. Would Ameri-
put up with less freedom,
Singaporeans do, if they had a
cans
the
Asian
in
as
the
squeaky
a thriving
with full employment?
economy
twinge of
a
envy
speak about their
large, close-knit families embracing several
generations, families where grandparents
taken in for years
they’ve got
it
at
right.
whether Asian honesty
going
to
cut
once
successful than
colorblindness. Even
never
liked,
stretch. I think
about
now
(“Who’s
race
your Caucasian hair?” a
Singaporean friend
more
a
I also wonder
our
asked
me)
politically
isn’t
gentle
personal
mouthed confrontations
a
horrible shock.
having become accustomed to
And,
the
anonymity of traditional artists and
craftsmen in Asia, I found the Museum of
Modern Art’s Matisse show—its homage to
—excessive.
man
one
Our healthhabits have also
reflect the
tropical
changed
environment
and
got
between
we
used to, the closer relationship
body and mind in Asian thinking, and the
prevalence of alternative medicine. Some
changes might have occurred naturally
with age, but Asia probably accelerated
them. We now
wake early, before sunrise,
for a few rounds of Surya Namaskara.
During this yoga practice, I try to ignore
the
noises outside the window and
street
on
concentrate
the breath. I
less
consume
alcohol and meat, more
rice, fruit, vegetables, and spices—preferring Asian
flavors
to
bland American food. I also
wear
looser
clothing and walk an hour each day.
welcome from many
Despite the warm
and
the
fresh
friends,
bagels, it’s hard to
home again. New York, my oldest
come
home, has changed. But after seven
years,
have I. The old filter system in my mind
doesn’t work the way it used to, and I see
so
things
now
paying
more
I wish I didn’t. I can’t help
attention when Asians speak
of the decline of the West and the decadence of America.
me
Yet my innate American optimism tells
that faced with a crisis, this country can
renew
what
itself and find the
be done
political
will to do
stop the killing,
rebuild our
continue
to clean up the
cities,
environment, and expand health insurance
must
to
coverage. As it has before, America can
provide new leadership in this new multipolar world. Having that hope, and doing
small part to foster it, will help me stop
missing my Asian home and the daily
discovery of its ancient traditions. Isn’t
there a lot to discover here, too?
a
correct
my Christian faith,
strong as my mother would have
has yielded some
ground to the
as
tolerant practicality and material
watching
face-saving techniques
encounters, I find New Yorkers’ foul-
clean government that promoted
are
of
Steinberg’s 1976 New Yorker
poster, where China, Japan, and Russia are
simply vague blobs on the far horizon,
at
American citizen, a
live in
to
an
at
whenChinese friends
like this between homes and
suggesting that real Americans cannot
can
Western culture. I feel
another
work in New York and abroad makes
mind-stretching Asian experience
challenged my cherished American
beliefs about good government and the
value of individualrights in a democratic
I have no answers, just a lot more
questions about the family, religion, and
to
in 1989-93. Some
Miami in the late
time:
This
society. How
of Buddhism. After
us.
Helen, the wife of my father’s good friend
Uncle Fred, when I was
14, the age when
mered in Switzerland. I’ve
just
Five years of living in
and traveling in Southeast Asia
was
It had something
I know
not
because that’s what the economists and
providing
home now—l have
a
Asia is where the action is, and
haven’t got just
one
teacher of
why
European history. Today, though,
ture.
Singapore
has taught me
many.
and French litera-
in Western art
longer do. I have traveled widely and
felt at home living in Florida, Amsterdam
(the Netherlands), and Singapore; I
no
the American way.
all,
thought of Europe as
long
the holy of holies. That’s why I majored in
modern European history and took many
Lora
simplicity
Ms. Hoyt is the author of two books in the Images
of Asia series published by Oxford University
Press: Old Penang (1991) and Old Malacca
(1993).
Date
Clas
ad res
colege
New
in
Name
Name
News
Above:
61
Vas ar
A
l
u
m
n
a
e
Poughkepsi, Raymond
NY
12601
Avenue
House Quarte ly
19
stamp cent Requires
The Fourth Biennial
Regional Symposium
Sponsored by
AAVC
will be held in
Seattle,
Saturday
18 March 1994
D
K
5
Everyone
Is Invited!
Save the Date
For details,
please call AAVC
at
914/437^5440
Winter
at
Alumnae House
03Z
o>
MSt
n
<
o*
Plan
to
ski downhill in the Catskills?
Or cross-country in the Hudson
Valley ?
x
<>
>o
C/>
300
Want
to
get away from the rush and slush of the city?
Or the phones and fax of the office?
X
02
r“(H
ffi
Hope
to
gather
your family,
friends
,
or
colleagues
together for a midwinter celebration?
Come
A quiet
to
Alumnae House.
refuge for personal or small-group retreats and
To
plan
your stay
New Year’s Eve and
an
or
a
sophisticated setting for parties and programs.
event, call 914/437-7100. For information about
upcoming film weekend at the House, turn to page 33.
m