Dear classmates,
By now you should have received information about our mini-Reunion to be held in Brunswick in early October. Ron Brown, Bunny Thibodeau Andrews ’87G, and I visited Brunswick in late March to help put together the plans for the Reunion. If you are interested in attending and have not received information, please reach out to me.
In my last article I listed the names of those attending the mini-Reunion, but did not give an update on their lives.
Marty Lowden Scarlett is back living in Maine full time after being in Massachusetts, Minnesota, Florida, and North Carolina. She is living on property in Sebago, ME, that has been in her family since 1890. Her goal is to keep the property in the family for future generations. Mary-Jane Patterson Preble taught for 30 years, retiring from Deering High School after 15 years there. She winters in Largo, FL. Pat Small Flaherty is enjoying retirement playing golf, bocce, and pickleball. She spends winters on the west coast of Florida. Pat continues to weave but is no longer teaching. She continues to do some volunteer work for seniors through the local senior center in Marblehead, MA, where she is when not in Florida. Irving Hodgkin talked proudly of his two granddaughters. Grace, the younger one, will be a senior at UMaine in the fall as a biology major in the Honors program.
Sally Grindell Vamvakias has acted on a lifelong interest and with the invitation from longtime climbing experts has climbed on Mt. Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain. Over the years she has made numerous trips to the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in Asia to climb on a number of well-known mountains in that area. Her climbing gives her a balance to her life at home in Maine. Bonnie Bassler Keast lives in Exeter, NH. Travel continues to be a priority with trips to Ireland and Sweden. She writes a monthly newsletter in a New Hampshire publication. Bonnie sends me links to her articles. They are a delight to read. I feel like I am there.
Penny Smith Harris lives in South Portland and is a fundraising coach for Renewable Philanthropy LLC. The idea behind the philanthropy is to keep folks of all ages involved in community service. Mary Jo Brush Thoman ’66G, who resides in Sudbury, MA, and has for 54 years, is retired. She feels that while major trips are no longer on the horizon for her and her husband, there are still many things in life to keep them busy. She was very glad to have made it to our mini reunion. Rachel Boucher Smalley continues to make it a priority to attend reunions. Every few months she meets up with Marcia Roak Fitzgerald and Rachel Small Flaherty for lunch and to catch up.
Shortly before Christmas I did hear from Nancy Buckminster Lane, who lives in Santa Fe, NM. She really enjoys her work as a docent at the Museum of International Folk Art. Over the years, travel has been high on her to-do list. Her trips include visits to Mexico, Eastern Europe, and the British Isles. She is also a weaver and has been for over 50 years. She visited with Jane Parmalee Harmes in the past year and reports that Jane has a great spot in California.
On another note entirely, Ron Brown, with the support of Physics Department Chair John Thompson and Maine College of Engineering and Computing Dean Giovanna Guidoboni, is working to have the University of Maine’s pioneering engineering physics degree program recognized as an engineering milestone by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the world’s largest technical professional organization.
I have written this before. Please visit our class page on the University of Maine Alumni Association website. Go to UMaineAlumni.com and directions to our class page are clear.
On a final note, I added my cellphone to my information at the top of this column. At this time cell service in York is not very reliable, but eventually it will work if this is your preferred method of communication. I want to hear from you and to see as many of you as possible at our mini reunion in October. I wish you safe, well, and happy!