Greetings, ’61ers! You will notice two addresses for our column. Judy is resting her arthritic fingers for a bit, and I am taking over the column, unless I can interest any of you to volunteer. You may send news to either address, but pictures will remain Judy’s sole domain. Huge thank you to Judy for the many years of cajoling us for information, writing the column, and sharing pictures of classmates. Word is our class is the gold star group on the class pictures site.
News this issue notes transitions from summer to winter abodes and travels in between. Helen Cloutier Clapperton and I got together in spring. After 60+ years of not seeing each other, it was a long and fun lunch. Marcia Sayward Blake has moved to new digs in an over-55 community in Windham, ME. She is sharing quarters with her daughter and son-in-law in a brand-new condo and loving it. Luke and Nancy Rich Marburywere again at their idyllic spot in Boothbay Harbor. They returned in early September to their new quarters at Roland Park Place in Baltimore. Ellen Shibles, Ann Lynch MacKinnon, Marcia Blake, Anne Wescott Dodd, Nancy Marbury, and I managed to coordinate a ‘61 ladies’ lunch. It is becoming an annual event, so if you are in the area in 2026, let me know! Ellen again has opened her beautiful gardens at her home in Wilton, ME. Once a week her grounds are open to those who want to share her views on the lake and gardens. Betsy Flynn Drake and Jack enjoyed summer in Bar Harbor in spite of the traffic. Andy McGarry and Laurie Baldwin Liscomb headed back to South Carolina after a summer in Castine. Andy says that this may be their last summer on the coast, as the trip between homes is becoming less wonderful. Andy and Laurie, along with Etta Libby Davenport, Cliff ’60 and Jane Petherbridge Ives, and I were at the Senior Alumni Reunion in September. Andy did a great job in his role as VP of the Senior Alumni board, sharing with us all the work we Senior Alums are doing for the nontraditional students on campus. More support is always needed, so remember that as you plan your end-of-year giving. It was a perfect weekend capped off by a celebration of the 150th anniversary of our UMaine Alumni Association. There was a great event at the Collins Center that captured life on the campus for the last 150 years. Our Reunion in ‘26 will bookend this event, so we should be thinking of what we can add to our class notes to celebrate our time on campus. It’s been hard getting recent information from you all so maybe sharing a special memory from our years in Orono will elicit more mail. The statute of limitations is well past, so you are safe in sharing!
Your ‘61 board is starting to plan how we can add to the Alumni Association events. Mobility may be an issue with some of us, but please, don’t let that keep you from joining in. Please let me know how we can make your participation easier. We are considering having a ‘61 van to shuttle folks around from hotels to campus and events. Are there other ideas? Would you be interested in a day before the official Reunion starts to do something special? Bar Harbor? Schoodic Point? Other locations? The thought is we would arrive on campus a day early and then take a bus trip off to some special spot for the day. Again, easy walking is the intent. Please share all ideas — good, bad, outrageous.
May your winter days be sparkling, and start planning your return to campus in September ’26. You’ll be glad you did!