Correspondence for the MAINE Alumni Magazine can turn a gray, cloudy day into blue skies and sunshine in the wink of an eye. A succession of alumni phone calls turned a lackluster spring day into pure gold.
My first call was in response to a letter from William B. Mann ’49. An electrical engineer, he embraced a successful career selling large-scale electronic component systems for Westinghouse, then General Electric, and finally, National Cash Register. At 97, he lives in Dayton, OH, with his wife of 70 years, whom he met at a Junior Chamber of Commerce dance in Cincinnati. Their family includes five children, six grandchildren, and four greats. His last dog, Pepper, “just moved to Nebraska … at 97 a little too much to take care of … dog is not 97.”
(I love his sense of humor.) Bill recollected a day when he and his fraternity brothers received purple SAE sweaters that they promptly donned to strut out on campus for all to see. Contact Bill at 7803 John Adams, Dayton, OH, 45459. He’s a delight!
Another 97-year-old alumnus, Harvey Lord ’51, wrote in surprise that his class notes were missing. (Alas, no correspondent.) He writes, “Some of us WWII vets began our freshman year at the Brunswick Naval Air Station. No dorm space at Orono.” (Ed. Note: I recall the flood of Korean War vets coming back in the late ’50s.) Harvey goes on, “So it was the sophomore year that . . . we studied in dorms like Hannibal Hamlin.” He went on to say, “The years have been very good to me, although my first wife, Muriel, passed away in 2011 after we had 56 good years together. After four years, I remarried. Carolyn and I have also had seven good years.” NOTE: I hope to follow up with Harvey this summer when I travel through Bow, NH, on the way to our cabin in Contoocook. Class of ’51 classmates can reach Henry at 6 Bow Center Rd. # 221, Bow, NH 03304.
Hilda “Jinx” Livingston Miller ’51, an elementary education major, made contact via the web site. She writes, “I met my super brilliant boyfriend, Stan Miller ‘49, freshman week, fall of 1947. Stan proposed to me about a couple of months after we began dating, but I was determined to graduate college before marrying Stan. He thought the GI Bill would feed and house us; however, I was set on my goals! We were married at the college Hillel’s rabbi’s apartment a week after I graduated college. I had two super roommates my four years in college. In fact, Pepper Burbank Milbank ’51, Liza Zaitlin Levinsky ’51, and I speak or email monthly.”
Hilda, Harvey, and Bill are proving that “the new 65 is 90+”! Hope I hear from more of you (207-848-3831). Your stories are truly treasures.
John Mitchell ’60 (started with the Class of ’55, but his education was interrupted and he returned to finish at UMaine with ‘60/’61.) John called to notify the Alumni Office of the 1/1/23 death of his sister, Ruth Mitchell Hartley ’53. John’s career included the position of sales manager for the publishing house of Scholastic Magazines. John and his wife, Patricia, are the proud parents of five children. They now live on Islesboro, ME. John was one of the original founders in 1958, of the Maine Steiners — who are celebrating their 65th anniversary this year as one of the University’s premiere performing groups.
The newly elected president of the Senior Alumni Association is Bob Scribner ’67, ’70, ‘77G. Bob studied in the food industry management program before earning a BS degree in finance and MBA in marketing. Bob was head resident in Cumberland Hall. After a post-graduation commitment with the Army Reserve, he had a nearly 40-year career in senior leadership roles (president/CEO of five companies).
In 2003, Bob became the owner-operator of tourism-based Charleston Harbor Tours, with five vessels and 40 employees. He has since expanded his companies with subsidiaries in Wilmington, NC; Hampton, VA; and Kingston, NY. Bob holds a 100 Ton USCG Master’s License and has competed in Fastnet, Newport-Bermuda, and Marion-Bermuda races. He and his wife, Lucy Levesque Scribner ’71, have two children. Bob and Lucy have helped form alumni chapters in Philadelphia and South Carolina. They’ve also established a scholarship at the Darling Marine Center in support of the UMaine marine sciences program.
In addition to Bob, the following Senior Alumni officers were also elected: 1st vice president, Andrew McGarry ‘61; 2nd vice president, Carolyn Zachary ’65; secretary, Evie Stevens Smith ’59, ’87G; and treasurer, Louie King ’60. Nancy Morse Dysart ’60 was re-appointed Senior Alumni correspondent.
Reunion dates are Sept. 28-30 for the Classes of ’53, ’58, ’63, ’68, etc. and all the 50-year plus classes (Sr. Alumni). Mark your calendars and plan to join us.
As Senior Alumni, we all have the opportunity to share our time, talents, and treasure to increase the stature of the university. The Senior Alumni’s Non-Traditional Scholarship funds two-year scholarships for the most amazing of our older students (24-years plus). Your support of the Senior Alumni Scholarship Fund changes lives in ways far beyond your imagination.
Let your gift, whatever you can share, become the story of your legacy to UMaine.
Stay safe, stay well…and keep in touch with each other and your university. (And keep calling me with your stories. Each of you has something special to share!)