It’s “National Coffee Day” as I write my column. Do you drink coffee?
I don’t, but I certainly like its aroma. I turned 94 last October. Unbelievable (to me, that is). Oh, to be young again. Drink Ovaltine? Eat green veggies? Enough! I’m here to write about classmates.
In early September, we held our 72nd Reunion in Kennebunkport for lunch. (Dee Gardner ’89, associate director of the University of Maine Foundation, Portland, called the four of us who attended “The Mighty Four.” Present were Helen Strong Hamilton, class president, of Exeter, NH; Warren Noyes, Madison, ME; Jean Dolloff Kreizinger, Newtown, CT; and myself. We also had our drivers/chauffeurs, who joined us: Jean’s daughter Tracy K. Johnson, of Wallingford, PA; Helen’s son, Chris, of Sandown, NH; Warren’s son, Rollin, of Madison; and my daughters, Traci Langevin, Stratham, NH; and Holly LeBlanc, Kennebunk. Also Jean’s brother Dana Dolloff, the ’63 class president, of Vermont and Florida, also came. Wonderful!
Since I had a notepad with me, I had everyone write something down. And I could read their writing!
Jean mentioned her “newest great-grandchild” and “family reunion with all kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.” On her trip from Newtown, CT, to reunion, Jean joined her brother Jim Dolloff ’65 in Massachusetts for lunch; and then visited a former colleague for dinner. After the reunion the following day, she; visited with Dana’s family. Her parents, Richard Dolloff and Erdine Besse, were both members of UMaine’s Class of 1928.
Warren has a “Wonderful time with my two great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter.” He lives in the family home with his grandson Rollin Woodrow Noyes, his wife, Amber, and great-grandsons Gabriel and Jackson.
Helen lives in Exeter, NH, at Riverwoods. Her son, Chris, lives in Sandown, NH, and stepson Rob resides in Greenland, NH. Helen’s late sister, Caroline Strong, was a member of the Class of 1950.
Dee Gardner, of the UMaine Foundation, wrote: “The Class of 1953 Scholarship is the seventh-largest class scholarship.” Also, the recipient of the 1953 scholarship for the academic year 2025-2026 was Carissa Furtado, a senior from Peabody, MA, majoring in economics. Helen held a short business meeting where it was voted to give a scholarship/s for the following academic year.
I called some 18 classmates and talked to five.
Dave Beppler, of State College, PA, who majored in agricultural engineering and was a member of PEK, followed his major “for many years, here and abroad.” He sold his car and said, ”I don’t get around much anymore.” Sounds like a song to me, I said to Dave, and right away he replied, “Tony Bennett, Michael Bublé.”
Lloyd Oakes, East Longmeadow, MA, is “very active” in the Lions Club. He talked of the local Christmas tree, “maybe 60 feet,” with its multi-colored lights, and the proposed rotary that was going to be built in town, with seven streets entering. “Scary,” he said. He talked about large trucks and how big the rotary would have to be. (Lloyd has two sons and two daughters. One in Vermont, one in W. Springfield, MA, one in Nevada, and one in Wilbraham, MA.) No grandchildren. “I’m a “real Irish bachelor,” he said. “My children really watch out for me. They’re terrific.”
Dave Lovejoy, of Milwaukee, WI, an engineering major and Sigma Chi, spoke of many things: his wife, Lois; Orthoclub, SF; Mt. Katahdin; the Quonset hut and Outing Club at UMaine; Wisconsin Walking Club; loves blueberries; the late Frank Pickering. Dave has walked 28,700 miles. (I’m sure Lois was also mentioned in some of these activities, but I didn’t write it down.)
Isabel “Izzy” Stearns Foss, of Temple, rides her small lawn tractor to get around. She has three dogs and one gray cat she calls “cat,” or “kitty.” She’s involved with the DAR and spoke of being at The Daughters of The American Revolution ceremony at the Farmington Fair in September, the bell ringing at the one-room schoolhouse. Also, her granddaughter Gracie was mentioned and our classmate Shirley Stillings Keene. When I asked Izzy how to stay young, she said, “Don’t grow old.”
Shirley Stillings Keene, of Auburn, was a 4-H leader for 30 years. She and her husband, Maurice ’52, (agriculture) celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary in August. Congratulations! They’re the parents of four children (now three, having lost one in 2019). They had a dairy farm; now they’re living on most of the land and leasing the rest to a dairy farm.
This is it for now. Enjoy! If I don’t hear from you, I’ll call-don’t worry.