What an unusual summer and fall we had! However, it is time to pass on a little
news from the Class of ’54. Unfortunately, as time passes our numbers are
reduced and fewer of you keep us up to date. However, we’ll try to keep you
informed if you will keep us in the loop.
We heard that Carver Washburn, who lived next door to me in North Dorm #7,
participated in the Senior Alumni Social during the online Reunion last
September. Since there was no in-person Reunion due to COVID-19, the Zoom
event enabled Carver to visit with other alumni from his home in New Jersey.
A few months ago we received a call from Elliott Lambert. Elliot and I were
classmates and graduates of Piscataquis Community High School in Guilford,
ME, in 1950. That sure seems like a long tine ago. He retired from the U.S. Air
Force after being a pilot for 23 years and has been married for 35 years. Three
daughters, like all of us, have resulted in the need to travel for visits. Retirement
has proved to be fun, with a somewhat rewarding vocation and avocation — tree
stump grinding!
In the not-so-good news category we have received notice of the passing of two
more classmates, the first being Ruth A. Johnson. After leaving UMaine, she
received a master’s degree at Boston University. After teaching, she entered the
U.S. Army as a lieutenant in 1957 and was honorably discharged in 1962. She
later taught school and became interested in orienteering, which led her to travel
extensively in Europe and Scandinavia. She actively continued this after
retirement, taking part in competitions. She took first place in her age group in
orienteering many times, accumulating over 100 medals, and was included in the
Guinness Book of Records, having tied with men in the U.S. Championships.
She was also honored many times locally for her volunteering efforts during her
retirement, and will certainly be missed in her local area.
Finally, we received the obituary of Joan “Jo” Elizabeth Leach Davis, who died in
July. She often said she got her BS and her “MRS” at college, where she met
Dan P. Davis ’53 and, upon graduation, they were married in Sanford, ME. She
spent several years as a “service wife” when Dan was in the Army; they
eventually returned to Sanford. She taught school for many years, and was
thrilled in 1982 when the Sanford High School yearbook was dedicated to her. In
1995 they built a retirement home at Square Pond at Acton, and she assisted in
her children’s businesses. She and husband, Dan, who predeceased her,
traveled the U.S. many times together. Our condolences to the Johnson and
Davis families.