Hello, classmates of ’60! After being cancelled for two years our 60th Reunion was held in Orono on September 8th and 9th, with a pre-football game event at the President’s House on campus on the 10th.
The pre-Reunion gathering at Newagen Seaside Inn and Resort in the Boothbay region began with a harbor cruise, followed by a lobster bake. The following day, there was a tour of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens with lunch, and that evening attendees enjoyed a dinner and evening performance at the Carousel Music Theatre with music of the ‘50s.
Nancy Morse Dysart deserves a lot of credit and thanks for her support on the pre-Reunion! Besides Nancy, attending the Boothbay gathering were Julie Hanson Burns, Jean Toothaker Chapman, David Ferris ’76G and wife, Joan H. Gregoire; Kay Sawyer Hannah and husband, Pete ’59; Ralph Pilsbury and Susan; and Joanne Keith Sullivan. Norman Nutter, who came up from Lunenburg, MA, deserves special recognition as this was his first time at any reunion gathering since he graduated in ’60. Marjorie Abbott Palmer also planned to attend but cancelled at the last minute, as she had covid, which Nancy came down with the day she got home from campus. Ace and I did not attend either part, due to family commitments.
Some of the participants went to Orono on Thursday for the Senior Alumni reception and lunch with a dinner in the evening.
We had a class meeting at Buchanan Alumni House Friday morning. Present were classmates Nancy Morse Dysart, Kay Sawyer Hannah, Ralph Pilsbury, and Joanne Keith Sullivan. Ashley Twombly H, ’10, ’12G from the Alumni Association and Dee Gardner ’89 from the UMaine Foundation joined us for the meeting. It was decided to keep our present set of class officers for three more years.
Ralph is taking over the job of class treasurer, to replace the late William “Bill” Parker.
All the deceased members since our last gathering were honored by having those present take turns reading their names.
As for the class scholarship fund, it is the university’s largest in terms of donations of $307,185. The value was $356,720 as of 6/30/2022.
The granddaughter of classmate Charles Tanous ’63G, Marla Tanous from Paris, ME, is a recent recipient. She is majoring in English and nutrition, and is a junior. She attended the alumni luncheon and classmate Nancy reported her “delightful.” President Ace earlier received a thank you from Brendan Scott ’21 of Cumberland, who received funds to help with his BA in engineering.
After Reunion, Joanne Sullivan left for a quilting retreat in New Hampshire.
Portland Alumnae met at the university’s Foundation offices in Falmouth in August. New Alumni Association president Thomas Peaco ’88 was our guest speaker. We have 111,000 UMaine alumni around the world. Carol Iverson Kauffman is secretary for this group.
President Peaco told us that the Carnegie Institute named the University of Maine (Orono) as one of the top universities in the USA for research, giving it the “R1” classification. (You can read more about Tom in last summer’s MAINE Alumni Magazine.)
Kay and Pete Hannah had two trips last summer. Son Ian came home from Colorado to make a trip to Vermont, where Pete taught at the university for 30 years. Later, they went with their two daughters to Edinburgh, Scotland, where Pete spent a sabbatical 47 years ago.
The Pilsburys spent summer with their daughter in Pittsfield.
Earlier in the summer, in June, I attended a gathering at Maple Hill Farm in Hallowell of a group started by Cynthia Rockwell Wright ’58 of Round Pond 32 years ago. The only ’60 member besides me was Gordon Riggs, who was with his wife, Barbara Covell Riggs ’59. They summer in Durham.
As I write, it’s autumn, and we are in the autumn of our lives. We are not getting older, we’re getting better! As always, I beg you to call me, write, or email news.
Soldier on —
Gail