On November 22, 2024, our university officially named the basketball court at the Memorial Gymnasium, Skip Chappelle Court, honoring our classmate for his time on the court and his 17 years as head coach of our Black Bears. Those of us who attended basketball games during our student days remember the excitement that Skip brought to each game. He led the Yankee Conference in scoring for three consecutive seasons and was Maine’s first ever player to be an NBA draft pick at graduation. Skip returned to Maine in 1968 as JV coach and became head varsity basketball coach in 1971. Skip had a stellar career at Orono, coaching seven future NBA draft picks and was named ECAC Coach of the Year in 1988. While the university is planning to open the new Morse Arena in 2027, the “Skip Chapelle Court” will carry over to the new venue. Congratulations, Skip!
Once again, the Ladies of ‘62 gathered for a Christmas luncheon in early December. Due to renovations at the Harraseeket Inn, this year the event was held at J.R. Maxwell’s in Bath, which is owned by classmate Ed Rogers. Ed had just attended Skip’s event on campus a few weeks before our luncheon and presented everyone with souvenirs of that day from Skip. Ed and Skip have kept in touch all these years and in late December traveled to Boston together to see a Celtics/Pacers game. There they had dinner with two of Skip’s former Black Bear players, Rick Carlisle ’83, head coach of the Pacers, and Jimmy Boylen ’87, the Pacers’ assistant coach. Ed reports it was a very special reunion for Skip and his former players.
More news from the ladies that gathered for lunch: Ann Adjutant ’66G wrote that she and fellow birder, Barbara Williams Gee, went on a Wildside Nature Tour in February to Minnesota and Lake Superior. All I could think of when I got Ann’s note was how cold it must have been walking through the woods and around the lake. Ann did mention that the weather was brisk! She said that they saw many eagles, snowy owls, and Golden Eyed ducks. She would have sent her entire list of birds seen on this trip, but “it was way too long.” The bird they were most in pursuit of was the elusive Great Gray Owl. While driving from one area to the next, Barbara spotted one. The tour guide, not quite believing Barbara, did however turn the van around. And there it was sitting on a road sign. Ann said that they watched that bird for close to an hour, cameras clicking away.
Kay Fraser sent me news of her son, David Covell, which might interest those of you who recently have become great-grandparents. David, an author/illustrator now has four children’s books published. He is the recipient of the New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2018 for Run Wild.
Curious to know more, I found a reading of David’s latest book, Gather Round, online. It was delightful! Frank and Mary Hilton Shorey still live in the beautiful 200-year-old homestead where Mary grew up. This winter was hard on the barns, taking a roof off one and causing so much damage to another that it could not be saved. But the old house stands proud, Mary and Frank are doing well, and so are the 680 maple trees on their property that were tapped this spring. Mary and her family used to do the tapping, but now the trees are rented out to Luce Maple Syrup. It is quite a production. “The 680 taps are connected by a pipeline to a large tank beside the road. A system of pumps along the line keeps the sap flowing and they use reverse osmosis to reduce the sap to syrup.” Mary says that some of the trees that are still producing are more than 300 years old.
Brenda Freeman Kuich is another classmate now living happily in her childhood home in Kennebunk. She moved back to Maine from Texas several years ago. An avid UMaine sports fan, Brenda follows all the teams with a connection to Orono.
Jeff and Pegs Boothby Lyon wrote at Christmas that they are living in Millersville, PA, but enjoy their Maine family cottage on Prout’s Neck for several months each summer. They also return to Florida for a month in the winter to soak up some sunshine and warmth. While their family is spread around the country, daughter, Kelly, also a UMO grad, and her husband have settled in Swanville, ME, where they are renovating his family home. Pegs reports that both she and Jeff are enjoying good health, which is “a real blessing.”
Eli Karter writes that he and Susan are well and enjoying the benefits of having homes in Florida for the winter and Maine during the summer. They also do a great deal of traveling abroad. But like so many of us, it is time with family that they cherish most. Each summer all of Eli’s family gathers for a reunion in Phippsburg as they have done for so many years. In December, a family holiday gathering is planned for somewhere sunny. This past Christmas, Eli and Susan were with her family in Eleuthera. Plans are set for next December for all the Karters to meet in Jamaica.
I am so thankful to all of you that keep in touch. For those who have thought about sending me an update, but haven’t yet, please do. And remember that if you are searching for a classmate, Class President Millie Simpson Stewart and I are always willing to help.