Class of 1969 Winter 2020 Class Note

Bill and Andrea Hayes Lott

Hello, members of the Class of ’69. We hope you enjoyed our 50th Reunion, where we wondered where the 50 years had gone, connected with friends, and saw the campus changes. Thanks to all who attended and made this Reunion a success. We know many of you wanted to be there but had scheduling conflicts. We will meet again.

Vernita Morse Witham Leins of Bradley was awarded a 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Award as a finalist winner in the animals/pets category at a ceremony in Washington, DC, in June. Vernita and her service dog, Josie, co-authored the book called Fostering Marcel … the bond between human and animal. The book was published by Maine Authors Publishing in Thomaston, ME.

William Hahn and his wife, Daryle Shaw Hahn ’70, ’75 C.A.S., were grand marshals of the Thomaston 4th of July parade. Barbara Amazeen Levine wrote that in July 15 members of the Class of ’69 School of Nursing met at Pineland Farms, New Gloucester, for a 50th Reunion. The location had been the site of the student psychiatric rotation at the Pownal State School there in 1968 – 1969. The alums shared many memories and laughs but were saddened to learn of the passing of classmate Joyann Bergquist Samson. Class members who attended the event included the following: Eileen Shea Cooley, Norma Burkitt Crichton, Linda Bedard Ellingwood, Valerie Morrell Heal, Jane Barnes Jagels, Jeanne Kobritz-Jerfsten, Sara Bromby Kahl, Lois Shaw Nichols, Susan Pulkkinen, Mary Squiers Rosenthal, Sally O’Connor Silverman, Jean Littlefield Smith, Julie Lomac Tselikis, Diane Farrar York, and Barbara Amazeen Levine.

Stoney Worster wrote that he and his wife, Jeannie Lloyd Worster ’68, “recently moved to Birch Hill Retirement Community in Manchester, NH. We enjoy having more time to focus on the things we enjoy. We love going on the trips with our new friends and having peace of mind about the future of our healthcare. The food is great, and we look forward to settling in and getting to know more people.”

Our 50th Reunion was a wonderful event with record attendance. Many thanks to the Alumni Association for making the time so enjoyable. Thanks also to the classmates who attended. We reconnected with friends and made new friends while having meals, taking campus tours, and attending our class meeting. If you couldn’t make the 50th, plan on making the 55th. Class treasurer Dan Willett ‘70G reminded us that the University of Maine Foundation is offering a 1:4 matching program for our scholarship fund. Our goal is to raise $ 25,000 by 2022 for our Class of ’69 Scholarship Fund. Any gift would be appreciated and should be sent to the UMaine Foundation and marked for the Class of ’69 Scholarship Fund. These scholarships are open to descendants of members of our class.