I know you will probably be reading this column in the middle of winter, but I am just back from the Senior Alumni Reunion on campus and feel I need to check in. First, let me say that the campus looks gorgeous. The old buildings remain as they were in my mind and others have expanded into areas like I wouldn’t have imagined, adding to the vibrancy of the university. In our new position as Senior Alumni, we were treated to a well-planned few days of tours, lectures, meals, and interaction with students, in addition to plenty of time for catching up and Pat’s Pizza. The college of our hearts always is in terrific hands. Below I have included the lists of the Class of ‘73 members who registered as well as those who attended. I’m hoping to hear from those of you who promised to send news to us. You know who you are.
Brenda Bridges Cook ’81G shares that her book, published in 2021, The Entrepreneur’s Family, occupies the number one best-seller position in six categories on Amazon. Carl Parker has been hired as head coach of the Brewer High School boys’ varsity basketball team. He previously has coached for MCI, Lee Academy, Nokomis, Bangor, and Old Town. Former Husson, etc., football coach and athlete, Gabby Price has been recognized for his illustrious career as one of the new inductees to the Maine Sports Hall of Fame. Since 1995, Steve Wood has been presenting living history programs as Abraham Lincoln. He maintains memberships in the Association of Lincoln Presenters, League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling, and the New Hampshire Storytelling Alliance.
The following classmates attended the Reunion:
Gail McGuire Anderson, Scott Anderson, Marc Ayotte, Marshalyn Wing Baker ’77G, Richard Baker, Budd Ballinger, James Brown, Keyth Harvey Carter, Phil Cayford, Stephen Daigle, Katherine Duffendack, Rachel Davenport Dutch, Steven Dutch, William Halke, Thomasine Henderson, Barton Knight, Stephanie Bubar Knight, Richard Lagarde, Larry LaPlante, Carla Mahany Leathem ’79G, William Leathem, Patricia Meyer Morell, Allen Morell, Nancy Johnson Page, Russell Plaeger, David Pullen, Thomas Russell, John Shipps, Jake Ward, Kathryn Anne Miller Yager, Quentin Young, and Lawrence Zanca.
In addition, these classmates registered for Reunion but did not attend: John Bartlett, Ned Berce, Nicholas Davis, David Griffin, John Irving, Rupert Jennings, Linda Murray Murphy, Terri Althoff Pease, Paula Barnaby Smith, Stephen Towle, andPeter Walker.
And the winner for the first post-reunion submission goes to Dick Lagarde: He wrote: “Four Sig-Eps who had not seen one another for nearly 50 years and their spouses were virtually inseparable at the university’s many tours, events, brunches, and dinners held for the Class of 1973’s 50th Reunion. Charlie Carter ’72 and his wife, Keyth ’73; Steve Daigle ’73 and his wife, Arlene; Bart Knight ’73 and his wife, Stephanie ’73; and Richard Lagarde ’73 and his wife, Jeannette. The Lagardes and Carters stayed on for the football matchup between Maine and Stonybrook on Saturday. Fond memories of campus and fraternity life exchanged in conversations brought back vivid images of our youth and disbelief in how quickly time has flown. It was so wonderful, but if only for a few days, to be transported back to a time and place that meant so much to all of us. Thank you, UMaine Alumni Association, for bringing us together again and making us feel so special in the process!”
Editor’s note; Congratulations to Rachel Davenport Dutch for receiving two awards during Reunion. Rachel received the 2019 Hilda Sterling ’55 Class Correspondent Award for her long and faithful work as the class correspondent. (The presentation of that award was delayed because of distance and the pandemic.) Besides that, Rachel was also recognized with the Golden M Award for her work on behalf of her class.