Fall 2016 Class News

Faith Wixson Varney

69 Falmouth Road

Falmouth, ME 04105

(207) 781-3038

fvarney@maine.rr.com

Myrilla Daley Carson had coffee today with dear friend Elva Brackett Alden Petry ’57. Elva teaches her warm water swim class here in Fort Collins, Colorado, where they both now live. After 42 years of living in New Mexico Woody and Myrilla moved to Fort Collins, Colorado where they had a happy reunion with Elva and her then husband, Dr. Howard Alden ’57 (now deceased). When they’re together they frequently reminisce about the wonderful days at “dear old Maine.” and they were wonderful days of great learning and growing up. They both took away excellent educations, sweet fond memories and precious husbands. You can take the girls out of Maine but not the Maine out of the girls.

I had a note from Foster Shibles. He and Mickie finally made a visit to Alaska. Spent three weeks there travelling by air, auto, and boat (no cruise!). Would go back in a heartbeat! Then in February they traveled to Quillota, Chile, and spent two and a half weeks with their AFS daughter and her family. His Dad will be 101 in August and his mom is 85. Both are in excellent health and they were able to make several day trips touring the area from Qullota to Algarrobo, Vina del Mar, Con Con, and Zappellar in central Chile, plus they spent a couple of days at her cousin’s ranch just outside of Qullotta. Then in May they were in Orono for their grandson’s graduation from the UMO College of Engineering, which was a special event for them. Now they are looking forward to seeing everyone in Orono for the Class of 1956 60th Reunion.

John (Duke) W. Lane, Jr. has reservations for Sept 15-18 at University Inn. He sent a brief biography. After graduation in 1956 he was commission in the USNR, lived in Washington State while on duty for the pre-commissioning detail of the USS MIDWAY (CVA-41), Georgia at Naval Supply School, California at Almeda Naval Air Station and was stationed for a while in Subic Bay Philippines. Then 27 years in Augusta as a real estate agency owner, 20 years in Kennebunk as a certified real estate appraiser, and finally as the co-owner of a private equity syndicator he moved to Florida. The past few years in Bradenton (Sarasota) FL, he is a member resident at Tara Golf and Country Club, where he is active in community and club affairs.

Charles (Chuck) and Jane Wiseman Johnson are back in Winchester after spending the winter in sunny Arizona.  They got together with Sarah McPartland Good from the Foundation when she was in Scottsdale for a U Maine gathering. She came out to have lunch with them and gave them an update on the recipients of the scholarship they established in honor of her parents. Jane plays golf 3 times a week. Cards, Mah Jongg, and a Putters Group fill the rest of her days with an occasional “time out” for a little housework. They are hoping to attend the reunion in September…. have made reservations at the Black Bear Inn. They will go to the “The Capitol Steps” performance. Saturday night. They saw them in Arizona a few years ago and it is a hilarious show! They will send a donation off for the Class of 56.

Sue Bogert Allard has moved to a retirement home and is happy. She is still independent but without heavy yard work, snow shoveling, etc, knows many neighbors and still gardens, but on a smaller scale. Her new address is: 512 N. Eisenhower St., Moscow, ID 83843. Ph: 208-882-7320 and email jifsue@moscow.com. She won’t make our 60th, but wishes you all well and would love to hear from any and all! Her daughter and son-in-law live on a ranch about 15 miles from here and her son is in St Louis, MO. She did make a trip to OR last month to hear her grandson defend his senior undergrad thesis. What fun. Her granddaughter is a rafting guide on Idaho rivers for the summer and has a “real” job for fall.

While in Florida last Winter Doc and Betty Brockway Nevers met Priscilla ’58 and Dick Wonkka for breakfast on their way to Sanibel Island to visit Betty’s sister, Pam Adams ’60 and family. They returned to their condo on Lake “Chaubunagungamaug” in Massachusetts the first week in May. They attended a memorial service for Jim Gilson ’57, husband of Gwen Bryant Gilson ’56 in June.  U.Maine was well represented by Dick Vaux ’55 and his friend Mary, Lionel ’54 and Jane Auber Berube and their 2 daughters, Sal ’55 and Joanne ’58 Scarpato, Ross Wyman ’58 and  Dickie Jenness ’63. A memorial service for Betty’s brother- In- law, Pam’s ’60 husband David Adams, was held on June 25th. In attendance were Howard Jackson ’56, Richard ’60 and Margaret Brockway and Mark ’57 and JaneBiscoe. ’58. This summer, two of their granddaughters will be married, Shayla, (a schoolteacher in Wisconsin) in July and Harleigh (a manager for Brooks Brothers) in October. They are looking forward to our 60th.

Since January Bill Johnson has been most busy working as a member of UMaine’s Board of Visitors—attending meetings and on phone conference calls. Serving on the Board of Visitors keeps him aware of newspaper articles and actions by the Board of Trustees for the University System and developing plans and actions for our Orono campus. Also developing plans and details for our Class of ’56 Reunion details. Without Ashley Nemer of the Alumni Association he would be lost—details of food arrangements, where to meet for different events, fitting all the opportunities into two days are a challenge. They have six grandchildren—three have graduated from college: two employed and one attending dental school this fall; and three younger—one an eighth grader—one a sophomore and one who will be a freshman at Yale. Yes, Mary ’55 and he keep quite busy on the farm, visiting grandchildren, church and public event activities, and look forward to hibernation come winter and yes they are aging like the rest of our class members are!

Al Hewes is back at Sebago Lake from South Carolina. The winter in the upstate of South Carolina was fairly mild but very wet.

Connie Douglass Woodbrey wrote that Janice Lord Mott, her roommate, came to visit. She had three other friends to visit, all U of M alums, so their visit wasn’t as long as Connie would have liked. Hopefully they will spend more time together at the Reunion. They are speechless about this election season—there has never been anything like it. Wouldn’t our parents be appalled, no matter which party they belonged to?

There’s been enough rain and enough sunshine that Judy MacPherson McDonald says the gardens were spectacular this spring! She planned on coming to the Reunion this fall.

Patricia Nelson Madach is doing “same old” but staying busy. She’s at the beach sewing yoga accessories for her daughter’s business.

 Jody Owen Bingham and husband(Bing ’54 are in a holding pattern at the time being. They sold their house in Scarborough and are living in a second floor apartment in Liberty Commons in South Portland.  These are just behind Redbank Village that was built in the Second World War. These buildings are only about 13 years old, however. They are debating what to do in the future; Oceanview in Falmouth is a possibility. They are both still healthy but who knows what the future will bring.