Class of 1959

Welcome to the Class of 1959. We’d love to hear from you. Please take a few moments and share your news with classmates.

Or, share your news with Don Cookson directly.

For questions or to get involved in class activities, please contact Ashley Twombly ’10, ’12G, ’60H at (207) 581-1144.

Click Here to make a gift to the Class of 1959 Fund!

Your gift makes a difference!

Your donation will support our Class of 1959 outreach programs, which include the Senior Non-Traditional Student Scholarship, the Black Bear Food Bank for students, our participation at annual Senior Reunions on campus, plus our next Class Reunion. Thank you for helping to keep our class active and engaged!

Looking good at our 65th Reunion
(l-r) Barrie Lovejoy, Blaine Moores, Helen “Duckie” Inman Boomer, Don Cookson, Peggy Mahar Steck, Judy Kittredge Carter, Evie Stevens Smith, Rick Barker

Class Officers 2024-2029

President Helen Inman Boomer

Vice President Judy Kittredge Carter

Secretary/Class Correspondent Vacant

Treasurer Peggy Mahar Steck

Senior Alumni Exec. Committee Representative Helen Inman Boomer

Senior Alumni Exec. Committee Representative Evie Stevens Smith

Executive Committee Pat Benner Keenan, Kerry Foster, Harold "Hal" Wheeler, Alola Giffin Morrison, Don Cookson, Joanne Banks Miller, Honorary Members:, Anne Adams Collins '61, Christine Corro,

Visit the Class of 1959 Facebook

Class of 1959 News

Class of 1959 Fall Class Notes

Congratulations to Gary and Barbra Priest of Rangeley, ME, and North Reading, MA, who recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Gary grew up in Rangeley. He served in the United States Army, and had a business career as an accountant. He is a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He and Barbra met when they…

Class of 1959 Spring Class Notes

We received great news in September. The University of Maine Foundation announced that classmate Blaine D. Moores had established a $2 million fund to enrich students’ historical and political studies. The fund will be used to launch a symposium series that will bring nationally prominent figures to campus for presentations and classroom conversations on history…

Class of 1959 Fall Class Notes

We received a ‘catching up’ note from Herbert Nickels. He enrolled at UMaine as a veteran on the GI Bill and lived in married housing with his wife. Graduating with a BSEE degree, he went to work for Martin Aircraft in Baltimore. While there, he earned a MSEE. Next, he worked for two small companies,…

Class of 1959 Spring 2025 Class Note

Two major news items to share — one we wish we did not have to report and one about a highly successful 65th Reunion. First, Nancy Roberts Munson has retired from the position of secretary and class correspondence. For 55 consecutive years, Nancy has gathered information about classmates and class activities, and forwarded them on…

Browse the most recent and past 1959 Newsletters!

Listed below is the most recent version of the 1959 Class E-newsletter and past editions as well. Just click on the links to browse the newsletters. If you aren’t receiving these newsletters in your email, be sure to contact ashley.twombly@maine.edu at the Alumni Association and she will make sure you are added to the list!…

Class of 1959 Summer 2024 Class Note

Hi, everyone, Thanks for the memories! That is one of the themes of our 65th Reunion, which will take place in September. It’s hard to believe we’ve had 65 years of University of Maine memories. Since the deadline for this column was due before the event, I can’t report on it firsthand, but I know…

Class of 1959 Winter 2024 Class Note

Hello, ’59ers! Classmates Don Cookson, Evie Stevens Smith, and Helen “Duckie” Inman Boomer attended a recent Senior Alumni executive committee meeting. Evie and Helen are our class representatives. Classmate Ken Perrone ’60G has had a long career of athletic accomplishments. He was the inaugural class of the 2014 Brewer High School Athletic Hall of Fame…

Class of 1959 Summer 2023 Class Note

Hello, everyone — I had a call and nice talk with William Bower, a member of our class, who unfortunately was calling to say his brother Charles Bower had recently passed away. Charles was our class salutatorian. William then related some of his family history. There were three brothers, the third one being Robert. All…

Class of 1959 Winter 2022 Class Note

Hello, all! Several members of our class attended the Senior Alumni Reunion in September on campus. Helen”Duckie” Inman Boomer, Alola Giffin Morrison, Pete Hannah, Evie Stevens Smith, Judy Kittredge Carter, Don Cookson, and Susan Mullaney Cookson H enjoyed the activities. A major event was touring the new E. James and Eileen P Ferland Engineering Education…

Class of 1959 Summer 2022 Class Note

Hello, ‘59ers! As I write this, spring was trying to come to southeastern Massachusetts. However, it was just kidding and now we are back to jacket weather. Oh well, we are in New England! I have happy news to start off with! Les Nadeau and Jeannie Pocius were married on December 29, 2021. Les may…

Class of 1959 Winter 2022 Class Note

Winter greetings to you all! As I write this, I’m looking out my window and seeing glorious fall colors. It’s one of my favorite times of year, one of nature’s most lovely, though it goes by too quickly. Forgive me for sending a short column this time. I had to have a previous hip surgery…

Class of 1959 Summer 2021 Class Note

Nancy Roberts Munson The Village at Duxbury 290 Kingstown Way, Apt. 292 Duxbury, MA 02332 (781) 936-2460 Munsons@aol.com facebook.com/groups/UMaineClass1959/ Hello, ’59ers — I think at last we are starting to come out of the long, cold COVID winter. As I write this, crocuses are up and spring is here. I received a very long message…

Class of 1959 Winter 2021 Class Note

Hello out there, ’59ers! How life changes! Little did we know less than a year ago the world would be in this horrible state of pandemic. As the Grateful Dead song says, “What a long, strange trip it’s been.” I sincerely hope you have all escaped the virus and are doing well, considering. Before the pandemic set…

Class of 1959 Summer 2020 Class Note

Nancy Roberts Munson Hello ’59ers — I hope you are enjoying the summer. We had a “winter of no winter” in southeastern Massachusetts. I received a few bits of news from the reunion bio sheets. Mary “Ketch” Ketchum County and husband, Jim, have lived in Deerfield, MA, all their married life with children not too…

Class of 1959 Winter 2020 Class Note

Nancy Roberts Munson Hi all — as you can see I have a new address. In September I moved to an independent senior residence. It is a wonderful place with lots of activities, friendly people, and it will make life easier for me. I wasn’t able to get to our 60th Reunion but it sounded like it…

Peggy Mahar Steck in Jacksonville Senior Games

Classmate Peggy Mahar Steck participated in the Jacksonville Senior Games in September 2019. (Click on photos to view at larger size.)

Class of 1959 Summer 2019 Class Notes

Nancy Roberts Munson Hello, ‘59 classmates — some news items for you. Blaine Moores ’63G received a major honor from his alma mater, Lee Academy. During alumni weekend the school renamed its Lee campus Moores Campus. It was a big surprise, as the Welcome Alumni sign covered the new sign saying Moores Campus. Blaine has…

Class of 1959 Fall 2018 Class Note

Nancy Roberts Munson P.O. Box 1995 Orleans, MA 02653 (508) 255-4091 munsons@aol.com www.facebook.com/groups/UMaineClass1959/ Hello, ’59ers! Recently had a nice chat with Will Farnham, who called to say his oldest son, Doug Farnham, has been made Major General USAF. Doug is also Adjutant General for the State of Maine. Will is a very proud father! In further news,…

Let’s Join Blaine Moores ’59 in Supporting New Black Bears* Reach Their Full Potential!

Blaine Moores ’59 challenges us — his Class of 1959 classmates! Leading up to our 60th class reunion in 2019, Blaine Moores will match each financial contribution we make to the Class of 1959 Scholarship Fund, dollar for dollar up to $50,000! That means gifts to the Class of 1959 Scholarship Fund received between now…

Class of 1959 Spring 2018 Class Note

Nancy Roberts Munson P.O. Box 1995 Orleans, MA 02653 (508) 255-4091 munsons@aol.com www.facebook.com/groups/UMaineClass1959/ Hello ’59ers —I hope you are enjoying spring. Proud father Ken Perrone ’60G writes that his daughter’s book, Gull Harbor, written by Kathryn Knight, was #1 on both the Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites in its category. On Barnes and Noble…

Class of ’59 Fall 2017 Class Note

Nancy Roberts Munson P. O. Box 1995 Orleans, MA 02653 (508) 255-4091 munsons@aol.com www.facebook.com/groups/UMaineClass1959/ Faculty member and classmate, John Nickerson, has made a generous bequest, which has led to the appointment of Professor James Warhola as the first John Mitchell Nickerson Professor of Political Science. Five terrific students have also received Nickerson Scholarships from…

Chuck Peddle Honored

Chuck Peddle ’59 was recently honored as a member of the Francis Crowe Society and recognized for his outstanding contributions to the field of engineering. Peddle has been called the father of the personal computer. He served as the lead technical designer on the MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor in the early 1970s. He also worked…

Easter Gathering with the Class of 2019

We were pleased to host members of the Class of 2019 to a farm style Easter dinner at our Maple Shade Farm in Atkinson. The bunnies are always very popular with the students. The baby chicks and ducks also added to the Spring spirit. Pictured (front l. to r.) Connor Beebe ’19, Lexie Merinski ’19,…

F. Paul Desmond ’59

We are saddened to announce the passing of a beloved classmate and long-time member of our class Executive Committee on December 19, 2016. Paul was true blue Black Bear who attended all of our class reunions up to the 50th. In addition to his service as a class officer, Paul’s myriad of services to our…

Let’s Join Blaine Moores ’59 in Supporting New Black Bears* Reach Their Full Potential!

Blaine Moores ’59 challenges us — his Class of 1959 classmates! Leading up to our 60th class reunion in 2019, Blaine Moores will match each financial contribution we make to the Class of 1959 Scholarship Fund, dollar for dollar up to $50,000! That means gifts to the Class of 1959 Scholarship Fund received between now…

The Class of 1959 adopted the Class of 2019 and a had a great time supporting them during their time at UMaine!