Compiled by Becky Ciulla ’06, Office of Alumni Relations, Class Notes Intern
1925
Rebecca Watson celebrated her 100th birthday August 13, 2005. She says her years at Plymouth were the highlights of her life. It was the doorway to her dream of being a school teacher and where she made lifelong friends.
1936
Grace Thomas Guptill has been in touch with Hester Small Ames, Dorothy Pierce Main and Marion Kelley Merrill. Hester and Amesy are well and very busy with home and gardens, family and friends. Dot and her husband are also well and busy with home and friends in Groton, Vt., which is noted for its foliage tours. The town recently served more than 800 at its annual chicken pie supper. Dot can no longer play the organ at her church due to her failing eyesight, but keeps active and has a machine that enables her to read and write. Marion recently called to say that her family celebrated her birthday. She and Marjorie Fogg Ober are both well and recently visited with Marjorie McCoy Broad. Please think about plans for our 70th reunion. Any ideas?
1944
Pat Harlow, class agent, writes: The class of 1944 held its 61st reunion on July 6 at Lucille Nutting Gilman’s cottage in Meredith. In attendance were: Barbara Currier Kelley, Joyce Breck Young, Ruth Dolby Young, Laura Pike DeGoosh, Marion Richardson Pounder and Patricia Dubeau Harlow. Barbara Kelley brought snapshots of her recent trip to Alaska and spoke of many interesting experiences. Laura DeGoosh has been to South Carolina and Pennsylvania. Lou Gilman told us that her daughter is on sabbatical to finish a book. Lou’s husband, Bob, joined us for a time. Joyce Young is still busy. She plays the church organ and shares her home with a friend who works at the college. Ruth Young and her husband spent a week on Cape Cod and are looking forward to Rumney Old Home Day, family reunions and other social activities. Marion Pounder and I attended our 65th Pinkerton Academy High School reunion. A luncheon was held at the Partisan back room in Manchester. Later we attended services at Little Bear’s Head in Rye and visited her son and his wife in Dover. We ate lobster rolls at Perkins Cove in Ogunquit. Leah Gray missed the reunion as she was having special guests from Oregon. Letters from Fernande Stanford, Beverly Moffett, Shirley Sullivan Finnegan and Rheta Cavaric Tilton’s daughter, Susan were read. I recently visited my son, Michael, in Kennebunkport and look forward to a trip to New York to see my daughter, Lesley. We heard the Bamberg Symphony on my last trip. She and I are off to India in October. Stay in touch. We need updates.
1946
Drina Perkins Blanchette, class agent, writes: Our 60th is about to be upon us. Are we ready for it? Did I hear all yesses? Well here’s the news that I have for now. There were eight of us at the Concord reunion and our events coordinator, Darcy Hoffman, made nine, which is somewhat different from years past. Beverly Wilmot Shaw came from Bath, which was the farthest, and brought Virginia Deachman Dearborn and Pauline Tillotson Cole. Pauline is still traveling and visiting friends in Texas and Vancouver. Virginia Hallisey made arrangements for her arrival. Barbara Patch was there with her faithful husband, and Cynthia Philbrook Harmon, Elsie Railton Rushton plus me. Virginia now has a beautiful grandson. Elvis Braley Belser was unable to attend due to medical problems. Ruth Gilman Bolduc, who has always been there, was unable to make the trip from Conway. Marion Lucy Warren, who usually comes with Ruthie, has had problems, but is now feeling better. Pauline Belyea Breck sends a “Hello” to everyone and Marion Joslyn Foster had family from Texas visiting, so she had to be home. Dorothy Keniston Kushious sent greetings, but had another commitment to a friend and Phyllis Gordon Miller from Florida hopes to make the 60th reunion. Dorothy Libbey Jesseman and Barbara Gove Pike sent their best wishes. Rosamond Batchelder Hingston, Daisy Peirce Hale, Elizabeth P. Paige and Earl Sanborn were unable to attend. Considering Pauline Warren Clark’s health problems, she is still first on my list for courage. Pauline and her daughter took a trip to California and had a great time. Ruth C. Gallager was unable to make the trip from New York. Elizabeth Rowland Tennyson and her husband, Don, have had health problems as well. Time marches on, and it is harder for us to make our reunions, However, we do hope we will see many of you at our 60th reunion at Plymouth State University. Good health and best wishes to all.
1948
Wilbur Willey, class agent, writes that each year Herbert Arnold creates a Christmas card in oil paints. He may have missed a few years, but each card is worth waiting for. Last year his card was a painting of the Old Man of the Mountain. A friend of Herbie’s nephew asked for a card to use as a centerpiece for his living room floor, which is to be done in tile. He sent the card to Beirut, Lebanon, where with some modifications, they’ll make a circular marble mosaic of it! It is good to see Herbie’s talent recognized. On Christmas Eve, 64 people gathered at the home of Rita Falkenham Blakslee, in Dalton, which has been a family custom for over 50 years. On October 28, 2005, Jason and Amanda presented Rita and her husband, Charles, with a great-granddaughter, Clara Blackslee. In June and July they spent a couple of weeks at Charlotte’s and Jack’s, while having a second bathroom installed. Charles enjoys listening to books on tape provided by the New Hampshire Association for the Blind. In June, Virginia Brown Doherty joined a three-day senior tour to Philadelphia and in July a New England coast tour on the Holland America line, including a day in Halifax. Jane Vogel and she will take another tour in September. Ginny will be pleased to note that recently Henry Vittum took a walk through the Plymouth campus and discovered a bench near the old sunken gardens, with a plaque on it labeling it a gift from the class of 1948. The number and depth of Henry’s activities is truly staggering. He attends a book discussion group at the Pease Public Library each fall and spring. They read from a wide genre, and according to Henry, this keeps his mind from getting completely Jello-like. He is a member of the board of directors of the New Hampshire Music Festival, and is on its education and community relations committees. In early April he enjoyed a bus tour of Williamsburg. He rejoiced at the birth of his first great-grand nephew on March 7. Henry was a delegate to the New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, representing Plymouth, Ashland and Thornton churches. He is an active leader in the church and has preached a number of sermons, about which he says, “Poor congregations.” I would change that to “Fortunate congregations.” The September venture will be a Smithsonian literary tour of Ireland, including a reading list! Mary Cliché Flynn had a hip replacement this year. Mary Torosian Graves is still at Hancock, and has a grandson at Dartmouth. In June, Pauline Hobart made her annual summer trip to Lisbon to see Barbara Bishop White. Hobie pulled Barbara away from her ball games and Skeet the cat to have lunch at the Oasis in Littleton with Wilbur Willey. Ruth Birch Marzec is learning to say “no,” and has given up some of her civic volunteer activities. She still is leading Sunday school and is a secretary for the County Retired Teachers Association (the former for 11 years and the latter for 19). In July she left her cat, Patches, with a friend from Arizona, and escaped the bad weather (thunder storms, etc.) in Ocala for a trip to Labrador with three friends. They stopped in Lyman, N.H., for Ruth to see the farm where she was brought up. The time was much too short, but she did see the house and meet the new owners, and briefly saw Wilbur Willey. Patricia Storer is “up to her ears” in volunteer work, mainly for her church and the Peabody Home in Franklin. Wilbur Willey was the grand marshall for the local Christmas parade. Riding on the coldest day in the back of an unheated open convertible was more punishment than honor. In June, he was the speaker at the alumni banquet, preceded by a talk to the Retired Teachers Association. He has spoken a number of times at an assisted living home. He substitutes at the local school, but rarely now, and writes columns for two papers. In early August he will attend a family reunion and the following week he will host a meeting of the Historical Society, at his farm. Wilbur admits to taking daily naps. Finally, the Class of 1948 honors the memory of Norma Johnson Hammond, who died December 9, 2004. Norma didn’t complete her studies at Plymouth, but chose the path of marriage. Even so, she remained a member of the class, attending our annual reunions. She kept in touch with us and frequently had us at her home on Squam Lake after college meetings. She was an interesting and lovely lady who will be missed. Anyone who wants to give in Norma’s memory may send a donation to her daughter, Susan Butts, 64 South Fruit St., Concord, NH 03301.
1951
Donald Bump of Ashland recently cruised the Passage of Peter the Great in Russia, from St. Petersburg to Moscow via the rivers and canals of Russia. Last February he toured Northern India, including Delhi, Jaipur, Agra and Varanasi. Every June, Donald visits his son, Allen, and two grandchildren, Curtis and Channoa, in Delta, B.C., Canada.
1952
Cornelia “Peggy” Hodder wrote in spring 2005, “I completed a four-year extension course called EFM, given to Christian lay people, originating from the University of the South School of Theology in Tennessee, which entitles the person to receive certification.”
1953
Helenjane Hanson writes that Sally Ayer made her annual sojourn to Bermuda last winter. Poor Sally had to miss all the miserable weather we were enjoying in the northeast. She did make it to the luncheon in Franklin and took notes for poor me who couldn’t make it. Edna and spouse Jerry, Ted and Cindy, Paul and Joan, Marge and Kay were there too. They extended their lunch hour to three o’clock and were finally thrown out. It was, in Sally’s word, “raucous.” Mardi Miltimore and Roma Eaton have invited us down to Roma’s, though the trip to Alabama seems a tad too far. Woody sent Margie a “hello” and brought her up to date on his comings and goings. Ted and Cindy were out in California and visited with Mardi and husband Danny this last winter. Paul and Joan stopped in to see Janet Robinson as they went through Florida. We’re spread all around, aren’t we? If you heard any rumors about my being incarcerated this winter, it is a base canard. I dropped into the local hospital for some minor repairs and was out in a day. All is well. I had my 13-year-old granddaughters here at camp for 10 wonderful days. Auntie Pattie and Uncle Sean also came up during their visit. They live in North Carolina and were a bit cold at first, during our hot and humid spell the first of August. They soon became acclimated. Our next get-together was at Joan and Paul Mcgoon’s on October 19 in the picturesque town of Claremont, N.H.
1955
Lorraine Avery Johnstone writes that after a wonderful summer, which included our 50th reunion, most of us are settling in for the winter or making plans to go to a summer spot. Arlene Parent Welch will be leaving her beach house in Maine for her daughter’s in California. John and I will leave after Christmas for Anna Maria Island on Tampa Bay. As usual we plan to spend some fun times with Mary and Wendaell Whitcher. Elwin “Al” and Alfa Bowers ’54 Bowrey spent a few weeks touring Iceland and Greenland. They reported it was interesting and beautiful. On their way home from their annual visit to Bar Harbor, we spent a few hours with them. They have sold their house, and now have to find a new one near their daughter’s family. Barbara Spaulding Woodbury has had a good summer and is looking forward to a visit from Janet Stewart Knowles ’54 and me.
1956
In July several friends and members of the class of 1956 spent the day at the Wells Beach, Maine, cottage of Len and Ellie Savage Yoder. Those who attended were Joan Giblin, Jim and Eileen Pippard Mayhew, Lionel ’52 and Gena Cannistraro Delacey, Jane Harrison Knowlton, Anita Binette Hussey, and Joan Parsons Kenney. A 50th reunion celebration is in order! Come for just the Saturday reunion dinner or spend the weekend with your classmates and see the Plymouth of today. In addition, continue the tradition of our 50th reunion class and come wish the class of 2006 well as they are awarded their degrees at commencement on May 20. Please contact the Office of Alumni Relations for more information.
1958
Jean Routhier O’Shea writes: Thanks to all who contributed to the Boyd fundraiser for the class of ’58. We’re still accepting your money if you’ve put it on your “to do” list. Reports from Plymouth indicate that total contributions to the overall fund drive exceeded expectations. Our own Gene Savage is to be congratulated for outstanding leadership in this regard. I attended the Seacoast meeting of Plymouth alumni, along with 10 from other classes. The speaker was Lionel Tracey, New Hampshire’s new Commissioner of Education, who wants to meet folks around the state. He has some innovative ideas. I recently spoke with Nina Savitch. It’s time to plan our yearly get-together with the “girls.” We’re looking forward to seeing Carol Willis Aldrich, Lois Kretschmar Lindh, Dodie Merrill Greenwood and Shirley Solari Corrette. If anyone else is within traveling distance of Dover and would like to join us, let me know. We do lunch locally and dessert at my place. I’m sorry to hear of Forrest Tibbetts passing on. Our thoughts are with his wife, Janet. Please contact me through the alumni office if you have news you’d like to share.
1961
Wayne Mercer writes from California about his recent travels. He spent the month of May exploring Rome, the Amalfi Coast and Tuscany. The month of October was spent visiting Eastern Europe (Berlin, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Vienna). Wayne says, “Both of these are with a tour group, and I must admit at first I thought I will not put myself in the position of being in the group of ‘old’ people exiting a tour bus with camera hanging around their necks trying not to look like tourists. That thought lasted until I realized that I am ‘old,’ I am a ‘tourist’ and I am going to take pictures (exactly why I’m not sure), so get over it and enjoy the trip! From that point on, I have had a great time.” Judy Allen Izzi and her husband, Vin, are enjoying life on Marco Island in Florida. Judy is the program coordinator of the Marco Island Christian Women’s Club. They visit family in New Hampshire every six months. This summer Judy and Vin spent three weeks in Italy, touring and visiting Vin’s family. Two weeks were spent in Rome and Florence. Judy says, “How many times I thought of our beloved art history professor, Karl Drerup. He instilled in me such a love of art history. It was such a thrill to see the actual works of all the old masters to whom he had introduced us.” Judy is looking forward to seeing everyone at the 45th reunion in 2006. Judy Freese Ludgate has finally retired after 32 years of teaching. She thoroughly enjoyed education and ended her career as coordinator of the business/school-to-career department. John Ludgate, become a PSIA level II ski instructor during his retirement. In October they took a trip to Australia, and in March their first cruise. They have moved to Bartlett permanently and would like to see anyone traveling in the White Mountains.
1964
Barbara Cartier Shaw writes that she is “fully” retired from being a teacher/administrator and decided to be a “stay-at-home Nana” for her five-month-old grandson, Emerson. But she is keeping her position as Class Agent and wants the news to keep coming!
1966
Class of 1966! Your reunion committee has been working hard! Come back to Plymouth this June and help them celebrate. The festivities begin June 23 and conclude June 25, with your reunion dinner on the evening of the 24th. Please contact the Office of Alumni Relations for more information.
1969
Geoffrey Underwood has joined the commercial lending department at UniBank in Whitinsville.
1970
Mark DeNies writes that his wife and he are very busy with their physical therapy practice in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., but their daughter is now on her own and is living in North Hollywood, Calif., which means they’ve been traveling a lot. In 2001, they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Alaska. On September 11, they had planned to travel home from Vancouver, B.C., but they lost a good friend in the World Trade Center towers. They got home on September 14. They then took a tour through the Northern Rockies in 2003 and met a man originally from Amesbury, Mass., who knew Ron Foster’s family. In 2004 they took a three-day whale watching trip out of Gloucester, Mass., and in July and later in December, went snorkeling with manatees in Florida. Every summer they travel up to Marblehead, Mass., for the first week in July, and get together with Bob Widger ’72 for skiing and hiking.
1971
Kudos all over the place for Steve Eastman. On October 20, 2005 at the Conway Village Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting, he was saluted, honored and presented with the Business Citizen of the Year Award. Then on November 17, Steve was given the Bob Morrell Award by the Mt. Washington Valley Economic Council at their annual dinner in Conway, N.H. The award is named for the late Bob Morrell, co-founder of Story Land and Heritage New Hampshire, and is awarded to an individual who displays his lifelong commitment to community and entrepreneurship.
1974
Tobey Leske has finally started his dream job after years in a family business. He started his on-the-water career making boat deliveries at the beginning and end of the summer season and offering per-diem skipper services to boaters around the island. Rick “Greek” Matthews and his wife, Marla, are living in Concord, N.H. Rick has been the principal of New Boston Central School for the last 20 years. New Boston Central School was named the New Hampshire Elementary School of Excellence for 2003. His major focus has been to develop an arts-connected teaching philosophy. He and Mike Lee still get together to play guitar, attend Allman Brothers concerts and share Plymouth stories.
1976
Gil Talbot is going to retire from her full-time position at The Woodworks of Londonderry, N.H., where she has been the financial controller since May 1995. Now Gil is going to pursue her passion for photography. She has a lot of support from the finest people anyone could know.
1977
Doug Duguay flew into Iraq in January 2005 and was due to come home in December. He is a chief warrant officer 4 in the Connecticut National Guard and the Blackhawk instructor pilot for the unit.
1981
Michelle Bouchard McEwen was featured in the “In Our Spotlight” section of the Plymouth Record Enterprise newspaper. Michelle is CEO of the area’s largest medical facility, Speare Memorial Hospital. She has helped Speare become more involved with the community and its health.
1983
Eric Chase is the new principal of Newfound Memorial Middle School.
1984
Ted Moccia was named the new principal of Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School. James Adams joined the Fitchburg Savings Bank as business development and cash management officer.
1986
Richard Pike is the new Hollis and Brookline superintendent. David Keenan joined Passumpsic Savings Bank, where his responsibilities are to develop and manage loans and deposit relationships in the Lyndonville market area. Larry Haynes is now president of the Grappone Companies.
1987
Gayle Price has joined Laconia Savings Bank as assistant vice president of human resources.
1990
Paula Parker is marketing director at Ledyard National Bank.
1991
Amy Story is a first grade teacher for the Narragansett School.
1992
Kara Lamontagne is enjoying her new position as assistant principal of Gilford Middle School. Scott Bernier bought his first home this past June and spent most of the summer fixing it up. It is within walking distance of his job at the Augusta office of the University of Southern Maine Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service. It was a good choice because he saves seven dollars a day on his old commute. Ellen Pietrzak Kotzin is a teacher in Mexico schools.
1993
Christopher Kelliher is working at WSI Corporation as a meteorologist.
1994
Jon Hall was hired to be the full-time athletic director at ConVal High School.
1995
Karyn Misenheimer works for the Special Olympics in New Hampshire as director of competition sports and training. Ellen Langsner was a language coordinator in Lebanon and was recently hired by the Plainfield School Board to be the temporary principal for Plainfield. Stephanie Locke is a teacher at the University of North Dakota. Jennifer Easley is a fourth grade teacher at Niwot Elementary School; she received her master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Massachusetts.
1996
Alicia Preston is director of business development for Meridian Communications. Dawn Tully was promoted to vice president/risk manager of Citizen Services Group’s risk management unit. Chris Steffanci was named general manager of Heineken USA’s Central Region. He is responsible for driving the company’s financial performance in metropolitan areas such as Chicago.
1998
Jennifer Jaquith is a physical education teacher for the Oxford School District. Matthew Smith is currently living in Asheville, N.C., where, following his love of geology, he runs his own business called “Stone Smith.” He specializes in dry-laid stonework. Matt also is an avid rock climber. He’d love to hear from any of his former classmates. He can be reached at matteo@netscape.com. Kim Keegan is the new executive director of the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire.
2000
Dakota Benedetto is in her seventh year teaching art, theater, pottery and crafts at Fall Mountain Regional High School. Mia Poloquin joined Downeast Financial Group in Lewiston. She will be doing financial planning, offering services such as tax planning, retirement objectives, investment strategies, risk management and estate planning. Kattie McKinnon is the new director of the Claremont (N.H.) Parks and Recreation Department.
2001
Steven Goetsch is associate director of admission at Fitchburg State College, and is living in Leominster, Mass.
2002
Cathy Driesh was appointed center coordinator for Newport at Granite State College (the former College for Lifelong Learning). Lt. Comdr. Kevin Lemire has recently retired from the U.S. Navy after a 30-year career. Jack Storms is the largest producer of glass art in California.
2003
Tara Hengstenberg works for Easter Seals of New Jersey as a service coach for adults with mental illnesses. Danielle Petriccione works at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort as supervisor of the Children’s Ski School. Adriene Harvey Lombardi is a new member of the NES as a seventh grade English teacher. Amanda Kelleher is now married to Marc Buchner whom she met at New Hampton School, where she did her internship. They have a beautiful baby girl, Ryann. Marc works at the Peddie School in Highstown, N.J. Last year Amanda taught a couple of health classes and worked in the training room part time. She is now a stay-at-home mother and also coaches tennis.
2004
Crystal Lavoie is an executive assistant at Elan Publishing Inc. Amber Greenlaw is the new health and physical education teacher at Gilford Middle School. Martha Noble writes that she is hoping to go to grad school and is looking for ideas of what to take because her B.S. in environmental planning doesn’t open many doors. She is hoping to come back to Plymouth for grad school. Ryan Laboissonniere is a new officer in the Lincoln Police Department.
2005
Thomas Feeley works at Bowne Engineering as a remote sensing specialist. William Cosentino is a fourth grade teacher at Bridgewater-Hebron Village School. Sharon Juza is now a third grade teacher at Dunbarton Elementary School. Ann Flight is a social studies teacher at Anne Arundel County Public School.
