Class of '40

Best wishes to everyone for the new millennium! Only very special people can celebrate a 60th college reunion in the year 2000, and we have planned a wonderful celebration to honor the occasion. Everett and Doris (’44) Bailey will host a class reception in their home, and we will have dinner at the Windjammer Restaurant together on Saturday evening. Mark your calendars for June 1-4 and come be part of the fun. As I write these class notes on January 21, New Jersey has had its first genuine snowstorm in two years—something to celebrate. By the time you read this, the grass will be green and flowers will be blossoming. Thanks to all of you who contributed to the Class of 1940 Scholarship Fund last year. We were able to aid three students in the amount of $2,400 each through the Endowed Scholarship Fund. They were a junior early childhood/preschool major from Charlotte, Vt., a senior elementary education K-6 major from Barton, Vt., and a sophomore radiation therapy major from Cumberland, R.I. Through our Restricted Scholarship Fund, we helped six students with aid in the amount of $2,500 each. They were a junior physical therapy major from Stamford, Conn., a junior studio art major from Burlington, Vt., a sophomore psychology major from Essex Junction, Vt., a senior studio art major from South Burlington, Vt., and a senior biology major from Essex Junction, Vt. What a great class, and what a dramatic way to begin the new millennium. Katherine Davis Widness wrote that she and her husband like to support the colleges they attended. Katherine is very grateful for her UVM education, which prepared her for her fellowship at Iowa State University, where she received her master’s degree in foods and nutrition. She enjoyed a 20-year career as a teacher. Katherine remains active in her church and community affairs. She hopes to attend our 60th reunion. As of February 15, the total amount given to UVM by our class since 1997 is $52,308, making us within reach of our total goal of $60,000. The students who have received scholarship assistance are most appreciative, so let’s finish with a flourish by June 1. I heard from several classmates who responded to my request for memories of favorite faculty. Florence Wade Eaton wrote, “All of my classmates in elementary education must remember Clara Wheeler, our student teaching supervisor. She was also my staff advisor, and I well remember her treating a group of three or four students to dinner at Twist O’Hill. She came to visit me in the classroom during my first year of teaching and expressed concern for my health, fearing I was doing too much. She was one who truly cared for her students.” Cheered on by George Hart and Gordon Page, seven of the 10 members of the class of 1940 who were in the College of Agriculture are planning to attend our millennial reunion. Remembering UVM in the 1930s, Hugh Ripper recalls Gordon Page in Doc Campbell’s animal disease class, an exhibition boxing bout with Bill Koch, visits to Bove’s Restaurant and the Sugar House with the guys. Memories of other professors came from Ruth Williams Ormston, who recalled a Latin professor who opposed physical education, but she wondered who it was. Does anybody know? Your class secretary remembers Paul Evans in history and Lyman Rowell in zoology as being outstanding professors. Elizabeth Komline recalls Professor Leon Dean in his old car. He would give rides to waitresses in a hurry to reach Redstone from main campus at noon. We received a note from our class president Bud Allen. He wrote that it would not be possible for him to share our celebration of our 60th reunion because of failing health. He is grateful to Flossie Eaton and me for our efforts in making sure he has been a part of the action. Bud sent good wishes and invited classmates to call him or perhaps stop by for a visit during reunion. (Please call first.) He promises, “You will be greeted enthusiastically.”

Class of '41

Welcome to the new millennium! Even though several seasons have passed, I have very little news to report. I met recently with Carole Stetson Spaulding. As our class vice president, she would like to remind you all that our 60th reunion is fast approaching. Please send her ideas and suggestions for that big event. Ethel Bailey called to say she is now a resident at the Greensboro, Vt., Nursing Home, where she has been confined for the past several years as a victim of MS. She would enjoy calls or visits from classmates. It is with sorrow that I report the deaths of Kay Lebaron Strassberg, wife of Norman Strassberg, and Elizabeth “Betty” Marshall Schofield, wife of Carl Schofield ’40. Our sympathy goes out to Norm and Carl and their families. Keep in touch and send news ASAP.

Class of '42

Congratulations to Dr. Edward Keenan, who has walked every public road in the state of Vermont—more than 25,000 miles over the last 20 years. Besides being a practicing physician, his other accomplishments include playing 155 holes of golf from 4:30 a.m. until 9:05 p.m. in 1978, walking 57 miles on his 57th birthday for church pledges, raising $10,000 for Fanny Allen Hospital by walking the 73 miles from Bradford to Burlington in 18 hours in 1982, and taking the longest daily hike, 85 miles in 23 hours and 20 minutes in 1981. His typical pace is four miles per hour. Edward’s primary charities are the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association. Floyd and Kay Little (’44) Campbell are active volunteers in the Friends of the Morrill Homestead in Strafford, Vt. Morrill was the promoter of the Land Grant College Acts. Alice Reichman Chapman wrote that she feels that her UVM education gave her excellent grounding for her career as a registered dietitian. Alice has three children, four almost-adult grandchildren, and a great grandson. She lives in the “peaceful state of Indiana”; however, she misses the mountains of Vermont. Madine Holcomb Schmid is enjoying her new home in the Masonic Retirement Home in Wallingford, Conn., where she has lived for the past year.

Class of '43

I am writing this on January 26, the day after our first snowfall in this part of Vermont. It is considerable, and everyone is happy to see it. I thought this might be “the winter without snow,” but we all know that would never happen up here…but I was getting worried. I am happy to report that I have quite a bit of news for you this time around, thanks to some classmates who heeded my pleas. Thank you so much. I received a lengthy email from Daan Zwick and wish I could reprint it all here. It was so interesting, impressive, and inspirational. We should all “want to be like Daan.” He claims he is slowing down a bit and getting thicker around the waist, but I don’t believe it. He wrote from Rochester, N.Y., where he is having fun this semester teaching a course on Salman Rushdie’s writings at the Athenaeum of the Rochester Institute of Technology. He is taking a course himself on creative writing and memoir writing. (Shall we expect a published work anytime soon, Daan?) Daan also works with the local chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union as a volunteer and member of the board . He still skis, most recently with his daughter in Colorado, and he continues on the local Nordic Ski Patrol. He and his wife, Janis, had three interesting trips last year: Yellowstone National Park, the Hawaiian islands, and to the top of Mount Mansfield, where he was a summit caretaker for a week last summer. Daan is a wonderful role model for all of us, showing what we can accomplish. Marjorie Witham Healy and husband Richard ’41 sent a very cheery note. Dick reported that he still stays in close contact John “the Greyhound” Maley and John “Shortstride” Royer. I thought you would enjoy hearing those nicknames once again. As coincidence would have it, the next door neighbor of the Healys is Darrel Simino ’64, who is the son of Helen Simino, the popular hostess in Billings Dining Hall. Kerry Burroughs (’84) White lives directly across the street. A very welcome note from Margaret Wishart Kemp said that she was spending two weeks around Thanksgiving time in Arizona with her two daughters, one in Phoenix and the other in Tucson. One last communication came from Patricia “Ping” Terrill of Sarasota, Fla. She wanted to say how proud she was of UVM’s Nobel Prize winners. Right on! Although it saddens me, as I know it will sadden you, I must make mention of the death of our classmate, Robert Bloomer, in December. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife, Mary Beth, and their family. Mary Beth and Bob were college sweethearts, and their devotion to one another was very apparent. Bob left his mark in Vermont as a respected lawyer, outstanding legislator and civil servant, and a family man of the highest caliber. He will be missed by us all who are so proud that he was a member of our class.

Class of '44

I talked by phone to our class president, Monroe Allen. He and his wife, Lee, are in Florida and are doing fine as are Helene Levesque Harper and her husband, Bill. Kay Feerick Bonin’s granddaughter chose to marry at Kay’s home in Pittsfield, Vt., last summer. Mary Perry of Barre, Vt., had an interesting year. Penelope “Didi” Easton is “happily retired in a planned community, Fearington Village in North Carolina.” Didi is active in the Duke University Learning in Retirement Program and the United Nations Association, and she enjoys playing bridge and learning computers. We recently were honored to receive a letter from UVM’s president. President Ramaley wrote, “I am proud to share with you our new mission statement: ‘Our mission is to create, interpret, and share knowledge, to prepare our students to lead productive, responsible, and creative lives, and to promote the application of relevant knowledge to benefit the state of Vermont and society as a whole.” Norma Charest Konefal sent a note to say that she enjoys reading Vermont Quarterly because it keeps her in touch with friends. She said, “I am proud of my alma mater.”

Class of '45

This year’s reunion marks 55 years since our graduation from UVM. Our class celebration will be held as part of Reunion Weekend, June 1-4. We hope everyone will be here for the festivities, because there is a great weekend in store for you, with a special dinner just for our class. Kay McFeeters Moore wrote from Chapin, Conn., that she is proud that her eldest grandson, Jordan Moore, is attending UVM.

Class of '46

Jacquelin Swasey Smith enjoyed her fourth consecutive summer visit to UVM from Cornish, Maine. She stayed with Martha Perry Lyon and Connie Brownell Hall. Jacquelin wrote proudly that there are three students from her hometown, Cornish, Maine, at UVM. She also wrote that she’d love to hear more news from classmates. Harriet Barron Isaacs of Sunnyvale, Calif., enjoys reading Vermont Quarterly. Joan Garrity O’Brien recently moved into a condominium in Williston, Vt., which she loves. She says it has more space than her South Burlington home, which “we are going to need because we are expecting our 15th grandchild soon.” The O’Briens already have ten granddaughters and four grandsons.

Class of '47

The class of ’47 has taken no prizes for sending in the most news about ourselves. Now that we’ve made it to 2000, let’s turn over a new leaf and let everyone know what we’re up to. I did hear from Larry Killick, who recently published Boots Troops and Hoops Memoir: A Marine’s Jock-ular Reminiscences of WWII…and Beyond.” Many of Larry’s UVM buddies and experiences are noted in the book. Larry was also named one of Vermont’s top 50 athletes of the century (number 25 to be exact) in Sports Illustrated. When invited to speak to Veterans’ groups, Larry encourages them to put their own reminiscences on paper so history won’t be lost. Larry lives in Rockledge, Fla.

Class of '48

As you can see, your secretary has moved to a retirement community. My husband, Alan, and I decided it was time. We enjoy it very much and are not sorry we made the decision. I have not heard from any of our classmates in quite some time. Are you all hibernating? Do you feel you have no news to report? Please keep in touch. We all want to hear what you’ve been up to. We did help celebrate Dick ’49 and Jane Smith (’49) Long’s 50th wedding anniversary last October. Their family was all there, and it was a lovely evening. We have lost several of our classmates since our 50th . At our age, time is precious, so I hope you will let us know you are looking forward to our 55th reunion.

Class of '49

Allaire Blake Nownes and husband Frank of Hampton, N.H. celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their five children, their spouses, three grandchildren, and 100 guests. The Nownes renewed their wedding vows and then enjoyed a wonderful reception. Allaire wrote that she is awaiting the birth of her first great-grandchild and that she and her husband have moved into a new home. After 47 years, Ivers Rifkin continues to practice dentistry in Bridgewater, Mass. He graduated from Tufts Dental School in 1953.