The Class of ’61 came out, 29 strong, for our 60th reunion, courtesy of Covid and Zoom. It felt a bit like senior study with people popping in and out, chatting around the screen. Some struggled with technology. Some juggled other commitments and different time zones, but we happily kept talking, sharing, and listening with our matching yellow Dwight hats and drinks in hand proud. Susie Stellar worked with the alumnae office on a montage of vintage photos and yearbook clips. Then each of us shared our thoughts on the joys in our life, what’s on our bucket list, and something the rest of us may not know. There were lots of mentions of children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren, travel, moving on, and just staying put. But before Gale’s victory in Peoples’ Court, Linda’s art gallery, and Patty’s ankle tattoo stood out! A recurring theme was resilience. Everyone agreed the best part was seeing each other and sometimes getting to know our classmates in a different way. The truth is: we all looked fabulous! Thank you to Leila for this summary of the virtual 60th Reunion!
At the end of the reunion, we took a few minutes to remember those classmates who have died over the years: Edna O’Brien Bonsal, Jane Merkle Borden, Sandra Grant Brackett, Gail Lucarelli Castle, Judy Eastwood Collins, Roberta Hertzler Emptage, Lois Caporaso Fink, Elizabeth Lorentzen Kowalchyk, Nida Jayne Lupatin, Abby Howd MacDonald, Karel Polch, and Elizabeth Cohon West.
Those at the reunion: Linda Klein Babel, Bitsy Becton Bacon, Tina Hesse Bepler, Connie Cardasis, Anne Cassebaum, Karin deVries, Sandy Simonson Deville, Karen Lane Fierstein, Gale Hamilton, Alex Williams Hawley, Jerry Fooshee Hesse, Mary Ursillo Holmlund, Connie Schuster Lavine, Susan Meisel Levine, Patty Buhler MacBain, Peggy Kissam Morris, Edie Myers, Jenifer Robinson-Cox Parkinson, Patty Thomson Russell, Toni Fitzhugh Smith, Leila Joyner Smith, Linda Davenport Spire, Susie Stellar, Arline Conan Sutherland, Sheppy von Roth Vann, Peggy Fehskens Walther, Donna Dederick Ward, and Adele Hall Zachrisson.
