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To the Class of 1960
Back last fall, 46 of your MHC classmates joined together for an interactive mini-reunion at the college. Thanks to the enthusiastic efforts of Dana Feldshuh Whyte, Curtis Smith and Nancy Zone Bloom, we enjoyed a get-together that surpassed anyone's expectations. On and off since, you've heard the highlights: renewing ties; visiting classes; getting to know (and enjoy) our granddaughter class of 2010; J.J. and Sally's wrenching and touchingly funny memorial for Sally's son, David Foster Wallace; sentimental walks back through time in the glory of a New England autumn, and on it goes. Even the beds were comfortable (we stayed at Willits-Hallowell).
As might be expected, we all came away feeling that, yes, we really did belong at Mount Holyoke and that, somehow, over time, the college itself had become a part of our inner core. Since this cannot be said enough and, as a prelude to our big reunion next June, I have asked the women who attended our mini-reunion to send me their individual reminiscences -- a collection of "snapshots", if you will -- that go way beyond the obvious pleasure of seeing old friends. After all, what better way to re-introduce Mount Holyoke to the class after all these years.
So, here, below, is our kaleidescope of memories .. Sheila
********** Pat Kennedy Ascher
Mini Reunion was a jewel for me in
several ways:
********** Nan Jones Clarke A Mt. Holyoke Class of 1960 gathering, no matter what the size, is always special. Our mini-reunion was no exception. As with every reunion, either mini or not, one connects with classmates not well known previously. Just seeing all the wonderful faces, now with some lines and wrinkles, but still with the smile not to be forgotten. I am sure that each of us is special to one another and I will continue to join all these wonderful women as long as I can. Two of my HP group are no longer with us, Gayle and Ceci, but Carol Parker Beatty and I spent hours catching up on everything in our lives and truly expressing the value of our friendship, even though we live on two different coasts. Thank you, thank you to everyone who makes these wonderful gatherings a possibility! ********** Chauncey Cranston Irvine, M.D. It's
hard to come up with just a few favorites, but here is my
list: **********
Jan Herridge Keffer
Mini-reunion was great and I must admit to almost not coming! As always, seeing old friends was special but I always look forward to talking with classmates I hadn't known well during our college days. It was also great to see those I hadn't seen since graduation. Reconnecting with Jan McGowin Kenison was a special treat.
Meeting with our granddaughter class was interesting for me. For someone who feels pretty adept technology wise, I realize I am in the dark ages. Seemed having an iPhone was the norm as well as not wearing a watch. Why? when you can pull out your electronic device!
I had an interesting conversation with three 2010 friends - the first on a full scholarship, the second whose family paid for her first year and who was borrowing the $$$ for her remaining three years, and the third whose summer earnings enabled her to board her horse on campus. Such diversity in these three young American women. I listened to the first bailout bill being defeated as I drove west to South Hadley and wonder how the current economy has effected these three.
I have been aware that MHC has a diverse group of students from many countries and it seemed that much of my interaction with 2010 involved these students - tour guide, dorm dinner hostesses, HP in the "new" dorm. I asked some of them why they had chosen MHC and the response was always that MHC had been so generous in financial aid that they could not turn down the opportunity. While I am fully in favor of diversity on campus and the broad perspective that these students bring, I find that I have questions. I suspect that many of these students are the "haves" from their respective countries and wonder about those who are in true financial need both here in the USA and in other countries. Perhaps, I am wrong in these thoughts and observations. I'd love to have more information. You asked for my thoughts.....
Special thanks to Dana and Curt for a most enjoyable time at their home. Such fun with everyone together in a more intimate setting.
And a last thanks to Sally Foster Wallace for recommending her book, "Practically Painless English." My daughter is horrified at the lack of grammar taught in the schools today. Obtaining this book (not easily or inexpensively) has been a godsend for her and her children will now have good grammar, punctuation, etc.
**********
Gretchen Tenny Hall I enjoyed being back on campus far more than during our “traditional” reunions in June because campus life was “normal!” I found moments during the two days of unexpected surprises, as though a little frisson of memory was jarred loose. For example, I reveled at being in all-female classes. I had forgotten the comfort-plus-excitement of a community of learning women. Walking around Upper Lake is one of the timeless experiences – especially on a perfect fall day. As to our class-mates, one of the delights of a mini-reunion is that I found myself among some friends I had known fairly well in college, as well as women I had scarcely known at all. With our common (uncommon) MHC experiences, we could pick up and enjoy each other even 48 years later! ********** Gail Moffat Hudson Energy, enthusiasm (especially for Obama), concern for others, and joy dominated the attitudes of our classmates. It was infectious. We've gone in such different directions in nearly 50 years and yet we shared something special even with classmates whom we'd barely known during our four years on campus. I was impressed by the student guide from Africa who, walking backwards, led us on a tour of lower campus. The "New Hall" was impressive in part because it fit in so perfectly that, rumor has it, one of our classmates walked right passed it without realizing that IT was the new dorm. The interdepartmental class I attended was fascinating; the math class was as boring as they were in the 50s. Would I attend another mini-reunion? You bet! Congratulations to our fabulous organizers. **********
Nancy Nash Johnson
our mini-reunion was wonderful. Always great fun to get together and catch up with classmates, but what made this visit very special for me was being there with the present students. I loved being able to go to classes, listen, and even participate in the discussions. The evening coffee and dessert party with our "grand daughters" of the class of 2010 was such fun. They seem just like we were - so long ago! Thanks so much for helping to organize the event! Love to you all!
**********
Elaine Ward Loomis
My thoughts? The experience made me want to stay on campus and attend classes endlessly. I found that the students were not unlike us at that point in time, same questions, same eagerness (except the early class) the same willingness of professors to deal with students' questions and comments. The library was still a quiet place to study, which I did in the spare time I found. And I became Granny to 2 women which will make attending the 50th that much more interesting. Overall, a wonderful time. Getting caught up with classmates in the informal atmosphere was certainly a plus for the "weekend", Thanks to everyone who helped make the time such a success.
**********
Judy Sayler Olmer
Keeping it short, here's my contribution:
-- Good talks with several classmates I don't see very often and remembered how much I enjoyed. Gail Moffat Hudson, Betsy Hakewessell Miller, Nancy Nash Johnson, Mary Ann Sparklin Woodruff come to mind. And I was sad that, even in this smaller reunion group, there were still people I basically missed.
-- Attending several classes, enjoying them all, and realizing the discussion classes probably are more vibrant than they were in our days!
-- Spending time with my new "grand daughter," class of 2010.
-- a beautiful early morning walk all round campus and up College Street, visitng all of the dorms I lived in--a deeply emotional experience. So many happy memories, a few sad ones, but overwhelmingly a bittersweet sense of how very long it is since the days when I worked and played on this landscape. I am always taken with how, although so many new buildings have filled up the empty spaces of my youth, the college always "feels" the same.
Many many thanks, again, to Nancy Zone Bloom and Dana Feldshuh, who seem to have been almost wholly responsible for pulling this excellent mini-reunion together.
**********
Sandra Germond Pritz, M.D.
My favorite memory of our mini-reunion was sitting in the three classes I attended, only one of which was in my major area, and marveling at how engaging they were and how fortunate we were/are to have made the college choice we did. The faculty are terrific! I'd happily do it all again! **********
Leone Guthrie Reeder
What a special
few days for me...being with each of you!!! Thank you for
welcoming your long absent classmate with such warmth. You
were ALL so welcoming to me that it made the mini-reunion
very special and discovering that our classmates were
still as lively and interesting and busy as ever was
wonderful. I loved the laughter and joy that was evident
in spite of life's ups and downs. I am sorry there was
not more time to hear in depth about your families, and
your lives. All the time and effort that went into the
mini reunion produced a wonderfully paced two days.
**********
Mary Ann Sparklin Woodruff
I think among the standouts for me was attending classes. Along with friends, I attended classes in Shakespeare (a fix for us English majors!), American history and poly sci. I noted how gifted the teachers were in engaging the students in dialogue, especially in a senior seminar called "Politics: Winners and Losers," which turned out to be a mock court trial with the Jeffersonians debating the Hamiltonians about property taxes. The prof came in as a judge, each student presented as a lawyer making her case. The Weisman Center and its focus on Speaking, Writing and Arguing were much in evidence, and we alumnae were all deeply impressed. Oh, can I mention another? The conversations over breakfast, lunch and dinner were fabulous! It was amazing how quickly whatever group congregated got through superficiality to really good discussions, sharing our histories and perspectives, laughing uproariously and weeping together depending on the topic. I left feeling so, so blessed by the sisterhood in each story I heard.
**********
Joan Corcoran Steiger
Since I was technically homebound recovering from surgery during the Mini, I only attended a couple of evening events. I certainly got a kick out of singing (under the President's wondering eyes) Carey's twist on an old college song, as we presented our thank you gift to Dana. Meeting my Granddaughter was just The Best!! Runner Up was being chauffeured back and forth between Holyoke and South Hadley by the totally wonderful Curtis Smith. And, as you will recall, I sat opposite you and NEXT TO Vinnie Ferraro at dinner one evening. As much fun as I had conversing with you, it was Vinnie I fell in love with. . .or something like that!
Note: Should more reminiscences arrive, we will post them here as "Part II". My thanks to everyone who wrote for this piece. You are "uncommon" women all! The End, Part I
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Mini-Reunion
on Campus-- September, 2008 and... CLICK HERE TO SEE CAREY GIBSON’s THOUGHTS ABOUT the MINI-Reunion
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Dinner
and a Show
We got a great reception at the Y and here is the wonderful review! |
Joyce Johnson Spencer and Carey Downs Gibson on a "high" in Colorado
