SPRING-OA 2022

C L A S S N O T E S After vaccine and booster Marilyn Marks Oberhausen welcomed Margaret “Peggy” Dooley Nitka and Dennis to her Tallahassee, Fla., home. “The weather was sunny, upper 60’s, the sky blue, the waters sparkling - just perfect. And the visit was wonderful!” For the past three years, Marilyn and Peggy have written a creative piece each week, accompanied by a photo. Then they exchanged for feedback. Marilyn shared her admiration for Peggy’s poetry and a website for some poems: margaretnitka.com. And the next received email was from Margaret “Peggy” Dooley Nitka! She and Dennis are renting as they hunt for a new place. They are grateful the family is doing well, especially grands ages 23 to two! She continues to paint and serve on parish bereavement ministry. Peggy spoke recently with Mary Lou Asp Marsh in Atlanta, Ga., and shares that her “thoughts and prayers are with all of ‘66. Rock on!!” Geraldine “Gerri” Gornik sends greetings from Powell, Ohio, where she is finally RETIRED! General health is back to normal after three years with a debilitating autoimmune condition, plus a successful recovery from COVID. Mobility is still a big issue. Family is fine. She reminds us that “If you have candid photos you would like on our website, please send, with captions. Onyx doesn’t always have room for everything. Wishing everyone ‘enough’ in 2022 and beyond.” Masako “Micki” Ishii Inoue and her husband enjoyed two May celebrations this past year: the marriage of their daughter and their golden anniversary! They enjoyed trips to Japan’s beautiful Mise-Shima and to Kyoto in autumn. They are now busy remodeling their 70-year-old country house. We are so pleased to hear from you, Micki! Ann Faulconer Witty and Mauri have had a most challenging year. After 26 years she has retired from her church music position. It has been a difficult adjustment. In September, Mauri was diagnosed with bladder cancer. His surgery was successful, but a January follow-up resulted in newly-identified treatment areas. Christmas with all three kids, spouses and the eight grands was a wonderful treat. Ann concludes with “God is good.” I know we all pray for Ann and Mauri. I feel so pleased to have been updated by so many of you. Let’s keep each other in our prayers that 2022 will be a healthy and blessed one for all of us and our families. I’ll begin with the sad news. We have lost two class members since I last wrote. Lucinda Rosner Summers died on September 26, 2021. Reunions won’t be the same without her! And Jean Carr Shindler’s husband Ron wrote that she passed away in April 2019. He said she always spoke fondly of the Woods. Barbara “Barb” Marszalek Butvilas lost her husband George on December 21, and thanks her group of Woods friends for getting her through these tough times. And Marilyn Klingenberger Horrell lost her husband Jim on June 3. A great supporter of The Woods, Jim made an appearance at most of our Reunions! My sympathies to you both. COVID has affected all of us a lot the past couple years, led to lots of struggles, and put a big limit on travel news! Georgina Iglesias Brown writes that she has spent a lot of time working in her pottery studio and is looking forward to summer in Vermont. ’67 Barbara Gal 9 Ward Ct Lakewood, CO 80228-5026 303-946-2996 barbarahgal@gmail.com

Ellen Frawley Geoffrion is spending a lot of time with her three young grandkids in North Carolina. Patricia “Pat” Staszak Kursell is in Florida, where she celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary. Susie Shelton Schmidt commented on how time flies even when we aren’t having fun, and says hello to everyone, as she will not be at Reunion. She lost her brother a year ago. Marilyn Leerkamp Webb ’99G has been hanging out with small family groups and volunteered with Catholic Charities Christmas Store in Indianapolis, Ind. Barbara “Bobbie” Norton O’Brien wrote that 2021 was not a good year. Husband Paul was diagnosed with lung cancer last March and treatment was rough. But he is doing much better now! Jane Jones Lane is keeping up with children and grandchildren on FaceTime and phone, though they are scattered from San Diego, Calif., to Madrid, Spain. She did get to go on an adventure to New York City and see a Broadway musical! Katherine “Kathy” Berger Hager has had a challenging year, taking care of two sisters diagnosed with cancer, especially during this scary time. She has been able recently to attend theater and symphony, though still masked up!!! I too have been challenged the past couple years. Living alone during the various stages of lockdown was not fun for this social animal! My gallery and my friends there saved my sanity, as we were able to open on a small scale and stay safe. I even had two shows, though attendance was more limited. And between now and Reunion I will have one more. I did some traveling, to see family in Oregon, Texas, California and Indiana, and a visit with Valerie “Val” Poray Collins ‘68 , in Chicago, Ill. Looking forward to the weddings of one son and two grandsons in the next year. Very much looking forward to being at the Woods with all who make it, and we’ll for sure talk about those who aren’t there! To quote Bobbie, “May this year bring us unity, peace, love, happiness and good health.” ’68 Marilyn Beckman Ward 8116 Wolf Creek Ct Evansville, IN 47712-7623 812-306-4561 nana68westEv@wowway.com We are saddened by the loss of three classmates this past year Meg Still, Mary Anne Bishop Gauntner and Charlotte Korn Schriner . We share in the sorrow of their families and pray for them. Our hearts go out to Rosemarie Neimeyer Hansel on the loss of her daughter in January. Rosy’s daughter Sarah Paluso, aged 44, had COVID in the early days before vaccines and had been fighting its lasting effects for 18 months. Sarah is survived by her husband Philip and two young children, Roman and Celeste. Attending Mary Anne’s funeral in Cleveland, Sharon Dickman saw other Woods graduates among the hundreds of people who came to the funeral home to comfort Mary Anne’s husband Dan and the rest of her family. After the transplant in her 50s, Mary Anne lived to appreciate “every day as a gift.” Charlotte Marie Korn Schriner passed away on January 27, 2022. Her daughter, Kara Riordan, wrote that Char had decided to donate her class ring to SMWC for a future student that may not be able to afford one of their own. Charlotte’s letter to be included with this ring is as follows: “Enjoy this ring with all the joy, happiness and blessings I have felt wearing it since 1968! Wishing you much success in your life and a smile on your face every time you look at this ring. May health and every blessing abound your life. God Bless You!”

From Asheville, N.C., Mary Avery Mesterharm and Dean have moved near Charlottesville, Va., planning trips to Chicago, Ill., and Louisville, Ky., this spring. Sons Dean Jr and Chris are pursuing tech careers. Dean Jr. was involved in the recent Webb telescope launch! Grandson Devin is at the University of Maryland, and Chase, age ten, aspires to be a scientist like his dad. Yvonne Shepard is thankful for her health and the opportunity to winter in Palm Desert, Calif., or to spend part of summer in Martha’s Vineyard. She has embraced the challenge of duplicate bridge but continues golfing to maintain her flexibility and physical stamina. HISPA has gained recognition, but Yvonne most treasures the feedback from Latino middle school students who have been inspired by the possibilities. Ann Stephens Gries reports her family all survived the Covid. Married on August 8, 2020 to Michael Worrall, Ann Gries has kept the name Gries, because that is the name on her doctorate degree. A Federal administrative law judge, Mike decides Social Security Disability cases. Meeting Mike’s family took Ann to Iowa and Mississippi; together, they have five children and eight grandchildren. When he retires in April, they especially anticipate travel to Spain, where her grandson plans to do his May college term. This fall Christine “Chris” Roenitz spent five weeks in Europe. Travelers were received with great enthusiasm, as the tourist industry has been profoundly hurt. COVID canceled Chris’s planned Antarctic adventure at the last minute! She wound up taking alternate trips in Argentina instead, to NOA, Iguazu and the Lake District. Her brother’s death began a challenging 2021 for Cheryl Van Zetten . in May, a fall while power- walking fractured Cheryl’s knee and destroyed her shoulder. Surgery for right reverse shoulder replacement and a rebuild of her bicep muscles mandated a full year’s rehab. We hope successful physical therapy (and reduction of COVID) will permit Cheryl’s love for traveling to prevail. Celebrating her 75th birthday, Sharon Dickman and husband Michael took Amtrak (masks required) from Rochester to New York City in July and found a fairly quiet city, but many excellent museums, landmarks and even restaurants open. Throughout the year, Sharon tutored Rochester public school students online, walked outdoors with friends and talked via Zoom or telephone. In September, they made it to Delaware for a niece’s wedding reception. Ella Joan Fenoglio reports “not much travel.” It was stay-at-home for webinars on the environment, children’s issues, personal growth and development. Ella Joan filled January doing letter-writing and lobbying for New Mexico’s 30-day legislature session. Jo Ann Reitz writes that her family’s traditional Christmas gathering was missing only nephew Brian and family (in quarantine in Arizona) and niece Sarah’s fiancé, Sam. Niece Lainie has completed her advanced degree in Recreational Therapy from Lenoir Rhyme in North Carolina. Jo is thrilled that her nephew Patrick, wife Abby, and baby Sadie Jo (born 9/30/2021) moved to Evansville, Ind. Terese “Teri” Kristovich’s energy healing practice stopped during the lockdown, only lately beginning a comeback. Her oldest granddaughter graduates from Case Western in June. In the Louisville, Colo., area where Teri’s family grew up, the December 30th Marshall Fire forced Teri and her kids to evacuate. Many familiar neighborhoods were lost. Hers was next in line to be engulfed when the high winds dropped. Bernadette “Bernie” Shonka admits that her “fun- filled but Catholic life” has been very blessed after the COVID shut down. She normally does “entrance and

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