Class of '50

Class of ’50, are you ready? Our reunion committee is busy laying the plans for a fabulous 50th reunion on June 1-4, 2000. This will be our first, last, and only 50th UVM reunion, so let’s make it a great one. As part of the reunion activities, we will be producing a memory book. Please take the time to send us your information so that you can be included in this publication. Dr. Jo Pellon sent a message stating, “The children of this country can use our help. One million are induced to become smoking addicts each year and more than 300,000 of them will be killed by tobacco-use poisoning.” Jo, who lives in Stamford, Conn., is involved with the Connecticut Stop Tobacco-Save Kids web site.

Class of '51

Nancy McKee Diesslin wrote that she had talked recently with Bill and Jeanne Farr Semonite, who were at home in Bellows Falls, Vt., during a “pit stop” between trips to their cottage in Maine and their rental in South Carolina. The Semonites and Bob and Anita Swazey Vachon were planning an on-your-own, non-excursion trip to the Canadian Rockies for the fall season. Nancy reported that Anita and Bob have sold their northern homes and are settling permanently in South Carolina. Jeanne Semonite and Marcia True Burch see each other fairly often. Marcia keeps busy with part-time work and other pursuits. At the time Nancy wrote, she was busy preserving California bounty from her garden.

Class of '52

Kenneth Pierce and his wife traveled to England in 1998 for their oldest daughter’s wedding. Afterward they visited friends in Dover before heading to Edinburgh to celebrate their 34th wedding anniversary. They visited the best man from their wedding and many other friends across Scotland before returning home.

Class of '54

June is drawing closer by the day. You have made plans to attend the reunion activities, haven’t you? Our “Lake View” reunion with the classes of ’55 and ’56 will be spectacular. We hope to see you all there. Beverly Jarvis reports a busy retirement. She has done consulting for the Arizona State Education Department, where she won an outstanding service award. Beverly is active in her church, serving on several committees and editing its newsletter. She has enjoyed cruises to Victoria, British Columbia, and Hawaii. Esor Winer Ben-Sorek is Rabbi of the Howard Beach Judea Center in Queens, N.Y. He has traveled to forty-five countries, lecturing in eight languages. Over the years, Esor has been honored by several governments and religious communities in Poland, Israel, Aruba, and Holland. He also has served as guest chaplain in the U.S. House of Representatives, but his crowning glory is the success of his three children: a physiotherapist, a medical doctor, and a Deputy County Attorney in Nassau County. And then, there are the grandchildren…of course. John Dowling has been the contracts manager and associate business manager for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory for the past fifteen years. The observatory, located in Socorro, N.Mex., is the largest in the world. He and his wife, Linda, live in Bosque Farms, N.Mex., where they operate Saraha Spirit Arabians, raising registered Arabian horses and enjoying living in the sunny Southwest.

Class of '55

Bill and I are really excited about the upcoming Reunion, June 1-4, 2000, and are thrilled to have already heard from so many—not just our classmates, but many from the classes of ’54 and ’56 who plan to return. It will be great to look back on the fun times we all enjoyed together in the super ’50s, whether in sororities and fraternities, other clubs, classes, sports, etc. Our trio of classes ringing in the new millennium is the best way for us to celebrate our 45th reunion. As of this writing, I have spoken to many of you throughout the U.S., and now I am waiting to hear from you that you will join us for the big celebration. Bill and I have no intention of waiting for our 50th—who knows where we’ll be then. Life is precious and too short, and we can’t wait to share lots of happy memories in June. So, get organized and let us know that you’ll be there so we can make our plans for lodging, fun times, and events. A few classmates recently sent in some news. Marilyn Houghton Cass, who lives in West Springfield, Mass., looks forward to receiving the Vermont Quarterly. Ronald Lipman wrote, “I have figured out how to make Maltex cereal. Just combine half a measure of brown Wheatena with half a measure of white Farina, and you have a bowl of Maltex.” Ron, are you sending a special message for those over sixty-five? Louise Phelps Milne keeps extremely busy as an officer in several organizations, as year-round gardener, and as the grandparent of eight lively granddaughters. Sandra Perry Lovell wrote that she has many fond memories of UVM. She is now widowed, but she keeps busy with her six grandchildren and volunteer work. Her daughter, Carolyn Bick ’81, owns a successful women’s clothing store in Rockport, Mass. (my favorite spot). Her other daughter lives in Glen Ellyn, Ill., and her son, in Pittsford, Mass. Frederick Cioffi of Washington, D.C., Donald Forsyth of Brunswick, Maine, and their wives spent last September 14 as guests of George and Grete Isbrandtsen Plender at their home in Castine, Maine. Fred had kept in contact with the Plenders over the years, but he had not seen Don in forty-four years. Fred and Don are both retired, while George stays busy as harbor master in Castine. They all spent the afternoon sailing aboard the Schooner Bowdoin as guests of the Maine Maritime Academy. They all recalled many forgotten memories, and they all hope to attend the June 2000 reunion. George Gould wrote that he pledged Alpha Tau Omega fraternity in September 1951 at UVM before leaving school to join the U.S. Air Force and serve in Korea. After forty-eight years, he was initiated into the ATO chapter at West Texas A & M University. He wrote from Amarillo, Tex., that it was “like finally tying the bow on a 48-year-old Christmas package.” Daniel Paris of Raymond, Maine, has been retired for the past ten years. He now spends his time as a swim official and a volunteer at Camp Sunshine, a camp for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. So be it for now. I anxiously await your news and information about when we’ll see you at our special gathering on campus in June. More anon.

Class of '56

Mark your calendars for our 55th reunion on June 1-4, 2000. We will join the classes of ’54 and ’55 for a gala celebration. Our weekend theme is the “Lake View” Reunion. You wouldn’t want to miss a moment, would you?

Class of '57

Richard Greene of Los Angeles let us know that his daughter, Nina Garwood, gave birth to her second child, Julia, on July 4, 1999.

Class of '58

Classmates, I know that “no news is good news,” but I’d love to hear from you, and so would all of our classmates. Please send your news to me at the above address or send me an email me soon. If you have been wanting to contact Father Mulligan, I have his email address. I look forward to getting lots of news soon.

Class of '59

Roy McMahon reported from Green Valley, Ariz., that he and his wife, Martha Monteith ’56, have moved permanently from Essex Junction, Vt., to Arizona. Roy recently retired from IBM, and he said that he is now busier than he’s ever been before.