1941
During a recent conversation with Patricia ‘Pat’ Williams Gilchrist, she shared stories about Miss Mitchell, including a vivid memory of practicing enunciation by repeating the word, “milk.”
During a recent conversation with Patricia ‘Pat’ Williams Gilchrist, she shared stories about Miss Mitchell, including a vivid memory of practicing enunciation by repeating the word, “milk.”
Suzanne ‘Suzie’ Evans Benson writes, “My dog Brendi, a black English Labrador, is a member of Pet Partners Organizations – she’s exceptional! I am 84, but I still take her to hospitals, nursing homes, and rehab institutions about three times a week. We also go to choir practice and choir Sunday morning at St. Paul’s church in Wickford, Rhode Island. One has to visit the Lord because time is clicking by!”
Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Forstall Keen reported, “Don and I continue to enjoy the good Florida life. We keep busy each week playing golf, volunteering in our church’s Food Pantry, and in a program for children with special needs. We recently returned from a beautiful three-week journey through Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark.”
Linda Lear was unable to attend Reunion. To see what she has been writing lately, check out the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, including several “Next Page” features including one about Rachel Carson and one about Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Judith ‘Judy’ Goldstein Marks writes, “Wishing fellow classmates all my best. I was not able to attend Reunion, but please know that I am thinking about you and ‘dear old WT.’ Please let me know if you are in Sarasota in the winter, in Chapel Hill, NC, in autumn and spring, or in London in the summer.”
Justine ‘Tina’ Diebold Englert shared, “I was in Oakland, CA for a wedding and was able to meet Jennifer Chinlund for a wonderful lunch. It’s been 49 years since we last saw each other, and we both marveled at how it seemed like no time had passed. That’s the beauty of good friendships formed when young.”
Southwest Florida was the meeting place for Rachel ‘Gay’ Knake Haines, Judith Getty Treadwell, and Carolyn ‘Lyn’ Clark Pegg this winter. Lyn and Judith got together several times and they shared wonderful memories about WT. Gay and Lyn met up in North Venice and spent a lively day with Oliver, the therapy dog, at the Child Protection court hearings, and reminisced about growing up in Pittsburgh. They hope that their 60th Reunion may be a good time to rally up the 1959 classmates!
Mary Jane ‘Pie’ Harter Smith misses hearing from Karen Harmeier Berner and Olivia Tadeo!
Marilyn Goldberg stated, “WT was such a long time ago! I retired from my position as Chair of the Department of Ancient Studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County four years ago. My husband and I have a Tibetan Buddhist Center in our house and we lead Healing Circles for Grief and Loss.”
Carol Elkind created the non-profit Crossing Limits, an interfaith literary organization. Recently, Crossing Limits presented “Common Threads: Faith, Activism, and the Art of Healing.” This exhibition showcased the creativity of 14 amazing women visual artists including WT alumna and visual arts faculty member Mary Martin ’88.
Janice ‘Jan’ Coco Groft asked everyday people the following question, “If you were to create a collection of cherished items to rediscover and relish over and over again, what would you choose to include? And why are those objects—those connections to your past—so important to you?” Their answers became the basis for Jan’s recently released book, Joy Chest: Treasures for the Journey Ahead. Joy Chest is the fourth of Jan’s published books; she remains grateful for the encouragement she received from former Winchester Thurston English teacher, the late Mrs. Jeanne-Anna Ayres Widgery ’37.
Harriet ‘Hattit’ Redenbaugh Potts writes, “On a Backroads adventure in Croatia and one of our guides is Laura Short ‘09!”
Jane Cauley writes, “Sally, Jane, and I are looking forward to our 50th Reunion in 2020 and hope that many of our classmates return for the Reunion. We have been meeting in New York City every year in early December for the last 5 years. It’s been so fun to connect with friends for more than fifty years. 2018 was very special to me. I was awarded a Provost Distinguished Professor award from Pitt and had to give a lecture. Jane and Sally both came to Pittsburgh for my lecture. I was so thankful that they made the trip. It meant a great deal to me. Winchester builds lasting friendships!”
Maureen Sullivan hosted a memorial Mass and brunch at the Pittsburgh Field Club to remember departed classmates Holly McSorley, Marion ‘Mimi’ Burke, Mary Ellis, Sara Ann Kalla, Susan Price-Livingston, and Wendy Weil.
Wendy Marks Pine and her family celebrated the B’not Mitzvah of her nieces Julia Brooke and Jenna Rose Ledo on October 6, 2018.
Rebecca Rothfus Harrell shared, “Both Jonathan ‘Jon’ Mahone and I were commissioned to create temporary murals for the city of Austin in September. It’s a program called Tempo 2D and the murals are up for one year. Earlier this year, Caprice Pierucci ’78 had a show opening. Her art is amazing and I was so glad we met at the dinner WT arranged in Austin. Thanks again!”
Nawal Qarooni is a literacy coach who works with K-8 schools in order to strengthen balanced literacy instruction in Chicago. She loves reading, cooking, traveling, and mothering her three little kiddos.
Congratulations to Amber Hempfield on the birth of her baby, Emory
Congratulations to Kelsey Croft on the birth of her baby, Willa.
Please join us in congratulating Peter ‘Matt’ Froehlke and Megan Flood on their marriage and wishing them all the happiness in the world. They met while working for SAP Ariba in 2014 and reside on Mt. Washington with their puppy, Lucy.
Elspeth Powell missed seeing her friends at Reunion. She reported, “I am doing a little European tour of Amsterdam, Bruges, London, and outside Manchester!”
Gian Marco Rossi graduated from Northeastern University and is currently living in a small village in Italy, where he has joined the local soccer team.
Shaun Hay spent his summer learning about the inner workings of Canada’s government through an internship in the House of Commons. He is currently a student at Ohio State University.
Lillian Leslie Gretton ’39
Marjorie Baer Allon ’40
Ida Ann Stevens Sullivan ’40
Margaret Miller Mansmann ’43
Joyce Runk Wenston ’43
Sara Rohm Gadd ’45
Julia Taintor Gnoza ’46
Aline Rom Lange ’46
Katherine Gerwig Bailey ’48
Margaret Metz Ogle ’48
Mary Louise Moore Scholl ’48
Sondra Gilfond Pollack ’50
Barbara Feldman Rogal ’55
Joan Stohr Foust ’59
Sarah Stites Owens ’65
Lynn Borus Dunn ’68
Molly Cannon Stevenson ’72
Jodi Shensa Novick ’85
Malcolm McCormick A’10
William R. Caroselli, former Trustee
Kay Cushing Neuhausen, former Trustee
Gloria Checkley, former faculty member
Check out our newly reimagined online spaces:
LinkedIn is now the place to share stories, find fellow alums, and engage in dialogue: linkedin.com/school/winchester-thurston-school.
The WTAlums Facebook page and class year groups are being retired. You can follow all that’s happening today at WT at facebook.com/winchesterthurston.
Visit the WT website to access the directory, update your profile, submit a class note, and learn about upcoming events.
We’re eager to help share your stories and facilitate connections!