The campus was in full spring splendor as 49 members of our class and 18 spouses gathered from places as distant as Denmark (Hanne Bruun Raabyemagle) and California (Mary Alana Baker Ellis and Ann Tomlinson Edmondson) to celebrate our 55th Reunion the weekend of May 28-30, 2010. Some eager beavers came in time to register the afternoon of Thursday, May 27. Our Reunion Co-chairs, Juli Shea Towell, Jane Barth, and Ruth (Harbie) Harberg DuBois, were at our class headquarters, North Rockefeller, to greet us and tell us of coming attractions.
The early arrivals had an opportunity to attend a cooking demonstration, wine-tasting, and Mediterranean buffet at Willits-Hallowell Conference Center on Thursday evening. Chef Jeff Viviano showed us how to make Baba Ganoush, Crab Cakes and Potato Pancakes, which we later consumed as we sampled wines brought by a Boston vendor who could have been a standup comedian. This was followed by a tasty buffet in the Center’s dining room.
A treat was in store for 16 of us on Friday morning, arranged by Jan Williams Libby. We were taken by bus to visit the wonderful Smith College Museum in Northampton. Two young docents showed us some of the highlights, including a large Tamayo mural, a number of paintings by the most well known artists, and a special exhibit of works by the Bloomsbury group, before turning us loose to browse on our own. Meanwhile, back on campus, some of those who stayed behind attended classes, while others enjoyed catching up with one another in the dorm. At noon, a number had lunch with outgoing President Joanne Creighton, who spoke about the accomplishments of the past fourteen years.
There were three Back-to-Class sessions on Friday afternoon. Our campus maps came in handy as we faced the challenge of finding our chosen classrooms. Among the classes attended by 55ers and discussed later were Building a Personal Learning Network Online, the Womanly Brain, Archival Explorations, and Life is Full of Options. The final session on Friday afternoon found most of us in Hooker Auditorium for Vinnie Ferraro’s analysis of America’s Changing Role in the World. (He described the world’s major problem as the instability of the economic system. He explained this complex issue very clearly, but offered no easy solution.)
A social hour for alumnae, faculty, and emeriti faculty in Kendade Auditorium preceded a wonderful Class Dinner in Blanchard’s Great Hall, which was organized by Sue Nutter Keller with the help of Jane Robertson Reiss. Following a delicious meal, we sang “Happy Birthday” to Hanne Bruun Raablyemagle. Then Jane Barth introduced Dean Donal O’Shea, who spoke about the Values of Liberal Education, which he claimed helps create a certain type of citizen, one who is able to think critically and take a stand. He said liberal arts are under attack today, as society is more geared to professional education. In fact, only one hundred liberal arts colleges remain and they are all in America. In his riveting and humorous talk, Dean O’Shea, a mathematician, gave us some facts and figures about our time versus today (cost, $1,800 vs. $56,036; students 1,242 vs. 2,250; foreign students, 40 vs. 500 including 74 from China) and amusing verbal sketches of certain campus characters from our time (Deans Robinson and Cameron and Professors Lawson, Schuck, Viereck, Bates, Kaufman and Lowenberg.) When he was through with his formal presentation, members of the audience added their own anecdotes about some of the above and mentioned a few, such as Mr. Cramer, whom he had not described. There were many laughs as fond and funny memories were rekindled.
After dinner, it was back to the dorm for more chatting and snacks organized by Ellie Graham Claus. We were also invited to view the Treasures of the Sphinx II, a collection of artistic endeavors of classmates, arranged by Izzy Scherer Cunningham and Carol Pilloni Lochhead. Exhibits included paintings, photos, weavings, quilts, knitted goods, published works and manuscripts, evidence that our talents are many and varied.
On Saturday morning we appeared in our whites decorated by snazzy yellow sashes across our chests a la Miss America, with sunflowers at our waists, designed by Louise Kugler Bush and Ruth (Harbie) Harberg DuBois. We completed our costumes by hanging yellow-rimmed sunglasses around our necks on yellow holders. (Yes, we did need them for the parade, as it was yet another beautiful day.) Bagpipers led us as we marched, proudly carrying signs provided by Sue Donaldson Poor, around Skinner Green to Chapin Auditorium for the Alumnae Association Meeting.
The meeting began with Gail McClung ’45 leading the assembled classes in song. Cynthia L. Reed ’80, Alumnae Association president, welcomed the reunion classes and introduced outgoing college president, Joanne V. Creighton, past and present members of the Alumnae Association Board, past and present members of the Board of Trustees, and Lynn Pasquerella ’80, incoming president of Mount Holyoke College.
Following the announcement of Alumnae Association Awards, recognition was given to Alumnae Scholars and Loyalty Award recipients, including our own Margaret Broughton Tenney and Nancy Leech Mohr. Then Deborah (Deb) Hazzard Nash was asked to come forward for a special announcement. She told about the special project done prior to our 50th reunion by the Class of 1955 in conjunction with Eleanor Townsley’s sociology class. This landmark project linked members of the Class of 1955 with students from Sociology 224 and compared their lives as Mount Holyoke students. Deb then presented a DVD of the presentation on Seminar Day of our 50th reunion and the newly published book, “Uncommon Women Together – Generations Apart” by Joan W. Ripley and Nancy L. Mohr to President Joanne Creighton.
The next item on the agenda was the Celebration of Classes and Reading of Class Histories. President of the Class of 1955, Deb Nash, represented us by describing some of the oddities of our era in college (posture pictures, smokers, housemothers, getting pinned, etc.) and then citing some of our accomplishments during the 55 years following graduation.
Maria Z. Mossaides ’73, Chair of the Finance Committee, presented the Development Awards. She said $7.3 million was raised for the Annual Fund this year and that $200 million has been contributed toward the $300 million goal for the Campaign for Mount Holyoke. The Class of 1955 held the record for a 45th reunion gift for the past ten years; however, this year the record was broken by the Class of 1965, which gave $341,000. The Class of 1950 broke the record for a 60th reunion gift by raising $350,000. We didn’t break any records, but did extremely well, under the leadership of Sylvia Johnson Lucas and Elizabeth (Betsey) Pratt Marlowe, with a gift of $212,500 with 73% participation. Maria awarded us with the Chairwoman’s Award, given rarely, for the singular achievement of reaching between 71% and 75% participation for a number of years and thanked us for our leadership and loyalty.
Cynthia Reed then closed the meeting by calling Joanne Creighton forward. She congratulated her on becoming an honorary member of the Class of 2010 and welcomed her to the Alumnae Association with a red parasol. The meeting concluded with a special Presidential version of the Alma Mater, written by the Board of Directors of the Alumnae Association in her honor. (“Oh, Joanne, we show appreciation, For all of the work you have done,” etc.)
With rain threatening, it was decided to take the class pictures in the auditorium of Pratt Hall. When our turn came, not a drop was falling so we persuaded the photographer to do it on the steps of Pratt instead.
The rest of the afternoon was free for tours of the newly renovated Kendall Sports and Dance Complex, the newly renovated Safford Hall, and the new residence hall, now named Joanne V. Creighton Hall. Some also visited the Art Museum and its special exhibit on “The Art of Devotion.”
At 5:45, back at the dorm, we had our Class Meeting and Reception. President Deb Nash asked Mary Lou Judd Carpenter to read the list of class members we’ve lost in the past five years, and we had a moment of remembrance. (See list at the end of this report.)
In the absence of Cynthia Pinney Hammar, Deb suggested that we dispense with the reading of the minutes. The Treasurer’s Report was given by Joan Wharton Witkin, who reported that we would have a balance of about $8,000 after anticipated reunion expenses are paid. She said that the Executive Committee proposed that dues should be $35 for the next five years. Sylvia Johnson Lucas and Betsey Pratt Marlowe thanked the class for our loyalty and participation and presented gifts to the class agents. Sylvia said that the award given at the Alumnae Association meeting was for the whole class. Mary Lyon Society Chair, Juli Shea Towell, asked us to remember Mount Holyoke in our wills.
Deb gave special thanks to the class officers: Vice-president, Sue Donaldson Poor; Secretary, Cynthia Pinney Hammar; Treasurer, Joan Wharton Witkin; Scribe, Betsy Horton Winters; Web Mistresses: Gay Chaffee Hartman and Joan Winkel Ripley; Finance Chairs, Sylvia Johnson Lucas and Betsey Pratt Marlowe; Mary Lyon Chair, Juli Shea Towell; Mini Reunion Chair, Mary Lou Judd Carpenter; Archivist, Juli Shea Towell; Ex-officio: Ellie Graham Claus. The Reunion Co-chairs, Juli Shea Towell, Jane Barth, and Harbie Harberg DuBois, were asked to stand. They received a round of applause for a flawless reunion. Deb also thanked Joan Winkel Ripley and Nan Mohr for the publication of the book, which she described as a work of labor and love.
The Class Nominating Committee, consisting of Joan Willenbrok Leonard, Thelma (Tee) Englander Goldberg, Diana Alexanian Jalelian, Ann Wolf Bush, Mary (Miz) Comey Grant, and Carol Pilloni Lochhead, presented the following slate: President, Joan Winkel Ripley; Vice President, Ruth Harberg DuBois; Secretary/Scribe, Betsy Winters Horton; Treasurer, Jane Barth; Head Class Agents, Margot Rusch Allison and Jane Estey Peters; Web Coordinators, Gay Chaffee Hartman and Joan Winkel Ripley; Nominating Committee, Henrietta Simler Buch, Nancy Nutting Lane, and Judy Cooper Healey. The slate was unanimously elected.
There being no new business, Deb handled the gavel to Joan (Wink) Winkel Ripley, who thanked Deb for being such a fabulous president. She presented a gift of Mount Holyoke coasters and credited her of being the one who suggested the book. After a few announcements, the meeting was adjourned.
While we were still in the living room enjoying a glass of wine, Cynthia Reed, president of the Alumnae Association, entered the room and asked to say a word. She was there, she said, to give Nan Leech Mohr her Loyalty Award for service and devotion to the college. Over the years, Nan has served as Reunion Chair, President, and Nominating Committee Chair. She was co co-author of the recently published book and chaired the Steering Committee for the campaign to build the renowned Mount Holyoke Equestrian Center. She has also been active in Mount Holyoke clubs in New York and Philadelphia. Nan thanked her. Despite a stroke last September, she was very articulate as she credited John, her husband, with being such a great help and spoke of our class as being very close and building an incredible legacy. (Unfortunately, Margaret Broughton Tenney wasn’t there to receive her award.)
We then moved in to the dining room of the dorm for a delicious buffet dinner arranged by Nancy Nutting Lane, who was unable to attend at the last minute. The dining room looked lovely, thanks to Sue Nutter Keller, who saw that everything ran smoothly, and Jane Robertson Reiss, who did the flowers. We were delighted to have Kate Rindy, from the Development Office, plus Eleanor Townsley and Edwina Cruise, our Class Honoraries as our guests. The honoraries were asked to update us on their lives. Eleanor was pleased to have been made a full professor. She enjoyed playing Mary Lyon in the Faculty Show, is Chair of the Anthropology and Sociology Departments, and has recently had a book published by Oxford University Press. Edwina continues as Chair of the Russian Department and has recently published an article celebrating the anniversary of Tolstoy’s death. She said she expected to be retired by now, but will probably be around for our 60th. She played a non-speaking role as Russian Dressing in the Faculty Show.
Following the dinner, a social hour continued with EllieGraham Claus in charge of refreshments. Rhoda Ernst Bannon led some of the group in an animated song fest, accompanied by a hired piano player. Sunday was a day of fond farewells as we left the campus with many happy memories of a wonderful 55th reunion.
Respectfully submitted,
Dee Lamb Barstow, Reunion Scribe
