University of Maine - Class of 1958

Welcome to the Class of 1958 official webpage on the University of Maine Alumni Association website. Here you will find any special announcements or reminders the Class of 1958 needs to know.

Below is the long version of the Class of 1958 Class Column. The short version appeared in the Winter 2010 issue of Maine Alumni Magazine.

1958 

Jane Ledyard Lazo (Mrs. Leo M.)
49 Martin Street
West Roxbury, MA 02132
lmlazo@juno.com

On a ninety-plus degree-day, I’m writing this column for you to read in December. From now on, the alumni magazine will be reaching your homes in summer and winter while UMaine Today will arrive in fall and spring. UMaine Today is the magazine of the public affairs department and will include information about discovery and innovations at UM. You will also be able to read the class notes on the alumni association’s web page.
Hopefully these changes will cause more of our classmates to become involved and will result in more news to pass along—news that is pretty sparse these days. I know that we are now classified as Senior Alumni, but the Class of ’58 was never shy about speaking out about themselves, their families, or the world, so pass it on to me so I can pass it on.
UM’s College of Engineering’s Francis Crowe Society held its annual induction of engineering professionals who have made outstanding contributions in their fields last May. Among the eight men who were inducted was David Sleeper of Hermon. Dave started his career as a nuclear submarine engineer for Electric Boat and was with James W. Sewall in Old Town and GE in Burlington, VT. Dave is president and owner of Realty of Maine and holds one of the early patents on an electric dishwasher. Many thanks, Dave, from all the dishwashers!
Stephen J. Law and his wife, Elaine, who started the Kids and Trees Growing Together program involving kids from SAD 4, SAD 41, and SAD 46, have deeded their acreage, which supported the program, to the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District. Steve said it took a long time to find an organization that would keep the programs going, but believes they have done so now.
Neil F. Crane and the University of Maine’s Cooperative Extension are partners in a program where science is dictating the calendar for the spraying and irrigation of the 1,300 acres of potatoes owned by Crane Brothers. The Cranes (Neil and part-owner Steven ’88) have an exclusive contract with Frito-Lay, and their crops end up at the potato chip factory in Killington, CT. It is estimated that potato farmers will save an estimated $17 million worth of their crops through this early detection program.
Arthur I. Dodge of Harpswell, who passed away in February, was honored by the Maine Legislature with a legislative sentiment in his memory. Arthur, who majored in chemical engineering at UMaine, worked for Texaco for 31 years as a process engineer and oil refining manager in New Jersey, Milford Haven, Wales; Honduras, Latin America, and West Africa. As he worked with refinery waste treatment, Art became concerned about water quality. Upon his retirement to Harpswell, he became involved with collecting seawater samples to monitor the clam flats of Casco Bay for the Department of Marine Resources for 15 years, was involved with the phytoplankton monitoring program, helped detect red tide early warning signals, and worked on the Casco Bay Estuary Project formation.  He served on the Harpswell Marine Resources Committee where he was instrumental in founding the original Soft Shell Clam Advisory Committee, which he chaired for six years.
I am sad to report that Annie Peer Norton ’78G passed away as the result of cancer in February. Born in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1936, she immigrated to the U.S. with her family in 1939 and became a naturalized citizen in 1945. She earned a B.S. in biology and a M.A. degree in French literature from UM. She did post graduate study in Oslo, Norway, in 1983 and Madrid, Spain. She taught both science and foreign languages at Bucksport High and Hampden Academy. She was a dedicated coach of both boys’ and girls’ track and cross-country teams. Annie was one of the first senior women marathoners in central Maine. She and her husband (Stephen A. Norton, professor of earth sciences for 40 years at UMaine) originated the Tour du Lac 10-Mile Road Race in Bucksport. Annie leaves her husband of 38 years, four children, and five grandchildren. She was an attendee at the Ladies who Lunch on the last Friday in June.
Another one of the Ladies who Lunch on the last Friday in June has also passed away. Barbara Tyler Gray ’74G died in July. Barb received a bachelor’s degree in education emphasizing math and a master’s in guidance from the university. She taught math at various schools in Maine and New England. She was an avid reader, knitter, and bridge and Scrabble player. Barb leaves three sons and one grandson.
Art Mayo, Paul McCourt ’62G, Bobby Carmichael, Sandra Daley Denman, Doris White Smith, and yours truly were among the attendees at our 55th Reunion out of Morse High in Bath.
Again, remember to pay your alumni dues, send in your news, and start making your plans for the 55th. Also thanks to Paul McCourt for the picture of the Morse High grads who attended UM taken at our 50th last year.

Class of 1958 members left to right: Art Mayo, Sandy Daley Denman, Paul McCourt, Doris White Smith, Jane Ledyard Lazo, and Pat Callan.