Nancy Roberts Munson
P.O. Box 1995
Orleans, MA 02653
(508) 255-4091
munsons@aol.com
www.facebook.com/groups/UMaineClass1959/
Hello ’59ers —I hope you are enjoying spring.
Proud father Ken Perrone ’60G writes that his daughter’s book, Gull Harbor, written by Kathryn Knight, was #1 on both the Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites in its category. On Barnes and Noble it was the #1 bestselling book overall.
Woody Hodgkins’s condo on Marathon in the Florida Keys survived the hurricane but the surrounding neighborhood suffered much damage. Woody’s son, Kenneth ’78, ’80G, was awarded an honorary doctorate at last May’s commencement for his achievements in the federal government, most recently in the State Department.
Have heard from Blaine Moores ’63G, who spends six months in Scarborough and six months in South Carolina living in retirement communities in both places. He recently bought and renovated a lake house in South Carolina. He is still active in his business, The Sparhawk. Also doing a lot of traveling — he went to England three times last year and visited friends in Slovakia. He also made 10 trips to go fly fishing on the Kennebec.
Heard from Robert and Elizabeth Ann Duce Swift, who were married in 1960 and live in Hebron. Ann taught and substituted in Lewiston Middle School for 40 years. Bob worked for a consulting firm in Auburn before starting his own in 1975. They have four children and ten grandchildren. The sixth grandchild is a senior at UMaine.
Alice Lane Johnson has her own stained glass studio in Watertown, MA. She served as an apprentice, then designer at a studio in Cambridge before opening her own. Previously she worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Research Service preparing information for congressional hearings. In 1963 she spent a year traveling to Germany, Scandinavia, Yugoslavia, Greece, and Turkey. Returning to the Boston area she worked as art editor for Houghton Mifflin. Subsequent travels include trekking in the Himalayas and spending time in Mongolia, Norway, and Peru.
Dave ’58 and Anne Christiansen Sleeper recently celebrated their 60th anniversary. They have lived in Hermon for many years but spend five months at camp in Corea. Dave still works four days a week for Realty of Maine, which he founded 30 years ago. Anne keeps busy with doll club, quilting, and volunteering.
Dave and Judy Ward Marshall are retiring after running Knapp’s Greenhouses for 53 years in West Newbury, MA. They hope to have more time for traveling and fishing trips.
Don Cookson reported that there were several activities in 2017 for our adopted Class of 2019. They included a welcome back reception at the start of the fall semester; attendance at class council meetings; cookouts and games at the Cooksons’ Maple Shade Farm; a summer internship at the farm for Nicole Inglis ’19, an agricultural management major; and Maine spirit discussions with class members. The major program in 2018 will be our sponsorship and organization of special group and individual mentoring sessions designed to prepare class members for future careers.
Don was honored with a Block "M" award in September at the Senior Alumni Reunion. The award recognizes individuals who, over a period of years, advance the strength and success of their alumni class, chapter, and/or Alumni Interest Group. Other class members who have received the prestigious Block “M” award are: George Lovett and Thomas Sezak (both in 1983), Robert and Nancy Roberts Munson (in 1991), and Col. Joseph Cuccaro (in 1993).
Congratulations to Robert Davee’s granddaughter and grandson (Molly ’20 and John ’18 of Rockport), who are the 2017-18 recipients of our Class of 1959 Scholarship. Molly is majoring in nursing, and John will earn a degree in mechanical engineering. Our scholarship is a legacy-oriented one. First consideration for the award goes to a relative of our class.
I would like to remind you all of the generous matching gift that Blaine has pledged to our Class Scholarship Fund. Every dollar you contribute between now and our 60th Reunion in September 2019 will be doubled, thanks to the Blaine Moores Scholarship Challenge.
Please give as generously as you can.