Hello, classmates! I hope you have been enjoying our summer weather. I have heard from some of you, so here is our latest news.
Cindy Peacock Gaylord shares that she retired from teaching two years ago and has remained very busy. Cindy is chair of the Westfield (MA) Historical Commission. One of the main roles of this organization is to tend to the Old Burying Ground in Westfield, which dates back to the 1640s. Members of the Historical Commission regularly repair, restore, and clean gravestones there. The Commission also holds an annual Historic Ghost Tour every fall at which time citizens from Westfield’s past “come back to life” to share their stories. All proceeds from this annual event go toward the Old Burying Ground restoration and maintenance work. Last summer, Cindy researched locations of her own ancestor’s graves, and spent some time traveling the coast of Maine visiting family plots to locate, clean and restore these family gravestones. Cindy notes that she has located forefather information from 9-10 generations back! Additionally, Cindy writes, “I’d be happy to help others do the same for their ancestors.”
Brenda LaRoche Whitney is still working as a realtor and has been in the business for 35 years. She continues to love what she does. She is working with Portside Real Estate Group, with offices in Falmouth and Portland. She enjoys keeping in touch with all of her UMO friends and sees some of them through her regular southern Maine “girl’s night out.” She and her family also get to spend some time at their camp/cottage. Brenda notes that, “I’d like to boat, garden, and dance more, but will settle for what I can fit into a busy life.”
I continue to work as a nurse practitioner in New Hampshire. Last year I returned to school (UNH) for a post-master’s program and am now practicing as a psychiatric family nurse practitioner in an inpatient setting. I love what I am doing, so no retirement in the near future. I enjoy spending time at our family home in Vermont when not working and am grateful to be near my two sons.
Enjoy your summer, everyone, and please think about returning to our beloved University of Maine this fall for Homecoming! Please send along your news. So many want to hear what YOU have been doing!