Winter greetings to the Black Bear family of the Class of ’60! All of you have received last winter’s letter from President Ace Conro. Eleven percent of the class donated to the UMaine Foundation. Presently the Class of 1960 Sandra J. Page Academic/Athletic Scholarship Fund has a market value of $377,324 — way up from last year. Our scholarship is now $10,000, which back in our day would be considered a great deal. We have the highest class scholarship fund of any alumni class. The Foundation office provided me with the following information about our scholar. Marla Tanous is a junior majoring in English. She lives in South Paris, ME, and graduated from Oxford Hills high School.
The University System recently announced a 1.2 billion system upgrade. Sixty-one percent of the buildings on the various University of Maine campuses have not been upgraded or renovated for over 50 years. Some of the funds will be used for a health services academic building at Orono, and additional amounts will target renovating existing dormitories and new construction.
The Maine Baseball Hall of Fame announced 23 new inductees, including Phillip Curtis ’62G of Old Orchard Beach, who was a state series second all-star selection while playing at Orono. He went on to coach for 13 years at Thornton Academy, where he became the winningest baseball coach in history.
Joanne Keith Sullivan of Harrison won a big award for a king-size quilt she made called “Happily Scrappy Irish.” The quilt was stitched with 1,900 two-inch blocks and now graces her daughter’s family home in Michigan. She is a member of Chickadee Quilters in Bridgton.
More than four years ago, Rick Lloyd became president of the Antique Automobile Club of America’s chapter there. The devastation of the hurricane and wildfires in Lahaina on Maui led him to lead his organization to raise and donate over $7,000 to the Maui town. He said a number of classmates donated funds to his appeal.
Brad Hooper, of Wayne, WV, is a master bagpiper. Brad grew up in Darien, CT, and went to prep school before graduating from Orono with a major in agricultural farm management. He was a member of Theta Chi fraternity and is a member of the ancient Sullivan clan. He has his personal clan plaid kilt and attended two world championships — in 2001 and 2005. While attending he enjoyed hearing his tutor play the pipes. He has assisted at burials in Arlington National Cemetery, and in his retirement has played at college reunions, churches, barbecues, and other events.
Fred and Diane Tatlock Pierce are leaving Nevada for Plano, TX, where they have a daughter, a granddaughter, and two grandsons within walking distance of their new residence. They will be in a senior facility, “much like Dirigo Pines,” in a suburb of Dallas. In October, Diane and all the girls had a ladies weekend in Austin. At San Diego State University, their son donated a large sum for the construction of the Pierce Greek Life Center, located on fraternity row at Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center. They (all nine family fraternity members) were invited to a private reception in the Pierce Family Foyer last August.
Normand Lagasse of Chandler, AZ, recently wrote Ace and has unforgettable memories of walks around campus. We have lost over half of our class and the university sent me a wonderful letter about the news of the passing of Cumberland Foreside resident Carlo Cimino. Carlo started in his father’s construction business in 1961, after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He launched his own construction business in 1966. His company was involved in many varied projects, including schools, housing projects, and offices.
Please call me and send me news.
Go Maine!
As always from Gail