Dear classmates,
As I put the finishing touches on this column, the state of Maine is in the throes of a major nor’easter. I write that fact only as a reminder of how unpredictable Maine weather can be. At the start of my last column, I wrote about how much fun our 60th Reunion was both in Freeport and also Orono. Many others agreed with me, and the decision has been made to hold a mini reunion this September 25 and 26 in Freeport, ME. We will meet again at the Hilton Inn. Dana Humphrey ’44H will be our guest speaker on the 25th. If you have not already received information about this event, call the Alumni Office, or you are welcome to contact me, and I will be certain you have all the information. Hope to see you there!
Pat Crabtree Girr is finally fully retired (her words) and living in Scarborough, ME. For over 50 years she owned and published The Southern Maine Business Digest and its 22 franchises. With retirement she is planning to travel, play golf, and continue to usher at Merrill Auditorium in Portland.
Bunny Thibodeau Andrews ’87G lives in Brunswick in a house she built after retirement. She is active in the Maine State Music Theater. The Maine State Music Theater puts on excellent shows. If you are planning on being in Brunswick and going to a show, look up Bunny (her suggestion). Elaine Farashian continues to live outside Philadelphia where she keeps active with tennis, yoga, and her church choir. Like many of you who no longer live in this state, she enjoys coming to Maine reunions. The two Elaines — that’s Farashian and Burnham — spent an enjoyable couple of hours wandering around campus trying to figure out what we remembered. Campus maps helped.
Bonnie Bassler Keast moved back East to Exeter, NH, from California in 2015. She has kept busy exploring New England and writing a monthly newsletter about the different quirks that exist in the four towns that surround Exeter. We connected briefly after Reunion as Exeter and York are less than a half hour apart. We plan to do so again. Debbie Cutler Grace writes that being back in Maine with college friends is always special. Her words echo the feelings of so many.
Linda Ellis Bennett spends five months at her East Grand Lake camp in Maine. The other seven months she is in Oceanside City near San Diego, CA. During the summer of 2023 she traveled to Yellowstone National Park with Gail Hoxie Brown and Judi London McBrair.
Gary Dorsay, who is our class treasurer, retired in 2011, but like many of us he has stayed busier than ever. With his wife, Felice, he takes several cruises a year and remains an avid duplicate bridge player. Gary lives in Burr Ridge, IL. This 60th Reunion was the first time he had been back to campus since graduating. Irving Hodgkin and his wife, Helen Tibbetts Hodgkin ’61, moved to Brunswick a couple of years ago to be closer to grandchildren living in the area.
Bob Miller worked as a full-time attorney with the city of Bangor for 22 years and in the private sector for another 15 years. He retired in 2008 and with his wife of 58 years, Jane Tompkins Miller ’65, ’90G, moved to Punta Gorda, FL. He returns to Maine every summer. They remain active in both communities. I had a really fun conversation with Fred Stoddard. He worked for the University of Maine System for 39 years. He never moved very far away, living in the same location all those years. However, his Old Town home has had three different addresses during this time. According to Fred, it keeps the creditors confused.
One of the ideas that emerged from the 60th Reunion was to develop a list of our class members who enjoy and would like to be in touch with other class members. We thought we had the beginning of a list of names and emails that could be circulated. Notice I said “thought” here! It will happen at our next reunion. Basically, the Alumni Office does not give out information without first checking with the person to see if he/she wants to be reached. I completely agree with this policy. This is one of the reasons we decided to establish a list of those who want to connect with others. Until then, stay safe, be well, and see you at the mini Reunion.