Anne Dearstyne Ketchen
446 Brook Street
Carlisle, MA 01741
(978) 369-1661
anneketchen@comcast.net
facebook.com/groups/UMaineClass1972/
I hope you all had a great summer. Last May I finally got to meet Ray Viola. He and his family were in the area to attend the graduation of one of his sons from Merrimack College in North Andover, MA. My husband Richard and I met Ray for lunch at the Shawsheen Luncheonette in Andover, MA. The thing that struck me the most about Ray? He’s lived in Santa Barbara, CA, for about 40 years, and he still has a Long Island accent!
Also last May, I was delighted to get an email from Mark Sweetland ’73G (“Sweetie,” as we used to call him). He said: “I am writing you after so many years to say hello and say that we live ten minutes apart. My wife Kim and I have resided in Burlington [MA] these past 39 years. We just opened the Ocean Point Inn and resort in East Boothbay, ME, for our 34th season. We have co-owned and run the operation with Anthony Krason and David Dudley ’69, ’72G. Over the years we have welcomed many UMaine grads at our resort including some of the university’s professors.” Sounds like a good time for a road trip to the coast of Maine!
I’d like to share some of the thank-you letter from Catherine McDonald, the 2016-2017 recipient of our class scholarship. Catherine wrote in part: “I want to thank you so much for your contribution and let you know that it was a great honor and help to me…My grandfather, Barry McDonald, graduated in 1972 and passed away before I enrolled at UMaine, so this is particularly special to me.” After graduation, Catherine hopes to teach high school social studies and work toward a master’s degree.
And I received a couple clippings from the Alumni Association. Beth Dobson was nominated by Maine Governor Paul LePage ’75G for reappointment to serve as a District Court judge.
For more than 20 years, Valerie Nesbit Hoff and her husband, Gerry, of Mount Vernon, ME, have been carving jewelry from moose bones in the New Zealand Maori tradition. Gerry is the designer, and Valerie is the carver. You’ll find their business—Maine Bone Carving—on the web, where you can check out their fine work.
Enjoy the winter, wherever it finds you. Drop me a line if you’d like to share any news with our classmates.