Hello, ’71 classmates. I hope you are having a wonderful summer.
It is a fact that the first thing many alumni do when they receive their copy of the alumni magazine is to turn to the class notes to find out if there is any news about people they knew while they were at Orono. Thank you so much to those of you who reached out recently with information about what is happening in your lives. It is fun to find out about old friends and what you have been up to.
Our classmate, Fr. Frank Murray, has been named the temporary administrator of St. Michael Parish in the Augusta area. After graduating from Orono, Frank completed his clerical studies at Theological College at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He has served parishes in Auburn, Portland, Orono, Bangor, Norway, Mechanic Falls and Brunswick. Earlier in his career, Frank served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives as well as taught and coached at John Bapst High School in Bangor.
I heard from Peggy Ouellette Mailman. She wrote that she and Judy Hortman Smith, Nancy Danis Bourque, Gail Violette Hinkley ’70, and Sue Bray McCabe have been getting together “mostly every year.” They have been to Paris, London, Montreal, Jamestown, Rhode Island, Boston, Maine, and other places together, as well as celebrating weddings, birthdays, and special occasions. Good for you, ladies! Great to keep those friendships up.
Paul Michaud ’74G wrote to say that he retired eight years ago after 40 years in public higher education in human resources. He served as VP of HR at several universities such as Clemson University, University of Cincinnati, Florida International University, Marshall University, Iowa State University, and Georgia Southern University. Paul received numerous awards during his career. He graciously donated 48 steins to the UMaine Alumni Association, and they will display the steins throughout the campus. Paul and his wife, Maureen, live in Hilton Head, SC. Thank you, Paul.
Brenda Verceles Donroe sent a nice note saying she and her husband, Bill Donroe ’78G, live in southern New Hampshire. Bill has retired from Verizon and Brenda has retired from careers in education, as a paralegal, and in risk management. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2021 by taking a Mississippi River cruise. Congratulations, you two!
We lost a noted member of our class, Dick Meader G. Dick coached college basketball in Maine for 44 years, serving as head coach at Thomas College from 1971-1988 and at the University of Maine at Farmington from 1993-2020. He was also inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. We were sorry to hear of his passing.
Thank you again for your emails with information to share. I love hearing from you, and it makes my job so much easier when you reach out with tidbits which I can share with the class.