Hello, everyone! When I wrote our last column back in March I never imagined
what the next few months would bring. Yet, here we are with masks, distancing,
gallons of hand sanitizer, and now planning Zoom holiday dinners with family. I
sincerely hope each of you is well, both physically and emotionally.
Thanks to Jacqueline Murphy Luciano of Ocala, FL, for sending an update. She
and several University of Maine friends had hoped to have a mini reunion this
year to celebrate their milestone birthdays but the virus prevented that. Instead,
Bob Sherlock in Illinois set up a Zoom meeting that included Heather Sutherland
’79G in Canada, John and Janet White Schwanda in Maine, and Diane
Krause and Marilyn Adkins Ozelius, both in Massachusetts. Jacqueline writes of
the event, “It was such a joy to see much-missed faces, laugh at silly things
again, and reminisce about when the world was a whole lot simpler at Orono.
Hoping that next year we will be able to have a belated celebration. Black Bears
forever!”
I also received a note from Mike Doble, who retired in April from Raytheon as
director of corporate relations. Before that he had been with a public relations
firm in Washington, DC, and prior to that served in the U.S. Army, retiring as a
Lieutenant Colonel assigned to the Army Chief of Staff, or as Mike puts it, “the 4-
star who runs the Army.” His most recent retirement afforded him the opportunity
to finish writing his first novel, On the Hot Seat. Check it out.
Richard Rosen was hired by Maine Maritime Academy in Castine to serve as
vice president for financial and institutional services. He is working with another
class member, MMA president William Brennan ’02 Ph.D.
David Cole ’78G of Brewer has retired as city manager of Ellsworth, a position he
held for the last five years.
Steve Hewins stepped down as president/CEO of Hospitality Maine in
December. He headed the state’s restaurant lodging and restaurant industry
group since it was founded in 2018, though he also led an earlier version of the
organization. Steve helped Hospitality Maine navigate through the pandemic,
during which Maine lost thousands of jobs.
He plans to focus on Hospitality Maine’s educational foundation.
“I am especially passionate about the need for a sustainable education and
career pathway to develop the new generation of hospitality professionals
needed in the post-COVID economy,” he said.
Listeners of Maine Public Radio will miss the live broadcasts of Sara Crafts
Willis’s program of contemporary music “In Tune.” Sara retired from Maine Public
this fall, after 20 years of hosting the program. An audio stream of “In Tune” can
be heard 24/7 on mainepublic.org.
Lynne McKenney Lydick has been an active volunteer at Abby’s House in
Worcester, MA, for over 20 years, serving on the board of directors and its
human resource and nominating committee. She has given generously of her
time and talent to promote the mission of Abby’s House, providing shelter and
affordable housing, as well as advocacy and support services, to homeless,
battered, and low-income women. This year Lynne was awarded the 2020 Annette
Rafferty Award, which honors an individual who exemplifies the values of
Abby’s House and its founder. Lynne has also shared her time and talents with
other organizations including the Worcester Public Schools, the League of
Women Voters, almost 20 years with the Jane Fund of Central Massachusetts,
and for the last 22 years, the Worcester Women’s History Project.
Congratulations, Lynne!
To each and every one of you, Black Bears all, and to your families, I wish you
much better times in 2021. Stay healthy and stay strong!