Happy winter to one and all.
The campus may be awash in the magical white of a winter storm by the time y’all see this. My freshman year I lived in Somerset and had an 8:00 dance class at Lengyel Hall. That was a brutal walk on a cold winter morning!
Jay Feyler, the town manager of Union since 2009, announced his intention to retire last fall, although he has offered to be around to help with the transition. Congratulations to you, Jay.
Speaking of town managers, several months ago I went into my town hall and who should I run into but Mike McGovern. He was the long-time town manager here, retired, and is now back on an interim basis while a new manager is sought. When my son Ross was little, he and I were in the town hall while I was registering my car. We saw Mike and I introduced them. As we left, I told Ross that Mike and I graduated from UMaine together. Ross’s reply? “You look a lot older than he does, Mom.”
Our classmate Stephanie Seguino ’85G, professor emerita at UVM, was one of the commencement speakers at this year’s graduate school ceremonies. Stephanie also serves as a research associate of the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and as a fellow of the Gund Institute for the Environment. Her research explores the relationship between intergroup inequality by class, race, and gender and their societal effects on economic development and growth. Before she received her Ph.D. from American University in 1994, she worked as an economist in Haiti through the United States Agency for International Development, both before and after the “Baby Doc” era.
What are two beings known for being stubborn? The answer: mules and Jack Cosgrove ’84G. It is most fitting that he should be the football coach for the Colby Mules. A year ago, Jack was nearing the end of seven months of chemotherapy for a rare form of lymphoma. He still coached the Mules last fall, but now questions his decision to do that. “I was a stubborn, stubborn man. I wanted to coach, but don’t think I had the energy or enthusiasm that I always coach with.” As he wrestled with the decision, his oncologist told him that coaching was beneficial to his recovery. When patients go through cancer treatment, they need something therapeutic in their lives. His oncologist told Jack that football was his therapy. Two of his former players, Mike DeVito ’06 and Jordan Stevens ’10, agreed. Mike claimed that not only is Jack the patriarch of Maine football, but he is also one of the toughest human beings he’s ever known.
Recently, I attended my 50th high school reunion at Cony in Augusta — an event many of you may have also attended over these past few months. It was a three-day weekend of memories and new connections. These are the UMaine ’78 folks I had a chance to speak with: Tim Leet, Mike Bourassa, Kippy York, and Cathy Pierce Hopper. Our classmate, Laura Gabriel of Augusta, passed away unexpectedly on October 4th. I am personally thankful to have seen her at our high school reunion a few weeks before her death. May she rest in peace.
Did I miss anyone? If so, please let me know so I can rectify the omission. Our classmate Brenda Nasberg Jepson was kind enough to open up her home for me to stay, and Brenda and I had an earlier reunion with high school and UMaine classmate Diana Rothstein during her annual visit to Maine; she has lived in New Zealand more than half her life now.
How were your reunions? Please let me know who you saw from the Class of ’78 (and we are still the best). I look forward to hearing about your reunions and other news as well.
Please write. Seriously. I’m begging.