Class Notes

NEWS OF 1954

From Helen Desh Woodbridge:

At Christmas, Joan Kinard Mercado wrote: "What a fantastic year this was. Good health, special events, love of family and friends, and volunteer activities made it grand. My first special event was attending my 50th class reunion in May, at which time we were honored as the last class of Moravian College for Women." Joan's second special event was the celebration of her 70th birthday in Baltimore with a large family reunion. Joan has acquired a computer and welcomes messages at mrc7158@aol.com.

For Dottie Ruyak, the highlight of 2004 was a spring trip to the Slovak Republic, sponsored by the Slovak Synod of the Lutheran Church. She, a cousin, and his son took a side trip to Mengusovce, a village at the foot of the Tatra Mountains, the birthplace of her father.

On Dottie's return to Baltimore she prepared to come to Bethlehem for her 50th Moravian class reunion. "It was a great time spent reminiscing and catching up on classmates. I was sorry that more of those who spent time together 50 years ago were not there. I got a beautiful tan riding in a Cadillac convertible during the parade around the neighborhood." In September she visited with her sister Connie in Florida. Now she's thinking about whether to stay in Baltimore or move to Bethlehem.

"Purple and Gold for the days of old" is the way Marian Wagner wrote her alma mater in her Christmas card.

"I was sorry not to make the reunion" wrote Bettie Kuss Erney. "Too much going on close together. It was Robert's and my 50th wedding anniversary year." At Thanksgiving they were in New Jersey visiting his mother, who is remarkable at 98 years old. Bettie says she misses Pennsylvania and hopes she can come back for a long visit. "I especially love early fall."

"We just got back from a trip to Hawaii," wrote Pat Nuttal Lewis in December. "The kids gave this trip for our anniversary." The Army-Air Force football game in November brought them east. (Army won in a remarkable upset.) Then they visited a son and cousin in Connecticut and a son in Maine.

Lois Lutz Geehr wrote of their "great year": their 50th wedding anniversary attended by their two daughters and son and their spouses and four grandchildren. One grandchild graduated from high school and entered college, two graduated from college, and one got married. Lois' interest in music has found fresh meaning in Ralph Vaughan Williams's Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis and in theology with Martin Marty's writings.

It was good to hear from Elynor Fishel Rights and Pat and Ian Scott. Corny Schlotter '57 wrote about being in town again for the College Vespers and her plans to attend Founder's Day.

In August I visited with Marion Oland Diehl '53 while my husband, Cas, attended a meeting of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors in Syracuse, N.Y.

NEWS OF 1953

NEWS OF 1952

From Mary T. Pongracz:

Zora Martin Felton participated in a round-table discussion in April 2004 at Howard University, part of the celebration of Emancipation Day in Washington, D.C. Zora is director of education emerita at the Anacostia Museum and Center for African- American History and Culture of the Smithsonian Institution.

Frances Webber Horton spent nine days in Paris. She found the Montmartre fabric shops especially fascinating. Beatrice Good Mindlin has returned to Columbus, Ohio. Her children continue to amaze her with their job opportunities and travels.

Irene Goncz Kovacs, a lifelong resident of Sarasota, Fla., sends notice that her husband, Joseph, died in December 2004. We extend our sympathies to her.