Class Notes

NEWS OF 1950

Reunion May 20-21

NEWS OF 1949

NEWS OF 1948

NEWS OF 1947

From Mary Jean Spangenthal:

My mail brought a letter from Reen Iredell Cutler, who will be your correspondent next year. She described the cruise she took last January with her husband, Bill, which lasted 55 days. Starting in Chile, on the maiden voyage of the Discovery, they traveled the route of Captain Cook’s exploration of the South Pacific. The voyage came with lectures about the area and stopovers at many of Cook’s ports of call.

They stopped at Robinson Crusoe Island (Juan Fernandez Island) and Easter Island, where the massive stone “moai” stand. Pitcairn Island came next, though the waves were too high for disembarking; but the islanders came out to the vessel to sell their wares. Then they went to the Tuamoto Islands, Tahiti, and Bora Bora. Following a stop in the Cook Islands, the ship headed to Auckland, New Zealand. The tour then threaded its way to Fiji. On March 13, they crossed the Equator and landed on Christmas Island. After a few days in Honolulu, it was home to Miami.

Helen Kanuskey Canfield and her husband, Don, also enjoyed a memorable vacation with the New Hampshire side of the family on Prince Edward Island, where they lived eight miles from the island’s oldest lighthouse, built in 1845.

They also visited the capital, Charlottetown, where a replica of the home of Anne of Green Gables is an attraction—made entirely of sugar by a Japanese artist.

In October, Helen spent five days in Columbus, Ga., at a National Airborne reunion, where a memorial was unveiled honoring Don’s unit in World War II.

Barbara Schlegel Miller says she is not living a very exciting life but a very busy one. She and her husband exercise, attend classes, play bridge, and travel. They went on a trip to Washington, D.C., and a lovely 55th-anniversary excursion by riverboat to Canada.

Charlotte Unangst Schisler wrote about the preparations she and her husband, Al, made for their family reunion this summer. Their biggest job, she said, was to have the house, yard, and pool “all spiffed up at one time.” They had a hard time making it all come out even because of the rain, but everyone had a wonderful time. Some physical problems hinder their travel plans, but Al hoped he would be able to go deer hunting after Thanksgiving.

Jean Zehner Lombardi had to cope with the death of her 95-year-old mother in June and is just now back to an active life of club and church activities.  Her son came home for his high school reunion and took Jean back with him to his home near Lake Champlain, in northern Vermont. It’s near Montreal, where he works. She also has been to Washington, D.C., where she viewed the Phillips Collection and the World War II Memorial.

So it seems many of us ’47ers are not only alive and well but also looking forward. Good health and good times to you all!

Don’t forget to send your news to Noreen Iredell Cutler, 113 Castile St., Venice FL 34285 or celtru@aol.com.

NEWS OF 1946

From Ada Zellner Flower:

Barbara Dalton Goodman writes: “All is well up here in lovely Maine. My husband is having a hip problem, and my son is an actor in California. I’m trying to get to 81 in a few weeks. My three Labs are fine. I am going on a cruise soon. Please come to Maine!”

Frank and I often use Ileen Birnbaum’s upstairs apartment on trips to Bethlehem. Ileen and David have a huge garden. Their son, David, and his wife are in Alaska, where David is working for British Petroleum. For Ileen’s birthday, her son Rae and his wife, Pat, took her kayaking on the Delaware River.

I had a great visit by phone with Martha Meixell Danner. She is now in an assisted-living facility in Rocky Hill, N.J., recovering from a broken hip and planning on cataract surgery. Her sons and their families are close by.

Our travels have taken us to an Elderhostel in Oregon and then on a cruise on the Columbia River. Both were about the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which was truly an amazing feat. This fall we cruised along the coast of southern New England. After a week in the hospital with a heart problem, Frank recovered enough for us to celebrate our 80th birthdays. Where did the time go?

Marion Emig Hoffman describes a sobering trip to Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians, where GIs endured very nasty conditions during World War II. She says the constant wind alone is uncomfortable, and the skies were smoky from forest fires in other parts of Alaska.

From the Alumni House:

Our sympathies to Ann Root Meyer on the loss of her husband, Edward, who died November 15.

NEWS OF 1945

Reunion May 20-21

From Jane Smith Ebelhare,

Though she has lived in Texas for years, Eleanor Beidelman Kline had a great time last summer discovering her home state. She went on many senior-citizen trips and saw sights she’d never seen before. She also plays pinochle once a week, which she feels is easier than bridge and more fun.

Jackie Haas Bauder has had serious side effects from medication prescribed to treat a lung infection. It affected her vision and balance (not long after successful cataract surgery) and kept her homebound for several months. But she managed to keep busy. She has a CD and book by Arthur Freeman ’52 , graduate and professor emeritus of the Seminary, on Count Zinzendorf’s theology and says she enjoys having her mind expanded. She has been trying to help a friend from Nicaragua complete her naturalization and also has been helping a Nicaraguan student improve his writing skills. Jackie was thrilled by the establishment of the National Museum of the American Indian and hopes to visit it in the spring. She plans to become a member and looks forward to seeing the video of its opening.

Janet Moyer Paulus and her husband, Dick, have two grandsons at Penn State and so root for Penn State football. Their granddaughter is in design school in New York, and another grandson is at the University of Rhode Island.

Florence Drebert Fritts and her husband, Warren, now have a great-granddaughter. She lives in Nebraska and came to meet her Pennsylvania relatives this fall. Since Florence and Warren both have a brother living in the same complex as they do in Lititz, it was a real family reunion. Warren has had cataract surgery, which should help him see the TV device that aids him in reading.

Gloria Gately Chipman and her husband, Frank, just got home from another Caribbean cruise. They couldn’t go to Grenada as planned because of hurricane damage, and they also missed St. Lucia because the pier had been destroyed. But Gloria said they had a good time anyway.

Andy and I left November 17 to help with the National Horse Show, which has been moved from New York City to the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, Fla. We drove one car down and left it there for our other activities at the complex later in the winter. We were there until December 8, flew home for Christmas, then left again in January with the second car, bags, and dogs. This is for the Winter Equestrian Festival from mid-January until mid-April. I will let you all know our temporary address and phone numbers when I again beg you for news.

Janet Moyer Paulus and Jackie Haas Bauder encourage all of us to attend our 60th reunion May 20-21. Friday’s events will highlight the Woman’s College; Saturday’s include the 50+ Club breakfast and the reunion parade. Cars and the 50+ trolley will be there for those who choose to ride.

NEWS OF 1944

From the Alumni House:

The class of 1944 is in need of a correspondent. Please contact Pat Hanna in the Alumni Office, 610 625-7874, if you would like to take on this important job.

NEWS OF 1943

From June Bright Reese:

Alumni Weekend last May was well-planned and enjoyable. Betty Adams Roach and I attended the 50+ breakfast and the meeting of the Alumni Board, of which Betty is a member.

Several members of the men’s and women’s classes recently enjoyed lunch in the area. Marian Carty Durkee ’51 Secretarial arranged a gathering for Doris Roemer Pardee ’41 Secretarial, who was visiting friends. She and her husband, Bob, live in Boulder, Colo. Their daughter Celeste joined them for part of their trip.

At another luncheon, Betty Roach and I met with Margaret Terr Willey and Nancy Reichard Kichline ’41 Secretarial. Margaret and her husband, Ed, recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.

We note with sadness the passing of Carolyn Biedenbach Kessack ’41 Secretarial in July. The classes extend their deepest sympathy to her husband, James Kessack ’43, and family.

From Margaret:

Joyce Newhard Knapp ’41 Secretarial has become a great-grandmother. Her grandson, David, who lives in Germany, recently became a father. The baby was to have been baptized during the Christmas holidays. Joyce’s daughter Lisa and her two daughters planned to attend, but Joyce wasn’t sure if she’d make the trip.

NEWS OF 1942

NEWS OF 1941

I had an interesting phone visit with Arlene Yorks Kennedy, who lives in Florida. Her son, Tom, lives in South Africa and travels as a consultant for a transportation company. He had purchased property on Puket Island off the coast of Thailand and hoped to build a home there.

Thelma Scheifele Heiberger and her husband, Bob, have moved to Midlothian, Va. They feel happy and welcome with their daughter Roberta and her husband, Stuart, who help them a great deal. Thelma has some eye problems. She wishes to be remembered to all of you. I can supply her address and phone number if you wish.

Ruth Overfield Fidorack did a splendid job chairing the reunion breakfast committee but hopes for a replacement next year. She and Mike plan a cruise in December.

I was in England in May and California in June, visiting friends and using up frequent-flier miles before they become obsolete or I’m too feeble to use them. I recently moved to Moravian Village. Make sure you write to my new address, above. Please keep in touch. I can’t write this column without you.

NEWS OF MEN OF 1941-46

NEWS OF 1940

Reunion May 20-21

NEWS OF 1939

From the Alumni House:

We are very sad to report that Betty Batdorf Hummel, your class correspondent, passed away November 27. Christine Roberts Fraley ’38 wrote that Betty was on oxygen toward the end but was still “the same cheery, interesting woman that she had always been.”

NEWS OF 1938

I am sorry to report that our class president and correspondent, Evalyn Adams Hawk, died September 10. A note from Lois Park Salmon says Evalyn had been in a nursing home for some time and suffered from Alzheimer’s. I remember her as a bubbly, competent little lady. She remained active as a Moravian alumna through the years.

Mary Fabian Strock says she was guest of honor at the 40th reunion of the Class of 1964 at Beethoven Waldheim in Leithsville. She had been the class advisor.

I keep in touch with Olivia Musselman Barnes, whose foot is in a cast at the moment. In mid-October, she stepped into a car, caught her right foot, and twisted two bones. She ended up in Lehigh Valley Hospital. As of mid-January, Olivia was walking and driving again. She says I must tell our classmates that a medical alert button is a wise thing to have.

I am doing well and enjoying living at Luther Crest. I have had a year to get acquainted and involved in the life here.

Jean Mecherly Myers ’39 Secretarial lives at Luther Crest, and we have become friends. This year she joined the lunch bunch of the Allentown Alumni Club.

Please send news about yourselves to include in the next class letter.

NEWS OF 1937

From the Alumni House:

Irving Holland lives near his two children in Boulder, Colo.

NEWS OF 1935

Reunion May 20-21

Renee Johnson Dragotta '56, Griff Dudding '60, Beverly Bell '56, and Home Club President Joe Guman '58 do a little catching up at the Moravian Book Shop Café during the Home Club’s Second Annual Pre-Holiday Sale at the Moravian Book Shop and Donegal Square.