1956

No Class Correspondent

Posted 6/26/19

We are sad to report that Harold Frack passed away on January 30, 2019.
We are sad to report that Frank Donnangelo passed away on June 14, 2019.

Posted 2/26/19

We are sad to report that Methodius Kocis, D.D.S. passed away on January 23, 2019.

Posted 1/30/19

We are sad to report that The Reverend Roger Kimball passed away on December 29, 2018.

Posted 8/20/18

Mason Avrigian, Sr., Esq. was included in The Best Lawyers in America for 2019.  Mason was included for Arbitration, and Family Law.

Posted 7/23/18

We are sad to report that Angeline Donchez Quinn passed away on June 26, 2018.

Posted 6/27/18

We are sad to report that William Fowler, Jr.  passed away on June 1, 2018.

Posted 4/4/18

We are sad to report that Samuel Scheltzer passed away on February 17, 2018.

Posted 2/28/18

We are sad to report that Gail Chaiet Altschuler passed away on February 22, 2018.

Posted 11/29/17

We are sad to report that Isabel Jean Woodcock Haring passed away on December 31, 2015.

Posted 10/31/17

We are sad to report that Robert Wickizer passed away on October 24, 2017.

Posted 3/30/17

We are sad to report that Jeanette Marossy Brady passed away on February 23, 2017.

Posted 6/24/16

Pauline Ritter Benner writes: Yes, classmates, it’s been 60 years since we graduated from Moravian College!  In May, Richard (Dick) and I, Renee Johnson Dragotta and Vince, and Gail Dangler Miller were the representative members of our class who were able to attend events on Friday and Saturday.  Joanne Albright Hoodmaker planned to attend, but a recent fall kept her at home.  We were impressed with the up-date of the college today and are very proud to be Moravian grads.  We came away to believe that Moravian is the envy of the other colleges in the Lehigh Valley.  It was reported that 98% of graduates land jobs or attend grad school within 6 months of graduation.  Quite a positive statement!  There is a new Health Science building project underway to house health science, nursing, public health, and other health-related programs in conjunction with St. Luke’s Hospital.  Construction has begun on the new synthetic turf field, as well.  Check out Moravian’s home page on the computer for more information.

Renee and Vince still reside in Bethlehem and in retirement she is golfing regularly and exercises 3 days a week.  They have a daughter who is a Moravian grad, class of 1981.  Gail retired from teaching after 30 years, was a tour escort for 24 years, and last year was substitute teaching at a private school near her home in Gilbertsville.  She keeps busy with family and a close group of high school friends in the area.  Dick and I are involved in a variety of activities at the retirement community where we live in Hanover and also with volunteering in various capacities.  Two great-grandchildren have been added to our family within the past two years.  It’s a joy to have little ones in the family again though they are the farthest away and we don’t get to see them often enough.

Other grads we had conversations with were Polly Rayner ’53, Karen Johnson Berry ’57 who lives in Vermont, Pat Miller Helfrich ’57 lives in Macungie and is an active volunteer in various organizations. 

Phone conversations with the following classmates gave us an up-date on their lives . . .
Joann Clewell Adams lives in Breinigsville and is feeling much better following back surgery.  She is still working as a proofreader and editor for a local company.  Helen Mavis Coffin and Don still share their time between South Carolina where they enjoy golf and Massachusetts where their family lives.  They celebrated their 60th anniversary in May and their oldest granddaughter is just getting started in married life as her wedding was set for June in Massachusetts.  Dick and Mary Kilpatrick Kohl live in Ladson, SC near their youngest daughter and her family.  They attended a granddaughter’s college graduation in May and keep busy with the grandsons in that family, attending soccer games and other activities.

Joan Sabol Langley lives in Indiana along Lake Michigan.  She is the mother of five children who live in five different states and there are 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.  Scottsdale, AZ is home for Kathy Fischer Lekowski and her husband and although they love the location, they are far from their children in VA and OH where there are also three grandchildren.  However, business trips take them to Ohio several times a year and for that they are thankful.  Faith Cannie Lodics and her husband raised a family of 9—6 boys and 3 girls and said she loved every minute of having a large family.  She lives in Indiana and some of the family is nearby.  Ruth Collins Zweck currently lives in Nevada.  She is the mother of 4 boys and a girl.  Her daughter and a granddaughter are also Moravian grads.  She still plays tennis and was hoping to attend the reunion which did not work out. 

Next year Moravian will be educating young people for 275 years!  We thought this might be the last reunion we’d attend, but . . . who knows . . . maybe next year, too.

Wisler Pearlstine, LLP is pleased to announce that Hon. Mason Avrigian, Sr. has been appointed chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Insurance Fund and Trust Fund.  He will serve a two year term beginning July 1, 2016.  The Pennsylvania Bar Insurance Fund “was established to provide insurance plans for the Association’s members and the latter’s employees who desire to participate in such plans.  The Trust Fund was established to promote educational and charitable activities within the legal profession and the administration of justice, particularly in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania”.

Posted 3/29/26

We are sad to report that John Robertson passed away on February 14, 2016.

Posted 1/29/15

We are sad to report that Beverly Bell passed away on January 21, 2015.

Posted 12/22/14

We are sad to report that Thomas Labert, Sr. passed away on December 20, 2014.

Posted 10/27/14

We are sad to report that Dr. A. Peter Haupert, MD passed away on September 27, 2014.

Posted 9/25/14

We are sad to report that John Brelsford passed away on September 5, 2014.

We are sad to report that Catherine Daws Baylog passed away on September 10, 2014
Posted 10/21/13

We are sad to report that Jim Johnson passed away on June 29.

Posted 10/25/12

Tom Ortwein is an avid football fan and has loved football for 74 years and still remembers his first football game.  He is currently an usher at the University of Notre Dame home games.  He considers it a dream come true!  He lives in Florida but is able to fly to the games.  He also plays in a softball league in Florida.  He still loves coming back to the Lehigh Valley and credits the area for the work-ethic he has today. 

Posted 9/28/12

We are sad to report that Donald Naylor passed away on July 7, 2011.

Posted 6/5/12

We are sad to report that Dr. Champ Randall Storch passed away on May 27, 2012.

Posted 5/11/12

From the Alumni House:
We are sad to report that Joseph H. Windish passed away on April 25, 2012.

Posted 12/19/11

Tom Labert and his wife, Nancy, attended the marriage ceremony of their granddaughter, Julie Anderson ’05, to Steven Shoults, in the Moravian chapel on November 19. Julie is a Moravian graduate and Fulbright scholar , class of 2005.   She is working toward her doctorate after completing her Masters at University of Connecticut.  Steven has relocated from Alaska. They are currently residing off - campus at U.Conn.

Posted 7/1/11

From the Alumni House:
We are sad to report that James M. Behler passed away on June 28, 2011.

Posted 6/8/11

From the Alumni House:
We are sad to announce that Jay K. Jones passed away on February 25, 2011.

From Pauline Ritter Benner:
May 20, Alumni weekend, found seven classmates and their spouses at the Hotel Bethlehem ready to renew friendships.  We gathered at our assigned table ready to “catch up” from five years ago and acknowledge that it’s been 55 years since our graduation from college. 

After teaching geometry for about 40 years, Renee Johnson Dragotta is relaxing in retirement and she and Vince enjoy playing golf and exercising.  Their daughter who lives in the area is also a graduate of Moravian.  Renee called several classmates to remind them of the reunion but some had other commitments over that weekend.  Jim Ovady is back in New Jersey.  He returned after 40 years and attended a high school reunion where he met Carol who now is his wife.  Carol blended in very well with our classmates.  Jim enjoys golf, hunting and fishing.  His message to those who didn’t attend is, “Tell them they missed a good time at the reunion.”

Eleanor Beck Schleicher and husband Henry live in Philadelphia.  She plays tennis regularly and is a very active volunteer.  Many of those hours are spent as a guide at a historic park in their area and since she has been very active in the garden club, she now covers much territory as a judge for flower shows.  Bill Marsh and Helen reside in North Carolina and appreciated the timing of this reunion.  When leaving Bethlehem, they will travel to New Jersey where they will visit with family.  They are looking forward to the birth of a great-grandchild while they are “north”.  Bill was hoping to see Stan Banach, Bob Brennan, Joe Hutsko, Sherwood Gum, Bob Wickheiser and Fred Woitscheck when he came to Bethlehem this weekend, but it was not to be.  He missed those college friends. 

In 1999, Dick Stein and Ruth moved from New Jersey to Florida where they reside in The Villages near Ocala.  A golfer?  Yes, he is as he plays 9 holes, three times a week.  They enjoy the winter months in Florida and spend the summer in Sea Isle City, New Jersey.   Tom Labert and Nancy live in Bethlehem and have three children who are also Moravian grads.  A granddaughter was a Fulbright Scholar from Moravian.  Tom also is a golfer and Nancy is a volunteer at the library.   

Joining us on Saturday for breakfast or lunch were Bev Bell and Marietta Schwartz Banach.  Bev still lives in Allentown—she said she doesn’t like change and isn’t interested in moving.  She still enjoys mowing her lawn and taking care of her three dogs.  Marietta lives in Allentown also, has a daughter who is a judge and a grandson in law school in Boston.  She exercises on a regular basis.  She was accompanied to the luncheon by Jerry Mihalakis, class of ’58.

Dick and I are very much enjoying the retirement community where we have lived for almost six years.  We volunteer for various activities both in the community and at our church.  We both enjoy golf, traveling, and we each have other interests that keep us busy.  Our sons and their families are not too far away and we enjoy the time and experiences we have with them.  Before we left on Saturday, we managed to purchase a Moravian Sugar Cake to take along home.  (They have them in the freezer at the Moravian Book Store on Main Street!)

I recently spoke with Mary Louise Kilpatrick Kohlher and husband Dick on the phone.  They reside in Ladson, South Carolina and are near their daughter Debbie and her family.  They are pleased to be able to take part in the activities of the grandchildren there.  I also heard from Marian Buchman Schwoyer who lives in Arizona.  Although she and Bill enjoy the warmth there in the southwest, they are giving some thought to returning to Pennsylvania.   

Yes, the reunion was a good time.  There was good food, good fellowship, and an interesting and challenging presentation by President Thomforde.  In a very dynamic and positive message, he shared with us the dynamics of college administration.  For news and photos, see the College website. 

 

Posted 2/28/11

From the Alumni House:
We are sad to report that Jay K. Jones passed away on February 25, 2011.

Posted 10/29/10

From the Alumni House:
We regret to report that Rev. Donald W. Wert passed away on October 7, 2010.

Posted 7/6/10

From the Alumni House:

We are very saddened to report that your class correspondent, Robert Gray, passed away on June 12, 2010. If anyone would like to take over as the correspondent please contact Pat Hanna at phanna@moravian.edu or (610)625-7874.

Posted 2/5/10

From the Alumni House:
          We are sad to report that Lois Groman Crook died on January 5, 2010.

Posted 4/20/09

There are no notes at this time.