1930s – 1940s

1934
I was sad to learn of the death of Phil Gould on January 7, 2007. Phil and I both recently celebrated our 95th birthdays, having been born in 1911. We were close friends. We both felt very blessed that at our age we were able to do so many things and go to so many events. Every June, we both attended the Green and Gold luncheon, and in 2004, we celebrated our 70th reunion. It was a very special recognition for our class. Phil and I have usually been the only ’34s at the Green and Gold Luncheon. Phil had a long and wonderful life, and he cared very much about the University, especially our class. He and his family will always be remembered in our thoughts and prayers. Phil always brought a number of his large family, and I brought some of mine. Both of our families have been very close to each other, which is the greatest blessing anyone can have. Neither Phil nor I attended last year’s luncheon. Phil was not well, and I had a mini-stroke. Since then, due to the splendid care of my doctor, I am once again able to live a more normal life. I get around, but at a much slower pace. I am blessed. Herb Selib also mourned the loss of his longtime friend Phil Gould. Herb, who lives in Sarasota, Fla., reminisced about his undergraduate years at the University, particularly his class with Professor Woodward in Economic and Industrial Geography. “This was rather ambiguous in those years, but it opened the world to me so that my business became an international operation giving me the opportunity to see the world...” Studying political science under Professor Mowrer was another key influence. “We were a small campus those years, but the quality of education was world-class,” Herb wrote. “I am so grateful for my college experience and applaud UVM for its great standing among its peers.”

Send your news to—
Ellinor Bean Hauke
class.notes@uvm.edu

1935
I am sad to report the passing of two classmates. Dean Plaister wrote to let us know that his wife, Marjorie Jenks Plaister, passed away on August 27, 2006, at age 92. She was cared for by her daughter, Mardeane, a CAN. Mildred Baldwin Williams died on October 8, 2006. Along with raising a family of eight children, she spent three years with a family in India and a short time in Sri Lanka in the ’70s. In the ’80s, she spent two years in Nigeria with her husband, and later at home in Urbana, Ill., she helped Vietnamese refugees.

Send your news to—
Ray Collins
class.notes@uvm.edu

1936
I was extremely disappointed not to be able to attend our 70th reunion. I have been in and out of the hospital with several bouts of pneumonia, but I’m now home. I would love to hear from classmates, and I will pass the news on to all of you.

Send your news to—
John Williams
class.notes@uvm.edu

1937
Send your news to—
Gilbert Rist
class.notes@uvm.edu

1939
Bernard Lisman wrote to let us know about the recipients of the Class of 1939 Scholarship fund for 2006/2007. A total of $14,000 was given to six students to help them achieve their academic goals. Ruth Wimett, Martha Rist Suiter, Lucille Bristol Jerard, and I keep in touch, and we would love to hear from other classmates.

Send your news to—
Mary Shakespeare Minckler
class.notes@uvm.edu

1940
I am sad to report that class-mate, Eleanor “Holley” Fletcher Swanson, died on December 30, 2006, in West Chester, Pa. A private memorial service will be held for friends and family later this year. Those of us who lived in the Woodstock, Vt., area have fond memories of her at Woodstock High School and as our classmate at UVM. She later lived in Darien, Conn., and Washington, D.C., where she worked for many years as a receptionist and library administrative assistant for the law firm of Cleary, Gottlieb, Stein, and Hamilton. Holley is survived by two sons, a daughter, and four grandchildren as well as by her sisters, Julia Fletcher (’44) Peet and Sally and a brother William. Florence Wade Eaton attended a luncheon in honor of UVM students who have received scholarships. One recipient of the Class of 1940 Scholarship also was present. Please send news for the next issue!

Send your news to—
Mary Nelson Tanner
marytanner@earthlink.net

1941
To keep our future columns viable, please send me news about your life to share with our classmates.

Send your news to—
Maywood Metcalf Kenney
maywoodak@comcast.net

1942
I am sad to report the death of our classmate, Miriam Fiske Hawkins. After teaching at Bradford Academy, she worked for the Army in Washington, D.C., where she served as a cryptanalytic aide during World War II. She and her family moved to Springfield, Vt., in 1960, and she served as president of the hospital auxiliary and on the board of the Visiting Nurses Association. We received news from Charles Wilmot of Tucson, Ariz. He completed 10,000 hours as a volunteer docent at the Desert Museum and received special recognition. He had been handling birds and reptiles there for more than 26 years.

Send your news to—
Gwen Marshia Brown
class.notes@uvm.edu

1943
We extend our sympathy to the family of Edward Boynton, who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on October 26, 2006, a short time after the death of his wife, Pauline White Boynton ’44. After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army at the rank of sergeant, Ed had a varied career as a mechanical engineer, as a sales associate based in South Boston, as owner of Thermal Engineering Inc., and finally as a teacher of industrial arts for 21 years in Massachusetts. He retired in 1983. Ed also was actively involved in Little League Baseball and The Boy Scouts of America. He will be sorely missed. Janet Dyke Rood surprised me with a Christmas note from Wake Robin in Burlington, where she now lives with her husband, Fred Herbolzheimer. Janet and Fred keep busy with visits from their combined seven offspring and 14 grandchildren among other things. In September, they traveled by chartered plane to Appleton, Wisc., where Fred was inducted into the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame, a high honor. Congratulations to Fred! Since I have received no other news, I will include some of my own. The big events in our life this past year have been a great garden (Red’s), the attainment of Gold Life Master in the Bridge World (June’s), and the winning of the Vermont State Football Championship by the Rutland High School Red Raiders. Our grandson, Robbie Dorion, was a member of the team. They did it on a beautiful, sunny day in November, and we are blessed to have been able to be there. Let us know what you are doing. It's important!

Send your news to—
June Hoffman Dorion
junebug6222@verizon.net

1944
Send your news to—
Alison Carr Wood
wdy3121@netscape.net

1945
Send your news to—
Kay Hennessey
class.notes@uvm.edu

1946
Send your news to—
Harriet Bristol Saville
hastories@mymailstation.com

1947
I’ve just read Jane “Midge” Smith Lanouette’s new memoir. It’s an interesting and well-written account of her early childhood and her efforts, after 1975, to learn about her natural mother who died three months after she was born. The book, My Ten Mothers: A Memoir, co-written with her daughter Jennine Lanouette, is a great story. Believe it or not, it’s time to get ready for our 60th Reunion and to make sure many of our classmates come back to celebrate together.  So far the following have indicated that they expect to attend: Dotsy Carpenter, Jean Denton, Ruth Post, Joanne Riley and Betty Thurber. Let’s all try to come back to UVM for this amazing milestone.

Send your news to—
Louise Jordan Harper
class.notes@uvm.edu

1948
Since no news has been submitted to me for this issue, I can provide only one item for your consideration: Two of my granddaughters are in their first year at UVM, one is a Vermonter, the other from California. Are there other classmates who can equal or top this score? I cannot manufacture news, so I welcome help in providing items related to your current activities. Written correspondence or e-mails are welcome. Subject line of e-mails should be “UVM Notes.”

Send your news to—
Marilyn Mills Houston
laney4@verizon.net

1949
At a Memorial Service for the late U.S. Sen. Robert Stafford, who died December 23, Neal Houston, his chief of staff for 28 years, also was recognized for his loyal service to the late senator. Among the dignitaries who spoke both at the Rutland service and also on the Senate floor in Washington was Sen. Patrick Leahy, who also praised Neal, whom he said was “like a brother” to Stafford. On a personal note, Neal and Marilyn Mills (’48) Houston are long time friends of mine, and we’ve had an ongoing rivalry many years at the bridge table. In November, my high school friend, Al Callahan of West Hartford, Conn., and I spent three days with the Houstons in Arlington, Vt., while en route from my home in Morgan, Vt., to Connecticut. We ended up in defeat (this time). While there, we had lunch with Will and Bunky Henderson Robertson, who live in Peru, Vt. As we were driving to Connecticut in January, we stopped for lunch with Louise Jordan (’47) Harper, my “big sister” in Theta, who now resides in Deerfield, Mass., where she does lots of art projects. In Connecticut, I often get together with Lynn Davis Huntley, who lives in Granby and is very active in her church. Clayton Pierce sent me a copy of Neoclassical Cryptographic Systems, a technical book relating to today’s need for information privacy systems, which he wrote in his retirement. Most of his career was in federal government. He now lives in Ventura, Calif., with family nearby. It was great to hear from so many classmates over the holidays. I’ll share some of the news. Lucille Wetherby Fiske will leave Cuttingsville, Vt., a while this winter to visit daughter Connie in Pennsylvania, daughter Carol in North Carolina, and brother Dave in Florida. Daughter Pam works nearby at the Vermont Country Store. When at home, Lucille is involved in playing bridge, volunteering in the library, participating in church activities, and doing craft projects. Mary Jane Farnam Nieman lives in Stow, Mass., with her daughter, Nan, who is executive vice president of Home Goods stores. Attending the  Homecoming festivities at UVM were Dave and Norma Carmichael Wilson of Washington, N.J., who got together with Bill and Sylvia Reynolds Hill of Quechee, Vt. Norma wrote, “It was great seeing the new buildings at UVM, especially the Student Center. President Fogel has certainly turned everything around.” From Willow Grove, Pa., my brother-in-law, Mitchell Hunt, and his wife, Karen, went on an Elder-Med bus trip to Atlantic City to see the “Rat Pack” imitators and also to the Martin Carriage Auction in Lebanon, Pa. Mitch plays golf every day he can while Karen teaches special education and trains horses. Bob and Barbara Purdy Freeman of Pinehurst, N.C., are still playing golf “with mixed results.” They keep in touch with many UVM alumni, including Ralph and Barb Perry, Will and Bunky Robertson, Dick and Clare Fink, Toady Page Reid, Bill and Carolyn Bigwood, Malcolm and Gladys Severence, Bruce Regnemer, Dick and Jane Long, Lynn Huntley, and Peter and Pat Shrope. My year has been busy and fun running between my old home town of West Hartford, Conn., and Morgan, Vt.; playing golf, swimming, boating, traveling to Europe, and looking forward to the month of March at Chateau by the Sea in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., in case you’re in the area. Let’s hear from you wherever you are.

Send your news to—
Pat Brush Hunt
pat.hunt@kingcon.com

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