ALUMNAE NEWS Spring 2019

ALUMNAE NEWS SPRING 2021 (COMPILED AND WRITTEN IN 2023

1940’s

Carola Anderson Chaffin ’48 JR. Still up and about and enjoying independent living in Cromwell, CT at 97.
Barbara Heselton Colby ‘49 JR. A great grandmother of two boys born in 2019 and 2020.

1950’s

Margaret Fisk Edgar ’50 SR. There are still five of us left and we keep in touch with each other. I still drive to Maine with two of my classmates and we talk of good memories of NEDH days.
Joan Kelton Lake ’52. I live by myself and keep busy with small town stuff. My son lives fairly close by. Best regards.
Edith Erickson Fountain ’54 SR. I am still moderately active. Miss my days at “Deac” and greetings to all.
Alyce Baxter Hanley ’54 JR. An acquaintance recently had a liver transplant at NEDH and she and her family spoke highly of Dr’s, nurses and surgeons. Proud to be an Alumna.
Barbara Colena Taylor ’54 JR. Still here painting, although the walls are getting full! I do cards for family birthdays and anniversaries and try to include a poem if my muse appears.
Barbara Brown Brandt ’55. We are still able to stay in our home and live independently. However, we no longer take long trips or cruises.
Carolyn Cleaver ’55 JR. We have a first great granddaughter born in 2020.
Nancy Hilton Delmege ’55. After my husband’s death, I moved from assisted living to my daughter’s home in a beach community in Niantic, CT.
Judith Grocott ’55 SR. I am enjoying a life of leisure. My eldest daughter lives with me and shops as I don’t drive anymore. As the saying goes- “Getting old isn’t for sissies!”
Gloria Thomas Jacobs ’55. I’m a widow with 3 sons. Getting “old”
Juanita Davis ’56 SR. After 64 ½ years of a wonderful marriage, my beloved Parker passed away. I am blessed to live in a peaceful community in Windsor, VT.
Barbara Hoyle ’56 JR. So proud of all nurses who have maintained an excellent level of care during the pandemic.
Bette Cook Mahon ’56 SR. All is well. Thankfully made it through this year without any health problems.
Jean Temple Coombs ’56. We spend our summers on Moosehead Lake in ME and a month plus in FL in the winter. Still active for our age. Still in our house in the country.
Barbara Bell ’57 JR. Thank you, Phyllis. Quiet year, lots of reading, more sleeping.
Phyliss Swaine Carlson ’57 SR. Healthy and working in private practice office in my home. 2 daughters and their families live nearby. Life is good.
Sandra Gibson Hawley ’57. My dear friend, Cynthia Lawson Rackles, class of 1957 passed away this year.
Donna Condon Crane ’58 JR. My nurses’ training at the Deaconess has guided me through every phase of my life. Those three years are treasured memories.
Janet Norton Fada ’58 SR. My husband Andy died in Dec 2020 of Covid pneumonia. Had prior back surgery in Jan 2020 and had been doing well but started having trouble breathing in Nov 2020. After that, went downhill.
Janet Stover ’58 SR. Greetings! I continue to work part time repairing books for our local library. I do cherish many great memories and will try to keep in touch with my classmates!
Gail Baker ’59. I’ve been retired for 10 years living in a Continuing Care Retirement Community. Thank goodness I’m in good health and remain active. Wish I could attend Alumnae Day but will be there in spirit.
Elizabeth Smith Wilhelmsen ’59 JR. Greetings to all my classmates and other grads as well. Sorry we didn’t get together for a 60^th. I stay in touch with class at email.

1960’s

Jean Corcoran Hall ’60. It has been a difficult year living during COVID. Hopefully it can resolve. The family is doing ok.
Sandra Longley Gallagher ’60. Come visit me in VA! We can hike and bike on the Appalachian Trail and drink wine at all the wineries.
Judith Blatchford Updegraff ’60. Weathered COVID just fine. Was vaccinated early and was able to help to vaccinate others. It felt good to be able to help. Looking forward to traveling again.
Brenda Colborne ’61. A life changing year. My mother passed away in January at 100 years of age. She had been a classmate of N.E.D.H. In July, my first great grandchild was born 7 weeks early weighing 4 LB 7 oz. After she was extubated, she was breathing on her own.
Vicki Cahill Hopewell ’61. Retired, widowed and living between Fort Myers FL and Maine. I have 3 sons, 4 grandsons, 1 granddaughter and 2 great granddaughters. Such happy memories of NEDHSON!
Frances J. Swift MacPherson ’61. I lost my youngest brother, Thomas Swift, in 2020. I had heart failure and kidney disease but am doing well now.
Judith Moore Harriett ’62. Busy hand quilting small quilts to be given to people in wheelchairs, homebound and longer ones for those getting chemo.
Jean Jenkins ’62. Greetings to all. I’m very content living in a gated community in North Fort Myers, FL. The last 25 years of my career were spent doing psyche home care on Cape Cod while living in Brewster. I pray you are all well and content.
Janice Palmer Bonham ’63. I retired from the College of Southern MD Nursing program but continue to be an evaluator/visitor as an accreditor for A.C.E.N. Keeps me up to date on nursing education.
Judith Chapman Davis ’64. Still working overtime.
Jane Osborne Potter ’64. All is well here. Thank you for what you do!
Janet Sarwela ’64. My husband and I are weathering the pandemic and looking forward to our summer home on Cape Cod. So grateful to all the nurses who continue to be on the front lines.
Susan Sinclair Eastler ’65. I will be moving to Rockport, ME in September to be closer to family. I’m retired and very busy.
Alice Farquhar-Mayes ’65. My husband and I moved to a beautiful retirement community with all levels of care. We’re still unpacking and happy to be here. Food is great too!
Charon Pierson ’65. After my husband died, I moved back to Manchester, CT to be near family. I work part time as a freelance proofreader and copy editor for the JAMA Journals. Learning to use my snow blower.
Sharyn Dickinson Wrightington ’65. Stay safe and well.
Marilyn Lydecker Bowen ’66. Staying well and enjoying life on Cape Cod with family, including 5 grandchildren ages 6 months to 12 years!
Margaret Davis Stevens ’66. Working 3 days a week as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner doing primary care and mentoring NP students for Vanderbilt. Hello to my friends of 1966- BSTEVENS526@yahoo.com.
Dale McLennan Young ’66. Enjoying living in rural Tennessee after retiring 10 years ago. My rewarding nursing career took me all over the country.
Anita Bondurant ’67. We are downsizing this Fall-smaller house. Our grandson Will is at U of Louisville and granddaughter Isabelle is a senior in high school.
Connie Gull ’67. Hibernating at home! Had rotator cuff repair in Feb. Surgery was easy. Rehab not so much!
Carol Hill ’67. Retired in 2016-still miss nursing.
Data Young Keenan ’68. I still work per diem at Faulkner Hospital in the Endoscopy Unit 0-2 days a week. I see Joyce (Slavitz) Schmid, Linda (Shaw) Warren, her sister Diane, Sue (Johnson) Carson, Jane (Moose) Weir about once a month for lunch. Would love to hear from anyone. Join us for lunch. tekknomum@aol.com.
Nancy R. Parker ’68. In March of 2021, I moved to Woolwich, Maine and am enjoying it. Email-DEACGRAD1968@gmail.com.
Donna Apprill ’69. My husband, Jim, passed away in July 2020. Ready to start seeing family again after California restrictions.
1970’s
Evelyn Gulbrandsen Ray ’70. Really enjoyed meeting classmates for lunch this Spring. Thank you, Ann Chase for bringing us together.
Marcia Green ’71. Enjoyed visiting with classmates on FB to celebrate 50 years!
Brenda Griffin ’71. We were blessed surviving the pandemic. With Zoom, I remained connected to the Senior Center and the Library. Hopefully we can resume our River Cruises.
Pamela Wicks Kelly ’71. I’ve been retired for 3 years. Enjoying the outdoors here in Central Oregon. Celebrating our 50^th anniversary in June 2021.
Darlene Y. Bernier ’72. Just built a new home at Hidden Acres. Retired for 5 years.
Carol Leigh Hopley ’72. I am officially retired from nursing.
Deborah Brackett Brennan ’73. I retired in 2019 after 40+ years as Director of 3 Adult Day Health Centers. I am saddened to report the passing of my good friend and N.E.D.H roommate, Joanne Brown Seifart in August 2019. She is missed.
Paula (Gooley) Lanson ’75. Retired completely! Working with 501(3) c nonprofit Haitian Outreach, Fitchburg, MA. HaitianOutreach.net.
Marilyn Lundstrom ’75. I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and fortunately live in an area of South Carolina with access to the best medical care.
Cindy Brauer Masciarelli ’75. Retired and taking care of the grandkids. Had first knee replacement and planning to have #2 done next winter.
Barbara Paradis McCarthy ’75. Laura and Phyllis, thanks for all you do every year for us!
Brenda Brule McDonough ’75. Happily retired in June 2020. Prayers for all my colleagues working thru these historic times.
Kate Aldrich ’76. Still working part time as a trauma/cardiac surgery NP. I got a PHD from UCSF in 2009.
Cynthia Linn Griffis ’76. Thanks for what you do, Phyllis and all.
Ruth Andrew-BYS ’77. Still working and survived COVID and vaccine side effects.
Cynthia Brown ’77. Thanks to all.
Cynthia Simonds Ragusa ’77. Whenever I drive by BIDMC, I look where our dormitory was and remember so many nice memories. We are getting older, but memories never fade.
Susan Cohenno Rock ’77. Thank you for all you do!
Ruth Pearson Feldman ’78. Still working at BIDMC in Interventional Radiology. Have 2 granddaughters and expecting 2 grandsons.
Kerry Connor King ’78. Still working 4 days at Commonwealth Endoscopy Center in W. Bridgewater.
Chris Petrone ’78. I would love to hear from classmates, especially cousin Beverlie Conant Baveis-Kirkpatrick at CHRISCHIME@gmail.com. I’m working at an inner-city clinic in Hartford and enjoying time with my retired husband, kids and granddaughter.
Catherine Noble Heart ’79 (formerly Christina Bond Sokoloff). I continue to enjoy my work as a Psychiatric CNS in Rhode Island. I’ve been working in geriatric psychiatry for over 20 years. I’m enjoying being Nanakiki to my grandsons.
Joan Westerberg George ’79. Diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. Both my daughters are married and I have a 9-month-old granddaughter.
Karen Oneil Wetherbee ’79. 30th wedding anniversary trip to Alaska. Lots of fun and beautiful scenery. Semi-retired: 1-2 days as an RN in a critical access hospital.

1980’s

Joline Gauthier Woodhead ’80. I’m still working in quality dept at SMHC in Biddeford, ME. I welcomed my first grandchild Adeline Rose.
Patrice Bibeau ’82. So nice to see the website! Be well. Email- PATRICE.D.BIBEAU@gmail.com
Karen Hartnett Isabelle ’82. I am still actively involved with the Red Cross. I moved back to the Boston area.
Gayle Poggi ’82. I’m still living on Martha’s Vineyard. I work as a Chief Quality Officer at Island Health Center. My two daughters are in the medical field. One is an RN at BIDMC, the other in PA school.
Paola Richard ’82. Loving Virginia! Miss all my former classmates.
Kelly Wilson Shanley ’82. Working at Southcoast Health overseeing regulatory operational excellence and clinical research for our system. Awaiting a hip replacement.
Donna Lyons ’83. Had cataract surgery. Otherwise, family all well, vaccinated and happy to hug again!
Mary Gilmore McLaughlin ’83. I’m working as an anticoagulation RN in Manchester, NH. Enjoy the work. My 3 daughters are grown and my husband has retired. Stay safe!
Mary Grzybinski ’86. I have 2 daughters (one RN @Children’s and one NP at Yale). Also 3 grandchildren- 2 boys and 1 girl.

Deaths

Name	Class Of	Date of Death
Jane Fox	1952	August 2020
Nancy Racine Downey	1956	Sept 2021 (with pancreatic cancer)
Adelaide Emery O’Neil	1958	March 2023
Frances Bryan Brueschka	1965	August 2017
Pamela Harless Wingo	1966	2015
Vivi Blakely Schmidt	1977	September 2015 (after a 3 year battle with ovarian cancer)
Jeanne Planeton Rivera	1957 Jr	October 2016
Judith Lydiard Kinley	1963	April 2018
Roberta Pye Miller	1948	November 2018
Beverly Wild Daley	1954 Jr	July 2017
Marcia Dewart Tripp	1960	Jan 2019
Winifred Stuart Pickering	1951	October 2018
Muriel Howarth Cundiff	1942	Feb 2014
Heidi Schultz Casassa	1982	Dec 2018
Lois Heintz Schultz	1952 Sr	March 2019
Marilyn Lanzo Paul	1957 Sr	December 2018
Betty Maher Crosy	1962	June 2017
Bonnie MacDonald LaFave	1962	Dec 2017
Jo Robichaud Maxwell	1962	July 2018
Sue Pease Barnes	1962	November 2018
Beverly Wilkins	1962	February 2019
Carol Gustafson Weddle	?	September 2018
Ruth Brown Hewett	1954	September 2018
Elaine Evans Connell	1950	March 2018
Ruth Wells Baxter	1939	2019