Chi Sigma Theta |
U AlbanyAlumnae Sorority |
from the Chi Sigma Theta 2003 NewsletterClass News 2003Class News compiled and edited by Carol Castorina Reid '66 |
1938Lucille Zak Grattan writes of great memories when Chi Sig had a sorority house on Madison Avenue. She remembers Chi Sig as a strong, positive force known for its members and college activities. She is widowed, has 6 children and 7 grandchildren, and still plays some golf.1942Margaret Furey Holden e-mailed that she is "still kicking" and enjoying the memories which Chi Sig website brings back to her. She wishes her "best to all my sisters". Margaret contributed to our records by cross-referencing information in her yearbooks with our website´s lists and sent corrections and additions for the Classes from 1941-1943.1946Joyce McDonald O'Dea stays in touch with Chi Sig and reports that her "dear husband of 51+ years died April 13 [2002] of lung cancer."1961Margaret Walker Yacobucci sends this message: "I am presently Coordinator of Academic Computing at D´youville College in Buffalo. My job mainly consists of making sure the computers ...are functioning and providing hardware and software support for students, faculty, and staff. Let's just say my days are never boring." Margie continues that she is planning to sell her house and move to a condo in the same neighborhood.1963Mary Alice Lynaugh Belleville retired from Bloomfield Central School after 30 years. With husband Bob she winters in Estero, Florida and summers in Victor, NY. One of their daughters, Margery, lives in Austin TX and has two sons ages four and one. Carol, their other daughter, lives in Bernardsville NJ and has three daughters ages five, four, and ten months. Mary Alice visits often with Frieda Rapp Steinjann and Mary Jo O'Keeffe Shellard. When she is in Florida, Mary Alice sees Mary Ann DiRuscio Paluzzi '62 who lives nearby. She is in contact with Chi Sigs Bonnie Davidson, Jean Davis, and Pat Gregory; and found Linda Conca in Houston TX. Mona Zandri Plummer lives in her hometown of Cohoes. One son, Sean (37), lives locally, but her other son, Seth (34), and his family including four and half-year-old Issac live in Los Angeles. Therefore, Mona frequently goes to LA for vacations from her job in Human Services as a vocational counselor at Rensselaer County Association for Handicapped Citizens, a not-for profit agency. She is planning to retire soon and will be spending more time on her hobbies of ceramics, watercolors, and gardening with her very special German Shepherd at her side. Mary Jo O´Keeffee Shellard retired after 32 years in the business department at the Capital District Educational Opportunity Center. She and her husband of 40 years, Fred, "love being grandparents to six wonderful grandchildren under 5 years of age." Frieda Rapp Steinjann retired from West Islip High School and she and her husband, Tom, divide their time between Otisco Lake NY and Ormond Beach FL. Their two grandchildren, ages 4 and 2, were adopted from Russia and are a great joy to them. Jane Quay Willey contacted the Chi Sigs in the Class of ´63 about attending their 40th reunion during Alumni Weekend. Six attended the Chi Sig meeting and went to lunch with the group. Jane who enjoys traveling, family, and retirement is another Chi Sig snowbird spending time in both Altamont NY and Dunedin FL.1965Carol Darby Siver retired from teaching art in the Averill Park School system in January, 2003 and takes care of Darby Susan Siver. This long awaited child was born to her son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Peggy. Baby Darby joins Carol and Dave´s (KB) other granddaughters, Danika and Calyn who live in the Atlanta, GA area with their other son and daughter-in-law, Keith and Lori. Sue Falkenbach Welch and her husband, Don (APA), became grandparents three times in October, 2002! Their daughter Beth and son-in-law, Paul, had twins, Brad and Megan on October 5th in Raleigh NC and on October 28th (Granddad Don´s birthday) daughter Christie and son-in-law, Dan, had a boy, Jack, in Baltimore. Don and Sue are busy traveling during the summer of 2003. Leaving their home base of St. Augustine, Florida they will be visiting their grandbabies in North Carolina and Maryland before heading to their house in Nova Scotia. During July and August, they will visit New York, Maine, and Colorado. Their third daughter, Julie lives in Boulder.1966Maria Tucci Testa writes that she is "still married to Vinny; [has] three daughters and three grandsons; retired from teaching [and is] travelling, spending time on Shelter Island on weekends and taking piano lessons." Maria Maniaci Rawe e-mails that she "can´t believe I´ve been in Atlanta for more than a decade!" She and her husband, Fred, continue working at a private school in Atlanta. Carol Castorina Reid´s message: Several sisters in the Class of 1966 would like to see a 3 or 4 day reunion organized at some location with inexpensive air fares and tourist attractions (Las Vegas, Orlando, Brandon, MO, Cancun, Washington, DC, etc.) Therefore, ladies, I give this challenge to you. Is there anyone out there interested in researching and setting up such a trip? E-mails and our website can be used to make the job easier. Anne (Eleanor) Luden Latsch has moved from the Midwest to Port Charlotte, Florida.Jane McNairy Carusone, Cindy Rydell Lane ´65, Michele LaRocca Nigriny, Donna Baffino O´Higgins, and Carol Castorina Reid had a mini-reunion in early July near Saratoga and caught up on their news. Jane and Donna split their time between upstate NY in the summer and Florida in the winter months. Cindy lives in Port Ewen, NY and, although retired, uses her experience as a math teacher to tutor. Naomi McElrath Woolsey and Michele LaRocca Nigriny visited with each other during the summer when Naomi was on a break from her overseas assignment with the International School system. 1967Kathleen Brown Hay left the Windy City to relocate in the state of Washington. Diane Heilbrunn Reiner ´68 and Dianne Gregory visited Kathleen on her beautiful island in June, 2003. Joining Kathleen, Diane, and Dianne for a visit was another new resident of the area, Chi Sig, Alice Harron Orr ´62,1968Lee Finkle Pinchuk moved to the Chicago area, but Lee and her husband spend time in the summer in Saratoga. Our condolences to Ro Vairo Rosen and her daughter, Victoria, over the death of Stanley Rosen (SLS) in November, 2002. Several Chi Sigs attended a memorial service held for Stan at the NYS Bar Association´s headquarters in Albany. Stan had a very distinguished legal career in matrimonial and family law. In early 2003, Ro joined NYSUT (New York State United Teachers) as an executive in its Teacher Training Program. Kathy Hornichek Torino who works at NYSUT during certain times of the year says seeing Ro at work "is so cool." Kathy organized the Class of ´68 Chi Sigs by contacting them about their 35th reunion. Five attended the Chi Sig reunion meeting and Jackie Kipper Mendini joined the group at Friday´s for lunch. [Editor's note: NYSUT moved from Wolf Road in Colonie to Troy-Schenectady Road (Route 7) just west of the Latham traffic circle. The architecture of NYSUT´s headquarters has made it a striking landmark in the Capital District.]1970Debbi Weitz Kahn continues working as a speech/language pathologist and CPSE chairperson in the Guilderland Central School District. She reports that she and Phil (STB´69) celebrated their 33rd Anniversary. One daughter, Alyssa (27), lives in Santa Monica, CA, is a recruiter for an employment agency, and is training for certification as a Pilates instructor. Their other daughter, Abby (23), completed a year as a professional ballet dancer in Charleston, SC and plans to move to NYC this fall to continue working as a business professional in the dance field. Debbie wants to know, "Where are all the other Class of ´70 people???"1971Catherine Bertini was the commencement keynote speaker at the University´s commencement ceremony for masters and doctoral graduates in May, 2003. See the opening page of the University's website for a description of Cathy´s career. In the fall of 2002, she was appointed by the UN´s Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, to the position of UN's Undersecretary-General for Management. On October 16, 2003 Cathy will be the recipient of the 2003 World Food Prize at an international symposium in Des Moines, Iowa. This humanitarian award is described as the "Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture." The president of the World Food Prize foundation said that during Cathy´s ten years as head of the UN food program "the number of people who received UN food aid doubled to almost 90 million people each year in more than 100 countries...[and that] program saved more people from starvation and death than any other organization in the world." Chi Sigma Alumni Association is very proud of Cathy Bertini´s accomplishments and sends its congratulations to her.1972Vickie Parshall, Chi Sig's longtime secretary and newsletter editor until her 2000 move to the DC area in northern Virginia, feels strange missing Chi Sig´s reunions, since she never missed one during the years she was the organizer. She loves the climate in her new location. Many family members including her parents are within 1-2 hours driving time and she has reconnected with Pat Areno who lives close by. |
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