Pictures from the 2017 Quad with the captions that were left off at printing!

Betsy Taylor (second from right) with Sec'y of Interior Sally Jewell as she was leaving Obama administration in Dec 2016 -- and commending Betsy and those on the national steering committee for the U.S. Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative https://useiti.doi.gov/.

Dave Rugh at one of the streams on his extensive woodland property on the Olympic Pennisula.

Richard Friedericks and Suzy McCulloch Friedericks:

2017 New Year’s Day in Port Townsend.  From left to right, grandkids - Maya, Elkie, Adelle, Kai, Finley, Tsai and Sylvie; adults back row - Suzy, Richard, Elizabeth, Chris, Jody, Ethan, Stacey and David.

Frances Hilliard Dawson: 4 generations starting with Ruth Hilliard (class of '40 & staff), Frances ('66) & Heather (class of '79), Frances's two daughters, Jacqueline and Kathleen and her daughter Rebecca.

Paul and Lydia Spottswood in Chicago in 2017

Whitcomb Siblings:

Left to Right, John Whitcomb '69, Patricia Whitcomb Green Sotos '72, Bob Whitcomb '77, Cate Whitcomb '66

Pictures from 1957

School Photographs from Carlton Hoke

Here are 3 priceless photos from the 1950's - see if you can find yourself ... and name the teachers in each group ... Enjoy!

Visiting Classmates in Delhi

I am having a good visit in India - best of all I've seen Deepak Dayal and Raj Isar.  Deepak took me and my friend Lori to a new place in Defence Colony Market, Kathpputli (Rajasthani puppet), which was a gourmet delight.  Hoping we can see him again this weekend for an Arpana fund raiser.  Then another special visit with Raj Isar yesterday to Sanskriti Kendra a private museum and artist's colony.  With a somewhat iffy internet access this is all I can manage for now!

The 50th Reunion

Thursday, July 14, 2016.  A glorious beginning to the 50th Reunion was crossing on the Edmunds Ferry to Kinsgton ... finding others and enjoying the views and fresh Washington air.

Jack Hinz  and Vikki Vrooman at the railing.

Susan DeVol with Ruth Morris with husband Harvey Paige

Vikki Vrooman, John Chaffee and Phil DeVol

Ashwini Gupta, Richard and Suzy McCulloch Friedericks, and Sherry Sergeant Cox

Suzy, Sherry, Dave Rugh and Linda Garst Gupta

2015 Jottings from the Quadrangle ...

Jottings 2015 for Class of 1966

News from the class begins with plans for our 50^th reunion next year in Port Ludlow, WA July 15-18, 2016 which we hope many will attend. 

CATE WHITCOMB  traveled to India in Jan 2015 to attend the Jaipur Literary Festival and to bury her dad’s (BILL WHITCOMB ’42) ashes in Chhatisgarh at the home church of the UCC Mission which was her dad’s wish.  She and husband JACK HINZ (S) hosted a big khana (also her dad’s request) for 1800 church members at the service which was officiated by 7 CNI clergy.  She returns to India yearly to work on the archives at Woodstock along with MARGO WARNER CURL (’67).  Cate has visited with classmates ARUN KAPUR, HARISHWAR DAYAL, JOHN CHAFFEE, LEE FEIERABEND, and VIKKI VROOMAN during the past year.

HELKE WOLFF FERRIE moved with two dogs and six cats to Manitoulin Island June 1 of 2015 and is busy with the renovations and an addition, interrupted only when friends and family visit. Their house (named Dilmun - Sumerian for paradise) is totally off grid. Bob will open his psychotherapy practice in September and HELKE has several writing projects cooking. 

CLAIRE BLICKENSTAFF BEERY enjoys  semi-retirement at Santa Rosa Junior College and her second year of marriage to Bill Haigwood.  They are active members of their Unitarian Universalist congregation in Santa Rosa, CA where Claire is a regular musician.  Bill is working on his 5th novel .   Claire’s extended family is grieving the death of Lex Crane, husband of Claire’s mother, Ginny (now 92).  

DAVID RUGH volunteers as a naturalist on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State where he lives with Ruthe (married 41 years). Dave is now a lead naturalist for the Jefferson Land Trust, assisting with teaching, presentations, field trips, monitoring wildlife, and stewardship.

DONALD CAMP is gainfully employed this fall, as the South Asia Advisor at the US Mission to the UN in New York.  By Christmas, he will be home with wife Betsy and the family in Falls Church, VA.    In January 2015 he in south India, visiting my Peace Corps village and seeing friends in Chennai.

MARY ELLEN FRITSCHLE NOGGLE retired from her Social Service job August 2015 and is currently a part time secretary at her church. Her 6 granddaughters are a joy and delight.

RUTH YODER DYAL had an Incredibly eventful 6 months  - in June son Jon graduated and now has MD behind his name.  He is doing a residency in Emergency Medicine and International Health- plans to do Disaster Relief @ the world eventually.  Husband Jim had health challenges during the summer but is recovering. Ruth still practices both OB and Gyn, but may need to cut back on the OB to spend more time at home.

PAUL SPOTTSWOOD has retired after practicing medicine for 40 years, 30 of those in Kenosha, WI.  Lydia and he look forward to traveling to visit friends and family as well as volunteering at church and local homeless shelter. 

WAREEN REES and his wife and will celebrate 47 years together in December.  He feels to have their children near, and helps take care of the youngest three.  For his birthday they had a family get together at a slot car track and had a wonderful time.  He gets the family together as often as possible and to cook a family meal for all 13.

FRITZ GOETH retired from ESCO as a mechanical engineer in 2013 after 37 years with the company.   94 days later, he was called back to work on projects and then retired again on 31 Aug 2015.  Wife Maureen retired from a career in residential loans in 2013.  Fritz does projects around the house, helping young people get into West Point, and helping raise the grandson who is 8 and just started 3^rd grade. 

 

SHERRY SERGEANT COX big news is they are grandparents to Claire Elaina Toombs, born to younger daughter, Stephanie and will be grandparents again in Feb 2016.  Older daughter Sarah and husband Tony are in Turkey with the Air Force.  Both Sherry and husband Steve had health issues but keep busy with church, work at the health food store.

SUZANNE MCCULLOCH FRIEDERICKS and RICHARD FRIEDERICKS, in retirement, have focused on family and remodeling their home. Richard & son David went to Nepal with a team of firefighters from Portland, OR after the earthquake last April to build a temporary shelter for a village health center. Richard's father, Carl, died on July 3rd at age 94. A memorial service to celebrate his long life of service in China, India, Nepal and Khygyzstan as a doctor and medical professor was held on Aug 15. 

KAREN SMYRES WOLNER and her husband just became 4th time grandparents to Samuel Robert, son of their daughter Kim and husband, Caleb Judy. Our family has grown to 10 members in just 7 years.  Hard to imagine!    Both of Karen's parents passed away in 2014 and ashes were interred this year in Penney Farms, FL.  Some of both ashes will be taken to India in the future. Karen and John continue to enjoy retirement and grandparenting.  

LINDA GAMBLE MCKENDRY and husband Jim recently purchased a beautiful holiday trailer and are exploring the various Provincial campgrounds in Alberta. Their farm is for sale, and combined with selling the house in Calgary, they plan to purchase a small acreage near Calgary and Linda's dream is to have a timber frame house in the Rocky Mountains or in view of them. 

MIRIAM HAQQ PRABHAKAR has been in the US since July visiting family and friends and sharing with churches about the work with AIDS/Leprosy.  4 Haqq sisters took a Viking Cruise on the River Danube to eastern Europe, an interesting 10 days.

PHIL SPOTTSWOOD and wife Michele and celebrated 30th anniversary this past April.  They live in Lexington,  KY.  close to children and grandchildren.   Michele works in the postoperative unit at Univ. of KY and  Phil drives a school bus.  

JUDY SCHEUERMAN BENDER reports 3 grandchildren.  Youngest son is a Major in the USAF and still on the east coast.   Other 2 children live in the west .  Their daughter is still working for their former company for 25 years and oldest son is producing music and lives in Seattle.

KATHY COLEMAN YORK took a trip to New Zealand and Australia.  They go to Florida in November for five months in Sarasota, to escape the cold and mountains of snow in Canada.

MARGARET COLLING WICKS and husband Bob are almost retired. Margaret is a council woman in the Town of Colesville. Daughter  Mary is executive director of Maison Fortuna orphanage in Henchi, Haiti. Paula is a physical therapist at the Florida Hospital in Orlando. Their two grandchildren go to the Christian International school in Orlando.

VIRGINIA TAYLOR from 1999 to 2013 was caregiver for both her mother and father who lived to be 99 yrs.  Last October she went with several family members to India to participate in the 100 year anniversary celebration of her grandparents' first arrival in India in 1914 as medical missionaries.  It was a grand occasion over several days at the Bhogpur Children's Home (Dehradun valley)which was established for untainted children of Leper parents in 1945.  She was able to visit Woodstock and attend brother  Fred's (’69) and sister, Alison's (’71) class reunions.

Cate Whitcomb, Class Secretary

Sports Day 1956?

Here is a picture taken by Marlin Schoonmaker's dad in 1956 I think ...

Front left to right, with her back turned Ginny Ebright, Mary Merchant, Evelyn Bryant, Dean Rempel, Charles Roland, Phil Schoonmaker, laying down Raj Isar, Miriam Haqq, (hands over face maybe Linda Gamble), Lee Feierabend. Standing, Karen Smyres, Cathy Whitcomb, Mary Wyon, Claire Blickenstaff, Tim Kenoyer. 

Remembering the Lyre Tree

This message came this morning from Principal Jonathan Long at Woodstock:

The Legacy of the Lyre Tree

I am sorry to say that over the past 3 years, Woodstock’s iconic Lyre Tree has steadily deteriorated. Many years ago, the area surrounding the tree was landscaped with concrete. There is little doubt that this was a major factor in the tree’s decline. Corrective action was taken when visible signs of decline were seen, but the damage had already been done. In fact, the tree has carried the weariness of age in its tired limbs for some time.

Two months ago, Dr Harsh from the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun declared the tree to be dead. He also alerted us to the fact that the dead tree was at risk of falling over in a high wind during the monsoon.

For many in our worldwide community, students, staff, alumni and friends alike, the Lyre Tree has been a living symbol of all that we hold dear on this hillside. Its passing is a sad occasion and one which will come as sorrowful news.   We have thoroughly explored a range of options including possible ways of preserving the tree. After careful discussion, the best course of action is for us to have the tree removed and for the timber to be preserved for uses yet to be determined.

In recent days, the Forest Department have given us formal permission to remove the tree. The date has been set for 6th August. At 11am that day, a short ceremony will be held at the Lyre Tree to mark the occasion in a dignified manner. This will include a reading of Mary Burgoyne’s poignant poem, “The Lyre Tree”. Written in 1954, at the time of Woodstock’s centenary, it was first read after a competition was held to choose a new symbol for the school. A new tree will also be planted on campus to mark this occasion.

If you have any comments or reflections which you would like to have included as part of the ceremony, do let me know. The event will be filmed and available on the school’s website shortly thereafter. We will keep the alumni community informed on how the timber is used and welcome your suggestions.

Sincerely,

And this poem from Mrs. Burgoyne:

The Lyre Tree

Mary Esther Badley Burgoyne

Storms of a hundred years have bent your branches,
Snows of a century have crowned your head,
Over the hills you’ve watched Spring’s soft advances,
Summer and winter under your boughs have spread

Needles of green and needles of gold that shower
Over the students passing beneath your shade.
You have been waiting this Centennial hour
Facing your life of struggle unafraid.

Teach us your steadfastness, your quiet growing,
Sending your roots deep into the living earth.
Tell us the sacred peace you gain in knowing
Sunshine and sorrow, solitude and mirth;

Sing us your music, playing with breezy fingers
Over the strings that winds have torn and swept,
Symbol of song, a century’s music lingers
After the tears our foolish hearts have wept.

Tell us your secret, Lyre Tree above us,
Watching the children climb the steps to school,
Is it that in your heart you really love us
Sinner or saint, scholar or sage or fool?

Symbol of strength, many have come, returning
Back to the hills our youthful feet have trod,
Thankful in heart for beauty, and friends and learning,
Grateful to share your hundred years with God.


I remember it in so many settings but this is one of my favorites, the weekend Jack and I shared Woodstock and Mussoorie with John Chaffee's son Tim - I hardly need to tell you who he is!

We had a great overnight visit with John Chaffee on July 17.  He grilled steaks for dinner and made bacon and eggs for breakfast.  Marvelous short visit!

Lunch at Arun's

Lunch at Arun Kapur's house on Rajdoot Marg, February 10, 2015  Seated: Jack Hinz, Deepak Dayal, Standing: Cate Whitcomb, Arun Kapur.

Kathy Judd, Cate Whitcomb, Beth Ann Burkhalter Taylor, Ramoth Burkhalter

Housing at Ft. Worden

Views of the Bay

Standing:  Suzy McCulloch Friedericks, Cate Whitcomb, Judy Scheuerman Bender, David Rugh.  Seated: Richard Friedericks, Claire Blickenstaff Beery

Suzy, Cate and Judy

Morning Hike 

Richard

Suzy

Dave

Cate

Cate, Richard, Suzy, Dave

Views of Ft. Worden

Suzy McCulloch's parents, Aunt Etta and Uncle Mac with Cate

Charlene Chitamber Connell, Suzy McCulloch Friedericks, Lenny McCulloch, Richard Friedericks

Mt. Ranier

Sue Turner Hanifl, Cate Whitcomb

Arun's Views in Nanital

We have had the great good fortune of visiting Arun in his home near Nanital a couple times.  It is lovely and idyllic and wonderfully designed and appointed!  Here are photos he has sent this past year ... winterline on Christmas, the ashram at Sattal and a cobra he chanced upon in September 2014.

 And in memory of Arun's beloved pet Patches who passed away in September, here are photos from our drive up from Delhi in November of 2010. 

Here is our news for 2014 ... unedited except to add your names.  
 

1.       Claire Blickenstaff Beery

2.       Donald Camp

3.       Harishwar “Deepak” Dayal

4.       Janet Edlefson

5.       Lee Feierabend

6.       Richard and Suzy McCulloch Friedericks

7.       Mary (Fritschle) Noggle

8.       Linda (Gamble) McKendry

9.       Linda Garst Gupta

10.   Miriam (Haqq) Prabhakar

11.   Carlton Hoke

12.   Rajan Kose

13.   Pete Peterson

14.   Warren Rees

15.   David Rugh

16.   Judith Scheuerman Bender

17.   Sherry Sergeant Cox

18.   Karen Smyres Wolner

19.   Paul Spottswood

20.   Phil Spottswood

21.   Betsy Taylor

22.   Lucy Seely Varnell

23.   Cate Whitcomb

24.   Helke Wolff Ferrie

Rajan Kose:

Rajan moved to Yellow Springs, Ohio in the spring of 2013. (Ruth Morris Paige and her husband Harvey have lived there for 27 years.) He not only loves the small village aspect of the town but also enjoys being close to Ruth again. He still works part time on his graphic design business, travels often to visit family and enjoys making Indian meals for friends. Life is good.

Linda Garst Gupta:

Thanks Cate!  Just lost what I was writing...hope it didn't mail twice.  We have had a somewhat eventful year although we didn't make our usual trips abroad and will miss our annual trip to India.  Our youngest son, Rajesh, got married in March.  We made a summer trip to Colorado and will wait to go for skiing next spring due to conflicts in grand kids vacations.  Really enjoyed watching the X- Games in Colorado.  Our daughter, Meghna,(SAGE'94), moved from Atlanta TO Boca Raton in the summer.  We miss her but have made two trips to Florida!  Our son, Rahul, joined my husband's practice three years ago and is now Chief of Anesthesia and therefore, Ashwini's boss!  They are expecting our 4th grandchild in a couple of weeks.  We are planning a cruise to Panama Canal in December and that should be the most of our news for this year.  Best wishes and thanks for your interest in our family.  We look forward to news from fellow classmates.  Linda Garst Gupta

Paul Spottswood:

I have begun working part-time as of last week, no night, weekend or holiday calls just day work.  I am already enjoying the extra time off.  I plan to continue on this schedule for two more years.  Otherwise, I am healthy.  My son continues to teach law at Florida State University.  My daughter Erin has just received her PhD. from Cornell and has been hired by Portland State University to teach computer mediated communication.  My daughter Jayne continues to work on the mobile digital user experience team for Sears in Chicago.  Finally, Lydia continues to volunteer at the church.  We feel blessed and wish you all a happy and healthy year.

Cate,

Carlton Hoke:

The big news for our family this year was a wedding.  Alden, our youngest son, was married to Heather Witmer on June 28, 2014.  They were sweethearts in Junior High School.  Sometimes it takes a while for people to get together.

Carlton

We’ve been spending a lot of time this summer out on our boat, including a long trip in July to the Broughton Islands, up near the north end of Vancouver Island.  My husband Frank retired a year ago, and is keeping busy with some consulting work and house and boat projects.  I’m still enjoying my private practice as a counselor, and plan to continue for a while but scaling back the number of days per week.  I’m looking forward to our 50^th reunion!

 Janet Edlefsen

Judith Scheuerman Bender:

Jottings…wow it really is that time of year again.  Hard to believe isn't it?

This year has brought sadness and happiness. Sadly one of our daughter-in-laws was diagnosed with breast cancer and is on a journey of a lifetime.  Ups and downs, but coming along pretty well for a 32 year old. My husband Larry is now 4 years without cancer so that is a blessing this year.  My brother Jerry also has had his fight with cancer and has been really doing well until recently and we are waiting for results and are praying that he does not have cancer again. I started on Oxygen last year, but otherwise feel pretty good.  (Too many years of smoking and finally quit a little over 8 years ago before the oxygen.) At least I can go places and do things.  My brother Jeff is living in the Philippines and is happily married with a young son. My sister Jean lives in Vancouver Washington just a few hours from me.  She is happily traveling and doing walk -a -thons all over the world.  Lucky girl.  My granddaughter is turning 3 this month and that one is really hard to believe.  I swear to you she was a tiny baby just yesterday. She is just an incredible little girl.  Wow how time flies! I have two grandsons  that are also a delight and make my heart sing.  My daughter’s son who is 17,  is really into learning Japanese and I can’t understand a word he says but it sure sounds good whatever the words are.  My oldest son’s son is also 17 (3 weeks apart from the other one)is also  a gem.  He survived a very bad head injury 3 years ago and has made a complete recovery and doing a lot with his life as well.  I have truly been blessed with such a wonderful family and even though we have had to struggle with ups and downs our ups are fantastic! Life is fabulous and I cannot wait to see as many of you as possible in 2016! Thank you for being such an incredible part of my life and helping make me who I am today.  Love you all!!!  Judith

Miriam Haqq Prabhakar:

It was a terribly hot summer this year in AP,  a blessing to get away to cooler weather for a while.

2014 has added to my joys of being a grandparent again, with the birth of Micah Amir in March. I am in the in NC, getting acquainted with him and reacquainted with Isaiah Aleem who is now 3 and a ball of energy.

Still working on where to retire, US or India?  Being busy in AP is great. Will be back in India early Oct.  My father turned 94 and it was great to see him and all of the siblings over the Labor Day weekend. 

Great to hear from each one of you.

Miriam (Haqq) Prabhakar

Helke Wolff Ferrie:

Who would have thought that preparing for retirement is that much work! I envy Richard and Suzi for having done it! We are in the process of making our cottage on Manitoulin Island, where we have vacationed since 1978, into an all-season home ready for move-in next spring. It is located on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment and overlooks Georgian Bay and the Killarny mountains. Bob will continue working on the island with PTSD patients, but only three days a week. I have plans for another book. My last one, Ending Denial - The Lyme Disease Epidemic in Canada, became the catalyst for a federal bill passed this year mandating proper testing for Lyme in Canada and an educational program for doctors in this country to become as Lyme-literate as their US colleagues. The US Congress passed an even more comprehensive bill on behalf of US Lyme patients this year also, so we are finally getting some traction on this fastest growing of all infectious diseases. - All our children are now middle-aged (the youngest is 43), which is very sobering! Two of our granddaughters are entering graduate school and the third one has started university and will soon leave us. Our great-grandson Omar, now 2 years old, talks a mile  a minute and provides endless entertainment. Having raised our own 10 adopted and three home-made children as well as three grandchildren, we will now be on our own in the glorious wilderness of northern Ontario. We enjoyed this huge 45-year long tamasha, but it is never too late to have a great honeymoon!  The attached picture is from the joint birthday party celebrating Omar's first (born Valentine's day 2012) and my 65th birthday (Feb. 5, 1948) last year.

Cheers, Helke (Wolff) Ferrie

Hi... It's Linda (Gamble) McKendry, still in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. My parents passed away 69 days apart over the winter/ spring of 2012/13.  We miss them but God worked everything out and after a medical crisis in Jim's life that began two days after we burried Dad, life has settled down a lot.  I still have clients that drag me out of retirement to do projects for them in commercial design consulting, and I've become the resident Face Painter at a local Farmer's market that is mostly indoors year round!  It's fun and very rewarding to use my artistic gifts in this way... the only art I know of where you get paid as you do it!  No two canvases alike, and always moving!  Our farm is up for sale as will be our house so we can

purchase something more suitable to our 'retirement' desires.  I want a view of the amazing rockies, or at least the foothills and a forrest!  Must be a childhood longing!

Sherry Sergeant Cox:
      I did not mean to wait until the last minute to write you but we have been fairly busy awaiting the birth of our first grand-child! We are so excited!  We have been helping Stephanie and John somewhat with painting and flooring projects in the little house they just bought so we can get them moved in before the 5 Oct. birth date.  So anyway here goes my 3 - 4 sentences.  Steve has now worked for a year at the Health Food Center, he really enjoys it and its nice getting free products and a  discount as well.  Sherry continues helping out with International students learning English, an Iraqi lady in particular, Bible studies,  singing in choir and going to the gym.  Sarah and Tony continue with the Air Force in Mississippi, Tony finished his Masters and may be going to Turkey next spring and Sarah stays busy at home making beautiful handmade Christmas ornaments.  And our really big news is that we are going to be grandparents in just a couple weeks as Stephanie and John are expecting their first child,a girl!     Sorry Cate, I always have a little trouble keeping it concise.  Enjoyed seeing your picture at the Grand Canyon, too bad you weren't able to swing through OK on your way, we would have loved to see you.  I do talk to Linda Gupta every once in awhile but otherwise haven't kept in touch with anyone.  I am looking forward to our class getting together in a couple years.  I know a lot can happen in that time but I know the importance of planning ahead.  We will keep you posted on the new grand-baby even though it will be too late to get into the Quad this year.  By the way, I was one of those who did not receive my Quad but Linda kindly sent me hers.  Hopefully, that won't happen next year.
      Take care and stay in touch.
       Sherry

Harishwar Dayal:

My jottings would be nothing but Arpana, Arpana and Arpana! Therefore, I have attached our Annual Report 2013 for everyone's persual. I don't really do anything else. Nothing much to say otherwise except for my fondest love to the entire CHEPBUH Family, including children and grandchildren and ALWAYS the open invitation for all to visit whenever in India!

If you feel this is OK to send please do forward it, otherwise let it be. Because it is certainly not a short update! (Cate is the web master for the www.arpanaservices.org site ... so here is the link click here.)

Look forward very much to when we will be together, which is rapidly coming closer!

Much love to you and Jack. Both of you look wonderful in the picture! God bless you both!

Deepak

Mary (Fritschle) Noggle: 

The past year has been a challenge. We lost my oldest brother Dan on March 15 to esophageal cancer. I never expected to lose both my brothers and now be my dad's oldest surviving child. My dad is 96 and going strong. He lives in assisted living near both Ruth, my younger sister and me in Appleton WI. He preaches every Saturday night and leads weekly morning devotions  It is such a joy. A huge blessing. I welcomed my 6th grandchild this year and they are all girls ranging in age from 4 months to 12 years old.I continue to work in long term care in Wisconsin helping people stay in their homes but hope to retire next year. I so enjoy all the news and am looking forward to the reunion in 2016. Mary (Fritschle) Noggle. 

Donald Camp:

I’ve been away from the Woodstock family for a long time but your class mailing list has been great for getting reconnected with people I knew back in 10^th grade.   John Chaffee and I came very close to being in the same city at the same time this month, but we missed by a week.  We’re planning to get together somehow.  And being back in touch electronically with Arun has been great.

 I’m (mostly) retired from the US State Department but they hire me back every autumn to work at the US Mission to the UN, where I am now.   I’m the South Asia Advisor at the US Mission so I work with delegates from India/Pakistan/Nepal and the like.    On weekends, I hang around the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art and eat idli/dosai on the street.  This weekend is “Diwali in Times Square" (rather early, admittedly).  And Prime Minister Modi will be here in a couple of weeks, for a huge tamasha in Madison Square Garden.  So, except for the weather, I might as well be in Delhi.

I’m hoping to be back in India in January, visiting my Peace Corps village in Tamil Nadu, but that has yet to be set in stone.   Most of the year, my wife and I continue to live in the Washington DC suburbs, where there are more recent Woodstock graduates in our neighborhood. 

Cheers, Donald Camp

Richard and Suzanne McCulloch Friedericks:

We did it. We retired and moved back to Port Townsend, WA from Hong Kong. It’s been a couple months and we’re still settling in but its very, very good. Being in Asia was great, of course, because we were able to travel. Last October 2013 we went to revisit the Punjab with Suzy’s brother David. We also had a great time with Harishwar in Kharnal. We made our annual Christmas trip back to LA and Oregon to see the grandkids. In March we were both able to go to Nepal for the wedding of one of our close Nepali friend’s son and Suzy stayed on to join the High School Interim group I lead to Nepal every year. In April we went to Korea for a week. By June 18 we were back in the USA. Our shipment arrived a month later and since we’ve been back we put in bamboo floors in our house, got all new appliances and a new Subaru Forester. We’ve also had plenty of time with family in Portland and everyone came to Port Townsend for our 40th wedding anniversary. We look forward to our class reunion in 2016 - hopefully here in Port Townsend.

Richard and Suzy  

Pete Petersen News for 2014,

Sheri and I moved to Fayetteville AR to be closer to our son and daughter-in-law who live in Fayetteville and closer to fishing and camping of course. 

Northwest AR is home to Walmart and Tyson Chicken so the Univ of AR and the Arts have received loads of money for academics, museums, and charities while they pay their employees minimum. There are several Indian restaurants catering to the Indians that work at Walmart.    I volunteer at our library and local mental health sites and take univ classes for fun. Sheri is pretty active substitute teaching.   Our son, Sean teaches Social Studies and Debate in HS in Springdale, AR and Suzanna is a MD working as a hospitalist at Wash Regional.  I had aortic valve replacement last year which I blame on hiking at Woodstock and running(ha!), so I'm fit again to travel some more!    We live on 2 acres overlooking the White River which feeds all the lakes that border AR and MO.    Did Padre Island North, TX on the Gulf this spring with our small RV and really enjoyed camping on the beach, birds and fresh shrimp.   Had a visit from Jim(akaBlue) and Laurie Ginn. Blue was my Hostel roommate jr and sr years.   We will hit the East Coast next spring or fall, then Europe and Turkey next year or next.  A cottage on the Irish  coast for a week is one of many things on our bucket list.

Enjoy everybody's news.

Chepbuh and Namaste y'all, Pete

Lee Feierabend:

Every year I mean to send jottings but attempting to depresses me because I get reminded of all the things that I could have done but didn't, or places I have missed, or how trivial my problems are compared to others, and so this year I finally have something I am excited enough about to overcome all those thoughts.  I am finally moving "back home".  We bought a condo in Madison, Wisconsin.  I am commuting to work in Louisiana every other week because you cannot work in Wisconsin without board certification but that same increased standard is why Sandra is doing better with her lung problems.  She is still on oxygen with exertion but able to get out and about again.  All but my brother Bruce are in the Madison area now as well several Woodstock "family" members so we are looking forward to being here even if retirement is just something I can envy others getting to do!  Looking forward to 2016 reunion!!!!

Phil Spottswood:

Phil and wife Michelle moved to Lexington, KY.  Our new address is 1135 Richmond Rd., Lexington, KY., 40502.  We moved to Lexington to be near our children and grandchildren.  We live with our daughter Abby and her husband Jeremy and their two children, "little" Phil and Laura Craigen.  Michele works as an ER nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital (part of the UK medical system).  I work for God's Pantry, a non-profit agency that delivers bulk food, produce, bread and other essentials to the food banks in central and eastern Kentucky.  What a blessing to be able to continue to serve the Lord as I serve His needy children and adults in an area of great poverty.   Blessings to all.  Phil

P.S.  I do hope that we ALL commit to our 50th reunion at Woodstock in 2016.  I have already begun to save my money for the trip.

Philip J. Spottswood

David Rugh:

Thanks Cate for hunting down these recalcitrant jottings. Here's mine again, in case the previous email was swallowed by the Grand Canyon:

"DAVID RUGH is developing skills as a naturalist on the Olympic Peninsula. He volunteers time on protected properties, studies wildlife, and serves on the Guiding Committee of a local Natural History Society. At home he continues to build woodsheds (five at the last count)."

Also, I've added a photo showing Ruthe, me, and Chris Green at the Woodstock Reunion in Baltimore. We look happy.

-Dave

Hi there classmates!

I sent a pithy blurb to Cate for the Quad, but, inspired by these friendly paragraphs from so many of you, it seems only right to tell more:  2014 has not been a year of great transitions. Ruthe and I live on the Olympic Peninsula, spending most of our time in our custom-made home in 28 acres of deep forest (which we hope you will visit in 2016!) My focus continues to be on natural history (wildlife, ecology, etc.), a passion begun while wandering the Tehri Hills. There have been 40+ naturalist events, i.e. field trips or lectures, so far this year, including setting bait and cameras in a program to see if fishers have returned to the area; these furry animals – smaller than a wolverine, bigger than a mink –  were trapped to near extinction in WA and have now been reintroduced.

Not much travel to report for us:  just a few trips to visit relatives and friends in PA and MD, including the Woodstock annual gathering.

-Dave

Lucy Seely Varnell:

I regret I cannot be there for our class reunion. My husband and I retired this past January and we love it. We have five grand children which keeps us very busy, with after school pick up etc.We also have a disabled son from 13 years with the U.S. Army with very severe Crohn's disease. He has had 3 major surgeries already. He made the Audie Murphy Award within 4 years of service and was ranking real fast and loved the service, but was disabled by the Army with great pay, but sad to leave. My husband and I have been doing a lot of traveling when we can to see sisters and brothers. 7 siblings is a lot. Joyce, Joan and I will be traveling to Austria, Germany and Switzerland next June. My husband will stay behind to help our disabled son. I hope you all have a great reunion. Love to each of you, Lucy

Karen Smyres Wolner:

This has been a momentous year to say the least.  In April our son Jason and daughter-in-law Lisbel welcomed Anjelica Ana, a sister to 3 year old Manny.  Needless to say, we were thrilled.  Sadly, a month later on May 14th we lost my dad.  Not unexpected but hard all the same. My mother then passed away on August 9th.  We had already arranged for the memorial service to be on August 16th so it became a service for both of them.  Fitting, as it was the day following Independence Day. About 25 family members celebrated the 15th with a Hindustani dinner while celebrating their lives.

On Labor Day weekend, our daughter Kim, son-in-law Caleb, and 2 year old grandson Nathaniel moved to Albany from the DC area. It is so wonderful to have them live just a few minutes away.  

What with all the trips back and forth to Florida to check in on my folks and then to settle their affairs, we haven't been able to plan any other traveling.  However, we have some things on our bucket list for next year.  Hopefully, I will be able to report on them for the next Jottings!

Looking forward to our 50th reunion. Can't believe it has been so long!  Are we really that old?!

Warren Rees:When I read what some of y’all did this year, my life feels tame. I had my second grandchild graduate from high school. I pick up my third grandchild from school in the afternoon, and every Monday I take my youngest two to school and preschool.  I miss being a world traveler, but first I would have to get a passport, I posted my last passport picture on Facebook, it looks very similar to my senior year book picture probably because it was taken in the summer of 1965. I get immense satisfaction, unlike the Rolling Stones who couldn’t get no satisfaction, in being an important part of my grandchildren’s lives. December Marie and I will celebrate our 26^th wedding anniversary. I am looking forward to our reunion.

Betsy Taylor:

great to hear news from all of you.

I've been busier than I would like.  I'm on the national steering committee for the US Extractive Industries Transparency Initiativewhich brings me to DC every several months (since many of my family are in the Baltimore / Washington area, that makes the trips also personally meaningful).  I'm working on several collaborative research projects with the Alliance for Appalachia -- to build community-based vision & action for post-coal economies.  On a completely other and possibly ADD track, I'm trying to nurture interfaith discussion on the Israel / Palestine situation, building on really terrific work of Presbyterian Church in developing study guides.  Herbert & I also occasionally get away to Asheville NC for a break, but wish I had a bit more time to ponder & to porch... Happy Trails all!  Betsy

Betsy Taylor


Claire Beery:  In the spirit of catching up, here's my news from Sonoma County. Last year was a big one for me - I got married. Hopefully many of you will get to meet my husband, Bill, at the reunion. Our one year anniversary was yesterday. We used to work together 15 years ago and re-met at a professional training. It¹s nice to be married again after 18 years. Took me three times to get it right! We live in Rohnert Park near Santa Rosa.

I¹m semi-retired. Ended my job as Director of programs at a family social service agency doing parent education, childcare consultation and related work. Now I get to focus exclusively on my life as a college professor teaching Child Development. I recently created a brand new course that focuses on working with children and families going through stress and loss in their lives (something I know about for sure).

Bill is also semi-retired now and able to give more time to his writing. Here¹s a link to one of his works: http://counterculturecreations.com/.

My kids are all doing well. Willow (Rosenthal) is 42, married, and still a leader in the urban farming movement living in Berkeley. You¹ll find her on any number of websites on the internet. Mira (Rosenthal) is 40 and gaining national recognition as a poet and translator (of Polish poetry!). She
received the great honor last year of being short-listed for the Griffin Poetry Prize (out of Toronto). She has her own website. Zoe is 24 and exploring the best fit for her career in sound engineering. She lives in Oakland. She graduated from San Francisco State in 2013 and has been working as an intern at Skywalker Sound for the past year ­ a real prize to intern at one of the top companies in the world. She's also a dancer.

Mira and husband Greg brought two granddaughters into my life: Tillie (5 and in kindergarten) and Lulu (2) They live in Jacksonville, Florida which, of course, is sad for me. But Skype keeps the world small. Here are two photos from my wedding: one of me and all my girls (Willow & Zoe on my right, Mira on my left).

Really looking forward to the reunion of our "family" in 2016.

Love, Claire