Tom Holman spent the summer of 2021 on Long Island and also visited his sister in Hanover, Pa. He spent the winter in Naples, Fla., just after Hurricane Ian had devastated the city. Tom’s apartment complex was not damaged.
Joyce Leavitt Zanchelli and Joe ’49 moved to an assisted living residence since Joyce is now wheelchair bound.
Class Councilor: Joyce Leavitt Zanchelli, jjzanch@yahoo.com
A note from your class councilor: Hello Red Devils! Here’s hoping that not only those members of the Class of 1953, but the other alums as well, have all been vaccinated and are getting the booster shots. Be sure to get the flu shot, too! Who knows — it’s possible that a little pinch could be the saving of a life!
Janet Norton DeFabio passed away in June 2022 at Transitional Health Services, Kannapolis, N.C.
Douglas Nielsen and Gail are enjoying life with their four great-grandchildren. They celebrated their 5-year-old great-grandchild’s birthday over a week’s time. “It’s great to go to their house to visit. Knock on the door and all four come streaming to greet us. Who could ask for more?” Doug and Gail’s daughter, Sara, runs Lego camps and uses Lego therapy in various ways. The Nielsen’s last trip was with their daughter, Lisa, to Watkins Glen to visit relatives. “Walking the Glen trail is no longer for us old people. It’s so nice having all these helpful kids and grandkids to help us old ones,” Doug said. “My walking is curtailed by an arthritic right hip and knee. I don’t push the envelope anymore.”
Betty Coykendall Hart taught at her local high school via Google Meet during the pandemic. After Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, Betty continued working in the math lab daily. She has been faithful to a swimming exercise program, completes two miles each day on the elliptical and takes yoga classes on the weekend. Betty’s daughter has connected her with an adult learner who is studying to become a nurse and receives tutoring in Math three times per week. Betty says, “I have been extremely blessed and love working with the students and, of course, the math.”
Margaret (Peg) Hebert Wernette and husband Jack were both staff at London Central High School where students were from military families as well as families in the oil and gas industries. There was a very special connection between the former students and Jack and Peg. Jack taught American literature and drama for 34 years and Peg taught math for 33 years at the London Central School. A very special friendship developed between the teachers and their students, and they have stayed connected after all these years.
Pam Calabrese Weigand ’54 shared that Art Weigand died in Dec. He was a proud member of the Potter Club and attended as many reunions as possible. Pam and Art were two weeks shy of having been together 68 years. “I consider it a privilege to have known him so long,” Pam said. Our condolences to Pam, and to all of Art’s loved ones.
Rose Mary (Rosie) Keller Hughes was another very fortunate Red Devil who did not get Covid-19. Rosie did a daily reading of jokes for almost three years on Facebook, telling her audience she would continue the daily readings until the pandemic was over. It isn’t totally over yet, but she announced at the beginning of Dec. that she was retiring from being a jokester. It was wonderful for Rosie to reconnect with former students who logged on to her daily readings. She now listens to the song written for herby a former exchange student from Sweden. All of us who have taught know what a great experience it is to come together again with former students. What is shocking is that they are now grandparents!
Many classes have recently chosen to raise money for the Student Emergency Fund, which provides immediate funding for things like food, rent and internet access for students in crisis. This ensures these students can remain on their path to a UAlbany degree, despite whatever obstacles they are facing. Is this something for which the Class of 1953 would like to raise money? Let your class councilor know if this is something that you would like to raise funds for.
Please remember to stay in touch and please pass along any news you hear about a classmate. Go, Red Devils!
Class Councilor: Rose Mary (Rosie) Keller Hughes,rosemaryk.hughes@gmail.com
2022 was a milestone year for Joseph Stella and Madeline Payne Stella who, like many of you, joined the elite group of people known as “nanogenarians.” Joe and Madeline celebrated their twin great granddaughters’ 1st birthdays in Aug.
Jim Bennett is “still on his feet, just moving a bitslower these days!”
John Allasio is doing well in Michigan. “Marge and I can still walk and talk. In fact, we can do both at the same time!”
Last June, the Class of ’54 celebrated its 68th anniversary during a virtual reunion on Zoom. About twenty class members participated. This was our second Zoom Reunion, and it was enjoyed by all those attending. We will celebrate our 69th anniversary on Zoom on June 14, 2023.
Class Councilor: Joan Paul, fpaul1@nycap.rr.com
John Rookwood passed away in Aug. following two years of various health issues.
The Class of ’57 celebrated its 65th anniversary during a virtual reunion on Zoom in Oct. About 20 class members from all over the country participated, including Jan Champagne McCrath (Hawaii), Mary Furner (California) and a few classmates from Florida. We plan to have another session in the spring. We all have been very generous to the University, accumulating a large amount in our Class Fund and donating some of these monies to the University Library and the School of Education through the years. As many of you have suggested, we will continue to do so.
Sheila Lister Bamberger and Hank celebrated the New Year by participating in a Road Scholar program about the Rose Parade.
