Reflections Magazine Issue #61 - Spring 2004 | Page 20

Class Notes 1930s Ann Bakeman Tompert ’38 of Port Huron received the Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree from Siena last spring. She recently published two picture books: Joan of Arc and The Errant Knight. Asked by friends why she still works at the age of 85, she quotes writer Gore Vidal: “I simply could not NOT write. A writer is someone who writes. You can’t stop it; you can’t make yourself do anything else but that.” Ann enjoyed a visit last fall from fellow wordsmith Anne Macmillan Eichman ’67. Mary Duggan Cassabon ’48 of Eastpointe is active in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul as recording secretary; and at St. Veronica Church as eucharistic minister at Mass and for the homebound. She just retired from the Pastoral Parish Council. She and her husband, Bill, enjoy spending February in Florida and getting together often with Siena friends. Alumnae from the Class of ’48 at Siena last fall. From left: Mary Conway Stonehill Mullins, Mary Duggan Cassabon, Estela Cintron Kuptzin, Dorothy Noetzel Sullivan and Rosemary Dorr. Ann Bakeman Tompert ’38 and Anne Macmillan Eichman ’67. 1940s Sister Imelda Patrice Marx, O.P. ’43 taught for 23 years until retiring because of hearing loss. She served at St. John Seminary, at St. Lucy in St. Clair Shores, and in St. Joseph. She now lives at the Dominican Life Center. Marjorie Nunn Kluck ’44 writes: “We had five new great-grandchildren this year: one boy and four girls, one each month from March to July, which gives us a total of 13 great-grandchildren.” She lives in Redford with her husband, Donald. Rosemarie Van D’Elden Birman ’47 lives in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Long Island, N.Y., with her husband, Paul. They enjoy traveling (a recent cruise to Honduras, Belize and Guatemala was a highlight) and are active community volunteers. Rosemarie is the 2004 president of a yacht club women’s group called the Anc’Hers. Mary Jo Stolpman Fleming ’47 sent word from Clermont, Fla., of the death of her husband, Ed, in December, 2003. Jo’s two daughters and two sons, and several of the 11 grandchildren were together for Ed’s last days. 18 Reflections Spring ‘04 - Alumni News Estela Cintron Kuptzin ’48 retired from teaching in 1990. She has been able to fulfill some of her dreams about traveling with trips to Turkey, Israel, Spain and Portugal, along with a number of other places. She enjoys her two grandchildren and divides her time between New London, Conn., and Delray Beach, Fla. Mary Conway Stonehill Mullins ’48 and her husband Stan, of Eastpointe, welcomed their 15th grandchild in January 2003. “What a joy!” Katherine Rink Suydam ’48 lives in Adrian. She and her husband have limited mobility so “social life is mainly going to church and to medical appointments!” She is a grandmother to six grandchildren. 1950s Marie Smith Schumacher ’50 writes: “This has been a sad year for me. My husband had to go to a nursing home for dementia, God bless everyone who suffers from this ‘long goodbye.’ ” Marie lives in St. Clair. Shirley Cushing, OP ’52 lives in Shelby Township and is a managing attorney with the legal assistance program of Macomb County. She holds master’s degrees from DePaul University and University of Detroit, and earned a law degree from the University of Detroit School of Law. Main Campus Carole Sporer Stroh ’52 of Lake Bluff, Ill., had such a good time at last year’s 50th reunion that she returned to Siena Heights this fall for the 50th reunion of the Class of ’53—with whom she had started at Siena! “Since I was sent out by Sr. Patrick Jerome early in my senior year to teach Latin for a couple of weeks in Lansing, I am now in my 53rd year of teaching, covering every level from preschool to university. I am retired from fulltime teaching now, but am still subbing.” Doris Heckert ’53 writes: “I worked at Union Telephone Co. in Adrian, before I began my teaching career. After four years teaching third grade in Michigan, I began working for the Department of Defense, teaching on military bases. I taught elementary grades in Germany, Turkey, Morocco, the Netherlands and England. I also taught in Deerfield and Tecumseh. I am now legally blind, but otherwise in pretty good health. I have six loving nieces and one nephew, and seven great nieces and nephews. God Gladys Maria Vivaldi ’53 lives in San has richly blessed me.” She lives in Juan, Puerto Rico, where she enjoys her Berthoud, Colo. five children and nine grandchildren. She has been a widow since 1999. Barbaradell Way Kelley ’53 lives in Hamburg, Mich., and writes: “My family Joyce Ferry Betz ’53 of Palmyra taught seems to multiply: three children, 11 elementary school in Blissfield from grandchildren (four in heaven), and three 1955 to 1986. She and her husband, great-grandchildren. Doing things with who have two daughters, celebrated my family and community have blessed their 50th anniversary a year ago. Joyce my life. For over 30 years, I’ve been a writes, “I enjoy hunting, gardening, readtrustee of Hamburg Town