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Reunion 2007
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“Forty Years After,” both the Class of 1967 and Chestnut Hill College are looking well, leading interesting lives, and moving confidently into the future. Forty-four members of the class came to the 2007 reunion. (The yearbook lists 146 graduates but this does not include everybody since some moved on to other schools for various reasons but still consider CHC their alma mater.) We were pleasantly surprised by the condition and appearance of the campus. The tree our class planted in front of the library during our senior year was thriving, and gave welcome shade. The new building with modern facilities fits in well with the traditional architectural style. The newly acquired Sugarloaf estate across Germantown Avenue adds needed space and some useful structures at least in the short-term In the long-term new buildings will go up according to Sr. Carol. The reunion weekend itself was well-planned and full of interesting and fun activities. The reconnecting began unofficially earlier in the week with several out-of-towners staying with classmates in the area. Margie Kress Carson stayed two nights with Nancy Culligan Jennings, who lives in Fort Washington, only fifteen minutes from CHC. Julie Fox Eastwick stayed there, too, Friday night and together they enjoyed meeting up with everyone for various activities on the campus Friday and Saturday. Cathy Devlin joined them Saturday. Saturday evening Margie and Nancy went to McNally’s to reminisce over a late dinner. Marilea Swenson reported that she and Kathy Malaney met Judy Brown, Donna Salvo and Sandy Kubak Grill Friday morning and they all headed for Jim’s on 4th and South for cheesesteaks. Afterwards they went to the King Tut exhibit at The Franklin Institute, winding up at the president’s reception cocktail party on campus at 5 Twenty classmates stayed in the New Dorm (air-conditioned and comfortable) Friday night and eighteen on Saturday. This made it easy for them to make the most of all the activities the college was offering Valet parking and luggage service made arrivals and departures a breeze. Overall service was efficient and friendly. Once again the senior suite of Nancy Keller Eck, Barbara Jani, Nancy Cashman Lilly, and Marilea Swenson attended the reunion in force, with all but Nancy staying in the New Dorm. The programs described in the reunion weekend brochure lived up to their billing. Hearing the stories of the famous race horses Smarty Jones and Barbaro as told by their owners left not a dry eye in the place. At the president’s reception Sr. Carol Jean Vale (our honorary Class of ’67 member) told several classmates that CHC’s transition to co-ed was the most successful since Vassar’s. Co-ed enrollment, usually around 70-30%, will be close to 50-50 in Fall 2007. A buffet-style dinner in the spacious and air-conditioned Dining Room allowed ample time for getting reacquainted. Debbie Mily Doyle and Chris Doyle who thinks he graduated with us (Remember Kitty Frank; that was Chris's aunt) appeared for dinner and “Margaritaville on the Hill.” The rain forced the margaritas inside but no one seemed to care. Breakfast buffet hours both days were generous and accommodated everyone from the early risers to the late sleepers. . Speaking of early risers, many caught Sr. Helen Kashuba’s (Sr. Irma Mercedes) 8:45 am historical/architectural walking tour of the campus. This was a favorite from the 35th reunion, and several went for the second time. Saturday Mass was followed by the traditional events, which were also the most heavily attended, the cocktail reception and the class pictures. Forty-three members of our class were at Saturday’s functions (Marie Denny Sweeney made a cameo appearance on Sunday) and we made quite a war whoop and napkin-waving hullabaloo when our class was introduced at the luncheon in the now-familiar Martino Hall, also known as the new gym. Sr. Carol Jean Vale described the exciting plans for the Sugarloaf acquisition and what it will mean to the future of the college. Feedback from classmates who visited Sugarloaf was positive. At first, $11 million seemed pricey. But with the cost of real estate nowadays $11 million is a bargain. The house on the property needs a little design work and a lot of elbow grease, but it can be made workable at least temporarily. Facing a critical shortage of dorm rooms for male students, the college can use the lodge for dorms once it is rehabbed, again on a temporary basis. It has great possibilities for money making – weddings, seminars, company retreats, etc. In addition it can be used for offices and classrooms for the college. Usually a time for winding down, the class meeting this year was an exciting event. The location was in a state-of-the-art wireless classroom in Martino Hall. Barbara Jani, Margaret (Midge) Moran, Marilea Swenson, and representatives from the college reported on the overwhelming success of our class gift drive. The partial endowed scholarship fund is close to $20,000 (final number to come from the Development Office). We will be able to continue to contribute to this fund at any time, thereby increasing the amount of the endowment. The first scholarship will be awarded in 2008. A committee headed by Mary Quinn will decide on criteria to be used in awarding the scholarship. All administration will be done by the college. Kudos to everyone who participated in or contributed in any way to this success story! Peggy Madden Bell was re-elected class president and Griffin Fund (Annual Fund) representative. Honors for the longest distance traveled went to Kathy Kierle Dougherty (San Francisco). Pat Olwell Hoglund from Seattle came in second. Marilea Swenson from San Diego was third. Janice Martin Foster came from New Orleans where she is busy rebuilding her home following Hurricane Katrina. Mary Jane Briggs Morgan provided a little comic relief by wearing her official CHC-issue white with brown trim wool blazer. Judy Brown had her CHC handbook. It might be fun if everyone who finds her blazer – or her freshman “dink” – would bring it to the 2012 reunion. Kate Wendleton (you may remember her as Marian Dobbs) generously sent copies of four books put out by her career counseling service, The Five O’Clock Club. Kate authored two of the books.. There were enough books for each of us to receive a complete set. Speaking of books, our registration bag had a discount coupon for the college bookstore (great marketing!) and some of us bought red T-shirts with white CHC lettering. Others looked for souvenirs to take home to family members, particularly grandchildren. New items were on order that didn’t make it to the shelves in time for the reunion weekend, but you can order from the bookstore on-line, so check that out. Marlene Bonacci Lynch and Joan McFadden Jernee and others had to leave Saturday afternoon. Marlene was charged with the happy task of babysitting her little grandson for the first time, while Joan was off to a wedding. On Saturday night Kathy Malaney and Marion Fanning McNamara, our two class physicians who attended the reunion, helped out until the ambulance arrived when a staff member had a medical emergency. Chris Doyle (Debbie Miley Doyle) was back for the barbecue on Saturday night and brought Jim Moran (Kathy Dugan Moran). Joe King (Joan Burger King) and Chuck King (Pat Walsh King) made it to all the “open” events. Yes, you guessed it. Joan and Pat married brothers Joe and Chuck, so are members of the same wonderful family! Jumping ahead to Sunday, Marie Denny Sweeney came with her mother to the Golden Griffins Mass. Her mother is a Golden Griffin. It was great to be able to see Marie and her mother before people started heading out. Some out-of-town folks took the opportunity to visit family and friends in the area (Judy Brown, Toni Whitmore and Pat Olwell Hoglund, to name a few). A trip down the Shore (Cape May and Atlantic City) by several others included seeing the former vacation home for the Sisters of St. Joseph. Getting back to the rest of Saturday, our unofficial social secretary Marilea Swenson summed it up in her own inimitable way: “It was great fun connecting with so many – in person! I only gained 3 pounds. Philly cheese steak, way too many desserts, salt water taffy at the shore. For those who did not stay in the dorms, there was a BBQ on Saturday – chicken, burgers, hot dogs, roast beef, corn. Then there was a casino, martini and dessert party. Who cares about gambling but desserts and then this new martini – chocolate! Made with Bailey’s and crème de cocoa and vodka. I had four. Well anyway, it was a fabulous weekend! I found out that the day hop lounge doesn’t exist anymore – there are offices there. And the tunnel from Fournier to Fontbonne (is that the name of the freshman dorm?) is somewhat blocked by the weight room, which I believe may have been the lounge/kitchen? …. We know there were some gals who wanted to be there but just couldn’t make it. Just keep early June 2012 open! It was wonderful to see and be with everyone but not enough time to chat with you all!” And until the next time, keep in touch by sending your email address to Barbara Jani or Marilea Swenson: barbarajani@earthlink.net marilea.swenson@uboc.com EDITOR’S NOTE: This article touched on just a few of the stories of our 40-year reunion. Following is a list of all those who were able to attend. If you have a special story or personal/family event to share, let our webmaster Barbara know and she will put it in the updates on our class website. Reunion 2007 Attendees: Anne McDyre Cheney Barbara Jani Betty Zamal Tarquinto Cathy Devlin Cecilia Bankins Debby Miley Doyle Dee Klebacher Magyar Donna Salvo Eileen Menegus Debesis Frannie Gercke Carey Janice Martin Foster Joan Burger King Joan McFadden Jernee Judy Brown Julie Fox Eastwick Kathy Campbell Schgusta Kathy Dugan Moran Kathy Keirle Dougherty Kathy Malaney Linda Taraborrelli Donahue LizAnn McGarvey Smith Margie Kress Carson Marian Fanning McNamara Marilea Swenson Marie Denny Sweeney Marilyn Harris Dunning Marlene Bonacci Lynch Mary Jane Briggs Morgan Mary Louise Goldkamp Ryan Mary Pat Gallagher Boyle Mary Quinn Midge Moran Nancy Cashman Lilly Nancy Culligan Jennings Nancy Keller Eck Nancy DelValle Korbeck Pat Barr Colfer Pat Olwell Hoglund Pat Walsh King Peggy Walsh King Peggy Madden Bell Sandy Kubak Grill Sue Dames Gibbs Stephenie Genova Quirk Toni Whitmore |