Our 65th Reunion is coming! Can you imagine? Our 65th reunion! Surely this gives us pause…wonderful memories of times at Smith–the friendships, the houses, the classes, the library – all to be highlighted at our Memorial Day weekend on campus. Plan to be in Northampton from May 25 through May 28 to celebrate and renew/make new friendships, and enjoy social and academic activities.
We continue our journey: at our 55th reunion we were “Up to Speed”; for our 60th and our coming 65th celebration, we remember “Our Time – a Great Time”. We still consider ourselves “Always Ahead of the Curve,” wise and wonderful, resourceful and accomplished. We’re doctors, educators, lawyers, authors, poets, artists, entrepreneurs, community leaders and more. The list is impressive.
That’s who we are – Smith’s Class of 1958!
Registration forms will be coming soon. Our headquarters will be in Northrop-Gillette, which is accessible and convenient. Student ambassadors will be available to lead tours of the renovated Neilson Library during the weekend. The Smithereens a capella group will visit us on Saturday evening .
Let’s celebrate with a good turnout. Remember your whites. We’ll bring the red accessories!
Audrey Riven Wolf, Mims Shea Placke, Reunion Chairs and Sue Andrews, Class President
The Alumnae Office has sent us a new video—a student-led tour of the stunning New Neilson Library with Jess and Nyla as your guides. Their joy is palpable as they show off the Maya Lin-designed building, including the superb spaces filled with natural light, their favorite places to study, the new academic support area, and welcoming places to relax and connect with friends during study breaks.
In a recent issue of the “Alumnae Quarterly,” Nancy Reynolds Bartlit mentions that our website features information about Mimi Foyette Bull’s recent book, Celibacy: Memoir of a Catholic Priest’s Daughter. In beautiful and moving language, Mimi chronicles her life and the profound impact of the mystery of her parents. See Class News for a link for a detailed interview with Mimi. Celibacy is available from your local bookstore or online at Abebooks.
Recognition of the Class of 1958
From Samantha Pleasant re the new Neilson Library: We plan to recognize donors of $100,000 or more on a community wall when you enter the building from Seelye Lawn. Collectively, your class has reached this threshold! Our team reviewed giving by class, excluding those exceptional individual gifts receiving their own naming opportunities in the space. The Class of 1958 contributed over $101,000 via the Smith Fund’s Resourceful Smith designation and other project funds. It is our pleasure to add “The Class of 1958” to the donor wall.
You can watch a video of the construction progress from the end of October 2020 here. Now, just two months later, workers are already beginning to move furnishings into the space. I hope that when we are next able to welcome you to campus, you will visit the new Neilson and take great pride in what we have accomplished together.
60th Reunion: May 24-27, 2018
Our Time! May 24-27, 2018 was a weekend of wisdom, wit, and laughter as we celebrated our 60-year journey of fellowship, challenge, and growth. Fifty-one classmates gathered to enjoy old friendships and establish new ones. Thanks to Mims Shea Placke and Audrey Riven Wolf who were the co-chairs. Special congratulations to Rosie Converse Morgan, Judy Olin Higgins, and Esther Chute Williams who served as class fund agent and special gifts chairs. Our 5-year comprehensive amount of $13,529, 698 broke the standing record by $2,535,000! For the year 2018, the comprehensive amount was $1,311,301 with a fantastic 61% participation. Thank you generous classmates! We were housed in Northrop and Gillett: the parking was easy, the food was good, the programs were interesting and worthwhile, events were nearby or the shuttles took us everywhere. We were well looked after, the weather cooperated, and we had fun!
Click here for photos of the great weekend.
Class news. Our class secretaries often receive so many responses to their requests for news and comments for the “Alumnae Quarterly” that not all material can be included in the print edition. Click here to read complete comments.
As the coronavirus pandemic has impacted all our lives, let’s share our comments and thoughts. Send to me 2legato@comcast.net and I will post in “You said it!”
Several classmates have commented on the general upbeat tone of the submissions, both to the AQ and to the website. Generally we think positively, but we may be approaching a time when it would be helpful to read of, and learn from, accounts of unfortunate events: death, long-term illness, dementia of self or partner, issues for children and grandchildren, boredom with retirement. Frank discussions are welcome!
Classmates would like to read your news on the website. We have a message board, “You said it!” and a news page, “Class News” where you can post your comments, thoughts, questions etc. Send comments, photos, and information you wish posted to 2legato@comcast.net
The Alumnae Quarterly for Winter 2017-2018 featured a long article on Lila Wilde Berle and her efforts to preserve and protect the Berkshires. There are numerous photos and comments from Lila; she also graces the cover of the magazine with some of her hundreds of sheep.
Several of our classmates have participated in the Alumnae Oral History project. Read their comments at http://smith.edu/libraries/libs/archives/collections/alumoralhistory/1950-1959
55th for ’58! How we celebrated!
May 2013
Marlene Futterman and Mims Shea Placke chaired a great Reunion. Click here for news and photos from our 55th Reunion.
“Now we start, sailing over the years again…”