Thanks for visiting the class blog, October edition.
The past months since our last update have brought many ups and downs as we deal with the Covid-19 Virus. Wishing everyone good health and also sending healing thoughts to those who have been personally affected in one way or another during this pandemic.
And we can't forget those who have may have been affected by the fires in California and Colorado and those hit by hurricanes and flooding. Yes, sadly it has been a tough year for many.
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Reunion 2021 update
John Dolan and I have discussed the possibility of a 45th reunion for next year. Currently we have put the planning on hold. The responses to the survey that we sent out in March were positive and people were looking forward to meeting up for our 45th celebration. Due to the pandemic we are waiting as the reunion plans could be dampened due to capacity issues for public gatherings and such. Travel may be affected as well. There are a lot of unknowns at this time so please keep a reunion in mind but we cannot guarantee anything at this point. You will be updated as we know more, we will revisit the idea of a reunion in the springtime and we'll just go from there. I imagine a new survey can be created and sent out for your input should we be able to proceed. Thanks for understanding!
~Sue
Shane Fagan, 2nd Class (Junior) Midshipmen applied for and was chosen for a leadership position as a Detailer for Plebe Summer 2020. Detailers execute the Plebe Summer training schedule to form the foundation of the incoming class's moral, mental, and physical development.
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Donner Tevis shares these pictures and beautiful scenery in Colorado.
Donner on a fall ride
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With sadness we report that classmate Elaine Junta passed away on December 6, 2019. Her husband predeceased her. Here’s her obituary:
https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/9399334/Elaine-Ross
"It is with great sadness that we want to let our friends and family know of the passing of our dear sister Elaine. She leaves behind a devoted mother Ruth Junta, her 3 siblings Ken Junta, Donna Beekman, Karen Van Grouw, their families and her best friend of 43 years Dot Emanuele. We will all miss her dearly. Elaine spent her entire life working with adults with severe developmental disabilities, first at the Eastern Christian Children’s Retreat and then at Spectrum for Living where she became the Administrator/Program Director. Her love for those she cared for was amazing and encouraging to them and all others who witnessed it. Elaine was always funny mixed with a little feisty if she thought someone was being mistreated. She loved God, her family, her dogs, fishing and spending time in the Adirondacks. We have so many wonderful memories and lots of crazy stories. As she took her last breath, she exclaimed “aahh” as she got her first glimpse of Heaven. I know she would encourage all of you who don’t have a relationship with Jesus to seek Him. In her room, just before she left, we played a beautiful song our niece Laura sent to bring us comfort. We thank you all for your prayers as we will miss her with us. Elaine would also want to remind us to all be kind to the less fortunate and help others in need. If you would like to make a donation in her memory to Spectrum for Living, you can do that at www.spectrumforliving.org."
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Please keep the family of classmate Bonnie Artsma Roleau in your thoughts. The following is the sad news of her passing in May.
Information and photo from Vermont Obituaries - Lincoln:
Bonnie Jean Roleau, 61, passed peacefully after a brief illness on May 23, 2020, to be with the Lord and her mom. She was surrounded by her family.
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Lynn Wandelmaier Connell shares this happy news:
"Our daughter Lauren got married on September 12, 2020 in London, England where she lives. The whole family traveled there to be by her side. There were only eleven of us, but we had the best time!"
"The whole crew. Groom's family on the left and us on the right"
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"For the last 7+ years I’ve been coordinating our church’s comfort dog ministry with the church’s comfort dog, Maggie, and her dozen trained handlers. (I’m one of Maggie’s handlers, too.) Maggie was one of the Lutheran Church Charities comfort dogs invited to serve Sandy Hook Elementary School when they reopened their doors following the shooting. Maggie has been serving Sandy Hook School (and many other places, as well) ever since. So, with that background…a book was published about a year ago called Extraordinary Dogs (author John Schlimm), featuring about 40 dogs that do extraordinary work for humans, and Maggie is one of those featured dogs. I was interviewed for Maggie’s chapter. The book made for some good Christmas presents to family members last year.
"Our daughter Morgan earned her Master of Social Work from University of Connecticut (UConn) in May, and she’s currently working for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. She had graduated summa cum laude from UConn in May 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with three minors.
"Our son Kevin is a junior at Boston University (BU) studying physics as a BU Presidential Scholar. This spring he was named a Goldwater Scholar in Mathematics, Science and Engineering, one of only 396 Goldwater Scholarship recipients nationwide for 2020. In November 2019 Kevin had his first physics research paper published in Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science.
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From Lynn Savino:
Back to front: Todd Cochran, Patty Menz, Lynn Savino, Paul Lange and Jim Goodwine
Sue
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| Our class group page on Facebook is: "Mahwah High School Class of 76" |
