Spring 2002

Margaret Benson, who lives in Stroudsburg, PA, earned her Ph.D. in Elementary Education at Florida State University. She currently teaches at East Stroudsburg University. In the past, she taught at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, and elementary schools in Missouri, California and New Jersey. She enjoys travel and writes that she was able to accomplish a personal goal of "visiting all 50 states before my 50th birthday!" Sara McCree Summa, who lives in Pasadena, MD, proudly announces the birth of her first grandchild, Emily Elizabeth Brown, born June 7, 2001 to her daughter, Jami (30), a kindergarten teacher. Sara's son, Brian (26), attends Towson University and majors in Film. Her husband, Jimmy, retired from the US Capital Police in Washington, D.C. and now works for the District Court system in Maryland. Sara is the manager of the Mikasa store in Arundel Mills, Maryland's largest outlet mall. She writes, "I have to admit that since her birth, Emily has become Jimmy's and my greatest interest. Someone should tell you that grandchildren are way better than kids!!" Florence (Jackie) Esposito Bucchi, who has lived in France for many years, writes, "I hope everyone is well and recovering from the sad events (of September 11, 2001). It will be a long and difficult process to come to terms with this tragedy. I am far away here, but please be sure that the pain and shock that the USA has suffered has reached across the ocean, and France has prayed for everyone." Mary Lou Johnsen Van Handle and her husband, Hank, have two sons, Steve (30) and David (26) and live in Succasunna, NJ. Mary Lou works as an insurance coordinator for a dentist. She sings in a barbershop chorus ­ The Hickory Tree Chorus ­ in New Providence. She enjoys playing bridge, biking and snow skiing (she had a condo in Vermont), but most of all, she loves traveling. She writes that her most interesting trip was to Nepal last year. Theresa Novellino Fione lives in Florham Park, NJ. She has one daughter, Carla, who is married, and a granddaughter, Alexis Diane Sliby Macri and her husband, Vincent have been married for 27 years and live in Warren, NJ. Diane graduated from Seton Hall University and taught in New Providence until 1985, when she left teaching to be home with her son. He is now 16, and Diane is very active at his school in Morristown. She writes that she loves to cook, entertain and travel Kathleen Schake Snook adopted her eight-year-old grandson, Brandon, in November, 2000. She writes: "He and our 16-year-old son David keep us very busy. I think retirement may be a fantasy!" Kathleen also changed jobs last year and now works as a division controller for ITW Thielex in Somerset. She and her family live in Flemington, NJ.

Fall 2001

Antoinette Pepe Walsh, who lives in Caldwell, NJ, reports that her son, Christian, will be starting Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire in the fall. Kathy Balsamo Kochan and her husband, Hank, are awaiting the birth of their fourth grandchild in August, 2001, and the publication of Kathys fourth cookbook. The Kochans took an Alaskan cruise earlier this year to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. Kathy is a part-time cruise consultant and serves on the Welcoming Committee for St. Josephs Church in Mendham, NJ, where she and her family live. (Florence) Jackie Esposito Bucchi, who lives in France, writes: Dear Friends and Classmates: I am very happy to finally be able to contact you. It was by sheer coincidence and good luck that I met up with an EOCH graduate this past January who advised me of this address. As you can see from my above address, I am still living abroad. It is now 31 years that I have resided in Europe (Italy, England and now France.) Time goes by and with this great geographic distance, I have lost all contact with the Class of 1967. I am very sad to say that the last news I had goes back to the 1977 reunion. Hopefully, it is not too late to make up for the lost time. I would like to become a more active member, receive bulletins, and perhaps be able to attend a reunion in the future. Please send me the necessary forms, etc. In the meantime, I would appreciate any recent up-to-date news regarding the Class of 67. I am desperate to know how everyone is doing. What are they doing? Where do they live? Many thanks for all and any help you can give me. Jackies e-mail address is bucci@infonie.fr. Ingrid Hegenauer-Greene, who lives in Glen Ridge, NJ, writes that her hobbies are "gardening, reading, crafts, baking wedding cakes, and traveling to historic places." She is a financial systems maintenance analyst for Atlantic Health Systems. Her family includes her husband, Bob, and children Samantha (13); Kenni, (23), a University of New Hampshire graduate; Alana, (25), a project engineer for Dana Corp; and stepchildren David (27), Shawn (28) and Robert (29). Linda Lavitola Kopet, who lives in Chatham, NJ, has been married to her husband, Al, a pediatrician, for almost 19 years. She writes: "Last spring, we retired and closed the pediatric practice. During the past year, I volunteered at a crisis pregnancy center and also completed a 40-hour training course on domestic violence with the New Jersey Battered Womens Service. I'm continuing my education at the College of St. Elizabeth, where I recently received an award for academic achievement in psychology from the alumnae association. In May of this year, I began a new career as the RN health services coordinator at the F.M. Kirby Childrens Center in Madison. For fun, I read, crochet, entertain family and friends and occasionally work out at the gym. My husband and I love Mexico, and this November, we'll be taking our three teenage grandchildren to Cancun to introduce them to the country and the culture."