Jean Valentine Ward

Sorry to miss the Fall Luncheon, but Paul and I just returned from Africa where we experienced an incredible Safari. Visited three countries, "safaried" at two different lodges and visited Victoria Falls. I am keeping busy traveling, golfing, and volunteering in several activities. 
- Jean Valentine Ward

Carol Hearst Brott

I will be having lunch with Ginny Apuzzo at P & G's in a couple of weeks. I'm sure we'll be looking up at the House on the Hill with lots of memories to share.

Enjoy the annual luncheon and remember me to those from '63.

Carol Hearst Brott

Roni Cojac Mintz

Hi, I graduated in 1965 and married Alan 2 weeks after graduation. We celebrated our 50th with a mini wedding given by our children and my 101 year old father. This past summer we continued the celebration when we took the family on an  Alaskan cruise.

In 2017 I will celebrate 35 years working at  Children's Healthcare Of Atlanta. After teaching "well" children it has been quite a journey  working with hospitalized children. They are truly an example of courage and strength.

Happy Holidays to all.
RONI ( Cojac ) MINTZ

Midge Dube

To all my Email Friends --- thank you so much for the prayers, cards and phone messages that made my reverse colon surgery on September 23,2016 such a wonderful success.... As many of you know from my daughter Stacey's postings, I came home from the Saratoga Hospital on Friday Sept. 30 and will be getting the 38 plus staples out of the stomach incision this coming Friday, Oct 7.... Still gathering my strengthen and trying to do more walking in the house and eventually outside once I am permitted to do so....Can't believe what an emotional year this has been...I am blessed to even be alive from the original septic poisoning and physical damage that it did to my colon and stomach...God has been good to me, thanks to all of your prayers..... Looking forward to a healthy year to come.... I will especially miss my College Sorority Theta Phi reunion is Oct 16 but plan on being there next year...Have fun Thetas and know I will be thinking of all of you...I am looking forward to rejoining my social groups and especially swimming exercise classes at the YMCA....thanks again for all your prayers and support, I am truly blessed.....love to all my friends & family, Midge

Please Report Changes of Contact Information

I got another envelope back today. The sister's name is Gloria Peck Shackelton.

- Janice Oehler 

Please be sure to notify Janice of any address changes!!
Notify Pook of any email changes. 
Thanks!

Theta Luncheon 2016

October 15, 2016

12:00-2:30

GARVAN's 

215 Huguenot Street

New Paltz

$22

Checks payable to:  

Theta Phi Alumnae

(Deadline is October 3rd) 

Mail to:  

Leslie Drojak

104 Quail Drive

Kingston, NY 12401

Buffet:  Salad, bread and butter, shrimp scampi, chicken piccata, vegetables

Dessert, coffee tea, soda

Nina Friedman Lazar

Thanks to Nina Friedman Lazar for sending in the 1966 Circle Song for our Theta Songbook! 

New Paltz Reunion

There are big plans for Reunion Weekend up at the college.  For my year – ’66 – this is our 50^th .  It would be great to get lots of Thetas there.  I go every 5 years, and I’m usually the only Theta there.  This year those who said that they may come are: Ceil Bosico, Alice Edwards, Linda Lewis, Eleanor Antonucci and Trish Hillis.

I’m hoping that if more of the sisters see this info, there will be greater interest in re-connecting  on campus.  If anyone wants to be in touch, other than just through the Reunion website, you can post my email address:  Ninanons@optonline.net

- Nina Lazar 

You may contact the Alumni Relations Office about pre-registration, accommodations,questions, etc. at 1-845-257-3230 -Penny Drabick, or go online to: www.newpaltz.edu/alumni/reunion

New Paltz on Princeton Review's Best Regional Colleges List

Thanks to Joan Kisver for sharing on Facebook...
Source:  New Paltz News

https://sites.newpaltz.edu/news/2016/08/princeton-review-ranks-suny-new-paltz-on-best-regional-colleges-list/

Thoughts Are With Midge Dube As She Prepares for Surgery

For members of my family and friends who may not be aware of my medical problems this year I am sending this out today to update all of you about my upcoming Colostomy surgery, and asking each of you to pray that it will be successful.

 

In the beginning of February I was extremely sick and thought I had the flu...my daughter Stacey finally brought me to the Doctors who immediately sent us to the Saratoga Hospital, I don't remember much of it because my stomach was filled with septic poisoning, my colon had rupture and for the first couple of days or so, they didn't think I would make it....On the third day a surgeon on duty performed emergency surgery and removed a large part of my colon and fitted me with a connecting stoma for a colostomy bag.  I was in ICU for two weeks and in the Hospital until March - then home with visiting nurses for the next few months. Living with the colostomy bag and an open wound in my incision has limited my movements since I need to be constantly taking care of these problems.  I went to see the surgeon yesterday since I have regained much of my health, to see if I could be a candidate for a reverse colostomy.

 

He is scheduling one for Monday September 19, and says because it is a major operations there is a small chance that it may not work, and I will need a colostomy bag for the rest of my life, but Stacey thinks he has to say that because of law suits and I need to be positive.  So please Pray that everything will go well and I can return to a more active life and be able do the fun things I used to do. If you can keep me in your prayers I am sure everything will work out for the best...

 

I was hoping that I could attend the reunion this year but since this will be a major operation the recovery cam 6 to 8 weeks long, so I think I need to aim for next year, God willing everything goes well.  

 

Love, Midge

Laura Siracusano Dudek

Here are two great articles about Laura and Tom's journey to Germany so Tom could meet the men who donated stem cells that helped to save Tom's life.  It's an amazing story with a very happy ending!
May 2016 Article
June 2016 Article






 
  





In September 2015, Laura and Tom joined Laura's sister, Louise, and her husband, Mark, for the annual "Light the Night" walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Louise and Mark have been walking in Tom's honor since 2011.   

Jean Valentine Ward and Barbara Wright Passmore

Jean Valentine Ward and partner, Paul Rauch, took a cruise with Barbara Wright Passmore and husband, Hunter in October '15 from Amsterdam to Budapest. We had a great time touring medieval towns, castles, and cathedrals as well as reminiscing!

Get Well Wishes to Midge Dube

Midge Dube is having surgery today (2/14/16).
Message on Facebook from Midge Dube's daughter, Ann Cox:  
PRAYERS NEEDED. They are prepping mom, Midge Dube for surgery now. The meds have not worked, so they have to go in and remove the infected part of her intestine. Please keep her in your positive thoughts for a successful surgery and her complete and speedy recovery.

Keeping Midge in our thoughts and prayers!

UPDATE
2/18/16 - Posted by Midge's daughter, Stacey Horwitz:
Mom is doing better. ..NG tube is out so now she can have liquid diet by mouth...still has pain...but slowly recovering. ..Please feel free to send get well cards to the house and I will bring them to her. Thank you all for your prayers and healing thoughts. 

Get Well Wishes to Laura Siracusano Dudek

Laura Siracusano Dudek is recovering from hip replacement surgery.   

I am at home, recuperating from hip replacement surgery last Wednesday.  I'm doing very well, pain-wise, but am going stir crazy, having to sit and rest so much during the day!  This isn't as much of a "walk in the park" as I'd hoped it would be!!!

Tom is wonderful, waiting on me hand and foot, cooking, cleaning and getting me showered, dressed, undressed and up and down our stairs.  He deserves a medal!  Hopefully, this won't last too long!

Wishing you a speedy recovery, Laura!

Please Keep Carmella Lagano Alfano in Your Prayers

Janice Oehler shared this message from Carmella Lagano Alfano's husband, Al, today.

Please keep Carmella in your prayers.

On Saturday morning morning Carmella woke up with a fever of 102.3.

We went to the Cape Cod Hospital emergency center where they examined her and admitted her.

She was diagnosed with an upper urinary tract infection involving the right kidney and upper ureter. It is called pyelonephritis.

This infection placed stress on her entire system, including her heart, and test results revealed a high degree of certainty that she had a heart attack.

She is stable now but her temperature continues to go up and down.

The doctors are waiting on test results to pinpoint a treatment plan. They need to know the specific bacterial strain causing the infection and the degree of severity of her heart attack as those factors will determine the treatment plan. She is currently receiving intravenous antibiotics and Heparin, a blood thinner.

Again, please keep her in your prayers.

Thanks,

Al
_________ 

I was shocked and very sad to hear about Carmella.  We met the very 1st day of Orientation, when new students arrived on campus.  We were both on the same wing of 3rd floor Capen ... such a very long time ago.  We shared meals, classes, laughs and Theta.  I'll be thinking about her and remembering some nice conversations and her very sweet, warm smile.
-Nina (Friedman) Lazar '66

Hi Carmella and Al,
I am thinking of both of you, sending prayers and healing thoughts your way.
Love in Theta,
-Laura Siracusano Dudek 
__________

2/4/16 UPDATE

Thanks for keeping Carmella in your prayers. The past five days have been taxing. While this started off critical, fortunately Carmella is home now.

The doctors are treating her with one of those super antibiotics for 13 days.

Apparently, her heart was stressed by the infection and released the enzyme Troponin, the indicator that a heart attack has occurred. Follow-up tests, echo-cardiogram and nuclear stress test, revealed no heart damage. 

Again, thank you.

Al

Nancy Arcoleo Erikson­­

It’s the spring semester of 1959. Each year Kappa fraternity held a “talent event” called Kappa Kapers. Three Theta Phi gals (seniors) decided they would perform a dance routine to a tune from the show Pajama Game named STEAM HEAT. Notice all three are looking down at their feet rather than smiling at the audience. Also two pairs of feet were facing one way while the third was facing the opposite direction. These are teachers­to­be, not Rockettes!! Somehow, they pulled it off and received a “sit down” ovation for giving it their all. 

The three Class of 1959 dancers were as follows: 
TALL; Jackie Burton, MEDIUM; Ginny Stadtfeld Esser, SHORT; Nancy Arcoleo Erikson­­

Gail Pieper Brice

So nice to read Theta news, see sisters! 

Here I am 9/10/15 at Montana home, celebrating tenth grandchild's first birthday. 

- Gail Pieper Brice / Class of 1960.

We Mourn the Passing of Maggie Tashiro Caccamo

We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Maggie Tashiro Caccamo.   

Linda Landers emailed me today that Maggie Tashiro Caccamo passed away on Jan. 13th. She was 71 & had been battling leukemia. 
- Janice Oehler 

Maggie's Obituary