Happy New Year!

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Happy New Year!

We Mourn the Passing of Elinore Winward Hanrahan

Dear Thetas:

Many of you will remember our sister Elinore Winward Hanrahan from the years we shared at New Paltz and more recently at our annual Theta reunions. Ellie was my roommate when we taught in Westchester, and was a bridesmaid in my wedding. We kept in touch over the years sharing the good and bad times in our lives. Although distance didn't allow us more physical contact, telephone calls and letters managed for us to stay involved with each other. In October Ellie called me to see if I was going to this year's reunion, but since I was just starting to recover from a medical situation and couldn't drive, we both were looking forward to being together at the next one scheduled for October 2010.

Yesterday, after receiving a call from Ellie's niece in New Jersey, I learned that my Theta sister died on Saturday, December 5, 2009, in Florida. Elaine explained that Ellie was in good health and recently had hosted all of the children and her nieces and nephew for this year's Thanksgiving celebration. On Monday, November 30, Ellie suffered a stroke. She appeared to be getting better, but on Wednesday, December 2nd she went into a deep sleep/coma. She passed on Saturday, December 5th and is now with her sister Marge, and their parents. Ellie was cremated but at this time Elaine is not sure where they will place her ashes. If it is in the White Plains area with her parents, Elaine will let us know and perhaps we can hold a memorial for her at that time.

If our sorority or individuals wish to make a donation in Elinore's name, Elaine has suggested Hospice of Palm Beach.

Hospice of Palm Beach County

5300 East Avenue

West Palm Beach, Florida 33407

If any of you have addresses of other sisters who should be notified about Ellie's passing, please share this e-mail with them.

Love and condolences to all of us.
Midge Dube, class of 1960

Laura Siracusano Dudek and "Chi" (Sue) Chichester Johnson

10/22/09
Laura & Chi and our husbands once again traveled to the OBX (Outer Banks) this fall to enjoy a wonderful week of perfect weather, company & food. We have 6 couples who love our vacation so much they re-up before we leave the beach house. This year all of the girls bought our new favorite shirts, Pacific Cotton & had our photos taken at the beach wearing the same shirt, different colors. Also, a once in a life time whale sighting from our beach front deck was awesome!!!! It was an orca who opened it's fluke twice--just in case we missed the first one. It was Laura's & my first ever whale sighting--right in front of our beach house, no less! We totally look forward to this time together & hope our sisters take some time & commit to a similar vacation. If you would like more info on our reunion at the OBX, just email me at scjohnson612@hotmail.com. We are both sorry we couldn't make the reunion this year & hope to be able to do so in the future.
Love in Theta,
Laura & Chi

Nancy Arcoleo Erikson

I attended my first Theta luncheon, Oct. 17 '09 with THE SISTERS OF THE PURPLE and it was a BLAST! It was great and nostalgic getting to chat with sisters from the class of '59 and meeting new sisters too. I am going to make a serious effort to do this more often. Is there a list floating around with everyone's email addresses?? Would love it if it exists.

Nancy Arcoleo Erikson

Lesley Waschler Bank

I just found this blog and I am thrilled about it - What a great idea! Thank you! It was wonderful scrolling down and reading the news about the sisters I knew (Joanne Fiore, Senny, MaryAnn Corrado, Patty McKeown, etc.) and those that have become legendary!

My life has been quite interesting since I graduated New Paltz in '72. I became a kindergarten and then a first grade teacher, and am still loving teaching my little ones. I married Ted Bank 35 years ago (oh my goodness!) and have a 31 year-old son, and 29 year old triplets (two girls and a boy). I am also the grandmother of two of the most beautiful boys in the world. I live on Long Island, and would love to hear from anyone who is around here. I am still best of friends with Meryl Weiss Linder '72 and hear from Carol Cooper Sonenblum ''72 periodically.

Lesley Waschler Bank '72 (motherbank@aol.com)

Barbara Passmore

My husband Hunter and I visited Jean Valentine Ward '64 at Jean's house on Echo Lake in Boonville, New York on September 18th and 19th. See attached photo. We enjoyed boating around the lake, visiting the local canal museum and walking around the remains of a four lock system. Who knew there were so many canals besides the Erie.

I hoped to get apples, but the ones I really wanted, Northern Spy were not in yet. They make the best apple pie. I had to make a pie with the Cortlands I brought back with me. I put up six pints and still have half a box left. What was I thinking?

Since I'm on a roll here, I reconnected with Arleen Marcone Schatz '64 a couple of years ago. We are now meeting weekly at the Thistle in Glastonbury where we "stitch." Arleen has completed several projects including a needlepoint of her condo building. That inspired me to design a needlepoint of my house, which is still in progress after about three years. I keep plodding along....

I correspond with Mary Terp Jankowski '64 and it was actually Mary's visit here a few years back that initiated the reconnection with Arleen. We were sitting around reminiscing and decided to try and find Arleen. Surprise, surprise we were successful.

I have enjoyed the yearly reunions, but will be unable to attend this year. Hunter and I are off to South Africa for two weeks.

Yours in Theta,
Barbara Passmore '64

Nina Friedman Lazar

Hi Ladies,

I wanted to write and wish you all a fun-filled reunion… I try to attend each year, but sometimes ‘life’ gets in the way of other plans. This year I won’t be able to be there, and I’m very disappointed! Previous plans were in place for months before receiving the information for the luncheon date. I’ll be up in the Berkshires with family. My husband and I closed on our ‘getaway home’ in June, and are truly blessed to be living our retirement dream.

I loved reconnecting with those at my table at last year’s reunion. Carleen reminded me of some special times we shared, and I was delighted to hear that I ‘had her back’ during pledging. I had forgotten, but apparently it meant a great deal to her – and that made me smile!

Life is busier than ever – I still do some work with the Early Intervention Program in NJ. We service ‘at risk’ babies/toddlers up to the age of 3 years, and then they enter the public school system. I’m also busily blessed to have 9 grandchildren, who keep my husband and me ‘hopping.’ They are great motivators for keeping that ‘spring in our step.’

I’ve continued my connection with Shirley Froman MacRae (my big sister – class of ’65). She lives in Texas and New Mex., and I’m in NJ, but we manage to see each other about once a year. We write and talk throughout the year. Recently I wrote to Ann Guthman, whom I knew way before New Paltz. She lived in the apartment just above ours, and entered college 2 years after I did. I had no idea that she was attending until she showed up at one of our Teas one evening. Via e-mail we reminisced a bit, and hopefully we’ll connect again in the near future.

For those who are begin the New Year, I wish you a sweet, happy, healthy and peace-filled year ahead. And to all sisters, I wish miles of smiles and a wonderful luncheon. If no songleader is amongst you this year, just sing from your hearts, and I’ll be listening for you :-).

Here’s to memories and sisterhood…

Nina (Friedman) Lazar

Carleen Schneider Wald

To all Theta Sisters especially the Class of 1968,

It breaks my heart, but I am going to miss the reunion by hours. Gary and I have to be in Baltimore for a major family event on Friday the 16th. After a breakfast Saturday we start driving north to New York and New Paltz. We plan to spend most of the week in the area visiting friends, relatives and old haunts. The following weekend is my high school reunion in Vestal. We drive to Albany on Sunday and return home to Chicago from Albany.

Gary, my husband is a native Californian. We met at Otto's Bar, Latham Circle, Troy, NY in 1970. He was on a 9 mos. triaining program from Chicago with GE Schnectady. We met at the beginning of the program and were married 9mos. later. We moved to Chicago and have been here ever since. We call it comprmise, but truthfully we love it here. We do love to go back east to visit and we are also exploring places to retire. Did I mention we have a truly midwestern 24 year old son named after his father?

Hoping to be able to visit with some of you who are in the area. My email address is carleenwald@comcast.net or waldgw@att.net.

Last year I went to the reunion with Susan Kramer and it was very special. I hope everyone goes this year and sings "There's a Long long LIne of Thetas".

A very special thank you to the dedicated group of Thetas who started the reunions and all of you who continue to work hard to keep Thetas connected.

Love in Theta,

Carleen Schneider Wald '68

Carmella Lagano Alfano

Hey, Theta Sisters,

Have you seen the trailers for the new horror movie, Sorority Row, which is about the sisters of Theta Pi???? Carrie Fisher apparently plays the housemother, which probably will make Mrs. Brice happy...I don't plan on seeing it, so those of you who do, please share...

Yours in Theta,
Carmella Lagano Alfano (Cape Cod, MA)

Linda Spiro Landers

Hi, Sorry I missed last year's luncheon but I was homebound due to my health problems. Woody & I are now grandparents for the first time. Jacob was born on Aug. 14 and we are enjoying this new phase of our lives. I am looking forward to this year's luncheon. Hope to see lots of you there!

- Linda Spiro Landers '61

Carol Schack Brown

It was wonderful to find Theta and the blog after all these years. Like many others after graduation I left NY and have lived in several states in the Midwest and Texas. I am now back in New York working for SUNY as the President of North Country Community College which is located in the heart of Adirondack State Park. It is amazing to come full circle. I am planning on attending the reunion in October and reconnecting with New Paltz and Theta. Naomi Rubin and I are in contact and it has been fun to catch up.

- Carol Schack Brown (68)

Pam Postle Elkins

Photo: Carol Hearst Brott and Pam Postle Elkins, Theta 1963, at Carol's home in Cape Coral, Florida March 2009


Carol and I met again for the first time in 48 years. I now live in Ormond Beach, Florida


- Pam Postle Elkins

Ann Guthman Byrne

Dear Theta Sisters;

What a delight to find this blog. I enjoyed reading the postings from those sisters I know and even those I don't. The pictures were a real test of my memory (not always successful)! My name is Ann Guthman Byrne and I was in the pledge class of 1965. I graduated New Paltz in 1968. Those of you who know me, might remember that I was going to Israel for a year to teach English. That I did, and I did meet my husband there; however, he is from England not Israel. We married in New York in 1970 and moved to Colorado in 1971. We currently live in Broomfield, CO a city just north of Denver.

We are both retired now and enjoying our life in our new community. In the past two years we have traveled to Italy, Russia and England with smaller trips to Florida and San Francisco. I would love to hear from those sisters who remember me and would like to catch up on the past 40 or so years. You can reach me at byrnera@comcast.net.

Yours in Theta,

Ann Guthman Byrne

Pam Postle Elkins

I reconnected with Carol Hearst Brott, a sister Theta, after years yesterday in Cape Coral, Fl. She sent me this site so that I might also have news about Theta. I was at SUNY New Paltz from 1959-1961 and lived in the Theta house my sophomore year.

Pamela Postle Elkins "Pam"
424 Harbour Town Lane
Ormond Beach, Florida 32174
pamelkins@cfl.rr.com

Laura Siracusano Dudek

3/9/09

Hello Theta Sisters,

Chi and I still get together, as you can see from the photos. We don't see each other as much as when they lived in NY, but we correspond almost daily via e-mail. These photos were taken in the Outer Banks, where we go every Fall with four other couples. Tom and I go to Chi and Dan's house, in New Bern, NC for a day or two and then drive to the Outer Banks with them. We rent a beautiful house (with three floors and an elevator) right on the beach and have a wonderful week every year. Then we drive back to New Bern with Chi and Dan and spend a day or two and then fly home.

Chi and Dan are loving the retired life in North Carolina, and play a lot of golf, make a lot of baskets, do a lot of traveling, have a lot of company and have a very full social calendar!

Tom and I were married almost three years ago, and added a master bedroom suite on my Mom's house and moved in with her in September. It was a crazy Fall, which is why we didn't make it to the Reunion this past year. We are hoping to make it in 2009. Things are going well living with my Mom. She has pulmonary fibrosis from breast cancer chemo. twenty years ago, so she has a lot of problems breathing. It was definitely time for a change, so we sold our house and moved in with her. Now we live in Chester, VT.

I hope this message finds you well. Here in New England, we are ready for Spring!

If you would like to e-mail, mine is talk@vermontel.net and Chi's is scjohnson612@hotmail.com

Love in Theta,

Laura Siracusano Dudek

Nina Friedman Lazar

Hi Ladies,

Just read the note from Naomi Rubin, and was inspired to make a connection. I had such an enjoyable time at our last reunion, and hope that all who were there, as well as some others who weren’t, will be able to make the next one. I will certainly attend, if there are no major conflicts on my calendar. I re-read some of the older comments on the site and when I read Jo Cilmi’s notes, and saw her name, I got a huge memory flash… at least I think I did! I believe that I bought my blazer from her – the old purple, before they changed the fabric and dye lot. Jo, do you remember that transaction? I think Shirley actually brokered the deal, because you had left the blazer with her. Or maybe not! :-)

So here’s the update… First of all, I posted an incorrect date in my previous notes. I said that I had retired from teaching in 2007, but not so! I retired in 2000. Still working with very young ‘at risk’ kids – one on one – and I love it. It’s part time, and that allows me plenty of time to do all the other things that keep me pretty busy. The problem is, ‘plenty of time’ is never enough to get through my daily/weekly lists. I still amazes me when I recall how I was able to juggle a fulltime job, raising children, maintaining a home, participating in community work, and more… But I did… and so did so many other women who had careers and families. I guess the difference is the energy level. While I still do lots of running around, I am not holding down a fulltime job.

The latest news from Cedar Gove, NJ is that my husband and I have purchased a new condo in the Berkshires, and we will be closing in May. It’s being built as I write this. This will be a 2^nd home, so that our kids and grandkids can have cozy, clean, and inexpensive (for them :-) ) frequent vacations. Our grandkids range in age from 2-18 (nine altogether) and are very excited (as are we). That brings us closer to the Cape, and the possibility of visiting with some of the sisters who have moved up there. All welcome to visit us, if you are ever vacationing in the Berkshires.

Spring is in the air, and if I can keep it in my ‘step,’ I’ll be busier than ever this season. Hope all of you are happy and healthy, and that life is treating you kindly. I expect a visit from my big sister, Shirley Froman MacRae, sometime in early May. I’m looking forward to it, and love the fact that we have been able to maintain our very close friendships over the years and over the miles (she lives in Angel Fire, NM and San Antonio, TX). We went out to NM a couple of years back, and she has come east at least once a year, because she still has family on the east coast.

Wishing everyone the very best. Enjoy the change of the season, and keep in touch. For anyone who would like to contact me directly, my email is: Ninanons@optonline.net

-Nina Friedman Lazar

Naomi Rubin

Nothing new here, just figured out I have 711 more work days, not counting vacations, holiday, etc, until I retire..but who is counting?

I live in Troy, NY and am working for the Department of Health as a planner. Bought a 2 family house about 3 years ago with my sister and we're both enjoying living here. I have two pet dogs and mostly like to go on vacations. In the past 4 years have been to Europe three times, Israel twice and I think there might have been other smaller trips but I forget. No big vacations planned except for Williamburgh and Las Vegas in May and Santa Fe in August.

I've lost and gained about 100 million pounds since I graduated, or at least that's what it seems like. As opposed to the economy, I seem to currently be in an upward phase......oh well.

I've stopped volunteering with different groups and am trying to learn to relax.

Here's a picture taken of me in the Negev this past November.

I'm looking forward to making it to the next reunion, sorry I had to miss the last one. I hope everyone is well.

-Naomi Rubin