WE MOURN THE PASSING OF MARILYN SAGER SMITH

Janice Oehler heard from the daughter of Marilyn Sager Smith (Class of 1960) that her mom passed away at the age of 86.

 

Marilyn worked as an Elementary School teacher in Walden, NY and later retired to Haines City, FL. She was actively involved in hospice and was a retired volunteer at its Visitor’s Information Center. She left behind 2 children, 4 grandchildren, and 1 great grandson. A life well lived! 

 Marilyn Smith Obituary - Oviedo, FL

THETA LUNCHEON 2025

My apologies for my minimal communication this year.  As you may know, I am still a working real estate agent in addition to being "Mayor" of our neighborhood of 110 homes, on the board of an animal support group (raising funds for our local shelter), and am currently serving on a task force (that has taken way more time than I ever expected) to change an article of our Sun City Carolina Lakes CC&Rs. Regretfully, with all of this on my plate, Theta got put on the back burner for way longer than I intended.

 

In case you didn't receive Janice's letter or the email from Laurie, here's the information for this year's luncheon.  Hopefully, someone will send me photos to share after it's over.

 

If you didn't get Janice's letter, you can email me for a pdf copy.  Below is Laurie's email. 

 

Dear Theta Sisters-

 

 

In case you missed our recent handwritten newsletter via snail-mail from Janice Oehler (many thanks to Janice), our annual luncheon is just one month away. Here are the details:

 

THETA PHI ANNUAL LUNCHEON

Date: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2025

Time: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Place: Student Union Building….Room 409

           on the SUNY New Paltz Campus

Cost: $30 per person

 

It will be wonderful to be back on our beautiful campus again in full fall splendor! Our lunch menu is all set, and everyone will enjoy arugula and parmesan salad, seasoned roasted chicken, orecchiette pasta, eggplant caponata, cannellini beans with tomato and rosemary, herb focaccia bread, plus tiramisu for dessert and a beverage.

 

We continue to hold the price at an affordable level, and the sorority picks up any balance plus incidentals.

 

Please reply to this email with your RSVP and send your check payable to Theta Phi Alumnae Association to Laurie Spiegel, 11 Murphy Circle, Florham Park, NJ 07932. You may also VENMO me at 973-220-2460. The deadline is OCTOBER 1.

 

Many thanks to Rosarie Mastropaolo, a.k.a. Beads, and our Theta Phi Alumnae President, Maryanne (DeGennaro) Herzog, for making all the arrangements!

 

QUESTIONS??? Call Rosarie at 845-635-8907.

 

Send any news to Janice Oehler at: joehler@optonline.net

 

HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!

 

Yours in Theta,

Laurie Chase Spiegel ('75)

Theta Phi Alumnae Treasurer

 

P.S. Please see if you can carpool with sisters in your area. Some may be without a means to join us. Also, if the cost of the luncheon is preventing you from coming, please reply to this message and we will help you.

 

Wishing you all a beautiful and healthy fall!

Pook 

2024 LUNCHEON PHOTOS

 Thanks to Laurie Spiegel for sharing these photos...

Click to enlarge. 

 

WE MOURN THE PASSING OF HOLLY ANDERSON VAN SUCH ('75)

Dear Theta Sisters -

I'm sorry to let you know that Holly (Anderson) Van Such, class of '75, passed away on February 13th. She was only 71 years old, but had been declining in health. She is survived by her husband, Joe Van Such, who she met at New Paltz, their 3 children and 5 grandchildren.

Holly was not only active in the sorority during her college years, but you may recall she also served as the first president of our Theta Phi Alumnae Association. Holly began her career teaching preschool and kindergarten, eventually rising to become elementary school principal. She was involved in her local community and enjoyed playing in the bell choir, especially during the Christmas season.

Viewing will take place on Sunday, February 23rd between 1pm & 3pm at McCrery & Harra Funeral Home, 3924 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE. Condolences may be sent to the Van Such home at 1017 Jeffrey Road, Wilmington, DE 19810.

Yours in Theta,

Laurie Spiegel, Treasurer

 

HOLLY'S OBITUARY

WE MOURN THE PASSING OF ELLEN LEAHY LISTORT

Leslie Drojak Lomita has shared the sad news of the passing of Ellen Leahy Listort.

Ellen Rita Listort, of Rondout Harbor, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, February 6, 2025, surrounded by her loving family and under the compassionate care of Hospice. 

A 1966 graduate of S.H. Calhoun High School in North Merrick, NY, Ellen pursued her passion for education, earning her master's degree from SUNY New Paltz in 1971. She went on to inspire generations of students as a devoted English teacher in the Kingston School District, where she taught for over 30 years.

ELLEN'S OBITUARY

NOTES FROM 2024 LUNCHEON

CONGRATULATIONS TO GINNY APUZZO FOR HER AWARD AT THE NEW PALTZ AWARDS DINNER

The SUNY - New Paltz Awards Dinner was a great success. Ginny was glowing and smiling all evening! She had two surprises. The first was when she arrived and was told she was expected to give a speech! She pulled it off. The second surprise was the bouquet of purple flowers.

The flowers were perfect and she so appreciated Theta’s support.

Yours in Theta,

Carol Hearst Brott

Theta Luncheon

 Dear Theta Sisters-

In case you missed our recent newsletter via snail-mail from Janice Oehler (many thanks to Janice), our annual luncheon is just 5+ weeks away. Here are the details:

THETA PHI ANNUAL LUNCHEON

Date: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2024

Time: 12:00 NOON

Place: Garvin's Gastropub – 215 Huguenot Street, New Paltz

(at the New Paltz Golf Course)

Garvan's Gastropub | New Paltz, NY - Home (garvans.com)

It’s a beautiful setting and the lunch menu is all set. Everyone will enjoy a salad and choice of entrée (burger, scampi, or chicken), plus Guinness Chocolate Cake and a beverage. There’s no need to order in advance, but let me know if you have any dietary requirements. We continue to hold the price at $25.00 per person and the sorority picks up the balance.

Please reply to this email with your RSVP, then send your check payable to Theta Phi Alumnae Association to Laurie Spiegel, 11 Murphy Circle, Florham Park, NJ 07932. The deadline is SEPTEMBER 20.

Many thanks to Rosarie Mastropaolo, a.k.a. Beads, and our Theta Phi Alumnae President, Pat McKeown Withers, for once again making all the arrangements!

QUESTIONS??? Call Pat Withers at 631-669-2018. We hope to see you all there.

Yours in Theta,

Laurie Chase Spiegel ('75),

Theta Phi Alumnae Treasurer

P.S. Please see if you can carpool with sisters in your area. Some may be without a means to join us. Also, if the cost of the luncheon is preventing you from coming, please reply to this message and we will help you.

2024 NEWSLETTER

 

 

WE MOURN THE PASSING OF JOANN BIANCA O'CONNOR

 Thanks to Leslie Drojak Lomita for passing this information along to us...

Joann Bianca O’Connor, 83, passed away at her residence in Rosendale on March 25, 2024.  She graduated from SUNY New Paltz and began her teaching career in West Hurley. She left teaching temporarily to raise her family, and when she returned to teaching, she worked at Marbletown Elementary School. She also was a board member of the Theta Phi Alumnae Association during its early years following the sale of Theta House. She is survived by her husband Edward O’Connor; their three children Christine, Joseph, and Annie; and her seven grandchildren.