1956 – Spring ’21 Class Letter
1956 – Spring 2021 Class Letter
Greetings, Class of 1956!
Since our numbers seem to be shrinking, it’s best now to keep in touch. That’s why I agreed to become our Class Agent. I enjoyed TOM LINDE ’56’s Class Letters, and I look forward to hearing from the rest of the class! We shared a few years at College and now we can share a few more by email, U.S. mail (called snail mail by many), or even Zoom. If I find someone to set up a Zoom meet-up when would be a good time for everyone? Please reach out to me with ideas of when you could meet virtually.
Class Notes:
EDWIN CROMEY ’56 of Toledo Park, New York, writes, “The General Theological Episcopal Seminary in New York City established a graduation prize in Liturgics in my name to be given annually.”
KEITH GUISE ’56 of Greensboro, North Carolina, married Elena (from Mexico) 61 years ago. They lived in Venezuela, Mexico, and Milwaukee. He has been in South Carolina since ’86 when he retired to be near their daughter and son. He has had cancer and is now free of it. He likes golf. He has fond memories of RAY VANDE MOORE ’59.
WOODY MOY ’56 of Topsfield, Massachusetts, says “I watch fake news, 2 naps” and sends his regards. (Not sure what he means by fake news but that’s what he said.)
BARBARA BAUMAN LACY ’56 of Gainesville, Florida, married BILL WHITTLE ’56 in November ’56. Bill went into the Army. They went to Japan where a son was born. Then they went to Maryland and a daughter was born. Bill went to Vietnam and Thailand. He died at 43 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Barbara had brief stints as a substitute teacher, private investigator, and spent time doing clinic work. Barbara married Major Hal Lacy, a U.S. Congressman worker in Washington D.C. They moved to Texas. Barbara started painting. They retired to Gainesville, Florida. Hal died. Now Barbara volunteers at North Florida Humane Society, plays bridge, and volunteers at art galleries.
I look forward to hearing from more people but this is still our beginning.
College News In Brief:
The entire college community has been tested and classes are back in session. Teaching is in person, online, using videos, Zoom, and the outdoors when possible or any other way faculty might find to use. (Picture students walking between classes with masks.) Summer orientation will be virtual.
The #OneDayRally for giving is planned for April 28, 2021. Would you be interested in being a Social Media Advocate for that day? Email [email protected] and receive a toolkit of resources. Thank you to all who are able to support the Ripon activities with your donations. We had 15 donors this past year. Not all people in our age group have the income to do this. All donations from our class made before the end of the College’s fiscal year on June 30th will be part of the Golden R Reunion gift presentation during Alumni Weekend.
Alumni Events:
Last year’s 2020 class reunions were canceled due to COVID-19 so those who would have come last year are invited this year. Our Class Reunion is now planned for Saturday, August 7. Would you believe it is our 65th Class Reunion? The postponement from June to August was considered because of public health concerns (ours and community), vaccination status, and travel concerns.
Alumni Weekend 2021 will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen with two distinct summer weekends of Ripon alumni programming for us. No matter how you’d like to connect, virtually or in person, the Office of Constituent Engagement is developing a variety of activities to continue to follow CDC, Fond du Lac County and College guidelines in both June and August. Full schedules, lodging, and programming details will be posted soon to www.ripon.edu/alumni-weekend.
JUNE 2021
- In honor of our June Alumni Weekend traditions, virtual alumni programming will be held Tuesday, June 22 through Saturday, June 26, and will include: an alumni town hall, R Connections webinars, affinity socials, a summer book club, and special recognition of the 2020 and 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees.
- The only in-person event, the Doc Weiske ’50 Memorial Golf Scramble, will be held off-campus on Friday, June 25.
AUGUST 2021
A combination of virtual and in-person Alumni Weekend programming will be held the first week of August. We will continue to evaluate the state of COVID-19. If circumstances change at the local and national level and we need to cancel in-person programming, that decision will be made and communicated by July 1, 2021.
- Virtual programming will be held Tuesday, August 3 through Saturday, August 7 and will include: a reunion-focused alumni town hall that also previews the new academic year, additional R Connections webinars, the summer book club capstone, and the traditional “That Was Then” storytelling session.
- In-person, on-campus programming will be held Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8, and will focus on alumni awards recognition, 2020 and 2021 reunion celebrations including our 65th Class Reunion as part of the Golden R Celebration, and other outdoor events such as Rally Run and prairie walk.
- Additionally, the Class of 2020 will officially be welcomed to our alumni community with a special commencement ceremony.
I have not been to Ripon in many years so it is nice to see changes and scenes that are new. Here is a virtual tour of campus that was especially helpful for prospective students to view who were unable to https://tour.ripon.edu/. I thought it would be fun to take a look at a familiar building from when we were a student to what it looks like now. On the left is a picture from our yearbook where you can see West Hall in the background. On the right is a current picture of West Hall from a similar angle.
Where do you volunteer? I play keyboard at a nursing home service, belong to a senior citizen group that meets Monday through Friday, and volunteer shelving books at the library. Unfortunately, those are all suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions in this state. So now I play piano, read novels (online, or hardback or paperback), go to church, and enjoy my family when they come to visit. I just got a new iPad Max and a new iPhone XR. I had fun putting a new Otterbox and glass protector on the phone. Since my laptop is old and Microsoft Word got deleted when I installed Windows 10, I am now learning how to use Pages on the iPad. Pages is sure different from Microsoft Word! I have yet to start Numbers as an alternative to Excel. It should be interesting. I have been doing lots of searches on how to do this and that.
I hope you found uplifting ways to enjoy the holidays in these trying times. I wish you all well as you face challenges of all sorts in these trying times – health, financial, distance from family and the “new normal” to name a few.
If you are on Facebook, how about checking out Ripon College’s Facebook page? And, if you go on YouTube, you can watch previously recorded live events hosted by Ripon College by searching for the “Ripon College Live Events” YouTube channel.
Your Class of 1956 Class Agent,
GLORIA BERTSCHIE LUDDECKE ’56
7100 Sunset Way, Apt. 308, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
(813) 468-0997
Your 1956 Class Agent