Alice Karp Barkin ’41 died on May 12 surrounded by her loving family in Cambridge, Mass.

Alice earned her M.S.W. at Simmons after being widowed at nearly 60. She was for many years a therapist for Dedham Family Services. She was loyal to her clients and continued seeing many of them after the agency closed, and even into her final years, when she conducted sessions by phone.

Alice was a loyal Wellesley alumna, which she attended with her sister, Judy Karp Ritter ’47, and future sister-in-law, Jean Waldstein ’41. In recent years, they often audited classes there. In her final years, Alice lived with her son Peter and his family in Cambridge, where she was treated with great kindness by her daughter-in-law Joyce and grandson Robert.

Donald Barkin, son

Ada Mae “Maizie” Finn Abuza ’42 died on May 26, just six days after celebrating her 100th birthday on Zoom with her children, grandchildren, and extended family. Maizie, originally from Dayton, Ohio, had lived in Sarasota, Fla., for many years, volunteering with Mote Marine Laboratory.

Hayat Abuza, daughter

Marianna Gallauer Paulson ’44, who passed away in September, was never more at home than working in her flower and vegetable gardens, which produced a bounty she shared widely. Born in Milwaukee, Marianna was the second in her family—after her mother, Kathryn Schmidt Gallauer 1914—to attend Wellesley. Marianna married Henry Merritt Paulson in 1945, and they had three children together: Henry M. Paulson, Jr. (the 74th U.S. Treasury Secretary), Richard Paulson, and Kathryn Paulson Thomas ’73. They lived in Barrington, Ill., where Marianna was an active member of the Christian Science church and the garden club. Marianna was beloved by her family: her husband (d. 1995), three children, seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Amanda and Wendy Judge Paulson ’69

Gloria Levy Herman ’45 passed away on Aug. 14 in Houston.

I met Gloria after she arranged a blind date for me and my husband, who often refers to Gloria as his “second mother.” Gloria was my image of the Wellesley woman I wanted to be—always curious, insightful, open to the changing world around her, generous, and gritty. She was the loving mother of four sons, grandmother of eight, and great-grandmother of seven. Gloria was an active supporter of Wellesley, the League of Women Voters, the Panel of American Women, Crisis Intervention, and the Alzheimer’s Association—and the first woman to be president of Congregation Beth Israel.

Beverly Siegal ’72

Mary Dirlam Freedman ’46 passed away at age 94 on July 22.

Mary resided in Falmouth, Maine, and was predeceased by her husband, Robert Freedman. After Wellesley, Mary went on to earn her master’s degree at the University of Cincinnati, and had a long and rewarding career in teaching, publishing, and editing in New York and Boston. She was fortunate to attend her 70th Wellesley reunion in 2016 and had the opportunity to reunite with several of her classmates. Mary leaves five children, two stepchildren, 14 grandchildren, and a great-grandchild on the way.

Sasha Frey, daughter

Lois Wettlin Lock ’46 died peacefully at home in Maine on June 22.

Early in our friendship, we discovered our Wellesley connection and soon realized that we had actually lived in the same room in the very top of Tower Court, overlooking Lake Waban, albeit 51 years apart. Lois was an incisively intelligent woman and gifted with a sharp sense of humor. She was also a big-hearted volunteer and champion for children with special needs and hospice. She leaves behind her beloved daughters and twin granddaughters, countless friends, and a world made better for her contributions and her sparkle.

Zoë Robbins Tenney ’97

Suzanne Dorntge Reade Pearson ’48 died peacefully of natural causes on Aug. 6 in Ipswich, England. She was 93.

Raised in Buffalo, N.Y., after attending Buffalo Seminary she majored in medieval studies at Wellesley. After marrying Kemp Reade, she settled in Wayland, Mass., and raised four children. She also worked as an English teacher, first at Wayland High School and then at Joel Barlow High School in Connecticut.

After the death of her first husband, Susie moved to England and married Richard Pearson, who predeceased her. A vibrant person, Susie loved good food, her Swiss heritage, theater, and reading. She is survived by three of her four children, as well as six grandchildren and her Pearson family.

Nat Reade, son

Ruth “Cubby” Lyons Hickcox ’48 died on Aug. 5 from after-effects of COVID-19.

After Wellesley, Cubby worked in the children’s department at the Boston Public Library and the placement office at Harvard Business School, where she met husband Leigh. They celebrated 60 years of marriage this year. She had an endless supply of loving and creative energy, which blessed her family, classmates, church, and friends. At Wellesley, Cubby took pipe organ lessons and regularly played hymns on the carillon. She was the ’48 class secretary for decades. Cubby has three books in the Library of Congress: her witty Wellesley cartoon book, a story entitled Great-Grandmother’s Treasure, and a history of Emmanuel Church in Connecticut. Her husband, children, grandchildren, and one great-grandchild survive her.

Victoria “Torrey” Hickcox O’Connor ’83, daughter

Harriet Starzinger Macomber ’48 died on May 20. A resident of Des Moines, Iowa, she was greatly devoted to the arts and especially to the Des Moines Art Center, where she had been a trustee.

Harriet and husband Locke loved to travel and attend theatrical productions; in advance of those, she read scripts of plays to review the actors’ lines. She was a voracious reader, holding subscriptions to the Des Moines Register, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Barron’s. An economics major, she co-founded the Petticoat Mutual Investment Group, of which she was a longtime member.

Harriet is remembered for her brilliant smile, her love of the arts and support of community organizations, her fascination with research, and her gracious interest in everyone she met.

Will and Dixie Hoekman, friends

Florence Adams Clark ’49 died on April 29.

In Norumbega, we called her “Fluffy.” Raised in the Rockies, she was kind, gentle, and ethereal, and headed straight for Ithaca, N.Y., after graduation, with her new husband, Gardner. She taught English at an Ithaca high school, raised three children, sparked writing and theater groups, traveled to Italy and Switzerland, taught for a year in Lugano, hiked, skied, and played tennis, all the while pouring her soul into short stories and poetry. Poet Duet, cowritten with daughter Carolyn and published in 2019, represents, according to one reviewer, “a reflective wisdom, unified by generations, which ruminates on elation and loss, with the patience and understanding that all of it is temporary.”

Gretchen Rous Besser ’49

Betsy Ancker-Johnson ’49 died on July 2.

A pioneering physicist with “army brat” gumption, Betsy exploded glass ceilings ad seriatim as the first woman Ph.D. in physics, magna cum laude, at post-war Tübingen University (1953); lecturer at Berkeley while a Boeing research scientist; bride of mathematician Harold Johnson; mother of four; electrical engineering professor at University of Washington; first woman assistant commerce secretary under four U.S. presidents; first woman vice president in the automotive industry (at General Motors until 1992); a multi-corporation board member; and author of 70 papers and patents. She was showered with awards and honorary doctorates, earned an aikido yellow belt, was a master’s swimming bronze-medalist at 80, a beloved grandmother, a faith-nourished activist, a proud alumna, and loyal friend. She merits renown.

Gretchen Rous Besser ’49

Virginia Davidson Richards ’49 died on July 22 with her daughters by her side.

A history major and Cazenove resident, Ginger later earned an M.A. at Union Theological Seminary and followed her faith into ministerial work. She married R.K. Richards and raised children Elizabeth, Albert, and Jane in Ames, Iowa. While making a home for extended family and caring for her mother (Virginia Hearding Davidson ’25), she volunteered widely for education-related causes. She led local chapters of PEO and the American Association of University Women and served Wellesley as an admissions volunteer. Ginger was part of a treasured Wellesley family tradition, beginning with her grandmother, Lucy Hartwell Hearding 1895, and continuing to today. She lived Non Ministrari sed Ministrare each and every day.

Catherine Davidson Wood ’86

Sally Hammond Wells ’50 passed away on June 5. She lived Non Ministrari sed Ministrare her whole life. A sociology major, she loved people. She moved back to Milwaukee after graduation and became involved in her community in countless ways. Her Wellesley friends remained her best friends. Sally lived an inspiring life as an amputee and was often asked to give motivational speeches at church and at VA hospitals to give courage to other amputees. Her family hails her devotion to her family and friends and the organizations she served, and a life truly well lived. As Sally would say, “I love life!” She enjoyed nature, singing, bird watching, cooking, and entertaining, and was beloved by many friends, her family, and neighbors. She will be missed.

Sarah Wells Carroll ’83 and Caroline Wells Stone ’85, daughters

Lowerre “Lolly” Harding Simsarian ’51 of Worcester, Mass., died at age 91 on June 1 after a 20-year battle with multiple myeloma.

At Wellesley, she served as president of the College Government. While raising a family of four, she served as a board member and on committees of the League of Women Voters and a school for early childhood education, which she helped to found. She cared deeply about efforts to improve the public schools and government of her community and country. She was known for her gentle kindness and wonderful sense of humor. She loved music, art, and dance, and was an avid bird watcher. She is survived by her husband, three children, and four grandchildren.

Sarah H. Simsarian, daughter

Shirley Jean Steinmetz Kline ’51 died on July 22 at age 90. She was a unique and wonderful human being.

In our marriage of 67 years, I watched Shirley be kind and helpful to all she met. She encouraged high standards in our children. She did this while dealing with the daily joys and frustrations of marriage, raising children, and surviving. Shirley lived the Wellesley motto, Non Ministrari sed Ministrare, not to be served, but to serve. She created community. People recognized that she was intelligent, organized, gentle, hardworking, and fair-minded. She worked and led.

Frank M. Kline

Judith Acken Aylward ’54 died peacefully on March 16, 2019, in Plano, Texas.

Judy lived all over the globe with her husband, Paul, who was a foreign service officer. Judy had completed a master’s degree in library science before Paul retired, and she worked as a children’s librarian after they settled in Kansas City, where she also volunteered, reading to children in the hospital.

In 2001, Judy and Paul moved to Texas to be closer to family, and they also spent summers in Oregon, hosting annual family vacations. Judy was thrilled when her granddaughter, Rianna Aylward, graduated from Wellesley in 2016.

Janet Aylward Hope, daughter

Elizabeth Baker Leete ’54 died in West Hartford, Conn., on July 15.

From leading Barnswallows into a season of experimental theater to plunging down a ski hill chock-full of threatening moguls, Betty loved a challenge. Her indomitable spirit carried her from journalism to law school, where she was first in her class while raising four children, and into a career as the leading immigration lawyer in Connecticut, having started her own all-woman firm. Brilliant, kind, courageous, generous, and witty, she would swiftly do the New York Times puzzle in ink. She would travel afar to see a great musical or theater production. Betty and Harmon added sparkle to the weddings of many ’54’s kids with original songs. What joy to have her friendship!

Lonnie Whitney Stukenberg ’54

Margaret Burgess Cammack ’54 passed away peacefully on July 17.

Born in New York City, Margaret grew up in the suburb of Pelham. She majored in English with a strong minor (not available as a major at the time) in education. She was a teacher after college and later got her master’s in divinity from Union Theological Seminary. In addition to her husband of almost 60 years, Charles Cammack, she leaves three children and three grandsons as well as her sister, Dorothy Burgess Voorhis ’51. She was proud to follow her mother, Dorothy Cross Burgess 1916, to Wellesley; and I am blessed to call her aunt.

Dorrie Voorhis Graul ’79

Alexa Collins Sulak ’54 passed peacefully on July 26.

After graduating, Alexa lived and worked in Erie, Pa., San Francisco, and Boston, settling in Cleveland, where she married, had a daughter, and spent the majority of her life. She volunteered widely including with her Wellesley club. She had a true love of the outdoors and animals, especially corgis. She took pleasure in tending her garden but was also an avid traveler. Alexa is fondly remembered as kind, compassionate, generous, and gracious. She did her best to take thoughtful care of others, even into her last days, and she loved her dear friends from Wellesley.

Adriana Sulak Bombard, daughter
Jack Sulak, husband

Martha Childs Sproul ’55 died on June 20 in Mystic, Conn.

Martha entered Wellesley in the footsteps of her two older sisters. Her senior year, she met Ed Sproul, a Harvard medical student. They married in 1958. After the birth of their three children, they moved to Mystic, where Martha became a dedicated member of the local community. Blessed with a curious mind and keen intellect, Martha was rarely seen without a book in hand. She was partial to historical accounts but also had a soft spot for classic literature and poetry. She was reflective, creative, and eternally optimistic. She was predeceased by her husband in 2018. She is survived by her children, Elisabeth, Edwin, and Jonathan, and five grandchildren.

Elisabeth Sproul Sweet ’80, daughter

Gary Cunningham Lorenz ’55 passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 23. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Lorenz, and her daughter Andrea Lorenz ’78. She is survived by Jeannie Lorenz ’91 and two grandchildren. Gary loved teaching and was an amateur poet, instilling a love of poetry in her students. Jeannie submitted “For Mom, at This Moment in Time” in Gary’s honor:

Grieving, packing. Gratitude, comfort.
Busy-work, intensity. Gaps of time, introspection.
Uncertainty,
Then knowing.
Kindnesses: Zoom calls, meals, books, walks;
Reconnections and strengthened relationships.
Bewilderment at pandemic, yet many micro acts of love.
Joy in a toddler’s love of Saturn; another’s pride in reading.
Precious teens’ resilience in COVID—masked learning, tennis, cooking, giving of self.
Seeming contradictions;
Mutually non-exclusive.

Jeannie Lorenz ’91

Anne Colby Zachos ’56 died on July 2.

One of Anne’s many contributions to our class was co-chairing our 55th reunion. She planned and executed the many details of this event while in the middle of selling the family home and moving from Manchester, N.H., to the retirement community Riverwoods in Exeter, N.H. Nothing fazed her!

Once settled in her new quarters, Anne found many connections and ways to continue her lifelong habit of service to others. With energy, intelligence, and her sense of humor, she quickly became a valued and beloved member of her new community.

Anne Sinnott Moore ’56

Elaine Botwinick Wolfensohn ’58 died on Aug. 19 in New York City.

“Curiosity, humility, intelligence, and kindness” were words describing Elaine in a World Bank tribute. Elaine became an advocate for worldwide quality education and gender equity during husband Jim’s World Bank presidency. Elaine and I met during our first days at Wellesley and a lasting bond was formed. When she returned from Australia and London, where her two daughters and son were born, we met frequently. We shared concerts at Carnegie Hall, discussed her vast board involvements, and hiked in her beloved Jackson Hole. At Wellesley in 2012, she and Jim were amazing Albright Institute distinguished visiting professors. Her accomplishments were many.

Luella Gross Goldberg ’58

Mary Ann Hayward ’58 died on July 14.

Mary Ann was an effusive, active, diligent student. She loved her English major and singing with the Tupelos. We became Beebe roommates, remaining close friends throughout our lives. At 26, she found me a husband. Thereafter, we met with our families: identifying the Loch Ness monster; sharing the first moon walk at her beloved Elkins, N.H., cabin; naming one of her sons my godson; establishing Wellesley mini-reunions. During her four years standing firm against cancer, she traveled throughout the country visiting her friends. Those who were lucky to know her will miss her greatly.

Joyce Whitaker Sparling ’58

Dorothy Seidel Wigod ’58 died on Aug. 27 in New York City. Married for 56 years to the late Robert Wigod, she was the mother of Dewey Wigod and Cantor Emily Wigod Pincus, sister of Judith Wigod Jacobson, and a fond grandmother and step-grandmother. For many years, she was a much-admired volunteer tutor in the New York public schools. She served on the board of the Women’s Auxiliary of Temple Emanu-El and was an active participant her class’s alumnae activities. At a virtual memorial service, many speakers commented on her smile. Her family was paramount in her life, and she served them well.

Bettijane Long Eisenpreis ’57

Mary Louise Friedman Van Winkle ’59 died suddenly on March 18.

As history majors, we remember Mary Louise as the quintessential historian; her analytic, communication, problem-solving, research, and writing skills made her our perfect friend and contributed to her distinguished academic career that included nearly 20 years as academic dean at Duchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. She filled early retirement years assuming interim deanships at several community colleges including a turn in Sitka, Alaska. Jane met Mary Louise moving into Stone Hall; Sharon met her at Harvard, where they earned their doctoral degrees. We remained close through decades and monumental life changes. Her life will continue as a powerful model for Sharon’s daughter and the many young women she influenced through her volunteer activities.

Jane Huber Yates ’59
Sharon From Rallis ’68

Lisa Cook Koch ’61 died on March 22.

Lisa greatly valued her Wellesley education and her major in art history, which led to wonderful experiences in the art world. She had a long career at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she was the merchandise manager and later a fund-raising consultant. She also represented the Met on travel trips abroad. Her brilliant social skills, intellect, knowledge, common sense, and humor resulted in respect, appreciation, and many friendships. She will be remembered, loved, and missed by her Navy and Severance pals along with others.

Keene Harrill Rees ’61

Linda Mayer Pearce ’64 died on Aug. 26.

Kind, generous, and smart, Linda was born, married, and had her two children in Kentucky, and she moved to Sarasota, Fla., in 1982. She always planned to seek advanced degrees and do more with the amazing education she received at Wellesley, but decided it was more important to sacrifice and concentrate on her family. In return, she saw her children accomplish great things and was enormously proud. Her many personal and professional accomplishments were a tribute to Wellesley and her religious training, strong extended family, and circle of friends.

Nick Pearce, husband

Katrin Menzel Spinetta ’65 died on June 23.

Born in Berlin during WWII, Katrin emigrated to the U.S. with her family as a young child. She received a full-ride Seven Sister Scholarship to Wellesley, where she resided in Munger. She received an M.Phil. from Yale and an Ed.D. from UC Berkeley. A linguist (she spoke seven languages), an educator (teaching at high schools and colleges), and an administrator (dean at two NorCal community colleges), she concluded her career, after a short stint with ETS, as a state-wide educational consultant. We had three children (including Anita Spinetta ’90) and eight prized grandchildren. Nothing portrays Katrin’s life, character, and spirit better than the musical The Sound of Music, especially the songs “I Have Confidence,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” and now—sadly—“So Long, Farewell.”

Peter Spinetta, husband

Sigrid “Sigi” Olson Lindo ’67 died on July 21 in Rockport, Mass., after a brave battle with ALS.

Beloved wife of Stephen, Sigi was Alex and Sam’s devoted mother and Claire Joy’s doting grandmother. She sustained deep friendships, welcoming old and new friends into her heart and home.

Music was a constant throughout Sigi’s life. She sang with Wellesley’s Blue Notes, Montclair, N.J.’s Humdingers, and her church choirs from childhood onward. After returning in 2010 to her hometown of Rockport, she and Steve became passionate supporters of Rockport Music.

Sigi worked in banking and advertising, then focused on raising her sons and volunteering in her community and for Wellesley. Sigi’s life was rich in love, hospitality, intellect, strength, and grace. Her unwavering generosity and goodness will be remembered for blessings.

Rhoda Morss Trooboff ’67

Ellen Carlson ’70 died of pancreatic cancer on Aug. 1.

Ellen was fiercely devoted to Wellesley—our class’s planned giving rep for many years, a faithful reunion attendee, and a devoted friend to classmates and many from other classes as well. A poli sci major, Ellen was a political junkie, slowly making the transition from Wellesley Young Republican to Democratic Party activist, and never missing a women’s rights march in DC. Ellen practiced family and bankruptcy law in Norfolk, Va., for many years, always looking out for the underdog. Most of all, she was a doting Gamma to her five grandchildren, and a very proud mother of David and Stephen, who cared for her so lovingly in her last difficult months.

Hope Schwartz Foster ’70
Betsy Worthman Geist ’70
Susan Bradlee Grant ’70
Ann Harris McKelvie ’70
Susan Nelson ’70
Elizabeth Trimble ’70

Cynthia Johnston Bergan ’73 died on June 30 due to complications from cancer. With a Harvard master’s degree in education specializing in math, Cindy spent more than 25 years in the Newton, Mass., public schools, first as a teacher and finally as assistant superintendent for secondary education. Her work combined her passions for education, equality, and good government. She worked tirelessly to decrease the achievement gaps among students.

Most important to Cindy were her loving children, Amy, Michael, and Meg, their spouses, and her seven grandchildren. Our families enjoyed many happy times with her and, like her students and colleagues, we remember well her warmth, contagious laugh, and ability to listen.

Peg Darasz Hadzima ’73
Lea Triangolo Anderson ’73

Dorothy Mawn CE/DS ’97 died on Jan. 15. She was 89. Lovely, kind, and gracious, Dorothy loved learning, but most of all she loved her family—seven children and 14 grandchildren. Despite heart surgery during her senior year, she graduated on schedule as her entire family watched and cheered.

She also loved her Wellesley sisters. As CE/DS alumnae class representative, Dorothy believed that money donated to Wellesley could help other nontrads (non-traditional aged students) attend, expanding our growing circle. As founder and chair of our Monday Book Group, she researched discussion questions every month for 20-plus years. Dorothy loved all of us, and we loved her back!

CE/DS Friends