Jane Mayhew Rust ’40 died peacefully on May 2 at age 98 at her home in Hingham, Mass.

Jane was devoted to her family and enjoyed skiing, cooking, reading, gardening, needlepoint, and spending time at her family’s summer home on Martha’s Vineyard in Chilmark, Mass. Jane planned a 10-month-long family trip to Spain (1962–63) and a family summer trip to Mexico (1969). Her husband, Eugene, predeceased her in 2010. Jane is survived by two daughters and two granddaughters.

Lee Rust Dixon ’77, daughter

Barbara Lewis Howell ’43 passed away peacefully at her home in Vineyard Haven, Mass., on May 3, surrounded by family.

Barbara followed in the footsteps of her mother, Gladys Dowley Lewis, class of 1918, developing a lifelong affinity with Wellesley, where she was known as “Lewie,” majored in English, and was active in the Shakespeare Society. After college, she worked for more than a decade in the publishing industry in New York, married, and lived in Kansas before settling on the North Shore of Chicago to raise her four children. She was a competitive tennis player, intrepid swimmer, avid reader, and accomplished piano player.

Peter Howell, son

Rosemary Lonergan ’44 died on March 15.

Rosemary was my history teacher at Westridge School in Pasadena, Calif., in the ’50s, and she encouraged me to apply to Wellesley. On a visit to London, where I live, she told me that each time she had needed a new teaching job, she simply wrote to the Wellesley career office and they sent her a selection of posts available, including the last one at Westridge, where she taught for 30 years. In tribute to Rosemary, the headmistress said, “She was the embodiment of the lifelong learner, combining her love of travel and history on three sabbaticals during her tenure at Westridge, participating in archaeological digs in Cairo and studying in Greece, Rome, Japan, and China.”

Barbara Holway Ilias ’63

Linda Bolté Whitlock ’45 died peacefully in her sleep on March 13 at home in Arlington, Va.

Linda taught high-school English, occasionally Latin and Greek as well, for 33 years. In 1985, she was awarded Master Teacher in recognition of special dedication to the Williams School in New London, Conn., and to the teaching profession. Her energy and commitment to students, colleagues, and school stand as a unique testimony to the highest qualities of the profession. Tangible measures do not begin to indicate either the magnitude of her contributions or the depth of our gratitude. She is survived by three daughters, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Rhoda Whitlock Canter ’71, daughter

Virginia Quay Hutchison ’51 died on April 20 at Kendal Home in Hanover, N.H.

We remember Ginny’s bright personality and generous nature. She married Bill, a professor of theology. Ginny taught special education in Cambridge, Mass., public schools from 1972 to ’94. Over the years, she earned a diploma of education from Oxford and master of education degree from Lesley College. For five years, Bill and Ginny served as co-masters at Winthrop House at Harvard. They did many volunteer projects with the Society of Friends. They traveled extensively around the world with their four children, Joe, Cathy, Margie, and Elizabeth. We miss her.

Margaret Zeller Carlson ’51

Elizabeth Taylor Barclay ’51 died on April 10.

Beth was passionate about life. She was passionate about justice, about her loyalty to her innumerable friends and relatives, and about education for children. After graduation from Wellesley, she traveled to England and stayed there for about 20 years, becoming headmistress of a progressive open-classroom school that became known throughout the world of early-childhood education and a model for professionals in the field. When she married and returned to the U.S., she continued her work as a teacher and administrator in Boston-area schools, an inspiration for all throughout the remainder of her life.

Betty Felsenfeld Greenfield ’51
Joan Pearson Turner ’51

Ellen Phoebe “Epi” Wiese ’51 died on Dec. 23, 2016, at home in Longmeadow, Mass.

After Wellesley, Epi pursued graduate work in art history at Radcliffe. She continued her work as lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Design and the Carpenter Center for Visual Arts and in France, with support from a Fulbright grant. Her research and publications ranged across many fields of visual culture, from painting and prints to film and semiotics. Epi returned to her family home in Longmeadow to devote herself to the care of her father. She continued to pursue her studies and to cultivate longstanding friendships right into the final year of her life.

William H. Wiese, cousin

Phyllis Shapiro Sewell ’52 passed away on Dec. 26, 2016.

Though 30 years her junior, as a Cincinnati Wellesley Club member I learned from Phyllis, who, until recently, served as both local club treasurer and as the class of ’52 treasurer. Her dedication to education, as a long-standing corporate executive with the Federated Department Stores, Inc., included public schools, focusing on our shared alma mater, Walnut Hills High School, a college preparatory school founded in 1918 in Appalachia and styled after the Boston Latin School. WHHS is an Ivy and Seven Sister “feeder school.” In Cincinnati, we seek to honor Phyllis’ endeavors.

Lori Gayle Nuckolls ’82

Constance “Connie” Blunt Winter ’57 died on March 28, 2016, in Atlanta.

Connie was a woman of many talents, with a great sense of humor, and full of love for Wellesley and her family. Connie played the lovely carillon bells and sang in the choir. Connie attended every Wellesley reunion and will be at the next one in spirit. Wellesley was always special to us since we met at a mixer. Connie made quite an impression on me as I noticed she would finish conversations with suitors before dancing with the next chap. I made a point to dance with her just before the break so I would have her all to myself.

Thorne Winter III, husband

Lee Pieper Wagner ’59 died on Feb. 9, 2016.

My mom loved Wellesley. She defined herself as a Wellesley graduate throughout her life. I accompanied her to her 50th reunion in 2009, and I have never seen her as happy as when she returned to campus. Lee was born in Boston in 1937 and passed away in Tucson, Ariz., her home since 1978. She married Robert Wagner in 1961 and had two children, Elizabeth and Eric. She was a brilliant, caring woman. At her funeral, a coworker mentioned how Lee broke glass ceilings in accounting in the 1980s. I think she would have liked that.

Eric Wagner, son

Carol Hart Field ’61 died on March 10.

Carol was a kind, loving friend to many people—thoughtful, generous, and lots of fun. Beside her many achievements, her family and friends meant the most to her. She and her husband of 56 years, architect John Field, died within days of each other.

Minerva’s Owl, the name of the bookstore that Carol cofounded in San Francisco in the ’60s, epitomizes her qualities of wisdom and insight. In the ’70s, when we women were finding our way into the workplace, Carol began what would become a brilliant career sharing her immense delight in all things Italian through her award-winning books about Italian culture and cuisine.

Stephanie Shevlin Peek ’61

Julia Howe Rhodes ’61 died on April 18 after an 18-month battle against cancer.

Teacher, mentor, faithful disciple, community leader, and arts enthusiast; these all describe Julia, and yet do not do her justice. For it was as a friend, sister, and mother that she was the most exemplary. Brimming with compassion, humor, generosity, and intelligence, she cultivated friendships with many around the world, including the Kagitçibasi family of Turkey and the Camara and Sow families of Guinea. Many of the family’s closest friends simply referred to her as “Mom.” The many who have brought a problem to her kitchen table, and who have listened to her calmly suggest, “Let’s figure this out,” will forever miss her guidance, laughter, empathy, and wisdom.

Rebecca Rhodes Camara, daughter

Sara Lawrence Engelhardt ’65 died on March 25.

Sara loved her time at Wellesley, worked hard, was positive and enthusiastic, and enjoyed her many friends and activities. Her smile lit up her face. She had a distinguished career at the Carnegie Corporation and as president of the Foundation Center. Underneath her undeniable competence, leadership abilities, and rigorously efficient demeanor lurked a rebel, who roared off on a motorcycle with her husband, Dean Engelhardt, after their wedding. She loved her time with her two daughters, Barbara and Margaret, and her eight grandchildren. She was an inspiring, caring, and joyful friend. Memories of her will always make us so glad for our time with her.

Janet “Jan” Abernathy Robertson ’65

Georgia Ann Machemer ’65 died on March 30 in Fearrington Village, N.C.

We met Georgia 55+ years ago in Tower Court (One West). The public Georgia was a scholar (classics), professor (Duke, UNC), and continuing researcher into all things Greek. The private Georgia had a quirky side. She had an opinion on every topic and a wonderful sense of humor. She enjoyed learning how to belly dance, and she entertained us at one reunion reciting a Greek play. She taught some of us unsophisticated young women how to listen to opera, how to buy tickets for the Royal Ballet (to see stars Fonteyn and Nureyev), and how to travel to Europe. We will miss her.

Cathy Colman ’65
Kathy Davis Dickerman ’65
Karan Early Shelley ’65
Liz Haight Flinn ’65
Ann Hurst Harrington ’65
Sue Hyman Besharov ’65
Chloee Kasselberg Poag ’65
Virginia Kirmayer Slayton ’65
Karen Knapp Mauger ’65
Sue Swanson ’65
Ellen Washington Dawson ’65
Lucy Wells Hausner ’65

Adair Lane ’70 died on Feb. 9.

Being unable to persuade the College that psychology should count as her science requirement, Adair took astronomy senior year. But instead of enduring it, she found her passion. Following graduation, she changed her life trajectory, caught up on prerequisites, and earned her master’s in physics and Ph.D. in astronomy. Her career as an astrophysicist included teaching at Boston University and the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and being project manager of the Antarctic Submillimeter Telescope and Remote Observatory. She was a pioneer female astronomer and role model. Her Davis friends remember her fondly.

Mary Anne Polk O’Meara ’70

Elizabeth Sara Rogers ’83 died peacefully on Feb. 17 after a long illness.

Beth earned a Ph.D. in political science at Duke and taught at Case Western Reserve and Harvard Extension School. She was a gifted teacher and loved her work, but her husband, Stephen van Evera, and her talented girls, Lydia, Eleanor, and Alice, were her greatest joys. She delighted in her happy home with them. Whether teaching, playing tennis, coaching Girl Scouts, cheering for her girls’ skating teams and the Red Sox, or fighting cancer, Beth did it with style, grace, and a big, warm smile. Her life was far too short, but incomparably well lived.

Jane Materazzo ’83

Lorraine Garnett Ward died on March 9.

Throughout her 20 years at Wellesley (1980–2000), first as a head of house (Munger) and then as a class dean, Lorraine “was fiercely loyal to her Wellesley ‘daughters,’” says Chris Bicknell Marden ’90. “She challenged us, asked probing questions, tried to learn where our hearts were, and then pushed us to grow.” Lorraine held a writing lectureship, developed two new courses, worked on the design of the first-year experience program, and won a teaching prize. Lorraine passed away after a long battle with breast cancer; she was 67 and faced her illness with grace, humor, and a valiant spirit. Lorraine leaves her husband, three sons, and three grandchildren.

Laurie O’Neill