Mary “Rosemary” Makinson Franz ’45 passed away on Nov. 6, 2020, of natural causes. After Wellesley, Rosemary earned a master’s in drama from Columbia and performed in off-Broadway productions. She married naval officer Leonard Franz and raised three children, as well as teaching, performing in community theater, sewing, and working as a pencil and charcoal portrait artist. Rosemary square-danced for decades and enjoyed travel until her final years. Her mother also attended Wellesley, and she was absolutely tickled pink when older daughter Chris, then granddaughters Lisa Franz ’92 and Alyssa Neuman ’19, and finally great-granddaughter Aylish Klepper ’21 all followed (five generations at Wellesley!). She will be fondly remembered by her family for the twinkle in her eye, her positive outlook, and her generosity of spirit.

Lisa Franz ’92

Helen Peck Ball ’46 passed away on Dec. 18, 2020. A joyful woman who consumed knowledge as much as she appreciated sharing it, she adored her time at Wellesley with her friends, both in and out of the classroom as a history major and as president of the Agora Society. Each time I visited Helen in her home in Florida, we spent hours flipping through pages of her yearbook. Helen adored Wellesley and felt the love in the network—just five years ago, a student sent her a note wishing her well and reminding her of the College we all can call home. Helen radiated Wellesley’s warmth and energy. She will forever be remembered in my family for not just her everlasting grace, but also her innate curiosity for life.

Claudia Lamprecht ’20

Pauline “Polly” Whitaker Parker ’46 died on July 10 in Hanover, N.H. Polly was born in Minneapolis and graduated with a zoology degree. She lived and taught across three countries before settling in Palo Alto, Calif. Polly possessed an insightful intellect and sustained her lifelong interest in medicine through volunteer work and continuing education (including organic chemistry in her 50s). An ardent supporter of women’s rights and the environment, she was active in political causes. She loved hiking, canoeing, and skiing and spent her 81st birthday on a Grand Canyon river trip. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Hank, four children, five grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

Martha Parker, daughter

Julie Emerson Smith ’47 died on June 4. Her years at Wellesley and her involvement as class president and with the extended College community were focal points in her life. As an undergraduate, she joined the MIT Outing Club, where she met both her future husbands. She was an avid supporter of the Students’ Aid Society’s clothing exchange and the international scholarship fund. Her responsibilities as class president were a joy to her. She attended her final reunion in 2017 at age 92 and was proud to help bear the 1947 banner. Julie was an untiring world traveler, parent, grandparent, aunt and great-aunt, dancer and musician, philanthropist, and an enthusiastic appreciator of life. She never failed to give credit to her years at Wellesley and to give back to the Wellesley community.

Cindy Smith, daughter

Nancy Hutson Wiecking ’48 died on July 22 in North Bethesda, Md. She married Charles White Wiecking in 1952 and was devoted to him until his death in 2004. She worked at an organization marketing U.S. tobacco overseas, the CIA, the Potomac Almanac covering Montgomery County education, and at the College Planning Series as a college advisory assistant. She was a PTA activist in the ’70s, and when President Clinton was elected, she joined the Women’s Suburban Democratic Club and volunteered in the White House Office of Public Communications. At St. John’s, she served on the vestry and as director of the Altar Guild, newcomers chair, chorister, and handbell ringer. She leaves three loving sons, a beloved daughter-in-law, and a grandson.

John Wiecking, son

Dorothy “Doffy” Burgess Voorhis ’51 passed away peacefully on Aug. 22 after celebrating her 91st birthday on the 19th. Born in New York City, she spent most of her life in the suburb of Pelham. She majored in economics (fewer papers than history!). She was an active community volunteer with her late husband, H.M. Baird Voorhis, while raising four “pretty good” kids. She was active with Wellesley as well and attended every reunion, including her 70th on Zoom this spring. After retirement, Essex, N.Y., on Lake Champlain became her permanent home. In addition to her children, she is survived by 10 grandchildren. She was proud to follow her mother, Dorothy Cross Burgess 1916, to Wellesley; and I am blessed to be one of those four kids.

Dorrie Voorhis Graul ’79

Anne Gross Ackerman ’52 died in New York City on June 26, of primary progressive aphasia. She loved traveling with her husband, Norman, who died in 2013; discovering cultures through art, food, and wine; reading and learning; and walking fast in search of adventure. She taught preschool, worked for the ACLU and Pfizer, organized book fairs, tutored foreign students in English, and was active in Wellesley alumnae groups everywhere she lived. She is greatly missed by her four daughters, Sara, Beth ’79, Amy (Rob), and Jean (Nick), nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and brother Elliot Gross and sister-in-law Alice Helpern ’59.

Beth Ackerman Zeitlin ’79

Elizabeth “Tita” Marks Stack ’52 died in Honolulu on June 18. A native of Hawai‘i, Elizabeth “Tita” Marks Stack was highly regarded as a handsome, savvy, and humorous woman who, over a lifetime, devoted her considerable talents to many island causes, including the Junior League, Daughters of Hawai‘i, Garden Club, Bishop Museum, and Historic Hawai‘i Foundation. She loved to travel—and then return to Honolulu. For her long and tireless interest in historic preservation, ranching, and investing, Tita was admired by people from all walks of life. Among her filial obligations was the inherited stewardship of a portion of her family’s McCandless Ranch on the Big Island.

Elizabeth “Lee” Stack, daughter

Barbara “Bobbie” Kaufman Zeisler ’53 died in December 2020. Bobbie had been in diminishing health for several years before her death but lived near her son, Jonathan, who was very attentive. She had a very successful career in fashion before she married my brother, Paul, and was the youngest person ever to be elevated to buyer at Bonwit Teller. She subsequently worked in the think tank at Revlon. She is also survived by a daughter, Andrea, and four grandchildren.

Penny Zeisler Catzen ’53

Martha Haggarty Petrie Bolognini ’54 died on May 14 in the Cincinnati area. She was a vibrant person with a wicked sense of humor, a lovely smile, and a warning twinkle in her eye. A self-described “fitness guru,” Martha remained actively proficient in various sports well into her 80s. She was a Life Master in bridge, a rug-making teacher and—when a grandmother—learned Spanish. After two years of widowhood, Martha remarried and traveled extensively with her spouse. She leaves behind four children, a large extended family, and a lifetime legacy of commitment to artistic and intellectual causes in her community.

Joy Hallum Winer ’54

Lisbeth “Babs” Gamble Nichols ’56 died peacefully on July 18. After graduating from Wellesley, Lisbeth started the first chapter of her career as a teacher and school administrator, helping shape and influence many young minds. Turning the page in the early 1980s, she attended the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, graduating in 1984 with a Psy.D. She loved helping people and expressed her compassionate, insightful, and nurturing nature as a psychotherapist in the Boston area. Most of all, she loved her three children and four grandchildren. She will never be far from their hearts.

Tim Nichols, son
Jamie Nichols, son
Kim Heiselman, daughter

Ann Seulberger Reynolds ’56 died peacefully on May 1 in Piedmont, Calif., surrounded by her loving family after a valiant fight with pancreatic cancer. A consummate learner, she attended Wellesley and graduated from UC Berkeley, later earning a master’s of science in educational psychology. With a smile that lit up a room, she was a champion of warmth, intelligence, humor, and humanity. She devoted her life’s work to her family and helping young people. Ann had a successful career in educational consulting and won numerous educational and community awards. Recently she co-founded LookUp.live, a nonprofit countering the impact of digital addiction. Her zest for life also extended to her love of golf, bridge, skiing, flowers, friends, and music.

Theresa Larson Scheetz ’56

C. Beverly Ferris Schoel ’59 died at home in Mountain Brook, Ala., on July 17. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, William Schoel, three children, and seven grandchildren. Beverly was a homemaker, president of the Off-Shoots Garden Club, co-founder of the Overton Road Park Playground, president of the Mountain Brook Elementary PTA, a Sunday school teacher, president of her church choir, a member of the Junior Women’s Committee and Birmingham Symphony, and a founding member of Muses Dance Club. The school registrar at Mountain Brook Elementary School for 24 years, she was also the spelling bee caller and known as “The Queen Bee.” Fond of reading, playing games, classical music, bridge, knitting, needlepoint, cooking, and travel, Bev was caring, positive, smart, witty, and mischievous.

William Schoel, husband

Joan Lamb Ullyot ’61 died on June 18, unexpectedly. On her 2015 Christmas card, Joan wrote, “My son Teddy is throwing a party on Aug. 22 in Hillsborough (Calif.) to celebrate my 75th birthday and Chuck’s and my 25th anniversary.” Once again, Joan beckoned irresistibly, as she had for decades. Together we went to Italy, to Santa Fe, visited in San Francisco; Scottsdale, Ariz.; and LA. Joan was a force of nature. Gifted linguistically, intellectually, and professionally—at the forefront of sports medicine—she was a treasured friend, time and distance notwithstanding. I am grateful that our bond lasted and wore so well.

Penny Post ’61

Maren Heidelauf Robinson ’64 died on April 13. Maren entered our lives when four Wellesley graduates with young children turned up in a residential square on Beacon Hill. For decades, we met monthly for lunch, traveled together, shared ideas and joys and sorrows. Maren was a dedicated mother to her three sons, loving partner to her husband, Tim, gourmet cook, a woman of wit and conviction, and an intellectual powerhouse. She entered law school, became managing attorney for the Boston Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Project, offering expertise and compassion to clients in need. Throughout, Maren’s mind and spirit remained strong, but her body failed. Rest in peace, dear friend.

The Lunch Group—
Fifi Wolfner Nessen ’60
Rosamond Brown Vaule ’59
Karen Down Fischer ’59

Margaret Olwen Thomas De Angelis ’64 died at home on June 13. Raised by well-traveled physicists, Margaret was a lover of science and world history. Margaret taught grade-school mathematics and raised three children with her husband, Peter, who relied upon her keen intelligence and sharp, bright sense of humor. Peter insists he met her first in a dream, to which Margaret characteristically replied “rubbish!” with an impish twinkle in her eye. Margaret’s children benefited from her skills as an educator and were graced with her many creations and flights of fancy, encouraging them to approach the world with equal parts healthy skepticism and avid curiosity.

Christopher Andrew De Angelis

Patricia Sexton McMonagle ’66 died on July 19 at home in New London, N.H., after a long battle against the effects of Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia. Pat majored in political science and later earned an M.B.A. Pat’s career included employment in higher education as an assistant professor, administrator, and fund-raiser at several colleges. She created and put into operation a successful “weekend college” program at one college. With her husband of 54 years, she raised two children and cherished two grandchildren. Two sisters-in-law and a daughter followed her to Wellesley, of which she was always very proud.

Charles McMonagle, husband

Diane O’Rourke ’69 died in Wellington, New Zealand, on June 29 after a short illness. After graduating from Wellesley, Diane earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis. She was a popular lecturer and advisor at Victoria University in Wellington for many years. After retirement, Diane volunteered to improve the plight of refugees, work that took her to Somaliland and an associate professorship at the University of Hargeisa. During her annual trips to the U.S. for the American Anthropological Association conference, Diane visited family and always made time to visit Wellesley friends. Diane will be missed.

Christine A. Howe ’69

Constance Cain Hungerford ’70 passed away on May 12 after a brief illness. She retired in 2020 as Mari S. Michener Professor of Art History at Swarthmore, where she spent her entire career, including as provost and interim president. She enjoyed traveling the world with her husband of 33 years, Hans Oberdiek. Connie was known in Tower Court for going to bed early. This habit made us wonder why she was named assistant fire chief. We always knew there would be a fire drill if Connie was awake after 10! Widely admired yet incredibly humble, she will be missed!

Jennifer Bell ’70
Sue Heinemann ’70
Deborah Deixel Blumberg ’70
Nancy Fitzgerald Martland ’70
Joan Schumacher Beal ’70
Andrea Stanchfield Childs ’70
Linda Colman Freeman ’70

Emily Christmann Forbes ’90 died of lymphoma on June 7 at her home in Tulsa, Okla., surrounded by family. After Wellesley, Emily worked in IT consulting. She loved to travel and was a leader in her community. Having played lacrosse in high school and at Wellesley, Emily helped bring girls’ club and high school lacrosse to the Tulsa area. In May, she saw the program she helped found hoist the state championship trophy. Emily lived every day to its fullest and was a real-life superhero. In her own words: “The only thing certain in these uncertain times is the power of love, friendship, compassion, and forgiveness. … Smile and breathe!”

Abigail Christmann ’90, sister

Phyllis Czaplicki Esslinger, M.A. ’57, passed away peacefully on May 10, in Sturbridge, Mass. At Wellesley, Phyllis studied bacteriology and was a member of Sigma Xi. After graduation, she worked at Tufts Medical Center in Boston before returning to Bristol, Conn., where she worked as a bacteriologist for the New Britain Health Department. After marrying Andrew Esslinger in 1964, Phyllis lovingly raised two daughters while serving as an active school parent volunteer and substitute teacher. She later worked for the UConn Health Center and taught chemistry at Hartford Community College. She and Andrew retired to Sturbridge in 2001.

Ellen-Jean Esslinger Cooley, daughter