Alumnae Memorials

Cynthia Joy Lorraine Hausmann ’50 passed away at age 97 on Dec. 22, 2025, in Catonsville, Md. Born and raised in Baltimore, where her father taught classics at the Gilman School, Cynthia majored in German. She was proud to have received her Wellesley cohort’s German prize and went on to earn a master’s in German from Brown University, also serving as a TA to returning servicemen studying under the GI Bill. Using her formidable linguistic skills (she spoke 13 languages), Cynthia had a distinguished 30-year career in the Foreign Service as a research analyst. She then authored three books (on the Napoleonic Wars, WWI, and WWII) based on family letters. Her beloved husband, Paul Lorraine, died in 2021; she is survived by a stepdaughter.

Ann Cody White, cousin

Elizabeth Wright Specht ’51 died at home in Mill Valley, Calif., on March 6. Liz moved to the University of Colorado in 1949, where she finished her undergraduate degree. In 1950, she married fellow student Ed Specht. They were married for 74 years until his death in 2024. They settled in Grosse Pointe, Mich., and raised twins, John and Bob, and daughter Susan. Her marriage and her children were the greatest joys of her life, and she was a beloved wife and mother. She co-founded El Porvenir, an organization dedicated to providing clean water and sanitation to Nicarguans. Liz remained loyal to Wellesley. Liz was a dear friend whose love, joie de vivre, and steadfast faith were wonderful gifts. She will be missed.

Patricia Stillwell ’67

Mary Hammond Norton ’54 died peacefully on Feb. 20. She received her B.A. in English. After returning to Boston in 1966 with husband Larry and three children, she audited every art class possible over four years, which led to her devotion to the College’s art department and museum. She was chair of the Wellesley College Friends of Arts for many years and spent much time raising money for the museum, especially by supporting patron events here and abroad. She was a generous donor to the Davis Museum. Her best friends all her life were from Wellesley.

Annie Groves, daughter

Margery Lesser Elfin ’54 passed away on Feb. 9. Margery was a proud Wellesley alum and had attended her 70th reunion in 2024. The author of three books, Margery was the former chair of the political science department at Hood College (Md.), where she taught for 21 years. A 50-year resident of Washington, D.C., Margery was married to Mel Elfin for 65 years, until his death in 2018. They met on a train from New York to Boston in 1952. She is survived by son David, daughter Dana, and grandchildren Julie, Amy, Jonathan, and Rebecca.

David Elfin, son

Nancy Farrell Burrer ’55 passed away on March 29. She died with a lasting fondness for Wellesley and the experiences she enjoyed during her two years there. Freshman year meant adapting to Little House and bicycling the extreme distance from campus. It also began a loving lifetime relationship with Don Burrer from MIT, formerly a casual high-school acquaintance from Cincinnati. That led to 68 years of happy marriage centered on family, learning, and community. Sophomore year, she roomed with close friend Nancy Routt Phair as the first residents of the “new dorm” Bates. She declared a history major and found a home for her brilliant mind. She later earned an honors degree from the University of Cincinnati. She is survived by Don, their three children, and three grandchildren.

G. Donald Burrer, husband
Lura Allen Mountford ’55

Jessica Grosof Davis ’55 died at age 91 on Feb. 19. After graduating from Wellesley College, she became a pioneering pediatric geneticist. A compassionate clinician for patients with rare genetic disorders, for nearly 60 years she served as a tireless mentor to women scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine Hospital, North Shore University Hospital, and Weill Cornell Hospital. Among her many honors: the Award for Excellence in Human Genetics Education from the American Society of Human Genetics and the Antoine Marfan Award from the National Marfan Foundation. She is survived by two children, three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by husband Andrew and daughter Margot.

David Davis, son

Betsey Loud Detwiler ’56, age 91, died on Feb. 27, in the company of the family she so loved. Betsey was born in 1934 and grew up in Elmwood, a tiny two-street village in East Bridgewater, Mass. She made her way to Wellesley College on a scholarship. Her love of Wellesley never left her, and she spoke of it often. Betsey cared deeply about the community she lived in, and she devoted her formidable energy and skills to numerous causes. She will be missed by her four sons, their wives, and her large extended family.

Peter Kelly-Detwiler, son

Christine “Tina” Bruce Astley ’60 died on Dec. 30, 2025. Tina was my roommate on the fifth floor of Tower Court East. One could not have a more thoughtful, considerate roommate. Always cheerful, up for anything, especially if it was musical! She was a brilliant pianist, having studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. She spent several years in Paris living the student life with Lois Pattison de Menil ’60 while Lois was doing her Fulbright scholarship. Tina lived for music and for her family. She had been unwell the last few years, but her daughter and son and families took very loving care of her always.

Anne Flynt Solley ’60
Lois Pattison de Menil ’60

Sarah Deitrick Blumenschein ’60 passed away from pancreatic cancer on Oct. 25, 2024. A pediatric cardiologist for over 60 years, Sarah specialized in the treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia and was director of the Preventative Cardiology Clinic and associate professor at Children’s Medical Center, UT Southwestern in Dallas. Graduating summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Xi from Wellesley, she was one of four women in her class at Cornell University Medical College, where she met her husband, George Blumenschein. Before moving to Dallas in 1987, she spent 14 years in Houston at Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine. Sarah was widely admired for her impeccable dress sense, impressive cooking skills, and sharp, lively character. She is survived by three children and eight grandchildren.

Carol Blumenschein Gardey ’88, daughter

Colette Flesch ’60 passed away on Jan. 21 in Luxembourg. She came to Wellesley from her native country in 1956. She majored in political science and later received an M.A. in international affairs from Tufts University. Returning to Luxembourg, she served in many official capacities in the government over the years, including as mayor of Luxembourg City. In the late 1990s, she was the European Commission director general for culture, communication, and sports. I knew Coco best when I took fencing lessons freshman year. She was already an expert in the sport, eventually becoming an international fencing star, participating in the Olympics individual fencing events in 1960 (Rome), 1964 (Tokyo), and 1968 (Mexico City). She will be missed by her many friends here and abroad.

Dianne Horgan James ’60

Bonnie Blackburn ’61 died in Oxford, England, on March 19. After Wellesley, she went on to earn a Ph.D. in musicology at the University of Chicago in 1970. She was an exceptional scholar of Renaissance music who held positions as lecturer at Northwestern and as visiting faculty at University of Chicago and SUNY Buffalo before moving to Oxford in 1990 to marry the English classicist Leofranc Holford-Strevens and become a highly sought after freelance editor. Her scholarship was wide-ranging and influential. Bonnie was elected as a fellow of the British Academy in 2005 and as a corresponding member of the American Musicological Society in 2006.

Leofranc Holford-Strevens, husband

Katherine Cast Danforth ’69, who devoted over 30 years as an innovator and leader in early childhood education primarily at the San Francisco State Child Study Center, died peacefully on Feb. 18. Kate made us laugh, filled our ears with her beautiful voice (Wellesley Widows and Madrigals), reminded us to wear hats in the sun, and brought us joy always. She’d leave poems on our desks, then in cards over the years. Here’s one: We’re sisters of laughter/ With bright shining eyes/ Awaiting this life’s/ Next unknown surprise And we’re all still here/ With stories galore/ That tempt our hearts/ To hang on for more!

Marion Ellis Garrett ’69 
Katherine Hall Page ’69
Virginia Scholl ’69 
Margaret Machmer Stuart ’69

Pamela Howland Wescott ’71 died of bulbar onset ALS on Feb. 8. Pam was first and foremost a writer. Through her writing she invited us into her world. Since her diagnosis in 2024, her Substack, Healing Conundrums, allowed us to follow her walk with this terrible disease. Readers knew of her honesty, courage, and appreciation of every joy. Pam was determined. She bicycled across the country at 28, sailed through nor’easters, and cultivated her dahlia garden in her Hyde Park, Mass., backyard, even as walking became more difficult. Professionally, she dedicated over 20 years to the Informed Medical Decisions Foundation. After retiring, she fulfilled a lifelong dream by publishing her novel, Burnt Umber. Pam is survived by her wife of 21 years, Kathleen Carspecken, daughters Daniela and Alicia, brothers Clay and Tom, sister Jane, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and many friends.

Newly West Preziosi ’71

Karis Post ’78 passed away on Feb. 12, due to complications of vascular dementia. Beloved mother of Levi, Nate, and Phoebe and grandmother of Arnold, she was a resident of Greenfield, Mass. A retired school psychologist, she was also a linguist, having majored in French at Wellesley. Her sharp mind will also be remembered for many a bridge game played at her family’s summer home in Haversham, R.I., which she deeply loved. Karis was passionate about social justice and was active in the Episcopal church. She was also a wonderful friend and her wit, humor, and compassion will be greatly missed.

Margaret Kalvar Bushnell ’78

Skye Roberts ’14 is remembered for her vibrancy, passion, and exuberance for every endeavor she pursued. She died unexpectedly on Oct. 27 due to complications following a medical procedure. At the time of her death she was a financial crime investigator for the Department of Treasury in Washington, D.C. She devoted herself to running on the Wellesley cross-country and track teams, learning Italian, caring for animals, gluten-free baking, and more. She was a cheerful and kind friend, hosting many coffee dates and study sessions in her dorm room. Skye is survived by her parents, brother, sister, grandmother, and many friends. 

Ali Grzywn Beling ’14 
Randelle Boots ’13 
Ali Dunn ’15 
Anna Tupper-Bridges Leonetti ’14 
Dori Berman Pierson ’14 
Margaret Wehner ’14