Homecoming continued …Tracy Baynard, Paul Boykas, Mark Forde and Mary Obata Forde ’84 hosted an opening-night cocktail party for our 40th reunion at a historic house in Colonial Williamsburg. Despite light rain, a hundred alumni, spouses and friends crowded in for laughs and drinks and enjoyed reconnecting before the weekend. Classmates included: Alan Jones and Mary Carson Jones, Anne Golwen Brand, Anne Quynn Ritko, Barbara Buzzell, Barbara Carpenter Lutz, Becky Rogers Voslow ’83, M.A. ’89, Bert Laureano and Vida Ugincius Laureano ’85, Beth Turner, Bob Jaeger ’83, M.S. ’88, Bob Laverty, Bob Newman, Bob Skelly and Paige Snarr Skelly, Bruce Holmes, Carolyn Scott ’80, Catherine Dehoney, Cathy Evans Pollack, Cesar Conda, Cheryl Yarbrough, Cindy Radcliffe Latham, Colleen Lierz Drummond, Jon Huddleston ’82, J.D. ’86 and Cyndy Nash Huddleston ’83, M.Ed. ’86, Dabney Carr and Laura Gilbert Carr, Dave Castellan, Dave Thomason, Denise Tillery Wagner and Pat Wagner ’85, Ellen Stofan ’83, D.Sc. ’16 and Tim Dunn, Greg Paddock, Helen Cox ’83, J.D. ’86, Jean Latu, Joe Claytor and Kim Crase Claytor, Keith Carlson, Kim Farris Johnson, Linda Cottle Zack, Mary Lloyd Sinnott Parks, Mary Lou Hundley Hunt ’83, M.A.Ed. ’02, Maureen Kelley, Mike Shuler, Patricia Trinler Spalding, Patty Schmitz, Peter Atwater and Janet Rollins Atwater ’84, Ramona Kledzik Sheridan, Robbie Bryant ’83, J.D. ’92, Steve Bisese ’83, Ed.S. ’90, Ed.D. ’92, Sunshine Meredith Leinbach and Tyler Leinbach and Vicki Caldwell.
Other alumni attendees: Adrian Vodislav ’13, Aidan Holmes ’27, Betsy Pendleton Crockett ’85, Dan Head ’85 and JJ Johnson Head ’84, Diane Broach Forthuber ’84, Doug McDonald ’81, Fletcher Smyth ’24, G. Paul Nardo ’88, Howard Estes ’88 and Stephanie Hunter Estes ’89, Jas Short ’90, Judy Dorow Conner ’82, Kord Basnight ’85, M.Ed. ’23 and Linda Reynard Basnight ’84, Leslie Lautenslager ’85, Lori Buckius ’84, Lynette Shoemaker McCracken ’84, Max Lander ’13, Meg Hunter Scott ’84, Rob McLallen ’90 and Melissa Dyer McLallen ’90, Scott Vachris ’84 and Michelle Albert Vachris ’84, Mike Hobbs ’84, Moises Yanez ’13, Patty Murphy Wood ’85, Philip Basnight ’13 and Rebecca Silverstein Basnight ’14, Ron Andrews ’84 and Lilly Armistead Andrews ’84, Sarah Martin ’13, Scott Gehsmann ’84, Shelby Lauter ’13, Sissy Estes ’90 and Wes Stukenbroeker ’13.
Victor Clarke and Robin Marsh Clarke are new first-time grandparents to Mason Marsh Clarke, born Feb. 6, 2024. Everyone is doing great, especially Robin! They enjoy water and sunset views daily at their home in Smith Mountain Lake in Bedford County, Virginia. Robin commutes to work as a controller at Webster Marine Center on her Sea-Doo. Victor retired after selling the printing company he owned for 24 years. In 2021, he earned his U.S. Coast Guard “6-pack” charter captain’s license and started Captain Vic’s Sea Ray Services (434-610-4061). He has since upgraded to a USCG 50-ton master license and is now one of two captains for the Virginia Dare dinner cruise boat, a 63-feet replica of a 19th-century paddle wheel that holds up to 75 passengers. If you go, ask for Captain Vic!
On Super Bowl Sunday, many folks were gathered around the TV to catch a glimpse of Taylor Swift or cheer for the commercials. I was partial to the DunKings! Earlier that day Kim Eckert Failon ’85 and Maureen Dubus Stengel ’86 hosted a Pi Phi Galentine’s brunch for the mid-’80s. Carol Doub Kelly and I represented for ’83. Nancy Cote Kane ’84 made a special guest appearance all the way from San Diego! She was in town for Charter Day. Nancy serves on the Annual Giving Board. The ’85s included Kim, Diane Limm Warren ’85, Betsy Powell Mullen ’85 and Margie Krebs ’85. And from the Class of ’86: Maureen, Janet Lawson ’86, Christine Lindsey Schardt ’86 and Chantal Emerson ’86. Virginia Gamma Pi Phis, mark your calendars and stay tuned, because plans are in the works for The Centennial Celebration scheduled for April 5-7, 2025.
Caroline Boyd Tricarico retired from her financial services position due to struggles with long COVID-19 in 2020. She and her husband, Doug, live happily in New Hampshire with their five rescue dogs. She is the former CEO of the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire, so that explains the five dogs!
Edgar Allan Poe aficionado Alex Zavistovich says that he continues to make radio dramas based on Poe's work for NPR. The third annual Doomsday 24-hour marathon reading of Poe was livestreamed in May from the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore.
You may have learned that fellow alumnus Hulon Willis Jr. ’77 passed away unexpectedly in a car accident in January. Last I heard, the driver who hit his car was being charged with involuntary manslaughter. Hulon is in the middle of a three-generation W&M family. Indulge me while I tell this story of the intersections of two families. I had the pleasure of meeting Hulon about 5 1/2 years ago, in fact at our 35th reunion, when Dave Lucas Jr. ’80 was celebrating his 60th birthday. Dave is the Sig Ep big brother of Bud Phillips ’82, so we were at the party to celebrate with many other Sig Ep brothers, Golden Hearts and others. Hulon, also a Sig Ep, had dragged his daughter, Mica Willis ’13, along to show her what a “real party” looks like. It was there that I met Mica and soon discovered that she knew Pi Phi sisters Samantha Phillips ’14 and Ally Phillips ’16.
Mica tells her version: “My dad drags me out to this house in Ford’s Colony, it seems very far away, we were driving like forever. There are all these old folks. All of a sudden, ABBA can be heard and here come these (old) guys all dressed up singing and dancing along with customized words to ‘Dancing Queen’ in honor of Dave’s birthday. Literally, where am I?”
It was an epic party, Viking helmets and all. Over the next few years, I’d run into Hulon at W&M events in Richmond or Williamsburg. I always said “Hi” but I was never sure he remembered me. He seemed so reserved. Recently, Mica, Ally and I have served on the Annual Giving Board. During the Homecoming Class Ambassador reception in 2022, I said I wasn’t sure her dad remembered me. She grabbed my hand and marched me right over to him. While we were talking, Hulon mentioned his dad, Hulon Willis Sr. M.Ed. ’56, saying something about him coming to W&M from Perry High School. “WAIT, WHAT? You mean Perry High School in Pittsburgh?” I asked. “Yes, that Perry High School,” he responded. He looked a bit confused. “NO WAY,” I said. “My dad, Stew Sell ’56 went to Perry High School. What are the odds?” Then I marched him right over to my dad, who was busy getting his photo taken with President Rowe, to introduce them. What a crazy, small, interconnected W&M world.
Dave and I attended the memorial service for Hulon Willis Jr. W&M was well represented. It was very special to hear the stories from his childhood friends and family. He was a good man with a strong character and is greatly missed, most especially by Mica, his only child.