As research shows, reaching out to our friends and colleagues is part of a good strategy for aging well in retirement! (quote from Margie Ryrie Pacini ‘70) To that end, here is some news from former staff and faculty gathered from their biannual newsletter, The Monitor. Since leaving the Havergal community many of our former faculty and staff have caught the” travel bug”. From 2017-2019, Diane Ankenmann taught in Saigon which provided a fascinating experience of Southeast Asian culture and many opportunities for travel for her and her husband Doug. Currently residing in Belleville, they are enthusiastic participants in choir and local theatre and love introducing visitors to nearby beaches and vineyards. Stephanie Bryant retired in June 2022 and is enjoying the flexibility of time to do things that, in the past, she could not fit in. She recently returned from a trip to Japan with her husband and hopes to go back there someday. In her spare time, she is learning Japanese. It has been Renata Duda’s desire to maintain and cultivate friendships made throughout her lifetime. Organizing a reunion for her Gr. 8 classmates to celebrate 50 years since graduating from Fern Avenue P.S. and volunteering for various organizations have kept her rather busy. Though Jamaica with her high school girlfriends has become an annual trip, other travel opportunities have kept her closer to home visiting former colleagues, Tiffany Atcheson who lives with her family in London, Ontario and Anita Moore Coles who resides in Stratford, Ontario, where she nurtures her love of music and theatre. Anita writes, “participation without being in charge is very liberating!” Larry Tayler remains busy and engaged with life in Prince Edward County with his husband, dogs, and a cat. In the spring he made a presentation for The Andrew (formerly St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church) in Picton. He recently travelled to Wales and to Western Canada. Karen Whitfield has travelled extensively since retirement in 2020. Her first trip took her walking 900 km on the Camino de Santiago. She has road tripped 90,000km in a small VW pop up camper through Canada, coast to coast to coast, as well as the continental US and Alaska. She celebrated her 60th on a river boat cruise along the Rhine, Danube and Main. She paddled the more than 400 km through the Trent-Severn Waterway. After summiting Kilimanjaro, she took part in a safari tour through 10 African countries and also travelled to the UK and Wales. Havergal connections remain strong and plentiful. Valerie Turner and Sarah Bruce shared heartfelt messages about strength and inspiration at US Prayers in April attended by many former faculty and staff they garnered from those they worked with in their days at HC. Sue Groesbeck recently served her 8th Interim Headship, at Sandy Spring Friends School in Maryland, right outside Washington, DC. She and Mark enjoyed meeting Jamie Albaum ‘13 who is living in DC. Barb Macintosh enjoys coaching golf with Lindsay Knowlton’s ‘01 Iron Lady Golf, along with Kirsten Murphy ‘02 and notes that Alexandra Myers ‘91 and Katrina Myers ‘92 are wonderful hosts at their Oakville Executive Golf Course. She sometimes sees Catherine Nicholson ‘95 and Margie Ryrie Pacini ‘70 at St.Clement’s Church, and recently bumped into former student, now teacher, Caitlin Peddie ‘02. Lea Aird Menear ‘66 and Bill were delighted when Robyn Menear Zivic ‘93 drove to Toronto to spend the Christmas holidays with the family including her sister Kate Menear ‘91 and nieces Sydney McCormick ‘27 and Reese McCormick ‘28.
Our teaching and learning continues as Margie Ryrie Pacini ‘70 recently enjoyed a course through “Living and Learning in Retirement” with Glendon College entitled “Long Term Care Planning: What is it and Why Should I Care?” led by Karen Henderson. It opened her eyes to the limitations of our health care system and challenged everyone to do more planning about available options for retirement. Sheila McNeil ‘03 moved out west where she taught and created a blended learning program for Grades 5-12 as well as participated in several boards as she and her family moved between Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Ottawa. They have now returned to Toronto with their three children.
Priscilla Winn Barlow is now living in a long term care home near her daughter. She recently celebrated her 90th birthday! Our former HC Political Science teacher, Bryon Wilfert, who is now Honorary Consul General for the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, received a King Charles III medal this year for his many years in the diplomatic service. His wife (former HC geography teacher) Elizabeth Sleith Wilfert, also received a King Charles III Medal this year for her many public service accomplishments as a former Richmond Hill City Councillor and Immediate Past President of the Canadian Federation of University Women- Ottawa Club. The various contributions both former HC teachers have made to Canada are considerable, not to mention the positive influences each had on their students during their HC tenure.
