In Memoriam

Our classmate, Wendy Sisson, has asked me to share this remembrance of Kate Brooks:

“Kate died this winter, Dec. 7, from dementia which had claimed her for more than 10
years and which she met with courage and the grace of her good nature. Kate settled in
Canaan, New Hampshire, with her classmate from UC Santa Cruz, Jim Laffan, whom
she married in 1981 after completing a degree in landscape architecture. There they
found community and good friends and raised their two children -- Nathaniel and
Margaret -- two donkeys and a succession of beloved dogs. Her home was warm and
welcoming and usually sweetly scented by her latest baked delight. Kate loved the
outdoors, felt best on a hill or mountain, and had a special connection with the Sierra
Nevada where she backpacked with Jim most summers.”
-- Wendy Sisson, '69

The class of 1969 joins in sending condolences to Kate's loved ones.

Annie and I had the pleasure of being together for 4 years at CA and 4 more at Wheaton. Since then I have only seen her at CA and Harvard Reunions. (I live in CA; she lived in ME.) There have been letters in between. Annie was born with the gifts of music and soft shoe. She majored in Music at Wheaton and loved to perform. She was a quiet person until it was time to perform and then she loved to perk people up and make them happy. She and her husband, Perry,
whom she met at Middlesex, performed in many community productions in the Portland, ME area as well as at Senior Centers and what we used to call the Old Folks Home. They had five musical children so the house was bursting with song. They loved to make people happy with song and dance. She gave her gift of love and music so freely. Annie, I miss you.