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Janis Tarling (Lorenzen)

Me too, sooo many times I have wanted to see the beach and just travel down memory lane.

JoAnne Swope (Allison)

Joan Kennedy

Hi, classmates.  I rarely get on the Traip 66 page, but thanks to birthday wishes I just did.  So I realize that this would be a good place to notify those of you who knew my brother Bill, class of '67, that he died last year shortly before his 72nd birthday, of prostate cancer.  Maybe I can figure out how to post his obituary (or not). RIP, Bill.

Arnold Putnam

Sorry to hear about your brother.  I lost my younger brother, Bob, seven years ago.  He was in your brother's class.

Robert McCrillis

That the daughter of one of our classmates is the Principal at Traip is way cool.

Speaking of generations at Traip, does anyone know anything about Dorian Hutchins? I dedicated my first book to Mrs Hutchins and I'd like her to know it. (Given our ages, I've assumed that Mrs. Hutchins is no longer with us)

Jean Goss (Treacy)

So funny, Dixie, that you noted that Jane Durgin is Gail Sousa's daughter. I know Jane well and never made the connection!  How dumb am I?  I am in fact surprised and will have to digest the information. 

Jean Goss (Treacy)

I can remember asking about Dorian a number of years ago--maybe it was you Dixie who told me that everyone has lost touch with her. 

Jean Goss (Treacy)

This is for Joan Kennedy-- I know that my ex husband Chris Alvord connected with Bill in Vermont a year at two before Bill's death. I was hoping to get up there to see him myself but sadly didn't.  I remember him as a very bright and funny, charming young man.  I still remember his chuckle and imagine it rang out throughout his life!

Robert McCrillis

March 10, 2024

Dear Mrs. Hutchins:

You changed my life. I doubt you realize the profound effect you had. I don’t mean just as a teacher; although you were great—I can still hear your little laugh as you dragged us back from the tall weeds of literature. I still see you in that blue outfit with the bright green patterned blouse that wasn’t supposed to match.

You encouraged me to take the SAT exam, registered me late, and lent me the fifteen-dollar fee on the morning of the exam. You took cash out of your own purse and put it in the envelope for me. That act of charity got me into college on scholarship, setting me on a completely different path from that which I was drifting down. (yes, I know it should be “down which I was drifting)

Of the hundreds of students you taught over the years, I doubt that I was the most memorable unless I get a prize for the most ignorant smart-ass. At that time, my ambition didn’t reach any higher than to follow my father and grandfather into the Marines, do my bit overseas, and come home and get some kind of job. The college education you made possible broadened my world. Thank you.

I dedicated my first book to you, figuring that you’d be pleased when it hit the bestseller lists. It didn’t. After reading “Mrs. Hastings,” one reader did ask if I’d thanked you. To my very great shame, I never had.

I did try to find Dorian and use her as a proxy for you, but that effort failed.

Nearly sixty years late, I’m posting the letter I never wrote to the Class of 1966 webpage as a way of closing the circle. I hope your life was warm and fulfilling and that you’re someplace where you’ll be aware of my feelings.

Sincerely,

Bob

Patrick Chaney

Well said, Bob, and GOOD FOR YOU FOR SENDING IT!

Arnold Putnam

I agree, Bob.  Mrs Hutchins was great.  I have tried to find Dorian for the reunions and Goldens over the years.  I think that she was living in Maine at one point.  If anyone knows of her whereabouts, please let her know that we would love to see her.

Arny

Joan Kennedy

Hi, everyone.  This is for Jean Goss: Thanks, Jean, for your remembrance of my brother Bill.  And thanks to Chris, your ex-husband, for visiting him in Vermont.  What a lovely thing for him to do!

Judith Power (Despres)

This is a post from Connie Moulton on the Traip Alumni FB page: 

"Gil Shaw and I became friends in 1964 when I transferred to Traip as a junior. He sat behind me in homeroom. We are proud members of the Class of '66. We have been the best of friends through all these years. Now my friend needs some help to raise funds through GoFundMe to help his only son  Wes who has been hospitalized and very ill. I am reaching out to our community, our Class of '66 classmates and Traip alumni and anyone that knows that when your child, young or as an adult, is suffering you do all you can to help. Friends and sometimes strangers can lend a helping hand. I encourage anyone reading this post to help Gil to help his son Wes. Any amount helps. Thank you!"

GoFundMe Gil Shaw

Dixie McLean

Dear classmates:

A funny thing happened on our Traip message forum! I posted a wrong news bit! I thought the new principal of Traip was an educator I had met many years ago when she came to my workplace to do the 5-year audit of our special ed department. Hearing I had graduated Traip66, she had told me she was Gail Sousa Durgin’s daughter! ...Fast forward more than two decades, my curiosity got piqued when I saw in the newspaper that a woman with a special ed background named Durgin was chosen to be Traip’s new principal. I thought, that must be Gail’s daughter! 

For over a year I refrained from announcing this remarkable thing on our forum, but after running into Gail at Market Basket a couple weeks ago, I checked with her before posting the cool news. ...However, during our conversation, she must have thought I was talking about her daughter Anne Durgin Gilbert, who is also a school principal (in Rye, NH) and I thought she was talking about Jane Durgin when she told me how much her daughter loves being a principal, etc., etc.

So here’s my retraction of the erroneous posts I made a few days ago and deleted, pending getting myself out of the twilight zone! 

It is cool though, that there are two Kittery/Traip Durgins with special ed backgrounds who are school principals, right?  : )

David Raymond

Hello RTA'66 Classmates! 

Jerilee Connor (Zezula)

Hello classmates,

I would like to comment on David's message.   If you have not visited the webpage recently, please do. There are some wonderful memories there - of our class, of Kittery, of our reunions, of members we have lost.  It's a history lesson. It would be great to sit with your children, grand children, great grand children, double greats, and show them how the world was then. See if they can locate where the photos were taken in present time.  Arnie's postcards are great!  The 1966 History/Videos are a blast from the past. Some of our classmates have been working diligently (not me.....) and adding items of interest to all. You can also send things in via Judy or myself when you are downsizing and trying to figure out what to do with your precious memories.

It would be a shame to loose this resource.   Please take a look and see for yourself!

Jeri (Connor) Zezula

Marilyn Carr (Horan)

Hello Classmates! I would like to agree with Jerilee.  Though I am not very active on the website I look forward to messages and updates.  It is a connection to old friends, wonderful memories of our growing up years and beyond.  Lets not lose this wonderful resource.  

Jean Goss (Treacy)

I agree totally with Jerilee.  I don't add much (or anything!) to the site but I do wander through regularly to check up on classmates.  I don't tend to go to reunions but it felt like a great honor really to write out a check to keep our website up and running for those, like me, who skip the reunions but keep in touch through this site.

Patrick Chaney

Merry Christmas everyone! 

Hard to believe we're now well into the 21st century; who would have thunk it?  Not I, for sure! 

I'm here to report that all is well with us in Houston, TX.  Joe Libby is still in the traces, he mentioned writing an appeal last weekend, though I know not the subject.  I plan to see him this next week to catch up.

One fly in the Christmas ointment:  Just put the A/C on! There should be laws regarding warm temps and high humidity on Christmas Eve!

We have a small family gathering here after mass later this afternoon.  We'll toast the season, open gifts, and sup together; and if it doesn't rain, build a fire outside to enjoy the evening air.

Just today received an email from Tony Dellaqauila, wishing us a Merry Christmas.  For those who may not remember, Tony left Traip at 16 to join the Navy; by all appearances, he matured into a hard working adult and contributor to our society.  Tony was, way back then, both kind hearted and a bit of a bully; both traits for which I am very grateful.  Grateful?  Yes, life is definately not fair and we all need lessons in dealing with difficult people, etc.!   The time to learn these lessons is in our childhood, or so it seems.  But then again, we learn a new lesson each and every day, if one is paying attention! 

May your futures be kind, happy, content, and comfortable and may those who have passed before us Ever Rest in Peace!  I am both grateful and blessed to share a  bit of life and history with each and every one of you.

Cheers and Happy New Year,

Pat Chaney 

Curt Stockford (Stockford)

Pat,

Well spoken my friend and much appreciated.  Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Curt

Jean Goss (Treacy)

Thanks for the Christmas greetings, Pat.  I sure am glad I haven't had to use any A/C here on Spruce Creek!  Having just a dusting of snow is enough of a disappointment without having to deal with HEAT and HUMIDITY!  If you think about it, say hello to Joe for me.  Cheers.  Jean

Dixie McLean

Happy healthy 2025, Patrick and all luckily alive Traip 66ers!

Patrick Chaney

Thank you, Curt, Dixie, and Jean!

Happy New Year!

Arnold Putnam

Dave Raymond did a terrific job on the RTA-'66 60th Reunion Slideshow.  I send my thanks to him for a job well done.  Arny

Susan Andrews

So sorry to miss our 60th, but so appreciate the work of Connie & her reunion committee. I wish I could have been there. When David's video was posted, it was a delight to view & now that Alice's photo link is also up, I can happily say that I recognize the classmates there. Thanks to David, Alice, & Judy too. Stay well & party on, Traipsters! 💕