Life after college
Laureen Pearl Anagnos, M.S. ’93 is still doing the “teaching thing,” working in first grade classrooms in Howard County, Maryland, with her teamie Karen Buttling Donegan, exclaiming “She’s the Shirley to my Laverne!” Laureen notes that she frequently tags along with her husband on his business travels to many amazing places.
Valerie Willey Berg and her husband, Kevin, who have lived in Kingsville, Maryland, for more than 30 years, have had a lot to celebrate. Val and Kevin celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary in November 2023, and their first grandchild, Mason, was born in February 2024. Val and Kevin are over the moon to be Lolli and Poppy! In between the celebrations, the Bergs have done some traveling to San Antonio and Austin, Texas; Myrtle Beach and Charleston, South Carolina; Nashville; and Avalon, New Jersey. Val, who is currently the operations manager for a financial planning office in Timonium, Maryland, says that it’s nice to run into fellow WMC alums when out and about. She explains further that she struck up a conversation with someone while at a local restaurant and found out they both graduated in the Class of ’86 — it was Ellen Knisely Bareford!
Retired from teaching after 35 years, Jerry Donald, M.S. ’91 was reelected to a third (and final) term on the Frederick County Council in 2022. Jerry and his wife see Dave Reith ’87 and Sharon Pierce Reith ’88, M.S. ’92.
Wendy Zerwitz Schenker Epstein reports that married life is good, and she and Ken are settled into their new house in Pikesville, Maryland. They also recently welcomed their second grandbaby. Wendy adds that her job is keeping her plenty busy, but she is making time to travel. Last year she went to Iceland and was able to see the Northern Lights, and also on a safari in Kenya. Wendy would recommend that amazing adventure to anyone who wants a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Jane Manlove Garrett, who retired in May 2023, says she is still figuring out this next stage of her life. Her husband has been retired for five years, so he is giving her plenty of advice. The Garretts plan on lots of traveling. When not hanging out at the Perryville American Legion, Jane spends lots of time on their family farm helping her brother with the mowing and other duties as assigned. Jane also spends lots of time with her mom, which she says is a bonus.
“Still retired and enjoying it!” writes Bryan Geer.
Nora Kane Graham still lives in New Jersey where she assists elders with their various errands and doctors’ appointments, and subs at the local elementary school. Nora was down in Maryland recently and was able to catch up with Ami Wist Carrier. She is also hoping to get to campus for Homecoming or a football game and adds that it would be wonderful to see some old familiar faces.
After 11 years in Blacksburg, Virginia, three bachelor’s degrees and two master’s degrees, Barbara Neckere Holmes reports that all three of her kids have successfully launched. Barb is the chief audit executive for one of the largest pension funds in the world and said she uses every spare minute to travel the world, mentioning the safari she went on last June.
Joan Lemeshow Horton is living in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she works for a management consulting assessment company in a hybrid role. She and her husband, Mike (who is retired), are planning a lot of travel this year as it is her big 6-0. They are going to Italy and Switzerland, the coast of Maine, and then back to Europe for the Christmas markets. Joan writes what many of us feel … it does just seem like yesterday we were all 18, so young and ready to take on the world.
Becky Nave Hub retired from practicing optometry and moved with her husband, Roger, to Calabash, North Carolina, where they’ve been enjoying the beach, great weather, and relaxed pace. Becky also has been volunteering at the county animal shelter. She adds that she was blessed with a beautiful granddaughter and enjoys spending time with her when she is in Maryland. The Hubs are looking forward to various trips exploring different parts of North Carolina this year and spending time with family and friends.
All is well with Stewart and Jeanene Owens Johnston, who bought a place at the beach in Lewes, Delaware, where Jeanene lives full time while Stew continues to go back to Hockessin, Delaware, during the work week. Stew and Jeanene very much enjoy their monthly dinners with George Brenton ’85 and Robin Adams Brenton who live close by now.
Steve Knott and Melody recently celebrated their 25th anniversary. They enjoy occasional travel and life with their two very energetic dogs. Steve will mark 40 years of federal service this year, 36 of those with the Environmental Protection Agency. Steve says that he looks forward to returning to the Hill for our 40th Reunion — mark your calendars now for the first weekend in June for Alumni Weekend 2026!
2023 was a very good year for Michael McInerney! Mike reconnected with his first-ever girlfriend and they are now living together and happier than ever, adding that life in rural North Carolina is fantastic (they live a few miles outside of Pinehurst). Mike gives a shout out to all the Alpha Gamma Tau brothers and all the WMC ROTC Alumni!
Cindy Rasberry Minnich and her husband, Scott, continue their work with the Salvation Army Harrisburg, where Cindy serves as the special events and communications coordinator. One daughter is working in San Francisco and their other daughter is working in an ER near Chicago. Their son is a junior at Grove City College, where he plays baseball, and Cindy and Scott go and watch each weekend. Cindy saw Gail Sadler Jones ’85, Jenny MacLea Arrogancia ’85, Vickie Turner Rodin ’85, and Nairy Ohanian during a Bethany Beach, Delaware, trip last spring.
After 30 years as a public defender, Sharon Eimer Nolley retired and took a position with the Virginia Supreme Court, and she now teaches criminal law to new Virginia magistrates. Sharon’s daughter is a new high school French teacher, so Sharon’s learning French in her spare time, adding, “It’s so much easier to learn a language when there’s no test!” Sharon enjoys keeping up with Linda Strandberg Morrison and Wendy Zerwitz Schenker Epstein, her Jimmy Buffett cohort.
Nairy Ohanian, D.Min. MATS, continues to do global counseling and chaplaincy work mainly in the Middle East, but she also had short stints in Greece, Portugal, Malta, and Czech Republic the past two years, wrapping up seven years based in Egypt. Nairy enjoys watercolor painting and working out for her self-care. She enjoyed beach time with Gail Sadler Jones ’85, Jenny MacLea Arrogancia ’85, and Cindy Rasberry Minnich, and is always active at her home church when not traveling and seeing girlfriends or family. Nairy is “always grateful to God for all His undeserved kindnesses and unending love for her and this world.”
Like many classmates, George Peck writes that he and Lee Ann Ware Peck ’85 are entering that next phase in their lives with both of their kids now married. George is still working as a commercial lender in Carroll County and Lee Ann is enjoying being semi-retired and catching up with friends. George adds that they look forward to traveling to all five of the national parks in Utah.
Heather Price is still living on the Eastern Shore, where she is an avid birder and enjoying life on the water with her Westie, Coco. Heather reports that former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan appointed her to the district court bench in 2021 and then elevated her to the circuit court in 2022. She adds that her daughter recently got married, and that she traveled to Europe and New Zealand last year with more travel plans to come.
Susan Scharf is in her 23rd year with Baltimore City Schools as a school psychologist, and for the past five years has also worked at a private practice in Ellicott City, Maryland, as an executive functioning specialist. Susan and husband Larry Bush enjoy their time as empty nesters, and spend much of their summer at Bethany Beach, Delaware.
Amy Farrell Stern enjoys living on the coast of Massachusetts with her husband, Steve. Amy says it was fabulous to spend a long weekend with Eve Al-Arnasi Angers, Jessica Friedman Chapman ’84, and Chris Gray Aiello ’85.
Fran Ward received the Women’s Transportation Seminar Baltimore Chapter Champions Award in 2023 as well as a certificate acknowledging her 35 years of service to the State of Maryland, where she is currently a community relations manager for the State Highway Administration. Fran enjoys meeting up with the “WMC Chicks” group in Ocean City, Maryland, and on the Delaware shore. The WMC Chicks are Amy Barnes-Elliott ’84, Dee Kennedy ’85, Sandra Michener Lazar ’85, Carrie Miller Parker ’85, Mary Ellen Miskelly Kelley ’85, Deirdre O’Neill Faill ’85, and Fran’s old roomie, Susan “Wally” Wallace.
Susan “Wally” Wallace is enjoying retirement with her husband in Ocean View, Delaware.
Dwain Woodley, assistant district attorney for San Diego County, writes that he misses old friends on the Hill and hopes to get back soon. Dwain’s son Justin is the linebacker coach at Columbia University in New York City and his daughter Jordan is a photographer, traveling the world taking beautiful pictures.
As for me, Maureen Carroll Martin, I continue to work full time while living in Rockville, Maryland, with my husband and two daughters — and my Facebook-famous cat, Lucy. I actively serve in a few volunteer roles for the college. Aside from being our class reporter, which I love being, I serve as one of the leaders of the Montgomery County, Maryland, alumni chapter, planning fun happy hours and other networking-type events, and as the vice chair of the Alumni Chapters Committee for the Alumni Council, where we lead other chapter leaders in planning events for their chapter areas. In these roles, I work closely with the Alumni Engagement Office, and I get to meet so many WMC/McDaniel College alumni from a wide range of graduation years. It truly is one of my most favorite volunteer activities. If you think you would like to volunteer in a similar capacity, please reach out to me via email or Facebook Messenger.
Maureen Carroll Martin1986 Class Reportermaureencmartin@verizon.net