| Author | Message | ||
     Johnnie L Stones New member Username: Rocks Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2005 |
Lucy Smith, our Registrar, died last week. Her passing brings up many fond memories. I transferred to Windham in 1965 and she was one of the first people I had to see and from that point on she was uniquely helpful to me through the years—in my roles as student, then as assistant dean of students and finally as president. She served as a member of the cabinet during my last years there. She was surprised and felt humbled to be asked to serve----I was grateful to have one of the only truly trusted advisors I could have during such a chaotic time—she was organized and helpful with facts needed for decision-making and along with Bob Rhodes, became a formidable team to have on my side. One day in 1977 she asked me to come to the other side of the counter in her office. I felt like a freshmen who had been invited into some sacred area. It was then that I was intrigued to discover that she was allergic to metal (among other things). The filing cabinets, her chair and most other pieces of furniture had special cloth coverings which were never noticed on the other side of the counter. What fun it was to talk with her about how she made her world so that she could be effective and efficient. The irony of it all is that although Walter Hendricks was the sole person who created and founded Windham (my favorite place in the world), it was Lucy Smith who in the early years of the 1980's was the sole person who represented the Corporation of Windham College and made sure that our records were preserved for posterity—so that we could really show that we did exist and can still to this day give the world evidence to that effect. Do you have a favorite Lucy Smith story to share? | ||
| Barbara Ranzau Taylor, '69 Unregistered guest Posted From: 216.170.196.189 |
originally sent on 28 November 2005 at 11:43:04 I have sad news to relay. We just learned that Lucy Smith passed away this weekend. Last Friday, I was surprised to find my annual Christmas card in the mail from Lucy. Karen (Engel) Gustafson ?69 & I have been visiting her for several years now at the Maplewood Nursing Home in Westmoreland, NH (just a hop across the river). We learned from a staff member that she had asked to do her cards earlier this year. When I spoke to Terri Lowe tonight she also had received the annual Christmas card and was just about to call to find out what she could send her. She died peacefully in her sleep. I understand that there will not be a funeral. She has several nieces but the closest is living in PA. We are hopeful that they will agree to do an obituary. Thanks for passing this on to fellow alums. We will try to get something up on the web site in the near future. Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. Barb (Ranzau) Taylor?69 | ||
| Bruce Bramson New member Username: Bruce_bramson Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2005 |
There was one story. Spring semester, '71. I was completing my registration in the office and Lucy says she has some troubling news. "If you take the classes you have registered for, and you pass them, then you will graduate in May." She saw the look of horror on my face and said, "It is true Bruce. I have checked it several times." Lucy knew about my II S status, she knew I was streching my Windham experience for all I could get, and she knew I didn' have a clue that I was that close to graduation. Multiply that by how many hundreds of students over all those years and Lucy knew a lot. And yet, for each of of, she always had time. Boy were we lucky!!! | ||
| Ken Lawrence '70 Unregistered guest Posted From: 207.196.111.4 |
I am really gratefuf for having stumbled upon this discussion board, and am equally saddened to learn of the passing of Lucy Smith. She will always be a wonderful memory, being serene, strong, and quick to smile. Thanks for letting us know, Johnnie. | ||
| John Dougherty '72 Unregistered guest Posted From: 205.188.116.13 |
I came back to Windham in the fall of '71, having flunked out in '68. Lucy Smith had my records on her desk, having seen me out her window, and greeted me by name. She then proceeded to explain what sort of a G.P.A. I would need to graduate in one semester or, more probably, two. |
