1955

In keeping with the theme of this month 's issue, here are mini-portraits of nine women of the class of 1955 who have distinguished themselves in nine different fields (several in more than one) and, also noteworthy, who have been important and regular supporters of our class and its activities.

Margie Ambrose, coach and tutor, women's field hockey, Softball, and lacrosse coach at New Trier High School, taking two teams into the state finals in two different states; volunteer tutor and activist in the public schools of Chicago.

Elena Daniels, arts and crafts, perfect counterpoint to husband Jere's richly worked historical tapestry of the small New England town, has created her niche as a local artisan in the crafts of knitting, sewing, and weaving.

Alice DeLana, teacher and editor, at Miss Porter's School since 1959, currently holder of endowed chair in art history, and, to quote former headmaster Skip Hance, the favorite teacher of several generations of students; chairwoman of the School's Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee and editor of its alumnae magazine.

Iris Fanger, dance director and drama critic, director of the Harvard Summer Dance Center; drama critic for the Boston Herald.

Bette Fishbein, environmental economist, staff member of INFORM, New York-based environmental group; world's leading authority on "producer responsibility" (design of products to make them more readily disposable when their useful life is over); member of the President's Council on the Environment.

Karen Gorton, artist, in watercolors, pastels, and egg tempera (a personal favorite); specializing in still-life paintings, portraits, and land/sea scapes; exhibited at the Copley Society in Boston and winner (twice) of the Yankee Magazine Sagendorph Award (top painting) at the society.

Mary Lynn Kotz, author, Upstairs at theWhite House (social history of the Executive Mansion 1941-1969, with former chief usher J.B. West), 46 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, 2 million copies sold; also, A Passion for Equality: GeorgeWiley and the Movement, as well as editor for husband Nick's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Let Them Eat Promises: The Politics ofHunger in America.

Betty Joe Nelsen, in public affairs, state legislator for ten years, first woman to hold the position of leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly; later recruited by the Bush Administration to run all of the food programs of the U.S. government, including the food stamp program, with a total annual budget of nearly $70 million.

Pat Siskind, business executive, 35 years at Citibank in New York in positions of increasing responsibility in the departments of economics, public affairs, and investor relations, and concluding as an officer of the North American Finance Group, handling all corporate travel and meetings for the bank.

The above, which could not have been put together without the invaluable assistance of Class President Brooks Parker and Pete Buhler, as well as my own wife, Marilee Martel, is all that space for this column will allow; yet it reflects only a small portion of the talent of the women of the class of 1955. I look forward to hearing from more of you about wives, mothers, daughters with the promise of future columns citing their achievements and contributions.

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