FRONT COVER SPRING | IN THE WRITERS’ ROOM | THE HEART OF PARIS | DAWN CHORUS DIMINUENDO cover_final.indd 1 4/23/20 2:50 PM Cover illustration by Anuj Shrestha Finches such as this siskin are among the bird families whose numbers have declined precipitously in the last years. Read more in “Dawn Chorus Diminuendo” on page . LILLIAN KING/GETTY IMAGES ifc-pg1_toc_final.indd 2 4/23/20 2:57 PM magazine.wellesley.edu Spring 2020 @Wellesleymag FEATURES DEPARTMENTS In the Writers’ Room From the Editor WCAA By Lisa Scanlon Mogolov ’ Letters to the Editor Class Notes The Heart of Paris From the President In Memoriam By Paula Butturini ’ Window on Wellesley Endnote Dawn Chorus Diminuendo By Catherine O’Neill Grace Shelf Life This magazine is published by the Wellesley College Alumnae Association, which has a mission “to support the institutional priorities of Wellesley College by connecting alumnae to the College and to each other.” ifc-pg1_toc_final.indd 3 4/23/20 2:57 PM From the Editor VOLUME , ISSUE NO. am certain that when the class of ’20 returns for its 50th reunion in 2070, the memory of their fi nal week on campus will be as vivid to them then as it is today. I write this on March Editor Alice M. Hummer 16. The last fi ve days on campus have been simultaneously completely heartwrenching and utterly heartwarming. Senior Associate Editors Lisa Scanlon Mogolov ’99 The College announced its decision to suspend classes and go to remote teaching last Catherine O’Neill Grace IThursday. Somehow, the seniors managed to paint the campus red overnight—festooning Design departments in the traditional decorations in their class color—and wore their robes for “the Hecht/Horton Partners, Arlington, Mass. last day of classes.” One senior—not to be left out—made a robe out of trash bags and tape. Principal Photographer There were tears and stunned disbelief as the class took in the fact that athletes wouldn’t be Lisa Abitbol able to play their fi nal seasons, that they had to say good-bye to beloved professors and friends Student Assistant instantly, and that commencement might not happen. Grace Ramsdell ’22 Then the fl urry began. Several thousand students needed to get to their homes—if they Wellesley (USPS 673-900). Published fall, winter, could (a contingent of 165 remained on campus). Rooms had to be packed, storage found, tickets spring, and summer by the Wellesley College bought, and rides secured. And some had an urgent need for funds for traveling. That’s when Alumnae Association. Editorial and Business Wellesley began showing its true colors. O ce: Alumnae Association, Wellesley College, 106 Central St., Wellesley, MA 02481-8203. On Thursday afternoon, the dean of students put out a call for extra boxes, tape, and, most Phone 781-283-2331. Fax 781-283-3638. urgently, suitcases. Overnight, the Multifaith Center in the chapel was turned into a depot that Periodicals postage paid at Boston, Mass., and looked like a cross between Staples and a luggage store—with hundreds of donations gathered other mailing o ces. Postmaster: Send Form 3579 to Wellesley magazine, Wellesley College, from offi ces and homes of faculty, staff, and area alums. A local Brownie troop even chipped in. 106 Central St., Wellesley, MA 02481-8203. The College provided travel assistance for more than 120 students and started an emergency fund for students to which alumnae contributed. The Students’ Aid Society dispensed grants for WELLESLEY POLICY One of the objectives of Wellesley, in the best rental cars, plane tickets, shipping and storage, internet access at home, and much more, with College tradition, is to present interesting, President Paula Johnson calling the group “an outstanding partner ... providing much-needed thought-provoking material, even though it immediate support.” And totally independent of the College, alumnae used social media and may be controversial. Publication of material does not necessarily indicate endorsement of crowdsourcing to match student needs with people around the country who could meet them. the author’s viewpoint by the magazine, the Homes were opened for staying or storage. Students were driven to the airport—or farther Alumnae Association, or Wellesley College. afi eld. But most movingly, alums covered thousands of dollars of immediate expenses for stu- Wellesley magazine reserves the right to edit dents they did not know, sight unseen—with a special focus on fi rst-generation students or those and, when necessary, revise all material that from low-income backgrounds. One alum commented in the Facebook group organizing all of it accepts for publication. Unsolicited photo- graphs will be published at the discretion of this: “I am not a religious person … but seriously, God bless Wellesley.” the editor. Which brings us to this magazine. Most of the articles and class notes in this issue were written well before the College closed for the semester. So you’ll fi nd in secretaries’ columns KEEP WELLESLEY UP TO DATE! The Alumnae Office has a voice-mail box references to upcoming travel and mini-reunions and weddings that may not have happened to be used by alumnae for updating contact as planned. We have a tiny staff, so we could not update everything. We are as far current as and other personal information. The number is press deadlines allow and will catch up in the 1-800-339-5233. summer issue. In the meantime, as many of You can also update your information online you still may be at home social distancing or when you visit the Alumnae Association web- site at www.wellesley.edu/alumnae. under quarantine when this magazine arrives, we hope it will bring you some Wellesley cama- DIRECT LINE PHONE NUMBERS raderie and warmth. College Switchboard 781-283-1000 Alumnae O ce 781-283-2331 In her memo announcing the cancellation of Magazine O ce 781-283-2331 the Blue’s remaining athletic season last week, Admission O ce 781-283-2270 Director of Athletics Bethany Ellis spoke of Career Education O ce 781-283-2352 Development O ce 800-358-3543 “rally[ing] round our student athletes, holding them tightly in our hearts.” To my eye, there INTERNET ADDRESSES is a lot of heart-holding going on all through www.wellesley.edu/alumnae magazine.wellesley.edu the worldwide Wellesley community. We here at the magazine hope you all feel that embrace in this diffi cult time. Alice M. Hummer, editor pg2-3_letters_final.indd 2 4/23/20 3:22 PM Letters to the Editor Wellesley welcomes short letters (300 words maximum) relating to articles or items that have appeared in recent issues of the magazine. Send your remarks to the Editor, Wellesley magazine, 106 Central St., Wellesley, MA 02481-8203, email your comments to [email protected], or submit a letter via the magazine’s website, magazine.wellesley.edu. A “Superb” Issue I so enjoyed the winter ’20 issue, particularly the Olivia Hood Parker ’63 piece (“Beauty in the Unexpected”) and of course, the article (and photos, wow!) on women journalists (“The Broadcast Pioneers”). I especially liked the segment on Linda Cozby Wertheimer ’65, whom I met the summer after my first year of law school, when I interned for NPR legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg in Washington, D.C. Like Linda, I was a big fan of Pauline Frederick when I was a girl. PHOTO COURTESY OF LOIS LIEBESKIND LEVINE A superb issue all around! Lynne Spigelmire Viti Senior Lecturer Emerita in the Writing Program I am enclosing a picture of us in flapper dresses Westwood, Mass. that should be published with apologies in the Only to Be There next magazine. Connected Lois Liebeskind Levine ’52 In April, the College and the Alumnae Association announced with sadness that we I got my winter ’20 mag- Pleasanton, Calif. will not host an in-person reunion in June. The azine via office mail last Editor’s Note: At the risk of starting an a cap- WCAA is considering options for the classes week, and I absolutely pella war here, research in the Wellesley College that are missing reunion, and we thank the love this issue! Though Archives shows that Lois is correct. We apolo- reuning alumnae for their patience as we begin I work at Wellesley, it the complex process of making new plans. Stay gize to the Widows and are eating appropriate tuned, and stay in touch. We miss you all. made me feel especially amounts of crow. The original singers in all connected. Thank you. their flapperly glory are shown above. —Kathryn Harvey Mackintosh ’03, Jülide Iye ’18 executive director, WCAA Natick, Mass. Cover to Cover The magazine gets better and better. I have A Cappella Wars? always read it cover to cover; still do. The winter ’20 magazine came with a shock! Muriel Tennis Asbornsen ’53 Imagine the Tupelo’s being given a full page with Albany, N.Y. a story claiming to be the College’s oldest a cap- pella group (“A Home in Singing”). Harmonizing Bigger Type, Please! since 1947? There weren’t any a cappella groups I am writing to ask you to make the type until the Widows!!! The Widows started in 1949 bigger—big enough to read! I just threw out the when Ruth Bettman Kassel ’52 and I were soph- fall ’19 issue, reading only my class notes—with omores who wanted to start an octet such as a a magnifying glass! Everyone’s eyes go in their friend had started at Vassar. No one in the music 40s, which means that most of your readers are department would sponsor us, but a woman in affected. You would increase alumnae support of Biblical History offered to help us.