Welcoming Paula A. Johnson
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SUMMER 2016 | ON THE RELAUNCH PAD | THE NOT-SO-GREAT OUTDOORS Welcoming Paula A. Johnson cover_final.indd 1 6/22/16 1:20 PM summer 2016 ÈVISIT OUR WEBSITE AT MAGAZINE.WELLESLEY.EDU. The Whole Woman On the Relaunch Pad 18 By Lisa Scanlon Mogolov ’99 26 By Sarah Ligon ’03 On July 1, Paula A. Johnson became Wellesley’s Returning to work after time off isn’t easy, but many 14th president. Johnson, a world-renowned alumnae have found that once they get their mojo back, physician, researcher, and public-health expert, and with some flexibility and creativity, they can find brings a deep appreciation for Wellesley and career paths even more rewarding than the ones they liberal-arts education for women, as well as high had before their break. aspirations for what the College can achieve. ifc_toc_final.indd c2 6/22/16 11:19 AM CONTENTS 1 Departments 2 From the Editor 3 Letters to the Editor 4 From the President 5 Window on Wellesley 16 Shelf Life es with herg executive Cambodian producer mother at and her can find a husband and how well w life in America, her elders cling V mily. They continue to live in the ariny ans, including their husbands. a to move out of the house and Y Will Sophea abandon the ones im g and relevance in their new hree generations of spirited lues and traditions. attempt to on Title for 2015 nd of opportunity . d spirited read. d triumph.... h rican and ofit ed o 38 WCAA Class Notes The Not-So-Great Outdoors 42 72 In Memoriam—Claire Zimmerman ’50, 34 By Elizabeth Wachman Percer ’96 1928–2016; Doris Holmes Eyges, 1921–2016 An alumna who has camping thrust upon her discovers her own survival skills—including toting champagne 80 Endnote—An Open Letter to My Shame and chocolate, and recognizing that being a happy By Dania Wright ’14 camper does not necessarily have to mean being an avid outdoorswoman. Cover and commencement photo by Richard Howard WELLESLEY MAGAZINE ONLINE magazine.wellesley.edu WELLESLEY MAGAZINE ON TWITTER @Wellesleymag ifc_toc_final.indd 1 6/22/16 11:20 AM 2 FROM THE EDITOR SUMMER 2016 wellesley magazine VOLUME 100, ISSUE NO. 4 From the Editor DEAR PAULA, I have to tell you that you pretty much had me the moment you took off your designer Editor Alice M. Hummer heels— which were sinking into the mire at Boston’s Arnold Arboretum during our photo shoot there— and marched across the soggy ground in your stocking feet. We had messed with your Senior Associate Editors Lisa Scanlon Mogolov ’99 hair, held screens over your head to keep the shadows off your face, and insisted that you smile Catherine O’Neill Grace and then smile some more as the shutter clicked endlessly. And still, you laughed as the spring Design damp oozed onto your feet— and then invited our whole crew back to your house to eat lunch. Hecht/Horton Partners, Arlington, Mass. Truth be told, you probably had me the moment you opened your front door early that Principal Photographer morning and greeted me so warmly. You wrangled the dog, made coffee, brought down dresses Richard Howard for me to inspect, and asked about Wellesley— all in a seamless fl ow. You were open and down- Student Assistant to-earth, congenial and curious, and, well, totally presidential all at the same time. Emma Bilbrey ’18 As the day went on, you made a point to interact with every member of our shoot team, Wellesley (USPS 673-900). Published fall, including each of us in your warmth. After a late afternoon family photo in your living room— winter, spring, and summer by the Wellesley punctuated with laughter over 15-year-old Kate’s stories about raccoons in the yard—we all went College Alumnae Association. Editorial and home grinning. Believe me: It doesn’t always happen that way. Business Office: Alumnae Association, Wellesley College, 106 Central St., Wellesley, You learn a lot about a person on a long photo shoot, through changes of clothes, reapplica- MA 02481-8203. Phone 781-283-2344. tions of makeup, and travel to various venues. Here’s what I learned about you (defi nitely not Fax 781-283-3638. Periodicals postage paid in order of importance): First, you are a parallel parker, something I discovered as our at Boston, Mass., and other mailing offices. mean Postmaster: Send Form 3579 to Wellesley “presidential motorcade” moved around Boston. As I laughed at my own parking ineptitude, magazine, Wellesley College, 106 Central St., you revealed that your car-maneuvering abilities came from growing up in Brooklyn. And it was Wellesley, MA 02481-8203. clear that a lot of other good things came out of Brooklyn— your love of family, for example. Wellesley Policy: That day I saw that family is your bedrock, and that you have a lovely one. They have kept One of the objectives of Wellesley, in the best you steady through the many demands of your work and community service. I learned that you College tradition, is to present interesting, thought-provoking material, even though it will be a terrifi c role model for Wellesley students. You are an affectionate mom who talks about may be controversial. Publication of material “integrating” career and family instead of “balancing” the two, because a perfectly aligned scale does not necessarily indicate endorsement of is probably impossible. the author’s viewpoint by the magazine, the Alumnae Association, or Wellesley College. I learned that you are gracious, kind, and patient. And most importantly, as we talked about the College and you smiled over the Hooprolling photos coming in over my phone, I saw how Wellesley magazine reserves the right to edit and, when necessary, revise all material that incredibly engaged in Wellesley and women’s education you already were, several months before it accepts for publication. Unsolicited photo- taking offi ce. You already get Wellesley. graphs will be published at the discretion of Lots of people, I’m sure, are offering advice for your presidency. Let me join the chorus, with the editor. some collective wisdom from the magazine staff: KEEP WELLESLEY UP TO DATE! Try the Parmesan-prosciutto scones at El Table. They are tasty. And be warned that the stu- The Alumnae Office has a voice-mail box to be used by alumnae for updating contact dents will likely create and name a sandwich after you. and other personal information. The number Learn the Stepsinging songs. They are eccentric, but fun. Just FYI, “the bold, bad man” of is 1-800-339-5233. the eponymous song, the guy who forever changed Hooprolling in 1939, came from your alma You can also update your information online mater. We will try to forgive you for that. when you visit the Alumnae Association Finally, walk the lake path. On a warm day, you will see turtles basking on logs and students website at www.wellesley.edu/alumnae. taking in rays in the spoonholders. You will see how beautifully the grounds folks tend the campus. DIRECT LINE PHONE NUMBERS But most of all, you will fi nd a few moments of College Switchboard 781-283-1000 Alumnae Office 781-283-2331 silence and peace. One of my favorite places to sit Magazine Office 781-283-2344 along the water—you’ll have to fi nd it yourself— Admission Office 781-283-2270 has this inscription: “In stillness is a song.” Yes. Career Education Office 781-283-2352 Resources Office 800-358-3543 All of us at the magazine wish you the very best as you start your presidency. And by the way, the INTERNET ADDRESSES pictures came out great. www.wellesley.edu/alumnae magazine.wellesley.edu Alice M. Hummer, editor pg2-3_letters_final.indd 2 6/22/16 11:21 AM wellesley magazine SUMMER 2016 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 3 Letters to the Editor In Memoriam Wellesley welcomes short letters (300 words maximum) relating to articles or items that have Janet McCaa ’64 appeared in recent issues of the magazine. Send your remarks to the Editor, Wellesley magazine, The Wellesley College Alumnae Association was deeply saddened 106 Central St., Wellesley, MA 02481-8203, by the unexpected death of WCAA board member Janet McCaa ’64 email your comments to magazine@wellesley. on June 5. Janet brought her great enthusiasm and love of all things edu, or submit a letter via the magazine’s website, Wellesley to her board work, as well as to her class and local alumnae magazine.wellesley.edu. club. A 2014 recipient of the WCAA’s Syrena Stackpole Award, she had held numerous offi ces for her class, including president, vice LIBRARY PROCRASTINATION president, and special-gifts chair. She also served as president and Regarding “Procrastination Nation” (spring ’16): vice president of both the Western Maine Wellesley Club and the Jane Burka ’68 published the defi nitive book, Washington Wellesley Club, and oversaw 100th anniversary cele- Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do HOWARD RICHARD brations with both groups. “As saddened as the WCAA board is by About It Now, in 1980. As a former Clapp library Janet’s passing,” says Alumnae Association President Georgia Murphy Johnson ’75, “we all took employee, I can tell you that this book was widely comfort in knowing how deeply connected Janet felt to Wellesley, and how very much she loved read and almost always overdue. serving her alma mater, in every way.” Wilma Riemenschneider Kassakian ’68 A longer tribute will appear in the fall ’16 magazine. Newton, Mass. LASTING WISDOM Six years ago, I Googled dozens of combinations Thank goodness, I was able to write that A ROLE MODEL of “philosophy professor,” “Wellesley College,” note.