Class Notes

1954W
Philip C. Lawton writes: “Looking forward to getting my book published this summer -  “Legends of Cross Country.” It details my experience and involvement with high school cross country running here in Southern Nevada, especially from 1997 – when I founded the Southern Nevada Cross County Legends Hall of Fame – to the present. It also features articles I wrote as a “stringer” for the Las Vegas Review Journal and for internet sources from 2001 to 2023. At 88 years young, I’m just happy to still be on this side of the grass and with most of my faculties. I enjoy following sports, including the latest from Wilbraham & Monson and UMass Amherst.”

 

1966W

Andrew S. Moore writes: “I am sorry to inform my classmates that my wife, Susannah, passed away from complications of amyloidosis. Her obituary can be seen at www.emmonsfuneralhome.com. Beyond that, I am living in New Hampton, New Hampshire, and have visited our two boys, our daughter-in-law and our granddaughters in Rincon, Puerto Rico, several times last winter. I have shipped a car down so that I can get around easily, and I’ve had the opportunity to play golf on numerous occasions. I also have the opportunity to get out and play pickleball on occasion down there. There was a memorial service for her on June 16, 2024, at our home in New Hampton.”

 

1970W
Richard G. Clifton is still living in Maine. The oldest of his six grandchildren is 18. He has visited the Academy a dozen times and shared: “It's fairing much better now. Great to see.”

 

1978
Mont E. Stong is retiring after 40 years of audiology! Mont is looking forward to the next phase of his life. 

 

1981
Brent G. Todd writes: “I've been a City Councilor in Concord, New Hampshire, for 10 years, in the section of the city known as Penacook. In that time, we've been able to work on creating the park you read about (the first new park in Concord since 1988), bring a supermarket and other amenities to Penacook, build affordable housing options, secure a new location for the Penacook Branch Library and create about $25 million in infrastructure investments in Penacook. I've very much enjoyed serving the public as a councilor. There is a small stipend associated with it, but it is otherwise a volunteer position. Certainly, my education at WMA has been a major factor in preparing me for this work, and I've been glad to support it over the years. My mother owns Haas Electric Inc., and we performed work for the school during the Greenhalgh (Gymnasium) building restoration some years ago, and donated electrical supplies and staging for graduation ceremonies in years past.”

 

2000

Seiko Tanaka is an artist. One of her latest paintings, titled “God of the Chance,” was selected for the 2024 80th GENTEN Art Exhibition at The National Art Center in the Roppongi section of Tokyo, Japan.

 

2003

Kyle W. McKay and his wife, Natalie Coca-Ducach, welcomed their second daughter, named Dalski, on March 16, 2024.

 

2006

Eugene Miculet got married! Eugene married Catalina Acosta on Feb. 9, 2024, in Cartagena, Colombia. Eugene and Catalina reside in New York.

 

2008

Emily A. Vincunas and her husband, Rory McGonigle, welcomed their first daughter, Maisy Grace, in September 2023. They live in Bozeman, Montana. Emily and Rory continue to grow their hiking brand Hiker Hunger Outfitters, which sells trekking poles and supports mental health non-profits like Hike the Good Hike.

 

2009

Matthew Gaw and his wife, Jillian Godbout, welcomed a baby boy into their lives on March 12, 2024. His name is Shane.

 

2010
Erica (DiMaria) Pollard got married in 2018. She shares: “We live in Longmeadow with our two kids, (ages) 4 and 7. I’m always around though, since I work as a dental hygienist in East Longmeadow and Northampton.” 

 

2015

Alex Caldwell joined the U.S. Air Force in September 2023. He completed basic training in March and graduated  from Security Forces training in June. He is looking forward to serving his country and seeing where the Air Force takes him.

 

2020
Kya Monette writes: “I graduate from St. Lawrence University on May 19, and then I will live and work at Cape Cod over the summer. After the summer, at the end of August, I will move to Greenwich, Connecticut, and work as an associate teacher at Brunswick School for two years. I will also get my master's at Manhattanville College! I am so super excited!”