Letter to the Editor – 3.07.14
We just can’t let the historical inaccuracies in the February 24, 2014 Mount Holyoke News feature article, Strengthening title and ties: metamorphosis of the sister class, pass without comment.
The notion of creating a formal Connection between members of Mount Holyoke classes who graduate fifty years apart was not established until the fall of 2007, when members of the Class of 1960 invited the 2010 Class Board to dinner at Willits and proposed a Connection between the generations. Two of the 1960 classmates explained that Class of 2010 members were very special to us because in three years we would all be together on campus celebrating two very important events in our lives: their graduation and our 50th Reunion.
Soon, members of our respective classes were matched by interests, majors and careers. One-to-one relationships were established, many of which continue today and enrich the lives of both Grandmothers and Granddaughters. The Laurel Chain in May 2010 was an unprecedented scene of hugs and tears of joy as the two classes celebrated each other’s achievements and our love for each other. As we had envisioned in 2007, those moments together forged lasting and strong bonds among us and to the College.
Since then we’ve had a number of post-graduation events in several cities, a reception at 2010’s 2nd Reunion and together, we’re planning a gathering at their 5th Reunion in 2015.
An inspiring, heartwarming and accurate account of the beginnings of the Grandmother-Granddaughter Connection at Mount Holyoke appears at:
We are gratified that more recent classes are now pursuing this “Connection” with the support of the Alumnae Association.
Aside from the depressingly inaccurate history in the News article, we’re amused at the efforts to change the name of the project. After all, we already had two traditional Sister Classes: 1958 and 1962. In truth, the Class of 2010 named us. As we groped for a name at our first meeting together, they said, “You are our Grandmother Class!” We recognized the special connotation of the grandmother/granddaughter relationship – very different from a link with a sister – 2010 saw it as a bond of respect and trust with cherished older women. To this day, we still feel honored.
Sincerely,
Joan Corcoran Steiger ‘60
South Hadley, Massachusetts
Patricia Kennedy Ascher ’60, Class President
Sausalito, California
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