In September, 2004, I retired from the federal workforce and from my work as deputy director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, in the Department of Health and Human Services.  After 23 years in this field, I’ve returned to other passions, some of which were nurtured at Wellesley.  Refugees will, nevertheless, have a special place in my heart and continued work effort. 

My companion along this journey has been Allan Gall, also a recent retiree from government service, especially with the Peace Corps, who has introduced me to the wonders of the history, architecture and peoples of Turkey—one of his passions.                                             

     

Following are reflections on life’s changes since leaving the ranks of civil servants:

Then                                     Now

Morning rush hour traffic                                Breakfast with Charlie (Rose)                                             Suits and stockings                                      Cut-offs and sandals                                                            Meetings, meetings                                      Silence                                                                           Paying for parking                                         Paying for long-term care insurance                                     NPR on the car radio                                     Music, a constant indulgence                                                60-80 e-mails daily                                        A few notes and jokes from friends                                       New Administration whiz kids                         Grandchildren (Allan’s)                                                   Reading government briefings                         Reading fiction  (is there a difference?)                               Carry-out deli luncheons                                Dining with friends and former suitors                                  Lunchtime visits to the Nat’l Gallery                Leisurely museum walks                                                       Boring meetings                                            Board meetings                                                             Microwave popcorn                                        Home cooking                                                             Sleeping through the Opera                            Afternoon matinees                                                        Buildings with inoperable windows                  The great outdoors                                                      Neglecting one’s health                                  Doctors’ appointments                                                             Office gossip                                                 Neighborhood gossip                                                        Loving the challenge                                       Living the calm                                                  Competitiveness                                            Relaxation                                                                        Colleagues                                                    Companionship                                               Purposeful                                                     Random                                                                         Alarm clocks                                                 Bird songs

 

 BJ Diener              

 

For some background, let's see...I started out in advertising and marketing after getting an MBA from Harvard.  Then I went back to Harvard and got a doctorate.  Off to Cleveland to work with Bonne Bell and teach at Case Western.  Then back to Virginia, where I grew up, and became Dean of Business at Old Dominion University, and then Cabinet Secretary for economic development and environmental protection in state government when Chuck Robb was governor.  In 87 I moved to UMass Boston, as provost and then assistant to the Chancellor for economic development.  I was loaned out by them to be the president of the Environmental Business Council of New England, the trade association promoting environmental technology.  After returning to academia I went to China as a Fulbright Scholar in 2001.  Then early retirement in 2002, and a move here to Miami where I'm now a professor at Barry University, a small co-ed Catholic university.  No, I'm not Catholic, but all they really do is put crucifixes in the classrooms, and I figure it might help me obviate some of my sins along the way.

                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Althouse Eikel

I certainly never expected to live in Southern California for the majority of my adult life.  Nor did I have any notion of studying or practicing law which I did for almost thirty years.  I worked in the court system and became interested in the problems faced by persons who elect to represent themselves.  What started out as a one page handout ended up being a practice manual, Step by Step, Civil Appellate Practices and Procedures for the Self-Represented, which is in print and on the Web.

We encouraged our children to go to college in another part of the country.  However, when each headed for the East Coast, we did not anticipate they might decide to stay there.  At least so far, it appears they will and so, it would seem, we will ultimately relocate there.

The last five or six years have seen my retirement which I thought would be a time to “take care of” all the things that had been neglected over the years while I was working and raising kids.  I did get started on that – but then my father’s health declined and that became the focus of my attention; after he passed on I became the president of a condominium homeowners’ association which consumes much of my time.

I am learning about plumbing, insurance, the ins and outs of communal living and must continuously keep in mind that one can’t please all of the people all of the time.  I am busier than when I worked full-time and looking forward to the next project whatever that may be.                                                                     Mary with husband Bob

 

Classmates in the News

Helen Strieder

Here's an excerpt from an announcement of Helen Strieder's new position as of August 22, 2008:

From: nebhpublicaffairs@caregroup.harvard.edu                                                                                         To: NebhA@caregroup.harvard.edu
Subject: An important announcement from John P. Wilkins, Chair, Board of Trustees
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:45:58 +0000

As many of you now know, I met with Hospital staff today to announce that Helen R. Strieder, former Chair of the Board of Trustees has been named Interim President & CEO following Joe Dionisio's resignation.

We are pleased that Helen Strieder has agreed to lead us during this transition period.  Rich Maloney, Vice Chair of the Board, will convene a search committee immediately to identify our next President & CEO.

I trust you will all enjoy working with Helen and that you will give her your full support.  As I said to the staff I met with today, please just keep doing what you are doing.  You are the reason we have become one of the nation's leading Orthopedic Centers of Excellence.  I appreciate all you do!

Thank you.

John P. Wilkins
Chair, Board of Trustees
New England Baptist Hospital
125 Parker Hill Avenue
Boston, MA  02120
 

 

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