Jo Goetz Wasta ’52

Following graduation in 1952, nine friends who roomed in Rood House during our junior and senior years often gathered on the Hilltop for Homecoming weekends, along with our husbands. However, as careers and the activities of our young families became more demanding, those Homecoming trips became less frequent. Many of us stayed in touch with a round robin letter (a postal pre-computer version of blogging).

For our 50th class reunion in 2002, we had a grand Homecoming, returning from far-flung parts of the country. Shortly thereafter we began a new tradition: an annual Roodies Reunion exploring various cities, always filled with fond campus tales and memories.

During the past seven years we’ve learned to especially treasure these gatherings. As one must expect at this time of life, loved friends have passed on, and our group has diminished. This year, at age 85, the remaining four of us will gather in Williamsburg, Virginia. Coming from California, Michigan, Iowa, and South Carolina will be Barbara Jackson Tade ’52, Sally Baird Conde ’52 and John Conde ’51, Jo Shearer Bidle ’52 and Jim Bidle, and Jim Wasta ’52 and I.

I never anticipated the depth of friendship that we continue to enjoy, building on our Cornell roots. I am sure that many other Cornellians will repeat our grand lifetime bonus experience.

Jo Goetz Wasta ’52 and Jim Wasta ’52 live in Cedar Rapids, where their two sons and families live, and winter in California where they enjoy time with their two daughters and families.