New Spider graduates step forth confidently into the world, and they have good reason to. Young alumni report great employment outcomes one year after graduation. Their more seasoned peers know that that’s just the beginning. The rewards of a Richmond education are lifelong.
In the spirit of “30 Under 30” lists, we offer a look at seven Spiders over age 70 who are still reaping the value of a Richmond education. They know better than anyone that age is just a number, that it’s always the right time to try something new, and that Spider Pride accumulates and compounds over a lifetime.
Laura Lee Chandler, W’74
Age: 72
Snapshot: Class secretary and reunion committee chairperson keeping her graduating class together 50 years later. Decided life was too comfortable and started adventure hiking.
What stands out to you about being a reunion committee co-chair and class secretary?
I have been chairing our reunion committee since our 15th or 20th anniversary. I’m not sure what year I became class secretary, but once I took it over, I knew that it was something that I was going to take seriously. For our 50th anniversary, we did a special lunch at Reunion Weekend just for the women. They’ve all said it was their favorite part of the weekend.
What’s the best thing about being a Spider?
The connections we made and maintained have been really special to me. Something especially sweet is that both of my parents are Spiders — they met as students — plus my brother graduated from Richmond College, my sister and I are Westhampton College graduates, my daughter is a Spider, and my husband graduated from Richmond Law. Not long ago, I took my 95-year-old mother for a drive through campus. She shared what it was like when she was there, which is so different from when I was there, and understandably, totally different from my daughter’s experience.
“Growing old is mandatory. Acting old is optional.”
What keeps you young?
Ooh, yes, I do feel young! First of all, 72 is a number, and what my husband and I constantly say to each other is, “Growing old is mandatory. Acting old is optional.” Plus, I’ve been blessed with good health, and we prioritize exercising. My husband and I play golf together. We love to travel. We go hiking, we go walking. We frequently exercise together if we’re not at home. And I think the exercise program has given us the ability to continue a busy lifestyle.
How have your dreams and goals changed as you’ve changed throughout your life?
My husband and I started dating at 13. We got married six weeks after college. The hopes and dreams included a happy marriage, children, staying involved, staying connected. And we did all that. Then, at age 49, I thought, “Wow, life is just a little too comfortable.” I started to think about what I could do about it. And almost every year since our 50th birthdays, we’ve taken some sort of adventure trip. Here are a few highlights: We hiked in the Himalayas to Mount Everest basecamp; we summited Kilimanjaro; we hiked all over Patagonia; we hiked five days into Machu Picchu; we have hiked and camped in Greenland; we took a bicycle trip through the hill towns of Italy. At one point, we went all the way around the world carrying everything in a backpack. We just got back from a strenuous hiking trip in Norway and we’re already planning what’s next!
Barry Greene, R’72
Age: 74
Snapshot: UR’s first Black residential graduate still putting his business mind to use in retirement. He’s also a dog whisperer.
What is it like to be 74?
There are some things that I was used to doing at a rapid pace. I can still do them, but I am a little slower at them. And yet, it seems like now that I’m fully retired, I have more going on in my life than before. I’m chairman of the finance council at my church, which means I’m there three, sometimes four days out of every week. I also work with the Cambodian Missionary Sisters on their investment committee, so I meet with them on a regular basis. I meet with my friends for dog shows — one friend insists that I need to be at the dog show [helping out] because she only wins when I’m there with her.
What advice would you give your younger self?
When I was in the education system and going to classes — high school, college, wherever — the thing I would say to my younger self would be, “You need to work a little bit harder. But more importantly, you need to do what makes you happy. Study the things you want to learn, and not based on what your family has told you.” A good example in my case — there were so many family members in the medical field. So it was: “You’ve got to go into the medical field. You’ve got to be a doctor.” So that’s what I was doing. And then it dawned on me: Am I doing this because this is what they’ve brainwashed me with, or am I doing it because I really want to do it? I finally decided that’s not really what I wanted to do.
“Life is full of choices. Make the choice that you’re going to be happy with.”
What have you learned matters most in life?
Happiness. Life is full of choices, so you need to make sure you make the choice that you’re going to be happy with. In my mind, if you’re unhappy, your family is unhappy. They’ll see the unhappiness, and it affects everybody because of the choices that you make. It trickles down. So choose what will make you happy.
What’s the best thing about being a Spider?
Truthfully, I’m enjoying being a Spider more now than 20 years ago. And the best part is being more involved and more engaged in the different activities. Dr. Tina Cade [former associate vice president for student development, now retired] insisted on getting me involved. Had she not made that effort, I probably wouldn’t be on campus as often as I am. I enjoy the fact that I’ve been reached out to to be involved with the university.
Rachel Pierce Newell, W’72
Age: 74
Snapshot: Recently finished a four-year program in ministry education. Aims to live a simple, sincere, and serene life while also keeping up with 22 grand- and great-grandkids. Godspeed.
What is it like to be 74?
Great! I am privileged and grateful to have lived this long. I have time to be a seeker, to be of service to others, to try new things. I know my limitations so I discipline myself to exercise so I can keep up with my HUGE blended family. After decades of striving to be highly functional in the pursuit of my purpose-driven life, I still have the energy to redirect my life to embrace new possibilities.
What stands out to you about your ministry work?
The education ministry program taught me to live in the question — I do not have to have all the answers! I have become more curious and want to read as much as possible, learn new things, and expand my mind. I have grown emotionally, mentally, and spiritually and recognize I AM ENOUGH! I have found I am braver than I thought and can tackle hard books, hard issues, and hard questions. I have gained confidence. I have become more tolerant and have begun to see that my faith walk is leading me to be an agent of grace, mercy, and justice.
“I have found I am braver than I thought.”
What keeps you young?
The answer is always LOVE. I express gratitude, smile at every opportunity, and prioritize being happy and keeping a positive attitude. Exercise and rest are also key, especially with all the family and piano students around! I am mindful to welcome everyone as they are. I worry less and live in hope, especially when I sing and play musical instruments. Having a strong faith has helped me through the gravest of situations and serves to maintain that state of hope. Another thing that keeps me young is being around young people who have new, fresh ideas! What a joy!
Which life lesson hit the hardest?
Bad things happen to good people and good people become better people — and those bad things could be the defining moment of one’s life. Sometimes, as strange as it may seem, plan B may turn out to be better than plan A. During one devastating point in my life that battered my sense of self-worth, I faced the dilemma to either flee or face the problem. It was a very uncertain time, but I learned to figure out what my homework was — aka, how I needed to change — and I soldiered on each day. This eventually led me to become whole again and happier than ever.
Steve Gordon, R’75
Age: 71
Snapshot: ACC referee retires, then opens a teaching camp for up-and-coming referees. This guy might like sports.
What stands out to you about your referee work and the training camp you run?
One great joy of my life was spending 32 years officiating basketball. Reaching the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1984 was an achievement I could only dream of, and it provided 22 years of constant challenges and great joy in meeting and working with some of the best players, coaches, and athletes in the nation. After my retirement from active officiating, I went on to establish a teaching camp for young officials. We founded the camp in 2016 and some eight years later we are going strong. It has truly been a joy to give back to the game something of value, as I could never repay all the game has given me.
What’s the best thing about being a Spider?
My decision to attend the University of Richmond was one of the best I ever made. My first and only high school visit impressed me with the beauty of the campus and the warmth of the people I met. Arriving on campus, I was truly blessed to meet Chuck Boone, who became my baseball coach for four years. He had a profound impact on my life. Chuck led by example and was a mentor in the best way in that he lived his beliefs.
“When I was young, I wanted everything to be perfect. But I soon realized this was a losing proposition.”
Which life lesson hit the hardest?
When I was young, I wanted everything to be perfect. But I soon realized this was a losing proposition. No one and no situation are ever perfect, [and] the effort expended in striving for perfection wore me down. I needed to realign and readjust my viewpoint to survive and thrive.
What is it like to be 71?
The perspective I get from being this age is that every day is a blessing. More than that, waking up every day pain free makes me grateful for the ability to work and move freely. I witness friends and family who struggle with their health, and it can be sobering just to see them perform simple tasks. I am a very lucky guy.
Dr. Jean Scott, W’68
Age: 78
Snapshot: Senior consultant specializing in identifying excellent university leadership. Having trouble finding a good show to watch.
What advice would you give your younger self?
When my parents took me to Westhampton College for my freshman year, my father’s words of advice were “Don’t work too hard.” I have always worked hard, and that has been an important key to whatever success I have had. He knew that. But he also knew I might sometimes work harder than I needed to. My advice to my younger self would be a variation on his: Make time to have fun, and don’t feel guilty about it!
What’s the best thing about being a Spider?
I am very proud of the University of Richmond of today, the way it has expanded and changed, and the excellent graduates it produces. For me, the greatest thing about being a Spider is the wonderful education I received in the 1960s [and the] personal and individual attention.
I planned to major in sociology and become a social worker. I never took a sociology course, nor did I become a social worker. One professor, Dr. John Rilling, introduced me to history… as an essential discipline for understanding the present, a study characterized by interpretation, debate, and argument. (I do like to argue.) He suggested I apply to Harvard’s Ph.D. program — a startling idea for a girl from a small town in Virginia! With his encouragement, I applied, was accepted, and graduated. I am eternally grateful to the University of Richmond for opening doors for me and for introducing me to such a life-changing mentor and friend.
“My father’s words of advice were ‘Don’t work too hard.’”
Which life lesson hit the hardest?
The loss of loved ones leaves tender spots in the heart. I know I will see them again someday, but for now, that sense of loss never goes away. I remember them with joy and laughter and gratitude for all they mean to me, and that is a gift. I know that experiencing loss is part of what it means to be human, but the losses are also very real, individual, and personal.
What is it like to be 78?
I am one of the oldest of the baby boomers. For most of our adult lives, our generation was the primary target of the media and advertising. We set the trends and to a large degree defined the culture. That is no longer the case, as that mantle has fallen to younger generations. That is normal and as it should be, but it makes finding a good TV show more challenging!
Ellen Sisson, W’75
Age: 70
Snapshot: Big-city lawyer retires and launches a second career singing at Carnegie Hall. Has the hands-down best answer to our time travel question.
What stands out to you about your vocal work and history with Carnegie Hall?
Throughout my career practicing corporate law in New York City, I sang in choirs and studied voice as a hobby. I gave no thought to it becoming my career. But thanks to a series of lucky breaks and being well-prepared, I sang at Carnegie Hall within a year of retiring. I’m now a professional choral singer in New York’s top ensembles, including Musica Sacra and the New York Virtuoso Singers. Some memorable performances were with Sir Paul McCartney, Garrison Keillor, and Andrea Bocelli.
The first time I performed at Carnegie Hall, I stood on that stage and looked out. It reminded me of the inside of a beautiful Faberge egg with all the lights that [arch across the ceiling.] Yet, strange as it may seem, the emotions I felt were less about being at Carnegie Hall than about singing in a chorus of 32 of the top singers in New York with the best conductor in the state. It was the privilege of being on stage with those people that enveloped my senses.
“What keeps me young? Singing and babies!”
What’s the best thing about being a Spider?
The training I received singing in the University Choir with the legendary James Erb. I couldn’t have asked for more. Also, the joy of my own daughter attending UR where she met her husband. And of course, being a faculty kid and growing up on campus with my own father, Jack Taylor, longtime physics professor and class of 1942.
What keeps you young?
Singing and babies! I have just had my sixth grandchild in two-and-a-half years. I live close enough to see all of them on a regular basis in between my singing engagements. Currently, I have four different church jobs, a private voice studio, and regular engagements with the American Symphony Orchestra in New York City. It all keeps me young.
If you could go back to any age, what would it be?
Birth, so I could do it all over again!
Birch Douglass, L’68
Age: 81
Snapshot: Super-volunteer for Richmond Law and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Puts his money where his mouth is.
Which life lesson hit the hardest?
My failure to follow certain dreams. As a teenager, I thought being a college professor would be fulfilling and allow me to have a comfortable lifestyle. While in college, I determined that I wanted more of a challenge and decided to attend law school instead. During that time, I briefly considered combining the two paths and becoming a law professor, but I ended up joining a large law firm from which I retired after 50 years. My dream of working in academia instead became volunteering with Hampden-Sydney College and the University of Richmond School of Law.
Tell us more about how you volunteer.
At the law school, I have served in several capacities. I’ve chaired at least two class reunions over the years. I’m a current member of the 1870 Society, a donors organization named for the year of the law school’s founding. I’m also a current member of the Richmond Law Advisory Board, which provides leadership in philanthropy and advisory support to Dean Wendy Purdue.
“I would go back to being 35 but during the Victorian Age.”
At the museum, I have been a volunteer for many decades. I’ve been a board member and president of the VMFA Foundation for two terms. I am currently co-chair of VMFA’s Fine Arts and Flowers exhibition. As a member of the VMFA Council, I serve as a museum ambassador welcoming and assisting visitors.
At H-SC I have served as a trustee and on various committees. I’m currently a trustee emeritus.
If you could go back to any age, which would it be?
I would go back to being 35 but during the Victorian Age. Thirty-five because I was then a partner in my law firm, my wife and I had a nice residence, and we enjoyed sailing our 34-foot sailboat all over the Chesapeake Bay in those days. But if I could go back to the Victorian era, it would be because people at that time stressed truthfulness, family values, duty, personal responsibility, and other morals I value highly.
What are your plans for what’s next?
Continue traveling. During the next twelve months, I will visit Hawaii, British Columbia, London three times, and two riverboat cruises in Europe. Staying busy keeps me going.