In Memoriam

“Catherine Kleiner, surrounded by her longtime friends and caregivers, passed away on Friday, December 13, 2024, after a long and arduous battle with multiple sclerosis (MS). Catherine, a former elite athlete, courageously fought the ravaging effects of her disease until the very end of her life.”

Read more at: Catherine Kleiner obituary

“On Monday, November 6, [2023] our fellow 88er, Kristen Sweder, collapsed suddenly while teaching a sunrise boot camp class at a local gym. She was surrounded by her family and dear friends at the time of her death. She was an accomplished marathon runner, 2nd degree black belt karate instructor and sparring champion of Maryland, and a fitness dynamo...among the few hundred other things she enjoyed and excelled at!

Kristen lived in Maryland, and was the very happy mom of three kids (27, 23, and 21), and she was about to become a grandma any day now. She was a Media and Communications Manager at Motorola Solutions, and beloved by her colleagues and team — for her creativity, her kindness, and her compassionate leadership. Ever a nurturing person, Sweder was also a passionate and devoted foster “mom” to dozens of rescue dogs through the years, showing them love, teaching them trust, and taking care of them until adoption by their “forever families.” One of her favorite chapters in life were our four years together at Wellesley!” —Kristin McGuire ‘88, Email to Class of 1988, November 10, 2023

Read more at: Kristen Sweder obituary

Tejshree Thapa ’88 died on March 26 in New York City. Born in and deeply tied to Nepal, Tej was a citizen of the world. Tej devoted her career to confronting some of the most difficult and painful issues on Earth, including wartime atrocities and ethnic cleansing. But her most passionate cause was as the defender of women and girls who were victims of sex crimes, and she served as special rapporteur on violence against women at the UN. Lover of art, poetry, people, cities, music, conversation, and intellectual query, Tej lives on in our memories. Tej tried to save the Earth, and now we let Earth embrace its honored guest. Tej is survived by her parents, her sister, and her daughter, Maya. —Maria Marks ’88, Wellesley Magazine (Summer 2019), Alumnae Memorials

Read more at: Tejshree Thapa obituary

“Zsuzsi Eva (Lorant) Mooncai, known by most as Susan, died Friday, January 17, 2014 at the Clark House in Dedham after a brief illness.  She was 83.  Zsuzsi was born January 28, 1930 in Budapest, Hungary, the daughter of Gyula and Lilly (Deutch) Lorant.  She attended Wellesley College and worked for three years as a mechanical engineer for Jackson & Moreland in Boston.  Susan was very dedicated to the Museum of Science in Boston where she volunteered for many years and where she also served on the Board of Trustees.”

Read more at: Susan Mooncai obituary

Suzanne C. Powell, 41, died July 21, 2008 at Providence Hospital in Anchorage.... Powell was born in Salzburg, Austria, on Aug. 14, 1966 and raised in Portland, Ore. She graduated Vassar College in 1988. From there, she joined the Peace Corp. and was sent to Tonga where she met her husband with whom she had two beautiful, precious daughters.

Read more at: Suzanne Powell obituary

Katherine Y. Naddaff, of Dedham, January 13, 2004. Dear and devoted wife of Alfred N. Beloved mother of Elaine of Rosemont, PA, Sandra of Cambridge, Ramona of Paris, France, Alfred G. of Dedham, and Andrea of Canton. Loving grandmother…

Read more at: Katherine Y. Naddaff obituary

“Mary G. Lowman age 38, of Atlanta, died November 2, 2004 from complications of childhood onset diabetes. She is survived by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. James Lowman, sister Josie Lowman, brother John Lowman and sister-in-law Leigh, nephew Thomas Lowman all of Atlanta, also brother Jamie of Fall River, MA. Mary graduated from Wellesley College class of 1988, she also attended George Washington University and obtained a MA in Early Childhood Special Education.”

Read more at: Mary G. Lowman obituary

Please contact our Class Secretary at 1988notes@alum.wellesley.edu if you would like to submit a tribute about Jean or if you know of an online obituary that we can link to.

Please contact our Class Secretary at 1988notes@alum.wellesley.edu if you would like to submit a tribute about Jenny or if you know of an online obituary that we can link to.