Comments on: Sharing my mail

By: Tena Loveland Russ

Tena Loveland Russ — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:19:07 +0000

Class of 1961. Go Purple!

I just read in the Winter/Spring 2009 EMMA about The Fellowship of Rings idea. Intriguing.

For many years after graduation I didn’t even look at my ring. Then I returned to school for the first time for our thirtieth reunion (fabulous!) and wore my ring then. Now I rarely take it off — not only because it’s beautiful, but because it reminds me that I earned it and that I’m proud of my school.

I’m torn about what to do with it after I’m gone. At present, I have no grandchildren. The idea of offering my ring to an EW girl is appealing… but I’m not ready to part with my ring anytime soon.

By: Amy Clore '03

Amy Clore '03 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:03:50 +0000

It has been a pleasure to read all of these personal reflections as it is evident we all have similar sentiments about these rings and what they represent. While my ring no longer fits and cannot be worn, simply seeing it every morning puts a warm smile on my face. It helps me remember my time at Emma and how those four years shaped me more than any other time in my life.

I plan on holding onto my ring as long as possible and, when the time is right, passing it down in my family. There are many people who have yet to learn the value of women’s education and I would like to use the ring as a symbol to make others aware of such a great cause.

By: Donna Whitney

Donna Whitney — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:27:22 +0000

Hi All. I love my ring, too. I wear it on special occasions, such as when I know that one of my classmates is facing illness or other difficulty or when I need some extra inspiration in my teaching. I plan to leave my ring to my daughter, who will value it very much. And Jamila, I agree, it is a pleasure to tell the story of the ring whenever people ask. Also, Jamila, you should know that you gave me a happy laugh with the suggestion that you might be too old to wear your EW ring. I’ve had mine for 38 years, so I must be really age-inappropriate!

By: Chris Corvetti '07

Chris Corvetti '07 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:56:56 +0000

My EWS ring means so much to me and I have greatly enjoyed reading through all these entries.

My ring broke last summer (it is now being fixed) and everymorning I look at my hand or find my self feeling for the ring. My finger feels empty without it. I hope, once it comes back to me, that i will be able to wear it for many years and pass it down to my daughter/ grandaughter…

My sister graduated class of 2002 and spent the following year living in Switzerland. While in Europe, she was able to identify and meet a few other alums by thier EWS rings.

The rings symbolize the connection that every graduate feels to the Emma family. I think the idea of “legacy rings” is wonderful. I also hope that if this idea gets put into motion every ring that comes back gets documented with a photo and history/ bio of the previous and/ or original owner. I would love to look through this file if it gets created.

By: Margaret Pritchard '00

Margaret Pritchard '00 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:01:20 +0000

I lost my ring about three years ago – left it on the sink in a restaurant when I was washing my hands, returned ten minutes later to find it gone. I checked with the staff that night AND returned the next morning to see if it had been turned in (the restaurant is an hour away from my apartment – this was no small excursion). I miss it constantly, and hope to replace it someday – but a new ring will still only be a replacement, not the genuine article. I won’t have the knowledge that THIS piece of jewellery was the same one given to me at ring dinner, worn at my graduation, the ring that reminded me of Emma while I was adjusting to college, and so on.

If I replace it and I end up having a daughter someday, I’d want my ring to go to her. If not, it might find its way back to Emma eventually.

By: claiborne dawes '53

claiborne dawes '53 — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 14:34:08 +0000

What an excellent idea Leigh Dean had – I remember you, Leigh. My ring disappeared between one home and the next, and I am very sad about that. However, I would certainly leave it to EWS if I could, or to a current student.

By: Lynn Y.

Lynn Y. — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:43:44 +0000

How true that those of us parents who have given the gift of a fine education at Emma also feel about the rings!! I, too, never had the opportunity to go to Emma but gave both daughters the gift, Kate ‘02 and Elizabeth ‘04 and sister, Lorrie . Kate recently lost her ring at a soccer game and was very upset. Luckily it was found soon after. Elizabeth can no longer wear her ring as she is a bos’n on a tall ship and rings are very dangerous in the rigging. She gave it to me for save keeping until she can wear it again knowing I share the special spirit of those rings. Both have had experiences over the years with finding others who have known what the ring is and approaching them to have a conversation at train stations, overseas, and here at home. It should be a legacy passed on and not taken lightly but for those who are given a ring without the experience, we shouldn’t chastise them but pity them for not knowing the experience that is so precious.

By: Patricia Swartz

Patricia Swartz — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:39:31 +0000

I am the proud mother of two Emma Girls, Devon ‘00, and Durban ‘03. I like the recycle idea, but have a reservation due to my own selfish story of a recycled class ring given to me by my mother in law, and the grandmother of my daughters, Gertrude D. Swartz 11914-2007. She passed her class ring of Concord Academy 1932, down to me in 1982. I wore the ring constantly until just recently due to swollen finger joints and alas, the ring no longer fitting comfortably. That ring was a constant reminder to me that I wanted my children to have an extraordinary girl’s school education in the same way that she had. Now, my daughters have their very own class rings representing their own experience of a high school education (and onward) that was truly a dream come true for me! There is nothing I would change!
For me, a proud tradition of excellent education and their resulting extraordinary lifes, has much to do with a passed down family class ring that helped to lead them to EWS and beyond!

By: Alyssa Rinaldi '09

Alyssa Rinaldi '09 — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:45:33 +0000

Personally, I think it’s a great idea. When I got my ring last year, I would have loved it even more if it were to have been a ring of an alum with their own story. It’s an interesting idea about linking the classes through different generations!

By: heademma

heademma — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:11:21 +0000

Kie, and all, you can order a replacement ring from Josten’s. Our contact is Brian Mason and he can be reached at (518) 783-0100.