From daytime soap to baby soap – Brenda Brock ’75 took a year off from working in daytime television to get married and have a baby. Brenda was a regular on ABC’s daytime serial, “One Life To Live,” for several years until 1990. She lived in New York during the week while taping the show and slipped away on weekends to her residence in Tiverton, R.I., where she had met and fallen for a restaurant owner, Paul Barcley de Tolley.
“I would leave the city and head for Newport to help Paul out in the restaurant on weekends. I had had a lot of experience working as a waitress while trying to land a job as an actress. I wasn’t really looking forward to working weekends, but it was the only time I could be with Paul.”
“But of course, I love being in Rhode Island, too. It is my refuge. It is peaceful, beautiful and alluring. I just love New England!”
Brenda started spending more time away from the set and in Newport. Last July 4, she and Paul married at their home in Tiverton with friends and family members present to help celebrate.
On April 20, Brenda gave birth to their daughter, Lela Hunt Barcley de Tolley.
“It’s as if I’ve opened a door onto a brand new part of the house…wonder-filled and vast,” Brenda says of new baby Lela.
Brenda plans to resume her acting career around September. She plans to take Lela everywhere with her.
“I’ll just put her in a backpack and take her anywhere I need to go – to New York, on an audition or on a set. We are a flexible and mobile family.”
The Top Rangerette
A little closer to home, Dana Brown ’80 has been named only the third director of the world-famous Kilgore Rangerettes in the group’s 53-year history. The drill team was started during World War II by the legendary Gussie Nell Davis. Davis’ influence helped create the modern drill team.
In 1979-80, Dana was the captain of the Lake Highlands Highlandettes. Upon graduation, she attended Kilgore College to be a Rangerette. She served one year on the line and one year as an officer.
After receiving her degree from the University of Texas, she was offered the job of choreographer for the Rangerettes, then under the direction of Deena Bolton. She choreographed for 6 ½ years while obtaining her master’s degree.
During the summer months, Dana traveled to Germany, Ireland and Hawaii, as well as throughout the continental U.S., to teach drill team camps. Dana took over directorship of the Rangerettes in January.
Dana is engaged to Chris Blair. Congratulations to Dana and Chris.
Congratulations
Congratulations also are in order for Sallie Bell Loop of Lake Highlands High School for being selected by the RISD’s Recognizing Innovations for Student Education (RISE) Foundation as one of the eight winners of its 1993 Teacher Award Program.
The Foundation honors RISD teachers for innovation and excellence in the classroom. Loop is a computer science teacher who has 11 years in education in the RISD.
The Friendly Skies
The next time you fly American Airlines, don’t be surprised if you recognize the voice coming over the P.A. It just might be Capt. Jeff Jones ’73.
Jeff has been at the controls for more than eight years. He and his wife, Cara, are building a house in Lake Highlands. They have been married nine years and have a two-year-old daughter, Hannah.
Baby Boom
Lisa Chase Alexander ’83 and husband Paul ’83 have settled in Lake Highlands to raise their family. They have a one-year-old daughter, Lauren.
Kendra Kendall McMurray ’83 and Johnny ’82, meanwhile, have twin one-year-old boys.
If any of these kids have pets, they will need to know that veterinarian Dr. Robert Hawthorne ’73 specializes in small animals and “pocket pets.”
His office is just a tail-wag away on Northwest Highway at Jupiter. Stop in and bark awhile.
