The Smiths Go to Maryland!

Mary Jane and Michael Smith, our beloved retired theater faculty team for 30+ years at Hamden Hall, are on a mission. And they mean a mission—as in one for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The couple is spending a year in Annapolis, Md. There they are preserving and digitizing records at the Maryland Hall of Records for Family Search, a genealogy arm of the church. “It is very interesting work,” reports Mary Jane, who adds that she and Michael are also enjoying the exploration of surrounding areas such as Annapolis and Washington, D.C. On Memorial Day weekend, they headed to Philadelphia. There, on a tip from their Hamden Hall alumna daughter Heidi, Class of 2008, they looked up her 2008 classmate Jonathan “Jon” Stone. Jon lives in the City of Brotherly Love, and when he’s not working as a master carpenter at the Rutgers/Camden theatre department, he’s giving guided tours of Philadelphia’s colonial Jewish community. The tour company is called Philly Maven Jewish History. Jon, a graduate of Beloit College where he majored in studio art, is also a freelance carpenter and builds furniture from recycled hardwood. He's also a member of IATSE Local 8, the Philadelphia stagehands union. The Smiths met Jon for lunch the Famous 4th Street Delicatessen, followed by an education expedition led by Jon. “It was a wonderful tour of the oldest synagogues in the neighborhood as well as general history of religion in the city,” Mary Jane said. “It was so great to see Jon and hear about his interesting and full life.” As for Hamden Hall, it was great to hear from Mary Jane and Michael. We hope you keep you posted on your exciting and meaningful mission, and we always enjoy hearing about your three alumni children!