DHS Class Of 1981 Alumnae Tour Italy

Dorchester school ties never die.  Even on the other side of the Atlantic.

The Times has learned that eight graduates of Dorchester High School's Class of 1981 recently traveled to Italy for what may be considered the ultimate girl’s trip.  Participating in the adventure were classmates Holly Johnson Baber, Judy Kasl Bors, Rochelle Sehnert Carroll, Pam Bruha Fuller, Chris Pribyl Haake, Jeanne Slepicka Hoggins, Kathy Skalak Oelschlager, and Bonnie Stehlik Wagner.  

The group spent three days touring Rome, visiting the popular sites of the Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel, as well as the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain.  They also found some other interesting sites not quite as well known, including the Capuchian Crypt, which features artwork created by a monk using the bones of over 4000 skeletons.  They enjoyed walking miles of cobblestone streets and feasting in many wonderful Roman restaurants.

The group then enjoyed a fast train ride (traveling over 150 mph) to Padova in northern Italy.  They almost missed getting off the train to make their connecting train in time, due to some luggage issues, but their Italian host and ’81 classmate Neileen Filipi Nelson was at the station to meet them and blocked the train from leaving without her classmates getting off.  The group then enjoyed nine days as guests of Neileen and her husband, who is serving as a retired army officer at the army base in Vicenza, Italy.  

Neileen provided the group with a wide variety of tours and activities.  They attended an Italian cooking school (which brought back memories of 4-H meetings in the Legion Hall in Dorchester for many of the girls).  They made a trip to Venice and experienced a ride in a gondola along the “streets” or canals of the city and a presentation about Burano lace making at the local lace school.  

They also toured Verona, the city attributed to be the home of Romeo and Juliet, and visited Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy.  Here they dined along the beautiful lakeshore and took a cable car to the top of a mountain, giving them a great view of the Lake Garda Valley, along with the nearby Alps. They also toured several vineyards and tasted many local wines, along with another tour and tasting at an olive oil processor.  Other sites visited were castles and many beautiful churches.  The group also participated in a local 6K community walk through the city and hills of a nearby town.

The group described the trip as a success and “life changing experience” -- and is hoping to repeat similar trips in the future.  Although future destinations may not be quite so exotic, these Longhorns for life thoroughly enjoyed the time together and hope that in the future the group will be able to include more of their classmates.