Patricia McCormick Wainer, '66

Patricia McCormick Wainer, 1966 Graduate 

Passport, Hollins Abroad Paris, 1964

“HA’64’ers loved the Hofbräuhaus. Sadly, my passport was stolen from my required “soft-sided satchel.” Deggie assigned Nancy Gould (a.k.a. “Girl Wonder”) to stay behind with me for our replacement visit to the USA embassy…From that moment on, I was the subject of great interest (Suspect!) every time we crossed a border!” (McCormick Wainer)

The “nineteen” on this passport became Patricia McCormick Wainer’s ‘66 identifier after an interesting accident in Munich. During the 1964 Hollins summer tour, Wainer and many students spent hours at the Hofbräuhaus. While visiting the Bavarian beer hall, a passerby stole Wainer’s passport from her satchel. Fellow student Nancy Gould ‘64, also known as “Girl Wonder”, stayed behind with Wainer as the students retrieved a replacement from the United States embassy. Wainer became a subject of immense interest at border crossings following this event as the group continued to travel across Europe. While crossing the border, Wainer’s group number became “nineteen” as agents took special attention to her.   

—Alyssa Lawhorn ‘26

Patricia McCormick Wainer, 1966 Graduate

Crystal Glass, Hollins Summer Tour, 1964

“…We were traveling from Istanbul, through Romania, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Poland, USSR (Russia), and ending in Finland. I took it because I thought my mother would like it. I was in the car with three other Hollins women with "Mc" last names (McFall, McCauley, McCormick, McCosh). Someone realized when the tea tray was collected that a cup was missing and a Russian police officer came to the car and demanded to see in my bag. I had lost my passport earlier in the tour, so I was constantly being deemed suspicious at border crossings - but this time I really was guilty!” (McCormick Wainer)

This crystal glass is a piece from a tea set that train staff served to Patricia McCormick Wainer ‘66 while traveling from Istanbul to Finland during the 1964 Hollins summer tour. The glass features several human and animal figures in addition to natural motifs on the handle. While enjoying beverages on the train, Wainer decided that her mother would like the glass and tucked it away in her bag as a souvenir. When the train staff collected the tea tray and noticed the missing glass, a local police officer demanded to see Wainer’s bag. Using her quick wit, fellow Hollins alumna “Marcia McCauley” handed the officer her own bag as both women’s bags featured “Mc” monograms. Through this quick exchange, the group successfully concealed the location of the cup, and it returned to America with Wainer. 

—Alyssa Lawhorn ‘26