John and Molly Chalmers ’62 met and fell in love during their senior year at Pine Crest School.
They were boarding students, as Molly was originally from Bucyrus, Ohio, and John from Houston, Texas. Having double dated with other friends as juniors in the Upper School, they officially became a couple during their senior year. John and Molly were married for almost 58 years before Molly passed away in 2021.
John and Molly Chalmers ’62 with daughter Robin
Sharing a fond memory from the early days of their relationship, John said, “I was allowed to have a car during my senior year, and it was a standard stick shift. I struggled with it a bit, and wound up stripping the clutch trying to shift into second gear. Somehow, Molly helped me get the transmission out of the car and to a repair shop!”
The high school sweethearts attended Purdue University together, “coincidentally but fortuitously,” said John. The couple married the summer after their freshman year in Bucyrus, Ohio.
After completing his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, the couple settled in Findlay, Ohio where John took a job with Cooper Tire and Rubber Company.
“After I started working at Cooper, Molly was a stay-at-home mom until both of our children, Robin and Joseph, started going to school,” John said. “Molly then took a position at a local jewelry store as an engraver and performed repairs. She was very artistic—she did beautiful sketches and paintings in her spare time. I encouraged her to do more of that, but she only dabbled periodically. She worked for the jewelry store for 25 years until I retired.”
Molly (Michaels) Chalmers' senior headshot in 1962
The couple enjoyed numerous travels, visiting the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica, and South Africa, to name just a few of their favorite destinations. When they weren’t traveling, the couple enjoyed tandem bicycling.
“Our son actually got us started in biking,” said John. “He worked during the summer and saved enough money to buy a good bike. After Joe got his bike, Molly bought one and started riding, and then she bought a bike for me as a gift. Molly and I tried riding together but our paces were too different, so we wound up getting a tandem bike. We did an awful lot of tandem riding!”
“In Ohio, we rode with two other couples all the time,” John recalled. “One of those couples did a self-supported ride across the country. I was interested in doing that, but not as bare-bones as they had done. I was getting ready to retire, and they suggested I look at various opportunities for riding. We found a club doing a camping ride where they transport all your gear from one state park to the next. I gave them a call and got signed up.”
While Molly had no intention of joining the long-distance rides, she took on an unexpected role during the trip. “Molly ended up being part of the service crew,” said John. “She would be at various points on the route to give water and Gatorade to the riders. After the first week, I only knew a handful of folks because I had ridden with them, and we had a similar pace. But everybody knew Molly because she was in service along the way. There were several people who called me ‘Mr. Molly’ because that was the only way they knew me.”
John Chalmers' senior headshot in 1962
That first trip from Anacortes, Washington, to Norfolk, Virginia, became one of many long-distance trips for the couple. “We did a biking tour of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark with more than 40 folks from the U.S.,” John said. “A lot of spouses came along and toured in a van along with the bike riders, but Molly again chose to be part of the service crew—which she loved. She had a great time with that. She was outgoing and loved to be with people,” John remembered fondly.
“We did numerous rides that I call ‘epic rides,’ but that one was a highlight of all times,” said John. “What I hadn’t counted on was my riding crew becoming an extended family. We still get together annually for short rides since we are too old to do the things we did back then! Without Molly’s support and encouragement, I wouldn’t have done any of these things.”
After retiring, John and Molly moved to Buchanan Dam, Texas. “When we got here, Molly got involved in a number of activities,” said John. “We both worked at the local animal shelter from 1999 until she passed. She also volunteered with the American Cancer Society; she would transport patients from their homes to the treatment center and back. She also delivered for Meals on Wheels. Molly enjoyed recreational activities, two of which took up a significant share of her time. She joined a golf league, though she was never a great golfer, but she considered it a successful round if she found as many balls as she lost! She also joined a knitting group in a town nearby and was regarded as a master knitter. She taught many of the folks things she knew.”
In honor of a life well lived, John established the Molly Michael Chalmers ’62 Financial Assistance Award, which supports financial assistance for Pine Crest families.
“I think both of us felt the same gratitude for the education and opportunities we received because of going to Pine Crest,” said John.
“What I hope will happen is that the students who come from families that aren’t capable of paying full tuition will be supported by the Award. There will always be students who can use some assistance in each class. And they are excellent students who should be afforded the same opportunities. I think that is the sort of thing that should continue for as long as possible!”
“I think most alumni have the same awareness of Pine Crest that we did. If anyone wants to do something in Molly’s memory, this is what I would choose for them.”
The Molly Michael Chalmers ’62 Financial Assistance Award ensures a lasting impact on Pine Crest families for generations to come. If you would like to support financial assistance, click here to make a gift today.
If you would like to learn more about the impact of financial assistance or other opportunities to support Pine Crest School, contact Brandy Miller, Director of Annual Giving, at 561-852-2814 or brandy.miller@pinecrest.edu.
