The rightful owner has not been found

Her class ring had been lost for about 18 years. Cindy Woodworth figured it slipped from her finger while shopping one day and was gone forever.

Then she received a phone call from the Sun Journal telling her her emerald ring from Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School had turned up. The finder, Bonnie Chabot of Auburn, had placed a notice describing the ring in the newspaper’s Sun Spots column. A little bit of sleuthing by the Sun Spots editor led to Woodworth.

The West Paris resident confirmed the status of her missing jewelry, which had vanished before she even got the chance to graduate with it on her hand.

“I never did tell my mom. I begged and pleaded to get that ring, and promised to take care of it,” Woodworth said.

But in the end, the ring did not come full circle, and its final destiny is as yet unknown.

When Woodworth picked up the ring from Chabot’s home Tuesday morning and was driving back, her aunt, who had accompanied her, suddenly said, “Stop the car!”

She had noticed that etched inside the band was the name Cindy M. Billings.

Woodworth’s maiden name is Labozzo.

Both Cindys from the class of 1990 had lost their class rings. But, as this story was written, the found ring’s owner had not been tracked down.

Cory Dabrowski Lapham, the high school’s reunion coordinator, said Cindy Billings has not kept in touch with the school.

Chabot said she frequently finds antique and modern knick-knacks, including countless marbles, in the homes and businesses that she and her partner pull down in the demolition business they own. She keeps a box filled with the rings, earrings, and other pieces of jewelry salvaged from underneath floorboards, behind radiators, and at the back of closets.

Chabot said every once in a while, she pulls out the jewelry to clean it. Recently, after handling the 1990 class ring, she decided to try to find the owner. She guessed she had stored the ring for about 10 years.

After realizing the truth about the ring, Woodworth said she was not so much disappointed as amused by the ring and its mixed-up fate. But she regretted not being able to pass it on to her daughter.

“It’s something nice to give your kids,” she said. “[My husband] has his, and he will give it to his son.”

“My ring is probably buried somewhere as far as I know,” she said.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.