CLASS OF 1994 | 2024 | SUMMER ISSUE
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Caissa writes for this issue.
Hello, all! I hope that this message finds you well. I pray that everyone is having a great year and enjoying the shift into spring. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone that is in a season of healing and recovery.
I know that many are still marveling at the opportunity to view the recent solar eclipse. However, I am still surprised to learn that the Northeast actually has “real” earthquakes. I was working from home last week when I heard an odd rumbling. I initially wondered what could be barreling down the street before realizing that the floor was also shaking. I have added appreciation, and concern, for our West Coast–loving alums who experience this regularly.
I’m happy to report that I just closed on a new house and am in the middle of moving. I’m becoming a regular at Home Depot and Lowe’s as I ponder design ideas and consider my options for the beautiful space. It’s a bittersweet mix of joy and stress. I look forward to having more space to paint, create culinary masterpieces, and invite friends and family over.
I am extremely grateful and thankful to share that my family is doing well. Work is busy, but exciting and I am happily thriving.
In other news. . .
Charlotte Castillo writes that she is “leading Poderistas, a nonprofit for Latinas focused on power building and driving civic engagement amongst Latinas.” You can learn more about “Latinas who elevate, amplify, and build power through their own actions and by harnessing the power of the collective,” by visiting https://poderistas.com/. Charlotte also shared that “I live in Riverdale with my 14-year-old son and am adjusting to life as a widow. I am also keeping busy serving as co-chair of WesLAN, Wesleyan’s Latinx Alum Network, and as the reunion ambassador for our class.” Charlotte is “hoping to see everyone on campus for our Reunion in May and for Homecoming weekend’s Latino Alumni celebration in November.” She adds that “I live close by and spends lots of time with Cynthia Centeno ’93 and Lisette Nieves ’92, and recently had catch-ups with Tanya Schneider Robinson and Wendy Nivar.”
Kate Foster provided an update that she is “still in Baltimore.” She writes that “both my daughters are in college—one at UNC–Chapel Hill, studying photojournalism at the Hussman School of Journalism; and the other is studying philosophy and dance at Tufts, while also serving on the mock trial team.” Kate continues to serve as the Mid-Atlantic director of Trail Development with Rails to Trails Conservancy, which “allows me to work out of Baltimore and also takes me to D.C., Philadelphia, and Camden, New Jersey, on a regular basis.” She adds that she “saw Sondra Youdelman while in NYC last summer and has also been able to see Tyrone Williams when in Medford visiting her daughter at Tufts.” In closing she said, “Life is good!”
Matthew J. Fraser writes that he “enjoyed three semesters at Wes and grew very fond of my classmates but did not feel right not playing football in 1991.” Upon further inquiry, I also learned that Matthew later enjoyed kickboxing and grappling as an adult. He also shared that “in 1993 I was hired to be a full-time page for the Massachusetts State Senate, where I learned a great deal, while getting to know disabled champion Fred Berry (D-Peabody).” He “got an interview thanks to a man that was very active in the city at the time—my father. One perk of the job: I was allowed to use the Senate Reading Room, and I read there every day. Strange as it sounds, in a whole year, I think I saw someone else in there reading once. Seriously, once.” Now, in 2024, he is happy to announce that “the second edition of my book, Critical Infrastructure for Children: the Astonishing Potential of New England Schools, came out, with a strong four-page section on how supporting the disabled is synonymous with supporting the Massachusetts economy.” He adds fondly, “I will always call Boston home.”
Zanne Gerrard shared that “I am directing an outdoor production of Henry VI: Parts 2 and 3 for GreenStage to be performed in parks around the Seattle area this summer.” It will run from July 12 through August 17. She added that she has “recruited Ian Gerrard ’91 to join the show as a props designer to help with the manufacture of several severed heads.” Zanne invites anyone that will be in the Seattle area, to “come see this tale of the War of the Roses and the becoming of Richard III. You can also check out last summer’s production of Henry VI: Part 1 on YouTube at https://youtu.be/4IZ45kO48fs?si=ADlxHHp1Jg_qE6_k.” Zanne hopes to see everyone at this year’s class reunion.
Joseph Mahoney and Deborah Levin Mahoney ’96 have a son, Noah Mahoney, who continues the family legacy as a member of the Wesleyan Class of 2027. Joseph notes that Noah “is a freshman there. They apparently don’t say ‘frosh’ anymore. While the campus seems less radical than when we were there, he is taking a course on zombies.” I later learned that the zombies course is a religion class with a connection to Haiti. I await an update from Joseph to hear what Noah has to say about the class.
Michelle Montalbano MD writes that she is “an allergy/immunology specialist in Tulsa, Oklahoma.” She added that she and her “adventurous teenagers tent camped on a journey to New Mexico in 2023. Our excursions included stops in Taos, Chimayo, and Sante Fe, New Mexico, as well as Black Mesa State Park in Oklahoma.” I later learned that Michelle and I were both members of Ebony Singers while at Wesleyan and really enjoyed the experience.
Aram Sinnreich writes that he “and Jesse Gilbert have published a book entitled The Secret Life of Data: Navigating Hype and Uncertainty in the Age of Algorithmic Surveillance that was released by MIT Press in April 2024 and distributed by Penguin Random House. The book launch event was at the Microsoft New England Research & Development (NERD) Center, in collaboration with ACLU of Massachusetts. More information about the book is available at https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262048811/the-secret-life-of-data/.”
Deborah Sorin writes that she has “been emailing and talking to classmates about the reunion and giving to Wesleyan.” She was happy to share what she had heard and added that “as a former secretary, I know how hard this job is.” Deborah went on to share that Aaron Pyles is “living in St. Paul, Minnesota, and working for a supply-chain software company called ‘Manhattan.’ Aaron added that he and his wife, Carri, “just moved into a new house and have been busy sanding floors and that sort of thing.” Deborah also connected with Aundrea Almond who writes that she “is in Wilmington, Delaware, where I work in county government.” She is currently chief of staff for the county commissioner. Lin (Zhong) ter Horst also connected with Deborah and shared that she “lives on Maui, where she has a small agro-processing company that makes purees and candy from Hawaiian produce.” Deborah had the opportunity to visit with Lin while on vacation a few years ago. She says, “Lin’s products are ‘Soooo good!’ You can try them for yourself by visiting https://www.mauifruitjewels.com/.” Lin added that “we have been doing as well as anyone could have after the August wildfires. The island economy has taken a big hit and there is no sign of improvement any time soon. We are starting to focus on e-commerce, which we have not had the time to leverage until now. We are also hoping to lease some farmland in the future to cultivate passion fruits.” Deborah also heard from Rula Geha, who writes that she “lives in San Diego with her 11-year-old daughter.” Rula adds that she was “formerly in general surgery and have moved into health-care consulting. Look me up if you’re in the area.” Rod Wallace also connected with Deborah, and shared that he is “in Wilmington, Delaware, working as part of a coalition to prioritize the role of nutrition in public health. As the creator of the Foundation for Innovation in Healthy Food, me and my team are currently working to increase the amount of dietary fiber in wheat.”
Like many of our classmates, Deborah was looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion. Kudos, Deborah! I appreciate your assistance in garnering news and support for Wesleyan.
CAISSA POWELL | 4caislaw@gmail.com
SAMERA SYEDA LUDWIG | samera.ludwig@gmail.com