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If you haven’t done the math, Topher Bellavia, Sam Effron, and Koyalee Chanda are reminding you that it’s been almost 30 years since we graduated: “Huge hello to all ’96ers from your Reunion chairs! This is your reminder to save the date for our 30th Reunion in Middletown, Connecticut, May 22–25, 2026. If you were at our 20th, you know it was a total blast because of the massive turnout we had (in fact, it was to date the biggest turnout for a 20th reunion ever—record-breaking!). We cannot state it any plainer: The more folks come, the better it will be. Talk to your friends now. Make your plans. Cannot wait to see all of you!”
Now that you’ve got that on your calendar, let’s turn to what our classmates are doing. Jesse Wegman writes: “I’m living with my wife, Kyra, and two girls in northern Vermont, on the shores of Lake Champlain, a COVID relocation from Brooklyn that happened before we knew it. This whole region feels like a Wesleyan settlement, which is comforting. I still write for The New York Times, editorials signed and unsigned, and am about to publish my second book, The Lost Founder,a biography of James Wilson, the most democratic, prescient, and unjustly ignored of the American founders. It is coming out in the spring to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.”
Cayetana Navarro has finally concluded a 30-plus-year love affair with New York City by putting a ring on it. She moved to central Harlem in July. She’s still working for Yale School of Medicine as a program manager in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ironically, having lived in Connecticut for the past 18 years just half an hour from Wes, she hopes she’ll finally start “bumping into” some ’96ers now!
Rallie Snowden was thrilled that she and her kids got to spend spring break exploring two D.C. museums with Anne Brockelman, her husband, and their kids. “We played soccer, ate yummy food, and caught up. It was great to be together.”
Dacque Tirado writes that he is enjoying the summer months by participating in a wonderful week of service with Habitat for Humanity on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and then taking in the summer vibes in the cutest little beach town on the Atlantic—Oak Island, North Carolina. He looks forward to seeing some Wes folk in D.C. in late August.
As for me (Dara Federman), I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to attend Reunion this spring. My older daughter is graduating from (a different) college that same weekend. I had been looking forward to it, especially since the last in-person reunion was in 2016. Alas—can’t wait to hear all your stories about it, and I’ll see you at the 35th!
DARA FEDERMAN | darasf@yahoo.com
DACQUE TIRADO | dacquetirado@yahoo.com