CLASS OF 1977 | 2016 | ISSUE 1
It appears that each New Year seems to be moving at a faster pace than the previous one. For 2016, it may have to do with this being an election year, complete with the bombardment of debates, ads, and unrelenting commentary (mostly negative) on everything. I am writing to you all from the chilly Northeast (minus-5 degrees this morning) by a nice fire with these updates:
Cindee Howard writes about her big year of anniversaries and changes: turning 60, celebrating 15 years with her partner, Jon, moving her 99-year-old father into assisted living, consolidating real estate.
Dave Levit writes about being a father of two Wesleyan grads. Dave and wife Ruth are enjoying life in Amherst Mass.; he writes about cutting back work to “full-time” (seriously?) in private practice of psychologist/psychoanalyst and teaching.
John Fink wrote in about connecting with Scott Director and his wife in Oregon while John was visiting his kids and grandson. John will be in NYC later this year and plans to visit with Peter Guenther and Rick Dennett. I appreciate John’s observation that with technology, a whole generation will never own a landline telephone nor subscribe to a newspaper. People’s continued interest in various screens makes it appear that his work in the television industry is safe for some time to come.
I received Janet Malkemes annual personal update of the comings and goings in her world. At her Community College of Charlotte she has been involved with the realization of a new building on campus. Janet has been enjoying some significant travel and meeting up with friends and family, both at home and away.
Jason Baron recently returned from Cambodia working with children in a remote village in Kampot Province. Jason created a nonprofit organization in his mother’s name with goal of building the first freestanding library at a high school there. After spending the better part of 35 years as a lawyer focused on preserving White House e-mail, this project has been life-changing. See thechellyfoundation.org for more information. Jason would love to hear from classmates, starting with his old gang at Foss Hill 5; reach him at jrbaron3@gmail.com.
Jim Melloan’s Radio Free Brooklyn (Internet station), which he began last year, made the UK Daily Telegraph’s list of best Internet radio stations. Jim has a weekly show Tuesday evenings. He also does some performing as a singer/songwriter in NYC.
Jody Friedman has moved, after 21 years, from Sylva, N.C., east one hour, to Asheville. Jody teaches adults with developmental differences at Asheville Buncombe Community College and is an urban-style homesteader growing edible and medicinal perennials, foraging, duck-keeping, water saving, etc. on the weekends. Her son and daughter live nearby and are doing well.
Joe Mabel sent an intriguing note that he is doing fine in Seattle, and that any other comments would have to wait until things settle out.
Lisa Nelkin has retired to a log cabin, along with a “completely spoiled rotten dog,” in the Colorado Rockies after living on her sailboat for four years: sailing from Baltimore to New Zealand with husband Bret. Lisa’s daughter and son-in-law live in Tampa.
Vanessa Burgess consoled me after the Patriots lost to Denver in the football playoffs. She joined Dave Thomas, Don Lowery, and Don Citak for dinner in New York (PJ Clarke’s). Vanessa mentioned that there will be a Wesleyan Women’s event in NYC in April. Stay tuned!
Will Altman wrote from Brazil that he has a new book expecting to be published this February: The Guardians in Action: Plato the Teacher and the Post-Republic Dialogues from Timaeus to Theaetetus (Lanham, Md.: Lexington Books, 2016). Will has two grandchildren, Eliza and James.
A few mentions were made that folks are looking forward to our next Reunion, only a year away in 2017. It is never too early to plan!!
Gerry Frank | Gfrank@bfearc.com