CLASS OF 1989 | 2018 | ISSUE 3
Michele and I are thrilled to kick off this edition of class notes with a first-time submission from Marjorie Levine-Clark. She and Michael Levine-Clark ’92 dropped off their new frosh daughter, Isabel ’22, at Wes. They are so excited to be back at Wesleyan, living vicariously, and report that Foss 3 looks the same as it did 30 years ago and still has no air conditioning. Marjorie is a history professor and associate dean for diversity, outreach, and initiatives at the University of Colorado-Denver, and Michael is dean of libraries at the University of Denver. They’ve been out west for almost 20 years and love living in Denver. She plans to come to Reunion!
Keeping with the alumni legacy theme, Christopher Roberts writes that he is “pleased (and perhaps more than a little terrified) to report that my daughter, Beatrix ’22, is starting Wesleyan this fall. As a double-legacy (her mother is Alexis Neaman Roberts ’90), Beatrix assured us several times that she was not interested in going to Wesleyan. I guess she changed her mind . . . But now her two younger sisters are really, really sure that they don’t want to go to Wesleyan . . .” Christopher is living in Austin, Texas, where he works at The University of Texas alongside Ward Farnsworth. They had a visit from Stephanie Dolgoff a few months ago. Jeremy Dobrish ’90 and his family spent a week with them last year. He is hoping for more Wesleyan visits this year, though probably not during summer when it’s—almost literally—110 degrees in the shade.
Staying in the Lone Star State, Kelem Butts brings news from Dallas. “My girlfriend of 23 years, Lori Feathers, just pulled off a very Wes-like coup. She retired from practicing law and opened an independent bookstore here in Dallas, Interabang Books. It just earned kudos from D Magazine as the best independent book store in Dallas. I also just had lunch with Caroline Bhupathi ’20 who is working for Girls Who Code here at AT&T (side note, AT&T provides funding to this awesome organization). It’s so encouraging to talk to young Wes students who are totally awesome. Oh, and I am still doing corporate philanthropy at AT&T and I love it.”
Dave Keller just signed a record deal with Catfood Records of El Paso, Texas, and will be going into the studio at the end of June to record a batch of new original soul songs. Jim Gaines, who produced Santana’s mega-hit, “Smooth,” will be producing his record. He’s very excited! He’s living in Montpelier, Vt., and touring as much as possible, while raising two teenaged daughters.
Michelle Gonzalez added a second master’s degree in 2017, this time in clinical social work. She is working with those living with HIV/AIDS, taking care of (or trying to be cool for) her 16-year-old son and living in Providence. She published a paper about “non-offending mothers in child sexual abuse cases” and is teaching online at New England Institute of Technology on health care management and social marketing for MPH students. If you aspire to visit Providence, look her up!
Your erstwhile class secretary, David Milch, joined Baruch College as director of the master of arts in arts administration program and a distinguished lecturer. He also reports that he spent a wonderful vacation in June with Glarb (low-rise) housemate, Libby Neuman Bunn ’90. “Libby and I met up with Alex “Indy” Neidell and had an amazing time drinking and reminiscing our way across Berlin. I returned from that trip to journey to D.C. for the Pride March, where my daughter and I stayed with other Glarb housemate, John Hlinko, and dined with yet another Glarbster, Topher Sebest. Nothing like putting 10 sophomores in the smallest bedrooms ever to create life-long friendships! We are also happy to announce that Adina Hoffman’s new book, Ben Hecht: Fighting Words, Moving Pictures, is forthcoming in February from Yale University Press’s Jewish Lives series.”
S. Topiary Landberg just started a very exciting two-year Mellon Curatorial Fellowship at the Oakland Museum of California and is finishing up a PhD in film and digital media at the University of California, Santa Cruz—expecting to defend by June.
Abby Smuckler is planning to come to Reunion (yay!). We’re sure many more of you are too; and we can’t wait to see you! As we continue to gear up for our 30th Reunion (May 23-26, 2019), we are still in need of volunteers to get involved with planning. (Thanks to those of you who are already on the committee!) If you are interested, please contact: Megan Lenzzo, assistant director of annual giving at mlenzzo@wesleyan.edu. Go Wes Class of ’89!
Jonathan Fried | jonathan.l.fried@gmail.com
Michele Barnwell | fishtank_michele@yahoo.com