CLASS OF 1977 | 2024 | SUMMER ISSUE
Lots of comments this round of notes from folks thinking about our fast-approaching 70th-birthday year, most of us in 2025. Yikes! People took to heart my comment in Lyris underscoring the need to stay connected for which I am a direct beneficiary. Sharing these notes:
Andy Darpino (aka “Darp”) writes about the joys in his next chapter after retirement. This includes independent consulting with the aptly named “Darp Business Consulting,” which he describes keeps him “afloat in ample supply of bourbon and cigars” as well as occupies his time enough to keep his marriage strong. I was especially touched by the joy that the extra time affords Andy to watch his two granddaughters grow and develop.
Sue Guiney and husband, Don, have been meeting up with Mary Jo Wade and Jack Gray in San Francisco for proper catch-ups, while enjoying their grandparenting duties. Small world—a considerable number of my family are now claiming the Bay Area as home. I had a visit in late February and got to hike through Marin as well as enjoy San Francisco proper, enjoying surprisingly sunny weather.
Felice Burstein reminded me that I am due for a visit north to visit with John Roxby and her.
Mark Ellison wrote in having enjoyed his 50th high school reunion and stated that he looks forward to our college 50th in just a few years. Consider this a shameless plug for our 2027 gathering at Wes.
Susanna Peyton is busy training new-parent instructors at Yale School of Nursing with her Operation House Call course. On the home front, aging pets and parents along with “bouncy grandkids” are keeping her busy. Susanna met up with friend Sara Pasti ’75 in Maine recently.
I never knew that Jerry Caplin breeds and keeps pet finches. Apparently while his kids are grown and spread around the country, his nest is newly replenished. Jerry’s company, Silk Purse, celebrated its 30th year offering affordable old-house rentals in Charlottesville. Congrats and well done!
Mim Wolf has “unretired” herself and “shifting her focus from being an intuitive natural health-care consultant to being an intuitive transformational coach: moving client’s past limitations of body, mind, ego, spirit, and soul.” Mim’s daughter is expecting her first child this spring in Denver. Her son is close by in Vermont, doing well. Mim and her partner of 25 years have rediscovered traveling post COVID.
Joan Martin is working to verify that the Clean Slate Law passed in 2021, enacted to effectively erase misdemeanors records and low-level felony records after seven years, is happening.
William Altman’s latest book, Plotinus the Master and the Apotheosis of Imperial Platonism, has been published by Lexington Books.
Taur Orange had a chance to connect with Jane Eisner at a Wesleyan event at VSA’s Theater on 23rd Street; the reunion was 45 years in the making.
Don Ryan got together with Cal Dysinger, George Capone, and Elliot Epner ’76 at Django Fest in Baltimore recently. Unbeknownst to me, George is a Django Reinhardt afficionado.
Catherine Compton Swanson is planning a river cruise trip through the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland this November. Any folks who have done a similar trip and have advice should reach out to Catherine at cathyswanson13@gmail.com.
Joan Goldfeder has been satisfying her traveling bug by hiking in the Lake District of Chile and, more recently, going on a hiking/bike trip in Morocco.
My travels have taken me, in addition to Northern California, to Chicago where I met up with Iddy Olson for a weekend of fine dining, music, and art. We had an amazing dinner with Iddy’s stepmother, over 90 years young, whom I get along with famously. Midst all the stories of her stepmom’s celebrity friends, was a weekend full of laughter. Unfortunately, weeks later, Iddy’s dear 95-year-old mom departed from this world escorted by family, friends, caregivers, song, and prayer. With all of life’s ups and downs, it is great seeing how our friendship has evolved and deepened these many years. I feel fortunate to experience this with Iddy and I will add to many of you whom I have had the pleasure to get to know better after leaving Middletown. After all, it is the people in your life that make all the difference.