Class Notes | 1980s

Thanks again to all of the classmates who came to our Reunion earlier this year. It was great to see so many people having a good time—from meeting with old friends to learning about interesting ideas by Wes alumni they hadn’t met before. It’s 4.5 years to our next big Reunion, but all are welcome to come to campus next spring to participate in Reunion and Commencement Weekend. I think some of us even have a child graduating from Wes next spring.

From our classmates, here are some updates. Ayelet Waldman has a new book coming out: A Really Good Day: How a Microdose Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage and My Life. Elaine Taylor-Klaus and her co-author, Diane Dempster, also have a book coming out: Parenting ADHD Now! Easy Intervention Strategies to Empower Kids with ADHD. Elaine’s middle daughter is a frosh at Wes, as is the daughter of William Greene, who is still in San Francisco and CEO of Iconic Therapeutics. And there are probably some others in our class who are now ’86, P’20.

Liza Baron and her husband, Bart, were given their first foster baby in June. He’s a 9-month-old boy, and they are hoping to adopt him if none of his family members qualify to get him. They will know for sure early next year. “It is tiring to care for an infant again, but we are so enjoying it, and he has brought us a lot of love and joy.”

Debbie Roff is concluding a stint as the coordinator of community service for the Kinkaid School in Houston, where she directed a program in which 600 students complete more than 4,000 hours of service through 90-100 projects per year. They have done the usual building houses with Habitat for Humanity, tutoring underserved elementary school kids, playing cognitive games with residents at retirement centers, and feeding the hungry. Her students also initiated original projects including a music enrichment program for children living in a shelter, after-school field trips for inner-city children to tour Houston’s bayou and forested wetlands, and a bocce ball tournament for 150 Special Olympics athletes who will compete on 20 bocce courts constructed on the school’s football field.

Kathryn Lotspeich Villano is still super involved with Lotus House Shelter for Women and Children in Miami. She’s facilitating the addition of a free clinic for guests and uninsured neighbors and hopes to integrate functional medicine group visits for chronic disease management. Also, active in this sector is Marsha Cohen, who is executive director of the Homeless Advocacy Project in Philadelphia.

Lucy Malatesta is still involved with the homeless outreach organizations: Family Promise of Morris County and Bridges Outreach in Summit, N.J. This spring, Lucy and her son put together a wonderfully creative event. He’s on a robotics team, so they linked up with a friendly rival team, made 150 brown bag lunches, and convened for a competition. After feeding and hanging out with various homeless friends, they put on a little robotics demonstration. “It was a terrible, windy, freezing day, but our homeless friends stayed and watched as if they were these kids’ uncles, aunts, or grandparents, not wanting to disappoint these young people who had made an effort to connect with them. It was so sweet and lovely and important. People cannot move forward if they don’t believe in their own humanity.”

On our Reunion weekend, Emily Cowan heard that she had been hired by Between Us Associates, a group psychotherapy practice in Manchester, N.H. “I’m very happy there, after years of scraping by and fretting in a solo private practice. For fun I went rock-climbing and visited friends in Massachusetts and Connecticut.” She also noted that two good friends each lost their mothers. “I discovered that it’s a sacred time, when the everyday is sometimes indistinguishable from the profound.”

Ellen Santistevan says that she collaborated with a trans-massage therapist to create an ethics class for LMTs called The Trans Body On the Table. “There doesn’t seem to be any other class like it in the whole country, so we are pretty stoked about that. Who knows where it might lead? But it’s very important work nonetheless.” Ellen also went through the program from the Celebrant Institute and Foundation to become a life-cycle celebrant. This feels like important work to do as well, at a time when ritual and recognition of many important life passages go unremarked except for weddings and funerals and graduations!

Eric Howard | ehoward86@wesleyan.edu

Mary Beth writes for this issue. Vicente Caride joined Johnson & Johnson’s global strategic design office in New York City, where he is heading up digital design. Melissa Marks ’87 created an exciting site-specific art installation and exhibition in Vélez Blanco, Spain, this past August. Melissa’s Double Self Split was created as a spontaneous, three-week performance, with her painting covering 100 square meters of the courtyard of the Castillo de los Fajardo. The site-specific work is a reciprocal cultural gesture between Spain and New York, Melissa’s home, referencing the relocation of the original castle patio within The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Sixteen large composite drawings were concurrently exhibited inside the 16th century Iglesia del Convento de San Luis. Melissa was honored by locals with the nickname “La Brocha” (The Brush), and the events were covered by the national Spanish press. Melissa and Vicente’s son, Archie, is enjoying his sophomore year in high school, is on the student council and is co-founder of the hip-hop club.

There have been lots of changes for Terry McClenahan and his family: “We moved from Manhattan to Buffalo as of August. My wife, Kara Kelly, M.D., is the new chief of pediatrics at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. I’m leaving a fantastic job at FSI Architecture and many years of chief refereeing and head coaching in the West Side Soccer League. Our 13-year-old son, Rory, graduated from The School at Columbia University on a Monday and we moved out the next Sunday. Before the final move, we lived for the summer near Asbury Park in Ocean Grove, N.J. Last September our gutsy 16-year-old, Katie, left to attend Buffalo Seminary (non-religious girls’ school founded 1851). As a boarder she joined the sailing team and aced all her courses! My great son, Matt, now 26, is completing courses in structural timber framing at Sterling College in Vermont. And soon I’ll send photos of our new dog!”

Crystal Turner-Moffatt was married this September at a waterfront sunset ceremony in Peekskill, N.Y., to Jayson Moffatt of Stratford, Conn. Crystal and Jayson honeymooned in St. Thomas, where they also had a romantic beach ceremony. Crystal has been the owner of CDT EHS Consulting, LLC., a safety consulting firm, since 2007. Crystal also works for MP Engineers and serves as a safety consultant for the Office of General Services (OGS) for the State of New York. The couple will reside in Milford, Conn.

Wendy Buffett writes, “There’s something embarrassing about realizing that ’news’ right now constitutes being in the middle of a kitchen remodel! I had a wonderful time going back to Wesleyan in May to celebrate the retirement of Abraham Adzenyah MA ’79 and to dance again with Denise Paasche on campus. Joel Kreisberg ’82 and I have been married for the past eight years and are still sending teens out into the world. His oldest is working in Chicago and his youngest is at Oberlin. My daughter is at UCLA and we have a junior in high school who is just starting the process of finding his next gig. I’m practicing integrative primary care in Albany, Calif., and am quite grateful to have two black Labs to walk around the neighborhood.”

Amy Huber writes, “After 25 years living abroad, I have just completed my first year back in the USA. My third career has turned into my true vocation. I am employed as a high school math teacher in my local community of Rockport, Mass., teaching calculus, pre-calculus, and algebra. My oldest son is pursuing a career as a performance artist in London. My second son is in Japan to do a PhD at Kyoto University after graduating from Brown. My third son is a junior at UCSD studying global health and politics. My fourth son is a high school senior and in no hurry to leave home! I am looking forward to attending the Head of the Charles in October to see Marta Benson ’84 and Amy Baltzell ’87.”

Craig Pospisil: “As I write this, my daughter has just celebrated her second birthday. Elmo from Sesame Street played a big role, appearing on a balloon, every plate, napkin, cup, and the cake, too. In non-Elmo news: My play, Months on End, had a successful run in Hong Kong this past spring that was extended and taken to Foshan and Guangzhou, China. My one-act play, There’s No One Here, was published in Best American Short Plays 2014-2015. My short film, January, was accepted into the Adirondack Film Festival and the Nottingham International Film Festival, so it’s been a busy time!”

Nick Hill lives in Needham, Mass. with his wife, Audrey, and his son, Kevin, who graduated from Mass College of Liberal Arts with a degree in environmental science and semiotics. Nick has been working in the energy management field for 30 years, “and suddenly I’m in a sexy industry! Wow, I’m now in Cleantech!” For the past 14 years, he has consulted with businesses, universities, and municipalities to manage costs via energy efficiency, renewable energy projects, and energy procurement. Nick volunteers as a mentor with the Northeast Cleantech Open, an “accelerator [program] for early-stage clean technology startup companies” in New York and New England. This past summer he ran their program for startup teams. Nick is a board member of his local “green” committee alongside Jim Glickman ’84. Jim’s an attorney with the U.S. Department of Labor in Boston. I remembered him from my days in the Olin Reserve Room, checking out two-hour readings to beleaguered government and econ majors.

John Vigman writes, “Working most of the time out of Tokyo and Hong Kong, anyone out in Hong Kong out there? If so, lets grab a beer: john.vigman@gmail.com.”

Lisa Nevans Locke received a Montgomery College Outstanding Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarly or Professional Accomplishments. The award reflects her work over the past 12 years as an adjunct professor of English, and her more than 25 years in journalism. In his remarks, Dr. Sanjay Rai, senior vice president for academic affairs who presented the award, noted her many journalism awards (including an Arkansas Associated Press Managing Editors’ Award and a Society for Professional Journalists’ Dateline Award); previous work as a Congressional and White House correspondent; work for D.C.-area newspapers and magazines; and stories published in newspapers in places as far-flung as New York, Hawaii, and Hong Kong. Dr. Rai said, “This award recognizes your outstanding scholarly or professional accomplishment and sustained contributions to your department, your campus, the College, and the community.” He quoted a student who described her as “a teacher who speaks her mind to set an example to [students to] share their ideas with others.” Lisa has focused on teaching students from underrepresented communities and demographics who are frequently the first person or generation in their families to go to college.

CAROLINE WILKINS | cwilkins85@yahoo.com

MARY BETH KILKELLY | mbkeds@yahoo.com

Greetings, Fellow classmates. Michael Steven reporting this month. First up are my Gingerbread House alumni Peter Stine and Michael (“Misi”) Polgar. Peter, who chairs the department of physics and engineering at Bloomsburg University, reports the birth of his son, Milo, last April. Peter also referees roller derby. Misi lives with his family near Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and teaches sociology at Penn State; he’d like to hear from classmates on any topic, especially the Holocaust and human rights education.

Gail Farris joins the rest of us recent empty-nesters after dropping her son, Dean, off at Harvard. Her daughter, Kim ’14, is engaged and will marry her high-school sweetheart next June. Her other daughter, Jen ’16, just graduated from Wes this year.

Alison Picher is a registered reverend of psychic healing and reading, and officiated her first wedding this summer at (appropriately enough) the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. She is also a pet psychic, helping humans communicate with their pets. Her website is alisonstanton.co (that’s co, not com). Her husband, Chris Allan ’83, started a consulting business as a social change evangelist, doing international evaluations and trainings on climate change adaptation and development. He’s spent many months in countries near the Sahara Desert this year. His website is chrisallan.info.

Alison also tells a story of Lisa Rein and Bonnie Auslander searching for Bonnie’s cat in the Colorado mountains, and attending a Sting/Peter Gabriel concert in Seattle with Deborah Wang. Alison’s daughter, Nina, spent the year in Boston and ran into Andrea Roman in a coffee shop. Nina works at NIH in malaria research, and Alison’s son, Ben, has moved out and works at a health food store.

Steve Herzog only had time to write that his daughter is a senior at Kenyon.

Jonathan Sadowsky has a book coming out from Routledge Press, Electroconvulsive Therapy in America: The Anatomy of a Medical Controversy. He completed nine years as the chair of the history department at Case Western Reserve University and remains on the faculty.

Joseph Pieropan was named Prosecutor of the Year in recognition of his 29 years as an assistant district attorney in the Berkshire District Attorney’s office. He lives in Pittsfield, Mass., with his wife, Amy, seven dogs, and two cats.

Li Wen is a design principal at Gensler LA, directing a variety of projects. She lives the urban life in Central Hollywood, and is a board member of LA Contemporary Exhibits. She enjoys exploring the various natural and urban landscapes of LA and California.

Mitzi Fennel sent us a wonderful picture. She and her 77 Home Ave. classmates get together every couple of years, and this year she was in Cancun with David Booker, Lesley Berglund, Larry Hafetz, Kevin McGowan, and Jennifer Hutchinson McGowan ’85.

Finally, some very sad news. Our classmate, Nancy Myron Crown, passed away suddenly in June, leaving behind her children, Molly and Sam. Her sister Susan contacted us to make sure Nancy was remembered in this issue. Nancy went from Wesleyan to Northwestern University, and went on to develop affordable housing in cities around the country, eventually joining the Charlotte Housing Authority. Recently, her frustration with the divisive political climate in the country drove her to found (with her sisters) a grassroots effort to encourage civil political discourse called Bridge the Political Divide.

Buffy Martin Brouckman attended Nancy’s memorial service, along with Foss 9 freshman hallmates Ina Jacobs, Heidi Ravis, and Linda Clumeck. Buffy remembers walking the High Line in NYC with Nancy and a few other friends just last year. She hopes that her own daughters will form the sort of friendships she had with Nancy and their other freshman year friends.

A longer obituary can be found here. Nancy’s sister encourages us all to sign the petition at the website above; and in lieu of flowers, to make a donation to Loaves and Fishes.

Roger Pincus | rpincus84@wesleyan.edu

Michael Steven Schultz | mschultz84@wesleyan.edu

Here are a few updates from the Class of 1983:

Kirsten Wasson has been living in LA for three years, and works at a progressive high school as college counselor and internship coordinator. Her son, Noah, also moved to LA, and is acting and modeling. Kirsten is hiking, swimming, and writing. She traveled to Guatemala this fall.

Holly Gruskay writes, “I’ve been busy this summer juggling my kids’ sports activities as well as working to pay for it all. Son Seth Halpern finished out his high school swim teams with wonderful times, and just left us to study at RPI’s School of Science. Daughter Sofie Halpern is in recruiting mode for girls’ ice hockey…mostly to engineering schools, as well as NESCAC (yes, Wesleyan, you’re on the list!). We’ll be spending virtually every weekend this fall in Boston’s NEGHL league.”

Eve Silverman writes, “I know it’s been many years since I’ve submitted notes. I’ve been hit with a spell of nostalgia having just dropped off my firstborn at college. I’m approaching my 20th wedding anniversary and my 30th graduate school reunion, yikes. Old, yes, but happy living a split existence between southwest Connecticut and Mad River Valley, Vermont. Hope everyone is well!”

Cheri Weiss, former class secretary, supplies us with an update. She has been featured in the San Diego Union Tribune about her work as a cantor-in-training, bringing High Holy Days prayers and songs to shut-ins. Find a link to the article on the online class notes section at classnotes.blogs.wesleyan.edu.

Andrea Corney writes, “I finally have an update! Late bloomer that I am, on Aug. 20 I got married for the first time. My sweetheart is Chris Carneghi. His hair is so short because it all fell out during chemo. We were married at my parents’ retirement community in Saratoga, Calif. The great thing about getting married this late in life is that you can wear comfortable clothes and enjoy the day because you realize that as long as every guest feels welcomed and included, the day is perfect, even if none of the details are. We are savoring every day and hoping the chemo and radiation did the job.” For a photo of the wedding, see the online class notes.

Taya Glotzer attended a Wes reunion this summer in upstate New York at the Jankowski’s summer home. She was joined by Frank Moll ’84, Melanie Peters, Dottie Jankowski, Michael Sommer, Diana Moll, and Peter Jankowski.

Lastly, Sue Spaulding has photos from the Fort Bragg, Calif., Labor Day parade.

Laurie Hills | lauriec@rci.rutgers.edu

Class of 1983: The Stuff of Which Legends are Made.

No big, overarching themes, but a pupu platter of tasty tidbits from the Class of 1982 in these notes!

I’ll start with my buddy Roger Hale, with whom I had a delightful, daylong visit in mid-September, strolling the streets of D.C. and exploring the Phillips Collection, an emporium of Impressionist art. Never a dull time with Rog. I am happy to report that he and his family are living happily in San Jose, Calif.

Harold Bordwin writes that he and his wife, Julie Broude Bordwin, ran into Bob Russo at the Newport Folk Festival. “It was our sixth year at NFF, and (we) expect to keep the summer tradition going forward,” he said. “We’re just back from a 10-day family vacation to Croatia and Montenegro with our boys, Jesse ’10 and Simon (Bowdoin, 2013).”

Speaking of Bob Russo, he has sent us an update as well, sharing that his younger son just completed his freshman year at Oberlin College, “which feels to me like Wesleyan moved to Ohio,” he writes. “Once again this summer, a group of us (Mike Levine, Anthony Pahigian, Mike Greenstein ’83, Steve Davies ’83, and Joe Barrett) got together on Chappaquiddick Island at Joe’s cottage and had fun fishing, kayaking, bike riding, and catching up.”

Julie Kraushaar Zurcher writes that she “is thrilled to be returning to the Wesleyan campus on a regular basis again!” Her son, Bryce ’18, was accepted into the film studies program and is loving his time at Wesleyan, “both in and out of the classroom,” Julie writes. “His work with the film board and Cardinal Pictures has made him friends for life and enriched both his knowledge of and passion for film. So proud of the many great opportunities Wesleyan affords its students (and alumni!), and happier than ever to be a Cardinal. I was fortunate enough this August to attend our local Bay Area Summer Sendoff, where I met many amazing members of the Class of 2020 and their families. Also reconnected with my dear friend, Anne Anderson ’82, whose daughter, Brooke ’19, is at Wesleyan.”

Mark Leuchten’s update (his first since graduation!) reads thusly: “A career in landscape design, feng shui, fatherhood, and a complete old house renovation have given way to a return to oil painting,” he says. “My wife, Patty, runs her own business in Princeton, N.J., where she walks to work. We have lived in town for 25 years. I built an art studio in the backyard and will be spending more time there now that our youngest daughter, Jolene, will be leaving home to join her sister, Emma ’19, at Wesleyan. (Yes, both daughters at Wesleyan—we’re so proud!) But first she’s off to Myanmar for the first half of a gap year. Our son, Michael, is on the West Coast finishing a film major at UCSC.”

Kudos are in order for Sasha Alpert. We have just learned that she was a co-producer on a just-released film, They Call Us Monsters. A documentary about the juvenile justice system, the movie has been making the rounds, including at the 2016 LA Film Festival.

Patty Smith writes, “I am thrilled to announce that my debut novel, The Year of Needy Girls, is being published by Kaylie Jones Books, (Kaylie Jones ’81), an imprint of Akashic Books (Johnny Temple ’88). It will be out on Jan. 3. She adds: “Hope to see some of you at book events this spring and summer. Ginny Pye will be interviewing me at one event in Porter Square Books in May. Check my website: patricia-smith.com to see if I’ll be reading anywhere nearby—I’d love to see Wes friends!“

One other note: The years continue to slip by, dear friends, and our 35th Reunion is just around the corner! Can you believe it? A little reminder to mark your calendars now, if you have not already.

That also means, after five years in this gig, that my time as your class secretary is quickly drawing to a close. If you’re interested in taking up the mantle, Cynthia Rockwell (crockwell@wesleyan.edu) and the wonderful folks at the alumni office would be delighted to hear from you! Until then, keep those e-mails coming to me for a few months longer!

Stephanie Griffith | stephaniedgriffith@gmail.com

Joanne writes for this issue. Greetings from the heartland! Summer’s heat has dissipated, mercifully leaving behind cool air, clear skies and sun-dappled trees whose leaves are just barely brushed with a hint of the fall splendor to come. By the time you read this, however, winter will be settled upon us—perhaps under a blanket of snow, depending on your location.

As David Block wrote in the last set of notes, our 35th Reunion was not only a success but, quite simply, a blast! Reunion provided a wonderful opportunity to meet up with old friends, reconnect with acquaintances, and actually meet classmates that we hadn’t perhaps ever met! Hearing so many people’s stories just brings to mind what an astoundingly amazing and talented group our class is! Class of ’81 set the record for attendance with 94 attendees.

Committee Co-Chair Delcy Ziac Fox reported that 229 gifts raised $382,345 and she thanks everyone “for being so generous with your time, talent, and treasure.” On a more personal note, she shared three milestones in the Ziac-Fox family: “Our son graduated from Boston University; our daughter is beginning her college career at the University of Vermont; and my husband and I celebrated our silver wedding anniversary! For our triple celebration, the family traveled to the Big Island of Hawaii, partaking in the release of turtles into the wild, hiking in Volcanoes National Park, and bodysurfing at Green Sands Beach…both exhilarating and relaxing!”

Joan Boughton wrote to say that she enjoyed Reunion with her husband, Henry, and also commemorated the graduation of daughter Andie Kleeman ’16. “The whole family (including our newly-engaged older daughter, Natalie, her fiancé, and my wonderful mother-in-law) was able to attend the celebration. In addition, I caught up with Tonie Kline, my best friend from Wes who also had a daughter, Julia Clemens ’16, graduating. Wesleyan remains a big, lovely part of our lives!”

My freshman-year roommate, Martha Arntzen Bockian, fell ill at the last minute and could not make Reunion. She did write, however, to let me know that in addition to her ongoing work in clinical psychology, she started a school. “It’s a Jewish school using a democratic model, and to my knowledge, is the only democratic school that has gone religious. I also spent eight weeks in Israel over the summer attending a seminar on how to turn a nonprofit into a sustainable business.” The best part, however, was “getting to spend time with my daughter Chaya, who emigrated to Israel last year and is doing National Service.”

Steve Misarski, who has been pastor of the English Congregation of the Chinese Gospel Church of Massachusetts for four years, is also still active in the military (24-plus years) as a lieutenant colonel, serving as the wing chaplain of the Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Mass. In addition, he has been working on his doctorate (“I’m a late bloomer!” he quips) which he hopes to have finished by spring of 2017. “My wife, Jan, and I celebrated 33 years of marriage. Together, we conduct marriage conferences for military personnel and New England churches. We have sent our third child off to college this fall, and we have one left at home. God has been good to us!”

Sofia Marchant, an editor and content consultant, wrote in from San Francisco. “My daughter, Isabella Banks ’15, was awarded a Watson Fellowship to study restorative justice practices. This required a year abroad, and she visited 10 countries. What an amazing experience for her, even though we missed her.”

Keeping her company at home is son Ezra, an eighth grader, and her husband, Joseph Banks, who recently edited a documentary film called It Ain’t Pretty, which opened the San Francisco Documentary Film Festival.

Congratulations to Laurie Jacobs, who is “very excited” to be starting as chairman of medicine at Hackensack-Meridian Health and the new medical school at Seton Hall University in New Jersey.

Chris Graves, chairman of Oglivy Public Relations, added yet another accolade to his already impressive résumé: recipient of the Rockefeller Foundation’s prestigious Bellagio Residency. The residency on Italy’s Lake Como permitted Chris to continue his work to turn findings from cognitive neuroscience and behavioral economics into practical applications in the communications field. In addition, Chris worked collectively with other award-winners to explore how a better understanding of human behavior can enhance resilience-building efforts and create more inclusive economies that work for everyone, particularly the poor and vulnerable.

John Ravenal is now fully ensconced as director of deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in the Boston area. He was involved in an exciting curatorial project that “brings together the work of Jasper Johns and Edvard Munch.” The exhibit opened in Oslo in June, then traveled to Richmond, Va., in November. (The catalog is available from Yale University Press.)

Andra Rose, a climate activist, is deeply involved with a group called Mothers Out Front (not just for mothers). Although coming off a divorce after 29 years of marriage, Andra is very happy and excited about the successful culmination of a 22-year long challenging project: raising children! Daughter Ruth (known as “Fred”) just began her first year at the University of Chicago. Son Solomon Goldstein-Rose, who graduated from Brown University in May 2016, was elected State Representative from Andra’s home district in Amherst, Mass., where he intends to solve the climate crisis.

In conclusion, it is with great sadness that I announce the death of our classmate Paula Blank, a longtime professor of English at the College of William and Mary, who died unexpectedly at her home in Williamsburg, Va., this past August. Paula was a world-renowned scholar of Early Modern English, recipient of several highly selective fellowships, and also the recipient of her university’s Award for Faculty Excellence for her exemplary achievements in teaching, research and service. We extend our deepest sympathy to Paula’s family and friends.

David I. Block | david.I.block@gmail.com

Joanne Godin Audretsch | Berlinjo@aol.com

September ’16 responses:

Douglas Cuomo writes, “My family and I (wife, the author Sharon Guskin, two boys Ben and Eli) just returned from a three-week stay in Kathmandu, where Arjuna’s Dilemma, an opera I’d written, was produced and performed. The production by One World Theatre, was mounted by a tremendous cast of artists from eight countries, mostly from Nepal, and was extremely well-received, by both audiences and the press. It was the first time a Western opera has been publicly performed in Nepal, and the experience was beyond description. The difficulties of mounting such a complicated show in a country like Nepal were not inconsiderable, but so were the rewards. You can see pictures and read more at douglasjcuomo.com. We also saw many important historical Buddhist sites, which was extremely meaningful to us, since both Sharon and I are Buddhists, and many important figures in our lineage spent time in Nepal. We visited the Segyu monastery in Kathmandu numerous times, with all four of us teaching English to the young monks living and studying there. I have upcoming performances of new pieces this fall in the UK by the Orchestra of the Swan, and in Florida and D.C., by the chorus, Seraphic Fire.”

Wendy Buskop writes, “My daughter, Jacqueline ’19, is now a sophomore at Wes studying earth and environmental science. She wants an internship with a company that builds robots for marine use, like underwater automated vehicles or remotely operated vehicles. Does anyone know someone that can help her? Contact Jacqueline at jbuskop@wesleyan.edu.”

Tamar Bauer writes, “Kim—Intrigued by your son’s start-up. My daughter is graduating with a mechanical engineering degree this spring. She is also into food and farming, and looking for a way to combine all three. Can we connect them?” (We are in the process of connecting them.)

Melissa Stern writes, “After a three-month run at Redux Contemporary Art Center in Charleston, my exhibition, The Talking Cure, opened at the Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis, where it will reside for eight months. There is a wide variety of programming around the exhibition planned and I expect to travel to Minneapolis several times. In October my solo exhibition, Loose Lips, opened at the University of Alabama and I traveled there for the opening. Lastly, I will be teaching a one-week intensive class about storytelling, drawing, and collage at the famed Penland School of Art. In March, my solo show in New York City will open at Station Independent Gallery.”

May ’16 responses:

Ellen Catala writes, “Your e-mail about David Clair was so beautiful and so moving. I didn’t know David, but I am sure he was just as wonderful a person as you describe. My blessing, I will share on this Mother’s Day, was to spend the past 16 years caring for my mother as she lived with slowly advancing Parkinson’s. She died Apr. 5, and I miss her already, but at least I had the honor, privilege, and joy of taking care of her up to the very end. I found that in the last year, when it was becoming clear she would die from not being able to swallow very well, I started feeling towards her as you feel towards a precious infant. Her somewhat mild dementia allowed me to reach out in a different way than one might usually, and I kissed her often, stroked her hands and head, sung to her, and told her often how much I loved her. Were it not for her condition, I probably would never have expressed these feelings, and although I would have done anything to take away her illness, I still feel blessed by its unexpected consequence.

“Thank you for listening and for all the wonderful, loving work you do for our class. My most sincere sympathy to David’s friends and family. How tragic that he died so young, leaving behind a full life and many people who still needed him. By the way, Kim, you might recall that I shared a poem my son’s friend had written about the blood moon. Well, I am soon to become his foster mother. He was removed from his home a year ago and he is doing well—overcoming a sort of mutism that came on as his home life became traumatic. He continues to write beautifully and I am hopeful that he will benefit from his time with us, and vice versa. Happy Mother’s Day! God bless! Many thanks!”

Halsey Frank writes, “Scary how fast the time goes, even in the slow lane in Maine. We have been here almost 17 years. Our daughter, Laura, who was born in D.C., and was three when we moved, is now a freshman at Cornell after having taken a year off to see a bit of the world. Our son, Alex, who missed being a native-born Mainer by months, is a junior at Portland High and thinking about college himself. In addition to other sports, he plays a lot of soccer, which took us to Indianapolis with his travel team for the nationals last summer. My wife Eva’s latest get-rich-quick scheme is shopping bags with helpful logos such as “All mushrooms are edible, some only once.” I hope this one pays off.

“I am a prosecutor at the U.S. attorney’s office, have been somewhat active in local politics, write a column for The Forecaster weekly, and will once again this summer be trying to figure out how to race the Etchells sailboat I bought with friends (it’s got a lot of controls).”

Brian Hasbrouck writes, “I’m enjoying early retirement in Boston, sing in a couple of choruses, and have a variety of projects.”

John Snook writes, “I’m listed in the class of 1980, but I only attended Wesleyan formally from 1976–1977. I have been volunteering for 24 years at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. I would like to get in touch with some of my friends from the Class of 1980 including Jim Burnett, Bill Moss, Stuart Schonberger, Brook Morris, Addy Dix, and Thom Kleiner. My contact info: johnhsnook@gmail.com and 212/749-2707 or 212/666-3914.”

KIMBERLY OFRIA SELBY | kim_selby@yahoo.com

Tributes to David Clair, who passed away Feb. 19, 2016:

Mike Rosenblatt writes: “I did not know David Clair well at Wes but both he and his brother-in-law Jesse were classmates of mine in medical school. He was a great guy. Sorry to see he was taken from us at such a young age.”

Gary Gilyard writes: “I was shocked to hear about David. We were in all of the same pre-med classes. David was a huge Flyers fan and we would go at it over his Flyers and my Red Wings. Next week we head to Wesleyan for Shelby ’16’s graduation.

Amy Natterson Kroll writes: “What a lovely tribute to David Clair. I am in DC, married to the same guy for more than 30 years, practicing law at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. Children are grown. We speak with them both most days. Daughter is an emergency room nurse in New York, married to a great guy. Son is finishing his third year (junior to us) at University of Chicago. We are traveling a great deal now, because we can with the nest empty and we are starting to think about second (third?) acts. We saw Hamilton when Wesleyan held its fundraiser last October—amazing show and amazing Wesleyan evening. As co-class agent: Please remember how important Alumni Gifts are each year and give what you can!”

Alan Jacobs writes: “Beautifully written (about David)…And effective…Here’s my contribution to Class Notes: I’m packing my bags and heading to Wesleyan for Ron Jacobs ’16’s graduation, 36 years after we all wore the robes. Pretty amazing. Ron majored in American Studies and will return to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the music industry. His older brother, Gil, took a little longer to finish school and is graduating on the same day/time from Brandeis, so Sharona will attend that one. I asked Wes to push Commencement back a few hours so I could attend both but that didn’t go over too well. The nerve! Avia finished her first year at Mount Holyoke, playing soccer and double majoring in Fun and Local Excursions. Guy is a sophomore at Calabasas High, where he plays bass clarinet and is the league champ in the 800M. He has a small business as a dog walker but it’s not thriving because the dogs can’t keep pace. When did Class Notes become all about our kids? I’m working on a few interesting feature film projects, coming (one day) to a theater or iPad near you. Most satisfying is a new venture I’m helping Gil launch called Quiver.events, which provides complete listings of all live music in your area. The tag line is: “Follow the Music,” which pretty much sums up my life since Wes.

Ben Wolozin’s entry that missed the previous issue: “I haven’t written notes for ages, but this has been an eventful year, so I figure it’s worthwhile. Most important, I just became a grandfather. OMG!! Here is the backstory: For the past four years I have had the pleasure of having my older daughter, Becky (29), live five blocks from my work site in Boston. Nirvana! She got married to Lou Beckman on Martha’s Vineyard 1.5 years ago; a fantastic guy—with wonderful parents as well, so all is well on that end. Becky and I would have breakfast or lunch together, regularly—or she and Lou would come to our house in Newton and have dinner. Then she graduated from law school (JD and MS in International Education, Harvard—Lou was doing a psych residency at Beth Israel/Brigham Women’s) and they moved down to DC. Having them leave Boston was a loss. However, life goes on, and a new phase began because Becky gave birth to a darling little boy, Sammy, on Dec. 14. So cute!! Of course, now I pop down to DC whenever possible. Meanwhile, on the professional front, I started a biotech company, Aquinnah Pharmaceuticals Inc. (aquinnahpharma.com). The company focuses on drugging RNA binding proteins, and our first pipeline focuses on ALS. Soon we expect to have a second pipeline for Alzheimer’s disease. Starting a company has been exciting and challenging, but it opens up another major avenue in my life and gives a vision for new horizons. These are the major changes. Otherwise, it’s the usual—and enjoyable—aspects of being a 57-year-old Wesleyan graduate. I live with my lovely wife, Danielle Murstein, who is a psychiatrist, and we have been together for 31 years. Our other daughter, Jackie, is 25, lives in NYC, does arts, and just went on a ski trip with me and my cousins to Beaver Creek, Colo. Yay!! So much fun!! Actually—point of note—Jackie just saw the new musical Hamilton, and so we spent the first three days of the trip sharing her ear buds on every chair lift and listening to the incredible sound track of Hamilton, which was created by Lin-Manuel Miranda ’02. What a fabulous and brilliant musical—can’t wait to see it. Bravo Lin-Manuel!!! I am a professor in the Departments of Pharmacology and Neurology at Boston University School of Medicine. My research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases—Alzheimer’s, ALS and Parkinson’s. The work is going great. It’s so amazing what you can do in science these days—totally exciting. Hmm, what else? Age 57 going on 58. The down sides: grey hair, needing to eat less to maintain the fantasy of a youthful figure, the challenges of too many commitments, a house that was wrecked by snow dams last year and took one year of painful renovations, and the passing of my dog Anya, of 15.5 years, who was my faithful running partner and probably the only one who was always thrilled to see me come home. Boo hoo. But, the 50s have generally been good, so those things are real, but small potatoes in the bigger picture. We have lots of room in our house if anyone wants to drop by (Newton, Mass.)!!!

KIMBERLY OFRIA SELBY | kim_selby@yahoo.com

35 Years! I don’t feel much more than 35 years old!  It was great seeing so many of you.  Joanne Audretsch and I were honored to receive Wesleyan Service Awards for doing what we do.  “The West Wing” of Usdan Student Center was dedicated to (and by) Bradley Whitford (congrats!). And, we got to see what we all look like so many years later.

Oh, and next time we meet, in five years, we will be eligible to collect Social Security! 😉

Tonie Kline is “working in pediatric genetics in Baltimore and  my eldest just graduated from Wesleyan!  My older son is at NYU and youngest son is in high school looking at colleges.  Had a fun time at the reunion catching up with friends from freshman year (so really 39 years!).”

Cindy Dorsey came down with her three daughters from Concord, MA, where she works as a psychologist. They met up with her brother Alan (class of ’83). “So fun to show my girls around campus. They couldn’t believe we did back flips out the second floor windows of Butterfield C during the blizzard of ’78 freshman year!  Having the chance to see and give a quick hug to Matty King, Peter Smith, Nancy Parker, Mike Toohey, Tonie Kline, Susan Stone, Matt McCreight, Pete Congleton, and Kate Quigley  made it so worth the trip- it was great to see you guys, after 35 years! Also nice to meet some classmates I never knew at Wes when we were there.”

Michele Choka attended her first reunion “(it only took 35 years!)” and visited with her 15 year-old son, who is interested in attending Wesleyan. “After the admissions orientation session, he asked me how I could possibly have gotten admitted to Wesleyan. :)”  Ah, kids…..

Michele works in the energy industry in Denver, CO as a VP, Human Resources.  “I also have been sitting on a public software company board for the last ten years; CallidusCloud based in Dublin, CA.”

Chris Graves “had a blast reconnecting with ’81 pals” including housemates Bradley Whitford, Dan Greenberger, Josh Manheimer.  “We recreated a photo from our senior year house. We also recreated a photo from a video shoot that included Brad, Erika Goldman, Christina Mata, Julie Jacobson, and cinematographer Paul Schiff. I am sure the value in that 35-year old video is in the payments I may receive to never show it to anyone.”

Chris has been awarded a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship to continue his work on brain and behavioral science related to communications. “Ten of us–all somehow connected to behavioral science– will share the palace and will write all day, then come together in the evenings for debates and discussions. It will be a precious and rare opportunity. For about 8 years, I have been seeking out, collecting, digesting and collating primary research on cognitive neuroscience, behavioral economics, social psychology and narrative theory– then connecting them to try to arrive at more effective methods of communication (for example, how to change misperceptions or change someone’s mind on an issue or communicate climate change or vaccinations in a way that actually works). The final output is expected to be a book.”

David Miller writes that “while many of those that I spent large amounts of time with while I was a student were not able to attend (Paul Robinson, and Paul and Karen Neurath being notable exceptions) it was enjoyable, and somehow comforting, that I enjoy the company of Wes 81ers even if it seems that I am meeting them for the first time.  I enjoyed getting to know Matt McCreight, Alyson Myers and Joanne Godin Audretsch better (to name just a few), and hangout (after a 35+ year absence) with Hugh Judge and Andy Hamilton at the reception.  Discussing life on Foss Hill with Steven Blum, Dave Hill ’86 and Ralph Savarese ’86 brought back memories of many previous discussions. Getting a chance for a long chat with Delcy Fox is always a pleasure. My time travel experience was complete when I got to talk with Max Atkinson ’16 and his housemates after commencement.  All in all, a great time.

David went from Middletown to Houston “where I met up with the remote part of my undergrad NASA Robot-ops team, where we had rovers run from our home universities participate in a giant easter egg-like hunt on simulated Moon and Mars terrain.  The only team with an advisor that went to a school without an engineering program won big.  The run was captured on youtube:http://bit.ly/24hueNf.”

He adds, “I wish we had had more time to talk ourselves — of some reason this seemed a busier reunion than usual.”

David Lynch joined the Financial Times as a Washington correspondent, covering white-collar crime. He adds,  “I focus on the Justice Department and SEC.”

Cynthia Costas-Centivany writes from Vejer, Spain, where she and her family have spent part of every summer for the last 20 years.  She has an ongoing botanical garden project that she would like some Wes science departments to get involved in.

Brian Tarbox  received his  5th US Patent for “Tivo for Twitter”, a system to block and record social media posts for TV shows you record, and then play them back to you when you actually watch the show.  “So, no more facebook/twitter spoilers of the big game.”

Jim Steiker has spent the last 30 years in Philadelphia creating and building a firm to promote and accomplish employee ownership. “Have had the opportunity to live out some of the social change values I developed at Wesleyan though I never expected it would result in working primarily with entrepreneurs who want to create a legacy while cashing out of their companies. Now married to Wendy Epstein for 29 years after being introduced by Cindy Schrager (’81) with two very entrepreneurial twenty-something children (both in Brooklyn of course)  who appear as unable to work for anyone else as I am.”

Belinda Kielland writes that she was sorry to miss the weekend, as travels got in the way. She is living in Sag Harbor, Long Island, “with frequent forays into the city to keep abreast of the contemporary art world. I’m a strategic partner in OSL contemporary, a gallery in Oslo, Norway, where I lived for many years, and am proud to serve as President of the dynamic non-profit, Independent Curators International. Who knew where Mr. Paoletti’s Introduction to Art History would lead!”

She adds that her “adult children, Marika and Henrik, both live in London, so my international travels continue. Although it was strange to move back to the US after 30 years in Europe, I’ve now “landed” and have enjoyed the chance to re-connect with old friends. Had the happiest time recently spending some vacation days with Livia Wong McCarthy… she hasn’t changed a bit!”

Speaking of art, Brenda Zlamany wrote to tell me three of her recent accomplishments. She has a portrait commission for Yale’s Sterling Memorial library, of the first female Yale PhD recipients (https://yalealumnimagazine.com/articles/4278/pioneers); She has curated an exhibition at the Shirley Fiterman Art Center here in New York (http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu/sfac/); and she has a portrait on view at the National Portrait Gallery in DC (http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/every-three-years-artists-compete-on-view-national-portrait-gallery-winners-180958490/?no-ist)!

Congratulations!

Elisha Lawrence is “living in SF and working as AVP, Global Anti-Piracy & Content Security for ABS-CBN International. My daughter will be a junior next year at Wesleyan and my son will be junior at Stanford.”

James Marcus has been appointed editor-in-chief of Harper’s Magazine and is “very excited and honored to get the gig. Also, am finishing up a book I’ve been writing for three years, called Glad to the Brink of Fear: A Portrait of Emerson in Fourteen Installments. That will be published in 2017, along with Emerson’s Journals: A Selection, which I’m doing for Penguin Classics. All this will make for a busy spring, but in the nicest possible way.”

I end on a sad note. Paul DiSanto, who could only stay Friday as he attended his son’s UVM graduation over the weekend, notes that “one classmate we really missed at Reunion was Brad Toomey who passed away suddenly at home in Kansas City on April 7.  Brad loved Wes, and was a loyal and enthusiastic WAAV admission rep and a past WAF class agent and reunion chair. He would have loved to be with us at the Reunion, and was looking forward to Commencement next year, as his amazing daughter Mary is a rising senior psych major at Wes.   He is also survived by his wonderful wife Joan, and son Dan a high school senior.

Paul reports that he “was honored to attend the wonderful memorial service for Brad at the historic Unity Temple on the Plaza in Kansas City along with Tony DiFolco, Tim O’Brien,  Lou Scimecca , Rick Ciullo and Peter Campbell ’79. The many speakers talked about Brad’s love of live music, his intensity in sports and business, his wide ranging intellect, his impeccably detailed organization of the many ‘Vail Boys Ski Weekends’, his Irish wit, and most importantly his love for his family and friends.   I heard from a lot of Wes folks, and Gordon Cooney probably summed it up best on Facebook when he said that “Brad found ways to connect with literally everybody he met.”

David I. Block | david.I.block@gmail.com

Joanne Godin Audretsch | Berlinjo@aol.com

The latest edition of our Class Notes Gazette.

Rachael Steinberg Adler writes that she is now entering the third year since founding the Waterfront Playhouse & Conservatory in the San Francisco Bay Area.

“We are training professional actors in ensemble in the Meisner Technique of Acting, Alexander and Feldenkrais Movement Techniques, Linklater Voice Technique, Shakespeare, and more, both at the Waterfront and at our sister school in Barcelona, where I teach master classes each year,” she writes.

Rachael’s work in theater is “driven by issues of social justice, which my years at Wesleyan both reinforced and encouraged.

“I’ve found that training acting ensembles, rich in class and racial diversity, to identify and address the historic and personal issues involving judgment, bias, criticism, prejudice, grief and celebration to be, in combination with a vivid imagination, a most effective tool for unleashing the written word and bringing it into full dramatic expression,” she says.

On a more personal note: “I am having the time of my life raising my incredible 14-year-old dancer daughter Sonya, into whose ear I have been whispering “Go to Wesleyan, go to Wesleyan!” since she was 8! Keeping my fingers crossed!”

This from Peri Smilow: “Perhaps our classmates will be interested in knowing that I’ll be publishing my first book this summer. I’ve been a composer and touring musician of contemporary Jewish music for the past 25 years.”

She adds: “This summer will mark the publication of The Peri Smilow Anthology, a collection of sheet music for all of the original songs on my first four recordings (Songs of Peace, Ashrey, The Freedom Music Project and Blessings).

Peri says the anthology is “intended as a resource guide for cantors, song leaders, and other Jewish musicians, as well as non-musician Jewish educators and communal workers, about how to use contemporary Jewish music in all aspects of Jewish life.” (For more info: perismilow.com).

Steve Okun, in a short and sweet note, writes: “My son, Alex ’20, will be attending Wesleyan in the fall!”

Becky Shuster, to whom we extended our congratulations last issue for being named assistant superintendent of equity for the Boston Public Schools, adds in a brief note that she lives in Boston with her 11-year-old daughter, Sage.

Rob Lancefield—who in addition to being a member of the class of ’82, is also M.A. ’93 and PhD ’05—writes that he enjoyed playing a gig on guitar for the first time in way too long, with a group called the Abraham Adzenyah Tribute Band. The band, filled with Wesleyan alumni, was formed specifically for last May’s eight-hour extravaganza honoring Abraham Adzenyah’s retirement after 46 years of teaching Ghanaian music at Wesleyan.

The band featured, among other performers, Abraham Adzenyah MA’79, David Bindman ’85, MA ’87, Wes Brown ’74, and Royal Hartigan MA’83, Ph.D. ’86. The celebration was organized by Robert Levin ’81 and Doug Berman ’84. You can read about the event at this link: newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2016/05/09/adzenyah

Rob also mentions that Wesleyan is working to raise $300,000 to endow a scholarship in honor of Abraham Adzenyah’s legacy at Wesleyan. He asks that those interested in making donations contact Marcy Herlihy—mherlihy@wesleyan.edu or 860/685-2523.

Karen Mohr Maier says she has worked for years as director of research at the world-renowned Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. “I had the honor of putting together a permanent exhibit for the Baseball Hall of Fame honoring Dr. Jobe’s innovation in creating the Tommy John procedure that has saved the baseball careers of hundreds of players,” she writes.

“This is a permanent exhibit in the Baseball HOF’s new wing: A Whole New Ball Game, which features innovations that have impacted the game over the past 40 years.”

Daniel Meier writes that he lives in Berkeley, Calif., with his family and is teaching education at San Francisco State University, where he’s been for the last 20 years.

Once a year, he gets together with classmates Doug Jones, Peter Schochet, Dave Gaieski ’81, and Joe Merrill “for hiking, tennis, and sitting around and catching up.”

He’s also in contact with Roger Hale and a few other alums. He writes that he would “love to hear from other Wes alums around the ’81/’82 classes—Dave Preston ’81, Jeff Sayah, Lindsay South, Cindy Gherman, Christian Vescia and others.”

Martin “Chip” Shore writes: “I’m still with Fidelity (16 years!) and still loving it. I recently became a Certified Financial Planner and am trying to figure out how to take advantage of my new knowledge in the investment management work that I do.

“My wife, Shari, stays busy with her orthodontic practice in Brookline. Our son is graduating from Vanderbilt and is headed to Chicago, gainfully employed as a management consultant. We survived another college application process this year and our daughter is headed to Colorado College in the fall.”

“We are looking forward to being empty nesters, but nervous too, since so much of our lives have revolved around our children,” Chip writes.

Steve Budd writes: “I teach writing and lit. classes at a number of Bay Area colleges. I’m also a regular on the lively Bay Area storytelling, standup, and solo performance scene. I stay in touch with local alums Laura Fraser, Peter Eckart ’86, Marc Mowrey ’83, and Rolando Arroyo (whose sister-in-law, Carolina Grynbal, spent a year at Wesleyan and—how’s this for a coincidence?—is partnered up with my sister Sharon). Shoot me a line at stevebudd3@gmail.com.”

Rosemary Gombar Stutz says: “Did a lot of fun travel: Antarctica, Argentina, Niseko (skiing), Singapore, Raja Ampat (scuba diving), Myanmar (Burma), Taiwan, Italy (Matera and around), Zermatt, Switzerland (skiing, parasailing).

Her daughter, Victoria Stutz, a 2012 Georgetown graduate, just started a new job with Ernst & Young in New York. Her son, Eric Stutz, who got his master’s from U of Chicago in 2013, also works in the Big Apple as of this year, as manager for corporate strategy at SAP America.

In every issue, I hear from at least one member of our class—usually more—who hasn’t written before, which is gratifying. Updates happily accepted from repeat correspondents and newbies alike!

Stephanie Griffith | stephaniedgriffith@gmail.com