Class Notes

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

NEWSMAKERS | 1970s NEWSMAKER JOSEPH WRIGHT ’79 Joseph Wright ’79, MD, MPH, chairman of the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health at Howard University College of Medicine was recently elected to the prestigious American Pediatric Society (APS). Wright, as one of the nation’s leading pediatricians, has been recognized as an advocate for childcare, working to advancing pediatric research, developing educational opportunities for trainees, and expanding advocacy initiatives. For Wright, “Election to the APS is a special honor,” as membership provides a platform for him to further not only “Howard’s commitment to outstanding patient care and service to the community,” but also the missions of the numerous national advisory boards he serves on, including the National EMS Advisory Council (NEMSAC), the American Hospital Association’s Maternal and Child Health Council, and recently, as an Obama administration appointee to the Food and Drug Administration’s Pediatric Advisory Committee.

Greetings! A few of you have written in for the first time in many years—glad to hear from you!

On May 7, Nancy Katz Colman and David Colman’s middle child, Lily (Hampshire ’13), married Alistair Rée duPont in Philadelphia. Helping celebrate were cousin-by-marriage, Michael Kannan ’75, and Lew Gitlin. Lily works for David Zwirner Gallery in New York, and Alistair works for India-based banking firm, Avendus. Their youngest, Drew (Smith ’15), moved to Seattle in June; med school is on the horizon. Their eldest, Alex (Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ’13), teaches in an after-school program in Philadelphia. David works in real estate, rehabbing and repurposing distressed urban properties for nonprofits and institutions. Nancy edits a publication for the Center City Residents’ Association. They enjoyed the wedding of Jeanne Cahn’s daughter, Rachel Sulsky.

After a 25-year hiatus, Doug Pavlak updated his status: “I continue to work as a neuromuscular specialist at the OA Centers for Orthopedics in Portland, Maine, where I am the head of the neurophysiology laboratory. I was voted ’Top Doc’ in my field by Down East magazine, thanks to my colleagues. I live in Falmouth, Maine, with my wife, Norma, and three of our seven children. The other four are grown and out of the house. Still trying to get one of them to go to Wesleyan!”

Rebecca Lyman lives in Seattle and owns a marketing and advertising agency called the Garrigan Lyman Group, glg.com. For 23 years, this strategic digital agency, with offices in Seattle, New York, and Boise, has been focused on delivering brand strategy, audience engagement, and digital delivery. She sees Kent Hellebust ’80 in Seattle, as they worked together, as well as Dr. Anne Peters, who is a rock star doctor in LA. Anne and her son, Max Votey ’14, visited her.

After becoming an empty-nester, and retiring from the corporate world, Ron Cooper took up photography. He found his photography class from J. Seeley at Wesleyan in 1977 fascinating. Not having picked up a camera in more than 30 years, he narrowed his interests to documentary, portrait, and travel photography. His images involve people and are made in the field with natural light. Ron had two solo gallery shows in Colorado, where he’s lived since 1996. You can see his photographs at ron-cooper.com.

For over a year, Lauren Steiner was the lead organizer in LA for Bernie Sanders and a delegate for Bernie at the Democratic National Convention, where, David and Nancy Colman so generously put her up in their lovely home. She organized Bernie delegates to protest the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on the floor of the convention. Back in LA, she organizes protests on the TPP, fracking, the Dakota Access Pipeline and other issues. She writes for the LA Progressive and had articles published in Truthout, Truthdig, AlterNet, Common Dreams, and Nation of Change. “It is very rewarding to work with people of all ages from college students to senior citizens on all these vital issues, and I’d like to invite any likeminded Wesleyan folks to friend me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter @lauren_steiner.”

Daniel Morales is an MSW and works as a case manager coordinator for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. He has two daughters, Elizabeth, 25, and Melinda, 20, who are attending college. He is a Sabbath school teacher for the Hope Seventh-Day Adventist Church and the director of the Adventurers ministry for children ages 4-9 at the church. He is an avid volleyball player and reads as much as he can in his spare time. Daniel welcomes communiqués from friends in the 1977-79 classes at: dnjmorales@aol.com.

Gerard Koeppel writes that his book about rectilinear Manhattan, City on a Grid, won a New York City book award and he touched the gloved hand of possibly immortal fellow winner, Roger Angell. After a quarter-century of sharing his living arrangements with children, he and his wife, Diane, achieved empty nester-hood. Daughter Kate to USC; son Harry, a philosophy major/math minor, and a budding chef, aims to lead Boston College to a 2017 national sailing championship; and son Jackson continues in Detroit, (re)building the community one solar street light and one longtime resident at a time [soulardarity.nationbuilder.com].

Laura Tully writes in: “My husband, Robert Schneider, and I fled the arctic Boston winters and moved to the charming island of Alameda in the Bay Area last fall. I’ve found a wonderful congregation at First Unitarian Church of Oakland. I am looking for work as a team and leadership coach.”

Alan Saly documents the unrecognized efforts of transit workers at 9/11 with the Transport Workers Union. He is engaged in the traditional New York sport of sparring with a co-op board. He is pleased to see his daughter, Elaine ’09, in her third year at NYU Law School, preparing for a career in public defense.

Paul Landraitis is a founding member of the Seattle chapter of Conscious Capitalism. They had some great events, with conscious business leaders, Howard Behar (Starbucks) and Alex Thompson (REI). He just completed a certification program in Immunity to Change coaching with Bob Kegan and Lisa Lahey, and is looking forward to working to help more businesses and NGO’s become “deliberately developmental organizations.” He enjoys the great nature of the Northwest and hopes to see more Wesleyan folks.

Sean Barlow and Banning Eyre continue their Afropop adventures. Having won NEH funding for the 13th consecutive year, Afropop will be going to Nigeria to produce a four-part radio series in January. Home base is still Middletown, but no longer on campus, and the office is still in Brooklyn. It’s a crazy life, but hey, you’re only young once, right?

After losing his home, job, and community to the 2015 California wildfires, and his 20-year bodywork career for health reasons, Andrew Yavelow spent the last year wandering, relaxing, and recovering from those traumas. His goals are to find a new place to live (someplace green and beautiful, with short winters), and a new career (imagining himself in workplace wellness, and art photography). “Life is painful, hard, perplexing—and lovely.”

Gary Breitbord | gbreitbo@aol.com

Ann Biester Deane | abdeane@aol.com

Gary Friedmann, vice chair of the Bar Harbor, Maine town council, has launched a project, A Climate to Thrive, the goal of which is to make Mount Desert Island energy-independent by 2030. In this program, six committees with dozens of volunteers work on climate solutions that strengthen the local community through initiatives in alternative energy, building efficiency, transportation, zero waste, local food, and public policy.

Geoff Ginsburg reports, “Life is good here in North Carolina,” where he continues his work in precision medicine and engineering as director of the Center for Applied Genomics and Precision Medicine at Duke University Medical Center. He has also started a company, Host Response, to bring novel disease diagnostics to the market, and a nonprofit company, Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative, an international organization aimed at fostering global partnerships to advance genomics in the practice of medicine. Geoff is “always happy to have visitors who are in the area” (twitter: @PersonalizedMed).

Tim Hollister’s daughter, Martha, is starting her senior year at Hampshire College, where she is studying video game design. His book, His Father Still, was an Oprah Book Club recommended summer read this July. The second edition of his previous book, Not So Fast: Parenting Your Teen Through the Dangers of Driving, will be published next September.

Lisa Landsman writes from Cabin John, Md., that she received her master’s in public heath from Johns Hopkins University and is heading back into the job market as a public health lawyer. Additionally, “my three kids are all doing well, and I have two adorable little grandkids.”

Mark Laser took a seven-week break this year from his obstetrics and gynecology practice in Trumbull, Conn., to participate in the ARC Europe sailing rally. He sailed across the Atlantic in his own boat with a crew of three, taking first place in all three legs. Preparation included obtaining a Coast Guard Master Captain’s license and learning celestial navigation, and the adventure included “30-knot winds and 20-foot seas, flying fish, dolphins and even a whale or two…one more item checked off the bucket list.”

Susan Loonsk has moved from Wisconsin to Shepherdstown, W.Va. She welcomes anyone regionally to contact her at art@loonsk.com.

Lucy Mize reports that she continues to love her work at the Asia Bureau of USAID, managing “a very strong health team” with programming in 17 countries. She traveled to Denmark and Bangladesh this year, making that “72 countries I have visited in the course of work or play.” Her son, Thaddeus  ’17, is a senior at Wesleyan where he is co-captain of the crew team. Her daughter, Belle, is a high school junior, and her husband, Tim, continues traveling extensively for the World Bank (they are hoping for his next assignment to be Mozambique). Her father, David Mize  ’51, continues to stay active traveling despite the passing of Lucy’s mother last year. Baseball is Lucy’s “best diversion.” She enjoys following her hometown Washington Nationals with Bill Tabor  ’79.

David Nussenbaum reports that “after 30-something years in the business world” he has assumed responsibility for the Bronx Arts Ensemble (bronxartsensemble.org), a nonprofit organization teaching music, dance, theater and art in more than 40 public schools, and producing professional concerts. He welcomes classmates to attend the shows, which have included Wesleyan music professor Jay Hoggard  ’76. He says that his wife, Betsy, and his daughter, Julia, “make me very happy and proud.”

George Raymond writes that, for the third year in a row, he and his wife took the TGV in June from their home near Basel—where they have lived for 27 years—to spend a weekend in Provence with his former Wesleyan economics professor, Peter Kilby and his wife. “We’ve managed to keep in touch ever since I handed in my last CSS paper.”

Harvey Silberman has just finished his 12th year on the bench in LA, where he serves as a judge of the Superior Court. He also directs and distributes indie films. His son graduated from Colorado College and now works for Disney Productions. At a Wesleyan event this past year in Beverly Hills, Harvey saw Peter Heller ’84 and Dana Delany, “whom I directed in Lion in Winter so many years ago…great to see them!”

Marisa Smith and her husband, Eric Kraus, have owned Smith and Kraus Publishers for the past 25 years, specializing in theater-related books, with over 650 titles in print. In recent years, “on a lark” Marisa began writing plays as well—which has turned into an unexpected second career perfectly timed with empty nest-hood. Her comedy Saving Kitty starred Jennifer Coolidge last summer in Cambridge, Mass., and Mad Love has been at Northern Stage in Vermont and the New Jersey Repertory Company. Sons Luke and Peter are, respectively, a law student at Wake Forest and a sommelier/chef in LA.

Jim Washington relays an overdue update, as “I think it might be nice for some and vex others that I’m still alive.” He and his wife, Mary Lu, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this year with a summer trip to Amsterdam followed by a cruise along the North Sea, stopping in Norwegian villages and crossing into the Arctic Circle. Jim continues to work in Dartmouth’s admissions office and will soon begin his inaugural year of board service for Boston Prep Academy, a charter school that draws students from urban areas familiar to Jim, such as his hometown of Roxbury, Mass. In the spring, Jim will return to the classroom in pursuit of a second master of arts degree as a student in Dartmouth’s MALS creative writing program. His latest published poetry can be found in the Main Street Rag summer 2016 edition.

Dave Wilson continues his work as a jazz saxophonist, band leader, and composer. His latest album, There Was Never, was released in November 2015, reaching #18 in the Nationwide Jazz Radio Countdown. Dave lives in Lancaster, Pa. with his wife, Lisa, and their four cats.

Susie Muirhead Bates | sbatesdux@hotmail.com 

Ken Kramer | kmkramer78@hotmail.com

It was great to receive so many requests for our 40th Reunion dates in 2017. Please note Reunion is scheduled for May 25 to May 28. As they say, book early and often. On to the notes:

Carol Cooper will be teaching a class at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music this spring. This is in addition to her teaching journalism duties at the Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics.

Iddy Olson is going back to grad school to get her executive coaching for organizations certificate; she very much enjoys learning from school, as well as making new friends and colleagues.

Doug Hauschild will be taking to the stage at the Asheville Community Theatre’s production of Sweeney Todd in North Carolina. He plans to be visiting family in Connecticut this Thanksgiving.

Hope Neiman sends salutations from the Tuscan villages, enjoying a two-week vacation through Spain and Italy. As many of us have been considering retirement spots, Hope has, true to form, taken action, and is purchasing a home on Vashon Island (near Seattle). As a true sign that this was meant to be, it is located on S.W. Wesleyan Way. The setting bears a striking resemblance to the Italian hilltop villages she is experiencing.

Joan Goldfeder sent her son, Eli, off to college and is making her plans for Reunion.

Keith Stern, a former client of mine, is celebrating his 20th year as rabbi at Temple Beth Avodah in Newton, Mass. He celebrated 36 years of wedded bliss with his wife, Liza. Keith’s assessment: “Getting here was hard, I ain’t gonna lie. But worth it? No doubt.” His children all appear to be a source of great pride: Jonah ’05 is in Brooklyn, along with his wife and two children. Aaron ’11 is attending the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Molly ’14 lives in San Francisco and is working for the Jewish Federation. Keith’s non-Wesleyan kids, Sara and Zoe, are doing fine, too.

Mark Slitt went on a trip to China through the Hartford Jewish Community Center. He dusted off his freshman year Mandarin textbooks to re-learn Chinese. His trip included stops in Beijing, Xian, as well as Jewish communities in Harbin, Kaifeng, and Shanghai.

Micha Balf sent along a reflective note from Israel, with regards from Rachel, which certainly had a focus on numbers (with an eye to our 40th Reunion). The Balfs are enjoying their 33-year tradition of celebrating Saturday night dinners with now four generations of family and of 34 years of Kibbutz life since their arrival 40 years ago. I was thrilled to hear that Rachel and Micha have registered to vote in the U.S. elections. The American elections provide an added perspective of how tough the political situation is in Israel, as much as one may find the situation here troublesome.

Marcy Neuburg chimed in from Milwaukee; she is a new grandmother and plans to visit Bob Rees soon while visiting her newest family member. Marcy got married to Wayne Oldenburg. Though she may not like it, the idea that she could be referred to as Mrs. Wayne Neuburg Oldenburg is quite something. Marcy is reducing her work hours and travels extensively. Highlights have been fishing trips to Cuba and British Columbia.

Paul Jacobsen and Marcia Israeloff have moved to Bethesda, Md. Paul joined the National Cancer Institute as its associate director. Marcia practiced law in New York and Connecticut before joining Paul in Tampa. She volunteered at Title I schools, Trinity Café, and the American Cancer Society, and will undoubtedly seek new opportunities in the D.C. area.

Always happy to hear from Paul Meisel. Paul’s son, Peter, works in player health for the NBA. Peter and Paul have collaborated on a number of children’s books, with Paul doing the illustrations: Good Night, Bat! Good Morning, Squirrel! (Boyd Mills Press) about the unlikely friends with different sleeping habits was released in September. Stinky Spike the Pirate Dog and Stinky Spike and the Royal Rescue (Bloomsbury) will be available in March.

Robin Curtiss won a bronze medal (men’s veteran’s division) at the National Marathon Canoe and Kayak Championships in Northfield, Mass.

Sue Guiney alerted me to the fact that I will not be able to visit her and husband, Don, in London, as they have taken up residence, half-time, in Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. (closer to home for me). Winter months will be spent in Cambodia. Sue and Don have married off both sons: Noah is in law school in California along with his medical school-studying wife; Alex and fellow actor wife have moved to New York City. Sue won an international Freedom Through Literacy award. She is working on her last novel in her Cambodian-based trilogy, as well as her poetry collection.

That’s all for now from Lexington. Given the speed in which time passes, it will be in no time that we gather together in person for our 40th Reunion. I very much look forward to next May.

Gerry Frank | Gfrank@bfearc.com

Skip Adamek reminded me that he retired back in 2011. (Sounds like a good deal.) He is living in Raleigh, N.C. and rented a house in Cape Cod for September. Skip enjoyed a weekend with Paul McDermott and Steve Farrell  ’77.

Cheryl Alpert went to a niece’s graduation at Wes this past June. Just before, she tripped over her new puppy and fractured a vertebra, but she is fine now.

Jane Barwick shared the news that she ran for judicial office, won her election, and in 2015 became a judge of the Superior Court of Fulton County, Ga. Fulton County is the largest county in Georgia and contains most of the City of Atlanta.

Carol Bellhouse has 21 books in print, a movie in production, another in pre-production, and several in development. Fabulous!

Barbara Birney enjoyed tree zip-lining in Crater Lake National Park and reports that Peter Hansen is starring as the director in his local community theater’s production of The Chorus Line.

Matt Cartter’s daughter, Eileen, graduated from Kenyon College this past May with majors in English and American studies.

Elizabeth Eisenmann is in early retirement; her husband prefers to keep working. She is enjoying her twin granddaughters (now 3) and adopted a German Shepherd.

Ron Epstein, an academic family physician, has written a book entitled Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness, and Humanity that is being published by Scribner in January. The book mentions several of Ron’s teachers and mentors at Wesleyan, including Jon Barlow, Ken Maue  ’69, and Randy Huntsberry. Copies can be pre-ordered at: ronaldepstein.com/publications.

Don Fallati wants to thank everyone who attended the Reunion and for those whose work and support enabled a class scholarship to be established, especially Shonni Silverberg. Don also wants to thank his Reunion co-chair Connie McCann for her efforts, and the class panel that included Leslie Gabel-Brett, Jay Hoggard, Seth Lerer, and Laurel Cantor. Don gives special mention to Ethan Bronner and Michael Greenberg, who were awarded Distinguished Alumni Awards, and a personal note to Gary Eager and Abe Yale. Don continues to work in his own advisory practice focusing on healthcare technology and lives in Larchmont, N.Y., with his wife, Ruth Pachman  ’78.

Oliver Griffith retired as head of communications for part of the World Bank Group in Europe in January. “Have been fixing up our country place south of Paris and starting to do some consulting on development and communications. Still playing jazz when possible, my original career goal. Would be glad to hear from old classmates visiting Paris.”

Jeff Frank’s son, George, graduated from the Air Force Academy and is now a second lieutenant at flight school in Columbus, Miss. Jeff’s oldest son, Nathan, graduated from Carnegie Mellon, and then Quantico, and is now an FBI agent working in Virginia. Jeff’s daughter, Stephanie, lives in Hawaii and just started a new job with the Hawaii Department of Energy.

Byron Haskins reports that he and wife Gabrielle are about to be empty nesters as Gabrielle’s youngest just bought a house a few blocks away. Gabrielle is recovering well enough to travel again and her second grandchild, Thomas, was born in Montreal in March. Byron is enjoying retirement and not missing work at all.

Merle Kummer, recently empty-nested, moved from the suburbs to Cambridge in August and is consulting in the life science industry. She is also enjoying the time she now has for quiet reflection.

Chris Mahoney and his wife, Joan, visited Israel for the first time and had a wonderful trip.

Debbie Gottheimer Neuman has enjoyed spending the past year as a consulting director of development for Enders Island in Mystic, Conn. She welcomes all Wesleyan friends to get in touch if visiting Mystic. Deb and her husband, Paul, look forward to their son, Josh, completing his MS in plant pathology and daughter-in-law, Meagan, completing her MS in nursing clinical leadership this fall.

Jack O’Donnell’s daughter, Maggie  ’19, has started her sophomore year at Wes and is a member of the women’s crew team.

Rob Sloss is working at Parsons Corporation, an engineering and construction firm in Pasadena, Calif., as the vice president of tax. Ron works with a team on a large number of M&A and structuring projects in more than 70 countries, including projects involving missile defense, WMD removal, and the construction of train lines, bridges and tunnels. Ron lives with his wife and a very old cat.

Mike Stopa is living and working around Boston as a practicing nanophysics theorist. His company works on a new form of computer memory made from carbon nanotubes. Mike and his wife, Hiromi, have four kids. Kaileigh is a frosh at Tufts, Robin is graduating from Haverford this year, and Miranda has two more years at Oberlin. Their son, Kipling, is still in high school and pitches for the baseball team. Mike was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this year, and live-blogged the convention for The Boston Globe.

Barbara Strauss’ daughter, Hanna Ingber  ’03, is an assistant editor on the foreign desk at The New York Times. She recently gave birth to Aarav Jacob Yerasi, Barbara’s newest grandchild. Barbara’s daughter, Rebecca Ingber, is an associate professor of law at Boston University Law School in the field of international law and national security law, and has two daughters, Alma Rae and Tess Metlitsky. Barb mentions that she connected with Debbie G. Neumann and Catherine Thibault  ’77 at the Reunion.

Mitchell Marinello | mlmarinello@comcast.net