Class Notes

I heard from one classmate this time. Cliff E. Milner writes:

“Hi Bud,

“Sorry I never met you while we were at Wes. I just reviewed again my latest issue of the alumni magazine and see no one sent in news for the class of 1950. In years past, I have written up short bits and had the pleasure of seeing them in print, so will try again! I feel very fortunate to show some evidence of not losing my marbles. At 94 years, I ventured out to an auto dealer and bought myself a new Subaru, which turns out to be quite a challenge as it has a vast number of special features, most of which I haven’t figured out yet! I do love the ‘passing car warning’ however. I have a pronounced case of neuropathy of the feet, and I warn friends not to be in front of me when I am driving!!

“In February, I acquired a girlfriend . . . a young 91 and we have had a great time taking boat and train excursions and attending the frequent band concerts in this area. This weekend we are going to a blue grass festival down on the Finger Lakes.

“My family is scattered but still fortunate to have some here Rochester. My youngest son (in his 60s!) lives with me and helps with household chores and purchasing food. I have been visiting my Florida families every year in June (my favorite weather time). At the moment, we are stabilized with 12 great-grandchildren. — Cliff

“P.S. Very much saddened by the loss of Len Hippler, a great friend.”

I received a couple of responses to my request for news.

Bob Wylie kindly wrote in with this update: “I was a World War II veteran at Wesleyan but doubt that there are any left. After Wesleyan, I entered the corporate world and eventually became a vice president of marketing at Celanese and Hoescht. My wife Karen and I and our four children lived in Greenwich for 50 years, but we recently moved to Meadow Ridge, a senior living facility in Redding, Connecticut. Over time I attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard, and as my interest has been in history, I obtained two master’s degrees at the New School and Western Connecticut State University. I ran for political office and was soundly defeated, but I successfully managed a number of successful candidates. I am 97, have given up driving, but not Scotch.”

Dick Steuart sent a note too. He said that he couldn’t recall which class he would have been in officially—1949 or 1950—but he attended Wesleyan for one year. He had some association with one of the fraternities, but not as an official member. He also competed on the swim team. Upon leaving Wesleyan, he joined the army and entered West Point, graduating in 1950 and, soon afterward, was in the Korean War. “During 27 years in the army, I served in numerous countries throughout the world, but still have fond memories of Wesleyan. One of my Wesleyan classmates was Chuck D. Stone. With regards, Dick Steuart.”

It would have been one of my 100th birthday wishes to gather with my friends.

Each of us six—Bill Cunningham ’47, Peter Hemmenway ’48, Frank Bowles ’44, Phil Dundas ’48, Tex Reynolds ’48, and I—would come together at Sal’s to play a round of liar’s dice and quaff a cheap beer. We were all teachers from 1947 through 1986, and we had seen great changes over those years. Each had taught secondary, three had gone on to college teaching, and we agreed that time back then had been given to subject matter that required thinking for oneself, not as you were told to think. We urged students to study facts, not opinions. We hoped that they would learn that in a world so little understood there should be room for two to be mistaken. Two on the same side or on opposing sides? Two people? Two causes? Two subject matters? Two truths? Party over, we broke up still clinging to our belief that subject matter is better for fact rather than opinion, which can lead to preaching morals or ethics, or racial outrage or sexual anguish. Some subject matter is better suited to the classrooms of religion or medicine, or even the home, we argued among ourselves. We lamented the passing of the time when students accepted that they had not lived long enough to know who was or was not qualified to teach what, nor should free speech be free only when it says what you want to hear. We had worried, too, about the current stage of political correctness. Why multiple valedictorians? Why euphemisms for words denoting sex or gender, or race? Have we become so fearful of being accused of being prejudiced that we make verbal pablum of robust words; and that is simply obsequious censorship. We last remnants of the class of 1945 urge the inclusion of factual history as subject matter, for we hear echoes of the suppressions of our past. Remember the fraternity landmarks? We 45ers remember what we fought for. Censorship was not among our ideals. Nor are foul discourse, rampage, or gun madness.

Slán go fóill.

Dear Class of 2022,

Four years ago, we were Wesleyan frosh learning how to navigate college, both academically and socially, and just trying to find our groove. Today, we are Wesleyan alumni and all in different aspects of our lives trying to find our groove again. I hope that wherever you are, whatever you’re up to, everything is going well!

My name is Tashfia Jilu and I was your senior class secretary last year. I will now be coordinating the class notes for the alumni magazine for the Class of 2022! This means that I will be collecting notes about your life updates, achievements, and anything you’d like to share with other members of the class through the magazine. I can also take picture submissions for the online magazine as well.

A little update from me: I moved to Michigan in July and recently started at the University of Michigan School of Public Health for my master’s in public health in the Health Behavior and Health Education Department. I also work at Michigan Medicine as a patient care tech and am enjoying exploring the coffee shops in Ann Arbor! I’d love to hear about what you’ve all been up to since graduation, so please send over your updates!

I look forward to hearing from you all and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Best,

Tashfia Jilu

We heard from several classmates this time around.

Two classmates are in graduate school: Gayon Yang wrote to say that “I started school at UC Irvine. I’m [getting] my master of arts in the teaching program.”

And Sofia Colorado said, “I am just entering my second year of a PhD program in computational biology in Denver, Colorado. Could not be happier with the program.”

Two other classmates are working and living in big cities: After a year working for the U.S. Forest Service in Washington, D.C., Andrei Pinkus switched over to the nonprofit world in July. He is now a coordinator on the Corporate Climate Solutions Team at Conservation International, working to facilitate business investment in protecting, managing, and restoring nature at scale to limit the worst effects of climate change. He is living in a two-person house in downtown D.C. and making plans to move abroad after a little while longer in the nation’s capital!

And Kiki Vetoulis-Acevedo wrote, “It’s about a year since graduation and I’m currently living in Manhattan and working in immigration law. The Wesleyan-to-New York pipeline is definitely not the road least traveled but being here with so many friends (like my wonderful roommates Luca LaFayette and Lina Marcinczyk <3) made the transition to real world living as easy as it could be. Mostly, I’m writing this because my parents and sister read this magazine, so: mamá, μπαμπά, and Mari, I love you and miss you; thank you for everything!”

Mariel Baitenmann-Middlebrook and Isaac Klimasmith got married on the 25th of July 2022 and were thrilled to celebrate their wedding with friends from Wesleyan. Isaac has published three scientific articles and is just beginning his third year of a PhD program. Mariel has started a new job as a dual language social studies teacher. Mariel and Isaac continue to spoil their rat children and enjoy life in their little house on the prairie.

Eiji Frey is finally moving toward a freelance career in furniture and custom fabrication after figuring out life in LA as a tradesman and fabricator for the past couple years! He is super down to hit Wes homies with good deals if you want him to make you cool stuff!

Andrew Hirsh is growing in his Yiddishkeit at Machon Shlomo Yeshiva in Jerusalem and is still working on his crazy start-up: olivebranchpictures.org.

King Emeka has settled into his own in LA. He works at a commercial production company and creates things in his free time—music, films, and experiences. He has also developed a routine of trying new foods and discovering LA through the perspective of its many different cuisines.

Nick Ticali says, “Life is good!!” Nick starred as Jack Kelly in a production of Newsies at the Cultural Arts Playhouse. The show ran every weekend through August 21st in Syosset, Long Island. He also worked with his mother as a teaching assistant in her summer school program, Mentoring in Medicine; continued his work as an EMT with Northwell Health; and prepared for PA school, which was set to begin on September 1st!

Emilio Weber is moving to Washington, D.C., after two years postgrad working at City Year Philadelphia. He will be attending University of Maryland, College Park, and studying for a MA in sociology of sport.

Alec Haas finished his two-year commitment with Teach for America as a second-grade teacher at a charter school in East Harlem, New York. Concurrently, he also completed a MA in teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education. He is proud to have finally been able to walk at our in-person graduation this past spring.

Amir Daouk has been living in NYC with Alec Haas, Teddy Kennedy, and William Humphrey for the past two years. He just finished his first year at EY where he works closely with Mike Gallo as a finance consultant. Amir is still very connected to the Wesleyan community and always enjoys running into fellow Cardinals on the streets of New York!

As for me, I’m so glad I got to catch up with so many of my fellow Class of 2020 classmates at our much belated graduation this past June. We’ve all been on such a journey since we left campus in March 2020 and it was so amazing to hear about what everyone has accomplished since. I’m still in Chicago working in health-care consulting, so if any of you venture out to the Midwest, let me know!

Hey everyone! Hope you are all doing well and staying safe. Here are some updates from our peers:

Michelle Fisher begins her master’s in library and information studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison this fall. In January 2022, she left her job at Epic to start a new position as the nights and weekends supervisor at Memorial Library on campus. Michelle continues to play ultimate Frisbee with fellow Throw Culture alumni Kylie Moynihan ’17 and Ben Kaufman ’16, and she is always excited for other classmates to venture away from the coasts and join her in the Midwest!

Gabriella (Gabby) Castorena graduated from the University of St. Thomas in May 2021 with her master’s in clinical mental health counseling. Gabby is enjoying her 16-hour shifts at a psychiatric emergency room as a master level clinician on the weekends and is a therapist at an inpatient mental hospital during the week. Once Gabby finishes her LPC–A hours to be fully licensed, she plans on working part-time and furthering her education in the medical field. Before applying to medical school, Gabby is exploring travel opportunities.

Josh Nodiff is beginning graduate school at Columbia University for a master’s in climate and society. He will be studying narrative media, climate science, and public policy at the new Columbia Climate School.

Dennis White recently finished a master’s degree in labor studies at UMass Amherst and is working as a staff organizer at the American Federation of Teachers New Mexico, organizing the faculty union at the University of New Mexico.

Helen Karimi graduated again from Wes with an MA in 2020. She then went on to pursue her MS at the University of Connecticut, where she learned about the field of neuromonitoring. She is currently a first-year medical student at Tufts University School of Medicine and is really excited about a start-up she co-founded this past year called Neuroplex Industries, Inc. Her and her business partner’s mission is to increase the safety of surgeries by providing resources for improving intraoperative neuromonitoring services. Helen invites you to learn more about her recent endeavor at www.neuroplexindustries.com.

Special thanks to everyone who reached out with their life updates. Keep an eye out for my next email about the next edition of the alumni magazine soon.

Please send news and updates to your class secretary.

Please send news and updates to your class secretary.

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer of 2022! I’m very excited to present what the members of the class of 2016 have been up to since the last issue:

Jordan Farber is a passionate environmentalist currently working at an environmental consulting firm in the site remediation center. He is concurrently enrolled in the Energy Policy and Climate program at Johns Hopkins University, with the intent to pursue a career in climate change consulting. He is also the voice of “Lawrence the Owl” in a newly released children’s animated special.

Ellen Paik is a dual-degree MBA/MPA candidate at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Kennedy School. She is studying real estate/urban policy and is excited to continue exploring the ways that inequities throughout our society may be addressed by reimagining the built environment.

Alton Wang graduated from the UCLA School of Law with a JD and earned the Equal Justice Works fellowship. He was elected in June 2022 to serve as a trustee for the Pasadena City College Board of Trustees, representing his hometowns of Arcadia and Temple City.

Alexis Fineman is a climate advocate and currently moonlights as the mayor of San Anselmo, where she is working on all things at the intersection of climate change and local government. She’s also working on bringing progressive policies and programs forward. Her day job is focused on climate change and sustainability education in K–12 education. If you are thinking about getting involved in climate work or advocacy, please reach out—it’s all hands-on deck!

Since 2019, Matthew Stein has been a full-time puzzle designer, creating puzzle hunts, alternate reality games, and escape rooms. He also writes about immersive gaming for Room Escape Artist. On the music front, he released a new album of Yiddish art song called Kosmopolitn with his klezmer trio Baymele and Tsvey Brider; and they had an album release tour through California and New England (including a show in Brooklyn where he was delighted to see many Wes classmates)! He’ll also be playing violin in the San Francisco production of Indecent this fall.

Linsin Smith has graduated with a PhD in genetics from University of Chicago this July!

Melissa Leung finally made her return to a city where spices are bountifully found on menus (TYJ). But she will long for the woods where her friends include bears, moose, and Eric Jones. 😉 Best of luck to Lara Peng ’15 who will begin her MBA also at Tuck in the Dartmouth woods. Back in the city of Cambridge, Xian Hui Ang ’15 journeyed from Kuala Lumpur to Melissa (!) and to fall equally and madly in love with the Dedham, Massachusetts, Costco and all of their Asian selections. Nothing like chilling with peeps from the past such as the magnificent KADA aka Kate Davis to go on reflective journeys through both the cringe and delights!

Sarah Mi and Taran Carr have moved to sunny San Diego for Sarah’s residency in pediatrics at UCSD. They are enjoying being pet parents to their puppy Rosie and cat Remy. Taran continues to live that nice work-from-home life and has been consistently rock climbing. Hit him up if you want to rock climb with him in SD!

Tabs Gillombardo moved to Philly and is still figuring out how to use “jawn” in a sentence. She is a Levy Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Her career interest is in challenging state-sanctioned violence by advocating for incarcerated people and reproductive justice. Tabs has loved hanging and learning with Sam Rudovsky and Lizzie Shackney ’17!

Since this spring, I have been running around Atlanta through all the different Emory hospitals during my clinical year in med school. I have also loved almost every rotation I’ve been on so far, so deciding on a career path will be a tough decision to make by the end of this year, all while planning my wedding.

Stay well and keep in touch!