Tag: 1975

Categories Class Notes, Class Notes | 1970sPosted on

CLASS OF 1975 | 2022 | FALL ISSUE

First word goes to folks who haven’t appeared in this column before. Corinne “Cory” Kratz sent news of her writing fellowship from the Bogliasco Study Centre for the Arts and Humanities to spend January 2023 in Bogliasco, Italy, finishing her book, Rhetorics of Value: Exhibition, Design, Communication.

Carl Cavrell retired from teaching in 2016. After tutoring and coaching gymnastics and soccer, he’s begun subbing at his kids’ school to prepare financially as the oldest of his four boys starts college this year. So much for having kids late!

Knox Cummin spent a few wonderful days with Jim Forster in Los Altos, California, remembering old times, talking about life since Middletown, and sailing on San Francisco Bay.

Sara Pasti is project director for Enlighten Peekskill, a public art installation of light-emitting sculptures, murals, and banners spearheaded by the Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art, as part of downtown revitalization.

Brian Steinbach expects to be 95 % retired by October. Then he’ll convert a large collection of music tapes to CD, including a live performance by Tom Kovar ’76 that he considered lost! Brian told me Jane Hutchins returned to her Vancouver Island farm after a rare visit to Seattle to find her sheep had COVID. He also noted an uncaptioned alumni magazine photo of Wes’s first women’s hockey team includes Jane, Deb Kosich, and Diane Cornell.

First Wesleyan Women’s Field Hockey Team: Jane Hutchins and Deb Kosich standing at left and right of tree; Diane Cornell seated far right

The highlight of Brian’s summer was Bonnie Raitt’s Wolf Trap concert, who he first heard opening for Maria Muldaur at Wes around 1972.

Paul Margolin works in New Hampshire for BAE Systems, where he’s also developing Londonderry’s rail trail, keeping the neighborhood rotary garden blooming, and babysitting grandkids. The Margolins’ middle and youngest daughters live nearby and have provided two grandchildren with another coming soon. Their oldest is in Nevada studying PT after a fitness and dance career (Rockettes and Vegas stage). Paul and Linda are a font of travel news. In Chicago, they breakfasted with Karen and Mark Flinchum, retired and enjoying three grandchildren. In Denver, they visited Suzy and Dave Rosenthal at their new home. They’re also in touch with Joe O’Rourke (retired in West Hartford, awaiting grandchild #5); JD Moore (still in the Connecticut judiciary); Vinnie Broderick (retired and rehabilitating his house in central New Hampshire); and Dave Rosenthal and Steve McCarthy (see below).

Dave reports he and Suzy moved from Buffalo for mountain views, sunshine, and proximity to grandchild #1. Dave, editor of the Mountain West News Bureau, a regional collaboration of NPR stations, says, “I feel like a Wes freshman again, cramming to learn wildfires, drought, wolves, wild horses, and other issues.” In Denver, he welcomed Paul’s visit and reconnected with Becky Peters.

Steve McCarthy and Kathleen downsized from Rye to a Greenwich townhouse and welcomed their first grandson. Steve and partners at QE debuted their documentary on the late director Alan Pakula (Klute, All the President’s Men, Sophie’s Choice). Steve remains active as a Wes volunteer and looks forward to our 50th (?!#).

Lisa Anderson, Kathy (Kleinbard) Heinzelman, and Deborah (Marion) Brown remain close friends, meeting and talking regularly. In July they spent a weekend at Kathy’s home in Pound Ridge, New York, sharing joyous and difficult recollections of being early WesWomen.

Left to right: Kathy (Kleinbard) Heinzelman, Deborah (Marion) Brown, and Lisa Anderson in Pound Ridge, New York

Roger Weisberg and Karen Freedman welcomed twin grandchildren in April from son Daniel and his wife Jannine. Grandchildren through daughter Allison ’05 are Lionel (9) and Juno (6), who can’t wait to babysit! This fall, youngest daughter Liza got married. She’s an attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center handling voter protection litigation. In June, Roger and Karen attended the Tuscany wedding of Shonni Silverberg’s ’76 and John Shapiro’s ’74 son. COVID slowed Roger’s film production work and exacerbated the traumas of foster children that Karen’s office, Lawyers for Children, represents.

Joost Brouwer reports his growing family is well, though a granddaughter’s cystic fibrosis is worrisome. In June, Joost was among four witnesses invited to meet with the Netherlands equivalent of the House Judiciary Committee. They explained what is wrong with the Dutch government’s policy against refugees from Afghanistan and Rwanda, who are unjustly accused  of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Joost has become an expert through his volunteer work assisting refugees.

Rachel (Adler) Hayes and husband John have a college grad looking for his first full-time position in fashion design—leads welcome! A May 2021 house fire displaced them. They hope to return home before November. They’ve learned a lot about the ugly side of insurance. Rachel completed a challenging term as synagogue president, featuring a senior rabbi’s retirement, selecting an interim replacement, the associate rabbi’s unexpected resignation, the first executive director’s hiring and resignation, community reactions to COVID, and massive transition, and raising more than $10 million. Time for a nap!

Ed Van Voorhees welcomed California granddaughter #3 from daughter Ellen and husband Carlos. Son Matt in Colorado used the COVID break to earn his MBA in finance. Kids and grandkids in D.C. and Nashville are fine. After two COVID years homebound and three tries, Ed and Linda traveled in France this spring—the Dordogne, Pays Basque, and a few days in Paris and Barcelona.

Cathy Gorlin and her husband spent three months renting and working remotely for the first time in Naples, Florida. Now that they know they can do it, next winter they’ll stay longer. Their son Ross graduated from med school and started a residency at Swedish Hospital in Denver. Their grandson starts first grade in D.C. this fall.

Categories Class Notes, Class Notes | 1970sPosted on

CLASS OF 1975 | 2021–2022 | WINTER ISSUE

Here’s what classmates are enjoying or anticipating: Travel! In-person meetings! Dinner with friends! Postponed wedding celebrations! Hugs! Family visits! Seeing new grandchildren!

A house fire at chez Rachel Adler Hayes destroyed their kitchen, and damaged the rest. After several months in an apartment, Rachel has discovered how little stuff they really need. Friends and her temple community provided great support.

On a comical front, David Bickford reports his “steadiest gig was eight months being paid to COVID test three times weekly at Jimmy Kimmel Live, just in case they needed me for a sketch.”

Recent or soon-to-be retirees: With their last child married, John Tabachnick and Sherry are retiring at Thanksgiving and plan to celebrate in the Caribbean—their first trip anywhere in a long time. Paul Gionfriddo retired in June as CEO of Mental Health America. He and Pam live full-time in Middletown now. Pandemic attention on mental health impacts gave Paul air time on CNN, MSNBC, CSPAN, NBC Nightly News, and Face the Nation. He says mental health presents the only chronic diseases we wait until Stage 4 to treat, which is spurring some fundamental re-thinking. Sadly, this wasn’t soon enough for Paul and Pam. Their son Tim died in last January at age 35, after living with schizophrenia for most of his life.

Paul Bennett retired five years ago. He and Laura keep busy with a variety of hobbies, interests and friends. A visit from their Brooklyn-based older son (first time since COVID) was a high point. Younger son, nearby in the Bay Area, works in tech. All are healthy, happy, and vaccinated. Paul chairs the boards of Berkeley Symphony Orchestra and a Cristo Rey De La Salle high school designed for underserved students of color. Other pursuits are keeping in shape and doing house/yard projects. Paul looks forward to fall outings, and (like me) has been “praying against the odds for a less-than-horrendous fire season.”

Grandpa Len Burman and Missie (Smith ’75), married 44 years, have now married off all four of their kids and expect grandchild number four soon. Len’s retired from the Volcker professorship at Syracuse University, but still doing research at the Urban Institute. They enjoy their lake house in central New York and a home in Arlington, Virginia.

Joe Morningstar sent a first-time note. He’s moving to a Middlebury, Connecticut, house that has land for a garden and a barn to build next spring. Joe’s still working in real estate. “Can’t give it up—it’s too much fun!” He lovingly writes of his boys, Tom and Jack, who work in film/video and recently built a log cabin in upstate New York, and of his daughter, Grace, who is a doula and whose two little girls bring Joe great joy and fun. Additional Item: “I’m a vegetarian. Who would have thought?”

Bruce Weinraub wants to know “What’s everyone is up to who lived at Hewitt 10 our freshman year?” If you know, send news I can share in our next notes.

Joost Brouwer stays in touch from the Netherlands. He frequently sees his two sons who are local. The son in Australia (and the newest granddaughter, born mid-2019) are another story. Joost and Emilie hope to visit Australia in late 2022, but the baby already recognizes them on video and calls them “Opa” and “Oma,” like a good Dutch baby.

Cathy Gorlin practices family law and imagines retirement. This summer she had visits in upstate New York  from Chris McCoy McNeil  and Tory Rhoden Cohen (Smith exchange), and in Minnesota and New York from her daughter and five-year-old grandson. Cathy’s son is currently applying for medical residency.

Martha Faller Brown and her husband, Anthony, visited Martha’s family’s summer house in June to enjoy Adirondack beauty, the novelty of rain, and catching up with Faller siblings and their kids. She continues to manage operations for a Bay Area legal services program, now dealing with post-COVID staff turnover and hiring.

You’ll find Deb Kosich hunkered down in Houston. She did manage spring/summer trips to see her mother in Massachusetts and her condo (which narrowly escaped last summer’s fires) in Colorado.

I recently traveled for the first time in 20 months, spending a long overdue reunion with my sister in Western Massachusetts. While there, I saw my friend since 7th grade, Tom Kovar ’76, a social worker and musician. My trip included other notable visits and celebrations: two delightful days with Jean Barish ’74 in the Catskills, followed by a Brooklyn weekend celebrating Risa Korn’s daughter Melanie’s marriage. Risa and I enjoyed catching up after the festivities. Missed seeing David Leisner, who was on deadline to finish a commissioned composition, and then going out of town on vacation.

By the way, Gary Steinel saw Bruce Springsteen’s show in 2017, but I never did score a ticket.

Categories Class Notes | 1970sPosted on

CLASS OF 1975 | 2021 | ISSUE 1

I hope you’re vaccinated, healthy, and enjoying whatever pandemic pleasures are available. Looking forward to our 50th, let’s stay in touch through calls, Class Notes, Zooms, and visits (someday?).

      We’re retiring in droves. Vin Broderick retired in September after 52 years at Camp Pasquaney (24 as director). He says, “I cannot imagine a more rewarding career.” Vin’s looking forward to some projects and staying in touch from his base in Hebron, New Hampshire. Ann Dallas thought her layoff after 30+ years in journalism (AKA retirement) was the last big transition. “But no! We became brand-new grandparents, which is much more fun. My husband has Parkinson’s and several other health issues, so adapting to that has been challenging. But being a granny? Divine!”

     It was great to hear from Shirley Dodson, retired after three decades with Quaker nonprofits. She loves it but misses her COVID-quarantined daughter, Katie Ailes. Katie recently earned her PhD in English from University of Strathclyde in Scotland. Karin Johnson retired in March 2020, just in time to stay at home. Displaying COVID gratitude, Karin’s glad to shelter (almost) together with daughter, Yuka and her spouse Takafumi, who live in Karin’s building. Looking for an excellent Japanese translator? Yuka got her master’s in translation studies from International Christian University. Karin is well but misses travel and hopes to attend our 50th Reunion.

     Janet Schwaner and Tim Hill (both retired) stayed home, cooking and gardening through the pandemic. Tim plays and directs bridge games online (thill75@wesleyan.edu if you’re interested). The quarantine treat has been reading with their granddaughter in British Columbia every few days since March 2020. Janet lives dangerously, playing string trios weekly at home (windows open, fireplace going, masks on, seven feet apart) and gives virtual tours at the Museum of Fine Arts. She worked on November and January elections and says, “I was ecstatic! Will never take an election for granted again.” Lu Semeraro Hanley occasionally stops for a distanced visit when in Wellesley and gave Janet some expert post-hip-replacement care last summer.

     Brad Kosiba is overseeing a home kitchen remodel and a church construction project, plus laying out spring gardening and beekeeping plans. “Life in masks, even inside on workdays, is getting old, but so far effective. I hope we get vaccines soon, maybe from my old colleagues at Pfizer.” Joost Brouwer’s holiday letter shared losses and love. He and Emilie (retired) have three married children and four grandchildren in the Netherlands and Australia. All are healthy, active, and grateful for life’s joys.

     I think Ed Van Voorhees has nine grandchildren now, including a boy and girl born last fall. His daughter, Ellen, is a hospital chaplain in L.A.—a stressful job during COVID. Ed’s wife, Linda, plans to retire in July, and Ed’s aiming for May.

     Among the working folks, it’s been a tough year—between COVID and wildfires—for Jeff Morgan’s California winery, Covenant. His Israeli winery project, also hit hard, carries on under daughter, Zoe. She’s Napa Valley–bred, but has been in Israel for eight years. Jeff admits, “I guess we’ve been drinking even more than usual. But only with meals!” Cheers, Jeff and Jodie! Martha Faller Brown, also in Berkeley, reports good health. Her respites are lots of reading and hiking she wishes she could do more often.

     Roger Weisberg and Karen Freedman hunkered down in the Palisades, New York house where they raised kids. PBS recently broadcasted Roger’s 33rd documentary, and Karen continues fighting for foster kids as founder of Lawyers for Children. Their daughter Allie ’05 has kids ages five and eight, and 10 years ago founded Recess, an arts organization. Their son Daniel is regional medical director for Galileo, a startup improving health care delivery systems for complex care Medicare and Medicaid patients. Their daughter Liza, since finishing a clerkship with Judge Kimba Woods in the Southern District of New York, works for the ACLU. 

     Bruce Weinraub sent the most unusual missive I’ve gotten as secretary­—a photo of an antique page his mom bought, maybe from a Middletown guide circa mid-1800s. It refers to Wes as “an institution of great promise” and shows early College Row. Bruce says he chose Wes for its successful co-education and relatively high minority enrollment, but attached contemporaneous New York Times articles—one about the Class of 1975’s unprecedented 115 wait-list admissions, which they attributed to high ($5,000) cost of attendance, and perceptions of racial diversity.

     My quick update—both kids (26 and 24) are back in the Bay Area, thanks to COVID. I left my job last May (not retired but Bob is) and am working on reactivating my consulting practice in nonprofit strategy, growth and governance.  We four have stayed healthy. Bob and I are vaccinated and hopeful. Gratitude continues to be my pandemic watchword.

Categories Class Notes | 1970sPosted on

CLASS OF 1975 | 2020 | ISSUE 2

Pencil in our belated 45th Reunion for May 28-30, 2021. As a fun alternative, we pivoted to a 1975 “Re-ZOOM-ion” with 40 attendees. Brief scoops:

Barbara Bachtell is an artist and arts/nonprofit administrator in Cleveland. David Bickford is locked down in LA with his Thai masseuse wife. Jill Lesko, is sheltered in Nantucket contemplating her next career chapter after marketing, executive coaching, and teaching yoga. Janet Bradlow retired to Florida to be near family. Janet Brodie is doing creative arts therapy remotely at Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital. Perry Cacace, NYC lawyer working from Chappaqua, has four grown sons and a grandchild. Barbara Coven is practicing pediatrics in New York after an early-career odyssey around the South Pacific. Gary Davis is consulting on real estate development from home in a building he designed on Central Park North. Jeff Dunn is photo-documenting the COVID-era in the Boston area. Cathy Gorlin is confined to Minneapolis and is missing visits with her son in Denver and her daughter and grandkids on the East Coast. Tim Hill and Janet Schwaner retired in Wellesley, Mass., with kids in British Columbia and Ann Arbor and two grandkids. Tim runs a newly-online duplicate bridge club, and Janet plays cello and guides at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. Bill Holder remains in Middletown and has five grandchildren. Bonnie Hunter Samuels is a master gardener isolating in Oregon. Emely Karandy is a plastic surgeon and realtor outside Philly. Risa Korn is practicing internal medicine outside Boston and missing hugs with two local grandchildren. Brad Kosiba is keeping busy near Chapel Hill, keeping bees who work despite COVID. Debbie Kosich quarantined right after moving into a new Houston condo. Nancy Luberoff is hiking, backpacking, kayaking, and living by a Chapel Hill lake after her career in the Jewish community. John McNeill retired from Methodist ministry and volunteering as a community mediator near Rochester, N.Y. Pat McQuillan ’75, MA’81 is teaching at Boston College. Steve Miller and Martha Meade ’76 are sheltering in Pacific Palisades. Jeff McChristian is cutting his commute thanks to COVID and loving the boutique small-business law firm he joined in Hartford. Before COVID killed travel, Jeff and Pat traveled to Channel Islands, the Cotswolds, and Guatemala. COVID scratched two planned trips—Silk Road countries and Bhutan. J.D. Moore ’75, MALS ’80 is celebrating six years as a Connecticut trial judge and his new house near Jeff’s. Mark Nickerson is teaching trauma therapy in Massachusetts. Bruce Paton is teaching college online now from Sunnyvale, Calif., where he chairs local sustainability efforts. Becky Peters-Combs is retired from teaching in Denver and became a guardian for a former student, adding to her four kids. Ed Rosenbaum is living in New Jersey and thrilled that his daughter (a rabbi and cantor) is expecting her second child. COVID grounded Dave Rosenblum from his Los Angeles-New York travel routine as a retired consultant serving on corporate and nonprofit boards. Kathy Scholle is a retired attorney who sells real estate in Connecticut and has two grown kids and “almost” two grandchildren. Lucille Semeraro is a retired pediatrician enjoying hobbies. Gary Steinel, retired teacher, is riding bikes and brewing beer in Colorado. Rob Stockman is teaching part-time at Indiana University and running Wilmette Institute, an online education provider for the American Bahá’í community. Charlie Stolper is living in Austin (where his son works for Google), recently retired from advising venture companies.

Bruce Weinraub survived COVID-19 in March but has felt its longer-term effects on his medical practice in Northampton, Mass. Read about it in the Commonwealth Magazine. Check out his music side career on YouTube. COVID brought Suzy and Dave Rosenthal’s first grandchild. They drove from Buffalo to Denver for a two-week quarantine before they could hold him. Read about it in the Boston Globe. Dave’s editor of Side Effects Public Media, a collaborative publication covering health care issues across the Midwest. Jeff Morgan runs Covenant kosher winery in California and Israel with his wife, Jodie, and daughter Zoe. Jeff and Jodie just published their ninth cookbook, The Covenant Kitchen. Vinnie Broderick is hanging up the canoe paddle after 24 years running the New Hampshire summer camp where he and Bob Knox went as kids. Looks like the camp’s 125th anniversary will have to wait a year! Cheryl Vichness is “chilling in Baltimore” still working for a small management consulting firm but retired from Johns Hopkins.

Bill Devereaux and Emely Karandy shared word of Peggy Bouffard’s death from ALS last August. After Wes, Peg completed medical school at the University of Cincinnati, interned at Mass General, and returned to Cincinnati for pediatric residency. Peg was a beloved pediatrician in New Jersey for over 35 years. As her disease progressed, she moved to be with her children in Pennsylvania. Bill knew Peg from their high school days in Rhode Island. Emely, Deb Benton, and Brett Sherman roomed with her at Wes and attended her funeral. Emely writes, “Peg was a friend for life, sharing wisdom and love without judgment, dished out with a hug and a laugh. In spite of her brilliance, beauty, and accomplishments, she was never boastful, and carried herself with quiet grace.” She is survived by her daughter, Gretchen ’07, and son Adam, three grandchildren, and four sisters.

Cynthia M. Ulman | cmu.home@cmugroup.com
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