Tag: 1999

Categories Class Notes | 1990sPosted on

CLASS OF 1999 | 2014 | ISSUE 2

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Class Notes has entered the social media age! Several submissions for this issue were first posted on WesConnect. The new magazine site (magazine.wesleyan.edu) also has a Class Notes section where we can post overflow information and photos, so please start submitting them!

Farrah Darbouze married Jessica Heard in December. The wedding was in Bethesda, and our classmate Nichole Morris was also in attendance.

Imani “Grace” Duncan-Price dropped us a note to let us know she is now based in Kingston, Jamaica. “I was honoured to be appointed a senator for the Government of Jamaica in 2012, so a significant part of life now focuses on reviewing laws for my country. But I still have my day job as chief strategy officer for JMMB Group (regional financial services company) and of course enjoying my young family as we all grow. So link me if you come this way. One love.”

You may have seen BatKid on the news this year? One of our classmates was involved! From Allegra Jones: “I’m happy to report that San Francisco’s BatKid saved Gotham City on Nov. 15! I’ve volunteered as a member of the Young Professional Advisory Council (YPAC) of the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation for seven years, and this was by far the most exciting, inspiring, community-building event in which I have participated. Seeing the city come together to help grant 5-year-old Miles’ wish to become BatKid was a true joy. #SFBatKid”

Mark Zubko and family are now living in Brooklyn. They recently moved back to the US from London. Mark’s wife, Alexandra, recently co-founded a travel-review company (Triptease).

As for your class secretaries, Darryl is continuing to take over Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, one admissions class at a time. Kevin and his wife survived their first year with twins (Owen and Norah), with their older daughter, Claire, pitching in to help. When not chasing toddlers, Kevin is helping ZocDoc expand its business across the U.S., providing real-time access to healthcare for all!

After the last Class Notes, Kevin heard from Beth Rauen Sciaino, who lives in nearby Morris County. Beth is the associate rector at Christ Episcopal Church in Ridgewood, N.J. She and her husband have a daughter, 6, and son, 1.

We hope our class has a solid turnout for the 15-year Reunion in May…in the meantime, please send in your updates so we can share!

C. DARRYL UY | darryl.uy@gmail.com

KEVIN KUMLER | kevinkumler@gmail.com

Categories Class Notes | 1990sPosted on

Class of 1999 | 2014 | Issue 1

Darryl writes: Dr. Katherine Goldberg’s Ithaca-based veterinary practice officially became Whole Animal Veterinary Geriatrics & Hospice Services, PLLC., in late August. The new name more accurately reflects the unique focus of the practice and emphasizes the specialized care that it provides. Katherine’s practice is the only one in the region, and one of very few in the world devoted exclusively to geriatric support, hospice, and palliative care for pets. Wesleyan’s Science in Society Program definitely provided an excellent foundation for development of unique perspectives on bioethics and healthcare systems in general, which contributed to Katherine’s unique career path within the veterinary profession.

Jake Fleisher lives in L.A., working as a comedy writer. His latest project is a Web-series funded by Yahoo called Tiny Commando. He co-created it and wrote all 12 episodes. This action/comedy stars Ed Helms (The Hangover, The Office), Zack Levi (Chuck), and Gillian Jacobs (Community). To watch this family friendly and safe-for-work series, go to screen.yahoo.com/tiny-commando.

Ursula Ogno Sfraga continues to manage a software development and consulting firm in Juneau, Alaska. She and her husband, Philip, adopted their 3-year-old foster son on May 3, 2013. Joshua joins older brother Aiden, age 7.

Daniel Gibson was promoted from counsel to partner at Cantor Colburn. Co-chair of the design patent practice group at Cantor Colburn, he is experienced in both domestic and foreign preparation and prosecution of patent applications in a variety of mechanical, electrical, and design fields.

Shirley Fan saw Naoko Tsunoda in NYC this fall. Naoko lives in Atlanta, Ga., and works for the tea company Teavana, developing lines of teas for the brand. As for Shirley, she moved back to NYC with her husband and son after spending five years in Chicago. She just published her first cookbook (May 2013) called The Flying Brownie (http://amzn.to/17rYhsl). It’s about putting together the perfect care package for your loved ones, and was inspired by her time at Wes!

On July 20, 2013, John Raby married Louisa Schroeder in Falmouth, Maine. Andrew Hopewell, Ben Cohen-Leadholm, Mike Stevens, and I were all groomsmen and Esther Perreault Roy ’00 was also in attendance. John is the head of the history department at Thornton Academy and was promoted to captain of the Saco Fire Department. Andrew works on the comprehensive plan for Spotsylvania County, Va., which is among the country’s fastest growing localities. His wife, Lindsey Poulin Hopewell, who is working on her doctorate from George Mason University in Public Policy, was not able to attend the wedding, since she was home taking care of their two kids, Anderson and Aibreann. Ben is a consultant for Denneen & Company and lives in Brookline, Mass., with his wife, Jamie, and two kids, Addison and Jackson. Mike continues to pursue his passion for music as the musical director for PhillyBloco, a high energy group that performs Brazilian samba, funk, and reggae. He lives in Philadelphia with wife Sara Janiki Stevens ’98 and son Oscar. Esther married her high school sweetheart, Chris Roy, and they live in Nashua, N.H., where she works as a naturopathic doctor and natural health educator. Even though John never did his Caddyshack gopher dance impression, we all had a great time at his wedding!

As for Kevin, he and his wife, Keara, are just trying to keep their eyes open! Two moves and two additional kids have kept them very busy. They are now settled in Glen Rock, N.J., and Kevin is enjoying life in the ’burbs and commuting into SoHo.

Don’t forget, 2014 marks our class Reunion of 15 years! So save the dates: May 22–25, 2014! Hope to see many of you back on campus!

C. DARRYL UY and KEVIN KUMLER
darryl.uy@gmail.com
kevinkumler@gmail.com

Categories Obituaries | 1990-1999Posted on

ANDREW I.K. WEBER ’99

ANDREW I.K. WEBER, 34, who had worked as a marketing coordinator for a financial firm, died Jan. 17, 2012. His mother, Sylvia Weber, and many aunts, uncles and cousins survive.

Categories Obituaries | 1990-1999Posted on

JORDAN S. GREENBERG ’99

JORDAN S. GREENBERG, 30, a systems analyst at Morgan Stanley, died Feb. 1, 2008. A member of Alpha Delta Phi, he majored in philosophy. He is survived by his parents and sister, Jennifer Greenberg ’01.

Categories Obituaries | 1990-1999Posted on

TARAS PETROVICH GAPOTCHENKO ’99

TARAS PETROVICH GAPOTCHENKO, 26, died April 12, 2005 of complications from cancer. An economics major at Wesleyan, he received his master’s degree from the university in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Survivors include his father and a niece.

Categories Obituaries | 1990-1999Posted on

VANESSA J. CABRERA ’99

VANESSA J. CABRERA, who worked as a chef after graduating from the Natural Gourmet Cooking School, died Feb. 22, 2012, at age 34. In addition to working as a chef, she pursued her many dreams: natural food and cooking, natural healing, and entrepreneurship. Survivors include her parents; her sister, Melissa Cabrera ’96; her brother; her nephew; her aunt; and several cousins.

Submitted by C. Anne Brockelman ’96 on behalf of Vanessa’s family:
After graduating from Wes (‘99), Vanessa went on to graduate from the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City.  From that point on, Vanessa worked as a vegetarian chef in a variety of ways: running her own cafe (for a short time), teaching cooking to young people, working as head chef at Rockin’ Raw in Williamsburg, traveling to India and working as a chef for the Purple Valley Yoga Retreat, and more.

Upon returning from her work in India, Vanessa discovered she had breast cancer.  She waged a gallant, private battle, demonstrating extreme courage and strength. Vanessa ultimately lost her battle as a variety of complications from her treatment became too much to overcome.

Her funeral service was held in her hometown of Montclair, NJ.  Among the attendees were her sister, Melissa Cabrera ‘96, and classmates: Nichole Morris ‘99, Janelle Bryan ‘99, Farrah Darbouze ‘99, and Rebecca Reeves (formally Elliot) ‘99.

Vanessa from a cooking demo she ran at the New York Botanical Garden just following her diagnosis in the summer of 2010.  She loved to cook!  It was her art.