November / December 2024

Find out what your fellow alums are up to—new jobs, marriages, and more—in the Class Notes!

1950s

1950

A common adage asserts that for every human event there is an appropriate time or season, and for many a given life expectancy. Think about our Class of 1950 Class Notes column in Cornell Alumni Magazine and its successor, Cornellians. The discontinued Cornell Alumni Magazine was founded in 1899 and, with a lifetime of 122 years, lived 77% of the University’s history and 49% of our country’s history. Our Class of 1950 has lived nearly half of the University’s history and nearly one-third of our country’s history. And we surviving members of the Class of ’50 have lived about 40% of our country’s history!

Our column’s current lifetime is just short of a life expectancy of 75 years. Reluctantly and sadly, I must now report that this will be my last regular column for the exemplary Class of the Century. Reasons include: my declining health. At our ages, it’s impossible to recruit a successor. And most importantly, the purpose of the column is supposed to be a forum for classmates to exchange news and views, and such reports have now declined to zero.

As news reports decreased, I began to use my word allotment to include eclectic stories I thought of interest, about which I received email compliments and comments from readers of other class columns. But this violates the intent of the column.

How I came to be the class correspondent remains a mystery. After graduation I faithfully subscribed to the alumni magazine, but for a variety of reasons I had no other connection to the University. After retirement at age 70, my life situation changed dramatically and I was free to pursue challenges and activities not previously possible, such as attending my first Reunion, our 50th, in 2000.

Because I had been a zilch on campus, a country bumpkin without functional social skills, I was apprehensive about how much I might enjoy the experience. I was surprised to be warmly and sincerely accepted and engaged by those who, unlike me, had been academic, social, and sports leaders on campus—then referred to as BMOC (Big Men on Campus). I then got a jolt when Bob Fite sent Jack Rose, MD ’54, to ask me if I would be interested in replacing Bob as a class correspondent. I had verified experience as an academic and eclectic author and thought it would be a welcome addition to my many post-retirement activities—and, in a vicarious way, to obtain the campus experience I had missed out on. I accepted, and my suppositions were confirmed.

Our Class of 1950 has lived nearly half of the University’s history.

I do not recall meeting Bob, so it must have been Jack who introduced me to Ruth Downey Crone, the female correspondent with whom I would share column writing responsibilities, each writing three columns per year. The two-person correspondents team was an excellent leftover from the time, prior to 1969, when there had been separate female and male class officers. Ruth and I shared the job for five years, then I shared it with Marion Steinmann for the next 10 years, and with Pat Carry Stewart until 2019. For the past five years I’ve worked solo, and I must now retire. It has been a pleasure and an honor to have served as a class correspondent, and surprisingly for one-third (25 years) of its lifetime. It fit perfectly into the wonderful retirement life I have enjoyed: a life of study/learning, writing, lecturing, skiing, sailing, bicycling, foreign and domestic travel, and activities of a four-generation family of 56.

I close with personal thanks for my odd example of the Cornell experience. Cornell is highly rated, typically in the top 20 nationally, but mostly on the basis of inputs, not outcomes. From my unusual life history, including 30 years’ experience as a university professor, I assert that the most important criteria a university should strive for is the positive difference it makes in the lives of its graduates and the difference they make on society.

On campus I was an academic failure and social misfit. But I persisted, graduated, and earned master’s degrees in science and education. Then, at age 36 I was recruited into a doctoral program in science education and biology at the University of Rochester. A professorship at Drake University followed, and after age 40 I was able to achieve a liberal education and international status as a scholar in my profession of science education—and a listing in my high school Hall of Fame as an accomplished farmer, science educator, scientist, author, and world traveler. Evidence that no student should ever be adjudged an academic failure. May we all be grateful for how the Cornell experience affected our lives for the better.

From Class President Jim Brandt: “As your class president, and on behalf of our entire Class of 1950, I’m compelled to express to Paul our best thanks for the superlative job he has done as class correspondent for the last 25 years, writing 87 columns reporting on an estimated 500 classmates. We wish him the best in column-writing retirement.”

Please note: Future personal and class news can appear in the Class Notes column but must be sent to Class Notes editor Alexandra Bond ’12 at abb83@cornell.edu. ❖ Paul Joslin (email Paul) | 13731 Hickman Rd., #4207, Urbandale, IA 50323 | tel., (515) 278-0960 | Alumni Directory.

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1951

Greetings, Class of ’51. Please take a moment to let us know how you’re planning to spend the holidays—or even better, send me a copy of your holiday letter! ❖ Class of 1951 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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1952

James Clarke, writing from Columbia, SC, manages a tree farm in Chester County, SC. His granddaughter manages a farm in Costa Rica while running the Global Learning Program, recruiting students to study and travel there. She also provides tours of the country. James derives satisfaction in seeing his grandchildren achieve their goals. He does not think that Cornell changed the trajectory of his life; he says, “It just reinforced my goals leading to all the aims inspired by five years of learning.”

Alison Bliss Graham writes from Haverford, PA, that her husband, Chad, died in March and she is living at the Quadrangle independent living center, a Quaker retirement community in Haverford, where she’s enjoying the company of many charming, educated residents. She grew up in Ithaca and she has two great-grandsons. We send condolences on your loss of Chad.

Evelyn Hoffmann Huffman writes from Kansas City, MO, that she loves retirement and is reading comic novels, mysteries, and biographies when she is not traveling. Cornell gave her a love of learning—especially history.

Helen Pellman Marsh, writing from Middlebury, VT, now enjoys living in the Residence at Otter Creek, where she has many friends and participates in activities there, such as weekly discussions of articles in the New Yorker magazine. She is getting used to being a widow, has traveled to Nova Scotia, and plans to go to California to visit two of her many great-grandchildren. An English major with a minor in art history, her Cornell education led to work as an administrative assistant to the chair of the art department and two directors of the Middlebury College Museum of Art, and later in the history department.

Howard Shima is now 97 and—it being difficult to walk around these days—enjoys watching television. He credits his Cornell education with success in his professional life.

Stephen Tauber resides in Lexington, MA, and writes that he remains independent and reasonably active; he passed his driver license test and the instructor asked, “How old are you?” He continues as a volunteer at the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History. In April he observed the total eclipse of the sun (his third) with his son and daughter-in-law in Newport, VT. Recent acquisitions are a walking stick and a hearing aid. ❖ Thomas Cashel, LLB ’56 (email Tom) | Alumni Directory.

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1953

Vic Wintriss was recently highlighted in the IEEE Spectrum, a newsletter for the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). After selling his sports-imaging company in 2006, he established the League of Amazing Programmers, a nonprofit after-school program that teaches coding in Java and Python to students in grades 5 to 12. “The students who have completed the program have been amazing,” Vic reports. “The computer programs they write are just totally incredible.” There are now 200 students participating, and Vic hopes to expand the program to other states. The league was recently named “Nonprofit of the Year” in its district in California.

Your correspondents: ❖ Caroline Mulford Owens (email Caroline) | Bob Neff, JD ’56 (email Bob) | John Nixon (email John) | Alumni Directory.

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1954

This month we welcome guest columnist Jane Barber Smith. Jane worked on the Cornell Daily Sun and offered to add some variety to our columns. We thank her.

Found engraved upon an unrecognized Cornell building during Reunion: “Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known.”

An interesting thing happened to me at our 70th Reunion in June: Our class correspondent Ruth Carpenter Bailey asked me if I might be open to guest-writing our Class Notes column for this issue. Bill Waters, our other co-correspondent, is recuperating following surgery and would not be able to meet a mid-August deadline. I agreed and then had a good time talking with Bill about our days working together on the Cornell Daily Sun along with Fred Wood, who I married shortly after graduation. Fred was actually our class correspondent in the ’60s before he died in 1970. Four years later I married Duane Smith, a UCC minister, community college professor, and divorced father with custody of three young daughters the same ages as Fred’s and my three.

To say that my own life was busy sounds normal for those of us raising families, studying further, finding our vocations, and living our dreams or not, in the twilight of one century, and the morning of another. It has been both lively and fulfilling. While I never achieved the career goal with which I entered Cornell—to be a journalist—I developed a professional passion for teaching young children the arts and skills of reading, writing, and appreciating good literature, calling upon my coursework at Cornell in developmental psychology on a daily basis!

Before I officially retired in 1997, I had the privilege of providing leadership to my state-wide professional organization, and in retirement to local political committees. I also volunteered for 10 years recently as executive director of a non-denominational summer day camp at my church for Poughkeepsie youth. However, I have never laid aside my interest in finding and electing good candidates to public office. VOTE! And I remain, as always, Mom to six, Nana to eight, and now Great-Grandma to two. My Cornell family now includes my brother, Don Barber ’58, sister and brother-in-law Marco ’61 and Meredith Wood Einaudi ’61, brother-in-law Jerold Jacobson, JD ’65, daughters Barbara Wood ’82 and Jean Smith ’85, and nephew Jack Feldman ’25, as well as father-in-law Frederic Wood 1924.

A note about my long-lasting friendship with Ruth Carpenter Bailey: As undergraduates we worked together in several activities, but our lives continued to cross. We were both back on campus in 1963–64 as young mothers while Ruth’s husband worked on a master’s and mine was acting Episcopal Chaplain at Cornell United Religious Work. Ruth notably helped organize a week-long seminar with Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique, for a small group of young women, such as we were, still imbued with our Cornell mantra “freedom and responsibility” but not yet realizing ourselves in our greater worlds. In subsequent years we did Adirondack family canoe trips together. Then came years of exchanging annual greeting cards, at which Ruth was a master. I would just pick up a phone and call Ruth every now and then. She is always there—for so many.

Thank you to the classmates who continue to send in their news and to keep us apprised of their current lives, activities, and interests. Here is news from some who have recently written. Jacob “Jack” Martin, MS ’61, lives in Worcester, MA, with a life in retirement focused on his family, travel, and gardening. His travels in 2024 have included sailing in Newfoundland, the Northwest Passage, and Norway. Other travel has included a dinosaur dig in North Dakota, polar bear viewing in Canada, Christmas in New Orleans, and skiing in Massachusetts.

Betty Wagler Striso writes that she takes great satisfaction in having perfect vision. Still, she is grateful that her family regularly keeps check on her to ensure that her finances are straight and her house functioning. She is also grateful that her four years at Cornell helped her believe in her own competence and intelligence. She continues to live in Glen Cove, NY. Alice Green Fried of Boca Raton, FL, is a Ruby Life Master at duplicate bridge, a favored activity in her retirement. Cornell changed the trajectory of her life—it is where she met her husband of 66 years, Bob, LLB ’54.

I called upon my coursework at Cornell in developmental psychology on a daily basis!

Jane Barber Smith ’54

Sheldon Lee Glashow writes that he entered Cornell to prepare himself to be a theoretical physicist, and he credits his talented teachers and brilliant classmates for making this possible. He now lives in Brookline, MA, where he writes and edits Inference Review of Science. He also coins new words, the newest of which is “leucippity.” (He wrote, “Long ago two ancient Greek savants, Democritus and Leucippus, argued that matter consists of atoms, a notion that would be confirmed more than two millennia later. I recently coined the word ‘leucippity’ to characterize those speculative hypotheses that wait many years for widespread acceptance.”) Sheldon is a worldwide traveler with and to friends and family.

Jane Gregory Wilson is enjoying life visiting with family and cruising, while home is in Sun City Center, FL. She met her husband, Harold “Lynn”, while they were students. She writes that she then survived for over 20 years as a military wife while Lynn was a fighter pilot, including three years in the Philippines while he commuted to Vietnam every other month. Annadele Ferguson Jackson loves visits from family and seeing Cornell classmates who have retired to Sarasota, FL, where she lives. She credits her years at Cornell for her lifetime interests in and appreciation for nature, travel, and world history.

Linda Stagg Long lives in Dublin, OH, and says she likes every minute of retirement, especially the closeness of her family. She was the fourth generation of her family to attend Cornell—she always believed that she would as well. Arnold Roland now makes Santa Fe, NM, his home and would like to make contact with his old Cornell friends, especially his former fraternity brothers. After a lifetime series of moves across country he lost touch: med school at University of Pennsylvania, three years in the Navy, residency back at Penn, then relocating to San Diego, and now Santa Fe.

Sandy Dreier Kozinn continues to live in Demarest, NJ, enjoying her extended family and spending time online with Sherlockian friends. John Wolff, MA ’55, continues the Cornell dream, living in Ithaca, being together with friends and family, and receiving visitors. While at Cornell he developed a lifetime love of literature. In retirement he especially enjoys reading and “making music.”

Finally, with good memories of the togetherness of the class Reunion in June, I will add a bit about a few with whom I attended functions, shared meals, rode elevators, appreciated campus bus rides, and had engaging conversations before and after. Barbara—my daughter, Reunion roommate, and driver—kept us all on the straight and narrow when confronted with getting about a very much changed campus since our last visit. She is also the adoptive mother of two teenage boys and a mathematician, educator, and administrator.

Jean Lanigan Lenehan of Radnor, PA, also attended with her daughter. Before retirement, Jean for many years was a worldwide tour organizer for cultural groups traveling and/or performing in the U.S. or abroad. She continues to enjoy aerobic swimming and was just in from her daily pool swim when I spoke to her on the phone today.

Warren Breckenridge summers in Brewster on Cape Cod and winters in Yarmouth Port, MA. Following up on conversations we had at Reunion, Breck hosted my daughter Barbara and me for lunch at his home early this week while we were vacationing on the Cape, and while I was writing this column. I can attest to the fact that he makes a delicious lobster bisque and that while in retirement he maintains his interest in cryogenics and watercraft as well as being a hospital transportation volunteer and regularly delivering Meals on Wheels to the homebound.

Jacquelyn Leather Mallery makes her home now in the Town of Long Lake in the central Adirondacks, where I also once lived in a wonderfully old summer lakeside house about two miles down the lake from town for 25 summers—water access only. We had a great time during Reunion catching up on mutual friends we had, unbeknownst to one another.

It has been my pleasure to write this column, and I continue to wish Ruth and Bill good health in bringing future Class Notes to you. Thank you for the privilege. As E.B. White 1921 reminds us from the high Cornell Store wall: “Writing is an act of faith, not a trick of grammar.” ❖ Jane Barber Smith (email Jane) | Ruth Carpenter Bailey (email Ruth) | Bill Waters, MBA ’55 (email Bill) | Class website | Alumni Directory.

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1955

Malcom Whyte is enjoying his house, garden, children, and visits from friends—plus the fact that he’s still breathing! He has been writing articles about Edward Gorey (you can learn more here) and keeping tabs on the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco.

Ruth Lauterbach Hutter gets great satisfaction from her family, which includes four great-grandchildren. “They all live nearby, so I see them often. I have been busy with volunteer jobs, but I must admit I am slowing down. I am walking daily and working out with a trainer. I celebrated my first bat mitzvah in honor of my 90th birthday, with 100 guests.”

Doug Brodie shares that joy comes from his family and his many Cornell friends. Retired from his career at KeyBank, Doug says he is enjoying life.

Our class vice president, David Sheffield, BArch ’60, MRP ’61 (Wellesley, MA), has been giving back to his community for decades. In the past, he’s been the president of the Cornell Club of Boston, a member of the Architecture, Art and Planning Dean’s Advisory Council, and a class correspondent—and he is currently a life member of the Cornell University Council, which he’s been involved with for 33 years! He has held numerous volunteer positions in his hometown, including chair of the permanent building committee, member of the zoning board of appeals, and member of the village church renovation and green energy committees of the Wellesley Village Congregational Church. We are lucky to have you as a class leader, David!

Please take a moment to send us a note. We’d love to hear how you are doing! ❖ Class of 1955 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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1956

Lenore Brotman Greenstein is keeping mentally and physically active. “I play pickleball three times a week and can keep up with younger players. I also take strength and balance classes and walk two to three miles per day. In addition to doing puzzles and reading for three book groups, I’ve enjoyed canasta and mahjong games. I am the editor of the monthly newsletter in my senior community of Siena Lakes, and it has grown to a full-fledged newspaper. I am also active in a women’s cultural group in Naples, FL. I have nine grandchildren and am expecting my sixth great-grandchild in June. I am hoping that my three children, including Micah ’84, will attend my big 90th next April.”

Lenore adds, “Cornell made everything possible for me: hearing my late husband, Howard ’57, sing at Hillel services led to a beautiful marriage (and family) of 49 years. I have also had an exciting career as food editor and food and nutrition consultant at Canyon Ranch health spa, the Ritz-Carlton, and other venues.”

Nancy Kohler Dean writes, “So far, I’m winning the lymphoma battle! Still here at age 90!” Attending Cornell “enhanced my dreams,” she writes.

On the eve of my 90th, I presented a technical paper at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management.

Jim Larrimore ’56

Jim Larrimore writes, “On the eve of my 90th, I presented a technical paper on July 21 at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management in Portland, OR—probably the oldest presenter. My principal message was that it is time for governments to take the actions that would make Iran meet fully the obligations it accepted when it put the Nonproliferation Treaty in force in the early 1970s.”

“On the Cornell front,” Jim says, “to share remembrances of the great times we had singing with Cayuga’s Waiters, I host a Friday Zoom session with the remaining Cayuga’s Waiters of the 1950s, the group that went to Reunions at Cornell for many happy years to sing the old songs for the returning classes.”

Please send us your news, too! We’d love to hear from you. ❖ Class of 1956 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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1957

It is time for updates from some of our incredible classmates. Anne Phillips Drechsel was awarded a framed certificate for 30 years of service for the Garden Club of America. She has been very involved in planting and caring for gardens in Englewood, NJ. She continues stitching her needlepoint, which she taught for many years. She treasures her many happy times at Cornell, where she made so many friends. Michael Hausman continues teaching at the Columbia University School of the Arts and living part time in Montana, where he has a herd of buffalo. A favorite memory of his Cornell days was playing football for ZBT.

Bob Shirley recalls wonderful memories of his lacrosse teammate John Seiler. The two of them used to embellish stories of how they beat up Jim Brown when they played Syracuse. Bob would spend a day with John when Bob was an official in the national 4-H horse events at the livestock show in Louisville, KY. With John as a great host, the two would enjoy their time together, of course enhanced by their chosen beverage, bourbon. Marcia Wishengrad Metzger, JD ’60, and husband Bob are truly appreciating the freedom of senior housing. The two take a major trip each year, including visits to Europe and Asia. Marcia stays active in the Women’s Association of Hilton Head Island, SC, and in her temple. A special bonus is the joy of watching her local teenage granddaughter’s accomplishments in both academics and sports.

Stu MacKay had an amazing trip to Antarctica with his son and son-in-law. He and wife Tornie celebrated their 66th anniversary in June. Stu also spends time raising money for the American Truck Historical Society and running a wine and food group. Milt Kogan, BS ’07, who we have known as our physician/actor, spent a recent summer in England, actually attending Oxford University, enrolled in “History of the English Language” and “Architecture of Medieval English Churches.” He and Susan slept in a dorm and ate in a Grand Hall à la Harry Potter. They enjoy harvesting their own crops grown on their Oceanside, CA, farm and are looking forward to downsizing their big farmhouse. More updates next time.

Ronald Demer ’59 forwarded the following from his SAE brother, and reminded us that our classmate Don Rector wrote Carmen Coed, the winning skit in the 1956 Ivy Room Greek competition. Don sends this message: “After Cornell, I worked my way through the University of San Francisco Law School, graduating in 1964. Then I defended Oakland criminals for two years as an assistant public defender. For the next 12 years I prosecuted civil labor law violations for the U.S. Department of Labor in its San Francisco office. I became a federal administrative law judge in 1979 and spent the next 26 years hearing and deciding disability cases for the Social Security Administration in White Plains, NY, and in Fresno and Oakland, CA.”

Milt Kogan ’57, BS ’07, spent a recent summer in England, actually attending Oxford University. He and Susan slept in a dorm and ate in a Grand Hall à la Harry Potter.

Don continues, “I like to listen to opera when I take my morning constitutional in Lacey, a suburb of Olympia, WA. I married my wife, Shirley, 46 years ago. We moved to Lacey in 2006 to be near my daughter and her family. Our son Jeff graduated from Stanford Law School in 2003. He was an SAE at UC San Diego. He speaks Japanese fluently and is with Milbank Tweed in Tokyo, currently on assignment in London. We have three grandchildren in Olympia and one in Tokyo. My hope is that in my dotage my daughter, and not some stranger in a nursing home, will occasionally bring me a cup of soup.”

Tony Cashen, MBA ’58, sent his own message. In his words, “Gail (Lautzenheiser) and I have lived at Kendal at Ithaca for nine years, one of the three retirement communities Kendal has established in relationship with colleges. The other two are at Dartmouth and Oberlin. Classmates Marj Nelson Smart (with partner Bob Camp ’58, MBA ’60) and Bob Gosse also reside here. We obviously enjoy taking advantage of University events and living here with retired faculty and administrators from Cornell and from Ithaca College.”

Tony adds, “Last week we hosted visits from two classmates, first with Betty Ann Rice Keane and then with Bob Boffa. Betty Ann was traveling with two of her sons, making a swing through Upstate New York to reconnect with family and friends in hometown Binghamton, to visit us in Ithaca, and to visit classmate Joanne Field Bleakley in Geneva. Betty Ann, a widow of five years, has relocated from the Buffalo area and now lives in the Waterstone Retirement Community in Lexington, MA, where Sue Westin Pew and husband Dick ’55 live, as does Art Boland and his wife, Jane.

“Bob Boffa visited us for the third time since we moved here, coupling his visits with daughter Lynn and grandson Liam Sullivan ’21. Bob and I recounted our Cornell days as fellow board of governors members of Willard Straight Hall and members of Quill and Dagger. Bob and Michelle (Striker) lived in Los Angeles, CA, where Bob was a lawyer and litigator in Hollywood and Michelle a therapist. In 1992 they moved to South Salem, NY, where Bob continues to live after Michelle’s passing in 2011. Ithaca remains a crossroad for reconnecting with classmates for Gail and me. I keep in close contact with my DU classmates Pete Blauvelt, BA ’59, Tom Keating, Dave Nye, Dom Pasquale, and Dave Loysen.” ❖ Connie Santagato Hosterman (email Connie) | Alumni Directory.

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1958

Classmates who sent in news all seem to be enjoying living at home, with a few still traveling, some still working, and all recalling their times on campus with good thoughts from those many years ago. Jack Kelly has always expressed his feelings about life at Cornell, writing, “The beauty, the faculty, the many friends made, and all the memories too. It was a wonderful grounding for later life.” Jack continues work with his two sons, as often reported here, and lives on Windsong Farm in Pottersville, NJ, much missing his wife, Ingrid, who passed away in 2020.

Jack recently had dinner with Mike Griffinger, who also sent in news that he’s working with a neighbor to launch a startup company to produce products replacing those made from fossil fuels. Mike is writing his memoirs of nearly 60 years of both practicing law and celebrating married life with Jane, and with the latter is planning to spend some family time in Mallorca.

Martin Steinberg still resides in Naples, FL, and continues “a modest amount of medical work, consulting for biopharma, and writing reviews and original research papers.” Otherwise, he’s enjoying music and some travel, visiting grandchildren with Susan. Douglass Lee notes simply that he and Terri still live in Cambridge, MA, and that he “reviews manuscripts and plays squash.” Marilyn Winters Boger lives in Haslett, MI, and says that she gets much enjoyment these days creating costumes for high school theater programs but misses bicycle touring, which she did in her younger years. She and Richard spend summers at a lake home in Northern Michigan and winters in Bradenton, FL.

Ellen Gussman Adelson, with husband Stephen ’55, says she is “still practicing” and gets much satisfaction these days “in continued involvement with Cornell and the University of Tulsa, reading, family, and friends.” Ellen feels that Cornell indeed changed her trajectory of life: “broadening scope, new ideas, living in a more liberal, accepting environment, and lifelong friends.”

Marilyn Winters Boger ’58 gets much enjoyment these days creating costumes for high school theater programs.

Ann MacLeod Cashen plans day trips for her retirement community in Lenox, MA, “which means I’m learning about the Berkshires, music, art, theater, scenery, and history.” Ann adds that her three girls and husbands are all well, as are her five grandchildren. She feels that Cornell changed her life trajectory, “broadening my intellectual background—music, art, literature (Nabokov), philosophy, social sciences—and I met my husband.” Sandy, MS ’63, and Barbara Baltzel Burton ’57 sent in their dues and share the fact that they’re still living in Dayton, OH.

Muriel King Taylor, MD ’62, wrote many notes from her home in Lakewood, WA. She gets much satisfaction these days in “counting my blessings: being capable of walking a mile despite a bout of TB two years ago; the survival of last year’s seedlings of asparagus through the winter; the unprecedented arrival of two wood duck drakes on my pond last week; and in February a grand birdwatching tour in Florida with the Lab of Ornithology and guests.” Muriel curated an exhibit for Puget Sound scenic artists celebrating local artists since its organization 38 years ago. She also was working with a terrific gardener/helper who aided her in preparing for her estate sale last summer.

Muriel has these thoughts when reflecting on two major organizations’ impact on her life trajectory: “Cornell’s courses with Professors Sienko (chemistry), Simon (history), Sale (English), Nabokov (European literature), and Brown (ethics) vastly expanded my capabilities for critical thinking and innovation, which have served me well professionally. And just before entering Cornell, I attended an international Girl Scout leadership meeting in Switzerland, and that experience changed my life trajectory by giving me the courage to take risks, try unconventional routes, and develop tolerance and understanding of others very different from myself. Both Cornell and the Scout experiences have been formative for me.”

Another year for wishing all of us remaining a Happy Holidays. ❖ Dick Haggard (email Dick) | Barbara Avery, MA ’59 (email Barbara) | Alumni Directory.

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1959

One of the exciting parts of a Cornell Reunion, particularly for us older classes, is welcoming folks attending their first Reunion. This past June, we welcomed Marsha Gratz Perry. “I have no clue why I waited 65 years to ‘go back.’ The Reunion was far more than I expected—remembering, laughing, meeting classmates again after much too long a time, and meeting anew some super interesting classmates,” she says. Marsha’s post-Cornell life began in NYC, where she married Bob. After the youngest of their three children reached age 4, she went back to her pre-Cornell days as a figure skating coach. “In 1980, when the Russian hockey team showed up at the Lake Placid Olympics and looked fantastic doing pair figure skating moves as warm-ups, and when soon thereafter the New Jersey Devils hired some Russian bench coaches, I decided if the Russians could do it, so could I.” That started Marsha’s teaching the “Perry Power” way to skate for hockey, which she has done for six decades at youth hockey camps, and for three decades as the NHL Washington Capitals power skating coach. A die-hard hockey fan, she has coached “just about anyone with two legs, a hockey stick, and a willingness to improve their game.”

In 1986, Marsha ran and was elected to the Maryland state legislature, serving there for three terms, “though I was the lone elected ‘leftist’ in the state’s most Republican district.” She has also been elected to and served on assorted community-based boards and offices, as an activist in environmental and classic children’s, workplace, and women’s issues. She says that her congressman recently told her that the Freedom Caucus voted her the woman they would most like to see left on some deserted island somewhere—she says that the caucus clearly did not approve of her liberal-leaning ways!

“Life is good,” says Jim Glenn. He and his wife, Gwen, have lived in Taos, NM, for 17 years. They delight in the small, historic town with its Indian Pueblo, Spanish heritage, and many art galleries; devote time to their flower and vegetable gardens; and are active at church. Their three children and six grandchildren are frequent visitors, often partaking in the area’s outdoor attractions. This past August, for example, two of their grandsons, both in their 20s and avid joggers, participated for the first time in the Taos Ski Valley’s “Up & Over” 10K trail race. The race went from 9,300 feet to 11,800 feet and back again. The two lowlanders were excited by how well they finished, both clocking in at less than 30 minutes behind the leader. Jim and Gwen have published an autobiography of their four years living in India. In addition, Jim has published two spy novels, each including an American businessman living and working for years in India or West Germany. Learn more about the novels at their website.

One of the exciting parts of a Cornell Reunion, particularly for us older classes, is welcoming folks attending their first Reunion.

A Memoir of a Crucian Cowboy by Hans Lawaetz is now available from Amazon. The story starts with his Danish grandparents’ arrival on St. Croix in 1890, at that time a Danish possession (later purchased by the U.S. in 1917). It tells the story of the Lawaetz family business success and leadership in nonprofit organizations on St. Croix. One chapter covers Hans’s Cornell years: dealing with Ithaca winters, a challenge for a guy arriving from an island where the temperatures never fell below 69 degrees; playing on the varsity soccer team; working in the SAE kitchen for his meals; and becoming president of Alpha Delta Phi and Wing Commander of the Air Force ROTC.

Mimi Niepold Horne of Alexandria, VA, traveled to Italy and France last spring. She enjoyed seeing friends in the two countries and took a painting workshop in Umbria. Toni Vogel Carey of Gwynedd, PA, continues to publish and present papers on philosophy and the history of ideas—“Never gonna retire ‘til I go into the grave.” Otto Keil is still actively involved in his family’s wholesale florist business, Emma’s Garden Growers, in Huntington, NY. Married to Carol (Cooper) ’62 for 64 years, he’s proud of their nine children and 17 grandchildren, a number of whom are Cornell grads. “Trips to Europe with grandkids keeps us in touch with my German heritage,” he writes.

Every two years, it’s Mattson Week for Joanne Mattson DeVoe of Warren, RI, when she and her family (two children and two grandchildren) reune with relatives. Retired ophthalmologist John Aldon ’54, MD ’59, of Berkeley, CA, has no trouble answering the question, “What brings you the most satisfaction these days?” from the current Cornellians news form: “Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren; following the amazing/interesting current events; and continuing the study of physics and medicine.” ❖ Jenny Tesar (email Jenny) | Alumni Directory.

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1960s

1960

Raymond Skaddan and his wife live in Warminster, PA, and he reports, “I enjoy spending quality time with friends and family (four kids, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild with another on the way). Travel is good—a month in South West England, a few weeks in Mexico City, and more weeks in San Diego. We are also planning to spend three weeks in Western Canada in June.” Raymond was pleased when a grandson in Florida recently got married; it was a wonderful reunion for the family, which came from Virginia, California, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Ray says his life has also changed: “Graduation led to a job with a CPA public accounting firm in Philadelphia, which led eventually to financial security, which then led to wonderful travel experiences.”

Another classmate, Donald Milsten, sends word from Pikesville, MD, that he enjoys family, cleaning out email, staying in touch with friends, and CALC. He also finds that his oldest grandchildren are now gainfully working. Donald adds, “I was accepted to the U.S. Naval Reserve and ‘saw the world.’ Home port was Yokosuka, Japan, for two years aboard, then U.S. graduate school (University of Michigan), where I earned a PhD in political science and met and married my wife of 52 years, Barbara Pash, and then had two daughters and a son.” After 20 years, Donald has retired from state government to establish a consulting practice advising states. “All of this was like attending graduate school while promoting energy assurance.”

I was the first four-year graduate in the family.

Becky Quinn Morgan ’60

Becky Quinn Morgan lives with her spouse, Jim, BME ’62, MBA ’63, in Los Altos Hills, CA. Becky says, “What brings me the most satisfaction these days is being with and hearing from our grandchildren. We are also continuing philanthropic efforts in early childhood education and conservation, and we now have five Cornell graduates.” When Becky was asked whether Cornell has changed the trajectory of her life, she said, “For sure! I was the first four-year graduate in the family; I also learned leadership skills and got a job. I also met my wonderful husband there 68 years ago.”

Robert Samuels and his wife, Linda, of Ocean Breeze, FL, also say they have had the most satisfaction these days from each other, their two dogs, and retirement. Robert enjoys reading novels and watching television (sports, movies, and Fox News). The couple loves living near Stuart, FL, as well as traveling to Martha’s Vineyard every October, where they have a timeshare. They also enjoy cruises. Robert says Cornell helped change the trajectory of his life, due to attending the School of Hotel Administration, which opened doors for him that enhanced his career. He also had the pleasure of regularly playing varsity football at Cornell. ❖ Judy Bryant Wittenberg (email Judy) | Alumni Directory.

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1961

Gae Kaufman Shulman, who lives in San Francisco, writes, “I enjoy being healthy and financially secure. I have been traveling extensively, supporting and volunteering with cultural organizations.” Her recollection of Cornell: “I was 16 years old and Cornell offered a dynamic safe space to learn about myself and to become educated.”

A note from Robert Treadway arrived. “I am living in Ann Arbor, MI, reading about China, watching MSNBC, following the New York Times, and relaxing.”

Gerald Schneider writes from his home in Kensington, MD. He thanks the readers of his book, a practical guide called Progressive Values: Libertarian Solutions, for posting their reviews on Amazon and other online and print media. He remains active presenting programs on current issues for senior centers and schools. “As I approach 86 years of life, I take pride in positive thinking, lifelong learning, and physical exercise.”

A lengthy note arrived after 63 years from Jay Sherman living in NYC. “I’m happy to note the publication of my book, Estéban’s Dance: A Novella and Five Tales, whose soul and roots were nurtured both in the Bronx and in Ithaca, especially in the soil of Cornell.” A brief description of the book: “After leading wildly divergent and adventurous lives spanning the 30 years from their Cornell graduation, the son of a Bronx cab driver and his three former Collegetown roommates unexpectedly reunite on a mysterious island in the Antilles called San Estéban. There an erstwhile Soviet hotel sits crumbling on the beach and the native population loves both baseball and chess, which were introduced to the island by Che Guevara.”

Says Jay, “Full disclosure: I was Class of ’61 but after two and a half years I left Cornell to accept a job at a New York radio station and then to study film production at NYU. Various jobs in the industry followed before a 25-year career as a film editor and a supervisor of a TV network’s film services department. But I always fondly remember my days at Cornell, and my friends there, and think of those times often.”

I’m happy to note the publication of my book, whose soul and roots were nurtured both in the Bronx and in Ithaca, especially in the soil of Cornell.

Jay Sherman ’61

James Keenan, in response to the question “What brings you the most satisfaction?” wrote, “Surviving stage four cancer and living well despite a 100% Vietnam disability. I managed food distribution for 425,000 soldiers in Vietnam from 1967 to ’68. Now retired in Las Vegas but maintaining an interest in food and agriculture and enjoying life.”

John King sent a lengthy note from San Rafael, CA, having retired from Chevron Research Co. in 1996. John embarked on a second career as a computer consultant until 2010. He has three grandchildren and the oldest is a freshman at Glasgow University in Scotland. “Things are fairly quiet. I’m looking for a dog to keep me walking for exercise. My son has a new job as sales director for a software startup.”

From the Northlands of Wayzata, MN, after many years, we hear from Cindy Johnson Pratt. “Having downsized from our 120-year-old house on Lake Minnetonka, life is quite simple in our independent living facility. Best of all, my family lives within 10 minutes so we see them frequently. After 20 years designing and making ‘one of a kind’ primitive hooked rugs, I can now enjoy them on the walls of our new home. My hosta gardens with 150 varieties had to be left behind. After 50 years dividing and creating the gardens, what’s next? My granddaughter, Susie Foster ’23, ME ’23, graduated from Cornell last June in environmental engineering with a master’s awarded in December.”

Ruth Schimel writes that she continues usefully with her current work as a career and life management consultant and author. You can learn more at her website. Her dozens of articles on professional and personal development are also published by YourTango. As of June 2024, a new project shows how art can include fun and stimulation while being a catalyst in relationship building. “Active in the D.C. chapter and coast-to-coast chapters of Women’s Connection, I have provided guidance on storytelling and launching an intergenerational collaboration. These alternatives to retirement keep me vibrant despite the challenges of maintenance!”

I will conclude this class column on a somber note. Sue Rand Lewis notified me of the passing of our former class president Peter Greenberg. He died of complications from a fall while vacationing with wife, Elke, in Germany. Peter made significant contributions to the class and will be missed. Also, Gail Smith McDougall Sullivan, class council member, lost her husband, Mike, after a lengthy illness.

Lastly, do not hesitate to send your emails to us. ❖ Doug Fuss (email Doug) | Susan Williams Stevens (email Susan) | Alumni Directory.

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1962

Marianne Mattucci Escaron is living in San Diego, CA, where she was a volunteer with special advocates in Ventura County for 21 years. She has stepped back to more fully enjoy family and friends. She proudly reports that the first of her four grandchildren has graduated from high school! Happy anniversary to Marianne and her husband, Pierre, who were planning to celebrate 60 years of marriage in July with a cruise on the Aegean Sea in September. They met in 1962 on a ship in the mid-Atlantic bound for France!

Retired veterinarian Robert Schmitt, DVM ’69, of South Deerfield, MA, spends his days enjoying his family and as a veterinary volunteer.

Having traveled the world and lived in Paris, NYC, Bermuda, and Los Angeles, Jim Harre, who lost his wife in 2020 after four years of marriage, is now living in a senior living complex in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. He enjoys playing with his model railroads: Z, N, HO, and O scales. He proudly reports that he has three children and 11 grandkids!

Mike Miller writes, “Just as my community in Allentown, PA, gave so much to me, so too do I want to give back to my community. I have been serving on the board of an Allentown economic development authority for about 50 years and am so proud of what the economic development has accomplished in significantly increasing the tax base and bringing good jobs to Allentown. Over the last 10 years, I have served as the chairman of the Lehigh Valley Jewish Foundation Investment and Endowment committees. Over that time, I have enjoyed using my expertise in investments and estate planning to help increase our community endowment fund and our distributions to provide for services to the elderly, education of children, and community athletic and social activities.”

Happy anniversary to Marianne Mattucci Escaron ’62 and her husband, Pierre, who were planning to celebrate 60 years of marriage with a cruise on the Aegean Sea.

William Stevenson writes, “I am the president of a historic preservation organization that has restored, preserved, and opened to the public a 1730s brick home in Hertford, NC. It is the oldest example still around of a brick home in North Carolina. The home was built by a Quaker for his family that included six children and four enslaved people, so we are able to discuss how they lived, the Quaker faith, and how Quakers came to deal with the issue of slavery. As a part of our mission, we host a program called ‘Living History’ for first and fourth graders that helps them understand what it was like to live about 300 years ago. Our new project is to reassemble a Plank House that we believe was originally built in the 1700s. We are about halfway to having the house back together using mostly volunteer labor.”

From John Curtis of McKinney, TX: “Janie and I have had a busy spring. As I completed my year as Rotary District 5810 Governor we attended the International Convention in Singapore. It was busy with presentations and parties and opportunities to meet and chat with folks from all over the world. And to visit the spectacular city of Singapore, with its skyscraper skyline, the SkyPark, and beautiful gardens. We also enjoyed a few days in Indonesia. Just before we left on this journey, we sold our lakeview home that we designed and built 18 years ago, to downsize. Soon we will be in a little casita with only some of our things we’ve acquired over the years. Fulfilling our bucket list will rise in priority as long as we continue to enjoy travel.”

Visit our class website—a wondrous compendium of all things ’62 from our freshman days to today. Here’s what you’ll find: Reunions (write-ups/photo galleries, video), Archives (25th and 50th Reunion yearbooks, newsletters), Our Legacy (Class Gift Fund and Major Gifts projects), Cornell Connect (pay class dues, find alumni, link to the Cornell Daily Sun every day, Cornellians, and Big Red sports), and In Memoriam. It’s all there and more. And it’s fabulous!

Please send along news and updates (and photos for our class website, too) of what’s happening with you and your family. Don’t let the Class of 1962 disappear from these pages before its time. Send your entries to: ❖ Judy Prenske Rich (email Judy) | Alumni Directory.

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1963

Our class president, Paula Trested LaHolt, was invited to become a life member of the Cornell University Council and will attend the Trustee-Council Annual Meeting, which is held every October. She wrote, “We meet once a year in Ithaca in order to keep up with what is happening on Cornell’s campus and also involvement around the globe. I may be asked to follow up in an ambassador mode through the year. In July I went to the Canadian Rockies for 10 days and spent one overnight on a train, a unique experience. The food was quite good, and the very small accommodations were interesting. After switching to roadway transportation, the tour spent two nights in Jasper, AB, and then went on down the Canadian highway to Lake Louise and Banff, and ultimately to Calgary. Gorgeous scenery, challenging trails, and lovely company of fellow travelers. About a week after spending two nights in Jasper, the terrible wildfire consumed so much of the town. A sad revelation to hear about while back home in Pennsylvania. I hope your summer went well, you did not suffer with too much heat and drought, and you were able to enjoy your outdoor plans. As soon as I returned home at the end of July, the excitement of the Olympics took hold, and I was glued frequently to the TV. Several Cornellians were participating.”

Lots of news from Madeleine Leston Meehan. She writes: “Life is good! I live in two absolutely favorite places: in a Caribbean paradise and a relatively cultured community (East Hampton, Long Island), where my 1850s converted house barn is minutes from the Atlantic and far away enough not to get overcome by rising seas—at least not yet, not before our time is up. Artists never retire. My ‘Mostly Music Art’ work is in various stages of development. Without deadlines I have time to read books and publications I never had time for. Also I can relax with friends hither, thither, and yon. My immediate family is gone (I’m an orphan), but I can share with VERY GOOD friends and with like-minded friends and acquaintances everywhere. Cornell, as it was in our day, gave me a solid preparation and thrust me into the next phase, New York yuppiedom in my case; and also a superior preparation for maneuvering, managing, and getting the most out of ‘the real world’ with friends and colleagues like y’all!”

Pat Sutton Lipsky lives in New York City. “I enjoy everything—walking, reading, painting, and writing. I am not retired—teaching and painting as always. Had a solo exhibition last fall in Manhattan called ‘Color World.’ I did nine new paintings, displayed at the Eric Firestone Gallery. Cornell changed the trajectory of my life, of course. Everything after was different as a result of those four years. It made me more discerning.”

Paula Trested LaHolt ’63 was invited to become a life member of the Cornell University Council.

Fredericka Heinze writes from Thornhurst, PA, that she enjoys her cats and books. “In retirement, I am involved in community activities such as Thornhurst Fire Company Auxiliary, North Pocono Dry Goods Pantry, Thornhurst Methodist Church, and Gouldsboro Methodist Church. I will stop driving this October. Because of Cornell, my career as a dietitian brought great satisfaction. I also enjoyed Sage Chapel Choir and Cornell Chorus with Thomas Sokol. It led to 30 years of wonderful choral singing.”

Jean Williams Peters writes from Evanston, IL, that she “enjoys family, friends, dogs, sewing, reading, and connecting. My granddaughter, Nina Pofcher ’24, graduated in June from Human Ecology with a degree in fabric design. Cornell changed my life; I met my husband, who has passed away, and hardly ever lived in New York State or near my home family again.”

Stuart Gould lives in Chestnut Hill, MA, outside of Boston. “I am working less but work part time as professor emeritus at Tufts Dental School Department of Pediatric Dentistry. My son has taken over my private practice in Salem, MA.”

Keith Olin, DVM ’67, and his wife, Eileen, live in New Holland, PA. “I am healthy and thus it makes it possible for me to still practice veterinary medicine. I am very fortunate at almost 83 years old not to take any medicine, even vitamins or supplements of any kind. I had a very good upbringing (excellent parents) and a wonderful marriage for over 60 years, and my only wife is doing well at 84 years old. But Cornell was the main contributing factor to being happy, loving my profession, and being very successful. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture and a DVM degree from Cornell. Cornell is an excellent learning institution. Its academics were very difficult for me, but it did not give up on me and molded me into a good person. I give Cornell all the credit in the world for making me who I am.” Keith included a letter from one of his veterinary clients, praising him highly for his “exemplary veterinary care for all of us privileged to know and depend on you to care for our animals, and thus our livelihood.”

Keep sending news. ❖ Nancy Bierds Icke (email Nancy) | 12350 E. Roger Rd., Tucson, AZ 85749 | Alumni Directory.

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1964

There’s an old saying: be careful what you wish for. In a previous column, we whined about not having any news. Now we have enough for this month’s column plus leftovers! So please keep up the flow; makes me feel useful.

Merry Hendler Lapidus, last here 22 years ago, writes, “I don’t know when I last submitted news, but here goes. My husband, Marty, passed away in 2021 after suffering with Alzheimer’s, just short of our 49th anniversary. We had a great life together, especially the 20-plus years in Vermont. I’m still living in Leicester, overlooking the small but gorgeous Fern Lake. Daughter Heather and her family live in Barrington, RI, and son Ricky with his family live in Berkeley, CA. My oldest grandson is a freshman at Wesleyan University, and my youngest grandchild is in fourth grade. Needless to say, my five grandchildren are the loves of my life.”

Ginny Prytherch Huntington, who lives in Ames, IA, and was last here in ’07, catches up by saying, “We’re still enjoying an active retirement and all the amenities of a college town. Plein air (open air) drawing and painting provide the best of two worlds: nature and art and time to meditate on both.” Ginny notes she and her husband, Stuart, took a Road Scholar grandparents’ trip to the South Dakota Badlands, of which she notes, “Bison, gold, Lakota history, and horses—the ‘real’ West for our California grandchildren!”

Nancy Hockensmith Beach, last here 13 years ago and living in Oakland, CA, with husband Richard, writes, “After ‘wintering’ for several years in Berkeley, we finally made a full-time move from Minneapolis to Oakland, CA. Ben, Laura, and granddaughter Elia are nearby in Berkeley, and we enjoy being able to attend Elia’s soccer games and other events. We’re living in an apartment building in Oakland with many other friendly and interesting fellow seniors.”

Ruth “Sherry” Northrup Tyler, who lives with husband David ’62, MS ’64, in Fayetteville, NY, writes that she is “retired from teaching art” but seems active elsewhere, such as engaging in refugee settlement and medical alliance seminars. Personally, Sherry is into gardening and music (she plays both the piano and dulcimer) and travel, most recently to Maine, although her favorite trips have been Africa, Peru, and the Galápagos. Closer to home, Sherry likes canoeing and hiking in the Adirondacks.

Marjorie Rosen Harris, last here a decade ago notes that she still lives in Beverly Hills, CA.

Plein air (open air) drawing and painting provide the best of two worlds: nature and art and time to meditate on both.

Ginny Prytherch Huntington ’64

David Smith, here just three years ago, lives with wife Inci in Silver Spring, MD, and still works as a research associate in the Smithsonian Institution. “I am continuing my lifelong activity in zoology, taxonomy, natural history, and bio-geography of fishes, which I began when I took Edward Raney, PhD ’38’s course at Cornell.” David notes that back in 1961 Dr. Raney also encouraged him to become a member and active participant in the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.

Elliott Gordon, who lives with wife Linda in Princeton Junction, NJ, writes that he is “still doing occasional toxicology projects—for example, someone who got exposed to too much bleach, or someone who got exposed to too much diatomaceous earth.” That’s not all. He goes on, “I am on our township environmental commission. Signed up to be a poll watcher for the July and November elections.” Time seems to fly by quicker now than when I was really working. I went to New York City recently to see my former administrative assistant, who is now my dentist! Family activities include breakfast, lunch, dinner, sleep; breakfast, lunch, dinner, sleep. You get the idea.”

Barbara Furman Attardi, who lives in Rockville, MD, and was in this column just two years ago, writes she was “director of the Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory at a contract research company called Bioqual Inc. I was retired in 2011 when our group lost its contract.” Barbara was also our class secretary for 15 years, on the class council, a volunteer at Washington’s National Museum of American History, a treasurer of the Friends of Rockville Memorial Library, and an election judge. She writes that since retiring, she’s taken up watercolor painting, plus a course in beginning quilting. She’s also studied French. Her 80th birthday trip was to Scandinavia with her Cornellian daughter Laura ’88, grandson Marcello, and son David ’03. Her last trip was to Erie, PA, with son Daniel ’00 and his family to see the solar eclipse. She even traveled to Palo Alto last February to see her daughter and grandson.

Todd Clist, last here just two Septembers ago, still lives on Hilton Head Island, SC, with wife Liz. He is now a retired senior executive with the Marriott Company. Todd’s last volunteer activity was to be a major supporter in the building of the Culinary Institute of the South in Bluffton, SC, an element of the Technical College of the Lowcountry. As to recent travel, he simply writes, “Many—65 countries!”

Finally, Richard Hecht, last here just two Novembers back, reports he’s now retired from his CPA partnership of 17 years. That aside, Richard says he still does consulting part time, plus he manages a family investment company. Richard otherwise keeps busy on local condominium boards and is treasurer of the local Community Development Financial Institution. He can now enjoy his non-work favorites like “golfing, biking, walking, and noticing changes going on.” He’s also writing about corporate misuse of stock buybacks. Richard otherwise is planning to travel to Scandinavia with wife Susan to tour and visit a grandson.

That’s it for now. Keep your news coming! Update me by email, regular mail, our class website, or our class Facebook page. ❖ Bev Johns Lamont (email Bev) | 720 Chestnut St., Deerfield, IL 60015 | Alumni Directory.

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1965

Summertime news from George Arangio, MD ’69, has arrived. George and his wife, Judy, returned from an American Cruise Lines Lewis and Clark-themed expedition on the Columbia and Snake rivers. “We started in Lewiston, ID, and ended in Astoria, OR, a major port city in the 1800s. Yes, named after John Jacob Astor III, a wealthy socially connected real estate developer and fur trader. Washington and Oregon states are beautiful. God bless America.” With all the family, George celebrated his 81st birthday on August 1, and he attended his 55th Weill Cornell Medical School reunion in September—now onward to our Class of ’65 60th Reunion, June 5–8, 2025.

Bill Vanneman writes that he and his wife, Irene, are now mostly in Vermont, although they still have their Lexington house. He is doing part-time gastrointestinal work at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA. “It’s great to fly my Cessna Skylane in good weather and travel with Irene, who graduated some years ago from Boston University. We sit on opposite sides of the Boston Garden during Cornell-BU hockey games. We returned recently from a Danube River cruise and enjoyed the wedding of friends in southeast Austria. Looking forward to our 60th Reunion!”

Stargazer and music aficionado Steve Hand recently returned from his annual music/meteor trip. “I always schedule it during the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks the night of August 11–12. I enjoyed two Philadelphia Orchestra concerts at Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center and subsequently four performances at Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown, NY. The highlight was Pagliacci. And I saw 10 Perseid meteors from 12–1 a.m. on August 12!”

My wife, Irene, graduated some years ago from Boston University. We sit on opposite sides of the Boston Garden during Cornell-BU hockey games.

Bill Vanneman ’65

Judy Kellner Rushmore writes that her partner, Dave Koval, and she are enjoying life at their home on Nantucket for the last days of summer, and then they’ll be in their new apartment at the Vi at Bentley Village. Also in residence there are Ashok, ME ’65, and Fay Thomas Bakhru, MAT ’66, and Walter Gadkowski and Linda (Cortland ’66). They share smiles and fun together often. Traveling whenever a foodie trip is announced, Judy and Dave will tour in Turin, Italy, October 10–20. “The clincher on this trip is an opportunity to go truffle hunting with dogs!”

Walter Gadkowski shares, “My three daughters, including Lynne Gadkowski Nath ’98, and I put on a surprise 80th birthday party for Linda on July 27 in Hyannis, MA. Among the more than 100 guests were Judy Rushmore and Dave Koval, and Wally Fowler and his wife, Ruthie.” Judy Rushmore elaborates on the celebration: “A truly surprised Linda was feted by more than 100 friends from all parts of the globe.” Walter and Linda shared wonderful photos of the event—please contact Linda to email/text them to you!

The excitement is building for our 60th Reunion and we encourage everyone to mark your calendars in indelible ink for June 5–8, 2025! Steve and I welcome your news for the class column. Please pass along your life activities to us! ❖ Joan Hens Johnson (email Joan) | Stephen Appell (email Stephen) | Alumni Directory.

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1966

Andy Potash retired at the end of 2023 and wrote that he and his wife, Andrea (Riger), are now spending their time trying to help others less fortunate than they are. They are focusing their efforts on mass incarceration, affordable housing, homelessness, and their local college. Another element of their lives is a dog, something that they haven’t had before. They are spending some of their time with one son and his wife, who live near Caesar City, NV, and their grandson, who lives in Kelowna, BC.

Sherman Kelly, BA ’68, filled us in, saying that he is a songwriter and a retired psychotherapist. One of his own favorite songs is “Dancing in the Moonlight.” He last traveled to Bequia, which is in the Caribbean and is “the largest island in the Grenadines at seven square miles (18 square km).” It is part of the country of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He commented (with a smile) that one thing he’s doing, which he had not considered earlier, is “getting old.”

Peter Freeman wrote, from Interlaken, NY, that he is enjoying being retired. He is still head of the Freeman Family Foundation, which funds teacher-oriented college students.

Joe Polacco began his note by stating, in the “DATE” entry: “No, married!” He is a retired biochemistry professor, and as such, attends local seminars, defenses, and talks to try to stay current. He just authored a chapter for ScienceDirect called “Genetics of plant urease, the enzyme that keeps surprising us.” He is a member of writers’ groups in Columbia, MO. He has also lectured recently and writes and publishes poetry, including some written in Spanish. Like many of us, he will celebrate his 80th birthday this year. He visited his kids and grandkids in the East Bay region of Northern California and visited Stuyvesant High School class of ’62 buddies earlier this year, two of whom are also Cornell alumni.

Judith Burstein Fein is continuing her work as a travel journalist, author, and speaker. Her latest book is Slow Travel New Mexico: Unforgettable Personal Experiences in the Land of Enchantment. She has organized community events for refugees and Muslim women. She wrote, “I’ve been in love with the same man for 41 years.” They have spent time during and after the pandemic traveling around New Mexico, looking for experiences people had that were unforgettable. She ended her note as follows: “Life is a trip. I wrote a book with that title. Every time we leave the house we are on a trip.”

Ted Mandigo wrote that he is “quasi-retired and still doing occasional projects—enough to keep busy but allow travel and leisure.” What is he doing now? His home was on the garden club tour last year; he takes short runs, 10K or less; and he travels, this year to New Orleans, Japan, and Dubai.

[My wife] and I traveled via a cruise ship across the Atlantic Ocean. Stepping on African soil meant we have stepped on all seven continents!

Leonard Coburn ’66

George Stark retired from active participation in the securities industry this May. But he is still involved in activities like charitable endeavors and volunteer work; he still does some hunting, fishing, and travel. He never expected to be a grandfather to two adorable granddaughters. Last summer (2023) he went to Venice and the Crimean Coast. This summer he hoped to go to Spain. He enjoys the performing arts, various charities, meeting and hearing authors at various writers’ venues, and attending civic activities in Houston, TX.

Tom Jensen, BArch ’70, has also had a busy life! He practiced architecture for 45 years; founded Architectural Nexus (which has 185 staff); was an adjunct professor at Utah State University and the American University of Madaba, Jordan; and developed business for a general construction firm. To round out his activities, he served for 10 years on the Logan (UT) City Council, interviewed Cornell applicants, and was president of the Logan Rotary and Chamber of Commerce. He enjoys golf, travel, his grandkids, and solving problems.

Lawrence Bailis is an associate professor in the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. He is also board chair of the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action. He has six grandchildren!

Kris Merschrod, PhD ’81, wrote from Ithaca that, “after more than 40 years of overseas social and economic development work, we retired to the home that we built in the late 1970s. That retirement coincided with our 50th wedding anniversary, when we took a year to travel around.” Upon their return, they volunteered to enable students and others to better communicate and deal with differences during the Middle Eastern conflict that began in 2023. Kris and his wife travel: their daughters live in Vermont, Newfoundland, and France. They are also close to their grandchildren and have taken them on various trips.

Leonard Coburn wrote from D.C., “Evie and I traveled via a cruise ship across the Atlantic Ocean to Madeira, the Canary Islands, Morocco, and Portugal. Stepping on African soil meant we have stepped on all seven continents!”

Melvyn Leffler retired from the University of Virginia’s history department and now spends time “engaging my grandchildren.” He is still writing history books and enjoys travelling; he’s been to Berlin, the U.S. Southwest, and Istanbul, but his favorites are the Andalusían cities of Seville, Granada, and Córdoba. He also enjoys sports.

A note from Alice Katz Berglas and Mary Jansen Everett: “We write in hot, muggy August with winter holidays seeming still so far away. New students are about to arrive on campus, settle in, experience Ithaca in its fall splendor. November/December brings Big Red T-shirts and jerseys of the Cornell teams, alumni cheering at events across the country/world; marching in the NYC Sy Katz ’31 Parade; and turning Madison Square Garden into a sea of Big bright Red. Holidays fill the season with friends and family, near and far. The Cornell class leadership team sends great good wishes to one and all. We look forward to sharing the coming New Year in 2025. JOIN US! Stay in touch. Send your news! Everyone wants to know what you’ve been up to. (They really DO.)” ❖ Pete Salinger, MBA ’68 (email Pete) | Susan Rockford Bittker (email Susan) | Alumni Directory.

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1967

Ed Seeger and his wife, Elizabeth (Baylor ’80), live in Morgan’s Point, TX. “We attended the Rotary International convention in Singapore in late May. We thought it would be kinda stupid to fly all that way from Texas, attend a couple of days of meetings, look around the city, and then fly home. Why not just keep on going? So we did a complete circumnavigation of Planet Earth in just over five weeks with only a school backpack and carry-on luggage. In the process, I upped my lifetime countries visited to 80!”

Ben Curtis, BS ’70 (Dryden, NY) published The Book of Palms in December 2023, “celebrating the Royal Palms, a bar in Ithaca, NY.”

Sharon Argus Paschos (Dortmund, Germany) writes, “My husband and I enjoyed the annual Cornell Club of Germany weekend in Freiburg in the Black Forest, meeting several alumni and visiting, among other places, an out-of-function silver mine and the oldest restaurant in Germany, founded before 1100 AD.”

Ted Hamilton (Walnut Creek, CA) observes that Cornell changed the trajectory of his life: “I was at West Point in June 1963 when I decided Cornell was a better choice—wise decision! Great school, education, experiences, friendships, and guidance for my brother and children.”

As for what he’s doing now, Ted says, “gardening, working outdoors, golf, hiking, spending time with kids and grandkids, investing, following the stock market, and reading the newspaper, National Geographic, Sierra Club, and Nature.” Ed reports that “son Cam remarried in Hawaii in April 2022, daughter Courtney married in Sonoma, CA, in October 2023, brother Jim ’72 turned 74 this year, and brother Don is now 83.”

We did a complete circumnavigation of Planet Earth in just over five weeks with only a school backpack and carry-on luggage.

Ed Seeger ’67

Jane Capellupo (West Henrietta, NY) advises: “I love being retired and able to plan my days to my liking. I go to the Y and have worked out with a trainer for 19 years. I sing with a large amateur chorus, the Rochester Oratorio Society; we just performed Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’ with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. I’d first learned this piece at Cornell, and we performed it at the opening concert of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center with the Philadelphia Orchestra.”

Did Cornell change the trajectory of her life? “Sort of. I started as a chem major but found out I was too scared of noxious chemicals. So switched to zoology—slightly less scary.”

Mitchel Ross (Boston, MA) reports, “I was back on campus in April for the annual banquet of the Cornell Speech and Debate Program, at which I spoke about life and debate at Cornell in the ’60s. Speaking to the debaters was exhilarating, like cooking in front of a group of chefs. I was honored to receive the program’s 2024 Alumnus of the Year Award.

“Cornell has become a leader in intercollegiate debate, with over 100 students participating at every skill level in a broad range of programs and tournaments, including policy, British Parliamentary, international, and Spanish language debate. The participating students are diverse, impressive, and enthusiastic. They made me proud to have been on the Cornell Debate Team way back when. The program sponsors a one-week ‘summer camp’ for high school debaters—I’m hoping to convince some of my younger grandchildren to give it a try.”

Nancy Payne Kronenberg (Carlisle, MA) recalls that Cornell “gained me access to my first job as a software engineer. After that came an intense work ethic and that changed my life.” Nancy adds that she does “weaving on an antique loom at the Carlisle Historical Society and grassroots work for Democratic candidates.” ❖ Richard Hoffman (email Richard) | 2925 28th St. NW, Washington, DC 20008 | Alumni Directory.

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1968

More news to share with our classmates this fall! We continue to need more news and updates from you, so please let us know where you are and what you are doing, or share your reflections on your years at Cornell with our classmates!

Henry Siegel, our class president, writes that this past July he attended a mini-reunion in Ithaca of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity members from the late ’60s and early ’70s. Classmates also in attendance were Paul Mayer, Gary Fisher, Ned Korman, and Dick Bochan. Attendees from other classes included Bill O’Connell ’70, Dick Lincourt ’71, Bill McIntyre ’71, Joe Ash ’70, Ken Kelly ’69, MA ’73, Gerry Zumchak ’67, Jim Trozze ’69, Steve Huber ’69, Charlie Wilson ’66, PhD ’70, Bruce Spear ’71, PhD ’74, and Allan Horton ’71. The reunion began with Friday dinner at the Statler. The next day, according to Henry, “we had a get-together at the new chapter house, after which we wandered the campus, many ending up at the Dairy Bar for respite from the hot weather.” The festivities ended with an outdoor dinner at the Heights! Henry continues: “Considering that many of us had not seen each other for over 50 years, it was amazing how well we remembered each other and deeds gone by. And the wives who attended were amazed to hear that the stories they’d heard were true!” Sounds like a very special weekend for all in attendance!

Louise May Gruber enjoys “spending time as I wish,” with freelance work for Lee & Low Books, a well-known children’s book publisher, visits to museums, attending concerts, ballets, and plays, and lots of travel, including recent trips to Peru, Bolivia, Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, and Greece. Louise was editor-at-large at Lee & Low Books, and when she retired in 2021 she was the longest tenured staff member in its history! Her publishing career spans over 50 years, including more than two decades at Lee & Low, where she was responsible for acquiring and publishing more than 600 books and, among other responsibilities, oversaw its acquisition of Children’s Book Press and Shen’s Books.

Considering that many of us had not seen each other for over 50 years, it was amazing how well we remembered each other and deeds gone by.

Henry Siegel ’68

James Kelly lives in Los Angeles and spends time pursuing his interests in music, gardening, pets, and people! He also writes and performs poetry, including “humorous gay erotica.” On his reflections about Cornell changing the trajectory of his life, he writes, “I came out as a result of my senior year and have never regretted it.”

Joel Negrin reports that he and his wife, Linda (Schwartz) ’69, continue to live in Larchmont, NY, and enjoy being near their three children and families. Joel continues to play tennis and enjoys long daily walks. This past May, Joel and Linda, along with Steve Unger, ME ’70, and his wife, Gail, Mike Schenker, JD ’74, and his wife, Susan, Lenny Rappe and his wife, Rona, and Rick Simon and his wife, Lee, enjoyed a group trip to Iceland. All the guys are TEP fraternity brothers who have stayed close friends all these years!

Laura Sevush Langworthy and her husband, Richard ’66, BS ’70, live in West Newbury, MA, and enjoy spending time with their three children and five grandchildren and lots of travel, in part to visit them in London, Scotland, D.C., Nantucket, and Florida! Laura continues her interior design business, Laura Langworthy Interiors!

I look forward to receiving more news and updates from all of you! Please email me with news you want to share with our classmates. ❖ Steve Weinberg, MBA ’70, JD ’71 (email Steve) | Alumni Directory.

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1969

I missed seeing many classmates at our wonderful 55th in June, but thoroughly enjoyed the communications with classmates as co-registrar (with Larry Krablin) and getting “names attached to faces” for our new Reunion friends in Ithaca!

Letters from classmates who were NOT able to be at Reunion make clear that our lives continue to be full and fulfilling.

Bunny Chase Schorr, MS ’72, had a (wonderful!) conflict in June. She and Alan ’66, PhD ’71, were attending their granddaughter’s bat mitzvah—but they plan to be with the class for our 60th in 2029! They have enjoyed 55 years together, since Ithaca days. Bunny worked at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh as a dietitian addressing metabolic issues like PKU. She also was a nutritionist at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, helping to alleviate hunger, and maintained a private practice. In retirement, Bunny volunteers at FreeStore 15106, addressing hunger concerns. Way to go, Bunny!

Other than pro bono work with the National Academy of Sciences, Bonnie Carroll and her husband, Roy Cooper, are fully retired and travel about 30% of their time! When not in far-flung places, they enjoy homes in Knoxville, TN, and Arlington, VA.

Norman Coe enjoys walking 1.25 miles almost daily and the craft of woodworking to create fundraising items for charities. He notes the influence of Prof. Robert Smith as an undergraduate and in his five-year career with Cooperative Extension and 37 with Farm Credit.

Getting up every morning to write, walk, or hike brings Ted Hudson satisfaction in Centreville, VA. He has produced 1,688 manuscript pages (to date) from research writing a trilogy dramatizing his great-grandfather’s experiences in the American Civil War. Many years of activism with the Sierra Club and a career in the U.S. Department of the Interior reflect Ted’s environmental awakening, perhaps before the general public knew how critical it is to care for our planet! Ted’s first grandchild was born in February 2023—the fun has just begun.

Alexander and Phyllis Wilson Wilhelm proudly report that their granddaughter Meredith Knauff is a member of the Class of 2028! Meredith is a fifth-generation Cornellian. My work with CAAAN makes clear what a wonderful celebration the family likely had; she looks forward to her education in Ithaca.

Jeffry Olesen serves as president of the Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning. This fantastic organization offers presentations by internationally recognized experts on a wide range of domestic and world issues. A companion program, Music Mondays, features performances and lively conversations with renowned musicians. Jeffry retired from the Foreign Service in 2012 but continues to accept temporary assignments for the State Department during the summer, spending three months this year working at the Consulate General in Istanbul.

Ted Hudson ’69 has produced 1,688 manuscript pages (to date) from research writing a trilogy dramatizing his great-grandfather’s experiences in the American Civil War.

Children, grandchildren, travel, vet work, and farming comprise Leslie DeGroff’s world! He reports enjoying his career(s?) immensely and looks forward to welcoming a first great-grandchild in September 2024!

Listed in the order he wrote, Stewart Cramer derives the most satisfaction from family, duplicate bridge, and his medical research. He is retired but writes for medical journals on his field of expertise. One daughter is a retired life coach, traveling and writing a book on ecological gardening. Cornell kept Stewart’s life “on course.” He and three siblings are second-generation Cornellians. Speaking as another Cornell couple, Stewart had the good fortune to marry a Cornellian! May the family tradition continue.

On July 1, 2024, Dean Darling retired—he was eager to stay home from South Kortright Central School and attack the “honey-do list” that awaited him! Dean’s three children and three grandchildren are alive and well. Youthful marriage did not work out, but he found the “right lady” and seems to be living a “happily ever after” life!

Cornell set Ron Frers on a path of 32 years working in ag sales and the turkey industry. In 2002 he “restarted” as a clinical sports massage and craniosacral therapist, working in North Carolina and Florida. Ron gets great satisfaction helping clients improve the quality of their lives and never plans to retire! He reports seeing 10–15 clients a week and does not consider a minute of his sessions to be work.

Richard Greenberg, BA ’68, remembers Cornell for the great learning, for the great professors, and for “being a great place.” Richard worked as a professor of medicine at the University of Kentucky med school, for the Division of Infectious Diseases, for the WHO, and for the CDC from 1974–75 as part of the Smallpox Eradication Fighters, which Richard described as an amazing experience. He just published an online chapter about smallpox. Richard married Linda Hamilton on September 9, 2023.

In July, Larry and I took the family to Italy (Amalfi Coast with a short trip to Rome) followed immediately by our 19th annual family camping trip. It is wonderful to be out and about in Southeast Pennsylvania, where two wheels are my “cyclogist,” serving to cut carbon footprint and keep body and soul intact!

News sent with the class mailing will be continued in future issues compiled by a different class correspondent (we are a team of which you could be a member; just write to me to volunteer!). ❖ Nancy Jenkins Krablin (email Nancy) | Alumni Directory.

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1970s

1970

When last I wrote, I was not in my own residence. Although the kitchen I’m totally rehabbing is not yet done, I have returned to oversee the measuring and installation of countertops and new appliances, all delivered, and also to oversee painting, moldings, etc., and to begin cleaning up all the dust.

Much of the earlier work was completed while I rubbed shoulders for a number of days in July with several hundred thousand aviation aficionados at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI. I would bet that maybe someone else, predictably an engineer in this class, was there. Contact me directly to nerd out, so I don’t take up any more space!

It seems that class dues time has relieved the shortage of classmate news, as I have definitely more material that won’t fit in my allowed number of words and will have to wait for next time!

Rebecca Kvam Paquette (Hanover, NH) finds the most satisfaction these days with the families of her two daughters. Both are living in Maine, 20 minutes apart from each other and three hours away, a reasonable trip, from Rebecca. Two grandsons are in middle school, one granddaughter is beginning kindergarten, and one grandson is in daycare. There have been two family road trips earlier this year, and planned adventures for summer and fall.

Rebecca’s time is now spent in continuing education classes at Dartmouth and volunteering in a group that posts weekly columns on environmental issues on her town’s website. The question on our forms this round asks if attending Cornell changed the trajectory of one’s life. Rebecca was challenged in much of her political upbringing through having taken the first women’s studies course. She has since promoted women’s rights. Since the initial Earth Day in April 1970, she has advocated for environmental protection and speaks of having become much more liberal than she ever envisioned.

Arthur Litowitz (New Smyrna Beach, FL) finds satisfaction with family, friends, reading, and music. In retirement he is involved in several nonprofit organizations, while also investing, and is listening and playing music on keyboards or with his guitar or ukulele. Arthur answers the question of Cornell’s impact by noting that his father, Robert Litowitz ’40, and he both took physics from Dr. Hans Bethe, and that his younger siblings, Budd Litowitz ’71, BS ’72, and the late Susan Litowitz ’75, all Cornellians, were challenged and well prepared for their respective careers.

Martha Mattus, PhD ’74 (Portland, OR) is finding satisfaction these days in a range of activities. She is a musician, playing ukulele with two different groups, while her tomatoes are growing and producing early. Finally, she donates platelets at the Red Cross about every three weeks. Martha has found a new travel companion and plans to visit Great Britain with her next spring.

Regarding how attending Cornell changed the trajectory of her life, Martha begins by speculating that as the daughter of two teachers, she would likely have spent at least part of her work life teaching. As a graduate of the six-year PhD program, she started as a college teacher, which was the first of three careers. The most influence on her life from Cornell has been a lifelong love of learning.

Arthur Litowitz ’70 and his father, Robert Litowitz ’40, both took physics from Dr. Hans Bethe.

Jerry Roller (Philadelphia, PA) reports that JKRP Architects, the Philadelphia architectural firm he founded in 1984, recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. They are currently a 50-member firm and growing.

Kenneth Gilstein (Bowie, MD) finds his greatest satisfaction in waking up and breathing, along with continuing his work as a clinical neuropsychologist, following Cornell sports, and watching old movies. He is semi-retired, yet works as a clinical neuropsychologist for LifeStance. His work entails psychotherapy and specializing in those with mild traumatic brain injury.

Kenneth has two adult sons who live in California. The older is a speech pathologist in a middle school, while the younger is an industrial organization psychologist. Kenneth’s Cornell life trajectory was two-fold, first influencing him to focus on a career in psychology, and second, changing his life forever while working as a manager of both the lacrosse and hockey teams. He became part of the “hockey legend” as part of Cornell’s unique 1969–70 undefeated NCAA championship hockey team.

Patrick Kelly (Ottawa, ON) finds his satisfaction in traveling, family, and volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross and the Salvation Army. His view of Cornell’s impact on him was to prepare him for life and for helping others.

Sandra Schorr (Hendersonville, NC) finds her satisfaction from just being with good people and trying to find the best in people in these politically divisive times. She’s also enjoying a relatively new home, making new friends, and volunteering. An MD, Sandra retired from hospital-based medicine in 2019 and went to Iceland with her husband to celebrate the fall that year.

A major happening in Sandra’s life is helping her husband, Charles Breckheimer, MAT ’69, MS ’69, navigate his journey with Parkinson’s disease. As a very athletic individual until five years ago, it has served him well, allowing him to be mobile after 21 years, while fighting daily to stay that way.

Cornell changed Sandra’s life in several ways. She met her husband in organic chemistry class (arguably the only good thing to come out of organic chemistry!). And it was a great education, which prepared her for medical school. She had studied as an undergrad to be a marine biologist, and wanted to be the next Rachel Carson when she stumbled into medicine while working after graduation for a young and encouraging oncologist.

By the time this column appears, our 55th Reunion will be only months away! It won’t be too late to make arrangements in order to return to campus. Since we had no onsite celebration of our 50th Reunion due to COVID, the upcoming one may be the largest and best we may ever have! Hope to see many of you in June 2025!

As always, you may contact me directly (see below) or you may use the University’s standard online news form. ❖ John Cecilia, MBA ’79 (email John) | Alumni Directory.

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1971

In May, Naomi Katz Mintz, Lowell Youngquist (Midland, MI, and retired from Dow Chemical Company), Mike Licitra (Long Island, NY), Andrea Sagenkahn Silver (Denver, CO), Jim Schiffman (Atlanta, GA), Barbara Noveau (Rockville, MD), Susan Deitz Milmoe (New York, NY), Arthur Mintz (Ithaca, NY), Katherine Menton Flaxman (Chevy Chase, MD), Steve “Mo” Metoyer, JD ’74 (Takoma Park, MD), Michael Stone (Fort Lauderdale, FL), Richard Warshauer (New York, NY), Sharon Schatz (Cherry Hill, NJ), Bill Olin (east of Binghamton, NY, and “a lifetime farmer”), and Dale Cohen (New York, NY) had a Zoom conversation about the anti-war movement during our years at Cornell. Classmates discussed student protests in our years vs. what was happening on campus in April, the Willard Straight Hall and Barton Hall takeovers, the draft lottery, how the draft and deferments affected career and life decisions, the accuracy/inaccuracy of national media reports vs. the reality of campus unrest, and the inability to compare campus unrest today with our years on campus. Join in our monthly class history discussions by contacting Naomi Katz Mintz (email Naomi).

Janett Edelberg and her partner, Ron Lasofsky, enjoy the laid-back lifestyle and the great weather in Naples, FL. They live in a gated country club community and are social members of the country club (using the pool and state-of-the-art gym, eating at the restaurants, and participating in various social events). Janett is involved with the Cornell Club of Southwest Florida. She is also an alumni ambassador for CAAAN, speaking to applicants about Cornell and life on the Hill. Janett notes that only a few applicants are from Florida and only 8% of the student body is from the southeast part of the country. This year, two of her candidates were accepted and one will be attending. Janett celebrated her 75th birthday with a festive high tea at a NYC restaurant, where guests included longtime friend Dale Cohen.

Mark Ellyne and his wife, Joyce, divide their time between Cape Town, South Africa (where Mark works part time as a visiting lecturer on economics at the University of Cape Town), and Denver, CO. In his free time, Mark enjoys sailing, golfing, and biking. Thomas Yeaton also is an expat, working and living in Kilkenny, Ireland.

Stephanie Hill is enjoying retirement in Orefield, PA. Stephanie reads, gardens, and practices yoga. She is pursuing a side project in management of game development on the Meta Quest Platform and has a budding interest in AI as a developer tool. Stephanie says that her grandchildren are growing up (one granddaughter attends Barnard College and has inherited Stephanie’s artistic genes with a strong interest in theater). She adds that dealing with challenges at Cornell prepared her to meet later challenges in life.

Out in Arizona, Joanne Trifilo retired in 2020 from a career as an immigration attorney. Currently, Joanne is writing, volunteering with the V.A. emergency department, singing in a choir, cooking vegan, practicing yoga, and taking courses for fun. She enjoys traveling and time with her three grandchildren. Cornell enabled Joanne to make lasting friendships, become independent, and write a book of poetry. Also in Arizona, Stella Mayhew Ardire continues to enjoy dancing and getting together with family. Prior to her partner’s passing this past March, they traveled on cruises, an African safari, and trips throughout the West. To Stella, Cornell was “a broadening experience for a girl from a small town in Upstate New York.”

Sandie Feinman Antar ’71 moved to Manhattan five years ago and still feels delighted every day to live in NYC, close to Central Park and the Met Museum.

Peter Benjamin lives in Springfield, MA, with his wife, Liz Bramson, a clinical social worker. Peter had a long and impressive career in legal aid in Western Massachusetts. Involved since 1979, he served as an elder law attorney, managing attorney, and advocacy coordinator at Community Legal Aid (CLA) before retiring in 2021. He helped countless residents of Western Massachusetts who benefited from legal assistance over the years. Peter and Liz have established a fund at the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts to provide charitable support to CLA in perpetuity. Now Peter is busy with volunteer activities, including as a museum docent. Peter’s kids, Natalie ’02 and Max, both live in California, along with three (soon to be five) grandchildren.

Sandie Feinman Antar moved to Manhattan five years ago and still feels delighted every day to live in NYC, close to Central Park and the Met Museum, where Sandie serves as a volunteer docent. She gives tours and researches works of art in preparation for tours. Sandie loves her work, but best of all appreciates the new friendships she has formed with other guides. She also enjoys time with her seven grandchildren (ages 3–12), who all live within an hour away.

Gilda Klein Linden’s family (“10 of us, kids and grandkids!”) spent a wonderful two weeks together traveling to Lucerne, Switzerland, Venice, Italy (via the Bernina Express), and Athens, Paros, and Santorini, Greece. Gilda writes, “It was amazing to introduce some of the family to international travel. My husband, Jeff, and I also took a cruise from Bangkok to Hong Kong, along the coast of Vietnam. We then took our first river cruise along the Danube from Budapest to Bucharest.” When not traveling, Gilda volunteers as an EMT (33 years with the Fair Lawn Ambulance Corps), plays with her Husky mix (Milo), gardens, knits for friends and family, and creates hats for the local police department Christmas charity.

Up in Ithaca, Marianne Saphra and husband Stephen Clancy ’74, JD ’78, PhD ’88, enjoy hiking, nature, and the great outdoors. Marianne and Stephen help out with their grandchildren and are looking forward to welcoming an additional grandchild this year. They plan to visit Europe (fall cruise and bike trip) and travel to Turkey. Marianne says that Cornell helped her find a wonderful group of peers and gave her a solid education for later life. Robert Crystal and his partner, Curtis, live nearby in Rochester, NY. Robert is retired but serves on the boards of the Rochester Interfaith Jail Ministry and the Delphi Drug and Alcohol Council. Robert says Cornell moved him to political and social activism.

Lastly, we sadly report the passing of two classmates. Dale Antanitus of Carlisle, MA, died on January 30, 2022. Trained as a pediatric neurologist, Dale researched the role of astrocytes in brain function, served as a medical director at Liberty Healthcare Corp. and as an administrator at Wrentham State School and Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center, taught at Harvard Medical School, and worked for the U.S. Department of Justice. He was an author and art collector and enjoyed travel, gourmet cooking, skiing, and music. Eileen Nuhn Petrillo of Ridge, NY (formerly of Rocky Point, NY), died on January 2, 2024. Eileen was a counselor with Eastern Suffolk BOCES and directed life skills programs in the community and at Riverhead Correctional Facility. She enjoyed travel, gardening, bowling, and bocce.

Many thanks to those of you who contributed news for this column. Let’s continue to connect! ❖ Cara Nash Iason (email Cara) | Elisabeth Kaplan Boas (email Elisabeth) | Alumni Directory.

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1972

Kathleen Parrott, MA ’79, reported that after retiring from the faculty at Virginia Tech, she started volunteering as an interpreter at Historic Smithfield in Blacksburg, VA. She wrote, “As someone who had taught courses on various aspects of housing, I was always interested in Smithfield, which was built in the early 1770s by/for the Preston family. I am particularly drawn to the story of Susanna Smith Preston, wife of William and mother of 12 children, who took a lead role in managing the plantation for many years (William was often involved in activities away from home and died relatively young in a militia accident). I continue to learn how to talk with visitors about the role of the enslaved population at the plantation. Plus, I just enjoy ‘hanging out’ in this wonderful 18th-century house!”

Raisa Scriabine, MA ’74, wrote in from Potomac, MD, that Cornell changed the trajectory of her life because her major in Russian language, literature, and history was integral to her professional work in Russia in the 1970s on environmental projects, and in the 1990s on public health projects. Currently she is enjoying family, learning new things, and reading. In addition to managing the family’s small farm and learning languages (currently German), she loves to swim, hike with her dog, and take Pilates classes. She also teaches a meditation class. Her son, Alexander, and his wife live in Germany and have a 2-year-old son, Noah. She loves visiting them in Germany and says, “It’s wonderful being a grandma.”

Robert Efron, DVM ’75, wrote in from West Hartford, CT, that he continues to work, now about 12 hours per week, as a practicing veterinarian. He and his wife, Sharon, have four grandchildren who he states are the “light of his life.” He would love to hear from U-Hall #2, Floor 2 residents and his Phi Sigma Epsilon brothers.

Raisa Scriabine ’72, MA ’74, majored in Russian language, literature, and history, which was integral to her professional work in Russia in the 1970s and 1990s.

Daniel Dumas, MPA ’75, sent in his news from Brussels, Belgium, where he, his spouse, and their four grown children live with their families. With each of their children and respective spouses having three children of their own, they have the pleasure of being grandparents to 12! Nine years ago, Daniel retired from IBM, where he first started working while a Cornell undergrad as part of the engineering co-op program. Now he does some volunteer work for an organization that works to prevent homelessness. He travels back to the U.S. every two years or so to see family and, on occasion, friends from his years at Cornell. He very much enjoyed meeting up with Sal March, PhD ’78, and his wife, Kathy, for a little New England road trip this spring.

Betsy Post Falconi wrote in from New Hope, PA, stating that she gets the most satisfaction these days from family, dogs, gardening, reconnecting with old friends, and, last but not least, having the good fortune to have a granddaughter at Cornell and loving it. She and her husband, Joe ’70, keep busy with grandkids, family, friends, and nonprofit work. She notes, “Despite age creeping up and slowing us down a bit, we love walking, gardening, cooking, serving on nonprofit boards, and doing other volunteer work.” She attributes her years at Cornell to impacting her life by building her confidence and commitment to assume challenges. She loved hosting Jennifer Shea and Mary Jane McKinven this spring.

Rob Fersh is pleased to share that he co-authored a book that was published by Wiley on July 30, 2024. Titled, From Conflict to Convergence: Coming Together to Solve Tough Problems, it is widely available for ordering and has been described as “an incisive, hands-on guide to de-escalating conflict and constructively engaging with those you disagree with to find better solutions to problems.” Rob states that it is a story-driven book based largely on his and his coauthor’s experience working on important national issues at the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution, an organization he started in 2009. According to Rob, the success of the Convergence center was greatly helped by two other Cornellians, the late David Lipsky ’61, former dean of the ILR School, and Rich Korn ’71, PhD ’79, from the ILR School. On a more personal note, he reports that he is semi-retired, lives in Bethesda, MD, with his wife of 44 years, Sharon Markus, and is fortunate to have all four of their children and all three grandchildren living nearby. ❖ Susan Farber Straus (email Susan) | Frank Dawson (email Frank) | Wes Schulz, ME ’73 (email Wes) | Alumni Directory.

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1973

Thanks to everyone who sent in news! Your life stories enhance us all. Summer will have passed, a hot and wet one for many, or just plain hot with fires for others. Let’s hope everyone had a safe summer and is enjoying a pleasant fall.

Oliver “Buster” Scranton wrote from Guilford, CT. He’s enjoying being active in retirement, where he produces maple products and farms with his family. David and Christine Dickieson Pesses are also involved in bringing good food to our tables. When they aren’t with children or grandchildren, they travel to see friends. Otherwise, David volunteers as an organic farmers’ “support person” and all-around extra hand. Christine volunteers for their local co-op market. They agree that attending Cornell changed their lives’ trajectories—including marrying each other after meeting there. For Christine, it made her more confident in her ability to handle the challenges that life offers. For David, going to Cornell helped him get into medical school, as well as giving him lasting friendships. We all benefited from the relationships we made at Cornell.

Susan Schindewolf Hirschmann and her husband, Tom ’70, spend their most satisfying times traveling, kayaking, and gardening. Susan now volunteers to count horseshoe crabs, measure them, and add U.S. Fish and Wildlife tags for the Cornell Cooperative Extension Service and New York State. She does this work near her home in Centerport, NY. It turns out that horseshoe crabs’ blood is essential for endotoxin testing in vaccines and transplants. How did Cornell change her life? Susan taught high school research and was curator of a natural history collection at the Vanderbilt Museum. Also, all three children attended Cornell, as their parents had.

Jeff Schwartz and his wife, Kathyrn Dysart, took their first Cornell’s Adult University trip: a journey to Andalusia, Spain. By coincidence, Eliot Greenwald and his wife, Anita, were also on the trip. When they were “schlepping” through another city (Seville? Córdoba?), many in the group in their Cornell baseball caps, someone from another tour came up to them. Jeff said it was so loud in the crowd that all he could hear was that the newcomer was a member of the Class of 1973. Jeff asks that the “mysterious” classmate let us know who they are!

Susan Schindewolf Hirschmann ’73 volunteers to count horseshoe crabs, measure them, and add U.S. Fish and Wildlife tags for the Cornell Cooperative Extension Service.

Torin Togut spent the spring semester co-teaching a course on education and disability law at the University of Georgia School of Law with a professor from the College of Education. The class included second- and third-year law students and graduate students from the College of Education, as well as one journalism student. Torin saw benefits to the students from the different perspectives on special education that each teacher brought to the course.

David Rossiter, PhD ’88, and his wife, Christine Stockwell ’74, PhD ’93, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in May 2024. They were married in Anabel Taylor Chapel by Father Murphy. After many peregrinations around the U.S., Venezuela, and the Netherlands, David is back in Ithaca. He’s an adjunct professor in soil and crop sciences. David declares that he holds a longevity record for attending Cornell, as he started in 1953 at the teaching nursery school in Home Economics (as it was then known).

Wendy Roberts Michel and her husband, Ralph ’72, MBA ’74, were delighted to attend granddaughter Sage Clara Michel ’24’s graduation from Cornell.

Be sure to keep us up to date on your life. Email any of your correspondents with your news. ❖ Phyllis Haight Grummon (email Phyllis) | Pam Meyers (email Pam) | Dave Ross (email Dave) | Alumni Directory.

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1974

Even though 2024 is winding down, I’m still holding on to some happy memories of our 50th Reunion this past June. The Red Talks offered by classmates on a myriad of subjects were excellent. I attended the talk given by classmate Barry Strauss titled “Rebels: Jews and the Roman Empire.” Barry, a renowned classicist and military and naval historian, retired this past summer from his teaching position at Cornell. He will continue to write (he has a new book coming out in 2025) and work as a consultant. I also took a tour with my husband around the Johnson Museum of Art and, when we could look away from the artwork, there were those stunning views out over Cayuga Lake. Worth a stop in Ithaca anytime. The same goes for the Lab of Ornithology.

On Friday evening we all experienced dining in one of the new dining halls, namely Toni Morrison Dining. The food was great and the conversations even better; we sat with Lucy Babcox Morris and her husband, John, as well as with Bill Van Sweringen, ME ’75, and his wife, Pat. Bill and Pat live in Houston now and Bill has been involved in the oil and gas industry there. Lucy and John live in St. Louis, where Lucy has retired from her radiology practice but is heavily involved in welcoming a growing number of grandchildren.

After the dinner and the live WVBR broadcast from our dorm HQ, I ran into another Akronite (Akron, OH) from the Class of ’74, attorney John Guran, BA ’73. I saw so many people that looked familiar but could not recall their names so thank goodness for the large name tags! During the shoot for our class photo, I will not forget Jack Corrigan holding up two life-size photos of the faces of Mark and Wendy Zurn Allen. Mark and Wendy couldn’t make it to Reunion, but Jack made sure they “attended” all the events in the most fun way.

On Saturday afternoon of our 50th Reunion weekend, a group of Kappas met at our chapter house at 508 Thurston Ave. and were delighted to meet and speak with another Kappa, there for her 75th Reunion! Fingers crossed that many of us can be just as fortunate and able to attend our 75th Reunion in 2049. Our last meal in Ithaca was at Moosewood Restaurant on Sunday evening, after the Reunion festivities were officially over. My final takeaway from the weekend is that we were so fortunate to receive an education at Cornell and that the gorges, the waterfalls, the bridges, the architecture, and the trees are stunning. Of course, I may be unduly influenced by greenery and trees especially now that I live in the desert Southwest!

On to news from recently retired dermatologist Robyn Berger Notterman, BS Nurs ’76, MD ’83, who, along with her husband, Daniel ’73, is spending winters in Highland Beach, FL, and “the rest of my time in Hightstown, NJ, on a family farm and in Loveladies on the Jersey Shore.” Robyn gets the most satisfaction these days from her wonderful 3-year-old grandson, Jonas. When she’s not spending time with him or her 98-year-old mother, Robyn is taking piano lessons, playing pickleball (apparently she’s not too bad at it either!), and making plans for other things on her long bucket list. She reports that attending Cornell did impact the trajectory of her life, as it was her work at Planned Parenthood in Ithaca that got her interested in medicine.

Robyn Berger Notterman ’74, BS Nurs ’76, MD ’83, reports that it was her work at Planned Parenthood in Ithaca that got her interested in medicine.

Patricia Cahill and her husband, Kenneth Chew, made the trip from their home in Irvine, CA, to our 50th Reunion. Patricia writes, “Ken and I met at Cornell. We graduated in 1974, married later, and have two children. We welcomed our first grandchild in 2023. Enjoyed our 50th in Ithaca, visiting favorite campus and Collegetown spots, some of which are still there while others are not. Enjoyed ice cream at the new Dairy Bar as we left campus. We are lucky to have met in Ithaca and to return over 50 years later to celebrate!”

In Cazenovia, NY, Betsy Moore and her husband, David Porter, witnessed the closing of Cazenovia College in 2023. Betsy retired at the same time the college closed its doors after teaching interior design there for 33 years. Since then, she writes, “The village is much quieter, and the New York State Police are leasing the campus as a satellite academy location. My former office is being used for breathalyzer training!” As for what brings her the most satisfaction these days, she says, “Spending time with family and friends. Trying to read every book in the library. Singing in the local Episcopal choir and serving on the vestry. I innocently signed up as its liaison to buildings and grounds to work on gardens but have discovered it’s more about boilers, roof drains, paving projects, and fire suppression systems. I’ve been learning a lot.”

Beyond the village, “We visit our son in Washington, DC, to see some of the sights and museums and to eat at great restaurants. Several of us Kappas got together in Chicago in fall 2023 and plan future events in interesting places.” She goes on to say, “ Attending Cornell continued the trajectory of my parents, siblings, and other relatives. My son graduated from Syracuse University and my niece graduated from Amherst, if only to demonstrate that there are other worthwhile choices!”

One more piece of news about Betsy, who has previously served as a class correspondent. She will return to that position in 2025, along with two other experienced all-star correspondents, Perry Jacobs and Linda Meyers Geyer. I am stepping down from this position and know that your “new” class correspondents really will be hitting the ground running. Hope to see you in Ithaca in 2029 and that repairs to Uris Library are complete so we can all go back inside and wander the stacks, admire the view, and reminisce about having journals and books placed on “reserve” so that everyone in the class could have a chance at reading the assigned material!

Lastly, there is a happy last minute “additional report” from former class correspondent and now class president Jim Schoonmaker and his wife, Martha. They are now grandparents! Daughter Annalise ’14 and her husband, Mayank, welcomed a baby daughter in July. (No word yet on future college plans, although she has been seen with certain Big Red items …).” ❖ Molly Miller Ettenger (email Molly) | Betsy Moore (email Betsy) | Perry Jacobs (email Perry) | Linda Meyers Geyer (email Linda) | Alumni Directory.

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1975

It is late summer in New York, and we are having a mini-relief from the heat! I attended the Class of ’74 Reunion to scout out for our 50th, next June 5–8. Here are comments from Susan Fulton (Reunion chair), who also attended with her husband, Alan Burrows ’76:

“We wanted to see the new dorms and the Toni Morrison Dining Center on North Campus, where we’ll probably be next year; visit potential sites and caterers for class dinners; check out other class headquarters, decorations, and events; see all the changes on campus; and, of course, visit the Dairy Bar. We had a lovely time at their Reunion and spent time with Deb Gellman, our class president, Pam Hanna, Joan Pease, Barb Peterson Champion, and Laurie Musick Wright (and her mom, Pat Musick Carr, PhD ’74, who marched with our class in June ’75) for the Ithaca premier showing of The Artist and the Astronaut. We didn’t have a 45th Reunion due to COVID in 2020 and so much has changed on campus since our last Reunion in 2015. One thing that hasn’t changed is the weather. It vacillated between hot and sunny and thunderstorms—so make sure you bring your umbrella next year.”

Back when we were in college, most of us did not have a car and never ventured too far from campus or Ithaca unless a friend had a car. Susan and Alan decided to go up four days early and visit the Finger Lakes. They stayed in a lovely B&B in Watkins Glen. The area offers so many things to do and see including lake cruises and very good restaurants. There are over 160 wineries surrounding the lakes and they visited quite a few on Seneca and Keuka. The wineries had lovely tasting rooms overlooking the water and many had a limited menu with charcuterie boards or lite fare. There were also distilleries, creameries, breweries, and art and gift shops. They visited Buttermilk Falls and Watkins Glen but didn’t have time to visit Taughannock Falls—maybe next year. They went to Watkins Glen International Raceway to watch driver practice laps for Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen race.

Jeanne Fattori Reinig Smith recommended a visit to the Corning Museum of Glass—and was she right! Susan concludes: “I would have set aside more time for our visit if I had realized how many demonstrations and exhibits there were, especially since our ticket allowed us to visit a second day. The museum was amazing! As you plan for Reunion next year, I highly recommend adding a few more days to explore the Finger Lakes and remind yourself of what a beautiful area it is.”

Eric Rosenblum ’75’s wife arranged a wonderful family weekend ski event at Bear Creek Mountain Resort in the Poconos to help celebrate his 70th birthday.

We are hoping to see many of you on campus for the big event (especially since our 45th Reunion was held virtually!). A letter will go out in the next month or so to kick off our preparations, but there are things you can start to think about. The first is to update your email address with the University, since most of the communications will come that way. Many of us have changed our email, moving from AOL, Yahoo, Hotmail, and work addresses that have changed over the years. If Cornell does not have your current info, you are missing out on University updates and upcoming Reunion information. If you would like to update your email address, mailing address, email preferences (you can opt out of solicitation emails and receive event emails only!), or work information, go to cornellconnect.cornell.edu or email me, Deb Gellman, MBA ’82.

If you want to volunteer in any capacity to help make this Reunion successful (including contacting fellow classmates to encourage them to attend), please let us know, especially if you would like to be a class officer for the next five years. In the meantime, dig out those photos, concert tickets/posters, album covers, and other mementos you are willing to share and that we can all appreciate. We have a Facebook Group and a class website and plan to have a project announced shortly that will put those mementos to good use.

I received the following from Eric Rosenblum, who noted that it has been a long time since the days on Libe Slope, at Willard Straight Hall, and at the Johnson Museum, along with the restaurants and taverns in Collegetown and many other great places in and around Ithaca and Cornell! (Another reason to return next year!) Eric’s wife, Barbara, arranged a wonderful family weekend ski event at Bear Creek Mountain Resort in the Poconos to help celebrate his 70th birthday. All three of their adult boys joined in along with their families. Eric’s oldest came from Philadelphia with his wife and 7-year-old and 9-year-old granddaughters. Their middle son came from New Jersey with his wife and 10-year-old and 8-year-old-twin grandsons. The youngest flew in from L.A. It was a truly great weekend celebration, and Bear Creek brought back great memories of Eric’s old times at the Greek Peak ski resort near Cornell!

Please take a few minutes to send us highlights of your life after Cornell, college friends you have seen, and memorable moments on and off campus, and we’ll share the news in our upcoming columns. Visit our class website and our Facebook page. ❖ Deb Gellman, MBA ’82 (email Deb) | Karen DeMarco Boroff (email Karen) | Mitch Frank (email Mitch) | Joan Pease (email Joan) | Alumni Directory.

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1976

Relaxing at the beach brings Gary Siegel the most satisfaction—and he has moved to the beach in Virginia! He also enjoys golf, tennis, reading, and spending time with his grandchildren. Attending Cornell propelled him to medical school and then to his career in medicine.

Living in Florida, Mitchell Stern has family time with his young grandchildren. He’s still working as a neonatologist full time, but he has given up being the NICU unit director after 25 years. The first step in wind down! His wife, Lucy Cohen, is working from home. Their daughter and family live nearby in Coconut Creek, FL. Mitchell’s mother, who is 91, is doing great in Pompano Beach.

Michael Sadofsky continues his work with photography, and spends time with family, landscape, and local events. Recently he traveled the Blue Ridge Parkway during the fall. He volunteers at the Kentucky Derby Festival and is assistant chair of the Pegasus Parade, and he’s a board member of the Dare to Care Food Bank. Sadly, he lost his wife to cancer in April 2023. We send our sympathies to Michael and his family. Michael is a proud stepfather to two daughters, step-grandfather to six, and step-great-grandfather to 12.

James Blankenship ’76, MD ’80, director of cardiology at the University of New Mexico, enjoys ‘whacking open blocked heart arteries in people with heart attacks.’

Being quite active, James Blankenship, MD ’80, ran up a two-mile, 1,200-foot elevation trail. He enjoys “whacking open blocked heart arteries in people with heart attacks.” James helps medical students, residents, and fellows advance their careers as director of cardiology at the University of New Mexico. Maris Dobrow Rosenberg continues to work as a pediatrician in New York.

Gardening and grandkids keep Janet Brothers Fallon busy. She helps her 90-year-old mother and built her a new house. Cornell provided Janet with a career and contacts, both professionally and personally.

Donald Van Duyn has been hiking and taking care of his grandchildren and dogs. He has been teaching ESL to recent immigrants, too. His wife, Mary Ann (Steele), died March 7, 2023 after a blessedly short battle with cancer. I am sure we all join in sending our condolences to Donald and his family.

On a personal note, I lost my husband of 45 amazing years, Morris Diamant ’74, to cancer in February 2022. We were married right after my graduation. I have been lucky enough the second time around to find a wonderful man to spend time with. I was not looking for a relationship, but life takes surprising turns. Never say never! Also, I took a cruise to Alaska in July and had a wonderful time. ❖ Lisa Diamant (email Lisa) | Pat Relf Hanavan (email Pat) | Alumni Directory.

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1977

This month we’ve heard from a few classmates who are spending their valuable time, both personally and professionally, helping others locally and around the world. As you might expect, our classmates are making a significant difference in their communities as a whole, and especially to those in need.

Thomas Hedberg writes, “I am the founder (2013) and executive director of International Medical Crisis Response Alliance, with 30+ associates worldwide. We are a consultative NGO with the United Nations based in NYC and Connecticut. Our current efforts are in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine. We provide remedial medical education to professionals and laypersons. A secondary focus is international conservation.”

Bill Grant sent us an update from his home in Florida. He continues to be active with the Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network, sharing information with applicants to Cornell. Bill writes, “Recently I have been able to do remote interviews with international applicants of the Nolan Hotel School. Tehran, Hanoi, Mongolia, and Kyiv have been great experiences, and the applicants are so appreciative I made the effort on their behalf. An amazing experience.” Bill is also a board member of the Cornell Club of Northern Florida, and as a proud Hotelie he helps organize club events. Next up: the Cornell vs. Princeton hockey game.

Bill also writes, “I coach youth basketball (and my granddaughters!) at the local YMCA and am amazed by the 30%+ of kids on my teams with learning, attention, and/or mental health disabilities. A similar ratio pertains at the local middle school where I serve as an assistant coach.” Bill concludes his update by noting that his real estate company, Hometown Heroes, continues to focus on helping those who serve our nation and local communities.

Patricia Noar writes, “I am a volunteer at Shadow Equestrian, where I walk alongside the special needs children who are receiving equine therapy on a weekly basis. Closer to home, when I walk my dog in the neighborhood, I pick up any plastic I find in the street, to keep it away from wildlife and out of our waterways.” Well done, Patricia!

In June, Bill Nye ’77 was selected as a member of the Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2025.

Mark Mayrsohn has news on a number of fronts. He writes that his family recently celebrated his father’s 101st birthday. Bernard Mayrsohn ’45, BS ’47, is a World War II hero who fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was a POW for six months in a German stalag. Mark writes that his dad “was honored by the presentation of nine medals and an Eisenhower jacket for his World War II service by three-star Lieutenant General Martin at his party on June 14. Dad was also honored by the Florida Panthers a few months ago during a ‘Heroes Among Us’ game.” Mark proudly adds that the Panthers won that game and the Stanley Cup this year.

Mark and his wife, Kathy, love to travel and are celebrating 35 years of marriage this summer by going on trips to Holland, Iceland, Ireland, and Italy (Sicily and Southern Italy). Last year they went with Cornell Alumni Travel to Northern Italy, which Mark highly recommends.

Mark also writes that he “recently visited classmate and Cayuga’s Waiters (remember them?) bandmate Steven Snider and his wife, Sarah, at their home in Washington, DC, for dinner, good wine, and conversation.” The next day, Mark and many other Cornellians attended the funeral of another Waiters bandmate, Captain William Porter ’79, at Arlington National Cemetery. Mark concludes that he is “hoping to go to Reunion ’27, see many of you for our 50th Reunion, and have another Waiters performance!” I second that, Mark!

Lastly, our classmate and well known “Science Guy” Bill Nye was in the news again recently. In June, Bill was selected as a member of the Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2025. Bill will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame along with other television nominees Fran Drescher, Lauren Graham, Molly Shannon, Sherri Shepherd, Courtney B. Vance, Chris Wallace, Trey Parker, and Matt Stone. These honorees were selected from among hundreds of nominations for their excellence in their profession. Congratulations, Bill!

We enjoy hearing from you and having the opportunity to share your stories with our fellow classmates. Please keep all of your news and views coming in via the online news form. ❖ Mary Flynn (email Mary) | Howie Eisen (email Howie) | Alumni Directory.

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1978

Warm greetings from the “dog days” of summer in New England! It’s my turn (Ilene Shub Lefland here) as scribe, bringing you up to date on those classmates good enough to share.

Lewis Wirshba and Richard Ellenson taught a first-year English class at Baruch College in Manhattan. Their writing assignments were on the ever-provocative topic “For Love and Money.” Lewis says the students were diverse (reflecting Baruch as a CUNY school), engaging, and truly engaged, as they wrestled with a complex dynamic that has gotten even more complex over recent years. He writes: “We had a great time paying it forward to Gen Z and, a bit more selfishly, returning to college ourselves, albeit not quite as if we were living on Eddy Street. It was a fun, challenging, and inspiring semester for us both—aside from the hours grading papers. You should all try teaching!”

After practicing law for nearly 30 years, Barbara Lubitz, JD ’83, earned a degree in appraisal studies and opened BJL Appraisal, providing fine and decorative art appraisal services in NYC. Aside from her business, collecting art and antiques and bicycling bring her great satisfaction.

Pete Schoenberger recently retired from the student health insurance industry and is adjusting to being single again at the age of 67. He enjoys playing billiards with friends, kayaking local streams and lakes, attending music concerts, and meeting interesting and talented new friends. Pete has been living in and maintaining the same house in Hadley, MA, for 40 years. On the influence of attending Cornell, he writes: “By overseeing the infamous Phi Psi road race during junior year, I overcame the negative psychological impact of having terrible grades for two years!”

In his retirement, Paul Evans is enjoying a new grandchild, traveling, and being with friends. He’s also looking forward to his two sons’ weddings next year. Paul credits his Cornell degree for getting a good job as a senior landscape architect with the New York State Department of Transportation and being able to retire comfortably after 30 years of service. A new grandchild has also brought lots of joy to Jody Katz, who enjoys traveling, teaching exercise classes, gardening, and hanging out with family and friends. (Writer’s note: I sense a theme here.)

By overseeing the infamous Phi Psi road race during junior year, I overcame the negative psychological impact of having terrible grades for two years!

Pete Schoenberger ’78

Patricia Stone Ortenberg also likes spending time with her grandchildren and husband Charles ’77. She is doing healthcare consulting on a very part-time basis. Patricia’s volunteer service includes working at a food pantry, helping with Ukrainian family relocation, and, of course, babysitting the grandkids.

April Fischer Kates is logging a lot of travel miles to see her children and new places. She traveled to India with Cornell last year, which she called “a fantastic journey with a great group of people.” A trip to Spain and Portugal was planned for the fall. April also does a bit of consulting on food regulations and labeling and takes care of a 100-pound golden retriever. Her son is engaged and her daughter lives in the Boston area.

After not playing any tennis since his days on the Hill, Mike Bernard got a USTA senior lesson set and formed a group that plays twice a week. Tennis has cut into his golfing time a bit, so he now hits the links only twice a week. “But I walk and carry my clubs when the temperature is 90 degrees in Albuquerque!” he adds. Mike gets in additional steps walking his dog. His own yardwork is not enough, so he volunteers at his church’s garden as well.

Richard Cavanagh, ME ’79, moved from Florida to Mooresville, NC, where his main hobbies are nature, photography, golf, and blogging. You can see his work at his website. Mark Rust released a new CD, “Mark Rust Live at the Registry Theatre.” Stephen Kesselman, JD ’81, was delighted in July to welcome his ZBT fraternity brother Bill Sternberg and his wife, Ellen (Haas), for a visit to his New Hampshire home.

That’s all the news this time around but we’d love to hear what’s new with you. Submit an online news form or email either of us. ❖ Ilene Shub Lefland (email Ilene) | Cindy Fuller, PhD ’92 (email Cindy) | Alumni Directory.

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1979

Although our 45th Reunion is in the rearview mirror, many of us are still savoring our wonderful experience. The best part for me was spending time with friends from my college days, along with spending significant time with many people I didn’t know back then, plus bumping into people who knew my sisters (Laurie Moses ’81 and Amy Moses ’83). And the activities were great, running the gamut from class activities (I went on a wine tasting trip) to terrific music to optional rah-rah Cornell events.

Reunion co-chair Larry Stone writes: “After an unbelievable Reunion week in Ithaca, we are back in our new home in Reno, NV, where we moved in late 2022. Along with my co-chair, Cindy Green, Reunion far exceeded our expectations as over 250 class members and guests made Hu Shih Hall on North Campus, the latest in Cornell dorms, our home for 72 fantastic hours. We had three class dinners together, and quite a few classmates kept our headquarters lounge going until late in the night. After a year of planning, it’s hard to believe it’s all over, but we will do it again in 2029.” Our 50th Reunion chairs are already thinking about how to exceed all of our awesome previous gatherings.

Deb Seidman was so glad that she attended our Reunion. These days she gets the most satisfaction from family, friends, interesting work, and a variety of activities including skiing, travel, and printmaking. She is working at Kotter with great colleagues, keeping a range of events to transform client organizations for the better.

Dean Burrell wrote from New Jersey that he currently gets the most satisfaction from his children and grandchildren. Dean works full time as a labor and employment arbitrator and was recently inducted into the National Academy of Arbitrators. He is so grateful that Cornell gave him a career that he loves!

James Petri writes, “I volunteer in ‘Downeast Maine’ and over the last 20 years have been involved in multiple projects to successfully conserve over 500,000 acres of land for both people and wildlife. I continue to volunteer: three years ago, 2,000 acres were conserved, and this year about 600 acres were conserved. I also made a one-hour presentation on Henry S. Dennison and Edmund Ware Smith. (Smith was a national author and he had a friendship with E.B. White 1921.)”

James continues, “I was diagnosed with lung cancer. As many know, this is a terminal disease and no cure is available. In 2008, when first diagnosed, I was given limited time to live. I chose experimental therapy as I moved to a different world. Well, I’m here, I have been through three trials that worked, and each drug subsequently received FDA approval. I am now also surviving brain cancer, being cancer free as of August 2023.”

Over the last 20 years I have been involved in multiple projects to successfully conserve over 500,000 acres of land for both people and wildlife.

James Petri ’79

Some classmates wrote about retirement. Bob and Kathy Zappia Gould took a three-week trip to Greece and Croatia in May 2024, right after Bob’s retirement in April. They said it was great to explore the archeological sites and see Santorini and Mykonos. They walked the wall in Dubrovnik and went to Plitvice Lakes National Park, then returned just in time to attend our 45th Reunion.

Jordan Lambert, ME ’80, and his wife have been embracing the travel bug and cruised New Zealand/Australia in February and March 2024. Next up is Australia and then hiking the Scottish Highlands. They now have eight grandkids, several of whom are approaching their teenage years. His retirement volunteering includes preparing taxes with AARP Tax-Aide, operating an email/phone hotline with the Penn State Master Gardeners, and singing in various community choruses. Our classmates are grateful that Jordan prepared the Reunion web and email communications, along with the other class officers.

Jackie Webb retired from the University of Rhode Island on June 30 after a long and rewarding career as professor of biology and marine biology. She looks forward to her new chapter (a permanent sabbatical!) that will include long-awaited vacation travel and continued research in Cambridge, MA, at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard, and on Cape Cod at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole. Jackie is also the chair of the Alumni and Friends Association of the Shoals Marine Laboratory and a member of the corporation of the Sea Education Association.

Ronald Gauthier Jr. and his wife, Sharon, live not far from Cornell, in Binghamton. They get the most satisfaction from their four kids and seven grandkids, and they are thrilled that everyone is doing so well. Ronald retired and is now playing guitar out at his “gigs,” taking classical guitar lessons, learning to build guitars, flying RC Sailplanes, and, in general, enjoying life! He always thinks of himself as a Cornellian—“a place like no other to grow up.”

Ken Wilson lives near Pittsburgh. He is actively engaged in campus ministry at a nearby college and is also learning to play guitar in their church’s worship band. Five years ago, Ken retired from full-time work as a bridge engineer, but he is now an adjunct professor at Geneva College, teaching Christian ethics and engineering. Ken and his wife, Mimi, became grandparents to their fifth grandchild early in the summer. They thoroughly love being “Pappy” and “Gram.” Connecting with a campus ministry at Cornell gave Ken’s faith deep and solid roots that remain foundational many decades later.

Please send your news, including how you celebrated 45 years since graduation, plus updates on your travels, jobs, retirements, and other personal and family news via the Share Your News form, the online news form, or emails sent directly to any of our class correspondents: ❖ Linda Moses (email Linda) | Larry Bunis (email Larry) | Cynthia Ahlgren Shea (email Cynthia) | Alumni Directory.

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1980s

1980

Michael Ullmann reports, “I am a proud member of the board of directors of Americares, the global healthcare and relief organization, which serves millions of people in over 40 countries with healthcare needs in times of crisis and disaster, as well as helping underserved people receive the healthcare they need in their daily lives.”

Gregory Gordon wrote to tell us about the July birth of a granddaughter to his son Steven Gordon ’08. This is Steve and his wife’s seventh child. Meanwhile another son, Jonathan Gordon ’15, is in his second year of cardiology fellowship at Rush Medical Center in Chicago. Gregory has officially retired from his family medicine position after 37 years in suburban Philadelphia. He is looking forward to spending more time with the family and traveling with his wife, Roberta. Gregory would love to hear from old friends to reminisce about time spent at Cornell.

Lily del Berrios writes, “I have been elevated to the AIA College of Fellows, Class of 2024. My formal investiture will happen in Washington, DC, during the American Institute of Architects conference on Architecture and Design. It is an incredible honor and a tribute to the lessons learned at Cornell, which served as a foundation for my developing technical advancements.” Lily adds, “This past June we celebrated the arrival of our first grandson, Henry.”

Classmate and digital artist Daniel Ambrosi, BArch ’82, MS ’85, was granted a six-week residency that began this June at the Cornell University Program of Computer Graphics. He worked under the supervision of Donald Greenberg ’55, BCE ’58, PhD ’68, Jacob Gould Schurman Professor of Computer Graphics, in collaboration with Alex Kwan, PhD ’09, Associate Professor, Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering. Daniel reports, “My eight years at Cornell studying architecture and computer graphics were absolutely formative to my artistic vision, as was the scenic beauty of Ithaca and the entire Finger Lakes region. To once again be working under the auspices of my hero and mentor, Don Greenberg, after all these years is an incredible gift.” Visit his website to see some of Daniel’s beautiful artwork, and read more about him in this Cornellians story!

My wife and I enjoyed a taste of Ithaca under a veranda constructed by Hans Drenkard ’81 modeled on the pavilion at the Ithaca Farmers Market.

Chas Horvath ’80, ME ’81

The College of Architecture, Art, and Planning recently announced the establishment of a new endowed Strauch Early Career Fellow, an annual appointment funded by Hans Strauch and his brother Roger Strauch ’78. This gift is an outgrowth of previous Strauch fellowships falling under the college’s Broadening Participation program, a pilot initiative launched in 2022 to make academic careers in the college’s disciplines more accessible to early-career scholars and practitioners committed to advancing academic and creative excellence, equity, and justice with their work. An earlier gift from the Strauches established the Strauch Visiting Critic in Sustainable Design to advance research and innovative design solutions associated with the consequences of global climate change.

My wife, Mary, and I, Chas Horvath, ME ’81, recently spent a wonderful weekend visiting classmate Diane Henke Drenkard, MS ’84, and her husband, Hans ’81, in Stratford, CT. We enjoyed a taste of Ithaca in that many meals (and a few beers!) were enjoyed under a veranda constructed by Hans modeled on the pavilion at the Ithaca Farmers Market.

I can’t match any prestigious awards, fellowships, or board positions of our illustrious classmates, but I did recently come close to receiving a citation from the Boston Police Department, which would have been followed by a recognition ceremony at the Boston Municipal Court. Maybe next time.

On a sad note, my wife, Mary, recently attended a celebration of life for classmate Chris Spear, who passed away on a business trip doing what he loved best: riding his bicycle. Chris rode whenever and wherever he could, riding in 29 states and 23 countries with recent plans to add Spain. He rode for the love of riding but also for good, participating in the two-day, 211-mile Pan-Mass Challenge for 35 years, raising more than $250,000 for cancer research. He will be missed.

Start making plans for our 45th Reunion next summer. If you’ve never been to a Cornell Reunion, they are a great time! Now that, in many cases, our careers and family life are starting to wind down, you have no excuses not to attend!

As always, please pass any news to be shared with your classmates on to one of your class correspondents. ❖ Chas Horvath, ME ’81 (email Chas) | David Durfee (email David) | Leona Barsky, MS ’81 (email Leona) | Dik Saalfeld (email Dik) | Alumni Directory.

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1981

Hello, all! The days are just flying by. We took my daughter, Ella, up to the University of Florida—this is a big milestone for the whole family. We miss her like crazy, although I prepared her with her “wings to fly,” but still! I know, I know—most of you have been through this already. I still have my son, Brayden, home. He is a sophomore at Dreyfoos School of the Arts (high school). I also am still working full time for Hadassah as a fundraiser, and I love it! I’m just adjusting a bit—I’ve caught the bug and I’m playing a ton of pickleball as well. Must stay focused, right? If you find yourself in South Florida (Boca/Delray), please reach out. I’d love to get together!

Mary Kieronski Brown loves helping others live and work better, church activities, and time with the family. She works as a global change management lead for BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions at their headquarters in New Jersey.

Going up north to Massachusetts, Andrew Koenigsberg retired from a second career in software engineering and system architecture a couple of years back. “It was uncomfortable being 40 years older than my coworkers. I went back to my prior career as a consulting hydrogeologist. I now work part time in a small groundwater hydrology consultancy. We have more work than we can handle because very few people work in this specialty anymore. People think I’m strange because I think this is fun, but it also keeps me engaged. I actually use my programming skills to write hydrology applications to analyze field data and perform groundwater flow simulation. Given that I barely passed CS100 back in 1980 and graduated from Cornell thinking I’d never be able to even use a computer, let alone write programs, I’ve had a heck of a career arc.”

Andrew continues, “I also use my scientific background in other ways. I am chair of the town conservation commission, which administers Massachusetts wetlands protection regulations. I give lectures on various geological topics and run geology field trips on behalf of local environmental groups.”

Andrew has been married to Robin Fleming for 24 years. She is a retired art teacher and spends a lot of time with her three grandchildren, singing in a barbershop chorus, landscape painting, and actively participating in the local garden club. His son, Kevin, came back home after seven years in the Air Force. He got his associate’s degree while in the service and is now trying to decide whether to go back to college full time or work on the civilian side of his USAF technical career field, radar and electronics.

Andrew closes with a campus memory: “In the fall of 1977, Harry Chapin performed at Bailey Hall. Somehow, I got a seat in front of the stage. Harry asked for volunteers to sing backup for one of his songs, ‘Mr. Tanner.’ I raised my hand and found myself singing the chorus of ‘Oh Holy Night’ in counterpoint to the lyrics Chapin sang.”

I now work part time in a small groundwater hydrology consultancy. People think I’m strange because I think this is fun.

Andrew Koenigsberg ’81

Also, in Massachusetts, Chris Crehan tells us that he and Rafe Chierchio participated in the Sharon (MA) Triathlon. They entered as aquabikers, swimming the half mile and biking the 12.5 miles. They had a blast, thoroughly enjoyed a leisurely bike ride, and were cheered on by granddaughter Fiona, along with his daughter, son-in-law, and wife. A great day all around. Rafe teaches grade seven math on Staten Island, and Chris just completed his 10th year at AAA Northeast Mortgage. He also had a wonderful golf date with Cornell soccer mates in the fall!

Traveling a bit north to New Hampshire, Bill Nesheim writes, “My time at Cornell helped to spark my interest in conservation, outdoor education, and community engagement.” After retiring from a long career in information technology, he now spends his time volunteering for local conservation organizations. He serves on the board of the Squam Lakes Conservation Society and chairs the stewardship committee, where they engage volunteers to regularly monitor the almost 10,000 acres of protected watershed that they are responsible for in central New Hampshire.

Bill and his wife, Melanie (Hayes) ’82, volunteer as water quality monitors—taking water samples and temperature profiles of their lake regularly throughout the summer. He serves on the planning board in their town. He still loves spending time in the outdoors (he was Cornell Outing Club president in 1980–81) and regularly leads hiking trips for the New Hampshire chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club and serves on the Lakes Region Search and Rescue team.

David and Ivy Nagengast Corbett ’82 are up in the great white north, in Kitchener, ON. David has worked as a full-time psychotherapist in private practice since 1999. He loves spending time with friends and family and makes sure to take care of his health. He has retired as a minister, but he is considering being reordained. He fishes, bikes, canoes, camps, and gardens! His only granddaughter turned 1 in July, and there was a big trip to see her and her family and participate in her first dance recital. Ivy changed professions and is training as a spiritual director and pastoral counselor. David says that his Cornell reputation has opened doors for him and his career. Their oldest daughter, Elizabeth Corbett Greene, MBA ’19, has a dual executive MBA from Cornell and Queens.

Going across the U.S. to Las Vegas, Bob Zeidman tells us that he and his wife, Carrie, went on a cruise to Alaska; as they sat down in the cafeteria waiting for their room to be ready, a man came up and said hi. It was the infamous Joey Green ’80! They first met when Joey put Bob on the back cover of the first issue of the Cornell Lunatic in a fake ad for beer. They’d stayed in touch over the years but hadn’t seen each other in about 10 years. It was great to catch up with him and meet his wife, Debbie. Cornell is everywhere, my friends!

A gathering of Cornell ’81 Delta Gammas recently took place in Skaneateles, NY. In attendance were Anne Tracy ’79 and Barry Sumners, Edna Eidelberg Rosloff and Curt, Jill Novack Lynch, Mike ’80, ME ’81, MBA ’82, and Vonnah Weems Hollands Rolband, Julie Vargo ’82, and Karen Levine Whitman and Andrew. After a fabulous few days in Skaneateles, the group hopped over to Cayuga Lake to visit Cornell. There they visited DG and walked down memory lane. While having lunch at Souvlaki House they ran into Kevin Shaw ’82. At Cornell, they also reunited with Chip and Pam Bryce and Bill ’79, MBA ’83, and Debbie Kearl Minnock.

Please let me know what’s going on! If you’re traveling, visiting with friends, or just simply enjoying life, we want to know! Hope everyone is ready for the holiday season and that joy and peace are brought to all of us in 2025! ❖ Betsy Silverfine (email Betsy) | Alumni Directory.

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1982

This past summer, Susan Ng Hill and her husband, Richard, Jennifer Li Leung and her husband, Hon, Risa Freedman Saltzman and her husband, Dan, and Barb Duersch Spencer and her husband, Eric ’83, vacationed in Longville, MN—45 years after their first lake road trip. The ladies cranked up their favorite album by Meatloaf and laughed about their freshman antics in Donlon Hall.

Susan says, “It’s amazing how close we still are, from traveling in Europe/St. Martin to getting together at the ‘Hill House’ in Virginia. Most of us are retired.” Susan and Richard are involved in fundraising for the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Jennifer and Hon recently welcomed their first grandchild, Milo. Risa and Dan live with Chloe the Pug in Rochester, NY, and enjoy visiting their children in Buffalo, NY, and Crystal City, VA. Barb and Eric recently purchased a summer house on Long Lake. Susan reports that there is a Donlon group (that also includes Shirley Stewart Prosser, Seth Hurwitz, Chiao Chang, and their spouses) in Maryland/Northern Virginia that often meets for dinner. The group would be happy to connect with other Donlon people visiting the “DelMarVa” area.

Susan says that she and her husband love to travel and have met Cornellians all over Europe but recently had a wonderful CU encounter closer to home. Susan and Rick have a second home on the water in the “Northern Neck” of Virginia. Susan says, “I was grocery shopping in Kilmarnock, VA, and noticed a note left on my windshield. Raphael Seligmann and his wife, Dana Isaacoff (who also lived in Donlon), saw my vanity plates (‘CU 82’) and thought we might be classmates. It was wonderful to connect with them, and they live 15 minutes away from our White Stone, VA, house. There were so many connections. Dana’s freshman roommate was Kelly Morrissey Schoenberger, who is good friends with my freshman roommate, Shirley Prosser. She was also in the high school band with another friend, Mike Zapson. It’s a small world after all!”

In Kilmarnock, VA, I noticed a note left on my windshield. Raphael Seligmann ’82 and Dana Isaacoff ’82 saw my vanity plates (‘CU 82’) and thought we might be classmates.

Susan Ng Hill ’82

Ross McLeod, BA ’83, BS ’95, writes, “I am currently in my fifth elected term (15 years in total) on my town’s Board of Selectmen (our town is run, day to day, by a town administrator who reports to us), and I have served as the chairman for eight of those years. Meanwhile, I have been on the board of directors for the Windham (NH) Soccer Association (our town’s independently run soccer association) for 22 years now and also on the executive board for 10 years; I have been the referee coordinator since 2005, served as president for eight years, coached recreational and travel league teams for eight years, and been a state certified youth soccer referee since 2004. Previously, I was on the conservation commission for a year, and I spent eight years elected to the planning board. My full-time day job for the past six-plus years has been child protection attorney for the State of New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth & Families. I work to get children legally removed from situations of abuse and neglect and then either safely returned or placed into guardianships or adoptions. Previously, I worked as an assistant district (or county) attorney; I prosecuted felonies and misdemeanors on behalf of the State of New Hampshire.”

To help make our world kinder, Daniel and Beth Dessen Duffy and their children, Eddie and Rachel, started cutting out ornaments and adding them to a paper Christmas tree every time one of them did a kind act. The goal is to decorate the whole tree by December 25. There is now a new storybook, app, and craft based on this activity that are intended for everyone to enjoy and to help spread kindness, which you can see here! Beth and Dan are past presidents of the Cornell Club of Toronto, ON. Beth is a current member of the Cornell University Council and, as a Cornell student, co-authored her first book about pesticide dangers for the Cornell Migrant Program as a part of Cornell Cooperative Extension.

At the end of July, Abbie Barker Whitehead wrote, “I just sold the animal hospital I’ve had for three years. I am going to stay in Grass Valley, CA, for the summer. It’s reminding me of the best times I had while at Cornell—the summer after I graduated! I’ll work part time, probably start a new venture, do more Kundalini yoga, and go to the Yuba River as often as possible.”

Alfred Cowger updates us: “I just retired and am limiting my legal practice to pro bono work and writing and lecturing on AI and legal jurisprudence. My husband, Tony Wesley, and I were on campus for a Cornell’s Adult University week in July. We discovered that Chuck ’83 and Susan Bisom-Rapp ’83 and Jackie Stewart and husband Jeff Cohen were also in town, so after the funnel clouds passed over Ithaca (!) we enjoyed a delightful BBQ at their Airbnb while discussing, respectively, the state of U.S. politics and our children.” ❖ Mark Fernau (email Mark) | Nina Kondo (email Nina) | Doug Skalka (email Doug) | Alumni Directory.

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1983

Greetings, Class of ’83. I’m writing this after having just returned from the Summer Olympic Games and travel. Paris did an absolutely wonderful job organizing things. Major kudos. We saw many events, including the men’s four rowing finals with the USA boat and former heavyweight rower Michael Grady ’19 winning gold—Go Big Red! What a great experience being with the family and meeting folks from all over the world. Can’t wait for LA28!

Great news from classmates this month. Robert Stelletello writes from Wheaton, IL. He and wife Kate Daly enjoy spending time with family and friends. “I sold my business last July and now watch our first grandchild three days per week. All the kids are grown and on their own. Kate is still working as head of human resources for Lakeshore Recycling Services and plans to stay for a few more years.” Robert and Kate met at Cornell and still travel annually to a fun spot with their Cornell friends.

Amy Sheon sends news from North Bethesda, MD. Amy continues “living the dream”—full-time digital health equity consulting with health systems, nonprofits, governments, and industry. “I just moved to a beautiful condo in North Bethesda, MD, renewing long-standing friendships including with Cornell classmates.” Amy adds that she gets a lot of satisfaction “resuming my lifestyle from when I first moved to the D.C. area in 1984—playing music and going out dancing several nights per week! I think I’ll skip the beach volleyball, however!” Amy notes, “Cornell prepared me to be on the cutting edge of massive societal change that now seems the norm—HIV/AIDS, childhood obesity, digital health, and equity.”

Hector “Tom” Navasero, ME ’86, writes, “I am the founder of LABX Asia, headquartered in Manila, which was established with the primary goal of facilitating the successful implementation of the Philippines’ Universal Healthcare Law. The company’s mission is critical: to deliver round-the-clock primary healthcare to approximately 28.8 million public school children across 47,000 schools, spanning both rural and urban areas.

I just returned from the Summer Olympic Games. We saw the men’s four rowing finals with the USA boat and Michael Grady ’19 winning gold—Go Big Red!

Stewart Glickman ’83

“The healthcare sector in the Philippines faces significant challenges, particularly in servicing such a large number of children. There is a notable shortage of healthcare workers and insufficient laboratory facilities for diagnostic purposes. Addressing these gaps, LABX Asia has leveraged technological innovation to revolutionize primary care delivery. With expertise in engineering from Cornell, the team has developed a unique primary care clinic model that operates without the need for a clinician on site. This model utilizes advanced remote point-of-care diagnostics for conducting basic complete blood count tests and other clinical diagnostics, enabling remote full patient assessments.”

Sharron McGee Prairie is keeping very busy. “After a third career teaching science and math at our local high school, I retired at the end of June 2021. Since then, I have ‘worked’ in our small Vermont town preparing and delivering Meals on Wheels and at our local library. I’ve also been active for most of my adult life in the Episcopal Church, serving in many capacities including as treasurer. My first career was as an officer on active duty in the U.S. Air Force. My second (and favorite) career was as a full-time wife and mother. I worked as a school volunteer, as a scout leader, and in church activities. My volunteer work has been at least as fulfilling as any of my paid professions.”

Leanne Skelton writes from Denver, NC, “I am finding new ways to enjoy retirement: travel, making new friends in our new forever home in a very active 55+ community, and staying connected to family and friends.” Leanne and partner Marlene Betts travel as much as they can. “We just returned from a month-long trip to Australia, New Zealand, and the Cook Islands.”

Nice to hear from Lois Gans Kemp, who writes that she just retired from tech marketing. Lois gets a lot of satisfaction these days from “family and friends, including our dog, Pebbles, on Cayuga Lake.” ❖ Stewart Glickman (email Stewart) | Alyssa Bickler (email Alyssa) | Nancy Korn Freeman (email Nancy) | Jon Felice (email Jon) | Alumni Directory.

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1984

Hey, Big Red friends! My name is Mike Held, and by this time you would have heard from my colleague, Charles “Chuck” Oppenheim, who wrote the column in the September/October Class Notes. I’m an engineer, so I hope you find this correspondence to be packed with data and solutions to life’s nagging problems—and a step back to the early ’80s in Ithaca and the fun we had. I live in Grosse Pointe, MI, with my wife, Sherry, our four grown kids, and one grandson (with another due soon). I have toiled mostly in the automotive industry since graduation, with equal parts corporate and consulting roles. I’m also invested in a solar LED lighting company serving Southwest Florida, along with a spine device company in Michigan. For fun, I played and/or coached baseball from 1984–2018. Now I play tennis, boat, and fish, both in the Great Lakes and near our winter home in Fort Myers, FL.

I attended our 40th Reunion and had a great time! I traveled from Detroit to Cleveland to meet my dear friend and baseball captain, Rick Betsch, so we could drive together to Ithaca. We eventually made it through rain in Western New York and checked into the last hotel available in the area, or so it seemed. I guess our expectations have changed over four decades of global travel. I had only been back to Cornell four times in the past 40 years, so there was a lot to see. We made our way to Ganędagǫ: Hall and immediately ran into our buddies Sean Somerville, his brother Gregg Somerville ’83, Jay Lindy, and many others. Between the time at the dorm and the evening on the Arts Quad, I rekindled so many friendships by running into Karen Krause, Dan Adams, ME ’86, Gayle Martin Ahlers, Tim Cassidy, Rhonda Alexis Dirvin, Jacquie Fleck Rizk, Joanne Restivo Jensen, Ann Hamilton Maher, Amanda Crocker Martocchio, BArch ’86, Susan Reusswig Neenan, Kathy Dodd O’Brien, Fred Pfaff, MBA ’85, and Lee Polychron.

Some of the highlights for me were catching up with Leo Landers, Mark Miller, and Nancy Forster-Holt. With each of these great people, it seemed like we picked up right where we left off 40 years ago! What a youthful feeling!

Saturday was great! It started with a trip to Cornell’s new baseball stadium on Ellis Hollow Road, which was a lot longer walk than to the old field, which has been supplanted. The rest of the day was highlighted by an athletes’ event at Schoellkopf, where we all had chances to tell lies about conquests on the field, court, or ice! We were inspired by the remarks about recent Cornell team successes, new coaches, and Athletics Department plans to improve further. During that party, I reconnected with Caroline Lubick Goldzweig, Pam Harbold King, Tim Donahoe, Mike Scully, Scott Sidman, John Frontero, Jack Tierney, Terry Gage, John Constantino, Todd Firebaugh, Michael Huyghue, Tim McGhee, Andy Phillips, MBA ’86, and Ralph Scholz.

During the last 40 years, I definitely lost track of almost all of my Cornell friends, and I can genuinely say that every one of them has had a great life—contributing in their chosen field, exploring the world, and creating joy around themselves!

I serve on the supervisory board of the Caucasus Nature Fund, a conservation trust fund that co-finances the national park systems of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

Ted Jonas ’84, JD ’91

Here are some additional Class Notes beyond the Reunion. Doug Pratt and his wife, Debby, are living in Naples, FL. Doug mentioned that he got together in early June to celebrate Jimmy Mann’s 70th birthday at Meiling Lee’s bed and breakfast in Vermont. In attendance were Dave Devereaux, John Lewis ’83, Kevin McCarthy ’83, Gene Edwards, Tim Kensinger, Tony Baker ’85, Tom Cifrino ’85, and Billy Johnson ’83, DVM ’86. Most of the spouses attended, as well as some of Jimmy’s friends and relatives from New Jersey, where he grew up. The three-day weekend was like a visit back to campus as they retold so many old stories and memories! A great time was had by all. Doug enjoys spending time with family and friends! He’s retired and playing as much golf as his old body can handle.

Ted Jonas, JD ’91, writes, “Since beginning to ratchet down my schedule as a business lawyer with an international firm a few years ago, I have increased my involvement in nonprofit activities and environmental activism. I live in Tbilisi, in the Republic of Georgia, and have for many years. I serve on the supervisory board of the Caucasus Nature Fund, a 100-million-euro conservation trust fund registered in Germany, and with its operational headquarters here in Tbilisi, which co-finances the national park systems of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. I also serve on the supervisory board of reWoven, a nonprofit cooperative that has revived traditional Caucasian carpet weaving among the low-income ethnic Azerbaijani women living in two rural regions of Eastern Georgia, where such carpets have been made for centuries.

“Thirdly, in the past two years, I joined a group of Georgian Jews and Jewish ex-patriates living in Georgia to found a liberal (Conservative, Reform) synagogue, the Peace Synagogue, which is part of the larger ‘Peace Project’ here in Tbilisi. The synagogue itself practices liberal Judaism, and the Peace Project of which it is a part is a space for interfaith dialogue. Lastly, I founded my own nonprofit organization from which I co-lead and financially support environmental strike litigation targeting particularly egregious violations of environmental and cultural heritage protection laws. I currently have four cases pending in Georgian courts: two regarding an illegal rock mining operation in the suburbs of Tbilisi and the other two against a hotel project that violates urban zoning laws.”

Diane Matyas ’83, BFA ’84, MFA ’89, is living in Staten Island, NY, and mentions that “catching up with our core calling” seems to be a familiar theme for classmates from our Cornell era. “After decades working as a museum administrator, college art professor, and artist, I have focused my past four years on being full time in the latter realm. I now have an active studio/printshop and a gig as a Guggenheim Museum teaching artist. It takes considerable focus to maintain an art practice, so I am glad I gave myself the time to retrieve skills and build new avenues to creativity, collaboration, and the necessary promotion, which can be sampled here.”

Diane adds, “I am pleased to announce two public art projects this spring and summer and have been invited to exhibitions from Italy to my local tri-state area. My grant writing has benefited these projects, and I am eager to connect to Cornell again. Since my work focuses on the connection of biology and science to our human experience, it seems that Cornell’s diversity of study, connecting the Ag school to the humanities, has always been the backbone of what I do. My favorite Cornell memory is drawing the Ag school goats out in the fields near the Wilson Lab. Also, taking diverse classes that fed my interests (Japanese Film, Kafka Literature in German, teaching printmaking in Tjaden Hall, and taking choreography as a grad student).”

If you attended our 40th Reunion and have stories to share, or if you have any other updates, please contact us! ❖ Michael Held (email Michael) | Charles Oppenheim (email Charles) | Alumni Directory.

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1985

Thomas Gregory Jr. writes, “I graduated in 1985, and my emphasis in studies was macro-organizational behavior. I focused on systems analysis and design. It proved a good choice, and most of my major studies have been well received. Presently I’m engaged in an analysis focusing on the organizational development of the United States Marine Corps, using Admiralty Law and the Law of Nations as a lens of analysis. My research on this topic extends over a 13-year period. The study is still in progress, and I support my research by employment. Prior to initiating this project, I was very actively involved with the Monroe County Legislature, writing substantial analytical papers on topics ranging from legislative and state redistricting to powers inherent in a legislative body.

“These are just ‘tip of the iceberg’ works I’ve been fortunate to be involved in as the primary author. None of these works and others not referenced could be competently presented without the education that I received at Cornell. These studies have been extensive and without cost. To me, being a Cornellian carries with it an obligation to give back as much as to benefit. I have supported myself by vocational employment, keeping my professional work separate from considerations or remuneration. To me, that is what Ezra Cornell had in mind when saying that all persons seeking an education are deserving of an education. Knowledge shared best benefits society.”

John Foley writes, “Hello Big Red community! I moved to Texas in 1989 and my wife and I have been involved in the special needs community for 20+ years. We founded two support groups for parents, and I am currently on two nonprofit boards. The first board that I’m on is a special needs school called It’s a Sensory World! Here is our history: ‘It’s a Sensory World! began as the first recreational sensory gym in the state and the second in the nation. Over time, it has grown to include unique, sensory-based educational and recreational programming filling the service delivery gaps in the region. Today, It’s a Sensory World! serves hundreds of children with special needs and their families from 70+ zip codes throughout North Texas and is well-known in the community for providing heartfelt, high-quality services.’”

John continues, “The second nonprofit board that I am a member of is 29 Acres, which is a long-term community for special needs adults in the North Texas area. In addition to long-term housing, we have a Transition Academy, which includes living in transitional housing, learning crucial independent living and career readiness skills through a proven curriculum, and gaining work experience through internships and jobs. This highly structured and supported environment enables students to build confidence by strengthening their life and work skills before transitioning to a more independent living option at the completion of the two-year program. 29 Acres is a unique model and we regularly are contacted by aspiring nonprofits throughout the U.S. wanting to learn how our programs operate—of course, we’re happy to share. I am fortunate to be associated with these two organizations as our family navigates autism.”

My husband and I won the Flying Scot North American Championship for the seventh time in 18 years, which feels pretty darn good.

Amy Smith Linton ’85

Risa Mish, JD ’88, was honored with the 2024 Earl Hill Jr. Faculty Achievement and Diversity Leadership Award, given by the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management to recognize “outstanding academic and professional leadership on campus and in the community, including a strong commitment to advocating for diversity and inclusion.” You can read more here. Risa was also honored this year with the Stephen Russell ’60, MBA ’61, Distinguished Teaching Award, given by the MBA 5th Reunion class to honor a “faculty member whose teaching continues to influence graduates five years post-graduation.” Risa is grateful to the Russell family, including our own Melissa Russell Rubel, for their generosity in creating this award.

Amy Smith Linton writes, “Remember how achy Libe Slope would leave your calves after a few trips up and back? I had that in June while hiking the Hadrian’s Wall Path in the U.K. Gorgeous scenery and the remains of a 1,900-year-old wall, with a steep bunch of vertical terrain. I went solo, which was a mental challenge as well as a physical one. But I highly recommend it and can barely wait to tackle the next walk, as soon as I figure it out. Back home, I jumped aboard a Flying Scot sailboat for the North American Championship in Westport, CT. My husband, Jeff, and I won it for the seventh time in 18 years, which feels pretty darn good.”

Alejandro Badia writes, “I’m about to pen a deal where we would bring my OrthoNOW centers (orthopedic urgent care) across the country and even internationally. A true disruption to healthcare delivery consistent with major issues discussed in my book, Healthcare from the Trenches, where I also discuss my pre-med Cornell days to explain to the public what physician education is like. To humbly bring some solutions, I launched the podcast Fixing Healthcare … From the Trenches in early 2023. The biggest challenge? Getting the public to care about a societal issue that now affects nearly 20% of our economy: healthcare delivery.

What brings Alejandro the most satisfaction in his personal life these days? “Spending time with my two teenagers soon leaving for their college days. And, of course, boating in Miami.” He adds, “I credit my Cornell education with giving me the work and study ethic to make me successful in a challenging medical career. I am forever grateful.” ❖ Joyce Zelkowitz Cornett (email Joyce) | Alumni Directory.

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1986

As summer winds down in Dallas, it’s a balmy 110 degrees today. I am dreaming of crisp fall days and brisk nights “à la Ithaca” and hopefully we will get there by December! We heard from a few classmates who shared details about their lives and passions. Irene Molnar Wrenner writes from Essex, VT, that she is finishing her first two-year term as a member of the Vermont Senate. She is running for re-election against a Republican Vermont House of Representatives challenger in what she describes as a “politically challenged purple state.” You can learn more about her campaign here.

In other news from Vermont, Ian Parker wins the prize for most interesting hobby/passion project. He is raising goats in Lunenberg, when he isn’t busy with his day job as a primary care physician. He credits Cornell with fostering his intellectual curiosity as well as helping him develop the confidence to seek answers to those things he does not know.

Ann Cowie writes from North Truro, MA, that she and her wife, Amy Graves (Smith ’87), are enjoying life in their home on the tip of Cape Cod. She fills her time with professional pursuits that include fundraising and strategic planning consulting—as well as passion projects that include volunteering at the Lily House, a social model hospice home, spending time with friends and family, and creating art. She writes that her mother, Vanne Shelley Cowie ’57, recently passed away and that her loss, as well as her loving memories, are felt daily.

Phil McCarthy writes from NYC, where he works as a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch. He attended Cornell’s commencement ceremony to see a family friend graduate. It is always great to have an excuse to return to Ithaca in between Reunion years!

Finally, most members of the Class of ’86 are celebrating a certain decade birthday this year. Michael Wagner recently attended one of these events in St. Louis, MO. The “birthday boy” was Lyndon Gross and the party was attended by several Cornellians. Steve Lipic ’87, Jim ’87 and Sue Davis Frontero ’87, Bob Borroff, and John Constantino ’84 all enjoyed the fabulous party. ❖ Lori Spydell Wagner (email Lori) | Michael Wagner (email Michael) | Toby Goldsmith (email Toby) | Alumni Directory.

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1987

Patricia Baumann is an orthopedic revision joint surgeon at the Veterans Affairs Health Care System in Orlando, FL. Patricia was the co-captain of the women’s ice hockey team during the 1986–87 season. She and Melissa Gambrell Baumann ’90 attended the 50th anniversary celebration for the Big Red women’s program in summer 2023. Patricia said it was a blast.

Thomas Riford retired from his post as the assistant secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce. Tom still teaches skiing and serves as an examiner for the Professional Ski Instructors of America. In February he had the pleasure of celebrating the 100th birthday of his father, Lloyd Stephen Riford Jr. ’52, a former New York State Senator.

Susanne Kraszewski Wesnofske’s daughter Emily was married on May 4 in Georgia. Jennifer Sullivan Recker and Annette Lee O’Connor were there to celebrate the happy event. Susan, Jennifer, and Annette have remained close friends since they met on their first day of orientation in 1983.

Andrew Karanas reports that he is still working as a general surgeon in Jefferson City, MO. He has stopped performing trauma surgeries “because it was very hard to work at 2:30 a.m.” Andrew’s son Dean finished his first year at St. Louis University School of Law. Andrew said that Cornell changed the trajectory of his life in that he got to meet and make friends with people from a lot of different backgrounds, which has helped him as a surgeon in treating a diverse group of patients.

Aileen Webster Hale wrote that she has a podcast, Travel with Purpose, “where you can learn about meaningful ways to travel and engage in communities around the world. Join us as we travel, learn, and serve, impacting lives—both ours and theirs—while building lifelong, global connections!”

Michelle Turk Schneider is the founding chairperson of a new type of Jewish community, MakomNY. Michelle said that the intention behind the creation of the organization was “to provide an opportunity for more people to engage with their Judaism in a way that fit for them, while eliminating some of the barriers of traditional participation with synagogues.”

Michelle served as chairperson for three years. MakomNY is now in its ninth year, and Michelle is “proud that it’s thriving, serving hundreds of individuals and families on a regular basis, and providing even more with programming throughout the year.” ❖ Liz Brown, JD ’90 (email Liz) | Whitney Weinstein Goodman (email Whitney) | Alumni Directory.

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1988

Good tidings, Class of ’88! I hope everyone is gearing up for the upcoming holiday season.

News flash: Karen Kao is now semi-retired, teaching piano, and she now has added teaching art at the City of White Plains, NY, youth bureau to her resume. Previously, she worked as a physical therapist while living in California. In her spare time, Karen continues to be involved as a volunteer for Cornell, planning events with the Cornell Westchester group such as a Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour. Enjoy your new hobbies, Karen!

Speaking of organizing events, I hosted a student send-off party for some Canadian students in the Class of 2028. It was a nice opportunity to connect with fellow Cornell alumni living in the greater Toronto area and mingle with new students. The students tried to complete a Cornell trivia game while their parents spoke to alumni, seeking advice about traveling to Ithaca and about how much stuff their child really does need to bring to campus for orientation.

Stephanie Brickner Jones has taken on a new job: chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, Zucker School of Medicine, at Hofstra/Northwell, North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Her husband, Daniel ’86, MD ’90, continues as chair of surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark. They split their time between Long Island, New Jersey, and Saratoga Springs. In their free time, they enjoy attending concerts and sporting events and fishing off their dock.

Writing in from Spanish Fort, AL, Eric Haskell continues to work with the Army Corps of Engineers in sustainability and environmental compliance. His daughter is entering her freshman year at Georgia Tech. Eric gets a lot of satisfaction these days birdwatching and traveling to Japan with his family.

Sandhya Shukla recently wrote a book titled Cross-Cultural Harlem: Reimagining Race and Place. The book combines aspects of fiction, sociology, political speech, autobiography, and performance. It highlights the diversity of Harlem, the challenges of urban transformations, and the future of Harlem as a global symbol. Sandhya is currently an associate professor of English and American studies at the University of Virginia.

Lastly, Karen Luludis Gundrum sent in some news from Ocean Isle Beach, NC, where she lives with her husband, David, and works for Southern Veterinary Partners. “Attending Cornell helped me get accepted into veterinary college,” she commented. Karen and David own a very busy Italian restaurant called Robertos. Their daughter recently graduated from high school and is attending North Carolina State University. “Taking vacation in Hawaii” brings her lots of happiness these days.

That’s all for now. Happy winter! I look forward to hearing from all of you, both near and far—even if it’s simply to say hello. Please send news updates to me. ❖ Pamela Darer Anderson (email Pam) | Alumni Directory.

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1989

Happy Holidays to all! Thank you to those who sent in news! We’ll start with Melinda Fellner, who sent an email saying, “My three sons—Harry ’22, Miles ’25, and Simon ’28—are all Cornell men and I am thrilled. I currently chair the tax department at Carter Ledyard and Milburn in NYC and practice transactional tax.” Brian Krabak, a sports medicine physician at University of Washington Medicine and Seattle Children’s Hospital, was a physician for Team USA swimming at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. He was also a team physician at multiple World Aquatics Championships and the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Athens, and Vancouver, BC.

Judy Nguyen, an anesthesiologist from Stephens City, VA, volunteers with Operation Smile. She has been part of 41 surgical programs and participated in 815 reconstructive surgeries since 1997, most recently in Honduras. To learn more about Judy’s medical missions and Operation Smile, you can read this article.

Jim Loi sent the following news: “The last year has unfortunately not been an easy one. In March ’23 I lost my wife, Jennifer, to cancer. We had been married for 29 years, living and traveling on six continents and raising three wonderful children who are now all out of the house. My oldest daughter will marry in June. I retired from the State Department in 2017 after tours abroad in Romania, South Africa, China, and Singapore and multiple assignments in Washington. Since retirement I have been a partner and COO at the Asia Group, a D.C.-based strategic advisory firm.”

More news came in from Martin Tornai, who wrote, “After 27+ years as a Duke faculty member, I decided to take early retirement! It didn’t last long, though, as I started a ‘tour of duty’ as a program director at the NIH/NIBIB. I feel honored to contribute.” Julie Salles Schaffer sent in her news form to let us know that she is living in NYC and enjoys painting. She said her older daughter is in investment banking and her younger daughter is in medical school.

Judy Nguyen ’89, an anesthesiologist, volunteers with Operation Smile. She has been part of 41 surgical programs and participated in 815 reconstructive surgeries since 1997.

Jennifer Kasmin wrote, “Eight years ago I was attending a Cornell event at Stone Barns Center in Westchester with Eric and Susan Taman Levy. The program was where I was first introduced to honeynut squash, the small but delicious vegetable that Cornell researchers had pioneered and is now prolific. Who knew? I’d never heard about that particular squash before but was sent home with two samples and quickly became a fan. But that was only a small reason why I remember that evening. Susan was telling me about Impact 100 Westchester, a women’s collective giving circle that awards transformative $100,000 grants each year to organizations within the community. The Impact 100 model is premised on women aggregating their charitable donations so that they can give grants that are much larger and more impactful than most could give on their own.”

Jennifer lives in Manhattan and Impact 100 didn’t have a chapter there, so she and a friend decided to start one—two years later, Impact 100 NYC was born. “It’s amazing what we can accomplish when we set our sights and hearts on something. We are in our fourth grant cycle and have already given out $649,000 in grants, launched nextgen (our teen giving arm), and rolled out a Founders Fellowship. I am proud to be the spark behind this movement as well as an executive board member and secretary of this organization. And it all started at a Cornell event!”

That’s all the news for this column. Please submit an online news form or email any of us. We always want to hear what’s new with you and classmates you talk to and see. ❖ Stephanie Bloom Avidon (email Stephanie) | Kris Borovicka Gerig (email Kris) | Anne Czaplinski Treadwell (email Anne) | Lauren Kidder McGarry (email Lauren) | Alumni Directory.

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1990s

1990

As of press time for this column, the air in Kobe, Japan, is oppressively hot and humid due to a very slow-moving typhoon—hard to imagine that 2025 is just around the corner!

Speaking of 2025, here’s a message from class president Caroline Misciagna Sussman: “The Class of 1990 was collectively crushed to miss the 30th because of the COVID pandemic. Our Reunion team spent months planning a terrific weekend for June 2020, so we’re going to build on those unused creative and unique ideas to make our 35th Reunion the best one yet! Not only have we secured the best caterer in town for our meals, we’ve also planned a great balance of opportunities to bask in the natural beauty of Ithaca, partake in fascinating academic lectures, and reconnect with cherished classmates. What we really need each of you to do is to make plans to attend, reach out to your close friends, and invite them to join you on the Hill. Let’s work together to build momentum for a phenomenal gathering next summer!” If you would like to get involved, please drop the 35th Reunion committee a line at cornellclass90@gmail.com.

Karen Saul Miller got into the Reunion spirit a year early, celebrating with her husband, Howard ’89, at his 35th Reunion with his classmates and 20 of Karen’s Alpha Chi Omega sisters. They loved catching up over a meal at Souvlaki House, hiking Cascadilla Gorge, touring the Johnson Art Museum, partying in the Arts Quad tents, and eating Hot Truck food. Their son, Harris Miller ’24, BS ’23, ME ’24, works with Vast Space and lives in Long Beach, CA. Oldest son Parker Miller ’21, BS ’20, ME ’21, is also a Cornell alumnus and attended Harris’s graduation in May. Karen’s youngest son, Grant, graduated from Babson College and is working for Hey Dude in Westwood, MA.

Congratulations to Paul Kapp, who was named a Guggenheim fellow in April. Paul is making use of his Guggenheim Fellowship by working on his latest project, Popular Iconoclasm in the Public Square. The book will examine how iconoclasm (both as acts of protest and works of civic artistic engagement) can alter ways that people perceive, appreciate, and engage with historic and monumental public spaces. Paul joined Notre Dame this fall as associate professor of architecture.

Penny Smith Eifrig relaunched a nonprofit called Random Acts of Reading. One of its new programs is called Golden Ticket to Literacy. It uses book vending machines to offer works created by independent authors and publishers to share diverse, authentic stories and provide greater representation for all students; hidden inside one book is a Golden Ticket, which wins the lucky finder and their entire school a meet-the-author event, including a free copy of the book for every child. Adds Penny, “I am so excited to be developing this program. The success at the first pilot school brought about a visit by the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education to check out its positive effect. We are still in the early stages, but it is starting to grow. I put my love of pickleball to work and organized a Dink and RoAR (RandOm Acts of Reading) Pickleball Fest.”

Did you catch Jay Fisher ’90 on ‘Jeopardy!’ during the summer?

Did you catch Jay Fisher on “Jeopardy!” during the summer? “It was so much fun, and all those prelims finally paid off. The contestants and the staff were all very nice and fun to be around. It was a dream come true to just be on the show, let alone win three games. I first made it through qualifying in 2011 but was not called. If you are trying to get on ‘Jeopardy!,’ keep at it, even if it takes decades like it did for me. It was such a great experience.” Way to go, Jay!

In July, I began my third term as a member of Cornell University Council (CUC) and was pleased to see some classmates doing the greatest good by leading CUC committees. Former class president Kevin McManus chairs the CUC mentoring committee. Watching the Paris Olympics this past summer, I was reminded how much my family and I are indebted to Kevin and his wife, Beth Fox-McManus, MAT ’91. They hosted my siblings and me during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. It was the first of four Olympics for my sister Tamarine, who represented Thailand in women’s doubles. She and her partner made it to the quarterfinals, losing to eventual bronze medalists Aranxta Sánchez-Vicario and Conchita Martínez of Spain. I still remember it like it was yesterday! I attempted to repay some of that karmic debt to Kevin by offering to mentor other CUC members and help them find ways to engage with Cornell and with alumni in their local communities.

Elizabeth Von Keyserling Lynch, DVM ’95, is vice chair of CUC’s development committee. She is also a passionate volunteer for Pet Partners, an international organization dedicated to animal-assisted interventions. She has trained and handled dogs, guinea pigs, and a rabbit to assist in childhood literacy interventions, drug and alcohol addiction treatment, animal-assisted group therapy in psychiatric facilities, chemotherapy infusion centers, and assisted living centers for the elderly. Motivated by the incomparable magical effect that animals have on frightened children, psychiatric patients, and persons living with dementia, Elizabeth became an evaluator of therapy animals, and eventually a trainer of evaluators as a national program educator. “I am so proud to be a part of this organization, and I am happy to use my veterinary skills to ensure the welfare of the animals working in the Pet Partners program.”

Cornell Cares Day takes place in January all over the world. Why not see if there is an opportunity for you to do the greatest good in your neighborhood? In closing, my fellow class columnist Allan Rousselle would like to share the gift of music from his band, Sunset & Olympus. Enjoy! Happy Holidays, classmates! ❖ Rose Tanasugarn (email Rose) | Nancy Solomon Weiss (email Nancy) | Allan Rousselle (email Allan) | Class Facebook page | Alumni Directory.

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1991

Greetings from Ithaca! As I write this in mid-August, Ithaca is humming with visitors touring the Finger Lakes and families touring the Cornell campus. The campus is beautiful, and the residence halls are ready for students to move in. It’s a wonderful time of year!

Thanks to the many classmates who used the online news form to send in updates this month. As one of your correspondents, I appreciate that so many classmates have fun news to share! We have updates from coast to coast—so buckle up and here we go!

First, a shout-out to two classmates who have sons who are members of Cornell’s Class of 2028. Writing in from Chesterfield, VA, Michael, JD ’94, and Cheryl Jacobson Favale, MILR ’94, are excited to make the journey to Ithaca with their youngest son, Matthew ’28, who will be entering Cornell this fall! Matthew will be joined by Aidan D’Alessandro ’28, son of David D’Alessandro and Celeste Tambaro-D’Alessandro (Weston, MA). Aidan will be a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. Hopefully Matthew and Aiden can keep an eye out for each other.

At the other end of the Cornell journey, Rachael Przybyla (Austin, TX) is proud to share news of the graduation of daughter Sloane Hayashi ’23 from the ILR School. Sloane is living in Washington, DC, and works as a staffer on Capitol Hill.

Matthew Sherman had an opportunity to meet up with several of our classmates this year. While in Washington, DC, visiting his daughter, Elizabeth ’21, he had lunch with senior year housemates Jeff Rathke and John Trenor. Later in the year in Cambridge, Matt and his spouse, Kathleen Gapp, met up with another housemate, Pete Selian, and his wife, Peggy, to cheer on the Cornell men’s ice hockey team in a 2-0 victory at Harvard. Let’s Go Red!

Ithaca is humming with visitors touring the Finger Lakes and families touring the Cornell campus.

Susie Curtis Schneider ’91

Writing in from Bellingham, WA, Christine Anderson Perkins reports a mini-Kappa Kappa Gamma reunion in Colorado in June. As part of the gathering, she was back in touch with Melissa Pattison MacQueen, MBA ’98, Alissa Moore Sims, MBA ’98, Laura Fricke Main, Shelly Hood Briskin, Becca Shilling, Lisa Strope, Karen Roberts Sessions, Margaret Showel, Amanda Murray, and Cheryl Lundeberg Lonergan.

Heading to Mason, OH, we hear from Nate Bailey, the chief people officer at GE Vernova’s software business. Nate says that work continues to be a source of energy and enjoyment, as does spending time with his spouse, Camille, and his son, who is in his senior year at Xavier University studying graphic design.

Rick Repp wants classmates to be on the lookout for a children’s book he published last year, The Downtown Ducks. It’s based on the true story of a banker who led a mallard and her ducklings to safety after they hatched on a downtown office building. Rick wrote that book during breaks from his day job practicing corporate law as a partner in a law firm in Spokane, WA.

Lastly, a little reminder from your Ithaca-based correspondent that our 35th Reunion will be here before you know it! Our Reunion chairs will be in touch with details, but for now you can mark your calendars to plan a return to the Hill, June 4–7, 2026! And if you call us early, Eric and I will save a guest room for you.

Thanks to those of you who sent in updates for this month. If you haven’t been in touch in a while, we encourage you to reach out and let us know what you’ve been up to! You can send in information using the online news form, if that is easiest. Or you can also contact any one of your class correspondents directly: ❖ Susie Curtis Schneider (email Susie) | Ruby Wang Pizzini (email Ruby) | Wendy Milks Coburn (email Wendy) | Joe Marraccino (email Joe) | Evelyn Achuck Yue (email Evelyn) | Alumni Directory.

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1992

Clay Marshall is now living in Nevada. He writes that he is keeping busy sending kids to college and crisscrossing the globe as a 777 First Officer.

Mike Cimini and Angela Cheng-Cimini bought a second house near Annapolis and are spending more time with their son, Matthew ’19, and daughter-in-law Sarah Dickerman Cimini ’19, who live in D.C. They look forward to reconnecting with the D.C./MD community. (Welcome to the DMV, Mike!)

Stacey Rappaport has been named a finalist for the Women in Business Law Awards for Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyer of the Year. She was recently appointed to the Fordham Law School Dean’s Planning Council and the Advisory Board of the Partnership Accelerator Program at the Equality Action Center at UC Law San Francisco.

David Contiguglia is continuing a 100-year tradition of the Contiguglia family practicing law in Cayuga County, New York—which was started by his grandfather, Anthony Contiguglia, in 1924 and continued by his father, Louis Contiguglia, JD ’56, and his uncle (Louis’s twin brother), Hon. Robert Contiguglia, JD ’56. David enjoys the continued connection with his community. He enjoys gardening, cooking, and attending Cornell men’s ice hockey games at Lynah Rink—Go Big Red!

Jeanne Rosen Goldberg writes that her youngest daughter, Gabrielle ’28, entered Cornell in the fall in the College of Engineering. Jeanne enjoyed visiting Collegetown, seeing how it’s changed and stayed the same in many ways. She and her husband will be empty nesters and are looking forward to more traveling. Jeanne is regional director of operations at Beth Israel Health Primary Care in Massachusetts. This was a challenging role during COVID, but she says it’s very rewarding.

Jeff Parnapy, MAT ’97, writes that his daughter, Erin, graduated from SUNY Potsdam in January 2024. His son, Andy, is a junior at Alfred University studying biochemistry. Jeff is proud to be the FFA (formerly known as Future Farmers of America) advisor at Byron-Bergen Junior/Senior High School. His agricultural mechanics team won first place at the state level and will be competing at the national FFA convention in October. This is his 32nd year teaching. He is also the president of the New York Association of Agricultural Educators. He attributes his career to Dr. Arthur Berkey and Dr. Daryle Foster ’72, PhD ’85, in the education department, who were key in getting him certified as a high school agricultural teacher. ❖ Sarah Ballow Clauss (email Sarah) | Wilma Ann Thomas Anderson (email Wilma Ann) | Jean Kintisch (email Jean) | Alumni Directory.

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1993

Dear classmates, as I write this during the heat of August, I am hoping that when you read it this November, Cornell will be a peaceful and productive campus community, collaboratively pursuing its primary goal of education.

Thank you so much to our classmates who shared their news. Peter Bowie has started his own consulting practice in the animal health space called TowardHealth Consulting. When his schedule allows, he appreciates spending time in the woods.

Lisa Bernard has also launched her own endeavor, called Demystify AI, on Instagram. After 25 years in television news, Lisa is creating educational content on “the exciting and the scary things about artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual reality, etc.” She shared that Cornell changed her life because she met her best friends there, who are still the “most favorite friends in my life!”

The award for the classmate writing to us from a location farthest away from Cornell’s Ithaca campus goes to Jay Drezner: “Our family has moved back to Sydney, Australia, where our children are going to finish high school (and hopefully university). I’m retired now and am doing volunteer work as treasurer of my son’s high school band program as well as our local baseball association. Otherwise, it’s a lot of sports (golf, baseball, and, of course, pickleball) and spending time with family and friends. We plan on moving back to NYC once the kids are out of the house but are in no rush. Probably best to see how the next few elections go.”

Speaking of elections, I will end by wishing good luck to our classmate Michael Dougherty, who is running for re-election for District Attorney of Boulder County, CO.

Please continue sending us your news, suggestions for class activities, or even your random musings—so that we can make our Class Notes pop. Join us here via Cornellians and also as part of our Facebook Group. Take care and please share. ❖ Melissa Hart Moss, JD ’97 (email Melissa) | Theresa Flores (email Theresa) | Mia Blackler (email Mia) | Alumni Directory.

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1994

After several weeks of heat domes in Northern New Jersey, I am enjoying the cold and rainy weather in the middle of August as I write this column! It was so great to see stories posted on our class Facebook page about the 30th Reunion that took place in June! It is always impressive to hear about the wonderful fundraising our class does on behalf of our alma mater as well!

It is always great to read the updates from our classmates who have something to share! First up is Sean Alexander, MBA ’01, who is living his best life after sailing from Argentina to Antarctica and back on a 45-foot fiberglass boat! So impressive! He works as a global tech stockbroker and spends his time coaching children’s rugby and soccer in Eugene, OR. Mark Birtha writes in from Rocklin, CA, where he spends time with his family, “traveling, playing golf, and wine tasting in Napa Valley.” And he is serious about wine: he is the founder of Virta Estates winery and wrote to tell us about “an amazing Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, CA.” When he isn’t making wine, he is president of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain.

In other news, we received emails about some very impressive altruism by our alumni base. The first is from Kristen Crockett Tsarnas, who writes, “For the last 12 years, I have been a volunteer doula serving hospice patients and their families. As an end-of-life doula, I provide compassionate support to patients at their bedside as they die.”

Another remarkable story came in from Sandy Khaund, ME ’95, who writes, “I have been on the board of the OKB Hope Foundation, founded by fellow Cornell alum Osei Boateng ’18, MHA ’20. Before joining the board, I met Osei during the pandemic and was impressed with his vision to deliver healthcare to rural Africa. We worked together to raise money (using the occasion of my 50th birthday) to fund a mobile medical clinic in Ghana. The clinic, which is a makeshift van that was repurposed with all the amenities to deliver lifesaving care, dispenses health services to the most remote parts of Ghana where healthcare is unavailable.”

Sean Alexander ’94, MBA ’01, sailed from Argentina to Antarctica and back on a 45-foot fiberglass boat!

Sandy continues, “A true Cornell connection (I met Osei when he was a student), I have not only supported him in his efforts, but my entire family engages with the organization—including my oldest child, Kai, who is volunteering with OKB’s teen mental health initiative as part of their gap year. This summer, Kai and I took a humanitarian trip to Ghana, where we toured the remote rural areas and met patients and caregivers, visited the hospitals and the medical professionals who are guiding the on-the-ground efforts, and got to see the lab where the test work is done. It was a life-changing visit for both of us. My Cornell education continues, 30 years after graduation.”

Lastly, Keri MacDonald writes, “In 2019 I co-founded the nonprofit Fundación Respirar Comunidad in Argentina and continue to serve as managing director. We are currently building El Cauce, an inclusive residential community for adults with and without disabilities who want to live and work together in a shared-living model, contributing in a sustainable way to collective welfare through purposeful activities such as biodynamic farming. El Cauce is the first project in Argentina and the second in Latin America based on the Camphill Movement, a network of life-sharing communities that began in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1939 and now extends to over 120 communities in some 20 countries. There are a few Camphill Communities just a few hours away from Cornell—one cluster in New York’s Hudson Valley and another in Pennsylvania about an hour northwest of Philadelphia.

“In Argentina, there are over 2.5 million individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) that are unemployed and have little hope of securing meaningful work. Programs that promote autonomy for adults with IDD, such as assisted living or supported housing, simply don’t exist in Argentina. This lack of infrastructure not only has practical implications, but it also has a profound impact on the quality of life of individuals with IDD and their families. El Cauce aims to address these issues by creating an environment that is productive, rhythmic, and collaborative, where adults with IDD and neurodivergent individuals can develop their own life project with dignity and autonomy. As we design and build the residential infrastructure, we are also engaging a growing community in seasonal celebrations, landscaping projects, productive workshops, and artistic activities. You can follow our progress on Instagram (@respirarcomunidad), and for more detailed information visit our website.”

Keep sending in those updates! You can send news to me or the other correspondents via email, Facebook, or the online news form.  Best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season! ❖ Jennifer Rabin Marchant (email Jennifer) | Dika Lam (email Dika) | Dineen Pashoukos Wasylik (email Dineen) | Alumni Directory.

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1995

Have you written June 5–8, 2025 in your calendar yet? While official Reunion information will be shared in the spring, it’s never too early to start planning!

Over the last few months, I’ve had some wonderful catchups with classmates, including Wendy Breckenridge Nystrom, DVM ’99, with whom I reconnected over Facebook in early July. Wendy, who lives in the Chicago area (specifically the western suburbs of Downers Grove), has been married 23 years to Bill and just retired after 25 years as a veterinarian. They have two kids—a senior in mechanical engineering at Purdue and a freshman in meteorology at Iowa State.

I also caught up with Brad Bender via Facebook. After 25 years at DoubleClick/Google, he transitioned to advising, investing, and boards and is the treasurer of a nonprofit theater company in Harlem, NY. Brad also sits on a $1B public company board back in Los Angeles. He has been living in Palo Alto for the past decade-plus, but he maintains an apartment in New York, “so I’m doing a semi-bicoastal life (just slowed a bit during the pandemic).” Outside of work, his twins recently turned 12.

Erik Berkule ’95 has been painting for the last 23 years and his art is now being featured at Fogue Studios in Seattle, where he resides.

Erik Berkule and I reconnected via a mutual friend, who shares a gallery with him and who is my partner for a workshop on joy! Erik has been painting for the last 23 years and his art is now being featured at Fogue Studios in Seattle, where he resides. His work focuses mainly on portraiture, often with a humorous twist. Erik is influenced by the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, as well as by the destinations he visits while traveling internationally. Animals, family, friends, music, and sports figures also play a prominent role. Erik’s medium is predominantly ink and acrylic on canvas and wood. His work can be found on Instagram and Pinterest.

Sadly, we end this column on a note of remembrance. Jennifer Gibson ’96 wrote in to share the difficult news of the passing of Anjali Maruti Bhorade on June 12, following a long battle with cancer. Anjali was a distinguished ophthalmologist at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. After earning her medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, where she also completed her residency in ophthalmology from 2000 to 2003, she pursued her internship at Loyola Medicine MacNeal Hospital in the transitional year program from 1999 to 2000. She further specialized in glaucoma with a fellowship at the prestigious Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, FL.

Anjali joined the faculty at Washington University in 2004, where she also completed a master’s in clinical investigation. Her research focused on evaluating and improving visual function and quality of life for glaucoma patients. Her work, supported by the NIH, included evaluating at-risk driving errors in glaucoma patients. Over her career, she received numerous accolades, including the American Glaucoma Society Young and Mid-Career Clinician Scientist Awards, the NEI K23 Award, and the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging Award, as well as the American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award. Anjali is survived by her husband, Wesley Green; her sons, Kiren Nicholas Greuloch, 16, and Alexander Bhorade Greuloch, 14; and her stepdaughters, Harper Green, 11, and Mila Green, 8, among countless other devoted family and friends.

Until next time—stay connected and safe, classmates. ❖ Alison Torrillo French (email Alison) | Class website | Class Facebook page | Class Instagram page | Alumni Directory.

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1996

Audrey Kleinsmith Storm writes, “From age 6 to 29, I was an active member of the Girl Scouts, so it was no surprise that when the first of my three boys became old enough to join the Cub Scouts, I began a new journey with Scouts BSA. Moving through the ranks from a Den Leader to a Cub Master, and then donning additional hats by volunteering at the district, council, and troop levels, the ideals of servant leadership came flooding back. Whether we’re decorating cookies for first responders, holding a clothing drive, volunteering at the local soup kitchen, placing flags at the cemetery, cleaning the adopted highway or local trail as we travel, or any number of other annual service projects, engaging our youth in serving our community through fun is more than just an activity—it’s become a way of life for my entire family.

“I’m thrilled to have recently transitioned my career to a position in facilities planning and construction at the county government, where I’m able to continue to give back to our community by working on projects that range from a local stream restoration to converting a public restroom to all-gender use. I’m now eager to foster a partnership with the county parks and Scouts BSA to make our community even better!”

Thomas Walters writes, “On a day-to-day basis, I am a family physician and addiction medicine doctor in the Geneseo, NY, area. I specialize in treating people with opioid use disorder and prescribe medications for addiction treatment using a low threshold to access and harm reduction model. I am an active leader in community organizations including Avon Youth Lacrosse, the Livonia Athletic Booster Community, Friends of Livonia, and (maybe most importantly) Chances and Changes, the domestic violence shelter in Livingston County.” ❖ Janine Abrams Rethy (email Janine) | Marjorie Polycarpe Jean-Paul (email Marjorie) | Catherine Oh Bonita (email Catherine) | Alumni Directory.

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1997

Amanda Williams is a founding member of the Black Reconstruction Collective (BRC), along with Sekou Cooke ’99, Olalekan Jeyifous ’99, and others. According to their website, the BRC “provides funding, design, and intellectual support to the ongoing and incomplete project of emancipation for the African Diaspora. The BRC is committed to multi-scalar and multi-disciplinary work dedicated to dismantling systemic white supremacy and hegemonic whiteness within art, design, and academia. Founded by a group of Black architects, artists, designers, and scholars, the BRC aims to amplify knowledge production and spatial practices by individuals and organizations that further the reconstruction project.

“The BRC engages the public through an annual process of reviewing proposals and providing critical and financial support to projects that have been selected by the committee. This work will manifest in built commissions, research funding, exhibitions, events, and publications that will collectively imagine transformations to the built environment in the Black Radical Tradition.” ❖ Class of 1997 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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1998

To be a Cornellian is to engage, to thrive, to commit, to innovate, and to do the greatest good. Our fellow classmates have been living this mission in their everyday lives. Ana Gordan, for example, is a regular volunteer with the Salem (MA) Pantry, North Shore Pride, Keep Salem Beautiful, and Wicked Running Club.

Calie Santana shares, “I am honored to serve on the board of Teaching Matters. The board president is fellow alum Dionis Rodriguez. Teaching Matters is a New York City-based nonprofit that provides students with equitable access to excellent teaching in the face of a radically unequal education system. I began supporting this organization in 2021 because, as a physician, I see daily the impact of inequities in education on the health and the vitality of people I take care of.” Partnered with 54 schools in the Bronx, Teaching Matters is the largest nonprofit partner of NYC public schools, helping to implement NYC Reads. Through this initiative, Teaching Matters has expanded to 70 additional schools in Brooklyn and Queens.

Agnes Galvez reports, “I work at Patton State Hospital as an RDN. Patton is a forensic psychiatric hospital and was established in 1890 and opened in 1893. DSH-Patton provides treatment to forensically and civilly committed patients within a secure treatment area. The census is approximately 1,300–1,500 patients serving the State of California.” Providing medical nutrition therapy with customized nutrition education and care, Agnes is assigned to specific units amounting to 200 patients per day and provides coverage as needed. An active member of the interdisciplinary team, Agnes shares, “I educate dietetic interns through preceptorship, teaching, and evaluating supervised practicum work. I attend monthly RDN meetings, units’ change of shift huddles, and other activities/meetings as needed. As an RDN, I teach and empower incarcerated psychiatric patients to manage their weight and health conditions through nutrition education and practices.”

Amy Snyder Kaminski writes, “It’s been a year of professional milestones so far. I have a new book out! The People’s Spaceship: NASA, the Shuttle Era, and Public Engagement after Apollo (University of Pittsburgh Press) is about the history of NASA’s public engagement efforts—specifically how and why NASA sought to involve many segments of society with the space shuttle program, and how those opportunities made the shuttle program so popular. I also was inducted as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. And my daughter graduated from high school and is now a freshman at Boston University.”

Have you started a new career? Have you traveled to a new place? What have you been up to, and how have you stayed in contact with your Cornell family and friends? Please share your news via the online news form or email me! ❖ Uthica Jinvit Utano (email Uthica) | Alumni Directory.

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1999

Michelle Schenandoah has launched a nonprofit called Rematriation—inspired in part, she says, by “the critical need to create spaces that mirrored cultural values and uplifted Indigenous women’s stories of strength, resilience, and brilliance.” As she describes it, the term—which means “returning the sacred to the mother”—encapsulates the movement being led by Indigenous women who are reclaiming their cultures, languages, and traditions that have been impacted by colonization.

Rematriation, she says, “is a process that invites all people to become conscious of living in balance with Mother Earth, so that life may continue generations into the future.” Begun as an online magazine, it has since evolved into a nonprofit that not only creates content but educates and hosts events, with the aim of empowering Indigenous people and raising global awareness about Indigenous knowledge as viable ways to address global challenges. Read this Cornellians story about her!

Ashish “Ash” Vaidya, MBA ’07, writes, “I owe so much to Cornell. It has given me a lifelong network of friends and colleagues and instilled in me the work ethic and grit I needed to succeed. Over the past 25 years I have been involved in CAAAN, first as a volunteer and now a co-chair (Santa Clara County), and I am a board member for Cornell NorCal, an advisory council member of the Entrepreneurship at Cornell program, a frequent guest lecturer at the Johnson School, and an active mentor to several current and former students. I truly believe that giving back to the community is not only rewarding but fulfilling on both my personal and professional fronts. I hope to continue doing what I do and increase my involvement in helping this University.”

Tracy Luckow and her sister, Lori Luckow Gitomer ’01, have launched a line of flavored whipped cream! Whipnotic comes in flavors such as brownie batter, strawberry, and peach mango. It’s available on the company’s website (where a four-pack is priced at $32) and in more than 1,000 stores in 35 states including ShopRite, Kroger, and Fresh Market. “Pre-pandemic,” Tracy said, “we had seen all these baristas swirling flavors into coffees, and even in pancake restaurants they were putting flavored syrups into whipped cream. We thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to bring some of that excitement and fun into grocery [aisles]?’ It led us down a big rabbit hole of invention.” You can read more about the sisters in this Cornellians story!

Cornell has given me a lifelong network of friends and colleagues.

Ashish “Ash” Vaidya ’99, MBA ’07

Also recently featured in a Cornellians story, Jamie Kim has been making granola since she was an undergrad student—and her business is going strong today! Jamie’s Farm makes unique flavors of granola, such as vanilla bean with sour cherries, rosemary with currants, chai streusel with honey, and maple pecan with sea salt. “Some granolas on the market are really hard,” Jamie says. “Ours is light and crunchy; it breaks apart in your mouth.”

Sekou Cooke, Olalekan Jeyifous, and Amanda Williams ’97 are all founding members of Black Reconstruction Collective (BRC), which, according to their website, “provides funding, design, and intellectual support to the ongoing and incomplete project of emancipation for the African Diaspora. The BRC is committed to multi-scalar and multi-disciplinary work dedicated to dismantling systemic white supremacy and hegemonic whiteness within art, design, and academia. Founded by a group of Black architects, artists, designers, and scholars, the BRC aims to amplify knowledge production and spatial practices by individuals and organizations that further the reconstruction project.

“The BRC engages the public through an annual process of reviewing proposals and providing critical and financial support to projects that have been selected by the committee. This work will manifest in built commissions, research funding, exhibitions, events, and publications that will collectively imagine transformations to the built environment in the Black Radical Tradition.” ❖ Class of 1999 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2000s

2000

Dear alumni, my hope is that these words find you in good health and spirits. Cornellians here and abroad are busy making an impact in their communities. These are just a few highlights from some of our fellow classmates.

William Alonso writes, “I work with an organization that serves the unhoused by providing food and connecting them to services. I secured for them a state-provided supply of naloxone (opioid reversal medication) and education. I am currently working on providing them with substance use disorder treatment.”

Lynn D’Silva Cinelli, ME ’01, is an executive director at Merck, a company that develops and produces medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and animal health products. Passionate about people and their development, Lynn has supported mentorship programs for a wide range of individuals. At Merck, she led the Pan Asian global group and was the executive mentor for their manufacturing rotational program.

Lynn serves as a board member for the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council and the Cornell Engineering Alumni Association, where she interviews students, shapes educational strategy, and fosters business and curriculum connections. She is also active with Cornell Mosaic and as an ambassador selected by the University president to advise on diversity initiatives. “I have also worked on programs to encourage and support first-time applicants from underserved communities, truly believing that education is a ticket for opportunity.”

As a mother of three active daughters and an avid sports enthusiast, Lynn has coached youth sports for many years, attracted to the parallels of leadership through lessons learned on and off the field.

Adam Bult was recently named co-chair of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s litigation department. According to the news release, Adam has been a steadfast presence in the litigation department for nearly 15 years—involved with strategic planning, mentoring, and training, in addition to managing his practice that focuses on complex commercial and construction disputes.

Adam has two decades of experience guiding litigation to successful results and plays an integral role in some of Nevada’s most noteworthy litigation matters. Described by both clients and peers as one of the go-to litigation attorneys in Nevada, Adam combines his deep knowledge of state and federal law with extensive experience and attention to detail to obtain favorable rulings for business clients. He is also a member of the firm’s pride group as well as co-chair of the firm’s recently launched sober affinity group, Brownstein Pathways.

Thanks to the classmates who took the time to share their endeavors and accomplishments with us. If you would like to share, you can contact me. ❖ Denise Williams (email Denise) | Alumni Directory.

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2001

Remember, we’re now less than two years away from our 25th Reunion (quarter century!). Save the date: June 4–7, 2026 for a summer weekend in Ithaca. We all need to make up for our 20th Reunion going virtual due to the pandemic. Also, if you’re in the New York City area, the Frozen Apple (Cornell men’s ice hockey) is headed back to Madison Square Garden on November 30. Cornell will play Quinnipiac, and the game will mark Cornell’s 29th time playing at Madison Square Garden. Hope to see you there!

It’s hard to believe that we’re near the end of the year, and summer is becoming a distant memory. The Summer Olympics were a major highlight this year. My family spent many hours watching the best athletes in the world compete and represent their countries. Cornell was very well represented, with five Cornellians competing for the U.S. in Paris: Kyle Dake ’13 in wrestling, Michael Grady ’19 in men’s four rowing (his second Olympics), Taylor Knibb ’20 in women’s triathlon and cycling individual time trial (her second Olympics), Sorin Koszyk ’20 in men’s double sculls rowing, and Rudy Winkler ’17 in men’s hammer throw, track and field (his third Olympics). Not only did they compete, but Michael Grady and his team won gold in the men’s four rowing event, and Taylor Knibb and her teammates won silver in the triathlon mixed relay!

The athletes were not the only stars in the games. Jeanne Douglass Diaz ’10 was one of the creative minds behind the women’s gymnastics uniforms. The gymnastics team received eight uniforms in total, each with various innovative combinations of red, white, and blue. Jeanne is the design director for GK Elite Sportswear. In her words, “For a designer, it’s a dream. This was such a great opportunity to showcase our range.”

We didn’t make it to Paris this summer, but Christobel Lorie Gutow and I took a trip to Portugal with our three children. It was our first time in the country, and we visited the Algarve (southern coast) as well as Lisbon. We had a great time exploring the beaches and beautiful, historic towns in the south before spending time in the more urban setting of Lisbon. We really enjoyed learning the history of the city, wandering the cobblestone streets, and sampling the food. It was a great trip all around with memories made.

Back in New York, Ali Solomon Mainhart is a cartoonist and writer. She’s been a regular contributor to the New Yorker since 2018, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Wired, and Alta Journal, among other publications. She is also the author of (most recently) I Love(ish) New York City: Tales of City Life. Ali lives in Queens with her husband, two daughters, and “an insane amount of comic books.” Some may remember that Ali got her start drawing a daily comic strip for the Cornell Daily Sun as an undergrad. When not drawing, Ali teaches art at a middle school in NYC.

Canlis Restaurant (co-owned by Brian Canlis ’01) hosted a two-day Barbie-like event, with the restaurant converted into a dream house and the dining room converted to a dance floor.

Alumni Class of 2001 treasurer Praveen Anumolu, ME ’03, writes, “I am a volunteer firefighter and EMT and have been serving almost 20 years in the Smithtown (NY) Fire Department. I am on the board of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island, a youth mentoring program, and currently serve as board secretary. Previously I was a mentor (Big) for around 15 years. I frequently volunteer with my children’s school activities and have previously served as a class parent.”

After graduating from Cornell in 2001, Brian Canlis spent four years in the U.S. Air Force before returning to Seattle to join his brother Mark as co-owners of Canlis Restaurant. This past summer, those in Seattle may have seen the Canlis façade suddenly painted in hot pink. The reason for the change? Canlis hosted a two-day Barbie-like event on August 9 and 10, with the restaurant converted into a dream house and the dining room converted to a dance floor. There was even a nine-foot slide added from the upper level to the main floor. The upper parking lot was converted into a roller rink and the lower parking lot was a ranch with live country music. Canlis usually throws a costume party on New Year’s Eve, but the team decided to make it a summer party this year. Outside of the restaurant, Brian hosts the country’s preeminent event on hospitality, the Welcome Conference, and has appeared as a judge on “Top Chef.” In 2014, he spent time in New York City helping to open the NoMad Bar alongside Will Guidara.

Will is a restaurateur, author, and consultant for Eleven Madison Park. His book, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect, has made a large impact on how customer service is used as a growth model across all industries. It was also featured recently in the TV series “The Bear,” when the character Richie reads it in the episode called “Forks.” Will later received story credit for the third episode of the third season of “The Bear” and appeared as himself in the third season finale, alongside his wife.

To share news or a memory and get back in touch with classmates, please email either of us, visit our website, like the Class of 2001 Facebook page, join our Class of 2001 Classmates Facebook group, and/or follow us on X (@Cornell2001). ❖ James Gutow (email James) | Nicole Neroulias Gupte (email Nicole) | Alumni Directory.

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2002

How are you planning to spend the holidays, Class of ’02? Will you be visiting any family or friends—or enjoying the start of winter by hunkering down at home? Whatever your plans, please write to us or submit an online news form to let your classmates know how you’re doing! ❖ Class of 2002 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2003

We heard from Laura Troiola Badmaev this month, who shared, “My son, Alex, 13, was born with an ultra-rare neurological syndrome and was the first case diagnosed at Boston Children’s Hospital. Due to the extreme lack of information, I founded the ASXL Rare Research Endowment (ARRE), a family-led organization focused on advancing knowledge and understanding of this group of ASXL genetic syndromes, improving care, and developing treatments for our children. Alex requires one-on-one support for all aspects of daily living and significant sub-specialty medical care for his multi-organ system issues. He is completely non-verbal, has severe intellectual disability, and has self-injurious behaviors for severe pain. It has been an uncertain journey with many challenges.

“In rare disease, parents like me not only have to take care of our extremely medically complex kids, but we also have to be the wizards who are building and funding the research infrastructure to find answers for our children and the children who come after them. When I started the foundation in 2018, we could count 10 researchers who were interested in studying our disorders. Today that number is nearing 80. We’ve funded $825,000 in research grants. We host an annual scientific meeting that brings the research community together to exchange ideas, and every other year, we convene the community of families to meet with researchers, participate in research studies, and learn from each other.

“Just this year, we had 45 families and 54 professionals, from Australia to Norway, who joined us at our 2024 ASXL Research Symposium & Family Conference at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, and 30 families from 13 countries who participated virtually. The families participated in 120 research visits and 15 focus groups, contributed biobank samples, and enrolled in the ASXL Natural History Study, which is critical for pre-clinical trial readiness. We introduced our new chief scientific officer and released new patient education materials and a healthcare provider guide to address many unanswered questions like what to expect. The ARRE foundation also supported travel awards for 17 young investigators to inspire early interest in studying ASXL-related disorders.”

Last year, Laura and the ARRE team “created the ASXL Care Directory, created a program to support newly diagnosed families, supported a pilot grant to support promising treatment pathways, received $99,982 in PCORI funding to engage families in research, supported family enrollment in 12 research studies, and celebrated four new research publications about ASXL-related disorders.”

Thanks for sharing what you’ve been up to, Laura. Community is such an important component of support for families with children with rare diseases—it sounds like your hard work has been incredibly impactful. We hope your foundation continues to grow!

We love to hear from you—please reach out and let us know how you’re doing! Until next time. ❖ Candace Lee Chow, PhD ’14 (email Candace) | Jon Schoenberg, ME ’03, PhD ’11 (email Jon) | Alumni Directory.

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2004

Daniel Hormaza writes, “My wife, Leire, and I have two kids: Ander, 7, and Zuri, 3. I love to travel. I have been to 45 out of 50 states (yes, some have been just passing by) and 20+ countries around the world. Last year we were in Switzerland and this year we are going to Croatia.” In addition to travel, Daniel enjoys biking or any kind of sports and catching up with friends and the beach.

“I work for Xerox and my responsibility is to manage the forecast for all equipment for Latin America and part of the U.S. This includes all products from A4 to A3 and production. I manage between a third to a half of all equipment sales revenue for Xerox.” When asked if Cornell changed the trajectory of his life, he responded, “Definitely! It opened my eyes to a world of opportunities and created connections all around the world, including lifetime friendship and much more.”

Monica Pham writes, “Our baby girl was born a year ago and we are enjoying time as a family of three—most recently going to Disney World! She just learned how to walk and loves bubbles.” At Cornell, she adds, “I learned how to think for myself, and those critical thinking skills served me well in the United States House and Senate and working for my former boss, Kamala Harris. Thank you, Cornell!”

Jonathan Harriman enjoys “family, running, riding my bike, traveling, drinking great wine, and winning for my clients at my personal injury law firm, Harriman Law PC.”

At Cornell, Monica Pham ’04 says, ‘I learned how to think for myself, and those critical thinking skills served me well in the United States House and Senate.’

Rachel Somerstein shares that her book, Invisible Labor: The Untold Story of the Cesarean Section, came out June 4. “I graduated in 2004 from A&S, with a double major in English and history. I won the Lang Award for best thesis in American studies. I mention advice from one of my professors who left the greatest impact on me, Michael Koch, in the book. (And I’m sorry that I can’t send him a copy; I understand that he died a few years ago.)

“I spoke about the book a few weeks ago with Tonya Mosley on NPR’s ‘Fresh Air.’ Reviews have been excellent, with enthusiastic responses from the Atlantic, Science, the LA Times, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly (starred), and Library Journal (starred), among other press.

“The book draws on my own experience, history, and reporting to examine the ways C-sections have been overlooked in the U.S.; how their history shapes them today, from the disproportionate rates of C-sections on Black women to the stigmas around the operation; and how women’s pain is overlooked and under-credited. It also offers solutions that not only bring down the rate of unnecessary C-sections, but also make birth safer and more respectful for all birthing people.

“I’m an associate professor of journalism at SUNY New Paltz. My reporting has appeared in the Boston Globe, the Washington Post, DAME, and other publications. Invisible Labor is my first book. I hold a PhD from Syracuse University and an MFA from NYU.” ❖ Class of 2004 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2005

Preparation for our 20th Reunion in June of 2025 is underway! As such, we’d love to know if we have the correct contact info for you. If you have any updates, please use this link.

David Gartenberg, JD ’10, has been appointed by the Littler law firm as the new office managing shareholder in Denver.

Jessica Furst Starr reports that she currently practices medicine at Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC.

If you have anything you’d like to share with our class, please submit an online news form or write directly to either of us! ❖ Jessica Rosenthal Chod (email Jessica) | Hilary Johnson King (email Hilary) | Alumni Directory.

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2006

Summer Rej writes, “I founded a collection of hair accessories called Dauphines of New York, which is available internationally and has recently been featured in Forbes, People, and more. Attending Cornell provided confidence that in any endeavor I would have the skill set and perseverance to attempt to meet any goals and excel.”

Tory Lauterbach writes, “On June 17, 2024, I joined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as a partner in the energy, regulation, and litigation practice group. I am based out of the Washington, DC, office and look forward to frequent trips to visit the firm’s Texas and New York offices. In my work I focus on helping companies build and operate large energy infrastructure projects and solve energy regulation and policy challenges across regulatory, litigation, and transactional law disciplines.”

Please take a moment to send us your news! ❖ Kirk Greenspan, MBA ’22 (email Kirk) | Alumni Directory.

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2007

Happy Holidays, Class of 2007! Another year gone—and much more fun ahead. Thanks again for allowing me to be part of your journeys, and I look forward to hearing more from you in 2025. Wishing everyone joy, laughter, and happiness in the new year.

This past summer, Ted Hawkins enjoyed a camping trip with his family—wife Nicole and their kids, ages 5 and 8—over Memorial Day weekend. He recently started a new job at Calcagni & Kanefsky LLP in Newark, NJ. While he enjoys his time running around his hometown of Maplewood, NJ, he has fond memories of negotiations classes back in ILR, which motivated him to become an attorney.

Dominique Pastorello shares: “In my entrepreneurial endeavors, finding a venture with a lasting positive impact has always been on the forefront. This year I launched my passion project company, Scrub Be Love, dedicated to offering natural, plant-based cleaning products. My goal is to raise awareness about the environmental impact of human consumption, inspiring a shift to eco-friendly alternatives. I truly believe that if even a small fraction of people convert to biodegradable/waste-free cleaning products, we can start to move the needle in the right direction for a sustainable future.

“I have started small with the launch of a stylish biodegradable plant-based kitchen sponge and plan to roll out several more products this year—eventually branching into eco-friendly and refillable plant-based cleaners and detergents. Ultimately, I aspire to scale the business and contribute a portion of profits to environmental causes, paving the way for a more sustainable future. I couldn’t be more excited about Scrub Be Love’s journey, and I am so looking forward to the positive impact we can make.”

This year I launched my passion project company, Scrub Be Love, dedicated to offering natural, plant-based cleaning products.

Dominique Pastorello ’07

Michael Oak, MPS ’09, writes, “Eight years ago, I found myself seeking a mental health break from the intense demands of my work as a compensation consultant in the investment management industry. Despite having a fulfilling career, I felt a compelling need to engage a different part of my mind and skills and wanted to give back to the community. This quest led me to the John H. Enders Fire Company in Berryville, VA. My journey as a volunteer began with an emergency vehicles operations course, allowing me to drive the ambulance to emergency calls.

“I soon enrolled in an EMT class that met during evenings and weekends. Balancing my demanding job and this new commitment was challenging, but incredibly rewarding. After six months of training, I earned my EMT certification. I began volunteering for one 12-hour shift a week, where I ran calls as an EMT, immersing myself in the world of emergency medical services. A few years later, an opportunity arose that I couldn’t pass up—a paramedic course. Eager to advance my skills, I signed up. However, midway through the course, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. This unforeseen challenge meant adapting to remote learning and navigating strict hospital protocols. I successfully completed the paramedic class and obtained my paramedic certification.

“Today, I continue to serve as a volunteer paramedic with Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire and Rescue in Bluemont, VA. This role requires me to complete 60 hours of continuing education every two years, maintaining my Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support credentials. My journey didn’t just stop with medical responsibilities. I took on leadership roles within the fire company, serving as president for two years and as a board member for an additional year. This experience has been more than just a diversion from my professional life; it has been a journey of personal growth and community service, and the pursuit of a passion that complements my professional career.”

Looking forward to sharing more exciting stories with everyone next year, including updates from Steven Stern and Shane Dunn. Have more news to share? Please feel free to reach out to me or submit online! ❖ Samantha Feibush Wolf (email Samantha) | Alumni Directory.

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2008

Former Wall Street trader Nicholas Crown has launched a fintech startup, called Revise, that offers a new way to grow wealth securely. According to the news release, Nicholas is “marrying technology with traditional insurance products, known as annuities, to offer a better way to save. Annuities can offer higher returns than high-yield savings, money market accounts, and CDs while promising complete principal protection. … Historically dominated by cumbersome paperwork and opaque processes, Revise offers a user-friendly online platform, making it easier for consumers to find the best fit from an overabundance of options.”

“As a child of the 2008 crash,” he explains, “I’ve seen how conservative investors were underserved by money market funds and took way too much risk in stocks. I found that annuities strike the perfect balance of safety and returns to help my audience prosper in an uncertain market, but we had to modernize the experience.”

Jonathan Tamayo was crowned 2024’s champion of the World Series of Poker—a competition that’s held annually in Las Vegas and this year drew more than 10,000 contenders. According to a recent story in Cornellians, “despite seeing his chip stacks dwindle to perilously low levels on two occasions, Tamayo outlasted his opponents—taking home the top prize after playing for roughly 10 hours a day over the course of 11 days.” And that top prize? $10 million, plus a gold bracelet adorned with more than 1,900 diamonds and bragging rights for a lifetime. Congratulations! ❖ Class of 2008 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2009

These days, Doug Beck is enjoying playing soccer with his kids and coaching youth sports. “Heather Hunter and I have three kids, the oldest of whom just started preschool. I’m working at Astrobotic Technologies Inc. on the guidance, navigation, and control system for a lunar lander. Cornell was an instrumental first step that opened many doors that would have been less likely to be opened early in my career.” ❖ Class of 2009 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2010s

2010

The seasons are quickly changing and before we know it, it will be 15 years since we graduated! There’s no time like the present to start planning for Reunion 2025, June 5–8. We look forward to seeing the things that have not changed about our beloved Big Red, but much has. Here are some updates from our class.

Amar Kelkar is now based out of Massachusetts, where he runs a new gene therapy program at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to treat sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. He completed his MPH last year at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He and his wife, Noopur Ghade, are excited to welcome their first child this fall!

Alexander Eason remembers fondly the impact that Cornell had on his life and the inspiration of his fellow classmates. He is currently in dining and custodial work. While he is grieving the loss of two close companions, his dogs, Chance and Sally, he is finding joy in reading, exercising, and continuing to learn—both how to play the piano and speak foreign languages!

We look forward to hearing your updates and seeing you next year at Reunion. ❖ Michelle Sun (email Michelle) | Alumni Directory.

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2011

Miloš Balać has some great news to share! “I just won my second Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program for my work as co-executive producer on season two of FX/Hulu’s ‘Welcome to Wrexham.’”

Justin Finkle writes, “My wife, Carissa, and I were overjoyed to welcome our daughter, Rinna, on Mother’s Day. After 10 years in Chicago, we moved back to the East Coast for new jobs and to be closer to family. We’ve also got a nice Big Red crew in Boston. We’re so excited to bring Rinna to Ithaca soon and are especially looking forward to our next class Reunion!”

Congratulations to you both, and thanks for sharing your news! Now, please take a moment to share yours. ❖ Class of 2011 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2012

Alexandra Lyons writes, “I work in widening access to higher education in the U.K. Over the past nine years, I have worked at the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, and now at Imperial College London, supporting these institutions’ efforts to ensure that students from all backgrounds can access excellent education. I started out organizing events and traveling to visit schools, and over the years have stepped back to focus on evaluation, strategy, and big-picture policy issues around support for underrepresented students.

“In my current role, I manage the evaluation of Imperial’s outreach programs, aiming to understand what kind of impact our programs are having and how we can build on this. While this means less time with the young people, I hope that the qualitative and quantitative analysis that I lead supports the outreach team and Imperial more broadly to make the most of our impact. Recently, I was thrilled to receive a Churchill Fellowship to investigate how universities outside the U.K. support students from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds. I am traveling to New Zealand (leaving today!) to visit programs dedicated to supporting Maori students, and to the U.S. later this spring, looking at approaches to support first-in-family students. I will hope to find new perspectives on old challenges, aiming to use these findings to inform Imperial’s approach and to share lessons learned across the wider higher education sector.”

Amanda Anger married Chad Curtis on January 27, 2024 in Grand Rapids, MI. Fellow Cornellians Melissa Rieger, Daniel Jossman, Matthew Kwock, and Jessica Sweetman ’13 were in attendance. Melissa was Amanda’s maid of honor and Jessica played her harp for the ceremony. Amanda is now a stepmother to six and a step-grandmother as well, but the grandkids call her “Gigi.” Amanda left politics in D.C. in 2021 and is now a management consultant with Guidehouse. She loves the remote worker lifestyle that allowed her the flexible time off to travel to Europe and Antarctica in 2022 and to spend as much time as possible with her dad before he died from leukemia in April 2023. ❖ Peggy Ramin (email Peggy) | Alumni Directory.

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2013

Greetings, Class of ’13. Please take a moment to send us an online news form—or even better, send me a copy of your holiday letter! ❖ Rachael Schuman Fassler (email Rachael) | Alumni Directory.

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2014

Hello, Class of 2014! I hope you all are having a happy end to 2024. Jessica Campbell was recently announced as an assistant hockey coach for the Seattle Kraken—making her the first female assistant coach in NHL history. Prior to this achievement, Jessica was an assistant coach for the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League (AHL), where she similarly broke boundaries as the first AHL female assistant coach.

Chris Fallon and Tom Babineau are the co-founders of NewVolt Solutions. NewVolt Solutions is a healthcare analytics company that develops applications to evaluate patient safety and patient encounter data using artificial intelligence and natural language processing. Please reach out if you have any news you would like to share. ❖ Samantha Lapehn Young (email Samantha) | Alumni Directory.

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2015–17

How are you planning to spend the winter months? Will you be visiting any family or friends—or enjoying the season by hunkering down at home? Whether your news is ordinary or extraordinary, we want to hear from you! Please take a moment to send us an online news form. ❖ Class of 2015–17 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2018

Hello, 2018 classmates! I am your class president, David Ticzon. We have exciting life updates from three classmates to share in our column. If you have anything you’d like to share, please send in your news for a future Class Notes section!

Jeffrey Juarez, BS ’17, has launched a new project called Mama’s Mochi, a line of mochi cookies inspired by his Filipino roots. Jeffrey has also been running full-time content creation on all socials (@ourfilipinograndma), where he creates fun content with his grandmother.

Brigid Lucey married William Miletich on August 31 in West Hartford, CT.

Alex Rauter signed a new pro hockey contract with the Yokohama Grits of the Asia League. He is open to meeting fellow 2018 classmates traveling to Japan! ❖ David Ticzon (email David) | Alumni Directory.

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2019

Evan Solomonides writes, “I am a regular blood donor at Boston Children’s Hospital (usually double red cells) and am partway through donating my fourth gallon. That’s 106 kids who have gotten my blood! I have also organized a blood drive and a fundraiser for the donor center. I am also the program financial coach at Blue Haven Ranch, a nonprofit in Texas helping single, pregnant women gain independence after leaving difficult situations.”

Matt Barker and Leah Womelsdorf ’20 were recently featured in an educational video about mental wellbeing in Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference. Matt and Leah are both software engineers in Apple Health, as well as graduates from the Cornell CIS program, and were involved in multiple CIS groups as undergrads.

Nina Bachich recently penned an essay for Cornellians titled “I’m a Wheelchair User—and Despite the Obstacles, I Love to Travel.” In it, she writes, “In October 2021, a normal night out with friends changed my life. After a horrific incident (whose details I prefer not to share), I went from complete normalcy to a total loss of movement and sensation. I was paralyzed. I was hospitalized for months with a spinal cord injury and faced my new reality as a paraplegic and full-time wheelchair user.

“My daily routine changed from having a 9-5 corporate job and hanging out with friends to weekly hospital visits and daily intense physical therapy sessions. Although I am lucky to have regained some function in my legs and am able to walk assisted for short distances, I still use a wheelchair as my main method of navigation. Forced to adjust my lifestyle to accommodate my new limitations, I began confronting challenges most people never imagine—and facing the inherent inaccessibility of our communities.

“After the initial shock of my new life set in, I quickly discovered that the vacations I had planned were no longer feasible. I turned to Facebook groups focused on accessible travel and learned that many people with disabilities face significant barriers when traveling.” You can read the full essay here! ❖ Class of 2019 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2020s

2020

Leah Womelsdorf shares, “My coworker Matt Barker ’19 and I were recently featured in an educational video about mental wellbeing in Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference. Matt and I are both software engineers in Apple Health, as well as graduates from the Cornell CIS program, and were involved in multiple CIS groups in undergrad.”

Leah adds, “There are some technical details about software engineering at the end of the video, but there is also educational information about mental health that is accessible to a wide variety of audiences, regardless of technical literacy. As an ‘easter egg,’ we also have a stuffed bear representing Touchdown in some of the shots. Go Big Red!”

If you have any news to share, please reach out to your class correspondents! How are you planning to spend the winter months? Will you be visiting any family or friends—or enjoying the season by hunkering down at home? Whether your news is ordinary or extraordinary, we want to hear from you! ❖ Class of 2020 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2021

Victoria Polk shares, “I just launched my startup, Trameter, a first-of-its-kind travel app that plans your vacations using your budget and preferences. We are in the App Store. I started developing Trameter during my time at Cornell, and I am proud of the milestone!” About Cornell, Victoria writes, “Studying the business of hospitality, and the amazing driven people that I met, certainly helped shape me into the hardworking person that I am today.”

Tristan Rhee, BS ’20, and Adam Barr-Neuwirth have co-founded Launchpoint, which was recently covered in Sports Illustrated! The tech company is a one-stop shop for athletes to connect with and secure name, image, and likeness partnerships with notable brands. According to the article, “While the app is currently only a beta launch for 250 Ohio State athletes, the website outlines its plans to expand shortly to five additional power schools, including Texas, Georgia, USC, and Florida. The website also shows some of its early brand partnerships athletes can choose from, including Manscaped, Kosas, C4 Energy, and Dormify, among several others.” Says Tristan: “We are both really proud to be Cornellians trying to make waves in the world.”

Please take a moment to send us your news! ❖ Class of 2021 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2022

Hello, Class of ’22! This is your space to share your news—big or small—with your fellow Big Red alumni. Did you travel anywhere new this year? Have you started a new job? Adopted any new pets? We’d love to hear from you. ❖ Class of 2022 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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2023

Figure skater Karen Chen finally got her gold medal at last summer’s Olympics in Paris! She initially won silver in the team competition at the Beijing Olympiad in February 2022, but the medal ceremony was postponed due to doping allegations involving one of the skaters on the first-place Russian squad. After an inquiry that took nearly two years, Karen and her teammates were retroactively awarded gold in early 2024.

Of course, the delay meant that Team USA missed out on the cherished experience of receiving their medals amid raised flags and the playing of the national anthem. But the 2024 Paris Games offered an opportunity for Chen and her eight fellow skaters to be ceremonially honored—an occasion that brought ecstatic cheers and global media attention. You can read more here! ❖ Class of 2023 (email c/o Alexandra Bond ’12) | Alumni Directory.

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Grad

Architecture, Art, and Planning

Robert Schultz, MFA ’76, MA ’78, PhD ’81, won the 2024 International Portfolio Prize from New York City’s Soho Photo Gallery. His exhibition of 18 works of art were on display at the Manhattan Art Gallery in July and August. Titled “One Root,” it featured portraits of U.S. Civil War soldiers and mourning family members developed on leaves. His leaf prints (sometimes called “chlorophyll prints”) are made using sunlight. Robert draws his images from the U.S. Library of Congress’s Liljenquist Family Collection.

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Arts and Sciences

Kirk Yeager, MS ’89, PhD ’93, the FBI’s chief explosives scientist, has written a new book titled The Bomb Doctor about his adventures in bombing investigations. “I came back to Cornell and was a Baker Lecture series speaker a number of years ago, where I spoke about my job,” says Kirk. “Now there is an actual book that goes into much more detail than I could in an hour-long talk.”

Joshua Barker, MA ’96, PhD ’99, wrote a book titled State of Fear: Policing a Postcolonial City published by Duke University Press in September. The book focuses on the city of Bandung, Indonesia, and explores how fear and violence are produced and reproduced through everyday practices of rule and control by examining the ethnographic and historical genealogies of Indonesian policing. Joshua is a professor of anthropology at the University of Toronto and also co-edited both Figures of Southeast Asian Modernity and State of Authority: State in Society in Indonesia.

Jennifer Williams, MA ’09, PhD ’15, published her first book, Archaeology of the Political Unconscious: Theater and Opera in East Berlin, 1967–1977. The book investigates the aesthetic and political dialectics of East Berlin to argue how its theater and opera stages incited artists to act out, fuel, and resist the troubled construction of political legitimacy. It is based on Jennifer’s PhD research while on the Hill. The book is published by Routledge as part of the Advances in Theatre & Performance Studies series.

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Business

Amy Gillett, MBA ’99, co-founded CourtMerch in February 2024, combining her passion for tennis with her background in entrepreneurship. The company offers custom tennis and pickleball team apparel and fun and seasonal court-themed tees, tanks, hoodies, and accessories. CourtMerch’s blog features interviews with recreational tennis players, coaches, and media personalities. The company has gained local media attention, with coverage in MLive and All About Ann Arbor. Amy and her co-founder were also interviewed on Second Serve, a podcast for recreational tennis players. Previously, Amy launched Language Success Press, a publishing company that offers books, apps, and online courses centered on teaching English as a second language. Amy also had a wonderful time connecting with alumni when she joined a Cornell trip to Southeast Alaska last summer!

Sue Heher Mann, MBA ’03, MMH ’04, wrote her debut historical fiction novel, On the Road to Jericho, which is set in both apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa and Palestine and weaves together stories of identity, struggle, and resilience. “Given the parallels between the challenges depicted in the book and the conversations around justice, equity, and historical legacy that are happening globally right now, I believe it could be especially meaningful to the Cornell community,” says Sue.

Mythily Kamath Georges, MBA ’08, writes, “As soon as my older child turned 5, we began volunteering together at Feed My Starving Children. It’s been a great way to spend time together, teach him about helping others (especially those who were born into a much less privileged life), and have fun at the same time. We’ve even been able to get family friends involved and volunteering with us!”

Tulika Singh, MBA ’08, writes, “After my MBA from the Johnson School, I have made a career in advertising technology, building products that have radically transformed how consumers engage with content and drive business growth. Currently, I am the head of product for Amazon Audiences and AI Ads at Amazon. Throughout my career, I have held several member and chapter lead roles in large affinity groups such as Amazon Women in Engineering, Women in Samsung, and the Cornell alumni network. I am working on several mentoring and networking engagements to increase representation of women and minorities in leadership roles in tech. I am also on the board of several nonprofits that promote education and work opportunities for underprivileged women and children in India.”

Amarildo Gjondrekaj, MBA ’19, is the founder and CEO of Adro, a financial technology company that provides financial services for people who are moving to the U.S. for school or work. Adro successfully soft-launched in July 2024 and has already had customers from 110 different countries. Through partnerships with universities as well as word-of-mouth referrals, international students from over 300 U.S. schools have now opened accounts with Adro. Amarildo reports that several classmates have joined his team, including Sara Schmitt, MBA ’19, as COO and co-founder, and Lalo Gonzalez, MBA ’19, as a user experience/user interface designer.

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Computing and Information Science

Chinasa Okolo, MS ’22, PhD ’23, has been named to Time’s 100 most influential people in AI. Chinasa, a Nigerian-American computer scientist and a Brookings Institution fellow, is listed in the “Thinkers” category. Through Chinasa’s work, she is raising awareness about the potential benefits and harms that using AI could bring to countries across Africa, including using AI for flood detection and crop diseases, or enabling digital harassment on microlending platforms. “I’m optimistic that AI could help fuel socioeconomic development that has been much needed in Africa for the last half-century,” she says. “But I’m also concerned that this competition could limit the autonomy of African countries and perpetuate neo-colonial practices that have negatively impacted their economies.”

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Engineering

Richard Smith, PhD ’79, was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Cornell’s Department of Statistics and Data Science during its annual celebration in September. Richard is a leading statistician in extreme value theory whose research has informed our understanding of climate change and air pollution, among other topics. The daylong event celebrated the University’s rich history in statistics, data science, and mathematics, and featured talks from eight leading researchers who are driving innovation in the field, including Richard, who gave the keynote talk. “What excites me is less about doing mathematics for the sake of mathematics and more about developing mathematical theories that have real application to society,” he said. “Climate change has been such an example.”

Samuel Chen, ME ’02, writes, “My fellow co-founders and I established Kula, a transparent impact investment vehicle powered by blockchain. Kula’s efforts were recognized in Davos, Switzerland, coinciding with the World Economic Forum. This recognition by global leaders in innovation underscores the transformative potential of technology to benefit communities and affect over half of the world’s population. Our approach includes proprietary, non-invasive technologies for detecting underground natural resources. We collaborate closely with local governments and communities to tokenize, via blockchain, governing rights. A testament to our technology’s efficacy is our project in Zambia, where we successfully located a valuable water source. This discovery, valued at $27 million, was donated to the community, demonstrating our commitment to impactful change. In September 2023, we hosted a workshop on the topics of blockchain in Zambia at the request of the Ministers of Technology and Agriculture. This event was a remarkable opportunity.”

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Human Ecology

Sung Soo Kim, MS ’92, recently brought his daughter, Katie ’28, to the Hill from NYC after her admission to Cornell. Sung Soo says he had the best time of his life returning to Ithaca with his daughter. After working for French and Korean companies, Sung Soo started his business about five years ago.

Austin Reid Albanese, MPA ’22, married Jason Albanese on September 21, 2024, in Geneva, NY. Austin and Jason met in Ithaca and Jason proposed by Cayuga Lake in 2021. The happy couple is excited to begin their married life in Rochester, NY. Jason, a former Cornell employee, is the general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn Rochester Downtown, and Austin has recently accepted a position with the University of Rochester Medical Center’s clinical, research, and hospital programs team as the assistant director of advancement, supporting the Department of Neurology and the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience.

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Industrial and Labor Relations

Doug McCabe, PhD ’77, recently retired as a professor emeritus of management after 45 years of teaching, research, and service at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business in Washington, DC. He taught in Georgetown’s undergraduate, MBA, and executive education programs. He and his wife, Caroline, reside in Rehoboth Beach, DE, in the summer and in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, in the winter. Doug would love to hear from those ILRies who he got to know in the 1973–76 time period; he can be found in the Alumni Directory.

Debra Howell, MILR ’06, writes, “For six years, I chaired the Cornell Veterans Colleague Network Group (VCNG). I stepped down as chair in November 2023 and was given the Plank-owner Award for my work. During my time as chair, I created an annual award for veterans: the VCNG Continuation of Service Award. I also served as the veterans’ representative to the Employee Assembly and University Assembly. While there, I created a resolution designating Cornell a Purple Heart Institution through the Military Order of the Purple Heart—the first Ivy League institution to do so. I also hosted numerous events for veterans, arranged for guest speakers and training, and spoke on behalf of veterans.”

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Law School

Timothy Kearns, JD ’06, writes, “Following a three-week antitrust trial in a case I’d been litigating for nine years, I decided I needed to do something more; I began volunteering at the Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, DC, in November 2022. Though I was wary at first of committing to eight hours a month for six months, it immediately became an essential part of my day. Over the 14 months that I have been there, I have now volunteered more than 600 hours, even while my volunteering is punctuated by major litigation. I have taken on the roles of welcoming new volunteers with shelter tours nearly every weekend, training new volunteers in weekly courses, and supporting Humane Rescue Alliance’s volunteer staff in managing more than 1,000 volunteers around the D.C. Metropolitan Area. I’ve personally helped hundreds of families find cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even a few turtles. I have welcomed more than 200 new volunteers to Humane Rescue Alliance, been Humane Rescue Alliance’s leading fundraiser in a spring development campaign, and been invited to receive a check from a sponsor on the field at Nationals Park. While the organization has faced unprecedented difficulties as a result of a massive dog influenza outbreak in 2023, through the tremendous efforts of its staff and volunteers, it has continued to thrive. I cannot recommend volunteering enough; it has helped me weather the tumult and stress of billion-dollar litigation and forge a stronger connection with my community. I am grateful to be associated with such a tremendous organization.”

Nicholas Hietpas, JD ’24, is launching his career at investigation and litigation boutique Aurelian Law PLLC, an independent law firm focused on crisis response, government investigations, and high-stakes litigation. Nick previously served as an intern with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the Division of Investment Management as part of the SEC’s Scholars Program. Nick was also a member of the Law School’s Securities Law Clinic, where he provided pro bono legal services, submitted comment letters on SEC proposed rulemakings, and addressed investment fraud in presentations to investors and regulators alike. “I am thrilled to join Aurelian,” he says. “I have always been interested in tackling financial fraud, and Aurelian offers me an up-close opportunity to help clients understand and respond to frauds, and to work with clients and government agencies addressing those frauds. I love living in Ithaca, but I did not think I would be able to work at a firm of this caliber from here. To do what I am doing, most of my classmates had to move to Manhattan, D.C., or Boston—but Aurelian offers me the flexibility to stay in Ithaca with high-quality work that is second to none.”

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Group

Fencing

Hello, fellow Cornell fencers, and welcome back to Group Notes! I’m excited to share our alumni’s journeys, both personal and professional, while offering a chance to reconnect with your teammates and meet new ones.

If we haven’t met, I’m Adam Kirsch ’15, MBA ’16, a former epeeist for the Big Red. This summer, I made the trek alongside my squadmate Harrison Fox ’14 to Paris for the Olympic Games. We crisscrossed France to watch numerous events, including kayaking and swimming. A particular highlight of the trip was watching USA fencer Lee Kiefer defend her Olympic title in the individual women’s foil event in front of thousands of spectators at the Grand Palais, a historic venue not far from the City of Light’s iconic Champs Élysées.

While in France, I also had the good fortune to run into Asha Nigh (parent of Max Dolmetsch ’25), former Big Red coach Daria Schneider, and Valerie Tan ’19. Valerie is a PhD student in Germany and active as a sabre fencer, referee, and coach. Recently, Valerie won the Cup of Germany, an amateur national tournament, with her club team—earning a feature in this press release from the German fencing federation.

After finishing undergraduate studies at Cornell, Conan Gillis ’21 stayed on as a math PhD student. He’s currently balancing dissertation research and teaching undergraduates (including some Cornell fencers!) as a TA and Directed Reading Program mentor. Last April, he also traveled internationally for the first time, going to a conference in Bristol, UK.

This summer, I made the trek alongside my squadmate Harrison Fox ’14 to Paris for the Olympic Games. We crisscrossed France to watch numerous events.

Adam Kirsch ’15, MBA ’16

Also pursuing a PhD is Luby Kiriakidi ’18, who is currently studying philology in Harvard’s classics department. Luby recently got engaged to a fellow Cornell alum and watched Olympic women’s foil with great pride—an event where Team USA earned both individual and team gold as well as an individual silver.

Grant Uebele ’20 and Vera Lin ’20 both fenced epee and captained the Big Red during their time at Cornell. The couple, engaged last July, will have one more thing in common come fall as they move to Ann Arbor, MI, to pursue law degrees at the University of Michigan.

Emily Gao ’23 is currently applying to optometry schools. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog, Karamel, and playing video games.

Lastly, we share a tongue-in-cheek tale from Nick Heiner ’12. As the story goes, Nick became the first American to complete the “Giro del Giardino” (Italian for “Tour of the Garden”), a longstanding inside joke/culinary adventure in which one patronizes Olive Garden restaurants in all 10 nations where the casual dining chain operates. A fan of the Garden since his days as an undergraduate, Nick previously created a scrapbook, called “My Olive Garden Adventures: A Fine Dining Scrapbook,” with former Big Red captain Mike Fotinatos ’12. The book documents hundreds of visits to the brand’s American outposts. A companion international guide titled “Quando Sei Qui, Sei Una Famiglia: Grissini Sono Amore” is forthcoming. As a Giro del Giardino designee, Nick jokes that he’s entitled to unlimited breadsticks and salad on all future visits to Olive Gardens.

Let us know what you’re up to! To be featured in Group Notes, email three to five sentences to: ❖ Adam Kirsch ’15, MBA ’16 (email Adam) | Alumni Directory.

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University Chorus & Glee Club

It’s August as I write this and I’ve recently returned from another trip to the Hill, where the clock tower was quite literally shrouded … not just in its usual beautiful aura but also in lots and lots of scaffolding. According to the Cornell Chronicle, crews began removing the roof’s lead-coated copper sheets this spring. “The roof was last replaced in the 1930s and has been repaired and patched many times since then, but water keeps finding a way in. The new roof will maintain the look of the current lead-gray chevron pattern but will be made from sheet lead, a more durable and malleable material that does not pose any threat to the humans and plants below. While the scaffolding is up, crews will repaint the clock faces and steel hands.” Most importantly, although the chimes need to remain silent during the day while crews are on the roof, they will still play our beloved “Evening Song” and other tunes on evenings and weekends.

And speaking of music, Stuart Baron ’82 shared that he and Freddie Brooks ’80 (Chorus) attended the tour concert on January 16 at St. Bart’s on Park Avenue in Manhattan. Stuart sent me some lovely photos that I wish I could have included here as well.

And Melody Nelson Lynn ’97 updated me that “things are good! Summer is going by too fast, and soon my oldest son starts high school and my youngest starts seventh grade.” Melody lives about an hour north of Boston and is married to David Lynn ’96. David has worked in consulting for many years at Deloitte and other places and is now working on his own robotics company. After Cornell, Melody got an MBA at MIT and was a consultant for private equity and investment management firms. She became a full-time mom 15 years ago, when the older of her two boys was born. As for music, she writes, “A couple of years ago I sang backup vocals and played keyboard in a band mainly at friends’ parties, but our highlight was performing at a Boston nightclub. Now I love accompanying my younger son’s middle school chorus on piano.”

That’s all I’ve got this time around. Want to read some longer columns? Send me your news! Your updates are music to my ears. Wishing you the happiest of holidays. Until we meet again. ❖ Alison Torrillo French ’95 (email Alison) | Alumni Directory.

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Top image: Photo by Ryan Young / Cornell University

Published November 1, 2024